ABC/Image Group LAChris Lane and pop star Tori Kelly have a top-20 country hit with "Take Back Home Girl," but believe it or not, they've never performed the tune together onstage. That's all about to change, however, when the two team up for a late-night date early next month. Chris and Tori are set to play their hit Monday, April 2 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. You can tune in to catch their performance starting at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC. This Friday night, Chris continues his Take Back Home Tour in Towson, Maryland. Next week, the "Fix" hitmaker plays Greenville, South Carolina and will also make a stop in Greensboro, in his home state of North Carolina. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Drew Angerer/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The funeral for a 15-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department who died while battling a five-alarm fire in Manhattan was held Tuesday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Michael Davidson of Engine Company 69, who lived in the Floral Park neighborhood of Queens, died Friday after suffering critical injuries fighting a basement fire in Harlem Thursday night. He was working the nozzle on a hose when he became separated from the rest of his unit. Davidson died from smoke inhalation, the New York City Medical Examiners office said Monday. The building that caught fire was being used as a set for a movie starring Edward Norton and Bruce Willis. On Saturday, city officials announced Davidson had been posthumously promoted to lieutenant. He is survived by his wife and four young children. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire [] Perhaps more consequentially for Mr. Shulkin, Mr. Trumps advisers say White House officials began to believe that Mr. Shulkin misled them about what would be in the report, which ushered in a new round of negative news media reports on the presidents cabinet. He made matters worse, they said, when he botched attempts to clean up the story and went public with fears about appointees trying to undermine the department from within. As stories about potential replacements began to circulate in mid-March, Mr. Trump summoned Mr. Shulkin to the Oval Office for what one person briefed on the discussion described as a tense meeting. An aide to Mr. Shulkin disputed that characterization. Mr. Shulkin has played down speculation about his departure as he has testified about the departments budget request for the coming fiscal year and met privately with lawmakers to discuss pending legislation to remake the departments approach to private care. He was scheduled to host a regular meeting on Thursday with leaders of the nations largest veterans groups. But he has proceeded with a curtailed public profile. The secretary was not on hand for a veterans event at the White House on Friday, for instance, and he is now hurried in and out of events by a security detail without taking questions from the press. Those who have spoken with the secretary said he had made it clear that he wanted to continue in the departments top job, but was increasingly isolated. Ashleigh F. Barry, a spokeswoman for the secretary, said on Tuesday only that Mr. Shulkin was focused on the work of the department. The speculation and mixed messages coming out of the White House have flummoxed key lawmakers in both parties, who continue to support the secretary, as well as many of the major veterans groups, which are congressionally chartered and largely apolitical. Organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion hold considerable sway over veterans policy in Washington, and they solidly back Mr. Shulkin. Though the groups were generally displeased with the findings turned up by the inspector general, they see the secretary as a pragmatic and effective leader who understands the challenges facing the departments sprawling health care system and has taken concrete steps to address them. The program, known as Deferred Enforced Departure, has been renewed for Liberians since, giving the immigrants the ability to remain in the United States without fear of deportation. But in the memo, Mr. Trump cited the improved conditions in Liberia as evidence that the program was no longer needed. Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance, Mr. Trump wrote. Liberia has also concluded reconstruction from prior conflicts, which has contributed significantly to an environment that is able to handle adequately the return of its nationals. Advocates for Liberians in the United States had urged Mr. Trump to simply extend the protections. Members of Congress from Minnesota, which has the largest Liberian population in the country, wrote a letter to Mr. Trump this month to echo those requests. Many of these people have been in our state for decades, and they are an important part of our communities, where they serve as business owners, teachers and health care workers, the lawmakers wrote, asking for an extension of the program. On Tuesday, Emira Woods, a Liberian-American advocate for immigrants, described the presidents decision as a mixed bag. She noted the year that Liberians have before facing deportation, but said ending the program would force them to abandon lives in the United States. Many of these Liberians had children in the United States, she said. Chief Daniel Hahn of the Sacramento Police Department said he welcomed the states involvement in the wake of extremely high emotions, anger and hurt in our city. He said his department would grant full access to state investigators. Image Stephon Clark Credit... Renee C. Byer/The Sacramento Bee Mr. Clark was killed March 18 by officers responding to a report of a suspect breaking the windows of vehicles. Officers confronted Mr. Clark in the backyard of his grandmothers home, where he lived, at which point he advanced toward the officers while extending an object, according to an initial police statement. Video from body cameras and a police helicopter overhead showed that officers shouted that Mr. Clark had a gun, and then fired 20 shots, continuing to shoot after he dropped to his hands and knees. When officers examined Mr. Clarks body, however, the only object they found was a cellphone. Benjamin Crump, a prominent civil rights lawyer retained by Mr. Clarks family and who earlier represented the family of Trayvon Martin of Florida, called on Monday for justice for Mr. Clark at a public appearance with Sacramento civil rights leaders. Mr. Becerra promised that the state, working with the local police, would pursue a thorough and fair investigation. In 1994, Nevest Coleman was a man with a bright future. He was 25, had two children, attended church in the Chicago area, and worked as a groundskeeper at Comiskey Park, the home of the White Sox. But that year, according to court documents, his life was upended. Mr. Coleman was falsely convicted of the rape and murder of a young woman and sent to prison. Last November, after he had spent 23 years behind bars, he was released based on DNA evidence that revealed he had not committed the crime, the documents say. So on Monday, Mr. Coleman, now 49, did what any free man with an independent streak would do. With a home-packed lunch in hand, he returned to work at the same site he had left decades before. I like to work for what I have, he told WGN-TV, speaking on his first day back after being rehired. The past is in the past now. As a doctor working in the I.C.U., I knew firsthand the frustrations of searching the electronic record for notes and scanned documents. But I had no idea how common this problem was. Through my interviews, I heard stories of patients who had been transferred to nursing facilities without their advance directives and returned to the hospital intubated when that was explicitly not what they wanted. Others told me about patients of theirs whod grown ill on vacation only to end up in a hospital theyd never been to, with an entirely different electronic medical record, where no one was able to access any prior documentation. Others described situations in which last minute saves through extreme diligence or chance, such as the one I experienced, had led to a good outcome. There are few existing regulations here, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service are relatively silent on advance care planning. In contrast to the rules around allergies, which mandate that all patients have an active med allergy list, electronic records simply need to have the capacity to show whether or not a patient has an advance directive, somewhere. They dont even need to make the directive retrievable. In the absence of nationwide standards, theres significant variability among hospitals and among electronic records. Some have worked to make end-of-life documentation more easily accessible. At my hospital, for example, clicking on an Advance Care Planning tab will bring you to a record of all advance care planning notes, health care proxy forms, scanned directives and code status orders. This is a start, but it wasnt enough for that elderly man in the emergency room. Habits are hard to break, and without a clear set of incentives, training and ongoing education, doctors (myself included) continue to record information about end-of-life conversations in progress notes, where they are not readily available, particularly when they are urgently needed. Recently, a handful of start-ups have stepped in, trying to offer a solution to the fact that different electronic records cant communicate with each other. Theres software and clever patient apps that work outside the electronic record, promising to build a repository of directives, proxy forms, even conversations. Just imagine, your E.D. doctor is fumbling to find your information in your chart, but you have an advance directive that was safely uploaded onto your smartphone. This most likely could have helped my patient that day if he had a smartphone and was able to show it to his doctors, or if his hospital had committed to buying the necessary software. What could really make a meaningful difference, I heard time and time again, is standards for sharing, or interoperability across all electronic records that would benefit every patient, everywhere. At least, all related advance care planning documentation should be in one place in the medical record and accessible with one simple click of the mouse. Beyond that, maybe all health systems could require identification of a health care proxy for all patients, so we would know who should make decisions if the patient cant. Maybe patients should be able to access their health records through a patient-facing interface, send in their own directives, or even update related notes. Ideally, the electronic record isnt just a clunky online version of a paper chart but actually a tool to help us do our jobs better. Yet as it is, were playing catch-up. Which is how my patient ended up in the hospital that night, with a team of well-meaning doctors readying to do something to him that he never would have wanted, and a resident racing down to the emergency room because hed happened upon a note. A 57-year-old quest to uncover the cause of the plane crash that killed Dag Hammarskjold, the secretary general of the United Nations, and turned into the organizations most haunting mystery, received new life on Tuesday, as the current secretary general extended the inquiry. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he had reauthorized the work of a prominent jurist, Mohamed Chande Othman, who has been investigating whether previously untapped sources of information, including declassified intelligence archives, could yield clues into the 1961 crash of the aircraft carrying Mr. Hammarskjold and 15 others on an African peace mission. Judge Othman, a former chief justice of Tanzania, produced a report for Mr. Guterres, released last October, that gave weight to a longstanding suspicion that Mr. Hammarskjold may have been assassinated. PARIS The aftermath of terrorist attacks in France has taken on a grim familiarity: political recriminations; the prosecutor of terrorism cases on the nightly news; the family photographs of the victims, their lives cut short. In the wake of Fridays attack in the small southern town of Trebes, what altered this violent narrative were the extraordinary actions of an individual whose heroism gave people a way to come together, and its culmination in a supermarket, an ordinary place familiar to every Frenchman and woman rural or urban, Christian or Muslim, young or old so that everyone was able to imagine being there. The hero was Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame of the French Gendarmerie who volunteered to exchange places with a hostage a cashier and was killed. He will be honored Wednesday in a ceremony at Les Invalides in Paris and eulogized by President Emmanuel Macron. One tries to understand it, but one cannot get there, said Patricia Perderiset, 65, a retiree who had been shopping in the Trebes market, the Super U, for Easter eggs for her grandchildren. Not all have led to formal charges and even fewer to convictions, but Dr. Hanel and other doctors see a trend that they say aims to prevent them from providing a legally allowed medical procedure. I cant believe that in this day and age the language and mind-set of the time when abortions were illegal continue to play a role in a country that is otherwise viewed by the rest of the world with respect, Dr. Hanel wrote on March 19 in an open letter to Ms. Merkel. I am ashamed and I hope that we can resolve this problem. This is not the first time Germans have struggled with the issue of abortion. The procedure was illegal in West Germany until the 1970s, when women took to the streets to demand the right to decide what happens with their bodies. In 1974, a law was passed legalizing abortion in the first trimester, but the countrys highest court overturned that ruling the following year. A compromise requiring permission from a doctor in order to be allowed an abortion was further eased in the 1990s, after East Germany where abortion was allowed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy was absorbed into the West, leading to the current legal agreement. Under that arrangement, abortion is a crime, but will not be prosecuted in the first 12 weeks if a woman undergoes counseling and a three-day waiting period. In neighboring Austria, Christian Fiala, a gynecologist, has advertised for years that his clinic offers abortions. Unwanted pregnancy? reads a billboard in the University station of Viennas subway that includes his clinics name and telephone number. A decade ago, he began collecting the names of German doctors who perform abortions and publishing them on his website, which is based in Austria and therefore not subject to German restrictions. Information is absolutely essential, because women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant need information urgently, Dr. Fiala said. This has nothing do with advertising that would make it easier for a woman to decide to have an abortion just because she sees a poster somewhere. That idea is not only completely absurd, it is pretty sexist. The photos are surreal, like a Martian ski slope or a toasted marshmallow sky. But why did some people in Eastern Europe last week see the world in sepia tones? The answer lies hundreds of miles away. The orange-brown filter applied briefly to that part of the world was caused by dense Saharan dust kicked into the air and swept north, experts said. The process began when a polar jet stream made its way farther south than usual last week, bringing the strong winds and thunderstorms needed to whip up the dust, according to Tyler Roys, a meteorologist with AccuWeather. A trail of storms have been going through Italy, the Balkans, Ukraine and into western Russia, and finally this last storm that finally moved through, an area of lower pressure closer to the northern coast of Libya, helped pull the dust up, he said in a phone interview. Mr. Rajoy dissolved the parliament of Catalonia, which represents one-fifth of the Spanish economy, and called new elections in December, which served only to confirm the profound split in Catalan society. Mr. Puigdemont and other separatists retained their narrow parliamentary majority, with almost exactly the same share of votes 47.5 percent as two years earlier. It seems absolutely counterproductive to use criminal law and this court to solve a politico-constitutional conflict, said Jose Antonio Martin Pallin, a former judge of the Supreme Court. Since Fridays court decision in Madrid, protesters have been back on the streets of Barcelona and other cities. Roger Torrent, the pro-independence speaker of the Catalan Parliament, is pushing for lawmakers to elect Mr. Puigdemont in absentia, though the former president has recently said he is no longer a candidate; opposition lawmakers want Mr. Torrent to resign, instead. Separatist lawmakers have two months to form an administration or force new elections. Puigdemonts arrest does not bridge the divisions between secessionist parties over what to do next, Antonio Barroso, a political analyst at consulting firm Teneo Intelligence in London, wrote in a note on Monday. The politics of Spain have also shifted: Mr. Rajoy now leads a minority government, and his center-right Peoples Party finished last in the Catalan election. He risks being outflanked by a center-right party, Ciudadanos, that was founded on an anti-secession platform and won the most votes in Catalonia in December. One can be critical of the leaders on both sides and how they have handled every part of this conflict, but I dont think this should be seen through the lens of a conflict between the rule of law and democracy, said Alan Solomont, a former United States ambassador to Spain who is now dean of the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. The better lens, Mr. Solomont argued, was that Catalonia is a region, subject to the Spanish Constitution of 1978, and a national government always has the right to enforce national law. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has renewed his attack on the Iran nuclear deal during a visit to the United States, saying the agreement would delay but not prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Delaying it and watching them getting that bomb, that means you are waiting for the bullet to reach your head, Prince Mohammed, 32, the heir to the Saudi throne, said Monday during his first meeting with editors and reporters from The New York Times. So you have to move from today. Prince Mohammed, on a cross-country charm offensive in the United States, is visiting Washington, New York, Silicon Valley, Houston and other areas. His trip is aimed at reinforcing ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States and drumming up American investment in the kingdom. He discussed his plans for economic and social changes in Saudi Arabia, his views on the kingdoms conflicts with Iran and Qatar and the war in Yemen. The meeting was off the record, but Saudi officials allowed some of Prince Mohammeds comments to be published. The founders of Turbo a design studio in Amman, Jordan built a set to photograph this model tiger as if it went to the jungle and it found some records. People often point to Beirut when they talk about design in the Middle East. Beirut is saturated, counter Mr. Abu-Jaber and Mr. Hussein. Amman is where you can try something new. Amman has long been transited by waves of migrants and refugees Palestinians, Egyptians, Iraqis and, more recently, Syrians. The citys openness has turned it into a growing, culturally diverse place where many young people want to establish themselves. Amman Design Week, sponsored in part by the Jordanian government, has been held twice now, with exhibitions of work by designers from around the region. And a creative community has developed (and gentrified) the trendy Weibdeh neighborhood, which has been likened to Brooklyns Williamsburg. The large storefront of Turbo drew attention to a pop-up shop it held in 2016 for the bold, architectural chairs of a Palestinian furniture company, Local Industries. Mr. Abu-Jaber and Mr. Hussein run Turbo, which is just outside Weibdeh, like an experiment at the edge of that community. From their workspace on the studios mezzanine, they create brand identities and graphics for clients, including a local family-owned farm and an embroidery start-up. But on the main floor, they play, building large-scale installations for Design Week and hosting any artists or events that excite them. The way it works is the upper space is funding the lower space, explains Mr. Abu-Jaber. Since Turbo opened in mid-2016, the lower space has been a gallery for local artists and photographers, a public music recording studio, and a pop-up shop for the bold, architectural chairs of Local Industries, a Palestinian furniture company. Turbos poster for its Local Industries pop-up uses an architectural drawing style to convey depth in the bold colors of the furniture. On a family trip to Amman in 2016, I was eager to visit Turbo. Almost as soon as I opened the door, a smiling Mr. Abu-Jaber popped up from the mezzanine to welcome me as if we were old friends. I talked with him and Mr. Hussein about their approach, their city and the design challenge found in posters. Our conversations have been condensed and edited for clarity, and a portion was translated from Arabic. How did you meet? SAEED ABU-JABER We met four or five years ago. I had a designer-crush on Mothannas work. A mutual friend of ours has a company called Philadelphia Skateboards based in Jordan and they had this exhibition where they gave different artists a skateboard deck to illustrate. So I did mine and dropped it off, and then suddenly my phone rings and its Mothanna. He was like, I really like your skateboard, and I want it. After that he came to Beirut when I was living there and we became better friends. MOTHANNA HUSSEIN I used to go to Beirut because there was someone there named Saeed sitting on a rug, playing good music. There was peace. ABU-JABER In Beirut, too, the design scene is a bit stronger. Most of the poster work I did was in Beirut because there was this kind of challenge where walking down the street there were always posters on the walls and I felt like, O.K., Im going to do better than this. And theres something very nice about a poster. I love the medium. I love how temporary it is. Posters designed by Saeed Abu-Jaber. He said had been playing with combinations of typefaces, as in the poster he designed for Superfine Art. Why come back to Amman? HUSSEIN There is something here in Amman, but its not clear yet. We used to go to Beirut and use the nature, use the place, but we wouldnt take anything from them. We feel that its not right for us to take from other places because what they have is theirs. ABU-JABER We grew up here. Theres plenty of room in Amman to try and do something a bit different. HUSSEIN Here, where could one take from? Theres not a Bauhaus or a De Stijl. Theres nothing you could say is the school. Or, maybe there will be, but not now. So, you want to take from these old schools or the people around you but not in an obvious way. I think a smart designer is a smart thief. Here you can be a smart thief. ABU-JABER Mothanna is very observant, way more than I am. The fact that he was here and I was out of the country most of the time I was in England and then Beirut he knows this place more than I do for sure. Hes able to translate that very well, both graphically and visually. And its important. Posters and artwork by Mothanna Hussein. He built a custom light box to experiment with photographing objects like this fish in a glass. Was it challenging to start? HUSSEIN Everyone was against the idea of Turbo. But with Saeed, it was like, Lets do this thing who cares about everyone else? The world always has opinions about what youre doing. But when they see it, khalas,* they love it. ABU-JABER I had nervous breakdowns sometimes! Were still figuring it out. And we moved in and realized its a really big place. Were like two children who built a castle with pillows thats too big and we want friends to come and play. Itll be fun. HUSSEIN And Weibdeh, as a place, khalas. People want to come down here. ABU-JABER Its in Wast al-Balad, on one of the oldest streets in Amman. For the longest time, it just had travel agencies. If you walk down this street, there are six or seven. Theres so much foot traffic. We want to do something where people come in. *Khalas is an Arabic word that translates to, Its done. The designers screenprinted their poster for Never Records, a traveling, public music recording studio, on plywood. The poster for Turbos new cafe uses the Arabic lettering from a mural in the studio that reads, Yes .. Yes. Mr. Abu-Jaber and Mr. Hussein use grids to design within a visual system, they said, like in this poster for a workshop on the elements of Arabic type. How did you come up with the name? HUSSEIN We talked about a lot of names. Then one time we were on the phone and Saeed suggested Turbo, and I said, Yes, thats it. ABU-JABER Its so hard to name something. We had pages for weeks just saying the stupidest things. HUSSEIN You can put it wherever you want, in any sentence. There is a local thing where people describe others by saying, Wallah,* this guy, hes turbo. His work is turbo. It means hes fast and smart. Equip your children with facts about the racist history of our society and ongoing racism, so black boys dont blame themselves for any unfair treatment they receive. Research has shown that youth who are aware of racial discrimination and whose parents have prepared them tend to be less negatively affected when it happens. When teaching children about racism, it also is incredibly important to highlight all of the ways in which blacks have resisted mistreatment and persisted in the face of adversity. This includes learning about black heroes and heroines. Racial pride has been associated with better academic and mental health outcomes, and can protect black boys from some of the harmful effects of discrimination. Parents can support their boys in identifying black male role models, especially in career domains that align with youths interests. Building mentoring relationships with positive black men in youths everyday lives can ensure that black boys are getting the advice and support they need to succeed. Parents also can get involved with their childrens schools and become members of local school boards, where they can identify discriminatory disciplinary practices and academic outcomes. This is my best parenting advice, but I want to stress that our attention should not be limited to helping black boys succeed against the odds. Rather, our focus should include changing the odds -- which means collectively working to eradicate racism from our society. If President Trump actually meets Kim Jong-un in the next few months an encounter that many American officials still doubt will come to pass his challenge will be much larger than merely persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Mr. Trump must also get Pyongyang to give up the factories, reactors and nuclear-enrichment facilities that produce the nuclear fuel needed to build more weapons even as new satellite evidence suggests that North Korea is expanding its production. Feb. 25, 2018 N Main entrance Emissions from stack Reactor Control room Turbine generator building Reactor entrance New reactor Electrical yard N Main entrance Emissions from stack Reactor Control room Turbine generator building Reactor entrance New reactor Electrical yard Image from DigitalGlobe via Janes Intelligence Review The satellite image above shows a new North Korean reactor that appears to be coming online now, after years of construction, according to analysts. It sits in the Yongbyon nuclear complex, where the North began its nuclear program in the 1960s. Today, the site boasts hundreds of buildings that lie along a loop of the Kuryong River and cover an area of more than three square miles. North Korea insists the reactor is intended to produce electricity for civilian use. But the new reactor can also make plutonium, one of the main fuels used in nuclear arms. It can thus supplement the output of the aging, existing facilities at Yongbyon. Making bomb fuel in reactors is seen as easier to do than perfecting missiles that can hurl nuclear arms around the globe. While experts clash over how soon the North will develop warheads that can survive the blistering heats of re-entry, they agree that the North has already mastered the art of using reactors to make plutonium. Factoring in Nuclear Fuel The new reactor could be a central issue in the Trump-Kim talks, if the goal, as the United States insists, is complete denuclearization. Even if Mr. Kim agrees to a freeze on nuclear and missile testing, he would still be able to accumulate more bomb fuel for a larger arsenal as long as the negotiations dragged on. This was a critical issue in the Iran negotiations, where President Barack Obama negotiated a freeze on new production of significant quantities of new nuclear fuel, though it expires in 13 years. It is unclear whether Mr. Trump could extract a similar halt in production from North Korea. But if the talks fail, or simply drag on, the reactor could also be part of the justification for military action at least if the past arguments of Mr. Trumps newly appointed national security adviser, John R. Bolton, prevail. In March 2015, just before the Iran deal was struck, Mr. Bolton argued in a New York Times op-ed that neither negotiations nor sanctions would stop Iran from bolstering its nuclear and weapons programs. He has since made similar arguments about North Korea. The inconvenient truth is that only military action like Israels 1981 attack on Saddam Husseins Osirak reactor in Iraq or its 2007 destruction of a Syrian reactor, designed and built by North Korea, can accomplish what is required, Mr. Bolton wrote. Time is terribly short, but a strike can still succeed. Before and after the announcement of Mr. Boltons appointment last week, the National Security Council did not respond to several requests for comment on the evidence that North Koreas new reactor is being started up. Mr. Bolton assumes his new role on April 9. An Increase in Activity The image of the North Korean reactor above, from Feb. 25, shows what look like emissions from a smokestack. That suggests that preliminary testing may have begun at the new reactor, according to a report by Janes Intelligence Review and the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. The plant is called the experimental light water reactor. It has the potential to make 25 to 30 megawatts of electricity, enough to power a small town. The plant could also potentially produce about 20 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium each year, according to the Institute for Science and International Security, a private group in Washington that tracks nuclear weapons. This would be more than four times the amount made annually by the Norths only other large reactor, which has long supplied the country with plutonium for its nuclear arsenal. Imagery analysts at Stanford found that activity around the new reactor increased significantly in 2017, suggesting that the North has been rushing toward its full operation. N New reactor Personnel on pathway N Vehicle and objects at reactor entrance N Personnel, equipment and vehicles at reactor entrance N Vehicle and objects at reactor entrance N Shadow of crane Tower crane at reactor entrance Image from Airbus DS via Janes Intelligence Review Throughout 2017, analysts observed what appeared to be major work to complete a river cooling system, shown below, for the new reactor. Nov. 26, 2017 N Existing reactor New reactor Transport road Small dam for reactors water intake Cistern Possible hot water discharge line Cold water intake channels River cooling system for new reactor Embankment Kuryong River N New reactor Transport road Small dam for reactors water intake Cistern Possible hot water discharge line Cold water intake channels River cooling system for new reactor Embankment Kuryong River Image from Airbus DS via Janes Intelligence Review Analysts also found some evidence that could support North Koreas assertion that the new reactor would be used for power generation. Satellite images appeared to show that power lines and a transmission tower had been erected around the site. There are a number of objects that have been put in place that lead me and a number of experts to the conclusion that this might be used for production of electricity, said Allison Puccioni of the Stanford team. She cautioned against assuming that North Korea sees the reactor as a way to make more fuel for nuclear weapons. But the potential is there, and the North long ago banned international inspectors who carefully monitor what happens to the plutonium in used reactor fuel. Oct. 28, 2017 N Existing reactor New reactor Power transmission tower Kuryong River Power line N New reactor Power transmission tower Power line Kuryong River Image from Airbus DS via Janes Intelligence Review A History of Nuclear Development and Talks of Denuclearization North Korea first began operating a nuclear reactor in the 1980s at Yongbyon, according to declassified C.I.A. documents and a report by Siegfried S. Hecker, a former director of the Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico who has visited the Yongbyon complex multiple times. The image below highlights not only the two reactors but the plutonium reprocessing plant, where the North mines spent reactor fuel for the precious radioactive metal that can power nuclear arms. Jan. 17, 2018 Existing reactor New reactor Kuryong River YONGBYON Plutonium reprocessing facility Fuel-fabrication and uranium-enrichment facilities Image from DigitalGlobe via Institute for Science and International Security In 1986, North Korea began operating the five-megawatt reactor, which some analysts say has produced the nations entire supply of plutonium. A 60-foot cooling tower, which carries waste heat away from the old reactor by emitting steam, was one of the most visible parts of the nuclear fuel operations at Yongbyon. N Existing reactor Steam from cooling tower Dredging Dredging activity in river Steam from cooling tower Dredging activity in river Steam from cooling tower Dredging activity in river Steam from cooling tower Dredging activity in river Image from DigitalGlobe via Google Earth After six-nation nuclear talks in 2007, North Korea agreed to shut down all facilities at the sprawling Yongbyon complex, and in 2008, the 60-foot cooling tower, one of the most visible reactor structures, was demolished. Video of the event was broadcast around the world. As a gesture of good faith, said Ms. Puccioni, they destroyed the cooling tower, ostensibly to show the world that they are no longer going to use the five-megawatt reactor. In truth, the destruction of the cooling tower was mostly a symbolic step that did little to undo the vast enterprise at Yongbyon. In 2010, satellite imagery showed signs that the North was beginning construction of a new reactor. N N Construction began for new reactor New roads More signs of construction Additional structures Footpint of reactor dome Buildings completed Footprint of reactor dome Additonal structure Piping Reactor dome completed Building completed Construction appears completed A new fence or wall Image from DigitalGlobe via Google Earth By 2013, the exterior of the new reactor appeared to be completed, and activity around it was relatively stagnant after that, according to the Stanford group. Dr. Hecker, with two other nuclear engineering experts, wrote in the Korea Observer in 2016 that North Korea was still developing the technology needed to start the reactor. Over roughly the same period, the country began taking steps to get its old reactor running again, despite earlier promises to abandon the plant. In 2013, satellite images revealed a new trench connecting the reactor to the Kuryong River. It would become part of a new cooling system to replace the destroyed cooling tower. After that, analysts observed periodic discharges of hot water from the reactor into the river. N Existing reactor Possible trench for hot water discharge Dredging activity in river Water discharge suggests activity at the reactor Dredging activity in river Water discharge from reactor Dredging activity in river Possible trenches for new reactor Water discharge from reactor Image from DigitalGlobe via Google Earth In a satellite image from Jan. 17, 2018, steam is visible from the existing five-megawatt reactors turbine building, and hot water appears to be melting snow at a discharge pipe. The evidence suggests that the reactor could again be in active use. The five-megawatt reactor has been in continuous operation more or less for the entirety of 2017, said Ms. Puccioni, who has been studying satellite imagery of Yongbyon for almost a decade. Jan. 17, 2018 N Existing reactor New reactor Steam from reactor turbine building Power transmission tower Small dam built for reactors water intake Hot water discharge Kuryong River N Existing reactor New reactor Steam from reactor turbine building Power transmission tower Small dam built for reactors water intake Hot water discharge Kuryong River N Existing reactor New reactor Steam Hot water discharge Kuryong River Image from DigitalGlobe via Institute for Science and International Security The development and operation of the two reactors at the Yongbyon site threatens to complicate any talks on a freeze of the Norths activities, and on the ultimate goal of denuclearization. Yet the issue is not insurmountable. The usual approach is to rely on inspectors who ensure that no spent reactor fuel gets mined for plutonium. The International Atomic Energy Agency did so before at Yongbyon, before its inspectors were expelled, and could surely do so again. Trump administration officials say the denuclearization inspections, however, would have to cover the entire country, because there are suspected undeclared uranium enrichment facilities outside of Yongbyon. A woman who helped at the scene of the Buncrana pier tragedy has said she did not realise the estate of one of the deceased would be included in legal proceedings issued on her behalf. Stephanie Knox, a cardiac physiologist, said she has received a number of abusive messages after reports emerged of her lodging a damages claim over the tragedy in March 20016 which claimed the lives of five members of the one family. Sean McGrotty (48), his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), their maternal grandmother Ruth Daniels (58) and aunt Jodie-Lee Daniels (14) died when their car slid into Lough Swilly from Buncrana pier on March 20th, 2016. An inquest found they died by misadventure. Noel McGrotty (86), the father of Sean, has said he received notification of the claim last week. Stephanie Knox and her then partner Davitt Walsh came on the scene of the tragedy. Mr Walsh swam out to the submerged car and rescued Seans baby daughter Rionaghac-Ann. Ms Knox is suing for "loss of earnings and other matters". She says she knew the claim would be issued against Donegal County Council and the insurance company, but didnt realise the estate of the deceased family would be included in proceedings. I am under so much stress and heartache and I would love it to just blow over, Ms Knox told Independent.ie. I knew there was a claim being made against the council and the insurance company...I know what theyre (the family) going through is hard. A solicitor for Ms Knox said last night she did not send a letter claiming compensation to Sean McGrotty's father. He confirmed that "she is making a claim, on the advice of her legal team, against Donegal county council and the estate for injuries sustained. Maoliosa Barr, of Barr and Company Solicitors in Derry, told the Irish News "she did not send any letter to the McGrotty family". The Irish News reported that it is understood the letter was sent by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, which provides independent assessments of non-medical compensation claims. She is making a claim, on the advice of her legal team, against Donegal County Council and the estate for injuries sustained, Mr Barr said. Ms Knox has posted on Facebook that she assumed her claim would have been against Donegal County Council and an insurance company. Never in my life did I think it would be coming from the family, she wrote. She said she lodged a claim because she had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the tragedy. Noel McGrotty told the Derry News he had received a legal letter from Ms Knox, claiming an undisclosed amount from the estate of his late son for loss of earnings and other matters. "It was a private delivery and I had to sign for it; it was a big envelope full of legal documents - hard for the ordinary man in the street to understand," he said. "Then I saw the name Knox and realised it was from the girl that took the baby when she was brought out of the water that day." Ms Knoxs sister Laura posted on Facebook that Stephanie was informed by the gardai that people who were on the pier that day were claiming so Stephanie went to her solicitor for advice. Stephanie is not the type of person that people are making her out to be all over Facebook and anyone who actually knows her would know this. Stephanie would never be as spiteful to claim off an 86 year old man. She was under the impression that the claim was against the Donegal council and due to the same reason that the family were claiming for - algae being on the slipway and other reasons. That day has ruined her life forever witnessing 5 people die in front of her and her life will never be the same. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Tributes have poured in for a young Portarlington girl who has died following a battle with Cyctic Fibrosis. Racheal Flanagan, from St Michaels Park, Portarlington, passed away on Sunday morning, March 25 surrounded by her loving family at the Mater Hospital Dublin. The 19-year-old was a recipient of a double lung transplant in 2016. She lost her long battle against Cystic Fibrosis and will be laid to rest on Wednesday. Funeral mass for Rachael will take place at St Michaels Church in Portarlington at noon on Wednesday. Rachaels father Padraig was heavily involved with Portarlington GAA club and they led the tributes. The club shared a statement on Facebook. Portarlington GAA Club would like to extend our deepest sympathies to a former player and manager Padraig Flanagan and his family on the death of his daughter Rachael who sadly passed away this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very tragic time. May she RIP. Ar dheis de go raibh a h-anam. Ms Flanagan was a past pupil of Colaiste Iosagain and the school shared a touching tribute on Twitter. "We are very sorry to hear of the death of our past pupil Rachael Flanagan. She was brave, courageous and a fighter to the end. Rest in peace dear Rachael. Our sympathies to her Mam, Dad and all the family." Tributes have poured in from the wider Portarlington community with hundreds of comments on the Love Port Facebook page tribute. "Deepest sympathy to the family of Rachael Flanagan, St Michael's Park who became an angel today after fighting a brave battle through her young life. We send sincere condolences to her parents Rose and Padraig, her brother Ronan and sister Alison, the extended Flanagan and Donegan families and Rachel's many friends. Rest in Peace Rachel." Friends, neighbours and members of the public have also left messages. "Rest in peace Rachael you have truly earned your angel wings. St Michaels park will never be the same without you sweetheart xx," said Pauline Kelly-Reed. "May you rest in peace Rachael, a beautiful angel, our thoughts and prayers are with your family, you will never be forgotten," said Helen Brereton. "My condolences to the family and friends of Rachael. I didn't know her personally but I knew of her through her friends. I know how strong she was and how loved she is. Love to you all at this very sad time x," said Martina Keogh. Anti-BJP front: Who all are likely to be part of it? India oi-Vikas By Vikas Hectic parleys are underway and Mamata Banerjee seems to be at the center of a grand plan to stitch an 'anti-BJP' front ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief, is leaving no stone unturned to galvanise the opposition parties for a united fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The TMC supremo, who is in Delhi today, visited Parliament and met leaders of several opposition parties, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Raut. Banerjee is also scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Pawar today, where discussions regarding forging an anti-BJP front are likely to take shape. Is this new front in making keen to include the Congress or not is something that needs to be seen. Last week, TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao called on Banerjee in Kolkata and both stressed on the need for a front comprising of regional parties to stop the BJP. KCR had earlier called for a non-BJP and non-Congress front. Another thing to note is that Banerjee had skipped the dinner that was hosted by the UPA chief earlier this month. Today's dinner is expected to be the second biggest gathering after Sonia Gandhi's dinner earlier this month, which was attended by 19 parties, including the CPI(M), NCP and Samajwadi Party. For that dinner, Banerjee had sent Sudip Bandopadhyay, citing personal work. Banerjee is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi during her Delhi visit. BJP rebels Shatrughan Sinha and Yashwant Sinha are also becoming a problem for the saffron party and it remains to be seen how the BJP would handle them. Banerjee is set to meet both Sinhas. "Yes, Sonia ji is unwell right now and recovering, will meet her once she is fine.Tomorrow will meet Shatrughan Sinha ji, Yashwant Sinha ji, and Arun Shourie ji. Will certainly go if they (Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav) call us for a meeting to Lucknow," Banerjee said today (March 27). Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee met TRS MP K Kavitha earlier today pic.twitter.com/EfasBFrK8b ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 Moves by the TDP, which recently severed ties with the NDA, will also be closely watched. Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit Delhi next week and meet representatives of all political parties. Shiv Sena is still part of the NDA but the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has been one of the most severe critics of the Modi government. Shiv Sena, one of oldest allies of the BJP, has time and again come out in the open to criticise the BJP. Sanjay Raut had even hinted that they may contest 2019 polls on their own. But the question is still about the inclusion of Congress in this front. They may have been reduced to less than 50 seats in the Lok Sabha, but Congress is still a national party and seen as principle opposition to the BJP. Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily had last week said that any attempt form an anti-BJP front without Congress is "not desirable". OneIndia News CJI swings in action, meets senior judges to take stock of of COVID-19 situation Class 5 girl from Kerala writes to CJI hailing SC's effective intervention in COVID issues, gets reply Need to instil ideals of Swami Vivekananda in today's youth: CJI Ramana Congress circulates draft proposal to impeach CJI Dipak Mishra India oi-Vikas By Vikas The Congress has circulated a draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra to the other opposition parties, reported news agency ANI while quoting sources. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan met earlier today to discuss a possible impeachment motion against the CJI Misra. Leaders of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) discussed the possibility of moving an impeachment motion against Misra in Parliament last week, The Economic Times reported. A lot of opposition parties have signed a draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra. Many parties like NCP,Left parties and I think TMC and Congress also have signed it: DP Tripathi,NCP pic.twitter.com/04O8iKwibl ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 The leaders felt that Misra has not adequately addressed the matters the four judges who held a press conference on January 11 had raised. In January, justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurien Joseph had alleged that Misra was assigning important cases in an arbitrary manner to junior judges, ignoring these four senior judges. OneIndia News 'Congress was Cambridge Analytica's client', says whistleblower Christopher Wylie India oi-Vikas By Vikas In a major twist to series of events related to data theft, Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower who brought to the fore misuse of Facebook data, on Tuesday said he believed that the Congress party was a client of Cambridge Analytica. The revelation assumes significance as the BJP, had last week, questioned links between the Congress and Cambridge Analytica, the data mining firm accused of harvesting personal information from Facebook illegally to influence polls in several countries. "I believe their (Cambridge Analytica) client was Congress. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India is so big that one state can be as big as Britain," reports quoted Wylie as saying while responding to a question on Cambridge Analytica's work in India by British Labour Party politician Paul Farrelly. Information Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has demanded Rahul Gandhi's apology and said that Wylie's revelation has exposed the Congress. "Today the whistleblower Christopher Wylie has confirmed that Cambridge Analytica worked with Congress. This has exposed Rahul Gandhi who was denying all along. Congress and Rahul Gandhi must now apologise," he said. The IT Ministry had earlier asked Cambridge Analytica - the firm at the centre of Facebook data breach scandal - to respond by March 31 on six questions, including how the company had collected user data, whether consent was taken from the individuals, and how the data was used. [Govt invented Congress-Cambridge Analytica link to divert attention from Mosul deaths: Rahul] Cambridge Analytica's chief executive Alexander Nix has been suspended after he was exposed in a sting by Britain's Channel 4 News, while Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been forced to issue a statement outlining his firm's role in the scandal and apologise. What is Cambridge Analytica? Cambridge Analytica, a data-driven company, which is in the eye of a storm in the wake of Facebook data breach offers services to businesses and political parties who want to "change audience behaviour". Mainly, Cambridge Analytica offers services in two categories. A. Data-driven marketing: We measurably improve your brand's marketing effectiveness by changing consumer behaviour. B. Data-driven campaigns: By knowing your electorate better, we achieve greater influence while lowering overall costs. The company claims to combine behavioural psychology with a statistically robust research methodology to provide the fullest picture of consumer behaviour, competition, and trends. After reviewing existing customer knowledge base, Cambridge Analytica conducts custom research projects tailored to specific needs of clients. [Facebook data breach: Govt issues notice to Cambridge Analytica] Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques, incorporating unique behavioural sciences methodology, they map out an in-depth picture of audiences. The company collects data from a wide range of sources, including social media platforms such as Facebook, and its own polling. The company was established in 2013 as an offshoot of another company called SCL Group, which offers similar services around the world. It's headquarters is in London. Alexander Nix was the CEO till he was suspended by the Board of Cambridge Analytica, pending a full, independent investigation. According to reports, Nix developed the political arm of the business. Last year, he told Techcrunch of plans to publish a book about the company, provisionally titled 'Mad men to maths men'. Julian Wheatland is the Chief Financial Officer and DR Alex Tayler is Chief Data Officer. The managing director of Cambridge Analytica's political division is Mark Turnbull, who spent 18 years at the communications firm Bell Pottinger before joining SCL. OneIndia News SKM to observe May 26 as 'black day' to mark 6 months of protest against farm laws Sad day for democracy if line between right to protest, terrorist activity blur: High Court IYC to protest against EC after Amit Malviya tweeted about K'taka Elections dates India oi-Shreya The Indian Youth Congress on March 27 will stage a protest march against Election Commission for allegedly leaking its confidential details pertaining to the election dates of Karnataka Assembly to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. In an unprecedented move even before the election commission announcing the dates of Karnataka Assembly Elections, 2018 the IT cell head of the ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party Amit Malviya tweeted about the dates of the Karnataka Assembly election. Protesting against the data leak, IYC is going to stage a protest march from IYC National Office at Raisina Road towards the office of the Election Commission of India. IYC will also demand that notices are issued to Bharatiya Janata Party President, Amit Shah and to register an FIR against BJP IT head for obtaining the confidential details of Election Commission and for leaking the same in the public domain. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 OneIndia News KGF 2 teaser release date out, Yash looks dashing and intense in new poster, check out here Kannada actress Jayanthi hospitalised India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Yesteryear Kannada actress Jayanthi has been hospitalised after her condition deteriorated on Sunday evening. The actress is reportedly suffering from asthma. The actress has been admitted to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru. Her son, Krishna Kumar said that she is responding well to the treatment. Jayanthi is known for her contributions to southern film industry films from the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. She has appeared in over 500 films, including films in the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi languages. The Kannada film industry has honoured her with the title "Abhinaya Sharadhe", meaning Goddess Sharada in acting. She has received two Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Actress, the President's Medal for Best Actress and two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress throughout her career. She has been cited as Kannada cinema's "most bold and beautiful" actress by various media outlets, a title for which she has received substantial publicity. Jayanthi has acted in over 500 movies across languages such as Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi, having shared the screen with legendary actors such as MG Ramachandran (MGR) and Dr Rajkumar. OneIndia News A Look back at CMs who completed full 5-year term in history of Karnataka BJP chief Amit Shah's slip of tongue embarrasses BS Yeddyurappa India oi-Madhuri BJP national president Amit Shah embarrassed his state president B S Yeddyurappa with his slip of the tongue by calling him as the most corrupt government ever. Shah said,"if there were ever a competition for the most corrupt government then the (BJP's) Yeddyurappa government would come first". As soon as Shah said that at a press conference he was holding in Bengaluru, BSY - who was earlier CM of Karnataka - and sitting to Shah's right, leaned over to him, possibly to correct him. Then Shah amended what he said - that he meant "Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government". After the press conference, Yeddyurappa said the Shah gaffe was a slip of tongue, nothing more. Meanwhile, Congress leader Siddaramaiah called the BJP president Amit Shah "the Shah of Lies" and said he's finally speaking the truth. Taking to Twitter, Siddaramaiah said,'' Amit Shah the #ShahOfLies, thanks to him for finally saying the truth over Shah's blooper of calling Yeddyurappa corrupt.'' Of course, the Congress couldn't pass up this opportunity. In no time, Divya Spandana of the Karnataka unit of the Congress party tweeted,"Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth- we all concur with you Amit ji BSY-BJP is the most corrupt!". Also, Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweets about Amit Shah's blooper after the latter called BS Yeddyurappa corrupt. OneIndia News Karnataka polls: AAPs bicycle rally pedals for honest alternative political system in Bengaluru India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Bengaluru, March 27: Days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its first list of 18 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, leaders and members of the party took out a bicycle rally in Bengaluru on Sunday. The bicycle rally was hosted to campaign for Shantinagar assembly constituency candidate of the party, Renuka Vishwanathan, a retired IAS officer. Around 150 cyclists took part in the rally which pedalled its way through various thoroughfares of the IT hub. The rally began at Shantinagar, and bikers covered areas including Nanjappa Circle, MG Road, Kadugodi, Old Madras Road, Dommaluru and Indiranagar in the city, before coming back to their starting point at Shantinagar. AAP Karnataka convener Prithvi Reddy, who flagged off the bicycle rally, said that people were fed up with the maladministration and opportunism of the three major political parties--the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S))--in Karnataka. "People are hoping for a real alternative. Youth and women joining the AAP in a large number itself prove their dissatisfaction with the ruling party, Congress, in Karnataka. The AAP promises to be the voice of the people and usher in an honest alternative political system in the state," added Reddy, who is also contesting elections from Bengaluru's Sarvagnanagar constituency. A group of AAP's NRI volunteers from New Zealand and the United States (US) took part in the rally. "We are here to support the AAP. Karnataka needs better leaders to take the state forward. We want an honest party like the AAP to lead the state towards growth and development," said one of the NRI participants at the rally. The elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly are likely to take place between the last week of April and the first week of May. In the coming days, the AAP is likely to announce a few more candidates for the elections. AAP members said campaigning is taking place in full swing across the state. Mostly, the AAP candidates are relying on door-to-door campaigning, said a leader of the party, which is fighting its first Assembly elections in Karnataka. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 OneIndia News Cannot order for use of traditional remedies like Red Ant Chutney as cure for COVID-19: SC Dont want terrorists to know what software is being used: Centre to SC on Pegasus row Khaps cannot stop marriage between consenting adults rules Supreme Court India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Terming the interference by Khap Panchayats in marriages between adults as absolutely illegal, the Supreme Court directed the government to come up with a law. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra said that attempts to scuttle a marriage between two consenting adults are illegal. The court which laid down guidelines to protect couples and also to stop interference by Khaps or any panchayat said that the same would be in force until the government frames a law. The court also said that an adult boy or girl can get into marriages of their choice and no panchayat, khap, individual, parents or society can question it. The court said that no panchayat or khap can summon an adult boy or girl for a marriage alliance of their choice and punish them. The amicus curiae in the case, Ramachandran said that the law commission had recommended enacting a law to protect couples going in for inter-caste marriages. The Supreme Court reiterated that when two consenting adults get married, no relative or assembly can oppose it through violence or threats. While reserving the verdict on the issue, the court said that it would not refer to caste, gothra or village panchayats as khap in its verdict. The Centre had told the court that those couples who fear for their lives from relatives or khaps must inform the marriage officer at the time of registering their marriages. The officer, in turn, could intimate the police to give protection to the couples, the Centre also said. The Centre also said that threats to any two adults married out of their own choice should be dealt with a law and order issue. Law and order squarely fall under the domain of the state government, the Centre also said. OneIndia News Calcutta HC reserves order on bypoll seat to be contested by Mamata Banerjee Opposition alliance? Mamata Banerjee meets NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena in Delhi India oi-Deepika By Deepika Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Delhi on a four-day visit, met Opposition MPs in Parliament on Tuesday. Mamata met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. She also met Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP K. Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Opposition parties are trying to make an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 general elections. Banerjee is also expected to meet UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A strident critic of the BJP-led central government and its policies, Banerjee had recently called for unity among all the anti-BJP forces to defeat the saffron party in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Banerjee had earlier emphasised on forming a federal front to take on the BJP, which has also emerged as a strong force in West Bengal. A large section of the Trinamool Congress also wants to see her playing a key role in national politics if the non-NDA parties are able to form a majority in 2019. OneIndia News Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar faces angry locals as he visits flood-hit Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh Swachh Survekshan 2021: Indore, India's cleanest city is now the country's first 'water plus' city Viral video: Bangle seller thrashed in MP's Indore; Minister says used fake name Over 1 crore people in MP fully vaccinated against COVID-19 MP government recommends CBI probe into Bhind journalist's death India oi-Madhuri Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday recommended CBI probe into Bhind journalist Sandeep Sharma,'s death who had been investigating the alleged nexus between the sand mafia and the police. Earlier on Monday, the police had arrested the driver identified as Ranvir Singh, who do not possess a licence to drive heavy vehicles. The state police had announced that a Special Investigative Team (SIT) was being set up to investigate Sharma's death. Sandeep Sharma, a journalist with a national news channel, was on a motorcycle when a dumper behind him suddenly veered to the left - crushing Sharma instantly The entire incident was caught on CCTV camera which raises suspicion that Sharma may, in fact, have been murdered as the manner in which the dumpster swayed appears suspicious. The accident took place near the Kotwali police station. The issue had also attracted criticism from Congress leader Jytoiraditya Scindia, who demanded a CBI inquiry into Sharma's death. OneIndia News Mumbai: 26-year-old TV actor Karan Paranjape found dead at his residence India oi-Madhuri TV actor Karan Paranjape aka Jignesh of popular show Dill Mill Gayye, who was just 26-years-old, was found dead at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday. According to reports, Karan Paranjpe was found dead at his residence at around 11 am. However, the cause of the death is not known yet. If reports to be believed, Karan may have suffered a heart attack in his sleep. Karan's death shocked his co-star Karan Wahi and the actor paid his last respects to his friend. Wahi took to Instagram and wrote, "U will be missed dear JIGS. Rest in peace my friend." Last month, Bollywood actress Sridevi passed away in Dubai where she went to attend her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding. The cause of death was initially believed to be a cardiac arrest but was later confirmed as accidental drowning by the actress' forensic report. OneIndia News Bengaluru metro to not open gates at stations in containment zones; Check guidelines here NBF says IPS Roopa D Moudgil was never offered Namma Bengaluru Award India oi-Madhuri Days after her action Namma Bengaluru Foundation on Tuesday released a statement on Inspector General of Police (Home Guard and Civil Defence, Bengaluru) IPS officer Roopa D Moudgil's refusal of Namma Bengaluru Award, stating, that the award was never offered to her in the first place, reported news agency PTI. Countering the IPS officer's claim, the NBF's statement reads, "She was never offered this award & so there was no case of her turning it down." Earlier it was reported that IPS D Roopa, who exposed preferential treatment to jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala inside the prison, refused to accept 'Namma Bengaluru Award' as it also carries a high cash reward. "Every government servant is expected to maintain neutrality and equidistance from all quasi-political bodies and associations that have even the bare minimum political overtone. Only then a public servant can maintain a clean and fair image in the eyes of the public," read Roopa's letter, according to ANI. 'Namma Bengaluru Award', is given by non-profit organisation Namma Bengaluru Foundation. The NBF, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, offers awards in Bengaluru to NGOs and others and the officer was nominated under the Government Official of the Year category this year. Roopa first came into the limelight when as Dharwad SP she arrested the then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti after rushing to Bhopal with her team. In 2017, Roopa's report as DIG(Prisons) laying bare alleged irregularities in the Parapana Agrahara Central Jail here, including preferential treatment to Sasikala, had stirred a hornet's nest. Sasikala is in jail serving her four-year-term in a disproportionate assets case. OneIndia News Karnataka: Will Congress not allow Kumaraswamy to be CM for full 5-year term? Is it chief minister Kumaraswamy or chief manager of Congress Ktaka ATM? BJP has an answer All is well between Congress, JD(S)? Kumaraswamy meets Rahul as Karnataka waits for full cabinet 'No alliance with JD(S), will fight independently on every seat,' says Amit Shah India oi-Deepika By Deepika BJP Chief Amit Shah on Tuesday expressed confidence that the BJP will win Karnataka assembly elections handsomely and said that the party will not go for an alliance with JD(S) but contest independently in all the seats. Addressing a press conference in Davanagere, Shah said that "Congress President Rahul Gandhi talks about the unity of all religions, but what has the Karnataka CM done? He has divided by Hindus (by raking up the religious minority tag for Lingayats)." "I am certain that the sincerity that PM Narendra Modi has for the betterment of farmers cannot be matched by others. Some of the farmer-friendly schemes launched by PM Modi have been crucial for ensuring a better future for farmers," he said. "There has been BJP govt in Gujarat, MP & Chhattisgarh for the last 15 yrs and farmer suicide numbers in these states have been very low. The suicide cases that have been registered were due to depression & farmers' personal issues," he added. When asked about a possible alliance with Janata Dal (Secular), Amit Shah said that the BJP will not form an alliance with the JD(S). Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Karnataka Assembly elections. The voting for the Karnataka Assembly elections will be held on May 12, while the counting will take place on May 15. The elections are politically crucial for the ruling Congress-led by Siddaramaiah as it is the only big state where the Grand Old Party is in power after losing a string of polls to the BJP in the last few years. Besides, the Congress and BJP, the JD(S)-led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is the third player in the fray. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 OneIndia News Looking for COVID hospital bed in Noida? This official website provides real-time update Noida: Police arrests Naxal area commander wanted for murders, massacres in Bihar India oi-Madhuri Noida Police on Monday late night arrested a Naxal area commander, who is accused of at least four murders and six cases of the massacre in Bihar. The Naxal area commander has been identified as Sudhir Bhagat who is resident Muzaffarpur, was living under an alias in a Sector 5 house since 2015. The Bihar Police had announced a bounty of Rs 50,000 on his head. He is also a primary suspect in a factory bomb blast in Bihar. After his arrest, Bhagat was taken into custody for further interrogation at the Sector-20 police station. Bhagat had rented the house using a fake ID in 2015 and had been studying B Tech at Divyajyoti Engineering College in Ghaziabad. OneIndia News Kerala TET result 2020 declared: Here is how you check Radio Jockey hacked to death in Thiruvananthapuram India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar A popular Radio Jockey, Rajesh, was hacked to death and his friend was also attacked by unidentified assailants at Madavoor under Pallickal police station limits in Thiruvananthapuram in the early hours of Tuesday. Three unidentified barged into at 2 am in his studio and attacked Rajesh (36) and his friend Kuttan. Rajesh was declared brought dead to the hospital. Kuttan has been admitted to Trivandrum Medical College. Kerala: A former radio jockey named Rajesh was hacked to death by unidentified assailants at his studio in Trivandarum's Madavoor late last night. One other person was injured in the incident, police investigation underway. pic.twitter.com/Jq5W7YS5oj ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 The police are investigating the matter. The reason for the murder is not yet known. More details are awaited. OneIndia News This election season in Karnataka, popular Kannada actor Kishore champions farmers causes India oi-Maitreyee Bengaluru, March 27: Popular Kannada actor Kishore, known for his acting chops, prefers to be addressed as a farmer-actor because like acting, farming too is close to his heart. If on the one hand, Kannada film fans and critics can't stop raving about his roles in films like Ulidavaru Kandante, in the Tamil film industry, Kishore is the "big baddie" from movies like Rajinikanth-starrer Kabali. However, on Sunday morning when OneIndia caught up with the critically-acclaimed actor, who was a former teacher in a Bengaluru college and a fashion designer, he spoke more passionately about farmers' plight and agrarian crisis in the state than his movies. "I am a farmer. I have agricultural land in Bannerghatta, Bengaluru and near Sagar in the Western Ghats. I work in my farm land where I till the soil and grow crops," Kishore said on the sidelines of a lecture delivered by Swaraj India party leader and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan at a Bengaluru auditorium. When asked what brought him to the event, Kishore said Swaraj India party works closely with the farmers and he himself is one of them. "I have come here as a farmer, and I am interested to know how the farmers of Karnataka and the rest of the country can make agriculture a sustainable occupation." Kishore, who works with small farmers and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, a farmer's movement, blamed "the system" for turning agriculture unsustainable for farmers. The 43-year-old actor alleged that all political parties want to keep farmers and villagers poor as it serves their vested interests. "Karnataka agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda says labour is not available for agriculture. I want to ask who is responsible for it. Farming has become unfeasible and thus a large portion of village people are leaving their homes for cities to work as daily wage earners. Our villages are fast turning into no man's land. All political parties, be it the Congress or the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), they work for the big corporates. They are capitalists and thus want to promote more machines and fertilisers and ignore the interest of farmers who give their lives to feed the nation," he said. Regarding the suicide of around 3,700 farmers in Karnataka under the current Congress regime, Kishore said politicians and policymakers have failed to understand that problems differ from place to place. "Farming is a local issue, it needs a local solution. They want to impose one solution on all, which is further harming agriculture and its practitioners." Despite farmers' groups coming together to raise their voices against the government, the actor-farmer says Karnataka is unlikely to see a similar protest like the one seen in Mumbai recently. "It was a powerful movement. More than 30,000 farmers from villages of Maharashtra came to Mumbai to demand farm loan waiver, minimum support price and land rights for tribals, among others. Here in Karnataka, things are different. Political parties have always ignored farmers. They talk about agriculture and farming only during the elections. For them, farmers are just the vote bank," Kishore said. The actor, who brilliantly essayed the role of notorious forest brigand Veerappan in the film, Attahasa, said that although he strongly feels about farmers and their causes, he does not nurture any political ambition. "No, I will not join politics. Yes, a lot of Kannada actors and actresses have joined politics. Some are sincere towards their work, but for others, politics is just another profession," he said. Praising his colleague from the film industry, Upendra, who last year floated his own political party, Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha, however, later had to leave the party after internal problems cropped up, Kishore said sincere and honest politicians are the need of the hour. "Upendra is a committed man with a lot of ideas. He has always raised social and political issues through his films too. I am hopeful he will bring change," smiled Kishore. Kishore, whose upcoming movies include Vada Chennai (a Tamil film based on the underworld of Chennai), added that he was confident that both Tamil superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who have recently joined politics, would work for the greater good of society. Before signing off, Kishore said that he hopes the upcoming elections in Karnataka would bring some changes in the lives of the poor and harassed farmers of the state. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 OneIndia News UPs pride: In his makeshift roadside clinic, good doctor provides free treatment to poor India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Lucknow, March 27: In a country where millions are denied proper medical treatment because they cannot afford to pay astronomical hospital bills, a few doctors are trying their best to mitigate the pain of poor patients. One of them is a doctor from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Ajit Mohan Chaudhary, who is treating poor patients free of cost. Interestingly, Chaudhary runs a makeshift clinic at a footpath in the city. Despite lacking state-of-the-art facilities, a steady flow of poor and needy patients keep the "good doctor" quite busy every day. Impressed by Chaudhary's commitment to serving the downtrodden community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday praised the "good doctor". "When I heard the story of Kanpur-based doctor Ajit Mohan Choudhary that how he consults the underprivileged at a footpath and offers free medicines to them, it gives one an opportunity to feel the sense of brotherhood that prevails in the country," the PM said. Expressing his happiness for being lauded by the PM, Chaudhary wants others to contribute to society in their own possible ways. "I am deeply touched by the PM's gesture. At the same time, I expect other people, who have expertise in various fields, to offer their services to the poor and the needy," Chaudhary told The Times of India. After finishing his daily work in a hospital, Chaudhary comes to his makeshift clinic every evening to treat patients for an hour or two. "I am attending patients here since last one month. I treat all kinds of patients. I even distribute sample medicines free of cost. If a case is complicated, I give my advice for further treatment," Chaudhary told ANI. Chaudhary stressed that all doctors in the country should do the same for the welfare of society. "I am grateful to Chaudhary Sir for treating my son who was suffering from high fever. When I came to know that he is treating poor people free of cost, I brought my son to his clinic. Hope other doctors also do something for the poor and the needy," said Rahim Khan, a daily wage earner. OneIndia News Family of veteran Kannada actress Jayanthi deny rumours of her demise India oi-Vikas By Vikas The family members of veteran Kannada actress Jayanthi, who was admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru, have denied the rumours of her death. Jayanthi was admitted to the hospital with "chronic severe asthma and acute respiratory failure". She was admitted to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru. The family members have reportedly claimed that Jayanthi is in fact 'recovering'. Jayanthi has acted in over 500 movies in her career and was part of over 300 movies as the female lead. The 73-year-old worked not just in Kannada films, but also in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi movies. She has received two Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Actress, the President's Medal for Best Actress and two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress throughout her career. She has been cited as Kannada cinema's "most bold and beautiful" actress by various media outlets, a title for which she has received substantial publicity. Jayanthi's life: Jayanthi was born in Bellary, in the erstwhile Madras Presidency of British India. Her maiden name before she came to films was Kamala Kumari. Her father Balasubramanyam worked as an English professor at the St Joseph's College in Bangalore. Her mother was Santhanalakshmi. Jayanthi was the eldest of three siblings and had two younger brothers. Jayanthi's childhood was never smooth. Her parents separated when she was young and her mother took the children and moved to Madras. Jeenu Goodu was Jayanthi's first Kannada film. Jenu Goodu was a commercial success. Her next major film was T. V. Singh Thakur's Chandavalliya Thota. The film starred veteran actors Udaya Kumar, Rajkumar and Jayashree. This was the first film that paired Rajkumar and Jayanthi. The next major film that Jayanthi starred in was Miss Leelavathi, directed by M. R. Vittal. This film was released in the mid-60s. Miss Leelavathi was a very bold film for its time and Jayanthi played the title role. During her stint in Tamil films from 1962 to 1979 as leading lady, she became nationally famous. She was frequently paired opposite Gemini Ganesan. In Tamil, she acted with all major stars including MG Ramachandran, Gemini Ganeshan, Muhuraman and Jaishankar. She acted with MG Ramachandran in Padagotti and Mugaraasi, with Gemini Ganeshan in Kanna Nalama, Velli Vizha, Punnagai and Iru Kodugal, with Jaishankar in Nil Gavani Kadhali and Kaadhal Paduthum Paadu and Ethir Neechal with Nagesh. She was director K. Balachander's regular actress and they went on to work in films such as Iru Kodugal, Bama Vijayam, Ethir Neechal, Punnagai, Velli Vizha and Kanna Nalama. She had also acted with Jayalalitha and Manorama in the film Mugaraasi. OneIndia News Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is hurtling towards earth; know more International oi-Shubham By Shubham In what could be a rerun of panic that the crash of Skylab had spread in the late 1970s, China's prototype space station Tiangong-1 is reportedly hurtling towards earth and could enter the atmosphere this week. It has officially stopped sending data and entered the final phase of life on March 16. While the majority of the eight-tonne spacecraft is likely to burn up while dashing through the atmosphere, some parts of it are expected to hit the ground and this has raised concern just like Skylab had done almost four decades ago. Tiangong-1 is unlikely to injure anybody Experts say the chances are very unlikely that one or two individuals could be hit by debris from the space. A woman named Lottie Williams was hit on her shoulder in 1997 by parts of what was believed to a Delta II rocket while walking through a park though she was not injured and the incident can be considered as the rarest of the rare. The 77-tonne US space station Skylab also didn't injure anybody and only parts of it were later gathered. Tianging-1 is the 50th largest craft and it is highly unlikely that it could harm anybody standing on earth either. In 2011, Nasa said after calculation that the chance of a 6.5 tonne object hitting someone was one in 3,200 and it would be the most unlikely fatality in anyone's death. However, given China's confidential way of doing things, it has not released every detail about the Tiangong-1's design and hence the experts were not sure how much percentage of the station would survive the re-entry in the atmosphere. Difficult to predict where Tiangong-1 will crash For those are seeking to know the location where Tiangong-1 would crash, it is very difficult to predict it for it is moving at a speed of 27,000 kilometres per hour. It is likely to hit any point in the vast swathes of the Americas, Africa, Australia and some regions of Asia and Europe. The crash date could be around April 1 but the exact date could be a day before or later as well. In case Tiangong-1 causes any extensive damage through its fall, it is China - the launching state - which would be responsible for compensating for the damage. The 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage caused by Space Objects or Space Liability Convention has laid down the rule. Till date, only former Soviet Union was made to pay under this convention rule. In 1978, its Cosmos 954 nuclear-powered satellite had poured nuclear waste over Canada and the latter had sought a compensation of 6 million Canadian dollars. Tiangong-1 a strong political statement by China Tiangong-1 or "heavenly place" is China's first space station and it was in fact a key symbol of China's rise through the ranks in world politics. It was launched seven years ago to assert China's ambition to become a space superpower and throw challenge to the West and Russia. Two Chinese woman astronauts also paid visit to the space station, which was launched as unmanned, in 2012 and 2013. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, March 27, 2018, 17:13 [IST] Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Did Trump expel Russian diplomats to divert focus from Stormy Daniels episode? International oi-Shubham By Shubham US President Donald Trump played an unusual diplomatic offensive stroke vis-a-vis Russia by expelling its 60 diplomats - including 12 in the United Nations in New York - besides shutting down the Russian consulate in Seattle after the Kremlin was accused of carrying out a nerve agent attack against its former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in England earlier this month. From a diplomatic point of view, this move was unusual since Trump has shown less intent in confronting Russia than his European allies during his term which is just over 14 months old. He did not care to lend ears to the caution that his advisers gave against congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin after the latter won his fourth presidential term this month. Neither did Trump mention anything about the Salisbury incident during his call with Putin to give an indication that he indeed was upset with Russia like the UK and other European Union members. The duo even spoke about a possible summit to rein in the arms race and boost economic cooperation even as Europe was fuming over the Russian "aggression" displayed through the Salisbury incident. One viewpoint is that the Trump administration's stand on Russia is set to undergo a change after the arrival of Mike Pompeo as the Secretary of State and John Bolton as the national security adviser. Both these individuals are known to harbour a critical stand on Moscow. Trump had little concern for Salisbury spy poisoning until recently But White House officials claimed that it was Trump who played the central role in taking the decision to expel the Russian diplomats. What's even more surprising is that the White House described the act of expulsion as one that made the US safer by reducing Russia's "ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America's national security". The US's domestic politics has been rocked by allegations of Russia's meddling in its 2016 presidential election and Trump, the winner of that election, consistently denied such a possibility. If the US did not feel it urgent enough to expel the Russian diplomats under those circumstances to safeguard its national security, then why suddenly now over an incident that otherwise found little mention in Trump's speeches? The diplomatic purge came after Stormy Daniels interview The decision to expel the diplomats came after Stormy Daniels, a porn actress who has claimed of having an affair with Trump in the mid-2000s and accused of being threatened if she opened upon it, appeared on a television interview on CBS channel. Daniels in her '60 Minutes' interview though did not produce any evidence to back her affair with Trump but said that she knew of the legal repercussions of speaking about the episode openly as that could see her breaching the confidentiality agreement. Trump did not react to the interview which is again an exception to his general behavioural pattern of bashing and shaming women who claimed to have got involved with him in affairs. The interview was a hit as it drew a massive viewership but now, the American diplomatic offensive against Russia is likely to eclipse the aftereffects of the Daniels interview and also the impact that the 'March For Our Lives' protest against gun violence had all over the country and across the world the last weekend. Leaders fuel nationalist sentiments when in trouble at home Political leadership across the globe - be democratic or authoritarian - always play the nationalism card when facing trouble at home. Putin has done no exception by enhancing the Russian pride to stay on in power even if there have been domestic hardships and Trump also did the same to divert the focus from his own tainted image to continue to enjoy the popular support for making America great (again). Trump used the state machinery perfectly to dilute the domestic criticism - from communities or an individual - but it would be interesting to see how he bridges the gap with Putin from hereon. OneIndia News Don't allow next Doklam in Arunachal, says BJP MP; claims China has encroached upon 60 km of state Doklam is ours, India should have learnt lessons: China International oi-Vicky Nanjappa India should have learnt lessons on Doklam, China has said while claiming that it was right over the territory. Reacting to India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's remarks that were published on Saturday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "Donglong (Dokalam) belongs to China because we have historical conventions." "China's activities there are within our sovereign rights. There is no such thing as changing status quo," she said at a media briefing. Last year thanks to our concerted efforts and our wisdom we properly resolved this issue. We hope the Indian side could learn some lessons from this and stick to the historical conventions and work with China to ensure the atmosphere in the border areas is conducive for the development of bilateral ties," she said. The 73-day standoff over China's attempt to build a road close to India's narrow Chicken Neck area connecting North Eastern states ended in August last year after Chinese troops stopped the road construction at Dokalam in Sikkim Section, though Beijing never officially acknowledged it. The area of the stand-off is also claimed by Bhutan. India's envoy in an interview to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post had blamed China for the stand-off in Dokalam saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the "status quo" which it should not have. He had said that any change of status quo along the India-China border may lead to another Dokalam-like crisis. He said that though "no change" has taken place in the standoff site at Dokalam after it was resolved last year, the PLA may be reinforcing its troops "well behind the sensitive area". Asked about Bambawale's comments that the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control should be demarcated and delineated, Hua said, China's position is clear and consistent. The east, middle and western side is yet to be officially demarcated." "China is committed to resolving the disputes through negotiations. China and India are exploring ways to resolve this dispute," she said. OneIndia News Kim Jong-un secretly visits China, say reports International oi-Shubham By Shubham In his first move abroad since he took over in 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to neighbour China the knowledge about which was largely confined to a handful of people. Details about the visit were not known immediately since the people who knew about it sought anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue. Kim's visit to Beijing became a speculation after a couple of Japanese channels reported about a special train which possibly took Kim to China through the northeastern border city of Dandong. In one footage, a train similar to that used by Kim's late father Kim Jong Il to visit China in 2011 was seen, making the speculation all the rifer. Reports also said that the US had little knowledge about the secret visit made by Kim with one official of the Department of State even asking the media to talk to the Chinese for the confirmation. Development takes place amid US-China tensions and ahead of Trump-Kim talks The development took place at a time when the US has escalated a trade war with China and also gearing up for talks between its president Donald Trump and Kim. The Chinese side has also shown interest in escalating the trade war with Washington while supporting the US-North Korea talks. Experts believe talks between Kim and Xi Jinping, the president of China, ahead of the former's meeting with Trump could be a sign that Beijing not wanting to be left out of the diplomatic engagement which is absorbing all attention in eastern Asia. In early March, Trump spoke about his plan to meet Kim and the US's regional ally South Korea confirmed that the North Korean leader was willing to discuss the issue of abandoning his nuclear programme which has posed a big threat to the regional security and world at large. The details of the summit were yet to be finalised though it is likely to happen in May. China and North Korea though have been traditional allies but their relations have been strained of late over Pyongyang's unrelenting nuclear ambitions. The Chinese have been unable to rein in Kim and even backed sanctions imposed against him by the West. However, China treats North Korea as a buffer between itself and the regional foes like Japan and South Korea backed by their international competitor to the US and would never wish a collapse of the Kim regime as that would lead to a regional instability in terms of military adventures and refugee explosion. OneIndia News Wests expelling scores of Russian diplomats marks an interesting episode in world politics International oi-Shubham By Shubham While a section of foreign policy experts was unsure about US President Donald Trump would indeed see expulsion of Russian diplomats as a response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury, England, because of his 'soft corner' for the Kremlin, the eventual expulsion of 60 Russian envoys by the US on Monday, March 26, set up the stage for the next round of the drama in international politics. The step taken by the US following up those by a number of European Union (EU) members prepared the stage for yet another serious diplomatic face-off between Putin and the West since Russia annexed Crimea in eastern Ukraine in 2014. UK succeeded in uniting Europe against Russia The UK had made the initial move by expelling 23 Russian diplomats after the poisoning incident and thereafter, its prime minister Theresa May convinced the EU that Russia not only had scant regard for borders, its alleged act also showed a pattern of its aggression against Europe. The EU members accepted the viewpoint that the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia was carried out by the Russian government. Fourteen EU states expelled Russian diplomats and the EU itself too recalled its ambassador to the UN. West's unity in times of Brexit, Trump unusual The steps were taken by the West, including the US, to expel the Russian diplomats show a solidarity with the UK which is quite unusual in the era of Brexit and Trump which has seen a considerable fracture in the West's internal terms. The European Council also said that additional measures, including further expulsions, were not unlikely in the coming days, which means more face-off between Russia and the West were on the cards. The entire episode marks a diplomatic victory for May as she even managed to make Trump toughen the stand against Russia, something which seemed unlikely till not so long ago. The UK made use of international institutions like the EU, United Nations, NATO and also Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons or OPCW to strengthen its attack on Russia over the Salisbury poisoning incident. Russia has also retaliated by expelling UK diplomats and is expected to do so more in times to come but by expelling so many Russian diplomats from their territories, the West has ensured that Moscow would see a serious impact on its overseas intelligence network. Moscow perhaps saw an opportunity to defeat West in the Brexit chaos and the EU's internal problems and the US which is looking directionless under the Trump administration. The Trump administration's decision to throw out 48 Russian diplomats in the US and shutting the Russian Consulate General in Seattle besides expelling another 12 Russian diplomats in the UN in New York was particularly significant and would surprise a Putin confident of narrowing its gap with the world's only superpower since the Cold War days. Have Pompeo and Bolton made a difference in Washington's Russia policy? One would also think that the recent changes in the top rungs of the Trump administration could also have a bearing on Washington's Russia policy. Former CIA chief Mike Pompeo recently took over from Rex Tillerson as the US Secretary of State while John Bolton would replace HR McMaster as the national security adviser in April. Both these men are expected to take back the US foreign policy to its hawkish days and hence take a more aggressive stand on its former foe. Tillerson was known to be more moderate on Russia while Pompeo has a tough stance on Russia. Bolton has also been known to be in favour of a strong policy vis-a-vis Moscow. The stage has been laid out for a serious episode in the relationship between Russia and a united West since the 2014 Crimea crisis. And it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the upcoming days and especially how Trump conducts his policies vis-a-vis Russia and Europe. OneIndia News Expulsion of Russian diplomats: Be ready for consequences, thunders Moscow International oi-Shubham By Shubham After 21 countries expelled over 100 Russian diplomats to protest its likely act of poisoning an ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, Moscow on Monday thundered saying it will take "appropriate" retaliatory measures against each country that took the extreme steps and also respond to the US administration's shutting down the Russian consulate in Seattle. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a Russian channel, the country's news agency TASS said. Zakharova said Russia will give a response to "everything we saw today". The Donald Trump administration gave marching orders to 60 Russian diplomats stationed in the US, including 12 members of Russia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. The Russian consulate in Seattle was also closed. The US's steps came in the wake of a number of European countries expelling Russian diplomats from their territory on the pretext that Russia has poisoned the Skripals in Salisbury in England which was seen as a violation of border and also international law. The father-daughter duo was exposed to a nerve agent, which according to UK, was made in Russia and hence the Kremlin was accused of attempting an assassination on foreign soil. Russia rubbished the allegations saying neither the former Soviet Union earlier nor it today had any plans to develop such a dangerous substance. The UK then expelled 23 Russian diplomats and threatened to take more measures against Russia. The latter then retaliated by expelling an equal number of British diplomats besides ordering closing down of the British consulate in St Petersburg and British Council's offices located in Russia. 'Russia knew what was coming' Zakharova further called the UK's performance "devilish" and said those who actually benefited from this were powerful forces based in the US and Britain. She said the Kremlin had knowledge of what was coming and braced for the outcome after the recent European Union summit, the TASS report added. OneIndia News Female Players in the Spotlight at Live Gaming Summit 2018 Published March 27, 2018 by Mike P Casino Barcelona will host the Live Gaming Summit on 26 April 2018. This year, gender equality and other topics shall be featured in-depth. Attendees will soon gather in Barcelona for the returning Live Gaming Summit, which was newly established last year. The summit has been arranged for 26 April 2018, at which point a whole host of industry specialists shall arrive at Casino Barcelona to discuss the live gaming niche. Raising Appeal for Female Players For 2018, the summit intends to address the pressing topic of gender equality. Organisers have drawn significant inspiration from Sarah Harrison, who used to serve as CEO for the UK Gambling Commission. Earlier in the year, at ICE Totally Gaming, Harrison warned gambling operators that they risked alienating their potential female player base. Online gambling has previously been viewed as male-driven, but Harrison used ICE as an opportunity to question why they were struggling to attract women. Karolina Pelc of LeoVegas shares Harrisons sentiment, while has also cautioned fellow operators to consider the depth of experience rather than image alone. Speakers and Schedule Pelc will serve as one of the central speakers for the summit and shall be joined by a variety of fellow industry professionals. Kfir Kugler shall visit from Ezugi, Kevin Kilminster from Playtech, Tom de Bruin from Unibet, Rob Wheeler from Medialive Casino, and plenty of others are yet to be revealed. Next to female players, the speakers shall also sound off on a range of topics. In summary, Barcelona shall provide coverage on land-based casinos engaging in streaming, TV gaming, localisation, private tables, product development, virtual reality dealers, and regulatory challenges in Europe. Beyond the keynote speeches, presentations, and panels, there will also be networking opportunities geared towards encouraging one-on-one dialogue. All of this has been supported through the assistance of the event sponsors, which include NetEnt, Playtech, Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, Medialive, Vivo, and Authentic Gaming as some of the most experienced live casino software providers in the world. Police officers last Sunday arrested over 130 individuals who presented themselves at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Training School. The hopeful youths had turned up for KDF training with fake calling letters. During the reception, we discovered that 130 had letters which cannot be authoritatively confirmed to have been issued by KDF. We are handing the owners of those letters to the civil police to carry out an investigation, said Brigadier Martin Ongoyi. The recruits are said to have been defrauded in what military officials are calling a recruitment scam. They are said to have been defrauded of a total of over Ksh.50 million in the scam. Brigadier Ongoyi said the conmen collect between Sh50,000 and Sh250,000 from each person they give admission letters. According to one of the would-be recruits, he turned up at the KDF training school despite knowing his letter was fake as he had not turned up for the recruitment exercise in March. The individual further added that he was handed the letter by a military officer from Langata barracks in Nairobi. Another claimed that he even quit his day job at the prospect of landing a military job. I had already told my Indian boss that I was resigning because I had got a military job. What am I supposed to tell him now? lamented one of the would-be recruits. The recruits, drawn from various parts of the country, were handed over to the Kenya Police on standby and driven to the Eldoret Police Station for further questioning. Two individuals suspected to have been selling fake KDF admission papers had earlier been arrested in the same region. The number of those with fake letters this year has risen to 132 from last years 65. Starehe MP Charles Njagua aka Jaguar has once again failed to convince the court to allow Boda boda riders to continue operating in the city centre. Justice Roseline Aburili on Monday dismissed a suit filed by Jaguar saying the MP has failed to prove how the bodaboda operators rights were violated when the county ordered them out of the CBD. The judge said Jaguars decision to file the case, when a similar one was dismissed in 2016 -was an abuse of the court process. The same person of interest cannot be left to oscillate around the courts in different colours of rights where today they sue as a Sacco, tomorrow as a welfare Association, and a day after as an MP trying to protect their interest, Aburili said. In February 2016, twelve boda-boda saccos filed a similar case after the then governor, Evans Kidero banned riders from carrying passengers to and from the Nairobi central business district. The suit was heard and dismissed later by the late justice Joseph Onguto. Jaguar went to court in January contesting a similar ban imposed by Governor Mike Sonko. He argued that the ban was ill-informed, unilaterally made, and based on irrelevant considerations. The boda-boda ban may result in more harm than good, as operators will be frustrated and without a source of livelihood. They may easily be involved in the very criminal activities the ban seeks to curb, Jaguar had argued. But Justice Aburili said the operators must learn to accept court verdicts and move on or challenge the decision in a higher court. They cannot be allowed to abuse the court by appearing and disappearing as and when its convenient for them with different types of proceedings but the same cause of action, she said. The height of indiscipline in Kenyas public secondary schools has reared its ugly head once again following the arrest of five boys in a neighboring girls school in Bungoma County. The daring boys were caught in a dormitory at Cardinal Otunga Girls High School in the wee hours of Monday morning. Four of the boys were students from St Marys Kibabii High School. A fifth boy was from another neighboring school, the Good Shepherd ACK Secondary School. Cardinal Otunga administrators are said to have caught the boys in the washrooms at around 3 am. They were all dressed in Cardinal Otunga girls uniform. Confirming the incident, Bungoma South OCPD David Kirui said the boys exhibited signs of drunkenness and could not recall events. The boys are believed to have taken advantage of an ongoing strike at Cardinal Otunga and sneaked in through the girls school bus that was in their school for sports. The girls were on strike over a directive by their principal that all students should not score below C (plain) in the end of term examinations that was scheduled to start Monday. The striking students smashed windows, surveillance cameras, and property whose value was not immediately established. They demanded the transfer of their Principal, Emelda Oyombe, who has served for about two months. The boys were taken to Bungoma Police Station and later released without charges for disciplinary action by the schools. Muthoni Drummer Queen has unveiled visuals for the 5th Single from her newly released album SHE. Dubbed Criminal, is inspired by the real-life story of the widow of one of Kenyas most wanted criminal Simon Matheri. As you might be aware, the hardened criminal was shot and killed in Athi River in 2007 aged 30. Matheri was wanted in connection with at least 18 murders, including a leading Aids researcher and the wife of a US embassy official. And as his dramatic capture by undercover detectives played out on TV, it became apparent that his young widow, Felista Wanjiru, was only finding out at that moment that her husband was Kenyas most wanted criminal. This premise is what has inspired MDQs fifth single in line with SHEs quest to answer the question of what its like to be a woman in modern Kenya. Muthoni, who watched the story unfold on TV, said: I never forgot how shocked and lost Materis widow looked. What a cruel way to find out your whole life has been a lie. To have your husband literally shot dead by the police at the doorstep of your home must have been too much to bear. And what happens to her after that? How does she carry on? How does she live in that community anymore? I carry her in my thoughts and send her healing vibe as often as I can. Criminal is co-written by Muthoni and Fena Gitu. Check it out below. When President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga agreed to reconcile on Friday, March 9, 2018, the move was received with a lot of optimism and hailed across the political divide. However, the same cannot be said about Railas meet-up with the controversial Jubilee mouthpiece Moses Kuria. Odinga hosted the Gatundu South MP at his Capitol Hill office on Monday morning, in what his aides later described as part of a national reconciliation initiative. The two political frenemies further splashed pictures of their meeting on social sites with Moses Kuria revealing he met with Raila to explore options towards building a more cohesive and inclusive Kenya. Odinga, who also hosted leaders from Western province, said the meeting was part of the ongoing process of reconciliation. Western leaders who met Odinga include Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna. They met amid the acrimonious relations within Nasa constituent parties that has seen co-principals Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi threaten to break away from the opposition coalition. However, it was Railas meet-up with Moses Kuria which elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans on social media. Heres what Kenyans online had to say about it: Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Our Future Peter G. "Pete" Peterson, the billionaire businessman and anti-government crusader, died last week at the age of 91. He leaves behind family and friends who will miss him, and a vast coterie of consultants and politicians who may miss his checks even more. They can take comfort from the words of Percy Bysshe Shelley: "He doth not sleep/he hath awakened from the dream of life ..." Peterson will be mourned by those who loved him. But that's no reason to forget the harm he has done, especially since his family vows to continue his work. His son, speaking on behalf of the foundation Peterson created, says that "we will carry on his legacy with passion and pride." That legacy is marked by Pete Peterson's long war against Social Security and Medicare, his austerity economics, and the false aura of objectivity Peterson used to promote his ideology. Behind his carefully stage-managed veneer of bipartisanship (his team once tried to get me suspended from a publication for calling him right-wing), Peterson engaged in a decades-long war on the social contract. Programs like Social Security and Medicare were his immediate targets, but his ultimate goal was even broader: He wanted to extinguish the ideal of public goods, and put an end to the notion that certain social programs should be universal. Peterson took conservative ideas and gave them an undeserved air of truth and neutrality. Politicians who embraced them were more likely to receive a steady flow of high-dollar contributions and gaining entree to the right salons and alliances. Thanks to Peterson, prominent journalists can make outlandish and inaccurate statements about "entitlement" programs, while still laying claim to journalistic objectivity. That's no mean feat on Peterson's part -- although it becomes easier when you can spend nearly half a billion dollars in four years to promote your agenda, as Peterson did. (Peterson engaged in his crusade for decades; his total spending isn't known.) Peterson may be gone, but his ideology still holds sway in the corridors of political and media power. Peterson was a corporate success at a young age, and then joined Richard Nixon's Cabinet. But he became a billionaire as co-founder of the Blackstone Group, one of four firms that exemplify what The Economist calls "the barbarian establishment." As that (hardly left-wing) publication writes: "The standard operating procedures of private equity -- purchasing businesses, adding debt, minimizing taxes, cutting costs (and facilities and employment), extracting large fees -- are just the sort of things to aggravate popular anger about finance. "Peterson promptly put his billions to work on a new mission: Cutting government programs, especially Medicare and Social Security, and reducing government deficits. (The fact that these moves would reduce the political incentive to tax billionaires is never mentioned in Peterson's work.)" Peterson's sleight-of-hand trick, and it was a brilliant one, was to present his opinions as neutral and objective truth. As the New York Times reported in 2011: "If some consider him Cassandra and others Chicken Little, Mr. Peterson considers himself, in self-deprecating (and self-interested) terms, as a data-driven businessman who 'simply did the math.'" Here's some real math: Medicare saves lives, and "greater spending per beneficiary is associated with significantly lower mortality rates." So does Medicaid. Social Security lifts 22 million Americans out of poverty, including children and non-elderly adults. The Peterson team claims that its proposals would exclude the poor, but cuts are a slippery slope. Social Security benefits are already meager, and any reductions -- including cuts to cost-of-living increases and increases in the eligibility age -- will lead to added poverty. And poverty kills. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Donald Trump (Image by cornstalker) Details DMCA Worse than an inadvertent cut by the forgotten edge of a double edged sword is to cut oneself with both sides of the blade. In the case of President Trump, he seems to cut himself again and again with with each of his thoughtless tweets. At some point, he will see himself as well as his presidency bleeding profusely with no idea how he was cut. In fact, I would not be surprised if the final cut, at some point, is administered directly or indirectly by the NRA. Ironically, the spur of the moment suggestion of administering the death penalty automatically to certain drug dealers, as emotionally uplifting as it may be even to myself, opens a "whole new can of worms" for the president. Consider the delicate situation involving "legal" drugs used illegally. Narcotic analgesics such as oxycodone, for instance, have there place in the treatment of legitimate pain. I believe that the federal government already has rules designed to control how much of the medication may be produced by a given manufacturer in order to prevent unnecessary excesses being "somehow" funneled to the "streets." If I'm not mistaken, Eric Holder's most prominent private case was in defense of pharmaceutical giant Purdue Frederick's overproduction of Oxycontin which led to a flood of illicit street sales of the drug. This then led to numerous users overdosing, thousands of drug related crimes and even many deaths. Thus a "legal" controlled substance was not used properly in part due to purposeful overproduction of the product by the manufacturer as well as illegal, uncontrolled transactions between illicit buyers and sellers. Should the manufacturer argue that it is not responsible, that "business is business" and it is common and ethical in the Washington swamp to lobby Congress so one is allowed to sell unnecessarily excessive amounts of its product, no matter how dangerous it may be in the hands of the wrong people? Should illegal dealers claim that their crimes are relatively minor because "drugs don't kill, people kill." Should we not try so hard to treat drug addiction because it's the victim's own fault? The problem here is that if Mr. Trump is serious about the execution of big time drug dealers, what does he suggest doing with drug companies complicit in the encouragement of the illicit drug trade? I mean they are accomplices of sorts, are they not? They deserve more than a meaningless fine, do they not? Can they actually argue that they could not anticipate the increase in morbidity and mortality that would ensue if they were to flood the market with their product, if they were to lie about how dangerous their product really is? When rational people finally come to their senses, perhaps better informed lawmakers, with physicians, pharmacists, and yes, pharmaceutical companies can work together to draft rules for the use of scheduled medications that benefit the patients that they all serve, not forgetting the economic aspect, but at least putting it in some sort of appropriate perspective. Perhaps then, thanks to a bunch of teenagers from a high school in South Florida, they can have much the same dialogue on guns. Schedule them, require manufacturers to focus on their dangers, including addiction, bravado, and scaling the usage to what the manufacturer supposedly intended. And, while they are at it, require some sort of course completion to insure safety and competence. After all, the founding fathers did make certain that they included that in writing in the Second Amendment itself. Otherwise, gun manufacturers and lobbyists may end up in the same cells as their pharmaceutical manufacturer brethren. Illicit gun show salesmen and street sellers might even find themselves side by side "on the gallows" with their drug dealer counterparts after their sale results in a murder. At this point it seems as if the only difference between the NRA and big PHrma is that at least PHarma blames the drug dealer and the victim who took the drugs, while the NRA blames the victim either for being unarmed or for not shooting first. Al Finkelstein, D.O., 3/21/18 Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Telesur The Palestinian leaders continue to be lonely warriors in a political illusion that has been abandoned even by its own masters. The "deal of the century" is a farce. We suspected that, of course, but, upon his return from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in more detail why the long-anticipated plan of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has no basis in reality. Netanyahu told his cabinet that there are "no concrete details" to report on the U.S. peace plan. One has to suspect that the "plan" was, all along, the U.S. disavowal of the so-called peace process and the dropping of the "honest peace broker" act. In fact, that much has been achieved, especially with the U.S. decision last December to accept Israel's illegal annexation of Occupied East Jerusalem and agreement to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Since then, Israel has initiated a clear strategy to annexing the West Bank. Its top officials are contending that the "two-state solution" is not even deserving of a conversation. "We are done with that," said Israel's Education Minister, in recent remarks to students in New York. "They have a Palestinian state in Gaza." The Palestinian Authority (PA) of Mahmoud Abbas was thus left with the inviable position. It is lashing out left and right, convulsing like a wounded animal. It is hard to imagine that, at the moment, Abbas is orbiting within a grand strategy of any kind. Random statements, attacks on his Palestinian rivals, the Israelis and the Americans -- mostly for betraying him -- is all that seems to keep his name in the news. "May God demolish his home," was one of the statements attributed to the Palestinian leader, in response to Trump's decision regarding Jerusalem. That was on January 14. A few days ago, Abbas referred to David Friedman, the ardently rightwing and pro-Israel U.S. Ambassador to Israel, as "son of a b*tch." Friedman is an avid supporter of the illegal Jewish settlements, but name calling is not a promising sign of a constructive Palestinian strategy. Abbas feels beleaguered, disowned by Washington and a victim of an elaborate U.S.-Israeli plot that has cost Palestinians precious time and much land, while leaving Abbas with nothing but an embarrassing political legacy. Abbas is not necessarily angry because the U.S. has betrayed its role in the "peace process." He is angry because he has, for years, perceived himself as a member in the American camp of "moderates" in the Middle East. Now, however, he matters not. The U.S. government is notorious for betraying its allies. The U.S., now run by the most pro-Israel administration in years, has no role for Abbas to play. in Palestine that only serves the interests of Israel. A recent meeting, chaired by leading pro-Israel officials in Washington, including Jared Kushner, was dubbed as a "brainstorming session" on how to solve the Gaza crisis. No Palestinian was involved in the conference. Since Abbas has hung all his hopes on Washington, he is left with no plan B. The Europeans neither have the will, desire nor political clout to replace the United States. They have often served as lackeys to U.S. foreign policy, and it would not be easy, if at all possible, for any European government to replace the U.S. as the new "honest peace broker." Abbas' popularity -- and that of his Authority -- among Palestinians is negligible. In fact, 70 percent of Palestinians want him to step down immediately. That was according to a poll conducted last December. Yet, at 83 and suffering from ill health, Abbas is still holding on tightly to his chair. It may appear that, during this time of political uncertainty and isolation, it would be advantageous for Abbas to reach out to other Palestinian factions. However, the opposite is true. Abbas is accusing his main rival, Hamas, of an assassination attempt targeting PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. After a promising agreement, signed in Cairo between Fatah -- Abbas' party -- and Hamas, all hopes have been dashed once more. In a joint conference with visiting Bulgarian President, Rumen Radey, in Ramallah, Abbas proclaimed "The Gaza Strip has been hijacked by Hamas. They must immediately hand over everything, first and foremost security, to the Palestinian national consensus government," he said. What "national consensus government" is Abbas referring to, anyway? There have been no general elections since Hamas won the parliamentary majority in 2006. Abbas himself rules on an expired mandate. As of January 9, 2009, Abbas lost his democratic legitimacy. Oddly, it is the conflict between him and Hamas that is allowing both sides to impose themselves on the Palestinian public -- which is left disenchanted, practically leaderless and facing the brunt of Occupation and apartheid on its own. Instead of mending fences with the Palestinian people, Abbas continues with his political one-man show, encouraged by his enablers in the PA, who are equally responsible for the havoc wreaked by the U.S. and Israeli governments. Still, the Palestinian leadership (whether in the PA or the PLO) continues with its desperate attempts to resuscitate the "peace process," lonely warriors in a political illusion that has been abandoned even by its own masters. For Abbas and the PA, participating in the U.S.-led project was the last bridge they wished not to burn. Trump's decision to relocate his country's embassy signaled that the last bridge was, indeed, up in flames, but Abbas is yet to be convinced of this obvious reality. From American and Israeli viewpoints, the "peace process" could be considered a success. It allowed the U.S. to define the political agenda in the Middle East and for Israel to shape the physical reality of the Occupied Territories in any way it found suitable. The Palestinian leadership has emerged as the biggest loser. It first sat at the "negotiation table" to talk of borders, refugees, water, territories and Jerusalem, only to be left with nothing at the end. It has lost both credibility and legitimacy. The space in which it was permitted to negotiate withered year after year. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. The Main Route to Moscow ---------------------- "Pardon us for our country's existence in the middle of your military bases" --Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, 9/27/2014, referring to NATO expansion in a speech to the United Nations "The United States has launched a three-pronged offensive on Russia. First, it's attacking Russia's economy via sanctions and oil-price manipulation. Second, it's increasing the threats to Russia's national security by arming and training militant proxies in Syria and Ukraine, and by encircling Russia with NATO forces and missile systems. And, third, it's conducting a massive disinformation campaign aimed at convincing the public that Russia is a 'meddling aggressor' that wants to destroy the foundation of American democracy." --Mike Whitney, 3/15/2018 ---------------------- In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia with more than 600,000 soldiers, then the largest invading army of record. Although the French were unable to defeat the Russians, and with the help of winter conditions were forced to retreat, most of Moscow was destroyed in what Russians call "The Patriotic War of 1812". The broad entryway Napoleon used in his invasion can be described on a present-day map in a line from the southern Baltic nation of Lithuania extending southeasterly through Poland and Belarus to northeastern Ukraine. Then, in 1941, The German army launched Operation Barbarossa with nearly four million troops, the new record for sheer size of an invasion force, one goal being the appropriation of western Russia as part of Germany's quest for more "lebensraum". Germany used the same approach to Russia as had Napoleon, but it was enlarged to extend in a broad swath from the northern Baltic state of Estonia, down through Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria to the Black Sea. Most of the area described became part of the Soviet Bloc following the Second World War, while nations to the West became part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO. In 1990, Russia was assured by the United States, the dominant player in NATO, that NATO would not expand "one inch eastward" were Russia to allow reunification of Germany. It was, as history reveals, a lie, and eastward expansion by NATO has been unrelenting ever since. Today, six of the countries just listed are now NATO member states. Stated plainly, within three decades Russia has seen much the area through which she has suffered massive invasions, transfer from her control to that of a rapidly growing military complex pressing against her western border. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. The self-proclaimed Boss Mama Kush Tracey has delivered her first project of the year and it is a banging warning shot to everybody. Aptly titled Mtajua Hamjui, a popular Kenyan catchphrase used as a warning jargon, it is produced at Big Dreams Studios by DJ Thamos. It is mastered by Boy David and the video by Big Dreams Films is directed by Ricky Bekko. InMtajua Hamjui, Kush Tracey basically reclaims her spot as one of the baddest rappers in the Kenyan rap scene with impressive chest-thumping bars and clever word play. The reception has been positive thus far. Cleck paly below and [email protected] Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. "I commit to working to increase the amount of funding that goes to public education and specifically to students at their school site." - Ankur Patel When choosing which politicians to back, the California Charter School Association (CCSA) seems to care more about how they will help them to avoid regulation than the candidates' ethical values. In the LAUSD, they helped Ref Rodriguez defeat Bennett Kaiser only to have Rodriguez step down from the Board's presidency after being indicted on felony charges that included perjury. During the 2016 election cycle, the CCSA spent $30,282 to re-elect Matt Dababneh to the California State Assembly after he sponsored a bill that would have limited the ability of school districts to conduct independent investigations of charter schools. In December 2017, Dababneh was forced to resign from office "after three women accused him of sexual misconduct, including a lobbyist who said he followed her into a restroom and masturbated in front of her." Unlike many candidates, Ankur puts education front and center on his campaign website. In fact, it is the first issue mentioned on the "Meet Ankur" page with the following statement: This includes a commitment "to working to increase the amount of funding that goes to public education and specifically to students at their school site." He supports the "California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act of 2018", which would bring an additional $4.5 billion to K-12 and community colleges each year. The creation of a State Bank of California would help to finance school-construction projects without the "billions of dollars of debt service that ends up profiting big banks and Wall Street" when bonds are used. He also understands the importance of pushing our federal representatives to finally provide the funding needed to meet mandates for special education services. Working for Schmerelson's office provided Ankur with important insight into how the state can "support local school districts, specifically by encouraging parent engagement and curriculum." Emphasizing that "parent engagement needs to be encouraged, not stifled", he would seek "pragmatic and practical changes to liability and risk-insurance requirements" so that districts would be "in a position to invite and facilitate parent participation." He sees reducing the power of "large textbook manufacturers, lobbyists, and special interests" during the textbook-approval process as a priority. He would also "give school districts, schools, and teachers more options for a high-quality curriculum to prepare the next generation for the 21st century" including the options of "field trips, project-based learning, and digital materials". On the charter front, Ankur supports the NAACP's call for a moratorium on additional charter schools "while we study and understand the difference in outcomes." To eliminate the "many biased studies and statistics manipulated to make particular points", he believes that "peer-reviewed scientific studies should be prioritized" in the decision-making process. It is important to note that Ankur made the decision to run for this seat prior to Dababneh's resignation. The fact that he was willing to put up a fight against an entrenched incumbent shows why he is the right candidate to fight for progressive values in Sacramento. He has also committed to running a campaign without corporate funding. For these reasons, I am joining Our Revolution National, UTLA and Americans for Democratic Action Southern California in endorsing Ankur Patel in the special election on April 3. ____________________________________________ Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate, elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. During the campaign, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. China on Monday (March 26) asserted that Doklam belongs to it and India should have learnt lessons from the stand-off last year. Reacting to India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's remarks blaming China for the stand-off, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "Donglong (Doklam) belongs to China because we have historical conventions. "China's activities there are within our sovereign rights. There is no such thing as changing status quo. Last year thanks to our concerted efforts and our wisdom we properly resolved this issue. We hope the Indian side could learn some lessons from this and stick to the historical conventions and work with China to ensure the atmosphere in the border areas is conducive for the development of bilateral ties," she said. India's envoy in an interview to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post had blamed China for the stand-off in Doklam, saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the "status quo", which it should not have. He had said that any change of status quo along the India-China border may lead to another Doklam-like crisis. He also said that though "no change" has taken place in the standoff site at Doklam after it was resolved last year, the PLA may be reinforcing its troops "well behind the sensitive area". Asked about Bambawale's comments that the 3488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) should be demarcated and delineated, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on the delimitation China's position is clear and consistent. "The east, middle and western side is yet to be officially demarcated. China is committed to resolving the disputes through negotiations. China and India are exploring ways to resolve this territorial dispute through negotiations so that we can arrive at mutually acceptable solution," she said, referring to the boundary talks between the two countries. The two sides have so far held 20 rounds of boundary talks. "Pending final solution both sides should work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area," she said. The Doklam Standoff In August 2017, both New Delhi and Beijing, with days to go before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit and G20 meeting in Xiamen, announced a mutual "disengagement" at Doklam. In the days after, observers of the stand-off celebrated what was seen as the conclusion to the Doklam affair. However, nothing could have been further from the truth, the Diplomat said last October. Today, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) remains on disputed territory in Doklam, as does the Indian army. August's "disengagement" was a reduction in tensions. In practice, troops on both sides retreated their positions from the stand-off point by 150 meters each. New Delhi successfully attained an outcome where the PLA was unable to extend a road that terminated just 60 meters from the Indian border post at Doka La, but an extended and increasingly robust PLA presence at Doklam is foreboding, according to the Diplomat. While Xi and Modi were able to maintain face during their meeting in Xiamen at the BRICS and G20 meetings, the mistrust generated in India over the duration of the Doklam crisis will linger, with implications for the development of bilateral ties, the magazine said, adding: "For China, there are good reasons to keep up the heat at Doklam. First, the stand-off made plain to Beijing its quantitative and even qualitative disadvantages against the Indian armed forces in the Himalayas. "Beijing's slow but steady build-up on the disputed plateau can serve as an opportunity to rectify this imbalance along this sector of the border, where Indian strategic planners remain particularly concerned given the proximity to the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor -- a geographic choke point between northeast India and the rest of the country measuring just 23 km at its narrowest point. "The silver lining is that despite China's insistence that India withdraw before diplomacy could take effect, the 'disengagement' itself was the result of hard-fought negotiation. The mutually agreed sequential withdrawal was no doubt a positive reduction in the temperature at Doklam, but it remains unclear what concessions either side may be willing to offer to reach a more comprehensive agreement to put an end to the stand-off once and for all." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Paul Craig Roberts Website Among Western political leaders there is not an ounce of integrity or morality. The Western print and TV media is dishonest and corrupt beyond repair. Yet the Russian government persists in its fantasy of "working with Russia's Western partners." The only way Russia can work with crooks is to become a crook. Is that what the Russian government wants? Finian Cunningham notes the absurdity in the political and media uproar over Trump (belatedly) telephoning Putin to congratulate him on his reelection with 77 percent of the vote, a show of public approval that no Western political leader could possibly attain. The crazed US senator from Arizona called the person with the largest majority vote of our time "a dictator." Yet a real blood-soaked dictator from Saudi Arabia is feted at the White House and fawned over by the president of the United States. The Western politicians and presstitutes are morally outraged over an alleged poisoning, unsupported by any evidence, of a former spy of no consequence on orders by the president of Russia himself. These kind of insane insults thrown at the leader of the world's most powerful military nation -- and Russia is a nation, unlike the mongrel Western countries -- raise the chances of nuclear Armageddon beyond the risks during the 20th century's Cold War. The insane fools making these unsupported accusations show total disregard for all life on earth. Yet they regard themselves as the salt of the earth and as "exceptional, indispensable" people. Think about the alleged poisoning of Skirpal by Russia. What can this be other than an orchestrated effort to demonize the president of Russia? How can the West be so outraged over the death of a former double-agent, that is, a deceptive person, and completely indifferent to the millions of peoples destroyed by the West in the 21st century alone. Where is the outrage among Western peoples over the massive deaths for which the West, acting through its Saudi agent, is responsible in Yemen? Where is the Western outrage among Western peoples over the deaths in Syria? The deaths in Libya, in Somalia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Afghanistan? Where is the outrage in the West over the constant Western interference in the internal affairs of other countries? How many times has Washington overthrown a democratically-elected government in Honduras and reinstalled a Washington puppet? The corruption in the West extends beyond politicians, presstitutes, and an insouciant public to experts. When the ridiculous Condi Rice, national security adviser to president George W. Bush, spoke of Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction sending up a nuclear cloud over an American city, experts did not laugh her out of court. The chance of any such event was precisely zero and every expert knew it, but the corrupt experts held their tongues. If they spoke the truth, they knew that they would not get on TV, would not get a government grant, would be out of the running for a government appointment. So they accepted the absurd lie designed to justify an American invasion that destroyed a country. This is the West. There is nothing but lies and indifference to the deaths of others. The only outrage is orchestrated and directed against a target: the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi, Iran, Assad, Russia and Putin, and against reformist leaders in Latin America. The targets for Western outrage are always those who act independently of Washington or who are no longer useful to Washington's purposes. The quality of people in Western governments has collapsed to the very bottom of the barrel. The British actually have a person, Boris Johnson, as Foreign Secretary, who is so low-down that a former British ambassador has no compunction in calling him a categorical liar. The British lab Porton Down, contrary to Johnson's claim, has not identified the agent associated with the attack on Skirpal as a Russian novichok agent. Note also that if the British lab is able to identify a novichok agent, it also has the capability of producing it, a capability that many countries have as the formulas were published years ago in a book. That the novichok poisoning of Skirpal is an orchestration is obvious. The minute the event occured the story was ready. With no evidence in hand, the British government and presstitute media were screaming "the Russians did it!" Not content with that, Boris Johnson screamed "Putin did it." In order to institutionalize fear and hatred of Russia into British consciousness, British school children are being taught that Putin is like Hitler. Orchestrations this blatant demonstrate that Western governments have no respect for the intelligence of their peoples. That Western governments get away with these fantastic lies indicates that the governments are immune to accountability. Even if accountability were possible, there is no sign that Western peoples are capable of holding their governments accountable. As Washington drives the world to nuclear war, where are the protests? The only protest is brainwashed school children protesting the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment. Western democracy is a hoax. Consider Catalonia. The people voted for independence and were denounced for doing so by European politicians. The Spanish government invaded Catalonia alleging that the popular referendum, in which people expressed their opinion about their own future, was illegal. Catalonian leaders are in prison awaiting trial, except for Carles Puigdemont who escaped to Belgium. Now Germany has captured him on his return to Belgium from Finland where he lectured at the University of Helsinki and is holding him in jail for a Spanish government that bears more resemblance to Francisco Franco than to democracy. The European Union itself is a conspiracy against democracy. The success of Western propaganda in creating non-existent virtues for itself is the greatest public relations success in history. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Paul Craig Roberts Website One wonders if this latest extremely provocative and hostile accusation against Russia, supported by Washington's empire, is the prelude to war. There is no basis whatsoever for the statement of the US Department of State that "on March 4, Russia used a military-grade nerve agent to attempt to murder a British citizen and his daughter in Salisbury." Considering the fact that no evidence has been presented that any nerve agent was involved, no evidence that it was a Russian nerve agent, and no evidence that Russia, or Putin himself according to the crazed British foreign secretary, is responsible, this accusation is the most reckless and irresponsible charge imaginable. If the Russians do not now realize that the only terms on which they are acceptable to the West is as a vassal state of the West, they are beyond all hope and will be destroyed. If the Russian Atlanticist Integrationists continue to paralyze the Russian government, Russia is finished. There is no greater threat to Russia than its own Atlanticist Integrationists. What will be Washington's next orchestration through one of its vassal states, such as "Great" Britain? Can it get any worse? If the Russian government is realistic, it will expect an incoming nuclear ICBM strike. There is no other reason for the long collection of false charges against Russia except to prepare the insouciant Western peoples for war. If the Russian government does not realize that Washington is bringing war to Russia, the Russian government is endangering Russia's survival. If the Russian government continues to believe that "the door to dialogue is open," the Russian government is deluded beyond repair. The insouciant Western people, concerned with things of no consequence, sit in their stupidity while their corrupt politicians tell them lies. The populations of the West are so stupid that they do not have a clue as to the consequences of the lies that they are fed. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Our Future "Snowpocalypse." "Robo-apocalypse." "Retail apocalypse." Casual references to annihilation pop up every day in American life. That makes it harder to communicate the danger posed by Donald Trump's appointment of John Bolton as National Security Advisor. Bolton has poor judgement, a mean spirit, and an intellect that's weaker than he thinks. He spreads ethnic hatred and argues for sending others to fight and die. This weekend, young people around the country stood up against gun violence in their schools. Bolton's appointment tells us that senseless violence may soon dominate our foreign policy, too, even more than it already does. Bolton seems to pursue Machiavelli's dictum that "it is much safer to be feared than loved." But it's not safer. As we've learned from Bolton's past mistakes, foolish wars bring fresh dangers as well as needless tragedies. Machiavelli also said, "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." This appointment confirms what many of us already thought about Trump's intelligence. But Bolton's no Trumpian deviation from social or political norms. He's a political insider, beloved by think-tankers and mainstream media outlets alike. They're already clucking their tongues in disapproval at Bolton's appointment, but it's all for show. Bolton's one of them. Progressive social media and discussion groups were burning with news of Bolton's appointment. Many notes were variations on a theme: "Goodbye, everyone, it's been nice knowing you." Could North Korea really launch a nuclear strike on the United States? Apparently, it's possible. But most of the people sending those notes are probably safe. The Korean Peninsula is the likeliest target, with the Middle East second. Kim Jong-un would need some luck to reach the West Coast of the United States, although that will be of scant comfort to Seattle or Portland residents if it does come to pass. But every war death is a personal apocalypse. With or without nuclear weapons, there are likely to be many more deaths now that Bolton has been appointed. His proposed attack on nuclear-armed North Korea would almost certainly bring war to South Korea as well. He also advocates preemptive war against Iran. Either action would lead to mass death and chaos. But then, Bolton is the ambassador of chaos. He was an enthusiastic backer of both the Iraq invasion and the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, two moves that destabilized the entire Middle East and led to the formation of ISIS. Bolton has been associated with Mujahidin e-Khalq (MeK), an Iranian terror-linked insurgent group that has reportedly been very generous with its friends in Washington. He is also, incontestably, a bigot. Bolton is closely associated with fellow Islamophobes Pamela Geller, who once asserted that Barack Obama is "the love child" of Malcolm X and "was involved with a crack whore," and the alt-right white supremacist Richard Spencer. Charming. Bolton is the chair of a fake-news source, the Gatestone Institute, which publishes false, hate-filled screeds against Muslims. "The fact-checking website Snopes has found multiple false viral stories originating with Gatestone," writes The Intercept's Lee Fang. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. I have previously described "Trumpite Functional Fascism " as a modern, 21st form of the regime-type. It is based in its 20thcentury archetypes, but it has several important characteristics that are different. The Elements of Republican/Trumpite 21stcentury Functional Fascism in the United States, either already achieved or set forth as goals to be achieved are: 1. The use of the law to promote racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and misogyny. 2. The criminalization of certain religious/non-religious beliefs, as in, for example, LGBT rights and the freedom of choice in the outcome of pregnancy. This is facilitated by the use of "God's Word" to justify oppression, hatred, and, ultimately, Dominionism. Indeed, for the United States, Dominionism is the hand-maiden of fascism, as were Catholicism in Spain and Italy and Shintoism in Japan. 3. The repression, then criminalization, of dissent. 4. The tolerance for, and in certain quarters the promotion of, the Dogma of White Supremacy. 5. The gradual suppression of the free vote, especially among minorities, the young, and the poor, by the use of gerrymandering, voter-suppression, and vote-hacking. 6. The assault on, and the distortion of, the use of data, of all kinds, as in "L'Affaire Cambridge Analytica and Facebook ." 7. The evermore widespread use of the Roy Cohn/Lee Atwater doctrine: "Always attack; never defend." A variant of it is the old maxim for defense lawyers: "If you don't have the law, argue the facts; if you don't have the facts, argue the law; if you have neither the facts nor the law, argue ad hominem. (Of course, you don't have to be a lawyer to use this one. The Right-Wing propagandists from Hannity and Conway on down [or up, depending upon your point of view] use it all the time.) 8. The solidification of the control of the State apparatus by the nation's Executive. Instruments used during the clandestine fight against the fascism. If we don't stop it in time, we are going to need these. (Image by pedrosimoes7) Details DMCA This Doctrine of Functional Fascism finds a very happy home in the modern the Republican Party. It is of course the outcome to date of the Republican Rightward Imperative which has controlled the direction of the Party since the time of Goldwater. So far, Trumpite Functional Fascism has differed from classic 20 the century fascism in several important respects. For one thing, at the beginning of the fascist (Nazi) takeover in Germany, different political views were openly expressed within the upper levels of the Party. For example, Gregor Strasser believed that the word "socialist" in the name of the Party, National Socialist German Workers Party, really had some meaning. So did Ernst Roehm, the commander of the Party's original private army, the Sturmabteilung, the S.A. It happens that they and others like them left the Party's leadership fairly suddenly, beginning with the "Night of the Long Knives," June 30, 1934, an event carried out primarily by Hitler's own private army, the Storm Troopers (SS), and in which Hitler actually personally participated. Indeed, they were killed. But until that time, different views were tolerated with the Hitler Administration. But then, following that consolidation of power, right through until the Nazi defeat in 1945, Hitler surrounded himself either with yes-men, like Hermann Goering, Commander of the Luftwaffe, men who were smart enough to know that mistakes were being made along the way but were also wanted to keep their heads and thus were smart enough to keep their views entirely to themselves, like the smartest man the Nazi government, the Propaganda Minster, Josef Goebbels, or men who were most enthusiastic avatars of the whole of Hitlerite/Nazi doctrine, like Heinrich Himmler, Commander of the SS and Reinhard Heydrich, who, until his assassination by Czech partisans in 1942, was one of Himmler's most vicious deputies . Likewise, until the past several weeks, somewhat differing views were to find expression within the Trump Administration. Sec. of State Rex Tillerson opposed both military action against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the DPRK) and the abrogation of the "Iran Deal." (He also apparently regarded the President as a "moron.") The second National Security Advisor, Gen. H.R. McMaster, thought that Russia had done real damage to the U.S. electoral process in 2016, apparently regarded the President as an "idiot", and apparently, with several of the top leaders of the U.S. intelligence agencies (including the Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coates, formerly a right-wing Congressman from Indiana) wanted to do much more to deal with future Russian threats to the U.S. electoral system that Trump would authorize.) As is well-known, the current White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, is supposedly the "adult in the room" (although he does share certain fascistic tendencies with Trump , like disdain for the legislative process and in-built racism). But he does try to control the President's schedule and reign in some of his more outlandish commentary. However, he is apparently on his way out. And there are others as well. However, now the President is being surrounded more and more by officials who replicate his views exactly. The new Secretary of State nominee is Mike Pompeo, is a Tea Party Republican who wants, among other things, to rip up the "Iran agreement." The new CIA-Director nominee is a woman who ran part of the Cheney/Bush torture program. Trump enthusiastically endorsed the use of torture during the campaign. Steve Mnuchin, the Hollywood film producer installed as Secretary of the Treasury is totally-Trump, on matters from the economy-destroying tariffs to the use of the line-time veto, something that just happens to have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. But Trump likes the idea, so Mnuchin, wanting to keep his job, spouts it (and given his limited background in economics, may believe it too). And then there is Kellyanne Conway, likely the next White House Communications Director. She of course does better as Trump's "yes-woman" than Trump could do himself. So as unilaterality (my spell-checker did not highlight this word, so I guess it's OK) took over the Hitler Regime after June 30, 1934, so is it gradually taking over the Trump Regime now, without anyone getting killed (yet). You keep sayin' that Bolton has a mustache like mine and I'm gonna get you! (Image by kerryinlondon) Details DMCA Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Agriculture Testing Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024 Agriculture Testing Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/agriculture-testing-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/agriculture-testing-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/agriculture-testing-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/agriculture-testing-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Market Outline: Agriculture Testing MarketAgriculture testing refers to the testing of agriculture samples such as soil, compost, manure, ground water, and irrigation among others. Agriculture tests are carried to improve the quality and yield of agriculture products. Various tests are carried in agriculture testing to determine the presence of pathogens, chemical residues, toxins, and among others. Moreover, common contaminants and quality of the sample are factors considered to determine the type of testing required.Market Dynamics: Agriculture Testing MarketGrowing industrial wastage due to rapid industrialization, which contaminates the soil and water, technological advancements in agriculture testing such as rapid test analysis, rise in awareness about food safety, and government initiations for improving the quality and yield of products are anticipated to upsurge the revenue of agriculture testing market over the forecast period. Furthermore, excess use of fertilizers leads to soil pollution, introduction of novel seeds and fertilizers, and stringent regulations for food safety are anticipated to fuel the testing market over the forecast period, However, lack of well-established testing infrastructure, high cost of agriculture testing services, lack of awareness about agriculture testing in underdeveloped regions, and stringent regulations for the approval of newer tests are impede growth of the market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Agriculture Testing MarketAgriculture testing market is segmented based on sample type and applicationBased on the sample type, it is segmented into the following: Soil Water Compost Manure Seeds Bio-solids OthersBased on the application, it is segmented into the following: Contaminants Chemical residues Toxins Nutritional analysis Pathogens testing Quality assurance OthersMarket Summary: Agriculture Testing MarketAgriculture testing market exhibiting significant growth, which is attributed increase in the government initiations for increasing the quality and yield of the agricultural products. For instance, in June 2016, Nigerian government launched a new digital soil test scheme to improve the food production. In addition, most of the local and international players are engaged in the development of newer testing services and devices for determining the quality and quantity of agriculture samples. Moreover, business expansion by the companies may increase the revenue share market players. For instance, in September 2015, Eurofins Scientific strengthened its business in U.S. by the acquisition of Spectrum Analytical, Inc. which provides test services for soil, ground water, solid waste, and air among others. Similarly, in March 2015, SGS opened a new seed testing in Voronezh, Russia to expand its business in seed testing market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Agriculture Testing MarketGeographically, agriculture testing market segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. North America agriculture testing market is driven by increase in the awareness about agriculture testing among farmers, technological advancements in agriculture testing, presence of huge number of testing service providers, and stringent regulation by the government for food safety are propelling the market. Europe agriculture testing market expected to grow at significant rate, which is attributed to presence of wider agriculture testing providers in European countries such as France and U.K., collaboration between the companies, and innovation of newer tests. Asia Pacific agriculture testing market driven by increase in the agriculture production, rise in focus on increasing the agriculture product yield, and expansion of business in Asia Pacific region by market players, for instance, in 2016, Intertek opened a new agri testing laboratory in India.Market Participants: Agriculture Testing MarketSome of the players in market are Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), SGS S.A. (Switzerland), Bureau Veritas S.A. (France), Intertek Group Plc. (U.K.), RJ Hill Laboratories Ltd. (New Zealand), ALS Limited (Australia), and AsureQuality (New Zealand) to name a few.Notable Market Developments: Agriculture Testing Market In January 2016, Eurofins acquired BioDiagnostics, Inc.s seed and plant testing laboratoryNeed more information about this report @Key Features of the Report The report provides granular level information about The market size, regional market share and forecast from 2017-2024 The report covers in-detail insights about The competitors overview, key findings and Their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, challenges, and trends that are currently faced by The industry The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are working in The industry The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenarioGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Matrix to Exhibit Innovative Telecom and Security Solutions at Matrix Insight Matrix, a leading manufacturer of Telecom and Security products, will be exhibiting its solutions at Matrix Insight. Matrix Insight is a maiden product expo organized on April 8, 2018 from 8:30am to 12:30pm at Hotel Intercontinental Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event is conducted in association with our regional partner The Network Guide (TNG).Matrix will present its latest PBX, PRASAR UCS Pure IP Solution for Modern Enterprises that supports up to 2,100 IP users from a single box at the event. The product finds its applications in hospitality, multi-location, retail, healthcare and other industry verticals where mobility is the key for productivity. The SIMADO range of GSM Gateways is expected to be in the limelight for apparent benefits of wireless connectivity and pocket friendly telephony costs. Matrix will display its hospitality PBX that support calling activities in hotels from 40 to 3,000 rooms. The PBX offers integration with well-known Property Management Software (PMS) without any middleware, helping hotelier manage routine operations and create enhanced guest experience. We will exhibit our scalable Gateways which can be deployed in standalone mode and offer easy switch between PRI, GSM, IP and Analog networks from a single chassis. Matrix SPARSH VP710 - Smart Video IP Phone is expected to remain in spotlight at the event.Matrix Video Surveillance wing is going to sport a new range of IP cameras incorporating SONY STARVIS series sensors with EXMOR technology. This gives the cameras an edge over others in terms of exceptional low light performance, consistent image in varying light conditions (True WDR), better bandwidth optimization and many other features. These cameras, when coupled with Intelligent Video Analytics, provide excellent perimeter security and intrusion alerts through various means like SMS, Email, etc. We will also exhibit our Video Management System (VMS) SATATYA SAMAS which can seamlessly automate the parallel working of various systems integrated in an organization. Alongside, we are going to present the recently launched new range of Network Video Recorders that are equipped with characteristics like Cascading, Camera-wise Recording Retention, Database Level Integration and plenty of other distinct features.Matrix will demonstrate its Time-Attendance and Access Control solutions to escalate productivity and security of SME, SOHO and Large Enterprises. Matrix will showcase enterprise grade Time-Attendance solution with real-time features such as Auto Push Events to Server, Instant Notification, Automatic Device Identification, Scheduler Service for Report and Backup, and more. Furthermore, Access Control being the prime requirement in terms of security, Matrix will present its standalone Access Control solution, whereby a single panel can handle up to 255 doors and 25,000 users. Witness cutting-edge Matrix biometric solutions at Jeddah.Our product portfolio is constantly evolving, with new products being added to it and new features being added to the existing products. We look forward to strengthening our bond with partners and conduct this product expo successfully by showcasing our innovative products and solutions that can accelerate business growth, said Ganesh Jivani, Managing Director.Visit us at Al Sultan Ball Room, Intercontinental Hotel, Al Hamra Corniche, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 8th April 2018. The event starts at 8:30 AM.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. Matrix, an innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, VoIP Gateways and Terminals, GSM Gateways, Access Control, Time-Attendance and Video Surveillance solutions. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 1,000 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Mary ThomasMatrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010 When I was doing theater in Los Angeles, Hadsell shared, I had four day jobs at once in addition to rehearsing and performing for shows. When I moved to New York, my first job was catering, and later I started working the front desk at a barre fitness studio. I went to about 20 auditions before I found out I was booked for Mean Girls, and that was after I went to five different callbacks for it! As the play prepares to open, Hadsell, who commutes from Long Island City to Manhattan by subway each day, has found rehearsals to be amazing, but definitely exhausting. Since were in the preview process up until we officially open, we normally have a five hour rehearsal during the day and then a show at night. Once the show opens, we will be set with no more rehearsals. I have to pinch myself when I think about the fact that Im working with such an incredible creative team. Theyre so good at what they do! Hadsell shares advice for those aspiring to follow in her footsteps: To break into the NYC theater scene, find a theater company near your community. Start auditioning and performing as much as you can. Keep your dreams and passion alive! Doodle Labs Signs Mouser Electronics as a Global Distribution Partner Doodle Labs Industrial Wi-Fi Transceiver www.mouser.com/doodle-labs www.doodlelabs.com Doodle Labs partners with Mouser Electronics to extend product availability and fulfillment of its Industrial Wi-Fi Transceiver product lineDoodle Labs, one of the leading manufacturers of broadband RF products, has entered into a distribution agreement with Mouser Electronics, Inc. to offer Doodle Lab's Industrial-Wi-Fi Transceiver product line across its global footprint.Doodle Labs portfolio of Industrial Wi-Fi Transceivers offers best-in-class performance for broadband RF modules. These transceivers have high transmit power to facilitate long range communications and have been designed to operate in rugged environments and at extreme temperature ranges. Primarily deployed in complex, challenging applications, the partnership with Mouser will give the broader market access to DLs high performance technology."We decided to partner with Mouser because of their market-leading positioning and their expertise in new product introduction," said Ashish Parikh, Doodle Labs Vice President of Business Development. Parikh added that the agreement with Mouser will enable Doodle to accelerate its sales growth as it looks beyond niche applications.The distribution agreement with Doodle Labs is in keeping with Mousers business model of continuing to offer the most innovative products on the market while delivering a time-to-market and convenience advantage to its customers.Doodle Labs industrial Wi-Fi transceivers feature an integrated low-noise amplifier to pick up low-energy signals from mobile devices, allowing for exceptional performance in demanding circumstances. Extensive coverage is supported by up to 30 dBm of RF power, while high band isolation supports concurrent dual-band operation for multi-band routers. The transceivers hardware RF Kill feature enables full compliance with FAA regulations, allowing the devices to be used to provide wireless service in airborne applications.Doodle Labs complete embedded industrial Wi-Fi product portfolio has been certified as fully compliant by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada, in addition to receiving CE certification from the European Commission. The form-factor compatible transceivers offer reliable performance and versatility, and their pre-certified regulatory compliance allows manufacturers to significantly shorten their time to market in developing new wireless internet solutions.Demonstrating proven performance in a wide array of demanding environments, Doodle Labs transceivers can be deployed in a variety of military and industrial applications. The industrial Wi-Fi devices are suitable for use in unmanned vehicles and robots, as their exceptional temperature and vibration resiliency meet rugged military requirements. The transceivers are also ideal for providing passenger Wi-Fi for train or air travel. Robust construction allows for use in harsh environments in industries such as mining and oil and gas. Additionally, the long range and extensive coverage enabled by the transceivers make them suitable for wireless mesh networking applications.For a closer look, visit the Doodle Labs page on Mousers site:About Doodle Labs -Doodle Labs develops state-of-the-art, wireless broadband transceivers and front end subsystems (FES) for industrial IoT applications. For over 18 years, OEM manufacturers have been relying on Doodle Labs for expertise in designing their wireless systems. Their design philosophy is focused on achieving best-in-class performance while requiring minimal integration effort, thereby allowing customers to go to market faster with better performing products at a lower overall cost.About Mouser Electronics -Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on rapid New Product Introductions from its manufacturing partners for electronic design engineers and buyers. The global distributor's website, Mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 5 million products from over 700 manufacturers. Mouser offers 22 support locations around the world to provide best-in-class customer service and ships globally to over 600,000 customers in 170 countries from its 750,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas.Doodle Labsenquiry@doodlelabs.com150 Kampong AmpatSuite #05-03 KA CentreSingapore 368324 Global Beer Industry: New perspective and innovations Beer Industry https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/beer-market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/650 According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Beer Market By Type, Category, Packaging and Production: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2025, the global beer market was valued at $593,024 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $685,354 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 1.8% from 2019 to 2025.Access Full Summary at:Beer is one of the most largely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world. It is prepared using malted cereals, hops, and water. Factors such as cultural changes and penetration of western culture have influenced consumers behavior and inclination toward alcoholic beverages. Beer companies have recently introduced light, low-calorie alcoholic beverages, targeting the female audience. Moreover, changes in social lifestyle of the working class and growth in disposable income, especially in the developing Asian economies fuel the growth of the market.Based on type, the global beer market is classified into lager, ale, stout & porter, malt, and others. Among these, the lager segment accounts for a significant market share by value. However, this segment is projected to witness slow growth compared to other segments owing to the preference among major breweries for the production of ale beer. By category, the market is segmented into popular prices, premium, and super premium. The super-premium segment is expected to witness highest growth during the forecast period due to rise in disposable income in the potential markets of China, India, and Brazil.The global beer market is analyzed based on production method into macro-brewery, micro-brewery, craft brewery, and others. The macro-brewery segment presently dominates the global market due to changes in consumer taste and improvements in lifestyle. The craft brewery segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period, owing to growth in preference among consumers for craft beer. Moreover, surge in the adoption of consolidation and expansion strategies by major industry brewers boost the growth of the craft beer industry.Get Sample PDF Brochure at:Based on region, the global beer market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Asia-Pacific is the highest revenue contributor, accounting more than two-fifths of the market share. Indonesia and India are the fastest growing beer markets in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the beer market in LAMEA is expected to register an increase in growth rate as compared with other regions, during the forecast period (2019-2025).Key Findings of the Beer Market: Based on type, the malt segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2019 to 2025, in terms of both value and volume. In 2017, North America covered nearly one-fifth share by revenue of the global beer industry, and the market is growing at a CAGR of 1.7%. LAMEA is expected to be the fastest growing region, registering a CAGR of 1.9% during the forecast period. Based on the type of packaging, the glass segment dominated the global market in 2017, and is expected to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period. In terms of volume, the premium segment occupied majority of the share in the beer market, followed by the popular priced segment.The beer market is anticipated to witness a significant growth in Asia-Pacific, owing to several factors such as upsurge among female consumers and social acceptance of beer as a refreshment drink in parties. However, various countries have levied huge taxes on alcohol to discourage excessive drinking, which is expected to hamper the market growth.The key players profiled in the report are Anheuser-Busch InBev, Beijing Yanjing Brewery, Boston Beer Company, Carlsberg Group, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Diageo PLC, Heineken N.V., Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Squatters Pub, and United Breweries Group.About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Contact Us:Rahul Thakur 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220 United StatesDirect: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1 (800) 792-5285 (U.S. & Canada)Fax: +1 (855) 550-5975E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com Lactose Free Foods 2018 Global Industry Key Players - Cargill Inc , Johnson and Johnson , Boulder Brands Inc ,Amy's Kitchen Inc , Kerry Group Market Analysis And Forecast To 2023 Global Lactose Free Foods Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3079324-global-lactose-free-foods-market-research-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3079324-global-lactose-free-foods-market-research-report-2018 Global Lactose Free Foods MarketIn this report, the global Lactose Free Foods market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Global Lactose Free Foods market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingCargill IncJohnson and JohnsonBoulder Brands IncAmy's Kitchen IncKerry GroupBarry CallabautAlara Wholefoods LtdCHR HansenMead Johnson NutritionWhiteWave FoodsAgropur CooperativeAlproValioMcNeil NutritionalsRequest a Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Lactose Free Foods in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoDairy ProductNondairy ProductOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingRetailSupermarketOtherTable of Contents-Key Points CoveredGlobal Lactose Free Foods Market Research Report 20181 Lactose Free Foods Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Lactose Free Foods1.2 Lactose Free Foods Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Lactose Free Foods Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Lactose Free Foods Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Dairy Product1.2.4 Nondairy Product1.3 Global Lactose Free Foods Segment by Application1.3.1 Lactose Free Foods Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Retail1.3.3 Supermarket1.3.4 Other1.4 Global Lactose Free Foods Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global Lactose Free Foods Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Lactose Free Foods (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Lactose Free Foods Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)7 Global Lactose Free Foods Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Cargill Inc7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Cargill Inc Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Johnson and Johnson7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Johnson and Johnson Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Boulder Brands Inc7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Boulder Brands Inc Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Amy's Kitchen Inc7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Amy's Kitchen Inc Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Kerry Group7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Kerry Group Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Barry Callabaut7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Barry Callabaut Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Alara Wholefoods Ltd7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Alara Wholefoods Ltd Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 CHR Hansen7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 CHR Hansen Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Mead Johnson Nutrition7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Mead Johnson Nutrition Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 WhiteWave Foods7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Lactose Free Foods Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 WhiteWave Foods Lactose Free Foods Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Agropur Cooperative7.12 Alpro7.13 Valio7.14 McNeil NutritionalsContinued.Complete Report Details @Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Service Packaging Market 2018-2022 Leading Players Amcor Ltd., Mondi Group, Smurfit Kappa Group, Bemis Company Inc., Georgia-Pacific Corporation https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1677 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/shopping_cart?report_id=1677 Global Service Packaging Market Information by Material (Paper & Paperboard, Plastic, and others) by Product (Boxes, Bags, Pouches, Papers, and others) by Application (Food, Beverages, Consumer goods, and others) and Region - Forecast to 2022Global Service packaging Market - OverviewService packaging is used at the point of sale to consumers of goods or services. It is any kind of packaging used in a same manner and type. Service packaging aims at the convenience of the end consumers by offering them a handy, durable and flexible packaging. Such packaging is used extensively across applications such as food, beverages and consumer goods. The Global Service Packaging Market is growing with the rapid pace; mainly due to the growth in packaged food industries. Increase in consumer income in countries such as China, India, and Brazil, have led to growth in demand for good-quality packaged food.According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, The global market of Service packaging is booming and expected to gain prominence over the forecast period. The global Service packaging market is forecasted to demonstrate an exponential growth by 2023, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a whooping, CAGR of during the estimated period (2017 2023).Get Sample of Report @Currently, the Service packaging market is spurting mainly due to the rapid growth in e-commerce sector. The ease of online shopping such as faster delivery, easier return policies, and free shipping, have made many customers switch from the traditional method of shopping. Additionally, growing pharmaceutical sector across the globe also has the positive influence on the growth of the market. However, fluctuating prices of raw materials is the factor may hamper the growth of the market.Key Players:Amcor Ltd., Mondi Group, Smurfit Kappa Group, Bemis Company Inc., Georgia-Pacific Corporation, ITC Ltd., Cascades Inc., International Paper, Graphic Packaging International Inc., DS Smith Plc, Crown Holdings, Inc., Graphic Packaging International Inc., AptarGroup Inc., Sonoco Products Company, and Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. are some of the prominent players profiled in MRFR Analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the Global Service packaging Market.Industry NewsIn March 2017, Hotpack Packaging Industries, has announced an investment of USD 61 million (GBP 50 million) to set up facility in Wales, U.K. This facility will be equipped with the latest in packaging and manufacturing technologies. Wales facility will be established as the UK & European head office and manufacturing facility and will create 250 jobs in the region.In April 2017, Oji invests USD 30 Million in New Zealand paper-bag converting facility. The new converting line can produce 48 million, 25kg dairy and food powder bags per year, bringing the plant's total annual production to 100 million bags.In July 2016, Orlando Products, Inc. is one of the nation's largest providers of packaging supplies ranging from padded mailers, bubble wrap, and flexible sheet foams, completes the acquisition of Absolute Packaging, LLC. The acquisition provides Orlando Products with additional manufacturing capacity and expands the company's presence in the Northern Virginia market.Global Service packaging Market - Competitive AnalysisCharacterized by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global Market of Service packaging appears to be highly competitive. Well established players incorporate acquisition, collaboration, partnership, expansion, and product launch in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position. These key players compete based upon pricing, and services. Vendors operating in the market strive to deliver the best quality products and services based on innovative technologies, and best practices. These Key Players make a substantial investment for R&D and to secure a guaranteed resource for the customers. Service packaging market demonstrates a high growth potential which is likely to attract many entrants to the market resulting in to intensified competition further.Direct Purchase Report @Service packaging Market - SegmentationGlobal Service packaging Market is segmented in to three key dynamics for an easy grasp and enhanced understanding.On the basis of materials, the market has been segmented as Paper & Paperboard, Plastic, and others. Polythene dominates the material segment of the market. Plastic is one of the most widely used material used for packaging across various end-use industries. Plastic in the form of PVC, PE, PP, PET, and others are used extensively in packaging segment. The material offers high barrier, cost efficient, temperature resistance and durable packaging options. Paper-based packaging is a versatile and cost-efficient method to transport, protect and preserve a wide array of itemsBased on product, the market has been segmented into Boxes, Bags, Pouches, Papers, and others. Pouches are available in different types such as stand-up pouches, retort pouches, and pillow pouches.On the basis of application, the market has been segmented into Food, Beverages, Consumer goods, and others. Food and beverages are the major applications of the market. Demand for ready-to-eat and on-the-go foods and drinks continues to grow. With increase in the consumption of processed food will increase the consumption of package products. Consumer goods is also is also the major application of the market.Segmentation by Regions: Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.Global Service packaging Market - Regional AnalysisAsia Pacific region dominates the global Service packaging market. Rising disposable incomes among the individuals and the booming ecommerce industry are the major factor driving the growth of the market in the region. China accounted for the largest share in Asia pacific region mainly due to strong economic growth along with increase in online shopping and rapid urbanization.North America is another major region for the Service packaging. Growing demand for consumer goods and packaged foods is expected to spur market growth. The U.K., Germany and France dominate the Service packaging market in Europe. Rising demand for consumer and personal care products and growing e-commerce is expected to spur market growth.Target Audience Manufactures Raw material Suppliers Aftermarket suppliers Research Institute / Education Institute Potential Investors Key executive (CEO and COO) and strategy growth managerTABLE OF CONTENTS1 Executive Summary2 Scope Of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research ProcessContinue..List Of TablesTable 1 World Population By Major Regions (2015 To 2030) (Million)Table 2 Global Service Packaging Market: By Region, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 3 Global Service Packaging Market: By Region, 2014-2022 (Kt)Table 4 North America Service Packaging Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 5 Europe Service Packaging Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 6 Asia-Pacific Service Packaging Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)Table 7 RoW Service Packaging Market: By Country, 2014-2022 (Usd Million)LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 Global Service Packaging Market SegmentationFIGURE 2 Forecast MethodologyFIGURE 3 Five Forces Analysis Of Global Service Packaging MarketFIGURE 4 Value Chain Of Global Service Packaging MarketFIGURE 5 Share Of Service Packaging Market In 2014, By Country (In %)FIGURE 6 Global Service Packaging Market, 2015-2022, (USD Billion)Continue..About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FuturePune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone No. :+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Solar Water Disinfection Market Comprehensive Study by Key Players 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=212 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=212 https://www.tmrresearch.com/solar-water-disinfection-market Global Solar Water Disinfection Market: SnapshotSolar water disinfection has emerged as one of the most practical methods and low-cost techniques used by over 6 million people world over to disinfect non-potable water. The zero intervention measure has gained popularity among rural populations and low-income areas, especially in developing nations, to purify drinking water. These areas are characterized by the poor access to water sources and the unavailability of adequate sanitation. Contaminated water has been proven to be the cause of various gastrointestinal illnesses, particularly diarrhea, infecting at least 6 billion people world over. The bactericidal action of solar irradiation in water has been established in numerous scientific literature. Communities in low-income areas are infected with a variety of pathogenic microorganisms such as fecal coliforms, protozoa, and various viruses.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The process consists of exposing the volume of contaminated water in about two liters of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) transparent bottles to full sunshine for at least six hours. The mechanism of action is not very clear. However, the synergistic impact of UV photons found in solar energy and the mildly thermal heating produced during the sunlight exposure are essential to the disinfection process. Solar light being absorbed in water catalyzes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the intracellular level of pathogenic microorganisms, triggering the disinfection. The effect of this mechanism has been adequately validated in E. coli. The technique forms one of the key parts in solar water purification system, the other being solar distillation process. Compared to conventional water purification techniques such as chlorination and artificial UV radiation, solar water disinfection is being preferred in low-income communities since the technique doesnt require expensive and sophisticated equipment.Global Solar Water Disinfection Market: OverviewThe rising environmental concerns and depleting conventional resources have caused a shift towards the utilization of renewable sources for energy generation. At present, solar energy is utilized for a number of applications ranging from power generation to water purification.Solar water disinfection involves the utilization of solar energy for water purification. The technique helps to get rid of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and worms that can be harmful to humans.The report is an all-important tool for comprehending the market drivers, challenges, and trends that will impact the growth of the global solar water disinfection market until the end of the forecast period in 2025.Request TOC of the Report @Global Solar Water Disinfection Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe low cost of solar water disinfection equipment, initiatives for the solar energy, government support, increasing water pollution, and increasing awareness about the importance of clean water are the major factors driving the global solar water disinfection market.However, factors such as lack of awareness in rural areas where the incidence of water-borne diseases is high and the dependence on the sun for the operation of water treatment plants are restraining the growth of this market. Nevertheless, the developing countries of Asia Pacific and Africa combined with the advancement of technologies for filtration of bacteria and other toxic agents will provide growth opportunities to the global water disinfection market.Global Solar Water Disinfection Market: Market SegmentationThe global solar water disinfection market is segmented on the basis of methodology, application, and geography. On the basis of methodology for treating the contaminated water, the market can be segmented into effects of electricity, ultraviolet radiation, and heat. The electricity enabled solar disinfection utilizes electricity produced with the help of photovoltaic cells to purify water. The thermal water disinfection method utilizes solar energy to heat water. The heat from the infrared radiations can be accumulated using the solar heat collectors. The ultraviolet radiation method involves the utilization of sunlight and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles to purify the water.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @The solar water disinfection equipment provides economical and eco-friendly techniques for water purification. These equipment are suitable to be used in refugee camps and disaster relief situations to provide potable water to the afflicted population. However, solar water disinfection equipment are not effective to be used against non-biological agents such as toxic chemicals and metals.Global Solar Water Disinfection Market: Regional OutlookThe global solar water disinfection market is analyzed based on the areas where solar water disinfection equipment can be used. The regions with high concentration of polluted water are the potential growth areas of the solar water disinfection market. The major areas include the Honduras and El Salvador in North America; Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Nepal in Asia Pacific; Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, DR Congo, and Kenya in Rest of the World region.Major Companies Mentioned in ReportThe report mentions and profiles leading players in the global solar water disinfection market, namely Trunz Water Systems, Puralytics, Evaquoa Water Technologies LLC, Wyckomar Inc., and EAWC Technologies. Each of the companies is profiled for their attributes of business positioning, technological developments, product portfolio and specifications, and financial standing.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com United States Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Market Analysis (Actual and Potential) http://www.dpiresearch.com/report-details.php?P_ID=127 www.dpiresearch.com The report titled United States Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Market Analysis (Actual and Potential), By Pregnancy Risk Level (High & Average Risk), Major Deals, Reimbursement, Key Company Profiles & Demand Forecasts to 2018 - 2023 examines the market dynamics, competitive landscape and discusses major trends. The report offers the most up-to-date industry data on the actual and potential market situation and future outlook for NIPT test in United States. The research includes historic data from 2015 to 2017 and forecasts until 2023.Longterm Growth Projection: United States is anticipated to be the most attractive market in theNon-Invasive Prenatal Testing(NIPT) industry United States Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing(NIPT) is expected toregister a faster value growth during 2018 - 2023 The Potential United States Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing(NIPT) Marketis set to cross USD 2.5 Billion by 2023 MaterniT21 PLUS, Harmony, Verifi, Panorama are the popular test in theUnited States Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing(NIPT) MarketThe report contains a granular analysis of the present industry situations, market demands, reveal facts on the market size, NIPT test volume, revenues and provides forecasts through 2023. The report also includes assessment of comparative test analysis by companies. It also covers reimbursement pattern and offers a clear view of the regulatory landscape in the United States NIPT test market. Additionally, the report includes insights into the NIPT implementation in the high-income countries. Key trends in terms of collaboration, partnership, merger & acquisition, venture capital investment distribution and licensing agreement are analyzed with details. The report also explores detailed description of growth drivers and inhibitors of the United States NIPT Test Market.The report concludes with the profiles of major players in the United States NIPT Test Market. The key market players are evaluated on various parameters such as company overview, NIPT test portfolio, NIPT test analysis with volume and market revenue and latest development and trends of the NIPT Test Market.The Major Companies Dominating this Market for its Products, Services and Continuous Product Developments are:Illumina, Natera, Quest Diagnostics, Sequenom Laboratories (LabCorp), Ariosa Diagnostics (Roche)Major and Promising NIPT test covered in the report are as follows:MaterniT21 PLUS, VisibiliT, MaterniT21 GENOME, Harmony, Verifi, Panorama, Vistara and QNatal AdvancedThe Latest Industry Data Included in this Report: Actual NIPT Test Volume & Market Revenue (2015 - 2023) Average Risk Actual NIPT Test Volume & Market Revenue (2015 - 2023) High Risk Actual NIPT Test Volume & Market Revenue (2015 - 2023) Potential NIPT Test Volume & Market Revenue (2015 - 2023) Average Risk Potential NIPT Test Volume & Market Revenue (2015 - 2023) High Risk Potential NIPT Test Volume & Market Revenue (2015 - 2023) NIPT Test Market - Reimbursement & Regulation System NIPT Test Implementation in HighIncome Countries Comparative Test Analysis By Companies Major Deals in NonInvasive Prenatal Testing Market Key Companies Analysis Key Market Drivers and Inhibitors of the United States NIPT Test MarketRead More @DPI Research is a business solutions firm which offer bespoke market research reports, custom research solutions and consulting across multi geographies and industry verticals. We deliver wide range of cutting-edge research solutions that helps organizations in making better decisions of the business to business needs.DPI Research provides high standard of business research reports to the clients across industry verticals comprising Life Sciences, Information Technology, Telecom & Internet, Food Beverages & Agriculture, Travel & Tourism, Consumer Goods & Retail, Education and Social Sciences. We are committed to use advanced analytical tools and methodologies to help clients with crucial industry information for decision making.DPI Research approaches for the business research led by a team of dynamic industry experts. DPI Research provides a real insight for effective decisions to help business with the help of current source and accurate data available in the market. DPI Research reach across the globe with global standards from established markets in the North America and Europe to emerging markets in South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa to provide the best business solutions.Maria Raisales@dpiresearch.comPhone: 91-7289949987Web: Global PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018 Global PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1479192.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ The Global PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the PC Power Supply industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The PC Power Supply Industry analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the PC Power Supply industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.If you are interested in our report or have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want. Email: tinaning@qyresearch.com.This report studies the PC Power Supply market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top manufacturers in global and major regions, and splits the PC Power Supply market by product type and applications/end industries.The global PC Power Supply market is valued at 3448.0 million USD in 2017 and is expected to reach 2486.3 million USD by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of -4.01% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of PC Power Supply in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), covering United States, EU, Chin, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.Global PC Power Supply market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingDeltaLite-OnChiconyCWTAcbelGreat WallFSPHuntkeyAntecGIGABYTESeaSonicThermaltakeCorsairIn WinGOLDEN FIELDVisionTekCoolerMasterEVGAOn the basis of product, the PC Power Supply market is primarily split intoBelow 500 Watts500W ~750 WattsAbove 750 WattsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversConsumer PCBusiness PCIndustrial PCBrowse full report sample:Key Topics Covered:Chapter One: to provide PC Power Supply Market OverviewChapter Two: to provide Global PC Power Supply Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter Three: to provide Global PC Power Supply Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)Chapter Four: to provide Global PC Power Supply Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)Chapter Five: to provide Global PC Power Supply Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter Six: to provide Global PC Power Supply Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter Seven: to provide Global PC Power Supply Manufacturers Profiles/AnalysisChapter Eight: to provide PC Power Supply Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter Nine: to provide Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter Ten: to provide Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter Eleven: to provide Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter Twelve: to provide Global PC Power Supply Market Forecast (2018-2025)Chapter Thirteen: to provide Research Findings and ConclusionChapter Fourteen: to provide AppendixRelated Reports:Europe PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018China PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018India PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018Korea PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018USA PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018Japan PC Power Supply Market Research Report 2018Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchTina| Sales ManagersTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Email: sales@qyresearchglobal.com or tinaning@qyresearch.comWeb:QYResearch, established in 2007, focuses on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, and data base &seminar services. The company owns large basic databases (such as National Bureau of Statistics Database, Customs Import and Export Database, Industry Association Database, etc.), expert resources (including industry experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D in industries of energy, automotive, chemicals, medical ICT consumer goods, etc.), professional survey team (the team members obtained more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years deep expert interview experience), and excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team).Room 2901 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Copper Sulfate Market : Global Industry Volume and Region Analysis 2016 - 2024 Copper Sulfate Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/copper-sulfate-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17954 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Copper sulfate, also known as cupric sulfate is a chemical compound having the formula CuSO4. It is the most popular and widely used copper salt. The anhydrous form of CuSO4 is pale green powder whereas the hydrated copper sulfate is bright blue in color. Copper sulfate is widely used in the agricultural industry primarily as fungicides. Apart from the agricultural industry, it is also used in chemical industry as a source of copper, as a catalyst and for purification of gases. Copper sulfate is used as an adhesive in the production of paints and glues. In the metal and electrical industry, copper sulfate is the most preferred electrolyte for applications such as refining, electro-plating, and also used in the development of batteries. In the leather and textile industry it is used as an important reagent/catalyst in tanning process. Copper sulfate is used as a raw material for preparation of anti fouling paints.Browse Research Report With Complete TOC @The agricultural industry accounts for more than half of the copper sulfate consumption globally. In the agro industry copper sulfate is primarily used as herbicide, fungicides and pesticides. Copper sulfate penta-hydrate is a fungicide. However it is mixed with lime to prepare Bordeaux and Burgundy mixtures which are more effective fungicides. Paris gas, manufactured from copper sulfate, is an insecticide. It is used as a raw material for the production of Chromated copper arsenate which is a widely used wood preservative. It provides wood with insecticidal, fungicidal and UV light reflecting characteristics. Another important application of copper sulfate is as an analytical reagent, which is further used for the preparation of several reagents such as Fehlings solution, Benedicts solution and Biuret reagent. Demand for copper sulfate as an additive in animal feed is also increasing as the copper is very essential for proper body functioning. However, copper sulfate is moderately toxic when exposed for a longer period of time. As majority of the copper sulfate is produced from scrap copper, it contains toxins. Toxins such as Dioxin are no longer preferred by most of the consumer countries.Increasing number of agricultural activities in the Asia-Pacific region has fueled the demand for agro chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides. Owing to this demand for copper sulfate in countries such as China and India has subsequently increased. . Demand for the chemical compound is also expected to rise in North America as the agricultural production in U.S. and Canada is also very high. The production of copper sulfate was significant in Europe until recently. Most of the European countries are now importing copper sulfate in large quantities from the third world countries like Ukraine, Macedonia, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Russia and China. Most of the Europes surviving producers are based in Italy, Spain and France. Russia and most of the former Soviet Union countries are the nations dominating copper sulfate manufacture as majority of the copper mines are located in the Eurasian region. In other countries such as Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Columbia, demand for feed-grade copper sulfate is also increasing due to growth in the animal feed industry.Request a PDF Brochure with Research Report Analysis @Copper sulfate is a very important chemical having a broad spectrum of applications. The demand of this chemical is predicted to increase subsequently over the fore-cast period. Some of the leading producers of copper sulfate are WEGO Chemical & Mineral Corp., Allan Chemical Corporation, NOAH Technologies Corporation, and ATOTECH.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Biologic Therapeutics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Growth and Forecast 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3104 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3104 https://www.tmrresearch.com/biologic-therapeutics-market Global Biologic Therapeutics Market: OverviewThe global biologic therapeutics market is predicted to benefit from the rising applications of biological products. Biological products could be made of sugars, nucleic acids, proteins, or complex combinations of these substances, or may be living components such as cells and tissues. Biological products are used to prevent diseases, diagnose diseases, or treat or cure medical conditions.Global Biologic Therapeutics Market: Key Trends and OpportunitiesFirst and foremost, increasing reimbursement for biologics is predicted to positively influence the biologic therapeutics market in the upcoming years. Medical insurance companies and state-run insurance schemes are increasingly accepting claims against biologic therapeutics. Biologic therapeutics are gaining popularity due the efficacy of biologic therapeutic drugs and fewer side effects than chemical-based drugs. This is because biologic drugs are obtained from natural sources such as plants, or even living components such as cells and tissues of animals, microorganisms, or humans. These fragments are further treated to make therapeutic products such as blood components, vaccines, and recombinant therapeutic proteins.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and coronary artery diseases and a growing geriatric population are some other factors contributing to the biologic therapeutics market. In addition, mounting clinical trials and innovative research and development practices to develop novel drugs is boosting the growth of biologic therapeutics market.On the flip side, manufacturing difficulties due to complexities of drug molecules is challenging the growth of biologic therapeutics market. Nevertheless, increasing research and development in the pharmaceutical sector and rising applications of biologics is anticipated to provide new opportunities to this market.Global Biologic Therapeutics Market: Market PotentialThe Genetic Technology module for TechVision Opportunity Engine provides the most recent R&D advancements and developments while looking into opportunities for profit in the exploding genetic technology field via joint ventures, acquisitions, and technology transfer. The entire range of genetic technology applications covered in the module includes latest developments in omics technologies, which include genetic, cellular, and alternative therapies; genetically modified plants and animals, and sequencing technologies.The health and wellness cluster of genetic technology techvision opportunity engine looks into developments across several areas, which include genetic engineering, drug discovery and development, regenerative medicine, cosmetic procedures, nanomedicine, drug delivery, smart healthcare, pain and disease management, and personalized medicine.Request TOC of the Report @Global Biologic Therapeutics Market: Geographical OutlookAs per the reports analysis, the worldwide biologic therapeutics market could see a classification into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America, among them, could secure a leading position due to a robust research infrastructure and presence of expert researchers and scientists for biotechnology research. Europe is a key market for biologic therapeutics due to high level of biotechnology research and pioneering research in the field of biotechnology. Asia Pacific is likely to emerge as a significant market for biologic therapeutics with increasing advancement in biotechnology research.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Biologic Therapeutics Market: Competitive LandscapeThe worldwide biologic therapeutics market is predicted to witness the prominence of several key players, namely Pfizer Inc., Novartis Global, Smith Medical, Concord Biotech, H. Lundbeck A/S, AstraZeneca, Merck & Co. Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., and Retractable Technologies Inc. Market players could resort to common business strategies, viz. product innovation, cutting-edge developments, and acquisitions to push up growth in the market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Custard Powder Products Market Driven by Emergence of Ready-to-eat Custard Powder Products https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23231 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=23231 12mPruning Tower Market, byMain ApplicationsArboricultureVineyardNursery PlantsRow CropsOthersComplete Detail @Table of Contents:Global Pruning Tower Detailed Analysis Report 2017-2022Chapter One Pruning Tower Market Overview1.1 Global Pruning Tower Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20221.2 Pruning Tower, by Height 2012-20221.2.1 Global Pruning Tower Sales Market Share by Height 2012-20221.2.2 Global Pruning Tower Revenue Market Share by Height 2012-20221.2.3 Global Pruning Tower Price by Height 2012-20221.2.4 < 4m1.2.5 4m - 8m1.2.6 8m - 12m1.2.7 > 12m1.3 Pruning Tower, by 2012-20221.3.1 Global Pruning Tower Sales Market Share by 2012-20221.3.2 Global Pruning Tower Revenue Market Share by 2012-20221.3.3 Global Pruning Tower Price by 2012-20221.3.41.3.5Chapter Three Pruning Tower by Players 2012-20173.1 Global Pruning Tower Sales Volume Market Share by Players 2012-20173.2 Global Pruning Tower Revenue Share by Players 2012-20173.3 Global Top Players Pruning Tower Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Top Players Pruning Tower Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Pruning Tower by Consumer 2012-20174.1 Global Pruning Tower Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20174.2 Arboriculture4.3 Vineyard4.4 Nursery Plants4.5 Row Crops4.6 Others4.7 Consuming Habit and PreferenceChapter Five Global Top Players Profile......5.1 Berkvens greenhouse mobility B.V. (Netherlands)5.1.1 Berkvens greenhouse mobility B.V. (Netherlands) Company Details and Competitors5.1.2 Berkvens greenhouse mobility B.V. (Netherlands) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.1.3 Berkvens greenhouse mobility B.V. (Netherlands) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.1.4 Berkvens greenhouse mobility B.V. (Netherlands) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.2 Damcon BV (Netherlands)5.2.1 Damcon BV (Netherlands) Company Details and Competitors5.2.2 Damcon BV (Netherlands) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.2.3 Damcon BV (Netherlands) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.2.4 Damcon BV (Netherlands) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.3 FA.MA. (Italy)5.3.1 FA.MA. (Italy) Company Details and Competitors5.3.2 FA.MA. (Italy) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.3.3 FA.MA. (Italy) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.3.4 FA.MA. (Italy) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.4 Gillison's Variety Fabrication, Inc. (USA)5.4.1 Gillison's Variety Fabrication, Inc. (USA) Company Details and Competitors5.4.2 Gillison's Variety Fabrication, Inc. (USA) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.4.3 Gillison's Variety Fabrication, Inc. (USA) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.4.4 Gillison's Variety Fabrication, Inc. (USA) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.5 Hinowa spa (Italy)5.5.1 Hinowa spa (Italy) Company Details and Competitors5.5.2 Hinowa spa (Italy) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.5.3 Hinowa spa (Italy) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.5.4 Hinowa spa (Italy) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.6 Jackrabbit (USA)5.6.1 Jackrabbit (USA) Company Details and Competitors5.6.2 Jackrabbit (USA) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.6.3 Jackrabbit (USA) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.6.4 Jackrabbit (USA) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.7 Maryniaczyk (Poland)5.7.1 Maryniaczyk (Poland) Company Details and Competitors5.7.2 Maryniaczyk (Poland) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.7.3 Maryniaczyk (Poland) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.7.4 Maryniaczyk (Poland) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.8 TOL Incorporated (USA)5.8.1 TOL Incorporated (USA) Company Details and Competitors5.8.2 TOL Incorporated (USA) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.8.3 TOL Incorporated (USA) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.8.4 TOL Incorporated (USA) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.9 Weldcraft Industries, Inc. (USA)5.9.1 Weldcraft Industries, Inc. (USA) Company Details and Competitors5.9.2 Weldcraft Industries, Inc. (USA) Key Pruning Tower Models and Performance5.9.3 Weldcraft Industries, Inc. (USA) Pruning Tower Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.9.4 Weldcraft Industries, Inc. (USA) Pruning Tower Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross MarginContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Global Dried Spices Market will Experience a Noticeable Growth During the Forecast Period 2017 2026 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=349 https://www.factmr.com/report/349/dried-spices-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=349 https://www.factmr.com/ FACT.MR has been actively involved in offering comprehensive research data concerning various topics which are associated to industrial reference and investor utility. This particular research report titled Dried Spices Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking - Global Review 2017 to 2026 has been added to the wide online database of FACT.MR which discusses the present as well as future market scenario. Readers can access knowledge related to market volume, regional expanse as well as competitive landscape prevailing in the global Dried Spices Market. In order to study development patterns, this smart assessment also focuses on market dynamics, which talks about drivers, restraints and opportunities estimated to influence the concerned market during the period until 2022.Request for Sample Report-As the need to enhance flavor in food products continue to increase, manufacturers in the food industry are increasingly focusing on using dried spices as an important ingredient. Apart from boosting flavor of various food products, dry spices are witnessing significant demand for dried spices attributed to health-benefitting properties. Fact.MR states that the global dried spices market is expected to reflect a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period, 2017-2026.Factors Fuelling Global Market GrowthGrowth of the global dried spices market is mainly bound to various macro-economic and micro-economic factors. As the need for enhancing flavors in various food products continue to increase, demand for dried spices is projected to rev up in the global market. Bound to various healthy properties, consumption of dried spices is projected to remain in the food industry. Moreover, attributed to properties such as sodium and calorie-free flavors, consumption of spices helps in controlling heart diseases, diabetes and weight gain. Demand for the dried spices also continue to remain high as it helps in preventing cancer. Bound to such factors, the global dried spices market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.Food Industry to Boost Demand for Dried SpicesBesides consumption in the food industry, range of spices are further used as important ingredients in various medicines and personal care products. Attributed to various healthy properties, dried herbs and spices continue to witness significant demand for the production of range of personal care and beauty products globally. Moreover, dried herbs and spices also continue to witness significant demand in various aromatic products. Attributed to various properties such as soothing, protecting, cleaning and healing the body, dried spices continue to witness significant demand in the personal care industry and cosmetic industry.Browse Full Report with TOC-Table of Content:1. Global Outlook2. Global Dried Spice Market - Executive Summary3. Global Dried Spice Market Overview4. Global Dried Spice Market Analysis and Forecast 2012-20265. North America Dried Spice Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20266. Latin America Dried Spice Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20267. Europe Dried Spice Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20268. Japan Dried Spice Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20269. APEJ Dried Spice Market Size and Forecast, 2012-202610. MEA Dried Spice Market Size and Forecast, 2012-202611. Global Dried Spice Market Company Share, Competition Landscape and Company Profiles12. Research Methodology13. Secondary and Primary Sources14. Assumptions and Acronyms15. DisclaimerContinued.Check Discount on This Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized Food & Beverages market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web: Western Equine Encephalitis Industry Market Expected To Grow At High Cagr During Forecast Period 2017 2022 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2740066-western-equine-encephalitis-pipeline-review-h2-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2740066-western-equine-encephalitis-pipeline-review-h2-2017 OverviewWestern equine encephalitis is a disease that is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. Western equine encephalitis is caused by the western equine encephalitis virus, an arbovirus. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may include only fever and headache to encephalitis with delirium, disorientation or coma.Click here for sample report @Report HighlightsThe Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Western Equine Encephalitis - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Western Equine Encephalitis (Infectious Disease), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Western Equine Encephalitis (Infectious Disease) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Western Equine Encephalitis and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Preclinical and Discovery stages are 4 and 1 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Phase II stages comprises 1 molecules, respectively.Major Scope of the report:- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Western Equine Encephalitis (Infectious Disease).- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Western Equine Encephalitis (Infectious Disease) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Western Equine Encephalitis (Infectious Disease) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.Table of ContentsList of FiguresIntroductionGlobal Markets Direct Report CoverageWestern Equine Encephalitis - OverviewWestern Equine Encephalitis - Therapeutics DevelopmentPipeline OverviewPipeline by CompaniesPipeline by Universities/InstitutesProducts under Development by CompaniesProducts under Development by Universities/InstitutesWestern Equine Encephalitis - Therapeutics AssessmentAssessment by TargetAssessment by Route of AdministrationAssessment by Molecule TypeWestern Equine Encephalitis - Companies Involved in Therapeutics DevelopmentAkshaya Bio IncAltravax IncEpiVax IncProfectus BioSciences IncWestern Equine Encephalitis - Drug Profilesequine encephalitis (trivalent) vaccine - Drug Profile .ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India North America Microarray Market 2018 | Major Participants: ABCAM, ASTERAND BIOSCIENCE, IHC WORLD LLC, NOVUS BIOLOGICALS LLC, ORIGENE TECHNOLOGIES INC, PANTOMICS, INC, PROTEIN BIOTECHNOLOGIES Microarray Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2641 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2641 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2641 The, Microarray Market inquire about report is developing with the quick pace; chiefly due the prospering Healthcare Sector. As per a current report distributed by the Market Research Future, The Microarray Industry Research report is blasting and anticipated that would pick up unmistakable quality over the conjecture time frame. The Market is anticipated to exhibit a colossal development by 2027, outperforming its past development records as far as esteem and volume.You can get easy access to samples from the report here:Market Synopsis of Microarray Market:North America the market for Microarray is increasing rapidly. A microarray is a multiplex lab-on-a-chip. It is a 2D array on a solid substrate, usually a glass slide or silicon thin-film cell, that assays large amounts of biological material using high-throughput screening miniaturized, multiplexed and parallel processing and detection methods. Globally the microarray market is dominated by DNA microarrays. The protein microarray is currently the fastest growing market. The use of peptide and carbohydrate microarrays is expanding. Tissue and cell microarrays are in their infancy stage and are developing slowly because of many complications in the process development. North American market for Microarray is expected to grow at the rate of about 4.0% from 2016 to 2027.Key Players for Microarray Market:Some of the key players in this market are: ABCAM, ASTERAND BIOSCIENCE, IHC WORLD LLC, NOVUS BIOLOGICALS LLC (ACQUIRED BY BIO-TECHNE), ORIGENE TECHNOLOGIES INC, PANTOMICS, INC, PROTEIN BIOTECHNOLOGIES INC, US BIOMAX, INC., US BIOUPTON INT, VITROVIVO BIOTECH, LLC and others.Market Assessment:The report for North America Microarray Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.What makes our report unique?1) An extensive research study on the Global Microarray market, and its entire ecosystem, describes the market trends, drivers, restraints and opportunities of the Microarray market.2) We provide you the longest possible market segmentation based on type of products, procedures and geography and describe the market share region wise.3) The report gives a bird eyes view on the competitive landscape which includes mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, market strategies, and new product launches.Any query or specific requirement? Ask to our industry expert:Key FindingThe North America microarray market is expected to reach $1,635.4 billion by 2027.Paraffin tissue sections (FFPE) hold the largest share of 54.6% of the North America Tissue Microarray market.U.S. holds the largest market share of North America Tissue Microarray market and is anticipated to reach $364.2 million by the end of 2027.Immunohistochemistry segment holds the largest market share of 47.5% in 2015.Segments:North America Microarray market has been segmented on the basis of types which comprises of protein microarray, tissue microarray, and cellular microarray. On the basis of product, North America Tissue microarray market is segmented intoparaffin tissue sections (FFPE), frozen tissue sections, and others. On the basis of applications, tissue microarray market is segmented into immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, and others.Intended Audience:Contract Research Organizations (CROs)Research and Development (R&D) CompaniesGovernment Research LaboratoriesIndependent Research LaboratoriesGovernment and Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesAcademic Institutes and UniversitiesRegional Analysis of Microarray Market:In North America, U.S. is the largest market for Tissue Microarray. Canada is the second-largest market and is expected to be fastest growing market for Tissue Microarray in North America....CONTINUEDFeel free to get in touch for discounts and customized details:About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Wearable Heart Monitoring Devices Market Top Trends | By Product (Electric Pulse Based Product, Optical Technology Based) and Future Scenario to 2023 Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4714 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4714 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/4714 Wearable Heart Monitoring Devices Market is expected to grow at an approximate CAGR of 9.86% during the forecast period. Digital revolution and the rapid development of the information technology has transformed virtually every industry and healthcare industry is no exception. Recently, novel devices for wireless monitoring have emerged and begun to be integrated with cardiac patient care. This has led to the development of wearable heart monitoring devices market. By set-up, a majority of the wearable heart monitoring devices consists of wearable monitoring device and a portable data transmission device which transmits real time medical data for analysis. According to the National Health Service in 2015, an average American is constantly connected via high bandwidth to a vast network of data and sophisticated digital platforms with over 90% of American adults owning a cell phone and 55% having smart phones.According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017, 2.7-6.1 million people in the United States have AFib. Moreover, it is reported that more than 750,000 hospitalizations occur each year in the U.S. because of AFib, accounting to the estimated medical cost for people who have AFib to be about USD 8,705 per person. Such trends in the prevalence of AFib along with high per capita healthcare expenditures in the developed countries and growing geriatric population is estimated to boost the market growth during the forecasted period. However, lack of awareness for the products, low healthcare expenditures in the developing countries and stringent FDA approvals will restrain the market growth during the forecasted period.Request to Get the Sample Pages @Wearable Heart Monitoring Devices Market: Major PlayersMedtronic (U.S.)Kinetec Products UK Ltd. (South America)Beurer GmbH (Europe)Medisana AG (Europe)Briggs Healthcare (U.S.)Polar Electro (Europe)And others.Wearable Heart Monitoring Device Market - Regional AnalysisAmerica dominates the global wearable heart monitoring devices market owing to a well-developed healthcare sector and a highly developed information technology sector. Moreover, high prevalence of AFib diseases, increasing healthcare expenditure have boosted the growth of the market in America. Moreover, the presence of developed economies like the U.S. and Canada and global players such as Medtronic, Briggs Healthcare within the regional boundaries fuels the market growth.Europe is the second largest market for wearable heart monitoring devices, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Availability of funds for research, well developed healthcare infrastructure, huge patient population and government support for research & development will drive the market in the Europe.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence of developing economies like India and China within the region which have increasing healthcare expenditures. This along with favourable government policies will boost the market growth in the presence of huge opportunity for the untapped market within the region.Wearable Heart Monitoring Device Market - SegmentationThe global wearable heart monitoring devices is segmented on the basis of products, type, application, and end users. On the basis of products, the market is segmented as electric pulse based, optical technology based, and others. The electric pulse based segment is sub-segmented into chest straps, chest patches and others. The optical technology based segment, by product, is further segmented into smart watches, earphones, and others. On the basis of type, the market is categorised into chargeable, non-chargeable, bluetooth enabled, and others. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into healthcare, consumer market, and others. On the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospitals, retail pharmacies, academic institutes, and others.Check Discount on Wearable Heart Monitoring Device Market Report @Top 5 Reasons to Purchase this Report:Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent development activities.Market Strategic Business Influence Data.Market Research Future recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations.Market share analysis of the top industry players.Market forecasts for a minimum of 5 years of all the mentioned segments, Trends and the regional markets With SWOT Analysis.Table of Content:Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisContinuedMake Enquiry before Buying on this Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Contract Catering Market 2018 Global Analysis By key Players Aramark, Sodexo, Compass Group, Baxterstorey, Elior Group Contract Catering Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2980087-global-contract-catering-market-research-report-2018-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2980087-global-contract-catering-market-research-report-2018-2023 Contract Catering Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com adds Contract Catering Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Contract Catering Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Contract Catering Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the Contract Catering market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market of different regions across United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Others. The report categorizes Contract Catering market by by Contract Catering Type, and application. Detailed analysis of key players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on Contract Catering market.This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Key PlayersAramarkSodexoCompass GroupBaxterstoreyElior GroupCh & Co CateringMITIE Catering Services...Request a Sample Report @Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsContract Catering Market, by Contract Catering TypeIndependent Contract CatererMulti Service ProviderContract Catering Market, byContract Catering Market, by Key ConsumerBusiness and IndustryEducationHospitalsSenior CareOthersThis report provides valuable information for companies like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and individuals who have interests in this industry.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:Global Contract Catering Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & ApplicationsChapter One Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary Sources1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerChapter Two Contract Catering Market Overview2.1 Market Coverage2.2 Global Contract Catering Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-2017Chapter Three Contract Catering by Key Players 2013-20183.1 Global Contract Catering Sales Volume Market Share by Key Players 2013-20183.2 Global Contract Catering Revenue Share by Key Players 2013-20183.3 Global Key Players Contract Catering Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Key Players Contract Catering Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Six Global Key Players Profile6.1 Aramark6.1.1 Aramark Company Details and Competitors6.1.2 Aramark Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.1.3 Aramark Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.1.4 Aramark Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.2 Sodexo6.2.1 Sodexo Company Details and Competitors6.2.2 Sodexo Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.2.3 Sodexo Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.2.4 Sodexo Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.3 Compass Group6.3.1 Compass Group Company Details and Competitors6.3.2 Compass Group Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.3.3 Compass Group Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.3.4 Compass Group Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.4 Baxterstorey6.4.1 Baxterstorey Company Details and Competitors6.4.2 Baxterstorey Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.4.3 Baxterstorey Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.4.4 Baxterstorey Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.5 Elior Group6.5.1 Elior Group Company Details and Competitors6.5.2 Elior Group Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.5.3 Elior Group Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.5.4 Elior Group Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.6 Ch & Co Catering6.6.1 Ch & Co Catering Company Details and Competitors6.6.2 Ch & Co Catering Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.6.3 Ch & Co Catering Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.6.4 Ch & Co Catering Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.7 MITIE Catering Services6.7.1 MITIE Catering Services Company Details and Competitors6.7.2 MITIE Catering Services Key Contract Catering Models and Performance6.7.3 MITIE Catering Services Contract Catering Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.7.4 MITIE Catering Services Contract Catering Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin...Continued.Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Familial Amyloid Neuropathies Industry Market Trends, Size And Growth Analysis 2017 To 2022 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2740067-familial-amyloid-neuropathies-pipeline-review-h2-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2740067-familial-amyloid-neuropathies-pipeline-review-h2-2017 OverviewFamilial amyloid neuropathy is a slowly progressive condition characterized by the buildup of abnormal deposits of a protein called amyloid (amyloidosis) in the body's organs and tissues. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, pins and needles in the feet and hands, weakness and pain in the arms and legs, loss of sensation, urinary retention, reduced sweating, ankle swelling, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, dizziness and fainting. Supportive treatment includes diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.Click here for sample report @Report HighlightsThe Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Familial Amyloid Neuropathies - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Familial Amyloid Neuropathies (Metabolic Disorders), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Familial Amyloid Neuropathies (Metabolic Disorders) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Familial Amyloid Neuropathies and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Pre-Registration, Filing rejected/Withdrawn, Phase II, Phase I and Preclinical stages are 2, 1, 1, 1 and 1 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Phase II and Preclinical stages comprises 1 and 1 molecules, respectively.Major Scope of the report:- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Familial Amyloid Neuropathies (Metabolic Disorders).- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Familial Amyloid Neuropathies (Metabolic Disorders) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Familial Amyloid Neuropathies (Metabolic Disorders) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.Table of ContentsList of TablesList of FiguresIntroductionGlobal Markets Direct Report CoverageFamilial Amyloid Neuropathies - OverviewFamilial Amyloid Neuropathies - Therapeutics DevelopmentPipeline OverviewPipeline by CompaniesPipeline by Universities/InstitutesProducts under Development by CompaniesProducts under Development by Universities/InstitutesFamilial Amyloid Neuropathies - Therapeutics AssessmentAssessment by TargetAssessment by Mechanism of ActionAssessment by Route of AdministrationAssessment by Molecule TypeFamilial Amyloid Neuropathies - Companies Involved in Therapeutics DevelopmentAlnylam Pharmaceuticals IncIonis Pharmaceuticals Inc .ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India ProteoSave by S-BIO - Reduce Adsorption of Proteins, Peptides, and Cells. Distributed by MoBiTec ProteoSave Plates and Tubes http://www.mobitec.com www.mobitec.com When a biological sample is stored in a standard tube or plate, the compound and its activity can diminish because of adsorption to the plastic surface. ProteoSave is especially designed for reduced adsorption to the plastic's surface.ProteoSave is a product that blocks nonspecific adsorption of proteins, peptides, and cells by a unique ultra-hydrophilic polymer, developed by S-BIO. 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According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the Global Medical Billing Market is booming and expected to gain prominence over the forecast period and is projected to grow a sound pace. The market is projected to demonstrate a sound growth by 2027, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a sound CAGR during the anticipated period (2017-2027).Medical sector is continuously evolving sector. New technologies like information technology are being continuously being exploited for the ease in workflow. All these provided favourable backgrounds for the market growth. Factors such as increasing healthcare expenditure, rising use of the internet, growing need for risk and compliance management followed by the increasing digitalization in healthcare industry, and others are driving the market growth. Moreover, increasing patient population due to various diseases fuels the global medical billing market. However, privacy concerns are the major factor which may hinder the growth of the market.Get a sample report atGlobal Medical Billing Market - competitive analysisCharacterized by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of medical billing appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. International players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the developing economy, making it difficult for regional vendors to compete with them, especially in terms of features such as product differentiation, product portfolios, quality, and pricing. The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. The intense competition prevalent in the market dictates the consolidation among marketers.Well established players incorporate acquisition, collaboration, partnership, expansion, and product launch in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.In January, 2018- Accenture entered into an agreement to acquire Germany-based Mackevision, a leading global producer of 3D-enabled and immersive product content. The acquisition will add state-of-the-art visualization capabilities to Accenture Interactive digital services portfolio strengthening its ability to create compelling, next-generation customer experiences and industrial, extended reality applications. However, financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.In July- 2016- Cognizant acquired Idea Couture, a privately-held firm that offers a broad range of digital innovation, strategy, design and technology services. However, the terms of the transaction were not disclosed.In September, 2017- Genpact, a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation for clients, acquired TandemSeven, a Boston-headquartered company that delivers customer and digital experience innovation consulting using design thinking at its core. TandemSevens ability to design better customer experiences complements Genpacts digital capability aimed at transforming business processes end-to-end. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.In April, 2016- HCL Technologies Limited signed an agreement to acquire all of the business of Geometric Limited, except for the 58% stake that Geometric owned in the joint venture- 3DPLM Software Solutions Ltd., with Dassault Systemes. In consideration of this acquisition, HCL issued 10 equity shares of Rs. 2 each to Geometric shareholders for every 43 equity shares of Geometric of Rs. 2 each held by them. In total, HCL will issue 15,640,546 equity shares of Rs. 2 each. Geometric is one of Indias leading PLM consulting, mechanical engineering and manufacturing engineering services providers.Accenture (US), TCS (India), AGS Health (India), Cognizant Technology Solutions (US), GeBBS Healthcare (US), Genpact (US), HCL Technologies (India), Medusind (India), and others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Medical Billing Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.More inquire atGlobal Medical Billing Market - regional analysisThe Global Medical Billing Market is segmented on the basis of regions, into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. North America accounts for the largest market share of the Global Medical Billing Market by region in 2016. High per capita healthcare expenditures followed by increasing global burden of the diseases and presence of the developed healthcare sector are the major drivers for the market growth during the forecast period. Following the similar trends, Europe holds the second largest market. Asia pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing region in the presence of the developing economies like India and China. Moreover, rapidly growing information technology fuels the market within the region. However, the Middle East and Africa region holds the least share of the global market, especially due to the presence of the poor economies and stringent government policies within the African region. In the Middle East & African region, the Middle East holds the largest market share.About usAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research FutureP: +1 646 845 9312W:sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Graphene Nanocomposites Market Forecast 2018-2025 Garmor, Allightec, Graphenea, Cheap Tubes and Other Players Analysis Graphene Nanocomposites Market https://bit.ly/2DWnQ7Y http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-graphene-nanocomposites-market-165 A market study "Global Graphene Nanocomposites Market" examines the performance of the Graphene Nanocomposites market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Graphene Nanocomposites market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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NanoinnovaGraphene Nanocomposites Market : By ApplicationPackagingMedicalBuilding & ConstructionElectronics & ElectricalAutomotiveGraphene Nanocomposites Market : By TypeGraphene Oxide (GO)Graphene Nano Platelets (GNP)Graphene PolymerFirstly, the report covers the top Graphene Nanocomposites manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Graphene Nanocomposites report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Graphene Nanocomposites industry, Graphene Nanocomposites industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 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We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com The Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Industry Will Be Fiercely Competitive in 2018 QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1667311&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-natural-gas-pipeline-system-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Natural Gas Pipeline System to its huge collection of research reports.The market analysis of this particular market dissects and elaborates many of the aspects pertaining to the global Natural Gas Pipeline System market which enunciates the current figures along with future prospects. 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This is prognosticated to further aid in the propagation of accurate figures and data on many factors of the corresponding market such as information relating to the dogmas of the government at the global and provincial level, volume traded, manufacturing capacity, revenue made, and production and circulation structure among others.Get Sample Report of the Research Study at:Global Natural Gas Pipeline System market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingKinder Morgan, Inc.GastiteEnbridge Inc.Omega FlexContinental IndustriesInter PipelineWeberWheatland TubeNatural Gas Pipeline Co. of AmericaNorthern Natural Gas Co.Table of ContentsGlobal Natural Gas Pipeline System Market Research Report 20181 Natural Gas Pipeline System Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Natural Gas Pipeline System1.2 Natural Gas Pipeline System Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Gathering Pipelines1.2.4 Transportation Pipelines1.2.5 Distribution Pipelines1.3 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Segment by Application1.3.1 Natural Gas Pipeline System Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Onshore1.3.3 OffshoreBrowse Complete Table of Content of the Report at:2 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Natural Gas Pipeline System Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Natural Gas Pipeline System Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Natural Gas Pipeline System Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Natural Gas Pipeline System Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.9 Southeast Asia Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.10 India Natural Gas Pipeline System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)...About QYResearchReports.comQyresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from Qyresearchreports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Freeze Dried Foods Market 2018 - Mercer Foods, Nissin Foods, Chaucer Freeze Dried Global Freeze Dried Foods Market https://goo.gl/qEt4QV https://goo.gl/B88UFk www.apexmarketreports.com Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the Freeze Dried Foods Market across the global, regional and country level. 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Moreover, the research study classifies the Freeze Dried Foods Market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Freeze Dried Foods. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Freeze Dried Foods Market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportNestleKerryUnileverWattie's (Heinz)DSMNovartisMercer FoodsNissin FoodsChaucer Freeze DriedMondelezThe competitive landscape of the global market for Freeze Dried Foods is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Freeze Dried Foods Markets production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Freeze Dried Foods Market globally.Inquire Before Buying @The Global Freeze Dried Foods Market 2018 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Freeze Dried Foods production volume, data pertaining to demand and Freeze Dried Foods supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Freeze Dried Foods along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Freeze Dried Foods across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite - Virtual Machine Market: Recent Industry Developments and Growth Strategies Adopted by Players https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/virtual-machine-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13172 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=13172 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A virtual machine is an imitation of a computer system which is capable of performing task such as running applications or programs through cloud based platform. A virtual machine acts as a host operating system created within the cloud platform that can be shared between physical computers. With the advancement in virtualization technology, virtual machines are becoming more common and are being widely used for testing out new operating system, running software designed for existing operating system and testing software on multiple platform.A virtual machine may comprise of an operating system, virtual machine templates, assemblies, virtual disk, files and hardware that one can manage in much the same way as one manages a physical computer. Multiple virtual machine can exist within a single computer at one time. Depending upon the use and communication to any physical system, virtual machines can be categorized as process virtual machine and system virtual machine.Browse the Report to Know Worldwide Industry Analysis and New Market Opportunities Explored @Virtual machines are implemented through software emulation and hardware virtualization technique. The emulation technique help in replicating existing hardware or software in order to be used in new system. Thus, it helps in overcoming obsolescence and making the data readily available. Software emulation attempts to imitate the internal design of the end-user system, so that the files or application can be operate on the operating system other than the one on which it originally runs.The virtual machine is cost effective way which reduces time and hardware installation cost. It also helps the end-user to increase the size of storage and speed as per the demand on contractual basis. Virtual machine enables easy recovery of files during disaster such as earthquake and flood; since the whole system is virtually stored at an offshore location. This enables the end-user to quickly resume their work from any location and reduce economic loss.Request Sample to Know Quantitative Market Analysis, Current and Future Trends @Virtual Machine Market: Long-term OutlookGlobal virtual machine market is expected to witness a tremendous growth in the coming years, since it offers several benefits in a virtualization of system, allow scalability of storage and machine as per demand and help in data backup with faster recovery. The adoption of virtual machine is anticipated to increase in information technology, retail, government and telecom sector. Virtual machine also helps end-user to monitor and manage thousands of virtual machines over a single system.North America and Europe is expected to witness a huge adoption of virtual machine due to growing IT sector. Increasing security threats and impact of data protection regulation by various countries is expected to pose a challenge for this market. Although, increasing emphasis on cloud security is expected to overcome these challenge in the coming years.Get TOC of This Report @Some of the prominent players in virtual machine market are VMware Inc., Oracle Corporation, Redhat Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Citrix systems, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Google Inc., Proxmox Server Solutions Gmbh and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Artificial Pancreas Device System (APDS) Market Size will Reach US$ 0.25 Billion by 20152024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/79 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/79 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Technological advancements to drive growth of the global artificial pancreas device system (APDS) marketIn 2016, the U.S. FDA approved a hybrid closed-loop artificial pancreas device system (APDS) MiniMed 670G which is an automated system. The continuous glucose monitor in the system automatically sends signals to the insulin pump to deliver insulin when the glucose level in body goes beyond the acceptable limit. Thus, there is no need for the user to stimulate the release of insulin every time the glucose level is abnormal. This provide the user freedom to perform his/her daily activities. Such advancement in T1D management is expected to be highly preferred by the users and medical community, leading to higher advocacy to use this device especially among the patient group using insulin pumps. Moreover, in mid-2018, a study will test a bihormonal bionic pancreas system at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) and Boston University. This would further fuel the artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market growth and attract more investments.To understand Research Methodology, please click:Strategic collaborations fostering artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market growthThere were over 20 projects undertaken by the industry payers in 2015 with respect to development of artificial pancreas device system (APDS). Bigfoot Biomedical acquired Asantes FDA approved Snap insulin pump technology in 2015 and at the same time signed a development agreement with Dexcom to integrate Dexcoms CGM in its under development artificial pancreas device system (APDS). Dexcom is in collaboration with many other market players such as Insulet Corporation, Animas Corporation, and International Diabetes Closed Loop wherein, these companies would be incorporating Dexcoms CGM in their artificial pancreas device system (APDS). Such collaborations are expected to expedite market entry for new artificial pancreas device system (APDS)s and thus drive the growth of artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market.The artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market growth would be mainly driven by increasing adoption of the highly useful systems the large base of diabetes type 1 patients, further supplemented by ever increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), number of diabetes patients worldwide increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. According to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), there were around 1.5 million type 1 diabetics worldwide in 2015. JDRF funds research in diabetes 1 and the non-profit organization expected the first artificial pancreas to be commercialized in 2017. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), type 1 diabetes accounts for around 5% of the total diagnosed diabetes cases in adults in the U.S. Developed regions are expected to dominate the artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market size, as these regions are early adopters of disruptive technologies. With the introduction of this technology, market for insulin pens and injectors is expected to be impacted negatively.Lack of reimbursement to hinder artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market growthThe prevalence of T1D in the U.S. is 1.35 million which is expected to increase to 5 million by 2050 as per the estimates (2016) by JDRF. Each year 40,000 people are diagnosed with T1D in the U.S. according to the JDRF. With this huge patient base, potential opportunity for artificial pancreas device system (APDS) looks considerably high at global level. However, lack of reimbursement for glucose sensors is expected to inhibit the uptake of artificial pancreas device system (APDS). With an average cost of US$ 6000-7000, adoption of artificial pancreas device system (APDS) is estimated to be restricted among rich T1D patients. Furthermore, only a few T1D patient group prefer insulin pumps for treatment. According to the 2013 report of JDRF, about 350,000 insulin pumps were sold in the U.S. Thus, creating awareness should also be an objective of artificial pancreas device system manufacturers to increase its adoption.Ask for customization:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Global Goat Milk Infant Formula2018 Trends, Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, Sales, Opportunities, Analysis And Forecast To 2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2697373-global-goat-milk-infant-formula-detailed-analysis-report-2017-2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2697373-global-goat-milk-infant-formula-detailed-analysis-report-2017-2022 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Detailed Analysis Report 2017-2022Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Goat Milk Infant Formula Market -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Description:This report mainly introduces volume and value market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also their price change details. As a Detailed Analysis report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Goat Milk Infant Formula industry.This report splits Goat Milk Infant Formula market by Class Type, which covers the history data information from 2012 to 2016 and forecast from 2017 to 2022.This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Major CompaniesDGC (New Zealand)Danone (Sutton Group) (France)Ausnutria Dairy (Hyproca) (China Hongkong)Baiyue youlishi (China)YaTai-Precious (China)Red Star (China)Guanshan (China)MilkGoat (China)Herds (China)Fineboon (China)Jinniu (China)Shengfei (China)ShengTang (China)Holle (Switzerland)FIT (France)Vitagermine (France)Main RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersRequest for Sample Report@Main Product TypeGoat Milk Infant Formula Market, by Class TypeFirst Class (0~6 months)Second Class (6~12 months)Third Class (1~3 years)Goat Milk Infant Formula Market, byMain ApplicationsHomeCommercialComplete Detail @Table of ContentsGlobal Goat Milk Infant Formula Detailed Analysis Report 2017-2022Chapter One Goat Milk Infant Formula Market Overview1.1 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20221.2 Goat Milk Infant Formula, by Class Type 2012-20221.2.1 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Market Share by Class Type 2012-20221.2.2 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Revenue Market Share by Class Type 2012-20221.2.3 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Price by Class Type 2012-20221.2.4 First Class (0~6 months)1.2.5 Second Class (6~12 months)1.2.6 Third Class (1~3 years)1.3 Goat Milk Infant Formula, by 2012-20221.3.1 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Market Share by 2012-20221.3.2 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Revenue Market Share by 2012-20221.3.3 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Price by 2012-20221.3.41.3.5Chapter Two Goat Milk Infant Formula by Regions 2012-20172.1 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20172.2 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20172.3 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Price by Regions 2012-20172.4 North America2.4.1 United States2.4.2 Canada2.5 Latin America2.5.1 Mexico2.5.2 Brazil2.5.3 Argentina2.5.4 Others in Latin America2.6 Europe2.6.1 Germany2.6.2 United Kingdom2.6.3 France2.6.4 Italy2.6.5 Spain2.6.6 Russia2.6.7 Netherland2.6.8 Others in Europe2.7 Asia & Pacific2.7.1 China2.7.2 Japan2.7.3 India2.7.4 Korea2.7.5 Australia2.7.6 Southeast Asia2.7.6.1 Indonesia2.7.6.2 Thailand2.7.6.3 Philippines2.7.6.4 Vietnam2.7.6.5 Singapore2.7.6.6 Malaysia2.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia2.8 Africa & Middle East2.8.1 South Africa2.8.2 Egypt2.8.3 Turkey2.8.4 Saudi Arabia2.8.5 Iran2.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Three Goat Milk Infant Formula by Players 2012-20173.1 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Market Share by Players 2012-20173.2 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Revenue Share by Players 2012-20173.3 Global Top Players Goat Milk Infant Formula Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Top Players Goat Milk Infant Formula Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Goat Milk Infant Formula by Consumer 2012-20174.1 Global Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20174.2 Home4.3 Commercial4.4 Consuming Habit and PreferenceChapter Five Global Top Players Profile5.1 DGC (New Zealand)5.1.1 DGC (New Zealand) Company Details and Competitors5.1.2 DGC (New Zealand) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.1.3 DGC (New Zealand) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.1.4 DGC (New Zealand) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.2 Danone (Sutton Group) (France)5.2.1 Danone (Sutton Group) (France) Company Details and Competitors5.2.2 Danone (Sutton Group) (France) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.2.3 Danone (Sutton Group) (France) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.2.4 Danone (Sutton Group) (France) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.3 Ausnutria Dairy (Hyproca) (China Hongkong)5.3.1 Ausnutria Dairy (Hyproca) (China Hongkong) Company Details and Competitors5.3.2 Ausnutria Dairy (Hyproca) (China Hongkong) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.3.3 Ausnutria Dairy (Hyproca) (China Hongkong) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.3.4 Ausnutria Dairy (Hyproca) (China Hongkong) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.4 Baiyue youlishi (China)5.4.1 Baiyue youlishi (China) Company Details and Competitors5.4.2 Baiyue youlishi (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.4.3 Baiyue youlishi (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.4.4 Baiyue youlishi (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.5 YaTai-Precious (China)5.5.1 YaTai-Precious (China) Company Details and Competitors5.5.2 YaTai-Precious (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.5.3 YaTai-Precious (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.5.4 YaTai-Precious (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.6 Red Star (China)5.6.1 Red Star (China) Company Details and Competitors5.6.2 Red Star (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.6.3 Red Star (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.6.4 Red Star (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.7 Guanshan (China)5.7.1 Guanshan (China) Company Details and Competitors5.7.2 Guanshan (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.7.3 Guanshan (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.7.4 Guanshan (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.8 MilkGoat (China)5.8.1 MilkGoat (China) Company Details and Competitors5.8.2 MilkGoat (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.8.3 MilkGoat (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.8.4 MilkGoat (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.9 Herds (China)5.9.1 Herds (China) Company Details and Competitors5.9.2 Herds (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.9.3 Herds (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.9.4 Herds (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.10 Fineboon (China)5.10.1 Fineboon (China) Company Details and Competitors5.10.2 Fineboon (China) Key Goat Milk Infant Formula Models and Performance5.10.3 Fineboon (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.10.4 Fineboon (China) Goat Milk Infant Formula Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.11 Jinniu (China)5.12 Shengfei (China)5.13 ShengTang (China)5.14 Holle (Switzerland)5.15 FIT (France)5.16 Vitagermine (France)Chapter Eight Development Trend and Research Conclusion8.1 Development Trend8.2 Research ConclusionContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra, Global: Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Unisecure Upgraded Dedicated Server Platform Unisecure Data Center www.unisecure.com Unisecure, trusted provider of dedicated server hosting in USA upgraded their dedicated server platform now offering more enhanced processing power and memory to customers.Philadelphia, US, March 26, 2018 | Unisecure the leading data center in the US which is specialized in web hosting services and disaster recovery services recently announced the upgradation of their dedicated server platform which is three times faster than before, enabling clients the ability to deal with more website traffic. 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But as horrifying and cruel as mass shootings are, they account for less than 4 percent of all gun homicides in the United States. Despite the brave work of the Parkland survivors and Pathway staff, we must broaden our focus to fully address gun violence. Every year, about 13,000 Americans are murdered by guns, roughly 70 percent by handguns. Rifles of all kinds account for only 3 percent of gun homicides, meaning that assault rifles are actually a small, if ghastly, agent of murder. Dont get me wrong such weapons and their high-capacity magazines should be banned, preventing hundreds of deaths and injuries each year. Levenhuk is the exclusive official distributor of the world-famous Meade brand www.meade-east-europe.eu www.meade-east-europe.eu Dear Meade Dealer, prospective dealer and business partners,First of all, I would like to thank you for your support for Meade and Coronado brand telescopes, sport optics and accessories. 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We are eager to provide our clients with the best products in optics and the Meade Instruments brand is definitely state of the art in the segment of hi-end tools for observing the Space, planets and the Sun. With our warehouses in Prague, Czechia and other capitals in Eastern Europe we will be able to fulfill prompt shipping requests as well as guarantee the best technical support and services. says Anton Epifanov, CEO, Levenhuk.We look forward to your co-operation with our newly appointed authorized distributor to bring great success to the revival of Meade brand name and to you as our valued customers.For any informationVictor AnicetoPresidentMeade Instruments USAV Chotejne 700/7 102 00 Praha 102Phone: +420 734-757-975Email: levenhuk-meade@levenhuk.comA wide range of Meade optical devices is now available in the Zoom-n-Joy online store! Buy high-quality telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes of a well-known and trustworthy optical brand. Reasonable prices and great service are guaranteed. Global Infusion System Market is Projected to Grow at a CAGR of 4.8% and is Expected to Reach US$ 29232.9 Million by 2025 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/3588 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3588 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/north-america-infusion-systems-market-3599 Global Infusion system Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% and is expected to reach US$ 29232.9 million by 2025. Globally, North America accounted for the largest market share in 2016.Global Infusion system is one of the fastest market. The global infusion systems market is segmented on the basis of applications which comprises of chemotherapy, diabetes, gastrointestinal, pediatrics, and others. The Global Infusion system market comprises of regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa.Want To Purchase This Report? Enquire Here:By application, the market is segmented into Chemotherapy, Diabetes Gastrointestinal Diseases, Pediatrics and others. Others segment accounted for the largest market share. Chemotherapy was the second-largest market.Global Infusion system market statistical report published by Market Research future contains a brief overview of Global Infusion system market. By region, market is segmented into countries namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. North America commands the largest share and is expected to grow continuously during the forecasted period of 2013-2025. The report analyzed the Global Infusion system market and presents systematic data of market share on the basis of segments and countries, and its growth rate for 2014 to 2017, along with forecast till 2025.Key Questions Answered In This Report:What will the market size and what will the growth rate be?What is driving this market?What are the key market trends?What are the challenges to market growth?Purchase Global Infusion system market statistical report @ just $299:Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the Global Infusion system market on the basis of segments & countries, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period. For this report, extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market performance. Various industry experts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were contacted and interviewed to get an idea of Global Infusion system market.Similar Research ReportNorth America Infusion Systems Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% and is expected to reach US$ 15799.6 million by 2025. In North America Infusion Systems Market, the U.S accounted for the largest market share in 2016.North America Infusion Systems is one of the fastest market. The North America Infusion Systems market comprises of countries namely the U.S and Canada. By application, the market is segmented into Chemotherapy, Diabetes Gastrointestinal Diseases, Pediatrics and others. Others segment accounted for the largest market share. Chemotherapy was the second-largest market. By product, the market is segmented into IV Disposable, Infusion Pump and others. IV disposable accounted for the largest market share. Infusion pump was the second-largest market.North America Infusion Systems market statistical report published by Market Research future contains a brief overview of North America Infusion Systems market. By country, market is segmented into countries namely the U.S and Canada. The U.S commands the largest share and is expected to grow continuously during the forecasted period of 2013-2025. The report analyzed the North America Infusion Systems market and presents systematic data of market share on the basis of segments and countries, and its growth rate for 2014 to 2017, along with forecast till 2025.You Can Browse This Report Here:Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the North America Infusion Systems market on the basis of segments & countries, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period. For this report, extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market performance. Various industry experts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were contacted and interviewed to get an idea of North America Infusion Systems market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact Us:Market Research Future Office No. 528,Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar, Pune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Single Cell Analysis Market, By Product Consumable, Instruments By Types of Cell (Human, Animal, Microbial Cells https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1078 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Single cell analysis is an emerging technology that helps sequence whole human genome at a single cell level. This particularly includes genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics with its sensitivity improved to single cell level. In genomics, new generation methodologies such as next generation sequencing and third generation sequencing play crucial roles. The aim of single cell analysis is mainly to measure and analyze cellular heterogeneity. Single cell analysis interpret life at fundamental level and find immense applications in the field of medicine. Single cell analysis over conventional standard cell numbers sequencing method enable the discovery and investigation of unknown micro-organisms. A study published in the Journal of Single Cell Analysis 2014, stated that a variety of technologies that are powerful and less expensive, such as Multiple Annealing And Looping-Based Amplification Cycle (MALBAC) and Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA), find great progress in uncovering somatic mutations in human genome and detection of copy number variation. But in human single-cell genomics, Whole Genome Sequencing or Whole Exome-Sequencing (WGS or WESseq) finds great potential in clinical applications, especially in screening, diagnosis, and monitoring. It is popular in academic research because mRNA helps bridge genome structure and epigenomics modification with phenotype, reveals gene functions and regulatory network, and most importantly it is easier to perform than proteomics.Inclination toward single-cell technology by biologists is mainly because many samples including stem cells, immune cells, neurons, cancers, and other tissues exhibit a stochastic nature with heterogeneity factor. Conventional methods cannot provide transcriptomic profile in highly heterogeneous cell population. Even if cell population is less, single cell analysis can enable the identification of biomarkers of delicate phenotypes or disorders (e.g. cancer stem cells). In addition, this analytical technique also helps classify different cell types in different physiological and pathological conditions, in very rare events of any somatic mutation, epigenetic modification of regulatory gene expression, and its function.Get The Holistic SAMPLE With TOC:Global Single Cell Analysis Market TaxonomyThe global single cell analysis market is segmented on the basis of product, types of cells, type of technique, application, and end user.By product:Consumables (beads, microplate, reagents, assay kits, etc.)Instruments (PCR, NGS system, spectrophotometers, etc.)AutomatedManual10x Genomics, in 2017, launched the chromium single cell V(D)J solution for profiling full length paired V(D)J transcripts from hundreds to millions of lymphocyte. It is a reagent system, which has the ability to completely identify and characterize T and B cells by single cell sequencing. This will reveal true clonality and diversity in adaptive immune system. This product will have an impact on research based single cell analysis market.By Types of cells:HumanAnimalMicrobialBy Type of technique:Mass Spectroscopy (MS)Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)Next-Generation SequencingFlow CytometryMicroscopyBy Application:ResearchDiagnostic applicationsNoninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis (NIPD)In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCsBy End User:Academic & Research InstitutesBiotechnology and Biopharmaceutical CompaniesHospitals and Diagnostic LaboratoriesCell Banks and IVF CentersAdoption rate of treatment options, for instance, stem cell therapy and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is increasing significantly.Long shelf life of single cell analysis products and consumable products is another driver for the growth of single cell analysis market.However, high cost of instruments may have a negative impact on market growth in future.Global Single Cell Analysis Market Trends and OpportunityA study by the Journal of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry in 2014, stated that Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) are applied using metal atoms such as nanoparticle for investigation of cell-to-cell variance or cellular uptake of drugs and other elements. Single-cell genomics find many clinical applications such as genetic diagnosis of embryo-related diseases and to study blood-borne Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). These applications may be further employed for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer.Major key players in the global single cell analysis market include 10X Genomics, Abcam Plc., Agilent Technologies, Fluxion Biosciences, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Bio-Techne Corporation, Bruker, Danaher Corporation, Fluidigm Corporation, GE Healthcare, and Illumina, among others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Wind Turbine Blade 2018 Global Market Key Players Vestas, Enercon, Tecsis Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Wind Turbine Blade Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2746857-wind-turbine-blade-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2746857-wind-turbine-blade-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 Description:Wind Turbine Blade-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Wind Turbine Blade industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Wind Turbine Blade 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Wind Turbine Blade worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Wind Turbine Blade marketMarket status and development trend of Wind Turbine Blade by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Wind Turbine Blade, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For Sample Report @The report segments the global Wind Turbine Blade market as:Global Wind Turbine Blade Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Wind Turbine Blade Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):< 1.5 MW1.5 MW1.5-2.0 MW2.0 MW2.0-3.0 MW3.0 MW3.0-5.0 MW5.0 MWGlobal Wind Turbine Blade Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Offshore Wind BladeOnshore Wind BladeGlobal Wind Turbine Blade Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Wind Turbine Blade Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):LM Wind PowerVestasEnerconTecsisGamesaSuzlonTPI CompositesSiemensGE WindCARBON ROTECAccionaInox WindZhongfu Lianzhong,AvicSinomaTMTNew UnitedUnited PowerMingyangXEMC New EnergyDECHaizhuang WindpowerWanyuanCSRSANYComplete Report Details @Table of ContentsChapter 1 Overview of Wind Turbine Blade1.1 Definition of Wind Turbine Blade in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Wind Turbine Blade1.2.1 < 1.5 MW1.2.2 1.5 MW1.2.3 1.5-2.0 MW1.2.4 2.0 MW1.2.5 2.0-3.0 MW1.2.6 3.0 MW1.2.7 3.0-5.0 MW1.2.8 5.0 MW1.3 Downstream Application of Wind Turbine Blade1.3.1 Offshore Wind Blade1.3.2 Onshore Wind Blade1.4 Development History of Wind Turbine Blade1.5 Market Status and Trend of Wind Turbine Blade 2013-20231.5.1 Global Wind Turbine Blade Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Wind Turbine Blade Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Wind Turbine Blade 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Wind Turbine Blade by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Wind Turbine Blade by Types3.2 Production Value of Wind Turbine Blade by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Wind Turbine Blade by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Wind Turbine Blade by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Wind Turbine Blade by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Wind Turbine Blade5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Wind Turbine Blade Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Wind Turbine Blade Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Wind Turbine Blade by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Wind Turbine Blade by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Wind Turbine Blade by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Wind Turbine Blade Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Wind Turbine Blade Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Wind Turbine Blade Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 LM Wind Power7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Wind Turbine Blade Product7.1.3 Wind Turbine Blade Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of LM Wind Power7.2 Vestas7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Wind Turbine Blade Product7.2.3 Wind Turbine Blade Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Vestas7.3 Enercon7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Wind Turbine Blade Product7.3.3 Wind Turbine Blade Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Enercon7.4 Tecsis7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Wind Turbine Blade Product7.4.3 Wind Turbine Blade Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Tecsis7.5 Gamesa7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Wind Turbine Blade Product7.5.3 Wind Turbine Blade Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of GamesaContinued.Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 Anti Foaming Agents Market Forecast to 2024: Environmental Concerns & Regulatory Guidelines Regarding Release of Effluents Through Different Industries "Anti Foaming Agents Market" http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-anti-foaming-agents-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-anti-foaming-agents-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-anti-foaming-agents-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-thermoplastic-elastomers-market/ Global Anti Foaming Agents Market is expected to reach USD 7.40 billion by 2025, from USD 5.70 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015 & 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Request For Free Sample Report @Global Anti Foaming Agents Market, By Type (Water-Based Antifoaming Agent, Oil-Based Antifoaming Agent, SiliconeBased Antifoaming Agent and Other Antifoaming Agents (Eo-/Po-Based)) By Application (Pulp & Paper, Oil & Gas, Paints & Coatings, Pharmaceutical, Textiles and Others), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) and Forecast to 2025.Competitive Analysis:The global anti foaming agents market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of anti-foaming agents for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Major Market Competitors/Players:Some of the major players operating in the global anti foaming agents market are BASF, Evonik Industries, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Wacker Chemie AG, DOW Corning Corporation, Ecolab Inc. (Nalco), Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Ltd., Ashland Inc., Kemira OYJ, Elementis PLCO, EVONIK INDUSTRIES AG, SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD., and many more.Inquiry Before Buying @Market Definition:Anti-foaming agents are surface-active materials that remove foam or prevent foam formation in various processes such as commercial, manufacturing, or industrial. Foam is usually created during blending or mixing, and during filtration & filling procedures resulting in reduced equipment capacity as well as increased processing time and expense. Thus, to cope up with the problem of foam formation, different types of anti-foaming agents or air release agents are used. These anti foaming agents can be water based, oil based, silicone based, or can be made up of any other material. Foam is an unwanted by-product created during the production of various substances. The chemical industry is constantly trying to minimise the production of foam from different biochemical materials. Biochemical substances such as protein can easily remove foam. The anti-foaming agent has various applications such as in paints and coating, water treatment and many more. Water is a basic need in almost all chemical process and hence its treatment process is gaining lot of momentum. According to an article published by global water intelligence, it has been estimated that the water technologies has grown at the market value of USD 7 billion in the year 2015. The major players in the anti-foaming agent market are making numerous developments such as launch of new products, opening new research and development centres (R&D), and new plants for contributing to the growth of the anti-foaming agents market. Companies such as Evonik has introduced new specialty additive for safe food packaging combined with exceptional performance such as anti-foaming properties. The products are Airase 5355, Airase 5655, and Airase 4655 defoamers, as well as a new wetting agent, Surfynol 355 surfactant. All three products were developed specifically for use in food packaging applications.Major Market Drivers and Restraints:Increasing awareness, new regulatory guidelines, and environment concernsWith continuously expanding applications in various end user industriesLimited awareness regarding the product and projected reverse trends for it.Rising demand from Asia-pacificHigh loading levels of antifoaming agent in the industrial processMarket Segmentation:The global anti foaming agents market is segmented based on source, type, application, and geographical segments.Based on type, the global anti foaming agents market is segmented into water-based antifoaming agent, oil-based antifoaming agent, siliconebased antifoaming agent and other antifoaming agents (Eo-/Po-Based).On the basis of application, the global anti foaming agents market is classified into pulp & paper, oil & gas, paints & coatings, water treatment, detergents, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, textiles and others.Based on geography, the global anti foaming agents market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and, Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and, Brazil among others.View Full Report @Related ReportGlobal Thermoplastic Elastomers Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Thermoplastic Elastomers Market, By Product Type (Styrenic Block Copolymers (TPE-S), Thermoplastic Olefins (TPE-O), Elastomeric Alloys (TPE-V or TPV), Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU), Thermoplastic Copolyester, Thermoplastic Polyamides); Application (Automotive, Building & Construction, Electrical & Electronics, Household Appliances, Medical, Adhesives, Sealants & Coatings, Others) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Isolation Amplifier Market 2018 by Global Leaders: Mouser Electronics, Analog Devices, Broadcom, Silicon Laboratories, Dewetron, Wurth Elektronik, Toshiba, DRAGO Automation https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4044 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/isolation-amplifier-market-4044 Market Research Future published a research report on Isolation Amplifier Market Research Report- Global Forecast 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market Scenario:Major giants like Texas Instruments and Toshiba Corporation are investing into isolation amplifier market due to increasing demand from various industry verticals. Toshiba Corporation has launched optical coupled isolation amplifiers which will be available in both digital and analog output types. The isolation amplifier is equipped with a delta-sigma AD converter which helps in detecting infinitesimal electric current and voltage fluctuation with high-precision. This proves to be very useful in industrial applications and is basically suited for current and voltage sensing applications.North America region holds the largest market share of global isolation amplifier market followed by Europe. The growth is North America region is mainly dominated by U.S. and Canada and is attributed to the growing urbanization in the region. Whereas Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate owing to the growing economies like China and India. China is considered to be the manufacturing hub of electronics. The region also has strong presence of manufacturing industries which is driving the growth of isolation amplifier market.Get Sample of Report @Isolation amplifier market has been segmented on the basis of type and application. The type segment is further bifurcated into analog and digital. The analog type isolation amplifiers are suited for almost all applications owing to its high durability and high reliability. Analog isolation used with a combination of digital isolation also proves to be inexpensive. This is also another factor driving the growth of isolation amplifier market.Isolation amplifiers are based on optocoupler technology and was basically designed for voltage sensing and current sensing. Isolation amplifier is used to minimize the effects of a following circuit on the preceding circuit. The purpose of an isolation amplifier is not to amplify the signal but the current of same voltage is passed out as it was sent in without any leakage of current. It has major applications in the field of telecommunications owing to increasing demand for high speed data and voice clarity. Telecommunication sectors requires data back up and constant data exchange and isolated amplifiers provide high data protection. Owing to this, demand from telecommunication sector is fueling the market growth of isolation amplifier market.The global Isolation Amplifier Market is expected to grow at approx. USD 1.7 Billion by 2023, at 10% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Key PlayersThe prominent players in isolation amplifier market are Mouser Electronics (U.S.), Analog Devices, Inc. (U.S.), Broadcom Ltd. (Singapore), Texas Instruments, Inc. (U.S.), Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Dewetron GmbH (Germany), Eaton Corporation PLC (Ireland), Wurth Elektronik (Germany), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), DRAGO Automation GmbH (Germany) among others.Segments:Isolation amplifier market can be segmented on the basis of following:By Type Analog DigitalBy Application Medical Patient Monitoring Biomedical Measurements ECG EEG Industrial Industrial Process Control Current Shunt Measurement Ground Loop Elimination Nuclear Telecommunications OthersRegional Analysis:The regional analysis of isolation amplifier market is being studied for regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. It has been observed that North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market whereas Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The major growth in isolation amplifier market in Asia Pacific is attributed to growing economy in the Asian countries like China and India and strong presence of manufacturing industries in that region.Get Complete Report @Intended Audience Technology Investors Research/Consultancy Firms Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) OEM technology solution providers Amplifiers Manufacturers Amplifiers Suppliers Manufacturing CompaniesAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Devices Market-Trends, Outlook https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1046 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Genetic testing is a type of medical test that determines changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins. The tests was available only through healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and genetic counselors. However, this trend is gradually shifting towards the customer or consumer. Genetic testing is now offered directly at home, and is called Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing, which bypasses the mediators or facilitators such as Physicians, Genetic Counselors, and others. The most critical thing about the genetic tests is that these tests are for disease susceptibilities only and cannot be used alone for treatment decisions or other medical interventions. In genetic testing, interpretation is important and is transferred to individual patient, who may not be trained geneticist.Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing is advantageous for manufacturers as it gives direct access to them to appeal to the customer and maximize their revenue. However, this testing provides easy access to the customer while chances of misinterpretation are really high.The U.S. FDA has kept these tests in Tier 3 category due to high chances of misinterpretation of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. According to FDA, Tier 3 category means that there is no clinical validity or utility of such applications in healthy individuals in the population.Get The Holistic SAMPLE With TOC:Global Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Devices Market Taxonomy:By Application:Health TestingCarrier Testing (Diagnosis screening)Nutrigenetic TestingAncestryRelationship TestingTalent TestingMatchmakingOthersBy Type of Sample:SalivaBloodOthersEasy accessibility along with increased incidences of chronic disease such as cancer, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons is expected to drive growth of the marketGenetic testing requires patients or healthy individuals to visit trained medical professionals such as doctors, nurses or counselors, in order to get their test interpretations of the result. This process has now become unnecessary or voluntarily with the introduction of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices. This has significantly cut down the cost associated with testing and increasing accessibility of such tests to potential patients.Increasing awareness about health, especially in developed economies such as U.S., Canada, and U.K. among others, and increasing incidences of chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons is majorly contributing to growth of the market. The reasons for this reactiveness varies with geography. For instance, in developed economies such as U.S. and Germany, aging population are more prone to chronic conditions, which include cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders. In 2017, FDA approved direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing for 10 diseases, including Alzheimers and Parkinsons. This has further certified direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices for these conditions, which in turn, is expected to increase the use of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests among patients suffering from the medical conditions.Limited accessibility to healthcare facilities, mainly in emerging economies such as Brazil, India, and China, is the major reason for low adoption of advanced technologies such as genetic tests. However, introduction of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices is expected to solve this problem as customers can use direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices at their home.Prolonged struggle between manufacturers and regulatory bodies restraints growth of the growthManufacturers and regulatory bodies are the essential parts of healthcare ecosystem and cooperation between them is must for any development. Manufacturers drive innovation whereas regulatory authorities insures safety and efficacy of the product or process. However, the direct-to-consumer genetic testing devices market has seen very little cooperation. For instance, 23andMe was started in 2006 and the company started selling its direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices in 2007 and was even named Invention of the Year by Time magazine in 2008. However, in 2013, FDA ordered 23andMe to discontinue marketing its personal genome service (PGS), as the company had not obtained the legal regulatory approval. The company completely denied the charge and sold their products till 2015. In 2017, the company got first FDA approval for genetic tests for 10 diseases. The hindrance between the manufacturers and regulatory bodies restraints the market growth.Key players operating in the global direct-to-consumer genetic testing devices market include 23andMe, Pathway Genomics, Color Genomics, Counsyl, Inc., deCode genetics, Inc., Map My Gene, and GenePartner.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Luxury Vehicles Market to Develop Rapidly by 2020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/2792 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2792 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Luxury vehicle is a term used for the vehicles that provide luxury (pleasant or desirable features beyond necessity) at premium price. It can also be referred as the vehicle with features such as, higher quality equipment, better performance, more precise construction, comfort, higher design and technologically innovative with features that convey an image, brand, status or prestige for the individual in the society. Luxury vehicles provide high degree of comfort than other vehicles. Major contents of these cars are genuine leather upholstery and polished "wood grain-look" dashboards.Luxury vehicles may be classified into different forms such as sedan, coupe, hatchback, station wagon, minivans, crossovers, sport utility vehicles and convertible body styles. . In every era of automobile history, there is a group of car models that are expensive to purchase, due to their alleged superiority of design and engineering. As these models targeted the wealthy customers these are termed as luxury cars. Automobile manufacturers provide different models that are targeted at particular socio-economic classes according to their income and standard of living in the society.Request for Table of Contents @Countries such as China, Japan, the U.S., Canada, India and European countries are the major markets for the luxury vehicles. Increasing disposable income is the major driver for the luxury vehicle globally. Additionally, various loan schemes launched by the automobile manufacturers and the financial institutions have made it easy for the customer to buy luxury vehicles to maintain their status in the society. This may provide growth opportunity for the luxury vehicle especially in the developing nations.Rising fuel price can act as restraints for the global luxury vehicle market especially in the developing countries such as India. According to Statista (Statistics Company) average prices for crude oil increased from USD 77.38 per barrel in 2010 to USD 105.87 per barrel in 2013.Luxury vehicle manufacturers may be either stand-alone companies, such as BMW and Mercedes, or division or subsidiary of a mass market automaker (Lexus part of Toyota). Some of the major brands operating in this market are BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Volvo, Ferrari, Land Rover, Lexus and Cadillac.Request to View Sample of Research Report @ABOUT US: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 Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Automotive Engine Oil Market to Record Sturdy Growth by 2020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/2838 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2838 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The function of engine oil in automobiles is to reduce metal-to-metal contact in order to minimize overall friction and reduce damage. In automobile, friction is one of the major sources of engine heat, which produce more wear and deform moving engine parts. The oil in automobile engine develop a skinny, lubricating film on all metal parts that lets them move smoothly over each other thus minimizing friction. Engine oil also removes small particles of dust and other impurities present in automobiles fuels. Furthermore, it seals the gap between the pistons and the cylinder walls so that the fuel combustion is more efficient. It also coats all the moving parts of automobile engine to provide a layer of protection against rust.Engine oil are mostly differentiated on the basis of their viscosity index (resistance to thinning with increasing temperature), their engine size and volume. In general engine oil has a propensity to drop viscosity index, when it is used for longer duration. Thus it is important to protect viscosity loss to allow the engine oil to sustain the lubricating film between engine parts at least for thousands of miles. In order to improve viscosity index over longer period of use certain additive such as Dispersants, anti-wear agents, friction modifiers, pour-point depressants, antioxidants and foam inhibitors are used in engine oil.Request for Table of Contents @Based on the technology engine oils are broadly classified in four market variants: Premium Conventional engine Oil (used in two/three wheelers and medium sized cars), Full Synthetic engine Oil (for high-tech engines such as Chevy Corvette and Mercedes-Benz), Synthetic Blend engine Oil (these engine oil are a blend of synthetic engine oil mixed with organic engine oil used in LMVs and SUVs) and Higher Mileage engine Oil (oils with higher viscosity index and used in H.M.Vs and SUVs).North America is the largest market for automotive engine oil mainly attributed to large volume of motor vehicle in this region. It is followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The market is witnessing an escalating growth in Asia Pacific region. China, in recent years, has become the global hub for the automobile industry. Some of the other region in Asia Pacific such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines are growing into the largest markets for small car segment in the world.Growing middle class, rising disposable income, developing surface transportation infrastructure, growing aspiration of owning private vehicles, increasing mobility due to development of satellite township near megacities and increase demand of goods carriers from micro, small and medium size enterprises are fueling the market for automotive engine oil in Asia Pacific region. Growing automotive aftermarket and do it yourself (DIY) culture in North America and Europe is fueling the growth of automotive engine oil in retail sector in these two region.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Some of the major players operating in the automotive engine oil market include Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Total S.A, Gazprom, ROSNEFT, LUKOIL oil company, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, BP p.l.c, Statoil, Chevron Corporation., Sinopec Lubricant Company, JIANGSU LOPAL TECH. CO.,LTD. and Ashland Inc.ABOUT US: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 Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: HoloMind Release 1.0 - Web based Application for Workshops and Idea Management www.symbolian.net www.holomind.net), www.HOLOMIND.net Symbolian () announces the first release of HoloMind (a web based application for idea management and workshops. HoloMind is uniquely built around a knowledge tree in 3 dimensions, which allows users to enter, combine, recombine and explore ideas in a way never seen before. HoloMind targets business idea management and workshops as well as the education sector. All interested parties are encouraged to try out HoloMind free of charge without limitations------------------------------------------------------------------------------HoloMind is a web based application to organize and manage ideas and workshop content, as well as a structured collection and presentation of relationships. HoloMind is built around a 3-dimensional knowledge tree where content can be collected, sorted and voted on, in an intuitive way.HoloMind is especially useful for working on complex data structures and real-time collaboration. Participants are not confined to one place within the workshop. They are free to explore the workshop individually, while content animations help visualize the flow of a presentation to everyone participating. Additionally, all workshop content and results will be stored, making it easy to retrace the flow of brainstorming sessions, participant voting results and impromptu additions and ideas to the progress of a workshop.HoloMinds 3 dimensional knowledge tree is built upon Symbolians patented and award winning ConeCanvas technology. Symbolian was awarded "Pioneers of the Future" by the international Publicis Group for this technology out of an international pool of 3.500 startups.Symbolian is a 3 years old Berlin based startup focused on knowledge processing. Symbolians mission is to remedy the lack of control users face in the ever increasing presence of digitalization, and give power back to the user. HoloMind aims to be a part of this solution by simplifying the way humans and computers interact, and by applying human cognitive principles to knowledge representation and processing.To pursue our goals of becoming profitable with HoloMind, as well as launching new products like HoloBrain and HoloWeb, we are looking for a visionary investor, willing to take on an exciting new product, and help it grow.We would be happy to further explain HoloMind, or to assist you in solving your tasks with HoloMind. Please contact us at info@symbolian.net or +49 30 86 200 819.HoloMind is a cloud-based application that runs in any web browser - the full test version is available free of charge atMission Statement:Establish a key technology to make the meaning of information comprehensible to humans, processable for machines and exchangeable through the Web.Symbolian changes the way of human computer interaction by applying human cognitive principles to knowledge representation and processing.The Problem: Lack of control users face in the ever increasing presence of digitizationComputers have become mysterious black boxes. Applications are now mostly cloud based, meaning they can change their appearance or functionality overnight. Also as computing gets smarter, more and more information becomes processable by the computer. This includes user data. The user is not aware of what data is stored, where it is stored and if their data is passed on or sold to third parties.Instead of feeling used by technology, we want users to feel empowered by technology, and we want to be a part of the solution that bridges the gap between computer and human knowledge representation.The Antidote: ConeCanvasThe solution to this problem is to reduce the gap between information targeted for humans and information targeted for machines.With this in mind, we developed a brand new 3D user interface called ConeCanvas. Inspired by the metaphor of a tree that represents the structure, hierarchies and relations of knowledge, ConeCanvas is a unique and patented technology for 3D visualization and editing.The Product: HoloMindHoloMind is a web based application for workshops and idea management. It allows for worldwide, real-time collaboration to organize ideas and create advanced solutions. For example, HoloMind can be used to structure the layout of a website, to structure employees in an organization, or to structure the ontology for archiving musical scores.The Future: HoloBrainConeCanvas is just the tip of the iceberg. With HoloBrain we will add transparent artificial intelligence to HoloMind. The user can construct descriptions of knowledge domains that are comprehensible for machines. Additionally, HoloBrain can check these domains for correctness, compare them to other approaches and even let them run as a computer program. This will be fused seamlessly with the representation for humans, allowing experts in their knowledge domain and computer experts to work together productively.Symbolian GmbHJurgen Nicklisch - CEOTroppauerstr. 28a12205 BerlinGermanyinfo@symbolian.net030 86200819 Public requests to open further discussion on these key issues were rebuffed or limited to the three-minute comment rule in council meetings. In short, this is how the frustration of a few grew to the collective concern of several hundred residents who sought a recall petition as a last-ditch effort to tell the Mayor that he needs to listen more to the community before taking unilateral positions. Thankfully, with the generous intervention of Judge Snowden, this admittedly contentious recall was averted in favor of public meetings whereby the Mayor agreed to hear and respond to grievances on key issues. Regardless of the inquisitional appearance of the meetings where the Mayor agreed to defend his leadership positions on issues that were challenged by frustrated citizens, we believe the overall outcome will benefit us all. For starters, we are already seeing City Council activity on the following requests: A re-examination (and hopeful rate reduction) of the water/wastewater report that led to our incredibly high water rates; a review of our city attorney relationship that has cost the city over $900,000 in a single year; the introduction of a logical Code of Conduct as matter of sound governance policy; and finally, the recognition and inclusion of St. Helenas Latino community in regards to rate and policy decisions. Printed Batteries 2018 Global Market Key Players ENFUCELL, Cymbet, Imprint Energy and Forecast to 2022 Printed Batteries market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2746897-printed-batteries-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2746897-printed-batteries-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 Description:Printed Batteries-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Printed Batteries industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Printed Batteries 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Printed Batteries worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Printed Batteries marketMarket status and development trend of Printed Batteries by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Printed Batteries, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For Sample Report @The report segments the global Printed Batteries market as:Global Printed Batteries Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Printed Batteries Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):1.5 VAbove 3 VGlobal Printed Batteries Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)SmartphonesHealthcareOthersGlobal Printed Batteries Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Printed Batteries Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):BLUE SPARK TECHNOLOGIESENFUCELLCymbetImprint EnergyPlanar Energy DevicesSolicoreComplete Report Details @Table of ContentsChapter 1 Overview of Printed Batteries1.1 Definition of Printed Batteries in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Printed Batteries1.2.1 1.5 V1.2.2 Above 3 V1.3 Downstream Application of Printed Batteries1.3.1 Smartphones1.3.2 Healthcare1.3.3 Others1.4 Development History of Printed Batteries1.5 Market Status and Trend of Printed Batteries 2013-20231.5.1 Global Printed Batteries Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Printed Batteries Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Printed Batteries 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Printed Batteries by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Printed Batteries by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Printed Batteries by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Printed Batteries by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Printed Batteries by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Printed Batteries by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Printed Batteries by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Printed Batteries by Types3.2 Production Value of Printed Batteries by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Printed Batteries by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Printed Batteries by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Printed Batteries by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Printed Batteries5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Printed Batteries Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Printed Batteries Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Printed Batteries by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Printed Batteries by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Printed Batteries by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Printed Batteries Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Printed Batteries Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Printed Batteries Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 BLUE SPARK TECHNOLOGIES7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Printed Batteries Product7.1.3 Printed Batteries Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of BLUE SPARK TECHNOLOGIES7.2 ENFUCELL7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Printed Batteries Product7.2.3 Printed Batteries Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of ENFUCELL7.3 Cymbet7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Printed Batteries Product7.3.3 Printed Batteries Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Cymbet7.4 Imprint Energy7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Printed Batteries Product7.4.3 Printed Batteries Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Imprint Energy7.5 Planar Energy Devices7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Printed Batteries Product7.5.3 Printed Batteries Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Planar Energy DevicesContinued.Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 Automotive Plastic Market to Witness Exponential Growth by 2020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/2841 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2841 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Automotive Plastic holds the key to a host of safety and performance advancement in modern cars, minivan, SUVs and even HMVs. Automotive plastics are generally durable, strong, recyclable, scratch resistance, resistance to abrasion, improve vibration and noise control and allows design, molding and integration of components in automobiles. In modern cars plastic constitute almost 50% of the total volume of the car but contribute only 10% of the total weight of cars which makes cars lighter and increase the overall fuel efficiency.Modern automotive plastic however have much broader application including passenger safety, passenger convenience and overall manufacturing cost reduction. Automotive plastic are used in bumpers seats, dashboard, fuel systems, body panels, under-bonnet components, interior trim, electrical components, exterior trim, lighting, upholstery and liquid reservoirs. Further, the developments in the field of tough and durable automotive plastic are expected to increase use of plastic in modern cars. As for interiors, plastics have proven to be a great material for making comfortable, durable and aesthetically gratifying interior components.Based on the technology, automobile plastic are broadly categorized as polypropylene polyurethanes (PU), poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), composites, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polycarbonates (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Among these, polypropylene (PP) holds majority of market share attributed to its wide acceptance in automotives industries. It is followed by polyurethanes (PU) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).Request for Table of Contents @Asia Pacific is the largest market for automotive plastic followed by Europe and North America. Higher concentrations of passenger vehicle manufacturing industries and growing demand of passenger cars, three-wheeler and two wheelers in China and some of the other countries of Asia Pacific such as India and Japan are contributing to the industry growth. Germany and Italy are the leading manufacturers of passenger vehicle in Europe whereas the U.S. accounts for single largest market in North America.The key drivers of automotive plastics markets are potential of automotive plastic in mass reduction of fuel consumption by reducing the overall weight of the vehicle, increasing prices of iron and steels and improved strength and durability of modern automotive plastic. The major factors restraining the growth of market are high material cost and increasing investment in plastics-alternative material research (such as carbon fibers) especially by automobile companies.The opportunities for automotive plastic is cited in the development of new materials such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), Lighted PP, blended thermoplastic materials, biodegradable plastics and reinforced composites such as GB 266 WG, a hard, light material with perfect heat resistance and mechanical properties, suitable for automotive parts used in high stress areasRequest to View Sample of Research Report @The major players in automotive plastic market include, Akzo Nobel N.V., BASF SE, Bayer MaterialScience AG, Borealis AG, Evonik Industries AG, Grupo Antolin-Irausa S.A., Hanwha Azdel Inc., Johnson Controls Inc., Lear Corporation, Magna International Inc-, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Owens Corning, the Quadrant group of companies, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), TEIJIN LIMITED, The Dow Chemical Company and Zoltek Companies Inc.ABOUT US: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 Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Commercial Aviation Crew Management Systems Market Outlook and Growth Stance Forecasted Through 2023 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1626 https://www.mrrse.com/commercial-aviation-crew-management-system-market https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has been acting as an impressive data source when it comes to evaluating various industrial verticals. The research report titled Commercial Aviation Crew Management System Market offers a clear insight about the "Service and Utilities" assessed over the global platform. This analysis proves beneficial for readers & new investors who are aiming to enter the market for Service and Utilities in the near future.Get Free Sample Report @According to a new market report Commercial Aviation Crew Management System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023, global commercial aviation crew management system market was valued at US$2.09 bn in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2015 to 2023 to account for US$4.39 bn by 2023.The market for crew management system in the global commercial aviation industry is primarily being driven by the escalating emphasis in improving the optimization of resources, which leads to improving operational efficiencies. The growth in demand for real time data and adoption of advancing technologies in order to reduce additional cost are the key driving factors for the global commercial aviation crew management system market. Coupled with the rising air traffic and the positive transformation of the global commercial aviation industry, the demand for advanced automated systems among airlines, airports and other buyers is on escalation worldwide. Owing to these factors the market for commercial aviation crew management systems is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period.The global market for crew management systems has been segmented on the basis of type and geography. Based on the segmentation by type, the global market for commercial aviation crew management system is categorized into software, hardware and services. The software segment is estimated to dominate the global market throughout the forecast period and register a growth rate of 8.9% from 2015 to 2023 globally. Following software, the hardware segment is currently estimated to account for the second largest share in the global commercial aviation crew management systems market. The fastest growing segment is estimated to be the services, which are expected to experience major surge in demand over the forecast period from 2015 to 2023.The airlines worldwide are in constant pursuit of expanding their fleet and employee strength to sustain in the competition and improve their market share. The segmentation based on geography includes, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW) which comprises of Middle East, Africa and South America. North America is estimated to account for the largest market share in the global commercial aviation crew management system market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Factors such as the rising demand for real time data, increasing competition among airlines, airports and IT solution providers in the region and increasing air traffic are considered to be the major drivers of the market for crew management system in the commercial aviation industry of North America. Following North America, the commercial aviation crew management system market in Europe is estimated to be growing at a steady pace over the forecast period. Europe is currently estimated to account for the second largest share in the global commercial aviation crew management system market. The growing demand for real time crew monitoring, escalating emphasis on improving productivity across the airlines fleet and optimization of resources among others are currently driving the market for crew management system in Europe.The Asia Pacific (APAC) is estimated to be the fastest growing market for commercial aviation crew management system. The growth of the APAC commercial aviation crew management system market is attributed to the rising number of low cost carriers, increasing air passengers and improving infrastructural conditions in aviation sector. Similarly, the Rest of the World (RoW) market for commercial aviation crew management system is currently being influenced by the concerns to upgrade the existing operational processes. Middle East is analyzed to be the largest market in the RoW region followed by Africa and South America. These regions are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for growth of the commercial aviation crew management system and the solution providers over the forecast period.The report includes the market revenues of 10 major countries in the global commercial aviation crew management system market. Moreover, the key industry players have been profiled on the basis of company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and key developments in the field of crew management systems. Major market participants profiled in this report include Sabre Corporation, Hexaware Technologies Ltd., AIMS Corporation, IBS Software Services, Hitit Computer Services, Jepessen Sanderson, Inc., Lufthansa Systems, Prolog Development Centre A/S and BlueOne Management S.A./N.V. among others.Outlook Complete Report with TOC @The commercial aviation crew management system market has been segmented as follows:Global Commercial aviation crew management system Market, 2015 - 2023: By TypeSoftwareHardwareServicesThe report provides a cross-sectional analysis of all the above segments with respect to the following regions:North AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeU.K.ItalyFranceGermanyRest of EuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)ChinaSouth KoreaJapanRest of APACRest of the World (RoW)Middle EastAfricaSouth AmericaAbout MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Automotive Airbag Market to Expand with Significant CAGR by 2020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3155 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3155 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Airbag is one of the automotive safety devices. Automotive airbag consists of flexible fabric envelope or cushion that is designed to inflate at the time of vehicle collision while driving. Main purpose of automotive airbag is to cushion driver during vehicle crash and protect the body when the body strike the interior objects of the vehicle such as the steering, wheel or window. Modern vehicle are designed with multiple airbags situated in different side and frontal location of the person driving the vehicle. Automotive airbags are deployed with sensor which activates the airbags according to the type and severity of the collusion. Modern vehicle consists of airbag control unit which monitors different parts within the vehicle such as wheel speed, side door and break pressure.On the bases of location of airbags within the vehicle global airbag market can be bifurcated into frontal airbag, side airbag, knee airbag, rear curtain airbag, centre airbag and seat cushion. Frontal airbag has the largest market share, followed by side airbags. Automotive are the major end-user of airbag technology. Other major end-users include aerospace and military aircrafts.Request for Table of Contents @North America has the largest market share for automotive airbag technology, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The U.S. is the largest user of the airbag technology owing to technological advancement. Europe is on the verge of recovery from recession and is expected to witness average growth in coming future. Asia Pacific region is expected to witness highest growth in the forecasted future owing to increasing domestic demand of vehicle with added safety equipments within the vehicle.Increasing number of deaths in road accident is accelerating demand for safety measures, increasing the global automotive airbags market. Additionally, safety regulations implied by the government agencies and increasing life expectancy is also driving the global airbag market. Rising disposable income level have influence the individuals to invest more on safety features within the vehicle, further increasing the demand for automotive airbags market to some extent. Also, increasing customer awareness about technological changes related to safety equipments within the vehicle may act as market drive in coming future. Airbag technology on two wheelers may provide growth opportunity for the market leaders.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Customers willingness of to spend more on safety equipments within the vehicle is prompting multinational companies to invest more in this market. Some of the major companies operating in the global automotive airbag market are Delphi Automotive plc, TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., Key Safety Systems Inc., Tokai Rika Co. Ltd., Toyoda, Denso Corp., Takata Corp. and Autoliv Inc.ABOUT US: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 Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Network Traffic Analyzer Market 2018-2023: Key Players - Cisco Systems, SolarWinds, NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, CA Technologies, Ipswitch, ManageEngine https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4596 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/network-traffic-analyzer-market-4596 Global Network Traffic Analyzer Market, By Analysis Techniques (Router Based and Non-Router Based), By Solution (Network Traffic, Bandwidth Monitoring, Network Capacity, Network Security, Others), Services (Professional Services, Managed Services), By Deployment Type (Cloud and On-Premises), By Organization Size (Large Enterprises, SMEs) - Forecast 2023Market Scenario:The key players in the global network traffic analyzer market include- Cisco Systems (U.S.), SolarWinds (U.S.), NETSCOUT SYSTEMS (U.S.), CA Technologies (U.S.), Ipswitch (U.S.), ManageEngine (U.S.), Plixer (U.S.), Colasoft (China), HPE (U.S.), Nokia (Finland), Kentik (U.S.) and Genie Networks (Taiwan) among others.Regionally, North America accounted for the largest market share from countries such U.S., Canada, and Mexico among others. The reason is attributed to growing demand for high technology adoption in developed network infrastructure in the region. However, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing over the forecast period, 2017-2023.The global network traffic analyzer market can be bifurcated analysis techniques, solution and services, deployment type, organization size and end-user, and region. Based on analysis techniques, the market is segmented into router based and non-router based. Based on deployment type, the market is segmented into cloud and on-premises deployment type. Large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises are the organization size segment of the network traffic analyzer market. Enterprises, service providers and data centers are the end-users covered under this study. Government, retail, healthcare, education and others are the end-use industries comes under enterprise segment. Cloud service providers, communication service providers, internet service providers, cable network providers are the different service providers segments of the network traffic analyzer market.Request Sample Report @Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. The regional segment is further bifurcated into U.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, China, Japan and India. The booming IT industry coupled with increasing cloud facilities in North America helps to grow the network traffic analyzer demand in North America. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market due to the increasing industrialization and cloud services in the emerging countries like India and Japan.The global network traffic analyzer market is highly competitive. Various established international brands, domestic brands and as well as new entrants form a competitive landscape. The key players are nonstop increasingly seeking market expansion through various strategic mergers and acquisitions, innovation, increasing investments in research and development and cost-effective software portfolio. The network traffic analyzer market is highly competitive due to the presence of several large vendors.The global Network Traffic Analyzer Market is expected to reach approximately USD 1.80 billion by the end of 2023 with 16.60% CAGR during forecast period 2017-2023.Regional AnalysisThe global network traffic analyzer market is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period, 2017-2023. Network traffic analyzer segment market globally drives the market majorly due to growing industries like telecommunication and IT. Due to technological advancement, the demand of network traffic analyzers is increasing from small scale as well as large scale business operators.Due to automation (IoT) in healthcare, retail, education industry and increases the demand of network traffic analyzer market at fast pace. The global Network Traffic Analyzer Market segmented into four main regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Rest of the World. These regions are further bifurcated into various countries including U.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, China, Japan and India.North America region hold the largest market share (in terms of revenue) of the total network traffic analyzer market. It is due to the presence of high technology adoption, number of data centers and adoption of cloud technology in the region. U.S., Canada and Mexico are the countries mainly contributing in the North America network traffic analyzer market. Growing cloud computing and web hosting services in the region mainly drive the market. Cisco Systems, SolarWinds, NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, CA Technologies, Ipswitch, ManageEngine, Plixer, Kentik, HPE are some of the leading industry participants located in U.S. due to which North America dominated the network traffic analyzer market.Access Report Description @Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at fast speed over the forecast period due to the emerging IT industry in countries like India and Japan. The rapid industrialization in Asia Pacific, particularly in China and India helps to grow the network traffic analyzer market in Asia Pacific. Increasing adoption of cloud in Internet of Things (IoT) services and shifting focus over industrial IoT is rising market in Asia Pacific in forecast period.Intended Audience Device manufacturers Network Operators Mobile manufacturer Government Agencies Data Centers Security Agencies End-user sectors Communication operators DefenseAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst membersContact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Autologous Cell Therapy Market Analysis, Growth Trends, and Future Forecasts till 2024 Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) https://www.mrrse.com/sample/2419 https://www.mrrse.com/autologus-cell-therapy-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/2419 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A latest research report titled as Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Volume, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 has been recently added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) online research offerings. This report is a professional and in-depth analysis on the present state and future prospect for the global market. It provides valuable information to the industry insiders, potential entrants or investors. It includes an exhaustive enquiry with the reliability of logic and the comprehensiveness of contents.Request Free Sample Report @Autologous cell therapy refers to infusion or transfer of human tissue or cells back to the same person for treating a diseased part. For the same purpose, stem cells are removed from the patient, harvested, cultured, and once again transplanted to the same person. The purpose of this method is to reduce the chances of rejection to the treatment by the body. Furthermore, autologous cell therapy does not even require immunosuppression. The growing number of cancer patients have triggered a significant demand for autologous cell therapy. According to the research report, the global market projected to reach a valuation of US$23.7 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$3.8 bn in 2015. During the forecast period of 2016 and 2024, the global market is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 21.9%.Unmet Medical Needs and Cost-effectiveness of Autologous Cell Therapy Drives DemandThe global market is expected to grow due to the huge pool of unmet medical needs for cell based therapy, growing government support for cell-based research, and rising number of technological innovations in cell based therapies. Currently, cell therapy is considered a promising technique for several conditions such as neurological, orthopedic, oncology, and a wide range of autoimmune diseases. The ability of stem cells to transform into a cartilage, tendon, bone (osteoblast), and muscle has given this market a fresh lease of life. The biggest advantages of autologous cells is the fact that it is relatively cost-effective, allows quick access to blood as it is derived from the patient, ensures easy method of production, and comes with the lowest threat of disease transfusion. All of these factors have been consistently boosting the demand for autologous cell therapy in recent years.Supportive Government Policies across North America Favor Regional MarketGeographically, the market has been divided into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America holds a dominant position in the global market and is expected to maintain its stance in the coming years as well. The strengthening health care infrastructure and supportive government policies are expected ensure high adoption of autologous cell therapy in North America in the near future. The analysts estimate that Asia Pacific will also register a robust CAGR in the coming years. The growth of this market in Asia pacific will be driven by the proliferating medical tourism industry, increasing contract research activities, and economic growth of certain developing countries such as India and China.Browse Full Report with TOC @Hospitals to Retain Dominance in Global Market over Forecast PeriodThe end users of autologous cell therapy are hospitals, research centers, and ambulatory centers. Of these, the hospitals dominated the global market in 2015 and are expected to continue its dominance till the end of 2024 as the surgical procedures continue to be on the rise across hospitals. The research report indicates that the ambulatory surgical centers segment will also expand at a significant rate in the coming years as it is known to reduce waiting time period before surgery, growing outpatient surgical procedures, high confidentiality and privacy of the data, and cost-effective procedure.Some of the leading players operating in the global market are Major players operating in this Market are Vericel Corporation, BioTime, Inc., Pharmicell Co., BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Opexa Therapeutics, Inc, Pharmicell Co., Inc.Enquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search EngineMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Kaltra starts the production of Tramontana unit coolers www.kaltra.de Kaltra Innovativtechnik starts production of its Tramontana unit coolers with a capacity range of up to 60kW. Tramontana units stand out based on consistent performance, wide selection of optional components to tailor the solution to the customers requirements and low installation and maintenance cost.The Tramontana series is a wide and flexible range of unit coolers fitted with the new quiet, thermally protected fans and high-performance heat exchangers with increased tube wall thickness suitable for synthetic cooling media, brine, and CO in all kinds of refrigeration applications. The range includes about 200 models with plenty of options, including protective coatings, hot gas, electric, and water defrost for large-scale applications.Kaltra is a world-known innovative provider of cooling technologies and advanced cooling products for mission-critical applications, such as data centers, clean rooms, contaminant-free areas, processing plants, and other facilities whereby reliability and energy efficiency are key factors. Kaltras cooling equipment range includes precision cooling systems, air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, evaporative cooling solutions, dry coolers, and condensers.Kaltra is a provider of innovative cooling technologies and advanced cooling products for mission-critical applications, such as data centers, cleanrooms, contaminant-free areas, processing plants, and other facilities where the reliability and energy efficiency are key factors. Kaltras cooling equipment range includes precision cooling systems, air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, evaporative cooling solutions, dry coolers, and condensers.For more information on Kaltra and its products call +49 911 715-32021or visitMax-Reger-Str. 44 90571 Schwaig Germany Global Metering Software Market 2018 Key Players: 3D Systems, Inc., Carl Zeiss AG, Microsoft, Konica Minolta Inc., Nikon Inc., Renishaw Plc., Rudolph Technologies, Inc.,. Metering Software Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3085403-global-metering-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3085403-global-metering-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 Metering Software Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Metering Software Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2025reports to its database.Executive SummaryThis report studies the global Metering Software market, analyzes and researches the Metering Software development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, like3D Systems, Inc.Carl Zeiss AGMicrosoftKonica Minolta Inc.Nikon Inc.Renishaw Plc.Rudolph Technologies, Inc.FARO Technologies, Inc.Perceptron Inc.Metrologic GroupTech Soft 3DGOM MetrologyCreaformOptical Gaging Products (OGP)Retecon (Pty) Ltd.Worklogix Middle EastVerisurf Software, Inc.Image Metrology A/S3d Digital CorpMinds MechanicalSPSSMathworksGMSHexagonMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoOnline SoftwareOffline SoftwareMarket segment by Application, Metering Software can be split intoConsumer ElectronicsPower and EnergyMedicalIndustrial ManufacturingAutomotiveAerospace and DefenceOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Request Sample Report @Table of ContentGlobal Metering Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of Metering Software1.1 Metering Software Market Overview1.1.1 Metering Software Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Metering Software Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Metering Software Market by Type1.3.1 Online Software1.3.2 Offline Software1.4 Metering Software Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Consumer Electronics1.4.2 Power and Energy1.4.3 Medical1.4.4 Industrial Manufacturing1.4.5 Automotive1.4.6 Aerospace and Defence1.4.7 Others2 Global Metering Software Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Metering Software Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 3D Systems, Inc.3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Carl Zeiss AG3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Microsoft3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Konica Minolta Inc.3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Nikon Inc.3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Renishaw Plc.3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Rudolph Technologies, Inc.3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 FARO Technologies, Inc.3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Perceptron Inc.3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Metrologic Group3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Metering Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Tech Soft 3D3.12 GOM Metrology3.13 Creaform3.14 Optical Gaging Products (OGP)3.15 Retecon (Pty) Ltd.3.16 Worklogix Middle East3.17 Verisurf Software, Inc.3.18 Image Metrology A/S3.19 3d Digital Corp3.20 Minds Mechanical3.21 SPSS3.22 Mathworks3.23 GMS3.24 Hexagon4 Global Metering Software Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2018)4.1 Global Metering Software Market Size by Type (2013-2018)4.2 Global Metering Software Market Size by Application (2013-2018)4.3 Potential Application of Metering Software in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Metering SoftwareContinuousFor further information on this report, visit Contact Us:Norah Trentsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042 Atopic Dermatitis Market | Top Key Players are - Astellas Pharma (Japan), Sanofi (France), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US) Atopic Dermatitis Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1610 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1610 www.marketresearchfuture.com Market Research Future published a Half Cooked research report on Global Atopic Dermatitis Market Research Report- Forecast To 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Atopic dermatitis also known as AD, is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. It's basically in children yet can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is enduring (chronic) and tends to flare periodically and after that subside. It might be accompanied by asthma or fever.The global market for AD treatment market will be majorly driven by, acquisition, merger new product launch, the number of patients suffering from AD has significantly increased during the last three decades.Get a sample report atNovartis bolsters innovative dermatology portfolio through acquisition of Ziarco Group Limited. Acquisition to add a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist, ZPL389, to treat atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, to the Novartis industry-leading pipeline. Investigational ZPL389 showed a clinically & statistically significant improvement of eczema lesions, leading to a significant reduction in EASI score compared to placebo after eight weeks of treatment with a favourable safety profile. Novartis announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Ziarco Group Limited, a privately held company focused on the development of novel treatments in dermatology. This acquisition would add a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist in development for atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, to complement the growing Novartis dermatology portfolio and pipeline. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. Ziarco's lead investigational product, ZPL389, is a potential first-in-class oral treatment for moderate-to-severe eczema. Eczema is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin condition found in millions of children and adults worldwide. In addition, it is associated with sleep loss and a significant reduction in quality of life. Currently, no safe, effective, and well-tolerated oral treatments are available for the moderate-to-severe form of this condition. Novartis strengthen dermatology capabilities shown by the recent successful launches of Cosentyx & Xolair. Now company excited about a potential new medicine for people with eczema through the acquisition of Ziarco and the addition of a first-in-class oral H4 receptor antagonist to our growing pipeline.Global Atopic Dermatitis Market Competitive AnalysisAs the market seems to be attractive, growing and profitable, at the same time market has witnessed intense rivalry among existing competitors. Many new entrants expected to enter into Global Atopic Dermatitis market. There are many big players in the Global Atopic Dermatitis market such as: Astellas Pharma (Japan), Sanofi (France), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US), Valeant Pharmaceuticals (Canada), Anacor Pharmaceuticals (US), Novartis (Switzerland)More inquire atGlobal Atopic Dermatitis Market Regional AnalysisGlobally North America is the largest market for Atopic Dermatitis. The North American market for Atopic Dermatitis is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR in upcoming years. This is due to low availability of drugs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in markets. Europe is the second-largest market for Atopic Dermatitis. Whereas Asia pacific is expected to be a growing market for Atopic Dermatitis market and expected to grow at a rapid rate.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research FutureP: +1 646 845 9312W:sales@marketresearchfuture.com Automotive Fuel Filter Market 2018 Is Estimated to Reach US$ 1005.5 Million by 2023 Automotive Fuel Filter Market 2018 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3187 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/3187 Automotive Fuel Filter Market 2018Automotive Fuel Filter Market Share, Size, Trends, And Business Opportunity Analysis Report 2018 include historic data, with forecast data to 2023. Automotive Fuel Filter Market report is helpful for future strategy development, and to know about Market Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, And Global market size, share, Growth, Trends, key players forecast to 2023Global Automotive Fuel Filter Market Information Report by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle), and HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicle), by Fuel Type (Gasoline and Diesel), by sales channel (OEM and Aftermarket), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2023Market ScenarioAutomotive fuel filters are used to eliminate the dirt particles from the fuel. They are generally placed in the internal combustion engines. They play a very important role in controlling emissions as the dust particles, if not removed before the fuel enters into the system, will cause failure of the fuel pump and injectors. For the protection of the fuel pump, fuel filters are widely used. They also improve the performance of the system, as there are fewer contamination in the fuel.The fuel filter market is expected to witness growth due to factors such as energy independence, growing demand in diesel vehicles, decrease in the carbon footprint, and stringent environmental norms. The global automotive fuel filter market is expected to account for USD 1005.5 million by 2023 with 6.5 % CAGR.Request For Sample Report @Key PlayersThe key players in automotive fuel filter market are Mann+Hummel (Germany), ALCO Filters Ltd (Cyprus), Ahlstrom Corporation (Finland), Cummins Inc. (U.S.), Sogefi SpA (Italy), Donaldson Co. Inc. (U.S.), Mahle GmbH (Germany), Clarcor Inc. (U.S.), Denso Corp. (Japan), and Hengst SE & Co. KG (Germany).Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:June, 2017 - Leading filtration materials developer Ahlstrom, launched Ahlstrom Capitmax, a new fuel filter media at the IDEA13 exhibition in Miami Beach, Florida. Ahlstrom Capitmax is said to be suited for use in fuel filters in passenger and commercial heavy-duty vehicles and off-road machinery. It is also being evaluated for use in other applications such as hydraulic and fuel water separation.March, 2014 Donaldson Company, a leading, worldwide manufacturer of filtration systems and parts, is announced that the companys ground-breaking fuel filtration technology is now available for Cummins QSK engines.Branded as Donaldson Blue, these new DBF5782 fuel filters are manufactured using Donaldsons Synteq XP media technology. On-engine fuel filters offer the last chance to remove damaging contaminants from your fuel system. Therefore, it's essential that fuel filters remove and retain as much contaminant as possible in all types of operating conditions. Donaldson Blue filters with Synteq XP media offer best-in-class contaminant removal and retention tests show that they deliver fuel that is four times cleaner over the life of the filter all under the dynamic operating conditions that your engines and equipment experience every day.Regional Analysis of Automotive Fuel Filter MarketThe automotive fuel filter market can be geographically segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period due to increase in vehicle production in countries such as China, India, and South Korea. This will result in the increase in demand of the fuel filter market. North America is expected to have the second highest CAGR during the forecast period. Europe is also expected to have steady growth during the forecast period.The report for Automotive Fuel Filter Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Send an Enquiry Before Buying @Table of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology3 Market Dynamics4 Global Automotive Fuel Filter Market, By Vehicle Type5 Global Automotive Fuel Filter Market, By Fuel Type6 Global Automotive Fuel Filter Market, By Sales Channel7 Regional Market Analysis8 Competitive AnalysisLIST OF TABLESTABLE 1 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET, BY VEHICLE TYPETABLE 2 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET, BY FUEL TYPETABLE 3 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET, BY SALES CHANNELTABLE 4 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET, BY REGIONSTABLE 5 NORTH AMERICA AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET, BY VEHICLE TYPELIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGYFIGURE 2 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET: BY VEHICLE TYPE (%)FIGURE 3 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET: BY FUEL TYPE (%)FIGURE 4 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET: BY SALES CHANNEL (%)FIGURE 5 GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FILTER MARKET: BY REGION.ContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.CONTACT US:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com The St. Helena Tourist Improvement District (SHTID) is accepting grant applications for destination marketing projects aimed at promoting St. Helena to visitors for FY 2018-2019. Applications are due to the SHTID by 5 p.m. Friday, March 30. Applications can be found at sthelena.com or obtained by emailing admin@sthelena.com. The St. Helena TID Local Governing Board will entertain requests for funding whose sole objective is to advance tourism and hospitality in a significant and measurable way and which will have a demonstrated economic impact specific to the City of St. Helena community. Formed in 2010, the Napa Valley Tourism Improvement District, is funded through an assessment on hotel room nights implemented and collected by lodging businesses throughout the Napa Valley. The intent of the assessment is to support local activities and products that promote, support and enhance locally based tourism and hospitality efforts. Under the NVTID, each municipality, including the City of St. Helena has created their own Tourist Improvement District Committee to monitor, support and fund activities for their respected cities. Ovarian Cancer Industry Market Trends And Drivers Analysis 2017 To 2022 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2740207-ovarian-cancer-pipeline-review-h2-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2740207-ovarian-cancer-pipeline-review-h2-2017 OverviewOvarian cancer is any cancerous growth that may occur in different parts of the ovary. The majority of ovarian cancers arise from the epithelium (outer lining) of the ovary. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include pelvic discomfort or pain, indigestion, gas or nausea, changes in bowel habits, such as constipation, loss of appetite and low back pain. The predisposing factors include age and family history. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.Click here for sample report @Report HighlightsThe Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Ovarian Cancer - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Ovarian Cancer (Oncology), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Ovarian Cancer (Oncology) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Ovarian Cancer and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Pre-Registration, Filing rejected/Withdrawn, Phase III, Phase II, Phase I, IND/CTA Filed, Preclinical, Discovery and Unknown stages are 5, 2, 14, 141, 144, 7, 221, 26 and 10 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Phase II, Phase I, Preclinical and Discovery stages comprises 10, 12, 45 and 8 molecules, respectively.Major Scope of the report:- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Ovarian Cancer (Oncology).- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Ovarian Cancer (Oncology) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Ovarian Cancer (Oncology) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.- The pipeline guide evaluates Ovarian Cancer (Oncology) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.Table of ContentsTable of Contents 2Introduction 12Ovarian Cancer - Overview 13Ovarian Cancer - Therapeutics Development 14Ovarian Cancer - Therapeutics Assessment 77Ovarian Cancer - Companies Involved in Therapeutics Development 111Ovarian Cancer - Drug Profiles 242Ovarian Cancer - Dormant Projects 2130Ovarian Cancer - Discontinued Products 2152Ovarian Cancer - Product Development Milestones 2157Appendix 2169List of TablesNumber of Products under Development for Ovarian Cancer, H2 2017Number of Products under Development by Companies, H2 2017Number of Products under Development by Universities/Institutes, H2 2017Products under Development by Companies, H2 2017Products under Development by Universities/Institutes, H2 2017.ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Manuka Honey Market by Use (Digestion & Inflammation Treatment, Wound-care & Skincare Products, Other Uses) with their sales, market share and growth rate till 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011308154/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/2017-2022-global-top-countries-manuka-honey-market-report http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011308154/buy/4960 The report has discussed on the proportion of manufacturing cost structure where three critical elements such as manufacturing expenses, labor cost, and raw materials are focused upon. An analysis of the manufacture of manuka honey has been added to the report to help players take informed decisions in the world manuka honey market.The competitive landscape of the international manuka honey market, the report has profiled 10 prominent industry players, viz. Waitemata Honey, Ora Honey, Cammells Honey, Mossops, Happy Valley, API Health, Pure Honey New Zealand, Manuka Health, Watson & Son, and Comvita.Request a Free Sample Now atThe global manuka honey market has been prognosticated to earn demand from popular types of product such as external use and oral and applications such as household and hospital. Reportsweb.com has made available another publication in its pharmaceuticals archive of market intelligence reports, Global Manuka Honey Market. While the threat of substitutes and technological risks could have an unfavorable impact on the global manuka honey market, potential applications and opportunities from emerging regions have been anticipated to raise the hopes of industry players.The analysts authoring this report have brought to light the growth rate, market share, price, revenue, and production of each product type in the world manuka honey market. Likewise, the analysts have profoundly studied different application segments in terms of factors such as their rate of growth, share, and consumption in the world manuka honey market. The review period considered for the type and application analysis of the world manuka honey market is 20112016.Readers have been offered with a deep study of various regions and countries, such as Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, India, Japan, and China, deemed important for the growth and demand in the world manuka honey market. The prospect and status of each geography of the world manuka honey market have been analyzed taking into consideration the review period 20112016. For the same review period, the world manuka honey market has been researched according to value where determinants such as gross margin, price, revenue, and production have been considered. The regional analysis of the world manuka honey market is also performed as per the production, import, export, and consumption of each region and country discussed in the reportView Detailed Report atReport Types and Applications OutlookSplit by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided intoUMF 5+ / MGO 83 mg/kg (ppm)UMF 10+ / MGO 263 mg/kg (ppm)UMF 15+ / MGO 514 mg/kg (ppm)UMF 20+ / MGO 829 mg/kg (ppm)OthersSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Manuka Honey in each application, can be divided intoDigestion & Inflammation TreatmentWound-care & Skincare ProductsOther UsesMajor Points from Table of Contents:1 Manuka Honey Market Overview2 Global Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Players3 Global Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) by Countries, Type and Application (2012-2017)4 Global Manuka Honey Players Profiles/Analysis5 North America Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) by Countries, Type and Application (2012-2017)6 Latin America Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) by Countries, Type and Application (2012-2017)7 Europe Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) by Countries, Type and Application (2012-2017)8 Asia-Pacific Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) by Countries, Type and Application (2012-2017)9 Middle East and Africa Manuka Honey Sales, Revenue (Value) by Countries, Type and Application (2012-2017)10 Global Manuka Honey Market Forecast (2017-2022)11 Manuka Honey Manufacturing Cost Analysis12 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers13 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders14 Market Effect Factors Analysis15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixIf you have any queries regarding the purchase visit atContact Information:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Solar PV 2018 Global Market Key Players Hanwha, Sharp, First Solar and Forecast to 2022 Solar PV Markets https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2747057-solar-pv-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2747057-solar-pv-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 Description:Solar PV-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Solar PV industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Solar PV 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Solar PV worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Solar PV marketMarket status and development trend of Solar PV by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Solar PV, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For Sample Report @The report segments the global Solar PV market as:Global Solar PV Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Solar PV Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):Crystalline Silicon Solar PVCompound Type Solar PVOther Solar PVGlobal Solar PV Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)ResidentialCommercialGround StationGlobal Solar PV Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Solar PV Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):HanwhaSharpFirst SolarKyocera SolarSunPowerREC GroupSolar FrontierSolarworldNSPSoloPowerYingliTrina SolarCanadian SolarJinko SolarJA SolarReneSolaShunfengChint GroupHareonsolarEging PVRisen EnergyHT-SAAECSUNHanergyBYDComplete Report Details @Table of ContentsChapter 1 Overview of Solar PV1.1 Definition of Solar PV in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Solar PV1.2.1 Crystalline Silicon Solar PV1.2.2 Compound Type Solar PV1.2.3 Other Solar PV1.3 Downstream Application of Solar PV1.3.1 Residential1.3.2 Commercial1.3.3 Ground Station1.4 Development History of Solar PV1.5 Market Status and Trend of Solar PV 2013-20231.5.1 Global Solar PV Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Solar PV Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Solar PV 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Solar PV by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Solar PV by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Solar PV by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Solar PV by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Solar PV by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Solar PV by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Solar PV by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Solar PV by Types3.2 Production Value of Solar PV by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Solar PV by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Solar PV by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Solar PV by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Solar PV5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Solar PV Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Solar PV Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Solar PV by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Solar PV by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Solar PV by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Solar PV Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Solar PV Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Solar PV Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 Hanwha7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Solar PV Product7.1.3 Solar PV Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Hanwha7.2 Sharp7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Solar PV Product7.2.3 Solar PV Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Sharp7.3 First Solar7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Solar PV Product7.3.3 Solar PV Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of First Solar7.4 Kyocera Solar7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Solar PV Product7.4.3 Solar PV Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Kyocera Solar7.5 SunPower7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Solar PV Product7.5.3 Solar PV Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of SunPowerContinued.Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 Jerry Cans Market: Industry Analysis and Detailed Profiles of top Industry Players https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/jerry-cans-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19112 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=19112 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A Jerry can is a container that is used to store liquid. It was initially designed in the 1930s for military use to hold 20 liters of fuel. The current Jerry Can is a result of continuous development of earlier can designs, which required funnels and other tools for dispensing. The Jerry cans have become a perfect storage container as they are available in different sizes, shapes, and designs. Additionally, Jerry Cans are also available in several colors which depict different materials being stored.For example, red color depicts gasoline, yellow is for diesel and blue color donates kerosene. The continuous development and innovations is expected to drive the growth in the Jerry cans market. For instance, explosive safe Jerry cans is one such development. These type of cans are best suited for 2nd and 3rd class dangerous goods which not exceed density of 1.2kg.Browse report detailsThe global Jerry cans market is expected to witness a CAGR of around 3% during the forecast period primarily driven by the growth in the chemicals, oil and lubricant industry. Besides, features associated with jerry cans like the leak proof quality, moisture resistant factor, and odour less feature further accelerates the demand for the jerry cans market. The global Jerry cans market is expected to witness huge gains primarily due to recent innovations in the market which also meets the sustainability goals.One such recent development is the introduction of DoubleGreen COEX Jerry can by Greif Inc. This type of Jerry can was one of the first sustainable multilayer 10-liter plastic can made from sugarcane which is a sustainable resource with a stackable design that eliminated the need for a carton during transport. It was also stated that the DoubleGreen COEX jerry can reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 220 tons annually and also saved approximately 112 tons of paper.Download PDF Brochure For Future AdvancementsHowever, there are certain government regulations that have to be fulfilled regarding jerry cans designs as these containers are used to transport chemicals and toxic materials. There are several performance standards for packaging for each type of dangerous goods. Different regulation and packaging standards across the various countries can prove to be a hindrance for the growth of the Jerry cans market.Jerry Cans Market Segmentation:On the basis of end use, the global Jerry cans market is segmented into:ChemicalsPetrochemicalsPharmaceuticalsAgrochemicalsOil and LubricantsFood & BeveragesOthersOn the basis of shape, the global Jerry cans market is segmented into:RoundSquareStackableOthersGet Table of Content for detail analysisOn the basis of manufacturing process, the global Jerry cans market is segmented into:Blow MoldingInjection moldingCompression moldingJerry Cans Market- Regional Outlook:Geographically, the Jerry cans market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America is expected to witness a healthy growth in the Jerry cans market. While, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the maximum growth during the forecast period mainly driven by developing economies like India and China. The growing GDP, increasing manufacturing activities and growth trends in the industrial sectors is driving the demand in these developing nations. MEA and Africa are also expected to experience an above average growth in the Jerry cans market.Jerry Cans Market- Key Players:Some of the leading players identified across the globe in the Jerry cans market are: Scepter Canada Inc., Mauser Group B.V., Greif Inc., Elkhart Plastics, Inc., Barrier Plastics, Inc., WERIT Kunststoffwerke W. Schneider GmbH & Co.KG, Denios AG and Others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Graders Blade Market: Influential Factors Determining the Trajectory of the Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/graders-blade-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=38561 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=38561 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Graders blade is a construction equipment with an extended blade used to make an even surface during the grading process. Basic models of grader blade have three axles. The cab and engine are placed at one end of the vehicle above the rear axles and third axle is placed in the front end of the vehicle and the blade is in between the two axles. Certain graders can operate on several attachments and are also used for different tasks like underground mining.Graders blade are generally used in the maintenance and construction of gravel roads and dirt roads. In construction of cemented roads they are used to construct the base course to make an extensive straight surface for the asphalt which is used for positioning. Graders blade are also used for setting natural soil foundation pads.Browse report detailsThe graders come in different shapes and sizes; but they all share the same details and configuration. Generally, all grader models come with a long blade that is positioned between the back and front wheels. This long blade is usually made from stainless steel and is known as grader. The blade can be controlled mechanically or hydraulically.Modern graders come with a blade that can be extended from one side to another. The blade can also be raised or lowered depending on the application. One big advantage is the fact that the graders can be used with different attachments to complete different construction or mining tasks. A wide range of attachments transform the grader into an extremely versatile machine, capable of performing and doing different tasks on job sites.Although most grader models are used for roadwork applications, some graders can be used for digging shallow holes and even for rough grading. However, there is a difference between rough and fine grading. Fine grading is when the graders create a smooth and fine surface where the asphalt is placed. Rough grading on the other hand is performed by heavy construction vehicles like bulldozers and scrapers.Obtain brochure for latest advancement and technologyAlthough these machines look like graders, they are completely different machines and are used for different applications. The motor grader is also used for maintenance of unpaved roads which are prone to become rutted because of harsh weather conditions. This is the main reason why unpaved roads need to be maintained regularly with a proper motor grader. In addition, the graders are used for removing rocks from unpaved roads.Currently, modern graders blade are designed to be used for more difficult and delicate tasks. They are described as more flexible and versatile than the previous models. Construction and mining companies are discovering that the grader can be used as versatile construction or mining machinery to perform a variety of tasks. New grader models in the market are also being developed with more advanced control units for more efficient results.Request Table of ContentThe graders blade market is segmented on the basis of product, application, and geography. On the basis of product, the graders blade market is segmented into Type 1 and Type 2. In terms of application, the market is segmented into field preparation, arboriculture, and viticulture. Futher the regional analysis of the graders blade market covers North America (the U.S. and Canada), Europe (France, Germany, U.K, and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia Pacific), South America (Brazil and Rest of South America.), and Middle East & Africa (GCC and Rest of South Africa).Top players in the graders blade market are focusing on product portfolio extensions of graders blade and product inventions to increase their market share . Leading players in the global graders blade industry are Agriway, AP Machinebouw, Arts Way, Atespar Motorlu Apaclar, Alpler Agricultural Machinery, Blount International, Changzhou HAN-SUN, D. Gutzwiller, Fontana, Desvoys, Gorenc- Igor Stare, Ilgi Tarim Makineleri San, Jcbl India, K-Tec Earthmovers, Land Pride, Parma Company, RCM, Firma Kolaszewski, ROSSETTO, MAINARDI, T G Schmeiser and Tarter Gate.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Bioabsorbable Stents Market: Europe to Dominate the Global Market and Opportunities till 2022 Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3542 https://www.mrrse.com/bioabsorbable-stents-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3542 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A latest research report titled as Bioabsorbable Stents Market: Europe to Dominate the Global Market in Terms of Revenue: Global Industry Analysis (2012 - 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2022) has been recently added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) online research offerings. This report is a professional and in-depth analysis on the present state and future prospect for the global market. It provides valuable information to the industry insiders, potential entrants or investors. It includes an exhaustive enquiry with the reliability of logic and the comprehensiveness of contents.Request Free Sample Report @Stent is referred to as a device that is inserted into internal duct or a blood vessel to inflate the vessel and avoid blockage. Typically, medical stents are manufactured using metal mesh. They remain permanently in the human body or are even removed in case of any further surgical intervention.Bioabsorbable stents are biodegradable stents which carry out same functions, the only difference being that these stents are manufactured from material which has dissolving properties, or are easily absorbed in the body. The global bioabsorbable stent market is impacted by several factors such as rise in the number of cardiovascular surgeries across the globe, growing risk of cardiovascular disorders among people suffering from obesity, low cost of treatment, along with exact placement of stent and improvement in technology in the medical field in a positive way. However, there are certain aspects which limit or challenge the growth of the global bioabsorbable stent market. Low awareness about the bioabsorbable stents and complications associated with these stents pose hindrances in the growth of the global market.Bioabsorbable stents are medical devices which are fabricated using material which are easily absorbed within the body and perform the function of a stent of preventing blockades. These stents were invented as several problems were associated with metal stents. Bioabsorbable stents would assist in avoiding the loss of normal vasomotion, permit vessel remodelling and persistently improve the endothelial function.According to Future Market Insights research report on the global bioabsorbable stents market, the market is anticipated to reach a value of more than US$ 350 Mn by the end of 2022 and is poised to grow at a robust CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period of 2017-2022.Europe to Dominate the Global Bioabsorbable Stents MarketAccording to Future Market Insights, Europe will continue to remain lucrative for bioabsorbable stents. According to current market dynamics and forecasted future scenario, this trend is anticipated to continue throughout the period of forecast of 2017 to 2022, thereby Europe region retaining its dominance in the global bioabsorbable stents market. Europe region is anticipated to reflect a significant growth rate to register a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period.Browse Full Report with TOC @North America and APEJ will Remain AttractiveNorth America region is anticipated to show highest growth rate throughout the forecast period 2017-2022, followed by Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region. Bioabsorbable stents consumption has dramatically increased in these regions making them a good option for players to invest in. North America region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed towards fast growth in medical technology, higher disposable income and better medical facilities.Polymeric Stents Segment Reflects Higher Market ShareThe polymeric stents segment by product type has been a dominating segment in the global market for past few years, and it is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period as well. The segment reflected a higher market share of 57.6% in 2017. The polymeric stents segment is poised to show a significant growth rate throughout the forecast period. Polymeric-coated metallic stents segment by product type is anticipated to reflect the highest growth rate and poised to register an exponential CAGR of 12.2% throughout the forecast period.Hospitals Remain Leading End-User SegmentHospitals segment by end-user is poised to lead the global bioabsorbable stents market by showing higher market share as of 2017 and higher growth rate during the forecast period. The segment is anticipated to show a CAGR of 10.2% during the period 2017-2022 and also dominates the market by showing a higher market share. Following hospitals segment, the cardiac catheterization labs is a second largest segment, reflect a market share of about 24.7% (as of 2017). This trend is likely to continue for these segments throughout the forecast period.Coronary Artery Disease dominates the Global MarketThe coronary artery disease segment by disease indication is expected to grow at a robust growth rate and also is expected to dominate the market. The segment showed a promising growth and a high market share of 67.5% in 2017 and is more likely to remain dominating throughout the period of forecast.Slow Absorption is Really FastSlow absorption rate segment by absorption rate is expected to show higher growth rate to register a healthy CAGR of 10.3% throughout the forecast period. The segment also reflected a higher market share in 2017 and thus dominates the global bioabsorbable stents market by absorption rate.Competition TrackingThe report has profiled companies which are expected to remain active in the expansion of global bioabsorbable stents market throughout 2022. Companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Amaranth Medical, Inc., BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Elixir Medical Corporation, REVA Medical, Inc., Tepha, Inc., Kyoto Medical Planning Co., Ltd., Boston Scientific Corporation, Becton Dickinson and Company and Lepu Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., are profiled.Enquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search EngineMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Global Electric Expansion Valves (EEVs) Market 2018-Strategic Analysis of the Top Companies Investments https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Request-Sample/100219 https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Reports/Electric-Expansion-Valves-Market Market OverviewThe electronic expansion valve (EEV) operates with a much more sophisticated design. EEVs control the flow of refrigerant entering a direct expansion evaporator. They do this in response to signals sent to them by an electronic controller. A small motor is used to open and close the valve port. The motor is called a step or stepper motor. Step motors do not rotate continuously. They are controlled by an electronic controller and rotate a fraction of a revolution for each signal sent to them by the electronic controller. The step motor is driven by a gear train, which positions a pin in a port in which refrigerant flows.Step motors can run at 200 steps per second and can return to their exact position very quickly. The controller remembers the number of step signals sent by the controller. This makes it possible for the controller to return the valve to any previous position at any time. This gives the valve very accurate control of refrigerant that flows through it.Get Sample Report @Industry Top PlayersGlobal Electric Expansion Valves (EEVs) market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Electric Expansion Valves (EEVs) sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including SANHUA Fujikoki DunAn Saginomiya (Danfoss Poland) Danfoss Parker Emerson CastelMarket SegmentsOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Electric Type EEVs Electromagnetic Type EEVsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, including Home Inverter Air Conditioner Commercial Air Conditioning & Heat Pump New Energy Car OthersFor More Information @About UsFuture Generic Reports is a market research and consulting organization, offering premium collection of market research reports, custom research and consulting services to corporations, no-profit organizations and government institutions across the globe.The wide range of information is presented by a team of well-trained researchers of specific sectors through exhaustive research. We deliver premier market research services that cover all industry verticals, including chemicals and material, automotive, healthcare, electronics & semiconductor, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and technology and media.We believe in building an eternal bond with our clients through offering them inclusive research study meeting their specific requirements. Our services are tailored specifically to our clients by proposing them the potential outcome, based on our in-depth analysis and insights for exploring the growth strategies through providing the best possible decision for quality production.Contact UsFuture Genic ReportsUSA Office244, Madison AvenueNew York City, NY - 10016United StatesToll Free +1- 844-445-2861Email: sales@futuregenicreports.com Software Defined Security Market Expected to Reach US$ 3,800 Mn in 2022 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/software-defined-security-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/13201 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com One of the major growth factor for the adoption of software defined security is the growing concern amongst the organizations using the virtual infrastructure and services of a cloud based system. The software defined security system is used by the enterprises to automate their network security management. Due to the growing usage of the cloud technology, many enterprises are demanding security solutions that are easy to manage, can be highly customized and provide security without the presence of any hardware. Software defined security provides all these facilities and in addition, it is also used to prevent data loss and identify and access management solutions. With the growing adoption of cloud based services and infrastructure, the adoption of software defined security solutions is also on the rise.The global software defined security market is slated to touch a value of about US$ 3,800 Mn in the year 2022 and grow at a robust CAGR during the assessment period.4 Forecast Highlights on Global Software defined security Market : As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the services component type segment is slated to touch a value of about US$ 1050 Mn in the year 2022. This represents a robust CAGR growth during the assessment period of 2017-2022. The services component type segment is estimated to account for nearly one-fourth of the revenue share of the component type segment by the year 2017 and is forecasted to gain market share by 2022 over 2017.Request for Table of Contents @As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the small and medium enterprise segment will reach a value of about US$ 640 Mn in the year 2017. This represents a robust CAGR growth during the forecast period. The small and medium enterprise segment is forecasted to account for more than one-fourth of the total revenue share of the end user segment by the end of the year 2017 and is expected to lose in market share by 2022 as compared with the year 2017.As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the network monitoring segment is slated to reach a value of nearly US$ 1,300 Mn in 2022. The network monitoring segment is expected to lose market share by the end of the year 2022. The largest share is contributed by the North America region in the network monitoring segment. Persistence Market Research forecasts the U.S. software defined security market to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from 2017 to 2022.Request to View Sample of Research Report @The report has also included the profiles of some of the leading companies in the software defined security market like Catbird, VMware, Inc., SAS Institute Inc., Fortinet, Cisco Systems, Inc., Symantec Corporation, Intel Corp., EMC Corp., Palo Alto Networks and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company.About UsPersistence 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 UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Micro-Pump Market 2018 | Major Participants: Advanced Microfluidics SA, Alldoo Micropump, Bio-Chem Fluidics, Cole-Parmer Instrument Company LLC, Dolomite Centre Ltd, IDEX Corporation, KNF Neuberger Inc Micro-pump Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1300 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1300 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1300 The, Micro-Pump Market inquire about report is developing with the quick pace; chiefly due the prospering Healthcare Sector. As per a current report distributed by the Market Research Future, The Micro-Pump Industry Research report is blasting and anticipated that would pick up unmistakable quality over the conjecture time frame. The Market is anticipated to exhibit a colossal development by 2027, outperforming its past development records as far as esteem and volume.You can get easy access to samples from the report here:Market Synopsis of Micro-Pump Market:Globally the market for micro-pump is increasing rapidly. Micro-pumps have been playing a crucial role in the pharmaceutical industry for last few years. Especially in the processes such as drug discovery, development and delivery. The ability of micro-pump to provide a controlled flow of fluids and controlled delivery of drug dosage into the body of the patients are the major factors boosting the demand for such techniques. This has led to the improved healthcare management and better medical outcomes. Growing demand for micro-pump technology in the medical and pharmaceutical industry has played an important role in the growth of the micro-pump market. Globally the market for micro-pump is expected to grow at the rate of about 17.2% from 2016 to 2027.Key Players for Micro-pump Market:Some of the key players in this market are: Advanced Microfluidics SA, Alldoo Micropump, Bio-Chem Fluidics, Cole-Parmer Instrument Company LLC, Dolomite Centre Ltd, IDEX Corporation, KNF Neuberger Inc., Microfluidica LLC, Servoflo Corporation, Takasago Electric Inc., TOPS Industry & Technology Co. Ltd., World Precision Instruments, Xavitech and others.Market Assessment:The report for micro-pump market of Market Research Future comprises extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsIntended AudienceMicro-pump device manufacturers & SuppliersContract Research Organizations (CROs)Research and Development (R&D) CompaniesGovernment Research LaboratoriesIndependent Research LaboratoriesGovernment and Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesAcademic Institutes and UniversitiesAny query or specific requirement? Ask to our industry expert:Regional Analysis of Micro-pump Market:Globally North America is the largest market for micro-pump. Europe is the second-largest market. Furthermore Asia pacific market is expected to be one of the biggest market for micro-pump.Key Finding:The micro-pump global market is expected to reach $5.28 billion by 2027.Mechanical micro-pumps hold the largest share of 66.3% of the micro-pump market in 2015.North America holds the largest market share of 55.2% of micro-pump market and is anticipated to reach $3.02 billion by the end of forecast period.Pharmaceutical Industry holds the largest market share of 54.6% in 2015, and expected to continue the similar growth throughout the forecast period.Segments:Micro-pump market has been segmented on the basis of types which comprises of mechanical and non-mechanical. Mechanical micro-pumps have been dominating the global market of micro-pump for quite a few years. The easy customization and maintenance of the mechanical micro-pump has made them widely popular. Mechanical micro-pump held around 66.3% share of the global micro-pump market in 2015. On the basis of industry, market is segmented into pharmaceutical, medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics and others. Pharmaceutical industry dominates the global micro-pump market in 2015 with maximum share of 54.6% on the total market.What makes our report unique?1) An extensive research study on the Global Micro-Pump market, and its entire ecosystem, describes the market trends, drivers, restraints and opportunities of the Micro-Pump market.2) We provide you the longest possible market segmentation based on type of products, procedures and geography and describe the market share region wise.3) The report gives a bird eyes view on the competitive landscape which includes mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, market strategies, and new product launches....CONTINUEDFeel free to get in touch for discounts and customized details:About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Enterprise Performance Management Software Market Expected to Account for US$ 3,600 Mn in 2022 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/enterprise-performance-management-software-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18643 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) software market is soaring due to an increasing demand for upgrading the strategy of organizations. The involvement of cloud based EPM software builds on the benefits of the traditional EPM software, making it faster and easier to implement, increase the speed of innovation across the organizations, reduce the operating costs of entities using the EPM software and supporting increased collaboration and teamwork in the entire organization. EPM software also helps in automating tasks that are manual in nature and increase the implementation speed of key finance processes. The EPM software is designed to help in the implementation of the strategic plans and goals that enterprises have set for themselves and help in the attainment of such goals as per the broader vision and mission of the enterprises.The global EPM software market is slated to touch a value of about US$ 3,600 Mn in the year 2022 and grow at a robust CAGR during the assessment period.4 Forecast Highlights on Global EPM Software Market : touch a value of nearly US$ 800 Mn in the year 2022. This represents a robust CAGR growth during the assessment period of 2017-2022. The services product type segment is estimated to account for more than one-fifth of the revenue share of the product type segment by the year 2017 and is forecasted to gain market share by 2022 over 2017.Request for Table of Contents @As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the IT & Telecommunication end user segment will reach a value of about US$ 550 Mn in the year 2017. This represents a robust CAGR growth during the forecast period. The IT & Telecommunication end user segment is forecasted to account for nearly one-fifth of the total revenue share of the end user segment by the end of the year 2017 and is expected to gain in market share by 2022 as compared with the year 2017.As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the cloud segment is slated to reach a value of nearly US$ 970 Mn in 2022. The cloud segment is expected to gain market share by the end of the year 2022. The largest share is contributed by the North America region in the cloud segment.Persistence Market Research forecasts the U.S. EPM software market to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 5% from 2017 to 2022.Request to View Sample of Research Report @The report has also included the profiles of some of the leading companies in the EPM software market like International Business Machines Corp., Adaptive Insights Inc., Oracle Corp., Workiva Inc., SAP SE, Host Analytics Inc., Anaplan Inc., Infor Inc. and Wolters Kluwer NV.About UsPersistence 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 UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: A local cop recently returned to patrol duty in Walnut Creek after an injury suffered during a car chase almost cost him his leg and his career. St. Helena native Tom Brown, a 10-year veteran of the Walnut Creek Police Department, sustained a broken leg and other injuries on July 16, 2016, when his patrol car was hit head-on by a suspect who was high on meth. Browns leg will never be the same, but he was able to return to full active duty on Feb. 16, after three surgeries and 19 months of painful rehab. Its good to be back, he said. The injury occurred as Brown was responding to a vehicle pursuit involving a man whod been driving in the wrong direction on Highway 24 before heading into the hills above Lafayette and Walnut Creek. The driver had already hit two pedestrians, who suffered minor injuries. As Brown was heading to the scene in his police SUV, the driver sped around a corner, blew through a stop sign, and veered into the oncoming lane at an estimated 50 mph. Brown had just enough time to slam on his brakes, extending his leg straight out, before he was hit head-on. The energy of the collision traveled up his locked right leg. Beauty Devices Market Top Key Players - L'Oreal S.A., Nu Skin Enterprises, Panasonic Corporation, Syneron Medical Ltd, Home Skinovations Ltd, TRIA Beauty Inc, Procter & Gamble Co Beauty Devices Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/562 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/562 www.marketresearchfuture.com Beauty devices are used for enhancing physical appearance such as treatment, cleansing and rejuvenating the skin, hair and other body parts. These include devices such as cleansing devices, photo-rejuvenation devices, oxygen & steamers, hair removal devices, acne devices, devices, hair rollers, and others. The global beauty devices market is anticipated to generate a 7.8 % CAGR during the forecast period of 2017-2023.Get a sample report atIndustry Trends and News:Acquisitions and mergers marked the trend in 2016 as exemplified by the following.Coty expanded its international footprint by the acquisition of Good Hair Day which specializes in hair straighteners and appliances.Bellami aquired Mirabella so as to benefit from the distribution chain and reach.Henkel acquired the hair care brands of P&G to strengthen its market position in Eastern Europe, and Middle East and Africa.Revlon acquired Elizabeth Arden so as to benefit from greater economies of scale, prestige brands and to develop greater global footprint.However LOreal acquisition of IT Cosmetics for approximately $1.2 billion marked the topic of discussion in 2016.Prominent Players of Beauty Devices Market:L'Oreal S.A., Syneron Medical Ltd, Nu Skin Enterprises, Procter & Gamble Co, Panasonic Corporation, TRIA Beauty Inc, Home Skinovations Ltd, PhotoMedex Inc, and others.Dynamics of Beauty Devices Market:DriversIncreasing awareness, consumerization, growing acceptance of cosmetics, rising income of women, growing geriatric population, increasing prevalence of skin and hair problems are the prime drivers of the beauty devices market. The growing polycystic ovary syndrome and hormonal issues among females is a strong generator of the market. According to center of disease control, polycystic ovary syndrome affects 6 % to 12% of the U.S. women of reproductive age. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), estimates that approximately 85% of Americans suffer from acne at some point of their lives. Thus a huge unmet need is readily comprehendible.Teenagers especially the millennial are expected to be the most lucrative market equity generators due to the growing adoptions of cosmetics in the group. The growing influence of the media and tourism industry is another factor driving the market.More inquire atRestraintsThe presence of alternative medicine and substitutes and side-effects from beauty devices are prime constraints on the market. The large market fragmentation coupled with the presence of poor spurious products have added pressure on the pricing margins. The lack of accreditation and poor regulatory issues in underdeveloped economies are other constraints on the market.Segmentations of Beauty Devices Market:Type - hair care (hair removal devices, hair growth devices, hair styling devices, and others), skin care (light/led and photo rejuvenation therapy devices, cellulite reduction devices, acne removal devices, and others), oral care, and others.Hair removal devices hold the largest global market share of beauty devices, owing to increasing prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hormonal problems among females.Application - commercial purpose (salon/spas, hospitals/clinics, and others) and others.End user - professional and personalized.Regional Analysis of Beauty Devices Market:The Americas dominate the market owing to greater demand, rising aging population, and large number of baby boomers. Europe is expected to hold the second position driven by countries like France and Germany. France is set to dominate the market closely followed by Germany owing to high presence of global players such as L'Oreal S.A.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to huge patient population, and growing income. China is expected to command the largest market share as well as growth owing to economic development and increasing aging population.Middle East and Africa is expected to be dominated by UAE, Egypt, Turkey and others.About usAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research FutureP: +1 646 845 9312W:sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Cardiac Surgery Devices Market Analysis, Growth Drivers & Opportunities till 2027 Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3439 https://www.mrrse.com/cardiac-surgery-devices-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3439 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A latest research report titled as Cardiac Surgery Devices Market : Global Industry Analysis 2012 - 2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017 - 2027 has been recently added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) online research offerings. This report is a professional and in-depth analysis on the present state and future prospect for the global market. It provides valuable information to the industry insiders, potential entrants or investors. It includes an exhaustive enquiry with the reliability of logic and the comprehensiveness of contents.Click here For Free Sample Report @Cardiac surgery devices are manufactured according to the needs of the patients as well as the cardiologists. As surgical methods are becoming more advanced, cardiac surgery devices have become the showpiece of innovation in the operation theatre. Key stakeholders in the cardiac surgery devices market are introducing newer products to try and retain or even increase their market share. For e.g. Medtronic has launched its minimally invasive cardiac surgery products in the U.S. through an exclusive distribution agreement with Miami Instruments LLC. Technology will continue to underpin advancements in the global cardiac surgery devices market in the coming decade.Data management systems integrated into heart lung machine systemsRapid evolution in electronic data collection during cardiac surgery is anticipated to influence companies in the cardiac surgery devices market to manufacture novel products in the near future. Several data management systems have been developed that facilitate seamless data integration from the heart lung machine. The company LivaNova offers a DMS charting system that automatically records all events and values of the C5, S5, and SIII heart-lung machines along with other devices such as blood gas analysers, patient monitors, cerebral oximetry devices, and ACT meters.Minimally invasive surgeries popular in the cardiac surgery devices marketGreater occurrence of coronary heart diseases has heightened the focus on minimally invasive surgical procedures. Heart disease is one of the most common and widespread global diseases and can be typically traced to obese patients. Over the last decade, minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery has surged in popularity mainly because of the numerous benefits of this procedure such as reduced surgical trauma and decreased pain in the surgical area. With the refinement of transthoracic echocardiography, development of specialised robotic technology and surgical instruments, and perfusion technique innovations, cardiac surgery has been given the requisite tools required to perform minimally invasive surgery.Reusable and robust stabilising arms witnessing increased adoptionSurgical stabilisation products offer retraction, positioners, and stabilisers during a number of surgical procedures where a human hand is normally needed and they provide exceptional stability and grip during off pump cardiac surgery. For e.g. Medtronic offers Urchin Heart and Starfish2 Positioners that hold the heart in a manner allowing the surgeon to easily access the blocked vessels needing bypass graft. In addition, the Octopus Tissue Stabilizer minimises motion of a small area of the heart while the rest continues to beat normally. Thus, the surgeon can perform CABG surgery without using the heart-lung machine or stopping the heart. The reusable stabilising arm enhances the cost effectiveness and stability of the procedure, thereby boosting the prospects of the cardiac surgery devices market.Browse Full Report with TOC @North America larger than Western Europe and APEJ combinedNorth America dominates the global cardiac surgery devices market as it is larger than both Western Europe and APEJ combined with an estimated value of over half a billion dollars in 2017. It is expected to retain its commanding position in the global cardiac surgery devices market as it is on track to record a CAGR of 4.1%, reaching a market valuation of just under US$ 830 Mn by the end of the forecast period. MEA is expected to witness the highest value CAGR among all regions (4.9%); however, the region is anticipated to remain the least attractive market in the global cardiac surgery devices market in terms of revenue, recording a market attractiveness index of 0.5 over the forecast period. The cardiac surgery devices market in North America is expected to witness flourishing growth owing to increasing demand for cardiac surgery devices by hospitals and ambulatory surgery centres in U.S and Canada.Medical tourism to benefit the cardiac surgery devices marketMedical tourism has become quite popular amongst patients afflicted with cardiovascular ailments as it allows high quality care to be provided immediately in a cost-effective manner. This is especially prominent in the developed regions of Europe and North America from where patients travel to places such as Thailand and India to avail of medical tourism. The APAC region is the preferred destination for medical tourists as a coronary artery bypass procedure can be almost 80% cheaper in this region than in places such as the U.S. and Europe. In India, the average cost of the procedure is approx. US$ 9000, which is substantially lower than the US$ 120,000 it costs in the U.S.Enquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search EngineMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Hardware Security Modules Market Trend to 2023 Profiling Gemalto NV, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Development LP, Utimaco Gmbh, IBM, SWIFT https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/937223/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-hardware-security-modules-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2023/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/2017-2022-global-top-countries-hardware-security-modules-market-report/?utm_source=RR-SP https://factsweek.com/author/chetan/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ Hardware Security Modules Market report 2023 focuses on the major Types and Applications for the key players. Hardware Security Modules market research report also provides analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market. The Hardware Security Modules market research report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of Hardware Security Modules Industry.A hardware security module (HSM) is a physical computing device that safeguards and manages digital keys for strong authentication and provides crypto processing. These modules traditionally come in the form of a plug-in card or an external device that attaches directly to a computer or network server.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Hardware Security Modules Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Request for a Sample Copy of Hardware Security Modules Market Report @Market Segment by Top Manufacturers, this Hardware Security Modules Market report covers Thales E-Security, Inc., Gemalto NV, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Development LP, Utimaco Gmbh, IBM, SWIFT, Futurex, Atos SE, Ultra-Electronics and Yubico.An inherent sub-vertical of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry space, Hardware Security Modules market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Hardware Security Modules Market OverviewGlobal Hardware Security Modules Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Hardware Security Modules Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Hardware Security Modules Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Hardware Security Modules by CountriesGlobal Hardware Security Modules Market Segment by TypeGlobal Hardware Security Modules Market Segment by ApplicationHardware Security Modules Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionMarket Segment by Type, coversLAN Based, PCle Based and USB BasedMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Industrial and Manufacturing Industry, Banking and Financial Services, Government and OthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Hardware Security Modules market.Chapter 1, to describe Hardware Security Modules Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Hardware Security Modules, with sales, revenue, and price of Hardware Security Modules, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Hardware Security Modules, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Hardware Security Modules market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Hardware Security Modules sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor more information on this report, Please visit at:Qualitative Analysis covers:Industry Status and TrendsManufacturer/Company profiles, manufacturing base distribution, sales areas, product introduction, main business, market position and their competitors.Product Development, Technology, Price, Cost, Manufacturing Process and TrendsMarket segment by regions, types, applications and forecastMarket opportunities, potential, government policies and influence factors.Quantitative Analysis covers:Market size (value, sales/output, historical data and forecasts)Sales/output/capacity, revenue, price, gross margin, market share, for top players. Through interviewing each manufacturers, distributors, traders, dealers and buyers etc.Cost structure, proportion, price trend, gross margin and trend, status and trend, for 10 yearsMarket size by types, regions, applications for 10 yearsMarket forecast based on the potential demand from downstream clients/buyers, government, influence factors and the total economic indication, maybe occur in following years.Related Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries Hardware Security Modules Market ReportThe Global Hardware Security Modules market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022, from the XX million (USD) in 2016, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) XX% from 2016 to 2022.More Report @Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Total Stations Market 2023: Global Key Vendors by Suzhou FOIF, Hexagon, Survey Instruments Services, Hi-Target Surveying Instrument, Guangdong, Kolida, Trimble Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5727 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/total-stations-market-5727 Market Synopsis:A total station is an electronic instrument which is capable of measuring sloping distance in the construction industry. The total station utilizes electronic theodolite and EDM (Electro Distance Meter) for measuring the distances. The device is also connected with microprocessors, storage systems, and data collectors. Total Stations Market are mainly used by civil engineers in the construction sector for surveying the properties like roads, houses, buildings and many more.Theodolite is a precision measurement useful in measuring angles by using a movable telescope. In general, theodolites are of two types which are a transit and non-transit type. In transit theodolites, the telescope rotates in a full circle, where as in the case of non-transit, the telescope is rotated in a half-circle. The total stations can perform important operations like distance measurement, angle measurements, data processing, electronic book and as a display.By using total stations as measurement devices offer numerous advantages like improved accuracy, improved functionality, minimizing errors and others.The angles are measured by electro-optical scanning up to a high degree of accuracy which can be obtained through trigonometry and triangulation. The rapid urbanization leading to increased mobility infrastructure, offering accuracy and sustained performance in construction projects is driving the market growth. The rise in investments in construction sector like, highways, buildings, bridges are fuelling the growth of the global market for total stations. The high costs associated with the product and the environmental factors affecting on using the product are hindering the market growth.Get Sample Report @The global total stations market is estimated to reach up to USD 2 billion at CAGR 7% through the forecast period 2023Major Key Players: Changzhou Dadi Surveying Science & Technology Co. (China), Suzhou FOIF Co. (China), Hexagon (Sweden), Survey Instruments Services (Singapore), Hi-Target Surveying Instrument Co. (China), Guangdong Kolida Instrument Co. (China), Maple International Instrument (US), North Group (Spain), Trimble (U.S.), Topcon Corporation (Japan), Kara Company (U.S.), Axis- GPS and Surveying Instruments (Israel), Kwipped (U.S.), Celtic Surveys (Ireland).Segmentation:The global total stations market is segmented into the offering, type, application, and region. On the basis of offering, the segment is further classified into hardware and services. The hardware comprises of various components like EDM (electronic distance measurement), electronic theodolite, microprocessor, storage units, display devices and others. On the basis of type, the segment is further classified into the robotic total station and manual robotic station. The applications of total stations cover wide areas like construction, transportation, oil and gas, mining, agriculture and others.Regional Analysis:The global total stations market is studied in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world. Asia Pacific holds major market share for total stations globally. The presence of major companies, increase in investments in construction and engineering sector in developing countries like India, China and Taiwan are supporting the market growth. The initiatives for developing smart cities are fuelling the market growth. North America Holds the significant market share and is expected to continue through the forecast period.The growth of transportation and construction sector in countries like U.S., Canada, and Mexico are supporting the market growth. The key players in the region are constantly innovating and investing in research and development activities in order to generate cost-effective product portfolio.Some of the key innovators are Ti Asahi Co. Ltd (Japan), Maple International Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Advanced Surveying Instruments India Pvt. Ltd. (India), GENEQ Inc.(Canada), Leica Geosystems (Switzerland) and others.Access Report Details @Intended Audience: Total station manufacturers Manufacturers of components Professional services/training providers End users from the listed industries Components suppliers, system integrators Research OrganizationsTABLE OF CONTENTS1 Executive Summary2 The Scope Of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast ModelContinue...LIST OF TABLESTable 1 Global Total Stations Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2 North America Total Stations Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3 Europe Total Stations Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 4 Asia-Pacific Total Stations Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 5 Middle East & Africa Total Stations Market: By Country, 2017-2023Continue...LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 Global Total Stations Market SegmentationFIGURE 2 Forecast MethodologyFIGURE 3 Five Forces Analysis Of Global Total Stations MarketFIGURE 4 Value Chain Of Global Total Stations MarketFIGURE 5 Share Of Global Total Stations Market In 2017, By Country (In %)ContinueAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Coronary Stents Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 11.32 Bn by 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1993 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1993 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Future Market Insights provides an in-depth analysis of the global coronary stents market in a new report titled Coronary Stents Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026. Coronary stents is a billion dollars industry that occupies a significant market share in the cardiovascular market. In terms of revenue, the global coronary stents market is estimated to reach a market valuation of US$ 6,002.9 Mn by 2016 end and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. The global coronary stents market is expected to represent incremental opportunity of US$ 5,318.7 Mn between 2016 and 2026.According to Future Market Insights, factors such as an increase in the prevalence of coronary artery disease, obesity, and minimal invasive procedures; and an increasing preference for advanced stenting procedures by cardiologists are some of the factors fuelling the growth of the global coronary stents market. Economic factors such as an increase in awareness campaigns about cardiovascular diseases conducted by government bodies, rapid progress in medical technology, and extended reimbursement support are also expected to boost the growth of the global coronary stents market over the forecast period.Request Report Sample@Segmentation highlightsThe global coronary stents market is segmented on the basis of Product Type (Drug Eluting Stent, Bare Metal Stent, Bioresorbable Vascular Stent); Raw Material (Cobalt Chromium, Stainless Steel, Platinum-Chromium, Nickel-Titanium, Polymer); and End Use (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories).The Drug Eluting Stent product type segment is estimated to be valued at US$ 8,750.2 Mn by 2026. The Bioresorbable Vascular Stent segment is estimated to account for 11.0% revenue share by 2016 endThe Polymer raw material segment is estimated to account for the highest market share of 29.2% by the end of 2016. The Cobalt Chromium segment is expected to register a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast periodThe Hospitals end use segment is anticipated to account for 70.9% value share of the global coronary stents market by the end of 2016. The Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories segment is estimated to be valued at US$ 2,526.8 Mn by the end of 2026, registering a CAGR of 8.0% over the forecast periodRegional projectionsThe global coronary stents market is segmented on the basis of region into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, MEA, and Japan. The APEJ market is estimated to be valued at US$ 4,165.2 Mn by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period. The North America coronary stents market is expected to dominate the global coronary stents market in terms of revenue by 2016 end and is likely to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The coronary stents market in North America is estimated to account for 29.2% market share of the global coronary stents market by 2016 end. The North America region is likely to be the second most attractive market with an attractiveness index of 2.5 during the forecast period. The markets in North America, Western Europe, and APEJ represent the highest growth opportunities in the global coronary stents market owing to a large patient population and an increasing demand for coronary stents in these regions.Visit For TOC@Vendor insightsThe global coronary stents market report profiles some of the top companies operating in the market. Leading market players featured in the report include Terumo Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Vascular Concepts, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Biotronik SE & Co. KG, Abbott Laboratories, Biosensors International Group, Ltd., Hexacath, and Stentys SA. Key market players are focussing on increasing their footprints in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific and are expanding their manufacturing facilities and distribution network to gain a larger share of the global coronary stents market.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: North America To Dominate Global Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Market, Owing To Rising Frequency Of Infertility Cases https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1011 http://www.coherentchronicle.com North America to dominate global human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) market, owing to rising frequency of infertility casesOn the basis of geography, the global human chorionic gonadotropin market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America is the highest regional contributor to the market and is expected to continue as a regional dominator over the forecast years. This primarily owes to the rising number of infertility cases as well as hormonal dysfunction among young males and females as a result of changing lifestyle. According to Mayo Clinic, around 25% of women fertility problems in the U.S. are a result of ovulation issues that are mostly caused due to dysfunction of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone. Thus, the rapidly increasing cases of infertility are expected to surge the North America global human chorionic gonadotropin market. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fasting growing geography, owing to economic developments facilitating technological advancements in healthcare sectors as well as emerging local players in the market.The key players operating the global human chorionic gonadotropin market include Merck & Co., Inc., EMD Sereno, Inc., Fresenius Kabi, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Ferring BV, and Kamia Biomedical Company. Acris Antibodies developed a human chorionic gonadotropin hormone by recombinant DNA technology that helps to prevent the disintegration of the corpus luteum of the ovary thereby, maintaining levels of progesterone production for healthy pregnancy in females.Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG) is a hormone secreted by the placenta after implantation of a fertilized zygote in the uterus. The hormone also supports normal development of an egg and helps in the stimulation of egg release from the ovary. The HCG is mainly used to induce ovulation in the women under infertility treatment. It is also used among males mostly to increase the sperm count and in young boys, due to pituitary gland disorders and other diseases, due to which the testicles of the young males does not drop down naturally into the scrotum. The HCG is usually administered as an injection under the skin into a muscle. The HCG can also be administered at home under the advice of a gynecologist or a pharmacist. The HCG levels can be determined with the help of urine or blood test. Result of specific test helps in the determining accurate measurement of the levels. These tests are mostly used to identify and confirm pregnancy or as a screening test to determine birth defects.Get The Holistic SAMPLE With TOC:Rising incidence of infertility are expected to drive the growth of human gonadotropin market across the globeAccording to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016, approximately 7.3 million women aged 15 - 44 have used infertility services. Moreover, 6.7% of the married women aged 15 - 44 were reported infertile. According to Azura Vascular Care, around 17% of the couples in the U.S. deal with infertility out of which 30% cases are a result of male infertility. These numbers suggests significant demand for infertility treatments, such as HCG in order for females to conceive a child. According to a statistical survey conducted by HealthGrove, pituitary gland disorders resulted into the death of around 205 people in 2015, out of which highest percentage belonged to white men. Pituitary disorders resulting into significant mortality rate are propelling the demand for human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. Additionally, various other factors such as endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and others are expected to propel the growth of global HCG market. For instance, according to Frisco Institute of Reproductive Medicine, around 10% of women of reproductive age in the U.S. suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome. However, easy availability of alternatives to treat infertility could act as potential barriers for the market growth.Market Taxonomy:The global human chorionic gonadotropin by Coherent Market Insights is segmented on the basis of Technology, Therapeutic area, and end user.On the basis of technology, the global human chorionic gonadotropin is segmented as:Natural Source ExtractionRecombinant DNA TechnologyOn the basis of therapeutic area, the global human chorionic gonadotropin market is segmented as:Female infertility treatmentOligospermic TreatmentCryptorchidism TreatmentOthersOn the basis of end user, the global human chorionic gonadotropin market is segmented as:Fertility CentersResearch InstitutesOthersAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Global Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Outlook and Growth Scenario: Forecast Study by Fact.MR https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=73 https://www.factmr.com/report/73/liver-cancer-diagnostics-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=73 https://www.factmr.com/ FACT.MR has been actively involved in offering comprehensive research data concerning various topics which are associated to industrial reference and investor utility. This particular research report titled Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking: Global Review 2017 to 2022 has been added to the wide online database of FACT.MR which discusses the present as well as future market scenario. Readers can access knowledge related to market volume, regional expanse as well as competitive landscape prevailing in the global liver cancer diagnostics market. In order to study development patterns, this smart assessment also focuses on market dynamics, which talks about drivers, restraints and opportunities estimated to influence the concerned market during the period until 2017 to 2022.Request For Sample Report-Takeaways from the Global Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market1- In terms of revenues, North America will remain the most lucrative region in the global market for liver cancer diagnostics. In addition, liver cancer diagnostics markets in North America and Europe will exhibit expansion at similar CAGRs through 2022.2- Liver cancer diagnostics markets in Japan and MEA will exhibit a sluggish growth during the forecast period.3- Biopsy tests will continue to exhibit the highest CAGR through 2022, among test type in the global market, followed by LFTs.4- AFP test is projected to remain sought-after for liver cancer diagnostics over the forecast period. Revenues from AFP tests are estimated to hold more than half market share in 2017, and are expected to attain 52 BPS in their market share by 2022-end.5- Hospital-associated labs are expected to remain sought-after in the market for liver cancer diagnostics. Liver cancer diagnostics in the hospital-associated labs are expected to account for largest revenues during the forecast period.6- Independent diagnostic laboratories will continue to be the second most lucrative segment among end-users in the global market for liver cancer diagnostics.7- Diagnosis of liver cancer in cancer research institutes will continue to register the highest CAGR over the forecast period.8- The report has also profiled companies that will remain active in expansion of global liver cancer diagnostics market through 2022. These include Illumina, Inc.Sysmex Corporation, Danaher Corporation, Biocept, Inc., and Foundation Medicine, Inc.Browse Full Report With TOC-Table of ContentGlobal Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Analysis and Forecast By End User4.1. Global Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast By End User, 2012-20224.1.1. Hospital Associated Labs Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.2. Independent Diagnostic Laboratories Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.3. Cancer Research Institutes Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.3.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.3.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.3.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.4. Others Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.4.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.4.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.4.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionGlobal Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Analysis and Forecast By Region5.1. Global Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.1. North America Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Test Type5.1.1.2. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By End User5.1.2. Latin America Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Test Type5.1.2.2. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By End User5.1.3. Europe Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.3.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Test Type5.1.3.2. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By End User5.1.4. Japan Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.4.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Test Type5.1.4.2. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By End User5.1.5. APEJ Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.5.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Test Type5.1.5.2. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By End User5.1.6. MEA Liver Cancer Diagnostics Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20225.1.6.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Test Type5.1.6.2. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By End UserContinued@@@...Check For Discount On This Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web: Infant Radiant Warmer Market: A valuable source of insightful data for business strategists https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/131 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/131 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ The introduction of innovative products is expected to increase their application and in turn fuel growth of the global infant radiant warmers market. For instance, GE Healthcares commercially available product, Lullaby Warmer, can uniformly distribute heat to ensure easy positioning of the baby, visually coded control panel and color coded safety alarms simple to understand and language independent and has 69% faster warm up. Also, growing number of infant radiant warmer manufacturers is expected to propel market growth over the forecast period. Furthermore, rise in government funds is analyzed to support growth of the infant radiant warmer market. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has added a level (level IV) in infant nursing which in turn may increase growth of the infant radiant warmer market. Moreover, rise in number of hospitals across the globe is expected to increase demand for infant radiant warmer market. According to WHO data, yearly around 20 million premature and low birth weight babies are born and out of which 3 million babies die in the first four weeks of life. Hence, it is recommended that every hospital must essentially have at least one infant intensive care unit, which must comprise of all infant care equipment. However, high costs associated with the warmer and risk of high exposure to heat is likely to restraint growth of the infant radiant warmer market to a certain extent.To get holistic SAMPLE of the report including table of contents, please click:The infant radiant warmer market is projected to grow at steady state during the forecast period (20162024). Increasing prevalence of premature birth is expected to drive growth of the infant radiant warmer market. For instance, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2015, approximately 15 million babies are born premature across the globe. Almost 1 million babies die every year due to the complications of premature birth. Furthermore, increasing incidence of hospital acquired diseases, further creates an acute need for proper care and sterile environment for the baby, something that is provided by infant radiant warmers. For instance, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011, about 1 in every 25 was infected with at least one hospital acquired infections.Infant Radiant Warmer Market TaxonomyThe infant radiant warmer market is segmented on the basis of type and geography. By product type, infant radiant warmer market can be segmented into mobile radiant warmer, wall-mount radiant warmer and cot type radiant warmer.In terms of geography, the global infant radiant warmer market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The North America market accounts for the highest market share owing to the established healthcare infrastructure, increased healthcare expenditure and high disposable income. Also, major players in the infant radiant warmer market are based in North America. However, Asia Pacific market is projected to grow at a faster rate owing to the rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure and rising prevalence of premature births in the region. For instance, according to a survey conducted by WHO in 2010, out of 27 million babies born in India, over 3.5 million were born premature. Also, an increase in healthcare spending in countries such as China and India is analyzed to boost growth of the infant radiant warmer market during the forecast period.Some of the prominent players in the infant radiant warmer market are Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited., General Electric Company, Neotech Medical Pvt. Ltd, Phoenix Medical Systems (P) Ltd., Natus Medical Incorporated.,Ardo, Fanem Ltda., and Draeger, Inc.Infant care equipment is used for newborn or preterm infants in order to provide accessibility for resuscitation or procedures without jeopardizing thermal stability.This equipment helps to provide heat, supply oxygen, and monitor vital parameters. Cardiopulmonary monitors, blood pressure monitors, endotracheal tube, bili lights, nasal cannula, incubators, radiant warmer, pulse oximeter, and ventilators are among the various types of infant radiant warmers.Ask for customization:Infant radiant warmer, also called neonatal warming equipment, offers heat to infants suffering from severe heat loss. The body surface area of infants is large as compared to volume and they have very little fat content in their body. While in most cases basic clothing and mothers warmth would suffice to complement the heat produced in the body of a healthy new born baby, for premature babies and those suffering from debilitating conditions, artificial heat needs to be provided to ensure proper bodily functions of the baby and is crucial for its survival. Infant radiant warming equipment is an open bed, provided with a heat source to keep the baby warm. The source of heat is infrared (IR) radiations that are beamed from quartz heater via parabolic reflector.Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Electric Drive (Smart electric drive) Market Analysis 2018 To 2023: Global Industry Share, Size, Trends, Key Players, Emerging Technologies, and Regional Forecast https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5073 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/edrive-automotive-market-5073 Electric Drive (Smart electric drive) Market Size, Share, Sales, Trends and Competitive Analysis Global Research Report 2018 of 100 pages expands comprehensive information on Electric Drive Market by Application (E-Axle, Wheel Drive), Vehicle Type (Power Electronics, E-Brake Booster, Inverter, Motor, Battery), By Drive Type (4 wheel Drive, Rear Wheel Drive, All Wheel Drive), and by Regions with Forecast To 2023. The global market for global E-Drive for automotive market is expected to witness significant growth between 2016 and 2023.Global Electric Drive Market Analysis:The global market for E-Drive has been witnessing significant growth in recent times. The growing vehicle production across the globe, has been powering the growth of the market. In addition, stringent regulatory norms, especially in Europe have fueled the growth of the market. Due to the rapidly rising demand for high fuel efficiency, E-drive system has evolved to provide better performance in the vehicle. Manufacturers of E-Drives are competing to develop fuel efficient systems without compromising on the performance of vehicle.Countries such as India, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil, and the MEA region, the government has planned to invest more and welcomed several E-Drive manufacturers to set up manufacturing plants. Companies such as Tesla Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and others are leading the race to roll out E-Drive soon. Apparently, the other developing countries have also taken the same initiatives to boost up the production of E-Drive.Electric Drive Market Companies Analyzed in report are: Siemens (Germany), Hitachi (Japan), Robert Bosch (Germany), Continental (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen (Germany), HYUNDAI MOBIS (South Korea), AISIN SEIKI (Japan), Magna (Canada), Schaeffler (Germany), MAHLE (Germany), GKN (UK), BorgWarner (US), Infineon (Germany), Dana (US), Linamar (Canada), American Axle (US), AVL (Michigan), PUNCH POWERTRAIN (Belgium), WRIGHTSPEED (US) and TM4 (Canada).Get Sample Report @Electric Drive Market Segmentation:With the global economy undergoing an uplift, major emerging countries such as China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, are becoming manufacturing hubs for global automotive players. As a result of increasing prosperity in the emerging economies, people are increasingly able to afford their own cars, particularly in emerging Asian economies such as China and India. In order to tap these rising consumer automobile preferences, leading global automotive players such as Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, and Ford, are entering into new emerging markets for business expansion. As the global auto-manufacturers continue to expand into growing and emerging markets, the demand for E-Drive is expected to rise.Electric Drive Market Regional Analysis:Asia Pacific is the second largest region in the global E-Drive for automotive market owing to factors such as growth in the production of passenger cars and LCV in the developing economies of the region. Many OEMs are keen to open their production facilities in this region, especially in the emerging nations such as China and India. The market has been experiencing rapid growth in the last two years owing to the rising sales of passenger cars, emerging economies, and technological advancements, are giving a thrust to the E-Drive systems market. Rampant rise in vehicle production in the Asia Pacific region is also expected to be contributing majorly in the growth of the E-Drive market.Intended Audience:Distributer & Supplier companiesEnd UsersConsultants and Investment bankersGovernment as well as Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesProduct Analysis:Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information:Regulatory LandscapePricing AnalysisMacroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis:Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information:Profiling of 10 key market playersIn-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report titleCompetitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesGet More Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov of project 11435 will get a digital radio-technical complex to control aircraft flights. It will make its aircraft fly in any time of the day and in complicated conditions and not only in good visibility. The load on pilots will decrease as electronics will automatically guide the landing approach, the Izvestia daily writes. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov of project 11435 will get a digital radio-technical complex to control aircraft flights. It will make its aircraft fly in any time of the day and in complicated conditions and not only in good visibility. The load on pilots will decrease as electronics will automatically guide the landing approach, the Izvestia daily writes. Russian Navy Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Picture via korabli.eu The main Navy command told the newspaper the new radio-technical complex will ensure close-range navigation of aircraft, control of their movement and landing approach. The main aim is to ensure automatic deck landing of combat aircraft. At present the Indian Navy is successfully operating the Russian Resistor radio-technical complex. It directs aircraft for landing (the pilot monitors the indicators to advance to the necessary trajectory). The operation can proceed automatically, but the pilot has to take over control when the aircraft approaches the warship stern and land the aircraft himself. The complex to be installed on the Kuznetsov will land it in a fully automatic regime. The modernization of the aircraft carrier will reduce minimal weather requirements for the procedure. The Navy command said modern seaborne MiG-29K/KUB aircraft have the necessary equipment but the automatic landing regime has not been tested so far. The task is difficult as one moving object has to be guided to another one by a strictly assigned trajectory with high precision. Otherwise the aircraft can be damaged. The commands are designed on the warship and transmitted to the aircraft. Problems with test trials in the 1990s on the Admiral Kuznetsov allowed testing only the analog line of data transmission. It is limited in speed, precision and is vulnerable to jamming. The Kuznetsov did not operate in full swing, as a result. Landing was manual and flights in bad weather and at night were a problem. When the Soviet Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier was rebuilt for the Indian Navy in the 2000s, the customer demanded it had to operate round-the-clock and in any weather. Thus, the modernized Resistor complex appeared. "Patriarch of our horizontal deck takeoff and landing Viktor Pugachev said there is nothing more dangerous than night landing. The pilot is operating at the limit of his capabilities. Therefore, the first landing is very significant," said Hero of Russia test pilot Oleg Mutovin. He said the Resistor properly performed on the Indian Vikramaditya aircraft carrier. "If the Kuznetsov upgrade gives it such a system, it will be a big breakthrough. It will allow precisely approaching for landing at night and in bad weather. Combat capabilities of the warship will considerably increase," he said. The US Navy has a fully automatic landing system, but it is used mostly for drones. Aircraft pilots usually take over control at the final landing stage to correct mistakes, if any, the Izvestia writes. Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WebRTC Market -Latest Trends and Forecast Analysis up to 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7987 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7987 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is an internet browser interface which enables real-time communication between two internet browsers. WebRTC enables peer to peer audio, video and data communication between the browsers without plugins. This key functionality of WebRTC not only reduces the time required but also makes the process easy for a non-technical user since WebRTC requires no plugins, frameworks or applications. The browsers use Session Description Protocol (SDP) to establish a connection for data transfer. WebRTC is using JavaScript Application Programming Interface (APIs) and HTML5 for embedded communication within the browsers. However, WebRTC is an emerging platform that is anticipated to have significant impact on the communication between browsers in near future.Request to View TOC @WebRTC is available for free and is accessible worldwide which is the key growth driver of this market. Moreover, WebRTC is platform and device independent which would help to attract global audience. Further, it provides better video and voice quality with advanced security and other operational features. WebRTC can adapt to various network conditions and is interoperable with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Unified Communications (UC) solutions which is expected to help companies to easily integrate it with their existing infrastructure. WebRTC provides a bright solution for customer facing businesses. As this communication is real time, WebRTC provides audio visual solutions without any cost. Retail and healthcare are two industries with high demand for WebRTC as direct communication with end users or customers is of immense importance in these industries.One key restraint associated with the use of WebRTC is that it uses internet platform which is a public domain and thus, the quality of service cannot be guaranteed all the time. Use of Internet could result in privacy issues as it is still not clear how WebRTC manages the security and privacy. Further, integration is another key challenge associated with WebRTC. Organizations could face problems in integrating and adapting the WebRTC to their current system. WebRTC is currently not supported on Microsoft Internet Explorer. Thus, there are a number of complexities linked with WebRTC however, technological advancements are anticipated to eliminate these challenges in near future.With WebRTC nearing its completion, organizations especially the consumer facing entities are expected to use this technology in near future across all platforms. WebRTC is an emerging industry standard for audio and video communication through a web browser. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) decided that browser makers should implement VP8 and H.264 video codecs. WebRTC is of huge importance for call centers and customer care centers, where direct communication is happening between a company representative and the end user or customer. WebRTC can simplify this communication further and increase the level of customer satisfaction. Companies are integrating WebRTC into their websites to enhance the overall user experience.Request Sample Report@Some of the major players in the global WebRTC market are Google Inc., Facebook, Inc., Citrix Systems, Inc., TokBox Inc., Sinch AB, Twilio, Inc., WIRE SWISS GmbH, Talko Inc., Screenhero, Inc., and Comcast Corporation etc.About UsPersistence 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.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: GPS Tracking Device Market Analysis with Evolving Technology, Trends And Industry Top Vendors and Forecast to 2024 GPS Tracking Device Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024 http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-gps-tracking-device-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/?dbmr=global-gps-tracking-device-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-gps-tracking-device-market/ GPS Tracking Device Market By Type (Standalone Tracker, PBD Device, Advance Tracker) By Deployment type (Commercial Vehicle, Cargo and Container, Others), By Application (Transportation & Logistics, Construction, Oil & Gas, Metals & Mining, Government, Others) By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global GPS Tracking Device Market accounted to USD 1.5 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 13.0% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.FREE | Sample Copy is Available@Major Market Competitors: Calamp Corporation, Sierra Wireless, Inc., Orbocomm Inc., Queclink Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd, Shenzhen Concox Information Technology Co., Ltd, Laird PLC., Tomtom International Bv, MeitrackGroup, Teltonika UAB, Atrack Technology Inc., Trackimo LLC,Geotab Inc., Shenzhen Coban Electronics Co., Ltd, Xirgo Technologies, Inc., Maestro Wireless Solutions Ltd., Ruptela UAB, Spy tech, Inc., Verizon Wireless among others.In 2017, Volkswagen sign a deal with Sierra wireless Inc. to use the GPS tracking devices in their cars.Market Definition:A GPS tracking unit is a device, normally carried by a moving vehicle or person, that uses the Global Positioning System to determine and track its precise location, and hence that of its carrier, at intervals. The latest trend in this market is growth in commercial vehicle leading to the growth of GPS system, they are in small in size, easy to carry, which may further develop the market in future. There is need of GPS tracking devices for several applications like Transportation & Logistics, Construction, Oil & Gas, Metals & Mining, Government; others will create a huge market for the GPS tracking devices.Competitive Analysis:GPS Tracking Device Market is highly fragmented and is based on new product launches and clinical results of products. Hence the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, clinical trials, market initiatives, high expense on research and development, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of flow cytometry market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Any Questions? Speak to our Expert @Key Questions Answered Global GPS Tracking Device Market Report:-Our Report offers:-What will the market growth rate, Overview and Analysis by Type of Global GPS Tracking Device Market 2024?What are the key factors driving, Analysis by Applications and Global GPS Tracking Device Market?What are Dynamics, This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope, and price analysis of top Vendors Profiles of Global GPS Tracking Device Market?Who are Opportunities, Risk and Driving Force of Global GPS Tracking Device Market t?Who are the opportunities and threats faced by the vendors Global GPS Tracking Device Market? Business Overview by Type, Applications, Gross Margin and Market ShareWhat are the Global GPS Tracking Device Market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Market?Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Commercial Vehicles increment leading to large supply of GPS system Smaller Size, Longer Life, and High ROI Low Prices Several Environmental Factors Leads to Poor User Experience Advancement in the SoftwareSome Major Countries Covered in This Report:- U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil among others.In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Read more about This Report @About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Europe Advanced CO2 Sensor Market Global Key Players: Amphenol Corporation, Honeywell International Inc, Johnson Control by Forecast to 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2574 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/europe-advanced-co2-sensor-market-2574 Market Synopsis:Advanced CO2 sensors help to monitor the intensity of CO2 in different mediums like air or water and can adjust automatically to changes in temperature, humidity, and altitude. This market is an integral part of the global sensors market and is heavily influenced by the augmented demand for location-based advanced CO2 sensors, which results in its impressive CAGR. Rising need for better air pollution measurement systems, to drive market growth during the forecast period.Increased Institutional Usage of CO2 Sensor and Increasing Government Initiatives and Regularizes for Controlling Air Pollution are some of the major drivers that exhibits the growth of Europe Advanced CO2 sensor market. The potential, demand, and usage of advanced CO2 sensor in various applications have increased support from governments worldwide. Recently in July 2016, The U.S. Department of Energy invested $11.5 Million to Advance Geologic Carbon Storage and Geothermal Exploration which will capture the carbon pollution from the burning of fossil fuels and improves renewable geothermal resources both of which will help to make the air purify.With the increase in population there is drastic increase in the infrastructure. So with the increase in the real estate industry, there are many different indoor pollutants came into picture that includes from volatile organic compound such as paints and new furnishing to pollutants from chemical uses, equipment and cleaning processes. Carbon-dioxide is a part of every breath we take, and as we emit it, then it becomes a proxy for other pollutants and shows that the ventilation systems are working properly or not. Europe Advanced CO2 Sensor Market While CO2 is not a pollutant it have an effect on humans, with increase in the level humans feel sleepy and sluggish, due to which it becomes difficult for the person to focus on the work and results into less productive.Thus, to overcome with the above concerns the need of air pollution measurement systems has been increased. These systems are enabled with sensors like advance CO2 which helps to purify the air, which leads to the proper ventilation.In this market analysis, analysts estimate the non-dispersive infrared (NIDR) CO2 sensors segment to account for nearly 83% of the total market share by 2016. The long lifespan, stability, and high humidity and dirt-withstanding nature of IR sensors are responsible for its high market share during the forecast period.Request a Sample Report @Major Key Players Amphenol Corporation (U.S.) Honeywell International Inc.(U.S.) Johnson Control (Ireland) Simens AG (Germany) Ati Airtest Technologies Inc. (U.S.) Sick AG (Germany) Gas Sensing Solution (U.K) Trane ( Subsidary Of Ingresoll Land) (Ireland) Senseair AB (Sweden) E+E Elektronik (Austria) Bluesens (Germany) Digital Control System Inc. (U.S.) Vertiss Industries (U.S.)Global Europe Advanced CO2 Sensor Market Analysis & Forecast, from 2016 to 2022 To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next ten years of the various segments and sub-segments included in Europe Advanced CO2 Sensor market with analysis of its development and demand in the market Upcoming technologies, high growth geographies and countries were identified Regional and country specific demand and forecast for Europe Advanced CO2 Sensor were studied Key segments covered in the report are: manufacture, type, application. Unit breakdown for all different classification was finalized; and same was referred for forecasting, keeping few assumptions into factor For all the regions, forecast demand for all applications were identified and then with historical figure, data collected through primary and annual reports were triangulated to derive the regional market size Historical trend is identified to forecast and estimate the future value dataTarget Audience: Technology investors End-user industries Research & consultant organization Market players GovernmentBrowse Full Report Details @Key Findings Europe Advanced CO2 sensor market is expected to grow up to 3.6 Billion by 2021 with a CAGR of 14.6%. Honeywell is expected to be the market leader with 24% in Advanced CO2 Sensor among all European region. NDIR will gain a Europe Advanced CO2 sensor market with approximately 83%. By Application, Building Automation and Domestic Appliance holds the largest market growing with approximately 22.43% by the end of forecast period. Geographically, China has been projected to have the market share of USD 69 Million by the end of the forecasted periodTable of Contents1 Europe Market Advanced Co2 Sensors Manufacturers Profiles 101.1 Amphenol Corporation1.1.1 Business Overview1.2 Honeywell International Inc.1.2.1 Business Overview1.3 Johnson Control1.3.1 Business Overview1.4 Simens Ag1.4.1 Business Overview1.5 Ati Airtest Technologies Inc.Continued.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Enhanced Oil Recovery Market Assessment Covering Growth Factors and Upcoming Trends by 2023 End MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/300 https://www.mrrse.com/enhanced-oil-recovery-market https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has been acting as an impressive data source when it comes to evaluating various industrial verticals. The research report titled Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Market offers a clear insight about the "Oil and Gas" assessed over the global platform. This analysis proves beneficial for readers & new investors who are aiming to enter the market for Oil and Gas in the near future.Get Free Sample Copy of Report @The enhanced oil recovery market report provides an in-depth analysis of the global enhanced oil recovery industry. The report segments the market on the basis of technology and region and also provides the forecasts and estimates for each technology. The report also analyses the demand and supply characteristics of the market by providing a detailed forecast and analysis of volume and revenue for the period 2013 to 2023.Enhanced Oil Recovery method mainly uses three technologies including Thermal injection, Gas injection and Chemical injection.Thermal injection technology is mostly used for the extraction of heavy viscous crude oil. Thermal energy is injected into the reservoir for increasing the temperature and reducing the viscosity of crude oil. Steam injection and in-situ combustion are common using methods for thermal injection. Widely used steam injection methods are steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) and steam flooding. Steam injection method is mostly used in oil sands with some ongoing projects in Canada, California and Indonesia. SAGD method is mostly used in heavy oil sands of Alberta region. Steam flooding method is used for light oil reservoirs that has a depth of less than 3,000 feet. In-situ method is mostly used on heavy oil sandstone reservoirs.Countries such as Canada and Romania, have some ongoing projects using In-situ combustion process. The gas injection method is applicable for light oil reservoirs. It specially uses CO2 on carbonate and sandstone fields. Gas injection technology is expected to increase for two reasons including disposal of greenhouse gas and increase in oil recovery. Other gases such as hydrogen and nitrogen are also used for oil recovery but to a limited extent. The CO2. Chemical EOR method uses alkali, polymer and surfactant solutions to increase oil recoveries. Objective of chemical EOR method is to reduce the interfacial tension between water and oil through the use of surfactant solutions and to control the mobility by adding polymers. Commonly used polymer in chemical EOR method is Hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. Major chemical EOR projects are operational in countries such as India, Canada and Brazil. Thermal EOR is suitable for heavy oil extraction. Maximum oil reserves have heavy oil hence; thermal injection EOR technology dominates the global EOR market. However, with advancements in technology gas injection and chemical injection EOR technologies are rising at a remarkable rate. Gas injection technology serves a dual purpose: disposal of greenhouse gas and extraction of crude oil from the reservoirs. CO2 released into the atmosphere through power generation and industrial sector, is utilized in gas injection technology to extract crude oil. Thus the huge amount of CO2 is captured for EOR technologies which may pollute the environment. With the upcoming chemical EOR projects in countries, share of chemical EOR technology is going to increase in the coming years.Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW) are the major geographic areas covered in this report. Each geographical region has been segmented further on the basis of the technology, and volume forecasts and estimates for each segment have been provided for the period 2013 to 2023.The report also provides a thorough analysis and revenue of companies such as Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, BP Plc, Cenovus Energy Inc, Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Statoil ASA among others. The report also provides key players involved in SSG systems such as Hammon Deltak Inc, Nooter/Eriksen, Premier Energy Inc, Vogt Power and EN-FAB among others. The report provides a detailed analysis of the various factors influencing the enhanced oil recovery industry with the help of Porters five force analysis. The analysis also helps to understand the degree of competition in the market. The report also analyses the value chain and the various drivers and restraints of the enhanced oil recovery market.Outlook Complete Report with TOC @Enhanced Oil Recovery Market: Technological AnalysisThermalGasChemicalEnhanced Oil Recovery Market: Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the World (RoW)About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Inspirational Ideas by Yorkshire Business Eyecandy Interior Design Eyecandy Interior Design of Huddersfield has a unique selling point with the companys Inspiration Hour.Emma Gordon, Managing Director of Eyecandy Interior Design realised that interior design for some people was an unachievable dream, so designer Emma and her team decided to introduce an element to the business where interior design could potentially be affordable to all.The Inspiration Hour is a private one-on-one booking for Eyecandy Interior Design to visit the home of a potential client, and offer inspirational ideas at a fraction of the cost usually associated with an interior designer. The Inspiration Hour offers a taster of what having an Eyecandy Interior Designer can provide to the homeowner.Emma Gordon, Managing Director of Eyecandy Interior Design said; The fee for an interior designer to visit a home for a consultation ranges from designer to designer, but usually starts at around 150 and goes upwards to 500. Our proposition at Eyecandy is simple, a 50 fee covers our taster Inspiration Hour; we visit the home of the client, take measurements, and have an informal chat about ideas. Its a great opportunity for people to take the first step into using an interior designer for their home.We then invite the client to move forward with a full consultation which includes a more in-depth discussion about specifics, where we provide mood board ideas, showcase new swatches, and introduce new design ideas. This service incurs the consultation fee of 300 plus VAT per room.Eyecandy Interior Design has been successfully designing interiors for homeowners across the North of England for 15 years, and the introduction of the Inspiration Hour is one that works well with both existing clients and potential clients.Eyecandy Interior Design is a bespoke interiors who strive to offer inspirational ideas and a friendly service whilst focusing on the client's brief, working closely with the client to bring about their vision.Eyecandy Interior Design80 Lidget StreetLindleyHuddersfieldHD3 3JREngland, UK01484 462226emma@eyecandy-interiordesign.co.ukPress contact: Rachel McAlley07963 577034rachel@rachelmcalleymarketing.com Healthcare BI Platform Market : Business Opportunities, Current Trends, Market Challenges & Global Industry Analysis & Forecast by 2023 Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=686059 https://www.researchmoz.us/healthcare-bi-platform-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2015-2023-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/healthcare-bi-platform-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2015-2023-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Healthcare BI Platform Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.Business Intelligence (BI) platforms help build BI applications by providing competences in analysis, platform integration, and information delivery. As healthcare organizations are realizing the untapped potential of huge amounts of data, they are implementing solutions that utilize business intelligence to help collect, sort, and mine valuable insights from this data. The complex data gathered from numerous sources (operational, patient data) is analyzed and used by healthcare providers with the aid of BI platforms for the larger population.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @This research report provides a detailed analysis of trends in the healthcare BI platform market. It also comprises a broad analysis of the industry drivers, restraints, and opportunities. The report also provides a comprehensive assessment of key market player strategies. The market for healthcare BI platform has been segmented into various functions: clinical analytics, financial analytics, operational analytics, and others. Financial analytics is expected to be the largest healthcare BI platform function over the forecast period, whereas clinical analytics is expected to be the fastest growing functional segment over the forecast period.The global healthcare BI platform market has been extensively analyzed on the basis of deployment type into on-premise and cloud. Cloud is expected to be the fastest growing healthcare BI platform segment by deployment type over the forecast period. On the basis of model type, the healthcare BI platform market is segmented as self-service BI and corporate BI. Self-service BI is the latest trend in the BI market and is expected to be the fastest growing segment over the forecast period. The market size and forecasts in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for each of these segments have been provided for the period 2013 to 2023, considering 2013 and 2014 as the base years. The report also provides the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period 2015 to 2023.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @The healthcare BI platform market is segmented based on geography into North America, Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, and a detailed regional analysis is provided. A country-level analysis is also included in the report, covering the countries in each region. North America is expected to be the largest and fastest growing healthcare BI platform market among all regions. Europe is one of the mature markets for healthcare BI platform, whereas Asia Pacific is expected to be one of the most attractive markets in the near future.Market estimates for the healthcare BI platform have been assessed considering different political, environmental, social, technological, economic, and legal factors. The share of leading players of the global healthcare BI platform market is provided for the year 2014. Company profiles (CPs) of market leaders elucidate on details such as company overview, segmentation, recent developments, business strategies, and financial information in the healthcare BI platform market. Companies profiled in the report include SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, SAS Institute, Inc., IBM Corporation, OpenText Corporation, and Information Builders. The report would allow healthcare organizations and research and development agencies to make informed decisions about healthcare BI platforms, and thus gain competitive advantage in the market.Browse Report @Segmentation of the Global Healthcare BI Platform MarketGlobal Healthcare BI Platform Market, by FunctionClinical AnalyticsFinancial AnalyticsOperational AnalyticsOthers (Regulatory Reporting, etc.)Global Healthcare BI Platform Market, By Deployment TypeOn-premiseCloudGlobal Healthcare BI Platform Market, By Model TypeSelf-serviceCorporateGlobal Healthcare BI Platform Market, By GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @ Retail Management System Software : ICT 2018 Market Strategy and Major Participants - SAP SE, SAS Institute Inc., Oracle Corporation, Retalix Ltd. Retail Management System Software https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1358763 https://www.researchmoz.us/retail-management-system-software-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html#table-of-content www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 27 Mar 2018Global Research and Development News --. .Report Description-' 'During recent years, to increase the attractiveness of the retail place/store, retailers are introducing new and enhanced products to facilitate and enhance consumer experience. However, availability and launch of new products has resulted in numerous options and their categories, which often leads to confusion for both consumers and retailers. Earlier, the retailers used normal cash registers.. . Get Sample Report' 'However, the new advanced cash registers and the technology has extensively assisted retailers to efficiently maintain and manage goods they deal with. Retail management system has helped to understand customers needs which has ultimately helped in improving customer experience. The retail management system software is an advanced tool which enables retailer to run a business end-to-end with one single system. Furthermore, retail management system helps to build up an inventory system that enables retail operation in an organized manner with an effective management.A retail management system (RMS), also known as retail management system software, is basically a combined set of computerized applications used by retailers to drive their business. Retailers now a days are focused over integrated solutions in order to manage customer demands while improving sales and profit margins and to gain competitive advantage. Further, customers in recent years have become more aware and demanding and this has increased their expectations when it comes to personal shopping.Subsequently, omni-channel retailing has become preferred business model by most of the retailers. It however becomes challenging to manage this huge network and is seen as one of the major factor driving the retail management system market. Further, to ensure product availability across all channels while keeping optimal inventory levels is one of issue faced by retailers. Product unavailability affects reputation of their business and indicates poor management. RMS helps retailers to manage their inventory in an easier and efficient manner, and is seen as another factor aiding the growth of RMS market in the recent years.Despite the favorable market growth conditions, consumer and retailer privacy has been a pertaining issues restraining the market development. Moreover, the higher deployment cost for a retail management system has kept the small sized retailers away from the ambit of IT innovations. Reliability and lack of awareness among the small retailers has further restricted the growth opportunities.Looking for opportunities in the vast untapped retail market, players across the ecosystem, particularly the mobile wallets, banks, and telcos are fast expanding their services in the market. This has helped small retailers to cut on the operational cost, boost sales, and invest on IT enabled solutions and services. For instance, PayPal, Mercury, Poynt and others are leveraging the market with enhanced security and compliance, enabling new multiple payment options to customers through EMV, NFC and QR codes. Furthermore, mobile are expected to play important role in transition to click and collect from the traditional shopping approaches. In addition to POS terminals, IoT is also expected to enhance the way to shop, and is seen as one of the prominent factors currently trending the market. In addition to this, social networks are expected to serve as shopping platforms for retailers aiming to reach larger customers base.The major players dominating the retail management system market include SAP SE, SAS Institute Inc., Oracle Corporation, Retalix Ltd., Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, NCR, Activant Solutions, Epicor Software Corporation, and JDA Software Group, Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape. The study is a source of reliable data on:Key market segments and sub-segmentsEvolving market trends and dynamicsChanging supply and demand scenariosQuantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecastingTracking current trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive insightsOpportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughs The regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)TMR estimates the market size of various sectors using a combination of available data on the number and revenue of companies within each sub-sector and tiers of companies. The basic components used to determine market size and forecast for a specific product area are not only limited to supply-side data, but are also related to demand, industry trends, and the economic outlook. All the above data points are utilized to generate a statistical model targeting the sector marketplace. More than 300 TMR analysts across the world integrate these elements into a framework to determine the subsector market size for a base year and then forecast growth within each market.TMR regularly interviews technology and business professionals as an ongoing effort to track the latest developments within each sector. These continuous surveys are stratified by company size and industry segment and weighted to reflect the global market place. All data are collected on an ongoing effort through a structured questionnaire rolled over the web or conducted via telephones. This provides the TMR team opportunities to request for detailed question sets, complex skip patterns, and real-time calculations, which assists respondents in answering questions involving numbers and percentages. Respondents, who are interviewed as experts, are screened and qualified based on certain criteria in addition to their decision-making authority and the scope of activity within their organizations.. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents..ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 CVD Coating Technology : Healthcare 2018 Market Strategy and Major Participants - Richter Precision Inc., Sulzer Ltd, Ti-Coating, Inc., ENDURA Coatings CVD Coating Technology https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1359915 https://www.researchmoz.us/cvd-coating-technology-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html#table-of-content www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 27 Mar 2018Global Research and Development News --. .Report Description-' 'CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is an atmosphere controlled coating process carried out at high temperatures and is usually carried out in CVD reactors. It is mainly employed for surface coating process to produce high purity bulk materials that are used across various industries. Ongoing technological advancements and innovations in the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology are anticipated to supplement the growth of global CVD Coating Technology Market over the forecast period. The CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology has excellent resistance against wear and possesses good adherence properties and gives coating thickness up to 20 micrometers.. . Get Sample Report' ' Global CVD Coating Technology Market : Drivers & Restraints The global CVD coating technology market is primarily driven by the demand for advanced coating process from the various industries such as, semi-conductor industry, automotive industry and aerospace industry among others, to fulfill the need for effective protective coatings to minimize corrosion and increase the durability and resistance to wear and tear. Furthermore, coatings based on CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology in automotive parts such as, pistons, crankshaft and valve trains helps in reducing the friction, which in turn helps in increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles by nearly 10% and reduces the carbon emissions, thus, fulfilling the regulations for emissions set by the government. Apart from the automotive industry, the demand for CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology in the semi-conductor industry for coating of micro electronic systems is further augmenting the demand for CVD coating technology market globally. On the plus side, macroeconomic factors such as, rise in disposable income of middle-class population has witnessed rise in consumer spending on consumer electronics and vehicle purchase, which in turn is propelling the growth of automotive industry and consumer electronics industry benefiting the global CVD Coating technology market. Some notable trends in the CVD Coating technology market are the technological innovations and significant spending on developing the existing CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology for instance, CERATIZIT a leading hard metal cutting tool manufacturer and wear protection solution provider has developed the worlds first multi-layer CVD coating technology for further enhancement of service life of hard metal cutting tools. However, the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process are carried out at very high temperatures and the process cant be carried out for several metal such as TiAIN (Titanaluminiumnitrid), for which PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is used, which might hamper the growth of global CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology market. Global CVD Coating Technology Market : SegmentationThe global CVD coating technology market is segmented on the basis of CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process types, applications and region: On the basis of CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process type, the global CVD coating technology market is segmented into:APCVD (Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition)LPCVD (Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition)MOCVD (Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition)PACVD (Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition)LCVD (Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition)PCVD (Photochemical Vapor Deposition)CVI (Chemical Vapor Infiltration)CBE (Chemical Beam Epitaxy) On the basis of applications, the global CVD coating technology market is segmented into:AutomotiveConsumer ElectronicsMetal Cutting ToolsDecorativeAerospace CVD Coating Technology Market : Regional OutlookBased on geographies, the global CVD coating technology market is segmented into five regions North Americas CVD coating technology market, Latin Americas CVD coating technology market, Europes CVD coating Technology Market, Asia-Pacifics CVD Coating Technology Market and Middle East & Africas CVD Coating technology market. Among the aforementioned regions, Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be account for dominant share in the global CVD coating technology market, owing to the rapid industrialization in the region, with a promising automotive industry growth and an attractive consumer electronics market, the Asia-Pacific market for CVD Coating technology market is anticipated to be dominant throughout the forecast period registering highest growth rate as compared to other markets. Asia-Pacific is followed by Europe and North America for global CVD coating technology market. Overall the global CVD coating technology market is anticipated to register a double digit growth rate during the forecast period. Global CVD Coating Technology Market : Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global CVD coating technology market includes Richter Precision Inc., Sulzer Ltd, Ti-Coating, Inc., ENDURA Coatings, sp3 Diamond Technologies, CemeCon AG Germany and CERATIZIT among others.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data on CVD coating technology market . The CVD Coating Technology Market also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The CVD Coating Technology Market research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications. The CVD Coating Technology Market report covers exhaustive analysis on:Market SegmentsMarket DynamicsMarket SizeSupply & DemandCurrent Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedTechnologyValue Chain The Regional analysis of CVD coating technology market includes:North America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, rest of Latin America)Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, Russia, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand, Japan)Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, Rest of MEA)The CVD coating technology market report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The CVD coating technology market report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The CVD coating technology market report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies. The CVD Coating Technology Market Report Highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics in the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and products offeredPotential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective on market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents..ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Crowd Funding Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016 - 2022 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/8422 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/8422 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ The term Crowd funding refers to a collection of funds for any venture or project through various sources like equity and non-equity, the platform for collecting funds can be the internet and other social media. These crowd funding platforms help investors to meet entrepreneurs in need of funds for their ventures. Mostly, none- equity sector can be considered as the main source of crowd funding rather than equity sector. The crowd funding market had started in the early or mid of 2000s, and since then it has noticed an enormous growth owing to the increase of Start-Ups and many new projects globally.Request to View TOC @Moreover, such crowd funding platforms have been able to collect billions of dollars for meeting millions of campaigns in the year 2012. Nowadays, Investors are getting attracted to such crowd funding market because of the potential of the untapped market in many regions. North America is having a greater potential in crowd funding market due to the presence of economically sound countries like the US in this region. Likewise, every year crowd funding platforms are launched, thus globalizing the crowd funding market.The increase in a number of Start-Ups and many new small projects are responsible for the growth of crowd funding market for their capital needs. Moreover, Real Estate sector is growing with a significant rate in developing regions like North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Hence, increasing fund requirement in Real Estate sector is a driving force for crowd funding market. In addition, this sector is having a good market share in crowd funding market.Besides the driving factors of crowd funding market, there are many stringent conditions of crowd funding platforms which can restrain the crowd funding market in further future. Many entrepreneurs are not aware of the existence of crowd funding platforms which can hamper the growth of crowd funding market. Like Kickstarter launched a mission to empower artists and creative projects owners for their ideas through reward crowd funding, but due to lack of awareness many entrepreneurs were not able to avail the benefits of crowd funding.On the basis of Sources, the crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:,, Non-Equity Sources., Equity Sources.,,On the basis of crowd funding platforms, crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:,, Specialized platforms., Activity Specific platform., General purpose platform. ,,On the basis of allocation of funds, crowd funding market can be segmented as follows:,, The All-or-Nothing model., The keep what you earn model.The global Crowd Funding market is segmented into seven key regions as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Japan. North America is having the maximum market share in the global crowd funding market, specially the US in this region is having a big chunk in crowd funding market because of its higher economy than other countries. North America is followed by Europe in crowd funding market and in Europe also, the best performing countries are UK and France. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a moderate growth in crowd funding market due to many new business opportunities in various sectors.Request Sample Report@The key players in crowd funding market, which are having their websites as the crowd funding platforms are as follows:-Crowd Cube Capital Ltd.Seedrs Limited.Kickstarter PBC.Indiegogo, Inc.GoFundMeFundable LLC.CircleUp Network, Inc.MicroVentures Marketplace, Inc.About UsPersistence 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.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Spirometers Market Size to Observe Steady Growth by 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3849 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3849 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Spirometer is a medical device designed to measure the air capacity of the lungs by measuring the volume of air inhaled and exhaled by the organs. Spirometers generate pneuma- tachograph, which helps to measure lung performance in order to diagnose and monitor patients respiratory disorders. A spirometer is used for the diagnosis of asthma, chronic obstructive diseases, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, silicosis, black lung, and other respiratory diseases. Spirometers are used by physicians, payors, research and development industries, and patients for personal use.Request Report for Table of Contents @Based on the type of monitor, the spirometer market can be segmented into tabletop and handheld. Technological advancements and rise in incidences of chronic disorders are some of the primary factors driving the spirometer market. The spirometers market can be divided into two categories: volume measurement devices and flow-measurement devices. Volume-measurement devices include wet spirometers and dry spirometers. Flow-measurement devices include pneumo-tachograph systems and mass flow meters. Whole body plethysmographs, fully electronic spirometers, peak flow meters, pneuma- tachometers, incentive spirometers, tilt-compensated spirometers, and windmill-type spirometers are some of the types of spirometers. Based on application, the spirometers market can be segmented into diagnostic devices and monitoring devices. The spirometer market includes three types of products such as monitoring devices for home use, clinical trials devices, and diagnostic devices.North America has the largest market for spirometers due technological advancements, government regulations, rise in incidences of respiratory diseases, increasing healthcare expenditure, and improved healthcare infrastructure in this region. The North America market for spirometers is followed by Europe. Asia is expected to witness high growth rate in the spirometers market in the next few years due to rise in the incidences of chronic diseases,increasing healthcare expenditure, mature western market and increasing awareness regarding the availability of various respiratory care monitoring and therapeutic devices in the region.Technological advancements, high incidences of respiratory diseases, government initiatives, the rise in the number of smokers, and growing aging population are some of the major factors that are expected to drive the market for spirometers. In addition, increasing focus on monitoring respiratory diseases, home care uses spirometer devices and rises in awareness regarding sophisticated diagnostic techniques are expected to drive the market for spirometers. However, economic downturn, lack of awareness regarding respiratory diseases and related symptoms, and issues related to the reimbursement are some of the major factors restraining the growth of the global spirometers market.Growing population and economies in the developing countries such as India and China is expected to drive the growth of the spirometer market in Asia. In addition,technological advancements such as combination of cell phones and spirometers, which enable doctors or hospitals to access data easily,and telemedicine services, government activities for use of spirometer devices and increasing incidences of chronic diseases are expected to create new opportunities for the global spirometers market. An increasing number of mergers and acquisitions, rise in the number of collaborations and partnerships, and product launches are some of the latest trends in the global spirometers market.Request a Sample Brochure of the Report @Some of the major companies operating in the global spirometers market areCareFusion, Schiller, Philips Healthcare, Welch Allyn, Inc., Anhui Electronics Scientific Institute, and CardioTech. In addition, other companies operating in the global spirometers market includeM &B, Geratherm Respiratory, Fukuda Sangyo, Medisoft, and Thor Medical Systems.About UsPersistence 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 UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Lithium Battery 2018 Global Market Key Players Eastman, Panasonic(Sanyo), Samsung SDI and Forecast to 2022 Lithium Battery Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2747227-lithium-battery-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2747227-lithium-battery-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 Description:Lithium Battery-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Lithium Battery industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Lithium Battery 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Lithium Battery worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Lithium Battery marketMarket status and development trend of Lithium Battery by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Lithium Battery, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For Sample Report @The report segments the global Lithium Battery market as:Global Lithium Battery Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Lithium Battery Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):LiCoO2 BatteryNMC/NCA BatteryLiFePO4 BatteryOthersGlobal Lithium Battery Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Power BanksLaptop Battery PacksElectric VehiclesFlashlightsCordless Power ToolsOthersGlobal Lithium Battery Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Lithium Battery Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):EastmanPanasonic(Sanyo)Samsung SDILG ChemSonyJohnson ControlsHitachiTianjin LishenHefei GuoxuanDongguan Large ElectronicsOptimumNanoDLG ElectronicsZhuoneng New EnergyCHAM BATTERYPadre ElectronicComplete Report Details @Table of ContentsChapter 1 Overview of Lithium Battery1.1 Definition of Lithium Battery in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Lithium Battery1.2.1 LiCoO2 Battery1.2.2 NMC/NCA Battery1.2.3 LiFePO4 Battery1.2.4 Others1.3 Downstream Application of Lithium Battery1.3.1 Power Banks1.3.2 Laptop Battery Packs1.3.3 Electric Vehicles1.3.4 Flashlights1.3.5 Cordless Power Tools1.3.6 Others1.4 Development History of Lithium Battery1.5 Market Status and Trend of Lithium Battery 2013-20231.5.1 Global Lithium Battery Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Lithium Battery Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Lithium Battery 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Lithium Battery by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Lithium Battery by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Lithium Battery by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Lithium Battery by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Lithium Battery by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Lithium Battery by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Lithium Battery by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Lithium Battery by Types3.2 Production Value of Lithium Battery by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Lithium Battery by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Lithium Battery by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Lithium Battery by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Lithium Battery5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Lithium Battery Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Lithium Battery Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Lithium Battery by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Lithium Battery by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Lithium Battery by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Lithium Battery Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Lithium Battery Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Lithium Battery Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 Eastman7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Lithium Battery Product7.1.3 Lithium Battery Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Eastman7.2 Panasonic(Sanyo)7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Lithium Battery Product7.2.3 Lithium Battery Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Panasonic(Sanyo)7.3 Samsung SDI7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Lithium Battery Product7.3.3 Lithium Battery Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Samsung SDI7.4 LG Chem7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Lithium Battery Product7.4.3 Lithium Battery Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of LG Chem7.5 Sony7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Lithium Battery Product7.5.3 Lithium Battery Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of SonyContinued.Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment Market: Leading Players to Involve in Partnerships with Local Participants https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=40139 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=40139 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/basal-cell-carcinoma-treatment-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The rivalry between Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Mylan N.V., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., and Merck & Co. Inc. characterizes the competitive landscape present in the global basal cell carcinoma treatment market, states a new research study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Currently, the leading players are focusing on increasing the efficiency of their products by inculcating the latest technologies, in order to gain a competitive edge over the peers. Over the coming years, these participants are expected to involve more in partnerships with regional players in a bid to strengthen their regional presence, notes the research study.Request for Sample Copy of Report @According to the estimation of TMR, the global market for basal cell carcinoma treatment was worth US$4.66 bn in 2016. The opportunity in this market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.20% during the period from 2017 to 2025 and reach US$10.14 bn by the end of the period of the forecast. Among all the treatment types, the demand for surgeries is higher, thanks to their efficiency. Analysts predict this trend to remain so over the next few years, establishing the dominance of the surgical basal cell carcinoma treatment segment. Among end users, basal cell carcinoma treatments find most significant usage in hospitals and specialty clinics. Geographically, North America is projected to continue on the top in the near future, thanks to the presence of an advanced medical and healthcare infrastructure and the rising expenditure on healthcare in this region, states the market report.The market for basal cell carcinoma treatment is benefiting significantly from the increasing prevalence of basal cell carcinoma, rising consciousness among consumers about the disease, and the presence of favorable reimbursement scenario in high prevalence regions, says a TMR analyst. The rising prevalence of various cutaneous malignancies, specifically non-melanoma skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, is influencing the demand for basal cell carcinoma treatment tremendously across the world.Enquiry for discount on this report @The increase in geriatric population, who are highly susceptible to several types of skin diseases, such as actinic keratosis and various other non-melanoma skin malignancies, is also boosting the growth of the global basal cell carcinoma treatment market, reports the research study.On the other hand, the high propensity of basal cell carcinoma remaining underdiagnosed may obstruct the growth trajectory of the worldwide market for basal cell carcinoma treatment over the next few years. The high treatment cost and the lack of awareness in emerging economies can also restrain the markets growth in the years to come. However, the rising demand for better disease treatments in emerging economies, as a result of escalating disposable income, is expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for market players in the near future, states the report.Report Overview @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Immunochemicals Market to Partake Significant Development by 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4127 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4127 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Immunochemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of the immune system. Immunochemical methods do not require extensive and destructive sample preparation and expensive instrumentation. Most immunochemical methods are based on simple photo, fluoro or luminometric detection. These methods have rapidly replaced chromatographic techniques in clinical diagnostics and offer fast detection of antibodies associated with specific diseases, hormones, disease biomarkers, and pharmaceuticals. Most commonly used assays in clinical immunochemistry involve either quantitative or qualitative formats using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), immunochromatography in the form of lateral-flow devices like dip-sticks and test strips, and Western Blot assays used to interpret data from protein analysis with gel electrophoresis. Moreover, it is also used in food safety assessment, environmental analysis, and the target chemical structures cover the widest range of molecular weight approximately hundreds of kilo Dalton (kD). Immunochemicals also develop antibody assays for cholera, anthrax, and diphtheria toxins.Request Report for Table of Contents @The global immunochemicals market is categorized based on various types of antibodies. The report covers custom antibodies and catalog antibodies. Custom antibodies represent the fastest growing segment of the market. This is due to increasing demand for custom antibodies in genomic and proteomic research.In terms of geography, North America dominates the global immunochemicals market. This is due to increased awareness about therapeutic applications of immunochemicals in disease management in the region. Moreover, improved life science studies and healthcare infrastructures are also supporting the growth of the immunochemicals market in North America. The U.S. represents the largest market for immunochemicals in North America, followed by Canada. In Europe, Germany, France, and the U.K. hold major shares in the immunochemicals market. The immunochemicals market in Asia too, is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years. This is due to advancements in the biotechnology sector which increased the demand of antibodies in research activities. Furthermore, improved government support for biotechnology research and emergence of India and China as major centers for clinical research are also favoring the growth of this market in the region. Availability of infrastructure facilities and low-cost workforce are fuelling the growth of clinical research organization (CRO) market. This, in turn. is increasing the demand for immunochemicals assays in the region.Advancements in antibody technology and increasing prevalence of cancer are key drivers for the global immunochemicals market. Antibodies are used as tools in various applications, including expression levels of cancer-related proteins, signaling pathways, identification of candidate biomarkers, and analysis of enzyme activities.Increasing investment in life science research activities and CRO market has also fueled the growth of the global immunochemicals market. Moreover, increase in research efforts for improving food production, enhancing food nutrition and quality, as well as production of pharmaceutical products through genetically engineered plants is also propelling the demand for immunochemicals.However, stringent regulations set by various governments hamper the growth of the immunochemicals market. Increasing number of mergers and acquisitions of drug manufacturing companies and biotechnology research organizations is a key trend in the global immunochemicals market.Request a Sample Brochure of the Report @The major companies operating in this market are Advanced ImmunoChemical, Inc., BIOTREND Chemikalien GmbH, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Meridian Life Science, Inc., Maine Biotechnology Services, EMD Millipore, Randox Laboratories Ltd., MitoSciences Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Rockland Immunochemicals, and Trinity Biotech plc.About UsPersistence 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 UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Equine Healthcare Market: Rising Trend of Horse Racing in China to Spell Growth for Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1603 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=1603 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/equine-healthcare-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Owing to the large number of companies manufacturing the same product varieties, the vendor landscape of the global equine healthcare market has become largely fragmented and highly competitive, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. Companies can benefit from putting an increased emphasis on geographical expansion and targeting regional markets with promising growth opportunities such as Asia Pacific.Request for Sample Copy of Report @Some of the leading players operating in the global are Bayer AG (Bayer Animal Health), Boehringer Ingelheim, Ceva Sante Animale , Eli Lilly and Company (Elanco) , EQUINE PRODUCTS UK LTD , Merck & Co. (Merck Animal Health), Sanofi (Merial), Purina Animal Nutrition LLC., Vetoquinol S.A. and Zoetis.According to the report, the global equine healthcare market was valued at US$601.7 mn in 2016 and is expected to register a CAGR of 4.2% from 2017 to 2025, rising to an estimated valuation of US$862.7 mn in 2025.Of the key distribution channels that supply equine healthcare products, the segment of veterinary hospitals and clinics is estimated to hold the dominant share in the overall market in 2016 owing to the vast availability of drugs and vaccines. Owing to the emerging trend of dispensing of equine healthcare products through pharmacists, the market share of the retail pharmacies and drugs stores is also expected to grow during forecast period.Enquiry for discount on this report @Geographically, the market in North America accounted for the dominant sharer in the global market in 2016 and is likely to witness a vast surge in its valuation by the end of the reports forecast period. The highly popular trend of horse riding among adults in North America and the steadily expanding equestrian industry owing to the high popularity of horse riding in the region are expected to continue to drive the regional market for equine healthcare.The global equine healthcare market is driven by the trend of horse-racing that refuses to die down across a number of countries despite several regulations by governments, high incidence of equine infections, and global animal health development management programs. While a large number of horse-owners across regions such as Europe and North America are showing waning interests in joining equine shows, events, and racing, increased focus on raising high quality breeds of horses to cash in on the high returns opportunity by exporting them to locations such as China could act as a driver for the market.Rising per capita incomes, increased expenditure on animal healthcare, and the reviving horse racing industries in countries across Asia Pacific is also likely to have a positive impact on the global equine healthcare market in the near future. China has been expanding the capacity of equine industry and investing in horse racing by importing high quality breeds from other countries. Thus China can emerge as a leading market for equine healthcare products, as large volumes of nutritional supplements, drugs, and vaccines are needed for race horses. Moreover, the highest animal healthcare expenditure in Australia also makes it one of the key driving forces for the global equine healthcare market.Report Overview @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global PCR Detection Technology Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025:Roche, QIAGEN, Bio-rad, Agilent, Bioer, Biosynex, Esco, https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1481375 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-pcr-detection-technology-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global PCR Detection Technology Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the global PCR Detection Technology market, analyzes and researches the PCR Detection Technology development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeThermo FisherRocheQIAGENBio-radAgilentBioerBiosynexEscoAnalytik JenaTechneBio-RadTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoGenome SequencingCloning GeneGene RecombinationMarket segment by Application, PCR Detection Technology can be split intoMedicalLife Science ResearchForensic ApplicationTable of ContentsGlobal PCR Detection Technology Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of PCR Detection Technology1.1 PCR Detection Technology Market Overview1.1.1 PCR Detection Technology Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global PCR Detection Technology Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 PCR Detection Technology Market by Type1.3.1 Genome Sequencing1.3.2 Cloning Gene1.3.3 Gene Recombination1.4 PCR Detection Technology Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Medical1.4.2 Life Science Research1.4.3 Forensic Application2 Global PCR Detection Technology Competition Analysis by Players2.1 PCR Detection Technology Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in FutureGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Thermo Fisher3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 PCR Detection Technology Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Roche3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 PCR Detection Technology Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 QIAGEN3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 PCR Detection Technology Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Bio-rad3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 PCR Detection Technology Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Agilent3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 PCR Detection Technology Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Bioer3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 PCR Detection Technology Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 BiosynexContinue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ Cloud Business E-mail Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1358659 https://www.researchmoz.us/cloud-business-email-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html#table-of-content http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Cloud Business E-mail Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Even though the utilization of the social networks, web conferencing, texting and other methods of communication is expanding, Emails remain the most formal method of communication and have remained the most common type in business environment. Cloud business emails are fundamentally focused at business associations of all sizes, for use in an open or private cloud environment. Businesses benefit due to low cost access, stockpiling, sending and getting of messages without the utilization of equipment or complex programming. The worldwide cloud business email market is expanding at a significant pace driven by the expansion of the small and medium sized organizations.The gap in functionality between on-premise and cloud email solutions has disappeared, thus encouraging customers to cut deployment costs through migrating over cloud solutions. This has led an increased significance of cloud-based business emails and the market is seeing huge growth in demand. The majority of the providers of these services offer more than simple emails and collaborated facility. The services often incorporate unified communications, additional capacity, social networking, file sync, sharing and texting. The cloud-based email communications at first were focused toward smaller organizations with limited funding; however, now cloud email is seeing strong acknowledgment with organizations of all sizes across the globe which is aiding the growth of cloud business email market, worldwide.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The growing emphasis of the businesses on reducing the cost and accelerated diversion to more agile solutions has elevated the cloud computing market. Furthermore, it enable user to focus over business effectively. The most encouraging factor for the development of cloud business email market is its easily accessibility, speed, and collaboration. Another factors boosting the growth of cloud business email market include reduced burden of IT staff, backup and archiving of emails.Despite the favorable market growth conditions and numerous benefits of the cloud-based business emails, there are some major factors which might restrain consumers from using it. The key restraint in the global cloud business email market involves the data security issues. Increasing cyber threats, illegal intrusions, and lack of security standardization of the cloud computing may pose risks to this growing market. Data such as banking details, addresses, and telephone numbers are examples of information that can be misused post breach. However, initial deployment and hidden costs remains pertaining issues hindering the growth of the market.On the basis of product type, the cloud business email market is categorized in two types including cloud business email providers and Hosted Microsoft Business Partners. On the basis of applications, the market is segmented into private cloud business email and public cloud business email. The cloud business email market is also categorized by geography, which incorporates North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @The major players operating in the cloud business email market include BAE Systems plc, Amazon Web Services, Inc., Dimension Data, GoDaddy Operating Company, LLC., Google, Inc., IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Rackspace Inc., NaviSite (Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC.), Intermedia.net, Inc., SherWeb, Inc., and Apptix, Inc.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ MAAN Softwares Inc. has emerged as a one-stop shop for Mobile App Development Lewes, Delaware March 23, 2018 - MAAN Softwares has constantly been providing software services since its inception in 2013. They are a well-known company in Lewes, Delaware. In fact, MAAN holds a prominent position in the field of software development, especially, Mobile Development.They offer a wide spectrum of software services for mobiles. Their services range from Android development to iPhone development. They also provide PhoneGap/hybrid app development. Their team of professional are conversant with the latest mobile technologies and keep on updating themselves constantly with new advancements.The mobile world experiences a lot of advancements in both hardware and software. They make it a point to stay themselves updated with all the latest developments so that they may cater to the varied needs of their clients.The growing use of Mobile phones has greatly increased the demand for Mobile App development. This is so because most businesses are opting for mobile apps as they are easy to use. An app is present on the mobile phones of users so, they are more used than the websites.MAAN strongly believes in providing high-quality solutions which would not only be of use to their clients but also help their clients become market leaders in their fields.Their developers use all the latest techniques like the latest Android Studio 3.0. with Android Oreo APIs. They are constantly working towards updating ourselves with the latest in the iOS world like IoT, GPS and Augmented Reality. They also endeavor to update their development skills using Swift.MAAN creates highly responsive websites. They also use the latest SDKs which can seamlessly integrate with applications and provide a wide range of facilities.Many companies are these days moving towards hybrid app development as well because of the multiple benefits they offer like single code and easy maintainability. MAAN also offers hybrid app/PhoneGap development services using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.Their aim is to provide the users of their apps excellent user experience so that they can have a great time using the apps MAAN designs. This is the reason why MAAN spends ample amount of time designing their apps which are user-friendly. This is the key to any softwares success, not just only mobile apps.With MAANs growing experience, they command great expertise in the field of Mobile Apps. They wish to grow their knowledge with each passing day so that they may provide quality solutions to their clients.MAANs motto is to satisfy their clients by providing them with high quality and well-designed apps.About MAAN Softwares Inc.MAAN Softwares Inc. is a software development organization located in Lewes, Delaware. It was founded by Mr. Aditya Dwivedi in the year 2013. Since then, it has been constantly striving to achieve new heights in the field of Information Technology. It has also emerged as a trusted name providing excellent online solutions.MAAN Softwares Inc. is a website, mobile app, and software development company that provides end-to-end solutions for small, and large-scale companies and organizations. MAANs clients receive a holistic team for every project. From the project management to the design and development of a website, MAANs goal is to inspire and satisfy a client and their end customers.MAAN Softwares INC.16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, Delaware 19958 Award Winning Author Doug Carnine's Latest Book Presents Clear Evidence Of The Life Changing Power Of Mindfulness, Meditation And Kindness For Prisoners Author Doug Carnine http://feedkindness.com A recent article on Oprah Winfrey's website by Amy Maclin entitled "Why Meditation Is Becoming So Popular In Prisons" discloses a few powerful and insightful facts from Kate Crisp, executive director of the Prison Mindfulness Institute. In that article, Crisp says she believes many inmates land in prison after an act of pure impulse. She, like so many others, knows that mindfulness training can help.Meditation and mindfulness training can help with much more than just impulse control of course. It can also teach prisoners how to manage anxiety, reduce stress and depression, and can improve conflict resolution skills. Mindfulness training and meditation can also dramatically impact self transformation efforts and personal development.Doug Carnine, PhD, author of 'Saint Badass: Personal Transcendence in Tucker Max Hell,' has personally witnessed the life-changing benefits meditation and mindfulness produce for those who are incarcerated in jails and prisons. The book is a story spanning seven years worth of letters and Carnines growing friendships between Roy Tester and three other prisoners.In their own words, the prisoners describe the crises they face including disabling illness, a brain tumor, a prison gang attack, family betrayal, medical abuse and harsh punishments for mild offenses. Each prisoner in his own way achieves transcendence through his crisis using mindfulness, meditation and the blessings of kindness. Readers are stunned to see the destructive forces of an abusive childhood, a criminal adulthood, and a life without parole in prison result in their incongruously continuous acts of kindness. Their voices are raw and honest, and at times inspiring."RJ offers the most unusual example of transformation through mindful kindness, Carnine stated. "RJ, who confessed to me that he was a child molestation addict with 100 victims, would soon be released on parole in Arkansas and feared he would molest a child. At his request I tracked down the the prosecutors office that will result in him being transferred directly to a prison in Washington, where he committed most of his molestations. His wish is being granted. He will never be free to molest another child."Another of Carnines books, 'How Love Wins: The Power of Mindful Kindness', follows in the same vein. Most of us recognize that being kinder and more present would not only improve our own lives and the lives of our loved ones, but also strengthen our communities. Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that both living mindfully and being kind to others offer a host of benefits -- from stronger relationships to longer life. Yet even if we truly care and are motivated to change, we find that old habits keep us from achieving our goal of increasing our kindness and improving our relationships.In 'How Love Wins', Carnine offers another path. In this simple but powerful guide, leading the reader through a 12-step process of transformation, opening a toolbox of skills and techniques that anyone can use to live more fully in the moment and be more kind to themselves and others. A lay Buddhist minister who has worked with prisoners and hospice patients, Carnine provides a clear path that will enable almost anyone to build a mindfully kind life -- and make it stick.Carnine was recently named one of 50 great writers you should be reading in the 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading Book Awards'. He was chosen from a field of hundreds of authors through a public voting process.Readers and reviewers have praised his work. Geri Larkin, Founding Teacher of Still Point Zen Buddhist Temple and author of 'Stumbling Toward Enlightenment' said, Saint Badass isnt simply about the transformative power of sincere spiritual practice. It demonstrates the impact of our practice on our environment and the people around us. These men have many reasons to be filled with hate, to be violent, and to be completely shut down given the lives they are leading in the bowels of the hell realm of our society, our prisons. And yet. They transform. One of them glows in the dark, I swear. Reading the book gave me hope.Duana Welch, PhD, author of 'Love Factually: 10 Proven Steps from I Wish to I Do' stated, This powerful book takes any of us from a life of 'me' to 'we,' from isolation to connection and love. In a world where kindness is so needed yet so little understood, How Love Wins is a must-read.Doug Carnine is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at dcarnine@uoregon.edu. Both books are available at online retail book outlets. More information is available at his website.Douglas Carnine, a professor emeritus from the University of Oregon, began his pursuit of scientific research, instructional design, Buddhism and martial arts when he was 21. His academic career focused on teaching at-risk students and led to him receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council for Exceptional Children.After retiring, working with men convicted of murder and serving as a hospice volunteer made him curious about the importance of kindness. After reviewing the research on kindness, he decided to devote his writing and his advocacy to making the importance of mindful kindness more prominent. The resulting project is his website, Feedkindness.com, along with his books, How Love Wins and Saint Badass.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459 Storage Systems (ESS) 2018 Global Market Key Players Samsung, Bosch, SolaX and Forecast to 2022 Storage Systems (ESS) Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2747327-storage-systems-ess-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2747327-storage-systems-ess-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 www.wiseguyreports.com Description:Storage Systems (ESS)-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Storage Systems (ESS) industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Storage Systems (ESS) 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Storage Systems (ESS) worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Storage Systems (ESS) marketMarket status and development trend of Storage Systems (ESS) by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Storage Systems (ESS), and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For Sample Report @The report segments the global Storage Systems (ESS) market as:Global Storage Systems (ESS) Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Storage Systems (ESS) Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):Electrochemical Storage SystemElectromagnetic Storage SystemThermodynamic Storage SystemMechanical Energy Storage SystemOthersGlobal Storage Systems (ESS) Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Householdcommercial UseIndustrial UseInfrastructureOthersGlobal Storage Systems (ESS) Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Storage Systems (ESS) Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):SamsungBoschSolaXESS, IncABBDoosanAES Energy StorageSchneider ElectricEcoultS&C Electroic CompanyVIZenergyCorvus EnergyNEC Energy SolutionsPathionComplete Report DetailsTable of ContentsChapter 1 Overview of Storage Systems (ESS)1.1 Definition of Storage Systems (ESS) in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Storage Systems (ESS)1.2.1 Electrochemical Storage System1.2.2 Electromagnetic Storage System1.2.3 Thermodynamic Storage System1.2.4 Mechanical Energy Storage System1.2.5 Others1.3 Downstream Application of Storage Systems (ESS)1.3.1 Household1.3.2 commercial Use1.3.3 Industrial Use1.3.4 Infrastructure1.3.5 Others1.4 Development History of Storage Systems (ESS)1.5 Market Status and Trend of Storage Systems (ESS) 2013-20231.5.1 Global Storage Systems (ESS) Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Storage Systems (ESS) Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Storage Systems (ESS) 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Storage Systems (ESS) by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Storage Systems (ESS) by Types3.2 Production Value of Storage Systems (ESS) by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Storage Systems (ESS) by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Storage Systems (ESS) by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Storage Systems (ESS) by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Storage Systems (ESS)5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Storage Systems (ESS) Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Storage Systems (ESS) Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Storage Systems (ESS) by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Storage Systems (ESS) by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Storage Systems (ESS) by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Storage Systems (ESS) Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Storage Systems (ESS) Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Storage Systems (ESS) Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 Samsung7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Storage Systems (ESS) Product7.1.3 Storage Systems (ESS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Samsung7.2 Bosch7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Storage Systems (ESS) Product7.2.3 Storage Systems (ESS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Bosch7.3 SolaX7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Storage Systems (ESS) Product7.3.3 Storage Systems (ESS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of SolaX7.4 ESS, Inc7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Storage Systems (ESS) Product7.4.3 Storage Systems (ESS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of ESS, Inc7.5 ABB7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Storage Systems (ESS) Product7.5.3 Storage Systems (ESS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of ABBContinued.CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 MVNOs in Latin America: M2M Growth and Enhanced Customer Care for Niche Segments to Drive MVNO Share https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1319724 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1319724/mvnos-in-latin-america-m2m-growth-and-enhanced-customer-care-for-niche-segments-to-drive-mvno-share-market-research-reports/toc "MVNOs in Latin America: M2M Growth and Enhanced Customer Care for Niche Segments to Drive MVNO Share", a new Telecom Insider Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the MVNO market in Latin America, with forecasts of key indicators up to 2022. It delivers deep quantitative and qualitative insight into the MVNO market, assessing business MVNOs' business models and value propositions, and the main drivers and challenges for MVNOs to increase their share in the mobile space in the region.The presence of MVNOs in the Latin American region has been very limited thus far, particularly when compared to more mature regions such as Western Europe and North America, where MVNOs have attracted a considerable number of subscribers. Nevertheless, at 1.3% by year-end 2017, MVNOs market share of mobile subscriptions in Latin America will be higher when compared to other emerging regions such as Africa & the Middle East (0.8%) and Central and Eastern Europe (1.1%). Over the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the MVNO model in Latin America and regulators and policy makers across the region, looking for ways to stimulate competition in their respective mobile markets.Request for sample copy of report:The report is structured as follows -- Section 1: MVNO definition, main business models and regulatory framework. This section provides information regarding the definition of MVNO, the different business models and value proposition built by MVNOs and the MVNO regulatory framework in the region.- Section 2: MVNO market context. This section explores MVNO market size and growth in Latin America, showcasing the different types of MVNOs business models acting in the region.- Section 3: Drivers and inhibitors impacting MVNO subscription growth in Latin America. This section details the drivers and inhibitors impacting in the growth of MVNO subscriber numbers, showcasing how MVNOs are taking advantage of the drivers and overcoming the market challenges.- Section 4: Case studies. We continue with a review of the strategies, positioning and product portfolio of a number of MVNOs that are succeeding in the region.- Section 5: Key findings and recommendations. We conclude the report with a set of key findings and recommendations for MNOs, MVNOs and regulators.Scope- Increasing number of MVNOs and low-tariffs offered by MNOs in Latin America have forced MVNOs to come up with new products and strategies to improve their competiveness. These strategies involve improving their customer services and developing business models geared towards M2M.- MVNOs will account for only 1.3% of the total mobile subscriptions in Latin America at 2017-end. Looking ahead, we estimate that MVNO subscription will record a CAGR of 18% over 2017-22 to reach 21.1m by the end of 2022.- Colombia will be the largest MVNO market by 2017-end in terms of subscription number; with a 37.8% CAGR between 2017 and 2022, Mexico MVNO market will be the largest by year-end 2022, driven by favorable regulatory environment and the nationwide LTE wholesale network in 2018-2020, named Red Compartida.Request for complete TOC of this report:Reasons to buy- This Insider Report provides a comprehensive examination of the MVNOs business models in the Latin America market to help executives fully understand market dynamics, determine what works and what doesnt, formulate effective product development plans and optimize resource allocation and return on investments.- This report also provides a five-year forecast of the MVNO market in Latin America, developed using GlobalDatas rigorous bottom-up modeling methodologies, to enable executives to effectively position their companies for growth opportunities and emerging trends in demand for their products.- Three case studies illustrate the business model and strategy of select MVNOs in Latin America, this will help the reader understand both the challenges confronted in the real world and the strategies employed to overcome those challenges.- The report discusses concrete opportunities in the MVNO market in Latin America, providing a number of actionable recommendations for MNOs, MVNOs and regulators.MRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz 09:03 United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the deaths of two journalists in India and the violence against mediapersons across the globe. "We, of course, are concerned about anything that would suggest the harassment or violence against journalists, anywhere in the world and and would do so in this case," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at the daily press briefing. Haq was responding to a question on the UN's response to the recent deaths of two Indian journalists in the line of duty. Sandeep Sharma, 35, a reporter for a local television channel in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district died after he was mowed down by a truck. Sharma had complained about threats to his life after he carried out a sting operation on illegal sand mining. In Bihar, Naveen Nishchal, a journalist who worked for a Hindi daily, was among two persons killed when an SUV rammed into their bike in Bhojpur district, with the family alleging that it was a case of murder and that a former village head was behind it. Advocacy group the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killings, and called on the Indian authorities to determine the motive and bring to justice those responsible for Sharma's death. Sharma's colleague Vikas Purohit, who witnessed the collision, told the CPJ that he took Sharma to the local hospital where the journalist was declared dead from injuries sustained in the crash. Purohit said both he and Sharma began receiving anonymous death threats last year after publishing two stories in July and October 2017 on alleged police corruption and illegal sand mining. "Authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Sandeep Sharma and determine if he was targeted because of his reporting," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler from Washington D.C. "This tragic incident may well be a failure of local authorities to provide adequate security to a reporter who had received death threats," he said. -- PTI Image: Journalist Sandeep Sharma Synthetic Biology Market : Opportunities, Demand and Forecasts, 2016 2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1226 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1226 www.futuremarketinsights.com Synthetic Biology is one of the breakthrough technologies developed by mankind from chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering which ultimately changed the approach towards therapeutics. It has a varied areas of applications in biofuels, industrial enzymes, vaccine and antibody production, bio-based chemicals and synthetic biology life science research. Synthetic biologists develop such biological systems using by molding the core components (genetic circuits, part of enzymes and metabolic pathways) and understanding their performance while using these smaller parts or devices into the specific integrated systems. The production of new medicines is now done by using synthetic biology on a cellular, molecular and genetic level to address the emerging health issues.Synthetic Biology Market: Drivers & Restraints, Segmentation, Overview, Region-wise Outlook and Key PlayersSynthetic Biology market is basically can be classified into products, technology and applications.;The Synthetic Biology market based on product can be subdivided into following: Core Products- Synthetic DNA, Synthetic Genes,Synthetic cells; DNA & RNA Purification Kits,Recombinant Proteins; The Synthetic Biology market based on technology can be subdivided into following: Mutagenesis, DNA sequencing, Genome engineering; The Synthetic Biology market based on applications can be subdivided into following: Pharmaceutical Companies, Research Organizations Chemical Industries, Universities.Synthetic biology market is a technology which has now a massive demand in the biotechnology sector, chemical and biofuel industries and their products will outstrip the products of the other industries in the near future. There is progress towards making this technology useful in the therapeutic areas from which the society can be directly benefited. The success of synthetic biology in DNA sequencing and synthetic microbes in vaccines, faster and efficient modular DNA assembly methods has proved to be a potential market and thus there is a significant investment done by the pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.Request Report Sample@Internationally, companies have started investing in Synthetic biology as many governmental bodies are turning towards biomass and climate change. In past few years synthetic biology has gained industrial interest which has a large scale applications and potential of new gene editing techniques are some of the drivers for this market. Traditional medicines are being replaced by genetically engineered products, DNA sequencing and DNA synthesis technologies. This market though has a potential there with any advances there are risks and hindrance like government regulations and policies, biosafety and biosecurity issues, bio-war but these issues are being addressed by the regulatory bodies and research institutions. The synthetic biology market has changed the complete approach towards traditional ways of combating with newer diseases and genetic challenges with the advanced computing and design systems.Depending on geographic regions, global radiofrequency ablation system market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.Europe is a leading market followed by North America, Europe has invested in developing synthesis of biologically based or biologically inspired systems. In North America Defense is a major contributor in the investment done in the past years. In Asia, India and China are said to progress in developments over future to be a part of the Synthetic biology market. The success of this market will depend upon the conversion from basic research to applications which will rise the future opportunities to understand the natural biological systems. Thus the market for synthetic biology is showing no sign for slowing down but managing the future social, ethical and legal responsibilities will lead to innovation.Request For Table Of Content @The major key players in the synthetic biology market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Agilent Technologies, GEN9, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., Amyris Biotechnologies, Epoch Life Science Inc., Gevo Inc., Intrexon Corporation, Sangamo Biosciences and Gingko Bioworks.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Sensor Market 2018 by Key Players: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Johnson controls international PLC, NXP semiconductors N.V., Infineon Technologies AG, Atmel Corporation, Texas instruments Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4392 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sensor-market-4392 Market HighlightsThe global sensor market can be bifurcated as product type, technology, end-user, and region. Based on product type, the market is segmented into radar sensor, image sensor, optical sensor, biosensors, touch sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, proximity sensor and displacement sensor, level sensor, motion and position sensor, humidity sensor, accelerometer and speed sensor others. Based on technology, the market is segmented into CMOS (Complementary metaloxidesemiconductor), MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) and NEMS (Nanoelectromechanical systems). The applications covered by the sensor include electronics, IT & telecommunication, industrial, automotive, aerospace & defense, healthcare. Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.Furthermore, factors such as growing demand of smartphone and electronics equipment are helps to grow the market at fast pace. However, high cost of the sensor implanted devices are the factors hampering the growth of the overall market.The global sensor market is highly competitive. Various established international brands, domestic brands and as well as new entrants form a competitive landscape. The key players are nonstop increasingly seeking market expansion through various strategic mergers and acquisitions, innovation, increasing investments in research and development and cost-effective product portfolio. The sensor market is highly competitive due to the presence of several large vendors.Request a Sample Report @Key PlayersSTMicroelectronics N.V.,Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP,Panasonic Corporation,Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.,Johnson controls international PLC,NXP semiconductors N.V.,Infineon Technologies AG,Atmel Corporation,Texas instruments Inc.,Robert Bosch GmbH,Sony Corporation,Honeywell International, Inc.,Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited,Volkswagen and Canon Inc.The global Sensor Market is expected to reach approximately USD 266.27 billion by the end of 2023 with 11.60% CAGR during forecast period 2017-2023.Regional AnalysisThe global sensor market is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period, 2017-2023. Sensor segment market globally drives the market majorly due to growing demand of electronic devices. Technological advancement in consumer electronics such as TV, microwave, smartphones, fitness trackers are expected to expected to grow the market in past few years.The global sensor market segmented into four main regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific region hold the largest share of the total sensor market in terms of revenue. It is due to the presence of some leading electronic devices manufacturers in the region. China is the leading smartphone manufacturer worldwide, due to which the demand of touch sensors is high in Asia Pacific. Furthermore, the automotive industry is growing at fast pace which also helps to grow the market in coming years. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow over the forecast period. Countries such as Japan, China and India contribute largely to the overall market share.Report Details @Intended Audience Device manufacturers Network Operators Mobile manufacturer Government Agencies Security Agencies End-user sectors Communication operators DefenseAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Logic Analyzer Market 2023 by Key Players: Tektronix, Inc, Keysight Technologies, Test Equity, GW Instek, Teledyne LeCroy Corporation, Atec, GAO Tek, Honeywell Technologies solutions https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4471 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/logic-analyzer-market-4471 Market HighlightsAccording to Market Research Future, logic analyzer market has been segmented into product type, application, end user and region.Logic analyzer has a usage in viewing the multiple digital waveform as the logic analyzer is a kind of oscilloscope for detection of errors for the complex logical and digital circuits. The factors that account for the growth of the logic analyzer market is growing demand for error detection in digital circuits debugging and complex logic testing. However the applications of Logic analyzers in Integrated circuits, personal computers and memory devices combined is factor for growth of the logic analyzer market. Logic analyzers having high functionality and channel counts are driving the market. However other products expand significantly both for analog and digital signals.The market for logic analyzer shows a slow growth globally and is majorly dependent on the growth in markets for memory devices and integrated circuits.Request a Sample Report @The Logic Analyzer Market holds some of the Key players such asTektronix, Inc (U.S.),Keysight Technologies (U.S.),Test Equity (U.S.),GW Instek (Taiwan),Teledyne LeCroy Corporation (U.S.),Atec (U.S.),GAO Tek (Canada),Honeywell Technologies solutions (U.S.),Hewlett Packard (U.S.)AccuSource Electronics (U.S.),Hantek (China).The market for logic analyzer shows a slow growth globally and is majorly dependent on the growth in markets for memory devices and integrated circuits.Regional AnalysisThe logic analyzer market is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period, 2017-2023. Consumer electronics segment of the logic analyzer leading the market. The modular logic analyzer is leading the market because of its high functionality and more number of channel counts. It has an advantage of integrated display that eases the viewing capabilities. Unlike portable and PC based display, there is no additional requirements of viewing display and connecting probes. On the other hand PC based logic analyzer is expanding in North America region due to its ease of installation for analog as well as digital signals and the compactness in size. The competitive landscape of the Logic Analyzer market is formed by some major players and many of the new entrants. The leaders constantly keep innovating for the new technology and investing in research and development for the cost effective portfolio. The logic analyzer market has driven many end users like automotive, consumer electronics, medical, communication and others.The logic analyzer market is divided between North America, Europe, Asia pacific and Rest of the world. However the market for logic analyzer is leading and significantly growing in North America. Because of the huge demand of storage devices, integrated services and embedded systems is driving the market growth. North America is expected to lead the market for logic analyzer because of the increase in demand for the PC based logic analyzers and a high concentration of manufacturers of logic analyzer in countries like U.S. and Canada.Browse Full Report Details @SegmentsFor the purpose of this study, Market Research Future has segmented the market of logic Analyzer market into product type, application, end - users, and region.Product Type Modular logic analyzer PC bases logic analyzer Portable logic analyzerApplication Integrated circuit Processors Memory devices Personal computersEnd User Automotive Consumer electronics Medical Communication OthersRegion North America Europe Asia pacific Rest of the world.We are thankful for the support and assistance Logic Analyzer Market Research Report Global Forecast to 2023 related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Cider Packaging Market Forecast and Analysis by Future Market Insights https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2137 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2137 www.futuremarketinsights.com Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented juice of apples. Cider beverage is made up of cider apples which is mostly produced in U.S. There is great demand of innovation in packaging of cider in market. The growth of hard cider has been driven largely by the highly coveted millennial generation. Market is mainly driven by increased disposable income and demand for innovative packaging product and safe packaging.Global Cider Packaging Market: Dynamics: Reducing unit cider packagingsize is creating more consumption opportunities.The presence of premium brand such as woodchuck, Kopparberg and angry orchard has increased the demand for premium quality cider packaging. Premium cider packagingbrand are high in demand as compared to economically priced product due to rise in consumption of alcohol as a status symbol, disposable income and association of premium labels with the beverage quality and taste. cider packaging market is highly competitive which led competitors to come up with innovative product and new strategy in packaging world.The vendors in cider packaging are coming with bottles prepared with a high barrier coating technology to upturn its shelf life and minimize the risk of saturation. With the technological innovations in the cider packaging market, there is increasing demand for water-based coating technology as it is environmentally-friendly, tasteless, odorless and decreases the usage of sprig powder. The global demand of cider packaging is expected to grow at impressive CAGR in near future.Request For Report Sample:The global cider packaging market can be segmented on the basis of material type packaging type and region. On the basis of material cider packaging market can be segmented on glass, plastic and metal. On the basis of packaging type cider packaging market can be segmented as bottles, cans and stand up pouches. Among all material type used for cider packaging, plastic is gaining preference over glass bottles and metal cans because plastic are light in weight, compatible lower in cost and are available in various design. The development of plastic packaging solution will be key driver for the growth of overall cider packaging marketRequest For Table Of Content @. Another driving factor for cider packaging id the increasing demand for alcoholic beverage has pushed vendors to focus on shelf-life packaging that is easy to store, easy to transport and is convenient to unpack. The manufactures are coming up with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which shelters the cider products for long period. On the basis of region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa.The main player of global cider packaging in market are Amcor limited , Ardagh group, Ball corporation, Crown Holdings, Rexam Owens-Illinois. Some of the other prominent players are Plastipak Packaging, Silgan Holdings, Consol Glass, Vetropack, Allied Glass Containers, Can-Pack, MeadWestvaco, Nampak and VidralaFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Dairy Ingredients 2018 Global Market Key Players Fonterra, Lactalis Ingredients, FrieslandCampina and Forecast to 2022 Dairy Ingredients Markets https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2747448-global-market-insight-of-dairy-ingredients-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2747448-global-market-insight-of-dairy-ingredients-2018 Description:Global Market Insight of Dairy Ingredients 2018 offers a comprehensive analysis on Dairy Ingredients industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:This report studies Dairy Ingredients market in Global and major regions from 2012 to 2023, focuses on sales, price, revenue and gross margin of top players, consumption and consumption value of major regions.Request For Sample Report @Market segment by RegionNorth America (United States and Canada)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, etc.)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, etc.)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, etc.)Middle East, Africa and Rest (South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.)Market segment by TypesMilk IngredientsWhey IngredientsMarket segment by ApplicationsBakery & ConfectioneryDairy ProductsConvenience FoodsInfant MilkSports NutritionOthersMarket segment by PlayerFonterraLactalis IngredientsFrieslandCampinaDairy Farmers of AmericaOrnuaSaputoMurray GoulburnArla Food IngredientsGlanbiaSodiaalUelzenaSynlait MilkValio LimitedOmiraHofmeister-ChampignonComplete Report DetailsTable of Contents1 Dairy Ingredients Product Overview1.1 Product Introduction1.2 Industrial Chain Analysis1.2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis1.2.2 Major Product Comparison Analysis1.2.3 Downstream Users Analysis2 Global Market Analysis of Dairy Ingredients2.1 Global Market Profile of Dairy Ingredients2.2 Global Consumption Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Regions 2012-20172.3 Global Consumption Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Regions 2018-20232.4 Global Consumption Value Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Regions 2012-20172.5 Global Consumption Value Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Regions 2018-20233 North America Market Analysis of Dairy Ingredients3.1 North America Market Profile of Dairy Ingredients3.2 North America Consumption Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20173.3 North America Consumption Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20233.4 North America Consumption Value Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20173.5 North America Consumption Value Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20234 Europe Market Analysis of Dairy Ingredients4.1 Europe Market Profile of Dairy Ingredients4.2 Europe Consumption Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20174.3 Europe Consumption Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20234.4 Europe Consumption Value Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20174.5 Europe Consumption Value Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20235 Asia-Pacific Market Analysis of Dairy Ingredients5.1 Asia-Pacific Market Profile of Dairy Ingredients5.2 Asia-Pacific Consumption Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20175.3 Asia-Pacific Consumption Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20235.4 Asia-Pacific Consumption Value Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20175.5 Asia-Pacific Consumption Value Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20236 Latin America Market Analysis of Dairy Ingredients6.1 Latin America Market Profile of Dairy Ingredients6.2 Latin America Consumption Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20176.3 Latin America Consumption Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20236.4 Latin America Consumption Value Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20176.5 Latin America Consumption Value Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20237 Middle East, Africa and Rest Market Analysis of Dairy Ingredients7.1 Middle East, Africa and Rest Market Profile of Dairy Ingredients7.2 Middle East, Africa and Rest Consumption Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20177.3 Middle East, Africa and Rest Consumption Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-20237.4 Middle East, Africa and Rest Consumption Value Analysis of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2012-20177.5 Middle East, Africa and Rest Consumption Value Forecast of Dairy Ingredients by Country 2018-2023Continued.Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 Fabric Filter Market Trend to 2023 Profiling Donaldson, FLSmidth, Hamon, Babcock & Wilcox, LONGKING, Thermax, Hitachi, XINZHONG https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/937245/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-fabric-filter-market-2018-forecast-to-2023/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-electrostatic-fabric-filter-market-professional-survey-report-2018/?utm_source=RR-SP https://factsweek.com/author/chetan/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ Fabric Filter Market report 2023 focuses on the major Types and Applications for the key players. Fabric Filter market research report also provides analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market. The Fabric Filter market research report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of Fabric Filter Industry.Fabric Filters (also called bag houses and Fabric Filters) are air pollution control devices that remove particulate matter from a gas stream by passing the dirty air through a layer of cloth. The particulate matter deposits on the cloth surface and the clean air passes through. Of all the air pollution control technologies, fabric filters are the predominant particulate removal device used in industrial processes today.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Fabric Filter Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Request for a Sample Copy of Fabric Filter Market Report @Market Segment by Top Manufacturers, this Fabric Filter Market report covers ALSTOM(GE), Donaldson, FLSmidth, Hamon, Babcock & Wilcox, LONGKING, Thermax, Hitachi, XINZHONG, SHENGYUN, JIEHUA, WENRUI, Kelin, Sinosteel Tiancheng, SINOMA, FEIDA and HAIHUI GROUP.An inherent sub-vertical of the Manufacturing and Construction Industry space, Fabric Filter market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Fabric Filter Market OverviewGlobal Fabric Filter Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Fabric Filter Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Fabric Filter Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Fabric Filter by CountriesGlobal Fabric Filter Market Segment by TypeGlobal Fabric Filter Market Segment by ApplicationFabric Filter Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionMarket Segment by Type, coversShaking Cleaning, Reverse-Air Cleaning and Pulse-Jet CleaningMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Power Generation, Chemical, Mining, Cement, Pulp & Paper, Municipal Waste and OthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Fabric Filter market.Chapter 1, to describe Fabric Filter Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Fabric Filter, with sales, revenue, and price of Fabric Filter, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Fabric Filter, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Fabric Filter market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Fabric Filter sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceQualitative Analysis covers:Industry Status and TrendsManufacturer/Company profiles, manufacturing base distribution, sales areas, product introduction, main business, market position and their competitors.Product Development, Technology, Price, Cost, Manufacturing Process and TrendsMarket segment by regions, types, applications and forecastMarket opportunities, potential, government policies and influence factors.Quantitative Analysis covers:Market size (value, sales/output, historical data and forecasts)Sales/output/capacity, revenue, price, gross margin, market share, for top players. Through interviewing each manufacturers, distributors, traders, dealers and buyers etc.Cost structure, proportion, price trend, gross margin and trend, status and trend, for 10 yearsMarket size by types, regions, applications for 10 yearsMarket forecast based on the potential demand from downstream clients/buyers, government, influence factors and the total economic indication, maybe occur in following years.For more information on this report, Please visit at:Related Reports: -Global Electrostatic fabric filter Market Professional Survey Report 2018This report studies Electrostatic fabric filter in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.More Report @Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Flight Data Recorder market 2018 Global Key Players: Teledyne Technologies Incorporate, AstroNova, SLN Technologies, FLHYT Aerospace Solutions, Leonardo DRS, RUAG Group https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4642 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/flight-data-recorder-market-4642 Market Highlights:The report for Global Flight Data Recorder Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance.The existing fleets are expected to be replaced by more than 40,000 new aircraft, over the next 20 years, and the global fleet is likely to reach 45,000 aircraft by 2036. Moreover, the high demand for air travel in the emerging regions, such as Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, leads to an increase in the number of aircrafts in these regions. As a result, approximately 22,000 aircrafts are expected to be delivered to these regions in the next 20 years. On the other hand, it is expected that over 15,000 aircrafts would be delivered in developed regions such as North America and Europe, by 2036. Modernization of aircraft fleets with the latest technology, and stringent government regulations, are some of the other primary factors driving the demand in the flight data recorder market. The rising demand for accurate and precise flight data among the airline operators and defense forces, also adds to the market growth.Get a Sample Report @The key players of global Flight Data Recorder market Honeywell International Inc. (U.S), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (U.S), AstroNova Inc. (U.S), SLN Technologies (India), FLHYT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (Canada), Leonardo DRS (U.S), RUAG Group (Switzerland), Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions (U.S), L-3 Technologies Inc. (U.S), Universal Avionics Systems Corporation (U.S).Regional AnalysisThe market for Flight Data Recorder systems Market is expected to dominate in the North American region due to the rapidly rising research and development activities here. Established aviation industry and supporting infrastructure also aids the growth of the market. Existence of sophisticated technology and major manufacturers in the North American region has significantly contributed in the growth of the flight data recorder market in the North American region.Rapidly rising air passenger traffic in the Asia Pacific region has been key to the high growth rate in this region. Rising government investment towards development of new airports and upgradation of old ones, have been other major factors driving the growth of this market.Browse Full report @Intended Audience Distributer & Supplier companies End Users Consultants and Investment bankers Government as well as Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Marine Navigation Systems Market 2018 Global Key Players: Kongsberg Maritime, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine B.V., Raytheon Anschutz, FURUNO ELECTRIC CO. LTD., Honeywell International https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4890 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/marine-navigation-systems-market-4890 Market HighlightsOf late, with the rapid advances in technologies, various software tools, gadgets, and instruments are being used for marine navigation. These electronic or digital systems help the naval sailor navigate the ship conveniently, during low-visibility conditions such as fogs and blizzards, to the intended directions. The use of global positioning system (GPS) has become indispensable for marine navigation, in particular. Moreover, approximately every ship today is integrated with such advanced navigation tools for safe transport. In addition, with the integration of mobile tablets, the market is transforming towards the era of handheld GPS and navigation devices.Traditionally, the sailors were reliant on the nautical charts that were actually plotted on papers. Such charts used to give a two-dimensional view of the sea and were updated after certain gaps. As a result, navigation became vulnerable with respect to sudden changes in the sea conditions. To avoid such concerns, electronic nautical charts were developed.The raster chart and vector chart are the two major types of electronic nautical charts. While the raster chart focuses primarily on paper-based navigation, the vector chart is more data-oriented. Although, the data is hidden, the use of navigational software such as the Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS), helps in the instant provision of data, via the display systems.Request a Sample Report @Major Key PlayersThe leading market players in the global marine navigation systems market primarily include DANELEC MARINE, FLIR Systems, Inc., Kongsberg Maritime, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine B.V., Raytheon Anschutz, FURUNO ELECTRIC CO. LTD., Honeywell International, Icom America Inc., Periskal group, SevenCs GmbH, Transas, and Tresco Engineering bvba.As per MRFR analysis, the global Marine Navigation System Market has seen a significant growth in the last couple of years and it has been observed that, the market will remain in the growing phase till forecast period. This market was valued at USD 1,370.47 million in 2016, and is expected to reach USD 1,927.97 million by 2022 with the CAGR of 5.85%.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:January, 2018:- France-based iXblue, a prominent company of the market, was selected by French Navy, to equip five of their new 4000-ton frigates, developed by Naval Group, with new marine navigation systems.December, 2017:- Lockheed Martin signed a contract with the Canada-based OSI Maritime, to provide its integrated bridge and navigation system (IBNS) for the US Navys Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS) programme.December, 2017:- Booz Allen signed a five-year contract worth USD 67.5 million, with the US Coast Guard and the US Navy, to provide and integrate the intelligence tools across navigation, positioning, and timing programs.February, 2017:- FLIR Systems, Inc. signed an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, worth USD 50 million, with the U.S. Coast Guard, to provide marine electronics systems over a five-year period.Get a Complete Report @Regional AnalysisNorth America extensively invests in the marine navigation systems, and thus generates a very high demand for these systems. In the recent years, the US has also been at the forefront of naval technology innovations. Although, Brazil and Canada make some investments in the development of such systems, yet the market is primarily dominated by the US. Moreover, the North American region is surrounded by seas and ocean, which makes the region a very attractive market for ships, boats, and submarines etc., and consequently for the maritime systems that are integrated with such vessels.Similarly, over the years, a large focus on increasing the efficiency of maritime systems has been witnessed, in the European region, where the sea-freight is a major boost to the national revenue. The European Union (EU), naval shipyards, and other governing bodies ensure the continuous maintenance and upgrade of the maritime systems.As a result, it is expected that the North American and the European region, in particular, would witness a significant growth in their market revenues, during the forecast period.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Antibodies in Oncology Market - Opportunities, Demand and Forecasts, 2017 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=33959 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=33959 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/antibodies-oncology-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Antibody based cancer therapy has achieved a considerable success in past 15 years. An antibody alternatively known as immunoglobulin is a large Y-shape protein produced by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign particles such as viruses and bacteria. Therapeutic antibodies have become a significant strategy in clinical oncology owing to their ability to bind with primary and metastatic cancer cells with significant affinity.This leads to the development of anti-cancer/tumor effect out of various means such as direct action of the antibody by immune-mediated cell killing mechanisms, receptor blockage or agonist activities, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and developing specific effects of an antibody on tumor vasculature and stroma among others. Monoclonal antibodies hold a variety of applications in management of cancer including diagnosis, monitoring as well as treatment of diseases. These monoclonal antibodies are now a days is used by many oncologists to even monitor the disease progression such as estimation and measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen in colon cancer.Request a Brochure of the Report @Monoclonal antibodies based on their mechanism of action can be classified into 3 prominent categories such as one which triggers the immune system, blocks tumor cell division signals and at last one which act as a carrier of cancer drugs. Since cancer cells are abnormal in nature and are usually difficult to detect. For triggering an immune system monoclonal antibodies attach themselves to cancerous cells making it easier for the immune systems to track and identify. Prominent antibodies of this type include Rituximab for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Alemtuzumab for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).There are few monoclonal antibodies that attach themselves to immune cells which can enhance their cell division process so as to produce substantial immune cells to counterattack antibodies depending upon the kind of disease and its stage. For blocking signals with respect to cancerous/tumor cells division, some monoclonal antibodies inhibits growth factor receptors responsible for their cell proliferation process. Such kind of monoclonal antibodies include Trastuzumab (Herceptin) for breast and stomach cancer, Panitumumab (Vectibix) for advanced bowel cancer, Bevacizumab (Avastin) for advanced bowel cancer, breast cancer and some other cancers. In another type of monoclonal antibodies which possesses drugs or radiation attached to them. Now, the monoclonal antibodies search, track and delivers drugs and radiation directly to them.Request TOC @Some of the FDA approved monoclonal antibodies in oncology encompasses Trastuzumab for ERBB2-positive breast cancer, Bevacizumab for first-line and second-line treatment of metastatic colon cancer, Alemtuzumab against B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Brentuximab vedotin for curing refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma and systemic anaplastic lymphoma among others. During 2010 and 2011, the therapeutic antibody market was primarily concentrated only towards two prominent categories namely oncology and immunology. In 2010, oncology indications made up just over 50% of sales, while the immunological area accounted for almost 40%. Similar trend is likely to continue for next few years as well since majority of the monoclonal based antibodies are yet in phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trial phases.Read Report Overview:One of the key drivers is the increasing prevalence of cancer across globe. According to Cancer Research UK, approximately 14.1 million adults were diagnosed with cancer in 2012 of which 8.2 million deaths happened across the globe. Monoclonal antibodies are more effective in the treatment of cancer than pharmaceutical drugs and chemotherapies. The increasing trend and use of monoclonal antibodies in the development of personalized medicines will have a positive impact on the market.Some of the prominent players in antibodies in oncology market include: Amgen Inc., Novartis International AG, Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Corporations Plc, Biogen Idec Inc., Eli Lilly, UCB S.A., Elan Human Genome Sciences Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Daiichi Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Pfizer Inc., Bayer AG, Eisai Co. Ltd., and Alexion Pharmaceuticals.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Market to Reach Roughly US$ 1,000 Million by 2026-end https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=40637 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=40637 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/proliferative-diabetic-retinopathy-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Companies in the global proliferative diabetic retinopathy market are employing strategic initiatives that include product development, geographical expansion, acquisitions, and mergers. These strategies are likely to aid the market players in advancing their businesses and increasing their market footprint. For example, ThromboGenics initiated partnership with Novartis (Alcon) for assisting in commercialization and marketing activities of JETREA beyond the U.S.Request for Sample Copy of Report @On similar lines, Alimera initiated sales of ILLUVEN in the U.K. and Germany, in a bid to foray the European market. The initiative was primarily aimed at tapping new markets and boosting revenue generation of the company. A new report of Transparency Market Research has profiles key players making notable contribution to expansion of the global market for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which include Pfizer, Inc., Genentech, Inc. (Roche Holdings), Merck KGaA, Allergan Plc, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Cipla, Ltd., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, and Novartis AG.According to World Health Organization, number of people affected with diabetes has exceeded 400 Mn, in case of adults, in 2014. Additionally, global prevalence of diabetes doubled, rising at over 8% in adult population. The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) has reported that nearly 80% of the diabetic population was affected from diabetic retinopathy in 2013, with a notable portion of this percentile estimated to acquire the proliferative condition. These numbers are further poised to witness a rise in the years to come, driven by unhealthy consumption patterns and comfort-driven lifestyles of consumers worldwide. This will further have a robust impact on demand for treatment drugs apropos to proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the foreseeable future.Enquiry for discount on this report @The report estimates the market to record a splendid rise over the forecast period 2017 to 2026. Nearly US$ 1,000 Mn worth of drugs for treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy are anticipated to be sold worldwide by 2026-end. Considered as a serious sight threatening ailment on account of long-term exposure to diabetes, diabetic retinopathy results into progressive retinal damage and affects retinal circulatory system. Extremity of the disease, which may lead to proliferative condition, determines the selection of effective therapeutic measure, thereby entailing requirement for intraocular injections, laser surgery, vitrectomy, or anti-VEGF drug prescriptions.In terms of revenues, North America is likely to remain at the forefront of the global proliferative diabetic retinopathy, driven by supportive reimbursement policies offered by the government coupled with greater prevalence of diabetes in the region. Additionally, robust penetration of management drugs such as anti-VEGF drugs viz. Lucentis, Avastin, and Eylea, has further supported revenue generation from treatment of this disease in North America. Europe and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan are also likely to endure as significant revenue contributors to the global proliferative diabetic retinopathy market.Anti-VEGF drugs are likely to remain preferred among various drug class utilized for treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy across the globe. Revenues from sales of anti-VEGF drugs are poised to reach approximately US$ 700 Mn by 2026-end. Although corticosteroids sales are expected to record an impressive expansion in the market, revenues from this drug class will continue to be sluggish.Report Overview @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Fluid Management Market to Expand at a CAGR of Above 5% During the Forecast Period 2017 - 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=41066 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=41066 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fluid-management-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global fluid management market is projected to reach over US$ 64 Bn by 2025, with a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 5.3% from 2017 to 2025, according to a new report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Global Fluid Management Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20172025. North America is expected to continue to be at the forefront of global demand, with the market in the region anticipated to expand at over 4% during the forecast period. This is due to increase in the incidence and prevalence of infectious and lifestyle diseases, rise in the number of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and rise in prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, driving demand for dialysis treatment.Request for Sample Copy of Report @The report offers detailed segmentation of the global fluid management market based on product, application, and end-user. The infusion therapy products segment is estimated to hold leading market share in 2017 and is anticipated to expand steadily during the forecast period. The infusion therapy segment includes infusion devices such as infusion pumps and infusion systems; IV access devices such as accessories and disposables such as administration sets; and IV solutions and products such as frozen & liquid premixed medications, empty containers for compounding, and IV solutions. The renal product segment, which predominantly includes dialysis products, is expected to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period, owing to rise in prevalence of end-stage renal diseases and increase in number of dialysis centers worldwide. For instance, according to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 2.0 million people undergo treatment for dialysis or kidney transplantation to stay alive across the world.The home care settings segment of the global fluid management market is expected to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period owing to increase in research and development activities for the launch of products suitable for home care settings, rise in patient preference for home-based treatments, and lowest cost of the treatments performed at home as compared to hospitals or dialysis centers. For instance, Baxter, a leading player in the global fluid management market is focusing on new product developments suitable for home hemodialysis.Enquiry for discount on this report @In terms of value, North America is likely to continue its dominance in the global fluid management market throughout the forecast period, owing to a high incidence rate of chronic kidney diseases in the region, high adoption of dialysis procedures, rise in new product launches, and the rise in per capita health care spending in the region. For instance, according to national Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, in 2016, more than 661,000 Americans were suffering from chronic kidney failure, among these, 468,000 individuals were on dialysis and around 193,000 underwent kidney transplant. Europe is a prominent region of the global fluid management market, owing to the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical and medical device companies and increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, end-stage renal diseases, high blood pressure, and cancer among the population.Asia Pacific is an emerging region of the fluid management market and is expected to expand at a rapid CAGR during the forecast perios, owing to a rapidly expanding health care industry; growing economy; and rise in prevalence of infectious and lifestyle diseases such as cardiac disorders, kidney diseases, and others, which are fuelling demand for infusion, dialysis, and endoscopic surgery treatments. For instance, according to a report by LifeSciences Industry Research, by 2020, the global ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis treatment is expected to reach 4.2 million, out of which 1 million patients are likely to to be from China. The fluid management market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is expected to expand at a rapid pace owing to expansion in economies of countries in the regions, rise in disease prevalence, increase in urbanization, rise in adoption of novel medical technologies, changing lifestyles, and increase in health care awareness among the population of the regions.Report Overview @Major players operating in the global fluid management market include Baxter, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Nikkiso, Co., Ltd., C.R. Bard, Inc., Olympus Corporation, Ecolab Inc., Medtronic, Zimmer Biomet, BD, Smith & Nephew, Hospira, Inc., Animas Corporation, B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Cardinal Health Inc., Stryker, Boston Scientific Corporation, Karl Storz GmbH, Richard Wolf GmBH, Asahi Kasei Medical Co. Ltd., Coloplast Group, and NIPRO Medical Corporation. Other prominent players in the global fluid management market include AngioDynamics, Promed Group Co., Ltd, ICU Medical, Inc., CONTEC MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO.,LTD, SWS Hemodialysis Care Co.,Ltd., Dialifegroup.com, and Medica S.p.A. Leading players in the market are focusing on the service portfolio and geographic reach with the help of mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and new products launches.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Cold Pressed Juice Market Analysis, Top Key Players Review 2018 | PepsiCo, Organic Press Juices, Evolution Fresh | Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2020 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2020 Market Overview:Global cold pressed juice market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 7% with increase in awareness about healthy lifestyle among consumer groups. Expansion of distribution channels especially in the e-commerce industry along with availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables; all these has supported the market growth. Increasing health awareness regarding controlling and loosing obesity is boosting the market of healthy cold pressed juice globally across the world.Change in lifestyle and rise in demand for healthy food are prime driving forces of cold pressed juice. This juice is considered healthier when compare to pasteurized fruit and vegetable juices since it retains vitamins, minerals, organic nature and many other vital elements which are required in the daily functioning of the human body. Cold pressed juice have long shelf life hence it can be transported anywhere globally without losing nutrition. Tropical fruits which are not available in many regions, have high demand for cold pressed juice moreover this type of juice can easily be transported without loss of nutrition. Attractive packaging along with spreading awareness about different health benefits of cold press juice is a big opportunity for key players in the cold pressed juice market.Get Exclusive Sample Copy @There is huge demand for leafy vegetable juice like kale and spinach juice since they detoxify the body. . Healthy trends emerging in the market related to weight loss, detoxification and energizing the body during intense workout have also added to the demand for cold pressed juice. Orange and carrot juice are most needed due to increase in demand for weight management products. There are various types of fruit and vegetable juices available due to their various use like weight loss, energy boaster, detox, rejuvenate and thus consumers can use these juices according to their requirements along with it subscribe for monthly or annual availability of pressed juice according to the need. . One of the key factors that is driving the market is decline in the consumption of carbonated drinks. Consumers are now aware of the side effects of carbonated drinks and preservative added in them.North America is the major market for cold pressed juice and it is expected to continue its growth in the next few years, due to increasing population, huge demand of juice from the consumers of healthy food, increasing health conscious consumers and their changing consumption pattern. Europe is the second largest market since people over there are focusing more towards adopting healthier lifestyles consequently there is a decline in the carbonated drink consumption. Growing population and rise in disposable income in Asia Pacific region is driving the demand for cold pressed juice. Key players are investing in emerging new regional market.Major Key Players:This report includes a study of strategies adopted by major market players. It also includes product portfolios and rise of leading major players, there name are as followsPepsiCo Inc. (U.S.)Hain BluePrint, Inc (U.S.)Suja Life, LLC (U.S.)Liquiteria (U.S.)Greenhouse Juice Co. (U.S.)Organic Press Juices (UAE)Evolution Fresh (U.S.) andRAW Pressery (India)The global cold pressed juice market is new, so new players are entering the market. The competitive environment is expected to intensify with increase in the demand from consumers, increase in product portfolio, growth of existing players and new players entering the market.Segments:Cold pressed juice market has been segmented on the basis of source, which includes vegetables, fruits, nuts & seeds and mix juice. On the basis of functional use, market is segmented into weight loss, detoxification of impurities, rejuvenating properties energy boaster and others.Get Discount on Report @Key Findings:Cold pressed juice manufacturers are selling juice through retail and e-commerceThe demand for cold pressed juice is increasing compared to other juices due to its unique health benefitsAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Wearable Sensors Market - Emerging Players are STMicroelectronics N.V., TE Connectivity Ltd, Broadcom Ltd. and More Wearable Sensors Market https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/935196//?utm_source=opr&utm_medium=DC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-wearable-sensors-sales-market-report-2018/?utm_source=emp&utm_medium=DC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/2018-2023-global-top-countries-igbt-market-report/?utm_source=emp&utm_medium=DC https://factsweek.com/author/ashwin/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ Global Wearable Sensors Market 2018 2025 research report providing information and data By Product, By Application, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across Enhance data and table & figures in it.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Top Key Players of Wearable Sensors Market:NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), TE Connectivity Ltd. (U.S.), Broadcom Limited (U.S.), Knowles Electronics, LLC. (U.S.), Analog Devices, Inc. (U.S.), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Sensirion AG (Switzerland), InvenSense, Inc. (U.S.), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Texas Instruments Incorporated (U.S.), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), ARM Holdings Plc. (U.K)Wearable Sensors market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Scope of Wearable Sensors Market:The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry analysis of the key factors influencing the market. The report includes the forecasts, analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Following are major Table of Content of Wearable Sensors Industry: Wearable Sensors Market Sales Overview. Wearable Sensors Market Sales Competition by Manufacturers. Wearable Sensors Market Sales Analysis by Region. Wearable Sensors Market Sales Analysis by Type. Wearable Sensors Market Analysis by Application. Wearable Sensors Market -Manufacturers Analysis.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into:AccelerometersMagnetometersGyroscopesInertial SensorsMotion SensorsPressure and Force SensorsTemperature and Humidity SensorsMicrophones and MicrospeakersMedial-based SensorsOthers (Position Sensors, CO2 Sensors (Gas Sensor & Chemical Sensor), and Light Sensors)On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingConsumer GoodsHealthcareIndustrialOthersKey Point Covered in this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward-looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversUnited States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, IndiaFor More Tactical Information:Table Of Content:1 Wearable Sensors Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Wearable Sensors1.2 Classification of Wearable Sensors by Product Category1.2.1 Global Wearable Sensors Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Wearable Sensors Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20172 Global Wearable Sensors Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Wearable Sensors Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Wearable Sensors Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Wearable Sensors Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Wearable Sensors (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Wearable Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3 United States Wearable Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Wearable Sensors Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Wearable Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Wearable Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Wearable Sensors Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4 China Wearable Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Wearable Sensors Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Wearable Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Wearable Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Wearable Sensors Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Wearable Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)Related Report2018-2023 Global Top Countries IGBT Market ReportIGBT market size was xx million USD, and it will be xx million USD in 2023, with a CAGR of xx% between 2017 and 2023. This report studies IGBT in Global market, especially in United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UKMore Reports:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Craft Beer Market Share, Industry Research Report by Leading Players Updates | Boston Beer, Yuengling & Son, New Belgium Craft Brewery, Deschutes Brewery, Bell's Brewery, Duvel Moortgat | MRFR https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/973 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/craft-beer-market-973 Market Overview:Craft brewery differs from traditional large-scale commercial breweries by their smaller manufacturing capacities, autonomously ownership, traditional methods and ingredients in manufacturing, not being pasteurized, huge range of colors, flavors, texture and others. Craft brewery has an annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less which translates into approximately 3.0 percent of U.S. annual sales. The global craft beer market is anticipated to generate a CAGR growth of 7.02 % during the review period from 2017 to 2023. The global craft beer market is estimated to reach USD 135.54 Billion by 2023.Dynamics of Craft Beer Market:Drivers:Growth in demand due to the greater number of flavors, texture, taste and experimentations from the customer side is the strongest driver of the market. Craft beer has been found to be the third most popular drink after water and tea. The high percentages of youth drinkers confers on craft beer, a high market equity, which is the prime determinant of growth. This fact coupled with the rising number of craft breweries and the trend towards innovative products has strengthened the market. The overall healthy growth in beer consumption throughout the world is another trend benefiting the market. The popularity of beer festivals over the world is also stimulating the market. Higher involvement with communities through philanthropy, product donations, are4 another hallmark of the craft beer market. Further the distinctive, individualistic approaches of craft beer market further appeal to the growing segment of customization and individualization.Get Exclusive Sample Copy @The development of advanced packaging such as aluminum cans lined with a polymer coating to protect the beer from the exposure to metal has added to the growth of the market. The greater portability and light protection afforded by cans has added to their attraction.Restraints:The poor marketing capability and the lack of standardization are the strongest constraints on the market. The higher production costs coupled with the fragmented ownership, which do not lend itself to demand pooling is another economic constraint.Key Players:The key players profiled in the Craft beer market are as Boston Beer Co. (U.S.), Yuengling & Son Inc. (U.S.), New Belgium Craft Brewery (U.S.), Deschutes Brewery (U.S.), Bell's Brewery (U.S.), Duvel Moortgat (U.S.), Sweetwater Brewery (U.S.) and others.Regional Analysis:The global craft beer market is segmented into regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW) so as to have a birds view of the differential market equity. North American is anticipated to retain its traditional dominance and is expected to register a growth of 6.88 % CAGR. However the Latin American countries, offers ample opportunities for expansion and growth. We expect greater market development in Peru, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela. The European region is the second largest market led by the traditional beer manufacturing region of Germany. Germany is expected to be followed by France, Italy, and Belgium.The Asia-Pacific region is expected be the fastest growing region in the craft beer market, with an expected CAGR growth of 7.40 %. Emerging economies of China, Thailand, India, and Vietnam are expected to lead the market. China dominates the market, followed by Thailand and India.Access Report Details @Market Segments:Type - ale, lager, stouts & porters and others. Ale dominates the market while lager beer is projected to grow at a highest CAGR.Ingredients - malt and other cereal grain, yeast, enzymes, hops, and others. Malt dominates the present market, while hops is expected to be the highest growing segmentsAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Fiber Glass Mesh Market Size, Share, Trend & Growth Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/937247/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-fiber-glass-mesh-market-2018-forecast-to-2023/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-fiber-glass-mesh-sales-market-report-2018/?utm_source=RR-SP https://factsweek.com/author/chetan/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ Fiber Glass Mesh Market report 2023 focuses on the major Types and Applications for the key players. Fiber Glass Mesh market research report also provides analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market. The Fiber Glass Mesh market research report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of Fiber Glass Mesh Industry.Fiberglass mesh is a neatly woven, crisscross pattern of fiberglass thread that is used to create new products such as tape and filters. When it is used as a filter, it is not uncommon for the manufacturer to spray a PVC coating to make it stronger and last longer. As a filtering system, alkali resistant fiberglass mesh works really well. As the water flows through it, the mesh catches even the smallest impurities. In addition to this use, it can also be used as a mosquito net.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Fiber Glass Mesh Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Request for a Sample Copy of Fiber Glass Mesh Market Report @Market Segment by Top Manufacturers, this Fiber Glass Mesh Market report covers Jiangxi Dahua Fiberglass Group, Jiangsu Jiuding New Material, Luobian, Grand Fiberglass, MINGDA, DuoBao, Zhejiang Yuanda Fiberglass, Tianyu, Changshu Jiangnan Glass Fiber Co., Ltd., XiangYang Huierjie Glassfibre, Chuangjia Group, Adfors and Valmiera Glass.An inherent sub-vertical of the Chemicals and Advanced Materials Industry space, Fiber Glass Mesh market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Fiber Glass Mesh Market OverviewGlobal Fiber Glass Mesh Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Fiber Glass Mesh Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Fiber Glass Mesh Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Fiber Glass Mesh by CountriesGlobal Fiber Glass Mesh Market Segment by TypeGlobal Fiber Glass Mesh Market Segment by ApplicationFiber Glass Mesh Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionMarket Segment by Type, coversC-Glass, E-Glass and OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:External Wall Insulation, Building Waterproofing and OthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Fiber Glass Mesh market.Chapter 1, to describe Fiber Glass Mesh Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Fiber Glass Mesh, with sales, revenue, and price of Fiber Glass Mesh, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Fiber Glass Mesh, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Fiber Glass Mesh market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Fiber Glass Mesh sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor more information on this report, Please visit at:Related Reports: -Global Fiber Glass Mesh Sales Market Report 2018In this report, the global Fiber Glass Mesh market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.More Report @Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Bio plastics Market: Development Factors, Key Players, Regional Analysis, Applications and Forecasts By 2023 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample_request/42 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/enquiry/42 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com Global bio plastics market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 28.0% over the forecast period from 2017 to 2023. Bio plastics are plastics in which the carbon is derived from renewable biomass sources such as starch, microbiota and vegetable fats and oils. These plastics can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable. These bio plastics are increasingly used in the industry due to hazardous effects of plastics made up of petro based polymers.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Market InsightsThe global bio plastics market is likely to be driven by factors such as increasing prices of raw materials for petro based plastics, bio plastics are eco-friendly, support of government bodies and institutions, however the growth in the market is likely to be hampered by over-dependence on agriculture sources such as vegetable oils and fats and starches. The production of these raw materials is inconsistent due to frequently changing climate conditions.Segments CoveredThe global bio plastics market is segmented on the basis of materials and by applications type. The materials include Bio-PET, Bio-PE, Bio- PA, biodegradable polyesters, PLA & PLA blends, starch blends, PHA and others, while the application types include bottles, food services, agriculture & horticulture, consumer products, automotive and others. Presently, the global bio plastics market is dominated by its applications in bottling followed by other packaging applications.Geographies CoveredThe global bio plastics market covers analysis of regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific inclusive of Australia and RoW (including Latin America, Middle East and Africa). Among the geographies Asia-Pacific is the largest market followed by Europe, North America is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period.Companies ProfiledThe companies covered in report include Evonik Industries, Biome Technologies Plc ,Techno Polymer Co. Ltd, Natureworks LLC, BASF SE, FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Innovia Films, Novamont SPA, Cardia Bio plastics, Metabolix Inc.For More Enquiry on This Report:Reports HighlightsThe report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the demand globally as well as regionally. Moreover, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas and focus areas that existing or new market players can consider. The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis and value chain analysis of bio plastics. Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2017 to 2023. We also have highlighted future trends in the bio plastics that will impact the demand during the forecast period.The IGR-Growth Matrix analysis provided in this report highlights key investing markets in the world. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. Additionally, the analysis highlights rise and fall in the market shares of the key players in the market. This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact UsInfinium Global Research,Toll Free:U.S. + Canada: 1-800-638-0796,Website :Email: sales@infiniumglobalresearch.com Sickle Cell Diseases Treatment Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024 Sickle Cell Diseases Treatment Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/sickle-cell-diseases-treatment-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/sickle-cell-diseases-treatment-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/sickle-cell-diseases-treatment-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/sickle-cell-diseases-treatment-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Global Sickle Cell Diseases Treatment Market: Drastic reduction of total RBC count is called as anaemia. It is also defined as inability of carrying the appropriate amounts of oxygen by blood. Sickle cell diseases are the type of blood disorders which are genetically inherited. Sickle-cell anaemia is the common type of SCD in which sickle shaped cell is formed. Generally sickle cell disease starts taking shape at early age i.e., within a year after birth which leads to several health issues like attacks of pain which is also called as sickle-cell crisis, limbs swelling, bacterial infections etc. Chronic pain can be developed along with the age. Sickle-cell diseases arises when an individual inherited by abnormal copies of Hg gene from the each parent.Sickle cell disease treatment market is driven by the increasing prevalence of sickle cell anaemia in the developed, developing as well as under developed economies. In addition to this unmet needs are highly available, rise in product pipelines for the treatment of SCD is anticipated to pose great demand for the market. Sickle cell disease treatment market is propelled by rising support by the regulatory bodies and government in the form of investments, fast track approvals for the discovery of newer treatments. Sickle cell anaemia treatment market is restrained by slow adoption of treatments due to the cost associated with it, the absence of a permanent cure for this disease and complications associated with treatment.A sample of this report is available upon request @Sickle Cell Diseases Treatment Market is segmented on the basis of disease type, therapy, drug class, distribution channel, and geography.On the basis of disease type, the global sickle cell disease market treatment is segmented as: Sickle beta thalassemia Sickle hemoglobin C disease Sickle cell anemia OthersOn the basis of therapy, the global sickle cell disease treatment market is segmented as: Bone Marrow Transplant Blood Transfusion Gene TherapyOn the basis of the drug class, the global sickle cell disease treatment market is segmented as: Antibiotics Analgesics Antimetabolite (Hydroxyurea) OthersOn the basis of the distribution channel, the global sickle cell disease treatment market is segmented as: Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies OthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Burgeoning prevalence of sickle cell disease has expected to drive the market. As per Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, about 100,000 individuals in U.S. are affected by the sickle cell diseases. Black or the African Americans are commonly more susceptible to sickle cell diseases. One in thirteen babies who belongs to the black race are born with SCDs. Researchers has moved ahead to treat SCD by antibiotics to genome level. Researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine corrected the genes successfully which are carrying gene for SCD and transplanted them with the healthy cells. With the help of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat technique (CRISPR), researchers has replaced the SCD cell genes with one which doesnt carry those genes. In 2016, Infosys has donated USD 1.11 million for the stem cell research to develop gene therapies for the disorders like haemophilia and sickle cell disease.Need more information about this report @Based on the geographical regions, global sickle cell diseases treatment market is segmented into Latin America, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. North America is dominating the sickle cell anaemia treatment market due to the increase in activities in R&D, high accessibility of developed healthcare infrastructure, and high reimbursement policies are attributing for the growth of the SCD treatment market in the region. Owing to the high prevalence rate of disease in Asia pacific and African regions is favouring the growth of SCD treatment market. Asia-Pacific is one of the speedy growing market due to the funding of the various industry players for stem cell researchSome of the sickle cell disease treatment providers are Biogen (U.S.), Gamida Cell (Israel), Genetix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (U.S.), Sangamo Biosciences (U.S.), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S.), Acceleron Pharma (U.S.), Global Blood Therapeutics Inc. (U.S.), Emmaus Medical, Inc. (U.S.), Novartis AG (Switzerland) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (U.S.).Get access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Automotive Connectors Market: 2018 Global Share, Size, Trends, Key Players, Competitive Analysis and Regional Forecast To 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2365 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-connectors-market-2365 Automotive Connectors Market Size, Share, Sales, Trends Analysis Research Report 2018 of 111 pages expands comprehensive information on Automotive Connectors Market by Connection Type (Wire to Wire, Wire to Board, Board to Board), by System Type (Sealed, Unsealed), by Application (Body Control & Interiors, Engine Control & Cooling System and others) and by Region with Global Forecast to 2022. The report studies key players, providing a six-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW).Global Automotive Connectors Market Analysis:The global automotive connectors market is majorly driven by rise in the security needs in the automobile. Connectors are used in a majority of security systems in automobiles. With the increase in theft of automobiles, there is an increased need of security systems in the automotive, which further leads to the growth of the automotive connectors market. With the booming smart car industry, the use of connectors in the smart cars is increasing. This leads to the growth of the automotive connectors market. The increase in electrification in the vehicles is also expected to drive the demand of the automotive connectors market in the region. Connectors are electromechanical components essential for connecting electrical circuits together. In automotive industry, the connectors are used in the automotive-oriented equipment to connect electrical devices and wires.Automotive Connectors Market Companies Analyzed in report: TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Delphi Automotive (U.K.), Yazaki Corporation (Japan), Sumitomo Electric (Japan), Japan Aviation Electronics Industry (Japan), Amphenol Corporation (U.S.), Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (Japan), Hu Lane Associates Inc. (Taiwan), Korea Electric Terminal Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Kyocera Corporation (Japan).Get Sample Report @Study Objectives of Automotive Connectors markets Market:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Automotive Connectors markets Market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.To analyze the Automotive Connectors markets market based Porters Five Force Analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW)To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segment by technology, vehicle type, applications, end market and regionsTo provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Automotive ConnectorsAutomotive Connectors Market Regional Analysis:Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global automotive connectors market due the boom in manufacturing of vehicles in developing nations such as India and china and the evolution of concept & increase in manufacturing of electric vehicles. In Europe region, the rise in strict government regulations for the safety of automotive and passengers and the increase in safety concerns amongst the consumers is contributing to the growth of the automotive connectors market in the Europe region.Scope of the Report:The report for Automotive Connectors Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Intended Audience:Automotive connectors manufacturersDistributer & Supplier companiesEnd UsersConsultants and Investment bankersGovernment as well as Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesProduct Analysis:Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information:Regulatory LandscapePricing AnalysisMacroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis:Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information:Profiling of 10 key market playersIn-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report titleCompetitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesGet More Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Cloud Services Brokerage Market Analysis including key players - Capgemini S.A., Jamcracker, Inc., NEC Corporation, Rightscale, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Nephos Technologies, Arrow Electronics, Inc. https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample_request/988 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/enquiry/988 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com The report on global cloud services brokerage market is an in depth analysis of the segments and sub-segments in the cloud services brokerage market. The report provides analysis for the global as well as regional markets over the period of 2015 to 2023. According to report the global cloud services brokerage market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.50% over the forecast period of 2017 - 2023.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Segments CoveredThe report on global cloud services brokerage market covers segments such as service type, platform, deployment model, and organization size. The service type segments include operations management, catalog management, integration, workload management, training and consulting, and support and maintenance. On the basis of platform the global cloud services brokerage market is categorized into internal brokerage enablement, and external brokerage enablement. Furthermore, on the basis of deployment model the cloud services brokerage market is segmented as public cloud, hybrid cloud, and private cloud. On the basis of organization size the cloud services brokerage market, is segmented as large enterprises, small and medium enterprises.Geographic CoverageThe report provides regional analysis covering geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. In this section the key trends and market size for each geography is provided over the period of 2015 2023.The countries covered in the North America region include the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; while Asia-Pacific includes China, Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia, and among others. Moreover, European region covers countries such as Germany, UK, France, Spain, and Rest of Europe. The U.S. drives the growth in the North America region as it is the largest market in the region. The Asia-pacific region offers a substantial potential for the market growth owing to rapid growth in markets such as India and China.Companies Profiled:The report provides profiles of the companies in the global cloud services brokerage market such as, Capgemini S.A., Jamcracker, Inc., NEC Corporation, Rightscale, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Nephos Technologies, Arrow Electronics, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, Doublehorn, LLC, and Accenture PLC.For More Enquiry on This Report:Report Highlights:The report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the global cloud services brokerage market. Moreover, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis and DRO analysis of cloud services brokerage market. Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2017 to 2023. We also have highlighted future trends in the cloud services brokerage market that will impact the demand during the forecast period. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. Additionally, the analysis highlights rise and fall in the market shares of the key players in the market.This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of the cloud services brokerage market to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact UsInfinium Global Research,Toll Free:U.S. + Canada: 1-800-638-0796,Website :Email: sales@infiniumglobalresearch.com Global HCS Software and Services Market Analysis, Growth Drivers, Demand & Opportunities till 2022 Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3575 https://www.mrrse.com/hcs-software-services-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3575 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A latest research report titled as HCS Software and Services Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022 has been recently added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) online research offerings. This report is a professional and in-depth analysis on the present state and future prospect for the global market. It provides valuable information to the industry insiders, potential entrants or investors. It includes an exhaustive enquiry with the reliability of logic and the comprehensiveness of contents.Request Free Sample Report @The global high content screening (HCS) software and services market is foreseen to invite a host of promising opportunities while riding on technological developments in HCS solutions, cost containment in pharma research and development, and cellular research funding. Developed regions such as North America could propel the demand for HCS software and services with high government support, swelling presence of large life sciences companies, and rising research and development expenditure. HCS software and services could find application in lead specificity, the assessment of bioavailability, and qualitative assays to omit compounds with unintended modes of action.The global HCS software and services market is foretold to expand at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast timeframe 20172022. By the end of 2022, the market could be valued at a US$1,164.8 mn. In 2017, it held a valuation of US$832.7 mn.HCS Services as Top Product Amassing Vast Share by 2022As stated by the authors of the report, the world HCS software and services market is envisaged to be classified according to product, industry, and application. In terms of product, the market could see a classification into two segments, viz. HCS services and HCS software. Amongst these, HCS services are prophesied to secure a larger share of 71.6% in the market by 2022 end. The absolute growth achieved by HCS services could surpass that of any other segment of the market under the same classification.According to industry, the world HCS software and services market is forecasted to be segmented into bio, educational institutions, government organizations, independent contract research organizations (CROs), and pharmaceutical and healthcare.Browse Full Report with TOC @By application, toxicity studies, target identification and validation, primary and secondary screening, and compound profiling could be important segments of the world HCS software and services market.North Americas Dominance that Rests on Loftier Revenue GrowthOn the geographical front, the international HCS software and services market is envisioned to be divided into different regions such as North America, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific except Japan (APEJ) and Japan. The analysts are of the opinion that North America could possibly lead the market with a revenue of US$426 mn expected to be achieved by the end of the forecast period.Europe followed by Japan could be another market for HCS software and services with a strong revenue growth anticipated to be garnered by 2022. Europe is projected to reach a valuation of US$301.2 mn by the final forecast year. However, the MEA is envisaged to be on the slower side of growth throughout the course of the forecast period. Between 2017 and 2022, APEJ could create an absolute revenue prospect of US$66.3 mn.The worldwide HCS software and services market could witness the presence of crucial and prominent industry players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., General Electric Company, Becton, Dickinson & Company, PerkinElmer, Inc., Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Olympus Corporation, Merck & Co., Inc., Thorlabs, Inc., Sysmex Corporation, and Danaher Corporation.Enquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search EngineMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: France Hair Care Market Key Players, Product and Production Information analysis and forecast to 2022 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample_request/593 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/enquiry/593 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/france/france_hair_care_market https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com The report on France Hair Care Market is a customer intelligence and competitive study of the France market.Moreover, the report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends, and, micro and macro indicators in France market. Also, factors that are driving are restraining the Hair Care Market are highlighted in the study.Get Sample Copy of this Report:This is an in-depth business intelligence report based on qualitative and quantitative parameters of the market. Additionally, this report provides readers with market insights and detailed analysis of market segments to possible micro levels.The companies featured in the France Hair Care Market include LABORATOIRES BIOCOS, RH EXCELLENCE, KADALYS-SHBSAS, HAPSATOUSY, SALON KARUSO.Segments CoveredThe report on Hair Care Market provides detailed analysis of segments in the market based on Product Type, and, End-User.For More Enquiry on This Report:Segmentation based on Product Type Shampoo Hair Color Conditioner Hair Styling Products Hair OilSegmentation based on End-User Female MaleHighlights of the reportReport provides detailed insights into1) Demand and supply conditions of Hair Care Market2) Factor affecting the Hair Care Market in the short run and the long run3) The dynamics including drivers, restraints, opportunities, political, socio economic factors, and technological factors4) Key trends and future prospects5) Leading companies operating in hair care market and their competitive position in the France.6) IGR Matrix: to position the product types7) Market estimates up to 2022.Table of Content1. Report Overview1.1 Report Description1.2 Research Methods1.3 Research Approaches2. Executive Summary3. Overview3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Dynamics3.2.1 Drivers3.2.2 Restraints3.2.3 Opportunities3.2.4 Challenges3.3 PEST-Analysis3.4 Porter's Diamond Model For France Hair Care Market3.5 IGR Growth Matrix Analysis3.6 Competitive Landscape in France Hair Care Market4. France Hair Care Market by Product Type4.1 Introduction4.2 Shampoo4.3 Hair Colour4.4 Conditioner4.5 Hair Styling Products4.6 Hair Oil5. France Hair Care Market by End-User5.1 Introduction5.2 Female5.3 Male6. Company Profiles6.1 LABORATOIRES BIOCOS6.2 RH EXCELLENCE6.3 KADALYS - SHB SAS6.4 HAPSATOUSY6.5 SALON KARUSOComplete report at:About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact UsInfinium Global Research,Toll Free:U.S. + Canada: 1-800-638-0796,Website :Email: sales@infiniumglobalresearch.com Vacuum-assisted Fetal Delivery Systems Market : The U.S. and Europe to Ensure Healthy Demand until 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=35999 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=35999 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/vacuumassisted-fetal-delivery-systems-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Numerous techniques are utilized by health care professionals to assist pregnant women during labor. Vacuum-assisted delivery of fetus is one of the popular techniques of vaginal delivery being adopted by gynecologists as well as patients across the globe. The vacuum-assisted delivery is preferred in cases of rupturing of uterine membranes, prolonged second stage of labor, and other complications associated with the final term of pregnancy. If the vacuum cup is properly placed and the vacuum (traction) is exerted in line with the pelvic axis, incorrect position of the head of the fetus can be corrected. In order to reduce the risk of neonatal morbidity, proper placement of cups over the specific flexion point is essential to maintain the vacuum integrity.Request a Brochure of the Report @Attempts being made to reduce the uterine extension during delivery and the complications associated with it in critical cases is a major factor expected to drive the market for vacuum-assisted fetal delivery systems during the forecast period. However, post-delivery maternal complications such as anal sphincter injury, hemorrhage, uterine atony, and anemia and reducing preference for vaginal birth by mothers are factors likely to restrain the market for vacuum-assisted fetal delivery systems between 2017 and 2025.The global vacuum-assisted fetal delivery systems market has been segmented based on product and end-user. In terms of product, the market has been further segmented based on cup shape, cup material, and cup type. Based on cup shape, the market has been divided into mushroomshaped cups, bellshaped cups, and others. The bell-shaped cups segment dominated the market in 2016, in terms of revenue. The segment is expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period, which is attributable to the flexible stem of bell-shaped cups enabling the placement of the cup over the flexion point, irrespective of the position of the fetal head. Based on cup material, the market has been classified into silicon and stainless steel. The silicon segment is estimated to expand at the maximum CAGR during the forecast period, owing to strong support offered by silicon cups in case of caesarean delivery and their ability to attach to the fetal scalp gently.Request TOC @Based on cup type, the market has been segregated into disposable cups and reusable cups. The disposable cups segment accounted for the highest revenue in 2016, owing to reduced rates of cross contamination during the fetal delivery procedure, and growing preference of healthcare providers for disposable cups.Based on end-user, the global vacuum-assisted fetal delivery systems market has been segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. The hospitals segment accounted for a leading market share in terms of revenue in 2016, which is attributable to the rapidly increasing number of birth rate across the globe and availability of trained and well-qualified health care professionals in hospitals worldwide.Read Report Overview:Geographically, the global vacuum-assisted fetal delivery systems market has been segmented into five major regions viz. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the maximum market share in 2016, due to strategic presence of key players in the U.S. and Canada and rising demand from mothers for safe delivery without post-delivery complications. Europe is considered the second most prominent market for vacuum-assisted fetal delivery systems. On the other hand, the market in Asia Pacific is likely to register the maximum CAGR from 2017 to 2025, which is attributable to the introduction of suction cups with a novel design that allows safe attachment of the cup to the fetal scalp and easy handling offered by suction cups during critical positioning of the fetal head.Prominent players operating in the global Vacuum-assisted Fetal Delivery Systems Market are CooperSurgical, Inc., Clinical Innovations, LLC, Medela Healthcare, Utah Medical Products, Inc., Benetec Medical Systems, and Medisil Engineers.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Green Solvents and Bio Solvents Market: Development Factors, Key Players, Regional Analysis, Manufacturers, Applications and Forecasts By 2023 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample_request/751 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/enquiry/751 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/chemical_material/global_green_and_bio_solvents_market https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com A recent report published by Infinium Global Research on green solvents & bio solvents market provides in depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in global as well as regional green solvents & bio solvents market. The study also highlights the impact of drivers, restraints and macro indicators on the global and regional green solvents & bio solvents market over the short term as well as long term. The report is a comprehensive presentation of trends, forecast and dollar values of global green solvents & bio solvents market. The global green and bio solvents market is projected to reach USD 8.78 billion by the end of 2021. According to report the global green solvents & bio solvents market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% over the forecast period of 2017-2023.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Green and bio solvents are majorly derived from agricultural sources such as corn, sugarcane, lactic acid, refined glycerine, bio succinic acid, soybean oil and similar others. Eco-friendly nature and low volatile organic compound (VOC) content emission than conventional petroleum based solvent were the prime reason for manufacturers to shift towards green solvent. Furthermore, the consumption of green and bio solvents are projected to display a tremendous growth owing to the rising concern of health and hygiene among household consumers and institutional workers.Segment CoveredThe report on global green solvents & bio solvents market covers segments such as, type and application. On the basis of type the global green solvents & bio solvents market is categorized into bio-alcohols, dio-glucols, bio-diols, lactate esters, d-limonene, methyl soyate and others. On the basis of application the global green solvents & bio solvents market is categorized into industrial & domestic cleaners, paints & coatings, adhesives, printing inks, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other applications.Geographic CoverageThe report provides regional analysis covering geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. In this section the key trends and market size for each geography is provided over the period of 2015-2023.The countries covered in the North America region include the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; while Asia-Pacific includes China, Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia, and among others. Moreover, Germany, U.K., France, Spain, and Rest of Europe are included in the European region. The U.S. drives the growth in the North America region as it is the largest market in the region. The Asia-pacific region offers a substantial potential for the market growth owing to rapid growth in markets such as India and China.For More Enquiry on This Report:Companies Profiled:The report provides profiles of the companies in the global green solvents & bio solvents market such as, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, bioamber inc., huntsman corporation, E.I. Dupont de nemours & co., The dow chemical company, vertec biosolvents inc., florida chemicals company inc, cargill inc. and cremer oleo gmbh & co..Report Highlights:The report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the global green solvents & bio solvents market. Moreover, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider. The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porter's five forces analysis and DRO analysis of green solvents & bio solvents market.Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2017-2023. We also have highlighted future trends in the green solvents & bio solvents market that will impact the demand during the forecast period. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of the green solvents & bio solvents market to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.Table of Content1. Preface1.1 Report Description1.2 Research Methods1.3 Research Approaches2. Executive Summary.3. Global Green & Bio Solvents Market Overview3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Dynamics3.2.1 Drivers3.2.2 Restraints3.2.3 Opportunities3.3 Porters Five Forces Analysis3.4 IGR Growth Matrix Analysis3.5 Competitive Landscape in the Aerogel Market4. Global Green & Bio Solvents Market Analysis, by Type (USD Million, KT) 2015 20234.1 Bio-Alcohols4.2 Bio-Glycols4.3 Bio-Diols4.4 Lactate Esters4.5 D-Limonene4.6 Methyl Soyate4.7 Other Green & Bio Solvents5. Global Green & Bio Solvents Market Analysis, by Application (USD Million, KT) 2015 20235.1 Industrial & Domestic Cleaners5.2 Paints & Coatings5.3 Adhesives5.4 Printing Inks5.5 Pharmaceuticals5.6 Cosmetics5.7 Other Applications6. Global Green & Bio Solvents Market Analysis, by Region (USD Million, KT) 2015 20236.1 North America6.1.1 North America Green & Bio Solvents Market by Type (USD Million, KT)6.1.2 North America Green & Bio Solvents Market by Application (USD Million, KT)6.1.3 North America Green & Bio Solvents Market by Country (USD Million, KT)6.2 Europe6.2.1 Europe Green & Bio Solvents Market by Type (USD Million, KT)6.2.2 Europe Green & Bio Solvents Market by Application (USD Million, KT)6.2.3 Europe Green & Bio Solvents Market by Country (USD Million, KT)6.3 Asia-Pacific6.3.1 Asia-Pacific Green & Bio Solvents Market by Type (USD Million, KT)6.3.2 Asia-Pacific Green & Bio Solvents Market by Application (USD Million, KT)6.3.3 Asia-Pacific Green & Bio Solvents Market by Country (USD Million, KT)6.4 Rest of the World (RoW)6.4.1 RoW Green & Bio Solvents Market by Type (USD Million, KT)6.4.2 RoW Green & Bio Solvents Market by Application (USD Million, KT)6.4.3 RoW Green & Bio Solvents Market by Country (USD Million, KT)7. Company Profiles7.1 Archer Daniels Midland Company7.2 BASF SE7.3 Bioamber Inc.7.4 Huntsman Corporation7.5 E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co.7.6 The Dow Chemical Company7.7 Vertec Biosolvents Inc.7.8 Florida Chemicals Company Inc.7.9 Cargill, Inc.7.10 Cremer Oleo Gmbh & Co Kg.Complete report at:About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact UsInfinium Global Research,Toll Free:U.S. + Canada: 1-800-638-0796,Website :Email: sales@infiniumglobalresearch.com Mobility Software 2018 Global Market Key Players Vmware, BlackBerry, MobileIron, Citrix, Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Dell -Analysis And Forecast To 2025 Mobility Software Market 2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3075465-global-mobility-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3075465-global-mobility-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 Mobility Software Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Mobility Software Global Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Description:This report studies the global Mobility Software market, analyzes and researches the Mobility Software development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeVmwareBlackBerryMobileIronCitrixMicrosoftIBMSAPDellOpenPeakJAMF SoftwareKaspersky LabIntelFancyFonCA TechnologiesRequest for Sample Report@Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoOn-premisesCloud-BasedMarket segment by Application, Mobility Software can be split intoLarge EnterpriseSMBComplete report details @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Contents:Global Mobility Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of Mobility Software1.1 Mobility Software Market Overview1.1.1 Mobility Software Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Mobility Software Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Mobility Software Market by Type1.3.1 On-premises1.3.2 Cloud-Based1.4 Mobility Software Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Large Enterprise1.4.2 SMB2 Global Mobility Software Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Mobility Software Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Vmware3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 BlackBerry3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 MobileIron3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Citrix3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Microsoft3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 IBM3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 SAP3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Dell3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 OpenPeak3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 JAMF Software3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Mobility Software Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Kaspersky Lab3.12 Intel3.13 FancyFon3.14 CA TechnologiesContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Sodium Hypochlorite Market - Global Industry Expert Opinions Analysis, Emerging Opportunities, Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Market Trends, Statistics and Forecast to 2020 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/32 https://www.mrrse.com/sodium-hypochlorite-market https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has been acting as an impressive data source when it comes to evaluating various industrial verticals. The research report titled Sodium Hypochlorite Market offers a clear insight about the "Chemical" assessed over the global platform. This analysis proves beneficial for readers & new investors who are aiming to enter the market for Chemical in the near future.Request a Free Sample Report @Sodium hypochlorite is an inorganic salt of hypochlorous acid. It is a clear, unstable, highly corrosive liquid with a pungent odor. It is manufactured commercially by hooker process which involves passing chlorine gas into dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution in the presence of active electrodes. The process is essentially carried out at low temperature as sodium hypochlorite is unstable at temperatures higher than 40 degrees Celsius and starts converting into sodium chlorate. Sodium chloride or common salt is a common by-product of this process.Sodium hypochlorite is primarily used as the basic ingredient in household bleaches and stain removal detergents. It is used as a biocide and chlorinating agent in industrial as well as municipal water treatment plants. Sodium hypochlorite is also used as a disinfectant in surface cleaner formulations, especially in restaurants and equipment for food processing. Some other uses for sodium hypochlorite include neutralizing chemical agent for nerve gas disposal and as biocide and pulp digestion chemical in endodontic applications by dentists. The sodium hypochlorite market is driven by its demand in water treatment applications and household bleach products especially stain remover and surface cleaner formulations. However, instability and hazardous nature of sodium hypochlorite due to its strong oxidizing properties might hamper the market growth. Skin treatment formulations with highly diluted concentrations of sodium hypochlorite have been tested and found to be beneficial for treating inflammations caused by radiation therapy.This could be an attractive opportunity for market growth.Sodium hypochlorite is a widely used household bleaching agent due to its high oxidizing strength. It is extensively used in cleaner formulations for clothes as well as surfaces. In water treatment applications sodium hypochlorite is commonly used as a biocide owing to its anti microbial characteristics and as a chlorinating agent. It is also employed for treating cyanide contamination of industrial wastewater. The water treatment chemicals industry is witnessing a rapid rise in demand due to regulatory pressure for better treatment of industrial as well as municipal waste water released into the water bodies. Growing awareness among the general public and the protests against the harmful effects, of industrial and municipal waste water contaminated with human wastes, on the environment has lead to strict regulations governing the release of treated wastewater. This, in turn, has supported the growth of waste water treatment chemicals including sodium hypochlorite.In terms of geography, Asia Pacific is the dominant consumer of sodium hypochlorite riding on high sales of household bleaching products to its large population. Major industrial economies including China, India, Japan and South Korea are the major consumers of sodium hypochlorite for application in waste water treatment, household products, dental care and chemical industry. Two of the most populated countries, China and India are situated in Asia. Both these countries are growing rapidly and witnessing rising disposable income and purchase power parity of the general population. This is expected to fuel market growth of household products including bleach and detergents, which in turn is expected to fuel demand for sodium hypochlorite in the region. North America is another major consumer for sodium hypochlorite especially in the dental care and waste water treatment applications. In Rest of the World, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa contribute to major demand for the market. Europe is expected to witness comparatively slower growth than other regions due to its stringent regulations.Outlook Complete Report with TOC @Some of the market players include AGC group, Sunbelt Chemical Corporations, Orica Watercare and Shanghai Polymet Commodities Ltd., among many others.About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2024 Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/multi-drug-resistant-antibiotics-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/multi-drug-resistant-antibiotics-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/multi-drug-resistant-antibiotics-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/multi-drug-resistant-antibiotics-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Market Outline: Global Multi-Drug Resistant Antibiotics MarketSince the discovery of the penicillin in 1928, large amount of antibiotics are used for human therapy, as well as for farm animals and even for fish in aquaculture, resulted in the selection of pathogenic bacteria resistant to multiple drugs. This multidrug-resistant may be generated by two mechanisms. One is bacteria may accumulate multiple genes, each coding for resistant to the single drug, within a single cell. Another mechanism is increased gene expressions that code for multidrug efflux pumps, effects a wide range of drugs. Multi drug resistant bacteria are formed due to the excessive use of antibiotics in various applications such as prophylactic use for surgery, or immunocompromised patients and other applications. Multi drug resistant antibiotics are the new generation antibiotics that fight against the drug resistant bacteria.Market Dynamics: Multi-Drug Resistant Antibiotics MarketMulti drug resistant antibiotics market is driven by the increase in prevalence of the drug resistant bacterial infections such as multi drug resistant TB. In addition, increase in R&D activities to develop the new generation multi drug resistant antibiotics by the marketers coupled with the government and non-government organizations initiatives and fundings are expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period. Furthermore, recent drug resistance antibiotic approvals and promising pipeline drugs are expected to bolster the multi drug resistant antibiotics market over the forecast period. However, high cost of R&D and lack of effective antibiotics are expected to hamper the market multi drug resistance antibiotics market during the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics MarketGlobal multi drug resistant antibiotics market is segmented based on type of bacteria, disease and distribution channelBased on type of bacteria, it is segmented into Multi Drug Resistant Enterococci Multi Drug Resistant Staphylococci Gram Negatives OthersBased on disease, it is segmented into Drug Resistant Tuberculosis OthersBased on distribution channel, it is segmented into Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies OthersMarket Summary: Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics MarketEmergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major concern, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Multi drug resistance antibiotics market is at growing stage owing to the availability of limited drug resistant antibiotics and there is a huge development need for the novel drugs. The market has many players who are actively participating in the development of the new treatment for multi drug resistant bacterial diseases. For instance, in February 2017, Discuva Ltd., drug discovery company expanded its collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG in development of new antibiotic for the life-threatening infections caused by multi drug resistant bacteria and collaboration was originally initiated in February 2014. Furthermore, government and non-government organizations are funding in R&D and spreading awareness related to multi drug resistant antibiotics. Development of novel antibiotics such as plazomicin (in Phase III CL) by Achaogen, Cadazolid (in Phase III CL) by Acetlion Pharmaceuticals and many other companies and their expected commercialization in coming years may drive the market growth furthermore.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Region Anaysis: Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics MarketGeographically, multi drug resistant antibiotics market has been segmented into Latin America, Europe, Asia- Pacific, North America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America multi drug resistant market is expected to grow at significant rates owing to the factors such as growing awareness and increase in R&D activities in developing the novel drugs for multi drug resistant infections and well-established healthcare infrastructure. Europe market is driven by the increase in prevalence of the multi drug resistant infections and developed healthcare infrastructure. Asia Pacific multi drug resistant market is expected to grow at notable rates owing to low cost of R&D and expansion of the multinational companies into the developing countries such as India.Market Participants: Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics MarketSome of the players in Multi-Drug Resistant Antibiotics Market are F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Switzerland), Achaogen Inc. (U.S.), Acetlion Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Sanofi S.A (France), Johnson & Johnson Servieces Inc. (U.S.), Pfizer Inc. (U.S.), Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Japan), and Eli Lilly and Company (U.S.) to name a few.Need more information about this report @Notable Market Developments: Multi Drug Resistant Antibiotics Market In August 2017, U.S. FDA approved The Medicines Companys Vabomere (meropenem and vaborbactam) for adult patients with urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis. Vabomere also inhibits certain types of resistance mechanisms used by bacteria In May 2014, U.S. FDA approved Durata Therapeutics (acquired by Actavis) Dalvance (dalbavancin), new anti-bacterial drug for the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infectionsKey Features of the Report The report provides granular level information about The market size, regional market share and forecast from 2017-2024 The report covers in-detail insights about The competitors overview, key findings and Their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, challenges, and trends that are currently faced by The industry The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are working in The industry The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenarioGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Precision Business Insights mission is to provide high-quality market research reports and generate key insights to our clients. PBIs approachable strategies are to help clients to make key decisions for business growth.Precision Business Insights vision is to become most valued partner to fortune 500 companies by providing agile, accurate, and actionable market insightsContact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Virus Purification Kits Market: Applications, Challenges, Growth, Shares, Trends, Top Players and Forecast to 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=36002 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=36002 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/virus-purification-kits-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Virus purification is a process that involves separation, isolation, and purification of a virus from the cell organelles and host tissues. The process becomes easy if the size of the virus differs from that of the other biological macromolecules such as chromatin, protein complex, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. However, the process of virus purification becomes difficult if the concentration of the virus is very low in the host. Ready-to-use virus purification kits comprise all tools and components required to accommodate complete workflow of the virus purification procedure. These kits have replaced the lengthy and time-consuming traditional procedure of virus purification.Request a Brochure of the Report @High yield of virus particles received with the help of virus purification kits, easy and safe handling of these kits, and increased research funding by public and private players are major factors expected to drive the growth of the market for virus purification kits during the forecast period. However, lack of awareness about advancements in the virus purification procedures in emerging countries is likely to restrain the market for virus purification kits from 2017 to 2025.The global virus purification kits market has been segmented based on technology, virus type, and end-user. Based on technology, the market has been divided into ultracentrifugation, chromatography, Nano filtration, precipitation, and others. The ultracentrifugation segment has been further sub-divided into velocity sedimentation and isopycnic density centrifugation. The ultracentrifugation segment held the maximum market share in terms of revenue in 2016, which is attributable to the involvement of numerous regional players in the manufacturing of virus purification kits and growth of the biopharmaceutical industry globally. On the other hand, the chromatography segment is estimated to register the maximum CAGR during the forecast period, which is attributable to the ability of chromatography technique to purify both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and increased investments in R&D in virology.Request TOC @Improved diagnosis of infections by new viruses such as Zika virus is estimated to boost the Nano filtration segment during the forecast period. Based on virus type, the global virus purification kits market has been segregated into lentivirus, adenovirus, retrovirus, combination of viruses, and others. The adenovirus segment accounted for the maximum market share in 2016. On the other hand, lentivirus and combination of viruses segments are estimated to register significant CAGRs during the forecast period.Based on end-user, the global virus purification kits market has been segmented into institutes, manufacturing companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and others. The institutes segment has been sub-segmented into research institutes and academic institutes, while the manufacturing companies segment has been sub-divided into pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and medical device companies. In 2016, the pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies segment accounted for the maximum market share in terms of value. It is estimated to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The CROs segment is anticipated to expand at the maximum CAGR during the forecast period, due to rising number of CROs across the globe and the trend of outsourcing virus processing services adopted by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.Read Reaport Overview:Geographically, the global virus purification kits market has been segmented into five major regions viz. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the maximum market share in 2016, owing to the rising adoption for technologically advanced measures of virus purification in the region. The region is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. On the other hand, rising prevalence of viral infections, cost-effectiveness of virus purification kits, and significant growth of pharmaceutical companies in India and japan are major factors likely to fuel the virus purification kits market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period.Prominent players operating in the global Virus Purification Kits Market BioVision Incorporated, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Agilent Technologies, NACALAI TESQUE, INC., Takara Bio Company, Merck KGaA, Sartorius, QIAGEN, BioCat GmbH, Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., and abm Inc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Synthetic Biology Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024 Synthetic Biology Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/synthetic-biology-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/synthetic-biology-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/synthetic-biology-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/synthetic-biology-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Market Outline: Global Synthetic Biology MarketSynthetic biology is a new interdisciplinary area of medical field that involves the application of engineering principles in biology. Synthetic biology combines various disciplines within the both domains such as genetic engineering, biotechnology, molecular engineering biophysics, computer engineering, electrical engineering and other various branches for development of artificial biological systems for research engineering and medical applications. Furthermore, it has various applications in industrial enzymes, vaccines and antibody production, bio-based chemicals as well as synthetic biological life science research.Market Dynamics: Synthetic Biology MarketSynthetic biology market is driven by the rapid increase in R&D investments in synthetic biology and adaptation of genetically engineered products and DNA sequencing for the treatment and understanding of the diseases progress. In addition, increase in funding from government in life science research and development and advancements in molecular biology expected to boost the synthetic biology market during the forecast period. Furthermore, private institutional contribution to synthetic biology research expected to push the market growth. However, lack of regulatory framework, biosafety and biosecurity issues coupled with government policies may hinder the synthetic biology market growth over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Synthetic Biology MarketGlobal synthetic biology market is segmented based on technology, applications and end userBased on technology, it is segmented into Enabled Productso Pharmaceuticalso Chemicalso Biofuels Enabling Productso DNA Synthesiso Oligonucleotide Synthesis Core Productso Synthetic DNAo XNAo Chassis OrganismBased on application, it is segmented into Chemicals Pharmaceuticals Biopharmaceuticals Agriculture OthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Market Summary: Synthetic Biology MarketSynthetic biology is an evolutionary segment of medical technology and market is in developing stage. Market players and researchers are actively participating in R&D activities to develop and introduce the revolutionary technologies. Furthermore, government funding and support for the research fuelling the market growth. Collaboration and acquisitions are key strategies adopted by the market players to boost their market revenue share in synthetic biology market. For instance, in March 2015, Synpromics Limited, collaborated with iniQure N.V. to develop synthetic promoters with a specific application in the delivery of gene medicines to the liver.Region Analysis: Synthetic Biology MarketGeographically, synthetic biology market has been segmented into Latin America, Europe, Asia- Pacific, North America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe expected to be a major markets for the synthetic biology owing to the factors such as increase in government funding for the synthetic biology research. According to Woodrow Wilson Center Report, synthetic biology research received about fund of $ 430 Mn in U.S. During 2005 to 2010 European governments contributed $160Mn fund for synthetic biologists. In addition, well-developed healthcare infrastructure and presence of major market players in both regions are expected to drive the market revenue growth. Asia Pacific region expected to grow at notable rate owing to the developing healthcare infrastructure, emergence of the Asia based biotechnological and synthetic biology firms and growing R&D investments in this region.Need more information about this report @Market Participants: Synthetic Biology MarketSome of the players in market are Agilent Technologies (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), GEN9 Inc. (U.S.), Amyris Biotechnologies (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Epoch Life Science Inc. (U.S.), Intrexon Corporation (U.S.), Gevo Inc. (U.S.), Gingko Bioworks (U.S) and Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (U.S.) to name a few.Notable Market Developments: Synthetic Biology Market In January 2017, Ginkgo Bioworks, a microorganism company acquired a provider of synthetic DNA Gen9. By this acquisition, company seeks to improve its speed and capacity in constructing new organism design for use across the multiple industriesKey Features of the Report The report provides granular level information about The market size, regional market share and forecast from 2017-2024 The report covers in-detail insights about The competitors overview, key findings and Their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, challenges, and trends that are currently faced by The industry The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are working in The industry The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenarioGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Precision Business Insights mission is to provide high-quality market research reports and generate key insights to our clients. PBIs approachable strategies are to help clients to make key decisions for business growth.Precision Business Insights vision is to become most valued partner to fortune 500 companies by providing agile, accurate, and actionable market insightsContact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Global Airbag Market Size, Analytical Overview, Growth Factors, Demand and Trends Forecast Report till 2022 Airbag Market https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/536169//?utm_source=opr&utm_medium=DC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-airbag-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022/?utm_source=emp&utm_medium=DC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/2018-global-electronic-clutch-system-industry-report-history-present-and-future/?utm_source=rr&utm_medium=DC https://factsweek.com/author/ashwin/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ Global Airbag Market 2017 2022 research report providing information and data By Product, By Application, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across Enhance data and table & figures in it.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Top Key Players of Airbag Market:Autoliv, Takata, ZF TRW, Toyoda Gosei, KSS, Hyundai Mobis, Nihon Plast, Ashimori, East Joy LongAirbag is a soft pillow to land against in a crash. Airbags can inflate in less than a tenth of a second to protect people from the forces of a head-on collision. Since introduced in the early 1980s, airbags have saved thousands of lives. Now, airbag has been a necessary part of automotive.Scope of Airbag Market:The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry analysis of the key factors influencing the market. The report includes the forecasts, analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Following are major Table of Content of Airbag Industry: Airbag Market Sales Overview. Airbag Market Sales Competition by Manufacturers. Airbag Market Sales Analysis by Region. Airbag Market Sales Analysis by Type. Airbag Market Analysis by Application. Airbag Market -Manufacturers Analysis.Market Segment by Type, coversDriver Front AirbagPassenger Front AirbagSide AirbagKnee AirbagOther AirbagMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPassenger VehicleCommercial VehicleKey Point Covered in this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward-looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)For More Tactical Information:There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Airbag market.Chapter 1, to describe Airbag Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Airbag, with sales, revenue, and price of Airbag, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Airbag, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Airbag market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Airbag sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated ReportGlobal Electronic Clutch System Industry Report - History, Present and FutureThe global market size of Electronic Clutch System is $XX million in 2017 with XX CAGR from 2013 to 2017, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2023 with a CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2023.More Reports:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Automotive Cyber Security Market Innovations, Trends, Technology Market Report to 2018-2023 Automotive Cyber Security Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3088718-global-automotive-cyber-security-market-by-manufacturers-countries https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3088718-global-automotive-cyber-security-market-by-manufacturers-countries WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Automotive Cyber Security Market Innovations, Trends, Technology Market Report to 2018-2023.Description:Automotive Cyber Security is the software used to protect car data from being attacked.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Automotive Cyber Security in global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversArilou technologiesCisco systemsHarman (TowerSec)SBD Automotive & Ncc GroupArgusBT SecurityIntel CorporationESCRYPT Embedded SystemsNXP SemiconductorsTrilliumSecunet AGSecurity InnovationSymphony Teleca & GuardtimeUtimaco GmbHOtherGet a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversSoftware-basedHardware-basedNetwork & CloudSecurity Services & FrameworksMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPassenger CarsCommercial VehiclesComplete Report Details @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Automotive Cyber Security market.Chapter 1, to describe Automotive Cyber Security Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Automotive Cyber Security, with sales, revenue, and price of Automotive Cyber Security, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Automotive Cyber Security, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;ContinueTable Of Contents Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Automotive Cyber Security Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Software-based1.2.2 Hardware-based1.2.3 Network & Cloud1.2.4 Security Services & Frameworks1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Passenger Cars1.3.2 Commercial Vehicles1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market Status and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Arilou technologies2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Automotive Cyber Security Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Arilou technologies Automotive Cyber Security Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Cisco systems2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Automotive Cyber Security Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Cisco systems Automotive Cyber Security Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Harman (TowerSec)2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Automotive Cyber Security Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Harman (TowerSec) Automotive Cyber Security Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 SBD Automotive & Ncc Group2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Automotive Cyber Security Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 SBD Automotive & Ncc Group Automotive Cyber Security Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Argus2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Automotive Cyber Security Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Argus Automotive Cyber Security Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 BT Security2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Automotive Cyber Security Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 BT Security Automotive Cyber Security Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)ContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. A Pioneer of Scholarly Communication and CiteSeerX on the Past, Present, and Future Lee Giles, the David Reese Professor at Penn State Universitys College of Information Sciences and Technology, received the National Federation of Advanced Information Services (NFAIS) 2018 Miles Conrad Award. On March 1, he delivered the annual Miles Conrad Memorial Lecture at NFAIS 60th anniversary conference. Giles may be best known for his contributions to the creation, development, and maintenance of CiteSeer (now CiteSeerX ), the first search engine focused on open scholarly literature. He has published more than 400 journal articles, conference papers, and other works, and his research has been highlighted in The New York Times, WIRED, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. In announcing Giles as the Miles Conrad Award winner, NFAIS said, CiteSeer radically changed the way scholars and scientists search the literature. It was the inspiration for numerous subsequent scholarly search engines such as Google Scholar. I spoke with Giles during the NFAIS conference. What follows is an edited and abridged transcript of our conversation. Photo at right of Lee Giles (left) accepting the Miles Conrad Award from Peter Simon, NFAIS president (right), is courtesy of NFAIS. Dave Shumaker: Lee, congratulations on receiving the Miles Conrad Award. Lee Giles: Thank you very much. Shumaker: The Miles Conrad Award recognizes your contributions over a sustained period. Its kind of a lifetime achievement award. So, Im curiouswhat led you into information science? Did you start out with the intention to be an information scientist? Giles: No, I started out wanting to become an optical physicist. But my doctoral advisor was an expert in medical imaging, and medical imaging has a lot of computational issues. So I started doing more of the computational work, and I published some of the first papers on optical neural networks. Then I got more interested in neural networks, and the focus on optics went away. I also got interested in optical computing, but then the interest in optics went away from that. It was a logical progression from neural networks and computer architecture and analog computing to computer science. From neural networks, I went readily into machine learning, and machine learning is a stepping stone into artificial intelligence (AI). Shumaker: And the scholarly communication component? Giles: That came about because we were looking for data, and data werent easy to find until the web came along. When we saw the resources on the web, we thought, Wow, we can crawl the web for data. So we started building web crawlers. And it so happened that there were a lot of scholarly papers we could crawl. Then we thought, Wouldnt it be nice if we could extract the citations and build a citation indexing system that would track how many times papers got cited, who was getting cited, what was getting cited? We were just curious. And thats what led to CiteSeer. Shumaker: So one thing led into the next? Giles: Yes, and the CiteSeer project took off and just grabbed usKurt Bollacker, Steve Lawrence, and myself, who were working together on this at NEC. Then when we went our separate ways, Steve, who was really the original code developer, asked me if I wanted to run it at Penn State, so I did. Ive continued to develop and improve it ever since. Shumaker: Lets fast-forward to today. Whats the status of CiteSeerX now? Giles: We had to stop crawling for a while, but we are about to start up again. Crawling, by the way, is one of the most difficult and resource-intensive processes you can have. It involves going out, finding material, bringing it back, and looking at it to see if its worthwhile, then going back out. That all requires a lot of bandwidth as well as storage capacity and processing power. There are issues with the instability of the web and of individual sites. Weve devoted some of our papers to focused crawling techniques and how to crawl primarily for scholarly papers. For example, we dont crawl publishers unless they want us to. We maintain lists of sites never to go to, and lists of sites to prioritize, and visit them more often than others. Shumaker: What new developments are you working on? Giles: One new project is an initiative called MathSeer. Its funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Richard Zanibbi of the Rochester Institute of Technology is the principal investigator, and Im the co-principal investigator. The goal is to add math formula search capability to the web and to use CiteSeerX. Another high priority is re-architecting the system infrastructure. Wed like to re-factor the system to make it even more scalable. The current system model requires a database, which we populate automatically. The database is used to render results pages in CiteSeerX. We believe we dont need to do that anymore. Well still keep a database for research purposes, but we dont have to use it to render pages. We think this change will make digital library search engines a lot easier to implement. Its been disappointing that there are so few digital library search engines in academia. One of the reasons we believe there are so few is that they require a lot of resources. Many of the processes arent automated, so we think this change will automate some of those processes and reduce the resource requirements. This can be a big help to publishers as well, because theyre putting a lot of effort into maintaining the search engines that use their content. Were also exploring integrating other types of information into CiteSeerX. We want to be able to take information about papers and integrate it with related presentations, biographical information about the author, related patents, and similar kinds of information. Often, when users are looking for papers, theyre also interested in these other kinds of information at the same time, so it would be valuable for CiteSeerX to integrate them. And we also want to be able to do knowledge extraction from the papers. Shumaker: It occurs to me that much of what CiteSeer does is dependent on having material available openly. Open access is clearly a hot issue here at the conference. One of the numbers thats been mentioned is that only 15% of the scholarly output is open access. Does that number seem right to you? Whats your assessment of the status and prospects for open access? Giles: That number does seem low to me. Ive seen estimates that as many as half of all published papers are open access. In our own work, which was published in PLOS One, weve estimated that its about a quarter. We did have an independent confirmation of our number in conversations with Microsoft Academic, but of course these are all samples, so the number depends on what the sample is. It also depends on definitions. Were using a broad definition, including various forms of publication, such as tech reports, not just journal articles. As for the outlook, I feel open access is a snowball rolling downhill. Its just going to keep getting bigger. The reason is that governments and other research funders are demanding it. Most scientists like it, because it makes their job easier. It makes discovery easier. I personally believe that the future for publishers is to offer services to facilitate information management and discovery. Shumaker: Another one of this years hot topics is natural-language processing. You mentioned in your lecture that it still has a long way to go. It seems like the general public is being pushed in that direction, with the various retrieval systems and voice-activated digital assistants. What are your thoughts on the present and future of natural-language processing? Giles: Id say the marketing is getting ahead of the performance. You can certainly ask the digital assistants questions that they dont understandquestions that you or I do understand. There are patterns that the developers have put into these tools that are useful: What time is it; whats on my calendar? AI tools can do a lot of basic functions, but they dont really understand anything, and they dont have any deep knowledge. Think of it as a database. A database doesnt understand. Take self-driving cars. If todays self-driving car encounters a car flipped upside down on the side of the highway, it identifies that theres an obstacle on the side of the highway. But does it recognize that as a car flipped upside down? Only if its been trained on upside-down cars. There are computer scientists who promote an exaggerated view of what the systems do. They talk about systems understanding. Its really elaborate pattern recognition, and it can be really, really goodif you have enough patterns to train on. On the other hand, pretty soon, the capabilities of machine translation will surpass what any human can do. It seems they already have. Consider the scope and number of languages that AI tools are able to translateand they will continue to get better as they have more patterns to train on. Of course, they still make mistakes, and there are serious examples and hilarious examples out therebut the systems will keep getting better. Shumaker: I was speaking with an academic librarian recently about the trend toward academic librarians taking on data management. What are your thoughts about the roles of academic librarians? Can the CiteSeer tools help with data management, or institutional repositories, or other roles? Giles: I think the data management initiatives are very good. And there are academic libraries that are doing wonderful work with repositoriestake the work Cornell has done with the arXiv.org repository, for example. It would certainly be possible for more academic libraries to take on similar projects. As for institutions implementing CiteSeer tools, the key difference is that repositories such as arXiv are submission-based, rather than crawl-based. The authors deposit their papers, rather than the system going out and finding them. There hasnt been much interest in turning CiteSeer into a submission-based system, and weve stayed focused on developing it as a crawl-based system. As for submission-based systems, I think authors are more likely to submit papers to large, aggregated repositories, including arXiv, or perhaps to other repositories dedicated to specific disciplines, rather than institutional repositories. Thats because the large repositories are where othersresearchers, students, even journalistsgo to discover whats new. So, I think the priority for libraries is building repositories for data. For example, I hand-code, and I get tired of backing up my code and my data. A library-run service that can help me would be really useful. I wish libraries had developed a type of GitHub. Shumaker: Lee, before we end the conversation, is there anything else youre working on that youd like to mention? Giles: There are three other areas Im working on these days. One is text in the wild, another is recurrent neural networks, and the third is AI in education. Shumaker: Whats your focus in AI for education? Giles: Weve gotten started on a really interesting project related to open educational resources (OERs). Its called BBookX, and its goal is to help a professor or lecturer build a textbook out of OERs. It uses information retrieval tools and OERs such as Wikipedia. The instructor chooses a topic, the system goes out and brings back open resources on the topic, and then the instructor chooses among the resources, customizes the book, and publishes it. Weve been trying to develop a formal model of prerequisites to help the instructor manage the relationships among topics, so that prerequisites come first and subsequent chapters build on them. Thats also taken us into automatic question generation for multiple-choice testing. The goal is to build good distractors. Distractors are the wrong answers in a multiple-choice test. A good distractor is one thats plausible. So, if the question is The earth rotates around [blank], good distractors might be the moon, Saturn, and the Milky Way and not pizza or mama. It turns out that coming up with good questions and good distractors is a hard part of developing good test questions, so were trying to help with that process. Were looking into how we can automatically create and tune the distractors so that instructors can give us material and we come up with different levels of easier or harder distractors. The whole field of applying AI to education is one that we think is very promising and has many opportunities. Shumaker: Well look forward to hearing more about your progress with BBookX as well as CiteSeerX developments in the future. Once again, congratulations on receiving the Miles Conrad Award and thanks for your time today. Hyaluronic Acid Market Outlook 2022 Top Companies - Q-Med, Abbott Medical Optics, Lipo Chemicals, Stanford Chemicals, Allergan https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/902573/?utm_source=OPR-SL https://empowerednews.net/author/gminsights/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/world-thermostatic-radiator-valves-market-research-report-2022-covering-usa-eu-china-south-east-asia-japan-and-etc/?utm_source=RR-SL https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ MarketStudyReport.com Add New Global Hyaluronic Acid Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 to its research database. The report presents a deep study of the market growth factors and drivers. The report spread across 119 pages with table and figures in it.Hyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, HA) has many benefits and is one of the most interesting ingredients in skin care, specifically. Naturally found in the body, hyaluronic acid secures moisture and creates fullneHyaluronic Acid market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, analysis and discuion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry players.The market is expected to expand at 18.68% CAGR over the period between 2017 and 2022.Request a sample copy of Hyaluronic Acid Market Research Report @An intrinsic sub-space of the global Chemicals and Advanced Materials industry, Hyaluronic Acid market has been forecast to garner appreciable proceeds over 2017-2022, as per a latest research report. Essentially comprising the pivotal geographies ofUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East Asiathis report enumerates extensive details about the regional frame of reference for Hyaluronic Acid market, regarding the product sales, product application across myriad end-use verticals, growth rate individualized as per products and applications, and the overall performance of this business space in every region.One of the high points of Hyaluronic Acid market report is its meticulous summary of the competitive spectrum of this Building, Automotive, Solar.which encompasses biggies such as Q-Med, Abbott Medical Optics, Lipo Chemicals, Stanford Chemicals, Allergan, Novozymes, Anika Therapeutics, Hyaltech, LG LIFE & SCIENCE, Seikagaku, CONTIPRO, Shiseido, Medicis Aesthetics Holdings Inc, Synvisc-One, Genzyme Biosurgery, Merz Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc, Hao Hai Healthcare, Bausch+Lomb, Shanghai Jingfeng.The report entails, in minute detail, the individual contribution of each one of these companies, in terms of their production value, accumulated revenue, product sales, and marketing channels. The high concentration of Hyaluronic Acid market and the list of key players nearly monopolizing this business space have also been outlined in this study.The product spectrum of Hyaluronic Acid market is inclusive ofPharmaceuticals usesCosmetic usesFood useA massive assortment of information regarding these niche markets is made available through this report, such as their individual contribution to the overall market valuation, changing product price trends, sales, gross value, and much more.Major Points in Table of ContentsGlobal Hyaluronic Acid Market OverviewGlobal Hyaluronic Acid Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Hyaluronic Acid Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Hyaluronic Acid Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Hyaluronic Acid by CountriesGlobal Hyaluronic Acid Market Segment by TypeGlobal Hyaluronic Acid Market Segment by ApplicationHyaluronic Acid Market Forecast (2017-2022)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionAppendixMore Report At:Related Reports: -World Thermostatic Radiator Valves Market Research Report 2022(covering USA, EU, China, South East Asia, Japan and etc)Thermostatic Radiator Valves market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving revenue growth and profitability. The industry report li...Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Devices Market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024 North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Devices Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/north-america-negative-pressure-wound-therapy-npwt-devices-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/north-america-negative-pressure-wound-therapy-npwt-devices-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/north-america-negative-pressure-wound-therapy-npwt-devices-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/north-america-negative-pressure-wound-therapy-npwt-devices-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Market Outline: North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Devices MarketNegative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is also known as vacuum assisted closure therapy or Wound VAC. Negative pressure wound therapy is type of therapy in which suction is used to draw fluids and drain away from an open wound. A special type of dressing is used to create the vacuum environment at the site of wound that increases the blood flow and also keeps the area clean. This will help to prevent and heal the infection. The devices for the negative pressure wound therapy are mechanical or powered (electrical).Market dynamics: North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Devices MarketNorth America negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices market is mainly driven by the growing awareness and adaptation of NPWT devices. Furthermore, presence of the key market players in the region and technological advancements of negative pressure wound therapy devices may drive the market revenue growth in North America Region. However, recent product recalls and availability of alternative wound therapy procedures may hamper the North America negative pressure wound therapy market over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Devices (NPWT) MarketNorth America negative pressure wound therapy devices market is segmented based on type, application and end userBased on type, North America negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices market is segmented into Single Use / Disposable Conventional UseBased on application, North America negative pressure wound therapy devices (NPWT) market is segmented into Pressure Ulcers Diabetic Foot Ulcers Burn Wounds Venous Leg UlcerBased on end user, North America negative pressure wound therapy devices (NPWT) market is segmented into Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centres Homecare OthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Country Analysis: North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Devices (NPWT) MarketGeographically North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Devices market is segmented into Canada and United States (U.S.). U.S. negative pressure wound therapy devices market expected to account for major revenue share owing to presence of well-informed patient pool and growing adaptation rate of NPWT devices coupled with growing prevalence rates of diabetes and chronic wounds in the country. According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, chronic wounds currently affect about 6.5 Mn people in U.S. and numbers likely to increase. Canada negative pressure wound therapy devices market projected to have significant growth rate over the forecast period due to new product launches and increase in adaptation of NPWT devices for wound healing. For instance, in November 2012, Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (Acelity L.P. Inc.) launched V.A.C. Ultra NPWT system in Canada.Competition Assessment: North America Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Devices (NPWT) MarketKey players profiles in North America negative pressure wound therapy devices (NPWT) market include Molnlycke Health Care (Sweden) Acelity L.P. Inc. (U.S.) Smith & Nephew Plc (U.K.) Devon International Group, Inc. (U.S.) Cardinal Health, Inc. (U.S.) Medela (Olle Larsson Holding AG) (Switzerland) Carilex Medical Inc. (China) Equinox Medical Technologies B.V. (Netherlands) ConvaTec Group plc (U.K.) H & R Healthcare Ltd. (U.K.)Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, country market share, historic market (2013-2016) and forecast (2017-2024) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Precision Business Insights mission is to provide high-quality market research reports and generate key insights to our clients. PBIs approachable strategies are to help clients to make key decisions for business growth.Precision Business Insights vision is to become most valued partner to fortune 500 companies by providing agile, accurate, and actionable market insightsContact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Titanium Ore Mining Market Size Projected to Rise Lucratively during 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/titanium-ore-mining-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23804 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Titanium, a compound element, is a radiant transition metal with high strength and low density. It is silver in color and exhibits high resistance properties. The aviation and aerospace industries are the key end-users of this product. Owing to the metals light weight, it is mostly used in space crafts, ships, aircrafts, and electrodes. Its rising application in anodic spark depositions and large-scale exhausts is predicted to drive the titanium market over the forecast period. The titanium ore mining market is projected to expand rapidly due to the growing demand for pure titanium and its commercial usage in the marine, industrial, biomechanical, and automotive sectors. Owing to its high resistance and corrosion property, titanium has been increasingly preferred in the construction sector for bleaching equipment in paper & pulp plants, chloride production, and heat exchangers. Due to the rising environmental concerns across the globe, titanium oxide has been increasingly employed as an auxiliary of lead, primarily in the paints industry. The growing use of titanium oxide nanoparticles in high expertise photovoltaic fittings has been a motivating factor for the titanium ore mining market. The introduction of geothermal energy technologies for titanium which displays a higher melting point than steel and its low maintenance cost are likely to play a crucial role too. Titanium ore mining process involves the extraction of titanium and preparation of titanium alloys and compounds for use in various products.View Report Preview:Data related to different types of ore that is available in the market including ilmenite and rutile has been lime lighted in this report. The former accounted for a major market share in 2016 and is expected to retain its dominant position over the forecast period. Ilmenite is a vital ore of titanium, widely used in its natural form and other related rutile synthetic products. It contains almost half of titanium oxide, so it can beneficiate titanium concentrates. On the other hand, rutile is predicted to witness the most promising growth during the forecast period from 3On the basis 2017 to 2025 owing to extensive use of the product across various end-users segment. Of end-user, the titanium ore mining market is segmented into the aviation, automobile, marine, and others sectors. Aviation held the leading share in the market in 2016 and is anticipated to retain its position over the forecast period.In addition information related to current market conditions along with in-depth analysis regarding future growth prospective of all the above mentioned segments including ore type and end-users across different regions including Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America is also highlighted in this report. Asia Pacific constituted the dominant market share in 2016 and is projected to retain its position over the forecast period due to rising demand for pigments across the construction & automotive industries and the presence of emerging economies such as China and India in this region. North America accounted for a considerable market share on account of the developed aviation and automotive sectors. The rising use of titanium in coatings, additives, and the medical industry propelled the titanium ore mining market in Europe, led by Germany and the U.K. Middle East & Africa is estimated to be an emerging region for the titanium ore mining market over the forecast period.The global titanium ore mining market is fragmented in nature with the presence of large number of market players. Though the market is dominated by some major players which includes Rio Tinto (U.K.), Tronox (U.S.), Iluka Resources (Australia), The Chemours (U.S.), Trimex Sands (India), Yunnan Dahutong Investment Group (China), Base Titanium Limited (Kenya), Cristal Mining Australia Limited (Australia), Sierra Rutile Limited (West Africa), and Zhongsheng Resources Holdings Limited (China).Request to view Sample Report:The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Size, Share, Trend & Growth Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/937225/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-high-temperature-electrical-insulating-film-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2023/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-high-temperature-electrical-insulating-film-market-professional-survey-report-2018/?utm_source=RR-SP https://factsweek.com/author/chetan/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ The High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Research Report Forecast 2018-2023 is a valuable source of insightful data for business strategists. It provides the High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film industry overview with growth analysis and historical & futuristic cost, revenue, demand and supply data (as applicable). The research analysts provide an elaborate description of the value chain and its distributor analysis.This report studies the High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film market. High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film is a material, which has a high temperature resistance and optimal electrical insulation. Typically, these specialty materials also offer other desirable properties, such as resistance to moisture absorption, flame or fire, cold temperatures, and chemicals.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Request for a Sample Copy of High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Report @Market Segment by Top Manufacturers, this High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market report covers TORAY, DuPont, Victrex, Mitsubishi Plastics and Mitsubishi Plastics.An inherent sub-vertical of the Chemicals and Advanced Materials Industry space, High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market OverviewGlobal High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film by CountriesGlobal High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Segment by TypeGlobal High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Segment by ApplicationHigh Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionMarket Segment by Type, coversPPS Film, PEEK Film and OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Capacitors, Industrial Tape, Electronics Components and OthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film market.Chapter 1, to describe High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film, with sales, revenue, and price of High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor more information on this report, Please visit at:Related Reports: -Global High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film Market Professional Survey Report 2018This report studies High Temperature Electrical Insulating Film in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.More Report @Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Europe Biostimulants Market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Country Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2024 Europe Biostimulants Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/europe-biostimulants-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/europe-biostimulants-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/europe-biostimulants-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/europe-biostimulants-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Market Outline: Europe Biostimulants MarketBiostimulants are the biological fertilizers used to increase the plant productivity and development, in addition to nourishment of agriculture products. These are formulated from micro-organisms, enzymes, trace elements, and plant hormones among others. Biostimulants help to improve the plant metabolism, nutrient availability, water holding capacity, and increase the production of antioxidants and chlorophyll. Biostimulants improve the plant growth and development entire the crop life cycle from seed germination to plant maturity.Market Dynamics: Europe Biostimulants MarketIncrease in the demand for quality food products with better yield, rise in adoption of sustainable farming practices, increase in R&D for cost-effective production process, and advantages of biostimulants such as decrease in chemical fertilizers using are anticipated to fuel the biostimulants market. Moreover, decrease in arable land due to increase in population, increase in government support such as providing subsidies on bio-fertilizers, and sudden changes in environment due to global warming affect the crop yield are the factors driven the biostimulants market over the forecast period. However, low awareness about biostimulants among farmers, high R&D expenditure, lengthy process for product approval, and fewer opportunities for patent approval due to easy raw material availability are restrained the growth of biostimulants market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Europe Biostimulants MarketBiostimulants market is segmented on the basis of product type, crop type, application, and formulation typeBased on product type, biostimulants market is segmented into the following: Humic Substances (Fulvic Acid and Humic Acid) Microbial Amendments Seaweed Extracts Vitamins and Amino Acids Trace Minerals OthersBased on the crop type, biostimulants market is segmented into the following: Fruits and Vegetables Cereals and Row Crops Turfs and Ornamentals OthersBased on the application, biostimulants market is segmented into the following: Foliar Treatment Seed Treatment Soil TreatmentBased on the formulation type, biostimulants market is segmented into the following: Dry Products Liquid ProductsTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Market Summary: Europe Biostimulants MarketEurope biostimulants market is growing at a significant CAGR owing to increase in R&D activities for the innovation of cost-effective biostimulants. Entry of new players into the market, non-toxicity nature of biostimulants, and low ecological footprints are anticipated to fuel the biostimulants market. Moreover, government initiatives encouraging the farmers for the adoption of biostimulants also upsurge the revenue of market. For instance, in June 2011, European Biostimulants Industry Consortium (EBIC) was formed to foster the role of biostimulants in agriculture to increase the product yield. Furthermore, Acquisitions and mergers, collaborations, product approvals, and launchings are the strategies followed by the market players to increase their market revenue in Europe biostimulants market. For instance, in July 2017, Valagro inked an agreement with Syngenta AG to supply the biostimulants for seed treatment. In addition, in May 2016, Sheriff Amenity launched Aminoturf, Rapidroot, and HumiKpro biostimulants in UK.Country Analysis: Europe Biostimulants MarketGeographically, Europe biostimulants market is segmented into Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, UK, Poland, and Rest of Europe. France biostimulants market is growing due to increase in the demand for quality food products, government initiations for improving the crop yield, and rise R&D activities are in the country. Germany biostimulants market accounted for significant share, which is attributed to increase in consumer preference for organic agro products, launching of newer biostimulants in Europe region, and collaboration between the companies. Russia biostimulants market has a significant growth rate owing to increase in agriculture production due to increase in population, government supporting for eco-friendly farming practices, and increase in the productivity of oilseeds and cereals.Need more information about this report @Competition Assessment: Europe Biostimulants MarketSome of the players in the global biostimulants market include: BASF SE (Germany) FMC Corporation (US) Syngenta AG (Switzerland) Arysta LifeScience Corporation (U.S.) Bayer CropScience AG (Germany) Valagro (Italy) Koppert B.V. (Netherlands) Biovert S.A. (Spain) Sheriff Amenity (U.K.)Notable Market Developments: Europe Biostimulants Market In June 2017, Valagro opened new biostimulants plant in Brazil for the expansion of business in Latin America regionKey Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, and forecast from 2017-2024 The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, key findings, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, challenges, and trends that are currently faced by the industry The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and start-ups details that are working in the industry The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenarioGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Precision Business Insights mission is to provide high-quality market research reports and generate key insights to our clients. PBIs approachable strategies are to help clients to make key decisions for business growth.Precision Business Insights vision is to become most valued partner to fortune 500 companies by providing agile, accurate, and actionable market insightsContact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Embolic Protection Devices Market Forecast to 2024 Profiling Abbott, Cardinal Health, Medtronic & More Embolic Protection Devices Industry Trends www.marketstudyreport.com www.marketstudyreport.com www.marketstudyreport.com www.marketstudyreport.com www.marketstudyreport.com http://reports.algosonline.com/ The latest Global Embolic Protection Devices industry forecast report covers the key technological advancement and market trends to 2024 and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for embolic protection devices with the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants.The escalating occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, particularly among the geriatric population, thus, is a major driving force for Embolic Protection Devices Market. These components are prominently used in cardiac surgeries to reduce complications due to debris, owing to their superior design. Indeed, these devices also find extensive usage in ventricular assist device explantation and high-risk coronary artery bypass grafting. Driven by the nature of seriousness of these procedures, hospitals mandatorily prefer official FDA-approved EPD devices a trend that is encouraging embolic protection devices market players to constantly improve their product portfolios.Get a Sample Copy of this Report @ https:///request-a-sample/934011/?utm_source=OPR-CCAn inherent vertical of the healthcare space, the competitive landscape of embolic protection devices market is defined by geographical expansions and M&As. Recently for instance, InspireMD, Inc., one of the global producers of embolic protection devices, signed an agreement with various regional distributors for extending its presence across myriad geographies.In Greece, the firm partnered with T-Vascular IKE Medical Supplies and in the Caribbean, it has collaborated with SRL and Endo-Serv. With this exclusive distribution agreement, InspireMD is looking forward to attracting more customers for supplying highly advanced and minimally invasive medical devices. Another factor that may support the embolic protection devices industry player in its endeavor is that its regional distributors encompass a loyal, strong consumer base. Indeed, companies have been continually adopting such tactics to sustain in embolic protection devices market, the valuation of which stood at USD 870 million in 2016.Recently in 2017, the U.S. based Claret Medical received clearance for its Sentinel Cerebral Protection System. With the development of this system, it has set a high standard of care in the United States to protect patient from strokes. Apparently, this system has the capability to remove the debris associated with TAVR (transcatheter aortic heart valve replacement).As per statistics, the implementation of this novel system in TAVR has protected over 5,500 patients from the risk of stroke. In alignment with Claret, numerous other giants in embolic protection devices industry have been increasingly involved in the development of clinically advanced and next-generation minimally invasive medical devices. This would have considerable influence on product demand over the years ahead.Apart from product differentiation, considering the future scope of highly advanced EPDs, companies in embolic protection devices industry have also been involved in the clinical trials of medical devices. The major concerns for these firms presently is safety and feasibility associated with the products. Recently, Contego Medical, LLC, a leading producer of medical devices for peripheral vascular and cardiovascular treatments, commenced a clinical trial for one of its drugs. The trial was conducted to evaluate the safety of the Neuroguard IEP 3-in-1 Carotid Stent & Post-Dilation Balloon System with an Integrated Embolic Protection. With this development, Contego Medical has indeed added value to its neurovascular product portfolio and its research spectrum, encouraging other embolic protection devices industry biggies to do the same.Prominent industry players include Abbott Laboratories, Cardinal Health, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Gore Medical, Claret Medical, Allium Medical, Innovative Cardiovascular Solutions, Edward Lifesciences, and Transverse Medical among others. In order to further strengthen its competitive advantage, the market players are investing into research and development of embolic protection devices for expanded clinical applications such as cerebral emboli protection and lower extremities procedures.Purchase this premium report at: https:///securecheckout/paymenta/934011?msfpaycode=sumsf/?utm_source=OPR-CCNumerous behemoths across embolic protection devices market have been aiming to set up novel benchmarks with regards to innovative product development. For instance, recently in 2017, Venus Medtech received the official approval from the China FDA for its Venus A-valve device. Apparently, this device offers a less invasive treatment solution for patients classified under the high-risk category. Medical device manufacturers thus, have been shifting their focus toward the development of highly advanced EPDs. Aided by their significant efforts, in conjunction with the emerging application arenas of these components, like atherectomy procedures, embolic protection devices industry is likely to garner appreciable gains over 2017-2024.Related Report:On a related note, another research has been added by Market Study Report in its database titled Reprocessed Medical Devices Market Size by Product, By End-use Industry Analysis Report, Regional, Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024.According to this research, U.S. held substantial revenue share owing to rising prevalence of heart disease, supportive regulatory framework, high number of medical products producers involved in the reprocessing programs. Moreover, encouraging governing policies along with established healthcare infrastructure upsurges reprocessed medical devices market growth during the forecast period. According to, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) statistics updated in November 2017, nearly half of Americans have three risk factors of heart disease, these include high cholesterol, smoking, and high blood pressure.Companies operational in the reprocessed medical devices includes Stryker Sustainability, Vanguard, GE Healthcare, Vascular Solutions, SureTek Medical, Centurion Medical Products, Soma Technology, Hygia Health Services, Steril Med (Ethicon Endo-Surgery), Mediline ReNewal, Midwest Reprocessing Centre, Medtronic, ReNu Medical, Pioneer Medical Devices, Steripro Canada, and Siemens Healthcare.Read more on this report at: https:///reports/reprocessed-medical-devices-market/?utm_source=OPRRR-ccAbout Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:https:/Blog: https:///blog/More Report at: Global Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market To Grow At A CAGR Of 82.06% During The Period 2017-2021 : Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1027655 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicle-market-2017-2021-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are a class of electric vehicles that power the drive train of the vehicles through the energy generated from fuel cells. The fuel cell converts chemical energy generated from the positively charged hydrogen ions into electricity. The fuel cell technology has been adopted from the aerospace industry where it was first used to power space shuttles and satellites.Technavios analysts forecast the global hydrogen fuel cell vehicle market to grow at a CAGR of 82.06% during the period 2017-2021.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global hydrogen fuel cell vehicle market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the total units of top HFCVs in stock per annum globally.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:APACEuropeNorth AmericaGlobal Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsDaimlerHondaHyundaiToyotaOther prominent vendorsAudiBallard Power SystemsBMWFuel Cell EnergyGMHydrogenicsMANVolvoMarket driverDevelopment of infrastructure to produce hydrogenFor a full, detailed list, view our reportGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Market challengeReduced HRS and high initial cost of developmentFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendProduction of clean hydrogen fuel (green fuel)For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Polyol Esters Market Intelligence with Competitive Landscape 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polyol-esters-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24059 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Polyol Esters Market: OverviewPolyol esters are a form of esters formed by the esterification of fatty acids. The term polyol esters is an acronym for neopentyl polyol esters, which are obtained by the reaction of monobasic acids such as HNO3 and HCl along with polyhedric alcohols which have neopentyl structure. Polyol esters are named after the alcohol which is utilized as its starting material. Polyol esters are known to be highly stable compounds due to their chemical structure. Their high thermal stability enables these compounds to be employed in applications which involve high temperatures.View Report Preview:Polyol esters possess more ester groups as compared to diesters, increasing their viscosity, which makes them suitable to be utilized in lubricants. Their increased viscosity coupled with superior thermal stability make them a perfect substitute for various diesters, specifically in the field of lubricants. Various forms of polyol esters are available, as various acids can be reacted to obtain polyol esters having different length of fatty acid chains. Common types of polyol esters include trimethylolpropanes (TMPs), pentaerythritols (PEs), neopentyl glycols (NPGs), and di-pentaerythritols (DiPEs).Polyol Esters Market: Market TrendsPolyol esters are employed extensively in jet engine lubricants. Polyol esters are being utilized in this field for the last 40 years. No other compound has been used as its substitute since it would affect the lubricity, and this is likely to eventually hamper the working of the component. Polyol esters are employed along with Polyalphaolefin (PAO) Synthetic Oils in passenger car motor oils. Polyol esters are utilized as synthetic refrigeration lubricants in industries. Other applications of polyol esters include fire resistant transformer, high temperature grease, textile lubricants, and fire resistant hydraulic fluids.Superior qualities of polyol esters such as thermal stability, high lubricity, and better viscosity makes them a sought-after compound. Rise in population in developing countries and their demand for better transport facilities and automotive sector are key factors driving the expansion of the market of polyol esters. Furthermore, the simultaneous expansion of the automotive industry is anticipated to increase the demand for polyol esters as lubricants in the near future, which is projected to boost the expansion of the market in the near future. However, higher price tag of polyol esters as compared to other diesters may prove to be a major restraint for the market of polyol esters in the near future.Polyol Esters Market: Region-wise OutlookAsia Pacific is a prominent and rapidly expanding market for polyol esters. The major reason for the development of the polyol esters market in Asia Pacific is due to increase in domestic usage in the automotive as well as industrial sector. The market in Europe is developed since the utilization of synthetic lubricants has increased over the last few years, making it a potential market during the forecast period. The scope for expansion of the market in North America is considered to be high due to its demand in industries and the automotive sector.The expansion of the market in Middle East & Africa is considerable due to the expansion of the automotive sector in the region. Expansion of the polyol esters market in Latin America is slow as compared to other regions due to presence of limited industries and manufacturing units which are likely to require lubricants.Polyol Esters Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the global market for polyol esters include INOLEX, Purinova Sp. z oo, Ultrachem Inc., Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., Vantage Performance Materials, KLK OLEO, Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, Chemtura Corporation., and Shell Chemicals Ltd.Request to view Sample Report:The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: In-Dash Navigation System Market Technology Growth by Top Global Leader-Continental AG, Garmin, Robert Bosch GmbH, Delphi Automotive PLC, Denso Corporation and Others Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484753/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484753/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484753/discount In-Dash Navigation System Market Analysis to 2023 is a specialized and in-depth study of the In-Dash Navigation System industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global In-Dash Navigation System market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global In-Dash Navigation System market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the In-Dash Navigation System players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Publisher projects that the In-Dash Navigation System market size will grow from USD 8.53 Billion in 2017 to USD 17.55 Billion by 2023, at an estimated CAGR of 12.77%. The base year considered for the study is 2017, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2023.Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are striving to offer technologically advanced and embedded vehicle systems, which can provide many functions in a single unit. The increase in demand for light weight vehicle components, legislations for emissions in developed countries, and increasing vehicle production are the key factors that will drive the in-dash navigation system market. The in-dash navigation system market, by value, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.77% during the forecast period, to reach USD 17.55 Billion by 2023. The market is segmented by region, component type, technology type, connected navigation services type, vehicle type, and electric vehicle typeRequest a Sample Report atIn-Dash Navigation System Market Players: Continental AG Garmin Ltd. Robert Bosch GmbH Delphi Automotive PLC Denso Corporation Tomtom NV Luxoft Holding Inc Harman International Alpine Electronics Inc. Pioneer Corporation Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Clarion Co.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global In-Dash Navigation System market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall In-Dash Navigation System market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key In-Dash Navigation System market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the In-Dash Navigation System market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount atContact Us:Call: +91-20-67278686Email: info@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Duty-Free Retailing Market 2018: Key Players Dufry, Lotte Duty Free, LVMH, Dubai Duty Free, Gebr. Heinemann Duty-Free Retailing Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2928142-2015-2023-world-duty-free-retailing-market-research-report-by https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/2928142-2015-2023-world-duty-free-retailing-market-research-report-by SummaryWiseGuyReports.com adds Duty-Free Retailing Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2023 reports to its database.This report provides in depth study of Duty-Free Retailing Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Duty-Free Retailing Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.Duty-free shops(or stores) are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country. Which products can be sold duty-free vary by jurisdiction, as well as how they can be sold, and the process of calculating the duty or refunding the duty component.This report includes market status and forecast of global and major regions, with introduction of vendors, regions, product types and end industries; and this report counts product types and end industries in global and major regions.Global Duty-Free Retailing market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingLagardere Travel RetailDufryLotte Duty FreeLVMHAer Rianta International (ARI)China Duty Free GroupDubai Duty FreeDuty Free AmericasGebr. HeinemannJR/Group (James Richardson)King Power International Group (Thailand)The Shilla Duty FreeMarket Segment as follows:By Region / CountriesNorth America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc)South America (Brazil, Argentina etc)Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc)By TypePerfumesCosmeticsAlcoholCigarettesOthersBy End-User / ApplicationAirportsOnboard AircraftSeaportsTrain StationsOthersRequest a Sample Report @Major Key Points in Table of Content1 Market Definition1.1 Market Segment Overview1.2 by Type1.3 by End-Use / Application2 Global Market by Vendors2.1 Market Share2.2 Vendor Profile2.3 Dynamic of Vendors3 Global Market by Type3.1 Market Share3.2 Introduction of End-Use by Different Products4 Global Market by End-Use / Application4.1 Market Share4.2 Overview of Consumption Characteristics4.2.1 Preference Driven4.2.2 Substitutability4.2.3 Influence by Strategy4.2.4 Professional Needs5 Global Market by Regions5.1 Market Share5.2 Regional Market Growth5.2.1 North America5.2.2 Europe5.2.3 Asia-Pacific5.2.4 South America5.2.5 Middle East & Africa..12 Key Manufacturers12.1 Lagardere Travel Retail12.1.2 Company Overview12.1.2 Product and End-User / Application12.1.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.2 Dufry12.2.1 Company Overview12.2.2 Product and End-User / Application12.2.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.3 Lotte Duty Free12.3.1 Company Overview12.3.2 Product and End-User / Application12.3.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.4 LVMH12.4.1 Company Overview12.4.2 Product and End-User / Application12.4.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.5 Aer Rianta International (ARI)12.5.1 Company Overview12.5.2 Product and End-User / Application12.5.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.6 China Duty Free Group12.12.1 Company Overview12.12.2 Product and End-User / Application12.12.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.7 Dubai Duty Free12.7.1 Company Overview12.7.2 Product and End-User / Application12.7.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.8 Duty Free Americas12.8.1 Company Overview12.8.2 Product and End-User / Application12.8.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.9 Gebr. Heinemann12.9.1 Company Overview12.9.2 Product and End-User / Application12.9.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.10 JR/Group (James Richardson)12.10.1 Company Overview12.10.2 Product and End-User / Application12.10.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.11 King Power International Group (Thailand)12.12 The Shilla Duty FreeAt any Query @Continued....Contact Us: sales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US) ; Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRESS:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India LiDAR for Automotive Market Technology Growth by Top Global Leader-Delphi Automotive PLC, Continental AG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Infineon Technologies AG, Velodyne LiDAR and Others Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484765/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484765/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484765/discount LiDAR for Automotive Market Analysis to 2023 is a specialized and in-depth study of the LiDAR for Automotive industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global LiDAR for Automotive market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global LiDAR for Automotive market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the LiDAR for Automotive players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Publisher projects that the LiDAR for Automotive market size will grow from USD 102.21 Billion in 2017 to USD 454.2 Million by 2023, at an estimated CAGR of 28.22%. The base year considered for the study is 2017, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2023.Factors such as the Technological superiority of LiDAR in automotive application, and an increase in government regulations for vehicle safety is driving the LiDAR sensor market for automotive.Request a Sample Report atLiDAR for Automotive Market Players: Delphi Automotive PLC Continental AG ZF Friedrichshafen AG Infineon Technologies AG Velodyne LiDAR Inc Texas Instruments Incorporated First Sensor AGBy Product Type:2D, 3DBy Application:Semi-Autonomous, AutonomousThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global LiDAR for Automotive market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall LiDAR for Automotive market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key LiDAR for Automotive market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the LiDAR for Automotive market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount atContact Us:Call: +91-20-67278686Email: info@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness Market by Top Manufacturers with Production Intelligence and Analysis for Period 2018 - 2023 Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484744/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484744/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484744/discount Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness Market Analysis to 2023 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Publisher projects that the Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market size will grow from USD 11.65 Billion in 2017 to USD 22.99 Billion by 2023, at an estimated CAGR of 11.99%. The base year considered for the study is 2017, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2023.Rising demand for compact wiring harness and emerging new advanced technologies have fueled the growth of this market globally. The growing trend of electric vehicles is also a major factor that has contributed to the growth of this market.Request a Sample Report atAutomotive Secondary Wiring Harness Market Players: Sumitomo Electric Industries Lear Corporation. Delphi Automotive LLP Yazaki Corporation Furukawa Electric Co Nexans Samvardhana Motherson Group Leoni AG THB Group Spark Minda Ashok Minda GroupBy Product Type:BEV, HEV, PHEVBy Application:Engine, Cabin, Door Harness, Airbag Harness, Electronic Parking Brakes,The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Automotive Secondary Wiring Harness market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount atContact Us:Call: +91-20-67278686Email: info@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Smart Parking Market by Top Manufacturers with Production-Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Valeo S.A., Delphi Automotive PLC, Siemens AG, Xerox Corporation, and Others Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484783/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484783/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011484783/discount Smart Parking Market Analysis to 2023 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Smart Parking industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Smart Parking market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Smart Parking market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Smart Parking players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Publisher projects that the Smart Parking market size will grow from USD 2.71 Billion in 2017 to USD 7.32 Billion by 2023, at an estimated CAGR of 18%. The base year considered for the study is 2017, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2023.The market is driven by factors such as limited parking space availability, growing number of accidents caused by vehicles reversing out of parking spaces and growing consumer demand for advanced vehicle and passenger safety systems in passenger cars.Request a Sample Report atSmart Parking Market Players: Robert Bosch GmbH Continental AG Valeo S.A. Delphi Automotive PLC Aisin Seiki Co. Siemens AG Xerox Corporation Cubic Corporation Amano Corporation Kapsch Trafficcom AG TKH Group-Park Assist Nedap Identification SystemsBy Product Type:Ultrasonic, Radar, Image,By Application:Guided, Smart Park,The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Smart Parking market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall Smart Parking market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atThe prime objective of this report is to help the user understand the market in terms of its definition, segmentation, market potential, influential trends, and the challenges that the market is facing. Deep researches and analysis were done during the preparation of the report. The readers will find this report very helpful in understanding the market in depth. The data and the information regarding the market are taken from reliable sources such as websites, annual reports of the companies, journals, and others and were checked and validated by the industry experts. The facts and data are represented in the report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations. This enhances the visual representation and also helps in understanding the facts much better.Also, key Smart Parking market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Smart Parking market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount atContact Us:Call: +91-20-67278686Email: info@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Contact Center Market Size and Share 2018 - 2023 https://www.researchtrades.com/discount/1537104 https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1537104 https://www.researchtrades.com/report/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-contact-center-market-2018-forecast-to-2023/1537104 http://www.researchtrades.com A Contact Center (also referred to as a customer interaction center or e-contact center) is a central point in an enterprise from which all customer contacts are managed. The contact center typically includes one or more online call centers but may include other types of customer contact as well, including e-mail newsletters, postal mail catalogs, Web site inquiries and chats, and the collection of information from customers during in-store purchasing. A contact center is generally part of an enterprise's overall customer relationship management (CRM).Request for discount atScope of the Report:This report focuses on the Contact Center in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversTeleperformanceConvergys (Stream)Sykes Enterprises Inc.TranscomAtentoArvatoWest CorporationActicall (Sitel)TeleTech Holdings Inc.Comdata GroupSercoConcentrixMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoTelecommunicationBanking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)Government and Public SectorHealthcare and Life SciencesRetail and Consumer GoodsOthersRequest for free sample atThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Contact Center market.Chapter 1, to describe Contact Center Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Contact Center, with sales, revenue, and price of Contact Center, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Contact Center, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Contact Center market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Contact Center sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceBrowse complete report atTable of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Contact Center Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Telecommunication1.3.2 Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)1.3.3 Government and Public Sector1.3.4 Healthcare and Life Sciences1.3.5 Retail and Consumer Goods1.3.6 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving ForceWho we areResearch Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the clients specific requirement. Our database consists of a large collection of high-quality reports obtained using a customer-centric approach, thus providing valuable research insights.Contact us:Email: sales@researchtrades.comCall us: +1 6269994607 (USA), +91 7507349866 (IND)Web:Skype ID: researchtradescon IoT Is Enabling the Next Generation of Healthcare - Improve Patient Care https://www.xpodenceresearch.com/Request-Sample/105848 https://www.xpodenceresearch.com/Reports/IoT-Healthcare-Market The Internet of Things (IoT) Healthcare market was valued at USD 28.42 Billion in 2015, and is projected to reach USD 337.41 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 28.2% over the forecast period. Rising investments in healthcare IoT solutions, implementation of IoT solutions for cost reduction, and the growing penetration level of connected devices in the healthcare industry are few factors projected to spur the IoT healthcare industry.Growing awareness for advancement in AI technology and disease management tools such as remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) is also anticipated to gain traction globally. For instance, as per Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) report in 2014, over 30% of the U.S. population with chronic disorders focuses on homebound treatment with remote monitoring programs.Healthcare sector has started focusing on implementing IoT & AI technology to improve patient care by various technologies including interoperability of medical devices, digital patient experience, and scalable therapeutics. UroSense App by Future Path Medical for catheterized patients to check their body temperature and urine output, Niox Mino App by Aerocrine for routine measurements of Intric Oxide in a patient's breath are few apps launched by healthcare sector implementing IoT technology. Additionally, OpenAPS (Open Artificial Pancreas System) for closed loop insulin delivery, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system, connected inhalers, and ingestible sensors are few advanced IoT technologies implemented in healthcare industry.Nanobots & robotic flight stimulator surgeries, increasing demand for effective treatment, big data analytics in healthcare, and increasing awareness for upgraded technologies among patients are some of the trends shifting the global healthcare industry towards IoT applications. Moreover, increasing demand for low-cost disease management & treatment, accuracy of sensors, lack of exposure in emerging regions, and rising prevalence of chronic diseases are creating opportunities for the IoT healthcare market over the forecast period. Although, rising concerns about patient privacy and security breaches might affect the global market over the forecast period.Request For Free Sample Of The Report @On the basis of component, the report displays the revenue, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Medical Devices System & Software ServicesOn the basis of application, the report displays the revenue, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Telemedicine Medication Management Clinical Operations Inpatient Monitoring Connected Imaging OthersOn the basis of end-user, the report displays the revenue, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Hospitals, Surgical Centers, and Clinics Clinical Research Organization (CRO) Government and Defense Institutions Research and Diagnostics LaboratoriesRemote device management is anticipated to hold the largest revenue share in software and systems segment owing to rising awareness regarding tele-health technology, increasing demand for technologically advanced remote patient care programs, and growing prevalence chronic diseases.Hospitals and clinics have been anticipated to acquire the largest share over the forecast period. Increasing efficiency, growing focus on better patient care and reducing treatment cost, are few factors contributing to the industry growth. Furthermore, growing awareness regarding the benefits of IoT implementation in healthcare centers is also a substantial factor for the largest market share.Adoption of IoT in research and diagnostic centers enable reduction in diagnostic cost, improvement in patient care, and reduction of machine downtime accelerating the usage of connected equipment. Inpatient monitoring has been projected to emerge as the largest application segments owing to rising demand for continuous patient care services, real-time disease management, and effective treatment outcomes.Geographically, the global market report has been split into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa and Latin America, with revenue (Billion USD), market share and growth rate of IoT Healthcare market for these regions, from 2015 to 2025 (forecast), North America: U.S., Rest of North America Europe: Germany, France, UK, rest of Europe Asia Pacific: China, Japan, India and Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa: GCC, North Africa, South Africa and Rest of MEA Latin America: Brazil and Rest of Latin AmericaNorth America is estimated to dominate IoT healthcare market owing to few major contributing factors including data protection of EHR & IPR regulations and sophisticated healthcare IT infrastructure. Moreover, local presence of key players such as Microsoft & IBM, continuous R&D initiatives by the key players, and faster implementation of IoT in healthcare centers are also projected to boost the usage rate. Asia Pacific region is predicted to emerge as fastest growing region over the forecast period. Growing government initiatives for healthcare providers & other organizations to implement EHR & EMR technology is one of the major factors foreseen to boost the market.Obtain Report Details @Overview of market leaders in IoT Healthcare market by top manufacturers/players, with IoT Healthcare revenue (Billion USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including Medtronic Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., General Electric Company, International Business Machine (IBM) Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Proteus Digital Health Inc., AdhereTech Inc., Google, and Cisco Systems.R&D activities, new advanced product launches, mergers & acquisitions, and expansions are few strategies adopted by industry players to cater to the needs of the industry. For instance, in 2015, the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) collaborated with Medtronic PLC to provide IoT services for Medtronics medical devices data. A major chip manufacturer Qualcomm Life Inc. has acquired medical device data integration provider Capsule Technologie in 2014.About Us-Xpodence Research is a U.S. based Market Research Company and offers the most extensive collection of progressive surveying syndicated and customized research reports of various categories for private and public industries across the globe.We offer the comprehensive market research solution for all the industries by performing the in-depth study of industry trends, verticals globally. We believe in building an eternal bond with our customers through providing them inclusive research study both customized and syndicated based on their specific requirements.The organizations in every industry such as Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Consumable Goods, Food & Beverage and others demands a market-based solutions for various significant decisions based on productivity and output globally. Our services are tailored specifically to our clients by proposing them the potential outcome, based on our in-depth analysis and insights for exploring the growth strategies through providing the best possible decision for quality production.Contact Us-Xpodence ResearchUSA Office244 , Madison AvenueNew York City, NY - 10016United StatesToll Free +1- 844-445-2861Email-sales@xpodenceresearch.com LiDAR Drone: Market Technology Growth by Top Global Leader-Velodyne LiDAR, Leica Geosystems AG, SICK AG, 3D Robotics, DJI, Leica Geosystems, 3D Laser Mapping and Others Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011429168/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011429168/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011429168/discount LiDAR Drone Market Analysis to 2023 is a specialized and in-depth study of the LiDAR Drone industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global LiDAR Drone market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global LiDAR Drone market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the LiDAR Drone players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The recent report from Publisher on the Global LiDAR Drone Market Research has the complete assessment of the latest trends of the LiDAR Drone marketThe report focuses on the manufacturing challenges that are being faced and provides the solutions and the strategies that have been implemented to overcome the problemsDeep researches and analysis were done during the preparation of the reportThe information and the data that was collected was checked and validated by the industry expertsThe readers will find this report very helpful in understanding the LiDAR Drone market in depthThe prime objective of this report is to help the user understand the LiDAR Drone market in terms of its definition, segmentation, market potential, influential trends, and the challenges that the market is facingRequest a Sample Report atLiDAR Drone Market Players: Phoenix Aerial Systems Velodyne LiDAR; Inc Leica Geosystems AG SICK AG Riegl Laser Measurement Systems 3D Robotics Inc DJI FARO Technology Leica Geosystems 3D Laser MappingMajor applications are as follows:Corridor MappingArcheologyConstructionThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global LiDAR Drone market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall LiDAR Drone market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key LiDAR Drone market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the LiDAR Drone market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount atContact Us:Call: +91-20-67278686Email: info@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Aberro Creative, a Midland-based marketing agency, has been recognized as one of the 2018 Best Small Businesses in Michigan The company will be honored May 3 at an awards ceremony during the 14th annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business gala event in Lansing. Headquartered in downtown Midland, Aberro Creative offers creative marketing services including video production, web design, brand identity, graphic design, and strategic consulting. The business has worked with a wide range of clients such as Northwood University, Michigan Sugar, the Midland Center for the Arts, the Saginaw Art Museum, the City of Midland and the Saginaw Spirit. Aberro Creative was founded in 2013 by Dustin Neumeyer, Steve Cronk and Drew Schafer. Its a huge honor, said Neumeyer, When we moved to Midland and started the business, we werent sure what would happen. Four-and-a-half years later, weve hired a couple employees, have a new office in downtown Midland, and are listed among Michigans best small businesses. Its a great feeling. Companies recognized as a Best Small Business through Michigan Celebrates Small Business were selected by their regional Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Small Business Development Center or SmartZone. Honorees are selected based on their demonstration of successful growth and contributions to the economy of Michigan. Winners were selected by Michigan-based judges from the banking, economic development, entrepreneurship development, and venture capital communities. The Michigan Small Business Development Center is the managing partner of Michigan Celebrates Small Business. Michigan Celebrates Small Business was founded by the Michigan Small Business Development Center, Michigan Economic Development Corp., U.S. Small Business Administration - Michigan, Edward Lowe Foundation, Michigan Business Network, and the Small Business Association of Michigan. Information about Michigan Celebrates Small Business can be found at www.MichiganCelebrates.biz Saginaw Valley State University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI,) an enrichment program geared toward individuals age 50 and older, has received the Outstanding Humanities Organization Award from the Delta College Humanities Learning Center in recognition of its humanities-based classes and trips. "This award illustrates just how important OLLI is to the humanities in this region," said Katherine Ellison, the director of OLLI. "Our members truly enjoy learning about the humanities, and we deliver that for them. Gaylord Area Sports Round-up Here is a recap of the sports in the Gaylord area this past week. Dep. Press Secretary Raj Shaw wouldnt deny that the Trump campaign and Trumps lawyer broke the law by paying off Stormy Daniels, and he added that Trump doesnt believe that Daniels was physically threatened. Video of Shaw avoiding questions of illegality: The White House decides that it is a great idea to avoid questions about breaking the law while attacking Stormy Daniels. pic.twitter.com/NraDDyUvZf Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 26, 2018 Shaw said, I can only speak for the White House. The White House didnt engage in any wrong doing. The campaign or Mr. Cohen Yeah. The campaign or Mr. Cohen can address anything with respect to their actions. With respect to that interview, I will say the president strongly, clearly, and has consistently denied these underlying claims the only person whos been inconsistent is the one making the claims. Shaw later added that Trunp doesnt believe that Daniels was threatened: The White House dug the hole deeper by denying that Daniels was physically threatened. #StormyDaniels pic.twitter.com/MhBnVF8uDP Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 26, 2018 When asked about Stormy Daniels being physically threatened, the White House said, The president doesnt believe any of the claims that Mrs. Daniels made last night in the interview are accurate. The White House also refused to provide a basis for why Trump doesnt believe Daniels or confirm that he watched the 60 Minutes interview. The briefing was a disaster The White House contradicted itself at every turn. They claimed that Trump didnt watch the interview, but also said that Trump denied what Daniels said in the interview. Shaw said that the White House did nothing illegal, but he wouldnt say that Trump, his campaign, and Michael Cohen did nothing illegal. It is impossible to imagine a briefing that could have gone worse. The White House kept the Stormy Daniels story alive. Trump is using the White House to attack and discredit an adult film star as he denies a criminal cover-up of the affair. The White House would have been better off saying nothing at all, because what they only made the situation worse for Trump. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. 1.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump asked attorneys Tom Buchanan and Dan Webb to represent him in the Russia investigation, and they both turned him down. The Daily Beast reported on a statement from the latest lawyers to tell Trump no: President Trump reached out to Dan Webb and Tom Buchanan to provide legal representation, they said in a statement. They were unable to take on the representation due to business conflicts. However they consider the opportunity to represent the President to be the highest honor and they sincerely regret that they cannot do so. They wish the president the best and believe he has excellent representation in Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. The business conflicts that the lawyers were referring to could be the same reservation that has stopped other profile lawyers from representing Trump. The President doesnt pay his bills, and no law firm wants to represent a client who is going to cost them tens of millions of dollars by not paying for their services. The other problem that is causing any attorney who is worth their salt to flee Trump is that he refuses to listen to his lawyers. Trump is a worst of all worlds client. He isnt going to listen. He is going to make it impossible to defend him, and he isnt going to pay. President or not, it is easy to see why no attorney would want to represent him. Donald Trump is outgunned against Robert Mueller. The Special Counsel has some of the top legal minds in specific areas of prosecution on his team. Meanwhile, Trump cant get the conspiracy theorist from Fox News to work for him. If Trump goes down for Russia, his inability to get the sort of legal representation that a president in trouble needs will be one of the main reasons why. Growing up listening to the likes of Johnny Cash and Tom Petty, Charlie Overbey brings grassy rock n roll to the table thats reminiscent of the music of his inspirations. Lynwood might not be the first place one might expect to raise an alt-country career from the earth, but Overbeys career has grown out of rocking the Southern California circuit with his outlaw grit. Blossoming from there, the Americana artist has garnered fans across the country who are looking forward to the release of his forthcoming album, Broken Arrow, on 20 April. Performing with Miranda Lee Richards, Slip Away is the latest single from off of the incoming LP. Its a poignant, dark-laced number in which Overbey bears his whole heart, dedicating his emotional duet to a departed friend. The songs gentle sway lets listeners slip into its powerful performance easy as Overbey and Richards emotive delivery gains steam as the arrangement runs its course. Richards warm whiskey vocals pair perfectly with Overbeys grit, taking the piece to stirring new heights. Overbey tells PopMatters, Slip Away was written directly following the loss of someone in my deep inner circle that was ruled to be an accident but to me seemed a suicide. I tend to like to leave things to the imagination and incorporate, especially in dark times elements of hope. I did not feel the need to mention suicidenobody needs to be thinking about or even reminded that this is an option. I do think that in times of despair, people tend to find warmth in darkness, which is a trick of the mind as referred to in my favorite line in the song: And then you gimme that look / yeah you gimme that look, like youre never comin back again / like youve crawled down into a deep dark hole / and its warm like the house of a friend. A mind is a strange place which can turn dark to darker or vice versa with ease. Slip Away is definitely one of the deepest songs Ive ever written and a personal favorite. Its a somber, heavy song about loss and was a very tough one to deliver while tracking the vocal. Miranda Lee Richards who sang this duet with me was amazing to work with on this track. She was perfect for it and I knew it before she ever sang a note! Shortly after the release of Broken Arrow, Overbey will be opening for outlaw country star Nikki Lane on 28 April in Pioneertown, CA. Tickets are available here. Off to the Races, Jukebox the Ghosts fifth album, begins with good news for any fans of the bands first two records. Jumpstarted is a ridiculously ornate, complicated song that somehow bridges the gap between the theatrical rock of Queen and the hip-hop-inflected piano rock of Matt and Kim. Yes, after two albums of leaning increasingly heavily into the pop side of their sound, Off to the Races finds the band reclaiming some of the weirder sensibilities that made their early work such a treat. And it doesnt get weirder than Jumpstarted, which opens with a multilayered harmony and a simple piano accompaniment as Ben Thornewill sings Strictly business, nothing more! After 20 seconds the harmonies fall away, and Thornewill sings a solo over a lightning fast piano figure that cruises up and down the keyboard over a simple left-hand accompaniment. This section concludes with Thornewill pleading with the woman of his affection to Take my advice / And run while you still can. At the word can the song kicks into its main piano-pop groove, with a strong backbeat from drummer Jesse Kristin. As the song continues the vocal harmonies flit in and out (the band reportedly recorded over 100 different vocal tracks for this single song) while the fast piano figure also returns here and there. The song even contains a pair of what are essentially hip-hop breakdowns between the verses, with groove-heavy beats from Kristin and more dense harmony vocals instead of rapping. In just four minutes and 20 seconds, the song also finds time for a synth solo from Thornewill and a guitar solo from Tommy Siegel. After all this, the song ends with Thornewill reiterating Take my advice / And run while you still-, without finishing the sentence. If that description makes Jumpstarted sound like an absolute mess, well, it kind of is. It took several listens for the song to snap into focus and for me, as a listener, to get on the same page with what Thornewill is doing in the song. But its as full of strong musical hooks as it is oddball left turns, and that combination makes it a delightful experience eventually. Its a big swing for Jukebox the Ghost, which is great, because the biggest chance the band took on their last record, 2014s Jukebox the Ghost, was letting drummer Kristin sing a little bit for the first time despite knowing he has a below-average voice. The rest of the album doesnt get anywhere near as strange as Jumpstarted, but it sets a mood of daring that lingers in small ways throughout. First single Everybodys Lonely is a meta-reflection about Whys every song about love / Or drinking too much / Maybe thats because / Everybodys lonely. Its similar in subject matter to 2014s Hollywood, but this song cuts a bit deeper lyrically. Musically its more interesting thanks to a Broadway-inspired 6/8 intro and a couple of intentionally weird instrumental breaks in between the big sing-along chorus. Thornewill also finds success with Fred Astaire, which has a great, herky-jerky vocal structure in the verses. The chorus is interestingly arranged, too, with Thornewills vocals and handclaps providing one hook and a simple but catchy piano question and answer figure filling in the spaces between the singing. Tommy Siegels three songwriting contributions to Off the Races range from middling to great. People Go Home is a run of the mill power pop song about the day-to-day grind of a working adult. People go to work, and / People go home, is not a great refrain, and the song never really comes around to an interesting point. If theres anything notable about the song, its that Siegel is playing a full bass part in addition to his usual guitar duties and that Thornewill seems entirely absent from the track aside from backing vocals. Boring covers adjacent territory, as Siegel begins by complaining about how his friends are having kids and moving out to the suburbs. Everyone is boring / Everyone is lame / Everybody thinks theyre not the same, goes the first half of the chorus, but its immediately followed by, Lets get old and boring / Lets both become lame / Get a house and kids and change your name. Suburban malaise is hardly new territory for power-pop, but Siegel is genuinely wrestling with the young adults disdain for suburban trappings and acknowledging the appeal of those trappings as he becomes not so young. Its also worth noting that Thornewill is present here, playing a very simple bassline on the piano. Siegels album highlight is Diane, an upbeat, acoustic guitar-driven track that could easily pass for a late 90s standout from Fountains of Wayne or Phantom Planet. This is one of those songs where the verses are just as catchy as the refrain, and the relatively sparse arrangement makes the bass guitar very welcome here, as well as the subtle synth backing from Thornewill. As for the rest of Thornewills tracks, he continues to make interesting sonic choices on his songs that make even the boldest pop statements just a bit off-kilter. Time and I, with its huge chorus and omnipresent Ah ahh ahh ah backing vocals, could have been maximum hooks for its entire three minutes. Instead, the song has a real sense of dynamics, starting quietly with the Ah ahh ahh ah melody in the piano before the rest of the band comes in. The presence of a simple snare rim click as the only percussion in large sections of the song is also a striking choice. There are also prepared piano and pizzicato string breaks sprinkled throughout. See You Soon could be a typical piano power ballad, but Thornewill again spikes the song with smart arrangement ideas, spreading his opening bittersweet piano melody around acoustic guitar and several other instruments. It keeps the song from being an earnest but familiar slog. Jukebox the Ghosts second album, Everything Under the Sun, was so strong that it seemed to portend a long career as a band with a big cult following. But then Safe Travels didnt quite live up to those expectations and Jukebox the Ghost at times seemed to be cynically chasing one-hit pop bands like Capital Cities for chart success. Now the band seems to have found a level of equilibrium between their penchant for pop hooks and their diverse set of other influences. Off to the Races is a big creative success for Thornewill, Siegel, and Kristin, and it should please existing fans and possibly draw in new ones. Jimbo Mathus is quoted in press materials for Beasts of Burgundy as saying, Its not a reunion, its a revival. Thats probably the first thing to know about the first studio album from Squirrel Nut Zippers in 18 years. Founding members such as Tom Maxwell and Katherine Whalen, nor frequent guest artist Andrew Bird, are not part of this go-around. Beasts of Burgundy consists of the live lineup that came together in 2016 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hot, which Mathus and percussionist/co-founder Chris Phillips thought sounded pretty lively. Does it make a difference? Its hard to say, as Squirrel Nut Zippers often felt like either a loose musical collective or at least a band with a strong nucleus that could weather significant lineup changes. Beasts of Burgundy certainly seems to pick right up where 2000s Bedlam Ballroom left off. Conglomeration of Curios opens the album in perfect Tom Waits carnival barker cadence as Mathus invites the listener to step up and see the sword swallower, the snake charmer, the oddities, and curios. The sinister low-key opening quickly blasts forth into the raucous celebration of Karnival Joe (From Kokomo), which with its homunculus in a jar imagery and manic tempo falls right in step with the best songs in the Zippers catalogue. Throughout, Beasts of Burgundy shows a deep allegiance to the vibe of New Orleans. Mathus has spent plenty of time exploring the music of the deeper South not just with his own eclectic solo records, but also by producing records by the likes of J.D. Wilkes and Shinyribs (Gourds frontman Kevin Russells solo side project). Also, much of the current lineup was recruited from the New Orleans area, so while Squirrel Nut Zippers swing revival roots are still evident, Beasts of Burgundy also dips into Cuban influences (Hey Shango!), bluesy workouts (Use What Mama Gave You), torch songs (Fade), and moody instrumentals (the two-parter Something Wicked). Theres no doubt that the bands musical chops have only improved over its lifetime, but the Zippers real saving grace has always been the slightly off-center angle from which they attack their best material. Earlier hits like Ghost of Stephen Foster and Hell sounded as if one of those old marijuana exploitation films like Reefer Madness had come to life on stage and gone right off the rails, and that same demented and slightly dark vein can be found threading its way through Beasts of Burgundy. In the bands early days coming out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that sense of irreverence was held against them as some sort of scarlet letter of inauthenticity. Now, though, its just one of those things you expect from Squirrel Nut Zippers. Its safe to say that if the bands mainstays were dilettantes or musical tourists in this style, theyd have probably moved on by now. Beasts of Burgundy isnt perfect. The joke of Rusty Trombone gets old pretty quickly, and the album lets its initial burst of energy relax into something much more laid-back as it closes. The two Something Wicked instrumentals signal a shift in tone for the records second half, but it doesnt come together as cohesively as the records first five songs or so. Still, from beginning to end, theres plenty here for fans of Squirrel Nut Zippers to like. Some of the faces have changed over the years, and so has some of the sounds, but Beasts of Burgundy holds plenty of what Zippers fans are looking for. Food editor and chief critic Eating all of the chicken livers just as fast as I can. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for The Post and Courier. She previously covered the same beat for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com in Michigan. When shes not reporting, Angie enjoys teaching yoga and exploring the outdoors. Christopher Bachochin, a licensed pharmacist who volunteers as a gun-carrying state constable, stood next to a car that lurched backward during a traffic stop last weekend in Florence. He started shooting. He and two city officers were not standing in the car's path as it reversed and struck an empty police cruiser. But Bachochin fired repeatedly toward the driver's door. Eight shots went off, wounding the man behind the wheel. Those details emerged Tuesday as the Florence Police Department released video of the episode that Mayor Stephen Wukela dubbed "troubling." The shooting came amid years of nationwide scrutiny of law officers' use of force against black suspects. The constable is white, and the motorist is black. It also raises fresh questions about the training of South Carolina law enforcement officers who are faced with deciding whether to target moving cars that might pose a danger to people. The two police officers with Bachochin had special training to make that decision; they did not shoot. "I will tell you that the whole incident is troubling," Wukela said, "and we have confidence that the State Law Enforcement Division will investigate this matter and treat it fully and fairly." A 2015 Post and Courier analysis that reviewed more than 200 police shootings found that one in four cases involved officers firing at moving vehicles, often when no one stood in the vehicles' paths. Moved by the findings, state officials created a program offered by the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy to train officers on such situations. The two Florence officers had gone through that training in the past six months. But constables such as Bachochin, though certified by the state after attending classes at technical schools, do not attend training at the academy. The motorist, who was not named, was expected to survive his injuries. SLED is gathering evidence to determine whether the shooting was justified. Video: Constable fires on motorist in Florence, S.C. State Rep. Terry Alexander, a Democrat whose district covers the neighborhood where the shooting happened, questioned the use of force. "When someone is trying to get away and no one is in harm's way, you don't have authority to shoot," he said. "That goes against all law enforcement training." Bachochin had worked as a Darlington police officer for five years until 2003. The reason for his departure from a full-time career in law enforcement was not clear in police academy records. He has been licensed as a pharmacist since 2010 at a Sumter hospital, according to state filings. He worked in his spare time as a constable for the past four years in Florence, where such volunteers are often used for crowd and traffic control, officials have said. Bachochin was required to maintain certification requirements that are tracked by SLED. The Florence police force had to give updates to SLED every six months about its use of constables. The post allowed Bachochin to carry a gun and make arrests. But about 11 p.m. Saturday, he was riding with Officer Edward Sieban to keep up his certification, city officials have said. Two body-worn cameras and video from a police cruiser captured portions of what happened. They stopped a white Cadillac that had crossed the center line near Waverly Avenue and Sunset Drive, an officer said during the stop. The sedan pulled into a driveway. For a brief time, the officers and the driver discussed paperwork for the car, which had a temporary license plate. The motorist said it belonged to him. Sieban asked the driver several times whether he had any weapons in the car. The driver became visibly agitated. "No sir, why are you asking me if there's weapons in the car," the driver said. "I'm worried about weapons. We've got a problem with weapons in this area," Sieban said. "Can't you just go ahead and (unintelligible) my ticket," the driver said. At that point, Sieban told the driver he smelled an odor coming from the car. "Is there any kind of drugs in the car?" Sieban said. "I can smell a little bit of weed." The driver said he had no drugs. But when Sieban asked him to get out, he refused. "I need you to step out of the car," the officer said. By that point, the constable stood closest to the driver's door with Officer Knicoby Burgess nearby. Sieban stood on the passenger side. As the Cadillac's reverse lights illuminated, Bachochin pulled out his gun. Bachochin leaned against the driver's side with his left hand. "Stop. Stop," Sieban yelled. But the car jerked backward, its front end swinging toward the constable, who backpedaled farther off to the side. The car hit the cruiser, jolting the camera inside. Bachochin fired again. And again. And again, until the car stopped briefly, then sped forward across some grass. The officers caught up with the car two minutes later. The door was open, the driver was gone and there was blood inside the vehicle. The driver was later found and hospitalized. Florence police and city officials have said little to explain why the constable opened fire. They had not made public any police reports. But by Tuesday, state investigators had done enough interviews to warrant the videos' release, the mayor said. He and the city's police chief, Allen Heidler, gathered for a news conference but withheld comments about the footage. "It speaks for itself," the mayor said. COLUMBIA Democratic gubernatorial candidate Marguerite Willis named state Sen. John Scott as her running mate Tuesday, touting a historic opportunity to pair a woman and an African-American on the ticket for South Carolina's top two posts. "When I thought of the kind of lieutenant governor I wanted to run with, I knew I wanted someone with integrity, someone with a history of serving their community, someone who has been a voice for change in our state," said Willis, a Florence antitrust attorney. Scott checks all the boxes, Willis said. First elected to the state House of Representatives in 1990, Scott served in that chamber until 2008 before winning a seat in the Senate. Outside of the Legislature, Scott owns a real estate company in his hometown of Columbia. "I know in my heart he's the right man for the job," Willis said of Scott. By nominating their joint ticket, Willis said Democrats would have a chance to reflect "the true nature of our character as a state." Scott said he was happy to join the ticket. "South Carolina is lucky you're running," Scott told Willis at a news conference outside the Governor's Mansion, praising her business background and grasp of policy issues. "And as Marvin Gaye said, 'It takes two.'" Until U.S. Sen. Tim Scott won his Senate seat in 2014, South Carolina had not elected a black candidate statewide since Reconstruction. Republican Nikki Haley, now serving as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, became the state's first female governor when she won the 2010 race. Willis is the second candidate for governor to name a running mate ahead of the June 12 primary elections. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster selected Travelers Rest businesswoman Pamela Evette in November. Candidates are not required by law to choose a running mate until August. This is the first election that puts governor and lieutenant governor on the same ticket, a change approved by voters in 2012. Two other Democrats are running against Willis for the party's nomination: state Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, and Charleston businessman Phil Noble. Four Republicans are challenging McMaster in the Republican primary. Gregory Yee covers the city of Charleston. He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine. Chloe Johnson covers the coastal environment and climate change for the Post and Courier. She's always looking for a good excuse to hop on a boat. Deanna Pan is an enterprise reporter for The Post and Courier, where she writes about education and other issues. She grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati and graduated with a degree in English from Ohio State University in 2012. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. You are the owner of this article. PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 13:00:48 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Alliance Mining Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Alliance Mining Corp. (TSX Venture:ALM). has issued a press release with the following headline:Alliance First Drill Hole Completed Shows All the Characteristics of Gold Mineralization Bissett Gold Camp, ManitobaTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Alliance Mining Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Alliance Mining Corp.Source: Alliance Mining Corp. (TSX Venture: ALM, ISIN: CA01863P1080)Date: March 27, 2018Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Alliance Mining Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) Amyloidosis Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trails Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018 Amyloidosis Pipeline Drugs Assessment PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 11:53:47 Press Information Precision Business Insights Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX satya Lead Marketing +1-866-598-1553 email https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com # 521 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553 Amyloidosis Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trails Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018Amyloidosis Pipeline Drugs AssessmentOverview:Amyloidosis is a rare disease, which occurs due to deposition of amyloid in organs. It is an abnormal protein, produced in the bone marrow and accumulates at any part of the tissue or organ. Amyloidosis may affect different parts of the body in different people. Amyloidosis affects heart, kidney, liver, spleen and nervous system.Amyloidosis is diagnosed with the laboratory tests by identifying the abnormality in the protein in blood and urine. Furthermore, imaging techniques and biopsy may be performed to diagnose the disease and presence of amyloidosis.Treatment is given to relive the symptoms and limit the further production of amyloid. Treatment depends on the type of amyloidosis. Chemotherapeutic agents are used to treat the immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis and therapies may include autologous blood stem cell transplant. AA amyloidosis is treated by treating underlying condition for example, anti inflammatory drugs for treating rheumatoid arthritis. For Hereditary amyloidosis, liver transplant may be an option.A sample of this report is available upon request @Segmentation:Amyloidosis pipeline drugs are segmented based on route of administration, trial phase,and companyBy type, Amyloidosis pipeline drugs are segmented into AL Amyloidosis AA amyloidosis OthersBy trial phase, Amyloidosis pipeline drugs are segmented into Pre-clinical phase Phase-I Phase II Phase-IIIBy company, Amyloidosis pipeline drugs are segmented into GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC (U.K.) AMGEN INC. (U.S.) ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., (U.S.) BELLUS HEALTH INC. (CANADA) ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS (U.S.) JOHNSON & JOHNSON SERVICES INC. (U.S.) IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (U.S.)To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Space Analysis: In September 2017 Sanofi and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals reported positive results in late-stage trial of a treatment for hereditary ATTE Amyloidosis patients with polyneuropathyReport Description:AmyloidosisPipeline Drugs Assessment report studies the various therapeutics under clinical development for Amyloidosis treatment along with targets for various drug candidate. The report provides plethora of information pertaining to trail phases, companies involved in the Amyloidosis pipeline drugsdevelopment. This report studies the dynamics of the AmyloidosisPipeline Drugs i.e. drivers, challenges and opportunities which are significantly impacting the product development. The report provides various information pertaining the clinical trials such as designation, grants, patents, and technology among others. Moreover, the report on Amyloidosis pipeline drugs assessment comprehensively presents the geographic location, trial status information along with key players involved in the therapeutics development.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: Provides the information related to universities and research institutes working in the therapeutics development Report comprehensively covers the all active and discontinued studies Studies the entire pipeline with special emphasis on companies actively involved in the therapeutics development Presents the prominent targets for drug development in each stage of clinical trial Provides the in-depth analysis on each drug candidates in the clinical trial phasesGet access to full summary @ This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 02:48:53 Press Information Australian Barbell Company 52 Bond St Mordialloc VIC 3195 AUSTRALIA Australian Barbell Company 03 9580 5945 email https://www.australianbarbellco.com/ Published by Cam Wilkes 006499503888 e-mail ' ' . c2c_truncate_link("www.pureseo.co.nz", "0", "", ".") . '' # 326 Words 52 Bond St Mordialloc VIC 3195 AUSTRALIA03 9580 5945Cam Wilkes006499503888 Australian Barbell Company announced its partnership with the NSW Waratahs as their Official Strength and Conditioning Provider for the 2018 Super Rugby season. The company said in a recent Facebook post: Were excited to be partnered with such a strong club and look forward to supporting them with the best strength and condition gear in Australia. Go Tahs!The 2018 Super Rugby season is the 23rd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The finals commence with qualifying finals on Saturday, July 21, while the final will be played on Saturday, August 4. The NSW Waratahs kicked off the 2018 Super Rugby season with a winning home match against the Stormers at Allianz Stadium on 24 February.The Australian Barbell Company offers an extensive range of strength and conditioning products to the health and fitness industries. It offers an extensive range of premium, commercial quality dumbbells, barbells, weightlifting, functional training, powerlifting, Olympic lifting, Crossfit, strength, conditioning, rehabilitation and prehabiliation equipment. Since its inception the company has been innovating, expanding and perfecting its product range to meet the fitness industries ever changing requirements.It is a leading specialist supplier of weightlifting and strength training equipment. Proudly celebrating 75 years in business, Australian Barbell Company has established a reputation as a leading manufacturer and supplier of gym equipment. Their onsite engineering facility specialises in producing premium quality equipment and custom-made products with fast turnaround times.The company supplies its extensive product range to a diverse customer base including commercial gymnasiums, elite training venues, franchised gymnasium chains, personal training studios, schools, the defence force, crossfit boxes, Olympic and Powerlifting clubs, home users and national sporting clubs.The company is owned and operated by the third generation of the Langford family from a large manufacturing and warehousing plant in Mordialloc, Melbourne, Australia.To contact Australian Barbell Company call 03 9580 5945 or email websales@ australianbarbellco.com From more information: https://www.australianbarbellco.com/ PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 13:00:53 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Azarga Metals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---White Rock, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Azarga Metals Corp. (TSX Venture:AZR). has issued a press release with the following headline:Azarga Metals Increases Inferred Resources For Unkur with Updated Mineral Resource EstimateTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Azarga Metals Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Azarga Metals Corp.Source: Azarga Metals Corp. (TSX Venture: AZR, OTC Pink: EUUNF, FWB: TGPP, WKN: A2AKWX, ISIN: CA05478A1093)Date: March 27, 2018Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Azarga Metals Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 10:13:01 Yara International ASA first quarter 2018 results will be released on Friday 20 April 2018. The results will be available at www.yara.com from 08:00 CEST. The results will be presented at 09:30 CEST by President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether and CFO Petter stb at Yara headquarters in Drammensveien 131, Oslo. The presentation will be held in English, and will be webcast at www.yara.com. If you would like to attend the presentation in Oslo, please confirm with an e-mail to ir@yara.com by 19 April 2018. There will also be a conference call at 15:00 CEST the same day with an opportunity to ask questions to Yara's management. Please use this link for online registration for the conference call: http://emea.directeventreg.com/registration/3174477 1. Participants must register in advance of the conference using the link provided. Upon registering, each participant will be provided with Participant Dial In Numbers, Direct Event Passcode and unique Registrant ID. 2. Call reminders will also be sent to registered participants via email the day prior to the event. 3. In the 10 minutes prior to call start time, Participants will need to use the conference access information provided in the email received at the point of registering. Note: Due to regional restrictions some participants may receive Operator assistance when joining this conference call and will not be automatically connected. A replay of the conference call will be available from 20 April 18:00 until 1 June 17:00 CEST. Please use the Dial-in Numbers listed below and Conference ID 3174477: Norway: 80016534 UK FreeCall: 08009531533 USA: 1(866)247 4222 International: 44(0)1452 55 0000 Yours faithfully for Yara International ASA Thor Giver Head of Investor Relations About Yara In collaboration with customers and partners, Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet, to fulfill its vision of a collaborative society, a world without hunger and a planet respected. Our crop nutrition solutions and precision farming offerings allow farmers to increase yields and improve product quality while reducing environmental impact. Our environmental and industrial solutions improve air quality and reduce emissions, and are key ingredients in the production of a wide range of products. We foster an open culture of diversity and inclusion that promotes the safety and integrity of our employees, contractors, business partners, and society at large. Founded in 1905 to solve emerging famine in Europe, Yara has a worldwide presence with more than 16,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries. In 2017, Yara reported revenues of USD 11.4 billion. www.yara.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Yara International ASA via Globenewswire FDA Approved Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 09:08:59 Press Information Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Mr Shah CEO 2067016702 email http://www.coherentmarketinsights.com # 607 Words 1001 4th Ave,#3200CEO2067016702 Prolonged struggle between manufacturers and regulatory bodies restraints growth of the growthManufacturers and regulatory bodies are the essential parts of healthcare ecosystem and cooperation between them is must for any development. Manufacturers drive innovation whereas regulatory authorities insures safety and efficacy of the product or process. However, the direct-to-consumer genetic testing devices market has seen very little cooperation. For instance, 23andMe was started in 2006 and the company started selling its direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices in 2007 and was even named Invention of the Year by Time magazine in 2008. However, in 2013, FDA ordered 23andMe to discontinue marketing its personal genome service (PGS), as the company had not obtained the legal regulatory approval. The company completely denied the charge and sold their products till 2015. In 2017, the company got first FDA approval for genetic tests for 10 diseases. The hindrance between the manufacturers and regulatory bodies restraints the market growth.Key players operating in the global direct-to-consumer genetic testing devices market include 23andMe, Pathway Genomics, Color Genomics, Counsyl, Inc., deCode genetics, Inc., Map My Gene, and GenePartner.Get The Holistic SAMPLE With TOC:Easy accessibility along with increased incidences of chronic disease such as cancer, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons is expected to drive growth of the marketGenetic testing requires patients or healthy individuals to visit trained medical professionals such as doctors, nurses or counselors, in order to get their test interpretations of the result. This process has now become unnecessary or voluntarily with the introduction of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices. This has significantly cut down the cost associated with testing and increasing accessibility of such tests to potential patients.Increasing awareness about health, especially in developed economies such as U.S., Canada, and U.K. among others, and increasing incidences of chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons is majorly contributing to growth of the market. The reasons for this reactiveness varies with geography. For instance, in developed economies such as U.S. and Germany, aging population are more prone to chronic conditions, which include cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders. In 2017, FDA approved direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing for 10 diseases, including Alzheimers and Parkinsons. This has further certified direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices for these conditions, which in turn, is expected to increase the use of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests among patients suffering from the medical conditions.Limited accessibility to healthcare facilities, mainly in emerging economies such as Brazil, India, and China, is the major reason for low adoption of advanced technologies such as genetic tests. However, introduction of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices is expected to solve this problem as customers can use direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing devices at their home.Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing is advantageous for manufacturers as it gives direct access to them to appeal to the customer and maximize their revenue. However, this testing provides easy access to the customer while chances of misinterpretation are really high.The U.S. FDA has kept these tests in Tier 3 category due to high chances of misinterpretation of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. According to FDA, Tier 3 category means that there is no clinical validity or utility of such applications in healthy individuals in the population.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentchronicle.com Endometriosis Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trails Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018 Endometriosis Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 14:36:26 Press Information precisionbusinessinsights Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX Satya Lead Marketing +1-866-598-1553 email https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com # 662 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553 Endometriosis Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trails Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018Endometriosis Disease Pipeline Drugs AssessmentOverview:Endometriosis is a condition in which the inner ling of uterus develops outside of uterus. Endometriosis is often painful and most commonly involves fallopian tubes, ovaries,and tissue that lining the pelvis. But, rarely endometriosis spreadsbeyond the pelvic organs. Exact cause of endometriosis is not known. Possible causes may be retrograde menstruation, embryonic cell transformation, surgical scar implantation, transformation of peritoneal cells or may be immune system disorders.Endometriosis generally diagnosed by pelvic exam, ultrasound or through laparoscopy. Endometriosis treated with medications or surgery. Generally medications are preferred over surgical procedure. Medications include NSAIDs to manage pain, and hormones.A sample of this report is available upon request @Segmentation:By route of administration, endometriosis pipeline drugs are segmented into Oral Parenteral OthersBy Trial Phase, Endometriosis pipeline drugs are segmented as: Preclinical Trials Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3By Company, Endometriosis pipeline drugs are segmented as: AbbVie Inc. (U.S.) ObsEva (Switzerland) Bayer AG (Germany) Repros Therapeutics Inc. (U.S.)To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Space Analysis:Many of the companies are focused on the treatment of pain management associated with the endometriosis. Furthermore, companies are adopting collaborations to develop the new drugs for the treatment of endometriosis. For instance, In October 2012, Evotec AG and Bayer AG entered into five-yearmulti-target collaboration to develop clinical candidates for treatment of endometriosis. In July 2017, companies have announced extension of its alliance toend of 2018 along with milestone payment by Bayer AG. In addition, composition patent of Lupron is going to expire in 2019 and it may open gateway for the generic entry. In November 2017, Abbive Inc. announced detailed results from two replicate phase 3 clinical studies evaluating the long-termefficiency and safety of elagolix, orally administered gonadotrophin-releasinghormone being evaluated for endometriosis associated with pain. The results found to be positive and the results, and other additional abstracts, were presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress & Expo (ASRM) in San Antonio, In November 2017, ObsEva SA announcedcompletion of patient recruitment of Phase 2b EDELWEISS clinical trial of itaGnRHreceptor antagonist, OBE2109 for the treatment of pain associated with endometriosis.Report Description:Endometriosis Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment report studies the various therapeutics under clinical development for Endometriosis treatment along with targets for various drug candidate. The report provides plethora of information pertaining to trail phases, companies involved in the Endometriosis disease pipeline drugs development. This report studies the dynamics of the Endometriosis Disease Pipeline Drugs i.e. drivers, challenges,and opportunities which are significantly impacting the product development. The report provides various information pertaining the clinical trials such as designation, grants, patents, and technology among others. Moreover, the report on Endometriosis disease pipeline drugs assessment comprehensively presents the geographic location, trial status information along with key players involved in the therapeutics development.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: Provides the information related to universities and research institutes working in the therapeutics development Report comprehensively covers the all active and discontinued studies Studies the entire pipeline with special emphasis on companies actively involved in the therapeutics development Presents the prominent targets for drug development in each stage of clinical trial Provides the in-depth analysis of each drug candidates in the clinical trial phasesGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs. PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 10:14:02 Operator launches Lucha Libre 2, the latest action-packed slot from Realtime Gaming Join the Action Down Mexico Way at Springbok Casino GameOn Marketing Ltd Sarah Blackburn, Director 0034628499459 Mexico is famous for food and fiesta, but now players at South Africas favourite online casino, SpringbokCasino.co.za, can experience wrestling Mexican-style with Realtime Gamings latest all action slot. Following hot on the heels of its sensational prequel Lucha Libre, Lucha Libre 2 features more authentic sound and colourful graphics, putting players right in the heat of the action with a VIP ringside seat with every single spin. This 5x3 reel, 30 payline slot sees Taco Malo go head to head against a fearsome new competitor the hulking Nacho Friend and offers a whole host of hot and fiery features that are sure to spice up every single game. When Wrestler Wilds cover their reels, players will either multiply prizes by up to x10 or jump onto other reels. Plus, players can choose from three slick new finishing moves to help them triumph in the final showdown against Nacho Friend. Success in the ring means feature bonuses galore, with increased prize multipliers and the power-packed Fist of Fury spins up for grabs! Springbok Casino Manager, Daniel Van Wyke says: Alongside food and fiesta Lucha Libre is a Mexican national tradition, packed with thrills and spills. Were inviting players to join in the action with the newest and most exciting Lucha Libre game yet. With Lucha Libre 2 theres sure to be Mucho Mayhem as the Fists of Fury go flying offering players a chance to be crowned king of the ring and take home some spectacular prizes. Lucha Libre 2 will launch on Springbok on 18th April 2018 and can be accessed via download, instant-play and mobile. *** ENDS *** Editors notes: About Springbok Casino: www.springbokcasino.co.za View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327005 Linas Agro Group AB has received the notification of manager on transactions in securities by the company (see attachment). Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release. PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 15:00:32 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Lincoln Mining Corporation--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Lincoln Mining Corporation (TSX Venture:LMG). has issued a press release with the following headline:Lincoln Mining Continues to Advance Permitting at Pine Grove in NevadaTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Lincoln Mining Corporation, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Lincoln Mining CorporationSource: Lincoln Mining Corporation (TSX Venture: LMG, OTC Pink: LNCLF, FWB: ZMG1)Date: March 27, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Lincoln Mining Corporation and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 06:10:25 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Maxtech Ventures Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE:MVT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Maxtech Signs Letter of Interest on 40,000 Hectares in Par[[99]], BrazilTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Maxtech Ventures Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Maxtech Ventures Inc.Source: Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE: MVT, OTC Pink: MTEHF, WKN: A1W3JE, ISIN: CA5777282073)Date: March 27, 2018Time: 12:10 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Maxtech Ventures Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 16:03:01 SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While nearly three quarters of organizations feel confident in their ability to achieve General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance for their recruiting efforts by the May 25th deadline, most still harbor concerns about how the new regulations will impact their hiring process, according to new research from Lever, the recruiting software for more than 1,500 leading companies around the world. Lever surveyed 500 professionals across the EU and US directly involved in preparing their organizations for GDPR compliance for recruiting. According to the survey results, 70 percent of respondents believe they will be prepared for GDPR compliant recruiting by May 25th, but preparation doesn't come overnight, or in a silo. Nearly a third of respondents say they are investing significant time and resources into becoming GDPR compliant and 73 percent are working with external or internal legal counsel to prepare. Despite this high level of preparedness, 61 percent of respondents are concerned about the impact of GDPR on their recruiting and hiring processes, including how they source potential candidates. Respondents were also either 'very concerned' or 'extremely concerned' about adhering to specific requirements included in the regulations, such as: Maintaining full records of recruiting processing activities (52 percent) Determining when to get consent from candidates (50 percent) Determining how long to store a candidate's personal data before deleting it or obtaining consent (47 percent) Selecting software vendors who will enter into GDPR compliant contracts and meet data security requirements (46 percent) Regardless of these concerns, the overwhelming majority (90 percent) of respondents who are already engaged in sourcing will continue to do so under GDPR. "The GDPR deadline is quickly approaching, but few are discussing the potential impact these regulations will have on how organizations source, recruit and hire their talent," said Mike Walsh, Director of Product Marketing of Lever. "We hope this research serves as a catalyst within organizations to begin discussing in detail how they will move forward with sourcing candidates under GDPR and the lengths they will go to protect candidate data. At Lever, we have spent significant time working on these issues on behalf of our clients and hope to continue to serve as a resource for recruiters worldwide." Lever's research also revealed some organizations are unsure how to adhere to regulations related to candidate data. According to the GDPR, organizations must identify their own "lawful basis" for processing personal candidate data. For recruiting, the most common lawful bases are consent and legitimate interest, but it can be a grey area for many recruiters. For example, respondents are split regarding when to collect consent from candidates. Only 40 percent of respondents will collect consent to contact for jobs they did not apply to, 37 percent will collect consent in order to email candidates they source and 25.5 percent will collect consent when they plan to keep data from candidates who were in their ATS before May 25th, 2018. Another grey area the survey addressed was determining how long to store candidate data. While GDPR requires companies to only keep personal data for "no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed," the data showed great variation in how organizations are interpreting this obligation. Some companies will delete candidate data as soon as the job they were tied to closes (23 percent), while others plan to retain candidate data for a year or more (23 percent). The full research report can be downloaded at this link. Methodology From March 2 - 8, 2018, Lever surveyed 500 professionals across the EU and US who are directly involved in preparing their organizations for GDPR compliance for recruiting. About Lever Built from the conviction that recruiting is the responsibility of everyone at the company, Lever's applicant tracking and sourcing technology draws the entire team together to source, nurture, interview, and hire top talent through effortless collaboration. Lever has been intentionally designed with integrated ATS and CRM functionality, and features a modern interface that helps employers develop stronger candidate relationships in fewer clicks. Lever was founded in 2012 in San Francisco. The company has raised more than $73 million in funding from Adams Street Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, Y Combinator, Redpoint Ventures, and Correlation Ventures among others. Lever supports the hiring needs of over 1,500 companies around the globe including the teams at Netflix, Hot Topic, KPMG New Zealand, and Cirque du Soleil. With an overall gender ratio of 50:50, Lever is also fiercely committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit https://www.lever.co. MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Cohen Traeger Communications acohen@traegercommunications.com 303-522-0783 Linas Agro Group AB has received notification on the transaction in issuers securities concluded by Akola ApS, legal entity closely related to Chairman of the Board Darius Zubas (see attachment). Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release. The global radiology information system market is estimated to be valued at US$ 548.4 million in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period (2017 2025). Radiology Information System RIS Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 10:18:56 Press Information Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Mr. Shah CEO 1-206-701-6702 email https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ # 612 Words 1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154CEO1-206-701-6702 The global radiology information system market is estimated to be valued at US$ 548.4 million in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period (2017 2025).According to the American Heart Association (AHA): heart disease and stroke statistics relapsed in January 2018, cardiovascular disease accounted for the death of more lives each year than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. In addition, about 92.1 million American adults are living with some form of cardiovascular disease or with the after-effects of stroke. Moreover, the direct and indirect cost of total cardiovascular diseases and stroke are estimated around US$ 329.7 billion, which includes both health expenditures and lost in the productivity. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) findings, there were more than 3.7 million new cases and 1.9 million deaths each year were registered due to the cancer, making it the second most important cause of death and morbidity in Europe, however on the global scale, cancer accounted for 8.2 million deaths (around 13% of the total) in 2012.Request a sample copy of this report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1359 In addition, according to the same source, Europe comprises only one eighth of the total world population but has around one quarter of the global total of cancer cases with some 3.7 million new patients per year. National Cancer Institute (NIH) is increasingly allocating its fund for the research and development activities. For instance, NIH spent around US$ 4,932 million, US$ 4,952 million and US$ 5,215 million on the research of various cancer types during 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. However, the growing incidence rate of chronic disease and increasing spending by government owned research organizations will help to drive the demand for radiology information system market, in coming years.However, lack of experienced healthcare professionals to operate the radiology information system and increasing concerns regarding data safety and security are expected to hinder growth of radiology information system market over the forecast period. Due to increasing cyberattacks, securing patient information is the important for healthcare companies. Moreover, in January 2013, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the HIPAA Omnibus Rule. It is the set of final regulations modifying the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy, security, and enforcement rules, which provides the guidelines regarding where the information is being stored and how the patient information can be secured efficiently.North America is projected to witness high share in the radiology information system market, owing to the well-established healthcare infrastructure and early adoption of the advancement in the medical and healthcare industry in the U.S. Furthermore, Asia Pacific region is emerging region in radiology information system market, owing to the increasing investments on healthcare facilities and increasing demand for diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease. For instance, according to the Chinas Ministry of Finance (MOF), in 2016, the fiscal healthcare spending increased by 10% to reach US$ 18.8 billion, in 2016. Furthermore, according to The Australian, news findings, published in January 2018, the Chinese investment in the Australias healthcare system through various mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures from 2015 to 2017 raised by US$ 4.4 billion.Key players operating in the radiology information system market include Allscripts, Carestream Health, Inc., Cerner Corporation, Comarch SA, Epic Systems Corporation, GE Healthcare, IBM Watson Health, Koninklijke Philips N.V., McKesson Corporation, and Siemens Healthcare.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentchronicle.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 09:05:16 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Atalaya Mining Plc--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---NICOSIA, CYPRUS (FSCWire) - Atalaya Mining Plc (TSX:AYM). has issued a press release with the following headline:Results for the year ended 31 December 2017To view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Atalaya Mining Plc, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Atalaya Mining PlcSource: Atalaya Mining Plc (TSX: AYM, AIM: ATYM)Date: March 27, 2018Time: 3:05 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Atalaya Mining Plc and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 22:02:01 PEMBROKE, Bermuda, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sompo International, a Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of A&A, S.r.l. (A&A), a leader in the Italian agriculture insurance market since 1996. The acquisition was first announced on February 8, 2018. The acquisition of A&A supports the strategic objective of AgriSompo, Sompo International's global agriculture platform, to deliver innovative and coordinated risk management solutions tailored to local needs across the agri-business market. AgriSompo's global capabilities will be developed by leveraging Sompo's extensive agriculture insurance expertise as well as by acquiring specialty companies, such as A&A, in key agriculture markets around the world. Mr. John Charman, Sompo International CEO and Chairman commented, "We are delighted to welcome the A&A team to Sompo International. A&A's longstanding presence as a leading specialist in the Italian crop insurance market and high quality operation complement the extensive technical expertise and global presence of AgriSompo. This new partnership will enable us to effectively introduce innovative new products and technologies tailored to the agriculture producers in this region." Mr. Giovanni Giudici, Chairman and Managing Director, and Mr. Guido Passarini, Chief Administrative Officer, will continue to manage A&A's staff and operations. The A&A Board of Directors has been expanded to include Mr. John Charman; Mr. Kristopher Lynn and Mr. Avery Cook, Senior Vice Presidents of Agriculture Reinsurance; and Mr. Patrizio Cassinis, Senior Vice President and Senior Underwriter, Reinsurance. About Sompo International Sompo International is a global specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, headquartered in Bermuda. Through its operating subsidiaries, Sompo International writes agriculture, professional lines, property, marine and energy, and casualty and other specialty lines of insurance and catastrophe, property, casualty, professional lines, weather risk and specialty lines of reinsurance. Sompo International companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Sompo Holdings, Inc., whose core business encompasses one of the largest property and casualty insurance groups in the Japanese domestic market. We maintain excellent financial strength as evidenced by the ratings of A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best (XV size category), A (Strong) from Standard and Poor's and A2 from Moody's on our principal operating subsidiaries. Sompo International's headquarters are located at Waterloo House, 100 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda and its mailing address is Sompo International, Suite No. 784, No. 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. For more information about Sompo International, please visit www.sompo-intl.com. Contact Investor Relations Phone: +1 441 278 0988 Email: investorrelations@sompo-intl.com This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Sompo International via Globenewswire The global stem cell banking market was valued at US$ 1,634.7 million in 2016 and is expected to exhibit a robust CAGR of 18.9% over the forecast period (20172025). Stem Cell Banking Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 13:28:14 Press Information Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Mr. Shah CEO 2067016702 email https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ # 632 Words 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154CEO2067016702 The global stem cell banking market was valued at US$ 1,634.7 million in 2016 and is expected to exhibit a robust CAGR of 18.9% over the forecast period (20172025).Stem cells can be stored indefinitely and can easily retain viability even after a decade of storage and this is a major factor driving growth of the market. A study of cord blood stem cells conducted at Indiana University in 2016 demonstrated its viability after 23.5 years of cryogenic storage. Moreover, increasing awareness about stem cell preservation and significance in treating life-threatening diseases has led to increasing demand for of stem cell collection and preservation techniques, thus bolstering the market growth.Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit significant growth in the global stem cells banking market over the forecast period. This is owing to rising birth rates coupled with increasing prevalence of birth defects, and options of paying for stem banking in monthly instalments, making it accessible to a number of people. For instance, according to the survey by Save the Children India, 2012, India has a booming birth rate of 26 million per year and this is aiding in growth of the market. According to Multicenter Study, 2013, about 10,000 to 15,000 infants are diagnosed suffering from thalassemia and sickle cell anemia in India, indicating high demand for stem cells banking.Request a sample document of this research with detailed table of contents @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1354 However, high cost of stem cell banking is a major hindrance for growth of the market. Stem cell preservation services are expensive and everyone cannot afford it. For instance, according to Meredith Corporation, a private bank generally charges US$ 1,000 to US$ 2,000 to collect cord blood at the time of delivery, with annual storage fees of US$ 100 to US$ 300 each year.Stem cell banking offers the advantage that it can be readily used, whenever the need for arises, and does not need to be closely matched as bone marrow. According to the Health Research Funding Organization, 2015, children, who received matched cord blood had a 20% higher survival rate than those children who received matched bone marrow. Government organizations are offering support to conduct research and clinical trials for cord blood stem cell. Therefore, healthcare companies are increasing focusing on investing in research and commercialization of cord blood stem cell therapies thus, augmenting growth of stem cell banking market in the near future. For instance, the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF) was launched to encourage international collaboration and provide funding for stem cell research. The aim of ISCF was to promote global good practice and accelerate progress in the area of stem cell research. Moreover, the UK Stem Cell Bank (UKSCB) provides an international resource for stem cell research by supplying human stem cell lines for the purpose of research and development of stem cell lines for clinical purpose. It also has an active program for research in collaboration with academic institutions.Major players operating in the global stem cell banking market are Allergan, Plc., Galderma S.A., Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA., Sanofi S.A., SciVision Biotech Inc., Sinclair Pharma Plc., Suneva Medical, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., and Anika Therapeutics, Inc.Stem cells are building blocks of the immune system and blood, and they have the ability to develop into other cell types, in order to help in repairing tissues, organs, blood vessels, and are used in treatment of various disease. The ability of stem cells to regenerate has led to development of various treatments with it, to cure various genetic and auto-immune diseases and disorders. Cord blood stem cells have been used to treat nearly 80 diseases, including numerous types of malignancies, anemia, inherited metabolic disorders, and deficiencies of the immune system. Moreover, with the advancement in regenerative medicine, individuals of all ages can benefit from stem cell therapy in the near future PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 10:25:37 With the new Terrace Furniture Collection, bathroom specialists Kohler present an upscale collection for individuals seeking an exclusive solution for their bathroom space. Kohler has designed a comprehensive furniture line for any bathroom space, with a geometric design that is pure and timeless. The collection showcases top quality materials, sleek finishes and technological innovation that is also very functional.Terrace showcases the timeless beauty of the geometric form, while cleverly integrating generous storage and hiding the not-so-pretty essentials (drainage and waste). The collection is the epitome of contemporary luxury for the bathroom and has been designed to give the consumer a distinctive choice in terms of configuration and sizing.Designed by Jacob Delafon in France Kohlers Terrace Furniture Collection uses the rectangular form to create a family of vanities, basins and storage cabinets that showcases modernity in an utterly timeless fashion. Rectangular ceramic basins, with an L-shaped profile, integrate with similar geometric shapes in a series of vanity base units cleverly separated by a rectangular storage drawer.Tower cabinets, echoing the same rectangular geometrics, offer vertical storage - some of which is accessible without opening the door. Both the vanity units and the tower cabinets feature soft close doors and drawers.Inherent in the contemporary vanity unit design is a patented Free Drain Waste system, which is concealed and operated by a simple hob-mounted touch button to open and close the waste. The look has a minimalist elegance and coordinates with the custom-designed Terrace furniture.Materials are integral to the timeless elegance of the Terrace Furniture Collection - crisp white ceramics for the vanity tops and basins are teamed with the beauty of natural oak for the accessories drawer of the vanity and the shelving and trim of the Tower Cabinets. Interiors of the accessories and base drawers also feature a beautiful hardwood finish. A range of widths is available from 600mm and 800mm to 1000mm and 1200mm plus a 1500mm double basin format. Consumers can choose the complete vanity unit, comprising basin and cabinet, or install the basin as a wall hung unit.Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, USA, Kohler Co. is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products. Kohlers Terrace collection of bathroom furniture is available nationally from: Harvey Norman Bathroom and Tile stores in NSW and ACT, Domayne Auburn and Alexandria in NSW, E&S in VIC, Routleys, in SA, Perth Bathroom Packages in WA. Elite Appliances and Becks Home Timber and Hardware in Tas.For shower heads, bathroom shower heads, bathroom vanities Australia, luxury bathroom accessories and more visit: www.kohler.com.au PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 13:01:03 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Theralase Technologies Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - Theralase Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture:TLT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Theralase Discovers Cannabinoid Increases Efficacy of Patented Anti-Cancer Technology in Destruction of Brain CancerTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Theralase Technologies Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Theralase Technologies Inc.Source: Theralase Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture: TLT, OTCQX: TLTFF, FWB: TTX, WKN: A0DLB7, ISIN: CA88337V1004)Date: March 27, 2018Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Theralase Technologies Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2024 Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 11:26:09 Press Information precisionbusinessinsights Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX Satya Lead Marketing +1-866-598-1553 email https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com # 871 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553 Global Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market:By Technique (Intracervical Insemination, Intrauterine Insemination, Intrauterine Tuboperitoneal Insemination, Intratubal Insemination), By Kits and Consumables (Basic Kit with Ovulation Cassette, Large Kit with Ovulation Cassette, Basic Artificial Insemination Kit, Large Insemination Kit, Deluxe Kit with Ovulation Cassette, Deluxe Insemination Kit, Tubes, Cervical Cap, Collection cup, Needleless syringe, Others), By Animal Type (Ruminants, Equine, Canine, Feline, Swine, Others), By End User (Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics), and Geography Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market: Market DynamicsArtificial Insemination is a process of placement of semen manually in female reproductive tract without natural mating. Artificial Insemination is one of the great biotechnology technique applied to improve the reproduction and genetics of farm animals. Factors like increase in rate of genetic development and production of animals, as AI enables breeding between animals in different geographic locations at different times may propel the growth of the Veterinary Artificial Insemination market globally. Furthermore, growing awareness regarding sexually transmitted diseases in animals to avoid STDs AI is used in animals, growing technological advancements, growing consioucious regarding the protection of endangered species and to increase conservation of their species drives the Veterinary Artificial Insemination market globally. However, the Artificial Insemination is being more laborious, dearth of skilled technicians, high cost associated with the process, lack of awareness regarding Veterinary Artificial Insemination may hinder the growth of Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market globally.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Veterinary Artificial Insemination MarketVeterinary Artificial Insemination Market is segmented on the basis of Type, Products, Animal Type, and Distribution channel and Geographical regionsBased on the Technique, Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is segmented into the following: Intracervical Insemination Intrauterine Insemination Intrauterine Tuboperitoneal Insemination Intratubal InseminationBased on the Kits and Consumables,Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is segmented into the following: Basic Kit with Ovulation Cassette Large Kit with Ovulation Cassette Basic Artificial Insemination Kit Large Insemination Kit Deluxe Kit with Ovulation Cassette Deluxe Insemination Kit Tubes Cervical Cap Collection cup Needleless syringe OthersBased on the Animal Type, Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is segmented into the following: Ruminants Equine Canine Feline Swine OthersBased on the End User, Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is segmented into the following: Veterinary Hospitals Veterinary ClinicsTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Veterinary Artificial Insemination MarketGeographically, Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and theMiddle East and Africa regions. Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is dominated by North America followed by Europe due to well established veterinary healthcare in those regions. AI is the most common method of breeding in Europe and North America, approximately 80% of domestic livestock in North America and Europe are breeding intensively by AI. As the use of hormones in food processing animals is forbidden in EU since 2006, AI has become one of the most popular alternative method of breeding. Due to the increase in adoption of animals, growing health concerns about the pets and humanization of animals and growing prevalence of asexually transmitted diseases in animals are the factors which are supporting the Asia Pacific regions such as India and China to show a significant growth in the Veterinary Artificial Insemination market.Competition Assessment: Veterinary Artificial Insemination MarketKey playersprofiled in the global Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market include: Merck Animal Health (U.S.) Swine Genetics (U.S.) PBS Animal Health (U.S.) Revival Animal Health (U.S.) Jorgensen Labs (U.S.) Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (U.S.)Notable Market Developments: Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market In May 2014, Merck Animal Health launched PORCEPTAL, new addition to its REPROPIG Management System. PORCEPTAL induces ovulation in pigs 30 to 33 hours after application, giving producers the ability to artificially inseminate batches of sows at one predetermined time instead of doing multiple inseminations.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2013-2016) and forecast (2017-2024) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key marketdevelopments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies and regulatory framework The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs. PR-Inside.com: 2018-03-27 10:51:01 Former Managing Director of Intel Capital and CEO brings operational and investment experience to support strong growth of C5 Capital and ITC Secure William Kilmer Joins C5 Capital as Managing Partner; Named Executive Chairman of ITC Secure Press enquiries for C5: John Merva and Emily Jones C5Capital@hudsonsandler.com C5, the specialist investment firm focused on cyber security, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, has announced the addition of William Kilmer as a managing partner to C5 Capitals team as well as his appointment as the new Executive Chairman of C5 portfolio company ITC Secure (ITC Secure), the UK based provider of managed cyber security and advisory services. William Kilmer will be replacing Andre Pienaar as Executive Chairman of ITC. Pienaar temporarily held the role of chairman following the passing of previous Chairman Sir Richard Paniguian and will retain the role of Chairman of C5 Capitals pan-European Haven Group. William will also be serving on the boards of Haven and C5 Capital, as well as C5 Holdings. He brings with him a wealth of experience as a C-level executive, advisor, and investor in the high-tech industry. William has successfully worked with companies from early to late stage and through exit, recording positive financial returns. A former Managing Director of Intel Capital, William has invested in numerous companies in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He formerly managed the security investment strategy for Intel Capital and invested in notable security companies which were acquired by McAfee and Check Point Security, among others. He has also served as the Chairman and CEO of several companies, including PublicEngines, a data and analytics startup acquired by Motorola Corporation. William was also Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of M86 Security, where he was instrumental in the companys growth, and orchestrated the rollup and integration of four security companies and orchestrated the acquisition of M86 by Trustwave Corporation. Andre Pienaar, Founder, C5, said, The past year has seen extremely exciting growth for both C5 Capital and ITC Secure and 2018 promises to continue the development of both companies. Were very pleased to be bringing on board a new managing partner of Williams stature. Williams rare combination of a successful investment track record and proven operational leadership means he is the right person to lead ITC into the next phase of its development and his expertise will be invaluable as C5 Capital continues to seek out exciting new businesses and opportunities throughout Europe. William Kilmer, Managing Partner, C5 said, Having spent a significant amount of time working with companies in the cyber security industry, joining C5 represents a great opportunity to share my experience. ITC Secure is a very exciting company, which has recently bolstered its offer with some high-level acquisitions. Im really looking forward to working closely with its stellar board and senior management to take them to the next level. William joined C5 and assumed full duties at ITC and C5 in March 2018. --ENDS-- About C5 Capital C5 Capital Limited (C5) is a family capital-backed technology investment firm focused on innovating security. C5 is a specialist investor in cyber security, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Headquartered in London, C5 also has offices in Washington, Munich, Luxembourg and Bahrain. For further information on C5, please visit: www.c5capital.com For further information on Andre Pienaar, please visit: www.andrepienaar.info/ About ITC ITC Secure provides cyber threat advisory and managed security services to midsize and large enterprise clients. This includes cyber threat intelligence, insider threat analysis, network and user behaviour, vulnerability assessments and the increasing demands around compliance. With capabilities in on-premises, cloud-based and hybrid security, ITC Secure is first choice for some of the worlds biggest and best-known brands. With a leading-edge Security Operations Centre (SOC) in London, ITC delivers advice, control and assurance across customer assets 24x7x365. https://itcsecure.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327005 ADVERTISEMENT Talks by private-equity firm, Milost Global Incorporated, to provide a recapitalisation fund of $1 billion to Unity Bank Plc have been stopped due to threats of elimination, an official said on Tuesday. Bloomberg reports that Milost claimed to have received threatening emails from a man who said he is politically connected to powers that could shut the firm out of Nigeria if the Unity Bank transaction was not terminated. Initially, the firm agreed to provide funds on the agreement that Unity Bank would terminate its Nigerian listing, and trade its stock in the United States, a statement sent on Mondaysaid. Milost said the term sheet was signed and approved by the Unity Bank board as the bank needed the capital to build its buffers and expand. The firm would have acquired 60 per cent shares in the bank. The Chief Executive Officer of Milost, Kim Freeman, in a statement distributed by Globe Wire, disclosed that the firm would focus on its other Nigerian investments and would soon release $21 million to oil-services company Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc and another $10 million to Resort Savings and Loans Plc. When contacted, the Head Corporate Communications of Unity Bank, Matthew Obiazikwor said a statement in this regard will be issued shortly. Unity Banks headquarters is based in Lagos State and functions as a merger of over five banks. Milost Global is incorporated in New-York. ADVERTISEMENT Nigers Ambassador to Libya, Hussein Melloul, on Tuesday denied presence of any Nigerien opposition fighters on Libyan territory. The ambassador made his remarks during a meeting with Abdurrahman Swehli, the head of the Libyan Higher Council of State, in the Libyan capital Tripoli. They discussed the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, including the security situation on the Libya-Niger border and illegal immigration, according to the media office of the council. The ambassador of Niger denied presence of any armed opposition groups of his country on Libyan soil, stressing Nigers respect for the sovereignty and independence of Libya. Its full support to the Libyan authorities to restore security and stability in the country, the office said in a statement. Swehli highlighted the necessity of enhancing the joint cooperation on security and illegal immigration. The air force of the Libyan eastern-based army has been targeting a number of African armed groups in southern Libya, after the armys deadline for African migrants to leave. The city of Sabha, located some 800 km southwest of Libyan capital Tripoli, has recently been witnessing violent clashes between rival tribes that killed and injured dozens of civilians and forced hundreds of families to flee their homes. Chadians, Nigeriens and Sudanese have been accused of involvement in the conflicts in Sabha. Hamed Al-Khiali, the Head of the Municipal Council of Sabha, said in February that the local airport was occupied by an armed group that has nothing to do with Libya, carrying flags of other African countries. Recently in Tripoli, the UN-backed government announced measures to support its forces in Sabha to fight the so-called mercenaries. NAN reports that on March 9, Libyas eastern-based army set a March 17 deadline for nationals from Chad, Niger and Sudan to leave southern Libya in order to curb the erupting violence there, warning else they would be removed by force. A statement issued by the army led by Khalifa Haftar threatened to remove nationals from Chad, Niger and Sudan by force using all possible means, both land and air. (Xinhua/NAN) ADVERTISEMENT A wild tiger killed a 41-year-old woman who was collecting fodder for her cattle outside her home in south-eastern Nepal, police said Tuesday. Police officer Dilip Raj Jha said the animal, suspected to have come from the nearby Parsa Wildlife Reserve, on Monday pounced on the woman from behind and killed her on the spot. The two men who went to retrieve her body also came under attack from the tiger. They sustained minor injuries, Jha told dpa. Under Nepalese law, the victims family is entitled to one million rupees (9,680 dollars) in compensation for death caused by a wild animal. Although tiger attacks are rare in Nepal, human-wild animal conflicts are common, raising concerns about the safety of people living near wildlife reserves. Nepal is home to 198 endangered wild tigers that live in protected areas in the countrys southern plains along the border with India. (dpa/NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The University of Ibadan is set to expel 328 first-year students for shameful academic performance in the recently concluded 2016/2017 session, the Vice Chancellor has disclosed. The don, Idowu Olayinka, in a statement obtained on Tuesday, blamed the situation on the absence of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination test before the affected students and others in their set were admitted. According to Mr Olayinka, the university compiled the list of the affected students following the meeting of the University Senate held on March 19 and 20 to deliberate on the 2016/2017 academic results of the final year and non-final year students. He said the students did not meet up with the minimum condition approved by the university senate. One out of every nine of the 100 level students did not meet the minimum condition to retain their studentship. He said, It can be observed that students in the science-based disciplines, in particular, did not perform too well, with the pass rate being lowest at 67.5 per cent at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine. On the other hand, the Humanities-based discipline posted better results, with the best coming from the Faculty of Law at 99.2 per cent. He blamed the shameful performance on the failure to conduct the annual post-UTME test for students admitted to the University for the 2016/2017 session. He, however, exhibited optimism for a better academic performance since the new intakes for the 2017/2018 session were those who sat for and passed the post-UTME test. ADVERTISEMENT The leadership of Nigerias National Assembly comprising Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, arrived late for a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr. Saraki arrived the meeting after it started. An aide to the senate president, Yusuph Olaniyonu, told PREMIUM TIMES that his principal had communicated to President Muhammadu Buhari that he would join the meeting after attending to a budget matter in the senate. The meeting, holding at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja, has in attendance President Muhammadu Buhari, his vice, Yemi Osinbajo, as well as governors elected under the platform of the party. Messrs Saraki and Dogara had attended the meeting of APC national caucus which held at the Presidential Villa Monday night. Already, Mr Buhari, at the meeting, asked the NEC to reverse the one-year tenure elongation approved for party officials last month. NEC had at its meeting of February 26 extended the tenure of party officials led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year. Officials at the state level also enjoyed the tenure extension. However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had told the NEC that that decision was illegal and could lead to unwanted litigations. On Tuesday, the president mentioned the legal challenges that may arise from the extension as a reason for his reversal call. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday shocked members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of his party when he called for the cancellation of tenure extension for party officials. The APC had at its NEC meeting on February 28 extended the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year. The decision did not go down well with a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, who had been in conflict with the national chairman of the party. Speaking shortly before the commencement of NEC meeting Tuesday, Mr. Buhari told a packed hall at the APC national secretariat to consider cancelling the tenure extension decision because it is against the party constitution and the Nigerian constitution. He therefore, presented the matter for discussion at the meeting. Mr. Buhari said he is having a change of heart because he doesnt want the partys activities to be faulted by any court of law. The presidents request was not discussed at the national caucus meeting which held at the Presidential Villa Monday night, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun had said. Caucus meetings are precursor to what would normally be discussed at NEC. The president noted that if the decision to extend party executive tenure can be legally faulted, then any nomination and primary election can also be faulted. In particular, I think it is important to talk on the contentious issues of the tenure of our national and state executive officers. As we all know, the motion was moved in the last NEC, February 27 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executive expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year. This motion was moved by majority of members present at the last NEC meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken very vehemently against it, others have even taken the matter to court. On my own part I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I have found is that it is contravenes our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to him, while the APC constitution article 17, limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election. The 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, in section 223, also prescribes periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years. Furthermore, article 31 of our partys constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post must resign from his current post at least one month before the election. In this circumstance what is expected of us is to conduct fresh election once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. If the tenure of our party executive can be legally faulted then it means that any nomination and primary election can also be faulted, he said, adding that this is not to talk of the (crisis) that will arise and is already arising within the party when some of its members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions. I am therefore of the firm believe that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitution rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk. The only thing I feel too strongly about is that we should not allow our party to be vulnerable to the opposition, he said. He also revealed that a timetable for congresses and elections has been approved and he hopes everyone will work towards making the timetable useful. ADVERTISEMENT Fortunately we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think this should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success, he said. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to take a final decision on President Muhammadu Buharis call for a reversal of its earlier stance on tenure of party officials. Mr Buhari on Tuesday morning asked the NEC to reverse its decision on the extension of the tenure of national and state officials of the APC. The NEC last month extended the tenure of the officials by one year, amidst dissention from party bigwigs like Bola Tinubu, ex-Lagos governor. In his speech read at the start of the NEC meeting on Tuesday, Mr Buhari said the NEC decision should be reversed as it makes the party susceptible to litigations and was unconstitutional. Addressing journalists at the end of the NEC meeting, Bolaji Abdullahi, the partys spokesperson, said the NEC has set up a small technical committee to advise the party on the matter. He said the committee is expected to submit its recommendations on or before tomorrow. Pending that time, however, he said the last decision to extend the tenure remains. Members of NEC thanked the president for his graciousness. Of course we had a situation because we recall that after the last NEC and this decision was taken some members felt aggrieved and they went to court. Of course you know that any issue that goes to court is sub-judicial. Then that also presented its own complications so the NEC decided to set up a small team that will advise the party on the way forward. At the moment there is no decision taken. So the position of NEC still stands from the last meeting. There is a technical committee at the moment that is looking at it. That position may change tomorrow but as it is today that is the position of NEC. On federalism, Mr Abdullahi said a committee between the executive, national assembly and the party will be set up to look at the report of an earlier committee set up by the party. The earlier committee, headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had recommended, among others, the establishment of state police. Mr. Abdullahi said the new committee to be established would review the report as quickly as possible and make recommendations that could enable the president send fresh bills on the matter to the legislature. Second issue is the issue on true federalism. The various opinions were canvassed and then both yesterday at the national caucus meeting and here, again it was agreed that a technical committee between the national assembly, the executive and the party should be set up to look at the proposals point by point as quickly as possible to enable the president to transmit to the national assembly for action. Another issue discussed at the meeting was amendment of the APC constitution. Mr Abdullahi said no motion had been adopted as several observations made must be incorporated into the draft constitution first. The party had set up a 10-member Constitution Review Committee chaired by the APC National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, to look into the party constitution and recommend amendments where necessary. The committee submitted its report to the partys National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, with 85 proposals for amendment sometime last year. Having made the observation that those observations that were made should be incorporated into the draft constitution; therefore there was no motion taken to adopt the amended constitution. ADVERTISEMENT We believe that those amendments and proposals should first of all be updated in the amended constitution before a motion is taken for its adoption. Representatives of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja returned home on Tuesday disappointed as the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting ended in confusion in Abuja amid disagreements over revenue figures presented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The meeting, convened to consider and approve statutory revenue allocations for February, came to an abrupt end on a note almost becoming a familiar refrain for NNPC in recent times. About an hour after the inconclusive meeting, the finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, announced it would continue on Wednesday morning. She also said she would hold a crucial meeting with the NNPC chief. Last December, the FAAC meeting was equally stalemated, as members could not reconcile the revenue figures presented by the national oil company, which told a shocked nation at the height of a recent fuel crisis it spends N774 million daily to guarantee steady supply of petroleum products. With a free pass granted the corporation to deduct as operational cost whatever expenses it incurs from fuel supply before remitting the balance to the Federation Account, close watchers of NNPC operations said Tuesdays crisis was expected. During the meeting, representatives of the states, consisting accountants-general and commissioners of finance, said it was their consensus not to approve the allocations to the three tiers of government for the month. They described the discrepancies in revenue figures presented by the NNPC as a bad omen to workers in the country who may have to go without salary for the month until the issue is resolved. The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who confirmed the development to reporters shortly after the meeting, at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, said a new schedule for the meeting would be communicated on a later date. Mr Idris said the decision to postpone the meeting followed the discovery of understated revenue remitted by the NNPC into the Federation Account. We have just retired out of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting for the month of March where we considered the revenue figures for the federation for the previous month of February. Let me be quick to tell you that the meeting was inconclusive, because issues around reconciliation of figures are on the table. Obviously, you are all aware that anything that has to do with federation revenue is statutory and therefore constitutional. And we must always verify our figures to the last kobo, failing which we will be committing illegality and unconstitutionality, Mr Idris said. He said following some issues observed in the revenue figures presented by the NNPC, the meeting had to be postponed until those figures were reconciled, corrected, verified and confirmed to be factual. Although he said members were very sensitive about the issue, they owed the people a constitutional duty to ensure the necessary laws guiding revenue distribution among the three tiers of government were followed to the latter. He assured that revenue figures submitted by the NNPC would be reviewed and reconciled before sharing accordingly. He said it was sad that civil servants and workers in the federal, state and local governments who expected to have their salaries and all other commitments from government would not be able to do as a result of the development. He refused to disclose the level of under-remittance by the NNPC but said the committee would investigate and determine the figure. Its not about the quantum or amount being distributed. It is about reconciliation of the figure presented. ADVERTISEMENT In finance and accounting, reconciliation means figures not agreeing as presented by different sections. Once figures do not agree, they must be made to agree. Unless we get to the bottom of it, have clarity and some level of certainty, we remain where we are, he said. The Chairman, Forum of FAAC Commissioners, Mahmoud Yunusa, said the resolution of its members was for NNPC to remit the revenue to the last kobo. Mr Yunusa said the meeting began last week with NNPC not submitting their figures until Monday, making members not to be able to review until Tuesday morning. He said when the figures presented by the NNPC were reviewed, members were surprised to observe the amount was less than N100 billion, which was promptly rejected. The chairman, who is the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Finance, said the inability to approve the revenue for the month on time would affect the ability of governments at all levels to pay workers salaries ahead of the forthcoming Easter celebrations. PREMIUM TIMES gathered from sources familiar with the records of remittances to the FAAC, that the NNPC had presented only N74.06 billion as revenue from its operations for February. When compared with submissions for the previous month, the figure would be about N37.76 billion lower than the N111.83 billion remitted in January 2018. Following Tuesdays stalemate, the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the FAAC, Kemi Adeosun, has moved to douse the tension. She announced that the meeting would reconvene on Wednesday at 9.00 a.m. The meeting, which will hold at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will have in attendance the Accountant General of the Federation; Commissioners of Finance and Accountant-Generals of the 36 ztates and representatives of the NNPC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of Petroleum Resources, among others. The minister has also called for an emergency meeting next week with the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, and key management over revenue payment into the Federation Account. The inconclusive nature of Tuesdays FAAC meeting necessitated the intervention of the minister, a statement issued by the ministers aide, Akintunde Oluyinka, said. ADVERTISEMENT The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, on Monday denied reports he was part of a group allegedly including Nobel Laureate, Woke Soyinka, and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba that endorsed the grand national political coalition for 2019. Mr Wabba said it was also not true he participated in the meeting that endorsed the Grand National Coalition (GNC) of the National Intervention Movement. He described the communique by Deputy Director General of the new political movement, Naseer Kura, resulting in the problems, as grossly misleading. I would want to state clearly that neither Ayuba Wabba, the Nigeria Labour Congress nor the Labour Party was part of or affiliated to the National Intervention Movement. There is a clear procedure for affiliating, endorsing or consorting with any social or political group outside the Nigeria Labour Congress. To the best of my knowledge, the issue of affiliating, endorsing or consorting with NIM was not debated in any of our organ meetings or the Labour Party. He said without prejudice to the right of any individual or individuals to exercise in their favour, the right of freedom of association as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the NLC president insisted he never attended the said meeting. I wish to state categorically that I have not been attending the meetings of NIM, neither was I at the said meeting from which the communique in question emanated, he said. Meanwhile, the new group, Grand National Political Coalition (GNPC), called for the immediate redefinition of the present governance structure of Nigeria, to one that is more democratic and citizen inclusive. The group also noted the country was drifting towards social and political disharmony and anarchy and requires urgent political actions to stem the drift and rebuild social cohesion among Nigerians. In attendance were representatives of civil society groups, women groups, youth movements and the coalition of persons with special needs. The Nigerian government has been urged to show more commitment in the fight against Lassa fever. Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic disease which has been ravaging the country since it was first discovered in 1969 in a town in Borno State. This years outbreak, however, happens to be the worst the country has ever experienced, with 394 confirmed cases of the disease and 95 deaths. Speaking on Monday at a high level panel discussion organised in Abuja by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on the state of Lassa fever in Nigeria, Oyewale Tomori, a professor of Virology, said it is sad that Nigeria is yet to find a lasting solution to Lassa fever 49 years after it was first discovered. Mr Tomori said Nigeria has been taking same action on the disease without combating it. He said until Nigeria takes ownership of the disease and finds a lasting solution, there will be no breakthrough because the disease has come to stay. Corruption, Mr Tomori said, has been a major factor hindering progress in the health sector and fight against many diseases ravaging the country. He lamented that the country was meant to have two Lassa fever specialised facilities, one in Irrua, Edo State and the other in Maiduguri, Borno State. Unfortunately, only one is existing despite money being released for both, he said. The Irrua Specialist Centre in Edo was not the only facility meant to specialise in treating Lassa fever cases. Money was released for two centres, Irrua and another to be established in Maiduguri. The one in Maiduguri is nowhere to be found. Patients are not meant to be referred from the North to Irrua. It is wrong, he said. Mr Tomori also said Nigeria needs to stop depending on foreign donors and partners who have been championing the nations health campaigns. We need to do more, what the senators are getting is enough to do many things in the health sector. It is not that we dont have the resources, we do. It is corruption and good governance we should be talking about. If the government takes responsibility we wont be here discussing Lassa fever. Nigeria has an ability of making its experts novice. If something is not done about it, the situation will be worse, he added. Though NCDC said this years Lassa fever outbreak is slowing down, three states Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi were tagged hotspots. Elsie Ilori, Incident Manager, National Lassa Fever Emergency Operation Centre at NCDC, said the country was prepared for outbreak but not of this magnitude. She said the magnitude of this years outbreak took the country unaware. Ms Ilori said NCDC and the development partners are having a head way in containing the disease. She however lamented lack of responses from most state government in tackling disease outbreak. She said one of the reasons why the country witnessed an outbreak of such magnitude was because most states did nothing to respond to the situation in spite of the alerts. ADVERTISEMENT There is no way we can say we were not expecting an outbreak of Lassa fever. It has become seasonal. We already developed guidelines, have supplies and medicine to combat the outbreak but most states are not informing us of their situation. NCDC had to move into Kogi and Plateau states based on our data collection. They did not inform us they have problems, she said. Ms Ilori said states need to start participating in emergency disease control and response and not always wait for the federal government for interventions. There is a lot of pressure on the Federal Government. States should start taking responsibility for their citizens. We have been doing contact tracing because we have WHO and development partners on ground. Most of the states are not involved and this is a huge issue. We need to follow up a contact for 21 days. If we dont and the contact comes down with the disease, it can continue spreading, she added. The embattled senator, Dino Melaye, has said he has uncovered an alleged plan by the Nigerian Police and the Kogi State Government to assassinate him using lethal injection while travelling to Kogi State. He said that is why they insist on prosecuting him in Kogi State, instead of Abuja, for a crime he allegedly committed. The police have told PREMIUM TIMES the allegation is baseless. Mr Melaye stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa on Monday evening. I have supporters and I already know their plan. Jimoh Moshood Nigerian Police spokesperson and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state have colluded against me, he said. Mr Melaye added that, I cant go to Lokoja to defend myself in a court because I doubt I can get to Kogi state alive. This is because they want to use poisonous lethal injection to kill me. He said the police accused him of sponsoring thugs with guns at Abuja Airport road. Why cant they take me to court in Abuja? Since I was in the lower chamber and now a senator, I never mingled with political thugs. The police are lying because they said, the incident happened in December but failed to say the day and time he said. I cant go to Lokoja he added, saying that it would be too dangerous for him because he survived two assassination attempts at Lokoja. I reported the case to the police. I told them the people I suspected, my local government chairman inclusive. The police raided the council chairmans house, they found guns, the case is now before a court of law. Unfortunately, the police later turned against me and said the information I gave them was inaccurate. Mr Melaye also denied fleeing Nigeria, saying while he was in Nigeria, nobody notified him with a court summon. I just read from Moshood Jimoh press conference that I was supposed to be in court on the 20th of this month. By then I was in Ghana alongside 10 other senators. We attended the international conference on local context. Even the publicised issue that I would be declared wanted on the 28th of this month, nobody notified me, either in my office or at home, I am not on the run I am innocent. They want to kill me because of the good things I have been doing to the Nigerian masses. We laboured hard to bring this administration to the helm with a sole purpose of serving the poor, to wipe-out their hardship and bring justice. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case. When contacted, Jimoh Moshood, Nigerian Police spokesperson, said Mr Melaye has been evading (the police) and that the police are not doctors, hence, they cannot inject him. He said he is having issues in Kogi state and he has to explain whatever he has to say (in Kogi). Let him appear in court on the 28th of this month instead of making false accusations, which is also a criminal offence, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Apart from being accused of arming suspected criminals, Mr Melaye also faces a recall from the senate. The electoral commission, INEC, has announced that it will proceed with the recall, after getting clearance from the Court of Appeal. Thousands of Mr. Melayes constituents want him recalled, an act the senator has blamed on the Kogi governor. The federal government has ordered the reintroduction of history as an independent subject into the basic and junior secondary schools in the country. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who gave the directive, at the launch of history curriculum and teachers guide in Abuja, said it would allow students know the history of the country. History was buried under social studies curriculum, which had generated controversies among education stakeholders in the country. Mr. Adamu said that the importance of history to nation building, national identity, patriotism and overall human development could not be over-emphasised. According to him, one of the cardinal principles of the present administration is social and behavioural change, and history is key to its realisation. The desire to realise this and national clamour for it to be back informed our decision to reintroduce the teaching of history in Nigerias primary and junior secondary schools. The Federal Ministry of Education developed its strategic plan Education for Change: A ministerial strategic plan (2016-2019) which contained several initiatives. This initiative was approved by the National Council on Education during its 61st ministerial session in September 2016. The minister added that following this development, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) was directed to carry out the disarticulation of history from social studies curriculum. He said the new history curriculum was designed to expose students to a body of knowledge that would enable them appreciate history as an instrument of national integration and nation building in the 21st century and beyond. He, however, was optimistic that the curriculum would equip the younger generations of Nigerians with the knowledge of the past and how the past relate to the present. In his remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah, said a nation without history was a nation without a better future as it could not understand nor address the present situations. He said in order to move the nation forward and make it play its catalyst role as instrument for human and national development; there was need for the reintroduction of history in schools. Also, Ismail Junaidu, a professor and Executive Secretary of NERDC, said the drive for the reintroduction of history as a stand-alone subject at the basic education level was necessitated by the demand expressed by various stakeholders. Mr Junaidu said the reintroduction would deepen positive understanding of our traditional values and identities as well as the similarities and differences between the various Nigerian people. He added that it would also promote Nigerian and African history as a requisite for better understanding and appreciation of the challenges of globalisation. In a similar view,Josiah Ajiboye, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) boss called for the full implementation of the content of the curriculum. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday called on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of his party to reverse its earlier decision on tenure of its officials. The president said this in his speech at the NEC meeting held at the party secretariat in Abuja. The NEC had last month extended the tenure of APC officials at national and state levels by one year. Read Mr Buharis full speech below. I am delighted to once again welcome you to this National Executive Committee Meeting of our great party. As we usually do, I hope we will take the opportunity of this gathering to resolve outstanding issues and consolidate our plans towards making APC the strongest defender of the interests of our people. 2. In particular, I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issue of the tenure of our National and State Executive Officers. As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year. 3. This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC Meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court. 4. On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advise on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 5. While the APC Constitution, in Article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years. 6. Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election 7. In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh elections, once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. A Caretaker Committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers. 8. Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means that any nominations and primary elections that they may conduct, can also be faulted. 9. This is not to talk of divisions that would arise, and is already arising within the party, when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or that internal democracy is not at play within the party. 10. I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk. 11. Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success. 12. Once again, I welcome you all to this meeting with the hope that we will promote, always, the highest interest of the party and of our people. Thank you. ADVERTISEMENT Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook boss and founder, will not appear before British lawmakers to answer questions on how millions of users data got into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, the company has said. Facebook on Tuesday said that Mr Zuckerbergs Chief Technology Officer, Mike Schroepfer, or the Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, would rather appear before parliaments Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee. But in their response Tuesday, the lawmakers said they still wanted to speak with Mr Zuckerberg and would see whether they could set up a session in person or via video link. The company and its CEO have been facing serious attacks following revelations that data were obtained from the social network site by the political consultancy firm for electoral purposes. Last week, Facebook apologised for the mistakes it made and promised tougher steps to restrict developers access to such information. But in response to a request by British lawmakers to appear before them, Facebooks Head of UK Public Policy, Rebecca Stimson, told lawmakers that the duo of Schroepfer or Cox were better placed to answer questions. She said, Facebook fully recognises the level of public and Parliamentary interest in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position. As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the Committee. The crisis and the consequent effects have seen the companys share price plummet and prompt new questions about privacy from politicians and regulators. ADVERTISEMENT The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria has called on the federal government to prosecute a former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, for calling on Nigerians to take arms to defend themselves against killers. Mr. Danjuma made the call on Saturday at the maiden convocation of the Taraba State University in Jalingo. He said the call was because the armed forces were biased and not ready to defend the people. The Nigerian government and the army have since condemned Mr. Danjumas statement. But in a statement on Tuesday signed by the Kaduna State Chairman of the council, Yusuf Rigachikun, and Secretary, Abdulrahman Hassan, the group described the comment as unfortunate. The group in the statement read by Mr. Hassan at a press briefing in Kaduna said prosecuting the retired general will serve as deterrent to others like him. The council said it was unfortunate that Nigerian citizens will still witness such an unguarded statement from someone like Mr. Danjuma, a retired army general. The recent call by General T. Y Danjuma on the citizens to take up arms to defend themselves and the accusation of the Nigerian armed forces colluding in the killing of Nigerians is quite unfortunate. It is pertinent to note that for a person of his calibre to openly call on citizens to take up arms because of demilitarisation being carried out by the Nigerian Army is a call to anarchy and also a call to treason and treasonable felony. The council calls on the federal government to invite, investigate and prosecute the general for such a most unfortunate statement in the presence of students who are known to be volatile and prone to youthful exuberance. His action poses a threat to the peace and stability of the state and is a crime against the state. The prosecution of the General will go a long way for the culture of impunity not to threaten the cooperate existence of Nigeria. No Nigerian citizen is bigger than Nigeria, the group stated. The Islamic body also commended the federal government for the successes recorded in North-east against Boko Haram, the return of some of the Chibok and Dapchi girls and relative peace in the country. We urge the government to take more concerted effort in seeing that peace and security is maintained in the North-east and the country at large. On recent crisis at Kasuwar Magani in Kaduna, the group lauded the prompt action taken by the state government and security agencies to restore peace to the community. ADVERTISEMENT The senator representing Kaduna Central on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shehu Sani, on Tuesday said his party has been in shambles since it won the general elections in 2015. The outspoken senator also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for saving the party from an impending disaster. The commendation was for the presidents call for a reversal of the elongation of tenure of the partys officials which had sharply divided the party. As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year, President Buhari said at the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party on Tuesday. This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC Meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court. On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Citing sections of the partys constitution to back his point, President Buhari called for the reversal of the decision and conduct of a fresh election. Mr Sani said the aftermath would be disastrous if the party fails to heed Mr Buharis advice. We can literally say that President Buhari saved the party from an ill-fated flight. He was able to exorcise a demon that was planted and growing in the womb of the party by some persons for their own selfish interest. He was misinformed to have accepted the extension in the first instance and now he saw the light and reversed. If we go along with that extension and then someone from the opposition party goes to court after all the processes of congresses and primaries have been done, we may end up without a presidential candidate, governorship candidates and without candidates at all legislative arms of government. Mr Sani said he and other senators opposed the tenure elongation and had told the party chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun when he attended the APC caucus meeting at the senate last week. He said the president was initially misled to believe that the tenure elongation was in consonance with the partys constitution. What happened was that there were people who misled the president, the party and tried to use that extension to achieve their own ends. The party has been in shambles in the last three years. Since the victory of 2015, it was clear that the party was no more united as it was. I cant imagine that a party that has made promises to change, to restore things and to cleanse this country now regressed to extending illegally something that doesnt exist within the constitution of the party. Most of the crises the PDP faced that led it to loss was as a result of this kind of internal wrangling and illegality, imposition of candidates, manipulation of party constitution, extension of tenure all others, now here we are deepening it. There are people within the party, particularly governors. You see them mostly every Fridays coming to the villa, they felt that the party belongs to them, they are closer to the president than any other person. They antagonise people who fought to see APC to be in power today. After 2015, the unity of the party ended. They marginalised people like the senate president, they eliminated people like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as if nobody matters. It is not about washing our dirt in the public, but its a truth and we have to say it out. ADVERTISEMENT The Senate says it will on Wednesday deliberate on the statement by a former Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma, made on the state of security in the country. Mr. Danjuma, a retired army general, had at the convocation of Taraba State University on Saturday, urged Nigerians to resort to self-defence in the face of unending killings across the country. He also accused the military of complicity in the killings, especially in Taraba State, where he said that the herdsmen were being aided in killing innocent citizens. The Senates decision followed a Point-of-Order raised by Yusuf Yusuf, the senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District at plenary on Tuesday. Mr. Yusuf pointed out that Mr. Danjuma, who is a former chief or army staff, raised fundamental issues that should be debated and investigated by the Senate. But while considering Mr. Yusufs submission, the matter turned controversial when it was put to voice vote by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki. There was initial confusion as to where the voting favoured, but Saraki ruled in favour of the ayes. He said that the matter would be debated on Wednesday. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT American billionaire and businessman, Bill Gates, has said that his criticism of the Nigerian governments Economic Recovery & Growth Plan was to stir leaders to wake up to their responsibility and focus on human capital development. Mr. Gates said Nigeria needs to act to save the countrys large youth population. During his visit to Nigeria, the co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addressed an expanded National Economic Council meeting in Abuja where he criticised the government for prioritising physical capital over human capital in its economic development plans. Present at the meeting was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, state governors, and ministers. Mr. Gates comments attracted a huge debate among Nigerians across all political divides, with many backing his call. The federal government claimed Mr. Gates remarks was misunderstood by the media, and tried to counter the message by highlighting its effort to develop human capital. But, in an interview with the CNN on Tuesday, Mr. Gates said his intention in criticising the country was not to be impolite, but to point out to Nigerian politicians the need to focus more on human capital development to save the horde of Nigerian youth population facing poverty and other social malaise. While it may be easier to be polite, its more important to face facts so that you can make progress, Mr. Gates said. Mr. Gates said he was very direct in his criticism of the federal government to stress the need for more to be done to raise the level of its investment in education and health. The current quality and quantity of investment in this young generation in health and education just isnt good enough. So, I was very direct, he told CNN. In his Abuja speech, Mr. Gates faulted the decision to anchor the countrys long term economic growth on investments in infrastructure, pointing out that investments in people must go hand in hand. People without roads ports and factories cant flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them cant sustain an economy, he argued. A Nigerian senator, Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) on Tuesday attended the plenary of the senate at the National Assembly complex, amidst a report he has fled the country SaharaReporter Newspaper reported that the embattled senator fled Nigeria over the political crisis in Kogi State and his trial by the federal government, adding that he begged the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to fight for him. Mr Melaye, in a statement on Saturday, denied the report stating that he had no reason to flee the country. Sequel to the report, police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement on Saturday, said an invitation and a court summon had been issued to Mr Melaye, both of which he said the senator did not honour. The police spokesperson added that the senator is wanted for allegedly arming suspected criminals. He said Mr. Melayes summon followed the arrest of two men in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, on January 19, who allegedly confessed to having committed various crimes such as kidnappings and armed robbery. Mr. Moshood said the suspects also disclosed that Mr. Melaye had handed them a bag containing firearms. At the senate plenary on Tuesday, Mr Melaye taunted Mr. Moshood for making him (Melaye) so important to the extent of organising two press conferences on his matter in one week. He made this statement while contributing to a point of order raised by Isa Misau (APC, Bauchi) asking the senate to wade into the controversy between Mr Melaye and the police. Coming under order 42, Mr. Misau urged the senate to order the police to treat Mr. Melayes matter in Abuja, stating that if he (Melaye) is allowed to go to Kogi State, he would be risking his life and there would also be a breakdown of law and order. The press statement by the Force PRO where they claimed that there are certain suspects alleging Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu gave them weapon and money to carry out some atrocities in Kogi state, where they said Senator Dino Melaye has been taken to court in Kogi State. From the intelligence that we have gathered from Kogi State, if we allow this, if police is allowed to be used to take Senator Dino Melaye to Kogi, there will be possible breakdown of law and order because there are supporters of Senator Dino Melaye and supporters of the governor. If we allow this tension whereby even the security situation is bad and then you allow them to take someone who has problem with the state government and where their supporters are there, there will be problem. I think we are not doing good and risking the life of our colleague. Apart from that the police are making statements that the weapons that were given on airport road, there are issues of jurisdiction. The issues should be separated, the people that committed atrocities in Kogi they can be tried in Kogi. We are calling for fairness, justice. This matter should be treated in Abuja where everyone will be seen. The international community is watching to see what we are going to do. I have never seen where police will take a charge to court criminal matter without taking his statement. If they say they didnt see him to serve him (court processes), Dino Melaye is a public figure, his house is in Maitama and his office. They even say that if Dino Melaye does not appear in court tomorrow they will declare him wanted. If the matter is already in court, it is left for the judge to decide what to do. Once the matter is in court police have removed their hands, Mr Misau said. While contributing to the point of order, Mr Melaye said he was yet to receive a criminal summon from any court and expressed disappointment at the police for threatening to declare him wanted. Mr. President, as I speak to you, the media has been awash that I fled this country, that I am not in Nigeria and I would not return until there is change of government. But here am I physically, flesh and blood. ADVERTISEMENT I start by saying that, I have not received any criminal summon from any court within the territorial area of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I also want to say that Mr. President, I have not received any arraignment notice from any court. I also read in the media where Mohammed Abdul addressed a conference to say that he has not been served by any court in Nigeria. My house is known, my office is known, and there was no attempt to even serve me any court summon in any of my known addresses. That is to start with. Despite the fact that I have not been served, an arraignment has been carried out according to the press briefing by Moshood. No statement has been taken from me. So I do not know what investigation was conducted, before the report generated and have been arraigned according to newspaper and social media report. But physically as Dino Melaye, I have not received any summon from any court. I am also appalled, why would the Force PRO of the Force Headquarters leave Abuja to go to Lokoja to parade criminals while the state command have their PPRO? Even when Evans, the notorious kidnapper in the history of Federal Republic of Nigeria, was arrested, he was paraded by Lagos command and the PPRO of Lagos State addressed the media. Since last week, they have made me so important, they have made me a national subject that Force PRO addressed two press conferences on Dino Melaye alone. They refused to have press conference on Dapchi girls, Boko Haram and the killings going on in the North and the riverine area of the country, but they addressed press conference on an innocent man twice in one week and even declaring that if I am not in court, I would be declared wanted for a matter that has already been taken to court, Mr Melaye said. The lawmaker told the Senate that when he was allegedly attacked in April 2017, the police arrested a gang of six people who were paraded by the Force PRO. He added that the suspects had made confessional statements, guns and ammunition were recovered from them and the vehicle they used was also recovered and all these were exhibit and laid before Kogi State judiciary. These criminals have even been arraigned in court and their testimonies have been accepted as exhibits in court. Yet, one of those declared wanted by the police in my assassination attempt, is the one saying that on Airport Road in December, I gave him three AK 47 and N430, 000 inside my car. But as I speak to you, they failed in their myopic ignorance to state a date and time. I want to understand how an arraignment can be done with a criminals confession with no date or no time. Because if you give me a date and time, I would be able to account for where I was on that date and time. You would know that the corpse they buried, they left the legs outside, he added. Mr Melaye vowed to remain with the truth hoping that the truth will set him free. I serve a living God, what God has given me, no man can take and what God has not given to me, no man can give. On his own I stand and I know in God I trust. I have written all the international diplomatic organisations, United Nations, Amnesty International and by the grace of God, I will be on CNN and hard talk on BBC in London. I am going to speak on the loudest part of my voice. If I die, I die; but I shall not die without fighting, he said. The senate, thereafter, resolved to mandate the committees on Police and Judiciary to investigate the issue and report back in 48 hours. [March 26, 2018] MRM//McCann Again Named a Leader in a Gartner Magic Quadrant Report NEW YORK, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second straight year, MRM//McCann has been designated a Leader in Gartner Inc.'s "Magic Quadrant for Global Digital Marketing Agencies" report. Gartner, the world's leading information technology research and advisory company, compiles its findings based on an evaluation of 15 criteria encompassing both completeness of vision and ability to execute. Gartner notes in the report, "These service providers focus on strategy, development, execution and measurement of customer-facing digital experiences across the customer journey." "Earning this positioning again from Gartner is a true honor, because of their reputation and rigorous analysis and the accompanying recognition from our clients on our contribution to their success," said Kate MacNevin, Global President and Chief Operating Officer, MRM//McCann. "It substantiates for us that our focus on breaking new ground and creating the future through creativity, technology and data provides real value for our client partners around the world." This digital marketing capabilities recognition comes amid a period of significant growth for the global customer relationship network from the business, reputation and creative perspectives. MRM//McCann, which last month was named Ad Age's 2018 Business-to-Business Agency of the Year, in 2017 won its first Cannes Lions Grand Prix as well as many other Cannes, Effie, One Show, Clio and Webby awards. It has also been recognized for its growth with new client partners, including GSK, BASF, Sunovion and Fannie Mae. Additionally, envisioning the expanded role that relationship marketing plays in all aspects of business and marketing, MRM//McCann introduced a series of innovative new strategic collaboration tools and analytics capabilities that have transformed the way thy work with greater agility and new models. Gartner Magic Quadrants are based on a rigorous, fact-based analysis backed up by a highly structured methodology. As described by Gartner, "Leaders possess deep, broad capabilities across all competencies, most notably related to strategic services (which include business strategy and digital business transformation skills). Leaders implement comprehensive, effective solutions that leverage sizable investments in creative talent and marketing technology. They invest their own R&D dollars to set market direction. As a result, Leaders are the providers to watch in the ongoing evolution and transformation of marketing in a digital world. Leaders maintain a viable business, regardless of the global economy. Leaders extend their client relationships far beyond marketing promotions, often appearing on competitive bids outside their primary sector (for example, management consulting, product ideation and product development requests for quotations). Leaders help their clients develop digital marketing platforms designed for systemic growth and scale; they do so by harnessing their own significant expertise implementing digital marketing programs driven by data and analytics." You can access a complimentary copy of the full report here: http://www.gartner.com/reprints/mrm-worldwide---ny?id=1-4TSWCET&ct=180323&st=sg Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Global Digital Marketing Agencies," Jay Wilson, Lizzy Foo Kune, et al., 21 March 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 designations. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of facts. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About MRM//McCann MRM//McCann, named Ad Age's 2018 Business-to-Business Agency of the Year, is a leading customer relationship agency that helps brands grow meaningful relationships with people. The agency leverages the power of creativity, the beauty of data and the magic of technology to nurture, encourage and sustain strong relationships between brands and their customers in turn, creating meaningful experiences for people, while driving business results. MRM//McCann is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) and a lead agency in the McCann Worldgroup network, with 40-plus offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.mrm-mccann.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mrmmccann-again-named-a-leader-in-a-gartner-magic-quadrant-report-300619563.html SOURCE MRM//McCann [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] An aide to a national leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday said the APC chieftain did not attend the party caucus meeting because he had another event organised to mark his birthday. Tunde Rahman, media aide to Mr. Tinubu, said there were no reasons to subject his absence at the caucus meeting to negative interpretations. Speaking on Political Platform, a public affairs programme on RayPower FM Tuesday, Mr Rahman said Mr Tinubu was attending to a programme some young people put together to honour him on his birthday. PREMIUM TIMES reported on Monday that Mr. Tinubu was conspicuously absent as President Muhammadu Buhari played host to a meeting of the national caucus of the party. The meeting, which began at about 8:20 p.m. held inside the new Banquet Hall of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja. There have been speculations on why the APC chieftain failed to attend the meeting. Yesterday, a group of younger ones put together a programme for him where they were talking about their impression of him as a leader, as a motivator, Mr. Rahman said Tuesday. He noted that it is that time of the year the APC chieftain marks his birthday and he needed to attend to many other concerns. The media aide also said Mr. Tinubu is making progress in the reconciliatory responsibilities handed him by Mr. Buhari. He said the assignment given to Asiwaju by President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the reconciliation and confidence building effort within the party is ongoing and he has gone so far in that assignment. On the caucus meeting, he said it was an advisory committee and his principals absence should not be seen as anything unusual. Dont (also) forget that the caucus meeting he did not attend is an advisory body. The caucus is an advisory body, he explained. So that he did not attend the caucus meeting should not be a thing that we will make a lot of noise about. The caucus meeting is preparatory to a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which is holds at the partys national secretariat in Abuja, Tuesday. A similar caucus meeting was held on February 26 where a decision was taken to extend the tenure of both the national and state officials. It is beleived that the decision did not go down well with Mr.Tinubu who had had a spat with the party chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun. But on Tuesday, Mr. Buhari shocked members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party when he called for the cancellation of tenure extension for party officials. Speaking shortly before the commencement of NEC meeting Tuesday, Mr Buhari told a packed hall at the APC national secretariat to consider cancelling the tenure extension decision because it is against the party constitution and the Nigerian constitution. He therefore, presented the matter for discussion at the meeting. At the end of the NEC meeting, the APC set up a committee to review the presidents request. The committee was given till Wednesday to submit its report. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Senate on Tuesday resolved to mandate its committee on ethics and privileges to, within one week, investigate and find out if senators were indeed involved in a $50,000 bribery scandal. This resolution was sequel to a point of order raised by Peter Nwaboshi (PDP, Delta) in reaction to reports that members of the Senate as well as House of Representatives are collecting $50,000 and $30,000 respectively to sway their support in the current moves to amend the electoral act. According to Sun Newspaper, sources revealed that pro-Executive Senators and members of the House of Representatives have been lined up to receive $50,000 and $30,000, respectively, while anti-executive lawmakers, who have cases with anti-corruption agencies, will be threatened with prosecution, in days to come. The Sun also reported that some key members of the executive, who have been spearheading strategies for President Muhammadu Buharis re-election in 2019, were poised to stop the National Assembly from going ahead with plans to veto the president on the election re-ordering captured in the new the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill. To achieve this, sources said $50,000 and $30,000 have been earmarked for each lawmaker in exchange for their support. Coming under order 15, Mr Nwaboshi described the report as very unfortunate and called for immediate investigation into the matter. Only yesterday, the social media and the newspapers were filled with claims that the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria and even the house of reps, are collecting $50,000 and $30,000 respectively. This is very unfortunate. It impugns on my privileges as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My constituents have been calling me; some of them have been asking me to bring their own money out of what I have collected and I know that I didnt collect anything. I know that many of you did not collect that money. Front page of Sun newspaper carries it, showing that monies are being shared and many meetings have been held. I want to move that this matter be investigated. He said investigation into the matter would show the transparency of the legislative process. Some of us who have no hand, and who did not participate and who will never participate in such act, can be cleared and our constituents can be in a position to know that we did not participate in such a thing, he said. Mao Ohabunwa (PDP, Abia), described the issue as scandalous and declared that he has no knowledge about it. I find this scandalous. And for a senate, the highest lawmaking body of any country to be so accused, I stand here to declare and say that I know nothing about this and I believe same for most of us, if not all of us. This issue must be thoroughly investigated to let the public know the integrity of this house. We should mandate the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions to find out which senators or those from the villa involved and bring them to book, he said. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, thereafter, urged the senators to hold their comments until the end of the investigation. ADVERTISEMENT The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained that its apology to Nigerians is to renew the peoples trust in its rebranded party. The party in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbodiyan, said as a responsible party committed to the good of Nigerians, having learnt its lessons, it saw it as necessary to make the move. The chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, had Monday apologised to Nigerians for the mistakes he said the party made under its 16 year governance of Nigeria, stating that the party had learnt its lessons. The party has, however, criticised the reactions of the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the apology. APC in a statement on Tuesday said the PDP will have to do more for Nigerians to forgive its misrule of 16 years, saying an apology is not enough. The APC also called on the PDP to confess what it referred to as its sins. The federal government also in a statement by Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the PDP will have to return the funds it looted for it to be forgiven. Commenting on the reactions, the PDP said it was deeply sad that people were suffering because of the party it voted for in its place, saying the APC has wrecked the economy and inflicted on Nigerians hunger, starvation and daily bloodletting. The party claimed Nigerians are now looking up to its repositioned and rebranded platform to pull the country from the brinks and return it to the path of true democracy, national cohesion and economic prosperity, which it said were the hallmarks of PDPs 16 years in government. Admitting it made mistakes in its internal administration prior to the 2015 general elections, the opposition party said its new leadership had already smoothened the rough edges to ensure strict adherence to internal democracy and good governance in all processes. Our apology to Nigerians is the pathway to national healing, renewal of hope and remobilisation of the citizenry for the task of rescuing the nation from the current pathetic situation and the painful misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party said. Our apology is to ask Nigerians, once again, to put their trust in the rebranded PDP, particularly, as our party is the only platform that is committed to the national agenda of peace, unity, justice and prosperous nation. A national leader of the governing All Progressives Congress ( APC), Bola Tinubu, has praised President Muhammadu Buharis speech on Tuesday in which he called on the party to rescind its decision to extend the tenure of its officials. The APC National Executive Committee (NEC) had on February 27 extended the tenure of all party executives across national and states by one year. That decision, which was supported by Mr. Buhari, was opposed by Mr. Tinubu. Mr. Buhari on Tuesday, however, shocked members of NEC when he asked the meeting to revisit the issue. The president said since the decision was adopted in the last NEC meeting, he had taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution. He said he found that the resolution contravenes both APC constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the APC Constitution, in Article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years. Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election, he said. Mr Buhari said APC is, therefore, expected to conduct fresh elections, once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. He said a caretaker committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers. In his reaction via a statement he personally signed Tuesday evening, Mr. Tinubu said Mr. Buhari had spoken in a clear, straightforward manner. The former Lagos State governor said Mr. Buhari had confirmed that APC is a party that is based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy. While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path. President Muhammadu Buhari at the APC NEC Meeting The president has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality, he said. Mr. Tinubu said the action of the president will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit. He said Mr. Buharis decision will also help in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway in the APC. He said it is now time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organise the needed congresses according to the existing timetables. After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold. ADVERTISEMENT Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria. We shun the politics of old to move toward a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation, Mr Tinubu said. ADVERTISEMENT The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, Tuesday led hundreds of farmers in the state to launch a pyramid of rice in Maiduguri, the state capital. The thousands of bags that was piled into a pyramid at the citys civic centre, Ramat Square, was a demonstration of the bumper harvest recorded in parts of the state during the last farming season by farmers who are mostly assisted by government. The pyramid was realised under the federal government assisted Borno Anchor Borrowers Programme, through the (CBN) Anchor Borrowers scheme. The scheme is aimed at scaling up the local production of rice in order to reduce over-dependence on foreign import of the staple food. Organisers of the rice pyramid programme, Wal Wanne and Sons Ltd, said about 18,000 farmers were engaged in the scheme. The local formers in the safe zones like Jere, Konduga, Mafa, Biu, Hawul and Shani local government areas of the state took part in the scheme during the last wet season during which government availed them with farm inputs and tool. The organisers said at the maturity of the crops, they bought up all the produce at what they called Guaranteed Market Price (GMP) and deducted the cost of producing the rice per hectre, from the total amount, and any excess money after the deduction is considered as profit to the farmer. Mr Shettima launched the pyramid amidst large a turnout of over 1000 local farmers who staged a parade displaying their implements and products. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Armed Forces of Nigeria for providing security in Borno State, without which he said the Anchor Borrowers Scheme would not have been possible. Mr Shettima said the state government had invested billions of naira in the procurement of agro-allied equipment in order to advance his agricultural revolution initiative across the entire state. He said the successes recorded in the six safe local government areas was just a sign that the state still retains its potential of feeding a significant portion of the country when peace finally returns. Borno farmers were unable to till their farmlands for about five years following displacement by Boko Haram. Many farmers lost their farm products as Boko Haram attacked them at the peak of harvest. Hundreds of farmers have lost their lives while tilling the bush while others are still being killed around Maiduguri. ADVERTISEMENT The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested four suspects in Sokoto who allegedly smuggled 589 bags of imported rice concealed in a petrol tanker. The Comptroller of NCS in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Command, Nasir Ahmad, made the disclosure to journalists on Tuesday in Sokoto. Mr. Ahmad said the smuggled items, which were intercepted on Sunday along Koko-Yauri road in Kebbi State, had N11.1 million Duty Paid Value (DPV). He said when the bags of rice were removed from the petrol tank they had been contaminated by black oil, which is dangerous to human health. The comptroller advised smugglers to find alternative legal means of livelihood and stop undermining the nations economy. He appealed to the people, especially those residing in border communities, to assist officials of the command with relevant information to track down smugglers. According to him, this is the third time the command is intercepting such illegal goods in a tanker. He said that on investigation it was revealed that the suspects were on their way to Suleja in Niger State. Mr. Ahmad explained that smuggling cripples nations economy and enjoined Nigerians to key into the federal government agricultural support programme on rice cultivation in other to create job opportunities. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The investment drive of Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has continued to yield positive results as more investors have indicated interest in investing in agriculture, tourism and oil & gas sectors. A statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo, said this was the outcome of Mr Dicksons presentation at the 6th edition of the Africa CEO Forum currently holding in Abidjan, the capital of Cote dIvoire. Mr Dickson, who described Bayelsa State as worlds best kept investment secret, called on African entrepreneurs to take advantage of the investment-friendly atmosphere created by his government to do business in the state, largely regarded as the epicentre of the Niger Delta region. He said his participation at the Africa CEO Forum was meant to unveil those investment secrets by promoting the investment opportunities in the Bayelsa to the world. The governor said the state is safe, peaceful and it is now ready to do business with the rest of the world, more than ever before. He said this prevailing conducive investment climate created by his government has made investors to now have a high return on investments (ROI) in the Bayelsa State. Speaking on the topic: Gas, A $2000BN Opportunity, the governor said, Bayelsa State is synonymous with gas because there is gas everywhere and as you all know, the history of Oil &Gas started in my state. While stressing that the investment potentials of the state are yet to be fully tapped, he listed Tourism, Agriculture, Gas, Deep Sea Port, Eco-Industrial Park as top areas where his government want to partner with investors. To encourage investors to put their money in the Eco-Industrial Park, the governor said his government has acquired massive land for which compensations have been paid for and designated for the Bayelsa Eco-industrial Park. He said: This implies that investors no longer need to go through the rigour of searching for land. Relevant policies have also been put in place to safeguard investors and their investments as well. Appropriate stakeholders have been engaged to stand as intermediaries between the host communities and the investors. Participants at the event include President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote dIvoire and former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo. Others are Stephanie von Friederberg, Chief Operating Officer, IFC; Akinwumi Adesina, President of Africa Development Bank; Paul Polman, CEO Unilever; Thierry Tanoh, Minister of Petroleum, Energy Development of Cote dIvoire; Guido Brusco, Executive Vice-President, Sub-Saharan Africa Region, Eni; Nigerian businessmen Jim Ovia, Wale Tinubu and many others. ADVERTISEMENT Lagos State Government has declared Thursday a work free day in the state ahead of President Muhammadu Buharis two-day visit. A statement by Kehinde Bamigbetan, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, on Tuesday said the declaration was to enable residents to come out en masse to welcome Mr. Buhari to the state. Mr Bamigbetan urged residents to adhere to the security guidance earlier announced to make the visit peaceful and orderly. Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, said there would be temporary road closure and diversions in some areas. Mr. Edgal made the announcement at a press conference to update the public on security plans for the presidents visit. He said that Mr Buhari would be in Lagos on a two-day official visit on Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30. The police commissioner said Mr Buhari would be attending a colloquium marking the 66th Birthday of a national leader of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu at Victoria Island. He also said the president would be at the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project in Epe. Mr. Edgal said the president would also tour the Eko Atlantic City and inaugurate the Ikeja Bus Terminal, among other engagements. The temporary road closure and diversions would be within Ikeja, Maryland, Agege Motor Road, Victoria Island and Ikoyi axis. Security engagements are in top gear, as we are working with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). We have done threat assessment and engaged all stakeholders such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers and commercial bike riders. We are appealing that they abide by our agreement at the meeting. This is to ensure that Mr Presidents visit to Lagos is smooth, safe and hitch-free, he said The commissioner expressed deep regret for any inconveniences, saying the listed roads to be closed to traffic would be reopened immediately after the presidents motorcade passes. He advised motorists, commercial bus operators and commercial motorcycle riders to observe road diversions or use alternative routes. Mr Edgal appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies during the period of the visit. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Peoples Democratic Party has accused the All Progressives Congress of financing President Muhammadu Buharis election in 2015 with stolen public funds. The party, in a statement Tuesday said this in response to earlier attacks launched on it by the federal government and the APC wherein they asked the opposition party to return looted funds they stole while in power. This was a day after the PDP had offered an apology to Nigerians over their perceived failure in governance before they lost power in 2015 to APC. According to the statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the APC and its federal government cannot continue to play the saints when state governors, who stole hundreds of billions of naira meant for the development of their states to fund President Buhari in 2015, are still enjoying cover as members of the Buhari kitchen cabinet, despite outrage from Nigerians. The PDP also charged the APC and the federal government to end their false sanctimony and immediately return all stolen funds used to finance President Buharis election in 2015 to the Federation Account. Mr Ologbondiyan said no evidence could be brought to the fore that the PDP, as a party looted public funds. The APC and President Buhari campaigned for the 2015 presidential election with looted billions of naira meant for the provision of essential amenities for ordinary Nigerians. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, misfired in his outburst that the PDP should return alleged looted funds when the only party known to have used looted funds has always been the APC. He urged Mr Mohammed to direct his demand to the presidency. Nigerians are aware that prior to the 2015 election, President Buhari had informed that he was insolvent. He, however, took Nigerians by surprise as he enjoyed one of the most expensive presidential campaigns in the history of our Nation while turning a blind eye to reports of massive looting of funds from APC controlled states. This is the APC, whose government, has been rated by international bodies including the Transparency International (TI) which latest report shows that corruption and sleaze had escalated under its watch, the statement said. The statement also cited the current Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, as a case study in corruption. Mr Shittu, who is gunning for the governorship slot in Oyo State was recently accused by his former aide of corrupt practices and living beyond his means as a public servant. For more information the Toy Movement, please visit http://www.thetoymovement.org/ Employees and volunteers from Spin Master and Tecma Group kicked off the holiday by hand wrapping and delivering toys to children from schools in the Ciudad area.This special delivery to children in Juarez marks the third year in a row that the Tecma Group has joined the global initiative to give disadvantaged children in Mexico the opportunity to enjoy the feeling of fun, to be inspired and to experience the benefits of play. It is always amazing to see great companies come together to support children. Kids are the future and every little thing that we can do to help them smile and bring them happiness matters, said Ben Gadbois. The team at Tecma have been instrumental in bringing the missions in Mexico to fruition.The values demonstrated by Spin Masters The Toy Movement initiative align with those of the Tecma Group, added Toby Spoon, Tecmas Executive Vice President. The Toy Movement initiative underscores what is important to our company and our partners. It illustrates our ideals in action.Spin Master and Tecma will be contacting supportive businesses in El Paso and Juarez who would like to participate in the movement. By the end of 2017, the Toy Movement is expected to have delivered more than 250,000 toys around the world.On December 15th, the ORPHANetwork (ONET) and the Toy Movement brought the gift of play to 13,000 children living in impoverished areas across Nicaragua. A five-person team from Spin Master joined forces with ONET to distribute toys, just in time for Christmas.Working with a network of Local Church Initiatives (LCIs) which currently support 23,000 kids throughout Nicaragua the team was able to address gifts to each child by name. For many children, this was the first time they had received a present. The moment was made even more special when children saw their name handwritten on their giftwrapped toy.Over the course of four days, the team was able to visit LCIs in several regions of Nicaragua, including the countrys capital, Managua, and the mounts of rural Matagalpa.Behind the scenes, 135 volunteers individually wrapped 13,000 toys in less than one day. Due to the incredible partnerships, selfless volunteers, and donated toys, thousands of children began the holiday season with big smiles.The Toy Movement aims to distribute more than 500,000 toys to 500,000 children in 2018, delivering inspiration, imagination, and joy to children in troubled parts of the world.Earlier this year, Spin Master distributed toys to over 50,000 children living in Gawlian camp in Northern Iraq. Partnering with Save The Children, the groups coordinated logistics, transportation, delivery and gift-wrapping. This partnership ensured toys were safely and successfully distributed to children at each of the camps.After personally overseeing another successful Toy Movement mission, Ronnen Harary (Co-Founder of the Toy Movement, Co-CEO, and Co-Founder of Spin Master Ltd.) was delighted to touch on what makes this movement so special.The Toy Movement is about so much more than simply giving children toys. Regardless of their circumstances, children deserve the opportunity to grow, play and learn, and to know that they are not forgotten. Discovering a toy makes this possible, and despite the difficult circumstances these children find themselves in, we are committed to finding a way to reach kids no matter where they live.This Februarys mission to Iraq marks the 6th successful Toy Movement partnership, helping to ensure that kids all over the world have the opportunity to play.Earlier this year, Spin Master distributed toys to over 90,000 children living in Gawlian camp in Northern Iraq. Partnering with Save The Children, the groups coordinated logistics, transportation, delivery and gift-wrapping. This partnership ensured toys were safely and successfully distributed to children at each of the camps.After personally overseeing another successful Toy Movement mission, Ronnen Harary (Co-Founder of the Toy Movement, Co-CEO, and Co-Founder of Spin Master Ltd.) was delighted to touch on what makes this movement so special.The Toy Movement is about so much more than simply giving children toys. Regardless of their circumstances, children deserve the opportunity to grow, play and learn, and to know that they are not forgotten. Discovering a toy makes this possible, and despite the difficult circumstances these children find themselves in, we are committed to finding a way to reach kids no matter where they live.This Februarys mission to Iraq marks the 6th successful Toy Movement partnership, helping to ensure that kids all over the world have the opportunity to play.Earlier this year, Spin Master distributed toys to over 40,000 children living in Gawlian camp in Northern Iraq. Partnering with Save The Children, the groups coordinated logistics, transportation, delivery and gift-wrapping. This partnership ensured toys were safely and successfully distributed to children at each of the camps.After personally overseeing another successful Toy Movement mission, Ronnen Harary (Co-Founder of the Toy Movement, Co-CEO, and Co-Founder of Spin Master Ltd.) was delighted to touch on what makes this movement so special.The Toy Movement is about so much more than simply giving children toys. Regardless of their circumstances, children deserve the opportunity to grow, play and learn, and to know that they are not forgotten. Discovering a toy makes this possible, and despite the difficult circumstances these children find themselves in, we are committed to finding a way to reach kids no matter where they live.This Februarys mission to Iraq marks the 6th successful Toy Movement partnership, helping to ensure that kids all over the world have the opportunity to play. DETROIT, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, entrepreneurs can apply to compete for their share of $1 million in the second annual Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day competition. Applications for businesses interested in participating will be accepted through April 22, 2018 at DetroitDemoDay.com and the final pitch competition will be held in downtown Detroit's Music Hall on June 22, 2018. "We want to see the most innovative companies led by the most driven entrepreneurs taking the stage at Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day. These are the kinds of companies that help communities throughout Detroit thrive," said James Chapman, Director of Entrepreneurship for Quicken Loans Community Investment Fund (QLCIF). "Each year, this $1 million investment helps open opportunities for entrepreneurs to have access to the capital and mentorship they need to take their businesses to the highest levels, and in turn create jobs and prosperity for Detroiters." To be eligible for Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day, companies must be based in Detroit or committed to relocating into the city. They also must be a for-profit business with a product or service that is ready for sales. Additionally, the business may have up to $2 million in annual revenue and have raised up to $1 million in capital. After the application deadline on April 22, the QLCIF Entrepreneurship Team and community partners will review all submissions and narrow the pool to the top 100 semi-finalists. A group of established Detroit-based business leaders -- from a variety of industries and sectors -- will then select the finalists who will advance to the Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day. From the hundreds of applicants, 15 entrepreneurs will be chosen to pitch their company live, on stage at the Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day competition. After the small business owners pitch their companies, a panel of nationally-recognized entrepreneurs will pick seven winners who will receive a share of $1 million to invest into their business. The winnings will come in the form of grants, interest-free loans or equity-like investments ranging from $50,000 to $300,000. The audience in Music Hall will also vote on the "People's Choice" grant recipients. Applicants will be judged on: Team : Leadership with the necessary skill sets and experiences to execute the strategy. : Leadership with the necessary skill sets and experiences to execute the strategy. Advantage: The factors that differentiate a company from their competition and make them uniquely great. The factors that differentiate a company from their competition and make them uniquely great. Scale : The company's long-term vision for growth, job creation and delivering positive return on investment. : The company's long-term vision for growth, job creation and delivering positive return on investment. Strategy: The viability a company has to achieve its immediate plans using the sought after funding. In 2017, eight winners walked away with $50,000 - $200,000 in funding. Demo Day winners included: Social Club Grooming, Detroit Training Center, Ash & Erie, Recovery Park Farms, Eli Tea, The Farmer's Hand, Social Sushi and Good Cakes and Bakes. "Along with providing capital, my company also received helpful mentoring and access to opportunity that have made winning Detroit Demo Day a life-changing experience," said April Anderson, founder of Good Cakes and Bakes on the city's northwest side. "I was born in Detroit and I love that I am now a part of the growth of the city." QLCIF's Demo Day is a key component of a larger philanthropic strategy to invest in housing stability, entrepreneurship, education and employment, public space activation and community sponsorship in Detroit. Through its for-more-than-profit model, QLCIF brings together for-profit businesses and non-profit investments. The team is dedicated to investing alongside community partners to build financial and opportunities for all Detroiters. Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day Timeline Applications Open: Tuesday, March 27, 2018 - Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 11:59PM EDT - at Applicants can complete an online entry form at DetroitDemoDay.com. Vetting: Monday, April 23 Monday, June 4, 2018 The hundreds of online applications will be narrowed to the Top 15 finalists by the QLCIF Entrepreneurship team, community partners, and Detroit -based business leaders Detroit Demo Day Friday, June 22, 2018 Seven winners will be chosen after the 15 finalists pitch their companies to a panel of nationally-recognized entrepreneurs live at Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit Photos of the 2017 Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day are available here. About Quicken Loans Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation's largest mortgage lender. The company closed more than $400 billion of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2017. Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010, and now more than 17,000 team members from Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies work in the city's urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Primary Mortgage Origination" in the United States by J.D. Power for the past eight consecutive years, 2010 2017, and highest in customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past four years, 2014 2017. Quicken Loans was ranked No. 10 on FORTUNE magazine's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list in 2017, and has been among the top 30 companies for the past 14 consecutive years. The company has been recognized as one of Computerworld magazine's "100 Best Places to Work in IT" the past 13 years, ranking No. 1 for eight of the past 12 years, including 2017. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rock Holdings, Inc., the parent company of several FinTech and related businesses. Quicken Loans is also the flagship business of Dan Gilbert's Family of Companies comprising nearly 100 affiliated businesses spanning multiple industries. For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room. SOURCE Quicken Loans Related Links http://DetroitDemoDay.com RESTON, Va., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 1Rivet, a northern Virginia consulting firm specializing in strategic consulting, outsourced services and talent acquisition, has opened a second offshore office in Valsad, India. http://1rivet.com/news-details.php?id=14 1Rivet's offshore offices allow the company to lower U.S. clients' technology costs by 50 percent to 70 percent. 1Rivet Valsad, India office "The new office supports our recent growth and gives us redundancy and failover. If one site goes down, we automatically switch operations to the other office," said 1Rivet CEO Eric Middleton. "Plus, we're the only tenant in the building, so it's maintained to our standards." The second location seats 120 employees, includes meeting space and an employee cafeteria, and is conveniently located near 1Rivet's current Valsad branch, home to the company's 1Lab. 1Lab's research and development activities include proof of concepts for new technologies and crafting frameworks to ensure faster project deliveries, improve code quality and implement standardization, as well as research to introduce new tools and processes into 1Rivet's DevOps toolchain. "The second office will help us attract top talent," Middleton said. "We're making a commitment to the Valsad community to build something lasting." Tech workers in Valsad benefit from 1Rivet's American-style, team-oriented corporate culture, but retain the essence of the relationship-based Indian work culture, said 1Rivet VP of Offshore Delivery Hari Nair. "On our team, everyone is encouraged to contribute to the project and grooming new employees for senior roles is a key focus," Nair said. "If an idea comes from a junior developer, it's brought to the table and discussed. If it makes sense, it's adopted." 1Rivet is the largest tech employer in Valsad and boasts a 97% annual employee retention rate. Its corporate culture, robust internship program and open code events have helped make the company an employer of choice for local IT grads. "Eighty percent of the Valsad student base migrates to other cities once they graduate. 1Rivet is providing a way for them to pursue their careers and stay close to home," said Nair. About 1Rivet 1Rivet is a top-ranked, award-winning IT consulting firm known for its unique, cost-effective IT tools and tactics that resolve global public- and private-sector business challenges. 1Rivet provides thought leadership, innovation and tactical delivery in IT M&A, Cloud and Application custom strategy development and deployment, advanced analytics, AI and data visualization. Working from offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto and Valsad, India, the company's three core divisions offer: 1Lab To ensure its clients have access to the latest technology innovations and methodologies, 1Rivet creates cost-effective, inventive, pre-built frameworks and accelerators in its Valsad, India-based 1Lab. 1Lab's research and development activities include proof of concepts for new technologies and crafting frameworks to ensure faster project deliveries, improve code quality and implement standardization, as well as research to introduce new tools and processes into 1Rivet's DevOps toolchain. Strategic Consulting IT mergers, acquisitions and integrations; cloud-based innovations including machine learning, AI and IOT; application design and implementation; data visualization and analytics; delivery management and customer experience. Talent Acquisition Supporting our customer base ecosystem with strategic hires, contract-to-hires and scalable workforce solutions. Strategic Outsourcing Development and testing, project management, customer service, IT help desk, mail room, shipping and receiving, executive administrative support, reception, concierge, hospitality supply services, facilities, managed ED print services, imaging and records management, audio visual and conference room management. Visit them at www.1Rivet.com CONTACT: Angelica Fenton (919) 923-3035, [email protected] SOURCE 1Rivet Related Links http://www.1Rivet.com ROCKVILLE, Md., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelovance, Inc. (Accelovance), a global contract research organization (CRO) focusing in oncology, vaccines, and general medicine announced today that it has signed a merger agreement with Linical, a leading CRO based in Asia in the fields of oncology, immunology, and neurology. The transaction is scheduled to close in early Q2 subject to certain closing conditions. This union creates a market-leading contract research organization with significant global scale across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Both organizations have a 13-year history as trusted partners to biopharmaceutical companies, providing comprehensive and flexible clinical development solutions. The new company will offer clients even deeper oncology expertise, with combined scientific strength in both the early and late phases of clinical development. In addition, the company will provide significant leadership in many other therapeutic areas for example, Linical's experience in neurology and immunology, as well as Accelovance's offerings in vaccines, dermatology, pain, women's health, and nutrition. Together, the companies' services cover the entire drug life cycle, offering clients a one-stop provider for drug development, clinical research, a patient-focused call center, medical affairs, and post-marketing services. Stephen J. Trevisan, CEO of Accelovance noted, "This is an exciting milestone for Accelovance, allowing us to further expand our global bandwidth. Linical's expertise in oncology and immunology aligns perfectly with our therapeutic focus, and their strong heritage in neurology further enhances our service offering for clients. We are pleased to be working together with an organization that shares our mission of delivering exceptional execution to our clients in clinical research." Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Kazuhiro Hatano, President & CEO, Linical Co., Ltd., said, "This transaction will enable us to reinforce our capability and capacity in the USA as well as to strengthen our global network to respond to clients' needs of conducting large-scale multinational clinical trials. We will continue to work towards our core values of delivering high quality and reliable services to our clients worldwide." With a common emphasis on quick delivery with highly precise data and deep therapeutic expertise, Linical and Accelovance have a strong mutual track record of success serving the unique needs of emerging and established biopharmaceutical clients. Linical and Accelovance share a commitment to quality and excellence in drug development for existing and future studies. About Linical Linical Co., Ltd. is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) headquartered in Japan dedicated to providing a full range of professional services across the drug development process, with global operations in more than 20 countries. In accordance with the philosophy of contributing to new drug development and promoting the happiness of patients, Linical has supported the clinical development efforts of clients, focusing mainly on oncology, CNS (central nervous system), and immunology. Linical is capable of delivering a one-stop set of comprehensive services for large-scale, global projects and offering a streamlined service, ranging from innovative drug development, clinical development, clinical research, and surveys after manufacturing and sale, to support the drug life cycle management. For more information, please visit www.linical.co.jp/en. About Accelovance Accelovance is an award winning, clinical development Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on oncology, vaccine, dermatology, pain, nutrition and women's health (Phase I-IV programs). Providing global full CRO services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, CROs, and academic institutions, Accelovance supports client needs by leveraging operational knowledge and patient recruitment strategies that result in successful clinical trials. Established in 2005 with a corporate mission to improve the quality and predictability in clinical research, Accelovance has made significant strides in the industry by combining strong business and operational perspective with clinical and medical expertise. For more information, please visit www.accelovance.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements related to the merger described herein contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected benefits of the merger. Actual results could differ materially from those projected or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Press Contact: Alison Cundari, Marketing Manager [email protected] 803-753-4160 SOURCE Accelovance Related Links http://www.accelovance.com TORONTO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Amadeus Technologies today announced the availability of Amadeus Equity Tools, an analytical approach to enable equity portfolio managers to quickly and easily derive actionable insights for investments. Built from the ground up on ClickHouse, a leading open-source columnar SQL database used for analytics and reporting, and Kodiak Data's memory-speed cloud infrastructure, this application uses cutting-edge technology and machine learning (ML) techniques to manage big data. Amadeus Technologies Amadeus Equity Tools enables researchers to test rule-based investment hypotheses on clean financial data. Through extensive domain knowledge in equity markets, Amadeus Technologies has deployed advanced cleaning and processing techniques to create clean data from top data vendors and generate actionable complex factors that can be as complex as discounted cash flow analysis. The dashboard provides an intuitive user interface for creating investment rules and back-testing. By incorporating the entire research stack into one tool, users can quickly iterate through ideas to find the best performing strategies. "Ensuring optimal accuracy and performance of our ML and strategy algorithms is one of our key requirements," said Rafael Nicolas Fermin Cota, CEO of Amadeus Technologies. "We are excited to share that our developers rely on the NVIDIA DGX-1 for high performance machine learning acceleration. In addition, the partnership with Altinity and Kodiak Data allows us to offer not only a complete solution, but one that is even faster and more cost-effective than expected." "By combining the linear performance scalability and real-time report generation capability of ClickHouse on Kodiak Data MemCloudTM, Amadeus Technologies benefits from simplified database deployment and operation, as well as Altinity's 24x7 support," said Mindaugas Zukas, CEO of Altinity. "We are pleased to support Amadeus Technologies with our cloud infrastructure designed to power big data analytics and ML," added Kodiak Data's CEO, Som Sikdar. "Together with Altinity, the leading domain experts for ClickHouse, we provide unmatched value and performance to private and hybrid cloud users for data-intensive processing." Amadeus Technologies is a member of NVIDIA's Inception program, which has supported innovation and breakthroughs in AI and data science since 2016. Nicolas Cota and Venkat Bala, Amadeus Technologies' data scientist, are presenting a talk, "GPU Accelerated Machine Learning for Bond Price Prediction," at NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, California, today at 2:00 pm PST. About Amadeus Technologies At Amadeus Technologies, we specialize in developing high performance databases and providing applications to end users to enhance their analytical capabilities. Amadeus Technologies uses cutting-edge technology and machine learning techniques to handle and clean big data, allowing its clients to exploit opportunities that they may not have seen. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]. About Altinity Altinity is the leading service provider for ClickHouse an open-source column-store analytic database. Altinity helps customers around the world take advantage of the cutting edge technology for managing and analyzing extremely large volumes of data without expensive license costs. Altinity provides 24/7 ClickHouse Support and Professional Services. Visit altinity.com or follow us @AltinityDB. For more information, please contact [email protected]. About Kodiak Data Kodiak Data is an edge-cloud infrastructure company that allows customers to easily deploy and scale big data infrastructure in both public and private clouds. The Kodiak Data platform is the only solution that can create, within minutes, virtual clusters for cloud, data and storage services that run at memory-speed, and scale to the needs of big data applications and processing. For more information about Kodiak Data, visit www.kodiakdata.com. Media Contact: Sherri Chien-Niclas 408.422.0868 SOURCE Kodiak Data Related Links http://www.kodiakdata.com ROHNERT PARK, Calif., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Student loan borrowers and lawmakers agree that student debt is a problem. While a college education is still very valuable for the economy and individuals, student loans may prevent many from taking that leap into their future. While some lawmakers have proposed solutions involving free tuition, that only goes so far to cover the costs associated with college. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation company that assists borrowers with federal repayment plan applications, reminds borrowers that if they are struggling with their student loans, they may be able to turn to available income-driven repayment plans to help manage those loan payments. "A higher education may be worth the debt, but many borrowers still struggle with it," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. "The hard truth about any proposals to fix college funding and financial aid is that they may leave out those who have already been through it and are now dealing with thousands, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt." Student debt is a problem for millions of Americans, but some experts still agree that college education is necessary for both personal and economic success. However, that debt has been shown to cause borrowers to delay buying a house, getting married or starting a family. While many individuals call for more non-traditional solutions, such as expanding apprenticeships and trade skill training, others propose changes to the way college is funded. The push in recent years for tuition-free college resulted in the Excelsior Scholarship in New York. However, the program provides funds only for tuition, so students must still come up with the other costs associated with college attendance, such as living expenses, transportation and supplies. Furthermore, for students who do not graduate within four years or the time frame that the funded degree program requires of full-time students, the scholarship turns into a loan that the students are responsible for paying back. Recently, a proposal for debt-free college has been making waves in the media. Debt-free education would cover all the costs associated with a college education, not just the tuition that makes up about 45 percent of those total costs. Debt-free higher education, as proposed in this bill, would apply to both community and four-year colleges. It would rely on funding from states, with matched funding from the federal government. However, states may choose not to take funds from the federal government, and it may be unlikely that a bill this progressive would pass in the current Congress. Additionally, the bill does not address those who are currently indebted and may be struggling to pay down their student debt. Ameritech Financial suggests those borrowers turn to the available federal repayment plans. "Income-driven repayment plans have helped countless borrowers reduce their payments to make their debt manageable with the income they have," said Knickerbocker. "At Ameritech Financial, we help borrowers understand their IDR options and apply for one if they feel it is their best option. We even help with the yearly recertification paperwork, staying with each client as long as they stay in the program." About Ameritech Financial Ameritech Financial is a private company located in Rohnert Park, California. Ameritech Financial has already helped thousands of consumers with financial analysis and student loan document preparation to apply for federal student loan repayment programs offered through the Department of Education. Ameritech Financial is a member of the Association for Student Loan Relief (AFSLR), and each representative on the phone has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Ameritech Financial prides itself on its exceptional customer service. Contact To learn more about Ameritech Financial, please contact: Ameritech Financial 5789 State Farm Drive #265 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 1-800-792-8621 [email protected] Related Links Ameritech Financial home page SOURCE Ameritech Financial SEATTLE, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Amplero, a leader in AI Marketing (AIM), announced its newly enhanced capability to automatically discover hidden, actionable signals at a scale not humanly possible. Unveiled during this year's Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, Amplero is showcasing how its latest AIM release makes brands human again. Amplero AIM provides a transparent, unified, longitudinal view of each customer and discovers dynamic audience clusters based on existing behavioral and profile data, audience segments, and existing machine learning models from enterprise marketing cloud data ecosystems, including Adobe, Salesforce, and Oracle. This unmatched capability allows brands to truly understand their customer and deliver relevant, individualized interactions across every medium. Despite the exponential growth of customer data and large-scale investment in marketing infrastructure, major brands still struggle to understand and connect with consumers as individuals. According to the Forrester study, "The Machine on Your Team: How Marketers Are Adapting in the Age of AI," 63% of enterprise marketers still have more data than they know what to do with. While traditional marketing tools have fallen short in building meaningful relationships with customers, AI Marketing thrives. Launched with AI at the core and used by customer-obsessed brands like Sprint, TaxAct, and Virgin Mobile, Amplero's AIM technology experiments, learns, and optimizes each interaction as customer relationships evolve to deliver experiences where customers feel heard, known, and understood. "Today's consumers demand meaningful, individualized interactions across every channelor they'll take their business elsewhere," said Amplero Founder and Chief Scientist Olly Downs, PhD. "Integrating with our customers' existing marketing cloud investments, Amplero gives marketers the ability to continuously optimize every interaction against the key business metrics that underlie long-term customer relationships." Although 84 percent of marketers are planning to adopt or expand AIM solutions in 2018, many remain unclear on alignment with existing tools and strategies. "Amplero's ability to automatically adapt to changes in behavior and market conditions based on customer data makes this a powerful addition to any experience-focused marketing executive's martech stack in 2018," said Amplero Chief Revenue Officer Sam Weber. To learn more at this year's Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, connect with Amplero at booth #458, schedule a 1:1 AIM demo, or join one of our AI at the Core sessions. About Amplero Amplero lets brands be human again. Despite exponential data growth, major companies still fail to understand individual consumers. But where humans and existing marketing systems are overwhelmed, artificial intelligence marketing (AIM) thrives, enabling today's brands to build lasting customer relationships at a scale not humanly possible. Launched with AI at the core, Amplero's award-winning AIM technology experiments, learns, and optimizes each interaction as customer relationships evolve. Founded by machine learning pioneer, Olly Downs, PhD, Amplero was named to the "Top 5 Most-Promising AI Startups" by VentureBeat and "CB Insights AI 100" featured in Fortune. To learn more, visit www.amplero.com. SOURCE Amplero Related Links https://www.amplero.com/ RALEIGH, N.C., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ANEXIO, the Inc. 500 "Desktop to Data Center" infrastructure-as-a-service company, today announced that Tony Pompliano, ANEXIO president and CEO, is speaking at CAPREs Southeast Data Center Summit Wednesday, March 28. Pompliano will join more than 250 industry experts representing the most active data center developers, investors, capital sources, end-users and consultants in the Southeast region and from around the globe. ANEXIO is on the Inc. 500 list of America's fastest-growing privately held companies. ANEXIO's revenues have grown over 1,400 percent since 2013 as the company builds new, mission critical infrastructure for the world's most innovative organizations. Pompliano will serve on an expert panel at the conference for a session called "Carolinas Data Center Market 360: An Overview of Regional Development, Site Selection Advantages and Leasing Trends." Panel topics include: The impact of hyperscale development: Design and construction of today's data center What are the unique site selection advantages of North Carolina and South Carolina ? and ? Cost Power Analysis of North Carolina , South Carolina , Florida and Georgia "I spoke at CAPRE's Washington, D.C. and Mid-Atlantic Data Center Summit in Ashburn, Virginia last year and it is an honor to once again offer my perspective at another CAPRE event," said Tony Pompliano, ANEXIO president and CEO. "In 2018, the southeast region has significant data center growth opportunities and also some challenges to overcome to make sure each opportunity is leveraged to its full potential. I look forward to discussing the emerging data center market trends and sharing my passion, insights and experience in Charleston." The CAPRE Southeast Data Center Summit Spring Update will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center at 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, please visit: https://www.capremedia.com/events/capres-southeast-data-center-summit-spring-update. ABOUT ANEXIO ANEXIO is transforming the IT industry with Desktop to Data Center solutions designed specifically for customers seeking a smooth transition from legacy IT environments to a more efficient Hybrid Cloud infrastructure. The Inc. 500 company's Mission Critical Infrastructure strategy is anchored by eight Tier III SOC-2 certified data centers, an IT solutions center and a nationwide IP Network. ANEXIO's offerings include colocation, networking, Cloud services, storage, disaster recovery, Managed IT and Managed VoIP. Every ANEXIO product and service is backed up by United States-based customer support. Visit www.anexio.com for more information. Media Contact: Amy Laukka (919) 802-4304 [email protected] SOURCE ANEXIO Related Links https://www.anexio.com SKANES FAGERHULT, Sweden, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Concentric AB board of directors has resolved to convene an annual general meeting of shareholders to be held Thursday 3 May 2018. Further details on the proposals can be found in the notice convening the meeting, below. The notice is expected to be published in the Swedish Official Gazette (Post- och Inrikes Tidningar) and on the company's website within the next few days. Annual general meeting in Concentric AB The annual general meeting of Concentric AB will be held 12:00 CET on Thursday 3 May 2018, in Kreugersalen at Tandstickspalatset, Vastra Tradgardsgatan 15, Stockholm. Registration begins at 11:30 CET. Coffee will be served. NOTICE OF ATTENDANCE Those wishing to attend the general meeting must: (i) be recorded in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB, as of Thursday 26 April 2018; and (ii) notify the company of their intention to participate in the general meeting at the address Concentric AB, Strandgatan 2, 582 26 Linkoping, Sweden, by telephone +46 766 10 40 04 or at the company's website www.concentricab.com no later than Thursday 26 April 2018. On giving notice of attendance, the shareholder should state the shareholder's name (company name), address, telephone number, personal identity number or equivalent (corporate identity number) and shareholdings. Proxies and representatives of a legal person are asked to submit documents of authorisation prior to the general meeting. A proxy form will be available on the company's website, www.concentricab.com and will be sent, immediately and free of charge to the recipient, to those shareholders who so request and state their postal address. In order to participate in the general meeting, those whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must request their bank or broker to have their shares owner-registered with Euroclear Sweden AB as of Thursday 26 April 2018 and the bank or broker should therefore be notified in due time before said date. This registration may be made temporarily. AGENDA Proposal for agenda Opening of the general meeting and election of chair of the general meeting Drawing up and approval of the voting list Approval of the agenda Election of one or two persons to approve the minutes Determination of whether the general meeting was duly convened The CEO's report Presentation of the annual report and the auditor's report and the consolidated financial statements and the consolidated auditor's report Resolutions on: (a) adoption of the income statement and the balance sheet and the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet; (b) appropriation of the company's result according to the adopted balance sheet and on record date for dividend; and (c) discharge of personal liability for the board members and the CEO for the financial year 2017 Resolution on the number of board members and auditors Resolution on fees to the board members and the auditor Election of the board members and the auditor Resolution on approval of guidelines for remuneration to senior executives Resolution on reduction of share capital with retirement of repurchased own shares and increase of the share capital through a bonus issue Resolution on a performance based incentive programme (LTI 2018) Resolution on a directed issue of warrants and approval of transfer of warrants Resolution on: (a) authorisation for the board of directors to resolve on acquisition of own shares; (b) authorisation for the board of directors to resolve on transfer of own shares; (c) transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2018; and (d) transfer of own shares to an employee stock option trust Resolution on alternation of the articles of association Closing of the general meeting Proposal for election of chair of the general meeting (item 1 on the agenda) The Nomination Committee proposes that the chair of the board, Kenth Eriksson, is to be elected chair of the general meeting. Proposal for resolution on appropriation of the company's result according to the adopted balance sheet and on record date for dividend (item 8 (b) on the agenda) The general meeting has at its disposal profits carried forward of SEK 853,728,305.50 added with the net profit for the year of SEK 815,995,456.08. Thus, the general meeting has in total a non-restricted equity of SEK 1,669,723,761.58 at its disposal. The board of directors proposes a dividend for the financial year 2017 of SEK 3.75 per share, totalling SEK 148,284,349 (shares held by the company and shares held by the Employee Share Ownership Trust are excluded from dividend) and that the balance SEK 1,521,439,412.58 is carried forward. As record date for the dividend the board of directors proposes Monday 7 May 2018. Subject to the resolution by the general meeting in accordance with this proposal, the cash dividend is expected to be distributed by Euroclear Sweden AB on Friday 11 May 2018. Proposals for resolution on the number of board members and auditors, resolution on fees to the board members and the auditor, and election of the board members and the auditor (items 9 11 on the agenda) In accordance with the resolution of the annual general meeting 2012, Goran Espelund, chair (Lannebo Fonder), Erik Durhan (Nordea), Marianne Nilsson (Swedbank Robur Fonder) and Johan Strandberg (SEB Fonder) were all appointed members of the Nomination Committee in October 2017, before the annual general meeting 2018. The Nomination Committee, which represents 37.64 per cent of the shares and votes in the company, proposes that the general meeting resolves in accordance with the following. The number of directors is proposed to remain unchanged, which means that the general meeting shall elect seven directors, with no deputy directors. The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of the directors Marianne Brismar, Kenth Eriksson, Martin Lundstedt, Anders Nielsen, Susanna Schneeberger, Martin Skold, and Claes Magnus Akesson. It is proposed that Kenth Eriksson be re-elected chair of the board. More information about the proposed directors can be found on the company's website www.concentricab.com The Nomination Committee proposes that the company shall have one auditor with no deputy. The Nomination Committee proposes that the registered accounting firm KPMG AB shall be re-elected as the company's auditor until the end of the annual general meeting 2019. KPMG AB has informed the company that Anders Malmeby, authorised public accountant, will remain auditor-in-charge of the company. The Nomination Committee's proposal is in accordance with the Audit Committee's recommendation. The Nomination Committee and the Audit Committee have not been influenced by a third party and no clause of a contract entered into with a third party has been imposed which restricts the choice of certain auditors or audit firms. Fees to the directors for the period up to and including the annual general meeting 2019 is proposed to be paid as follows. The chair of the board will receive SEK 560,000 (previously SEK 540,000) and each of the other directors will receive SEK 265,000 (previously SEK 255,000). In addition, the chair of the Compensation Committee will receive SEK 75,000 (previously SEK 50,000) and director of the Compensation Committee will receive SEK 30,000 (previously SEK 0). Further, the Nomination Committee proposes that the chair of the Audit Committee will receive SEK 100,000 (previously SEK 75,000) and directors of said committee will receive SEK 50,000 (previously SEK 0). The above proposal means that the total remuneration to the board (remuneration for committee work included) will increase from SEK 2,195,000 to SEK 2,455,000. The Nomination Committee has conducted an analysis of director fees and associated remuneration for committee work compared to similar companies based on several measures of size and complexity. According to the Nomination Committee, the outcome of this analysis supports an increase of the abovementioned fees and remuneration, as well as work by a committee director being remunerated which was previously not the case. Fees to the auditor for services performed are proposed to be paid against by the company approved current account. Proposal for resolution on approval of guidelines for remuneration to senior executives (item 12 on the agenda) Concentric AB has established principles and forms for remuneration to senior executives. The board of directors and its Compensation Committee resolve on the structures of remuneration systems, as well as levels and forms of remuneration to senior executives. The board of directors proposes that the general meeting adopts the following guidelines for the establishment of remuneration to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other senior executives. These guidelines will be valid for agreements entered into after the general meeting's resolution and for changes made to existing agreements thereafter. The board of directors is entitled to deviate from the below guidelines if there are specific reasons or needs in an individual case. General It is of fundamental importance to the company and its shareholders that the guidelines for remuneration to senior executives, in both a short and long term perspective, enable the company to attract and retain senior executives and other employees with excellent competence. To obtain this it is important to sustain fair and internally balanced terms that are at the same time competitive on the market with respect to structure, scope and compensation levels. The terms of employment for senior executives shall consist of a balanced combination of fixed salary, annual bonus, long-term incentive programme, pension and other benefits and terms for dismissal/ severance payment. The total annual monetary remuneration, i.e. fixed salary, bonus and other long-term monetary remuneration, shall be in accordance with market practice on the geographical market where the senior executive operates. The total level of the compensation will be evaluated annually to ensure that it is in line with market practice for corresponding positions within the relevant geographical market. The remuneration should be based on performance. It should therefore consist of a combination of fixed salary and bonus, where the variable remuneration forms a relatively substantial part of the total remuneration, but it is understood that the bonus is always capped to a pre-defined maximum amount. The annual report 2017 sets out details of the total remuneration and other benefits awarded to the senior executives during 2017. Remuneration and remuneration forms The remuneration system of the company consists of various forms of remuneration in order to create a well-balanced compensation that fosters and supports management and achievement of goals in both a short and long-term perspective. Fixed remuneration The fixed remuneration shall be individually determined and shall be based on each individual's responsibility and role as well as the individual's competence and experience in the relevant position. Annual bonus Senior executives have an annual bonus that is payable after each year end. The annual bonus is structured as a variable part of the fixed salary. Bonus goals shall primarily be based on the outcomes of financial objectives for the entire company as well as clearly defined individual goals with respect to specific assignments. The latter is to ensure that the senior executive also focuses on non-financial targets of specific interest. Bonus related financial objectives for the company shall be established by the board annually in order to ensure that they are in line with the company's business strategy and profit targets. On behalf of the board, the Compensation Committee establishes the financial objectives for individual units proposed by the CEO. The part of the total remuneration consisting of the annual bonus varies depending on position and may be up to 50 percent of the fixed annual salary at full goal achievement. The bonus goals are constructed so that no bonus will be paid if a certain minimum performance level is not achieved. All bonus schemes within the organisation are discretionary and payable at the sole discretion of the management unless payment is guaranteed by an existing legal agreement or contract. Application of variable pay guidelines Under pre-existing employment contracts, there are ongoing deviations from the variable pay guidelines outlined above in respect of the CEO, whereby he may be entitled to an annual bonus of up to 80 percent of his fixed salary at full goal achievement. Long-Term Incentive Programme In order to foster a long-term perspective in the decision-making and to ensure long-term achievement of goals, the board may propose the general meeting to resolve on long-term incentive programmes. The board uses long-term incentives in order to ensure that senior executives within the company have a long-term interest in a stable value increase of the Concentric share. By implementing an incentive programme that is connected to the company's profits and at the same time its increase in value, the long-term growth of the company is rewarded and fostered. Further, long-term incentive programmes also aim to make the company a more attractive employer, which contributes to the company's ability to retain key employees within the group as well as to recruit new key employees. Potential remuneration in the form of long-term incentive programmes shall be in accordance with market practice on each relevant market. Pension When entering into new pension agreements with senior executives who are entitled to pension, the pension shall be based on defined contribution plans. Senior executives retire in accordance with local regulations on pension. As a main principle, pension premiums are based solely on fixed salary. Certain adjustments may occur in individual cases in accordance with local market practice. Other benefits Other benefits, such as company car, compensation for healthcare and health and medical insurance shall form a minor part of the total compensation and shall correspond to what may be deemed common market practice in each geographical market. Special remuneration In addition to the above described remunerations, agreements on additional remunerations may be made in exceptional situations, for example when considered necessary to attract and retain key personnel or induce individuals to move to new places of service or accept new positions. Such special remunerations shall be limited in time and may not exceed 36 months. Further, the total remuneration must not exceed an amount equivalent to two times the remuneration the individual would have received in the absence of an agreement on special remunerations. Terms for dismissal and severance payment Terms for dismissal and severance pay shall correspond to what may be deemed common market practice for each geographical market. The CEO has a notice period of 12 months. Other senior executives have a notice period up to 6 months. In addition hereto, when entering into new employment contracts, agreement may be made with senior executives on severance pay upon termination of employment by the company, corresponding to a maximum of 12 months' fixed salary. Upon termination of employment, local practice in the geographical market where the senior executive operates shall be complied with. Proposal for resolution on a reduction of share capital with retirement of repurchased own shares and increase of the share capital through a bonus issue (item 13 on the agenda) The board proposes that the general meeting resolves to reduce the share capital with a retirement of repurchased own shares and to increase the share capital through a bonus issue as set out below. The resolutions are conditional upon each other, thus the board proposes that the general meeting makes one joint resolution with respect to the proposals. A. Reduction of share capital The company's share capital will be reduced as follows. The company's share capital will be reduced by SEK 2,001,342 . The reduction will be made with retirement of 840,900 of the shares in the company repurchased and held by it. The retirement of shares will be made without any repayment. The purpose of the reduction is to allocate means to unrestricted equity. The means will, however, be restored to the share capital in accordance with item B below. The board states the following as an account under Chapter 20 Section 13 Paragraph 4 of the Swedish Companies Act. The resolution to reduce the share capital in accordance with this item does not require the approval of neither the Swedish Companies Registration Office nor, in disputed cases, a court of general jurisdiction, since the company simultaneously will carry out a bonus issue meaning that neither the restricted equity nor the share capital will be reduced. The effect of the board's proposal in item A means that the company's restricted equity and share capital will be reduced by SEK 2,001,342. The effect of the board's proposal in item B below means that the company's restricted equity and share capital will be increased by SEK 2,001,555 and thereby SEK 213 higher than the amount before the reduction. The proposed resolution to carry out a bonus issue is set out in item B below. B. Increase of share capital through a bonus issue To restore the share capital following the proposed reduction of share capital as set out above the share capital will be increased by a bonus issue of SEK 2,001,555 by a transfer of SEK 2,001,555 from the company's unrestricted equity. The bonus issue will take place without the issuing of new shares. Following the resolutions under items A and B the company's share capital will total SEK 97,275,573 and there will be 40,031,100 registered shares, each with a quota value of SEK 2.43. The board, or anyone appointed by the board, is entitled to make the minor adjustments to the above proposed resolution that may be necessary upon registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, Euroclear Sweden AB or due to any other formal requirement. Proposal for resolution on performance based incentive programme (LTI 2018) (item 14 on the agenda) The board of directors believes that an incentive programme that is connected to the company's profits and at the same time its increase in value will award and foster the long-term growth of the company. Further, an incentive programme will contribute to the ability of the company to retain and recruit key employees within the group. Considering the above, the board proposes a long-term performance based incentive programme ("LTI 2018") under which senior executives and key employees will be entitled to receive employee stock options that entitles the participants to acquire shares in the company under the terms and conditions set out below. In order to ensure and maximise the management's engagement in the company, allocation of employee stock options under LTI 2018 will be conditional upon the participants becoming shareholders in the company by own investments in the company's share in the stock market. The board's intention is that the incentive programme will run over a long-term period, thus the board intends to propose the general meeting in the coming years to resolve upon similar incentive programmes. To be able to implement LTI 2018 in a cost-efficient and flexible manner, the board of directors has considered various methods for transferring the company's shares under LTI 2018, such as a share swap agreement with a third party, repurchase and transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2018 or an Employee Share Ownership Trust as well as transfer of warrants entitling to subscription of new shares. The board of directors has also taken into consideration that delivery of shares under LTI 2018 will be made no earlier than 2021. In order to retain full flexibility, the board proposes that shares can be delivered with any of the above four alternate methods (in accordance with the proposals below and the board's proposal on directed issue and transfer of warrants and the board's proposal on acquisition and transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2018, or an Employee Share Ownership Trust), with the right for the board to combine or choose any of the methods. The board proposes that the general meeting resolves on the implementation of a long-term incentive programme, LTI 2018, principally based on the following conditions and principles. LTI 2018 shall comprise up nine senior executives, including the CEO, and other key employees within the Concentric group. In order to participate in LTI 2018, the participants must make own investments in Concentric shares in the stock market no later than 31 May 2018 , with right for the board to, in respect of participants joining LTI 2018 thereafter, postpone the last day of acquisition to no later than 6 December 2018 . Within LTI 2018, investments in Concentric shares may be made by the CEO up to a value of 50 per cent of his annual base salary effective from 1 January 2018 , by the former CFO up to a value of 30 per cent of his annual base salary effective from 1 January 2018 and by other participants up to a value of 20 per cent of their respective annual base salary effective from 1 January 2018 . The maximum number of shares that each participant is entitled to acquire under the LTI 2018 shall be calculated using a share price of SEK 145.90 , which equals to the average of each trading day's volume weighted average share price on Nasdaq Stockholm during the period from 7 March 2018 to 20 March 2018 (inclusive), rounded to the nearest ten ore. Each Concentric share acquired under LTI 2018 will entitle the participants to two (2) free employee stock options, where each, after a three year lock-up period, will entitle the participant to acquire one (1) Concentric share at a price of SEK 116.70 and SEK 175.10 respectively. This exercise price equals 80 and 120 per cent respectively of the average of each trading day's volume weighted average share price on Nasdaq Stockholm during the period from 7 March 2018 to 20 March 2018 (inclusive), rounded to the nearest ten ore. Each Concentric share acquired under LTI 2018 will also entitle the participants to two (2) free performance employee stock options ("Performance Employee Stock Options"), where each, if certain performance criteria specified below are met, will entitle the participant to acquire one (1) Concentric share at a price of SEK 116.70 . This exercise price equals 80 per cent of the average of each trading day's volume weighted average share price on Nasdaq Stockholm during the period 7 March 2018 to 20 March 2018 (inclusive), rounded to the nearest ten ore. Each participant may receive no more than four (4) employee stock options and Performance Employee Stock Options in total for each acquired Concentric share. In all, a maximum of 140,000 employee stock options, each entitling to one (1) Concentric share, may be allocated under LTI 2018. Allocation of the employee stock options is to be decided by the board. The employee stock options shall have a 39 months term (but never past 31 October 2021 ) and can be exercised to acquire Concentric shares during a three month period from the date of publication of the company's report for the first quarter 2021. Exercising the employee stock options is subject to the participant remaining employed in the Concentric group (with certain exceptions decided by the board) and retaining the Concentric shares acquired under LTI 2018 throughout the three year lock-up period, thus up to and including the date of exercising the employee stock options. The board of directors shall be authorised to resolve on a premature exercise of the employee stock options (i) if a person, alone or together with related parties, acquires such number of shares in the company that it, in accordance with applicable rules, gives rise to an obligation to announce a mandatory offer to acquire all outstanding shares in the company or (ii) for individual participants based on individual circumstances, or (iii) if premature exercise is otherwise deemed to be suitable or appropriate, taking into account performance achieved to the date of premature exercise. The number of Concentric shares that may be transferred to participants in LTI 2018 may be recalculated due to a bonus issue, share split, rights issue and/or any similar event, by applying the recalculation principles applicable on the warrants proposed to the general meeting under the board's proposal on directed issue of warrants. The board of directors shall decide on the detailed terms and conditions of LTI 2018. The board shall be entitled to deviate from or adjust the terms and conditions as a result of local regulations and practice. Performance criteria The conditional right to exercise the Performance Employee Stock Options is subject to the fulfilment of the following performance criteria. The first Performance Employee Stock Option will entitle the participant to acquire one (1) Concentric share per Performance Employee Stock Option if the company's reported earnings per share of the financial year 2020 reach or exceed SEK 10.00. The second Performance Employee Stock Option will entitle the participant to acquire one (1) Concentric share per Performance Employee Stock Option if the company's reported return on equity reaches or exceeds 25 per cent per year in average over the financial years 2018, 2019 and 2020. No partial exercising of Performance Employee Stock Options will be allowed if the performance criteria are not fully met. Authorisation to enter into a swap agreement The company's supply of shares to the participants under LTI 2018 may be made by instructing a third party to deliver Concentric shares under a swap agreement. In accordance with this, the board proposes that the general meeting resolves to authorise the board to enter into a swap agreement regarding own shares. Thus, it is proposed that the financial exposure of LTI 2018 may be hedged by the company entering into a share swap agreement with a third party, whereby the third party in its own name shall acquire and transfer Concentric shares to participants in LTI 2018. Costs The LTI 2018 is expected to result in annual costs of approximately MSEK 1.1 for the company if participants invest to their individual limits under the incentive programme and the performance criteria are met, and an annual 15 per cent share price growth is assumed. In addition to this, social security charges will apply in the year of vesting, 2021. Social security charges are expected to amount to approximately MSEK 0.5 annually based on the same assumptions. Preparation of the matter The board's proposal on LTI 2018 has been prepared by the board of directors. Proposal for resolution on a directed issue of warrants and approval of transfer of warrants (item 15 on the agenda) The board of directors proposes that the general meeting resolves on a directed issue of warrants with the right to subscribe for new shares in the company, in accordance with the below proposal. The board's proposal entails the general meeting shall decide on a directed issue of 140,000 warrants with the right to subscription of new shares in the company, principally in accordance with the following conditions. The warrants are issued free of charge. Each warrant will give the right to subscribe for one new share in the company, thus the share capital of the company can increase with a maximum of SEK 340,200 if the warrants are fully utilised. The right to subscribe for warrants shall, with a deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, be granted the company's fully owned subsidiary Concentric Skanes Fagerhult AB. Subscription to the warrants shall be made no later than 31 August 2018 , with the board reserving the right to extend this time limit. The warrants can be exercised to subscribe for shares in the company from the registration of the warrants with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and up to and including 31 December 2021. The warrants shall have an exercise price corresponding the share's quota value, SEK 2.43 . The new shares issued under the warrants shall entitle to dividend as from the first record date for dividend to occur after the registration of the new shares with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. The number of shares issued under each warrant may be recalculated in accordance with recalculation principles due to a bonus issue, share split or consolidation, rights issue and/or any similar event. Reason for the deviation from the shareholders' preferential right The reason for deviating from the shareholders' preferential rights is that the company wishes to implement an incentive programme for senior executives and key employees within the group, by which they can be offered the opportunity to take part in an increase in the company's share value. Dilution At full utilisation of the warrants, the number of outstanding shares in the company will increase by 140,000. These shares constitute 0.4 per cent of the number of shares and votes after full dilution, calculated as the number of new shares in relation to the number of existing and new shares in the company. Together with outstanding warrants under previous incentive programmes, the warrants will result in a combined dilution of approximately 1.4 per cent of the outstanding shares and votes in the company. If the proposed warrants had been fully utilised throughout 2017, the company's basic and diluted earnings per share for the financial year 2017 would have been SEK 7.52 and SEK 7.49 per share respectively on a pro forma basis, instead of SEK 7.54 and SEK 7.52 per share respectively as reported. In the event that repurchased shares, or shares transferred by a third party under a swap agreement, (in accordance with the board's proposal for acquisition and transfer of own shares and the board's proposal of LTI 2018, respectively) are fully or partly transferred to the participants in LTI 2018 instead of warrants, the dilution will be reduced. Transfer of the warrants Furthermore, the board of directors proposes that the general meeting resolves to approve that Concentric Skanes Fagerhult AB, on one or more occasions, may transfer warrants to the participants in LTI 2018 in accordance with the terms and conditions of LTI 2018, and dispose of the warrants in order to cover costs related to, or fulfil obligations occurring under, LTI 2018. Preparation of the matter The board's proposal has been prepared by the board of directors. Special authorisation The board of directors proposes that the board, or anyone appointed by the board, shall be entitled to make the minor adjustments to the above proposed resolution that may be necessary upon registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office or due to any other formal requirement. Proposals for resolution on authorisation of acquisition and transfer of own shares, transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2018 and transfer of own shares to an employee stock option trust (items 16 (a)-(d) on the agenda) Proposal for resolution on authorisation for the board to resolve on acquisition of own shares (item 16 (a) on the agenda) The board of directors proposes that the general meeting authorises the board to resolve on repurchase of own shares on one or several occasions during the period up to the annual general meeting 2019 in accordance with the following. Acquisition of own shares must be made on Nasdaq Stockholm. Own shares may be acquired to the extent the company's holdings of own shares in total amounts to no more than one tenth of all shares in the company. Acquisition of own shares on Nasdaq Stockholm shall be made in cash and at a price within the stock market price interval registered at any given time, such interval being the interval between the highest purchase price and the lowest sales price. The reasons for the proposed authorisation to repurchase own shares are to be able to improve the company's capital structure and to enable share transfers in accordance with the board's proposals for authorisation for the board to transfer own shares and for previous and proposed resolution on transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2015-2018, to increase the flexibility for the board in connection to potential future corporate acquisitions, as well as to cover costs for LTI 2015-2018 and enable delivery of shares in accordance with LTI 2015-2018. References made to LTI 2015-2018 includes the JSOP and Employee Share Ownership Trust. Proposal for resolution on authorisation for the board to resolve on transfer of own shares (item 16 (b) on the agenda) The board of directors proposes that the general meeting authorises the board to resolve on transfer of own shares on one or several occasions during the period up to the annual general meeting 2019 in accordance with the following. Transfer of own shares must be made either on Nasdaq Stockholm or in another manner. Transfer of own shares may be made with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights. The maximum number of shares that may be transferred is the total number of own shares held by the company at the time of the board's resolution to transfer the shares. Transfer of own shares on Nasdaq Stockholm shall be made at a price within the stock market price interval registered at any given time, such interval being the interval between the highest purchase price and the lowest sales price; transfer of own shares in another manner shall be made at a minimum price that shall be determined in close connection with the shares' quoted price at the time of the board's resolution to transfer the shares. Payment for the transferred shares may be made in cash, by contribution in kind or by set-off. The board is entitled to determine the other terms and conditions of the transfer which, however, shall be in accordance with the market practice. The reasons for the proposed authorisation to transfer own shares and for the deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights are to be able to improve the company's capital structure, to cover costs relating to LTI 2015-2018 (including costs related to the JSOP) as well as to increase the flexibility of the board in connection to potential future corporate acquisitions, by facilitating a fast and cost-efficient financing by divesting holdings of own shares. Proposal for resolution on transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2018 (item 16 (c) on the agenda) The board of directors proposes that the general meeting resolves on transfer of own shares in accordance with the following. The maximum number of shares that may be transferred is 140,000. The participants in LTI 2018 are, with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, entitled to acquire the shares with right for each of the participants to acquire no more than the maximum number of shares allowed under the terms and conditions for LTI 2018. The participants' right to acquire shares are conditional upon the fulfilment of all of the conditions set up in LTI 2018. The shares must be transferred within the time period set out in the terms and conditions of LTI 2018. The shares must be transferred at a price equivalent to the price established under the terms and conditions of LTI 2018. Payment for the shares must be made in cash and within ten banking days from the participants' exercise of the employee stock options that entitle the participants to acquire the shares. The number of shares that may be transferred to the participants in LTI 2018 may be recalculated due to bonus issue, share split, rights issue and similar events in accordance with the terms and conditions of LTI 2018. The reason for the proposed transfer and for the deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights is to enable delivery of shares under LTI 2018. The board proposes that a resolution under this proposal is to be subject to the general meeting having resolved to pass the board's proposal on LTI 2018 under item 14 on the agenda. Proposal for resolution on transfer of own shares to an employee stock option trust (item 16 (d) on the agenda) The Joint Share Ownership Plan In order to enable a tax efficient delivery of shares under LTI 2018 to participants resident in the United Kingdom, Concentric wants to be able to invite them to take part in a Joint Share Ownership Plan ("JSOP"). Using the JSOP will not change any terms specified in LTI 2018, such that participants will receive the same pre-tax benefits for the same exercise proceeds subject to the same conditions regarding the lock-in period for holding savings shares, maintaining continuity of employment and achieving the relevant performance criteria. In addition, the total annual costs for Concentric using the JSOP are expected to be in line with those specified in the board's proposal on LTI 2018 under item 14 on the agenda. Participants that accept this invitation will, instead of receiving an Employee Stock Option or a Performance Employee Stock Option under LTI 2018, receive (i) a Capped Employee Stock Option and (ii) Joint Ownership Rights together with an Employee Share Ownership Trust[1] ("ESOT") in a Concentric share (for which they will pay in cash). The Capped Employee Stock Option will provide the participant with the value of the Concentric share that would have been realised under LTI 2018 up until the cap. The cap will be determined at the time the Capped Employee Stock Option is issued to the participant based upon the value of the Concentric share at that time. The Joint Ownership Right will provide the participant with any benefits that would have been realised under LTI 2018 if the share price on exercise of the Capped Employee Stock Option exceeds the level of the cap. Participants that join the JSOP will automatically surrender their entitlement to regular Employee Stock Options and Performance Employee Stock Options provided under LTI 2018. Through both the Capped Employee Stock Option and the Joint Ownership Right, the participant is given the same opportunity to take part of the growth of value of the Concentric share had the participant not surrendered the rights to the options provided under LTI 2018. To facilitate the JSOP, Concentric will transfer a number of own shares equal to the maximum number of share options which may be awarded to participants who elect to join the JSOP into the program. The shares will be transferred to a securities account controlled by the ESOT in which the shares will be jointly owned by the respective participant and the ESOT as specified within the terms of a joint ownership agreement. If all the conditions for a participant to receive a Concentric share under a regular Employee Stock Option or Performance Employee Stock Option are met, then the participant will be eligible to exercise the respective Capped Employee Stock Option; the total funds paid by the participant to Concentric will be the same as the exercise price of the Employee Stock Option or Performance Employee Stock Option; and the ESOT will surrender its ownership rights in a jointly owned Concentric share and transfer the Concentric share to the participant as full and final settlement of their entitlement under LTI 2018. If all conditions set out in LTI 2018 for the exercise of an Employee Stock Option or a Performance Employee Stock Option is not met, any participant in JSOP must surrender all his ownership rights in a corresponding jointly owned Concentric share to the ESOT and the participant may not exercise the Capped Employee Stock Option. Such shares will be retained in the ESOT and used for future share schemes or other variable remuneration purposes in Concentric. The JSOP will result in Concentric incurring some up-front costs for setting up the necessary practical arrangements. However, the use of Capped Employee Stock Options will also cap social security contributions, such that the total annual costs are expected to be in line with those specified in the board's proposal on LTI 2018 under item 14 on the agenda. In summary, the JSOP gives the company an opportunity to offer LTI 2018 to participants resident in the United Kingdom in a more tax efficient solution than if the shares had been delivered to them through any other method, whilst ensuring that the conditions for the participants remain the same. Transfer of Own Shares In light of the foregoing, the board of directors proposes that the general meeting resolves on transfer of own shares to the ESOT and the participants in accordance with the following. The maximum number of shares that may be transferred to an ESOT and the participants is 97,520. Each transferred share may, with deviation of the shareholders' preferential rights, be acquired by the ESOT jointly with one of the participants. The part of a share acquired by the ESOT will be acquired free of charge and the part of a share acquired by a participant, the Joint Ownership Right, is acquired by the participant for a price equal to its market value. The value of this Joint Ownership Right will be established using a best estimate of the initial unrestricted market value, as defined under UK tax law, applying an expected return methodology The shares must be transferred to the ESOT and the participants before 31 December 2018 . The number of shares that may be transferred to the ESOT and the participants may be recalculated due to bonus issue, share split, rights issue and similar events in accordance with the terms and conditions of LTI 2018. The reason for the proposed transfer and for the deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights is to enable a tax efficient delivery of shares under LTI 2018 to certain participants resident in the United Kingdom. The board proposes that a resolution under this proposal is to be subject to the general meeting having resolved to pass the board's proposal on LTI 2018 under item 14 on the agenda. Proposal for resolution on alteration of the articles of association (item 17 on the agenda) The board proposes that the meeting resolve to alter the articles of association essentially as follows (i) Section 4 is altered to have the following wording: "The share capital shall be not less than SEK 71,400,000 and not more than SEK 285,600,000." (ii) Section 5 is altered to have the following wording: "The number of shares shall be not less than 30,000,000 and not more than 120,000,000." (iii) Section 6 is altered to have the following wording: "The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than 3 and not more than 10 members without deputy members. The members of the Board shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting for a time period up to and including the next Annual General Meeting." (iv) Section 12 is altered to have the following wording: "The company's shares shall be registered in a Central Securities Depository Register under the Swedish Central Securities Depositories and Financial Instruments (Accounts) Act (lagen (1998:1479) om vardepapperscentraler och kontoforing av finansiella instrument)." MISCELLANEOUS Majority requirements Resolutions under items 13 (reduction of share capital with retirement of repurchased own shares and increase of the share capital through a bonus issue), 16 (a) (authorisation for the board of directors to resolve on acquisition of own shares), 16 (b) (authorisation for the board of directors to resolve on transfer of own shares) and 17 (alternation of the articles of association) will not be valid unless supported by shareholders representing at least two thirds of the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting. Resolutions under items 15 (directed issue of warrants and approval of transfer of warrants), 16 (c) (transfer of own shares to participants in LTI 2018) and 16 (d) (transfer of own shares to an employee stock option trust) will not be valid unless supported by shareholders representing at least nine tenths of the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting. Documents Copies of the board's and the Nomination Committee's complete proposals including the board's and the auditor's statements, the accounts and the auditor's report regarding 2017 will be available at the company and on the company's website www.concentricab.com no later than as from Thursday 12 April 2018 and will be sent, immediately and free of charge to the recipient, to those shareholders who so request and state their postal address. The documents will also be available at the general meeting. Information at the general meeting If so requested by any shareholder and if the board of directors deems it possible without significant detriment to the company, the board of directors and managing director must provide information at the general meeting about circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, circumstances that can affect the assessment of the company's or its subsidiaries' financial situation, the group accounts and the company's relation to other companies within the group. Shareholders who wish to submit questions in advance may send them to Lennart Lindell, Concentric AB, Strandgatan 2, 582 26 Linkoping, Sweden. Shares and votes As per the day of this notice, the number of shares and votes in the company totals 40,872,000 respectively of which the company holds 1,236,507 shares. In addition to this, 93,000 shares have been transferred to an Employee Share Ownership Trust. Concentric AB (publ) The board of directors [1] The Employee Share Ownership Trust is a separate legal entity governed by independent trustees, who act within the guidelines as stipulated under the trust deed. These guidelines specify that any monies or shares received by the trust must be used solely for the provision of share schemes or other variable remuneration on behalf of Concentric. For further information, please contact: Lennart Lindell Telephone: +46-766-104-004 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/concentric-ab/r/annual-general-meeting-in-concentric,c2481182 SOURCE Concentric AB LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Applied Design Works (Applied), a New York Citybased creative agency, today announced it is opening an office in Los Angeles, CA. This office will be the agency's second, and will work closely with its headquarters in New York City. Katherine Pereira joins the team as Managing Director of the LA office, working with Applied's founders to grow the agency's presence on the West Coast. Applied's growth into the LA market represents a big moment for the agency. Brad Scott, Founder and Managing Director, began his career in California and always envisioned working in the market again. "LA is rich in culture, diversity of thought, and the spirit of creativity, which inspires us greatly. Coupled with the cutting-edge business community and the needs of clients already based there, our goal is for the office to establish itself as part of the fabric of LA's design, business and local community." To lead the charge in the LA office, Applied has brought on Katherine Pereira as Managing Director. Pereira joins from sparks + honey, an Omnicom agency, where she was a client partner, responsible for leading the agency's beauty, packaged goods and government businesses. In that role, she worked with clients to identify future trends and understand how they may impact clients' businesses. Prior to sparks + honey, Pereira spent time at McGarry Bowen, Landor and Y&R. Scott pointed to Pereira's vast experience across industries like telecommunications, hospitality, retail, banking and fast food as key reasons for her joining the team. "As we look to grow our client roster on the West Coast, having someone with such vast experience as Katherine's is key. She can work comfortably with all kinds of clients, helping them elevate to the next level both creatively and strategically." "I'm really excited to join the Applied team," said Pereira. "My passion lies in working closely with clients to identify their challenges, and then partnering together to find creative solutions that impact their brands and the world around them. I can't wait to help grow our presence on the West Coast by working with both existing and new clients." Founded in 2015 by Brad Scott and Craig Dobie, two seasoned professionals who held senior positions at leading design studios, Applied brings a laser focus to helping solve client problems in ways that are creative, purposeful and beautiful. Together, the team has worked with clients like the Central Park Conservancy, NYU Langone, Pfizer, Westfield and the World Trade Center, and has won awards from AIGA, Cannes Lions and D&AD, among others. About Applied Design Works In the real world, things aren't always easy. In order to grow, advance and succeed, there are problems you'll need to solve, obstacles you'll need to overcome, risks you'll have to take. But it's your job to keep setting goals, and it's ours to help you achieve them. We are a passionate group of innovators, designers, developers and doers who wake up every morning excited by the challenges that lie ahead. We work together. We work with you. We apply our collective expertise and imagination to solving problems in ways that are creative, purposeful and beautiful. To put it another way, we find solutions that are as practical as they are 'magical,' and then we make them happen. Once we do, we'll stay with youoptimizing, iterating and improving so we can make an impact on the future of your business and on the lives of your customers. We don't fight reality, we elevate it. We make it better so you can be your best. For more information on Applied Design Works, please visit www.applieddesignworks.com. SOURCE Applied Design Works Related Links http://www.applieddesignworks.com PHOENIX, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Employment in Arizona's technology industry expanded by an estimated 4,290 jobs in 2017 and contributed $28.5 billion to the state's economy, according to Cyberstates 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation's tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world's leading technology industry association. With 237,100 workers, Arizona ranks 18th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.1 This accounts for 7.8 percent of the state's total workforce. The average tech industry wage in Arizona is $99,960, compared to the state's average private sector annual wage of $49,500. "CompTIA's Cyberstates 2018 report validates the outstanding efforts of the Arizona Technology Council and community leaders to grow our technology economy," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO, Arizona Technology Council. "It is especially encouraging to see the increase in job postings for emerging technologies such as IoT, smart cities, drones, A.I., and more. It shows that companies are choosing Arizona for our quality of life, pro-business laws and the talent pool in these new sectors." The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 10.1 percent ($28.5 billion) of the overall state economy. The state is home to some 8,561 tech business establishments. Arizona ranked 19th in Cyberstates Innovation Score in 2017. This ranking is based on a state-by-state per capita analysis of tech startups/new tech business formations + venture capital. The state also saw a 21.2 percent jump in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies -- such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. In total, Arizona employers posted 59,710 jobs for technology positions last year. Leading tech occupations in Arizona include software and web developers (29,500 positions, up 3.8 percent last year), computer system and information security analysts (18,510 jobs, up 4.4 percent) and network architects, administrators, and support specialists (16,270 jobs, up 2.9 percent). The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of software (packaged) (+ 7.8 percent) and IT services and custom software services (+ 5.0 percent). Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA's analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://cyberstates.org/ 1 Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers. About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global 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. Contact: Preston Grisham CompTIA [email protected] 202-682-4458 SOURCE CompTIA Related Links http://www.comptia.org WASHINGTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Organized by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) in collaboration with the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council, the Defense Technology and Security Conference concluded its sessions with the participation of more than a dozen high-profile speakers and over 100 industry leaders, advisors, regulators, and influencers who have come to discuss and learn more about Saudi Arabia's vision and strategic outlook in developing its defense industry with a special focus on technology and security as the two main components of the program. As Saudi Arabia advances its historic Vision 2030 initiative to create a stronger, more stable business environment and greater opportunities for corporate partnerships, the Kingdom will experience transformational economic and social reform designed to unlock the potential of the Saudi people and ensure a prosperous future for both the country and region. Comprising three panel discussions and held under the theme 'Reinforcing Partnerships, Creating Value,' the conference comes as part of the visit of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia to the United States, which aims to further cement the U.S.-Saudi historical partnership and open up new vistas of opportunities. H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Chairman of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) welcomed the guests and underscored the importance of the conference theme 'Reinforcing Partnerships, Creating Value,' to embody the depth of the historic and robust relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia a relationship based on mutual commitment, trust, drive, and value. Titled 'Realizing the Vision, Developing the Defense Ecosystem,' the second panel featured a stellar lineup of speakers, including H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources; H.E. Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment; and H.E. Mr. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Chairman of SAMI. The discussion outlined how Saudi Arabia is developing the defense ecosystem in the Kingdom and how this will ultimately realize the Saudi Vision 2030. Featuring Dr. Andreas Schwer, CEO of SAMI; Leanne Caret, CEO of Boeing Defense, Space, and Security; Kurt E. Amend, CEO of Raytheon Saudi Arabia; and Colin Mahoney, Senior Vice President of International and Service Solutions at Rockwell Collins, the first panel addressed how to create a value chain for a sustainable future, citing the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia has been witnessing and building on the historical U.S.-Saudi ties. Moderated by John Hamre, CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the third and final panel explored 'The Strategic Outlook and the Road Ahead' and featured a prominent lineup of panelists, including Mohammed Al-Athel, Secretary General of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI); The Honorable Kenneth J. Krieg, Former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L); and Maj. Gen. Arnold L. Punaro, Immediate Past Chair and Nominating & Governance Committee Chair of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is a state-owned military company launched in May 2017 by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). SAMI was established to provide military products and services and to reduce the country's reliance on foreign purchases of military products. SAMI's reported targets include the contribution of 14 billion riyals (US$3.7 billion) to the Saudi economy by 2030, 6 billion riyals (US$1.6 billion) investment in research and development and the creation of 40,000 jobs. About Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI): Launched in May 2017, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is a state-owned military industries company working under the directives outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030. Aiming to be among the top 25 military industries companies in the world by 2030, SAMI is expected to play a key role in localizing 50% of the Kingdom's total government military spending. SAMI is combining the latest technologies and the best national talent to develop military products and services at par with international standards across four business divisions Aeronautics, Land Systems, Weapons and Missiles, and Defense Electronics. The company is also focused on increasing exports and bringing foreign investment to the Kingdom's military industries sector. With Saudi Arabia among the world's top five spenders on security and defense, SAMI's targets set forth for 2030 include contributing around SAR 14 billion (USD 3.7 billion) to the Kingdom's GDP, investing over SAR 6 billion (USD 1.6 billion) in research and development, and creating over 40,000 direct jobs locally. For more information, visit www.sami.com.sa or e-mail us at [email protected]. SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office DUBLIN, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "ASEAN & South Asia Dyestuff for Textile Market by Type and by Country - Market Size, Share, Development, Growth, and Demand Forecast, 2013-2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The growth of the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market is mainly driven by the tremendously high demand of dyestuff from the home textile and automotive textile industries, in emerging economies. The apparel industry is witnessing tremendous growth in the current scenario, owing to the surge in demand for apparels such as outerwear, jeans, t-shirts, innerwear, shorts, dresses, trousers, children's wear, and socks, across the world. For instance, as per NDP Group, Inc., in 2016, the apparel sales in the U.S. increased by 19% for men's, women's, and children's apparels. Accordingly, the demand for dyestuff (black color) used in the manufacturing process of these wide range of apparels is also growing. Insights on Market Segments: On the basis of type, the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market is segmented into reactive dyes, disperse dyes, vat dyes, direct dyes, acid dyes, sulfur dyes, and others. Reactive dyes held the largest share of the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market, in terms of both value and volume, in 2016. The main characteristic of reactive dyes is the formation of a covalent bond with cellulose, which is the key component of cotton fibers, making it the most permanent of all dyes. This makes reactive dyes a preferred choice over other dyes in the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market. In terms of value, disperse dyes are the fastest growing segment in the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market, and are expected to maintain the same trend during the forecast period. This is due to the fact that among all types of dyes, only disperse dyes are effective for Normal polyester. India stands as the largest dyestuff for textile market India held the largest share of the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market, in terms of both revenue and volume, in 2016. There has been a significant growth in the dyestuff industry during the last decade, which has created an export opportunity for India in the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market. Due to the enforcement of strict pollution control norms, several units in countries such as the U.S., Germany, France, and the U.K., has resulted in a closure of units, which has given rise to capacity building in India, and has hence, made the country a largest market in dyestuff for textile. Bangladesh held the second largest share of the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile market, in terms of both revenue and volume, in 2016. Bangladesh is emerging as an exporting nation of textile products. The demand of dyes in the country has increased significantly in recent years. Low-wage labor and easy raw material availability are some of the prime factors driving the country's dyestuff for textile market. The dyestuff sector is one of the important segments of the chemical industry in Bangladesh. The country imports almost 95.0% of the textile dyestuff, majorly from China, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Sri Lanka, U.S., Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore, Switzerland, and Turkey. Competitive Landscape: Some of the key players operating in the ASEAN and South Asia dyestuff for textile industry are Huntsman Corporation; Krishna Dyestuff Company; Monarch Dyestuffs Industries and Exports Ltd.; Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited; Lanxess AG; E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company; BASF SE; Atul Ltd.; Hangzhou Sunshine Chemicals Co., Ltd; and Arkema Group. Key Topics Covered: 1. Research Background 1.1 Research Objectives 1.2 Market Definition 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Key Stakeholders 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Introduction 4.1 Definition of Market Segments 4.1.1 by Type 4.1.1.1 Reactive dyes 4.1.1.2 Disperse dyes 4.1.1.3 Vat dyes 4.1.1.4 Direct dyes 4.1.1.5 Acid dyes 4.1.1.6 Sulfur dyes 4.1.1.7 Other dyes 4.2 Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Trends 4.2.1.1 Increase in adoption of natural dyes for fabric coloring 4.2.1.2 High uses of waterless dyeing 4.2.2 Drivers 4.2.2.1 Increase in demand of technical textile 4.2.2.2 Growth in the apparel market 4.2.2.3 Increase in government support for the development of textile industry 4.2.2.4 Impact analysis of drivers on market forecast 4.2.3 Restraints 4.2.3.1 High cost of dyestuffs 4.2.3.2 Hazardous wastewater generated by textile industry 4.2.3.3 Impact analysis of restraints on market forecast 4.2.4 Opportunities 4.2.4.1 Closure of textile units in developed countries due to strict pollution control norms 4.3 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5. ASEAN & South Asia Market Size and Forecast 5.1 by Type 5.2 by Country 6. Market Size and Forecast by Country 7. Company Profiles & Benchmarking Arkema Group Atul Ltd. BASF SE E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company Hangzhou Sunshine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Huntsman Corporation Krishna Dyestuff Company Lanxess AG Monarch Dyestuffs Industries and Exports Ltd. Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5cvt6v/asean_and_south?w=5 Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com GREEN BAY, Wis., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) today announced it will release first quarter 2018 financial results on Thursday, April 19, 2018, after market close. The Company will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the same day. Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp first quarter 2018 earnings call. The financial tables and an accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over. ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $33 billion and is one of the top 50 publicly traded U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from over 230 banking locations serving more than 110 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com. Investor Contact: Robb Timme, Vice President, Investor Relations 920-491-7059 Media Contact: Jennifer Kaminski, Vice President, Public Relations Senior Manager 920-491-7576 SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp Related Links https://www.associatedbank.com LOMBARD, Ill., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 22, 2018, Plaintiffs Victor James Comforte II and Brendan Michael Carr filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Cambridge Analytica, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg in Chicago, Illinois. The 6-count lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, asserts claims pursuant to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. 2510 et seq., the Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act, breach of contract, negligence, and the tort of intrusion upon seclusion. Plaintiffs Comforte and Carr claim that they were inundated with unwanted election-based news as a result of Cambridge's alleged data mining and targeted messages. The lawsuit alleges CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, LLC ("Cambridge") actively engaged in data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis for the purpose of influencing the 2016 United States presidential election. The lawsuit highlights how Facebook and Zuckerberg were warned of 3rd-party access to user data as early as 2011 in relation to an Ireland-based legal proceeding. While recommendations were made by the Ireland-based office of the Data Protection Commissioner ("ODPC") to prevent and limit the disclosure of sensitive personal information to 3rd parties. If the allegations surrounding Cambridge are true, it appears Facebook and Zuckerberg did not heed several of ODPC's warnings and recommendations. Notably, former Facebook executives who worked at Facebook around the time of ODPC left Facebook to work for Uber - which has been mired in privacy-based issues and twice delayed disclosures of data breaches. Atlas Consumer Law has filed suit over concerns Cambridge Analytica improperly used the personal information of tens of millions of Facebook users to help influence the 2016 election. Numerous sources suggest that Facebook failed to enact protocols to prevent this from occurring. Further, it appears Facebook did not do enough to ensure users' personal information was deleted once Facebook learned the information was being misused. Atlas Consumer Law has filed suit to obtain declaratory relief and compensatory damages for Cambridge's mining and misuse of personal information without class members' consent. They are asking the court to declare the defendants' misuse of personal information was illegal and Atlas Consumer Law is asking the court to require defendants demonstrate the personal information has been deleted and not shared with any other entities. The suit will also ask the court to require Facebook to modify its policies to prevent this misuse of data from ever happening again and to require Facebook to be more user-friendly and transparent in terms of how it explains 3rd-party apps. Under no circumstances should a 3rd-party have been able to ask a Facebook member's personal information through a friend's use of a 3rd-party app. If it is learned through the discovery process that some type of default setting allowed this to happen, and/or Facebook failed to inform users their data could be accessed and mined through another friend's use of a third-party's application, this must never happen again. For more information or to reach a representative of Atlas Consumer Law, call (312) 313-1613 today. SOURCE Atlas Consumer Law PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ave Maria Mutual Funds announced today that Dr. Scott Hahn has joined its Catholic Advisory Board. Dr. Hahn is a well-known theologian, professor, and thought leader who has delivered numerous speeches nationally and internationally on Scripture and the Catholic faith. His voice has been instrumental in helping thousands of Protestants and fallen away Catholics to (re)embrace the Catholic faith. The Catholic Advisory Board of Ave Maria Mutual Funds is composed of prominent Catholics who provide religious guidance in accordance with teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. "We are blessed to have such a well-respected Catholic theologian join the Catholic Advisory Board," said Paul Roney, Chairman of the Catholic Advisory Board. "The Board meets regularly with the investment adviser, Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., to review the Funds' religious standards and criteria, and Dr. Hahn's input is a welcoming voice." George P. Schwartz, CFA, Chairman and CEO of the investment adviser added, "Dr. Hahn is a highly admired Catholic intellectual who brings a unique perspective to the Board. His willingness to serve will greatly benefit our 100,000+ pro-life and pro-family shareholders." Dr. Hahn has been awarded the Father Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has been a professor since 1990, and is the Founder and President of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology. From 2005 to 2011, Dr. Hahn held the Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa. From 2014 to 2015, he served as the McEssy Distinguished Visiting Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization, University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. He is a best-selling author of The Lamb's Supper, Reasons to Believe and Rome Sweet Home. Dr. Hahn received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a triple major in Theology, Philosophy, and Economics from Grove City College, Pa., in 1979; his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1982; and his Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Marquette University in 1995. About Ave Maria Mutual Funds Ave Maria Mutual Funds is the largest family of Catholic mutual funds in the U.S with over $2.1 billion in assets. The five no-load funds invest in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Catholic Church. The two largest funds are the $1 billion Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (Ticker: AVEDX) and $529 million Ave Maria Growth Fund (Ticker: AVEGX). For more information about Ave Maria Mutual Funds, please call 1-866-AVE-MARIA (866-283-6274) or visit http://avemariafunds.com. About Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser. Founded in 1980, the Firm is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan with a branch office in Ave Maria, Florida. In managing the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, investments are made only if companies meet the Funds' financial and moral criteria. As such, returns may be lower or higher than if decisions were based solely on investment considerations. The Funds' method of security selection may or may not be successful and the Funds may underperform or outperform the stock market as a whole. All mutual funds are subject to market risk, including possible loss of principal. For more information about Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., please visit www.schwartzinvest.com. Request a prospectus, which includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses and other information that you should read and consider carefully before investing. The prospectus can be obtained by calling 1-866-283-6274 or it can be viewed at www.avemariafunds.com. Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors LLC. Media Relations Contact: Catie Drury JConnelly (646) 922-7773 [email protected] Company Contact: Mike Richter, Director of Marketing Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (734) 455-7810 [email protected] SOURCE Ave Maria Mutual Funds Related Links http://avemariafunds.com SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The team behind Prep Kitchen, San Diego's locally driven, multi-location restaurant, elevates their distinctive culinary experience with the appointment of Chef Joseph Elevado as Chief Culinary Officer. In his new role, Chef Elevado will oversee the entire Prep Kitchen culinary team at the brand's four locations, curate signature menu items, and provide cohesive vision and direction for the restaurants dining experience. "We will be creating dishes that complement the restaurants' approachable style, while integrating fun, innovative techniques and flavors," explained Chef Elevado. Guests will still be able to enjoy timeless classics and no-fuss favorites such as gourmet burgers and handcrafted pastas while joining the chefs cult following for his use of fresh fish, Japanese and continental cattle, and mastery of vibe social dining. Chef Elevado was a key creator as an Executive Chef in the Nobu Empire under Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, first in New York City and later in Las Vegas. He has earned multiple Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Four and Five Star accolades in his culinary career. Chef Elevado has also been the Executive Chef at the award winning Social House in Las Vegas, L'Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, and most recently the highly lauded Andrea's Restaurant at Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas. IAM Hospitality purchased the three existing Prep Kitchens in January 2018 and announced a fourth location in San Marcos, California, opening in April 2018. IAM Hospitality owners, David and Deborah Krause are committed to bringing a fresh point of view to the brand through menu updates under Chef Elevado's close guidance, modernized interior design, and continued expansion. About Prep Kitchen Prep Kitchen has been serving distinctive, seasonally driven cuisine since 2009 when it opened its first location in La Jolla, California. The restaurant now serves communities throughout San Diego County at three additional locations in Del Mar, Little Italy, and San Marcos. The Prep Kitchen brand showcases modern, ever evolving menus created by an award winning team of chefs who infuse their inventive personalities into every dish. Each of the locations reflects the vibrant dining scenes surrounding them through unique menu items and warm decor elements. Open seven days a week, the San Diego eatery offers lunch, happy hour, dinner, and weekend brunch with well-honed enthusiasm and friendly hospitality. Media Contact Katalyst PR [email protected] 858.481.5107 SOURCE Prep Kitchen Related Links http://www.prepkitchenlittleitaly.com BayCare Health System, which is located in one of the nation's fastest growing Medicare markets, selected Lumeris based on the company's extensive experience working with providers to develop, operationalize and execute on value-based care managed services strategies, including MA plans. Lumeris has a proven track record of improving outcomes, engaging physicians and increasing patient satisfaction. "Lumeris impressed us with their depth of Medicare Advantage expertise and their strong knowledge of how to implement these strategies effectively to improve the health of populations," said Jim Beermann, president of BayCare Select Health Plans, Inc. "Adding insurance will encourage our providers to focus on wellness and caring for patients, not just when they are sick but 365 days a year. This partnership will enable us to do just that and find optimal patient outcomes with the most efficient use of resources." Lumeris has more than 10 years of experience working with Medicare Advantage plans and providers and has developed a Best in KLAS care delivery model that emphasizes patient wellness and the pursuit of the Triple Aim Plus One, defined as better health outcomes, lower costs and improved patient experience, plus physician satisfaction. Lumeris' data-driven, collaborative care delivery model consistently improves clinical outcomes and financial results. "We are delighted to partner with a leading healthcare organization like BayCare Health System in such an important Medicare Advantage market," commented Mike Long, chairman and CEO of Lumeris. "We will build on BayCare's strong relationships with its physicians and its ties to the community to help the health system and other providers in its integrated network make the transition to value-based care, while improving the health of seniors across the Tampa Bay area." BayCare has obtained a state insurance license to offer its health plan in four Florida counties, and it has submitted a Medicare Advantage plan application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Meanwhile, Lumeris is helping the organization to build a broader network that includes physicians and hospitals outside the BayCare system to ensure additional access for future Medicare Advantage plan members. Ross Armstrong, Lumeris' senior vice president for the region, said, "BayCare selected Lumeris as its partner because of our proven methodology and our understanding of how to align provider and payer incentives. We will help BayCare create and operate a fully integrated delivery network that not only takes responsibility for improving the health of patients but also for reducing the cost of care and increasing efficiency. That is where healthcare is headingand BayCare will be leading the way." ABOUT BAYCARE HEALTH SYSTEM BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The health system's inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. BayCare's mission is to improve the health of all the patients it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit www.BayCare.org. ABOUT LUMERIS Lumeris serves as a long-term operating partner for organizations that are committed to the transition from volume-to value-based care and delivering extraordinary clinical and financial outcomes. We guide health systems and providers through seamless transitions from volume to value, enabling them to deliver improved and more affordable care across populationswith better outcomes. And, we work collaboratively with payers to align contracts and engage physicians in programs that drive high-quality, cost-effective care with satisfied consumersand engaged physicians. An industry recognized leader, Lumeris won the 2018 Best in KLAS award for value-based care managed services for helping clients deliver improved clinical and financial outcomes. This was the third year it received this distinguished award. For the past seven years, Essence Healthcare, Lumeris' inaugural client with more than 65,000 members in Missouri and Illinois, has received 4.5 to 5 Stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Lumeris is committed to delivering these same results with its multi-payer/multi-population clients to meet their goals and missions. Contacts Media Amendola Communications for Lumeris Lisa Chernikoff, 734-678-5513 [email protected] Lumeris Christopher Currington, 314-770-3723 [email protected] BayCare Health System Dena Brannen, 727-519-1256 [email protected] SOURCE Lumeris Related Links http://www.lumeris.com PORT RICHMOND, Pa., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Point Recovery Center today announced it will be hosting a job fair on April 6, 2018 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Sugar House Casino to search for over 150 people to fill available positions. Applications can be found on-site at the fair, or here: http://beaconpointrecovery.com/#start. Beacon Point is hiring all positions for its recovery center, set to open its doors May 1, including the following roles: Registered Nurses Counselors Case Managers Admissions Personnel Business Office Manager Security Officers Licensed Practical Nurses Counselor's Assistants Human Resources Billing and Collections Receptionists Drivers Maintenance Personnel Individuals considering a new career direction or searching for a better job will find a wealth of opportunities at this free job fair. A variety of positions are available with decision-makers on-site looking to hire immediately. Beacon Point Recovery Center's job fair will take place on April 6th 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sugar House Casino (2nd floor) located at 1001 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19125. To schedule an interview in advance of the job fair, please email [email protected]. If you cannot make the job fair or would like to apply today, please visit www.beaconpointrecovery.com and fill out an application. Beacon Point Recovery Center is a private substance abuse recovery provider that will open its doors to individuals suffering from the disease of addiction and dependency in Spring of 2018. Located in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, Beacon Point Recovery Center is eager to hire for immediate openings in a wide range of fields. Candidates attending the Job Fair will have the opportunity to meet and speak directly with members of the management team, complete job applications and learn more about all of our available positions. SOURCE Beacon Point Recovery Center Related Links http://beaconpointrecovery.com MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BloomReach, Inc., a global leader in personalized digital experiences, today announced that Hilarie Koplow-McAdams has joined its board of directors. Koplow-McAdams is an enterprise software veteran who brings over three decades of operating experience at growth-stage technology companies like Salesforce, Intuit, Oracle and New Relic. BloomReach achieved significant growth in 2017, increasing its Personalization bookings by over 200 percent and its Experience business (the result of its acquisition of Hippo) by over 100 percent year-over-year. This growth was driven by the increasing demand for better customer experiences that goes well beyond ecommerce alone and touches almost all verticals. In the past year, BloomReach saw increased demand from sectors such as financial services, travel & hospitality and retail. The company signed new enterprise-level customers including REI, Staples and NHS, secured key implementation partners including Sapient Razorfish, Accenture Interactive, Valtech and LiveArea, and established technical integrations with SAP Hybris, ElasticPath and Commercetools. BloomReach's search and personalization tools power 20 percent of all North-American e-commerce transactions to increase revenue and drive customer loyalty. Over 250 enterprise brands currently run on the BloomReach platform. The company's leadership in the Web Content Management space, and its visionary roadmap were recently validated by Gartner in its latest series of Magic Quadrants.1 All this momentum led the company to look for stronger go-to-market expertise on its board to further build out its market presence in 2018. "We are thrilled to welcome Hilarie, who has played an instrumental role in some of the technology industry's most exceptional growth stories, to our board," said Raj De Datta, CEO and co-founder of BloomReach. "Her more than impressive track record in go-to-market execution and her expertise in building and scaling sales organizations will be a tremendous asset to our company as we are defining the digital experience space. Hilarie is exactly the person we need in our current growth stage to help us execute on our vision and enable us to tap into an eight billion dollar market." Before joining NEA in December 2017, Koplow-McAdams was president at New Relic, where she was responsible for growth strategies and leading global sales, marketing, customer success, support, and business development. Prior to joining New Relic, she served as president of global sales at Salesforce, where she led the company's worldwide sales teams and helped drive diversification and global expansion of the company's business. Before Salesforce, Koplow-McAdams was vice president of direct sales for small business and a member of the executive committee at Intuit. She began her career at Oracle Corporation, holding a variety of leadership positions over nearly two decades and spearheading development of the company's Oracle Direct sales channel. "Throughout my career, I've been passionate about helping enterprise companies accelerate growth, define new categories and elevate their customer experience," said Koplow-McAdams. "I've been fortunate to help run some phenomenal companies in a variety of operating roles, and now I'm excited to put my knowledge to work for BloomReach. I think this company has a great potential and I'm thrilled to partner with Raj and his team execute on that." Apart from Koplow-McAdams, BloomReach's board consists of Raj De Datta (CEO & Co-Founder), Ajay Agarwal (Bain Capital Partners), Ashutosh Garg (former Google Search Engineer), Peter Nieh (Lightspeed Venture Partners), Marcus Ryu (Guidewire), Jeroen Verberg (CFO & Co-Founder of Hippo CMS) and Ravi Viswanathan (New Enterprise Associates). Koplow-McAdams is a Venture Partner at NEA, and serves on the board of directors for Tableau Software, Zendesk and Duo Security, is vice chair of the board of directors of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and serves on the advisory council of the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. She holds a master's degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree from Mills College. About BloomReach BloomReach brings businesses the first open and intelligent Digital Experience Platform (DXP). It was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Experience Platforms 2018. BloomReach drives customer experience to accelerate the path to conversion, increase revenue, and drive customer loyalty. With applications for content management, site search, page management, SEO optimization and role-based analytics, BloomReach is a central location for all players who drive customer experience to come together and intelligently drive business outcomes. BloomReach's Web Relevance Engine algorithmically understands content and users, matching demand and intent data from across the web. BloomReach's industry-leading tools unlock the powerful creativity of humans to improve omnichannel customer experiences at scale. Together, human and machine drive millions of dollars of proven incremental sales. BloomReach's portfolio of customers include: Neiman Marcus, Staples, REI, Mailchimp and the National Health Services (NHS). Incorporated in 2009, BloomReach is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with offices worldwide and is backed by investment firms Bain Capital Ventures, Battery Ventures, NEA, Salesforce Ventures and Lightspeed Ventures. Learn more: www.bloomreach.com 1 Gartner, Inc. "Magic Quadrant for Web Content Management," by Mick MacComascaigh, Jim Murphy, July 26, 2017 / Gartner, Inc. "Magic Quadrant for Digital Experience Platforms," by Jim Murphy, Gene Phifer, Gavin Tay, and Mike Lowndes, January 17, 2018 SOURCE BloomReach, Inc. Related Links https://www.bloomreach.com Comprised of some 6,500 chefs and Masters of Taste, Chefs In America The American Masters of Taste has, for over 30 years, been selecting superior tasting products in world markets to recommend to taste professionals, and ultimately, to consumers. The American Masters of Taste conducts all taste panel judgings for Chefs In America . These four additional awards continue a winning streak for Blue Marble Cocktails. In 2017 alone, awards and recognition received by Blue Marble Cocktails have included: Chefs In America's American Masters of Taste exclusive Gold Medal; Los Angeles International Spirits Competition; SIP Awards; New York International Spirits Competition; and, International Wine and Spirits Competition. Blue Marble Cocktails makes 12 ready-to-drink flavors that bring the convenience of having a personal bartender anywhere, anytime. Varieties include: Screwdriver, Greyhound, Bloody Mary, Cosmo, Marble-Rita, Vodka Soda, Whiskey Cola, Mojito, Coconut Island, Long Island, Moscow Mule, and Cinnamon Toast. All Blue Marble Cocktails beverages are non-GMO, and feature ultra-premium distilled spirits, all-natural ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, dyes or preservatives, and come in environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging. "Blue Marble Cocktails is always striving to become better, through our products, customer service and employee culture," notes Founder and Planetary Ambassador, Alan Miller. "These awards are recognition of our team's talent and passion for creating a product line that features only the highest quality, all-natural products on earth." About Chefs In America: Chefs In America has an over 30-year history of organizing professional chefs in their national taste tests of food, beverage and culinary products. Their American Masters of Taste Gold Medal Seal leads consumers to America's superior tasting products. About Blue Marble Cocktails: Blue Marble Cocktails produces ultra-premium, all-natural, ready-to-drink, pre-mixed cocktails, and spirits. Blue Marble is a family business with family values supporting global awareness, conservation and environmental initiatives through its "keep the blue marble blue" program, and uses recyclable cans and SFI certified packaging. Every cocktail is made in-house through Blue Marble's state-of-the-art production facility located in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information on Blue Marble Cocktails: www.bluemarblecocktails.com 888.400.3090 [email protected] Instagram @bluemarblecocktailsofficial Twitter: @BlueMarbleUPC Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluemarblecocktails SOURCE Blue Marble Cocktails Related Links http://www.bluemarblecocktails.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RealConnex and Buildout are pleased to announce a partnership which will enable Buildout's clients to syndicate their listings to RealConnex's fast-growing community of 130,000 members. As part of this arrangement, Buildout's participating brokers will receive access to the entire suite of RealConnex networking, credibility, profile, influence and prospecting tools and its vast resource of over 500,000 investors, lenders, service providers and the entire ecosystem of real estate professionals. This partnership with Buildout is just the latest initiative made by RealConnex to collaborate with best-in-class, real-estate-focused organizations, leveraging its technology to be a business accelerator for the industry. Other recent partnerships include The Inland real estate group, the Miami Association of Realtors and merchant banking boutique Silver Portal Capital. "It is with great pleasure that I announce the partnership between Buildout and RealConnex," said Roy Abrams, CEO of RealConnex. "As we continue to aggregate more real estate professionals than anywhere else, this partnership with Buildout represents an important step toward achieving that goal by providing the ability for Buildout brokers and their listings to pass through to the RealConnex ecosystem, helping both client bases accelerate their networking within the industry. It also extends Buildout's distribution channels for their listings and provides their brokers access to an entire professional ecosystem in one place. "This partnership between two big brands has the potential to fuel amazing growth and success opportunities for both partners." About Buildout Buildout is the leading end-to-end solution for marketing commercial real estate listings, helping over 1,000 brokerages efficiently run their marketing. Since launching in 2010, Buildout has revolutionized the entire listing process for brokerages around the country. Buildout's marketing tool allows brokerages to produce beautiful, brand-consistent marketing instantly, saving time by eliminating tedious tasks enabling them to focus on what is most important: closing more deals and growing their business. Buildout excels in their ability to automate the document creation process by allowing users to create attractive, brand-compliant documents with a few simple clicks. Streamlining the property listing process by partnering with listing sites allows companies to instantly post listings across the nation. For more information on Buildout, please visit https://buildout.com. About RealConnex RealConnex is the world's first accelerator connecting real estate professionals to capital, investments, services and each other. It provides all the tools a professional needs to network, build profile, credibility and influence; tools to buy, sell and lease, prospect and connect to opportunities. It's professional real estate in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. Sometimes referred to as LinkedIn meets Match.com for professional real estate, the company was founded in 2013 by Roy Abrams, a 25-year veteran of the real estate and technology industries. To sign up and participate in the real estate industry's most comprehensive networking and business development platform, click visit RealConnex. Press Contact: Sarah Berman 212.450.7300 SOURCE RealConnex The $33,000 donation will cover costs of equipment and implementation of a "Principles of Engineering" course for YWLCS students in 9th-12th grades. Developed by Project Lead the Way, a nonprofit organization that creates STEM curriculum, the new course offering will help to further the STEM-based intentions of the only all-girls STEM charter high school in Chicago. "There is a growing and significant showing of women in STEM fields today, particularly in Chicago. Calculated Genius is committed to ensuring a path is laid for young women to be exposed to and excel in STEM fields to make even greater contributions. It is an honor to give back to our community in such an impactful way," says Kimberly Moore, the founder of Calculated Genius. A formal check presentation will occur at the 10th Annual "Girl Power" Event, hosted by YWLCS, which takes place at 11a.m. - 1p.m., Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at the Chicago Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Avenue. The event celebrates the achievements of the school's talented young women along with more than 1000 influential corporate, community leaders and prominent women in STEM fields. To buy tickets for the event or to donate to the Young Women's Leadership Charter School, please visit https://www.ywlcs.org and click on the 'Girl Power' title under the 'Events/News' tab. ABOUT CALCULATED GENIUS CALCULATED GENIUS is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by engineer and entrepreneur Kimberly Moore, to help underrepresented youth explore and connect to engineering, by bridging gaps between education and application. At the core of its mission, Calculated Genius believes that keeping youth interested and involved at pivotal ages is essential to building the relationships necessary to prosper in the field. In 2017, Calculated Genius donated more than $50,000 in financial contributions and resources to Chicagoland STEM-based nonprofits. For more information, visit www.calculatedgenius.org. To support Calculated Genius in its efforts to provide STEM programming, education, and empowerment to underrepresented youth, visit https://www.calculatedgenius.org/donate/. ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CHARTER SCHOOL The YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CHARTER SCHOOL (YWLCS) inspires urban girls to engage in rigorous college preparatory learning in a small school focused on math, science and technology that nurtures their self confidence and challenges them to achieve. Recognizing the under representation of women in science, math and technology, the Young Women's Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) was conceived through the vision and support of twenty-three businesswomen, civic leaders, and philanthropists who were determined to create a school that offered girls in Chicago a rigorous STEM-focused college preparatory education. For more information, visit www.ywlcs.org. For more information, contact: Calculated Genius Young Women's Leadership Charter School Danielle Mullen Glenn M. Harston II Phone: (312) 219-2662 Phone: (312) 583-9366 ext. 84 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.calculatedgenius.org Website: www.gemini-ii.com SOURCE Calculated Genius Related Links http://www.calculatedgenius.org DUBLIN, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cardiovascular Drugs: Global Markets to 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering This report provides detailed exposure of the cardiovascular drugs market, highlighting major cardiovascular diseases with detailed epidemiology for the primary disease areas. The report includes an industry-wide assessment of the novel product launches, recent approvals, research and development pipeline, and blockbuster drugs. Strict regulations are imposed on cardiovascular drugs and the report discusses the regional regulatory landscape for these drugs. This includes products approved by the regulatory authorities in recent years. Products under development or that are in different stages of clinical trials are analyzed in the pipeline assessment section. Cardiovascular drug delivery systems are also included in the report, such as nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery, gene therapy and cell therapy, among others. A discussion of the major players is included in the competitive landscape section, which looks at trends in product launches, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and other agreements. Company profiles of major players operating in the cardiovascular drugs market include overviews, key product offerings, financials, strategies, SWOT analysis, and new research and development strategies. The report will be particularly useful to readers in its thorough analysis of the leading products and will enable readers to recognize growing brands, key drug classes, and leading manufacturing companies with significant market share. Report Includes: 52 data tables and 48 additional tables An overview of the global market for cardiovascular drugs Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2016 and 2017, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022 A look at the regulatory environment, which has been a driving force in drug development Information on competitor initiatives, and information with regard to demand for specialty chemicals used to develop new products and for new applications Company profiles of the major players in the market, including Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd., Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG, AstraZeneca PLC, United Therapeutics Corp., Gilead Sciences Inc. and Pfizer Inc Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction Study Goals and Objectives Reasons for Doing This Study Scope of Report Information Sources Methodology Geographic Breakdown Analyst's Credentials 2 Summary and Highlights 3 Market Dynamics and Technology Background Cardiovascular Drugs Market Definition and Overview Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases Blockbuster Drugs Market Drivers Emergence of Effective Therapies for Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia Increase in Aging Population Government Regulations Improving Prescription Drug Assistance for the Elderly Prevalence of Comorbidities Such as Diabetes and Obesity Market Restraints Lack of Incentives to Promote Cardiovascular Drug Development Pricing Pressure Enforced on Manufacturers High Cost Associated with New Drug Development and Clinical Trials Patent Expiration of Blockbuster Drugs Leading to Wide Adoption of Generics Market Opportunities Focus on Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Emergence of Combination Therapy 4 Pipeline Analysis Research and Development Overview Current Scenario of Cardiovascular Investments for Research and Development Novel Drug Development/Approval Promising Pipeline Molecules/Drugs in Development 5 Regulatory Scenario Introduction Regional Regulatory Landscape North America Europe Asia-Pacific Cardiovascular Drugs Approved 6 Cardiovascular Drug Delivery Systems Introduction Iontophoresis Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery Pericardiocentesis Intracoronary Drug Delivery Gene Therapy Future Perspectives 7 Market Breakdown by Disease Areas Disease Type Hypertension Hyperlipidemia Thrombosis Cardiac Failure Therapy Stroke Arrhythmias Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Acute Coronary Syndrome Other Cardiovascular Diseases Pulmonary Hypertension Peripheral Artery Diseases Inflammatory Heart Disease Other Diseases 8 Market Breakdown by Drug Class Introduction Alpha-Blockers Anti-Thrombotic (Anti-Coagulants and Anti-Platelets) Lipid Lowering Agents Anti-Hypertensives Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs Others 9 Market Breakdown by Region 10 Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Major Players and Market Structure Analysis Key Developments Mergers and Acquisitions New Product Launch Agreement, Collaboration and Partnerships 11 Company Profiles Amgen Inc. Astellas Pharma Inc. Astrazeneca PLC Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Daiichi Sankyo Company LTD. Eli Lilly and Company Gilead Sciences Inc. Glaxosmithkline PLC Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC Johnson & Johnson Inc. Merck & Co. Inc. Novartis AG Pfizer Inc. Sanofi United Therapeutics Corp. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/x9zg8b/cardiovascular?w=5 Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DOVER, N.J., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sleep is something every person needs, but nobody has enough time for. The time people have to rest their eyes is so precious, which is why Casio America, Inc., the leading innovator of LampFree projectors, and Sleep Number have teamed up to create an elevated shopping experience for consumers to ensure they find the perfect mattress for the best night's sleep. The mattress shopping experience starts at a Sleep Number retailer, where they get an exclusive IndividualFit 3D Imaging Demonstration so they can try out a bed, while watching a digital map that displays their bodies' pressure points. They get this large-screen visual via Casio's LampFree projection technology. Sleep Number customers fall asleep faster, experience more deep sleep with fewer disturbances and experience greater relief from back pain than those with traditional mattresses. "Our relationship with Sleep Number is mutually beneficial, as both brands aim to provide high-quality products that have been developed through technology and innovation," said Joe Gillio, Senior Director Strategic Planning and Marketing of Casio's Business Projector Division. "Our LampFree projectors are both eco-friendly and durable, giving Sleep Number 20,000 hours of run time in their stores without having to change a lamp and offering an uninterrupted in-store shopping experience." Giving customers an elevated, personalized and interactive shopping experience has helped Sleep Number continue to give millions of Americans a better night's sleep. Casio's LampFree Projectors have been utilized by Sleep Number since 2013, when screen company and design consultant Spyeglass of Minneapolis suggested that the group switch to LampFree projectors from Casio, rated for 20,000 hours of maintenance-free service. Switching to Casio gave Sleep Number a high-quality, consistent projector that can run 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Casio's line of LampFree projectors provide eco-friendly data projection by combining a laser and LED light source to create a high-brightness, mercury-free tool that uses half the amount of power per unit than other lamp-based projectors. Additionally, Casio's LampFree projectors extended operating life eliminates the process of having to replace costly lamps. The projectors reach maximum brightness in as fast as five seconds from the time the power is switched on and can immediately power off with just a touch of the button and then be used again right away, without the need for a cool-down period. All of this makes Casio's projectors a safer and more affordable choice for organizations that are looking to not only go green, but save money at the same time. For additional information on Casio's full portfolio of LampFree projectors, visit www.CasioLampFree.com. About Casio LampFree Projectors Casio's portfolio of LampFree projectors combines a laser, a fluorescent element and an LED light to deliver a mercury-free hybrid light source that lasts up to 20,000 hours while sustaining a high brightness and keeping maintenance costs to a minimum. Casio has a full assortment of LampFree solutions available for home, business, education and commercial applications Core, Advanced, Slim, Pro and Short Throw. For additional information on Casio's projector series and LampFree technology, please visit www.CasioLampFree.com. About Casio America, Inc. Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Established in 1957, Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to fulfill its corporate creed of "creativity and contribution" through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit casio.com/home. SOURCE Casio America, Inc. Related Links http://www.casio.com/home About 6,700 commercial tenants from 61 countries and regions attended the three-day fair, exhibiting wines, sparkling wines and spirits produced in 300 areas across the globe. Eight-five percent of the exhibitors were wine producers. JING Liqueur attracted vintners from a dozen of countries in Europe and America. Vintners from Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland showed great interest in cooperation as JING Liqueur passed the review of Systembolaget. With honors from international wine competitions, certifications and entry permissions from global markets and its ever expanding popularity, JING Liqueur demonstrates its high quality and huge influence. Many vintners from the United States and Canada had a high degree of recognition of traditional Chinese medicine and its curative effect. They showed great interest in the raw material samples of JING Liqueur, and appreciated it as it tasted "unique," "light" and "smooth." Seeing the quality, brand influence and channel resources as well as market potential of JING Liqueur, many exhibitors actively sought partnership with its producer at the Fair. Besides the raw materials that were on display, professional bartenders were also invited to make cocktails using JING Liqueur as base wine. A combination of oriental herbal flavor with western drinking habit brought a unique experience for fair-goers. A large number of overseas customers and vintners showed great interest in "JING cocktails". Jing Brand Co., Ltd., founded in 1953, is a leader in China's health-care liqueur & spirits industry. Its revenue exceeded 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, with 800 million bottles of JING Liqueur sold worldwide. After over a decade of development, the company has entered more than 20 countries since 2016, especially in Southeast Asia. In the future it will continue its globalization strategy and expand its presence in the global market. Image Attachments Links: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=309074 SOURCE Jing Brand Co., Ltd. As interest in Cobalt 27 continues to grow globally, it is critical to communicate with our partners, stakeholders and shareholders in an effective and timely manner TSX Venture: KBLT FRA: 27O TORONTO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. ("Cobalt 27" or the "Company") (TSXV: KBLT) (FRA: 27O), today announced the launch of its Mandarin Chinese website to cater to the growing interest in the company within the Asian markets. "As our business continues to expand, many of the automakers, OEMs, battery manufacturers and investors who are expressing interest in Cobalt 27, are located in China and the broader Southeast Asia Region. With the launch of our Chinese language website, we hope to further broaden the reach of our audience within the region and globally. We believe our company is becoming of strategic interest to a large group of investors and industry players, and it is important that we communicate with these groups in an effective and timely manner," commented Anthony Milewski, Chairman of Cobalt 27. The Company's Mandarin Chinese website, targeting internet users in mainland China and beyond, can be viewed at www.cobalt27.cn. Cobalt 27's Mandarin Chinese website also builds on the efforts of several of Canada's leading banks, which have launched Mandarin versions of their online brokerage platforms including TD Direct Investing and BMO Discount Brokerage, to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Mainland China investor base. About Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. is a minerals company that offers pure-play exposure to cobalt, an integral element in key technologies of the electric vehicle and battery energy storage markets. The Company owns over 2,982 Mt of physical cobalt and manages a portfolio of seven cobalt royalties. The Company intends to continue investing in a cobalt-focused portfolio of streams, royalties and direct interests in mineral properties containing cobalt, while potentially adding to its cobalt physical holdings when opportunities arise. For further information please visit the Company website at www.co27.com or contact: Betty Joy LeBlanc, BA, MBA Director, Corporate Communications +1-604-828-0999 [email protected] 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. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. Forward-Looking Information: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the Company's control. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties underlying these forward-looking statements materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE Cobalt 27 Capital Corp Related Links www.co27.com Robert Gryn joins other Forbes Technology Council members, who are hand-selected, to become part of a curated network of successful peers and get access to a variety of exclusive benefits and resources, including the opportunity to submit thought leadership articles and short tips on industry-related topics for publishing on Forbes.com. Forbes Councils combines an innovative, high-touch approach to community management perfected by the team behind Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) with the extensive resources and global reach of Forbes. As a result, Forbes Council members get access to the people, benefits and expertise they need to grow their businesses and a dedicated member concierge who acts as an extension of their own team, providing personalized one-on-one support. "I'm honored to join the Forbes Technology Council," said Codewise CEO and founder Robert Gryn. "I look forward to working with other members of the Council, and sharing my experience and advice with my fellow entrepreneurs, both accomplished and aspiring, via such an outstanding platform as Forbes. As our company continues to revolutionize and reinvent the AdTech industry, I am confident that our expertise and insights will be instrumental to many professionals and companies striving to succeed in this dynamic and highly competitive space." Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, says, "We are honored to welcome Robert Gryn into the community. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to curate successful professionals from every industry, creating a vetted, social capital-driven network that helps every member make an even greater impact on the business world." About Codewise Codewise is a place where talent thrives. Since 2011 it has provided a collaborative environment that fosters creative solutions and growth, enabling it to build its flagship advertising technology platforms: Zeropark, a performance traffic exchange, and Voluum, the market-leading campaign tracker with an integrated native advertising Demand-Side Platform. Codewise is an entirely self-funded, venture-building company, headquartered in 3,000 sqm office in Krakow, Poland, with offices in London and Santa Monica. The company employs nearly 200 talented individuals and supports customers in over 190 countries worldwide. www.codewise.com About Voluum Voluum is a full-stack marketing platform for all your performance analytics, tracking, optimization and media buying. The suite consists of the Voluum Tracker, the trusted leader in cross-screen performance tracking, and the integrated Voluum DSP, a next-generation native advertising Demand-Side Platform. Voluum is the go-to tool for optimizing and scaling your campaigns, featuring anti-fraud filtering, whitelisting and an outstanding reporting speed. Powered by a powerful proprietary database, since September 2014, Voluum has served thousands of SaaS customers in over 190 countries worldwide. www.voluum.com About Zeropark Zeropark is a performance traffic exchange connecting the advertisers, affiliates and media buying teams with high performance traffic sources, in Real-Time. It offers hand-picked traffic from parked domain redirects, Mobile App and Premium Pop. It features robust targeting options and powerful optimization tools bolstered by machine learning mechanisms, all in a user-friendly interface. Zeropark serves 150 million ad views every day. www.zeropark.com About Forbes Councils Forbes partnered with the founders of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to launch Forbes Councils, invitation-only communities for world-class business professionals in a variety of industries. Members, who are hand-selected by each Council's community team, receive personalized introductions to each other based on their specific needs and gain access to a wide range of business benefits and services, including best-in-class concierge teams, personalized connections, peer-to-peer learning, a business services marketplace, and the opportunity to share thought leadership content on Forbes.com. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit https://forbestechcouncil.com/. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. CONTACT: [email protected] SOURCE Codewise Related Links https://codewise.com/ NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Engineering announced today the launch of its first coding bootcamp in partnership with Trilogy Education Services. Geared toward adult learners and working professionals, this 24-week, part-time program will cover the front-end and back-end skills necessary to become a proficient full stack developer, including the basics of coding, algorithms and data structure as well as intensive training in JavaScript, Node.js, HTML, CSS, jQuery, and Java. Enrollment is now open for classes beginning June 5, 2018 at https://bootcamp.cvn.columbia.edu/. The 24-week Columbia Engineering Coding Bootcamp will focus on the most in-demand technologies specific to the New York market. It aims to fill critical talent gaps in New York City's economy. "New York City is home to many of the industries that drive the national and international economies. As technology continues to play a central role in how work gets done, New York is seeing a rapid shift in the skills required for professional success. This mirrors the national trends, which show that web development is one of the fastest growing careers in today's economy with a projected 15% percent growth by 2026," said Professor Soulaymane Kachani, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning at Columbia University. "We are proud to partner with Trilogy to expand access to the digital skills New Yorkers need." Learners who complete the bootcamp will receive a certificate of completion from Columbia Engineering, as well as career-planning services, portfolio reviews, and extensive support. In addition to classroom instruction, learners will spend about 20 hours a week on outside projects and experiential learning activities. "We look forward to partnering with Columbia University to teach New York City professionals the web and software development skills sought most by New York City-area employers," said Dan Sommer, CEO and Founder of Trilogy Education Services. "The New York Metro area has the highest employment level for web developers in the country. In the previous 12 months, local employers struggled to fill nearly 180,000 open job positions requiring some level of software development as a skill. This program will enable hundreds of New Yorkers to pursue these opportunities, helping fill critical talent gaps in the city's economy." "Trilogy's partner network and proven methodologies make them the ideal partner to help position Columbia Engineering's learners for success in the digital economy," said Alexis Seeley, Executive Director of Columbia Video Network (CVN). Classes will take place on campus at Columbia University. In addition to web development, Columbia Engineering plans to partner with Trilogy to offer additional bootcamps in Cybersecurity, Analytics, and User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design. For more information about Columbia University, visit: www.columbia.edu. For more information about the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University, visit: www.engineering.columbia.edu. For more information about Trilogy, visit: www.trilogyed.com. About Trilogy Education Services Trilogy is a workforce accelerator that empowers the world's leading universities to prepare professionals for high-growth careers in the digital economy. From full-stack development to data analytics, the company creates and manages skills-based training programs that are university-run, student-tested, and employer-approved. Since launching in 2015, Trilogy has enabled universities to transform the lives of thousands of program graduates with the technical skills to meet the needs of regional employers and the confidence needed to succeed in their careers. Learn more at www.trilogyed.com/ Media Contact: Cari Sommer [email protected] 646-480-7683 SOURCE Trilogy Education Services Related Links https://www.trilogyed.com Battersby is certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States. He has national experience advising clients regarding best practices to prevent and respond to cybersecurity concerns, including leading data breach incident response efforts in combination with forensic technical vendors and company decision-makers, providing counsel on post-breach notice obligations in accordance with breach notice statutes or specific contractual obligations, drafting and coordinating the delivery of required notices and advising on post-breach remedial measures. "We are very excited to add Colin to our data privacy and cybersecurity team," said James J. Giszczak, chair of the Litigation Department and co-chair of the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. "His wide spectrum of data protection and cybersecurity knowledge, experience and capabilities are an excellent fit for the needs of our clients." Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Battersby was the co-founder and co-leader of the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Team at Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. Battersby earned his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 2007. He received a Bachelor in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2004. Battersby can be reached at [email protected] or 248.593.2952. About McDonald Hopkins Founded in 1930, McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with locations in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach. With more than 50 service and industry teams, the firm has the expertise and knowledge to meet the growing number of legal and business challenges our clients face. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com. CONTACT: Deborah W. Kelm McDonald Hopkins LLC 600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Phone: 216.348.5733 Email: [email protected] SOURCE McDonald Hopkins Related Links http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com JACKSON, Miss., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) announced today that it will hold its First Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time. On the call, Marshall Loeb, CEO, and Brent Wood, CFO, will review the first quarter results and discuss EastGroup's current operations. EastGroup plans to release first quarter 2018 earnings on April 19, 2018. The earnings release and supplemental information package will be posted on the Company's website, www.eastgroup.net, on April 19, 2018. A live broadcast of the conference call is available by dialing 1-877-876-9177 (conference ID EastGroup) or by webcast through a link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net. If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, a telephone and web cast replay will be available on Friday, April 20, 2018. The telephone replay will be available until Friday, April 27, 2018, and can be accessed by dialing 1-800-727-5306. The replay of the webcast can be accessed through a link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net and will be available until Friday, April 27, 2018. EastGroup Properties, Inc. is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, California, Arizona and North Carolina. The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects in lease-up and under construction, currently includes 39.5 million square feet. EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net. P.O. BOX 22728 JACKSON, MS 39225-2728 TEL: 601-354-3555 FAX: 601-352-1441 SOURCE EastGroup Properties Related Links http://www.eastgroup.net BOSTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education Resources Inc. (ERI) is thrilled to announce that internationally renowned Kelly Mahler, MS, OTR/L, Sue Cecere, PT, MHS, and Kim Wiggins, OTR/L will provide keynote presentations at the Annual Therapies in the School Conference, November 15-16, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. School-based physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology assistants, and special educators may now register directly: http://www.educationresourcesinc.com/course-details/annual-therapies-in-the-school Presentation topics include: Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System; Praxis, Sensory Modulation and Successful Collaborative Tools Best Practices for Collaboration in the Schools Making Tough Decisions about Service IEP Writing Weaving Mindfulness and other Practical Strategies into the Classroom and many more. This year's conference will also include new networking opportunities for therapists new to practice as well as opportunities for experienced therapists to share best practices with each other. "Excellent conference! I am a new PT in school setting. Gave me great strategies to connect with all of my kids (pre-school-high school) Thanks!" - Elizabeth Welch, PT ERI Therapies in the School Conference brings nationally acclaimed speakers to share the latest research and school-based therapy techniquesand their passion for their workwith hundreds of school-based physical therapy, school-based occupational therapy professionals, speech language pathologists and special educators. Energetic experiential learning, hands-on training, lively panel discussions, premium product showcases and challenging breakout sessions will give you powerful new therapeutic tools and techniques. Some of the most magical moments at the conference happen outside the classroom. The fun and excitement of making new friends who share your dedication to student care and exploring the vibrant city of Boston will remind you why you love your work and recharge you for the year ahead. ERI Therapies in the School builds a therapy community across the country that stays in touch long after the conference closes. Our annual conference also starts a conversation that continues all year with school discussion groups. Powerful professional development for school-based professionals is a key part of the ERI mission, and school discussion groups provide a forum for therapists and educators to ask questions and share insights online. Media Contact: Alyson Loria, 1-508-3596533, [email protected] SOURCE Education Resources, Inc. Related Links http://www.educationresourcesinc.com Kitty, Sanrio friends join hands to invite travel fun and new friendships LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EVA Air is adding its popular Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet into its Los Angeles schedule on Tuesday (March 27, 2018). It is using the specially painted plane on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for three of the 21 nonstop flights it operates between Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan every week. Travelers can learn more about EVA and its Hello Kitty and Sanrio Family jets at http://www.evakitty.com/en/index.html and book flights through travel agents, the airline's reservations hotline or at www.evaair.com. EVA Air is flying its Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet from Los Angeles to Taipei on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The airline created seven specially painted planes to make flying fun. From nose to tail of the colorful Boeing 777-300ER, Hello Kitty and Sanrio friends of different colors, shapes and sizes join hands and invite fun and friendship. Among the 19 Sanrio Family characters linking hands with Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel are My Melody, Kuromi, Little Twin Stars, Cinnamoroll, Pompom Purin and Bad Badtz-Maru. EVA BR005 departs Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 11:55 am and gets into Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at 5:05 pm the next day. Return flight BR006 leaves TPE at 10:10 am and arrives in LAX at 6:50 am. The specially painted Boeing 777-300ER is configured in three cabins, Royal Laurel Class business, Premium Economy and Economy. Flight time from LAX to TPE is 14 hrs. and 10 mins. From TPE to LAX, it's 11 hrs. and 40 mins. The fun of flying on EVA's Hello Kitty and Sanrio Family Jets begins at airport check-in with special boarding passes and baggage stickers. Onboard, cabin crews wear Hello Kitty Jet aprons and passengers use themed service items, including headrest covers, pillows, tissue, hand cream, soap, napkins, paper cups, utensils and snacks. EVA flies seven of the specially painted planes on routes within Asia, in addition to long-haul service to Chicago and Los Angeles. Its other Hello Kitty planes are the Shining Star, Joyful Dream, Celebration Flight and Friendship Bows. Its Sanrio Family aircraft are the gudetama Comfort Flight and Bad Badtz-Maru Travel Fun planes. About EVA Air EVA Air, a Star Alliance member and one of 10 Skytrax-rated 5-Star airlines worldwide, was established in 1989 as Taiwan's first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected Evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader Evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 70 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to more than 60 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America where gateways are Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. With just one easy stop in Taipei, travelers from North America can connect to every major city in Asia, including 17 destinations in China. Travelers can learn more about EVA and book, buy and reserve seats on all flights at www.evaair.com. SOURCE EVA Air Related Links http://www.evaair.com LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LOTTE Advanced Materials displays Staron's solid-surface collections and advanced surface technologies at Global Shop 2018, booth 5429. As a market leader in surface materials, Staron continues to deliver industry-leading colors, and cutting-edge features for creating customized, high-end retail designs. Retail surfaces are a critical component of successful store designs, allowing companies to visually express brand identity, and create a positive first impression for customers. Dedicated to providing surfaces that can meet the requirements of any retail environment, Staron offers a wide range of 90 neutral to vibrant colors, patterns, and textures that parallel today's top trends, and deliver an elegant, elevated look and feel to restaurants and retail stores. "Staron has surpassed our expectations, and as a result, is the standard material for our higher-end display fixtures in Samsung Electronics, North America," said Michael Koch, senior director of store development, Samsung Electronics America. "The Bright White color we used resulted in a clean, ultra-modern design that's durable, easy to maintain, and expanded the lifetime value of what we spent." Further opening the door for creative, customized designs, Staron delivers innovative lighting features that give an extra nuance to retail interiors. Additionally, thermoforming technology, a heating and bending process, can mold Staron's material into never-before-seen shapes, creating even more design flexibility. "From simple texts to unique shapes and curves, Staron's lighting technology allows architects and designers to turn conceptual designs into stunning works of art," said Dale Mandell, director of business development, LOTTE Advanced Materials USA, Inc. Retail interiors must be able to withstand the wear and tear of daily consumer traffic. Best suited for high-use environments, Staron surfaces are non-porous and impervious to liquids, preventing stains and significantly reducing the risk of damage from scratches, marring, and physical impact. Staron's highly-durable, easy-to-clean material requires no sealing and little maintenance to stay in superior condition, making these surfaces ideal for restaurants and retail stores. To learn more, visit LOTTE Advanced Materials at the Global Shop Show 2018, booth No: 5429. The Global Shop Show takes place from March 27-29 at McCormick Place in Chicago. About LOTTE Advanced Materials LOTTE Advanced Materials manufactures and markets high-performance decorative surfacing materials for homes and businesses around the globe. Originally part of the Samsung family of companies, LOTTE Advanced Materials is rapidly expanding its North American presence through the company's solid-surface brand, Staron, a seamless and thermo-formable, acrylic product suitable for a wide range of commercial applications. The quartz surface brand, Radianz, is a premium, color-controlled countertop alternative that is designed and engineered to be ultra-durable. Through cutting-edge technology and insights into worldwide market trends, LOTTE Advanced Materials continues to excel in today's surface industry. Contact: Anna Lauzen (206) 628-7700 x25 [email protected] Global Shop Booth# 5429 SOURCE LOTTE Advanced Materials Related Links http://www.lotteadms.com IRVING, Texas, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FleetPride, Inc. announced today that it has acquired the assets of Hardy Brake & Electric, based in Evansville, Indiana with a second location in Owensboro, Kentucky. Founded in 1950 by Alfred and Aline Hardy, the company was later sold to their daughter Sandra and her husband Bob Kerney. Bob has managed Hardy Brake & Electric for nearly 50 years, and in retirement he serves as an advisor to his son Mark. "I am very happy to announce the addition of Hardy Brake & Electric to FleetPride," said FleetPride CEO Al Dragone. "The combination of locations, culture, and expertise make this a valuable addition to our company." The acquisition of Hardy Brake & Electric will add to FleetPride's nationwide network and give customers in Evansville and Owensboro access to FleetPride's national parts inventory, heavy duty expertise, and world-class supply chain to keep them Ready For The Road Ahead. About FleetPride, Inc. Formed in 1999, and headquartered in Irving, TX, FleetPride is the nation's largest distributor of truck and trailer parts in the independent heavy-duty aftermarket channel. FleetPride operates over 260 locations in 46 states and carries over 400+ nationally recognized brands. Operating through five regional distribution centers, FleetPride serves a diverse customer base across multiple industries including general freight, leasing, municipalities, agriculture, food and beverage, construction and waste management. In addition, FleetPride offers in-house remanufactured products such as brake shoes and driveline components. Truck and trailer drive-in repair services are also offered at a number of locations under the FleetCare brand. We Are The Heavy-Duty Experts. www.fleetpride.com SOURCE FleetPride, Inc. Related Links http://www.fleetpride.com SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Front Range Biosciences ("FRB") a leading agricultural biotech company that specializes in tissue culture propagation of high value crops, is pleased to announce it has signed a Letter of Intent and has entered into negotiations for a multi-year production agreement with Frinj Coffee, a leader in specialty coffee breeding and production, to supply coffee plants to farmers across Central and Southern California. Through the partnership, FRB will provide Frinj Coffee with more than 3 million coffee rooting cuttings from FRB's Clean Stock program between 2018 to 2022. Utilizing a state-of-the-art tissue culture production facility with strict quality control standards, FRB produces rooted cuttings from its Clean Stock certification program that are disease-free, pesticide-free, vigorous, and consistent. "The specialty coffee market is on the rise and consumers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for selectively picked beans from special microclimates that offer unique flavors with little to no defects," said Dr. Jonathan Vaught, CEO and Co-Founder of FRB. "We look forward to working with the Frinj Coffee team to better position California farmers to capitalize on this opportunity." Founded by Jay Ruskey, who has been an innovator in developing methods for California coffee production for more than 15 years, Frinj Coffee's goal is to make Southern California the next speciality coffee capital of the world. The company is currently providing plant material to over 25 farms across California. In 2002, Ruskey introduced the coffee program to his farm, Good Land Organics, which grew to become Frinj Coffee and has since produced, processed and roasted 15 different Coffea arabica varietals. Frinj Coffee recently partnered with Blue Bottle Coffee for its first release Frinj Coffee's premier California Geisha blend in 2017 that was offered all of their retail stores. "California's coffee industry is gaining ground and we are proud to be at the forefront of the charge. Traditionally, American coffee production has taken place in Hawaii, but California farmers have taken an increasing interest in the crop after realizing the sub-tropical plants can thrive in the state," said Ruskey. "We are excited to work with Front Range Bioscience to build a Clean Stock program for our traditional and proprietary coffee cultivars while generating high quality plants for our network of growers." About Front Range Biosciences FRB is an agricultural biotech company that specializes in tissue culture propagation of high value crops at industrial scale to improve consistency and efficiency for clone production. FRB also has an advanced breeding program for identifying and improving commercially relevant traits. FRB is located in Lafayette, Colorado. For more information on Front Range Biosciences, please visit http://www.frontrangebio.com. Contact Information Media: Carrie Booze North 6th Agency 212-334-9753 ext.142 [email protected] SOURCE Front Range Biosciences Related Links http://www.frontrangebio.com ATLANTA, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Employment in Georgia's technology industry expanded by an estimated 7,290 jobs in 2017 and contributed $46.8 billion to the state's economy, according to Cyberstates 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation's tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world's leading technology industry association. The state ranks ninth nationally in year-over-year job growth. With 349,700 workers, Georgia ranks 12th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.1 This accounts for 7.2 percent of the state's total workforce. The average tech industry wage in Georgia is $97,940, compared to the state's average private sector annual wage of $51,490. The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 9.5 percent ($46.8 billion) of the overall state economy. The state is home to some 17,989 tech business establishments. Georgia ranked 5th in its Cyberstates Innovation Score in 2017. This ranking is based on a state-by-state per capita analysis of tech startups/new tech business formations + venture capital. The state also saw a 39.6 percent jump in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. In total, Georgia employers posted 96,390 jobs for technology positions last year. Leading tech occupations in Georgia include software and web developers (43,930 positions, up 3.1 percent last year), network architects, administrators, and support specialists (24,870 jobs, up 1.8 percent) and computer support specialists (23,950 jobs, up 3.0 percent). The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of software (packaged) (+ 4.2 percent) and IT services and custom software services (+ 2.9 percent). Cyberstates 2018 is based on CompTIA's analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://cyberstates.org/ 1 Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers. About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global 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. Contact: Steven Ostrowski CompTIA [email protected] 630-678-8468 SOURCE CompTIA Related Links http://www.comptia.org DUBLIN, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Disposable Medical Sensors Market by Product, by Placement of Sensor, by Application and by Geography - Global Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast, 2013-2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global disposable medical sensors market size was valued at $4.5 billion in 2016. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period. In terms of size, the growth of the market was led by the increasing adoption of biosensor products. Biosensors held the largest share of the global disposable medical sensors market in 2016 and is expected to lead the market in the coming years as well. This growth is mainly attributed to increasing prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, lucrative growth in point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, and rise in the demand for glucose-monitoring systems. Sensor variants are classified as strip sensors, wearable sensors, implantable sensors, invasive sensors, and ingestible sensors, based on the placement of sensor. Technological advancements in sensors and focus on providing wireless patient monitoring and diagnostic imaging are the key factors marking the potential of ingestible sensors in the disposable medical sensors market. Therefore, the category is predicted to witness the fastest growth in demand, and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 22.1% during the forecast period. Disposable medical sensors find application in diagnostic, therapeutic, patient monitoring, and imaging devices. Increase in the prevalence of diabetes has led to the adoption of diagnostic devices for blood glucose monitoring, resulting in their largest contribution in the disposable medical sensors market. Globally, North America was the largest contributor to the disposable medical sensors market in 2016, mainly due to the increase in government spending on R&D, aging population, and associated risks of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Other factors that led to the growth of the North American disposable medical sensors market are the need to curb the rising healthcare cost and increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases in the region. Conversely, China is expected to witness the fastest growth in demand, followed by India, and Brazil, during the forecast period. Disposable Medical Sensors Market Dynamics Trends: Technological advancements and development of devices for home care settings are the key trends observed in the disposable medical sensors market globally. Major players of the market are focused on enhancing their product portfolio with advanced technology to retain their foothold in the market. For instance, in August 2016, Medtronic Plc. announced the U.S. commercial launch of its MiniMed 630G System, with a new user-friendly insulin pump design and SmartGuard technology. Growth Drivers: Major growth drivers of the disposable medical sensors industry include increasing incidence of HAIs and growing demand for low-cost medical equipment. According to a WHO report on HAIs, prevalence of an HAI, at any given time, in developed countries varies between 3.5% to 12%. This prevalence of HAIs varies globally, with 7.1% cases in European countries, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Reciprocating this demand, governments, along with private firms, across the globe are providing support to R&D activities, which acts as a major growth driver for the disposable medical sensors market. Further, rise in the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is expected to boost the need for developing sensory monitoring devices and drive the overall growth of the disposable medical sensors market. Opportunities: Many collaborations have been announced in recent years to develop technologically advanced and user-friendly disposable medical sensors, these collaborations are expected to provide ample opportunities to the manufacturers operating in the global disposable medical sensors market. For instance, in May 2016, Medtronic Plc. collaborated with Qualcomm Inc. to develop a continuous glucose monitoring system for type 2 diabetic patients. It aimed at enabling continuous monitoring of patients' glucose level, thereby providing clinical data output that could be utilized to facilitate personalized medication. In January 2016, Medtronic Plc. collaborated with the Chengdu municipal government to invest in the manufacturing facility expansion in China. Disposable Medical Sensors Market Competitive Landscape Some of the key players in the global disposable medical sensors market are Medtronic Plc, General Electric Company, Koninklijke Philips N.V., TE Connectivity Ltd., Smiths Group Plc, NXP Semiconductors N.V., Honeywell International Inc., and STMicroelectronics N.V. Major players are working toward launching new products, which is further expected to increase their market share in the coming years. For instance, in September 2016, Medtronic Plc announced the USFDA approval of its Enlite sensor for the iPro2 Professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system. The iPro2 Professional CGM comes equipped with Enlite sensor, a compact disposable glucose sensor that provides better comfort. The CGM system captures up to 288 measurements a day, revealing hidden high glucose (hyperglycemia) and low glucose (hypoglycemia) fluctuations. The data is then used for making informed therapy decisions. The company, in September 2016, also announced the approval from USFDA for its MiniMed 670G system. The MiniMed 670G system, which features the Guardian sensor, is a hybrid closed loop insulin delivery system that makes use of the SmartGuard HCL technology. It has received approval for treating type 1 diabetes in patients aged 14 years and above, and studies are being conducted to expand the indication, to add patient populations. Some of the other players operating in the disposable medical sensors industry are Gentag Inc., Sensirion AG, OmniVision Technologies Inc., Abbott Laboratories, and Ambu A/S. Key Topics Covered: 1. Research Background 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Introduction 5. Global Market Size and Forecast 6. North America Market Size and Forecast 7. Europe Market Size and Forecast 8. Asia-Pacific Market Size and Forecast 9. Latin America Market Size and Forecast 10. Middle East & Africa (MEA) Market Size and Forecast 11. Competitive Landscape 12. Company Profiles General Electric Company Gentag, Inc. Honeywell International Inc. Koninklijke Philips N.V. Medtronic Plc NXP Semiconductors N.V. Sensirion AG Smiths Group plc STMicroelectronics N.V. TE Connectivity Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tvts8l/global_disposable?w=5 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Presentations on trends and industrial implementation cases of IIoT, int'l communication standards, security, etc. will be provided Schneider Electric, SIEMENS, B&R, KPMG, and 6 other companies will participate to describe all aspects of IIoT technologies SEOUL, South Korea, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Channel 5 Korea (CEO Se-whan Myong) and e4ds.com will hold the 2018 3rd IIoT Innovation DAY on Friday, Mar 30, 2018 at the COEX Conference Center in Gangnam District, Seoul. This seminar with the topics of the 'latest trends and industrial implementation cases of industrial IoT and trends of international communication standards' is sponsored by 8 leading global companies including Schneider Electric, SIEMENS, Hilscher, B&R, global consulting firm KPMG, as well as Keysight Technologies, and Mouser Electronics. The IoT has expanded to be applied to the entire industrial sector as a critical technology these days. Thanks to efficient automation technologies and cloud computing, leading IIoT companies are implementing order-based operations of automatic production. Visitors can witness industrial automation trends of IIoT-based industries, including best practices of companies applying IIoT in various industry sectors, as well as international standards for communications between devices, security policies, regulations of Korea, and responses of SMEs. This seminar has 10 sessions in total with participants including KPMG, SIEMENS, B&R, Mentor A Siemens Business, Schneider Electric, Hilscher, Advantech, Mouser Electronoics, Keysight Technologies, and professor Han Geun-hee of Graduate School of Information Security at Konkuk University, discussing various topics including the outlook of IIoT, examples of cloud-based service operation, standards, security, etc. "A long-term plan needs to be developed by considering technologies, organizational capabilities, and corporate culture altogether" Samjong KPMG Executive Director Lee Sun-yeol stressed that the key to manufacturing in the 4th industrial revolution was digital transformation. Namely, the manufacturing sector requires a digital transformation throughout the entire business as well as short, mid, and long-term roadmaps for innovation models and detailed approaches encompassing technologies, organizational capabilities, and corporate culture tailored to the company to ensure successful transformation. Mr. Lee will further explain the main obstacles to innovation efforts as well as solutions to tackle such difficulties in his presentation under the topic of 'status and perspectives of innovation in IIoT-based manufacturing' at the seminar. Examples of cloud-based open IIoT system and service operations SIEMENS introduces industrial facilities and process optimization via big data analysis algorithms and examples of cloud platform services for efficiency improvement and cost reduction to help companies understand the impact and effectiveness of IIoT. SIEMENS General Manager Min Kyehong will describe the open developer platform for IIoT eco-partnership to emphasize the importance of flexibility, connectivity, and coordination at the seminar. B&R presents development trends of OPC-UA and TSN technologies, and success cases of Smart Factory B&R expects that TSN technology can resolve issues that occur when collecting mass data due to the introduction of more sophisticated devices. It believes that the combination of OPC-UA TSN can be accepted as scalable and optimized protocols for industrial sites adopting smart technologies. B&R General Director Manager Sa Jae-hun will present the 'development trend of OPC-UA TSN technology and reference models for domestic market' and 'OPC-UA based open solutions and success cases of Smart Factory,' and explain an Openness Edge control architecture for the better understanding of the companies. Easy-to-Understand explanation of how IIoT design can be used to implement the MEMS device model To help the audience better understand microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and their implementation, Mentor A Siemens Business will provide layouts and a simulation process that utilizes IIoT design, and present an 'implementation modeling of MEMS device, the most difficult aspect of IIoT design' via Tanner Design Flow for easy and prompt design. An introduction to a highly efficient IIoT operating environment and component requirements that can control evolving industrial devices with Smart technologies Schneider Electric Team Leader Jeong Seong-yeop recommended EcoStruxure, which can comprehensively operate both existing system and software. Based on this, the company will discuss the reason behind the introduction of IIoT, its status in Korea, and success cases in order to provide perspectives on IIoT as well as IIoT platforms and environments surrounding the EcoStruxure solutions. "Work sites need cloud-based communications by combining OT and IT" Hilscher Korea CEO Won Il-min said that we need to think hard to find ways to improve efficiency by sending data from the bottom to the top layer at industrial sites by combining OT and IT and as well as measures to gather, collect, and deliver data, instead of dealing with mass data. Mr. Won will explain multiple options and their advantages and disadvantages, Hilshcer's technology and solution called netIoT, cloud utilization trends in IIoT, and security requirements. A presentation of solutions that implement Smart Factory based on actual cases Unlike software companies and hardware manufacturers experiencing difficulty with the implementation of Smart Factory due to their inherent limitations, Advantech is making efforts to lower barriers to entry by using the Service Ready Platform (SRP) that combines SW development tools and packages on hardware platforms. At the seminar, Advantech Korea Director Manager Choi Soo-hyuk will make a presentation on measures and examples of SRP-based Smart Factory, the technology direction of IoT and Smart Factory implementation, and solutions for easy implementation of demo sites. IT security for Smart Manufacturing, international standards, security regulations of Korea, and responsive measures Security is a common challenge across the industry. IIoT is being implemented and adopted under an environment of vulnerable or incomplete security. Professor Han Geun-hee of the Graduate School of Information Security at Konkuk University will talk about 'cyber threats and vulnerabilities of Smart Factory,' 'security items to be complied with at Smart Factory, 'Status of security in Smart Manufacturing and international standards,' and 'security-related regulations and corporate readiness for compliance' to deal with security issues and challenges. Ten companies will participate in the 2018 3rd IIoT Innovation DAY to provide their perspectives on IIoT and various examples. Also, it is expected that the number of people registered to attend the seminar will increase by more than 30% compared to last year, with 170 participants, and that the seminar will serve as a venue for active communication with the attendance of corporate leaders, developers, and engineers. IIoT Innovation Day overview: http://e4ds.com/seminar_introduce.asp?idx=11 Introductory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UwimE3538o SOURCE e4ds DUBLIN, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Annual Strategy Dossier - 2018 - Global Top 5 Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers - Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, ATR - Strategic Focus, Key Strategies & Plans, SWOT Analysis, Trends & Growth Opportunities, Market Outlook" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Commercial Aircraft market is in its longest Super Cycle ever starting in 2003 and still going strong propelled by multiple, favourable macroeconomic factors. Airlines profitability has been on the rising path over recent years reaching $34.5 billion in 2017 and projected to grow further to $38.4 billion in 2018, thus, enabling the airlines to pursue fleet replacements on shorter intervals, in turn, driving demand for new aircrafts from the OEMs. The OEMs have been focused strongly on ramping up aircraft production rates to meet delivery schedules and to reap the rich harvest of a healthy and robust order backlog spearheaded by the narrow body aircraft segment. The aircraft deliveries by the industry in 2018 are likely to reach a record high in 2018 with all OEMs boosting production rate. The 2018 edition of this annual publication provides comprehensive analysis and key insights into the Strategies & Plans being conceptualized & implemented by the World's 5 leading commercial aircraft manufacturers for the near to medium term horizon as the industry continues on its high growth trajectory. The report is unique with reference to its core focus on and deep qualitative analysis of strategies & plans for the industry OEMs. The market landscape in the Global Commercial Aircraft market is on the verge of a tectonic shift with the Airbus' joint ownership of the C-Series program along with Bombardier which provides a significant and much needed boost to the beleaguered C-Series program given Airbus' strong global sales & marketing network while adding a scratch-up, great performing 21st century aircraft to Airbus' portfolio without having to invest anything outright. The Airbus-Bombardier deal stacks the odds against Boeing in the battle between giants in the global commercial aircraft market. Boeing's plans for a combination deal with Embraer, as a countermove, is likely to shake-up things a bit more. The commercial aircraft industry is headed for further technological generation shift with electric propulsion technologies being developed for commercial aircrafts aimed at rapid reduction in CO2 emissions to meet regulatory guidelines while simultaneously bringing down operating costs significantly over long term. Further, 2018 is going to be an important year for the industry with three new aircraft programs scheduled to enter service, led by, Boeing's 737 MAX 9, Airbus A321 LR and Embraer's E190-E2. Going forward into 2018, rising crude oil prices; which have resurged to $70 per barrel level, and are at their highest level since late 2014; and escalating labour costs are likely to be the biggest challenges for legacy as well as low cost carriers to maintain profitability level in an overall favourable operating environment with the long term demand drivers & fundamentals for commercial aviation remaining firmly in place with strong passenger traffic growth trend projected over the next 2 decades. Against this backdrop, the report provides analysis of the strategies & plans being developed by the Top 5 commercial aircraft OEMs. The report also provides a comprehensive SWOT framework analysis on all 5 industry OEMs covered in the report providing useful insights into each player's respective strengths and weaknesses. The report concludes with analysis of key trends, market conditions, potential growth opportunities and demand growth projections for the global commercial aircraft market through 2036. Report Excerpts: Boeing's Broadening of Vertical Integration Strategy and Implications for the Aviation Supply Chain Airbus Strengthening its Stronghold on the Middle of the Market Aircraft Segment Airbus-Bombardier C-Series Deal and Implications for the Industry Embraer Targeting the Middle East Market Aggressively for its E2 Regional Jets Family Shifting Gravity of the Global Commercial Aircraft Market towards Asia-Pacific Region Rising Crude Oil Prices & Escalating Labour Costs to Put Pressure on Airlines Profitability Development of Turbo Electric & Hybrid Propulsion Technologies by the Industry Resurgence of Supersonic Air Travel Key Topics Covered: Section 1: Business Structure & Snapshot a) Founded b) Headquartered c) Business Segments d) Employees e) Product Portfolio Major Platforms, Programs and Key Competitors f) Market Capitalization g) Key Executives h) Shareholding Pattern & Structure Section 2: Financial Performance Snapshot - Charts & Analysis for each Company: 1. Revenue Base & Growth Trend 2. Revenues Split by Key Segments 3. Revenues Split by Key Geographic Markets & Regions 4. Gross Earnings & Margin Trend 5. Operating Earnings & Operating Margin Trend 6. Return on Sales Trend 7. Profitability Growth Trend 8. Cash Flow from Operations 9. R&D Expenditure Trend 10. CAPEX Trend 11. Order Intake & Aircraft Deliveries Trend 12. Order Backlog Position Section 3 Strategic Positioning & SWOT Analysis - For Each OEM Sources of Strengths to be Leveraged Weaknesses to Overcome Opportunities for Growth Threats to be Mitigated Section 4: Strategic Focus & Priorities - For all 5 Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Airbus SE ATR Bombardier Inc. Embraer SA The Boeing Company Section 5: Key Strategies & Plans - For Each of the 5 Industry OEMs Analysis Coverage: Product Portfolio Strategies & Plans Market Specific Strategies & Plans R&D Strategies & Plans Growth Strategies & Plans Business and Corporate Strategies & Plans Sales & Marketing Strategies & Plans Production/Manufacturing Strategies & Plans Financial Strategies & Plans Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances & JVs Other Strategies & Strategic Initiatives Section 6: Global Commercial Aircraft Market Force Field Analysis Analysis of Driving & Restraining Forces and their Overall Dynamics as well as Impact Driving Forces Restraining Forces Section 7: Industry Trends - More in the Report Vertical Integration by Industry Players led by Boeing with In-Sourcing Strategy & More Continued, Steady Growth in Passenger & Cargo Air Traffic Projected over Near Term Airlines Profitability to be Maintained over Near term despite Escalating Costs North America based Carriers to Lead on Financial Performance Section 8: Market Trends - More in the Report Shifting Gravity towards Asia-Pacific Region Middle of the Market Aircraft Segment gaining significance for OEMs Narrow body Aircraft segment to reign supreme over Medium Term Section 9: Technology Trends Turbo Electric & Hybrid Propulsion Technologies Aviation Biofuels 3D Printing Technologies & Future Digital Technologies Resurgence of Supersonic Air Travel Section 10: Key Issues, Challenges & Risk Factors Rising Crude Oil Prices Escalating Labour Costs Tightening Regulatory Guidelines on Emissions Airspace Safety Section 11: Strategic Market Outlook - Commercial Aircraft Market 2017 - 2036 Analysis of Emerging Market Scenario for Commercial Aviation Sector Global Demand Outlook - Commercial Aircrafts - 2017 - 2036 Demand Growth Projections for Commercial Jets through 2036 Narrowbody Widebody Regional Jets Demand Growth Forecasts for Geographic Regions For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z6686b/global_top_5?w=5 Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves of 1.7 million ounces of gold Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources maintained at 4.4 million ounces of gold 8% increase in Inferred Mineral Resources to 3.3 million ounces of gold, primarily through exploration at the Wassa Underground Gold Mine ("Wassa Underground") Updated Inferred Mineral Resource estimate expected to be released in the second quarter of 2018 expected to include 9 drilling results reported previously from Wassa Underground, in addition to 2 holes drilled subsequently Sam Coetzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star, commented: "In 2018 our focus has turned to growth through exploration, in addition to continued operational delivery. Our exploration program has the primary objective of gaining a stronger understanding of the Wassa deposit at depth, which remains open down plunge. We have added Inferred Mineral Resources to this asset and we look forward to releasing an updated estimate in the second quarter of 2018, which will incorporate the remainder of the 2017 drilling. The secondary objective of our exploration program is the expansion of our high grade Mineral Resources at Prestea Underground and to assess the potential of five new targets to supply high margin ore to our two processing plants. We look forward to releasing the results of our exploration program throughout the course of the year." Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources Summary The following table provides a summary of Golden Star's estimated Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and Inferred Mineral Resources as of December 31, 2017: Tonnes ('000) Grade (g/t Au) Gold Content ('000 oz) Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves1 20,668 2.55 1,693 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources1,2 49,698 2.74 4,371 Inferred Mineral Resources1 25,684 3.98 3,283 Notes to Table 1. Includes non-refractory material only 2. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves Mineral Reserves were estimated using a gold price of $1,250 per ounce. Mineral Resources were estimated using a gold price of $1,450 per ounce. Mineral Reserve Estimate: Breakdown by Asset During 2017 Golden Star's Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves decreased by 217,000 ounces, primarily as a result of mining depletion. The following table provides a breakdown of Golden Star's estimated Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves as of the dates set forth therein: Mineral Reserves Dec 31, 2017 Proven Mineral Reserve Dec 31, 2017 Probable Mineral Reserve Dec 31, 2017 Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve Dec 31, 2016 Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve tonnes grade ounces tonnes grade ounces tonnes grade ounces tonnes grade ounces (000) g/t Au (000) (000) g/t Au (000) (000) g/t Au (000) (000) g/t Au (000) Wassa Open Pit - - - 12,254 1.30 512 12,254 1.30 512 11,264 1.56 565 Wassa Underground - - - 4,899 4.11 647 4,899 4.11 647 5,477 4.21 742 Stockpiles 1,595 0.71 37 - - - 1,595 0.71 37 695 0.96 21 Subtotal Wassa 1,595 0.71 37 17,153 2.10 1,159 18,748 1.98 1,196 17,436 2.37 1,328 Mampon - - - 105 2.23 8 105 2.23 8 301 4.64 45 Prestea South - - - 103 1.80 6 103 1.80 6 510 2.31 38 Prestea Underground - - - 1,165 12.35 463 1,165 12.35 463 1,094 13.93 490 Stockpiles 547 1.21 21 - - - 547 1.21 21 115 2.55 9 Subtotal Prestea 547 1.21 21 1,373 10.79 476 1,920 8.06 497 2,020 8.96 582 GSR Total 2,143 0.84 58 18,525 2.75 1,635 20,668 2.55 1,693 19,456 3.05 1,910 Notes to the Mineral Reserve Estimate: 1. The stated Mineral Reserves have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 and are classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves". Mineral Reserve estimates reflect the Company's reasonable expectation that all necessary permits and approvals will be obtained and maintained. Mining dilution and mining recovery vary by deposit and have been applied in estimating the Mineral Reserves. 2. Mineral Reserves are the economic portion of the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. Mineral Reserve estimates include mining dilution at grades assumed to be zero. 3. The 2017 Mineral Reserves were prepared under the supervision of Dr. Martin Raffield, Senior Vice President Project Development and Technical Services for the Company. Dr. Raffield is a QP as defined by Canada's NI 43-101. 4. The Mineral Reserves at December 31, 2017 were estimated using a gold price assumption of $1,250 per ounce. 5. The slope angles of all pit designs are based on geotechnical criteria as established by external consultants. The size and shape of the pit designs are guided by consideration of the results from a pit optimization program 6. Cut-off grades have been estimated based on operating cost projections, mining dilution and recovery, government royalty payment requirements and applicable metallurgical recovery. Marginal cut-off grade estimates for the open pits are as follows: Wassa 0.6 grams per tonne ("g/t") of gold ("Au"); Mampon 1.3 g/t Au; and Prestea South 1.1 g/t Au. Break-even cut-off grade estimates for the underground mines are as follows: Wassa Underground 2.0 g/t Au; and the Prestea Underground Gold Mine ("Prestea Underground") 6.5 g/t Au. 7. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 8. Only non-refractory ore is included in Mineral Reserves. Reconciliation of Mineral Reserves Figure 1 provides a reconciliation of the Company's Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources: Breakdown by Asset Golden Star increased its Indicated Mineral Resources at its two cornerstone assets, Wassa Underground and Prestea Underground, during 2017. At Wassa Underground, the grade of the Indicated Mineral Resources also increased by 7% to 4.10 g/t Au as a result of in-fill drilling in the Panel 1 stoping area. Indicated Mineral Resources decreased at the Wassa Open Pit and the Mampon deposit primarily as a result of mining depletion. The following table provides a breakdown of Golden Star's estimated Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources as of the dates set forth therein: December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources tonnes (000) grade g/t Au ounces (000) tonnes (000) grade g/t Au ounces (000) Wassa Open Pit 26,652 1.32 1,134 27,500 1.43 1,265 Wassa Underground 13,003 4.10 1,713 13,499 3.82 1,656 Wassa Other 4,251 3.49 476 3,348 3.78 407 Subtotal Wassa 43,906 2.35 3,323 44,347 2.33 3,328 Bogoso/Prestea Refractory 17,809 2.84 1,625 14,424 3.01 1,396 Mampon 103 1.59 5 418 4.11 55 Prestea South 1,627 2.12 111 1,176 2.28 86 Prestea Underground 1,649 15.16 804 1,570 15.69 792 Bogoso/Prestea Other 2,414 1.65 128 2,230 1.69 121 Subtotal Bogoso/Prestea 23,601 3.52 2,673 19,818 3.85 2,451 Total (Including Refractory) 67,507 2.76 5,996 64,165 2.80 5,778 TOTAL NON-REFRACTORY 49,698 2.74 4,371 49,741 2.74 4,382 Note to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate 1. All Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources in the 2017 and 2016 estimates are in the Indicated category. Inferred Mineral Resources: Breakdown by Asset Golden Star's Inferred Mineral Resources increased by 8% to 3.3 million ounces during 2017, with the increase delivered primarily at Wassa Underground in the B Shoot South and F Shoot South areas. The Company plans to deliver an updated Inferred Mineral Resource estimate in the second quarter of 2018, which will include 9 holes that have been released previously1 and two new holes. Notes 1. Eight holes were released on February 14, 2018 in the press release entitled, 'Golden Star reports further high grade drilling results from Wassa Underground' (holes BS17DD385D1-4, BS17DD386M, BS17DD387M, BSDD308M and BSDD347). One hole was released on September 19, 2017 in the press release entitled, 'Golden Star extends high grade B Shoot zone through step out drilling at Wassa Underground Gold Mine' (hole BS17DD385M). The following table provides a breakdown of Golden Star's estimated Inferred Mineral Resources as of the dates set forth therein: December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 Inferred Mineral Resources Inferred Mineral Resources tonnes (000) grade g/t Au ounces (000) tonnes (000) grade g/t Au ounces (000) Wassa Open Pit 91 1.16 3 149 1.43 7 Wassa Underground 19,838 3.31 2,110 14,450 4.16 1,931 Wassa Other 2,011 4.23 274 982 5.18 164 Subtotal Wassa 21,940 3.38 2,387 15,581 4.20 2,102 Bogoso/Prestea Refractory 922 2.60 77 1,112 2.78 99 Mampon 14 1.68 1 100 2.10 7 Prestea South 68 1.89 4 40 1.97 3 Prestea Underground 3,193 8.46 868 3,203 8.78 905 Bogoso/Prestea Others 470 1.50 23 380 1.55 19 Subtotal Bogoso/Prestea 4,666 6.48 973 4,835 6.64 1,032 Total (including refractory) 26,606 3.93 3,360 20,417 4.77 3,134 TOTAL NON-REFRACTORY 25,684 3.98 3,283 19,305 4.89 3,034 Notes to Mineral Resource Estimates 1. The Mineral Resources for "Wassa Other" include Father Brown, Benso and Chichiwilli. 2. The Mineral Resources for "Bogoso/Prestea Others" include Chujah, Dumasi, Bogoso North, Buesichem, Opon and Ablifa. 3. The Wassa Underground Mineral Resource has been estimated below the $1,450 per ounce of gold pit using an economic gold grade cut-off of 1.62 g/t Au, which the Company believes would be the lower cut-off grade for underground mining and constrained to a 1.5 g/t Au mineralized grade shell 4. The Father Brown Underground Mineral Resource has been estimated below the $1,450 per ounce of gold pit shell using an economic gold grade cut-off of 2.84 g/t Au, which the Company believes would be the lower cut-off grade for underground mining. 5. Prestea Underground Mineral Resource has been estimated below the $1,450 per ounce pit shell of Prestea South down to 3,800 metres elevation using a gold cut-off grade at 5.50 g/t Au. 6. Mineral Resources were estimated using optimized pit shells at a gold price of $1,450 per ounce. Other than gold price, the same optimized pit shell and underground parameters and modifying factors used to determine the Mineral Reserves were used to determine the Mineral Resources. 7. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. 8. Numbers may not add correctly due to rounding. All monetary amounts refer to United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. Company Profile: Golden Star is an established gold mining company that owns and operates the Wassa and Prestea mines in Ghana, West Africa. Listed on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ghanaian Stock Exchange, Golden Star is focused on delivering strong margins and free cash flow from its two high grade, low cost underground mines. Gold production guidance for 2018 is 230,000-255,000 ounces at a cash operating cost per ounce of $650-730. As the winner of the PDAC 2018 Environmental and Social Responsibility Award, Golden Star is committed to leaving a positive and sustainable legacy in its areas of operation. Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information Some statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements and information include but are not limited to, statements and information regarding: the timing and contents of the updated Inferred Mineral Resource estimate; the timing of further exploration results throughout the year; the objections of Golden Star's 2018 exploration program; and 2018 production guidance and cash operating cost per ounce guidance. Generally, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements and information are inherently uncertain and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in Management's Discussion and Analysis of financial conditions and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. Additional and/or updated factors will be included in our annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2017 which will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. Technical Information The Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates have been compiled by the Company's technical personnel in accordance with definitions and guidelines set out in the Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum and as required by Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Mineral Reserve estimates reflect the Company's reasonable expectation that all necessary permits and approvals will be obtained and maintained. Mining dilution and mining recovery vary by deposit and have been applied in estimating the Mineral Reserves. The Mineral Resource technical contents of this press release have been reviewed and approved by S. Mitchel Wasel, BSc Geology, a "Qualified Person" pursuant to NI 43-101. Mr. Wasel is Vice President Exploration for Golden Star and an active member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The 2017 and 2016 estimates of Mineral Resources were prepared under the supervision of Mr. Wasel. The Mineral Reserve technical contents of this press release, and the 2017 and 2016 estimates of Mineral Reserves, have been reviewed and approved by and were prepared under the supervision of Dr. Martin Raffield, Senior Vice President, Project Development and Technical Services for the Company. Dr. Raffield is a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101. Additional scientific and technical information relating to the mineral properties referenced in this news release are contained in the following current technical reports for those properties available at www.sedar.com: (i) Wassa - "NI 43-101 Technical Report on feasibility study of the Wassa open pit mine and underground project in Ghana" effective date December 31, 2014; (ii) Prestea Underground - "NI 43-101 Technical Report on a Feasibility Study of the Prestea Underground Gold Project in Ghana" effective date November 3, 2015; and (iii) Bogoso - "NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources and Reserves Golden Star Resources Ltd., Bogoso Prestea Gold Mine, Ghana" effective date December 31, 2013. Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources This press release uses the terms "Measured Mineral Resources" and "Indicated Mineral Resources". The Company advises US investors that while these terms are recognized and required by NI 43-101, the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") does not recognize them. Also, disclosure of contained ounces is permitted under Canadian regulations; however the SEC generally requires Mineral Resource information to be reported as in-place tonnage and grade. US Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into Mineral Reserves. Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources This press release uses the term "Inferred Mineral Resources." The Company advises US investors that while this term is recognized and required by NI 43-101, the SEC does not recognize it. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of Inferred Mineral Resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. US investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the Inferred Mineral Resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. SOURCE Golden Star Resources Ltd. Related Links www.gsr.com STAMFORD, Conn., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Street Power Partners, LLC ("GSPP"), a Stamford-based solar developer and owner of solar photovoltaic systems, has received the SunPower "Commercial National Top Producer of the Year" award for its outstanding sales performance as a SunPower dealer in 2017. "We were thrilled to make the jump from 'Commercial Regional Top Producer of the Year' last year, to the top producer in the nation this year," said Scott Kerner of GSPP. "It was a huge team effort, and we couldn't be prouder of everyone at GSPP for working together to achieve this award." The "Commercial National Top Producer of the Year" award honors the SunPower commercial dealer that has the highest shipment volume in the United States. "SunPower's reputable national dealer network is strengthened by local solar companies like GSPP, selected for their quality craftsmanship, industry expertise and customer service," said Nam Nguyen, SunPower executive vice president, commercial solar. "We congratulate GSPP for an extraordinary performance in 2017 as a commercial dealer, delivering the value of SunPower solar to businesses in their community." In 2017, GSPP experienced significant growth in its project portfolio with the addition of 10 commercial and utility-scale projects. GSPP currently has about 40 megawatts under management and is looking to continue its swift expansion through the development and acquisition of more projects this year. About GSPP, LLC Headquartered in Stamford, CT, GSPP finances, develops, owns and operates solar energy systems for businesses, schools and nonprofits throughout the northeast. GSPP continues to experience rapid growth with 40+ megawatts of commercial and community solar projects under management. As they expand their solar coverage, GSPP consistently provides the best available solar technology coupled with an unwavering commitment to customer service. For more information on GSPP, email [email protected] or visit greenstreetsolarpower.com. Media Contact: Mia Behm [email protected] SOURCE Green Street Power Partners, LLC Related Links http://greenstreetsolarpower.com DALLAS, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hodges Capital Management announced that Brett Rainey has joined the investment firm as Chief Operating Officer. Rainey joins Hodges from Envestnet Asset Management where he was a senior vice president. Rainey brings extensive experience from his 25-year career in the investment industry. He has held positions in executive leadership and investment operations, supporting separately managed accounts (SMA) and unified managed accounts (UMA). Brett Rainey, Chief Operations Officer, Hodges Capital Management "We are very excited to have Brett join our team. His knowledge of the industry will allow him to make an immediate contribution to the firm," said Craig Hodges, chief executive officer and portfolio manager. "Brett offers an exceptional set of skills that tie together excellence in fund management to execution of our growth strategy and successful ongoing operation of our business." During his 12-year tenure with Placemark Investments (acquired by Envestnet in October 2014), Rainey transformed the investment operations department into a dynamic and scalable business unit capable of supporting thousands of accounts and quadrupled assets under management to more than $16 billion. Prior to Placemark, Rainey worked for JPMorgan in Boston where he was responsible for the operations of their manager outsourcing endeavor and for MFS Investment Management's separately managed accounts division running the investment operations department. "Hodges Capital has a reputation for high quality investing and people. I'm pleased to be a part of this firm and help it continue to grow and prosper," said Rainey. Brett received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Rainey is responsible for the daily operation and efficiency of Hodges Capital Management. He reports to Craig Hodges, CEO. About Hodges Capital Management Hodges Capital Management is an investment advisory firm managing assets for institutions, endowments, family offices, and individuals. Hodges Capital is also the advisor to six mutual funds. The firm was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1989 by Don and Craig Hodges. Hodges has been involved in assisting clients with their investment needs for more than 25 years. Additional information is available at hodgescapital.com. SOURCE Hodges Capital Management Related Links http://www.hodgescapital.com SALT LAKE CITY, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoodoo Digital, a premier provider of Adobe Experience Manager products and solutions, will sponsor Adobe Summit 2018. After a year of building a team of the industry's most experienced AEM Architects and DevOps engineers, Hoodoo will use Adobe Summit to showcase their suite of technology solutions that enable a new paradigm for success with Adobe Experience Manager. Hoodoo Digital Co-founders Kem Elbrader and Andy Wakefield started Hoodoo with the vision of transforming the technologies that drive digital experiences. Andy is very optimistic about Hoodoo's potential to make an impact: "The human experience is being greatly defined by our interactions in the digital world and we see enormous opportunity for improvement." Kem and Andy previously worked together as executives for Axis41 as chief software architect and vice president of technology respectively, where they built a large Adobe technology practice that was successfully acquired in 2016. During their time at Axis41, they built reputations as thought leaders in enterprise technology, specifically in regards to the Adobe Experience Cloud. Over the past two decades, Kem and Andy guided many organizations through digital transformations including premier brands such as Stanford, Sony and Adobe. After Adobe acquired Day Software, Kem and Andy helped Adobe transition many of their corporate properties over to the newly acquired experience platform and established themselves as experts in Adobe Experience Manager (formerly CQ). They have continued over the past seven years to lead and architect many successful Experience Cloud implementations. During that time, they have uncovered several inefficiencies and opportunities to disrupt the space. Kem summarized their approach: "We're taking our previous experience and reinventing AEM implementations by creating lighter weight teams composed of deeper expertise, more effective processes and using a more modern set of tooling." At Adobe Summit 2018, they will unveil their suite of technology solutions specifically targeted at improving Adobe Experience Manager solutions. The first pillar of Hoodoo's strategy is to work with forward-thinking technology vendors to strengthen the Adobe ecosystem by making AEM Connectors. They have already deployed solutions in partnership with Workfront, uStudio and Fastly to provide solutions for work management, media distribution and edge content delivery. Next, Hoodoo has embraced the philosophy of atomic design and has developed an AEM implementation methodology that incorporates design systems as a primary deliverable. Kem described this approach as "the missing link between design teams and implementation teams," and proclaimed, "This is the part of our process that goes beyond nuts and bolts and transforms our customer experience." Finally, Kem noted that at Summit they will be heavily promoting their Automated DevOps platform AEM Cloud. AEM Cloud utilizes Kubernetes to create a full-suite platform to support Adobe Experience Manager that can be deployed on any of the public clouds (i.e., Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure) or a corporate private cloud (VMWare). AEM Cloud provides toolsets and optimizing development, operations, security, quality assurance and production support. Andy explained AEM Cloud as "finally solving the biggest problems we have continually encountered in AEM implementations." Hoodoo Digital brings simplicity to the complexity of AEM implementations. Using an optimized implementation process and a suite of software tools, Hoodoo delivers solutions that use the latest features of AEM and provide a highly effective way for marketing teams to accomplish their daily goals. To learn more, visit https://hoodoo.digital or follow us on Twitter: @HoodooDigital. Press Contact: Peter Nash Phone: 801-896-9667 Email: [email protected] Related Links Adobe Partner - Hoodoo Adobe Summit SOURCE Hoodoo Digital Related Links https://hoodoo.digital STAMFORD, Conn., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HR Trader, a U.S. based self-clearing broker-dealer, announced the release of its new, commission free stock and option trading membership program. Self-directed traders that join HR Trader receive a comprehensive web and mobile trading platform, unlimited commission free stock and option trades, low margin financing rates (starting at 3.25%) and much more. HR Trader is available in both web and mobile versions that sync across all devices. It is iOS, Android and Apple Watch compatible. HR Trader was designed specifically for active stock and option traders. With so many brokers now offering flat-rate commissions, active traders often subsidize the passive investors at their brokerage firm. By eliminating per-trade commissions, frequent stock and option traders can benefit from substantial savings. HR Trader members have the power to take their trading to the next level by evaluating new opportunities that arise without the burden of commissions. "Our pricing philosophy is simple. Treat every client as if they are our largest and most active client," said Howard Rothman, President of HR Trader. "With over 30 years of experience servicing active traders, we believe we know their needs and created this unique trading membership with those requirements in mind." HR Trader is available in both web and mobile versions that sync across all devices. Features include real-time quotes, advanced charting capabilities, real-time account balances, and the ability to trade simple or complex stock and option orders. The research widget in the web platform delivers extensive company news and financial information. The convenient mobile app allows members to monitor and trade their accounts on-the-go. Membership starts at only $25 per month and is waived if a member is eligible for HR Trader Prime. To qualify, a member must either execute 50 trades per month or maintain a daily average margin loan or free cash balance of at least $50,000, calculated at month end. To learn more about the benefits of HR Trader, please visit https://www.hrtrader.com. The HR Trader platform was developed in partnership with ETNA Software Corp. About HR Trader HR Trader is a DBA of Vision Financial Markets LLC, a self-clearing securities broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA, SIPC and the OCC. Vision serves the needs of direct securities traders, investment advisors and other broker-dealers. Commission free trading pertains to option and stock orders. Minimum balances along with membership, exchange, regulatory or miscellaneous fees may apply. Please refer to HR Trader's website at https://www.hrtrader.com for complete details. Check HR Trader's background at https://brokercheck.finra.org. Media Contact Rachel Gorin Associate Vice President, Marketing 203.388.2691 [email protected] SOURCE HR Trader Related Links https://www.hrtrader.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunt Mortgage Group, a leader in financing commercial real estate throughout the United States, announced today it financed the acquisition of three multifamily properties located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The three Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans totaled $19.1 million. The borrower is Typhon Realty Limited, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, backed by key principals Kimberly Sorrentino, Lawrence Rolnick and Austin Rolnick. The properties include: Villas Santorini . Hunt Mortgage Group provided a $4.1 million to finance the acquisition of Villas Santorini, a 28-unit residential property located in Lake Worth , Florida. The property is part of a larger 34-unit condominium complex, of which the current seller owns 28 units and the remaining six units are individually owned. The borrower plans to buy the remaining six units in the next 12 months. The current 28-units have been continually operated as a rental apartment complex. The transaction is a five-year hybrid arm loan with one year of interest-only, followed by a 30-year amortization. The property is 95% occupied, was built in 2007 and consists entirely of four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhomes with a single-car garage. Property amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, sundeck, and a small playground. . Hunt Mortgage Group provided a to finance the acquisition of Villas Santorini, a 28-unit residential property located in , Florida. The property is part of a larger 34-unit condominium complex, of which the current seller owns 28 units and the remaining six units are individually owned. The borrower plans to buy the remaining six units in the next 12 months. The current 28-units have been continually operated as a rental apartment complex. The transaction is a five-year hybrid arm loan with one year of interest-only, followed by a 30-year amortization. The property is 95% occupied, was built in 2007 and consists entirely of four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhomes with a single-car garage. Property amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, sundeck, and a small playground. Whispering Winds Townhomes. Whispering Winds Townhomes is a residential property located in Greenacres, Florida . Hunt Mortgage Group provided a $4.8 million loan to secure the acquisition of this property, a 32-unit apartment complex consisting of four, two-story apartment buildings. The property contains all three-bedroom townhomes that were constructed in 2013. Property amenities include a clubhouse, in-ground swimming pool, and a children's playground. The transaction is a five-year fixed rate loan with a 30-year amortization, 12-months of interest-only and a yield maintenance prepayment schedule. Whispering Winds Townhomes is a residential property located in Greenacres, . Hunt Mortgage Group provided a loan to secure the acquisition of this property, a 32-unit apartment complex consisting of four, two-story apartment buildings. The property contains all three-bedroom townhomes that were constructed in 2013. Property amenities include a clubhouse, in-ground swimming pool, and a children's playground. The transaction is a five-year fixed rate loan with a 30-year amortization, 12-months of interest-only and a yield maintenance prepayment schedule. Charles Landing Townhomes . Hunt Mortgage Group, provided a $5.5 million loan to enable the acquisition of Charles Landing Townhomes , a residential property located in Palm Springs, Florida . The transaction is a five-year fixed rate loan with a 30-year amortization, 12-months of interest-only and a yield maintenance prepayment schedule. Charles Landing Townhomes consists of a five, two-story apartment buildings containing 40-three bedroom townhomes style units, built in three phases, 2007 (one building), 2011 (two buildings) and 2012 (two buildings). Property amenities include garage parking and a children's play area at the northeast corner of the property. "The borrower on this three-property portfolio deal is a seasoned commercial real estate and multifamily investor that is also a repeat Freddie Mac and Hunt Mortgage Group client," noted Bill Papagno, Director at Hunt Mortgage Group. All three properties are located in the Green Acres submarket of the Palm Beach Metro area. Palm Beach is located on Florida's southeast coast, north of Broward County, south of Martin County, east of Hendry County, and west of the Atlantic Ocean. "The borrower has a solid track record of success," added Papagno. "We were pleased to provide the financing needed to acquire these three properties to a quality investor in a strong multifamily locale." About Hunt Mortgage Group Hunt Mortgage Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunt Companies, Inc., is a leader in financing commercial real estate throughout the United States. The Company finances all types of commercial real estate: multifamily properties (including small balance), affordable housing, office, retail, manufactured housing, healthcare/senior living, industrial, and self-storage facilities. It offers Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD/FHA in addition to its own Proprietary loan products. Since inception, the Company has structured more than $21 billion of loans and today maintains a servicing portfolio of more than $13.4 billion. Headquartered in New York City, Hunt Mortgage Group has 232 professionals in 25 locations throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.huntmortgagegroup.com. MEDIA CONTACTS Brent Feigenbaum Hunt Mortgage Group 212-317-5730 [email protected] Pam Flores 773-218-9260 [email protected] SOURCE Hunt Mortgage Group Related Links http://www.huntmortgagegroup.com TORONTO and SPOKANE, WA, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited ("Hydro One") (TSX: H) and Avista Corporation ("Avista") (NYSE: AVA) today announced the achievement of an important milestone in the regulatory approval process of their proposed merger. The companies have filed an all-parties, all-issues settlement agreement in the merger proceeding before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the "Commission"). This represents a full settlement which all parties, including Commission Staff, have agreed is in the public interest and should be accepted by the Commission. "I would like to thank all the parties that worked together to reach this significant milestone," said Mayo Schmidt, President and CEO, Hydro One. "This positive step forward speaks to the long-term benefits of the union of Hydro One and Avista for customers, communities, employees and shareholders." "We believe this settlement agreement represents a positive outcome that is broadly supported by the parties and meets the net benefit standard for approval in Washington," Avista Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott L. Morris said. "The settlement agreement reinforces the commitments we've made to our stakeholders to keep our headquarters in Spokane, maintain local decision-making, increase our charitable contributions and continue to support economic development, innovation and community involvement. The partnership with Hydro One will not result in the elimination of jobs or other cost-cutting that may affect customer service. We're confident this settlement agreement enhances our ability to provide exceptional service and support to our customers and communities well into the future." The settlement includes financial and non-financial commitments. No costs associated with the transaction will be recovered from Avista or Hydro One customers. The September 2017 applications for state regulatory approval of the merger included a rate credit of approximately US$32 million over a 10-year period across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. This amounted to an allocation of an approximately US$20 million rate credit in Washington. The settlement, if approved, would result in the allocation to Washington of a rate credit of approximately US$31 million over a 5-year period. In the settlement, Hydro One and Avista have also agreed to a number of other financial commitments, such as funding for low income participation in new renewables and the replacement of manufactured homes. As a result of the settlement, financial commitments in Washington total approximately US$44 million. While negotiations with parties in the other states are still underway and will be resolved on a state-by-state basis, if the financial commitments in the Washington settlement were to be proportionally allocated to the other states, the total amount of financial commitments would be approximately US$74 million which includes a commitment to an additional US$1 million rate credit in Alaska. These settlement negotiations are a typical part of the regulatory process. The final settlement confirms our commitment to customers, long-term environmental protections and community investment. Please refer to www.utc.wa.gov for the joint applications and settlement agreement (which includes the complete list of commitments). The settlement agreement is subject to Commission approval. The Commission Staff's recommendation that the Commission approve the settlement agreement is not binding on the Commission itself. In addition to Hydro One, Avista and Commission Staff, the parties to the merger proceeding include the Public Counsel Unit of the Washington Office of Attorney General, The Energy Project, NW Energy Coalition, Renewable Northwest, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers, the Northwest Industrial Gas Users and the Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities. The transaction received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on January 16, 2018 and from Avista shareholders on November 21, 2017. Hydro One and Avista continue to anticipate closing the transaction in the second half of 2018. Applications for regulatory approval of the transaction are still pending with utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska. Approval must be obtained from the Federal Communications Commission. Also required is clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and compliance with applicable requirements under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, as well as the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. About Hydro One Limited We are Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with more than 1.3 million valued customers, over C$25 billion in assets and 2017 annual revenues of nearly C$6 billion. Our team of over 7,400 skilled and dedicated regular and non-regular employees proudly and safely serves suburban, rural and remote communities across Ontario through our 30,000 circuit km of high-voltage transmission and 123,000 circuit km of primary distribution networks. Hydro One is committed to the communities we serve, and has been rated as the top utility in Canada for its corporate citizenship, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. We are one of only five utility companies in Canada to achieve the Sustainable Electricity Company designation from the Canadian Electricity Association. We also provide advanced broadband telecommunications services on a wholesale basis utilizing our extensive fibre optic network. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: H). Forward-Looking Statements and Information This press release and the joint application and settlement agreement to which it refers may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "attempt," "may," "plan," "will", "can", "believe," "seek," "estimate," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law. About Avista Corporation Avista Corporation is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 382,000 customers and natural gas to 347,000 customers. Its service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company . Avista stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.myAvista.com . This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2017. SOURCE Hydro One Limited MEXICO CITY, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, on behalf of IMMIGRANT NATION, Joaquin Rodriguez received the Ibero-American Medal Honoris Causa Foundation at the Aurora Jimenez de Palacios auditorium of the Honorable Congress of the Union. IMMIGRANT NATION provides an unprecedented legal service plan to out of status immigrants residing in the United States in the face of a threat of deportation. A service that represents an incalculable value for all the people in that condition: that of the peace of mind of being supported and protected. On a conference call from the headquarters of the company in Los Angeles California, IMMIGRANT NATION CEO, Mr. Joseph Lam, expressed that, "The immigrant community in the United States is vastly made up of hard working family oriented people with high ethics and morals, and sometimes they just need an opportunity to prove their value and contributions to society." He continued by saying, "I am deeply honored by the distinction that has been given to our company and our founder and I want to emphasize that I have found in helping those who are most in need an unparalleled satisfaction, which is shared by all those who make IMMIGRANT NATION possible." Mr. Lam has had a long and successful career in the world of international business, but what really distinguishes him is his extraordinary commitment to human rights and social justice in general. In particular, his contribution to the defense and protection of immigrants in the United States, which highlights him as a humanitarian and a model citizen. Mr. Lam became familiar with and got involved with IMMIGRANT NATION back in September 2017 when Joaquin Rodriguez, the creator of the concept and founder of the company, presented his idea and business plan to him. Mr. Lam, an immigrant himself, felt immediately connected with the noble cause of the project and without any hesitation supported it, committing to an investment in excess of 2.5 million dollars to launch the company whose raison d'etre is to provide a legal service plan for law abiding and hard-working immigrants in the United States that face the daily fear of deportation. Passion for freedom, peace, plurality and ethical equality distinguishes Mr. Lam from others. He has devoted his time and money to IMMIGRANT NATION, a company that aside of its legal service plan, also intends to create housing, health and education programs for immigrants in the near future. Today, Joseph Lam's commitment to human rights governs his days and monopolizes all his attention. This is what the prestigious Doctoral Faculty of the Honoris Causa Foundation A.C. saw in Mr. Lam, who uses the following slogan to define his personal vision for his company, "While others build walls, we build bridges". Mr. Lam has not only made a significant investment of money, but his commitment to the cause is personal, and he dedicates his time and his thoughts in the search of new ways to improve the quality of life of more than 11 million people. The legal services plan of IMMIGRANT NATION provides containment, security, commitment and predictability in a time of great distress and fear for millions of immigrants. For more information, please visit www.ImmigrantNationInc.com. SOURCE Immigrant Nation, Inc. Related Links http://www.immigrantnationinc.com NEW YORK and HONG KONG, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Inkstone, an English-language news brand and platform covering China, was introduced today by the South China Morning Post, a global media company reporting on China and Asia for over a century. Available on the web (www.inkstonenews.com), via mobile app (Apple, Google) and through a daily curated newsletter, Inkstone provides a new perspective on today's China, its relationship with the United States and why this all matters. Led by Senior Editor Juliana Liu, an alumnus of BBC News and Reuters, the daily brief covers a range of topics including politics, business, technology and human interest delivered via editorial and visual storytelling. Inkstone's editorial staff features a team of veteran reporters embedded in China and Hong Kong providing first-hand, on-the-ground coverage of the latest happenings and developments. Readers can also follow Inkstone on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. "Inkstone is part of the South China Morning Post's mission to lead the global conversation about China," said SCMP Chief Executive Officer Gary Liu. "It's designed for the globally curious who are seeking a variety of perspectives on China's evolving role on the world stage and also want to understand the country from within." "I'm thrilled to be leading a daily platform dedicated to covering so many different facets of the China story, with a plurality of voices and views," said Inkstone Senior Editor Juliana Liu, who has reported on China from three different continents for more than 15 years. "What sets Inkstone apart is our network of locally based journalists, who can deliver personal, authentic and close-to-the-ground views on what's happening. If you want the inside scoop on China, this is where to get it." "Inkstone is designed as a daily briefing of China-focused news and stories," said Malcolm Ong, Head of Product at SCMP and Inkstone. "With clear and concise analysis, it compiles what you need to understand about China that day into a consumable package. Make it a part of your daily routine, and stay on top of China -- a rising potential superpower." Inkstone is SCMP's second news product delivering China stories to U.S. and global audiences. Earlier this month, the company launched Abacus, a news brand covering the China tech industry. Led by Executive Producer Ravi Hiranand, formerly of CNN, Abacus offers an insider's look at the China tech revolution, highlighting the key players, emerging companies, hottest gadgets, and more. Quick facts about today's China China plans to become a global leader in political, economic, military and environmental issues over the next three decades China will have the world's largest economy by 2030 China purchased $165 billion in goods and services from the United States in 2015, representing 7.3 percent of all US exports and about 1 percent of total US economic output in goods and services from in 2015, representing 7.3 percent of all US exports and about 1 percent of total US economic output By 2030, US exports to China are expected to rise to more than $520 billion China is the second-largest spender on research and development (R&D) after the US, accounting for 21% of the world's total of nearly $2 trillion in 2015 Sources: World Economic Forum / US-China Business Council ABOUT SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST South China Morning Post is a leading news media company that has reported on China and Asia for more than a century with global impact. Founded in 1903, SCMP is headquartered in Hong Kong, where it is the city's newspaper of record. The SCMP teams span across Asia and the United States, working together to connect with news consumers around the world. SCMP is committed to informing and inspiring through journalism of the highest standards. The company's vision is to "Elevate Thought" and its mission is to "Lead the global conversation about China". SCMP develops news content 24/7, driven by world-class journalists, editors, visual artists, photographers and videographers, all guided by the principle of "Truth and Fairness". Its editorial teams are powered by emerging digital technologies to create innovative ways to tell Asia's most important and compelling stories. Against the backdrop of shifting discovery and consumption behaviours, SCMP reaches users across distributed media platforms including scmp.com, smartphone and tablet apps, social media and messaging platforms, as well as our flagship newspaper. Additionally, SCMP is Asia's leading magazine publisher with a portfolio of premium lifestyle and fashion titles including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire, Harper's BAZAAR and The PEAK. SCMP is also home to cpjobs.com, a big data-powered recruitment platform that matches jobseekers with their dream jobs. SOURCE South China Morning Post Related Links http://www.scmp.com "I joined Invictus to become a part of a great company. And to play a role in this dynamic industry. The Invictus team is executing at such a high level the business acumen, dedication and drive is among the best I have encountered in any industry," said Simmons. "I'm already learning so much, and eager for more. This industry is in full-ferment in Canada, and Invictus is taking all of the right steps as Canada moves closer towards full legalization. It's exciting." AB Lab's Phase 2 construction adds 40,000 sq. ft. of canopy to the existing 15,600 square feet of cultivation space. The combined facility contains multiple rooms for cultivation, trimming and drying in a controlled and regulated environment, and plays a critical role in Invictus' strong production profile. "The progress at AB Labs has been a triumph from the beginning, and stands as a testament to savvy project management," said Invictus Chairman and CEO Dan Kriznic. "Given his decades of experience managing highly successful business efforts in such a wide variety of fields music, merchandising, restaurants and more I was thrilled to introduce Gene to the experienced staff that work at AB Labs." Kriznic added: "Beginning with our first conversation, Simmons said he was eager to roll up his sleeves and become deeply involved with the different facets of Invictus. He wasn't kidding. Just days after opening the day of trading at the TSXV on behalf of Invictus, Simmons began diving deep into the regulatory and commercial nitty-gritty of building a leading cannabis company in Canada touring his first cannabis facility, asking smart questions, dedicating himself to learning the business. We anticipate years of smart insights and hands-on guidance from Simmons." About Invictus Invictus operates cannabis companies in Canada with the vision of producing a variety of high quality and low cost cannabis products and strains to the global market place as regulations permit. Gene Simmons, music legend and media mogul, conveys the vision of Invictus as the Chief Evangelist Officer. Invictus operates two cannabis production sites under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") in Canada and has over 95,000 square feet of cannabis production capacity at the licensed production sites. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary Acreage Pharms Ltd. ("Acreage Pharms"), located in West-Central Alberta on 150 acres, has approximately 40,000 square feet of cannabis ready production with its recently completed Phase 2 expansion. The Company intends on expanding to 120,000 square feet by the end of 2018 once Phase 3 is complete. Invictus also owns 50% of AB Laboratories Inc. ("AB Labs"), a licensed producer under the ACMPR located in Hamilton, Ontario. AB Labs currently operates in a 16,000 square foot facility and recently acquired a facility adjacent to the existing property that will allow for a total of 56,000 square feet of cultivation space ready for production by June 2018. During the first quarter of 2018 AB Labs submitted a secondary license to Health Canada for a nearby property on 100 acres under the name AB Ventures Inc. ("AB Ventures"). Invictus has committed $5.5 million in cash to AB Ventures to secure its 33 1/3 percent ownership and allow AB Ventures to build its first 20,000 square foot facility on the 100-acre property. Combined, the licensed producers owned by Invictus expect to have approximately 200,000 square feet of cannabis production capacity by the end of 2018 and 520,000 square feet of cannabis production capacity by the end of 2019. In addition to the ACMPR licenses, the Company has an 82.5% investment in Future Harvest Development Ltd. a high quality Fertilizer and Nutrients manufacturer based in Kelowna, British Columbia that has been in operation for over 20 years under the brand Plant Life Products and Holland Secret. For more information, please visit www.invictus-md.com. On Behalf of the Board, Dan Kriznic Chairman & CEO Larry Heinzlmeir Vice President, Marketing & Communications Invictus MD Strategies Corp. 604-537-8676 In the United States Terry L. Wills President Wills Communications, Inc. 310-877-1458 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws or forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including the potential production capacity of AB Labs, the completion of AB Ventures and Acreage Pharms' production facilities, the granting of regulatory approval and anticipated timing of AB Labs reaching full production capacity, the granting of AB Labs secondary license, the granting of a sales license under the ACMPR to Acreage Pharms, expected sales of inventory and the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in Canada in 2018 are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including the potential production capacity of AB Labs, the completion of AB Ventures and Acreage Pharms' production facilities, the granting of regulatory approval and anticipated timing of AB Labs reaching full production capacity, the granting of AB Labs secondary license, the granting of a sales license under the ACMPR to Acreage Pharms, expected sales of inventory and the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in Canada in 2018. These forward-looking 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 forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation, AB Labs will not be successful in reaching its potential production capacity, AB Ventures and Acreage Pharms' production facilities will not be completed as anticipated, regulatory approval will not be granted as anticipated and therefore, the anticipated timing of AB Labs reaching full production capacity will be delayed, AB Labs not be granted their secondary license, Acreage Pharms will not be granted its sales license under the ACMPR, expected sales of inventory will not be met and the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in Canada will not occur at all or as expected. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or 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 statements 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 statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. 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. SOURCE Invictus MD Strategies HARRISBURG, Pa., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Itero Group, LLC, a national provider of Agile, Cyber Security, Data Analytics and Customer Experience services, has announced today that the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has awarded them the distinction of being a certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE). The WBENC is the nation's largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBE certification is awarded to organizations where a woman or women have majority ownership and control. Certification is a rigorous process that includes a lengthy application, review of financial and business information, and an on-site business visit. The WBE certification allows the business to compete for work set aside for woman and minority-owned businesses in the federal and private sectors. By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs. "The WBE certification and partnership with WBENC reinforces our commitment to set an example for women in the technology field and continuing to deliver satisfaction to our clients," said Itero Group CEO, Erin Mckenzie Brahms. President, Teresa Bailoni added, "This distinction also affords us a tremendous opportunity for growth and expansion of our portfolio." About Itero Group: Itero Group, LLC is led by Entrepreneurs who believe in the meaning of the word. To revise, renew, iterate. Itero Group specializes in Agile Innovation, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, and Customer Experience. Itero Group, LLC is a certified Women's Business Enterprise and a member of the Partner Training Network with Scrum.org. About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation's leader in women's business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 13,000 certified Women's Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and over 300 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America's most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. Media Contact: Melissa Watson Marketing Director 717-769-5800 Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12699512 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Itero Group Related Links http://iterogroup.com DALLAS, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC), through its joint venture with EwingCole (an integrated firm specializing in architecture, engineering, interior design and planning), was awarded a five-year contract to support the planning, programming, design and construction of various types of military buildings and facilities at military installations located throughout the Naval Facilities Engineering Command's Southwest (NAVFAC SW) Area of Responsibility (AOR). Military project sites will be located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The contract has an estimated value of $99 million. "Building on our seven-year relationship, Jacobs continues to deliver exceptional service and support to the NAVFAC SW," said Jacobs Buildings and Infrastructure President Bob Pragada. "This project will serve as a true testament to our building design teams' strong track record in executing large programs of this nature for the United States Department of Defense." Officials have confirmed the program focus will be on large projects under the Military Construction (MILCON) Program and will involve various government facilities including those managed by Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The joint venture will provide preparation for the design-bid-build construction contract packages, investigate sites, estimate costs, conduct technical reviews, produce planning and programming support documents, coordinate various technical disciplines, and identify and abate methods for existing hazardous materials. Last year, the joint venture was awarded a contract for general architect engineering services to primarily support the Cadet Barracks Upgrade program at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York. Jacobs leads the global professional services sector delivering solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With $15 billion in fiscal 2017 revenue when combined with full-year CH2M revenues and a talent force of more than 74,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors. For more information, visit www.jacobs.com, and connect with Jacobs on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended September 29, 2017, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein. For press/media inquiries: Kerrie Sparks 214.583.8433 Brian Morandi 720.286.0719 SOURCE Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Related Links http://www.jacobs.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a digital technology company and the creators of Vocal, today announced that it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU") outlining the terms of a proposed joint venture (the "Joint Venture") with Thinkmill, Inc., a digital development company based in Sydney, Australia ("Thinkmill"). Under the terms of the MOU, Jerrick and Thinkmill will establish Abacus, a new Delaware entity that will retain a non-exclusive license of the Vocal technology, users, and content from Jerrick for a five year period. The mission of Abacus will be to develop powerful solutions for content creators by further developing both the Vocal platform and the established communities and content that exist today. This will result in a significantly enhanced value proposition for Vocal users and open up several new revenue opportunities for Jerrickincluding subscription-based recurring revenue streams. Jerrick's and Thinkmill's contributions to the creation and development of products and software pursuant to the Joint Venture are subject to entry into a definitive Joint Venture Agreement. Jerrick and Thinkmill first began collaborating in early 2015 with the design and engineering of Vocal, Jerrick's long-form publishing platform, successfully launched at the end of Q4, 2016. Vocal now supports over 200,000 content creators and influencers. Capitalizing on the momentum of Vocal, Abacus will build on the current capabilities and expand the offerings for content creators and audiences. Vocal will continue to provide a suite of tools for content creators to produce compelling multimedia stories, engage with targeted audiences, advance their craft through collaboration, and access opportunities to monetize their creative output sustainably. These solutions do not exist today within a single comprehensive offering. Vocal's revenue model is not reliant on targeted advertising and will focus on sustainable monetization of its platform in the interest of both Abacus and the Vocal community, based on the principles of Time Well Spent, which address the ethics of technology design. "When the vision for Vocal was first conceived, we understood that moving from vision to reality required the most talented and advanced technology development team, and that these teams must align culturally. Thinkmill has exceeded our expectations across all metrics. Partnering to co-create additional products that can be leveraged to provide broader solutions in the marketplace is a natural next step," said Jerrick CEO Jeremy Frommer. "The growth momentum that Vocal has demonstrated provides the proof of concept that has led to our decision to enter into a new partnership with the Jerrick Media team to leverage our collective know-how and create a new platform for content creators and online communities," commented Thinkmill co-CEO and co-founder Jed Watson. "We are looking forward to embarking on this new phase of creative partnership with the Jerrick team." With the formation of Abacus, the Thinkmill and Jerrick entities are uniquely aligned around the goal of providing a wide spectrum of content creators and brand sponsors the solutions, services, and socially enabled communities to efficiently facilitate self-sustaining and evolving thought leadership ecosystems. Abacus is therefore positioned for immediate market share acquisition and competitive advantages. In addition, Abacus may also leverage the architecture and content management framework of Vocal to develop non-competing platforms ("lateral products") for specific industries such as educational and medical institutions. Jerrick will retain the right to use the existing Vocal platform directly or through its affiliate or related entities. Due to licensing fees and expected subscription-based revenue opportunities, this Joint Venture is designed to be accretive to Jerrick. About Jerrick Jerrick is a holding company that develops technology-based solutions designed to solve for challenges that have resulted from disruption and evolution within the broad media and content generation environment. Its flagship product Vocal is a long-form, digital publishing platform focused on supporting content creators with content management tools that are embedded within digital communities. Vocal is architected to enable targeted marketing of branded content and e-commerce opportunities embedded within long-form content. Vocal's community sites are managed by a dedicated team, whose primary focus is on creating healthy communities and identifying monetization opportunities within them. For news and more information please visit: https://jerrick.media/ About Thinkmill Thinkmill is an industry-leading technology design and development studio and a driving force behind major open source projects. The team of 20 designers and developersmany of whom have worked together for over 10 yearsdeliver amazing user experiences backed by powerful technical architecture. After collaborating together for over a decade, Jed Watson and Boris Bozic founded Thinkmill in Sydney, Australia five years ago with the mission to build a strong and effective team who consistently make solutions that meet both business and user needs, while contributing to Open Source. The values of Open Source are fundamental to the Thinkmill ethos and culture, with a prolific record of leading and contributing to a number of major open source projects, including KeystoneJS, styled-components, and react-select, among others. Last year, Boris and Jed welcomed a third partner, John Molomby, whom they have collaborated with over 15 years and who brings additional engineering and back-end architecture expertise. Thinkmill has developed an outsized and international reputation for engineering excellence, open source principles and product development in which they have launched across the US, South Africa, UK, and Australia. Learn more at http://www.thinkmill.com.au/ Forward-Looking Statements Any statements that are not historical facts and that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, indicated through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "believes" and "projects") may be forward-looking and may involve estimates and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution that the factors described herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we make and that investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our results of operations 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. This press release is qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Company Contact: Jeremy Frommer, CEO Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. 201-258-3770 [email protected] Investor Relations: Sharon Solomon Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. 201-258-3770 [email protected] SOURCE Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://jerrick.media SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL Spark, a division of JLL (NYSE: JLL), today announced its acquisition of Stessa, a software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based real estate technology platform that allows investors in income properties to easily and cost-effectively track, manage and communicate the performance of their portfolios. This is the first strategic acquisition by JLL Spark since its inception and delivers on its mission to transform the real estate industry through technology-based innovation. From left to right, Yishai Lerner (co-CEO of JLL Spark), Heath Silverman (CEO and co-founder of Stessa), Jonah Schwartz (CTO and co-founder of Stessa) and Mihir Shah (co-CEO of JLL Spark) JLL has structured JLL Spark to operate independently and without the typical constraints of most corporate "innovation" or venture arms, providing the nimbleness and speed of a startup backed by JLL's expertise and resources. JLL Spark is led by Mihir Shah and Yishai Lerner, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with successful track records building and investing in tech companies, who have a direct line to the global CEO. JLL Spark complements JLL, allowing JLL's core business to be more productive and drive competitive advantage. "Optimizing a real estate portfolio can involve tedious manual effort, which is why many investors see suboptimal returns," said Mihir Shah, co-CEO at JLL Spark. "We chose Stessa as our first acquisition because its innovative product fills a gap in the market for small-to-medium investors." Built by real estate investors for real estate investors, Stessa (which is 'assets' spelled backwards) makes real estate asset management as easy as traditional investment categories like equities. While many tools provide straightforward valuation, performance benchmarking, real-time analysis and ongoing optimization to equity investors, little exists in real estate. Stessa's platform solves this problem, providing property owners with real-time views into their holdings, resulting in increased transparency across their real estate assets. The company also streamlines the endless paperwork and reporting requirements that burden the everyday investor. "As real estate investors ourselves, we created Stessa to solve the biggest pain points associated with our own investments - ongoing asset management and portfolio optimization," said Heath Silverman, CEO and co-founder of Stessa. "The JLL Spark acquisition will allow us to scale quickly and broaden our reach." Stessa has been in beta for the past year testing its product with a select group of early customers representing nearly half a billion dollars in income properties. Interested real estate investors can sign up at Stessa.com for Stessa's next generation release, which will be available soon. For more information on Stessa and its product offerings, visit https://www.stessa.com/. For more details on JLL Spark, please visit https://spark.jll.com. About JLL Spark JLL Spark is dedicated to transforming the real estate industry through technology-based innovation. JLL Spark provides the nimbleness of a startup backed by JLL's expertise and resources. Led by experienced Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with successful track records building and investing in tech companies, JLL Spark's strategic proptech investments offer JLL the ability to provide innovative products to real estate owners and operators. JLL Spark was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit https://spark.jll.com. About JLL JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2017, JLL had revenue of $7.9 billion; managed 4.6 billion square feet, or 423 million square meters; and completed investment sales, acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $170 billion. At the end of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of 82,000. As of December 31, 2017, LaSalle had $58.1 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com. Connect with us https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll https://www.facebook.com/jll/ https://twitter.com/jll https://plus.google.com/+joneslanglasalle Contact: Linden Kohtz, CommStrat for JLL Spark / Stessa Phone: 512-964-3784 Email: [email protected] SOURCE JLL Related Links http://www.joneslanglasalle.com SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenna Security, a leader in predictive cyber risk, announced today that it has secured $25 million in Series C funding. Bessemer Venture Partners led the round, with participation from U.S. Venture Partners, Costanoa Ventures, PeakSpan Capital, Hyde Park Angels and OurCrowd. Alex Ferrara, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, will join Kenna's board of directors. "Strong market demand has validated Kenna's risk-based approach to vulnerability management with CISOs, security teams, and IT operations staff leveraging Kenna's machine learning and data science to proactively manage cyber risk," said Karim Toubba, CEO of Kenna Security. "Kenna sees a world where teams work in collaboration to quickly and easily measure risk, prioritize remediation, and make a substantive difference in efficacy across the global attack surface and this investment is an endorsement of what we have achieved and our vision for the future." The company will use the funds to continue its strong growth and momentum, investing to attract new talent, expand its sales capabilities, and continuing to drive innovation. "Kenna is pioneering a new category of enterprise security to solve a pain point that is high on the priority list for CISOs, Security, and IT Ops teams, and we believe that Kenna is best situated to maintain its lead in the emerging vulnerability prioritization market," said Alex Ferrara, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and member of the board of directors at Kenna Security. "Kenna's risk-based approach offers customers a way to cut through the volumes of data and threat reports to get to actionable information. We're excited to invest and support Kenna as they transform the way that enterprises align around cyber risk." One of the first venture firms to invest in cyber security startups, Bessemer has invested in more than 45 leading cyber security startups over the past two decades. Recent successful cyber security investments include: LifeLock (acquired by Symantec), Postini (acquired by Google), Tripwire (acquired by Belden), iSight (acquired by FireEye). As organizations shift to a risk-based approach to vulnerability management, many of the world's most trusted brands have turned to Kenna Security, including elite members of the Fortune 100, to manage cyber risk at scale, preparing them to confront the volume and diversity of contemporary cyber threats. For the third year in a row, Kenna's sales more than doubled in 2017 and the number of organizations using the Kenna Security Platform grew by more than 60 percent to more than 300 customers worldwide. Other milestones for Kenna in 2017 include the launch of its EMEA business with a new head of sales and partnerships and new staff in the UK and a significant increase in Kenna's go-to-market and branding capabilities. Kenna more than doubled its employee headcount in 2017 and continues to add key personnel to grow the company. This round brings Kenna's total funding to $50 million. About Bessemer Venture Partners Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) invests in early-stage, hyper-growth startups, partnering closely with entrepreneurs to build durable businesses. BVP is a global firm with offices in Menlo Park, Cambridge, New York, Bangalore, Herzliya and Sao Paulo. With $4 billion under management, BVP invests anywhere from $100,000 to $75 million in innovative companies like Pinterest, Twilio, Box, LinkedIn, Shopify, Yelp, Skype and CornerstoneOnDemand. Over 100 BVP companies have gone public-in the last three years alone, BVP has had 36 exits (IPO and M&A) and made new investments in more than 70 companies. Learn more at www.bvp.com and follow us on Twitter @BessemerVP. About Kenna Security Kenna Security is a leader in predictive cyber risk. The Kenna Security Platform enables organizations to work cross-functionally to determine and remediate cyber risks. Kenna leverages Cyber Risk Context Technology to track and predict real-world exploitations, focusing security teams on what matters most. Headquartered in San Francisco, Kenna counts among its customers many Fortune 100 companies, and serves nearly every major vertical. For more information, visit kennasecurity.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Media Contacts: Kenna Security Daniel Mellinger [email protected] 415-572-0216 Bessemer Venture Partners Lizzy Bates [email protected] SOURCE Kenna Security Related Links http://kennasecurity.com SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kloudless, the enterprise integrations solution for developer and product teams, today announced a $6 million Series A funding led by Aspect Ventures, with participation by Bow Capital, Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund, Heavybit and Ajay Shah, joining earlier investors Tim Draper and David Sacks. The company has now raised $8 million in total capital. Kloudless Kloudless' unified APIs enable developers to code once to connect their applications to several software services instead of integrating with each API individually. Kloudless API products cover a broad range of application categories like Cloud Storage, CRM, Calendar and ITSM. In the past year, Kloudless has seen over 200 percent revenue growth. To date, their API platform has over 15,000 registered developers that are making more than 15 million API calls a day. In today's landscape, businesses can no longer rely on just a small handful of software services. Data and workflows continue to scatter across new applications and new devices, giving rise to new integration challenges and requirements. Businesses need software applications that work well with their existing software investments. However, for software providers, building software that is interoperable with others is a costly burden: instead of focusing on the core business value of their products, their developers waste time building and maintaining integrations. Using Kloudless' unified APIs, software providers can connect their applications to other business software with ease and efficiency. With products that emphasize both breadth of supported software services and depth of access to functionality and data, Kloudless is uniquely prepared to tackle the complexity of API integration issues experienced by enterprise software companies. Software companies across markets such as security, education technology, finance and government are increasingly relying on Kloudless products to integrate with enterprise applications. "Our mission at Kloudless is to tie together the business software stack," said Eliot Sun, CEO and co-founder of Kloudless. "While we're starting with a solution for software vendors, this is just a small piece of an enormous opportunity to help all businesses make the most of the data and functionalities from their software investments." Today, Kloudless is launching a security and audit solution to enable organization-wide activity tracking and granular collaboration controls on end-user data. Kloudless is also releasing a unified query language to interact with any object data. In the coming months, Kloudless will use the investment to grow its connector ecosystem and API platform, as well as launch new tools to enable automation and custom integration capabilities. Kloudless has also opened a second office in Taipei, Taiwan, to expand the company's international presence. Investor Quotes: "Integration is not a new problem; it's historically been a multi-billion dollar market. As companies increasingly turn to software to gain advantages in competitive markets, the scale at which businesses experience this pain point exponentially increases," said Vivek Ranadive , founder of TIBCO Software and Bow Capital . "Kloudless' differentiated product offerings are uniquely positioned to provide value now - and in the long run - as new integration challenges play out in the market." , founder of and . "Kloudless' differentiated product offerings are uniquely positioned to provide value now - and in the long run - as new integration challenges play out in the market." "Kloudless has the potential to disrupt one of the largest technology markets in the world," said Andrew Lee , senior executive director of Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund . "We were excited to learn that Kloudless opened a Taipei office with an eye on international expansion, especially in the APAC region. Kloudless is also a great match with some of Alibaba Group's own initiatives like within Alibaba Cloud , so we're looking forward to working with them to accelerate their growth." , senior executive director of . "We were excited to learn that Kloudless opened a office with an eye on international expansion, especially in the APAC region. Kloudless is also a great match with some of Alibaba Group's own initiatives like within , so we're looking forward to working with them to accelerate their growth." "Every application today faces a disconnected stack of cloud services and APIs," said Tom Drummond , managing director at Heavybit . "Kloudless saves developers from having to build and maintain point-to-point integrations that are expensive and prone to breaking. Their Universal API means that enterprises can instantly add dozens of cloud services to their applications without worrying about integration and maintenance ever again. We're thrilled to work with them." , managing director at . "Kloudless saves developers from having to build and maintain point-to-point integrations that are expensive and prone to breaking. Their Universal API means that enterprises can instantly add dozens of cloud services to their applications without worrying about integration and maintenance ever again. We're thrilled to work with them." "In the past year, Kloudless has seen accelerating traction across all key developer metrics as developers have increasingly realized the efficiencies of a 'build once, integrate many' approach to meeting customer demand for integrations," said Mark Kraynak of Aspect Ventures, who will be joining the board as a part of the financing. "We're excited to support Kloudless and their efforts to capture what figures to be a multi-billion dollar opportunity in connecting businesses to the cloud." About Kloudless Kloudless is the go-to platform for enterprise software integrations. Businesses use Kloudless' unified API products to connect to many kinds of enterprise applications like Salesforce, SharePoint, Box, Dropbox, G Suite, ServiceNow and more. With Kloudless, developers can stop building tedious and expensive one-off integrations by using Kloudless to build once and integrate many. A fully enterprise-ready platform, Kloudless provides solutions across many markets such as security, education technology, finance and sales enablement. Kloudless is trusted by more than 15,000 developers in over 4,000 organizations. To learn more, visit https://kloudless.com. Contact Eliot Sun [email protected] SOURCE Kloudless Related Links https://kloudless.com The $800,000 brings to almost $19 million the aid the Knights has committed to Christians and other religious minorities in the region since 2014. That total includes $2 million committed to the rebuilding of the predominantly Christian town of Karamles on the Nineveh Plain. Karamles had been overrun by ISIS, which destroyed homes and desecrated churches before it was liberated last year. "As we recall the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, it is particularly timely for us to remember and support our brothers and sisters in Christ who have, in places like Iraq and Syria, endured so much persecution for their faith," said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. "Having faced suffering and even death at the hands of ISIS, we hope that our assistance will help these communities to rise up again and rebuild for the future." Some $500,000 from the Knights will help support the food program run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil. An additional $300,000 will be sent to the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate to support its aid programs for the nearly 3,000 families from Iraq and Syria who have lost everything and are in need of assistance with food, clothing, shelter, and access to education and medical care. "Our people know that without the direct support from the Knights of Columbus to Christians in the region, and without its assistance in making our case to the United States government, Christianity might already have been driven out of Iraq completely," said Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil Bashar Warda, CSsR. Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan wrote that he relied "on [the Knights'] compassion and understanding of our plight in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq." As part of its advocacy on behalf of persecuted religious minorities in Iraq, Syria and the surrounding region, the Knights led a major campaign urging Congress and the State Department to declare ISIS' terrorism an act of genocide. To support the cause, it produced a nearly 300-page report on ISIS' atrocities against Christians that was used by the U.S. State Department to supports its 2016 finding that a genocide was indeed taking place. In addition, the K of C has urged the U.S. government to ensure that communities targeted for genocide not be overlooked in its aid programs and applauded Vice President Mike Pence's announcement last fall that the Trump administration would begin providing aid directly to religious minorities impacted by ISIS' genocide. More information on the Knights' efforts is available at www.ChristiansAtRisk.org. SOURCE Knights of Columbus Related Links https://www.christiansatrisk.org/chrs/en/index.html MENDOZA, Argentina, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Regional business publication Latin Trade announced the winners of the Latin Trade IndexAmericas Sustainability Awards at the Inter-American Development Bank's Annual Meeting. The winners in each of the five categories were: Valeo (Environment); AES Corporation (Social Innovation); Johnson & Johnson (Corporate Governance); Telefonica (Development) and Globant (Multilatinas). The award ceremony took place during the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Annual Meeting at the InterContinental Hotel in Mendoza, Argentina. "Business leaders are increasingly more aware of these matters, which for us, have always been a priority," said Guibert Englebienne, CTO and Founding Partner of Globant. The event, presented by Latin Trade's Southern Cone Director, Mariano Vergara Hegi and Commercial Vice President Maria Cristina Restrepo, gathered business leaders, authorities, IDB officials and special guests and sponsors, Arcos Dorados and Copa Airlines. In 2016, the IDB launched the IndexAmericas, with data from 6,000 companies using 400 indicators to quantify corporate good practices in environment, society, corporate governance and economic development. From that data, Latin Trade selected and awarded the best companies. "Building on this impressive methodological development, Latin Trade identified the companies that are doing the right things for shareholders, environment and society," said Santiago Gutierrez, Executive Editor, Latin Trade. "With the award, we want to acknowledge the most sustainable companies, and at the same time, challenge Latin American business leaders to step up their sustainability standards for the good of the region". About the IDB and Latin Trade The IDB Annual Meeting and IDB Invest gathers more than 1,000 guests, including ministers and other government, business and social leaders. Latin Trade is a leading provider of information and business services to companies operating in Latin America. It publishes award-winning content in Spanish and English for distribution throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States through print and online media. Media Contact David Buchanan [email protected] +52155562434924 SOURCE Latin Trade Related Links http://www.latintrade.com MIAMI, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation's largest homebuilders, announced today that the Company will release earnings for the first quarter ended February 28, 2018 before the market opens on April 4, 2018. Additionally, the Company will hold a conference call on April 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live on the Internet and can be accessed through Lennar's website at www.lennar.com. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived at www.lennar.com for 90 days. In order to listen to the live event, a participant must have a multimedia computer with speakers and Windows Media Player. To download the software prior to the event, please visit www.lennar.com, click the conference call link on the home page and follow the pre-event instructions. Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. The Company builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of the Company's homes and others. Lennar's Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a national developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about the Company may be obtained at the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website, www.lennar.com. SOURCE Lennar Corporation Related Links http://www.lennar.com REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle today announced that Lorain County Community College (LCCC) will be using Oracle Cloud Applications to fuel enrollment, efficiency and foster student success. LCCC has a strong commitment to empowering a thriving community. Working in close partnership with the local high schools and universities, LCCC labors to ensure every student in the area has the opportunity to achieve their goals through education. To help foster this mission, the college needed to modernize and simplify its IT infrastructure with solutions that could improve efficiency amongst its staff and deliver a modern student experience. With limited IT resources, LCCC looked to the cloud to help meet its objectives. Today, the college is starting to reap the benefits of Oracle Student Engagement and Oracle Student Recruiting and is currently implementing Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Cloud, Oracle Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) Cloud and Oracle Human Capital Management (HCM) Cloud services. "The success of our students is paramount," said Jonathan Volpe, vice president for Administrative Services & Treasurer, Lorain County Community College. "To best serve their needs, we had to enhance both our back-end and front-end systems to deliver more efficiency amongst our staff and a better experience for our students. When we reviewed systems, the ROI of Oracle Cloud was clear. With the intelligence and agility of these offerings, we are able to put a renewed energy and focus on recruiting the next generation of learners." LCCC will have the automated tools and intelligence they need to help enhance recruiting and deliver a personalized, modern student experience. For example, the college can more effectively identify and engage prospective students outside of their traditional recruiting areas using social interaction, email communications and targeted advertising. Coupled with Oracle Cloud Applications for Oracle ERP Cloud , Oracle EPM Cloud and Oracle HCM Cloud, LCCC will have the foundation they need to further enhance student recruitment, strategic planning, and financial and talent management with new levels of efficiency and insight. "Higher education is at a crossroad and entities need to evolve and modernize to meet the needs of 21st-century students," said Vivian Wong, group vice president, Higher Education Development, Oracle. "With Oracle Cloud, Lorain County has the technology needed to support their entire organization, from how they manage their finances and people, to how they engage, recruit and retain students." Oracle Consulting Services and Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Gold-level member, Navigator Management Partners are core to managing the successful implementation of these solutions. About Oracle The Oracle Cloud offers complete SaaS application suites for ERP, HCM and CX, plus best-in-class database Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from data centers throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Networking Summit -- Lumina Networks has implemented new features in the company's Flow Manager product that allow large network providers to begin immediately evolving their BGP/MPLS networks toward SDN, using a centralized controller and lower cost infrastructure. Lumina will be demonstrating these features this week at the Linux Foundation's Open Networking Summit in Los Angeles. SD-Core brings both existing BGP/MPLS routers and new white box switches, under the control of SDN, combining the use of BGP, PCEP, NETCONF, OpenFlow and P4, to deliver automated end-to-end services, provisioning and management. "In every SDN deployment, bringing the existing network under an automation framework is the number one priority," said Andrew Coward, CEO of Lumina Networks. "What makes Lumina different, is our ability to operate a single control plane that software defines the existing routed network and enables white box vendors to integrate into the solution with next-generation switching protocols. This allows our provider customers to offer their existing services seamlessly over both, while at the same time expanding their offers to more advanced services, thus bridging the gap between the old and new." Lumina Networks is already the trusted supplier for SD-Core, in production, at several tier-1 operators. In building the complete solution, Lumina partners with white box switching partners NoviFlow and Pica8. Lumina Flow Manager now supports the ability to define VLAN, MPLS and Segment Routing intent paths over low cost switches. In addition, Flow Manager can assign packet transport services to the paths including E-Line, E-Tree, L2VPN or L3VPN. To achieve these capabilities, Flow Manager runs using the Lumina SDN Controller, Powered by OpenDaylight, along with the OpenFlow and BGP plugins provided by the controller. The implementation includes a centralized path policy manager function providing many of the traffic management features found in traditional BGP/MPLS networks: advanced path computation for efficient traffic flows utilizing user defined constraints, path fast failover and pre-computed backup paths, link aggregation and Equal Cost Multi Path (ECMP), and statistics for link, link group, path and service including bandwidth utilization monitoring against user defined thresholds. It also provides very unique features: fine grained traffic classification at the service ingress node, traffic replication and point to multi-point (P2MP) services including "anycast" destinations, and L2-L4 packet field manipulation at the service egress node. In addition to providing these new application features for Flow Manager, Lumina has the technology tools and experience for deep integration with routers deployed from Cisco, Juniper and other tier-1 vendors. Lumina Networks' NetDev Services will deploy the company's experienced engineering team, to develop the specific integrations needed to move rapidly from proof of concept to production deployment. Lumina Flow Manager release 6.1 is available as a free trial version, along with the Lumina SDN Controller, Powered by OpenDaylight and can be obtained at https://www.luminanetworks.com. ABOUT LUMINA NETWORKS Lumina Networks, Inc. believes the future is open software networks where service providers are in control of their development. Lumina is the catalyst that brings open software networking out of the lab and into the live network. We develop open source platforms and provide NetDev Services to jointly deliver production systems and to transfer know-how in Agile Software Development methods. For more information, visit https://www.luminanetworks.com/. Follow us on Twitter @luminanetworks. Contact: Madeline Mains, (831) 295-7468, [email protected] SOURCE Lumina Networks Related Links https://www.luminanetworks.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The always impressive gathering brings together leading brands, educators and professionals to celebrate one thing: make-up artistry. This year IMATS New York welcomes more than 200 companies, including many new exhibitors; meaning greater variety, additional deals and a bigger, more extravagant experience. In 2018, IMATS NY will showcase exclusive demos from top talents such as Louie Zakarian (make-up department head at Saturday Night Live), premiere product launches (Kat Von D Beauty and many others) and incredible product discounts. Remarkable industry leaders join the education line-up: the legendary Dick Page will captivate; Roque Cozzette will edify; and Mimi Choi will mesmerize. Nick Lujan will, as always, inspire to release creativity. Eve Pearl and Leah Carmichael will delve into the bridal and beauty industries while Thomas E. Surprenant and Jordan Plath instruct on character design and working with ice and snow, respectively. Catherine Shim, Steffanie Strazzere and Alex LaMarsh will individually grace the IMATS stage to share secrets and techniques. The list goes on and on with Courtney Haley, Caytha Jentis, Jim Udenberg, Tim Pearson, Becca Gilmartin, Jackie Gomez, Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick and others TBD. Visit imats.net for tickets, details on education and more. Film and TV creations will be displayed in the IMATS Make-up Museum, while the Battle of the Brushes student make-up competition will showcase new themes for 2018: Wildwood Warrior for beauty/fantasy and Victorian Emporium for character. International make-up students will race to create winning looks and take home cash and prizes. Kat Von D Beauty, Kryolan Professional Make-up, Make Up For Ever and NYX Professional Makeup are show sponsors this year. Produced by Make-Up Artist magazine, IMATS is also held annually in Los Angeles; London; Toronto; Vancouver, British Columbia; and new for 2018, Atlanta. For more IMATS and make-up industry updates, connect with IMATS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Qualified press outlets interested in personal interviews with Mimi Choi or Michael Key, or receiving press credentials, please visit: imats.net/press/. Media Contact: Heli Del Moral (360) 882-3488 [email protected] SOURCE International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) Related Links http://imats.net OCALA, Fla., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MARS Company, global leader in water meter testing and technology solutions, announced today that it was recently recognized as one of the top 25 Utilities Tech Solutions Providers for 2017. This is a CIO Applications magazine annual listing of companies providing Utilities technology solutions helping clients build a competitive advantage and transform their businesses. MARS Company is the industry leader focused on providing water meter test bench systems, M3 Enterprise Software solutions, MARS Calibration Certification (MCC) and on-site training programs. These innovative solutions are used to build a stronger network within the waterworks industry while boosting digital applications as the norm for municipalities and utility companies. With patented, award-winning, state-of-the-art technologies, the goal of the company is to lead utility management companies in recovering revenue lost due to reporting inaccuracies, real and estimated water losses via sustainable and environmentally sounds avenues. MARS Company CEO, Dave Corey, says, "Inaccuracy in the measurement of water delivery leads to significant loss of revenue for our clients. To mitigate that, we focus heavily on meter testing and joining hands with meter manufacturers and vendors to obtain fact-based data to identify the revenue leakage and contain it." The utility industry has traditionally been behind in evolving with the digital world. However, with advances such as big data analytics, Smart Cities and the Internet of Things; MARS Company is shifting the waterworks industry towards a digital path for cities and municipalities to adopt novel reporting applications enhancing accuracy, customer service and operations. CIO Applications magazine provides global coverage in promoting cutting-edge technology experts, such as MARS Company, and highlighting a genre of businesses who are offering best-in-class solutions and services. Florida-based MARS Company exemplifies the evolution of an American waterworks organization originating from a grassroots manufacturing-engineering concept and evolving to a sophisticated digital Industrial Technology Manufacturing business compliant with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards. MARS Company will be presenting at the California Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) 2018 Operator Symposium Conference held on March 27-28, 2018. For more information about MARS Company and its M3 Enterprise Software, please visit www.MARSwater.com. About MARS Company MARS Company is a global leader in water meter testing and technology solutions. With more than 30 years of experience assisting municipal and private utilities throughout the world, MARS has a long track record of success. MARS core business and expertise include: Patented Water Meter Testing Systems & Software Technology, Software Solutions and Water System Specialty Products. Innovative thinking allows MARS to leverage its unique, proprietary technology, patent positioning, manufacturing infrastructure and world-class management strength, to further position itself as the leader in the water industry. CONTACT: Mike Mastic, Director of Test Bench and Software Systems; Tel: (352) 414-7690; [email protected] SOURCE MARS Company Related Links http://www.marswater.com "Beyond the Plate" consists of interviews where Kappy sits down in person with the world's culinary elite to explore their journey into the food and hospitality industry, their career ups and downs, and focuses on the social impact chefs have made in their community. Season 2 has an exciting line-up of extraordinary interviews with intriguing and inspiring stories from famous chefs like Guy Fieri, Spike Mendelsohn, Robert Irvine, and more. Kappy has created a dynamic production team for this podcast project using the talents of his associates, Shant Petrossian, Ian Cohen, and Joel Yeaton, who have worked with him through the years in the food television industry. "Everyone loves a good story!" says Julie Martin, social media manager and granddaughter to the founders of Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread. "People love to hear how my grandparents started baking in their small, one-car garage, and now, three generations later, we make the number one branded hamburger roll in America. And we get inspired by other people's stories too! After listening to some of the stories from Season One, we just knew we wanted to be a part of the 'Beyond the Plate' story!" The majority of the second season episodes will feature Kappy conducting interviews from the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, during the 2018 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Taking place at the Festival's host hotel, this setting made it ideal to line up top-named talent for the upcoming podcast season. The team recorded audio interviews and three Facebook Live segments with some of the most popular and famous chefs in the United States. Each chef will also have a separate "Just the Plate" episode where they highlight a delicious recipe. "We are touched by the stories that are being shared through the interviews. These talented and motivated icons find success, and then they give back or 'pay it forward.' They are changing the lives of people for the better and that just fits with our hearts," Martin explains. Kappy is VP of Culinary Operations for Rachael Ray, and the Co-Founder and Director of Rachael Ray's cooking and kids charity, Yum-o! He is also the Founder and CEO of Culinary Advisors LLC, a strategic culinary advisory service. "The main reason we do this podcast is to share the inspiring stories that listeners may not be aware of. Most people know these chefs from the food in their restaurant or from a show on TV. We love being able to share these behind the scenes, and sometimes never heard before, stories as well as how these incredible humans give back to their community beyond the plate." You can find all Beyond the Plate episodes on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Libsyn, Spotify or on the Beyond the Plate website. As a bonus, you can see the three Facebook Live segments recorded in Miami at https://www.facebook.com/beyondtheplatepodcast/. Follow along on social at @onkappysplate, @btplatepodcast or go to www.beyondtheplatepodcast.com. Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. is an all-American family owned and operated consumer goods company headquartered in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, focused on baking high-quality bread and roll products using high-quality ingredients. They are rigorously dedicated to extraordinary taste, quality, and customer service that proudly represents their legacy of cherished eating experiences and truly sets them apart from their competitors. Since the 1950s, the business has expanded from a home garage business into two commercial baking plants and continues to grow and flourish in areas of established distribution. Martin's mission encompasses more than just baking the best bread and providing good American jobs. They also believe in giving back to their community and the world around them. Through volunteering time and donating resources, they support many charitable organizations, such as food banks, afterschool programs, disaster relief, and others that provide sustenance and comfort to people in need, both close to their baking facilities and abroad. For more information, visit www.potatorolls.com. SOURCE Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. Related Links http://www.potatorolls.com In addition to providing Florida's patients with greater accessibility, Curaleaf has also recently launched its exclusive Vape Slim product line, featuring discreet and easy-to-use disposable vaporizer pens filled with oils, available in six flavors including Sweet Kush and Tangie. Like all of the legal, low-THC and full-strength medical cannabis products Curaleaf offers patients, Vape Slims are also made using the industry's cleanest, most medically precise extraction and purification methods. "Curaleaf's expansion efforts this month underscore our commitment to making this life-changing treatment available and accessible to all, so that suffering patients can find the relief they need," said Lindsay Jones, President of Curaleaf Florida. "We want the communities we serve to know that as Curaleaf expands its footprint across Florida and its product line, we remain focused on safety, exceptional quality, accessibility and superior customer service." In Fort Myers, the Curaleaf dispensary is located at 4480 Fowler Street and the St. Petersburg dispensary is located at 3811 Tyrone Boulevard. Dispensaries are open Monday through Friday, 10am to 7pm and Saturday, 10am to 5pm. The State of Florida's Office of Medical Marijuana Use Registry requires an order from a qualified Florida ordering physician and a State of Florida medical marijuana card to obtain medical cannabis products. All dispensary visitors must show a State of Florida medical marijuana card. Discounts are in effect for pediatric patients, military veterans, senior citizens and recipients of government financial assistance. Patients can also enroll in the new Curaleaf Rewards Program, which offers points when patients check-in or refer a new patient. Additional Curaleaf dispensaries are located in Lake Worth, Southern Miami-Dade County and the Dadeland area in Miami. About Curaleaf Led by a team of physicians, pharmacists, medical experts and industry visionaries, Curaleaf develops safe, effective, and innovative cannabis-based therapeutic products. Curaleaf combines the industry's most medically precise and technologically advanced production techniques with decades of horticultural experience, to ensure consistently exceptional quality that patients and health care professionals can trust. Based on a foundation of compassion, professionalism and respect, Curaleaf strives to empower physicians and patients by providing product expertise and guidance to help them make the right choices. Curaleaf is committed to being Florida's leading resource in education and advancement through research and advocacy. Currently, Curaleaf manages multiple dispensaries across five states. More information regarding Curaleaf can be found at www.curaleaf.com. SOURCE Curaleaf Related Links http://www.curaleaf.com DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mergenet Solutions, Inc., an award winning Medical Technology Business Incubator, located in Deerfield Beach, Fl., has announced it will extend its shareholder dividend claim deadline. Mergenet Solutions, Inc. currently Incubates such companies as Innomed Healthscience, Inc., who's flagship product in development is expected to address OSA, COPD as well as other modalities and Mergenet Medical, Inc. who's flagship product in development includes High Flow Oxygen Therapy with Pressure Monitoring. The deadline has been extended through June 15, 2018. Forms may be obtained from the company or company's stock transfer agent. About Mergenet Solutions, Inc. Mergenet Solutions is an established American enterprise with worldwide reach from an executive home base in Coconut Creek, Florida. By functioning as a full-service technology incubator, our organization identifies, assists and invests in new and emerging companies in several promising sectors. Firms at the core of our existing portfolio are involved in cutting-edge advances in technology and breakthrough medical solutions. Learn more at www.mergenetsolutions.com About Innomed Healthscience, Inc: Innomed Healthscience ,a medical technology development company, develops and manufactures a patented new technology to provides comfortable OSA treatment for mild to moderate patients requiring positive ventilation therapy without the use of machines, electricity, tubing, noise, or masks. Currently in clinical trial phase, the new small nasal unit will be a viable option for sleep apnea sufferers the world over. Innomed Healthscience is also developing products for the treatment of COPD. About Mergenet Medical, Inc.: Mergenet Medical has filed a number of patents for its HiFLO2 line of products and plans to file additional applications as development dictates. HiFLO2 is compact and self-contained, and the disposable accessories can be easily assembled and disassembled in minutes, all using simple single push or pull connections. Our device utilizes a very clean air path, which is filtered and then sent along a sealed path to the patient. The HiFLO2 series' simple design also enables caregivers to easily control, monitor and record vital statistics such as upper airway pressure, temperature, humidity, respiratory rates and flow rates. The HiFlO2 is still in development. Sale of the HiFLO2 series is subject to FDA clearance. Contact: Elena Hartmanis EMI Group 561.756.5551 SOURCE Mergenet Solutions, Inc. Related Links http://www.mergenetsolutions.com MIAMI, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Clubflyers.com, a leading printing company based in Miami, Florida, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of political printing company, Campaign Trail Yard Signs, its clients and assets. Sold by CEO Ben Donahower, Campaign Trail Yard Signs will continue to operate under its current entity as a division of Clubflyers. Located near the trending Wynwood neighborhood in Miami, Florida, Clubflyers has been in business since 1994, servicing nationwide premium print buyers and offering a wide array of options, from business card printing, posters, event tickets and flyers to vinyl banners and more. While the company's offerings are already diverse, the strategic move by Clubflyers.com COO Mark Quetgles furthers the brand's reach and breaks it into the political market, just as midterm elections approach. "We're thrilled to be entering the political campaign space at such an important time and with such a well-established resource," said Quetgles. "Acquiring Campaign Trail Yard Signs empowers us to service political candidates with the best printing service and resources as they work the campaign trail during the upcoming elections." Campaign Trail Yard Signs works with a network of national and regional wholesale sign and promotional product manufacturers to secure the best rates possible for the political candidate clientele. Campaign Trail Yard Signs expertise brings a key niche offering to ClubFlyers.com, positioning its new parent company as the all-encompassing, go-to source for printing services. About ClubFlyers Since 1994, ClubFlyers.com has been pioneering the field of online printing. The company was among the first to accept print orders digitally and was one of the first to launch an ecommerce website dedicated to servicing nationwide print buyers. In-house printing capabilities include Heidelberg 5 and 6 color Speedmasters with in-line UV coating, state-of-the-art direct-to-plate systems along with over 50,000 square feet of production facilities. We are a proud Heidelberg Showcase Facility and one of a handful of companies in North America with in-line UV Heidelberg presses. From our creative services department to our press room, ClubFlyers.com has earned a reputation for quality, reliability and integrity for over two decades. About Campaign Trail Yard Signs In business for 7 years, Campaign Trail Yard Signs has been servicing the political sector with complete political sign printing service including corrugated signs, cardboard signs and bag signs. The company works with a network of wholesale sign and promotional product manufacturers throughout the country to secure some of the most competitive signs in the industry. For press or other inquiries, contact: [email protected] or (800) 433-9298. Related Images clubflyers-com.png image2.png SOURCE ClubFlyers Related Links http://www.clubflyers.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a meeting between Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Michael R. Bloomberg, the Misk Foundation and Bloomberg L.P., the global business and financial information leader, today announced several initiatives to enhance the financial and market capabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These initiatives will advance Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop robust finance courses, attract foreign capital, and help Saudi companies compete internationally; key components of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 plan to establish a thriving economy. His Excellency Bader Al Asaker, Chairman of the Board of Misk Initiatives Center said, "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman founded Misk with a mission to empower young Saudis to become active participants in the knowledge economy. To help achieve this vital work, we partner with international organizations to equip Saudi youth with the skills they need and we work to create the enabling ecosystem that entrepreneurs as well as more established businesses need to thrive. Bloomberg has already been a dedicated partner on this journey by helping educate young Saudis about economics and finance and we are thrilled to be deepening our partnership with a true leader in world business and financial information. Through the projects mentioned in this MoU, we can build capabilities, better link our universities and corporations, and ultimately accelerate the growth opportunities across the Kingdom. This will help our young people lead our economic development and meet the challenge of change." The partnership between the Misk Foundation and Bloomberg includes two key areas of collaboration: Providing financial training and technology at Saudi universities: Bloomberg will equip the next generation of Saudi leaders with financial expertise by working with 30 Saudi Arabian universities on a comprehensive financial training effort targeting 262,000 students. This will include dedicated trainings for each university, support for faculty staff and professors to integrate capital markets content into their curricula, Bloomberg terminals at each university and networks to establish a bridge between universities and the professional world. Supporting Saudi corporations with training, tools and resources: As Saudi markets expand and more state-owned enterprises are privatized, corporations will need professionals who understand and connect to global financial markets. The Bloomberg-Misk Foundation partnership will provide investor relations professionals, CFOs, treasury and finance departments at Saudi corporations with a suite of hands-on training and Bloomberg terminal access, as well as access to Bloomberg's market specialists, economists and events. "I applaud the vision of the Crown Prince and the Misk Foundation for taking concrete actions to diversify and further grow their economy," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. "Saudi Arabia is the first country in the world to create a top-down, country-wide financial training program that fully leverages Bloomberg's resources, and I'm confident it will empower the region and advance Saudi Arabia's global competitiveness." In January, Bloomberg and the Misk Foundation hosted an intensive, week-long financial journalism training program in Dubai for 30 Saudi-based students. The interactive course, led by Matthew Winkler, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus and more than 20 Bloomberg reporters and analysts, focused on the importance of data-driven journalism. ABOUT MISK FOUNDATION Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation (the MiSK Foundation) is a non-profit philanthropic foundation established by H.R.H. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to discover, develop and empower Saudi youth to become active participants in the knowledge economy. MiSK specifically focuses on four key areas: education, creative and digital media, technology, and culture and arts. MiSK pursues this agenda both through its own programs, and through partnerships with local and global organizations. https://Misk.org.sa/en/ ABOUT BLOOMBERG L.P. Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company's strength delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately is at the core of the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg's enterprise solutions build on the company's core strength: leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. For more information, visit www.bloomberg.com/company or request a demo. SOURCE Bloomberg Related Links http://www.bloomberg.com We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. HOUSTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a contract to Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc., of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for continued environmental compliance and operation services at the agency's White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Environmental Compliance and Operation 2 (ECO2) is a five-year hybrid, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price task orders. The contract, with a total potential value of $80 million, will be effective from June 1, 2018, through May 31, 2023. Under ECO2, Navarro will provide expertise at White Sands for environmental restoration, multi-media environmental compliance, and sustainability program services, as well as general environmental operational support, including overall program management. White Sands is a component of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. A self-contained facility with medical, fire and hazardous rescue personnel, it tests and evaluates potentially hazardous materials, spaceflight components and rocket propulsion systems for NASA centers, other government agencies, and private industry. For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- National Response Corporation ("NRC"), a portfolio company of an investment affiliate of J.F. Lehman & Company, announced today the completion of the acquisition of Cleanline Waste Water Solutions Ltd. ("Cleanline"). NRC is a leading global provider of specialty compliance and environmental services. Headquartered in Great River, NY, with regional offices throughout the U.S. and overseas, NRC has more than 1,400 employees in locations around the world. Cleanline is a leading provider of environmental, industrial and emergency response services in the United Kingdom. The company is headquartered in Liverpool, England. Paul Taveira, CEO of NRC, commented, "Cleanline is the most recent strategic addition to NRC's unique compliance and environmental services offering and strengthens our capabilities and broadens our footprint in the United Kingdom. The business is highly complementary to our existing UK operations in Milton Keynes, Aberdeen and Inverness, and we are very happy to welcome the Cleanline team to NRC." "NRC continues to demonstrate strong growth by expanding its specialized service offering and geographic footprint since our acquisition in 2012. Cleanline is NRC's eighth add-on acquisition and represents another successful step in executing this element of NRC's strategy," said Alex Harman, Partner at J.F. Lehman & Company. About J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc. J.F. Lehman & Company is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused exclusively on the aerospace, defense, maritime, government and environmental sectors. The firm has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. For more information about J.F. Lehman & Company, please visit www.jflpartners.com. SOURCE J.F. Lehman & Company Related Links http://www.jflpartners.com CLEVELAND, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NeverBounce, the industry leading email verification and list cleaning service, today has announced that it is in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ahead of the May 25, 2018 deadline. Upholding and honoring our clients' trust with their sensitive data is our top priority. Not only is NeverBounce proud to offer clients effective and reliable email deliverability services, we are also committed to the security of our clients' personal data. Our operational and data processing systems are maintained in a secure environment, with appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the personal data we maintain from unauthorized access. "The security, privacy, and availability of user data is critically important to our organization," said Brad Owen, CEO and Founder of NeverBounce. "Our internal systems and procedures are routinely evaluated and internally scrutinized to ensure that they function as efficiently as possible." In anticipation of the GDPR deadline, internal procedures and third-party relationships were proactively reviewed. NeverBounce has developed comprehensive policies to address data security, encryption, and transfers. Internal processes have been developed to facilitate the communication of inquiries we may receive from EU data subjects to the appropriate client so the request may be handled in a timely manner. To promote seamless integration of the GDPR compliance program, our employees have been trained on these new requirements and informed of the GDPR's impact on their areas of responsibility. Along with GDPR, NeverBounce complies with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework and the Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal data transferred to the United States from the European Union and Switzerland, respectively. With respect to EU and Swiss personal data, NeverBounce has certified that it adheres to the Privacy Shield Principles. More information about our Privacy Shield certification is available here. About NeverBounce Over 70,000 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. SOURCE NeverBounce For the first time, powerful NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs can be used in the industry leading Dell EMC PowerEdge FX architecture. The Amulet Hotkey CoreStation VFC640 GPU accelerated blade server uses a unique PCIe expansion module and GPU card developed in collaboration with Dell EMC and NVIDIA product engineering teams. Two Amulet Hotkey DXF-EXP-V modules support up to eight NVIDIA Tesla P6 GPUs in the FX2 server chassis, while maintaining the benefits of the FC640 blades and FX2 architecture. The result is a powerful and agile platform that can handle a broad range of workloads. "The Amulet Hotkey CoreStation VFC640 expands upon the market leading blade workstation portfolio designed to meet the graphics and compute performance needs of professionals while driving customers' IT transformations," said Andrew Jackson, president, Amulet Hotkey Inc. "Our unique solution enables up to eight powerful GPUs, with up to four dual-socket servers in a PowerEdge FX2s chassis. Delivering this capability in an industry standard 2U rackmount form factor demonstrates our commitment to use innovative design and manufacturing to meet enterprise IT needs for a truly flexible and scalable computing architecture." "NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs and NVIDIA virtual GPU software dramatically increase the graphics and compute performance of blade servers to handle evolving workflows with AI, photorealism and unlimited mobility," said Bob Pette, vice president, professional visualization, NVIDIA. "Customers working with large datasets, complex models or graphics-intensive productivity applications found in Windows 10 can leverage the benefits of high-density blades integrating multiple Tesla GPUs, NVIDIA virtualization software, Dell EMC OEM Solutions and Amulet Hotkey technology." "With the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, customers are looking for enhanced compute solutions that optimize these workloads," said Ron Pugh, vice President and general manager for the Americas, Dell EMC OEM Solutions. "We are excited to work with Amulet Hotkey to develop game changing solutions for our customers that accelerate IT transformation. CoreStation VFC640 features and benefits: Availability The CoreStation VFC640 will be available in May 2018. Click here to submit a request to participate in the CoreStation VFC640 Early Access Program. For more information visit www.amulethotkey.com. About Amulet Hotkey Copyright 2018 Amulet Hotkey Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Amulet Hotkey and CoreStation are trademarks of Amulet Hotkey Ltd., and are registered in the United Kingdom, United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners. Lakeside Software, Inc. "Elevating User Experience Through GPU Acceleration: A Windows 10 versus Windows 7 Analysis." Lakeside Software White Paper. 2017 SOURCE Amulet Hotkey Ltd. EDISON, N.J., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Levinson Axelrod Attorney Kathleen DiGiovanni recently secured a $2.5 million jury verdict in an underinsured motorist (UIM) case against Allstate on behalf of a car crash victim who suffered serious injuries when his vehicle sustained two impacts on the New Jersey Turnpike. According to court documents (Monmouth County Superior Court), the case stemmed from an initial collision that occurred while the victim was driving to his home in Howell, New Jersey from Manhattan, New York at about 10:45 pm. Unknown to the victim at that time, a vehicle driven by the defendant was stopped in traffic in the left lane of the Turnpike. Because the defendant had turned off all the vehicle's lights, failed to turn on its hazard lights, and gave no warning to oncoming motorists, the victim was not able to see the vehicle until he was roughly 30 feet away. At that time, court documents indicate, the victim attempted to swerve to the right to avoid the stopped vehicle, but was unable to complete the maneuver and crashed into the defendant's car. As court records show, the collision thrusted the victim's vehicle sideways into the center lane of the Turnpike, where it was then struck a second time by a vehicle driven by another motorist. The vehicle ultimately came to rest in the far right side of the road. The force of the two impacts caused the victim to suffer serious injuries, including multiple fractures of the hip, and he was transported to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center to undergo emergency surgery. The trauma surgeon who performed the surgery used four plates and 13 screws to reconstruct the victim's hip. Medical experts who evaluated the case and the scope of the plaintiff's injuries agreed that he will require a total hip replacement in the very near future. The victim, who is now in his late 40s, will need a revision surgery within the next 15 to 20 years. Attorney Kathleen M. DiGiovanni filed a lawsuit on behalf of her client against the driver who stopped in traffic, alleging that the defendant's actions and failures to turn on her vehicle's lights led to the preventable accident and injuries suffered by the victim, and that she should be held liable for resulting damages. That case was settled prior to trial. Because her client had underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, Attorney DiGiovanni also filed suit against the victim's own insurance company. That case was tried before the Honorable Owen McCarthy, J.S.C. in Monmouth County Superior Court. Lawyers representing Allstate stood in place of the defendant whose vehicle was stopped in traffic, and attempted to argue that the plaintiff and the driver of the second vehicle which struck him were both negligent in contributing to the crash. However, Attorney DiGiovanni was able to effectively refute the arguments, arguing that her client was an innocent victim of the stopped car's negligence, and the jury sided with her by returning a verdict holding the defendant 100% liable for the crash. Her client was awarded $2,500,000 in damages. Because the verdict exceeded the Offer of Judgment filed by Attorney DiGiovanni against the defendant Allstate for policy limits, her client will also be able to recover the costs of trial and attorney's fees from the defendant Allstate, as well as the difference between the recovery from the stopped driver and the UIM policy limit. The outcome secured by Attorney Kathleen M. Giovanni is a significant victory for her client who, by successfully holding the defendant fully liable, now secures the compensation needed to cover extensive damages and the considerable expenses associated with future care of his injuries, including his need for a future revision surgery. It is this type of result, even in the face of insurance companies that do all they can to skirt liability and pay victims as little as possible, that make Attorney Giovanni and the Levinson Axelrod legal team proven advocates for injured victims harmed in the most serious wrecks. Kathleen DiGiovanni is an Associate attorney who works primarily out of the Howell and Belford offices of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., a New Jersey-based personal injury law firm committed to providing experienced and knowledgeable representation in cases involving preventable injuries caused by the negligent and wrongful acts of others. Since first opening its doors in 1939, the firm's award-winning lawyers have successfully recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients, more than $350 million of which has been secured in the past five years alone. Learn more about the nationally recognized firm and its legal team by calling (732) 440-3089 or visiting www.njlawyers.com. SOURCE Levinson Axelrod, P.A. Related Links http://www.njlawyers.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Yacht Club and Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association ("BMQRA"), today announced they will compete under the name "New York Yacht Club American Magic" ("American Magic") in their challenge for the 36th America's Cup to be held in New Zealand in 2021. Philip Lotz, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, said, "'America'" was the first boat to win the America's Cup in 1851. 'Magic' was the first boat to defend the Cup in 1870. American Magic builds on the legacy of those two yachts, and the name embodies the mission of our campaign, which is to win the Cup and in the process build the foundation for a stronger competitive sailing culture in the United States. The New York Yacht Club is very excited to be part of this campaign and the legacy we are striving to create." Over the coming months, American Magic will continue assembling a team of top sailing talent, and best-in-class designers and engineers to best position it to bring the America's Cup home to the United States and the New York Yacht Club. As it builds its world class team, American Magic will continue to leverage its partnerships with US Sailing and Oakcliff Sailing to develop the next generation of American sailors, reenergize the passion of fans and make the America's Cup relevant to the broad base of American sailing. Hap Fauth, CEO of American Magic, said, "On behalf of Doug DeVos, Roger Penske and all the members of our team, it is an honor to represent the New York Yacht Club, its membership and the American yachting community in the 36th America's Cup as American Magic. Under this proud name, we are focused on creating an America's Cup culture in American sailing, and with our partnerships, we are engaging with the grassroots to increase the competitiveness of our sailors, and working to engender the kind of excitement the America's Cup previously enjoyed in the United States. We're not just racing to bring the Cup back to America, we're racing to bring American yachting back to the Cup." Doug DeVos, Principal of American Magic, said, "As an avid sailor and passionate supporter of the NYYC, I'm thrilled to be a part of such an extraordinary team. Over the years, we have worked hard to promote sailing in the United States and inspire the next generation of sailors to compete at the highest levels of our sport. It's an honor and privilege to be a part of American Magic's challenge to bring the America's Cup back home." American Magic's design team is actively at work planning for the first of two AC 75 class boats, and preparing for the publication of the AC75 Class Rule at the end of March. At the same time, the American Magic's sailing team is currently training in Long Beach, Calif., for the Ficker Cup, which is the qualifier for the Congressional Cup. The team expects to establish its primary base in Newport, R.I., later this spring. About the New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club was founded in 1844 when nine New York yachtsmen met aboard John Cox Stevens' yacht and a year later its original clubhouse was built in Hoboken, N.J. The Club's Annual Regatta was first run in 1845. The Club was the keeper of the America's Cup from 1851 to 1983, and it organized the first transatlantic race in 1866. The Club maintains two exquisite clubhouses, on 44th Street in the heart of New York City, known for its Model Room and extensive nautical library, and Harbour Court in Newport, R.I., which annually hosts some of North America's most prestigious sailing events, including the Annual Regatta, Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup and the Queen's Cup. www.nyyc.org About New York Yacht Club American Magic Formed in October 2017 by Bella Mente Racing, Quantum Racing and the New York Yacht Club, American Magic brings together two highly successful racing programs with one of the foremost yacht clubs in the nation, all with the shared vision of launching a campaign for the 36th America's Cup competition, reconnecting the American sailing base with sailing's premier event and elevating the quality of competitive sailing in the United States. The syndicate intends to develop and support a team that will participate in the America's Cup competition and the Challenger Selection Series competitions that lead up to it. American Magic is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Media Contacts Stephen Pettibone / Emily Claffey / Caroline Lipe 212-687-8080 / [email protected] New York Yacht Club Stuart Streuli 401-608-1128 / [email protected] SOURCE New York Yacht Club American Magic WASHINGTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) will host two workshops in Memphis, Tenn., at the DoubleTree Memphis Downtown, May 8 and 9, for directors of national community banks and federal savings associations supervised by the OCC. The Compliance Risk workshop on May 8 combines lectures, discussion, and exercises on the critical elements of an effective compliance risk management program. The workshop also focuses on major compliance risks and critical regulations. Topics of discussion include the Bank Secrecy Act, Flood Disaster Protection Act, Fair Lending, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, and other compliance areas of interest. The Operational Risk workshop on May 9 focuses on the key components of operational riskpeople, processes, and systems. The workshop also covers governance, third-party risk, vendor management, internal fraud, and cybersecurity. The workshop fee is $99. Participants receive course materials and assorted supervisory publications. The workshop is limited to the first 35 registrants. The workshops are taught by experienced OCC staff and are offered nationwide to enhance and expand the skills of national community bank and federal savings association directors. To register for this workshop, visit www.occ.gov/occworkshops. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") charters and oversees a nationwide system of national banks and federal savings associations and assures that these banking institutions are safe and sound, competitive, and capable of serving the banking needs of their customers in the best possible manner. OCC press releases and other information are available at http://www.occ.gov. To receive OCC press releases and issuances by e-mail, subscribe at http://www.occ.gov/subscribe/occ-email-list-service.html. SOURCE Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Related Links http://www.occ.gov NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom Health Group, part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) and the largest healthcare marketing and communication group in the world, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Pharma Communications business in Japan of Elsevier, part of RELX Group. The acquired business unit has been a leading healthcare communications business in Japan for 38 years, with a reputation for quality delivery of medical content for promotional materials and educational programs directed at doctors and patients. The acquired business and employees will become part of a newly-named healthcare marketing communications agency, EMC K.K. The acquired unit's management team also joins EMC, with Takao Ozawa being promoted to Managing Director. He will report to David Stark, CEO of Omnicom Health Group Asia Pacific (OHG AP). EMC further strengthens OHG's roster of leading healthcare agencies in Japan, which also includes Targis, Rx Healthcare, Polaris Consumer Health, CDM Tokyo, and the digital marketing and healthcare market research company MCI. "Our clients' resolve to extend global initiatives to Japanthe world's second largest pharmaceutical marketand their desire to partner with us due to the excellent reputation of our companies, created a huge opportunity for us to grow our business further in Japan," said Ed Wise, CEO, Omnicom Health Group. "The addition of EMC's talented healthcare specialists, and their long term good standing in the market, enables us to meet growing client demand and maintain the best service offering in Japan." Takao Ozawa, the agency's new MD, shares Wise's enthusiasm. "We are excited to bring our talented staff to EMC and join the Omnicom Health Group companies in Japan," he said. "We are confident that being a partner agency of Omnicom Health Group Asia Pacific will allow us to further develop the depth and breadth of our offering, and for EMC to bring even more value to our clients." "The brand name EMC commemorates a proud 38-year history delivering e xcellence in m edical c ommunications as the pharma communications business unit of Elsevier Japan," explains David Stark, CEO of OHG AP. "EMC's outstanding talent adds significant medical communications capacity to Omnicom Health Group in Japan. With EMC, we now have unmatched scale, depth and breadth of dedicated healthcare communications services, making us the best partner for clients and helping us deliver on our mission: Communications for a Healthy Life." The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. ABOUT OMNICOM HEALTH GROUP Omnicom Health Group (www.omnicomhealthgroup.com) is a global collective of communications companies with more than 3,200 dedicated healthcare communications specialists. It provides marketing services to the health and life-science industries through a combination of specialized agencies, customized client solutions, and collaborations with other Omnicom network agencies. Organized around four customer groupshealthcare professionals, patients, payers, and medical, evidence and regulatory stakeholdersOmnicom Health Group serves more than 100 clients in over 55 offices worldwide. Omnicom Health Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., and a global group of marketing services companies with over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: healthcare, public relations, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding, research and advertising. ABOUT EMC K.K. EMC K.K., is a 100% owned subsidiary of Omnicom Group. Elsevier Japan K.K.'s pharma communications business and employees will transfer to EMC K.K., a newly named healthcare marketing communications agency within Omnicom Health Group Asia Pacific (OHG AP). OHG AP roster of leading healthcare agencies in Japan also includes Targis, Rx Healthcare, Polaris Consumer Health, CDM Tokyo and the healthcare marketing research and digital marketing company, MCI. EMC K.K. has offices in Tokyo and Osaka. As a result of the acquisition, OHG AP is now the largest and go to healthcare offering for clients in Japan. The breadth and depth, diversity of digital and strategic services, and highest quality of creative work, differentiates OHG AP in the market place. OHG AP's 250 dedicated healthcare specialists serve over 60 of the world's major Japan and multinational clients in Japan. ABOUT OMNICOM GROUP INC. Omnicom Group (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. Follow us on Twitter for the latest news. ABOUT RELX GROUP. RELX Group is a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs about 30,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. RELX PLC is a London listed holding company which owns 52.9% of RELX Group. RELX NV is an Amsterdam listed holding company which owns 47.1% of RELX Group. The shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX and RENX. The total market capitalization is approximately 29bn/33bn/$40bn. SOURCE Omnicom Health Group CHICAGO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Brilliant, an award-winning search, staffing and management resources firm specializing in accounting, finance and information technology, has aligned with private equity leader Silver Oak Services Partners, LLC ("Silver Oak"), along with management and co-investors, to lead its recapitalization. Since its inception in 2009, Brilliant has become one of the leading professional staffing firms in Greater Chicago and South Florida by demonstrating unprecedented growth and success often rivaling more well-known staffing powerhouses in the public sector. As part of the recapitalization, Jeff Mariola will transition from President to CEO while Jim Wong will transition into a Board of Director role. Mariola explains, "Brilliant has experienced great success and has been recognized regionally and nationally for our rapid growth, service quality and colleague engagement." He adds, "We realized that to continue growing our business, we needed a strategic partner that shared our 2020 vision to continue to far outpace the industry in our core markets and expand into new markets over the next five years." Brilliant is excited to form an alliance with Silver Oak, particularly given their success investing in the staffing space and track record of partnering with management. What attracted Silver Oak to the professional staffing sector was the strong demand for accounting, finance and IT professionals that continue to exceed the supply of these individuals, as well as the highly fragmented nature of the industry and attractive cash flow dynamics. Greg Barr, Managing Partner at Silver Oak, says, "Brilliant is well regarded in the industry for its excellent client service and ability to identify top talent to meet their clients' needs. We're very excited to partner with such an experienced management team. We look forward to working with them to execute on their strategy to grow our existing offices and enter new geographies where we believe our unique approach will continue to resonate with clients and candidates." Evanston-based Silver Oak focuses exclusively on service businesses and invests in lower, middle-market companies, typically with EBITDA of $4 million to $20 million. To learn more about Brilliant, visit www.brilliantfs.com, call 312.582.1800 or follow @BrilliantFS on social media. About Brilliant | Connecting People and Opportunities Brilliant is an award-winning search, staffing and management resources firm specializing in accounting, finance and information technology for the Greater Chicago, South Florida and soon Dallas-Fort Worth labor markets. The firm represents high-quality accounting, finance and information technology talent and matches them with hiring companies throughout various industries including manufacturing, distribution, health care, professional services, retail, legal, technology, real estate, nonprofit organizations, software and hospitality, among others. Many of Brilliant's team members include former hiring managers, and accounting and finance professionals from the Big 4 accounting firms, as well as other leading professionals in the industry. Since its inception in 2009, Brilliant has ranked on various award lists including No. 6 on Forbes 2017 America's Best Professional Recruiting Firms and No. 25 on Forbes 2017 America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms, Crain's Chicago Business Fast 50 for three straight years including No. 1 in 2015, Staffing Industry Analysts Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms in the United States for three straight years including No. 2 in 2015, Inavero's Best of Staffing Talent for North America three years in a row, Inc. 5000 for three straight years, Best Places to Work South Florida, 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for four straight years, and others. Media Contact: Laurie Vicente, Brilliant, [email protected] or 312.582.1812 SOURCE Brilliant Related Links http://www.brilliantfs.com Today, DApp ONO , the first blockchain-based social network of China, has simultaneously announced on founder and CEO Xu Ke' s micro-blog and ONO's official micro-blog, that ONO will formally participate in the bid for EOS 21 global super nodes. Shortly after, in an official ONO telegram group, ONO said: "This is an exciting time! World-wide participants of the EOS ecosystem coming together in the bid for the global EOS super nodes will be responsible for serving all humanity! ONO is ready to provide computing and bandwidth support for global network users. If the bid is successful, ONO will build an appropriate network for the entire ecosystem along with the other 20 super nodes around the world." ONO's confidence to run for the EOS global super nodes is based on its strong and stable technical support. More importantly, as the world's largest free, decentralized social network, ONO is also about to be deployed on EOS Testnet, becoming the first deployed blockchain DApp on EOS in the world. This is worthy of attention in the entire blockchain industry. As to why ONO chose to engage in strategic planning with EOS, it is speculated that ONO will be rolled out by the end of April, implementing an invitation system to limit access to a certain number of seed users. The migration of EOS is the key to satisfying the community operation needs and is also related to setting the tone in early social network construction. It has been reported that the improved EOS is able to support large-scale active users and is fully appropriate for use in the social media field. When the EOS main line is officially released and meets the requirements, ONO will also immediately migrate from EOS Testnet to the EOS main network. Based on this strategic relationship between the two parties, it is clear that ONO is very important for EOS. Just last weekend, Xu Ke, ONO's founder and CEO, was invited to talk about the products and ecosystem with the blockchain-development community at the EOS-DApp Ecosystem Development Conference in the world's largest EOS community attraction zone in Chengdu. Different from POW mechanisms and POS mechanisms, EOS adopts the DPOS consensus mechanism, which has speed and efficiency as its highlight. EOS claims to support millions of transactions per second in the future, benchmarking Ethereum to become the head of the underlying public chain. It can solve the existing low performance problem of blockchain applications, poor security, development difficulties, and excessive reliance on processing fees. As of early March 2018, more than 50 organizations or institutions worldwide have applied to become EOS super nodes. Whether or not ONO, the first blockchain-based social network in China, will become the dark horse, is worth looking forward to. When EOS completes its system goals, any team in the world will be able to develop the required DApps faster on EOS, making blockchain applications officially enter the next milestone. SOURCE ONO SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Teradata (NYSE: TDC), the leading cloud-based data and analytics company, today announced that Overstock.com Inc. is using Teradata Path Analysis as part of its customer journey analytics. Overstock, a leader in online retail, needed a path analysis solution to visually analyze customer data from multi-channel marketing campaigns and key customer milestones in their journeys. With the overall goal of reducing unnecessary marketing spend and identifying loyalty opportunities, Overstock is leveraging a pathing interface developed by Teradata to put advanced path analysis, once solely the domain of specialists and data scientists, directly into the hands of marketers, business analysts and non-technical professionals. Teradata will also be incorporating path analysis capabilities into the Teradata Analytics Platform. "Teradata is helping Overstock visually analyze and understand customer behavior," said Joe Kambeitz, Vice President of Product Management & Marketing Analytics for Overstock. "'Path analysis' may sound like a simple concept, but it's actually incredibly challenging to perform, especially in the hands of non-specialists. Anyone who has ever tried to unlock this type of analysis will understand the visualizations and capabilities of this solution make it extremely easy without sacrificing deep understanding. With Teradata Path Analysis, we simply point at our data sets, and start unlocking insights." Overstock is using Teradata Path Analysis to enable business professionals to visually explore multi-channel customer paths, as well as the marketing costs associated with those paths, without writing a single line of code. To accomplish this, Teradata's Path Analytics integrates data, such as marketing and advertising costs, with customer data from marketing campaigns and website traffic, to identify both efficient and expensive paths to particular behaviors, such as purchase. Leveraging advanced visualizations, users can highlight specific paths to identify customers who, for example, might be interested in the Club O rewards program. Teams can then distribute the visualizations, or access the raw code to share with data scientists and others to prepare advanced algorithms. "Path analysis is a critical analytic component for any business looking to understand its customer and yet, with the multitude of channels available today, it's also one of the hardest to get right," said Oliver Ratzesberger, Chief Operating Officer at Teradata. "Teradata's Path Analysis was designed to make it easier for business users to access the information they need to grow their customer base, improve operations and mitigate potential issues in their customers' journeys. This capability, which is so impactful and significant for such a broad range of industries, is included in the Teradata Analytics Platform." Late last year, Teradata announced the Teradata Analytics Platform, which is comprised of the best analytic functions, the leading analytic engines, the industry's preferred analytic tools and languages, and support for a wealth of data types. This forthcoming platform provides quick and easy access to a full range of algorithms, including those for path analysis, and is a key component of Teradata Everywhere: a flexible, agile and scalable way to ensure high return on analytic investments, while limiting the risk in making those investments. Relevant News Links Read more about Teradata's Path Analysis Video demos of the Path Analysis interface are available on YouTube Discover the Teradata Analytics Platform Learn about Teradata Everywhere About Overstock.com Overstock.com, Inc. is an online retailer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that sells a broad range of products at low prices, including furniture, decor, rugs, bedding and home improvement. In addition to home goods, Overstock.com offers a variety of products including jewelry, electronics, apparel, and more, as well as a marketplace providing customers access to hundreds of thousands of products from third-party sellers. Additional stores include Pet Adoptions and Worldstock.com dedicated to selling artisan-crafted products from around the world. Forbes ranked Overstock in its list of the Top 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in 2014. Overstock regularly posts information about the company and other related matters under Investor Relations on its website, http://www.overstock.com. About Teradata Teradata helps companies achieve high-impact business outcomes. With a portfolio of cloud-based business analytics solutions, architecture consulting, and industry leading big data and analytics technology, Teradata unleashes the potential of great companies. Visit teradata.com. Get to know Teradata: http://www.twitter.com/teradata http://www.facebook.com/Teradata http://www.linkedin.com/company/teradata https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV559dNBu0FRpuNLsrEKbzA Teradata, Aster, and the Teradata logo are registered trademarks of Teradata Corporation and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and worldwide. MEDIA CONTACT Jennifer Donahue 858-485-3029 office 650-346-1153 cell [email protected] SOURCE Teradata Related Links http://www.teradata.com BOSTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyros Law Offices is alerting investors of Paragon ICO (PRG) that it is investigating legal claims on behalf of investors against the company for possible securities fraud violations. Paragon ICO (PRG) investors that purchased PRG tokens between FROM AUGUST 15, 2017 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 are urged to contact our law firm immediately to protect their rights. Visit our Paragon ICO (PRG) Investor Class Action Lawsuit Webpage or call 1-800-934-2921 to speak to someone about your case. The investigation stems from the sale of PRG tokens sold during Paragon's ICO. Paragon reportedly raised over $70 million from investors through this sale. The value of these tokens has subsequently dropped significantly, leading to significant losses to investors. Kyros Law Offices urges Paragon ICO (PRG) investors to contact our law firm immediately to protect their rights. Visit Paragon ICO (PRG) Investor Class Action Lawsuit or call 1-800-934-2921 to find out if you have a case. Kyros Law specializes in a wide range of complex litigation, mass torts, and corporate governance matters, including the representation of whistleblowers, shareholders and consumers in securities fraud, false claims act and class actions. Our lawyers have been responsible for recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients throughout the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe. Visit our website to learn more about our firm. SOURCE Kyros Law SALT LAKE CITY, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsons Behle Lab, the new innovation subsidiary of the law firm Parsons Behle & Latimer, today announced that it has launched GDPR IQ (www.gdpriq.com), an automated online platform that generates the legal documents companies and nonprofits need to comply with the European Union's (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is the first automated tool that assesses an organization's GDPR needs and generates the complete set of required GDPR policies, procedures and proof of compliance documents. "Millions of businesses and nonprofits in the United States interface with Europe and will be required to comply with the GDPR by May 25th," said Kimball Parker, president of Parsons Behle Lab and an attorney at Parsons Behle & Latimer. "With the compliance deadline fast approaching, we recognized that small to midsized businesses, as well as nonprofits, need an affordable, timely way to generate the voluminous legal policies and documents necessary to comply. What would take an attorney months and potentially cost hundreds of thousands of dollars now takes minutes with GDPR IQ, for a fraction of the cost." The GDPR is an EU directive that governs how organizations collect and process the personal information of individuals in the EU. Research by security firm HyTrust shows that 78 percent of the millions of affected U.S. businesses and nonprofits do not have a plan in place to be compliant by the deadline. Penalties for noncompliance can scale upwards of $24 million or 4 percent of their annual revenue, whichever is greater. GDPR attorneys at Parsons Behle & Latimer drafted the legal documents used by GDPR IQ. A GDPR law firm in the EU reviewed and verified the legal documents. "Parsons Behle Lab combined the deep experience of our GDPR compliance attorneys with innovative software technology," said Hal J. Pos, president of Parsons Behle & Latimer. "The result is a high quality GDPR compliance solution at an affordable price." This innovation was fueled by discussions with small- to medium-sized clients that were unable to afford traditional legal services to comply with the GDPR that Parsons Behle & Latimer's larger clients had implemented. Price Waterhouse Cooper found that 77 percent of surveyed businesses expect to spend at least $1 million to address the regulation requirements. To help the nonprofit community, GDPR IQ is available to nonprofits at a 50 percent discount. Many important nonprofits, such as refugee organizations, deal heavily with Europe. In addition, Parsons Behle Lab hopes to empower nonprofit refugee organizations to continue their vital work by offering GDPR IQ to them for free. Parsons Behle Lab was inspired by Parker's work as the founding director of the LawX design lab at BYU Law School. At LawX, he oversaw the development of SoloSuit a free online tool that helps Utahns who cannot afford legal services to respond to debt collection lawsuits. Available for free at www.solosuit.com, it is being adapted by other states and for other uses throughout the nation. Parsons Behle Lab licensed the SoloSuit platform and has adapted it through additional investment to create GDPR IQ. Prior to SoloSuit, Kimball founded CO/COUNSEL, a legal crowdsourcing website that visually maps the logic of the law and is currently being used in law schools across the United States and United Kingdom (www.cocounsel.co). For his efforts with CO/COUNSEL, Kimball received a Fastcase 50 Award, which honors "the law's smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders." About Parsons Behle & Latimer Established in 1882, Parsons Behle & Latimer has over 140 attorneys with offices in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Boise, Idaho Falls, Reno and Washington D.C. Parsons Behle & Latimer attorneys offer depth and a range of experience in the areas of: Antitrust & Competition; Banking & Finance; Corporate, Securities & Tax; Cybersecurity & Privacy; Employment & Labor; Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources; Government Relations & Lobbying; Healthcare; Intellectual Property; Litigation; and Real Estate. For more information, visit www.parsonsbehle.com. SOURCE Parsons Behle & Latimer Related Links http://www.gdpriq.com RANCHO MIRAGE, CA, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - A real estate investment partnership led by Clarity Real Estate (the "Partnership") has acquired a prominent 618-acre undeveloped land parcel commonly known as Section 31 (the "Property") in the heart of Rancho Mirage, California. The Property is a square mile located in the geographic center of Rancho Mirage at the intersection of Bob Hope Drive, Frank Sinatra Drive, Gerald Ford Drive and Monterey Avenue. Payfone's patented technology helps companies to protect users and accelerate revenue by thwarting digital fraud attacks while also enabling faster and more effortless user experiences. The New York City-based company delivers omni-channel identity authentication for some of the world's largest banking, insurance, healthcare, retail and technology companies. "Data breaches, account takeover attacks, fake news, and ad bots - we need to wake up and see that the current model of identity authentication is broken," said Rodger Desai, CEO of Payfone. "Payfone is establishing a new standard of real-time, dynamic identity authentication that replaces the hackable, static framework that all too many enterprises still rely on. The fact that we're on our way to doing 19 billion authentications for forward-thinking Fortune 100 companies this year is evidence that a new era is coming." Payfone was honored by Deloitte's Fast 500 as the #72 fastest growing technology company in North America in November of 2017. In February, the company announced that it raised $23 million from financial and strategic investors to continue its global expansion of the Payfone digital identity authentication network. KNOW Identity conference attendees are invited to join Payfone CEO Rodger Desai for a panel discussion this afternoon at 1:30pm entitled Beyond Authentication in Financial Services: Shifting Security from Defense to Offense. Conference-goers looking to do some work, charge their devices or hold meetings are also welcome to stop by the Payfone #PasswordsSuck Business Lounge located in the Meridian suite just a few steps from the Green and Yellow panel rooms. ABOUT PAYFONE Payfone is the leading digital identity authentication network for the connected world. We are trusted by the world's largest banks, insurers, brokerages and technology companies to accelerate revenue by enabling effortless, omni-channel user experiences. Learn more at www.payfone.com and https://www.linkedin.com/company/payfone. Press Contact: Yuka Yoneda [email protected] 212.614.6927 SOURCE Payfone Related Links http://www.payfone.com HARRISBURG, Pa., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Employment in Pennsylvania's technology industry expanded by an estimated 4,530 jobs in 2017 and contributed $46.7 billion to the state's economy, according to Cyberstates 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation's tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world's leading technology industry association. With 425,200 workers, Pennsylvania ranks 7th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.1 This accounts for 6.7 percent of the state's total workforce. The average tech industry wage in Pennsylvania is $98,430, compared to the state's average private sector annual wage of $53,400. The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 7 percent ($46.7 billion) of the overall state economy. The state is home to some 16,398 tech business establishments. Pennsylvania ranked 12th in Cyberstates Innovation Score in 2017. This ranking is based on a state-by-state per capita analysis of tech startups/new tech business formations + venture capital. The state also saw a 50.4 percent jump in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. In total, Pennsylvania employers posted 90,580 jobs for technology positions last year. Leading tech occupations in Pennsylvania include software and web developers (41,920 positions, up 2.0 percent last year), network architects, administrators, and support specialists (26,810 jobs, up 0.9 percent) and computer support specialists (26,010 jobs, up 1.8 percent). The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of software (packaged) (+ 6.3 percent) and IT services and custom software services (+ 3.2 percent). Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA's analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://www.cyberstates.org/ 1 Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers. About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global 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. Contact: Preston Grisham CompTIA [email protected] 202-682-4458 SOURCE CompTIA Related Links http://www.comptia.org Leading tenant-representation and corporate-services specialists will work with occupier services team MINNEAPOLIS, MN, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Mark Evenson, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the firm's Minneapolis office, announced today that leading tenant-representation and corporate-services specialists Phil Kluesner and Eddie Rymer have joined the company in the Twin Cities. Effective immediately, Kluesner becomes a Principal of Avison Young and Rymer a Senior Vice-President. Both will continue to focus on their specialties while working with the occupier-services team. Prior to joining Avison Young, Kluesner and Rymer worked together at Carlson Commercial in Minneapolis, where they were both Senior Vice-Presidents. Kluesner brings 32 years of commercial real estate experience to Avison Young, while Rymer is a 15-year veteran of the sector. "Phil and Eddie will help us continue to expand our occupier client base here in the Twin Cities," comments Evenson. "They will have the opportunity to leverage our global platform and full-service delivery model to expand and elevate their practice. I have known Phil for more than 25 years and have watched him develop an impressive resume featuring prestigious clients and successfully completed transactions. Phil brings extraordinary experience, depth and integrity to tenant representation. Therefore, he will bring a tremendous amount of experience and expertise to our company. Everyone in Avison Young's Minneapolis office and our company as a whole will benefit from Phil's presence." Evenson continues: "Eddie Rymer is on his way to becoming a recognized leader in our industry. His track record and client list already make him a top tenant representative and advisor to corporations. You do not use this descriptor a lot in our business but, frankly, he is exciting to be around." During his career, Kluesner has represented more than 600 businesses in their real estate transactions. Current clients include: United Forrest Products, Robert W. Baird, Cort Business Services, Normark Corp. (doing business as Rapala), and Crane Worldwide Logistics. Prior to starting his own rm, Gannett Peak Partners, in 2004, he was Vice-President of industrial leasing and development with Duke Realty, and an associate with The Welsh Companies, where he leased more than 2 msf of commercial space. Kluesner is active in the industry as a member of the Minnesota Association of Commercial Realtors, Allied Executives, CFO Council and the Minneapolis Downtown Council. In the community, he has been an active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and is a past board member of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and business from St. Mary's University in Winona, MN. During his career, Rymer has facilitated more than 250 transactions covering more than 3.5 msf. Prior to joining Carlson Commercial, he was a broker with Marketplace Commercial and owned and operated Itrealty.com and Rymer Companies Inc. Rymer holds the Certied Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and is a member of NAIOP. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management from Saint John's University in Collegeville, MN. "Avison Young has undergone significant growth over the past several years and we are impressed by the company's performance and current strategic direction," says Kluesner. "Avison Young's Principal-led, collaborative culture is truly different, and the benefits, both externally and internally, are accentuated at every touch point. We are very excited about collaborating with our new colleagues in the Twin Cities and across the company, and look forward to providing best-in-class solutions for our new and existing clients." Over the past nine years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 82 offices and from 300 to more than 2,600 real estate professionals in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Europe. Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,600 real estate professionals in 82 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality properties. Editors/Reporters Please click on links to view and download photos of Phil Kluesner and Eddie Rymer: http://www.avisonyoung.com/documents/20342/2631393/Phil+Kluesner.jpg http://www.avisonyoung.com/documents/20342/2631393/Eddie+Rymer For further information/comment/photos: Sherry Quan , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young : 604.647.5098; cell: 604.726.0959; [email protected] , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, : cell: Mark Evenson , Principal and Managing Director, Minneapolis , Avison Young : 612.889.5885 , Principal and Managing Director, , : Phil Kluesner , Principal, Avison Young : 612.351.4146 , Principal, : Mark Rose , Chair and CEO, Avison Young : 416.673.4028 Chair and CEO, : Earl Webb , President, U.S. Operations, Avison Young : 312.957.7610 www.avisonyoung.com Avison Young is a 2018 winner of the Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years Follow Avison Young on Twitter: For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals Follow Avison Young Bloggers: http://blog.avisonyoung.com Follow Avison Young on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/avison-young-commercial-real-estate Follow Avison Young on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AvisonYoungRE Follow Avison Young on Instagram: www.instagram.com/avison_young_global SOURCE Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC) Related Links www.avisonyoung.com According to a recent Philips survey [1], U.S. sleep apnea patients say the top challenges to using CPAP therapy are that the mask can leave red marks on the face (40 percent) and the hose gets in the way (42 percent). Additionally, 35 percent of U.S. patients say traditional masks limit their range of motion, and on a global level, three in five respondents (63 percent) said they noticed they had a tendency to breathe through their mouth before being tested for sleep apnea. Recognizing the challenges sleep apnea patients face when choosing sleep therapy, Philips aims to help patients experience the most comfortable night's sleep possible. "We've found that patients' acceptance and adherence to PAP therapy for sleep apnea are very much rooted in selecting a properly-fitting, effective and comfortable mask," said Dr. Teofilo Lee-Chiong, chief medical liaison at Philips. "Our recent survey highlights the challenges that therapy users are experiencing all over the world and validates the work Philips has been doing to help them to improve their quality of life." The new DreamWear Full face mask was designed to expand on current Dream Family offerings, with the goal of providing a better option for sleep apnea patients who breathe through their mouths. Philips DreamWear Full face features include: Comfort : To help combat the challenges that come with wearing a CPAP mask, Philips designed the new DreamWear Full face mask that patients say comes closest to feeling like there's nothing on the face. Users rate the DreamWear Full face mask more comfortable and less intimidating than their prescribed mask [2]. Its innovative design helps to prevent red marks, discomfort or irritation on the nose bridge as the cushion is designed to sit under the nose, not on it. : To help combat the challenges that come with wearing a CPAP mask, Philips designed the new DreamWear Full face mask that patients say comes closest to feeling like there's nothing on the face. Users rate the DreamWear Full face mask more comfortable and less intimidating than their prescribed mask [2]. Its innovative design helps to prevent red marks, discomfort or irritation on the nose bridge as the cushion is designed to sit under the nose, not on it. Convenience : The new full face cushion is one of three available for the DreamWear mask system, which directs airflow through the frame and removes the hose from the front of the face, giving patients more freedom to sleep comfortably in any position they desire. The offering also provides an option for patients when they can no longer breathe through their nose from allergies or a cold. Additionally, the third cushion option provides cash-pay opportunities for DMEs and additional mask options for patients to help offer them the best chance of long-term therapy success. : The new full face cushion is one of three available for the DreamWear mask system, which directs airflow through the frame and removes the hose from the front of the face, giving patients more freedom to sleep comfortably in any position they desire. The offering also provides an option for patients when they can no longer breathe through their nose from allergies or a cold. Additionally, the third cushion option provides cash-pay opportunities for DMEs and additional mask options for patients to help offer them the best chance of long-term therapy success. Quality: The DreamWear Full face mask was built with a thorough understanding of facial geometries and a suite of proprietary design tools and processes to provide patients with clinically proven fit, comfort and seal. Philips at Medtrade Spring The DreamWear Full face cushion is the latest addition to Philips' Dream Family of sleep apnea products focused on connecting and supporting the patient, clinician and homecare provider to enhance patient care and quality of life. For more information, visit Philips at booth #613 at Medtrade Spring, March 27-29, 2018 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Other Philips products on display at the show highlight the company's innovation in sleep therapy and respiratory care. For more on Philips' advanced solutions for sleep and respiratory care, follow @PhilipsResp or www.philips.com. [1] Survey conducted online by Regina Corso Consulting on behalf of Philips from January 15-22, among 2,000 adults in the U.S., Australia, France, Germany and Canada, all of who have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. For complete survey methodology, please contact Meredith Amoroso at [email protected]. [2] Data analysis of Aug 2017 Patient Preference trial where n = 85 and prescribed masks include Resmed Airfit FlO and F20, Respironics Amara View and F&P Simplus; based on 10 days of use. For further information, please contact: Kathy O'Reilly Philips Group Press Office Office: +1 978-659-2638 E-mail: [email protected] Meredith Amoroso Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care Mobile: +1 724-584-8991 E-mail: [email protected] About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2017 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 74,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. SOURCE Royal Philips Related Links http://www.philips.com BOSTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PreVeil, a company dedicated to providing enterprises with private and protected email and files, has announced a Series A investment from Spark Capital, a leading venture capital firm that invests in disruptive, world-changing startups. This is the first outside investment in PreVeil; two of its founders, successful serial tech entrepreneurs Sanjeev Verma and Randy Battat, were the seed round investors. PreVeil's unique email and document services combine end-to-end encryption, the "gold standard" for cyber security, with distributed trust that ensures no one administrator is a gateway for hackers, and finally, eliminates the need for passwords, a common security weak point in enterprises. Nobody outside of an enterprise, not even PreVeil, can read a business' files especially critical as the threat of malicious cyber activity grows. "Everywhere we look, businesses entrusted with our most sensitive information are failing that trust," notes Santo Politi, co-founder and General Partner of Spark Capital. "The PreVeil team knows that the best way for companies to protect their data is to make encryption extremely user friendly and easy to use, so that information is safe even when a server is breached. It is this kind of vision, coupled with extraordinary execution, that has created what I believe is the next stage of cyber security. It's why Spark Capital is leading this investment in PreVeil." The investment builds on growing momentum for PreVeil, with the recent launch of its PreVeil Drive, which encrypts files and lets users store, share, and access them anywhere. Drive joins PreVeil's premium encrypted email service, raising the bar on data security for business. The company's proprietary suite of encrypted solutions was based on research by a member of PreVeil's founding team, Raluca Ada Popa, an assistant professor of computer science at UC Berkeley and a recent recipient of a 2018 Sloan Research Fellowship. In addition, the company also recently welcomed global expert in geopolitical and cyber security Admiral James Stavridis, who served as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, to its board of directors. "Spark Capital is renowned for its ability to identify the products and companies that will define the future, and we are thrilled to announce our partnership with their team," said Randy Battat, CEO of PreVeil. "We look forward to working together to continue on this journey of revolutionizing data security to protect businesses from growing cyber threats." For more information on how your business can PreVeil, check out their blog, and follow the company on Twitter @EndtoEndEncrypt and on LinkedIn. About PreVeil PreVeil provides enterprises with private and protected email and files with unmatched ease of use. PreVeil's proprietary combination of end to end encryption, distributed trust and elimination of passwords ensures data is protected even when the server is breached. Learn more at www.preveil.com, join the conversation on Twitter @EndtoEndEncrypt, and follow PreVeil on LinkedIn and Facebook. Protect. Prevent. PreVeil. About Spark Capital Spark Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in startups led by creative thinkers. We partner with entrepreneurs who make products and services for consumers as well as business people. We have offices in SoMA in San Francisco, Astor Place in New York City, and the Back Bay in Boston. Spark Capital was founded ten years ago. In total we manage five funds with $3B under management. For more information, please visit www.sparkcapital.com. Contact: Ariane Doud, Vice President Warner Communications (978) 729-3542 [email protected] SOURCE PreVeil Related Links http://www.preveil.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rise People, a leading digital HR, payroll, group benefits and retirement savings software platform, today announced that Milan Luketic, former Senior Director, Product Development at Vision Critical, has joined the company as Vice President of Engineering. "We are excited to have such a creative and well-respected VP of Engineering join our team as we embark on our next phase of expansion. Milan will be instrumental in developing HRIS productivity and engagement tools to further empower our clients and their employees, as well as opening an entirely new channel to access a range of health and financial wellness products," said Rise's CEO, Faiz Abdulla. When asked why he joined the Vancouver startup, Milan said, "This is an incredible opportunity to build upon a first-of-its-kind platform that is focused on delivering an outstanding employee experience. I want to lead the charge in delivering tools that help companies focus on the person and the experience and create a truly personalized journey for every employee." Over the last 20 years, Milan has gained a reputation for excellence in engineering and product development, leading award-winning teams in the customer intelligence and software analytics industries at Vision Critical and SAP. "Milan's experience in enabling companies to build engaged communities through innovative software solutions will go a long way in driving Rise's next step forward in being the leader in digital health and financial solutions for businesses, across Canada and beyond, through integrations with all insurance carriers and collaboration with top-tier advisory and consulting firms," stated Faiz. "We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to launching more groundbreaking solutions to our clients and their employees." About Rise People Rise People is Canada's first and only all-in-one HR platform. Rise offers a modern suite of HR, payroll, and health and financial wellness solutions that is used by over 30,000 employees. Rise is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. For more information, visit www.risepeople.com. Media Contact: Elizabeth The Rise People Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Rise People Related Links https://risepeople.com/ The scope of the work that Salient CRGT will perform will include: agile software development and maintenance for 400 applications; infrastructure management; DevOps; cloud management; IT shared services support; data warehouse and business intelligence; security certification and accreditation; 24 x 7 daily operation and sustainment of operational non-National Aerospace (NAS) system applications and system development based on operational technologies; and support of routine AIT functions and requirements. A portion of the work will be conducted at facilities in Washington, D.C; Oklahoma City, OK; and Atlantic City, NJ. "We are honored to have the opportunity to join with Karsun Solutions in our supporting role of the FAA's critical mission of safety and security," said Brad Antle, CEO of Salient CRGT. "Salient CRGT is committed to supporting the delivery of transformative, effective, and efficient innovations on-time, within budget and with no service interruptions to enhance the capabilities of our nation's aviation infrastructure." About Salient CRGT Salient CRGT provides federal civilian, defense, homeland, and intelligence agencies with expertise and leadership in health, data analytics, cloud, agile software development, mobility, cyber security, and infrastructure solutions. We support these core capabilities with full lifecycle IT services and trainingto help our customers meet critical goals for pivotal missions. The most innovative talent delivery model in the industry, scientifically providing exactly the right people for the customers' most pressing requirements, fuels these critical capabilities. Salient CRGT has earned a record of success with integration and operations of largescale, highvolume solutions. On March 1, 2017, Salient CRGT completed its acquisition of Information Innovators, Inc. visit our newsroom and explore www.salientcrgt.com . Tweet: @Salient_CRGT Wins $29M Subcontract to Deliver Software Solutions to #FAA http://bit.ly/1MGSz5l SOURCE Salient CRGT, Inc. Related Links http://www.salientcrgt.com BOISE, Idaho, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Boise District Office and Amazon team up with local partners to host Tech Transforming Small Business, an e-commerce educational event for entrepreneurs and small businesses April 4 in Boise, Idaho, the first time this training will be offered in the state. With an increasing number of consumers going online to shop, the SBA and Amazon are working together to provide small businesses with the tools, tips and information they need to be successful selling their goods and services online. The Tech Transforming Idaho Small Business event will be from 10-11:30 a.m. on the 17th floor of the Zions Bank Building at 8th and Main Streets in downtown Boise, Idaho. Speakers will include U.S. Senator James Risch, chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee; experts from Amazon and the Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC); representatives from the SBA; and, a panel of local small business owners who have found success expanding their business online. "Since most of Idaho is rural, this can present some challenges for small businesses looking to attract new customers," SBA Boise District Director Gary Eisenbraun said. "But with online sales, anyone in the country or the world can be a potential customer. We're thrilled to debut this training opportunity with Amazon in Idaho and help our local businesses become more digitally savvy." "Many people don't know that half the items sold on Amazon come from small and medium-sized businesses across the U.S. and the world," said Kyle Walker, Amazon head of new business strategy. "I'm inspired by the stories and ingenuity of small business owners, and am excited to connect with entrepreneurs in Idaho, share learnings and help them grow their businesses." For more information about the event or to register, visit https://online-sales-sba-boise.eventbrite.com or www.sba.gov/id. The SBA's participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Cosponsorship Authorization #18-1000-06. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. We empower entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. The SBA is the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses that is backed by the strength of the federal government. The SBA delivers its services to people through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more about SBA, visit www.sba.gov. The SBA Boise District serves the southern Idaho and eastern Oregon from its office in Boise. SBA Boise District staff provide resources and services in three areas referred to as "the three C's" counseling, capital and contracting. Visit www.sba.gov/id or follow @SBAPacificNW for more information including resource partners, lenders, workshops, success stories and other resources to help business start, grow and succeed. Contact: Melanie Norton 206-604-2957 Website: www.sba.gov/id Follow: @SBAPacificNW Facebook, Instagram & Blogs SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration Related Links http://www.sba.gov SAN FRANCISCO and ZURICH, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Scandit, the leading developer of next-generation mobile data capture solutions based on computer vision, augmented reality and machine learning technologies, today announced that it has been included in Gartner's recent report "Elevate Customer Experience With Minor Investments That Deliver Major Benefits for Retail Digital Business."[*] The report states, "Smaller technology investments that can improve experience and delight customers are often deprioritized for more significant system investments. CIOs in retail can use the examples in this note to see how incremental investments can deliver big benefits to the business and its customers alike." Samuel Mueller, CEO of Scandit, said; "We are very pleased Gartner has included, what we believe is, our support for The Container Store's highly successful 'Scan & Deliver' initiative. We feel that the success of this program shows the benefits that our mobile data capture engine can bring to retailers keen to engage with their customers in innovative ways to enhance service and the customer buying experience. In our view, as the scope and application of our solutions continues to grow, we are able to support retailers and brands in new and innovative ways as they strive to gain competitive advantage and engage consumers to increase sales and customer loyalty." Scandit has enabled many global retailers to reap large benefits from small upfront investments in mobile data capture solutions. For example, UK online grocery marketplace Farmdrop has increased delivery accuracy rate to 100% and virtually eliminated scanning hardware costs with a Scandit-powered mobile delivery app, while mobile retail app Ibotta lets users scan receipt barcodes to receive awards, thus increasing adoption, user base, daily active users and redemption rate. Scandit and German drugstore chain dm-drogerie markt (dm) were recently honored with the retail technology award Europe (reta) 2018 for Best In-Store Solution. The award recognized dm's successful streamlining of in-store pickup of online orders by customers, as well as merchandise management by store employees, using smartphones running Scandit mobile data capture software. 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 Scandit At Scandit, we are helping business users and consumers to augment the physical world with relevant digital information in real time through barcodes, images and other visual identifiers captured with smart devices such as smartphones, wearables, drones, and robots. With our next-generation mobile data capture platform built on proprietary computer vision, machine learning and augmented reality, we enable businesses to unlock previously unavailable levels of insights into enterprise processes and workflows, resulting in more efficient decisions, more effective employees, lower cost and more satisfied customers and clients. Don't just take our word for it. Many of the world's most innovative and successful companies are already reaping the benefits of Scandit's next-generation mobile data capture platform. Our clients include Camelot, Doddle, Kantar Worldpanel, Sephora, TNT and Deutsche Post/DHL. For more information visit https://www.scandit.com. [*]The Gartner report referenced in this press release is: "Elevate Customer Experience with Minor Investments That Deliver Major Benefits for Retail Digital Business" (8 March, 2018) by Joanne Joliet & Kelsie Marian. SOURCE Scandit WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Sikorsky line of business honored its top suppliers at a recent ceremony in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-six suppliers were recognized March 15, including 19 that received honors as Sikorsky Elite Suppliers for best-in-class performance in achieving on-time delivery, cost and quality standards during 2017. Sikorsky Program Supplier of the Year award recipients Black Hawk program support: Safran Chihuahua, Mexico , provided the main harnesses for the UH-60M and HH-60M aircraft models resulting in historic cost savings over Multi-Year VIII prices. Safran also was honored as an Elite Supplier (see below). , provided the main harnesses for the UH-60M and HH-60M aircraft models resulting in historic cost savings over Multi-Year VIII prices. Safran also was honored as an Elite Supplier (see below). HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter: RA Lalli - Stratford, CT . RA Lalli was awarded 90 new parts on the CRH program, offering competitive pricing while beating the lead time requirements of the program. . RA Lalli was awarded 90 new parts on the CRH program, offering competitive pricing while beating the lead time requirements of the program. VH-92A: TIGHITCO - Berlin, CT . TIGHITCO provides the complex forward and aft stair doors for the VH-92 development program. TIGHITCO accepted the challenge of this complicated component and has delivered to its commitment. . TIGHITCO provides the complex forward and aft stair doors for the VH-92 development program. TIGHITCO accepted the challenge of this complicated component and has delivered to its commitment. S-97 Raider : Triumph Gear Systems Park City, UT . Triumph worked collaboratively with Sikorsky to develop a plan to reduce lead time on the gear box for the Raider program, supporting aircraft build schedule, while also supporting the JMR SB1> DEFIANT program. : Triumph Gear Systems . Triumph worked collaboratively with Sikorsky to develop a plan to reduce lead time on the gear box for the Raider program, supporting aircraft build schedule, while also supporting the JMR SB1> DEFIANT program. Aftermarket: Senior Aerospace - Enfield, CT . Senior provides world class customer service and support, as well as quick turn times to quote requests. Their Enfield facility is an industry leading shop. . Senior provides world class customer service and support, as well as quick turn times to quote requests. Their facility is an industry leading shop. CH-53K King Stallion: UTAS-Rome - Rome, NY . UTAS provides the tail drive components, shafts, bearing assemblies and disconnect couplings for the CH-53K. The company has supported quick repair turn-around time, early flight tests and has been forward looking on product improvements using the latest technologies. . UTAS provides the tail drive components, shafts, bearing assemblies and disconnect couplings for the CH-53K. The company has supported quick repair turn-around time, early flight tests and has been forward looking on product improvements using the latest technologies. Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program CH-148 Cyclone: Global Tooling Systems (GTS) Macomb, MI , GTS provided the straightening tool prototype for the CMHP program that were well received by the customer and performed beyond expectations. Sikorsky Elite Supplier honorees Aero Gear, Windsor, CT , engineering and manufacturing of aerospace gears, geared systems and gearbox assemblies for the global aerospace industry. First achieved Gold status in April 2016 and has been a Sikorsky supplier for 30 years. , engineering and manufacturing of aerospace gears, geared systems and gearbox assemblies for the global aerospace industry. First achieved Gold status in and has been a Sikorsky supplier for 30 years. Alpha Q, a small business supplier located in Colchester, CT . Alpha Q has over 50 years experience in precision machining, manufacture, assembly and test of aerospace alloy components. . Alpha Q has over 50 years experience in precision machining, manufacture, assembly and test of aerospace alloy components. ATI Cudahy, WI (ATI Ladish LLC Forging) and ATI East Hartford, CT (ATI Ladish Machining Machining) is a global manufacturer of technically advanced specialty materials and complex components. For Sikorsky, ATI provides critical rotor and transmission components for key helicopter programs. These components are produced from various titanium and steel alloys forged and heat treated at ATI's Cudahy Operations in Wisconsin. In addition, many of these forgings are then finish machined at ATI's East Hartford Operations in Connecticut . (ATI Ladish LLC Forging) and ATI (ATI Ladish Machining Machining) is a global manufacturer of technically advanced specialty materials and complex components. For Sikorsky, ATI provides critical rotor and transmission components for key helicopter programs. These components are produced from various titanium and steel alloys forged and heat treated at ATI's Cudahy Operations in Wisconsin. In addition, many of these forgings are then finish machined at ATI's East Hartford Operations in . Aurora Flight Science, Columbus, MI - A Sikorsky Supplier for over 10 years, Aurora's Aerostructures business unit specializes in complex design, build-to-print, and rapid prototyping of airframe structures and assemblies. - A Sikorsky Supplier for over 10 years, Aurora's Aerostructures business unit specializes in complex design, build-to-print, and rapid prototyping of airframe structures and assemblies. Cherokee Nation Distributors, Stillwell, OK - Cherokee Nation's engineering & manufacturing products include wire harness assemblies, electro-mechanical assemblies, interconnect solutions, distribution, and kitting. Additionally, CND offers laser and water-jet fabrication, 5-Axis machining, welding, and assembly for military aircraft, ground vehicles, missile, and UAV programs. GE Aviation, Clearwater, FL , provides the latest avionics systems technology to the aerospace commercial and military markets including navigation and guidance systems, mission management, data transfer systems, aviation computing and interface solutions. , provides the latest avionics systems technology to the aerospace commercial and military markets including navigation and guidance systems, mission management, data transfer systems, aviation computing and interface solutions. Hexcel Kent, WA , and Hexcel Salt Lake City, UT , is a global leader in manufacturing advanced composite materials and structures for the commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial markets. Hexcel is the proud supplier of a broad range of carbon fiber, prepreg, honeycomb core, composite parts and structure, to multiple Sikorsky rotorcraft programs. , and Hexcel , is a global leader in manufacturing advanced composite materials and structures for the commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial markets. Hexcel is the proud supplier of a broad range of carbon fiber, prepreg, honeycomb core, composite parts and structure, to multiple Sikorsky rotorcraft programs. IAI RAMTA, a division of Israeli Aerospace Industries, Ltd. , is an entirely government-owned and controlled corporation of the State of Israel. IAI RAMTA specializes in the design, conversion and manufacture of military and civilian aircraft and helicopter parts/aerostructures, and specializes in the re-design of aircraft components from metallic to composite materials. LORD, Dayton, OH provider of Elastomeric Bearings. In 2017, Lord supported Sikorsky with tail blade bearings for retrofit. LORD Corporation is a diversified technology and manufacturing company, developing highly reliable adhesives, coatings, motion management devices, and sensing technologies that significantly reduce risk and improve product performance. provider of Elastomeric Bearings. In 2017, Lord supported Sikorsky with tail blade bearings for retrofit. LORD Corporation is a diversified technology and manufacturing company, developing highly reliable adhesives, coatings, motion management devices, and sensing technologies that significantly reduce risk and improve product performance. Safran Electrical & Power - Chihuahua, Mexico , and Denton, Texas , is a global aerospace and defense company, and a world leader in electrical wiring Interconnection systems, ventilation and electrical power generation. Their capabilities support the entire electrical value chain from engineering design and certification, to manufacturing, integration, installation and aftermarket support. Safran Electrical and Power participates on multiple defense and commercial platforms for Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin including the Black Hawk, S-92 and F-16 programs. , and , is a global aerospace and defense company, and a world leader in electrical wiring Interconnection systems, ventilation and electrical power generation. Their capabilities support the entire electrical value chain from engineering design and certification, to manufacturing, integration, installation and aftermarket support. Safran Electrical and Power participates on multiple defense and commercial platforms for Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin including the Black Hawk, S-92 and F-16 programs. Senior Aerospace, Enfield, CT , is an aerospace components manufacturer, specializing in complex machining, assembly and coatings. Products include rotorcraft main rotor and tail rotor dynamic components, transmission and gearbox assemblies, and aero-engine components including rotating and non-rotating components. , is an aerospace components manufacturer, specializing in complex machining, assembly and coatings. Products include rotorcraft main rotor and tail rotor dynamic components, transmission and gearbox assemblies, and aero-engine components including rotating and non-rotating components. TATA Advanced Systems Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary & strategic entity of the global business conglomerate of TATA Sons in India . It is focused on providing integrated solutions for aerospace, defence and homeland security. It is also the global single source for Sikorsky's S-92 helicopter cabins with 140+ TASL made cabins flying worldwide. . It is focused on providing integrated solutions for aerospace, defence and homeland security. It is also the global single source for Sikorsky's S-92 helicopter cabins with 140+ TASL made cabins flying worldwide. Triumph Fabrications, an operating company of Triumph Precision Components, located in Hot Springs, AK, manufactures chemical milled, hydroformed, stretch formed, hot formed, and superplastic formed parts and assemblies for the aerospace and defense industries. Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) is Turkey's center of technology in design, development, modernization, manufacturing, integration and life cycle support of integrated aerospace systems, from fixed and rotary wing air platforms to UAVs and satellites. center of technology in design, development, modernization, manufacturing, integration and life cycle support of integrated aerospace systems, from fixed and rotary wing air platforms to UAVs and satellites. TEK Precision based in Deer Park, NY , was the first Sikorsky-sponsored Supplier Gold manufacturer, celebrating their 10 th year as a Gold/Elite supplier. TEK is a lean based manufacturer and provider of rotary mission system components for the UH-60 and derivative platforms. , was the first Sikorsky-sponsored Supplier Gold manufacturer, celebrating their 10 year as a Gold/Elite supplier. TEK is a lean based manufacturer and provider of rotary mission system components for the UH-60 and derivative platforms. TFab Manufacturing, LLC (TFab), a subsidiary of Tyonek Manufacturing Group, Inc., manufactures and assembles numerous products including relay panels for Sikorsky. In 2017, the company marked a significant milestone when the 10,000th relay panel for the Black Hawk was shipped. TFab was named Sikorsky's Supplier of the Year for Black Hawk Programs, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems' Outstanding Small Business, and has achieved Sikorsky Supplier Gold status since 2015. Presenting the awards were Dan Schultz, Sikorsky President, and Mike Ciocca, Vice President, Supply Chain. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. SOURCE Lockheed Martin Related Links http://www.lockheedmartin.com RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- High yield and Stoneville cotton seed are a match made in the Delta nearly 100 years ago that still performs today. To once more celebrate exceptional performance, Delta cotton growers recently earned membership into the Stoneville Legacy Club. Forty-five growers joined the Stoneville Legacy Club to celebrate high performance and 15 were recognized for harvesting yields in the top 10 percent of their Delta state Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee. Additionally, one grower won $500 in a sweepstakes drawing. John and Laura Bixler of Matthews, Missouri, were grabbed the High Yield Award at the Stoneville Legacy Club celebration this spring. The Bixlers harvested an average yield of 1,624 lb/A on 2017 Legacy Club qualifying acres planted to Stoneville 5020GLT and ST 4949GLT. "Delta growers choose Stoneville varieties because experience shows this cottonseed brand consistently performs at high levels," says Lauren Lechner, Delta campaign manager for Stoneville cotton seed. "Stoneville Legacy Club growers pair our elite germplasm with their quality management to deliver high yields year-in and year-out. Congratulations to all our Legacy Club members and thank you to all the growers who plant Stoneville varieties." Of those who qualified for the Stoneville Legacy Club, three were recognized with special awards. Highest Yield . John and Laura Bixler of Matthews, Missouri , harvested an average yield of 1,624 lb/A on Legacy Club qualifying acres planted to Stoneville 5020GLT and ST 4949GLT. . of , harvested an average yield of 1,624 lb/A on Legacy Club qualifying acres planted to 5020GLT and ST 4949GLT. Most Acres with Qualifying Yield . Rusty and Sheila Carter of Marianna, Arkansas , harvested an average of 1,100 lb/A on 1,200 acres planted to ST 4946GLB2 and ST 4949GLT. . of , harvested an average of 1,100 lb/A on 1,200 acres planted to ST 4946GLB2 and ST 4949GLT. Most Varieties on Qualifying Acres. Justin and Tonya Ling , New Madrid, Missouri , averaged 1,452 lb/A on qualifying acres planted to ST 5020GLT, ST 4949GLT and ST 4946GLB2. "Growers who paired their knowledge and skill with Stoneville varieties in 2017 proved that this Delta combination performs under rugged conditions," Lechner says. "In some years, nearly anybody can harvest a high yield from almost any variety. We all know 2017 wasn't one of those years in the Delta. To harvest high yield in 2017, growers paired our science, our varieties, with their art the knowledge and skill that maximizes yield and profit potential." Tough planting season? "Stoneville varieties are known to streak out of the ground," Lechner says. Rough weather at harvest? Lechner says: "Stoneville varieties have the potential to load up with bolls and finish with high yield and high quality even under stress." Want proof? Ask any Stoneville Legacy Club member. Growers who plant Stoneville cotton seed can talk to their sales representative to sign up for the 2018 Stoneville Legacy Club. To learn more about Stoneville varieties, visit Stoneville.com. Bayer is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.cropscience.bayer.us. Visit the Bayer Connect - Social Hub for social media, recent news, blog posts, videos and more from Crop Science, a division of Bayer. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2017, the Group employed around 99,800 people and had sales of EUR 35.0 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.4 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.5 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com. Contact : Bayer Media Hotline, 1-862-404-5118, or Linda Arnold-Whaley Crop Science, a division of Bayer Tel: (919) 549-2836 Email: [email protected] Pam Caraway Rhea + Kaiser Tel: (850) 758-8700 Email: [email protected] Find more information at www.cropscience.bayer.us. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. 2018 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer (reg'd), the Bayer Cross (reg'd), Legacy Club and Stoneville are trademarks of Bayer. For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.cropscience.bayer.us. SOURCE Bayer Related Links http://www.bayer.us COLUMBIA, Mo., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia, MO-based company StorageMart opened its 200th location on Thursday, March 8th, in Virginia Beach. This was the latest StorageMart grand opening in a string of acquisitions, with recent locations opening just weeks before in Grimes and Waukee, Iowa. StorageMart expects to add new self storage locations in Chaska, MN and Des Moines, IA within the month. The Des Moines area will benefit from the increase in storage options, as will the Minneapolis suburb. "We're working hard to hit our goal of 300 stores by 2021," says Cris Burnam, President of StorageMart. "Our acquisitions team is searching to find suitable locations, both new developments and storage facilities for sale by owner." With four new acquisitions in the past month, StorageMart is ahead of schedule for their expansion goals, and the company shows no sign of slowing down. "One hundred stores in three years may seem daunting to some," says Alex Burnam, Senior Acquisitions Analyst at StorageMart. "We've got the drive and financial backing to meet or exceed our goals by 2021. We're always on the lookout for great properties and facilities with easy access to highways, great amenities, and excellent visibility." StorageMart's expansion means more easy, clean storage service in more locations. Additional features at StorageMart facilities includes gated and PIN-code access, video monitoring, and well-lit exteriors. About StorageMart StorageMart started with a single store in Columbia, MO and has grown to be the largest privately-owned, family operated storage company in the world. StorageMart is led by the Burnam family, which has been in the storage industry for three generations. Dedicated to providing easy, clean and friendly service to each and every customer, StorageMart is also committed to giving back to the many communities it calls home through their Store it Forward program. In 2017, the company donated more than $159,000 to charities, in addition to donating over $370,000 in free rent to charities throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. Find out more at www.storage-mart.com. Contact: Sarah Little, [email protected] SOURCE StorageMart Related Links http://www.storage-mart.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Watermark, the largest provider of assessment software for higher education institutions worldwide, announced today that TCV has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the company. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions. TCV is one of the largest providers of capital to growth-stage private and public companies in the technology industry and has backed industry-leading technology companies including Airbnb, Capella Education, EA, EmbanetCompass, ExactTarget, HomeAway, Netflix, Spotify, and Zillow. Quad Partners and Watermark's management team will reinvest alongside TCV and will be joined by new investor Exceed Capital Partners. The investment will enable the company to accelerate growth and expand its leadership position through enhanced product offerings. As part of the transaction, TCV General Partner, Jake Reynolds, and Principal Nari Ansari will be joining Watermark's board of directors. Watermark provides educational intelligence systems that help colleges and universities gain insights into student learning so that they can improve the quality of educational programs, assess institutional effectiveness, and streamline the accreditation process. Watermark supports over 1,100 higher education institutions, including the majority of the top 200 U.S. News & World Report colleges. "It's no longer sufficient for institutions to retain and graduate students," said Watermark CEO Kevin Michielsen. "They need to demonstrate that their students have the knowledge and skills to thrive in an increasingly complex global society and that they are actively improving outcomes at all levels. TCV has a deep understanding of and experience in the education technology and software/SaaS markets, having worked with many leading companies to help them grow and scale. We are excited about a powerful set of investment partners, led by TCV, to help us take our company to the next level." "Watermark has built a unique cloud software suite to help colleges and universities use data to more comprehensively fulfill strategic objectives around both institutional effectiveness and accreditation," said Jake Reynolds, General Partner at TCV. "Over the past two decades, Watermark has developed the leading higher education assessment platform, and we are excited to partner with the management team and support their growth as they help institutions improve student learning and institutional outcomes," said Nari Ansari, Principal at TCV. About Watermark Watermark's mission is to put better data into the hands of administrators, educators, and learners everywhere in order to empower them to connect information and gain insights into learning which will drive meaningful improvements. Through its innovative educational intelligence platform, Watermark supports institutions in developing an intentional approach to learning and development based on data they can trust. Visit www.watermarkinsights.com to learn more. About TCV Founded in 1995, TCV provides capital to growth-stage private and public companies in the technology industry. Since inception, TCV has invested over $10 billion in leading technology companies and has helped guide CEOs through more than 110 IPOs and strategic acquisitions. TCV's investments include Airbnb, Altiris, AxiomSL, Dollar Shave Club, EmbanetCompass, EtQ, ExactTarget, Expedia, Facebook, Fandango, GoDaddy, HomeAway, LinkedIn, Netflix, OSIsoft, Rent the Runway, Sitecore, Splunk, Spotify, Varsity Tutors, and Zillow. TCV is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with offices in New York and London. For more information about TCV, including a complete list of TCV investments, visit https://www.tcv.com. Contacts: Watermark Victoria Guzzo Director of Corporate Communications 708.588.1735 [email protected] TCV Katja Gagen Marketing 415.690.6689 [email protected] SOURCE Watermark Related Links http://www.watermarkinsights.com Leading technology brand Huawei has today announced the launch of its new flagship 'intelligent' phone, the HUAWEI P20 Pro. By combining the world's first triple-lens Leica camera and exciting innovation, driven by Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Huawei delivers the most exceptional photography experience possible. At the launch, held at Paris' iconic Grand Palais, Huawei also announced a partnership with one of the worlds most celebrated supermodels and photographers, Helena Christensen, to shoot an intimate gallery of portraits. The series of portraits captures three fascinating subjects that showcase the vivid colours and stunning detail of photography delivered through the HUAWEI P20 Pro - in a greater level of detail than ever before. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659278/Huawei_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659279/Helena_Christensen.jpg ) The beautiful collection entitled "See More", focuses on the stories of three talented professionals, and demonstrates how HUAWEI P20 Pro allows photographers and viewers alike to see more of subjects, thanks to the perfect balance of light and detail in each portrait. The series demonstrates Helena's skill and dexterity as a photographer, effortlessly complemented by the incredible HUAWEI P20 Pro - bringing technology and creativity together in one perfect art form. The expertly-crafted Huawei 40MP Leica triple-lens combines with powerful proprietary innovation including object recognition and super slow-motion to deliver a professional photography experience. Recognised for iconic campaigns with fashion houses including Chanel, Versace and Prada, Helena Christensen is one of the world's most famous supermodels. Having long held a passion for photography, she has stepped back behind the camera lens in recent years to focus on her work as a photographer, and has been credited with exhibitions in galleries across the globe. "For this shoot, it was important to me that I captured the spirit and dedication of my subjects, and that my portraits faithfully convey what kind of person they are without the need for words," says Helena Christensen. "Shooting with the HUAWEI P20 Pro smartphone not only made this process a lot easier, but it also meant I could get a lot closer to these amazing women, as it removed the need for any additional equipment, effectively breaking down the physical barriers that previously stood between me and my subjects." Huawei worked closely with photographers and specialists at Leica Camera AG to develop and engineer a new generation of 'intelligent' phone that allows users to easily master the art of taking the perfect photograph. As a result, HUAWEI P20 Pro delivers the most advanced camera experience in a smartphone - the A.I. knows what makes a good picture. It automatically recognises and adjusts settings according to the subject matter to help enhance results, as well as give guidance on composition and framing, providing users with a lifetime of professional knowledge in an instant. Other features that enhance photography results include the largest light sensor in a smartphone (to allow in more light, resulting in a clear, focused image) and Super Night Mode (for incredible night-time photography). In addition, the HUAWEI FullView Display maximises the display for stunning visuals, whilst the ultra-efficient battery will keep users connected and shooting for hours. Plus, with HUAWEI SuperCharge they will be back up and running in just a few minutes* when a power top-up is finally needed! "With HUAWEI P20 Pro we are ushering in a new era of and benchmark for smartphone cameras," said Richard Yu, CEO Huawei Consumer Business Group. "HUAWEI P20 Pro combines the very latest in smartphone technology with Leica Camera's legendary expertise, to deliver an incredible master photography experience driven by A.I., giving users the tools to achieve professional-standard results with every shot.." Beautiful colourways make the HUAWEI P20 Pro a fashionable and stylish smartphone choice, allowing users to express their personality and emotion through their handset. Striking Twilight, Midnight Blue and Pink Gold hues complement more traditional Black shades, whilst the world's first gradient-coloured glass body provides another aesthetic twist to stand out from the crowd**. Helena's three subjects were specially chosen for the passion for perfection in their craft. Their portraits, taken by Helena Christensen using the HUAWEI P20 Pro allow us to "See More" of their dedication and commitment within their everyday lives. Helena captures the dedicated concentration of jewellery designer Adeline Rapon as she evolves and develops her designs; she captures the grace of ballerina Melissa Chapski as she perfects the perfect pirouette; and she photographs the enigmatic Maria Fagerstrom, an international pilot who has travelled almost every corner of the world. HUAWEI P20 and HUAWEI P20 Pro smartphones were launched at a spectacular event on Tuesday 27 March at the iconic Grand Palais in Paris. This stunning venue has long held strong associations with the world's most fashionable brands, from Chanel to Hermes; and Huawei follows in the footsteps of these designers to show the intersection of fashion and technology in the beautifully-crafted HUAWEI P20 series. For full details and to check availability in your region, please visit http://consumer.huawei.com . Follow Huawei on Instagram and Twitter (@HuaweiMobile) to discover more from the #SeeMooore campaign with Helena Christensen. Notes to editors * A 30-minute charge powers the battery to 58 percent, under laboratory conditions ** Gradient colourway available in the Twilight (ultra-violet) and Pink Gold SKUS For more information please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com For more campaign assets please visit: https://releasd.com/761e/ SOURCE Huawei CBG Committed to providing a definitive basis of data regarding the urologic community, the AUA launched its first Annual Census in 2014. It not only defined and estimated the practicing urologist population, but for the first time in the history of urology, reported the workforce and practice characteristics of the entire population of practicing urologists. Today, the Census remains a novel data source that explores the urologic profession and reports both cross-sectional variations and trends. Results from the survey provide an array of information aimed at bridging knowledge gaps, meeting increased research needs and ultimately, improving patient care. New to the 2017 AUA Annual Census Specialized questions intended to explore key areas of interest and/or emerging data needs were added to the 2017 Annual Census. These included questions pertaining to: Career satisfaction, as well as work-life balance factors Self-employment vs. general employment status Daily work hours, including night calls and patient interactions Accepted insurance providers and patient payer status Relative value units and amount of compensation related to clinical activities Practicing urologists in academic institutions Key Findings Highlights from the 2017 AUA Census data show: The 2017 U.S. urologist population consists of a total of 12,517 practicing urologists. The percentage of female urologists grew in 2017 to 8.8 percent of the U.S. urologist population, up from 8.5 percent in 2016. The percent of practicing urologists over the age of 55 increased to 52 percent in 2017 vs. 50.6 percent in 2016. Practicing urologists continued to see an average of 70 patients per week or 3,360 patients per year. Approximately 60 percent of practicing urologists in the United States work in private practice; while 39.5 percent practice in institutional settings such as hospitals or academic medical centers. Of the group in private practice, nearly 34 percent belong to single urology specialty groups and 16 percent belong to multispecialty groups. work in private practice; while 39.5 percent practice in institutional settings such as hospitals or academic medical centers. Of the group in private practice, nearly 34 percent belong to single urology specialty groups and 16 percent belong to multispecialty groups. Adopting electronic health records (EHRs) and fulfilling CMS mandates are the top issues causing job dissatisfaction among urologists. "The AUA U.S. Census data continue to demonstrate an evolving urologic workforce with increasing percentages of female practicing urologists, practicing urologists over the age of 55 and urologists who maintain their primary practice outside of metropolitan areas, said Steven M. Schlossberg, MD, chair of the AUA Data Committee. "As the AUA Annual Census enters its fifth year, it will continue to serve as a tool for researchers and a resource about the realities of practicing urology for health policy leaders." Copies of the full report can be found on the AUA Web site at www.AUAnet.org/CensusReport About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 21,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. Contact: Christine Frey, AUA 410-689-3731, [email protected] SOURCE American Urological Association Related Links http://www.AUAnet.org Now in its 16 th year, The TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards highlight the world's top properties based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected from travelers around the globe. It is presented annually to the top 1% of businesses in select categories, and based on over 600 million reviews The TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards highlight the very best out of more than 7.5 million accommodations, airlines, attractions, and restaurants around the world. "This year's Travelers' Choice awards for Hotels recognize thousands of exceptional accommodations that received the highest marks for value, service, amenities and overall experience from travelers worldwide," said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. With over 250 reviews and a 5-star average, guests rave about The Cliff Hotel's stunning location, calling it "absolute perfection" and the embodiment of "simple elegance, with all the modern conveniences." The hotel's Zest Restaurant led by internationally acclaimed chef Cindy Hutson is beloved by travelers, praising it as "a gem serving both local cuisine and chef specialties, one of the finest in the area." "To be voted overall winner in the Caribbean Luxury Hotel category, two years in a row is a proud moment for all the staff and made even more significant because it comes as a direct result of feedback from guests who have stayed with us," said co-owner Dalia Lagoa. For more information and to see more TripAdvisor reviews on The Cliff Hotel, go to: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147313-d8619482-Reviews-or5-The_Cliff_Hotel-Negril_Westmoreland_Parish_Jamaica.html About the Cliff Hotel Understatedly chic while infused with Jamaican culture, The Cliff Hotel is a private enclave established upon a spectacular five-acre peninsula on the western-most point of Jamaica in Negril, offering breathtaking views of the tranquil Caribbean Sea and Negril Cliffs. The intimate boutique property features a collection of 22 suites and 4 villas, including two stylish one-bedroom villas, a magnificent four- bedroom villa and exquisite five-bedroom villa. Guest accommodations are all designed in a modern Caribbean palette of clean lines and dark wood minimalist furniture, contrasted with a color palette inspired by Jamaica's sand and sea. The Cliff Hotel also boasts a natural saltwater pool nestled in the cliffs, the serene KiYara Spa, three bars, and Zest at The Cliff helmed by the celebrated Chef Cindy Hutson and partner Delius Shirley. A reinterpretation of the former Moon Dance Cliffs, The Cliff Hotel opened December 2015 following a rebrand and extensive renovation under the management of The Vagabond Group. The Cliff Hotel exudes warm Jamaican hospitality, quiet luxury and an inviting atmosphere for guests to immerse themselves in the diverse culture and heritage of Jamaica. Visit www.thecliffjamaica.com and follow The Cliff Hotel on Facebook and Instagram for more information. Information release by Digitaleer. Media Contact: Taji Reid West End Road Negril, Westmoreland Jamaica 1.800.213.0583 [email protected] SOURCE The Cliff Hotel Related Links http://www.thecliffjamaica.com LONDON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5360478 The global polyaryletherketone (PAEK) market size is expected to reach USD 1.50 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2017 to 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising demand for PAEK owing to its superior properties including high electrical strength, low permeability, good energy radiation resistance, and outstanding chemical resistance is expected to augment the industry size over the forecast period. Consumption of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) has been on a rise as it offers various properties such as inherent flame retardancy, compressive strength, and wear and creep resistance. This is expected to increase its demand in dental tools, body implants, and drug delivery in medical applications. The medical application segment accounted for 9.6% of the overall revenue in 2016 and is expected to witness strong growth on account of high usage of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) in the spinal area, anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion, rotator cuffs and shoulder labrum repair, maxillofacial defects, and dental work. Increasing demand for implants and nonmetal dental disc and sterilizing hardware in the medical sector is expected to augment PAEK demand. Further key findings from the report suggest: PEEK polymer is anticipated to witness significant volume gains with a predicted CAGR of 7.6% from 2017 to 2025. This is attributed to rising consumption in the automotive, medical, oil and gas, and aerospace industries. PEEK find application in products including bearings, electrostatic, cookware, industrial coatings, and body implants Asia Pacific has a strong customer base and accounted for 20.3% of the overall revenue in 2016. The automotive sector in Japan is one of the most prominent and significant industries in the world. Presence of key automobile companies, including Toyota, Honda, Daihatsu, Nissan, and Suzuki, is projected to have a positive impact on this market Increased penetration of aircraft manufacturers in China, along with rising government investments in R&D, is expected to drive the aerospace sector in the country, which will propel expansion of the market for PAEK Key players dominating the PAEK market are Victrex Plc., Evonik Industries AG, Gharda Chemicals Ltd., Caledonian Industries Ltd., JK Overseas, Solvay S.A., and Arkema Group. Product innovation is expected to remain a critical success factor for industry participants in future In February 2017, TxV Aero Composites, a joint-venture between Victrex Plc. and Tri-Mack Plastics Manufacturing Corporation, was formed to accelerate commercial adoption of PAEK composites in the aerospace industry In September 2017, Solvay S.A. announced it will produce high-performance polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polymers in U.S. in early 2018. This is to support its composite materials business so as to address rising demand in the aerospace industry. The company will commence production under the trade name NovaSpire at its site in Georgia, U.S. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5360478 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Swyfft, the fast-growing home insurance insurtech, today announced its plans to expand into New York and Florida. The company aims to be operating in New York in the next few weeks and Florida by June. While most insurtechs aim to replace the human touch altogether, Swyfft is bucking this industry trend by embracing independent agents and brokers and using AI to increase speed, convenience, and risk prediction accuracy to offer better pricing for customers. The company has experienced phenomenal growth - to the tune of 400% in the last six months alone, by tech enabling agents, helping them increase efficiency and serve customers better with fast and competitive pricing. In fact, founders, Sean Maher and Richard Trezza, estimate that almost half of homeowners could save 10-20% per year with Swyfft. "Across the country, weather is a leading cause of home damage with disasters like hurricanes and fires causing the highest costs. However, outdated pricing methodologies and a lack of insight have led to pricing inaccuracies, with homeowners having to bear the brunt of that through higher premiums. We want to change that," says Maher. Swyfft offers two distinct advantages compared to other insurers: the first, a bindable home insurance quote in five seconds on swyfft.com, requiring only a home address. The quote can then be easily customized, purchased, and a policy delivered by email in less than a minute. The second, using proprietary data and analytics, Swyfft can offer lower prices to some based on more accurate insights into expected future losses. To see how seamless the process is, go to swyfft.com. Swyfft home insurance is currently available in 7 states - IL, AL, CA, NJ, MA, NV, TX, with NY, and FL coming soon. The company has rapid expansion plans for 2018. Agents are encouraged to contact the company to get appointed. ABOUT Founded in 2014, by Sean Maher and Richard Trezza, Swyfft is disrupting the insurance industry, using big data and AI to save its customers time and money without sacrificing underwriting integrity. For more information go to swyfft.com or facebook.com/swyfft. Media Contact Tass Gunthelaka: [email protected] Agent Appointments Briana Baier: [email protected] SOURCE Swyfft LLC The PEEPS Brand Appoints the Energizer Bunny as Celebrity Creative Director Two iconic brands, PEEPS and Energizer, join forces to power up the 2018 Easter season with new, innovative designs DES MOINES, Iowa, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesway, the fast growing and innovative convenience store chain continues to expand its fuel team and improve its fuel offering under the direction of 40-year fuel industry veteran, Joseph (Joe) Petrowski. Mr. Petrowski, the former CEO of the Cumberland Farms Gulf Oil Group, joined Yesway in 2016 as a Senior Advisor to Yesway Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Nicholas Trkla, and as a member of the firm's Executive and Investment Committees. For the last two years, he has worked closely with Yesway's senior executives to implement the firm's strategic vision, refine and inform its business plan, and manage the firm's rapid growth. Last year, he officially assumed the role of Director of Fuels and since then he has been building out the Yesway fuel team with experienced industry veterans, including the recent hires of Darrin Renwick, as Senior Fuel Procurement Manager, and Joe Fandel, as Fleet and Wholesale Petroleum Sales Manager. As Senior Fuel Procurement Manager, Mr. Renwick is responsible for all fuel procurement and pricing. He brings a deep background in logistics and transportation to Yesway, having most recently served as Logistics Supervisor/Optimizer for Pilot Flying J Travel Centers. Mr. Renwick graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Supply Chain Logistics. In his capacity as Fleet and Wholesale Petroleum Manager, Mr. Fandel is responsible for increasing fuel sales and driving profitable gallons to Yesway stores primarily through the implementation of Yesway's newly-launched fleet card program. Mr. Fandel brings to Yesway a wealth of experience and industry knowledge in fleet card sales and account management. Prior to joining Yesway, Mr. Fandel served as Fleet Card Sales Manager at Kum & Go. Mr. Fandel graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Liberal Sciences degree. Mr. Fandel will report directly to Mr. Renwick. "I believe that our team of experienced professionals and analysts will be able to achieve Yesway's long-term goal to be the fuel destination of choice in our respective market areas," said Mr. Petrowski. "Our aim is to be a great chain retailer. To accomplish this, we need to continue to increase both our weekly gallons sold and individual transactions from drive-by traffic, and from our fleet and loyalty destination customers. Not only will high volume fuel sites drive our growth, but with Yesway's exceptional in-store offerings, including our expanded food service products, we should see a significant contribution to site profitability from the over 65 percent of fuel customers who transact inside our stores after a fuel purchase. I look forward to guiding Darrin and Joe and the rest of our team to deliver on all aspects of an outstanding fuel marketing effort, including, expanding the number of suppliers and sourcing terminals to lower our procurement costs, implementing competitive, real-time pricing, putting in place state-of-the-art inventory tracking systems to reduce risk and eliminate outages, using social media to drive additional traffic and loyalty card purchases, making targeted site modifications to improve customer flow, and greatly expanding our fleet and contract marketing programs." "Joe Petrowski is a driving force behind the evolution of the c-store and fuel retail industry and I could not be more pleased that, in addition to serving as a key member of Yesway's Executive Committee, he is now leading all fuel initiatives for the firm," said Mr. Trkla. "As we continue to grow our portfolio, Joe's proven track record, decades of experience, and depth and breadth of industry connections are proving invaluable to our exceptional management and operations teams and to me. We are extremely fortunate to have Joe as an integral part of a senior management team dedicated to building a c-store chain that strives to deliver terrific customer service to everyone who visits any of our stores." Yesway's swiftly expanding portfolio currently consists of 88 stores located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. "Our pipeline of portfolio and individual store acquisitions remains robust," said Mr. Trkla. "We currently have an additional 57 stores under contract to acquire over the next several months and feel very confident that we can acquire an additional 120-130 stores per year over the next three years in order to reach our goal of becoming a 500+ c-store company." Editor Note: To arrange interviews with Yesway executives, please contact Erin Vadala of Warner Communications at [email protected] or 978-468-3076. High-resolution images and graphics are available on request. About Yesway BW Gas & Convenience, d/b/a Yesway, is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Yesway recently debuted at #7 on the Convenience Store News "2018 Top 20 Growth Chains" list and was named a "2017 Chain to Watch" by Convenience Store Decisions. Yesway plans to acquire, improve, and rebrand 500 convenience stores in selected regions of the United States over the next several years. For more information on Yesway, please visit the company' website at www.yesway.com About Joe Petrowski - Mr. Petrowski is a member of the Board of Directors of South Jersey Industries, a publicly-traded natural gas utility and national energy merchant, a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Advisory Council, a Trustee of both Boston College High School and Trinity Catholic Schools, and also serves on the Board of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers. He has written numerous articles on energy and public policy, regulation, and market development, and is a frequent guest on MSNBC, CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg Radio. He has been a contributing editor to the Wall Street Journal and has testified before Congress and several regulatory agencies on energy and international trade issues. Mr. Petrowski is a cum laude graduate of Harvard University. Contact: Erin Vadala, Warner Communications; (978) 468-3076; [email protected] SOURCE Yesway Related Links http://www.yesway.com PHOENIX, March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tresona and an Ad-Hoc Committee of Orchestra executives, convened with the assistance of the League of American Orchestras, chaired by Alan Valentine, The President and CEO of the Nashville Symphony, representing some of the largest Orchestras in the United States and Canada, announced a landmark opt-in agreement that will assist in ensuring that composers and songwriters will be correctly compensated when custom arrangements and orchestrations are created from their compositions. The agreement establishes a better path forward for making it easier for Orchestras to obtain the necessary licensing and for publishers to administer their rights. For years, the issue of "unlicensed charts" -- the lack of obtaining proper licensing to create the orchestration and the lack of paying rental fees or "usage fees" for these charts -- has created difficulties in making sure that proper royalties were paid to writers and publishers. Not only does the agreement address these problems, it also facilitates the ability of Orchestras to properly compensate publishers and songwriters. The deal will allow Orchestras to identify charts that are in their possession and may have inadvertently gone unlicensed so that the rights holders can be alerted to the location of their intellectual property. It will allow the entire industry to benefit by removing a cloud of uncertainty surrounding these charts. This agreement also will allow royalties to be promptly paid to their rightful owners in the future. The agreement is a key step in improving transparency in the music community and ensuring that music's creators receive royalties when their music is used. This agreement addresses the needs of the Orchestras, who are the primary users of these charts, and the artist community, such as conductors, performers, packagers and talent agencies, who are the most frequent suppliers of these charts. National Music Publishers' Association President and CEO David Israelite praised the agreement, saying, "NMPA's goal has always been to ensure publishers and songwriters receive the money they deserve. I am thrilled that through this agreement both independent and major publishers and songwriters will be able to get what is owed to them. We must continue to push all performing ensembles and producers of orchestrations to pay for the musical works that fuel their businesses and after much work together, we have found a way for orchestras to quickly obtain the rights they need and to get royalties to the right people. I look forward to all songwriters and composers being paid what they are owed, and I am excited about the creation of a better process moving forward." Tresona Co-President Larry Mills said, "As we have said many times, we are committed to making sure that songwriters and publishers are properly compensated for the use of their music and making sure that all proper licenses are obtained. We are appreciative of the hard work of every Publisher and Songwriter whose input into this Agreement has been invaluable. I would like to thank Alan Valentine and his Ad-Hoc Committee for extending their hand in friendship to the songwriting community." Committee Chair Alan Valentine said, "America's orchestras have long been champions of the work of composers, songwriters and arrangers, and we are pleased to be involved in addressing these issues and working to find a path forward, including better education as it relates to copyright issues within the field. We are all part of the greater creative community and it's important that we work together in a positive manner whenever possible." The agreement: Includes a mechanism for all musical charts in the possession of the orchestras and those who create these charts to be accounted for and properly assigned to the correct right holder(s). Includes a path forward to making sure that all applicable licensing revenues are paid promptly to the rights holders. Provides a path to direct licensing between Orchestras and publishers, with the goal of strengthening business relationships. About Tresona: Founded in 2009, Tresona is the world's largest issuer of derivative works licensing on behalf of music publishers. Tresona's proprietary technology allows publishers the comprehensive ability to administer their rights while offering licensees unprecedented access to their catalogues. Tresona is a member of the NMPA and AIMP and the Tresona Licensing platform is located at www.tresonamusic.com. Advisors Tresona was advised by lead counsel Jay Rosenthal, Esq. at Mitchell, Silberberg and Katz, and Kent Marcus, Esq. of Marcus & Colvin, LLP, Brad Denton, Esq. of Denton Peterson, PLC, Andrew Pacheco, Esq. of Ryan Rapp & Underwood, Grant Woods, Esq. of Grant Woods Law and Jann-Michael Greenburg. The Committee was advised by Lynn Morrow, Esq. at Adams and Reese LLP Media Contact: Larry Mills, 888-587-3766, [email protected] SOURCE Tresona Multimedia, LLC Related Links http://www.tresonamusic.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitaly Pruss, President of TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, reports that the meeting between the official delegation from the City of Kharkiv, Ukraine and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and John Huvane, CEO of Giuliani Security & Safety, was a success. The City of Kharkiv was represented by First Vice Mayor Igor Terekhov. During the meeting Mr. Terekhov expressed gratitude to Mr. Giuliani from Kharkiv's Mayor Gennadiy Kernes for assisting in organization of the visit of Kharkiv representatives, with the aim being to study the setup and experience of the Offices for Public Security and Offices for Emergency Management in the states of New York and New Jersey. The parties also discussed the areas of future cooperation with the goal of establishing and operating a new Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv. During the meeting Mr. Giuliani emphasized that the creation of an Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv is an important step for implementing the previously relayed recommendations for improved Kharkiv security system development. (Presetned by Mr. Giuliani during his visit to Kharkiv in November 2017.) "The establishment of the single Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv and the prompt interaction of all necessary agencies of the city will increase the overall level of security, and will also provide an opportunity for prompt response to emergencies," Giuliani said. "And thus," adds Mr. Pruss, "the city will become safer and more attractive to investors." A separate topic in the meeting was devoted to discussing software development issues related to the United States Centers for Emergency Response. Moving forward, Giuliani Security & Safety will provide expert assistance in creating an Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv. TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, a New York-based business development company which facilitated introduction between the City of Kharkiv and Giuliani Security & Safety, is going to be involved in future cooperation with potential partners and investors as well. For more information on TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, please visit http://tgsv.net/. SOURCE TriGlobal Strategic Ventures Related Links http://www.tgsv.net RICHMOND, Va., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TriMech, a premier reseller of SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software and Stratasys 3D printers, announces their new partnership with CAMWorks, the first SOLIDWORKS Certified Gold product for CAM software. CAMWorks offers TriMech clients knowledge-based machining capabilities, allowing them to seamlessly integrate design and manufacturing processes under one system. This level of CNC programming automation and Machining Intelligence helps machinists and product-oriented manufacturing companies to automate the creation of CNC toolpaths, improve design-to-manufacturing processes and maximize machining efficiency. Enhancements such as Integrated CAM Programming, Automatic Feature Recognition and Engineering Changes set CAMWorks apart from other design for additive manufacturing solutions. "Partnering with CAMWorks was a no brainer when it comes to providing our customers with the most optimal machining strategy on the market," said Marcel Matte, President of TriMech. "Having an intuitive CAM software that is user friendly and tightly integrated with SOLIDWORKS is a huge plus for our clientbase." In addition to CAMWorks software, TriMech is a one-stop shop for solutions including the entire SOLIDWORKS portfolio, complete Stratasys 3D printer line up, Artec 3D scanners, Desktop Metal printers, Rapid Prototyping Services, Staffing and other engineering solutions. With over 25 offices covering the East Coast from Maine to Florida, TriMech services 16,000+ clients. "With TriMech being a leading SOLIDWORKS solution partner, it was a logical next step to join forces with their team," said Christian Briscoe, Global Sales Channel Manager. "We're excited to grow our partnership and continue to lead the way for CAM in Smart Manufacturing." For more information, contact Angie Droz or visit our customer information page. About TriMech Since 1998, TriMech has helped clients design better products by offering a complete engineering solution including but not limited to the entire SOLIDWORKS product lineup, Stratasys 3D printers, Artec 3D scanners, Desktop Metal, CAMWorks and other engineering services. We boast the largest and most knowledgeable engineering team on the East Coast, providing world-class technical support, robust training, rapid prototyping, consulting, implementation and staffing services to our clients. For more information about TriMech, please visit www.TriMech.com or https://blog.trimech.com/ and call 888.874.6324. Follow us on LinkedIn. About CAMWorks CAMWorks, a parametric, solids-based CNC programming software system, brings in a revolutionary way to help machinists around the world program smarter and machine faster. CAMWorks significantly reduces programming time and removes the drudgery from CNC programing by using patented Feature Recognition technology in conjunction with full toolpath to solid-model associativity and knowledge-based machining. For more information, go to www.camworks.com. Contact: Angie Droz TriMech 1626 Downtown West Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37919 877.553.9001 www.TriMech.com SOURCE TriMech Related Links http://www.TriMech.com WASHINGTON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The farmers and ranchers who helped put Donald Trump into the White House still give him relatively high marks, but there appears to be some erosion in the number who would like to see him re-elected, according to a new Agri-Pulse survey. Agri-Pulse survey respondents, conducted by Aimpoint Research The nationwide telephonic survey of 750 farmers and ranchers covered a wide variety of topics, including perspectives on Trump's and Ag Secretary, Sonny Perdue's performance during their first year in office, top grower concerns and potential farm bill changes. The phone calls were conducted from Feb. 26-March 9 by Aimpoint Research. Overall, Trump's approval rating in farm country is significantly higher than the general population. Almost 51 percent say they strongly or somewhat approve of how the president is handling his job. That number jumped to over 54 percent when we looked at Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents. A whopping 96 percent of Democrats don't like his actions. Support for Trump in farm country is significantly different than in urban areas. In the latest Quinnipiac University National Poll, only 36 percent approved of Trump out of 1,249 voters nationwide. In farm country, Trump is still "above water," but his disapproval rate is not far behind at 46 percent. Perdue, who was confirmed in late April of last year, has slightly higher approval ratings than his boss, with 64 percent saying they either strongly or somewhat approve of his performance, compared to 36 percent who disapprove. Almost 67 percent of the survey participants said they voted for Trump, versus only 24 percent for Hillary Clinton. But when all respondents were asked if they would support Trump's reelection, only 45 percent said they would do so, representing an almost 20 percent drop in support from both Trump and Clinton voters. However, many may be reserving judgment to see how some of his actions play out: Another 18 percent said they did not know how they will vote in 2020. "The farmers I talk to are very concerned about trade, and while they are willing to give the President the benefit of the doubt in the hope that his actions will result in better deals, folks are getting pretty nervous," says Blake Hurst, a Tarkio, Missouri, farmer who leads the Missouri Farm Bureau. Plus, Hurst says there may be a delayed reaction to the benefits of the tax cuts. "Unlike wage earners who are seeing an increased paycheck because of lower withholding, farmers won't see the actual benefits of the tax cut until next year, as they prepare for March 1 tax deadline." Gordon Stoner, a Montana wheat grower who is the immediate past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, also says that President Trump's actions on trade are causing anxiety for farmers. "As Trump's rhetoric becomes a reality, rural America is coming to realize the potential economic impact on their checkbook and may vote accordingly in future elections. Ag depends on robust export markets, and the President's actions in the trade arena are damaging ag." When asked about critical issues facing the entire country, concerns about terrorism once again surfaced as a top concern. But the second most popular ag-related response was "securing an adequate labor supply." That's an issue that typically scores high in fruit- and vegetable-growing regions of the country, but 75 percent of the participants hailed from the Plains States through the Midwest - underscoring how difficult it has become for farmers in all parts of the country to find a labor force. For farmers and ranchers struggling to find good workers, "stopping illegal immigration" scored lowest. Respondents were asked to rate a variety of issues from 1-10, with ten being the highest. The Trump administration has been focused on removing regulatory burdens on farms and ranches, but our survey group thinks they could do more. When asked about their level of satisfaction with federal actions to eliminate regulations, the average was 6.12. The recently enacted tax reform package didn't seem to generate a lot of satisfaction either generating an average score of 6.01. National security and adequate labor supply are most important to farmers while stopping illegal immigration is less of a priority. To gauge support for some likely farm bill changes, the survey participants were asked a series of questions about policy issues. There was strong support for increasing the size of the Conservation Reserve Program, as some lawmakers have proposed. The vast majority, about 85 percent, said the 24 million-acre cap on enrollment in the CRP should be increased. Nearly 75 percent of farmers believe the cap should be increased to at least 31 million acres. Asked about CRP rental rates, most farmers believe that rental rates in the program are adequate. Twenty-nine percent said they were too high, 22 percent said they were too low, while 49 percent said they were about right. Crop insurance remains a top priority. Almost 90 percent of the 750 farmers and ranchers surveyed said they purchased some form of crop insurance, and 94 percent said it was somewhat or extremely important to their businesses. For more information, contact Sandra Cowherd at 573-873-0800 or [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg national-security-and-an-adequate.jpg National security and an adequate labor supply are most important to farmers, while stopping illegal immigration is less of a priority SOURCE Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. AUCKLAND, New Zealand and CHICAGO, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Air New Zealand today announced it will begin new nonstop service between Auckland and Chicago, beginning Nov. 30, 2018. The new service announcement deepens the joint venture relationship between Air New Zealand and United Airlines. In addition to the new route announcement, United announced it will extend its seasonal service between San Francisco and Auckland to year-round beginning April 2019. "We expect the addition of Chicago to our network to be an attractive option for Americans keen to explore New Zealand and Kiwis wanting to visit Chicago or head on to other North American destinations," says Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon. "As well as being great for travelers, this new route is also good news for New Zealand, as we expect it to contribute around $70 million annually to our economy, and we know that more than 50 percent of spending by U.S. visitors is done outside of the main centers. We'll be working alongside our colleagues at United Airlines to grow the route and visitor numbers in both directions." "By adding Chicago to the Air New Zealand route network, and with United's increased service between San Francisco and Auckland, we are proud to offer our customers more ways to get between the United States and New Zealand and more connection opportunities in those cities than any other airline in the world," said United's International Network Vice President Patrick Quayle. "Today's announcements are great examples of the customer benefits that result from the strong, strategic alliance and partnership between United Airlines and Air New Zealand." Air New Zealand service between Auckland and Chicago From Nov. 30, 2018, Air New Zealand will operate three times weekly, year-round service with its new configuration Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound. Air New Zealand code share service will be offered on around 100 flights across the U.S. for convenient connections to Auckland via Chicago. United Airlines operates more flights from its hub at O'Hare International Airport than any other airline, with more than 500 flights to 147 airports across the United States. United expands service between San Francisco and Auckland Beginning in April 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United's flight arriving in Auckland will offer passengers more than 20 connections across the region. The return trip utilizes United's extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United operates more than 290 daily flights from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to 79 airports across the U.S. and 26 international destinations. Tickets for the expanded San Francisco schedule will be available on united.com and airnewzealand.com later this year. United service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER between November and March and will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft between April and October. Since United and Air New Zealand began their alliance in 2016, the joint venture has opened up more travel options for U.S. and New Zealand travelers than ever before. Overall passenger volumes have grown as customers traveling from New Zealand to the U.S. connect to United's broad domestic network from its hubs in Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Air New Zealand's new flights to Chicago are now available at airnewzealand.com and will be available on Friday, March 30, 2018 on united.com. The new Chicago Auckland Northern Winter 2018 schedule from 30 November 2018 is as follows: Flight No. Operated by Aircraft type Departs Arrives Effective dates Frequency NZ26 (UA6728) Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Auckland 20:10 Chicago 16:15 30 Nov 2018 8 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri, Sun NZ26 (UA6728) Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Auckland 20:10 Chicago 17:15 10 Mar 2019 29 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri, Sun NZ27 (UA6727) Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Chicago 19:10 Auckland 06:30+2 30 Nov 2018 8 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri, Sun NZ27 (UA6727) Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Chicago 20:10 Auckland 06:30+2 10 Mar 2019 29 Mar 2019 Wed, Fri, Sun Flights will arrive into and depart from Terminal 5 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The above timings are subject to change. About United Airlines United Airlines, including United Express, is a U.S.-based airline operating approximately 4,500 flights a day to 338 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. United operates 744 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 507 regional aircraft. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL. About Air New Zealand Air New Zealand is multi-award winning international airline which delivers uniquely Kiwi journeys to more than 16 million customers who fly to, from and within New Zealand each year. The airline operates on average more than 3,500 flights each week, connecting customers to 21 destinations within New Zealand and to international ports across Asia, Europe, Australia, North and South America and the Pacific Islands. For more information, visit www.airnewzealand.co.nz or follow the airline on Facebook or Twitter. About Star Alliance The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,400 daily flights to 1,300 airports in 191 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Airlines. For more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com and/or follow Star Alliance on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube , LinkedIn or Instagram. SOURCE United Airlines Related Links http://www.united.com Illnesses and infections can be particularly damaging to school districts. From illness-related absenteeism to closures, schools can suffer negative effects academically and financially. Not only can student absences severely impact students' academic success and even lead to higher instances of dropouts, but, on average, teacher absence costs schools more than $25 billion annually. [1] With such high stakes, school districts need to be confident that their cleaning and disinfection products and protocols are up to the challenge. The illness-causing germs that often result in school-wide outbreaks such as norovirus, cold and flu can persist on surfaces from days to months. For example, influenza can survive on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours while norovirus can survive on hard surfaces from days to weeks making thorough cleaning and disinfection imperative to protecting students and staff.[2],[3] Knowing the negative impact illnesses can have on students' academic success in addition to schools' bottom lines, Upper Deerfield proactively purchased the Clorox Total 360 System to incorporate into our current cleaning and disinfecting protocols to provide an extra line of defense against the most common culprits in the academic environment including cold, flu and norovirus. The Clorox Total 360 System works by charging and atomizing the Clorox disinfecting or sanitizing solution and delivering a powerful flow of the charged particles that are attracted to surfaces with a force stronger than gravity. This allows the solution to easily reach and uniformly coat surfaces, including germ hotspots like the sides, underside, and backside of surfaces that may be easily missed or cannot be reached during manual cleaning. "Academic environments present a unique challenge for custodial staff. From shared classrooms and school supplies to shared gym equipment and toys, there are countless opportunities for germs to spread between students and staff," said Bill Widen, Certified Educational Facilities Manager at Upper Deerfield Township schools. "Due to the vast amounts of shared spaces and surfaces, the moment one student is sick the next thing you know, the entire class is sick. However, with the Clorox Total 360 System we can now reach more surfaces, more quickly allowing my team to work more efficiently and effectively, providing better protection than we ever could through manual cleaning and disinfection alone." Upper Deerfield uses the Clorox Total 360 System across a wide range of frequently shared spaces including classrooms, gym locker rooms and field houses to ensure thorough cleaning and disinfection of all frequently shared surfaces and germ hot spots. "We use several other Clorox Professional products so the decision to invest in the Clorox Total 360 System was a natural progression. We trust Clorox Professional products and in our experience, their products have always lived up to their reputation, so when we wanted to find a tool to help us cover a lot of surfaces quickly while still providing us with the efficacy needed to kill viruses and bacteria, we knew the Clorox Total 360 System was the only way to go," added Widen. "My team and I strongly believe in prevention because when you are proactive, you face less problems and emergencies. This innovative technology will not only help us maintain the cleanliness in our schools but also, and more importantly, protect everyone in them." To learn more about the Clorox Total 360 System, visit www.CloroxTotal360.com. About Upper Deerfield Township School District The Upper Deerfield Township School District envisions a district that will prepare students to be contributing citizens both within their school community and in the communities that represent the world in which they will live. To accomplish this, Upper Deerfield Township will maintain a staff of professionals dedicated to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the New Jersey Standards for Professional Development. The diverse student population in Upper Deerfield Township School District has created a need for multi-faceted approach to learning. This will be an approach that encourages continued collegial interaction, enhances both student and adult learning through current educational research, offers a safe and supportive environment, and strengthens the role of parents and community members in the school setting while continuing to develop a district dedicated to the belief that life-long learning is a vital part of the educational process and will be the shared responsibility of our total school community. [1] How Dirty is Your Child's School." ISSA, Nov. 29, 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.issa.com/certification-standards/clean-standard-k-12/how-dirty-is-your-childs-school-infographic/how-dirty-is-your-childs-school-infographic-full.html. (Accessed Jan. 11, 2018). [2] Bean, B., Moore, BM., Sterner, B., Peterson, LR., Gerding, DN., and Balfour, HH Jr. "Survival of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces." J Infect Dis. 1982. 146 (1), 47-51. [3] "Norovirus Illness: Key Facts." Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/downloads/keyfacts.pdf (Accessed Jan. 11, 2018). SOURCE Upper Deerfield Township School District Related Links http://www.udts.org/udts/ Justice Stevens never agreed with the narrowly decided SCOTUS decisions less than a decade ago devising a personal right to bear arms. Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images In the minds of most gun enthusiasts, the idea that the Second Amendment was consciously designed by the Founders as a bedrock right to horde shooting irons, either for self-protection or to overthrow future tyrants, is beyond question. But as retired Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens reminds us today, the personal right to bear arms as a premise of constitutional law is actually less than a decade old. For over 200 years after the adoption of the Second Amendment, it was uniformly understood as not placing any limit on either federal or state authority to enact gun control legislation. In 1939 the Supreme Court unanimously held that Congress could prohibit the possession of a sawed-off shotgun because that weapon had no reasonable relation to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia. That precedent held until June of 2008, when by a 54 margin in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller the court finally recognized a right to civilian firearm ownership for self-protection. Stevens wrote the main dissenting opinion in that case, which featured this argument: Neither the text of the Amendment nor the arguments advanced by its proponents evidenced the slightest interest in limiting any legislatures authority to regulate private civilian uses of firearms. Specifically, there is no indication that the Framers of the Amendment intended to enshrine the common-law right of self-defense in the Constitution. It wasnt until 2010, in the case of McDonald v. Chicago that another 54 Supreme Court majority determined that its novel interpretation of personal, civilian gun rights would be binding on the states via the 14th Amendment. Again Stevens wrote the principal dissent, arguing that even if theres some personal right to bear arms outside the militia context, its hardly the sort of liberty interest that requires its imposition on the states. This treatment of the subject is far, far away from the standard conservative treatment of the Second Amendment as the most fundamental right of them all, extending not just to the sawed-off shotguns Congress was regulating in 1939 to all sorts of military and quasi-military weapons. Yes, Stevens was in the minority in those two landmark cases, but the point to keep in mind is that the arguments about the Second Amendment assumed as being self-evidently true by gun rights advocates these days are, from the point of view of constitutional law, fragile and recent. And even conservative jurists were dismayed by the gun lobbys efforts to change constitutional law on this subject, as Stevens points out: During the years when Warren Burger was our chief justice, from 1969 to 1986, no judge, federal or state, as far as I am aware, expressed any doubt as to the limited coverage of that [Second] amendment. When organizations like the National Rifle Association disagreed with that position and began their campaign claiming that federal regulation of firearms curtailed Second Amendment rights, Chief Justice Burger publicly characterized the N.R.A. as perpetrating one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American public by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime. Stevens understands how much water has gone over that particular dam in the years since the Heller decision. And so he is now advocating a constitutional amendment to remove the Second Amendment altogether, as a relic of the 18th century that is enabling gun violence. Four Best Friends From Parkland Explain Why March for Our Lives Matters Constitutional amendments, of course, are all but impossible to enact these days, and the zeal, paranoia, and vast resources the gun lobby would bring to bear in opposition to any effort to remove the Second Amendment make that idea a total nonstarter. Whats less fanciful is the possibility that a Democratic president or two could make Supreme Court appointments leading to a partial or even total reversal of the not-so-well-established precedent of Heller. And at the very least, a different Court could head off some expansion of Second Amendment rights to make it an absolute ban on gun regulations, or worse yet, a warrant for extremists to prepare for armed insurrection against a tyrannical liberal government. Percepta is a unique daily oral supplement for the normal aging brain. It contains a patented formulation of polyphenol-containing PTI-00703 cat's claw ( Uncaria tomentosa ) and a specific oolong tea extract. No other memory supplement in the world contains PTI-00703 cat's claw, the subject of more than 50 patents and over 29,000 hours of documented scientific research, including studies funded by the National Institute on Aging. What are Brain Plaques and Tangles? Clinical studies and peer-reviewed publications have directly linked the formation of brain plaques and tangles to normal age-related memory loss. It is also now widely accepted by researchers and health care experts that this memory loss begins in early adulthood, sometimes as early as the second decade of life, when brain plaques and then tangles, may begin to form. Plaques are abnormal clusters of chemically-sticky protein fragments called beta-amyloid that build up between neurons (i.e. nerve cells) preventing them from properly communicating. The beta-amyloid protein is neurotoxic and can lead to dying neurons in the brain. On the other hand, tangles, form inside neurons and are twisted fibers of tau protein. In areas of the brain where tangles are forming, neurons also begin to die. Dr. Alan Snow, founder and CEO of Cognitive Clarity Inc. commented on the product launch of Percepta, "I've been working in memory loss and brain aging research for over 30 years with significant focus on the accumulation of brain plaques and tangles. In that time, I have not seen anything work like Percepta as documented and demonstrated in extensive preclinical research studies." Dr. Snow continued, "The precise ratio of PTI-00703 cat's claw and oolong tea extract (i.e. MemorTeaTM) found in each Percepta capsule is the best-in-class key to combating normal adult age-related memory loss." Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Cognitive Clarity Inc., and the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard University commented, "My life's work has been to assist people in maintaining healthy brains and brain function as they age. PerceptaTM is a true advancement in this effort as it is a unique, natural, plant-based supplement with strong potential for mitigating the effects of normal age-related memory loss. I am pleased to know it is now widely available to individuals." About Percepta Percepta is a unique daily oral supplement for the normal aging brain. It contains a proprietary formulation of polyphenol-containing PTI-00703 cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and oolong tea extract. The specific cat's claw bark extract in Percepta, known as PTI-00703, is found primarily in the Amazon rainforest, and is sourced exclusively to Cognitive Clarity Inc. Dr. Alan Snow's research teams discovered new key polyphenol ingredients in PTI-00703 cat's claw important for the reduction of brain plaques and tangles. The second major ingredient in Percepta is a specific oolong tea extract harvested from the Guan Yin mountain in China. Building upon centuries of evidence in Chinese medicine, Snow's recent studies show this key extract contains components important for potent brain plaque and tangle inhibitory activity and delivers L-theanine, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals vital to brain health. Cognitive Clarity Inc. has an exclusive sourcing agreement for this unique ingredient in Percepta and has trademarked it as MemorTea. To learn more about the first plant-based nootropic nutraceutical that targets the proven cause of age-related memory loss, please visit www.perceptabrain.com. Percepta is available for purchase at www.amazon.com. About Cognitive Clarity Inc. Cognitive Clarity Inc. develops breakthrough nutraceuticals to support the aging brain, cognition and memory and its team is fully committed to understanding and improving brain health and memory. The Company researches and develops memory-support supplements, as well as foods and beverages that reduce and prevent brain plaques and tangles that accumulate during normal aging. The Company was co-founded in 2015 by world renowned neuroscientists and researchers Dr. Alan Snow and Dr. Rudolph Tanzi and is headquartered in Edmonds, WA, USA. For more information please visit, www.perceptabrain.com. Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. SOURCE Cognitive Clarity Inc. Related Links www.perceptabrain.com Foss, a Danish company and producer of innovative analytical instruments that monitor and control food quality, has opened a business services center in Warsaw. The new office commenced operations at the beginning of March and will be responsible for handling IT, HR and other administrative services. The Danish company plans [] Savills Australia is welcoming a new director to help lead the Victorian business capital transactions division. With 13 years experience in commercial property agency and valuations, James Girvan returns to Savills with $3 billion worth of commercial property transactions under his belt. Girvan has relocated from Sydney to Melbourne to fill the role. Some of the notable transactions that Garvin has been involved in include 231 Elizabeth Street for circa $350 million, 20 Hunter Street for circa $200 million, and 55 Clarence Street for $170 million. He aims to set about finding a home for the capital that had not been able to break into the Sydney CBD market. Many local and offshore groups that have missed out on core Sydney CBD opportunities are now turning their attention to core Melbourne stock, he said. As the development pipeline comes to fruition in the next two years, and with the current low vacancy and potential for rental growth, Melbourne will become a pivotal point of interest for investors. The move follows the appointment of Ben Parkinson as state director of Capital Transactions in October 2017, and the successful sales of 50 Franklin Street and 800 Collins Street late last year. Parkinson said several local institutions were looking to re-weight their portfolios, with the Melbourne market providing tenant diversity given the even distribution across tenant sectors. There has been massive net absorption throughout the past few years and Docklands, among other precincts, is at capacity. Although the recent change in the citys planning laws limits the availability of new sites, the population growth is creating pent-up demand for office space, with prime rents expected to increase by about 7.0% in the short to medium term. Multiplex has completed the new $225 million Learning and Teaching Building at Monash University, delivering a new education space to the Clayton campus. The project includes a new regional transport interchange and a state of the art four-level building with innovative learning spaces, providing a new front door experience for all visitors. Designed by architects John Wardle Architects, the Learning and Teaching Building provides a total of 29,227 square metres of formal and informal learning space as well as contemporary staff workspace. It aims to facilitate learning across all disciplines and will also be home to the Faculty of Education and the Office of Learning and Teaching. An innovative design element is a revolutionary learning space known as 'The Kiln' which features a series of large brick-clad areas suspended above ground level so students can occupy them underneath, imitating an amplified conversation pit. Construction was completed ahead of schedule with the building ready to be utilised by students for the 2018 academic year. Last year Multiplex completed Monash Universitys $145 million student accommodation precinct comprising four new residential buildings and providing a combined total of more than 1,000 studio apartments, with associated retail and student informal learning spaces. The contractor has also been responsible for delivering some of the most high-profile and technically advanced education facilities in Victoria including the $200 million Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Swanston Academic Building in Melbournes CBD and the $100 million Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Building (FABP) in Parkville. Sydney Metro is delivering eight new metro stations and 4,000 commuter car parking spacesto Sydneys growing North West region. Trains will run every four minutes in the peak thats 15 trains an hour so customers wont need a timetable, they will just turn up and go. The Sydney Metro Northwest project, which opens in the first half of next year, is the first stage of Sydney Metro which will be the first fully-automated railway in Australia. Sydney Metro Northwest will deliver a reliable public transport service to a region which has the highest car ownership levels per household in NSW. Over the coming decades, an extra 200,000 residents will move into Sydneys North West, taking its population above 600,000, or twice the size of Canberra. Savills Australia's Ben Nastasi said there will also be a number of upgrades to current stations. The first stage includes eight new railway stations from Cudgegong Road Station, Rouse Hill to Cherrybrook and the upgrade of five existing railway stations (Epping, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde and Chatswood) which will open in the first half of 2019. Savills NSW Retail Services team will be responsible for sourcing and delivering retail components within and around Sydney Metro Northwest stations which will incorporate a number of retail offerings of varying sizes at each location mentioned below. All retail offerings will be designed to enhance the customer experience and provide convenience for a daily, stress-free commute he said. Savills will manage the Expressions of Interest (EOI) campaign for retail opportunities at the following railway station locations which will have between one to four retail opportunities plus vending and ATM facilities: Cudgegong Road, Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Norwest, Hills Showground, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park and North Ryde. Sydney Metro Northwest are planning to deliver retail offerings that are station specific and complimentary to the broader newly created station precinct and retail already on offer in the immediate area," Nastasi said. "Local demographics and customer research feedback allows us to provide a more tailored experience for commuters at each station, reflecting the site-specific retail need with usages accommodating their respective catchments. An EOI leasing campaign will commence around the first half of April 2018 and will run for eight weeks. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. American author Jacqueline Woodson is the winner of the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the worlds largest childrens book award, with the laureate receiving five million Swedish kronor (more than $600,000 at present exchange rates). The award was announced live from Sweden on March 27, and was to be broadcast simultaneously at the Bologna Childrens Book Fair. Due to technical difficulties, Henry Ascher, member of this years award jury, announced the award in Bologna. Woodson made her childrens debut in 1990 with Last Summer with Maizon (Delacorte), first in a trilogy exploring the friendship of two girls. Her 2014 memoir-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming, received the National Book Award. Woodson has published more than 30 books, including novels, poetry, and picture books. Though she has written books for adults, including the 2016 novel Another Brooklyn, she is perhaps best known for her work for young readers. Earlier this year, Woodson received another honor in recognition of her literary contributions for young readers. In January, Woodson was named the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature by the Library of Congress, the Childrens Book Council and Every Child a Reader. Woodson told PW during an interview at the time of her appointment, I definitely believe that reading can change us and shape us in so many ways, and through it we can be exposed to people and places and ideas that we might not otherwise come across or confront in real life. Over the course of her two-year ambassadorship, Woodson will visit with children across the country, sharing her platform of Reading = Hope x Change. In its citation, the ALMA award jury wrote, Jacqueline Woodson introduces us to resilient young people fighting to find a place where their lives can take root. In language as light as air, she tells stories of resounding richness and depth. Jacqueline Woodson captures a unique poetic note in a daily reality divided between sorrow and hope. The award, which is administered by the Swedish Arts Council, will be presented in a ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on May 28. Reasons to be cheerful. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc. Last Friday, President Trump grudgingly signed into law an enormous, $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill, which he threatened to veto at the last minute because it allotted only $1.6 billion to his beloved border wall a pittance compared to his asking price of $25 billion. The bill did include a significant increase in defense spending, cuts to the State Departments budget, and no permanent solution for Dreamers. Still, border security was hardly the only area where the president and his most ardent fans had reason to feel slighted. In fact, the bill, which will fund the government through September, ended up looking less like a Republican wish list than a Barack Obama fever dream a far cry from the draconian version of government the Trump administration proposed in its official budget last month. Here are five areas in which Democrats got more than they might have expected out of the deal: 1) Clean Energy Gets a Boost President Trumps proposed budget hit the Environmental Protection Agency with a 31 percent budget cut, and Republicans had attached more than 80 anti-environment riders in various drafts of the House and Senate bills as they wound their way through Congress. In the end, the EPA retained its current funding level of $8.1 billion, while the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which Trump had vowed to chop by a staggering 70 percent, actually saw a funding boost of 12.5 percent. The riders, which would have blocked implementation of the Interior Departments methane venting and flaring rule, among other things, were mostly dropped. And many of the clean-energy policies pushed by President Obama in his 2009 stimulus bill were generously funded, like TIGER, a grant program for transportation projects, and ARPA-E, an energy research agency. 2) PBS Lives For culture-warrior Republicans, national arts programs are perpetual bogeymen to be held up as misbegotten liberal priorities, even though they constitute a tiny sliver of the federal budget. The Trump administration is no different. In its budget, it proposed eliminating funding altogether for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities But after an intense lobbying push on Capitol Hill, the budget Trump signed boosted funding for both of them by $3 million each, to $153 million apiece for the fiscal year. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which Trump had also threatened with the ax, retained its $445 million budget. And Congress financed other, smaller priorities, like upgrading the public broadcasting interconnection system. The legislation reaffirms that federal funding for public media is an investment that continues to deliver proven value and service to the American people, said Patricia Harrison, the head of the CPB. 3) No Crisis at the CDC President Trump had called for slashing funding for the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, but the omnibus mandates a budget increase for both agencies, to $8.3 billion for the CDC and $37 billion for the NIH. The 8.8 percent increase for the latter agencys funding is the biggest in 15 years. Specific priorities, like Alzheimers research and the development of a universal flu vaccine, were generously funded to the tune of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Democrats also trumpeted a rollback of the CDCs research ban on guns, though public-health experts say not much is likely to change on that score. 4) Trump Subsidizes His Least Favorite Infrastructure Project President Trump was personally interested in blocking federal funding for the New YorkNew Jersey mega-infrastructure project, as Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao admitted in congressional testimony earlier this month. Why he is so vehemently opposed to the project which would install a much-needed tunnel between Manhattan and New Jersey, among other improvements isnt entirely clear, but petty personal grievances with Chuck Schumer and other New Yorkers is a safe bet. Thanks in large part to his opposition, funding for the tunnel was not earmarked in explicit terms. But local legislators are confident that about $540 million in infrastructure dollars included in the bill will end up going to Gateway. There are legitimate reasons to oppose the project, but President Trump appears to have lost this battle, at least for now. 5) The Census Is Funded (Though Still in Trouble) On Monday night, the Commerce Department announced that it would add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, an ominous development for an accurate count of U.S. residents. But there was some good news for the survey in last weeks bill. It had been an open question as to whether a Republican Congress that had shown little interest in ramping up funding ahead of the count, which has been the traditional fiscal process for decades. On that point, at least, Democrats can breathe a sigh of relief. The omnibus funds the 2020 census at a rate of $2.814 billion, double the number for 2017. Experts warn that the number will have to jump again next year to keep pace with organizational requirements, but for now, theyre pleasantly surprised. When I found out about it yesterday I almost fell out of my chair, John Thompson, who resigned from the Census Bureau over funding struggles last May, told the Washington Post. Answering the rallying cry behind the hashtag #KidLitMarchesforKids initiated by authors Jenny Han and Raina Telgemeierthe childrens book community turned out in force in cities across the country on Saturday, March 24 to participate in the national March for Our Lives advocating gun control and an end to gun violence. The national march in Washington, D.C. was organized by a group of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., who survived the February 14 mass shooting on their campus that took the lives of 17 people. Leading up to the event, the movement had received a groundswell of supportincluding from major advocacy groups and from politicians and celebritiesand grew to include marches in all 50 states as well as in many countries around the globe. The NYC march went great! said Han. In her estimation, roughly 75 people, consisting of authors, agents, editors, publicists, and librarians, marched with the group. The New York Chapter of Dumbledores Army (part of the Harry Potter Alliance activist group) contacted Han via Facebook and asked to join forces as well. From the start, Raina and I have felt that all we wanted was to support the kids on the front line, said Han. Im so glad we had so many partners in that effort. Author Siobhan Vivian organized a Kid Lit Marches For Kids group in Pittsburgh. I was thrilled by the turnout, she said. It was a large and very diverse crowd. The city of Pittsburgh estimated that 30,000 people took part, a showing that far exceeded expectations. It felt great to have the opportunity to show up to support many of the kids and families who support us, Vivian said. And to see these kids use their voices and be so fearless and so passionateI found it incredibly moving and inspiring. Offering a report from the West Coast, Telgemeier said, The San Francisco Bay Area turned out strong for our march, with about 30 members joining us in raising our voices to support the students leading the way. Were all amped to do more, and we hope to introduce next-step initiatives in the near future. The Salt Lake City march drew a crowd of 8000, reported to be the largest political protest ever in the city, according to Shannon Hale, who led her local group with fellow author Ally Condie. Men in black t-shirts open-carrying rifles and handguns walked through the crowd, glaring and seemed to be trying to intimidate us, Hale said, but the crowd was strong and enthused. Various high school students from the area spoke to great cheers, she added. It was a very hopeful gathering. Hale also related one encounter that stood out for her on Saturday: I met a woman who was with her father. He used a wheelchair and was a survivor of the Trolley Square mass shooting in 2007. She said, We had to be here. It wasnt even a choice. Thats how I felt too. How could I, as a writer for children and teens, not support the teens speaking out and the children who have every right not to live in fear? Han echoed the sentiments of her fellow marchers when she offered some reflective words about the next steps on this activist journey. At the end of the day, she said, I rolled up my Kid Lit Marches For Kids banner and took it home, because I know that this is only the beginning. Were going to have to keep marching, and we will. What follows are a few photos of kid lit crews on the move. An impressive array of additional images appears under the hashtag that kickstarted this effort: #KidLitMarchesForKids. The New York group getting ready to roll from its meet-up spot. (From left:) Author Nick Courage, publicist Katie Kurtzman, and agent Rachel Ekstrom Courage. Kid lit folks gathered for the march at West High School, which is Hales alma mater. (From l.): Authors Ally Condie, Hale, Courtney Alameda, and J.R. Johansson. Pre-march meet-up at the Opera Plaza location of Books Inc. in San Francisco. Revenue at Penguin Random House was nearly flat in 2017 compared to 2016, slipping by 0.1% to 3.36 billion. Earnings fell 3% to 521 million. PRH parent company noted that the impact of negative exchange rates was responsible for the drop in operating EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). On the top line, the negative impact of exchange rates was offset by acquisitions, most notably its July 2017 purchase of the Spanish-language publisher Ediciones B. Bertelsmann reported that print book revenue remained broadly stable overall at PRH, while e-book sales declined moderately and digital audiobook sales posted strong growth. Wonder was the top seller for PRHs U.S. group, selling almost five million copies in print and e-book. The company also sold nearly 10 million copies of Dr. Seuss titles last year. While PRH had its share of frontlist bestsellers (The Rooster Bar, Camino Island, Origin), in his letter to employees, PRH CEO Markus Dohle pointed to the publishers growing backlist sales, which he wrote are a testament to the enduring appeal of a great story. In addition to strong backlist sales, Dohle said another key to PRHs overall strength is the solidity and robustness of our global family of publishing companies. Looking at 2018, Dohle pointed to the November publication of Michelle Obamas Becoming, which will be released in 24 languages and is shaping up to be the international publishing event of 2018. The company has already had a surprise big hit across its English-language territories with 12 Rules for Life, which was published earlier this year by Random House of Canada and has already sold more than 700,000 copies in the U.S. Two months after stepping down as president and publisher of Simon & Schusters Atria Publishing Group, Judith Curr will join HarperCollins in the newly-created role of president and publisher of HarperOne, Amistad, and Rayo. Curr will start April 2 and report to HC CEO Brian Murray, and will sit on the company's executive committee. HarperOne, HCs San Francisco-based unit that specializes in publishing books in religion, spirituality, and personal growth, has been without a leader since Mark Tauber stepped down at the end of 2017. In heading that division, Curr is being charged with expanding HarperOnes publishing program beyond its current editorial focus, and to grow the list from its current publishing rate of 50 books per year to 120 titles annually. According to HC, Curr is being tasked with building HarperOnes fiction and nonfiction lists with titles that have global appeal for both the HarperCollins English and foreign-language publishing programs. In addition, Curr will look to grow the Amistad and Rayo trade lists, which are HCs multicultural and Spanish-language imprints, respectively. While at S&S, Curr oversaw Atrias Spanish-language publishing imprint, Atria Books Espanol, and helped to launch 37 Ink, Atrias multicultural imprint headed by Dawn Daviswho at one time was publisher of Amistad Books. Prior to Currs appointment, Amistad and Rayo had reported to HC's general books group. Curr will remain based in New York, but will spend a portion of her time in San Francisco, where HarperOne will continue to maintain an office. In announcing Currs appointment, Murray said he admired her creative and entrepreneurial approach to publishing and is excited to have her at HC, where she will bring her tremendous experience, passion, and energy to the next set of global blockbusters across HarperCollins offices around the world. Curr, who said in a statement that she has great respect for Murrays global vision, said her new role gives her the opportunity "to build upon the already successful and diverse HarperCollins imprints" and "perfectly combines my passions in publishing." Stasi Eldredges New Title Goes to Nelson Nelson acquiring editor Brian Hampton has signed world rights for New York Times bestselling author Stasi Eldredges new title, Defiant Joy: Taking Hold of Hope, Beauty, and Life in a Hurting World. Eldredge was represented by Curtis Yates of Yates & Yates. In Defiant Joy, Eldredge, tells readers how to find Gods presence amid their own pain and troubles. The book is set for an October 16 release. HarperOne Nabs New Look at Ancient Rituals HarperOne assistant editor Anna Paustenbach acquired English language world rights for Remaking Religion: Transforming Ancient Rituals for a Modern Meaningful Life by Casper ter Kuile. The author is the co-founder of the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast and is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. Ter Kuile, represented by Lisa DiMona at Writers House, argues that secular spaces increasingly serve the needs that churches once did. A winter 2020 release is planned. Beaming on Friendship Beaming Books director of product development Andrew DeYoung has signed world rights for Stay Through the Storm by Joanna Rowland (The Memory Box: A Book about Grief) The book, a tribute to two girls friendship in difficult times, releases in May 2019. No agent was involved. Trio of Titles for Tots at Kar-Ben Kar-Ben publisher Joni Sussman has announced the signing of three Jewish childrens books, all of which will be released in 2020. One new title is by Caldecott winning author Jane Yolen. Kar-ben has world rights for Miriam at the River, Yolens retelling of Miriam, who saved her baby brother Moses by setting him in the bullrushes by the river. Elizabeth Harding of Curtis Brown, Ltd. represented Yolen. No illustrator has been assigned yet. The company also acquired world English rights for Debora Busheris tale of a big sister watching her baby sibling, My Sister is Sleeping, illustrated by Michel Kichka, from Reuvat Nitzan at Israal's Adam Books. Sussman signed world rights (except in Hebrew) for a second Busheri book, The Abba Tree, from Israel Mizrahi at Mizrahi Publishing, based in Kefar Netter, Israel. Its themed for the Jewish holiday of tree-planting, Tu BShevat, and illustrated by Gal Shkedi. Canadian Linked Stories Collection Sells in U.S. Denise Bukowski of Canada's The Bukowski Agency sold The Time I Loved You by Carrianne K.Y. Leung to Liveright/Norton for U.S. publication in winter 2019. The book was published by HarperCollins Canada this month. Leung is the author of The Wondrous Woo, and this new book is a collection of linked stories about a suburban subdivision where tragedies keep on occurring. Sourcebooks Acquires Chinese Children's Series Ahead of the Bologna Book Fair (which began March 26), Sourcebooks acquired world English and North American Spanish rights to the Red Kangaroo series by Chris Ferrie, from China Children's Press and Publication Group (CCPPG), who control all rights to the series. The Red Kangaroo Physical Quiz series explains principles of mathematics/physics to 4-8-year-olds, utilizing several illustrations. The Red Kangaroo is a recurring character that has been used in several CCPPG series. Sourcebooks will start publishing 10 books in the series starting in spring 2019. Since May 2017, Sourcebooks has published several books in Ferrie's Baby University series, and the company will continue publishing books in this series in 2018 and 2019. Finnish Novel Sells in Turkey; Shortlisted for Finnish Literary Export Prize Seventh Spring by Tiina Laitila Kalvemark, published by Finnish publisher WSOY in 2017, has sold to Turkish publisher Yeni Insan Yayinevi. The book follows Susanne and Padma, the woman in India who will be the surrogate mother for Susanne's baby. Bonniers Rights Finland controls all rights to the novel, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Finnish Literary Export Prize. Catalan Novel to Be Published in Spanish The Catflap by Muriel Villanueva, a novel that was originally published in Catalan in 2012 by Ara Llibres, will be published by Navona in Spanish, in Spain only, next month. The book's rights are controlled by International Editors, who compare it to the work of Japanese author Haruki Murakami. It's about a woman who inherits two symmetrical apartments in Barcelona and her journey of identity. Cuba's state broadcaster and Russia's telecom and media ministry have inked an agreement to improve DTT deployment across the Caribbean country. Eyeing the analogue switch-off scheduled for December 2021 and the beginning of the switchover next summer, the deal aims to 'strengthen the work that has been done so far in Cuba towards TV digitalisation', said Alfonso Noya, president of the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Television (ICRT).According to the official figures, over three-fifths of the island is covered by the DTT signal and about 40% of homes are properly equipped to start watching digital TV. Though not many details about the agreement have been unveiled so far, Alfonso Noya said that broadcasters Russia Today - whose assistant manager, Alexander Luchaninov, participated in the deal's signing - and teleSUR will play an important role."This agreement is also an important step forward in the bilateral relationships between Cuba and Russia, and, specially, regarding broadcasting," added Rashid Ismailov, vice minister of telecom and mass communications of the Russian Federation. As Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos prepares to rescind President Obamas school discipline guidance, the D.C. Councils Education Committee approved a bold bill that would reaffirm students right to a public education. These two strategies stand in stark contrast of one another. Rescinding federal guidance leaves suspensions and expulsions up to local discretion, regardless of the disproportionate impact on students of color. The Districts proposed legislation, by contrast, would lower the continuing disproportionate impact of exclusionary discipline on historically underserved populations. At its heart, the Student Fair Access to Schools Act clarifies expectations for how the citys district and charter schools should discipline students, and places limits on when schools can remove students from schools. As D.C. teeters on the precipice of continued school reform, this localized legislation could serve as a strong model in the broader national debate, showing that policy can and should provide clear guidance and parameters about when it is appropriate to remove students from school. When it comes to large swaths of historically disadvantaged students, data suggests that D.C. public schools may be over-relying on exclusionary discipline. In the last two years, although the total number of out of school suspensions in District schools decreased, disparities based on race and income actually worsened. Moreover, more of these suspensions resulted from highly subjective infractions, such as disrespect, insubordination, and disruption. The new legislation sets evidence-based parameters on the use of suspensions for subjective infractions and those such as attendance, tardiness, and uniform violations. These necessary policy guardrails could go far in attenuating the decades-long disparate impact of exclusionary discipline on students of color in the District. Some schools have decided to reduce or eliminate suspensions on their own, and they are seeing promising results. At Houston Elementary School in Ward 7, Principal Rembert Seaward adopted mindfulness training and contracted with Turnaround for Children, an organization that supports student development and achievement in high-poverty schools. Staff were trained in trauma-informed teaching and able to consult with a mental health provider. Similarly, the all-male Ron Brown High School emphasizes restorative justice over exclusionary discipline. Multiple organizations that partner with DC schools and students have testified to the continued desire and need for more resources and support for alternative discipline strategies. Without more holistic reform, student achievement for those most in need may continue to plateau. Across the nation many have looked to D.C. as a model of urban education reform: in particular in light of its transition to mayoral control of schools, the expansion of charter options, and new methods for hiring, evaluating, and compensating teachers and leaders. The Districts National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) gains were larger than any other school districts between 2007 and 2015. Unfortunately, the progress that has been made in the District has not reached all communities. More than half of both black students (56 percent) and low-income students (58 percent) performed below proficient on the D.C. Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) in 2015, and, graduation scandal aside, graduation rates remained low for male and low-income students. The Districts schools will probably continue to face large achievement gaps unless reform efforts expand their scope. To be clear, this legislation is not perfect. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education should collect qualitative and quantitative data to provide necessary checks and balances and to mitigate unintended consequences, like greater use of in-school suspension. Ideally, this bill would also include the resources educators need to rethink discipline, rather than providing those through a separate appropriations bill. Still, the Student Fair Access to School Act rightly affirms the vital role of discipline reform in the broader urban education reform movement. While the bill awaits a full vote from the D.C. Council, conservatives have reignited their support for rolling back Obama-era discipline guidance nationally. Data from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and multiple other studies show that disparities in discipline are pervasive across the country. Yet conservatives have used faulty, biased analyses to argue that exclusionary discipline makes schools safer, and they are capitalizing on the Parkland shooting in their campaign to roll back discipline reform on the federal level. Public schools cannot continue to disproportionately discipline students of color and students with disabilities and deny them an education in the process. In jurisdictions that are not proactively reforming discipline policies, rolling back the Obama-era guidance would remove protections for students. High rates of disproportionate exclusionary discipline are the legacy of systemic disinvestment in schools that serve low-income communities of color. Combined with overaggressive law enforcement policies, they have facilitated the damaging school-to-prison pipeline. Commentators on both sides of the aisle have recognized the need to reform our criminal justice system, and now it is time for a new paradigm in education as well. Betsy DeVos, Marco Rubio, and other critics of discipline reform should look to the Districts example. Abel McDaniels is a research associate for K12 Education at the Center for American Progress. Erin Roth is a senior policy analyst for K12 Education at the Center. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kerner Commission report, the famous study of racial inequality commissioned by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the wake of the unrest that shook the country in the mid-1960s. To commemorate this milestone, Fred Harris the only surviving member of the commission and Alan Curtis of the Eisenhower Foundation have co-authored an update to the report titled Healing Our Divided Society, which was released earlier this month. As a progress report, it makes for depressing reading. Harris was one of 11 congressmen, businesspeople, and community leaders to accept the White Houses invitation to study the uprisings that were sweeping through black neighborhoods nationwide over the course of 1967, more than 150 in total. Plainfield, New Jersey. Minneapolis. Milwaukee: As the list of cities grew, so did the casualties. Sixty-nine people were killed in Detroit and Newark alone. With a national election looming, President Johnson scrambled to project confidence and control over a disintegrating situation. But the Vietnam War, which was proving expensive in lives and funding, had depleted much of his political capital. In this environment, Congress would never indulge him with another grand gesture like the Civil Rights Act hed signed just three summers earlier. So the president settled for a small, bipartisan commission instead. He would charge them with investigating three simple questions: What happened? Why did it happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening again? Johnson hoped he already knew the answers. Conventional wisdom in Establishment quarters like his held that the lethal riots were a product of the Negros inferior moral and cultural values, outside agitators, and perhaps a far-reaching conspiracy to destabilize the nation. In the presidents ideal scenario, the report would show that he was well on his way to solving the problem by praising his Great Society programs a potentially helpful boost for the 1968 presidential race. A report affirming these conclusions would cause few waves while casting the White House in a proactive and positive light. To ensure just that, the president staffed the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders better known as the Kerner Commission with nine white and two black moderates and loyalists. Then, he sent them on a meagerly funded mission to paper over the status quo. But Harris then a young Democratic senator from Oklahoma and his peers had other plans. Following months of hearings and earnest visits to black neighborhoods, the commission reached a surprisingly strongly worded conclusion: Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, and one whiteseparate and unequal. This deepening racial division is not inevitable. The movement apart can be reversed. Choice is still possible. Our principal task is to define that choice and to press for a national resolution. To pursue our present course will involve the continuing polarization of the American community and, ultimately, the destruction of basic democratic values. The alternative is the realization of common opportunities for all within a single society. To address the grievances identified by the oppressed citizens, the commission recommended massive government intervention to reform employment, housing, education, and welfare policies on a national scale. In a radical turn for the time, the report also explicitly named white power structure, white racism, and white repression as fundamental causes of the segregation and poverty inflicted on black Americans. And the White House had indirectly validated this indictment. Johnson was livid. To reprimand the Kerner Commission, the president refused to sign cards thanking them for their service or to even publicly acknowledge the report. But the commission had anticipated an icy reception. So that the report would not be buried, it had distributed drafts to media outlets and had scheduled to release its findings in paperback form. This foresight would be rewarded: The book became an instant best seller that was reprinted more than 20 times, and its popularity primed the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Unfortunately, the momentum halted there. Seizing on white Americas hesitancy for too much progress too fast, conservative figures quickly moved to reassign blame to blacks for the riots. Structural change was out; law-and-order was in. Though America escaped the rabidly racist politics of George Wallace, this reactionary trend would ultimately prevail through Richard Nixon, and later Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. The Kerner Commissions recommendations were left to collect dust. Fifty years later, the picture is bleak. The initial reception of the report would have made it difficult for Fred Harris to imagine just how little difference half a century would make for black Americans. To be sure, some gains have been made. Black Americans are more educated than ever before. As the Economic Policy Institute reports, in 1968 fewer than 55 percent of young black Americans had a high-school diploma while only 9 percent had graduated from college. Today, those numbers hover at 92 percent and almost 23 percent respectively. Representation, for black Americans and other minorities, has also improved. My grandparents would have laughed if I told them then that, 50 years later, a superhero blockbuster featuring an almost all-black cast would become one of the most successful movies of all time. And this, just a couple of years after a two-term black president and First Lady? They would have wheeled me to the nearest hospital. Though it is easy to dismiss these representational victories as merely symbolic, they nonetheless signal a modicum of progress in our national attitude toward race (yes, I believe this, even as we endure a Trump administration). But in too many other respects, conditions for black Americans have remained the same or worsened. We remain unemployed at about twice the rate of white Americans and severely lag behind in homeownership rates. The updated Kerner report partially attributes this to the impact of the financial crisis wiping wealth from black households. But of course, the gap was also a product of redlining and other long-standing discriminatory policies in the housing sector. Despite our gains in high school and post-secondary education, decades of whittling down school-desegregation decisions paired with a bipartisan push for charter schools have reversed the improvements we saw in the 1980s. The rate of our wage growth and household income significantly trails the wages of white Americans. Meanwhile, black infants are now 2.3 times more likely to die than white infants, up 0.4 points since 1968. Decades of discriminatory policing have almost tripled our incarceration rates, making us 6.4 times more likely to be imprisoned than white Americans. As Harris told NPR, Whoever thought that 50 years later, wed still be talking about the same things? The answer may lie in how we talk about these things. *** Framing our politics the mincing of who gets what, when, and how in terms of equal opportunity is as American as apple pie. Our presidents Republican and Democrat do it. Our judges do it. Our civil-rights champions do it. And, often without batting an eye, we do it. The problem is, striving for equality only with respect to opportunity is myopic. This approach focuses on fairness of process, while ignoring inequality in outcomes. It reflects the very meritocratic mentality that has helped sustain wide gaps between black Americans and white Americans, between the genders, between classes, and between broader demographic categories. Envisioning our future through an egalitarian lens would require us to seriously reconsider political ideologies that embrace equal outcomes. More broadly, it would compel us to prioritize the well-being of the collective over that of the few, even if this came at the expense of the few. Opportunity is commonly explained as a bottleneck. The bottle contains the things we are trying to access. The form and value of these things can vary greatly, but tend to reflect what weve democratically determined to be fundamental to our ability to function as individuals. A bottle based on the Kerner report might, for example, contain a public and affordable education, well-paying jobs, safe and sanitary housing, generous welfare benefits, fair policing, and a right to participate in the democratic process. Creating equal opportunities relies on regulating passage through the bottleneck. This may mean tweaking the size of the bottleneck or the number of things in the bottle, adjusting the number of tries one gets to come through, or encouraging more people to try to get through the bottleneck. Less abstractly, these equal opportunities often take the form of rules against discrimination and segregation, hiring quotas, school and housing vouchers, subsidized student loans and mortgages, health-care market exchanges, and increased funding for particular programs, among other things. In practice, though, the equal in equal opportunity errs toward decorative. As long as everyone has a chance to get through the bottleneck however unrealistic, or offset by dramatic disadvantages, the chance then the process is just. And if the process is just, then proponents of equal-opportunity measures tell us that having winners and losers is also just. Only in rare instances does equal opportunity aggressively compensate for bad luck and poor personal choices. And when it does, it almost never goes as far as expanding the equal outcome universally, even when society as a whole would benefit. Take, for example, current Department of Education rules: A student loan borrower who becomes totally and permanently disabled can get a discharge of her government-backed student loans, i.e., she can have them forgiven. This is true whether the disability is a result of bad luck (say, a genetic fluke) or a poor personal choice (perhaps attempting an ill-advised motorcycle stunt without riding experience or a helmet). In this scenario, the public recognizes that a total and permanent disability affects the ability to earn wages. We also recognize that disabled individuals would be better able to function, and benefit from their education, without the burden of debt. Thus, we give them a particular and equal outcome: the right to their education without crushing loans to repay. As the plight of the deeply indebted millennial generation shows, it would be a net positive for our society if all of us could be educated without crushing debt. To expand the outcome that we already offer the unlucky person and the poor choice-maker in our example is a political choice. But instead, we make peace with the inequality that results from our narrow conception of equality. We can go on pretending that the graduate who drains her next 20 years of wages on high-interest student loans at the cost of acquiring other things in the bottle has been given an equal opportunity. Or that we, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, could never afford to redefine equal opportunity to an education to account for debt. Or, we could make a democratic choice to prioritize more equal outcomes for all for us. Equal opportunity tolerates deep inequalities in outcomes. Its narrative tells us that a person born into their familys third generation of deep poverty and another born into their familys third generation of extreme wealth have an equal opportunity to obtain a college degree if they both graduate from high school, have access to the requisite funding, and colleges are prohibited from discriminating against them on the basis of certain characteristics. It ignores how much harder a disadvantaged student may have to work for the same opportunity. So long as the bottleneck is there for the disadvantaged student to pass through, then the equal-opportunity requirement has been met. Even if the disadvantaged student lives in conditions that require her to sleep less than her peers (because poor public transportation in her neighborhood makes for a two-hour commute). Or to study less (because she must work part-time to afford food, books, and rent). This narrative also has little respect for those who, for whatever reasons, decline or fail to make it through the bottleneck despite being given an equal opportunity. It is easy to see how this type of rhetoric hurts stay-at-home caregivers, who may be denied certain benefits for instance, welfare benefits just because it is more fulfilling or more affordable for them to care for their dependents full-time. The same could be said of workers who may choose a lower-paying, more fulfilling job and thereby give up their opportunity to have quality health care. But it also leaves in the lurch people who sail through the bottleneck, and still lose the things once acquired in the bottle. Think of the person who slides into debt and poverty despite having done everything right to obtain housing, health care, and stable employment. Perhaps they fall behind on their house payments after an unexpected illness exhausts their savings, despite their good insurance coverage, and a lousy economy suddenly reduces their wages. Equal opportunity does not require an accounting of this persons fate, having fulfilled its duty of letting them through the bottleneck. Its not exactly that opportunity of equality is bad idea. All other things being equal, it is very important for us to have rules that give everyone a fairer chance to access those resources key to our functioning. The problem is that all other things are not even close to being equal. But trying to make them so would be a worthy goal. Yet, rarely do we outside of left-wing social movements seriously engage with what it would mean for the things in our bottle analogy to simply be guaranteed to every single person; for us to decide that some things are too essential to require a bottleneck; for us to define a baseline of things that would get us closer to being equal to each other. *** Democratic equality is not a call for everyone to end up with the same precise amount of resources, or for all of us to perform the same roles. We are individuals with different constitutions, aspirations, and needs. Democratic equality recognizes that freedom can only follow if each individual is also guaranteed a baseline of resources, welfare, rights that guarantees our functioning. It is also acutely conscious of the need to restrain inequality between us, lest we open the door for some to be able to exercise outsize power over others, or, worse, to outright oppress our peers. Democratic equality thus defines equality in terms of social relations. It is insufficient for opportunities to be equally available. Institutions must be structured to repudiate hierarchies and claims of superiority over others on any basis be it race, class, gender, sex, family status, and other socially constructed distinctions. Democratic equality also appreciates the importance of each of our roles, even if our contribution to the economy is not easily measurable. Instead, the sum of us spin the wheels of our society. This doesnt mean that equal opportunity is not a worthy aspiration. But with democratic equality as our goal, the effectiveness of equal opportunity is measured, in part, by equality of the outcomes. (We sort of do this now by allowing people to prove discrimination by just how unequal an outcome is.) It forces us to think about recalibrating our process to reach more equal outcomes, and to think more broadly about the factors that constitute opportunity. For instance, no longer could we be satisfied with equal pay for equal work laws that only seek pay parity between all genders within single workplaces. Such approaches invite races to the bottom: Imagine an industry that employs primarily women of color and consistently pays less than a living wage. Though these workers would have been given an equal opportunity to access wages, democratic equality would ask us to consider whether the outcome was equal enough. It would ask us to think about how to improve pay parity across the entire industry, and to account for cost of living i.e., how to make sure these workers were equal not only to each other, but to the rest of society. By setting equal outcomes as a goal, we also would avoid falling prey to token representation. A few exceptionally successful people could never be taken as evidence that things were relatively equal for all other members of a demographic. Nor would bad apple rhetoric be an acceptable defense in the face of wildly unequal outcomes. As democratic equality is always first and foremost concerned with structure, no exemption could be made to accommodate unequal treatment. You could thus imagine how a democratically equal regime would not be timid about pushing aggressive culture changes to support its structural changes. Finally, democratic equality would only work if the democratic aspect of the concept was itself equal. This is to say that our society would have to be committed to making political participation fairer for all. It would mean entitling each person to a vote after a democratically determined age, regardless of poor personal choices, including having committed crimes. It would mean designing an electoral system that was representative and more proportional than our gerrymandering woes and Senate structure currently allow. It would require seeking equality in the outcomes concerning who participates in electoral races. There is no shortage of parties who benefit greatly from the myopia of equal-opportunity rhetoric, and the unequal structures it maintains. The pursuit of equality is always met by a well-funded resistance. But there is yet hope, starting with the new list of demands in the update to the Kerner report. Among them: a living minimum wage, a single-payer health-care system, an investment in early childhood education, integration and equity in our schools, an increase in subsidized housing and the enforcement of our anti-discriminatory laws, support for labor unions and workers over corporations, drastically reducing the number of people we incarcerate. All the above would certainly be a dramatic improvement on the status quo, a hodgepodge of neoliberal policies administered by a sinister assortment of ex-CEOs and dynasty heirs. Left-leaning politicians with an eye on the 2020 presidential race have a chance, now, to harness the energy that is already shifting toward democratic equality. Speaking more boldly against socioeconomic inequality is a start, but it is also not enough. To advance toward what we could be a kinder, fairer, more egalitarian America and in the process earn the support of left social movements, we must move past the shackling timidity of equal opportunity rhetoric. And its our responsibility too, as we enter yet another election season, to ask ourselves whether the candidates and policies we stand behind will actually make us more equal. If were lucky, well be having a very different conversation about the Kerner report in another 50 years. Dismissed as a warmonger during the Obama presidency, the defense secretary may be the only reliable voice of caution left in an administration inching closer to the brink. Political marches are typically meant to make noise: voices raised, anger articulated, struggles for justice made loud and unavoidable. The March for Our Lives, held on Saturday in Washington, D.C., and in satellite events across the United States, followed, in that sense, activist tradition: It included speeches, rousing and passionate. Its participants carried signs, their messages clever and biting. Yolanda Renee King, the 9-year-old granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, made a surprise appearance on the marchs main stage: a symbolic passing of the torch of political activism to the next generation of American leaders. Spread the word, King said, inviting the crowd to speak along with her, have you heard? / All across the nation / we / are going to be / a great generation. Anyone surprised by President Trumps decision to impose tariffs on Chinese products and on steel and aluminum imports from a multitude of countries wasnt listening during the 2016 election. They apparently didnt hear him when he pledged to fight back against countries that, for years, have been fighting trade wars against U.S. industry. It was a mistake not to take the president seriously. The tariffs themselves? I dont like them, but to the extent theyll allow the United States to negotiate better free trade agreements, theyre worthwhile. Americans still prize free trade, but they also want it to be fair. The argument for the recent corporate tax cut was to make American businesses more competitive globally. Lawmakers said they wanted parity. The argument is the same here. No businessperson likes tariffs they increase costs for our consumers, which means that, no matter what line of work were in, the people we serve will have less disposable income. However, we live in a world where bad actors subsidize, circumvent, and flagrantly ignore international and U.S. law. When that happens, Washington must fight back with every mechanism at its disposal, whether through the World Trade Organization, the U.S. International Trade Commission, or with the extreme action the president has taken. Its clear these tariffs are a negotiating tactic. The White House and Congress are working now to exempt certain countries and products from the steel and aluminum tariffs. Thats a sign the White House knows it needs to target bad actors in a deliberate way. Its also a good sign that, shortly after announcing the steel and aluminum tariffs, the president appointed Larry Kudlow as his top economic adviser. Kudlow opposes tariffs shortly before he took the White House job, he said the president would regret his steel and aluminum penalties. Lets hope these tariffs are limited and temporary. Either way, American industry will power through them. These tariffs will have a short-term impact on costs, but that impact wont be as catastrophic as ivory tower economists predict. Businesses can handle them. Were always innovating and finding ways to make products more efficiently, and, therefore, at a lower cost to consumers. The long-term benefits of fighting this war, fighting for fairness, will be worth the short-run pain. We know from experience the costs will be limited. Last summer the president announced tariffs on softwood lumber from Canada. Because about 95 percent of this product comes from our northern neighbor, analysts predicted housing prices would rise. Construction costs are up, but not because of the lumber penalties. The United States labor liquidity crisis is to blame. Heres how Associated General Contractors of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson put it this past winter: A tight market for skilled labor across a variety of trades, combined with strong demand for numerous materials, could soon send costs rising at the fastest clip in several years. I see this every day among the start-ups in which my firm invests. Whether theyre in Texas or Washington, D.C., in the energy sector or hospitality, these companies cannot find people to apply. The impact of these tariffs will be small relative to the impact our worker shortage has on manufacturing, construction, retail, and agriculture production costs. Lawmakers should concentrate on the factor that is driving price increases. Through immigration reform, expanded training and apprenticeships, a full-scale education overhaul, and bringing more able-bodied individuals back into the workforce through prison reform, we can expand labor supply and get business costs under control. As I said, I dont like tariffs. They wont help expand our economy, but lawmakers should let the White House see its tariff negotiating tactic through and focus instead on implementing these pillars of expansion economics. The University of Georgia should protect all its students as much as possible, and expanding the free speech zones on campus would not be protecting its students. Spring is here and the Athens Farmers Market is officially back in business for the season. At the Epps Bridge Cook Out, the traditional menu has been tinkered with ever so slightly. Will Rowe, a manager at the restaurant, said that t Got some scoop for our reporters or editors? Click on the link below to send us your information. Send your news The One UGA executive ticket has been sanctioned for violating the Student Government Associations Code of Ethics and is now prohibited from Just two years after Ford bet the revival of its Lincoln luxury line on the return of the Continental sedan, it's reversing course and going all in on sport utility vehicles instead. Despite its retro Rat Pack allusions and elegant evocation of Bentley styling, the Continental didn't sell as expected. Sales are down 30 percent this year, as buyers spurn traditional cars for spacious SUVs. By contrast, the new Lincoln Navigator, a brash behemoth that can top $100,000, flies off dealer lots in less than a week. So new Chief Executive Officer Jim Hackett now has Lincoln seeking salvation in high-profit SUVs, starting with the introduction of the Aviator model at the New York auto show on Wednesday. Another new Lincoln SUV is coming by 2020, the company says. Forecaster LMC Automotive predicts Lincoln's cars will dwindle to just 7.8 percent of its U.S. sales by 2021, signaling a possible end of the road for the Continental and Lincoln's other slow selling sedan, the MKZ. "It's a complete pullback on the car side," said Jeff Schuster, LMC's senior vice president of forecasting. "Lincoln will essentially become an SUV brand." Lincoln's new leader, Joy Falotico, says the brand has little choice but to follow the trends after U.S. sales flatlined in 2017. SUVs surged to 56 percent of luxury auto sales in the U.S. last year, up 10 points from just two years earlier. "That's a pretty commanding percentage," Falotico said in an interview. "And we see forecasts that by 2025, that's going to be 66 percent. That's where the heart of the market is going." It's also where Lincoln has the most "traction with customers," Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets, said in an interview. So what does that mean for the fate of Lincoln's flagging flagship, the Continental? "I'm not going to comment on that right now," Farley said. "We have two new utilities coming in the next couple years and we're going to learn a lot through those launches. You know, we're always adjusting our product lineup." Ford showed dealers a sneak peak of updates coming to the Continental aimed at reviving sales during the National Automobile Dealers Association annual convention last weekend in Las Vegas. Changes include rear-hinged "suicide" doors that evoke the 1961 Continental, which became known as the Kennedy Lincoln because it was favored by the 35th president. Ford is not alone in discovering luxury buyers are flocking to SUVs even faster than the mainstream market. Cadillac is introducing its XT4 compact SUV this week in New York and Lexus wowed crowds at the Detroit show with its LF-1 Limitless crossover concept. Lincoln, which ranks eighth in U.S. luxury sales, also is playing catch-up to brands like Mercedes, BMW and Audi. "You've got very strong SUV lineups from the leaders in the luxury market and they're certainly not going to go down without a fight," Schuster said. After a decade of searching for an identity and spending billions, Lincoln is finally finding itself in the SUV space, Farley said. The success of the new Navigator recalls how dominant the original model was when it became the squad car of hip-hop moguls like Jay-Z two decades ago, driving Lincoln to the top of the luxury sales charts in America in 1998. Ford squandered that moment by letting 15 years pass before it redesigned the Navigator, and it's spent much of recent history known as the black car that business travelers take to the airport. With the arrival of the Aviator, expected to be a three-row, mid-sized model, Farley said Lincoln is finally getting its swagger back. And it's hoping its expanding SUV lineup will attract moneyed millennials forming families, thereby lowering the average age of Lincoln buyers, which now stands at 60 -- eight years above the average for the luxury car market. "You're going to see a more opinionated Lincoln," Farley said. "It's just a confidence we feel that we have found our place." Increasingly that place is China, where Ford expects Lincoln will eventually sell more models than in the U.S. The Chinese seem to love brash American style more than Americans and have been snapping up Cadillacs and Lincolns, which saw sales soar 66 percent there last year. Ford, which introduced Lincoln in the country three years ago, is rapidly rolling out high-touch dealerships and expects to have 125 there by year's end. The well-wheeled in China are just as wild about SUVs, with the big rigs accounting for almost half of luxury auto sales there last year. Strict new air pollution regulations are requiring Chinese consumers to buy more battery-powered vehicles, which explains why Lincoln is planning electric or plug-in hybrid versions of its expanding SUV lineup. "There certainly is a growth opportunity for Lincoln in China," Schuster said, "if they can establish themselves as an American brand that's desired and a status symbol, like Buick is there." He's less optimistic about Lincoln's plan to grow in the U.S. by luring millennials. "Lincoln is a niche player and I don't really expect that to change," Schuster said. "In fact, when they exit cars, their share will go down." But with profit margins that analysts say can top $20,000 on a Navigator, Ford shows no signs of giving up the fight with Lincoln. In the global auto industry, luxury vehicles account for about 10 percent of sales worldwide but about 30 percent of profits, analysts estimate. "It's very attractive for any auto manufacturer to play in that profit pool," Falotico said. Linda Brown standing outside the school the Topeka School Board would not let her attend, the year before SCOTUS stepped in and ordered desegregation. Photo: Carl Iwasaki/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Linda Brown, the 12-year-old girl who was the subject of the unanimous 1954 Supreme Court decision that outlawed formal school segregation, died today at the age of 76. Lindas father, Oliver, was actually the plaintiff in Brown v. Board of Education. He filed suit after the school board would not let him enroll Linda in an all-white elementary school near their home. By the time the case reached SCOTUS, it had been consolidated with challenges to segregated school systems in three other states (and the District of Columbia). But it was always known by Browns name. While Brown dealt an ultimately fatal blow to the constitutionality of formally (or de jure) segregated schools, overruling the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that allowed separate but equal facilities for different races, the 1954 decision began a long and difficult process of achieving educational equity that continues today. Brown itself required that states undertake desegregation with all deliberate speed, which enabled many years of foot-dragging and indirect strategies for maintaining mostly segregated schools, ranging from freedom of choice plans that let white parents move their kids out of integrated schools to the fight against busing to achieve something like racial balance. It speaks volumes that Linda Brown herself had to keep up the struggle as an adult, as the Topeka Capital-Journal reports: In 1979, Linda Brown, now with her own children in Topeka schools, became a plaintiff in a resurrected version of Brown, which still had the same title. Topeka Capital-Journal archives indicate the plaintiffs sued the school district for not following through with desegregation. Federal Judge Richard Rogers sided with the school district in a 1987 decision, but an appeals court reversed his ruling in 1989 and the Supreme Court hose not to review that decision. Rogers then approved a desegregation plan for Topeka Unified School District 501 in 1993. You can certainly make the argument even now that the spirit of Brown is being defied by those seeking to let parents use public funds to enroll their kids in private schools, providing a different but often parallel means of segregating students. Linda Brown is now being honored both by those who recognize the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education as incomplete, and those who very much want to limit it to its original scope of de jure (as opposed to de facto) segregation. Thats inevitable, and arguably even a good thing, though you have to figure she would have wanted present and future parents and children to be so secure in their rights theyd no longer have to keep fighting the same battle she began. The Torrington Police Department reported the following arrests: ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF NARCOTIC: Myles Jones, 27, of 74 Hartford Ave., Torrington, was arrested March 15 and charged with illegal possession of narcotic and possession of a controlled substance or more than a half-ounce of marijuana. He was released on a promise to appear and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS: Brandon Day, 20, of 250 Litchfield St., Torrington, was arrested March 15 and charged with possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana and possession of narcotics. He was released on a promise to appear and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. FAILURE TO APPEAR: Alan J. Plocke, 50, of 46 Pulaski St., third apartment, Torrington, was arrested March 24 and charged with second-degree failure to appear. He was held in lieu of a $500 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. FAILURE TO APPEAR: Dorothy A. Lyons, 56, of 46 Pulaski St., third apartment, Torrington, was arrested March 24 and charged with second-degree failure to appear. She was held n lieu of a $500 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. EVADING RESPONSIBILITY: Jennifer C. Miller, 41, of 90 Mount Pleasant Terrace, Torrington, was arrested March 23 and charged with unsafe movement of stopped vehicle and evading responsibility motor vehicle. She was released on a promise to appear and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington April 2. VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER: John Hawes, 33, of 253 Main St., first apartment, Terryville, was arrested March 9 and charged with violation of a protective order. He was given a $1,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. HARASSMENT: Jamie L. Marconis, 28, of 13 Holt St., Apartment 47, Terryville, was arrested on a warrant March 18 and charged with second-degree harassment. She was released on a $1,000 bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER: Dominek L. Spear, 27, of 22 Hillside Ave., Torrington, was arrested March 24 and charged with violation of a protective order. He was released on a $1,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. OPERATING WHILE IMPAIRED: Todd E. Weeks, 54, of 267 Grantville Road, Winchester, was arrested March 18 and charged with two counts of failure to obey stop sign, risk of injury to a minor, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while impaired. He was released on a $10,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 26. Last time, it went well. This time, maybe not. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images If this countrys enemies wanted to do insidious, long-term, and possibly irreparable damage to our democracy, they could do worse than hack the Census Bureau. They dont need to, though: The Trump administration is doing it for them. The political attack on the agency funding cuts, delayed preparations for the 2020 count, and the directors resignation already put demographers and statisticians on alert. Now, the Commerce Department has wound the clock back to the 1950s and will resume asking participants whether or not they are U.S. citizens. The result will be deliberate ignorance and self-inflicted chaos. Of New Yorks 8.6 million residents, 3.2 million are foreign born, and of those, 46 percent are noncitizens. I trust those numbers because I got them from Joseph Salvo, the director of the Population Division in New Yorks planning department, and I believe he knows what hes talking about. Thats how government is supposed to work: knowledgeable people, working together, collect reliable information and pass it on to the public and their elected officials so they can make educated decisions. Instead, the administration is embracing a policy of fuzziness. As a private citizen, Donald Trump considered facts negotiable, and even before he took office it was clear that he would translate his personal disdain for hard information into official policy. This is a new era, Salvo says. The challenges were facing right now are much more difficult than what weve faced in the past. Everyones already much more concerned about privacy and misused data, which makes people more hesitant to fill out a government questionnaire. Add to that the citizenship question: that is an additional hurdle. Though he tiptoes around placing blame, Salvo is alarmed by the prospect of baked-in error. City agencies rely on our data, and if thats not accurate, we pay a price in decisions that are not well informed. For example, when health officials are trying to gauge the severity of an epidemic, he says, they have a numerator the number of cases but they need to know the denominator. The rate can set of an alarm bell, or not, and if we have a massive under-enumeration, we get rates that are out of kilter with the situation on the ground. In theory, the more information the Census Bureau has about people, the more powerful its data. But asking about citizenship status is the opposite of a request for information; it is an invitation to hide to cower and be undercounted. Thats why New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman has said he will lead a multistate coalition to sue the federal government over the citizenship question. That question doesnt just affect undocumented immigrants, but also their families, friends, employers, and classmates anyone who fears that filling out a form could have catastrophic results for someone they know. If a family of five lives at a certain address, and one of its members lacks a visa, the Census will likely wind up with the statistical impression that nobody lives there at all. Multiply that panic by entire buildings, blocks, and neighborhoods, and you wind up with a more or less meaningless count. The Census Bureau will try to assure a jittery public that answering its questions wont trigger a deportation, an IRS audit, or an arrest. But how effective can a federal agencys (or New Yorks) outreach program be when it conflicts with an openly vindictive administration? These are not just New York problems. Justifiably suspicious immigrants are spread out across the country, in cities, suburbs, and rural areas. Excluding them from the count has an impact on us all. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution mandates a complete enumeration of the people in order to determine how many congressional representatives each state gets. The immediate goal of an iffy Census is political, as my colleague Margaret Hartmann made clear: Undercounting immigrants and urban populations will give Republicans an edge in apportioning representatives and drawing electoral districts. But the count serves innumerable functions. When pharmaceutical companies calculate how many flu vaccines to ship, or a city decides to build a new school, a hospital hires a geriatrician to serve an aging base, an insurance company calculates premiums, a cable provider decides to upgrade a citys service, a police department announces that the murder rate is low and dropping each of these entities need to know how many people live where. In between the decennial headcounts, the Census Bureau also conducts the annual American Community Survey, sending out detailed questionnaires to a small number of randomly selected households. Responding is mandatory, the bureaus website states, because As part of a sample, you represent many other people. But how many people? That number affects the legitimacy of every policy decision downstream. A city that doesnt know how big it is, or how fast its growing, cant be sure where to run buses or whether its going to need another sewage-treatment plant. Statistics can get personal, too. When your doctor tells you that the condition you have is rare, when you qualify for a Section 8 housing voucher, or your local library starts stocking books in Tagalog, you have the Census to thank. These are tough days for data. Hard information permeates society and controls much of our lives, and because of that it is regularly stolen, twisted, abused, and delegitimized. In such a climate, the governments numbers must be the gold standard of integrity. There will be no marches in support of that idea, no cardboard signs reading Save Our Census or Count Us All. Yet precise numbers matter because, in a democracy, the government allocates resources according to where theyre needed, rather than, say, because a high-ranking official has a nemesis in one state or a second home in another. The Census is the currency of fairness. Corrupting it is an ominous sign. Sao Nget, 92, the mother of Cambodia's opposition leader Kem Sokha, cries as she walks with assistants outside the appeals court in Phnom Penh, which denied him bail, on February 1, 2018. Cambodias Appeals Court upheld the continued detention without bail of opposition leader Kem Sokha on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Hun Sen boasted that he personally ordered the arrest last year that has earned Phnom Penh international condemnation and cuts in aid from donor counties. Then opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Kem Sokha was arrested last September on charges of collaborating with the U.S. to overthrow the government, and the Supreme Court followed in November with a decision to ban the CNRP for its role in his alleged plot, stripping officials of their posts and banning many from politics for five years. The Appeals Court rejected Kem Sokhas appeal against the Trial Courts decision to impose a second six-month term provisional detention on the CNRP leader. Kem Sokha was summoned, but did not appear in court for the hearing. Hem Socheat, a lawyer for Kem Sokha, said the decision by the court violated the law and human rights principles. We made our submission during the hearing that the first six months of Kem Sokhas provisional detention is sufficient. He should not be detained for another six months, he told reporters outside the courthouse. We will continue to request for his provisional release though we do not expect that the court would allow his bail, added Hem Socheat. Kem Sokhas case is a political one. A political case should never be solved in the court of laws. This mornings proceedings were merely carried out to satisfy the requirements of the appeal process, Eng Chhai Eang, a CNRP vice president, wrote on his Facebook page. Cambodias courts are not considered independent and are seen as beholden to Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party. Amid tight security outside the Appeal Court, security guards prevented supporters of Kem Sokha from gathering. A protester who managed to draw a political message on the ground was slapped in the face by Kim Vutha, the chief of the local security guards. No politics is allowed here. You have to erase it or Ill give you another slap, said Kim Vutha. Hun Sen's crackdown Hun Sen has targeted the political opposition, NGOs, and independent media in a months-long crackdown to silence government critics ahead of a general election on July 29. The move came after indications the CPP would face a robust challenge from the CNRP in the July elections. In comments to supports on Tuesday, Hun Sen boasted of his role in directing the arrest of Kem Sokha and repeated a vow to hold an election seen by most analysts as meaningless without any opposition. There will no pardon, no negotiation, but there will be an election, he said. I dont believe the Appeal Court will release the contemptible and chief traitor. I am the one who ordered his arrest in the first place. Without my order, no one would dare to arrest him. For treason, he had to be arrested, even at night time, added Hun Sen. Id like to make clear two points: First, there will be no negotiation with people who commit treason. Second, there will be no pardon or amnesty to these traitors. However you think or react, I dont care, he said at a graduation ceremony in the capital. Hun Sen also bragged about making prison authorities seize a cell phone of former CNRP media director Meach Sovannara, who with other party members is serving a prison term of up to 20 years on insurrection charges for clashing with police over the closure of a protest site in the capital in 2014. With my order, I want his phone to be seized and past communication be checked to find out to whom he has contacted so that we can arrest more big fish, he told the graduates. Last month, the European Unions Foreign Affairs Council threatened the Cambodian government with specific targeted measures if it failed to stop using the judiciary as a political tool to harass and intimidate political opponents, civil society, labor rights activists, and human rights defenders. Also in February, the White House announced that it was ending or curtailing several U.S. Treasury Department, USAID, and American military assistance programs that support Cambodias taxation department, local governments, and military. It said aid for health care, agriculture, and mine-clearing would continue. The U.S. cited recent setbacks to democracy in Cambodia, including the recent Senate elections in which the ruling CPP took all seats in an uncontested vote held just over three months after the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP. On Monday, exiled CNRP former president Sam Rainsy complained in an interview with RFAs Cambodian Service that all of Hun Sens words are about personal issues, accusing others of this and that and appealed for a higher level dialogue on issues facing Cambodia. If we are to hold a dialogue in the name of a leader, we must hold a dialogue for the national interest not on personal anger, feelings, and envy, or any tricks to eliminate others, he told RFA. In his remarks on Tuesday, Hun Sen claimed Sam Rainsy is trying to destroy him. I have my own set of objectives: to destroy you, he said of the opposition chief, who has lived in exile since November 2015. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Paul Eckert. China's ruling Chinese Communist Party appears to be stepping up its monitoring of citizens with overseas links following a massive restructuring of state agencies earlier this month to bring them under direct party control. Among the changes are an expanded and more visible role for the party's formerly secretive United Front Work Department, which works to ensure cooperation from groups outside the party and government apparatus. The department has absorbed the functions of the state bureau managing "overseas Chinese affairs," and is charged with the "investigation and study of overseas Chinese affairs at home and abroad," the official news agency Xinhua said, listing the organizational changes voted through at the recent National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing. "[This will enable the department] to broaden and unify the links between [its work with] overseas Chinese and citizens, and those returning to China," it said. As the party took over "united front" work with Chinese citizens overseas, a residential compound in Beijing announced that any residents who are overseas Chinese, or returnees from overseas work or study, should register with the authorities. According to a March 20 directive from the Wangjing Street neighborhood committee in Beijing's Chaoyang district, all long-term residents of the Daxiyang residential community who have returned from overseas work or study, or who are ethnic Chinese citizens of other countries, were required to register with the compound management by March 26 as part of "an investigation into the situation." An employee who answered the phone at the Daxiyang compound residential committee office on Monday said the orders had come from "higher up." "They have to fill out some basic information such as their name and date of birth, and where they studied overseas, which institution and which country," the employee said. Political targeting The Wangjing "international talent community," launched to attract foreign experts to work in China with special living environments, consists of 22 different residential compounds and a total resident population of 260,000. But a local resident surnamed Wu said he was reminded of the political targeting of anyone with overseas links during the political violence and turmoil of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). "[This move] has made quite a lot of people start thinking about the mentality of the Cultural Revolution era, when large numbers of returned and overseas Chinese, or people with overseas ties, were labeled and struggled to within an inch of their lives, leaving them traumatized," Wu said. He said people are particularly worried about such a move at a time of heightened political sensitivity, as President Xi Jinping, no longer curbed by presidential term-limits, boosts the Communist Party's ideological controls over every area of Chinese life. "At such a politically sensitive time, when they are holding high the banner of ideology, it is going to make people anxious," Wu said. "Maybe the Chinese Communist Party is starting to draw the lines of a class structure, to stop people and capital from escaping overseas." A strong reaction Earlier this month, authorities in Shanghai announced a crackdown on residents who hold permanent residency, or a "Green Card," in another country. The city announced that from May 1, it would revoke the household registration, or "hukou," of anyone known to hold permanent residency overseas, essential for access to public services such as health care and education. Now, the city's police department has announced that it will suspend implementation of the rules indefinitely, following a public outcry. Transfers of one's hukou to another place are theoretically possible, but highly sought-after cities like Beijing and Shanghai have in place labyrinthine and expensive bureaucratic barriers, as well as population caps and a quota system for migrants, which make them very hard to regain. A notice posted to the Shanghai city police department's official website had called on any residents "settling abroad or acquiring other nationalities," to report to police. China initially made these requirements nationwide in 2003, but they were rarely implemented. U.S.-based political commentator Liu Qing said the announcement had provoked a "very strong reaction." "It has to do with [classing people as] patriotic or unpatriotic," Liu said. "There are also a lot of economic interests involved, because a lot of people who do have overseas passports or green cards are getting the best of both worlds." Reported by Wen Yuqing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long and Xi Wang for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Human rights lawyer Wang Yu and husband Bao Longjun, who were both detained in a massive nationwide crackdown on rights lawyers and activists in July 2015, have been prevented from sending money out of the country to finance their son's studies. Fellow rights lawyers, many of whom were also detained and hit with a travel ban on themselves and their families during the crackdown say they had experienced similar difficulties, leaving them unable to provide for their student offspring. Bao Zhuoxuan, also known by his nickname Bao Mengmeng, was just 16 when his passport was confiscated in the wake of his parents' arrest on the night of July 9, 2015, scuppering his plans to pursue an education overseas. He later tried to escape across the border from the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan into northern Myanmar in the company of two rights activists posing as tourists, but all three were detained and handed over to the Chinese authorities. Bao's application for a passport was eventually granted, and he is currently at university in Melbourne. But when his parents went to transfer money to Australia for the first time, to meet his expenses, they found that the payment wouldn't go through. "I went to the bank to send money to my son, but they said it had been blocked, and that I couldn't make the transfer," Wang told RFA. "I don't think the account has been frozen, because the bank said I could deposit and withdraw funds with no problem." "The bank employee told me that they don't know what is going on, but some other people have been subjected to these restrictions on moving funds overseas, too," Wang said. "I think it has to do with the July 2015 case against us, but that's a guess. [The bank] said they don't know what is actually happening," she said. Second lawyer blocked Beijing rights lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan has previously said he was subjected to similar restrictions when he tried to wire money to his son to pay for tuition and daily living expenses at an overseas university. Bao Longjun said that shortly after trying to send the money, he received a call from the state security police, who promised to try and sort out the problem. "My son has been overseas for two months now, and he doesn't have much money left," Bao told RFA. "We wanted to send him some more ... but it wouldn't go through." "The state police called me to find out what was happening, and said they would sort it out." Bao said such restrictions were unacceptable. "He's going to be overseas for several years ... we have to be able to send him money," he said. Travel ban Meanwhile, Wang says she and Bao remain under a travel ban, and have been unable to return to practicing law since being released on bail, in spite of the fact that the year-long bail restrictions have already expired. "Legally speaking, I should be able to practice my profession, but the way things are at the moment, it doesn't look good," she said. "I am working hard in that direction, though." "Neither of us has a job right now, but we should be able to go back to work, from a legal point of view, now that the bail period is over," she said. A Hunan-based rights activist who knows the couple said they have been under various restrictions since their release from a police detention center. "Legally, Wang Yu should be at complete liberty, but under this abnormal political system ... she still doesn't really have her freedom back," the friend said. "She is still subjected to various forms of monitoring." Bao Zhuoxuan's departure in January was part of a plea bargain struck with the authorities that led to his and Wang Yu's "confession" to subversion charges and their subsequent release on "bail," to be held under surveillance as a family. Wang and Bao once worked for the now-shuttered Fengrui law firm that was the first target of police raids and detentions in July 2015 that broadened into a nationwide operation targeting more than 300 lawyers, law firm staff, and associated rights activists for detention, professional sanctions, house arrest, and travel bans, including for family members. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Chinese authorities in Ili Kazakh (in Chinese, Yili Hasake) Autonomous prefecture have added interest in travel abroad to the list of reasons they are detaining ethnic Uyghurs in the Xinjiang regions vast network of political re-education camps and prisons, according to an official source. Since April 2017, Uyghurs accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect views have been jailed or detained in re-education camps throughout Xinjiang, where members of the ethnic group have long complained of pervasive discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression under Chinese rule. Official announcements have stated that those who are sent to the camps include former prisoners, suspects and anyone who has travelled overseas, and say the camps will cleanse them of ideology that endangers state security. But the security chief of No. 2 Village in Bayanday township, in Ili Kazakhs Ghulja (Yining) county, recently told RFAs Uyghur Service that nearly 30 of the townships Uyghur residents had been detained since the middle of 2017, mainly because they were suspected of wanting to travel abroad. They are not related [and were not part of a group planning a trip], however, after we uncovered three to four people [in our village], the rest came forward from other villages in the township to admit their wrongdoing and seek leniency, he said. First, I informed the townships [Communist] party secretary, through whom the information was passed to the Public Security Bureau. After that, they were arrested, and placed in re-education. Some of the detainees have already been sentenced and sent to prison, he said, adding that he did not know what they were convicted of or how long their jail terms are, while others remain in the camps. The security chief, a Communist Party member who told RFA he had held his appointed position in No. 2 Village for six years, said that rooting out those who intend to travel abroad and other bad elements in the population is my job, and I did it voluntarily. Other security chiefs in the area are also actively informing on the residents of their villages, he said, adding that he had been rewarded by higher-level authorities on three separate occasions for his efforts. He noted that five members of his seven aunts and uncles families are currently being held in re-education camps, but said he would never allow his personal relationships to undermine his loyalty to the party and state. One of the sons of my fathers sister is in a re-education camp, among other relatives, the chief said, adding that he had not attempted to use his influence as an official to obtain their release. If they have failings, they need to go for re-education. In an earlier interview, the chief told RFA that authorities in Bayanday are also using age as one of the criteria to determine whether to detain Uyghurs in re-education camps, as those born after 1980 are considered violent and untrustworthy. He, and the head of womens affairs in Bayandays No. 3 Village, confirmed that some of the roughly 250 people detained in camps from each of their villages had been pre-emptively targeted for re-education simply because they were younger than 40 years of age and susceptible to influence by dangerous elements. Camp network China's central government authorities have not publicly acknowledged the existence of re-education camps in Xinjiang, and the number of inmates kept in each facility remains a closely guarded secret, but local officials in many parts of Xinjiang have in RFA telephone interviews forthrightly described sending significant numbers of Uyghurs to the camps and even described overcrowding in some facilities. Maya Wang of the New York-based Human Rights Watch told The Guardian in January that estimates of Xinjiang residents who had spent time in the camps went as high as 800,000, while at least one Uyghur exile group estimates that up to 1 million Uyghurs have been detained throughout the region since April 2017, and some activists say nearly every Uyghur household has been affected by the campaign. Since Xinjiang party chief Chen Quanguo was appointed to his post in August 2016, he has initiated unprecedented repressive measures against the Uyghur people and ideological purges against so-called two-faced Uyghur officialsa term applied by the government to Uyghurs who do not willingly follow directives and exhibit signs of disloyalty. China regularly conducts strike hard campaigns in Xinjiang, including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including videos and other material. While China blames some Uyghurs for "terrorist" attacks, experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from the Uyghurs and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence there that has left hundreds dead since 2009. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Belarusians weren't the only ones marking a centenary this past weekend. As dozens of demonstrators were arrested in Minsk while marking the 100th anniversary of Belarus's 1918 declaration of independence, more than 10,000 people turned out in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau. They were commemorating the 1918 unification of Romania and Bessarabia -- a former province of the Russian Empire that covers parts of present-day Moldova and Ukraine -- which took place a century ago today. They also called for the reunification of Romania and current-day Moldova. And they did so in the face of fierce opposition from Moldova's pro-Moscow President Igor Dodon. Dodon urged his supporters to stage a counterdemonstration, and then he reportedly took to Facebook and called on police to intervene to prevent violence. Some 21 people were reported to have been arrested. But pro-unification sentiment appears to be picking up steam in Moldova, with more than 130 municipalities already having called for unity with Romania. This is just the latest data point in a growing trend that is largely passing under the radar. As we focus our attention on attempts by Vladimir Putin's regime to put the Soviet Union back together again by stoking conflict in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, and by courting clients to do his bidding, there is something else going on. There is a rebellion below the decks, most obviously in Ukraine and Georgia, but in Moldova and even in Belarus as well. And this rebellion is gaining momentum. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. The European Union has called for "calm, wisdom, restraint, and leadership" to prevail after the detention and expulsion of a senior Serbian government official by Kosovo authorities fueled friction between the two neighbors. EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini made an urgent trip to Belgrade on March 27 for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, after ethnic Serbs walked out of Kosovo's government and set up a road block in the north of the country. Following her meeting with Vucic, Mogherini said in a statement that she "deplored yesterday's events in Kosovo: What happened yesterday must not happen again." The EU official and the Serbian president "agreed to find new ways to continue working and resolving peacefully issues between Belgrade and Pristina," the statement added. The U.S. State Department in a statement late on March 27 said the United States "strongly condemns" the arrest and expulsion of a Serbian official from Mitrovica on March 26, events that it said "unnecessarily heighten tensions and threaten regional stability." Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert urged the two Balkan nations to "avoid further escalation" over their differences and "focus on normalizing relations" through the EU-led dialogue. Earlier in the day, politicians representing Kosovo's Serbian minority announced the decision to leave the Pristina government after they met with Vucic in Belgrade, saying they will no longer support Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's cabinet. Haradinaj called their decision to pull out "incomprehensible" and insisted that his team "will not fall." Serbs have also parked trucks to block a key road linking northern Kosovo with the capital. The developments came a day after Marko Djuric was briefly detained after entering the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica because authorities said he had entered the country illegally. Djuric, who is the head of the Serbian governments office for Kosovo, was transferred to a court in Pristina before being expelled from the country. Officers also fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of ethnic Serbs protesting against the arrest. Russia's Foreign Ministry said Moscow "strongly" condemned the incident in Mitrovica, alleging that it was "aimed at intimidating Kosovo Serbs." Serbia's former province of Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized as a sovereign state by well over 100 countries but not by Belgrade and Moscow. EU-brokered negotiations between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels on March 23 broke up without apparent progress toward an agreement to normalize relations, which the bloc wants completed by the end of 2019. With reporting by AFP and TASS Macedonian prosecutors have filed charges against 30 people, including a former interior minister and several opposition lawmakers, for their alleged involvement in the storming of parliament by demonstrators nearly a year ago. The public prosecutor's office on March 27 charged ex-minister Mitko Cavkov and 27 other people with "terrorist endangerment of the constitutional order and security." They face minimum jail sentences of 10 years if convicted The suspects, who also included five deputies from the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party and senior officials of the Interior Ministry, "caused an act of violence, thus putting in danger the lives of lawmakers, journalists, officials, and employees in parliament and creating a feeling of insecurity, danger and fear among citizens," the public prosecutor's adviser, Elizabeta Nedanovska, told a press conference in Skopje. Two other people were charged with complicity. No date has been set for the trial. The attack on parliament on April 27, 2017, occurred amid high political tensions in Macedonia as the former ruling VMRO-DPMNE attempted to stop the Social Democrats from forming a government with ethnic Albanians. More than 200 protesters, some wearing masks, stormed the building after the new majority in the legislature had elected an ethnic Albanian, Talat Xhaferi, as its speaker, paving the way for the formation of a government led by the Social Democrats. Police outside the building fired stun grenades in an effort to disperse protesters and clear the way for the evacuation of lawmakers. The European Union, the United States, NATO, and several Balkan countries condemned the violence, in which nearly 100 people were injured including police officers and lawmakers. The leader of the Social Democrats, current Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, was among those injured. With reporting by Balkan Insight Protesters marched in the northwestern Pakistani city of Bannu on March 26 to demand the release of fellow activists detained over the past week. The demonstrators belong to the newly established Pashtun Protection Movement, or PTM, which staged a 10-day protest in the capital, Islamabad, in February. The movement of mainly young activists is demanding an end to what they say are human rights violations in the country's tribal regions. They call for the removal of military checkpoints and an end to "enforced disappearances" in which suspects are detained without due process. Similar protests were under way in the city of Swat, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, and in Peshawar, the provincial capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the leader of the small Persian Gulf state of Qatar in Moscow on a day when scores of Russians were reported killed in a shopping mall fire and dozens of Russian diplomats were being expelled around the world. The Kremlin said on March 26 that Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani expressed condolences to Putin over the deadly fire in Kemerovo at the outset of their meeting, at which they discussed "the situation in Syria" and "boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields." The talks occurred as Russia in Syria was helping arrange a massive evacuation of armed rebels and civilians from the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta and negotiating the possible exit of a final holdout group of rebels from the area. Russia since 2015 has intervened in Syria in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Qatar has sought to deepen ties with Russia since breaking off relations with its Middle Eastern neighbors Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates last year. In January, Qatar's ambassador in Moscow, Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, told Russian state-run TASS news agency that Qatar is finalizing a deal to buy S-400 air-defense systems from Russia -- a move which could run counter to U.S. sanctions targeting Russian defense companies. "We count on our Russian friends, with whom we have a cooperative relationship, knowing that Russia plays a significant role in the problems of the Arab world," Thani said at the start of the talks with Putin. "Even though we have solid ties and mutual trust, we must go further to reinforce our relations in all areas," he said. The countries were expected to sign a range of agreements on trade and humanitarian matters. Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, TASS, and Interfax President Donald Trump speaks next to the $1.3 trillion spending bill in the White House, on Friday, March 23, 2018. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Earlier this year, President Trump had agreed to trade protection for the Dreamers for funding for his precious border wall, but then he backed away from that agreement; as a result, there is no wall funding. The most recent budget deal in Congress still has no wall funding, and specifically states that any border construction must be see-through fencing. And since the budget needs 60 votes to pass the Senate, and Republicans have only 51 senators, there wont be a wall unless Trump either gets a lot more Republicans in the Senate or else gets some Democrats to support it. Unfortunately, Trump does not seem to understand how any of the above works. The Washington Post reports that Trump has been privately insisting that the military should pay for the border wall. Trump has grown frustrated watching constant TV criticism of the spending deal he signed last week and is determined to find a new way to fund the wall, the story notes. Of course, Trump had a bipartisan agreement to fund the wall but decided to oppose this deal, and now believes he is entitled to get his side of the deal without giving anything up. Trumps proposed mechanism is for the Department of Defense to fund the wall. Trump has tweeted this: Because of the $700 & $716 Billion Dollars gotten to rebuild our Military, many jobs are created and our Military is again rich. Building a great Border Wall, with drugs (poison) and enemy combatants pouring into our Country, is all about National Defense. Build WALL through M! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2018 (M reportedly stands for military, not Mexico.) And he has brought it up in private repeatedly. In another such interaction with senior aides last week, the Post reports, Trump noted that the Department of Defense was getting so much money as part of the $1.3 trillion spending package that the Pentagon could surely afford the border wall, two White House officials said. As the story explains, its not a matter of being able to afford a spending project; Congress has to authorize spending projects. Just because the Department of Defense has a lot of money does not mean it can legally spend the money on any project the president wants. One might think that the first time he floated this notion, somebody would have explained what Congress is and why his plan cannot happen. But when Trump is busy firing everybody who treats him like a moron, maybe his aides are skittish about explaining the, uh, constitutional impediments to his concept. Thousands of people demonstrated in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on March 27 to demand answers and accountability after a fire at a shopping mall killed 64 people, including many children. The father of one victim addressed the crowd, describing the last phone conversation he had with his daughter who was trapped and overcome by smoke. BIISK, Russia -- More than 1,000 people have been evacuated in the Siberian region of Altai Krai after melting snow caused severe flooding. The Emergency Situations Ministry's regional department told RFE/RL on March 27 that 3,035 yards and 1,255 houses were flooded in 13 towns and four cities. The department's spokeswoman, Alyona Seleznyova, said that more than 1,000 people had been evacuated. Altai Krai borders Kazakhstan to the south. On March 26, officials in the neighboring East Kazakhstan region said that in the previous five days more than 750 people had been evacuated after snowmelt caused flooding. A state of emergency has been declared in the towns of Glubokoye and Shemonaikha. NATO has joined more than two dozen governments around the world in expelling Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on March 27 that the alliance will expel seven staff from the Russian mission, saying the move would send a message to Russia that there are "costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behavior." The expulsion of 144 Russians by 27 countries so far, including Britain, dwarfs similar measures taken during Cold War spying disputes. Britain hailed the mass expulsion as a "turning point," while Russia asserted that it was the result of "colossal" pressure by the United States and vowed to respond to the move. London blames Moscow for the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Speaking in Brussels, the NATO chief said he would also deny pending accreditation for three Russian staff, and would reduce the size of Russia's mission from 30 to 20. The military alliance made a similar move in 2015, following Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region. There were previously 60 Russia personnel at NATO's headquarters. Stoltenberg insisted that NATO "remains committed to our dual-track approach of strong defense and openness to dialogue, including by working to prepare the next meeting of the NATO-Russia Council," a forum intended to prevent tensions between the alliance and Moscow from escalating. "Never before have so many countries come together to expel Russian diplomats," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson earlier wrote in The Times, calling it "a "blow from which Russian intelligence will need many years to recover." "I believe that yesterday's events could become a turning point," Johnson wrote, adding, "The Western alliance took decisive action and Britain's partners came together against the Kremlin's reckless ambitions." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of applying "colossal" pressure on allies to expel its diplomats, and vowed to respond to the move. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of applying " colossal pressure, colossal blackmail" on allies to expel its diplomats. "We'll respond, have no doubt! No one wants to put up with such loutish behavior and we won't," Lavrov said during a visit to Uzbekistan, reiterating Moscow's warning that it was preparing a tit-for-tat response. In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters that Russia "has the potential to be a partner" with NATO members but had "chosen to seek a different relationship." Sergei Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer imprisoned by Moscow after being convicted of passing on information about Russian agents in various European countries, came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap. Britain earlier ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats after blaming Moscow for the attack on Skripal and his daughter, who remain in critical condition. Moscow has fiercely denied the charge and has pointed the finger at British intelligence. Britain's allies followed suit, with Washington leading the way by ordering out 60 Russians in a new blow to U.S.-Russia ties less than a week after President Donald Trump congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his reelection. Many EU countries also ordered Russian diplomats out. Germany, France, and Poland each expelled four; the Czech Republic and Lithuania each expelled three; Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Italy each expelled two; and Hungary, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia announced plans to expel one Russian diplomat each. Outside the EU, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Macedonia, and Norway also announced expulsions. On March 27, Ireland, Moldova, and Belgium were the latest countries to order out Russian diplomats. Dublin and Brussels said they will expel one Russian diplomat each, while Chisinau announced it had asked three diplomats to leave the country. "The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and wellbeing," Ireland's Foreign Ministry said. Also on March 27, British Prime Minister Theresa May told senior ministers that there was still more to be done in Britain's long-term response to Russia. "Yesterday was a significant moment in our response to this reckless act of aggression, but there is still more to be done as we work with international partners on a long-term response to the challenge posed by Russia," her spokesman said, reporting remarks made by May at a cabinet meeting. Western officials made it clear in announcing the expulsions that they share Britain's assessment that only the Russian state could have been behind the incident. 'Reckless Behaviour' In his article for The Times, Johnson said the attack fell into pattern of "reckless behavior" by Putin, including the annexation of Crimea. "The common thread is Putin's willingness to defy the essential rules on which the safety of every country depends," he said. "Hence every responsible nation shares a vital interest in standing firm against him," he said. Johnson also accused Russia of seeking to avoid pressure by putting out a variety of explanations for what Western officials say was the first offensive use of a chemical weapon in Europe since World War II. "There was a time when this tactic of sowing doubt might have been effective, but no one is fooled any more. I believe yesterday was a moment when the cynicism of the propaganda machine was exposed for all to see," he said. U.S. officials announced that 48 "intelligence officers" attached to Russian diplomatic missions in the United States would be expelled, along with 12 accredited to the United Nations in New York. This was the largest U.S. expulsion of Russian or Soviet agents ever and comes after Trump's predecessor Barack Obama expelled 35 in late 2016 over alleged election meddling. In addition, the Russian Consulate-General in Seattle will be closed, the White House said. The Russian Embassy in Washington asked its Twitter followers to vote on which U.S. consulate should be closed in response to the closing of the Russian Consulate in Seattle, listing those in Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg as options. With reporting by The Times, Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa Russian historian and activist Yury Dmitriyev, who is being tried on child-pornography charges, says he maintained his innocence in his final statement to the court ahead of a verdict. After making the statement at a hearing behind closed doors on March 27, Dmitriyev told journalists that he said, "I am not guilty." Dmitiyev said that Judge Marina Nosova will pronounce a verdict on April 3, but his lawyer said the verdict may end up coming later as the case is very complex. "To objectively deal with the case [and] to analyze all the evidence is a huge job, and so it is very possible that the court will not be able to pronounce [the verdict on April 3]," lawyer Viktor Anufriyev said. On March 20, prosecutors asked the court to convict Dmitriyev and sentence him to nine years in prison. Anufriyev has said that medical and forensic experts determined in February that his client was not a pedophile and that 49 nude photographs of Dmitriyev's foster daughter, on which the prosecution built its case, were not pornography. Investigators claim that Dmitriyev intended to use the photos, which were found on his personal computer, to create pornographic material to share online. He is charged with "preparing and distributing child pornography." Dmitriyev, who heads the Karelia chapter of the prominent Russian human rights group Memorial, has worked for decades to expose crimes committed in the northwestern region of Karelia by the Soviet state under dictator Josef Stalin. Dmitriyev denies the charges, and his colleagues argue that the case has been trumped up to punish him for his past research and to silence him in the future. He and his colleagues say the photos were taken because medical workers had asked him to monitor the health and development of the girl, who was malnourished and unhealthy when he and his wife took her in at age 3 with the intention of adopting her. Dmitriyev was arrested in December 2016 and went on trial on June 1, 2017. He was released from pretrial custody in late January on condition that he wouldnt leave the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk without permission. With reporting by Interfax and TASS A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia is accusing Iran of supplying Yemen's Huthi rebels with the ballistic missiles used to attack Riyadh over the weekend and said it is weighing an "appropriate" response. Displaying wreckage of what Saudi forces said were the missiles used, a coalition spokesman said at a news conference in Riyadh on March 26 that forensic analysis showed the missiles were supplied to the Shi'ite Huthi rebels by their ally Iran. "The missiles launched against Saudi territory were smuggled from Iran," spokesman Turki al-Malki said, who added that the missiles targeted not only Riyadh but the Saudi cities of Najran, Jizan, and Khamis Mushait. We "reserve the right to respond against Iran at the right time and right place," Malki said, adding that the response would be "appropriate" as needed to protect the kingdom under international law. The Pentagon also blamed Iran for the Huthi missile attacks on March 26. "This follows Iran's pattern of providing advanced weapons to the Huthis," spokeswoman Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Rebarich said in a statement. "Iran has enabled the conflict in Yemen to spill into neighboring countries and undermines international efforts to resolve the conflict, exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people." The U.S. State Department said Washington would support the Saudis' "right to defend their borders against these threats." After the weekend attacks, Britain also called on Iran to "stop sending in weapons which prolong the conflict, fuel regional tensions, and pose threats to international peace and security." Iran did not immediately respond on March 26 to the allegations that it supplied the Huthis, but it accused Britain, which has provided the Saudi-led coalition with some of the weapons used in its devastating bombing campaign in Yemen, of hypocrisy. "Britain undoubtedly has direct responsibility for the war crimes committed over the past three years in Yemen by selling arms and providing logistical and intelligence support to the countries attacking Yemen," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi on the ministry's website. "This country is in no position to accuse other countries and it would be better for it to end as soon as possible its opportunistic and profiteering approach to this blind war," he said. If the Saudi-led coalition makes good on its threat to respond against Iran, it could mark a sharp escalation in Yemen's three-year civil war, which has been seen as a proxy war between archrivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Huthis on March 26 celebrated their seven missile strikes on the Saudis a day earlier, in what was their largest barrage so far, resulting in the first death and injuries from Huthi fire in the Saudi capital after several sporadic missile attacks last year. Witnesses said an Egyptian laborer died instantly in his bed when what appeared to be burning shrapnel struck his ramshackle room in Riyadh's Um al-Hammam district, leaving a gaping hole in the roof. They said three other Egyptian workers in the same room were wounded and hospitalized. The Huthis said on their Al-Masirah television outlet that Riyadh's international airport was among their targets. "We praise the successful advance of military capabilities," Huthi political council chief Saleh al-Samad told tens of thousands of supporters rallying in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on March 26. "If they want peace, as we have said to them before, stop your air strikes and we will stop our missiles," he said. "If you continue your air strikes, we have a right to defend ourselves by all means available." Malki charged that the rebels are using the airport in Sanaa to launch missile attacks on Saudi territory. He claimed that the coalition has seized some weapons smuggled from Iran. The Saudi-led coalition has backed the Yemeni government with an aerial bombing campaign against the Huthis, which captured Yemen's capital three years ago at the start of the war and continue to control it, as well as the nation's largest port. About 10,000 Yemenis have been killed in the war, with most of the deaths occurring since the coalition bombing campaign started in 2015. Devastation from the war has caused what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Amnesty International, which has criticized both sides in the war for neglecting civilian safety, on March 26 said the "indiscriminate" Huthi missile attack on the Saudi capital "could constitute a war crime." The rights group has also slammed the Saudi-led alliance for what it said were possible war crimes in Yemen. With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters Russian officials faced fierce criticism over what many saw as a cynical and tone-deaf response to a fire at a Siberian shopping center that killed dozens, many of them children. As thousands of people protested in the central Siberian city of Kemerovo on March 27 following the deadly fire there a day earlier, the region's governor accused "opposition forces" of stoking tensions for political gain and estimated the demonstration at around 200 people. The region's deputy governor, meanwhile, told the crowd of his service in the Soviet Navy and his business accomplishments, while suggesting a man who lost his wife and three children in the fire of using the tragedy to "hype" himself. In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 27, Kemerovo Governor Aman Tuleyev said that the protesters in the city center "are not relatives of the dead, but constant troublemakers." "We are working with them and saying: 'You can't do that. It's blasphemy. It's a time of sorrow, and you're trying to use it to solve some of your problems," said Tuleyev, who has served as governor of the coal-mining region since 1997. Tuleyev's remarks sparked indignation both on social media and at the scene of the demonstration, where Kemerovo resident Igor Vostrikov took the microphone and asked a senior regional official if he agreed with the governor's characterization of the crowd. "In principle we don't have any opposition activists in Kemerovo," Vostrikov -- whose wife, three young children, and sister died in the fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) mall -- told the crowd. "And Tuleyev says 200 opposition activists came out, people who are constantly protesting. And there are no injured or victims here," Vostrikov added. Heated Words Vostrikov traded heated words at the scene with Kemerovo Deputy Governor Sergei Tsivilyov, who suggested the local resident was engaging in self-promotion. "Young man, are you trying to use this tragedy to hype yourself?" Tsivilyov said, to which Vostrikov replied: "My entire family died." The remarks by Tuleyev and Tsivilyov triggered condemnation across social media. Konstantin Rykov, a Kremlin-loyal media figure and former federal lawmaker, called Tsivilyov a "beast." Photographer and blogger Rustam Adagamov, a well-known Putin critic, sarcastically said the official's comment demonstrates "the general sympathetic position of Kemerovo authorities toward the victims." Tsivilyov is the owner of a coal company in which an investment vehicle of Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko -- a prominent associate of Putin -- holds a 30-percent stake. Putin appointed Tsivilyov deputy governor earlier this month, and Russian media reports suggested he could replace Tuleyev as the governor of Kemerovo. Addressing demonstrators in Kemerovo on March 27, Tsivilyov sounded at times like he was delivering a campaign speech. He noted that he had served in the Soviet Navy and was proud to have "protected our government." He also told the crowd that he built a mining business from scratch and wanted the region to flourish. He urged the crowd to "create our own plans ourselves" or risk having "someone else create our plans for us." Putin, meanwhile, faced criticism for invoking "demography" when discussing the tragedy -- something he did twice on March 27. Meeting with senior regional officials and emergency chiefs, Putin said "we are losing so many people due to "criminal negligence." At a later meeting with a small group of victims relatives, Putin said: "We talk about demography, ask people to have children, and as a result of such things [like the fire] we lost so many children." Liberal opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov wrote on Twitter: "Putin couldn't find any other words about the tragedy. Demography and statistics." Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny wrote on his website that Tuleyev's response demonstrated "the complete degradation of our pencil-pushers sitting in their armchairs for 20-25 years." Making 'Political Capital' Writing on her Instagram account, Kremlin human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova did not name Navalny but accused "non-systemic opposition" activists of trying to "squeeze any bit of political capital out of a tragedy" in order to "rehabilitate themselves in the eyes of sponsors.'" Moskalkova did not elaborate on what "sponsors" she was talking about, but the term is often used by officials and Kremlin loyalists to portray political opponents as Western puppets. Tuleyev added in his meeting with Putin that it was his "task" to prevent "these vultures from exploiting other people's misery and achieve some murky goals." He also asked expressed "great thanks" to Putin and asked the Russian president "personally for forgiveness for what happened on our territory." That remark drew angry accusations of cowardice against Tuleyev for not seeking forgiveness from the victims and their relatives. For his part, Tsivilyov, the deputy governor of Kemerovo, ultimately did ask for forgiveness from those "who have ended up in this difficult situation." He drew a smattering of applause as he kneeled down before the crowd in a sign of contrition. Yuri Gagarin died 50 years ago, on March 27, 1968, less than seven years after he made history by becoming the first person to fly into space. During what should have been a routine practice flight, Gagarin's MiG-15UTI fighter plane crashed near the town of Kirzhach outside Moscow, killing him and co-pilot Vladimir Seryogin. On March 30, 1968, thousands of mourners gathered in Moscow's Red Square for the funeral of a national hero. (Originally published on March 27, 2013) Spanish authorities have broken up a cybercrime syndicate of Ukrainian and Russian nationals that allegedly stole more than 1 billion euros ($1.24 billion) from bank accounts over more than four years. The Interior Ministry on March 26 said the gang's alleged mastermind, identified as a Ukrainian and named only as "Denis K.," was arrested in the coastal city of Alicante, along with three accomplices who it said were Russian and Ukrainian citizens. In a statement, the ministry said the group "infected with malicious software the computer systems of banks, mainly in Russia, but also in Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Taiwan, taking control of critical systems that allowed them to empty ATMs remotely, alter balances, or modify accounts." Since it began operating in 2013, the group "managed to gain access to practically all of Russia's banks and make withdrawals from ATMs in Madrid for half a million euros," the statement also said. Earlier on March 26, Europe's law enforcement agency announced that the cybercrime group's suspected mastermind was arrested in Alicante following an investigation conducted by the Spanish National Police with the support of Europol, the U.S. FBI, Romanian, Belarusian, and Taiwanese authorities, as well as private cybersecurity companies. Europol did not disclose the person's name or nationality. It said in a statement that the gang used malware known as Carbanak and Cobalt to target more than 100 banks in more than 40 countries since late 2013. Europol said the group distributed the malware as e-mail attachments sent out to bank workers. The software gave the cybercriminals remote control of infected machines, providing them with access to the internal banking network and infecting servers controlling ATMs. According to the Spanish Interior Ministry, the criminals relied first on individuals linked first with Russian and then later with Moldovan organized crime to extract money from cash machines that had been targeted with the malware. The earnings were converted into Bitcoin at exchange houses in Russia and Ukraine, the ministry said. Financial platforms in Gibraltar and Britain were then used to "load prepaid cards with this cryptocurrency and spend them in Spain on all kinds of goods and services," including cars and homes. The Interior Ministry said that police seized jewels worth 500,000 euros and two luxury cars during the raid in Alicante. Bank accounts and two homes valued at about 1 million euros were also blocked. With reporting by AFP and Reuters ON MY MIND Protesters in the Siberian city of Kemerovo held signs with slogans like "Corruption Kills" and "Tell The Truth" in the aftermath of a deadly fire this weekend in a shopping mall that killed at least 64 people -- many of them children. In the town of Volokolamsk earlier this month, angry residents clashed with government officials after dozens of children were taken to the hospital due after breathing gas leaked from a garbage dump. Throughout last year, long-haul truckers continued their protests against a road tax that would benefit Vladimir Putin's closest cronies. The Achilles heel of the Putin regime will probably turn out to be localized protests like these in which ordinary Russians begin to connect the dots between rampant corruption and their own standard of living, their safety, and that of their children. IN THE NEWS The United States, European Union member states, Ukraine, and Canada have ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in England -- a move the Kremlin vowed to match with "the principle of reciprocity." The Russian ambassadors to Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have been summoned to meetings at those countries' foreign ministries, Russian news agencies report. Britain's defense chief says that many countries are united behind Britain over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter and are pushing back against Russian efforts to divide the West. Thousands of people have demonstrated in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, demanding answers and calling for the regional government's resignation as grief mixed with anger after a fire at a busy shopping mall killed 64 people, many of them children. Vladimir Putin met with the leader of the small Persian Gulf state of Qatar in Moscow on a day when scores of Russians were reported killed in a shopping mall fire and dozens of Russian diplomats were being expelled around the world. Putin also traveled to the Siberian city of Kemerovo overnight and early on March 27 and blamed "criminal negligence and carelessness" for the deadly fire that killed more than 60 people at a shopping mall over the weekend. Blocked fire exits, a shut-down alarm system, and "glaring violations" of safety rules exacerbated the human toll of a fire that swept through a busy Siberian shopping mall, killing 64 people as panicked visitors jumped from windows and banged on doors in an attempt to escape, Russian investigators say. Russian businessman Sergei Mavrodi, whose MMM pyramid scheme deprived millions of Russians of their savings in the 1990s, has died of a heart attack, according to Russia media. Britain's anti-doping authority has reassured athletes that no personal data was stolen as a result of a hacking attack on the authority over the weekend. The European Union has called on Belarus to immediately release all the opposition activists who were arrested at the weekend as they attempted to hold an unsanctioned rally in the capital. WHAT I'M READING The Kemerovo Fire Meduza has a live blog chronicling the aftermath of the deadly fire that killed more than 60 people at a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo. And Republic.ru has an editorial responding to the fire. Bolton And Moscow In his column for Republic.ru, Moscow-based foreign affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov weighs in on John Bolton's appointment as U.S. national-security adviser. Forecasting Putin's Foreign Policy Kadri Liik of the European Council on Foreign Relations looks ahead to Putin's foreign policy during his fourth term. "Moscow has undergone a lively debate on the future course of its foreign policy which may now become obsolete by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal," she writes. Putin's Expat Supporters In an op-ed in The Moscow Times, political commentator Artemy Troitsky explains why Russians living in the West support Putin. Reviewing The Death Of Stalin New York-based writer John Ganz reviews Armando Iannucci's film The Death of Stalin for The Baffler. KYIV The European security organization responsible for monitoring the deadly conflict between government forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine will reintroduce its long-range drone program more than a year and a half after it was dropped due to repeated shoot-downs. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSCE SMM) said in a statement that it will officially relaunch the program on March 28, near the government-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka. The drones will help "augment and complement its monitoring activities and to overcome impediments to monitoring in eastern Ukraine," it said. The announcement comes amid fresh reports of what a Ukrainian volunteer military group alleges is a new Russian electronic-warfare system deployed near the front line of the ongoing conflict. The OSCE SMM long-range drone program was nixed in August 2016 after several of its drones were downed by rifle fire, surface-to-air missiles, and military-grade electronic jamming equipment. The organization has continued to fly mid- and short-range drones with more limited abilities. The OSCE at the time did not assign responsibility for the drone downings, citing a lack of access to the crash sites, according to Foreign Policy magazine. But senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials said the Russia-backed separatists had shot the drones down to conceal their actions. The OSCE SMM told RFE/RL in e-mailed comments that the organization had signed a new service contract and will be resuming long-range drone operations with the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 after a testing phase. The monitoring mission said it could not disclose "for commercial reasons" how many unmanned aerial vehicles it would be using, but it said the size of the fleet will allow the SMM to support its efforts to monitor the situation equally on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk region." The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 drones, which could fly up to 150 kilometers, played a crucial role in spotting artillery attacks, troop advances, and the positioning of prohibited weapons -- all violations of a 3-year-old cease-fire deal known as Minsk II, which has not ended the war. More than 10,300 people have been killed since it broke out in April 2014, after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and stoked separatism in the east following the ouster of Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych, whose decision to scrap a landmark agreement with the European Union prompted massive protests in Kyiv. The OSCE SMM describes itself as an unarmed, civilian mission with an around-the-clock presence in all regions of Ukraine. Its main tasks are to observe and report impartially on the situation throughout the country and to facilitate dialogue among all parties to the conflict. A majority of its hundreds of monitors are positioned in war-torn eastern Ukraine, where the Russia-backed separatists hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. The revival of the OSCE SMMs long-range drone program comes amid reports suggesting the separatists have employed what may be a new electronic-warfare system. On March 20, the Ukrainian NGO Come Back Alive published a drone video showing footage filmed by a drone over a separatist outpost near the separatist-controlled city of Horlivka. Spotted in the footage appears to be an electronic-warfare system of unknown origin which flashed a light toward the drone that caused it to temporarily lose control. Come Back Alive alleged that the mysterious system had been brought in from Russia. Moscow has denied providing the separatist forces with weapons despite what Kyiv and NATO say is evidence proving that it has done so. Wilbur Ross has some good news for fellow Republicans. Photo: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Several months ago, a Census Bureau researcher warned that test surveys ahead of the 2020 Census were already showing unprecedented levels of concern from immigrants, who fear that answering the survey could lead to deportation, though that would be an illegal use of the data. On Monday night the Commerce Department announced a change thats likely to make the problem much worse: in keeping with a request from the Justice Department, the next Census will include a question about citizenship status. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement that he has determined that reinstatement of a citizenship question on the 2020 decennial Census questionnaire is necessary to provide complete and accurate Census block level data. While it might seem like the epitome of boring government bureaucracy, the count of every person living in America which must take place every ten years, according to the Constitution is extremely important, as the data is used to draw political districts and determine the distribution of federal funding. The Trump administrations move is likely to give Republicans, who already have an edge in congressional and state legislative maps, an even greater advantage for years to come. The citizenship question has not been included in the decennial Census since 1950, though it is included in some smaller population surveys. Adding the question is expected to discourage noncitizens a population already difficult to count accurately from responding to the Census. A majority of undocumented immigrants live in 20 metropolitan areas, so undercounting this population would shift power and resources away from more Democratic-leaning cities and toward Republican-leaning rural areas. As the Washington Post explains, the shift could give Republicans an additional tool in years to come by providing a count of U.S. residents who are eligible to vote. The courts have long mandated that U.S. House districts must be based on the total population, which includes children, undocumented immigrants, and others who cannot vote. However, for many years conservative advocates have discussed the possibility of drawing state and local districts based only on eligible voters which would exclude nonvoters, who are disproportionately minority. In 2016 the Supreme Court ruled that states can continue using the total population to draw legislative districts, but left open the possibility of states switching to the count of eligible voters instead. At the time that was only a hypothetical option, as there was no usable Census data on citizens versus noncitizens in a given district. The Trump administrations decision changes that. The inclusion of the citizenship question may allow states to draw their legislative maps based on eligible voters in the years ahead. That could indirectly help the GOP maintain a hold on Congress, as the congressional maps would be drawn by more heavily Republican state legislatures. Theres ample evidence that the Trump administration has been trying to use the 2020 Census to their political advantage, from a foiled attempt to put a leading defender of GOP gerrymandering in charge of the Census, to refusing to hire noncitizen Census-takers, who are seen as crucial to reaching immigrant communities. Democrats and civil-rights groups have been speaking out against efforts to politicize the Census, and Mondays decision was met with immediate protest. Xavier Becerra, Californias attorney general, announced that the state intends to sue the Trump administration over the inclusion of the citizenship question. Earlier on Monday Becerra and California secretary of State Alex Padilla wrote in an op-ed that the move is illegal, and would harm their state: California, with its large immigrant communities, would be disproportionately harmed by depressed participation in the 2020 census. An undercount would threaten at least one of Californias seats in the House of Representatives (and, by extension, an elector in the electoral college). It would deprive California and its cities and counties of their fair share of billions of dollars in federal funds. Former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder, who has devoted his post-Obama administration career to fighting the GOPs state-level advantage, said he intends to sue as well. We will litigate to stop the Administration from moving forward with this irresponsible decision, said Holder, who is now chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. The addition of a citizenship question to the Census questionnaire is a direct attack on our representative democracy. Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, whom Russia has charged with espionage in a case seen by rights activists as politically motivated, has entered a not guilty plea as his trial began in Moscow. Sushchenko's lawyer, Mark Feigin, wrote on Twitter that the Moscow City Court started the trial on March 27, and that his client pleaded not guilty. Sushchenko, a Paris-based correspondent of the Ukrinform news agency, was detained in Moscow in 2016 on suspicion of collecting classified information. Kyiv and rights activists say Russia has jailed several Ukrainians on trumped up, politically motivated charges since Moscow seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and threw its support behind armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. A year ago, the European Parliament called on Russia to free more than 30 Ukrainian citizens who were in prison or other conditions of restricted freedom in Russia, Crimea, and parts of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists. The list included Sushchenko and filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is serving a 20-year sentence in a Russian prison after being convicted of plotting terrorist attacks in a trial supporters called absurd. The list, which the parliament statement said was not complete, also included several leaders of the Crimean Tatar minority, which rights groups say has faced abuse and discrimination since Russia's takeover. Following talks in Uzbekistan, more than 20 countries and organizations have declared their support for direct talks between the Kabul government and the Taliban to end the 16-year conflict in Afghanistan. A joint declaration issued at the end of the March 27 meeting in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, noted the signatories' "strong backing for the National Unity Government's offer to launch direct talks with the Taliban, without any preconditions." They also called upon the Taliban to "accept this offer for a peace process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned." The conference was attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, European Union foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini, and a number of foreign ministers, including Sergei Lavrov of Russia, Wang Yi of China, and Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu. The United States was represented by Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon. Earlier this month, Ghani offered to allow the Taliban to establish itself as a political party and said he would work to remove sanctions on the militant group, among other incentives, if it joined the government in peace negotiations. In return, the militants would have to recognize the Kabul government and respect the rule of law. But the Taliban has so far ruled out direct talks with Kabul and insisted it would only negotiate with the United States, which it calls a "foreign occupying force." The Taliban also says that NATO forces must withdraw before negotiations can begin. The United States has refused to withdraw troops and insisted that the Afghan government must play a lead role in peace negotiations. Meanwhile, representatives of both Washington and NATO have accused Russia of supplying military aid to Taliban, which ruled over much of Afghanistan from 1996 until it was toppled following a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, after the September 11 attacks. Moscow has rejected the claims. While the Tashkent meeting did not lead to any breakthrough, it highlighted the potential reemergence of Uzbekistan as a diplomatic player in the region. During the conference, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev offered to host peace negotiations between Afghanistan's government and the Taliban. "We stand ready to create all necessary conditions, at any stage of the peace process, to arrange on the territory of Uzbekistan direct talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement," he said. The Central Asian state of 32 million people is seeking to raise its international profile as part of Mirziyoev's campaign to open up Uzbekistan and attract foreign investment after decades of isolation and economic stagnation. Mirziyoev took over predominantly Muslim Uzbekistan after the death in 2016 of authoritarian President Islam Karimov, who had ruled with an iron fist since the Soviet era. Tashkent's ties with the West were strained under Karimov who was often criticized over his government's human rights abuses. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and TASS 10 Cancun swimmers required rescues already this holiday season Cancun, Q.R. Already this Easter holiday season, 10 people from beaches around Cancun and Isla Mujeres have required the assistance of life guards due to near drownings. Civil Protections says that as part of their operation during Semana Santa, the Navy has participated in Operation Lifesaver, having assisted in the rescue of 10 people along the beaches. In a statement, the Navy Secretariat of Mexico says that already this holiday season they have rescued three women and seven men after swimmers experienced problems trying to reach the shore. Semana Santa 2018 has been put into effect at Playa Delfines in Cancun and at Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres, each of which are popular destinations for vacationing Mexican nationals who come to the area to spend their Easter break. The waves and undertow of some of the beach areas along Cancun are very strong. Each year, several people drown for either underestimating the waters or for not obeying the flags placed in the sand to warn swimmers of the natural dangers. Nearly 300 kilos of cocaine found off coast of Puerto Aventuras Puerto Aventuras, Q.R. Nearly 300 kilos of cocaine have been found off the coast of Puerto Aventuras. The Navy of Mexico made the discovery after a call regarding a sunken boat was seen with only a portion of bow above water. Navy personnel headed to the site where divers inspected the sunken boat in search of bodies. Photo: Navy Secretariat of Mexico The boat was found floating Saturday between the villages of Paamul and Puerto Aventuras. According to reports, Search and Rescue was deployed, however instead of bodies, divers found hundreds of packages of what later turned out to be cocaine. In total, 290 kilos of packaged cocaine was secured by the Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico. They reported finding 12 large wrapped packages. Inside the large packages were 302 smaller packages that, when combined, weighed 290 kilos. On board, Navy officials also found two large motors and two 200-liter drums of fuel among other items. All items were made available to the Attorney Generals Office. US says American Union committed to Mexico Mexico City, Mexico In a recent meeting with Mexicos Foreign Minister, US Secretary of Internal Security said that the American Union is committed to Mexico adding that the two countries are allies and friends. Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Internal Security of the United States, said that no one should underestimate the strength and commitment of the American Union with Mexico and that We are neighbors, we are allies and we are friends. At a press conference, Luis Videgaray, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that important steps were taken to strengthen security relations including security at the ports of entry to ensure travel between the two countries is safe and legitimate. We also talked about international criminal organizations, how we can attack them. We talked to see how we can remain engaged in this work. We also talked about Central America and our mutual interest in prosperity in the Central American countries, but mostly reinforcing security, Videgaray explained. Nielsen added that Mexico and the United States are committed to maintaining a good relationship with a goal of prosperity for the two countries. The US official added that the agreements signed during the recent meeting will help in the development of the implementation of the programs, and that compliance will continue to be observed and the exchange facilitated. Nielsen explained that in addition to the three signed agreements, there are more than 25 memorandums of understanding and letters of intent that are being worked on at the same time, stressing The United States is committed to its work and alliance with Mexico. Priced between INR 7.91 lakhs and INR 10.09 lakhs, Honda WR-V is the companys first model in the sub 4 meter SUV segment. It is offered in two variants S MT and VX MT and presented in 1.2 litre petrol and 1.5 litre diesel engines. Launched last year, the car is based on the Jazz hatchback. The idea on which the car is based, is same reason we have seen Hyundai i20 Active, Toyota Etios Cross, VW Polo Cross, Fiat Avventura and so on. But in none of the case, did the crossover outsell the hatchback, except in the case of WRV. Yes, sales of Honda WRV have surpassed that of the car on which it is based, Jazz. Honda WRV sales have crossed the 50,000 units mark this fiscal. This accounts for 28% of the total HCIL sales this fiscal. Now, the WRV is 2nd best selling Honda car in India (first is New City). Of the total sales, 80% are for the top end VX grade. 42% buyers opted for petrol, 58% opted for diesel. Honda WR-V Details First Introduction India Other Market Brazil Launch in India Mar-17 Cumulative Sales in India (as on date) 50,000 units and counting WR-V Contribution to HCIL Sales in 2017-18 28% Highest Selling Grade Top Grade (VX) 80% Petrol: Diesel ratio 42% (Petrol) 58% (Diesel) Sales Contribution Zone wise North -30%, West-28%, East -15%, South-27% Sales Contribution Market wise Tier 1 38%, Tier2 30%, Tier3 32% Commenting on the success of the Honda WR-V, Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd., said: This is a very proud moment for us. Honda WR-V has witnessed great success in the Indian market and the 50,000 sales milestone validates its strong presence. It has emerged as a strong volume model in Hondas model line-up striking the right chord among young urban customers who are looking for status, comfort and have an active lifestyle. Not only competing with cars in the crossover segment, the WRV also competes with compact SUVs like Tata Nexon Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra KUV100. With beginning of 4th year of steadfastness, President launches state-building project [26/March/2018] ANA'A, March 26 (Saba) President of the Supreme Council Saleh Al-Sammad announced on Monday the launch of the state-building project in conjunction with the start of the fourth year of steadfastness in the face of the aggression. Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis flew to Al-Sabeen Square in the capital Sana'a coming from several provinces to mark the third anniversary of steadfastness in the face of the aggression, which began on March 26, 2015. The participants held flags of the Republic of Yemen and banners expressing the continued steadfastness in the face of the aggression. In his speech to the masses, the president referred that this trend comes in parallel with the battle of repelling the aggression on various fronts. "As we launch this project, we know that the road is long and filled with challenges, but as we have been steadfast in the fight fronts ..., we will be more capable at the level of the challenge to build the state," the president said. He continued to say :"We realize that our battle today in defending Yemen is a battle to regain its independence and build the state." The president pointed out that the messages sent by the missile force to the aggression countries were messages of peace. He reiterated that Yemen is with a just and honorable peace that guarantees the freedom and dignity of the Yemeni people. "If they want peace, we are with peace as we said," he said, adding that if the air raids continued, "we have the right to defend ourselves and by all available means." "We will deal with any initiatives that lead to the cessation of the aggression, lifting the siege and sitting at the table of dialogue," al-Sammad said. He called on the internal national forces involved in the aggression to engage in a Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue to solve the problems. The president praised achievements and sacrifices of the army and popular committees on the various fronts, as well as the successful progress in the military capabilities, especially in the missile force and the air and naval defense forces. BA Saba State minister for Higher Education Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo today lost his cool and blasted the organizers of national dialogue on safe and positive learning environment. Muyingo was furious with the organisers for poor time management and wrong choice of venue. The two-day dialogue started today at Imperial Royale hotel. A visibly angry Muyingo, poured his heart out when he was invited to deliver his speech at around 10:45am, yet the programme indicated that he was supposed to do this between 9:40am and 10:10am. Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo (R) was irked by the delays and 'wrong' choice of venue for the dialogue For starters, Muyingo is a renowned timekeeper a rarity with most high profile civil servants. And, he was on time to address participants on what he called a very important topic that is close to my heart on violence against children in school. Before he could read his written speech, the minister requested to register two complaints before asking the organisers to apologise for not doing things right. I thank those who kept time because it stresses the importance of the dialogue. By 9am, I was already here only to be told by organisers that; Hon minister, keep away for some time until they [participants] are all here. Can you imagine! I had to drive back to my office and just imagine the fuel and time I used to drive and come back again, Muyingo fumed, drawing the audience in a loud silence. He added: On a very serious note, we need to keep time. If you dont, some of us who have gone to school will keep it. We have failed to achieve many things just because of our poor time management. As if that was not enough, he went ahead to commend them for organising the dialogue in a beautiful environment Imperial Royale which according to him is not suitable for majority Ugandans. I feel unhappyHow I wish this dialogue was organised in a place where things are not as expensive such that those people who keep battering our children and sexually harass them are enabled to be part of it. How many of those can enter the gates of this hotel uninterrupted? Muyingo asked. He said, in future, while handling such topics of national importance, sponsors should opt for places where all Ugandans who need the information can easily be accessed and allowed to participate. I love staying in these expensive places but there is so much that is spent to provide for a few of you here who are not even ready to keep time. I wish some of that money could be used to reach out to more people or even do better, he concluded. Some of the pupils at the dialogue. Photos: Nicholas Bamulanzeki DIALOGUE Themed Safe and positive schools for children in Uganda: Evidence based programming, the dialogue comprised representatives from Unicef, Unesco, World Vision, Irish Aid, World Health Organisation, ministries of Education and Gender, students, among other participants. Muyingo underlined seven commitments that government is planning to undertake in a bid to end violence against children in schools. These include rolling out the sexuality education framework, finalizing the school healthy policy and implementation of guidelines for re-entry of child mothers into schools and other education institutions. For teenage mothers, the policy will ensure that all girls who dropped out of school are reunified in schools. This policy has taken long on the shelf but the technical team will be presenting it to top management next week. We are, however, discussing it in a way that it does not encourage those who wouldnt fall victims to making mistakes, the minister said, appealing to participants to find permanent solutions to curb violence against children. Meanwhile, Unicef representative in Uganda, Dr Doreen Mulenga, said the dialogue is timely given social media reports on almost a daily basis on violence which underscores a sense of urgency to act. Violence is unacceptable. It is preventable. In Uganda like elsewhere, children spend more time in school and their teachers have an obligation to create a safe learning environment for them while at school. The task ahead is enormous and we have significant challenges, Mulenga said. She said while Uganda is already a step ahead in ending violence against children, there is need to scale up so that ongoing interventions to cover the whole country. Quoting 2017 Unicef statistics, Clarice da Silva e Paula, a child protection specialist at Unicef, said three quarters of children aged two to four worldwide close to 300 million are regularly subjected to violent discipline (physical punishment and/or psychological aggression) by their parents or other caregivers at home. In Uganda alone, 46 per cent of children experience bullying in schools. Clarice called for more investment in prevalence and administrative data during monitoring and evaluation programmes to bring effective interventions to scale. nangonzi@observer.ug Climate change and other environmental factors are more threatening to fish diversity than predators, according to new research from the University of Guelph. It is a surprising and important finding, as humans rely upon freshwater lakes for more than one-fifth of their protein needs worldwide, says lead author Prof. Andrew MacDougall in U of G's Department of Integrative Biology. "Freshwater is a huge source of food for people, including Ontario's Great Lakes," he said. Lakes, rivers and streams cover less than one per cent of Earth's surface but provide 12 per cent of human fish consumption, MacDougall said. The findings, published this month in the journal Nature Communications, may offer ideas for resource managers to better protect all-important species diversity in lakes around the world, MacDougall said. His international research team included U of G biologist Prof. Kevin McCann and scientists in Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, the United States and Japan. advertisement The research team modelled prey-predator interactions and environmental factors, such as lake size, temperature and water quality. The scientists used information compiled earlier by the Ontario government on more than 700 lakes in the Great Lakes watershed. The team found that species diversity depends more on "bottom-up" environmental factors than on "top-down" interactions, or which fish species eats what -- a result that surprised MacDougall. He said food chain interactions among organisms are still important. "All lakes have big predators, and predators always kill lots of fish that they consume," said MacDougall. "But the strength and degree of the interactions seems to depend fully on environment. The interactions are never independent of lake conditions." He said resource managers need to pay attention to physical conditions, including lake warming caused by climate change and water quality impacts of human activities such as farming. advertisement The authors say the paper's findings set a baseline for species diversity in southern Ontario lakes. That will help resource managers monitor or predict those effects as well as the impacts of other changes such as introduction of invasive species. Many freshwater fish species in Canada and abroad are already endangered by human-caused environmental changes, said McCann. "There's a looming threat of loss of species." He said the study shows how so-called big data can help detect patterns in complicated ecosystems and how precision agriculture -- including more targeted use of crop fertilizers -- may lessen pollutants entering lakes and streams. Big data and precision agriculture are key aspects of the University's Food from Thought project, which aims to help find sustainable ways to feed Earth's growing human population. McCann co-leads that project, launched in 2016. U of G researchers in the new study were supported by funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and from the Canada First Excellence Research Fund for the Food from Thought project. Academics have identified four types of employees who can become a threat to their companies -- and explained the reasons why their workplace behaviour declines. Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Coventry found organisational change within a company can act as an important trigger prompting even loyal and longstanding employees' behaviour to worsen. The results of this range from time-wasting in the office to giving away confidential business information to competitors. They identified types of employees -- omitters, slippers, retaliators and serial transgressors -- who carry out this 'counterproductive work behaviour' and the factors which cause it, in their new report. Their findings have been used to create a series of resources to help employers manage organisational change and to try to prevent this behaviour by staff. The project -- funded by the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST) -- collected data from a company undergoing organisational change. advertisement The research, by Professor Rosalind Searle and Dr Charis Rice, involved interviewing managers and employees, reviewing HR and security paperwork relating to insider threat cases and carrying out anonymous surveys within the organisation. Their work revealed negative impacts of organisational changes -- such as unpredictable working environment, inadequate communication, inconsistent leadership and unfair changes or processes -- can cause distrust to form among employees and their managers. This reduces people's psychological attachment to their companies and makes them more likely to carry out behaviour that makes them an insider threat. The four types of employees who could potentially become an insider threat to their company are: Omitters -- These are people who carry out this behaviour through an incapacity to effectively self-regulate their actions. They unintentionally breach rules and need help from colleagues to reduce the insider threat risk they present. advertisement Slippers -- These are employees who occasionally undertake single acts of counterproductive work behaviour, such as taking home 'on-site only documents' or being rude to others. Retaliators -- These are employees who deliberately undertake small acts designed to harm the organisation. Over time, if unchallenged and uncorrected, these can cause problems for colleagues and create additional costs and risks for their employers. Serial Transgressors -- These individuals undertake a wide array of counterproductive work behaviour which undermines the authority of management and increases the security risks of those they work with. But Prof Searle and Dr Rice say managers can help reduce this behaviour by introducing the five core skills. These are: being fair and consistent with HR procedures and people during times of change; creating a system of organisational citizenship in which reporting counterproductive working behaviour is considered a protective measure rather than a punishment; communicating change initiatives transparently, consistently, regularly and collaboratively; adapting change initiatives in response to assessments of individual, team and organisations vulnerability; and managers leading by example. Dr Charis Rice, from Coventry University's Centre for Trust Peace and Social Relations, said: "There are many examples of high-profile companies which have made the headlines following employee sabotage. It is vitally important to understand how these situations come about: the types of employee who might resort to these behaviours; why it happens and how managers' actions can prevent this happening. "Our aim was to provide a framework to predict, identify and mitigate counterproductive work behaviour and insider threat within the context of organisational change. "We found examples of team and managerial distrust that led to employees withdrawing their effort from organisations and in some cases even bred revenge behaviour." Prof Rosalind Searle, from the Adam Smith Business School at University of Glasgow, said: "Critically, our results showed that such outcomes were often an unforeseen consequence of an existing 'need to know' security culture and in part, the perceived heavy-handedness of HR and security teams with whom staff felt reluctant to share concerns." The resources are available to view at https://crestresearch.ac.uk/cwb. One of the key steps in developing new drugs is determining the atomic structure of its biologically active substances. This generally involves performing X-ray analyses of single crystal structures to determine the ingredient's detailed three-dimensional set-up. However, growing suitable single crystals is often a complex and time-consuming process. Determining crystal structures more quickly and efficiently A research group headed up by Bernhard Spingler, professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Zurich, has now modified a method that had previously been used exclusively for the crystallization of proteins, and successfully applied it to organic salts. The team was able to determine the crystal structures of several organic salts with significantly less time and effort. "As organic salts make up about 40 percent of all active pharmaceutical ingredients, this new method can greatly speed up the development of drugs," says Spingler. Simplified screening of organic salts The generation of solid salts of organic molecules is a key step in developing certain pharmaceutical ingredients. The positively and negatively charged particles that make up organic salts determine their properties, such as their solubility, crystal shape, ability to absorb water, melting point, and stability. The search for the ideal negatively charged anion to match the salt's positively charged cation has until now been a very resource-intensive process. Thanks to the semi-automatic combination of ion exchange screening and vapor diffusion for crystallization, this is not only done quicker and at lower costs. "We can now also determine the structures of the salt combinations directly after screening, since doing so only requires only very small amounts," adds crystallography expert Spingler. Trainee achieves breakthrough The breakthrough in developing the novel method was achieved by Philipp Nievergelt, a trainee who had spent 10 months in Bernhard Spingler's lab after graduating from Gymnasium. The successful junior researcher is listed as first author of the study and is now four semesters into his business chemistry studies at UZH. "The traineeship got me excited about lab work and encouraged me to continue doing research," explains Nievergelt. The time babies spend in the womb is far from idle. The brain is changing more rapidly during this time than at any other time in development. It is an active time for the fetus to grow and explore, and of course connect to its mother. And new evidence from in-utero fetal brain scans shows, for the first time, that this connection directly affects brain development: A mother's stress during pregnancy changes neural connectivity in the brain of her unborn child. "It has long been thought that the stress of a mother during her pregnancy may imprint on the brain of her developing child," says Moriah Thomason of Wayne State University who is presenting this new work at the 25th meeting for the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Boston today. "Despite the clear importance of this time frame, we presently possess very little understanding of how functional macroscale neural networks build during this precious time in human life, or the relevance of this to future human health and development." This prenatal work is part of a growing body of research to better understand how the human brain develops across its lifespan, from fetus to old age. "We are interested in how a human brain constructs over time to become the adult brain," says Nim Tottenham of Columbia University, whose work focuses on identifying sensitive periods of brain development from childhood into adolescence. She is chairing a session on new findings in brain development at the CNS meeting: "The talks aim to bridge across the very long brain development that gives rise to mature functioning." Seeing the changing fetal brain Research in newborns and older children to understand prenatal influences has been confounded by the postnatal environment, Thomason explains. But recent advancements in fetal imaging allowed her and her team to gain insight into a critical time period in brain development never previously accessible. Using fetal resting-state fMRI, they examined functional connectivity in 47 human fetuses scanned between the 30th and 37th week of gestation. The researchers recruited the participating mothers from a low-resource and high-stress urban setting, with many reporting high-levels of depression, anxiety, worry, and stress. advertisement They found that mothers reporting high stress had fetuses with a reduced efficiency in how their neural functional systems are organized. It is the first time, imaging has shown a direct influence of maternal stress on fetal brain development, independent of influences of the postnatal environment. "The major thrill is that we have demonstrated what has long been theorized, but not yet observed in a human, which is that the stress of a mother during her pregnancy is reflected in connectional properties of her child's developing brain," Thomason says. The data suggest that the brain does not develop in a sequence from simplest systems (e.g., vision, motor) to more complex high-order systems, but perhaps instead first develops the areas that will be most critical in bridging across systems. The researchers found that the cerebellum played a central role in the observed effects, suggesting it may be especially vulnerable to the effects of prenatal or early life stress. The cerebellum has the highest density of glucocorticoid receptors, which are involved in stress responses, than any other place in the brain. Thomason and her team plan to further investigate this as a possible mechanism for the stress responses they observed. Although conducting in-utero brain scans are challenging -- first and foremost because of the always wriggling babies -- working with expectant mothers is quite rewarding, Thomason says. "A lot of our moms are interested in being part of this research, not because of concerns they have in their pregnancy," she says, "but because they appreciate the heightened vulnerability of budding human life, and this is an opportunity to help other women that may not have the same fortune in their circumstances." Making connections into adulthood Cognitive neuroscientists are especially interested in understanding sensitive periods of time when the environment has the largest influence on future brain functions. To identify such times, Tottenham of Columbia University has honed in on connections between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala. advertisement "A majority of developmental change during childhood and adolescence are the changes in connections," she explains. "We have largely focused on the connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex because of the very large changes we have observed there across childhood and adolescence and their central role in emotional behaviors." Studying awake children as young as 4-years old, Tottenham and colleagues identified developmental periods when the nature of the communication between the amygdala and the PFC operates differently than in an adult. The connections develop very slowly over childhood, with a dramatic shift toward the end of childhood when the transition to adolescence brings about more adult-like characteristics. Looking at coincidental environmental events in childhood, the researchers also found data to suggest that amygdala-medial PFC connections are highly impressionable to external forces. "The human brain is designed to learn from the environment. This is thanks to the long period of infancy, childhood, and adolescence that humans enjoy," Tottenham says. "What has amazed me most about the developing brain is that it is not simply an immature version of the adult brain but instead is designed to collaborate with the expected caregiving ecology." Indeed, says Thomason: "We must consider the developing brain in context, thinking about the role of the environment in shaping the brain. It is a topic that inspires us to promote healthy brain growth, to ask what it is that we do for children in the lifestyles, opportunities, and learning conditions we create for them." While people tend to describe tropical oceanic islands as 'paradises on Earth' and associate them with calm beaches, transparent warm waters and marvellous landscapes, archipelagos are often the product of a fierce natural force -- volcanoes which erupt at the bottom of the sea. Because of their origin, these islands have never been connected to the mainland, thereby it is extremely difficult for species to cross the ocean and populate them. One such species -- the South American guppy (Poecilia vivipara) -- is a small freshwater fish which looks nowhere equipped to cross the distance between the mainland and the Fernando de Noronha oceanic archipelago in Northeast Brazil. Nevertheless, the research team of PhD student Waldir M. Berbel-Filho and his professor Dr. Sergio Lima from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte recorded the species from a local mangrove on the island. The question that immediately sprang to the minds of the scientists was: 'Where did the guppies come from and how did they get to Fernando de Noronha?' To answer these questions, the scientists sequenced a gene of the guppies' DNA to analyze potential signatures of the island colonization left in the fish DNA. As a result, they concluded that the isolated population was in fact closely related to the fish inhabiting the closest continental drainages. However, this evidence was not enough to explain how the species turned up on the island in the first place. Was it natural colonization, or rather human introduction? The most likely scenario, according to the team, leads back to about 60 years ago when the American military had their WWII bases positioned at both Fernando de Noronha and Natal -- the closest continental city. Indeed, the soldiers suggested to bring guppies to the island in an attempt to control mosquito population (in this region, guppies are commonly placed in water reservoirs to eat mosquito larvae). On the other hand, natural dispersion cannot be completely excluded. The biologists remind that, apart for their exuberant colours and shapes, the guppies are well known for their capacity to resist to a wide range of environmental conditions. It could be that a set of circumstances occurring together, such as a favourable sea current, physiological adaptation and a bit of luck, might have brought the guppies to the archipelago. "Regardless of their means of transportation," argue the authors, "this guppy population represents a valuable lesson on how small populations manage to colonize and thrive in isolated environments." "Despite being visited by thousands of people every year, some of the most intriguing secrets of tropical islands may still be hidden in the DNA of their inhabitants," they conclude. "These 'paradises on Earth' are capable of simultaneously filling our hearts with beauty and our minds -- with knowledge." We tend to think of heroes in terms of a psychological profile: brave, altruistic, strong. But a new study suggests that for at least one kind of heroism, it takes a village to save a life. Through in-depth interviews, researchers examined what motivated some members of the majority Hutu population in Rwanda to risk their own safety to save persecuted ethnic Tutsi during the genocidal violence of 1994. The violence claimed up to 1 million lives, eliminating much of the Tutsi population. "We started this study thinking we would identify the individual characteristics that motivated rescuers, because that's what most previous research had pointed to," said Hollie Nyseth Brehm, co-author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at The Ohio State University. "But we realized very quickly that most people who rescued weren't doing this alone. It was a form of collective action. The social dynamics and situational context were key factors in determining whether someone decided to rescue." In fact, the results of the study made clear that not all the Hutu who saved Tutsi were heroes, Brehm said. The researchers interviewed six Hutu who killed or performed other violence against some Tutsi, but also saved others. advertisement "Some of them killed a Tutsi they didn't know, but saved someone they knew," Brehm said. "People's behavior is complex. You can't always put them into these neat categories of 'good' or 'bad.' Psychological theories fall short when trying to explain why some people who rescued also killed other people. That's why it is important to understand the social situation, as we do in this study." Brehm conducted the study with Nicole Fox, assistant professor of sociology at California State University, Sacramento. Their results appear online in the journal Social Forces and will appear in a future print edition. For this study, the researchers conducted one- to two-hour interviews with 35 Hutu who had reported saving at least one Tutu from violence. Six of the people the researchers chose were defendants in court for committing genocidal crimes, but had also reported rescuing potential victims. The rescues took a variety of forms, but many involved hiding Tutsi in their homes from armed militias. They supplemented their interviews with data from a survey of 273 rescuers done by other researchers. advertisement In their analysis of the interviews, the researchers identified three major factors associated with collective action that could help explain why the rescuers did what they did to save Tutsi: biographical availability, socialization and situational context. Biographical availability involves the influence of people's life circumstances in shaping their ability to rescue. The study found that most people who rescued were significantly older than the general population. As elders, they had influence over their families and may not have been expected to take part in militias committing genocide, which were dominated by the young. Rescuers also tended to have higher socioeconomic status than most Rwandans, which often meant they had homes where they could hide persecuted Tutsi. Socialization -- especially family history and religious views -- also played a key role in the decisions of people to rescue. "The family history finding surprised us. That emerged from the data and was not something we had expected," Brehm said. Twenty of the 35 people interviewed mentioned that their parents or grandparents had rescued Tutsi during previous periods of violence in the country. One man said he derived strength to act because of "what my parents had done in previous years." Religion was another key factor. In the survey of rescuers, only three of the 273 respondents adhered to no religion. Most were Catholics (52 percent) and 40 percent were Protestants. In the interviews, 57 percent mentioned faith being connected to their decisions to rescue. One example of how religion played a role in decisions to rescue involved Seventh Day Adventists, who made up about 20 percent of the survey respondents. "They spoke about how their religious practices, such as abstinence from alcohol, created a social divide between them and those who participated in the violence," Brehm said. The third factor involved in motivating rescuers was situational context. One important context was their social ties, specifically with Tutsi seeking help. One-third of survey respondents said they participated in rescue efforts because the people they were rescuing were friends or neighbors. In the interviews, the numbers were even more striking: 32 of 35 people rescued people they knew. "Often, we found that people who rescued had people show up at their doors and they had to decide whether to help," Brehm said. Another key situational context was the community setting, including levels of violence and active militias. Some people were able to hide Tutsi because militias thought their villages had been fully "cleansed" of Tutsi. Other Hutu rescuers (often those who also committed violence) had close ties to militia members, so they were not suspected of hiding Tutsi. Brehm noted that the rescuers interviewed for this study were not randomly chosen. She and Fox found the participants in a variety of ways, but there is no way to tell if they are representative of all rescuers in the country. Brehm said psychological traits undoubtedly played at least some role in people's decisions to risk their lives to rescue. But the good news from this study is that heroism is within reach of most people, given the right circumstances. "These results suggest than nearly anyone can engage in heroic deeds. You may not need a certain personality type, as long as you have the right network of friends and family and a support system that can help you." India's largest integrated power company Tata Power has sold its stake in two group companies to cut its mounting debt burden. The company has said its board has approved the sale of its shares in Tata Communications and Panatone Finvest to Tata Sons and its affiliates. "The estimated realisation will be about Rs. 2150 crores and is subject to shareholders' approval", said an official announcement. The company has cross-holdings at the group level. It holds stakes in seven group companies, including Nelco, Tata Communications, and Voltas, besides an unlisted Tata Teleservices. Panatone Finvest holds 30.1% of Tata Communications. The move is a part of the company's plan to monetize its non-core assets and improve balance sheet to set the stage for the next phase of growth, stated the company. As of the second quarter of FY 2018, Tata Power had a consolidated debt burden of Rs 48,982 crore, mainly accrued from huge investments made into a bleeding 4150 megawatt Mundra ultra-mega power project and a Rs 10,000 crore acquisition of Welspun's renewable energy portfolio about two years ago. Tata Power spent nearly Rs 18,000 crore to construct the subsidiary Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL) at Mundra in Gujarat, including Rs 6,200 crore equity and the rest as loans, mainly from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and IFC. The interest burden on Mundra started from 2013 onwards and the company has to pay over Rs 1,000 crore as interest annually. But its plans backfired as Indonesia changed its coal policy in 2012 to favour domestic coal companies which made the imported coal based power plant unviable. CGPL is straining the balance sheet of Tata Power. CGPL had an operating income of Rs 6,112 crore in FY17 and Rs 5,908 crore in FY16, but net losses were Rs 849 crore and Rs 999 crore respectively. For the second quarter of FY18, CGPL had a net loss of Rs 279 crore and an incremental EBITDA loss of Rs 166 crore. A few months ago, Tata Power's Managing Director and CEO Anil Sardana, a long term Tata loyalist, had resigned. Praveer Sinha, currently working as as the CEO & Managing Director of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL), will take over as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director with effect from May 1, 2018. In a recent paper published in the journal Pain, Saint Louis University researchers describe their success in an animal model in turning off the excruciating pain that often accompanies a colorectal cancer drug. Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and physiology at SLU, studies pain pathways, the series of interactions between molecular-level components that lead to pain in the body. One type of pain she examines is chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain (CINP), a debilitating side effect of chemotherapy that can appear as tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, shooting or burning pain in the limbs, or can feel like hot or cold temperature extremes. In addition to causing patients suffering, CINP is often a limiting factor when it comes to treatment. "Thanks to the increased efficacy of cancer treatment, there are nearly 14 million cancer survivors in the United States," Salvemini said. "Many of these survivors suffer from long-term side effects of CINP, for which there are no proven strategies for prevention or treatment. "This is a huge unmet medical need." In her current paper, Salvemini studied the platinum-based chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin which is widely used to treat colorectal cancer. Over 60 percent of patients who received oxaliplatin develop CINP, and it can last for years after treatment. The research team found that the pain pathway associated with this drug was driven by increased expression of an enzyme, adenosine kinase, in astrocytes (a type of central nervous system cell) and decreased adenosine signaling at a key receptor, A3AR. By supplementing this signaling with A3AR agonists, the researchers were able to block the development of CINP without interfering with the anticancer properties of platinum based drugs. These findings advance researchers' understanding of pain pathways and provide new information about how drugs may be able to treat chemotherapy pain. Perhaps most encouraging, existing A3AR agonists currently are being studied in advanced clinical trials as novel anticancer agents. This paper makes a strong case for evaluating those drugs for use together with oxaliplatin to limit CINP while treating cancer. Forty million miles of major roads crisscross the Earth's continents -- enough to circle the planet 1,600 times. For humans, these thoroughfares are a boon, enabling them to move with ease from place to place. But for migrating animals who are also hemmed in by dams, rivers, shipping lanes, urban development and agriculture, they create another barrier. As human development and activities continue to expand, scientists have grown increasingly concerned about such migrators, especially those that trek long distances. These animal travelers cover hundreds to thousands of kilometers annually, yet very little is known about how their movements are faring across the globe. To expand the scientific knowledge base, a team of UC Santa Barbara scientists set out to estimate the vulnerability and extinction risk of migratory birds, mammals and fishes from different regions and ecosystems around the world. They did so using the existing literature and information from two large databases: the Living Planet Index and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The group's analysis now appears in a special edition of Philosophical Transactions B titled "Collective Movement Ecology." "As expected, we found that the vulnerability of migratory animals varied depending on the regional, environmental, behavioral and taxonomic context of the species," explained lead author Molly Hardesty-Moore, a graduate student in UCSB's Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology. "Our results offer both an opportunity and a roadmap for mounting strategic interventions if we want to preserve this ecologically and economically important phenomenon." The researchers examined more than 6,000 migratory species by taxonomic group (birds, mammals and fishes) and by environmental system (terrestrial, marine or freshwater). They also determined whether a group's movement exhibited collective behavior -- think schools of fish, flocks of geese flying in formation, even herds of wildebeests, all of whom sense cues from their individual members to help guide their collective movement. The team's analysis revealed that while migratory birds are relatively abundant, their numbers are decreasing disproportionately to nonmigratory birds. Take the Arctic tern, the longest-distance migrator, which annually travels 50,000 miles. It is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN because of its large range and abundance of individuals, yet its overall population has been declining for a number of decades. According to Hardesty-Moore, this presents an opportunity for conservation through the implementation of preventive efforts to slow population decline before the species nears extinction. The converse was found to be true for migratory mammals, whose population size is increasing compared to their nonmigratory counterparts. Nonetheless, IUCN lists them as "more endangered." "The relative increase of migratory mammals compared to nonmigratory mammals underscores the success of previous conservation efforts," Hardesty-Moore said. "Still, migratory mammals have an overall high extinction risk because they face so many barriers -- roads and development, hunting and poaching -- so more work still needs to be done." For example, until recently, the Tibetan antelope was "endangered," but it has rebounded because of rigorous conservation efforts. While their numbers remain fairly low and their ranges are restricted, conservation efforts have been able to increase their populations. "I think that's good news," Hardesty-Moore said. "It shines some light on conservation successes." The scientists also found that migratory freshwater fishes are at greater risk than their marine brethren, which makes sense considering that the avenues of travel available to freshwater species are much more restricted. Dams are a major problem for some of these migrators -- there are at least 37,600 hydropower dams in rivers globally, with hundreds more in progress. For example, more than 400 dams limit the migration capability of Chinook salmon in the Columbia River basin. As a result, the species is "highly endangered." Marine migrants, on the other hand, are better able to maneuver around barriers or to skirt fishing pressures. "Our research showed that conservation efforts for migratory species work in certain circumstances, but we also identified regions and groups of animals in trouble," Hardesty-Moore explained. "We were able to pinpoint some of those and highlight areas of interest to conservation biologists. If we want to preserve this fascinating, ecologically meaningful part of life, we will need to find a way to coexist with these species, especially because of increasing human development around the globe." UC Berkeley engineers have built a bright-light emitting device that is millimeters wide and fully transparent when turned off. The light emitting material in this device is a monolayer semiconductor, which is just three atoms thick. The device opens the door to invisible displays on walls and windows -- displays that would be bright when turned on but see-through when turned off -- or in futuristic applications such as light-emitting tattoos, according to the researchers. "The materials are so thin and flexible that the device can be made transparent and can conform to curved surfaces," said Der-Hsien Lien, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley and a co-first author along with Matin Amani and Sujay Desai, both doctoral students in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at Berkeley. Their study was published March 26 in the journal Nature Communications. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. The device was developed in the laboratory of Ali Javey, professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at Berkeley. In 2015, Javey's lab published research in the journal Science showing that monolayer semiconductors are capable of emitting bright light, but stopped short of building a light-emitting device. The new work in Nature Communications overcame fundamental barriers in utilizing LED technology on monolayer semiconductors, allowing for such devices to be scaled from sizes smaller than the width of a human hair up to several millimeters. That means that researchers can keep the thickness small, but make the lateral dimensions (width and length) large, so that the light intensity can be high. Commercial LEDs consist of a semiconductor material that is electrically injected with positive and negative charges, which produce light when they meet. Typically, two contact points are used in a semiconductor-based light emitting device; one for injecting negatively charged particles and one injecting positively charged particles. Making contacts that can efficiently inject these charges is a fundamental challenge for LEDs, and it is particularly challenging for monolayer semiconductors since there is so little material to work with. The Berkeley research team engineered a way to circumvent this challenge by designing a new device that only requires one contact on the semiconductor. By laying the semiconductor monolayer on an insulator and placing electrodes on the monolayer and underneath the insulator, the researchers could apply an AC signal across the insulator. During the moment when the AC signal switches its polarity from positive to negative (and vice versa), both positive and negative charges are present at the same time in the semiconductor, creating light. The researchers showed that this mechanism works in four different monolayer materials, all of which emit different colors of light. This device is a proof-of-concept, and much research still remains, primarily to improve efficiency. Measuring this device's efficiency is not straightforward, but the researchers think it's about 1 percent efficient. Commercial LEDs have efficiencies of around 25 to 30 percent. The concept may be applicable to other devices and other kinds of materials, the device could one day have applications in a number of fields where having invisible displays are warranted. That could be an atomically thin display that's imprinted on a wall or even on human skin. "A lot of work remains to be done and a number of challenges need to be overcome to further advance the technology for practical applications," Javey said. "However, this is one step forward by presenting a device architecture for easy injection of both charges into monolayer semiconductors." If equal amounts of matter and antimatter had formed in the Big Bang more than 13 billion years ago, one would have annihilated the other upon meeting, and today's universe would be full of energy but no matter to form stars, planets and life. Yet matter exists now. That fact suggests something is wrong with Standard Model equations describing symmetry between subatomic particles and their antiparticles. In a study published in Physical Review Letters, collaborators of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, an experiment led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have shown they can shield a sensitive, scalable 44-kilogram germanium detector array from background radioactivity. This accomplishment is critical to developing and proposing a much larger future experiment -- with approximately a ton of detectors -- to study the nature of neutrinos. These electrically neutral particles interact only weakly with matter, making their detection exceedingly difficult. "The excess of matter over antimatter is one of the most compelling mysteries in science," said John Wilkerson of ORNL and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Wilkerson leads the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, which involves 129 researchers from 27 institutions and 6 nations. "Our experiment seeks to observe a phenomenon called 'neutrinoless double-beta decay' in atomic nuclei. The observation would demonstrate that neutrinos are their own antiparticles and have profound implications for our understanding of the universe. In addition, these measurements could provide a better understanding of neutrino mass." In a 2015 report of the U.S. Nuclear Science Advisory Committee to the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, a U.S.-led ton-scale experiment to detect neutrinoless double-beta decay was deemed a top priority of the nuclear physics community. Nearly a dozen experiments have sought neutrinoless double-beta decay, and as many future experiments have been proposed. One of their keys to success depends on avoiding background that could mimic the signal of neutrinoless double-beta decay. That was the key accomplishment of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR. Its implementation was completed in South Dakota in September 2016, nearly a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Siting the experiment under nearly a mile of rock was the first of many steps collaborators took to reduce interference from background. Other steps included a cryostat made of the world's purest copper and a complex six-layer shield to eliminate interference from cosmic rays, radon, dust, fingerprints and naturally occurring radioactive isotopes. "If you're going to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay, it's critical to know that radioactive background is not going to overwhelm the signal you seek," said ORNL's David Radford, a lead scientist in the experiment. advertisement There are many ways for an atomic nucleus to fall apart. A common decay mode happens when a neutron inside the nucleus emits an electron (called a "beta") and an antineutrino to become a proton. In two-neutrino double-beta decay, two neutrons decay simultaneously to produce two protons, two electrons and two antineutrinos. This process has been observed. The MAJORANA Collaboration seeks evidence for a similar decay process that has never been observed, in which no neutrinos are emitted. Conservation of the number of leptons -- subatomic particles such as electrons, muons or neutrinos that do not take part in strong interactions -- was written into the Standard Model of Physics. "There is no really good reason for this, just the observation that it appears that's the case," said Radford. "But if lepton number is not conserved, when added to processes that we think happened during the very early universe, that could help explain why there is more matter than antimatter." Many theorists believe that the lepton number is not conserved, that the neutrino and the antineutrino -- which were assumed to have opposite lepton numbers -- are really the same particle spinning in different ways. Italian physicist Ettore Majorana introduced that concept in 1937, predicting the existence of particles that are their own antiparticles. The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR uses germanium crystals as both the source of double-beta decay and the means to detect it. Germanium-76 (Ge-76) decays to become selenium-76, which has a smaller mass. When germanium decays, mass gets converted to energy that is carried away by the electrons and the antineutrinos. "If all that energy goes to the electrons, then none is left for neutrinos," Radford said. "That's a clear identifier that we found the event we're looking for." The scientists distinguish two-neutrino versus neutrinoless decay modes by their energy signatures. "It's a common misconception that our experiments detect neutrinos," said Jason Detwiler of the University of Washington, who is a co-spokesperson for the MAJORANA Collaboration. "It's almost comical to say it, but we are searching for the absence of neutrinos. In the neutrinoless decay, the released energy is always a particular value. In the two-neutrino version, the released energy varies but is always smaller than for neutrinoless double-beta decay." The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR has shown that the neutrinoless double-beta decay half-life of Ge-76 is at least 1025 years -- 15 orders of magnitude longer than the age of the universe. So it's impossible to wait for a single germanium nucleus to decay. "We get around the impossibility of watching one nucleus for a long time by instead watching on the order of 1026 nuclei for a shorter amount of time," explained co-spokesperson Vincente Guiseppe of the University of South Carolina. advertisement Chances of spotting a neutrinoless double-beta decay in Ge-76 are rare -- no more than 1 for every 100,000 two-neutrino double-beta decays, Guiseppe said. Using detectors containing large amounts of germanium atoms increases the probability of spotting the rare decays. Between June 2015 and March 2017, the scientists observed no events with the energy profile of neutrinoless decay, the process that has not yet been observed (this was expected given the small number of germanium nuclei in the detector). However, they were encouraged to see many events with the energy profile of two-neutrino decays, verifying the detector could spot the decay process that has been observed. The MAJORANA Collaboration's results coincide with new results from a competing experiment in Italy called GERDA (for GERmanium Detector Array), which takes a complementary approach to studying the same phenomenon. "The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR and GERDA together have the lowest background of any neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment," said Radford. The DEMONSTRATOR was designed to lay the groundwork for a ton-scale experiment by demonstrating that backgrounds can be low enough to justify building a larger detector. Just as bigger telescopes collect more light and enable viewing of fainter objects, increasing the mass of germanium allows for a greater probability of observing the rare decay. With 30 times more germanium than the current experiment, the planned one-ton experiment would be able to spot the neutrinoless double-beta decay of just one germanium nucleus per year. The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is planned to continue to take data for two or three years. Meanwhile, a merger with GERDA is in the works to develop a possible one-ton detector called LEGEND, planned to be built in stages at an as-yet-to-be-determined site. LEGEND 200, the LEGEND demonstrator and step towards a possible future ton-scale experiment, will be a combination of GERDA, MAJORANA and new detectors. Scientists hope to start on the first stage of LEGEND 200 by 2021. A ton-scale experiment, LEGEND 1000, would be the next stage, if approved. "This merger leverages public investments in the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR and GERDA by combining the best technologies of each," said LEGEND Collaboration co-spokesperson (and long-time MAJORANA spokesperson up until last year) Steve Elliott of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Controlling greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades could substantially reduce the consequences of carbon releases from thawing permafrost during the next 300 years, according to a new paper published this week in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. Conversely, climate policy that results in little or no effort to control greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide would likely result in a substantial release of carbon from the permafrost region by 2300, the study found. A. David McGuire, U.S. Geological Survey senior scientist and climate system modeling expert with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Arctic Biology, is lead author of the paper. Several other UAF researchers, along with scientists from about two dozen other research institutions worldwide, contributed to the study. Scientists estimate that the soils of the Earth's circumpolar North contain about twice the amount of carbon as is in the atmosphere. Much of that carbon is frozen organic matter locked within permafrost. As global temperatures rise and permafrost thaws, the previously frozen organic material begins to decay and releases greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. The release of that carbon can, in turn, cause additional warming and the release of more carbon, something scientists call a positive feedback loop. Even without immediate controls on greenhouse gases now, the bulk of the permafrost carbon release would not occur until after the year 2100. Study authors note that this could cause society to grow complacent and accept less aggressive efforts to control greenhouse gases. Waiting too long to institute controls could mean the controls come too late to prevent substantive loss of carbon from permafrost soils. "Society can do something about this, at least that's what the state-of-the-art models are saying," McGuire said. The degree to which climate change could influence carbon dynamics in the northern permafrost region has important implications for policy decisions. However, most climate system models have not done a good job of showing the relationship between permafrost and soil carbon dynamics. Because of that, they haven't allowed an accurate assessment of the effects of climate change on carbon in the region. In the new study, McGuire and his colleagues used simulations to study changes in permafrost and carbon storage in the northern permafrost region from 2010 to 2299 using two climate change scenarios: One with low carbon dioxide emissions and one with high carbon dioxide emissions. Permafrost expert Dmitry Nicolsky of the UAF Geophysical Institute provided simulation data on changes in the extent of permafrost in the northern hemisphere and the predicted thaw depth under the two scenarios. The low emission scenario would require carbon emissions by global human society to decrease by 75 percent during this century. In that scenario, the study showed the loss 3 million to 5 million square kilometers of permafrost and changes in soil carbon ranging from a 66-petagram loss to a 70-petagram gain. One petagram equals one trillion kilograms or 2.2 trillion pounds. In the high emission scenario, or essentially no change in current trends of fossil fuel use, permafrost losses were between 6 million and 16 million square kilometers, while soil carbon losses varied from 74 to 652 petagrams and occur mostly after 2100. This represents a loss of 20 to 63 percent of the carbon now stored in northern permafrost. The findings suggest that effective new greenhouse gas controls could help lessen the effects of climate change on the release of carbon from soils of the northern permafrost region and therefore decrease the potential for a positive feedback of permafrost carbon release on climate warming. "If such controls aren't adopted, it will lead to major changes for ecosystems and infrastructure," Nicolsky said. A University of Oklahoma research study, led by Professor Xiangming Xiao, reveals the divergent trends of open surface water bodies in the contiguous United States from 1984 to 2016, specifically, a decreasing trend in the water-poor states and an increasing trend in the water-rich states. Surface water resources are critical for public water supply, industry, agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystem services. "The data, information and knowledge on long-term trends of surface water bodies across the CONUS at high spatial resolution are valuable for planning and management of surface water resources, however, they are not widely available yet," said Xiao, professor of ecology and remote sensing in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, OU College of Arts and Sciences. Xiao and his team analyzed approximately 370,000 Landsat images and generated annual surface water body frequency maps for 1984 to 2016 at 30-m spatial resolution. Zhenhua Zhou, first author on the study and one of Xiao's graduate students, says, "Google's Earth Engine cloud computing platform, freely available Landsat image data, together with the novel and robust mapping algorithms derived from years of remote sensing studies in the past allowed OU researchers to carry out the continental-scale image data analysis." The spatial-temporal dynamics and trends of year-long water bodies in the CONUS during 1984 to 2016 were quantified by states and watersheds. During that period, 10 water-poor states in the southwest and northwest United States had statistically significant decreasing trends in surface water area, but 20 water-rich states in the southeast United States and the northern Great Plains had statistically significant increasing trends. Climate was the primary driving factor for such diverse trends in year-long surface water area since 1984. "According to climate predictions, annual precipitation is likely to decrease in the Southwest but increase in the eastern United States during the 21st century, therefore, the observed diverse trends of surface water body areas since 1984 could continue to occur in the future," said Xiao. OU researchers combined the surface water area data with the land water storage data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment during 2002 to 2016 to investigate the data dynamics in severe drought and pluvial years. The detailed analyses in California and the Southern Great Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) clearly highlight a large withdrawal of groundwater in those drought years and slow post-drought recovery of surface water area, groundwater and land water storage over years. The first interstellar object ever seen in our solar system, named 'Oumuamua, is giving scientists a fresh perspective on the development of planetary systems. A new study by a team including astrophysicists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, calculated how this visitor from outside our solar system fits into what we know about how planets, asteroids and comets form. On Oct. 19, 2017, astronomers working with the NASA-funded Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS1) at the University of Hawaii spotted an object zipping through our solar system at a very high speed. Scientists at the Minor Planet Center, funded by NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program, confirmed it was the first object of interstellar origin that we've seen. The team dubbed it 'Oumuamua (pronounced oh-MOO-ah-MOO-ah), which means "a messenger from afar arriving first" in Hawaiian -- and it's already living up to its name. "This object was likely ejected from a distant star system," said Elisa Quintana, an astrophysicist at Goddard. "What's interesting is that just this one object flying by so quickly can help us constrain some of our planet formation models." On Sept. 19, 'Oumuamua sped past the Sun at about 196,000 mph (315,400 km/h), fast enough to escape the Sun's gravitational pull and break free of the solar system, never to return. Usually, an object traveling at a similar speed would be a comet falling sunward from the outer solar system. Comets are icy objects that range between house-sized to many miles across. But they usually shed gas and dust as they approach the Sun and warm up. 'Oumuamua didn't. Some scientists interpreted this to mean that 'Oumuamua was a dry asteroid. Planets and planetesimals, smaller objects that include comets and asteroids, condense out of disks of dust, gas and ice around young stars. Smaller objects that form closer to their stars are too hot to have stable surface ice and become asteroids. Those that form farther away use ice as a building block and become comets. The region where asteroids develop is relatively small. "The total real estate that's hot enough for that is almost zero," said lead author Sean Raymond, an astrophysicist at the French National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Bordeaux. "It's these tiny little circular regions around stars. It's harder for that stuff to get ejected because it's more gravitationally bound to the star. It's hard to imagine how 'Oumuamua could have gotten kicked out of its system if it started off as an asteroid." The distance from a star beyond which water stays ice, even if it's exposed to sunlight, is called the snow line or ice line. In our own solar system, for example, objects that developed within three times the distance between the Sun and Earth would have been so hot that they lost all their water. That snow line contracted a little as the Sun shrank and cooled over time, but our main belt asteroids are located within or near our snow line -- close enough to the Sun that it would be difficult to be ejected. advertisement "If we understand planet formation correctly, ejected material like 'Oumuamua should be predominantly icy," said Thomas Barclay, an astrophysicist at Goddard and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "If we see populations of these objects that are predominantly rocky, it tells us we've got something wrong in our models." Scientists suspect most ejected planetesimals come from systems with giant gas planets. The gravitational pull of these massive planets can fling objects out of their system and into interstellar space. Systems with giant planets in unstable orbits are the most efficient at ejecting these smaller bodies because as the giants shift around, they come into contact with more material. Systems that do not form giant planets rarely eject material. Using simulations from previous research, Raymond and colleagues showed that a small percentage of objects get so close to gas giants as they're ejected that they should be torn into pieces. The researchers believe the strong gravitational stretching that occurs in these scenarios could explain 'Oumuamua's long, thin cigar-like shape. The researchers calculated the number of interstellar objects we should see, based on estimates that a star system likely ejects a couple of Earth-masses of material during planet formation. They estimated that a few large planetesimals will hold most of that mass but will be outnumbered by smaller fragments like 'Oumuamua. The results were published March 27 in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The findings have already been partially confirmed by observations of the object's color. Other studies have also noted that star systems like our own would be more likely to eject comets than asteroids. Future observatories like the National Science Foundation-funded Large Synoptic Survey Telescope could help scientists spot more of these objects and improve our statistical understanding of planet and planetesimal formation -- even beyond our solar system. "Even though this object was flying through our solar system, it does have implications for extrasolar planets and finding other Earths," Quintana said. We live in the Antropocene -- where human impact extends to all corners of the globe. New research shows that this also applies to the relationship between mothers and cubs of the Scandinavian brown bear. Human hunting has changed the characteristics of mother bear's care and how often she has cubs. Stays with mother bear longer "Generally, the cubs have followed their mother for a year and a half," says Professor Jon Swenson from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). "Only rarely have we observed them to follow her for two and a half years." This has now changed. Today, more cubs stay with their mothers an additional year, as opposed to 15-20 years ago. "Man is now an evolutionary force in the lives of the bears," Swenson says. advertisement Bear monitoring The Scandinavian brown bear is one of the world's most monitored animal populations. Norwegian and Swedish researchers have followed them closely since 1984. "The Scandinavian brown bear project is one of the world's two longest research projects on bears," Swenson says, who has been attached to the project almost since its very beginning. "We have followed over five hundred bears, many from birth to death." The number of shot bears in Sweden has increased steadily during this time. In the period 2010-2014, Swedish hunters shot about 300 bears each year. advertisement Game-changer In the vast majority of countries that allow bear hunting, there is a ban on hunting family groups. "A single female in Sweden is four times more likely to be shot as one with a cub," Swenson says. As long as a female has cubs, she is safe. This hunting pressure has resulted in a change in the proportion of females that keep their cubs for 1.5 years in relation to those that keep them for 2.5 years. In the period from 2005 to 2015, the number of females keeping their cubs for an additional year has increased from 7% to 36%. The individuals themselves do not alter their strategies. They portray either one behavior or the other, and this trait seems fixed. "This basically means that we are shooting more of those females that only keep their cubs for a year." One compensates for the other The new female strategy involves both advantages and disadvantages. Females who keep the cubs longer live safer lives, but on the other hand, they reproduce less often. This reduces their total number of offspring throughout their lives. "In an evolutionary perspective, this would not be beneficial," Swenson comments. "The animals with the most offspring "win" nature's race." However, the researchers' results show that the increased life of the females largely counteracts the reduced birth rate. "This is especially true in areas of high hunting pressure. There the females that keep their cubs the extra year have the greatest advantage." Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie has disclosed that Congress might have taken the services of Cambridge Analytica during elections, at least regionally. His statement came during his testimony before a British parliamentary committee that is probing fake news. Cambridge Analytica, a UK-based data mining firm, is under fire for allegedly using illegally Facebook users' data to sway elections, including the 2016 US presidential elections which Donald Trump won. Wylie, who used to work with Cambridge Analytica, offered to produce documents related to the firm's operations in India if the lawmakers were interested to look into them. He was answering a question from Labour MP Paul Farrelly about Cambridge Analytica's role in the biggest democracy which observes 'lots and lots of elections'. "I believe their client was Congress. But I know that they have done all kinds of projects, both regional... I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. I mean, India is so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff there. I believe I have some documentation on India which I can also provide the committee if that's something that interests you." Hours after Christopher Wylie's testimony, Cambridge Analytica in a statement said that Chris Wylie has misrepresented himself and the company to the committee. "Chris Wylie was a part-time contractor who left Cambridge Analytica in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of the company's work or practices since that date," CA said. In his testament, Wylie stated that he began at Cambridge Analytica because his predecessor Dan Muresan was found dead in a hotel room in Kenya. He added that he was not aware of the fate of Muresan who he also said had worked in India for Cambridge Analytica before his demise. Paul-Olivier Dehaye, a data protection specialist who took part in the investigations, told the committee that Muresan was being paid by an Indian billionaire to make sure that Congress lost. He suggested that Romanian, Kenyan and Indian journalists should collaborate to piece together the events. "According to reports from India, apparently he was really paid for by an Indian billionaire who actually wanted the Congress to lose. So he was pretending to work for one party but really... paid underhand by others," Dehaye said. Soon after the revelation, the Bharatiya Janata Party opened fire against Congress, demanding an apology "for data theft and trying to manipulate voters." BJP leader and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted that Congress president Rahul Gandhi should apologise for trying to "subvert India's election process" by employing the services of Cambridge Analytica. Prasad tweeted, "Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica. The nation demands an answer!" Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica. The nation demands an answer! - Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 27, 2018 "Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Christopher Wylie has accepted before British Parliamentary committee that Cambridge Analytica worked for the Congress Party. This vindicates what we have been saying from day one. Rahul Gandhi has been trying to divert attention all this while," his other tweet read. Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Christopher Wylie has accepted before British Parliamentary committee that Cambridge Analytica worked for the Congress Party.This vindicates what we have been saying from day one. Rahul Gandhi has been trying to divert attention all these while - Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 27, 2018 Meanwhile, Congress refuted that it had tried to sway elections with the help of Cambridge Analytica. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala referred to statements in the parts of the deposition before the House of Commons which talked about how an Indian businessman was paying Cambridge Analytica to defeat Congress. The BJP and Congress had swapped allegations last week, each blaming the other for taking help from Cambridge Analytica to influence elections. Meanwhile, a British lawmaker announced before the testimony that Facebook's Chief Product Officer Chris Cox will appear before the committee to present what the social media firm has to say about the data breach on its platform. He further mentioned that the committee would like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the panel, either in person or via video link. Also Watch: Top 4 Reasons Teachers Should Stop Grading Their Students Are scores and points enough to determine a student`s intelligence and predict success? Don`t let grades define you, we`re told every time we stress too much about our ranking in school. But as long as teachers evaluate learning the traditional way, getting acceptable grades will be the only thing that matters to a student who wants to graduate. There`s so much more that learners should experience and prioritize in school than worrying about an imperfect calculation of their achievements. Here are the top reasons teachers should do away with traditional grading. 1. Grades take the focus away from learning. The bright ones are not always the straight-A students. Sometimes, they are those who struggle to perform well in school due to various factors. They may be the underprivileged students or slow learners whose fates are predestined by a flawed grading system. Meanwhile, those who are privileged and know how to work the numbers can effortlessly get at least a passing mark. Good grades are not always proof that students have taken to heart what they have learned. Sometimes, students only do the bare minimum required to pass the subject, and then will forget those things once they are out of school. Performing for the sake of points is also what can demotivate students from learning and induce them to pay for essay writing services or outsource their homework to various online sites. 2. Academic grading is subjective. It`s up to the teacher how a student`s work is measured, thus making it subjective. While many activities have objective questions that are either right or wrong, they`re not enough to conclude the extent of the students` knowledge. There should be more opportunities to prove what they have learned in class. Give them constructive narrative feedback instead of just giving out points. Involve the students in evaluating learning and identifying gaps to improve their learning experience. By replacing grades with narrative feedback, students can have the chance for self-evaluation and create productive conversations with their teachers. 3. Weighting of activities is different for all teachers. There are teachers who value exams more than projects and class participation, and vice versa. Lack of uniformity in weighting will make it hard to identify areas for improvement. For example, Ms. Science Teacher gives 75% for class participation and distributes the 25% among the other criteria. A student who does all the homework and aces all the exams, but is too shy to recite in class, will still fail Ms. Science Teacher`s class. Meanwhile, Mr. Math Teacher values exams more than participation, so this same student will pass the subject. In this situation, it will be an oversimplification to say the student is bad at Science and good at Math. This also makes it easy for students to manipulate their scores and pass the subject. In Ms. Science Teacher`s class, they can actively participate in class discussions but not submit projects and fail the exams, and still pass. 4. Grades trigger unnecessary competition. According to Dylan Wiliam, when students receive both scores and comments, the first thing they look at is their score, and the second thing they look at is someone else`s score. Comparing scores may motivate a student to do better, but it may only be for the sake of beating another student. Comparison may also demotivate a student, knowing there`s always someone else who will have better grades. Either way, this kind of mentality will stop students from helping each other. Learning can`t be represented by mere numbers or letters. By eliminating the traditional grading system and providing constructive feedback, both students and teachers will be more involved in assessing student learning. Students will be more motivated to actually learn and not just do the bare minimum, and teachers will find more ways to engage the class and help them excel. The focus will be on learning and not on the points associated with every activity. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office allowed federal deportation officers to enter the jail it operates and interview four inmates this month in violation of the agencys pro-immigrant sanctuary policies, officials said. The interviews occurred March 7 and 8, around the time that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers visited San Francisco County Jail and interviewed an inmate there in a breach of the citys sanctuary rules, which restrict local cooperation in deportation efforts. That incident prompted an apology from San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy. But while the recent ICE forays into the jails expose the growing tension between federal immigration authorities and many California leaders, the content of the interviews and the potential consequences to the inmates remains unknown. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, in a statement to The Chronicle, said members of her staff mistakenly let ICE officers into the jail. After learning of the incident, she said, the office reevaluated and strengthened the clearance procedures in which all law enforcement agencies are permitted to enter our facilities. Smith said none of the four inmates was detained by ICE. We value the trust and rapport weve earned with our local immigrant community and we will not break that trust, the sheriff said. ICE officials did not respond Monday to a request for comment, but said after the breach in San Francisco that officers were working under the Criminal Alien Program, which provides direction and support in the biometric and biographic identification, arrest, and removal of priority aliens who are incarcerated within federal, state, and local prisons and jails. The interviews happened during the same week that Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in a speech in Sacramento, slammed policies that shield immigrants and announced a civil suit aimed at SB54, Californias statewide sanctuary law that took effect Jan. 1. Sanctuary policies, which critics call dangerous, seek to persuade undocumented immigrants to engage with local authorities. Local jails have been a focus of the dispute, and the statewide legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown limits the circumstances under which jails can turn over undocumented inmates to the federal government. Immigration experts said the ICE incursions in San Francisco and Santa Clara counties showed a need for more training for staff at local jails and that federal officials were not keen on letting go of access to inmates. There needs to be better training and monitoring, said Bill Hing, a professor at University of San Franciscos School of Law. He said ICE officials are familiar with sanctuary policies across California, and perhaps wanted to test them. Pratheepan Gulasekaram, a professor at Santa Clara Universitys School of Law, said sanctuary policies are as strong as those who enforce them. You can have all the policies you want, but it ultimately comes down to individual officers who have to make decisions, he said. If they dont have the commitment of the rule of law, then these policies are going to be paper policies. Jessica Vaughan, the director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports strict immigration enforcement, called the decision to cut off ICE interviews disgraceful. Clearly they would rather punish the jail officer, who did the right thing, than punish a criminal alien, who has no right to be in the country and should be deported, Vaughan said. Its good that the effects of these extreme sanctuary policies are coming to light, so that the public can see how absurd they are. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Hennessy, the San Francisco sheriff, said it appeared ICE was testing our defenses and found some weak points when federal officers interviewed an inmate March 8. The incident, which is under investigation, led Hennessy to remind employees of sanctuary policies in a department-wide bulletin. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In both San Francisco and Santa Clara County, ICE officers returned to the jails after the initial interviews and were denied access, officials said. ICE visited Santa Clara Countys jail as recently as Monday and was denied, sheriffs officials said. Gulasekaram and Hing speculated that the visits may have been designed to gather evidence in the Trump administrations legal action against California. John Sandweg, who headed ICE in 2013 under President Barack Obama, said the ICE access incidents could show that some sheriffs employees want to work with ICE, though no evidence has emerged that the workers violated policy on purpose. The visits are ICE taking advantage of an opportunity, Sandweg said. The interviews in both counties also appeared to violate Californias Truth Act, which Brown signed in 2016, Gulasekaram said. The law mandates that before any ICE interview of a county jail inmate, a consent form be provided stating the reason for the interview, that it is voluntary and that an attorney can be present. Amy Le, president of the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association, said that the lapse in her county was a mistake. It was an honest mistake, a human error, and it was an oversight, she said. It was not an intentional thing. If Angela Alioto wins San Franciscos mayors race on June 5, the directors of the citys Public Works Department, Municipal Transportation Agency and Recreation and Park Department might want to have their resumes handy. Not one to mince words, Alioto told The Chronicles editorial board on Monday that if she wins the citys top job, she intends to clean house ousting department leaders whom she accused of being more concerned with consolidating power in their personal fiefdoms than tackling the citys problems. I believe theyve been there too long. I believe theyre not excited about doing anything, just kind of going to work every day and doing their job kind of like doing time, said Alioto, a civil rights attorney and former president of the Board of Supervisors. Though she called Phil Ginsburg, general manager of Rec and Park, a nice guy, she lambasted him for playing favorites when it comes to doling out permits for special events. Its almost impossible (to get a permit) if youre not Phils best friend, Alioto said. Hes in charge of everything. Now Playing: Candidate for San Francisco mayor Angela Alioto joins the Chronicle opinion team to talk about the issues. Video: San Francisco Chronicle Alioto has sparred for years with SFMTAs transportation director, Ed Reiskin, whom shes accused of stifling her efforts to construct an open-air piazza in North Beach. The project would require shutting down a block of Vallejo Street between Columbus and Grant avenues. Her proposal was put on hold indefinitely last year. After dispensing of Reiskin, Alioto also pledged to audit the agency to find out how much money she insisted the department was wasting. Its incredible, she said. Alioto also blamed Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru for allowing conditions on the citys streets to deteriorate, a problem she links closely with homelessness, particularly the abundance of tent encampments. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. You cant keep the streets clean and allow tents, she said. Alioto vowed to clean the citys streets and house those currently living in tents within her first 100 days in office. Do I think we can house the people who are in tents right now in San Francisco in the first 100 days? Yes. I absolutely do, she said. If that sounds familiar, it should. Shortly before taking office, former mayor and current Chronicle columnist Willie Brown famously vowed in 1995 to fix the Muni in 100 days. It was one promise he couldnt keep. Dominic Fracassa Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will reportedly testify before Congress about the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal, although the Menlo Park company said Tuesday that nothing has been decided. But Zuckerberg wont be traveling to London to testify before Parliament, instead opting to send one of his top deputies. Zuckerberg has been invited to testify in Washington, D.C., at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for April 10, along with the CEOs of Google and Twitter. Zuckerberg also has invitations from the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Those hearings have not yet been scheduled. The company has received the invitations and is talking to the legislators, according to a Facebook source who spoke on condition of anonymity. CNN, which quoted unnamed Facebook sources, said Zuckerberg has decided to testify within a matter of weeks and that the company is planning the strategy for his testimony. However, the company declined to comment on that report, and the Facebook source said the decision to testify has not been made. Bloomberg News reported that Zuckerberg would testify before the Energy and Commerce Committee. But committee spokeswoman Elena Hernandez said that appearance also was not set. Reports of Mr. Zuckerbergs confirmed attendance are incorrect, Hernandez said in an email. The committee is continuing to work with Facebook to determine a day and time for Mr. Zuckerberg to testify. In a research note, analyst Daniel Ives said Zuckerberg needs to testify at some point before Congress because the Cambridge Analytica affair represents the darkest chapter in the companys 14-year history. Zuckerberg needs to try to calm the public, user, and regulatory choppy waters in this data leak situation, said Ives, head of technology research at GBH Insights. While this will not be a pleasant experience for Zuckerberg and his team going in front of Congress, it is a necessary smart strategic step for Facebook to head to the Beltway. Facebook has been at the center of a firestorm ignited by the disclosure that Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm hired by Donald Trumps presidential campaign, improperly accessed data from more than 50 million users. Zuckerberg has typically used his own Facebook account to make major announcements about his plans. However, his most recent post lauded Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandbergs 10th anniversary with the company. Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, invited Zuckerberg to testify on April 10 about Facebooks past and future policies regarding the protection and monitoring of consumer data, a news release from the senators office said. Grassley also invited the CEOs of Google and Twitter. Representatives for Grassley did not return messages Tuesday. In London, Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, sent a letter to Zuckerberg March 20 requesting his appearance at the House of Commons. In the letter, Collins said Facebook officials have consistently understated the risk of users data being taken without their consent and asked for an accurate account of this catastrophic failure of process. Rebecca Stimson, Facebooks head of public policy in the United Kingdom, replied in a letter dated Monday that Zuckerberg was instead offering either Mike Schroepfer, chief technology officer, or Chris Cox, chief product officer, to testify in his place. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that a computer expert who alleges a trove of Facebook data was improperly used to help Trumps White House bid said Tuesday that he strongly believes the information was also used by the Brexit movement that persuaded Britain to quit the European Union. In a 3-hour hearing, Chris Wylie told the House of Commons media committee that he believes the breach exceeded the 50 million Facebook users reported earlier though he didnt give an exact figure. And he said the data compiled by the political consulting business Cambridge Analytica were available to other firms with links to it. All kinds of people had access to the data, said Wylie, who helped develop Cambridge Analyticas methods for using the information to target and persuade voters. It was everywhere. Speaking of possible Congressional action during a San Francisco appearance, U.S. Sen Ed Markey, D-Mass., said I think weve reached the moment where people will demand action, but it may be opposed by conservative Republicans and Silicon Valley Chronicle staff writer Annie Ma contributed to this report. Ubers robotic vehicle project was not living up to expectations months before a self-driving car operated by the San Francisco company struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Ariz. The cars were having trouble driving through construction zones and next to tall vehicles, like big rigs. And Ubers human drivers had to intervene much more frequently than the drivers of competing autonomous car projects. Waymo, formerly the self-driving car project of Google, said that in tests on roads in California last year, its cars went an average of nearly 5,600 miles before the driver had to take control from the computer to steer out of trouble. As of March, Uber was struggling to meet its target of 13 miles per intervention in Arizona, according to 100 pages of company documents obtained by the New York Times and two people familiar with the companys operations in the Phoenix area but not permitted to speak publicly about it. Yet Ubers test drivers were being asked to do more going on solo runs when they had worked in pairs. And there also was pressure to live up to a goal to offer a driverless car service by the end of the year and to impress top executives. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was expected to visit Arizona in April, and leaders of the companys development group in the Phoenix area wanted to give him a glitch-free ride in an autonomous car. Khosrowshahis trip was called Milestone 1: Confidence in the company documents. Tech companies such as Uber, Waymo and Lyft, as well as automakers such as General Motors and Toyota, have spent billions developing self-driving cars in the belief that the market for them could one day be worth trillions of dollars. The crash, which occurred March 18, was a major setback for Uber, which has been trying to improve its image since Khosrowshahi replaced Travis Kalanick in a messy transfer of power in August. In February, Uber also settled a long-standing legal fight with Waymo. On Monday, Uber halted autonomous car tests in Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. It is not clear when the company will revive them. The Tempe Police Department said it is investigating the crash and has not determined whether the car was at fault. A Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicle equipped with Ubers sensing technology struck Elaine Herzberg, 49, while it was going 40 mph in a 45-mph zone. According to the police, the car, with one safety driver and operating in autonomous mode, did not slow down before impact. A video shot from the dashboard camera showed the safety driver looking down, away from the road. It also appears that the drivers hands were not hovering above the steering wheel, which is what drivers are instructed to do so they can quickly retake control of the car. Herzberg, pushing a bicycle across the street, appeared in the camera right before she was hit. As we develop self-driving technology, safety is our primary concern every step of the way, said Matt Kallman, an Uber spokesman. Were heartbroken by what happened this week, and our cars remain grounded. We continue to assist investigators in any way we can. Uber has been testing its self-driving cars in a regulatory vacuum in Arizona. There are few federal rules governing the testing of autonomous cars. Unlike California, where Uber had been testing since spring of 2017, Arizona state officials had taken a hands-off approach to autonomous vehicles and did not require companies to disclose how their cars were performing. Waymo and Cruise, a self-driving car company owned by GM, reported their intervention numbers to California regulators. Ubers goals in Arizona were mentioned in internal documents Arizona does not have reporting requirements and it has not been testing self-driving cars in California long enough to be required to report them. Ubers first road tests in its self-driving car effort, code-named Project Roadrunner, were actually in Pittsburgh in September 2016. The Phoenix area was added a year ago, and quickly became the companys main testing ground, with 400 employees and more than 150 autonomous cars driving local roads because of favorable regulatory environment, favorable weather conditions, according to a company document. When Khosrowshahi took over as Ubers chief executive, he had considered shutting down the self-driving car operations, according to two other people familiar with Khosrowshahis thinking. But he became convinced that it was important to Ubers long-term prospects. His visit to Phoenix was seen by the Arizona team as a critical opportunity to demonstrate their progress, according to the people familiar with the companys operations in the Phoenix area. They wanted to take him on a ride without human interventions to demonstrate that the cars could handle so-called edge cases, tricky road situations that are hard to predict. With autonomy, the edge cases kill you, so youve got to build out for all the edge cases, Khosrowshahi said at a conference in November. Which makes it a very, very difficult problem. By September 2017, Ubers autonomous cars had driven 1 million miles in a year nationwide. Uber tallied its second million in 100 days and added its next million at an even faster clip, according to company documents. Early on in Phoenix, there were two groups of test drivers. A smaller group stressed the cars by putting them in challenging situations where, without human intervention, they would have crashed. A larger group of drivers was focused on picking up customers in the autonomous vehicles. Those drivers were expected to pay more attention to little details, often taking control to prevent a bad experience like hard braking, according to a company document. Around October, Uber merged the two groups to get to a point where it could offer a truly driverless car service to customers as quickly as possible. The customer pickup service was mostly dropped so drivers could focus on accumulating miles and gathering data to help the system become more reliable. Around the same time, Uber moved from two employees in every car to one. The paired employees had been splitting duties one ready to take over if the autonomous system failed, and another to keep an eye on what the computers were detecting. The second person was responsible for keeping track of system performance as well as labeling data on a laptop computer. Kallman, the Uber spokesman, said the second person was in the car for purely data related tasks, not safety. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Waymo had also moved from two operators at all times to one in some situations in late 2015, said Johnny Luu, a Waymo spokesman. Waymo still uses two test drivers when it is adding new systems or moving to a new location. But Ubers autonomous cars are not operating nearly as well as those of its competitors. Cruise reported to California regulators that it went more than 1,200 miles per intervention. After its strong California results, Waymo is now testing cars in Chandler, Arizona, a Phoenix suburb, with no safety drivers. Kallman said miles per intervention is not a measure of safety but a rate of system improvement that could differ depending on where and how the cars were driven. When Uber moved to a single operator, some employees expressed safety concerns to managers, according to the two people familiar with Ubers operations. They were worried that going solo would make it harder to remain alert during hours of monotonous driving. Kallman said it delayed the start of its single-driver initiative to allow for more training and to make sure drivers felt comfortable for the new role. Uber also developed an app, mounted on an iPad in the cars middle console, for drivers to alert engineers to problems. Drivers could use the app anytime without shifting the car out of autonomous mode. Often, drivers would annotate data at a traffic light or a stop, but many did so while the car was moving, said the two people familiar with Ubers operations. Kallman said it designed the app to meet government safety guidelines for in-car software to minimize distractions. Waymo had a different solution when it moved to a single safety driver. It added a button on the steering wheel for drivers to create an audio explanation when they took the car out of autonomous mode. Not all drivers followed Ubers training. One was fired after falling asleep at the wheel and being spotted by a colleague. Another was spotted air drumming as the autonomous car passed through an intersection, according to the two people familiar with Ubers operations. Uber was planning to seek regulatory approval by December to start a self-driving car service in Arizona, according to company documents. Uber said the vehicles would have to be safer than human drivers before they would commercialize it. They would not operate around the clock and would stop for bad weather or traffic. And the service did not need to prove longer-term financial viability. Already, one milestone will be missed. Khosrowshahi will not travel to Phoenix next month because of scheduling problems that came up before the crash, Kallman said. But it is unclear how the crash will ultimately affect Ubers plans for autonomous vehicles. The collection of bad news around Uber creates a reputation in peoples minds, said Michael Ramsey, an automotive analyst at Gartner. Every other company would get a black eye, too, but they might be forgiven. For Uber, its going to be hard to shake. A 51-year-old San Bruno man will receive a sentence of 40 years to life in prison after pleading no contest to the slaying and dismemberment of his 77-year-old neighbor, prosecutors said Monday. David Brian Stubblefield on Friday appeared in San Mateo County court, where he pleaded no contest to second-degree murder as part of a plea deal, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. The deal allows Stubblefield to obtain a parole hearing after serving 25 years of his 40-years-to-life sentence under the Elderly Parole Program. His sentencing comes nearly a year after the grisly murder of his neighbor, when an argument erupted between the two over the cost of a space heater. Its an interesting case, Wagstaffe said. In March 2017, Stubblefield, a known curmudgeon in the Pacific Heights Boulevard neighborhood in San Bruno, decided to sell his belongings and move to Oregon. His neighbor, Benjamin Roybal, attempted to negotiate the sale of Stubblefields space heater, which led to an argument over what exactly remains a mystery. Now Playing: Defendant, David Stubblefield, made a brief first court appearance in a case where he's accused of dismembering his neighbor. Video: JW Player What we cant tell you is, why did Mr. Stubblefield decide to kill this victim? Wagstaffe said. Stubblefield told investigators he killed his neighbor in self defense. In response to Roybals escalating anger, he said, he pepper-sprayed the victim. Roybal then grabbed a 9mm handgun and was planning to shoot Stubblefield, he said, but Stubblefield was able to wrestle the weapon out of the 77-year-olds hand and shoot him dead. We believe that this part of the story is made up, Wagstaffe said. Officers responded to the scene on March 29, when Roybals landlord called for a welfare check after not hearing from his tenant. They reportedly arrived to Roybals home and interviewed neighbors, including Stubblefield, on the missing mans whereabouts. During their interview with Stubblefield, an officer noticed a putrid aroma that resembled rotting flesh, Wagstaffe said. Stubblefield reportedly panicked and attempted to flee, forcing the officers to tackle him and take him into custody. He later admitted to killing Roybal, Wagstaffe said. Investigators found Roybals body parts in both his own house and Stubblefields home. He had cut them into pieces and he was in the process of wrapping them, Wagstaffe said. The coroner determined that Stubblefield had used a chainsaw to partition Roybals body parts. Stubblefield also tried to use household chemicals to dissolve the body, investigators said. Roybals hands and teeth have never been found, but a 9mm gun was recovered at Stubblefields home. While the motive remains a mystery, Wagstaffe said, he believes the murder was premeditated because the chemicals were purchased before the crime. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Stubblefield doesnt have any prior violent criminal history. He was previously arrested for driving under the influence and served 16 months in 1997 for possession of methamphetamine for purposes of sale. His sentencing is May 25. Wagstaffe called the crime a haunting reminder of a similar crime that occurred nearly 20 ears ago. In 2003, Bobby Tran, now 44, was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder and dismemberment of Xiu Jiang, who worked in an illicit massage parlor and went missing in January 1999. She had attempted to get Trans help in marrying to avoid deportation. Tran killed the woman, dismembered her and placed her body parts in a large container that was hidden in a storage unit for years. He made monthly payments on the storage unit until he was arrested for an unrelated incident in San Jose. While he was incarcerated, Tran defaulted on his payments and the storage unit company auctioned off his unit. The man who won the auction ended up discovering the womans body parts as he went through the storage units belongings. That man was Roybal. What an irony, Wagstaffe said. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... The Trump administrations politically charged decision to add a question on citizenship to the 2020 census has brought an immediate legal challenge from California, New York and other states that could lose congressional representation and federal funding if their immigrant households decline to answer. A population undercount not only threatens our economy, it jeopardizes our fair representation in Congress and our fundamental voting rights, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Tuesday in announcing a lawsuit challenging the administrations plan to add the citizenship question for the first time in 70 years. The suit, filed late Monday in federal court in San Francisco, contends the question is intended to lower census participation, violating the governments constitutional duty to conduct an actual enumeration of the entire U.S. population citizens and noncitizens every 10 years. Secretary of State Alex Padilla, a supporter of the lawsuit, said the citizenship question was the latest attempt by President Trump to stoke the fires of anti-immigrant hostility. The last time the once-per-decade census included a question about citizenship was in 1950. In announcing the change Monday night five days before the deadline for submitting new census questions Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, whose department oversees the Census Bureau, said citizenship information would help the government enforce the Voting Rights Acts protections for racial minorities. One section of that law encourages creation of districts in which minorities would make up a majority of the eligible voters. The Justice Department, in a letter to Ross in December, said a citizenship count would aid in its enforcement by disclosing the number of potential voters in each district. Secretary Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information to meet this legitimate government purpose outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts, the Commerce Department said in a statement. But adding a citizenship question could also discourage immigrants from participating, reducing the census count that determines the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives, and the formula used to determine federal aid to local districts. The likely effect, politically, would be to reduce Democratic representation. California, the lawsuit noted, has more than 10million foreign-born residents and more than 5 million noncitizens among is population of nearly 40 million, according to the Census Bureaus latest figures. The suit also said the Census Bureaus own study last year found an unprecedented groundswell in concerns about confidentiality of census information, particularly among immigrants and those who live with immigrants. Those concerns, the study said, may present a barrier to participation in the 2020 Census. Although the Census Bureau is required by law to keep personal census information confidential, in the current climate including President Trumps attacks on Mexicans, Muslims and undocumented immigrants addition of a citizenship question is likely to intimidate immigrant families who wonder why the question is being asked, Becerra said at a news conference. Civil rights advocates have also noted that the proposal comes from the same administration that has backed state voter ID laws and other measures that have reduced minority turnout. An undercount will worsen underrepresentation of the very communities that law was meant to protect, state Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on the Census, said in a statement. Criticism of the move also came from Washington. Given President Trumps toxic rhetoric and aggressive policies toward immigrants, its clear his administration wants to include this question to discourage participation in immigrant communities, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Tuesday. She said California, with a high immigrant population, will lose federal funding for infrastructure, schools and social welfare programs. Even more troubling, an undercount of our population could lead to California losing seats in Congress, disenfranchising millions of California voters. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said that adding such a question "will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities and cause traditionally undercounted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind." When countries decide to expel diplomats, the measures are usually supposed to send a serious message: Enough is enough. Monday's expulsion of more than 100 Russian spies and diplomats by two dozen countries may very well pose practical challenges to the Kremlin's ability to gather intelligence overseas. In comparison to the measures taken after Russia stood accused of being involved in the 2014 shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine, the West appeared to offer an unusually strong rebuke following the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. Russia, however, is very good at appearing unfazed and diplomatic sanctions often result in a cheekiness, ridicule and trolling that appears to be intended to take away at least some of the gravity Western nations may have hoped to trigger. After its consulate in Seattle was ordered to be shut down, the Russian Embassy in Washington tweeted out a poll asking which U.S. consulate Russia should shutter in response. Russia in USA tweeted "US administration ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle @GK_Seattle. What US Consulate General would you close in @Russia, if it was up to you to decide" The tweet followed a common pattern that has emerged in recent years, and is far from being constrained to the account of the Russian Embassy in Washington. In an attempt to show the apparent hypocrisy of the West, Russia's Twitter-savvy diplomats in Moscow, London and Washington frequently resort to memes to mock Western allegations of election interference or human rights abuses. Russia's U.S. Twitter account has yet to dethrone its British counterpart that has refined the "art" of trolling Western governments for years, using the handle @RussianEmbassy. Not all of the photos or memes shared by the official accounts are actually produced by Russian diplomats. The one below was first circulated in pro-Trump groups on Reddit, according to my colleague Adam Taylor, and then shared by the account of the Russian Embassy in Britain - in an attempt to ridicule allegations of Russian election hacking in Europe and North America. Russian Embassy, UK tweeted "It's like epidemic, or fashion? in the West with everybody claiming being hacked by Russia." When then-President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats over the country's hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign during the 2016 election, Russia mocked him for being a "lame" duck. Russian Embassy, UK tweeted "President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm." According to Moscow-based journalist Alexey Kovalev, many of the tweets used by official Russian accounts in response to Western allegations follow a similar pattern. They deny "basic facts," and "deflect any responsibility," Kovalev wrote on Twitter in February. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. While Russia's diplomats may use modern platforms, their strategy is also rooted in far older concepts. The Russian responses rarely directly disprove the allegations made by Western officials, but are instead a mere attempt to expose the alleged hypocrisy of the West itself. This strategy, known as "whataboutism," has long been deployed by the Soviet Union, but appears to work especially well online. Finally, Kovalev argued, the choice of a "comically bad pic" gives the tweets their final touch. It further distracts from the often serious nature of the allegations the tweets seek to address. "(Those tweets) are seeking to disrupt conventional narratives and to provide an alternative perspective in a way that is hard to counter with the usual style of 'rational' argument," London School of Economics professor Charlie Beckett told Vice in 2017. "Even when they attract critical responses they have achieved their aim of raising the profile of the Russian point of view," he said. As of 7 a.m. EST on Tuesday, and with three hours to go, over 50,000 people had participated in the poll which U.S. consulate the Russian government should shut down. SACRAMENTO With tensions high and protests going strong nine days after the police killing of an unarmed African American man, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that the state justice department has joined the Sacramento police investigation into the shooting and will review practices in the department. Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn said he asked Becerra to assist with the investigation into the police killing of Stephon Clark due to the extremely high emotions, anger and hurt in our city. Becerra called Clarks death tragic and said his office will ensure the investigation is fair, thorough, and impartial. Officer-involved shooting investigations are typically reviewed by the local District Attorneys office, but some community members expressed skepticism with how the Sacramento County district attorney has handled previous officer-involved shootings. Now Playing: Hundreds gathered at Sacramento's SALAM Islamic Center Wednesday to discuss the shooting death of Stephon Clark and to look for solutions to prevent similar deaths from happening again. The meeting was organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley Chapter, the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations, Sacramento NAACP, Sacramento Area Congregations Together and a coalition of more than 10 mosques from across the greater Sacramento region. Clark was an African-American Muslim who joined the religion several years ago after he was introduced to it by his girlfriend. Video: KCRA I feel this will help build faith and confidence in the investigation in our community, said Hahn, who became the citys first black police chief when he took the helm last year. But the California Department of Justices involvement didnt ease concerns for members of Black Lives Matter in Sacramento, who said they wanted an independent, community-led investigation, not a government agency investigating another government agency. There have been federal investigations of police killings, state investigations of police killings, and I dont believe the government can govern itself, said Tanya Faison, who leads the Sacramento chapter of Black Lives Matter. They need to answer to the people. We have a Sacramento community police commission. Its already in place. It just has no power at all. That needs to be the entity that oversees the investigation. Clark, a 22-year-old father of two, was shot at 20 times by two Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandmothers home in South Sacramento on March 18. Its unclear how many times he was struck. The officers said they believed Clark had a gun when they shot him during a foot pursuit around 9 p.m. after they responded to calls that someone was breaking into cars in the area. Clark was holding a cell phone, police said, not a weapon. His funeral is planned for Thursday. His family called for the officers to be charged with murder. Hahn said the state Department of Justice will look at Sacramento polices use of force practices. I recognize that we have difficult days ahead as we grieve and confront the death of Stephon Clark, said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. The country is watching us. Let us show how a city in pain, together, with all of our partners, achieved a better way. Protests led by Black Lives Matter are scheduled for the next three days outside Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schuberts office. Schubert faced criticism last year when she cleared two officers in the 2016 killing of a mentally ill black man who was wielding a knife when officers shot him 18 times. More for you Protesters blockade Sacramento arena again as Mavericks beat... Appearing at the press conference alongside Becerra and Hahn, Schubert acknowledged the tremendous anger, tremendous grief and those distrustful of our system. My job as your district attorney is to conduct a full, fair and independent review of this shooting, Schubert said. At the end of the day, its to follow the facts and the law. There is no timeline for when the investigation would be completed, but Schubert asked for the community to be patient because it will take time. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, said the attorney general stepping in to review Clarks death highlights the need for an independent body to consistently investigate officer-involved shootings. McCarty introduced bills in 2015 and 2017 to create an independent unit within the state justice department to oversee deadly police use-of-force cases. The bills died separately in the Senate and Assembly appropriations committees. McCarty said Tuesday that he will try again this year to pass a bill. Police should not police themselves, McCarty said. California can rebuild public trust in law enforcement by requiring independent investigations of officer-involved shootings. After announcing Becerras involvement on Tuesday, city leaders made multiple calls for peaceful protests in the days ahead. Last week, hundreds of protestors briefly shut down a freeway, blocked major downtown intersections and kept thousands of fans from entering the downtown Golden 1 Center arena for a Sacramento Kings NBA game. On Friday night, some protestors jumped on police cars in what became a tense standoff. Longtime Sacramento resident Ollie Mack urged protestors to focus on their message, saying jumping on cars, spitting on people diminishes their voice. An earlier version of this story misstated how many times police officers shot Clark. President Trump hasnt given up on his ill-conceived plan to ban transgender individuals from the U.S. military. Last Friday, Trump issued an order stating that transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition are disqualified from military service. In a change from his earlier efforts to enact a ban, Trumps new order allows the Pentagon to make exceptions allowing some transgender members to serve. The Pentagon hasnt released official data about how many transgender people are currently serving, but a Rand Corp. study estimated that there are between 1,320 and 6,630 of transgender individuals out of a force of 1.3 million active-duty troops. Rand Corp. also found that allowing transgender people to serve would have minimal impact on both military readiness and health care costs. The switch to allow the Pentagon some flexibility comes after court rulings froze Trumps original ban, declaring it potentially unconstitutional. The White Houses new order is also likely to end up in court. Civil rights advocates have pledged to continue fighting the ban, regardless of last weeks amendments. Theyll have a strong case. The courts rightly halted Trumps original decision, which wasnt based on any policy recommendations, studies or need. Decisions about military troops should be based on data and facts, not the presidents aversion to individuals who dont fit into a neat gender box. The new decision which allows exceptions for service members who agree not to present as transgender or to do anything medically to change their gender similarly lacks justification. Its already caused confusion among troops and recruiters, who dont know what it will mean for those currently serving or those who seek to serve in the future. None of this is necessary. Trumps decision lacks basis in both fact and procedure. The courts should reject it so that no one has to choose between being themselves and serving their country. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. The size of your childs kindergarten class. Homeland security funds for your community. Natural disaster preparation. Highway and mass transit resources. Health care and emergency room services. Vital services such as these would be jeopardized and our voice in government diminished if the U.S. Census Bureaus 2020 count resulted in an undercount. Beyond its constitutional role in redistricting, a proper count conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau shapes our everyday lives. If the bureau is ill-prepared for the job or a count is faulty, every state, every neighborhood, faces the risk of losing its fair share of federal funding for its people and its taxpayers. Every 10 years, the bureau must count each person in our country whether citizen or noncitizen once, only once, and in the right place. The Trump administration is threatening to derail the integrity of the census by seeking to add a question relating to citizenship to the 2020 census questionnaire. Innocuous at first blush, its effect would be truly insidious. It would discourage noncitizens and their citizen family members from responding to the census, resulting in a less accurate population count. Including a citizenship question on the 2020 census is not just a bad idea it is illegal. The Constitution requires the government to conduct an actual enumeration of the total population, regardless of citizenship status. And since 1790, the census has counted citizens and noncitizens alike. The census has a specific constitutional purpose: to provide an accurate count of all residents, which then allows for proper allotment of congressional representatives to the states. The Census Bureau has a long history of working to ensure the most accurate count of the U.S. population in a nonpartisan manner, based on scientific principles. Since the last census in 2010, the public servants at the Census Bureau have been planning and fine-tuning the 2020 census. This work includes painstaking determinations of which questions to ask on the census and how to ask them. In December, the U.S. Department of Justice formally asked the bureau to include a question on citizenship in the 2020 census. By March 31, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross must decide whether to add this question. This request is an extraordinary attempt by the Trump administration to hijack the 2020 census for political purposes. Since the first day of his presidential campaign and through his first year in office, President Trump has targeted immigrants: vilifying them and attempting to exclude them from the country. Think travel bans, repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, ramped up Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that tear parents away from their children. Immigrants and their loved ones understandably are, and will be, concerned about how data collected in the 2020 Census will be used. California, with its large immigrant communities, would be disproportionately harmed by depressed participation in the 2020 census. An undercount would threaten at least one of Californias seats in the House of Representatives (and, by extension, an elector in the electoral college.) It would deprive California and its cities and counties of their fair share of billions of dollars in federal funds. These concerns are real and they are bipartisan. The past four census directors, who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents, have all publicly voiced opposition to a citizenship question based on the certain consequence of an undercount. These concerns affect red states and blue states alike. The politicization of the 2020 census must stop now. By the end of the week, the bureau will announce its final list of census questions. Secretary Ross should uphold the governments constitutional duty to count all people in every part of the country and reject the Justice Departments dangerous call to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Republicans have virtually opted out of Californias U.S. Senate race, clearing the way for an all-Democratic contest in November. While the official list of candidates for the June 5 primary, released late Friday night by Secretary of State Alex Padilla, includes 11 Republicans among the 31 candidates challenging Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, theres much less there than meets the eye. None of those GOP hopefuls has reported raising a single dollar for a primary run, according to the Federal Election Commission. Compare that with the $9 million Feinstein had in her campaign account at the end of 2017 or the $359,000 Democrat Kevin de Leon, a state senator from Los Angeles, reported. Even Democrat Alison Hartson, an Orange County progressive and the longest of long shots, is sitting on $164,000 for her primary campaign. If there was criminal malfeasance in politics, this is it, said Tony Quinn, a former Republican consultant and an editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book, which analyzes state races. There are plenty of Republicans looking to vote for someone with an R after their name. ... Someone could have spent $1 million to get on slate cards and then finish second. The GOPs candidate woes dont end with the Senate race. In the contest to replace termed-out state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, theres not a Republican on the ballot, although Steve Poizner, who served in the post for four years as a Republican, is running as an independent. The state treasurers race, which has a job open since Democrat John Chiang opted to run for governor, has Peninsula Republican Greg Conlon and Jack Guerrero, a GOP councilman from Cudahy in Los Angeles County, on the ballot, but neither has reported raising any money for the campaign. By contrast, San Francisco Democrat Fiona Ma, a member of the state Board of Equalization, has $1.6 million in the bank. While the state superintendent of public instruction is ostensibly a nonpartisan job, it hasnt worked out that way. Tom Torlakson, the current schools chief, is a former Democratic state legislator, just like his two most recent predecessors. The only candidates who have raised any money for the race, Richmond Assemblyman Tony Thurmond and charter school advocate Marshall Tuck of Novato, are both Democrats. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press Two Republicans, retired South Lake Tahoe Judge Steven Bailey and Los Angeles attorney Eric Early, are running for attorney general. But the little-known and underfunded candidates face an uphill battle against a pair of Democrats, appointed Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Jones, the outgoing insurance commissioner, who each have name identification and more than $3.1 million in the bank. It wasnt supposed to be like this. When asked in July why so few big-name Republicans were running for office, GOP party Chairman Jim Brulte argued it was nothing more than a temporary aberration and certainly no reason for Republicans to panic. There are candidates. You just dont see them on the secretary of states list yet, he said in a Chronicle interview. The fields arent firm yet. This is a better conversation in January than it is now. Chris Carlson / AP January now has passed, along with the March 9 filing deadline, and the Republicans candidate situation hasnt improved much. Democrats hold every statewide office, and GOP leaders would be hard-pressed to point to a 2018 contest where that is likely to change. There are a number of good Republican candidates running for U.S. Senate in California, said Matt Fleming, a party spokesman. But he didnt say which of those 11 GOP hopefuls he was talking about or suggest that the party plans to help one or more of those candidates with either cash or serious party support. In Californias top-two primary system, every candidate appears on the same ballot and only the first two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the fall election. That means if Democrats sweep the first two places in the Senate primary, Republicans would find themselves shut out of a top-of-the-ticket race in November, which could be very bad news for the partys chances elsewhere on the ballot. Primaries and special elections around the country already have shown a troubling drop in turnout by Republicans, many of them unhappy with President Trump and his policies, said Quinn. To keep marginal seats, Republicans need a strong turnout, he added. If an all-Democrat Senate race keeps disgruntled Republicans at home, it could be a disaster at the congressional and legislative level. Not all the GOP efforts turned out poorly. While Republicans were unable to recruit a well-known, top-tier candidate in the governors race, where Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown is termed out of office, the partys prospects there seem to be improving. While Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to be the front-runner, recent polls have shown Republican John Cox, a San Diego-area businessman making his first try for public office in the state, moving into second place and a possible spot on Novembers ballot. In the contest to replace Newsom as lieutenant governor, Republican Cole Harris, a Pasadena businessman, showed just how serious he is when he dropped $1 million of his own money into his campaign earlier this month. Democrats Jeff Bleich, Ed Hernandez and Eleni Kounalakis also have more than $1.1 million each in their campaign accounts. Republicans also have challengers to Padilla, the secretary of state, and Controller Betty Yee, ensuring that neither of the incumbents will go unchallenged. In congressional contests, however, Democrats are worried that they have too many challengers. With Democrats both here and in Washington, D.C., looking to flip a number of the states 14 GOP-held seats, theres concern that an unruly gang of candidates might step on each others campaigns and make it easier for a Republican to win in November. In the seven Republicans seats that are at the top of the target list, there are 33 Democrats on the primary ballot, many of them with plenty of money and backing. For party leaders, that hints of a nasty and expensive political June brawl that could hurt the Democrats in the fall. Party leaders already are working to trim those numbers. Last week, for example, Democrat Laura Oatman dropped out of the race against Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, although her name will stay on the ballot. She urged other challengers to get behind Democrat Harley Rouda. If that doesnt work, in that district and others, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has said its willing to put its collective thumb on the scale to back the candidate its members believe has the best chance of winning. The DCCC reserves the right to get involved in the Democratic primary and support one candidate, Drew Godinich, a committee spokesman, said in a January interview. It was Ladies Night at the San Francisco Conservatory of Musics Centennial Gala, which honored stalwart trustees-philanthropists Ute Bowes, Carol Casey, Ann Getty, Barbro Osher and the late Caroline Hume. These civic leaders embody the same trailblazing spirit as Conservatory founders Ada Clement and Lillian Hodghead who, in 1917, opened the doors of Clements family home on Sacramento Street to establish the Clement Piano School, staffed by five teachers and four students. Now 100 years later, , this piano school has evolved into one of the worlds finest music conservatories. With Centennial chairwoman Jan Buckley, gala chairs Deepa Pakianathan and Diane Zack led a musicale its largest ever that raised more than $1 million for student scholarships and community engagement programs on March 19 (and was sponsored by jewelry house Harry Winston). Three hundred and seventy guests enjoyed the SFCM faculty-student concert that also starred piano soloists Charlotte Wong and Garrick Ohlsson, vocalist Aoife ODonovan and the Punch Brothers. A McCalls meal followed in the conservatory parking lot, which was gloriously disguised by a Blueprint Studio-designed tent. Speaking on the life of the mind, culture of imagination and the belief that music is a transformative, powerful force in the world, Conservatory President David Stull noted the schools metamorphosis into a global music center and professional training ground. After a long stint in the Sunset District, the conservatory opened a campus and concert hall on Oak Street in 2006. Staffed by top-notch talent (including cellist Jean-Michel Fonteneau; mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook; SFJazz artist Matt Penman), its students are equally prepared for the stage and the business of music. Students study technological composition to score film or video games. Courses in business and critical thinking are now mandatory. Valuable partnerships are forged with the San Francisco Symphony, SFJazz, S.F. Opera and opera stars like Frederica von Stade. Opportunities are made and seized by those comfortable with risk. Thus risk is part of the student experience here, said Stull. We aspire for our students to be artists, intellectuals and professionals. And we equip them for success in any endeavor. Hot stuff: As 450 guests tucked into a Paula LeDuc dinner at City Hall for the American Red Cross Gala on March 17 honoring chef Tyler Florence, a four-alarm fire blazed in North Beach. The organization planned to serve exiting guests coffee from its emergency vehicle. Instead, Red Cross volunteers were dispatched to the fire where they provided canteen services for firefighters and assisted displaced residents with emotional support and emergency food, lodging and financial assistance. According to Red Cross Bay Area Regional CEO Trevor Riggen, seven Americans die every day in a house fire the majority in homes without working smoke alarms. The Red Cross has equipped more than 1 million homes around the country with fire alarms, a project thats saved nearly 400 lives, he said. The Red Cross prepares before disaster strikes. And is ready to provide hope after. And gala guests responded to the call raising more than $1 million at this swank soiree led by gala co-chairs Lindsey Haswell and Lillian Phan. The event also honored Patrick Foley and Jackson Phillips, Santa Rosa teens and Red Volunteers who each lost their homes last fall in the North Bay firestorm. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Theyd joined the organization to fulfill their schools senior-year service elective and dreamed of deploying afar to assist those in need. Then the October fires exploded right in their own backyard and also damaged their Cardinal Newman High School. Working with the Red Cross, we became that shoulder for people to cry on. We gave them a blanket or replaced a sweatshirt that burned. We spent countless hours in the shelters providing support, said Phillips. It changed our perspectives: Were not alone and we helped other people in our community. Florence was recognized for his fast action during the North Bay fires for helping prepare more than 200,000 meals for fire victims and first responders. Later, he and LeDuc joined forces to create an alfresco lunch straddling the county line between Napa and Sonoma that honored first responders and raised money for the Red Cross to support fire victims. The Wayfare Tavern chef and Food Network star is also editing a documentary, Uncrushable, that he shot during two harrowing weeks of those fires. And Florence will donate all proceeds to the fire victims. The first part of the film featuring donated cell phone fire footaage is terrifying. But I think its an amazing story to tell as a blueprint of how communities come together and organize when disaster strikes, he explains. My wife, Tolan (Florence), and I moved here in 2006 and weve dug in deep roots. This is our community; our home. I will stand with all my neighbors, shoulder to shoulder, during difficult times on the front-lines. A recent Stanford cancer study that cured 97 percent of mice from tumors has now moved on to soliciting human volunteers for a new cutting-edge medical trial. The trial is part of a gathering wave of research into immunotherapy, a type of treatment that fights cancer by using the body's immune system to attack tumors. "Getting the immune system to fight cancer is one of the most recent developments in cancer," Dr. Ronald Levy, a Stanford oncology professor who is leading the study, told SFGATE. "People need to know that this is in its early days and we are still looking for safety and looking to make this as good as it can be." ALSO TRENDING: Terrified Grayhound passengers stage mutiny while bus flies down highway The treatment is not a true vaccine that creates lasting immunity, but it does feature a vaccine-like injection carrying two immune stimulators that activate the immune system's T cells to eliminate tumors throughout the body. Each test subject receives a low dose of radiation plus two rounds of the injected agents, Levy said. No chemotherapy is involved. The treatment does not work on all types of cancer, Levy said, because each type of cancer has a different set of rules regarding how it can be affected by the immune system. For the current trials, he is only looking for people with low-grade lymphoma regardless if they have been previously treated. He said Stanford is planning on running two trials by the end of the year with a total of about 35 test subjects. "The two drugs we are injecting are made by two different companies and have already been proven safe for people," Levy said. "It's the combination we are testing." Side effects at this point include fever and soreness at the injection site but no vomiting, Levy said. He said if the FDA does end up granting final approval, he wouldn't expect it any sooner than a year or two from now. ALSO READ: Cancer breakthrough? 97 percent of mice cured in Stanford vaccine study While the vaccine approach to cancer is unique, Levy noted that one approved cancer drug for injection already exists for melanoma skin cancer. Other limited approaches also currently exist in the expanding landscape for cancer immunotherapy. In 2017, the FDA approved a type of cell therapy for some types of leukemia and lymphoma known as CAR-T where a patient's immune cells are removed from the body, genetically engineered and reintroduced to attack the tumor cells. Dr. Michelle Hermiston directs the pediatric immunotherapy program at UCSF, the first hospital in California to implement the treatment. She told SFGATE that CAR-T is currently being used as a third option for lymphoma and leukemia patients who have failed standard treatments like chemotherapy. She said CAR-T is both labor intensive and very expensive drugs alone cost half a million dollars but that the new immunotherapy treatment has raised survival rates from about 10-15 percent to more than 60 percent. "The thing to understand is how much of a game changer this is," she said. "If it's your kid, it makes a huge difference." But CAR-T comes with its fair share of side effects: fever, confusion, organ failure and the chance of permanent loss of one's B cells responsible for producing antibodies. "It's not a trivial therapy," Hermiston said. Hermiston said she is very interested in Levy's injection trials as well as other future advances in immunotherapy. One biological area of importance that demands further study, she said, was the difference between "hot" and "cold" tumors with respect to the body's immune system. She said research has shown that unlike hot tumors, the immune system does not detect cold tumors often associated with colon cancer. However, sometimes a combination of hot and cold may be at play. One main question, Hermiston said, is whether cold tumors can be transformed into hot tumors so that the immune system can first recognize and then destroy them. "Can we make the tumor more visible to the immune system?" Hermiston said. "We are at the tip of the iceberg right now." Levy, along with Stanford instructor of medicine Idit Sagiv-Barfi, published their study on the cancer-curing effect of immunotherapy on January 31 in Science Translational Medicine. Levy is a pioneer in the field of cancer immunotherapy having contributed to the development of rituximab, one of the first monoclonal antibodies approved for use as an anti-cancer treatment in humans. In 2009 he received the King Faisal International Prize often known as the "Arab Nobel Prize" for this achievement. "We have a huge problem in cancer and we will never be satisfied until we find solutions for everyone," Levy said. Teuta Kokona did not know her boyfriend of eight years, Jurgen Basho, planned to propose on their dream trip to San Francisco this week. Kokona discovered her partner's plans just one hour into their visit. She did not find the engagement ring a 1.3-carat oval diamond stunner in Basho's luggage because someone else found it first. A thief smashed their car rental's window and pilfered the bag that held the ring. The couple, from St. Clair Shores, Mich., landed at Oakland International Airport on Monday morning. Their first stop was In-N-Out. "Obviously I wanted to try In-N-Out for the first time," Kokona told KTVU. RELATED: His $6,000 in violins were stolen from car in Alamo Square. Here's how he got them back. While waiting in line to order, near the Oakland Coliseum off Interstate 880, Basho watched the break-in happen before his eyes. A man busted their rental car's window, reached an arm into vehicle and pulled out a backpack. Then he moved on to the next vehicle. Inside the stolen backpack was the ring, which Basho planned to present to his girlfriend on the Golden Gate Bridge later in the week. After the couple called 911, an Oakland police officer arrived at the scene and told them to file an online report. A sign posted outside the restaurant warns drivers not to leave "valuables visible" in their vehicles. RELATED: How to prevent car break-ins? Signs suggest 'angry bees' "I don't think they care or care enough to make a big deal out of it because they know it happens all the time," Kokona told KTVU. Kokona told KTVU she had tried on an engagement ring weeks ago, but had no idea Basho planned to propose. Plus, the stolen ring was bigger than the one she liked. The couple are determined to make the most out of their trip. They'll spend a few nights in Yosemite before celebrating their anniversary in San Francisco. On Saturday, they fly home. The Michigan pair's story is an all-too-familiar one in the Bay Area, where tourist-targeted smash-and-grabs are rampant. In San Francisco, car break-ins occur at an average rate of three per hour. Despite police efforts, break-ins skyrocketed by 26 percent in the city over the past year. Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf. Shyp has sailed After rocketing to a $250 million valuation in 2015 amid the hype for on-demand companies, on-demand package mailer Shyp is shutting down. CEO Kevin Gibbon announced the closure Tuesday, TechCrunch reported. The company is ending operations immediately after struggling to grow beyond San Francisco. The company raised $50 million in 2015 in a deal led by John Doerr at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as firms jumped into the on-demand space. Today, there are only a few left standing, like Postmates, Instacart and DoorDash. Silicon Valley delivers In other food-delivery news: In a promotion tied to Sundays season premiere of Silicon Valley on HBO , a real Kentucky company delivered (sometimes by drone!) actual pizzas this week, Eater reported. The gimmick was based on the fictional app from the episode Sliceline (rhymes with Priceline). The fake companys pitch is that it locates and delivers the cheapest possible pizza. The episode mocked food-delivery startups habit of wasting big investments on heavy discounts. The pizza promo was done by a company called Fooji , with runs stunt deliveries for shows and businesses. Google GIFs Google has acquired Tenor , maker of a GIF keyboard for smartphones, for an undisclosed sum, the Mountain View search giant said in a blog post on Tuesday. It plans to integrate GIFs into Google Images and its virtual Gboard keyboard, CNBC reported. Google said it sees millions of searches for GIFs a day. Tenor had more than 300 million users as of last year and topped 12 billion monthly searches in February. Google said it will keep Tenor as a separate unit. From staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com . Twitter: @techchronicle If You Enjoy My Articles, Please Consider Supporting My Writing By Giving A Donation Of Any Amount. Thank you! A man got tased early Tuesday morning after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through three Bay Area counties, authorities said. The incident started just before 12:30 a.m. on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, near Treasure Island, said Officer Vu Williams, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. The driver, who was not identified, was in a yellow work van when he allegedly sped past Caltrans workers on the bridge and nearly rammed a cone truck, prompting CHP officers to attempt a traffic a stop. But he didnt stop. Instead, the man fled to Oakland at speeds as high as 90 mph on Interstate 580 and Highway 24, Williams said. He reportedly evaded police through city streets in Contra Costa County until coming to a dead end near Wendy and Beth Drive in Walnut Creek. The driver then got out of the van and attempted to run away when officers caught up to him, Williams said. When he continued to refuse arrest, one officer deployed his Taser. The man was arrested for reckless evading of a police officer. What prompted him to run away from authorities remains unclear. Not really sure why he did what he did, Williams said, adding that the work van wasnt stolen. No injuries were reported. A man was charged Tuesday with murdering his estranged wife at a San Francisco church a few months after she filed for divorce and a domestic violence restraining order, according to authorities and court records. Charges against Wyn Leung, 41, include murder and violating a protective order after he allegedly stabbed his wife to death. Hes being held in jail without bond. The charges stem from a domestic dispute reported to police at 2:11 p.m. Sunday at the Chinese Christian Church in the Ingleside Heights area. Leung allegedly stabbed his estranged wife, Jieyun Zhou, according to a law enforcement official who asked not to be named. The victim, who has not been identified by the medical examiner, later died from her injuries. Court records show that Zhou filed for divorce from Leung on Dec. 1 and the two were in custody proceedings. The couple had two children, an official said. Zhou also received a temporary restraining order against Leung on Dec. 7. A final decision to grant a domestic violence restraining order had been continued multiple times and was set to be heard Wednesday in San Mateo County court. Leung, who in January filed court documents suggesting he had completed 16 hours of anger management counseling, was hospitalized with what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds, police said. He was also charged with resisting arrest, battery on an officer, contempt and elder abuse, the district attorney said. The killing Sunday was San Franciscos ninth homicide and third domestic or family violence-related homicide of 2018, authorities said. Nellie Hue, 65, was allegedly gunned down by her estranged husband, Winston Hue, in the Sunset District on Jan. 22. Hoda Nasar, 65, was allegedly stabbed by her son, Islam Moustafa, on Jan. 16 in her apartment. The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a major change to the way it assesses scientific work, a move that would severely restrict the research available to it when writing environmental regulations. Under the proposed policy, the agency would no longer consider scientific research unless the underlying raw data can be made public for other scientists and industry groups to examine. As a result, regulators crafting future rules would quite likely find themselves restricted from using some of the most consequential environmental research of recent decades, such as studies linking air pollution to premature deaths or work that measures human exposure to pesticides and other chemicals. The reason: These fields of research often require personal health information for thousands of individuals, who typically agree to participate only if the details of their lives are kept confidential. The proposed new policy the details of which are still being worked out is championed by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who has argued that releasing the raw data would let others test the scientific findings more thoroughly. Mr. Pruitt believes that Americans deserve transparency, said Liz Bowman, an EPA spokeswoman. Critics, though, say that Pruitts goal is not academic rigor, but to undermine much of the science that underpins modern environmental regulations governing clean water and clean air. Restricting the application of established science when crafting new EPA rules could make it easier to weaken or repeal existing health regulations, these people say. The proposal is cloaked in all of these buzzwords, in all of the positive things that we want to be for: science, transparency, said Dr. Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, an independent blog that monitors scientific journals and exposes errors and misconduct. While Oransky said he agreed that it was critical to hold the scientific process accountable, he said he believed Pruitts intent was to inject doubt into areas of public health where none exists. Data he doesnt like will get disqualified, Oransky said. The pending EPA policy would have implications for much of what the agency touches, whether it is new rules addressing climate change or regulations for pesticides and protecting children from lead paint. This affects every aspect of environmental protection in the United States, said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health under President Barack Obama. Michaels, now a professor at George Washington University, called the plan weaponized transparency. Pruitt laid out his plans for the new policy in an interview last week with the Daily Caller, a conservative news site. WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Jim Mattis acknowledged on Tuesday that he and President Trumps incoming national security adviser, John Bolton, have different world views but predicted they will develop a working partnership. I look forward to working with him no reservations, no concerns at all, Mattis told reporters at an impromptu news conference. Last time I checked, hes an American. Im not in the least bit concerned. Mattis said he has never met Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations and conservative firebrand. He said he expects Bolton to pay a visit to the Pentagon soon to begin developing a relationship. Ill tell you right up front: its going to be a partnership, he said. When a reporter mentioned that people see his world view as significantly different than that of Bolton, Mattis replied, Thats the normal thing you want, unless you want group-think. Bolton, who will replace Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster on April 9, has publicly advocated for overthrowing the North Korean government, possibly by force. Mattis, a retired Marine general who knows intimately the costs of war, favors diplomacy to rid the North of its nuclear weapons and has said war on the Korean peninsula would be catastrophic. On Iran, too, Mattis would seem at odds with Bolton, who has argued for abandoning the Obama-era nuclear deal. These and other matters of war and peace will test Mattis influence with Trump as his national security team is overhauled. Mattis was sometimes at odds with McMaster, but the arrival of the hawkish Bolton, combined with the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the uncertain status of John Kelly as White House chief of staff, appears to leave Mattis more isolated than at any time since he took over the Pentagon 15 months ago. The North Korea issue is front-and-center: Trump has agreed to meet with North Korean President Kim Jong Un by May to discuss the Norths nuclear disarmament. The unprecedented summit could be a turning point in a decades-old U.S.-North Korean standoff that Trump himself has said could end in fire and fury an American nuclear attack to stop the North from gaining the ability to strike the U.S. with a nuclear missile. This is buckle-up time, retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis said last week on MSNBC. For the military I have three words: Sharpen your swords. He (Bolton) is someone who is going to reach for the military instrument. 1 Gun control: Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The 97-year-old Stevens says in an essay on the New York Times website that repeal would weaken the National Rifle Associations ability to block constructive gun control legislation. In his essay published Tuesday, Stevens talks about the March for Our Lives events on Saturday which drew crowds in cities across the country. Stevens said the demonstrations reveal the broad public support for legislation to minimize the risk of mass killings of schoolchildren and others in our society. He called on demonstrators to seek more effective and more lasting reform. 2 Texas execution: A San Antonio man known as the suitcase killer was executed Tuesday evening in Huntsville for the slaying of a 29-year-old Lubbock woman whose battered, naked body was stuffed into a new piece of luggage and tossed in the trash. Rosendo Rodriguez III had also confessed to killing a 16-year-old Lubbock girl and similarly disposing her body in the trash in a suitcase. Asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Rodriguez spoke defiantly for seven minutes and never apologized to relatives of his victims watching through a window. He also urged people to boycott Texas businesses to pressure the state into ending the death penalty and reiterated issues raised in late appeals. SANTA ANA Orange County leaders voted Tuesday to join a Trump administration lawsuit against the state over its law aimed at protecting immigrants from stepped-up deportations. The all-Republican Board of Supervisors in the county of 3.2 million people made the decision in a closed 4-0 vote. One board member did not vote. The vote took place ahead of a raucous public debate about another proposal targeting the California law whether to support an effort by the small Orange County city of Los Alamitos to opt out of the policy. Residents and activists on both sides lined up to speak. Some held American flags and signs reading Support Our Constitution as they thanked the supervisors for taking a stand against illegal immigration. Others decried what they called a racist, anti-immigrant position aimed at gaining votes, not public safety. About a dozen people carrying American flags who supported the idea cheered after the second vote. The California law bars police in many cases from turning over suspects to federal immigration agents for deportation. This legislation prevents law enforcement from removing criminals from our community and is a threat to public safety, Supervisor Shawn Nelson said before the vote. Outside, several dozen immigrant advocates played music and held signs with slogans such as Set Our People Free and Melt ICE to urge supervisors not to join the U.S. lawsuit. Orange County has moved forward over the last decade, and what supervisors are doing today is moving us back to a hateful time, Salvador Sarmiento, legislative director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, told reporters. The countys vote comes after it moved this week to improve communication with federal immigration agents by publishing the release dates of inmates online. The Sheriffs Department used to screen inmates in the countys jails to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identify those subject to deportation but had to stop when the state law passed. While Republicans still outnumber Democrats in the county, Democrats have gained significant ground in recent years, and Hillary Clinton won more votes than Trump in the 2016 presidential election. California, home to more than 10 million immigrants, passed its sanctuary law last year to limit local police collaboration with U.S. immigration authorities. Supporters argue that the measure would encourage immigrants to report crime without fearing deportation, while critics say local police should provide more assistance to federal authorities. Your money may be funding gun manufacturers, and you might not realize it. At least three publicly traded gun makers, including American Outdoor Brands, which made the AR-15 used in the Parkland massacre, receive investment from major mutual funds. Investors have been scrutinizing their stocks in the wake of the February shooting and a national movement advocating for greater gun control. READ ALSO: Anguished students take aim at gun laws, next election Earlier this month BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, said it was looking into offering index funds single-investment products that buy several stocks that exclude companies selling and making guns. But as an investor, how can you easily learn what your money is touching? A website called Goodbye Gun Stocks streamlined the convoluted process. Investors can enter their fund name or symbol into the 12,400-fund search engine to discover whether their fund is "gun-free" or not (try it here). The website reveals the exact cash amount each fund invests in gun stocks, and suggests alternative funds. RICK SANTORUM: Kids seeking gun control should be 'taking CPR classes' instead Goodbye Gun Stocks is a member of the Campaign to Unload, a national coalition that pushes for gun industry divestment. Several years after the coalition was founded, fund managers say it has achieved its intended effect, with more investors demanding funds dump gun stocks. According to one study, $845 billion in assets were impacted by divestment from companies that make weaponry for military or civilian in 2016 a 1,042 increase since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. Divestment movements are cited as a factor that led to the bankruptcy of Remington, the maker of the AR-15 rifle used in that shooting. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf. The National Nasara Coordinator of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kamal-Deen Abdulai has blamed Ex- President Mahamas administration as the type which ruled Ghana as a property of its party. Indeed, their [NDC] turn of service to the nation never benefited citizens in anyway but themselves. How can a government in power sign an agreement on behalf of the state with a foreign country without the notice of parliament? and will today want to find fault with this regime that is ready to make dealings of the state transparent per the laws of the state, he stated. Is it that they wanted their naive manner of doing things adopted by this government, therefore their numerous agitations against the Ghana/US military base saga, an agreement they started and have secretly signed for its invention? he asked. In an interview with UTVs Adekye Nsroma programme, Kamal-Deen Abdulai urged government to intensify its security dealings as members of the National Democratic Congress [NDC] cannot be trusted per their utterances on the matter. According to him he do not get it when the NDC claim this government has invited terrorists into the country for a military cooperation agreement. He once again congratulated Ghanaians for voting against the NDC, since their actions show they think backwards on the states development. Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/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 CHP Five people including three children were killed when a car drove off an embankment on Highway 1 in Mendocino County about 20 miles north of Fort Bragg, authorities said. Officers responded to a report of a vehicle that drove down an embankment in a remote part of the Northern California coastline just south of Juan Creek at 3:38 p.m. Monday, said Officer Olegario Marin, a spokesman for California Highway Patrol. BART police arrested 40 percent more people last year as they confronted a jump in cell phone thefts and other crimes in stations and aboard trains that prompted heavy criticism from riders, officials said. Figures released Tuesday by the transit agency showed a 24 percent increase in violent crime systemwide in 2017, with 347 cases reported, compared with 279 the year before. That number was largely driven by thefts of phones, laptops and other electronic devices, which shot up 52 percent, officials said. Overall, 417 electronic thefts were reported in 2017, up from 274 in 2016. While some of those thefts were considered nonviolent, many others were classified as violent strong-arm robberies, because a suspect used force or intimidation to take a device. In response to the crime spike, BART police ramped up enforcement last year, making 1,730 arrests after logging 1,238 arrests in 2016. BART sees an average of around 400,000 riders a day, officials said. Were working and focused on having a safer system, BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas, who took command last May, said Tuesday. I definitely believe were going in the right direction. I believe weve made progress, and I believe we have a ways to go. Rojas did not detail the kinds of arrests made in 2017. In August, The Chronicle reported that felony arrests were down 25 percent year-to-year, but that BART police were making more misdemeanor arrests and issuing more citations. Police officials said they are using the 2017 crime data to strategically deploy officers to areas where crimes occur more frequently. At the same time, Rojas said, the agency is increasingly banning repeat criminal offenders from BART, issuing 315 prohibition orders in 2017, compared with 276 the year before. While property crime has also been a concern for BART customers, especially those who park cars or bikes at stations, the agency reported gains last year. Officials reported a 13 percent year-over-year drop in auto boosting, from 480 to 420 cases, and an 18 percent decline in bike thefts, which fell from 544 to 448. Meanwhile, fare evaders are increasingly getting dinged. Using targeted operations at stations across BART last year, the agency said it cited, warned or contacted 8,223 suspected fare cheats almost double the number from 2016. Fare evaders have cost BART an estimated $25 million a year, prompting the Board of Directors last year to establish a proof-of-payment policy, requiring anyone in the paid areas to show a valid Clipper card or paper ticket. After a delay, BART this month started its crackdown. Adult riders without valid proof-of-fare can be hit with a $75 ticket and up to $250 for a third citation. BARTs efforts to keep the system safe drew added scrutiny after several high-profile crimes. Several people sued the agency after a mob of dozens of teens robbed and beat passengers aboard a train at the Coliseum Station in April. BART also installed cameras in all of its cars last year after The Chronicle, in the wake of a January 2016 killing that remains unsolved, revealed that more than two-thirds of cameras on trains were decoys. Rojas said Tuesday that the new cameras had helped officers make arrests last year. Colombia Hoy Para nunca olvidar Paginas vistas en total 'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England Sin palabras La UE le apunta a la paz Cada vez mas solo Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. LULA y su Pueblo Bye Bye Homenaje al genial Quino Fueron ellos Una imagen que resume Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! We are interested in buying wood chips from hard wood (oak, alder, birch) with moisture content about 8-15% Price is 50 EUR/ MT, place of delivery is Malmo, Sweden More than 600 firearms were turned in for cash at the Santa Cruz County Law Enforcement Chiefs' Association gun buyback event on Saturday, according to event organizers. Authorities said the event was one of many ways that local law enforcement is working to reduce gun violence in the county. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Monday in response to their move to include a question about citizenship in the 2020 Decennial Census for the first time in more than 50 years, saying that such a question could discourage non-citizens from participating. "Adding a question on citizenship threatens to undermine the integrity of the entire process," Becerra said this morning during a news conference in Sacramento. "This latest move by the Trump administration is not just a bad idea, it's against the law." Data collected without the inclusion of non-citizens could be used to reduce the number of representatives California sends to the U.S. Congress, according to Becerra. He said it could adversely affect federal funding for things like education, highways, mass transit, emergency management, disaster preparation and homeland security. It could also be used for the purpose of immigration enforcement or even race-based mass detentions. "Given the way this administration has attacked immigrants, you can see why immigrant families would be afraid to answer the census questionnaire," Becerra said. "During World War II, the federal government used census data to identify Japanese American families to send them to internment," he added. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said that although the Trump administration is calling the citizenship question a measure to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, that claim is "not just laughable, it's contemptible." He described the question as an effort to roll back civil and voting rights as part of the "latest effort to sabotage the underfunded, understaffed and leaderless" census. "Questioning the citizenship status of every person in America is just the continuation of the president's blatant agenda to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment in our nation," Padilla said. "We know that immigrants contribute to our economy," Padilla said. "We know that immigrants serve admirably in our military." "California values our immigrants, and in the 2020 census we will ensure that immigrants are counted, not intimidated," he added. Padilla and Becerra said they'd been preparing for Monday's announcement from Trump's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and filed their lawsuit within five hours. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Recently released Oakland Raider Aldon Smith is facing a new set of charges after being accused of violating a restraining order connected to an alleged domestic violence incident in San Francisco earlier this month. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office on Monday announced Smith is being charged with three misdemeanor accounts of violating a court order. Last week, investigators with the Police Department's Special Victims Unit learned that Smith allegedly violated the order and obtained a warrant for his arrest. He turned himself in Friday and was booked on suspicion of violating a protective order, police said. Smith has since been released on $30,000 bail. He's set to be arraigned on the new charges Thursday, according to prosecutors. A judge issued the order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim, on March 12 when Smith was in court for charges connected to the alleged domestic violence incident at a Nob Hill apartment on March 3. In that case, Smith was charged with domestic violence, assault, false imprisonment and vandalism. He has pleaded not guilty. On March 3, officers responded to the 600 block of Bush Street for a report of domestic violence allegedly involving Smith. Once officers arrived, however, Smith had left. The victim, a woman, suffered injuries not considered life-threatening. Smith turned himself in three days later, police said. The Raiders released Smith from his contract with them two days after the incident. He had previously played for the San Francisco 49ers starting in 2011 but was released by the team in August 2015 following an arrest for a DUI hit-and-run in Santa Clara. Smith signed with the Raiders the next month, but was suspended for a year in November 2015 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policies. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) An assailant riding a bicycle and armed with a pellet gun shot at a woman as she stood at a bus stop early this morning in San Francisco. The incident occurred around 3:10 a.m. on Sixth Street near Market Street, according to police. The male suspect allegedly rode up to the 41-year-old woman and yelled at her before shooting her. The suspect then fled north on Sixth Street, police said. The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. A description of the suspect was not immediately available. ### BERKELEY (BCN) The Berkeley City Council will consider a proposal in today's meeting from a community outreach group and a councilmember to place a measure on the November ballot asking voters to approve a new police oversight commission. The Berkeley Community United for Police Oversight said in a statement they have support from City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who drafted the measure. "We certainly hope that the City Council will vote to let the people of Berkeley decide this question and place it on the ballot, but no matter what, we are pressing ahead with out campaign to gather 12,000 signatures," Diana Bohn, a spokesperson for the group, said in a statement. If approved by the Council and placed on the ballot, the proposed commission would supersede the current Police Review Commission that only has advisory power. The group said in a statement that the current commission has its recommendations ignored or delayed by the Berkeley police chief, city manager and the Berkeley Police Association. The group said the new commission would place the power to control "police functioning in the hands of the people and their representatives," and would have the power to fully review critical incidents, modify department policies and have a meaningful say in the hiring of a police chief. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in City Council chambers at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. ### BERKELEY (BCN) A former post-doctoral fellow at the University of California at Berkeley who was accused of inappropriately videotaping a student has been cleared of wrongdoing, his attorney announced today. The suit was filed on Sept. 27 in Alameda County Superior Court and named Eric Samuels and the Regents of the University of California as defendants. The UC Regents and the female plaintiff, using the name Justina Roe, reached a financial settlement. Jamie Dupree, Samuels' lawyer, said the settlement will amount to $250,000 and it has not yet been approved by the UC Regents. Samuels will not be held liable for any part of the settlement if it is approved, according to Dupree. Doe alleged that Samuels videotaped her during a therapy session and used the footage to masturbate. She also alleged that he asked her several inappropriate questions about her sexual history and caused her anxiety and stress. Samuels is a gay man, his lawyer said, and Samuels refuted Roe's allegations with the support of several expert investigators. "I am relieved that I am able to put this behind me," Samuels said in a statement. He currently runs a private therapy practice in Oakland and San Francisco. Dupree said she couldn't give a detailed, public response to Doe's allegations because therapy is confidential. "I am pleased to have helped him get through this case," Dupree said. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a woman in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon, prosecutors announced today. Wyn Leung, 41, is also being charged with elder abuse, violating a protective order, contempt, battery on an officer and resisting arrest, prosecutors said. He's being held without bail, according to jail records. Leung, a San Francisco resident, was reportedly arrested Sunday in the first block of Chester Avenue in the city's Ingleside Heights neighborhood after officers responded around 2:10 p.m. to a report of domestic violence, police said. A 37-year-old woman at the scene was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Her name has not been released by the medical examiner's office as of this morning. A man at the scene was also taken to the hospital for what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds, according to police. Police did not immediately clarify if the man hospitalized was Leung. Leung will be arraigned at the Hall of Justice on Wednesday. ### A San Francisco woman on a motorcycle was killed when she was struck by two vehicles on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Tiburon on Monday night, a California Highway Patrol officer said. The Marin County coroner's office identified her as 29-year-old Marie Noelle Sigenthaler. Sigenthaler was riding south on the highway north of Tiburon Boulevard around 10 p.m. when she was struck from behind by a vehicle in the No. 2 lane and was ejected onto the No. 1 lane, CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said. Sigenthaler then was struck by a Volkswagen Tiguan and died at the scene. The driver of the Volkswagen stopped, Barclay said. A witness said a silver Toyota Prius hit the motorcycle first and fled the scene, but that is still under investigation, Barclay said. The collision closed the three left lanes until just after 1 a.m. today, Barclay said. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call the Marin CHP at (415) 924-1100. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fiery crash involving a Tesla that killed a man on southbound U.S. Highway 101 on Friday, an NTSB spokesman confirmed. NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said federal investigators responded to the scene of the fatal crash on the split between Highway 101 and state Highway 85. Holloway said investigators will be looking into whether the Tesla, which crashed into a barrier and caught fire as San Mateo resident Wei Huang lost control, had automotive control active. Investigators will also be researching the post-crash fire and steps to make vehicle removals safe for those on scene. It took approximately five hours to reopen the lanes where the crash took place as Tesla engineers investigated the scene to make sure that loading the vehicle onto a tow truck was safe for responders. According to Holloway, it is hard to anticipate how long the investigation will take since each case is different. "The investigation has begun, it's just a matter of collecting data," he said. A Sig-alert was issued at 9:29 a.m. Friday after Huang's Tesla hit the median, went up in flames and was struck by both a white Mazda and a gray Audi traveling in adjacent lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol. Huang was pronounced dead hours later at Stanford University Medical Center, where he was transported after the collision, CHP officials said. The CHP is also doing its own investigation into the collision. A man was arrested in a high-speed pursuit that began on the Bay Bridge and ended in Pleasant Hill this morning. Edgardo Chavez-Ascencion, a San Francisco resident in his mid-20s, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, reckless evading and driving on a suspended license. He was booked into jail in Contra Costa County, according to CHP Officer Vu Williams. The high-speed pursuit began at 12:22 a.m. on the Bay Bridge and came to an end in the 1500 block of Wendy Drive in Pleasant Hill, according to the CHP. Chavez-Ascencion was driving a yellow van with identification from the Black Rock City Department of Public Works, which is in charge of construction at the Burning Man annual gathering in Nevada. Williams said the vehicle has not been reported as stolen and the CHP has not confirmed whether the suspect has any connection to the DPW. The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office has decided not to retry a former county sheriff's deputy who was accused of assaulting a Sonoma Valley man in his home during an arrest in 2016. A mistrial was declared last week when the jury was deadlocked 8-4 in favor of acquitting Scott Thorne, 41, of a felony charge of assault without lawful necessity by a public officer in Boyes Hot Springs on Sept. 24, 2016. Three deputies responded to a domestic dispute at the home of Fernando Del Valle and his wife. A video from a deputy's body camera showed Thorne kicking open a bedroom door, striking Del Valle with a baton and shooting him twice with a Taser stun gun when Del Valle, 37, refused to get out of bed. Thorne was fired and the district attorney's office did not file charges against Del Valle. Deputy District Attorney Robert Waner told the jury Thorne lacked patience and restraint and used unnecessary force. Thorne's attorney Chris Andrian argued Del Vale was actively resisting arrest and Thorne responded as he was trained. Jurors said their deliberations were heated and emotional from the beginning and they couldn't agree whether the assault was justified. Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Staebell said the jury was very split. "We talked to them afterward to see if there was something we may have missed that would have helped them and there was not," Staebell said. "We put on all the evidence that existed in this case and we believe the jury was engaged and worked hard to review it. We concluded they were not going to find him guilty. We respect the jury's decision," Staebell said. Andrian said this morning he does not believe there would be a different outcome after another trial in light of the current national polarization of opinion regarding police use of force. Andrian said the prosecution made a smart decision not to retry Thorne. "They knew there was no chance for a conviction," he said. "This is a polarizing issue and there are different points of view. This was not the right forum. It would be very difficult to obtain a conviction," Andrian said. An assailant riding a bicycle and armed with a pellet gun shot at a woman as she stood at a bus stop early this morning in San Francisco. The incident occurred around 3:10 a.m. on Sixth Street near Market Street, according to police. The male suspect allegedly rode up to the 41-year-old woman and yelled at her before shooting her. The suspect then fled north on Sixth Street, police said. The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. A description of the suspect was not immediately available. A suspect armed with a hammer walked into a woman's home on Monday morning in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley, pushed her and then took her belongings before fleeing, police said. Officers first responded to a report of home-invasion robbery in the 1000 block of Goettingen Street around 8:30 a.m. Monday, according to police. Once inside, the suspect allegedly pushed the victim into a bathroom and closed the door. He then took several items, including cash, a cellphone, jewelry and a safe, police said. The suspect was described as a man between 30 and 40 years old. The woman, 27, was not injured, according to police. A man with two felony arrest warrants was taken into custody in Santa Cruz on Saturday after police allegedly found him in a stolen car, police said. Officers pulled over a man in a vehicle in the 800 block of Water Street at 7:30 p.m. while patrolling the area. Alexander Madson, 32, from Santa Cruz, stopped his vehicle and officers detained him without incident. Police said the Ford Explorer he was in had been reported stolen earlier on Saturday in the west side of Santa Cruz. Madson was arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, possessing stolen property, being released on his own recognizance and committing a felony, other misdemeanor drug and theft-related offenses and two outstanding felony warrants. Madson was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of felony possession of stolen property, according to police. A Hayward man pleaded no contest Monday to assault with a deadly weapon charges in connection with a road rage incident last June in which he threw a tire iron and chased a person with his vehicle after a fender bender in Foster City. Lee Patrick Pendleton, 38, was merging from U.S. Highway 101 to state Highway 92 when he rear-ended another vehicle and got into a dispute with the driver. They both pulled over and a fistfight ensued. Pendleton threatened to kill the other driver and threw a tire iron, breaking a window, before chasing the victim in his car, prosecutors said. The incident was reportedly witnessed by a California Highway Patrol officer and Pendleton was arrested. He faces up to two years in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on May 8, as well as the permanent revocation of his driver's license. Pendleton remains out of custody on $60,000 bail. His attorney Jesse Garcia was not immediately available to respond to a request for comment on the case. Recently released Oakland Raider Aldon Smith is facing a new set of charges after being accused of violating a restraining order connected to an alleged domestic violence incident in San Francisco earlier this month. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office on Monday announced Smith is being charged with three misdemeanor accounts of violating a court order. Last week, investigators with the Police Department's Special Victims Unit learned that Smith allegedly violated the order and obtained a warrant for his arrest. He turned himself in Friday and was booked on suspicion of violating a protective order, police said. Smith has since been released on $30,000 bail. He's set to be arraigned on the new charges Thursday, according to prosecutors. A judge issued the order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim, on March 12 when Smith was in court for charges connected to the alleged domestic violence incident at a Nob Hill apartment on March 3. In that case, Smith was charged with domestic violence, assault, false imprisonment and vandalism. He has pleaded not guilty. On March 3, officers responded to the 600 block of Bush Street for a report of domestic violence allegedly involving Smith. Once officers arrived, however, Smith had left. The victim, a woman, suffered injuries not considered life-threatening. Smith turned himself in three days later, police said. The Raiders released Smith from his contract with them two days after the incident. He had previously played for the San Francisco 49ers starting in 2011 but was released by the team in August 2015 following an arrest for a DUI hit-and-run in Santa Clara. Smith signed with the Raiders the next month, but was suspended for a year in November 2015 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policies. A 43-year-old San Mateo man was arrested for a DUI hit-and-run in South San Francisco that left another driver with major injuries on Saturday, police said. Elmer Fernando Sandoval was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of DUI, DUI causing great bodily injury, fleeing the scene of a collision resulting in injuries, driving on the wrong side of a divided highway causing injury and being an unlicensed driver. Police and South San Francisco fire crews responded to a car crash at 12:35 a.m. Saturday after a wrong-way driver on Westborough Boulevard collided with an oncoming vehicle at the intersection of Gellert Boulevard. Sandoval allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled the area. Officers said he was located with the help of a police canine. A passenger in the other vehicle was taken to the hospital with major injuries, according to police. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call South San Francisco police at (650) 877-8900 or email tips@ssf.net. The class schedule hadn't started yet, and students were not present on campus, when demonstrators from Westboro Baptist Church were met by counter-protestors outside an elementary school this morning in the Alamo area of Contra Costa County. The protest started around 7:45 a.m. outside Rancho Romero Elementary School at 180 Hemme Ave., but district personnel had caught wind of the plan and switched to a "reverse minimum" school day, according to San Ramon Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Elizabeth Graswich. As of about 9:30 a.m., classes still hadn't started yet and the protest was already over, according to Graswich. "Our students weren't there," she said. "Today our focus was on the safety of our students and staff, so we put a plan in place working with law enforcement to ensure safety and mitigate the impact on the school day," Graswich said. "We're very grateful to law enforcement for working closely with us and we've had amazing support from our parent community and staff community," she added. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office was not immediately available to provide information about the nature of the counter-protest and what took place. Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, a controversial group known for its anti-gay message and protests outside of the funerals of soldiers, has come to the Bay Area in previous years. During their current time in the Bay Area, members of the group also scheduled a series of demonstrations at churches in Walnut Creek for Sunday morning. The Berkeley City Council will consider a proposal in today's meeting from a community outreach group and a councilmember to place a measure on the November ballot asking voters to approve a new police oversight commission. The Berkeley Community United for Police Oversight said in a statement they have support from City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who drafted the measure. "We certainly hope that the City Council will vote to let the people of Berkeley decide this question and place it on the ballot, but no matter what, we are pressing ahead with out campaign to gather 12,000 signatures," Diana Bohn, a spokesperson for the group, said in a statement. If approved by the Council and placed on the ballot, the proposed commission would supersede the current Police Review Commission that only has advisory power. The group said in a statement that the current commission has its recommendations ignored or delayed by the Berkeley police chief, city manager and the Berkeley Police Association. The group said the new commission would place the power to control "police functioning in the hands of the people and their representatives," and would have the power to fully review critical incidents, modify department policies and have a meaningful say in the hiring of a police chief. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in City Council chambers at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. A free event will be held tonight at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library in San Jose to honor civil rights activist Cesar Chavez 25 years after his passing, according to the public library. Chavez's sister, granddaughter, niece and other family members will be in attendance to help tell stories and shine a light on his legacy that lasted beyond his death. The event will consist of a film showing, discussion between Chavez's relatives and time for a question-and-answer session for the audience, organizers said. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. and will be held on the second floor of the library in room 225. "Remembering Cesar Chavez" is sponsored by Mexico Bakery, a chain with three San Jose locations. To learn more about the library, the event and the Cesar Chavez collection that can be accessed via the San Jose Public Library catalog, people can visit https://events.sjpl.org/event/remembering_cesar_chavez. ### San Francisco Fire Department crews have contained a fire at a three-story commercial building at 336 Kearny Street early this morning, fire officials said. According to fire officials, the small fire that was reported just before 4:40 a.m. today only resulted in minor damage to the structure, didn't result in any injuries and didn't displace anyone in the building. The public is asked to avoid the area. PLEASANT HILL (BCN) A man was arrested in a high-speed pursuit that began on the Bay Bridge and ended in Pleasant Hill this morning. Edgardo Chavez-Ascencion, a San Francisco resident in his mid-20s, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, reckless evading and driving on a suspended license. He was booked into jail in Contra Costa County, according to CHP Officer Vu Williams. The high-speed pursuit began at 12:22 a.m. on the Bay Bridge and came to an end in the 1500 block of Wendy Drive in Pleasant Hill, according to the CHP. Chavez-Ascencion was driving a yellow van with identification from the Black Rock City Department of Public Works, which is in charge of construction at the Burning Man annual gathering in Nevada. Williams said the vehicle has not been reported as stolen and the CHP has not confirmed whether the suspect has any connection to the DPW. ### San Francisco contemporary dance company RawDance rings in the spring season with a continuation of its salon-style Concept performance series. Concept Series: 22, at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center on Friday-Saturday, March 30-31, highlights works in progress and revised repertory pieces, inviting guest artists to join company dancers in an informal performance set against the lavish backdrop of the Green Room. The series is hosted by Artistic Directors Ryan T. Smith and Wendy Rein. For Concept Series: 22, RawDance is joined by guest artists Diane Frank, Alyssandra Katherine Wu, Sean Dorsey, Arletta Anderson, Adam Smith and Sydney Frank. The event is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $10 to $20. In the spirit of intimacy and community fun, coffee, popcorn and other munchies will be provided. A New Zealand man admitted in court that he tricked a woman into having sex with him by telling her he had been poisoned and would die within 48 hours unless she did so. The 24-year-old con artist pleaded guilty Friday to sexual connection induced by threat in Rotorua District Court. According the New Zealand Herald, which cited police reports, the scam worked like this. The man, who was not identified, showed up at the woman's home "red-faced and bent over" and told her he had been beaten up and forced to drink a vial of poison. He said there was no antidote available and the only cure was to sweat out the toxins within 48 hours. When she suggested he go for a brisk jog, he declined, saying that the toxins could only be eliminated "in a particular way." At that point, the woman began receiving emails from an unknown address corroborating his story. The emails directed her to perform sexual acts on the man four times and have sexual intercourse three times within 48 hours. Police said she consented in order to save the man's life. More for you 911 dispatchers of Reddit recall the funniest, dumbest calls they've received But after the 48 hours, the woman continued to get threatening emails. They said her loved ones would be harmed or semi-naked pictures of her would be posted online if she didn't perform sex acts with the man three to seven times a day. She was also instructed to let the man film the sex on his phone. The Herald reported that the woman began suspecting a ruse because the emails referred to the man by a nickname he only ever called himself and because he was the only person to benefit from the arrangement. She eventually reported the threats to police. The man faces sentencing May 25. NEW YORK Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has renewed his attack on the Iran nuclear deal during a visit to the United States, saying the agreement would delay but not prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Delaying it and watching them getting that bomb, that means you are waiting for the bullet to reach your head, Prince Mohammed, 32, the heir to the Saudi throne, said Monday during his first meeting with editors and reporters from The New York Times. So you have to move from today. BEIRUT Syrian troops massed around the town of Douma on Tuesday after a powerful rebel faction refused to evacuate, threatening the resumption of the ferocious air and ground offensive that has driven rebels from the rest of the eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus. Thousands of fighters have already evacuated the suburbs with their family members and other civilians, but the Army of Islam said it was determined to stay in its stronghold, Douma, the largest town in eastern Ghouta. About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile Page Content California employers that conduct background checks on job applicants must comply with a range of legal requirementsincluding federal rules, the new California ban-the-box law that took effect in January and local ordinances. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs background checks when information is obtained from a third-party consumer reporting agency and requires employers to send certain notices to job candidates. The new California ban-the-box law includes broader notice requirements, and local ban-the-box laws add their own nuances, which makes the process even more complicated. "Employers have to understand the laws in the jurisdictions in which they operate, and make sure they're complying with them," said Paul Evans, an attorney with Morgan Lewis in Philadelphia. Federal Law If an employer decides to conduct a background check using a third-party consumer reporting agency, the employer must adhere to the FCRA. There are strict procedures for compliance under the FCRA. The employer must let the candidate knowin a stand-alone documentthat it plans to order a background check. The company must also get written authorization from the candidate prior to conducting the investigation. If the employer makes a preliminary decision that it might not hire the candidate based on the background check, it must send a "pre-adverse action notice." The employer must also send a copy of the background-check report and a summary of rights. This gives the candidate an opportunity to dispute the accuracy and completeness of the report, according to Evans. The company must also give the candidate a reasonable period of time to do so. Thereafter, the employer can send an "adverse action notice" that it has made a final decision not to hire the applicant. The employer must provide the candidate the contact information for the consumer reporting agency that supplied the report. The employer must also inform the candidate that the consumer reporting agency didn't make the hiring decision and therefore can't give the reasons for the decision, explained Jennifer Mora, an attorney with Seyfarth Shaw in Los Angeles. California Law California employers must navigate additional rules when conducting background investigations. The statewide ban-the-box law prohibits inquiries about criminal history until a conditional job offer has been made. [SHRM members-only resource: Ban-the-Box Laws by State and Municipality] Even prior to the ban-the-box law, California employers were also banned from considering arrests that didn't result in convictions (with certain exceptions) and convictions that had been sealed, dismissed, expunged or eradicated. The state's ban-the-box law applies to businesses with at least five employees, but it doesn't apply to certain positions for which a background investigation is required by law. If an employer plans not to hire someone based on the background check, it must first perform an "individualized assessment" to determine if the candidate's specific offense is relevant to the job. The pre-adverse action notice must identify the conviction at issue and include a copy of the background report. The notice must inform the applicant of his or her right to respond before the decision is finalized. Also, the employer must state that the candidate may dispute the accuracy of the criminal history and that the candidate may provide evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating circumstances, Mora said. The candidate has five business days to make an initial response. If the applicant notifies the company that he or she challenges the accuracy of the information and is gathering evidence, the candidate has another five business days to respond, Mora said. If the applicant provides additional information, the company must consider it before making a final decision. If the employer decides not to hire the applicant based on the background check, then it must inform the candidate in an adverse action notice. Also, the candidate must be notified of the right to file a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Local Ordinances By now, the employer may be exhausted with all these requirementsbut there's no resting yet, if the company does business in a jurisdiction with a local ban-the-box law. A Los Angeles ordinance, which was enacted before the statewide law, applies only to businesses with 10 or more employees, but the requirements are slightly different from those under state law. For example, an employer may not take adverse action unless it follows the city's "Fair Chance Process," which includes conducting a written assessment that links the applicant's criminal history with the risks associated with the position sought. Among other things, the employer must notify the candidate in writing of the proposed adverse action and also provide a copy of the written assessment, Mora said. The employer must hold the job open for five business days and allow the applicant a chance to respond with additional information. The employer must perform a written reassessment in light of the new information and follow additional steps before making a final adverse decision. Covered businesses in Los Angeles must comply with both city and state law. Audits It's a good idea for employers to conduct an audit of their background-check procedures, to make sure they're getting everything right. Mora advises gathering all documents related to the background process and having counsel take a look at them. According to Evans, employers should ask themselves why they're conducting background checks. He also suggests reviewing the relevant forms to ensure they comply with the wide range of laws. In addition, companies should determine whether they will use the same process nationwideby complying with the most restrictive laws and using those procedures across the countryor whether their processes will vary based on the jurisdiction in which they operate. Toni Vranjes is a freelance business writer in San Pedro, Calif. Oxford University Press, the worlds largest university press, along with Maharaj Kumari Jeet Nabha Khemka and Nand Khemka has launched the new book named as A political biography of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha written by Prof. J.S. Grewal and Prof. Indu Banga. The book was launched in the presence of Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and Prof. Indu Banga, Professor Emerita of History, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha (18831942) was an exceptional ruler, a princely rebel who resisted the paramount power in different ways. Forced to abdicate in 1923 ostensibly on account of maladministration, Ripudaman Singh was sent to Kodaikanal in 1928, where he died after 14 years in captivity without any recourse to judicial appeal. Set against the backdrop of Indian nationalism, Sikh resurgence, and British paramountcy, J.S. Grewal and Indu Banga trace the Maharajas political career, revealing the devious ways in which the paramount power dealt with traditional nobility. They explore his career, education, and upbringing to explain his ideological stance, appreciation for Indian nationalism, and his active involvement in the Sikh reformist movement. J.S. Grewal is former professor and vice chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India, and director and later chairman of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, India. Indu Banga is professor emerita of history, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, and was professor of history at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India, from 1982 to 1990. Read more news: Is it time to go back to CASH? Bangalore ATM Fraud says so! High family income likely to influence child development To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Lawyers for miner Rio Tinto have blasted the US corporate regulator in a court filing accusing the Securities and Exchange Commission of using sleight-of-hand and presenting a selective view of the facts concerning Rios failed investment in a coal business in Mozambique in 2011. Lawyers for Rio Tinto have blasted the US corporate regulator. Credit:Steven Pelham The hard-hitting document, filed in a US court on Monday night, New York time, claims that the SECs allegations fail to establish fraud and argues that the claims against the miner and two of its former executives, Tom Albanese and Guy Elliott, should be dismissed. In October 2017 the SEC charged Rio and Mr Elliott and Mr Albanese with fraud, for allegedly inflating the value of Mozambique coal assets Rio bought in 2011 for $US3.7 billion, and sold in 2014 for only $US50 million. The SEC complaint alleged that Rio and the two former executives failed to follow proper accounting standards and company policies to accurately record and value its assets. Loading But Rios lawyers hit out at the SEC in the latest filing, arguing that the claims should be dismissed. Four years of investigation and six months of litigation later, the SEC still cannot explain when Rio Tinto should have impaired RTCM (Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique) or by how much. The SEC claims that defendants should have completed their evaluation of these complex questions within one year of acquiring an untested, exploratory asset expected to last for at least fifty years, the lawyers said. The SECs allegations failed to establish fraud, and it was easy to second-guess complicated valuation and accounting judgments years later, they argued. The document also said that the SEC never explained why Rio Tinto spent tens of millions of dollars in 2011 and throughout 2012 studying infrastructure options and coal quantity and quality if, as the SEC contends, it had already determined in 2011 that RTCM was a lemon. The SEC is wrong, and it has failed to allege facts that could support its theory. But in a court filing last week the SEC defended its legal action, arguing it had established multiple violations of US securities laws. Investors are pumping cash into the Surry Hills area as more developments are completed to quench demand. One of the latest sales is at 529-531 Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, through Colliers International, with the sell price expected to exceed $25 million. Miron Solomons, Matt Pontey and Nick Lumley are advising on the nine-storey building, which they say will be able to take advantage of several billion dollars of infrastructure investment being poured into the area. A private investor is selling a nine-storey building at 529-531 Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills The site, known as East Central, was developed by Ash Samadi. When high powered commercial lawyer Wendy Harris, QC, led the defence of National Australia Bank at the banking royal commission last week, she was one of two female silks in a room full of grey-haired men with a speaking role. The other was counsel assisting Rowena Orr, QC. But Harris says that she has a team of senior juniors lawyers on the cusp of being named a QC helping the bank run its case. Wendy Harris, QC, says there are a lot of good reasons for women to become a barrister. What I see in the senior junior women [are] more female barristers who are likely to, I guess, do a Wendy Harris, and practice as a silk, Harris, who has had a storied 20-year career as a QC, says. And I think that might happen really quickly in the next couple of years." Pastoral Melodies. Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra. City Recital Hall. March 25. Orchestral playing has been hugely refreshed in recent decades by a movement towards historically informed performance using old instruments or replicas and reconstructing what we can of earlier approaches to bowing, blowing and beating. Nicole van Bruggen played with charming woody individuality. Credit:Nick Gilbert Paradoxically, the historical approach was to varying degrees foreign to the 18th and 19th century musical mind. Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms and, if we believe the claims of his pupil Czerny, Beethoven all adapted earlier music to suit their own times when they performed it (Brahms being the most historically engaged). That in no way lessens the interest of groups like the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra (affectionately known as ARCO, which also means "with the bow"). But it does remind us that historicism has its own history. Conductor Richard Gill and ARCO, led by Rachael Beesley, took Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture Opus 26, Fingal's Cave, at a reserved pace, drawing out its brooding mystery while retaining balanced clarity and some delightful fleeting tonal cameos from the wind. They used a seating pattern preferred by Mendelssohn, which reverses the place of the first and second violins with the wind lined up at the back, though from my side position it was difficult to judge the impact. Brahms' Five Songs, Opus 104, speak of a world of autumnal mellowness and solitude that the Sydney Chamber Choir drew out with balanced expressiveness. Mozart's so-called (some say wrongly called) Spaur Mass, KV. 258 (Piccolomini) manages to get through the longer sections of the Mass text, the Gloria and the Credo, with cheeky dispatch. The performance was perky, streaked with orchestral colour and mixed vocal solos. The major event of the afternoon was to rehear Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F, Opus 68 Pastoral enlivened with ARCO's feel for balance and the distinctive originality of some of its wind players. This went to more than the famous imitation of birdcalls at the close of the slow movement, in which flautist Kate Clark, oboist Eduard Wesly, and clarinettist Nicole van Bruggen played with charming woody individuality. Try lumping Jeff Beck with Madonna, or putting Duran Duran in the same sentence as avant-gardist Laurie Anderson, or maybe David Bowie with Al Jarreau. Not only does Nile Rodgers have a way of doing that, but part of his secret is skipping sleep. Among the world's most in-demand record producers, Rodgers also a songwriter, guitarist, arranger and leader of the brilliant funk band Chic has been up for just on 48 hours when we speak on the telephone. "Since I was about five-and-a-half years old I've only required about two or three hours' sleep a night," he explains. "Like last night I didn't sleep at all, and I've had a super-productive run." That was finishing two singles from Chic's new album, while other "runs" across the last 40 years have included producing for Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, with Australia's INXS, Kylie Minogue and Tina Arena also in the mix, along with a steady stream of new artists. "Victorian native forests produce high quality, appearance-grade timber, and the RFAs ensure this is done sustainably," Ms Ruston said in a statement released to the AAP. Timber shortage The extensions have been granted by both federal and Victorian governments for agreements in the East Gippsland, Central Highlands and North East regions. The controversial pacts allow logging of native forests on public land and provide exemptions from Commonwealth environmental laws. The Turnbull government is pushing for 20-year extensions. The move is likely to bring at least some short-term certainty to the timber industry, with six firms forming a group, G6, to highlight a looming shortage of trees. "It's hard to invest or plan anything," said Brian Donchi, a G6 spokesman and resource manager for one of the group's members, Fenning Timbers based in Bairnsdale. "They have to do something otherwise the industry will shut down," Mr Donchi said on Monday, ahead of the extension announcement. He said the industry's access to mountain ash had already dropped from 220,000 cubic metres in 2013 to 153,000 cubic metres by 2017, with a further fall extended to 130,000 by 2020-21. The Victorian Association of Forest Industries and the Australian Forest Products Association, two industry groups "cautiously welcomed" the two-year move but called for a 20-year extension. RFAs are essential to provide certainty for our members as key regional employers, to invest, create jobs and support their local communities," Tim Johnston, the association's chief executive, said. "[E]xtended RFAs must include guaranteed volume and quality of timber supply to allow for further long-term investment in value adding technology." Only a minority of wood comes from native forests but environmental groups would like to see it phased out altogether. 'Good step' Environmental groups welcomed the Kuark protection as a "good step in the right direction", but said more could have been done. Todays announcement does not provide full protection for the iconic Kuark forest, some areas have not been included, we will continue to advocate and campaign for their protection, Ed Hill, a spokesman for the Goongerah Environment Centre Office. "Habitat for species like the nationally threatened greater glider and Leadbeaters possum will continue to be logged with legal impunity and the special treatment given to the logging industry will continue," he said. Jess Abrahams, a Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner, said RFA were "an out-of-date loophole exempting destructive logging from national environment law". All areas of high conservation forest should be protected from logging while this important [two-year] review takes place," Mr Abrahams said. Daniel Andrews should have simply let these RFAs expire and stood up to the forestry union and the logging industry," he said. "The logging industry must be rapidly transitioned to plantations - it cannot expect to get clean green certification while it is still logging the habitat of threatened species." Central Highlands at risk The Greens at state and federal level said the RFAs should have been wound up immediately. Its clear that the Victorian Labor government wants to delay making a long-term decision until after the state election," Samantha Dunn, a state Greens MP. Janet Rice, the federal Greens forest spokeswoman, said 87 per cent of Victorian timber came from plantations and it was time to protect what was left of native forests. So many communities who care about their forests, including the people of Mirboo North, Noojee, Rubicon and the Strathbogies will be devastated as the destruction of our precious forests continues, Senator Rice said. Sarah Rees, a campaigner for the Great Forest National Park, said the Central Highlands to Melbourne's north-east would get little benefit from the changes. "There's more logging in the Central Highlands than in the entire state of Tasmania," she said. Danya Jacobs, a senior lawyer with Environmental Justice Australia, said the mountain ash logging in the region would be in stands dating from after the 1939 bushfires. "The additional requirement to retain all trees greater than 2.5-metre diameter is unlikely to provide any further protection in the Montane Ash forests in the Central Highlands, which are the forests most critical for Leadbeaters possum," she said. David Lindenmayer, who is part of an Australian National University program that has monitored the central highlands for 35 years, described the on-going logging planned for the region as "sheer madness". "We already know this system is in massive, massive trouble," Professor Lindenmayer said. "The plans essentially screw over the water supply for 4.5 million people [in Melbourne] for the sake of keeping a few jobs going." NSW watches on The RFAs involve 10 plans in four states, five in Victoria, three in NSW and one each in WA and Tasmania. Ms D'Ambrosio's concern that the science in the RFAs needed to be updated is echoed by NSW Labor. Labor will not sign off on a rollover of the RFAs until there is a proper independent scientific assessment of their outcomes, and the assumptions of the original RFAs are revisited, Penny Sharpe, NSW Labor's environment spokeswoman, said. Importantly, the RFA assessment must include climate change as a consideration," she said. "Given the key role of forests for carbon storage, no RFA should be renewed without investigating their impact on climate change. Paul Toole, NSW's Minister for Lands and Forestry, said his government was committed to renewing Regional Forest Agreements in 2016. "Consultation has recently concluded on the renewal of Regional Forest Agreements, including how they can be improved and what changes need to made to the existing agreements that were developed close to 20 years ago," Mr Toole said. "It is proposed that the new RFAs will be able to respond to emerging issues and to be modified over time as new science or new information becomes available," he said. Rob Gilchrist and Rochelle Rees during their relationship. I began a relationship with Rob Gilchrist in 2007, after campaigning with him on animal rights issues for many years. He was well respected and trusted in New Zealands activist communities and I felt comfortable with him. I work as a computer programmer, and in late 2008 Rob asked me to fix his computer as it was running slow. It was then that I first saw Rob was forwarding internal group emails from climate change, animal rights and peace groups to a strange email address. I had a sinking feeling. I felt like I knew then he was working for someone. But I didnt know if it was a private investigator or the New Zealand police. A federal inquiry will probe Canberra's national museum and galleries as they grapple with millions of dollars in funding cuts, forcing them to find new revenue and raising fears that government neglect could leave them forgotten. Budget cuts hitting the ACT's national institutions since the Coalition's ascent to power in 2013 have been estimated at $30 million, and directors working with shrinking public funding have had to slash staff over multiple years. A parliamentary inquiry will look into Canberra's national institutions, including the National Library, as they deal with the impact of cuts. Credit:Jamila Toderas The parliamentary inquiry, announced on Tuesday, is expected to investigate efforts by Australia's national institutions to tap new, private revenue sources and find other forms of income as federal funding reduced. Inquiry committee chair and Liberal MP Ben Morton said it was a chance for Canberra's museum, galleries and library to take stock and look at what they needed, including support from both the public and private sector. Actor Geoffrey Rush plans to give evidence as soon as August that he did not behave "inappropriately" towards an actress during a production of King Lear in Sydney, a court has heard. Rush, 66, is suing the Daily Telegraph's publisher Nationwide News and journalist Jonathon Moran for defamation in the Federal Court after the newspaper published two front-page stories and a newsagent poster in late 2017 alleging Rush had been involved in "inappropriate behaviour" during the six-week production by the Sydney Theatre Company, which began in late 2015. In a statement of claim, Rush said the publications portrayed him as a "pervert" and "sexual predator" who had engaged in "inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature". Last week, Justice Michael Wigney ruled that part of the Telegraph's defence to the allegations - that they were true - should be struck out, also striking out part of its qualified privilege defence. Former assistant tax commissioner Nick Petroulias outside ICAC on Tuesday. Credit:Janie Barrett Disgraced former assistant tax commissioner Nick Petroulias has questioned whether his criminal history should have been divulged to members of an Aboriginal land council as they decided whether to green light a $30 million property deal that he allegedly worked up with two of its board members. Mr Petroulias was one of the country's most senior public servants before a spectacular fall from grace saw him jailed for corrupt conduct in 2008. He has emerged as a "central" player in an inquiry by the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) into a series of land deals by the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council, based in Newcastle. The deals took place between 2014 and 2016, with the most lucrative worth $30 million, the opening day of the inquiry heard on Tuesday. A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder within 48 hours of a hit-and-run incident in which he allegedly struck and killed a cyclist in the NSW Riverina area. Jonwa Rowe was allegedly behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux dual cab utility shortly after 2am on Sunday, when it collided with a 33-year-old male cyclist on Currawang Avenue, Leeton. Stephen O'Grady, 33, died after he was hit by a car in the early hours of Sunday morning. Credit:Facebook It is alleged Mr Rowe failed to stop after the collision and the cyclist, identified by police as Stephen O'Grady, died at the scene. Strike Force Nerrim was initiated by police from Griffith and Leeton, who located and seized the utility on Monday after receiving information from the public. Editors Note After this story was first published, on 25 February 2019, Salim Mehajer pleaded guilty to negligent driving and contravention of an apprehended violence order. The charges of dangerous driving and intimidation were withdrawn. A woman involved in a car crash with Salim Mehajer has denied she once had a crush on the controversial property developer and wanted to get back at him after he rebuffed her. Rouba Soueid rejected suggestions by Mehajer's defence lawyer in a court hearing related to the 2017 collision in Sydney that she and his ex-wife formed a clandestine plan to set him up to breach his apprehended violence order. Rouba Soueid outside Burwood court on Tuesday. Credit:AAP Mehajer has been accused of using his Audi to block Ms Soueid's path as she drove her Toyota Corolla in Kingsgrove in the early hours of November 20. EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. An investigative journalist with the ABC has been accused of "distorting" a story about Cardinal George Pell by omitting information to "poison the public's mind" about the high-ranking Catholic. Cardinal Pell, 76, faces multiple historical sexual offence charges involving multiple complainants, which he has vehemently and repeatedly denied. He is facing a committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court to determine whether he stands trial. On Tuesday, ABC journalist Louise Milligan was questioned by Cardinal Pell's high-profile defence barrister Robert Richter, QC, who accused her of not conducting proper checks for a story about his client's alleged offences that aired on the 7.30 program. As the north of the state deals with the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Nora, other parts of the Queensland coast are bracing for a wet Easter weekend. But despite the slightly increasing chance of a former tropical cyclone near New Caledonia reforming in coming days, the weather bureau is predicting little rain for south-east Queensland. The aftermath of flash flooding at a caravan park in Cairns. Nearly 1000 millimetres of rain has fallen on some parts of the north and far north regions over the past seven days, culminating in an emergency on Monday night when 100 millimetres fell in Cairns in one minute, causing a local levee to break its banks. Two caravan parks were inundated, with three people taken to hospital with minor injuries while many lost their vans, cars, and personal belongings. Two people whose bodies were found on a beach north of Brisbane appear to have died in non-suspicious circumstances, police say. Kurt Butler was found dead on Bribie Island, with jet skis nearby, on Saturday. The bodies of 39-year-old Caloundra mines worker Kurt Butler, 39, and a 38-year-old female Canadian tourist were found with a jet ski nearby on Bribie Island on Saturday morning by a person inspecting turtle nests within the protected area of the island. It's estimated the pair, who were wearing swimmers but not life jackets, had been in water for more than 24 hours before being spotted by a member of the public. They had injuries on their bodies. "I vehemently reject this claim," she said. "These comments not only undermine the role of Chairman of Brisbane City Council, but are also defamatory as there is nothing to substantiate them." A debate broke out between several councillors and the chair at the March 20 meeting after Labor councillor Kara Cook told the chair she was finding it difficult to hear because councillor Julian Simmonds and councillor Vicki Howard were having a conversation. Cr Cook: I'm finding it increasingly difficult to hear what's being said here due to this conversation here. Cr Owen: Cr Cook, I can't hear a word that Cr Simmonds is saying and quite frankly, he's not saying anything. I can see his face and Cr Johnston: Oh, hello. Cr Simmonds: Point of order Cr Owen: Excuse me, sit down. I'm speaking. Section 41. I've put up with a lot of nonsense tonight. Cr Simmonds was not saying anything. I could clearlydon't you argue with me, Cr Johnston. I could clearly see his face. He was just nodding and Cr Howard was whispering. It was not an audible conversation, not like some of them that have taken place in the opposition benches tonight. So, Cr Johnston, finish your general business, thank you. Cr Johnston: Point of order, Madam Chairman. Cr Owen: Point of order. Cr Johnston: I move dissent in your ruling. Cr Owen: There being no seconder, dissent is not upheld. Finish your general business. Cr Johnston: Well Cr Kara Cook was on her feet and very clearly Cr Owen: Cr Johnston, finish your business. Cr Johnston: Very clearly Cr Owen: Finish your general business. Cr Johnston: Thank you. Point of order, Madam Chairman. I rule dissent in your decision to not recognise Councillor Cr Owen: Cr Johnston, you can't rule anything. Continue your general business. Opposition Leader Peter Cumming wrote to the council's chief executive to formally complain about Cr Owen's conduct. Credit:Glenn Hunt Cr Cumming said in his letter it was in his opinion that Cr Owen abused her authority as chair in a purely partisan attempt to provide cover for her LNP colleague. The verbal assault, which Cr Owen witnessed and ignored, included aggressive gesturing," he said. The minutes record Cr Cook describing the attack as bullying, harassment. Later, in the most flagrant breach of proper meeting procedure that I have witnessed in 24 years as a councillor, Cr Owen shut down general business while Cr Johnston was mid-speech and with three Labor councillors awaiting their turn to speak. "I have never witnessed such a ruthlessly biased ruling and want to place on the record the increasing level of frustration from opposition councillors to Cr Owens consistently biased rulings. When Fairfax Media approach the council for comment, a spokesman said the administration would not comment on any individual circumstances, but confirmed Mr Jensen reviewed all complaints he received. Cr Cumming wrote to Mr Jensen on Friday, March 23, and on Monday evening he was yet to receive a response or acknowledgement from the chief executive. The minutes Cr Cook: Point of order. I find that conduct to be bullying, harassment Cr Owen: Excuse me, stop Cr Cook: Do not point your finger at me ever again. Cr Owen: Enough. You don't rise on a point of order in this place until you are called. I was discussing the amount of time that was remaining with the clerks. I did not see what went on and I will not have councillorsdon't speak when I am speaking. Read the Meetings Local Law, section 51. The behaviour and the carry on is absolutely atrocious in this place. I should be able to confirm with the clerks how much time a councillor has got remaining in their speech in general business without the nonsense going on. Now I don't know what happened right then and there, but it ceases. I'm putting all councillors on notice. You are in this place. It is a place of political debate, but it is also a place of decorum. There are meetings local laws and when I give a ruling, I give a ruling. The same that happens in the State Parliament and the same that happens in the Federal Parliament. So start learning. When a ruling is given, just because you don't like it, it is not a reason to move dissent. Learn the rules. Cr Johnston, you have 30 seconds. Cr Johnston: Point of order, Madam Chairman. Cr Owen: Point of order, Councillor Johnston. The Andrews government dumped the project in 2014 at the cost of more than $1 billion. The project had a predicted return to taxpayers of just 45 cents worth of benefits for every $1 spent on it, a business case produced for the Napthine government in 2014 found. Loading Mr Andrews said the state's advisory body, Infrastructure Victoria, did "understand Victoria, having been created by the Victorian government. Living and working in our state, they have very different timing, very different views," he said. "We are getting on with delivering the projects that Victorians have voted for." Mr Andrews was speaking at an event for the massive West Gate Tunnel toll road a Transurban project that was not taken to the electorate at the last election, and that is 10 times more costly than the plan Labor did put to voters in 2014. "We are very much focused on delivering the projects that we took to the election and projects that are critically needed beyond that," Mr Andrews said. Hugh Batrouney is an economist and infrastructure specialist from the Grattan Institute. He said a big part of Infrastructure Australia's work was state governments opting in to the process because they provided business cases to the body, which then assessed them alongside other projects. "The number of projects on the list is a bit of a distraction," he said. The ABC and RMIT also recently compared infrastructure funding across Australian states. They found that some states were consistently getting a larger share of infrastructure, with Queensland the standout. "On the current expected spending carve-up, Queensland is set to receive an annual average of 33.5 per cent well above its 20 per cent share of the national population," they found. NSW also got a disproportionately large share, with about 30 per cent of funding. Victoria was the most disadvantaged state, they found, with an annual average of 11.8 per cent of the total "despite a 25.7 per cent share of the national population". Infrastructure Australia chief executive Philip Davies said its priority list showed that NSW needed more investment due to years of neglect. "It reflects a couple of things: the lack of investment in Sydney over a 15-year period which has seen similar levels of growth to Victoria." He said Victoria had "a more mature public transport system" and that the funding requests were "obviously a reflection of where the development of those cities are up to". "Were seeing a lot of growth in Melbourne and so the Victorian government is responding to that. Its a statement in time, I wouldnt read too much into it. RMIT infrastructure expert Ian Woodcock said the Victorian projects on the priority list would lock Melbourne into car dependence. Dr Woodcock said NSW, while also lobbying for some "mega-road" projects, had "a vision for a dramatically enhanced urban railway network". NSW's list of projects ready to go showed the "parlous" state of Victorian transport planning, he said. And the more advanced projects in Victoria were "the tip of a massive road-building iceberg" that would "generate more traffic, needing ever more roads". Paul Fletcher, the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, said the Turnbull government would provide $3 billion to fund the East West Link, and claimed Mr Andrews made a "destructive and wasteful decision" to cancel the project. "Instead of playing politics and seeking to tarnish the reputation of a respected independent advisory body for his own political purposes, Daniel Andrews should instead heed the advice of Infrastructure Australia which has identified East West Link as a high priority initiative," Mr Fletcher said. Greens senator Janet Rice also said Victoria's projects on Infrastructure Australia's priority list were focused on "last centurys patterns of car dependence" that were "not the solution for our growing cities. Senator Rice said it was disturbing to see the zombie East West Link" back on the agenda: "We know from the last incarnation that the business case for East West Link showed it was an expensive, loss-making disaster." Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has resigned from his role overseeing the trial of a supervised safe injecting space for heroin users in protest over the so-called 'red shirts' rorting scandal. Jeff Kennett has resigned from his position on the review panel of a medically supervised injecting facility. Credit:Rebecca Hallas The Andrews government appointed the former Liberal premier and founding chair of Beyondblue as chair of the review panel after it gave the green light to the state's first medically-supervised injecting room last October. But in a letter of resignation to the Minister for Mental Health, Martin Foley, Mr Kennett said his position as chairman was now "untenable". "I have spent considerable time preparing for the role, through meetings and readings, and we were in the process of holding the first meeting of the panel," Mr Kennett wrote. EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. Award-winning ABC journalist Louise Milligan has gone head-to-head in court with Cardinal George Pell's barrister Robert Richter, QC, who accused her of not conducting proper checks before reporting on his client's alleged offences. During a heated five-hour exchange, the high-profile lawyer accused the journalist of omitting facts, twisting the truth and failing to do her due diligence, which led Milligan to say that victims were often torn apart by people like you. A Victorian teacher who admitted to grooming a 15-year-old girl for sex almost four decades ago has been allowed to continue working in schools. The Victorian Institute of Teaching's hearing panel found teacher Keith Currie guilty of serious misconduct, but it concluded he should keep his registration. The decision was published on Tuesday afternoon, just days after the Andrews government announced sweeping changes to the VIT to ensure it reflected community expectations and prioritised child safety. A teacher who admitted to grooming a student for sex has been allowed to keep his registration Credit:Eamon Gallagher The state government's move follows a series of questionable decisions that have allowed teachers accused of misconduct including one who paid students for massages and told incest stories to continue working in classrooms. The case of a former Indian restaurant owner in Perth who failed to pay an overseas cook for almost four months - then sacked him by text - has been described as 'shameful exploitation.' A former Perth restaurant owner has been fined for 'shameful exploitation' of an overseas worker. Credit:Foursquare Details of the case emerged on Monday as Simon Peter Mackenzie, who owned the Curry Tree restaurant in Nedlands before it burnt down in 2014, was penalised $34,815 while his company was hit with an additional $174,075 fine. The penalties were handed down in the Federal Circuit Court after legal action was launched by the Fair Work Ombudsman. In addition to the monetary penalties, the Court ordered Mackenzie and his company pay the exploited worker $32,661 in outstanding wages and compensation. A Perth schoolgirl left seriously injured and fighting for life after an electric shock at her home has started saying the word 'mum'. Nine News Perth reports Denishar Woods has defied the odds, surprising doctors who have told her family she could be discharged from hospital in just three months. Denishar Woods looks like making a miraculous recover from an electric shock. The 11-year-old was given little chance at surviving by doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital after touching the tap at the Beldon property earlier this month. Doctors informed her family she had sustained brain damage and was unlikely to survive her catastrophic injuries, with her distraught mother Lacey Harrison prepared to take her daughter off life support. Perth locals looking to travel to Point Peron for the Easter weekend have been warned to avoid swimming, diving, kayaking or fishing within a one kilometre exclusion zone around four kilometres off the coast of the popular holiday spot. The Water Corporation issued the warning last Friday after recent water quality testing samples from Cape Peron showed elevated microbiology. The end of the yellow line is the outlet. The exclusion zone is a one kilometre radius around the outlet. Credit:Water Corporation Its understood a fault in one of the sewerage treatment pipes is likely to have caused the drop in quality. The elevated levels have been caused by a decline in the quality of treated wastewater leaving the [plant] since mid-February, a notice said. A building advisory board responsible for flagging emerging construction industry issues with the ACT government has not met for almost three years. In that time the territory has been plagued with issues in the construction sector, with key groups increasingly calling for substantial industry reforms. An ACT building advisory board has not met for almost three years. Credit:ALAN PORRITT Under the territory's Construction Occupations Act, the government is required to establish industry advisory boards for particular jobs within the construction industry. One of the key purposes of these boards is to "develop and maintain information about emerging issues in the construction industry," according to the act. The Canberra Greyhound Racing Club is eyeing a temporary move to Goulburn while it fights the ACT's incoming ban on the sport. Greyhound racing will be illegal in the territory after April 30, with those caught facing fines of up to $15,000 or a year in jail. Greyhound racing will be banned in Canberra after next month. Credit:Jay Cronan The club's final Canberra Cup will be held over the last two weekends of April. And while it has applied for an injunction on the ban, the club will shift its races to Goulburn if that fails, club spokesman Kel Watt said. The Turnbull government's bid to wind back protections in sensitive marine areas has been won after the Senate voted down a bid by Labor and the Greens to block the changes. The government on Tuesday night unexpectedly forced a vote on a Labor disallowance motion that would have vetoed the reduced conservation standards. A vote was not expected for several weeks. The Greens had pledged to back Labor to block the cuts. However none of the 11 crossbenchers - many caught up in negotiations over the government's company tax cuts in recent days - had committed to supporting the move at the time of the vote. The motion was defeated 34 votes to 28. A number of senators were absent for the vote. It is understood the Greens may lodge a second, slightly amended disallowance as soon as tomorrow. Labor had yet to make a decision on its next move at the time of publication. The Turnbull government has called a snap review of Australia's mining industry - the first in nearly three decades - in a bid to find new reserves, attract more investment and end bitter political debate over the future of the lucrative resources sector. In a major speech defending coal as a "great and beautiful industry," Resources Minister Matthew Canavan will on Wednesday declare the "mining boom is not over" and call for big business to go beyond "high profile campaigns on tax policy" and publicly back the resources sector. Senator Canavan will announce a seven-member panel will have six months to examine the resources sector before providing the Turnbull government with a suite of policy recommendations. Senator Matt Canavan will on Wednesday declare the "mining boom is not over". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Without limiting their work, I will ask them to focus on policies that can attract investment, contribute to regional economic progress, build community support, cut red tape, find new minerals and ensure that Australia gets best use of its mineral resources before they are exported," Senator Canavan will say. Bali: An Australian man who faced up to 15 years jail in an Indonesian prison for bringing drugs into the country will instead spend less than a year in a Bali rehab centre. Joshua James Baker was caught arriving at Ngurah Rai airport carrying a mixture of 28 grams of marijuana, tobacco and 37 pills of the prescription-only drug Diazepam in October last year. Joshua Baker in court for his sentencing. Credit:Amilia Rosa The 32-year-old, who was born in Mt Isa, Queensland, would have faced a lengthy sentence if he had been found guilty of either importing drugs or the possession of drugs. But on Tuesday head judge I Wayan Kawisada told the court the panel of three judges had decided the defendant was guilty of the lesser charge of illegal use of a category one narcotic for personal consumption and possession of psychotropic drugs. Li Keqiang, China's premier, said that China wants to avoid a trade war. Credit:QILAI SHEN The Trump administrations announcement that it will impose up to $US60 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports has led to fears of a trade war brewing between the two countries. In response, China said it is preparing retaliatory tariffs on 128 US products, amounting to US$3 billion of goods. Yet there is reason to believe that this is not a battle that China wants to fight. Numerous signals at the recent two sessions gathering of Chinas national legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC) and its top political advisory body, Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made evident Chinas desire to keep its economy open. As an authoritarian state, the press conference at the end of this important annual gathering provides a rare glimpse into the inner thinking of its political leadership. Much of the focus this year was on the president, Xi Jinping, who scrapped presidential term limits. But there were also some important announcements when it came to Chinas economy, with strong commitments made to opening itself to trade with the rest of world. Here are six of the key takeaways from premier Li Keqiangs wide-ranging press conference on March 19, which lasted two hours. In many respects it echoed Xis speech at Davos last year that China is dedicated to furthering international integration and definitely doesnt want to start a trade war. New York: The photos are surreal, like a Martian ski slope or a toasted marshmallow sky. But why did some people in Eastern Europe last week see the world in sepia tones? The answer lies hundreds of kilometres away. The orange-brown filter applied briefly to that part of the world was caused by dense Saharan dust kicked into the air and swept north, experts said. The process began when a polar jet stream made its way farther south than usual last week, bringing the strong winds and thunderstorms needed to whip up the dust, according to Tyler Roys, a meteorologist with AccuWeather. TerraX Announces C$3.0 Million Financing Posted by Publisher Internet TerraX Minerals Inc. (TSX.V: TXR; Frankfurt: TX0; OTC Pink: TRXXF) (?TerraX? or the ?Company? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLSt_VpUzmw) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with PI Financial Corp. (the ?Underwriter?) pursuant to which the Underwriter will purchase, on a bought deal basis, 3,750,000 units of the Company (?Units?) at a price of C$0.40 per Unit and 2,678,572 flow-through units of the Company (?FT Units?) at a price of C$0.56 per FT Unit, to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to approximately C$3.0 million (the ?Offering?). Each Unit shall consist of one common share and one half of one transferable non-flow-through common share purchase warrant (each whole such common share purchase warrant, a ?Warrant?). Each FT Unit shall consist of one flow-through common share and one half of one Warrant (to be issued on a non-flow-through basis). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one additional non flow-through common share of the Company for a period of three years from closing, subject to an exercise acceleration trigger, at an exercise price of C$0.60. In addition, the Company has granted the Underwriters an over-allotment option (the ?Over-Allotment Option?), exercisable in whole or in part at any time up to two days prior to closing of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 562,500 Units and 401,786 FT Units on the same terms as the Offering. The Company has agreed to pay the Underwriter a cash commission of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including proceeds received from the exercise of the Over Allotment Option. In addition, the Company will issue on the closing of the Offering to the Underwriter compensation warrants entitling the Underwriter to purchase, at $0.40 per common share, that number of common shares equal to 5.0% of the aggregate number of Units and FT Units issued by the Company under the Offering (including upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option) for a period of 24 months from closing. The net proceeds of the Offering are anticipated to be used to fund drilling and exploration expenditures at the Company?s Yellowknife City Gold Project and for working capital purposes. The closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or around April 12, 2018 (the ?Closing Date?) and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Units and FT Units will be offered by way of a private placement pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements to residents of the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and such other Canadian jurisdictions as may be agreed to by the Company and PI Financial. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the Closing Date. 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 the Yellowknife City Gold Project The Yellowknife City Gold (\YCG\) project encompasses 772 sq km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX?controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 km of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydroelectric power and skilled tradespeople. The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 67 km of strike length along the main mineralized break in the Yellowknife gold district, including the southern and northern extensions of the shear system that hosted the high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The project area contains multiple shears that are the recognized hosts for gold deposits in the Yellowknife gold district, with innumerable gold showings and recent high-grade drill results that serve to indicate the project\-\-s potential as a world-class gold district. For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors \JOSEPH CAMPBELL\ Joe Campbell CEO For more information, please contact: Samuel Vella Manager of Corporate Communications Phone: 604-689-1749 Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684 svella@terraxminerals.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG ? Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company\-\-s expectations are disclosed in the Company\-\-s documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISEMMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OSDC 2018 The Future of OS Data Center Solutions Nuremberg March 27, 2018 Innovative strategies, forward-looking developments and new perspectives in dealing with large data centers are the topics of the Open Source Data Center Conference 2018. The speakers line-up includes some of the most important representatives of the international open source scene. Meet Mitchell Hashimoto (HashiCorp), Mike Place (SaltStack), Gianluca Arbezzano (InfluxData) and many other well-known OS specialists who present their ideas on the current challenges of complex IT infrastructures. Trendsetting concepts, spearhead discussions, technical know-how and networking within the open source community have distinguished the Open Source Data Center Conference for many years. Developers, decision-makers, administrators and IT managers meet here in to catch up on the latest know-how and initiate forward-looking projects. Participants are introduced to first-hand experiences with OS solutions in order to achieve the best possible individual performance. The international expert meet-up is one of the leading events on OS data center solutions in Europe. Attracting more than 150 visitors to Berlin every year, the event is firmly established in Berlin. Kick-off will be on the evening of June 11 with an informal get-together of all conference attendees. Detailed information about OSDC is available via the conference app and the website at www.osdc.de. EVENT DETAILS Open Source Data Center Conference June 12 to 13, 2018 Berlin Venue Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin Stephanstrasse 41 D-10559 Berlin First Cobalt Identifies Potential 100 Metre Zone from First Assays in Cobalt North Posted by Publisher Internet First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V: FCC, ASX: FCC, OTCQB: FTSSF) (the ?Company? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY4qXCoWstE&t=3s) is pleased to announce positive assay results from the first drill holes from near the Kerr Mine in the Cobalt North area of the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. Results from these holes indicate a potential zone of cobalt mineralization that can be tracked across more than 100 metres. Highlights Two holes, collared over 160m apart, intersected cobalt mineralization considered to be continuous based on oriented core measurements [list] 41m of 0.15% Co and 44 g/t Ag including 0.75% Co and 126 g/t Ag over 0.30m in FCC-18-0023 00m of 0.32% Co and 208 g/t Ag including 3.81% Co and 1,225 g/t Ag over 0.32m in FCC-18-0021 Three additional holes have been logged, assays are now pending, and have been interpreted to indicate a possible system that can be tracked across a zone covering more than 100m Significant copper, lead and zinc also intersected indicating a broad mineralized zone more easily targeted for follow-up drilling than individual veins [/list] Trent Mell, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented: ?Cobalt North showed significant promise during the 2017 surface sampling and mapping work. These initial results confirm some of the early ideas we have for the structural setting for this area that make it highly prospective. Indications of both disseminated and vein styles of mineralization across a network for more than 100 metres make this an attractive target for a future bulk tonnage operation. With zones of mineralization now identified in Cobalt South and Cobalt North, we are seeing multiple opportunities in the Cobalt Camp for future primary cobalt sources to supply the North American battery market.? Results have been received from the first two holes in the Kerr Lake area drill program in Cobalt North identifying a new mineralized zone (Figure 1). Cobalt and silver occur as minerals within both quartz and calcite veins, as well as disseminated in the wallrock. Assays from FCC-18-0023 returned 10.41m of 0.15% Co and 44 g/t Ag, including 0.30m of 0.75% Co and 126 g/t Ag, from approximately 50m below surface. Hole FCC-18-0023 was collared over 160m to the southwest of FCC-18-0021 and intersected mineralization of 2.00m of 0.32% Co and 208 g/t Ag, including 3.81% Co and 1,225 g/t Ag over 0.32m. Mineralization is interpreted as continuous between these two holes based on core orientation measurements. Both holes were drilled using core orientation tools to accurately measure the strike and dip of veins, lithological contacts and other structures. Individual veins at various orientations have been intersected but the general trend of veining is eastward. An additional three holes have been drilled in between and along strike of the major veining trend with assays now pending. Logging of these holes indicates a potential network of mineralization across more than 100m. Figure 1. Bedrock geology and location of drilling stations. Silver-cobalt veins are compiled from historic maps and locations should not be considered exact. In hole FCC-18-0021, anomalous zinc (>0.4%) occurs as a broad zone, from 64.85 to 73.00m, as a halo around the cobalt-silver mineralization. The occurrence of copper, zinc and lead coincident in both holes with cobalt and silver represents multiple stages of fluids carrying metals that have concentrated along a conduit as a broad zone of mineralization. This broad zone is interpreted to have developed along the limb of an antiform, folding both the Huronian sedimentary rocks and the underlying Archean volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The Nipissing Diabase is also folded along this antiform. The contrast in competency between the Diabase and the surrounding rocks may have allowed this broad mineralization zone to develop. The extensive vein network mined at the Lawson, Kerr, Drummond mines and beneath Kerr Lake is interpreted to comprise the other limb of the antiform, making the geologic setting of this entire area prospective for cobalt-silver and copper-zinc-lead mineralization. ? Drilling lengths are as recorded downhole and do not necessarily represent true widths of mineralization as multiple vein orientations have been intersected. For a table of drill hole locations and assay results to date, visit https://firstcobalt.com/projects/greater-cobalt-project. Historic mining was prolific from several underground operations at Drummond, Kerr, Lawson, Hargrave and Conisil. Mining began in 1905 and the most recent mining occurred at Conisil between 1961 to 1965. Over 37 million ounces silver and more than 900,000 pounds cobalt were produced from these mines. Historic mining in the immediate area of drilling focused on north-south trending veins. Modelling by First Cobalt of historic drilling and regional structural interpretations revealed an eastward trending structure parallel to the main trend of folding. Drill holes were then targeted on this interpreted structural zone where host rocks are folded and locally faulted. The lack of underground mining along this eastward trend may reflect the cobalt-rich content of mineralization. Cobalt North First Cobalt?s properties in the Cobalt North area include the past-producing Drummond, Kerr, Silver Banner, Juno, Silverfields, Hamilton, Ophir, Lawson and Conisil mines. Cobalt has not previously been an exploration focus in this area although limited exploration activities in the 1970?s and 1980?s around Kerr Lake focused on Cu-Zn-Pb mineralization within the Archean rocks. Cobalt had not been assayed previously, so the potential for an extensive polymetallic mineralization system remains to be explored. The 2018 Cobalt North drill program consists of 17,000 metres with 3,500 metres in the Kerr Lake area designed to test trends in mineralization found in historic drilling and major structures interpreted to be associated with mineralization. Disseminated polymetallic cobalt-silver-copper-zinc-lead mineralization has been recognized in samples from underground material in muckpiles from the Drummond mine showing a wide range of styles occur in this area (October 26, 2017 press release). Quality Assurance and Quality Control First Cobalt has implemented a quality control program to comply with common industry best practices for sampling and analysis. Samples are collected from drill core from a range of 30 to 100cm length. Half-core samples are submitted for analysis. Standards and blanks are inserted every 20 samples. Duplicates are made from quarter core splits every 20 samples. Geochemical data were received from SGS Canada in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. No QA/QC issues have been noted. SGS has used a sodium-peroxide fusion and ICP finish for analyses on all samples. Over-range (>1%) Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb are determined by a separate fusion and ICP finish. High silver values (>1000 g/t) are determined by gravimetric separation and fire assay finish. Qualified and Competent Person Statement Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Dr. Santaguida is also a Competent Person (as defined in the JORC Code, 2012 edition) who is a practicing member of the Association of Professional Geologists of Ontario (being a ?Recognised Professional Organisation? for the purposes of the ASX Listing Rules). Dr. Santaguida is employed on a full-time basis as Vice President, Exploration for First Cobalt. He has sufficient experience that is relevant to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. About First Cobalt First Cobalt aims to create the largest pure-play cobalt exploration and development company in the world. The Company controls over 10,000 hectares of prospective land covering over 50 historic mines as well as mineral processing facilities in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. The First Cobalt Refinery is the only permitted facility in North America capable of producing battery materials. First Cobalt seeks to build shareholder value through new discovery, mineral processing and growth opportunities, with a focus on North America. On March 14, 2018, the Company proposed a friendly, all-share acquisition of US Cobalt Inc. for its Iron Creek Project in Idaho, U.S. The transaction remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. This transaction is intended to further enhance First Cobalt?s position as a leading pure-play North American cobalt company. On behalf of First Cobalt Corp. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Gravity Assist Podcast is hosted by NASA's Director of Planetary Science, Jim Green, who each week talks to some of the greatest planetary scientists on the planet, giving a guided tour through the Solar System and beyond in the process. This time, Green talks to NASA's Laurie Cantillo of the Science Division at NASA Headquarters about his own gravity assist, when as an aspiring student he was mentored by the famous scientist James Van Allen, for whom the Van Allen radiation belts are named. You can listen to the full podcast here, or read the edited transcript below. Laurie Cantillo: We're going to do something a little different today to launch Season Two of Gravity Assist. We're talking about mind-blowing science discoveries and one of them happened 60 years ago with the Explorer 1 mission, which revealed intense radiation belts wrapped around Earth, called the Van Allen belts. To tell it we're going to turn the tables on our host, Jim Green, and find out about his personal gravity assist and how that relates to the Van Allen belts. 'Gravity assist' is the term we use to describe an event or a person who helped you figure out what you really love to do and forever changed your path in life. So, Jim Green, who or what was your gravity assist? [Happy Anniversary, Explorer 1! 1st US Satellite Launched 60 Years Ago] James Van Allen of the University of Iowa, posing with a rocket model. (Image credit: Frederick W. Kent Collection, University of Iowa archives) Jim Green: My gravity assists really started in high school. I had a high school chemistry teacher who ended up with the keys to an observatory. Inside was a donated telescope a 12-inch Alvan Clark refractor and for you amateur astronomers out there I'm sure your jaws have dropped. [It was a] fabulous telescope. I had it at my beck and call for a couple of years in high school and I made instruments for it. I studied stars, I studied the planets, I took pictures that ended up in Sky & Telescope and I took images of the Sun every day for three months during one summer and three months during another summer. So, at the end of my high school I knew exactly what I wanted to do, which was to go to college and get a degree in astronomy. I went to the University of Iowa and I took Astronomy 101 with about 400 other students. We were taught by James Van Allen, who was the first investigator of NASA's first experiment ever in space, on the spacecraft Explorer 1. So, at the end of the first semester of Astronomy 101 I got an A, thank goodness. In the second semester I had an opportunity to take a small, two-credit course, and so I chose 'Readings in Astronomy' and in the course catalog it said it was taught by "staff." The course started at a designated time in Van Allen Hall, room 701, and when I went to that room and opened the door, it looked like a warehouse. There were printouts all over tables, magnetic tapes, bookcases, [it was] a cluttered room from that perspective. These rooms were storerooms, and I'm standing in the doorway going through this course catalog figuring I must have messed up. Laurie Cantillo: Wrong place. Wrong time. Jim Green: And so, from behind the bookcase, Dr. Van Allen said, "Jim, this is the place and you're my only student." So instead of being taught by a grad student, I had a full semester with James Van Allen! And when he found out that I had taken pictures with the Alvan Clark refractor, and in particular the solar set it was during solar maximum in the late 1960s, early 1970s he said, "Well, let's do some research with this data. Why don't you look at how fast the Sun spins? Let's do that by looking at the sunspots and how long it takes for them to go around." I had plenty of data to make measurements of the solar rotation. I did the same research that had been done about 70 years earlier and wrote a science paper, with an abstract and introduction and discussions and all of that, and he was the referee. At the end of that semester I knew what research was all about and that gravity assist was absolutely unbelievable. This connects really well with what this year is all about, which is the 60th anniversary of NASA. It kicked off with our first successful spacecraft called Explorer 1. [At the time] we were struggling to build rockets that worked and got things into space. The USSR was celebrating their launch of Sputnik, which occurred on 4 October 1957, and that was last year's celebration [when] they had their 60th. So, Sputnik went up and here we were on 31 January 1958, when Explorer 1 takes off and gets into orbit. What a fantastic time that was. The press conference was something like 2:30am in the morning at the National Academy. That's when the very famous picture you see of Dr. Van Allen, William Pickering from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that helped build the experiment and integrate it into the rocket, and then of course Wernher Von Braun, whose Redstone Arsenal team got the rocket into space, [was taken]. The three men primarily responsible for the success of Explorer 1 (from left to right): JPL's William Pickering, James Van Allen and Wernher von Braun. (Image credit: NASA) Laurie Cantillo: Wow, and they're holding Explorer 1 over their heads [in the famous photo from the press conference]. Just how heavy is that thing? Jim Green: That's the third stage and the experiment is inside that. So you had several stages that are a couple of stories tall just to get that little bitty thing into space. Laurie Cantillo: That's what really launched the Space Race. It was in a sense the competition that really inspired and got people going, but then the fascination that the American public had with space exploration really took off. Jim Green: Explorer 1 was our first successful attempt and what we found out immediately is that it had things to teach us. The data came back, and Van Allen also had several other Explorers over the following months to get additional data, and by May 1958 he was announcing the results of those instruments, those Geiger-Mueller tubes, on Explorer 1 and Explorer 3 (Explorer 2 didn't make it into orbit). So, Explorer 1 and Explorer 3 told us that there was a set of very high-energy particles racing around our planet's magnetic field above our atmosphere and they were in what we now call the Van Allen radiation belts, filled with trapped charged particles. If you have a magnetic field, it can trap charged particles. The Explorer 1 satellite, which in January 1958 became the first US satellite to be successful launched into space. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Laurie Cantillo: So, it's a good thing that Earth has this magnetic field, correct? It's what protects us from all of the space weather, from the radiation, from the solar wind. Did we understand back then the significance of this finding? Jim Green: No, we didn't. It is important that Earth has a magnetic field. The magnetic field does trap charged particles, and as the Sun heats our atmosphere to the extent that the atmosphere becomes disassociated into charged particles and can evaporate into space, then the magnetic field traps those particles and [forms a layer of] evaporated atmosphere that we call the plasmasphere. The Van Allen belts start out in the ionosphere and go out into space where they create the plasmasphere and that allows us to hang on to our atmosphere for long periods of time. So that's just one effect that the Earth's magnetic field has. It happens to all of the other planets that have magnetic fields too. Mars lost its magnetic field and now we know (from NASA's MAVEN mission) that the solar wind has continued to strip away the Martian atmosphere, in particular the oxygen that is disassociated from water, and this has turned Mars into an arid and dry place. Laurie Cantillo: Jupiter, of course, has intense radiation belts. How do those on Jupiter compare with the ones on Earth and what did NASA have to do to protect the Juno spacecraft? Jim Green: We've known something was going on with Jupiter since before Explorer 1. Bell Labs had taken radio dishes out to explore how we could use radio-frequency light for communication and as they were doing that they saw two radio-bright things in the sky. One was the Sun and the other was Jupiter. The radio emissions from Jupiter were coming from the particles trapped in the Jovian radiation belts by the planet's intense magnetic field, which is more than 20 times stronger than Earth's magnetic field. It therefore holds really intense particles that spiral back and forth along the magnetic field lines very close to the planet. These particles move so fast they can penetrate the 'skin' [of the spacecraft] and get into the circuits and really cause some problems if we don't take that into account. Juno has this huge vault, we built this bank vault if you will, put all of our sensitive electronics in that [to protect them] and that seems to be working well for us. A cutaway diagram of the Van Allen radiation belts around Earth, along with the position of several spacecraft. (Image credit: NASA) Laurie Cantillo: There is a moon in the Solar System with a magnetic field. What's going on with that? Jim Green: That's a moon at Jupiter called Ganymede and it has its own magnetic field. What's really spectacular about Ganymede is we think of moons as being smaller objects, but Ganymede is huge and Jupiter is the big planet in our Solar System. To give you an idea how big Ganymede is, it is larger than the planet Mercury. It is the largest moon in our Solar System and it generates its own magnetic field. It also has another unique characteristic, which is that because it was made in the outer part of our Solar System, it is an icy world and therefore because of its interaction with Jupiter's gravitational tidal forces, we believe a lot of that ice has melted inside and that this beautiful moon Ganymede probably has an ocean underneath its ice crust, and we believe the ocean is pretty big, with maybe more water than we have here on Earth. The European Space Agency has this fantastic mission called JUICE, the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, which is planned to be launched in 2022 and will arrive at Jupiter in 2029, and it will begin orbiting Ganymede soon after that. Laurie Cantillo: Let's talk more about season two of Gravity Assist. It's going to be full of "mind-blowing science discoveries" things like exoplanets, frozen geysers on Europa and Enceladus and gravitational waves. We'd also like to ask listeners for their ideas for future Gravity Assist podcasts, so if you have a topic you'd like to hear about, e-mail us at gravityassist@nasa.gov. This story was provided by Astrobiology Magazine, a web-based publication sponsored by the NASA astrobiology program. This version of the story published on Space.com. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Zero 2 Infinity's new 3D-printed engine combustion chamber for Bloostar, a balloon-assisted rocket the company is developing. WASHINGTON Spanish startup Zero 2 Infinity will use a 3D-printed combustion chamber for the engines it is developing to power its Bloostar balloon-assisted orbital rocket. Spain's Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development (FADA), a non-profit that counts Airbus Defence and Space as a board member, printed the combustion chamber this month for Zero 2 Infinity, the company said March 22. Bloostar is a launch vehicle designed to use balloons to rise above the densest layer of Earth's atmosphere before firing rocket engines to place satellites weighing up to 75 kilograms into low Earth orbit. FADA's Advanced Center for Aerospace Technology, known as CATEC, created the combustion chamber that Zero 2 Infinity intends to use in its Teide 1 engines. The engine is named after an inactive volcano in Spain's Canary Island archipelago the region Zero 2 Infinity plans to conduct Bloostar launches from. Bloostar carries six Teide 1 engines on its second stage, followed by one Teide 1 engine on its third stage, spokesperson Marta Lebron told SpaceNews. Teide 1 engines are capable of 2 kilonewtons of thrust. Six larger Teide 2 engines each providing 15 kilonewtons of thrust power Bloostar's first stage, she said. Lebron said CATEC's combustion chamber will be part of Teide 1. Zero 2 Infinity intends to use 3D printing to lower the mass, cost, and environmental impact of the engines, as well as the time needed to build them. Working with CATEC, the company plans to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks to engineer more effectively cooled thrust chambers. "Traditional rockets have had straight cooling channels because that's all that could be manufactured," Jose Mariano Lopez-Urdiales, founder and CEO of Zero 2 Infinity, said in a March 22 statement. "When you put a flashlight in your ear, you see a wonderful tree-like structure of blood vessels. We don't have straight rows of blood vessels in our ears. 3D printing and AI now allow rockets to evolve, like nature." Zero 2 Infinity plans to launch Bloostar from Spain's Canary Islands, located west of Morocco. Last March following a subscale launch test, Lopez Urdiales said the company envisioned a first commercial launch in 2019. In a January interview with SpaceNews, he said the timeline for Bloostar may slip as Zero 2 Infinity focuses on its high-altitude balloon business, the company's main revenue-generating activity. Last month, the European Space Agency chose Zero 2 Infinity as one of five study contract recipients for small launch vehicles. OHB subsidiary MT Aerospace of Germany is a partner on the ESA study. This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. Space trackers are watching the skies closely this week for the end of China's Tiangong-1 space lab, which will likely fall back to Earth sometime during Easter weekend (March 30 to April 2). The one-module station is in an uncontrolled fall and will re-enter the atmosphere somewhere underneath the spacecraft's orbit, between 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south latitudes. No one knows exactly where and when yet. Although the odds of getting hit by debris from the space station are extremely small and only some pieces of Tiangong-1 will make it through the atmosphere the craft's demise has some people asking why China's first space station is meeting such a seemingly reckless end. The space station launched from China on Sept. 29, 2011, and received visits from three space missions. First came an uncrewed spacecraft (Shenzhou 8, in October 2011), which was followed by two crews (Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10, in 2012 and 2013, respectively). Tiangong-1 was a coup for the Chinese space program, which saw its first taikonaut (astronaut) mission in 2003, eight years before the space station's launch. Even when missions weren't in progress, the space station was transmitting information to Earth. Automated data was used for ocean and forest monitoring, and to gain information in support of the response to China's Yuyao flood disaster in 2013, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office. [In Photos: A Look at China's Space Station That's Crashing to Earth] But on March 21, 2016, that office announced that it was no longer communicating with the space station. "The functions of the space laboratory and target orbiter have been disabled after an extended service period of about two and a half years, although it remains in designed orbit," read a report from Chinese state media source Xinhua. The report added that Tiangong-1 was expected to burn up in the atmosphere after the station's orbit decayed, as happens naturally due to the forces of gravity and drag from the atmosphere. It was unclear from the report if China deliberately turned off the telemetry connection to the space station or if that connection was lost. At the time, the country was already working on a successor space station, Tiangong-2, which launched just six months after communications with Tiangong-1 ceased. Regardless of how contact with Tiangong-1 was lost, a lack of telemetry connection means Chinese engineers cannot control Tiangong-1, including steering its path into the atmosphere. China gave a summary of what to expect in a May 2017 statement to the United Nations. The country said that there is little danger to people on the ground, because "most of the structural components of Tiangong-1 will be destroyed through burning during the course of its re-entry." China also promised it would give information about Tiangong-1's re-entry through news reports and communication with the United Nations. While pieces of the 18,740-lb. (9 tons, or 8,500 kilograms) space station are expected to make it to the ground, space experts have said Tiangong-1's re-entry likely won't leave as much debris behind as the 100-ton (90 metric tons) NASA Skylab space station did when it fell in a remote area of Australia in 1979. No injuries were reported in that event. NASA (which could communicate with Skylab shortly before its re-entry) had attempted to steer the station into the ocean south of Cape Town, South Africa. Skylab, however, broke up at a different time than expected. Originally published on Live Science. A faraway megastar that once raised questions about aliens because of its weird pattern of dimming has darkened once again. By now, though, researchers have figured out that it's not an alien megastructure that is causing the dimming; it's just dust. Still, astronomer Tabetha Boyajian of Louisiana State University and colleagues are keeping a close eye on the far-off star, trying to figure out what the dust is and where it came from. On March 16, the brightness of the star started dipping, Boyajian and her colleagues reported on their blog. The dip in brightness was the largest observed dip in the star since 2013, Boyajian wrote. As of March 22, the star's brightness was increasing rapidly and was almost back to normal. Tabby's star The vagaries of KIC 8462852, the star better known as "Tabby's star" in honor of Boyajian, have been the subject of scientific sleuthing for years. In 2015, researchers led by Boyajian reported that the Kepler space telescope had captured a completely new phenomenon at Tabby's star. At irregular intervals and for odd lengths of time, the light from the star would dim by as much as 22 percent. Nothing could really explain it. One theory was that the star might be surrounded by an alien megastructure such as a Dyson sphere, an orbiting array of solar panels designed by some intelligent life-form. [Greetings, Earthlings! 8 Ways Aliens Could Contact Us] But a January 2018 study by Boyajian and her colleagues debunked that notion. They studied the spectrum of light coming from the star and found that different wavelengths were blocked by the mystery occlusion at different levels of brightness. What this means is that whatever passes between the star and Earth is translucent, not opaque like a megastructure would be. The best explanation for what might be causing the dimming, the researchers found, was very fine space dust. Boyajian and her colleagues have been researching the star with funds donated via Kickstarter. Among the remaining questions: How is the dust orbiting the star in clouds, or perhaps in a ring? And where did the dust originate? Mystery dust Boyajian and her team have a few ideas about what the dust is. In a 2016 paper, they suggested that it might come from collisions between larger orbiting objects in an asteroid belt; however, that explanation was hard to reconcile, they warned, because the asteroid-belt scenario should produce other detectable phenomena, like brightness dips of different depths and lengths representing collisions between objects of different sizes. Another possibility, they wrote, is that the dust could be from a single, giant impact, like the one that broke the moon away from Earth. This theory doesn't fit well with the pattern of dimming seen, though, particularly small dips in brightness without a regular reoccurrence interval matching the larger dips. A third option might be minute planetary bodies that are themselves surrounded by dust. That's an attractive theory because the small asteroids or rocky objects would keep the dust from dispersing, but like the giant-impact theory, it doesn't fit the observed dimming patterns very well, the researchers wrote. The final theory is that the dust is orbiting in a highly irregular, elliptical orbit, like a comet; in fact, the researchers wrote, it might even be a broken-up comet. This hypothesis matches the star's dimming patterns if you assume that whatever broke up the comet hit it with enough force to "kick" its tail forward. If the particles in the tail are large enough, they could maintain that backward-comet orientation even against the electromagnetic forces of the star, the researchers wrote. The latest dimming event started with a slow decline and ended with a rapid increase in brightness, Boyajian and her team wrote on their blog. Dust from a backward comet tail and then larger chunks from the broken-up body would explain that uneven pattern. Original article on Live Science. The world is anticipating China's Tiangong-1 space lab's blazing reentry to Earth's atmosphere sometime within the next week or so, with some debris possibly surviving to reach the planet's surface. However, it's not the first spacecraft to shed bits of flaming flotsam onto Earth during its final, fiery huzzah, and it won't be the last. About half a million pieces of so-called space junk human-made and naturally occurring objects that can reach speeds of 17,500 mph (28,164 km/h) are being monitored as they orbit Earth, NASA reported in 2013. And does space junk fall to Earth? "Yes it does!" representatives of the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) affirmed in a Jan. 18 blog post. [Gallery: Tiangong-1, China's First Space Laboratory] "On average, a total of between 200 to 400 tracked objects enter Earth's atmosphere every year," according to NESDIS. The reason why you aren't constantly ducking flaming particles is because many of them don't survive the brutal r-entry, and instead burn up long before they hit the ground. And Earth is a big place, with 70 percent of its surface covered by water. If a fiery bit of space debris falls into the open ocean, it'll sizzle and sink without anyone ever knowing it was there. Of the 500,000 estimated pieces of debris orbiting Earth, about 20,000 of them are bigger than a softball. Those larger chunks of junk along with an additional 30,000 smaller objects are tracked by the U.S. Department of Defense in collaboration with NASA. Of those 50,000 objects, about 1,000 represent fragments from spacecraft, according to NESDIS. In an animation created by NASA and shared to YouTube in 2014, a view of Earth from space shows a world surrounded by a moving cloud of human-made debris, which extends outward to form a loose disk around the planet. But while space junk poses a serious threat to active satellites, space telescopes and the International Space Station, it is rarely something that people on the ground have to worry about, NESDIS representatives said in the blog post. Chances are that most of Tiangong-1 will simply burn up on reentry. But even if it doesn't, you can at least relax about getting hit on the head by a falling fragment the odds of actually being struck by broken bits of the space lab are approximately 1 in 300 trillion, a probability about 10 million times smaller than the annual odds of being struck by lightning, according to the European Space Agency. Original article on Live Science. China's defunct Tiangong-1 space station is careening through low-Earth orbit right now, and is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere sometime between March 30and April 2. Most of the 9-ton(8,500 kilograms) space station will probably burn to bits in the atmosphere but a few thousand chunks of hot, mangled debris are still likely to survive the trip and land on our planet's surface. Your odds of being conked on the head by any of this debris are low about one in 292 trillion, or roughly a million times less likely than hitting the Powerball jackpot. Right now, the potential impact site of the space station covers about one-third of the planet, and a huge majority of that zone is water. However, if by some truly cosmic coincidence you do find a piece of Tiangong-1 in your neighborhood or if some debris washes up on a shore near you here's some advice on your best course of action: Don't touch it. [China's Space Station Crash: Everything You Need to Know] "There are two reasons why you should not approach and touch a piece of space debris," Robert Z. Pearlman, a space historian and editor of collectSPACE.com, told Live Science. "The first is it is a health risk." Presumably, Pearlman said, the space station is carrying all manner of hazardous materials not safe for human contact, including fuel tanks with noxious fuel inside. "Also, because this vehicle is going to be ripped apart by the process of reentry, whatever does survive to the ground could have very sharp edges," Pearlman added. "Its not something you want to have your kids run out to touch." Finders keepers? The second reason not to rush out and bag a chunk of Tiangong-1 is the galaxy of legal trouble it could land you in. "According to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, a countrys spacecraft is their legal property until they say that its not their legal property, Pearlman said. "No matter where it lands whether it lands in the ocean and sinks to the bottom of the sea, or whether it lands on their own land or some other countrys land it belongs to that country of origin." An artist's Illustration of China's Tiangong-1 space lab, which is expected to fall back to Earth between March 30 and April 2, 2018. (Image credit: CMSA) Part of this legal framework is for your protection, Pearlman said; it makes China legally liable for any damage to person or property that their out-of-control space station may cause. (Again, such damage is unlikely to happen.) However, it also means that pocketing a piece of Tiangong-1 is tantamount to theft of government property. Believe it or not, people have gone to jail for this. "Following the Challenger explosion [in 1986], there was a gentleman in the Coast Guard who kept a piece of debris for 25 years," Pearlman said. "He was the cook onboard the ship working on the investigation. While his fellow sailors were out helping with recovering pieces, he decided to use a bucket to scoop up a tile floating in the water and keep it for himself. He put it away for 25 years and then listed it on eBay as 'the ultimate Christmas gift.'" When NASA found out, the man was arrested. He was found guilty of theft of government property, and sentenced to two years probation. He got off easy; he could have received a $10,000 fine, 10 years in prison, or a combination of both. Space debris can become a legally legitimate souvenir, however, once the government of origin officially concludes its investigation. Until then, it's probably best to treat any pieces of Tiangong-1 like what they are: hot, mangled wreckage. So, what should you do if you find a piece of what you think is space debris? "The best thing to do is to contact your local authorities," Pearlman said. "They will contact the federal authorities and arrange for the proper collection and appropriate return to the Chinese government." "All that being said," Pearlman jokes, "if a piece of debris lands in my backyard it's mine, all mine!" Originally published on Live Science. The Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is going to crash to Earth in an uncontrolled re-entry sometime between March 30 and April 2, and it's too soon to say where. But what will happen as the 9.4-ton (8.5 metric ton) satellite falls out of orbit? First, Tiangong-1 will start to lose altitude. The space station launched in 2011 and has been orbiting Earth at about 217 miles (350 kilometers) above the surface ever since. Objects in low-Earth orbit below around 1,200 miles (2,000 km) are still subject to the drag forces of the very top layer of the atmosphere, so they need a periodic boost. This simply consists of docking a powered spacecraft to the bottom of the satellite and turning on the engines for a short period of time, said Roger Launius, a public historian and former associate director at the National Air and Space Museum. The International Space Station used to get these boosts from the space shuttle but now gets them from Soyuz capsules and private resupply missions, Launius told Live Science. [In Photos: A Look at China's Space Station That's Falling to Earth] Tiangong-1 was put into "sleep" mode in 2013, but Chinese engineers still had some ability to maneuver the spacecraft's position in orbit, keeping it aloft at between 205 miles and 242 miles (330 and 390 km) above the planet, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). However, Chinese authorities announced in 2016 that the space station had stopped communicating data to Earth. Without a way to control the satellite, Tiangong-1's fate was sealed: It would fall to Earth as space debris. "This is a spacecraft that's not designed to survive re-entry into the atmosphere and come down and land," Launius told Live Science. Fiery end As the friction of the upper atmosphere drags on Tiangong-1, it will gradually lose altitude, putting it in contact with even thicker atmosphere and creating more drag, which will pull it down farther and continue to slow its orbit, a process called orbital decay. According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, Tiangong-1 was orbiting at an average altitude of 131 miles (212 km) as of March 26. That corresponds to a flight velocity of 17,224 mph (27,719 km/h). At that speed, the friction of the atmosphere generates enormous heat. Spacecraft can withstand this heat if they're covered with heat-shield material, but satellites like Tiangong-1 lack this shielding. In addition to the heat, the space station will start slowing rapidly as it encounters thicker and thicker atmosphere, according to The Aerospace Corporation. The deceleration will introduce loads up to 10 times the acceleration of gravity onto the structure, which begins to break up the spacecraft, peeling off parts and cracking the main body. Most of the small parts broken off the space station will burn up from the heat generated by the friction, but experts expect that some pieces will survive the inferno of the fall to hit the ground. Close to the ground, where the atmosphere is very dense, the remaining pieces will slow and cool considerably, according to The Aerospace Corporation. Historical precedent Small defunct satellites and space debris fall from low-Earth orbit through the atmosphere every month, Launius said. Most of the time, this small stuff burns up, though it can be a danger in actual orbit, where it might collide with manned spacecraft. Bigger stuff has come down before, too, though. The Russian space station Mir re-entered the atmosphere under control in March 2001, breaking up over the South Pacific so that any large chunks fell harmlessly into the ocean. Russia's Salyut 7 space station went into an uncontrolled re-entry in 1991, but its pieces hit the southern Pacific. Salyut 7 weighed about 22 tons (20 metric tons). Much larger was Skylab, NASA's orbiting science lab, which weighed 85 tons (77 metric tons) and went down in July 1979. Skylab's descent was under partial control, as NASA scientists were able to fire its boosters as it entered the atmosphere, aiming the giant chunk of metal at the Indian Ocean. It mostly worked, though some parts did fall over Australia. "One of them killed a jackrabbit," Launius said. The unfortunate jackrabbit is one of the few actual casualties of space debris, Launius said. There are no records of anyone being seriously injured or killed by falling space junk, though a woman named Lottie Williams from Tulsa, Oklahoma, got tapped on the shoulder by a soda-can-size piece of metal from a Delta II Rocket in 1997, according to Space Safety Magazine. She was uninjured. Because no one can predict precisely the moment Tiangong-1 will tumble and because even a moment's miscalculation of re-entry can translate to hundreds or thousands of miles on the ground predicting the space station's fall is impossible until about a day before re-entry, according to the ESA. Even then, the estimate will cover many thousands of kilometers. The space agency is posting updates on its website as the day of the fall approaches. Original article on Live Science. NASAs Skylab space station (left) fell to Earth in 1979; Chinas Tiangong-1 is approaching its own burn up in the planets atmosphere (right). China's Tiangong-1 space station is predicted to enter Earth's atmosphere sometime during Easter weekend, but the exact location of its re-entry remains a mystery. Its uncontrolled fall to Earth shares some similarities with the end of the Skylab space station in 1979; some of Skylab's pieces rained down on rural Australia. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Space Debris Office in Darmstadt, Germany, which issued the Tiangong-1 prediction, said the March 30 to April 2 window is "highly variable," and it will not be possible to determine exactly where the space station will fall to Earth. However, the space station will re-enter somewhere between the latitudes of 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south, based on its current orbital inclination. [China's Space Station Crash: Everything You Need to Know] "Areas above or below these latitudes can be excluded. At no time will a precise time/location prediction from ESA be possible," agency officials said in a statement. The end of Skylab Skylab was the first U.S. space station. It orbited the Earth between 1973 and 1979. Skylab's first crew had to perform urgent repairs to the space station when a meteoroid shield ripped off during launch, but the station proved to be a success. It hosted three space crews whose members performed science experiments, including one group of astronauts who remained on the station for a then-record 84 days. Some at NASA wanted Skylab to remain aloft longer. Around 1980, a group of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center engineers suggested using the space shuttle to boost the orbital complex, according to Wired. After refurbishing the complex and adding an additional Spacelab module, astronauts would have performed experiments in the space station (which was far more roomy than the space shuttle). This would have kept Skylab flying until about 1990. The space shuttle didn't fly until April 1981, however, which kept that option off the table, according to Wired. [Skylab's Remains: Photos of Debris from NASA's 1st Space Station] Since the station was falling to Earth anyway, NASA elected to try to control Skylab's re-entry as well as it could. The agency, which could still communicate with and direct the space station prior to its re-entry, aimed Skylab to a location approximately 810 miles (1,300 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Town, South Africa. Skylab broke up faster than expected, however, and parts of it fell in Australia, east of Perth. The end of Skylab sparked reaction all over the world, ranging from vendors hawking sarcastic T-shirts to ordinary citizens seeking reassurance from their leaders that they wouldn't be hurt. In 1979, Time magazine wrote of the upcoming event: "Thus will be observed, after a series of miscalculations, the tenth anniversary of man's proudest achievement in space, the walk on the moon." Skylab similarities? China's Tiangong-1 space station is predicted to fall somewhere between the latitudes of 42.8 degrees north and 42.8 degrees south, the area shaded in yellow and green here. (Image credit: Aerospace Corporation) Tiangong-1 is much less massive than Skylab. Tiangong-1 is China's first space station; it launched in 2011 and was visited twice by taikonauts (Chinese astronauts). It masses about 9.4 tons (8.5 metric tons), compared to Skylab's approximately 100 tons. In an interview with National Geographic in October 2017, Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said he only expects a few small pieces of the Chinese station to reach the surface. In a May 2017 statement to the United Nations, representatives from the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China also said Tiangong-1 will pose little threat to Earth's inhabitants. "According to the calculations and analysis that have been carried out, most of the structural components of Tiangong-1 will be destroyed through burning during the course of its re-entry. The probability of endangering and causing damage to aviation and ground activities is very low," the statement read. China further added that it would provide a "timely forecast of its [Tiangong-1's] re-entry" and would disseminate information through the news media and the United Nations. But because Tiangong-1 stopped working in March 2016, Chinese engineers will not be able to control its re-entry. Figuring out where the space lab will fall is a complex calculation of the station's altitude, the height of the Earth's atmosphere (which changes according to solar activity) and the station's shape. The space lab will make dozens of orbits between March 30 and April 3, making it extremely difficult to determine where the station will fall. That said, much of Earth is uninhabited making it likely that Tiangong-1 will fall in the ocean, or, like Skylab, into a remote area. While Skylab is the most famous spacecraft to fall in an uncontrolled fashion back to Earth, there are many others that have attracted attention over the years. Some examples include the European Space Agency's GOCE satellite (November 2013), NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite or UARS (September 2011), and the Russian Salyut 7 (which broke up in February 1991 over an area of land in Argentina which included a town called Capitan Bermudez with no reported injuries.) Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A new report by the GAO warns that additional delays in the James Webb Space Telescope are likely, which could increase its cost above a cap set by Congress several years ago. . NASA will hold a teleconference today (March 27) to update the media and public on its next great space observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in June 2019. The teleconference will begin at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) and you can listen to it live on Space.com here, courtesy of NASA. You can also follow the briefing directly from NASA here. NASA officials did not reveal the exact subject for today's teleconference, but an update on the Webb telescope's launch schedule and cost are expected due to a recent report from the Government Accounting Office warning of the potential for cost overruns and schedule delays. In an announcement, NASA officials said only that the briefing will "provide an update on the agency's James Webb Space Telescope what will be the world, premier infrared space observatory and the biggest astronomical science telescope ever built." [Building the James Webb Space Telescope: A Photo Tour] A new report by the GAO warns that additional delays in the James Webb Space Telescope are likely, which could increase its cost above a cap set by Congress several years ago. (Image credit: NASA artist's concept) Speaking during the briefing will be NASA's acting administrator Robert Lightfoot; Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science missions; and Dennis Andrucyk, deputy associate administrator for science missions. NASA's $8.8 billion James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch in June 2019 on an Ariane 5 rocket and use its infrared eye to peer deep into the history of the universe. The observatory is the successor to the iconic Hubble Space Telescope, which has observed the universe since 1990. Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. China's first-ever space laboratory, Tiangong-1, will fall to Earth within the next week and, weather permitting, you may get an opportunity to see it in one of its final trips around our planet. And, if you're very lucky, you might even get a chance to see it disintegrate into a fiery ball as it streaks across the sky. The space lab launched on Sept. 29, 2011, from Jiuquan, China, and was christened Tiangong-1, which means "Heavenly Palace." A robotic spacecraft, Shenzhou-8, docked with Tiangong-1 in early November 2011, followed by two crewed missions: Shenzhou-9 in June 2012, and Shenzhou-10 in June 2013. Both missions carried three Chinese astronauts and lasted for two weeks. On March 21, 2016, Chinese space agency officials announced that Tiangong-1 had officially ended its service and that the telemetry link with the spacelab had been lost. Shortly thereafter, U.S. satellite observers noticed that it appeared to be in a slow, uncontrolled roll as it circled Earth. It's been space junk ever since. [China's Space Station Crash: Everything You Need to Know] Spacecraft trackers with the Aerospace Corp. predict Tiangong-1 will fall to Earth between early morning March 30 and early morning April 2, with Easter Sunday (April 1) among the likely targets. Tiangong-1 is currently circling Earth about every 88 minutes at an average altitude of 134 miles (215 kilometers) about half the altitude of the International Space Station and getting lower each day. How to see Tiangong-1 This photo of China's Tiangong-1 space station module streaking overhead was captured by Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome on March 9, 2018. The spacecraft will fall to Earth between March 30 and April 1. The constellations Orion, Auriga and Taurus are also visible. (Image credit: Gianluca Masi/ Virtual Telescope Project First, if you'd like to see Tiangong-1 on Wednesday (March 28), you can watch this a free webcast from the Virtual Telescope Project led by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT). The webcast will feature live views of the space station in partnership with the Tenagra Observatories in Arizona. If you want to see if Tiangong-1 will be visible to you, you'll need a sighting schedule for your location. For that, go to the Heavens Above website here. When you go to this site you will be asked to log in. Once you register, all you need do is indicate your location. On the home page under satellites, you will find "10-day predictions for satellites of special interest." Tiangong-1 is second on that list below the ISS. Tiangong-1 is predicted to make passes sometime around the break of dawn over much of the United States and southern Canada from March 26 to April 3. Among the features on Heavens Above is the ability to generate a sky map showing Tiangong-1's path among the background stars. Typically, it can range in brightness from 3rd magnitude to zero (as bright as the brightest stars). Since Tiangong-1 is tumbling, watch for rapid changes in its brightness as it tracks across the sky. You are given the option of getting a schedule for only the visible (pre-sunrise) passes, or all the passes that also includes those occurring during the daytime; a handy tool to have if you are hoping to catch a glimpse of the re-entry fireball (if it occurs within your viewing range). You should frequently check Heavens Above for an updated sighting schedule; as the space lab gets closer to re-entry, the times of visibility could change noticeably. As far as pinning down the time and location as to when Tiangong-1 will come down, this page at Satflare.com collects and compares different re-entry predictions with orbital figures and re-entry ground bands. Data will be updated many times a day. Finally, to see the latest ground track of Tiangong-1 and where it is at a given moment, you can visit N2YO.com here. When and where will Tiangong-1 actually fall? China's Tiangong-1 space station is predicted to fall somewhere between the latitudes of 42.8 degrees north and 42.8 degrees south, the area shaded in yellow and green here. (Image credit: Aerospace Corporation) As of this writing, the best predictions target Easter Sunday (April 1), plus or minus two days. Part of this uncertainty stems from the fact that a very small error in the calculated height of the space lab at a given time can lead to a large error in the expected time and place of re-entry. Being large in cross-sectional area, at 34 feet in length and 11 feet in diameter (10.4 by 3.4 meters), but relatively small in mass, at 9.4 tons (8.5 metric tons), Tiangong-1 is sensitive to solar radiation pressure. [Tiangong-1: China's Falling Space Station in Pictures] Moreover, the vertical extent of the atmosphere is affected by relatively small changes in solar activity, which cannot be precisely predicted. For example, the increased ultraviolet radiation associated with a solar flare heats the upper atmosphere, causing it to expand. This increases the drag on Tiangong-1. As to where the space lab will make its final plunge, that, too, is a mystery. Tiangong-1 is circling Earth in an orbit inclined 42.7 degrees to the equator, meaning impact of any associated debris can occur anywhere in a zone extending from between latitudes 42.7 degrees north to 42.7 degrees south. That would include about 80 percent of the contiguous United States and southern sections of Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece) as well as much of China and Japan. As for nations in the Southern Hemisphere, that list includes Chile, Argentina, Southern Australia and New Zealand. Also unknown is just how much will be left of the space lab once it bursts into flames upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The first serious damage will likely come when its orbital height falls to about 70 miles above the Earth's surface. The thin solar panels that resemble wings on either side of the cylindrical spacecraft will be the first to feel the effects of pushing against more and more molecules of air, ultimately breaking off. In the following minutes, Tiangong-1 will likely tilt forward as the forces of friction increase. Somewhere between 40 and 50 miles up, the entire vehicle will become consumed in flames with large chunks breaking off, becoming scattered and breaking up into still smaller fragments. Finally, at about 10 miles up, the falling fragments will lose their forward velocity and will rain almost straight down. According to a September 2016 report in The Guardian, Jonathan McDowell, the Harvard astrophysicist and noted spacecraft tracker, said: "There will be lumps of about 100 kg (220 lbs.) or so, still enough to give you a nasty wallop if it hit you. Yes there's a chance it will do damage, it might take out someone's car, there will be a rain of a few pieces of metal, it might go through someone's roof, like if a flap fell off a plane, but it is not widespread damage." A spectacular end Although it is still impossible to say precisely where Tiangong-1 will fall, scientists have a reasonably good idea of what the death throes of the Chinese space station will be like. [Biggest Spacecraft to Fall Uncontrolled From Space] It should take less than 30 minutes, and during that time, the space station will sweep over roughly one-third of its final orbital trajectory. For those near and along that flight path, Tiangong-1's demise could result in a spectacular display, especially if it occurs at night. Those who have reported seeing satellite re-entries in the past say the effect is similar to a slow-moving, fragmenting fireball meteor. The fragments will glow briefly because of intense friction in the upper atmosphere, then will die out. Even during the daytime, the breakup of Tiangong-1 might be partially visible as the largest pieces glow for a few moments like silvery skyrockets. As an example of what might be seen, back on Sept. 6, 2001, the rocket body of a Kosmos 756 SB satellite, which had been orbiting the Earth since 1975, re-entered the atmosphere, giving early risers from North Carolina to New York a spectacular fiery display. Thousands of people jammed telephone lines to local radio and television stations and emergency hotlines to report the sighting of what initially was believed to be a dazzling fireball meteor. Tom Kaminski, who reports morning-drive traffic for WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York, was walking out to his traffic helicopter in Linden, New Jersey, about 5:50 a.m. when the rocket body's re-entry caught his eye. Kaminski described it as "looking like an aircraft that was on fire it appeared to be trailing flames." He said that it appeared to be traveling rather slowly across the sky, taking fully 90 seconds to move from the southeast to the northwest. He also said that smaller pieces were visible, breaking off the main object. Finally, he said that it left a "long and distinct contrail which remained visible for at least 10 minutes." Editor's note: If you see the Tiangong-1 space station's re-entry and snap a photo of video, let us know. You can share images and video with Space.com here: spacephotos@space.com. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmers Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Fios1 News in Rye Brook, NY. China's out-of-control Tiangong-1 space lab didn't just host visiting astronauts. The school-bus-size Tiangong-1, which is predicted to crash back to Earth on Sunday (April 1), plus or minus 36 hours, was designed primarily to help China perfect the docking and rendezvous techniques needed to build a big space station. But the craft was also outfitted with scientific payloads, such as Earth-observation instrumentation and space environment detectors, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSE). "Tiangong-1 has obtained a great deal of application and science data, which is valuable in mineral-resources investigation, ocean and forest application, hydrologic and ecological environment monitoring, land use, urban thermal environment monitoring, and emergency disaster control," CMSE officials wrote in a 2014 statement. "Remarkable application benefits have been achieved." [China's Tiangong-1 Space Lab in Pictures] For example, Tiangong-1 provided timely observations during China's Yuyao flood disaster in 2013 and image data during a devastating Australian forest fire, Chinese officials have said. Such information was made available to domestic and international commercial users via a paid data service, the officials added. A productive life The 9.4-ton (8.5 metric tons) Tiangong-1 whose name means "Heavenly Palace 1" helped China's blossoming human space program perfect link-up techniques as it works to piece together a larger space station for launch in the 2020s. Tiangong-1 also demonstrated short-term orbital living for crews. The spacecraft's main body consists of two primary pieces: an "experiment module" and a "resource module." Reportedly, there is a docking mechanism at each end of the craft. Tiangong-1 launched atop a CZ-2F booster from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Sept. 29, 2011. Serving as China's first space station, Tiangong-1 was used as a target vehicle for three rendezvous and docking missions between November 2011 and June 2013: Shenzhou 8 (November 2011) demonstrated the rendezvous and docking of two uncrewed space vehicles over the course of 16.5 days. Shenzhou 9 (June 2012) carried three astronauts: Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang. They spent 10 days on board Tiangong-1 in a mission that evaluated automated and manual docking methods between the Shenzhou and the space lab. Shenzhou 10 (June 2013) was the last of the three Shenzhou missions to Tiangong-1. The three-person crew consisted of Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping. The mission lasted for 15 days, and crewmembers carried out space medicine and scientific and technological experiments. Wang performed scientific experiments, and she taught a physics lesson to Chinese students by live television broadcast. Tiangong-1 had a design life of two years. After the last crew visit, the space lab was placed into an extended-application phase that included use for Earth remote sensing. Tiangong-1 churned out "hyperspectral" imaging products, collecting information from across the electromagnetic spectrum, Chinese officials have said. For several years, Tiangong-1 performed orbit-maintenance maneuvers and conducted other activities. On March 21, 2016, space program officials in China declared that, following an operational orbit lifetime of 1,630 days, telemetry services with Tiangong-1 had ceased. That inability to keep in contact with the space lab sealed its fate, leading to the upcoming uncontrolled re-entry. The space lab made its final orbital adjustment in December 2015, according to a detailed look at its path by researchers at the Aerospace Corporation's Center for Orbital and Re-entry Debris Studies (CORDS). [Biggest Spacecraft to Fall Uncontrolled from Space] Another artist's illustration of China's 9.4-ton Tiangong-1 space lab in orbit. (Image credit: China Manned Space Engineering Office) Powerball jackpot Despite what you may have heard, there's not much reason to fear Tiangong-1's imminent fall to Earth, experts say. "I would say that some media coverage has overstated the risk of Tiangong-1 harming people or property," said orbital-debris expert Andrew Abraham, senior member of the technical staff for the Aerospace Corporation. China's Tiangong-1 space station is predicted to fall somewhere between the latitudes of 42.8 degrees north and 42.8 degrees south, the area shaded in yellow and green here. (Image credit: Aerospace Corporation) "In reality, a few objects this size re-enter each year, and no one has been harmed by space debris to date," Abraham told Space.com. "I have calculated the odds of you personally being hit by Tiangong-1 debris to be a million times less than the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot." Based on Tiangong-1's orbit, experts predict the lab will re-enter somewhere between 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south latitudes basically, from Milwaukee all the way down to Tasmania. "Yes, the inclination of Tiangong-1 does place it over the majority of populated areas for short periods of time. That being said, Tiangong-1 also flies over large areas with no people oceans for very large periods of time," Abraham said. "If I had to place a bet, my money would be on an ocean re-entry far from populated locations." This graphic predicts details about the atmospheric re-entry and breakup of Tiangong-1. (Image credit: The Aerospace Corporation/CORDS) Watchful eye Keeping a watchful eye on the impending re-entry is Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, director of the International Astronomical Center (IAC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Tiangong-1 ground track includes the UAE. "We're following the re-entry date to see if there is a need to take any precautions, such as to be ready in case it will re-enter over UAE, or to close the air space at the time of re-entry if there is high probability it will fall over UAE," Odeh told Space.com. The IAC runs a network of three stations to record astronomical events within UAE skies. Each station consists of sky-pointed astronomical cameras that automatically start recording once a meteor or a piece of space debris is detected. As for lingering leftovers, the Aerospace Corporation's CORDS website states that "it is highly unlikely that debris from this re-entry will strike any person or significantly damage any property." If you do come across a piece of Tiangong-1, however, CORDS researchers urge you to leave it be: "potentially, there may be a highly toxic and corrosive substance called hydrazine on board the spacecraft that could survive re-entry," the researchers wrote. "For your safety, do not touch any debris you may find on the ground nor inhale vapors it may emit." Leonard David is author of "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet," published by National Geographic. The book is a companion to the National Geographic Channel series "Mars." A longtime writer for Space.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. El-Aaiun (occupied territories), March 26, 2018 (SPS) - The League for the Sahrawi Prisoners Protection expressed deep concern over the critical situation of those prisoners in the Moroccan jails, calling upon all the international organizations to bring on pressure to bear on Morocco to stop the sufferings of the Sahrawi detainees on hunger strike and guarantee their legitimate rights as political detainees. "Today (Sunday) is the sixteenth day of the unlimited hunger strike of the Sahrawi political prisoners in the Moroccan prisons of Kenitra, Ait Melloul and Tata. Their health is deteriorating because of the lack of medical treatment and serious dialogue from the Moroccan penitentiary direction," said the League in a communique made public on Sunday. It also denounced that this "penitentiary direction rigorously rejects the legitimate demands of the strikers, notably their transfer to prisons in Western Sahara, to bring them closer to their families." Besides, "the penitentiary direction puts pressure on those prisoners by depriving them from their rights included in the International Conventions and Treaties, chiefly the right to meet their families," added the League. Recently, the families of the Sahrawi detainees of "Gdeim Izik" Group called on UN General Secretary Antonio Gueterres, to rapidly intervene to put pressure on Morocco to bring it to respect its international commitments stated in the charters, which guarantee rights and dignity to the Sahrawi political detainees. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA Senior executives of Frontier Communications were again denied cash bonuses in 2017, with CEO Dan McCarthys total compensation estimated at just over $6 million, which is a 10 percent increase if the company achieves milestones required to trigger stock incentives. The Norwalk-based broadband giant disclosed its executive compensation on Tuesday as part of a proxy to investors in advance of its annual meeting, scheduled for May 9. As the case last year, Frontier is convening the meeting via webcast rather than having executives sit down with investors. Webster Bank announced Tuesday it had leased 25,000 square feet in the downtown BLT Financial Centre at 200 Elm St., a deal that reflects the turnaround in recent years of one of the citys most prominent office complexes. The Waterbury-headquartered bank plans to move this summer into the new offices, which will support commercial banking operations. Webster already operates 24 banking centers in Fairfield County, running from Greenwich to Stratford and from the coast to the countys northern tip. The same complex also houses the North American consumer goods headquarters of Henkel and the Stamford offices of professional-services firms Deloitte and RSM. Hedge fund Tudor Investment and IT firm CA Technologies, each of which has leased approximately 25,000 square feet, are scheduled to arrive in the spring. Webster is excited to see that our continued growth in the Stamford market has enabled us to secure additional space and to work with (landlord) Building and Land Technology on this premier downtown location, Michael OConnor, Websters Waterbury regional president and director of corporate real estate, said in a statement. With the arrival of Webster, the BLT Financial Centre that encompasses 200 Elm St. and the adjoining clock-tower building at 695 E. Main St. would have filled almost two-third of its nearly 600,000 square feet. At 200 Elm, Henkel moved last summer from Scottsdale, Ariz., into approximately 155,000 square feet. Relocating during the same period from the citys South End, RSM took about 29,000 square feet at 200 Elm. Deloitte occupies about 120,000 square feet at 695 E. Main. It moved in late 2014 from the South End and also consolidated operations formerly based in Wilton. The Financial Centre sat entirely vacant when it was acquired by Stamford-based BLT in 2012 after reinsurer Gen Re moved its headquarters a few years earlier to Long Ridge Road. It would subsequently undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation, updating a structure built in the early 1980s. BLT also owns several other major office properties in Stamford. At 1 Elmcroft Road stands the citys second-largest office vacancy, the approximately 470,000-square-foot Silicon Harbor hub. The South End building is empty except for BLTs offices. The property formerly housed Pitney Bowes headquarters before the technology firm moved to a smaller base in the city at 3001 Summer St. Up the road, BLT has constructed since 2009 more than 2,700 apartments in the mixed-use Harbor Point complex. When it is completed, the project will include some 4,000 units. At its Harbor Landing campus in the the citys Waterside section, BLT has redeveloped a property that includes about 220,000 square feet of office space. While it looks to fill its existing properties, BLT is also planning to increase the local office inventory. At the Gateway Harbor Point complex at 406 Washington Blvd., it has proposed building a 500,000-square-foot tower to house a new Stamford headquarters for Charter Communications. The leasing momentum at 200 Elm supports our belief that Stamfords revitalization continues to gather speed, BLT CEO Carl Kuehner III, said in a statement. Stamfords office vacancy rate is around 25 percent, according to data from several real estate firms. Tired of paying $3 or more for a gallon of gasoline? Well, your pain has just begun. For decades, weve lived and driven in denial, somehow assuming we have the right to cheap gasoline, and therefore, low-cost transportation. Now its time to face reality and consider what will happen when not if gas hits $10 a gallon, not because of taxes, but because we will use up the planets petroleum. Here are some predictions: Air transport Following the demise of a dozen airlines and the shrinking of the remaining carriers, air fares soar and service is cut. Air travel becomes affordable to few. Airport congestion fades as business trips are replaced with teleconferencing. Hotels are shuttered as business travel wanes and leisure travel becomes unaffordable. Highways Rush-hour on Interstate 95 is a breeze as half of all motorists can no longer afford to drive. But the highways are riddled with potholes as the price of asphalt made from petroleum quintuples, making it impossible to maintain the roads because gas tax revenues have dropped with decreased sales. With more people working from home or on flex-time, traffic congestion is a thing of the past. Homes/offices With home heating oil at $12 a gallon, people close off rooms in their McMansions and huddle in the few remaining spaces they can afford to heat, usually with wood stoves, which are also in short supply. Office buildings, by law, will be allowed to heat to no more than 60 degrees in colder months. Sweaters become a fashion rage. Mass transit Seats are pulled out of railcars to create standing-room capacity and Metro-North offers cheaper fares to those who cant get a seat. As in Tokyo, pushers are assigned at Grand Central to squeeze passengers into trains. Few can afford to drive and park at rail stations, so most spaces there are turned over to bike racks. Despite fare increases, ridership soars. Around town Local traffic drops as people consolidate their few truly necessary shopping trips. Because farmers are so dependent on oil (for fertilizers, packaging and transport), food prices skyrocket. Food imported out of season becomes an occasional treat. Few can afford to eat out at now-chilly restaurants dealing with the same food shortages. Wagons and carts, bikes with racks, mopeds and scooters replace SUVs. Kids take the school bus daily instead of being chauffeured by mom. Suburban housing prices continue to fall as people flock to the walkable cities with good mass transit. Small town taxes rise, encouraging further migration. Schools cant afford good teachers who must still commute from far away due to lack of local affordable housing. Environment Oil drilling begins in the Alaskan wilderness, but no supply of oil will reach the lower-48 for three years. Air pollution worsens (thanks in part to the wood burning stoves) and acid rain decimates much of the Northeast. Increased CO2 emissions hasten global warming. The sea level rises and coastal communities risk greater flooding as more numerous and powerful hurricanes ravage the U.S. Will any of these predictions come true? Time will tell. What can we do to prevent this Doomsday scenario? Not much. So enjoy whats left of the era of cheap oil. Well all have a lot of explaining to do to our grandchildren. More Information Join the conversation Use #GettingThereCT to chime in on Facebook and Twitter. See More Collapse GREENWICH The days are numbered for single-use plastic bags in Greenwich, but advocates of a ban were not able to get everything they wanted in a new ordinance. The Representative Town Meeting approved the ban of the thin plastic bags from local stores late Monday night after a lengthy debate, garnering loud cheers from supporters in the crowd after the vote. However, the RTM did not approve a proposed fee of 23 cents for each recycled paper bag supplied by local merchants to shoppers. Instead, the RTM removed the fee entirely from the ordinance, which ended up passing by a vote of 141 to 54, with two abstentions. Most of Mondays debate was not about the merits of the ban but about the fee for paper bags. Members of Bring Your Own Greenwich, which spearheaded the effort to ban the bags, considered the RTMs vote a win, saying it made Greenwich a leader on the issue. BYO Greenwich feels lucky to have such a strong environmentally minded town, BYO member Anne Ogilvy said Tuesday. Its selectmen, RTM members and residents all showed their environmental strength last night. The overwhelmingly positive vote shows that the RTM believes plastic bags are bad locally and globally and that they are ready to act local and think global. The RTM vote is pro-Greenwich and pro-environment. The ban will go into effect in six months and will cover bags used at grocery checkout lines, not ones used for newspapers, produce, dry cleaning or food delivery. Although she was disappointed that the fee was eliminated, Ogilvy said it was still a wonderful, historic night for the town. The ban faced recent opposition from the group Femmes For Fiscal Freedom, which had focused on the fee for paper bags. Group members and others called the proposed fee a tax that would have disproportionately hurt low-income and fixed-income residents who might not have access to reusable bags, which shoppers will be encouraged to use. The Fiscal Femmes submitted its own revised ordinance for the RTMs meeting in April, but group member Laura Gladstone said they would withdraw it. Removing the fee made the need for another ordinance moot, she said. This was a great, positive outcome for the towns elderly and lower income residents, she said. This ended up being extremely positive for both sides, Gladstone said. BYO was able to change many stores over to paper and residents wont have to worry about an extra fee when they go to the grocery store. Westport and Rye have similar bans. New York is considering a statewide ban after Suffolk Countys ban went into effect in January, with a five-cent fee for bags. Westport does not have a fee for paper bags. The vote to remove the fee 116 to 84 with one abstention was much tighter than the vote for approval. Supporters of the ban said the issue of reusable bags would be addressed. RTM member Anthony Lopez, from District 1, said efforts were already underway. This discussion has prompted ordinary citizens in Greenwich to start to say theyre going to provide reusable bags for a lot of citizens who cannot afford them, Lopez said. Ive already had one person say theyre willing to provide a thousand bags, and theyre willing and able to do that on an ongoing basis. Although opponents said the ban would place a burden on businesses, the only local merchant who spoke at Mondays meeting praised the ban as well as a 10-cent fee on paper bags. No one is in disagreement that these plastic throwaway bags are terrible, said Scott Mitchell, a town resident and owner of Richards on Greenwich Avenue. If youre going to change the behavior of a retailer or a consumer, which we all are, you have to reward or punish. If you bring your own (bag), everybody wins. Its not taxing. The meeting was packed with vocal supporters of the plastic bag ban, including nearly 50 high school and middle school students. Many of them held homemade signs with slogans such as Be fantastic, dont use plastic and Dont be a drag, get rid of the bag. The students spoke, too, coming down as a group to address the RTM. We cannot dance around reality with bombastic political jargon, Rene LaPointe Jameson, a GHS senior, told the RTM. There are no words that can disguise this. This is whats polluting our Long Island Sound, our Mianus River and Tods Point. Every day in our town these plastic bags along with hundreds more are discarded into the environment. We simply cannot continue producing so much plastic bag pollution. The RTM attached a sunset clause to the ordinance: The ban will end three years after it takes effect, when it can be reconsidered. BYO member Jeanine Behr Getz told the RTM they supported the clause, saying it would provide a good opportunity to reassess whats going on and maybe make other changes. The ban is a potential burden on businesses, Gladstone said, and she wanted to see the data over the next three years. She said other merchants opposed it, including Acme grocery stores, which has locations downtown and in Riverside. STAMFORD A Zoning Board public hearing this week on a proposed text change that would allow gyms to operate in office parks turned into a raucous affair replete with boos, applause and dueling lawyers with very different interpretations of what a few words could do. The proposal, brought by developer George Comfort & Sons, seeks to change the text defining suburban business parks so the company can demolish an empty building in its High Ridge Office Park, and build a nearly 100,000-square-foot Life Time Fitness center with outdoor swimming pools. Attorneys for Comfort, and the citys Land Use Bureau contend the change fits with the citys Master Plan, which calls for limited expansion and adaptive reuse of city office parks, some of which are only a quarter full of tenants, according to Ralph Blessing, land use bureau chief. Meanwhile, the city Planning Board, which unanimously voted down the proposal last month, and residential neighbors of High Ridge, argue that the text change would open the door to much more than gyms. That is not what we should be putting in office parks, said Leonard Braman, an attorney representing a neighboring homeowners association. The application is about putting a resort without hotel rooms in a residential neighborhood. Braman, citing nearby Life Times in New York, said the gyms offer more than just a workout: They can have child-care, a spa, social events and what amounts to a day camp for children, he said. He and Hank Cuthbertson, president of the Sterling Lake Association, a group of homes next to the park, said a gym or similar facility would destroy the tranquil area and bring down property values. This building is not in my backyard. It is in my living room, Cuthbertson said at the Monday night meeting. If this goes forward, it will permanently destroy everything that makes Sterling Lake special. Although Stamford currently allows gymnasiums and cultural establishments in office parks as long as the facilities are in an office building, this change would allow stand-along gyms. The change also defines gyms in the zoning code, which attorney William Hennessey, representing Comfort, said is undefined although already used. Hennessey said his proposal is not a nefarious thing, and the city must adapt to the market for under-occupied corporate parks. We have to do something with these parks. We have to find a way to make them productive and viable, he said. Gone are the days tenants are clamoring and chasing suburban office parks the tide has turned. The building that Comfort would demolish, which some believe deserves historic preservation, is not rentable in todays market, Hennessey said. The developer has subdivided all of the other buildings in the park to allow several tenants, but this building with a single elevator and a bottom-floor partially below ground cant be divided up. Its not savable its not salvageable, Hennessey said. That building has to go away. The board will have oversight of the project if it were to approve the text change with a site-plan review and special exception discussion, Hennessey said. A special exception doesnt give you unfettered oversight, Braman countered. You cant take away with one hand what youve given with the zoning code. After lengthy public comment with nearly 100 people packed into the city hall cafeteria, the Zoning Board decided to extend the comment period to next week. The next meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Monday in city hall. If you have business with the State of Connecticut, you wont be able to do it on Friday. Thats because this Friday is Good Friday, an official state holiday. The major Christian holiday marks the death and crucifixion of Jesus Christ before Sundays Easter celebration of his resurrection Yes, its a religious holiday, but why is it a Connecticut state holiday? What about the separation of church and state? The history of Good Friday in Connecticut is a bit murky. More News Christianity in Connecticut In a report requested by the Legislature in 2009, Kristin Sullivan wrote, You asked for the legislative history of the law designating Good Friday as a legal holiday and why state offices close on this day. Either the governor or the law may designate a legal state holiday. The governor designates Good Friday and it appears this has been the case for over 100 years. Thus, we cannot provide a legislative history on a law designating Good Friday. We searched the State Register and Manual and found that since at least 1906, Connecticut governors have so designated Good Friday. They have also designated Thanksgiving Day. The law currently designates as legal holidays New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincolns Birthday, Washingtons Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas. Connecticut is one of 12 states that recognize Good Friday as holiday. The others are Texas, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and North Dakota. Gerard Adams exited from Elite Daily in 2015, hosts the show Leaders Create Leaders and offers wisdom and insight as the Millennial Mentor on Instagram. In short, he knows a ton about entrepreneurship and leadership, and is on a mission to share this information with the world. This desire is what led Gerard to launch Fownders, a learning platform built for entrepreneurs who want to develop the skills needed to align their purpose towards a prosperous career and lifestyle. Read on for three key takeaways Gerard wants all entrepreneurs to learn and incorporate into their journey. Find your why. After his exit from EliteDaily in 2015, Gerard sought a new purpose and passion in his life. At a Tony Robbins event the phrase, success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure, seized upon him. As a young entrepreneur he had been greatly inspired by a visit to Silicon Valley, and blown away by all of the advice and mentorship he found in the community. A native of New Jersey, Gerard decided to bring the idea of educating entrepreneurs back home -- and Fownders was born. For Gerard, cultivating emotional intelligence and focusing on core values is the first key step to becoming a successful entrepreneur. You need to align personal values, purpose and what drives you your why. Really focus on that personal growth and mindset. Focus on internal before you build something external. By beginning your entrepreneurial journey with a focus on personal mission, the rocky road of development will ultimately be more fulfilling, more satisfying, and easier to navigate, with a strong why at the forefront of your mind. Idea isnt enough. Youve heard it before at Propelify. Everyone has ideas. Only entrepreneurs build and monetize those ideas. A lot of people want to become entrepreneurs. And a lot of people have ideas. But how to actually take action, to execute that idea, to learn strategies and tactics, and then turn that idea into something profitable? Thats real entrepreneurship, Gerard says. Fownders is focused on helping budding entrepreneurs chart a path to success before they even begin. By using the lessons his previous mentors have already learned, Gerard wants Fownders to help idea generators become innovators and turn their ideas into reality. Being of service, offering something of real value thats the lesson entrepreneurs need to learn along the way, Gerard says. The next great idea you have, begin with the end in mind -- the monetizaion -- so you can craft a series of steps that will lead to success. Personal branding is storytelling One of the most powerful lessons Ive learned is to understand how you tell your story. To not only understand how you see yourself but to see how the world sees you, Gerard says. By learning to craft and cultivate a personal brand that tells the story you want to tell, you will entice collaborators and customers to your product and business, in a natural way. Interested in tweaking your own brand or image? Answer these four questions to start the process: What is unique about you or your product? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What can you share thats of value? What space or platform will be best for you to share your story? Your brand is your story. Think about what story you want to tell as you make your vision a reality. Watch highlights from Gerard's talk at the 2017 Propelify Innovation Festival: Related: Find Your Why and Tell Your Story: Lessons for Budding Entrepreneurs From Gerard Adams How These Entrepreneurs Use Feedback and Honesty to Build a Thriving Business This Young Entrepreneur Shares the 3-Step Strategy She Uses to Banish Self-Doubt Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com S hopping malls were once dull and airless places, but the best in class have upped the razzmatazz with cinemas and restaurants. They have had to: anything to make sure consumers do not take root on their sofas and shop purely online. The boss class behind these businesses has never had to invent a new narrative, however. Their back stories are inspiring enough, although not always high profile. There is Sir Frank Lowy, the Holocaust survivor whose rags-to-riches tale saw him introduce the first US-style mall to Australia in 1960. Now he is selling Westfield, the empire he built, to Unibail-Rodamco of France. Some say in the skirmish between out-of-town bricks and Amazons clicks that wily Sir Frank has bowed out at just the right time. Far from retiring is David Simon, the chairman and 20% owner of French malls owner Klepierre, who learned much in three years on Wall Street under legendary dealmaker Bruce Bid em Up Wasserstein before returning to Indianapolis to revive the Simon Property Group started by his father and uncle. Simon is intent on disrupting the all-share combination of Hammerson, owner of the Brent Cross shopping centre and the Bullring in Birmingham, with Lakeside and Metrocentre owner Intu. The weekend press suggest Klepierre is poised to return with a higher offer for Hammerson after its initial 4.9 billion proposal was given short shrift. Simon has unfinished business in Europe. His US group might already have owned Intu, then called Capital Shopping Centres, if property tycoon John Whittaker had not taken a 25% stake when his Peel Group injected Manchesters Trafford Centre into the business eight years ago. Whittaker plays the long game. The Trafford mall took a decade to get planning permission and at its opening in 1998 the tycoon showed his jubilation by abseiling in in a white naval uniform from an imitation cruise liner. That is the past, but what of the future? Close to one pound in five is already spent online. A battle now over acres of retail space looks ballsy. Most retailers cant give it up fast enough as higher business rates bite and consumers tighten their belts. Last week was particularly gruesome for the High Street with New Look, Carpetright and Mothercare sounding the alarm that they needed to shrink their estates fast. Company voluntary arrangements to shut loss-making sites and fix deep discounts on the rental costs of others have become commonplace. Even so-called fast-casual restaurants that were meant to plug the emerging gaps, including pizzeria Prezzo, posh burgers seller Byron and Jamie Olivers empire, have suffered from overexpansion. Ahead of the opening of her 50th store, John Lewis boss Paula Nickolds was forced to claim there was still a role for shops, although some of her staff who were awarded the lowest percentage bonus since 1954 might argue for fewer of them. As anchor tenant to many of the malls being scrapped over, you know John Lewis will be fine. The same cannot be said for House of Fraser, which is on the hunt for emergency funding. The retail industry is at a tipping point. Lord Wolfson said as much the other day. Having survived its toughest 12 months in 25 years, the Next chief flagged that soon his groups online turnover will surpass store sales. That will give fresh food for thought about how many shops a chain really needs to serve the nation. And for excess square footage, there are only so many in-store coffee bars shoppers can frequent. The mall owners are banking on a flight to quality: fewer stores in better locations such as theirs, where the weather is guaranteed and footfall remains reasonably high. The high streets that will suffer most are those riddled with too many voids and charity shops. It is no coincidence that some of the most prosperous outdoor shopping destinations are those in sole ownership such as Marylebone High Street and Carnaby Street, where it is easier for landlords to invest in their surroundings. Can anything be done for the rest? Creating more homes among high street shops to reduce vacancies is an idea last suggested by the Federation of Master Builders. L ondon City Airport had its busiest week ever as the Docklands hub, traditionally a favourite for business flyers, was boosted by increasing numbers of holidaymakers. A total of 101,336 customers either departed from or arrived at the Square Miles favourite airport in the week to 25 March, on 1,525 flights. That is 2% higher than the previous record set in 2016. In addition, last Thursday the company recorded its best-ever day, when 18,607 people came through the doors. The 31-year-old airport was boosted by strong performances from British Airways and Flybe. Popular destinations included Amsterdam, Dublin and Edinburgh. Chief executive Robert Sinclair said it was benefiting from more holidaymakers using it. Traditionally it has been a base for business flights as it is close to Canary Wharf. The airport is expecting around 55,000 passengers to travel over the course of the Easter holiday weekend. Sinclair said Brits were impressed by industry-leading punctuality, ease of use and convenience. The latest performance will be welcome after recent disruptions hit flights, caused by the Beast from the Easts snow. Last month some departures were cancelled after the discovery of an unexploded Second World War bomb in the Thames. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East EXCLUSIVE: British tennis champion Andy Murray has backed two early-stage businesses. He has invested undisclosed amounts into innovative UK fintech companies Investly and Landbay. Murrays growth investment portfolio on Seedrs now exceeds 30 British businesses. Landbay, the Zoopla-backed mortgage marketplace lender, direct-matches retail and institutional investors money into buy-to-let mortgages using peer-to-peer technology. Having recently surpassed 100 million of mortgages funded to date, over 25% of these were in the last 3 months, demonstrating the startups impressive growth. Landbay first received backing from Andy Murray two years ago. This recent investment sees Murray exercising his preemptive rights in Landbays latest equity round. Investly is a marketplace for invoice financing, helping SMEs finance their 30-180 day invoices. Reliable cash flow enables businesses grow faster, something that is vital in the startup marketplace where speed can often make or break a business. Investly's target customers have to wait an average of 56.7 days to get paid by their customers directly. Fashions love affair with the logo is to hit boiling point next month as Fendi unveils a love letter to its FF motif. Set to reinstate the Fendi signature into the stream of conscious and wardrobes of luxury fashion fans, the Italian house debuts an exclusive FF collection, a huge proportion of which will launch on Net-A-Porter on April 13 before landing in selected Fendi stores from May. The Fendi Reloaded offering spans trousers, t-shirts, skirts and accessories and will coincide with a top-secret, but far from unassuming, takeover here in the capital followed by a global roll-out devised to put FF on the map. The launch of the capsule will be celebrated in London on April 12 and then again in Dubai, where the brand plans to recreate the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana in inflatable form. But this isnt just hot air. Fendi FF collection (Fendi ) / Fendi People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Its a (literally) loaded statement and a reminder of Fendis determination to to win the youth vote. Once the preserve of well-heeled Milanese power dressers and the super- rich, Fendi has been working hard to indulge a lighter, less restrained style customer in recent years with playful accessories, star-studded catwalk shows and Instagram-friendly ad campaigns among its strategies for success. Fendi's FF collection (Fendi ) / Fendi The Reloaded collection, which also includes printed pool slides, and Fendis signature Rockoko sneakers recast in FF form along with monogrammed suiting, super-slim cigarette pants and bomber jackets, is further proof that this is a house determined to move forward with youth on its side. Evoking nostalgia for the logo-splashed days of the early Nineties a recurring aesthetic on the AW18 catwalks the collection includes a healthy dose of sportswear and demonstrates an easier, less restricted side to the Italian super- brand. Of course, this is logomania Italian-style, so were not talking sloppy Polyester hoodies here but a collection charged with good old-fashioned Italian sex appeal. These are logos for the cocktail classes. Fendi's FF collection / Fendi Its a smart move. After all, with slogans showing no signs of disappearing from our wardrobes, its only a matter of time before a sweater sporting the name of your favourite brand becomes as essential for fashion fans going out out as a decent margarita. Review at a glance F atoumata Diawara from Mali is a rising star of African music. Tall and sculptural with a wrap around her head, shes assured on stage, singing and playing guitar. She released her debut album in 2011 and her last solo London show was in 2014. Since then Ive seen her perform on a huge festival stage on the river Niger and she played a significant role in the powerful West African feature film Timbuktu about jihadists in the north of Mali. Fatou is a woman of formidable talent. Most of her material last night was from her forthcoming album, Fenfo. I dont like it when the voice is clean, she said. And indeed Fatou has a huskiness that gives her vocals an earthy power, often in dialogue with a lyrical electric guitar. The only song which wasnt her own was Nina Simones Sinnerman, during which she tore off her headdress and set her cowrie-shelled dreadlocks flying. Many of Fatous songs are about female empowerment. Not so much the #MeToo movement, but calling for more women leaders in Africa and a better future for young children. They drew cheers from a sold out Jazz Cafe. Another theme was African migration. L ast year we spoke to Amika George, an 18-year-old A-Level student who founded the #FreePeriods campaign. The campaign began when George noticed that many young women in the UK struggle to be able to afford sanitary products a basic need for women on their period. Yesterday, the government announced that tampon tax funding will go towards ending period poverty for the first time. Tracey Crouch, the minister for sport and civil society, said thousands of women across the UK, including those in poverty, will benefit from the estimated 15 million generated from tampon tax. Crouch added: "The money generated from sanitary products is being invested in good causes that tackle the serious issues that women of all ages face. It will be used to support vulnerable women and girls and help build a Britain fit for the future. People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} George has described the announcement as incredible news and thanked the 157,000 people who signed her petition to end period poverty in the UK. Period Poverty Interview with Amika George The student previously told the Standard: I had absolutely no idea that it was happening in the UK, that girls as young as 10 were routinely missing school because they werent able to access protection. It seemed abhorrent to me that there were children creating almost primitive, makeshift solutions such as socks stuffed with stolen toilet paper, or newspaper and I was disgusted that no help was being given to them. These children would face enormous anxiety while sitting in lessons, fearful that theyd bled onto their uniform, so the easiest solution was often simply to miss school. It was clear to me that missing lessons means falling further behind in academic progress, and these children find they are such a long way off from attaining their goals and ambitions, all because they bleed. W hen is Easter again? It's an age-old question. Unlike Christmas and New Year, Valentine's Day and Halloween, there is no fixed date for the spring celebration. Do you know how it's worked out each year? Of course! Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following (or on) the spring equinox. Obviously. Do you know why that is though? No? Read on... According to the New Testament, the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Christ happened around the time of the Jewish feast of Passover. Back then, as stipulated by the Bible, Passover was celebrated on the first full moon following the spring equinox (the day when both day and night are of approximate equal duration, which happens twice a year, in spring and autumn). Hence, Easter would also occur after the first full moon following the equinox, and since the day of the full moon was subject to change, Easter became a moveable feast. However, whilst some Christians came to celebrate it on the day of Passover itself, others opted to celebrate Easter afterwards, on the Sunday following. In 325 AD, the First Council of Nicea (a gathering of Christian bishops) met to agree on a unified date for Easter. Although no specific details on how the date would be mathematically calculated were stipulated, thereafter Easter took place on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. So Easter was settled then. Actually, not quite... Whilst some Christian denominations (including Protestants and Roman Catholics) go by the Gregorian calendar, established by Pope Gregory XIII in the 16th century, other Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar) to calculate Easter. The difference between the two calendars is between how they calculate the length of a tropical year (how long it takes for the earth to move around the sun). Currently the Julian calendar is roughly 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Which means that not all Christians celebrate Easter on the same day. Confused? Have some chocolate. Why do we eat chocolate eggs at Easter? Eggs have long been a symbol of the resurrection for Christians, with the empty shell representing the empty tomb of Christ. Whilst it is not known when the first chocolate egg came into existence, we do know they were being produced in Germany and France at the beginning of the 19th century. The first chocolate Easter Egg created in Britain is believed to have been made by JS Fry & Sons in Bristol in 1873. When are the Easter Holidays 2018? L ike polka dots, '90s sunglasses and corduroy shorts - travel destinations can be 'on trend' as well. This year, it seems everyone is jaunting off to Bali, Portugal or Chile with infinity pools, turquoise seas and mountainous landscapes taking over our Instagram feeds. Yet, a new report has already revealed what locales will be trendy this time next year. In the World Economic Forums latest Travel and Tourism Competitiveness report, 136 countries were ranked on their ability to be a good tourist destination and the report revealed which countries had made the biggest leap in desirability between the annual findings. Below are the 12 countries you need to keep on your travel radar. 1. Albania People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Pixabay Albania rose eight places on the latest report meaning its an exciting up-and-coming travel destination. While there make sure you check out the Albanian Riviera and wander through Gjirokastra, the city of stone. 2. Japan Unsplash Japan has become much more affordable in recent years thanks to a drop in the costs of air ticket taxes and fuel but be wary hotel prices have risen. The drop in flight prices has seen Japans tourist numbers grow, especially in spring when the Cherry Blossom's bloom. 3. Gabon Shutterstock A Central African nation to keep on your radar, Gabon has risen five spots since the last report, mainly due to environmental sustainability and price competitiveness. The Loango National Park is their main draw card where you can expect to see hippos, elephants and a number of gorilla sanctuaries. 4. India Unsplash India has long been a tourist favourite, but since the last report is has jumped 12 places with places like the Andaman Islands helping boost its popularity in the wellness vacations sector. 5. Peru Shutterstock If your Instagram feed seems to be filled with your friends and acquaintances visiting Machu Picchu, youre not alone. The South American country has risen seven spots since the last report and while there, make sure you check out their rainbow mountains along with the Inca ruins. 6. South Korea Unsplash The home of the Winter Olympics has seen South Korea jump 10 spots this year to become one of the five most improved countries. A cultural hub, South Korea is also a nature-lovers dream with the countryside filled with rolling hills and cherry trees. 7. Tajikistan Pixabay Having risen 12 spots since the last report, Tajikistan boasts the incredible Pamir National Park a 6.5million acre nature reserve where you can spot snow leopards, Siberian Ibex and wild markhor goats. 8. Bhutan Pixabay Ranked as the sixth most affordable country in the world for tourists to visit, Bhutan is a country famous for ranking themselves by GNH (Gross National Happiness), rather than GDP so expect to encounter some joyful locals. 9. Algeria Pixabay This North African country is one of the most affordable places to visit in the world, making it a cheap trip filled with many cultural and natural wonders. 10. Mexico Unsplash Mexico has risen eight spots in the past year thanks to its stunning cultural and natural resources but be sure to skip the crowded beaches of Cancun and Tulum and head to the Pacific Coast. 11. Vietnam Unsplash Pho has become one of our most beloved dishes, up there with dare I say it curry. Vietnam has been a tourist hotspot for a few decades now but with cheaper airfares and even cheaper hotels, its a mainstay for British travellers. 12. Azerbaijan Shutterstock T he shocking extent of Londons knife crime epidemic was laid bare today as it emerged an eight-year-old schoolboy penned an apology letter to his classmate for holding a knife to his throat. The school, in Camden, north London, failed to alert authorities of the incident after it unfolded on its premises, it has been claimed. In the note, the Year Four pupil apologises for threatening to cut his classmate and said he hoped the letter would make them feel less scared. The letter read: I am so sorry for what I did yesterday and if I was you I would feel very scared. I should never say that I am going to cut you and I should not have taken the pocket knife from [the teachers] desk in the first place. I hope you feel better and a bit less scared. The pupil apologises for threatening to cut his classmate It is understood that the blade was brought to school by the pupil and that it was confiscated but then the child got it back out of the teacher's drawer. Camden councillor Leila Roy, who showed the letter to a council meeting on Monday, said it demonstrated the borough's problem with knife crime as she urged for more to be done to prevent youngsters from picking up blades. She said the headteacher of the school, which has not been named, failed to report the incident to the police or the local authority. The horrifying note emerged amid a stabbing epidemic in the capital, with figures revealing that violent deaths have doubled in the first three months of this year. The scene in Hounslow after the body of a man was found dead inside a hotel / Nigel Howard In a horrific week of knife crime in London, from March 14, five people were stabbed to death in the space of seven days. All of the victims were men and half of them aged 23 or younger. It also comes after two young men, Abdikarim Hassan, 17, and Sadiq Aadam Mohamed, 20, were stabbed to death within hours of each other in Camden on February 20. Loading.... Cllr Roy told the Standard: I read that letter in Full Council because I think the problem we already have [with knife crime in Camden] is something that needs to be resolved quickly. It [the letter] is a demonstration of how much more needs to be done in terms of early intervention in schools. At eight years old we can help them, and stop them before its too late. But that is not happening. As London continues to be plagued by an epidemic of violent crime, figures revealed that a total of 26 people have been fatally stabbed or shot since the start of 2018. Eight killed in shocking week of violence in London This amounts to one every 3.2 days and is double the number killed between January 1 and March 23 last year. But scores more victims have been left with serious injuries or are still fighting for their life in hospital in connection with other stabbings and shootings, meaning the death toll could still creep higher. Following a wave of stabbings in February, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was "desperately saddened" by the killings and his team "are doing everything we can from City Hall to tackle the scourge of knife crime". A n Italian bookseller stole a signed first-edition copy of a Harry Potter book worth 1,675 by switching it with a different novel at a Piccadilly shop, a court has heard. Rudolf Schonegger, 55, is alleged to have made the swap of Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, signed by author JK Rowling, at Hatchards in central London on New Year's Eve. CCTV showed the alleged thief browsing the shop, before appearing to take the edition off the shelf, replacing it moments later. A copy of Late Call by Angus Wilson was found in its place. A trial at Hendon Magistrates' Court was told Schonegger has already been prosecuted for stealing a rare book from a pop-up store at Fortnum and Mason, just yards down the road, around three hours after the alleged Harry Potter theft. The court heard the defendant is a collector and seller of rare books who regularly visited stores in the area. He denies a charge of theft and charges of selling a stolen bound copy of The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, worth 700, on December 21, and a stolen first edition of Pincher Martin by William Golding, worth 150, on December 21 or 22. Pincher Martin had been noticed to be missing from the Hatchards store, which is part of the Waterstones company and has a section for antique books, earlier on December 31. The Harry Potter book had been on display with a sticker stating its four-figure value. It had vanished by mid-afternoon. Helen Mills, the second-hand book manager at the store, told the court: "I went to the till on the ground floor and started serving customers. A colleague passed by in a quieter moment when the queue had gone down and said, 'oh, have you sold the Harry Potter?'. "We had a first edition of Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire on sale for 1,675, all the staff knew about it - it would have been a big thing for us to have sold it. "It is rare for it to be signed by JK Rowling because she doesn't sign too many. "I turned around because we kept it behind the till and it wasn't there and where it had been was another book by Angus Wilson called Late Call." Security staff were called and the store's footage scoured, revealing a man said to be the defendant inquiring about the book shortly after 2pm, then showing him making the swap. The Harry Potter book has yet to be recovered. Peter Ellis, a bookseller based in central London, bought the copy of Pincher Martin from the defendant for 60, the court was told. It had a distinctive inscription on the inside which allowed Mr Ellis to identify it as the missing edition. He told the trial: "He had been in before and sold me one or two books. "Mr Schonegger seemed to know about the book, he talked about books, there was nothing to alert me to the fact it wasn't his to sell. "Mr Schonegger did speak about personal matters on one occasion, about his own upbringing - he was saying at one point he went to a seminary because his mother thought he should become pope. "If someone is trying to sell you a stolen book they generally don't go into that detail. "He is almost eccentric." The trial, heard before District Judge Nina Tempia, continues. A teacher who plotted to recruit an army of children for an ISIS-inspired terrorist campaign ranted about the end of Western domination as he was jailed for life today. Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, picked out targets including Parliament, the City, London's transport network, and Westfield in Stratford for armed attacks on innocent civilians, police, and embassy officials. He tried to radicalise children to his cause by role-playing terrorist attacks during after-school classes at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking. Haque had previously played ISIS propaganda videos to classes at the 3000-a-year Lantern of Knowledge Islamic School in Leyton, where he taught PE and Islamic Studies despite having no formal qualifications. Court artist sketch of Umar Haque / PA Police believe Haque may have had access to up to 250 pupils at two east London schools and the Ripple Road mosque over five years, as he became increasingly radicalised. At the Old Bailey this afternoon, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave sentenced Haque to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years, branding him a dangerous liar who was able to convert his young followers by being intelligent, articulate, and persuasive, with an easy smile he is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others. But the judge told him: You have violated the Koran and Islam by your actions, as well as the law of all civilised people. It is to be hoped that you will come to realise this one day. As he was dragged from the dock, Haque waggled his finger at police officers and shouted out: Nine years, thats all you have. Nine years left of Western dominance. After that, hunger and insecurity. Met Police handout photo of Umar Haque's home / PA Haques accomplice, 19-year-old , Abuthather Mamun, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the plot, after being caught on tape as Haque outlined his terrorist aspirations. The court heard he came on to the police radar in April 2016, when he was stopped from flying to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS, and was stripped of his passport. Angered at not being allowed to leave the country, Haque began plotting a home-grown attack, and resolved to recruit his pupils to the jihadi cause. He identified an array of targets, including Big Ben, the Queens guard, the London Underground, police and army bases, courts, and journalists, and drew up a checklist of weapons that he would need. A knife which Haque kept in a package in the footwell of his car / PA Haque was in charge of an afterschool club at the Ripple Road mosque, where he forced pupils to role play terrorist attacks similar to those in Westminster and London Bridge. He stationed a pupil by the door as a lookout when playing ISIS propaganda, and forced the youngsters to swear to Allah that they would not reveal the content of his classes. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told the court an NHS psychotherapist, who is now working with nine of the affected children, believes they have been left traumatised by the experience. As a result of their contact with Haque the children had spoken of their confusion and frustration surrounding Islamic State, their religion and non-Muslims, he said. The package from behind centre console panelling in the front passenger footwell of Haque's Ford Focus / PA Although they are clear what they saw was wrong, they are left conflicted and without answers which leads them to be particularly vulnerable to grooming. Some speak of having flashbacks of the videos and nightmares centred around fear of death and punishment in the afterlife. One of the fathers said his son had confided in him about Haques radicalisation techniques, including watching videos of guns, knives, and bloodbaths. What my son has been exposed to at the mosque has left me feeling distressed and worried for the future of Muslim kids, he said. I feel unsure of who to trust and who not to. I felt I had faith and confidence in sending my son to learn about Islam at the mosque, but little did I know he would be taught about terrorism and martyrdom. Clearly my judgment was wrong. Police handout photo of the front seats of Umar Haque's Ford Focus / PA Haque, from Forest Gate, was found guilty by a jury last month of two counts of preparing to commit terrorist acts. He had already admitted possessing three copies of a terrorist publication a charge of dissemination of terrorist publications The jury found Haque not guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and were deadlocked on another count of dissemination of terrorist publications. Co-defendant Mamun, from Barking, who was also a teacher at the Ripple Road mosque, was convicted by the jury of helping him to raise funds for the terror plot. Haque shared his plans with confidante Mohammed Abid, 27, from Manor Park, who was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. Abid was jailed today for four years and three months. A fourth defendant, Haque's neighbour Nadeem Patel, 26, from Forest Gate, admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and was sentenced to 16 months in prison last month. Commander Dean Haydon, who leads the Met's anti-terrorism squad, said he was "horrified" when he learned Haque had been allowed in charge of classes of children at the Lantern of Knowledge school. "It's a fee paying school, they are paying significant amounts of money to send their children to this school and they expect them to be safe, with safeguarding measures, and taught by fully qualified teachers. In this case, they weren't", he said. "He (Haque) had instructed the children not to say anything, they were almost paralysed with fear into not telling parents and not telling teachers. As a result, there was almost a wall of silence. "He was preparing the children for martyrdom by making them role play terrorist acts in and around London." Ofsteds Deputy Chief Inspector, Matthew Coffey, said in a statement last month: It is of deep regret that this individual was able to work within the independent school system and expose his warped ideology to children. A n operation never before carried out on a pregnant woman in the UK saved a Londoner and her unborn baby. Doctors at St Georges hospital in Tooting managed to close one of Polly Marshalls uterine arteries, which supply blood to the child in the womb, after it swelled and was at risk of bursting with catastrophic consequences. She was 29 weeks pregnant but the intervention with about 30 medics on standby in case something went wrong enabled her to carry son Gus to 38 weeks and for him to be born healthy. Ms Marshall, 38, had been transferred from the Royal Free, in Hampstead, to St Georges when doctors feared she was at risk of going into early labour after suffering extreme abdominal pain. Kevin Hayes, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at St Georges, diagnosed an extremely rare pseudoaneurysm in one of the uterine arteries. Ms Marshall said: I was pretty terrified, not so much for myself but for the baby. I realised how serious it was. Dr Hayes said: The major concern was that this was a hole in a blood vessel that could burst at any point. If it did, it would be extremely serious and life-threatening. Polly Marshall with her partner Mat Fearon and their baby Gus (NIGEL HOWARD ) / NIGEL HOWARD Of the operation, he said: Its a challenge. You are interfering with one of the major vessels in the uterus. We were worried it would rupture. We knew by doing it, it could precipitate a problem for the baby immediately or afterwards. We were between a rock and a hard place. We didnt want to leave it any longer than we did. The swelling in Pollys artery was 5cm in diameter and getting bigger. Blood flow through this artery is particularly strong during pregnancy, so we knew doing nothing was not an option. The procedure was performed by consultant interventional radiologist Professor Anna-Maria Belli last June after doctors agreed that waiting until Ms Marshall gave birth naturally would be too dangerous. A tube was inserted under local anaesthetic into her groin and, under image guidance, manoeuvred into the artery. There, metal coils were fed through the tube to block the artery and cause it to close. Experts in anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology were in theatre in case the baby became distressed and an emergency caesarean section was required. Vascular surgeons were on hand in case the artery ruptured. Gus, Ms Marshalls first child, was born nine weeks later, on September 5, by planned caesarean at St Georges. Professor Belli said: The fact she was able to undergo the procedure, and carry her baby to term, is a fantastic achievement, and has positive implications for other women in her position. T he owner of a chip shop once ranked the best restaurant in London is fighting to keep a patriotic 17ft high sign outside his business. Golden Chippy owner Huseyin Kanizi, also known as Chris, hung it above the front door in Greenwich High Road more than two years ago. But council officials ordered him to take it down, claiming the excessive size was not in keeping with the surrounding 19th-century conservation area, according to their report. Mr Kanizi points out that the sign, which features the Union Flag, is similar to an advert that hung in the same place when the premises was a cafe in 1940. He is planning to appeal after receiving the support of more than 3,300 residents through petitions. Signed up: the same building in 1940 Two years ago the Golden Chippy was ranked number one on TripAdvisor out of all restaurants in London. It is still in the top 20, at number 14. Mr Kanizi, who has run it for 14 years, said he felt betrayed because I have respect for history, this country and conservation. We now have seven hotels with large lit signs all around Golden Chippy and within 500 metres. Its no longer a back street, its a main action place. He installed the sign in September 2016. Seven months later, he received a visit from Greenwich council, which said it required an advertising licence. He lodged an application to install a board with lighting but it was rejected. He reapplied but was refused this month. They mentioned it being brash and had an issue with the white, but the colour is very similar to the old sign, he said. My supporters dont understand the issue, theyve fallen in love with it. I thought I put up a not-so-loud, patriotic sign. Im going to appeal. Mick Delap of Ashburnham Triangle Association, which backs the Golden Chippy, said the councils definition of heritage was narrow and out of touch. He added: Chris has contributed greatly to the locality and put a lot of work into building up the area. I understand the sign is not to everyones taste, but fish and chip shops are a part of British culture. A woman is fighting for life in hospital after she was struck by bricks and debris that fell from a crane at a building site onto a street in east London. The 28-year-old suffered severe injuries after she was crushed by debris from a pallet of bricks that fell from a crane in Tower Hamlets on Tuesday morning. Video footage showed a crowd of people rushing to help her as she lay injured on the pavement in Burdett Road. Witnesses said the woman was given CPR by passers-by until the emergency services arrived and she was taken to hospital. Passers-by rush to help a woman who has been hit by falling bricks and debris in Tower Hamlets A man was also treated for shock at the scene, Scotland Yard said. Police and paramedics raced to the scene near to the junction with St Pauls Way at about 9.40am. Rohan Khan described the aftermath of the incident after walking by the scene at 10am. "There was masonry and timber debris scattered all over the pedestrian footpath and road," he told the Standard. Witnesses described the 'masonry and timber debris' scattered across the pavement / Rohan Khan A Scotland Yard spokesman said: Police in Tower Hamlets are dealing after a woman was injured by falling debris. Officers were called at 9.40am on Tuesday, March 27 to Burdett Road at the junction with St Pauls Way, E3. A woman has apparently been struck by debris falling from a building site crane. London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was taken to an east London hospital in a critical condition. Her next of kin have been informed. Local road closures are in place while emergency services deal. A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive confirmed it is investigating. She said: HSE is aware of an incident which took place in Mile End earlier today and resulted in a woman being injured by falling debris. Inspectors have attended the site and are making ongoing enquiries in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police to investigate the circumstances of the incident. As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further at this time. Steve Boreham, construction director of Higgins Homes said in a statement: Our primary thoughts and concerns are with the lady who has been injured and those affected today. "We are working with the Health & Safety Executive who are investigating the incident to determine the cause and will release more information as soon as its available. Our priority at the moment is of course to make the area safe. L IONEL Barber, pictured below, who as acting interim chairman of the Tate had been conducting a search for a new permanent chair, has found the perfect candidate himself. His formal appointment is a done deal, according to sources. This will come as something of a shock to some of his Financial Times colleagues, who were told by him only a few months ago that he could not become permanent chairman because of the conspicuous conflict of interest with his role as editor of one of the worlds great business newspapers. One of the important functions of the Tate chairman is to help it raise funds. But as and when he asks for substantial donations for this great artistic institution from the rich and powerful, wont that impinge on the perception of his impartiality as FT editor? Will the newspaper be seen as the fearless critic of banks and financial institutions if simultaneously the Tate is asking them to sponsor its wonderful and expensive special exhibitions? Certainly FT hacks tell us they are uneasy about the potential damage to the papers cherished reputation for impartiality. Barber has been careful so far to avoid any conflict of interest between his business and his role at the Tate. His signed declaration as interim chairman of the board of trustees notes that he has no connections, shareholdings or commercial interest with any company which does business with the Tate. The previous chair was Lord Browne of Madingley, who left in 2017 to take the role of chairman at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Barber became editor of the FT in 2005. He had previously worked for the title as Washington correspondent and US editor. Barber hasnt always shown himself wholly repulsed by the trappings of power. More than a year ago he accepted the equivalent of a knighthood from the French government, the Legion dHonneur, in recognition of the Remainer FTs positive role in the European debate. Oxford has its own analytical trouble LAST week Oxford Analytica released a statement establishing that it has absolutely nothing to do with Cambridge Analytica, and that it is actually in a trademark dispute with them over the word Analytica. But while the Cambridge outfit has links with Trump, Oxford has its own link with a notorious POTUS: Richard Nixon. The White House Investigations team behind Watergate, code-named The Plumbers, included one David Young. When the scandal broke, Young hot-tailed it to the UK and founded... Oxford Analytica. --- Slip: John Humphrys (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage) / WireImage HOW far back does John Humphryss memory go? This morning on Today he called Chris Patten our last governor of China. Patten was actually the last Governor of Hong Kong. Isnt it time this relic from the 19th century is given his marching orders? one unkind listener said. --- SADIE Frost is getting on her bike. The actress and ex-wife of Jude Law is taking part in Ride the Roundhouse, a 100-mile spin session in the Chalk Farm venue. She and three friends have already raised 936, which will help the Roundhouse continue its youth outreach 200 of that came from Frost herself. Cate gets behind a female trio who plan to shake up film animation Animated: Sarah Smith, Elisabeth Murdoch, Julie Lockhart (Credit: Locksmith Animation) CATE Blanchett, pictured below, has offered her seal of approval to a new London film venture. The Oscar-winning actress was in Primrose Hill last night for the launch of the UKs first dedicated high-end CG feature animation studio, Locksmith Animation. The new purpose-built, female-led studio is being fronted by Sarah Smith, Elisabeth Murdoch and Julie Lockhart, pictured left to right. Im here because of the amazing women Im supporting tonight, Blanchett told The Londoner. Julie and Sarah have been leading for so long and them linking up with the likes of Liz is not only exciting for audiences but the industry. Its time we saw women in these positions. Who knows, we might be seeing Cate in one of Locksmiths forthcoming movies. Im a huge fan, she said. I remember the first time I saw an animation by Disney it blew my mind. SW1A Dicey moment: Len McCluskey (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) / Getty Images TODAY a top Unite official, Gail Cartmail, is expected to give evidence to a hearing about the probity of Len McCluskeys re-election as leader which could shake the top of the Labour Party. If the ruling goes against McCluskey he could lose his general secretary post. That would be a blow for a man with friends in high places: Jennie Formby, below, Labour general secretary, is a friend and another, Karie Murphy, runs Jeremy Corbyns office. Formby beat Momentums Jon Lansman to the Labours general secretary post and he has been out in the cold since. If McCluskey falls, will Unites influence over Labour wane? --- BREXIT Secretary David Davis braved the norovirus to appear on The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday but could he have exposed the crew to the bug? Were all fine thanks, Marr told me when I called. Fellow guest, Labours Tom Watson, is also fine... so far. Quote of the day They are never going to agree to cakeism Tony Blair tells MPs last night that the EU isnt interested in Britain having its cake and eating it Alex casts doubt over Burberry's new boy Still in style: Alexandra Shulman (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for NET-A-PORTER) / Dave Benett/Getty Images for NET ALEXANDRA Shulman, ex-Vogue editor, isnt sure that Burberrys new creative director, Riccardo Tisci, is the right fit. At Givenchy he took a house that epitomised Parisian style and churned it up [with] overtly sexual dressing, piercings, transgender models and a hard-edged urban romanticism, she says. Burberry has invested hugely in forging an identity that is quite the opposite. Shulman calls Tiscis appointment an explosive choice... even the deliberations of the Vatican conclave could not have provoked such a collective gasp of astonishment. L ondon is at immediate risk of a hugely damaging 22 billion economic hit in the event of a worst-case scenario hard Brexit, a report warned today. The capital is more exposed than the rest of Britain to a chaotic cliff-edge departure from the European Union because of its heavy dependence on the services sector particularly financial services and its reliance on skilled workers from the Continent, it says. This means that a no-deal scenario next March would see the capitals economic growth slump into the slow lane compared with the rest of the UK, according to the study from the respected City forecasters CEBR. It says Brexit could cost London 5.5 per cent of growth equivalent to 22 billion of output over 15 years. That is more than 2,500 for every man, woman and child living in London. The report, Brexit And The Metropolitan Areas, commissioned by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, concludes that the economy of London, is at immediate risk from Brexit if not handled carefully. The report, co-written by the CEBRs chief economic adviser Vicky Pryce and its founder Doug McWilliams, says the effects could be mitigated by new trade deals and by cutting red tape and but says these highly speculative gains have to be compared with the relatively certain losses from lost EU trade and reduced migration. Whereas Londons growth has easily surpassed that of the UK as a whole for most of the past 30 years, it would lag behind until at least 2024 after Brexit, says the report, which also looked at the impact on Manchester and Bristol. The chamber said that the business community still faced massive uncertainty about Brexit and needed a transition period of up to five years. Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the LCCI, said: There is still a heck of a lot of uncertainty and the possibility of a very large downside. A senior Jewish peer said today he isnt sure whether he could stay in Labour under Jeremy Corbyn as the anti-Semitism row continued to engulf the party. Tony Blairs former chief fundraiser and close ally, Lord Levy, said a certain element within the partys Left-wing had made him doubt whether Mr Corbyn is committed to the partys zero-tolerance rhetoric. He spoke out after some Labour MPs joined protesters outside parliament last night following claims from Jewish leaders that Mr Corbyn had become a figurehead for anti-Semitism. Asked if he still felt at home in the party, Lord Levy replied: Im not sure. The provenance of Corbyn comes from a certain element of the Left and they seem to be able to call the shots. Lord Levy said: "You have a community that is very, very anxious at the moment with regard to the Labour Party and its stance on anti-Semitism." / Reuters The peer, who also served as Mr Blairs Middle East envoy, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: You have a community that is very, very anxious at the moment with regard to the Labour Party and its stance on anti-Semitism. Its one thing saying these things and its another thing acting on them and behaving in the right way. I dont believe that has been done, said Mr Corbyn has been plunged into the bitter row after it emerged he supported the artist of an anti-Semitic mural painted on a wall in Londons East End in 2012. He has apologised for not having properly studied the mural before commenting on it and has requested a meeting with the Jewish Board of Deputies, claiming that he is a militant opponent of anti-Semitism. He said he recognises that anti-Semitism has surfaced within the party and they have been too slow in dealing with cases. MPs from both Labour and the Conservative party joined the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council with Enough is Enough banners in Parliament Square last night to pressure Mr Corbyn into doing more to tackle anti-Jewish sentiment. Hours before the rally, a Momentum branch in Merton was forced to expel one of its members after they wrote a post on Facebook post saying What exactly is anti-Semitic about that mural, in any case? They also described the outcry over the mural a smoke screen. Jackie Schneider wrote on the Merton Facebook page that the person had been referred to a complaints procedure and will no longer be a member of Momentum. Today a key ally of Mr Corbyn admitted Labour has taken too long to stamp out antisemitism in the party. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said it was imperative for the party to urgently address the problem to ensure that the Jewish community felt welcome. She said: Jeremy has always been a militant opponent of antisemitism, but too often the issue has been dismissed as a few bad apples when we need to take very serious root and branch action, to root out the cause of the problem. A plot by Jeremy Corbyns Left-wing supporters to oust the moderate Labour group leader in Wandsworth after the local elections is revealed today. Momentum members were secretly recorded discussing moves to replace Simon Hogg, who is leading Labours campaign to take control of the flagship Conservative borough on May 3. Moderate Labour leaders in Haringey and Newham have already been ousted by Momentum-backed rivals within the party in recent weeks. In the Wandsworth recording, one member, John, is heard saying: Even if it is Simon Hogg whos leader, I think there will be a move against him whether we win or lose. A plot by Jeremy Corbyns Left-wing supporters to oust the moderate leader in Wandsworth is revealed today (John Rainford/WENN.com) / ohn Rainford/WENN.com Another activist, Norman Maclean, calls current councillors a waste of space and describes Mr Hogg as weak and useless. A Left-winger from Tooting warns: Im not convinced that I want this particular Labour group with these particular candidates to be running Wandsworth. The plotting suggests that if Labour succeeds in winning Wandsworth there could be a brutal battle for control by the Left and a possible bid to overturn Mr Hoggs leadership. We want certain types of Labour people in power. Hogg and Co are like Blair, we dont want that lot in Haringeys Labour council leader, Claire Kober, announced her resignation in January after Momentum secured enough key seats in selection contests to destroy her power base. The mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, was deselected earlier this month after 23 years in power when Momentum supporters flocked behind a challenger. The recording of a meeting reveals that Momentum members think they are strong enough to tilt Wandsworth council further to the Left if Labour wins, even if they fail to unseat Mr Hogg. They also discussed using demos to force the Labour leadership to adopt more radical policies. Targeted: councillor Simon Hogg with Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan Ruth Cashman, who chairs Wandsworth Momentum, tells the meeting: Where you go from getting a Labour council that isnt perhaps on board with all the radical ideas ... dont forget youre Momentum, you can still campaign against a Labour council, I do it all the time. Mr Maclean, who also acts as spokesman for Wandsworth Against Cuts, tells the room that seven or eight Momentum candidates would win seats on the council, giving them leverage over the Labour group. He says: Now, as weak and useless as Simon Hogg is, he is not the class enemy. There will be Momentum candidates who win and we can have some influence. I agree, they have been very weak, they supported regeneration we have always got to fight for improvement, no matter how small. The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, denounced policies for regeneration in his party conference speech last year. He accused Labour councils of socially cleansing estates with developments for yuppies. In the recording, another activist says: Yeah, theres a fight within the party, this is what we stand for and this is what were fighting for, and if you get involved and vote for these councillors, yeah theres still going to be demos, probably demos against our own councillors. The other Tooting Momentum activist attacks Mr Hoggs leadership for treating Labour activists like complete morons by holding back a full list of policies. She says: This lot, they havent put anything out, we dont know what theyre going to say, and theyre not going to put anything out until about a couple of days beforehand. In other words they are expecting us to be complete morons, knocking on doors telling people to vote Labour and we dont know what theyre voting for. Sir Robin Wales was deselected earlier this month after 23 years in power when Momentum supporters flocked behind a challenger / Alex Lentati Im not sure Im even going to vote Labour you know, Im in the Labour party, Im in Momentum, Im active and I feel utterly dissatisfied with this whole campaign. In a reference to the Progress organisation, which backs the centre-Left policies of former Labour leader and prime minister Tony Blair, she says: We dont just want Labour people in power, we want certain types of Labour people in power, we dont want people like Blair ... this lot, Simon Hogg and co, theyre Progress, they are like Blair, you dont just want that lot in. Wandsworth is a key battleground between the Conservative rulers and Labour at the local elections and the number one target for Mr Corbyns party to capture. Controlled by Labour in the Sixties and early Seventies, it turned blue in 1978 and began championing value-for-money policies. It soon became Margaret Thatchers favourite council a Tory flagship in a sea of Labour territory that won a reputation for tough efficiency. It championed the Right to Buy for council tenants and managed to set a zero poll tax for two years while maintaining visible services like bin collection. In 2014, when the borough was last contested, the Tories won 41 of the 60 seats, with 19 going to Labour. Two Conservatives later went Independent, reducing the Tory majority slightly. A Momentum national spokesman said: Momentum will be campaigning all-out for Labour councillors across the country including in Wandsworth. Paul Scully, the Tory vice-chairman for London, claimed: This reveals just how far the hard-Left have secretly taken over Labour in Wandsworth. B ritain's "youngest councillor" has been mysteriously found dead at her student flat. Clarissa Slade was said to be Britain's youngest councillor when she was elected to Mid Devon District Council at the age of 18. The 21-year-old joined her parents Colin and Elizabeth Slade who are also both Conservative councillors. Ms Slade was found at her student flat in Winchester, where she was studying classics. With her father Colin Slade, also a Conservative councillor / Facebook Police are currently treating her death as "unexplained" and a post-mortem is yet to take place. Her father, Cllr Colin Slade, told the Telegraph: We are still pretty much in the dark as to the circumstances and we are waiting for the coroner. "She had a bright future ahead, she was very keen on politics and she was a very bright young councillor, the youngest in the country when she was elected. "She was looking to possibly pursue a career in politics. She was very active in the Conservative Party. "It is such a shock. She was due to come back to visit yesterday and the first thing we knew was when she was not on the train." Clive Eginton, leader of Mid Devon District Council, told Devon Live: "The devastating news regarding the sudden passing of Cllr Clarissa Slade has been deeply felt by myself, fellow councillors and officers across Mid Devon District Council. "As our youngest ever elected councillor, Clarissa worked hard for her residents in Cranmore ward and also participated across the town as a whole in a variety of events. "On the national stage she had also made her mark with her involvement in youth politics. "Clarissa had an endearing personality to all those who knew her well, and we will miss her enormously. "Our thoughts at this time are with Clarissas parents Colin and Elizabeth." T he highest ranking transgender soldier in the UK has tied the knot with her partner - who has also undergone gender reassignment in a fairytale wedding. Captain Hannah Winterbourne, 31, joined the army as a man but made the decision to begin transitioning into a woman five years ago during a tour of Afghanistan. She married soulmate actor 40-year-old Jake Graf, who was born a woman, in at Chelsea Town Hall on Friday. The couple, who had announced their engagement last year, said their day was like a Disney movie, with the bride gushing: There are not many more things that are feminine than a bride in a beautiful wedding dress. I never thought when I was young it could happen to me. It was a pipe dream. Until I met Jake, I never realised it was a goal I could achieve. Its not sunk in yet Mr Graf added: I never thought any of this was a possibility. Now Ive got this beautiful Army captain wife and Im so happy. The bride, who is in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, wore a beautiful strapless lace gown for the ceremony and, according to The Sun, cried as she exchanged vows with her now-husband. The couple, now transgender awareness campaigners, began dating after Captain Winterbourne was pictured in the media in reports about her decision to transition whilst still on active service. Her picture reportedly caught the eye of her future spouse who then got in touch via Facebook. Mr Graf proposed in a rowing boat in a Central Park lake while the couple were on holiday in New York. The actor, who transitioned 11 years ago, said the couple had been lucky enough not to endure the abuse and harassment that a lot of trans people get because a lot of people do not realise they are transgender. Were lucky enough that we both look like any other person walking down the street, he said. The couple, who will live together in the married quarters near Captain Winterbourne's Army barracks, are eager to start a family. M ark Zuckerberg has snubbed requests for him to appear personally in front of MPs to face a grilling over the recent data scandal and has opted to send his deputy instead. The billionaire Facebook founder was ordered by Westminster to provide evidence about Facebook's links to political analysis consultancy Cambridge Analytica. Damian Collins, chairman of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had demanded to hear from a senior Facebook executive with the sufficient authority to give an accurate account of this catastrophic failure of process stating that it should be Mr Zuckerberg himself. But in a public snub, it has been announced that the social media chief will make available one of his deputies to face MPs after the Easter recess. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg invited to speak to fake news inquiry for second time In a letter to Mr Collins, written not by Mr Zuckerberg himself but by his head of public policy, it states that he has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the committee. Damian Collins MP demanded information from Facebook / Getty Images It was suggested in the letter that either Mike Schroepfer, the chief technology officer, or Chris Cox, Facebooks chief product officer, will attend. Both Chris and Mike report directly to Mr Zuckerberg and are among the longest serving senior representatives in Facebooks 15-year history, Facebook's head of public policy Rebecca Stimson wrote. Cambridge Analytica offices searched by Commissioner's Office Both of them have extensive expertise in these issues and are well placed to answer the Committees questions on these complex subjects. One of them can be made available to the Committee straight after the Easter parliamentary recess, depending on the Committees preferred timing." Following the announcement, Mr Collins repeated call for Mr Zuckerberg to give evidence, saying it would be "appropriate" for him to do so in person or via video link. In a statement at the opening of the committee hearing, the chairman said: "We believe, given the serious nature of the allegations that have been made around the access and use of Facebook user data, that it is appropriate that Mark Zuckerberg should give evidence to the committee. Mark Zuckerberg: 'sorry' for Cambridge Analytica Facebook 'breach of trust' "He has suggested that Chris Cox, the chief product officer at Facebook, could come to London to give evidence to the committee in the first week after the Easter recess. "So we would be very happy to invite Mr Cox to give evidence. However we would still like to hear from Mr Zuckerberg as well. "We will seek to clarify from Facebook whether he is available to give evidence or not, because that wasn't clear from our correspondence. "If he is available to give evidence then we would be happy to do that either in person or by video link, if that would be more convenient for him." Mr Collins had accused Facebook of previously misleading the committee by understating risks posed by firms who harvest vast swathes of personal data from millions of users of the social network. Also included in Ms Stimson's letter were details about Facebook's review of the app which harvested data at the centre of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The letter from Facebook's head of pubic policy Ms Stimson said people from the EU represent "around 1 per cent" of global downloads for the app built by Cambridge University Professor Alexander Kogan. The app collected personal data from anyone who downloaded it, as well as their friends, in line with Facebook's policy and many similar apps of the time. The personal data of 50 million Americans was then sold to Cambridge Analytica, who allegedly used it to help Donald Trump target voter advertising during his presidential election campaign. Ms Stimson said Facebook is working with regulators around the world to get a full picture of the number of people whose data was collected by the app. A leading UK wedding planner has today revealed the eye-watering cost of the 'little things' at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding including a possible bill of 26,000 for sausage rolls alone. The overall cost of the royal wedding is estimated to be around 32 million, according to Hamish Shephard who is the CEO of a top wedding planner app in the UK. Mr Shephard, who is the founder of wedding planning app Bridebook and has organised some of the UKs most high-profile weddings including Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylors upcoming nuptials, today revealed the mounting cost of every item needed to complete the couple's big day, such as 110,000 on flowers and 90,000 on trumpets. Mr Shephard said: The biggest cost of a wedding is always determined by the number of guests. You have three costs: a third is on the venue, a third is on the food and drink and a third is on the other parts such as the dress and the photographer, etc. Royal wedding countdown: The plan so far for Harry and Meghan Every wedding has those elements and that's where it can scale. Harry and Meghan are planning for 4,000 guests and multiple venues. He continued: They are having their church service at the incredible St George's Chapel, and then they're with 600 guests for a lunchtime reception at St Georges Hall one of the most incredible halls in Windsor Castle. The grand evening reception will also take place at Fogmore House. All these different venues means they will have an enormous number of flowers. Everything is going to be the best of the best, and something like floristry is where your budget grows, a massive amount of it goes on flowers, meaning they will cost at least 110,000. Meghan Markle jokes she'll need all the baby products The church could be decorated with blooms from a luxury UK florist such as Lavender Green Flowers who worked on Pippa Middletons wedding. Mr Shephard claimed: Harry and Meghan have also ordered 20 silver-plated fanfare trumpets for when they arrive, which have cost 90,000 alone. He said Prince Harry and Ms Markles gesture of inviting members of the British public to their big day is coming at a bigger cost than expected. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement announcement 1 /27 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement announcement Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle photo call today on the announcement of their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AP Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace PA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AP Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Reuters Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Sky News Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace PA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, after the announcement of their engagement PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave following a photocall after announcing their engagement in the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk away after posing for the media in the grounds of Kensington Palace AP He said: They've invited 2,640 members of the public who will each be given a cup of tea and a sausage roll. If you're assuming that's 10 a head, that's 26,000 on sausage rolls alone. This is 1,000 less than the price of the average UK wedding. If Ms Markles father Thomas Markle is to walk her down the aisle as reported, the couple will likely also fork out for first class transport on transatlantic flights, the wedding planner said. Mr Shephard added: With the recent announcement that Meghan's father will be walking her down the aisle; the couple will likely be providing first class transport for the Markle family members with privacy being a notorious priority for Meghan. A private chartered flight from Los Angeles to London could cost anywhere up from 70,000. Harry and Meghan offered singer for wedding The biggest charge of the day is unequivocally the security, which the wedding planner said will amount to a whopping 30million. It is believed that besides the usual snipers on every rooftop and undercover police on the streets, the wedding will be fitted with the latest military technology, including a British counter-UAV system, which will cost at least 1million. Mr Shephard noted that the Windsor location may be part of the reason for the heightened security fees. He said: Windsor is a bigger security problem than London. The former head of the Metropolitan Police said that they are very experienced in London and have 10 times the security and are used to all of this. In Windsor, they are not quite used to having the world focus on it. In response to this, a spokesman for Kensington Palace said: "We never comment on matters of security". Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding invitations printed in London Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: It is important to remember how unique our reputation for ceremonial is and what the world expects when watching a British royal wedding. U niversities have been ordered to allow controversial speakers and not become safe spaces. A parliamentary committee claimed that by having a safe-space environment, the views of minority groups are often marginalised. They found that student unions are stopping events seen as controversial while other talks have been shut down by protesters. The joint committee on human rights, chaired by Harriet Harman, heard evidence from students and university authorities over several weeks. It was launched following claims from MPs that freedom of speech at universities was under attack. The report published on Tuesday said: Safe spaces cannot cover the whole of the university or university life without impinging on right to free speech. The concept of safe spaces if either too broad of very vague and therefore we do not find it helpful. University is an environment where a range of options should be heard and explored. Minority views should not be barred from student union premises. It found that many of the incidents in which free speech was restricted mainly involved issues such as abortion, Islamophobia and transgender issues. There have been increasing issues in universities of masked protestors interrupting speeches. One incident at the University of the West of England in Bristol occurred when Jacob Rees-Mogg was delivering a talk. The report described these incidents as deplorable before adding: Masked protest, intimidatory filming or physical disruption is unacceptable and must be stopped. Law enforcement agencies should take action where appropriate Where student groups or bodies are inhibiting free speech rights in this way, universities should take disciplinary action to protect the right to free speech, in line with their statutory duty. Chris Hale, Director of Policy at Universities UK said: "Universities are absolutely committed to promoting and securing free speech and will not allow legitimate speech to be stifled. L inda Brown, the Kansas girl whose US Supreme Court case led to the end of racial segregation in schools, has died aged 76. In 1951 her father, Oliver Brown, tried to enrol the family in an all-white school in Topeka but they were turned away. He then became the lead plaintiff in the landmark Brown v Board of Education case, which struck down legal segregation in US schools. Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel at the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People paid tribute to Ms Brown, who died in her hometown of Topeka. "She stands as an example of how ordinary schoolchildren took centre stage in transforming this country. It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country," she said. Linda Brown was at the centre of the 1954 ruling which ended school segregation in the US / AP Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka confirmed that Ms Brown died Sunday afternoon, with no cause of death released. The historic landmark case was brought before the Supreme Court by the NAACP's legal arm to challenge segregation in public schools. It began after several black families in Topeka were turned down when they tried to enrol their children in white schools near their homes. The lawsuit was joined with cases from Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that separating black and white children was unconstitutional because it denied black children the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. "In the field of public education, the doctrine of `separate but equal' has no place," Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote. "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The Brown decision overturned the court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which on May 18, 1896, established a "separate but equal" doctrine for racial segregation in public facilities. "Sixty-four years ago, a young girl from Topeka, Kansas sparked a case that ended segregation in public schools in America," said Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer. A father who lost his wife and three children in the Russia mall blaze today blamed Vladimir Putins regime for the disaster as the president laid flowers at the scene. Igor Vostrikovs three children Anna, seven, Artem, five, Roman, two, were killed along with his wife, Elena Vostrikova, 30 and sister Alyona Sabadash, 23, when flames tore through the Winter Cherry complex on Sunday. They were shut inside one of three cinemas and used their phones to beg that the doors were unbolted so they could escape. Visiting the scene in Kemerovo, Siberia, Mr Putin said the fire, which killed 64 people - 41 of them children - was caused by criminal negligence. Putin visits fire memorial as 41 victims confirmed as children But in a tirade on his social media, Mr Vostrikov blamed alleged corruption in Russia under which officials enrich themselves from state money but fail to ensure safety for ordinary people. He wrote: My family is not here any more. The ruling regime in my country is to blame. Every official dreams to steal like Putin. Every government official treats people like dirt - and his bosses treat him in the same way as all those who are beneath them. Igor and Elena Vostrikov / The Siberian Times After the fire, he said: They will appoint a scapegoat and close down the case and the threats will remain negligence, total corruption, drinking and general degradation of the whole population. Putin will keep punishing personally this or that person. The order is to check all shopping malls and we have many other buildings, just old houses, hospitals a tragedy may happen anywhere. Thousands of angry residents were rallying in Kemerovo to demand a full probe following the fire, disputing the official death toll, saying that the authorities are hiding the real scale of the disaster and speculating up to 350 people could have been killed. Alyona Sabadash, sister of Igor Vostrikov / The Siberian Times It is thought that like most of Russias most deadly fires, the blaze might have been sparked by an electrical fault. Videos on social media showed people jumping from windows to escape after witnesses said doors were locked. In a heart rending video, the grieving businessman said: They called from inside, they asked for help, saying that they were locked in there, We cant breathe, save us. Nobody helped because when fire broke out, all people managed to run away and escape, and those remained inside cinema halls just could not do it. This is the fact. At least 64 dead in Russian shopping centre fire In tears he said his daughter, two sons, wife and sister did not have a chance and were left to die. My sister called my parents from there and said goodbye. My wifes last words were Igoryusha, we are locked inside the cinema, we cant breathe, we are dying, I love you. Mr Vostrikov added that he had refused to sign a paper - as demanded by police - promising not to disclose certain information about the tragedy. Russias Investigative Committee said a fire safety technician at the complex switched off the alarm system after being alerted about the fire. It said a criminal investigation had begun, with five people arrested, including the official suspected of deactivating the public address system. Kemerovo politician Anton Gorelkin said that fire exits were shut, turning the complex into a trap and there was no organised evacuation. A married teacher has been accused of bombarding a 13-year-old pupil with explicit texts and performing a sex act on him in a classroom. Britanny Zamora, 27, a teacher at Las Brisas Academy Elementary School in Goodyear, Arizona, allegedly also had sex with the student three times, according to court records seen by the Arizona Republic. The sexual relationship is said to have begun in early February after Ms Zamora began "flirting" with the boy on a classroom chat group, the records said. The sixth-grade teacher is suspected of sending naked pictures and snaps of herself in lingerie, while the victim sent naked pictures back to her. During their texts, it is claimed the boy told Ms Zamora he wanted to have sex with her again. "I know baby! I want you every day with no time limit," she replied, according to court records. In another text she is said to have written: "If I could quit my job and (have sex with) you all day long, I would." Police got involved after the teen's parents put an app on his phone to monitor his messages, according to the newspaper. His parents told officers that Ms Zamora's husband called the father and "harassed" him, saying his wife had just "made a big mistake". The husband suggested they "meet up" to "settle" the matter, according to the boy's father, who said that he turned the offer down and hung up. Ms Zamora was arrested and is now detained on suspicion of eight counts of sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of child molestation and one of transmitting obscene material. Her bail has been set at $250,000 (177,000). In a statement posted on the school's website, Liberty School District interim superintendent Richard Rundhaug said: "The safety of our students is our #1 priority. Transparency is equally important. We are fully cooperating with the Goodyear Police Department and will comment further at the appropriate time. He later added that the teacher would not be returning to teach at the school. A heavily guarded North Korean train has arrived in Beijing, sparking rumours of a secret visit by leader Kim Jong-un. The dictator is said to have arrived in China on a specially armoured train in what would be his first known foreign trip since taking power in 2011. Japanese media reported that the level of security accompanying the train and subsequent motorcade was unusually high. Bloomberg News later said three separate sources had confirmed Mr Kim was on the train. There has been no mention of a visit in Chinese or North Korean state media, but if true the meeting would represent a major diplomatic development. China is North Koreas only major ally but relations have been strained between the two recently over Mr Kims nuclear weapons programme. Motorcade in Beijing amid Kim visit speculation A South Korean government spokesman said: "The government is closely communicating with relevant countries and monitoring the situation." Footage of the train, broadcast by Tokyos Nippon News Network, showed a green carriage decorated with yellow lines. The channel claimed it looked similar to a train used by previous leader Kim Jong-Il for a visit to Beijing in 2011 P rince had an exceedingly high level of fentanyl in his body when he died, according to a toxicology report. The pop star was 57 when he was found alone and unresponsive in a lift at his Paisley Park home in Minnesota on April 21, 2016. Soon after his death, medical examiners said he died of an accidental overdose of the painkiller. But the confidential toxicology report from his post-mortem examination, obtained by the Associated Press, has revealed into just how much fentanyl was in his system. Fentanyl is an opioid painkiller that is 50 times stronger than heroin. The report says the concentration in Princes blood was 67.8 micrograms per litre, adding that deaths have been documented in people with blood levels ranging from three to 58 micrograms per litre. Dr Lewis Nelson, chairman of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, described the concentrations as a pretty clear smoking gun. He added: The amount in his blood is exceedingly high, even for somebody who is a chronic pain patient on fentanyl patches. The report also said the level of fentanyl in Princes liver was 450 micrograms per kilogram, highlighting that liver concentrations greater than 69 micrograms per kilogram seem to represent overdose or fatal toxicity cases. Dr Charles McKay, president of the American College of Medical Toxicology, said the findings suggest Prince took the drug orally, while fentanyl in the blood and liver suggest it had some time to circulate before he died. Authorities who searched Princes home after his death found numerous pills in various containers, with many testing positive for fentanyl. Last week, Carver County Attorney Mark Metz said he was reviewing law enforcement reports about the stars death and would make a decision on possible charges in the near future. A major Evening Standard investigation this month revealed the full extent of Britains rising dependency on opioids. It found that although the drugs do not relieve chronic pain in 90 per cent of cases. prescriptions in England have risen 80 per cent in 10 years. W estern leaders awaited the response of Vladimir Putin after Australia became the latest country to expel Russian spies in a show of support for Britain over the Salisbury poisoning. More than 100 Russian diplomats have been ordered to leave more than 20 countries - including 60 from the United States. The ever-growing list of countries backing the UKs response to the attack included Canada, Ukraine, Norway, Macedonia and Albania and 16 European Union member states. Theresa May dubbed the show of solidarity the "largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history". Russian diplomats expelled from 14 EU nations Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson added that countries of the world "have come together in numbers far greater than Putin could possibly have imagined and they are saying enough is enough". Upon announcing his decision to expel two Russian diplomats identified as "undeclared intelligence officers", Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelled the attack on the former double agent Sergei Skripal a "disgraceful" and "brazen" incident. Australia PM Malcolm Turnbull expels Russian diplomats He said his country "cannot and will not stand by and watch when the sovereignty of our allies and partners is threatened" and said the nerve agent poisoning, which left Mr Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, critically ill, was "an attack on all of us". The co-ordinated move from Western countries drew a furious response from Moscow, which accused the allies of "blindly following the principle of the Euro-Atlantic unity to the detriment of common sense, the norms of civilised inter-state dialogue and the principles of international law". The Permanent Russian Mission to the United Nations in Manhattan / Getty In Moscow, President Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, hinted the Kremlin would respond with tit-for-tat expulsions, saying Russia would proceed from the "principle of reciprocity". Russia has already ordered 23 British diplomats to leave in response to the expulsion of a similar number of undeclared Russian intelligence officers from the UK. The entrance to the Russian Consulate in Seattle, Washington / EPA The Russian foreign ministry said: "This provocative gesture of notorious solidarity with London, made by countries that preferred to follow in London's footsteps without bothering to look into other circumstances of the incident, merely continues the policy of escalating the confrontation." Loading.... On Monday, Mrs May told the Commons that the Skripals remain critically ill in hospital and said doctors had indicated that their condition is unlikely to change in the near future and they may never recover fully. The Russian Embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands / EPA Last week EU leaders backed Mrs May's assertion that there was "no plausible alternative explanation" other than Russia was responsible for the poisoning of the former double agent and his daughter. European Council president Donald Tusk said "additional measures" - including further expulsions - could not be excluded "in the coming days and weeks". The Russian Federation flag flies over the Russian Consulate in New York / EPA A cat from Arizona was left meowing for help after getting stuck atop a telegraph pole for days, becoming an internet sensation in the process. The animal's antics attracted thousands of online viewers, with a live stream of it relaxing on the pole shared on Facebook. Video footage shows the black and white cat grooming itself before peering at the ground while stranded on top of the power pole in Phoenix, Arizona. Residents told local news outlet ABC15 that the animal is a community cat that lives in a nearby neighbourhood and that it had been stuck for several days. The live stream came to an end when an unidentified man used a ladder to climb up and rescue the cat. It is currently being taken care of by neighbours. A local utilities company called Salt River Project claimed that they usually put food and water at the base of the pole to draw the animal down without inadvertently scaring it. The live stream of the trapped cat prompted such a worried response from viewers that the Phoenix Fire Department issued a message to the public to stop inundating them with emergency calls. One concerned viewer commented on the live stream: Send in the old fashioned fire men with a ladder!! Or utility worker ... thatd be a great photo op!! P ilots flying two separate aircrafts in southern Arizona reported close encounters with an unidentified flying object on the same day last month. New audio emerged revealing the pilots independently calling air traffic control on February 24 to report seeing an object at around 40,000 feet. One pilot, flying a passenger jet for American Airlines, said the object "had a big reflection". News outlet The War Zone said it obtained the recording from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of calls into the Albuquerque Centre air traffic control. It began when a Learjet pilot called Albuquerque Centre to ask if anything had passed above the aircraft while flying over the desert in southeastern Arizona. I dont know what it was. It wasnt an airplane but it was, the path was going in the opposite direction, he said in the recording. A few minutes later, air traffic control asked an American Airlines pilot to let them know if they saw anything "pass over you here in the next 15 miles". Despite some initial scepticism, a few minutes later the pilot confirmed that he too had seen an object. Aliens - In pictures 1 /18 Aliens - In pictures Phone home: E.T. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) Daleks from Doctor Who. Created by Kaled scientist Davros, on their home-world planet Skaro BBC Henry Cavill as Superman (2013) was born as Kal-El on the planet Krypton David Bowie as Thomas Jerome Newton in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' (1976) Alien (1979) Predator (1987) is a humanoid alien also known as Yautja or Hish-Qu-Ten from the planet Yautja Prime. Robin Williams as Mork from the TV show 'Mork and Mindy' (1980's). Mork came to Earth from the planet Ork in an Orkan egg-shaped spaceship ALF from the TV show (1980's). ALF is an alien from the planet Melmac who follows an amateur radio signal to Earth and crash-lands into the garage of The Tanners family in the San Fernando Valley area of California Cybermen from Doctor Who are a 'race' of cybernetically augmented humanoids with different factions originating independently by parallel evolution on planets throughout time and space BBC Worms from Men in Black II (2002) Chewbacca from Star Wars hails from the planet Kashyyyk and is a Wookie warrior, smuggler, and resistance fighter who fought in the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, and the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance. Yoda from Star Wars is Grand Master of the Jedi Order Avatar (2009) from distant world of Pandora 20th Century Fox Paul (2011) Zachary Quinto as Spock and Chris Pine as Kirk from 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' (2013). Spock comes from the city of Shi'Kahr on the planet Vulcan Klingons from Star Trek Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) AP/Disney/Marvel Studios "Yeah something just passed over us, I don't know what it was, but it was at least two-three thousand feet above us," the American Airlines pilot said. He said he could not work out what the object was but it "had a big reflection"and was going in the opposite direction. Shortly after a pilot asked on the frequency: "Was it a Google balloon?" "Doubtful," the pilot replied. "A UFO," someone else said. FAA spokeswoman Lynn Lunsford told KOB, the NBC station in Albuquerque: We dont have any comment beyond what you hear. Other than the brief conversation between two aircraft, the controller was unable to verify that any other aircraft was in the area. "We have a close working relationship with a number of other agencies and safely handle military aircraft and civilian aircraft of all types in that area every day, including high-altitude weather balloons. "In other words, it's up to you and your imagination to speculate about what the pilots may have seen." A mericans will be asked about their citizenship status by the next US census for the first time since 1950, in a move which has sparked controversy. The population count taken every decade is used to determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives as well as the distribution of federal money. Donald Trump previously claimed that millions of immigrants fraudulently voted in the 2016 presidential election. California and New York have vowed legal action to block the move on the grounds it will deter immigrants from taking part. Donald Trump claimed millions of immigrants voted fraudulently in the 2016 election / REUTERS California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said: "We're prepared to do what we must to protect California from a deficient census. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, said he expected his state would also join in a lawsuit. He called the move an attempt to suppress the count in states such as Massachusetts that have large immigrant populations. "The Constitution requires us to count every person living in the United States, not every citizen," Mr Galvin said. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said that adding such a question "will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities and cause traditionally under-counted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind." Some Republicans hailed the decision. "It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide ranging impacts it will have on US policy," said Texas senator Ted Cruz. "A question on citizenship is a reasonable, commonsense addition to the census." The Justice Department said in a statement it was important to restore the use of a citizenship question in the 10-year census because it is used for redistricting purposes and the yearly survey is not the most appropriate data to use for that purpose. C aroline Flack and Andrew Brady have reportedly split up just weeks after moving in together, according to new claims. Reports on Tuesday morning suggested that the Love Island host called time on the pairs blossoming romance amid cheating claims, saying that Flack had found out he hadnt been entirely honest with her. An insider told The Sun: Caroline ended things with Andrew after realising that he hadnt been entirely honest with her. She felt like she couldnt trust him. Things started to unravel after the first cheating claim. Split: The couple - who confirmed their romance with sweet snow selfies - have called time on their relationship / Facebook / Caroline Flack The publication also report that Flack has cleared her Instagram of any photos or videos with Brady and blocked him on the site. Standard Online has contacted to representatives for Flack and Brady for comment. Caroline Flack - In pictures 1 /42 Caroline Flack - In pictures 2019 Caroline Flack as host of Love Island ITV 2014 Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC/PA 2015 Caroline Flack briefly hosting The X Factor Thames/Syco production for ITV 2019 Caroline Flack attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. PA 2019 Caroline Flack and Lewis Burton leaving Bagatelle restaurant after celebrating her 40th Birthday SplashNews.com Caroline Flack attends the Brits Awards 2018 After Party hosted by Warner Music Group, Ciroc and British GQ at Freemasons Hall on February 21, 2018 in London,England. Dave Benett 2018 Caroline Flack attending the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London. PA 2018 Roxie Nafousi and Caroline Flack attend the launch of The Tanqueray No.10 Table at Dalloway Terrace hosted by Gizzi Erskine Dave Benett 2018 Caroline Flack attending the National Television Awards held at the O2 Arena, London. PA 2017 Caroline Flack attends an intimate dinner hosted by Henry Holland and Andrew Nugent to celebrate the House of Holland Resort 18 collection and Bird In Hand wine collaboration at Carousel London Dave Benett 2017 Caroline Flack attending the Fashion Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. PA 2017 Caroline Flack arriving at the ITV Gala held at the London Palladium Getty Images 2017 Caroline Flack attending the Glamour Women of the Year Awards PA 2017 Holly Willoughby and Caroline Flack attend The Warner Music and Ciroc Brit Awards After Party Dave Benett 2017 Caroline Flack attends the InStyle EE Rising Star Party ahead of the EE BAFTA Awards at The Ivy Soho Brasserie Dave Benett 2017 Caroline Flack attends the National Television Awards cocktail reception at The O2 Arena Dave Benett 2017 Scarlett Moffatt and Caroline Flack attend the National Television Awards Getty Images 2016 Caroline Flack and Jamie Cullum attend the launch of Help Refugees' 'Choose Love' winter appeal with Jamie Cullum and friends at The Jazz Cafe Dave Benett 2016 Caroline Flack host of Love Island ITV 2016 Caroline Flack attends the House Of Fraser British Academy Television Awards 2016 at the Royal Festival Hall Getty Images 2016 Caroline Flack and Angela Scanlon attend the 21st National Television Awards at The O2 Arena Dave Benett 2015 Caroline Flack attends the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Of The Year awards at One Mayfair Dave Benett 2015 Caroline Flack attending the ITV Gala at the London Palladium. PA 2015 Caroline Flack arriving for The Pride of Britain Awards at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London. PA 2015 Caroline Flack at The X Factor Auditrions in Manchester with Olly Murs Daily Mail 2015 Caroline Flack attending the X Factor auditions held at Wembley Arena PA 2015 Caroline Flack hosting X Factor with Olly Murs ITV 2015 Caroline Flack arriving for the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London PA 2015 Caroline Flack on the catwalk during the Fashion for Relief a charity fashion show PA 2014 Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC 2014 Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC 2014 Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC 2014 Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC 2014 Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC 2014 Caroline Flack in Strictly Come Dancing BBC 2014 Laura Whitmore and Caroline Flack attend the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in Berkeley Square Gardens Dave Benett 2014 The press night performance of "I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical" at the London Palladium Dave Benett 2014 Oxfam's Lift Lives for Good campaign Rankin/PA 2014 The Brit Awards Dave Benett 2013 Caroline Flack attends the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards at Victoria & Albert Museum Getty Images 2013 The launch of The Vinyl Collection curated by Annie Mac and the AMP 2013 album at W London - Leicester Square Dave Benett 2013 Party in Wyld at W London Leicester Square after the NME Awards Dave Benett Flack, 38, had previously gushed about her new beau all over social media as she shared pictures of them kissing and cuddling. It was also reported that the two had decided to move in together after pictures of Brady carrying things into her North London home emerged. However, their relationship was thrown into the spotlight just a couple weeks after they made things official by cheating claims from a woman who claimed to have spent the night with Brady. Review at a glance D id Danny Brocklehurst watch The Affair before he dreamed up Come Home? The comparison may not be obvious. The Affair was all about attractive people doing unpleasant things in a tempting American environment. True, it had drug-dealing hillbillies, but the central point was the descent of a middle-class writer into a hell of his own design. Or so it seemed. What the show was actually about was the unreliability of truth. The drama played around with time. It presented events from different perspectives, the better to explain the self-destructive behaviour. Episode one of Come Home has none of the sunny allure of The Affair. As youd expect from a writer who graduated from Shameless and maintains an affinity for the vernacular humanity of Alan Bleasdale, it is rooted in unglamorous domesticity. Greg (Christopher Eccleston) is a single father who runs a garage in Belfast. The odd thing the dramatic thing is that Gregs wife abandoned him after 19 years without asking for custody of the kids. She just walked out. At least, thats what Greg says when he tries to explain his predicament to an unimpressed date in a pub. And now youre thinking, Greg continues, whats up with him? What could drive a woman to walk out on her own family her own home? Ecclestons Greg isnt a million miles from his portrayal of Maurice in The A Word at first, anyway. Hes slightly less backward at coming forward and soon manages a bunk up with Brenna (Kerri Quinn), who delivers rolls to the garage at lunchtime. Her husband is a nutter. A violent nutter. And Brenna? Well, shes not what she seems, is she? Shes good at the sex but that bit where she suggests to Gregs kids that they might like to loosen up and try a bit of E or ketamine? Awkward. But then again, the sex. Episode two comes more from the perspective of the absent wife, Marie (Paula Malcomson) who is admirably restrained when she discovers Greg in her house sniffing her knickers. What could drive a woman to walk out on her family? We may yet find out. Eccleston is reliably great, and his characters way of coping with the confusion is to get up in the night and listen to Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground, so he deserves a bit of understanding. Channel 4 In episode four of The Great Celebrity Bake Off, the great celebrities include Joe Lycett, who is a comedian, Melanie Sykes, who is a TV and radio presenter, Lee Mack, who is the star of Not Going Out, and Griff Rhys Jones, who used to be Griff Rhys Jones but has now grown a satanic jazz beard. The great celebrities make blondies, which are equal-opportunity brownies. Everything goes as youd expect. All the hosts have their shirts untucked, the better to hide their cake-waists, Paul Hollywood cuts his fruit turnover open with a knife and fork, which is rather lah-di-dah, and then reveals that despite going to art school, he has never heard of Frida Kahlo. Melanie has, and decides to make a cake in the shape of Kahlos head, with chilli chocolate sponge and tequila buttercream. And, says the voiceover, to reflect Fridas creative side, Melanies hiding chocolate sweets in the centre. Its what Frida would have wanted. @AHMcKay Come Home airs Tuesday, March 27 at 9pm on BBC One and The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer airs on the same date at 8pm on Channel 4. Pick of the day Divorce The first series of this Sarah Jessica Parker comedy drama was admirably dark and seemed like a bold venture for the Sex and the City star. The second is considerably lighter, which is not surprising as the series is now run by SATC alumna Jenny Bicks, who brought several of the shows writers with her. But its still a show about divorce, so there is room for emotional shading, and the flickering chemistry between Frances (Parker) and her ex, Robert (Thomas Haden Church), feels true to life. Robert is like a bear emerging from hibernation, his charisma unleashed by the removal of his moustache. And now he has a girlfriend Jackie (played by Ugly Bettys Becki Newton) who looks like a more tolerant, box-fresh version of his ex-wife. There are limits to tolerance, of course, and when Jackie encourages Robert to play his Yes records loudly she is surely going too far. Its a bittersweet episode for Frances, who finds herself feeling excluded from her own family. Meanwhile, uptown... Sky Atlantic, 10.10pm New TV shows to look forward to in 2018 1 /17 New TV shows to look forward to in 2018 The Little Drummer Girl Florence Pugh as Charlie with Alexander Skarsgard as Becker in the John le Carre thriller BBC / The Little Drummer Girl Distribution Limited. The Cry Jenna Coleman and Ewen Leslie Synchronicity Films Ltd/Lachlan Moore Vanity Fair ITV and Amazon's remake of William. M. Thackeray's classic novel starring Olivia Cooke and Tom Bateman ITV Wanderlust Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh star in BBC's new raunchy drama BBC/Drama Republic Press Charlotte Riley and Ben Chaplin go head-to-head as rival newspaper editors in new drama from Doctor Foster creator Mike Barlett BBC Death and Nightingales Jamie Dornan, Ann Skelly and Matthew Rhys star in a three-part drama for BBC Two BBC Maniac Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star in the limited Netflix series coming September Michele K. Short / Netflix Disenchantment Matt Groening is back and on Netflix with new adult comedy following Princess Bean and friends Netflix / Matt Groening Age Before Beauty Age Before Beauty on BBC One with Polly Walker, Sue Johnston and Lisa Riley follows a family business with plenty of secrets BBC/Mainstreet Pictures/Todd Antony Hard Sun Luther creator Neil Cross has another dabble at the cop show format in this crime/sci-fi drama inspired by the Bowie song Five Years. BBC/Euston Films A Very English Scandal Hugh Grant stars in this drama from Doctor Who/Sherlock writer Russell T Davies, which adapts John Prestons book about the scandal that surrounded Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe BBC/Blueprint Television Ltd Kiri National Treasure writer Jack Thorne pens a four-part drama about the abduction of a young black girl. The ever-reliable Sarah Lancashire is unconventional social worker Miriam, who finds herself being blamed. Channel 4 Britannia Filmed in Wales and Prague, Jez Butterworths historical drama is set in 43AD, when Roman General Aulus (David Morrissey) is attempting to conquer the Celts. Sky Collateral David Hares four-part drama (his first original TV series) explores the repercussions after a pizza delivery man is shot dead. Carey Mulligan plays Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, who investigates. BBC/The Forge Save Me In the absence of Doctor Foster, Suranne Jones stars as the mother of a missing girl who believes that her ex- (Lennie James, who wrote the show) is guilty of the abduction, forcing him to work to clear his name. Sky Atlantic Troy: Fall of a City Swords and sandals epic in eight parts made in a collaboration with Netflix, written by David Farr (who also wrote The Night Manager). BBC/Wild Mercury Productions Patrick Melrose Benedict Cumberbatch looks right at home in this adaptation of the Edward St Aubyn novels about an outrageous aristocrat struggling to overcome the damage inflicted by an abusive father. Dave Benett Screen Time One Strange Rock Black Swan director Darren Aronofskys love letter to the wonders of earth science has eight things going for it, all of them astronauts. Actually, thats unfair, as the visuals are quite astonishing (though the small print admits they may have beengraphically enhanced), and narrator Will Smith keeps things accessible enough for the kids at the back of the class. But its the open-eyed awe of the astronauts that brings the science to life. Chris Hadfield who sang Space Oddity on the International Space Station is particularly persuasive, comparing the Earths oxygen to the vibrations of a guitar string. National Geographic, 8pm Saturn 3 First, the good news the Earth still exists in the future. The bad news is that food is in short supply, so top scientists Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett are stationed in orbit around Saturn devising new crops to feed the population. Which is hard enough even harder with a killer robot on the loose. London Live, 10pm Kate Adies Women of World War One The story of goal-scoring sensation Bella Reay of Blyth Spartans Munitions Girls, who would play in front of crowds of 20,000, is one of the many exposed by Kate Adie in this history of how British women were assimilated into an unreceptive society. These women were usually spectators themselves but the arrival of war hastened changes that suffragettes such as Evelina Haverfield had long been campaigning for. Attitudes, this film details, have barely changed. The women working in the munitions factories were decried by the papers for enjoying nights out; these women inhaled such toxic chemicals that their unborn childrens skin turned yellow. London Live, 8pm Catch Up The Bridge More news on Saga Noren and The Bridge. Series four of the peerless Scandi noir, starring Sofia Helin, below, as the overly logical leather-trousered cop, has now been pencilled in for broadcast on BBC Two in May. In the meantime, the first three series have just been released on the BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer Set the box Arena: Bob Dylan Trouble No More An Easter treat for Bob Dylan fans. Arena has made a documentary on his Born Again period. Ever the enigma, Dylan suggested 1980 live footage be linked by sermons. Luc Sante was commissioned to write them, Michael Shannon plays the preacher, and Jennifer LeBeau directs. T hese days, the cabbies are the only ones who truly get me. All my childhood friends have moved away, priced out by the sharpest- rising housing costs in the UK. Now theyre scattered in far-flung places such as New Zealand, New York, Manchester and even (shudder) south London. But sometimes, on a cab ride back east late at night, well take a route through central Hackney (where I grew up), Stepney (where my mum did) or maybe Homerton (where my dad still lives) and eventually on to Plaistow (where Ive ended up). Kisstory will be playing on the radio, Ill catch the cabbie in a wistful mood and well do some reminiscing about how east London used to be. They get it. Them and Idris Elba, whose new show, a nostalgia-steeped sitcom about growing up on a council estate in Eighties east London, is really taking me back. The series is created and produced by Elba, who also co-stars as factory worker and family man Walter Easmon, a character partly based on his own father. Walter moved to the UK from Sierra Leone and now lives with his wife Agnes (Madeline Appiah) and their only son, 12-year-old Kobna (Sammy Kamara) in a block of flats in Leyton. Its a happy, settled life thats disrupted when Walters party-loving younger brother, Valentine (an absolutely effervescent Jimmy Akingbola) moves to London to join them. Over six episodes we get to see east London as it used to be. Not only from the perspectives of this one family well-integrated Walter and Agnes, their British-born child whos never known another home, and optimistic recent immigrant Valentine but also from that of their white working-class upstairs neighbour Bagpipes (played by lovably oddball stand-up Bill Bailey) and his family. It looks familiar. Of course, there are some slight differences between me and my spiritual twin Idris. Hes more than a decade older for a start, and his people are from Sierra Leone and Ghana, while mine hail from Byker in Newcastle, Cork in Ireland and Westmoreland, Jamaica. Judging by the last Thor movie, he also doesnt look quite as good in metallic Lycra, as I do, but thats by the by. We both spent our formative years on Hackney council estates and, given how much the area has changed in the past 20 years, thats a bond that means something. What does In the Long Run get right? Often its the details. In the first episode Walter feels water dripping on his head, marches upstairs and barges into Bagpipes flat to locate the source. Leaks from over-full baths or bad plumbing seemed to be a part of life in these council blocks, as was the relatively free way neighbours were forever in and out of each others flats. New TV shows to look forward to in 2018 1 /17 New TV shows to look forward to in 2018 The Little Drummer Girl Florence Pugh as Charlie with Alexander Skarsgard as Becker in the John le Carre thriller BBC / The Little Drummer Girl Distribution Limited. The Cry Jenna Coleman and Ewen Leslie Synchronicity Films Ltd/Lachlan Moore Vanity Fair ITV and Amazon's remake of William. M. Thackeray's classic novel starring Olivia Cooke and Tom Bateman ITV Wanderlust Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh star in BBC's new raunchy drama BBC/Drama Republic Press Charlotte Riley and Ben Chaplin go head-to-head as rival newspaper editors in new drama from Doctor Foster creator Mike Barlett BBC Death and Nightingales Jamie Dornan, Ann Skelly and Matthew Rhys star in a three-part drama for BBC Two BBC Maniac Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star in the limited Netflix series coming September Michele K. Short / Netflix Disenchantment Matt Groening is back and on Netflix with new adult comedy following Princess Bean and friends Netflix / Matt Groening Age Before Beauty Age Before Beauty on BBC One with Polly Walker, Sue Johnston and Lisa Riley follows a family business with plenty of secrets BBC/Mainstreet Pictures/Todd Antony Hard Sun Luther creator Neil Cross has another dabble at the cop show format in this crime/sci-fi drama inspired by the Bowie song Five Years. BBC/Euston Films A Very English Scandal Hugh Grant stars in this drama from Doctor Who/Sherlock writer Russell T Davies, which adapts John Prestons book about the scandal that surrounded Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe BBC/Blueprint Television Ltd Kiri National Treasure writer Jack Thorne pens a four-part drama about the abduction of a young black girl. The ever-reliable Sarah Lancashire is unconventional social worker Miriam, who finds herself being blamed. Channel 4 Britannia Filmed in Wales and Prague, Jez Butterworths historical drama is set in 43AD, when Roman General Aulus (David Morrissey) is attempting to conquer the Celts. Sky Collateral David Hares four-part drama (his first original TV series) explores the repercussions after a pizza delivery man is shot dead. Carey Mulligan plays Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, who investigates. BBC/The Forge Save Me In the absence of Doctor Foster, Suranne Jones stars as the mother of a missing girl who believes that her ex- (Lennie James, who wrote the show) is guilty of the abduction, forcing him to work to clear his name. Sky Atlantic Troy: Fall of a City Swords and sandals epic in eight parts made in a collaboration with Netflix, written by David Farr (who also wrote The Night Manager). BBC/Wild Mercury Productions Patrick Melrose Benedict Cumberbatch looks right at home in this adaptation of the Edward St Aubyn novels about an outrageous aristocrat struggling to overcome the damage inflicted by an abusive father. Dave Benett When I was about seven or eight, I remember a friend of mine went missing for a few hours one afternoon and eventually turned up in the flat of the old lady on the top floor. Shed gone in there to hide, crawled behind the sofa and fallen asleep. Then theres the estate pub-meets-community centre, where everyone, including the under-12s, spend their nights out in In the Long Run its called The Milton Arms and the sort of off racial remarks you heard much more often in those days. In one episode, for example, Bagpipes is confused to discover that Valentines DJ set doesnt include Africa by Toto. It isnt just details, though. Elbas series also notes wider social trends, such as the ordinariness of mixed-race children and families. One scene portrays the familiar scenario of a white mum who isnt quite sure how to care for her childs afro-textured hair; Agnes steps in to advise, as many real-life Caribbean or African aunties have done. More often, though, this was just an unremarked reality. In Eighties and Nineties Hackney, even those households that wouldnt have been described as mixed were part of a culture that definitely was. We might not all have known our nine times tables but youd be hard-pressed to find a primary-school child from that era who wasnt as au fait with tales of Rama and Sita and Anansi the Spider Man as they were with the Nativity and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Star of the show: Idris Elba in the new series / Sky Atlantic It was a nice way to grow up, and such a childhood also means Ive never recognised the all-white version of the old East End sometimes conjured up by anti-immigration rhetoric. You need only walk past the Battle of Cable Street mural in Shadwell, or the tin dragon sculpture of Mandarin Street in Limehouses erstwhile Chinatown, or visit Brick Lane Mosque (formerly a Jewish synagogue and before that a French Huguenot chapel), to feel the lie in that. Whats worth celebrating in east London isnt the successful integration of any one wave of immigrants, but the communitys way of coming together, over and over again, despite superficial differences. Maybe its just another incarnation of this same community cohesion that the old-timers are missing when they speak fondly of those days when you could leave your back door unlocked, safe in the knowledge that those nice young chaps Ronnie n Reggie Kray would keep order. Its also what the Easts latest wave of wealthy young incomers are seeking when they congregate at their neo village fetes, revive a long-dormant WI or venture into a foreboding boozer in search of craft ales and kitsch cocktails. I wish them luck. Not least because, it seems I have now become one of them. But still, a word of caution to vegan taco-truck man and yogi Goth girl: one day, not so very far in the future, it will be you whos feeling displaced and banging on about the good old days to bored cab drivers and whomever else will listen. This is the great irony of east London gentrification: the very same lively community sprit that first makes a run-down area seem desirable is exactly whats in danger of being lost for ever when long-established local characters are priced out. But then, thats also just how it goes, as Idris Elba himself reminded me when I interviewed him about another of his London-set TV projects last year: Yknow, generationally, Im sort of old, he said with that baritone cockney chuckle. And London was different when I was [younger], but whats interesting is that London doesnt really change. It always feels familiar to me, because all the old building are still there, where I grew up, and some of the streets Its the interaction, the fluidity that feels unique. You might know someone in a pub who knows someone, who knows someone else and thats very London. In New York its less likely, in Sydney, less likely, but in London it feels more likely, yknow? So can the new east London hold on to that old east London sense of community cohesion, even in the midst of yet more change and upheaval? Well do our best. Because, as my mate Idris will tell you, in the long run its community that matters. @MissEllenEJones Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, said on Tuesday in the joint plenary meeting that he wants Romania's union with the Republic of Moldova "together in Europe, but as one nation". "I say openly, simply and explicitly - I want us to unite with Moldova! I want us to be together in Europe but as one nation. Romania was strong when it was united and it will be united and strong. That is our ideal. That is the ideal to assert ourselves in history as a united, free and prosperous nation in which all its citizens feel free, feel proud and have a better life," Dragnea told the solemn session of the Legislature in Bucharest, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the union of Bessarabia with Romania. He proposed that the plenary hall of the Chamber of Deputies be named "Vasile Stroescu", the first speaker of the reunified Parliament of Greater Romania.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies added that, 100 years after the Great Union, it is our duty not to forget the tragic destiny of the unionist generation and to know the dimension of its sacrifice and not to forget "these crimes and those who ordered them and not forget that resistance to oppression is the highest form of national consciousness." AGERPRES . Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and Deputies' Chamber Speaker Liviu Dragnea on Tuesday had a joint bilateral meeting with the delegation headed by Republic of Moldova Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu and the delegation of the Moldovan Government, headed by Deputy PM for European Integration Iurie Leanca. "The chairs of the two chambers of Parliament of Bucharest hailed the context in which this meeting took place - marking the Centennial since the adoption on 27 March 1918 of the Union Act by the Country Council of Chisinau. Calin Popescu-Tariceanu underscored that Romania firmly rejects any attempt to distort the significance of the Union Act, the Union of 27 March 1918 being the result of the will and the decision of the Romanians in Basarabia, carried out by common will with the Romanians in the Kingdom, in the most favourable historic moment after the collapse of the oppressing empires. At the same time, he mentioned that the Romanian history, language and culture are part of the European value heritage, and the European integration of the Republic of Moldova will crown its return to this space of shared values," reads a Senate release. According to the release, the Chamber Speaker said that the Republic of Moldova represents a constant priority to Romania, and the development of this relation is a topic on which there is a general consensus, on the level of the entire political class and society of Romania. He voiced once more the union desire of the two countries and of assertion in history as a free, united and prosperous nation.The meeting was preceded by the joint solemn meeting devoted to the 100th anniversary since the Union of Basarabia with Romania, which took place at the Palace of Parliament, having as guests the two delegations of the Republic of Moldova. In Chisinau, Moldova, on Tuesday, national leader of Romania's National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban co-operation protocols with Moldova's pro-European parties - the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), led by Maia Sandu, and the Dignity and Truth Platform, led by Andrei Nastase. Orban told a news conference that in 2013 PNL concluded a similar protocol with the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM). "Our desire is to be with the three political parties in order to achieve a lasting union that truly offers the citizens of the Republic of Moldova a solid alternative, a serious alternative to what is happening today in the political leadership, at the level of the presidency as well as at the level of the government. I express my optimism that the three political parties that represent a new wave of politics, a new hope for Moldovan citizens, united inside Europe, will have the ability to offer a serious alternative in the election to the office of Chisinau's mayor, as well as the general election in the Republic of Moldova that will take place in the autumn," said Orban.Maia Sandu underscored the need for unity "against corruption and those who want to establish a dictatorship in the Republic of Moldova.""We are glad to sign this cooperation protocol with PNL. We have set to learn from PNL what it is like to work with the diaspora and how to use this extraordinary resource available for the Republic of Moldova," said Sandu.Andrei Nastase also spoke up in favour of unity among the pro-European forces."It is very important that we sign this co-operation protocol today, because our parties are brothers and sisters in the European Popular family and in my view this unity has to be extended to the two nations that we represent; I believe that through our efforts we can all meet one day inside the European Union," said Nastase.Also attending the news conference was PLDM Chairman Viorel Cibotaru.The PNL delegation, headed by Orban, was on Monday and Tuesday in Moldova on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the unification of Basarabia and Romania that was disbanded in 1940. Not all of Russias game-changing weapons were mentioned in the presidents landmark speech that the mainstream media keep writing so much about. The presidents address simply could not include all the numerous breakthroughs in military technology Russia has achieved recently. Some cutting-edge systems exist but are not yet operational. A few are already part of the Russian arsenal, although in rather small numbers. But thats just a start. Many achievements have flown under the media's radar and deserve more exposure. The information available from public sources is worth discussing to get an idea of where things seem to be headed. The military added Kh-32 air-to-surface missiles in 2016 to advance the operational capabilities of the Tu-22M3 Backfire. The weapon was created on the basis of radical updates to the Kh-22. After being launched, the Kh-32 climbs up to the stratosphere, reaching an altitude of 40 km (130,000 ft) for the midcourse phase of its flight. As it nears its target, it goes into a steep dive. The attack is too fast and the missile too maneuverable for the enemy to mount an air defense. The approach can be flown at an altitude as low as five m, going undetected by a ships defense systems until a distance of about 10 km. This leaves a reaction window of roughly 10 seconds before this extremely agile target is hit. It doesnt have a chance. This deadly weapon is a threat to any ground target. The weapon boasts an inertial navigation system and a seeker head. It needs no navigation satellites for guidance and is impossible to jam. Its primary mission is to knock out aircraft carriers and large surface ships, as well as ground-based assets. The Kh-32 has a range of roughly 1,000 km (620 mi) and a speed of over 5,400 kilometers per hour (1,500 meters per second). Its 500-kilogram (1,102 lb.) warhead can be either nuclear or conventional. The US doesnt have anything comparable to the Kh-32, nor does it have an effective system to protect its assets from it. Even the speed and altitude of the famous Aegis (SM-6) are useless against this new weapon. The Kh-32 does not breach the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, as its trajectory does not envisage going into orbit. And this is not the only breakthrough worth talking about. On March 15, Russian Defense Chief Sergey Shoigu made quite a splash when he claimed that mass production of combat robots would begin this year. The military had 160 unmanned aerial drones a few years ago, but today operates about 1,800 of them. The trials of the robots designed for land operations are almost complete. Robotic mine-clearing vehicles have also been successfully developed. Combat, transport, and artillery-reconnaissance variants of the Nerekhta robot exist. The system consists of a compact, light-tracked chassis, and a hull for mounting special equipment. It is used to take on armored weapons. The robot can also be used for transportation and reconnaissance. The Nerekhta can operate alongside drones. The suite of weapons can include a Kord or Kalashnikov machine gun, an AG-30M automatic grenade launcher and an anti-tank missile system. The biomorphic (four-legged) 400-kg Lynx robot will be equipped with a machine gun and anti-tank guided missiles, and can operate in urban and industrial areas, on asphalt, marble, wood, sand, and unpaved roads. Almost no terrain would be off-limits, even ice, grass, snow, or shallow waters. The Lynx can travel up to 15 km/h on flat terrain, and 10 km/h on uneven surfaces. Russia uses robotic security guards to keep its strategic sites safe, including ICBM silos. These vehicles, armed with a machine gun and an automatic grenade launcher (both with a kill range of about 400 meters), can detect targets at night while remaining invisible and moving around the perimeter of the site. Since 2017, strategic nuclear missile sites have been guarded with the Mobile Robotics Complex (MRC), designed to detect and destroy stationary and moving targets. There are many more robots at different stages of development that are close to becoming operational. The robotization of the Russian armed forces is one clear trend and its not the only one. Five Udaloy Project 1155 destroyers are being refurbished to be armed with Kalibr long-range cruise missiles, providing them with anti-ship as well as deep land strike capability. The prestigious Russian newspaper Izvestia has just reported on the installation of weapon systems on the ships, which has already started and will be completed by 2022. The program will greatly increase the Navys strike power and power projection capability. Russias radar-invisible bombs are already in service, striking terrorist targets in Syria. The Drel (Drill) gliding bomb cartridge delivers 15 self-guided killing elements, each weighing about 20 kilograms. The weapon does not breach the international convention banning the use of cluster bombs. With no engine, the bomb can glide for dozens of miles. It boasts an operational range of more than 30 km after separating from the carrier. A single sub-munition can take out up to ten tanks almost twice as many as its closest competitor, the US AGM-154. It can detect targets while producing no infrared emissions. The Drels friend-or-foe identification system prevents it from striking the wrong targets. This year, the Army-2018 exhibition will see a light aircraft powered by a hydrogen-air engine. The forum is slated to be held August 21-26. The concept behind this engine is known as Electric Aircraft, which uses fuel cells as a power source to produce electrical energy without the combustion process. The fuel used is hydrogen, which is transformed into electricity. Such a plane could stay in the air for a very long time and would be very inexpensive. No other country has managed to make such an aircraft operational. It could be used for a multitude of various missions by the military and other security agencies. Since Moscow launched its operation in Syria, the most frequently asked question among military wonks and pundits has been Does Russia really have superior military technology? And the answer often heard was, No, it does not, it is unsophisticated and is clearly lagging behind. More and more evidence has emerged recently to illustrate that Russia is actually the leader in military technology and more information arrives almost every day confirming this fact. Can the cutting-edge breakthroughs, which are such a feather in the military's hat, that are being produced by the defense sector of the economy be isolated from the remaining sectors? Impossible nowadays, especially given how much is being done to transfer the achievements of the defense industry over to the civilian sectors of the economy. The Wests sanctions have helpfully expedited the process of replacing Western technology with made-in-Russia solutions. Military technologies targeted for the civilian sector will inevitably invigorate Russias economy. The West wanted to turn Russia into a backward country on its knees. This was a strategic mistake that instead encouraged it to stand tall and lead the way in the state-of-the-art technology race, forcing the US and its allies to lag behind. The separatist/Islamic terrorist violence in the south continues to decline but efforts to achieve a permanent fix for the resentment of a Moslem majority population in the three southern provinces remains out of reach. This is all mainly about cultural differences (religion, ethnicity). Thailand has few (about three million) Moslems and while some of the separatist Moslems in the south (where most live) have tried to link their independence efforts to religion, its mostly about ethnic differences because 95 percent of Thais are ethnic Tai and the southern Moslems are nearly all ethnic Malays. The "terrorists" are a combination of Islamic radicals, Malay nationalists and gangsters (smuggling has long been a big business down there). The ethnic Thai majority refused (as they usually do) to back down in the face of Malay Moslem violence. After years of futile violence the Moslem minority became increasingly hostile to the Islamic terrorists, and more frequently cooperating with the police. This happened gradually as it became obvious that the Thai government was never going to give in. As a result of this, the militants turned on the Moslem civilians, which was a downward spiral that is gradually destroying the remaining popular support they have. That led to the current decline in violence. There are other problems. The Moslem fanatics are hostile to secular education while most Moslems in the three provinces want their children to get a secular education because that is obviously the key to a better life for the kids. Moslem majority Malaysia next door encourages secular education and Moslem Malaysians have done well as a result. Because of the lack of education the southern Thai Moslems have been unable to make the most of over two decades of dramatic economic growth in Thailand. For over a decade the Thai government (elected and military) has concentrated on education and economic development in the south while also improving security. Progress has been made but it has been slow, as these changes usually are. Perspective Opinion surveys show most Thais believe corruption has gotten worse since 2014 coup. This is important because one of the main reasons the military took over this time was to deal with corruption. At this time the popular perception is that the military rulers have failed at this. The 2017 international corruption ratings show the world that Thailand is not making much progress and is stuck near the bottom (96 out of 180 nations compared with 101 out of 176 nations in 2016) of international standings. Corruption in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations ( usually Syria/14, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/9 ) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (New Zealand and Denmark) are over 85. African nations are the most corrupt, followed by Middle Eastern ones. In Southeast Asia Thailand has long had problems with corruption and the current military effort to fix that is not working. The current Thailand score is 37 (versus 35 in 2016) compared to 46 (45) for Malaysia, 29 (30) for Laos, 30 (28) for Burma, 63 (61) for Taiwan, 34 (35) for the Philippines, 40 (40) for India, 29 (29) for Russia, 54 (53) for South Korea, 17 (12) for North Korea, 35 (33) for Vietnam, 84 (84) for Singapore, 73 (72) for Japan, 37 (37) for Indonesia, 77 (79) for Australia, 38 (36) for Sri Lanka, 33 (36) for the Maldives, 41 (40) for China, 32 (32) for Pakistan, 28 (26) for Bangladesh, 30 (29) for Iran, 15 (15) for Afghanistan, 71 (66) for the UAE (United Arab Emirates), 62 (64) for Israel, 75 (74) for the United States, 27 (28) for Nigeria, 43 (45) for South Africa, 18 (17) for Iraq, 40 (41) for Turkey, 49 (46) for Saudi Arabia and 28 (28) for Lebanon. A lower corruption score is common with nations in economic trouble and problems dealing with Islamic terrorism and crime in general. The Thai corruption score has not changed much since 2012, when it was also 37. It went as high as 38 in 2014. In addition to a bad rating in the corruption survey Thailand did about the same in the UN sponsored World Happiness Index, coming in at number 46. The top ten are all the usual suspects (Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia) and then comes Israel, the happiest country in the Middle East as well as being the most powerful militarily and one of the least corrupt. The rest of the rankings are similar to the corruption survey. The U.S. is at 18th place, Malaysia at 35, Philippines at 71, Indonesia at 96, Burma at 130, UAE at 2o, Saudi Arabia at 33, Kuwait at 45, Russia at 59, Japan at 54, Libya at 70, Turkey at 74, Jordan at 90, China at 86, Pakistan at 75, Venezuela at 102, Lebanon at 88, Somalia at 98, Palestinian Territories at 104, Egypt at 122, Iran at 106, Iraq at 117, Bangladesh at 115, India at 133, Afghanistan at 145, Yemen at 152, Syria at 150 and at 156 (last place) Burundi. Communist dictatorships like North Korea and Cuba block access to data needed for the survey and were not rated. March 26, 2018: A government investigation into the Educations Ministry found corruption everywhere. This came as no surprise but the fact that the military government tolerated publication of details was. March 24, 2018: In the capital a large demonstration in front of Army Headquarters demanded that the army concentrate on defending the country not trying to rule it by supporting the military government. The demonstrators were taking advantage of the fact that many members of the army would prefer the return of democracy. Most Thais see this military government (like the many others since World War II) more about taking good care of the senior military leadership and not Thailand as a whole. The demonstrations today got attention. The military later threatened to delay the frequently delayed elections once more because of this example of disorder. March 16, 2018: Malaysia and Thailand agreed to build a new border wall along 11 kilometers of the Malaysian border in Thailands Songkhla province. This wall will block some of the most frequently used drug smuggling routes. This is the latest effort to use border walls along the Malaysia-Thai border to inhibit smuggling. These border wall efforts go back to the 1970s. Since then there have been additional agreements. Back in mid-2016 Malaysia agreed to cooperate in building and maintaining a security fence along 245 kilometers of the 640 kilometer border with Thailand. Currently property owners are responsible for border fences along the border but many land owners dont bother or work for smugglers to allow illegal traffic via their property. The 2106 agreement closed that loophole. Auckland divers have been stripped of their dive gear and their vehicle, after being caught taking more than twice the daily limit of koura from Lake Okataina. The four divers had 587 of the fresh water crayfish, says MPI spokesman Adam Plumstead. The daily limit is 50 per person. They collectively took 387 more than they are legally entitled to. The Ministry for Primary Industries is hailing the efforts of local iwi and members of the public for helping fishery officers catch the divers. After following up on this invaluable information, we discovered that a group of divers, all from the Auckland region, had taken a total of 587 koura from the lake. This sort of offending is really serious. Koura is a very important species with cultural significance. On top of this, the amount taken has an impact on the sustainability of the fishery. Obviously the local community has been deeply distressed by the actions of these divers and they are pleased and relieved that we have been able to put a stop to their activity. It is thanks to the eyes and ears of the public that weve been able to achieve this outcome. People in the area care deeply about the health of their local fishery. The fact they came to MPI to report what they had seen and heard about is fantastic. MPI is making further inquiries into the incident and the alleged offenders could face serious charges, says Adam. Anyone who sees or hears about illegal fishing activity is encouraged to call the MPI poacher hotline on 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224). The number of crayfish people are allowed to take has been slashed in an effort to combat low numbers. The Total Allowable Catch for crayfish has been reduced from 416.5 to 173 tonnes, with the Total Allowable Commercial Catch reducing from 200 to 80 tonnes and the recreational allowance reducing from 140 to 34 tonnes in an effort to save the fishery. While Fisheries Minister Stuart Nashs decision is being applauded by recreation fisher groups LegaSea the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, and the Environmental Defence Society, they say more needs to be done. We consider that full closure would be warranted given that crayfish numbers are at historically low levels coupled with very low recruitment over the past four years, says EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. This change needs to be coupled with close and transparent monitoring over the next few years, so that if there are further signs of decline, or lack of rebuild, the public can be assured that another downward adjustment or closure will be implemented without delay. We also need to put in place a range of complementary measures to ensure that our reef systems can recover as the crayfish population rebuilds. This includes protecting reefs that are susceptible to the loss of kelp forests due to crayfish overharvesting. Legasea Spokesman Richard Baker says the decision comes after stark evidence of the collapse of the fishery. The 2017 stock assessment puts the stock at an historic low. While closure is an option, there is no political appetite for such action and that the management of crayfish relies on commercial data gathering, says Richard. Its no wonder the public are losing confidence in the Quota Management System when they see one of our most valuable fisheries on the brink of collapse, having to stay open to commercial exploitation purely because there is no way to get independent data, says Richard. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council submits that the recreational fishing public has already contributed to rebuilding the fishery because their catches have collapsed. During recent harvest surveys researchers found that 73 per cent of all recreational fishers in CRA 2 returned with none, one or two crayfish. Less than 17 per cent took their six-per day limit. The opportunity to start rebuilding the CRA 2 stock was lost four years ago, says Richard. As recently as March last year, the National Rock Lobster Management Group was advising the minister that there is no evidence of sustainability issues with the CRA2 fishery. Since then weve spoken to fishers and divers who have all said the same thing the fishery is devastated, and decisive action is urgently needed. The decision to reduce the total allowable commercial catch by 60 per and the recreational allowance by 75 per cent appears large only on paper says Richard. Both the commercial catch limit and recreational allowance have not been caught for several years and the actual catch reduction from last years catch is about 30 per cent. The NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council describes the Ministers decision as: An aggressive cut which will have severe socio-economic consequences for industry participants spread from East Cape to the northern Hauraki Gulf. Some very difficult decisions will need to be made by the predominately small family businesses that operate in the CRA 2 fishery, and we expect that a substantial number of commercial vessels will be forced off the water, with loss of employment and adverse impacts on associated businesses and smaller coastal communities, says council chief executive Mark Edwards. NZ RLIC is encouraged by the acknowledgement from the Minister of his obligations to control recreational catch, and the expectation there will be increased compliance focus from MPI to reduce the levels of illegal unreported removals. It is now critical that adjustments are made to regulatory controls by October 1 to ensure recreational catch is constrained to the allowance and does not compromise the rebuild. The NZ RLIC will work with government to improve the effectiveness of measures to combat illegal take, to ensure that the rebuild of the fishery provides benefits to customary, commercial and recreational fishers, not fish thieves. The industry is offer a $5000 reward for provision of information to MPI that supports a successful prosecution for illegal take for sale or trade of rock lobster from CRA 2. We expect to see MPI review the very dated estimates of illegal take, and commit to new resources and undertake specific initiatives to combat illegal take of rock lobsters in CRA 2, says Mark. A Bethlehem schoolgirl renowned for her kind heart and willingness to give to others, is proving good deeds always pay off. Emma Mischewski, 8, is one of nine children from around New Zealand who have been selected to join the Premier Easter Hunt with Prime Minister Jacinda Adern as part of a nationwide the Breeze radio competition. The hunt will take place at Premier House in Wellington on Wednesday. Emma is known throughout the city for her many acts of kindness which are all part of a self-titled project she calls her mission. The youngster made headlines last year when she began selling feijoas from a roadside stand, to help raise money for those less fortunate. With the money, Emma and her mother Helen began buying personal care items to make into care packs for the homeless and the needy. The project grew legs and was quickly supported by organisations like Womens Refuge, All Children Matter, Under the Stars and Kai Aroha, who helped Emma to distribute the baskets. Shes been nominated as a local hero with the Breeze before and shes well known to many in the community, says mum, Helen. Helen says this may be why she was also nominated for this Easter Hunt competition. Its a lovely nomination Emma received from a woman named Kerri. It spoke all about her mission and what organisations the care packs have already gone to. The thing is, in the information which had to be included with the submission you also needed to know a lot of details about the child you were nominating; including their age and whether they are able to fly out on a specific day. Kerri wanted to keep it a secret but of course she had to get in touch with us to find out this information, so I knew about it from the start. For Emma though it was a surprise, I randomly said to her one day how would you like to go on an Easter Egg Hunt with the Prime Minister and she said oh mum that would be so cool!. We kind of left it for a bit and didnt think much would come of it and then the Breeze Tauranga ended up contacting us saying they had some exciting news to tell us and that they would be announcing it on air. She says Emma had the biggest grin on her face when they announced she was a winner. But of course it was on radio, so they couldnt see it. Emma says shes excited for the hunt. Some of my friends at school dont believe me, so theyve asked me to ask the Prime Minister for her autograph. As well as having the once-in-a-lifetime experience to hunt Easter eggs with the prime minister during Easter, the trip also includes flights and accommodation. Emmas looking forward to ordering room service, says Helen. The two will fly out to Wellington from Tauranga Airport at midday. Guns, motorbikes, speed boats and jet skis have been seized as part of an operation targeting organised crime in the Bay of Plenty. Police are today terminating a six month-long investigation into organised crime and the distribution of illicit drugs. Operation Notus was launched in October 2017 after the community contacted Police with concerns about the social harm being caused by an organised crime group operating in the area. The investigation identified that members and associates of the Kawerau Mongrel Mob were involved in the commercial distribution of methamphetamine and cannabis to the community. Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Kevin Taylor, says the investigation has required significant work by district staff and the National Organised Crime Group. More than 300 staff are involved in todays termination including; Bay of Plenty staff, NOCG, Armed Offenders Squad and the Asset Recovery Unit. Search warrants are being executed at approximately 43 properties across the region in; Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki. Warrants have also been executed at two properties in Gisborne and Hastings. Police have so far arrested 20 men and five women. They will be facing charges including possession for supply and supplying methamphetamine and cannabis. They will be appearing in Whakatane and Tauranga District Courts. Firearms, methamphetamine, cannabis and cash have been located at a number of the addresses. Assets have also been restrained including; boats, jet-skis, motorbikes, firearms and vehicles. This gang has been preying on our community and have been profiting from their own whanau and friends addiction through the distribution and supply of these drugs, says Inspector Kevin Taylor. They have shown that they put profit above all else and have a complete disregard for how destructive methamphetamine is to the health and wellbeing of users. We are committed to protecting our communities from the harm caused by organised crime and todays arrests will go a long way to disrupting the supply of methamphetamine and cannabis in Kawerau and wider Bay of Plenty region. A major focus for us is to work closely with Iwi and our partner agencies to offer advice and support services to victims of this group, and those who have been identified as users of these drugs. We know that family harm, addiction and neglect go hand-in-hand with organised crime and drugs. As part of this operation we are working with Iwi and staff from Oranga Tamariki to ensure the welfare of children and other vulnerable people living at these addresses. "A hub has been set up today to provide these families and children with access to support services. The event Cultivate Your Career is taking place for 150 students from 10 Western Bay of Plenty schools today under the theme of multi-faceted innovation. In a bid to show the wide range of career opportunities available in horticulture, students are taking a bus tour around Tauranga to visit Robotics Plus, Tuhono Whenua Horticulture and the Port of Tauranga. In addition, students will receive a presentation from Zespri and participate in an activity with Kiwi leaders. The tour debunks preconceived ideas of the industry by showing that horticulture offers high-level careers in a range of scientific, technical and commercial areas. The Bay of Plenty region is home to a multitude of world class innovative businesses and as an industry we want to showcase this and the career opportunities available to our young people on their back doorstep. says Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower Upskilling Inc chair Katy McGinity. Students are transported from schools in Tauranga, Te Puke, Waihi and Rotorua. Each bus has two industry ambassadors on board who will talk about their own careers in horticulture and answer any questions students may have. Students spend over an hour at each business undertaking practical activities relating to process, product and marketing innovation as well as the specific careers available in these fields. Horticulture is New Zealands fourth largest primary industry with an export revenue increasing steadily each year to a projected $5.4 billion in 2018. Kiwifruit is a strong example of the industrys growth with a current indirect impact of $1.8 billion in the Bay of Plenty. Kiwifruit production is forecast to double by 2030. To achieve this growth the industry requires skilled talent who can help drive horticultures success further. The kiwifruit industry in the Bay of Plenty currently employs 10,762 people which is expected to increase to 25,091 by 2030. The Cultivate Your Career event will continue on Tuesday, April 10 when students from the Eastern Bay of Plenty will have the opportunity to tour local businesses around Opotiki. A mayor-led delegation representing local business, educational, and sporting interests will jet off to China next week to promote Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. The delegation, organised by Priority One, involves 24 people spending 10 days visiting the cities of Beijing, Yantai, and Shanghai. Priority One chief operating officer Greg Simmonds says there are some key focus areas for the trip. One of those is international education, so we have representatives from Education Tauranga and local tertiary institutes coming to market Tauranga as a destination for international students. Export Bay of Plenty is also representing a number of local exporters and doing market research for them. There will be a sporting element to the delegation, too, with the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union looking to strengthen ties with China. Last year BOPRU hosted Chinese rugby players at the University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance, and are looking to build on that partnership. Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless is the only member of council going, and will be paying his own way along with that of his partner, Li-Jong. She has the added bonus of speaking Mandarin, so that will be helpful, says Greg, who adds hell be flying economy class, for any curious ratepayers. He says his role will be helping to get other delegates in touch with the right people. Mayors are treated a lot differently in China. Here nobody gives a hoot, but over there mayors seem to be able to open doors. Last year I hosted a group of Chinese education agents and happened to mention Li-Jongs sons had been to Tauranga Boys College. Well the next day the college received several enrolments. He says hes happy to be supporting local businesses and schools. In particular the latter are on limited budgets, so the more funds they can get from overseas students, the better for the whole school. Two of New Zealands leading contemporary artists will make a stop in Whakatane next month as part of a major new exhibition opening at Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi - Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre. The duo known as Edwards + Johann, arrive in Whakatane in mid-April for the exhibition titled, from THE EDGE OF SPACES. While here, they will also present a gallery talk and two creative workshops for Bay of Plenty residents. The exhibition by Edwards + Johann, Victoria Edwards and Ina Johann, will run from April 21 to June 28, and features recent works in photography and video, with innovative use of colour and form. The works on show in Whakatane are essentially photography, although layered with drawing and collage, Ina Johann explains. They are bold, colourful and insightful. The exhibition also features a new video diptych Only Ghosts Glow in the Dark, commissioned by the Wallace Trust in 2017. Edwards + Johanns collaborative work interweaves drawing, painting, performative activities, video and installation with photography. A connecting thread in their visual storytelling is the use of the obsessive line drawing over an existing object, as motif for the tensions and layers of daily life. The artists will offer a free gallery talk at Whakatane Museum from 11am, on Saturday April 21. Two community workshops will be available for anyone wanting to find creative inspiration and guidance. A free class for 12 to 16 year olds is scheduled for Saturday April 14, and one adult class is planned for Sunday April 15 (koha $25). Both hands-on opportunities will invite participants to explore generating ideas, thinking experimentally, and making work together in what the artists call a "Co-lab". To secure your place, call 07 0306 0505 or email arts@whakatane.govt.nz. While in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Edwards + Johann will also help begin a new Volcanic Artist Residency Programme being developed by Whakatane Museum. Over 12 days, the two artists will journey to Whakaari/While Island, meet with geothermal scientists and environmentalists and begin research towards a new body of work involving volcanic phenomenon. The pilot residency will culminate in a work-in-progress installation for the front window at Te Koputu. "The development of an artist-in-residence programme that connects creative people with our active offshore volcano is a unique opportunity," says Whakatane District Council Museum and Arts Director, Eric Holowacz. "It combines the earth sciences, subterranean energy and creative people to inspire new artistic developments". As the Museum develops and refines the idea over the coming months, it will begin inviting artists and cultural managers from across New Zealand to propose a project, spend time in residence, and learn about local geothermal wonders. Community members are invited to meet artists Edwards + Johann at the opening reception of from THE EDGE OF SPACES, from 5.30pm on Friday April 20 (alongside Whakatane Camera Clubs 2018 group exhibition). For details and information, visit the Whakatane Museum website (www.whakatanemuseum.org.nz), or contact 07 306 0505. Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), a subsidiary of the Taiwanese company Foxconnbest known for manufacturing Apples iPhoneshas acquired Belkin, owner of the Linksys and Wemo brands. In a joint statement, the companies announced that the all-cash deal is worth approximately $866 million. Under the terms of the arrangement, Belkin will continue to operate as a subsidiary of FIT, while CEO and founder Chet Pipkin and his team will remain in charge. Pipkin is also expected to join FITs management team. FIT said the purchase would help it further tap into premium accessories and the smart home market, as well as fueling the growth of Belkins portfolio of brands and products, including its Linksys routers and Wemo smart home products. FIT is excited to acquire Belkin and its capabilities in the premium consumer products space, said Sidney Lu, CEO, FIT. Integrating Belkins best-in-class capabilities and solutions into FIT, we expect to enrich our portfolio of premium consumer products and accelerate our penetration into the smart home. The Financial Times reports that the acquisition should require approval from the US Committee on Foreign Investment, so the deal isn't sealed just yet. While Donald Trumps administration hasnt exactly welcomed foreign companies taking over US firmsjust look at the Broadcom/Qualcomm sagathe fact Foxconn is building a $10 billion manufacturing campus in Wisconsin, thereby creating 13,000 jobs in the area, will likely help its cause. Belkin was founded in 1983 and has products sold in more than 50 countries around the world. Its headquarters are based in Los Angeles, and the company has over 1400 employees. It acquired Linksys from Cisco in March 2013. A California federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that accused both Goolge and YouTube of violating the first amendment by censoring conservative content. The complaint was filed back in October by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, who operates a YouTube channel called PragerU. He claimed that YouTube is biased against his political identity and viewpoint for placing age restrictions and refusing to run some ads on his videos, which cover issues such as abortion and climate change. Prager said YouTube stopped the ads appearing in some videos without compelling, significant, or legitimate reason, arguing that because Google runs the video site as a public forum, its content is covered by the First Amendment. He cited the 1945 case of Marsh vs Alabama, which involved a Jehovahs Witness distributing leaflets in a town owned entirely by a private corporation. In that case, the high court ordered the corporation to run the town in compliance with the U.S. Constitution. U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh disagreed with his comparison. She cited the 1972 Supreme Court case of Lloyd Corp. v. Tanner, which ruled that a privately-owned mall could ban people from distributing literature against the Vietnam War on its grounds. Koh writes that she "is not convinced that Marsh can be extended to support Plaintiffs contention that Defendants should be treated as state actors subject to First Amendment scrutiny merely because they hold out and operate their private property as a forum for expression of diverse points of view." While the judge has dismissed the complaint, Prager is free to file an amended version within 30 days of Mondays ruling if he wants to try his chances again. At an education event held in Chicago, Apple has unveiled its newest iPad to date poised to compete with the abundance of Chromebooks found in schools. The latest rendition features a 9.7-inch display with an A10 Fusion chip. Weighing in at one pound, the new iPad is as light as ever. Despite Apple's push for Face ID on the iPhone X, a Touch ID fingerprint reader remains a part of the home button. A rear facing 8-megapixel camera is carried over from the 2017 model as is the front facing HD camera for FaceTime. Augmented reality applications will utilize camera information to virtually place objects in classrooms, much like Google's Expeditions AR. Battery life is good for up to 10 hours of standard use. An optional LTE radio provides up to 300 Mbps download over cellular networks. GPS, compass, gyroscope, and Bluetooth remain standard features. The largest change is support for the Apple Pencil. Users are able to mark up documents and create drawings with the pressure-sensitive stylus. Palm rejection technology allows you to rest your hand on the display while still being able to use the stylus. Additionally, there is a third-party stylus by Logitech called the Crayon available for $49 meant for kids. As part of Apple's focus on education, students will receive 200GB of free iCloud storage. Both Wi-Fi only and LTE models will ship with 32GB of built-in storage. Priced at $329 for regular consumers and $299 for schools, this is a regular incremental update from last year. However, improved software features and stylus support do bring significant advantages to educators. The 2018 9.7-inch iPad is available today and will ship later this week. The Venezuelan negotiating team also includes diplomat Alex Saab, who remains detained in Cape Verde pending his extradition to the United States. | Read More An employer who sacked a worker by text message for taking a day of sick leave after being paid nothing for four months of work has been fined $200,000. The Indian national, who was on a bridging visa, was 24 years old when he started work as a cook at a Perth restaurant in 2012 after responding to a job advertisement on Gumtree. The Fair Work Ombudsman successfully prosecuted Indian restaurant owner Simon Peter Mackenzie, who owned and ran The Curry Tree restaurant in Nedlands before it burnt down in 2014. The Federal Circuit Court has penalised Mr Mackenzie $34,815 and his company, Siner Enterprises Pty Ltd, an additional $174,075. The Court also ordered Mr Mackenzie and his company to pay the worker a total of $32,661 in outstanding wages and compensation for the economic loss he suffered as a result of being sacked. London: When 2022 arrives, Alan Joyce wants Qantas to be offering the first direct flight from Australia's east coast to London but how passengers get there could look very different to the four travel classes known today. Dubbed "Project Sunrise", Qantas' ambition is to fly non-stop from Sydney and Melbourne to London and also directly to New York within four years. Qantas is considering adding a new class situated in the cargo area. Credit:Andrew Quilty The Qantas CEO has revealed to a private audience of Australian and British professionals in London that the airline is exploring an entirely new class which would be situated in the cargo hold. The giant space could involve train-like berths and allow a space for cooped-up passengers to stretch and walk around in an exercise area. An investigation into allegedly widespread misconduct in Woolworths-owned pubs has been expanded following a second round of whistleblower claims about venues targeting vulnerable gamblers to maximise their losses. This week a whistleblower who worked at a Brisbane pub run by Woolworths' majority-owned hotels business, the ALH Group, detailed that staff meetings would regularly be held to discuss how to encourage a grieving woman to gamble away her inheritance money on poker machines after the death of her parents. Another whistleblower, who had also worked in ALH venues around Brisbane, described how staff gave free alcohol to gamblers as a deliberate strategy to encourage prolonged gambling. Queensland's Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation launched an investigation last month following an earlier presentation of similar whistleblower evidence by federal MP Andrew Wilkie alleging such practices in various ALH venues across the country. She found a respite from these feelings in acting, joining Australian Theatre for Young People at 12, where she met a bunch of like-minded teens. "Acting felt like something that was my own, it was like this secret community of other quirky kids that I could spend time with over the holidays and after school. It was this really nice escape for me." Someone suggested to Phoebe's mother that she get an agent, which quickly led to an audition for Home and Away. Phoebe missed out on that part, but landed the next playing Cleo, a teenage girl who turns into a mermaid, on H20. "I didn't have too long to decide what I was going to do for the rest of my life," she laughs. Phoebe had just turned 16 when she she got the role and within a week she had quit school and was on set on the Gold Coast. Three seasons of H20 led to her film debut in the screen adaptation of John Marsden's young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began. Phoebe then moved to LA in her early 20s to chance her luck at pilot season, and quickly scored a role in The Secret Circle, playing a young witch. She was hailed the breakout star of the show, and subsequently cast as a secret werewolf in The Vampire Diaries, before taking a lead part in its spin-off, The Originals. It's fitting that a girl who claims to have "witch instincts" has spent most of her career playing supernatural characters. But as much as The Originals delivered Phoebe fame in the US, not to mention lifelong friends and a boyfriend for much of its run (co-star Paul Wesley), she started to yearn for something more. "It was a big chunk of my 20s and I have so many great memories, but I was definitely ready to move on to something else," she says. "It's been hard to do the one thing for six years." Tired of playing "the witch or the bitch", it took Phoebe some soul searching to figure out what she wanted in her career. Watching Olivia Wilde play the mother of an abducted child in the devastating 2015 film Meadowland provided the answer. "I kept saying to myself, 'That's what I want to do, stories about real people, stories that ask people questions about flawed characters. Those are the kinds of roles I want.' " And then along came Safe Harbour, the story of a group of Australians on a sailing holiday to Indonesia who cross paths with a fishing boat overloaded with asylum seekers, sparking a cascade of moral dilemmas. "I've definitely been dreaming of a role like this for a few years now," Phoebe confides. "Now that I've gotten it I'm much more grateful for it." Phoebe plays Olivia, a troubled woman who is suspected of casting the asylum seekers adrift in the middle of the night. "This show is about decisions and the ripple effects that those decisions create. Olivia's part in the whole situation posed a lot of questions about my own morals and ethics and I hope that her storyline does that for audiences as well." Shirt by Strateas Carlucci. Credit:Simon Lekias She hopes Safe Harbour will lead to other meaningful and preferably Australian roles. "I definitely realised that I gravitate towards more grounded work," she says of shooting the drama. "I thought I would be terrified because it is really different to anything I've been in, but the challenge was just so exhilarating." While she calls herself a "professional Cinderella", Phoebe is at pains to demonstrate her highly developed social conscience. Between glam red-carpet shots and acting stills on her Instagram account are calls to action on issues such as gun control, #TimesUp and #blacklivesmatter. "If you're going to use [social media] to talk about a product that you're using or a movie that you're promoting, then it's equally important to use those platforms for something that's more selfless," she explains. "If I can get a 15-year-old girl who is enraged about a certain relationship on a vampire show and get them equally enraged about the situation with black lives and police issues in America right now, then great." Phoebe proudly calls herself a feminist and bears the battle scars of navigating the male-dominated acting industry, with its inherent sexism and pay disparity. "It sucks to go through periods of your life where your role is literally Hot Girl No. 1 in movies you feel like you are worthless." But she feels positive that the tide is turning in Hollywood, with the number of projects written and directed by women increasing. "It's really important to show women who are not just offshoots of men. I would love to keep playing roles that challenge stereotypes of women, that educate the audience a little bit." Despite her A-list existence (her good friends include Teresa Palmer and Lara Worthington), Phoebe retains some of her childish shyness and reserve. Asked about her love life she visibly squirms and says "I don't really want to talk about that", and is equally reticent when it comes to explaining the origin of her tattoos (one on her wrist and the other on her foot). "I got them years ago I probably wouldn't get any more." She's hesitant to discuss her flaws, but says that acting has taught her resilience, patience and independence. She finds being away from her family hard, and insists the reality of her globetrotting lifestyle is spending too many hours in airport terminals waiting for delayed flights. "There are bouts of being alone and unemployed in weird countries," she says. "I've had to create a bit of independence and build up a bit of a tough skin. Any time you get close to a job and you don't get it, I find that such a heartbreaking experience." We are told Sydney is headed by mid-century, as if it's a foregone conclusion. Credit:Daniel Munoz No one living, working or travelling in Sydney today needs to be reminded of the costs of the unprecedented growth the city has been undergoing. With close to 100,000 people being added each year, we all experience the clogged roads, crowded trains and endless delays. And as we stare out of the window, we can see the face of the city literally changing before our eyes. Loading Apparently congestion costs the Sydney $6 billion every year, and this is only getting worse. Infrastructure Australia warns we will need to spend billions more just to make up for our current planning failures let alone whats coming. "If you can imagine adding two more cities the size of Melbourne or Sydney to Australia by 2047, you'll appreciate the enormity of the challenge," says Infrastructure Australia chairwoman Julieanne Alroe. Except shes got it wrong. We aren't building new cities, we are squeezing more and more people into the cities we have. Mostly that means Sydney and Melbourne which together absorb 60 per cent of Australias rapidly growing population. Amy Brady can't afford a house. She can't afford to have children. Sometimes it's a struggle to run her car. Most fortnights, the Reid Early Childhood Centre director and her delivery driver partner would be lucky to have $20 to spare, she said. Reid Early Childhood Centre educator Renee Nelson and director Amy Brady. Credit:karleen minney Ms Brady said the struggle of living on an early childhood educator wage was "amazing". "I've got some [staff] who are living with family because they can't afford to live out on their own, and it's just ridiculous the majority of them end up leaving the sector because they just can't afford to survive," she said. Police have appealed to the public for help identifying a man who allegedly assaulted a staff member at a Canberra bar early on Saturday morning. ACT Policing said after a staff member at 88mph told the man and another person to leave the bar about 2.55am, there was an altercation. Police have appealed for help identifying a man involved in an alleged assault at Canberra bar 88mph on Saturday morning. Credit:ACT Policing The man allegedly assaulted the staff member, and both he and his companion left soon after. The man is described as Caucasian and with dark hair. At the time of the incident he was wearing a black T-shirt. Seven protesters who super glued their hands to a leather balustrade in Parliament House faced trial on Tuesday accused of causing $1300 worth of damage to Commonwealth property. On November 30, 2016, Timothy Buchanan, Phillip Evans, Hannah Grant, Samantha Hawker, Chamomilla Hill, Sally Hunter and Jason Ray joined a larger group sitting in the public gallery of the House of Representatives, federal prosecutors told the jury at the opening of the trial. At about 2pm, the group unfurled a banner and began chanting slogans, forcing Question Time to a halt and the removal of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull from the chamber. As security officers began to remove the protesters it became evident that seven of them had glued their hands to the wooden balustrade. One woman, Ms Hunter, was forcibly unstuck from the balustrade. When surveillance footage of her removal was played to the court on Tuesday, supporters sitting in the public gallery audibly gasped. For the remaining six, parliamentary security officers brought out pump bottles of hand sanitiser and massaged the product into the protesters hands to unstick them from the balustrade. Professor David Cooper, an Australian clinician and researcher, played a leading role in the global fight against HIV. He was there right at the beginning of the HIV epidemic, and dedicated his career to the twin tasks of caring for patients, and doing the research needed to stop the deadly infection in its tracks. He contributed to the development of virtually every drug used in HIV treatment. All over the world he was respected as a leader, and at home he was an insightful colleague and unparalleled mentor to the many researchers, clinicians and community members who joined him in the fight against HIV. Born in Sydney in 1949 to Jewish immigrant parents Annie and Max Annie's family (the Lazarus') had come to Australia via England and before that Lithuania, his father had migrated to Sydney from Poland arriving before the outbreak of war. His father ran a Men's Tailoring store in the city and the children David and his older sister, Bettina, were raised in Dover Heights. Prof. David Cooper with some members of his staff with a patient in the Aids ward of St. Vincent's Hospital, 1991. Credit:Kenneth Stevens/Fairfax Media David raced through high school at Cranbrook, and commenced medical studies at the University of Sydney aged 15. By the time of his graduation as a doctor in 1972, research was clearly his calling: He was awarded first class honours for a research project undertaken during his medical studies, and had his first publications in prestigious medical journals. For the next decade Cooper seemed to be following a promising but perhaps conventional career track in clinical immunology, with a steady output of research. He found, and married Dorrie, the love of his life, and their first daughter was born. The turning point for David's career was the young family's move to Boston for two years in 1981, just as the first AIDS cases were appearing in the US. David saw what could happen in Australia and, on his return, immediately threw himself into clinical care at St Vincent's Hospital, where cases were indeed starting to appear. He promptly began a research program aimed at getting a better understanding of the emerging epidemic, and what treatments might be effective. He was the first in the world to describe the so-called "seroconversion illness," which occurs at initial HIV infection in many people. A hospital employee has been charged after a cancer patient was allegedly assaulted and robbed as she was recovering from surgery at a hospital in Sydneys north-west. The patient, a 77-year-old woman, was admitted to a Bella Vista hospital on March 16 for a routine procedure. After her surgery, she was taken to a room to recover. Police allege a hospital employee entered the room, went through the woman's belongings and took two credit cards out of her wallet. It's alleged the female employee then physically restrained the woman and demanded the PINs for the credit cards. The patient complied, and the employee then allegedly withdrew money from the woman's bank account at a shopping centre nearby. Disgraced former assistant tax commissioner Nick Petroulias has resurfaced at the centre of a corruption probe into a series of deals to sell off up to $30 million worth of Aboriginal land in the NSW Hunter region. Mr Petroulias was one of the country's most senior public servants before his high-profile jailing in 2008 for corrupt conduct and unauthorised publication of Commonwealth documents. Former assistant tax commissioner Nick Petroulias Credit:Janie Barrett The first day of public inquiry by the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) has heard that Mr Petroulias played a "central role" in three deals - and one attempted deal - to sell off land belonging to the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council. In one of the more extraordinary allegations, Mr Petroulias was accused of signing a 2014 deal on behalf of a company director who was already dead at the time he was appointed. Turns out we have a bit of a soft spot for the backyard dunny. It wasnt that long ago a trip to the loo meant braving the wildlife to walk down to the outhouse; greater Brisbane only got widespread access to sewerage services in the late 1960s, after work began on the citys sewerage network in 1914. Glenda Johnston's contribution. Credit:QUU To pay tribute to the great Aussie icon, Queensland Urban Utilities put out a call last year to track down the last remaining outhouses, before they all disappeared. The response, QUU spokeswoman Michelle Cull said, was overwhelming. Victoria Police officers involved in deaths or serious injuries to the public are not properly investigated by the force due to "clear conflicts of interest" and most cases failed to include evidence from independent witnesses, a damning report has found. The scathing review by the state's corruption watchdog, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, delivers another rebuke to force command, which is reeling from the recent resignation of assistant commissioner Brett Guerin. Mr Guerin was responsible for Professional Standards Command, which investigates police officers, until he was exposed as the author of racist and obscene online posts. Victoria Police was also embarrassed by the handling of assault allegations against two officers at Ballarat station, that was captured on CCTV and widely publicised. An internal probe by Professional Standards Command in 2015 cleared the two officers of any criminal offences and overturned their suspensions despite an ongoing IBAC investigation that resulted in charges being laid last year. A man who was dumped in a wheelie bin in Preston may have been strangled before a garbage truck driver found his body, a court has heard. Jason Considine, 35, blew his girlfriend and co-accused Natasha Hogan a kiss after he pleaded not guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday to the murder of Ashley Phillips, 44. The body of Ashley Phillips was found in a bin in Preston. Credit:Victoria Police Magistrate Phillip Goldberg also committed Ms Hogan, 26, to stand trial after she pleaded not guilty to the murder, which occurred in May last year. Mr Considines sister Naomi Dickinson said she was told Mr Considine had snapped after Ms Hogan cuddled up to Mr Phillips, the committal hearing was told. Learning salsa is as important as mastering calculus, a leading international education expert says. Sir Ken Robinson knows his views are provocative but says theres plenty of evidence to back them up. Dance is just as important as mathematics in schools, he said. Some people, they start to hemorrhage at that point. Its too much...Someone tweeted at me and said so are you are saying salsa is as important as calculus?... as it turns out, yes, it is. A 16-year-old boy fatally stabbed a father of four in the neck as the man was being dragged out of the drivers seat of his four-wheel drive by a group of carjacking youths, a court has heard. Paul Costa, 43, was dressed in a designer suit and in his red Nissan Patrol when he was stabbed, allegedly by one of a gang of five youths, in Brunswick West on July 2 last year. Mr Costas family later said they believed he had been on a date that night. Paul Costa was found dead in Dunstan Reserve, Brunswick West last year. His body was found the following day under a tree in Dunstan Reserve, Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday. Prosecutors allege that as Mr Costa sat in his 4WD about 9.50pm after dropping off a friend in Peacock Street, three young men and two boys jumped into the Patrol after one of them distracted the driver from outside his window. While in the 4WD the youngest of the group allegedly stabbed Mr Costa in the neck. The man who sparked a riot after he struck down and killed Aboriginal teenager Elijah Doughty in Western Australia has been granted parole after serving about 19 months behind bars. The 14-year-old boy was driving a stolen motorcycle near Kalgoorlie in August 2016 when the man, who cannot be named, hit him with his ute. Elijah Doughty. Credit:Facebook The 56-year-old father-of-six stood trial charged with manslaughter, but was convicted of the lesser offence of dangerous driving causing death, and was sentenced to three years in jail. The Prisoners Review Board recently determined the man's release "would not present an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community" after an unnamed jurisdiction accepted a transfer of parole. Australia is right to join the rising number of allies rallying behind Britain in a global response to Russias brazen, illegal use of chemical weapons on UK soil. Russia has for years been perpetrating atrocities with seeming impunity, and is increasingly behaving like a rogue state, run by an autocrat masquerading as a democratically elected leader. Vladimir Putins re-election as President in recent days was a stark reminder that Russia is a sham democracy. Failure by open and democratic nations to act in concert following the nerve-gas attack in England would merely have emboldened Russia; actions must have consequences. Only the gullible would give Vladimir Putin the benefit of the (minuscule) doubt on a string of injustices. Credit:AP The expulsion announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and immediately endorsed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten of two undeclared intelligence officers lines Australia up with more than 20 nations, including the US, Ukraine, Canada and 16 EU states. Australias biggest companies have expressed dismay at another delay to the government's tax changes as they launch a national campaign to restore faith and trust in business. The business chiefs acknowledged the government needed more time to seal an agreement in the Senate on the second stage of the $65 billion cut to company taxes over a decade, but warned that the delay could discourage investment. The delay came just as the Business Council of Australia hosted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Parliament House to the launch a television advertising campaign assuring voters that stronger businesses were in the national interest. Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said it was crucial that the government got the right result and it was a "shame" that Labor had reversed its past support for company tax cuts. "I respect the senators who want to interrogate this reform but every day we delay is a day that another country gets ahead," she told Fairfax Media. A group of leading Australian academics has penned an open letter to declare vigorous support for the national debate about Chinese Communist Party-linked influence and interference, expressing a firm belief that the scrutiny is "essential" and not motivated by racism. According to the scholars, who describe themselves as "deeply concerned", the debate is necessary to confront Beijing-linked influence activities in Australia and protect the nation's intellectual freedom, democratic rights and national security. The message is a public response to a letter released last week by a separate group of academics including renowned expert Geremie Barme and the first Australian ambassador to China, Stephen Fitzgerald that urged the Turnbull government to delay its foreign influence legislation and warned that Chinese Australians are being stigmatised in an increasingly polarised debate. That group said the debate needed to calm down and expressed scepticism that China was exporting its political system to Australia or undermining Australian sovereignty. The new letter rejects "self-censorship", defends the current debate and argues Australia's "mature multicultural society" has the capacity to discuss these issues without escalating ethnic tension. The media were actually allowed to stay for a little as Bishop and Logvinov made some comments directly to each other about the expulsion of diplomats and the Skripal poisoning. Bishop thanked the ambassador for joining her and outlined the government's position on Russia's conduct. She said Russia as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has particular responsibility to uphold international security. She said the use of chemical weapons undermined international security and Britain had determined that Novichok, a Russian nerve agent, was deployed in Salisbury. Bishop: "In response, as we know, Australia has taken the very serious step of determining that two of your diplomats who we believe are undisclosed intelligence officers are persona non grata. In other words, they must leave Australia. We did not take this step lightly but we share the deep concerns indeed, the outrage that a chemical nerve agent could be deployed in these circumstances. Mr Ambassador, we seek a credible explanation from Russia as to how its nerve agent could have been deployed in these circumstances. We also seek answers as to why Russia has not declared its Novichok program to the Organisation for the Prohibition [of] Chemical Weapons weapons as Russia is legally obliged to do. So, Mr Ambassador, i hope we can have a discussion today and you can provide these answers that the Australian people want to hear from you." Logvinov: First of all, minister, thank you for meeting me. Secondly, I absolutely agree that Russia is a member of P5...bears a special responsibility for world stability and security. And I also absolutely agree that deployment of weapons-grade nerve gas in Great Britain is a very serious incident in the contemporary world. And actually I also agree that we need to have a full picture, a full investigation of how it was deployed. And that is the permanent position of Russia. We insist on absolutely proper investigation under the auspices of the convention on prohibition of chemical weapons and through the mechanism of the Organisation [for the] Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. That's our principle position and that's what we want to do. As soon as the accusations on Russia are [inaudible] we want to have a proper investigation." Bishop: "Thank you, Mr Ambassador. This is the very convention that we believe Russia is in breach of by its failure to declare its Novichok program. I know you've had a very long session with the media to leave so that we can get down to details." Logvinov: "OK, I agree. Thank you." As the world slides towards Cold War 2.0, Australia has joined other countries in expelling a pair of Russian diplomats described as "undeclared intelligence officers". In practical terms, Australia had little choice. To refuse to join what has become a co-ordinated international condemnation of Russian espionage and state-sanctioned murder in Britain would have constituted a statement in the other direction - that of tacit acceptance. Australia could certainly not be accused of overreach. Its response has matched but not exceeded several other countries including Albania, ranked 126th economy in the world. Labor backed the move, which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said reflected "the shocking nature of the attack" against two former Russian nationals on English soil, on March 4. The state government says it alone will decide how to spend $2 billion windfall from the sale of the Snowy Hydro electric company. The government will ask State Parliament on Tuesday for official consent to go ahead with the sale of its share of the iconic hydroelectric generations scheme to the Commonwealth, with Treasurer Tim Pallas brushing aside any suggestion that the federal government or state opposition might have a say on how the cash is spent. Labor says it will decide where the Snowy Hydro windfall is spent. Credit:Andrew Sheargold The Victorian Coalition says the billions raised from the sale, which will allow the federal government to push ahead with its Snowy 2.0 proposal, should be put aside until after November's state election and not used as a war chest to fund pre-poll spending. But the state Liberals are unlikely to risk a fight with Malcolm Turnbull by pursuing tactics in Parliament that might delay one of the Prime Minister's signature policies. Controversial new laws to overhaul Victoria's fire services moved a step closer in State Parliament overnight after crossbench MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins went home sick, allowing Labor to push the bill through its penultimate stage, with a final vote expected this week. The bill to usher in the major changes had languished in the upper house where the government lacks a majority to pass legislation. But on Tuesday night the absence of Ms Carling-Jenkins handed the government enough support to pass the bill's second reading paving the way for a third and final vote, possibly on Thursday. Victorian MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins was absent from the upper house on Tuesday. Credit:Eddie Jim The bill would create a volunteer-only CFA service and transform the MFB into Fire Rescue Victoria employing paid firefighters and covering metropolitan Melbourne and urbanised areas of regional Victoria. The bill has been fiercely opposed by the Coalition who say the changes would hand too much power to the United Firefighters Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a rally near the Kremlin in Moscow. Credit:AP One rule that Russia has consistently embraced, however, is the principle of reciprocity, and the Kremlin made clear on Monday that it would, after assessing the scale of the damage to its diplomat corps overseas, respond with expulsions of Western diplomats from Russia. The Russian Parliament also weighed in, with the deputy head of its foreign affairs committee, Alexey Chepa, telling the Interfax news agency that Russia would not bow to the West's diplomatic "war." Russia, he said, "will not allow itself to be beaten up, the harder they try to intimidate us, the tougher our response will be." When Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats this month in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, England, Moscow not only evicted an equal number of British diplomats, but ordered the closing of the British Council, an organisation that promotes British culture and language. While denying any part in the March 4 poisoning of Sergei V. Skripal, a former spy, and his daughter, Yulia, both still critically ill in the hospital, Russia in recent years has built up a long record of flouting international norms, notably with its 2014 annexation of Crimea, the first time since 1945 that European borders have been redrawn by force. The attack on the Skripals was another first, at least according to Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, who denounced the action as the "first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War." A Russian S-400 air defence missile system seen during a military parade in Red Square. Credit:AP Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said she was mystified by the nerve agent attack. Liik said she had expected Putin, who won a fourth term by a lopsided margin on March 18, to back away from disruption during what, under the constitution, should be his last six years in power. Putin, she said, might not be predictable but usually follows what he considers fairly clear logic. "Putin does not do disruption just for fun, but because he is Putin and he can," she said. Each time Russia has been accused of having a hand in acts like the seizure of Ukrainian government buildings in Crimea or the 2014 shooting down of a Malaysian passenger plane over eastern Ukraine, in which nearly 300 people were killed, Moscow has responded with a mix of self-pity, fierce denials and florid conspiracy theories that put the blame elsewhere. In the case of the poisoning in Salisbury, Russia's denials became so baroque that even the state-run news media had a hard time keeping up. After officials denied any Russian role and insisted that neither Russia nor the Soviet Union had ever developed Novichok, the nerve agent identified by Britain as the substance used against the Skripals, a state-controlled news agency published an interview with a Russian scientist who said he had helped develop a system of chemical weapons called Novichok-5. The agency later amended the article, replacing the scientist's mention of Novichok with an assertion that the "chemical weapons development program of the USSR was not called 'Novichok.'" The attempted murder of Skripal on British soil, however, "was the straw that broke the camel's back," said Vladimir Inozemtsev, a Russian scholar at the Polish Institute of Advanced Studies in Warsaw. "Western leaders finally decided that enough is enough" because Moscow has played the denial game so many times and showed no real interest in establishing the truth, he said. Unlike Soviet leaders during the Cold War, he added, Putin follows no fixed ideology or rules but is ready to pursue any "predatory policies," no matter how taboo, that might help "undermine the existing order in Europe," while insisting that Russia is the victim, not the aggressor. When the United Nations in 2015 proposed an international tribunal to investigate the MH-17 air disaster a year earlier over territory held by Russian-armed rebels in eastern Ukraine, Moscow used its veto in the UN Security Council to block the move, the only member of the council to oppose the investigation. Ian Bond, a former British diplomat in Moscow who is now director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform in London, said Russia's often implausible denials had made it "like the boy who cried wolf." "If you keep putting forward crazy conspiracy theories, eventually people are going to ask whether what you are saying is just another crazy Russian denial," he said. Bond said diplomacy during the Cold War, even when it involved hostile actions, tended to follow a relatively a calm and orderly routine. No longer is that the case, he added, noting that the Russian Embassy in London and the Foreign Ministry in Moscow have issued statements and tweets mocking Britain as an impotent has-been power and scoffing at the Salisbury poisoning as the "so-called Sergei Skripal case." Putin, Bond added, "is not trying to foment international revolution, but he is the great disrupter" and revels in wrong-footing foreign governments by flouting established norms. While Russia may have been surprised by the magnitude of the coordinated expulsions by Britain's allies on Monday, it was clearly anticipating something. Hours before they were announced, it went on the offensive. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, posted a message on Facebook sneering at the European Union for showing solidarity with Britain at a time when London is negotiating its exit from the bloc. Britain, she wrote, is "exploiting the solidarity factor to impose on those that are remaining a deterioration in relations with Russia." While President Donald Trump has expressed a curious affinity with Putin and raised expectations of improved relations, the Russian leader has always been more measured. The underlying mistrust seemed to be reinforced on Monday by Russia's ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, who told the Interfax news agency that "what the United States of America is doing today is destroying whatever little is left in Russian-U.S. relations." Despite the unpredictability under Putin, the possibility of nuclear conflict between the Russians and the West, the most frightening aspect of the Cold War, does not appear to have increased. Arms control agreements reached since the 1970s are still honoured with the exception of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile accord, known as the ABM Treaty, which Bush abandoned 30 years later. Bush's decision, questioned by even some American allies, opened the way, in Moscow's view, to a free-for-all in international relations that has left the United States and Russia struggling to recover the trust developed by President Ronald Reagan and the last Soviet leader, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, in the 1980s. Beijing: Three Mercedes-Benz limousines sped towards Beijing railway station at 3pm on Tuesday, as police locked down the streets. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was heading back to his special armoured train, it is believed, to make the return journey to Pyongyang. He is believed to have brought the cars with him to China. The identity of the visitor who had arrived by train a day earlier had intrigued the world for 24 hours. Moscow: Fuming with anger, thousands of Russians rallied for more than 10 hours Tuesday in a Siberian city, demanding the ouster of regional officials for a shopping mall fire that killed at least 64 people. President Vladimir Putin, on a trip to the eastern city of Kemerovo, scolded officials for neglecting safety rules that could have prevented the tragedy. The blaze engulfed the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo on Sunday, the first weekend of the school recess, trapping dozens of parents and children inside. Witnesses reported that fire alarms were silent and many doors were locked. Many of the victims were children who died in a locked movie theater after making desperate calls for help. A woman reacts as she prepares to lay flowers for the victims of a fire in a multi-storey shopping centre in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, about 3000 kilometres east of Moscow. Credit:AP Putin arrived early Tuesday, laying flowers at the makeshift memorial to the victims outside the mall and meeting with officials. He did not show up at the protest in front of the regional government's headquarters, but met with some demonstrators at the city's morgue. Paris: A French prosecutor said the girlfriend of an attacker who killed hostages in a supermarket in southern France last week was a radicalised convert to Islam and that she shouted "Allahu akbar," or "God is Great," when she was arrested. Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said the 18-year-old woman "shows all signs of radicalisation." French Police officers and emergency service members work at a supermarket during an incident in Trebes, southern France. Credit:AP She was taken into custody hours after the 25-year-old Morocco-born gunman, Radouane Lakdim, killed four people on Friday before being killed by police who stormed the supermarket in Trebes. The teenager told investigators that she converted to Islam when she was 16. She denied "having been informed and associated with the deadly project of her boyfriend," Molins said during a news conference. London: Britain will launch a counter-propaganda war against the Russians and terrorists in an overhaul of security capabilities announced by Theresa May on Tuesday night. The Prime Minister has instructed the intelligence services to use social media to disrupt misinformation as she promised to use "every capability at our disposal" to defeat the new threat facing the country. As well as increased Russian aggression, sources warned that the Islamist terror threat was likely to rise in the next two years as Mrs May announced a new effort to ensure every government agency and department makes national security a priority, rather than just the police and security services. British Prime Minister Theresa May Credit:AP The plan, called the "Fusion Doctrine", is intended to tackle the evolving threats posed by states such as Russia and North Korea, as well as terrorist groups including Isil which use cyber warfare and "fake news" as well as bombs to attack their enemies. Full Docket of Collectible Convertibles, Roadsters, and Spectacular Collections Headline Barrett-Jackson's 16th Annual Palm Beach Auction, Live on Proxibid OMAHA, Neb. & PALM BEACH, Fla.--Proxibid, the most trusted way to connect buyers and sellers of highly valued items, is gearing up for the 16th Annual Palm Beach Auction presented by Barrett-Jackson, The Worlds Greatest Collector Car Auctions. The live auction will take place April 12-15 at the South Florida Fairgrounds, with live online bidding available via Proxibid. The docket for this auction features two outstanding collections, including more than 140 cars from the John Staluppi Cars of Dreams Collection selling at No Reserve. In all, nearly 600 vehicles as well as a vast array of automobilia will sell to the highest bidder over four action-packed days in South Florida and online. Collectible convertibles like a 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible, number 244 of only 500 produced, and a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Convertible will be crossing the block. Other highlighted vehicles up for bid in this auction include: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible: This vehicle has been restored to run and drive beautifully. It is a proven show winner with a First-Place win at the Huntington Beach Concours dElegance and is one of only 1,800 Biarritz convertibles produced in 1957. 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Super D-500 Convertible: Featured twice in Hemmings Magazine, this multiple award-winning 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Super D-500 has exceptional fit and finish. 1967 Shelby GT350: A collectors dream, this 1967 Shelby GT350 is complete with a Hi-Performance engine and beautiful Nightmist Blue finish. 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition: This 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition is one of just 50 ever built and has only 1,600 miles. We are thrilled with the lineup for this years Palm Beach Auction, said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. With great collections and cars that span generations, this Palm Beach Auction includes some of the most coveted collectibles available on the market today. We are excited to once again partner with Proxibid to ensure that online bidders from across the globe can be a part of the action and participate as if they were there live. All purchases on the Proxibid platform are backed by the companys comprehensive risk management system, designed specifically to manage high-dollar transactions like the collector cars crossing the block in this auction. Proxibids robust online bidding platform is powered by enterprise-level technology and infrastructure, making it the safest place to buy and sell highly valued items online. For more information about this auction, to review the online catalog, or to bid, please visit Proxibid. Proxibid Social Visit us online at www.proxibid.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/proxibid Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/proxibid About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The Worlds Greatest Collector Car Auctions, is the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and Las Vegas, Nevada. With broadcast partners Velocity and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson will feature live television coverage in 2018, including broadcasts in over 150 countries internationally. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com, or call 480-421-6694. About Proxibid Proxibid provides auction companies and asset owners with access to the most trusted way to buy and sell highly valued items online. More than $4 billion in inventory passes through Proxibids Marketplace annually via live and timed auctions, and Buy Now and Make Offer capabilities, across 15 categories that include heavy equipment; industrial machinery; real estate; fine art; antiques and collectibles, and more. Founded in 2001, Proxibid is headquartered in Omaha, NE with offices in London. For more information about Proxibid, please visit www.proxibid.com. Mitsubishi Motors Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Don Swearingen to Retire in June CYPRESS, Calif.-- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Don Swearingen announced he will retire, effective June 1, 2018. Swearingen is staying until June 1 to assist in the transition between incoming President and CEO of MMNA Fred Diaz and outgoing President and CEO of MMNA Ryujiro Kobashi, who is returning to Japan. Sixty has long been my retirement target; and I am walking away knowing Mitsubishi is in the midst of a brand and sales renaissance, said Swearingen, who turns 60 years old this month. The new leadership team has a solid foundation to build upon. The next decade should hold many exciting milestones for Mitsubishi Motors. Don has played a critical role in the development and success of our company in North America, said Mitsubishi Motors North America President and CEO Ryujiro Kobashi. His inspired leadership, energy and expertise has Mitsubishi currently positioned as the fastest growing non-luxury brand in the United States. Don has truly served with honor and distinction. Swearingens automotive-industry career has spanned four decades, with 21 years at MMNA. He also spent time at Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Chrysler. Since ascending to EVP and COO in 2013, Swearingen has played a major role in orchestrating the companys turnaround in the US. Among the milestones achieved are a return to profitability in 2014, five years of sustained growth and the highest dealer profitability since 2003. About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all research and development, marketing, and sales for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells sedans and crossovers/SUVs through a network of approximately 360 dealers. MMNA is leading the way in the development of highly efficient, affordably priced new gasoline-powered automobiles while using its industry-leading knowledge in battery electric vehicles to develop future EV and PHEV models. Mitsubishi has been producing cars for over 100 years. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at 888-560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 26, 2018 -- CarGurus, Inc. , a leading global online automotive marketplace, today announced the appointment of Greg Schwartz to the company's Board of Directors, effective March 22, 2018. Schwartz is chief business officer of Zillow Group , where he leads sales and B2B strategy across Zillow's real estate, rental, mortgage and home improvement marketplaces. Greg joined Zillow in 2007 and built the sales and revenue operations from the ground up. He brings more than twenty years of experience driving innovative business models in the media and internet industries. "I have long admired Greg for his leadership at Zillow, and I am thrilled to welcome him to our Board of Directors," said CarGurus Founder, CEO and Chairman, Langley Steinert. "Greg's experience driving innovative marketplace business models and growing revenue and sales channels is highly relevant to our business, and his knowledge will be a great asset to the Board." "CarGurus' emergence as the nation's most visited online automotive marketplace is a story of bold vision, technology innovation and strong leadership," said Schwartz. "I am deeply honored to join the CarGurus Board of Directors, and I look forward to working closely with Langley and the other Board members to help support the company's next chapter of growth." Before joining Zillow, Greg was Vice President of Advertising Sales at CNNMoney, where he launched the advertising sales team and platform. He also served as national accounts director for Yahoo's Automotive and Finance properties and held multiple positions at DoubleClick, Inc., including director of business development. Greg was named by Inman News as one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders in 2013. In addition, he was named to Swanepoel's Power 200, a list of the 200 most powerful people in residential real estate. Greg has been on the boards of directors for the Woodland Park Zoo, Seeking Alpha and Pike13 and is a Policy Advisory Board Member for Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies. Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Hamilton College. CarGurus also announced that David Parker has retired from the Board effective March 22, 2018. David is currently CEO of Entrepreneurship for All, a non-profit based in Lowell, Ma. "On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I would like to thank David for his eleven years of dedicated service. He has contributed invaluable leadership and insight during his tenure, for which I am extremely grateful," stated Steinert. About CarGurus Founded in 2006, CarGurus is a global, online automotive marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new and used cars. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms and data analytics to bring trust and transparency to the automotive search experience and help users find great deals from top rated dealers. In addition to the United States, CarGurus operates online marketplaces in Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. To learn more about CarGurus, visit www.cargurus.com. Jodie Teuton Elected Chairwoman of American Truck Dealers By Charles Cyrill NADA Director of Media and Public Relations In her first remarks as chairwoman of the American Truck Dealers (ATD), Jodie Teuton outlined several challenges facing the nations medium- and heavy-duty truck dealershipsfrom adapting to changing technology, legislative and regulatory issues, to cultivating the next generation of dealership employees. Were seeing the advent of new power sources, said Teuton in keynote remarks today at the ATD Show in Las Vegas. We need to understand how autonomous and assisted-vehicle legislation will affect our industry in the future, and how new technology will impact customer demand. Teuton, vice president of Kenworth of Louisiana and Southland Truck Leasing in Gray, La., also urged dealers to take an interest in legislative issues such as the Presidents infrastructure proposal, changes to the tax code and regulatory burdens that impact truck dealerships. Teuton added that she will continue to champion ATDs advocacy efforts. Lets continue to build bridges with our lawmakers and regulators. Invite them to the dealership. Let them see the faces of your business. Help them understand our challenges. And let them know the rules affecting our business should be practical for both dealers and the customers we serve. Concerning the dealership workforce, Teuton added that since dealerships currently face challenges in recruiting, hiring and keeping the best talent, they should widen their employment pools. We want to be the employer of choice. We provide well-paying jobs that support families and communities. The quality of our operations rests in the teams we build, she said. Teuton is the first woman to be elected chair of ATD, which was founded in 1970. Women and millennials are untapped resources in our industry, she said. As a parent of a 17-year-old in Generation Z, I know theres a dynamic job force thats coming on the heels of millennials. We just need to attract them to our business. Lets get everyone excited about dealership careers. In addition, Teuton highlighted the importance of education and training and encouraged ATD members and their employees to take advantage of ATDs offerings from joining an ATD 20 Group, sending candidates to the ATD Academy and completing online classes. The ATD Show runs concurrently with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas from March 22-25, 2018. ATD, a division of NADA in Tysons, Va., represents more than 1,800 heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in the U.S. "New Car Review: 2018 Genesis G80 AWD" By John Heilig THE AUTO PAGE By John Heilig Senior Editor and Bureau Chief Mid-Atlantic Bureau The Auto Channel REVIEWED MODEL: 2018 Genesis G80 AWD ENGINE: 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with Shiftronic HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 365 hp @ 6,000 rpm/376 lb.-ft. @ 1,300-4,500 rpm WHEELBASE: 118.5 in. LENGTH X WODTH X HEIGHT: 196.5 x 74.4 x 58.3 in. TIRES: P275/35R19 CARGO CAPACITY: 15.3 cu. ft. ECONOMY: 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/17.6 mpg test FUEL TANK: 20.3 gal. CURB WEIGHT: 4,674 lbs. #/HP: 12.8 TOWING CAPACITY: Not recommended STICKER: $58,325 (includes $975 delivery) BOTTOM LINE: The Genesis G80 is a very well done full-size luxury sedan with the ride quality and power one would expect. I enjoy exotic car styling. Give me a car that looks as if its going 200 mph even when its standing still, and I get all squiggly. But I also appreciate more conservative styling, especially when its dressing a luxury sedan. When what is under the sheetmetal is designed for comfortable driving/riding, theres no reason to let the designers loose to do their thing. The Genesis G80 is conservatively styled, almost Mercedes-Benz-like. The lines of the G80 are almost boxy, yet this box large enough to carry five passengers in comfort. If bench front seats hadnt gone the way of the dodo bird, there would even be room for six. Theres even a small solid panel in the middle of the grille, apparently to improve fuel economy, by how much I wouldnt even try to hazard a guess. Ride quality is very good. Genesis obviously went for quality in the design of the suspension. Both front and rear suspensions are five-link independent designs with gas shock absorbers and tubular stabilizer bars. Overall ride quality is a bit firm. Front seats have good side support to ensconce you, but not so much as to be Recaro-like. Rear seats have very good legroom and visibility. The door side windows extend all the way to the backs of the rear seats. The rear seat backs apparently dont fold, although the trunk is a good size with a large cargo net. Under the hood is a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 that almost feels like a V8. The engine is rated at a healthy 365 horsepower, and even though the G80 weighs in at 4,674 pounds, there are still only 12.8 pounds per horsepower, which is nudging into the performance car range. Hit the accelerator and you get a surge of power and excellent acceleration without the associated noise. There is an overall feeling of quiet power. While the transmission is an 8-speed, the shifter is just R-N-D with a push button for park. It resembles the BMW shifter, but it is simpler. You can shift into Park from any gear, when stopped of course, but I generally shifted into Neutral, then Park. There are three drive modes to the transmission - normal, sport and eco. The G80 has a simple dash with a lot of information. The instrument cluster consists of a tachometer, information screen, and speedometer. We chose trip information for our info data. Theres also a heads up display, but it is difficult to read while wearing sunglasses. The 9.2-inch infotainment screen helps with the audio system. I had initial issues with tuning, but once I found what I wanted, sound quality was excellent. Theres an analog clock in the center of the dash which seems to be de riguer for luxury cars. A central controller on the console allows selection among home, phone, menu, map/voice and navigation. Genesis has added nice touches to the G80. For example, when you lock the car on exiting, the exterior mirrors fold. And when you unlock the car at night, a Genesis logo lights up any puddles by your door. Also, the doors handles light up so you can find them easily. I remember driving a Hyundai Genesis years ago and thought that it would be the basis for a Hyundai luxury car brand, like Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, and Nissan/Infiniti. They must have been reading my mind. Genesis is here as a brand, and a darned good one at that. (c) 2018 The Auto Page Syndicate The Most Useful and Unbiased Independent Genesis Consumer Research Tools Anywhere! Steinbach RCMP are seeking information from the public to solve a report of a theft from the A&W Restaurant in Steinbach on Saturday night. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/3/2018 (1276 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Steinbach RCMP are seeking information from the public to solve a report of a theft from the A&W Restaurant in Steinbach on Saturday night. Police said a man dressed in black, wearing a mask on his face and a toque, entered the restaurant around 11:30 p.m. as a female employee was closing up for the night. The man stole an undisclosed amount of money. Police said in a release on Tuesday morning that the employee was unharmed and was not threatened. No weapon was presented. The man is described as 58" tall with a slim build, light brown or hazel eyes. He was wearing gloves and carried a black drawstring gym bag. Anyone with information can contact Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-4452 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or text "TIPMAN" plus a message to CRIMES (274637). Keith Raniere. Photo: NXIVM Corporation The leader of an alleged sex cult accused of branding its female members has been arrested and charged with sex trafficking, the Associated Press reports. Keith Raniere and his group, Nxivm (pronounced nex-e-um), were thrust into the spotlight in October following a New York Times expose. Women who joined the Albany-based group were told it was a self-help organization meant to empower them the organizations site describes it as a community guided by humanitarian principles that seek to empower people and answer important questions about what it means to be human. Instead, they say they were referred to as slaves and subject to ritual humiliations and even brandings. They were also allegedly told to starve themselves to achieve Ranieres standard of beauty and to have sex with him. Raniere founded Nxvim back in 1998 and is known as Vanguard to the group. After the Times story came out, he fled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The AP reports that he was found there staying with several women in a luxury gated community. He is scheduled to appear in court in Texas on Tuesday. Linda Brown. Photo: Carl Iwasaki/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty The young girl who was at the center of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that outlawed segregation in pubic schools, has died, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports. She was 76 years old. Linda Brown was just 9 years old when her father attempted to enroll her at the nearby Sumner Elementary School which was, in 1951, an all-white school. Unwilling to accept her because of the color of her skin, the public school in Topeka, Kansas, suggested to the Browns that their daughter attend a different school: the all-black Monroe School, approximately two miles from their home. It was then that Browns father decided to sue the Topeka Board of Education. After Browns complaint was combined with four similar cases, the bundle was presented to the Supreme Court. In May 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal in the landmark court case. While Browns family told the Courier-Journal they would not comment on the death, Browns sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson, confirmed it. Following the reports today of Browns death, Kansass governor, Jeff Colyer, tweeted about her immeasurable contributions to U.S. history. Sixty-four years ago a young girl from Topeka brought a case that ended segregation in public schools in America, he wrote. Linda Browns life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world. The Wing co-founder Audrey Gelman and Jennifer Lawrence speak at the co-working spaces Soho location. Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Wing The New York City Human Rights Commission is launching a commission-initiated investigation into a flourishing womens social club and co-working space, according to a new report from Jezebel. Inspired by early-20th-century womens clubs, Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan co-founded The Wing in late 2016 to function both as a workspace as well as a a hub for community and connection between women. While there was originally only one location in New York Citys Flatiron District, the business announced in April 2017 that it was expanding to Soho, Downtown Brooklyn, and D.C. Since its inception, The Wing has raised $40 million in venture capital, launched a magazine (some of which the Cut published through a partnership), and beckoned over 1,500 people willing to pay the $215 monthly membership fee. After learning of the business through its media coverage, the NYC Human Rights Commission decided to launch an investigation to determine if the businesss operations violate the citys Human Rights Law. According to the aforementioned law, businesses that furnish public accommodations, including most private clubs (though not all), cannot discriminate against customers based on their gender, Jezebel reports. The Wing not only prohibits men not only from becoming members, but from even visiting the building. According to the report, representatives from The Wing and the Commission have scheduled to meet and discuss the case. All thats happened is that The Wing and the Commission have agreed, mutually, to sit down and have a conversation, said Karen Dunn, who is representing The Wing. Dunn is a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, the eponymous firm of David Boies, the lawyer who most recently represented Harvey Weinstein and attempted to discredit author Emma Cline by bringing up her sexual past in a legal battle. However, it should be noted that Boies Schiller Flexner LLP is a major law firm that has represented a number of high-profile clients. The Jezebel report also includes multiple testimonies from members who extoll the benefits of working in a women-only space, as well as compelling arguments for the existence of such a place from law professor Melissa Murray. I think its patently absurd for New Yorks human rights commission to be focusing on The Wing when weve had, over the last six months, numerous complaints about workplaces being absolutely hostile to women in terms of pervasive and endemic sexual harassment, she said. Leaving aside the fact that so many workplaces seem to be rife with incidents of sexual harassment, now, after #MeToo, I think there are a lot of men in positions of authority who are going to be really skeptical and afraid to mentor women and that might make a space like this even more necessary. While experts go back and forth about whether or not The Wing is violating the citys human-rights law regarding gender discrimination, reporter J.K. Trotter stresses that the future of the investigation is uncertain. To be clear: Its uncertain whether the Commission on Human Rights would ever bring a lawsuit against The Wing. At this stage, the agency is evaluating the companys practices to ensure that its following the law. The Commission is empowered to sue individuals and companies in the absence of a third-party complaint, but that decision will hinge on the outcome of its own inquiry, which hasnt yet finished. And there are several steps between the inquirys completion, including the agencys final determination and a mediation process, and a potential lawsuit. Update 8:40am: In response to the story, Audrey Gelman, CEO of The Wing, issued the following statement to The Cut: Quite surprisingly, the Commission reached out to us on the first day of Womens History Month. That call has resulted in nothing more than an agreement to meet and have a conversation in fact, we have been assured that the de Blasio Administration fully supports the mission of The Wing and will work with us to see it prosper. Because of the history of women in this country and even more so in this time we live in it is important to protect and foster the work of The Wing and similar space that give women a positive and safe space to thrive. A City Hall press secretary also told The Cut that these types of reviews are very normal and that the Mayor is fully supportive of The Wings mission. 4-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Raped at a Remote Indigenous Community in Australia, Teen in Custody Police have charged a male youth after a 4-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted in a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to face court in Alice Springs on a charge of sexual intercourse without consent, reported The Australian, citing a police spokesperson. The alleged incident is believed to have occurred on Sunday, March 25, behind the communitys Baptist Church in Ali Curung. On March 26, police told News Corp in a statement that authorities from the NTs child abuse taskforce were involved in investigating the alleged sexual assault. Authorities are also investigating whether the young victim was known to welfare officials prior to the incident or subject to child safety notifications, reported The Australian. The 4-year-old boy was reportedly airlifted to a hospital in Alice Springs. His condition is unknown. The territorys chief minister, Michael Gunner, described the alleged assault as an extremely disturbing incident. Every child, no matter where they live, deserves to be in a safe environment, Gunner said, reported the newspaper. Police are investigating and have sent Child Abuse Taskforce members into the community. Additional Territory Families staff are also in the remote town. This matter will also be referred to the childrens commissioner for investigation. Ken Davies, the head of Territory Families, said they were looking into the incident to determine what had happened. I cant say anything really except weve got a team on the ground working with police, Davies told the news station. We have a Territory Families officer there and were there with police. We know the families fairly well. Were trying to ascertain how serious it is. Well certainly be working closely with police, he added. NTs opposition leader, Gary Higgins, said the Territorys children are some of the nations most vulnerable people and their safety should be at the core of all decision-making, irrespective of cultural beliefs, reported The Australian. I call on the Territory government to implement whatever is necessary to ensure that horrendous incidents such as this never happen again, he said. This is a complex set of problems that cannot be solved overnight, but what sort of society do we live in if we cannot commit to addressing this crisis? This incident follows the alleged sexual assault of a 2-year-old girl at Tennant Creek about 2 hours away from Ali Curung in February this year. The 24-year-old suspect was charged with sexual intercourse without consent and was denied bail. The baby girl was flown to South Australia for emergency medical care. Between the period of Feb. 1, 2017, and Jan. 31, 2018, nine cases of sexual assault were reported in the Tennant Creek region, according to statistics from the NT Police. This number is down from 17 sexual assault cases reported in the same period for the previous year. The police investigation is still ongoing. No further details have been provided. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Kangaroo Attacks Cyclist This AFP TV video frame grab shows a picture of Mireille Knoll posted on the door of her apartment in Paris on March 27, 2018, after she was found dead in her apartment on March 23, 2018, by firefighters called to extinguish a blaze. (Laetitia PeronAFP/Getty Images) 85-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Viciously Murdered in Paris Apartment An 85-year-old woman who survived the Holocaust was murdered in her apartment in Paris last week. Mireille Knoll was stabbed repeatedly before her attackers set her apartment on fire. Firefighters discovered her body when they rushed to the building to put out the fire on Friday. Two people were arrested and charged with murder with anti-Semitic motives along with robbery and damaging property, sources told The Associated Press. A French judicial official said that Knoll was stabbed 11 times and was dead before the fire started. Knolls family members told Israeli media outlets that she had known one of the people arrested since he was 7 years old. My mother accepted everyone. Even the neighbor who murdered her, she has known since he was 7 years old. When he was a boy, he helped her, Knolls son Daniel told Army Radio, reported the Times of Israel. At first we werent sure [the murder] was due to anti-Semitism. We waited for police to say it, and now we know the truth.Until now, I havent felt anti-Semitism in France. Of course, there were dangerous Muslim extremists, but until today I didnt feel in danger. He added, I work with people from all walks of French society; many are afraid of Muslim extremists, but I didnt feel that until now. Even today Im not afraid. There are some who are uneducated, idiots, but they exist everywhere in the world. Police officers said Knoll had called police officers before and complained that the neighbor threatened to kill her. The killing has sparked an outcry, with French-Jewish organizations calling for a march in Knolls memory on Wednesday and saying officials have to be transparent in their investigation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the death showed the need for a fundamental and permanent fight against anti-Semitism, reported DW. French President Emmanuel Macron released a statement after the death was reported. Jexprime mon emotion devant le crime epouvantable commis contre Mme Knoll. Je reaffirme ma determination absolue a lutter contre lantisemitisme. https://t.co/FcSb1gqkQo Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 26, 2018 I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences on the appalling crime committed against Mrs. Knoll. I reaffirm my absolute determination to fight anti-Semitism, he said. Just last month, a judge confirmed that the April 2017 killing of Sarah Halimi, a 65-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman who was beaten before being thrown out of a window, was motivated by anti-Semitism. Knoll escaped a roundup of Paris Jews during World War II. Then 9 years old, Knoll fled France with her mother to Portugal. She returned after the war. Some 13,000 people were rounded up in Paris and sent to the Auschwitz death camp. Fewer than 100 survived. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Father Who Lost Child Tells Trump: I remember the hug you gave me Students of Chaohu No.2 Middle School wear masks with red ribbons in Chaohu City, Anhui Province of China, on November 30, 2017. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) A Worrying Trend: Half of AIDS Victims in Beijing Are College Students An uptick in AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) among Beijing youth has alarmed health authorities. According to the latest statistics from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (BMCE), college students accounted for half of the citys HIV positive patients. Male college students accounted for 98 percent of them. According to BMCE statistics about AIDS occurrence among Beijings colleges and universities released on March 20, 1,244 college students in Beijing are infected with HIV, including 722 from ages 18 to 22, 50 more than last year. In the 59 colleges and universities in Beijing, male students accounted for 98.48 percent. Contraction among male homosexuals reached 86.7 percent. According to researcher Wu Zunyou, an expert committee member of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS and the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), the number of college students infected with HIV has been on the rise since 2008, with an average increase of around 10 percent every year. However, the AIDS epidemic in China is much more serious than official statistics suggest. In the 1990s, scores of poor farmers, especially those clustered in Henan and Anhui provinces, contracted AIDS after using contaminated needles to sell their blood plasma. The phenomenon has led to the existence of so-called AIDS villages throughout the regionbut the Chinese regime has continually denied and covered up the severity of the AIDS epidemic, including cracking down on rights activists who advocate for better treatment. Gao Yaojie, visiting scholar at Columbia University and author of seven books about the AIDS epidemic in China, told Voice of America in a December 2014 interview that AIDS victims in China are estimated to reach more than 10 million people. President Donald Trump in Washington on March 22. Trump signed trade sanctions against China on the same day, imposing tariffs of up to $60 billion on Chinese goods in retaliation for the theft of American intellectual property. (SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES) America Fights for Its Economic Future Trump is taking on intellectual property theft by declaring sanctions against China WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump is taking a hard-nosed approach to tackling one of the most urgent problems facing the country. The trade sanctions that Washington unveiled on March 22 are meant to punish Beijing for employing unfair trade practices to steal American technology that will be vital to the U.S. economy in the years ahead. If China dominates the industries of the future, it will be very difficult for the United States to have an economic future, Peter Navarro, a key White House trade adviser, said during a call with reporters. Trumps punitive measures include restricting Chinese investment in the United States and imposing tariffs totaling up to $60 billion on Chinese products. This is a historic event, and President Trump should be applauded for his courage, his vision, on this, Navarro said. Previous administrations warned China but refused to take strong action against its unfair trade practices and instead tried using persuasion, which failed countless times, according to experts. The Trump administration is now moving beyond persuasion to actual penalties. This is the most serious response taken by any administration in recent memory, said Stephen Ezell, vice president at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a U.S. think tank. He believes this is a long-overdue action. What really is at stake here is our intellectual property, Ezell said. I was heartened that the administration seemed to understand how important the IP is to the future of the U.S. economy. Video: How Industrial warfare has occurred between USA and China IP Theft For decades, the Chinese regimes protectionist and trade-distorting policies have weakened the competitiveness of American companies. According to a report by the U.S. trade representative (USTR), China is implementing laws, policies, and practices that harm American intellectual property rights, innovation, and technological development. China uses many tactics to steal information, such as forcing foreign companies to partner with domestic firms and hand over their technology and know-how to gain access to the Chinese market. Companies are asked to relocate their production, research and development, and data storage to the country. Through joint venture requirements and investment restrictions, the Chinese regime has been forcing technology and IP transfer from U.S. companies to Chinese entities for years. These actions have damaged American manufacturing, jobs, and innovation. They have also negatively affected U.S. exports and contributed to the trade deficit with China. The Chinese regime has pledged several times since 2010 not to use technology transfer as a condition for market access, according to the USTR report. It has also committed to stop pushing for the disclosure of trade secrets in regulatory or administrative proceedings. Despite all these commitments, Chinas technology transfer regime has never stopped. American government, American people, American businesses are really fed up with the way in which the Chinese government turned a blind eye to what is going on there, Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) told NTD, a sister media of The Epoch Times. In response to concerns about any retaliation from China, Bishop said, What kind of retaliation would have any more impact than what we are seeing right now with the cost of the stealing of our intellectual property? Global brands are being forced to give away their most important and sensitive technologies. And they have little choice but to comply, as they cannot afford to leave one of the worlds largest markets. However, in the long run, they end up losing their competitive edge in global markets by surrendering their valuable and hard-won technologies, stated the USTR report. This results in a highly asymmetric playing field where U.S. companies face immensely restrictive policies in China, while Chinese companies are not equally restricted in the United States. The Chinese government also uses other tactics to protect its own domestic companies, including massive government subsidies and cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property and trade secrets. According to the USTR report, these practices, for example, have driven 30 U.S. solar companies out of business since 2012, leaving the American solar industry on the brink of collapse. Solar cells were first invented in the United States, but only 6 percent of world production was based in North America in 2016. Most production has shifted to China and Taiwan over time. Predatory Investments Through state-owned enterprises, China also directs acquisition and investment activity to target foreign enterprises with leading technologies in key sectors, ranging from semiconductors to manufacturing. And the government often orchestrates these acquisitions for strategic purposes. Chinas sovereign wealth fundlike China Investment Corporation, which has close to $1 trillion [in assets under management]is not coming here to earn a fair rate of return for its investors, said Navarro. It is investing in the United States for strategic, industrial, and in some cases military policies, he added. Trump ordered the Treasury secretary to propose an action to stop unfair acquisitions or investments in the United States that are directed by China. The investment restrictions will go beyond the mandate of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-agency committee that reviews the national security implications of foreign investments in the country. In 2000, President Bill Clinton permanently granted most favored nation status to China, which then became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) a year later. Ever since then, the communist regime has consistently and repeatedly broken WTO rules. I have called for such action for years and been disappointed by the inactions of both President Bush and Obama, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on the Senate floor on March 22, commenting on the steps announced by Trump. Im very pleased that this administration is taking strong action to get a better deal on China. Trump also blasted previous presidents for ignoring unfair trade practices. Were doing things for this country that should have been done for many, many years. Weve had this abuse by many other countries and groups of countries that were put together in order to take advantage of the United States, Trump said during the signing of the presidential memorandum on China on March 22. Its probably one of the reasons I was elected, maybe one of the main reasons. Were not going to let that happen. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers A U.S. Border Patrol agent removes handcuffs from an immigrant in the United States without permission, on Feb. 23, 2018, in McAllen, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images) California Sheriffs Office Will Publish Inmates Release in Pushback Against States Sanctuary Law A sheriffs office in California announced it will publicly publish the scheduled release dates for inmates in the latest pushback against the states controversial sanctuary law. Local and state agencies may not be allowed to communicate the release date for illegal immigrants to federal immigration authorities, under the sanctuary law, known as the California Values Act. The Orange County sheriff said the change in protocol is an effort to notify federal authorities. This is in response to SB-54 limiting our ability to communicate with federal authorities and our concern that criminals are being released to the street when theres another avenue to safeguard the community by handing them over (to ICE for potential deportation), Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes told the Orange County Register. Barnes said the ICE, or federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was not consulted before the change. The release dates are available for anyone to view on the sheriffs website. A few cities in Orange County are considering moves that could be seen as opposition to the recently passed law. Los Alamitos, the second smallest city in the county, recently voted to exempt itself from Californias sanctuary law, reported The Register. As the mayor of Los Alamitos, we are not a sanctuary city, said Mayor Troy Edgar. The states controversial law has affected immigration operations, including one in February when Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf issued a warning to illegal immigrants that ICE officials were planning a raid in the city. ICE's acting chief claims that Oakland Mayor Libby Schaafs warning about impending raids in the Bay Area allowed 3 undocumented immigrants to commit new crimes. https://t.co/EbvaWzm0i7 ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) March 22, 2018 I know that Oakland is a city of law-abiding immigrants and families who deserve to live free from the constant threat of arrest and deportation, Schaaf said at the time. I believe it is my duty and moral obligation as mayor to give those families fair warning when that threat appears imminent. ICE conducted a raid a few days later and captured over 200 illegal immigrants, the bulk of whom had been either convicted criminals and/or previously deported. ICE officials said the warning enabled hundreds more, including serious criminals, to evade capture. A representative for the department told Fox News that one Mexican citizen who managed to evade capture was convicted for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and a DUI and had been deported in 2003. What she did is no better than a gang lookout yelling Police when a police cruiser comes in the neighborhood, except she did it to an entire community. This is beyond the pale, ICE Director Tom Homan said. This is a whole new low, to intentionally warn criminals that law enforcement is coming. I do not regret sharing this information. It is Oaklands legal right to be a sanctuary city and we have not broken any laws. We believe our community is safer when families stay together. pic.twitter.com/ng13yq431L Libby Schaaf (@LibbySchaaf) February 28, 2018 Officials said some of the illegal immigrants committed new crimes after they evaded immigration agents. Schaaf, though, doubled down on her comments after receiving criticism. I do not regret sharing this information, she said. It is Oaklands legal right to be a sanctuary city and we have not broken any laws. We believe our community is safer when families stay together. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Brothers Step in When They See Man Harassing Two Teen Girls on New York Subway Celebrity Realtor Shoots, Kills Ex-wife Before Shooting Self Kevin Crane, a realtor and self-described child star who claimed to work with Disney and Warner Brothers, was arrested in the fatal shooting of his ex-wife in California. Crane, 33, is currently in critical condition at a Thousand Oaks hospital after allegedly killing ex-wife Parisa Siddiqi while she was working at The Oaks Mall. He tried to kill himself but failed, People magazine reported. Kevin Crane, a 33-year-old real estate agent, is accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife, Parisa Siddiqi, while she worked at a store in the Thousand Oaks, California, mall, police say: https://t.co/AHaiEbNvk7 pic.twitter.com/mm8Xm3uDzK Heavy.com (@HeavySan) March 19, 2018 Crane worked as a realtor for Pacific Rim, according to the firms website, but he also claimed to have been a child actor. According to a source with knowledge of Disney Channel actors, There is no record of Kevin Crane starring in a Disney Channel series or movie, reported People magazine. Warner Brothers was not able to confirm if he worked with them. Crane, who was an agent for luxury residential properties, had sold homes to rapper Big Sean and other celebrities, reported the Daily Mail. Police have described the shooting as a domestic incident. A GoFundMe page started by Siddiqis Paper Source team is asking for donations for her two sons. We are heartbroken over the loss of our beloved team member who meant so much to all of us, the page creator said. She was called a warm and loving mother, daughter and friend, and a wonderful co-worker who brought her creativity to work every day. She possessed an unimaginable amount of strength, an unnamed friend told People. Her kids were her number one priority. She was their whole world, and they were hers. I can sincerely say she was a loyal friend, a strong woman, and an absolute joy to be around. She was incredibly compassionate towards friends, and always put everyone else first. Ill miss her terribly. The Blast reported this week that legal documents showed that Siddiqi filed a restraining order against Cranes mother in early March. She (Gregory) told her son (Crane) if I kept my kids away from her that, that would be the end of me, and she will make sure she gets custody of them, after the end of me, according to the document. My kids also need to be in this order, because she harassed me, the next day she went to their school without my knowledge. I feel that because she is not in her right mind towards me that my kids will also be in danger with her contact, the filing added. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Chinese Around the World Commemorate 300 Million Withdrawals From the Chinese Communist Party The global movement of Chinese people renouncing their ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations has reached an important milestone. The trend began soon after the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times published a nine-part series, Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, in November and December 2004. The series dissected the Partys origins, essential nature, and historical and current crimes, inspiring many to renounce their previous or current ties to Party organizationscalled tuidang in Chinese. Sen Nieh, vice president of the Tuidang Center, a New York-based nonprofit that maintains a database of those who renounced their ties, described the movement thusly: Tuidang is not a political movement; rather an awakening to freedom of conscience and thoughts of individuals, Nieh said in a press release. This simple, private act gives individuals the distance of their own hearts and minds from communism and begin to think for themselves and to choose their future. On March 24, that population reached 300 million. For comparison, the Chinese Communist Party currently has about 90 million members. Chinese communities across the globe celebrated the landmark occasion. In Los Angeles, California, volunteers at the local Tuidang Center held banners along the busy intersection of Valley Blvd. and Del Mar Ave., informing the citys residents about the news. Many drivers honked their horns or made thumbs-up signs in support. L.A. Tuidang Center volunteer Zhang Jingming explained that in China, many adherents of Falun Gonga spiritual meditation discipline that has been severely suppressed by the Chinese regime since 1999risk their lives to tell Chinese citizens about the Tuidang movement and encourage them to quit the Party. Some have been arrested and sentenced as a result, he said. Some Falun Gong adherents do not know how to surpass the firewall to access the Tuidang Center database, so they keep a list of namespseudonyms are often used to protect individuals from the Chinese authorities retaliationof those who expressed their wish to renounce their ties to the Party. Over the phone, Zhang helps them register on the databasesome with lists of 500 people or more. In Melbourne, Australia, local politicians appeared at a rally in support of 300 million Chinese withdrawing from the Party. Janet Rice, a senator in the Australian parliament, said the Australian government had a duty to call out Chinas human rights crimes and put pressure on the regime to take action. She commended the Tuidang movement as a call for human rights, justice, and peace. The former head of the Australian lobbying group National Civic Council, Peter Westmore, said that the Tuidang movement is a protest against the Communist regime, not China the country. Thus, the people of the world should stand together with the Chinese people who have suffered persecution under the Chinese regime. In Hong Kong, more than 700 participants joined a rally and march last week in anticipation of the 300 million mark. Local political figures also voiced their support for the Tuidang movement The Communist Party has become corrupt to the core, said Han Lianshan, the spokesman for League in Defense of Hong Kongs Freedoms. We can no longer be silent about the CCPs suppression of Hong Kong people, of Chinese people. Jiang Linda and Zhang Ru contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Chinese Regime Breaks Up Gestapo-like Police Why the Party is weakening an agency created to carry out persecution of Falun Gong spiritual practice The Chinese Communist regime has significantly weakened, if not abolished, the power of one of its most deadly and notorious agencies: the 610 Office, an extra-legal party organization similar to the Nazis Gestapo. The move was part of a broad set of structural reforms that were passed during the Partys recent rubber-stamp parliament sessions. The 610 Office was established by former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin on June 10, 1999hence its namefor the sole purpose of carrying out the persecution of Falun Gong, a meditation practice with moral teachings based three principles: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Under the notion that the groups popularity would undermine the Partys authority, Jiang mobilized the states security and propaganda apparatuses to arrest and detain Falun Gong adherents, while slandering the practice to turn public opinion against Falun Gong. Functioning without approval from the Partys rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress, or the 25-member Politburo made up of Party elites, the 610 office has never had a legal basis for its existence. Yet, under the leadership of the 610 Office, Falun Gong practitioners have been arbitrarily sentenced to labor camps, prison, or brainwashing centers. Thousands have been tortured to death or disability since 1999, according to the U.S.-based research nonprofit, the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong. The 610 office is also involved in state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience, resulting in large numbers of unexplained deaths. Most of them are Falun Gong practitioners, according to researchers. The 610 Office derived authority from its connection with the Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC). The first two heads of the 610 Office, Luo Gan and Zhou Yongkang, also headed the PLAC. Previously, the regional directors of the 610 Office at the provincial and municipal levels were also the secretaries or deputy secretaries of the provincial or municipal PLAC. Under that arrangement, the 610 Office could dispatch all elements of Chinas security apparatusthe public security (police), state security, judicial, and prosecutorial systemsto persecute Falun Gong practitioners. Former 610 Office official Hao Fengjun had previously disclosed that most members of the agency, estimated at about 15,000 staff, are also members of the PLAC. On March 21, the Party published a document announcing its reforms, including merging three security forces dedicated to suppressing dissents and subsuming them under the PLAC. One of them is the Central Office for Guarding Against and Handling Heretical Religion Issues, also known as the 610 Office. The other two offices that were dissolved are the Central Public Security Comprehensive Management Commission and Central Stability Maintenance Work Office. Under the new arrangement, the duties of the 610 Office are now being relegated to the PLAC and the Ministry of Public Security instead. While the document did not outright state that the 610 Office was abolishedsomething that was explicitly stated for the other two security forcesmany observers believe the proposal implies such. However, the PLAC and Ministry of Public Security will likely still carry out the persecution of Falun Gong, an anonymous legal scholar in China told The Epoch Times. The new policy continues efforts by current Party leader Xi Jinping to weaken the PLAC and the 610 Office. When Xi came to power in 2012, he removed the PLAC secretary from the Politburo Standing Committeethe Partys most powerful decision-making body, significantly shrinking its authority. Later, former heads of the 610 system, including former PLAC secretary Zhou Yongkang, his top aide, Zhou Benshun, and former 610 Office director Li Dongsheng, were purged from the Party and sentenced to prison. Xis sweeping anti-corruption campaign has purged many officials loyal to former leader Jiangan opposition faction. Those officials had shown their political allegiance to Jiang by participating in his persecution of Falun Gong. As of August 2016, 15.1 percent of 610 officials had been investigated, indicted, sentenced, disciplined, or purged, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that serves as a clearinghouse for information about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Xin Ziling, former president of the state-affiliated Chinese Military Academy Press, disclosed that the Xi leadership has been trying to eliminate the 610 Office. The 610 Office is something awkward, he told independent Chinese broadcaster New Tang Dynasty Television in a telephone interview. It is neither a government organization, nor does it serve in any legal capacity. When Jiang Zemin failed to pass a proposal to suppress Falun Gong through the central authorities, he held a meeting of high-level cadres, gathered all his supporters, and set up such an organization. Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng wrote in his open letter to Party leaders in 2005: The 610 Office is a criminal organization that surpasses the power of the regime itself. It can manipulate and control all political resources of the regime, exerting a kind of power that not even a constitution or nation can grant. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington en route to to Mar-a-Lago, Fla., on March 23, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Commentary: Trumps Approval Rating Keeps Rising, Despite Manufactured Scandals Commentary A new CNN poll published on March 26 showed that Trumps approval rating is now 42 percent, the highest in 11 months and up 7 percent from a CNN poll released on Feb. 26. Other polls have shown a similar picture. The right-leaning Rasmussen reports, which came in second for accuracy in predicting the result of the 2016 presidential election, shows Trumps approval rating at 46 percent. The rise of Trumps approval rating comes amid a slew of media-fabricated scandals against him, the main one involving Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels. For weeks now, media organizations have provided her with a platform and have hyped up her unsubstantiated allegations against Trump. The Media Research Center found in January and February this year that 91 percent of all evening news on the major networks was negative on Trump, up from 90 percent in 2017. Yet, despite the onslaught of negative media coverage, which consists of both spin and plain lies, Trumps approval rating keeps on rising. And its not for a lack of trying on the medias part to influence public opinion on Trump. An analysis of a day of coverage by CNN by the Media Research Center found that the station was almost entirely dedicated to Trump, spending only 15 percent of its time on covering news topics that were not related to the president. This shows us that legacy news outlets dont have the influence they once had and that they are increasingly operating within their own bubbles. Their ability to control the narrative has been severely undercut by the rise of social media networks and the internet. Trumps rising approval rating also shows us that Americans see in Trump a president who is keeping promises and getting things done. Unemployment is at a 17-year low, with African American and Hispanic unemployment levels at their lowest in recorded history, and the stock market has reached historic highs. Trump is tackling national security threats head-on, such as Chinas theft of intellectual property, North Koreas and Irans nuclear programs, and cartels smuggling drugs into the United States. The most prominent example of a fabricated media scandal has been the narrative that Trump colluded with Russia to win the election. For over a year, media have promoted the theory despite an investigation conducted by the former director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama finding no evidence of collusion. A year-long investigation by the House intelligence committee, concluded on March 22, found no evidence of collusion. Having lost the ability to control the narrative, the legacy news outlets are now spinning stories out of control, rendering their chances of regaining peoples trust ever more bleak. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. German Media Calls for Europe to Join US Fight Against Chinas Unfair Trade Practices Plus, Chinese analysts reveal why China has more to lose in an all-out trade war Following news of the United States proposed tariffs on Chinese goods, other nations have been watching how this trade war between the worlds two biggest economies will unfold. In recent days, German media have called for the European Union to align with the United States in fighting Chinas unfair trade practices. Leading German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published an editorial on March 22 titled Fighting Alongside Washington, which championed taking China to task for its overproduction of steel, achieved through government subsidies. This led to global oversupply and falling prices, which are the primary impetus for the United States punishing China through imported steel tariffs. The initial list of targeted import countries included China and European nations, but the White House administration has since issued exemptions to the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and others. Video: How Industrial warfare has occurred between USA and China Uniting Against the Chinese Regime Instead of intensifying trade tensions, Europe should draw close to the U.S., the editorial read. It suggested making a trade agreement with partners across the Atlantic similar to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership signed by mostly Asia-Pacific countries. Western nations should unite together to fight for free trade and their own socioeconomic models, it read. The following day, the newspaper published another editorial, titled Fruitless Hopes, that supported using tariffs to punish China for stealing Western intellectual property. It lamented that the West had hoped allowing China into the global economy would, in turn, push China to become a more open societyan effort that failed. China has publicly stated its demand to become a hegemony. To counter such a country, the West needs to stop it from obtaining key technology. Punitive tariffs are one such countermeasure, it read. Another leading newspaper, Handelsblatt, published an editorial on March 22 that urged Europe to oppose China. The EU has consistently petitioned [China] for equal treatment. But if China does not change its policies toward foreign firms in China, Europeans should increase obstruction to Chinese investments in European businesses, it read. And that is seemingly what happened with Chinas bid to buy stakes in the German energy network operator 50Hertz. On March 23, 50Hertzs majority shareholder, the Belgian firm Elia, announced that it would exercise its preemptive right to buy a 20 percent stake and edge out State Grid Corporation of China, the Chinese state-owned utility company. Reuters reported that when the Chinese first expressed interest in December 2017, German lawmakers were concerned that the Chinese bid would allow the regime to get its hands on key technologies. Back in February, Matthias Machnig, German state secretary for economic affairs, urged stricter EU laws to scrutinize Chinese acquisitions of European companies. It is essential that we get a tougher law in the European Union this year to resist takeover fantasies or outflows of technology or know-how, he told German newspaper Die Welt. U.S. officials have also expressed the desire to work with allies in the EU and Japan to tackle Chinas aggressive trade tactics. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said during a March 22 press call that the United States hoped to work with like-minded trading partners that also face issues of intellectual property theft. Everyone that trades with China faces this problem, Navarro said. China Has More to Lose Media commentators have also made predictions about which side will have more to lose in an all-out trade war. Hong Kong economic analyst Liao Shiming said the Chinese regime has been relatively passive in this recent trade dispute because most Chinese analysts and experts had not expected the United States to take serious action. Most thought Trump would use trade with China merely as a platform to win votes in the election, Liao told The Epoch Times. China has publicly stated its demand to become a hegemony. To counter such a country, the West needs to stop it from obtaining key technology. Punitive tariffs are one such countermeasure. From a March 23 editorial in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper Meanwhile, a longtime Chinese blogger who frequently comments on domestic economic news, with the pseudonym Manzu Yongshi, penned a recent article dissecting how China relies on the American market. Looking at what goods China depends on the United States to provide, one can see that China has little wiggle room to retaliate by restricting U.S. imports, the blogger wrote. Citing Chinese customs data, the article listed the top categories of goods China imports from the United States, with the top category being electromechanical and audio equipment. Without those U.S. goods, China would have to import from South Korea or Japan, but Chinas relations with those countries have long been rocky. The second is aircraft, cars, ships, and other transportation. The Chinese regime would want such goods to be made with high safety standards, such as those from the United States. Its only other option would be the EU, which may take that opportune moment to raise prices. The third is agricultural products. Imported food products accounted for more than 20 percent of food production. The Chinese regime has relied on cheap imports to stifle the rising prices of domestic agricultural goods, which led the blogger to conclude that it is unlikely the Chinese regime would risk increasing food prices to fight a trade war. The fifth categorymedical devicesare critical for patient survival. For the United States, by contrast, the top categories of electromechanical equipment (No. 1 import from China) and cheap metals (No. 4) are already being targeted by announced tariffs, while the other categories of toys and textiles are nonessential. The Chinese regime has also softened their initially hostile rhetoric. Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai told Bloomberg News in an interview on March 23 that the Beijing authorities were willing to make efforts to minimize the trade deficit and were ready to buy more U.S. goods. Alannah Davey, 10, was treated at the Women and Children's Hospital in Adelaide after she was hit by a car and left unconscious just metres away from her home. (Screenshot via Google Maps) How Could You Hit Somebody and Not Stop?: Mother Devastated After Daughter Found Unconscious Outside Her Home A heartbroken mother is furious after her daughter was allegedly hit by a car and left bloodied and unconscious on the side of the road with the driver nowhere to be seen. Lisa Davey told 7News that her 10-year-old daughter, Alannah Davey, was out playing in a park near their home when she was hit by a car in Mount Barker, South Australia, on Sunday, March 25. Alannah was found lying in the middle of the road injured and unconscious about 20 metres away from her home on Barker Road. I dont know how someone could do that, how could you hit somebody and not stop? Lisa said. I dont know. She was unconscious and they just left. Fortunately, Alannah was found by passing motorists who rushed to her aid. Three women stopped to help the young girl before paramedics and police arrived. Lisa said she was at home doing housework when she was informed of the terrible news. The Good Samaritans told Lisa that there was another person who was there when they stopped but he disappeared when emergency services arrived. They told me there was another guy there when they stopped and he said, shes been hit by a car, but then when police and the ambulance rocked up, he was gone, Lisa told the news station. We dont know who it was because they were too busy trying to help my daughter. The 10-year-old girl was then taken to the Womens and Childrens Hospital with facial injuries, skull fractures and a bruised liver, reported 7News. A resident in the area told the news station that traffic in the area is often fast. Police are now appealing for anyone who saw Alannah leave her home on Sunday or anyone with any information about the incident to contact them, according to a statement. Any dash cam vision would help with the investigation. The distraught mother is now pleading for the driver to turn him or herself in. Do the right thing, Lisa said. Turn yourself in. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Spectacular Lightning Storm Flashes Above Surfers Paradise President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington en route to Mar-a-Lago, Fla., on March 23, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Citizenship Question to Be Reinstated in 2020 Census Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced on March 26 that a question about citizenship will be reinstated in the 2020 census. The question is crucial for determining the distribution of congressional seats, government aid, and the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The citizenship data from the new survey results can have wide-ranging impacts on future elections. The citizenship question was asked on the census from 1790 to 1950. In December last year, the Department of Justice asked Ross to reinstate it. In response, Ross initiated a comprehensive review led by the Census Bureau. That review resulted in the announcement that the census will again ask respondents whether they are U.S. citizens. This is one of Trumps most important accomplishments as president, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach told Breitbart News on March 26. This is right up there with Neil Gorsuch being appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It allows a sovereign nation to know how many citizens it has, Kobach added. Thats the craziest part of our census since 1950. Now we will have an actual count of citizens. Thats one of the most basic things a sovereign nation should be able to do, along with enforcing its borders. Proponents of open borders and liberal politicians opposed the addition of the question, arguing that it would reduce response rates and lead to inaccurate data. But the Census Bureau already asks immigration questions on several of its largest population surveys, which are used to estimate unemployment, poverty rates, wages, and health insurance coverage. If asking about citizenship significantly reduced data quality by lowering response rates, then a good deal of information published monthly and annually by the federal government, based on these surveys, would already be compromised, wrote Steven Camarota, for the Center of Immigration Studies. Ross said that the new question will be phrased the same way as the current citizenship question on the American Community Survey (PDF) which is currently sent to 1 in 6 American households. Kobach urged Ross to add the question back to the survey in the months leading up to the decision, arguing that the votes of legal citizens are diluted by temporary visitors and illegal aliens. Right now, congressional districts are drawn up simply based on the number of warm bodies in each district. Not only are legal aliens counted, but illegal aliens are counted, too, Kobach wrote. Think of it this way, he wrote. There are about 710,000 people in each congressional district. But if half of the district is made up of illegal aliens, then there are only 355,000 citizens in the district. The value of each citizens vote in such a district is twice as high. Recommended Video: President Trumps First State of the Union Address Internet Users Praise Georgia Mom for Teaching Her Son a Lesson at Goodwill A Georgia mother was praised for making her 13-year-old son shop at Goodwill. Cierra Brittany Forney said in a Facebook post that her son was acting a little entitled recently. Acting like hes too good to shop at Wal-Mart or making snarky comments about kids at school who shop at the Goodwill and quite a few other things, she said. The High Mountain mother decided it was time for a lesson. She took her son to Goodwill and told him he had to use his own $20 to buy clothes to wear to school for the entire week. She later talked to her son and he agreed she could share about the lesson on Facebook. She said the situation was not a punishment but a learning opportunity to help her son become a better man. My son learned a valuable lesson from this and I believe it is just another story we can add to our lives memory to look back on. I didnt do this to punish him. It wasnt to show him that goodwill isnt a good place to shop. I did this to teach him that money and name brands dont change who we are as people. He can still be the amazing, adorable, loved kid that he is WITHOUT the expensive stores! she wrote in another post. I do realize that we are partly to blame for his expectancy of always having name brands. My husband and myself had our son when we were VERY young. We always strived to give him all the things we never had and because of that, he has grown to expect these things. Forney said she personally enjoys shopping at Goodwill and that people who have been responding negatively to the post by saying things like her son will hate her or later kill her were just awful. My son and I have an amazing relationship. He tells me everything and trusts me whole heartedly. I DO NOT care what anyone has to say about my post because I SOLEY did this to help my son become a better man. All the positive feedback and comments have brought me to tears and so have all the negative ones, she wrote. All that matters is my son is completely 100 percent okay with what happened. My son has learned a valuable lesson from this AND my son is rockin his button-up shirt he bought from the Goodwill with PRIDE today!!! From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Archaeologists Discover Ancient Necropolis in Egypt Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference on June 2 in Jerusalem, Israel. Netanyahu defended the blockade on Gaza on national security reasons. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO via Getty Images) Israeli PM Netanyahu Hospitalized with High Fever Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized Tuesday, March 27, after running a high fever, say reports. A doctor for Netanyahu, 68, said that he hadnt fully recovered from an illness two weeks prior, Sky News reported, adding that he underwent further tests at the hospital. A spokesperson for the Prime Ministers Office told the Times of Israel that they were not aware if a deputy prime minister was appointed in light of the hospitalizationnamely, if Netanyahu were to become sedated or incapacitated in some way. Netanyahu, known to many as Bibi, had fallen ill several weeks after police said that he should be charged with fraud, bribery, and a breach of public trust. His earlier illness was unspecified. Dont go overboard, one aide told Haaretz on Tuesday. Its business as usual at this stage. The hospital told the outlet that it might have been a throat infection that developed into pneumonia. But the prime minister said the recommendations were biased, extreme, and full of holes like Swiss cheese. They alleged that he received $100,000 in gifts from gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan, as well as other supporters. The police recommendations, he added, will end with nothing. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Man Busted With Weapons Stockpile Says He Was on Secret Government Mission: Report A Texas man caught with a stockpile of guns in Massachusetts has been hit with dozens of criminal charges. The man, 59-year-old Francho Bradley, was staying at the Marriott Residence Inn in Tewksbury when he called the police to report an attempted break-in to his room. Police officers wrote that Bradley had hooked up a surveillance video feed of his hotel room and was concerned because the feed died as he drove toward Boston, reported the Lowell Sun. Bradley told officers that there was an unsecured gun in a drawer inside the room and said he didnt want the gun to get into the wrong hands, according to a police report. When officers entered the room, they immediately saw several rifles that were wrapped in a green flight suit and laid on the rooms floor. They saw no signs of a break-in. Officers arrested Bradley and his common-law wife, 40-year-old Adrianne Jennings, when they returned to the hotel. Bradley has a firearms license from Texas but the police said it isnt valid in Massachusetts. Officers obtained a search warrant for the room and Bradleys car and ultimately found eight large-capacity guns, including an AK-47 and an AR-15 that was equipped with multiple add-ons including a grenade launcher, the Tewksbury Police Department said. Among the other items officers discovered were cellphones, laptop computers, tactical vests, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Bradley admitted the weapons and other items were his but said he needed them with him for his mission. Francho went on to say he cant tell us what he does for work or why he has all the guns with him, but that he is down in this area working for a government agency that is dealing with a virus, officers wrote in the report. Bradley said the information as to which agency he works for is classified and theres no one they could call to verify the information. Robert Normandin, the lawyer representing Bradley, told Fox 5 that officers misinterpreted what his client was saying. He said his client is an Army veteran who sells items to the military and other clients through his company Enysma Engineering, and that the guns and other items let Bradley demonstrate the products he had to sell. Normandin said most of the accessories were props. When all is said and done, the majority of the items that the commonwealth alludes to were not real working items, Normandin claimed. Jenningss lawyer said none of the guns belonged to her. Bradley and Jennings were later charged with a number of crimes, including eight counts of possession of large-capacity firearms each as well as three counts of possession of an infernal machine. Theyre being held without bail until a hearing scheduled for Friday, the judge said. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Texas Sheriff Andy Louderback Talks About MS-13 School buses, security and State Troopers are seen on March 20, 2018 at Great Mills High School in Great Mills, Maryland after a shooting at the school. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Maryland School Gunman Died of Self-Inflicted Gunshot, Police Say A self-inflicted gunshot wound, not a bullet fired by a sheriffs deputy, killed a 17-year-old who had just shot another student at a Maryland high school last week, authorities have said. Austin Rollins, a student at Great Mills High School, shot Jaelynn Willey, 16, with his fathers handgun in a hallway at the school last Tuesday, according to the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office. Willey, who had been in a relationship with Rollins that had recently ended, died days later. About three minutes after Rollins shot Willey, sheriffs deputy Blaine Gaskill fired one round at him, striking his gun. At the same time, Rollins shot himself in the head, the sheriff said in a brief statement on Monday. Rollins was wounded and died at a hospital. Gaskill was unharmed. Desmond Barnes, a 14-year-old student, was struck in the leg by the same bullet that hit Willey, the sheriff said. Barnes was treated at a hospital and released a day after the shooting. Don Hogan Charles/New York Times Co./Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Linda Brown, the namesake of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case that abolished school segregation, has passed away at age 75. Cheryl Brown Henderson, Brown's sister, confirmed her death to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Brown's family has not confirmed the story to ABC News. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People expressed its condolences, tweeting, "RIP A hero for our nation!" Brown's legacy of activism began in 1951 when she was in the third grade. Because of segregation in her Topeka, Kansas, school district, Brown was forced to travel by foot and by bus to a school significantly out of the way. The school district maintained four elementary schools for black children, compared with the 18 available for white children. Her father, Oliver Brown, attempted to enroll her in Sumner Elementary School, which was a few blocks away from their home and all-white at the time. At the request of the NAACP, Browns father and 12 other families similarly tried to enroll their children in all-white schools, expecting to be unsuccessful. They were, and that gave the NAACP the leverage to file a lawsuit, led by future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Because Brown was the first name alphabetically on the plaintiff's list, the case was dubbed Brown v. Board of Education. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregated schools violated the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. Long after her successful court case, responsible for dismantling "separate but equal," Brown continued to be a voice for school desegregation in Topeka. In 1979, Brown reopened another school-segregation case that led to the desegregation of Topeka Unified School District 501 in 1993. The Governor of Kansas, Jeff Colyer tweeted: "64 years ago a young girl from Topeka brought a case that ended segregation in public schools in America. Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Nebraska Woman Charged After Leaving Four Kids Alone in Dirty Home A Nebraskan woman was charged after a police officer found her young children alone in a filthy home filled with broken dishes, unwashed clothes, drug paraphernalia and a lack of fresh food, according to court documents. Jessica Dailey, 30, from South Sioux City was taken into custody on March 19 and subsequently charged with four counts of felony child abuse, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, reported Sioux City Journal. South Sioux City woman charged with leaving kids alone in dirty home https://t.co/WCOHuuDWYO pic.twitter.com/1i644aNdqu Sioux City Journal (@scj) March 26, 2018 Four children were discovered to be living in the home after a South Sioux City police officer stopped to talk to a 6-year-old girl walking alone and looking lost at East Ninth and B streets on March 11. The girl told him she was going to the store to buy something with some pennies, according to a police affidavit. The officer decided to accompany the girl to the store. He then gave her a lift to her home in the 300th block of East 10th Street. The girl told the officer that she and her siblings aged 9, 8 and 2 had been left in the care of her mothers friends and that her mother had not come home. The officer walked the girl to the front door and entered the house to speak with an adult. Inside the home, the officer said he saw dirty dishes filling the sink, leftover food on the floor, dirty clothes, and broken dishes left around the home. He also reportedly seeing something that looked like feces on the table. The girls two older siblings were not present at the time of the officers visit, reported the journal. According to court documents, there was no fresh food in the cupboards. The 6-year-old girl told the officer that her 2-year-old sibling was naked because she had no diapers. The officer was not able to find any adults at the home. However, he did discover drug paraphernalia, including a pipe that tested positive for methamphetamine, scattered in several rooms. The 9-year-old and 8-year-old children arrived home when the officers were present and confirmed to them that they were alone, according to the police. One of the children said he had stepped on a nail two weeks ago but had not received the appropriate medical care, reported Sioux City Journal. All four children have been removed from the home by police and placed in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Dailey is currently being held in jail on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 17, reported the journal. In a similar case, a 42-year-old mother was sentenced to almost a year in jail in January 2018 for keeping her children in a dirty home, reported the Sioux City Journal. Jennifer Corrin was arrested in July and pleaded no contest to the charges in November, last year. Her five children, aged between five and 18, were living in the home that was ridden with trash, rotting food, dog feces and dirty clothes, also lacking food in the fridge and cupboards. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: First Lady Makes a Plea to Promote Compassion to Children Policemen take position along Beijing's main east-west thoroughfare, Changan Avenue, near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 26, 2018. (Reuters/Damir Sagolj) North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un Visits China: Bloomberg BEIJINGNorth Korea leader Kim Jong Un has visited China, Bloomberg reported on Monday citing three unnamed sources, in what would be his first known overseas trip since taking power in 2011 and ahead of a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Details of his visit including its purpose and itinerary were not yet known, Bloomberg said. Japanese media reported earlier on Monday that a high-ranking Pyongyang official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing. Kyodo, citing sources close to the matter, said the visit of the official was intended to improve ties between Beijing and Pyongyang that have been frayed by Chinas recent backing of tough sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations Security Council. The visit could not immediately be confirmed by Reuters. Footage from Nippon News Network, owned by Nippon TV, showed what an announcer described as a green train carriage with yellow horizontal lines, part of a 21-car train, similar to the kind that Kims late father, Kim Jong Il, rode when he visited Beijing in 2011. Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of secretive and isolated North Korea. But Kim is due to hold summit meetings separately with Chinas rivals, South Korea and the United States. Asked earlier at a daily news briefing about reports of an important North Korean visitor arriving at the Chinese border city of Dandong, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was unaware of the situation. Nobody answered the telephone at the North Korean embassy in Beijing on Monday evening. The government is closely communicating with relevant countries and monitoring the situation, South Koreas presidential Blue House said in a statement via a messaging app earlier on Monday. Asked about the report that Kim was in China, White House spokesman Raj Shah told reporters on Monday: We cant confirm those reports. We dont know if theyre necessarily true. Kyodo, citing sources, reported that on Sunday, a special train that might have carried the official passed through Dandong. Two sources in northeastern China also told Reuters that a North Korean visitor had crossed into Dandong by train. The rail journey between Dandong and Beijing covers more than 680 miles. It takes at least 14 hours by ordinary service, according to Chinese railway timetables. Heavy Security On Chinese social media some residents of Dandong said there had been high security around the train station there and said there were rumors that Kim was passing through. Police tightened security along Beijings main east-west thoroughfare, Changan Avenue, mid-afternoon Monday, closing off the entrances to some of the buildings which face the road. Police also cleared out all tourists from Tiananmen Square around the same time, which normally only happens when important meetings are happening in the Great Hall of the People, where top Chinese leaders often meet visiting heads of state. There was a large security presence outside the Great Hall on Monday evening. Reuters reporters saw a lengthy motorcade, including a limousine with dark tinted windows, heading down Changan Avenue in the direction of the Diaoyutai State Guest House and away from the Great Hall of the People, flanked by a police escort on motor-bikes. Also on Monday evening, the Beijing railway bureau warned on its microblog, without giving a reason, of multiple train delays of up to two hours in the Beijing region. A source with ties to the Chinese military told Reuters that it was not possible to rule out the possibility that Kim was visiting Beijing, but cautioned this was not confirmed. A diplomatic source told Reuters that there was heavy security around the Diaoyutai State Guest House, where some high level foreign visitors stay during visits to the city. Other diplomatic sources said they were aware of the speculation that Kim was visiting but were not able to immediately confirm it. Visits to China by Kim Jong Il were only confirmed by both China and North Korea once he had left the country. Kim Jong Il traveled by private train during his rare visits to China or Russia under tight security. Diplomats and other sources have said Kim Jong Il avoided flying for overseas trips due to security concerns. The younger Kim, who was educated in Switzerland, is not known to have any fear of flying and state media have shown pictures of him aboard a plane. However, he is not known to have traveled outside the country since assuming power in late 2011 after his fathers death. By Ben Blanchard Recommended Video: U.S. Imposes More North Korea Sanctions Singer Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal performs during 2016 Lollapalooza Brazil at Autodromo de Interlagos on March 12, 2016, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Victor Moriyama/Getty Images) Rocker Who Survived Paris Terror Attack Says Gun Control Marchers Exploiting Victims A rocker who survived the terror attack in Paris that left 130 people dead said that the people who attended March for Our Lives over the weekend were exploiting the victims of the school shooting in Florida last month that left 17 people dead. Jesse Hughes, 45, is the frontman for Eagles of Death Metal. His band performed at the Bataclan theater in 2015 when 89 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured by radical Islamic terrorists. Others were shot and killed elsewhere in Paris. Obviously The best thing to do to combat chronic abusers and disregarders of the law (like the law against Murder) is to pass another Law, Hughes wrote in a series of Instagram posts that were later deleted, reported Rolling Stone. But before we pass this law were going to denigrate the memory and curse ourselves by exploiting the death of 16 of our fellow students for a few Facebook likes and some media attention. Hughes then referenced how he lived through a mass shooting. Eagles of Death Metal's Jesse Hughes has deleted his lengthy Instagram rant https://t.co/N8v86piXbr pic.twitter.com/syZgQPRCE8 Pitchfork (@pitchfork) March 27, 2018 As the survivor of a mass shooting I can tell you from firsthand experience that all of you protesting and taking days off from school insult the memory of those who were killed and abuse and insult me and every other lover of liberty by your every action, Hughes wrote. Hughes said the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that organized the march were playing hooky. Sundays protest attracted hundreds of thousands of people in Washington as well as numerous people in other cities across the nation. Hughes later deleted his posts but said in another post that he would be creating another Instagram account to share his political beliefs separate from his band. Other members of Eagles of Death Metal havent commented on what Hughes wrote. Some family members who had siblings, children, or relatives killed in the Marjory Stoneman attack voiced similar thoughts to Hughes. Hey @Emma4Change please stop using my sisters name to push your agenda, she DID NOT and WOULD NOT support it Patrick Petty (@Patrickpetty23) March 24, 2018 Patrick Petty, whose sister Alaina was killed in the attack, slammed the students at the march via Twitter. Hey @Emma4Change please stop using my sisters name to push your agenda, she DID NOT and WOULD NOT support it, he said. Meanwhile, Hunter Pollack, whose sister Meadow was killed at the school, wanted to speak at the march but wasnt allowed. He later released a video saying what he would have said at the march. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Brothers Step in When They See Man Harassing Two Teen Girls on New York Subway BEIRUTSome 7,000 people departed eastern Ghouta for Syrian rebel territory near the Turkish border on Tuesday under a deal arranged by Russia to surrender the enclave to the Syrian government, Russian state media and a war monitor said. Rebels have been gradually leaving Ghouta since Thursday, accepting safe passage for themselves and their families to Idlib in northwestern Syria after they were defeated in a fierce assault by the Russian-backed Syrian military. It marks the biggest setback for the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad since insurgents were driven from eastern Aleppo in 2016, underscoring his unassailable military position in the seven-year-long conflict. A convoy of at least 100 buses left eastern Ghouta at around 3 a.m. (0000 GMT) carrying rebel fighters, their families and other civilians who had been holed up in a pocket centered around the towns of Arbin, Ain Tarma and Zamalka. The majority were rebel fighters and their families, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Russian news agency TASS said almost 6,800 rebels and their families were moved from eastern Ghouta to Idlib, bringing the total number of rebels transported out of the area to 13,190 in the last three days. Syrian state TV said the army freed 28 people who had been held captive by militants in Arbin. The Observatory said their release was part of the deal agreed by rebels. The Syrian military split eastern Ghouta into three separate zones during its assault that began on Feb. 18 and has killed more than 1,600 people, according to the Observatory. The pocket being evacuated at present was controlled by the Failaq al-Rahman group. The last remaining area in Ghouta controlled by rebels is the town of Douma where tens of thousands of civilians are sheltering. Douma is held by Jaish al-Islam, which is in talks with Russia but has publicly rejected the idea of moving to the northwest, calling this forced displacement that amounts to a policy of demographic change by the Syrian government. Syrian state TV said buses had begun entering the Failaq al-Rahman-held zone on Tuesday to evacuate more people to Idlib. In addition to their foothold in the northwest, anti-Assad rebels still hold a chunk of territory at the frontier with Jordan and Israel, and small enclaves near Damascus, Homs and Hama. Truck Driver Drives Blazing Fuel Tanker Away From Gas Station, Leaving a River of Flames in His Wake A brave driver has driven a blazing fuel tanker away from a gas stationleaving a trail of flames in his wake. Sajid Khan, 38, initially fled the truck when it caught fire but turned back and jumped into the cab to drive it more than a mile awaysaving the town. A video taken by onlookers shows his flaming truck leaving a river of fire as he drove it to safety. Khan only jumped to safety once he was able to safely abandon the truck on a deserted road, and escaped with minor burns to his hands, face, and feet. Police officers applauded his actions in Gotegaon in the Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Khan said, I saw people running for their life. I also started running away and then suddenly I changed my mind and decided to drive the tanker away. The incident happened on Sunday, March 25, when the fuel tanker was standing at a gas station and suddenly caught fire. Khan initially tried to put out the fire with an onboard fire extinguisher, but when the flames only increased in ferocity, he called the fire service. After briefly running away he jumped into the truck and put his foot to the floor, risking his life to drive more than a mile along the road. Onlookers said a river of fire was left behind, which engulfed vegetables and fruit stalls. It was extinguished by locals and the fire brigade. Khan was taken to Jabalpur Government hospital by police for treatment. Trump Expels 60 Russian Spies in Response to UK Attack President Donald Trump expelled 60 Russian spies on Monday, March 26, in response to the nerve-agent attack on a British citizen and as a result of their aggressive intelligence gathering on American soil. The president also ordered the closing of the Russian consulate in Seattle, partly because it was located near an American submarine base and a Boeing plant, according to White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. The Russian government uses its diplomatic establishments as intelligence platforms from which they collect information to conduct destabilizing activities in the U.S. and around the world, said a senior administration official. Out of the expelled spies, 12 worked for the Russian mission to the United Nations and used their positions as cover to engage in intelligence activities, according to a senior administration official. Well over 100 Russian intelligence officers are operating in the U.S., American officials say. One senior official drew a distinction between the Russian people and the Russian government and extended condolences to the friends and families of the victims of the deadly shopping center blaze in Siberia. But none of the officials minced words when it came to the chemical attack in the UK and the intelligence gathering activities on U.S. soil. This was a reckless attempt by the government to murder a British citizen and his daughter on British soil with a military-grade nerve agent. It cannot go unanswered, a senior administration official said. The Russian government has shown malicious contempt for the sovereignty and security of countries worldwide. It has repeatedly sought to subvert and discredit Western institutions. These efforts are ongoing. Trump was involved in the decision-making process from the beginning and made the final call. The White House coordinated the expulsions with Americas NATO allies. On Monday, 14 members of the European Union, along with Ukraine, announced the expulsions of 40 Russians. Germany, France, and Poland expelled four Russians each. Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland also announced expulsions. Ukraine, which is not a member of the EU, expelled 13 Russians. In total, more than 100 Russians were expelled. Russia has denied all connections to the attack, including that the nerve agent used was Russian-made. Moscow demanded a sample of the chemical as a pre-requisite for cooperation with the investigators, but the UK rejected the request. Chemical warfare experts and American officials agree that Russia doesnt have a right to examine the sample. The remaining Russian intelligence officers in the United States will face increased scrutiny from FBI intelligence service agents, which would allow them to provide more protection of the American people its data, its information by having a reduced number of intelligence officers here in the U.S., a senior administration official said. A number of media outlets, including CNN, Time, New York Post, and New York Magazine, referred to the expelled spies as diplomats despite statements to the contrary by the White House press secretary and several senior administration officials. Recommended Video: President Trumps First State of the Union Address A US Lockheed Martin F-35B fighter jet is displayed during the Singapore Airshow on Feb. 7, 2018. (Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images) US Republicans Press for F-35 Fighter Jet Sales to Taiwan Amid China Threat WASHINGTONTwo senior U.S. Republican senators asked the Trump administration on Monday to allow the sale of Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets to Taiwan, saying it would help it remain a democracy in the face of threats from China. Chinas hostility towards self-ruled Taiwan has grown since Tsai Ing-wen won presidential elections on the island in 2016. Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party she leads do not recognize Beijings one China policy and are generally more skeptical of the intentions of the Chinese regime. Meanwhile, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that it wants to reclaim as its own in the future. These fighters will have a positive impact on Taiwans self-defense and would act as a necessary deterrent to Chinas aggressive military posture across the Asia-Pacific region, Senators John Cornyn, the assistant majority leader, and James Inhofe, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, said in a letter to President Donald Trump. After years of military modernization, China shows the ability to wage war against Taiwan for the first time since the 1950s, they wrote. However, with your leadership, it is possible to help Taiwan remain a democracy, free to establish a relationship with China that is not driven by military coercion. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has been increasing its military exercises around Taiwan and making markedly stronger public comments about using military force to take the island. On March 27, retired Chinese general Wang Hongguang explained how easy it would be for China to attack Taiwan in an opinion piece published in the state-run newspaper the Global Times. It would be like picking off lice on the head of bald man, Wang said. A Strategic Ally Meanwhile, the United States has been strengthening relations with Taiwan as a strategic ally in the Asia-Pacific. Last week, president Trump signed into law the Taiwan Travel Act, which would allow more high-level diplomatic exchanges between the United States and Taiwan. Beijing expressed its displeasure with the legislation. Days later, in a speech to the Chinese Communist Partys rubber-stamp parliament, Chinese leader Xi Jinping also used strong language to warn of Beijngs capabilities to curb any efforts on the island to declare independence. In February, Inhofe led a delegation of U.S. officials on a visit to Taiwan, where he reiterated the importance of the island in the United States strategy to maintain security in the Indo-Pacific region. On March 27, the office of Taiwans president awarded U.S. Representative Ed Royce, who is currently visiting the island, a medal of honor for his contributions toward Taiwan-U.S. relations. President Tsai believes that stable relations between Taiwan and the U.S. serve as an important foundation for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan has the ability and is willing to work with the United States in the Indo-Pacific region to make more contributions, the presidential office said. The U.S. military has put countering China and Russia at the center of a new national defense strategy unveiled by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in January. Other U.S. allies in the Asia Pacific region, such as Singapore, also are exploring the purchase of the stealthy F-35. Lockheed hit its 2017 target to deliver 66 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies last year. From Reuters. Epoch Times staff member Annie Wu contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Vice Superintendent of Chinese Military Hospital Commits Suicide While under Investigation The content is not available due to expiration. Dried pasta can be the ultimate convenience food. It's shelf-stable. You can make a little or a lot, throw together a quick sauce from the pantry or even pop open something store-bought. Pasta will always be there for you. Plus, it really is almost as simple as boiling water. Almost. Here are a few tips to make your next pasta dish easier to prepare and more satisfying to eat. - You don't need a massive stockpot every time. Sure, you want to boil your pasta in enough water to give it room to expand and prevent it from sticking together. But do you have to haul out the giant pot? Not always. Chef Matt Adler, executive chef for Italian concepts at Schlow Restaurant Group (Alta Strada, Casolare, etc.), says if he's making pasta at home to eat with his wife, he often chooses his 4-quart saucepan. He suggests keeping the pasta covered by at least an inch or two of water - in a skillet, for example, keep an eye on how much liquid evaporates. If you're looking for more specific guidance, America's Test Kitchen says 2 quarts of water will suffice for up to 1/2 pound of pasta, 4 quarts for 1/2 pound to 1 pound, and 6 quarts for 1 to 2 pounds. - Know when to salt the water. There are two main problems with salting the water first. One, salt won't dissolve well in cold water. Two, when the undissolved salt comes in contact with stainless steel, it can cause the surface to pit - more of a cosmetic than functional problem, but preventable. Adding the salt as the water comes to a boil resolves both problems. But how much salt do you add? This is a key step to ensuring your dish doesn't taste underseasoned. Look around, and it seems there are as many answers as fish in the salty sea. Adler recommends 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per quart of water; America's Test Kitchen, 1 tablespoon of table salt per quart; and Serious Eats culinary director Daniel Gritzer suggests a range depending on what type of salt you're using and what level of salinity you're after. Start in the middle ground and begin to understand your taste preferences, which may vary depending on what you're putting on the pasta. - Don't overcook it. We've all heard that pasta should be cooked until it's al dente, but what does that mean? There should still be a little firm bite, in other words. Adler says you can judge this by removing a piece of pasta from the water using tongs or a slotted spoon and running it under cold water (do this only for the test bite, not the rest of your pasta). Take a bite - you'll feel a bit of resistance but not a lot. (Adler's mother taught him that if it sticks to your teeth, it's not ready.) Then take a look at the inside of the pasta. For shapes such as spaghetti or linguine, you'll see a small dot in the center where the pasta's not yet fully cooked, since it cooks from the outside in. With shapes such as penne or rigatoni, you'll see a thin ring around the center. You've reached the right level of doneness when the ratio is roughly 90 percent cooked to 10 percent uncooked, Adler says. The pasta will finish cooking when you put it back in the pan and toss with your sauce or toppings. - Save a bit of that water. Before you drain the pasta, grab a coffee cup or handy liquid measuring cup to scoop up some of the salty, starchy water. You can use it to thin out a thick sauce, if needed. That way the sauce has an opportunity to evenly cling to all the pasta. Adler has one more tip for bringing your dish together: a little extra fat. Now that you know how to cook it well, a knob of butter or a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil is the last step to a polished plate of pasta. JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - Adam Fuller credits a simple, one-word command - and a black Lab mix named J.D. - for helping to save his life. "Cover," he tells J.D., who is sitting to his left in a grassy field next to a park playground. The dog calmly walks to Fuller's right, then sits facing backward. Were someone coming up from behind, he'd wag his tail. The signal quells the sense of threat that plagued Fuller after serving in Afghanistan, that at one point had him futilely popping medications and veering toward suicide. "Yes!" he praises J.D. as four women watch closely. They, too, are veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, who are here to be trained and to leave with canine support of their own. All seem to appreciate the strategy behind "cover," as their goateed instructor demonstrates with J.D. "I wouldn't be here without him," Fuller says. Every month, a new cycle of training begins with yet another class of veterans in a program run by the northern Florida K9s for Warriors. The seven-year-old nonprofit is one of dozens of private organizations that offer "psychiatric service" dogs to address the military's mental health crisis - enabling desperate vets to function in society, proponents say. Yet even as success stories allow these groups to briskly expand their work, their approach faces growing scrutiny from researchers and debate among veterans groups, politicians and the Department of Veterans Affairs. At issue is whether the dogs truly help, what they should be trained to do and who should pay for them. VA has covered veterinary care for service dogs that assist veterans with physical disabilities for more than 15 years. It has declined to do that for PTSD service dogs, however, citing a lack of empirical evidence for their therapeutic value. The agency is now conducting a $12 million multiyear study on the topic, even as it opposes legislation that would require it to pay for dogs in a separate pilot program. "The numbers are startling on veteran suicides, and this is working," said Rory Diamond, a former federal prosecutor who quit to become chief executive of K9s for Warriors, where he had been providing pro bono legal services. On a table in the organization's cheery lobby these days is a flier that says "research proves" the dogs save lives. It cites a recent first-of-its-kind study out of Purdue University that used standard questionnaires to assess PTSD symptoms and other aspects of mental health among 141 K9s for Warriors applicants, half teamed with a service dog and half on a wait list. Those with dogs showed significantly lower levels of post-traumatic stress, depression and social isolation, with higher levels of psychological well-being. Still, lead author Maggie O'Haire, an assistant professor of human-animal interaction, emphasizes the study's "preliminary" nature and the need for more research on how service dogs might fit into treatment plans. "There is so much political agenda behind this topic," she said. Other investigations are underway, including a clinical trial that O'Haire is conducting with funding from the National Institutes of Health. VA's remains the biggest in scope, though, as well as the study that has drawn the most criticism. Its 2011 start was rocky: Dogs, provided by contracted groups, bit participants' children, and trainers were "biasing" veterans with talk of the dogs' healing powers, said Michael Fallon, the agency's chief veterinary medical officer. The project was halted and redesigned to include VA-hired dog trainers and a control group of veterans provided with emotional-support dogs - what Fallon calls a "very well-trained pet." All 220 subjects were enrolled and matched with pooches by late 2017. Initial results are expected in 2019. Officials insist they're doing the kind of rigorous, controlled research that the field has been lacking. "We really want to know the answer," said Patricia Dorn, director of VA's rehabilitation research and development service. "We want to know for the veterans and the public at large." - - - Dogs have provided services to humans for millennia, often as hunting and herding partners. But not until World War I were they systematically trained to assist people with disabilities, as guides for the blind. Service dogs now prompt deaf people when a doorbell rings, retrieve pills for people in wheelchairs and alert people with diabetes to blood sugar spikes. Psychiatric service dogs are forging a new frontier in this field, and their mission blends those of task-oriented service canines and animals seen as providing emotional support. While the dogs paired with veterans with PTSD are commonly trained to wake them from nightmares and to "block" the space between their owner and another person, advocates also laud their ability to soothe a panicking vet and provide companionship and a tail-wagging reason to get out of the house - if only for walks. "Being able to go to a store - and not just hate it and drop everything and walk out - is phenomenal," explained the 29-year-old Fuller, a K9s for Warriors graduate, as the women he was helping to train did laps with their dogs beneath the park's tall pines. But even among psychiatric service dog providers, which range from well-established charities to small start-ups, there's disagreement about what the animals should do. The accrediting group Assistance Dogs International published its first standards for training and placing PTSD dogs with veterans in January, after two years of heated discussions about how much mental health experts should be involved, which commands the animals should be taught and other issues, said Sheila O'Brien of America's VetDogs, who chaired the process. The approved standards reject commands for a dog to search for an enemy or threat - something VA study dogs are trained to do - or to guard. Though ADI did not shun other "panic protection" commands, including "cover" and "block," those are also controversial. "Our philosophy is that the dog is a bridge between his environment or her environment," said Cynthia Crosson, a psychiatric social worker and consultant for the dog provider group NEADS, where she helped develop the nation's first service dog program for veterans with PTSD a decade ago. "We feel that blocking kind of enables the symptoms rather than helps them cope with the symptoms." Some veterans disagree. At K9s for Warriors, which works with a dozen veterans a month, it's common to hear stories of those who were scared to leave their houses or were gripped by anxiety in public - until they had a dog at their side that had been trained to provide a sense of space or surveillance. "Ladies, this is the command you're going to love most," announced Greg Wells, another Afghanistan war vet, as he and Fuller taught the four female veterans how to direct their dogs to cover. It was mid-March and midway through the three-week training, with a visit to Home Depot also on this day's schedule. One woman had come from Maine, another from Texas, another from Indiana. And from Michigan flew Adrianna Ruark, a 26-year-old Air Force veteran, who explained that her PTSD followed sexual traumas during her service - plural, she stressed - that left her wary of males, even canine ones. "Yea!" Ruark told Crockett, the black shepherd mix whom she'd been given, when he nailed the cover command a few times. Ten days in, she said, she was still working to connect with the pooch. For every applicant it accepts, K9s for Warriors picks up all costs but transportation. On its eight-acre campus, the veterans spend every moment with their assigned animals. They stay in apartments on the grounds, and they're even encouraged to share the queen-size beds with their dogs. Practicing commands is crucial, the organization teaches, but so is bonding. Ruark and the others followed the park session with lunch at Chili's, where the four dogs snoozed under the table. She said she'd turned to K9s for Warriors in part to again feel comfortable in places like restaurants. "I'm hoping to be able to function more," she said. That's the kind of goal for which VA clinical psychologist Louanne Davis sees the animals' potential as a complement to conventional therapies. One symptom of PTSD is hyperarousal, which can include a constant feeling of being on guard. A dog might provide a sense of calm and safety that helps veterans re-engage with the world, she said. Yet, she cautioned, "we don't know the extent to which this might be good in the short run but not so good in the long run." Given the potential that a veteran might come to depend on the dog for a sense of security, "my goal would be to eventually wean them off." - - - The K9s for Warriors chief executive says about a third of its graduates "drop the leash" over time, using their dogs less and less for service. Another third expect to stop after their first dog dies. Only that last third express interest in having service dogs for life. "Is that causing a harm?" Diamond asked. "The worst thing that's happened is: they have a well-trained dog. There are worse crutches, and VA is handing out a lot of them - like prescription drugs and opioids." Most of the organization's canines come from shelters, along with a small number of purebreds donated by breeders. Those that pass temperament tests are schooled at the campus by professional civilian trainers and spend several months learning basic obedience and commands. The dogs that do well - the organization estimates their value by that point at $27,000 - are then paired with veterans, who learn to handle their dogs from vets who have completed the program. The other dogs are adopted out. Cross, a floppy-eared black Lab mix, was one of the shelter mutts - nothing like the fluffy golden retriever Tammie Gillums pictured when she headed from her Gainesville, Virginia, home to K9s for Warriors last summer. Gillums had been an Army human resources officer, a job she did not expect would expose her to trauma during a tour in Kabul. She was wrong a few times over, with one event being a suicide blast that threw her off her chair during duty in a guard tower. Seared into her mind was the image of the bomber's detached head. Gillums, a 39-year-old mother of six in a blended family, came home in 2008 with crippling migraines. She couldn't sleep or concentrate. She started lengthy therapy with a VA psychologist and psychiatrist and at one point was on a half-dozen prescriptions simultaneously. She stayed home whenever possible. One thing made the difference, she said: Cross. Gillums had never owned a dog, and she admits she was skeptical. But it has been months since she has needed any medication. Cross jumps on the bed to wake her from restless dreams. After a decade of dropping out of classes because of panic attacks and anxiety, Gillums for the first time completed a semester of courses at the community college where she is studying American Sign Language for an associate degree in deaf studies. Her relationship with Cross, she said, "is some type of magic." On a recent Friday, Cross rested at her feet during her African American history class. She accompanied Gillums on a shopping errand, then to a medical appointment. While waiting in line at a Starbucks, Gillums quietly instructed Cross to "block," putting space between the veteran and a middle-aged man next to her. "Cross," said Gillums, "is my anxiety medication now." NORWALK A security officer at West Rocks Middle School is no longer employed at the district after making an inappropriate comment to a student last week, according to Norwalk School Resource Officer Joe Rios. Rios said the security officer was immediately removed from the school the day of the incident, after a student reported the inappropriate comment to school administration. He said the issue was immediately resolved after working with West Rocks Middle School principal Lynne Moore, the Norwalk Police Department and Century Protective Services, where the security officer was employed. Rios said it was unclear whether or not the security officer was fired or resigned. We basically felt that this incident was isolated in that it was the best decision to remove the guard from the school, Rios said, noting the extensive background check the security officer went through as district employees do. There was nothing in his background that we knew about and or was shared with us that prevented him from working in the district, he added. The security officer was placed at the school as part of a new initiative to strengthen school security in the light of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., according to district spokeswoman Brenda Wilcox-Williams. Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski made the recommendation to add 16 new security guards within the district from Century Protective Services, which also employs security officers who work in Norwalk buildings, to the Board of Education at the March 6 board meeting. The cost of hiring the 16 new security officers were included in his recommendation to add $457,099 to the 2018-19 budget to strengthen school security measures. Existing security personnel will remain in place. Details were discussed in an executive session at the board meeting that night, in line with the state law, Wilcox-Williams said. But West Rocks parents and families were informed of the addition of new security guards prior to the change at the school, and other schools will follow suit as new security officers are assigned, she added. We do our best to communicate with them as soon as we can, but for safety reasons, there are times when we may not be able to communicate with them as far as advance and as thoroughly as they would like, Wilcox-Williams said. NORWALK The Norwalk Parking Authority plans to sink $85,000 worth of improvements into the Liberty Square parking lot starting this summer. The Parking Authority 2019 capital budget includes funding to bring the lot up to standard and code for paving, concrete and curbing repairs, lighting, striping and handicapped ramps and spaces, said Kathryn Hebert, the citys administrative services manager and parking authority director. The parking lot is owned by the city of Norwalk and it makes sense that the Parking Authority manages and maintains the parking lot. The 54-space parking lot, once repaved and re-striped, will include four handicapped spaces. Hebert said the Parking Authoritys 2019 operating budget includes money for general maintenance and operations, including snow removal and sweeping. The authority will evaluate landscaping opportunities to beautify the property, she added. For years, Liberty Square property owners, businesses and tenants have struggled with whom to turn to at City Hall regarding the parking lot. Theyve taken it upon themselves to snow plow and pick up garbage. On Tuesday afternoon, several Liberty Square tenants welcomed the Parking Authority taking over maintenance of the parking lot. Rich Dunn, manager of Ninety 9 Bottles Beer Wine Spirits at 209 Liberty Square, said the parking lot has been neglected compared to other city lots and needs repairs. Parking enforcement is also needed, he said. People leave their cars here for days and days at a time that arent tenants or customers or property owners, Dunn said. The Parking Authority used to drive through here and ticket cars, or boot them. They would boot them if they found cars that were not registered, and they stopped years ago. While the Parking Authority hasnt established how it plans to manage day-to-day operation of the parking lot, Dunn said he wouldnt be opposed to parking meters, which would encourage parking space turnover. The rest of the parking lots are metered, Dunn said. Wall Street has a two-hour (limit). If they did something like that, I think it would be great. Dunn added that he hoped the Parking Authority would establish resident parking passes for people living in the apartments above the Liberty Square businesses. Peter Papadopoulos, one such resident, said managed parking would work if its properly set up. There are times when people come park and leave a car here randomly, and it gets a little too out of control with that, said Papadopoulos, pointing at the parking lot. I think it (enforcement) would be really good. Tony DAndrea, co-owner of Select Plastics at 219 Liberty Square, owns the parking lot in front of his business but welcomes the Parking Authority taking responsibility for the adjacent city-owned parking lot provided its done right. As long as the money thats generated down here for parking is put back into Liberty Square, for lighting, for infrastructure repairs and for paving and storm drains and stuff, why not? DAndrea said. Its the same as every place else in town. While the Parking Authority has already taken the Liberty Square lot into its inventory and decided to sink money into it, the body has yet to decide how to manage it, according to Hebert. We are developing a parking management plan to assist the adjacent businesses and residents, Hebert said. The parking lot is located near the Walk (Rail) Bridge, which the Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to begin replacing in 2019. At the end of Goldstein Place, which bisects Liberty Square, the state has taken control of property that will be used as staging place for the nearly $1 billion bridge replacement. Hebert on Tuesday differentiated between the areas. The Walk Bridge will be using Goldstein Place, not Liberty and they (the DOT) have access without going through the parking lot, Hebert said. WILTON The Brubeck Room will be filled with the sounds of jazz guitarist Mimi Fox when she returns to Wilton Library from 4-5:30 pm. on Sunday, April 15, in a Hot & Cool: Jazz at the Brubeck Room concert. The Mimi Fox Duo includes Mike Asetta who also will be returning to the library to accompany Fox on bass. Fox, an internationally-renowned guitarist/composer/recording artist, has been named a winner in six consecutive Downbeat Magazine international critics polls and has been recognized by writers and colleagues alike as one of the most eloquent jazz guitarists of today. Born in New York City, Fox started playing drums at nine and guitar when she was 10. She was inspired by the wide variety of music enjoyed by her family show tunes, classical, Dixieland, Motown and her own youthful inclination toward pop, folk, and r&b. When she was 14 she bought her first jazz album. That album, John Coltrane's classic Giant Steps, changed the course of her musical life. She began touring right out of high school and eventually settled in the San Francisco Bay area where she became a sought-after player. Whether delivering jaw-dropping solo sets, performing dazzling duets with sympathetic partners, or leading a hard-charging combo, Mimi is a consummate improviser who seizes the imagination of her listeners with her passion, soul, and unerring ear for beauty. As a composer, Fox has written and performed original scores for orchestras, documentary films, and dance projects while receiving grants from prestigious funders such as Meet the Composer and the California Arts Council. As a devoted educator and clinician, Mimi has taught master classes worldwide while serving as head of the guitar program at the Jazz School in Berkeley and Adjunct Professor at New York University. Immersed in jazz and a love of music at a very early age within his family home, Asetta was captivated by the playing of Clifford Brown and chose the trumpet as his first primary instrument. As a teenager in the jazz fusion/rock era he gravitated to the electric bass and ultimately was captivated by the upright bass, and so began his musical odyssey on the double bass that the Wilton audience will hear in this concert. After a stint in the military, Asetta returned to the U.S. to pursue a classical music certificate at Yale School of Music, while continuing to perform jazz daily. He has performed with rock/pop artists Josh Groban, Earth Wind & and Fire, Peter Frampton, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Dinah Shore, Kansas, Lou Rawls, Peter Cetera, Zack Starkey and show bands/orchestras: Irish Tenors, Martin Short, Regis Philbin, Ben E. King, the late Don Rickles, and Marilyn King. Added to that list is the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and of course, Fox. Now residing in Connecticut, he leads jazz groups at concerts, private events, and clubs throughout Southern New England and the New York area, showcasing the Great American Songbook along with the best of todays popular songs interpreted in jazz. An informal reception follows the concert where CDs will be available for purchase and signing. The suggested donation for this world-class concert is $10 per person. Hot & Cool concerts are funded by William and Karen Tell Foundation with special thanks to Ed and Catherine Romer and Chris and Tish Brubeck. Advance registration is strongly recommended for this very popular performance series. Pre-registrants should arrive by 3:50 p.m. to be guaranteed seating; wait-listed and walk-in registrants will be admitted after 3:50 p.m. if space is available. Wilton Library is at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For more information and directions, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. Wilton Police Department WILTON Wilton police captured a fugitive of justice that has been on the run from cops for nearly two years, police said. Police said that Michelle Foley, 45, of Williamsburg, Va., a fugitive of justice, has been moving from state to state to avoid capture since he was arrested for larceny-related charges dating back to 2016 in Florida. MARYVILLE The Village of Maryville honored three students with Young Citizens of the Year Awards at the last regular meeting of the full board of trustees. Courtney Wright, who serves on the Maryville Community Improvement Board, said this is the second year the CIB has given the awards to students. With so much negativity in the news these days we thought it would be nice to be able to recognize kids that are doing a great job in their community and contributing to the greater good and being a benefit to Maryville and the surrounding area, Wright said. The first person recognized was fourth-grader Braden Henson. Henson, 10, attends Maryville Elementary School. His teacher, Julie Brooks, and his principal, Carmen Loemker, nominated him. Bradens teachers describe him as having excellent character and being very responsible, cooperative and caring, Wright said. He is a positive role model for the classroom community. Wright said Henson has shown his selflessness by volunteering his time to tutor kindergartners and has helped mentor and direct other students in the school. Wright said when another student was struggling to behave, Braden accepted the responsibility to help direct and mentor the student and be his hallway He is also a volunteer peer tutor and selflessly uses his own class time that he could be using to do his own work, to help kindergartners that are struggling with numbers and letters. His consistency and quality of character certainly make him qualified for this award, Wright said. The next recipient of the award was St. John Neumann Catholic School eighth-grader Alexa Bucks, of Troy. Her teacher, Jessica Heidemann, and principal Michael Palmer nominated her. Wright said she was nominated because she stands out among her peers for her love, dedication and passion for volunteering in her community and helping others. She especially goes above and beyond for her love and caring of animals, Wright said. Bucks and her family dedicate their Sundays volunteering at the Metro East Human Society where she walks, plays with, cares for and feeds the animals in the shelter. She not only cares for her pets but for those of her friends, Wright said. Wright said Bucks recently went above and beyond by helping a friends sick dog. According to the nomination, one of Bucks close friends has a dog that suffers from canine megaesophagus. The disorder creates complications with a dogs eating and digestion. One way to treat the disorder is to purchase an expensive seat called a Bailey Chair. Buck and her dad went out of their way to research designs for the chair, get accurate measurements of the dog, create plans and purchase materials and build a Bailey Chair. In the words of her teacher, showing sympathetic concerns for sufferings and misfortunes of others is something Alexa demonstrates well, Wright said. Her teacher has no doubt that Alexa will achieve her dreams of becoming a veterinarian someday and already is starting to change the community with her commitment to animals. The last recipient of the Award was Collinsville High School senior Param Sangani. His high school counselor Jason Corey nominated Sangani, 17. Corey described Sangani as resilient, determined, compassionate and genuine. Wright said Sangani is a first-generation citizen of the United States whose family moved to Chicago from India when he was 9 years old. According to his nomination, Param attended school in a classroom of people who spoke English and instead of being discouraged Param overcame the language barrier, Wright said. By the time he enrolled in Collinsville High School, he was in the most challenging English class offered to freshmen. While he has an impressive transcript and excels academically in all of his studies, that aspect is not what makes him stand out, Wright said. Hes very active in the community and as a member of three honor societies, has completed more than 40 hours of community service and helped organize a community event called Solarbration, Wright said. The community event, which was organized by the CHS STEM Club, provided the community with information about alternative energy sources and helped raise money to implement alterative energy sources in schools in the Collinsville School District. Hes a well-rounded, self-motivated student who takes leadership roles in group settings and has great team-work skills, Wright said. He goes above and beyond in everything he sets out to do and he sets the example for other students through his service, words and actions. Mayor Craig Short, on behalf of the board, congratulated the award recipients and thanked the Community Improvement Board for the awards program. As community leaders in the community, we look to our youth to be our future leaders and this is a great way to recognize them, Short said. Rogers Communications Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses. It provides its services to approximately 10.8 million subscribers. The Cable segment provides high-speed Internet, television, voice communication, and smart home monitoring services to consumers, businesses, governments, and wholesale resellers; and operates a transcontinental fiber-optic network that extends approximately 70,000 route kilometers, which provides voice and data communications and advanced services, including data centers and cloud computing to the enterprise, public sector, and carrier wholesale markets. Its service territory covers approximately 4.4 million homes. The Media segment owns the Toronto Blue Jays league baseball team and the Rogers Centre event venue; and offers television and radio broadcasting, multi-platform shopping experience, digital media, and publishing services. Rogers Communications Inc. was founded in 1920 and is based in Toronto, Canada. Read More 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 [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. China Hydroelectric Corporation is a developer, owner and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in China. The projects are located in Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan. As of December 31, 2012, wholly owns 22 operating hydroelectric power projects and have controlling interests in three operating hydroelectric power projects. In March 2012, the Company sold 100% of the Yuanping hydroelectric power project. In April 2013, the Company sold the Yuheng hydroelectric power project, a 30 megawatt (MW) project located in Fujian province. In July 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the merger with CPT Wyndham Sub Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPT Wyndham Holdings Ltd. Read More Covestro AG develops, produces, and markets polymer materials for various industries. The company operates in three segments: Polyurethanes; Polycarbonates; and Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties (CAS). The Polyurethanes segment develops, produces, and markets chemical precursors, such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and polyether polyol, which are used primarily in the furniture, construction, and automotive industries. The Polycarbonates segment provides high-performance plastic polycarbonates in the form of granules, composite materials, and semi-finished products for use in the automotive, construction, electrical and electronic, medical technology, and lighting industries. The CAS segment offers precursors for coatings, adhesives, and sealants, as well as specialties. This segment also provides polymer materials and aqueous dispersions for use in automotive and transportation, infrastructure and construction, wood processing, and furniture applications. The company markets its products through trading houses and distributors. It operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and the People's Republic of China. The company was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. Read More Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV. Read More 2 hours ago Multiple Analysts are Calling These 3 Stocks a Buy Investors have differing opinions about the value of sell-side research. Some swear by it, while others prefer to build their investment thesis around other tenants. There are certainly cases to be made for both positions. Whats less contentious is that Wall Street analysts are the best resource we have when it comes to humans that intimately know the inner workings of the companies they follow. Read Article Unity between law enforcement, public is focus of Faith and Blue Faith and Blue event at Mount Marty University helps build stronger, safer communities. Unifies relationships between the police and the public. OTTAWA The federal government is taking extra steps to crack down on companies that try to ship cheap foreign steel and aluminum through the Canadian market. The Canada Border Services Agency is being granted extra powers to identify businesses that try to dodge import duties and more flexibility to determine whether prices in countries of origin are reliable or distorted. We want to protect our steel and aluminum industries and these measures are to ensure that there is no circumvention of Canadian border rules or regulations, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Tuesday. Beginning in mid-April, unions will also be allowed to take part in trade-remedy proceedings, including at the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, into whether foreign exports hurt domestic producers. The regulatory changes come after a period of uncertainty earlier this month over whether the United States would include Canada in its list of countries that would have to pay steep new tariffs on shipments of steel and aluminum to the U.S. That threat failed to come to fruition following a lobbying effort by Canadian political, business and labour leaders, but the U.S. has suggested the exemption may be tied to the successful conclusion of NAFTA negotiations. Goodale suggested the additional measures, which he stressed involve strengthening what is already there, could also play a role in that fight. Weve been very clear that our rules are strong and were going to make sure that they are fully and properly enforced, Goodale said. Read more: Trumps plan to impose tariffs on Chinese imports could help Canadian retailers U.S. sets May 1 expiry date on tariff exemptions for all countries, including Canada and Mexico China targets $3 billion of U.S. goods in tariff dispute with Trump Were not going to give anyone any specious excuse for any kind of action against the Canadian steel or aluminum industry, because that action is totally, entirely and utterly unjustified. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone Monday, emphasizing the strong measures Canada is taking to address unfair trade in aluminum and steel. On Tuesday, he suggested the move to strengthen the existing regime came recently. This past few days, weve looked at strengthening the measures we already have in place, because its important that we not be taking in dumped steel from around the world, Trudeau said. This is something that I assured our steel workers and our aluminum workers of when I visited them a couple of weeks ago, he said. Were going to continue to stand firm to protect our industry and the North American industry. Read more about: STOCKHOLMSwedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB said its increasing markdowns this quarter after accumulating a record pile of unsold garments worth more than $4 billion (U.S.). Operating profit fell 62 per cent to the lowest level in more than a decade as clearance sales failed to reduce quantities of T-shirts and jeans that customers had passed over. The stock slumped to the lowest level since 2005. The worrying sign again comes from unabated piling-up of inventory, said Chris Chaviaras, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Read more: H&M store closures raise doubts as it adds new retail format Opinion | Emma Teitel: The Weeknd got it only half-right on H&M H&Ms already-downbeat forecast for the start of 2018 was exacerbated by unseasonably warm European weather in January followed by Februarys cold snap, whipsawing the clothing retail industry. That forced the company to slash prices even more. Chief executive officer Karl-Johan Persson said Tuesday the company made mistakes by narrowing its assortment last year, though he expects sales to improve in the second half. The shares traded 5.4 per cent lower at 120.94 kronor at close in Stockholm. Persson said H&M plans to reduce markdowns in the second half, when sales should improve and a weaker dollar will reduce garment costs. The retailer aims to reduce inventory to 12 per cent to 14 per cent of sales in 2019. Stock-in-trade rose to almost 18 per cent of sales in the first quarter. H&M said most of that is spring garments, though a small portion is older than 12 months. Mistakes made We havent improved fast enough, said the 43-year-old scion of the billionaire Persson family. Were working hard to fix that. The retailer is starting a new brand called Afound to sell clothes from various brands including H&M at a discount, and its adding three automated logistics centres this year to speed up deliveries. Last month, H&M forecast sales in comparable stores to drop this year before returning to growth in fiscal 2019. Persson reiterated H&Ms forecast for some improvement in operating profit this year. Analysts expect a 7-per-cent drop. The next 12-18 months will be challenging, wrote Alvira Rao, an analyst at Barclays, who said the initiatives may not be enough to keep up with increasing competition. H&M said its maintaining its targets for sales growth of at least 25 per cent from e-commerce and new businesses this year, even though it missed that rate in the first quarter. Online sales rose 20 per cent while revenue from new businesses gained 15 per cent. H&M might have e-commerce in place in all its markets by 2020, Persson said. This month, the retailer began online sales in India and launched H&M on Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd.s Tmall service in China. The retailer doesnt plan any more new brands this year, though could consider doing so in 2019, Persson also said. Its no trade secret despite difficult NAFTA renegotiations and increasing protectionist talk in the U.S., Ontarians remain positive about international economic agreements, a new survey has found. However, about half of respondents believe America gets the better end of such deals no one is buying whatever the president says over the phone, said Andrew Parkin, director of the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto. Parkin was referring to a recent phone call where Donald Trump incorrectly told the prime minister that the U.S. has a trade deficit with Canada a comment he also repeated on social media. The public opinion survey, to be released by the non-partisan public policy think-tank on Wednesday, says 81 per cent of Ontarians surveyed are in favour of new trade agreements, and about 60 per cent support more globalization. Results of the survey come as Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne continues efforts to ward off Buy America talk in the U.S. such a policy comes into effect in New York as of April 1 while boosting trade relations south of the border. Wynne met with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb Tuesday, and the two signed a memorandum of understanding to work on whether its the auto sector, whether its aerospace to consolidate the partnership, the premier said at an earlier press conference. The reason I have met with governors all over the States is that we have strong trading partnerships at the sub-national level its really important that we understand each other and where there are opportunities to work together on innovation, where there are opportunities to do exchanges of knowledge that we do that because we will all be better off. Their memorandum noted the two jurisdictions are more than good neighbours our trade partnership is a major economic driver for our regions. Ontario is Indianas top Canadian export customer, and in 2017 two-way trade between the two regions totalled more than $20 billion (Cdn). Nearly 190,000 Indiana jobs depend on trade and investment with Canada, with more than 110 Ontario-owned corporations and small businesses operating in the state, employing approximately 14,000 Indiana residents, the memo says. One in four Ontario residents approve of closer relations with the U.S., though most prefer them to stay the same, the Mowat Centre survey found. It also found that while a majority believe the country and province reap benefits from international trade, only about half of respondents believe local communities do. While 60 per cent in Toronto think international trade benefits their community, 31 per cent in Eastern Ontario and 30 per cent in the southwestern end of the province think it harms their communities. The survey of 2,000 people from an online panel has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The Mowat Centre said the Trump presidency and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom serve as reminders that the public mood can shift. Here in Ontario, the centre noted, the financial crisis of 2008, as well as the continued shedding of manufacturing jobs as well as the growth of precarious work could have an impact on public opinion. At Queens Park, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Wynne is doing what needs to be done building relationships and making connections with U.S. governors, but called the situation worrisome. Im from Hamilton and I worry about trade and I worry about what happens to good steelworker jobs, for example, if things go the wrong way with NAFTA or any other trade deal, she said. Parkin said international trade attitudes were supportive back in 2001, when the last public opinion survey was done, and that respondents generally see it as an underpinning of the economy. I think Canadians have aligned trade with their openness to the world more generally, he said. In 2001, we saw trade overlapped with other things Canadas involvement in NATO, the United Nations, immigrations and it has become a part of Canadas open and global personality. This is an edited vesion of a story that corrects details around feelings about trade benefits in different parts of the province. Read more about: Apple unveiled a low-cost iPad Tuesday aimed at students and designed to compete with Googles Chromebook, which is currently considered the top-selling educational device in Canadian classrooms. The new Apple iPad has a 9.7-inch screen and costs $399 for students and schools and $429 for other users. It arrives in stores later this week in Canada and more than 24 other countries and regions. The new tablet supports the Apple Pencil accessory ($115 for schools; $129 for everyone else), a first for a non-Pro iPad model. Apple also said it is releasing new versions of its iWork productivity apps that work with the Pencil stylus. Apple VP Greg Joswiak called it faster than virtually any Chromebook. Apple has a long history in the education market with its Mac computers and more recently with iPads. But the company has lost ground to alternative computing devices, particularly to the stripped-down Chromebook devices powered by Googles Chrome software. In Canada, according to educational consulting firm Futuresource, school purchases have helped make the Chromebook the top selling education device from kindergarten through Grade 12. As of last fall, there were 20,000 Chromebooks in use in Toronto District School Board classrooms alone, according to Futuresources report on the 2018 outlook for mobile devices in the education market. A spokesperson for the board said that a bring your own device policy means schools use mobile computers from a variety of vendors. Chromebooks accounted for 60 per cent of laptops, tablet and other mobile computers shipped to kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2017, according to Futuresource. Apples iPads accounted for 12 per cent of those school devices, which was less than half of its market share in 2014. Globally, the Googles Chrome OS powered 31.3 per cent of mobile personal computing devices shipped to kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in 2017, FutureSource says in its report. Chromebooks are popular because of their affordability, reliability, simplicity, quick boot-up and because students seem to like the keyboard, said Alison Bullock, digital literacy support teacher with the Waterloo Region District School Board. She added that the Waterloo board has a blend of Apple, Google and other devices for student use, suggesting that the iPad is popular among those looking for creative applications. Apple, meanwhile, also previewed a new feature Tuesday called Smart Annotation that lets users annotate specific words on a page. An update to the Pages iWork app will also let users create their own digital books via the iPad. The new iPad, meanwhile, still includes the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, versus Face ID 3-D sensor system on the iPhone X, but adds a new A10 Fusion chip which was first released in the iPhone 7 in 2016, up from the A9 in the previous low-cost iPad. With a file from the Star Read more about: LONDONFirefighters were not allowed to go to the scene of the Manchester Arena bombing for more than two hours because of confusion about whether an attacker was still on the loose, according to a report released Tuesday. Senior British civil servant Bob Kerslake, who headed the inquiry, said a valuable resource was not available to assist at the scene because fire service workers were out of the loop. A suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, killed 22 people and injured scores more at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 in Manchester; Daesh, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility. The report also criticized the media for the way journalists treated bombing victims. According to the report, the first police officers were on the scene within one minute of the explosion, and more police and paramedics arrived soon after. But firefighters were kept away because the senior officer on duty mistakenly believed there was an active shooter. The inquiry panel said it was not able to determine whether quicker deployment of firefighters could have saved lives, saying only coroners can answer that. But it said lives were undoubtedly saved by a police duty inspectors decision to override protocol and let police and medics stay at the arena and treat the wounded, even though it was unclear whether more attacks would follow. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised emergency workers for saving lives by taking brave, common-sense decisions rather than following protocol. The report also called the medias behaviour troubling. It said one journalist offered condolences to a child before the child had been officially told about the death of her mother in the attack. Journalists also sent gifts to victims in the hospital along with notes offering 2,000 pounds ($2,800) for information. Some also apparently impersonated a bereavement nurse and a doctor to get more information. The report said the Manchester bombing victims and their families felt mercilessly hounded by the press. To have experienced such intrusive and overbearing behaviour at a time of enormous vulnerability seemed to us to be completely unacceptable, the report said. Read more about: To delete or not to delete, that is the question Facebook users are now asking while weighing the pros and cons of breaking up with the social-media giant. For any other product, this would be a cinch. If you have a pair of shoes that always give you blisters, they quickly get mothballed. You dont keep stumbling around town in agony. You realize the shoes are a bad fit and you move on. But the fact millions of users cant bring themselves to erase their Facebook accounts shows just how deeply this behemoth has wormed its way into our lives. Facebook is hurting us and we dont care. When a company such as Cambridge Analytica is able to secretly harvest personal data from 50 million FB users, my first thoughts should be: Wow, I need to protect my privacy. I need to escape this cesspool of fake news. I need to flee the mind-control marketing and ads that are often targeted with such eerie precision, its as if Mark Zuckerberg was hiding behind my couch and heard my wife say we need to steam the carpets. I need to get out before I become a stooge in a future Russian propaganda campaign that tricks me into believing my neighbour is a satanist or Justin Trudeau is the greatest prime minister ever. I need to be free. But what I actually think is, I cant delete my Facebook! That right there is the FB Paradox. Its why the new #DeleteFacebook movement, however noble, will never reach critical mass. Maybe we were fools to voluntarily surrender our data in the first place. Maybe we should have realized sharing personal details with a global corporation was a terrible idea. But the truth is, its too late now. I cant quit you, Facebook, not when leaving feels like abandoning family and friends. How will I keep tabs on distant relatives with whom there are no other established lines of contact? What am I supposed to do pick up a phone and call? How will I see the photos of nieces at Disney or learn a former colleague is off to a new adventure in the Middle East? How will I know when someone I havent seen since Grade 11 is poking me? How will I add a smile emoji when my dad accidentally wishes someone a happy birthday by writing on his own wall? So instead of to delete or not to delete, is there a third option? I believe the answer here is a resounding maybe. Now, look. Im no tech expert. I wont pretend to grasp Facebooks proprietary algorithms, or even know what proprietary algorithms means. But if the central fear is that Facebook is now treating our data like a rented mule, what if we changed the rules? What if we corrupted our own data to make it useless? Stay with me. What if you tinkered with your settings and monkeyed with your birthday, your sex, your city, your job, your relationship status? What if you started Liking stories you hated and clicked on ads for products youd never buy? What if you fictionalized your digital existence until the Real You and the Facebook You became strangers? If you did that, your data would be worthless. Which would make it priceless. Granted, this may be confusing to those on the periphery of your friends list. I mean, if I suddenly tell the world I am actually a Caucasian lesbian senior who lives in Albuquerque and volunteers with the NRA, my inbox is sure to clog up with a few baffled messages. But for the people who really know us the inner circle nobody wants to lose this act of personal disruption would be obvious. Our loved ones would know this was just a clever ruse to throw off any evil and faceless data miners who may be inclined to aggregate and weaponize our info in the years ahead. Why did you just say youre now single? my wife will ask. I did it, I will reply, to protect you! Ultimately, this is all about managing the FB Paradox. On Monday, despite the ongoing scandal, the Angus Reid Institute released a survey that found only 10 per cent of Canadian FB users plan to delete their accounts. But 73 per cent want to make at least some change to how they interact online. I can think of no better way to change than to don a disguise. Go nuts and turn into someone else. Do it for the peace of mind. As always, Facebook only knows what you tell it. Mark Zuckerberg took out full-page ads to apologize for the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal. (The Canadian Press) Read more about: Toronto Police are planning more search warrants in the Barry and Honey Sherman murder probe and may use surreptitious or covert techniques to find the killer or killers, according to police documents. Locked up under seal in a North York court are hundreds of pages filed by police in the last three months in support of 15 warrants or production orders already used to obtain medical, banking and other records related to the Sherman probe. Toronto Police say these documents contain a fairly comprehensive (although by no means exhaustive) summary of the investigation, including summaries of many witness interviews, summaries of the forensic examination of the crime scene and post-mortem examinations and images from surveillance footage and scene photos. Police made these comments in a court affidavit opposing the Toronto Stars attempt to gain access to some or all of these files. Justice Leslie Pringle of the Ontario Court of Justice recently released portions of search warrant materials to the Star, but ruled most will remain sealed at this stage of the case. She told the Star it could reapply if something changes, such as an arrest being made or if the investigation concludes. The Shermans strangled bodies were discovered by a real estate agent at their Toronto home on Fri., Dec. 15, 2017. Initially, and for at least a month, Toronto police pursued the case as if it was most likely a murder-suicide, with Honey, 70, listed on warrant documents as the only victim. On Jan. 26, the lead investigator in the case announced to the press that the case is being probed as a targeted, double murder. This came a week after the Star reported that a second autopsy by a veteran pathologist retained by the Sherman family had concluded it was a double murder. Barry, 75, was first noted on the police warrant documents as a victim of murder in February. Previously, only Honey was listed as a victim. Police have refused to answer questions about the investigation. When police investigate, they often apply to court for search warrants (for a place) or production orders (for banking and other records). As reported earlier this month, police have obtained a number of judicial authorizations granting them access to banking information (the account owners were not released to the Star), the Shermans medical records dating back to 2010 (likely to see if either was treated for depression), and loyalty cards, probably for airlines. Justice Pringle released the cover pages of the warrants and production orders, but not the extensive backup documents, called information to obtain (ITO), used by police to get these judicial authorizations. She was the justice who signed all of the warrants and production orders known to be issued in the case, between Dec. 20, 2017 and Feb. 15, 2018. Det.-Sgt. Susan Gomes during a press conference at Police Headquarters, January 26, 2018. As is typically the case, Justice Pringle sealed the materials, and sealed the sealing order that sealed the materials. In Canada, the workings of the courts, including court documents, are presumed to be open unless there is a good reason for them to be sealed. The Supreme Court of Canada has previously ruled that once a warrant is executed, the warrant and the information upon which it is issued must be made available to the public unless police can demonstrate that releasing it would subvert the ends of justice. Translation in this case: If police can show that making the details public would hurt an ongoing investigation. Due to the controversy surrounding the initial stages of the police investigation (the murder-suicide theory, now debunked), the Star argued in court that access to some or all of the warrant material would allow the public to scrutinize the activities of police. Why, for example, did the police think it was a murder-suicide? In their response, the Toronto Police filed an affidavit from police detective Dennis Yim of the 32 Division, Major Crime Unit. He has been seconded to the homicide squad under the direction of Detective Sergeant Susan Gomes. In court, Yim, and Crown attorney Peter Scrutton, provided numerous reasons to maintain the seal. Yim explained that the case is active, with 474 investigative actions being vigorously pursued. He said police have 64 tips to follow up on, 240 people have been identified to be interviewed or have already been interviewed, and 51 officers are working the case. Yim said the first concern the police have is that they have intentionally held back from the public certain information, and they want to use that to assess the reliability of other information they may receive. At this stage of the investigation, while witnesses are still being interviewed, a witness might on his or her own reveal a detail that police come to realize has never been publicly disclosed, Yim said. The police state they are also concerned that, if the sealed material detailing the investigation to date is released, it could contaminate subsequent witness statements by enabling a witness to provide an account of events that coheres with other evidence known to them. Toronto Police also say they are worried that disclosure could also prejudice any ongoing or future investigative actions that are surreptitious or covert in nature. No details were provided. Another police concern was that, if the specific locations searched, and the items seized, were disclosed the perpetrator(s) would know exactly what items or evidence have not been obtained and could take steps to frustrate our attempts to collect evidence. The Star argued that the perpetrator(s) likely already knew what would needed to be done to frustrate the police. Similarly, police said they were worried that, if the public were told who had been interviewed, this would allow the perpetrator (s) to approach people who have not been interviewed with a view to influencing their participation in the investigation. Near the end of his affidavit, detective Yim raises the concern of the safety of witnesses. Given the violent nature of the crime under investigation, the identification of witnesses raises potential concerns about witness safety. I do not mean to imply that I have knowledge of any specific safety risks, Yim stated. I am merely making this connection from the apparently premeditated nature of the homicides being investigated. Finally, Yim told court in his affidavit that by making warrant material public, the perpetrator(s) would know whether the police have identified any suspects of persons of interest, which could precipitate the perpetrator (s) flight, or other actions designed to frustrate the investigation or prosecution. Yim did not say if police had a suspect. In her ruling, Justice Pringle agreed with the Star that, just because a police officer deposes that access to, and publication of sealed materials poses a serious risk to the investigation, does not mean that the test to maintain the sealing order is met. Justice Pringle added it is also true that some of the police concerns in this case are expressed in rather generalized, as opposed to specific terms, such as the potential for violence to witnesses or destruction of evidence. But, while Justice Pringle said she agrees wholeheartedly with the importance of the press in telling the public about what transpires in court, she said, in this case, preserving the integrity of the probe trumps the publics right to know information at this time. She noted that this is a temporary ban and invited the Star to reapply if there is a change in the investigation. Kevin Donovan can be reached at (416) 312-3503 or kdonovan@thestar.ca Read more about: OTTAWAA Liberal MP who is paid to provide legal advice to a Brampton construction company helped get the firms president an invitation to a high-profile reception during Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus trip to India. Raj Grewal, the first-term MP for Brampton East, receives employment income from Zgemi Inc., a construction company headed by Yusuf Yenilmez, a Liberal supporter. Grewal and Yenilmez were in India for Trudeaus official visit, mingling with the political delegation that accompanied the prime minister on the seven-day trip last month. Zgemis Facebook page says Yenilmez attended business delegation events with Trudeau in Mumbai and New Delhi. Photos posted on that page show Yenilmez posing with members of Trudeaus delegation including Katie Telford, his chief of staff, Navdeep Bains, the minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Government House leader Bardish Chagger, Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, and Nadir Patel, Canadas high commissioner in India. Yenilmez is also seen in several photos meeting Trudeau, including at a dinner in New Delhi hosted by the Canadian high commissioner on Feb. 22. Grewal told the Star that Yenilmez organized his own trip to India and said the two did not travel to India together. We were obviously there together at events but nothing was preplanned or co-ordinated before, Grewal said. Asked whether he had facilitated Yenilmezs access to any of the functions, including the high commission event, Grewal initially replied, no, because anybody that requested was given access to events. But the Prime Ministers Office said Grewal secured Yenilmez an invitation to the New Delhi event organized by Canadas high commissioner. MP Grewal invited him to the reception, Trudeau spokesperson Chantal Gagnon told the Star in an email. In a followup statement to the Star, Grewal said he invited a diverse group of more than 30 supporters and stakeholders to participate in events around the India trip. While he noted that Yenilmez is a local employer and supporter, Grewal said he included anyone who was interested in attending. Because Yenilmez was registered for the Canada-India Forum, he had access to the receptions with or without my invitation, Grewal said in his email to the Star. Margot Booth, a spokesperson for the ethics commissioner, said that because Grewal is not a minister or a parliamentary secretary, he is subject to the conflict of interest code for members of the House of Commons, but not the Conflict of Interest Act. Under the code there is no requirement for MPs to seek approval of the commissioners office when helping to secure invitation to events, Booth said. However, she said that MPs must take care to ensure their actions do not contravene the codes rules that prohibit them from using their position to further their private interests or the interests of someone else. She also said MPs are allowed to receive income from anyone. Only when MPs become parliamentary secretaries or cabinet ministers do stricter restrictions kick in, she said. Conservative MP Peter Kent (Thornhill) said Grewals business relationship with Yenilmez raises questions whether the politician should be facilitating such access. Why did he enable or get an invitation for Mr. Yenilmez? said Kent, his partys ethics critic. I think any reasonable person would see there is very real potential for conflict of interest in this situation. In an email to the Star, Yenilmez said he attended sessions organized by the Canada-India organization to look for opportunities for his 400-person firm, which builds and renovates residential, commercial and industrial buildings. I signed up independently as a Canadian business looking to partner with Indian business looking to expand in Canada, Yenilmez said. Zgemi is working hard to expand across Canada and the world, he said. He said Grewal provides legal services on a contract basis related to private disputes and nothing involving the federal government. Our relationship with Mr. Grewal was cleared with the ethics commissioner, and a screen is put in place to ensure that no conflict of interest arises, he said. In an April 2017 filing with the federal elections commissioner, Grewal indicated he was receiving employment income from Zgemi Inc. His most recent filing in January 2018 indicates he expects to receive that income for the next 12 months. In an interview, he said he does legal consulting work for Zgemi very rarely, usually centred on private contract disputes. Im pretty careful I dont touch any of the files that would have anything to do with the federal government, Grewal said. Yenilmez has a record of supporting the Liberals that dates back several years. According to Elections Canada, Yenilmez donated more than $3,880 to the federal Liberal party from 2013 to 2017, and attended a thank you reception for Laurier Club donors with Trudeau in Toronto last year. Ahmed Hussen, who is now the federal immigration minister, posted a photo on Twitter during the 2015 election campaign, in which he thanked my friend Yenilmez for help canvassing in his Toronto riding. Read more about: OTTAWAPope Francis will not apologize to residential school survivors and their families for the role the Roman Catholic Church played in operating the schools or the abuses suffered by their students. A papal apology was one of the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and during a visit to the Vatican last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally asked the Pope to consider such a gesture. The commission recommended an apology similar to that offered by the Pope to Irish victims of sexual abuse in 2010. In 2015, Pope Frances issued an apology in Bolivia to Indigenous peoples in the Americas for the grave sins of colonialism. Read more: Editorial | Time for the Pope to apologize for residential schools Pope Francis seemed open to the idea of a residential school apology, Trudeau says Editorial | Let residential school survivors share their stories Bishop Lionel Gendron, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, today released a letter to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada saying Pope Francis has not shied away from acknowledging injustices faced by Indigenous peoples around the world, but that he cant personally issue an apology for residential schools. The Catholic Bishops of Canada have been in dialogue with the Pope and the Holy See concerning the legacy of suffering you have experienced, Gendron wrote. The Holy Father is aware of the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which he takes seriously. As far as call to action #58 is concerned, after carefully considering the request and extensive dialogue with the bishops of Canada, he felt that he could not personally respond. Gendron says the Pope has not ruled out a visit to Canada and a meeting with Indigenous Peoples, but in the meantime is encouraging Canadian bishops to continue working with Indigenous Peoples on reconciliation issues and projects that help with healing. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said in a statement he has written to Pope Frances urging him to come to Canada and meet Indigenous peoples. He is also seeking a direct meeting with the Pope to discuss the issue further. Hearing an apology directly from Pope Francis would be an important act of healing and reconciliation, much like his apology delivered to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas in 2015, Bellegarde said. Trudeaus office redirected questions about this latest development to Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, who said Canada wont give up on the idea yet. The commissioners recommended this as an important part of healing reconciliation for the survivors, Bennett said in an emailed statement. We will continue to advocate for this call to action. For more than a century, the federal governments church-run residential schools operated in an effort to assimilate Indigenous children by forcing them into schools where they were not allowed to speak their languages or engage in Indigenous cultural practices. Almost two-thirds of the 130 schools were run by the Catholic Church. Between the 1880s and the time the last school closed in 1996, more than 150,000 Indigenous children attended, many of whom reported being physically, sexually and psychologically abused at the hands of priests, nuns or other teachers. Canada apologized for the schools in 2008, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was born out of a negotiated settlement agreement that included compensation for survivors. Drug-smuggling mobsters have enlisted retired police dogs to safeguard multi-million dollar cargoes, a GTA trial heard. On the witness stand, former York Region mobster Carmine Guido, 47, said on Monday that the elderly police dogs are trained in drug detection and can alert traffickers if their products arent securely wrapped. Theyre good at sniffing, Guido said under questioning from Crown Attorney Jeremy Streeter. When the dogs get old, they (police) retire them, Guido told court, noting that some drug smugglers are happy to put them back to work on the other side of the law. Guidos comments came in the case against Giuseppe (Pino) Ursino, 64, of Bradford and Cosmin (Chris) Dracea, 41, of Toronto. The case is historic because its the first prosecution in which the Ndrangheta has been targeted since the offense of criminal organization was created in 1997 in Canada, senior federal prosecutor Tom Andreopoulos said in an interview. Ursino and Dracea each face two counts of cocaine trafficking for the benefit of criminal organization and one charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. At the time of the arrests in June 2015, police seized some 8.5 kilos of cocaine which Guido estimated at being worth $50-$55,000 a kilo on GTA streets. Read more: Toronto court hears testimony from mob enforcer in cocaine trafficking case Toronto court hears testimony on inner workings of Ndrangheta organized crime group Burlington man sentenced in drug trafficking case Guido worked as an undercover agent for the RCMP for two years in the case, known as project OPhoenix. He now lives under a different name in a witness protection program. In his second week on the witness stand, Guido told court that drug smugglers have also taken to planting hidden cameras inside shipments of cocaine to try to identify would-be thieves. In several secretly-recorded conversations, Guido warned Dracea not to trust anyone as he secretly recorded the conversation. Many deals I turn down because I dont trust the guy, Dracea replied. Guido told court that some drugs come into the country in the bellies of imported fish. Other shipments have arrived in pineapples or in cardboard, soaked in liquefied narcotics. Court heard that their plan was to bring in a 100 kilo load into the country in buckets of chicken jerk sauce from Jamaica. Court also heard conversations between Guido and Ursino regarding underworld debt collection. In one conversation, Ursino refered to someone who felt cheated out of $6-million U.S. Guido said he wasnt surprised that Ursino raised the topic of collecting that debt with him. I was known to do collections and he wanted to see if I wanted to take a percentage of it, Guido said. If you cant take it to court because its illegal money, you come to us, Guido told court. In a secretly recorded conversation, Guido asked Ursino if he should go hard right away. I think so, Ursino replied. Guido told court that this meant that he would be threatening from the start. In a secretly recorded conversation, Guido asks Ursino if anyone else is also trying to collect the debt, as this could result in chaos. If theres somebody else from another family somebody gets hurt or killed and I get blamed for it, Guido told court. Has it happened to you in the past?, the Crown Attorney asked. Yes, Guido replied. Guido also pressed Ursino to reassure him that he would stand strong if the target of the debt collection ran to another Ndrangheta family. He said he was concerned about local residents Angelino Figliomeni or Cosimo Commisso. Figliomeni and Commisso were also members of the Ndrangheta, Guido testified. Court heard that Commisso was one of the original targets of the RCMP OPhoenix operation. He was not charged. I cant stand strong, Guido told Ursino in the secretly-recorded conversation. You have to. Guido told court that he also asked Ursino to cut him some slack regarding his personal gambling and drug debts. After that, Guido said that Commisso put his arm around him at a banquet hall. When some local ex-Hells Angels saw this, they quickly relented on trying to collect a gambling debt of $10,000 owed by a family member, Guido said. Guido said one of the former Hells Angels said words to the effect of: You know what? Dont worry about the $10,000. You dont owe that to us any more. Guido was asked about the names of some people he mentioned during his taped conversations, including Rocco Remo Commisso. Rocco Remo Commisso is Cosimo Commissos brother, Guido said. A member of the Ndrangheta?, the Crown Attorney asked. Yes, Guido replied. Guido told court that Ursino also agreed to supply him with serious young men who never talk to provide him with security when he carried a large sum of money related to the drug deal. He said he specifically requested that these serious young men not be like another man in their circle named Antonio Spagnolo. He was crazy, Guido said. Youd go to do a collection and hed just want to shoot everybody. In his conversations with Dracea, Guido talked optimistically about how he expected the 100 kilo load of cocaine to arrive safely in the shipment of jerk sauce from Jamaica. If I make that Ill retire, Dracea said in a secretly-recorded chat. I dont think theyll check it, Guido said. Its (expletive) jerk sauce. After this (expletive) comes through, Im going to buy a Maserati, said Guido, who already drove a BMW SUV. At another point, Dracea was recording saying: Start picking out your Maserati. Im getting red, Guido said. Im getting white, replied Dracea, who drove an Audi sedan. Former Toronto Mayor David Crombie is urging city councillors to vote for a remake of North Yonge St. that includes bike lanes on the famous thoroughfare. Crombie, dubbed the tiny perfect mayor when he led pre-amalgamation Toronto in the 1970s, was among speakers at a news conference at city hall Monday in support of a plan for Yonge between Sheppard and Finch Aves. endorsed by city staff and the local councillor but opposed by Mayor John Tory. We now have a historic opportunity to determine whether or not that part of Yonge St. is going to be the main street, a new downtown where people can live and work and play, or it's simply going to continue to be a six-lane highway that allows people to drive their cars through, Crombie said. Later Monday safety advocates, many of them friends and family members of people killed by motorists, staged a die-in at Nathan Phillips Square to support the plan and highlight the perils of busy unrestricted traffic. There were 78 collisions involving pedestrians and five involving cyclists on that stretch of Yonge between 2010 and 2017. Eight of them were killed or seriously injured. Council on Tuesday will debate the Transform Yonge plan that would reduce six lanes of vehicle traffic to four, install protected bike lanes, widen sidewalks and add benches, new pedestrian crossings and other features aimed to make the condo-lined street a walkable destination. Tory and some council allies are backing another plan that would leave all vehicle lanes in place, install bike lanes on nearby Beecroft Rd. and enliven the streetscape on sidewalks widened where possible. City staff said putting bike lanes on Beecroft would add $20 million to the projects $51.1 million cost but Councillor David Shiner says it can be done for an extra $9 million. Last week Don Peat, Torys spokesperson, said: The mayor has been clear that he supports putting bike lanes on Beecroft while still moving ahead with updating and improving the public realm on Yonge St. City staff have made it clear this is also a viable option and as we heard at the Public Works Committee which recommended the Beecroft option the additional cost is much less than originally estimated. Asked if he has made his case directly to Tory, Crombie said he broached the subject at a gathering and I have been in direct contact with his office and they have not responded. Read more about: An Ontario Superior Court judge has been asked to adopt a new way of sentencing Black offenders, similar to how courts must consider the impact of the social and cultural history of Indigenous Canadians when determining punishment. On Tuesday, Toronto defence lawyer Emily Lam told Justice Shaun Nakatsuru her case is an opportunity to address the problem of over-incarceration, which has been viewed as a relevant sentencing factor in cases involving Indigenous offenders, who, like Black people, are over-represented in prison. We cant continue what were doing, clearly something needs to change, Lam said concluding her argument on behalf of Jamaal Jackson, 33, who is originally from Nova Scotia. Jackson is Black and believes he has Indigenous ancestry. He pleaded guilty last November to possession of a prohibited firearm and breach of a prohibition order. He has a lengthy criminal record and has been incarcerated for much of his adult life. At the outset of the sentencing hearing, and with the Crowns permission, Lam submitted a report to the court called an Impact of Race and Cultural Assessment (IRCA), written by Halifax social worker and sociologist Robert Wright. It is a founding premise of IRCAs that a persons race and cultural heritage should be considered as a significant factor in considering their sentence in a criminal matter, Wright says in a letter filed with the court. Nova Scotia is the only province that routinely orders and pays for such reports, Lam said in an interview. Across Canada, judges regularly request Gladue reports named for a 1999 Supreme Court of Canada case in cases involving Indigenous offenders. They encourage sentencing judges to be sensitive to the disadvantages and systemic racism faced by Indigenous people and consider alternatives other than incarceration. The IRCA report includes interviews with Jackson, and his family members, about his childhood in Cole Harbour, N.S., and his path to the justice system which was complex and tragic. A light-skinned African Nova Scotian with an absent father and a mentally ill mother, his psycho-social and racial identity development was impaired from his earliest years, the report states. In her factum filed in court, Lam wrote that Black Canadians ... have some important shared experiences with Aboriginials, including slavery, colonialism, segregation and racism, which has contributed to their involvement in the justice system. She explained to the Star on Tuesday that her argument is not that the experience of Black Canadians is the same as that of Indigenous people. The argument is that they are unique and different and not to compare them as apples to apples, but that the impact on the over-incarceration ... is the same, she said. It will be up to Nakatsuru to determine how much weight to give the IRCA report, Lam said. If the judge finds it useful and recommends the criminal justice system should consider using these reports similar to Gladue reports, and ordering them, that would be a precedent, she said. She is seeking a sentence for Jackson of four years incarceration, minus time served in custody. Crown attorney Sue Adams, who is seeking a sentence in the range of 7.5 to 9 years for possession of a loaded firearm and one year consecutive for breach of probation, told the judge she is not opposed to the courts having more information. The more information we have about an offender, their entire history, the better, its always important, Adams said. Im not saying that the reports are not important, Im saying they should be detailed, there should be more than self-reporting, but they shouldnt be mandatory. And courts already rely on a plethora of pre-sentence reports, including psychiatric assessments, psychological and cultural assessments, but they consistently say background factors and systemic issues do not allow for mitigation of sentence in very serious cases, she argued. When asked if he had anything to say, Jackson delivered a passionate, 20-minute appeal to the judge asking for leniency and pledging to live a lawful lifestyle. I actually am someone that can successfully reintegrate back into the community and its just not talk, or mumble jumble, he said. I just swayed the wrong the way and I want to come back and I need that opportunity. Nakatsura said he will sentence Jackson April 23. Former PC leadership candidate Tanya Granic Allen, who campaigned to repeal the Liberal governments modernized sex-ed curriculum in Ontario schools, is seeking the partys nomination in the new riding of Mississauga Centre for the June 7 provincial election. Its one of three ridings where the party executive, under new leader Doug Ford, has decided to hold new nomination races after questions the way previous candidates were chosen under former leader Patrick Brown were called into question. There are only a handful of ridings left so it makes sense for me to pick a riding where I have a connection, said Granic Allen, a fervent Brown critic who lived in Mississauga Centre until moving to a farm northwest of Toronto last year. People expect me to continue on with these issues, added the mother of four from the lobby group Parents as First Educators, which believes the sex ed curriculum updated three years ago for the social media era goes too far. The decision to overturn the nomination of bilingual lawyer Angely Pacis has angered the Filipino community eager to see one of their own in the race. Pacis previously ran for the centre-right Coalition Avenir Quebec in thats provinces 2012 election. PC officials have not made public their reasons for overturning the Pacis nomination, or others in Brampton North and Newmarket-Aurora. Granic Allen said she expects the nomination race in Mississauga Centre to be held April 21. Her fellow leadership contestant Christine Elliott, who placed second to Ford, has not yet chosen a riding in which to run, although one source close to her said Newmarket-Aurora is a possibility for the former MPP who previously held the riding of Whitby-Oshawa for nine years until retiring from politics after losing the leadership to Brown in 2015. Christine is committed to running and is looking forward to announcing her plans soon, said campaign volunteer who spoke on background. Meanwhile, the party, which also set aside a controversial nomination in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas under a police fraud and forgery investigation for months, has set a date of April 15 for a new nomination meeting there. The winning candidate of the first meeting, Ben Levitt, asked the party in February for a new meeting to clear the air but that request was initially denied. Levitts win was challenged in court by defeated contestant and lawyer Vikram Singh, but the case was later settled. Read more: Opinion | Cohn: How a Liberal budget begets a pre-election campaign platform in Ontario Opinion | Adam Kassam: Ontario election will be won or lost on health care Opinion | Peggy Nash: Why womens votes matter now Read more about: Ontarios Liberal government is trying to brush aside auditor general Bonnie Lysyks latest concern about bogus accounting standards, this time over the governments Fair Hydro Plan that reduced electricity rates by 25 per cent. The criticisms followed a special audit of the provinces Independent Electricity System Operator in which Lysyk who first issued a red flag last October determined the accounting methods lowball the cost of the rate relief program to taxpayers by as much as $1.3 billion, potentially understating the size of a provincial deficit. But Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault said Monday the government has opinions from major consulting firms such as KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young that the rate-regulated accounting practices are approved for the public sector. We go with what were being told by those in the field, he told reporters after MPP Vic Fedeli, leader of the Progressive Conservatives in the Legislature, raised the issue in question period. The same accounting process is used by Toronto Hydro, as well as its used in Alberta, New England, New York, Minnesota and Texas. Fedeli said Lysyks accusation in a legislative committee meeting last week that the government can use the accounting method to falsely claim its budget numbers are better than they truly are heading into the June 7 provincial election raises important questions of credibility. She highlights the fact that the financial and accounting structure was designed to avoid reporting the unfair hydro schemes costs, added Fedeli, whose party has agreed to keep the Liberal hydro rate cut plan intact in its now-defunct Peoples Guarantee election platform axed after Patrick Brown was ousted as leader in favour of new PC boss Doug Ford. These numbers cant be trusted. This government cant be trusted. Last October, Lysyk signalled the hydro rate relief scheme, in which billions in recent improvements to the electricity system are being amortized over 30 years through bigger loans, could cost an extra $4 billion in interest costs, lifting the final tally to $39.4 billion. Thibeault said the government has been transparent about the accounting methods being used all along. We disagree (with Lysyk) on the accounting standards, said Terry Young, spokesman for the IESO, which is the provincial agency tasked with meeting Ontarios day-to-day electricity needs. We have co-operated fully with her. Lysyk has also taken issue with the governments accounting for its share of assets from the teachers and public servants pension plans. A government-appointed panel of experts sided with Premier Kathleen Wynnes Liberals on their interpretation of allowing the money to be counted toward the provinces bottom line. Read more: Former PC leadership candidate and anti-sex ed activist seeks party nomination in Mississauga Centre Opinion | Cohn: How a Liberal budget begets a pre-election campaign platform in Ontario Opinion | Adam Kassam: Ontario election will be won or lost on health care Premier Kathleen Wynne has unveiled free child care for preschoolers in a $2.2 billion budget boost that is the cornerstone of the Liberals spring re-election platform. Wynne announced the move which covers licensed spots for children from age 2-1/2 until they start kindergarten on Tuesday, just prior to her governments budget being tabled at Queens Park Wednesday. The job of a parent has become harder in the current economy, Wynne told parents at Nelson Mandela Park Public School in Regent Park about the plan, which will begin in 2020. So families need this kind of support and insurance more than ever and we need to deliver it. Hailed as a national first and a game-changer by advocates, the move could be short-lived as Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford indicated he would scrap it if elected June 7. Have your say We arent going to go out and do what Kathleen Wynne is doing right now and promise billions of dollars with other peoples money, said Ford, who leads in all polls. Shes criss-crossing the province, spending billions of dollars that she doesnt have. Shes spending billions of dollars with other peoples money. Ive never seen anything like it shes out there buying votes. Under the Liberal plan, the average Ontario family with one preschooler would save about $17,000, while families in Toronto where child-care fees are among the highest in the country would save even more, the premier said. Frankly, it means we might have a third kid, because we can afford to, said Rebecca Woods, a Toronto mom to 14-month-old twin boys William and Rainer. It will just make it so much easier for people to have a family and to work. The reality is, most parents cant afford not to work, and many parents want to work, said Woods, a professor at the University of Toronto. Read more: Kathleen Wynne announces $2.4B for Sick Kids patient care centre Ontario government to boost hospital funding by $822M to ease overcrowding, wait times Kathleen Wynne announces $2.1 billion in new mental health funding over four years Wynne made the announcement to a cheering crowd comprising mostly women and received a standing ovation amid loud applause. This is a big change, she said, adding it will help families and particularly women who want to re-enter the workforce after having children. The lack of affordable child care is one of the biggest reasons for the stark and stubborn wage gap between the genders, Wynne said. If we dont do something to give more women the choice to return to work after having kids and do it on their own terms then we will never achieve gender equality. The government will also introduce a provincial wage grid for chronically low-paid child-care workers by 2020 to bring early childhood educator wages up to the level of those in the school system. Ontarios former early learning adviser Charles Pascal, whose report on full-day kindergarten was adopted by the previous McGuinty government in 2009, said this repositions Ontario as unique in North America and a global leader when it comes investing in our social and economic development. But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath warned the plan is going to keep a heck of a lot of families out, including moms returning to work after maternity leave, whose children are infants where child-care spots are more expensive and harder to find. She said the NDP will release a child-care platform plank soon. Theres a lot of gaps in this plan, she said. This is a little bit of help for folks, but it leaves a lot of families left out ... Its unfortunate that the premiers finally woken up to the fact that theres a problem with the affordability of child care. This is something they could have addressed in the last 15 years but they havent. Child-care advocates, however, were pleased. Laurel Rothman of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care called it a game changer, and expert Martha Friendly said the initiative is way beyond what we were expecting. This is a first, not only in Canada, but in North America. But its not revolutionary around the world and thats why were so far behind internationally, Friendly said. I like the whole package. Increasing public funding through funding the workforce is the way it has to be done to ensure quality. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says the delivery of a throne speech nine days before the Liberals pre-election budget was to give context to her governments priorities. Opposition parties have criticized the timing of the speech. (The Canadian Speech) The new money includes $162.5 million in operating funding over the next three years to support home child care and fee subsidies for children of other ages. Just 20 per cent of families with one child can afford licensed care in Ontario and only very wealthy parents with two or more children can afford it, according to an analysis by University of Toronto economist Gord Cleveland, who devised the plan for the government. About 106,000 Ontario preschoolers are currently enrolled in licensed care across the province at an annual cost to parents of between $9,900 and $13,500, Clevelands report shows. Focusing on child care for preschool children is the right place to start, he said. Many Ontario children already use child care at that age so we reach more families by focusing on affordability at this age. And because Ontario already has substantial numbers of spaces for preschool children, the gap in supply and demand will be quicker and easier to fill. However, east-end Toronto Councillor Janet Davis said she worries municipalities responsible for implementing the plan wont be able to keep up with demand. There are many parents across Ontario who will sigh with relief and get themselves on a waiting list tomorrow, Davis said. But for most parents who are trying to get back to work with a young child, this is just a hope two-and-a-half years down the road. The proposal is part of the governments 2016 plan to add 100,000 licensed child care spots for children under age 4 within five years. Last years budget included $200 million for fee subsidies and other affordability measures to help an estimated 28,000 parents, and $1.6 billion to build 45,000 new spaces, mostly in schools. Wednesdays budget is expected to include more capital funding to ensure enough preschool spaces are available to meet demand. Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod whose party has not yet announced any child care promises slammed the Wynne plan as unaffordable, coming with borrowed money and taking customers away from independent child-care centres. Kathleen Wynne makes all kinds of great promises. She thinks shes Oprah but shes not got the money Oprah has, MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton) told reporters, referring to the TV stars legendary giveaways of cars and other products to audience members. With files from Rob Ferguson and Robert Benzie Read more about: SAO PAULOAs the slow wheels of Brazilian justice turn, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is inching toward jail. On Monday, appeals court judges unanimously upheld their decision to reject da Silvas appeal of his conviction on corruption charges a move that brings him one step closer to being barred from the presidential ballot and put behind bars. Despite his legal woes, da Silva is leading polls for the October presidential election, and he is currently travelling through Brazils south to rally his supporters. His caravan has been met by protesters along the way. At rallies Monday, he repeated his contention that the charges against him are trumped up and meant to keep him from regaining the presidency. I dont respect the (courts) decision because if I respect a decision that is a lie, when my great-granddaughter ... grows up, she will feel shame that her grandfather was a coward who didnt have the courage to fight, he told a crowd in Iguazu Falls in Parana state. At an earlier rally in Francisco Beltrao, protesters threw eggs into the crowd, as they have done at several other sites along the tour. Thats a sign of how divisive a figure the once-beloved politician has become. For some, the man universally known as Lula is a symbol of the boom years, when millions of Brazilians rose out of poverty. For others, he represents widespread corruption in Brazils halls of power. Da Silva was convicted last year of trading favours with construction company OAS in return for the promise of a beachfront apartment. The conviction was upheld by a group of federal magistrates in January, and they increased his sentence to 12 years and one month in prison. In Brazil, the defence can enter a motion that questions such decisions, pointing out inconsistencies or contradictions. But the magistrates rejected the substance of the defences motion Monday, meaning the conviction stands. They did acknowledge one mistake in how they referred to a company, which has no concrete effect on the cases outcome. Da Silvas defence still has one more motion it can file with the same court, but law professor Carolina Cleve said it was very unlikely to change anything since Mondays ruling clearly showed the courts position. Read more: Carnival helps Brazilians let off steam amid economic struggles, corruption scandals, political tensions Former Brazil presidents accused of forming criminal organization Cristiano Zanin Martins, da Silvas lawyer, said the team would wait to read the full text of Mondays decision before deciding what kind of appeal they would make next. Martins called the conviction illegal, and da Silva and his supporters have vowed to appeal all the way to the Supreme Federal Tribunal. Why will we fight to the end? To prove his innocence, for his right to run again for the presidency, former President Dilma Rousseff, who was da Silvas vice-president, said at a news conference in Rio. She criticized protesters who have thrown stones, firecrackers and eggs at da Silvas buses and sometimes his supporters during his caravan tour. Under Brazilian law, once all motions related to the first appeal are exhausted, the defendant can be ordered to start serving his sentence. The law also says he should be barred from running for office. Still, there is yet another wrinkle in da Silvas case. He has filed a pre-emptive habeas corpus petition with the Supreme Federal Tribunal, so he cannot be jailed until justices rule on it. They are scheduled to do so on April 4. It seems likely da Silva will be jailed in the coming weeks, but he would be allowed to continue to appeal his conviction to higher courts while serving his sentence. Even experts say this case is complicated and not just because the law is open to interpretation. Were in a very murky scenario, said Cleve, who is a professor of constitutional and electoral law at the Autonomous University Center of Brazil. Politics is interfering in justice. Mad Mike Hughes, a 61-year-limo driver and self-taught rocket scientist who believes that the Earth is flat, finally blasted himself in the direction of space. After many delays, Hughes propelled himself almost 600 metres into the air this weekend before a hard landing in the Mojave Desert, about 320 kilometres east of Los Angeles. He told The Associated Press that outside of an aching back, hes fine after the launch near Amboy, Calif. Relieved, he said after being checked out by paramedics after his steam-powered craft emblazed with the words FLAT EARTH returned to the ground. Im tired of people saying I chickened out and didnt build a rocket. Im tired of that stuff. I manned up and did it. According to The Associated Press, Hughes converted some scaffolding and a mobile home into a ramp and modified it to launch from a vertical angle so he wouldnt fall back to the ground on public land. Much of the reason for the delay has been getting permission to use federal or state areas for the experiment. Hughes reached a speed that an assistant, Waldo Stakes, estimated to be around 560 kph before deploying a parachute. Hughes was dropping too fast, though, and he had to send out a second one. Despite the two parachutes, it was a rough landing. Am I glad I did it? Hughes said. Yeah. I guess. Ill feel it in the morning. I wont be able to get out of bed. At least I can go home and have dinner and see my cats tonight. Mad Mike Hughes says hes considering a run for governor of California. The launch came after the intrepid entrepreneur got permission to launch on private land, and was launched near vertically in an effort to keep it from ending up in a public area. The rocket touched down about 450 m from the launch ramp, Stakes said. Hughes has said that his mission is not to prove his belief that the Earth is flat, despite his claims that NASA astronauts such as John Glenn and Neil Armstrong were actors performing in front of a computer-generated image of a round globe Do I believe the Earth is shaped like a Frisbee? I believe it is, he told The Associated Press. Do I know for sure? No. Thats why I want to go up in space. Instead, it may well be for publicity the launch and the preparations surrounding it were filmed for a documentary to be shown on online TV channel Noize. My story really is incredible, Hughes said. Its got a bunch of story lines the garage-built thing. Im an older guy. Its out in the middle of nowhere, plus the Flat Earth. And then there is a plan to run for governor of California. This is no joke, Hughes said. I want to do it. WASHINGTONLinda Brown only wanted to go to the Sumner School. But she was black, and the elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, four blocks from her home was entirely white. I didnt comprehend colour of skin, she said later. I only knew that I wanted to go to Sumner. Brown, a 9-year-old in search of a nearby place to learn, went on to become the central figure of Brown v Board of Education, the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned racial segregation in U.S. schools and helped launch a new phase of the civil rights movement. She died Sunday at 76, the Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka told the Associated Press. The case known as Brown v Board was actually a collection of class action suits that battled school segregation in South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. All were sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and packaged together in a single case that advanced to the Supreme Court. Cheryl Brown Henderson, Lindas sister and the founding president of the Brown Foundation, an educational organization devoted to the case, recalled her parents and others being recruited to press a test case. They were told, Find the nearest white school to your home and take your child or children and a witness, and attempt to enroll in the fall, and then come back and tell us what happened, she said. In an interview with the Miami Herald in 1987, Linda Brown remembered the fateful day in September 1950 when her father took her to the Sumner School. It was a bright, sunny day and we walked briskly, and I remember getting to these great big steps, she said. I remember the steps being so big and I was so small. The school told her father no, she could not be enrolled. I could tell something was wrong, and he came out and took me by the hand and we walked back home, she said of her father. We walked even more briskly, and I could feel the tension being transferred from his hand to mine. On May 17, 1954, the court unanimously ruled that racial segregation violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, overturning the separate but equal doctrine that had stood since the 1896 case of Plessy v Ferguson. Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect, the court pronounced in its ruling. The decision paved the way for a gradual and sometimes violent integration of schools and other public facilities across the United States. I feel that after 30 years, looking back on Brown v the Board of Education, it has made an impact in all facets of life for minorities throughout the land, Brown said in a 1985 interview for Eyes on the Prize, a PBS documentary series on the civil rights movement. I really think of it in terms of what it has done for our young people, in taking away that feeling of second-class citizenship. I think it has made the dreams, hopes and aspirations of our young people greater, today. At the time of the decision, Brown said she was just happy she could attend Sumner, which still tried to bar her admission on the day the Supreme Court ruled in her favour. By the time the Supreme Court ruled, Brown was in junior high school. She later became an educational consultant and public speaker. As for her role in the landmark case, Brown came to embrace it, if reluctantly. Sometimes its a hassle, she told the Miami Herald, but its still an honour. Brown was not truly the Brown of Brown v Board. The case was filed by her father, Rev. Oliver Brown, an assistant minister at Saint Marks African Methodist Episcopal Church, who died in 1961. Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka said funeral arrangements are pending. Kansas deputy education commissioner Dale Dennis said Browns legacy was felt not only in Kansas but across the United States. The effect she had on our society would be unbelievable and insurmountable, he said. With files from the New York Times and The Associated Press WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman is asking a judge in Virginia to dismiss bank fraud and tax evasion charges filed against him. Attorneys for Paul Manafort filed a motion Tuesday that mirrors arguments he made in a related criminal case in Washington and in a civil lawsuit he filed in January challenging the authority of special counsel Robert Mueller. Manaforts lawyers argue that Mueller lacks the authority to prosecute Manafort since the bulk of the allegations predate the 2016 presidential campaign and arent directly linked to Russia. Mueller was appointed to investigate any links between Trump associates and Russia, as well as other matters that arise out of his investigation. Justice Department lawyers in the civil case have said Mueller is well within his authority to bring the case. Read more: Trumps ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort pleads not guilty to tax and fraud charges Paul Manafort pleads not guilty to new charges in Russia probe New charges against Paul Manafort sparks hunt for Europeans paid to lobby Read more about: BEIJINGNorth Koreas leader Kim Jong Un and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sought to portray strong ties between the neighbours and long-time allies despite a recent chill, as both countries on Wednesday confirmed Kims secret trip to Beijing this week. Chinas official Xinhua News Agency said Kim made the unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday at Xis invitation in what was in his first trip to a foreign country since he took power in 2011. Xi held talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and he and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua said. They also watched an art performance together, the news agency said. Official reports from both countries depicted in effusive terms warm ties between the two leaders in what analysts said appeared to be an effort to downplay recent tensions in relations over Kims development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. In these reports, Kim reaffirms the traditional friendship between the two countries as if nothing had ever happened, when the relationship had plummeted to unprecedented lows, said Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace, Kim said during the four-day visit, according to Xinhua. For China, the visit reminds that Beijing remains one of North Koreas most important allies and is a player not to be sidelined in denuclearization talks. Xi hailed Kims visit as embodying the importance with which the North Korean leader regarded ties with China. We speak highly of this visit, Xi told Kim, according to Xinhua. We are willing to work together with DPRK comrades, remain true to our original aspiration and jointly move forward, to promote long-term healthy and stable development of China-DPRK relations, benefit the two countries and two peoples, and make new contribution to regional peace, stability and development, Xi said. Here is Xi Jinping saying, Dont worry, everything is going to be great, Glaser said. Analysts say Kim would have felt a need to consult with his countrys traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. Kim was described by Xinhua as saying that his country wants to transform ties with South Korea into a relationship of reconciliation and co-operation. The two Koreas are still technically at war because their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Read more: All aboard Kim Jong Uns mystery train U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis refuses to talk about North Korea, underscoring sensitivity of possible meeting A timeline of inflammatory remarks between Trump and Kim Jong Un Kim also said that North Korea is willing to hold a summit with the United States, according to Xinhua. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency published Kims personal letter to Xi dated on Wednesday, where he expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership for showing what he described as heartwarming hospitality during his productive visit. Kim said that the first meeting between the leaders of the two countries will provide a groundbreaking milestone in developing mutual relations to meet the demands of the new era. Kim also said that hes satisfied that the leaders confirmed their unified opinions on mutual issues. The Norths diplomatic outreach this year follows a tenser 2017 when it conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date and tested three intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the U.S. mainland. The developments are being interpreted as the North being desperate to break out of isolation and improve its economy after being squeezed by heavy sanctions. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that China had contacted the U.S. to brief it on Kims visit to Beijing. The United States remains in close contact with our allies South Korea and Japan, Sanders said. We see this development as further evidence that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea. China remains North Koreas only major ally and chief provider of energy, aid and trade that keep the countrys broken economy afloat. In a speech at a banquet in China, Kim described the traditional allies as inseparable neighbouring brothers with a relationship moulded by a scared mutual fight to achieve socialist ideals, according to KCNA. In addition to the trip being his first abroad as leader, his talk with Xi was his first meeting with a foreign head of state. Kims father, late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, visited China several times during his rule, lastly in May 2011, months before his death that December. Its most proper that my first overseas trip would be the capital of the Peoples Republic of China as its also one of my noble duties to value the North Korea-China friendship as I do my own life and extend it (for another generation), said Kim, according to the agency. Past visits by Kim Jong Il to China were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea. With files from Bloomberg Read more about: BATON ROUGE, LA.Nearly two years after a Black man was shot and killed during a struggle with two white police officers, Louisianas attorney general isnt pursuing charges against the officers in a decision that infuriated Alton Sterlings family and frustrated residents in the neighbourhood where he died. Since federal officials have already declined to charge the officers, the decision Tuesday by Attorney General Jeff Landry ends the criminal investigation of the two officers at the centre of a case that highlighted racial tensions across the country. The July 5, 2016, shooting came amid increased scrutiny of fatal encounters between police and Black men. The day after Sterlings shooting, Philando Castile was killed in Minnesota by a police officer and the aftermath streamed on Facebook by his girlfriend. Then as demonstrators in Dallas protested those police shootings, a gunman killed five police officers. And on July 17, a Black military veteran shot and killed three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers. Officer Blane Salamoni shot and killed Sterling during a struggle outside a convenience store where the 37-year-old Black man was selling homemade CDs. Officer Howie Lake II helped wrestle Sterling to the ground, but didnt fire his gun. Two cellphone videos of the shooting quickly spread on social media, prompting large protests. Family and supporters of Sterling denounced Landrys decision in an angry news conference shortly after many of them met with the attorney general to hear his findings. Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of one of Sterlings children, Cameron, said the officers killed Sterling in cold blood. Were all out of tears. We have nothing else in us to cry about now, she said. Theres no amount of money in this world that can give those kids back their father. Residents near the convenience store where Sterling was killed said they werent surprised. LeRoi Dunn, a 40-year-old cook, gestured at the spot where Sterling was killed and said it was wrong for the officers to avoid charges. It hurts, though, to see them get away and go on with their lives, Dunn said. But Landry said his office reviewed all evidence compiled by the Justice Department, conducted its own witness interviews and concluded there was no case to be made. He pointed to toxicology and urine test results released Tuesday showing Sterling had cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other drugs in his system and said that contributed to Sterlings non-compliance with the officers commands. He said two independent experts also determined the officers used reasonable force. I know the Sterling family is hurting, Landry told reporters. I know that they may not agree with the decision. Read more: Justice dept. will not charge Baton Rouge officers in Alton Sterlings death, sources say Iconic photo of Louisiana protester being detained by police goes viral Black Lives Matter activist sues Baton Rouge, police over arrest L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for two of Sterlings five children blasted the report as biased, saying it included things like Sterlings criminal history that did not pertain to the case. State and federal authorities said Salamoni yelled that Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket before shooting him three times, and then fired three more shots into Sterlings back when he began to sit up and move. A 34-page report by Landrys office said its important to note that Sterlings hands were concealed from the officers as he sat up and rolled away from Salamoni. The officers recovered a loaded revolver from Sterlings pocket. As a convicted felon, Sterling could not legally carry a gun. Video footage shows Sterling threatening someone with a firearm before the officers responded to a report of a man with a gun outside the Triple S Food Mart, according to Landrys report. Now attention turns to the two officers future with the police department as well as a pending civil suit. Lake and Salamoni have been on paid administrative leave since the shooting. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul said he intends to conclude the disciplinary process against the officers by Friday and once concluded hell release body camera and surveillance footage of the shooting never seen publicly before. Salamonis attorney, John McLindon, said he expects his client to be fired and called it grossly unfair that a disciplinary hearing is planned so soon after the end of the criminal investigation. I believe its a foregone conclusion, McLindon said. A lawyer for Lake said his client should remain on the force. Attorney Kyle Kershaw said Lakes actions on the encounter complied with police procedure. Lawyers for Sterlings five children have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Baton Rouge, its police department and former police chief, and the two officers. It alleges a pattern of racist behaviour and excessive force by the Baton Rouge police. William Butler Yeats poem Easter 1916 captures the courage and sacrifice of Irish leaders during the controversial uprising, stating the British aggression has resulted in things being changed utterly and ending by saying a terrible beauty is born. Perhaps no words could more accurately capture how I, along with many other Sikhs, feel regarding the events of 1984. One could say that on that blistering hot day of June 4, when the Indian army invaded the Golden Temple Complex, the terrible beauty of Khalistan was born. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus recent trip to India and Jagmeet Singhs ties with Sikh separatism have brought the issue of Khalistan to the mainstream Canadian public. While some in the media have sentenced Khalistan as an extremist, violent movement, I believe this is an ideal opportunity to clarify to fellow Canadians the phenomenon of Khalistan, and why it is relevant to many young, Sikh-Canadians such as myself. Khalistan, at its essence, represents the powerful emotion of retaliation held by the Sikh community in response to the Indian armys attack on the Golden Temple, which killed a handful of militants, along with an estimated 10,000 innocent pilgrims. It was moments before this invasion that prominent Sikh leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindrenwale, declared that if the army was to invade the Darbar Sahib Complex, the foundation stone of Khalistan would be laid. After the attack, there was a concerted effort by Sikhs across the world to achieve the idealistic state of Khalistan, though there was no consensus as to what exactly Khalistan would look like. It is perhaps here that lies the terrible beauty beautiful because so many Sikhs sacrificed their life to defend their identity and sovereignty but terrible in how some chose to kill innocents in the process. The vast majority of Khalistanis today condemn the use of violence to achieve political ends. But that does not mean that we disown those who took to arms in the past. In those times of 1984, when Sikhs were burnt alive on the streets of the worlds largest democracy and the army was used as a tool of terror, every Sikh had their own way of reacting to the trauma. While I condemn the loss of any innocent person who was killed in the name of Khalistan, I still empathize with figures like Parmar because their violent reaction to 1984 was fuelled by hurt, pain, and anger. It was the wrong way and completely against Sikh principles, but one can condemn his act without condemning the man in his entirety. Depicting Parmars photographs in Vaisakhi floats is not veneration or glorification, but rather, as Yeats would say, fulfilling our duty to murmur name upon name in remembrance, with the hope of reflecting and learning from the mistakes of the past. Indeed, the democracies of the West have provided outlets for the Sikh diaspora to remember, commemorate and heal from the trauma of 1984. Perhaps that is why federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh supports passing a motion in the Parliament to recognize the November 1984 anti-Sikh violence as genocide. One must wonder why India was so offended by a similar motion when it was passed by the Ontario legislative assembly or why the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians has indicated that it will vehemently oppose any similar legislation. Evidently, there is still a clear battle between Indian nationalism and Sikh sovereignty. Our weapons today to show resistance against Indias sins are not guns but the memories of martyred militants and the sentiment of Khalistan. Whether Khalistan becomes a reality or not depends on the will of the people of Punjab and the maturity of Indian democracy. But as a proud, Sikh-Canadian, the concept of Khalistan is integral to my identity and close to my heart. To quote Yeats one final time: We know their dream; enough To know they dreamed and are dead We carry on their dream. Anokh Singh Dhillon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia. He is a first-year medical student at UBC's Faculty of Medicine. Read more about: Let us be English or let us be French, but above all let us be Canadians. In Sir John A. Macdonalds time, the tension between English and French concerned Canadian policy-makers. Today, a new cultural tension is undermining our social fabric importing foreign conflicts onto Canadian soil through the growing power of diaspora politics. It should alarm Canadians from coast to coast. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus recent trip to India is a wake-up call. How did Jaspal Atwal a Khalistani terrorist and a man convicted of attempted murder become our governments honoured guest? The answer is deceptively simple: votes. Khalistani separatism a radical nationalism seeking territorial secession from India is a movement with disproportionate political influence in Canada. Former B.C. Premier Ujjal Dosanjh has been sounding the alarm for decades. For his courage, Dosanjh was assaulted with a crowbar outside his office in 1985. Where Dosanjh has been courageous, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has not. When asked by the CBCs Terry Milewski, Singh refused to condemn Talwinder Singh Parmar, widely believed to be the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India bombing, the single deadliest mass murder in Canadian history. This is not Canadian politics as usual its a frightening flirtation with ethnic nationalism. And this style of pandering is not limited to Khalistani extremism. It is only the most recent example of the pernicious influence of diaspora grievances seeping into our national political life and our political parties are all too willing to play along. After all, playing along yields votes, and a motivated ethnic base can tip the balance in swing ridings. This is not another case of harmless politicking. Instead of treating these communities as unhyphenated Canadians, our parties are pandering to the politics of grievance grievance that has everything to do with ancestral conflicts and nothing to do with Canada. Political parties then reward community leaders with plum posts and seats in our legislatures. During Decembers historic protests in Iran, the Trudeau governments silence was deafening. The notable exception was MP and regime apologist Majid Jowhari, who callously suggested oppressed Iranians appeal to their elected government the same one beating them in the streets. He expected brownie points, but he didnt count on his constituents integrity: they condemned him for his cowardice. We used to decry the two solitudes. Yet today we risk 100 solitudes. The very notion of common citizenship is becoming a relic of the past getting smaller in our rearview mirror. We cannot allow it to disappear. Newcomers once yearned to leave their cultural baggage at the airport and become full, unhyphenated Canadians. A strong and shared Canadian identity was not viewed as colonial or racist but as the promise of a new beginning after harrowing experiences in ravaged homelands. In pandering to ancestral conflicts and prejudices, our politicians are doing a great disservice to new Canadians. They are robbing them of the full richness of the Canadian experience: the deep and meaningful rootedness that comes from shared values steeped in history, and a shared commitment to writing the next pages of that history together. Chesterton once wrote, The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost. Canada has no claim to immortality. As our glib politicians parade around in foreign dress smiling for tomorrows newspapers, Canadians suffer silently as the sinews of our shared citizenship erode. Such issues will undoubtedly provoke discomfort in our tranquil northern Dominion, but we must summon the courage and nerve to address them. In so doing, we must never yield to the demons of divisiveness but aspire to be nation-builders embodying the spirit of generosity, sacrifice and audacity that has defined us in our finest moments. It is time we listen to the words of Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Canada first, Canada last, Canada always. Karim Jivraj is a past candidate for Parliament and represented the Conservative Party of Canada at debates on Canadian identity, citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism. He lives and works in Calgary. Read more about: It is the early 1900s. Mass production has made cars widely available. The public loves the convenience. But there are unintended consequences: accidents, fatalities, property damage, traffic jams, pollution. A political backlash emerges. The public demands new rules and protections. These are initially resisted by manufacturers but as they are enacted the automobile becomes central to society, largely free from lawsuits, scandals and reputational damage. Fast-forward to today and this is roughly where we are with personal data on the internet. As a technologist and entrepreneur using artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data, I have a keen interest in this issue. The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal is a 21st-century car crash for companies using personal data. It may mark a turning point as significant as the first drunk-driving law, imposed by the State of New York in 1910. There are two parts to this story. The first has implications for Facebook and its founder; the second, for everybody else. First, Facebooks poor security allowed access to 50 million unauthorized profiles, which it seems were unlawfully acquired by Cambridge Analytica. This has been the focus of almost all the recent reporting, because it has all the characteristics of a juicy scandal. Second, and most critically, Cambridge Analytica used Facebooks standard advertising tools to contact its targeted audience without their consent or knowledge which is exactly what the Russian intelligence services also did. In both cases, the central issue is the relationship between online activity and privacy. All major online advertising platforms (Facebook, Google, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) provide tools for micro-targeting individuals. Thousands of third-party tools make this even easier. Content can be segmented by users location, age, gender, language, interactions, interests, site visits etc., based on their online footprints. Selling a product be it a movie, T-shirt or political candidate means influencing behaviour. A marketer first chooses a target audience, then the channel(s) to present the product. Cambridge Analytica provided similar services to political campaigns: identifying the potential audience by acquiring and processing digital footprints (in legally questionable ways), then micro-targeting using tools openly available. The potential for mischief with digital footprints was signalled by many commentators, including a March 2013 report by Cambridge Universitys Psychometrics Centre in collaboration with Microsoft Research. The report concluded: that digital records of behaviour, Facebook Likes, can be used to automatically and accurately predict a range of highly sensitive personal attributes including: sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious and political views, personality traits, intelligence, happiness, use of addictive substances, parental separation, age, and gender ... As with the automobile, Big Data and AI can deliver intended and unintended consequences. They can bring convenience or invade privacy both to an unprecedented extent. Amazon selects personalized products; Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the most appealing posts; Apple and Netflix, music and videos all on the basis of internet footprints. But data and tools in the wrong hands, or insufficiently secured, can lead to unexpected and ethically problematical results. Moreover, recent political and regulatory changes (e.g. the FCCs deregulation of net neutrality) make it even easier for providers to access, combine and process behavioural data. In some jurisdictions, they can then sell it on. As business focuses on the bottom line, ethics and privacy have become the victims of the new wave of digital technology. Regulation needs to catch up with technology. Just as governments implemented laws to control road safety, and auto companies were forced to install seatbelts, the internet needs its own robust regulatory architecture. The central issue that needs to be addressed is a clear definition of rights versus responsibilities: individual rights concerning digital footprints and privacy, and companies responsibilities in using the information they collect. One example is the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation, which requires that consent for use be freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous, and with a clear statement of agreement. This kind of clear regulation benefits technology companies as well as consumers. The quicker there is a consistent regulatory framework on privacy and online activity, the sooner the online public and the companies that serve it will be able to trust one another again. Aidin Tavakkol is the CEO and co-founder of LimeSpot, a company that uses patented AI technology to help online stores deliver personalized experiences to shoppers and thereby increase sales. Read more about: The punishment of David Christopherson, a New Democrat MP who last week voted his conscience in defiance of his party, is an example of party discipline run amok. Christopherson was reportedly warned by NDP officials not to support a Conservative motion, of no legal consequence, condemning controversial new rules for organizations seeking a federal summer-jobs grant. Applying groups must now attest that their mandate respects the Charter of Rights, including abortion rights a requirement some have said is an infringement on freedom of belief. On principle, Christopherson ignored his party, as he has rarely done in his nearly three decades as a legislator, and voted to denounce the rules. If the law is an ass, you have right to say so, he later said. You dont have to bow and scrape and commit fealty. For this little rebellion, it seems, he was stripped of his job as deputy chair of the powerful procedure and House affairs committee, despite his reputation for being exceptionally knowledgeable about the rules of Parliament. I was warned that there would be consequences and that shoe has now dropped, Christopherson said. On the substance of the summer-jobs issue, Christopherson has a point. As the Star has previously argued, instead of focusing on what applicant groups would do with the grant money, the government has made an issue of what these organizations believe. Moreover, in doing so, it handed a PR victory to anti-abortion militants, right-wingers and religious groups eager to spread fear that the Liberals are out to ban conservative beliefs. The governments commitment to reproductive rights is admirable, as Christopherson himself agrees. But its not at all clear that the summer-jobs policy is actually helping that cause. In any case, whatever one thinks of this controversy, surely Christophersons rebuke constitutes a blow to democracy. As an MP, its your duty to manage the tensions between representing your party and its platform, representing your constituency and representing your conscience. Yet too often in modern politics, parties (all of them) demand MPs toe the line in every case, leaving no room for the concerns of local voters or individual representatives; no room for the sort of debate or dissent on which democracy thrives. There are of course legitimate reasons to whip a vote. On issues core to a partys platform, discipline makes sense; voters have a right to know that a party will deliver what it promised on the campaign trail. And surely party leaders have a responsibility to demand their representatives cast votes consistent with the Charter. But constraints beyond that are constraints on democracy itself, relegating MPs to what the political scientist Alex Marland calls mere brand ambassadors. Thats not how parliamentary democracy is supposed to work. Christopherson is not denying a womans right to choose, nor is he standing against any of the social democratic values that presumably make a New Democrat a New Democrat. Rather, he is making a case, on the basis of those very values, for freedom of belief. His is the sort of dissent a party should be careful to accommodate, not punish. Reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and other Canadians will be a long journey, one that consists of many steps, both large and small. One modest but powerfully symbolic step that should be taken this year is making it possible for Indigenous members of Parliament to speak their own languages in the House of Commons, and be sure that other MPs will understand. Romeo Saganash, a New Democrat who represents a northern Quebec riding, has been pushing for this since he was elected in 2011. Saganash addressed the Commons Procedure and Affairs Committee last week in his native Cree, and urged the House to make it possible for him and others to speak Indigenous languages and have them translated into English and French. A Commons committee is finally studying the issue, and it should open the way for First Nations MPs to address Parliament in their languages and have them properly translated. Saganash calls it a constitutional and human right. Beyond that, it would be an important recognition of the historical role of Indigenous peoples in Canada and a gesture of respect for their culture and heritage. It would allow First Nations MPs to speak out in their own voices and be fully understood. The objections to taking such a step are mostly practical. More than 60 Indigenous languages are spoken in Canada, so a host of questions arise. Which languages should be used? Are there enough translators? And, of course, how much would all this cost? These are real issues. But if the political will is there, they can be overcome. For one thing, there wont be a demand to use all Indigenous languages right away. There are now just 10 Indigenous MPs (out of 338) and they could be asked to indicate in advance which languages they might want to speak. Another MP who has pushed on this issue, Liberal Robert-Falcon Ouellette of Winnipeg Centre riding, has suggested the Commons might start with five to 10 Indigenous interpreters able to handle the languages most commonly spoken in Canada: Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut. MPs might also be required to give some notice say, 48 hours of their intention to address the House in an Indigenous language. That would provide time to arrange for translation services. And the cost? Parliament now spends $5.9 million a year for simultaneous translation in English and French, something we take for granted. As Ouellette told CBC News recently, adding Indigenous languages would cost less than the $5.6 million Parliament happily spent to operate a skating rink on the Hill for a few weeks this past winter. Facilitating the use of more languages should not be daunting. The Senate successfully ran a pilot project in 2009 to translate Inuktitut and Commons committees have used it during hearings in the north. Other legislatures manage to use multiple languages. The European Parliament, for example, provides full translation services in its 24 official languages. Finally, giving Indigenous languages full recognition in Parliament would help to support them at a time when many are endangered. Making these languages more visible would be a concrete gesture toward ensuring their survival. Language has always been at the heart of Canadian identity and ensuring that both English and French flourish in our most important political institutions has been key to national unity. Extending this principle to Indigenous languages would be both logical and just. The House of Commons has a perfect opportunity to walk the talk on reconciliation. It should not let the moment pass. In a good year, Ontarios annual budget lasts for 12 months. But a pre-election budget is unlike any other. With voting day just weeks away, Wednesdays budget may have a remarkably short shelf life with June 7 its best-before date. This budget is merely a blueprint, to be rewritten and reincarnated as the campaign platform for the governing Liberals later matched by countervailing promises from the opposition parties. The opposition Progressive Conservatives were first off the mark last November with The Peoples Guarantee, but it was invalidated when Doug Ford took over as leader this month vowing to demolish and rebuild the platform. The NDP is also cobbling together election pledges focused on health care, notably pharmacare and denticare, that will find an echo in the Liberal promises. But will any of this matter to the voting public? While public servants toil in obscurity to make the numbers add up, and party strategists perform their political calculus to move the needle, the correlation between fiscal acuity and popularity remains unproven. David Lindsay has sat on both sides of the political divide, as a non-partisan deputy minister working for a Liberal government (under Dalton McGuinty), and as a partisan chief of staff working for a Tory premier (Mike Harris) in the 1990s. Despite helping to author the Common Sense Revolution that propelled the PCs to power in 1995, Lindsay wonders how much the fine print matters. Dont worry they dont read it, they just weigh it, a party strategist once quipped to Lindsay, he recalled at a panel discussion on Policy Wars that I moderated at Ryersons Faculty of Arts this month. All they want to know is youve got a plan, he mused. Elections are not the time to talk about the nuances of policy. Lindsay, a wise policy wonk who now heads the Council of Ontario Universities, assuredly reads the fine print of both budgets and platforms. But his humorous caution is a reminder that its easy for insiders to get lost in the weeds, which surely matter but rarely get much notice until its too late. Jamison Steeve, a political staffer who served as McGuintys principal secretary overseeing policy, argued that policy platforms and the budgets that precede them are increasingly seen as a contractual undertaking or job application by a party seeking power. As a policy guy, I want to see what happens between budget day (March 28) and the writ drop (campaign kick-off on May 9), he told the audience. Read more: Opinion | Adam Kassam: Ontario election will be won or lost on health care Opinion | Jaime Watt: Andrea Horwath must be the peoples champion Editorial | A civil election campaign is vital to encourage women in politics And judging by Liberal plans to go let the budget drop back into deficit, he sees the party in power trying to reposition itself. If theres populism happening on the right, theres going to be an attempt at an articulation of what populism on the centre-left looks like, said Steeve, who now heads the Martin Prosperity Institute. Shelly Jamieson, who headed the non-partisan public service under McGuinty, noted that civil servants are kept at more of a distance in an election year. Pre-election budgets are different than any other budgets in any other years, and the civil service is less involved, she told the audience. This one is different because it is likely their platform, and they hold it close to the chest, as they should. But the interaction between political staff, non-partisan civil servants, and cabinet ministers is a delicate dance. Reflecting on their different perches, the three panelists recalled how they had to behave like magicians at times. As cabinet secretary, Jamieson said she needed the ability to see around corners, mindful of the long term, while political players often focussed on short term turnarounds. Part of that process is preparing for a transition of government if there is a change of power after an election like the one coming up. Jamieson said she assigned three teams of non-partisan staff to monitor the platform pronouncements of the three rival parties so that the civil service could anticipate their needs and compile briefing books for the incoming cabinet to act on, whomever won. And she suspects the current cabinet secretary, Steve Orsini, is overseeing a similar degree of anticipation and preparation now. Orsini will be up to that right now and working away on it, she said. There is preparation that is really excellent. But what happens if a new party takes power with ideas that are not just undesirable, but unworkable? How does a public servant speak truth to power? Theres good policy and theres good politics, and sometimes they overlap and sometimes they dont, Lindsay said. You fearlessly advise, and then you faithfully execute. They are the decision makers. At which point Jamieson interjected, on behalf of public servants: And if you forget that, youre unemployed. Such are the perils of public service, but the risks for political staff at the hands of voters are no less, recalled Lindsay, having performed both roles: Ive been fired several times by the people of Ontario. Martin Regg Cohn is a columnist based in Toronto covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @reggcohn Read more about: How pleasant it is to be in Canada, land of restitution, brief umbrage, total apologies, minor differences, peace, order, a government trying very hard to be good, and free speech as long as it isnt rude. Im not saying Canada doesnt have huge problems the suffering of Indigenous people, a changing climate, and inadequate health care being three but compared to the bedlam south of the border where, as James Baldwin said of race, to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time, were a haven of petty disagreements. Canadians quarrel, or are egged on to quarrel by plodding Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer whose slogan seems to be I am not Mister Fancy. Well, no one said you were. It seems unreal that anyone would care about Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus socks, or deplore young people for asking him for selfies, or complain that tax dollars cannot be spent on anti-abortion campaigning by religionists, or that government forms say Parents 1 and 2 instead of mother and father. As Luke Gordon Field, editor-in-chief of the Beaverton, says, This is the kind of s--t you get upset about when Donald Trump isnt your president. They are Boring Ottawa Pundit Quarrels, the type of thing that sails past the average Canadian coping with jobs, mortgages and current crushing child care costs (thanks, Premier Wynne). Most people are too busy praying they never leave their child in a hot car. What the PM wore on a visit to India doesnt really register either, although it matters to CBC commenters, who think all Indian clothing is funny-looking. It is a negligible thing, the kind of squabble youd have with your next-door neighbour who planted a hedge out of spite, which results in you muttering snidely when you shovel your driveway but you know, its a nice hedge and yes, I clip it for them because why not. I see I test your patience. Back to my point, which is that in Canada small issues fill the room while huge issues wait outside. All politics is local, which means important matters like pipelines dont have much traction outside B.C. and Alberta. Yet the Conservatives are still harping on what presents the Trudeau family and the Aga Khan exchanged at Christmas; a sweater and an overnight bag. I blame social media oligarchs who made local problems domestic, then personal, then internal, until we became part of what I call the Hinge Community. I learned this from a clever @acarboni tweet: Me: *watches a single YouTube tutorial so I can fix my door hinge* YouTube: WHATS UP, HINGE-LOVER? HERE ARE THE TOP 1000 VIDEOS FROM THE HINGER COMMUNITY THIS WEEK. CHECK OUT THIS TRENDING HINGE CONTENT FROM ENGAGING HINGEFLUENCERS This happens. I tried to cover my brass fireplace doors with black metal barbecue paint because I am my own woman/too stingy to buy new doors. It didnt go well of course and I spent $1,500 on new black ones. Anyway, I am now an involuntary member of the Rustoleum Community. Could any community be tinier? Yes, the emerging Topsheet Community, which posits that you dont need one under the duvet vs. clean decent people who wash both sheets once a week. Millions of such communities are at each others throats online. In the meantime, climate changes brings drought and flood, John Bolton wants a war, possibly a nuclear one with North Korea, or Iran, or both, and huge revolting carpets of stinkbugs are invading Toronto homes, brought to North America on a Chinese pallet. Canada needs a smart, calm, globally acute and internationally minded prime minister to face all this. But absurd unreliable polls seized on by the Ottawa Quarrellers suggest his popularity is falling, though theyre not sure why. What tiny interest has he offended? Is it a surge of angry men? Who wear only black socks because that way you never have to match them? Does the Androgynous Community in its Zuckerberg-grey T-shirts object to the shalwar kameez? We may have sliced our attention so finely that we can no longer encompass global or national issues at all. We may be entertaining ourselves to the point of extinction. hmallick@thestar.ca Read more about: Large-bank stocks, as tracked by the PowerShares KBW Bank Portfolio, tumbled 8.3% in their biggest loss since January 2016. Bank of America Corp. (BAC) - Get Bank of America Corp Report and other financial-company stocks rebounded from their worst week in two years, as concerns eased that the U.S. might face a full-blown trade war with China, the world's second-largest economy. The PowerShares KBW Bank Portfolio (KBWB) - Get Invesco KBW Bank ETF Report , an exchange-traded fund tracking shares of large U.S. banks, rose 2% Monday, outpacing a 1.1% rise in the broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index of U.S. stocks. Last week, the bank-focused ETF fell 8.3% in the biggest drop since January 2016, as President Donald Trump announced $50 billion of tariffs on Chinese imports. Stocks tumbled last week on concern that Trump's tariffs might lead to retaliation from China's leaders, potentially escalating into a trade war that could damp global economic growth. The largest U.S. banks are big providers of finance for imports and exports, and their overall lending and trading businesses are closely tied to the health of the global economy. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox News on Sunday that the Trump administration is in talks with the Chinese to resolve disagreements over trade. Among the largest banks, Bank of America rallied the most, with a 2.3% gain Monday following a 9.3% drop last week. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) - Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Report , the biggest U.S. bank, rose 2.1% after falling 7.3% last week. And Citigroup Inc. (C) - Get Citigroup Inc. Report rose 1.1% following a 7.6% slide last week. Year-to-date, bank stocks are still beating the broader market, with the PowerShares ETF down 1.1% in 2018, versus a 2.3% decline for the S&P 500. Bye-bye John Cryan? Deutsche Bank (DB) - Get Deutsche Bank AG Report shares rose the most in three weeks Tuesday following a report in London's Times newspaper that suggested Germany's biggest lender is sounding out candidates to replace embattled CEO John Cryan. The Times said Richard Gnodde, who heads Goldman Sachs's GS international operations, was approached by the bank, as were Standard Chartered plc CEO Bill Winters and UniCredit SpA boss Jean-Pierre Mustier. Deutsche Bank declined to comment on the story, which quoted a source as saying the relationship between Cryan and the bank's chairman, Paul Achleitner, is "broken", when contacted Tuesday by TheStreet. "Cryan may be a good person, but he's not the right guy on top of Deutsche Bank," said Stefan Mueller, who heads the German Institute for Asset and Equity Allocation and Valuation, in an interview with Bloomberg Tuesday. ""I think the main problem at Deutsche Bank is Paul Achleitner, he implemented all these CEOs in the last years." Deutsche Bank shares were marked 2.33% higher in Frankfurt Tuesday, the biggest gain since March 7 and a move that trims its year-to-date decline to 26.1% The stock has been under pressure for more than two years, however, as profit and revenues at its investment banking unit continue to disappoint and shareholders question Cryan's turnaround efforts following a $7.2 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016 and a $9 billion capital injection in March of last year. Tensions were further heightened by the bank's decision earlier this month to pay more than $3 billion in employee bonuses for the 2017 fiscal year, despite a 23% fall in the lender's stock price and the lender's third consecutive net loss. The 2017 bonus payout of 2.3 billion ($2.83 billion) tops the 546 billion payout from the previous year and comes after a $9 billion capital injection last March and consistent speculation that Cryan's tenure at the helm of Germany's biggest bank could be under threat from unhappy investors who have been waiting for his turnaround plans to bear fruit. "I recognize that this decision was highly contentious for many given the reported net loss in 2017," Cryan said in a letter to shareholders. "If we want to live up to our claim of being the leading European bank with a global network, we have to invest in our employees so that we can continue to provide the best solutions for our clients. In the interests of the bank we could not repeat our previous decision not to pay any individual variable compensation to most of our senior staff for 2016." Its problems have been compounded by both a reported leadership spat between Cryan and chairman Achleitner and a three-year run of annual losses that have shaken investor faith in one of Europe's biggest banks. Last month, Hainan Jiaoguan Holding Co., better known as HNA, cut its stake to 8.8% from a previous holding of 9.9% and fell below the Qatari royal family as Deutsche Bank's biggest investor. Is the tech sector all better? Tech led the market higher on Monday, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) - Get Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund Report rebounding 3.8%. Two industries led this bounce: Software. That's not surprising, as the tech world's big cloud names weren't truly all that subject to Chinese revenue risk in the first place. Red Hat RHT) - ) - Get Red Hat, Inc. Report Semiconductors. These stocks reacted very well to news that the U.S. and Chinese governments are trying to hug it out on trade. We should also get more news from the semis on Tuesday, as Action Alerts Plus holding Nvidia (NVDA) - Get NVIDIA Corporation Report hosts the 9th annual GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, Calif. As host, Nvidia has the privilege of having its CEO Jensen Huang give the conference's keynote address at noon ET Tuesday. There will be an approximate 20,000 people in attendance, including everyone who's anyone in the fields of autonomous driving, virtual reality, robotics, graphics, gaming and artificial intelligence. Let's check out Nvidia's chart ahead of the speech: Now, it's not often that a chart leaves so little open to interpretation. True, Nvidia's Relative Strength Index (RSI), daily Moving Average Convergence Divergence oscillator (MACD) and Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) leave ample room for improvement in the short-to-medium term. But the stock seems to regularly obey flat-line Fibonacci models and offers almost-strict adherence to the same Andrews' Pitchfork model that we placed on this chart many months back. What we see overall is a name that, like its group, came off of suspected support Monday as if rising from a trampoline. Another positive development is a series of seven consecutive higher lows, coupled with a series of three consecutive higher highs (though just barely so). Keep in mind that NVDA's Chinese exposure represents 18.9% of the company's revenue, so there's real danger there. That said, if President Trump and Chinese President Xi play nice in the sandbox, this stock could from a technical perspective trade above $270 in May vs. its close Monday at $244.48. However, the other side of the coin would be if the Pitchfork model broke. That could allow Nvidia to fall to the Fibonacci line at $226. How might we play this? Well, April 20 Nvidia puts with a $225 strike price closed last night at $3.54 despite a strike that was $19 dollars below where the stock finished the day. So in my opinion, it's safer to buy $265 April 20 calls for $2.79. At the time of publication, Guilfoyle was long NVDA, although positions may change at any time. The company said the move was a response to the fatal incident involving an Uber self-driving car last week in Arizona. Chipmaker Nvidia's (NVDA) - Get NVIDIA Corporation Report shares fell sharply on Tuesday afternoon after the company confirmed that it's temporarily halting its self-driving car tests on public roads following a fatal crash involving an autonomous vehicle test by Uber last week in Arizona. In a statement to CNBC, Action Alerts Plus holding Nvidia said that "ultimately [autonomous vehicles] will be far safer than human drivers, so this important work needs to continue. We are temporarily suspending the testing of our self-driving cars on public roads to learn from the Uber incident." The chipmaker noted that its global fleet of manually driven vehicles that are collecting data continues to operate. The news was first reported by Reuters and attributed to an unnamed source at Nvidia's annual GPU conference being held in San Jose, California this week. The stock of Nvidia, one of the leaders in developing autonomous vehicle technology and chips, fell 7.8% to $225.52 on the news. Year to date, it's still up close to 17% and over the last 12 months, it's up 109%. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gave a keynote at the conference to discuss the company's latest news and advancements around artificial intelligence, deep learning, self-driving cars and an array of other technology trends. ALTON An aldermanic committee Monday moved along the citys process of establishing the Alton Square Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area by casting three sets of votes. The Committee of the Whole voted 6-1 each time to recommend the following resolutions: to approve the Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Alton Square Mall Redevelopment Project Area; designates the project area; and adopts tax increment financing for the redevelopment project area. Alderman Michael Velloff, 3rd Ward, voted no on each resolution. Several times he has questioned wisdom of providing more money to the owner which already receives receipts from a special sales tax at the mall in light of mall closings in the St. Louis area. The resolutions will be up for votes of approval at Wednesdays City Council meeting, then return in ordinance form for first and second readings and final votes. The next step would be for Alton to notify Madison County that the Council passed the ordinances. The county, then, would certify the most current property values. Greg Caffey, Alton director of development and housing, said the city then would negotiate with owner Alton Mall LLC, (Hull Property Group) of Augusta, Georgia, so as to come up with a redevelopment agreement. The agreement, subject to council approval, would spell out what work the city would be willing to reimburse, and by how much. The City Council previously approved a resolution allowing Alton to reimburse some of the $315,000 cost of the recent Macys building demolition despite the TIF not being in place at the time. Caffey, though, said officials have not set a dollar amount or provided any money for the tear-down also subject to aldermanic approval. The city is establishing the district to generate additional funding for Hull to renovate the circa 1978 mall. The owner also is hoping to attract businesses to occupy a 110,000-square-foot strip mall that would be constructed on the footprint of the former, attached Macys/Famous-Barr building. Caffey said Hull also tentatively plans to renovate the second floor of the mall. Hull has told city officials that it cannot make its estimated, $26.2 million in planned improvements which continue evolving without TIF money and other assistance. The first resolution spells out the TIF progress to date, as required by state statute. Among those steps, the Joint Review Board, comprised of representatives from the affected taxing bodies and one representative from the public, recommended the plan Jan. 17. Among the boards reasons for recommending the project, according to its report, is that the mall is in a conservation area; more than half the buildings are more than 35 years old; the plan has appropriate documentation on estimated redevelopment project costs and evidence that the area has not been subject to growth and development through investment by private enterprise; it is not reasonable to anticipate the area would be developed without adopting the plan; and it would remove conditions that may lead to blight and thereby enhance the tax bases of the taxing districts. A TIF district lasts 23 years, unless the municipality extends its lifetime. Once a TIF district is established, the assessed value of properties within the boundaries is set, creating a base. As properties are developed or improved, their equalized assessed valuations (EAV) increase, resulting in incremental, higher amounts of property taxes. The tax increment, or additional revenue garnered between the base and new property value (EAV) is placed into a special, restricted TIF account. The city then may use that money to reimburse businesses and developers for certain property improvements related to economic improvement within that district. At outset of the meeting, Dale Neudecker founder and former, 30-year chairman of Bucket Brigade urged aldermen to stroll through their wards and locate houses that the Pride Inc. committee could paint for free May 12, if they meet criteria. We would like to spruce up your ward, he said. We would like five houses from every one of your wards. In other meeting business, the committee unanimously recommended resolutions allowing officials to: pursue legal means to effect demolition of houses at 1107 W. Ninth St. and 615 Sering Ave.; pay everyday expenses until the Council approves a 2018-19 budget, with the fiscal year ending Saturday; and terminate a 2009 lease on a vacant lot at 1321 E. Fifth St. Reach Linda N. Weller at 618-208-6450 or on Twitter @Linda_Weller BETHALTO 1st MidAmerica Credit Union will be presenting a free seminar on retirement income planning on Thursday, April 5. At the event, attendees will explore when to begin retirement, how long retirement will last and the type of retirement lifestyle desired. The seminar will also cover how to estimate the amount of savings needed for retirement. All are welcome at this informative seminar, but space is limited. Call 618-258-3168 ext. 1459 or email RSVP@1stMidAmeirca.org to reserve your seat. As part of 1st MidAmericas commitment to financial education, several seminars are held throughout the year and cover various topics such as cyber security and identity theft and improving credit. All seminars are free to the public. Visit https://www.1stmidamerica.org/home.html for future seminar dates. 1st MidAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that currently serves more than 65,000 members through 13 Illinois branches in Illinois and Missouri, with a mission of exceeding member expectations. Membership is open to residents of 21 counties in central Illinois and one county in western Missouri. For more information about 1st MidAmerica Credit Union visit www.1stMidAmerica.org. Were now in the middle of Holy Week, the last week of Lent, which includes the holy days Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. This interval commemorates the Last Supper, Jesus betrayal by Judas, His crucifixion and burial. These are the most somber days on the Christian calendar. While I commiserate with my Christian friends as they recall the suffering of Jesus, I find myself also saddened for an entirely different reason. The late Dr. Stanley Kimball, one of my old professors at SIUE, once told us that 90 percent of anti-Semitism could be attributed to the charge that Jews are Christ-killers. Proponents of this accusation use certain scripture quotations, many of them associated with Holy Week, to buttress their case. Which scriptures? There are a number of passages in the New Testament that anti-Semites utilize. Matthew 27: 24-25 records Pilate ceremonially washing his hands and then telling the Jews, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Matthew then depicts the Jews responding, His blood be on us, and on our children. These words, anti-Semites have argued for centuries, places the responsibility for Jesus death squarely on the shoulders of all Jews. Some verses in John are equally inflammatory. Chapter 19, verse 7 records the Jews telling Pilate, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. That verse as well as John 19: 15 place the responsibility for Jesus death squarely on the shoulders of the Jews. But they (the Jews) cried, Away with Him, away with Him. Crucify Him! When Pilate asks whether he should crucify their king, The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Acts of the Apostles 2:36 records Peter, regarded by Catholics as the first pope, telling a crowd, Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Paul joined Matthew, John and Peter in blaming the Jews for Jesus death. In I Thessalonians 2:14-15, Paul wrote that the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men. Such New Testament passages fueled Christian persecution of Jews for centuries. Some progress has been made, however. Mainline Protestant churches reject the Christ-killer accusation. The Roman Catholic Church in 1965 formally repudiated the charge that Jews are collectively responsible for Jesus death. The Orthodox Church, however, has not followed suit. Its Holy Thursday liturgy includes a passage that castigates the murderers of God, the lawless nation of Jews. The liturgy also implores God to give the Jews their reward, because they devised vain things against Thee. The words their reward can be construed as sanctioning persecution of Jews for killing Christ. A 2013 poll conducted by the Anti-Defamation League found that 26 percent of Americans believe Jews are responsible for killing Jesus. Kevin Sorbo, who starred in the Christian film Gods Not Dead, publicly stated in a 2014 interview that Jews were responsible for Jesus death. Okay, news bulletin: You did kill Jesus, Sorbo said. He expanded the accusation by stating that since Jews handed Jesus over to the Romans, they had a hand in it. This belief that Jews are responsible for killing Jesus has left a long, bloody swath through history. Too many Jews have suffered persecution and death at the hands of Christians, who were determined to avenge their Saviors murder. If youre a Christian, develop an alternative interpretation for those passages in Matthew, John, Acts and I Thessalonians. Literalism isnt always the best choice when approaching scripture. Remember Pauls admonition in II Corinthians 3:6 regarding the New Testament that the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. John J. Dunphy is the author of Lewis and Clarks Illinois Volunteers and Abolitionism and the Civil War in Southwestern Illinois. He owns The Second Reading Book Shop in Alton. Kate Middleton's go-to occasion wear designer Jenny Packham has debuted her newest wedding collection at London Bridal Week - showing a much edgier side than we're used to for the notably boho bridal house. Jumpsuits, co-ords, capes and bold leather biker jackets made their way into the usually soft and safe collection from Packham, adding an air of whimsy and showing her acknowledgement of a more fun, urban feel to current bridal trends. Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The collection is not without its glamour however. Glistening capes are one element to catch the eye in the 2019 offering - a stunning addition to any gown that's guaranteed to make the wearer feel like royalty (an alternative to the veil perhaps, Meghan?) - while delicate, flattering-for-any-figure wide round neck bejewelled bodices provide just enough glimmer to set off an A-line. Packham's penchant for the Gatsby era is present too, with plunging necklines and dazzling embellishments aplenty. Indeed the collection was inspired by a "glamourous, twilight society, their heady abandon and insouciant elegance fuelled by the hazy romance of a balmy summer's evening." We're predicting the popularity of the Dahlia (below) and the Alba for Irish brides, dresses which take their cue from Packham's most popular looks to date. But for us, the whole collection is a hit. A photo of a sunbather who refused to budge for a romantic wedding ceremony on the beach beside her has gone viral. The snap, taken on the Southern Australian white sandy beaches of Port Willunga, captures the moment a wedding party waits for the bride to arrive, about three feet away from a bikini-clad woman catching a few rays. "I wouldn't move either," said one commenter on the photo which has been shared by the international media since it was posted yesterday, " If the tanner was already there, plenty of op to set up elsewhere." "Maybe that WAS the bride," another poster suggested. Read More The photo shows the possible downside to having ones wedding ceremony in a public place like a beach or park - where members of the public are indeed free to continue going about their day-to-day business. We wonder couples be scratching that beach in Dalkey off the venue list after seeing this one?! While talks about Doklam might be heating up at the Line of Actual Control, on Tuesday, Union commerce and industries minister, Suresh Prabhu, was seen convincing his Chinese counterpart, minister Zhong Shan, on enhancing two-way trade relations, at the face of mounting trade deficit between the two economies. With China we have a huge trade deficit. Both sides agreed that the issue needs to be addressed and that China would prepare a roadmap on reducing trade deficit with India, said minister Prabhu, after the talks held by the Joint Group between India and China. The Joint Group is among the oldest dialogue mechanism that had existed between the two economies after the 1962-64 war. Addressing India's trade imbalance with China was taken up as the most important issue between the two countries at the Joint Group this time. The discussion included two-way trade relations, preparation of an action plan, greater focus on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and e-dialogue, a government statement said. Candid and effective discussions with India on trade relations can serve as the propeller for growth, not only between the two countries, but in the entire region, Shan said in a statement after the meeting. Lately, China has been concerned over the escalating regional conflicts in the Southeast Asian region, particularly in the South China sea. China is also concerned over a recent imposition of trade tariffs by the US on its steel and aluminum exports to the market. China seeks India's cooperation, along with other countries from the region to join in its outcry over the US trade imperialism. China and South Korea were among the largest exporters of steel and aluminum to the US markets, and now face a large impact due to the Trump administration's growing trade conservatism. The meeting of the Joint Group gains significance in that context and the breakfast meeting between the two ministers, turned out to be an icebreaker. India's commerce secretary Rita Teotia, her counterpart from the Chinese side and senior officials also meet along with other trade officials from both the countries at Prabhu's residence. After the meeting, both the ministers exuded confidence that China would be providing more market access to Indian investors and will invest in India to build industrial parks. Prabhu said in a media interaction after the meeting that India is likely to send a trade delegation to China shortly, and even Indian pharma companies could find a new market in China, subsequent to stricter drug pricing norms adopted in larger markets like the US and Europe. The Indian government may be keen on making hallmarking of jewellery mandatory but the industry body has raised several issues, including limited availability of hallmarking centres and limited number of categories of purity of gold, which it feels are speed bumps in implementing the move. Hallmarking will help consumers understand the quality of gold jewellery they buy. While several jewellers already sell hallmarked jewellery, the government wants to make it mandatory for all jewellers. Jewellery hallmarking has also been recommended by the NITI Aayog Panel on gold policy. In November 2017, Union consumer affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had told reporters that gold jewellery hallmarking may be done soon. However, that has not happened yet. Some suggest that the rules may be notified in the coming financial year. However, industry officials say the government must address the speed bumps first. The biggest concern is the limited number of hallmarking centres of the Bureau of Indian Standards, which will make it difficult for jewellers based in the far flung areas of the country to get their products hallmarked. It will not only be a logistical issue, but there will be security concerns as well in transporting the jewellery to the hallmarking centre. There are close to 600 districts in India. However, currently 500 hallmarking centres are there only in a few districts. Majority of the industry is unable to reach these centres and benefit from them. We need to expand hallmarking centres across the country, said Ashok Minawala, former chairman of the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF). As per the proposed rules for hallmarking of gold jewellery, there will be three categories of purity 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat. However, in some states 21 carat and 23 carat jewellery is also popular. Therefore, jewellers want clarity on that front too. Presently, there is a situation where only three purity categories are being addressed. That is creating a problem in certain states. For instance, in Maharashtra there is a huge sale of 23 carat gold jewellery, in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, there is a huge sale of 21 carat jewellery. In the South, there is 12 carat gold that is sold for stone studded jewellery. There are different purities of gold that need to be added so that the consumer doesn't need to change his preferences, said Minawala. Even as there is still an uncertainty, on when the mandatory norms will be notified by the government, GJF officials say they have already recommended jewellers to start work on the existing inventory, which may not yet be hallmarked, so that they will be ready from their end. The gems and jewellery industry has been rattled due to the alleged Rs 13,000 crore fraud by billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi at Punjab National Bank. Lenders have tightened credit availability to jewellers in the wake of the fraud, Nitin Khandelwal, GJF chairman had told THE WEEK earlier. Minawala said on Tuesday that the industry body has now sought a meeting with the banks to get the issues addressed. Business has been slow for jewellers in March. While Minawala says its always a case in March, due to the fiscal year-ending, he also feels that the fraud has created a mistrust about the industry among consumers. The expectation now is that sales will pick up around the festive auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya in April. India's gems and jewellery industry is currently expected to around Rs 4.50 lakh crore, and is expected to touch Rs 8 lakh crore by 2025, GJF estimates. GJF has announced a two-day conclave called Manthan next month, where several top executives from across industries will address jewellers. GJF hopes this event, which has been in the works for some time, will be useful to rejuvenate the jewellery industry and establish the integrity of the sector. Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie said on Tuesday that Congress was one of Cambridge Analytica's clients in India. But more importantly, it was revealed that OBI, the Indian partner of Cambridge Analytica, was working for Congress but were funded by an Indian-American billionaire who wanted "to see the defeat of Congress" in India. Paul-Oliver Dehaye, an IT expert giving evidence alongside Wylie, referred to an Indian media report on the company's activity in India. These revealations were made during Wylie's appearance as a witness before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of members of the British parliament at the Houses of Parliament in London on Tuesday. Wylie mentioned that Cambridge Analytica had others clients, too, in India, and that the company was involved in regional elections. Wylie confirmed that Cambridge Analytica, the controversial data analytics firm, has offices and employees in India. He has offered to "pass on the India files" on the topic to the committee as he appeared to be unsure of the information he could recollect. Cambridge Analyticas parent firm is Strategic Communications Laboratories (SCL). "The SCL India is a venture between Oveleno Business Intelligence, India and SCL Group, London," states the OBI website. "We carried out a psephological study and opinion polling for a national party to identify swing voters in 2012 Uttar Pradesh elections," OBI lists in its list of 'past experience'. Cambridge Analytica is at the heart of the data theft controversy for allegedly harvesting personal profiles of more than 50 million Facebook users to sway election campaign in favour of US President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election campaign. The company was hired by the Trump side to manage its election campaign. While Cambridge Analytica denied the allegations, the media reports have caused concerns across the globe with law enforcement authorities from the US and the UK summoning Cambridge Analytica and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg. The ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka on Tuesday welcomed the single-phase Assembly polls on May 12, while regional party JD(S) termed it a setback. "The JD(S) had requested the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the polls in two or three phases, as we are a regional party with limited number of campaign leaders. "It is very difficult for us as a regional party. Single-phase polls is a setback for us," JD(S) state spokesman Ramesh Babu told IANS in Bengaluru. Single-phase polling for the 15th 225-member assembly will be held on May 12 and the votes counted on May 15, the EC announced on Tuesday. BJP President Amit Shah, who is on a two-day tour in central Karnataka, expressed confidence over a poll victory. "The BJP welcomes the poll announcement. We are confident that we will form the next government in Karnataka under the leadership of (BJP state pPresident) B.S. Yeddyurappa," Shah told the media in Davanagere, about 260km northwest from Bengaluru. Congress state unit chief G. Parameshwara said the party was election-ready. "The Congress welcomes the EC's (poll) announcement... we are election ready," tweeted Parameshwara. The JD(S) spokesman ruled out any pre-poll tie-up of the party with the BJP or the Congress. "The JD(S) is very clear in the matter (over alliance with other parties) that it wants to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and Congress," Babu said. "Both parties are two sides of the same coin, not caring about the people and farmers of Karnataka," he said. In the 225-member assembly, including one nominated, there are currently 122 members from the ruling Congress, 43 from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 30 from the Janata Dal(Secular), eight Independents, 14 vacant seats, with a few others from regional parties. Of the 224 assembly constituencies, 36 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes. A total of 4.96 crore electors have been registered in the southern state with the poll panel so far. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who suggested forging a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in national politics, on Tuesday said the alternative being proposed by him would be a 'people's front of India'. "Ultimately, it's a people's front of India" and not merely an amalgam of a few political parties, he said in the Legislative Assembly during the debate on the Appropriation Bills, 2018. Saying that people are not satisfied with the way things are in the country, he said a "Qualitative change needs to come about in politics and governance." "China, which was behind India in development earlier, has now marched ahead of our country," he said and also referred to the tremendous progress made by Japan. Favouring transfer of various subjects from the Centre to the states as against centralisation of powers, he asked why departments like health, agriculture, rural development and urban development should remain with the Centre. Rao had met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata recently to discuss the plans for evolving a coalition of regional parties. On the issue of expulsion of two Congress members for their alleged unruly behaviour during the governor's address to the joint sitting of the legislature, he said the government would be tough in ensuring decorum in the House. The chief minister said Telangana has made rapid progress in the last four years since its formation and the state government is implementing numerous development and welfare schemes, which are unparalleled in the country. "The state contributed substantially to the Central funds and there is no kindness shown by the Centre towards the state in devolution of funds," Rao said. The government plans to conduct health tests for all the people in Telangana annually like the way private citizens in the United States get their medical check-up done every year, he said. "If it is to be put in one line, (it would be called) health profile of Telangana state. Each person will be given a health card. (We are) bringing out such a scheme. It takes time," Rao said. The state government is making efforts to develop airstrips at six places in the state, he said. The international airport in Hyderabad has made impressive progress in terms of the number of flights landing and taking off and air traffic, he said. The GSDP, per capita income, of Telangana is more than the national average and the state is faring better than other states on different counts, Rao said. The state is ranked number one in ease of doing business, the chief minister claimed. Opposition floor leader G. Kishan Reddy of BJP highlighted the alleged failures and shortcomings of the state government. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left for New Delhi on Monday, saying she would be meeting the leaders of several opposition parties during her four-day visit to the national capital. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo left for New Delhi in the evening. She is scheduled to attend a meeting of the opposition parties, convened by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, in the national capital. At the airport, she told reporters that it was a "routine visit". "The Central Hall is a famous hall, where I will meet the leaders of my party and if the leaders of other parties want to meet me, I welcome them. We are all friends," she said. A strident critic of the BJP-led central government and its policies, Banerjee had recently called for unity among all the anti-BJP forces to defeat the saffron party in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. On whether she would be meeting UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during her visit to New Delhi, the chief minister said, "She is hospitalised. Let her recover. I do not want to disturb her." Asked whether she would be meeting Pawar, Banerjee said, "We (TMC) have 46 MPs (including 12 Rajya Sabha members) there. Sometimes I get the opportunity to go there and meet them. I have worked as an MP for seven terms and I know many leaders and MPs of several political parties." Pawar has called a meeting of all the opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, to discuss the strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. NCP leader Praful Patel had met Banerjee earlier this month here and invited her to attend the meet. The TMC chief had also met TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, who called on her to discuss the process of setting up a federal front against the BJP-led government at the Centre. The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the May 31 deadline for the ongoing process of publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam in the wake of panchayat elections in the state, saying the polls should not become an impediment. The top court, however, spared the additional deputy commissioner rank officer, currently engaged in NRC updation work, for the local bodies elections scheduled next month. "We have already said that the deadline for updation of NRC is May 31 and the next 30 days for cross-checking of data till June 30. It can't go beyond that and complete final draft should be ready by then. You deploy your surplus employees or request neighbhouring states, but no employee engaged in NRC work can be spared or disturbed," a bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and R.F. Nariman said. The bench's remark came after the state government said the panchayat elections were due next month and urged that the employees engaged in NRC work be allowed to be deployed for the polls. The NRC is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam. The bench said it had no intention to interfere with the panchayat polls in the state and it should be held as per schedule. But the polls shall not become impediment in the work of NRC, it added. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Assam, told the court that as per the Panchayat Constitution Rules of the state, deputy commissioner is responsible for the elections but he was currently engaged in NRC work. "When we asked the deputy commissioner to work for polls, the state coordinator of NRC Prateek Hajela said it will be contempt of court as no officer can be engaged in any other work," he said. To this, the bench said if there was a statutory requirement, then the additional deputy commissioners of each district can be spared for the local bodies' election, but no other official can be allowed to do any other job, except NRC updation. The bench asked all state governments, railways, banks, CBSE, UIDAI and ministry of external affairs to assist the NRC officials in verification of the records in the stipulated period. Mehta said if the panchayat elections are delayed in Assam, then the state will lose a grant of Rs 1,000 crore, which can be given only if the elected local bodies are in place as per the recommendation of 14th Finance Commission. During the hearing, the bench also pulled up the Registrar General of India (RGI) for "putting spanners" in the work of updation of NRC. "Mr. Attorney General, we have received a confidential report from our sources and have found that this gentleman (Registrar General of India) is putting spanners in the work," the bench said. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, who was present in the courtroom, asked whether the court meant that the RGI was delaying the work. "Yes. We have received a confidential report regarding this. If that will be the case, we will not hesitate to direct for replacing the Registrar General of India," the bench said. RGI Shailesh was also present in the courtroom when the bench made the observation and warned him of the action. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on May 8. On February 20, the apex court had made it clear that the ongoing process of publication of the final NRC in Assam has to be completed by May 31 this year and work on it should continue without "any interference from any quarter". The bench, while noting in its order that the work of final draft NRC would be completed by June 30, had also dealt with the issue of the upcoming panchayat and local body elections in Assam, which were due in for April this year. The top court had said the state election commission would conduct these elections as per schedule but the poll process should not cause "slightest of interference in the publication of NRC". It had said the work of holding election will not be at the cost of upgradation and preparation of NRC. The first draft NRC for Assam was published in December end as per the apex court's direction to come out with the first draft NRC by December 31, 2017. The apex court had said that claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by December 31 last year, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine. The NRC of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement among the state and central governments and the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord. The IPS Officers Association in West Bengal on Tuesday expressed its shock and dismay over injuries sustained by several police officers in the state including an IPS officer who lost his right hand in a bomb attack at Raniganj on Monday. The officer was seriously injured on the second day of Ram Navami processions led by BJP and Trinamool Congress and other Hindu organisations like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Sena and Hindu Sanmhati. The IPS Officers Association on Tuesday issued a note that stated, It pains to see this (the injuries of IPS officer) and the tough situation that police faces. Asansol-Durgapur deputy commissioner of police and IPS officer Arindam Dutta was severely injured and lost his right hand in abhorrent violence on Monday. We wish for his speedy recovery and full restoration of his hand, said the note. This is not the first attack against police in West Bengal. But this is the first time the IPS Officers Association has brought out such a statement, which shows police officers' inability to contain the situation in West Bengal. A senior IPS officer said, The West Bengal police are facing a terrible political situation these days. Police were never made to appear so cowardly in West Bengal before. Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Monday criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly turning a 'blind eye' to the well-being of Hindus in West Bengal and asked her not to continue with her 'appeasement' policy. VHPs national spokesman Vinod Bansal said, Is the Hindu a second-class citizen in West Bengal? Or does Mamata want to convert West Bengal into a Bangladesh where Hindus observe their festivals under the fear of Islam? The VHP again warns Mamata Banerjee that if the atrocities against Hindus continue like this, then the Bengali Hindus will be constrained to take things into their own hands to protect themselves and their Dharma. Bansal alleged Hindus were attacked by Trinamool Congress members during Ram Navami celebrations. Despite attacks on the Bengali Hindus, Mamata has the temerity to ask whether Ram used to carry guns and swords. VHP challenges Mamata Banerjee to ask same questions to Paigambar Mohammad during Muharram. Does she have the guts to do that? Bansal declared. The West Bengal chief minister, during an administrative meeting on Monday, asked the police to slap arms cases against the BJP and other Hindu leaders. She asked in the meeting, Why are arms used on Ram Navami? Did Ram ask them to use arms? The statement of the VHP portends a confrontation of Hindu rightwing groups with Banerjee in the coming days. But IPS officers feel that in the midst of this confrontation, they would be the casualties again, like Arindam Dutta. Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, Christopher Wylie said on Tuesday that Canadian company AggregateIQ worked on software called Ripon which was used to identify Republican voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. AggregateIQ did not immediately respond to request for comment on the remarks by Wylie, a whistleblower formerly of British political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. Wylie has previously disclosed how users data from Facebook was used by Cambridge Analytica to help elect US President Donald Trump. Ripon, the town in which the Republican Party was founded in 1854, was the name given to a tool that let a campaign manage its voter database, target specific voters, conduct canvassing, manage fundraising and carry out surveys. Theres now tangible proof in the public domain that AIQ actually built Ripon, which is the software that utilised the algorithms from the Facebook data, Wylie told the British Parliaments Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. AggregateIQ told Reuters on March 24 that it had never been and is not a part of Cambridge Analytica nor ever entered into a contract with Cambridge Analytica. It said it works in full compliance within all legal and regulatory requirements and had never knowingly been involved in any illegal activity. Cambridge Analytica said on Tuesday that it had not shared any of the Facebook profile data procured by a Cambridge academic with AggregateIQ. It said it had not had any communication with AggregateIQ since December 2015. Civil rights activist Linda Brown, who as a Kansas schoolgirl was at the heart of the US Supreme Courts landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision outlawing racial segregation in American public schools, has died at age 76. Linda Brown died on Sunday in her hometown of Topeka, Kansas, the administrator for the Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel, Robin Bruce, said on Monday. Bruce said she was not at liberty to provide additional information on the circumstances of Browns death. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which brought the historic legal case challenging school segregation, hailed Brown and her familys contribution to what it called the most important, transformational Supreme Court decision of the 20th century. Linda Brown is one of that special band of heroic young people who, along with her family courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacyracial segregation in public schools, said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-general of the organization. Browns father, Oliver Brown, who died in 1961, was the named plaintiff in the case filed on his daughters behalf and combined with several similar lawsuits contesting the separate but equal doctrine underpinning racial segregation. Linda Brown was a third-grader in the all-black Monroe School more than 2 miles from her house in an otherwise racially mixed neighborhood when her father first tried in 1951 to enroll her in the all-white Sumner Elementary School four blocks away and was rebuffed. The ensuing court case, widely seen as marking the dawn of the modern US civil rights era, was handled and argued by the NAACPs lead attorney, Thurgood Marshall, who went on years later to be appointed the first African-American justice on the US Supreme Court. By the time the high court rendered its decision, she was a junior high student attending an integrated school, she later recalled. I learned about it that evening, upon arriving home from school, she said in a 1985 interview for the documentary series Eyes on the Prize. I noticed my mother was very overjoyed at something, and then when she shared the news with me, I felt joy, too, because I felt that my sisters wouldnt have to walk so far to school the next fall, she recounted. Brown v. Board, consolidated under that title with four other cases from the District of Columbia, South Carolina, Virginia and Delaware, was actually heard by the Supreme Court twice, in June 1953 and again in December 1954 after Earl Warren was appointed chief justice. The high court, in its unanimous May 14, 1954, decision, ruled that racial segregation was a violation of the equal protection clause of the US Constitutions 14th Amendment. As Warren declared in his opinion, In the field of public education, the doctrine of separate but equal has no place. The decision was heralded by civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of enforced segregation. A year later, the justices handed down a plan for how desegregation was to be carried out, ruling that it should proceed with all deliberate speed, but it was many years before all school systems were to be integrated. In 1979, Linda Brown herself, then with her own children in Topeka public schools, became a plaintiff in a revived version of the old desegregation case, brought under the same title by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued that the districts schools remained racially divided. According to an account of the case by the Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper, a federal appeals court sided with the ACLU and Brown in 1989, leading to approval of a new desegregation plan for the district in 1993. -Reuters A local news channel in Pakistan has claimed to have made history by hiring the country's first transgender news anchor. The channel, Kohenoor News, for the first time in its 10 years, relaunched on Friday with an elaborate 'welcoming ceremony', where it announced the hiring of the transgender news anchor Marvia Malik, a first in Pakistan media's history. Malik has a bachelors degree in journalism and has now applied for admission to the same field to a masters of arts programme. She claims to have read the basics of journalism and civics and has already dabbled in modelling, The Dawn reported. She recently made headlines by walking the runway at the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) fashion week in Lahore earlier this month. "I have several modelling offers that I'm considering, but I want to do something for my community that I feel is way behind. So I want to strengthen my people. Everywhere we go, a transgender person is looked down upon. But there's nothing we can't do; we're educated, have degrees, but no opportunities, no encouragement. This is what I want to change. Just as I created history in the fashion industry, I want to do the same in the media industry," Malik said. The news anchor wanted to become either a journalist or a lawyer and did not want to end up where her fellow transgenders do - dancing on the streets, begging and trafficking. Malik underscored that she has faced abuse of all kinds. However, she asserted that such things made her a stronger person and were determined to make a name for herself during her two-year intermediate from a boys' college. She strongly feels the transgender community has not been supported despite several tall claims by authorities. "Pakistan has been independent for so long, yet we don't have the same rights as any other individual in the country. Only claims have been made and promises of quota in government jobs, but nothing has come out of it," Malik scoffed. In her next move, Malik plans to country-wide law making mandatory for families to give transgender persons their share in property as a boy or girl is. "Transgenders are forced to dance and beg because they have no other means to make ends meet. When they are shunned by families, they have nowhere else to go. My trans friends who have masters degrees don't have jobs which is why they end up on streets or become sex workers. This is why I want to push for a law so a transgender if disowned, can make a living out of the share in the property," she further said. Commenting on the job at Kohenoor News and the experience so far, Malik said that she applied when positions were advertised, whereby she came in for an interview over three months ago and was hired the same day. "The channel management told me the same day they wanted to support me and my community and help us get our rights and an honourable place in society. The three-month training also went like a breeze because everyone is so friendly, loving and helpful. It feels like home here at work; I feel they're all my family because I never got a family's love. Even the experienced anchors helped me a lot," Malik added. Kohenoor News' director Bilal Ashraf said that he wanted to relaunch the channel with a different approach and work for social causes instead of depending on the monotonous formula other channels are employing. The channel's CEO, Junaid Mahmood Ansari, added that while he had never planned to take such an initiative, the job application that they received from Malik, changed his mind and he did not see a reason why a deserving person like Malik should be appointed if she had fulfilled the criteria. Governor LePage's announcement on March 19 that the Department of Corrections would comply with the Kennebec County Superior Court's order to reopen the Downeast Correctional Facility was a surprise to some but not a surprise that the reopening will be done "in a minimal capacity," with reportedly only five staff. When the prison was closed on February 9, 46 Department of Corrections employees had received lay-off notices. Justice Michaela Murphy's ruling noted that "given the statutory language requiring the establishment of DCF in Washington County, the legislature's decision not to continue to delegate the authority to close facilities to the DOC, and the legislature's language in the biennial budget, the court finds that the legislature's intent was to retain the authority to decide which facilities should remain operational and which facilities should close. While it is within the commissioner's discretion to determine how to operate the DCF program, only the legislature has the authority to decide not to fund DCF and rescind the requirements set out" in Maine statute. Attorney General Janet Mills stated of the ruling, "We have argued that the action of the administration in closing the facility violated the separation of powers provision of our state constitution, and the court agreed. The ruling is important not only for the Downeast Correctional Facility but for the system of checks and balances that is so critical to our democracy." Of the governor's decision to comply with the superior court's decision, Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias comments, "It came as quite a surprise. I figured he would appeal and it would take many more weeks." Washington County Commission Chair Chris Gardner says, "It's not surprising that he chose the term 'minimal,' given that the governor has shown that he has taken such a personal interest in Downeast Correctional." Gardner does not expect this to be the end of it, despite the looming June 30 deadline to provide an additional year of funding for the prison. If the legislature does not fund the prison beyond June 30 it will be closed. Agreeing with Gardner that the intent of the judge's decision was not to reopen at the minimal level is Senator Joyce Maker of Calais. "My reading of the decision [is that it] stated that all things had to go back as it was February 8, including hire all personnel back and bringing all the prisoners back. It went on to say that once that happened the [DOC] commissioner had the say on what happens there, and I agree with that statement. I believe that the attorney general and the union will be going back to further discuss with the judge what the intent is, and I guess we will know when they hear back from the judge. The chief executive or myself or any person has to follow the law. They can't state 'we will minimally abide by it,' they have to abide by it." The March 19 release from the governor's office states, "After a court order recognized the Maine Department of Corrections has the authority to operate Downeast Correctional Facility as it deems appropriate, the department is adjusting operations at the facility." It adds, "Since funding for Downeast Correctional Facility runs out in June, the Maine Department of Corrections will operate the facility with minimal staffing and a minimal number of inmates and continue preparations to close the facility when the appropriation expires." Rep. Tuell is sponsoring a bill to continue funding for the prison for one more year, through the fiscal year 20182019. Senator Maker says the bill "was taken up today [March 20] and I removed the 'emergency' on it, and we have sent it back to the House, which hopefully will recede and concur and send it back to us in the Senate. It then will be put on the [appropriations] table, and we will deal with it and the others on the table when the supplemental bill is developed." Tuell explains that removing the emergency preamble allows the bill to proceed through the normal legislative process without needing two-thirds approval in both chambers. "We need to convince seven more legislators, that's all we need to vetoproof the governor," Gardner says of Tuell's bill. He references the vote in the House, where the latest vote of 89-55 in favor was seven votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the governor's expected veto of the bill. Gardner adds, "But the governor doesn't care what the legislature wants to do." Tuell expects his bill will receive a vote by March 23 and will then be sent to the Appropriations Committee. "It'll probably be one of the last things decided on" during budget discussions. "We'll have a big discussion on it. I hope we can get the votes for it." DCF not as expensive to operate as governor claims Those supporting the reopening of the prison point out that Downeast Correctional is not as expensive to run as the governor maintains. Gardner points to the superior court's ruling and the documents provided to it by the governor's office, financial spreadsheets that show operating costs of prisons around the state. "His 2017 numbers show that Downeast Correctional is not the most expensive prison. It's in the middle. Yet he [the governor] keeps saying it's the most expensive, when it's not true." The DCFs annual cost per prisoner was $41,582 in 2017, which is less than the Maine State Prisons cost of $46,162 and the Maine Correctional Centers cost of $54,201. Only the Bolduc Correctional Facility was less costly, at $32,506. Gardner adds, "Yes, before 2013 it [DCF] was expensive, but since then they've brought their numbers in line." The point matters, he stresses, because the public and the legislative body need to understand that the prison works well and in a cost-effective manner. The legislature is supposed to be done with its budget by April 14; however, Tuell says it's unlikely that the date will be met. "I don't think we'll be done by then, but probably the end of April or beginning of May." Senator Maker's bill for a prerelease facility in Washington County has not come to the floor of the House for a vote yet. Maker says, "This passed 1111 [in committee]. It is still in Criminal Justice Committee and has not come to the floor." Thomson Reuters today announced it is collaborating with Salesforce to help clients quickly and efficiently on-board new customers and meet regulatory anti-money laundering obligations in the fight against financial crime. Thomson Reuters World-Check, one of the worlds leading databases of risk intelligence data to support companies in meeting their due-diligence obligations, can now be accessed by customers on the Salesforce AppExchange through the Thomson Reuters Customer Risk Screener Application. Thomson Reuters is committed to providing its customers, which include global corporate and financial companies, with solutions to assist in the fight against financial crime. The Customer Risk Screener Application is designed to drive improved workflow and will help clients more efficiently on-board and manage customer screening in one of the worlds leading CRM platforms. It will be accessible through Salesforce Sales Cloud, Financial Service Cloud and Service Cloud. Financial crime is one of the scourges of modern day society, and is linked to some of the worlds biggest problems such as forced prostitution, slavery and drug trafficking. The Know Your Customer regulations are designed to help companies identify potential financial crime, and penalties for KYC failure are severe, including prosecution, substantial fines and ongoing regulatory oversight, not to mention reputational and brand value damage, said Debra Walton, managing director, customer proposition, Financial & Risk, Thomson Reuters. By working with Salesforce, we will help mutual customers in the ongoing fight against financial crime through our Customer Risk Screener Application. The application will simplify and accelerate the customer due diligence process and connect client account records, reducing significant manual requirements. This approach reduces costs and improves the overall experience for our customers and their clients. Technology is key in helping companies adapt to a changing regulatory landscape, said Rohit Mahna, SVP and GM of Financial Services, Salesforce. By leveraging the power of the Salesforce Platform, Thomson Reuters will provide customers with innovative ways to readily connect information, and manage the risk and complexity of client screening, not just at on-boarding, but throughout every stage of the relationship cycle, all the way from prospective to repeat customers." About Salesforce AppExchange Salesforce AppExchange, the worlds leading enterprise cloud marketplace, empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With more than 5,000 solutions, 5 million customer installs and 70,000 peer reviews, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies for businesses. Salesforce, AppExchange and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. About World-Check World-Check is a risk intelligence database which helps organisations across the world meet their regulatory obligations, make informed decisions and help prevent them from inadvertently being used to launder the proceeds of financial crime or association with corrupt business practices. The database is managed by a team of over 350 highly trained analysts, speaking more than 65 languages, who monitor more than 600 sanctions, regulatory and law enforcement lists and thousands of media sources, as well as company information and regulatory filings, to ensure World-Checks data is accurate and up-to-date. The information in World-Check is made available on a subscription basis only to those who require it to carry out due diligence or other screening activities in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations or risk management procedures designed to combat financial crime. For more information about Thomson Reuters World-Check, visit https://risk.thomsonreuters.com/worldcheck About Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is the worlds leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com. CONTACT Mark D. Harrop Senior Business Partner External Communications, Financial & Risk New York, NY, U.S.A. Office +646 223 7803 Mobile +347 803 5575 mark.harrop@thomsonreuters.com Patrick Kerr Senior Director, Corporate Affairs Financial & Risk London, UK Office +44 20 7542 4941 Mobile +44 7833 083799 patrick.kerr@thomsonreuters.com 3 hours ago Multiple Analysts are Calling These 3 Stocks a Buy Investors have differing opinions about the value of sell-side research. Some swear by it, while others prefer to build their investment thesis around other tenants. There are certainly cases to be made for both positions. Whats less contentious is that Wall Street analysts are the best resource we have when it comes to humans that intimately know the inner workings of the companies they follow. Read Article Florida wants year-round Daylight Saving Time (DST), and is asking Congress to make it happen. Clock on Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, Florida. iStockphoto.com/Sean Pavone Florida Governor Rick Scott signed off on the bill dubbed the Sunshine Protection Act on Friday, sending it to Congress. If approved, Daylight Saving Time (DST) will be permanent in the Sunshine State, eliminating the semi-annual practice. Federal Government The Daylight Saving Time Bill has been steadily moving up Florida's state legislature since November. House Bill 1013 states (...) it is the intent of the Legislature that daylight saving time shall be the year-round standard time of the entire state and all of its political subdivisions. The Bill will take effect on July 1, 2018 if Congress approves on the federal level. New Standard Time Zones Year-round DST would shift standard time in Florida 1 hour forward, effectively changing the state's time zones. Today, Florida observes Central Standard Time (CST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST), but adding 1 hour would move the time zones to Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Atlantic Standard Time (AST). Time in Florida Darker Mornings, Brighter Afternoons Keeping Daylight Saving Time all year will move sunrise and sunset times in Florida about 1 hour later in the day resulting in darker mornings, but also more daylight in the afternoon. Proponents argue that sunlight later in the afternoon gets people out and benefits tourism. However, later sunrises can mean that children have to walk to school in the dark. Also, critics say Florida would be out of sync with the rest of the country. A Massachusetts special commission studied the effects of moving the state's time zone permanently to AST and concluded that the time zone change would be beneficial for the population. Pros and Cons of DST DST in the US In the US, clocks are set back 1 hour from 02:00 (2 am) to 01:00 (1 am) local time on the first Sunday in November. Clocks spring forward again from 02:00 (2 am) to 03:00 (3 am) local time the second Sunday in March. Almost all of the United States observes DST. Hawaii and most of Arizona are the only 2 US states that do not change their clocks. None of the US dependencies observe DST. These include American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the US Minor Outlying Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. US DST clock change in detail ALBANY Tom Andriola knows how Albany works. An employee at the state's Division of Criminal Justice Services, Andriola has spent the last 20 years in state service, at times working for the New York State Assembly and state's Division of the Budget. In fact, he was at his Assembly job in August 2007 when he learned that his older brother, Frank Andriola, had been arrested. By sheer luck, a police officer had come across Frank in his car engaging in a sex act with a teenage boy he had met on the internet. Tom Andriola says memories of his own abuse at the hand of his brother, which began at age 11, came flooding back. It had taken him 14 years to tell his wife and parents, let alone "report" the alleged abuse to law enforcement. Now 10 years after opening up to his family -- which had alienated him from many of his extended relatives -- he had the chance to seek justice. Tom Andriola wanted to testify against his brother in open court, but the judge would not allow it because of the statute of limitations. "I was not allowed to give a victim impact statement, I was not allowed to have any of my story included in the decision making," he said. "I did write a letter to the judge, but I don't how that weighed into any decision," Frank Andriola spent a year and a half in jail, but then violated his probation and was sentenced to another year and a half. While he is a registered sex offender, he is out now and has never acknowledged the crimes alleged by his brother. New York currently has the most restrictive statute of limitations for most child sexual abuse crimes of any state in the country. Most victims are barred from filing criminal and civil claims once they turn 23 years old. The Child Victims Act, which has been pushed in Albany for more than an decade, would raise the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse crimes to age 28 in criminal cases and age 50 in civil cases. Each year the Child Victims Act seems to inch closer to passage. Last year, it passed the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. Then, toward the end of the 2017 legislative session, Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced a program bill, and he included the measure in his 2018 State of the State and executive budget proposal this year. Additionally, all members of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference and several Republican Senators have indicated that they would vote in favor of the Child Victims Act, which means it would pass -- if the bill ever made it to the floor. Eight other states have passed similar legislation. Fears that a look-back window -- a year long period during which victims of childhood abuse could bring civil suits for decades-old allegations -- would financially cripple churches and schools, or create backlogs in civil court have proved mostly unfounded. Still, the look-back remains a sticking point for Senate Republicans, as it faces opposition from powerful groups like the Catholic Church, Agudath Israel, the advocacy organization representing yeshivas, and the Boy Scouts of America. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan has been targeted by advocates for failing to allow the bill to the floor. "We're told there are enough Republican senators who are on board with Child Victims Act, but until a bill comes to the floor, are they just saying it, or are they going to act on it?" said Richard Tollner, a survivor with New Yorkers Against Hidden Predators (NYAHP) who has been advocating for the bill for over a decade. Advocates say there are signs of hope. Cuomo made the Child Victims Act a focal point of his 2018 agenda and has continued to reassure advocacy groups that it will be in this year's budget. They are also hopeful that the national focus on workplace sexual harassment will result in legislation addressing sexual abuse of children to be included in any policy response that emerges. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. New York's outdated child victims laws have drawn national attention and the movement has attracted support from celebrities like Samantha Bee, Julianne Moore, and Corey Feldman. Many faith leaders have countered religious organizations and pushed for an overhaul in the state's reporting laws. Survivors are also growing bolder. Kat Sullivan, who says she was sexually abused and raped by a teacher at Troy's Emma Willard school 20 years ago but was unable file charges, used money she received in a settlement with the school to pay for a trio of provocative highway billboards demanding passage of the Child Victims Act. A recent Quinnipiac College poll shows that 90 percent of New Yorkers support the bill. While he has followed the legislation's trajectory from afar, this is the first year Tom Andriola has mustered the courage to share his story and join other advocates of the bill, which would have enabled him at age 27 to file criminal charges against his brother and potentially send him to prison. He says he hopes the groundswell around the issue will propel the legislation over the finish line. "People think we are being greedy by asking for the look-back window, but I can tell you a huge part of that look-back window is to get perpetrators off the street," said Tom. "All I want is for (Frank) to acknowledge what he did, and hold him accountable." Still, the fate of the legislation is tenuous. This year, with Good Friday and Passover commencing on March 30, New York is facing an earlier than usual budget deadline. Legislative leaders are already signalling that the spending plan may be a bare-bones document that only deals only with fiscal issues. A coalition of abuse survivors from throughout New York State -- including Sullivan, Birdie Farrell, of Saratoga Springs, and Amelia Fallon, of Albany -- released a statement Tuesday urging leaders to reconsider and prioritize the measure. "If lawmakers fail to include the Child Victims Act in this year's budget they'll be protecting abusers over the one in four girls and one in six boys who are sexually abused before the age of 18 every year," said the group. "Survivors are sick and tired of powerful interests standing in the way of justice. Majority Leader Flanagan should just put the Child Victims Act on the floor and let his members vote their conscience. We deserve a vote." Canajoharie The state has put up $6 million for Montgomery County to demolish part of the deteriorating former Beech-Nut plant and study whether the historic main plant can be saved. County Executive Mattew Ossenfort said crews have already started removing piles of asbestos-contaminated debris from outside of the sprawling 27-acre facility in Canajoharie, which can be seen from Exit 29 of the state Thruway. "The demolition costs have always been the elephant in the room," he said. Demolition work should start this summer on 1950s-era warehouses on the eastern side of the property. "We should get a good chunk of that done this year," he said. Funding is coming from the state's Restore NY program, which last year awarded the county a $500,000 grant on the project. The county has also received an $800,000 grant from National Grid. Ossenfort said the county is still studying whether it is feasible to save the century-old main factory, which dominates the small village downtown. That facility is unheated, and has sustained extensive roof, water and mold damage. Much of the valuable scrap metal from inside the plant has already been stripped by an Ohio developer who bought the property from Beech-Nut in 2013 after promising to redevelop it. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Instead, developer Todd Clifford took the scrap, sold the property to a company held by a business associate, and left behind piles of toxic debris tainted with asbestos. Millions in unpaid taxes on the property are still owed. Canajoharie Mayor Francis Avery said state support, which is being augmented by a county match of more than $600,000, is critical to dealing with an eyesore that is too overwhelming for the cash-strapped village to handle. "The redevelopment of this site is critical to the village's future," he said. "I'm pleased with the progress that's been made so far and I'm hopeful to see it continue." Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stepped in, and sprayed the toxic debris with sealant to prevent asbestos fibers from being carried by wind into the village. EMPIRE: "BIRDS IN THE CAGE" FOX, 8 p.m. New Episodes! As the Lyons roar back from their winter hiatus, Demi Moore's nutso nurse Claudia has Lucious (Terrence Howard) chained up, so it's Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) to the rescue. GROWN-ISH: "BACK & FORTH" Freeform, 8 p.m. Season Finale! The freshman sitcom comes to a close with Zoey (Yara Shahidi) facing a tough romantic choice likely between activist Aaron (Trevor Jackson) and fashion student Luca (Luka Sabbat). Luckily for one of them, Season 2 is officially a go. ALEX, INC. ABC, 8:30 p.m. New Series! The sitcom is based on Alex Blumberg's StartUp podcast. Zach Braff stars as the titular Alex, a married father of two who decides to leave his longtime job as a radio talk show host to launch a podcast about stuff that really matters. With help from his former producer Deirdre (Hillary Anne Matthews) and with his shady cousin Eddie (Michael Imperioli) as his salesman and to the mortification of his wife, Rooni (Tiya Sircar) Alex starts a new chapter of his life (or possibly his midlife crisis), for better or worse. SEAL TEAM: "IN NAME ONLY" CBS, 9 p.m. Jason (David Boreanaz) and the SEALs come closer to avenging the loss of Echo Team, and Mandy (Jessica Pare) oversteps her authority in the new episode. STAR: "RISE FROM THE ASHES" FOX, 9 p.m. New Episodes! Carlotta is devastated following a deadly fire. As she tries to pick up the pieces, her mother (guest star Patti LaBelle) and sister (guest star Brandy Norwood) show up unexpectedly. Star struggles to hide her jealousy and feelings for Noah, while Gigi (guest star Keke Palmer) decides to do Take 3 a favor that could put them back on the map. THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA: FRONTIERSMEN History, 9 p.m. Series Finale! Episode 4 concludes the miniseries as it delves into Davy Crockett's stand at the Alamo, while John C. Fremont and Kit Carson set out on a secret mission that ignites a war for California and the Pacific. THE MAGICIANS: "THE FILLORIAN CANDIDATE" Syfy, 9 p.m. The political situation in Fillory comes to a head. Julia (Stella Maeve) makes amends and Alice (Olivia Taylor Dudley) makes a confession. SUITS: "HARD TRUTHS" USA Network, 9 p.m. New Episodes! The back half of Season 7 starts, leading toward an April season finale that will say goodbye to co-stars Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle. Harvey (Gabriel Macht) deals with the aftermath of Jessica (Gina Torres) losing her license and tries to process how the kiss with Donna (Sarah Rafferty) will affect his relationship with Paula (Christina Cole). Mike (Adams) tries to juggle his commitment to the firm, his passion for pro-bono work and his engagement to Rachel (Markle). Louis' (Rick Hoffman) torrid affair with Sheila (Rachael Harris) deepens. DESIGNATED SURVIVOR: "SUMMIT" ABC, 10 p.m. As tensions between East and West Hanchu escalate, President Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) travels to Camp David to broker a peace treaty with their leaders. Back in Washington, D.C., Seth (Kal Penn) and Emily (Italia Ricci) take a hard look at their relationship to decide how, or if, they will move forward as a couple. ICE Audience Network, 10 p.m. Season Premiere! The latest on the diamond-dealing Greens: Freddy (Jeremy Sisto) is in prison; brother Jake (Cam Gigandet) is out of his coma. A new gem could restore their fortunes. CRIMINAL MINDS: "THE DANCE OF LOVE" CBS, 10 p.m. The BAU travels to Chicago to investigate an unsub who leaves red roses on each victim. Also, Rossi (Joe Mantegna) gets an unexpected visit from his ex-wife (guest star Gail O'Grady) in the new episode "The Dance of Love." THE AMERICANS FX, 10 p.m. Season Premiere! Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth's (Keri Russell) ability to protect their cover and their family's safety deteriorates. They struggle to maintain a smokescreen of normalcy, especially around their son Henry (Keidrich Sellati), who remains ignorant of the spies in his midst. With Gorbachev in power in the Soviet Union, the winds of change create new perils. HOMICIDE CITY: "SOUTH STREET MYSTERY" Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m. Season Finale! When a husband-and-wife jeweler team are found murdered in the town house they also use to sell their wares, police immediately wonder if the slayings are part of a robbery. As detectives begin to process the scene, they find a fortune of diamonds. With no signs of forced entry, and nothing taken, it seems the murderer was someone they knew. It takes almost 10 years for a group of seasoned Philadelphia homicide detectives to finally pin down their perp. ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER TRIBUTE TO A SUPERSTAR NBC, 10 p.m. Stars including Glenn Close, John Legend and Lin-Manuel Miranda come together to honor one of theater's most celebrated composers, Andrew Lloyd Webber, for a festive 70th birthday celebration. The evening includes conversation and reflection with Lloyd Webber along with Close and Legend, the latter of whom is starring in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert on Sunday. KRYPTON: "HOUSE OF EL" Syfy, 10 p.m. After suffering a tragedy, Seg (Cameron Cuffe) is forced to adjust to a new life, a new rank and a new threat. Brought to you by the publishers of TV Guide. TV Guide 2018 Albany In an unheated garage, Douglas Van Zandt toiled day after day over the winter. He poured his grief into a 6-foot-by-9-foot portable wooden prison cell. As he sawed plywood, drilled holes and fastened panels with screws, glue and hinges, the labor had a cathartic effect. The work assuaged a father's anguish and honored the memory of his son, Benjamin, who hanged himself Oct. 30, 2014, in a solitary confinement cell at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Dutchess County. He tied bed sheets and shoelaces to the cell's window screen. He was 21 years old. Benjamin was the 11th suicide in state prisons that year, and the youngest inmate to take his own life. "As I was building the cell, I kept thinking how small it was," Van Zandt said. "I always envisioned something larger." Van Zandt, a former Navy pilot and ex-commercial pilot, gave up a job as an aerospace engineer for Gulfstream in Savannah, Ga., last year to devote himself full time to fighting for prison reform. He's an organizer for New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement. "Dealing with a trauma like that changes you," he said. "Every day, more than 4,000 people are in solitary confinement in New York. We want to help other families from going through our pain." Two Sundays ago, he loaded the cell into his pickup truck and set it up in a lobby of Roger Bacon Hall at Siena College. Soul Rebel Performance Troupe staged a play, "The Exonerated," which used court transcripts and interviews with five men and one woman who had been sentenced to death for crimes they did not commit before the criminal justice system reconsidered their cases and freed them. Some had languished for days or weeks in solitary confinement. "I want people to see how inhumane solitary confinement is," Van Zandt said. In the lobby, I entered the dimly lit cell with Van Zandt and his wife, Alicia Barraza, an environmental engineer at the state Department of Environmental Conservation. He taped outlines on the floor of a toilet, sink, desk and a thin mattress built into a concrete bed attached to a wall. The walls were painted gunmetal gray. The ceiling was low. It felt claustrophobic. Prisoners call it "The Box." The name fits. Van Zandt wired a speaker to play a recording of a solitary confinement unit smuggled out of a prison. The disturbing noises included guards shouting, inmates shrieking, human groaning and men howling like wolves. There is metallic banging and angry shouts. "It sounds like a zoo," Van Zandt said. "You can hear prisoners going crazy." Van Zandt said his son told him that he often slept during the day "because the yelling and shrieking got worse at night and kept him awake." An only child, Ben had been a Boy Scout who nearly achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He worked hard to overcome a learning disability. At Bethlehem High School, he played the violin, excelled at mathematics and took Advanced Placement courses, but was shy and socially awkward. He found it hard to make friends. He wrote poetry and short fiction and earned college credit from Rochester Institute of Technology. He hoped to become an engineer. Ben Van Zandt was convicted of felony arson and was serving time for setting a 2010 fire that nearly destroyed an unoccupied Delmar home. He was 17. He had not told anyone about having auditory hallucinations that convinced him fire could soothe the turbulence in his mind. In prison, he was confined with hardened and violent veteran criminals twice his age. He was sexually assaulted, beaten and continuously harassed. He had run-ins with correction officers after he reported them for beating inmates. Acting out got him placed in solitary confinement for long periods. He was not always given his prescribed anti-psychotic medication and his mental condition deteriorated into severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Ben Van Zandt's parents have filed three wrongful death lawsuits against the state, alleging "inadequate, improper and unsafe" medical care and supervision. The suit alleges prison guards watched TV instead of making regular rounds to check on inmates in solitary confinement. While their lawsuits slowly wend their way through the criminal justice system, the couple savors small victories. Both were tireless advocates with Raise the Age NY, the group of formerly incarcerated youths and family members, among other advocates, who were successful in efforts to pass legislation last year that raised the age to 18 that youths in the state can be tried and convicted as adults. New York and North Carolina were the last two states in the nation to change their laws. In addition to touring with the cell, Van Zandt has been pushing for passage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. "The system is badly broken, but we're slowly starting to change it, with a lot of support," he said. Annie Rody-Wright, an attorney and longtime advocate for prison reform, who is also a visiting professor at Siena, brought students from her wrongful conviction class to "The Exonerated." She also invited a few exonerees nearly 2,200 wrongfully convicted people have been exonerated across the U.S. since 1989, in part due to DNA technology to speak with the audience after the play. "It was a very powerful experience, with moving personal stories and a lot of tears," Rody-Wright said. Ben Van Zandt's parents forge ahead. "A lot of people have no idea what solitary confinement is, but when they see the cell they begin to understand," his mother said. "We'll never get Ben back. But maybe we can prevent tragedies for others." Paul Grondahl is the director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com Albany Clare W. Bronfman, an heiress of the Seagram Company business empire, allegedly implanted a "key logger" virus on the computer of her late father, Edgar M. Bronfman Sr., so officials with the NXIVM corporation could secretly monitor his emails, including his exchanges with world leaders and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to court records. The extraordinary allegations are attributed to Kristen M. Keeffe, who was part of the inner circle that ran NXIVM, a "human development" organization that has been described by one expert as an "extreme cult." The accusations by Keeffe are contained in a transcript of a telephone conversation that took place last March between Keeffe and Barbara J. Bouchey, a former NXIVM executive board member who is facing computer trespassing charges in Albany that accuse her and three others of improperly accessing the corporation's website. Bouchey's attorneys filed a copy of the transcript in Albany County Court recently to buttress their argument that top NXIVM officials have used litigation, as well as the criminal case, to attack her and other perceived adversaries. Bouchey, a financial planner, claims NXIVM officials have dragged her into 13 lawsuits and filed the criminal complaint against her as retribution for defecting from the organization in 2009. She's denied hacking into the corporation's social website. Clare Bronfman, 36, who owns a horse farm on West Wind Road in Knox and has described herself as NXIVM's operations director, did not respond to requests for comment. The whereabouts of Keeffe, who left NXIVM last year, are unknown. She was part of NXIVM founder Keith Raniere's inner circle and has contacted Bouchey by telephone, and through encrypted emails, and offered to help her defend herself in the criminal case, according to court records. Keeffe said that she gathered information about NXIVM for several years before she left and tried to "deprogram" Nancy L. Salzman, who is NXIVM's president. Salzman did not respond to a request for comment. "In the three and a half years leading up to where I left, I was a spy," Keeffe said during the conversation. "And I went to great lengths to make them think I was going along with things with the exception of trying to deprogram Nancy and a couple of other people that l was close to that were not close to Keith." Raniere did not return a telephone call seeking comment. Keeffe's allegations about the hacking of Edgar Bronfman's computer are among a series of troubling accusations she has leveled against NXIVM officials since she abruptly left the organization in February 2014. Keeffe, 45, was involved with Raniere for more than 20 years and was part of the litigation team that worked under Clare Bronfman, according to court records. Keeffe said she fled NXIVM last year with the help of a State Police investigator who brought her to a domestic violence shelter, according to court records. Last month, the Times Union reported that Keeffe, in emails attributed to her, claimed top officials in NXIVM paid a Canadian investigative firm to sift the financial records of six federal judges and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. According to Keeffe, NXIVM officials also used the Canadian firm to obtain financial information on Edgar Bronfman and other officials with the Jewish World Congress, which Bronfman headed from 1981 to 2007. It's unclear why, as Keeffe claims, NXIVM officials would have sought the financial records of judges and others, including employees of the Times Union, which published a 2012 series, Secrets of NXIVM. The federal judges identified by Keeffe have all presided over cases involving NXIVM. According to federal court records, in March 2009, the Canadian investigative firm, Canaprobe Group, sent an invoice to Clare Bronfman for $10,000 for "banking sweep services" of Rick A. Ross, who said he is a "recognized expert" in cults and who is being sued by NXIVM in U.S. District Court in New Jersey. Keeffe said she processed the Canaprobe invoices and that the company was paid "well over a million dollars." In the transcript of Keeffe's conversation, she said "what the process was was Keith would decide what was ordered. I would call Canaprobe and tell them what they wanted ... and what they would do is fax the results, they would fax the financial information." Keeffe, in the telephone conversation attributed to her, claimed that Clare Bronfman and Pamela A. Nichols, who is a shareholder with the Albany law firm O'Connell & Aronowitz and one of NXIVM's attorneys, were involved with the Canaprobe transactions. "Pam Nichols and Clare flew to Canada on more than one occasion to try to, you know, vet the information, to get some of the money back, it was never done through an attorney, so they have, you know, again you have a closed circle of financiers," Keeffe told Bouchey, according to the transcript. Stephen R. Coffey, who is Nichols' law firm colleague and also an attorney for NXIVM, scoffed at the allegations leveled by Keeffe in the emails and 48-page transcript. "As to the allegations contained in the self-serving submissions of an indicted defendant, we do not intend to comment on something that purports to be an uncertified transcript of a staged conversation," Coffey said. In the telephone conversation last March, Keeffe claimed Clare Bronfman's initial attempt to hack into her father's email account failed after she sent him an email that had a digital photo of a bear attached and which contained a computer-hacking virus. The photo was meaningful because Clare Bronfman's father called her "Clare-bear" as a nickname, Keeffe said. The digital photo of the bear held a key-logger virus that would have infiltrated Edgar Bronfman's computer if he opened it, Keeffe added. Key-loggers are used to monitor the keystrokes of a computer, enabling someone other than the computer user to access personal account information, including passwords. "But he never opened the picture," Keeffe said in the telephone call with Bouchey. "So she went down to his office and met with him, and specifically said, 'I want to show you this picture' and went on his email with him and downloaded the virus onto his computer herself." Keeffe claimed that Raniere was involved in the plan and taught a young woman who was a Mexican immigrant and NXIVM member "to be a hacker." The young woman "then spent like a year reading all of Edgar Bronfman's emails, including emails with Hillary Clinton and involving world leaders with the World Jewish Congress, then reporting on the contents to Keith and to Clare," Keeffe said. She did not provide any details in the telephone call about what sort of information was allegedly gleaned from Edgar Bronfman's emails. A spokesman for the World Jewish Congress on Thursday said their organization could not comment because they were not familiar with the allegations. The Times Union could not independently verify the computer-hacking allegations. Stephen E. Herbits, 73, who was a longtime confidant of Edgar Bronfman and formerly secretary general of the World Jewish Congress, declined to comment. Herbits is one of at least three people who were associated with Edgar Bronfman and whose financial records were sifted by NXIVM officials, according to an email attributed to Keeffe in court records. A person who was close to Edgar Bronfman, but did not want to be identified for this story, said it's very likely that Clinton and Edgar Bronfman communicated through email. They became friends after meeting in the late 1990s when Bill Clinton was president, the person said, and Hillary Clinton supported Bronfman's successful efforts with the World Jewish Congress to get Swiss banks to pay billions of dollars in restitution to relatives of Holocaust victims. Bronfman, who was 84 when he died, was a financial supporter of Hillary Clinton's candidacies, including her unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign. Clinton sat next to Bronfman at his 75th birthday celebration at Seagram Company headquarters in New York City in 2004. In 1999, President Bill Clinton awarded Bronfman a U.S. Medal of Freedom. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Keeffe claimed in her telephone call to Bouchey that the alleged hacking of Edgar Bronfman's computer was eventually discovered, although it's unclear when she believes that took place. "Clare told me that Edgar found out, and they blamed Elan Steinberg, who had been the former executive director of the World Jewish Congress, for doing it," Keeffe said. "Elan Steinberg died in 2012, but people at the World Jewish Congress will attest that this computer was hacked." The spokesman for the World Jewish Congress said he was not familiar with the allegations and that Bronfman did not have an office there after 2007. In 2011, Clare Bronfman testified in a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles that Raniere had discussed with his broker whether her father had manipulated the commodities market to undermine trades that Raniere directed when he lost $65 million of Clare and Sara Bronfman's money. "Actually he told me that (his broker) had suggested to him that there was somebody trading against us who was extremely wealthy in the Jewish community and alluded to the fact that it might be my father," Bronfman testified. In the emails and telephone conversation attributed to Keeffe, she also accused NXIVM officials of plotting to lure four women, who were former girlfriends or female associates of Raniere's, to Mexico in order to have them arrested on false charges and thrown in prison. The women allegedly targeted included Bouchey, who was Raniere's former girlfriend and a NXIVM board member for nine years; Toni F. Foley, another former girlfriend of Raniere's and a co-defendant of Bouchey's in the computer trespassing case; and Susan Dones, a former NXIVM trainer from Washington who was sued by NXIVM and accused of violating a confidentiality agreement. Dones, who successfully defended herself against NXIVM's lawsuit, said Keeffe called her several times two months ago and outlined the same allegations that she told to Bouchey regarding the dealings of NXIVM's officials. "When she contacts me it's always from a private number," Dones said, adding she does not know where Keeffe is living. According to Keeffe, the alleged plan to lure the women to Mexico in 2012 was discussed by Raniere and Emiliano Salinas, a NXIVM leader and venture capitalist who is the son of a former Mexican president, Carlos Salinas. Emiliano Salinas did not respond to a request for comment made through his company. NXIVM has a strong presence in Central America, and Clare Bronfman has testified that about one-third of the corporation is in Mexico. In 2012, the Times Union was provided copies of emails attributed to a Mexican journalist who sent a series of emails to Foley trying to convince her to come to Mexico for an interview regarding a story on NXIVM. The journalist did not respond to a request for comment. In an email attributed to Keeffe that was sent in February to various NXIVM officials and two of its attorneys Coffey and Nichols Keeffe discussed the alleged plot to lure the women all adversaries of NXIVM to Mexico. In the email, which is filed in Albany County Court, Keeffe wrote: "Emiliano went so far as to have a Mexican journalist contact (Foley) et. all. (sic) to invite them to the so called 'anti-cult conference'. Keith intended these women serious, serious, emotional and physical harm. There is no way all these things will stay secret." Raniere founded NXIVM in 1998, shortly after Consumers' Buyline, his multimillion-dollar discount buying club in Halfmoon, collapsed under allegations it was a pyramid scheme. Raniere admitted no wrongdoing but paid the state about $40,000 in settlement fees after an investigation by the state attorney general's office. Numerous people who worked for Raniere at Consumers' Buyline went on to work for NXIVM, including Keeffe and Foley. blyons@timesunion.com 518-454-5547 @brendan_lyonstu Lori Van Buren ALBANY The Department of Veteran Affairs has named Darlene Delancey the new director of the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, which provides primary and long-term care to veterans across upstate New York, western Massachusetts and Vermont. DeLancey will oversee the delivery of health care at the VA Medical Center in Albany and its 11 community-based outpatient clinics, which serve more than 35,000 veterans with an operating budget of about $215 million. TROY A Canadian company has proposed a $3.4 million project to convert the closed St. Augustines School and convent into 27 one-bedroom apartments. The school in Lansingburgh closed at the end of 2015-16 academic year, ending the parishs 147-year commitment to supporting a parochial school. The development proposal submitted to the city Zoning Board of Appeals makes an economic argument for the board to grant a use variance and area variances for inadequate parking, excessive density and not having a big enough lot to build the apartments in this R-2 residential zoned part of the city. The zoning allows single-family and two-family buildings. The plans were submitted by Brian L. Barker of Architecture +. The parcel under the current R-2 zone requires a minimum lot area of 3,500 square feet per unit which will allow only five units on the site. If the prospective buyer invests only $100 per square foot to convert the property at a cost of $3,400,000, the cost per allowed rental unit would be $680,000 exclusive of site development costs, according to the application filed by Barker. The application points out the average home value in Troy is $142,000. The application said at $680,000 per unit the development costs are economically infeasible for the rental income yield of five units. A developer must show an economic hardship if the ZBA is to grant a variance. The ZBA attorney recently ruled that the five-member ZBA needs at least four of five votes to approve a variance under the city code. The votes necessary for approval became an issue when the ZBA voted 3-2 over opposition from Hillside neighborhood residents at its March meeting to grant variances to convert the closed United Armenian Calvary Congregational Church building at 144 Ninth St. The approval was rescinded. Barker did not respond for a request for comment Monday. He represents St. Augustines Church, according to the documents filed with the city. The developer buyer is not listed. The developer was identified as Friemo Enterprises, which has offices in Montreal, by a real estate agent. The property at 523-525 Fourth Ave. was listed for sale for $550,000. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The proposal the ZBA will review calls for 21 apartments in the former school at 525 Fourth Ave. and six apartments in the former convent at 523 Fourth Ave. Off-street parking for 27 vehicles would be provided in a vacant lot at 532 Third Ave., which is located across an alleyway. The St. Augustine Hall at 524 Fourth Ave., across the street from the school, also is for sale. The ZBA meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday April 3 in City Hall, 433 River St. Albany Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon tore into Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday, saying he's a bully, has failed to clean up the Capitol's notorious political corruption and is hammering out a sexual harassment policy behind closed doors with "four men in a room," but no female lawmakers. "He's cleaned up Albany about as well as President Trump has drained the swamp," said Nixon. The actress, famous for her role in "Sex and the City," has launched a primary challenge to Cuomo from the left. She was speaking at what was billed as a press conference about school funding with the Alliance for Quality Education, a group that she has long supported in the state's perennial battles over education spending. But after some statements by parents in Albany, Ossining and New York City who wanted more school spending, Nixon took the podium at the Albany Hilton and launched into attack mode. She noted that Cuomo, along with Senate GOP Leader John Flanagan, Assembly Democratic Majority Speaker Carl Heastie and IDC leader Jeff Klein are hammering out an anti-sexual harassment bill, even though the state's top female elected official, Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, hasn't been in on the closed-door talks. "It's all scripted," she said of what the 2018-19 budget presentation will be. During a brief question and answer session, Nixon was asked if she thought Cuomo's 2 percent cap on state spending made sense. She said the spending cap was "disastrous." "It shrinks the budget year after year," she said. She massaged a follow-up question about whether she agreed with the 2 percent local property tax cap that Cuomo has imposed, and which polls show is popular with homeowners. "We need to not have it based on property values," she said although she added that she favors more state rather than local funding. But she later added that "He makes it very difficult if a locality wants to raise taxes on itself for education." The state's education establishment, which supports the Alliance for Quality Education, has long struggled with the 2 percent property tax cap since it limits the growth in local property taxes that schools can raise from homeowners each year. Nixon added that she supports Heastie's call for higher income taxes on those earning $5 million and up, which would be phased in over time. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Nixon also made a minor gaffe when asked about the links between corruption on Long Island and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. "I'm not running for governor, I'm running for mayor,'' she said, followed by "Scratch that. Flip it." One area where she took a pass was on Cuomo's joke-turned-gaffe at an African-American church on Sunday regarding blacks, Catholics, Jews and their respective dancing skills. "I want you to know as a matter of full disclosure, I am a Catholic. Catholics basically believe the same teachings that Baptists believe," Cuomo said at Harlem's Mount Neboh Baptist Church. "We just do it without the rhythm. But we try. We are not as without rhythm as some of our Jewish brothers and sisters." Cuomo then ribbed Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime friend, who was at the event. "I was watching Mr. Sheinkopf here in the front row moving to the music. It was ugly, I'll tell you the truth." Several people later said they realized Cuomo was joking but believed the joke fell flat. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU Keith Raniere, the co-founder and leader of NXIVM, will remain in federal custody and be returned to New York later this week to face federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Raniere was shackled and dressed in a T-shirt, athletic shorts and sneakers similar to the clothes he was wearing as he was arrested Sunday near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when he was brought before a U.S. magistrate on Tuesday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas. Raniere declined to speak with reporters and said only, "Yes, Your Honor," when he was asked by the judge if he understood his rights. Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Penza, who is leading the investigation for the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn, attended the brief proceeding but did not speak. Raniere was represented by a criminal defense attorney from Fort Worth, who told the judge that Raniere would waive his right to challenge his extradition from the Eastern District of New York. Three people who appeared to be supporters of Raniere's attended the brief proceeding but declined to speak to reporters. Another man, who said he is from Mexico and had driven to Texas to attend the proceeding, said he was "concerned but not worried" about Raniere's arrest. He declined to give his name. Raniere will remain in the custody of U.S. marshals without bond pending his return to New York. A warrant for his arrest was issued Feb. 14, after federal prosecutors filed a sealed complaint in Brooklyn charging Raniere with several felony counts. The extraordinary arrest of Raniere marks the downfall of the leader of an international "self-help" organization that has been headquartered in the Capital Region for roughly two decades. Some experts have described NXIVM as a cult, and the criminal prosecution of Raniere has forced the secretive man who calls himself "Vanguard" out of the shadows and under the spotlight of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. The federal criminal complaint accuses Raniere of forming a group within NXIVM in which women said they were coerced into joining a slave-master club. The women, some of whom said they were pressured to have sex with Raniere, told federal authorities that a female doctor associated with NXIVM used a cauterizing iron to brand them with a design on their lower abdomen that contained the initials of Raniere and Allison Mack, an actress and NXIVM associate who is listed in the complaint as an unnamed co-conspirator. Raniere was taken into custody by Mexican federal police who tracked him to a $10,000-a-week villa near Puerto Vallarta, where he was staying with several women, federal officials said. In court filings, U.S. Justice Department officials said that Raniere fled to Mexico last November when the federal investigation began. They have asked for him to be detained without bond while the case is pending, describing him as a flight risk and danger to the community. Federal authorities said Raniere has access to millions of dollars and private jets, and that he stopped using his mobile phone and began using encrypted email after he arrived in Mexico, which made him difficult to locate. Warning: The document below contains graphic depictions of alleged sexual activity. In the hours preceding Raniere's court appearance in Texas, FBI agents spent several hours combing through the Saratoga County residence of NXIVM's co-founder and president, Nancy Salzman. The FBI's raid of Salzman's residence signaled a wider criminal investigation of the secretive organization than just the sex-trafficking allegations that led to the arrest this week of its longtime leader. A former NXIVM associate, Kristen M. Keeffe, who defected from the organization several years ago, alleged in 2015 that large amounts of cash used to be stored in a safe at Salzman's residence. The allegations made by Keeffe were contained in a transcript of a telephone conversation that took place in March 2015 between Keeffe and Barbara J. Bouchey, a former NXIVM executive board member who was facing computer trespassing charges at the time. Bouchey and three others were accused by NXIVM of of improperly accessing the corporation's website, but the charges against Bouchey and two others were dismissed. While Bouchey's case was pending, her attorneys filed a copy of the transcript to buttress their argument that top NXIVM officials have used litigation, as well as the criminal case, to attack her and other perceived adversaries. Keeffe described many of those tactics during the lengthy conversation, and also provided allegations about Salzman. Keeffe, who was part of Raniere's inner circle for many years, told Bouchey that money collected from people who took NXIVM training sessions in Mexico was funneled across the border into the United States. She claimed that Salzman, among others, would allegedly "bring the cash over the border." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The money, which was allegedly funneled through the bank account of a Mexican associate, was "logged on the system as a scholarship and cash was kept in Nancy's house," Keeffe said. "And the cash for a certain time period, I doubt it's still there, was kept in a safe in Nancy's house," Keeffe added during the recorded conversation. "If Keith ever had to go into hiding it was Keith's off-the-grid fund. And the last time I heard about it, there was two and a half million dollars in it." In a federal court filing this week, the Justice Department said that for the past 18 months Raniere had been using a credit card and bank account in the name of a former NXIVM associate and girlfriend, Pamela Cafritz, who died in November 2016. Federal prosecutors said the bank account holds about $8 million. Salzman has been an influential figure in the organization since it was set up more than two decades ago. She also was involved in some of the medical research studies that were performed by a doctor associated with NXIVM, Brandon B. Porter. On Sunday, the Times Union reported that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office is conducting a separate investigation of a nonprofit foundation associated with NXIVM that allegedly sponsored brain-activity and other human behavioral studies without any apparent oversight, according to court records. The nonprofit Ethical Science Foundation was formed in 2007 by Clare E. Bronfman, who owns a horse farm in Delanson and is listed in public records as the trustee and donor of the foundation. At the request of the attorney general's office, a state Supreme Court justice recently signed an order directing Bronfman and Porter, who is involved with NXIVM and conducted the human studies, to turn over all documentation associated with the research, including any written communications, videos, conclusions, consent forms and the names and addresses of "individuals associated with Ethical Science Foundation who participated in any manner with the studies." A Vancouver woman, Jennifer Kobelt, said in a complaint filed with the state Health Department last year that a bizarre experiment she was subjected to by Porter took place in a small commercial building in Halfmoon that has been used for years by NXIVM for training and seminars. Kobelt said she was recruited for the study by an assistant of Salzman and that she knew of at least four other women who took part. Barry Shlachter contributed reporting from Fort Worth, Texas. ALBANY Department of Environmental Conservation officers, State Police and Albany County animal control officers removed a coyote found Tuesday on the outdoor terrace of the State Museum. State Police were first on the scene after the coyote was spotted outside on the fourth floor, which is a popular visitors' area due to the historical displays and views. Because the terrace is open to the public year round, police soon ordered everyone to leave the floor as animal control officers from the surrounding area were called in. EAST GREENBUSH Town Justice Mary Pat Donnelly has been selected by Rensselaer County Democrats as their candidate to run for district attorney, Democrats with knowledge of Donnellys candidacy said. Donnelly is seen as a strong candidate for a race that will highlight Republican District Attorney Joel Abeloves legal and administrative problems. Abelove is scheduled to go to trial on a felony perjury charge and two misdemeanor counts related to his handling of a grand jury investigation of a fatal police shooting of a DWI suspect in April 2016 in Troy. The county Democrats Executive Committee will officially endorse Donnelly, a two-term town justice, when they meet April 12. The Democrats are counting on Donnelly to regain the troubled district attorneys office improving their chances of gaining support from suburban voters, especially women. Democrats see Donnellys past electoral success in East Greenbush, the countys most populous town, as a key factor to regaining the district attorneys office. Donnelly was not immediately available for comment Tuesday. County Democratic Chairman Michael Monescalchi did not respond to requests for comment. Democrats said Monescalchi doesn't want to announce Donnelly's candidacy until the county Executive Committee meets. Donnellys selection came after an interview process. Democratic leaders had asked local Democrats for recommendations. During the petitioning period, Abelove will go on trial on June 20 in Rensselaer County Court. The state Attorney Generals Office is prosecuting Abelove following an investigation into his handling of the fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin by Troy police Sgt. Randall French. The county Republicans have not yet officially indicated if they will seek a candidate to replace Abelove or stick with him as their candidate. The district attorney has spent most of his first term in office dealing with the state investigation of his actions as well as dealing with a high turnover rate of assistant district attorneys and case management. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Donnelly will have to resign as town justice after she accepts the nomination after the end of the petitioning period in July. East Greenbush officials have begun discussions about selecting her replacement. Donnelly is a graduate of Columbia High School, University at Albany and Albany Law School. She was first elected town justice in 2012 then re-elected in 2016. She currently works in the Albany City Court as an attorney. She also has worked as a states attorney in Bennington, Vt. and as an attorney for the East Greenbush Zoning Board of Appeals. Donnelly and her husband, Albany Detective Sgt. Patrick Donnelly, live with their children in the town. She has been very active in the East Greenbush school district as a volunteer and with the East Greenbush Girls Softball League and the Castleton Little League. Washington The United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats on Monday and the Trump administration ordered Russia's consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Moscow's alleged poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain. Warning of an "unacceptably high" number of Russian spies in the U.S., the Trump administration said 60 diplomats would be expelled all Russian intelligence agents working under diplomatic cover, the U.S. said. The group includes a dozen posted to Russia's mission to the United Nations who the officials said were engaged in "aggressive collection" of intelligence on American soil. The move was one of the most significant actions President Donald Trump's administration has taken to date to punish Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The last time they spoke, less than a week ago, Trump congratulated Putin for his re-election but didn't raise the March 4 spy poisoning. "This is the largest expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in United States history," said U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman. The American penalties were echoed by announcements in European capitals across the continent, including those in Russia's backyard. All told, 18 countries were ousting more than 100 Russian spies, British Prime Minister Theresa May said, in addition to 23 already kicked out by the U.K. The list included at least 16 European Union nations, with more likely to follow. Germany, Poland and France each planned to boot four, the Czech Republic three and Italy two. Ukraine, a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, was expelling 13 Russians, President Petro Poroshenko said. All three Baltic states said they would kick diplomats out. Canada, too, said it was taking action, kicking out four and denying three who have applied to enter the country. Almost all of the countries said publicly that the Russian diplomats they were expelling were actually spies. In Washington, Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, was summoned early Friday to the State Department and told that the 60 diplomats would have one week to leave the country, the State Department said. Russia's Embassy in Washington responded on Twitter by hinting at retaliation, asking its followers to vote which U.S. consulate should be shuttered: St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg or Vladivostok. Russia will likely respond quid pro quo using the "principle of reciprocity," the Kremlin said a suggestion that Russia may expel an equal number of diplomats. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Russia's Consulate General in Seattle must close by April 2. The facility is a particular counter-intelligence concern to the U.S. because of its proximity to a U.S. Navy base, said the senior U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S. actions appeared to signal an increased level of concern about the extent of Russian spying in the United States. Senior officials said they estimated Russia had roughly 100 intelligence officials at its diplomatic posts in the U.S., suggesting that dozens will remain even after the 60 are expelled. "The United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Russia's misconduct," said U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump's envoy to the U.N. The steps on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean add to a serious escalation of tensions between Russia and the West that has been building since the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the U.K., and his daughter, Yulia. The two remain in critical condition and unconscious. A policeman who responded to their home was also injured. Britain has accused Moscow of perpetrating the attack using a Soviet-developed nerve agent known as Novichok. The U.S., France and Germany have agreed it's highly likely Russia was responsible. Russia's government has denied responsibility and has blasted Britain's investigation into the poisoning. Monday's expulsions appear to involve the largest number of Russians kicked out of the United States since 1986, when the Reagan administration expelled 55. The George W. Bush administration expelled 50 Russians in 2001 in retaliation for the Robert Hanssen spy case. In its waning days, the Obama administration expelled 35 over alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This month, Trump's administration hit Russians with its first sanctions for the campaign interference, and accused Moscow of an elaborate plot to hack America's electric grid and key infrastructure. 3 1 of 3 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Show More Show Less 2 of 3 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Show More Show Less 3 of 3 FORT ANN Troopers are looking for a 16-year-old who ran away from his Washington County nearly two weeks ago. Alexander Mershon of Fort Ann was last seen on March 16, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Albany Electric car maker Tesla is back in the Capitol pushing for permission to expand its network of dealers into upstate markets after an unsuccessful attempt almost a year ago. Id like to make sure theres an opportunity for people to buy these vehicles in upstate New York, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle said Tuesday during a press conference to promote a bill that would allow the cars to be sold across the state. The measure is also sponsored by Albany Democratic Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy as well as Jo Anne Simon of Brooklyn, which is the automakers New York base. Republican George Amedore of Schenectady is sponsoring the measure in the Senate. Thanks to the states restrictive rules on who can or cant sell new automobiles, someone who lives in, say, Buffalo or Albany has to travel to Ontario, Pennsylvania or the New York City area to buy one of these electric cars. Cars are traditionally sold by auto dealers, which are franchisees of automakers. Dealers purchase autos on a wholesale basis from the manufacturers and then sell and service the cars to the public. Tesla, though, takes a different approach, which is analogous to Apple stores where computers are sold directly to the public rather than through separate retailers. Auto dealers are a powerful political force and they have so far been successful in limiting Teslas direct-to-consumer stores. Tesla currently has five company-run stores, all in the downstate region including Westchester, New York City and Long Island. The bill in question would expand to 20 the number of stores that Tesla could have with at least five being located upstate. It would also dictate that Tesla would offer service at their stores. Auto dealers have said their approach works well since motorists can get the cars serviced where they are purchased. Will Nicholas, senior manager for policy and business development at Tesla, noted the parent company is committed to upstate, through construction of a state-subsidized solar panel factory in Buffalo. Teslas push is coming as they are preparing to ramp up their Model 3, which at around $35,000 is viewed as a potential volume leader. Their other models run $70,000 and up. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. More for you Photos: Tesla event Will Thomas of Albany was among the Tesla fans who was going to visit lawmakers to urge them to pass the legislation. He just ordered a Tesla Model 3 and hopes that having a dealer nearby would help for when the car needs servicing. About 13,000 New Yorkers have reserved orders for the Model 3, said Nicholas. Currently Capital Region Tesla owners have to send their vehicles to Mount Kisco, Westchester, or other distant locations for service, noted Steve Simmons, another Albany Tesla owner, who has a 2015 Model S. Thomas said he looked at other all-electric cars such as the Chevrolet Bolt but said the salespeople didnt seem familiar with the cars features. It wasnt on their radar as something to sell. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU Joe Percoco told reporters he was "disappointed" in the verdict and would consider his legal options. Disappointed? Really? As Chris Churchill eloquently described it ("Andrew Cuomo broke his biggest promise," March 13), the Democratic governor ran on cleaning up Albany and didn't. On top of that we have a Republican-controlled Senate that, with the governor's help, blocks any attempt at meaningful ethics reform, voting reform, or anything else that might clean up Albany. New York leads the nation in corruption. We have more public officials behind bars than any other state and we haven't even gotten to the retrials of Shelly Silver, Dean Skelos and son, Alain Kaloyeros and Joseph Nicolla. Patients and staff at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital are set to benefit from being included in the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR). The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), in conjunction with the HSE Office of the CIO and the UL Hospitals eHealth Division, are currently rolling out INOR, a national electronic register of patients receiving joint replacement (hip and knee) surgery in Ireland. Croom, which caters for patients from North Tipperary, is the largest site to date and the third hospital in Ireland to go-live with the Register. At Croom, with patient consent, INOR will now collect information electronically at pre-operative, surgical and post-operative assessment stages, from patients who are undergoing joint replacement surgery. This will in turn support early detection of implant performance and improve the efficiency of the review process for patients attending Croom. The new electronic system will replace the paper based system at Croom, and records will now be available nationally in a central Register for the first time In addition, NOCA plans to produce national reports on factors that impact on the success of joint replacement surgery. Croom Orthopaedic Hospital is part of the UL Hospitals Group and supports Orthopaedic, Specialist Pain Management and Rheumatology Services in the Midwest. In 2017 , over 800 joint replacement operations were performed at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. Speaking about INOR, Mr Brian Lenehan, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Lead for the INOR Project in Croom said, INOR was designed to help surgeons in Ireland to improve the quality of services and care provided to patients who are having or who have had joint replacement surgery. In addition, the data may also be used for research projects in the future which will in turn further enhance patient care. INOR will also be hugely beneficial for our staff in terms of providing them with a state of the art electronic system for data collection, leading to greater efficiencies. I would like to thank all of my team here in Croom for their dedication to this project and for bringing it to fruition, explained Mr. Lenehan. Suzanne Rowley, National INOR Coordinator with NOCA said We would like to thank all involved in the project from Croom. They underwent significant change in their processes to enable the implementation of INOR within their hospital. We had complete buy-in from both the medical and nursing staff from the outset, who worked in partnership with us to facilitate this change. We are thankful for the support and dedication of all the staff in Croom, who have enabled this vitally important initiative to go-live in their hospital. Roll-out of INOR to the remaining public elective orthopaedic surgery sites is underway and will be completed by the end of 2019. RTE television's Prime Time will examine Irish Water's proposal to take water from Lough Derg and pump it to Dublin to solve what it says is a water problem in the capital and surrounding counties. Lawyer Emma Kennedy, researcher for River Shannon Protection Alliance, who is based in Zurich, will argue the case against the proposed abstraction of 330 million litres per day from the Shannon to the East Coast. The project is estimated to cost up to 1.2bn and would see water being pumped to Birdhill and on to Cloughjordan before using gravity to take it to a new reservoir outside Dublin. Ms Kennedy has analysed Irish water's published reports from day one and has stated Irish Water's plan is based on "miscalculations and speculative figures". Ms Kennedy argues that there would be no need for the 172km long pipe if money was spent on fixing the major leakages in Dublin's Victorian water supply system. Prime Time is on RTE1 at 9.35pm this Tuesday, March 27. Mercedes-Benz is joining a host of other automakers in offering a new kind of ownership experience that will allow customers to drive the car of their dreams without actually owning them. Just like Volvo , Cadillac , and Porsche , the German automaker is in the final stages of developing a pilot program for a flat-rate vehicle subscription service, called Mercedes me Flexperience. The goal of this is service is to offer an alternative way to owning a Mercedes without actually having to buy it outright. The program is already available in a few countries, but it could also find its way into the U.S. as early as this year. In a day and age when subscription services have taken hold of consumer interest and preference, its good to see that automakers are taking advantage of the opportunities and potential this kind of service provides. Mercedes is the latest automaker to get on board this new business model, and its not wasting any time getting it off the ground. At the moment, the automakers Mercedes me Flexperience service is already in operation in Germany. Beyond that, there are now plans to offer it in the U.S. market. "We plan to have something ready within this year," Britta Seeger, global head of sales for Mercedes-Benz, told Automotive News at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. "We are in the final conclusion stage. For all the expected uncertainty that comes with a business model, a subscription service is proving to be an appealing option for a lot of customers. A number of other automakers have adopted similar approaches in recent months and years, including Volvos well-publicized Care by Volvo, as well as Cadillacs own version, Book by Cadillac, which is already available in a number of U.S. cities. Other automakers like Porsche have begun to offer a similar service, all of which are geared towards helping prospective customers get drive the car of dreams without actually having to buy it for themselves. Mercedes new Flexperience service is now available in Germany, giving subscribers the opportunity to choose as many as 12 vehicles per year from one of its four most popular segments: the A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, and S Class. Subscriptions will be offered for the four vehicle classes, and the corresponding price will vary depending on which model a subscriber gets. There is also an option to upgrade from one model to another, but thats going to come at an extra cost depending on what the new model is going to be. The process may get away from traditional car ownership, but if it means being able to drive a model you cant afford for a specific time and then trading up for a bigger and better car when youre done with the first one, then the service should draw plenty of buzz and attention when it launches in the U.S. sometime in 2019. Regardless of the mechanics, the mere mention that the Mercedes me Flexiperience is headed to the U.S should pique the interest of prospective consumers. References Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet. Read more Mercedes-Benz news. South Africa is keen to sign the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Monday. South Africa wants to sign and will sign when this agreement is in a state that enables us to sign, Minister Davies told a media briefing in Tshwane. The Ministers comments come following last Wednesdays signing by 44 African countries of the agreement establishing the AfCFTA. The agreement signed by countries, including Niger, Rwanda, Chad and Angola, was signed during the 10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) on the AfCFTA in Kigali, Rwanda. South Africa did not sign the agreement but held off on signing until legal and other instruments associated with AfCFTA are processed and ratified by South African stakeholders and Parliament. At the briefing, Minister Davies said there were a series of annexes and appendices which have not yet been legally scrubbed. He said South Africa has no problem with the overall content of the AfCFTA. The documents are like a circuit board that is yet to have the transistors in them. They dont yet have the circuits linked up, he said, adding that some of the outstanding matters relate to tariff schedules. South Africa has a relatively high bar before we can sign an international agreement. That high bar requires that we dont sign things where theres a reference to some appendix or annex that is not part of the agreement. The work on the annexes is likely to be done by the end of April, after which the documentation will be looked at by lawyers at the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) and Justice and Constitutional Development, among others. In addition, South Africa wants to participate in the subsequent processes of the AfCFTA, which is aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of businesses and investments. The AfCFTA will make Africa the largest free trade area created in terms of the number of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization, according to the African Union (AU). We will want to participate in the subsequent processes, which involve important discussion around institutional structure to drive this, the secretariat and how to address the tariff schedule process. The message we want to leave is that South Africa is very much part of this process. We are not holding back. We dont have reservations or differences, said the Minister. Concerns and opportunities South Africa is concerned that the country does not want to see the agreement becoming a conduit for products coming from outside of the region with low levels of value addition being traded under the terms of the agreement. Instead, South Africa wants to make sure that the interregional trade it supports is the trade in products that support diversification and industrialisation on the African continent. The AfCFTA, said Minister Davies, will boost intra-African trade and create a bigger market of 1.07 billion people with a combined nominal Gross Domestic Product of the African continent at US$3.3 trillion. US tariffs on steel and aluminium products Turning his attention to South Africas position regarding the Section 232 investigation by the US on steel and aluminium products, Minister Davies said South Africa is prepared to engage the US on quotas. US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to impose a 10% ad valorem tariff on imports of aluminium products and a 25% ad valorem tariff on steel imports, which took effect on Friday. The proclamation makes provision for country-based exclusions from the duties, should the US and that country arrive at a satisfactory alternative means to address the perceived threat to national security. South Africa made its case to the US that its exports of steel and aluminium are a very small proportion of the total imports of these products by the US. In the case of steel this is less than 1% of imports of steel by the US, while for aluminium its at 1.6%. We are a very small part of the US market. Our products [steel and aluminium] are also not a major part of our overall export basket, said Minister Davies. However, he said a number of companies could be significantly affected and that there is a risk of a few thousand jobs being lost as a result of the implementation of the tariff measures. On the basis of that, we requested that we be exempted. That letter was [sent] on 16 March, he said. How exemptions are decided by the US Last week, Minister Davies held a teleconference on the issue with US Ambassador CJ Mahoney, the Deputy United States Trade Representative for Investment, Services, Labour, Environment, Africa, China and the Western Hemisphere. Mahoney, who had not yet seen South Africas letter, said there are several criteria that the global super power looks at in terms of exemptions that are decided by the US President himself. Among the criteria is whether or not South Africa is prepared to accept a quota, as well as what South Africa is doing to deal with the global glut of steel in its own market. The US also wants to be assured that if South Africa is given any kind of slack, that it would not be used as a gateway for the trans-shipment of products coming from other third countries. This morning, we met with the companies concerned and I can indicate that we are prepared to talk about a quota. Those companies will also be making their own representation, Minister Davies said. The Minister, however, would not divulge the names the companies involves. What I can say is that we are responding to this to try to ensure that we retain the productive capacity that we already have of companies that are involved in this trade and the jobs in particular that come from this trade, he said. A decision on the matter will be taken by the US before the end of April. CBD height districts new.jpg A map prepared by Cleveland's planning department shows new height limits applied to downtown and surrounding areas. The city is cleaning up zoning, taking the number of height districts in and around the central business district from 67 to three. (Cleveland City Planning Commission) CLEVELAND, Ohio - An effort to simplify zoning in downtown Cleveland will make it easier for developers to push projects forward - and boost the value of a financing tool that's played a role in reviving and preserving historic buildings. Cleveland City Council approved legislation Monday evening that will reduce the number of height districts in and around the central business district from 67 to three. The change will take effect in 30 days. In some cases, developers will have more leeway to build into the sky, without securing special permissions from Cleveland's Board of Zoning Appeals. Closer to the lakefront, the new classifications will limit the height of new buildings, protecting views of the water and bringing the zoning in line with the structures that already exist - or are planned. The clean-up downtown is part of a broader attempt by city planners to modernize and clarify Cleveland's antiquated zoning code. Other ordinances being crafted would require liner buildings, filled with offices, retail or other active uses, on new downtown parking garages. Planners want to jettison requirements that paradoxically treat new downtown buildings like houses, set back from the street and with limited density. Today, developers must seek variances to avoid those rules, in a process that's time-consuming and sometimes costly. The city also wants to eliminate parking requirements on the east bank of the Flats, to discourage developers from razing buildings for surface lots. (Projects downtown already are exempt from parking minimums.) And a separate piece of legislation pending before council will streamline zoning on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River, where condos, apartments, restaurants and recreation mingle with industry - and additional development, including a hotel, is on the drawing board. A map shows proposed zoning revisions for properties on the west bank of the Flats, where housing, entertainment venues and recreational uses occupy former industrial sites. Refining downtown-area zoning is a precursor to planners' goal of creating a new citywide code. Within two years, the planning department aims to test form-based zoning - a more predictable, holistic set of regulations that would allow multiple uses on a single piece of land - in two or three neighborhoods. If that rollout goes smoothly, the new zoning gradually would expand across the city. But that's a much bigger challenge than dispensing with dozens of different height limits downtown, where some restrictions apply to only one or two properties and district boundaries bisect blocks or follow train lines or streets that no longer exist. "We're the planning department, and once we recognized the problem ... it was our obligation to fix it," Kyle Reisz, the city's chief planner, said of discussions that started with the nonprofit Historic Warehouse District Development Corp. and downtown property owners. The mishmash of existing height districts ranges from 60 to 900 feet. The new districts top out at 175 feet, from the lakefront south to Lakeside Avenue; 600 feet, across much of downtown; and 900 feet, in a several-block area around Public Square including parking lots that are logical sites for high-rise projects. To get an idea of what that looks like, think of Key Tower - Ohio's tallest building - which is 888 feet tall (and grows to 947 feet if you include the building's spire). Councilman Kerry McCormack, who represents much of downtown, said the changes will "standardize things for new development and bring more predictability for investment in the community - and less just random patchwork, which is the story of Cleveland's zoning code." Increased height limits not only will reduce developers' need for zoning variances but also will increase the potential value of conservation easements, a financing tool that forever protects a historic building and, in exchange, provides a tax break for the property owner. "It's a positive move, in every respect," said Antonin Robert, an executive at GBX Group, a major investor on the east side of downtown with expertise in tax credits. In downtown Cleveland, the value of easements is tied to two things: The facade of the building, which gets preserved, and the lost development rights, which relate to zoning. Those lost rights are more valuable if a developer is giving up the ability to build a 30-story addition atop a historic building, rather than a 10-story tower. Consider the largely vacant May Co. building on Public Square, which Detroit-based real estate company Bedrock bought last year. The existing zoning puts a height limit of 250 feet on that property. After Monday's council vote, that limit will grow to 600 feet. If Bedrock opts to put an easement on the property, permanently ensuring that nobody can build something on top of the former department store, that increased height limit would translate to a bigger tax break - producing more money for the renovation project, in turn. Historic easements are complicated and costly up-front, and they carry audit risks. But they've played a role in generating equity for notable preservation projects in Cleveland for two decades, from the restoration of the ornate Arcade downtown to the Cleveland Institute of Art's campus in University Circle to apartments buildings in other neighborhoods. Tom Yablonsky, executive director for the Warehouse District, said he's already talking to property owners about the potential impact on their buildings and projects. His organization oversees easements on historic buildings throughout the city. "It just helps, in general, if the zoning is rational," he said of clearing up height districts downtown. "Development has to be kind of orderly, understood." AfroChampions Initiative commits USD 1 million on awareness-raising actions On the occasion of the AfCFTA Business Forum, the African Union and the AfroChampions Initiative have just released their roadmap for the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The AfroChampions Initiative thus becomes an official platform of exchange between the African private sector and the leaders of the African Union, and in particular its department in charge of Trade and Industry. As part of this roadmap, various awareness-raising and private sector consultation activities will be carried out by the AfroChampions Initiative, which announces that it has committed through its members a US$ one million budget for this outreach and advocacy campaign. This campaign will be structured around 4 projects: Enhancing public-private dialogue around the AfCFTA, whose objective is to promote smooth and effective implementation across all the countries and economic actors of the continent. In this context, representatives of the African Union will participate in a series of sensitization meetings with local business communities starting the month of April 2018, to gather questions and concerns about the AfCFTA Agreement. These exchanges will focus on concrete topics of relevance to the private sector including tariffs and non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, free movement of labour and capital, customs clearance, mutual recognition and traceability of products. Research and knowledge sharing to support the African Unions public policies impacting business The AfroChampions Initiatives research center, will share its extensive research work on intra-African investment, trade and African multinationals to inform and support the AUs interactions and policies. The promotion of intra-African trade and investment, in collaboration with Afreximbank. The African Union Commission and the AfroChampions Initiative plan to work on organizing regular regional meetings to highlight major economic projects that could impact several countries simultaneously. Dialogue with civil society. With the conviction that free movement of people is the key to a successful AfCFTA in the long term, the AfroChampions Initiative has just launched the AfricaPassportNow! Campaign, which consists of a citizens online petition to Governments speed up the creation of a unique African passport accessible to every African. The African Union and the AfroChampions Initiative both share the same mission of Africas development, said His Excellency Mr. Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. I believe our collaboration will yield concrete results. I look forward to working alongside these leaders who will bring their rich experience to make the free movement of goods, services and investments a reality and a chance for all Africans. At the AfroChampions Initiative, were excited to see that both public and private decision-makers are aligned on the urgency of the continental free trade area, said Ali Mufuruki, CEO of Infotech Investments group, and vice-chair of the AfroChampions Club Council for Eastern Africa. We represent businesses and corporate leaders who are committed to working with Governments to make the AfCFTA an instrument of shared growth, capable of strengthening African know-how, creating regional value chains, and facilitating the deployment of African innovations all over the continent. About the AfCFTA The main objectives of the AfCFTA are to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Customs Union. It will also expand intra-African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade liberalization and facilitation and instruments across the RECs and across Africa in general. The AfCFTA is also expected to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploitation of opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources. Under the leadership of the AfCFTA Leader, Mr Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger, the AfCFTA agreement has been finalised by African Union Ministers for Trade on December 4, 2017. It is expected to be signed and ratified by African Union member states throughout 2018, while discussions will continue on protocol and implementation processes until 2020. About the African Union and its Department for Trade and Industry The vision of the African Union is that of: An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena. To help achieving this vision on the economic front, the Department for Trade and industry, under the leadership of Commissioner Albert Muchanga, leads on matters relating to intra-African economic integration, and notably the AfCFTA negotiations in collaboration with other departments in the AUC. About the AfroChampions Initiative The AfroChampions Initiative is a public-private partnership designed to galvanize African resources and institutions to support the emergence and success of African private sector multinational champions in the regional and global spheres. The Initiative, driven by the AfroChampions Organization, was founded by the advisory firm Konfidants; and is Co-Chaired by President Thabo Mbeki and Mr. Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group. The Initiative is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and works with regional and global partners and governments, with the support of other corporate and institutional partners including ADS Group, the Djondo Fellowship, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Thabo Mbeki Foundation. As a strategic platform within the Initiative, the AfroChampions Club, Chaired by Mr Aliko Dangote, seeks to work with African governments to support policies and public-sector innovations that drive African economic integration, regional economic clusters and value chains. About the AfricaPassportNow! Campaign The petition for the quick creation of a unique African passport is directed to African nationals from the continent and the diaspora and has been launched by the AfroChampions Initiative, as part of its efforts to promote and accelerate Africas economic integration. View the petition here. Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has apprised about the governments foreign policy to all the foreign diplomats available in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Prime Minister Oli apprised all the ambassadors and officials of international diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu, among other representatives of bilateral development agencies about the future course of the government particularly in the foreign policy. During hours long brief organized at Prime Ministers official residence, Baluwatar, Prime Minister Oli informed the diplomats on governments plans and foreign policy cautioning even them not to breach the diplomatic duties while making comments or report about Nepal. Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Hi there, Just a few questions I have decided not to get a JR pass for my time in Japan as my long distance travel only consists of Tokyo to Mount fuji, Mount fuji to Osaka, Osaka to Tokyo. And the 14 day pass is $540.00 and limits my bullet train options. I am aware it is Golden Week, Im traveling from Lake Kawaguchiko to Osaka on the 27th April ( just before Golden Week). Do you think I will be able to just go into the station on the day and buy my ticket? Im ok if there is a bit of a wait, i just don't want to be stuck in one place. The other travel is Osaka to Tokyo on the 2nd of May, Again, will it be OK to buy on the day ( don't mind waiting a few hours if need be, just don't want to be stuck in Osaka when I've got accom back in Tokyo). I think that because its still holiday, a lot of people will be leaving Tokyo also, so hopefully I can get a seat on the Bullet trains for all my long distance travel? Last question, Im wanting to buy a camera, is it best to pay with cash as I'm aware that not many places accept eftpos? Thanks in advance. :) Yukata rental: Should I do it in Kyoto or Tokyo Yukata rental: Should I do it in Kyoto or Tokyo Hi, I'm planning a trip to Japan this September - going to both Kyoto and Tokyo. One of my wishlist is to rent a yukata. Where do you think is a better place to rent and take photos with yukata: Kyoto or Tokyo? A few criteria for me is: - Variety of yukata - Nice scenery to take photos: I was thinking of Gion in Kyoto or Asakusa in Tokyo - Price of rental: which place generally offer cheaper rental Thank you! Hi - I was wondering if anyone on this forum can help answer this question. I am planning a 2 week trip for my family this coming Christmas/New Years to Japan & Taiwan. We will be flying from California. Which country would you suggest flying to first? This is kids' first time to Taiwan, will be there to see some family. Possibly with one side-trip. None of us have been to Japan. Will want to spend one day at a Disney park and then another trip to Kyoto to see a friend. Any suggestions? Thanks! How do I get from the airport (JFK, LGA, or EWR) to Manhattan? What To Do During Layovers? Vacation Apartment Rentals Violate NYC Laws Hotels: Kitchenettes and kitchens in 100+ Manhattan Hotels Hotels: Two queen beds plus a kitchen/kitchenette Hotels: Guests under 21 years old (but at least 18) Hotels: Which ones charge an additional Resort or Facilities Fee Hotels: When is the best time to go for cheaper rates? What are the Must-See's and Must-Do's? How Do I Ride the Subway (UPDATED)? Tips, Hint and Suggestions for First Timers SCAMS to avoid in NYC What Will the Weather Be Like During My Trip? Any Good Websites for Researching My Trip? How Safe is New York? Where to Eat in NYC Where to eat in NYC - Part 2 Celiac in the City? (gluten free) Which Area Should I Stay In? Is There Cheaper Lodging Outside Manhattan? How Much Do I Tip People? Are the New York Pass, Explorer Pass or CityPass worth it? How Do I Hail a Taxi? Public restrooms/toilets. Where do you go when you GOTTA GO? Where are the best areas for shopping? How do I find Discount Tickets for Broadway Shows? Events for Halloween 2019 in NYC Thanksgiving 2019 in NYC: What to Do & Where to Eat Christmastime in NYC 2020: Dates for the Trees-Windows-Markets-Ice Skating+MORE! Christmas Day 2019 in NYC: What to Do & Where to Eat What Should I Do on New Year's Eve? How Will I Survive the Cold Weather? Where are the Farmers Markets and Street Fairs? What is there to see and do near WTC/SOL/Brooklyn Bridge/SI ferry? What should I know about visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum? What Is There to See and Do in Brooklyn? How Do I Get to the Brooklyn Bridge? What Is There to See and Do in Queens? Exploring neighborhoods - where should I go and what should I see? Which is the best? ESB or TOTR or OWO? Which are the significant churches in Manhattan? Hidden Gems in the city - not so touristy How do I get from NYC to the Meadowlands and back? I'm Getting Married in NYC...what do I need to do? Should I Buy Knock-Off Purses? What to Do with Kids and How to Do It? What should we do at night -- especially with kids or under 21's? Places to eat (and drink) with a view Where is the Old FAQ? Trip Reports: Families with Young Kids - Add yours! Trip Reports: Groups of Friends - Add yours! Trip Reports: Couples - Add yours! Trip Reports: Families with Teenagers - Add yours! Trip Reports: Solo Travelers - Add yours! Trip Reports: Families of Adults - Add yours! KMTC is the most recognized institution for the training of health professionals in Kenya. Their main focus as a center of excellence being, the mandate of training mid-level health workers to serve in all levels of the health sector. This is in line with Kenya's aspirations to accomplish universal health care by 2022. According to the Standard, KMTC entered into a partnership with the Somali government, in an effort to aid aspiring Somali students to enroll in various disciplines in the institution. An initial batch of 200 Somali nurses and clinical officers have already embarked on their courses on various campuses. Source: Twitter There is currently an average of 34,000 students enrolled in KMTC at any time. Additionally, 1900 highly competent administrative and teaching staff serve various roles in their respective departments. The more than 8000 students who graduate are absorbed in both private and public health sector, making them a major source of the medical workforce that currently stands at 80%. The health training facility was started at Kenya Institute of Administration (KIA), Kabete in 1927 with just four student. From those humble beginnings, KMTC has transformed into a state-of-the-art institution with 65 constituent colleges to its name. Its strategic campuses, which are spread all over Kenya are located proximate to referral or county hospitals-a well-suited environment conducive for the internship program. The institution has for years earned recognition for its efforts and investment in Kenyas health care. It hosted the 5th Scientific Conference in March, the main theme was the need to address practical research that could translate into diagnostic technologies necessary to combat major ailments. READ ALSO: Top Universities in Africa for Kenyans: Which Institutions Are the Best? KMTC accepts applicants from far and beyond the borders of Kenya. A large number come from within the East Africa Community and Central Africa. All international or foreign Students are however required to convert their qualifications to conform to Kenyas minimum entry qualifications stipulated by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). The main campus and headquarters - Kenya Medical Training College Nairobi, is situated just opposite Kenyatta National Hospital, along the busy Old Mbagathi Road. KMTC courses and fee structure KMTC academic programs total more than 50 courses in different levels of qualifications- certificate, diploma and higher diploma levels. Below is a list of various disciplines you can choose from. For complete KMTC courses and qualifications pdf visit KMTC main webpage. Clinical Medicine (higher diploma and diploma) Nursing (higher diploma, diploma, and certificate) Medical Laboratory Sciences (higher diploma and diploma) Pharmacy (higher diploma and diploma) Medical Engineering (higher diploma, diploma, and certificate) Medical Education (higher diploma) Medical Imaging Sciences (Higher diploma and diploma) Physiotherapy (higher diploma and diploma) Optometry (only diploma) Dental Technology (only diploma) Community Nutrition (diploma and certificate) Health Systems Management (higher diploma) Health Education and Promotion (higher diploma and diploma) Community Oral Health (only diploma) Environmental Health Sciences (higher diploma, diploma, and certificate) Orthopedic Technology (diploma and certificate) Health Records and Information (diploma and certificate) Occupational therapy (only diploma) Orthopedic Trauma and Medicine (only diploma) Registration and fees If at all you cant afford to cater for the full academic cost, well, dont worry as Afya Elimu Fund in collaboration with Higher Education Loans Board, disburses loans to students enrolled. First-time applicants can be awarded roughly Shs 40, 000, that will go a long way to ensure their dreams of training in health are achieved. An updated KMTC course and fee structure for each year are available online. The fees for the self-sponsored students the annual fees currently stands at around Kshs. 120,700 while those regular students have to part with Kshs. 80,700.The amount includes the cost of examinations, tuition, and other amenities. Source: Kenya Medical Training College The vetting process for thousands of hopefuls who apply to join KMTC is very rigorous. Its paramount that all applicants meet the desired minimums attributes before they hand over their application forms. To get on board as many potential candidates as possible various KMTC courses advertisement are transmitted via social network and TV. KMTC admission requirements The following are the requisites to joining various levels of programs in KMTC: Certificate courses: KMTC certificate courses qualifications are a minimum grade of C- with relevant qualification in relevant subjects as a requirement. A certificate program takes a full year, apart from nursing which will take you two and a half years. Diploma Courses: KCSE mean an aggregate of C with applicable in a combination of other subjects. Holders of relevant basic certificate course can apply for the diploma program. Post Basic Diploma programs: Holders of diploma courses in relevant discipline are eligible to apply. The applicants must also possess a minimum of two years working experience. For self-sponsored applicants, Kenya Medical Training College admission is done in March every year, while that of regulars (government-sponsored) commences in September. Due to a large number of candidates wishing to undertake Nursing programs, KMTC nursing intakes are likely to be disappointing, mainly because only a small number will earn a chance to study in the prestigious institution. KMTC application Prospective applicants will be expected to procure and then submit a completed KMTC application form that is you will normally obtain from the institutions website, or one can collect it from any KMTC campuses. Candidates are advised to attach legible Photostat copies of academic certificates; school leaving certificate and national identity card/birth certificate. Before a candidate submits the form, get a Kshs. 2, 000 OR US$50 worth of Bankers Cheque or a deposit slip from the National bank, to accompany the application form. One is required to submit a correct and reliable mailing address. Those residing in Nairobi can drop their application forms at KMTC Main office. Source: Tuko News - ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna clashed with Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa during a live TV interview - The two openly clashed over parliamentary positions held by affiliate NASA parties - Wamalwa said he was no interested in the deputy Minority Whip position and would readily relinquish it - Sifuna told the legislator he won't hold the position for another week as he would be ejected very soon Cracks in the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition continue to emerge with Raila Odinga-led ODM party now targeting another senior Ford Kenya leader for dethroning. Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general Edwin Sifuna has told Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa that he would be toppled from his deputy Minority Whip position in a week. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mwanahabari wa Citizen TV ajeruhiwa wakati wa kizazaa cha polisi na Miguna, JKIA (picha) The two vocal opposition leaders were debating on Tuesday, March 27 on Citizen TV's Power Breakfast show when they went for each others blood as Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata watched from the side. NASA leaders during a past event before cracks started to emerge. Photo: Chris Wamalwa/Facebook Sifuna accused Wamalwa of not serving the coalition well in his position saying the legislator lacks respect for his colleagues in the National Assembly. The Ford Kenya MP however dismissed Sifuna as a non-starter who even failed to win village support in the last elections. Wamalwa told off Sifuna saying the newly appointed ODM secretary general was on a witch hunt targeting to embarrass Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula who was recently kicked out of the Minority Leader's position in the Senate. READ ALSO: Nyenze's widow wins Kitui West seat with a landslide The Kiminini MP told the Orange party official that he had deservedly earned the position through hard work and that he would not allow "busybodies" to plot his exit from the seat. He said he had held talks with Raila over the issue and he was assured that those said to be scheming to kick him out were mere busybodies who should be ignored. The vocal lawmaker however, said he was not desperate for the position and that he was willing and ready to leave that office. Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa during a past campaign rally. Photo: Chris Wamalwa/Facebook READ ALSO: Government initiates process to issue Miguna new passport, insists he's not Kenyan "The deputy Minority Whip seat is the smallest positions among all the other leadership positions," he said. Sifuna told Wamalwa that ODM would make true its threat to kick him out within a week. This comes days after ODM Senators voted to dethrone Wetangula from the Senate Minority Leader's position as a split looks likely in the opposition coalition as reported earlier by TUKO.co.ke. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Uhuru and Raila full speech at Harambee House - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko - Kenyans appeared livid after Miguna Miguna was mishandled during a night of high drama at JKIA - Miguna landed at JKIA at around 2.30pm on Monday from Canada - He was making a comeback after his dramatic deportation in February - The opposition leader was detained at the airport by immigration officials - Miguna resisted attempts by the government to forcibly re-deport him back to Canada Self-declared general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Miguna Miguna made a dramatic return to Kenya as he clashed with government officials at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Miguna was kicked-out of the country on Tuesday, February 6 after the government declared he was not a Kenyan citizen. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mwanahabari wa Citizen TV ajeruhiwa wakati wa kizazaa cha polisi na Miguna, JKIA (picha) Five days earlier, he had been arrested and detained in different police stations over his role in the controversial swearing-in of Raila Odinga as the People's President. Miguna Miguna looks on as Raila Odinga displays his signed oath of office as the People's President. Photo: NASA READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna dramatically resists second deportation Later, the court ruled that the government should facilitate his return even without his Kenyan passport. On his return, however, Miguna was not allowed to leave the airport as immigration officials demanded to see the documents he had used to travel with reports indicating his Canadian passport was sneaked from the airport, as earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke. Kenyans had different views following the drama and took to social media to share with the world. READ ALSO: Miguna should watch his back, Raila is not happy - Mutahi Ngunyi Lawyer Otiende Amollo warned that after the whole fracas, several people would be held responsible and would be made to pay for it. Human rights activis Boniface Mwangi told the government to obey court orders. READ ALSO: Miguna hastahili kumwamini Raila na awe makini naye Mutahi Ngunyi City lawyer Donald Kipkorir lectured the government telling officials that Miguna did not lose his Kenyan citizenship because he does not have his passport. The drama at the airport, Silas Jakakimba said, would have negative impact on Kenya's dream to have direct flights to the United States. READ ALSO: Media barred from accessing JKIA hours after journalists were assaulted by police Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Uhuru and Raila full speech at Harambee House - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko What is tribalism? Well, Tribalism is the state where individuals within a particular tribe emphasize strong loyalty to their community while exalting themselves as superior to the rest. As such, the commitment to ones tribe results into strong negative emotions for any person outside the group. Tribalism is supposed to act as a form of identity for people in a particular social group; however, when it comes to Tribalism in Kenya, it is mostly associated with negative ethnicity and corrupting influences. It is presumed by many that the human brain is wired to tribalism owing to its evolutionary advantages. Source: The Stonecircle READ ALSO: Causes and types of corruption in the world Nevertheless, I beg to differ as tribalism is more rampant in African countries as opposed to European nations. Does it mean that Europeans are brainier than Africans? Also, some African countries are more tribal than others, so I do not believe that it has anything to do with evolutionary advantages in ones brain. The following article will examine how tribalism in Kenya started, its causes, effects and suggested solutions to end this terrible disease. History of tribalism in Kenya Looking back at the pre-colonial periods, the main opposing tribes like Luo, Kisii, and Luhya of Western Kenya and the Kikuyu, Meru, and Embu from Central Kenya had little to no contact. For this reason, they had no desire to hate on each other before the coming of the British colonialists. The British imperialists introduced the principle of divide and rule that resulted in the exaggeration of differences between the Kenyan communities and tribes. The colonialists played one community against the other and in particular Kikuyus and Luos owing to their large numbers. As such, this sets off clashes amongst the tribes as they distrusted one another. It is from this British influence that negative tribal stereotypes were born and embedded in the popular belief. For instance, the Kikuyus were portrayed to the Luhyas as conspirators, conceited and unreliable while Kikuyus viewed the Luos as lazy, traitors, and unpredictable and so forth. The British colonialists only associated with the Luos who they believed were smart and loyal while did not want any associations with the Kikuyu owing to the land issues between them. Because of this, the Kikuyus hated the Luos who they believed were traitors as they cooperated with the British after battling and being subdued. The bad blood between the Kenyan communities persisted until when the country attained its independence in 1963. During that time there were two main political parties Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) and Kenya African National Union (KANU) that were fighting for power. KANU was dominated by two ethnic groups, the Kikuyu and the Luo, while KADU was an association of all other small tribes that was afraid of being dominated by KANU. However, the unity between Kikuyus and Luos short-lived when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was named the president and his regime began favoring his tribesmen. In his post-independence cabinet, approximately five out of sixteen positions were offered to Kenyattas tribe's people. Furthermore, the Kikuyu supremacy continued to dominate in Kenyattas regime when top executives in the primary state companies, heads of security corporations and bureaucrats added to the mix. When the Luos complained about this, it only resorted to assassinations and intimidation. The assignation of Tom Mboya on July 5, 1969, was the final nail in the coffin and ever since the enmity between this tribes has existed. Source: Twitter Causes of tribalism in Kenya When what causes tribalism in Kenya is known, Kenyans can work towards restoration and the end of the vice. Below are some of the reasons that are believed to have led to tribalism in the country Tribalism is inherent to minor Kenyans are taught the vice as they grow up from their communal members. However, with maturity, education, and exposure, some come to learn that Tribalism is useless; hence, drop it. Meanwhile, those that remain unexposed remain deeply rooted in their culture and continue viewing other tribes as the enemy. Let me shock you as there are still some people who are educated and exposed but swore that tribalism must be part of them. This notion holds because some tribes trust that their counterparts are evil and responsible for injustices not forgivable. British colonialists bore tribalism Tribalism in Kenya was unheard of in the ancient times. As such, we can conclude that Tribalism was born out of colonialism, political culture, and urbanization brought upon by the British imperialists. During the colonial period, the British seized land that belonged to the Kikuyu and terrorized the group into tribalism. Later on, this resulted in the Mau Mau rebellion during which Kikuyu persevered through torture, persecution, and death at the hands of the British colonists. It is during this period that the Kikuyus founded a cohesive brotherhood in sharing their pain and disgrace making them sympathize with each other and hate everyone that was not going through sufferings like them. Additionally, the Kikuyus made solemn oaths to stick by each others side no matter what. Competition and hunger for Power The other cause of tribalism in the country and African as a whole is the competition for power and resource. Each tribe would like to dominate over its counterparts and take over significant resources. Source: Twitter Effects of tribalism in Kenya It is very evident that Kenya as a country continues to be on the losing end due to internal divisions arising from tribalism. Tribalism and nepotism in Kenya are predominantly becoming more acceptable. Consequences of tribalism in Kenya hamper democracy, socio-economic development, political and even educational spheres. People in power favor their tribesmen allowing them to get state luxuries and special treatment at the expense of their counterparts. For this reason, loyalty to ones ethnicity has greater weight than loyalty to ones country. The result of this is underdevelopment of certain areas, corruption, election rigging and civil war. Democracy One of the areas that have suffered immensely due to tribalism is a democracy. Democracy refers to the freedom of the citizens to hold free and fair elections something Kenya has been struggling with for the longest haul. Each general election accompanies allegations of rigging and dishonesty that have resulted in politician instability in the country. The tribalism disease has not spared the Kenyan universities, where political leaders are also selected based on the tribal lines. For instance, there have been several instances where university scholars have been at loggerheads due to tribal differences when it came to power issues in their institution. One of such examples includes Chuka University which was suffered an indefinite closure owing to political differences in electing student leaders. Other universities that have been the culprit to competition for tribal power the struggles include Maasai Mara University and Moi University. Individuals hunger for power, control and monetary gains form the basis of trying to safeguard positions of power to themselves and their tribe's men so that they remain in power for as long as they are alive. Job market Nepotism and tribalism are two vices dominating the Kenyan job market today. Individuals from specific tribes are awarded jobs in most of the public institutions despite being qualified for such positions. As a result, those that are qualified and well deserving of those jobs lose out and end up living in abject poverty. What is even worse is that this tribalism in the hiring process affects the development of the country since efficient work performance is hampered resulting in questionable work ethics. Additionally, Individuals with their own companies also suffer from tribalism when they cannot benefit from contracts, and tenders of there are other friendlier tribe with the same capabilities as them. Tenderpreneurship, a word best-known to Kenyans continues to dominate resulting in the production of millionaires whose main advantage is that is nepotistic affiliations Bad governance and unaccountability The other consequence of tribalism is bad governance and lack of accountability. Corruption of public resources is quite rampant in Kenya because people ignore the terrible deeds done by their tribesmen in power. Kenyans will support their leaders blindly and firmly even when such leaders make mistakes What happens is that Kenyans as a whole end up suffering for the mistakes of a few greedy individuals. Corruption pushes the cost of living upwards, and this applies to all regardless of tribe. Just take a look at the infamous Goldenberg scandal witnessed in the early 1990's during Moi regime to Anglo-leasing Scandal during Mwai Kibakis administration and the current National Youth Service and Afya House scams. It is evident that corruption is a proven tribal affair that flourishes in ethnic networks. For example, the Goldenberg affair occurred during President Mois regime when he had populated most of the public organs with members of his Kalenjin ethnic group back with only some non-Kalenjin supporters. Having affiliated tribesmen in critical positions, offered enough comfort for the administration to plan and execute one of the countrys most damaging economic crimes whose effect remained for more than twenty years. The Goldenberg scandal distorted the nations fiscal and monetary policy space resulting into trouble with development investors that slowed down the country economic growth. Similarly, Anglo-leasing, Afya House and, National Youth Service corruption scams have also taken the same pattern in retaining a tribal DNA in their arrangement, execution, and definition of the beneficiaries of the scandalous affair. For this reason, tribal hatred directs to those communities with state power. During President Kenyatta administration, Kikuyus were the primary targets for tribal hostility while during Mois regime it was the Kalenjins on the verge of hate. Violence Remember the 2007 post-election violence? Well, that was as a result of years of emotions build up. People had accumulated reactions of frustration, feelings of broken promises, emotions of injustice, emotions of betrayal, emotions of hurt, emotions of poverty, emotions of lack of opportunities, emotions of hunger and many more that had been bottled up. Why do I say emotional build up was on a high? Well, tribal tensions date back to the times of independence. But it is not until 2007 when all those demons unleashed leading to battles that left more than 1,000 people dead and thousands of others displaced from their homes. Some of these people have not yet resettled to date. During the 2007 post-election violence, the chief clashing tribes were the larger groups including Kikuyus, Luos, and Kalenjins. The violence erupted immediately after Mwai Kibaki was named the winner amidst allegations of election rigging and manipulation. For that reason, their deep hatred emotions directed towards the tribe that people believed was the source of all their problems. The result of the political unrest in 2007/2008 was that that tourism industry which is one of the backbones in the country suffered immensely. Also, the battles also affected investment in the nation as both local and international investors were scared to invest in some regions where the violence was widespread. To date, whenever there is a general election, Kenyans are often heard the whispering of how afraid they are and most of them relocated to their rural areas where they will be amongst their tribesmen. The Kenyan economy also suffers a great deal as many people hold up on projects as they await the election outcome first. In 2017, a famous statement Tutaona after elections (we will see how things go after the election) was dominant in many conversations. Political assassinations Political murders proceed on tribal lines. The death of influential politicians like Robert Ouko, Odhiambo Mbai, and Tom Mboya among several others resulted from tribalism. Landlord and tenants There is an emerging controversy in landlord and tenant relations where landlords will decline to rent their houses to people of a different tribe. Such landlords discriminate on other tribes citing that once given housing they will live rent free and will try to take over the property from its legit owner. Therefore, tribalism in Kenya is used to withhold or offer special amenities and resources. Intermarriages Certain groups of people from different tribes who are exposed and educated and see no sense of tribalism have no problem intermarrying. However, the older conservative generation continues to believe in animosity and hatred of rival communities and discourage their children from marrying certain tribes. Church division The church is supposed to be a neutral body but has since compromised with tribalism. As such, the church skews to preferential political parties belonging to specific tribes. During general elections, churches are seen endorsing the candidate of their choosing and urging its followers to vote for that candidate. Churches no longer provide the required guidance on matters of national importance without favoritism. Source: Gado Others areas infected with the tribalism disease include the Kenyan courts because some of the judges end up with rulings that tend to favor their tribesmen and lack any legal basis. How to fight tribalism in Kenya As seen from the above effects of tribalism, it is clear that negative ethnicity is impeding the countrys rapid development from the instability threat it poses. As such, Kenyas Vision 2030 objectives will remain dreams if a focus on tribalism in Kenya is overlooked or taken lightly. So, what are the solutions to tribalism in Kenya? Source: The XYZ Show Politics The primary solution to this problem lies in how politics are conducted in Kenya. Tribalism is a mostly a political issue, and as such, the fight against it should be the top of its national agenda until eradicated. We cannot continue to ignore that Kenyan politic is predominantly tribal. Furthermore, it is immoral to think that only two tribes are capable of ruling over the others. For this reason, we should all aim to have a regional balance requirement. In this prerequisite, all the tribal numbers need to factor in when counting the counting winning vote in presidential elections. A balanced constitutional provision needs to be as; the winning candidate must have 50% +1 of all the casted votes in the election; more than 25% in the 24 counties and more than 30% in more than 30 tribes. If such implements, then tribalizing politics would come to an end and result in democratic elections with tribal censuses. Only when all ethnic groups feel that there are involved in affairs of the state that tribal hatred emerging from marginalization can disintegrate and Kenyans unified. The law The other way to end tribalism in Kenya lies in the full implementation and respect of the law. The law should treat all persons regardless of their tribe, color, gender, and religion as equal and no one should receive favors as being above the law. For instance, when you examine the American approach, you will discover that despite the fact that there is imminent racial division, no chaos or rebellion witness because of the law. Even though the law is not that perfect, it assists in keeping all sides sober and in check. The same needs to be applied here in Kenya as most of the common frustrations result from injustice. The feeling that one tribe is favored and above the law. For this reason, all those who stole, exploited, misused their power must face justice, and this will minimize the feelings of hate against each other. The hiring processes On the job market, tribalism should abolish by ensuring that only the most eligible professionals receive an upper hand in the job market. As such, the hiring procedure needs to be transparent, accountable, interviews held and only the best candidates hired. Eventually, this will eliminate the employment of individual based on nepotism thereby reducing tribal hatred in the workplace since jobs will be free, and fair to all without discrimination. A ban on ethnic names Another solution on how to reduce tribalism in Kenya needs to eliminate the use of tribal names; this is because such names are often used to identify someones community. Since we know that having a name from a particular ethnic community will betray you, then why not eliminate it? Apparently, this is not something that can be implemented in a short time as it must be done gradually but will help to eradicate tribalism in the long run. Embracing the economic tribe There are only two tribes in Kenya if you discern closely. These are the rich and the poor. The poor form the bulk of Kenyans while the rich are the minority few who play the tribal card at all times. The reason for this is that the rich recognize that when the poor wake up and realize that tribalism is useless, they will be in the losing end; hence, this is why they love to speak in the tribal linguistic to draw attention to individuals even when they know they belong to another community. The fascinating fact that Kenyans ought to understand is that wealthy persons rarely pay attention to ethnic backgrounds within their cycle. They only engage in businesses with people in the same class as them and never fight because of minor tribal affiliations like the poor do. It is just the poor who struggle, maim or kill their neighbors without realizing that their common enemy is poverty and not their ethnicity. Source: Alleastafrica READ ALSO: Senior traffic cop soliciting for bribes jumps from the frying pan to the fire As such, Kenyans need to see such reality and move to accept it as the political class would like to keep the tribal division in force to sail through their secret missions without solving any of the issues on the ground. READ ALSO: Corruption in Kenyan is haunting Kenya gets 'recognised' globally for corruption Effects of Corruption in Kenya: Why the Vice Should Be Eradicated Kenya's politics of tribe will be the end of us Pope Francis Speaks About Corruption And Tribalism Source: Tuko.co.ke - A letter by Kenya's founding president surfaced online showing he also begged to be allowed into the country - Mzee Jomo Kenyatta feared police were planning to detain him then later deport him following his trip to Russia - He wrote to the colonial government asking them to provide him with security upon his arrival - The letter surfaced at a time when Miguna is fighting to be allowed into the country As drama continues unfolding at East Africa's largest airport between Miguna Miguna and the government, a trip down memory lane shows he is after all not the first one to fight not to be deported from his own country. Kenyas founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was at one time forced to seek intervention of the colonial government to ensure his safety upon his return from a foreign trip. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Raila anaswa kwenye video akivurugana na polisi JKIA baada ya Miguna kuzuiliwa Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and a young Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: NTV READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna dramatically resists second deportation In his letter dated March 18, 1930 to Drummond Shiels, Kenyatta expressed fear of being molested and deported by police following his visit to Russia. The former president claimed he had no bad intentions of visiting the socialist country at the time but was convinced the police would use it as an excuse to arrest him. "There are rumours in Kenya that the police may try and find some excuse for putting me in prison or deporting me,"' wrote Kenyatta. READ ALSO: How Kenyans reacted to Migunas airport drama The controversial lawyer found himself detained at the airport's arrivals lounge on Monday, March 26, after he refused to hand in his Canadian passport to immigration officials. Photo: Star. READ ALSO: Government initiates process to issue Miguna new passport, insists he's not Kenyan He further told the secretary of colonial office the Russians were bound to write back to him and he would let Kenyan officials know the contents of the letter. Kenyatta asked Downing to ensure his safety was guaranteed so he could get back to his family and continue with his work. "I should be very grateful if you will do anything you can to see that I am allowed to reach my home and family and to resume my work among my people without being molested," he added. READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna dramatically resists second deportation Kenyatta's letter surfaced at a time the government attempted to deport Miguna for the second time despite court order mandating the Immigration department to provide him with an alternative travel document or allow him enter Kenya on a Canadian passport. In his letter dated March 18, 1930, to Drummond Shiels, Kenyatta expressed fears of being molested and deported by police following his visit to Russia. Photo: Archives The controversial lawyer found himself detained at the airport's arrivals lounge on Monday, March 26, after he refused to hand in his Canadian passport to immigration officials. He cried foul and claimed the Immigration department was acting against the court order issued by Justice Luka Kimaru on February 15, 2018. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kalonzo Musyoka dismisses removal of Moses Wetangula from Senate. TUKOTV Source: Tuko Breaking News Latest - The governor told off Mike Sonko for warning Mt Kenya leaders against meeting over 2022 politics - Sonko claimed the night meetings are aimed at plotting to frustrate Ruto's presidential ambition - Governor Muthomi Njuki asked Sonko to focus more on delivering promises he made to Nairobians - Ruto has also been meeting MPs from various parts of the country as he builds support ahead of 2022 - A section of Central Kenya and Mt Kenya region are however opposed to Ruto's presidential ambitions Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has cautioned Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko aganist meddling in the political affairs of Mount Kenya region. His warning came after Sonko accused the region's politicians of meeting to collude against Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential ambition. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Speaking during a burial ceremony of Chuka-Igambang'ombe MP Patrick Munene's father, Njuki told the Nairobi governor to focus on fixing issues plaguing Nairobi. READ ALSO: Rais Uhuru alikosa kupokea simu ya Raila kuhusu mzozo wa Miguna? Pata uhondo Sonko with Raila during the recently concluded Kenya Open 2018. Photo: Mike Sonko/Facebook Njuki trained his gun on Sonko and told the Governor Mt Kenya politicians did not need his authorisation to meet at night and would continue to meet whenever they felt like. " I dont think we need any permit from the governor of Nairobi to hold midnight meetings," he said. READ ALSO: Government explains why Miguna is stuck at the airport He accused Sonko of being ignorant over matters discussed in the night meetings and advised the Nairobi county boss to maintain his lane and first fix his county. "That which you speak of does not concern you, there's enough work to be done in Nairobi," the Tharaka Nithi governor said. READ ALSO: Mike Sonko warns Mt. Kenya leaders against night meetings to shortchange Ruto in 2022 Muthomi said Mt Kenya had already decided on who to endorse come the 2022 election. He said Ruto would be Uhuru's successor and would remain so because of his contributions towards the development of the region. READ ALSO: Nyenze's widow wins Kitui West seat with a landslide Tharaka Nthi governor casting his ballot back in 207. Photo: Muthomi Njuki/Twitter "If it is were not for William Ruto, this town would still be muddy, so if we do not vote for him then who else?" Njuki posed. Meanwhile, Ruto has embarked on tightening his support countrywide, traveling all over the country as he gears up towards becoming Uhuru's successor. As TUKO.co.ke previously reported, Sonko's caution came when a cross section of legislators reiterated their support for Ruto come 2022. The MPs, majority from Jubilee, said the coming together of Uhuru and Raila Odinga strengthened the DP's candidature. Some Jubilee leaders however had been against the move to support the Ruto come 2022. Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu had told the DP he was not guaranteed automatic support from Mt Kenya. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Miguna Miguna's return: Chaos at Jomo Kenyatta Int. Airport (JKIA) | Tuko TV - Kenya News Source: Tuko Breaking News - Youth arrested in Eldoret with fake recruitment letters were released on free bond - Police detaining the youth claimed the prosecution was frustrated due to lack of cooperation by the military - Military officials who arrested the 132 youth failed to produce notes to proceed with the prosecution Police in Eldoret have blamed the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) for frustrating efforts to prosecute 132 youths arrested with fake calling letters while reporting to the Recruits Training School (RTS) in Eldoret West. Eldoret West OCPD Samuel Mutunga expressed his frustration against the lack of cooperation from the military officers which has forced them to release the 132 from police custody. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens It is unfortunate that there is little we can do in order to charge the individuals that were allegedly found with the fake calling letters. The military did not record statements and give foundational information to guide us in preparing charge sheets, said Mutunga. READ ALSO: Rais Uhuru alikosa kupokea simu ya Raila kuhusu mzozo wa Miguna? Pata uhondo Last week Police in Eldoret arrested two members suspected to be masterminds of a cartel defrauding the public with a promise of recruiting them into KDF. Photo: Capital FM READ ALSO: 50 youth locked up after submitting fake KDF admission papers He noted the arrested individuals had been released unconditionally, some on free bonds and three with cash bails in accordance to the details provided by the military officers who arrested them when reporting on Sunday, March 25. The law requires no one to be detained for more than 24 hours unless an order is granted by court through a miscellaneous application which,, we could not seek for lack of reasons to back the reasons. We do not want a scenario where we charge people with cases that we cannot sustain, explained Mutunga. The police boss said he had written to the military police to request for basic information to guide them in commencing the prosecution process. READ ALSO: William Ruto beats Raila by far as most preferred 2022 presidential candidate - poll State Counsel in Uasin Gishu Zachary Omwenga backed Mutungas position saying military police who arrested the individuals ought to have provided statements to guide the civil police in the prosecution process. We havent received any formal information about the arrested persons so far and cannot comment largely on it, it is logical for the police to write to the military department to formally seek cooperation if the cases are to reach our office for prosecution, said Omwenga. Omwenga was of the position that the matter being a corruption case would be better handled by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC.) READ ALSO: Top Daily Nation columnists resign, blame Jubilee for controlling media Last week Police in Eldoret arrested two members suspected to be masterminds of a cartel defrauding the public with a promise of recruiting them into KDF. Photo: Capital FM READ ALSO: Raila to sue Facebook and Cambridge Analytica over devilish propaganda Last week Police in Eldoret arrested two members suspected to be masterminds of a cartel defrauding the public with a promise of recruiting them into KDF. John Ngetich who identified himself as Major Okello and Pius Ndungu were arrested with fake calling letters to KDF after some of the complainants they had defrauded reported them to the police. Okello, fully dressed in military combat had defrauded two victims KSh 250, 000 and KSh 188, 000 and given them the fake letters. READ ALSO: Top Daily Nation columnists resign, blame Jubilee for controlling media The OCPD said Okello is not a first time offender but had in numerous occasions defrauded many unsuspecting members of the public with the lie that he would get them recruited to the forces. The man who seems to be working with some dishonest servicemen in the military has been on our radar for the last two years but had been successfully escaping the police dragnet until today, said Mutunga. He had stated that such cases are common during police recruitment seasons because the public has continued to ignore notices not to give bribes to get admission letters. READ ALSO: The day Uhurus father begged not to be deported upon landing in Kenya He hinted more cases are expected after Sunday,March when individuals were expected to report at the Moi Barracks RTS. Eldoret Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa had initially stated most cases involving KDF officers and recruits getting fake letters never managed to sail through a full trial due to lack of evidence occasioned by lack of cooperation by KDF. Last year about 80 recruits arrested with fake letters were released on police bonds and were never prosecuted. Sixty others who were charged in court were later acquitted for lack of evidence. Story by Milan Kiplagat, Uasin Gishu county Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kalonzo Musyoka dismisses removal of Moses Wetangula from Senate. TUKO TV Source: Tuko Students of Forms four, five and six are given the all clear to resume classes but school pr Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The training of another unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has ended at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center of the National Army Academy (Yavoriv shooting range) in Lviv region, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reported on Facebook. "For 55 days, the battalion tactical group of a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces underwent an intensive training course under the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine (JMTG-U) program, participating in which, in addition to Ukrainian military instructors, are also military experts from the United States , Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Britain and Denmark," the statement reads. It notes that as part of this program the Ukrainian unit was trained for the first time in the format of a battalion tactical group. In particular, tank, artillery and anti-aircraft units were added to mechanized platoons. However, the training algorithm itself did not undergo significant changes - Ukrainian and foreign instructors conducted training in several stages, from the coordination of divisions and platoons to the conduct of tactical exercises, the General Staff said. op The new system of food safety control will start operating in Ukraine on April 4, 2018, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has stated. She explained that this refers to the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine "On state control over compliance with the legislation on food, feed, animal by-products, animal health and welfare. In particular, the new law will create conditions for ensuring better quality and safety of food products for consumers, as well as introduce clear and transparent inspection procedures to minimize corruption risks and promote the development of fair competition, the governments press service reports. Also, Klympush-Tsintsadze said that the companies would be checked depending on the degree of possible risks to life and health of people. In addition, under the new law, inspectors of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Rights Protection will conduct inspections in line with the verification report, which will be open for public. The deputy prime minister added that strict sanctions would be imposed for violating the new law. Thus, the amount of fine for legal entities could reach UAH 70,000 - depending on the type of violation. iy All Ukrainian nuclear power units can be fully provided with Westinghouse nuclear fuel, even if Russia refuses to supply TVEL fuel to Ukraine. Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk stated this on 112 Ukraine TV channel. If the Russian Federation refuses to supply TVEL [fuel], then we could be fully provided with Westinghouse products, including 440th units of Rivne NPP," he said. Nasalyk also added that the Ukrainian united energy system is highly reliable and at present it can generate 84 million kW more than last year, which amounts to the capacity of 3.5 nuclear power units, the minister stressed. "Even if 1-2 power units stop in a European country, then it is an emergency. And we have already covered the capacity of 3.5 nuclear power units," Nasalyk said. iy The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry and Irish low-cost airline Ryanair are holding talks on the possible launch of flights from the city of Kherson to the EU countries. Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan told this to LB.ua. Together with the Kherson Regional Administration, we are holding talks with Ryanair so that flights of this airline can be lunched from Kherson airport to the countries of Europe next year. I hope that negotiations will be successful. Mr. Hordeyev [the head of the regional administration] has already visited Dublin. He has held talks with the company. Weve received optimistic assessment," the minister said. Omelyan noted that it is extremely important for Ukraine to ensure the work of this airline in Kherson. "This will give an opportunity to our people who live in Crimea to fly to Europe, because they are actually isolated from the world because of the Russian occupation," he said. As Ukrinform reported, Boryspil (Kyiv) and Lviv international airports signed agreements with Ryanair on the start of flights to Ukraine. iy A volume of trade between Ukraine and India increased by 18.8% in 2017 and reached about $2.8 billion, and the surplus in favor of Ukraine amounted to $1.65 billion. Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Manoj Kumar Bharti stated this at a press conference on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "In 2017, the trade turnover between India and Ukraine grew by 18.8% and amounted to about $2.8 billion. There are two important points: India has become the fifth country in terms of exports from Ukraine abroad. In addition, India is the second country with which Ukraine has a trade surplus. The best balance of trade exists only between Ukraine and Egypt at the level of $1.75 billion, while Ukraines trade with India makes up $1.65 billion," the ambassador said. He informed that sunflower oil accounted for the lion's share of Ukrainian exports to India - last year Ukraine exported it worth $2 billion. In addition, for the first time, beans grown in Ukraine, as well as corn, wheat, engineering products and blood products, were exported to India last year. Taking into account the trend of recent years, the diplomat predicted that the current growth of Ukrainian exports from Ukraine to India could reach about 20%. The ambassador also stressed that Indian exports to Ukraine grew by 15.15% last year, noting that India's pharmaceutical industry had a great growth potential. ish President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko have discussed the agenda of bilateral relations. This was discussed during their telephone conversation, the press service of the Ukrainian president reported. "The parties discussed the agenda of bilateral relations, including preparations for the holding of the First Forum of the Regions of Ukraine and Belarus that will take place in Gomel this autumn. The presidents called for the intensification of economic cooperation between the businessmen of both countries," the report reads. The presidents also discussed the holding of the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Belarus this year. ish Russia's Gazprom refuses to resume gas supplies to Ukraine in accordance with a decision of the Stockholm Arbitration and to pay $2.6 billion in favor of Ukraines Naftogaz. Spokesperson of Naftogaz Ukrainy Olena Osmolovska said this to reporters. "NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy and Russian Gazprom met last week to discuss the next steps after the decisions of the Stockholm Arbitration on two large cases. At the meeting, Gazprom said that the Russian gas monopoly refused to resume gas supplies to Ukraine and refused to confirm that it would pay $2.6 billion," Naftogaz said. At the same time, Gazprom proposed to amend the contracts or to terminate the contracts in order not to comply with the decisions of the Tribunal. "Both proposals directly contradict the decisions made by the Stockholm Tribunal. Naftogaz considers this position unacceptable and rejected the proposals of Gazprom to this effect," Naftogaz Ukrainy added. ish Ukraine applies 12 restrictive measures against imports of goods from the Russian Federation, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv has said. He stated this at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "I want to say that today, as far as imports of goods originating from the Russian Federation are concerned, 12 protectionist trade measures are in force," he said. Kubiv specified that ten of them are anti-dumping measures. On March 26, 2018, the Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade decided to extend anti-dumping measures against imports of ammonium nitrate from Russia into Ukraine. Antidumping duties for PJSC Dorogobuzh were set at 29.25% and for other exporters and for Russia in general at 42.96%. op Ukrainian citizens are not among those killed and injured in a fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall in Kemerovo, Russia. Head of the Consular Service Directorate at the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Vasyl Kyrylych said this in a comment to Ukrinform. "According to the latest data from a representative of the [Russian] Emergencies Ministry office in the Kemerovo region, there are no Ukrainians among those killed or injured," he said. At the same time, the official noted that the information was constantly updated. As reported, a fire broke out at the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall in Kemerovo on March 25. Sixty-four people were killed in the tragedy, and more than 40 people sought medical aid. op In 2017, a number of Indian tourists in Ukraine increased by 33% due to the simplification of the visa regime for Indian citizens. Ambassador of India to Ukraine Manoj Kumar Bharti stated this at a press conference on Tuesday, March 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "According to the State Border Service of Ukraine, the number of Indian tourists in Ukraine amounted to 19,500 in 2016. In April 2017, the Government of Ukraine included India into the list of countries whose citizens may obtain a visa on arrival. As a result, the number of Indian tourists who visited Ukraine in 2017 increased to 29,400. That is, we achieved an increase of 33% over a year," the ambassador said. He added that the State Border Service of Ukraine informed that 4, 300 tourists had already arrived in Ukraine from India this year. ish Lutsenko said he could not yet disclose details. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has confirmed investigative actions against Chief of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) Nazar Kholodnytsky. Read alsoUkraine's chief anti-corruption prosecutor on resignation rumors: "They wish!" "Indeed, under law, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine jointly with the National Anti-corruption Bureau have conducted investigative actions concerning, among other things, SAPO's chief, Mr. Kholodnytsky," he told ICTV channel. Lutsenko said he could not yet disclose more information. "I will tell only after interrogations and examinations if there are signs of crime that are documented with a wiretapping device installed in Kholodnytsky's office," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Kholodnytsky said on March 22 he had found an unknown wiretap in his office. Lutsenko claims the rallies organized by the Movement of New Forces Party in Ukraine led by Mikheil Saakashvili were also part of the plan to destabilize the situation in the country. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said the Prosecutor General's Office has questions to the leader of the Ukrainian Choice movement, Viktor Medvedchuk, about his involvement in plotting a coup in Ukraine together with the former hostage swap negotiator, Volodymyr Ruban, and Ukrainian Member of Parliament Nadiia Savchenko. "We have questions as for the activities of the Ukrainian Choice as a center of anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Two weeks before the detention of Ruban and Savchenko by the SBU Security Service, the military prosecutor's office and the [Ukrainian-based] Crimean prosecutor's office liquidated several anti-Ukrainian Moscow-financed and orchestrated centers, which organized subversive activities in the territory of Ukraine, namely in the cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Kyiv and Mykolaiv regions" Ukrainian Prosecutor General's press secretary Larysa Sargan wrote on Facebook, quoting Lutsenko who gave comments to ICTV channel. "According to many sources, the center of such actions may be a party called the Ukrainian Choice, headed by Mr. Medvedchuk. And we are really working on this for over a year," Sargan quoted Lutsenko as saying. Read alsoSavchenko arrested until May 20 without bail Lutsenko did not also rule out that Medvedchuk, Savchenko and Ruban could jointly prepare a coup d'etat. "The second part, [which is] more serious, is Mr. Medvedchuk's probable involvement in the activities of both Ruban and Savchenko. We are scrutinizing their possible contacts," he said. In addition, according to Lutsenko, the protest actions organized by the Movement of New Forces Party in Ukraine headed by ex-Governor of Ukraine's Odesa region and ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili were also part of the plan to destabilize the situation in the country. "We are well aware that Ruban and Savchenko, even if they could recruit a whole regiment of special forces, could not act separately from a bigger plan. And I personally believe that destabilization in the streets of the capital during the blocking of central highways, attempts to storm the Zhovtnevy Palace, etc., which were demonstrated by Saakashvili's allies, were part of the plan to destabilize the country. Probably, the terrorist attack [reportedly planned by Savchenko and Ruban] in the center of the capital was supposed to be a trigger to an offensive by Russian-terrorist forces to be joined by our 'legitimate' Viktor Yanukovych," the prosecutor general said. "I'm sure there is a global plan for changing the constitutional order in Ukraine. And we are looking for this mastermind," he added. Savchenko was arrested by a Ukrainian court on March 23 for 59 days without bail. Ukrainian Prosecutor General's press secretary Larysa Sargan has said Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko expects the investigation into the case of Ukrainian MP Nadiia Savchenko, suspected of preparing terrorist attacks and seizing state power, will last two or three months. "The investigator says the probe will be completed within two or three months the latest, then the case will be submitted for examination, and then the relevant trial will begin," Sargan wrote on Twitter quoting Lutsenko as saying. As UNIAN reported, the Verkhovna Rada on March 22 gave the greenlight to Savchenko's arrest. Read alsoChief Prosecutor suspects Medvedchuk of plotting coup in Ukraine together with Ruban, Savchenko Savchenko is charged with committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 109 (actions aimed at the forcible change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power); Part 1 of Article 14 (preparations for a crime), Part 2 of Article 28 (committing a crime by a group of persons, a group of persons by prior agreement, an organized group or a criminal organization), Article 112 (an attempted attack on the life of a public figure), Part 3 of Article 258 (an act of terror); Part 1 of Article 258-3 (creation of a terrorist group or organization) and Part 1 of Article 263 (illegal possession of weapons, ammunition or explosives) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Savchenko announced in the courtroom she would go on hunger strike. She assured she did not plan to flee Ukraine. On March 23, Savchenko was arrested by a Ukrainian court for 59 days without bail on charges of plotting a coup and an act of terror in Ukraine. Sushchenko's lawyer expects that his client will return to Ukraine as early as this year. Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, whom the Russian FSB accuses of espionage, will remain in custody at the Lefortovo detention center for another six months. The decision was taken by a Moscow City Court on Tuesday, March 27, Sushchenko's lawyer Mark Feygin has told UNIAN. "The most important thing is the extension of the term of detention. They prolonged the period of his detention for another six months pending trial," Feygin said. According to the lawyer, today's hearing held behind closed doors saw the prosecution beginning to disclose the investigation materials. Read alsoOSCE calls on Ukraine to probe threats to journalists, tells of efforts to free Roman SushchenkoHe also added that there will only be two witnesses on the side of the prosecution in the Sushchenko case. At the same time Feygin expects that after the sentence is announced, Sushchenko will be swapped. "Roman Sushchenko will be exchanged and will return home this year, maybe even this summer. The chances are very high. Negotiations are underway. I want to assure the Ukrainian audience that Sushchenko will return home, I have every reason to say this," said Feygin. As UNIAN reported earlier, on September 30, 2016, the Russian FSB detained the France-based Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko, upon his arrival in Moscow, branding him an operative of the Ukrainian intelligence service and accusing him of espionage. The Association Agreement brings the EU and Ukraine closer and opens up the potential for ever stronger cooperation, Hahn said. Ukraine's Cabinet Secretary Oleksandr Saienko told a meeting of donor governments in London on March 26 that the country had made good progress on a wide-ranging reform programme, and was ready to move to the next phase. "We have made good progress and now it is time to secure and expand our gains," said Mr. Saienko. "In phase two of the reform programme we want to focus our efforts on priorities such as privatisation, effective corporate governance of state-owned enterprises, public administration reform and improvement of the business climate. We also want to widen the scope of the programme by introducing support teams to new ministries and agencies focused on other priority reforms for 2018. These teams are not only critical for the delivery of our reform priorities but they are also the talent that will form the backbone of a modern, professional and effective civil service," Emerging Europe, a London-based think tank, has reported. Read alsoMEPs urge Ukraine to maintain anti-corruption focus, to avoid any pitfalls The elements of the reform architecture are financed by the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account, established by the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in November 2014 to support Ukraine's efforts to reform its economy, improve its business climate and return to a path of sustainable growth. Contributors to the fund are Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the United States and the EU, the largest donor. EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said: "The Association Agreement brings the EU and Ukraine closer and opens up the potential for ever stronger cooperation. To reap the full benefit of the Agreement, Ukraine needs to adopt many, often difficult reforms. We remain committed to helping Ukraine build stronger governance, a stronger economy and a stronger society. Public administration must be inclusive, transparent, scrupulously honest and accountable, and it must deliver quality services to all Ukrainian citizens. Ukraine's future and the success of its reform process depend on dedicated Ukrainians working with enthusiasm and engagement for their country's future. We are helping them to build a stronger Ukraine." "The focus must continue to be on reform and implementing reform. We welcome the systematic and gradual approach taken by the relevant institutions and the care that has been attached to communicating and demonstrating the benefits of an efficient, transparent and accountable state administration. This is one of the preconditions for Ukraine to come into its own and start fulfilling its vast potential," EBRD President, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, added. At the same time, the Parliament says the issue is too early to put on the agenda. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin has called for a discussion on the introduction of the Latin alphabet in parallel lines with the traditional Cyrillic one in Ukraine. According to the minister, it was a Polish historian Ziemowit Szczerek who prompted the idea. "Why not introduce the Latin alphabet along with the Cyrillic one," he asked Klimkin, according to the BBC Ukrainian Service. "Our goal is to form a Ukrainian political nation, so we have to work toward what unites us instead of what divides us. On the other hand, why not have a discussion? What is your opinion? I am looking forward to some interesting comments," Klimkin wrote on Facebook. The parliamentary committee on science and education believes that today in Ukraine there are other, more important issues than the transition to the Latin alphabet. Read alsoThird party activity aimed at promoting Kremlin's "agenda" must be discouraged - Klimkin"You know, I think, this is not an issue today," the Committee's first deputy chair Oleksandr Spivakovsky told BBC News Ukraine. According to him, the transition to the Latin alphabet entails a large amount of work in the educational sphere. "It is necessary to rewrite all textbooks, manuals, all educational material, and software. It is very difficult for me to imagine what efforts and resources are needed in order to realize this idea," says Spivakovsky. Professor Oleksandr Ponomariv, who is a PhD in philology, doubts that full transition to Latin will benefit Ukraine. At the same time, he did not rule out the parallel use of two alphabets. "In order for young people broaden their use of Ukrainian, the state must raise the prestige of the state language," he stressed in a blog for BBC News Ukraine. Read alsoNew education law becomes effective in UkraineIn his opinion, it is not necessary to renounce a Cyrillic alphabet, while it is possible to develop a Ukrainian version of the Latin transliteration to use it in certain cases. For example, Serbs who write in Cyrillic, also have a Serbian version of the Latin alphabet. In 2017 Kazakhstan announced the country's gradual transition to Latin. No Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action. Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 47 times in the past 24 hours. "In the Donetsk sector, the militants repeatedly fired 82mm mortars and grenade launchers of various types at the Ukrainian troops near the town of Avdiyivka. The occupiers also opened fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms on our fortified positions in the village of Vodiane," the press center of the headquarters of Ukraine's military operations reported on Facebook on Tuesday morning. Read alsoOSCE's Hug to visit eastern Ukraine The Russian occupation forces also used grenade launchers to shell Ukrainian positions near Butivka coal mine and the village of Kamianka, while heavy machine guns were used to attack the Ukrainian defenders of the villages of Pavlopil, Pisky and Verkhniotoretske. Small arms were used near the towns of Maryinka and Avdiyivka, and the villages of Shyrokyne, Talakivka and Hnutove. In the Luhansk sector, the Ukrainian positions in the villages of Luhanske and Troyitske came under fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. The Russian occupation forces opened fire from cannons of infantry fighting vehicles and machine guns on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Novhorodske, while small arms were used near the village of Stanytsia Luhanska. No Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action, it said. The drones will help augment and complement its monitoring activities and to overcome impediments to monitoring in eastern Ukraine. The European security organization responsible for monitoring the deadly conflict between government forces and Russia-backed militants in eastern Ukraine will reintroduce its long-range drone program more than a year and a half after it was dropped due to repeated shoot-downs. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europes Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSCE SMM) said in a statement that it will officially relaunch its drone surveillance program on March 28, near the government-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, according to RFE/RL. The drones will help augment and complement its monitoring activities and to overcome impediments to monitoring in eastern Ukraine, it said. Read alsoOSCE reports nearly 350 explosions in Donetsk region over weekendThe OSCE SMM long-range drone program was nixed in August 2016 after several of its drones were downed by rifle fire, surface-to-air missiles, and military-grade electronic jamming equipment. The OSCE at the time did not assign responsibility for the drone downings, citing a lack of access to the crash sites, according to Foreign Policy magazine. But senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials said the Russia-backed militants had shot the drones down to conceal their actions. The OSCE SMMs Shiebel Camcopter S-100 drones, which could fly up to 150 kilometers, played a crucial role in spotting artillery attacks, troop advances, and the positioning of prohibited weapons all violations of a 3-year-old cease-fire deal known as Minsk II, which has not ended the war. The revival of the OSCE SMMs long-range drone program comes amid reports suggesting the militants have employed what may be a new electronic-warfare system. As UNIAN reported earlier, a drone video shot over the militant-held Horlivka was published March 20 by a Ukrainian NGO Come Back Alive, showing an electronic-warfare system the organization says has been brought from Russia. The system flashed a light toward the drone that caused it to temporarily lose control. An expert says the United States still needs an analytic cell that sees the full scope of Russian activity. A former Obama White House official says the U.S. government could have thwarted a Russian troll group's attempts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Brett Bruen, who served as the White House director of global engagement from 2013 to 2015, said he warned colleagues on President Barack Obama's National Security Council in 2014 that America would be targeted by Russian trolls, CNN reported. His warnings came after he saw how the Russians used the same methods social media meddling and propaganda to sow discord during Ukraine's election in 2014. Read alsoU.S. sanctions Russian "troll factory", 19 individuals for election meddling "I was sitting in the Situation Room saying, 'Why do we continue to look at this as an issue that only concerns Ukraine, that only concerns Eastern Europe? This is something that's going to march across Western Europe. This is something that's going to march over to our shores, and we need to be ready,'" Bruen told CNN. The Kremlin-linked troll group, known as the Internet Research Agency, was charged last month by special counsel Robert Mueller. Bruen said U.S. officials who worked on the Ukraine task force were specifically aware of the Internet Research Agency's strategy and had his pitch of a propaganda monitoring system been implemented it would have caught content targeting Americans. Bruen acknowledged that much of the administration's efforts at the time were focused on combating the rise of ISIS and countering that group's propaganda online, and said there were "enormous threats that were sucking up the attention" of the intelligence community. Bruen said he took part in a U.S. government task force to counter the Russian meddling in Ukraine's election. That task force produced fact sheets and videos in response to Russian content and was considered a success, Bruen said. "We actually saw that the Russian bots and the Russian propagandists receded because we were contesting this space, because we were pushing out some pretty effective content." On the heels of that achievement, in late 2014, Bruen pitched an idea to set up a command center at the U.S. State Department that would similarly track and counter any Russian propaganda targeted at U.S. allies, but officials at State, he said, failed to recognize the threat. Bruen said State Department officials, and in particular, Victoria Nuland, then the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, did not recognize the danger and dismissed his ideas. Nuland told CNN that achieving what Bruen proposed would have required additional funding from the White House. "My memory is that Bruen wanted essentially to re-create the old USIA (U.S. Information Agency), but there were no resources for that. The White House wasn't going to approve funding," she said. "We were operating on a shoestring budget as it was." "The thinking was to counter this by giving the truth to news outlets rather than just producing more propaganda," Nuland added. While a half dozen former State Department and NSC officials who spoke to CNN all agreed more should have been done to counter Russian misinformation in the lead-up to the 2016 election, they disagreed on what tactics could or should have been implemented to deter it. "I would have loved to have had more support for that from all across government, not just from the State Department but from the intelligence and defense communities as well," said Rick Stengel, the State Department's undersecretary of state for public affairs under Obama. "But even today, I'm not sure that there is an effective way of countering, much less thwarting, disinformation and propaganda. And if there is, I haven't heard of it," he said. Another person who served on the NSC at the time said she was not convinced that Bruen's proposed plan on its own would have thwarted Internet Research Agency activity aimed at the U.S.. "What we needed, and still don't have, is an analytic cell that sees the full scope of Russian activity. Our inability to put the full picture together in real time was a major part of why this was missed," said the person, who did not want to speak publicly so as to not jeopardize her current position at a nongovernmental organization. The prime minister said the nerve agent attack "reflects a pattern of recklessness and aggression by the Russian government". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia is standing in solidarity with the United Kingdom and its allies after banishing two Russian spies back to Moscow. Australia is set to expel the "undeclared intelligence officers" along with the 21 countries who have sent 130 diplomats back to Russia in what the UK has declared the largest collective action in history, 9NEWS wrote. "We are standing in solidarity with the United Kingdom that we will not tolerate this type of reckless undermining of international law, this reckless assault on the sovereignty of nations," Mr. Turnbull said in Canberra this afternoon. Read alsoU.S. expels 60 Russian diplomats, shutters Seattle consulate AP 9NEWS this morning broke the news that Australia would follow suit by expelling two undeclared intelligence officials based at the Russian Embassy in Canberra. The unprecedented international action comes just weeks after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia became the victims of a nerve agent attack in Salisbury. "The brazen, criminal attack... was an attack on all of us," Mr. Turnbull said. "It was a calculated attack to carry out an assassination. It was a disgraceful assault on the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and on the rule of law, and we utterly condemn it." Read alsoUkraine expels 13 Russian diplomats over Skripal poisoning Poroshenko The prime minister said the nerve agent attack "reflects a pattern of recklessness and aggression by the Russian government". Listing the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of eastern Ukraine and the downing of MH17, as well as efforts to manipulate western nations' elections, he said the latest incident demanded a response. "To do nothing would only encourage further efforts to undermine the international, rules-based order upon which our security and prosperity rely," Mr. Turnbull said. In a joint statement issued this morning, Mr. Turnbull and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said the two Russian officials would be removed from Australia within seven days. Kim Jong-il's trips to China were only confirmed after his departure. There is growing speculation that a senior North Korean official who has arrived unexpectedly in Beijing is Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Japanese media outlets first reported that a high-profile figure had arrived via a North Korean diplomatic train and was met with tight security, the BBC reported. South Korea said it did not know the official's identity, but that it was "carefully watching" the situation. It would be Mr. Kim's first foreign visit since taking office in 2011. There has been no official comment from China or North Korea, but such a visit would be seen as a significant development. Read alsoReuters: China allows Xi to remain president indefinitely Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump accepted an unprecedented invitation to meet Mr. Kim, and officials are believed to be working behind the scenes to work out the complex diplomatic requirements. Analysts have said the North Korean and Chinese leaders would likely meet before that summit goes ahead. China is North Korea's main economic ally. Footage of the train from the Tokyo-based Nippon News Network showed a green carriage with yellow horizontal lines. The channel said it resembled one used by Mr. Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong-il who had a fear of flying when he visited Beijing in 2011. Kim Jong-il's trips to China were only confirmed after his departure. Specialist North Korean news website NK News (paywall) said it had obtained pictures showing temporary boards blocking one entrance though said this may have been for construction work. Bloomberg cited three unnamed sources as saying the visitor was Mr. Kim. But analysts speaking to South Korea's Yonhap news said the official could also be Mr. Kim's younger sister Kim Yo-jong, who recently made an appearance at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, or military official Choe Ryong-hae. "We have not confirmed yet who has travelled to Beijing," said an official from the presidential office in Seoul. "We are carefully watching the situation... with all possibilities in mind." The gang gained access to internal banking networks by sending phishing emails with malicious attachments to bank officials. The Spanish police have arrested a cybercrime gang made up of Russian and Ukrainian nationals who were allegedly involved in stealing more than $1.24 billion from financial institutions worldwide, subsequently converting their illicit gains into bitcoin (BTC), Associated Press reports March 26. According to statements issued by the Spanish police and Europol, the leader of the gang, a Ukrainian named "Denis K." and his three suspected accomplices of Russian and Ukrainian origin, have been identified and arrested in the Spanish city of Alicante. Over a period of five years, the criminals have reportedly stolen more than EUR 1 billion ($1.24 billion from financial institutions across the globe, Cointelegraph reports. The criminals were allegedly engaged in cybercrime, targeting more than 100 financial institutions and occasionally managing to get away with as much as EUR 10 million in each heist. As alleged by the authorities, almost all Russian banks were affected and about 50 of them did lose money in the attacks. Read alsoUkraine court to consider compensation in Bitcoin for moral damages The gang gained access to internal banking networks by sending phishing emails with malicious attachments to bank officials. The malware provided the alleged perpetrators with control over affected hardware, allowing them to compromise ATMs and use the machines to withdraw unlimited sums of money. AP reports that the cybercriminals didn't spend the ill-obtained cash but instead exchanged it into bitcoins. Once converted, the cryptocurrency was used for purchasing different assets, including real estate and vehicles in Spain. Back in February 2018, Thai Police apprehended a Russian citizen, Sergey Medvedev, said to be the number two person in an international cybercrime organization and administrator of the Dark Web site Infraud. The portal was used to sell stolen credit cards, identities and illegally obtained government documents. At the time of arrest, Medvedev was in possession of over 100,000 bitcoins, roughly equal to $820 million at the time. Bulgaria, which has strong business ties with Russian firms, cited the fact it is holding the rotating EU presidency as a need to maintain neutrality. Eleven EU countries have so far failed to join the others in expelling Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK. The list as of Tuesday (March 27) included Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, and Slovenia, EUobserver wrote. Some of them are likely to join the EU mainstream in the next few days. Belgium is still weighing up who to target from the 140 Russian diplomats accredited to Russia's bilateral mission to the country as well as its EU and NATO embassies. The Irish foreign minister, Simon Coveney, promised on Monday to "take appropriate action" to "show solidarity with our closest neighbor" later on Tuesday. Read alsoU.S. expels 60 Russian diplomats, shutters Seattle consulate AP The Slovak foreign ministry said: "The development of the situation, as well as Russia's response to the calls addressed to it by the EU countries including Slovakia will influence the next steps that we are prepared to consider in this case". Portugal does not plan to expel anyone, saying it preferred action at the level of the EU28, instead of making bilateral moves or joining EU sub-groups. "Portugal believes that coordination at the European Union level is the most effective means to respond to the gravity of the current situation," its foreign ministry said on Monday. A spokeswoman for the Luxembourg foreign ministry told EUobserver: "Our government first wants to await the conclusions of the OPCW's analysis", referring to an international body on chemical warfare that is investigating the UK incident. "There are only a few Russian diplomats in Luxembourg, with no proof that any of them are involved in spying activities," she added. Read alsoUkraine expels 13 Russian diplomats over Skripal poisoning Poroshenko "Luxembourg has currently two diplomats in Moscow. If Luxembourg would expel two Russian diplomats, and Russia would expel two Luxembourg diplomat as a retaliatory measure, our embassy in Moscow would be closed as our government always favored to maintain a dialogue with Russia, that would then become very difficult," she said. Other EU states, who have a history of strong ties with Moscow, have also said they do not intend to expel Russian diplomats despite having signed up to an EU statement blaming Russia for a chemical weapon attack in England earlier this month. "We will not take any national measures," Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz and foreign minister Karin Kneissl said in a joint statement. "Indeed, we want to keep the channels of communication to Russia open. Austria is a neutral country and sees itself as a bridge-builder between East and West," they said. The Austrian ruling coalition contains the far-right Freedom Party, which has signed a cooperation agreement with the ruling United Russia party in Moscow. The Maltese government, which has made hundreds of millions of euros from selling EU passports to wealthy Russians, echoed Luxembourg. It said in a statement: "We are not doing so ourselves [expelling Russian diplomats] because our diplomatic mission in Moscow is very small and any response by Russia would effectively terminate diplomatic relations." "This operational decision does not reduce our support for the UK and our security partners", it said. Read alsoAustralia expelling two Russian diplomats over nerve agent attack media Bulgaria, which has strong business ties with Russian firms, cited the fact it is holding the rotating EU presidency as a need to maintain neutrality. Greece, where the ruling coalition also contains a pro-Russian far-right party, called Anel, said previously it would never sanction a member of the UN permanent security council and that it wanted to see more evidence on what had happened in the UK. Its foreign ministry declined to comment to EUobserver on Tuesday. Cyprus, whose banks hold billions of euros in Russian capital and which has also been selling EU passports to wealthy Russians, followed Greece. Slovenian foreign minister Karl Erjavec, who hosted Russia's foreign minister in February to try to boost business ties, said on Monday that it was too soon to decide on action because it must be first determined what exactly had happened in the UK. The group of Russia-friendly EU states normally includes Hungary, which is planning to build a nuclear power plant with Russia. But Budapest opted to expel one Russian diplomat anyway, joining the other 15 EU states who expelled 31 diplomats in total, and the UK itself, which expelled 23 of them. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. This sends a "very clear message to Russia" that the nerve agent attack in the territory of a NATO member state "has costs and consequences", according to Jens Stoltenberg. NATO is expelling seven diplomats from the Russian mission to the Alliance over the Skripal poisoning in UK, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday, adding that he is denying accreditation to three other Russian diplomats. "I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others," he said, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Brussels. "And the North Atlantic Council has reduced the maximum size of the Russian mission to NATO by 10 people in line with my decision. This will bring the maximum size down to 20," Stoltenberg reported. "It sends a very clear message" to Russia that the nerve agent attack in the territory of a NATO Ally "has costs and consequences, Stoltenberg said. He added that the measures do not constitute "a change" of NATO policy. "We will continue to work for a meaningful political dialogue with Russia," said Stoltenberg. As UNIAN reported earlier, EU member states, the U.S., as well as Ukraine announced plans on Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack. "The practical implication is of course that Russia will have a reduced capability to do intelligence work in NATO countries and in those countries they are expelled from," according to Stoltenberg. Read alsoU.S. expels 60 Russian diplomats, shutters Seattle consulate AP Earlier, in protest at the Crimean annexation, NATO decided to curtail access to the headquarters for all Russian accredited NATO diplomats barring the Russian ambassador, the deputy head of mission and two support staff. Since Crimea, NATO has also suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia, although it maintains political dialogue and has tried to restart military channels of communication, mainly to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. At the same time, the country's president slams the move as an "anti-Russian provocation". Moldova has asked three Russian diplomats to leave the country within seven days. The move is made in solidarity with Britain after the poisoning of a former Russian spy, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday in a statement on its website, according to Reuters. At the same time, an openly pro-Russian Moldovan President Igor Dodon is "extremely outraged" by the decision. "I am extremely outraged by the decision of the Moldovan government to expel Russian diplomats. I categorically condemn this yet another anti-Russian provocation," Dodon wrote on Facebook. Read alsoMoldova bans Russian propaganda news despite president's defianceHe stressed that Moldova has no allied obligations to the UK and other NATO members in order to take such steps guided by a principle of solidarity. "I declare with all responsibility that I will do everything possible to ensure that the Moldovan-Russian relations are not affected by the Moldovan government's anti-Russian provocation," Dodon said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) is negotiating supply of Liquefied Natural Gas from State Oil Company of Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) after the two countries signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) last year. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) is negotiating supply of Liquefied Natural Gas from State Oil Company of Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) after the two countries signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) last year. "A price Negotiating Committee (PNC) has been constituted with approval of Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet to discuss LNG pricing issues between PLL and SOCAR," official sources told APP. Following the agreement, they said Pakistan had nominated Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSOCL), Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL), Pakistan LNG Terminal Limited (PLTL), Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) for negotiating sale and purchase agreement for petroleum products, LNG supply and establishment of LNG terminals. While, the Azerbaijani side nominated the SOCAR for the purpose. The sources said draft of sale and purchase agreement for petroleum products had been prepared by PSO and negotiations in this regard were expected to start with SOCAR shortly. Answering a question, they said world major players were showing keen interest to invest in LNG sector of Pakistan after seeing immense business potential of the commodity here. "LNG is the cheapest source of fuel and the world's major players are showing interest to invest in LNG sector of Pakistan by setting up their own terminals and developing transmission network to supply the commodity to consumers," they said. Before LNG import, they said Pakistan was importing one million ton fertilizer per year and now it was exporting over six million tons fertilizer, besides entire power generation sector was getting smooth gas supply. Seven ships, MSC Candice, MSC Mars, New Ark, Riva Wind, Madrid Trader, Lusail and Wawasan Jade scheduled to load\offload Containers, Wheat, project cargo, LNG and Chemicals were allotted berths at Qasim International Container Terminal KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Seven ships, MSC Candice, MSC Mars, New Ark, Riva Wind, Madrid Trader, Lusail and Wawasan Jade scheduled to load\offload Containers, Wheat, project cargo, LNG and Chemicals were allotted berths at Qasim International Container Terminal, Grain & Fertilizer Terminal, Multi-purpose Terminal, Engro Elengy Terminal and Engro Vopak Terminal respectively on Monday. Meanwhile seven more ships carrying, Containers, steel coil, Bitumen, Coal, Palm oil and Diesel oil also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim during last 24 hours. A total of ten ships namely, New Ark, MSC Candice, MSC Mars, Riva Wind Soho Trader, Madrid Trader, SBI Antares, Nicolas-III, Lusail and Wawasan Jade are currently occupying PQA berths to load/offload Containers, Wheat, Talc Powder, project Cargo, Coal, LNG and Chemicals during last 24 hours. Cargo throughput during last 24 hours stood at 125,568 tonnes, comprising 93,629 tonnes import cargo and 31,939 tonnes export cargo inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 2,703 Containers (TEUs) (1,822 TEUs imports and 1,681 TEUs exports) was handled at the port. Chemicals carrier Wawasan Jade sailed out to sea on Tuesday morning, while three more shops New Ark, MSC Candice and MSC Mars are expected to sail on same day. Four ships, maersk Euphrates, MSC Algeciras, Bunga Alamanda Dita carrying Containers, palm oil and Chemicals are expected to take berths at QICI, LCT and EVTL respectively on Tuesday, while another ship CMA CGM Nerval is due to arrive at Port Qasim on Wednesday. APP/sh/har 20180327 : TAG = DFB : Log No. = 12 : Time = 13:41/13:48 (@rukhshanmir) Ambassador of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Salem Al Zaabi discussed different prospects to find out ways and means for enhancing bilateral trade between his country and Pakistan in a meeting with President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahid Latif Malik on Tuesday SIALKOT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) ::Ambassador of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Salem Al Zaabi discussed different prospects to find out ways and means for enhancing bilateral trade between his country and Pakistan in a meeting with President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahid Latif Malik on Tuesday. He pledged extending full cooperation for organising single country exhibitions between both countries. He also promised to facilitate the businessmen of Pakistan in acquiring long-term business visas. He appreciated the law and order situation in the country and said that Pakistan was a safe country. The ambassador expressed his commitment for working with the Pakistani government and media to project a soft image of Pakistan around the globe. He disclosed that Expo 2020 in Dubai would be a great opportunity for the Pakistani businessmen and especially for business community of Sialkot for establishing B2B contacts with the businessmen of 180 different countries. He urged the business community of Sialkot to attend the expo. The SCCI president apprise the ambassador of the potential of Sialkot exports. He underscored the need for discouraging indirect sourcing, which was hindering the bilateral trade. (@ChaudhryMAli88) KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Federal Secretary Commerce Muhammad Younas Dagha on Tuesday said that the exports target of $ 23 billion set for the year 2017-18 will be achieved. The Commerce Ministry is working on five-year trade policy, which will be announced soon. He stated this while talking to media after inaugurating three-day 19th Textile Asia International Exhibition at Karachi Expo Centre. Secretary, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Inamullah Khan Dharejo also accompanied him. He said that the government was fully alive that Pakistani products faced the issue of high cost production and doing business. Therefore, he continued, it was considering to reduce gas and water tariffs to reduce the production cost. Pakistan needs foreign investors for achieving economic targets and this could be done by making the investment policies and business environment more attractive to them. He said that there were different opinions on devaluation of rupee. But, he was in favour because it would help improve the exports. The value of local Currency would set pattern of future exports growth. He urged the local manufacturers to modernize their industrial units to capture regional markets . Commenting on Pak-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) he said that due to rising interest of China in ASEAN countries, Pakistan could not avail its real benefits. Pakistan was reviewing FTA with China and the second phase of talks on it would be held next month. He said Pakistan was trying to overcome the massive under-invoiced imports from China. Over 450 companies are showcasing 650 products at 800 stalls in the three-day international exhibition. About 1200 foreign delegates, including from China, are participating the exhibition. The participating countries included China, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Vietnam, Turkmenistan. The event attracted a lot of visitors. Ms. LI Yang, Vice Division Director, Department of Commerce, Zhejiang province of China, on this occasion, said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was the true reflection of friendship between the two countries. Pakistan's had achieved good economic growth, she said. She praised textile products of Pakistan. She said that at the exhibition, Chinese companies would sign many deals with their counterparts. The economy of Zhejiang province was about one trillion Dollars. It was for the first time, over 150 companies from Zhejiang province were participating at the textile exhibition. APP/ah/rap The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) apprehended 15 electricity thieves in third week of March from various circles of the company in raids during its ongoingdriveagainst power pilferers ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) apprehended 15 electricity thieves in third week of March from various circles of the company in raids during its ongoingdriveagainst power pilferers. The spokesman told APP here that four culprits were held red-handed from Attock, six from Jhelum and five from Chakwal circles. They were found involved in power theft through direct line (Kunda System) and by broken security strip of the meter, he added. He said FIRs have been lodged against power thieves under the electricity (Amendment) Act. (@ChaudhryMAli88) District Police Public Safety Commission Mardan Tuesday strictly imposed ban on aerial firing and fireworks in the district. MARDAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) ::District Police Public Safety Commission Mardan Tuesday strictly imposed ban on aerial firing and fireworks in the district. The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Chairman Abdul Aziz and attended by DSP Headquarters, Ehteraz Khan, vice chairman Amjad Khan, Dr Abdul Wahab and others. The meeting also reviewed complaints of people registered against police officials and showed resentment over non arrest of accused involved in murder at Takht Bhai archeological site. The meeting directed police force to further enhance its action against aerial firing and fireworks in the district. Chairman Abdul Aziz said police were the servers of people and they have to utilize all their energies for addressing people's problems. He said committees have been formed at police station level to frustrate the narcotics business. The meeting also imposed a ban on use of mobile phones by the police personnel during duty hours. The meeting was told that 267 under age drivers were fined during last week. It was told that police plan to discourage aerial firing, fireworks, under age driving and arrest of killer at Takht Bhai archeological site would soon be brought to the table of the commission. The meeting was unanimous that there was no place for bribers in police force and those found taking bribe would be dealt with iron hand. The meeting was also told that a phone number (03461117678) has been fixed for registration of people's complaints against police officials. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MIRPUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :AJK Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan has announced to establish a memorial of the "Martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir" in New Secretariat Chatter in the state's capital town. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the prime minister directed all the concerned departments to sketch a design of the monument to remember the martyrs within next one month for further submission to his office. Moreover, concerned departments are also advised to exhibit glimpses of martyrs including their intro and other historical documents in State Guest House Hall, the statement added. Guest House building would be designed as a comprehensive Kashmir resource and information Centre, so state guests can be apprised of Kashmir freedom movement besides Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir. Earlier, the adjacent community hall was allocated for Kashmir freedom movement functions and would be recognized as "Martyrs' gallery". Prime Minister also directed that special salutation would be presented on national days in addition to designing schedule visits for all state's guests. It was also expected that Prime Minister with other cabinet members and chief secretary AJK might visit the hall and select a specific place for this purpose. Prime Minister Farooq Haider said that this monument is being built in remembrance of the sacrifices given by our brethren in occupied Kashmir. He said that incumbent government will utilize all of its resources to highlight Kashmir issue globally. He said that we have not forgotten the sacrifices given for the freedom in occupied Kashmir. "Freedom fighters of Kashmir freedom movement have given for more than 5 million sacrifices since 1947", he maintained. He added that more than 1 million martyrs have given sacrifices in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. "These martyrs are our national heroes, and their sacrifices should be honored and our young generation must be acquainted of them", he further added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister called on Speaker, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, Senior Minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Minister for Public Works, Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz, Minister for Health, Dr. Najib Naqi Khan and Minister for education Barrister Iftikhar Gilani in Jammu and Kashmir House respectively. In the meeting, amendments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir interim constitution Act 1974 were discussed in detail besides budget and ongoing expenses including security and government issues. APP/ahr/ajb (@ChaudhryMAli88) LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench Tuesday dismissed a petition, filed by Shahid Shafique, owner of Bismillah Engineering, against his arrest in connection with Ashiana Housing scam, after declaring it non-maintainable. The bench directed the petitioner to approach the accountability court first. The bench, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, had reserved the verdict after hearing arguments of the parties, and announced it on Tuesday. Earlier, the petitioner's counsel questioning the arrest of the his client under Section 18, 19 and 24 of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance contended that these Sections were no longer effective. He requested the court to set aside the arrest. However, NAB prosecutor submitted that the accused was arrested in accordance with the law after fulfilling all legal requirements. He submitted that the petition had become ineffective as the court concerned had remanded the accused in the NAB custody. Shahid Shafique had been accused of illegally acquiring a Rs14 billion contract in Ashiana Housing Project. The accused, in connivance with the LDA officers, presented fake documents of joint consortium and eventually obtained a contract of Rs14 billion, being the owner of C4 category company, which was not eligible to get a contract worth more than Rs150 million. APP/syh/rsd Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak has said that Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was the latest mega scheme that would improve transport system in the provincial metropolis on scientific grounds PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak has said that Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was the latest mega scheme that would improve transport system in the provincial metropolis on scientific grounds. He was chairing review meeting on BRT at Chief Minister House here on Tuesday. The meeting among others was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Commissioner Peshawar, Head SSU, administrative secretaries of concerned department. CM directed authorities to ensure high standards of rapid buses with special focus on facilitation of ladies, children, aged and handicapped people. He directed timely availability of buses and completion of all related arrangements to launch the project as early as possible. He reiterated that BRT would solve transport problems in the provincial metropolis and add to the beautification of city. He said that work on main corridor of the project was going with full swing adding delay in any section of the project would not be tolerated. Pervez Khattak instructed authorities to work with devotion ensuring quality and timely completion of the project. He also directed for increasing numbers of traffic police official at different squares and turn around to ensure proper traffic management in the city. The police on Tuesday arrested eighteen drug pushers and recovered narcotics, illegal weapons from them. SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) ::The police on Tuesday arrested eighteen drug pushers and recovered narcotics, illegal weapons from them. A police spokesman said that teams of different police stations conducted raids within the areas of their jurisdiction and arrested 18 accused,recovered 1,115 grams Hashish,425 bottles of liquor,1 gun 12 bore and 8 pistols 30 bore from them. The accused were identified as Farrukh Imtiaz,Shahid Imran, Asghar,Ghulam Abbas,Abdul Raheem, Abdul Rehman, Usman,Suleman,Abdul Rouf, Danial Maseeh, Sajjad,Sudheer Maseeh and others. Police have registered the cases. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Minister for education, Professional Training Engr MuhammadBaligh Ur Rehman Tuesday said the country's development and prosperity were interlinked with the democracy. The continuity of democratic system was essential to achieve milestone as second time in the history of country a democratic government was going to complete its constitutional tenure which was landmark, he said talking to ptv programme. The minister said dictator's regimes had badly damaged the integrity and economy of the country. He said there were rumors created by some political parties that the present government would not complete its constitutional tenure but we had not given importance to the statements of non-serious people. He reiterated the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government would complete its constitutional tenure. He said Pakistan has powerful constitution and nobody could intervene in the system according to that. He urged every individual to hold accountability and learn from the mistake of past. Replying to a question, Baligh Ur Rehman said Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were leveling allegations of corruption in Senate elections against each other. He said PPP had signed National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) with dictator Pervez Musharaf. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Speakers at a conference on Tuesday urged Pakistan and Iran to address each other's concerns for taking the relation forward particularly in view of the changing geo-political environment of the region that could affect both neighbours. They were speaking at a conference organized by Islamabad Policy Institute, a local think tank, on 'Pakistan and the Regional Security in West Asia'. The conference was held to examine the emerging security situation in the region. Speaking at the conference, former Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, who also presided over the event, stressed the need for a multilateral approach, involving Pakistan and Iran, for regional peace and security. He, however, underscored that Islamabad and Tehran would have to be mindful of each other's concerns. He noted that the border issue, which had been a major irritant in bilateral ties because of cross-border terrorist attacks, had been largely addressed. Rabbani warned about the emerging Indo-Israel-US nexus and maintained that it would determine the course of events in near future. He also pointed out the "strategic chain" in American threat perception involving China, Iran, and the militant/jihadist groups and contended that US policies towards the region flow out of that thinking. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Seyed Kamal Kharazi, in his keynote speech, said that Iran was not oblivious to Pakistan's security concerns vis--vis India specifically its participation in the Chahbahar Seaport project. He advised China and Pakistan to accept the Iranian invitation for involvement in development and functioning of Chahbahar project. That, he believed, would address Pakistan's concerns about Indian presence in Chahbahar. Gawadar, he suggested, would have to be connected with Chahbahar under Chinese One Belt One Road initiative. Dr Kharazi also emphasized on stronger security and intelligence cooperation between Iran and Pakistan. He said that this could help tackle terrorism, but would also have a positive impact on the stability of the region. He appreciated Pakistan's impartiality in middle Eastern Affairs, but criticized the Saudi led coalition against terrorism describing it as an anti-Iran bloc. He asked Pakistan to address Iran's security concerns as well especially on its Eastern borders. He called for strengthening Pak-Iran economic ties and people to people contacts. Defense analyst Dr Shireen Mazari said Iran would have to make hard choice of whether to support US design for the region by being a partner of India, the US ally in the region, or have cooperative relations with Pakistan, which too is under pressure from US. Dr Mazari worried that Pakistan's parliamentary resolution on Yemen was being disregarded by the government. "A lot of questions are hanging on Pakistan's role when the threat is coming closer to home," she said adding that Pakistan's resolve to stay out of Middle Eastern mess was weakening. Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Mr Mehdi Honardoost recalled the upward trajectory in Pak-Iran ties over the past few months and hoped that it would gain further momentum in coming days. Executive Director IPI Prof Sajjad Bokhari, in his opening remarks, said: "Political divergences, differences in geo-strategic worldview, aggressions and acts of terrorism have aggravated the mutual trust crisis among the regional States". This gulf, he said, can be bridged through dialogue and confidence building measures. IPI's Malaika Raza in her comments said the best way to counter the Indo-Israel-US nexus, as pointed out by Senator Rabbani, was to form a "nexus of resistance" involving Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Mar, 2018 ) :The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday reserved its judgment in a case regarding torture on minor girl Tayyaba. Justice Aamer Farooq of IHC picked up the case for hearing. Accused former Additional Session Judge Raja Khurram Ali appeared before the court along with his counsels including Raja Rizwan Abbasi and Sohail Warraich Advocate. During the course of proceeding, Rizwan Abbasi Advocate argued how someone who didn't see the incident could become witness of it? The minor girl had admitted that video recording of her statement was made and injuries on her body were appeared after she fell from somewhere, he argued, saying that Tayyaba had given all the information to her parents. Abbasi said nothing remain in the case if medical report and a witness were excluded from it. Advocate General Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri argued that the minor girl was blamed for being misused by media and land mafia against former judge Raja Khurram Ali. He said the victim girl had given statement before the court and police regarding the whole torture episode against her. She had also pointed out tools used to torture her, he said. The bench asked whether the statement of victim girl was enough to announce punishment to the accused? Jahangiri said "yes the statement of victim was enough for this". He prayed the court to announce sentence for the accused in light of the medical report, evidences and witness statement in accordance of law. After hearing the arguments at large from both sides, the court subsequently reserved its judgment in the case. (@FahadShabbir) Talking on a private TV program on Monday, renowned journalist Rauf Klasra said that there can be three reasons behind Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) president Shehbaz Sharifs visit to London Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) Talking on a private tv program on Monday, renowned journalist Rauf Klasra said that there can be three reasons behind Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) president Shehbaz Sharifs visit to London. The first reason is that Shehbaz is there for his medical check-up, second he is there to visit his sister-in-law Kulsoom Nawaz who is in an ailing condition. The third reason is that Shehbaz is holding meetings over there and finding out ways to win the next general elections. Klasra also discussed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasis visit to the United States in his program. The PMLN, he said, is giving a message to the US that Pakistan has again gotten into the hands of the clerics. The US, on one hand, wants to make things better in Pakistan by creating cooperation between Pakistan Army and other institutions while on the other hand, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has been re-launched in the country. Shehbaz will convey to the US that if you dont support us then what you want will not happen in Pakistan, Klasra added. Former president Pervez Musharraf had also told the US that if he is not made the president of Pakistan, all the Sunnis and Shiites will unite in the country which is against the agenda of the US, he said. To watch the complete discussion of Klasra, watch the following video: (@rukhshanmir) The Board of Directors of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited has appointed Lt Gen Tariq Khan, HI(M) (Retd) as Chief Executive and Managing Director w.e.f March 27, 2018 in place of Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed, HI(M) (Retd) Lahore, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) The board of Directors of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited has appointed Lt Gen Tariq Khan, HI(M) (Retd) as Chief Executive and Managing Director w.e.f March 27, 2018 in place of Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed, HI(M) (Retd). Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) which is a market leader in Pakistan was established in 1978, as a joint venture between Fauji Foundation and HALDOR TOPSOE A/S Denmark. FFC has evolved into vibrant company with three world class Urea Plants. The Company holds diversified stakes in Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Limited, Askari Bank Limited, Fauji Cement Company Limited and Pakistan Maroc Phosphore SA (PMP). In line with the strategy of diversification, FFC Energy Limited; the pioneer among the Wind Power Plants in Pakistan is contributing 50 MW to the national grid and further committed to address shortage of energy in the Country. FFC has setup another business venture as Fauji Fresh n Freeze Limited (FFF) which is a state of the art (individually quick frozen fruits and vegetables) plant; the first of its kind in Pakistan. Lt Gen Tariq Khan, HI(M) (Retd) thanked the Board of Directors for reposing their trust by electing him as the Chief Executive & Managing Director. He stated that FFC is the flagship Company of the Fauji Group which is not only pride for Fauji Foundation but for the nation as a whole. Lt Gen Tariq Khan, HI(M) (Retd)appreciated the services of Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed, HI(M) (Retd) outgoing CE&MD who displayed outstanding standards of dedication, passion and utmost energy which infused a new spirit into the Company. Lt Gen Tariq Khan, HI(M) (Retd) bringswide ranging experience to the organization and pledged to continue the good work already being done. (@ChaudhryMAli88) National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will hold an open court on March 29 MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will hold an open court on March 29. According to NAB official sources, people have been urged to contact NAB office and submit their complaints. The step was taken after directives from Chairman NAB Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal. Director General NAB Multan Atiqur Rehman will listen to complaints of people. The open court will be held on regular basis on last Thursday of every month. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Pakistan Red Crescent Sindh has established a heat stroke center at its provincial headquarters to facilitate people Karachi (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) Pakistan Red Crescent Sindh has established a heat stroke center at its provincial headquarters to facilitate people. The center is established in view of soaring temperatures and to assist people suffering from heat stroke. Moreover, it aims to create awareness about heat stroke and effective response techniques to prevent it. PRC Sindh branch is dedicated towards assisting the humanitarian needs and facilitate general public. The center provided commuters and pedestrians with water and juice to combat dehydration and health emergency. The district branch Sanghar has also conducted awareness session regarding heat related illness and its prevention. About 200 people participated in the session. Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) has arrested a police officer on the charges of taking bribe here SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) -:Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) has arrested a police officer on the charges of taking bribe here. ACE sources on Tuesday said, a complainant Azizullah of village Chunki, district Khushab stated in his application to Director ACE, Asim Raza that ASI Muhammad Riaz Noushera police station had taken Rs 10,000 bribe for acquitting an accused. On the directives of Director ACE, the Circle Officer Atif Shaukat under the supervision of Civil Judge Muhammad Ali Amjad conducted raid at aforementioned police station, arrested ASI Muhammad Riaz and recovered the bribe money. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday said with the abundant natural gas reserves and improved security situation, Pakistan offered ample opportunities of investment in this sector of economy to local and foreign companies KOHAT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday said with the abundant natural gas reserves and improved security situation, Pakistan offered ample opportunities of investment in this sector of economy to local and foreign companies. The Prime Minister was addressing a ceremony here after inaugurating a US$ 150 million Tolanj Gas Processing Plant that will produce'20 million cubic feet gas per day besides contributing 31 million Dollars revenue annually to the national kitty. The processing facility was commissioned on December 5, 2017. It had commenced production from Tolanj X-1 and Tolanj West-1 gas wells in Kohat, a leap step forward towards making Pakistan self-sufficient in energy sector.Prime Minister lauded MOL Pakistan's support in meeting Pakistan's energy requirements besides its valuable contribution towards investment and generating employment opportunities in the country. The gas processing facility will immensely help make a direct positive effect on the overall industrial growth, development of infant industries and socio-economic conditions of people of this region. He said Tolanj gas facility being a classic example of public-private partnership was a major headway in meeting the growing energy demands of people and industries of Pakistan. The Prime Minister said Pakistan was making great progress in all spheres of life due to his government's prudent economics and energy policies and the long inherited problem of load shedding was successfully addressed. He recalled that when the present PML-N government took over in 2013 the country was facing acute gas and electricity shortages, adding, but now every sector including the domestic consumers as well as the industry were getting gas supply. Similarly, the Prime Minister said the issue of electricity shortages has also been addressed to the large extent due to the government's efforts. He said the government was encouraging business groups, corporate entities and foreign investors to take full advantage of the facilities offered by his government and bring investment in Pakistan. The Prime Minister said Tolanj gas processing facility was the largest gas project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and would help better the gas supply in the area. He appreciated MOL Pakistan for heavy investment in the country and making this project a success story, which he termed as a "win-win" for all. It was an efficient and modern plant, he added. The Prime Minister hoped that the other companies would also benefit from the MOL's successful experience and ventures in Pakistan. He further hoped that MOL would continue to invest in Pakistan. He also thanked the Governor KP as well as the provincial government for their cooperation in the project. Dr Berislav Gaso, Executive Vice President Upstream MOL Pakistan said his group has already invested over one billion dollars in oil and gas sectors in Pakistan and its direct subsidiary oil and gas companies are working in this country since 1999 and are significantly contributing in development of Pakistan. For nearly two decades, he said, Mol Pakistan was playing a pro-active role in Pakistan Oil and Gas sector and has been contributing through its funds in order to help mitigate the problem of energy shortfall. With the launch of Tolanj facility, he said, we are looking forward to make more large-scale investment in this country with cooperation of Government of Pakistan. Ali Murtaza Abbasi, MOL Regional Advisor middle East, Africa and Pakistan appreciated Prime Minister of Pakistan's commitment in strengthening and streamlining the energy sector of the country. He said inauguration of the Tolanj facility was a great achievement and historic day for people of KP especially for Kohat. Braham Balghin, CEO Mol Pakistan said the plant has successfully started operation after thorough inspection and re-testing of its all components. He said these measures have given immense confidence to all stakeholders for safe, sustainable and long term operations of this plant and commended teams and engineers for its successful operations. The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by Governor Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra formally inaugurated the plant by unveiling the plaque. Senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Islamabad and MOL Pakistan were also present on the occasion who briefed the Prime Minister about salient features of this gigantic project. Earlier upon arrival in Kohat, the Prime Minister was warmly received by Governor KP Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and other senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and MOL Pakistan. Security forces conducted intelligence based operations (IBOs) on suspected terrorist hideouts on Tuesday in different areas of Balochistan and apprehended two suspects RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Security forces conducted intelligence based operations (IBOs) on suspected terrorist hideouts on Tuesday in different areas of Balochistan and apprehended two suspects. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued here, the IBOs were carried out in Duki, Shoaib Nikka, Zhob, Kabo and Mastung areas of Balochistan. Cache of arms and ammunition including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), detonators, explosive, ball bearings and various calibre ammunition were also recovered. A delegation of Shanghai Electric Power (SEP) led by its chairman Wang Yundan Monday called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Mar, 2018 ) :A delegation of Shanghai Electric Power (SEP) led by its chairman Wang Yundan Monday called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The delegation apprised the prime minister about the current status of acquisition process of majority stake in K-Electric and sought government's support in accelerating the process of regulatory approval, said a press release. The prime minister assured the delegation that Government of Pakistan remained committed to supporting Shanghai Electric Power with a view to further liberalizing the power generation and distribution sector in the country. To this extent, he also assured the visiting delegation of the government's commitment to enable the process to move forward subject to completion of all regulatory frameworks. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Tuesday released 45,900 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 45,200 cusecs. According to the data released by IRSA, water level in the Indus River at Tarbela Dam was 1386 feet, which was 6 feet higher than its dead level of 1,380 feet. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Tuesday released 45,900 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 45,200 cusecs. According to the data released by IRSA, water level in the Indus River at Tarbela Dam was 1386 feet, which was 6 feet higher than its dead level of 1,380 feet. Water inflow in the dam was recorded as 16,800 cusecs and outflow as 16,300 cusecs. The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1,050 feet, which was 10 feet higher than its dead level of 1,040 feet whereas the inflow and outflow of water was recorded as 12,500 cusecs and 13,700 cusecs respectively. The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Sukkur was recorded as 30,700, 18,100 and 3,700 cusecs respectively. Similarly from the Kabul River, 8,600 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera and 2,000 cusecs from the Chenab River at Marala. (@FahadShabbir) Vienna, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :In 2010, Vienna airport saw the biggest spy swap since the Cold War. Among those Russia deported was Sergei Skripal, poisoned with a nerve agent in Britain on March 4. Eight years later, Austria's refusal to join most other EU nations in expelling Russian diplomats shows it once again wants to be the conduit for East-West mediation. The exchange on July 9, 2010 could have been lifted from the pages of a spy novel, happening as it did in Vienna, the imperial city of waltzes and chocolate cake that was also a murky Cold War nest of spies. The Russian and US aircraft parked next to each other on the tarmac of Vienna airport and both took off within 15 minutes of the swap, well away from the media. Ten agents including glamorous tabloid darling Anna Chapman were swapped by the US for four men freed by Russia, including Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer. In 2006, Skripal had been sentenced in Russia to 13 years in jail for betraying agents to Britain's MI6 secret service. The 10 sent back to Russia were members of a "deep cover" network of spies posing as ordinary Americans arrested in an FBI swoop in June 2010 after a decade under surveillance. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Nigeria with concurrent accreditation to Ghana Vyacheslav Beskosty has had a meeting with Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, MINSK, 27 March (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) ::Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Nigeria with concurrent accreditation to Ghana Vyacheslav Beskosty has had a meeting with Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both the sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of Belarus-Ghana political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation. They pointed to the growing bilateral trade and the existing potential for developing industrial cooperation. The Belarusian ambassador met with Albert Yankey, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. They reached an agreement to hold the second round of bilateral political consultations in Minsk in 2018. Vyacheslav Beskosty also had a meeting with Belarus Honorary Consul in Ghana Kobina Ade-Coker to review the performance of the honorary consulate. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Five people were killed when a fire broke out in a camp housing thousands displaced by Boko Haram violence near the Nigerian border with Cameroon, military and civilian sources told AFP. Kano, Nigeria, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Five people were killed when a fire broke out in a camp housing thousands displaced by Boko Haram violence near the Nigerian border with Cameroon, military and civilian sources told AFP. The incident happened on Monday in a camp for around 55,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) in the town of Rann, 175 kilometres (105 miles) east of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, they said. "There was a fire outbreak in the IDP camp... which killed five people, three women and two children," a senior military officer in the town said. Several people suffered burns, dozens of livestock were lost and around 200 makeshift tents were destroyed, the officer said. A civilian guard assisting the military in the town said the blaze was caused by flying embers from open fires. "The fire started in the morning while residents of the camp were making breakfast in the open and the morning breeze carried some splinters to the shelters," the militiaman, Kaka Ari, told AFP. Rann, where nearly 80,000 people are living with the help of international aid agencies, has been vulnerable to attacks from Boko Haram. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Four leading opposition and rights figures are being held in Niger prisons following a banned weekend demonstration that turned violent in the capital Niamey, media reports said Tuesday Niamey, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Four leading opposition and rights figures are being held in Niger prisons following a banned weekend demonstration that turned violent in the capital Niamey, media reports said Tuesday. They were among 23 people arrested after the protest Sunday against new taxes degenerated into clashes between demonstrators and police. Officials of the Collectif d'ONG, an association of grassroots groups that organised the protest, said those in custody had been charged with organising and taking part in a banned march and "abetting damage to public and private property". Local television said opposition figure Nouhou Arzika, rights activists Moussa Tchangari and Ali Idrissa and rights lawyer Lirwana Abdourahamane were all in custody in different prisons around the former French colony. Rights watchdog Amnesty International called Monday for the 23 arrested to be released. "The wave of arrests of activists and the clearly brutal response by security forces not only violates the right of demonstrators to peaceful assembly but also risks inflaming an already tense situation in Niger," Amnesty said on its website. Niger, one of the world's poorest nations, has seen regular protests against the new taxes and tax breaks to telephone companies that critics say are worth tens of millions of Euros (Dollars). Interior Minister Bazoum Mohamed told AFP that Sunday's protest had been banned for "security reasons", notably because it was planned for after dark. "They incited (the public) and disrupted public order and were arrested for rebellion for describing the ban as illegal," he said. The Labari radio and television network owned by Idrissa was also ordered closed on Sunday. The economy of the largely desert country has been hit by falling prices for oil, which it officially began exporting in 2011, and uranium, of which it is a major exporter. The government says it is cash-strapped as it has to spend resources to combat attacks by Boko Haram, whose Islamist insurgency has spilled over from Nigeria, as well as from jihadists, including the Islamic State group, near the border with Mali. Finance Minister Hassoumi Massadou said in February that the 2018 budget would "barely affect" people in the countryside, where more than 80 percent of Niger's 20 million people live. French Ambassador to Pakistan Marc Barty Tuesday called on Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan and discussed climate change issues ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :French Ambassador to Pakistan Marc Barty Tuesday called on Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan and discussed climate change issues. The minister said that France is playing active role in tackling issued related to climate change, which also arranged Cop-21 successfully besides all security issues. The minister appreciated the role of Martine Dorance ex. Ambassador to Pakistan for her collaboration on climate change. "We are establishing Climate Change Council and Authority to involve provinces and private sector, and have started Ghar Ghar Aik Shajar plantation campaign," he added. Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam apprised the ambassador about upcoming expo on sustainable development. "This expo aims to provide students an opportunity to display their projects on environment" she added. She also highlighted some initiatives of the Ministry on urban forestation. French Ambassador Marc Barety offered assistance to reduce 20 percent carbon emissions according to its commitments. Director General Environment Irfan Tariq informed the ambassador that Pakistan had submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that are called National Determined Contributions now. The INDCs talk about 20 percent reduction in emissions. But this reduction depends on 40 billion Dollars support annually. "We are also developing a roadmap to consult provinces on implementation process of INDCs in the light of our policies. We also hold twice a year meetings to review climate change policy implementation framework," he added. (@rukhshanmir) Niger's Ambassador to Libya Hussein Melloul has denied presence of any Nigerien opposition fighters on Libyan territory. TRIPOLI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) ::Niger's Ambassador to Libya Hussein Melloul has denied presence of any Nigerien opposition fighters on Libyan territory. The ambassador made his remarks on Monday during a meeting with Abdurrahman Swehli, the head of the Libyan Higher Council of State, in the Libyan capital Tripoli. They discussed the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, including the security situation on the Libya-Niger border and illegal immigration, according to the media office of the council. "The Ambassador of Niger denied presence of any armed opposition groups of his country on Libyan soil, stressing Niger's respect for the sovereignty and independence of Libya and its full support to the Libyan authorities to restore security and stability in the country," the office said in a statement. Swehli highlighted the necessity of enhancing the joint cooperation on security and illegal immigration. Since last week, the air force of the Libyan eastern-based army has been targeting a number of African armed groups in southern Libya, after the army's deadline for African migrants to leave. The city of Sabha, located some 800 km southwest of Libyan capital Tripoli, has recently been witnessing violent clashes between rival tribes that killed and injured dozens of civilians and forced hundreds of families to flee their homes. People from Chad, Niger and Sudan have been accused of involvement in the conflicts in Sabha. Hamed Al-Khiali, head of the Municipal Council of Sabha, said last month that the local airport was occupied by "an armed group that has nothing to do with Libya," carrying flags of other African countries. Recently in Tripoli, the UN-backed government announced measures to support its forces in Sabha to fight the so-called "mercenaries." More than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of heroin have been seized during anti-drug operations in Turkey's eastern province of Van, local police department said on Tuesday. In a statement, VAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :More than 100 kilograms (220 Pounds) of heroin have been seized during anti-drug operations in Turkey's eastern province of Van, local police department said on Tuesday. In a statement, Van Provincial Police Department said the operation targeted the drug traffickers who are funding the PKK/KCK terrorist group in Baskale and Edremit districts. In Baskale district, anti-narcotics teams seized more than 92 kilograms (202 pounds) of heroin from a vehicle on Van-Hakkari highway. During the operation, seven suspects were also apprehended on charges of "drug trafficking", the statement read. In Edremit district, police confiscated over 8.8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of heroin hidden in a pillow in a lorry. Two suspects, including the lorry driver, were also detained during the operation, the statement added. Hassan Rouhani left Iran to Ashgabat for signing multiple agreements between the two countries, as well as participating in a joint meeting of Iranian and Turkmen businesspersons aimed at boosting mutual trade ties. TEHRAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) ::Hassan Rouhani left Iran to Ashgabat for signing multiple agreements between the two countries, as well as participating in a joint meeting of Iranian and Turkmen businesspersons aimed at boosting mutual trade ties. The Iranian president will fly to the Repubblic of Azerbaijan on Wednesday evening to meet and confer with his Azerbaijani counterpart, IRNA reported here on Tuesday. Bilateral meetings of the delegations, signing memorandum of understanding, as well as holding a press conference are among his itinerary. On Thursday morning, an Iran-Azerbaijan economic conference will be held to explore economic relations among governmental as well as the private sectors of the two countries. Senior diplomats and economic officials, including Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zerif and the country's Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh, will accompany President Rouhani in his visits to the two neighbouring countries which share land and sea borders with Iran. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Demonstrators blocked several roads in Catalonia Tuesday to protest the arrest in Germany of the region's former president Carles Puigdemont and the jailing of other separatist leaders in Spain. Barcelona, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Demonstrators blocked several roads in Catalonia Tuesday to protest the arrest in Germany of the region's former president Carles Puigdemont and the jailing of other separatist leaders in Spain. Regional road transport authorities said the two main access roads into Barcelona were closed, before the blockades were lifted. But other main roads remain blocked. (@FahadShabbir) Bratislava, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :Slovakia's parliament on Monday approved a new government appointed by Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, whose predecessor quit in a scandal over an investigative journalist's murder that sparked mass protests. The ministers' appointment last week led thousands of people to take to the streets across Slovakia on Friday to call for snap elections. Eighty-one MPs in the 150-seat assembly voted in favour of the new cabinet, an official statement said. The new line-up retains most of the same people from the previous administration of Robert Fico, who analysts believe will continue to call the shots from behind the scenes as he remains chairman of Pellegrini's Smer-SD party. Pellegrini and outgoing interior minister Robert Kalinak are the party's deputy chairmen. Journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, both 27, were found shot dead last month in their home near Bratislava. Police said Kuciak's death was "most likely" related to his investigation into alleged ties between top politicians and Italy's powerful 'Ndrangheta mafia. Pellegrini condemned the murder, calling it "an attack on freedom of speech" and saying the government "will do everything to investigate this abominable act". His death has raised concerns about media freedom and corruption in the EU member country of 5.4 million people and sparked weekly anti-government protests. Pellegrini said ahead of Monday's vote that he hoped the approval of the new team from the three-party coalition would "end the torment in Slovakia" and restore stability. "We will do everything possible to ensure that honest people can live well and that those who commit crimes will be punished," he told the TASR news agency. (@FahadShabbir) Quito, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Mar, 2018 ) :Two journalists for an Ecuadoran newspaper and their driver were abducted on the border with Colombia in a zone where former Colombian FARC rebels remain active, officials said Tuesday. The three, all Ecuadoran citizens, were seized early Monday in the village of Mataje, in Esmeraldas province, Ecuadoran Interior Minister Cesar Navas told a news conference. "We presume they are in Colombia," he said. "We know they are well. There has been contact. We can't give more details." The area where the abduction happened has seen increased Ecuadoran military activity in a crackdown against armed former FARC insurgents who officials say now work for drug cartels. A week ago, three Ecuadoran soldiers were killed and 11 were wounded by a bomb as they patrolled Mataje. Other attacks in the Esmeraldas province have wounded 32 soldiers and civilians. Ecuador's government sees the attacks as being carried out by FARC dissidents who refused to go along with a peace deal signed by the rebel group and Colombian authorities in 2016. The governments of Ecuador and Colombia have stepped up cooperation to tackle what they term "transnational crime" across their common border. (@FahadShabbir) The United Arab Emirates said two Qatari fighter jets "dangerously approached" two passenger flights on Monday, the third such incident between the Gulf rivals Abu Dhabi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :The United Arab Emirates said two Qatari fighter jets "dangerously approached" two passenger flights on Monday, the third such incident between the Gulf rivals. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have clashed repeatedly over alleged airspace violations this year, as a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf enters its 10th month. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the "reckless manner in which two Qatari fighter jets dangerously approached two UAE-registered commercial aircraft while flying over Bahraini airspace today, in a flagrant and serious threat to civil aviation and air navigation safety". One of the aircraft was forced to "do an emergency manoeuvre to avoid colliding with the Qatari jets," the aviation authority said in a statement published by the official WAM news agency. The United Arab Emirates said two Qatari fighter jets "dangerously approached" two UAE passenger flights on Monday, sparking a swift denial by Doha in the third such incident between the Gulf rivals Abu Dhabi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :The United Arab Emirates said two Qatari fighter jets "dangerously approached" two UAE passenger flights on Monday, sparking a swift denial by Doha in the third such incident between the Gulf rivals. Qatar and the Emirates have rowed repeatedly over alleged airspace violations this year, as a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf enters its 10th month. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the "reckless manner in which two Qatari fighter jets dangerously approached two UAE-registered commercial aircraft while flying over Bahraini airspace today, in a flagrant and serious threat to civil aviation and air navigation safety". One of the aircraft was forced to "do an emergency manoeuvre to avoid colliding with the Qatari jets", the aviation authority said in a statement published by the official WAM news agency. Qatar "categorically" denied the accusation in a statement released by its civil aviation authority. Qatar, which denies the accusations, is barred from using the airspace of the four states, although UAE airlines are not technically banned from operating flights through Qatari airspace. Abu Dhabi is now looking at rerouting flights to Bahrain to avoid Qatari airspace. (@ChaudhryMAli88) A British minister on Tuesday branded Julian Assange a "miserable little worm" after the WikiLeaks founder, who is holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London, questioned the government's response to a nerve agent attack London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :A British minister on Tuesday branded Julian Assange a "miserable little worm" after the WikiLeaks founder, who is holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London, questioned the government's response to a nerve agent attack. "It is of great regret that Julian Assange remains in the Ecuador embassy," Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan told MPs in the House of Commons in response to a question. "It is of even deeper regret that even last night he was tweeting against Her Majesty's government for their conduct in replying to the attack in Salisbury. "It's about time that this miserable little worm walked out of the embassy and gave himself up to British justice." Assange sought political asylum at the embassy in 2012 after a British judge ruled he should be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault and rape there. He claims the accusations are politically motivated and feared it would lead to his extradition to the United States, which was enraged by WikiLeaks' publication of secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010. Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but the English warrant for his arrest for breaching bail conditions while awaiting extradition remains, meaning he would be detained if he stepped outside. Assange has kept up his whistleblowing activities from inside the embassy and regularly tweets on international affairs. On Monday night, he raised questions on Twitter about Britain's decision to blame Russia for the March 4 chemical weapons attack on a former double agent, Sergei Skripal, and its response -- echoed by more than 20 countries -- to expel Russian diplomats. A United Nations spokesman has confirmed that the world body was informed of United States' decision to expel 12 diplomats serving the Russian mission to the UN UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Mar, 2018 ) :A United Nations spokesman has confirmed that the world body was informed of United States' decision to expel 12 diplomats serving the Russian mission to the UN. "I can confirm that the United States Mission to the United Nations informed the Secretariat of its decision to take action under Section 13(b) of the UN-US Headquarters Agreement with respect to certain members of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations," Deputy UN Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at the daily press briefing on Monday. "This action may require those members to leave the country," he added. "Given the sensitivity of the matter, which is ongoing, we will not comment further at this stage other than to confirm that the Secretary-General will closely follow this matter and engage as appropriate with the Governments concerned," he said. He declined to answer any questions that would involve any detail of the matter, including whether the United Nations has been given the Names of the 12 diplomats to be expelled. news reports suggest that the US Administration on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the US, following similar actions taken by other countries in the wake of the allegation by the United Kingdom that Russia was behind an attack using a deadly nerve-agent in Salisbury on 4 March, which left Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, hospitalized in critical condition. On 14 March, the UK brought the charge before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, where US Ambassador Nikki Haley said that the US stood in solidarity with the UK in denouncing the "crime" and believed Russia had been responsible for the attack. At the same meeting, both Russia and the United Kingdom said the incident should be investigated by the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN-backed body which works to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and eliminate chemical weapons use, and the threat of their use. The UK Foreign Ministry announced later that independent investigators from the OPCW were due to arrive in the UK on Monday, 19 March to kick off their probe into the nerve agent used in the Salisbury attack. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an intercellular glycoprotein produced primarily by the prostate gland, which is commonly chosen as the initial target for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this work, we demonstrate a simple yet sensitive sandwich-type single-particle enumeration (SPE) immunoassay for the quantitative detection of PSA in a flow chamber. The design is based on the luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) between upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The carboxyl group-functionalized UCNPs are conjugated with anti-PSA detection antibodies (Ab1) and serve as the luminescence energy donor, while GNPs are modified with anti-PSA capture antibodies (Ab2) and act as the energy acceptor. In the presence of target antigen (i.e., PSA), the specific immnuoreaction brings the donor and acceptor into close proximity, resulting in quenched luminescence. Through statistical counting of the target-dependent fluorescent particles on the glass slide surface, the quantity of antigens in the solution is accurately determined. The dynamic range for PSA detection in Tris-buffered saline (TBS) is 0-500 pM and the limit-of-detection (LOD) is 1.0 pM, which is much lower than the cutoff level in patients' serum samples. In the serum sample assay, comparable LOD was also achieved (i.e., 2.3 pM). As a consequence, this method will find promising applications for the selective detection of cancer biomarkers in clinical diagnosis. Analytical chemistry. 2018 Mar 23 [Epub ahead of print] Xue Li, Lin Wei, Lanlan Pan, Zunyan Yi, Xiao Wang, Zhongju Ye, Lehui Xiao, Hung-Wing Li, Jianfang Wang State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry , Nankai University , Tianjin 300071 , China., Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Traditional Chinese Medicine Research, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Phytochemical R&D of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Hunan Normal University , Changsha 410081 , China., Department of Chemistry , Hong Kong Baptist University , Kowloon Tong , Hong Kong, SAR China., Department of Physics , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong, SAR China. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29557168 Ohio Gov. Kasich commutes yet another death sentence | Main | SCOTUS day for considering rules for prison sentence modification based on changed guidelines March 26, 2018 "The War on Drugs Breeds Crafty Traffickers" The title of this post is the title of this notable new op-ed in the New York Times authored by Sanhoe Tree. I recommend the piece is full, and here are excerpts: Politicians often escalate drug war rhetoric to show voters that they are doing something. But it is rare to ignore generations of lessons as President Trump did earlier this month when he announced his support for the execution of drug traffickers. This idea is insane. But the war on drugs has never made any sense to begin with. Executing a few individual smugglers will do little to stop others because there is no high command of the international drug trade to target, no generals who can order a coordinated surrender of farmers, traffickers, money launderers, dealers or users. The drug trade is diffuse and can span thousands of miles from producer to consumer. People enter the drug economy for all sorts of reasons poverty, greed, addiction and because they believe they will get away with it. Most people do. The death penalty only hurts the small portion of people who are caught (often themselves minorities and low-level mules). Indeed, on the ground, the threat of execution will even help those who arent caught because they can charge an increased risk premium to the next person in the smuggling chain. The risk of capture and punishment increases as drugs move from farm to processing lab, traversing jungles, through cities, across oceans, past borders, distributed by dealers and purchased by consumers. The greater the risk to smugglers in this chain, the more they can demand in payment.... An overreliance on intensive policing over the decades has also produced a rapid Darwinian evolution of the drug trade. The people we have typically captured tend to be the ones who are dumb enough to get caught. They may have violated operational security, bragged too much, lived conspicuous lifestyles or engaged in turf wars. The ones we usually miss tend to be the most innovative, adaptable and cunning. We have picked off their clumsy competition for them and opened up that lucrative economic trafficking space to the most efficient organizations. It is as though we have had a decades-long policy of selectively breeding supertraffickers and ensuring the survival of the fittest. To support his case for executions, Mr. Trump cites draconian penalties in other countries. Iran has used the death penalty extensively in drug cases, but more than 2.8 million Iranians still consume illicit drugs. Earlier this year, the Iranian government even repealed the use of executions in most drug cases which could spare up to 5,000 people on death row. Mr. Trump often praises President Rodrigo Dutertes brutal drug war in the Philippines, which has claimed 12,000 to 20,000 lives in mostly extrajudicial killings. But there is little indication that drug use has actually decreased. In fact, as the killings have increased, so too have the governments drug use estimates. What began as 1.8 million users at the beginning of 2016 grew to three million and later four million. Last September, the Philippine Foreign Secretary, Alan Peter Cayetano, even raised that estimate to seven million. The higher numbers are likely inflated, but more killings do not appear to reduce the number of users. Singapore notoriously refuses to publish reliable drug-use statistics, so there is no way to show whether executions have any measurable effect on drug consumption. As Harm Reduction International pointed out, however, Singapores seizures for cannabis and methamphetamine increased 20 percent in 2016 while heroin seizures remained stable. Moreover, 80 percent of Singapores prisoners are incarcerated for drug-related offenses. All of this suggests, Singapores famous panacea to solve the drug problem is not as miraculous as it seems.... Mr. Trump is not advancing a new strategy to deal with opioids. It was President Clinton who put these death penalty statutes on the books as part of the 1994 crime bill, but they remain unused. Mr. Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions are trying to change that. They want to use those laws in racketeering cases and ones involving large quantities of drugs even though the Supreme Court has ruled that capital punishment should be reserved only for crimes resulting in death. The Donald Trump of 2018 should take a lesson from the Donald Trump of 1990 when he told the Miami Herald: We are losing badly the war on drugs. You have to legalize drugs to win that war. March 26, 2018 at 09:45 PM | Permalink Comments NYT on Trump? Dismissed. David Duke hate speech on the Jews has more credibility. Lying, biased, unethical journalism crap. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 27, 2018 2:19:36 AM "An overreliance on intensive policing over the decades has also produced a rapid Darwinian evolution of the drug trade. The people we have typically captured tend to be the ones who are dumb enough to get caught. They may have violated operational security, bragged too much, lived conspicuous lifestyles or engaged in turf wars. The ones we usually miss tend to be the most innovative, adaptable and cunning. We have picked off their clumsy competition for them and opened up that lucrative economic trafficking space to the most efficient organizations. It is as though we have had a decades-long policy of selectively breeding supertraffickers and ensuring the survival of the fittest. Yes and in a totally different context this is also one of the strongest arguments against encryption backdoors, golden keys, etc. It is a war only on the inept, the unlucky, and the stupid. That's not much of a war... The same can be also be said of sex trafficking as well. People adapt. Note that this claim that people adapt is not an argument that we should do nothing. It is an argument that we need to think carefully about what we do and ask if the problems are solutions are creating are worse than the ones they are trying to solve. The problem with the war on drugs isn't that it is a bad idea, it is that it has failed to accomplish what it was designed to do. More of the same is insanity. Posted by: Thingamabob | Mar 27, 2018 3:19:24 PM Post a comment Spain has been plunged back into political turmoil after violent protests over the weekend in the wake of the arrest of the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont. He was arrested in Germany under an international arrest warrant. The semi-autonomous region of Catalonia voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum last year, viewed as illegal by Madrid though turnout was below 50 percent. Pro-independence parties won a slim majority in subsequent elections. Henry Ridgwell reports. The United States on Monday ordered 60 Russian diplomats it accuses of being spies to leave the country within one week. A number of U.S. allies, including France, Germany and Poland, are making similar moves in a united response to the March 4th chemical weapons attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Salisbury, Britain. VOA diplomatic correspondent Cindy Saine has more from the State Department. In her widely watched "60 Minutes" interview, porn star Stormy Daniels explained why she accepted a $130,000 payment she says was intended to keep her silent about her sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. Trump has denied the affair, through his representatives. But his lawyer, Michael Cohen, has said he paid Daniels $130,000 out of his own pocket days before the 2016 election. That has prompted questions about whether it was effectively a campaign contribution. Cohen denies the payment was related to the campaign. Some questions and answers about the payment: WAS THE $130K ILLEGAL? The transaction itself does not seem to be illegal, but the failure to report it either as a campaign contribution or on government ethics forms might be. WHO OBJECTS? Two complaints have been filed by watchdog groups. Common Cause says in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission that the payment may violate federal campaign finance law in several respects. It said it should have been reported as an in-kind campaign contribution and was far above the $5,400 Cohen could give Trump's campaign. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington also has asked the Justice Department and the Office of Government Ethics to investigate whether the payment to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, may have violated federal law because Trump did not list it on his financial disclosure forms. Cohen has said neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Daniels and he was not reimbursed for the payment. However, Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti told "60 Minutes" he has documents showing Cohen using his Trump Organization email address in setting up the payment and that the nondisclosure agreement was sent by FedEx to Cohen at his Trump Organization office in Trump Tower. ISN'T THIS JUST A TECHNICALITY? The groups that filed these complaints say their beef isn't just about technical violations of obscure election and ethics laws. They say the complaints may open the door to more serious allegations that could force Cohen, and potentially Trump, to testify under oath. Common Cause vice president Paul S. Ryan said Cohen should be asked under oath about Trump's involvement in the payment. "Michael Cohen knows whether Donald Trump is directly involved in all of this," Ryan said. WHAT'S THE PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS? There can be both civil and criminal penalties if investigators determine that the campaign or Cohen intended to keep the payment secret. This is not an easy standard to prove in court. Prosecutors failed to get a conviction against former presidential candidate and Sen. John Edwards on charges that he received illegal contributions and falsified documents to pay for the silence of his pregnant mistress as he campaigned for president in 2008. Ryan said a case against Trump could be stronger because the payment to Daniels was made days before the election when she was likely to go public with her story. ANY CONNECTION TO THE RUSSIA PROBE? Russia's election meddling and the alleged Daniels affair do not appear to be linked. But special counsel Robert Mueller has broad investigative authority, and Cohen has been linked to other aspects of the investigation, including efforts in 2015 to pursue a Trump Tower real estate development in Moscow. If Mueller believed he could leverage Cohen's testimony about Russian matters, he could have reason to look into the payment to Daniels. WHAT OTHER LAWSUITS ARE INVOLVED? Daniels has filed a lawsuit to free herself from the non-disclosure agreement she signed when she accepted the money. Cohen also is pursuing claims through arbitration against Daniels for violating the non-disclosure agreement. Cohen says Daniels could owe $20 million for violating the agreement. It's possible that if Cohen does not drop the effort, Daniels' lawyer could try to question Trump about the arrangement. DOES A SITTING PRESIDENT HAVE TO TESTIFY? Probably. The Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that President Bill Clinton was not protected from a civil sexual harassment lawsuit filed in federal court by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones. The high court has never definitively said whether a president must answer questions in a criminal proceeding, including the kind of grand jury that Mueller has empaneled. But it has suggested he would have to comply. Trump also is facing a defamation lawsuit in a New York court that was filed by Summer Zervos, a former contestant on "The Apprentice." A judge ruled the lawsuit can move forward while the president is in office. The NATO-led military alliance in Afghanistan announced Tuesday that the Afghan Air Force (AAF) had dropped its first laser-guided bomb on a Taliban compound and had destroyed it. The Resolute Support Mission said the AAF last Thursday tasked its A-29 light attack aircraft squadron to use the weapon in western Farah province because of the target's close proximity to civilians. "The drop resulted in a direct hit along the route of a major Afghan National Army clearing operation, marking the first time the AAF dropped a laser-guided bomb in combat," said a mission statement issued in Kabul. The air action also assisted Afghan soldiers in destroying equipment that the Taliban had stolen. The statement noted the successful counterinsurgency mission was launched with "minimal adviser input" and it came just three months after the AAF completed training to employ a laser-guided bomb. U.S. and NATO trainers are helping the Afghan government to improve and expand its air force, which currently has about 8,000 members, with 129 aircraft total. "That will grow to a force of 11,000; the fleet is expected to triple in size as part of President [Ashraf] Ghani's [national security] road map," according to the statement. Pilots' skill increasing U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Phillip Stewart, the general in charge of the effort, acknowledged growing capabilities of the AAF, saying it can effectively engage most of the enemy targets in Afghanistan using nonprecision weapons. "The Afghan pilots have learned their trade during combat, and our advisers have expanded their skills in a deliberate, step-by-step approach, increasing the Afghan Air Force capability," he noted. Battlefield activities are due to increase with the advent of spring in Afghanistan. U.S. military commanders anticipate Afghan ground and air forces will do a better job in the coming fighting season while battling the Taliban, who control or contest about 45 percent of the country. The Afghan government, backed by the international community, also has renewed its efforts to find a negotiated end to the war and recently offered unconditional peace talks to the Taliban. The Taliban, however, have seemingly ignored the overture, raising fears of another bloody year in the 17-year-old war. The FBI said Tuesday that a man arrested on charges of sending a string of suspicious packages to U.S. military and intelligence installations in the Washington, D.C., area had no known connection to terrorism. The suspect, Thanh Cong Phan, 43, was taken into custody at his house in Everett, Washington, late Monday, the FBI said in a statement. Phan's motive has not been determined, but "at this time, there is no known nexus to any terrorist organization or ideology," Ayn Dietrich, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Seattle Field Office, told VOA. In the statement, the FBI said the packages contained "potential destructive devices" and appeared to have been sent by the same person from the Seattle area. More than a half dozen packages were shipped to several bases, including Fort McNair in the nation's capital and Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia both U.S. Army bases. Packages were also delivered to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, a military base in Washington; the Naval Surface Warfare Center in northern Virginia; and the Central Intelligence Agency, also in northern Virginia. The FBI warned that "it is possible that further packages were mailed to additional mail processing facilities" in the Washington, D.C., area. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said all of the packages were under the control of federal authorities. "Basically, there's a set procedure. They went through the procedure," he said. "We've had nobody injured, and all those packages and all the evidence is accessible and in the hands of the FBI right now." Austin bombings The packages were sent to the Washington area days after a string of deadly bombings in Austin, Texas, killed two people and wounded four others. The suspected bomber in Texas, Mark Conditt, killed himself as police approached him while he was in his vehicle. Court records show that Phan has had a couple of run-ins with law enforcement dating back to his teen years. In 1990, Phan, then 15, was convicted of second-degree assault, according to court documents. In 2011, he was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after police visited his home in South Everett, Washington, in response to a mental health call, according to an affidavit filed with a Washington state court. "The defendant made some bizarre statements to them, which gave the deputies concern about the defendant's mental health and safety," according to the affidavit. While taking him into protective custody, sheriff's deputies discovered that Phan was armed with a loaded .357-caliber handgun. The deputies committed him to a mental health facility at a local hospital. Police later learned about Phan's assault conviction, which made it illegal for him to possess firearms. The firearms violation case against Phan was dismissed in 2015. The families of those who died in a massive shopping mall blaze Sunday in the Siberian city of Kemerovo are criticizing President Vladimir Putin for failing to meet with them when he visited the scene of the fire that left at least 64 dead 41 of them children. While Putin visited some injured survivors in the hospital, that failed to placate critics. Commentators are branding his visit cynical, saying he repeated his mistakes of 18 years ago when he was slow to meet families of sailors who drowned in 2000 when the nuclear submarine the Kursk sank. The children are dead already, we can't bring them back. But we need clear justice, said a traumatized father of a child who died in the massive fire thats shocked Russia. He was speaking to hundreds of protesters, who 48 hours after the blaze had come to mourn their dead collectively and to call angrily for the citys mayor and regional leaders to resign.Kemerovo sits in a hardscrabble coal-mining region and is no stranger to unexpected tragedy and loss. This time, though, with many children dead there is no sense of acceptance tempers are flaring with anger mounting as details emerge about how the emergency exits were blocked or locked, preventing quick flight and obstructing rescue efforts. The alarm system failed to work, as did the facilitys PA system, possibly switched off for reasons unknown by a security guard, say investigators. Mall workers fled as the fire swept through the upper floors of the Winter Cherry shopping mall, leaving behind many children trapped in the centers cinema complex. President Putin, fresh from re-election, clearly tried get out ahead of the outrage. On Tuesday, he arrived in Kemerovo, laid flowers at a makeshift memorial, met with with regional authorities and vowed to get to the bottom of what happened. He denounced carelessness and criminal negligence. But the Russian leaders avoidance of the bereaved families and protesters complaining about building code violations and shoddy construction angered locals. One woman told the crowd: Were asking for the governor, were asking for Putin. Why are we being lied to? She added, according to a local news site: We give the government their mandate. Let them resign. Neither President Putin nor Kemerovos regional governor, Aman Tuleyev, addressed the crowd. Some analysts compared Putins visit to Kemerovo with British Prime Minister Theresa Mays first trip to the scene last year of the Grenfell apartment-block fire in London. Seventy-one people died in that blaze, which has been blamed on the buildings cladding, and May was faulted by the media and lawmakers for avoiding angry family members demanding answers and for spending most of her time with officials and first responders. She went back to the scene several days later in order to placate the families. As with May, so with Putin. Why are the queen and king safe and sound? Let them come here, get up and answer us, a protester demanded outside Kemerovos regional administration, joining others accusing authorities of obscuring the true scale of the disaster, the deadliest fire in the country since the Soviet era. When Kemerovos mayor, Ilya Serduk, appeared there were cries of with cries of Resign! and Murderer! Additional riot police and National Guardsmen troops were deployed as the protest developed. Locals have also questioned the official death toll announced by local authorities and they claim that more than 400 people may have died in the fire. How many people actually died, why are you lying to us? Interfax agency quoted one protester as shouting. As he laid flowers in a tribute to the dead, Putin asked: How could this possibly happen? What's the reason? People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness. He laid flowers in a spot cleared of people, said Olga Bychkova, a presenter for radio station Echo of Moscow. He met with the heads of the region, he met with some activists or public representatives, but there is a huge crowd standing there in Kemerovo and it seems to me still standing, waiting for an answer from the local authorities. Putin did not approach these people. Bychkova told VOA there is a sense of deja vu with the visit. In 2000, Putin remained vacationing at his residence in the Back Sea resort of Sochi as the Kursk drama unfolded. The submarine sank in the Barents Sea on the 97th day of his first term in office with 118 seamen on board and he left for his holiday after being assured by navy chiefs a rescue operation was underway and everything was under control. He eventually met the relatives as a media storm erupted and the meeting did not go well as relatives accused him of inaction and the military of incompetence. Some analysts pinpoint the storm over the Kursk as triggering Putins decision to bring the media to heel and to orchestrate a crackdown on independent television channels. Bychkova says Putins visit to Kemerovo suggests he didnt fully learn lessons from the sinking of the Kursk. No, I do not think so. It does not look like that. To start with, he went to Kemerovo more than 24 hours late. Nearly two days have passed since the time all that happened. That is actually a long time! Because already on Sunday night, Moscow time it became clear that something very serious and very scary had happened, she said. Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said on Monday he will decide next week whether to resign to run for the presidency, as he competes with President Michel Temer for the nomination of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) party. Aides to Temer, who is considering seeking a second term, announced earlier on Monday that Meirelles had already decided to quit to join the MDB as its presidential candidate or possibly as Temer's running mate in the Oct. 7 election. However, Temer, who came to power in 2016 when President Dilma Rousseff was impeached, later clarified that talks with Meirelles over the weekend had reached no conclusion regarding the MDB ticket. Temer's closest political allies want him to run to continue his government's fiscal adjustment program, but party members do not see how he can win with approval ratings in the single digits. Meirelles, if not any more popular, has a lower disapproval rating than the president. Meirelles, 72, a former banking executive and central bank governor, insisted on Monday that he was aiming for the top job. "I am looking at the presidency, evidently. But we have to see what people want and consider electoral factors to avoid a negative result for the country," he told reporters. Temer's chief of staff, Eliseu Padilha, said Meirelles would leave to join the ruling party, which opens the possibility that he will be nominated if Temer decides not to run. "The natural candidate is President Temer, but if he does not want it or can't run, minister Meirelles' candidacy would be very welcome," Temer's minister of political affairs, Carlos Marun, told Reuters. Marun later said Meirelles' entry to the MDB party had not been decided yet. Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles wants to be a candidate, he has to quit the ministry by April 7. He has kept Brazilians and investors guessing for weeks about his plans. A presidential aide said Meirelles discussed his future with Temer on Friday and Saturday, and proposed Finance Ministry secretaries Mansueto Almeida and Eduardo Guardia as potential replacements. Pollster Ibope found in December that only 6 percent of Brazilians think Temer is doing a good or great job, while 74 percent see him as bad or terrible. Political analysts say Temer, a veteran 77-year-old politician, needs at least a 15 percent approval rating to enter the campaign, and to lower his disapproval to close to 50 percent to stand any chance of winning. The attorney general's office in the western U.S. state of California is joining an investigation into the deadly police shooting of an unarmed African-American man to provide independent oversight. The announcement was made by the police chief of Sacramento, the capital city of California, where the shooting occurred. Chief Daniel Hahn said the partnership is intended to "build faith and confidence" in the probe. Attorney General Xavier Becker said his office would ensure the probe would be "based on the facts and the law, nothing less, nothing more." Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of Stephon Clark, who was fatally shot by two police officers earlier this month in his grandparents back yard. The officers were responding to a nighttime phone call about a man breaking car windows and a glass door in the area. They encountered him in the yard and shot him to death, firing 20 bullets. Clark did not have a weapon. Only a cell phone was found nearby. The police killing of another unarmed African-American person sparked outrage from activists who are demanding greater independence in the investigation. Some have called for the officers to be charged. Calls are growing to reinstate France's state of emergency and crack down further against suspected Muslim extremists after last week's terror attack that left four dead in southern France and as the country prepares to bury the victims. President Emmanuel Macron will be presiding over a national ceremony Wednesday in Paris to honor Arnaud Beltram the policeman killed after trading places with a hostage during last week's terrorist attack in southern France. The nation will come together again on Thursday to mark the burial of Beltram and the three others gunned down by 25-year-old French-Moroccan radical Redouane Lakdim during a shooting spree last Friday. The political fallout is growing as center and far-right politicians call for restoring a state of emergency in France, which ended last November. During a National Assembly debate Tuesday, the parliament's center-right Les Republicains party head Christian Jacob said the state of emergency, put in place after the 2015 Bataclan attacks, should never have been lifted. It was time, he said, to lock up those radicalized and tracked under France's so-called 'S' file of potentially dangerous suspects. He said those of foreign origin should be expelled. That would have included Moroccan-born Lakdim, whom police shot dead, ending a hostage-taking standoff at a southern French supermarket. Lakdim's18-year-old girlfriend is being detained, and the Paris prosecutor has requested she be placed under formal investigation. France has been hit by 20 terrorist attacks that have killed 245 people since 2014. Some opposition politicians accuse the Macron government of being naive and soft on terrorism. On the other side, rights groups have lambasted the government's anti-terrorism legislation that replaced the state of emergency. At the National Assembly, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe rejected calls for restoring the state of emergency and banning the ultra-conservative Salafi branch of Islam. He said France needs to fight terrorism with laws, and you cannot deprive people of their liberties based on suspicion. Meanwhile, judges handed a former leftist parliamentary candidate a suspended prison sentence for appearing to celebrate policeman Beltram's death in a tweet. At the reception, the city leader affirmed that the friendship relations between Slovakia and Vietnam have been consolidated and developed through bilateral summits. On the occasion, Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong introduced foreign investment activities in the city, adding that Ho Chi Minh City took the lead in the country's foreign direct investment (FDI) capital attraction. The city hoped to have practical cooperation programs with Bratislava region in the fields of tourism, high- quality service and education The governor of Bratislava region expressed his impression about Vietnams economic achievements, and affirmed that potentiality of economic cooperation between both sides woud soon be developed. Governor Juraj Droba pledged to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese and city enterprises to learn cooperation opportunities in Bratislava region; and highly appreciated integration of Vietnamese community in Slovakia as well as in Bratislava region. BY THANH HANG- Translated by Huyen Huong Demonstrators angered by the detention of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont disrupted several roads in central Barcelona Tuesday, as protesters continued to wreak havoc on regional traffic, blocking main motorways and roads. The separatist politician was in preliminary custody awaiting a northern German court's decision on an extradition request by Spain. Transportation authorities in the northeastern Spanish region said that a main motorway through eastern Spain remained blocked by protesters in Figueres, near the border with France. Demonstrators had also stopped traffic in another highway leading to the city of Lleida, and a national road between Tarragona and Valencia. Protesters also caused disruptions early Tuesday in several roads in central Barcelona, the regional capital. Prosperous Catalonia has been marred by largely peaceful massive protests for more than six months, since a bid for secession from Spain began in earnest. The Catalan parliament's declaration of independence in late October following an ad-hoc banned referendum received no international recognition and provoked a takeover of the regional government by Spanish authorities. Puigdemont was ousted and fled to Belgium. Upon wrapping a probe into the events last week, a Spanish Supreme Court judge charged the 55 year-old separatist politician with rebellion and misuse of public funds. Spain then issued arrest warrants for six of the seven Catalan separatists who have fled the country. Puigdemont was detained on Sunday, shortly after crossing the border into Germany from Finland. Further decisions on Puigdemont's immediate future in Germany appear unlikely before Easter. A court in Schleswig will decide on formal pre-extradition custody and whether his extradition is admissible. Such cases are typically dealt with in writing, without a hearing, though one is possible. Germany's criminal code unlike Belgium's, where Spain had earlier sought Puigdemont's extradition includes an offense that appears to be comparable to rebellion, the main accusation against the Catalan politician. It calls for prison sentences for anyone who "undertakes, by force or through threat of force'' to undermine the republic's existence or change its constitutional order. Spanish government spokesman, Minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo, said on Tuesday that the separatist leader's fate is now in the hands of the German judiciary, but expressed confidence on the extradition because Puigdemont "is not detained for his political ideas." "This is not just a Spanish question," Mendez de Vigo told reporters at the end of a Spanish Cabinet meeting. In a move celebrated by his supporters, the United Nations Human Rights Committee announced that it had registered a complaint by Puigdemont alleging that Spain has violated his political rights. A group of lawyers and human rights experts lodged the case in March claiming that Spain has violated human, civil and political rights in its crackdown on Catalonia's independence bid. The Spanish government has now six months to respond with any information or observations to the human rights body. A bishop in China's underground Catholic church has reportedly been detained, just as the Vatican has been laying the groundwork for him to step aside as part of a long-sought deal with Beijing over bishop nominations. The AsiaNews agency, which closely covers the Catholic Church in China, said Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin and his chancellor were taken away Monday, at the start of Holy Week. AsiaNews noted that Guo had disappeared for several weeks last year around Easter as well. The Vatican has for years been seeking to unite China's underground and official churches to bring the more than 12 million Chinese Catholics ostensibly under the pope's wing for the first time since China and the Holy See severed relations nearly seven decades ago. Worship in China is officially allowed only in state-authorized churches outside the pope's authority. Recently, the contours of a deal were hammered out under which the Vatican would recognize the seven ``illegitimate'' bishops in China, who were consecrated without papal consent, ask two underground bishops to step aside and allow the official ones in Mindong and Shantou to become the de-facto Holy See-recognized bishops, a Vatican official told The Associated Press. Guo agreed earlier this year to the Vatican request to step down and become the auxiliary bishop of Mindong, the official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to reveal the content of the negotiations, said the deal was not a "good" arrangement for the Holy See, since it limited its activities. But the official said it was the best the Holy See could get for now. Going forward, the agreement calls for the pope to be able to "intervene" in future bishop nominations, which the official said amounted to a papal veto over names proposed by Beijing. The Vatican spokesman didn't immediately comment Tuesday on Guo's reported detention. Police officials in the city of Fu'an, where Guo is based, as well as the city of Ningde, which oversees Fu'an, said they "did not know" anything about the reported detention. The deal has been buttressed on the Vatican side by years of goodwill gestures, including favorable coverage in Vatican-affiliated media, Vatican invitations for Chinese participation in scientific and cultural exchanges and a recent symposium at the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University on Christianity in China. In the keynote speech Thursday, the Vatican's foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, went out of his way to laud China for both the "stable and influential" role it is playing in international relations and its "priceless heritage of culture and civilization." While much of the West has criticized recent moves by China to remove term limits on Chinese President Xi Jinping and consolidate the Communist Party's control over media, Gallagher highlighted Chinese programs that seek to overcome poverty and drive science and technology developments. He said he was convinced that "it should be possible to work out the coordinates of an authentic Christian presence in China," even under China's insistence of a "Sinicized" Catholic Church. Xi and his administration have increasingly emphasized the importance of "Sinicization" of foreign religions to show their fealty first and foremost to the Chinese government and ruling Communist Party. Following a major government reorganization this month, the party's governing role over the State Administration of Religious Affairs that oversees relations with the church in China has been strengthened. The Rev. Bernardo Cervellera, whose AsiaNews agency has charted the underground dismay at the reported Vatican-China deal, dismissed Gallagher's speech as part of the Vatican's "campaign of courtship" to try to get a deal with Beijing. He doubted that Beijing would sign, saying some government factions still oppose any agreement because it could set a precedent for other religions. Of Guo's detention, Cervellera added: "It's very curious that this has happened precisely in the diocese where they are putting in place this famous deal." While China and the United States seem to be negotiating in an effort to avert a trade war, Washington is unlikely to relent in its determination to stop advanced technology from leaving America for China. "I think there is a growing consensus in the United States that Chinese firms should be blocked from certain types of acquisitions of U.S. firms, of getting certain types of U.S. technology," said AlexCapri, an international trade scholar at the National University of Singapore. China has come up with a list of U.S. products it will target as part of a retaliatory action against Washington's plan to raise tariffs on Chinese products. But it has been silent about restricting technology companies. International action The European Union already is considering a law that would scrutinize and block Chinese purchases of local firms for the purpose of acquiring new technology. China is worried any U.S. action would embolden European politicians and hasten the process of prohibiting Chinese acquisitions. "I don't know that is unique just in the United States. I think there are other European countries, Australia ... so, I expect to see a lot more interference, a lot more blockage of acquisitions by either Chinese-owned funds or Chinese-owned tech firms that are looking to grow through acquisitions," said Capri. That has been evident in recent months as the U.S. put limits on China's Huawei technology company and clamped down on Singapore-based Broadcom because it is connected with Chinese companies and can work as a conduit to supply technology information. "Even in situations where you have tech firms that may not be flying a Chinese flag, if these companies are in fact doing business with other companies, then those acquisitions may be blocked," Capri said. It is this concern that led to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's announcement last week that foreign companies no longer are obliged to share their technology with local partners when they invest in China. Obligatory knowledge-sharing by foreign companies has been the bulwark of China's technological development in past decades, and also a sore point with western companies and governments. "China needs some foreign inputs, and to attract ... high-end foreign companies," said Xu Bin, CEIBS (China Europe International Business School) professor of finance. The country also "needs to open more in the areas where China has not been open that much," he added. Li's offer also is colored by the Chinese parliament's recent decision to remove presidential term limits, which could give President Xi Jinping perpetual rule, Xu said. Negligible effect For Beijing, the situation is particularly bad because it has fewer opportunities to retaliate against the U.S. tech companies like Facebook and Google (Alphabet). Twitter already faces closed doors in China. Speaking on CNBC, Daniel Ives, head of technology at GBH Insights, said the company strongly believes that "Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google are 'primarily insulated' from tariff worries and a potential retaliatory trade war with China. Ultimately, the bark is much worse than the bite." Beijing also will find it extremely difficult to restrict foreign manufacturing companies and their partners in China, like Apple, which is using a Taiwanese company, Foxconn, to assemble products in Chinese cities. Such a move would hurt local firms and the domestic economy. "For [Apple CEO Tim] Cook and company, given the tightly-woven integration between Apple and Foxconn in China, we believe there is minimal risk to this relationship," said Ives. "... And the last thing China is going to do is tinker with the Apple machine and impact its significant billions [of dollars] of investments in the country and major consumer sales within China, despite fears." There is another dimension to Li's seemingly generous offer. Many Chinese companies now want to protect their own intellectual property rights (IPR) as they venture into the U.S. and other countries. These firms have moved up the innovation value chain after starting with borrowed knowledge and are now capable of producing their own set of technologies. "China positions itself at the forefront of world innovation. So China needs also to protect their own IPR," said Lourdes Casonova, director at Cornell's Emerging Markets Institute. "The initial fear that China had when they opened their economy long ago is not there as it was. So they need to protect their own IP." At the same time, Beijing is hoping for support from an unlikely quarter American multinationals that derive a substantial part of their revenues by doing business with China. That was evident last week during a conference attended by American CEOs in Beijing. "Countries that embrace openness, trade, diversity are the countries that do exceptionally well; and countries that don't, don't," Apple CEO Tim Cook said, adding, "The pie gets larger [when we are] working together. It's not just a matter of carving it up between sides." Investment company Black Rock CEO Laurence Fink gave it a fine point. "The world needs a strong China and a strong U.S.," he said. "The world does not need a public fight in which we reduce mutual opportunities." A bianzhong, meaning ordered bells, greets visitors at the entrance of the special exhibition of rare Chinese musical instruments in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. The approximately 2,600-year-old bronze bells were excavated from the tomb of a Chinese duke. "This set of bells has 24 bells that are tuned to be part of a ritual ensemble from one of the courts during the spring and autumn period in the Kingdom of Zheng," Museum curator Colin Pearson explains, adding that the bells are for a special kind of music called "Zhengsheng." The exhibition is a collaboration between the museum in Phoenix and the Henan Museum, one of the China's national museums in Henan Province. The collection of more than 60 unique and historic instruments, most of which came from excavated tombs, illustrates the entire breadth of the history of music in central China. None of them have been on display in the U.S. before. The oldest instruments are tiny bone flutes that were made during the Neolithic or Peiligang culture 7,000 to 9,000 years ago. "Archaeologists have found a number of flutes made from bird bones in Peiligang burials. These are collectively the oldest instruments in all of China," Pearson says. From the bone flutes, the exhibit progresses through almost all of Chinas major historical periods though the display of either instruments or artworks depicting music being performed, ending in the 20th century. In one part of the exhibit, ceramic figurines illustrate the joyful mixing of cultures during the time of the Sui dynasty (581CE618CE) at the height of the legendary Silk Road. In another, a ceramic model of a palatial home is displayed. One of many discovered in tombs from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE220 CE), this one has flute players and dancers, suggesting the nobleman entombed was a music lover. Divine beast In addition to the instruments, themselves, the museum is displaying videos of replicas of the instruments being played. Visitors are impressed with the sophistication of the music and its beauty. "What I take away is amazement that the people from such ancient times can create precision instruments," David Patterson said. "It is very beautiful," said visitor Barbara Patterson. I felt like that you got a real good sense of how important music is in cultures and throughout the ages from the dawn of time. That it was important for their day-to-day life and even through death that so many things were left in the tomb with them so to carry throughout their extra life." In the form of a "divine beast," an instrument stand occupies a corner of the exhibit. Two thousand 700 years old, it combines a dragons head, tortoise legs and a tigers body that is inlaid with phoenix birds - the harmonization of the four main symbols of the ancient philosophy of Taoism. Pearson says the stand would have been used to support a drum in a ritual orchestra. "So we know this instrument stand would have been used in the highest-level ceremonies and sacrifices of the courts of Chu (1030 BCE223 BCE)." The instruments will go back to China when the exhibit ends on May 6. Internet gear maker Cisco Systems Inc. announced Monday that it will donate $50 million over five years to address the growing problem of homelessness in California's Santa Clara County and is encouraging other Silicon Valley companies to make similar efforts. In a blog post, Chief Executive Chuck Robbins said people in the San Francisco Bay Area know homelessness has reached a crisis level, costing the county where many tech companies are based $520 million per year. "Though homelessness seems intractable, I believe that it is a solvable issue," Robbins wrote. "I also feel very strongly that we have an opportunity and a responsibility to do something about it." Northern California's booming economy has been fueled by the tech sector. But the influx of workers coupled with decades of under-building has led to a historic shortage of affordable housing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Homelessness is now pervasive throughout Silicon Valley. The median rent in the San Jose metro area is $3,500 a month, but the median wage is $12 an hour in food service and $19 an hour in health care support, an amount that won't even cover housing costs. The minimum annual salary needed to live comfortably in San Jose is $87,000, according to a study by personal finance website GoBankingRates. Cisco's donation will go to Destination: Home, a public-private partnership that focuses on getting housing for the homeless as the first step in addressing other problems related to health, addiction, family estrangement and joblessness. In addition to financing housing, the funding will also help improve data collection about homelessness services so money is spent more efficiently. Ray Bramson, chief impact officer for Destination: Home, said the leadership shown by Cisco and its CEO is what the community needs to see from the major technology companies that call Silicon Valley home. "We've always known that tech could be a good partner," Bramson said. "We're hoping that by Cisco really stepping up and giving us this support we're going to see other great organizations in our valley step up. ... No one agency, no one organization can really do it alone." Cisco's donation is believed to be among the largest of its kind in the region. The tech company last year pledged $10 million to Housing Trust Silicon Valley's TECH fund, on the condition that it would be matched by others. LinkedIn matched $10 million. Canceling the new Mexico City airport would cost about 120 billion pesos ($6.55 billion), the head of the company in charge of the project said on Monday following threats by the presidential election front-runner to scrap it. Federico Patino, the chief executive officer of Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de Mexico (GACM), the firm overseeing the $13 billion project, said with 321 contracts put out and around 45,000 people employed on building the airport, the cost would be high. "There will surely be lawsuits and damages with penalty clauses ... and if we add this to the unfortunate cancellation of the labor on top of severance costs ... the figure that we have is around 120 billion pesos," he told a news conference. The leftist who is leading opinion polls for the July election, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has threatened to abandon the airport. Last week he said he would file legal challenges to block future work, lashing out at the project as "corrupt." However, he since softened his stance, calling for a thorough review of the project. GACM's Patino dismissed suggestions that the airport was tainted by corruption and said that it was being built in accordance with high transparency standards. "It's a glass box through which any citizen can see what's happening in real time," he said. ($1 = 18.3100 Mexican pesos) As some voters in mainland Egypt chanted praise for President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi outside polling stations on their way to re-elect him, residents of the restive northern Sinai Peninsula lined up for a different reason bread handouts. A military campaign in North Sinai that aims to crush Islamic State militants has blocked most access to the peninsula as forces carry out air raids, deploy patrols and impose curfews, creating a stranglehold that has led to a shortage of food and supplies, locals say. With many people afraid to leave their homes amid the fighting against militants, barely any voters cast their ballots in parts of North Sinai on the first day of the three-day election, local officials and residents said. "I went to vote because I was waiting in line to pick up bread" being handed out by the army, school teacher Selim Ahmed told Reuters by phone from his town of Sheikh Zuweid. "The polling station happened to be nearby so I voted. People here are waiting for food baskets, of which there are few. They're not queueing up to vote," he said. Ahmed Raouf, an official overseeing voting in another area in Sheikh Zuweid, near the border with the Gaza Strip, said only one person had been into the polling station he was supervising. "That's out of an electorate of 6,000 people in this area. People are scared to come out because of the ongoing military operations and threats of targeting polling stations," Raouf said. Islamic State in the weeks before the election warned Egyptians not to vote in an apparent threat. Egypt's election commission said late Monday that turnout in parts of North Sinai had been "very good." The election, in which polls are open from Monday to Wednesday, is set to hand former military commander Sissi a second term as he faces one barely known challenger after serious opposition pulled out under pressure. Voters went to polls in Cairo and other mainland cities Monday, with the vote focused mainly on turnout. Sissi supporters hope he can bring stability and improve Egypt's ailing economy. Islamists have waged an insurgency in North Sinai which intensified after Sissi led the military ousting of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. A year later, Islamic State set up its Sinai branch and has killed hundreds of soldiers and police and expanded targets to include civilians. An attack on a mosque near the North Sinai capital of Al-Arish in November killed more than 300 people, Egypt's deadliest such incident, prompting Sissi to order the military to use "brute force" to crush insurgents. Food sometimes arrives The tactics the military is using, which some analysts say are too heavy-handed to defeat a guerrilla-style insurgency, have made it difficult for civilians to move and have choked supplies, locals say. "We often wait for more than five hours for trucks to come carrying food parcels. Sometimes they get here, sometimes they don't," Yousef Ali from Al-Arish said last week. "If only they'd let us move freely in the city or go to another province but we're not allowed to leave," he said. Curfews were imposed earlier this year in areas where military operations are focused and security forces are patrolling the length of the Suez Canal that separates Sinai from the mainland, the military says. The military says it is distributing plenty of food and compensating families for material damage sustained to homes during fighting. One of the few areas in North Sinai that witnessed a higher turnout was the town where militants killed Muslim worshippers in November. An official said tribal leaders there had mobilized people to vote en masse. Elsewhere, the tense security situation prevented many from leaving their homes, Ali said Monday. "Security forces are searching voters, and there are roadblocks up," he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday voiced hope that a difficult period in relations between Turkey and the European Union is now in the past. Erdogan spoke after talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Varna. "I hope that we have left a tough period in the relations between Turkey and Europe behind us," Erdogan said and voiced hope that "a first step was taken here toward restoring trust with Europe." He also said that EU membership was a "strategic goal." Tusk said that the summit's purpose was to "continue the dialogue in really difficult circumstances." "Our meeting today demonstrated that while our relationship is going through difficult times, in areas where we do cooperate, we cooperate well," he said. Tusk acknowledged that no concrete compromise or solution had been achieved at the summit, but expressed hope that such would be possible in the future. "Only progress on these issues will allow us to improve the EU-Turkey relations, including the accession process," he added. "We reconfirm our readiness to keep up the dialogue and conversation and work together to overcome current difficulties with a view to unleashing the potential of our partnership," Tusk said. On migration and support for refugees, Tusk said that the EU and Turkey remain very close partners. "I would like to express our appreciation for the impressive work Turkey has been doing, and to sincerely thank Turkey and the Turkish people for hosting more than 3 million Syrian refugees these past years," he said. "The EU has lent substantial support to improve the livelihood of these refugees, and this evening we reaffirmed the European Union's unwavering commitment to continue this support," Tusk said. He also said that while the EU understands Turkey's need to deal effectively with its security, it is concerned that some of the methods used, undermine fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Turkey. "It would be a mistake for a Europe that claims to be a global power to keep Turkey outside of expansion policies," Erdogan said. Borissov said that "I think that before the end of our EU presidency (the end of June) another EU-Turkey summit will be held." In response to European criticism of its cross-border operation to drive out Syrian Kurdish militia from the northwestern Syrian border enclave of Afrin, Erdogan said Turkey expected European backing. He added that Turkey intended to continue with its operations as long as necessary. "Our operations against terrorism do not just contribute to our and the Syrians' security, but to Europe's security as well," Erdogan said. "On sensitive issues such as the struggle against terrorism, we don't expect unnecessary criticism but strong support." On Cyprus, Erdogan reiterated the Turkish Cypriot community's rights to Cyprus' resources and said the EU had "nothing to contribute" to the dispute as long as it does not maintain a "fair" approach. The summit was held amid an array of issues that have strained ties, including a dispute between Turkey and EU member Cyprus over energy exploration in the Mediterranean. Turkish warships have prevented a drillship from carrying out exploratory drilling on behalf of Italian company Eni southeast of Cyprus, in a move that the EU criticized. Turkey objects to "unilateral" gas searches by ethnically divided Cyprus' Greek Cypriot-run government without the direct involvement of breakaway Turkish Cypriots. The Cyprus government says a gas search is its sovereign right and will benefit all citizens. Erdogan pressed his European leaders to grant Turkish citizens visa liberalization to allow them to travel to certain European countries without visa restrictions. "We told the EU side, that it needs to complete its work on this issue... This should not be turned into a political issue, it should not become an issue that shakes the trust of our people," he said. Spain has been plunged back into political turmoil after violent protests over the weekend in the wake of the arrest of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont. The 55-year-old former leader was detained on the German-Danish border Sunday under a European arrest warrant issued by Spain, as he attempted to drive back to his adopted home in Belgium. He appeared before a court in the German town of Neumuenster on Monday for a preliminary hearing ahead of a decision on his extradition. WATCH: Spain protests Puigdemont declared independence after the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum last year, though turnout was below 50 percent. Madrid called the vote illegal, and the Spanish government sacked the Catalan administration and imposed direct rule. Puigdemont fled to Brussels, where he has been living since being charged with rebellion. Puigdemont's detention triggered violent demonstrations in several Catalan cities over the weekend. At least 50 people were injured, including several police officers. I think it's time for a real revolution. We need to bring this country to a complete halt, said one pro-independence supporter who did not want to be named. Pro-independence lawmakers and parliament workers staged a strike Monday in protest. Paul Bekaert, Puigdemonts lawyer in Brussels, criticized Madrids actions. The elected people are put in jail that is [a] dictatorship. And they abuse the European warrant for political purpose. And it's a scandal that Europe doesn't react against the situation, Bekaert said Monday. German judges will have to decide whether to extradite Puigdemont a potentially complex process, said German legal analyst Nikolaos Gazeas. The responsible court will have to examine whether the events that occurred in Spain, in Catalonia, the things that Mr. Puigdemont is being accused of, are punishable in Germany and would be considered criminal under German law. Thirteen former Catalan independence leaders have been charged with rebellion by Madrid. Five including Puigdemont fled overseas in the wake of the government crackdown in October and are subject to international arrest warrants. But criminal law differs across Europe, where the principle of mutual recognition is key, said Gazeas. If the German court rules that rebellion is not an extraditionable offense, then that would mean if the German government agrees to this that Puigdemont could not be charged with rebellion in Spain. But only with the offenses he was extradited for. And that would probably be the offense of embezzlement an offense with a much lower range of sentencing, and which is not in the prime focus of Spain. Germany has 60 days to make a decision, but that can be extended by another 30 days, if necessary. Analysts say a decision is likely to take several days, or even weeks. Despite the protests in Catalonia, analysts say its uncertain whether his arrest will spark a revived bid to break away from Spain, as the independence movement itself is divided. The family of Riek Machar, South Sudan's former first vice president and leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, is disappointed in a decision made by the regional bloc of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) calling for a conditional "lifting of house arrest." Machar's wife, Angelina Teny, responded to IGAD's decision Monday. "If you read it carefully, actually, there is no lifting of any house arrest. Because what they said is very clear that they will transfer him from where he is now, which is South Africa, to another location that is not in the region, and that would not be in any proximity with South Sudan,'' she said. The IGAD statement said it would release Machar as soon as possible if he would renounce violence, not obstruct the peace process and relocate to any country "outside the region not neighboring South Sudan.'' The statement said that IGAD ministers would decide on a possible location for Machar. Teny said the ministers of the regional bloc are not being fair to her husband. "They made another condition to say that he must not obstruct the peace process. How can he be obstructing the peace process or the revitalization process when he already appointed a delegation that has been engaging constructively in the two last rounds or sessions of talks?'' Teny said. The regional bloc called upon the Transitional Government of National Unity and the nine opposition groups not to squander the opportunity for ending the suffering of the people of South Sudan. But Teny, who is a senior opposition member, said IGAD was pushing her group into a tight corner. "It is going to implicate the [peace] process, because SPLM-IO is being pushed to negotiate from a position where its leader is in captivity,'' Teny said. IGAD did not set new dates for the resumption of the peace talks. Its special envoy for South Sudan Ambassador Ismail Wais, will consult various South Sudanese stakeholders to reconcile the position of the parties on power sharing and permanent security arrangements before the next talks. Forced to flee Machar is a de facto prisoner in a farmhouse outside of Johannesburg. He is isolated from his friends and family, and has been frozen out of South Sudan's peace process and the future of his country. Machar, who has long dominated South Sudanese politics, was an instrumental figure in South Sudan's fight for independence from Sudan, and has served as vice president twice in the very short history of the world's newest nation. It became independent in 2011. Critics say although he was an architect of South Sudan's creation, he was instrumental in its downfall. Among other factors, tensions between him and President Salva Kiir sparked the civil war that began in 2013, leaving the country devastated in its wake. A new outbreak of fighting in July 2016 destroyed a tentative peace deal that had restored Machar to his government post, and forced him to flee the country. With limited options, Machar ended up in South Africa. General Secretary of the Dutch House of Representatives Frans Van Dijk, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa, leaders and officials of Vietnam Embassy in the Netherlands attended in the welcoming ceremony for the delegation at the airport.This is the first official visit of the Vietnamese National Assembly Speaker in the country, bringing an important meaning in promoting further the friendship ties and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations in the context of the 45th establishment anniversary of Vietnam- the Netherland diplomatic relations (April 9, 1973- 2018). BY KHANH MINH- Translated by Huyen Huong Taking advantage of the rivalry between the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, Islamic State is regrouping and increasing deadly attacks in disputed territories across northern Iraq, Kurdish and Iraqi officials warned. The Iraqi government declared a final victory over IS last December after Iraqi forces drove its last remnants from the country. IS militants have since reverted to guerrilla warfare tactics, particularly in Kirkuk, northern Saladin and eastern Diyala, where both the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government claim control. Ali al-Husaini, the spokesman of the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in northern Iraq, accused IS of attempting to turn the territories into a hotbed by fueling tensions between Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen. Rich with abundant natural resources, the disputed territories have been the core of decades-long conflict between the Iraqi government and the Kurds. Displacing Kurds The Kurds say the former Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein changed the demographics of the area by displacing Kurds and Assyrians and settling Arab tribes. Article 140 of the current Iraqi constitution requires that measures have to be taken to reverse the changes before people of the areas hold a referendum to decide their fate. The referendum was supposed to take place on November 2007 but has been repeatedly delayed, and the area remains contested. IS terrorists want to create chaos by resorting to attacks in the form of gang militancy, al-Husaini told VOA. They want to create divisions among the components of this area and prove they still have power in Iraq. He said IS fighters have increased their hit-and-run attacks in towns and villages to obstruct the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for May. In recent weeks, Iraqi security forces have blamed suspected IS insurgents for several deadly attacks carried out in the disputed areas. Last week, IS propaganda Amaq News Agency said its militants in Kirkuk have killed and injured 103 Iraqi forces and destroyed several armored vehicles since Feb. 19. On Saturday, the Iraqi federal police announced eight of its members were killed after being abducted on the Kirkuk road to Baghdad. IS social media accounts shared photos of what they claimed to be federal police personnel lined up before being shot by masked militants. That attack follows another deadly assault last month when IS militants killed 27 members on the Popular Mobilization Forces during an ambush in Hawija, south of Kirkuk. Isolated cells Azad Hamid Shafi, head of the Mandali town council in eastern Diyala province, told VOA that most IS attacks are conducted by isolated cells who disguise themselves in Iraqi army uniforms and set up fake checkpoints. Shafi said IS also uses those checkpoints to make money by kidnapping people and asking for large sums of ransom. Those fighters have created terror among people and limited movement in isolated towns and villages, especially at night, he said. He added that IS fighters earlier this month killed five Iraqi troops and took all their belongings after ambushing them in a bogus checkpoint south of Mandali. In a separate incident, a spokesman of Khurmatu municipality in Saladin province, Muhammad Fayaq, told VOA that IS last week killed 21 members of two families, including their children, after stopping them at a fake checkpoint on Daquq-Tuz Khurmatu Road. Kurdish officials said the recent increase of IS activity in the disputed territories is due to the security gap created by the withdrawal in October of 2017 of Kurdish fighters, known as Peshmerga forces. Kurdistans Peshmerga was spread out across 30 kilometers of Kirkuk-Baghdad Road. This road now remains mostly unprotected, because Iraqi government forces only have a few checkpoints on the main highway, Edris Adil, head of the Kurdish Patriotic Union Party in Daquq, told VOA. IS fighters are freely moving across villages and plains, he said. The Peshmerga took control of most of these territories in June 2014, when the Iraqi forces left their bases following a large-scale push by the IS. The Kurdish leaders said they were not willing to withdraw after the IS defeat because Article 140 has been implemented. Iraqi government forces and allied PMF regained control in mid-October 2017, following the Kurdish Regional Governments controversial independence referendum and the inclusion of those territories in the vote. VOA's Dilshad Anwar contributed to this report from Kirkuk, Iraq. A standoff continued Tuesday at Nairobi's international airport, where controversial attorney Miguna Miguna is trying to re-enter Kenya after being deported seven weeks ago. Miguna's lawyers filed suit Tuesday against the government, seeking to have the opposition figure granted free access to his native country. A Supreme Court justice ordered Miguna's immediate release and set a court appearance for Wednesday morning. Last week, the court ruled that he could return to the country. A dual national, Miguna was stripped of his Kenyan passport before he was forced leave the country Feb. 6. He is traveling on a passport from Canada, where he also holds citizenship. On his arrival Monday afternoon at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, authorities denied Miguna entry even though he was carrying a copy of the court order. Miguna quickly became embroiled in a dispute with immigration officials that escalated into efforts to put him on a flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He refused to take a seat, shouting and clinging to the aircraft's doors before it finally left without him, an hour-and-a-half late. Some journalists trying to cover the story were roughed up by security officials. He spent Monday night in an airport lounge. A family member told VOA late Monday night that Miguna was being detained incommunicado at the airport and that he had not eaten in 24 hours. The self-proclaimed leader of the National Resistance Movement of Kenya, Miguna was deported days after swearing in opposition leader Raila Odinga as the "peoples president" at a mock inauguration Jan. 30. Raila visited the airport in a motorcade Monday at about 9:30 p.m., roughly seven hours after Miguna's arrival, to try to obtain Miguna's release. It's unclear how Miguna's return affects the fragile rapprochement between Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta. On March 9, they met and promised to begin reconciling political differences that have divided the country. Their recent talks have been touted as a way to ease the contention following last year's protracted presidential election cycle, which saw balloting in August and a rerun October 26. Miguna told VOA on Sunday that he intended to "lead a revolutionary movement" to eventually replace Kenyatta and Odinga. Linda Brown, who as a girl in the 1950s was at the center of the lawsuit that struck down racial segregation in U.S. schools, died Sunday at the age of 76. "Linda Brown is one of that special brand of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy -- racial segregation in public schools," said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. "The life of every American has been touched by Linda Brown. This country is indebted to her, the Brown family, and the many other families involved in the cases that successfully challenged school segregation." Brown was nine years old when her father, the Rev. Oliver Brown, sued the school board in Topeka, Kansas, to allow his daughter to attend an all-white elementary school close to her home. Theirs was one of several similar cases that resulted from recruiting efforts by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) aimed at challenging the city's school system. The cases were combined and made it to the Supreme Court collectively known as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Many schools had long been segregated as part of a wider system of discrimination known as the Jim Crow laws that persisted largely across the southern United States. They enforced separate public drinking fountains for blacks and whites, as well as extreme rules and taxes imposed on blacks who tried to vote, keeping most from participating in elections and helping white leaders remain in power. An 1896 Supreme Court decision gave those laws a strong legal footing on the basis that as long as the separate facilities were equal, then they were permissible. In Linda Brown's case, the school her family wanted her to go to was both a better school and closer to her home than the one she had been attending. "Obviously Sumner is a better school than Monroe; a more up-to-date school, a newer school, as I have indicated," James Buchanan, the acting head of the state's board of education, told a lower federal court. The judges at the lower court went on to rule that Topeka's system was acceptable, saying the schools were substantially equal in their facilities and teachers. The Supreme Court rejected that view, delivering a unanimous decision in 1954 that remains one of the most famous cases in the court's history. "We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote. He highlighted the importance of the issue, saying education is perhaps the most important function carried out by state governments and that the circumstances of a child's schooling have a profound effect on their life. "To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone," Warren wrote. Paying tribute Brown's death Sunday brought tributes from leaders celebrating the legacy of her case. "Sixty-four years ago a young girl from Topeka brought a case that ended segregation in public schools in America," Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer said on Twitter. "Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world." Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia said as a child Brown's "courage and bravery inspired us." "Students all around our nation are forever in your debt for the sacrifices you made in the fight for equality in education," he said. But they also acknowledged the work that remains in bringing equality to American schools. "We send our thoughts and prayers to Linda Brown's loved ones. May she rest in power," said the Congressional Black Caucus. "The struggle to end 'separate but equal' continues as our schools are becoming increasingly more segregated." Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said the Supreme Court decision "loudly proclaimed" that separate is not equal, and that today "we remember how far we've come in one lifetime and how far we have to go." Compliance with the Supreme Court's decision was not immediate, with several states resisting the order to desegregate. In 1957 in Little Rock, the capital city of Arkansas, the state's governor ordered national guard troops to surround a high school in order to prevent a group of black students from attending classes, saying if they did, "blood will run in the streets." By 1958, seven states still had laws segregating public schools, and three states did in 1961. Schools had several options for integration, including redrawing school district boundaries or busing students to different schools to change the racial balance. Cities such as Boston had controversial busing programs for decades with parents complaining about kids being sent far from home and questioning whether the efforts were still necessary. Many of those programs have been abandoned, but segregation still persists in U.S. schools. According to the Civil Rights Project at UCLA, the number of schools where black students make up at least 90 percent of the population rose from about six percent to 19 percent between 1988 and 2013. At the same time, schools with 90 percent white student populations fell from 39 percent to 18 percent. Part of the change can be attributed to the United States becoming increasingly less white. The Civil Rights Project says persistent segregation is worst in northern and western states, and that the 17 states with a history of explicit segregation laws have not led the list since 1970. "The ironic historic reality is that the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court supported very demanding desegregation standards for the South while the interpretation of Supreme Court decisions and federal legislation limited the impact of Brown in the North and West," it said in a report. Talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are opening a window of opportunity that might allow the United States, Mexico and Canada to reach a basic deal in the coming weeks, a Mexican private sector business leader said on Monday. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on March 5 that negotiators had a matter of weeks to reach an agreement in principle, and last week industry sources said the U.S. team had withdrawn one of its most contentious demands. The head of Canada's Unifor union, Jerry Dias, and others said that Washington had dropped its insistence that all autos made in NAFTA countries have 50 percent U.S. content. Moises Kalach, head of the international negotiating arm of the CCE business lobby, which represents the Mexican private sector at the talks, said that news had fueled hopes that a deal on NAFTA might be attainable. There are positive signs that there is the will, and that the window of opportunity we were looking at, is happening, he told Reuters by telephone. Kalach said the United States had yet to put forward a revised proposal for autos, and that it remained to be seen whether U.S. negotiators would drop other toxic demands. However, if negotiators could conclude around eight NAFTA chapters that were close to completion, it would make it easier to focus on the sticking points, he added. It gets that off the table. And if there really is the will to get an agreement in principle on the other issues, itll be in the coming weeks, he said. One needs to be prepared for that. Major differences of opinion remain on NAFTA, and Mexican officials have for months been looking forward to close sections of the revamped accord that are still unresolved. Among those bones of contention are Washingtons desire to limit access to its agricultural markets, to impose a so-called sunset clause that could automatically kill NAFTA after five years and proposed changes to dispute-resolution mechanisms. Dias of Unifor, a critic of NAFTA who has close ties to Ottawas negotiators, said he was skeptical about a deal in principle being agreed with so many issues outstanding. I heard the United States was looking for an agreement in principle to work out the details later, he told Reuters. What I understand is that it got no traction because I had spoken to the Canadian team and we almost had a chuckle over it. Neither the Canadian nor the Mexican government had any immediate comment. U.S. President Donald Trump says NAFTA has boosted Mexican manufacturing at the expense of U.S. workers, and he has vowed to dump the accord if it is not reworked to his liking. The top U.S. defense official chastised Russia for dangerous and reckless behavior, saying it was "pretty obvious" Moscow was behind the use of a military-grade nerve agent against a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain. "Attempted murder of a man and his daughter. How's that for starters?" U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters Tuesday at the Pentagon when asked to describe the incident that has since touched off a diplomatic backlash against Russia. The White House said as of Tuesday, more than 25 countries had expelled 150 Russian intelligence officers "hiding under diplomatic cover" and that Washington hoped more nations would follow Washington's lead. "We're certainly applying pressure on Russia. We're certainly encouraging and working with our allies and partners also to do so," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, calling the number of countries taking a stand against Russia's actions "unprecedented." The comments from both the Pentagon and the White House followed action from NATO earlier Tuesday, which announced it is expelling seven Russian diplomats and denying accreditation to three others as part of a "broad, strong and coordinated" international response. "This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behavior," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. The U.S. on Monday, ordered 60 Russian diplomats accused of being spies to leave the country within a week and ordered the closure, by April 2, of Russia's consulate in the Pacific port city of Seattle in the state of Washington. Russia has denied any involvement in the attack in Salisbury earlier this month that left Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, unconscious, and exposed hundreds of others to a nerve agent linked to Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would respond to the U.S.-led moves within a week, described the expulsion of his countries diplomats from Western countries as, "Boorish anti-Russian behavior" and said colossal blackmail, "is now unfortunately the main tool of Washington on the international arena." Russia's Ambassador to Australia Grigory Logvinov added Wednesday that if Western countries continue actions against Russia, then the world would be "deeply in a Cold War situation." But U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who said he was involved in the decision-making process that led to the expulsions, placed the blame on Russia, saying Moscow's decisions have left the West with little choice. "Russia has chosen to be a strategic competitor even to the point of reckless acts," Mattis said, noting a mechanism designed to enable cooperation between Washington and Moscow, "regrettably, by Russia's choice, is a thing of the past." "They're trying to break the unity of the Western alliance, NATO," he added. "I think we have to show where all of these democracies stand together. I think that's the statement about how you get to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin." NATO officials also emphasized that despite the need to send a clear message to Moscow, it would not forego opportunities to establish a better relationship with Russia. "We are not changing our approach to Russia, which is still based on a dual- tract approach, meaning strong deterrence, defense, and dialogue," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. "We will continue to work for a meaningful political dialogue with Russia." Still, there are doubts that ties between Russia and the West can be mended anytime soon, even with the recent suggestion from U.S. President Donald Trump that he and Russian President Putin could meet in the foreseeable future. "Unfortunately, U.S.-Russia relations have already been at a very, very low point," the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, told VOA's Ukrainian service Tuesday, saying he expects Moscow to retaliate by expelling more Western diplomats. WATCH: NATO expels Russian diplomats "One hopes that we would be able to work together with Russia to resolve some issues,' he added. "But it's going to be based on Russia realizing that the actions it's taking are unacceptable and have gone too far." There also have been suggestions that the West may still get even tougher on Russia. "I personally think an even tougher response is still justified, including some of the targeted sanctions on the big oligarchs that are close to Putin to show that those who support a system that sponsors aggression of this kind will pay an increasing price, if this keeps going," Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, who is now with the Washington-based Atlantic Council, told VOA. A judge on Monday denied a defense motion to dismiss charges against the widow of the gunman in the 2016 massacre at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, saying that the gunman's father's work an FBI informant was not relevant to the case. Over the weekend, prosecutors disclosed that Omar Mateen's father, Seddique, had worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation before his son carried out the massacre of 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in June 2016. In opening their case, lawyers for Mateen's widow, Noor Salman, argued that the judge should dismiss the charges against her or declare a mistrial because prosecutors had failed to reveal the FBI's relationship to Mateen's father and other evidence related to him beforehand. Salman, 31, is accused of helping her husband carry out surveillance of possible attack sites and doing nothing to stop him. Mateen, a U.S. citizen of Afghan descent who claimed allegiance to a member of the Islamic State militant group, was killed by police after more than three hours in the Pulse nightclub. An FBI agent on Monday testified that years before Mateen carried out the attack, the agency considered using him as an informant, like his father. Those discussions took place while the FBI was investigating comments made by the younger Mateen about overseas links to militants, Special Agent Juvenal Martin said in federal court in Orlando. That investigation closed without charges, he said. Martin did not say why the FBI decided against enlisting Omar Mateen as an informant. Salman's attorneys say that the disclosure by prosecutors that Seddique Mateen had been an informant from January 2005 to June 2016 violated a Supreme Court ruling barring prosecutors from withholding evidence. After resting their case, prosecutors said agents probing the nightclub rampage found receipts of money transfers made from the United States to Turkey and Afghanistan made by the elder Mateen. An active investigation was under way, they said. If the defense had known about the transfers, it would have investigated whether Seddique Mateen was involved in the attack or had prior knowledge of it, Fritz Scheller, a lawyer for Salman, said in the motion to dismiss. But U.S. District Judge Paul Byron said, "It is not clear whether the purpose of the transfers was illegal." He said the omission of any evidence related to Seddique Mateen had no bearing on the culpability of Salman. Salman faces possible life in prison if convicted on charges of aiding her husband in the attack and obstructing an investigation. Poland says it will sign a deal Wednesday to purchase U.S. air defense Patriot missile systems as it seeks to bolster its defenses against a resurgent Russia. The Defense Ministry said Tuesday the deal for the anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems will be signed by the defense minister in Warsaw. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the first Patriot systems will come to Poland in 2022 and the following ones in 2024. He did not specify their number. Morawiecki said they were of the latest generation and would ensure the security of Poland's and the region's skies in an "unprecedented way." He said Poland will be the first foreign recipient of some of the newest Patriot elements, especially radar equipment. He wouldn't reveal the cost, but said it was "negotiated very well" and lays ground for arms cooperation with the U.S. as well as for the modernization of Poland's defense industry. On NATO and European Union's eastern flank, Poland is upgrading its defense systems and modernizing its military to reach the highest Western standards after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Morawiecki said Poland wants to have friendly relations with its neighbors, including Russia, but "we are realists and it would be best if the friendly relations were reinforced by our military power." Last week, Poland signed an accompanying offset deal worth about 950 million zlotys ($279 million) with Patriot system makers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. In November, the U.S. Congress agreed to a deal for 16 launchers and 208 interceptor missiles PAC-3 MSE, along with radiolocation stations for Poland's mobile medium-range defense system. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to harshly punish those responsible for what he called criminal negligence in a fire Sunday at a Siberian mall that killed 64 people, many of them children. The newly re-elected president made the promise Tuesday after flying to the scene of the fire in the industrial city of Kemerovo. Putin laid flowers at a memorial for the victims before chairing a meeting declaring Wednesday a national day of mourning. Thousands of angry residents gathered in the city's main square, demanding an independent investigation and accusing authorities of attempting to conceal the entire scope of the fatal fire. The fire occurred on the first weekend of school recess, when the mall was full children and parents. Investigators said fire exits had been illegally blocked; the public address system had not been turned on; the fire alarm system was broken and children had been locked inside the mall's movie theaters. After officials called off the search for victims on Tuesday, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, said he was shocked by the tragedy and offered words of comfort. "From the Embassy and the American people, I express my sincere condolences to the victims and their families, as well as to the entire Russian people. We mourn with you," Huntsman's spokesperson posted on Twitter. Members of the international community and Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh are not the only groups that are critical of the governments planned repatriation program; Buddhist Rakhine residents have also expressed dissatisfaction with the process. It has been more than two months since Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an agreement to begin returning some of the estimated 700,000 Rohingya who fled northern Rakhine State in the the wake of a brutal military crackdown last year. But the process continues to be stalled. Unhapy Buddhists in Rakhine State Sein Gyaw, a civil society leader in Rakhine State, told VOA that local residents were frustrated because they had not been consulted on the issue. The government has not discussed with the people about this issue, and many people are worried about it, said Sein Gyaw, saying that many Rakhine were concerned that those returning under the process could include terrorists, a reference to fighters from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, the group that launched attacks on August 25, which triggered the military crackdown. People here do not want to fight with the Muslims. But they also dont agree that they are citizens. They dont want non-citizens to come back to this country, he said, expressing a view shared by much of Myanmars population that the Rohingya are not one of Myanmars official races. Unrest affects the economy At the market in downtown Sittwe, the Rakhine State capital, vegetable seller Daw Hla Khin told VOA that trade in the town had slowed considerably in recent years, but particularly since the uptick of violence in August. This year, we are seeing less and less trading, said Hla Khin Myint. We are not happy about this. Since the conflict started, our trade of vegetables has almost stopped, and we cant get any more money. Although she said she wanted to see an end to the conflict, Hla Khin Myint said she was less sure when asked about her view towards the repatriation process. She said she wasnt sure if Rakhine and Rohingya could live side by side, such was the level of animosity since violence flared across Rakhine State in 2012. Hla Thein, another vegetable seller in the market, was more forthright in his views. The Muslims launched this attack, I think, because they dont want to live side by side with Rakhine people, said Hla Thein. They dont want to live side by side with us, and I dont think we can, he said. Problems with the process Earlier this month, Myanmars government said that after reviewing the names, photos and home villages of 8,032 displaced people sent to them by Bangladesh, only 193 were identified as having lived in Myanmar, a key condition for the Myanmar government in accepting returnees. It is not clear if those 193 people had voluntarily decided to return. Win Myat Aye, minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement, could not be reached for comment. Many Rohingya inside Bangladesh have expressed concern about returning to Myanmar out of fears for their safety. How sincere Myanmar is in allowing Rohingya to return to the country was brought further into question recently after comments by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing that were highly critical of the Muslim minority. At a gathering in Kachin State on March 26, the general referred to the group as Bengalis, a term that reinforces the view that they are illegal immigrants, and said they do not have the characteristics or culture in common with the ethnicities in Myanmar. The tensions were fueled because the Bengalis demanded citizenship, he said. The comments brought a sharp rebuke from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said it was critical that conditions are put in place to ensure that the Rohingya are able to return home voluntarily, in safety and in dignity. In 2005, four young Congolese refugees in western Uganda opened a school for kids like themselves, separated from their families when they fled conflict in neighboring countries. Today, the school boasts about 500 students and continues to provide free education to unaccompanied refugee children or those whose families cannot afford to pay. The school name is a combination of Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Sudan the countries of origin for refugees living in western Uganda. It was named by its four teenage founders who live at the Kyangwali refugee settlement. "So, with friends we thought, maybe we can find ways to bring new hope to our community and that's when we started creating Coburwas international youth organization to transform Africa," said Joseph Munyambaza, now 27. The boys did manual labor to raise money. Munyambaza remembers that with the first $150 they earned, they bought textbooks for the initial 16 students. "We used to work in the community, work for farmers and then they give us small money, which we'd use to buy text books and other materials for the most needy children," he said. "And among ourselves, we would serve as tutors. We now have our own farms, so we farm and when the crops get ready, we use the products for food." The school also sells some crops from the farm to cover costs. Families that can afford it are encouraged to pay about $16 in fees. Outside donations help cover teacher salaries. The first class was held under a tree that still stands in the school compound. The school now boasts four classroom blocks, serving 500 children from lower to upper primary classes. Many residents who have lived at the Kyangwali refugee settlement for about seven or eight years say they won't return home to Congo until stability is assured. Okoboi John Bosco, the head teacher at Coburwas, says the school has helped refugee children build new lives. "Some of them, as early as this age of theirs now, they are talking of some early projects that they can venture in to help the community," he said. "So I see there is already a big change that has taken place in their lives, and I think the long term change is yet to come as they pursue their studies. And I believe with such initiatives within the refugee settlements, the best can be achieved from these kids." Ten-year-old Ketrashatrawori Ibambas, who is in primary six, wants to be a doctor "because the people in this community are suffering from cholera. And they are lacking doctors, so I need also to be a doctor so that I can be able to prevent any other diseases." The school may soon see more new students. A fresh wave of communal violence in the northeastern DRC has pushed tens of thousands of Congolese refugees into western Uganda this year. The U.N. says most of the new arrivals are women and children. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc has been appointed as the new ambassador of Vietnam to the US, and Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy is the new ambassador and head of Vietnams permanent representative mission to the UN in New York.Ta Van Thong has been appointed as the new ambassador to New Zealand, along with the Republic of Fiji and the Independent State of Samoa. Pham Vinh Quang is the new ambassador to Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The new ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique, and the Republic of Madagascar, the Republic of Seychelles and the Republic of Mauritius is Le Huy Hoang. The new ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Iraq is Nguyen Manh Hien.Following the hand-over ceremony, President Quang had a meeting with the newly-accredited ambassadors.Pointing to difficulties and challenges facing Vietnam, the leader asked the ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative offices overseas to flexibly apply late President Ho Chi Minhs diplomatic thought and pay attention to reforming working methods in order to serve the countrys sustainable development, and maintain national defence and security.He also stressed the need to effectively implement resolutions and directives on external relations and international integration of the Party and State.The leader asked the diplomats to utilise the support of international friends for Vietnams construction and defence, and focus on research and analysis of the situation to propose solutions to the Party and State in order to deepen the countrys external relations.It is necessary to persistently pursue peaceful measures in line with international law and the code of conduct in the region, and promote love for peace of Vietnamese people, while preparing plans to resolutely protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity and other interests of Vietnam at sea.The PM also highlighted the diplomats role in economic diplomacy, urging the them to boost the efficiency of signed new-generation free trade agreements as well as seeking measures to diversify and expand export markets for Vietnamese goods and attract high-quality foreign investment.The ambassadors were also asked to promote Vietnams initiatives at multilateral mechanisms and forums, especially the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given the fact that Vietnam is running for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and about to assume the post of ASEAN Chair in 2020.Another regular task of the diplomats is to deal with issues related to the overseas Vietnamese communities abroad, he said, stressing that the OVs form an integral part of the nation. VNS A report released Monday suggests Democrats might have to temper their enthusiasm about climbing back to power during this years midterm elections. To win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats would need a tremendous electoral wave not seen in more than 40 years to overcome Republican advantages from gerrymandered districts in key states, according to an analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice. The report projects that Democrats would need to win the national popular vote for congressional districts by a nearly 11 percentage point margin over Republicans to gain more than the roughly two dozen seats they need to flip control of the Republican-led chamber. That would take more than the typical Democratic wave that history suggests would occur for the party out of power during a midterm election. 'Equivalent of a tsunami' It would be the equivalent of a tsunami, said Michael Li, a senior counsel who heads up redistricting work for the center, which is based at New York University School of Law. Democrats would have to win larger than any sort of recent midterm wave almost double what they got in 2006 in order to win a narrow majority. The Brennan Center opposes what it calls extreme gerrymandering in which political parties draw legislative districts that virtually ensure they will hold on to power. The center has filed a court brief in a case to be heard Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a lawsuit by Republicans alleging that Marylands former Democratic governor and legislature unconstitutionally gerrymandered a congressional district to their advantage. It also has filed court briefs supporting Democratic lawsuits alleging unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering by Republicans in states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Gerrymandered maps hurt Democrats The centers analysis notes that Democrats gained 31 seats when they won the national congressional vote by 5.4 percentage points in 2006. Yet under the current districts, which were redrawn after the 2010 Census under GOP control of many state capitols, a similar national victory margin in the November election is projected to net Democrats only about a dozen new seats. The report projects that a 10 percentage point national margin would gain 21 seats for Democrats still shy of the 23 or 24 needed to claim a House majority. An 11-point margin is projected to gain 28 seats for Democrats, but they haven't achieved such a large midterm victory since a nearly 14 point margin gained them 49 seats in 1974. Even a strong blue wave would crash against a wall of gerrymandered maps, the Brennan Center report says. The analysis is based on an assumption that as a political party increases its share of the statewide vote, it will see a similar percentage increase in most congressional districts. The report does not account for particular factors at play this year in each district, such as whether incumbents are retiring or whether voter demographics have shifted. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who is chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement that the Brennan Center report makes clear that Republican gerrymandering has undermined the voting power of Americans and threatens our democracy. Matt Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, dismissed it as part of a liberal narrative to diminish previous Republican victories and boost Democratic chances. As called for by the Constitution, map-drawing is a political process left to the authority of state legislatures, and this so-called study is another attempt by Democrats to undermine that process and replace it with liberal courts, or cherry-picked experts from liberal faculty rooms to draw maps that rig the system for Democrats, Walter said in a statement.The report says that for Democrats to achieve an 11 percentage point national victory margin, they would need to increase their vote share by at least 7 percentage points over their 2016 totals in about a dozen states where Republicans generally had fared well, including Texas and Ohio. Democrats also would need more modest gains in traditional Democratic strongholds such as California and Illinois. The Trump administration's decision to shutter the Russian consulate in Seattle displeased many Russian immigrants Monday, some of whom rushed to its offices in hopes of securing passports, visas and other important documents. One woman, who identified herself as a dual U.S.-Russian citizen from Boise, Idaho, said she spent $1,000 traveling to Seattle to renew a passport so that she could visit her brother in Russia - only to be turned away. Another, Luda Rieve, of San Diego, told The Seattle Times she too was turned away after taking the day off work and flying from California to renew her passport. Many procedures handled by the consulate require in-person appearances, and because the administration also ordered the San Francisco consulate closed last September, the only facilities remaining are in New York, Houston and Washington, D.C. "My sister is at the consulate right now trying to get a travel passport,'' David Mordekhov said, a Seattle lawyer and Moscow native who moved to the U.S. 20 years ago. "Any travel paperwork that has to do with trips to Russia, visa applications, powers of attorney and any other documents are going to be much harder to procure.'' The closure of the Seattle consulate, effective April 2, came as the United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats as punishment for Moscow's alleged poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain. The Seattle consulate was responsible for handling requests from people in Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The administration cited the consulate's proximity to a submarine base, Naval Base Kitsap, as well as Boeing's operations, but University of Washington international relations professor Don Hellmann suggested that rationale "might be a little simplistic.'' "The real thrust of intelligence these days is digital,'' he said. "It's intellectual property. We live in a hacked world. Microsoft is probably as much a target as the naval base or Boeing.'' The Seattle area is home to about 33,000 Russians, a number of whom work in the engineering or tech industries. Among them is Sergey Bobkov, an analyst for the travel website Expedia, who said Russians and Russian-Americans would to have to travel farther and go through more hoops to visit friends and family there. "It's been frustrating to no end, to say the least,'' Bobkov said, a 34-year-old native of St. Petersburg, Russia, who holds dual citizenship. "I'm trying to get a visa for my wife to go to Russia with me in August. We will have to either fly to New York City or Washington, D.C. and handle those things in person, or we'll have to pay someone under the table to do express services.'' He added, "It's hard on all of us who have nothing to do with politics.'' Not everyone who showed up Monday came away empty-handed. Alex Bendetov said he was able to obtain a passport for his baby after starting the process some time ago. "My wife acted quickly. She said, 'We gotta go and try to pick up the passport,''' he said. "We have grandparents living back home and it's important to go back and visit with them.'' Last summer, the Trump administration ordered the San Francisco consulate closed in a diplomatic tit-for-tat, after Congress passed sanctions against Russia for election interference and the Kremlin retaliated by ordering the U.S. to cut its diplomatic staff there. A day later, black smoke poured from a chimney as consular officials burned undisclosed items in a fireplace, prompting a response from firefighters. There were no immediate reports of smoke Monday at the consulate's offices on the 25th floor of a downtown Seattle skyscraper or at the consular residence, a stately red-brick building surrounded by a wrought-iron fence, cedar trees and rhododendrons. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia heightened a day after a senior Serb politician was arrested and expelled in northern Kosovo, with Russia wading into the dispute and the European Union trying to avert further friction Tuesday. Kosovo Serbs set up a roadblock in the divided town of Mitrovica to monitor access into Serb-dominated territory, and Serb politicians walked away from Kosovo's government and threatened to form their own local administrations throughout Kosovo where minority Serbs live. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini made an urgent trip to Belgrade for talks with Serbia's president in a bid to prevent a full-blown crisis from erupting. President Aleksandar Vucic's office said in a statement that he and Mogherini agreed to find "new ways" to solve problems between Serbia and Kosovo peacefully. Mogherini didn't immediately comment, but the statement quoted her as saying "what happened yesterday must not be repeated." "The European Union expects peace to be preserved with wisdom and restraint," Mogherini said according to the statement. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a strongly-worded statement, accusing the EU and the U.S. of wanting "to crudely suppress" attempts by Kosovo Serbs to "safeguard their legitimate interests." "It is nakedly clear that the Kosovars [Kosovo Albanians] follow the advice of their U.S. and European patrons, who trample international law and act on the basis of arbitrariness," said the statement carried by Tass news agency. While Russia supports Serbia's claims over its former province, the U.S. and most Western states have recognized Kosovo's independence a decade ago. Russia has been trying to expand its influence in the Balkans mainly through its traditional Slavic ally Serbia. Djuric detained The developments came a day after Marko Djuric, the head of the Serbian government office for Kosovo, was briefly detained in the divided town of Mitrovica because he entered the country without Kosovo's official approval. Kosovo police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Serb protesters in Mitrovica on Monday. Djuric said he was beaten while in detention and that his arrest was aimed at humiliating Serbs in Kosovo and as a rehearsal for a possible attempt by Kosovo police to take over northern Kosovo. "By dragging me on the ground like a dog, pulling me by my tie, they wanted to humiliate me, thinking they can humiliate the Serbian people," Djuric told a news conference Tuesday. But Kosovo President Hashim Thaci denounced the incident as a provocation by Serbia. "Monday's events are contrary to the commitment of dialogue and building sustainable peace in Kosovo," he said in a statement Tuesday. 'A forced move' Politicians representing Kosovo's Serb minority met with Serbia's president in Belgrade, saying they would no longer support Kosovo's government. This could trigger a government crisis if the Serb ministers aren't quickly replaced by Kosovo Albanians. Goran Rakic, who heads the Serbian List in Kosovo's parliament, said that Serbs would on their own form an association of Serb-dominated municipalities in Kosovo, which was envisaged in a European Union-mediated deal in 2013 but was never carried out by Kosovo authorities. "This is not a one-sided move. This is a forced move," Rakic said. "We waited for five years for them to give us what is ours. We will form only what they signed up to, what was guaranteed five years ago." The move could further fuel friction between Serbia and Kosovo, which declared independence against Belgrade's wishes in 2008. In 1999, NATO intervened to stop a bloody Serb crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists. On Tuesday, Kosovo Serbs blocked the main road leading from northern Kosovo to the capital, Pristina, by parking a bulldozer and a flatbed truck across it. Djuric, whose hands were bandaged, appeared at the news conference with Kosovo Serb officials after talks with Vucic. He said that Kosovo police officers "took selfies with me and pulled me down to my knees, with a gun pushed against my body." He accused unidentified Western countries of directly or indirectly supporting Kosovo's actions. Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said in Pristina on Tuesday that "yesterday's actions weren't directed against Serb citizens in Kosovo, but against those who broke the law." "It is not good to make limitless testing of anyone's decision," Haradinaj said. "It would be good to return to the negotiating table and discuss the issues together." A Somali regional lawmaker was fatally shot Tuesday in Mogadishu, police said. Ruqiya Abshir Noor was shot in her home in the city's Shibis district, according to police. Abdiwakil Abdullahi, police commander in the neighboring Bondhere district, who received the report of the killing, told VOA Mogadishu that Noor suffered serious injuries and was transported to Mogadishu's main hospital, Medina, where she was pronounced dead. Noor was a member of the Southwest Regional Parliament, in one of the federal member states of the country. Her colleague in the Southwest Parliament, Bashir Ibrahim, told VOA that Noor went back to Mogadishu last week after the parliament went into recess. She was a nice person, very active member of the parliament, Ibrahim said. No one has claimed responsibility for the killing, but al-Shabab militants take credit for assassinations of lawmakers, civil servants and other government workers. Uber Technologies has agreed to sell its Southeast Asian business to bigger regional rival Grab, the ride-hailing firms said on Monday, marking the U.S. company's second retreat from an Asian market. The industry's first big consolidation in Southeast Asia, home to about 640 million people, puts pressure on Indonesia's Go-Jek, which is backed by Alphabet's Google and China's Tencent Holdings Ltd. A shake-up in Asia's fiercely competitive ride-hailing industry became likely earlier this year when Japan-based SoftBank Group Corp's Vision Fund made a multibillion-dollar investment in Uber. SoftBank owns stakes in most major global ride services companies, and executives have indicated they favored consolidation. SoftBank already had investments in Grab and India's Ola, and Vision Fund Chief Executive Rajeev Misra had urged Uber to focus less on Asia and more on profitable markets such as Latin America, a person familiar with the matter said. Grab President Ming Maa told Reuters that SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son was "highly supportive" of the deal, which he called "a very independent decision by both" Grab and Uber. Uber will take a 27.5 percent stake in Singapore-based Grab and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join Grab's board. Grab was last valued at $6 billion after a financing round in July. "It will help us double down on our plans for growth as we invest heavily in our products and technology," Khosrowshahi said in a statement. The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) said it has the mandate to review whether any mergers will result in a "substantial lessening of competition" and take any action to intervene in the deal, but it has yet to receive notice from the companies. The deal will help bolster Grab's meal-delivery service, which will merge with Uber Eats, compete with Go-Jek. Go-Jek has become a dominant player and powerful rival in Indonesia, the region's biggest economy, and it has rapidly expanded beyond ride hailing to digital payments, food delivery and on-demand cleaning and massage. Ride-hailing companies throughout Asia have relied heavily on discounts and promotions, driving down profit margins and increasing pressure for consolidation. Uber, which is preparing for a potential initial public offering in 2019, lost $4.5 billion last year and is facing fierce competition at home in the United States and across Asia, as well as a regulatory crackdown in Europe. Uber invested $700 million in its Southeast Asia business. Uber previously sold operations in China and Russia to local rivals under former CEO Travis Kalanick. The deal with Grab is the first operations sale by Khosrowshahi, who started in September. More consolidation But Uber's CEO does not want to make these mergers a pattern, and said he has no plans to do another sale in which it consolidates its operations in exchange for a minority stake in a rival. "It is fair to ask whether consolidation is now the strategy of the day, given this is the third deal of its kind...The answer is no," Khosrowshahi said in a note to employees that was shared with Reuters. "One of the potential dangers of our global strategy is that we take on too many battles across too many fronts and with too many competitors." SoftBank is also an investor in India's Ola, another competitive and costly market where rivals have heavily subsidized rides in an effort to gain market share. But a source familiar with Uber's strategy said the company was going to step up its battle with Ola in India, where Uber has close to 60 percent of the market, by some estimates, but is losing money. SoftBank's Misra sees opportunities for mergers and joint ventures between SoftBank-backed ride-hailing companies, particularly for collaborating on research and development, but the investor would never get actively involved with management decisions, the person familiar with the matter said. Uber includes the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America among its core markets regions where it has more than 50 percent market share and is profitable or sees a path to profitability. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday his government will respond to a U.S. order for 60 Russian diplomats accused of being spies to leave the United States within a week. Twenty-two other countries, including France, Germany and Poland, have also expelled a total of 77 Russian "intelligence personnel," according to the White House. That list does not include Australia, which announced [Tuesday] it is expelling two "undeclared intelligence officials." Lavrov blamed the mass expulsions on "colossal pressure" by the United States. The U.S. move, along with the closure of a Russian consulate in the country, is in response to Moscows to what the State Department called the "outrageous violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and breach of international law," involving the nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain. Britain, other Western nations and NATO also blame Russia for the March 4 chemical attack in Salisbury. Moscow denies involvement and has accused "powerful forces" in the U.S. and Britain as being behind the attack. Russia has been sounding "a drum beat of destabilizing and aggressive actions," said a senior U.S. official, explaining the White House actions. The United States is ordering the closure, by April 2, of Russias consulate in the Pacific port city of Seattle in the state of Washington, noting its close proximity to the Boeing aircraft plant and the Kitsap Naval Base, the home port for some ballistic nuclear missile submarines. The consulate is "part of this broader problem of an unacceptably high number of Russian operatives in the United States and "we are prepared to take additional steps, if necessary," a senior administration official told reporters shortly before Mondays announcement. President Donald Trump, who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Tuesday, has been involved in the discussions to expel the diplomats, according to officials. "This is absolutely his decision," emphasized a senior U.S. official in the call with reporters. "The president spoke with many foreign leaders, our European allies and others, and encouraged them to join the United States in this announcement," White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters. He added the action is "significant in degrading their intelligence capabilities around the world, not just in the United States." Shah repeatedly stated the Trump administration stands ready to build a better relationship with Russia, "but this can only happen with a change in the Russian governments behavior." Some, however, want Trump, considered by his critics to be too soft on Russia, to take a more assertive public role. The top Democratic Party member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, says Mondays strong U.S. response to the attack "makes even more bizarre the administration's weak response to Russia's ongoing attack right here in the United States." He says the administration needs "to stand up for our own democracy." Republican Senator John McCain says that while Trumps decision "sends an important signal to Moscow, the only way to ensure Putin and his cronies feel the consequences of their brazen actions is by punishing them financially." Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Alexander Vershbow, an Atlantic Council distinguished fellow, agrees, telling VOA: "Russian fingerprints were clearly on this attack, and a stiff response was necessary. I personally think an even tougher response is still justified, including some of the targeted sanctions on the big oligarchs that are close to Putin to show that those who support a system that sponsors aggression of this kind will pay an increasing price, if this keeps going." The expulsion order covers 48 Russians at embassies and consulates in the United States and 12 assigned to Moscows mission at the United Nations in New York City who "abused their privilege of residence," according to a senior U.S. official. "When we see these espionage tactics that are taking place right here at the heart of the U.N. we cant have that," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley told reporters. "This is really not just us, but multiple countries saying all these actions have to stop." All those being expelled are considered spies who "hide behind the veneer of diplomatic immunity while engaging in espionage activities," according to a senior administration official. If Russia retaliates against the United States for the expulsions, Washington could take further action, according to a senior U.S. official, hinting that some of the dozens of other suspected Russian spies allowed to remain in the country could also face banishment. Former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a Salisbury park bench. They remain hospitalized in serious condition. "We assess that more than 130 people in Salisbury could have been potentially exposed to this nerve agent," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement delivered Monday to parliament. Stephen Fortescue, an honorary associate professor at the University of New South Wales in Russian politics and economics, told VOA he thinks Russia was responsible for the attack and that it was meant to serve as a message to current and potential defectors that the government could get to them at any time. "My guess is that the Russians, if they did it, probably didnt expect this sort of coordinated response," Fortescue said. Margaret Besheer at the UN; VOA Russian Service, Victor Beattie contributed to this report. U.N. Security Council members are venting frustrations and trading blame over their unheeded demand for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Tuesday `should be a day of shame' for a council that saw the 30 days elapse with continued bombing, deaths and suffering. The February 24 resolution aimed to enable humanitarian aid as Syria enters its eighth year of civil war. Haley blamed the Syrian government and key ally Russia, which has lent air support to government forces. She said Russia has used its veto-wielding seat to stop the Security Council from doing more. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia argued his country was the only member taking "concrete measures." Russia ordered daily "humanitarian pauses" and says they've allowed over 100,000 people to be evacuated from eastern Ghouta. When letters from the U.S. government last month summoned more than 1,000 Burmese refugees in the United States for official interviews, chatter spread across the immigrant community: Were the letters real? Did the refugees have to attend? What was the government trying to glean from meeting with refugees who were already in the country, in some cases for years? The letters sent by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that conducts interviews with refugees overseas and vets immigration applications were real. Some of the refugees opted to go to the interviews, depending on where they were in the residency or citizenship process. Failing to comply could jeopardize pending immigration applications, according to the letters. The ultimate goal of the investigation into possible identity fraud specifically, two refugees entering under the same name that may go back nearly a decade remains unclear a month later. USCIS will not say whether criminal charges have been or will be filed, and refugee advocates have not reported any such actions. Regardless, the letters and interviews have raised eyebrows and questions, and kept refugees and their advocates on edge at a time when the U.S. government has whittled the refugee program to a shell of what it was 15 months ago. Jill Niswander, director of communications and fund development at EMBARC Iowa, a refugee support organization in Des Moines, Iowa, said the USCIS interview requests rattled the Burmese community. "No matter the outcome, this has cracked that kind of foundation safety these people have achieved here in the United States," she told VOA, after local media in Iowa first reported the story at the end of February. "It's never going to be the same anymore," Niswander said. "They are always going to be expecting a letter. They are always going to be concerned about something like this happening again. Especially when you do this to a group of people whose history is persecution by the government." U.S. refugee program The investigation comes after a tumultuous year for refugee admissions to the United States. The Trump administration has cut arrivals by more than half, several key administrators have been reassigned or have retired, and as VOA reported last month, the nationality of the refugees who do come to the U.S. has shifted. Refugee advocates fear the Trump administration will use the recent Burmese issue as a springboard to further cuts to the program. The investigation into potential identity fraud cases isn't the first time the U.S. has investigated its refugee vetting process. It's rare, and narrow in scope when it does happen. Yet, an internet search of fraud and refugee-vetting turned up a mix of stories, many of which tout the risk of refugees to the country. The subject is a favorite among ultra-conservative, pseudo news sites and xenophobic blogs. In one, the U.S. temporarily suspended refugee arrivals from East Africa in 2008 after some refugees failed DNA testing to confirm blood relations they claimed in their paperwork. A July 2017 report by the Government Accounting Office found that overall, the U.S. State Department, USCIS and their partners "have implemented anti-fraud measures to reduce the risk of staff and applicant fraud both of which have occurred but could further assess fraud risks." The difference between the current Burmese refugee investigation and earlier ones is that the refugees in question aren't abroad, but already in the U.S. Though the problem originated on the ground in Malaysia, when refugees were registered with the U.N. system, it remains unclear how the errors occurred whether there was a system for buying refugee identity cards, or errors in data entry in the rush to register refugees, or if refugees assumed the identities of other refugees in an attempt to get out of a country that was threatening them. Targeted letters The USCIS investigation is focused on a very narrow subset of refugees by all accounts, U.S. refugee officials sent the letters exclusively to members of the ethnic Chin community who were processed through the international refugee network in Malaysia from about 2009 to 2013. The Chin community accounts for about a quarter of the Burmese refugees and asylum-seekers in that country. In the late 2000s, they were vulnerable to detention in Malaysia, a country that has yet to ratify the Refugee Convention and which has, at times, been inhospitable to refugees. The scramble to register refugees who were fleeing persecution in Myanmar, then arrest in Malaysia, may have led to errors in name and identification documentation, and subsequently, the duplicate identities. Several refugee resettlement workers said they understood the investigation involved refugees who entered the U.S. after either purchasing other refugees' identities or using fake names or, in a lesser offense, perhaps merely spelling their name differently on different documents. A translator who attended one of the interviews told VOA one refugee was asked if she had purchased a refugee identity card. She responded "no," according to the translator. Refugee advocates say some of the interviewees have been asked to sign sworn statements documenting their responses. Gen Langh, a translator with EMBARC Iowa, witnessed one two-and-a-half-hour refugee interview. "I was a little bit nervous when the lawyer asked the [USCIS] officer how they were going to use the information that they get from the interviews. They don't really tell, you know, just that they're investigating," Langh told VOA. "It's a little bit uncomfortable for the client, you know how are they going to use this information? They are going to use [it] against them? I wish they had been a little bit more clear on how they are going to use [the information]." Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) obtained the transcript of a sworn statement made by a refugee who went through the interview process with USCIS. The document, with some questions and all answers redacted, shows a line of inquiry that focuses on the refugee's name, the registration process in Malaysia, identification documents, and other basic biographical information. What's next? The interviews, according to the statement from USCIS, will "determine the validity of the information of record and any impact that information may have on a current or former refugee's immigration status or eligibility for future immigration benefits." When asked in early March about the nature of the investigation into the Burmese Chin refugees, USCIS issued a brief statement to VOA in an emailed response. The agency said it has "concerns about identity and biographic information provided to USCIS in a number of cases involving Burmese refugees, including many who have resettled in the U.S." The agency declined to answer follow-up questions, citing the ongoing investigation, and did not immediately respond for clarification on when the investigation began. The U.S. State Department, which oversees part of the U.S refugee program, declined to comment for this story and deferred questions to USCIS. USCIS would not answer whether the investigation is tied to a 2014 incident investigated by UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. That year, UNHCR said it found "a significant number of cases of suspected fraud among some refugee communities from Myanmar. USCIS did not confirm whether that was the catalyst for their letter-mailing in the United States. When the U.N. refugee agency raised the flag on the issue four years ago after an internal audit, it said "appropriate measures will be taken against any individuals found to have abused these humanitarian procedures." "We immediately informed the governments of resettlement countries, including the United States," said Chris Boian, spokesperson for UNHCR in Washington. The refugee agency subsequently carried out "a top-to-bottom overhaul" of their registration procedures, and added digital biometrics, Boian said. Panicking It is unclear when USCIS was made aware of the issue, and when the United States began its own investigation into the issue of duplicated Burmese identities. Langh, the EMBARC translator, said there were rumors throughout the community that some refugees could be deported. The community is "very much panicking," he said. "And they didn't even know how to express their fear. They're just afraid that the government is going to send them back or put them in jail." But even if criminal charges are filed, removal from the United States would be difficult. Myanmar is on the list of "recalcitrant" countries that do not accept deportees. "There's human error it could be a small human error. That doesn't mean refugees shouldn't come to this country and feel welcome," said Reena Arya, a lawyer with CLINIC, who worked with refugees overseas. "No system is perfect, and that shouldn't cast doubt on every single person who's fleeing persecution." U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly criticized Turkey for "large numbers" of detentions for social media postings criticizing the Turkish-led military operation into Syria against a Kurdish militia. The report claimed the "crackdown violates the right to peaceful expression." Ankara is facing mounting diplomatic pressure over the country's wider human rights record. Since January when Ankara launched the Operation Olive Branch military offensive into the Syrian Afrin enclave, critics claim dissent over the offensive has been crushed. Citing figures from the Interior Ministry, HRW said 648 people were detained between Jan. 20 and Feb. 26 for social media postings criticizing the operation and expressing support for people holding street protests against the offensive. The rights group said the Interior Ministry confirmed that further detentions have continued into March. "Detaining and prosecuting people for tweets calling for peace is a new low for Turkey's government," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Turkish authorities should respect people's right to peacefully criticize any aspect of government policy, including military operations, and drop these absurd cases." The report highlighted that many of the detainees included prominent figures of Turkish civil society, four members of Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP, as well as academics. HRW cited as one of most egregious cases the detention of 11 senior members of Turkish Medical Association (TTB), including its chairman, Rasit Tukel, for social media postings expressing concern for the humanitarian situation caused by the Turkish operation in Syria. Turkish ministers have routinely dismissed concerns over Operation Olive Branch as "terrorist propaganda," insisting not a single civilian had been killed or injured by its forces. The 11 doctors were subsequently released after an international outcry. In fact, HRW acknowledged that in most cases, those detained were subsequently released, subject to ongoing investigations. But the rights group suggested the detentions, which usually occur late at night or in early-morning hours, are being used as a means of intimidation. "I was visible from the outside [to the police]. I was watching TV at the time," said Nurcan Baysal, a journalist and human rights activist. "They tried to break in the door without ringing the doorbell. About 20 policemen entered my house wearing masks, and trained their automatic rifles on me." Baysal's case was one of five cited by HRW for being detained for social media postings. The manner of her detention follows a similar pattern, according to the rights group, which accuses authorities of intimidating critics. "After examining the cases, Human Rights Watch believes that some of the police raids and criminal investigations are being used as a form of punishment rather than out of genuine belief that criminal behavior has occurred," the HRW report said. HRW claims its investigations revealed that in all the cases it studied, the social media postings were nonviolent and fell within international standards of freedom of expression. Ankara has so far failed to comment on the report, but has frequently dismissed such criticism as "terrorist propaganda." The publication of the report comes as Ankara is under growing pressure from its western allies. At a European Union summit on Monday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, EU head commissioner Jean Claude Juncker, and European Council president Donald Tusk, human rights concerns spoiled the gathering, which was intended to reset relations. "What I can say is that I raised all our concerns," Tusk said. "As you know, it was a long list, including the rule of law and press freedom in Turkey, and Turkey's bilateral relations with member states. Also the situation in Syria." Tusk added: "My position is clear only progress on these issues will allow us to improve EU-Turkey relations, including the accession process." To underline such concerns, police on Monday raided the dormitories of Istanbul's Bosphorus University and arrested a number of students. This was the second consecutive day of raids at Bosphorus University, one of Turkey's top schools, as police searched for students who protested against the Turkish-led offensive into Syria. "These students were mistreated, suffering beatings and harassment while under custody," said an academic who teaches at Bosphorus University, speaking anonymously. "Now undercover policemen are roaming the campus looking for students to take under custody. Currently, 11 students are still under custody. Besides, our students are scared to be on campus and come to classes, as they are severely traumatized. Their right to an education is violated." The detentions followed Erdogan's condemnation of anti-war protests, calling the students "communist, traitor youths" at a political rally. Observers point out that when Erdogan publicly targets an opponent, arrests invariably follow. The government disputes such accusations, insisting the judiciary is independent. The student arrests have again prompted international criticism. "Anti-war protesters labelled 'terrorists' by President Erdogan," tweeted Kati Piri, the European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur. "Critical thinking dangerous endeavour in 'new' Turkey." The United States is imposing sanctions on seven Pakistani companies for alleged links to the nuclear trade. The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIC) placed 23 companies 15 from Sudan and one from Singapore, in addition to the seven from Pakistan on its Entity List. The Entity List contains companies the U.S. determines are "acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States," according to BIC's website. Companies placed on the list need special licenses to do business in the United States. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told VOA that the U.S. regularly adds entities to the list. "It is not country-specific. Entities are looked at on a case-by-case basis, irrespective of national affiliation, and are added based on whether they operate counter to U.S. national security interests," the spokesperson said. VOA tried to talk to some of the companies on the list, but they would not comment on their designation. Pakistan said it would "seek more information" from the U.S. and these companies to better understand the circumstances which led to its listing. A statement released by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Pakistan believes that there should be no undue restrictions on the access to dual-use items and technologies for peaceful and legitimate purposes. Pakistan has always been transparent and willing to engage with the suppliers of the dual-use items." Dual-use technologies have both civilian and possible military uses. The sanctions could potentially hurt Pakistan's chances to join the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Pakistan wants to join the 48 countries who are members of the NSG, but the United States and some of its European allies oppose the move. The NSG is dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that could foster nuclear weapons development. Nuclear-armed Pakistan applied to join the NSG in 2016, but has made little progress. The U.S. has been concerned about Pakistan's development of new nuclear weapons systems, including small tactical nuclear weapons, and has been trying to persuade Islamabad to make a unilateral declaration of "restraint." Pakistani denials Pakistani officials have been accused of handing over nuclear secrets to North Korea. The government has denied the accusations, though Pakistan has a poor record on nuclear proliferation. Pakistan's Foreign Office said the nation's "efforts in the area of export controls and nonproliferation, as well as nuclear safety and security, are well known. Pakistan and the U.S. have a history of cooperation in these areas." The announcement of sanctions has come as relations between Pakistan and the United States are at a low point. The United States accuses Pakistan of helping militant groups that attack the U.S. and its allied forces across the border in Afghanistan a claim Pakistan denies. Addressing the event, NA President de Rugy said Vietnam and France set up diplomatic ties on April 13, 1973, opening up a new page in the bilateral relationship. In the following years, France overcame difficulties to accompany Vietnam during the countrys struggle for national liberation and national reunification. The legislator affirmed that Vietnam is Frances important partner in Southeast Asia which is developing dynamically. In 2013, the two countries signed a strategic partnership and cooperated in various realms, from politics to economics, culture, education, science, the parliamentary channel, military and strategy. The French leader described Vietnam as a pillar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with high growth, adding that the countrys GDP increased 15 times over the past 30 years. He highlighted the increasing presence of French businesses in Vietnam, as well as the number of up to about 7,000 Vietnamese students in France. Besides, Vietnam and France have joined hands in coping with global challenges such as climate change in the Mekong and Red River Deltas, the leader said. In his remarks, Party General Secretary Trong emphasised that since the two countries established diplomatic ties 45 years ago, France has remained Vietnams leading partner in Europe and the world at large. The Vietnam-France relationship is always among the priorities of Vietnams foreign policy, he stated. Trong stressed diverse cooperation between Vietnam and France, both bilaterally and multilaterally, allowing the two countries to consult each other and share their viewpoints on many regional and international issues. He also noted the diverse exchange of culture between the two countries over the past time. France is not only Vietnams leading European sponsor but also its cooperation partner in various spheres, the Party chief said, adding that priorities have been given to bilateral collaboration in education and scientific research. He cited hundreds of agreements signed between Vietnamese and French universities and research institutes. Cooperation between the two countries localities has also been expanded with the participation of 20 French localities and 15 cities and provinces of Vietnam. Vietnam and France established a strategic partnership five years ago, demonstrating their mutual political trust, he said, underlining enhanced bilateral coordination in regional and international issues. Party General Secretary Trong called on the two countries to scale up efforts in order to deepen the strategic partnership, increase their political trust and high-level exchanges and meetings, improve the efficiency of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, step up affiliation in all fields, expand people-to-people exchange, enhance cooperation between localities and intensify coordination in regional and international issues of shared concern. The two leaders then witnessed the signing of six cooperation documents, comprising a letter of intention on universe technology between Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology and Frances Airbus Defence and Space, a cooperation programme in 2018 between Vietnams Justice Ministry and the Supreme Council of Notary of France , a the agreement on research and planning of maritime natural resources between Vietnams Academy of Science and Technology and the French Research Institute for Development. The others are a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in intellectual property between Vietnams Intellectual Property Department and Frances National Industrial Property Institute, an agreement between Vietnam Airlines and Air France and Air France Industry KLM Engineering and Maintenance of France, and anther MoU on purchasing 24 aircraft between Bamboo Airline, FLC of Vietnam and Frances Airbus. Vietnamplus The Trump administration's decision to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 census divided Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with Democrats saying the addition could skew the results and alter millions in government funding, while some Republicans praised it as a "commonsense" move. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced late Monday the next effort to count every resident in the country will include a question about citizenship status. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the survey every 10 years, with the next set for 2020. The deadline for finalizing the questions is Saturday. WATCH: Census Citizenship Question Ignites Controversy In a memo late Monday, Ross said he chose to include the query at the urging of the Department of Justice, which said it needed the citizenship data to better enforce a law protecting minority voting rights. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended the addition of the question, rejecting the notion that it might result in less federal aid to immigrant communities in the U.S. if immigrants are undercounted. Republicans on Capitol Hill welcomed the decision, which revives a practice that was abandoned in 1950, after being in place for more than 100 years, according to the Commerce Department. "It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide-ranging impacts it will have on U.S. policy. A question on citizenship is a reasonable, commonsense addition to the census," Senator Ted Cruz said in a statement Tuesday. But Democrats said the question would have the opposite effect discouraging undocumented immigrants and citizen family members from responding to the census, undermining the accuracy of the results. "We cannot accept an incomplete or unfair count in 2020 too much is at stake," Rep. Carolyn Maloney, co-chair of the Congressional Census Caucus, told VOA. "The census mandated by the [U.S.] Constitution affects the way that Federal and state funds are distributed and how district lines are drawn for both the city, state and Federal level." Maloney introduced the IDEA Act last week, a bill that if passed would prevent any untested design changes to the U.S. Census that could jeopardize public participation. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on Congress to pass Maloneys legislation in a statement criticizing the administrations decision. Census lawsuit California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the state would file a lawsuit challenging what he called an "illegal" move. "Innocuous at first blush, its effect would be truly insidious," he wrote in a joint op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle with the California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. "Actually, it is definitely not illegal to ask an illegal whether they are in the U.S. legally, but maybe the California AG will find himself an activist judge somewhere in the court system to agree with this ridiculous lawsuit," Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican from New York, tweeted in response to the California lawsuit. But not all Republicans agree with that assertion. Retiring Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said Tuesday, "I urge Administration to reconsider its decision to add citizenship question on #Census2020 because it will only serve to discourage folks from participating + wont help our federal agencies distribute resources according to the needs of our communities." Ross noted the concerns about lower response rates, including from the Census Bureau itself, but said his department's own review "found that limited empirical evidence exists about whether adding a citizenship question would decrease response rates materially." The Census Bureau plans to allow people to respond to the survey on a paper form, through the internet or by telephone. When people do not respond, teams attempt to follow up with those households. Ross noted more follow-ups may be needed if the response rate is lower, driving up the census cost. However, he added, "the need for accurate citizenship data" outweighs concerns about the potential for fewer responses. The new head of Venezuela's famed youth orchestra network says he will strive to uphold the program's legacy of musical excellence and social service as it faces one of the toughest periods in its history following the death of its charismatic founder. In an interview at the network's Caracas headquarters, incoming director Eduardo Mendez said the program must overcome a crippling economic crisis that has forced hundreds of musicians to leave the country along with the passing of Jose Antonio Abreu, who created the orchestra network known as El Sistema. "We will have to multiply into thousands of Abreus," Mendez said. Abreu, who died Saturday at age 78, was a consummate musician and astute politician who secured government support for El Sistema and turned it into one of Venezuela's showpiece programs. The network now runs around 300 community schools that have given children in poor neighborhoods an opportunity to study classical music. It has also produced a crop of world-renowned musicians, including Los Angeles Philharmonic Director Gustavo Dudamel. Mendez acknowledged that steering the orchestra network through Venezuela's social and economic crisis will not be an easy task. According to El Sistema's new director, 8 percent of the program's teachers have recently left the country to seek a better life abroad. The network's marquee Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra has lost 42 percent of its musicians over the past six months, though most of the vacancies have been filled with younger musicians. "It hasn't been easy to convince people to stay," Mendez said. "Many of these people are leaving in search of economic stability." Mendez, who worked alongside Abreu for 15 years, said his priority will be to strengthen musical initiation programs and explore new genres in the network's academies. According to El Sistema's own figures, 980,000 children and young musicians are currently participating in its programs throughout Venezuela. Political tensions But Mendez will also have to avoid conflicts between musicians and Venezuela's government, which has been accused by critics of using the music program as a propaganda tool. Tensions between El Sistema and Venezuelan officials surfaced last year when the network's star pupil, Gustavo Dudamel, criticized efforts by President Nicolas Maduro to install a constituent assembly dominated by government supporters that is seen by critics as another step toward dictatorship. Maduro asked Dudamel to "not attack those of us who have been crucial to the expansion of the [musical] movement." Shortly after the heated exchange, Venezuelan officials suspended two El Sistema tours through the United States and Asia, which were going to be conducted by Dudamel. No official explanation was given as to why the tours were canceled. Mendez said Dudamel will continue to be El Sistema's creative director. Dudamel is expected to lead several concerts in Venezuela in August and September, and might also participate in an exhibition on El Sistema at a United Nations summit in Vienna in May. When asked if he will allow his musicians to voice their political views, Mendez said he would not censure anyone. "Everyone is responsible for his actions, and is responsible for saying or doing what they think is right," Mendez said. FBI officials could have tried harder to unlock an iPhone as part of a terrorism investigation before launching an extraordinary court fight with Apple Inc. in an effort to force it to break open the device, the Justice Departments watchdog said Tuesday. The departments inspector general said it found no evidence the FBI was able to access data on the phone belonging to one of the gunmen in a 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, as then-FBI Director James Comey told Congress more than once. But communications failures among FBI officials delayed the search for a solution. The FBI unit tasked with breaking into mobile devices only sought outside help to unlock the phone the day before the Justice Department filed a court brief demanding Apples help, the inspector general found. The finding could hurt future Justice Department efforts to force technology companies to help the government break into encrypted phones and computers. The intense public debate surrounding the FBIs legal fight with Apple largely faded after federal authorities announced they were able to access the phone in the San Bernardino attack without the help of the technology giant. But Trump administration officials have indicated a renewed interest in legislation that would address the problem, with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray publicly discussing their frequent frustration with encrypted devices. Congress could be less inclined to act on the problem known as going dark if there is an indication it may not be necessary. Even after an outside vendor demonstrated it could successfully hack the phone, FBI officials disagreed over whether it should be used, in part because it would make the legal battle with Apple unnecessary. Some FBI officials thought they had found the precedent-setting case to convince Americans there should be no encryption that can't be defeated or accessed with a warrant. Amy Hess, who then oversaw the FBI's science and technology division, told the inspector generals office she was concerned that other officials did not seem to want to find a technical solution, or perhaps even knew of one, but remained silent in order to beat Apple in court. The inspector general found no one withheld knowledge of an existing FBI capability, but failed to pursue all avenues in search for a solution. An FBI unit chief knew that an outside vendor had almost 90 percent completed a technique that would have allowed it to break into the phone, the report said, even as the Justice Department insisted that forcing Apples help was the only option. Apple fought back, triggering a courtroom showdown that revived the debate over the balance of digital privacy rights and national security. Apple had argued that helping the FBI hack the iPhone would set a dangerous precedent, making all iPhone users vulnerable, and argued that Congress should take up the issue. Apple declined to comment Tuesday. The FBI did not immediately return calls, but said in a letter to the inspector general that it agreed it with the findings and recommendations for improved communication. The report says the FBI is adding a new section to address the going dark problem and boost coordination among units that work on computers and mobile devices. Law enforcement officials have long warned that encryption and other data-protection measures are making it more difficult for investigators to track criminals and dangerous extremists. Wray said late last year that agents have been unable to retrieve data from half the mobile devices nearly 7,000 phones, computers and tablets that they tried to access in less than a year. Yet Congress has shown little appetite for legislation that would force tech companies to give law enforcement easier access. The issue also troubled Wrays predecessor, Comey, who frequently spoke about the bureaus inability to access digital devices. But the Obama White House never publicly supported legislation that would have forced technology companies to give the FBI a back door to encrypted information, leaving Comeys hands tied to propose a specific legislative fix. They have walked out, marched and demanded action across America to stop gun violence. But it's far from certain that the young people behind the March for Our Lives movement will be a political force at the ballot box this fall. Republicans are skeptical. Democrats are hopeful. And outside groups that favor gun control aren't taking any chances. Organizations aligned with Democrats on gun control are spending tens of millions of dollars to ensure that young voters' passion and enthusiasm doesn't fade before the November midterm elections, when the Republican Party's control of Congress will be put to the test. "Other people look at those young people and think organizing them makes no sense because they don't vote," said Tom Steyer, the billionaire hedge-fund magnate-turned-liberal activist who has committed at least $31 million this year to what is believed to be the largest youth vote organizing effort in American history. "We really believe in this generation." Past voting patterns show how much work Steyer and others have ahead of them. Just 15 percent of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 20 cast ballots in the last midterm election. Still, the mobilization of young people following last month's shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school has raised the prospect of a shift that could reshape the American political landscape this fall and perhaps for much longer. Student leaders from Parkland have already succeeded in keeping the gun debate from quickly fading, as is often the case after mass shootings, though that hasn't resulted in any significant congressional action. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them in high school, participated in protest marches across the country Saturday. New waves of protests are already being planned for next month. Their efforts are being aided by powerful groups that favor stricter gun laws. Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg, expects to spend more money shaping the 2018 midterms than any other election and much of it on youth engagement, said chief operating officer Matt McTighe. The organization already spent more than $1 million to help student organizers participate in last weekend's marches. They're now focused on helping high school and college students nationwide organize their own Students Demand Action groups, a spinoff of the organization's Mom's Demand Action against gun violence chapters. Everytown also helped young people establish the nonprofit group that coordinated the weekend marches, while in some cases paying for nuts-and-bolts items like sound systems and stages. "They've got the energy. They've got the passion. They don't necessarily have the resources or the policy expertise," McTighe said. "We're going to be investing heavily in these students and making sure they engage in politics in every race and every single district across the country." 'Motivation is fleeting' Additionally, groups backed by Steyer, Bloomberg and former Rep. Gabby Giffords will launch nationwide voter drives on high school campuses in the coming weeks. The operation, according to Giffords' executive director Peter Ambler, will especially target "districts and states where new young voters can have the most impact." Giffords' group, like its allies, will also devote significant resources to sophisticated get-out-the-vote operations targeting young voters. "They're very powerful right now," Ambler said. "I'm very excited to see what they do with that power." Republican strategists suggest that the youth movement could prove particularly troubling for their candidates in America's suburbs, where dozens of vulnerable GOP House incumbents already face a wave of Democratic enthusiasm and skepticism from moderate Republicans dissatisfied with President Donald Trump's job performance. It's less clear whether a surge in youth turnout would sting Republican candidates in Senate races playing out in rural states like North Dakota and West Virginia, where a fight over gun control could motivate Trump's most passionate supporters as well. Republicans are skeptical that young voters, who typically favor Democratic candidates by large margins, will stay interested. "Motivation is fleeting," said Republican strategist Chris Wilson. While equally skeptical about the short-term impact, Republican pollster Frank Luntz warned his party that a mass migration of young voters to the Democratic Party could endanger GOP candidates for years to come. "There are a lot of dark clouds ahead for Republicans," Luntz said. "The impact of the youth vote isn't immediate, but it could well have the greatest impact of all." Young voters, with few exceptions, have struggled to maintain interest in politics over the last half century. Interest in Obama In 1972, when the voting age was first lowered to 18, nearly 56 percent of eligible 18- to 20-year-olds voted, according to an analysis by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. Participation has trended downward ever since, with one exception being President Barack Obama's first presidential election. But in the first midterm election of Obama's presidency, participation rates for 18- to-20-year-old voters regressed to just 18 percent. "This energy we're seeing right now is in March. The election is seven months away. It takes a lot to keep up this enthusiasm," said Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of the Tufts center. She suggested that interest groups and political campaigns could help motivate young people, as Obama did in 2008, but young voters are more likely to be influenced by people they encounter at home or school. It's also unclear whether issues alone, even one as powerful as gun violence, can lead to lasting political change. Kawashima-Ginsberg's center studied the impact of high-profile ballot issues that might appeal to young voters the legalization of marijuana and same-sex marriage in past elections, finding that such social issues alone typically had little impact. Steyer, for his part, is prepared to spend whatever it takes to ensure young voters don't get distracted. His $31 million pledge, he said, is simply "the floor" of what he's prepared to spend this year. "What we're trying to do is organize as well as possible to make sure that they get a chance to raise their voices," he said, "but also to make sure their votes are counted on Nov. 6." This content is expired! 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Steyer, 60, did not seem overly bothered Were making this up as we go along, for goodness sake, he said more than once and at another town hall later that night, the crowd would top a hundred. The diminutive Largo audience did not seem overly bothered, either: Before the program began, one attendee could be heard telling another: Im just glad to be here. It was either this or scream into my pillow some more. After The Post first reported on the allegations against Roy Moore, the team followed up with a story about a woman who approached Post reporters, falsely claiming to be another victim of Moore. Although she denied that she was working for an organization targeting journalists, reporters were able to link her to Project Veritas, an organization that targets the media and left-wing activist groups with hidden camera interviews. It speaks about the choices in life, and should be interesting for anyone who wants to express themselves but cannot because of what they have to do to survive, Ms. Audran told the Chicago Sun Times. And it is about the profound needs in life, which are material as well as spiritual. When you forget either one, you can feel that something big is missing. In a statement, the FBIs Washington Field Office said the bureau responded to multiple government facilities Monday for the reports of suspicious packages. The bureau said each package was collected for further analysis. The precise number of packages involved could not be learned. According to media accounts, the packages may have been received at as many as six sites. Most of the organizations canines come from shelters, along with a small number of purebreds donated by breeders. Those that pass temperament tests are schooled at the campus by professional civilian trainers and spend several months learning basic obedience and commands. The dogs that perform well the organization estimates their value by that point at $27,000 are then paired with veterans, who learn to handle their dogs from veterans who have completed the program. The other dogs are adopted out. His investigation found that the former attorney general, while in office, had significant shares in private companies doing business with the state. Mr. de Morais wrote that the attorney general obtained a title deed for three acres of land, in his private capacity, and planned to build a condo on it. Farmers on the land were evicted. Mr. de Morais reported that it was illegal for the attorney general to be doing such side business while in office. The whole process was tantamount to corruption, he says. When he asked for a response to 13 questions on the land issue, he got only silence from the attorney general. Theres a reason that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), liberal media outlets and others cheered the bill. They realized that Democrats got more of their priorities funded with minorities in both houses than Trump did with majorities. Its a laundry list of broken promises. The plan continues to fund Planned Parenthood, which receives $500 million in annual federal funding, breaking a decade-long Republican commitment to end federal aid to the nations largest abortion provider. The bill funds sanctuary cities but not the border wall. Worse, buried in the 2,232-page monstrosity is a not-so-subtle taunt directed at the president: an outright ban on construction of a border wall in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in the Rio Grande Valley. This is significant because thats where the presidents plan would begin construction of the wall. So feckless were Republicans that not only could they not muster the courage or self-interest to fund the wall, they voted for an outright ban on part of it and directly thumbed their nose at their own voters. The threatened punishment for sanctuary cities that show compassion for undocumented immigrants? Not in there. The money to hire 1,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents? Trump got enough for just 100, with the proviso that they all be administrative and support personnel working in offices, not in the field. The 20 percent increase in funding for detention centers that Trump asked for? Congress not only refused to authorize an extra penny but also went so far as to rebuke ICE for overspending its current detention budget. Weve always known that tech could be a good partner, Bramson said. Were hoping that by Cisco really stepping up and giving us this support, were going to see other great organizations in our valley step up. . . . No one agency, no one organization can really do it alone. First Mexico was supposed to pay for it, then U.S. taxpayers, and now our men and women in uniform? Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement to The Washington Post. This would be a blatant misuse of military funds and tied up in court for years. Secretary Mattis ought not bother and instead use the money to help our troops, rather than advance the presidents political fantasies. The report found that no one had withheld knowledge of an existing capability, but that CEAU did not pursue all possible avenues in a search for solutions. In fact it turned out that the Remote Operations Unit knew a company that was close to finding a hack for the phone. But the ROU chief had not been consulted and did not even know about the dilemma until Feb. 11, just a few days before the Justice Department sought a court order. Esther Pallisters voice is calm as she tells a 911 operator in New Mexico that her husband, Manitoba premier Brian Pallister, is missing. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Esther Pallisters voice is calm as she tells a 911 operator in New Mexico that her husband, Manitoba premier Brian Pallister, is missing. It takes Pallister several minutes to make the operator understand her location in the immense Gila National Forest, where she and her husband have been hiking. Each of them started at different ends of a wilderness trail, expecting to meet the other part way through the trek and then finish where the other began. Only, they never did meet, and at about 7 p.m. that evening at least an hour after her 63-year-old husband was to have shown up at their final rendezvous point Pallister is worried enough to call 911 on her cellphone. " ... Hes somewhere on the trail still and its dark and he doesnt have a flashlight," she tells the operator. (Its Nov. 13, 2017, and after dark the temperature has plunged to 8 C from 25 C earlier in the day.) In an eight-minute, 10-second call to 911, Esther Pallister is patient with the operator as she is forced to repeat her location several times. She also gives no hint that her husband is an important political figure in Canada. The Free Press obtained a copy of the recording from Grant County, N.M. police. "I started here at 11 oclock and I walked to the other end of the trail, where he started, and he came this way," Pallister says to the operator. "So we were each hiking the same trail but starting at different ends. And we were supposed to pass each other but we didnt. So I finished the trail... "Im back now where he should be finishing but hes not here." Although she does not let her frustration show when the 911 operator repeatedly fails, at first, to grasp her location, there is an urgency in her voice. Her cellphone battery is very low and she forgot to take the charger with her. "I am almost out of power on my phone, so if it dies this is where we are," she says at one point. "I dont know what to do if it dies." After getting the location straight, the operator asks Pallister for her name, her husbands name, a description of what he is wearing, whether he has sufficient water with him, whether he is wearing a backpack, if he has a cell phone, what kind of vehicle they are driving, and whether he has any medical issues. Pallister says the premier is wearing a charcoal grey long-sleeved shirt and a vest, which is "royal blue" on the front and black on the back. Asked whether her husband was wearing shorts or jeans, she says: "He took both. He had shorts and he had long pants, hiking pants." Brian Pallister -- as he later stated -- was not carrying a cell phone, his wife tells the operator. He wasnt lugging a backpack, although he did carry water in a fanny pack. He was likely out of water by the time she made the 911 call, she says. As for his physical condition, his wife pronounced him to be fit. "Hes in good shape," she says. At one point, Esther Pallister describes the Mogollon-Rain Creek Trail as poorly marked and maintained. "It was a hard trail to follow," she says. "Its not maintained very well." Eventually after nearly 10 minutes on the phone, she is instructed to stay put and told that officers are on their way. Police should arrive within an hour, the 911 operator assures her. "Thank you so much," she replies. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister was lost without a flashlight or cellphone in the New Mexico wilderness when his wife Esther had to call 911. An officer discovers Pallister on the trail that evening, but as the premier attempts to head towards the light from a flashlight pointed at a distance from him he becomes disoriented and tumbles over an embankment, suffering numerous injuries, including multiple breaks to his left arm. He would spend one night in hospital in Silver City, New Mexico. It would take four days for Manitobans to learn -- via a government statement and later a video shot at the Pallisters Winnipeg home and posted on the premiers Twitter account -- that Pallister had suffered serious injuries while on vacation in New Mexicos Gila Wilderness. Pallister didnt speak to reporters until eight days after the mishap, when during an emotional news conference a clearly shaken premier declared he was "so happy to be alive" and expressed his gratitude to those who found and tended to him in New Mexico. He called the ordeal "the worst night of my life." Asked last week how his arm was doing, the premier thanked a reporter for asking before providing an update. "Im doing physio just about every day. Ive missed two days in the last three-and-a-half weeks," he said. He termed the mobility of his fractured limb to be "not bad." "I can only lift about five pounds (with it), to be frank. Theres no strength yet," Pallister said, noting that he had to keep the arm in a sling for several months. Hes been using a broom handle to aid in various stretching exercises. He shows a reporter how far he can raise the battered arm -- about chest high -- before it becomes painful. "It still hurts," he said. That pain can become excruciating, though, when he is out in public and friends or acquaintances forget hes sporting a damaged wing. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I was watching the senior mens curling and this guy comes up(and gave him a friendly punch on the arm). "I just about needed a garbage can," he said. His doctors have told him hes got another four or five months of therapy ahead of him. Repeating an earlier pledge, Pallister vowed to return to the Mogollon-Rain Creek Trail one day to tend to some unfinished business. "Im going to kick that trail... for sure at some point," he said. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca A Winnipeg judge has described an accused man's behaviour as ugly and repugnant, but said he could not convict him of sexually assaulting a young woman who was on the run from Child and Family Services. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/3/2018 (1276 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg judge has described an accused man's behaviour as ugly and repugnant, but said he could not convict him of sexually assaulting a young woman who was on the run from Child and Family Services. Court of Queen's Bench Justice David Kroft acquitted Dean Wallace Edward Barker Tuesday on charges the 50-year-old sexually touched, had sex with and took explicit photos and videos of a teen who lived in his house as a way out of the child-welfare system. The allegations date to between 2005 to 2013, starting when the girl was 14 years old and Barker was 38. At the time, 14 was the legal age of consent in Canada; it was later raised to age 16. "Your conduct was totally inappropriate and repugnant. You should not be proud of it. You should feel ashamed. You should not repeat it. While you might feel relieved about your acquittal today, as you're entitled to do, you should not feel joyful today." Court of Queen's Bench Justice David Kroft Although Barker had photos and videos of the girl that his defence lawyer agreed amounted to child pornography, he was also found not guilty of making and possessing child pornography because, the judge decided, the girl had consented to the images and there was no evidence Barker had ever shared them with anyone. In his decision Tuesday, Kroft aquitted Barker of sexual exploitation, saying a conviction would have required proof that the girl was dependent on Barker, and a sexual-assault conviction required proof she did not consent to having sex with him. During Barker's trial in January, the 26-year-old woman testified she didn't want to have sex with him but didn't outwardly object because she needed somewhere to live and didn't want to go back to her CFS placement. She lived with Barker and his family starting from when she was 16 and testified she had previously slept over at his house. The judge decided the Crown hadn't proved beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a relationship of dependency between the teen and Barker, noting she testified she was able to come and go from the house as she pleased and that Barker didn't force her to do anything. Kroft said there wasn't enough evidence about the nature of Barker's relationship with the teen, nor was there evidence he had been coercive. "I also want to make very clear that despite submissions of defence counsel, I must not and do not infer consent on the part of the complainant from the absence of evidence of resistance or the lateness of her formal complaint to the police. That would be improper in my view. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. With these observations in mind, however, and after considering the totality of the evidence, I find the Crown has not established beyond a reasonable doubt the complainants lack of consent to sexual activity with Mr. Barker," Kroft said. Kroft warned Barker not to be too happy about his acquittal. "Mr. Barker, even though Ive found you not guilty, I must repeat that in my view, and likely in the view of many others in society, your conduct was totally inappropriate and repugnant. You should not be proud of it. You should feel ashamed. You should not repeat it. While you might feel relieved about your acquittal today, as youre entitled to do, you should not feel joyful today. Were the onus required for a criminal conviction lower, my conclusions might well have been very different and you could have been facing significant prison time," Kroft said. The teen was dodging CFS when she began staying with Barker and his family in a home outside the city. She testified in court about looking after a grow operation Barker had and said he contributed to her fentanyl addiction by supplying her with drugs and offering a cheaper price if she would have sex with him. She told police about Barker's behaviour in late 2013 after RCMP officers approached her. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Five British nationals have been released without criminal charges after a flight from Manchester, U.K., to Las Vegas was diverted to Winnipeg thanks to their unruly antics. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Five British nationals have been released without criminal charges after a flight from Manchester, U.K., to Las Vegas was diverted to Winnipeg thanks to their unruly antics. The men, who reportedly comprised a bachelor party, are now on their way back to the U.K., according to RCMP. The men are expected to arrive home Tuesday. They were arrested for "mischief and causing disturbance," but the decision was made not to press charges, an RCMP spokeswoman said. It remains unclear if British police will be waiting to welcome them back to the U.K. when they land. Thomas Cook Airlines flight 2924 landed at the James Richardson International Airport at 11:12 a.m. on Saturday, after five men were causing a disturbance on the flight. The unexpected stop resulted in a more than two-hour delay, during which the other passengers were not allowed off the plane. Cellphone videos taken by two passengers show a number of RCMP officers, with the help of Canadian Border Services Agency officials, coming onto the plane, handcuffing the men and escorting them away to the sounds of cheers from other passengers. While being led away, at least one of the handcuffed men can be seen turning to another passenger and swearing loudly at him. The men do not appear to resist in the video and look to be led away without incident. An RCMP spokeswoman confirmed no one was injured during the arrest. A Thomas Cook spokesman previously told the Free Press that he was unable to say whether alcohol was a motivating factor in the incident, but could confirm alcohol was served on the flight and also would have been available at the airport prior to departure. A Winnipeg Airport Authority (WAA) spokesman described the flight diversion as "very unusual," adding that the flight refueled and de-iced before continuing on to Las Vegas. The Nevada-bound passengers arrived at their destination two hours and forty five minutes late thanks to the incident. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "At first we were told this was a medical issue, but it turned out to be some unruly passengers. In these kinds of situations, we mobilize resources on our end, such as arranging to have a gate open, to have (emergency services) respond, to get the RCMP there," the spokesman said. "The role we play is as a co-ordinator. We're looking ahead at what does this aircraft need to get back on their way after the situation is dealt with." A 2017 investigation by BBC News found a 50 per cent increase in arrests of intoxicated passengers in U.K. airports and on U.K. flights between February 2016 and February 2017. In 2016, members of the U.K. aviation industry unveiled a voluntary code of conduct for dealing with "disruptive passengers". No word yet on how the men enjoyed their stay in Winnipeg. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca A planned expansion of a safe haven for Winnipeg youth is moving ahead in memory of Tina Fontaine. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A planned expansion of a safe haven for Winnipeg youth is moving ahead in memory of Tina Fontaine. Federal Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott is set to announce federal funding today to support Ndinawe Youth Resource Centre. The Selkirk Avenue facility runs an Indigenous youth shelter, where 15-year-old Tina spent some time before she went missing and was later found dead in the Red River nearly four years ago. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Melena Bittern holds a sign in support of her cousin Tina Fontaine. Tinas great-aunt, Thelma Favel, who raised Tina in Sagkeeng First Nation, told the Free Press Ndinawe staff approached her last month (after the conclusion of the court case for Tinas accused killer) with the idea of dedicating a project in Tinas honour. Favel said she fully supports a plan to devote more resources toward a 24-7 shelter for girls and boys who find themselves on Winnipeg streets with nowhere to go. "I told them what my dream was: to help other children," Favel said. "It makes me feel so warm inside, just to know that place will help other children and no other family has to go through what we went through when we found Tina theres a place for them to go to feel safe." Details of the federal funding and Ndinawe expansion project are expected to be released during Philpotts stop in Winnipeg, prior to the minister attending a child-welfare summit in the city. Tina spent some time at Ndinawes temporary youth shelter during the summer of 2014. Shed arrived in Winnipeg for a weeklong visit with her mother, Valentina Duck, but decided not to return home to Sagkeeng at the end of that week. Favel asked Child and Family Services for help, and Tina was brought into CFS care. Tina showed up at Ndinawe on July 23, 2014, and filled out an intake form for a bed there. Staff at the shelter reported her missing twice less than a month before her death. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The first time, Tina was reported missing after she missed curfew, but the report was cancelled hours later when she returned to the shelter on the afternoon of July 27. Ndinawe staff reported her missing a second time on July 30, and never saw her again. She was last seen leaving her CFS placement at a downtown hotel on Aug. 8. Her body was pulled from the Red River on Aug. 17. On Aug. 1, 2017, more than two weeks before she was found dead, Tinas bed at Ndinawe was given to another youth, and her social worker was informed she had been discharged from the shelter because she didnt return. Favel said she believed Tina would be "so happy" knowing other youth would have a safe space in her name. "I think shed be happy, because she always wanted to help. That was her dream job, was to become a CFS worker. This would just make her so happy, knowing that other kids will be safe," Favel said. "Even if its just one child to be saved, itll be all worth it." katie.may@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @thatkatiemay NDP Leader Wab Kinew demanded Monday that Premier Brian Pallister immediately call the standing committee on Crown corporations to examine the chaos at Manitoba Hydro. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. NDP Leader Wab Kinew demanded Monday that Premier Brian Pallister immediately call the standing committee on Crown corporations to examine the "chaos" at Manitoba Hydro. However, Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen fired right back that it was the New Democrats who pulled out of a planned all-party meeting with Hydros chief executive officer last September. The Tories are willing to try again, after the Public Utilities Board issues its decision on Hydros rate application, Cullen said, if "the NDP is able to bring their caucus together to a meeting." "Bottom line: you, as Manitobans, own this corporation, its one of the most valuable things you own" NDP Leader Wab Kinew Kinew said the Crown corporations committee has not met publicly with the Hydro board chairman nor the CEO since the early fall of 2016, and has not met at all since last June, when Manitoba Public Insurance appeared before the committee. "The standing committee on Crown corporations is the place where MLAs, and by extension the public, have oversight over Manitoba Hydro," Kinew told reporters. "Bottom line: you, as Manitobans, own this corporation, its one of the most valuable things you own. "This is a live issue." Cullen said the parties had agreed to hold a meeting of the public accounts last September with Hydro CEO Kelvin Shepherd, then-Crowns minister Ron Schuler and the deputy minister. The NDP backed out because it was going to be held two days after their leadership convention, Cullen said. "The NDP refused to attend the meeting and would not propose any new dates. Due to the inability to bring their own caucus together, this meeting was not rescheduled," Cullen said Monday. Kinew later retorted: "Clearly, they are desperate to distract attention away from Pallisters mismanagement." Nine of 10 Tory-appointed members of the Hydro board resigned March 21, citing Pallisters refusal to meet with them for more than a year over critical financial issues. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Pallister in turn said the board quit because that same morning hed ordered Hydro not to sign a $67.5-million agreement with the Manitoba Metis Federation, in which the MMF would agree not to oppose the $453-million Manitoba-Minnesota transmission line project. MMF president David Chartrand said he plans to hold a news conference today or Wednesday to outline legal action the federation will take against the province. Minnesota Power said Monday its confident the transmission line project will go ahead. "We were made aware of the events last week by our contacts at Manitoba Hydro. As a public utility, we understand the importance of having positive relationships with all our stakeholders. We have had a very lengthy and positive working relationship with Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro, and are confident that these recent events will be resolved with minimal impact on our plans and projects," Amy Rutledge, corporate communications manager with Minnesota Power, said from Duluth. A National Energy Board hearing on the transmission project is expected this spring, but has yet to be scheduled. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Before the bulldozers came, ahead of court battles and leg-high weeds, Winnipeggers bade a solemn, spirited goodbye to the tenants of Kapyong Barracks. This article was published 27/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Before the bulldozers came, ahead of court battles and leg-high weeds, Winnipeggers bade a solemn, spirited goodbye to the tenants of Kapyong Barracks. In June 2004, hundreds lined the city streets to salute the departing battalion of Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry, before they decamped to Shilo. The weekend included a sunset ceremony at The Forks, a blessing from local elders, and a parting military band performance at Kapyong, which 1,000 local people braved heavy rains to witness. The battalion held a historic march down Portage Avenue, lead by Lt.-Col. Mike Day. "The footprint our soldiers have in this community is not left in sand. It is carved in granite," he told a city councillor. The property at Kapyong Barracks, situated on the edge of Tuxedo at the corner of Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard, is worth millions. TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Since then, Kapyongs 160 acres have sat like an open scar on the citys face for almost 14 years. Ottawa and local Indigenous leaders insist theres a solution around the corner, but theyve said so for years. In multiple interviews, officials described challenges in developing the property, which will likely have sat empty for at least two decades before it starts to bear fruit. Even when it does, no one is sure what will be built there. In 2008, Treaty One First Nations sued Ottawa when it tried transferring the land directly to Crown corporations, sparking a drawn-out court battle that the Harper government abandoned in fall 2015. Since then, Treaty One officials have met with federal officials roughly once a month. Neither would say what happens in those negotiations. "While the divestment of surplus Crown lands can be a lengthy and complex process, the importance of consulting with First Nations and communities is an essential part of the divestment process," military spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande wrote in a recent email. A military official closely involved in the divestment said that aside from the court proceedings, the process around Kapyong fits the general time frame for transferring property away from the Department of National Defence. "A fairly normal and uncomplicated divestment would take the department between two and three years to complete," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to ongoing negotiations. The official stressed, though, that this time frame doesnt indicate that the negotiations would wrap up by fall 2018. He also claimed the court proceedings scuttled progress in the normal divestment process, which can be divided into two major parts. "Id have to say Canada is the holdup. But [] I really believe were not that far off" Long Plain First Nations Chief Dennis Meeches The first part starts with military officials looking for any defence uses for the property, then doing appraisals and assessments for land title, heritage and environmental concerns. The barracks have been barren since 2004. BORIS MINKEVICH/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The military had to remove some contaminated soil, but Lamirande said a thorough probe found no safety hazards or unexploded ordinances on the site. The second part would have the military ask other federal departments and First Nations if theyre interested in purchasing the site, and then provincial and municipal governments, in that order. In the rare case none expresses interest, the land is put up for public offering. Its between these two parts that Treaty One filed its court case, which largely brought the project back to the first step. The military left the buildings largely untouched during the legal dispute, and by its end almost all environmental assessments had to be redone. Some properties had fallen into a state of disrepair, including 18 housing units with hazardous materials, which met the wrecking ball in January. But the public tender for a demolition contract wasnt posted until last July almost two years since the court battle ended because it required new environmental assessments, and consultations with nearby River Heights and Tuxedo residents about mitigating the associated noise and debris. The demolitions should be done by late 2019, Lamirande said. The unnamed official hopes future transfers involve faster demolitions "so its not dragging on so long for the community." He was sympathetic to Winnipeggers who are baffled by a process that is so lengthy. "Im sure its frustrating for them, but there is a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes, that isnt obvious on the property." Dozens of military officials are involved in the project, from uniformed Winnipeg personnel to Ottawa lawyers and Indigenous-affairs specialists. More than 500 cadets bade farewell to Kapyong Barracks May 16, 2004. JEFF DE BOOY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Such officials have already helped develop former military bases in Ottawa, Calgary and British Columbia into innovative housing developments, in lockstep with local First Nations groups even before Treaty One started its court challenge. Its puzzling why, according to the federal court, Ottawa hadnt done adequate consultation in the case of Kapyong. "Weve probably learned something from every divestment that we do," the military official said. Its even more unclear what happens at the negotiating table. Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches, who speaks on behalf of the seven bands taking hold of Kapyong, says theyve already gone over how to divide the land. But its unclear whether he meant between Treaty One and various levels of government (such as to expand the road allowance on Kenaston Boulevard), or among the First Nations themselves. On Jan. 24, negotiators discussed the lands "purchase price," Meeches said. "Id have to say Canada is the hold-up. But [] I really believe were not that far off." On Monday, Meeches hinted there was progress when negotiators met last week, and that "there will be a joint statement coming out soon" once the military finalizes it. Meanwhile, the military official hinted the negotiations involve "discussions that go to other levels of government." Mayor Brian Bowman said the city isnt part of the talks, but wants to help the lands development when negotiations wrap up. "Weve been trying to get ahead of it as possible, to see how we can develop those lands to create economic growth in that area," he said. Energy Minister Jim Carr says hes receiving regular briefings on the talks from Canada Lands Company, the federal corporation that handles land sales, and has repeatedly said those negotiations are "going well." CLC declined multiple interviews, as they do not own the property. Three veterans formerly based at Kapyong Barracks take one last tour near the officer's mess Aug. 21, 2017. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES As for what will happen to the property, no one seems to know. The military says thats up to Treaty One. Meeches said Treaty One is focused on "opportunities for Indigenous people to grow there, and grow our economy." Last May, he told local media that the site would likely hold a gas station, casino, offices, a condominium and possibly some mixed-income housing. But in January, Meeches seemed to backtrack, stressing that those ideas were speculative. "Its just premature to narrow it down," he said, while floating the idea of an Anishinaabe war museum. He said the plan has always been for an "urban reserve." The existing Madison reserve near Polo Park includes a gas station, Yellowquill College and some local businesses. "We want to be sure that we proceed in a way that enhances the area, the quality of life for that area." Meeches also said it was "too early to tell" whether some buildings will stay on the site, or if theyll be razed entirely, which has happened with other bases. Carr has said that whatever is built "would be subject to the same zoning requirements, the same bylaws" as the rest of the city. His hope is that it will be entirely out of Ottawas hands by next falls election. Meeches said Kapyong will have multiple uses, and promised that Winnipeggers patience will pay off. "Were almost there, and it will bode well for not only Indigenous people but the City of Winnipeg, and the country. So theres a lot of opportunity there." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Winnipeg architect Brent Bellamy has followed the Kapyong saga for years. He said the sooner a vision is presented, the quicker the fears will dissolve. "Whats getting lost in this whole discussion is: What actually is it? Weve spent 10 years talking about who should develop it, and not enough time talking about what it should be. To me thats the most important thing," he said. "Its definitely a huge opportunity in the middle of our city." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca With files from Aldo Santin OTTAWA Downtown Winnipeg MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette says paying for Indigenous-language interpretation in the House of Commons could help bring languages such as Cree back from the brink of death. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Downtown Winnipeg MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette says paying for Indigenous-language interpretation in the House of Commons could help bring languages such as Cree back from the brink of death. "We have lost our languages; please help us," Ouellette told a parliamentary committee last Thursday. "We are nearing the end. This is it for Indigenous languages." He was testifying at hearings he had prompted, after addressing the floor of the Commons in Cree last May. Ouellette argued his rights to be understood by fellow parliamentarians were breached by not having live interpretation for MPs. The House Speaker suggested the procedure committee investigate the issue, which it started doing this month. Ouellette argued having Indigenous languages heard on television would provide a tool to keep them alive. He said it would help follow a call by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Ottawa to help revive some of the languages trampled by residential schools. "Languages must be used to be useful," Ouellette said. "Our modern Parliament has a role to play in helping Indigenous Peoples. "You can add to the scales of justice, ensuring that our Canadian languages, our Indigenous languages, do not become museum pieces relegated to the back of anthropological shelves." Fellow MPs on the committee appeared sympathetic to Ouellettes arguments, but noted they still have to examine the cost and feasibility of such a proposal. Tory MP Scott Reid, who has studied bilingualism in Canada, compared the move to ongoing efforts in Ireland to restore the Gaelic language. The committee suggested a slow start, such as allowing interpretation for the four most-spoken Indigenous languages in Canada for just the 15-minute "members statements" session, where MPs are given 60 seconds to weigh in on any issue. Ouellette supported that idea, as well as a proposal to give advance notice. "In this great structure, you have money," he said. "Im not asking for a billion dollars or even a million dollars. Im asking for a few translators to have the opportunity to come when its appropriate and when its needed to offer translation." In last years budget, the federal Liberals earmarked $90 million over three years to "preserve, protect and revitalize" Indigenous languages, though its unclear whether this funding could be used for parliamentary interpreters. Ouellette later said in an interview he was nervous presenting to the committee partially in Cree, because he only has a basic knowledge and his family discouraged him learning it. He hopes Parliament can restore pride in these languages. He said many Indigenous people falsely indicate on census forms they speak their grandparents tongue. "Theres a certain level of shame and pride in being able to say you speak that language." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. He also suggested the Manitoba legislature allowed debate in Cree when the province joined Confederation. Ouellette was one of three MPs who addressed the committee in Indigenous tongues. NDP MP Romeo Saganash, a Cree speaker from Quebec, argued being heard in his native tongue was a treaty right under the charter. "I dont want charity; I want my rights to be recognized and respected," Saganash said. Another NDP MP, Georgina Jolibois of northern Saskatchewan, told the committee in Dene that Indigenous languages have variants, but that people can generally understand each other despite long distances between communities. Today, the committee will hear from representatives of the territorial legislatures, some of which offer rotating availability for some Indigenous languages, and later from interpreters and foreign parliaments. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca What is happening in Manitoba today is not about the Metis, it is about the failings of Premier Brian Pallister. His inflated ego is at the heart of his dictatorial approach. He now seems to believe he is the sole decision-maker over Crown corporations in Manitoba specifically, Manitoba Hydro. Lets be clear. Crown corporations are owned by and operated for Manitobans and have been assured their independence. Pallister is now attempting to pierce the independence of Hydro. This apparent shift in policy and in action make it appear that he is trying to take personal control of all Crown relationships. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion What is happening in Manitoba today is not about the Metis, it is about the failings of Premier Brian Pallister. His inflated ego is at the heart of his dictatorial approach. He now seems to believe he is the sole decision-maker over Crown corporations in Manitoba specifically, Manitoba Hydro. Lets be clear. Crown corporations are owned by and operated for Manitobans and have been assured their independence. Pallister is now attempting to pierce the independence of Hydro. This apparent shift in policy and in action make it appear that he is trying to take personal control of all Crown relationships. The premiers biased judgment of the Metis as a "special interest group" is not only an ill-informed assumption, it is highly offensive and beneath any premier of Manitoba. The agreement made between the Manitoba Metis Federation and Manitoba Hydro is a legally binding contract. It overturns a colonial legacy and an often-challenging present and casts doubt on the hopeful future of change based on reconciliation, not litigation. It is exactly what the courts have urged the Crown to do. If the premier had taken the time to read this agreement in its entirety, he would know that it is in the best interest of all Manitobans. For example, if Manitoba Hydro does not meet the deadline as established by the contract with American utilities, there will be serious legal and financial consequences. This is the level of consideration that Manitobans deserve, and this is the due diligence we all owe our fellow Manitobans. The misguided action by the premier does not protect ratepayers and taxpayers; it creates further uncertainty for Manitoba Hydro. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The ostrich must pull its head out of the sand, and recognize what the Manitoba Hydro board, previous provincial governments, the government of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada have recognized Metis have rights and the MMF is the government of the Manitoba Metis Community. This is not about "persuasion"; its about the legal requirement to "accommodate," as defined and mandated by the Supreme Court. We need no lessons or advocacy from a premier who is a Metis rights denier. It is realistic to acknowledge that everything the government does passes through a filter. What was not clear before, but is much clearer to us now, is that the premier thinks that there is only one filter for Crown relations and that he believes it to be himself. The premier has made hefty accusations that the Metis have somehow coerced a Crown corporation into signing an agreement for $67 million over 50 years as "hush money" and these words are certainly bordering on libelous intent. This type of insinuation is unbecoming, as he continues to use wording such as persuasion, buying co-operation and pointing to one person as selling the rights of a nation now and into the future. At any rate, the premier is implying that I am selling rights that I have no right to sell. Again, if he had read the agreement eight months ago, he would have seen that Metis rights are not given away. There are thousands of these types of agreements and contracts that have been signed and are in the process of being signed, all across Canada. This is not a new way of doing business, but is a new pathway to reconciliation that has been tested and tried and is proving to be win-win for everyone. Dont let Pallisters musings fool you this was a decision agreed to by highly educated, professional, well-meaning participants who have the best interests of all Manitobans involved. Premier Brian Pallister is right about one thing: it is an honour and a sacred trust to lead Manitobans. However, his methods have proved to be dishonourable and misleading to our fellow citizens. We deserve better. We deserve more. David Chartrand is president of the Manitoba Metis Federation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Kirk Fierback has definitely got game. For the last five years, the Windsor Park resident has been part of an annual fundraiser called Extra Life, which unites thousands of gamers around the world who play games to support their local Childrens Miracle Network hospital. Since it was founded in 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $40-million for sick and injured children. Earlier this month, Fierback travelled to Orlando, Fla., to take part in Extra Life United a charity tournament that features both tabletop and video games, where competitors "unlock funds" for their chosen hospital. Fierback said the tournament featured four tabletop games Downforce, Machi Koro, Sagrada, and Splendor and four video games Rivals of Aether, Rocket League, Sonic Mania, and Tricky Towers. He signed up to compete in several of these games, and ended up finishing fifth in the tournament overall out of more than 120 gamers from across North America. In the end, Fierback raised $8,500 for the Childrens Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. The four-day event was also streamed live, so individuals could follow the action from home or on the move and also donate to the cause. Over the four days, viewers donated more than $40,000 to childrens hospitals across Canada and the U.S. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Fierback, 29, was a patient at the Childrens Hospital when he was in Grade 8, and he said Extra Life United is a great opportunity for him to support a cause thats important to him while indulging in one of his passions. "As a hobby, Ive been passionate about gaming since I could first hold a controller," said Fierback, who is an alumnus of Glenlawn Collegiate. When asked about his favourite video game, Fierback didnt hesitate for long before responding with the iconic Super Mario World. "It was the first game I played, and its my favourite console game of all-time. Theres nothing like the classics," he said, noting one of the best aspects of gaming is being able to challenge yourself. Fierback said competing in the tournament for which he paid his own way creates a mixture of adrenalin and excitement, which adds to the "awesome experience." Go online at www.extra-life.org for more information, or visit the Extra Life Winnipeg Guild on Facebook. Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. provides software-as-a-service core systems to the property and casualty insurance industry in North America. It offers Duck Creek Policy, a full lifecycle solution for the development of products and quoting, binding, and servicing of policies across various channels from agents and brokers to end-users; Duck Creek Billing that provides payment and invoicing capabilities, such as billing and collections, commission processing, disbursement management, and general ledger capabilities for insurance lines and bill types; and Duck Creek Claims that supports the entire claims lifecycle from first notice of loss through investigation, payments, negotiations, reporting, and closure. The company also provides Duck Creek Rating that allows carriers to develop new rates and models and deliver accurate quotes in real-time based on the complex rating algorithms; Duck Creek Insights, an insurance analytics solution that allows carriers to gather and analyze data from internal and external sources and facilitate rapid analysis and reporting on a single system; Duck Creek Digital Engagement that offer digital interactions between property and casualty insurers and their agents, brokers, and policyholders; and Duck Creek Distribution Management that automates sales channel activities for agents and brokers, including producer onboarding, compliance, and compensation management. In addition, it offers Duck Creek Reinsurance Management that automates critical financial and administrative functions; and Duck Creek Industry Content that provides pre-built content, including base business rules, product designs, rating algorithms, data capture screens, and workflows for insurance lines of business. The company serves insurance carriers and leaders. Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. 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Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. 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Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates integrated natural gas and natural gas liquids and other hydrocarbons (NGLs) pipeline and storage systems in the United States. It operates interstate natural gas and NGLs pipeline systems, and integrated storage facilities, which are located in the Gulf Coast region, Oklahoma, Arkansas and the Midwestern states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. The company's pipeline systems contain approximately 13,880 miles of interconnected natural gas pipelines, directly serving customers in 13 states and indirectly serving customers throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States through various interconnections with unaffiliated pipelines. It also owns and operates approximately 455 miles of NGLs pipelines serving customers in Louisiana and Texas. In addition, the company has underground storage caverns having aggregate capacity of approximately 205.0 billion cubic feet of working natural gas and 24.5 million barrels of NGLs. It serves producers of natural gas, local distribution companies, marketers, electric power generators, industrial users, and interstate and intrastate pipelines. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP is a subsidiary of Boardwalk Pipelines Holding Corp. 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. Dresser-Rand Group Inc. is a supplier of custom-engineered rotating equipment solutions for long-life, critical applications in the oil, gas, chemical, petrochemical, process, power generation, military and other industries around the world. The Company operates through two segments: New Units and Aftermarket Parts and Services. New Units segment offers standardized equipment, such as engines and single stage steam turbines. The Company's Aftermarket Parts and Services segment offer a range of aftermarket parts and services, including replacement parts, field service turnaround, service and repair, operation and maintenance contracts, rotor/spare parts storage, condition monitoring, controls retrofit, site/reliability audits, remote area energy solutions, equipment repair and re-rates, equipment installation, applied technology, long-term service agreements, special coatings/welding, product training, turnkey installation/project management and energy asset management. Read More Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Jenoptik AG engages in the optics and photonics business in Germany and internationally. The company operates through Light & Optics, Light & Production, and Light & Safety divisions. It offers automation solutions and application products, such as welding and fastening systems, material handling, transfer devices and systems, fixtures, end of arm tooling, and positioners; develops and manufactures metrology solutions comprising dimensional, form, in-process, optical, optical surface inspection, and roughness and contour metrology, as well as laser distance sensors for monitoring and optimizing production processes; microscope and thermographic camera, imaging modules, polymer-based camera modules, and digital imaging platforms; and diode and solid state lasers, laser distance meters, laser machines, and objective lenses and beam expanders for laser perforation, laser cutting, and laser welding applications. The company also provides light detection and ranging sensors; optical systems; optoelectronic systems and components. In addition, it offers traffic safety systems; digital camera technology with license plate recognition; lasers, radar, piezo sensors, and induction loop sensors; back-office software for evaluating traffic monitoring data; and stationary and mobile traffic monitoring. Further, the company provides civil security solutions, such as automatic number plate recognition (ANPR); and TraffiData analysis software, which provides analysis in real time on the incoming data. It serves semiconductor equipment, automotive and suppliers, mechanical engineering, medical technology, traffic, aviation, and security and defense technology companies. Jenoptik AG was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Jena, Germany. Read More Banco Comercial Portugues SA provides banking activities and financial services. Its operating segment consists of Retail Banking segment activity includes the Retail activity of Banco Comercial Portuguas in Portugal, operating as a distribution channel for products and services from other companies of the Group and the Foreign business segment. Corporate & Investment Banking segment includes corporate network in Portugal, specialized monitoring division, investment banking unit and activity of the Bank's international division. Private Banking and Asset Management segment comprises the private banking network in Portugal and subsidiary companies which are specialized in the asset management business. Non-core Business Portfolio segment includes the business granted for securities-backed landing, loans collateralized with other assets, subsidized mortgage loans, construction subcontractors. Foreign Business segment comprises the operations outside Portugal, in particular Poland, Mozambique, Angola, Cayman Isl Read More Back in 2009, during a break from teaching at a boarding school in India, Brad Hurvitz of San Diego, California, decided to embark on a trekking trip to Nepal. Little did he know then that his experiences on this trip would inspire him enough to establish Trek to Teach, an organization that brings positive change to the lives of hundreds of school students in the remote high-altitude villages of Nepal. Hurdles On The Way To Education In Nepal Nepal is a beautiful Himalayan country endowed with rich natural resources and an incredible biodiversity. It is home to the Mount Everest and seven other of the worlds eight-thousanders. Although these mountains serve as a popular adventure zone for adventurists from all corners of the globe, the same mountains are a hurdle on the way to education for numerous school-age children living in the countrys remote Himalayan villages. Nepal has an estimated literacy rate of only 64.7%, with a significant gap between male and female literacy rates. Over half of primary school students fail to enter secondary school and those that do often dropout before completing their education. Also, fewer girls attend secondary school than boys. Although education is more easily accessible in the urban centers of the country, the children in the remote villages are often deprived of modern educational facilities. Many of Nepals villages are located at extremely high altitudes where motorable roads do not reach. Few schools exist in such areas, and well-trained and qualified teaching staff are a rare find in such schools. Students often trek through the difficult mountain roads for hours to reach their schools in such areas. It was during his trekking trip that Mr. Hurvitz became acquainted with the issues experienced by the children in these remote villages of Nepal. To know more about his experiences in Nepal and the work done by Trek To Teach teachers, World Atlas spoke to Mr. Hurvitz. When asked about what inspired him to establish Trek to Teach, he recalled his first meeting with the children of these villages: Throughout the first couple days of my trek, I noticed students running past me, uphill, on the slippery stones in their rubber sandals. With my students in India on my mind during these moments, and surrounded by the exquisite natural beauty of Nepals Himalayan landscapes, I was inspired to learn more about these students and the education system they were immersed in. When I expressed this to my trekking guide, we were able to visit a school and speak to the headmaster. From this, I gained that the schools were in serious disrepair and even some of the textbooks used to teach English in these schools were both incorrect and irrelevant. I yearned to help these students and immediately started brainstorming ways to do so. An Innovative Initiative To Help The Schools In The Remote Nepalese Villages A Trek to Teach teacher and students bond in Nepal. Photo credit: Trek to Teach. Trek to Teach invites applications from interested individuals who wish to trek and teach in the Nepalese Himalayas. Once accepted, these individuals will need to pay for the cost of the program which depends on the duration of their stay with Trek to Teach. The minimum length of the program is about 10 weeks but the maximum period of stay can stretch as per the choice of the applicants. Although the primary focus is to teach English, the teachers can also teach other subjects or extra-curricular activities if permitted by the headmasters of the schools. Once in Nepal, a Trek to Teach teacher will be guided through the mesmerizing Himalayan landscapes to the village that will be their home for a while. Most of these villages lie on or in proximity to popular trekking routes with well-marked trails thriving with trekkers from different countries. Aside from the unique opportunity of interacting with inquisitive Nepalese students, the teachers will also get to experience authentic Nepalese hospitality, culture, and cuisine. For Mr. Hurvitz, starting Trek to Teach was full of exciting challenges. Speaking of them, he said: Our biggest challenges when starting the organization were finding the right team to help us in Nepal and finding our first teacher. Once we had the right Nepali staff members in place we knew that we would be able to thrive as an organization. The majority of our Nepali team has been with the organization since the beginning, all of whom are extremely passionate about our mission. We had several potential teachers take interest in what we were offering, but we understood that it takes a special person to spend ten weeks in a rural village in the Himalayas, alone, teaching and mentoring students who barely speak English. Once we found our first teacher, a connection through a friend of mine, we were thrilled. She had a fantastic experience, as did her students. World Atlas also managed to catch up with one of the teachers, Allie Cavallaro from the United States, who volunteered for Trek to Teach in the spring of 2016. The students were a joy, she said, they came to my guesthouse, excited, and walked me to class every morning. They picked me flowers and brought me treats. They laughed and did their best to explain things in English to me. In fact, students from other classes I wasn't even assigned to teach often asked me if I would speak English with them! She also mentions about the challenges she faced while working in a completely new environment and how, in the end, only fond memories remained. Working in a Nepalese environment was certainly difficult. I don't speak Nepali, so we had a few miscommunications, but everyone was so incredibly kind and welcoming that the language didn't matter so much. One time I went to school and no one was there! It turns out that the school was on holiday but they'd announced this to the staff in Nepali and I missed the memo! It felt surreal, like a dream. I just kept checking my watch, confused, but eventually, I figured out what happened and had a good laugh about it with the other teachers. She also mentioned that her experience in Nepal helped her grow as a person. When Mr. Hurvitz offered her to join the Trek to Teach team, she saw it as an opportunity to not only let her experiences live on but also as a way for her to enable others to enjoy a similarly life-changing experience. Today, Allie is part of the Trek to Teach team where she acts as the Program Director of the organization. Looking Into The Future Nepali schoolchildren in Tolka. Photo credit: Trek to Teach. Trek to Teach does more than just educate the children in Nepals remote schools. The organization also funds some of the infrastructure projects in the schools where they operate. Trek to Teach has built water fountains in the partnered schools, provided educational furniture and appliances like white boards, constructed a library and filled it with books, and is also currently working on similar projects in some of the schools. Mr. Hurvitz is happy about the progress of the organization and believes it is having a positive impact on the lives of the Nepalese schoolchildren. Speaking of some of the achievements of Trek to Teach, he said, While our organization is constantly working towards bettering the schools we work with, we are proud of the goals that we have achieved: increased test scores, higher levels of spoken English, number of teachers sent, and completed infrastructure projects. We have made a positive impact on thousands of students, which can be numerically shown through the increase of English test scores for more than 80% of the students. Additionally, and what you cannot see on paper, is the continued development of verbal skills and confidence of these students. Their ability to use English conversationally will significantly impact their lives moving forward as well as those of their family and village as spoken English means easier access to opportunities. Like every organization, Trek to Teach also has its own future goals which are closely associated with a growth in literacy rates in Nepals remote village schools. Emily Meyers, Executive Director of Trek to Teach, spoke of these goals on behalf of the organization. Trek to Teach has come a long way so far and no doubt it will continue to evolve. In the future, we want to expand to partner with more schools in the Annapurna Region and beyond, and send teachers to these schools at a higher frequency and in a more consistent manner.We hope that soon our teachers presence at our partner schools is seen as the norm, instead of something unique that happens every few months. Additionally, a goal of ours is to try and track our students success once they leave our partner schools. Seeking out and securing a clear path to higher education by working with local universities would help ensure that the middle schoolers that are in our classrooms today have support in place for when they reach adulthood. Finally, we plan on always being the same bunch of dreamers that we are now - just trying to spread knowledge and happiness to the far reaches of the world. ** Dr. Oishimaya Sen Nag is a freelance writer and editor from Kolkata, India. She loves to participate in wildlife conservation activities and to explore new places and cultures. Thousands of Arizona teachers demanding improved wages and conditions are expected to converge on the state Capitol in Phoenix tomorrow. Despite the efforts of the teacher unions to block the spread of strikes and protests after their betrayal of the nine-day strike in West Virginia, educators throughout the US and internationally are pressing ahead with their opposition to austerity and attacks on public education. Teachers in the Phoenix area will be holding what they call a teach-in in front of the Capitol building as teachers continue protests in other parts of the state. Arizona Educators United, the Facebook group teachers are using to organize, told local news station KTAR News, Were going to do what we do best, were going to teach. Teachers are scheduled to march on the Capitol at 4 p.m. to bring attention to unsustainable salaries. According to the Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the median pay for elementary teachers was $42,724 in 2016, ranking last in the country. The protest follows almost a month of activity by Arizona teachers, bolstered by the West Virginia strike, which temporarily broke free from the control of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), as well as rank-and-file agitation, primarily through social media, for an April 2 statewide strike in Oklahoma. On March 7, the #RedForEd movement began when teachers wore red to bring attention to the issues they face. The Arizona Education Association (AEA) has sought to hijack this movement and subordinate it to maneuvers with state Democrats and impotent appeals to pressure Republican Governor Doug Ducey. Earlier this month, about 300 teachers gathered outside KTAR News 92.3 FM to call for higher wages while Ducey was being interviewed inside. On March 21, teachers in the Pendergast Elementary District organized a sickout, largely outside of the control of the AEA and AFT state affiliate, causing nine schools to cancel classes for the day. Only three of the districts 12 schools had enough teachers to remain open as teachers descended on the state Capitol to protest. In Arizona, 24 percent of children live in high-poverty areas. The states per student spending is just over $4,000, one of the lowest in the country. A 2016 report by the US Department of Education found that Arizona spends $20,000 more annually on each inmate than it does on a student in its school system. From 1989-2013, spending for public education virtually remained flat while funding for prisons skyrocketed by 90 percent. My focus for this movement is my students. They don't have fully funded classrooms, highly qualified teachers are leaving them, their class sizes are too large, and they dont have resources, organizer Kara Nakamura said on Facebook. Many school districts have sought to make up for the teacher shortage by hiring largely inexperienced instructors from temporary labor and staffing agencies. According to the Arizona Republic, the Murphy Elementary School District in Phoenix sought to slash $2.2 million from its budget deficit by canceling contracts for temporary teachers leading to class sizes of 40 plus. Only 55 percent of long-term substitute teachers in the district had full teaching credentials in the 2016-17 school year. While Arizona teachers protest Wednesday, the Oklahoma Education Association and AFT affiliate are trying to stop a scheduled April 2 statewide strike by backing a Democratic-sponsored bill that would fund a wage increase for Oklahoma teachers through imposing a series of regressive consumption taxes on economically struggling working-class families. The multi-billion-dollar oil and gas industry, which has benefited from huge tax cuts granted by the states Republican governor, Mary Fallin, would see a minuscule tax increase, from 2 to 5 percent, solely on new oil and gas wells. The union-backed deal, which would raise wagesnear the bottom in the USby a one-time $6,000 instead of the $10,000 Oklahoma teachers are demanding does next to nothing to raise wages for school personnel and other public employees. It also does not address per pupil school funding, which has seen among the biggest cuts in the nation since the 2008 crash and led last year to 20 percent of the states districts reducing classes to four days a week. The bill passed the state House of Representatives last night, with the backing of 51 of 73 Republicans and all 28 Democrats, and was hailed as a step in the right direction by Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) President Alicia Priest. Rank-and-file teachers have largely responded to the proposal with contempt. On the Oklahoma Teachers United Facebook page, which has publicly criticized the OEA-backed deal, teachers expressed their determination to strike, along with public employees, on April 2. They also denounced the efforts by the unions to divide educators, with one teacher, Kasey Rachelle Holman, noting if the union shut down the strike on the basis of this rotten deal, The OEA will just have more angry members leaving!! Teacher Sala Wood said: That raise would be about, what...$375 a month after taxes? Thats not even the point...theres no mention of education funding. HUGE fail! Gail Thompson commented: Our kids are worth more. Stop making excuses and stand up for our future! We walk for them! Christen Nicole Rowland added: You tried to put a band-aid on a severed artery. Its not going to help schools get to where they need. This deal isnt going to shut us down, do more!! Others commented on the impact of chronic underfunding in the classroom. Irene Casey posted: I have students ask me daily- why cant we.... how many creative ways can a teacher tell her science students we dont have the supplies to do the same simple experiments I did in school... many years ago!!!! FUND OUR FUTURE!!! Robin Gillean Davis added: Fully fund our schools again! If your children were in our schools would you be okay with just a class set of old books instead of a book for each student? Would you be okay with stained carpet duct taped together? Would you be okay with buckets sitting under leaks when it rains? Would you be okay with choir, drama and other electives being eliminated? Of course, you would not be okay with any of this if it was your children. Our students are your constituents children and they are our states future and are worth so much more than you have been giving. Step up and show Oklahoma students and teachers that they are valued!! Cynthia Davis Jones said: Fund the schools and give teachers $10,000 raise. Give retirees a pay increase. Give state employees a raise. Stop making excuses. Restore the GPT [Gross Production Tax on the oil and gas industry] to 7% and do whatever it takes to generate enough income to bring our state to a TOP 5 state, while Terry Pace added, Yes 10-12% GPT seems by far the most fair and effective. The struggle of teachers, which is erupting worldwide with strikes in Brazil, France and northern Iraq over the last week alone, has thrown educators into a political clash with all the political parties, including the Democrats and Republicans in the US, which are slashing education and other essential services to pay for corporate tax cuts and war. In Arizona, Oklahoma, Kentucky and other states, teachers must take the conduct of the struggle out of the hands of the unions, which are inseparably tied to the two big-business parties and their austerity program. This means electing rank-and-file committees in the schools and communities to fight for the broadest mobilization of the working class to defend the right to high-quality public education, which will only be funded through a frontal assault on the entrenched wealth of the corporate and financial elite. The 60 Minutes broadcast on Sunday night, devoted to rehashing allegations of sexual impropriety and bullying against Donald Trump, marked a new level of degradation for the US political system. For nearly half an hour, an audience of 23 million people tuned in to a discussion of a brief sexual encounter between Trump and adult film star Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) in 2006. Trump was then a near-bankrupt real estate and casino mogul, best known for reinventing himself as a television personality. By her account, the proffer of a possible guest appearance on Celebrity Apprentice was the only attraction the 60-year-old Trump had for Daniels, then 27. Trump made promises, but as usual did not deliver. Earlier in the week, the same interviewer, Anderson Cooper, appearing on CNN instead of CBS, held an hour-long discussion with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy magazine centerfold, who described a year-long relationship with Trump, also in 2006, the year after his marriage to Melania Knauss. White House officials flatly denied both accounts, but Trump himself has been conspicuously and unusually silent, even on Twitter. His lawyers filed papers with a Los Angeles court, in advance of the 60 Minutes broadcast, claiming that Daniels was in violation of a confidentiality agreement and could be liable for damages of up to $20 million. Last Tuesday, a New York state judge turned down a motion by lawyers acting for Trump and refused to dismiss the lawsuit for defamation brought against him by Summer Zervos, a former contestant on another Trump reality show, The Apprentice. One of nearly a dozen women who made public charges of sexual harassment against Trump during the final weeks of the 2016 campaign, Zervos alone has sued Trump over his repeated public claims that the women were all liars. There is little doubt that the accounts by Zervos, McDougal and Daniels are substantially true. Trump has already demonstrated this by attempting to suppress their stories, either through legal action or by purchasing their silence, directly or indirectly. A Trump ally, David Pecker, owner of the National Enquirer tabloid, bought the rights to McDougals account of her relationship with Trump in 2016 for $150,000, in order not to publish it. Trumps personal attorney, Michael Cohen, admitted last month that he had paid $130,000 to Daniels in October 2016, only weeks before the election, to guarantee her silence. The bullying tactics of Cohen and other Trump allies add credibility to the claim by Daniels, during her 60 Minutes interview, that a thug, presumably sent by Cohen, had threatened her with violence in 2011, when she first sought to sell her story about Trump to the media. Daniels offered no evidence to back her claim, but her attorney Michael Avenatti dropped broad hints that Daniels would be able to corroborate much of her account. Cohen may himself face some legal jeopardy due to his public declaration that he paid Daniels out of his own funds. Given the proximity of the payment to the election, this could well be construed as a cash contribution to the Trump campaign far beyond the $3,500 legal limit for an individual. The Zervos suit, however, may present the most immediate legal threat, since the next step, after New York Supreme Court Justice Jennifer G. Schecter rejected Trumps claim that he has presidential immunity, is to take discovery. In other words, Trump and his closest aides could be required to give sworn depositions about his actions in relation to Zervos and many of the other women. Justice Schecter cited the precedent of the Paula Jones case against President Bill Clinton, in which the US Supreme Court held that a US president had no immunity from lawsuits over his private actions. While cloaked in democratic rhetoric at the time (No one is above the law), that decision actually gave a green light to an anti-democratic conspiracy by ultra-right forces who used the Jones lawsuit to trap Clinton into lying about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Unlike the 1998-1999 conflict over impeachment, there is no issue of democratic rights involved in the sexual allegations against Trump. Some of the same legal tactics (using sworn depositions to set a perjury trap), are being employed as weapons in an increasingly bitter conflict within the US ruling elite, in which both factions are equally reactionary. Trump is a representative of the underworld of real estate, casino gambling and reality television, elevated to the presidency because he had the good fortune to run against a deeply unpopular and reactionary shill for Wall Street and the military-intelligence agencies, Hillary Clinton. Under conditions of mounting discontent among working people with the Democratic Party, after eight years of the Obama administration, Trump was able to eke out a narrow victory in the Electoral College. The Democratic opposition to Trump is focused not on his vicious attacks on immigrants, his promotion of racist and neo-fascist elements, his deregulation of business and passage of the biggest tax cut for the wealthy in decades, or his increasingly violent and unhinged foreign policy pronouncements. The Democrats have sought to attack Trump from the right, particularly on the question of US-Russian relations, making use of the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 elections, headed by former FBI Director Robert Mueller. Trump has sought to mollify his critics within the US national security establishment with measures such as a more aggressive US intervention in Syria, the elevation of Gina Haspel, the CIAs chief torturer, to head the agency, and, most recently, the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats as part a NATO-wide campaign aimed at whipping up a war fever against Moscow. As Trump has made concessions on foreign policy, his opponents have shifted their ground, attacking his behavior towards women. They have sought to link these exposures with the broader #MeToo campaign, which is aimed at creating a witch-hunt atmosphere in Hollywood, the US political system, and more generally throughout American society, in which gender issues are brought forward to conceal and suppress more fundamental class questions. In both the Russia investigation and now the allegations of sexual misconduct, the Democrats have sought to hide their real political agenda, which is just as reactionary and dangerous as that of Trump and the Republicans. While Trump is pushing towards war with North Korea or Iran, and behind them China, the Democrats and their allies in the national security apparatus seek to maintain the focus on Russia that was developed during the second term of the Obama administration, particularly in Syria, Ukraine and Eastern Europe as a whole, posing the danger of a war between the worlds two main nuclear powers. Beyond the immediate foreign policy issues, the whipping up of sexual scandals is invariably a hallmark of reactionary politics. Such methods appeal to social backwardness, Puritanical prejudices or prurient interest. They contribute nothing to the political education of working people and youth, who must come to understand the fundamental class forces underlying all political phenomena. The political basis for a struggle against Trump is not in designating him as a sexual predator, but in understanding his class role as a front man for the American financial oligarchy, which treats the entire working class, including the female half, as objects of exploitation. On Monday evening, a court in Neumunster, in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein extended the arrest of Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan premier who was detained by German police on Sunday. Puigdemont was arrested after a pursuit by up to 20 Spanish secret service agents who had placed a tracking device on his car before he drove from Finland back, via Germany, to Belgium. Puigdemont has been living in exile since Octobers declaration of Catalan independence. He was arrested after Spain reactivated an international arrest warrant Friday charging him with sedition, rebellion and embezzlement for his role in the bid for independence. If extradited, he could face up to 30 years in prison. Puigdemonts lawyer Alonso-Cuevillas expects him to be detained in Germany for two to three months before a final decision is made. A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the extradition decision was up to the German courts but that the government expected it to go ahead, saying, Spain is a democracy where the rule of law exists. During the crisis in Catalonia, Germany has supported Spains effort to guarantee the law and constitutional order, the spokesperson added. In Brussels, a European Commission spokesman said that the issue was about judicial cooperation between two member states and that it had no comment to make. The Commissions position was that the Catalan crisis is a Spanish domestic issue. Demonstrations on Sunday against Puigdemonts arrest left nearly 100 injured in Barcelona. An attempt to reactivate Puigdemonts investiture as Catalan president has been made by the regions three separatist partiesPuigdemonts Together for Catalonia (JxCat), the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP). They have called for an emergency session of the Catalan regional parliament on Wednesday to adopt all the necessary means to guarantee that Puigdemont and two colleagues, Jordi Turull and Jordi Sanchez, can be considered as candidates for president of Catalonia again. Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria declared that only a president who is within the law and out of a cell would be acceptable. Late last week, in addition to four already incarcerated, the Spanish Supreme Court jailed another five separatist leaders and re-activated European Arrest Warrants for five more, including exiled Catalan government minister and academic Clara Ponsati. Ponsati is one of 25 Catalan leaders targeted by the Spanish state in its efforts to behead the movement seeking independence of Catalonia from Spain. In 2016, 61-year-old Ponsati was appointed the director of the School of Economics and Finance at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, relinquishing the post in July 2017 to take office in the Catalan regional assembly. The UKs Conservative government of Prime Minister Theresa May is cooperating fully with the EAW against Ponsati, who took refuge in Scotland after fleeing through Belgium, and resumed her previous position. More striking, however, is how the First Minister in the devolved Scottish Parliament and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, is washing her hands of the fate of Ponsati. Sturgeon this week insisted that her government and ministers have no powers to intervene and will not comment further at this stage. When Ponsati returned to St Andrews to resume her academic role, she told the BBC, Every democratic government that thinks of itself as such should condemn that there are political prisoners in Spain. Its a democratic outrage that in Western Europe we have people in prison for their political opinions. She warned the Independent, I dont see the situation improving if there is not more respect for what Catalans have decided with their vote. As long as we are under the threat of having hostages being used to blackmail political decisions, it is going to be very difficult to move on. Ponsatis lawyer, Aamer Anwar, currently the rector of Glasgow University, told the BBC, My instructions are that this is a political persecutiona systematic attempt to criminalise the desire for independence. Anwar continued, We believe that if she is sent back to Spain then she will suffer inhumane and degrading treatment and that the independence of the judiciary in Spain cannot be guaranteed. St Andrews Universitys Principal, Sally Mapstone, also defended Ponsati, stating, In the current circumstances, we believe there are legitimate arguments that Clara is being targeted for standing up for her political beliefs. Ponsatis fate is generating considerable popular outrage and a number of demonstrations are being held over the next few days in Edinburgh and St Andrews. However, Sturgeon made clear that while she opposed the arrest and imprisonment of independence supporting politicians, she had no intention of taking any steps in defence of the exiled academic. Hiding behind UK law, she said, Under the Extradition Act 2003, Scottish Ministers have no role in the determination of European Arrest Warrants. Our police, prosecution service and courts are independent and are legally obliged under this UK legislation to fulfill their responsibilities. Scottish Ministers have no powers to intervene in this process. The legal process includes the right of any individual subject to proceedings under the 2003 Act to oppose their extradition in the courts and it is vital that the integrity of this process is protected, she continued. For that reason the Scottish Government will not comment further at this stage. This is a fraud. The SNP could mobilise considerable resources and influence to cause the Spanish and British governments as much embarrassment as possible. But the SNPs much vaunted fraternal solidarity with their fellow separatists counts for nothing when this threatens the orientation to the European Union that lies at the heart of their perspective of securing an independent capitalist Scotland. This demands that the SNP does nothing to alienate major European powers, including Spain, Italy and Belgium, who are concerned with the development of separatist movements in their own countries. After the independence declaration last year, Catalan ministers were locked up, stripped, faced with spurious charges with rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, but the SNP restricted itself to encouraging a process of dialogue and emphasised that it had pursued its demand for independence within a legal political framework. The SNP has also distinguished itself in recent weeks by its uncritical embrace of the British governments anti-Russian provocations. The SNP, a long-standing NATO supporter, has endorsed the May governments assault on press freedom targeting Russias state-funded RT TV channel. It attacked its own former leader, Alex Salmond, who started his own show on RT in November. Sturgeon and the SNP went further over the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England. With no evidence whatsoever having been presented, Sturgeon declared, It is very clear that Russia cannot be permitted to unlawfully kill or attempt to kill people on the streets of the UK with impunity. The SNPs leader in the House of Commons, Ian Blackford, insisted that it must be made clear to the Russian authorities that the UK will not tolerate activities which infringe international law On this matter, I commit my party to working constructively with the government. Blackfords comments were seized on by Tory MPs to attack Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for expressing reservations over blaming Russia. Thats how you do it, they yelled. Significant public opposition has developed to the so-called foreign interference bills that the Liberal-National Coalition government is seeking to push through parliament with the opposition Labor Partys in-principle agreement. Two parliamentary committee reports on the bills are due for release within the next fortnight, clearing the way for the government to try to get the legislation passed in the May budget session of parliament. The bills are directed explicitly against a supposed Chinese conspiracy to gain control over Australian political, economic and social life. Introducing the legislation last December, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull claimed that the Chinese Communist Party has been working to covertly interfere with our media, our universities and even the decisions of elected representatives right here in this building. The bills contain far-reaching attacks on fundamental democratic rights, particularly targeting international political activity. They introduce unprecedented criminal offences, carrying up to 20 years imprisonment, for simply undertaking political campaigns in partnership with an overseas organisation, or for receiving or circulating information deemed harmful to Australian capitalisms security or economic interests. In addition, individuals or organisations engaged in any political campaigning, including environmental groups, parties and charities, would be banned from receiving overseas donations. If working for or, potentially working with, overseas groups or organisations, they would have to register under an intrusive Foreign Influence Transparency Schemea new form of political surveillance. As the WSWS has documented in detail, the measures are driven by US-led preparations for economic and military warfare against China, which the Pentagons latest National Defense Strategy openly brands a strategic threat to US global pre-eminence. The draconian criminal offences and registration regimes will be used, above all, to suppress and outlaw anti-war opposition. The two most recent expressions of opposition to the bills are a parliamentary submission signed by 31 scholars of China-related studies, and an open letter to parliamentarians issued by more than 200 charities and political groups. The submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security by Concerned Scholars of China and the Chinese Diaspora condemns the threat to intellectual freedom and the stigmatisation of Australias more than 1.2 million residents and students of Chinese descent. We are alarmed that the new legislation would criminalise the simple act of receiving information deemed harmful to the national interest, let alone discussing it in public, the submission states. While exemptions have been proposed for journalists, this does nothing to assuage our concern that the freedom of scholars to fulfil their public function will be threatened by these laws. The signatories point to the lack of evidence produced by the government, or any of the media commentary, that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is seeking to take over Australia, allegedly assisted by pro-Beijing academics. We strongly reject any claim that the community of Australian experts on China, to which we belong, has been intimidated or bought off by pro-PRC interests, the submission states. We situate ourselves in a strong Australian tradition of critical engagement with the Chinese political system, and it is precisely our expertise on China that leads us to be sceptical of key claims of this discourse. We see no evidence, for example, that China is intent on exporting its political system to Australia, or that its actions aim at compromising our sovereignty. The academics say Chinese-linked individuals and organisations are being singled out for conducting activities comparable to those conducted by many others, among them our allies. As is well known, the US exerts extensive economic, political and military-intelligence influence in Australia, including via university institutes. We are witnessing the creation of a racialised narrative of a vast official Chinese conspiracy, the submission states. In the eyes of some, the objective of this conspiracy is no less than to reduce Australia to the status of a tribute state or vassal. The discourse is couched in such a way as to encourage suspicion and stigmatisation of Chinese Australians in general. The alarmist tone of this discourse impinges directly on our ability to deal with questions involving China in the calm and reasoned way they require. Already it is dissuading Chinese Australians from contributing to public debate for fear of being associated with such a conspiracy. The 31 signatories include David Brophy, a senior history lecturer at the University of Sydney, Stephen Fitzgerald, who was Australias first ambassador to the PRC, and Wanning Sun, a media and communications professor at the University of Technology, Sydney. A somewhat different orientation is advanced by the open letter to members of parliament issued by a range of environmental, religious, cultural, indigenous, immigrant, trade union and charity organisations. While objecting to the serious threat to democratic rights, it argues that the bills miss their stated mark of stopping foreign interference. The letter states: The stated intention of the bill is to stop foreign interference in the Australian electoral process and on national security. But it has quickly become apparent to charities, community groups and other not-for-profits that the Bills propose grave and far-reaching changes that extend well beyond their publicly stated purposes. If enacted, the proposed legislation will tear at the fabric of our democracy, unpicking the freedoms that have made our national conversation so rich The changes will stop charities, community organisations and not for profits from speaking out about issues that are of great importance to the Australian community. Sponsored by Hands Off Our Charities alliance, the letter mainly focuses on one of the bills, the Electoral Funding and Disclosure Bill, on which parliaments Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is due to report on March 28. That committee has received over 200 submissions raising concerns about the vast implications of the bill, which bans all organisations that conduct political campaigns from receiving overseas funds, and may require them to register under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme. Avoiding any challenge to the main, anti-democratic thrust of the foreign interference provisions, the open letter asks the government and politicians to redraft the bill to eliminate its harmful aspects. There is no doubt that the bills amount to a direct assault on freedom of speech and association. One scenario cited at a recent parliamentary committee hearing involved members of like-minded political parties from Britain and Australia meeting to agree on pursuing common party platforms. According to a written answer provided by the Attorney-Generals Department, that could constitute illegal collaboration with a foreign principal. Such provisions are integral to the core thrust of the bills, which seek to demonise Chinese people and could be used to jail Chinese residents and government opponents under conditions of mounting war preparations by the US and its closest allies, such as Australia, against China. A much-publicised new book by Greens member and academic, Clive Hamilton, typifies the tone of the government-media campaign. Provocatively titled, Silent Invasion, Chinas Influence in Australia, it insists that a US-led war against China is the only way to stop Australia from becoming a tribute state of the resurgent Middle Kingdom. The author also recommends: Australian government to push through anti-democratic foreign interference bills [17 March 2018] Australia: Silent invasion book advocates war against China [8 March 2018] The coordinated mass expulsion of Russian diplomats announced Monday by Washington, 14 European Union countries, Ukraine and Canada over allegations of Moscows responsibility for the March 4 poisoning of former Russian spy and British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury marks a major escalation of the political and military threats against Russia, the worlds second major nuclear power. It was reported Tuesday morning that the Australian government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was joining in this operation, preparing to expel two Russian diplomats that it claimed were undeclared intelligence officers. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson boasted that the actions of the various governments stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our shared security. What he meant was that the Western retaliation against Moscow surpassed anything carried out during the most tense periods of the Cold War against the former Soviet Union. This dangerous and provocative campaign, orchestrated by the military and intelligence agencies in the US and the UK, has been mounted based on wholly unfounded accusations. No more evidence has been presented to back up the latest diplomatic expulsions than the unsubstantiated statement made two weeks ago by British Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Minister Johnson that Russia was highly likely to have been behind what has been described as a nerve agent attack on the former double agent. The British government has claimed that the nerve agent used in the attack on Skripal and his daughter was of a type (Novichok) that had once been manufactured in the Soviet Union. British authorities, however, have refused to provide Moscow with any sample of the alleged agent, as required by the rules set by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), or to the UN Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The of a type description means that the substance used could have been manufactured virtually anywhere. Indeed, even while it expelled three Russian diplomats in solidarity with London and NATO, the government of the Czech Republic ordered its intelligence service to conduct an investigation to determine whether the nerve agent could have been manufactured in that country. The majority of the diplomatic expulsions were carried out by the Trump administration, with 60 Russian diplomats and their families48 from Moscows embassy in Washington and 12 from the Russian mission to the United Nationsordered to leave the country within one week. In addition, Washington ordered the shutdown of the Russian consulate in the city of Seattle, Washington. This move was justified on the trumped-up pretext that it was too close to a US submarine base and Boeing aircraft plants, thereby supposedly representing some sort of military threat. Asserting Russias use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom as fact, a statement issued by the White House Monday described this alleged act as the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world. Among these destabilizing activities is Moscows backing for the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, where Russia has provided air support for government forces in overrunning one of the last major strongholds of the Islamist rebels in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta, signaling a major reversal for the seven-year-old US-backed war for regime change. Last week, the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, charged that Russia was providing aid and arms to the Taliban, allegations that Moscow described as absolutely baseless and nonsense. The reality is that, from the Middle East to Eastern Europe to South and Central Asia, Russias continued existence represents an obstacle to US imperialisms drive to assert its global hegemony by military means. This is why Washington has jumped onto the bandwagon over the issue of the alleged attempted assassination of Skripal and his daughter and joined with London in pressuring the other European powers to fall into line. London began the expulsions, ordering 23 Russian diplomats to leave the country. Moscow retaliated by expelling 23 British diplomats. The expulsions ordered by the other European powers Monday, however, were of a largely token character, with Germany and France each ordering four Russian diplomats to leave, the same number targeted by Canada. The exception was the virulently anti-Russian government of Ukraine, which expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Despite the expressions of solidarity and unity against the alleged Russian crime, there are deep divisions within the NATO alliance over relations with Moscow. Germany has forged closer trade ties with Russia, particularly in relation to Russian natural gas and crude oil, with Berlins backing for the Nord Stream II pipeline that would double gas supplies from Russia to Germany. The Skripal affair is being utilized by Washington and London to counter the moves by Paris and Berlin toward the development of an independent European military alliance, counterposed to the US-dominated NATO. Despite the formal statements of solidarity with the UK, divisions within both Germany and France over the hardline stance against Russia remain deep. Moscow, meanwhile, has threatened to carry out tit-for-tat countermeasures against every country expelling its diplomatic personnel. We express a decisive protest over the decision taken by a number of EU and NATO countries to expel Russian diplomats. There will be a mirror-like response. We will work it out in the coming days and give our response with regard to each country We consider this step as unfriendly and not serving the tasks and interests of establishing the causes and finding the perpetrators of the incident that took place on March 4 in Salisbury, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Russias ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, told the media Monday, What the USA is doing today is destroying what little remains of Russian-American relations. All responsibility for the consequences of the destruction of Russian-American relations rests with the USA. He added that there is not a single piece of evidence of the Russian Federations interference in the investigation of the case as such, or of Russias involvement in the tragedy that took place in Salisbury. Britains Defense Minister Gavin Williamson, who recently responded to Moscows denials of the UKs charges by telling the media that Russia should go away and shut up, delivered a provocative speech Monday in Estonia, where British troops are deployed as part of NATOs buildup on Russias border. The worlds patience is rather wearing thin with President Putin and his actions, he said. Meanwhile, in Washington, leading Democrats responded to the latest anti-Russian measures taken by the Trump administration by denouncing the US president for not going far enough in terms of provocations against Moscow. Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called the expulsion of the Russian diplomats a welcome demonstration of Western unity and solidarity and said he hoped that in the future we will see more joint efforts to push back against Russian aggression. Engel added, however, that the US action only underscored the administrations weak response to Russias ongoing attack right here in the United States, referring to the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. Speaking for decisive layers within the CIA and other US military and intelligence agencies, the opposition of Democrats like Engel to Trump is rooted principally in differences over US imperialist strategy. They are pushing for a military confrontation with Russia, sooner rather than later. The WSWS is posting a series of reports this week from the March 24 demonstrations against school violence. This report is from demonstrations that took place in California. Tens of thousands of students and young people took part in more than 70 March for Our Lives demonstrations in California on Saturday. More than 55,000 people attended in the protest in Los Angeles, Americas second largest city, according to official tallies. One hundred and twenty miles to the south, around 10,000 people marched in San Diego. Thousands more demonstrated in the northern cities of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. The mobilizations behind the protests were broad. Demonstrations took place in every major city and in many small towns as well. Weed, California, population 2,967, hosted an event in a local park. Demonstrations also took place in Weaverville (population 3,600), Truckee (13,864) and Tehachapi (12,495). The large turnout in the most populous US state reflects a political shift, as a new generation of millions of young people are being thrust into politics for the first time. The demonstrators were motivated by opposition to war, poverty, inequality, police violence, and other malignant features of American social life. Students at the rally, many born after the 9/11 terror attacks and the beginning of the War on Terror, responded particularly strongly when campaigners for the International Youth and Students for Social Equalitythe youth wing of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP)explained the connection between mass shootings in the United States and the endless glorification of militarism and war. Los Angeles At the march in Los Angeles Wide layers of high school and college students attended the rally in Los Angeles. In addition, there was a large presence of older people, many of whom participated in the antiwar marches from the 60s and 70s. The crowd was extremely diverse, reflecting the population of the city itself, with white, black, Latino, and Asian demonstrators participating. CJ and his family CJ attended the Los Angeles march with his family. Kids shouldnt be worrying about guns. Its a shame that we have to do this. When asked about war, he said I think thats part of it. Were constantly talking about war, about going to war. We cover war. Its in video games. Its prevalent When the governments saying we need to go to war, we need to do this, we need to do that, it trickles down. Kelly Miranda also attended the march. Our kids have to go to school in fear. Just the other day, my sisters school was on lockdown for LAUSD. Every single parent was freaking out because they thought that there was a shooter in the school. Parents were crying, parents were upset, we feared for the kids inside. It wasnt anything big, but that was the first thing that came to our mind. Its really upsetting. Schools should be safe. You shouldnt be at work thinking about whats going on with my kids, wondering if theyve been shot. Depression and anxiety rates have gone up and its really affecting everybody. Its partly a mental health issue to that we should recognize. We should be funding that. It should be free. Celeste Banetten Celeste Banetten spoke to IYSSE campaigners at the march. The NRA has too much control. Our government representatives no longer represent the people. And thats not just the case with the NRA. Celeste pointed to feelings of alienation and social estrangement among young people as a factor behind mass shootings. These shootings happen because students are becoming radicalized as well. What they say about terrorists, that theyre becoming radicalized online because they dont feel like anyone understands themthe Islamic terroristswere doing the same thing to everybody. Northern California In the Bay Area, IYSSE members took part in the demonstrations in San Jose and Oakland. Theres [the possibility of] war with Iran, theres more problems at home that the government should be focusing on than war abroad, two high school students who attended the San Jose demonstration told the IYSSE. Gun violence is a symptom of the rest of things that are happening in society, [including] tremendous inequality, another demonstrator in San Jose said. Students from San Jose, California Nate, who attended the demonstration in Oakland, drew the connection between mass shootings and American imperialism. Weve got the United States which is the biggest arms dealer in the world, and making profits from it and dominating the planet ... and this can be turned around by people who want to build a new society. It will only come about with this kind of action, with masses of students and workers in the streets, demanding change because the politicians are all bought and paid for by the rich. Nate I grew up during the Vietnam War and theres been wars ever since then, Nate continued. [Americas] entire economy is predominantly built on war. The economics of capitalism and imperialism is what it is. Profit making is what drives everything, so we need a new system where profit is no longer a consideration ... I hope this movement continues and draws in much more of the working class. Once the workers come out and start striking and demonstrating, then theres huge power. What our president is trying to do right now, which seems to be to pick wars with other countries, is really disturbing, Chris told the IYSSE in Oakland. I think that its time that the working class come together and build a movement. There is plenty of money in this country ... if it is done fairly, and right now, its all set up to help the rich. Chris David Moore, the Socialist Equality Partys candidate for US Senate in California, spoke to a crowd of students at the rally. Dont appeal to the Democrats, because theyre in the pockets of the banks, Moore warned students. Instead, Moore called on students to [turn] to the working class. Teachers in West Virginia went on strike and defied their union, they defied the Democratic Party, and the whole point of it is our fight is an international fight. You and I have more in common with workers in Mexico, China and Europe, than we do with Bill Gates, Donald Trump, or Barack Obama. David Moore addresses a crowd in Oakland Down with the billionaires, up with the working class! We need to organize and unite. Moore ended with an appeal for young people to join the IYSSE and SEP and support the partys campaign in the June elections. San Diego The march in San Diego, California Dahlia, Maddy, Tom and Nicole are all students at Del Norte High School in San Diego who helped organize a walkout at their school last Wednesday to protest gun violence. They were angered by the response of their schools administration to the Parkland, Florida shooting, which was to add more security cameras. They said they want to create a space for students to voice their opinions not just on gun violence, but climate change, mental health, and other social issues at their school. Dahlia, Maddy, Tom and Nicole Kaylani is 11 years old and attended the march in San Diego with her mother. Kaylani expressed anxiety about life in her school after Parkland. Now we have more cameras and police at my school. Its scary, Kaylani explained. Nawal and Nasri are students in San Diego. Everyone was talking about [the march] after the Parkland shooting, they said. Everyone wanted to join in the walkout and attend the march. We wrote letters to our administrators and our teachers supported us. Were here asking why hasnt there been any change? The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) mobilized campaign teams throughout the United States on Saturday to participate and campaign in the March for Our Lives rallies. IYSSE campaigners were present in a significant number of the more than 800 demonstrations held throughout the United States, from the larger protests in Washington, D.C. and other major cities such as New York City and Los Angeles, to protests in smaller cities in upstate New York and Michigan. IYSSE campaigners were also present at demonstrations throughout the American South. Below is a selection of interviews with demonstrators throughout the country: New York City Between 150,000 and 200,000 people demonstrated at the march in New York City. Aside from the main demonstration in Washington, D.C., this was by far the largest protest in the country on Saturday. Briana, a high school student from Queens, felt compelled to march and search for political solutions. I dont usually put my mind into politics like that, I try to keep a positive mindset, but after all this happened thats when I started getting more into it. The days are just getting worse and worse, and a lot of our generation are very open-minded, so if we could just keep it up and keep protesting, we could be the next generation that changes everything. I just want to be peaceful, I dont want to go to school worried that something could happen to me, and I dont want other people to be worried either. Schools supposed to be somewhere you think about your future, I dont want to think about whats going to happen if am I going to die today? As dramatic as it sounds, thats the society we live in today. Another high school student told the IYSSE: Trillions of dollars are spent on war. Put it in social programs, pay teachers. We need to try to stop the massive amounts of pointless deaths we have in this country. Syracuse, New York The IYSSE campaign spoke with and leafleted participants at the March For Our Lives rally in Syracuse, in upstate New York, where it was reported that over 1,000 marchers attended. The WSWS spoke with a group of Syracuse University students. Nadia gave her impressions of the event and its significance in the light of ongoing US wars, I feel like a lot of the wars were done for political reasons, more so for the making money and capitalism, its for profit. Ann Arbor, Michigan A crowd of around 4,000 people demonstrated at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ethan is a high school student from Deerfield who traveled to Ann Arbor for the demonstration. Ethan sought to connect mass shootings to the mental health crisis and the cuts to social spending in the United States. A person who is on a disability checka mental disability checkis getting about $8,000 a year from the government ... which is nowhere near enough to keep them up. So I feel like if we just increase our mental disability checks for certain individuals that are severely mentally ill, then it would be a lot more productive. Sarah and Eric also spoke to IYSSE campaigners. I support getting money out of politics, Eric said, which is one of the driving factors for why we dont have good gun control. These issues are interconnected. I know that poverty is a huge issue in these factors as well. Something like 60 percent of Americans couldnt afford to fly across the country to see their own family members funeral. Half of working Americans dont earn $30,000 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also denounced the impact of nonstop imperialist war. Weve had whole generations that have been experiencing war and have this violence, Sarah said. We should be putting the money back here into health care, education, and infrastructure so we dont have lead in our water everywhere. One of the big push-backs we hear when we talk about single-payer healthcarepeople say, Well, how are we going to pay for it? Eric said. But I dont hear those same people asking how were going to pay for two illegal, criminal wars of aggression that are sixteen, seventeen years in the making. We really need to re-prioritize. Were the wealthiest nation on the planet where three people have more wealth than half the country. [Such a nation] can actually afford to provide for its own citizens... Sarah added: The two party system is a joke because theyre both working for the same people, and theyre both controlled by money. But people cant afford a $400 emergency, and dont have $1000 in savings. Just about everyone that I know and that I work with is in that category. So Im here to demand action. Boston Students and their supporters marched from Bostons Roxbury neighborhood to the Boston Common Saturday, culminating in a rally in the afternoon of an estimated 50,000 people. Teachers and students spoke from the platform on gun violence in the schools and on the citys streets. MIT students Emile, Karina and Van came to the Boston march. Emile said, Personally, gun violence is something that hits very close to home, especially considering I come from Chicagoa lot of gang violence, gun violence, things like that. Thats pretty much why Im here. Id like to see something done about gun violence, gun control, things like that. Van said, One of the reasons Im here is because Stoneman Douglas, where the recent shooting took place, is very near to where I live in Florida, and I wanted to show my support. Audrey, Raquel, Sam and Caroline, from the Massachusetts South Shore, attended the march in Boston. Raquel, from Norwell, said, I personally think that the school shootings and police violence in the streets are two different things. But we have to do something to stop it all. Video games, and the violence in them, are also a factor in promoting violence. Asked what she thought about the recent passage of the budget containing $700 billion for the military, she said, If they spent that money on people who need it, we wouldnt have any poor. Nashville, Tennessee Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 people attended a march in Nashville, the capital and largest city of the southern state of Tennessee. Maggie, 26, works in the construction industry. She caught a bus before 8 a.m. to come to the Nashville protest, which was held downtown in front of the Metro Nashville Courthouse. I think that we need to let legislators know how we feel about guns rights and there needs to be some kind of reform or there has to be at least there needs to be a big discussion. Just being part of this march and supporting the students who have really organized this ... to show them that we support them as well. Two students, Khai and Veronica, said they came to march out of concern for their younger siblings. I have a little brother and a little sister who are in school and if anything were to happen to them I would be devastated, Khai said. This has to end. People everywhere cannot keep going through this. Nobody should have to see their kids die. I also have a youngster sister in grade school and I would be devastated if anything happened to her, Veronica said. Also, I dont want to be afraid to have children in the future and put them in school, and it would be something I think about every daythey go to school wondering if something could possibility happen. I definitely see this branching out. We are just finding a voice for this movement, Khai said. This is something that has been happening for a long time and...I think people will actually hear us now. I also think that this will expand to the Dream-defenders (DACA supporters) and groups like that that have focused on these issues for a long time, Veronica added. I hope this movement begins to encompass all that and grows and spreads and get a little bit stronger. I think people are becoming more aware of issues they didnt know about so this is kind of like a starting point. Besides Nashville, there were marches elsewhere in Tennessee in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis. Left Alliance leader K. P. Sharma Oli was appointed Nepals new prime minister in February, almost three months after the organisation won the December elections and amidst deepening social problems and intensifying geopolitical rivalry between the US and India on one hand and China on the other. The Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), which is headed by Oli, and the Communist Party of Nepal Maoist Centre (Maoist Centre), led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, established the Left Alliance in October 2017. In the 275-member parliament the CPN-UML won 121 seats and the Maoist Centre 53. The countrys traditional conservative bourgeois party, the National Congress of Nepal (NCP), has only 63 seats. The devastating defeat of the former NCP-led government was a result of mass opposition to the ongoing poverty and social deprivation throughout Nepal. The CPN-UML and Maoist Center, which have ruled the country in rotation over the past decade, however, are equally responsible for the plight of workers and the poor. Oli is currently attempting to win the support of several minor parties, which would give the Left Alliance a two-thirds parliamentary majority and the power to amend the countrys constitution. The Sanghya Samakbodi Forum, which has 16 seats, and the Rastriya Janata Party with 17, have declared their support. Both formations are based on the Madhesi people from the Nepals southern Terai region. On March 11, Prime Minister Oli won a confidence vote endorsed by 208 MPs in the parliament and two days later party nominee Bidya Devi Bhandari was overwhelmingly re-elected Nepal president ensuring the speedy approval of future decisions by the government. Oli has also secured wide-ranging power related to foreign policy, national security and finances and will appoint a host of think-tanks to advise him. According to the Kathmandu Post, the prime ministers office will direct, control and conduct Nepals governance system. The Left Alliance and Oli are acutely sensitive to the destabilising effects of geopolitical rivalry between major powers, who are all vying for influence in Nepal, and fearful of mass opposition to its economic policies. According to a recent International Labour Organisation report, 20 to 35 percent of Nepali workers are living on less than $US3.10, or about 320 Nepal rupees per day, with deepgoing poverty in rural areas. The World Bank predicts that Nepals growth rate will only be around 3 percent on average from 2017 to 2030. The CPN-UML and Maoist Centre have shared cabinet posts in the new government and prior to the elections said they would merge the two parties under the name of Communist Party of Nepal. The two were bitter rivals in the past and it is entirely unclear how the unification process will occur. The CPN-UML and Maoist Centre claim that they are preparing a basis for communist-oriented socialism by enhancing nationalism, democracy, social justice, and social transformation. The guiding principles of the new party, they have said, will be Marxism-Leninism and the adoption of a multi-party democratic system. This bogus and pompous phraseology is another attempt to hoodwink Nepals working people, who face extreme poverty, social inequality and the suppression of democratic rights. Both parties, which have their origin in Stalinism and are the antithesis of Marxism and socialist internationalism, speak for Nepals bourgeois establishment and the interests of international capitalism. During the election, New Delhi covertly backed the pro-Indian NCP, regarding Oli and the Left Alliance as pro-Chinese. After the ballots were counted, the Indian ruling elite calculated that it was necessary to re-forge relations with the Left Alliance and prevent a further tilt towards China. During his swearing in, Prime Minister Oli declared: We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All thats fine and well increase connectivity even further, but we cant forget that we have two neighbors We dont want to depend on one country or have one option. Oli has indicated that his government will review the 1950 Indo-Nepal peace and friendship treaty, which was mainly used to maintain New Delhis influence on Nepal economically, politically and militarily. India, however, will aggressively oppose any move to review the decades-long agreement. Oli also said that he would move to end the long-established practice of Nepali soldiers serving in Indias armed forces. India was hostile towards the government Oli formed in November 2015 and which developed close ties with Beijing. New Delhi backed ethnic Madhesi agitation for more political power in the Terai region and imposed a five-month fuel blockade starting in September 2015. New Delhi also manipulated support from the Nepal Maoists and, with NPC support, toppled the Oli government in July 2016. Oli turned to China during that crisis, signing several agreements with Beijing, including for emergency fuel supplies. China also promised to build the $US2.5 billion dollar Budhi Gandaki hydropower station. During his brief rule as prime ministerfrom mid-2017 to February 2018pro-Indian PNC Prime Minister Sher Bahdur Dueba cancelled the hydro project. Oli, however, recently told the South China Morning Post that his government will restart the project. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken over the phone with Oli three times since the elections and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj travelled to Kathmandu in early February to meet with Oli and other political leaders. Modi is also expected to visit the country soon. The Modi government, with the strategic backing of United States, is aggressively pursuing its geopolitical interests and seeking to undermine Beijings relations in South Asia and the Indian Ocean. Over the past year there has been a military standoff between India and China over the Doklam Plateau in the Himalayas. For its part, Beijing has announced that Xi Jinping will visit Nepal in the coming months. Soon after Left Alliances election victory, Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the Communist Party of Chinas international department visited Kathmandu to congratulate Oli. He said that Nepals strategic significance had increased and that Beijing was ready to provide every assistance. On February 26, Global Times columnist Cheng Xizhong wrote, Oli has sent an important signal to the global community that the new Nepali government will strive to free the country from Indias control to enhance its independent status and develop ties with China to shake off backwardness. China has decided to complete and extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Kathmandu by 2020 as part of its One Belt, One Road policy. Its completion will further reduce Nepals infrastructure dependence on India. Last month Nepal joined with Chinas Internet service, ending Indias monopoly on cyber connectivity in the country. Oli has declared that his aim is to promote peace, stability and development throughout Nepal. The reality is that Nepali workers and peasants will face increasing attacks on their living and social conditions and be dragged into the intensifying geopolitical storm between India and US and China. A fire Sunday in the industrial Siberian city of Kemerovo has taken the lives of at least 64 people, many of them children. Dozens were wounded, and dozens are still missing. The fire broke out at 4 p.m. in the afternoon and was not extinguished for over 12 hours. The horrific catastrophe is set to fuel social tensions in Russia as the shopping mall, which disregarded basic fire safety regulations, is owned by the billionaire Denis Shtengelov. The fire broke out on March 25 on the fourth floor of the shopping mall Winter Cherry, near a movie theatre where dozens of children were watching the film Sherlock Gnomes. The fire spread rapidly, and heavily toxic smoke filled the building. The firemen arrived late, and it took them hours before they could reach the fourth floor. The fire was localised only after 10 hours, and smaller fires in the building were still raging on Monday (for drone footage of the blaze, click here). The shopping mall was a popular destination for children. Among those who perished on Sunday was reportedly an entire school class and their teacher, who travelled there from a nearby town. The building of the shopping mall has been all but destroyed, and firemen have been risking their lives entering it to search for victims. As of this writing, only 17 victims have been identified. Many bodies were so mutilated that they are unidentifiable without the aid of DNA tests. Several bodies still lie under the debris. Russian media reports on Sunday indicated that over 150 people might have been killed or injured, and that official figures likely understate the magnitude of the disaster. The fourth floor of the shopping mall also included a small petting zoo; all 200 animals died in the blaze. The fire was not an accident. The Russian liberal newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that basic fire regulations had been violated in the crassest manner, making it only a question of time before such a disaster occurred. Fire signals did not work. The Russian investigative committee reported on Monday that, when the fire alarm reached him, a guard at the shopping mall had turned it off, for reasons that remain unclear. Workers at the shopping mall had to personally inform the people inside the building about the fire. Fire exits, to the extent that they even existed, were blocked. According to the father of three victims of the fire, the children in the movie theatre were unable to exit at all and burned alive. In scenes reminiscent of the Grenfell fire in London last summer, people jumped out of the windows in order to escape the fire and toxic smoke. It was also reported that the Winter Cherry had not been examined for its fire regulations by the authorities for years. A planned inspection in 2016 was cancelled after the mall was reclassified as a small business, excempting it from fire inspections. Reporters on the spot described terrible scenes of desperate parents waiting for hours for news about their children. A reporter for the liberal magazine Meduza spoke to Alexander and Olga Lillevyali, whose three daughters, 11-year-old twins and a 5-year-old, were burned alive in the movie theatre. Alexander described how he had tried to get to his daughters in the theatre after one of them called him in despair after the blaze had started: As I was running up the stairs, somebody handed me a wet rag, and I used it to cover my nose. When I reached the fourth floor, I broke a window to send the draft upwards. Then I collapsed. I started crawling, but I realised at this point that Id lost all strength. Id inhaled so much carbon monoxide that I was about to faint. My daughter kept calling me and calling me. I just shouted into the phone that she needed to try to get out of the theatre, but there was nothing I could do. In front of me, it was already flames. According to Meduza, the police and officials would not provide reports before 10 p.m. Sunday nighti.e., six hours after the beginning of the fire. One woman told the reporter, While the fire burned, we stood outside for six hours, and nobody came out to talk to us even once. At about 5:30 [p.m.], the police cordoned off the shopping centre. The officers were pushy. We ran across the street, back and forth, while the Cherry burned. They didnt let us come near, and they didnt explain anything. There were plumes of smoke above the building, our children were burning, and we just watched. Olga Lillevyali said: My husband and I tried to stop one of the police officers at the school, to ask him what to expect, but he waved us away rudely. They didnt care. Finally, my husband and I couldnt take it anymore, and we started yelling, Seredyuk [the mayor], get out here! Wed heard on the news that he was somewhere there at the school. Think about it: we learned this from the news! He didnt even have the guts to come out and face us. By about 9:30 [p.m.], my husband grabbed a police officer by the shirt and started to scream, Show yourself! Will you tell us how many children died? What should we expect? Where can we get information? Local residents volunteered to donate blood just 90 minutes after the fire started, well before there was an official call for blood donations. When Mayor Ilya Seredyuk and Lieutenant Governor Vladimir Chernov addressed the parents waiting at a nearby school for the first time at 11 p.m., surrounded by bodyguards, they were greeted by an angry crowd, demanding regular updates on the situationbut to no avail. The anger at the official response and the disastrous death toll in this horrific tragedy are fully justified. Like the Grenfell Tower fire in London, the fire at Kemerovo was not an accident but a social crime, the result of capitalist restoration and decades of systematic underfunding of infrastructure. The investigation committee has started investigating four individuals, and local authorities have announced tightening fire regulations. However, there is little reason to believe that anything will change. Russia has seen many such mass fires over the past decades. In 2003, a fire in a student dorm of Moscow University took the lives of 44 people, injuring 156; a fire in a nursing home in Krasnodar in 2007 killed 64 people; a fire in a nightclub in Perm in 2009 killed 154; and, in 2015, a fire at a mall in Kazan killed 19 people, and injured 61. Smaller fires are a constant occurrence in Russia, as are deadly accidents at workplaces (see: Russia: Siberian shoe factory fire kills 10 workers). After decades of cutting social spending, Russia, the largest country on earth and home to more than 140 million people, has fewer fire departments than the many-times-smaller Poland, where only 40 million live. Fire regulations are disregarded systematically and on a mass scale by both businesses and the authorities. This is part of a deliberate class policy and an expression of the criminal and callous indifference of the oligarchy and the state apparatus towards the lives of ordinary people. The Kemerovo fire is a particularly stark expression of the social relations underlying these catastrophes. Kemerovo, a city of half a million people, is located in the major coal mining region of the Kuznetsk Basin. In many ways, it is symbolic of the horrific industrial decline, rising unemployment and poverty, and the devastation of the social infrastructure that characterised capitalist restoration and the past two decades in Russia. It is still home to many industrial facilities and a large, but very impoverished, working class population. In 2015, it was named the poorest town in Siberia with 56 percent counted as low-income." Meanwhile, the Winter Cherry is part of a subsidiary of the KDV group, which is owned by the oligarch Denis Shtengelov and ranks among Russias 100 biggest private companies. In 2017, Bloomberg reported that Denis Shtengelovs personal wealth exceeded $1 billion. He lives with his wife and three children in Australia, where they are enjoying a life in luxury. A typical representative of the Russian oligarchy, Shtengelov started his business activities in the mid-1990s, while whole industrial cities like Kemerovo and his native Tomsk were plunged into poverty. He managed to massively expand his business during the recession in 2008-2009, by buying off rival companies. Between 2012 and 2016, the profit of the KDV group rose from 32.6 billion rubles (about $570 million) a year to 95.3 billion rubles ($1.67 billion). The company has particularly benefitted from a growing demand for cheap candy as prices for cacao rose amid the devaluation of the ruble due to the Western sanctions and the recession of 2014-2016. As of 2017, the KDV group runs 11 producing plants and dozens of logistical centres and employs over 16,000 people. In a move that indicated Shtengelovs fear of exploding social tensions, the billionaire has cynically promised to account for all medical and psychological costs for survivors and relatives of the victims and pay every family 3 million rubles (around $52,500)a tiny fraction of his own wealth and the annual profits of his company. There is no question that Shtengelov and the criminal oligarchy that he represents are fully responsible for the deaths of the dozens of working class people and children who perished on Sunday in the most painful way. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Its been weeks since 3-year-old Lydia Cravens broke out in severe hives and blisters after using a childrens toy makeup kit the family says they bought at a local Family Dollar store. Lydia was admitted into an Illinois hospital earlier this month after developing painful blisters on her face, which the family says they believe was caused by the makeup kit. Her parents, Tony and Kylie, both 36, tell PEOPLE that a doctor determined that the allergic reaction was a result of the makeup. My heart is heavy. This has been horrible, Kylie, of Georgetown, Illinois, tells PEOPLE. When she first began reacting, she had severe swelling of the eyes and face. She was very uncomfortable. The only thing we are worried about is Lydia and her getting better right now. Nothing else is important. In a statement, Family Dollar spokesperson Randy Guiler tells PEOPLE: We have not heard from the family directly but are aware of the media reports and are pleased to hear that Lydia is recovering from her allergic reaction. In 2016, we purchased a suppliers product matching the photo in social media. In accordance with our procedures, our suppliers product had been independently tested for toxic chemicals. Upon being made aware of this incident, we re-confirmed that test results showed that no toxic chemicals were found in these make-up kits. We have received no other complaints or claims of allergic reactions related to this product. The couple first spoke out about the incident in a now-viral Facebook post, writing that within just 24 hours of using the makeup, Lydias eyes became swollen and blistered shut. The parents added that Lydia suffered a rash all over her body and was unable to eat due to blistering and her cracked lips. We never imagined after spending the day applying to her eyes and lips that our worst nightmare would come true, the parents wrote in the post, noting that they thought the makeup was harmless and non-toxic. Story continues In shots of Lydia in her hospital bed, the little girl is shown with a red, swollen face and dark marks around her mouth and eyes. However, over the past several days, her health has been improving. And the family has shared a smiling photo of Lydia suffering light redness and just a few hives on her face. Want to keep up on the latest from PEOPLE? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our best stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox. Kylie says shes relieved to see her little girl in good spirits again though Lydia still regularly meets with a doctor as a result of the allergic reaction. Its so hard to put into words, the mom of five tells PEOPLE. Lydia is my everything. Every day my heart is filled with more joy, more strength. Lydia is ready to get back to being a regular kid, without all the meds, itching, [and] oatmeal baths, her mom says. My baby is not 100 percent at this point. She is improving every day and we are grateful and we pray that she continues to improve, Kylie adds. She is just ready to get back to being Lydia. During the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., Emma Gonzalez gave a heart-wrenching speech. She stood in silence, tears streaming down her face, for roughly six minutes and 20 seconds, the time it took Nikolas Cruz to kill 17 people and injure more than a dozen others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., last month. Gonzalez was highly praised for her bravery and poise during the rally on Saturday. By Sunday, however, the teenager was the subject of internet hate stemming from a viral image on Twitter. The clip shows Gonzalez, surrounded by three classmates, ripping apart what appears to be a copy of the U.S. Constitution. This led to angry, degrading responses from the far right on social media. The image, shared thousands of times on social media, was fake. The real image was taken from Teen Vogues Twitter during its recent cover shoot with Parkland survivors. Gonzalez is seen ripping apart a shooting target, not the Constitution. Unfortunately, this isnt the first or only cyberattack the Parkland students have faced since speaking out in favor of gun control. Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior David Hogg dispelled rumors from the far right that he was a crisis actor being paid to push an anti-gun message. In addition to lies spread on social media, the students are also facing slander and threats. March for Our Lives organizer and Parkland student Cameron Kasky deactivated his Facebook account after receiving death threats from what he called NRA cultists. The attacks on the students have been frequent and have spread quickly through social media, even after the storylines were proven false. After the altered image of Gonzalez was dismissed as a fake, many people reacted to the lie, defending the high school student. Chrissy Teigen summed up the internet attacks perfectly, with one word: exhausting. Teigens tweet generated hundreds of responses, mostly in favor of the models opinion of fake news. Gonzalez did not respond to the altered image. This past weekend, hundreds of thousands of people around the US, and the rest of the world, marched in solidarity with the survivors of the recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. The marchers demanded that the US government enact gun control measures, and it felt like a watershed moment for that movement. Many musicians took By Tom Breihan This past weekend, hundreds of thousands of people around the US, and the rest of the world, marched in solidarity with the survivors of the recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. The marchers demanded that the US government enact gun control measures, and it felt like a watershed moment for that movement. Many musicians took part, too, including Ariana Grande and Paul McCartney. But one musician took the opposite stance, calling the marchers disgusting vile abusers of the dead. That musician, of course, was Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes. Back in 2015, Hughes and the rest of his band survived a terrorist attack on their show at the Paris venue Bataclan. 89 people were killed. This resulted in an enormous outpouring of love and support for Eagles Of Death Metal, and if Hughes has been actively trying to end that, hes been doing a great job. Hughes has blamed French gun control laws for the massacre. Hes suggested that venue security were in on it. He and his band were thrown out of the big Bataclan reopening. And now hes posted an unhinged rant about the teenage protesters on Instagram. Hughes posted an image of a crude anti-gun control cartoon. And as the caption, he wrote this: Obviously.The best thing to do to combat chronic abusers and disregarders of the law(like the law against Murder) is to..pass another Law!..Genius!!! but before we pass this law were going to denigrate the memory and curse ourselves by exploiting the death of 16 of our fellow students for a few Facebook likes and some media attention.and look how well civil rights abuses as it concerns firearms helped to protect me and my friends in Paris!!!!! This almost sounds like the plan of like a kid maybe like a high school student.!. Oh wait thats right. The Whitney Houston song about letting the children lead the way wasnt actually had operating paradigm for life..And when the truth dont line up with your bullshit narrative just hold your breath and stamp your feet and refused to except it. then take multiple days off of school playing hooky at the expense of 16 of your classmates blood.!. it might be funny if it wasnt so pathetic and disgustingAs the survivor of a mass shooting I can tell you from first-hand experience that all of you protesting and taking days off from school insult the memory of those who were killed and abuse and insult me and every other lover of liberty by your every action..Long Live RocknRoll.. and may everyone of these disgusting vile abusers of the dead live as long as possible so they can have the maximum amount of time to endure their shame.and be Cursed. Story continues Heres the Instagram post in question: Killer Mike got a ton of criticism this past weekend for giving a video interview to the NRA and defending the idea of black gun ownership. This isnt that. This is a whole other thing. This post Eagles Of Death Metals Jesse Hughes Blasts Pathetic And Disgusting Students Protesting Gun Violence first appeared on Stereogum. By Lola Jacobs On Wednesday (Mar. 21), suspect in the Austin bombings, Mark Anthony Conditt committed suicide by detonating a bomb in his vehicle once officers attempted to apprehend him. And though theyre almost certain that the 23-year-old in question was a suspect, they believe that he may have had accomplices and/or that he may have mailed or placed more packaged bombs before his death. With no particular location having been targeted and Austin residents being warned to remain aware, police have yet to discover a pattern of locations, or whether the bomber(s) had certain motives. The set of incidents are still under an international spotlight. Little is known about the incident outside of its sporadic nature. Over a three-week period, six people were injured and two others were killed. Due to the demographic variety of victims, police have changed their evaluation of the collective crimes after each singular event. Heres a timeline of the bombings: March 2 Around 7 a.m., Austin police were notified about an explosion at the home of 39-year old Anthony Stephan House. Though rushed to the nearby Round Rock Hospital, House was declared dead less than an hour later. Police announced that the incident was isolated, easing community beliefs that it may be a terrorist attack. They declared that it may have been a targeted strike when a package was left on a specific door. Anytime we have a bomb go off like that and somebody dies, the first thing people think is terrorism. While we cannot completely rule it out at this point, we do not believe that terrorism is a motive in this death, Assistant Chief Joseph Chacon said. March 12 Austin police responded to a 6:45 a.m. call about an explosion in northwest Austin. A package was discovered by 17-year-old Draylen Mason on his doorstep. Mason opened the package on his kitchen counter and it exploded immediately, leaving him dead on impact and his mother injured, though she was brought to the hospital in stable condition. Story continues Around noon, a 75-year-old Latino woman received a package that was addressed to someone else. It exploded, leaving her severely injured (she suffered an amputated leg), and in critical but stable condition. She was later identified as Esperanza Herrera. Both House and Mason were relatives of prominent African Americans, The Washington Post reports. Houses death was reclassified as a homicide and no longer considered an isolated incident. Police surmised that the sender of both the first and second packages was the same as all of the victims were persons of color. It was decided that there was too little information to rule that yet. March 18 A tripwire incited the injuries of two white males, aged 22 and 23. Police knew then that they were dealing with a serial bomber and decided against racialized murder. Special Agent Christopher Combs declared that the tripwire changed any type of lead as it could have harmed anyone. The sophisticated variation amongst all of the bombs made investigators believe that the bomber(s) had extensive training. Police introduced a $115,000 reward for anyone that could lead them to the suspect. Residents were advised not to leave their homes until 10 a.m. the next day. March 20 At midnight, in a FedEX facility in Schertz, Texas, a package addressed to a location in Austin exploded on a conveyor belt. Another package shipped by the bomber was intercepted thanks to FedEx surveillance. Police confirmed that the packaging facility wasnt the target. No one was wounded but one worker reported ringing ears. March 21 The suspect in the bombings detonated a bomb in his car when police closed in on him. The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt. When Conditts home was later investigated, officials discovered a 25-minute cell-phone recording. The bomber referred to nearly seven bombs, though he doesnt discuss his motive. Police have asked Austin residents to be vigilant as theyre not certain about whether Conditt had shipped any more bombs before his death. This post Everything You Should Know About The Austin Bombings first appeared on Vibe. "My school is about 25 percent black, but the way we're covered doesn't reflect that," a student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said. By Desire Thompson The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School know they arent the only victims of gun violence. During the March For Our Lives rally, the young activists shared their platform with activists of color whove spent years pressing the issue. On Saturday (Mar. 24), student and rally organizers David Hogg and Jaclyn Corin called out their white privilege. They also addressed the mass coverage the Parkland shooting received in comparison to the recent school shooting death of Courtlin Arrington and gun violence in Chicago. We recognize that Parkland received more attention because of its affluence, Corin said during her speech. But we share this stage today and forever with those communities who have always stared down the barrel of a gun. Before the rally, Hogg also stated African-American students were not given a voice after the shooting gained mainstream media attention. My school is about 25 percent black, but the way were covered doesnt reflect that. he said. Other speakers who joined the #NeverAgain Movement included 11-year-old Naomi Wadler, Edna Chavez and Yolanda King. Wadler, who organized at walk-out at George Mason Elementary School in Alexandria, Va., spoke out about African-American women and girls who have died to gun violence. I am here to acknowledge and represent the African American girls whose stories dont make the front page of every national newspaper, whose stories dont lead on the evening news, Wadler said. I represent the African American women who are victims of gun violence, who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of potential. Chavez of Los Angeles shared the loss of her brother who was killed in South Central. Ive learned to duck from bullets before I learned how to read, she said. King, who is the granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, led a chant related to a gun free world. Story continues Spread the word! Have you heard? All across the nation, we are going to be a great generation, she said with thousands. In their interview with TIME, the teens shared some of the biggest allies like Dream Defenders, a racial injustice organization led by Womens March organizer Linda Sarsour, Pastor Michael McBride and prolific author and activist Dr. Angela Davis. We came from an affluent area, and were mostly white, and we have to use that privilege, said organizer Delaney Tarr. Theyve also worked with anti-violence groups in Chicago to make their message more inclusive. Were fighting for the same thing, Chicago student Arieyanna Williams of Peace Warriors said. We found our voice in Parkland. We didnt really have it here. READ: Naomi Wadler Brought Black Women To The Fore During Her March For Our Lives Speech This post Parkland Students Check Their White Privilege By Acknowledging Black Activists Battling Gun Violence first appeared on Vibe. Eagles of Death Metal's Jesse Hughes, a survivor of a mass-shooting incident, called the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School "disgusting vile abusers of the dead" for participating in the March for Our Lives protest. Hughes' band was onstage during the Paris Bataclan terrorist attack that killed 89 people. He criticizes stricter gun laws in both France and America. He slams the student survivors from the Parkland, Florida shooting for protesting. Hughes made controversial statements suggesting that the Bataclan shooting was an inside job perpetrated by the venue's security. Although Hughes later apologized for his "baseless" comments, Eagles of Death Metal were still dropped from the lineup of numerous French music festivals. In an era where conscious uncoupling seems to be all the rage, dont forget that not all celebrity divorces end with a happy modern family. Case in point: Sean Penn and Robin Wright. The pair ended their tumultuous marriage for good in 2010 and dont have a lot of conversation these days, according to Penn. Um, we dont not get along, he said on Marc Marons WTF Podcast. We have very separate relationships with our kids at this point, and it seems to work out better that way. They are making their own decisions, and as it turned out, she and I did not share the same ethical thoughts or views on parenting, including the continuing parenting of adult children. Robin Wright and Sean Penn at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, in February 2009. (Photo: Getty Images) Penn, 57, and Wright, 51, share two kids: daughter Dylan, 26, and son Hopper, 24. Penn continued, It was better for her to be entirely whatever she is and available to them and they love their mother and they have that relationship and for me to be entirely available, but also were always going to have conflicting ethics. When asked what he meant by that, Penn avoided the question. That would be getting too much into my kids personal life, he said. Dylan, Sean, and Hopper Penn attend the 6th Annual Sean Penn & Friends HAITI RISING Gala Benefiting J/P Haitian Relief Organization in January 2017. (Photo: Getty Images) However, the actor-turned-author said both of his children are doing great. Theyre amazing people, he said. Theyre both acting and modeling in an industry that Im not very interested in, but they seem to have fun with it. Penn recently published his first novel, Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff, and has been vocal about his disinterest in acting, saying hes not in love with it anymore. Still, hes behind his kids Hollywood endeavors. Im supportive of whatever my kids do that keeps them happy and healthy, period, he said. The House of Cards actress and Oscar winner wed in 1996. They filed for divorce in 2007 but reconciled shortly after. In April 2009, Penn filed for legal separation only to withdraw papers a month later; Wright filed for divorce in August of that year, and it was finalized in 2010. As I look back over my life in romance, I dont feel Ive ever had that, Penn told Esquire years later. I have been the only one that was unaware of the fraud in a few of these circumstances blindly. When you get divorced, all the truths that come out, you sit there and you go, What the f*** was I doing? What was I doing believing that this person was invested in this way? Which is a fantastically strong humiliation in the best sense. It can make somebody very bitter and very hard and closed off, but I find it does the opposite to me. Story continues Penn has a similar view on love today. Im never going to take a position that Im closed off to love, he told Maron. People falling in love with each other is a great, great thing. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: A lawyer for Donald Trumps personal attorney, Michael Cohen, has issued a cease-and-desist letter against adult film star Stormy Daniels after she spoke out about her alleged sexual relationship with the president in a bombshell interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday night. In the sit-down, Daniels said a thug she believed was sent by Cohen approached her and her infant daughter in 2011 and threatened her to stay silent about the alleged 2006 affair. Cohens lawyer, Brent Blakely, subsequently emailed Daniels lawyer, Michael Avenatti, denying that Cohen sent the thug and expressing doubt that the incident even took place, USA Today reported. Blakely also sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Daniels and Avenatti stop making any further false and defamatory statements about his client Cohen. In the letter obtained by PEOPLE, Blakely further demands that Daniels and Avenatti retract and apologize to Mr. Cohen through the national media for your defamatory statements on 60 Minutes, and make clear that you have no facts or evidence whatsoever to support your allegations that my client had anything whatsoever to do with this alleged thug. Stormy Daniels on 60 Minutes Cohens lawyer fired back almost immediately after the Daniels interview with this letter saying allegation of goon threatening her was false >> pic.twitter.com/TWH2djrFPq Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 26, 2018 Avenatti dismissed the letter in an interview with CNN on Monday, saying were just getting started with revelations. He said he did not believe police were investigating the alleged threat against Daniels but added, I think they should, I think its a serious matter. According to Daniels, she was threatened by a man in Las Vegas after she detailed her alleged affair with Trump to In Touch magazine in May 2011 for $15,000 dollars. Story continues I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter. And a guy walked up to me and said, Leave Trump alone. Forget the story, Daniels recalled to Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes. And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, Thats a beautiful little girl. Itd be a shame if something happened to her mom. And then he was gone. RELATED VIDEO: PEOPLE Writer Natasha Stoynoff Breaks Silence, Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Attack Cohen has said that Daniels faces as much as $20 million in damages for breaching the nondisclosure agreement. But Daniels and Avenatti claim the agreement is invalid because it was never signed by Trump. The White House and Cohen have denied the president had an affair with Daniels. A teenage Texas girl found safe and sound this month after her parents reported her missing in January had actually fled their abuse, according to authorities who say she refused to go along with their plans to place her in an arranged marriage, PEOPLE confirms. The alleged abuse included beating the teen with broomsticks, choking her almost to the point of unconsciousness and, on one occasion, having hot cooking oil thrown on her by her mother, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters. Its really heartbreaking to hear, Salazar said at an impromptu news conference on Friday. The girls father, Abdulah Fahmi Kala Al Hishmawi, 34, and her mother, 33-year-old Hamdiyah Sabah Al Hishmawi, both of San Antonio, have since been arrested and charged with continuous abuse of a family member, the sheriff announced. The parents were released from custody Sunday after posting $30,000 bond each, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. It could not be determined on Monday if they have retained attorneys who could comment on their behalf. They have not yet pleaded to the charges against them. The young girl, whose identity is being protected by PEOPLE because she is a minor, told authorities the alleged abuse began around June 2017 when she was 15 and continued through January of this year, after she had turned 16, according to an affidavit for a search warrant of the familys home obtained by PEOPLE. Following a practice of their religious faith, the girls parents allegedly had contracted for her to marry a 28-year-old known family acquaintance, which included a $20,000 cash payment deposited into the fathers credit union account on the day the girl turned 16, the youngest age at which a person can legally marry in Texas, the affidavit states. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Story continues Before that birthday, the girl had been personally offered gold jewelry and gold bars by the potential husband, which she refused, according to the affidavit. Because the child victim was refusing to marry the potential suitor, she was being beaten on an almost daily basis by her mother and father, the document alleges. The child victim stated that every time the subject of marriage came up, about her having to marry this 28-year-old suitor, she was beaten with broom and mop handles all over her body by both her mother and her father. In order to stop the physical abuse, the child victim would have to tell her parents that she would submit to the prearranged marriage. On Jan. 30, the girl disappeared after leaving her San Antonio high school and her parents reported her missing, going public with their search. Please help me, her father told local TV station WOAI while she was gone. Every time we go into her room, we cry. For more compelling true crime coverage, follow our Crime magazine on Flipboard. However, said the sheriff last week: It became pretty obvious very early on that this wasnt a regular missing persons case. We began hearing reports of ongoing abuse involving this young lady, possibly reports of an arranged marriage, and we believe that that may have been the precursor that prompted this young lady to leave her home, he said. His agency agency, working with the FBI, located the girl in mid-March and returned her to Texas but to the custody of Child Protective Services, which also took over custody of her five siblings ages 5 to 15 years old. We dont know if those other siblings are victims of any abuse, the sheriff said, but certainly the circumstances involving this case did cause us some concern for those other siblings. He said the young girl was located under the protection of an organization in another city that he did not identify. Thankfully, he said, we were able to find her safe and sound. Photo credit: Getty From Harper's BAZAAR On Sunday night, adult film star Stormy Daniels sat down with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes to discuss her alleged affair with Donald Trump. Daniels says she was paid to keep quiet about her relationship with Trump during the 2016 campaign, but she's breaking her silence now, in spite of threats of financial retribution from Trump's lawyers. Here are the biggest bombshells from her interview. 1. She says a Trump associate threatened her daughter. Perhaps the biggest bombshell in the interview came when Daniels disclosed that, after she agreed to sell her story to In Touch magazine in 2011 (a story that she says was killed when Trump's attorney Michael Cohen threatened to sue), a man approached her and her daughter in Las Vegas and threatened them. Not long after the magazine story was killed, Stormy Daniels says she was threatened by a man who approached her in Las Vegas. A guy walked up on me and said to me, leave Trump alone. Forget the story. pic.twitter.com/JMskKQiYCi - 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 25, 2018 "I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter. Taking, you know, the seats facing backwards in the backseat, diaper bag, you know, gettin' all the stuff out," she said. "And a guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.' And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom.' And then he was gone." 2. Stormy claims Trump had her spank him. A mom says her pediatric dental office is threatening to report her for parental neglect because of a dispute over an appointment. On Friday, Trey Hoyumpa, a mother in Stroudsburg, Pa., posted a letter she received from Smiles 4 Keeps, a pediatric dental office in Bartonsville, after her children, ages 12 and 9, were diagnosed with a total of seven cavities. A Pennsylvania dental office allegedly is threatening to report a mother for neglect for not having her kids cavities filled. (Photo: Getty Images) Got this letter in the mail today. Smiles4Keeps bullies the parents, controls the care behind closed doors, and turns parents into villainsand I will not stand for it anymore!!! Hoyumpa wrote in a Facebook post that received 228 comments, almost 800 shares, and more than 400 likes. In the letter, a photo of which was also shared, the dental office states, According to law, failure to bring your child for dental care is considered neglect. Pennsylvania Act 31 (Child Abuse Reporting and Recognition Requirements) states that health care providers must report your failure to bring your child to the dentist for evaluation and care. To keep your child as healthy as possible and avoid a report to state authorities, please call Smiles 4 Keeps immediately to schedule a treatment appointment within the next 30 days. The moms post has sparked much debate. One commenter wrote that she visited Smiles 4 Keeps as a child and hated it, then had a similar experience there with her own child. Others slammed the mom for publicly complaining and defended the office policy. And many encouraged Hoyumpa to keep sharing her story. In November, Smiles 4 Keeps said that my kids had seven cavities between them, which sounded outrageous, Hoyumpa tells Yahoo Lifestyle. She added that the practice does not allow parents inside examination rooms and that she was not shown X-rays to prove that her children have cavities. I asked the receptionist to schedule both kids appointments on the same day so I wouldnt have to take off work twice, and she refused, says Hoyumpa. I got really angry because it showed that they didnt care about their patients. Story continues Admitting that she got into a confrontation with the front office I was screaming Hoyumpa informed the desk that she would seek dental care elsewhere. Three months later, she received the letter in the mail. A representative from Smiles 4 Keeps sent Yahoo Lifestyle the following statement: We make multiple attempts to reach the parent or guardian of children who have outstanding dental treatment that may pose a threat to the childs overall health. This letter is a last resort to give parents 30 days to either bring the child in to use for care or seek care from another provider. If the parent or guardian chooses another provider, we ask the name of the provider so we can close out the patient record in our office and send medical records (if requested and authorized by the parent or guardian). This is our legal responsibility, and we take it seriously. These laws are intended to protect children. The rep further clarified that despite social media claims to the contrary, Outstanding dental treatment differs from cleanings. We have not and would not report anyone for changing dentists or missing a cleaning appointment and It would be ludicrous to report a parent or caregiver for missing a dental cleaning. On Wednesday, the office also addressed the controversy on its Facebook page, writing in part, Letters that refer to dentists mandate to report failure to seek necessary treatment are sent under specific conditions. Letters are intended to remind parents and caregivers of the need for dental treatment for the child in question, and the letters are not sent unless attempts at multiple communications with the parents or guardians are unsuccessful or messages from our office remain unanswered. Letters are not sent after one missed treatment appointment. The practice clarified that it tries to accommodate families with multiple children, and if a parent wishes to change practices, it asks for the name of the new provider to update and transfer dental records. Smiles 4 Keeps is suggesting that Hoyumpas failure to schedule her childrens fillings falls under dental neglect as outlined under the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistrys Guideline on oral and dental aspects of child abuse and Neglect. The AAPD doesnt clarify a timeline in which parents are required to respond to treatment, stating only that The point at which to consider a parent negligent occurs after the parent has been properly alerted by a health care professional about the nature and extent of the childs condition, the specific treatment needed, and the mechanism of accessing that treatment. If, despite these efforts, the parents fail to obtain therapy, the case should be reported to the appropriate child protective services agency. Hoyumpa is in the process of seeking a new dentist and a second opinion and has no intention of keeping Smiles 4 Keeps informed of her familys whereabouts. I understand that dentists are mandated reporters, but this is bullying, she says, adding that local low-income families that depend on state insurance may not have flexible options for alternative dental care. Yahoo Lifestyle did not hear back from the Pennsylvania Dental Association or the Pennsylvania Department of State for comment. Smiles 4 Keeps is the source of the dental controversy. (Photo: WNEP) John Rutkauskas, the CEO of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sent the following statement to Yahoo Lifestyle: Dental care providers are required to report injuries that are concerning for abuse or neglect to child protective services in accordance with local or state legal requirements. In terms of dental neglect in particular, the AAPD defines it as willful failure of parent or guardian, despite adequate access to care, to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a level of oral health essential for adequate function and freedom from pain and infection. To the best of his or her ability, the pediatric dentist should be certain that the caregiver understands the explanation of the disease and its implications and, when barriers to the needed care exist, attempt to assist the family in finding financial aid, transportation, or public facilities for needed services. If, despite these efforts, the parent fails to obtain therapy, the case should be reported to the appropriate child protective services agency. Rutkauskas also noted that dentists have the ethical obligation to provide dental records to a new provider, and if the dentist believes the informed refusal violates proper standards of care, he/she should recommend the patient seek another opinion and/or dismiss the patient from the practice. He also noted, Dentists must inform the patient/parent about the consequences of not accepting the proposed treatment and obtain a signed informed refusal. An informed refusal, however, does not release the dentist from the responsibility of providing a standard of care. If the dentist suspects dental neglect, appropriate authorities should be informed. On Monday, local news station WNEP reported that a Smiles 4 Keeps spokesperson admitted in an email, Its been a tough week, suggesting that the letter was grossly misinterpreted and that its dentists have been threatened over the letter. The rep also confirmed that the practice had reported 17 cases of neglect in 2017 and plans to revise the letter due to the backlash, a sentiment the office confirmed in a Facebook comment. A major complaint has been that the letter suggests that parents will be found neglectful if they dont visit Smiles 4 Keeps versus another provider. Im being accused of abuse without foundation, says Hoyumpa. I wasnt in the exam room, no one showed me any cavities, and I havent seen X-rays. Yet they have the gall to send me this letter. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. 16-year-old Girl Abused By Parents For Refusing An Arranged Marriage The parents of a 16-year-old girl are facing child abuse charges after police discovered they beat the teen for turning down an arranged marriage. Maarib Al Hishmawi, 16, went missing Jan. 30 after she disagreed with a marriage arranged by her parents. She was last seen leaving Taft High School, which she attended. "It became fairly obvious very early on that this wasn't a regular missing persons case," Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said. The teen was found mid-March and told Child Protective Services of the abuse she endured at the hands of her parents, My San Antonio reports. An unnamed organization took her under its wing while she was missing. RELATED: Awful New Details About The Ohio Dad Who Broke His 3-Month-Old Daughter's Ribs Multiple Times Because He Wanted A Son Maaribs father became upset with the investigation and suggested his daughter was kidnapped. Please, Maarib, if youre still alive, we love you. We like you. We miss you, he said. Please come back home; go to police. If someone torture you or kidnap you, do something to come home. We really love you. Every day, we cry in your room. The truth came out when police interviewed Maarib when she was found. According to Salazar, Maarib was physically abused by both of her parents, Abdulah Fahmi Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Sabah Al Hishmawi, 33, when she refused to marry the man they had set her up with. "This young lady, at various times over that time period was subjected to some pretty bad abuse because she didn't want to be married to this person," Salazar said. "Several times it was reported to us that this young lady was abused with hot cooking oil being thrown on her body. She was beat with broomsticks. At least at one point, she was choked almost to the point of unconsciousness." RELATED: New Details About The Remains Of A Woman Who Went Missing 5 Decades Ago That Were Finally Found Buried Under A Police Officer's Home Story continues Salazar pointed out that it was Maaribs mother who threw the oil on her. Police said the abuse only ceased when Maarib verbally agreed to the marriage. Maarib ran away to avoid having to marry a man she did not want to. The FBI was called in to assist in the investigation, mainly for cultural and interpretational reasons due to the familys Iraqi background. Thankfully we were able to find her safe and sound, Salazar said. Bexar County Sheriff deputies have arrested the parents of Maarib Al Hishmawi, the S.A. student who went missing in January. Were told the girl has been found alive and in CPS Custody. #kens5eyewitness pic.twitter.com/1wGRFaoBd1 Roxie Bustamante (@RoxieBTV) March 24, 2018 Maarib is now in the custody of CPS, along with her five siblings, ages 5 to 15. Police are uncertain if her siblings were abused, too. We dont know if those other siblings are victims of any abuse, but certainly the circumstances involving this case did cause us some concern, Salazar said. Sometime last year, Maaribs parents arranged for her to marry a man in another city for $20,000, KSAT reports. They were arrested Friday and charged with continuous violence against a family member. The father could be heard screaming at the crowd and blaming Maarib for the situation, according to My San Antonio. "It's highly likely that he'll be facing charges as well," Salazar said, referring to the man Maarib was lined up to wed, the outlet reports. The FBI may add more charges as it sees fit. On Sunday, the parents were released on separate $30,000 bonds. Maaribs family moved to the U.S. two years ago on a visa. They previously lived in Iraq, where Abdulah was a linguist for the States, according to My San Antonio. RELATED: Scary New Details About The Teen Who Beat His Friend To Death With A Baseball Bat Because He Started Dating His Crush Keywords: crime, child abuse read more Josh Kushner was among hundreds of thousands participating in Saturday's March For Our Lives demonstration in Washington. Josh Kushner, the younger brother of PresidentDonald Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, joined theMarch For Our Lives protest march in Washington on Saturday. The Kushner brother had promised to attend the anti-gun violence rally in an earlier Instagram post. His girlfriend,model Karlie Kloss, also participated in the gathering. Klossshared a photoon Instagram of her and Delaney Tarr, a 17-year-old survivor of last months Parkland, Florida, mass shooting the tragedy that claimed 17 lives at a high school and sparked the demonstration in Washington and similar marches across the U.S.and the world. Today, and every day, we will continue to fight for those things that are right. We will continue to fight for common sense. We will continue to fight for our lives, Kloss wrote in a caption, quoting Tarr. A post shared by Joshua Kushner (@joshuakushner)on Mar 23, 2018 at 3:42pm PDT Josh Kushnermade headlinesearlier this month for donating $50,000 to March For Our Lives. Axios reportedthat the 32-year-old founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital and health insurance company Oscar had quietly made the donation. Kushner has described himself as a lifelong Democrat. In 2016, he said through a spokesman that hewould not be voting for Trump. At the Womens March in Washington the day after Trump was inaugurated last year, Kushner was photographed in a crowd of demonstrators.According to the Washingtonian, Kushner told other marchers he was there observing. Trump and his Twitter account were unusually silent on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of protesters marched in cities across the U.S. and around the world demanding meaningful gun reform. Story continues A White House spokeswomancommented on the rallies, saying, We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their first amendment rights today. Trump was criticized earlier this month for apparently caving in to pressure from the National Rifle Association andbackpedaling on gun control measureshed supported in the wake of the Parkland massacre. Teenage survivors of the shooting came up with the idea for Saturdays marches. The president has instead pushed for arming some teachers in schools an idea that law enforcement and education groups havecalled wrongheaded. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. It seems Jared Kushners dramatic fall from grace wont have a soft landing. With his security clearance downgraded, state regulators now poring over his personal finances, and world leaders arguing over who has more sway over him, the First Son-in-Law suffered another blow on Tuesday when the White House was reported to be investigating some half a billion in loans that Kushner Cos. received after financial executives met with Boy Wonder in the White House. Per The Wall Street Journal: White House attorneys are examining whether two loans totaling more than $500 million to Jared Kushners family business may have violated any criminal laws or federal ethics regulations, according to a letter from a federal ethics agency made public Monday. The Office of Government Ethics told a Democratic lawmaker in the letter that the White House is probing whether a $184 million loan from the real-estate arm of Apollo Global Management LLC and a $325 million loan from Citigroup Inc. may have run afoul of the rules and laws governing the conduct of federal employees. In a letter to Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi,David Apol, acting director of the O.G.E., wrote: I have discussed this matter with the White House Counsels Office in order to ensure that they have begun the process of ascertaining the facts necessary to determine whether any law or regulation has been violated. During that discussion, the White House informed me that they had already begun this process. While the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Kushners personal lawyer, Abbe Lowell, was full of them, telling the Journal that after The New York Times initial report on the loans, the White House counsel concluded there were no issues involving Jared. He added that the Boy Prince of New Jersey was not involved with his former company after he entered government service; the transactions in question came after that; he had nothing to do with those transactions; the transactions had nothing to do with any of his meetings in the White House, and the people from the companies involved have confirmed that as well. (Though Kushner stepped down from his position as C.E.O. of Kushner Cos. upon entering the White House, and sold his personal stakes in some projects, he retained stakes in multiple Kushner Cos. propertiesincluding, shockingly, the ones that received loans from Citigroup and Apollo.) Story continues In response to a letter from Senator Elizabeth Warren, Citigroup said last week that its $325 million loan to Kushner Cos. was completely appropriate. Apollo, responding to a letter from members of Congress earlier this month, said that the meetings between its C.E.O. and Kushner were not related to its $184 million loan, and that the loan was negotiated on behalf of A.R.I. by an Apollo investment professional with a history of doing business with Kushner Companies that predated his tenure at Apollo. As the negative stories continue to pile uplast month, there was that small matter of at least four other nations reportedly discussing how best to leverage Kushners massive debts and political novice, and last week, a report emerged detailing the sketchy slumlord tactics his familys company allegedly engaged in while he was C.E.O.even the worlds biggest joke of a president has become disenchanted, apparently complaining to allies that his son-in-law has become a liability. He is very weakened, a Mexican official said on the eve of Kushners most recent diplomatic visit. And hes going to get weaker. "I should be writing my college essay, not my will," read one of the countless signs protesters brought to the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The anti-gun violence demonstration was conceived by the students behind Never Again, the group created after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that left 17 dead. Organizers said that the event drew about 800,000 people, making it the largest protest in the capital's history. There were also sister marches in about 800 other locations across the globe. In downtown Washington, protesters braved a cold morning that would go on to feel like a quintessential spring day. Several marchers talked to Refinery29 about everything from anger at lawmakers' lack of action to curb gun violence, to the policies they would like to see implemented at the local and national levels, and how inspiring they found the Parkland teenagers and all the other young activists that had worked tirelessly to keep pushing the debate about gun safety forward. Refinery29 was on the ground in D.C. for the protest. Ahead, a look at the faces of the March for Our Lives. Alleyjah Thomas, 15, and Attanise Jones, 14, from Florida. A group of students from Vermont. Emma Putney, 17, from Vermont. Katie and Tiana, both 17, from Virginia. LaBria Roberts, Ellie Witt, Peter Bashaw, and Sara Whitmore from Massachusetts. Veterans Leo Cruz, from Virginia, and Jessica Houghton, from Washington, D.C. Matilda and Marlow, both 4. Melvin Smith and Melina Smith, from Maryland. Susanna Getis, 17; Leyla Kolbai, 17; and Jillian Donahue, 18. Ethan, 5, and Lucas, 3. Kelley, 7. Rachael Stetina.Riley_Robinson, 19_DSC_7761 Riley Robinson, 19. Robyn and Elizabeth. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? The Important Part Of The Stormy Daniels Interview Wasn't The Affair Like Father, Like Son: The Murder Of Sylvie Cachay At The Hands Of Nicholas Brooks Tiffany Trump Liked This Anti-GOP March For Our Lives Post On Instagram Melissa Harris-Perry (Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle) To mark the International Day of the Woman on March 8 and Womens History Month, Yahoo Lifestyle is exploring notions of feminism and the womens movement through a diverse series of profiles from transgender activist Ashlee Marie Preston to conservative campus leader Karin Agness Lips that aim to reach across many aisles. Ever since she burst into national view as an MSNBC commentator, and then host of her own show in 2012, Melissa Harris-Perry has been telling it like it is. But the esteemed professor of African-American studies and political science at the University of Chicago, followed by Princeton University, Tulane University, and now Wake Forest University, where she is also the executive director of the Pro Humanitate Institute and founder of the Anna Julia Cooper Center has been speaking and writing frankly about race relations and human rights for much of her life. It was in a way unavoidable, considering the groundbreaking Southern family Harris-Perry, 44, comes from: Her father was the first dean of African-American affairs at the University of Virginia, and his twin brother was the first chair of aeronautic engineering at MIT. Their legendary status infused the family with the fierce belief that being black in this country was not a reason to be held back. Today, MHP, as shes known, is teaching, writing, leading, and parenting (she has three daughters) younger generations to be strong thinkers and leaders, with feminism at the core of all her messages. She recently spoke with Yahoo Lifestyle in honor of Womens History Month, touching on topics ranging from the Womens March and its recent controversy to raising a rebellious teen. Yahoo Lifestyle: Ahead of the March for Our Lives, you wrote for Elle, where you are editor-at-large, about who is and who is not allowed to be angry in our culture. The Parkland students have done a great job at bringing students from across the country, including Chicago, into this anti-gun-violence movement. How else can we change the narrative? Story continues MHP: The kids are great. The students from Parkland themselves, I think, are highly aware of the ways in which they operate and are clearly deploying their race and economic privilege to acknowledge and recognize their peers who were less able to do so. We can go back to Rosa Parks, and the idea of how Rosa Parkss role in our memory is so different from [that of] Claudette Colvin the unmarried, pregnant African-American girl who had also resisted Jim Crow segregation just a month before, and been arrested on the bus, but didnt have the training of being an activist and just wasnt reputable in the same ways. I saw you address the crowd at Power to the Polls, the Womens March Las Vegas event in January. You said, Saying thank you to black women is not a damn hashtag. What did you mean? Part of what I was doing was telling my personal family story. My family has long thought of itself as originating itself from my father and his twin brother, highly accomplished men. Id recently gone back and was reading this late 1950s Ebony article [now framed] that reported on my dad and his twin brother and called them the genius twins of Richmond, Virginia. This time I noticed in the story, more carefully, my grandmother. And theres one [part] in which theyre talking about my dad and his brother going off to this academic summer program, and how my grandmother, who was a really brilliant seamstress knew, because the boys were going to this summer program, that they werent going to work that summer, so there wasnt going to be coal to heat the house that winter. It was the first time it has truly occurred to me how much that story is not really my dads story or my uncles story its really my grandmothers story. And as much as they were geniuses, how could they possibly be geniuses unless they came from a genius one literally willing to be cold in the winter so that they could go to school? It floored me. I couldnt speak. Thanks @TimesTalks for the opportunity to moderate this amazing conversation with @OsopePatrisse and #AngelaDavis. Ill never forget it. pic.twitter.com/BDMzfgV3xF Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) February 21, 2018 We dont really know how to recover the genius of a black woman who died never being degreed or rich or any of these particular things that we call success, but nonetheless made every other single thing possible. So what I want to do is when we say, thank you, black women, what were actually doing is having a reclamation of their genius, and thinking about how to make public policy that wouldve made life easier for Grandma Rosa just so that her sons could learn. Whats your take on the recent controversy surrounding Tamika Mallory, and her refusal to denounce the anti-Semitic, homophobic statements of Louis Farrakhan? My sense is she has a personal connection to Minister Farrakhan, that that personal connection is about a deep loyalty that extends way farther back to a community like, decades deeper than the Womens March and that in many ways, the Womens March and her leadership takes advantage of her sets of ties. So my sense is that the most dangerous anti-Semite in the country currently lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And to have any concern about Louis Farrakhans anti-Semitism is weird. Like, Louis f***ing Farrakhan? Are you serious? Because Louis Farrakhan is empowered to do what? He runs an organization that controls what resources? And creates what policy? And owns property where? I mean, its weird. The president of the United States has questioned the humanity like are they human of Jewish people. The president of the United States. So Im super-duper focused on that. And that various people walking around the planet are racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, is, like, shrug-my-shoulders true. I mean Im a black woman. Most people Ive worked around, worked for, worked near have opinions about me that are typically pretty f***ing horrifying. Like, I grew up in the South in the 1970s with a white mother and a black father. I dont thought-police people. From my perspective its like, OK, sure. We saw Barack Obama break ties with his minister, Jeremiah Wright, following controversy during his campaign. We said, Oh my God, Jeremiah Wright said racist words, in our opinion, and you must now break your ties with your minister! And as far as I know, that family has never had a church home again. Thats rough. I mean, Im sure theyve gone to church as an official matter but they dont have a church home, which in the black community is actually a big f***ing deal. So they broke their relationship with their minister, but at least they got elected to office twice. As far as I know, no one is offering that to Tamika Mallory. And shes being asked to denounce this by people who, as far as I know, have never denounced their racism, sexism, their homophobia. Thats strange; no. So its not that complicated to me. I wouldnt [apologize] either. No. We get to all pick our own relationships. The thing Im always worried about in the world is power, and how power is wielded in ways that cause inequity. So if you can show me that Minister Farrakhan has taken his position and used his position to create inequity and inequality for Jewish people, then I will denounce that tomorrow. But holding horrifying opinions seems to me to be a protected right under our Constitution so protected that I even think its OK for our president to hold them. And our president uses his horrifying opinions to then enact them into policy. If he believes that Mexicans are rapists and then withdraws DACA, thats a problem. So Im always much more interested in racism, sexism, homophobia when they are manifest as a matter of inequity in public policy. Your daughters are 4 and 16. How do you balance teaching them about all the injustices in this world without terrifying them with reality? Theyre sort of funny and different in this way, and my big girl, whos 16, is like not what most people would probably expect. [Laughing] You probably think, Oh MHP, 16-year-old daughter, Im sure shes, like, burning down the streets! No, shes more like your first black Republican first lady! A little bit. Not completely, but more like that than burning it down in the streets. Shes been in about three years of very, very strong rebellion. So what does rebellion against MHP look like? Im real sex-positive and feminist and progressive, so my kid is like, My God, sex is dirty, and drugs are bad! She goes to an all-girls high school, [and the day after Trump was elected] they were all in tears, and Parker being Parker looks at the young women in her class and says, Pull yourselves together; hes your president now, be respectful! [Laughing] And I was like, Oh my goodness, no! But my kids are just like fish swimming in the waters of social justice and race talk and feminism conversations, and it is just what we do and talk about and think about in the house. So in that sense its not scary, because it just is. So I think, because the news is fodder for conversation and because we try not to either talk over their heads or make things like, Oh thats just for adults and kids shouldnt know about it, what I hope is that it feels empowering in whatever way she wants to feel empowered. So when we do have political disagreements, which we sometimes do, what she knows is that theres no thing that she could say or do or believe that would keep her outside the circle of our family and of our love. With the 4-year-old, shes actually the most woke child on the planet. She somehow is, like, from Wakanda! [Laughs] I dont really know how its possible, but even though shes only 4 she goes first to the black kids on the playground, and loves her people from the core of her soul. Its not that she knows what politics are, but she does seem to have a preference for blackness and always has. It will be interesting to see what all that turns into, but man, I think that kid might actually be Alicia Garza who I had by accident. She just showed up that way. I always say: Youre a sociologist until you have children, and then its your nemesis, because you realize they come however they come. And you can crush that experience or you can nurture them, but they show up how they show up. I like them both a lot, and I cant wait to see who they turn into. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. No shade to anyone who merely skims their horoscope every morning on the way to work, but we are here for some serious astrological studies. Whether were learning what our rising sign says about our personalities or figuring out what the moons nodes mean, we find it fun to get deep into the zodiac and theres a lot there. Every aspect of our cosmos is present and accounted for in astrology, from the sun to the moon to the stars to the planets. Next up, were outlining what each planet means in the natural zodiac. A stylist uses her phone at her salon the basics The sun, moon, and planets each embody the energy of a specific sign in the natural zodiac a physical representation of the signs inherent qualities. We all have a unique natal chart that tells us precisely where in the sky each planet and constellation was at the moment we were born. For example, while Mars traditionally rules Aries, this fiery planet may have been in Capricorn when you were born. This means that you personally filter all those classic Martian characteristics through a Capricornian lens. One more cool thing to keep in mind. The inner planets sun, moon, Mercury, Mars, and Venus move quickly through the zodiac, which means they affect us on a more personal, intimate level. The outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto take seven years or more to move through the zodiac, which explains why each generation can be identified by a specific movement or feeling (the Roaring 20s, Age of Aquarius, and so on). sun Sign: Leo Governs: Ego and sense of self. The sun is the source of our ego; its where the truth of our nature resides, where our identities are forged. When someone says whats your sign? theyre actually asking whats your sun sign? You are who you are because of your sun sign, and truly understanding and accepting this integral part of yourself helps you lead a positive, well-rounded life. Story continues moon Sign: Cancer Governs: Emotion and feeling. If your sun sign represents your outward personality, your moon sign focuses inward, revealing your emotional core. It determines how you process your feelings and moods, and understanding how your sun and moon signs interact reveals a much fuller astrological self-portrait. Check out our moon sign guide for a more in-depth look into what your moon sign means for you. mercury Sign: Virgo, Gemini Governs: Transmitting information. Your intelligence resides within your Mercury sign, and it governs our ability to communicate, explain, and understand. Your Mercury sign informs how you listen, read, write, and talk, so understanding how your Mercury sign works can help you understand how best youre able to learn and teach. This also explains why Mercury in retrograde means miscommunications (and missed flights!). venus Sign: Libra, Taurus Governs: Love and beauty. Oh, sweet Venus. Our Venus sign determines how we give and receive love, and its where we find comfort and support within ourselves and others. Venus rules all the delightful, swoon-worthy, aesthetically pleasing things in life. In understanding your Venus sign, you open yourself up to truly fulfilling relationships because youre able to articulate what you need and can also give what your loved ones need. mars Sign: Aries Function: Will and courage. Fiery and passionate, Mars governs how we assert ourselves our fight in the fight or flight battle (Mars is the god of war, after all). Its here that we can fall into aggression and volatility, but if harnessed correctly, our Mars sign can be our greatest source of bravery and self-empowerment. You can find incredible freedom and independence within your Mars sign as well, so if youre feeling stuck or passive, turn here first. jupiter Sign: Sagittarius Function: Abundance and generosity. This giant planet fuels all sorts of positive optimism in our lives, and is considered to be the planet of miracles, hope, and opportunity. Jupiter just wants you to grow as a person by experiencing new things, and if you take care to listen to your Jupiter sign, youll surely reap the benefits. saturn Sign: Capricorn Function: Discipline and commitment. Saturn is the solar systems task master, known for sending major challenges your way but for your own good, of course. Your Saturn Return is to blame for your quarter-life crisis, and whenever youre feeling particularly put out by a hard situation, its usually Saturns doing, forcing you to work through the tough stuff to become a better person. uranus Sign: Aquarius Function: Individuality and change. Uranus is an outer planet and takes seven years to orbit the sun, which, as we mentioned earlier, means that there are large groups of people who share a Uranus sign. Ever heard of the Age of Aquarius the peaceful protesters who spent their time enacting positive change in the 60s? These folks all had Uranus in Aquarius, and radical change, questioning authority, and championing individuality are all astrological hallmarks of Uranus. neptune Sign: Pisces Function: Intuition and healing. Neptune is here to help you step away from your ego and away from awareness, and exist in the in-between. Sounds trippy, doesnt it? Neptune is known for being a little out there (and we dont just mean its distance from the sun). Its all about uncovering your soul and developing your spiritual awareness, whatever that means to you. pluto Sign: Scorpio Function: Transformation and power. Even if Plutos planetary distinction is up for debate, its incredible astrological influence is not. Pluto reigns over our destinies, giving life to our biggest desires while simultaneously reminding us of how short life is, so we better do something memorable while were here. Are you as astrology obsessed as we are? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know what else youd like to know about your horoscope! The presidents struggle to recruit experienced lawyers could mask more ominous concerns. As far as I can tell, Ty Cobb is the only attorney left on the Trump team with experience handling federal criminal investigations, says one former prosecutor. The team is thinner than you might expect for perhaps the most important investigation of our lifetime. At the very moment when Robert Muellers Russia investigation is spinning into higher gear, Donald Trumps legal team is falling apart in extraordinary fashion. John Dowd, the presidents lead personal lawyer, resigned last week. Ty Cobb, who is running point for the White House on everything Russia, is on the outs. Even Joseph diGenova, the shit-kicking conspiracy theorist who was expected to join the team, unexpectedly bowed out Sunday, alongside his wife, Fox News regular Victoria Toensing, citing undefined conflicts. (The New York Times reported that Trump did not believe he had personal chemistry with the couple.) I dont think you have seen anything like this, said former Obama general counsel Bob Bauer, struggling to identify a historical antecedent. Like so much else around Trump, [the shake-up] is marked by confusion, a lack of consistency, and an apparent reflection of the presidents uncontrolled impulses. Trumps personal legal team now consists of just one full-time attorneyJay Sekulowa remarkably shallow bench for a president facing potential obstruction of justice charges and the prospect of impeachment. As far as I can tell, Ty Cobb is the only attorney left on the Trump team with experience handling federal criminal investigations, said Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor who has been closely following the probe. The team is thinner than you might expect for perhaps the most important investigation of our lifetime. One of the most critical questions, in the wake of Dowds departure, is who is handling negotiations over Trumps potential interview with Mueller. For months, Dowd had been in contact with the special counsel over the issue, which had reportedly emerged as a sticking point. Dowd was rightly worried about the president testifying under oath, given his penchant for mistruths and exaggerations. Trump, however, has publicly and privately signaled an eagerness to face Mueller. With Dowd out, it is unclear where those negotiations stand. Cobb cant do it because he doesnt represent Trump personally and no one else currently on the team has any experience in this area, noted William Jeffress, an attorney who worked on the Valerie Plame leak case. Sekulow has reportedly tried to recruit more experienced lawyers, but none have yet signed on. Trump himself recently met with veteran Republican lawyers Emmet Flood and Theodore Olson, but both declined to take the case. Story continues Trumps inability to assemble or maintain an experienced legal team could prove crippling if he is forced to square off against Mueller, a fearsome federal prosecutor assisted by 16 of the best lawyers in the country. Cobb and Dowd were the only members of the team with the relevant credentials. Sekulow rose to prominence as a conservative commentator and for his work on religious-freedom cases through his work with the American Center for Law and Justice. A team of roughly a half dozen individuals, also affiliated with the conservative nonprofit, are reported to be working with Sekulow on Trumps defense on a part-time basis. You wouldnt go to an ear and nose and throat specialist to perform heart surgery, Bauer told me. It is an odd notion that you just reach out and recruit lawyers that you are personally comfortable with . . . rather than select the people that have the experience and the training to address the very specific problem that you face. Bauer was withering when asked about the possibility that fellow New York attorney Marc Kasowitz might rejoin Trumps team, as my colleague Gabriel Sherman reported last week. There is nothing I know of that qualifies Mr. Kasowitz to take something like this on except that the president knows him and has had a good experience with him in the areas in which Mr. Kasowitz does practice. It is incredible to imagine that the president of the United Statesa billionaireshould be unable to secure proper representation. But Trump is hardly the ordinary presidential client. A tightfisted septuagenarian with an itchy Twitter finger, Trump is as infamous for stiffing contractors as he is for his mean streakhardly winsome character traits for top-flight attorneys with their choice of assignments. Youre kidding right? one Washington defense lawyer spat last year when I asked about the challenges of representing Trump. Representing this guy would be almost an impossibility. I mean I dont know who would want to do that. Hours before news broke that diGenova and Toensing would not be joining his legal team, Trump tried to throw cold water on the narrative that he couldnt find a good lawyer. Many lawyers and top law firms want to represent me in the Russia case . . . dont believe the Fake News narrative that it is hard to find a lawyer who wants to take this on, he wrote Sunday on Twitter. Fame & fortune will NEVER be turned down by a lawyer, though some are conflicted. But other members of the bar are skeptical. If he says many lawyers are willing to work for him, that may only be true because we have a country with a huge number of lawyers in it, Bauer said. But how many of the willing ones would have the credentials and experience for the job? Other members of the White House, after all, have had no trouble securing representation. White House counsel Donald McGahn, former chief strategist Steve Bannon, and erstwhile chief of staff Reince Priebus are all being represented by William Burck, for example. (Burck reportedly turned down a chance to work for the president.) Abbe Lowell, another heavy hitter, is representing Jared Kushner. Trump, meanwhile, keeps giving prospective law firms more reasons not to work with him. Trumps latest tweets reflect his low opinion of lawyers which is only one reason lawyers who care about their reputation dont want to represent him, Jeffress told me. He will no doubt find a lawyer eager to represent him but most lawyers are not. Given the sheer number of lawyers representing clients in Muellers probe, it is possible, too, that a small town like Washington is simply running out of white-shoe firms without conflicts. That was, after all, the reason that diGenova and Toensing ostensibly parted ways with Trump. Toensing has been representing Mark Corallo, who represented Trumps legal team last year, before resigning in the wake of revelations about Donald Trump Jr.s meeting with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer. Such a prosaic explanation, however, could mask more ominous concerns. What happened between last week, when DiGenova and Toensing were announced as joining the team, and yesterday? mused Neal Katyal, a former acting solicitor general under President Obama. The conflict of interest issue was apparent on Tuesday, and yet we were told they were joining the team and that Mark Corallo (the person with the most significant conflict) had waived any concern. Then Dowd resigns Thursday, and yet by Sunday DiGenova and Toensing are gone, leaving the president with only two lawyers. That strange development, Katyal posited to me, suggests that Robert Mueller may have intervened. Diligent prosecutors, when they see a defendant doing something profoundly dangerous to their self-interest (including hiring lawyers who have conflicts), will raise it with the defendant and suggest they rethink it, he explained. I think it very possible that that happened hereMueller is a scrupulous prosecutor and may have told Trump he had concerns about Trumps own rights. If it did happen, it would strongly suggest that Mueller is formally thinking of Trump as a target of his investigation . . . A prosecutor would issue such a warning to a target, not to a witness. Photo credit: Chevrolet From Road & Track With 755 horsepower on tap and big sticky tires, no one expected the Corvette ZR1 to be slow in a straight line. But the numbers it lays down, as confirmed by Corvette project manager Harlan Charles at the Sebring 12 Hours earlier this month, are truly bonkers for a rear-wheel drive car. The headline figures, per Corvette Blogger: Zero to 60 mph in 2.85 seconds, 0-100 mph in 6.0 seconds, and a 10.6-second quarter-mile at 134 mph. Charles himself told Corvette Blogger that these numbers are legit. It isn't said if these figures were set with the ZR1's standard seven-speed manual or its optional eight-speed automatic, but we assume it was the latter. It'll come as no surprise that these numbers make the ZR1 the quickest factory Corvette ever-Chevy quotes a 2.95-second 0-60 mph run for the automatic-equipped Z06, a tenth of a second slower than the new uber-Vette. It also makes the ZR1 as quick as the last base-model all-wheel drive Lamborghini Huracan we tested, and it's not far off the crazy-quick McLaren 720S. This news comes just a few months after Chevrolet announced the ZR1 beat the lap record at Virginia International Raceway. Now, we're just waiting to see what the ZR1 will do at the Nurburgring. So, let there be no doubt that the ZR1 is damn quick. But really, are you surprised? via GM Authority You Might Also Like Even as fuel prices are still low compared to their peaks of the last decade, automakers are ramping up production of electrified models to meet tough new fuel economy and emisisons standards, and Honda is not to be left out. The Japanese automaker on Monday revealed a handsome redesign for the Insight, whose formal debut takes place Wednesday at the 2018 New York auto show. A thinly veiled prototype was shown in January during the 2018 Detroit auto show. The new Insight, which reaches showrooms in the summer as a 2019 model, represents the third iteration of Honda's hybrid nameplate. It also represents the third body style for the car. The original Insight of the early 2000s was a 3-door hatch. The car morphed into a Prius-like 5-door hatch for its second generation. Its now taken on a somewhat stylish sedan form. The design looks a lot like that of the 10th-generation Civic, though Honda describes the new Insight as an upscale 5-seater positioned above the Civic. Nice touches include LED headlights, perforated leather, an 8.0-inch touchscreen display, and a Wi-Fi-enabled infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Buyers can also look forward to electronic driver aids such as automatic braking, traffic crawling, and lane departure warning. 2019 Honda Insight The real star of the show, however, is the car's 2-motor hybrid system. It uses a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine for its internal combustion component, plus a pair of electric motors that replace the transmission. Peak output is 151 horsepower and 197 pound-feet of torque, and there's a Sport mode for spirited driving. When you drive a bit more conservatively, Honda says the new Insight will deliver an EPA-rated fuel economy of 50 mpg combined or better. The previous Insight could only muster 41 mpg while popular hybrids like the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius return 58 and 56 mpg, respectively. Production of the 2019 Insight will take place at a plant in Greensburg, Indiana, where Honda produces the Civic and CR-V. Pricing will be announced closer to this summer's market launch. For more N.Y. auto show coverage, head to our dedicated hub. Shaky mobile phone footage of a motorcade zooming through the streets of Beijing deepened the intrigue on Tuesday surrounding whether a groundbreaking meeting had taken place between North Korea's Kim Jong-un and Chinese leaders. The motorbike convoy was just one of many clues for amateur detectives, who have this week been scrambling to piece together fragments of information about who is in town and why. After a dark green armoured train was spotted rolling through Beijing's suburbs on Monday, the motorcade was later seen heading towards a location where Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, typically hosts foreign dignitaries. Adding to the mystery, Beijing's already stringent security was notably heightened. Streets were blocked off by armed guards and police in hi-visability jackets, and Kim-watchers were given further ammunition as Chinese censors cracked down on mentions of Mr Kim and the reported visit from the internet. A train believed to be carrying a senior North Korean delegation leaves the Beijing Railway Station in Beijing Credit: REUTERS/Jason Lee The unusual activity all served to boost speculation that Mr Kim was making a secretive visit to the Chinese capital ahead of anticipated talks with Donald Trump, the US president. "North Korea likely wants to confirm its relationship with China and believes it has some leverage with which it can ask for things from China," Yoo Ho-yeol, professor of North Korean studies at Seoul's Korea University, told Reuters. If it was Mr Kim on the train - similar to the one his father used for his final Chinese trip in 2011 - it would mark the first foreign visit by the young North Korean leader and show that the hermit state is keen to shore up relations with its neighbour. Nearly two days after Japanese media initially reported a high-level North Korean official was visiting the capital, it was still unclear who the special attention was for. The green train was seen leaving Beijing station on Tuesday afternoon. China remained tight-lipped on whether there had been a visit. Kim Jong-il waving from a train while leaving Beijing in May 2010 Credit: KNS/AFP/Getty Images Questions about whether the trip had concluded after just one day were met with a terse statement from a foreign ministry spokesman, who said: "If there is news, we will release it." Story continues Mr Kim's name, "North Korea" and also "Kim Fatty the Third" - the name which Chinese web users use to ridicule the rotund leader - were all restricted on social media. Even phrases that riffed on the nickname - such as "Fatty Fatty Fatty has come" and "Fatty Fatty Fatty Beijing" - also appeared to have been banned from Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. The convoy entered Beijings Diaoyutai State Guest House on Monday night, and departed the compound just before 11am local time on Tuesday morning. Local security and the paramilitary police stood guard as unidentified men in plainclothes attempted to prevent photographers from taking pictures. Reports emerged of tourists being moved away from Tiananmen Square, near the Great Hall of the People, on Monday. The White House says Mr Trump plans to meet Kim Jong-un "by the end of May" Credit: AP Chinese leaders also often welcome foreign guests in the cavernous Mao-era building, leading sleuths to question whether Mr Kim was being given a tour. The timing of Mr Kims visit - if he was indeed visiting - is fortuitous. He has a summit with Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, scheduled for late April, and the much-touted meeting with the US president in May. At a possibly historic moment, before the start of a dramatic play on the Korean Peninsula, China was losing the spotlight, said Cheng Xiaohe, a North Korea expert at Beijings Renmin University told the the Washington Post, adding that the visit would boost Beijing's standing. After relationships thawed following the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics earlier this year, Mr Kim will attend an historic summit with South Korean leaders next month to resolve the stand-off over the North's advancing nuclear programme. The meeting with the US leader is much less certain, with nerves jangling about the strongmen's tete-a-tete. Mr Trump and Mr Kim have already exchanged barbs, with Mr Trump dubbing his Korean counterpart "Little Rocket Man" and Mr Kim calling the US President a "dotard". Zhang Liangui, a professor of international strategic research and an adviser on North Korean policy to the Chinese government, told The Daily Telegraph: "The US has pledged to seek a solution to this problem through the use of force if necessary, which makes it urgent for Kim to adjust his policy. North Korea | Inside the dysfunctional Kim family "I think he may have come to China to show he has changed his attitude." Past visits by Mr Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea. Paris (AFP) - Some 300 million people worldwide are living with the deadly hepatitis B virus (HBV), but only one in 20 received adequate treatment, researchers reported Tuesday. For expectant mothers carrying the virus -- which can be transmitted to their children -- that percentage drops to one in 100, they reported in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology medical journal. If left untreated, HBV can cause serious diseases of the liver, including cancer. An estimated 600,000 people die every year from hepatitis-B related liver diseases, making HBV a bigger killer than malaria. A test for HBV has been available since the early 1970s, but only one in ten sufferers worldwide have been diagnosed. The virus is highly contagious via infected blood or other body fluids, and is mainly transmitted from mothers to their infants, or between children. There is no cure, but antiviral drugs have proven effective in coping with symptoms. A vaccine against HBV became available in the early 1980s. Since 1992, the World Health Organization has recommended a first dose within 24 hours of birth, but only half of newborns are vaccinated that quickly. "Most mother-to-child transmission occurs within days of birth, so the birth dose is vital," said lead investigator Homie Razavi, a virologist at the Center for Disease Analysis outside Denver, Colorado. "All children need to receive this life-saving vaccine at birth, not just half of them," he said. Of the 16 countries that account for more than 80 percent of infections among five-year-olds, only China has scaled up vaccines-at-birth to 90 percent. Half of these nations have yet to put such a policy in place. To compile these statistics, Razavi and his team analysed data from 435 studies and canvassed the work of more than 600 national experts. They concluded that 292 million individuals were living with HBV in 2016, or nearly four percent of the global population. The virus is most common in east Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where prevalence is as high as 12 percent in the Central African Republic. Story continues China, India, Nigeria, Indonesia and the Philippines account for nearly 60 percent of all infections. "This study details the inadequate focus and expenditure on HBV treatment," Geoffrey Dusheiko of UCL Medical School and Kosh Agarwal from King's College Hospital wrote in a comment. "There is a need to raise awareness of HBV to the same level as that of HIV." This article was originally published on ETFTrends.com. Russia ETFs are reacting to President Donald Trump's expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats the US identified as intelligence agents and the closure of a Russian consulate in Seattle. The expulsion comes as a response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury on March 4. Of those being expelled, 48 of the alleged intelligence agents work at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 are posted at the United Nations in New York. The expulsion comes about 15 months after the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats because of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. According to CNN Politics, "The actions came less than a week after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his reelection. Trump did not raise the nerve agent attack during the call, and senior administration officials said the two leaders have not spoken since." Related: Russia ETFs Falter Following Putin Election Win 5 Russian ETFs React to explusion Over the past day, five U.S. listed Russian ETFs are all down as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time according to Yahoo Finance. VanEck Vectors Russia ETF ( RSX) down .91%. iShares MSCI Russia Capped ( ERUS ) down 1.08%. Direxion Daily Russia Bull 3X ETF ( RUSL ) down 3.02%. VanEck Vectors Russia Small-Cap ETF ( RSXJ ) up 1.09%. SPDR S&P Russia ETF ( RBL ) down 1.42%. The World Responds Many European countries made the same move as well including. Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Estonia, Italy, Poland and Lithuania, all announcing that they would be asking Russian diplomats to leave. Canada and Ukraine also said they would be asking Russian diplomats to leave. "The United States takes this action in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Story continues Britain's Gratitude British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson tweeted, Today's extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our shared security. Russia cannot break international rules with impunity. According to the Washington Post, "the show of solidarity was especially notable because Britains plan to leave the European Union has strained relations with many of the countrys neighbors." Breaking already weak ties According to Reuters, "Russias Foreign Ministry called the actions a provocative gesture and promised to respond." Moscow has denied being behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement, We take these actions to demonstrate our unbreakable solidarity with the United Kingdom, and to impose serious consequences on Russia for its continued violations of international norms. POPULAR ARTICLES FROM ETFTRENDS.COM READ MORE AT ETFTRENDS.COM > Tokyo (AFP) - A Japanese official at the heart of a cronyism and cover-up scandal that has dented Shinzo Abe's popularity said Tuesday that the prime minister's office was not involved in falsifying documents. In hotly awaited parliamentary testimony beamed live on national television, Nobuhisa Sagawa said only his office took part in altering key documents relating to a controversial land sale. "This is an issue only for the finance bureau (of the ministry) ... therefore we never reported outside the finance bureau ... not to mention reporting to the prime minister's office," said Sagawa, 60. He said neither Abe nor his cabinet secretary or finance minister had ordered the alterations. Sagawa's testimony came as fresh polls showed public support for Abe's government plunging by double digits, apparently due to the scandal, amid opposition calls for the prime minister to resign. However, the official declined to answer detailed questioning about how and when documents were altered, saying he was under criminal investigation. The scandal revolves around the 2016 cut-price sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator who claims ties to Abe and his wife Akie. The row deepened when the finance ministry admitted official records of the sale were altered, with references to Abe, his wife, and Finance Minister Taro Aso scrubbed. Abe has apologised repeatedly, but denies any wrongdoing. On Monday he pledged a "thorough investigation so that everything can come to light". - 'Properly calculated' - Sagawa was head of the finance ministry department that oversaw the sale in 2016, and was promoted to head Japan's tax agency the following year. As the scandal made national headlines, he stepped down, and the opposition has sought repeatedly to bring him before parliament to testify. Several times last year, Sagawa told MPs the price of the land "was properly calculated" and stressed there was no evidence of political pressure in the sale. Story continues Official documents relating to the sale were apparently altered to make them consistent with his testimony, according to the finance minister. Sagawa's testimony Tuesday was the first time he has been officially summoned to address parliament under oath. A career bureaucrat who began working at the finance ministry in 1982, Sagawa stepped down earlier this month, with some experts saying Abe's government hoped the resignation would draw a line under the scandal. But the opposition has continued to press Abe and his cabinet to take responsibility for the scandal, as well as pushing for Akie Abe to testify to parliament -- a request the premier's ruling party has so far rejected. The opposition says Sagawa's testimony "is only a first step towards revealing the whole truth" about the scandal. The affair took a tragic turn earlier in the month when an official from the finance ministry apparently involved in the scandal took his own life. The row has battered Abe's popularity and called into question whether he can still win a party leadership contest this September and become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. His approval rating plunged by 14 percentage points to 42 percent this month, according to a survey published Monday by the business daily Nikkei, with his disapproval rating at 49 percent. The liberal TV Asahi's poll Monday said public support dropped by 11.7 percentage points to 32.6 percent. TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's foreign ministry said on Monday it was declaring two Russian diplomats persona non grata because their activity was not compliant with their diplomatic status. In a statement, it did not refer to the nerve agent attack in Britain earlier this month that was blamed on Russia and which other countries cited as the reason for similar expulsions of Russian diplomats on Monday. Prime Minister Edi Rama earlier said the expulsions had been coordinated with fellow NATO countries and that "Russians who trod on the national interest will leave". (Reporting By Benet Koleka; Editing by Catherine Evans) LUANDA (Reuters) - The son of Angola's ex-president, Jose Filomeno dos Santos, has been charged with fraud relating to a $500 million transaction out of an account belonging to the central bank, the prosecutor general's office said on Monday. In a separate case, prosecutors also charged the head of the Angolan armed forces, Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, with involvement in a scheme to negotiate a fraudulent international credit line of $50 billion. Dos Santos is the highest profile figure to be charged since President Joao Lourenco succeeded longtime leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos last September pledging to tackle an endemic culture of corruption. British authorities that froze the $500 million in the UK due to suspicions over the transaction have said the money can now be returned to the oil-producing, southern African country. Jose Filomeno Dos Santos, the former head of Angola's $5 billion sovereign wealth fund, could not immediately be reached for comment. Dos Santos' passport has been seized and he is forbidden from leaving the country. Valter Filipe da Silva, former governor of the central bank, has also been charged with fraud in relation to the case, prosecutors said in comments transmitted by state radio. Da Silva could not be contacted for comment. Prosecutors said the alleged fraud does not fall under any of Angola's amnesty for financial wrongdoing or repatriation of overseas funds and the crime would not be pardoned. "A pardon will not work...This case will run to its final outcome," said Luis Benza Zanga, vice prosecutor general and head of the National Directorate for Criminal Investigations. (Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer; Editing by Joe Brock/Mark Heinrich) In the fall of 1998, at age 49, Ann Romney was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. "I couldn't go to the grocery store, I couldn't cook dinner, I couldn't get out of bed, I couldn't take care of myself, hardly," she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Romney remembers visiting her doctor at the time, who told her: "Come back when you're much worse, and we'll treat you with steroids. Those are the big guns we save for when you're really bad." She remembers thinking with fear and worry, "I'm really bad right now." Ann Romney also remembers thinking that her life was over. Multiple sclerosis is a nervous system disease that can cause a host of issues, from pain and numbness to loss of vision and loss of bodily or motor functions, and this can all happen on a sliding scale of severity. When she was diagnosed, Romney's husband, Mitt, was by her side. "He cried," she remembers. "And then he held me and he said: 'I don't care if you get in a wheelchair, I don't care if you make another dinner, we're gonna be fine. And we're in this together.'" Romney recalls going through a period of depression after her diagnosis, sometimes thinking "I'm worthless; I'm a burden," until she came to a point when she realized she had to stop grieving and start living. After a long hiatus, the lifelong horse lover began riding horses again. She also joined her politician husband on the campaign trail as he ran for governor of Massachusetts and later president of the United States. She figured she couldn't wallow in her sadness and pain any longer; she had to get up and move. "The dearest, most tender moments of campaigning were when people would come with neurologic diseases, a lot of them with multiple sclerosis, because they sympathized with me," Romney says. "They had so much emotion that they would literally collapse. I was grateful. They gave me energy. They gave me another reason to keep going." A few years after her diagnosis, Romney was referred to Howard Weiner, MD, a neurologist and the director of the multiple sclerosis program at Brigham and Women's Hospital. During her time as his patient, the two came up with the idea for the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases. The thriving research center is now co-led by Romney, Weiner, and Dennis Selkoe, MD. It is home to a team of 250 researchers who are working to find cures, prevention, and treatments for MS, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease, and brain tumors. "One of the biggest misconceptions [about MS] is that when you are diagnosed, you are going to die," Romney says. "That is not the case anymore." Reflecting on her own journey, she adds, "I'm now strong. I was weak. I found answers, and I fought my way through. Now I call it my gift," she says of MS and her ability to assist in the push to find a cure. "I know what it's like to be desperate," Romney shares. "I know what it's like to have no hope. And I don't want people to feel that way anymore. I am going to give people hope." A phalanx of 23 police motorcycles greets a mysterious armored train, adorned with a distinctive yellow stripe, and shepherds its occupants in dark sedans through the smoggy streets of Beijing. Visitors are ushered away from nearby the citys historic Tiananmen Square, and also from around Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, which has been frequented by North Korean officials. Someone very special had come to the Chinese capital this week. The arrival of Kim Jong Un, North Koreas Supreme Leader, in Beijing is historic in many respects. It is the first known foreign visit by Kim Jong Un since he ascended to the leadership of the Hermit Kingdom in 2011. His meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping marked his first encounter with another head of state. Kims arrival, first reported by Japanese media and later confirmed by Chinese state media, comes as the Swiss-educated 34-year-old prepares for historic summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April and U.S. President Donald Trump in May to discuss denuclearization. Read more: Dealmaker Donald Trump Faces the Ultimate Test Meeting Kim Jong Un Kim has tested dozens of missiles and his nations sixth nuclear device in the last year alone. His latest Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) flew 10 times higher than the international space station and is theoretically capable of devastating any American city. In his New Years address, Kim bragged that the entire area of the U.S. mainland is within our nuclear strike range. Three new rounds of U.N. sanctions since Trump took office didnt seem to have much effect. But then suddenly Kim has offered historic talks, saying via a South Korea official early March, there is no reason to have a nuclear program if military threats against the North are resolved and its regime is secure. Few predicted the turnaround. Some speculate that North Koreas elites are feeling the bite of sanctions. Others say that Kim is genuinely afraid of a preemptive strike by the U.S., a prospect that has grown more menacing after the appointment of two more hawks to Trumps inner circle: new (though as yet unconfirmed) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Still others believe Kim smells an opportunity. Story continues Its a move stemming from confidence after completing his nuclear weapons program hes seeking a deal, a senior former North Korean official who defected to the South tells TIME. He looks a lot more wild than his father or grandfather [former regime leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il], but I have seen him grow as a politician since his inauguration. Ive seen him grow as a strategic thinker. This picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 2, 2017 shows North Korean soldiers and residents holding a rally in Pyongyang. But a visit by Kim to Beijing first injects a new element of uncertainty. China is key to sanctions enforcement, given that 90% of North Korean trade passes over the same shared frontier where photos Monday evening showed that 21-carriage train trundling past the Chinese border city of Dandong. (The train appeared very similar to one that Kims father, Kim Jong Il, took to Beijing in 2011 and the younger Kim reportedly has a fear of flying.) Owing to pressure from Trump, Beijing has been enforcing the sanctions comparatively strictly, slashing imports of North Korea coal and labor that form the regimes main cash cow. But Beijing and Washington are only loosely aligned, and over the decades the Kim dynasty has been deft at exploiting the cracks between adversaries to further its goals. Both China and North Korea have incentives to meet, says Daniel Pinkston, an East Asia expert at Troy University in South Korea. Kim would want to address sanctions relief, economic cooperation, aid, loans. Theres not the same urgency about the nuclear issue in China as the U.S. views it. Read more: U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad Talks to TIME Its too early to say that any meeting means a rapprochement between the historic allies, which have grown estranged over recent decades as China flourished under reform and opening while North Korea festered in impoverished isolation. Xi may just be signaling to Trump and Moon that he will not be sidelined in any negotiations to end North Koreas nuclear program. But if Kim is ready to make concessions, then the fractures among nearby nations may widen. South Korea simply wants a lower temperature on the peninsula. Washington wants to ensure its military bases in South Korea and Japan remain intact. China, however, doesnt like American troops on its borders and is furious that South Korea hosts the American THAAD anti-missile defense system, which it believes is part of an U.S. strategy of containment. Plus, Trump has just launched tariffs on Chinese goods that may mark the first salvo of a trade war with Beijing. With tensions between Beijing and Washington growing once again, if Kim is willing to make a deal, President Xi may be tempted to put his own interests before those of the capricious occupant of the White House. After all, the long-term Chinese objective is to dismantle the San Francisco treaty system, says Pinkston, referring to the American-led East Asian alliances negotiated in 1951. To get the U.S. out of Asia and to extend their hegemony in the region and put China in the drivers seat in the security and economic realm. Buenos Aires (AFP) - Relatives of 90 Argentine soldiers killed in the Falklands War of 1982 paid tribute to them at their graves for the first time Monday, after the previously nameless remains were identified last year. Parents, siblings and other relatives traveled overnight Sunday to the South Atlantic islands and returned the same day under a diplomatic accord with Britain. The graves of the 90 soldiers were identified last year by the International Committee of the Red Cross via DNA testing on the remains. They were among 121 who, since the war, had been interred in graves labeled "no name." Altogether, there are 237 graves at the hilltop burial grounds known among Falkland Islanders as "the Argentine cemetery," with 31 sets of remains still not identified. Monday was an emotional day for those who are now able to stand by the grave they know to be holding the remains of their kin. "Now I know where he is. I could talk to him. I feel him close," said Dalal Massad, mother of Daniel Massad, who died on June 11, 1982 in one of the fiercest battles of the short but costly war. Argentina suffered 649 fatalities in the 74-day war, and Britain 255. "Nothing is going to change history. Nothing is going to change the loss that each of you suffered," Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie told the travelers before they set out Sunday night. "But in some way, looking at a plaque with their first and last name has a different value." The war began when troops dispatched by then Argentine dictator Leopoldo Galtieri occupied the archipelago. A British expeditionary force was sent to the Falklands, known by the Spanish-speaking world as the Malvinas, and took them back. Britain refuses to negotiate the status of the islands, as demanded by Argentina, arguing that the nearly 3,000 people living on the islands voted in a referendum in 2013 to remain part of Britain. Police tape marks the crime scene: REUTERS/Max Whittaker An Arizona mother has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder after her baby and toddler were found dead in a vehicle. Local police found Brittany Velasquez's 10-month-old daughter and two-year-old son strapped into car seats in a vehicle at the family home in Superior, located approximately 60 miles (97 km) east of Phoenix. A spokeswoman for the Pinal County Sheriffs Office, Navideh Forghani, said there was evidence of foul play found at the scene. She did not elaborate further. Local Superior police found the children at about 11pm and called detectives from the sheriffs office to assist with the investigation. Autopsies are set to be conducted on the bodies to determine exact cause of death. The victims names have not yet been released. Ms Foghani did not comment on how the children ended up being placed in the vehicle. She also did not comment on a possible motive for Ms Velasquez. It is not known if Ms Velazquez has an attorney who can comment on the case. The rural town of Superior has a population of less than 3,000. A veteran Washington, D.C., lawyer who reportedly turned down an offer to join Donald Trumps legal team has criticized the turmoil and chaos in the White House. He also indicated that attorneys arent as eager to work for Trump as the president has claimed. Ted Olson, who served as solicitor general in President George W. Bushs administration, rejected an offer to join Trumps legal team and represent the president in special counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian election interference, CNN and The Washington Post reported last Tuesday. Asked Sunday on MSNBC about ongoing Cabinet shakeups and government by Twitter in the Trump administration, Olson criticized the White House for turmoil beyond normal. I think everybody would agree this is turmoil, its chaos, its confusion, its not good for anything, Olson told Andrea Mitchell. We always believe that there should be an orderly process, and of course, government is not clean or orderly ever. But this seems to be beyond normal. Olson characterized his job offer to Mother Jones as a trial balloon shot down. Asked if any attorneys have reached out to him for a referral to the White House, Olson responded: Not at all. That seems to contradict Trumps declaration that many lawyers and law firms want to represent me for fame and fortune. He urged Twitter followers not to believe fake news saying otherwise. Trump said he ultimately decided not to bring in new lawyers because it would take them a long time to get up to speed. Besides, he said, he was happy with his team. Many lawyers and top law firms want to represent me in the Russia case...dont believe the Fake News narrative that it is hard to find a lawyer who wants to take this on. Fame & fortune will NEVER be turned down by a lawyer, though some are conflicted. Problem is that a new...... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2018 ....lawyer or law firm will take months to get up to speed (if for no other reason than they can bill more), which is unfair to our great country - and I am very happy with my existing team. Besides, there was NO COLLUSION with Russia, except by Crooked Hillary and the Dems! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2018 Prior to those tweets, the White House had asked Olson, as well as lawyers Joe diGenova and Victoria Toensing, to join Trumps legal team. Story continues Trumps lead attorney assigned to the Mueller probe, John Dowd, resigned last Thursday, reportedly because Trump wasnt planning to heed his advice in the Mueller probe, The New York Times reported. DiGenova and Toensing didnt take the jobs because of conflicts of interest with other clients, according to a White House statement. Related Coverage Lawyers Explain Why It Might Be Smart Not To Have Donald Trump As A Client Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The roommate of the accused Austin bomber is now a "person of interest" in the ongoing investigation, a Texas lawmaker told Fox News on Monday. Suspected bomber Mark Anthony Conditt, 23 years old, lived with two other people in Pflugerville, a city 20 miles outside Austin. The roommate's name has not yet been released. "He did have two roommates who were detained; one is still being questioned," said Representative Michael McCaul, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. "If you have knowledge of someone doing something like this, making bombs and terrorizing the community, you have an obligation to report that. If not, you're complicit with the conspiracy." Trending: More Lawyers Refuse to Work for Donald Trump on Russia Investigation Newsweek reached out to investigators for confirmation but did not immediately receive a response. McCaul said he found it unlikely that a roommate would be unaware of the bombing plot while sharing a home with the suspected bomber. suspected austin bomber Facebook Don't miss: D.C.-Area Military Sites Sent Suspicious Packages That Included Disturbing Letters "He did construct these bombs in the home, McCaul said, comparing the case to the Boston bombings. We know that much. We know that a robot had to come in and take out and dismantle bomb-making materials. Before blowing himself up, Conditt left behind a video in which he apparently showed "no remorse" for the spate of bombings that began on March 2 and terrorized Texas until March 21, McCaul said earlier. All told, two people died and a handful more were gravely injured. McCaul added that there was nothing in the video that led him to believe the attacks were racially or religiously motivated, as many suspected they were. Most popular: League of Legends Remilia Blames Chris Badawi On Twitter For Her Ongoing Medical Issues Story continues At this point, the investigation is shifting into low gear as police ready to make any final arrests. "When we talk about ongoing investigation, even though the operation center has wound down at this point, what is continuing at this point is the questioning of the roommate, McCaul said. Conditts family said they had no idea he was planning an attack or was even capable of one. Additionally, authorities used words like challenged to describe the 23-year-oldterminology that some believed was influenced by racial and cultural biases. He does not at all mention anything about terrorism or anything about hate, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said after the shooting, describing the video confession. Instead it is the outcry of a very challenged young man talking about challenges in his personal life that led him to this point. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Australian government on March 27 announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats in support of a global effort against the Kremlin over an alleged nerve agent attack on a former spy who lived in Salisbury, the UK. Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and foreign minister Julie Bishop said two Russian diplomats, who were identified as undeclared intelligence officers, had been ordered to leave Australia within a week. Turnbull said the March 4 nerve agent attack was a shocking crime that cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. He said the incident, along with the annexation of Crimea and the downing of a commercial airliner over eastern Ukraine, where 38 Australians died, formed a pattern of recklessness and aggression by the Russian government. Russian diplomats were also expelled from other countries including the UK, the US, Canada, Norway, Macedonia and a number of Euoprean Union countries, according to BBC. The Kremlin denied any involvement in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, who and his daughter, Yulia, remained in critical condition at the time of publication, The Guardian reported. Credit: Parliament of Australia via Storyful Kathmandu (AFP) - A wheelchair-bound Australian who reached Everest base camp under his own power said Tuesday he was "humbled" to be the first paraplegic to make the gruelling journey mostly unaided. Scott Doolan, 28, took ten days to reach the foot of the world's highest peak. He suffered a stress fracture while navigating the rocky terrain and extreme altitude -- in his wheelchair where possible, on his hands and occasionally being carried. Doolan reached the camp, 5,364 metres (17,598 feet) above sea level, on Sunday, taking barely longer than many able-bodied trekkers. "I was struggling to breathe at that time because I was walking on my hands but I just remember looking up and seeing a crowd of about 20 people. Once I actually got there they all start cheering and that was pretty damn humbling," Doolan said of the moment he reached base camp. Walking on his hands, in a technique he dubbed "wheelbarrowing", Doolan wore through five pairs of gloves during the trek. And on day seven, one of the front wheels of his wheelchair snapped off. "I was pretty devastated. I was just sitting by myself on a rock, thinking how am I going to do this now," Doolan told AFP in the Nepal capital Kathmandu. "We could have called it quits or found a way." The team tied a rope to the broken side of the wheelchair to stop it tipping. But negotiating the narrow and sheer paths became even more fraught. Doolan -- who has been confined to a wheelchair since he broke his spine in a motorbike accident aged 17 -- spent eight months training for the trek. He did daily cardiovascular and strength training to build upper body strength. But he said that despite all the training, the journey was "100 percent more difficult" than he had expected. "I didn't expect the terrain to be so brutal. I've never seen anything like that before and I've never trained on anything like that," he said. The journey took its toll on Doolan and he was airlifted from base camp on Sunday to Kathmandu, where he was admitted to hospital. X-rays revealed he had a stress fracture in his tailbone but he is expected to make a full recovery. Doolan is now mulling his next adventure -- and also wants to swim for Australia in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Vienna (AFP) - In 2010, Vienna airport saw the biggest spy swap since the Cold War. Among those Russia deported was Sergei Skripal, poisoned with a nerve agent in Britain on March 4. Eight years later, Austria's refusal to join most other EU nations in expelling Russian diplomats shows it once again wants to be the conduit for East-West mediation. The exchange on July 9, 2010 could have been lifted from the pages of a spy novel, happening as it did in Vienna, the imperial city of waltzes and chocolate cake that was also a murky Cold War nest of spies. The Russian and US aircraft parked next to each other on the tarmac of Vienna airport and both took off within 15 minutes of the swap, well away from the media. Ten agents including glamorous tabloid darling Anna Chapman were swapped by the US for four men freed by Russia, including Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer. In 2006, Skripal had been sentenced in Russia to 13 years in jail for betraying agents to Britain's MI6 secret service. The 10 sent back to Russia were members of a "deep cover" network of spies posing as ordinary Americans arrested in an FBI swoop in June 2010 after a decade under surveillance. - 'Military-grade' agent - Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in a critical condition after being found unconscious on a park bench in the English city of Salisbury earlier this month. Britain says a military-grade nerve agent was used to poison them, pointing a finger at the Kremlin, which has angrily rejected accusations of being behind the crime. Twenty-four countries including the United States, Australia and 17 European Union member states have expelled almost 150 Russian diplomats. But Austria, an EU member, has not followed suit, stressing its "neutrality" and saying it wants to act as a "mediator" between Russia and the West. "Indeed, we want to keep the channels of communication to Russia open," Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said in a joint statement. Story continues "Austria is a neutral country and sees itself as a bridge-builder between East and West." - 'Frozen ambition' - "If you want to build bridges, it seems to be the interpretation of the Austrian government that (expelling Russian diplomats) would be excessive," Paul Schmidt at the OeGfE think-tank told AFP. He also suggested Austria's new right-wing government did not want to risk harming its sizeable commercial ties to Moscow. Kurz visited President Vladimir Putin in late February and Putin, last in Vienna in 2014, will reportedly return the favour soon. The far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), junior coalition partners since December, has a "cooperation pact" with Putin's United Russia party. Stefan Lehne, a former Austrian diplomat now at Carnegie Europe, said that there is a tradition in Austria dating back to the 1950s of reluctance to irk Moscow which resonates with voters. However, Lehne said that any ambition to be the broker in the current crisis was likely misplaced, a "slight disconnect from geopolitical reality of today". "Nobody else looks at Austria as a bridge-builder any more. It's sort of a frozen ambition from the past which has never really survived but has very few links to reality," he told AFP. - Brits 'not unhappy' - Emil Brix, former Austrian ambassador to Britain and until July 2017 to Russia, agreed that the chances are "limited" that Austria can play a big mediator role between Moscow and the West. "But Austria does enjoy trust in Russia when it comes to relations with Europe," Brix, now the director at the Diplomatic Academy Vienna, told AFP. Moreover, some European countries find Austria's current ambivalent position "very useful", he said. "This is also my impression from my British contacts that they are not unhappy at all that Austria supports EU Council decisions but also wants to keep talking to Russia," Brix said. "That is kind of Austria's special role." By Jonathan Spicer NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bangladesh is not expecting much help from foreign donors as it forges ahead with plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya refugees to an uninhabited island, an undertaking that does not yet have a timeline, a state minister said in an interview. The minister of state for foreign affairs, Mohammed Shahriar Alam, told Reuters on Friday that Bangladesh was paying the entire roughly $280 million to build homes and fortify the muddy island in the Bay of Bengal from cyclones, and that it was mulling a formal request for international funds. No refugees who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar would be moved there against their will, he added. Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims crossed the border from Myanmar's Rakhine state since August, and are in cramped camps at Cox's Bazar. Because a repatriation deal between the neighboring countries has been delayed, Bangladesh aims to prepare new homes on the nearby island, called Bhasan Char, before the onset of seasonal monsoon rains that could come in late April. "We don't have a timeline because it's a lot of money," Alam said at Bangladesh's United Nations office in New York. "We are so far building it with our own finances. I am not very hopeful about how much funds the international community will be able to raise." The latest wave of refugees joined about 300,000 Rohingya already in Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest and most crowded countries, who fled previous bouts of violence. A U.N. coordination branch has separately requested $951 million for immediate relief. Alam pointed to blueprints of construction on the island 30 km (21 miles) from the mainland, and said one plan could be to bring potential donors there. (For an interactive graphic of the island, see: http://tmsnrt.rs/2C6gWk5) He brushed off as "misunderstandings" concerns raised by humanitarian groups such as Amnesty International that the silt island was vulnerable to flooding. "Some people raised concerns about Bhasan Char (but) there is absolutely no reason to be concerned because we are building an embankment," he said. Bangladesh sees the island as a temporary arrangement for refugees but has given conflicting signals on how much freedom they would have to leave once there. Alam said Bangladesh shared the building designs with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which suggested "we engage people, countries and organizations to come help and contribute" to the cost. "We are yet to do it," the minister said. "We haven't decided on that." (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) By Marwa Rashad, Sarah Dadouch and Abdulrahman al-Ansi RIYADH/SANAA (Reuters) - The Houthi movement that controls northern Yemen vowed on Monday to fire more missiles into Saudi Arabia unless it stops bombing the country, after one of its missiles caused casualties in the Saudi capital for the first time. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis accused them of using Iranian-made missiles. Spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said the coalition reserved the right to respond to Iran "at the appropriate time and manner", under international law and within the framework of the United Nations, to protect Saudi Arabia. The incident threatens to sharply escalate a war that has already unleashed what the United Nations considers the world's most urgent humanitarian crisis. Millions of Yemenis live under threat of mass starvation and disease, at the mercy of combatants who have sometimes cut off food and medical supplies. Saudi forces said they shot down three missiles over Riyadh shortly before midnight. Debris fell on a home in the capital, killing an Egyptian man and wounding two others. Air defences also repelled missiles fired at the southern Saudi cities of Najran, Jizan and Khamis Mushait, the coalition said. The attacks stripped away the sense of calm in Riyadh, a city which until recent months had never quite felt at war. A Houthi leader hailed the attack, which took place as Yemen marked the third anniversary of the start of the war. "We praise the successful advance of military capabilities," Houthi political council chief Saleh al-Samad told tens of thousands of supporters in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. "If they want peace, as we have said to them before, stop your air strikes and we will stop our missiles," he said. "If you continue your air strikes, we have a right to defend ourselves by all means available." The war pits a coalition of Sunni Arab states friendly to the West against the Houthis, a Shi'ite armed movement sympathetic to Iran. The Houthis, who deny they are Iranian pawns and say their movement is a national revolution against corruption, control the north of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia and its allies have been fighting on behalf of an exiled government with a foothold in the south. DANGEROUS ESCALATION Al-Malki accused Iran of providing the Houthis with ballistic capabilities and said the international community must "work together to combat this dangerous escalation" which threatened security in the region and beyond. At a press event in Riyadh, he displayed what he said were the remnants of a missile fired into Riyadh alongside an Iranian-manufactured Sayyad 2 missile he said had been part of a seized shipment on its way to Houthi fighters in Yemen. Independent U.N. experts reported to the Security Council in January that Houthi missiles they had examined and other military equipment had been manufactured in Iran. Last year, when the Houthis fired missiles at Riyadh which were intercepted, the Arab coalition responded by shutting Yemen's airports and ports. The United Nations said that blockade raised the prospect of mass starvation before it was partially lifted. Thousands of air strikes on Yemen, some of which have hit hospitals, schools and markets, killing hundreds of civilians, have brought the coalition little closer to military victory. Saudi Arabia has said hundreds of its own soldiers and civilians have been killed in Houthi mortar and short-range missile attacks across their rugged southern border. The United Nations says 10,000 people have died in the war, and three out of four Yemenis -- 22 million civilians -- need relief aid. More than 1 million cholera cases have been reported, the worst outbreak in modern history. Western countries have urged Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies to protect civilians and find a quick end to the war. But they also support Riyadh's argument that it needs to defend itself from cross border strikes and limit the spread of Iranian influence in territory overlooking important trade routes. The U.S. Pentagon blamed Iran for exacerbating the conflict. "This follows Iran's pattern of providing advanced weapons to the Houthis," spokeswoman Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Rebarich said in a statement. "Iran has enabled the conflict in Yemen to spill into neighbouring countries and undermines international efforts to resolve the conflict, exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people." French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, appearing to refer to Iran, said in a statement that the transfer of missile capabilities to non-state actors that may be used against states is "irresponsible and contrary to law". Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, a Saudi military ally, tweeted: "The message of the Houthi-Iranian missiles is clear. There's no coexisting with a terrorist militia which threatens the stability of our region and is a proxy of Tehran." Qatar, which has been under months of sanctions from Arab countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, also condemned the attacks on Saudi cities as "a violation of international law". The Saudi military depends on service contracts with Western arms companies to keep its planes flying. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the war in recent visits to U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May. Diplomats and Yemeni political officials reported this month that the Houthis and Saudi Arabia were conducting secret peace talks after years of U.N.-mediated dialogue yielded no results. (Additional reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and John Irish; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Ghaida Ghantous and Catherine Evans) Associated Press The boyfriend of Gabby Petito, whose body was found at a national park in Wyoming after a cross-country trip with him, was charged with unauthorized use of a debit card as searchers continued looking for him Thursday in Florida swampland. A federal grand jury indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Wyoming alleges Brian Laundrie used a Capital One Bank card and someone's personal identification number to make unauthorized withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000 during the period in which Petito went missing. FBI spokeswoman Courtney Bernal declined to reveal the nature of the charges made to the debit card. Damascus (AFP) - The largest convoy yet of Eastern Ghouta evacuees arrived in northwestern Syria Tuesday as the regime threatened to resume its blitz if the last remaining rebels do not leave. Government troops, backed by Russia and loyalist militia, launched a ferocious assault more than a month ago to retake the enclave on the outskirts of Damascus. They have recaptured more than 90 percent of it and are draining the last rebel-held pockets through negotiated withdrawals brokered by Russia. Russia and the Syrian regime it supports reportedly threatened to resume their blistering bombardment if the last holdout pocket that includes the main Ghouta town of Douma does not agree to a similar deal. Jaish al-Islam, the powerful Islamist faction that holds Douma, had hoped talks with Moscow would result in their staying in the town, instead of being bussed out like other rebels. But negotiations have stalled and Russia is reverting to its initial "leave or die" approach, two opposition sources close to the negotiations said. "At the end of their meeting Monday, the Russians gave Jaish al-Islam two choices: surrender or face an attack," one of them told AFP. Jaish al-Islam spokesman Hamza Bayraqdar had said the negotiations were for a deal whereby the group lays down its heavy weapons in exchange for government-provided water and electricity returning to the town. Two deals have already seen thousands of rebels, their relatives and other civilians bussed out of bombed-out Ghouta districts to Idlib, a northwestern province that is mostly out of government control. - Thousands board buses - The largest numbers have quit the towns of Arbin and Zamalka, and the adjacent district of Jobar, all controlled by the Faylaq al-Rahman Islamist faction. The group reached a deal with Moscow on Friday and its implementation began the following morning with nearly 1,000 people boarding buses and leaving. The numbers have grown steadily since, with the biggest convoy yet departing in the early hours of Tuesday with more than 6,700 people aboard. Story continues They arrived Tuesday afternoon in the Qalaat al-Madiq area of central Hama province, a staging ground frequently used in such deals, an AFP correspondent said. In Qalaat al-Madiq, a man wearing an ammunition belt unloaded a bag from a bus hold, while a young man with his leg in a cast was wheeled away by rescue workers. That convoy brought the total number of evacuees from areas under Faylaq al-Rahman's control to more than 13,000 people. The group's spokesman, Wael Alwan, has said as many as 30,000 people could be evacuated in all. President Bashar al-Assad has used such evacuation agreements to recover swathes of territory since the uprising against his rule began seven years ago this month. They have usually begun with the military encirclement of an area, followed by bombardment and a ground operation before a deal is reached. Eastern Ghouta lies within mortar range of Damascus, and rebels had repeatedly used it as a launchpad for rocket attacks on the capital. The regime responded with a crippling half-decade siege of the enclave's 400,000 residents, sealing off access to food, medicines and other goods. - Rebel prisoners freed - On February 18, the regime, its ally Russia and loyalist militia launched an all-out air and ground assault that killed more than 1,600 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based monitor said it had also documented the detention of more than 40 men and boys by Syrian troops in recaptured areas. Devastating air strikes and artillery fire have reduced large parts of Ghouta to ruins, forcing their residents to abandon them. At a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the failure of a 30-day ceasefire resolution adopted on February 24 should be a "day of shame" for council members. Russia hit back that it was the only country working to turn the ceasefire into a reality on the ground in Syria. Some 110,000 people have fled into government-held territory, most of them on foot or motorbike, through corridors opened up by the army and its Russian allies, according to state media. The United Nations says around 55,000 of them are housed in very basic conditions in regime-run temporary shelters on the edge of Ghouta. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council the departures were voluntary and that Moscow's forces were providing food, shelter and medical aid to those in need. Moscow has brokered talks with the rebel groups that control the three remaining pockets of the enclave. The first agreement, with hardline Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham, saw more than 4,500 people, including rebel fighters, leave the town of Harasta last week. Under the second deal, rebels from Faylaq al-Rahman are being given safe passage to the northwest, along with thousands of civilians, in exchange for releasing prisoners they were holding. Eight were freed on Sunday and another 26 the following day, state news agency SANA said. Myriota makes use of a satellite-based communications system to monitor Internet of Things devices. (Myriota via YouTube) Boeings HorizonX venture capital arm has made its first investment outside the U.S., as part of a $15 million Series A funding round for an Australian satellite-based IoT startup called Myriota. Myriota makes use of low-power micro-transmitters to connect with a constellation of nanosatellites thats operated in league with Canada-based exactEarth, and send snippets of data from remote sensors to a cloud-based processing platform. The system could let farmers know how full their water tanks are, for example, or monitor personal black-box recorders worn by soldiers on the battlefield. Myriota says its system fills a need thats likely to become more urgent in the years ahead, due to the proliferation of connected devices known collectively as the Internet of Things, or IoT. By 2025, there could be as many as 75 billion connected devices, generating trillions of dollars annually, analysts say. The Internet of Things has a major connectivity problem: hundreds of millions of devices that need to communicate but dont have cost-effective, battery-friendly networks to do so, Myriota CEO Alex Grant said today in a news release. Myriota solves this problem. Myriota CEO Alex Grant holds one of the companys low-cost, long-battery-life satellite transmitters. (Myriota Photo) The company was created in 2015 as a spin-out from the University of South Australia in Adelaide. ExactEarth provided $1.55 million in seed funding, plus in-kind contributions. In February, Myriota said it would open a $2 million Internet of Things Innovation Lab in Adelaide. The newly announced $15 million investment round is led by Australian venture capital firms Main Sequence Ventures and Blue Sky Venture Capital, with additional participation from Boeing HorizonX, Singtel Innov8 and Right Click Capital. The fact we have managed to engage such a stellar list of investors doesnt just underline the quality of our tech and IP it also gives us access to highly strategic resources and capabilities as we move to the next level, Grant said. We are excited to have global investors like Boeing Horizon X and Singtel Innov8 supporting our mission to deliver the Internet of Things for everyone, everywhere. Story continues Boeing HorizonX didnt disclose the amount of its participation, but it says its investments generally fall in the multimillion-dollar range. Part of the mission of Boeing HorizonX is to pursue and accelerate innovations coming out of startups around the world. By investing in Myriota, we are proud to support Australias startup ecosystem and growing space industry, Steve Nordlund, vice president of Boeing HorizonX, said in a statement. Myriotas technology influences how we think about space-based communications and connectivity in remote locations. Although this is HorizonXs first investment in an Australian venture, its by no means the first time Boeing has been involved in tech Down Under. Boeing supports a set of space-related R&D projects in partnership with Australias Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, or CSIRO, and has launched its largest autonomous-systems development program outside the U.S. in Queensland. Boeing also has made a five-year, $383,000 (AU$500,000) commitment to support the Techstars global accelerator program in Adelaide. HorizonX was created a little less than a year ago and serves as Boeings channel for outside investments in technologies that are relevant to the companys interests in aerospace, manufacturing and communication. The other companies in the HorizonX Ventures portfolio include: One of HorizonXs investments is still in stealth mode, Boeing says. More from GeekWire: DUBAI (Reuters) - A senior Iranian official said on Sunday it was "shameful" that U.S. President Donald Trump had named John Bolton as national security adviser because of his ties with rebels whom Iran sees as "terrorists", the state news agency IRNA reported. Commentators said last week when Bolton was named that it signaled a toughening of Washington's stance on Tehran and another nail in the coffin of the Obama-era agreement between Iran and world powers to limit Tehran's nuclear ambitions, already cast into doubt by Trump himself. "For a seemingly superpower country, it is shameful that its national security official would be receiving a salary from a terrorist sect," IRNA quoted Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying. Bolton has been a supporter of the exiled Mujahideen-e Khalq (People's Mujahideen) armed opposition group which Iran sees as terrorists, and has spoken at the group's events. Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for Bolton, said on Sunday that Bolton "doesn't respond to propaganda from a government long included on the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism." There was no immediate comment from the White House. In a speech at an opposition group event near Paris in July, Bolton expressed hope that Iran's government would be toppled "by 2019". Mujahideen-e Khalq, which earlier had bases in Iraq since the 1980s, began as a group of Islamist leftists opposed to Irans late Shah but fell out with Shiite Muslim clerics who took power after the 1979 revolution. It was one of the largest factions immediately after the revolution. But diplomats and analysts say it is difficult to determine the level of support for the group now inside Iran, where many Iranians cannot forgive it for siding with Saddam Hussein during Irans war with Iraq in the 1980s. The U.S. government designated the group a "terrorist" organization in 1997, but the designation was lifted in 2012. Members have been interned in camps in Iraq in recent years awaiting resettlement. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom, additional reporting by John Irish in Paris and Jim Oliphant in Washington; editing by Kevin Liffey and Grant McCool) By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said on Monday he will decide next week whether to resign to run for the presidency, as he competes with President Michel Temer for the nomination of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) party. Aides to Temer, who is considering seeking a second term, announced earlier on Monday that Meirelles had already decided to quit to join the MDB as its presidential candidate or possibly as Temer's running mate in the Oct. 7 election. However, Temer, who came to power in 2016 when President Dilma Rousseff was impeached, later clarified that talks with Meirelles over the weekend had reached no conclusion regarding the MDB ticket. Temer's closest political allies want him to run to continue his government's fiscal adjustment program, but party members do not see how he can win with approval ratings in the single digits. Meirelles, if not any more popular, has a lower disapproval rating than the president. Meirelles, 72, a former banking executive and central bank governor, insisted on Monday that he was aiming for the top job. "I am looking at the presidency, evidently. But we have to see what people want and consider electoral factors to avoid a negative result for the country," he told reporters. Temer's chief of staff, Eliseu Padilha, said Meirelles would leave to join the ruling party, which opens the possibility that he will be nominated if Temer decides not to run. "The natural candidate is President Temer, but if he does not want it or can't run, minister Meirelles' candidacy would be very welcome," Temer's minister of political affairs, Carlos Marun, told Reuters. Marun later said Meirelles' entry to the MDB party had not been decided yet. Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles wants to be a candidate, he has to quit the ministry by April 7. He has kept Brazilians and investors guessing for weeks about his plans. Story continues A presidential aide said Meirelles discussed his future with Temer on Friday and Saturday, and proposed Finance Ministry secretaries Mansueto Almeida and Eduardo Guardia as potential replacements. Pollster Ibope found in December that only 6 percent of Brazilians think Temer is doing a good or great job, while 74 percent see him as bad or terrible. Political analysts say Temer, a veteran 77-year-old politician, needs at least a 15 percent approval rating to enter the campaign, and to lower his disapproval to close to 50 percent to stand any chance of winning. (Reporting by Lissandra Paraguassu; Additional reporting by Bruno Federowski, Iuri Dantas and Mateus Maia; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Leslie Adler) SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the owner of a herd of around 100 horses after they were found starving to death or already dead on a snow-bound mountainside. Images of the dead or severely weakened horses on Mount Osogovo near the border with Macedonia in western Bulgaria have shocked the Bulgarian public and animal rights groups, and many have called for swift punishment of the owner. Around 70 horses have died so far and those that are still alive remain in a serious condition, Rumyana Arnaudova, spokeswoman for the chief prosecutor, said on Tuesday. "We have information that the person who committed the crime had an obligation to take care of the animals ... The owner of the horses had received quite substantial sums in grants from the European Union for horse breeding," she said. Environmentalists discovered the horses on Sunday on the mountainside, about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) above sea level, and immediately informed police and the emergency services, but deep snow hampered the rescue operation. "They are in a terrible state," said Elitsa Dimitrova, one of the activists who found the animals. "The horses are in great danger because of the deep snow and low temperatures and because of the wolves. They still lack water, food and shelter. "They literally stand in the snow and have no way to move. They are starving, they have not eaten for a long time. And they are helpless - when their strength gives up, they just fall into the snow." Arnaudova said the punishment for such cruelty to animals is currently up to three years in jail and a fine of up to 5,000 levs ($3,170). (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Gareth Jones) A different kind of bunny is topping the charts a week before Easter. A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo, a childrens book in which the rabbit belonging to the family of Vice President Mike Pence is gay, topped the Amazon.com sales charts one week after it was introduced by John Oliver on Last Week Tonight. And the book is not just topping the childrens charts. Its #1 on the list of best-sellers for the whole site. Meanwhile, the book penned by the Pence family, Marlon Bundos Day in the Life of the Vice President, is at #10 on Amazons overall list and 7th on the childrens charts. Its a similar story on the Barnes & Noble website, where the Oliver-backed bunny book is ranked at #1, beating out top-selling authors such as James Patterson and Rick Riordan. The Pence family version is at #40 on that list. Publishers Weekly and The New York Times have not yet printed their bestseller charts. Oliver unveiled the book last week after broadcasting a long segment on Pences hostility toward the LGBTQ community. He then urged viewers to buy it, if only to tick off the vice president. Proceeds from A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo, penned by Last Week Tonight writer Jill Twiss and illustrated by EG Keller, will be donated to the Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ youth, as well as the AIDS United charity. Youd be doing a nice thing in a really dickish way, Oliver said. And isnt that the dream at the end of the day? Sales from the book continue to grow despite the fact that its out of stock while a second printing is rushed to press. Proceeds from the Pence family book are also going to charity: Tracys Kids, an art program for children with cancer, and A21, which fights human trafficking. Charlotte Pence, daughter of the vice president and author of the familys bunny book, said she even bought a copy of the Last Week Tonight version. I also want to support those charities, she told The Hill last week. I really mean that. Story continues Also on HuffPost Close-up of rabbit snout and whiskers Rabbits, Lepus sp., in the Falkland Islands Young three weeks old whtie dwarf rabbit on grass in a garden 23899277 Rabbit with long ears, close-up My lopped ear rabbit was relaxing in the afternoon. An Arctic hare is seen standing amidst snowy land, Canada. a Little Lop Ear Rabbit Standing on a White Floor, Looking Sideways, High Angle View, Differential Focus Stuffed rabbit sitting on grass with carrot Baby rabbit (bunny) in spring flower meadow. Bavaria, Germany. European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on alert, Ashdown Forest, Sussex, England BROWN AND GRAY BUNNIES Cottontail USA, Wyoming, Sublette County, Nuttalls Cottontail Rabbit A very cute fluffy white Easter bunny rabbit sitting. Northumberland, England 'Rabbits on a meadow, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Bavaria, Germany, Europe' Two rabbits on a meadow My oldest rabbit is eleven years old now. The green chair is her favorite. Copyright A Lapin _faon All Rights Reserved. Rabbit on alert (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Ashdown Forest, Sussex, England Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. NAIROBI (Reuters) - Authorities in Burundi have arrested the head of an opposition party, members of his party said on Tuesday. Aloys Baricako, president of the opposition ground RANAC (National Gathering for Change) was apprehended on Monday evening in the central town of Gitega where he had traveled to attend a funeral, party spokesman George Nikiza said. "The intelligence services in Gitega confirmed his arrest to us and said he was detained for inquiry," Nikiza said. The small and impoverished Central Africa nation has been rocked by insecurity since 2015, when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to seek a third term in office that his opponents said was unconstitutional. Opponents of Nkurunziza's third term launched an armed struggle against his government, and the resulting violence has killed hundreds of people and forced at least 400,000 into exile. Some of those who fled were opposition politicians who said they feared for their lives. Baricako's party RANAC was a coalition of three political parties during the 2015 elections and registered as a single party in December 2016. (Writing by Maggie Fick; Editing by Peter Graff) By Sharon Bernstein SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California's attorney general on Tuesday joined an investigation into this month's killing of an unarmed black man standing in his grandparents' backyard by Sacramento police, a death that sparked street protests. The slaying of Stephon Clark, 22, was the latest in a long string of fatal shootings of black men by police officers that have raised questions about race and justice in the United States and fueled the Black Lives Matter movement. "Due to the nature of this investigation, the extremely high emotions, anger and hurt in our city, I felt it was (in) the best interest of our entire community ... to ask the attorney general to be an independent part of this investigation," Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn, the department's first black leader, said at a news conference. Local Black Lives Matter leaders said they were unimpressed by the move and planned a protest at the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office to call for the investigation to be conducted by the city's civilian Community Police Review Commission. "The community needs to be the one that leads the investigation," Tanya Faison of the Sacramento branch of the Black Lives Matter movement said at a separate news conference. Two Sacramento officers, responding to a report of someone shattering car windows, shot Clark in his grandparents' backyard the night of March 18. Clark was holding an object the officers believed was a firearm, but after he fell they only found a cell phone by his body, police said. The family disputes police accounts that Clark was breaking car windows and plans to file a lawsuit against the city. "We fully expect that the California Attorney General's Office will do a complete and thorough investigation that is fair and impartial," Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney, said in a statement. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said state investigators will act independently while overseeing the investigation, and will also review the Police Department's procedures and practices. Sacramento police have not released the names of the two officers who opened fire, citing concerns about their safety. One officer is white and the other is black, and they both have been placed on leave, police said. (Reporting by Peter Szekely in New York and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Dan Grebler and Matthew Lewis) What began as an unseemly scandal for Cambridge Analytica is drifting into the realm of potential illegality. Last week, former Cambridge employee Chris Wylie recalled in an interview how the data-mining firm took discrete steps to comply with U.S. campaign-finance rules, establishing its operation with deliberate finesse. Such attention to detail, however, was apparently short-lived. Despite an explicit warning from an attorney to abide by laws limiting foreign involvement in domestic elections, Cambridge Analytica reportedly assigned at least 20 non-U.S. citizens to work on congressional and legislative campaigns for Republican candidates in 2014, former employees told The Washington Post: The assignments came amid efforts to present the newly created company as an American brand that would appeal to U.S. political clients even though its parent, SCL Group, was based in London, according to former Cambridge Analytica research director Christopher Wylie. Wylie, who emerged this month as a whistleblower, provided The Washington Post with documents that describe a program across several U.S. states to win campaigns for Republicans using psychological profiling to reach voters with individually tailored messages. The documents include previously unreported details about the program, which was called Project Ripon for the Wisconsin town where the Republican Party was born in 1854. In a memo, New York attorney Lawrence Levy reportedly advised the companys leadership that British C.E.O. Alexander Nix would have to be recused from substantive management of any such clients involved in U.S. elections. Foreign nationals could collect and process data, the memo warned, but may not play strategic roles including the giving of strategic advice to candidates, campaigns, political parties or independent expenditure committees. Yet Nix was reportedly part of multiple conference calls in which strategic matters were discussed. Worse, according to Wylie, the task force working on the program was virtually entirely foreign. Its a dirty little secret that there was no one American involved in it, that it was a de facto foreign agent, working on an American election, said Wylie, who provided documents to the Post detailing a staff of 41 employees and contractors, and a budget of some $7.5 million between April and July 2014. Cambridge Analytica, Levy, and Nix all declined the Posts request for comment. Story continues According to Wylie, Levys memo was raised in multiple conversations between co-founder Steve Bannon and Nix, who was recently suspended from the company after an undercover video was released that appeared to show him discussing possible bribes and extortion schemes to ensnare political rivals. (Bannon, too, declined the Posts request for comment.) Speaking anonymously for fear they may have breached U.S. law in their campaign work, two other Cambridge Analytica workers told the Post that anxieties around the legality of Cambridge Analyticas work in the United States were commonplace, especially after the 2014 vote. Some within the company suspected that it gave its foreign employees inaccurate immigration documents indicating they were not in the U.S. to work on advising campaigns. We knew that everything was not above board, but we werent too concerned about it, said one former staff member, who spent several months in the U.S. It was the Wild West. Thats certainly how they carried on in 2014. Christopher Wylie The Washington Post Cambridge Analytica, which claims that most of the Republican candidates it worked with in 2014 won their races, also provided support for candidates in Arkansas, New Hampshire, and North Carolina through a super PAC controlled by John Bolton, who has just been named Trumps third national security adviser. A spokesman for Bolton told the Post it was he, rather than Cambridge Analytica, who made decisions related to the super PACs work, adding that the contract with the company stated Cambridge Analytica was in compliance with applicable laws. Fallout from the Cambridge Analytica bombshell has likewise landed across the Atlantic, placing certain inhabitants of 10 Downing Street in an exceptionally uncomfortable position. Over the weekend, as the authorities raided Cambridge Analyticas office, the Observer reported that Vote Leavea pro-Brexit group led by foreign secretary Boris Johnson and environment secretary Michael Govemight have breached referendum rules. According to whistleblower Shahmir Sanni, then a recently graduated volunteer with the company, a 625,000 donation was funneled to an ostensibly independent campaign group called BeLeave, and then passed to the digital-services firm AggregateIQ (AIQ), which as Gizmodo reported on Monday, created software for Cambridge Analytica. That donation, Sanni alleges, was in breach of electoral rules because Vote Leave shared offices with BeLeave and essentially controlled the smaller organization, which was run by 23-year-old fashion student Darren Grimes. Rules require campaign groups that coordinate with each other to have a shared spending limit. Sanni also alleged that, after the Electoral Commission opened an investigation, senior Vote Leave figures began deleting traces of their presence in files shared by the two groups. (In response to the Observer, Grimes said that any allegations of wrongdoing were damaging and untrue.) I know that Vote Leave cheated . . . I know that people have been lied to and that the referendum wasnt legitimate, Sanni said in a separate interview with Channel 4. In effect, they used BeLeave to overspend, and not just by a small amount . . . Almost two-thirds of a million pounds makes all the difference, and it wasnt legal. (The official Brexit-campaigns director, Dominic Cummings, described that claim as factually wrong and libelous. Johnson, who famously claimed that leaving the E.U. would generate an extra 350 million a week to spend on the National Health Service, dismissed Sannis claims as ludicrous.) Though Sanni is still a believer in Brexit, he was spurred to speak out for a bleaker reason: he believes Grimes was exploited. Charged with helming BeLeave in his twenties, and advised to put his name on official documents, Grimes was the one fielding calls from reporters rather than their experienced colleagues over at Vote Leave. Vote Leave didnt really give us that money. They just pretended to. We had no control over it. We were 22-year-old students. Youre not going to just give nearly a million pounds to a pair of students and let them do whatever, he says. Darrens working-class as well. And its his name all over this. Hes the one being investigated. Its his name on the form. And he just did what Vote Leave told him. Alexander Nix Cambridge Analytica Dominic Lipinski - PA Images Following his decision to come forward, Sanni endured what appeared to be a pointed attack at the hands of said Downing Street denizens: in a statement delivered without Sannis consent, former Vote Leave official Stephen Parkinson, now Theresa Mays political adviser, publicly outed him as gay, stating that the pair dated each other for a year and a half, including during the period when Parkinson was at Vote Leave and Sanni worked as a volunteer and treasurer at BeLeave. Sanni, whose family was unaware of his sexuality, has accused Parkinson of trying to twist his story into some sort of romantic vendetta. I didnt want to talk about this at all because it is not relevant, he said. I had to come out to my mother the day before yesterday as well as my entire family, as well as take security precautions in Pakistan for my family. May defended Parkinson in the House of Commons on Monday, saying that she would not fire Parkinson over the statement, and that he does a very good job.) As the Cambridge Analytica vortex continues to produce increasingly alarming reports shrouded in obfuscation and corporate jargon, the apparent exploitation of Grimes and Sanni by older, more savvy players offers a disquieting interpersonal footnote to a story about unregulated technologies shaping democracy. Christopher Wylie, the former employee of Cambridge Analytica who alleged that the data firm had harvested data from 50 million Facebook users, told Members of Parliament in the U.K. that he believes his predecessor at the firm was poisoned in a Kenyan hotel room after a deal went wrong. Wylie told a parliamentary select committee that he was told by the firm a few months after he began his position that the man whose job he took, Dan Muresan, had died in Kenya. Muresan was in his thirties when he died, said Wylie. Wylie emphasized that what he had heard was pure speculation, but that he had been told Muresan had been working on a political deal that soured, that Muresan had been poisoned, and that police had been bribed not to enter the hotel room. That is what I was told. I wasnt there. I cant speak to the veracity of the account, but thats what I was told, he said. Christopher Wylie was a part-time contractor who left in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of our work or practices since that date. Cambridge Analytica (@CamAnalytica) March 27, 2018 Wylie is appearing before British lawmakers to testify about his role at Cambridge Analytica, which is under fire after Wylie alleged that it obtained data from millions of Facebook profiles without users knowledge in an effort to aid U.S. political campaigns, including President Donald Trumps. The firm tweeted Tuesday morning that anything Wylie knew about its operations was outdated, since he left in 2014. Christopher Wylie was a part-time contractor who left in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of our work or practices since that date, the firm tweeted. Cambridge Analytica has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said it deleted the Facebook data when it learned it violated Facebooks policies. The revelations have led to calls from both Washington and London for new regulations on how Facebook and other firms handle user data. Ottawa (AFP) - Canada on Monday ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats and denied credentials for three others over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. "We are taking these measures in solidarity with the United Kingdom," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said. "The nerve agent attack in Salisbury, on the soil of Canada's close partner and ally, is a despicable, heinous and reckless act, potentially endangering the lives of hundreds," she said. The four diplomats serving at either Russia's embassy in Ottawa or its consulate in Montreal have been "identified as intelligence officers or individuals who have used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada's security or interfere in our democracy." Applications by Russia to add three more diplomatic staff in this country were denied for similar reasons. Sergei Skripal, a former Russian officer who sold secrets to Britain and moved there in a 2010 spy swap, remains in critical condition along with his daughter, Yulia, after they were found unconscious on a park bench in the sleepy English city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain says a military-grade nerve agent was used to poison them. Freeland called the nerve agent attack "a clear threat to the rules-based international order" and a breach of conventions against chemical weapons use. She added it was "part of a wider pattern of unacceptable behavior by Russia, including complicity with the Assad regime (in Syria), the annexation of Crimea, Russian-led fighting in eastern Ukraine, support for civil strife in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other neighboring countries, interference in elections, and disinformation campaigns." Montreal (AFP) - The Canadian province of British Columbia vowed Monday to press on with a legal battle against a controversial oil pipeline after a federal court dealt the province a setback. Authorities in British Columbia oppose the government's decision to let the American firm Kinder Morgan increase the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline from 300,000 to 800,000 barrels per day. The conduit links oil sands fields in Alberta province to the outskirts of Vancouver, from where oil is shipped overseas. The social-democrat government of British Columbia went to court against that authorization. But the Federal Court of Appeal ruled Friday against the provincial government's bid to appeal a National Energy Board ruling that allows Kinder Morgan to bypass local bylaws during work on the pipeline to boost its pumping capacity. "We are very disappointed that the Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed our application to appeal," said the provincial Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman. "Our government will continue to explore other legal ways to defend the interests of British Columbians against this unnecessary project." Another lawsuit brought by indigenous Canadians has reached the provincial supreme court. Opponents of the pipeline point to the risk of oil spills at sea and the danger this poses for endangered sea mammals. They also say that, by increasing the volume of oil shipped to the US and Asian markets, the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ignoring its commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Santiago (AFP) - Chile's constitutional court on Tuesday struck down a law that would have banned universities operating for profit, dealing a blow to free tuition reforms brought in by former leftwing president Michelle Bachelet. In a 6-4 decision, the court's judges sided with a group of private universities that challenged the measure as unconstitutional. Bachelet, who ended her term early this month, hit back on Twitter to say the ruling "distorts the democratic decision to eliminate profit from higher education." During her 2014-2018 rule she had pushed to expand free university tuition in Chile, seeking to discard changes made in 1981 under the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship that allowed the private sector to offer higher education for a fee. The move was popular with Chilean students, and her successor, conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera, had vowed to uphold it. A small group of around 20 students protested outside the constitutional court on Tuesday before being dispersed by police. "Chilean families have been taking to the streets for a long time to say we don't want for-profit education, that we don't want businessmen filling their pockets from the resources of hundreds of thousands of students," said Rodrigo Rivera, spokesman for the national students' association CONFECH. In its ruling, the court endorsed other parts of Bachelet's reform, shaking up the state education system and financing measures. China has begun conducting massive maritime combat drills, including dozens of vessels mobilized in the South China Sea as part of what the military said would be bigger, more frequent exercises in the tense region. While the Chinese navy announced days ago it would begin training in the South China Sea, recent satellite imagery gathered by Planet Labs revealed Tuesday an unusually large formation of warships that included China's first aircraft carrier, the Type 001 Liaoning. The vessel, a refurbished Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, was seen last week sailing near China's rival government on the island of Taiwan and its participation in recent drills could signal serious weight behind Chinese President Xi Jinping's vow to take the territory back by force. Related: Russias and Chinas Presidents Are Winning Big as They Challenge U.S. and Take Power From West Trending: Drunk Florida 13-year-old Boy wanted to Be the Next School Shooter, Authorities Say "Its an incredible picture," Jeffrey Lewis, a leading defense expert at the California-based Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies, told Reuters, which obtained the images exclusively. "Thats the big news to me. Confirmation that, yes, the carrier participated in the exercise," he added. RTX5E3VX Planet Labs/Reuters RTX5DV4G Planet Labs/Reuters Don't miss: Cynthia Nixon Selling Unqualified Lesbian Campaign Buttons for New York Race The Chinese navy's official web portal reported Friday that the maritime forces would begin training in the South China Sea in the coming days, emphasizing that the maneuvers were "routine" and not "aimed at any particular country or target." Citing People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke, official ruling Chinese Communist Party newspaper The Global Times then reported on Sunday that H-6K bombers and Su-30 and Su-35 fighters would join a naval combat patrol mission. Story continues "The South China Sea and East China Sea will be primary battlegrounds. The PLA is committed to being battle-ready through simulated combat training," Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping said, according to The Global Times. "The 2018 drills will be routine and will be held every month, unlike in previous years," he added, noting that such drills were previously conducted only in spring and autumn. China's military has undergone widespread reforms and has been rapidly enhancing its warfighting prowess under the mandate of Xi, who was unanimously re-elected last week during a National People's Congress session that followed the abolition of presidential term limits. Days later, Xi told the gathering any attempt to split up China was "doomed to failure," a reference to Taiwan, which was founded as a separatist government after nationalist leaders fled a 1949 communist victory in the mainland. Most popular: Meghan Markle's Exes: A List of Her Boyfriends and Husbands Before Prince Harry ChinaPLANavyShooting Gu Yagen/China Military Online RTX3AXDP Bobby Yip/Reuters The Defense Ministry of Taiwan said Monday it scrambled its jets in response to Chinese H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters and Shaanxi Y-8 transportation aircraft flying over the Bashi Channel that lies between Taiwan and the Philippines. The ministry also complained about China's Liaoning aircraft carrier group entering the country's Southwest Air Defense Identification Zone last week. Chinese officials and commentators have suggested naming their country's next and first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A after Taiwan because the vessel, which was undergoing preparations for its first sea trial, represented "high expectations among the Chinese people over solving the Taiwan question," Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company chairman Liu Zheng told official Central Chinese Television earlier this month, The Global Times reported Tuesday. President Donald Trump has not only challenged China's sprawling territorial claims and construction of militarized islands in the South China Sea, but he has also recently signed a Taiwan Travel Act and new tariffs on steel and aluminumtwo measures intended to undermine Chinese political and economic power. In response, Chinese official media has said Beijing should prepare for a potential "military clash" to reclaim Taiwan, and Chinese ministries pledged to "take all necessary measures" to protect their interests. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Lyle J. Goldstein Security, Asia A Russian battle tank fires during a demonstration at the international military-technical forum Beijing may take lessons from the Kremlins new paradigm for military intervention. China Is Studying Russia's Syrian Gambit It has long been recognized that the closer alignment between Moscow and Beijing that goes back nearly three decades now provides each with ample political and diplomatic benefits. A less well explored aspect of the relationship could examine how these partners learn from one another in various domains, including in the crucial area of strategy. I have pointed out in this forum before that Chinese strategists have looked carefully at the war in Ukraine and the related Crimea annexation. This edition of Dragon Eye takes a close look at a Chinese assessment of Russias military intervention in Syria. Chinas interpretation of the Syrian War could turn out to be quite significant. I have recently argued in that Beijing could play a major role as one among several disinterested (and thus neutral) major powers in helping to fashion a diplomatic solution to the Gordian knot that is the Syria situation today. Such a role would be quite consistent with its ambitions to be a genuinely global power, providing global public goods for international security, and simultaneously facilitating the opening of vast trade corridors spanning Eurasia. Yet, there is a potentially darker side of Chinas examination of the Syrian War. Indeed, there is a danger revealed in this late 2017 study published in the journal Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies [] of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Put simply, that danger is that Chinese strategists could conclude that the Russian war in Syria provides a valuable paradigm for possible future Chinese uses of force in distant theaters as anti-terrorism military operations []. This treatment of Russias war in Syria assesses the intervention as providing numerous benefits [], over and above speeding the destruction of ISIS. The intervention, according to this rendering, also significantly increased Russias standing in the world, altered the international system, increased Russians self-confidence, and also seized the initiative in the struggle with the West []. The author characterizes the Kremlins actions against Ukraine in 2014 as resolute [], but also notes that Russia suffered serious economic consequences as its trade fell off precipitously, so that the poverty level exceeded 15 percent of the Russian population, as related in this Chinese study. Thus, it is recognized that President Vladimir Putin made the ruling to intervene in force in Syria against the complex background of Russia confronting relatively difficult external and internal circumstances. [] Story continues It is noted that the Syrian War has afforded Moscow a test of the results of its military building program in recent years and the results of reforms []. At the grand strategic level, the Chinese strategist suggests that the Kremlin views Syria as its advanced post [] near the gate of the eastern Mediterranean. Thus, the intervention is also interpreted as confronting NATO pressure against Russias southern flank. The piece, moreover, lays out the case for why Russias intervention could be legal, while the U.S.-led coalition has not received either the agreement of the UN Security Council, nor the blessing of the Syrian government. The Chinese assessment also sounds a bit naive in wholeheartedly embracing the Kremlins explanation that Russia is only fighting terrorism, and is not supporting any particular political force Addressing momentarily the arguments of skeptics, this analysis explains that for Russia, it is important that it not be drawn into a long war It is noted that the West has begun to talk about Russias second Afghanistan []. But the author sees Moscow executing a new type of war [], relying on such methods as long distance precision strikes, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), surprise, and signals intelligence. Putin is cited approvingly as underlining the importance of preemptive attack against international terrorists []. The piece suggests that Putin has the backing of a broad internal consensus in Russia to fight against terrorism, perhaps arising from the fact cited by the author that Russia is a country that has suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists. By relentlessly fighting against terrorism, the author explains, Moscow has been able to portray itself as the real friend of the Arab World. [] Moreover, Russias Syrian War has, according to this Chinese assessment, broken the Wests hegemonic position in the region. One of the most interesting sections of this paper is an evaluation of the information war about Syria that has been underway between Russia and the West. The author notes that the West led by the United States has used all means available, to unleash propagandistic attacks to smear Russia to the highest degree [] with the hope of sparking a colored revolution that overthrows Putin [, ]. The paper even goes so far as to tabulate (literally in a table) almost a dozen discreet efforts to paint Russia as a wicked imperialist power [] as a part of the information war []. Yet, this appraisal suggests that Russia has been winning this information war and reaping diplomatic benefits. It notes that the Syria operation has by now successfully split the NATO camp [] in that Turkey has gone from being an enemy to becoming a close friend of Russia. Coordination has been undertaken with countries, such as Israel, according to this analysis. Examples of Arab leaders thanking Putin are described. Moreover, the piece asserts that the Ukraine situation has taken on a much less urgent priority, as well. [ ]. In the end this Chinese assessment concludes without reservations that Russias international position and influence has increased in the wake of the Syria intervention. Syria is on a path toward stabilization, so it is claimed, and the Kremlin has also vanquished the opposition forces supported by the United States, to boot. The intervention amounts to a great achievement []. Credit is even given to Russia for alleviating the European refugee crisis. Many readers will be offended by this Chinese analysts evidently impudent conclusions. Undoubtedly, this reflects a one-sided appraisal and also the controlled nature of Chinese media reporting. Syria does not seem to be anywhere near on the verge of peace and Russias intervention appears to have had numerous problems, including obviously excessive civilian casualties in Syria. Lets also not forget the economic and human costs to Russia itself that are hardly negligible. After the last two decades of warfare in the Middle East that only seems to grow more chaotic, it seems a stretch bordering on absurdity to believe that any external power can successfully coax the region in a peaceful direction. The alternative of disengagement may well present the best alternative that allows local actors the autonomy to sort out their differences on their own. Yet this Chinese assessment may well be more significant for what it says about Chinas future foreign policy than anything it says about Syria, of course. As Beijing grasps to define its new role in the world, there will be many temptations for it to wield its new military power across the globe and especially in the vast, unstable area where it is helping to build a Belt and Road. The paradigm adopted from Russias intervention in Syria of fighting terror and simultaneously building support and self-confidence at home could become nearly irresistible to the Chinese leadership. But deploying its shiny military into situations far and wide around the world presents the road to perdition and could even significantly imperil the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. Beijing would be much wiser to limit the scope of its expeditionary forces abroad and keep them cautiously under blue helmets. Lyle J. Goldstein is professor of strategy in the China Maritime Studies Institute at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He is also an affiliate of the new Russia Maritime Studies Institute at NWC. You can reach him at goldstel@usnwc.edu. The opinions in his columns are entirely his own and do not reflect the official assessments of the U.S. Navy or any other agency of the U.S. government. Image: A Russian battle tank fires during a demonstration at the international military-technical forum "ARMY-2016" in Moscow region, Russia, September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev Read full article By Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former Chinese investment fund manager has lost a bid to dismiss charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that he made $36 million from insider trading after being tipped about DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc's acquisition by Comcast Corp and Lattice Semiconductor Corp's planned acquisition by a private equity fund. U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken said the SEC had offered enough detail in its civil complaint against Michael Yin to support its claim that he misappropriated confidential information about the planned deals, denying a motion to dismiss the case Yin filed last June. A lawyer for Yin could not immediately be reached for comment. Yin worked at Hong Kong-based Summitview Capital Management Ltd before resigning in February 2017, around the time the SEC brought the insider trading charges, according to the agency. Summitview was not accused of wrongdoing and could not immediately be reached for comment. The agency said that Yin bought more than two million DreamWorks shares through five brokerage accounts in April 2016 shortly before the company's acquisition by Comcast became public, causing its stock to surge and making Yin $29 million. The agency said Yin may have been tipped off by his friend Chaofeng Ji, who worked for China-based Legend Capital. Legend was working at the time on a potential partnership with PAG Asia Capital, which in turn knew of the DreamWorks deal because it had made a rival offer for the company, the SEC said. The SEC said Ji controlled one of the five brokerage accounts and named him as a "relief defendant" for the purpose of seeking disgorgement of funds. He lives in Beijing and no lawyer represents him in the case, according to court documents. PAG and Legend were not accused of wrongdoing and could not immediately be reached for comment. Yin also bought more than seven million shares of Lattice through the five brokerage accounts beginning in July 2016, the SEC said, making more than $7 million in profits after Chinese-backed private equity firm Canyon Bridge Capital Partners' plan to buy the microchip maker became public in November 2016. Story continues The SEC said that Yin learned of Lattice's planned sale directly from an insider at Canyon Bridge, which was not accused of wrongdoing. The fund declined to comment. The DreamWorks deal closed in August 2016. The Canyon Bridge deal was blocked by U.S. President Donald Trump in September 2017. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler) Nairobi (AFP) - Eight prominent columnists working for Kenya's biggest media group quit Tuesday over what they said was increased meddling by government and a loss of media freedom at its outlets. The columnists include George Kegoro, executive director of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission; Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki, Africa director of the Open Society Foundation; and Nic Cheeseman, professor of democracy at Birmingham University. "I resign to protest the growing infringement on media freedom. I resign to show solidarity with the voices that have been silenced. I resign because we must live our beliefs," Cheeseman wrote on Twitter. In a joint statement, the eight highlighted several incidents in recent years that they said pointed to meddling in the independence of the Nation Media Group (NMG). These included the firing of a managing editor after an editorial critical of the presidency and failing to renew the contract of popular cartoonist Gado who regularly took aim at government. Last month, NMG sacked the manager of its NTV station, Linus Kaikai, after he said there had been collusion between media owners and government to censor coverage of the mock swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who maintained he won elections last year. NTV and two other television stations were pulled off air for a week -- despite court orders directing they be put back on -- as they attempted to cover the ceremony. The media suspension was attacked by the UN, the United States and rights watchdogs. "A worrying pattern has emerged where it appears the executive [government] is able to influence who works for or contributes to NMG," read the joint statement. "Censoring individual columnists signals official intolerance for dissenting views and suggests executive willingness to go to any length -- even co-opting editors -- to achieve its aims." The NMG is the biggest private media house in East Africa, operating in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Story continues The group responded to the mass resignation "with regret" and assured readers they remained "committed to media freedom". "We wish to reiterate that overall we have honoured our obligation to respect their views and did not tamper with their positions except to correct basic errors," the group said in a statement. Kenya is recovering from a damaging election season in 2017 which saw a first vote overturned by the Supreme Court, and a second boycotted by Odinga who claimed the election would not be free and fair. Protests during the crisis left at least 92 dead, mostly shot by police, according to rights activists. In a surprise move earlier this month, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga shook hands and vowed to reconcile in a bid to heal divisions -- a decision which has thrown the opposition NASA coalition into disarray. Havana (AFP) - The Cuban government has admitted to "errors" in implementing the economic reforms that President Raul Castro ushered in seven years ago to revamp the island's Soviet-style economy, the state-run Granma newspaper said Tuesday. The critique was delivered at a two day meeting of the Cuban Communist Party's Central Committee presided by Castro, who steps down as president next month after ten years in office. Granma said Marino Murillo, the coordinator of the effort, told the committee the pace of reforms has slowed in part because of the complexity of the issues involved but also due to "errors in planning and control." Castro introduced the reforms in 2011, opening the top-heavy, centralized economy to small private businesses and foreign investment. The changes resulted in a burst of new activity in the first years, as Cubans opened restaurants and other small service-oriented businesses. But as some Cubans accumulated wealth under the more liberal rules, Cuban authorities have looked on with disapproval, denouncing "illegal activities" in the private sector. Granma said the Central Committee complained about the "lack of a tax-paying culture in the country" and that policies were being misinterpreted by the public. It also approved new legal norms governing the activities of an estimated 580,000 private sector workers. The committee concluded that the overhaul of the Cuban economic model should continue, but that state entities should be more involved and assume greater responsibility for the process. The Granma account said all the reforms "are in the process of being reviewed," and that the priorities include a move to a single currency -- Cuba has two currencies -- and the drawing up of a national economic and social development plan through 2030. Nicosia (AFP) - Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades hailed as "unprecedented" Tuesday the European Union's condemnation of Turkey for blocking his government's search for offshore oil and gas. The statement from EU leaders on Thursday came after Turkish warships blocked an Italian drillship for weeks from exploring for gas in part of the island's Exclusive Economic Zone. "For the first time, there is an unprecedented strong condemnation of Turkeys continuing illegal activity in the eastern Mediterranean, which of course includes the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus," Anastasiades told an oil and gas forum. "I would like to express my satisfaction with the strong expression of solidarity by the EU," he added. Anastasiades accused Turkey of "gun-boat diplomacy" for "physically obstructing Italian energy firm ENI from reaching its planned drilling area in exploration Block 3 of our Exclusive Economic Zone. The block is one of seven claimed by the breakaway Turkish Republic of North Cyprus in the absence of a deal to end the island's four-decade division. Turkey back the Turkish Cypriot claim and also disputes part of other blocks on its own account saying they form part of its own continental shelf. But Anastasiades, whose government is internationally recognised and a member of the EU, argued that the real aim of Turkey was to control energy supply routes in the region. "Turkey's actions are aimed at achieving the country's long-term goal of becoming an exclusive energy supply hub for the European Union... to control the natural gas supply from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe. He said Turkeys argument about protecting the rights of Turkish Cypriots were "unfounded". "We have repeatedly and publicly stated that the natural resources of the Republic of Cyprus belong to all Cypriots -- Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike," he said. Cyprus expects more exploratory drills, as US giant ExxonMobil with Qatar Petroleum plan two drills in the second half of this year. Story continues The standoff over oil and gas exploration risks undermining efforts to relaunch reunification efforts after the collapse of a UN-backed peace conference last year. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to a coup in Nicosia backed by the military junta then ruling Greece. Repeated rounds of talks on reunifying the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation have all failed. By Andrew Osborn and Christian Lowe MOSCOW (Reuters) - Investigators looking into a fire that killed at least 64 people at a busy shopping mall in Siberia said on Monday a security guard had turned off the public address system and exits had been illegally blocked. The fire, one of the deadliest in Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union, swept through the upper floors of the "Winter Cherry" shopping center in the city of Kemerovo, where a cinema complex and children's play area were located, on Sunday afternoon. Dozens of children were feared to be among the dead. Vladimir Putin, re-elected last weekend, expressed "deep condolences", the Kremlin said. But the president has yet to speak publicly about the tragedy, which has stirred anger in Kemerovo, a coal-producing region about 3,600 km (2,200 miles) east of Moscow. Russia's Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, said it was trying to bring in the mall's owner for questioning and wanted to detain a security guard who turned off the public address system after learning of the blaze. "Serious violations (of the law) took place when the mall was being built and when it was functioning. The fire exits were blocked," Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for the committee, said in a statement. Four people have already been detained, including two employees of the firm that services the mall's fire alarm. Emergency services said they had extinguished the fire, but later said it had reignited in places, and that rescuers were struggling to recover bodies because the building's top floor had collapsed. It was unclear if any people were still unaccounted for. Health Minister Veronika Skortsova said from the scene that 13 people were in hospital, including an 11-year-old boy in a serious condition. Russian media said the boy had leapt from a window and that both his parents had been killed. Many of the victims will only be able to be identified via DNA testing, officials said. An unofficial list of those missing circulating on Russian media included more than 20 children, some as young as five. Mobile phone messages sent from one of those on the list, 13-year-old Maria Moroz, and published by Russian media, said: "We are burning. I love you all. This is perhaps farewell." ANGER Alexander Lillevyali told online newspaper Meduza that he and his wife Olga had lost all three of their daughters, two aged 11 and one five, in the blaze. He was cited as saying he had dropped the girls off at the cinema and that one of them had phoned later to say the auditorium was filling with smoke and that they couldn't get out because the doors were locked. He described how he had led rescuers up the stairs, but that they had been ordered to go elsewhere and that rescuers, citing regulations, had refused to give him a respiratory mask. "My daughters were left to burn because of their bloody rules," Lillevyali told Meduza. Anna Kuznetsova, Russia's children's rights commissioner, said the fire had been caused by incompetence and that similar shopping centers across Russia should be urgently checked. Pro-Kremlin politicians called for anyone found guilty of negligence or worse to be harshly punished. Witnesses told Russian media the fire alarm and sprinklers had failed to function. Video footage showed a group of people in a smoke-filled staircase trying to smash a fire exit door, which was jammed. The cause of the blaze remains unclear. The Interfax news agency cited an unnamed local official source as saying the main theory being looked at was that the fire had been caused by an electrical short circuit. However, it quoted Vladimir Chernov, the region's deputy governor, as saying on Sunday that the blaze may have started when a teenager set fire to the rubber foam on a trampoline in a play area using a lighter. Other officials were quoted as saying the blaze may have been started by candles used in a children's celebration. State TV said the mall opened in 2013. Official documents showed it last underwent a fire safety check in 2016. The Kremlin rejected criticism from some journalists that state TV had been slow to publicize the fire. Mourners left flowers near the scene of the blaze - thought to be the deadliest since 2009 when 156 people were killed in the city of Perm when an indoor pyrotechnics display at a nightclub went wrong. (Additional reporting by Maria Kiselyova, Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Polina Nikolskaya; Editing by Andrew Heavens and John Stonestreet) By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The former head of a federal agency helping U.S. states protect election systems from hackers has been hired for a similar role within the Trump administration after being passed up for reappointment by Republican Speaker Paul Ryan and the White House. Matthew Masterson, a member of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission who until recently served as its chairman, has accepted a senior adviser position within the Department of Homeland Security's cyber wing to continue working on election security and related issues, the department said in a statement on Monday. The hiring means Masterson, widely viewed as a key election security official, will continue to work with states and federal agencies on the issue heading into November's midterm contests, which some intelligence specialists fear may be targeted by Russia or others. In a statement, Chris Krebs, a senior cybersecurity official at DHS, praised Masterson as "instrumental in bridging gaps between federal, state, and local governments" to improve election cybersecurity. "Matt is one of the most equipped to advise on this non-partisan issue and will be an asset to the organization," Krebs added. Masterson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters reported last month that Masterson was being replaced by Ryan and the White House for a second four-year term as one of the election agency's four commissioners despite being a popular figure among state election officials, many of whom praised his expertise and leadership on cyber security issues. Masterson, a former election official in Ohio, had been picked for a commissioner post by former Republican House Speaker John Boehner and formally nominated by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2014. News of his pending departure led some state election officials, security experts and Democrats to accuse Republicans of not taking the issue of election cybersecurity seriously enough, despite repeated warnings from senior U.S. intelligence officials that Russia and others are likely to interfere in this year's November midterm contests. There is intense scrutiny of the security of U.S. election systems after a 2016 presidential race in which Russia interfered, according to American intelligence agencies, to try to help Donald Trump win with presidency. Trump in the past has been publicly skeptical about Russian election meddling, which DHS has said included initial probing of at least 21 states' networks. Trump last week signed a federal spending bill that includes nearly $400 million in funding to help states safeguard voting systems from cyber attacks. (Reporting by Dustin Volz; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) MANILA (Reuters) - Some rights groups may have become "unwitting tools" of drug lords in the Philippines to undermine the president, his spokesman said on Monday, a statement that Human Rights Watch said was "shameful" and risked provoking violence. Rights groups have denounced President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs in which thousands of people have been killed, either by police or by shadowy, unidentified gunmen. Duterte, who says he must be tough to protect the people from the scourge of drugs, has criticized rights groups saying they were "trivializing" his campaign and unjustly blaming the authorities for bloodshed. Drug lords have suffered huge financial losses since the campaign was unleashed 20 months ago and drug syndicates were trying to destabilize the government, the president's spokesman, Harry Roque, said in a statement. "We therefore do not discount the possibility that some human rights groups have become unwitting tools of drug lords to hinder the strides made," Roque said, without naming any rights group. Roque said attacks on the president's war on drugs had been "vicious and non-stop", echoing comments by Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano last week after he defended the policy at a U.N. human rights council meeting in Geneva. Roque did not offer any evidence to support the suggestion that rights groups were being used by drug lords. The anti-narcotics campaign has raised international alarm and drawn criticism from some U.N. representatives, including High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, who suggested recently that Duterte needed to see a psychiatrist. Police say they have killed more than 4,200 drug suspects who were violently resisting arrest since the launch of the crackdown, which Duterte has vowed to pursue until he steps down in June 2022. Several thousand more people have been killed by unidentified gunmen. Police suspect many were victims of gang wars though activists believe vigilantes supporting the government campaign were responsible for many of the killings. Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, criticized Roque's statement, and the earlier comment from Cayetano, as "shockingly dangerous and shameful". "Are they trying to have death squads target human rights activists?" Adams asked in a statement. "Cayetano and Roque provide no evidence. They should withdraw their comments immediately." Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the Human Rights Watch's call for Cayetano and Roque to withdraw their statements was "misplaced". Duterte said on March 14 the Philippines would pull out of the International Criminal Court more than a month after court prosecutors opened a preliminary inquiry into his drug war. Panelo said Duterte felt the ICC had become "a tool of oppression, a tool of harassment". (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Robert Birsel) Participants of a traditional Easter egg drop in Arizona's Mohave Valley on Saturday are being warned to stay away from the eggs and candy dropped from a crop duster. Arizona health officials said that no illnesses have been reported but still urged people to throw away the Easter eggs and candy. Arizona health officials received complaints from residents after the plane used at the Mohave Valley Community Park Egg Drop had reportedly been used for agricultural purposes. Initially, it appeared that the tank of the crop duster had not been properly rinsed to remove any trace of herbicide, The Arizona Republic reported. GettyImages-933072144 Steffi Loos/Getty Images Trending: 'Batman: The Enemy Within' Episode 5 Review: A Tale of Two Jokers However, in a Facebook post by the Mohave Valley Fire Department, county health director Patty Mead said the plane had been reportedly scrubbed multiple times prior to being used for the candy drop. Health officials urged residents to throw away eggs and candy regardless, as a precaution. While no illnesses have been reported associated with this eventThe eggs and candy should be disposed of properly in a trash container to avoid any further contact, health officials said in the warning. Health officials also advised any resident who may have touched the eggs or treats to thoroughly wash their hands and clothing. If anyone experiences nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating or urination, they are urged to seek immediate medical attention. Don't miss: How Stormy Daniels is Winning the Battle with Donald Trump The Mohave County Department of Public Health confirmed in an email to Newsweek that no illnesses have been reported since the egg drop. According to the Mohave Valley Daily News, the Eggstravaganza family picnic festival included free hot dogs and chips, live music from Southern Jam Band and family-friendly activities. A reported 30,000 Easter eggs were expected to be dropped on the Mohave Valley Community Park. Story continues This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An emergency fuel shut-off switch had been accidentally tripped moments before a fatal crash of a helicopter in New York's East River on March 11, a pilot told the National Transportation Safety Board in a preliminary report released Monday. The Eurocopter AS350 chartered by Liberty Helicopters of New Jersey crashed, killing all five passengers after a private photo shoot trip over New York City. The pilot, who escaped, also told the NTSB that the engine trouble started shortly after a passenger slid across the seat and leaned back to take a picture. The pilot also said he saw part of a passenger's restraint harness underneath the switch as the craft was going down. The pilot said he was "committed to impact," and "when he reached down for the emergency fuel shutoff lever, he realized that it was in the off position," the report said. The NTSB said the pilot told investigators that as the craft was flying along the eastern side of Central Park, "the front seat passenger turned sideways, slid across the double bench seat toward the pilot, leaned back, and extended his feet to take a photograph of his feet outside the helicopter." The engine trouble began shortly after that, said the pilot, who also said he briefly considered landing in Central Park, "but thought there were 'too many people,'" the report added. Liberty Helicopters said in a statement earlier this month it was "focused on supporting the families affected by this tragic accident," adding that it was cooperating with investigators. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 16 ordered an end to so-called "doors off" helicopter rides unless passengers are equipped with quick-release restraints. The FAA said operators and pilots must take immediate actions to control or mitigate the risk presented by passengers wearing what it called "supplemental restraints." Story continues Two of the five passengers died at the scene and three were taken to local hospitals where they died later, officials said. They had been tightly harnessed and the harnesses had to be cut and removed to free them, officials said. The NTSB report Monday said the passengers had restraint systems installed by the manufacturer as well as a harness system comprised of off-the-shelf components consisting of a nylon fall-protection harness that was attached at the occupants' back by a locking carabineer to a lanyard. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Jewish leader have launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn (Rex) Jeremy Corbyn is facing accusations that he sided with anti-Semites again and again, in an extraordinary attack on his leadership. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council sent a scathing open letter to the Labour leader after he said he was sincerely sorry for the pain caused by pockets of anti-Semitism within Labour. And on Monday, Jonathan Goldstein, the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, increased the pressure and accused Mr Corbyn of being the figurehead for an anti-Semitic political culture based upon an obsessive hatred of Israel. What reignited row? Mr Corbyn had been faced with pressure over the weekend after it emerged he posted a Facebook comment in 2012, offering a show of support for the painter of a mural at the centre of an anti-Semitism row whose controversial street art was about to be painted over. Very powerful letter by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council on Labour anti-Semitism row. pic.twitter.com/RF83xuORyZ Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) March 25, 2018 I asked the Leaders Office for an explanation about this Facebook post first thing this morning. Im still waiting for a response. pic.twitter.com/DL8ynBtES4 Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) March 23, 2018 He later said he sincerely regretted not looking properly at the deeply disturbing and anti-Semitic picture before telling Mear One he was in good company among artists who had work removed. His later apology made no reference of his own remarks that triggered the latest controversy. Enough is enough Jewish leaders have now taken aim at Mr Corbyn personally, saying he is repeatedly found alongside people with blatantly anti-Semitic views but claims never to hear or read them. Story continues MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO The organisations plan to protest outside Parliament before delivering an open letter to a meeting of Labour MPs and peers at which concerns about anti-Semitism are expected to be raised although Mr Corbyn will not attend. In their letter they said: Today, leaders of British Jewry tell Jeremy Corbyn that enough is enough. They said there was a repeated institutional failure to properly address Jewish concerns and to tackle anti-Semitism. They stated: We conclude that he cannot seriously contemplate anti-Semitism, because he is so ideologically fixed within a far-left worldview that is instinctively hostile to mainstream Jewish communities. The British Jewish leaders statement said: When Jews complain about an obviously anti-Semitic mural in Tower Hamlets, Corbyn of course supports the artist. Hezbollah commits terrorist atrocities against Jews, but Corbyn calls them his friends and attends pro-Hezbollah rallies in London. Exactly the same goes for Hamas. They added: Again and again, Jeremy Corbyn has sided with anti-Semites rather than Jews. The Labour leader apologised for pockets of anti-Semitism in Labour (Rex) At best, this derives from the far lefts obsessive hatred of Zionism, Zionists and Israel. At worst, it suggests a conspiratorial worldview in which mainstream Jewish communities are believed to be a hostile entity, a class enemy. The statement said Jews faced fundamental anti-Semitic slurs in Labour meetings or online forums on a daily basis and rightly or wrongly, those who push this offensive material regard Jeremy Corbyn as their figurehead. He was the only person with the standing to demand that all of this stops. Join us tomorrow. Join in solidarity. Join us. pic.twitter.com/9sFRc1jXvV JewishLabourMovement (@JewishLabour) March 25, 2018 On Monday, Mr Goldstein told the Today programme on BBC: The reality is that there are no safe spaces online or in meetings for Jewish people within the labour party. Wherever we go we are told that we act on the instructions of Israel, that ISIS is a fake front for Israel and that zionists are the new nazis. This is the first time in my lifetime that the jewish community has felt the need to campaign against the leader of a major political party. And rightly or wrongly Jeremy Corbyn is now the figurehead for an anti-Semitic political culture. Based upon obsessive hatred of Israel, conspiracy theories and fake news. And that is doing great harm, not just to the Labour Party but to Britain in a wider sense. What has Corbyn said While the Labour leader did not make any reference to the criticism aimed at him personally in his statement, he acknowledged that Labour must demonstrate a total commitment to excising pockets of anti-Semitism that exist in and around our party. The Labour leader said he would meet representatives from the Jewish community over the coming days. Mr Corbyn said: Labour is an anti-racist party and I utterly condemn anti-Semitism, which is why as leader of the Labour Party I want to be clear that I will not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism that exists in and around our movement. We must stamp this out from our party and movement. We recognise that anti-Semitism has occurred in pockets within the Labour Party, causing pain and hurt to our Jewish community in the Labour Party and the rest of the country. I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused. Labour MPs shame Labour MPs Ian Austin and Wes Streeting said they were ashamed of the way the partys relationship with the Jewish community had deteriorated. Former Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper said Mr Corbyn should apologise for his own actions. She told Channel 4 News: I think that it would be right for Jeremy to give a full apology for the comments that he made. I ask every Labour MP and member to read this statement and reflect upon it. Many of us have warned of the crisis of confidence in the Labour Party among Britains Jewish community. What will change? What action will be taken? Enough is enough. https://t.co/BraHKUPn4T Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) March 25, 2018 A truly terrible day when @BoardofDeputies & @JLC_uk feel the need to write such a letter. No one in @UKLabour should try & minimise or downplay this. I will be showing my solidarity in Parliament Square tomorrow. https://t.co/ynDw8GWhAY Liz Kendall (@leicesterliz) March 25, 2018 I am ashamed that the leadership of one of Britains communities is so appalled at the state of our party that it has come to this. Ill be in Parliament Square tomorrow to say #EnoughIsEnough and to demand this is finally sorted out https://t.co/FBWlTMG8ji Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 25, 2018 Tanta (Egypt) (AFP) - In Egypt's Nile Delta city of Tanta, scene of a bloody church bombing a year ago, there were few indications Tuesday that the country was in the middle of a presidential election. Several banners were strung in the streets and a speaker from a car blared patriotic songs -- but polling stations were almost empty on the second day of a vote incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi looks sure to win. Among those who did come to cast their ballots Fawzia Fahim, a Coptic Christian octogenarian, said security was her motivation in backing Sisi for a second term. "I was determined to vote because without him the Muslim Brotherhood and other terrorists would have turned the country into dust," she said, holding a cane in one hand and her son's arm in another. In April 2017, Islamic State group suicide bombers attacked two Coptic churches, including one in Tanta, killing 45 people. Sisi -- a former army chief who took power after the ouster of divisive Islamist Mohamed Morsi -- reacted by declaring a state of emergency. The bloodshed in Tanta was just part of a wave of IS attacks that have hit Egypt. The army is currently conducting a major campaign to root out jihadists, bolstering Sisi's security credentials ahead of the vote. Near Tanta's Mar Girgis church, hit by the blast, a group of youths wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the Sisi slogan "Long live Egypt" marched past. "Go vote," they chanted. - 'Boycotting' the vote - As in the capital Cairo -- some 80 kilometres (50 miles) to the south -- only fervent Sisi supporters express interest in a poll in which his sole challenger is an unknown who himself once backed the incumbent. The president's serious competitors have either withdrawn, been sidelined or jailed and the only real question in this election is the turnout. "It is our national duty to vote even if Sisi's victory is guaranteed," said Mahmud Abdel Hafiz, a retiree, after casting his ballot. Story continues Despite that insistence, in three polling stations around the Mar Girgis church there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Only one or two voters come to cast their ballots every 10 minutes and few of them were young. Officials at two polling stations told AFP that turnout at midday Tuesday was hovering around 20 percent with a day and a half left to vote. At a cafe, some young men were sitting out the election upset at the lack of a genuine choice. "I am boycotting this farcical election," said a 21-year-old student. Next to him Alaa Mohamed said he too was so disenchanted that he was refusing to vote -- despite the fact he supported Sisi. "I would have voted for Sisi had there been real competition," Mohamed said. "The absence of freedom of opinion and real competition put me off." It's been well over six weeks since famed rodent Punxsutawney Phil told Americans to expect the eventual end of winter. But with cold weather lingering into late March, some people are assailing the Pennsylvania groundhog as a fraud, going so far as to post "Wanted" signs accusing him of deception. Phil's face is plastered on such posters in Monroe County, where the sheriff has called for his arrest, according to WTAJ. But in Punxsutawney, Phil's handlers and the sheriff are hitting back. "What we're going to do is make sure Phil has no trouble from anybody or any bounty hunters," Jefferson County Sheriff Carl Gotwald said. As the first week of spring comes to a close, snow coated much of the Keystone State, leading many to wonder if winter will ever end. "It's probably is a misunderstanding on their part, because Phil is the messenger," explained Phil's handler, AJ Dereume. "He does not actually create the weather." RELATED STORIES 'A Dog's Purpose' Author Moves On From Animal Abuse Controversy With New Book Did Punxsutawney Phil See His Shadow This Groundhog Day? Happy Groundhog Day? Punxsutawney Phil Makes Gloomy Winter Forecast Related Articles: London (AFP) - A former Catalan minister wanted by Spain for her role in last year's independence bid will surrender to police on Wednesday in Scotland where she had fled, her lawyer said. "I have arranged with Police Scotland for the voluntary attendance of Professor Clara Ponsati at St Leonard's Police Station, Edinburgh," Aamer Anwar said in a statement Tuesday. "My legal team is instructed by Professor Ponsati to robustly defend her against the Spanish attempts to extradite her," he said, adding that she saw the charges as "political persecution". Ponsati will appear in court later on Wednesday for a preliminary extradition hearing where her lawyers will request that she be granted bail pending a full hearing. A Spanish judge last week issued international and European arrest warrants for Ponsati and other separatist leaders, including former regional president Carles Puigdemont. Puigdemont was arrested by German police on Sunday. Spain's Supreme Court said it would prosecute 13 key separatists including Puigdemont and Ponsati for "rebellion", a crime which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail. Ponsati was a minister in the Catalan government when it declared independence from the rest of Spain following a referendum in October. She fled later that month with Puigdemont and three other former ministers to Brussels, after Spain -- which declared the referendum illegal -- dismissed the Catalan executive and imposed direct rule. Ponsati then returned to the University of St Andrews, northeast of Edinburgh, where she had formerly worked, and is a professor in the school of economics and finance. Ponsati has received support from members of the Scottish National Party, who hold power in the devolved government in Edinburgh and advocate secession from the United Kingdom. However, Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon made clear on Sunday that politicians "have no powers to intervene" in the extradition process. "It is well established that the Scottish government supports the right of the people of Catalonia to determine their own future and that we strongly oppose the Spanish government's decision to seek the arrest and imprisonment of independence-supporting politicians," she said in a statement. FILE PHOTO - Former COMVERSE CEO Jacob "Kobi" Alexander leaves the court in Windhoek, Namibia on October 3, 2006. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The former chief executive officer of software company Comverse Technology Inc will be released from prison on Tuesday, a prison official said, after his sentence was cut short following his extradition from the United States. Jacob "Kobi" Alexander, who founded the company which is based in New York, returned to the United States in 2016 after spending a decade in Namibia to avoid prosecution. In February 2017, he was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison for engaging in securities fraud but earlier this month he was transferred to Israeli authorities. A parole board decided to cut his sentence. According to the Israel Prison Service, one-third of a prison sentence may be commuted for good behavior. He pleaded guilty to securities fraud related to backdating stock options in August 2016. Prosecutors charged that from 1998 to 2001 Alexander participated in a scheme to use hindsight to select the effective dates for granting options for employees, resulting in misleading statements to investors. Alexander fled to Namibia with his family in 2006 amid the investigation. Charges were announced that August against him, William Sorin, Comverses general counsel, and David Kreinberg, its finance chief. Sorin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison. Kreinberg was spared prison after pleading guilty. Alexander agreed in 2009 to pay $60 million to Comverse in connection with shareholder litigation, and to waive over $72 million in claims he had against Comverse, which was acquired by former unit Verint Systems in 2013. He settled related civil government lawsuits in 2010, resulting in a $6 million penalty by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) LONDON (Reuters) - Following are diplomatic measures announced against Russia by the United States, Canada, several EU countries and Ukraine in response to the poisoning of a former Russian double agent with military-grade nerve agent in the English town of Salisbury. BRITAIN - Expelled 23 Russians alleged to have worked as spies under diplomatic cover. Promised to freeze any Russian state assets that "may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents". UNITED STATES - Expelling 60 Russians, including 12 intelligence officers from Russia's mission to U.N. headquarters in New York. Closing Russian consulate in Seattle. CANADA - Expelling four Russians alleged to have worked as spies or interfered in Canadian affairs under diplomatic cover. Denying three applications for Russian diplomatic staff. UKRAINE - Expelling 13 Russian diplomats FRANCE - Expelling four diplomats GERMANY - Expelling four diplomats POLAND - Expelling four diplomats LITHUANIA - Expelling three diplomats CZECH REPUBLIC - Expelling three diplomats ITALY - Expelling two diplomats NETHERLANDS - Expelling two diplomats SPAIN - Expelling two diplomats ALBANIA - Expelling two diplomats DENMARK - Expelling two diplomats HUNGARY - Expelling one diplomat MACEDONIA - Expelling one diplomat SWEDEN - Expelling one diplomat NORWAY - Expelling one diplomat LATVIA - Expelling one diplomat ESTONIA - Expelling one diplomat FINLAND - Expelling one diplomat ROMANIA - Expelling one diplomat CROATIA - Expelling one diplomat RUSSIAN RESPONSE: BRITAIN - Russia has expelled 23 British diplomats and closed the British consulate in St Petersburg and the British Council cultural body. OTHERS - Moscow will expel at least 60 staff from U.S. diplomatic missions in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov as saying. RIA also quoted an unnamed Foreign Ministry source as saying: "The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn." (Compiled by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Gareth Jones) Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen said he was skeptical about a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He said he had reservations about whether North Korea would actually get rid of all its nuclear weapons. The positions of John Bolton, Trump's pick to replace H.R. McMaster as national security advisor, were some cause for concern, Cohen added. There are good reasons to be skeptical about a bilateral meeting that's supposed to take place between the U.S. and North Korea, Cohen said. U.S. President Donald Trump made the surprise decision earlier this month to accept an invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by May, although specific details of that meeting have yet to be announced. Cohen, who led the Defense Department under the Bill Clinton White House, maintained that he had reservations about the North Korea talks based on his personal experience. "In my own experience in dealing with the North Koreans, there's never been a discussion that they will denuclearize ... I don't believe that they're committed to doing that now," Cohen, currently the chairman and CEO of consultancy The Cohen Group, said Sunday at the China Development Forum in Beijing. While North Korea appeared willing to sit down with the U.S. to talk, according to Cohen, it was worth noting that the hermit nation had also never complied with prior agreements. "I'm skeptical that they would really get rid of all their nuclear weapons," he said. Cohen last year warned that North Korea was the "most dangerous issue" facing the world, a claim he said was still true today. Other analysts and experts have cautioned that it was important to manage expectations around the meeting . Following the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" policy on North Korea, the agreement to meet with Kim could potentially erode the effectiveness of sanctions, some indicated. Story continues Another factor in the mix has been Trump's pick to replace H.R. McMaster as national security advisor: John Bolton , a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton, who is regarded as a foreign policy super-hawk , had previously argued for preemptive strikes against North Korea. Although it's too early to tell how Bolton will influence policy, Cohen highlighted that rhetoric was an important consideration going forward. "I think there's reason for concern, in terms of Mr. Bolton, in terms of his positions, because he is much more aggressive in terms of the use of force ... So I think we have to be careful of our language, that the rhetoric doesn't get ahead of the policy," Cohen said. CNBC's Nyshka Chandran contributed to this report. More From CNBC By Ben Klayman DETROIT (Reuters) - A former Michigan State University dean, who supervised the doctor at the center of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal, was himself charged on Tuesday with criminal sexual conduct involving medical school students. A student at the College of Osteopathic Medicine accused William Strampel, 70, of forcible sexual contact, prosecutors said in papers filed in state district court in East Lansing. Prosecutors said other students also accused Strampel of sexual misconduct. The charges emerged during a probe into how Michigan State handled complaints about the gymnastics doctor, special prosecutor William Forsyth told reporters in Lansing. The focus widened after investigators received a tip. The new charges, which Strampel's attorney denied, make the university a bigger target for the "#MeToo" movement that has engulfed powerful men across society in harassment and abuse allegations. "We did what we felt we needed to do and it led us to where we are today," Forsyth said. Strampel was dean from 2002 until the end of 2017. He supervised ex-USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar, who has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing female gymnasts. The four criminal counts against Nassar's former boss include fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The accusations also include failing to properly oversee Nassar, whose scandal sparked probes into why the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics and the university failed for years to investigate complaints. After a short hearing in state court in East Lansing, Strampel's attorney John Dakmak told reporters, "My client denies that he ever engaged in any inappropriate touching of anyone. He denies that there was any quid pro quo for sexual favors."Regarding the charges relating to Strampel's supervision of Nassar, Dakmak said his client immediately involved other school officials in 2014 when the complaints surfaced and fired Nassar in 2016 when the sexual assault allegations were made. Michigan State's interim President John Engler said in a statement that one of his first actions upon his appointment in early February was moving to fire Strampel. Engler called the allegations against the former dean "disturbing." "Todays charges confirm our belief that he has fallen short of what is expected and required from academic leadership," Engler said. Four female medical students told investigators Strampel made sexually suggestive comments during meetings, including what some perceived as academic privileges in exchange for sex. Two accused him of grabbing their buttocks without consent. One student described meeting with Strampel in June 2017 to appeal a test score and feeling intimidated when he mentioned her age, saying: "26-year-old women can 'put out' for 20 minutes with an old man ... and in return the women could get the benefit of a free vacation," according to court documents. Another witness said Strampel suggested she become a centerfold model and related to her how another student had become a stripper to pay for school, court documents said. When Strampel agreed to let the student retake a test, he said she must agree to do anything for him, which she interpreted as a request for sex, court documents said. Strampel is also accused of using his position as dean to receive pornographic images of women "through threats and manipulation," court documents said. They said investigators seized his computer in February and found about 50 photos of nude women, sex toys and pornography, including selfies of female students, pornographic videos and a video of Nassar performing "treatment" on a young female patient. Strampel, handcuffed hands clasped in his lap and his legs crossed, appeared at his arraignment via video feed. A split screen showed him expressing little emotion as he interacted with the judge. Judge Richard Ball, citing a lack of criminal history, set a $25,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning Strampel need not post a cash bond. A preliminary hearing is set for May 3. If convicted, he faces five years and a possible fine of $10,000 for a misconduct in office charge, two years and a possible fine of $500 for the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge and one year and a possible fine of $1,000 for each of the two willful neglect of duty charges, according to court documents. An attorney for more than 150 of Nassar's victims said his clients were encouraged by the charges against Strampel. The charges demonstrate that officials are "serious about investigating the systemic misconduct at MSU that led to the largest child sex abuse scandal in history and holding the responsible parties accountable," John Manly said in a statement. Michigan State has been criticized for its handling of Nassar, 54, who was a faculty member and physician at an on-campus clinic. Athletes had complained about Nassar since the 1990s, but the school did not open an investigation until 2014. Nassar was fired in September 2016. He received sentences this year that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life. (Additional reporting by Rebecca Cook in East Lansing, Michigan, Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles and Gina Cherelus in New York; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by David Gregorio) A retired Supreme Court justice believes the March for Our Lives protesters are aiming too low by asking lawmakers simply to reform the nations gun laws. The demonstrators should seek more effective and more lasting reform, John Paul Stevens wrote in a New York Times op-ed published on Tuesday. They should demand a repeal of the Second Amendment. Stevens, 97, argues that the amendment which states a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed was born out of concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of individual states and is a relic of the 18th century. In 2008, Stevens was among four dissenters in the Supreme Courts 5-4 decision in a landmark case, District of Columbia v. Heller, that held the Second Amendment protects an individuals right to bear arms for self-defense. That decision which I remain convinced was wrong and certainly was debatable has provided the N.R.A. with a propaganda weapon of immense power, Stevens wrote in his op-ed. Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the N.R.A.s ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option. Slideshow: Scenes from March for Our Lives rallies around the world >>> Protesters at a March For Our Lives rally in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday. (Photo: Bob Strong/Reuters) Hundreds of thousands of people participated in Saturdays anti-gun-violence marches in Washington, D.C., and numerous locations throughout the country, demanding Congress act to protect students in the wake of last months massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Many of the demonstrators chastised the gun lobby on signs and in speeches while expressing support for stricter background checks, an increase in the minimum age to buy certain firearms and a ban on semiautomatic weapons. But most did not call for an outright repeal of the Second Amendment as Stevens is suggesting. Story continues That simple but dramatic action would move Saturdays marchers closer to their objective than any other possible reform, he wrote. It would eliminate the only legal rule that protects sellers of firearms in the United States unlike every other market in the world. It would make our schoolchildren safer than they have been since 2008 and honor the memories of the many, indeed far too many, victims of recent gun violence. National polls show broad support for measures to reduce gun violence, including universal background checks, age restrictions and a ban on assault weapons. A Fox News poll released on Sunday found 53 percent of American voters believe protecting citizens from gun violence is more important than protecting the right of citizens to own guns, compared to 40 percent who believe the opposite. At the White House on Tuesday, press secretary Sarah Sanders said that the president and the administration still fully support the Second Amendment. We think the focus has to remain on removing weapons from dangerous individuals not on blocking all Americans from their constitutional rights, Sanders said. Meanwhile, gun rights activists say the weekend demonstrations were an attack on the Second Amendment. In Washington on Saturday, David Hogg, a Parkland survivor and one of the organizers of the March for Our Lives, criticized television pundits for painting him as antigun. Theyve made it seem like Im trying to take away peoples guns that Im against the Second Amendment, Hogg said. My father is a retired FBI agent. I have guns in my house. Im not against the Second Amendment. Cameron Kasky, another Marjory Stoneman Douglas student, made a similar point on Fox News Sunday. We are not trying to take everybodys guns away, Kasky said. My father was a reserve police officer. We have guns in our house. They are responsibly managed and hidden from anyone but him. The point is, we are not trying to take everybodys guns away, and the NRA wants people to think that. They are fearmongers. They want to sell weapons by exploiting peoples fears. So the second we want to put common sense resolutions on these assault weapons, the NRA will say they are trying to steal every single one of your guns, and people believe them. Fortunately, the majority of the American people see past this. Read more from Yahoo News: Niamey (AFP) - Four leading opposition and rights figures are being held in Niger prisons following a banned weekend demonstration that turned violent in the capital Niamey, media reports said Tuesday. They were among 23 people arrested after the protest Sunday against new taxes degenerated into clashes between demonstrators and police. Officials of the Collectif d'ONG, an association of grassroots groups that organised the protest, said those in custody had been charged with organising and taking part in a banned march and "abetting damage to public and private property". Local television said opposition figure Nouhou Arzika, rights activists Moussa Tchangari and Ali Idrissa and rights lawyer Lirwana Abdourahamane were all in custody in different prisons around the former French colony. Rights watchdog Amnesty International called Monday for the 23 arrested to be released. "The wave of arrests of activists and the clearly brutal response by security forces not only violates the right of demonstrators to peaceful assembly but also risks inflaming an already tense situation in Niger," Amnesty said on its website. Niger, one of the world's poorest nations, has seen regular protests against the new taxes and tax breaks to telephone companies that critics say are worth tens of millions of euros (dollars). Interior Minister Bazoum Mohamed told AFP that Sunday's protest had been banned for "security reasons", notably because it was planned for after dark. "They incited (the public) and disrupted public order and were arrested for rebellion for describing the ban as illegal," he said. The Labari radio and television network owned by Idrissa was also ordered closed on Sunday. The economy of the largely desert country has been hit by falling prices for oil, which it officially began exporting in 2011, and uranium, of which it is a major exporter. The government says it is cash-strapped as it has to spend resources to combat attacks by Boko Haram, whose Islamist insurgency has spilled over from Nigeria, as well as from jihadists, including the Islamic State group, near the border with Mali. Finance Minister Hassoumi Massadou said in February that the 2018 budget would "barely affect" people in the countryside, where more than 80 percent of Niger's 20 million people live. Paris (AFP) - The Islamist gunman who killed four people in southern France last week had been summoned by anti-terror police for questioning shortly before his shooting rampage, a police source told AFP on Tuesday. Radouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national, had been on a list of suspected extremists since 2014 and was being monitored, leading to criticism of the security services from some politicians over their failure to prevent the attack. Lakdim killed four people and injured four others on Friday in three separate shootings in the towns of Carcassonne and nearby Trebes, where he took hostages at a supermarket before being shot by anti-terror police. The police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Lakdim had been sent a letter in March asking him to arrange a face-to-face meeting with agents from France's domestic intelligence agency DGSI. Lakdim's 18-year-old girlfriend, a radicalised Muslim convert who was detained after the attack, was charged on Tuesday evening for "associating with terrorists preparing attacks." She is being held in custody. A 17-year-old friend of Lakdim's was meanwhile released on Monday "due to the absence of incriminating evidence at this stage," prosecutors said. President Emmanuel Macron will lead a national commemoration on Wednesday for hero policeman Arnaud Beltrame, who agreed to swap himself for a hostage inside the supermarket but was then killed by Lakdim who slit his throat. The fact that Lakdim was on France's terror watchlist has led to accusations from the right and far-right that Macron's government is too soft on Islamists, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen has called for the interior minister to resign. The government hit back at the criticism Tuesday. "Those who say ignorantly that this attack could have been avoided, those who promise people zero risk -- I say to them, these people bear a heavy responsibility in speaking so casually," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told parliament. Story continues He rejected proposals from rightwingers to impose an outright ban on ultraconservative Salafist Islam or "preemptively" detain the most radicalised Islamists. France already has "a legal arsenal" to "understand, monitor and sanction" extremists, he said. Experts point out that France has around 20,000 people suspected of being Islamic extremists and security forces have been successful in thwarting a series of attacks in recent years thanks in part to tough new anti-terror laws. Paris (AFP) - France said Tuesday that it had summoned the ambassador of the Comoros after the Indian Ocean nation refused to take back illegal immigrants deported from the neighbouring French island of Mayotte. France's foreign affairs ministry said it summoned Mohamed Soulaimana on Monday, reminding him of France's "serious concern regarding the measures taken last week by Comorian authorities". "We firmly reiterated our demand for them to immediately lift these measures which are stopping the return of Comorian residents who have entered Mayotte illegally," ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muehll said in a statement. Mayotte, located between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, has been rocked by weeks of protest over living standards and a wave of immigration from the Comoros. Mayotte deported 19,000 people in 2015 -- barely less than the 20,000 from all of mainland France. Mayotte authorities have been increasing the pace of deportations, but the Comoros government responded last Wednesday by refusing to accept those pushed back. On Friday the Comoros did however agree to reinforce security on the archipelago's island of Anjouan, the main departure point for migrants, including by targeting traffickers. The Comoros, one of the world's poorest countries, was a French colony until 1975 when it declared independence. Immigration into Mayotte, where income is 13 times higher per head, has surged for years as Comorians have sought better opportunities on the French island. Many in Mayotte say the uncontrolled migration is to blame for spiralling crime levels, while a huge influx of pregnant mothers hoping to give birth on the French island has put a strain on public health services. Paris (AFP) - As France prepares to honour a policeman killed in the latest attack by a homegrown jihadist, debate has again flared over how to counter the influence of radical Salafist interpretations of Islam, with some officials urging an outright ban. In the wake of Friday's shootings by Radouane Lakdim, officials disclosed his links starting in 2013 with "the Salafist movement", a Sunni Muslim branch originating in Saudi Arabia which promotes a strict conservative lifestyle. While a majority of Salafists disdain violence as they adher to the fundamentalist traditions of "pious ancestors", some of its followers embrace using force to promote their beliefs. "It's not about forbidding a religion or even an idea, but I'm saying very clearly that we must forbid the spread of Salafism, because it's the enemy," former Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls said in a radio interview Tuesday. "Of course not all Salafists are terrorists, but all the terrorists are Salafists." Many of the jihadist attackers who have struck France since the January 2015 massacre at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris were later found to have frequented Salafist circles. Legal experts almost unanimously dismiss the idea of a ban, saying any effort to outlaw a religious movement would run counter to freedom of belief and never hold up in court. Other critics say such moves would only drive extremist preachings underground, making it harder for authorities to monitor young people at risk of falling under the Salafists' sway. But outrage over the killing of Arnaud Beltrame, the French officer whose throat was slit by Lakdim after taking the place of a hostage, and three other people could put new pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to take more aggressive measures. Some lawmakers have also renewed calls for "preventive detention" of the most radicalised Islamists already on watchlists, after it emerged Tuesday that Lakdim had been on the lists and was summoned for an interview with the authorities days before his attacks in southern France. Story continues "Our country must launch an extensive campaign to eradicate Salafism," the rightwing Figaro daily wrote in a front-page editorial Tuesday. "With all due respect for the apostles of 'living in harmony', this virus is incompatible with our freedom to live, move and think." - Foreign financing - Macron, who pledged in January a "restructuring of Islam in France", had already signalled his determination to clamp down on Salafist mosques and imams. Confronted in 2016 by a Montpellier resident who said "a Salafist is a citizen like any other", he replied: "There are associations which do not respect the laws of the republic in the name of their religion, these I want to dismantle." Yet France has already passed several laws since 2012 aimed at curtailing extremism, most recently last year's tough anti-terror laws which enshrined many measures of the state of emergency imposed after the November 2015 attacks in Paris which killed 130 people. The government estimates there are about 2,500 mosques and prayer halls in France, about 120 of which are considered to be preaching radical Salafism. Authorities have shut down some of them, most recently in December in Marseille, where the Algerian imam El Hadi Doudi was accused of distributing texts liable to incite hatred. Police said several people who attended his As-Sounna mosque had claimed allegiance to Al-Qaeda or had fought in Iraq and Syria, and this month officials confirmed that Doudi would be deported. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Monday reiterated her calls to block foreign financing of mosques -- a reference to the funds provided by Saudi Arabia for Salafist mosques around the world. But Prime Minister Edouard Philippe appeared to pour cold water on the idea of outlawing Salafism outright, though he admitted "a real question about the combat of civilisations" was posing a threat to French values. "We cannot prohibit an idea," Philippe told parliament on Tuesday. "We can punish the behaviour it provokes, if it disrupts the public order, the country's laws or the minimum standards of social life," Philippe said, garnering widespread applause from lawmakers. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leading U.S. consumer protection regulator and attorneys representing 37 states stepped up pressure on Facebook Inc on Monday to explain how the social network allowed data of 50 million users get into the hands of a political consultancy. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission took the unusual step of announcing that it had opened an investigation into the company - which it generally only does in cases of great public interest - citing media reports that raise what it called "substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook." On the same day, a bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys wrote to Facebook, demanding to know more about the company's role in the manipulation of users' data by the consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, which used it to target U.S. and British voters in close-run elections. These revelations raise many serious questions concerning Facebooks policies and practices, and the processes in place to ensure they are followed, the letter said. "We need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken. Facebook shares fell as much as 6.5 percent, briefly dipping below $150 for the first time since July 2017, before recovering the day's losses to close up 0.4 percent at $160.06. The shares are still down 13 percent since March 16, when Facebook first acknowledged that user data had been improperly channeled to Cambridge Analytica. The company has lost more than $70 billion in market value since then. The recovery in Facebook's stock on Monday may have been due to investors taking advantage of the lower stock price and the belief that the latest regulatory scrutiny may not ultimately hurt the company's relative long-term growth prospects, Wall Street analysts said. The FTC investigation is looking at more than whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent order it reached with the FTC over its privacy practices, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters. If the FTC finds Facebook violated terms of the consent decree, it has the power to fine it thousands of dollars a day per violation, which could add up to billions of dollars. We remain strongly committed to protecting peoples information," Facebook Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman said in a statement on Monday. "We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have. ALL APOLOGIES Lawmakers in the United States and Europe continue to pressure Facebook and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to explain the company's privacy practices. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee said on Monday it had invited Zuckerberg and the CEOs of Alphabet Inc and Twitter Inc to testify at an April 10 hearing on data privacy. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and U.S. Senate Commerce Committee have already formally asked Zuckerberg to appear at a congressional hearing. Facebook's failure to protect confidential user information likely violated specific legally binding commitments, but also basic norms and standards," said U.S. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. In Europe, the European Union Justice Commissioner asked Facebook if the company is "absolutely certain" that the Cambridge Analytica incident could not be repeated. Zuckerberg apologized last week for the mistakes the company had made and he promised to restrict developers' access to user information as part of a plan to protect privacy. He also said sorry in full-page advertisements in British and U.S. newspapers. "The was a breach of trust, and I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time," Zuckerberg said in the ads. "We are now taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again." 'FUTURE REGULATION' His apologies have failed to quell discontent. Germany's justice minister said Facebook's promises were not enough. "In future we will have to regulate companies like Facebook much more strictly," Katarina Barley said after talks to which she summoned Facebook executives including European public affairs chief Richard Allan. Advertisers and users are also unhappy. U.S. auto parts retailer Pep Boys suspended all advertising on Facebook on Monday while wireless speaker maker Sonos said in a blog post it will remove advertising from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube for one week. Internet company Mozilla Corp, Germany's second-largest bank Commerzbank AG and British advertising group ISBA all suspended advertising on Facebook last week. Opinion polls published on Sunday in the United States and Germany cast doubt over the trust people have in Facebook. Fewer than half of Americans trust Facebook to obey U.S. privacy laws, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sunday, while a survey published by Bild am Sonntag, Germanys largest-selling Sunday paper, found 60 percent of Germans fear that Facebook and other social networks are having a negative impact on democracy. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Writing by Bill Rigby; Editing by Susan Thomas) After an Iowa family of four was found dead in their vacation condo in Mexico last week, police suspect the family died due to a gas leak from a water heater. Kevin Wayne Sharp, 41, Amy Marie Sharp, 38, and their two children, ages 7 and 12, were on vacation when relatives became worried and reported them missing. A newly released autopsy report said the family died of asphyxiation and inhaling toxic gases. The family had reportedly been dead for about two days before police found them during a welfare check Friday. They were scheduled to return home Wednesday. The head prosecutor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo said that an inspection revealed that the water heater at the rented condominium in the resort town of Tulum was leaking gas, ABC News reported. Home safety expert Ron Hazelton says there are steps you can take you can take to protect your family when you go on vacation. "One of the simplest things you can do when you go on vacation is to take with you a portable carbon monoxide or gas alarm or monitor," Hazelton said. "Its very simple. You just drop it in your suitcase." Hazelton said the first thing you should do when you arrive is take it out and plug it into a wall outlet or make sure it has batteries. A candlelight vigil was held for the family over the weekend at a local speedway in Iowa. Kevin Sharp was a popular local stock car driver. "They're just great people, said someone at the vigil. RELATED STORIES Family of 4 Found Dead While on Mexican Vacation Died of Toxic Gas Inhalation, Police Say Virginia Mother TerriLynn St. John Found Dead, Covered in Leaves Not Far From Her Home Young Mother Becomes 4th Member of Montecito Family Found Dead in Mudslides Related Articles: By Madeline Chambers BERLIN (Reuters) - The opposition far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) rebuked Angela Merkel's government for joining Western expulsions of Russian diplomats after an attack on a former Russian spy in Britain, arguing that this harmed Germany. Berlin said on Monday it was sending four diplomats back to Russia as part of 100 expulsions by the U.S. and European countries. "Germany has nothing to win and much to lose if it lets itself be drawn into a new Cold War by rabble rousers and it wilfully blocks diplomatic channels," said Alexander Gauland, co-leader of the AfD, the biggest opposition party. Britain blames Russia for a nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury where they were found unconscious on March 4. They are still critically ill. Moscow has denied being behind the attack. There has been broad consensus among Merkel's conservatives and her Social Democrat (SPD) junior partners to back Britain in taking a tough stance against Moscow in the case and Merkel has repeatedly called on Russia to cooperate in the investigation. But Gauland said the German government, driven by a false sense of solidarity, was basing its actions only on suspicions. "The claims made by the British government are unproven," he said in a statement on Tuesday, adding it was inappropriate to take such serious measures without a factual basis. "Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has, in contrast to other EU states, shown no backbone towards British assumptions and has acted against German interests," he said. The AfD, which entered parliament after winning almost 13 percent of the vote in a Sept. 24 election, has wooed supporters with anti-establishment rhetoric and anti-immigrant policies. It has also won strong support among the roughly 3 million people in Germany with roots in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Some media have reported that about one third of the AfD's support comes from the Russian-speaking community. The party campaigned to end sanctions on Russia imposed by Germany and other Western countries over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis and says it wants to improve relations with Russia. While Maas, a member of the SPD, has made clear he backs the expulsions, some in his party are more cautious. Matthias Platzeck, a former leader of the SPD and head of the German-Russian Forum, said jumping to conclusions with no proof "shakes many peoples' understanding of the law and of democracy". He wanted to see proof against Russia. Former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also drawn criticism for continuing his close ties with Russia, including his role as chairman of Russia's biggest oil producer Rosneft. Schroeder, chancellor from 1998 to 2005, is ridiculed for agreeing more than a decade ago to a description of Putin as a "flawless democrat". (Additional reporting by Reuters Television; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Harasta (Syria) (AFP) - Mayss Ahmad scans busloads of evacuees exiting a bombed-out town near Damascus, determined to see her long-lost father and brother again after they spent years in rebel captivity. She has spent sleepless nights waiting by the roadside near Harasta, after hearing rebels were releasing detainees as part of a deal with the regime to evacuate the battered town. "I'm scared they'll come out at nighttime and won't find me. I'm staying here until they're freed," she says. Ahmad travelled all the way from the coastal city of Tartus in the hope of seeing her father and brother, after they were detained by rebels more than four years ago. Last month, Russia-backed regime forces launched a blistering assault on Harasta and the wider area of Eastern Ghouta, retaking large parts of it and forcing rebels into evacuation deals. In Harasta, a Russia-brokered evacuation agreement mandated rebels release people they were detaining, and provided for hundreds of opposition fighters and members of their families to be bused out of the devastated town. Ahmad last heard her brother and father were in good health around a month ago, but since she has had no news. "My only hope now is God," says the young woman in her 20s, breaking down in tears. For three days, she has been sleeping on the grass outside Harasta, living off food and drink that soldiers stationed in the area have shared with her from their rations. Ahmad says opposition fighters abducted her, her father and brother after they overran the Ghouta area of Adra in December 2013, but she alone was released. "My eyes have melted away from all the crying. My mother's heart is broken from waiting," she says. Tens of thousands of Syrians have been reported missing in Syria since its civil war broke out in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. - 'What's the point?' - Both regime forces and opposition factions have been criticised by rights groups for indiscriminate attacks on civilians during the conflict. Story continues As part of the evacuation deals reached for Ghouta, rebels have released just 21 people, including civilians and soldiers, in recent days. Outside Harasta, Sabah Salloum has also been waiting nervously with her husband and daughter for the release of her son, Ahd, also kidnapped in Adra. The 63-year-old, who wears a long black robe, has sworn not to wear any colours until she is reunited with him. Suddenly, her daughter runs over to hand her a mobile phone. "Ahd spoke, Ahd spoke," Salloum cries, after hearing her son's voice for the first time in more than four years, her loosely tied white headscarf slipping from her greying hair in the excitement. "Not once did I lose hope of seeing him get out," she says. In November 2015, a Britain-based war monitor reported rebels in Eastern Ghouta were using dozens of captives taken hostage in Adra as "human shields". They put regime soldiers and civilians they were holding captive in metal cages, then placed them in public squares to prevent regime bombardment, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. Nearby, Aqeel Maeeta, 49, waits for his nephew, a soldier in the Syrian army, after he was taken prisoner by opposition fighters on the front line in the Damascus neighbourhood of Jobar. A year ago, Maeeta and his family managed to get in touch with the soldier's captors. "They asked for $5,000, ammunition and medicine," he says. Maeeta slaps his thigh in frustration as he sees buses pull away into the distance carrying rebels and their families. "What's the point of these deals, if my detained nephew's fate remains unknown but the kidnappers walk free?" Athens (AFP) - A Greek bishop will be retried after being controversially acquitted on charges of inciting violence against homosexuals, a judicial source said Tuesday. Bishop Amvrosios, whose name is Athanassios Lenis, labelled gay people the "dregs of society" and called on his followers to "spit on" and "blacken" them in a written address in 2015. He was charged with public incitement to violence and abuse of ecclesiastical duties before being found not guilty and released by a court in the Peloponnesian town of Aigio earlier this month. However, two appeals have since been filed against the decision, the judicial source said. The outburst by the 79-year-old bishop of Kalavryta came as Greece's parliament debated extending full civil partnership rights to gay couples. The bishop has been known to publicly appear alongside leaders of Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn and his release brought criticism from human rights groups, as well as from the political left. Greek Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis of the ruling leftist Syriza party said he was "surprised" by the decision and asked to examine the court's arguments. But the bishop's appearance in court on such charges -- a first in Greece for a representative of the influential Orthodox church -- was hailed by some as win in itself. Lio Kalovirnas, one of the nine activists who issued the initial complaint against the bishop, said the "mere fact that he has been in court is the first victory". Days after the March for Our Lives, the movement continues to see successful efforts here are six victories since the Florida shooting Students rally onstage for gun control at March for Our Lives on 24 March in Washington DC. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Two days after the largest demonstration against gun violence in the US, the movement to prevent gun violence continues to build momentum this time in New Jersey, where lawmakers are voting on a stack of stricter gun control laws on Monday. Teenagers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school have reinvigorated the movement after 17 people were killed at their school last month. On Monday, New Jerseys governor, Phil Murphy, vowed to sign into law six pieces of gun control legislation, including a ban on armour-piercing bullets and a bill to make it tougher to obtain a handgun permit, if they are passed by the state legislature. Today we marched in memory of Parkland, Murphy said on Saturday. But we will act in the name of every family and every community in our state that has been touched by gun violence, and the many more who wish to remain safe. Here is a look at other successful efforts to curb gun violence since the shooting in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February. Mass demonstrations A month after the Parkland shooting, thousands of students walked out of their classroom for 17 minutes to memorialize the Marjory Stoneman Douglas victims. It was one of the largest student demonstrations in US history. Ten days later, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across the globe as part of the March for Our Lives. The centrepiece of this demonstration, which called for stricter gun laws in the US, was a rally in Washington DC. The speakers, aged 19 and under, included Parkland survivors and representatives from communities long plagued by gun violence. Bump stock ban The US Department of Justice moved to ban bump stocks, firearm accessories used to mimic automatic fire, earlier this month. The accessory was not used in the recent Florida school shooting, but it was used last year in the deadly shooting in Las Vegas, the deadliest in modern US history. The justice department submitted a notice for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that proposed bump stocks be included in the definition of machine gun in the 1934 National Firearms Act. Among other duties, the OMB oversees and coordinates White House regulatory policies. Story continues Stricter gun laws in Florida Floridas governor, Rick Scott, on 9 March signed a $400m bill to tighten the states gun laws while flanked by family members of students killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. The bill fell short of what campaigners had hoped for, a ban on assault weapons, but it did raise the age for buying a gun to 21 from 18, ban bump stocks and extended a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases to include long guns. Hours after it was signed into law, the NRA filed a federal lawsuit against Florida. Taking guns from people who pose a risk One of the new Florida laws includes red flag legislation that allows law enforcement officers and family members to temporarily remove guns and ammunition from people who show warning signs of violent behaviour. Such laws existed in five states before the shooting, but ongoing efforts to pass them in other states received a boost after the shooting in Parkland. Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island signed into law a red flag bill late last month and other state legislatures, including in Vermont, have voted this legislation forward. Corporate America cuts ties with the NRA The week after the Parkland shooting, US companies distanced themselves from the countrys National Rifle Association (NRA) amid public pressure. Hotel chains, car rental firms and home insurance businesses had offered discounts to members of the NRA but cancelled them in droves after the shooting. Congressional bills Bills to tighten gun restrictions continue to stall in Congress despite public pressure. There was a success last week, however, when Donald Trump signed into law a federal spending bill that included a provision aimed at improving the national background check system. Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, had been pushing the bill since November 2017, when 26 people were fatally shot at a church in his state. The bill made progress, was stalled, and then received renewed attention after the Parkland shooting. Nearly seven in 10 adults in the US favour stricter gun control measures, according to a new poll released by the Associated Press last week that showed less faith in lawmakers to pass such laws. Of those surveyed after the shooting in Parkland, 51% expect elected officials to tighten gun laws, while 42% expect no changes, according to the AP. Tashkent (AFP) - Uzbekistan threw open its doors Tuesday for a multilateral meeting on Afghanistan aiming to lay the ground for direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban. Set to appear at the Tuesday meeting following various closed-door talks in the capital Tashkent on Monday were Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini. The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey were also set to give speeches Tuesday, while the United States was to be represented by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shennon. The parties at the conference were expected to sign a declaration on Afghanistan before the end of the conference at around 1300 GMT. With the Taliban staying away from the event held in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, the focus was on a potential butting of heads between Russia and the United States over the war-torn country at a time of worsening diplomatic relations. Representatives of both Washington and NATO have in the past raised concerns that Moscow is supplying military aid to the militant group that ruled over much of Afghanistan from 1996 until it was toppled by a US-led invasion in 2001. Moscow has rejected the claims. Russia's foreign ministry vowed Monday to retaliate against the expulsions of its diplomats by the United States and Canada, as well as 14 European Union countries and Ukraine over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. The conference in Tashkent also highlights the potential re-emergence of Uzbekistan as an important diplomatic player in the region following a period of relative isolation under late leader Islam Karimov. The country of 32 million people has a strategic location in Central Asia, bordering four fellow ex-Soviet 'Stans' and Afghanistan, which lies to the country's south. New leader Mirziyoyev, who came to power after Karimov's death in 2016, has worked to improve ties with regional neighbours that enjoyed mixed relations with Tashkent during Karimov's nearly three-decade rule. Speaking to AFP ahead of the conference, Uzbekistan's first deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov warned not to expect "miracles" from the multilateral meeting focused on "building confidence" across the region. "Most important to note is that the Taliban have an interest in the outcome of this conference, and that they will see there is a preparedness for serious discussions about peace on all sides," Norov told AFP. BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's foreign ministry said on Monday it had decided to expel from the country a Russian diplomat whom it said was involved in spying. "Based on what was said at the session of the European Council, Hungary is expelling a Russian diplomat, who also performs espionage activities," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement to news agency MTI that was later posted on the government's website. The United States said earlier on Monday it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe in punishing the Kremlin for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain that they have blamed on Moscow. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Catherine Evans) Gyongyospata (Hungary) (AFP) - Hungary's Jobbik used to be one of Europe's most hardline far-right parties, its members burning EU flags and calling Jewish MPs a national security risk. But lately it has been charging towards the political centre, or so it seems. And as Hungary readies for an election on April 8 Jobbik, which polls show is the strongest party behind Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz, claims it is ready for government. But a fearful ethnic-Roma official in the small northern Hungarian town of Gyongyospata cannot forget old grievances. "I don't believe Jobbik have changed, no matter what they say now, it's just a disguise," Janos Farkas told AFP. After a local dispute in 2011, vigilante groups then linked to Jobbik invaded the impoverished Roma-populated lanes huddled below the town centre, and held intimidating rallies. "Thousands of them stood over there, some swirling whips over their heads, we were terrorised," said Farkas, 57, pointing through his kitchen window. In recent years Gabor Vona, who set up Jobbik in 2003 while a student as a "national radical" party, has asked the Roma for forgiveness and sent Hanukkah greeting cards to Hungary's Jews. "I am ready to say sorry again if needed to the Roma or Jewish community," Vona told AFP this month. "No one should be afraid if Jobbik comes to power," he said. For many, Jobbik's transformation from its thuggish anti-Semitic and racist roots to what Vona calls a "people's party" has been suspiciously quick. But the 39-year-old insists the about-turn is not a tactic to gain power but rather "100 percent conviction". "Jobbik knows better than anyone that 'us and them' tribalism is a destructive path," he said. Far-right Fidesz? - In fact, Vona argues, the extremist part of society who formerly supported Jobbik now prefers Orban's Fidesz, in power from 2010. Story continues Since Europe's migration crisis began in 2015 Orban has said Hungary should protect its "ethnic homogeneity" and defend "Christian Europe" from "invading" immigrants. During a national day speech this month he railed against the Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros for allegedly orchestrating migration, remarks heard by some as having anti-Semitic undertones. An expert on the Hungarian far-right, Peter Kreko, says Orban's sharpening edge has forced Jobbik, who have criticised his relentless attacks on Soros and civil society groups, toward the centre. "Fidesz are so radical now that Jobbik seems moderate by comparison, although by Western European standards many of their policies are still far-right," Kreko told AFP. According to Vona, Fidesz robbed Jobbik's hardline immigration policies, including erecting an anti-migrant border fence. "After eight years all Fidesz can show is the fence, all they say is Soros, but Hungarians want more from a government," he said. Jobbik's election manifesto is anchored by a "Clean hands" slogan and measures to recover wealth from business interests around Orban, whom Vona calls a "corrupt tyrant", as well as modernising creaking health and education sectors. - Devil you know - Now backed by the oligarch Lajos Simicska, a former friend turned bitter foe of Orban, Jobbik is targeting a swathe of swing seats mostly in the poorer north and east of Hungary. But down the road from Gyongyospata in Vona's hometown Gyongyos, where he narrowly lost to a Fidesz candidate in the 2014 election, voters are uncertain about the new Jobbik. "I preferred the old version, they were tougher with the Gypsies," said Tamas Sarudi, a shopper wearing a nationalist badge on his jacket. Another man who requested anonymity said he worried about "extremist remnants" in Jobbik's membership, including the senior ranks. "But I cannot see them returning to their old ways, I will vote Vona to get Orban out," he said. With Fidesz well over 40 percent in polls among decided voters and Jobbik and the Socialists both under 20 percent, Orban looks set for a third consecutive term in power. But a shock landslide defeat for Fidesz in a local by-election last month defied the polls after the entire opposition, including Jobbik, backed a single independent candidate. Orban's apparent vulnerability to a united opposition front prompted moves among leftist circles toward joining forces with the formerly pariah Jobbik. But Vona says wider cooperation with "20th century parties" like the Socialists would lose Jobbik votes, and that a surge in turnout, as happened at the by-election, will suffice. Back in Gyongyospata, even though Orban recently sparked protests by appearing to call Roma "immigrants", Janos Farkas says he would rather he wins than Vona. "Better the devil you know," he said. Updated| U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported an Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan back to Mexico Friday. Miguel Perez Jr., 39, was brought to the U.S. from Mexico legally when he was 8, according to the Chicago Tribune. Perez, who held a green card, attempted to retroactively gain citizenship as a veteran, but was denied due to a felony drug conviction. Perez mistakenly believed that he automatically became a citizen when he enlisted, according to Slate, a fate that has befallen a number of veterans who have arrived in the U.S. and then joined the military in a quest to become citizens. Trending: Is Tiffany Taking Down Donald Trump? President's Daughter 'Likes' Post About GOP Massacre in Midterms Perez joined the Army in 2001 and served until 2004. Upon returning Perez was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from a Chicago-area Veterans Affairs hospital. After the second tour, there was more alcohol and that was also when I tried some drugs, said Perez last month. But the addiction really started after I got back to Chicago, when I got back home, because I did not feel very sociable. In 2008 Perez was caught attempting to sell two pounds of cocaine to an undercover officer and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the incident. Perez was being let off early when he was then transferred to ICE custody for deportation. It was then that Perez learned he had not successfully become a citizen. Perez attempted to become a citizen retroactively, but was denied because he did not show good moral character, in the departments eyes a main requirement for citizenship. Don't miss: Only Englishman to Beat Gianluigi Buffon, Darren Eadie, Remembers 'Controversial' Goal 21 Years Later Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran herself, and several activists fought to keep Perez in the country, but to no avail. .@DHSgov @SecNielsen: you have the power to prevent @USArmy Veteran Miguel Perez from being deported TODAY. I urge you to personally review his case before forcing his deportation through without giving him time to even say goodbye to his loved ones pic.twitter.com/4yngubPCK2 Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) March 23, 2018 Its shameful to turn our backs on those who have the courage to wear the uniform, said Duckworth in a statement. We can do better than this. Story continues Most popular: Stormy Danielss Lawyer, Who Negotiated Hush Money Deal, Lost His License Twice In a statement to Newsweek, ICE confirmed that Perez had been deported and noted that military service is a positive factor when determining actions ICE takes. This story has been updated to include comment from ICE and to clarify that Perez entered the U.S. legally. GettyImages-492659230 John Moore/GETTY This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Oil prices could increase moderately this year, but geopolitical events could push toward more volatility with additional uncertainty surrounding the Iran deal. Both Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, and West Texas Intermediate crude faced more volatility last week amid concerns about bloated inventories, threats of a trade war with China and after President Donald Trump's abrupt firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security advisor H.R. McMaster. [See: The 10 Best ETFs to Buy for 2018.] Incoming Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump's pick to be national security advisor, John Bolton, are seen as hardliners on the Iran nuclear deal, which was negotiated in 2015 by the Obama administration along with the U.K., China, France, Germany and Russia to slow Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for oil exports. Trump made overturning the deal a campaign promise. The U.S. had indicated that Trump will not sign the deal by the May 12 deadline unless it is rewritten. The time frame to renegotiate the terms of the pact is likely not realistic because of the current political climate, says David Hewitt, global head of oil and gas research for Credit Suisse, a Swiss investment bank. "Uncertainty will be factored in global oil prices as we move toward that date as people speculate," he says. Another key date that could affect oil prices is the outcome of the targeted Venezuelan presidential election, which has been postponed once already. The country's production and exploration of oil have slowed "significantly" since the last quarter and the looming question is whether Venezuela is "moving toward a tipping point" and what its effect would be on production, Hewitt says. Both of the major geopolitical events in May would "skew expectations to the upside of crude," he says. The fundamentals in oil production, Saudi Aramco's pending IPO along with the outcome of the Iran deal and Venezuela's election are likely to push oil prices more to the "upside than the downside" in 2018, Hewitt says. Story continues Prices are likely to remain relatively stable this year as America's shale oil producers have emerged as the 'swing' suppliers in the global market, says Bernard Weinstein, associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business in Dallas. "The U.S. is now exporting an average of 2 million barrels per day because the shale producers have great flexibility and the ability to ramp up production quickly," he says. [See: The Best Energy Stocks to Buy for 2018.] A major trade war could develop with countries like China and Korea slapping tariffs on U.S. oil in response to American tariffs on their steel. "We could see more volatility in oil and gasoline prices here at home," Weinstein says. Oil prices should remain in the $60 range by the end of 2018 barring an unanticipated economic or political shock. "If global economic growth remains strong, average oil prices could rise a few dollars in 2019," he says. The supply demand dynamics appear to have shifted and higher prices seem more likely in the intermediate and longer-term period, says Patrick Morris, president of All American Oil and Gas, a San Antonio, Texas-based oil and gas company. The outcome of the contribution of the shale producers could affect prices. "We have seen a few data points that suggest that we will get to 11 million barrels of production, but increasingly people are questioning the actual financial returns on some of the horizontal drilling in west Texas," he said. "The long-term shale story seems to favor fully integrated companies that can take advantage of wide crack spreads and retail sales of gasoline and diesel." The spread between WTI and Brent prices should widen as shale production increases, but these producers may not change the supply demand imbalance. The U.S. is consuming 10 million barrels per day as global demand is rising. The incremental supply can only come from Russia or Venezuela and both countries benefit from higher oil prices, he says. "I think that OPEC and Russia will continue to limit supply and Brent will reach $75 while WTI will rise to $69 by the end of the year," Morris says. [See: Oil ETFs: 8 Ways to Invest in Black Gold.] Oil prices have been propped up by a few major producers that have withheld production in order to avoid an oversupply situation, which could put further downside risk to prices, said Marshall Lynn Bass, managing director of Silverstone Energy Partners, a Houston-based fund which invests in U.S. energy and production projects and companies. "U.S. oil production is up 22 percent since mid-2016 and the rig count is now over 800 versus about 609 last year," he said. "I can't see oil getting over $65 this year without some sort of geopolitical interruption to production." More From US News & World Report Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli soldiers on Tuesday detained three Palestinians who slipped across the border with the Gaza Strip in possession of knives and grenades, officials said, as tensions rise along the volatile frontier. The military said the trio were apprehended some 20 kilometres (12 miles) inside Israel near an army base, while police distributed pictures of hand grenades, knives and wire cutters found on them. "We don't know who sent them and what their purpose was," an army spokeswoman told AFP. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, on an inspection tour of southern Israel near the Gaza border, said he had ordered a probe and expected the results on Thursday. The detentions come as Israel braces for the annual Palestinian Land Day protests, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976, set to begin on Friday in Gaza and the West Bank. This year's demonstrations appear especially combustible as Palestinian anger is already high over US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Gazans are being called to march en masse toward the Israeli border fence that seals off the coastal territory from the Jewish state. There have already been several incidents along the border in recent days. A number of Palestinians on Saturday breached the frontier and tried to torch heavy equipment, following which Israeli jets attacked positions of Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. A day later gunfire from Gaza set off Israel's Iron Dome air defence system and in response an army tank fired at a Hamas position. Israeli Construction Minister Yoav Gallant, a member of the security cabinet, warned Tuesday against attempts to breach the southern border as part of the Land Day events. "The temperature is literally rising," he said. "The motivation is greater than in the past." "If they want to behave peacefully inside the Gaza Strip, this is their own business," Gallant said. "But if we see the motivation to cross the border, we will not act only in the last second when thousands of people are destroying the fence." By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Kaori Kaneko TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his wife, Finance Minister Taro Aso and their top aides did not give instructions to change documents about a land deal at the heart of a suspected cronyism scandal, a former finance ministry official said on Tuesday. But the sworn testimony in parliament by Nobuhisa Sagawa, formerly head of the finance ministry division in charge of the documents, failed to erase doubts of opposition lawmakers, who again called for Abe's wife, Akie, to answer their questions. Sagawa declined to comment on motives for altering the documents because he is a subject of investigations into the matter. The suspected scandal and possible cover-up have slashed Abe's ratings and clouded his chances of a third three-year term as ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader in a September party vote. The finance ministry admitted on March 12 that it had altered documents about a heavily discounted sale of state-owned land to school operator Moritomo Gakuen, which had ties to Abe's wife, Akie. "This is a matter concerning the process of altering the documents. Who ordered it and how the alteration was carried out are the targets of investigation," Sagawa said. "I would like to refrain from answering because there is a risk of criminal prosecution," he said. But Sagawa, who resigned as National Tax Agency chief this month, said that he did not think that Abe or his wife influenced the land sale itself. Abe has repeatedly denied that he or his wife intervened in the sale or that he ordered a cover-up but public doubts have persisted. Opposition lawmakers want his wife to answer questions in parliament but the premier is against that. "The doubts have deepened," opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan senior lawmaker Tetsuro Fukuyama told Sagawa. "You have poured oil on the fire." A Nikkei business survey published on Monday showed support for Abe, who took office in December 2012, had sunk to 42 percent while those opposed to his cabinet jumped to 49 percent. A separate survey by Asahi News Network (ANN) showed his approval rating fell to 32.6 percent while those disapproving accounted for 54.9 percent. Forty-eight percent of respondents to the ANN survey said Abe and his cabinet should resign, against 39 percent who said there was no need to do so. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Kaori Kaneko; Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Michael Perry) TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's steel industry is worried the United States is using new tariffs on steel and aluminium as a tactic to win better deals in wider trade pacts, the head of the national steel lobby said on Monday, calling for Japan to be cautious on further talks. The United States on Monday agreed to exempt South Korea from steel tariffs, instead imposing a quota on steel imports as the two countries agreed in principle to revise a trade pact sharply criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump. Last week, Trump temporarily excluded six countries, including Canada and Mexico, and European Union states from higher U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum which took effect on Friday. The exclusion included most U.S. allies, but not Japan. "We are concerned that the new tariffs are being used by the U.S. as a card for wider trade negotiation deals," Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman Kosei Shindo told a news conference in the Japanese capital. He said the U.S. apparently won more sway in its bilateral and broader trade negotiations with South Korea by offering an exemption to the Asian country's products from the new tariffs. "Japan will need to take a cautious stance when talking with the U.S. about country exemption as the discussion could develop to wider trade issues, such as other industrial products...and even agriculture products," Shindo said. "For now, what Japanese steelmakers should do is to seek product exemption," he said. The official said there were no quickly available substitutes to many of the Japanese products that are exported to the U.S. market. Shindo, also the president of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp, Japan's largest steelmaker, said his company is working with its U.S. customers to have some of their products exempted from the new tariffs. "There have been no cases of cancellation so far by our U.S. customers for our products due to the new tariffs," he said. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; editing by Richard Pullin and Kenneth Maxwell) Former President Jimmy Carter says that President Donald Trumps decision to hire John Bolton as his national security adviser might be his worst mistake yet. The former president made the comments during an appearance on CBS Monday, noting that he has not been the biggest fan of Mr Trumps, but that Mr Boltons naming to such a key national security position is a major step in the wrong direction. I have been concerned at some of the things he's decided. I think his last choice for national security adviser was very ill-advised. I think John Bolton has been the worst mistake he's made, Mr Carter said. Mr Bolton is a controversial figure, even within the Republican party. The former ambassador to the United Nations under former President George W Bush, Mr Bolton has criticized the Iran nuclear deal brokered by the Obama administration, and has called for preemptive strikes against North Korea. Mr Carter is not the only former president to criticise Mr Trumps actions as president. Former President Barack Obama has frequently provided something of a counterweight to his predecessor, and former President George HW Bush has made his displeasure with Mr Trump known. Mr Carter noted during the interview that he does not want to see Mr Trump impeached, even if special counsel Robert Mueller who is leading an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign was involved in any way finds that the president acted incorrectly. Instead, Mr Carter said that he thinks that Congress and the Supreme Court have enough power to check the president without the extreme measure of impeachment. The last president to be impeached was President Bill Clinton, who was not removed from office after the Senate voted on the issue in the late 1990s. (BEIJING) Speculation about a visit to Beijing by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or another high-level Pyongyang official was running high Tuesday amid talk of preparations for a meeting between the Norths reclusive leader and President Donald Trump. The arrival of a special train in Beijing and unusually heavy security at a guesthouse where prominent North Koreans have stayed in the past have fueled talk that Kim was making his first visit to China as the Norths leader. Such a trip would be seen as a potential precursor to Kims planned summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April and his anticipated meeting with Trump by May. Analysts, however, questioned whether Kim would make the visit to Beijing himself rather than send an envoy. Whoever was on the train, their visit to Beijing appeared to be a short one. On Tuesday afternoon, a vehicle convoy led by a motorcycle escort was seen heading in the direction of Beijings main railway station. While there has been no word of a meeting with Chinese leaders, China has been one of North Koreas most important allies even though relations have chilled recently because of Kims development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. On Monday, heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge on the Yalu River marking the border between China and North Korea before a train passed. There were reports of it transiting several stations on the way from North Korea to Beijing. Japanese broadcaster NTV reported that the green and yellow train appeared very similar to the one that Kims father and predecessor as North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Il, took to Beijing in 2011. Video that aired on NTV also showed a motorcade of black limousines waiting at the train station and rows of Chinese soldiers marching on what appeared to be a train platform. The video did not show anyone getting off the train. At around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, a convoy of about a dozen cars, including a large black limousine, was seen heading in the direction of the railway station. Story continues The limousine was seen about 10 minutes later entering the station under a heavy security presence. The station itself was closed to the public in an unusual security measure. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, asked whether Kim or another North Korean official was visiting Beijing, said, I know youre all very curious but I have no information on that. Past visits by Kim Jong Il to China were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea. North Koreas state-run media had no reports of a delegation traveling to China. The speculation had been fueled further on Monday evening when a vehicle convoy entered the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing and a military honor guard and heavy security were seen later. The guesthouse had been the favored residence of Kim Jong Il during his visits to Beijing. On Tuesday, a convoy of official Chinese cars was seen leaving the guesthouses east gate. City police and the paramilitary Peoples Armed Police stood guard in the area and unidentified men in plainclothes attempted to prevent photographers from taking pictures. Cars in the convoy were identified by yellow stickers but carried no diplomatic license plates. South Koreas presidential office said it could not confirm reports that the train carried Kim nor a separate report that Kims sister was onboard. South Korean analysts were doubtful the visitor is Kim. Since succeeding his father as leader in 2011, Kim has touted an image of his country as diplomatic equal to China and its unlikely he would sneak into Beijing for his first face-to-face meetings with the Chinese leadership, the analysts said. They said its more likely that Kim sent a special envoy, possibly his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, to appease a traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with the presidents of South Korea and the United States. The envoy could potentially seek Chinese commitment for future support should North Koreas talks with rivals fall through, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies. North Korea doesnt want to send a message that China has been pushed to the back as it makes diplomatic approaches to the United States and South Korea, said Cha, adding that the visit could be part of the Norths effort to gain leverage in the talks with South Korea and the United States. If the talks with South Korea and the United States fall through, North Korea will surely try to demonstrate its nuclear weapons and missile capabilities again. The special envoy could discuss this possibility with Chinese officials, asking China not to press too hard with sanctions if that happens, Cha said. White House spokesman Raj Shah said Monday that the U.S. could not confirm reports that Kim was visiting China. Shah reiterated Trumps plans to meet with Kim, saying the U.S.-led international pressure campaign against Pyongyang has paid dividends and has brought the North Koreans to the table. A snow-covered sign on the campus of Michigan State University shows support for the survivors of Larry Nassar's abuse. (Photo: Rebecca Cook/Reuters) William Strampel, former dean of Michigan State Universitys College of Osteopathic Medicine and longtime boss of convicted child molester Larry Nassar, was arrested Monday in relation to accusations of sexual misconduct during his tenure at the university. Strampel, 70, used his office to harass, discriminate, demean, sexually proposition, and sexually assault female students, according to an affidavit filed by the Michigan Attorney Generals Office. He was arrested Monday night and held at the Ingham County Jail, HuffPost confirmed. Michigan District Court Judge Richard Ball of East Lansing authorized a criminal complaint and warrant against Strampel on Tuesday morning detailing four criminal charges, including misconduct of a public official, which is a felony punishable by five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He was also charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual misconduct and two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty. The two counts of willful neglect of duty relate directly to the way Strampel handled a 2014 Title IX investigation into sexual abuse accusations against Nassar. Strampel allowed Nassar to continue working throughout the investigation, during which time the former doctor abused at least a dozen athletes. Four female MSU medical students are accusing Strampel of sexual misconduct dating back to 2010. The former dean allegedly groped multiple female students, solicited them for nude photos and sexual acts in exchange for favorable treatment, and repeatedly made sexually charged comments. Investigators also found pornographic images and videos on Strampels work computer. Michigan State Police Lt. Ryan Pennell said in the affidavit that among the videos on Strampels computer was one of Nassar sexually abusing a young female athlete during one of his treatment sessions. One of Strampels accusers alleges that in 2011 he asked her to come to his office after she fell asleep in his class. During the meeting, he allegedly asked her to turn around in a circle twice so that he could observe her body and proceeded to berate her about her appearance, telling her she was never going to make it in the profession if she did not dress sexier. Story continues The same woman said Strampel repeated his behavior during a 2013 meeting about her surgical residency, during which he advised her to learn her place in life and asked, What do I have to do to teach you to be submissive and subordinate to men? Another woman told investigators that Strampel once declared that it was good when women were drunk, because then it was easy to have sex with them. She said that Strampel also grabbed her butt during a College of Osteopathic Medicine ball in 2010. One woman told police that she was not surprised Nassar had been able to victimize so many women under the supervision of Strampel. Strampels lawyer did not immediately answer HuffPosts request for comment. MSUs interim president, former Michigan Gov. John Engler, responded to Strampels arrest in a statement to HuffPost: One of the first actions I took upon my appointment as interim president of Michigan State University in early February was to pursue revocation of tenure and removal of former Dean William Strampel. As explained then, it was plainly evident he had not acted with the level of professionalism expected of an MSU employee, particularly one holding an office that involves student and patient safety. MSU will continue to cooperate with all official investigations related to sexual assault or other misconduct. But we have and will do more. With our action to revoke tenure, we are sending an unmistakable message that employees who do not treat students, faculty, or anyone else appropriately are subject to administrative discipline up to and including firing. Allegations about Strampels own behavior as well as lack of attention to the conduct of Larry Nassar now have resulted in criminal charges against him from the Michigan Attorney General. Some of the allegations about his personal conduct, especially conduct toward students, are disturbing. Todays charges confirm our belief that he has fallen short of what is expected and required from academic leadership. They are not in alignment with this universitys values and they never have been. His failings are unacceptable and that is why our work to change procedures, strengthen accountability and prevent sexual misconduct is so important. While the crimes of one doctor and the misconduct of his dean do not represent our university, they do demand the scrutiny of everyone in order to assure individuals like these can never be in a position again to harm others. More than 250 women and girls have said they were abused by Larry Nassar. (Photo: JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) Attorney Jamie White, who represents several Nassar survivors, told HuffPost that he was not surprised by Strampels arrest. The University has been grossly negligent in its investigation of these matters, White said, adding, We will never know how much evidence has been lost, tampered with, and destroyed over the course of the last several years. But, based on the complaint issued against Dr. Strampel, it appears that attempts to conceal and/or delete evidence continued up until very recently. Strampel supervised Nassar, then MSUs team doctor, for almost 15 years, during which time Nassar sexually abused hundreds of athletes. He stepped down as dean last year, officially due to medical reasons but under pressure for how he handled complaints about Nassar. Strampel is still an MSU employee and is named as a defendant in several civil lawsuits against MSU. Engler began the process of terminating Strampels employment in February, although a spokeswoman for MSU told HuffPost earlier this month that the termination process could take up to a year. Strampel is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Special Prosecutor Bill Forsyth, who has been tasked with investigating the universitys role in Nassars case, is set to comment on the charges at an afternoon press conference. Olympic gymnast and Nassar survivor Aly Raisman reacted to the news of Strampels arrest on Tuesday afternoon. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Strampel said during a 2016 university meeting that he thought some of the athletes then accusing Nassar of sexual abuse were lying. Nassar abused at least 265 children and young women during his time at MSU and as the USA Gymnastics team doctor. His victims include Olympians Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Simone Biles. Last year, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison on child pornography charges. This year he was handed two separate sentences of up to 175 years for sexual abuse. The Michigan Attorney Generals Office launched an investigation into MSU after news broke that a number of Nassars victims had told school authorities about the abuse. The Detroit News reported that 14 school officials, including Strampel, were warned of the doctors behavior over the course of two decades. Lou Anna K. Simon, also named in the investigation, resigned as MSU president days after Nassars conviction in January. The NCAA and the U.S. Department of Education have launched their own investigations into how MSU handled reports of sexual abuse. This story has been updated with comments from MSU interim President John Engler and Aly Raisman. Related Stories Larry Nassar Was Allowed To See Patients During Sexual Assault Investigation Larry Nassar Sentenced To 40 To 175 Years In Prison For Child Sexual Abuse 'Every Corner' Of MSU Will Be Investigated Following Larry Nassar Sentencing Larry Nassar's Longtime Boss Reportedly Said In 2016 That He Thought Victims Were Lying Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. BEIRUT (Reuters) - The last rebel group fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta said on Monday it was still trying to negotiate an end to the army's assault, dismissing a Russian report that it was ready to leave the stronghold near Damascus. All other insurgent groups there have agreed to surrender their territory in deals mediated by the government's ally Moscow, bringing President Bashar al-Assad to the cusp of his biggest victory over the rebels in more than a year. But the Jaish al-Islam group has kept hold of the town of Douma. "The negotiations are still ongoing without reaching a final agreement till this moment," said spokesman Hamza Birqdar in a social media message. A Russian officer earlier said on Monday the group had signaled during talks it was ready to lay down its arms. "(This) is a lie and devoid of truth," Birqdar said. "An attempt to insist on forced displacement will be catastrophic," he added. The group's fighters skirmished with the Syrian army on one front of the Douma pocket on Monday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group. The army fired shells into the town, it added. Under the Russian deals, scores of buses have left the area since Thursday carrying fighters from other rebel groups, their families and civilians who do not want to come back under Assad's rule, to opposition areas in northwestern Syria. On Monday, a long line of buses stood waiting at a road junction, waiting to take thousands more people north. They were leaving the towns of Arbin, Zamalka, Ein Terma and Jobar after the Failaq al-Rahman group which held the area agreed a surrender deal on Friday. BUSES LEAVE More than 40 buses had filled with evacuees by Monday afternoon, after scores had left from there and from a separate enclave in the town of Harasta, where rebels accepted a deal on Thursday. Footage on state television on Monday showed four small children looking from the window of one bus as it prepared to depart, and another driving past an immense billboard depicting Assad's father, who ruled Syria from 1971-2000. Pro-opposition Orient television showed an earlier convoy that had arrived in Idlib from eastern Ghouta. People clambered off buses, lifting small children and large sacks of belongings. A fighter with a rifle slung over his shoulder stood nearby. Russia has promised the rebels will be safe, but insurgent groups have said they do not trust Moscow to protect them. Syria's government has won a string of victories since Russia entered the war on his side in 2015, often using siege and bombardment to force rebels to surrender. A full conquest of eastern Ghouta would be Assad's biggest win since driving rebels from Aleppo in December 2016, though insurgents remain entrenched in areas of northwestern and southwestern Syria. Western countries and rights groups have accused Damascus and Moscow of indiscriminate bombardment, including the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the use of barrel bombs, chlorine gas and incendiary explosives. They deny that and say their offensives, including the one against eastern Ghouta which started on Feb. 18 with a crushing bombardment, are necessary to free civilians from the rule of Islamist militants and end mortar attacks on government areas. (This version of the story corrects the identity of the Jaish al-Islam official) (Reporting By Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall in Beirut and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Are Donald Jr. and Vanessa following in Donald Sr. and Ivanas footsteps? (Photo: Getty Images) In the days following Donald Trump Jr.s divorce announcement, amid reports of his infidelity with Aubrey ODay, we started having flashbacks of father Donald Trumps notorious 1990 divorce from Don Jr.s mother, Ivana. The similarities are there: Both men are real estate moguls who got their start thanks to dad. Same politics and apparently political aspirations. Their beautiful, blond wives were models. There are allegedly other women. The divorces are super high-profile. They were both married for more than a decade. There are a bunch of kids involved. And, of course, money, money, money, money is a major factor for both. A friendlier turn During the past weekend, things took a turn, though, when TMZ posted photos of Don and estranged wife Vanessa on vacation with their kids at Mar-a-Lago. While they showed zero PDA, they seemed to be in relatively good moods at the pool with their brood. The story even brought up the term conscious uncoupling popularized by Gwyneth Paltrow and her amicable ex Chris Martin though adding at least for now. Just the fact that they could sit side by side says something different about their split. After all, the Donald and Ivana were at each others throats for years after they uncoupled. Donald Trump Jr. & Estranged Wife Together at Mar-a-Lago After Divorce Filing https://t.co/NREdqGgwfK TMZ (@TMZ) March 26, 2018 Other signs pointing to the fact that its more amicable include Vanessas liking some of Dons social media posts about their children. Shes still letting a Trump spokesperson address rumors related to her. Perhaps this seemingly friendlier path comes down to what Don went through with his own parents spliy. He was 12 years old during the so-called Divorce of the Century, and it led to his not speaking to his father for an entire year. Story continues Listen, its tough to be a 12-year-old, Don Jr. told New York magazine in 2004. Youre not quite a man, but you think you are. You think you know everything. Being driven into school every day and you see the front page and its: Divorce! The Best Sex I Ever Had! And you dont even know what that means. At that age, kids are naturally cruel. Your private life becomes very public, and I didnt have anything to do with it: My parents did. That led to him blaming his father for the split, he said, whether it was right or wrong. And thats, perhaps, not actually what it was. But when youre living with your mother, its easy to be manipulated. You get a one-sided perspective. Donald Trump Jr. with his father at the U.S. Open in 1988. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) The Divorce of the Century The divorce battle between Donald and Ivana was epic. To paint the scene, this is the start of the People magazine story reporting the NYC power couples breakup in February 1990. In a decade of glitz, they were the glitziest; in a decade of greed, they were the greediest: He the scrappy investor who made a fortune wheeling and dealing real estate, she the gregarious, Czech-born outsider who charmed and clawed her way into New Yorks most refined social circles. As they fashioned an empire in their own image and plastered their moniker on nearly every piece of steel, brick and glass they owned they became, as New York Newsday columnist James Revson quipped, larger than Dynasty. They had it, and they flaunted it in a brash, bold, brazen way that seemed to typify their times. So when, only six weeks into 1990, Donald and Ivana Trump announced they were calling off their 12-year marriage, it seemed the perfectly scripted end to a decade of flash and cash. The headline Don Jr. referred to related to the divorce The Best Sex I Ever Had was a quote attributed to his dads mistress, Marla Maples. As Donald and Ivanas marriage unraveled, Ivana and Marla had a catfight on the Aspen ski slopes over Donald amid the very public affair. Of course, that was Trumps own fault for bringing his mistress on a family vacation. (True story.) The divorce really exploded because both Donald and Ivana were feeding information to the New York gossip columns. The late gossip maven Liz Smith recalled breaking the news, saying Ivana who was largely responsible for making Donald into the Donald, someone the press cared about, and had a large role in her husbands company called her to the Plaza Hotel, threw her arms around her, while crying, and said, Donald has a girlfriend.' When Smith reached out to Donald, who had been linked to many women in addition to Maples, he told her, I like Ivana; I might get back with her. I couldnt believe it, Smith said. I like Ivana. Everyone had misjudged Donald. People thought he would be alarmed if it was revealed that he was having an affair. But it turned out he didnt give a s*** if people knew. (This gives some insight into his present-day drama with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.) The 1990 Trump divorce was all over the news. (Photo: New York Daily News) With Ivana dubbing Donald cruel and inhuman, they went on to divorce. That part was just as crazy no surprise considering he was worth a reported $1.7 billion. Although portions of the divorce documents were sealed, Newsday reported on the financial breakdown, stating that Ivana received a $10 million certified check immediately and $4 million within the next year. She also received the Greenwich, Conn., mansion, an apartment at Trump Plaza in Manhattan, use of Mar-a-Lago for one month a year, a 1987 Mercedes, $300,000 annually in child support, and $350,000 a year in alimony. She also received custody of the three children, including Ivanka and Eric. As for Donald, he got Marla. Well, briefly. They had a child, Tiffany, and then married, and then divorced. He married Melania Knauss in 2005. Meanwhile, Ivana also later remarried twice, bringing her total to four. (The exes are now friendly despite their insane divorce, Ivana said last year.) Like father, like son? As mentioned, Don Jr. didnt speak to his father for a year after his parents divorced. He and his sibs were shipped off to boarding school, and he spent time with his maternal grandfather in Prague. He needed a father figure, Ivana told the New York Times. Donald was not around that much. Ivana takes credit for raising their children, saying, When [my children] turned 21, I handed them over to him and said, Heres the finished product.' (She has also said that Donald was worried Donald Jr. would turn out to be a loser.) After frat-boy antics at college and some lost years as a bartender in Colorado, Don Jr. returned to New York and joined the family business, the Trump Organization. Soon after, his dad was his matchmaker when he introduced Vanessa at a fashion show. Vanessa later told Don Jr. that she thought his dad was retarded when they were introduced. Donald Trump Jr. campaigned for his father in 2016. Hes since said he wants to run for office himself. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images) When Donald decided to run for office, Don Jr. did some serious stumping for him and possibly more. Well see what an investigation turns out. The younger Trump, who is running the family biz with Eric while his father is in Washington, has also expressed interest in running for office himself, a reported point of contention with Vanessa. She reportedly doesnt like all the attention the family receives with her father-in-law in the Oval Office. (Death threats dont help.) But there seem to be bigger issues with the pair, including his alleged affair with Celebrity Apprentice contestant Aubrey ODay. Its too early in Don and Vanessas divorce process to tell if they will, in fact, consciously uncouple, as TMZ suggests, depending on the new photos. A lot of it probably depends on the settlement Vanessa gets and if its to her liking. But the new photos are a good sign that theyre at least headed in a more positive direction than Donald and Ivana. And that is a good thing. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Creatively and commercially, the Star Wars series hasnt missed a beat since it passed from the hands of its creator, George Lucas, to a new generation of filmmakers who grew up immersed in the adventures of that far, far away galaxy. The first three films of the post-Lucas period The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi have won strong reviews (as well as multiple Oscar nominations) and occupy the top three slots on the franchises overall box-office chart. Nevertheless, one question cant help but loom over this era of Star Wars, like those dual suns shining above Tatooine: What would George do (WWGD)? The exact details of Lucass plans for his galaxy in the wake of Return of the Jedi are a hotly debated topic in Star Wars circles, in large part because they kept shifting, and the writer/director himself has mostly declined to clean up the historical record. Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. (Photo: Industrial Light & Magic/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm Ltd./Courtesy Everett Collection) Erstwhile Jedi Master Mark Hamill, on the other hand, is more than happy to wade into the fray. The dearly departed Luke Skywalker (RIP?) recently set off a tempest in a TIE Fighter when he spilled details about Lucass original ending for the ninth and likely final episode in the Skywalker saga, which is currently being co-written and directed by the director of The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams. I happen to know that George didnt kill Luke until the end of [Episode] 9, after he trained Leia, Hamill confessed to IGN. Which is another thread that was never played upon [in The Last Jedi]. And, according to Hamill at least, Lucas had a lot of threads that havent been woven into the latter-day sequel series. George had an overall arc if he didnt have all the details, he had sort of an overall feel for where the [sequel trilogy was] going but this ones more like a relay race. You run and hand the torch off to the next guy, he picks it up and goes. George Lucas directs Carrie Fisher on the set of A New Hope. (Photo: Everett Collection) In The Last Jedi, of course, writer/director Rian Johnson gave Luke an unexpected, but ultimately heroic farewell, Force-casting himself across the galaxy from Ahch-To to Crait and distracting Kylo Ren just long enough to allow the ragtag Resistance fighters led by his twin sister to escape and fight another day. Johnson also made it clear that Leia didnt require Lukes tutelage to get in touch with her inner Jedi, as she ably used the Force to escape an icy grave in the vacuum of space. Instead, Rey took on the role of Lukes designated disciple not that he was all that eager to teach her. Story continues Interestingly, Johnsons bold story choices have their roots in Lucass plans for Episodes VII-IX one version of them anyway. As detailed in the lushly illustrated coffee-table book, The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, story treatments that Lucas penned in 2010 placed Luke on the remote island that became Ahch-To, home of the first Jedi Temple and a gaggle of tasty porgs. Its here that he grudgingly took on a padawan in the form of Kira not Leia a female Jedi in training who evolved into Rey. So where does the Luke training Leia scenario that Hamill describes come from? Youll likely have to go back further in Lucass archives to find evidence of that original original ending. In the wake of The Phantom Menaces release in 1999, producer Gary Kurtz outlined how his former collaborators nine-film series was supposed to unfold, with Princess Leia rising in rank to Queen Leia (and losing her status as a Skywalker) around Episode VI, and Luke meeting his for-real sister in Episode VIII. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill as Skywalker siblings Luke and Leia in A New Hope. (Photo: Everett Collection) Meanwhile, Lucas biographer Dale Pollock has said that when he wrote his 1983 book Skywalking, he was granted permission to read the treatments for what would have been a sprawling 12-part franchise, elements of which were eventually collapsed into Return of the Jedi. Hamill himself referred to that 12-part version in 2004, saying that Lucas planned to have Luke pass off the baton, uh, lightsaber, to a new Jedi Master in Episode IX of XII. Perhaps one day Lucas will share his various endings with the world. For now, though, The Last Jedi brings Lukes journey to a moving conclusion at least until he inevitably returns as a blue-hued Force Ghost in Abramss trilogy-capper. Not that Hamill is spilling the beans about his alter egos future. No ones really talked to me about it, he said (rather unconvincingly) to IGN. If hes telling the truth, though, Episode IX could be a finale free of the original generation of Skywalkers, as Carrie Fishers tragic death in 2016 means Leia wont be part of the Resistances final battle. We like to think that they are both one with the Force, training each other in the art of being better Jedi. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Is Meghan McCain a hypocrite for calling out strong language used by a student survivor of the Parkland shooting, while at the same time having a four-letter word in her Twitter bio? According to one journalist and quite a few of McCains own fans the answer is yes. The drama started when The View co-host addressed comments made by 17-year-old Parkland student and gun control advocate David Hogg during the March for Our Lives rally on March 24. As Us Weekly reports, Mondays The View taping saw McCain object to Hoggs use of expletives, saying his rhetoric was not productive. Meghan McCains latest comments are under fire. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images) One thing I will say is that you dont move the narrative when you use language like this, she argued. He said, It just makes me think what sick blankers out there want to continue to sell more guns, murder our children, and honestly just get reelected. What type of blanking person does that? They could have blood from children splattered all over their faces and they dont take action because all they see is dollar signs. I wish we could have it where the rhetoric isnt that any of us could have blood splattered on our faces and your life perspective wouldnt be changed, she added. I dont think its productive. McCain called out Parkland student David Hoggs remarks. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) But McCain may not necessarily have an issue with profanity in her personal life. As journalist and author Kurt Eichenwald noted, the conservative pundits Twitter bio currently includes a reference to the cancer foundation F*** Cancer. Her father, Sen. John McCain, announced last year that he would be undergoing treatment for a glioblastoma. Here is the twitter bio of @MeghanMcCain who freaked out today because a young man who saw his classmates torn to shreds by AR-15 said the same word that is on her bio. Cursing only reserved for YOUR issues, Meghan? pic.twitter.com/jrKDDbSKfy Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) March 26, 2018 McCain seemed unfazed by the Vanity Fair and MSNBC contributors criticism, responding with a rather provocative insult. She went on to tweet about the cancer cause she supports. Story continues Whatever you say, Mr. weirdo tentacle porn https://t.co/hz3dFx1QgW Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 26, 2018 Also #FuckCancer is a non profit for cancer survivors whose mission is raise awareness and educate about early cancer detection. Get involved in the Fuck Cancer initiative and show you support those who are battling the hardest. Make a donation at: https://t.co/6KXzXioNNe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 26, 2018 In terms of the language debate, many McCain followers have said that it was unfair of her to call out Hogg. I like you Meghan but you are wrong on this oneown it and apologize. DebS (@DebS937428) March 26, 2018 Totally agree. Meghan is one of the few GOPers I admire, but shes wrong here. Carlene Shifflet (@ShiffletCarlene) March 26, 2018 Sorry Meghan, but @kurteichenwald has a valid point. You cant have it both ways. Liz Thompson (@LizThompson671) March 26, 2018 If the best you can do is name-calling, maybe dont post at all. Renee Rico (@reneerico) March 26, 2018 I agree with the #FuckCancer in your bio. And the student did drop an F-bomb, with which I can sympathize. I wouldn't have said it on national TV, but give the kid a break. Dread Pirate Roberts (@Cryptotis) March 26, 2018 @Madison_Jourdan on Twitter also noted that McCain has used the word f*** on multiple other occasions on Twitter, such as when she was watching the Sam Nunberg CNN interview, supporting marriage equality in Arizona, calling Los Angelenos flaky, and more. Will McCain address the controversy during Tuesdays show? Well just have to wait and see. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett appears in Harris County Civil Court in Houston on Monday, March 26, 2018. Bennett has surrendered to authorities in Houston on a charge that he injured a paraplegic woman as he tried to get onto the field after last years Super Bowl to celebrate with his brother. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle via AP) Developments in Michael Bennetts ongoing legal drama continued to filter out Monday afternoon after the Philadelphia Eagles defensive end appeared in a Houston courtroom with his lawyer Rusty Hardin. Bennett is accused of shoving a 66-year-old paraplegic security guard while attempting to get onto the field to celebrate with his brother Martellus, following the New England Patriots stunning comeback win in Super Bowl LI, which took place at Houstons NRG Stadium. Hardin, whos defended a plethora of high-profile professional athletes over the course of his career laid out the essence of Bennetts defense. Hardin explained that his client didnt even touch the paraplegic security guard he is accused of assaulting. From Philly.com: He just flat-out didnt do it. It wasnt a case of, He didnt shove her that hard, or anything like that. He never touched her. Hardin only has to create reasonable doubt that the incident was an accident so for him to assert that there wasnt any contact at all is an interesting legal strategy. Considering there was no video of Bennetts alleged assault, witness testimony will be paramount. And according to Hardin, he has witnesses who can testify that Bennett never shoved the woman. There were bunches of families going through that door, Hardin told the Inquirer and the Daily News. They all tried different places. Everybody sort of streamed through there. Im not sure this woman knew who [shoved her.] This the only time in 2018, youll hear a Hardin in Houston arguing to anyone wholl listen that there was no contact as he tried to get through a scrum. Hardin was most taken aback by the vitriolic tone of Houston PD Chief Art Acevedos press conference remarks Friday, in which he called Bennett morally corrupt and pathetic. Ive never seen it before. We dont talk about capital murder defendants like that, Hardin said. A trial date hasnt been set, assuming there is one instead of a plea, but for better or worse this is shaping up to be one of the most bizarre legal sagas involving a professional athlete in recent years, Story continues More from Yahoo Sports: Passan: The upbeat treament of Shohei Ohtani is an unnecessary joke Former MLB All-Star Albert Belle arrested on DUI Grayson Allen leaves behind complicated legacy at Duke Report: Odell Beckham wont play without an extension DJ Dunson is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at dunsnchecksin@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or Facebook. If dining alone with any woman who isn't your wife is a strict no-no, what does that make cheating on her just months after she gave birth to your first child together? The impression given by Vice President Mike Pence, as well as a slew of President Donald Trump's other evangelical supporters, is that it's entirely possible that the latter is just fine. Despite the stringent boundaries of his own marriage, Pence has been conspicuous by his silence on all things Stormy Daniels, other than telling the Associated Press in January that he wouldn't comment on the "latest baseless allegations against the president." Pence's decision to brush off allegations that the president entered an extramarital sexual relationship with Daniels seems to have informed conservative opinion on the matter, too: Only roughly half of Trump voters say it would be immoral if the president indeed had an affair with the adult film actress, according to a recent HuffPost/YouGov poll. The other 50 percent of participants either said it's not immoral or that they weren't sure either way. White evangelical voters make up a large swath of Trump's base, supporting the president 80-16 percent in the 2016 election despite an infamous Access Hollywood tape where he bragged about committing sexual assault and the more than a dozen women who accused the then-Republican nominee of sexual misconduct. As Daniels, as well as former Playboy model Karen McDougal, continues to circulate her account of sex with the presidentincluding intimate details about his sexual proclivities some evangelicals are ready to give Trump another pass. Story continues Earlier this month, Pastor Robert Jeffress, a member of Trump's evangelical advisory board, appeared on Fox News to defend the president, calling Trump's alleged affairs "totally irrelevant" to the evangelical community's support of him. We are all sinners, we all need forgiveness, [and] that forgiveness is available through Christ for anyone who asks, he said at the time. And whether the president needs that forgiveness for this particular allegation, whether hes asked for it, is between him, his family and his god. Don't miss: Betsy DeVos Says Common Core is 'Dead.' She Is Wrong Melania-Trump-Stormy-Daniels MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images The vice presidents office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Trump isn't the only politician whose alleged trespasses the religious right has forgiven or ignored. Before Roy Moore was accused of having inappropriate relationships with teen girls as an adult, the Alabama Senate candidate received support from over 50 state pastors, who wrote that Moore represented an opportunity to "send a man to Washington who shares our convictions, will fight for morality and will restore integrity to the halls of Congress." Very few of them changed their stance, even after women came forward with their stories of Moore approaching them in malls, signing their yearbooks and attending their graduation ceremonies. Most popular: When Will Isaiah Thomas Be Back? LA Lakers Point Guard Excused With Hip Problem When reporters from local news outlet AL.com circled back with the pastors who signed the original letter, 19 of the 29 churches they were able to get in touch with confirmed that their pastors remained supportive of Moore. At least one pastor, who saw Moore's wife Kayla post the letter on Facebook, asked that his name be added to the list, according to The Washington Post. He remained staunchly defensive of Moore: "Id cut off my right arm if I knew Roy Moore would do this," Ben McKee, a former reverend in Alabama, told the Post in November. "But I know him better than that." Evangelical voters weren't so generous with former President Bill Clinton, some of whom declared his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky a "profound moral crisis" at the time. That was the exact quote James Dobson, the founder of conservative Christian organization Focus on the Family, gave in the '90s, amid the Clinton scandal. But, come October 2016, just after the current president's "grab them by the pussy" comments leaked, Dobson was far more lenient. "Donald Trump is not a perfect man, but he is pro-life," Dobson said. "To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never abused women physically or had oral sex in the Oval Office with a vulnerable intern." Jeffress, the member of Trump's evangelical advisory board, struck a similar chord this month. Evangelicals, he said, have no illusions about Trump's characterthey've known all along what kind of man he is. An alleged affair doesn't change much. "[We knew we] weren't voting for an altar boy," Jeffress said. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Martin Luther King Jr.s granddaughter has a dream, too. Nine-year-old Yolanda Renee King spoke out against gun violence in a brief yet powerful speech at Saturdays March For Our Lives in Washington. My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, King, the daughter of Martin Luther King III, said. I have a dream that enough is enough, King said to cheering and applause. And that this should be a gun-free world, period. She then led the crowd in a call-and-response, chanting Spread the word. Have you heard? All across the nation. We ... are going to be. A great generation. Kings appearance at the march, organized by the student activists of Parkland, Florida, following last months mass shooting there, comes days shy of the 50th anniversary of her grandfathers assassination. In honor of his life, King will be hosting an event in her hometown of Atlanta on April 7 to highlight young people engaged in activism worldwide. Also on HuffPost Demonstrators arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, D.C. Protestors outside a March For Our Lives rally outside the U.S. embassy in London, in solidarity with demonstrations in the U.S. A demonstrator carries a sign reading, "The scariest thing in a school should be my grades." A student from Baltimore, Maryland, holds a protest sign during the rally in Washington. Demonstrators hold three corresponding signs that read "PLEASE DON'T SHOOT" at the rally in Washington. A student from Baltimore, Maryland, holds a protest sign during the March For Our Lives Rally in Washington. Emma Weill-Jones, 9, holds a sign featuring a quote from Malala Yousafzai at the March For Our Lives rally in Philadelphia. Activists in Houston, Texas channel "The Handmaid's Tale." A sign seen during a demonstration at Miami Beach Senior High School, in Miami, Florida reads "I should be writing my English paper, not my will." Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Alexandria Sage SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The head of Mobileye said on Monday its computer vision system would have detected the pedestrian who was killed in Arizona by a self-driving Uber vehicle, and called for a concerted move to validate the safety of autonomous vehicles. Amnon Shashua, chief executive officer of Mobileye, the vision system company owned by Intel Corp , in a blog post also criticized "new entrants" in the self-driving field that have not gone through the years of development necessary to ensure safety in the vehicles. Police and safety regulators are investigating the March 18 fatality in which a woman crossing a wide roadway at night was struck and killed by the Uber self-driving test vehicle. The incident has focussed new attention on the safety and validation of such vehicles. Mobileye said it took the dashboard camera video released last week by police and ran it through Mobileye's advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), a building block of even more sophisticated full self-driving systems that is currently found in 24 million vehicles around the world. Despite the low quality imaging from the police video, Mobileye's ADAS technology was able to detect the pedestrian, Elaine Herzberg, and the bicycle she was pushing across the road "approximately one second before impact," Shashua wrote in the blog, which was published on Intel's website. Uber has not said whether the sensors in its self-driving vehicle detected Herzberg in the seconds before the accident. New developments in self-driving technology and a host of new entrants in the field wrongly give the impression that "the decade-plus experience of incumbent computer vision experts should be discounted," Shashua wrote. "Experience counts, particularly in safety-critical areas," Shashua wrote in a veiled reference to Uber, which only began to develop its self-driving program in 2015. Story continues Mobileye's CEO has previously argued for a formal model for "provable safety assurances" that all self-driving companies could use to validate the safety of their systems and ensure their vehicles do not cause accidents. "I firmly believe the time to have meaningful discussion on a safety validation framework for fully autonomous vehicles is now," Shashua wrote. (Reporting by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Leslie Adler) KIEV (Reuters) - Moldova has asked three Russian diplomats to leave the country within seven days, in solidarity with Britain after the poisoning of a former Russian spy, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday in a statement on its website. Governments across Europe, the United States and others have announced plans to expel scores of Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack on the former spy and his daughter on March 4. Moscow has denied being behind it. (Reporting by Matthias Williams and Natalia Zinets; Editing by Peter Graff) A teen whose mom said was acting entitled about clothes learned a budget-conscious lesson. (Photo: Facebook/Cierra Brittany Forney) A mom whose teen son acted entitled about his wardrobe taught him a public lesson that Money isnt everything. Cierra Brittany Forney, a mother of three in Auburn, Ga., shared the experience on Facebook on Sunday, in an explosive post that earned almost 570K reactions, more than 212K shares, and 140K comments describing her as Supermom, among other accolades. So lately, my 13 year old son had been acting a little entitled, wrote Forney. Acting like hes too good to shop at Wal-Mart or making snarky comments about kids at school who shop at the goodwill and quite a few other things. I dont tolerate that. Today, he took his own 20.00 to the goodwill to buy clothes to wear the entire week to school. Whatever he found is what he would have to wear. He isnt happy and shed a few tears but I firmly believe in 15 years he will look back and laugh at the day his Mom made him shop at goodwill. I want to teach my kids that money isnt everything and if you have to degrade other people because of where they shop, then you too will shop there. Side note, I love the goodwill!! If you have something rude to say about my choices, keep that to yourself because [expletive] Im trying to raise good, respectful humans. Forney did not return Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment, but she provided a Facebook update Tuesday, expressing disbelief over the reach of her story. My son learned a valuable lesson from this and I believe it is just another story we can add to our lives memory to look back on, she wrote. I didnt do this to punish him. It wasnt to show him that goodwill isnt a good place to shop. I did this to teach him that money and name brands dont change who we are as people. He can still be the amazing, adorable, loved kid that he is WITHOUT the expensive stores! She also acknowledged the origin of her sons belief system. I do realize that we are partly to blame for his expectancy of always having name brands, Forney wrote. My husband and myself had our son when we were VERY young. We always strived to give him all the things we never had and because of that, he has grown to expect these things. Story continues Forney went on to address her critics, who interpreted the post as a slam to budget-conscious shoppers, revealing that she loves the Goodwill. And while a majority of the comments were supportive, Forney revealed that her parenting move wasnt accepted by all. I DO NOT care what anyone has to say about my post because I SOLEY did this to help my son become a better man, she said. All the positive feedback and comments have brought me to tears and so have all the negative ones. All that matters is my son is completely 100 percent okay with what happened. My son has learned a valuable lesson from this AND my son is rockin his button up shirt he bought from the Goodwill with PRIDE today!!! Forneys post has largely been met with kudos, unlike those from other parents who forced their kids into wearing what they believed was undesirable clothing. For example, in 2013, a Utah mom triggered a debate on public shaming when she posted Facebook photos of her daughter wearing thrift-store clothing as punishment for bullying classmates for the same. As for whether quid-pro-quo parenting tactics are advisable, thats a complex question, according to Deborah Gilboa, M.D., a parenting and youth development expert. Having a kid wear certain clothing as a response to bullying others about their clothes may be appropriate if its accompanied by conversations about privilege, entitlement, and empathy, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. There may be value for parents who go public with punishments if their intent is to start a discussion about social norms, decreasing bullying, and taking ownership of any parenting tactics that resulted in a childs behavior. Seeing a childs flaws with a three-dimensional lens and holding them accountable is engagement, love, and parenting, she says, adding the caveat that photos have the potential to go viral, potentially posing safety risks and causing children psychological harm. We have to be as careful about social media as wed want our kids to be, she said. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. More than 2 million people participated in the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence over the weekend, according to the nation's largest gun violence prevention group. Activists demonstrated in 387 congressional districts, or 90 percent of all voting districts in the U.S. across party lines, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, which assisted the survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in organizing marches in Washington D.C. and worldwide. There were more than 850 sibling marches across the world. The Stoneman Douglas survivors organized Saturday's march after a 19-year-old gunman fatally shot 17 people at their school in Parkland, Florida on February 14 with a legally purchased AR-15. An estimated 800,000 gun protesters gathered in Washington D.C. alone to issue lawmakers three demands: Ban the assault weapons often used to execute mass shootings; end the sale of high-capacity magazines; and implement universal background checks for every gun sale, closing the current background check loopholes. Trending: Missouri Governor Eric Greitens Is a Case Study in Sex, Privacy Laws, and the Internet The widespread activism across congressional districts is significant for the gun control movement. Almost immediately after the shooting, Stoneman Douglas survivors used their national platform to put the gun industry and politicians they deemed to be in the pockets of the National Rifle Association on notice. GettyImages-937309836 Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Story continues "Politicians: either represent the people or get out. Stand with us or beware, the voters are coming, 17-year-old Cameron Kasky, a junior at Stoneman Douglas, told the Washington D.C. protesters. "Our voices are powerful and our votes matter." Don't miss: Right-Wing Populism Could Topple the Liberal International Order The movement's momentum doesn't appear to be subsiding. On Monday, Everytown announced it would allocate $1 million towards a grant program for students to get involved in nationwide Students Demand Action chapters. The organization will also assist with voter registration drives, including pre-registering 16- and 17-year-olds. RELATED: Gun Control Protests Aren't Going Away This Time "On Saturday, we marched," said Julia Spoor, 16, a founding member of Students Demand Action, in Everytown's statement. "On Monday and every day after, well organize and keep growing this movement until this crisis ends. Most popular: Work Requirements for Medicare Keep Poor People From Accessing Basic Health Care Everytown also said it will continue to help students participate in gun control activism, saying more than 200 events are planned over the next two weeks. On April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, students will again walk out of their classrooms and students around the country walked out out on March 14, the one-month anniversary of the Parkland shooting. The forthcoming demonstration, called the National School Walkout, will also take aim at politicians and protest "congressional, state, and local failures to take action to prevent gun violence," its website says. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Mount Holyoke, a womens college in Massachusetts, is discouraging professors from using the word women. The code of conduct was issued by the school in a document titled, Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Students from the colleges Teaching and Learning Initiative, a hub for student-centered teaching. Mount Holyoke College, an all-womens school in Massachusetts, is discouraging the use of the word women to address its students in class. (Photo: Getty Images) Here are the suggestions professors may follow: When discussing the student body, say Mount Holyoke students rather than Mount Holyoke women. Avoid making statements like Were all women here or referring to the two genders. Invite your students to let you know if you misgender them, so that you can avoid doing so in the future. Use gender-neutral language whenever possible, but certainly in your syllabus and other general written communication. Whenever possible, avoid making assumptions. For example, dont assume someone is or isnt a MHC student based on your perception of their gender. Relatedly, avoid making assumptions about how students experience their own genders, even if theyve named a particular identity. When writing letters of recommendation or any other official communication about a student (especially students whove come out to you as trans or gender-nonconforming or non-binary), write a quick email to ensure that youre using the correct name and/or pronoun for that context. A good rule of thumb: If youre not sure, ask! The guidelines were put in place in 2017 to prevent students from being subject to various forms of disrespect for example, when professors mispronounce students names or misgender them. Students who are worried about not being treated with respect cant concentrate on what were saying, the guidelines state. We want to be respectful of our students, and not all may identify as women, Keely Savoie, interim director of media relations at Mount Holyoke, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. The guidance is for professors navigating the landscape of students whose genders they cant determine on their own accord. Story continues Savoie also sent Yahoo Lifestyle a statement from Mount Holyokes acting president, Sonya Stephens, which read: As we know, not every Mount Holyoke student identifies as a woman. But every student at Mount Holyoke has the right to live and learn in an inclusive environment that is free from hostility and respectful of their identity. We are deeply committed to this belief and to all of our students. To this end, Mount Holyokes Teaching and Learning Initiative recently provided classroom guidance to faculty on respectful ways to address students. The values that guide our community are not well understood by all, as evidenced by the recent attention we have received from a variety of websites and news outlets, and by the ensuing correspondence and comments on social media. Today, as a result of this attention, you may even have seen news crews on campus. We understand that holding these values and standing by them often comes at a price, especially in an age of viral sound bites. But we will not shy away from upholding and defending our values, or from advocating for the identities expressed by all members of our community. In February, similar guidelines were put in place at Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., when the schools Online Writing Lab, a research and writing resource, discouraged gender-based language. Instead, it suggested swapping humanity or people for mankind, coordinator for chairman, and mail carrier for mailman. Reducing gendered language is a good thing, because it increases inclusivity, Christia Brown, PhD, a professor of developmental and social psychology at the University of Kentucky and the author of Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. A study published in February in the journal Pediatrics found that almost 3 percent of teens (in Minnesota) did not identify with boy or girl labels. According to the American Psychological Association, nonbinary people make up 25 to 35 percent or more of transgender populations. The organization also notes, The lack of cultural visibility of non-binary identities may make the identity development process more difficult for non-binary individuals. Mount Holyokes guidelines have run into some backlash on Twitter from commentators who have labeled them PC crap and laughable. However, Brown says sensitive terminology benefits everyone. Gendered language enforces gender stereotypes for both those who do, and dont, fit typical identities, she says. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Tokyo (AFP) - A North Korean fishing boat captain was handed a suspended prison sentence by a Japanese court Tuesday for stealing items including electronic appliances after being rescued from his stranded vessel last year. The 45-year-old was among 10 North Koreans spotted aboard a tiny wooden boat struggling in bad weather off the northern island of Hokkaido in late November. They were rescued from the vessel, and some crew members were subsequently arrested over the theft of items ranging from home appliances to solar panels. Some of them admitted taking items from a local fishery cooperatives facility on the remote island where they took refuge. The captain was arrested and indicted last year for taking the lead in stealing some 40 items worth 5.65 million yen ($53,000), local media reported. Eight other crew members were deported home via China last month, while a ninth has been in hospital with tuberculosis. On Tuesday, the Hakodate District Court in Hokkaido issued the captain a suspended jail term of two years and six months, a court spokesman told AFP. Presiding judge Takeshi Matsumoto said "the crime was malicious and the damage is expensive," Jiji Press and other local media reported. However, the judge noted that the skipper regretted his conduct and that most of the stolen goods have been returned, reports said. It was unclear if the captain would also be deported. Dozens of North Korean fishing vessels have washed up on Japan's coast in recent years, with the number hitting a record 104 in 2017, up from 66 the previous year, according to the Japanese coastguard. Experts say some North Korean fishermen are travelling further out to sea in order to satisfy government mandates for bigger catches. But their old and poorly equipped vessels are prone to mechanical and other problems, including running out of fuel, and there are few ways for them to call for rescue. Some of the boats wash up on Japanese shores with the crew on board dead, a phenomenon referred to by the local media as "ghost ships". Brussels (AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will on Tuesday unveil "measures" in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, the alliance said, as international pressure mounts on Moscow. NATO has warned that the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter must have "consequences" and Stoltenberg will hold a news conference in Brussels at 3:30 pm (1330 GMT) to make an announcement on "further decisions", the alliance said in a brief statement. Governments of 24 countries around the world have expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats over the poisoning of the Skripals, an unprecedented international response to the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II. Britain hailed the mass expulsions as a "turning point" for the West's attitude to a "reckless" Russia, but Moscow denies responsiblity for the poisoning and has vowed to carry out tit-for-tat measures of its own. Relations between NATO and Russia were already at a low ebb over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and its role in the Ukraine and Syria conflicts. Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent identified by Britain as the Soviet-made "Novichok" in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer imprisoned by Moscow for passing on information about Russian agents in various European countries, came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap. Princess Diana, pictured two months before her death in 1997, is unlikely to RSVP. (Photo: Jamal A. Wilson/AFP/Getty Images) Excitement about the royal wedding has officially reached fever pitch. But amid all the speculation about Meghan Markles dress and who has scored an invite comes dubious news about one unexpected wedding guest: Princess Dianas ghost. The British tabloid Daily Star has interviewed twin psychics from Los Angeles about their claims that Prince Harrys late mother who was killed in a car accident in 1997 will watch over the May 19 proceedings. According to Terry and Linda Jamison, Princess Diana also attended her older son Williams 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will wed May 19. (Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) I will most definitely be present for Harry and Meghans wedding, the twins, who collectively share the nickname Nostradamus in Stilettos, they quoted the princess. I was also there for William and Kates wedding. It will be beautiful, a small version of my own ceremony and with a horse and carriage. Mine was overwhelming, to say the least. I am around them all more than they realize! While its not uncommon for the bereaved to feel the presence or spirit of their late loved ones, the psychics ghostly claims about Princess Di are stretching many peoples credulity. Both the Daily Star and the Mirror, which reran the story, have been mocked for printing them. And she'd have gotten away with it if it wasn't for that pesky Mirror! pic.twitter.com/DVrKpvjO5R T (@TonyTheBFG) March 27, 2018 british media: we need a strong response to this fake news scourge also british media: pic.twitter.com/8hHKNsoALm Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) March 27, 2018 Will Henry VIII be there too, FFS Les Taylor (@biggles271961) March 25, 2018 God, at least make her a hologram. Have her do a few of her greatest hits, like dancing with John Travolta, consoling Elton John at Versace's funeral and have a big pyrotechnic extravaganza finale with her walking through a minefield. BRYN_BORANGA (@BRYN_BORANGA) March 27, 2018 Alas, the psychics did not weigh in on who might be designing Markles gown. Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Meghan Markles beret has a sweet Princess Diana connection Kate Middleton wears skinny black jeans in final public appearance before giving birth Kate Middletons new baby already has an official royal website Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers railed against Hillary Clinton in 2016, but perhaps they should have been more concerned about Donald Trump. Gun sales dropped in 2017 as fears that the government would come for your guns waned. The decline has been dubbed the Trump slump and led to Remington Outdoor Co. filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday, a day after hundreds of thousands of people worldwide took to the streets protesting gun violence. Trump, who has touted himself a true friend and champion of the NRA, has repeatedly promised that the Second Amendment was safe with him in office. Richard Feldman, a former NRA lobbyist, told Newsweek that such trust has resulted in a classic supply-and-demand predicament for gun manufacturers: Without fear of a supply crunch, the demand drops. Trending: How Stormy Daniels is Winning the Battle with Donald Trump When the heat is off the gun issue, there's no more fear-buying going on, he said. There's no immediate threat to your future ability to buy the kind of guns that might be on someone's ban list. GettyImages-505759076 Ethan Miller/Getty Images The gun industry bet big on Trump in 2016. Days before the election, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre issued an urgent call to action, telling the groups members to oppose Clinton. If, God forbid, Hillary Clinton is elected, she will launch an all-out war on the Second Amendment. She will come for your guns, LaPierre warned. She will attack your right to carry. She will attack your most basic right to defend your family with a firearm in your home. Don't miss: China Says U.S. Wants World For Itself And That's Why It Can't Accept Beijing's Role in Africa There is no red line President Hillary Clinton will not cross when it comes to attacking your rights and forcibly taking your guns, he said. Story continues Ironically, the gun industry has fared well under Democratic leadership, or when faced with the threat of it. Concerns that the government could pass stricter gun legislation under Democratic President Barack Obama led to record purchasing. Sales of Remingtons Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle, which was used in the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, surged after the tragedy. The manufacturer's sales surged 36 percent to $1.3 billion in 2013, financial research group Moody's Investors Service reported. Then, in 2016, the NRA and gun manufacturers dumped millions into Trump and the Republican Party, viewing Clinton as an albatross. Most popular: Trump Has Screwed His Voters Repeatedly, Ann Coulter, 'In Trump We Trust' Author, Tweets While Making Stormy Daniels Joke But the Democratic challenger was a boon to the industry. Gun sales spiked again ahead of the election while polls showed Clinton as the favorite to win. Sales have been very, very slow ever since Trump was elected, but right up until Election Day, it was a buying frenzy, Feldman said. The FBI tallied 27,538,673 background checks in 2016, an increase of more than 4 million checks from 2015. Background checks approximately correlate to gun sales, though it's not an exact science: One buyer could purchase several guns at once and trigger only one background check, or customers can use background check loopholes like buying from a private or unlicensed dealer. There were more than 2 million fewer background checks in 2017, according to the FBI data. In February, however, background checks rose againlikely as a result of the Parkland, Florida, tragedy. The galvanizing around gun control in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting appears to have spooked the gun community, Feldman said. The fight that's happening now looked like it was going to happen a year ago January, he said. Certainly, the discussion [about gun control] is all that's required for the buying frenzy to be triggered." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Updated | More than 4,000 Liberian immigrants in the United States will face the threat of deportation around this time next year, following a Tuesday announcement from the Trump administration stating that the president would only be extending their Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program which was set to expire on Saturday until March 31, 2019. Their fate was up to the president alone, who had the broad authority to extend the program or simply let it end by doing nothing. Now, Liberian immigrants many of whom have lived lawfully in the country since the late '90s and early 2000s will face down the choice of living in the shadows or returning to a country they haven't set foot in for nearly two decades, one that their children have never seen or barely recognize. "This is home for me," Nancy Harris, a DED holder from Alabama, said Monday. "I'm pleading with Congress and the president to just consider uswe're not a large group of people. Our communities benefit from us." Trending: Raheem Sterling Earns England Love in Promising World Cup Warm-Up Harris, 53, has lived in the U.S. with her husband and three daughters since 2000, when they fled a Liberia roiled by its second civil war. Many other Liberians arrived under the same circumstances. Harris's husband had found a job in Alabama as a pastor, and the two were able to secure Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for themselves and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival status for their two oldest daughters. Harris later began work teaching literacy to black youth in the community. When President George W. Bush ended TPS for Liberian immigrants in 2007, he allowed recipients like Harris to remain the country legally with the DED program, which has been continually renewed ever since. President Barack Obama also extended TPS status to Liberians, as well as Sierra Leoneans and Guineans between 2014 and 2017, during the Ebola epidemic. Story continues "This is a population of people that has lived much of their lives here," said Royce Murray, policy director at the American Immigration Council. "They have jobs here, they've started businesses here, they've built families here, and they've done so with the permission of the U.S. for quite a long time." Earlier this week, more than 50 bipartisan members of Congress urged Trump to extend the DED program, emphasizing that Liberia is still just recovering from years of war and economic crisis. Don't miss: Joe Biden Would Beat Trump in a Fist Fight and the 2020 Election, Poll Suggests "The United States must continue to do all that is necessary to assist in the reemergence of Liberia, ensure regional stability, help foster Liberias continuing post-war recovery, and protect our countrys substantial foreign policy assistance and peacekeeping investments in Liberia," the members of Congress wrote in a letter to the president. "We believe it's beneficial for both countries if this population is permitted to remain in the United States for at least three additional years." Trump rebuffed their arguments, stating in a Tuesday White House memo: "Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance." Liberia-elections SEYLLOU/AFP/Getty Images Now, DED holders must consider what their new lives might look like come April 1, 2019. Often that means wrestling with difficult financial realities, as that some kind of protected or legal status is required for immigrants to work lawfully in the U.S., take out loans or receive social benefits. Most popular: Drunk Florida 13-year-old Boy wanted to Be the Next School Shooter, Authorities Say Rose Knuckles Bull, a 67-year-old DED holder living on New York's Staten Island, would become ineligible for the Social Security benefits she uses to support herself and to send money home to her 93-year-old mother, whom she hasn't seen in the 18 years since she moved to the U.S. Bull said she wouldn't mind going home to Liberia and reuniting with her mother, but that would require significant funds, which she might run out of quickly after Saturday. "Either we lose everything or we send a few things home to survive there," Bull said. "I'm just going to try to continue to lead my normal life." There's still some hope for Harris and Bull. The president could extend the DED program after it expires on Saturday, or his administration could move to grant Liberian immigrants TPS status once again. With the help of advocacy groups and immigration lawyers, Harris and Bull could also seek out other options, like applying for a green card. Before Saturday's looming deadline, Harris had planned to go back to school to get a master's degree in education and curriculum development to work with other African immigrants. Now, she just hopes she isn't forced to return to Liberia and leave her daughters behind. "The thought of leaving my daughters..." she said, trailing off. "If DED isn't extended, I don't see how we can manage in this country." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Parents of a teenage girl, who went missing for months, have been charged with abusing their daughter for refusing to take part in an arranged marriage. Abdulah Fahmi Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Saha Al Hishmawi, 33, allegedly choked, beat and poured hot cooking oil on Maarib Al Hishmawi, 16, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said, The Washington Post reports. Several times it was reported to us that this young lady was abused with hot cooking oil being thrown on her body, Salazar said, according to KSAT. She was beat with broomsticks. At least at one point, she was choked almost to the point of unconsciousness. Trending: Anti-Fake News Bill Sparks Concerns Over Media Censorship in Malaysia In mid-2017, Al Hishmawi learned that her parents were setting her up to marry an older man, in exchange for $20,000. She refused, which is when they allegedly began abusing her. To stop the violence, she seemingly agreed but had devised a plan to escape before the wedding date. She left William Howard Taft High School in San Antonio on January 30 and went missing for more than a month. Authorities, who speculated that she returned to the Middle East, called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help them navigate language and cultural barriers surrounding the young girls disappearance. More than a month later, she was found safe. Don't miss: Angels in America Review: Nathan Lane, Andrew Garfield Star in Revival of a Drama Whose Time Has ComeAgain Al Hismawi and her five younger siblings, ages 5 to 15, have since been placed with Child Protective Services, according to The Associated Press. Its unclear whether her siblings were also abused. Details about the man who she was to marry have not been released. It's highly likely that he'll be facing charges as well, Salazar said, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Story continues This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek In the wake of Saturdays massive rallies calling for new gun legislation, the student survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have themselves become political targets. Republican state Rep. Mary Franson of Minnesota spent Saturday evening posting a series of messages to Facebook comparing the Stoneman Douglas students leading the Never Again movement to the Hitler Youth. Franson later deleted her account, but the City Pages Minneapolis captured screenshots of the images, which included a quote from Adolf Hitler discussing the Hitler Youth movement. Franson did not respond to a request for comment. Students and school shooting survivors hold their fists and hats aloft in solidarity at the conclusion of the March for Our Lives event demanding gun control after recent school shootings at a rally in Washington, U.S., March 24, 2018. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Franson was joined in her Hitler Youth comparison by the far-right conspiracy site InfoWars, which has repeatedly compared Saturdays March for Our Lives to a Nazi movement. In a video posted to its verified YouTube page, InfoWars overlaid the audio of a Hitler speech and the crowd from a Nazi rally with footage of Stoneman Douglas student David Hoggs speech on Saturday. The site which has interviewed President Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the past has also posted videos with the titles Democrats Use Nazi Style Propaganda to Brainwash and Cult Minions March Against Guns in Austin Texas over the past few days. The site also promoted the conspiracy theory that there were multiple gunmen during the Parkland shooting. A Republican candidate for the state legislature in Maine dropped out of his race earlier this month after calling Hogg a moron and a baldfaced liar and his fellow Stoneman Douglas student and activist Emma Gonzalez a skinhead lesbian. On Monday, the right-wing blog Red State promoted a story that Hogg was not at Stoneman Douglas during the shooting only to follow up with a correction of that assertion that blamed a confusing CBS News video. Hogg was in the school during the shooting including interviewing his classmates while they hid from the gunman and returned later that day to talk to more of his classmates at the scene. Story continues Even before Saturdays rallies, the Stoneman Douglas students have been attacked by right-wing media since the Feb. 14 shooting. A number of outlets accused them of being crisis actors, paid performers who were never actually in danger. Its a similar tactic that repeats itself after most mass shootings, with InfoWars host Alex Joness claim that the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School was completely fake among the most notorious lies. A screengrab from InfoWars portraying Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg as Hitler. Over this past weekend, doctored images of Gonzalez went viral, and a video of her tearing a gun target Photoshopped to make it look like she was tearing the Constitution was shared across social media. She was also targeted by the campaign of Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, for wearing the patch of a Cuban flag on her jacket. Gonzalez is part Cuban and was defended by GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuban native who represents South Florida. The reaction to the march also included CNN contributor and former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum suggesting the teenagers would be better off learning CPR than marching, an idea that was rebutted by a multitude of medical professionals, who pointed out that CPR doesnt help with the treatment of gunshot wounds. The conservative magazine National Review added its own stories to the mix, with one piece referring to the rally organizers as Teenage Demagogues and another questioning if Hogg was an Oracle, or Useful Idiot? Read more from Yahoo News: WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland has paid a bitter price for making concessions to the European Union on its judicial reforms, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the ruling conservatives and the country's paramount leader, said on Tuesday. Last week, Poland's government, run by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, told Brussels it was willing to make some changes to the reforms that the European Commissions had said subverted the rule of law. "The price is significant, it's bitter," Kaczynski told the conservative news site wPolityce.pl. "I'm not going to hide that we model ourselves on the (Hungarian) Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has often had to make unpleasant concessions." Kaczynski added that he would have preferred to go ahead with the reforms, but internal and external "circumstances" have forced the changes. Under the changes, the justice minister now would have seek the opinion of judges before deciding whether to dismiss a court president. PiS was also willing to equalize the compulsory retirement age of female and male judges at 65 years. Under the original judicial overhaul, the justice minister was granted discretionary powers to replace court presidents without seeking any secondary opinion, without providing any justification and with no review. The initial judicial overhaul also set the compulsory retirement age at 60 years for female judges and 65 for male judges, meaning almost 40 percent of Supreme Court judges would be forced into retirement. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly) Prince Harry gets his fairytale ending when he marries former Suits star Meghan Markle on May 19. But the 33-year-old royal hasnt always had it easy when it comes to love. Prior to Markle, 36, Harry had two ultra high-profile relationships: Firstly there was Chelsy Davy, daughter of millionaire Zimbabwean safari operator Charles Davy, between 2004 and 2011, and then actor-and-model Cressida Bonas, between 2012 and 2014. According to Prince Harry biographer Katie Nichollwhose new book Harry: Life, Loss and Love is out nowneither of the royals previous relationships were right for marriage. Trending: Huawei P20 and P20 Pro: New Smartphone Has 'DSLR-beating' Camerabut Can It Dethrone Apple and Samsung? He was so in love with Chelsy Davy that he etched their names into the tree trunk of one of the trees on the Davy family estate, Nicholl tells Newsweek. He thought he was going to be with Chelsy forever. I think it was a case of the right girl at the wrong time, coupled with the fact that Chelsy simply didnt want the life of a princess. Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy Chris Jackson/Getty Harry and Davy, 32, were said to have had a combustible relationship at times but Harry showed public devotion to his girlfriend. Davy attended the 2011 wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, for example. Ironically, it was watching the royal wedding and being part of it that actually made her realize there was no way she could go through this, says Nicholl, who is royal correspondent for Vanity Fair and the Mail on Sunday. Don't miss: Trump is Determined to Go to War with North Korea In Conflict That Could Kill 'Millions,' Says Leading Democrat They did try to give the romance another shot as recently as 2015. He went out to Africa to do some conservation work and went on a detour to Cape Town to meet up with Chelsy, I was told, for one final hurrah. I think thats the moment they both realized theyd be better off as friends, that there was never really any chancetheyd both moved on and there was too much water under the bridge. Story continues Related: Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's weddingwho's invited? Cress-fallen Harry was reportedly introduced to aspiring actor Cressida Bonas, now 29, in 2012 by his cousin Princess Eugenie. They split up in 2014, says Nicholl, because Bonas didnt feel the spark that Harry did. I interviewed quite a lot of Cressidas friends and family members. I was told she didnt love him enough, says the author. She and Harry were very happy and were in love. But, I think, for Cressida, her ambitions were to become an actress, she hated being defined as Prince Harrys girlfriend. Most popular: Facebook Data Probe: Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Says Death of Predecessor May Have Been Poisoning Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Bonas, who appeared opposite Alicia Vikander and Judi Dench in the ill-fated Weinstein Company movie Tulip Fever, was overwhelmed by speculation of a royal marriage, according to the royal expert. Although she loved him, I was told my someone very close to her that [Cressida] didnt love him enough to make all the sacrifices that entailed being a royal fiancee, says Nicholl. When her family started talking about rumors of wedding bells, Cressida was very keen to shut down and say its too soon for her. I dont think there was ever a real possibility it was going to end in a wedding, because she wasnt ready. Harry: Life, Loss and Love is available now via Hachette This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Barcelona (AFP) - Demonstrators blocked main roads in Catalonia Tuesday to protest the arrest in Germany of the region's former president Carles Puigdemont and the jailing of other separatist leaders in Spain. Regional road transport authorities said traffic was closed Tuesday morning on the A7 motorway near the French border and the national N340 that links Catalonia with Spain's southeastern coast. The two main access roads into Barcelona were also closed, before the blockades were lifted. The protests were called by the radical Committees for the Defence of the Republic, set up just before Catalonia held a referendum on independence on October 1 that was banned by the courts. "With the latest jailings and the arrest of president Carles Puigdemont, it seems clear that we have crossed a point of no return," it said in a statement on Monday announcing a wave of protests. About 90 people were slightly injured during pro-Puigdemont protests in Barcelona on Sunday, including 22 police officers. Puigdemont was arrested on Sunday after he crossed the border into Germany from Denmark, under a European warrant issued by Spain. He had spent five months on the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with sedition and rebellion in the wake of a vote by the Catalan parliament to declare independence. His detention marks the latest chapter in a secession saga that has bitterly divided Catalans and triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. Aside from Puigdemont, nine other Catalan separatist leaders are in jail in Spain over the region's failed bid for independence. Lawyers for the Pulse nightclub shooters widow said Monday that the government has revealed that his father had been an FBI informant for 11 years before the attack. They said prosecutors also told them in an email Saturday that the government found evidence on the day of the attack that Omar Mateens father, Seddique Mateen, had been sending money to Afghanistan and Turkey, possibly to fund violent insurrection against the government of Pakistan. Noor Salmans lawyers say this new information shared only after prosecutors rested their case should result in a mistrial or an outright dismissal of the charges against her. Salman is accused of helping her husband plan the June 2016 attack at the gay nightclub in Orlando, where he killed 49 people. Her lawyers say the governments belated disclosure prevented them from exploring the possibilities that Seddique Mateen was more directly involved, and that Salman may have been framed to hide the governments mistakes. What is clear is that the federal governments failure to disclose these details have prevented Salman from getting a fair trial, her attorneys said. The governments violations in this case have placed Ms. Salman, the jury, and this Court in a dark wood where the search for truth has been thwarted, they wrote, paraphrasing and citing 15th Century Italian poet Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy. Her lawyers federal court motion filed Monday says U.S. Attorney Sara Sweeney sent them an email Saturday revealing some details of the FBIs involvement with and knowledge of Seddique Mateens activities leading up to the Pulse attack. I have just received authorization to disclose the following information about Seddique Mateen, her email said. Seddique Mateen was a FBI confidential human source at various points in time between January 2005 and June 2016. This email was sent after jurors heard Shahla Mateen deny during cross-examination that her husband had any relationship with the FBI. Story continues The email also revealed other details the prosecution didnt tell jurors before resting its case against Salman, including the discovery in the hours after the shooting that receipts for money transfers to Turkey and Afghanistan made in the days and weeks before the shooting were found at Seddique Mateens home, and that in 2012, an anonymous tipster had accused Seddique Mateen of seeking to raise $50,000 $100,000 via a donation drive to contribute towards an attack against the government of Pakistan. Defense attorneys say the failure to share this information in advance of her trial violates Salmans Fifth Amendment right to due process and Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial, because her defense would have investigated whether Mateens father was involved in or had foreknowledge of the Pulse attack, they wrote. Prosecutors told the jury that Salman knew Omar Mateen was buying rounds of ammunition for his AR-15, helped him spend thousands of dollars before the attack and knew about his plan when he left their home in the hours before the shooting. They also say she lied, tried to mislead FBI agents and had knowledge of her husbands sick fascination with violent jihadist videos and terrorism. But defense attorneys describe Salman as a simple woman with a low IQ, who was abused emotionally, mentally and physically by her husband. This latest evidence, they say, points instead to Mateens father as a potential accomplice. There are two viable theories of defense that could have been developed . First, Omar Mateen conspired with his father, rather than Noor Salman, to commit the acts, the defense wrote. Alternatively, the FBIs purported interviews with Ms. Salman were directed to evading the negligence they exercised with their own informant, the motion says, and to finding an additional culprit rather than their own informant. Former federal prosecutor David S. Weinstein agreed that if the defense had this information about Mateens father before trial, they could have planted doubt in the minds of jurors that Salman was ever involved. At this point, he said, its likely the judge will have the defense continue presenting its case to the jury while he evaluates the motion for a mistrial. The judge has to digest everything thats in there and give the government chance to respond. He doesnt want to lose days of trial, said Weinstein. Ahmed Bedier, president of the civil rights advocacy group United Voices, has been attending the trial in support of Salman. He said Salmans family had voiced suspicions previously that Omar Mateens father had a possible relationship with the FBI, but they lacked evidence to support this. Bedier also noted that when Omar Mateen was interviewed by the FBI in 2013 and not charged with false statements or any other crime, it enabled him to legally secure the firearms he used in the Pulse attack. We always felt that there were huge problems with this case and suspicious motivations on behalf of the government to prosecute Noor on such little evidence. This new discovery is very revealing and raises a lot of questions about the FBI and the Department of Justices actions in investigating the mass shooting, Bedier said. They chose to protect their own informant and their own connection to Omar Mateen, Bedier said. The fact that Omar Mateens father was an informant for 11 years, and the FBI interviewed Omar Mateen himself in 2013, theres suspicion now that its because of this father that the government closed that case. Salman, now 31 and the mother of a small child, is being tried in federal court in Orlando. Its unclear when the judge will rule on the motion to dismiss. As for Seddique Mateen, the government had listed him as a potential witness in February, but did not make him testify before resting its case. The wording of the Saturday email, cited by the defense in its motion, suggests the government still doesnt want him to talk too much in front of the jury: If you should call S. Mateen to the stand, the government will not seek to elicit any of this information from him, Sweeney wrote. Kemerovo (Russia) (AFP) - Russians vented their anger at the authorities on Tuesday over a huge mall fire that killed at least 64 people, including 41 children, many of whom were trapped in the inferno by locked doors. President Vladimir Putin flew to the Siberian city of Kemerovo two days after the tragedy and laid roses at a makeshift memorial as critics questioned his response to one of the deadliest fires in Russia over the past century. Hundreds of residents meanwhile packed Kemerovo's central square, calling for the resignation of the region's veteran governor and questioning the official death toll. In Moscow, around 2,000 people gathered on Pushkin Square in mourning on Tuesday evening, leaving flowers, lighting candles in the shape of the word "Kemerovo" and letting off white balloons. Russia's main opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife left a bunch of red carnations. Some protesters in Moscow shouted slogans calling for the sacking of Kemerovo's region and for "Russia without Putin." Protester Yekaterina Nekrasnova, a 29-year-old photographer, said: "My friend in Kemerovo has lost two children and her husband is in intensive care." She blamed the fire on "negligence and greed." In Saint Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, hundreds gathered on the central Marsovo Polye square, many carrying flowers. "All these children were killed by corruption and lawlessness. These ruling powers killed them," said 26-year-old Varvara Mikhailova. Investigators said relatives had reported a total of 67 people missing, while the official toll has been given as 64. After a huge outpouring of grief and anger on social media, the Kremlin announced a nationwide day of mourning for Wednesday for victims of the fire, which ripped through the busy shopping centre on Sunday afternoon. "My family is no more," Igor Vostrikov -- who lost his wife, sister and three children aged two, five and seven years -- said on VKontakte, Russia's version of Facebook. Story continues "The ruling regime in my country is to blame for it." Investigators said the victims were burned alive or suffocated because emergency exits were locked, notably in a cinema where children watched cartoons. A criminal probe has been opened and five people have been arrested over the blaze. Multiple safety rules were violated, the fire alarm system had not worked since last week and staff did not follow correct emergency procedures, officials said. - 'We are dying. I love you' - Putin, who was re-elected for a fourth term in polls earlier this month, visited a memorial of toys, flowers and balloons near the gutted mall's facade, telling officials he felt "like wailing" over the number of victims. "What is happening here? These are not armed hostilities. This is not an unexpected release of methane in a mine. People, children came to relax," Putin said. "We are talking about demographics but are losing so many people. Because of what? Because of some criminal negligence, slovenliness," Putin said. Russian newspapers ran heart-wrenching accounts of children's last minute calls to their parents and relatives. "Tell my mom that I loved her," one woman quoted her niece as saying in comments in the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. Vostrikov, who lost his family in the blaze, said he had spoken to his wife in her final moments. "We have been locked inside the movie theatre. We are suffocating, we are dying. I love you," he said she had told him. Speaking in videotaped comments, he claimed the number of victims was much higher than reported. Many others also questioned the official death toll but officials said the figures were final, urging Russians not to trust unconfirmed reports on social media. The head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, said ticket collectors and other staff fled the scene, leaving movie-goers locked inside. "Those workers who were supposed to be in charge of safety, organising evacuation, they were the first to flee," he told Putin. Bastrykin also told Putin that a teacher had left a whole class of children alone in a games room while she shopped. - 'Gas chambers' - Temperatures during the blaze reached 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit) and some of the bodies were so badly burned they would need to be identified through DNA testing, officials said. Meeting with a group of grieving locals, Putin said some 100 investigators were working at the scene. A young man told Putin he was outraged that the doors were locked at the mall, effectively turning the premises into "gas chambers". Putin promised a "transparent" investigation but declined to fire Aman Tuleyev, who has been governor of the Kemerovo region for the past 21 years. Tuleyev apologised to Putin over the rally, calling its organisers troublemakers. The Russian leader also visited victims at a hospital including Ivan Zavarzin, 18, who survived the fire after jumping from the top floor. bur-mak-or-am/bp By Polina Ivanova and Andrew Osborn KEMEROVO/MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin flew to the scene of a shopping mall fire in Siberia that killed 64 people and promised angry residents on Tuesday that those responsible for what he called criminal negligence would be punished. The fire, at the Winter Cherry mall in the city of Kemerovo, killed 41 children, according to the Interfax news agency, and the calamitous way it was handled has stirred anger and focused attention on corruption and lax fire safety standards. Rallies in memory of the victims were held in several cities around Russia, and at least one, in Moscow, turned into an anti-government demonstration. Putin, comfortably re-elected only this month, laid flowers at a memorial to the victims in the coal-producing region, about 3,600 km (2,200 miles) east of Moscow, before chairing a meeting and declaring Wednesday a national day of mourning. "What's happening here? This isn't war, it's not an unexpected methane explosion at a coal mine. People came to relax, children. We're talking about demography and losing so many people," Putin angrily told officials. "Why? Because of some criminal negligence, because of slovenliness. How could this ever happen?" he added. "The first emotion when you hear about the number of dead and dead children is not to cry but to wail. And when you listen to what has been said here, to be honest, other emotions arise." Investigators said fire exits had been illegally blocked, the public address system had not been switched on, the alarm system was broken, and children had been locked inside cinemas. ANGRY PROTESTS The fire swept through the upper floors of the shopping centre, where a cinema complex and children's play area were located, on Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of angry protesters, many of them crying, gathered in central Kemerovo. The mayor, Ilya Seredyuk, tried to speak, but his words were often drowned out by chants calling on him to resign. "Why dont they tell us the truth?" shouted one protester. Many locals do not believe the official death toll of 64 and suspect that hundreds of people were killed in the blaze and that a cover-up is under way, something Putin has flatly denied. Relatives of victims say they have compiled a list of 85 people, most of them children, who are still missing. Public anger in Kemerovo was reflected in protesters' placards. "How many victims are there really?" read one, while another suggested officials had taken bribes to sign off on the mall's fire safety. "Vova and Aman to prison!" read another banner, referring to Putin and the local governor. One senior regional official, Sergei Tsivilev, got down on his knees to apologise to the crowd. Natalia and Sergei Agarkov, whose two children were killed along with their grandmother, stood on the square holding pictures of them. "Masha was 10, Kostya was eight," Sergei told Reuters. "Masha ... was really good at sport. She should have run out, but everything was locked. I identified them yesterday. I didn't see Kostya, but recognised him by his little boots." ALARM NOT WORKING Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia's Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, told Putin the fire alarm system in the mall had been out of order since March 19, and that a security guard had not turned on the public address system to warn people to evacuate the building. He said five people had already been detained. Replying to Putin, Bastrykin said most of the staff had run away and left parents and children to their fate: "Those workers who should have been responsible for people's safety, for organising an evacuation, they were the first to run away." Candles were lit and flowers laid as rallies were held in several cities in memory of the Kemerovo victims, including two in St Petersburg and two in Moscow, on Manezhnaya and Pushkinskaya squares. The latter has frequently been a venue for anti-government protests, and Tuesday's demonstration, attended by several thousand people including opposition leader Alexei Navalny, quickly took on a political tone. Protesters held banners reading "Bribes kill children" and "We demand a real investigation", and some chanted "Down with the cowardly regime!", "Putin - resign!", "What did the children die for?" and "We are sick and tired of him", meaning Putin. "It was the regime that caused the deaths ... The criminal regime should resign," said 43-year-old Innokentii, who works in the financial sector. "The most awful thing is that no one is going to be really punished for this," said Kirill, 28. "We've had that many times before." (Additional reporting by Alexander Reshetnikov, Dmitry Madorsky, Maria Kiselyova, Gleb Stolyarov, Daria Korsunskaya and Polina Devitt.; Writing by Christian Lowe, Andrew Osborn and Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Remington Outdoor Co., the 200-year-old maker of rifles, handguns and bullets controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, filed for bankruptcy, after the election of a true friend to the White House ironically wound up stifling sales. The chapter 11 filing in Delaware bankruptcy court Sunday comes with a revised plan to eliminate $620 million in debt, pay most creditors in full, and hand over most of the company to a group of lenders. Remington, which makes weapons for military, law enforcement, and hunting customers, had already outlined a plan on Feb. 12 to file for bankruptcy and give control to lenders including Franklin Resources Inc. and JPMorgan Asset Management. The filing came after a weekend of marches across the U.S. seeking tighter laws to fight gun violence. Remington said in court filings that its efforts to finance a turnaround were complicated by parties who were reluctant to lend to a gunmaker. After approaching 30 potential lenders, financial adviser Lazard Freres & Co. found the vast majority indicated they were reluctant. Eight parties who entered into further discussions later declined, and one outside lender who had agreed to provide a $100 million bankruptcy loan changed its mind, according to the filing. Remingtons fortunes took a hit last year after the election of Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed true friend of the gun industry. Gun enthusiasts traditionally stock up on firearms at times when political winds suggest tighter gun control lies ahead. But Hillary Clintons defeat erased those fears, leaving retailers stuffed with unsold inventory. Chief Financial Officer Stephen P. Jackson described the reason for the companys demise as a significant decline in sales and revenues in the last year after it had increased production rates to meet demand in 2017 that never materialized. The Madison, North Carolina-based company has 2,700 employees at seven U.S. manufacturing plants, according to court filings. It plans to win bankruptcy court approval of the restructuring by May 3. Story continues Reorganization Terms The turnaround differs slightly from a prior plan already negotiated with lenders that would cut debt by about $700 million and inject $145 million of new capital. The current plan will eliminate $620 million of funded debt in exchange for equity in a new company. Financing to get that done totals $338 million, including a $193 million asset-based loan, a $100 million debtor-in-possession financing loan, and a $45 million bridge or rescue loan from Remingtons parent company to its operating subsidiaries. After the outside lender backed out of the $100 million loan, Remington got financing on better terms from its term-loan lenders and secured noteholders, according to the filing. The company seeks to keep fees for the loan under seal, according to a court request. The reorganization will convert the rescue loan into 17.5 percent of equity in a new company, and the $100 million loan will convert to an exit loan, while the asset-based loan will be repaid in cash, according to court papers. Pre-bankruptcy term loan lenders will get 82.5 percent of the new parent entity, while third lien lenders will get cash and warrants. Current equity will be canceled. The company has asked to forgo the usual procedure of filing a full schedule of its debts and assets and seek final approval of a plan by May 3. Several Setbacks Recent setbacks for Remington have included an aborted public offering in 2011 and an investor revolt after one of its rifles was used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting. The troubles have been a blow to Cerberus, owned by private-equity billionaire Stephen Feinberg, who has been a prominent Trump supporter. New York-based Cerberus acquired Remington in 2007 and saddled it with almost $1 billion in debt. After the Sandy Hook shooting, Cerberus announced it would sell the company, as its own agitated investors demanded an exit, but it failed to find a buyer. Concerns about rising gun violence, mass shootings and accidents have prompted litigation, some of it including Remington. In 2016, the Massachusetts attorney general sought information from the company on complaints and recalls, citing an investigation into its compliance with state laws and regulations on gun safety. Remington has also been sued by individuals claiming some guns are defective, and voluntarily recalled some of its models. Industry Pressure The industry came under added pressure in February when a gunman using an AR-15 assault rifle was used in the Stoneman High School mass murder in Parkland, Florida, just days after Remington announced plans for a pre-arranged bankruptcy. That weapon was a Smith & Wesson, made by a unit of American Outdoor Brands Corp. Remington, which began with a hand-built rifle in 1816, went on to supply more than half the ammunition used by U.S. and its allies in World War I and World War II, according to its website. It currently employs 3,500 people and is among the largest American manufacturers of ammunition and firearms. More than 11 million firearms were manufactured in the U.S. in 2016, up from fewer than four million a decade ago, according to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Another pillar of American gun industry, Colt Holding Co., also took a trip through bankruptcy in 2015. The case is: In re Remington Outdoor Company Inc., 18-10684, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Delaware.) By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior U.S. Republican senators asked the Trump administration on Monday to allow the sale of Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets to Taiwan, saying it would help it "remain a democracy" in the face of threats from China. China's hostility towards self-ruled Taiwan has grown since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party won presidential elections on the island in 2016. China claims Taiwan as its own and is one of its most sensitive issues. "These fighters will have a positive impact on Taiwan's self-defense and would act as a necessary deterrent to China's aggressive military posture across the Asia-Pacific region," Senators John Cornyn, the assistant majority leader, and James Inhofe, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, said in a letter to President Donald Trump. "After years of military modernization, China shows the ability to wage war against Taiwan for the first time since the 1950s," they wrote. "However, with your leadership, it is possible to help Taiwan remain a democracy, free to establish a relationship with China that is not driven by military coercion." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has been increasing its military exercises around Taiwan and making markedly stronger public comments about the need to prevent Taiwan independence.On Tuesday, retired Chinese general Wang Hongguang explained how easy it would be for China to attack Taiwan in an opinion piece in widely read state-run newspaper the Global Times, including a mass bombardment which would render Taiwan's military inoperable within 48 hours. Taiwan's main command center outside Taipei is also clearly marked out on Google maps, Wang, a former deputy commander of the Nanjing military region, wrote. "It would be like picking off lice on the head of bald man," Wang added. TAIWAN PRESIDENT PRAISES U.S. TIES The sale of the jets could increase tensions with Beijing, where officials were infuriated when Trump signed legislation this month that encourages the United States to send senior officials to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts and vice versa. On Tuesday, the office of Taiwan's president reiterated its support for the legislation and awarded U.S. Representative Ed Royce, who is currently visiting the island, a medal of honor for his contributions toward Taiwan-U.S. relations. "President Tsai believes that stable relations between Taiwan and the U.S. serve as an important foundation for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan has the ability and is willing to work with the United States in the Indo-Pacific region to make more contributions," the presidential office said. Separately, Liu Jieyi, head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, told state television late on Monday that "certain Americans" were trying to play the Taiwan card, which harmed the interest of people both in China and Taiwan. "This is duping Taiwan compatriots," Liu said, without naming any U.S. officials. "It is futile for any outside forces to try to play the Taiwan card and do anything to harm the interest of the Chinese people." The U.S. military has put countering China and Russia at the center of a new national defense strategy unveiled by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in January. Other U.S. allies in the Asia Pacific region, such as Singapore, also are exploring the purchase of the stealthy F-35. Lockheed hit its 2017 target to deliver 66 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies last year. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Mike Stone in Washington, Twinnie Siu in Taipei and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by James Dalgleish, Anne Marie Roantree and Nick Macfie) Calling it a relic of the 18th century, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens called Tuesday for the outright repeal of the Second Amendment, saying it would achieve more effective and more lasting reform than other efforts to curb the countrys scourge of gun violence. In a New York Times op-ed, Stevens who as a high court justice dissented on a key gun rights case in 2008 praised the student demonstrators at Saturdays March for Our Lives protests, saying that the thousands of marchers, led by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, demand our respect. Beyond pushing for stronger legislative measures, such as banning assault-style weapons and mandating background checks, he advised the movement to demand a repeal of the Second Amendment: That simple but dramatic action would move Saturdays marchers closer to their objective than any other possible reform. It would eliminate the only legal rule that protects sellers of firearms in the United States unlike every other market in the world. It would make our schoolchildren safer than they have been since 2008 and honor the memories of the many, indeed far too many, victims of recent gun violence. In 2008, the Supreme Courts 5-4 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller was widely considered a victory for the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun rights advocates, helping to cement a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment and limiting legal grounds for gun control measures. The ruling barred Washington, D.C., which has among the countrys strictest gun laws, from enforcing a ban it had on handguns and other gun requirements because they violated the Second Amendment. Stevens, among the four justices in the courts liberal wing who dissented in the case, wrote Tuesday that he still believes the ruling was wrong and certainly was debatable, arguing that it has provided the NRA with a propaganda weapon of immense power. Story continues Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the NRAs ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option, he continued. Read Stevens full op-ed here. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a national day of mourning after decrying criminal negligence in Siberia that cost the lives of dozens of children in a shopping mall blaze. The tragedy has devastated many inside and outside Russia, spurring a protest in Siberia demanding answers and resignations of local officials. Here is what we know so far How many died and why? Trending: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Rushed to Hospital for Fever and Coughing The blaze initially broke out on Sunday afternoon on the upper floors of the Winter Cherry shopping mall. It spread quickly, engulfing the childrens play area, billowing smoke through the building. Although emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after receiving the call by Monday morning, investigators confirmed that at least 64 people had died, 41 of them are now believed to be children. According to an official record from the regional government, only 25 of the victims have been identified. The cause of the fire is unclear, however much of the public and official scrutiny is targeted at the poor response after the flames had broken out. Witnesses and investigators have confirmed that at least one worker is suspected of switching off the fire alarm when it first sounded and that the fire exits were blocked, trapping dozens inside. Several relatives of victims said they had received calls from their stranded loved ones crying for help or saying goodbye. The hired security for the mall were also not licensed members of any registered organization, Russias private security guards union said. What is the governments reaction? Don't miss: The Worlds Largest Flood Ever Filled the Mediterranean Sea in Just a Few Years With Water From the Ocean Putin visited Kemerovo on Tuesday to meet survivors in hospital, pay respects to the dead and sit down with officials for a televized dressing down, also published on the Kremlins website. The president did not appear in front of a crowd of over a thousand in Kemerovo, who voiced their anger at the tragedy and demanded the resignation of local officials. He asked his regional governor, Aman Tuleyev, about the situation who played down the protest as a move by the opposition, estimating only 200 people attended it. Story continues These are not relatives of the dead at all, Tuleyev, who also did not face the protesters, told Putin. He then accused the large group of people of using the tragedy to settle their own problems. Local officials who appeared in front of the angry crowd tried to voice similar views to little avail as, in one instance, the vice governor of the region Sergey Tsivilyev asked a protester with a microphone to calm down and not engage in self-PR. Through tears of rage, the man explained to him that he had lost his sister, wife and three children in the fire. 03_27_Russia_fire Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images Most popular: White Supremacists Are Investing in a Cryptocurrency That Promises to Be Completely Untraceable The governor also pledged that the families of those killed would receive 1 million rubles ($17,500) in compensation each. What happens next? Putin has declared Wednesday a day of mourning in Russia and hundreds in Moscow are marching in solidarity with the families of those killed. Aside from the outpour of grief on social media, many Russians have ridiculed what they perceive to be poor accountability and lax enforcement of safety rules. At least four people working in the running and management of the mall have been arrested, including the businesss technical director. According to the Interfax news agency, police have permission to keep him in custody for another 72 hours, as investigators determine who is at fault for the deaths. Asked about firing his governor in the region, Putin said that it is too early to make such decisions as the investigation is still ongoing, state news agency RIA Novosti reported. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Belgrade (AFP) - Serb members of the Kosovan government on Tuesday decided to pull out of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's cabinet in protest at the arrest and expulsion of a senior Serbian official. Tensions flared after Belgrade's chief negotiator for Kosovo Marko Djuric was arrested Monday on crossing into the former Serbian province that unilaterally proclaimed independence in 2008 and travelling to the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica for a meeting in defiance of a ban. Unlike more than 110 states, including the United States and most of European Union member states, Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo's independence and still considers it its southern province. As a result, the ethnic Serbian members "will leave the government which will no longer have our support," Goran Rakic, leader of the main Serbian minority grouping, told reporters after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. Vucic had Monday slammed Djuric's treatment as an abduction just as both sides try to establish a dialogue. Kosovo authorities responded that he had not obtained entry authorisation. Serbian officials visiting Kosovo commonly seek Pristina's approval before visiting areas with an ethnic Serb population. - 'Incomprehensible' decision - Haradinaj's government depends on Serb group's support but he responded Tuesday by insisting his team "will not fall" while calling his Serb colleagues' decision "incomprehensible." The incident in Mitrovica saw police disperse several dozen residents with tear gas while Djuric was hauled off to a police station in front of television cameras and reporters. A number of people were hospitalised and hospital spokesman Milan Ivanovic on Tuesday told reporters that "32 people were hurt, eight seriously". Kosovan minister of agriculture, Nenad Rikalo, suffered a fractured rib. "What you saw yesterday shows what Pristina and a part of the international community think of dialogue -- I have nothing to add," said Djuric without indicating if Belgrade would now break off talks. Story continues "The final decision belongs to Aleksandar Vucic," he stated. After Monday's incident, Mitrovica residents erected a barricade across the road linking their town with Serbia, but the situation was calm Tuesday. Nearly 20 years after the 1998-1999 war between Serb forces and Kosovo pro-independence ethnic Albanian guerillas, the city remains divided between ethnic Serbs, living north of the Ibar river, and ethnic Albanians, south of it. International forces are still deployed in the town and throughout the breakaway territory. Kosovo, which has a population of 1.8 million, 90 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians, is home to some 120,000 ethnic Serbs. Kosovo Serbs also indicated Tuesday they intended to form on April 20 an association of Kosovo Serb municipalities "in line with the Brussels accord which Pristina and Belgrade have ratified". Brussels has made the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina a condition of Serbian EU membership while Kosovo hopes for liberalisation of visa regulations for its citizens. Luanda (AFP) - The son of Angola's former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been charged with fraud linked to a $500 million transfer executed when he ran the country's sovereign wealth fund, prosecutors said Monday. Jose Filomeno dos Santos is accused of "fraud, misappropriation of funds, money laundering and associating with criminals," deputy chief prosecutor Luis Benza Zanga told a media conference. Nicknamed "Zenu", Filomeno dos Santos was appointed to head the $5 billion oil-fuelled sovereign fund by his father in 2013 but then was sacked by President Joao Lourenco, who took power in January. Former central bank governor Valter Filipe da Silva was charged alongside Filomeno dos Santos, Zenga added. The suspect transfer was made from the fund's account with the central bank to a London branch of Credit Suisse, but the money was later returned to Angola. A judge ordered that the two accused be released on bail and forced to surrender their passports. "There is no leeway for this crime, even if the money has been returned to our country. We'll see this inquiry through -- there will be no excuses," said Zenga. Jose Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years with an iron grip. During his regime he was accused of running the country's economy to enrich himself and those around him. Filomeno's half-sister Isabel dos Santos was also sacked from her job as head of state oil giant Sonangol. Investigators this month opened an inquiry into suspected misappropriation of funds during her time at the helm of Sonangol. Thought to be Africa's richest woman, she has denied all of the allegations against her. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Adult film star Stormy Daniels is suing President Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen for defamation after he called into question her claim that she had a sexual encounter with Trump, according to court documents filed on Monday. In the filing in federal court in Los Angeles, Daniels' attorney said "Cohen meant to convey that Ms. Clifford is a liar, someone who should not be trusted, and that her claims about her relationship with Mr. Trump is 'something (that) isnt true.'" (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) Dave Majumdar Security, Europe Russian President Putin enters a hall to meet with candidates who participated in the last presidential election, at the Kremlin in Moscow A panel of experts discussed U.S.-Russian relations today at the Center for the National Interest. Stumbling into a War with Russia Given the poisonous relationship between Washington and Moscow, chances that the two great powers might face off in a military confrontation are growing. In recent days, the United States has expelled dozens of Russian diplomatswho are alleged to be undercover intelligence officersin retaliation for Moscows alleged attack on GRU defector Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the United Kingdom. The Kremlin has promised retribution as relations between Russia and the United States sink to their lowest point since the Cold War. I dont think many of us would question that we do face a new Cold War, Dimitri Simes, Center for the National Interest president and chief executive officer, said during a lunchtime panel on March 26. Now a new Cold War might be different in many respects than the old one. First of all, a very different balance of forces. Second, the absence of an attractive international ideology on the Russian side. Third, obviously, Russia is much more exposed to the West than during the original Cold War, but also, fewer rules and, I think, perhaps more emotions on both sides and increasingly hostile emotions on both sides. The Possibility of a Conflict Simes, who recently returned from a trip to Russia, said that while the Kremlin is held in low regard by Washington, those feeling are mirrored in Moscow. Indeed, tensions between the two nuclear-armed great powers are so high that analysts are openly wondering if there could be some sort of military confrontation between Washington and Moscow. Asked by Simes to grade the likelihood of any sort of potential military clash (though not necessarily nuclear) in Syria or elsewhere on a scale of one to tenwhere ten would mean that a conflict was all but certaina panel of experts on Russia concluded that there is a serious possibility of a military confrontation between Washington and Moscow. Story continues Ill go with a six, George Beebe, director of intelligence and national security studies at the Center for the National Interest, told a lunchtime audience. I think its more likely than not, but far from certain. That being said, I think a sixwhen youre talking about a military clash between the worlds two most capable nuclear powersis an unacceptably high level of risk. Michael Kofman, a research scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses who was also speaking at the panel at the Center for the National Interest, agreed that there is a genuine risk of a military confrontation between Russia and the United States. Kofman put the risk level at six or seven. On a long enough timeline were going to get there, Kofman said. If there was some sort of crisis that involved both the United States and Russia, the danger of a confrontation is very high. During a crisis or standoff, I think its exceedingly likely, Kofman said. These confrontations dont happen as a bolt out of the blue, first you have to have a crisis and then people make choices and those choices eventually lead to people shooting at each other. Paul Saunders, executive director of the Center for the National Interest, who spoke alongside Beebe and Kofman, said that he did not believe that a military confrontation with Russia was inevitable. Saunders put the risk level at roughly five, but added that given the stakes of a potential nuclear confrontation, that is far too dangerous for his tastes. I dont think its more likely than not, but for me, I think its still an unacceptable risk, Saunders said. Putin is in a Strong Position While many in Washington believe that Russia would fold if the United States stood up to the Kremlin, the recent Russian presidential elections on March 18 seem to show that Russian president Vladimir Putin has a much stronger mandate than many Western observers might have expected. As Beebethe Central Intelligence Agencys former head of Russia analysisnoted, Putin performed much better in the Russian elections than analysts expected. On political power, this is really a good news story for Putin, Beebe said. He essentially achieved that 70/70 sweet spot that the Kremlin had forecast as its goal going into the election. Seventy percent turnout and Putin winning 70 percent of that vote. The actual event turned out to be he got a little over 67 percent turnout and little over 76 percent of voters cast in their ballots for Putin. Simes noted that Putin performed better than expected with parts of the Russian electorate where he traditionally has not fared well, such as in Moscow and with Russians living abroad. Part of the reason that Putin did so well was because of the alleged Russian attack on Skripal, since the Russian population generally does not believe that their government was involved. Indeed, Russian liberals faired exceedingly poorly in the elections at least in part because of the rally around the flag effect, Beebe said. Beebe noted that part of the issue is that neither the United States or Britain has presented concrete evidence that Russia conducted the attack. The information that is publicly available is cause for a high degree of suspicion that Russia was behind the attack, Beebe said, however, it is not evidence in and of itself. The idea that Russia is under siege by hostile foreign powers greatly contributed to high voter turnout in the Russian elections and for far greater support for Putin himself. I was at a postelection party for journalists where a lot of opposition people, candidates, their surrogates were present, and they were all saying, We lost a lot of voters during the last days before the election because of this British incident, Simes said. Moreover, Western attempts to cultivate Russias youth have proven to be a complete failure. Saunders, who is a former State Department official, noted that part of Americas goals in Russia during the 1990s was to win over the youth and create an attraction to the West. However, that has not happened. Russian youth grew up in a period of relative prosperity and at a time when Putin started to restore Russias stature abroad. Theyre among the people who are most supportive of Putin, Saunders said. Thats in no small part because during their short lifetimes, its been a period of, generally speaking, prosperity and of a greater and greater role for Russia in international affairs. Beebe noted that the Russian presidential elections are not about selecting a new presidentthat Putin would win was a foregone conclusionit was, instead, a gauge on the Russian presidents political power. While Russian elections are not free and fair, the level of falsification is an indication as to how popular the government is with the populace. This was by Russian standards relatively free if not really fair. It was a tilted election, but the voting was pretty free, Beebe said. This tells everybody the results were about right. This is a good sign for Putin in terms of his political power. Russias Melian Dialogue With his political power secure, Putin can turn his attention to rebuilding Russia as a great power. The lesson that Putin and the Kremlin elite have drawn from the collapse of the Soviet Union and the chaos of the 1990s when Moscow was weak is that Russia must be strong. [Putin] is saying Russia needs to be strong, Beebe said. If I were to boil this down to one sentence, it would be the strong do what they will and the weak suffer what they must. The problem for Russia, Beebe said, is that there is tension between its various goals. To have a strong economy, the Kremlin must relax its grip on society, which weakens the power of the state, Beebe said. But a strong military requires a strong economy, which means that Russia will have to make those reforms. And a strong military is a part of Russias self-image as a great power. Thats a balancing that hes going to have to perform and there is no easy way of doing that, Beebe said. Given Russias circumstances, those competing factors are pushing Putin towards a more nationalistic stance that emphasizes military power, Beebe said. That in turn is driving Russia to be more confrontational. Thus, in Kofmans view, if there is some sort of crisis that develops where Washington and Moscow are facing off against each other, the Russians are not willing to meekly stand aside and defer to the United States. While Russia was weak in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, those days are long gone. Todays Russia, with its modernized military, is far more confident than it was during the 1990s and is willing and eager to push back against the United States. The Kremlins Resolve Kofman noted that in recent weeks, Russian chief of the general staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov warned the United States that Moscow would retaliate if its forces are attacked by American forces in Syria. As Kofman notes, unlike most Russian political figures, Gerasimov does not make idle threats and he strictly follows guidance issued to him by Russian president Vladimir Putin. When the Russian chief of the general staff says something, you have to listen because someone told him to say it, Kofman said. It is therefore a mistake to assume that the Kremlin will simply bow before the United States if push comes to shove as many in Washington are prone to believegiven their experience dealing with a weak Russia in the early 1990s. The Russians are fairly confident with where they are and they are really keen to push back and they have to take increasing steps to sustain the confrontation, Kofman said. People in the United States are very hawkishthey also want to pressure Russia and push back in different ways and thats a big self-licking ice-cream cone, where its basically a feedback loop. Forgetting the Lessons of the Cold War And therein lies the danger of a conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia. As Kofman noted, the Washington national security community has largely forgotten the Cold War concepts of nuclear deterrence and managing confrontations with a nuclear-armed rival. Over the past twenty-five years or so, Washington has become accustomed to a world where there are no great-power challengers and the only real threat comes from terrorism. People have sophomoric views on great power confrontation here, Kofman said. In fact a lot of people dont even understand nuclear strategy and deterrence all that well anymore and the escalatory dynamics. And you can tell by the conversationswe have been in the terrorism/counterinsurgency game for way too long and people dont understand what they are playing with at senior levels. I hear it all the time. Thats all a recipe for a 1950-1960s type interaction with another great power. Indeed, it might take a new version of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis for the American foreign policy establishment to fully grasp how dangerous a confrontation with a rival nuclear-armed great power can be. I hate to say it, but it might be a good thing, Kofman said. I actually think it might be a good thing to have that crisis for everyone to grow up. Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for The National Interest. You can follow him on Twitter: @davemajumdar. Image: Reuters Read full article Muscat (AFP) - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday praised Oman for being one of the few Arab states to maintain ties with Damascus over the past seven years of civil war. Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 for its deadly crackdown on an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule and fellow Arab countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar have supported the opposition. Oman's Sultan Qaboos adheres to a strict policy of non-interference in regional affairs, maintaining relations with rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran -- a key backer of Assad. During a visit to Oman, Muallem praised Muscat for taking "supportive positions towards Syria at various Arab and international forums", the state-run Oman News Agency reported. Syria's top envoy touted economic and investment cooperation with the sultanate, noting that reconstruction opportunities were on the horizon. "The reconstruction of Syria will be launched soon, as the crisis approaches its end," Muallem said. The visit, which started on Monday, is slated to last several days, during which time Muallem will inaugurate the headquarters of Syria's new embassy in Muscat, Syrian state media said. It is Muallem's second trip to Oman since 2011, with the sultanate the only Gulf state to have hosted the Syrian envoy since then. "There are no points of contention between us. We are always in brotherly dialogue, and we always hear out the ideas of the Omani leadership," Muallem told Oman TV on Monday. "It is enough for us that the sultanate has maintained a consistent approach." Beirut (AFP) - Syria and its ally Russia have threatened to resume bombing the final opposition holdout of Douma in Eastern Ghouta unless rebels there agree to evacuate, sources told AFP on Tuesday. Jaish al-Islam, the powerful Islamist faction that holds Douma, had hoped that talks with Moscow would result in their staying in the town, instead of being bused out like other rebels. But negotiations have stalled and Russia has demanded a full withdrawal from Douma, two opposition sources close to the negotiations said. "At the end of their meeting Monday, the Russians gave Jaish al-Islam two choices: surrender or face an attack," one of them told AFP. Russia gave the group a few days before a military assault on the town, they said. The source said Moscow urged them to follow the example of Faylaq al-Rahman, another Islamist faction that agreed last week to withdraw from its zone in Ghouta after immense military pressure. Russia has brokered deals with Faylaq and another hardline group that has seen more than 17,000 rebels, their relatives, and other civilians bused out of Ghouta. Before they faltered, talks over Douma's fate had envisioned Jaish al-Islam laying down its heavy weapons in exchange for government-provided water and electricity returning to the town. Douma had been relatively calm as negotiations were underway, without the heavy bombing raining on other towns. But Moscow was no longer willing to accept a special exception for Douma, the second opposition source told AFP. "The Russians don't want an agreement for Douma that's different from other parts of Ghouta, but Jaish al-Islam wants to stay and doesn't want any residents to leave," the source said. "They gave them an ultimatum," the source said, adding that the group had "until Wednesday or Thursday" to respond. Al-Watan, a newspaper close to the Syrian government, reported Tuesday that military forces were already amassing around Douma. "All forces involved in Eastern Ghouta are heading towards Douma ahead of a massive military operation if the terrorists of Jaish al-Islam do not agree to hand over the city and leave," the daily said, citing a military source. Syrian troops have already captured more than 90 percent of Eastern Ghouta through a blistering assault that has killed more than 1,600 civilians. Brussels (AFP) - Hundreds of taxis brought traffic to a standstill in Brussels on Tuesday to protest proposed government reforms said to favour ride-hailing competitors like Uber. Police said as many as 650 taxis taking part in the protest let off fireworks and blocked traffic on major roads in and around the Belgian capital, including outside the EU's headquarters. Belgian authorities urged residents to swap private cars for public transport while Brussels airport suggested air travellers take the train to the terminals. The Belgian taxi federation (FeBeT) is opposed to a draft reform that would grant taxi licenses directly to drivers rather than to cab firms, as has been the case until now. Sam Bouchal, the FeBeT's secretary general, said the reform is "a disguise to do away with wage earners," who his union says account for 70 percent of Brussels taxi drivers. Taxi licenses are held mainly by "800 small firms which have invested large sums," Bouchal told RTBF radio. On the other hand, Uber Belgium has defended giving licenses to drivers as a way to "improve mobility in Brussels," plagued by some of Europe's worst traffic jams. The FeBeT faults Pascal Smet, the socialist mobility minister, for siding with Uber's "ideological" stance and for wanting to reform the business "whatever the cost" and without consultation. Ride-hailing services have met with similar protests -- including recently in Athens and Madrid -- and varying levels of resistance from authorities in cities around the world. Photo: Getty Images An illuminating report released Monday by the nonprofit organization Texans Care for Children took a close look at the discipline of the states students from prekindergarten through second grade and found that a lot of it depends on what you look like. The study, titled Keeping Kids in Class, counted 64,773 in-school and 36,475 out-of-school suspensions across the state between 2015 and 2016, and found major racial disparities. Notably, black students were five times more likely than their white counterparts to receive an out-of-school suspension, and twice as likely to receive an in-school suspension. And despite making up just 13 percent of the pre-K-to-second-grade population in Texas, black students were 42 percent of those receiving out-of-school suspensions. Stephanie Rubin, the CEO of Texans Care for Children, says this is more than unacceptable its potentially damaging. Suspending our youngest students interrupts their education, communicates to them that they dont belong, and misses a critical opportunity to actually address why they might be acting out, Rubin said in a statement. A suspension does nothing to resolve the root of the problem, whether its a childs developmental delay, the trauma of an abusive home, challenging but age-appropriate behavior, a teachers need for stronger classroom management strategies, large pre-k class sizes, or an educators implicit biases about certain demographic groups. Unfortunately, the problem isnt new. Racial disparities in Texass school disciplinary programs have long been a point of contention in the state, leading to a law in 2017 that bans out-of-school suspensions for kids in the second grade and below. That law, HB 674, was aimed at breaking what experts call the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). STPP is a phenomenon which shows that harsh school discipline disproportionately sends children of color into the juvenile justice system. The American Civil Liberties Union defines it as a disturbing national trend in which children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Suspensions fall under what the ACLU calls zero tolerance policies, which harshly punish behavior that could be handled in other ways. Story continues The hope was that Texass ban of out-of-school suspensions for young kids would put a stop to this. Like similar laws in New Jersey and Illinois, the bill suggests teachers use alternative forms of discipline, such as rewarding positive behavior. Rubin and her team suggest the same, offering potential alternatives for teachers to try, including Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL). These ideas build on previous research from Dr. Walter S. Gilliam, an Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology at the Yale University Child Study Center. Gilliam has thoroughly analyzed the role of implicit bias in school punishment, and discovered that school administrators unconscious (and conscious) attitudes about race play a major role in who gets punished. In one controlled study, for example, Gilliam had young black and white children behave inappropriately in a classroom. Both white and black educators were more likely to focus on disciplining the black boys. Previous research has suggested potential contributing factors to this disparity, including lower socio-economic status and lack of family support, but Gilliam sees the problem as bigger than individual families. Racial disparities in preschool expulsions and suspensions are civil rights matters involving our nations youngest learners and should no longer be tolerated, Gilliam wrote in a 2016 op-ed for the Robert J. Wood Foundation. More than sixty years after Brown v. Board of Education, we are still struggling to ensure that our children of color are afforded equal access to educational opportunities. Figuring out how we can ensure that educational opportunities are equal is something David Ramey, an assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Penn State University, has been working on for years. He says the Texas study shows evidence of something he has observed as well. We have preconceived notion of kids who are more likely to misbehave in any situation because of gender and racial stereotypes and its young black males. So when you see young black males breaking the rules, youre more likely to attribute it to some underlying badness a pattern of bad behavior, Ramey tells Yahoo Lifestyle, whereas in white kids it might just be seen as an exception. Ramey performed an even larger study of school discipline in 2016, and found evidence that the exact same behaviors in black and white kids can be interpreted differently. With black kids, bad behavior at school tends to be criminalized (e.g. punished with suspensions) whereas with white kids, bad behavior tends to be medicalized (e.g. diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). His point is this: while a black child who is acting out may be considered unwilling to learn, a white child doing the same thing may be considered in need of help. White kids are still getting punished, but theres a higher threshold of behavior that they can get away with, and when they do get punished, they get diagnosed and treated, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Black kids have a lower threshold for getting punished and a much higher threshold for getting treatment of any type. Ramey says the Texas study is not only an important look at the disparity that exists in school discipline nationwide but also a reminder that other forms of discipline can be hugely beneficial. I think its really important to implement alternative disciplinary approaches, especially as schools inch more towards zero tolerance in the wake of school shootings, Ramey says. Second grade is really early to start giving up on kids. Theyre have got to be other ways to focus on the kids who are most at risk. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. By Tom Perry and Suleiman Al-Khalidi BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) - Thousands of people left eastern Ghouta for Syrian rebel territory near the Turkish border on Tuesday, the third large group to leave under a deal brokered by Russia to surrender the enclave near Damascus to the Syrian government. Government forces were also mobilizing around Douma, the last rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta, a war monitor reported, piling pressure on the insurgents holed up inside to cut a similar deal. The Jaish al-Islam group, which has so far refused to leave Ghouta, said Russia had yet to give an answer to proposals that involve its fighters and civilians staying in Douma, adding that a meeting was expected on Wednesday. Rebels have been leaving other parts of Ghouta in batches with their families, accepting safe passage to the Idlib region in the northwest after they were beaten into retreat in a fierce assault by the Russia-backed Syrian army. It marks the biggest defeat for the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad since insurgents were driven from eastern Aleppo in 2016, underscoring his unassailable military position after seven years of conflict. Some 7,000 people - most of them fighters and their families - left on 100 buses in the early hours of the morning, the monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. More buses drove into eastern Ghouta ahead of a further evacuation. "We faced two choices: go to Idlib or make peace with the regime," said Sakhr Yousef, a 24-year-old fighter with the Failaq al-Rahman faction, as he was preparing to leave eastern Ghouta with his wife and four young siblings. "Making peace with the regime is very difficult, making peace with those who bombed us with criminal Russia," he added in a voice message to Reuters, referring to Assad's main backer in the conflict. The Syrian military split eastern Ghouta into three separate zones during its assault that began on Feb. 18 and has killed more than 1,600 people, according to the Observatory. The rebels being evacuated on Tuesday are leaving from a pocket encompassing the towns of Arbin, Ain Tarma and Zamalka that was controlled by Failaq al-Rahman rebels. The last remaining insurgent-held area in Ghouta is the town of Douma. The Islamist group that controls it, Jaish al-Islam, is in talks with Russia that have yet to yield a result. "We have presented our decision to stay. This is not only a decision by Jaish al-Islam, but by all the revolutionary institutions and figures in Douma," said Hamza Birqdar, the group's military spokesman. The United Nations said it is concerned for 70,000-78,000 people it said were trapped in Douma and is ready to provide aid if the government lets it in. "The United Nations and its partners are ready to proceed to Douma with food for up to 16,500 people, as well as health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies. But facilitation letters have to be signed by the Government of Syria," Mark Lowcock, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in a statement. DISPLACED PEOPLE SUBJECTED TO "SCREENING PROCESS" Backed by Russia and Iran, the government has repeatedly forced rebels to surrender areas and withdraw to Idlib, where the UN now describes situation as "catastrophic". The opposition has called this a policy of "demographic change" aimed at forcing dissidents out of Syria's main cities. State television, broadcasting from the outskirts of Arbin, showed buses moving along a dusty road through a wasteland of heavily damaged buildings. A correspondent with Hezbollah's al-Manar TV said it could take four to five days to evacuate the tens of thousands of people who had agreed to leave Arbin, Ain Tarma and Zamalka. Hezbollah, a heavily armed Lebanese group backed by Iran, has fought on Assad's side during the war. The Russian news agency TASS said 13,190 rebels had left eastern Ghouta in the last three days. Tens of thousands of people have also fled eastern Ghouta this month into areas controlled by the Syrian government. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 80,000 people had left formerly besieged parts of eastern Ghouta as control shifted since March 9. The displaced "have to proceed to collective shelters and are not permitted to leave, until they have undergone a screening process and are able to prove a sponsor", OCHA said in a situation report. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Tuesday that the displaced people were at risk from communicable diseases and said procedures for people to leave the shelters "should be accelerated". "Many children who are already extremely weak are being exposed to further health hazards like diarrhea, lice and skin diseases. We have seen many children who had to walk many kilometers barefoot or in completely worn-out shoes," the ICRC said in a statement. Syrian state TV said the army freed 28 people who had been held captive by militants in Arbin. The Observatory said their release was part of the deal agreed by rebels. Syrian state television Ikhbariya spoke to some of what it said were 315 men associated with rebel groups who had chosen not to go to Idlib but to reconcile with the government. The interviewer asked the men, sitting on government buses in formerly rebel-held Harasta, to describe conditions under the rebels. One man said rebels had imprisoned him for 44 days for "talking about them". Several others described the situation as "bad, very bad". One said they had been made to dig tunnels for the rebels. Another said the rebels had large food stores. "We were surprised when we saw the rice, sugar, tea, bulgur wheat. While we were in need of rice." The government says the offensive is securing Damascus from insurgent mortar fire that regularly used to hit the capital including its Old City. In addition to their foothold in the northwest, anti-Assad rebels still hold a chunk of territory along the southern frontier with Jordan and Israel, and enclaves near Damascus, Homs and Hama. (Additional reporting Katya Golubkova and Lisa Barrington; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Hugh Lawson) By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Three days after European Union leaders left a summit in Brussels with a discreet yet vague agreement to expel Russian diplomats over a nerve agent attack on British soil, envoys met back to share details before an afternoon deadline. Unveiling national expulsion lists at a closed-door meeting on Monday, the 28 ambassadors from the EU's member states were unaware of the scale of their plan to isolate Moscow: more than half the bloc's governments had joined the West's most sweeping expulsion of Russian diplomats since the Cold War. "It wasn't until the meeting that we saw the plans, that we could say we had agreed something meaningful, unprecedented," one senior EU diplomat told Reuters, recounting events echoed by four other diplomats and officials. Coupled with U.S. expulsions that were the result of days of intense diplomacy by Washington, London and later Paris, EU governments pulled off what seemed unthinkable a week before, and all in support of a country quitting the bloc in 2019. But EU capitals wanted to demonstrate that, Brexit notwithstanding, security ties were paramount. "Russian interference is bigger than Brexit, it goes way beyond that," a second EU diplomat said. In total, more than 100 Russian diplomats are being removed from over 20 countries, including 15 members of the European Union, which has long been split on how best to handle Russia. Moscow denies any involvement in the attempted murder of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, who were found slumped on a public bench in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. The show of EU support for Britain was all the more surprising because, in the weeks before the attack, the tone between London and Brussels had deteriorated as Britain sought new post-Brexit trade ties that the EU said were unworkable. SPY NETWORK However, for the EU to unexpectedly come together, it still took a concerted British diplomatic effort with U.S. support. From NATO via discussions with European Union foreign ministers to the EU's two-day March 22-23 summit, the public focus was to be on a statement condemning Russia. Behind the scenes, Prime Minister Theresa May had stronger demands: EU help in disrupting a Russian network of spies working under diplomatic cover in Europe. Assistance first came from Baltic allies eager for Britain's military protection against Russia, while U.S. officials had done groundwork by visiting some European capitals to sound out support for their plans to expel 60 Russian diplomats. Crucially, before the EU summit got under way in the egg-shaped glass Europa building in Brussels' European quarter, a regular meeting of the six Baltic and Nordic EU countries - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden and Finland - opened up their forum to May. There she made a plea for countries to consider the expulsion of Russian diplomats, sharing classified evidence on Russia's involvement. Sweden and Finland, which maintain a traditional neutrality and are not NATO members like Denmark, signaled they might join the initiative. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite went into the two-day EU summit on Thursday musing publicly that she could expel Russian diplomats. Privately, she had Poland's agreement to join the move. Latvia, Estonia and France had also shown interest. LIGHTS OUT With the summit under way, May took her plea just before dinner to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. May had only one thing on her mind, a third diplomat said. "The evidence she presented Merkel and Macron was very strong." The meeting did not start well, however. The lights went out briefly in the British suite as news photographers crowded in for a brief photo call, with someone unknowingly leaning on the light switch and plunging the trio into darkness. But after everyone else had left the room and the lights came back on, May won their agreement that something must be done about Russia, which NATO has accused of trying to undermine the West with a campaign of disinformation, cyber attacks and covert action such as the Skripal poisoning. Merkel also agreed that London would not have to wait for the results of tests on samples of the Salisbury nerve toxin from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) before Europe would act, mainly because Russia is a member of the watchdog and was seen as uncooperative in the inquiry. Then, over scallops and rack of lamb on Thursday night, EU leaders discussed Russia for three-and-a-half hours, first attempting to agree a formal statement attributing blame for the toxin attack to Moscow. With tough wording proposed by France and Ireland, that came around midnight and was a breakthrough, overcoming Greek resistance to criticism of Russia, and about as far as many diplomats had expected discussions to lead. But May pressed on, sharing more intelligence that proved that "only one country could have done it", she told the room. Several leaders were looking around to see who else might join the expulsions when France's Macron spoke up in support. Then Merkel, having received backing from her government coalition partner back in Berlin, joined too. "That was the turning point," a fourth diplomat said. (Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Two senior Republican senators urged President Donald Trump to sell Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets to Taiwan, so they are better equipped to ward off invasion threats from China. Senator John Cornyn, the assistant majority leader, and Senator James Inhofe, Senate Armed Services Committee member, asked Trump to help Taiwan remain a democracy, in a letter on Monday (26 March). These fighters will have a positive impact on Taiwans self-defense and would act as a necessary deterrent to Chinas aggressive military posture across the Asia-Pacific region, they wrote. After years of military modernization, China shows the ability to wage war against Taiwan for the first time since the 1950s. Trending: Who Will be Meghan Markle's Maid of Honor? Prince Harry's Fiance to 'Choose One of Her Closest Friends' However, with your leadership, it is possible to help Taiwan remain a democracy, free to establish a relationship with China that is not driven by military coercion. RTS1OWXP Reuters Taiwan defense officials expressed interest in purchasing the F-35s earlier this month. By acquiring the fighter jets, Taiwan will be better quipped to ward off any attacks from the mainland. Taipeis aging fleet currently consists of F-16 Fighting Falcons, but the senators believe they wont be enough to maintain a credible defense. Don't miss: Man Sues Disney after He Was Bitten by Rat on Wife's Wheelchair at Park "The survivability of the F-35B and modern long-range sensors could help Taiwan intercept Chinese missiles, promoting deterrence well into the next decade," they wrote. Story continues Professor Steve Tsang, political scientist and director of the SOAS China Institute, believes it is highly unlikely that the Trump Administration will allow the F-35B to be sold to Taiwan anytime soon. Americas priority will be replacing the Harriers for the U.S. Marines. Until they have replaced them, its highly unlikely they will export the F-35B to allies, Tsang told Newsweek. Most popular: 'Silicon Valley' Goes VR with 'Hacker Hostel' Experience China has been increasing its military exercises around Taiwan and making markedly stronger public comments about the need to prevent Taiwan independence. President Xi Jinping warned Taiwan that any effort to split China is doomed to fail and will invite the punishment of history at the closing session of the National Peoples Congress last week. On Tuesday, retired Chinese general Wang Hongguang explained how easy it would be for China to attack Taiwan in an opinion piece in widely read state-run newspaper the Global Times, including a mass bombardment which would render Taiwans military inoperable within 48 hours. The sale of the jets could increase tensions with Beijing, where officials were infuriated when Trump signed legislation this month that encourages the United States to send senior officials to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts and vice versa. Beijing will be extremely unhappy about [the letter]. They will want the rest of the world to know that the individual American senators have no business trying to interfere with Taiwan, Tsang said. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Ottawa (AFP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has assured US President Donald Trump in a telephone call that Canada will block foreign steel and aluminum transshipments to the United States. The prime minster, according to a Canadian readout of the conversation released on Tuesday, "raised the strong measures Canada is taking to address unfair trade in steel and aluminum." In a separate statement, Ottawa said it was "strengthening enforcement further to stop foreign exporters from avoiding duties meant to level the playing field." The White House confirmed Trump spoke to Trudeau but mentioned only Russia as a topic of their conversation. "These past few days, we've looked at strengthening the measures that we already have in place because it's important that we not be taking in dumped steel from around the world," Trudeau told reporters. "We've told the Americans that we will block the diversion (of steel). We've always had good measures in place, but if we can demonstrate that we are doing more, that's a good thing," he added. Canada -- the top exporter of steel and aluminum to the US market -- was exempted from new US tariffs on imports of the metals unveiled earlier this month. Since then, Trudeau has echoed Trump's message that China was flooding global markets with cheap steel. Beijing has rejected the accusation, saying it was an international problem. Seventy-one Canadian "trade remedy measures" are already in place to prevent foreign steel from flooding into the Canadian market or using Canada as a backdoor to ship foreign steel and aluminum into the United States, said a statement. In addition, the Canadian government unveiled on Tuesday new "anti-circumvention investigations" at the border to "identify and stop companies that try to dodge duties." Ottawa said it would also coordinate more closely with Washington and other stakeholders to prevent the transshipment and diversion of "unfairly cheap foreign steel." Elliott Broidy and his wife, Robin Rosenzweig, are suing the government of Qatar. (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/BEI/REX/Shutterstock) WASHINGTON A top GOP fundraiser and his wife sued the government of Qatar, lobbyist and former Republican political adviser Nicolas Muzin, and Muzins lobbying firm Stonington Strategies on Monday for allegedly hacking their email accounts and distributing the stolen emails to various media organizations. The selectively leaked emails appear to show Elliott Broidy, a Los Angeles-based Republican National Committee deputy finance chair, using his proximity to Republican elected officials to influence foreign policy decisions and to boost his defense companys business prospects. The anonymous leaker, which described itself as a group that exposes wrongdoing in Hollywood, has disseminated different tranches of hacked emails to reporters over the past several weeks, resulting in a trickle of negative news stories scrutinizing Broidys business practices and his communications with U.S. politicians and foreign governments. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, HuffPost and others have published stories that appear to be based on the leaked emails. Broidy, who has denied any wrongdoing, has for weeks accused Qatar of orchestrating the hack in retaliation for his outspoken criticism of the government there and his support for its regional rivals. We believe the evidence is clear that a nation state is waging a sophisticated disinformation campaign against me in order to silence me, including hacking emails, forging documents, and engaging in espionage and numerous other illegal activities, Broidy said in a statement. We believe it is also clear that I have been targeted because of my strong political views against Qatars state sponsored terrorism and double dealing. Qatar denies it was involved in the hack. Mr. Broidys lawsuit is a transparent effort to divert attention from U.S. media reports about his activities, Jassim Al-Thani, Qatars media attache in Washington, said in a statement. His lawsuit is without merit of fact. It is Mr. Broidy, not Qatar, who orchestrated nefarious activities designed to influence Congress and American foreign policy. It does not matter how many venues Mr. Broidy publishes his false accusations in, they will not become truth. Story continues The Qatari government has indicated in a past statement to HuffPost that it is considering a counter-lawsuit against Broidy for making false statements. On Monday, Broidy also accused Muzin, a lobbyist hired by Qatar, of helping to carry out the operation. Muzin dismissed the allegations. Mr. Broidys lawsuit is an obvious attempt to draw attention away from his controversial work, and is as flimsy as the promises he reportedly made to his clients, Muzin wrote in an email. I am proud of the work my firm has conducted with Qatar and look forward to continuing to support peaceful dialogue and progress in the Middle East. The hacking operation began around Dec. 27, 2017, when Broidys wife, Robin Rosenzweig, received a phishing email that appeared to be a Gmail security alert, according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Monday. When Rosenzweig entered her login credentials, as prompted by the phishing email, hackers gained access to her account, which included login information for other email accounts, including Broidys. Broidy and Rosenzweig hired forensic analysts to track down the source of the hack. For weeks, Broidys team promised to soon release definitive evidence proving Qatar was responsible for stealing the emails. But the complaint filed on Monday offered little proof. According to the complaint, Broidys team initially traced the hacker to IP addresses in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. But they later discovered that the attack originated in Qatar the European IP addresses were meant to mask the real identity of the hacker, the complaint alleged. The complaint does not provide forensic evidence that the government of Qatar directed the hack. Instead, it provides a lengthy description of Qatars efforts to improve its reputation in Washington by hiring politically savvy lobbyists and how Broidy worked to crush those efforts. The complaint pits Muzin and Broidy two prominent Republican operatives who are active in the pro-Israel advocacy world against each other. Muzin is one of several lobbyists Qatar hired to advocate for it in the U.S. as Washington mulled how to respond to a Saudi-led blockade against Qatar. Last September, Muzins lobbying firm Stonington Strategies registered as a foreign agent for Qatar. Initially retained at a rate of $50,000 per month, Qatar later increased the rate to $300,000 per month. As part of his effort to improve Qatars image, Muzin tried to get Jewish American leaders to meet with Qatars emir in New York during the United Nations General Assembly and to visit Qatar on an all-expense-paid trip, the complaint alleged. Broidy urged Jewish American leaders to turn down the invitation. As Broidy worked to block Qatars efforts to improve its image in the U.S., his defense firm inked lucrative deals with Qatars regional rivals. In 2017 he finalized more than $200 million worth of contracts with the United Arab Emirates to develop its defense and counterterrorism ties, the complaint stated. Broidy is in discussions to do similar work with the government of Saudi Arabia. The complaint provides no conclusive evidence that Muzin was involved in distributing the stolen emails to reporters. According to the complaint, Muzin indicated he was aware of the operation by stating, I did not cause the Broidy stuff, just because I have information and I dont know all the details, but I know that I am hearing repeatedly that theres a lot more coming. It is not clear to whom those comments were directed. Muzin did not respond to a question about those comments. Broidy and Rosenzweig are asking the court to order injunctive relief to prevent access to and use of the stolen emails and to award monetary damages. Broidy made headlines in 2009, when he pleaded guilty to giving New York state officials almost $1 million worth of gifts to help his company win a lucrative contract with the states pension fund. But since then, he has largely operated behind the scenes. That changed after reporters started receiving his and his wifes internal emails, offering a glimpse at how the well-connected fundraisers political and business activities intersected. On Feb. 28, HuffPost received the first batch of Broidys emails from a group that called itself L.A. Confidential. The emails appeared to show Rosenzweig, asking for more than $80 million to scuttle a Justice Department investigation into a corruption scandal implicating a Malaysian businessman and Broidy using his ties to the Trump administration to help. The next round of emails showed Broidy directly pitching President Donald Trump on a plan to recruit an international army of Muslim soldiers recruited from Arab and Islamic nations to fight the Taliban and the Islamic State group in Afghanistan. The most recent round of emails sent to HuffPost came from a group that called itself Hollywood 2018 and used ProtonMail, an encrypted email service. When HuffPost tried to ask Hollywood 2018 if it was the same group that was behind L.A. Confidential, the email bounced back, indicating the account had been deactivated. The leaker was strategic, providing different news outlets with different documents, ensuring that each outlet would feel it had newsworthy material. The New York Times reported that Broidy offered access to Trump as part of an effort to get foreign leaders to sign contracts with his defense firm Circinus. The Times also detailed how George Nader, a political adviser to the UAE who is reportedly now cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, cultivated Broidy to gain influence with the Trump administration. The Associated Press reported that Nader wired Broidy millions of dollars to fund an effort to convince U.S. lawmakers to pass legislation that would label Qatar as a state sponsor of terrorism. Broidys team has confirmed the authenticity of several of the leaked emails but it also accused the Qatari government and Muzin of sending around doctored or forged documents that appeared to show Broidy was involved with a sanctioned Russian bank. Unlike Russia, Qatar is not known for its cyberattacks. But there are signs that the small, wealthy Gulf state is building up its capabilities. In 2015, an intermediary with ties to Qatar gave the Times internal emails from the UAEs foreign ministry in which an Emirati official admitted the UAE was violating a United Nations resolution by sending weapons to Libyan militias. Last year, a group that called itself GlobalLeaks sent reporters damaging emails stolen from Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAEs ambassador to the U.S. Independent cybersecurity researchers identified a hacker-for-hire group working for several Gulf states that used tactics that resembled those used against Otaiba. Read the complaint below: Broidy Complaint by Jessica Schulberg on Scribd Paul Blumenthal contributed reporting. This post has been updated with more details about the lawsuit and a statement from Jassim Al-Thani, Qatars media attache in Washington. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Representative Joaquin Castro, a top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said Tuesday that he believes President Donald Trump is determined to launch a war with North Korea. Castro made the comments in the aftermath of Trump tapping former ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as his national security adviser to replace the departing H.R. McMaster. Bolton has argued that it is perfectly legitimate for the United States to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea. Related: Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, John Bolton and the Road to War in North Korea I just think that this president, based on everything that I've seen and heard, is determined at some point to go to war with North Korea," Castro said on MSNBCs Morning Joe. Castro added that the appointment of Bolton "is an affirmation of that. Trending: Woman Arrested After Police Say She Made Drunken, Lewd Comments to the Easter Bunny Castro then laid out what he sees as the stark dangers of a conflict with North Korea. Youre talking about at minimum hundreds of thousands of people dead, if not millions of people, he said. Thats whats at stake here. North Korea has accelerated its development and testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles since Trump came into office, claiming that it can now strike anywhere in the U.S. The South Korean capital Seoul, home to 10 million people, is just 35 miles from the North Korean border, while South Korea is also the base to thousands of U.S. troops. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had traded insults and threats of nuclear war and annihilation for months before a sudden announcement earlier this month that the two leaders would sit down for a historic meeting in the coming months. There has been little development on that front, however, and Boltons selection has signified to many that the president may again be embracing a more hard-line approach. Don't miss: Top Senators Urge Trump to Sell F-35 Jets to Taiwan to Fight Off Chinese Invasion Story continues Trump BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Castro added that the recent changes in the administration, which has also seen the departure of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who advocated for a diplomacy-first approach, represent a worrying sign. There has to be some check and balance on the president, who is determined to go to war, and also youd like to see people around the president who arent just yes-men or -women, Castro said. My fear with what's going on, the clearing out of this White House, from Secretary Tillerson, General McMaster and others, is that the president is basically clearing out anybody who isnt subservient and obsequious to him and putting in people who are just going to say yes or who already agree with him anyway so there's no conflict at all. With recent developments, Castro said, it was now time for Congress to at least talk about legislation that would put a check on the presidents power to launch a pre-emptive strike. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters) Have you ever tried to break in a new pet? If you have, you know that pets, like children, test boundaries to see what they can or cannot get away with. Every action provokes a response that is either positive or negative. The more positive the reaction, the more likely it is that your pet will continue that behavior. The more negative the reaction, the less likely that behavior will be repeated. Its called the science of positive reinforcement. Last weekend, President Donald Trump did something he had never done before he mentioned special counsel Robert Mueller by name in a Twitter rant that concluded with him calling the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election a WITCH HUNT! This escalation in rhetoric came on the very day that his personal lawyer at the time, John Dowd, told the Daily Beast that he wanted Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to shut down Muellers investigation. All the while, Trump has reportedly considered firing his chief of staff and not naming a successor effectively serving as his own chief. Like a pet or a child, Trump is testing the boundaries to see how much he can get away with. The response from congressional Republicans, cast as the parents or adults in the room, has been predictably weak and muted. When you tell a child they cant do something, their natural response is or what? What will happen if I do something you tell me not to do? What is the consequence? If Trump fires Robert Mueller, what will congressional Republicans do about it? What consequences are they prepared to pursue if Trump does the unthinkable? Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Senates second-ranking Republican, was asked if he thought legislation was needed to protect the special counsel from being fired by Trump. His response, I dont think thats going to happen, so I just think its not necessary. ... I dont see ... the necessity for picking that fight right now. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah),, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said, Legislation is not necessary at this point because I do not believe the president would take such a foolish action. Story continues In January, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked legislation to protect Mueller, saying as justification, My understanding is theres no effort underway to undermine or to remove the special counsel. Therefore, I dont see the need to bring up legislation to protect someone who appears to need no protection. When asked last week about the possibility of Trump firing Mueller in light of the presidents aggressive posture on Twitter, McConnell refused to take a more forceful stance saying, I dont think Bob Mueller is going anywhere. It seems the default position for the Republican Party leadership in Congress is to bury their collective heads in the sand hoping the worst doesnt happen. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said he had received assurances that his firing is not even under consideration. Id love to know who gave him those assurances because this is an administration that openly and flagrantly lies every single day. On March 10, The New York Times Maggie Haberman and Michael Schmidt reported that Trump may be looking to shake up his legal team and change his approach to Mr. Muellers investigation. The following day, Trump took to Twitter and blasted the Failing New York Times who purposely wrote a false story. He definitively declared that I am VERY happy with my lawyers John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job... Trump took it even further, attacking Haberman by name as a Hillary Clinton flunky who knows nothing about me and is not given access. Nine days later, criminal lawyers Joseph diGenova and Victoria Toensing were announced as new additions to Trumps legal team. Three days after that, John Dowd resigned. On Sunday, it was announced that diGenova and Toensing, who are married, were not going to join the presidents team after all. A week ago, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted, Just spoke to @POTUS and Gen. H.R. McMaster contrary to reports they have a good working relationship and there are no changes at the National Security Council. A week later, Trump announced on Twitter that McMaster was out as his national security adviser and John Bolton was in. So, while Ryan may take stock in the assurances he has been given that there is no plan to fire Mueller, recent history has shown us that the president and his administration have made a habit of saying one thing and then doing the exact opposite a few days later. The only thing thats perfectly clear is that congressional Republicans are unwilling to specify consequences for Trump if he fires Mueller. In Trumps paradigm, that means there are no consequences at all and the Republican leaderships silence is enabling him to follow his worst instincts. They say you cant teach an old dog new tricks, but it sure would be nice if the Republicans in Congress at least tried. Kurt Bardella is a HuffPost columnist. He is a former spokesman and senior adviser for the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). He also served as a spokesman for former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and former Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif). Follow him on Twitter at @kurtbardella. ALSO ON HUFFPOST OPINION Doctors Accused Of 'Politicizing Psychiatry' Are Actually Doing The Opposite Exploiting America's Tribal Warfare Is Donald Trump's Survival Strategy Trump Wants His Cabinet To Serve His Ego, Not The Nation Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. A top fundraiser for President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee asked the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee last year to help his defense company win a lucrative contract in Romania, according to emails and documents obtained by Newsweek. Venture capitalist manager Elliott Broidy, owner of space and defense firm Circinus, went so far as to work with executives of his company to draft letters in the name of U.S. Representative Ed Royce, a Republican from California, the documents suggest. The emails were designed to promote the firm to high-ranking Romanian officials following the congressmans trip there in August 2017. Emails shared with Newsweek appear to show a Circinus employee drafting a letter to Romanias economic minister on Royces behalf. In the letter, the congressman supposedly praises the welcome he received from Romanian officials during his visit as outstanding and said the U.S. government is happy to see Romania make significant investment in its defense industry. Trending: Ancient Egypt: Mummy Remains Discovered Inside 'Empty' 2,500-year-old Coffin After 157 Years The e-mails were first reported by McClatchy. In the draft apparently written by the Circinus employee, Royce then highlighted Circinus, the company Broidy acquired in 2015, as the defense firm capable of ensuring Romanias national security and NATO defense spending requirements. The letter said the company was renowned for their expertise in C41SR short for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and cyber programs. I request you offer this consortium the strongest endorsement, the letter concluded, with Royces name and titles printed at the bottom. A Royce spokesman said the congressman spoke with Broidy about the trip, but that Royce never sent the letters endorsing Circinus. Broidy was aware of the trip, and offered unsolicited input, Royce spokesperson Cory Fritz told Newsweek. He also said Royce did nothing on behalf of Circinus and that Royce did not authorize Broidy to craft letters to Romanian officials in his name. Story continues Broidy said his company followed all laws in its pursuit of defense contracts. Don't miss: Russia Accuses Trump of Making Kemerovo Mall Fire 'More Painful' Circinus is involved with efforts around the world that will enhance our national security and that of our allies and foreign military partners, Broidy said in a statement through a spokesperson. We have been particularly adept at and are uniquely positioned to compete in markets that have required highly specialized national security and counterterrorism expertise. Our company ensures that all of our efforts are in full compliance with U.S. and international laws." Ciricnus last month reached a deal with a Romanian state-run firm that may allow it the inside track on deals potentially worth $200 million, according to The New York Times and Romanian news outlets. But the deal was more like a teaming agreement or partnership, a person with knowledge of Circinus business operations told Newsweek, adding the company does not have contracts presently in Romania. The episode shows the remarkable access Broidy, a longtime fundraiser, enjoys in GOP circles. Broidy has served as a deputy finance chairman for the RNC since April 2017, after initially acting as the RNCs finance chair for the 2004 and 2008 elections. Hes long been known as a bundler for the committee, gathering large sums for campaigns for years. Following the 2008 elections, Broidy was charged and pleaded guilty in a pay-to-play scandal involving the New York state pension fund in 2009. On July 31 of last year, less than two weeks before Royce would make his trip to Romania, Broidy made two personal donations to Royces campaign for a total of $5,400. Broidy had never before made such donations to Royce, who faced a difficult re-election battle at the time in a district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016. The 13-term congressman announced in January he would not seek re-election in this years midterm elections in order to focus on chairing one of Congresss most powerful committees. But as late as December he was still raising money and had received more than $120,000 in total from the California Victory 2018 joint fundraising committee. Most popular: Stephon Clark's Family Vows To Take Legal Action After Sacramento Police Shoot Unarmed 22-Year-Old In another email that Broidy allegedly sent to himself, with the subject line Final Message to Ed Royce, he expressed dismay at how the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest had yet to authorize Royce meeting with specific Romanian officials. Broidy wrote that unless the embassy complied, I think we should cancel your tripand reschedule for a time these meetings are possible. Its unclear if the email was ever sent to Royce. The emails and other internal Circinus documents were sent to Newsweek from an anonymous ProtonMail account. Attempts to reach whomever sent the emails and documents went unanswered. Broidy has been the subject of numerous media reports about his lobbying, businesses and apparent influence with the Trump administration. Those reports have also been based on leaked emails and documents. Broidy has not directly denied many of the allegations against him, but has said hes been a victim of computer hacking. Broidy and his link to George A. Nader, a witness in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russias meddling in the 2016 election, has been particularly exposed. Nader, lobbying on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, reportedly transferred some $2.5 million to Broidy in April of last year in an attempt to have legislation passed against UAE rival Qatar, the Associated Press reported Monday. Since then, Broidy has given a little less than $600,000 to Republican members of Congress and party political committees, and also sponsored a conference built around Qatars links to Islamic extremism, according the AP. Broidy has accused Qatar of orchestrating the supposed hacking of his emails. Qatar officials have denied this. He filed a lawsuit against Qatar Monday claiming the Gulf kingdom had launched a hostile intelligence operation in order to smear him. Broidy has, too, used his apparent political influence with Trumps White House to court Romanian officials. He invited two controversial Romanian officials, head of the Social Democratic Party and speaker to Romanias lower house in Parliament Liviu Dragnea and former Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, to Trumps inauguration over a year ago, McClatchy reported last month. Dragnea and Grindeanu sat at a table with Trump and spoke with him. Dragnea, who was subject to a criminal investigation over corruption charges last year, wrote on Facebook about his interaction with Trump. We will make it happen! Romania is important for us! Dragnea quoted Trump as saying on his Facebook post, McClatchy reported. The post also included pictures of Trump, Broidy and Dragnea sitting at a table together. Dragnea also snapped pictures with Royce, and the pair discussed Romanias partnership with the U.S. and how to better improve ties, McClatchy reported last month. He also took a photo with former national security adviser Mike Flynn, according to a Romanian news outlet. Dragneas party also reportedly paid $100,000 to a Washington lobbying firm last year to set up meetings with Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Updated | California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said he plans to fight the Trump administration in court on its decision to include a question on citizenship in the 2020 census. The question, which would ask residents in the U.S. to disclose whether they are in the country legally, will "derail the integrity of the census," Becerra has warned. "We're prepared to do what we must to protect California from a deficient census," Becerra said. "Including a citizenship question on the 2020 census is not just a bad ideait is illegal," the attorney general said in an op-ed published in the San Francisco Chronicle. Trending: Woman Arrested After Police Say She Made Drunken, Lewd Comments to the Easter Bunny GettyImages-530551244 Drew Angerer/Getty The question on citizenship has not been used in the census since 1950. However, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced his intention to reinstate it in a memo shared on the Department of Commerce website. "For the approximately 90 percent of the population who are citizens, this question is no additional imposition," Ross wrote in his memo. "And for the approximately 70 percent of non-citizens who already answer this question accurately on the [American Community Survey], the question is no additional imposition." The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, had pushed for the question to be included on the 2020 census, according to a report from ProPublica. A number of lawmakers have condemned the move, with Democrat Senator Jose Serrano, who represents New York's 15th district, saying the inclusion of the citizenship question "will only result in a low count and fear." Story continues Democrat Senator Carolyn Maloney, who represents New York's 12th congressional district, accused Ross of having "succumbed to the hateful, nativist view" of the Trump administration and of having "deliberately compromised the integrity of the census for political purposes." Read more: Citizenship question in the 2020 census would be 'unconstitutional,' state attorneys general say GOP Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio's 8th congressional district argued in favor of the move, however, saying that representation in the House "should be based on citizens, not on residents." Democratic Attorneys General from 19 states have already sent a letter to Ross, arguing that the citizenship question would be unconstitutional and could harm states and cities with large immigrant communities. Most popular: Watch: Giant Great White Shark Caught Swimming Laps Around Fishing Boat in Florida Becerra said California would be "disproportionately harmed" if residents chose not to participate in the census out of fear, given that the state has a large immigrant population. "An undercount would threaten at least one of California's seats in the House of Representatives (and by extension, an elector in the electoral college," the attorney general said. He added that depressed participation would "deprive California and its cities and counties of their fair share of billions of dollars in federal funds." Executive Director of non-profit organization Define American Ryan Eller told Newsweek in a statement that the inclusion of the citizenship question "goes against the census' stated mission to 'serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy." "If folks are fearful that this data is going to be misused they just wont participate," Eller added. "This question is also unnecessarily expensive, and possibly illegal. Its definitely anti-immigrant, myopic, and yet again plays politics with a process that should be above political corruption." The commerce bureau is expected to announce its final list of census questions by the end of the week, Becerra has said. He urged the Trump administration to end the "politicization of the 2020 census," calling on Ross to "uphold the government's constitutional duty to count all people in every part of the country." This story has been updated to include comments from Ryan Eller, Executive Director of Define American. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek President Donald Trump is struggling to find lawyers to join his legal team. John Dowd, lead attorney for the president in the Russia probe, resigned last week. Ted Olson, who served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush, reportedly rejected an offer to join the team. Up to six other lawyers have also reportedly turned down Trump over the past week. I think everybody would agree this is turmoil, its chaos, its confusion, its not good for anything, Olson said on MSNBC on Monday. We always believe that there should be an orderly process, and of course, government is not clean or orderly ever. But this seems to be beyond normal. On Twitter, people had some thoughts about why Trump was having such a hard time finding a lawyer and offered a few suggestions as to who he could hire: 99 million lawyers but Trump cant find one. God (@TheGoodGodAbove) March 27, 2018 Trump lands new Lawyer Bob Loblaw. pic.twitter.com/Y36CaG1Wyl Tuna (@2naOnWhite) March 26, 2018 Trump will need a court appointed lawyer Gary the Cynic (@GaryTheCynic) March 27, 2018 At this rate, Trump's going to have to hire a lawyer who graduated from Trump University. *snicker* Barbara Walsh (@AtreiyaN7) March 27, 2018 "Trump's lawyer" is a job with a higher casualty rate than "Spinal Tap's drummer" Jeff Tiedrich (@jefftiedrich) March 27, 2018 "I have a conflict and can't represent you" is the lawyer version of "I can't go out on a date with you because I have to wash my hair" https://t.co/MHhxY5YZGW Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) March 27, 2018 Trump is on legal zoom at this moment trying to find a new lawyer. Voice of Reason (@AmericanVoR) March 26, 2018 Trump: Hello, I would like you to be on my legal team. Lawyer: pic.twitter.com/qrypmiAN1B Marc R. Bennett (@thegoodfello) March 26, 2018 According to Trump, fame & fortune will never be turned down by a lawyer. Turns out that infamy and misfortune are powerful motivators as well. pwitham (@pwtham11) March 26, 2018 Evidently trump is doubling down on his strategy to hire lawyers hes seen on TV, and just asked his staff to set up interviews with Matlock, Perry Mason, & Jackie Chiles. No word yet on who has to tell him they are fictional characters, and explain to him what fictional means. pic.twitter.com/pP8JIGx6ah TrumpSwamp (@SwampyTrump) March 27, 2018 It doesn't bode well for Trump that his next team of lawyers will base their entire legal strategy around Marisa Tomei's knowledge of automobiles. Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) March 27, 2018 Also on HuffPost Story continues President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the beginning of a meeting with his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and government cybersecurity experts at the White House on Jan. 31, 2017. Citing the hack of computers at the Democratic National Committee by Russia, Trump said that the private and public sectors must do more to prevent and protect against cyberattacks. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Washington (AFP) - The United States and its allies must work more closely with Turkey in Syria, President Donald Trump said Tuesday in a call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Washington has previously expressed concern about Turkey's decision to plunge itself more deeply into Syria's civil war with an offensive against Kurdish-held border areas. But according to the White House, in conversation with Macron, Trump "stressed the need to intensify cooperation with Turkey with respect to shared strategic challenges in Syria." In January, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered an assault against the enclave of Afrin in northern Syria to root out the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) there. Turkey views the YPG as simply an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is fighting an insurgency inside Turkey and whose fighters Ankara and Washington brand "terrorists." But the US military has worked closely with the YPG inside Syria, making the Kurdish fighters the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), set up to fight the Islamic State group. US officials have repeatedly complained that Turkey's battle against the YPG is a distraction from the anti-IS fight, but Trump's remarks Tuesday suggest growing sympathy for his NATO ally. In addition to discussing Turkey and Syria, Trump and Macron touched on the allied response to Russia's alleged attempt to assassinate a double-agent in a nerve agent attack on British soil. "Both leaders expressed support for the West's strong response to Russia's chemical weapons attack in Salisbury, United Kingdom, including the expulsion of numerous Russian intelligence officers on both sides of the Atlantic," the White House said. This marked Trump's first personal, public comment on the Western response after he allowed his spokeswoman to announce Washington's unprecedented decision to expel 60 alleged Russian agents. By Mica Rosenberg NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maziar Hashemi, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Massachusetts, has been told by doctors that his best hope for surviving a rare form of blood cancer is a bone marrow transplant. President Donald Trumps travel ban could make that impossible. Bone marrow transplants require a close match between donor and recipient. A few months after his diagnosis last September, Hashemi, 60, learned that his brother in Iran, Kamiar Hashemi, was a rare 100-percent match. The only problem was Kamiars nationality. The latest travel ban, issued as a presidential proclamation and implemented on December 8 after months of legal wrangling, bars most travelers to the United States from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea, as well as certain government officials from Venezuela. Although the ban allows for case-by-case waivers to be granted, including for medical need, Kamiar Hashemi has so far been denied a visa. Attorneys who regularly deal with visa issues say the waiver process is opaque. Visa applicants arent allowed to apply for waivers; they are simply granted or not without explanation. U.S. officials won't say how they make their decisions or how long they generally take. A U.S. State Department official told Reuters that since the ban took effect, more than 375 waivers have been approved but he declined to say how many total visa applications have been filed from countries covered by the ban. He said he could not comment on the specifics of Hashemis case. Kamiar Hashemi began the visa application process soon after learning he was a match for his brother. In February, the 57-year-old small business owner traveled to Armenia to be interviewed at the U.S. embassy there, since there is no embassy in Iran. Later on the day of the interview, Kamiars brother back in Massachusetts checked the status of the application on the State Department's website. A pop-up window announced in bright blue letters: "Refused." Waivers can later be granted to applicants initially refused for visas, according to the State Department, so Maziar Hashemi continued checking the website each day, but his brothers status hasnt changed. He hired an immigration lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, hoping she might smooth the way. TRANSPARENT AS MUD The Trump administration has said travel restrictions are needed to protect the United States from terrorism. Critics have challenged the latest ban, as they did previous versions, saying that it discriminates against Muslims. Six of the eight countries included in the current ban are majority Muslim. Under the current proclamation, waivers can be granted in cases where denying entry would cause undue hardship, when the individual is found not to be a threat and when their entry is in the national interest. The proclamation lists ten examples of situations in which an applicant might be eligible for a waiver. One reason mentioned is an applicants need for urgent medical care, something that comes close but doesnt exactly fit the Hashemis situation, since it isnt Kamiar Hashemi, himself, in urgent need. The State Department has declined to provide details of how waiver decisions are made beyond some general answers to frequently asked questions posted on its website. But a State Department letter obtained by Reuters earlier this month said "there is no waiver form to be completed" and that applicants who fall into the categories outlined in the proclamation "must be considered" for one. The process is as transparent as mud, said Hashemis attorney Khanbabai. There are no clear guidelines. Its difficult to figure out what the process is and who is actually doing the processing. Nevertheless, Khanbabai submitted a packet of information on the Hashemis behalf to the embassy on March 19, including a letter from Massachusetts General Hospital explaining that a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant is very rare and could provide the only viable treatment for Maziar Hashemis Myelodysplastic syndrome. Worried about the ticking clock, Kamiar Hashemi looked into traveling to India to have his bone marrow harvested there and rushed to the United States, but that option was also thwarted. A non-profit organization trying to facilitate the transfer, Be The Match, said it had to pull out after its legal team concluded that Kamiars bone marrow couldnt be exported to the United States because of U.S. sanctions on Iranian exports. "Can you imagine that the cells of an Iranian needed in order to help a U.S. citizen are embargoed?" said Maziar Hashemi, a civil engineer who has lived in the United States since the 1970s. "It is just unfair," he said in a phone interview. "I cannot wait much longer." (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York; Editing by Sue Horton and Paul Thomasch) (Photo: HuffPost) TOP STORIES (And want to get The Morning Email each weekday? Sign up here.) Tuesday, March 27 Hello! Eliot Nelson here, covering for Lauren Weber, who is on a reporting trip this week and misses you all terribly. 2020 CENSUS TO FEATURE CITIZENSHIP QUESTION The Commerce Department announced the change late Monday. Civil rights groups say the move will undermine the surveys accuracy and participation rates. [HuffPost] [Tweet | Share on Facebook] PAUL RYAN RESIGNATION RUMORS Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) said Monday, The rumor mill is that Paul Ryan is getting ready to resign in the next 30 to 60 days and that Steve Scalise will be the new Speaker. The speakers office denied the rumor. [HuffPost] SUPREME COURT TO EXAMINE GERRYMANDERING BY DEMOCRATS The high court will consider a Maryland district that solidified Democrats hold on the states congressional delegation. [HuffPost] WHAT HAPPENED TO TRUMPS BUMP STOCK BAN? The administration said it intends to restrict access to the firearm attachment, but its unclear if or how that will happen. [HuffPost] ARIZONA GOVERNOR SUSPENDS UBERS SELF-DRIVING CARS The move comes after a woman was killed by one of the ride-sharing companys autonomous vehicles. [HuffPost] WHATS BREWING KELLYANNE CONWAYS HUSBAND IS FREAKING OUT George Conway, hubby of the presidential adviser, has been tweeting up a storm lately, including a number of criticisms of President Trump. [HuffPost] WHY LAWYERS DONT WANT TO REPRESENT TRUMP Its not that hes necessarily guilty its that he doesnt listen. [HuffPost] WORRIED ABOUT DEPORTATION Meet Felix Garcia, who is worried he will be deported before his daughters med school graduation. [HuffPost] DONT UNDERESTIMATE STORMY DANIELS The adult film actress, who is accusing Trump of an affair in 2006, demonstrated her savvy and determination with her 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday. [HuffPost] BEFORE YOU GO Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Istanbul (AFP) - A Turkish court on Tuesday ruled that two Greek soldiers charged with espionage and illegally entering the country would remain in jail, in defiance of European Union pressure for their release, reports said. The pair were arrested on March 2 for entering a military zone in the northern Turkish province of Edirne, which borders Greece. A local court in Edirne ruled after its latest hearing Tuesday the two soldiers would remain behind bars, the private Dogan news agency reported, without providing any details. The Turkish lawyers of the two men had asked for their release. The judgement was announced after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came under pressure from EU chiefs at a meeting in Bulgaria late Monday to release the pair. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the bloc's 28 member states had confidence in the Turkish side "to solve that (the issue of the soldiers) in the best way". An EU meeting in Brussels last week condemned Turkey over the soldiers' arrest, in a show of firm support for Athens. The soldiers told prosecutors shortly after their arrest that they mistakenly crossed the border after getting lost in the fog. But according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency, they have been charged with "attempted military espionage" by prosecutors as well as entering a forbidden military zone. It said the pair testified they entered the Turkish side by tracking footsteps in the snow and filmed images on their mobile phones to send to higher ranking officials. The arrest of the soldiers have strained bilateral ties between Ankara and Athens, who are already at loggerheads over the exploration of gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. The longstanding foes have also clashed over Turkish demands that Greece extradite eight Turkish troops wanted over the July 2016 attempted coup aimed at unseating Erdogan. By Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Turkish banker who was found guilty of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions following a trial that featured accusations of corruption against top Turkish officials asked a U.S. judge on Monday to "temper justice with mercy" and impose a lenient sentence. In a filing in Manhattan federal court, lawyers for Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a manager at Turkey's majority state-owned Halkbank, said that federal guidelines would suggest a sentence of 46 to 57 months, and that the sentence should be "dramatically below" that. Atilla has already been in jail for about 12 months. Atilla, 47, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11 by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman. Prosecutors are expected to make their case for what Atilla's sentence should be in a court filing next Monday. Atilla's lawyers said in Monday's filing that Atilla was the only foreign banker ever prosecuted under the U.S. sanctions law, and that a heavy sentence would be unfair when other bankers were not punished at all. They argued that Atilla's conduct was "less culpable than that of someone who owes allegiance to the United States," and that "thwarting the foreign policy objectives of the United States is not self-evidently wrong" for someone without ties to the country. They said that Atilla had already suffered a severe penalty because his conviction had "shattered" his career. Atilla was arrested in New York in March 2017. He was found guilty of conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions law on Jan. 3 after a four-week trial. Prosecutors charged that beginning around 2012, Atilla took part in a scheme to let Iran spend its oil and gas revenues abroad using fraudulent gold and food transactions through Halkbank. At the center of the scheme, prosecutors said, was Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, who had been arrested in Florida a year earlier. Zarrab pleaded guilty and agreed to testify for prosecutors. Atilla, testifying in his own defense, denied that he took part in any scheme. Zarrab testified that he bribed Turkish officials, and that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan personally signed off on parts of the scheme while he was the country's prime minister. The case has strained relations between the United States and Turkey, which are NATO allies. During the trial, Erdogan called the case a "plot against Turkey" based on evidence fabricated by followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he has also blamed for a failed 2016 coup attempt. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Paris (AFP) - French prosecutors have charged two people, one of them a neighbour, with the murder of an 85-year-old Jewish woman who was stabbed and whose body was then set alight in a crime being treated as anti-Semitic. Mireille Knoll, who escaped the mass roundup and deportation of Jews from Paris during World War II, was found dead in her bed in her small apartment in eastern Paris on Friday by firefighters called to extinguish a blaze. An autopsy showed she had been stabbed several times before being partly burned by a fire that was started in the apartment where she lived alone. Two men are in custody on charges of murder as well as aggravated robbery and damaging property in a case investigators are treating as anti-Semitic. "My mother, my sweet and gentle mother, murdered for being Jewish... in 2018, how is it possible?" her son Daniel Knoll wrote on Facebook. The death of the frail octogenarian -- she was suffering from Parkinson's disease, one of her sons said -- has shocked France's Jewish community, coming a year after an Orthodox Jewish woman in her sixties was thrown out the window of her Paris flat by a neighbour shouting "Allahu Akhbar" (God is greatest). Prime Minister Edouard Philippe plans to meet with Knoll's family on Wednesday, when Jewish groups have called for a silent march in her memory in Paris Several leading politicians have said they will attend the march, except for officials from the far-right National Front whose presence "is not wanted", said Francis Kalifat of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish organisations. Reacting on Twitter, President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "dreadful" killing and reiterated his determination to fight anti-Semitism. - 'She must have money' - Pictures of Knoll circulated on Facebook showed a woman with lively brown eyes and bobbed hair. "My grandmother was an admirable woman, very kind, very gentle," Noa Goldfarb, 34, told AFP. Story continues "She didn't believe people could be evil. Maybe she was a bit too naive." One of the suspects is a neighbour in his twenties who visited her regularly, according to her family. A police source said the suspect had a previous conviction for sexual assault, while the second suspect, aged 21, has a history of violent robbery. He was in the apartment building on the day of Knoll's death and his name was given to police by the first suspect, a police source said. "The terrible thing is that one of the attackers told the other: 'She's a Jew, she must have money'," Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told parliament on Tuesday. "There are the stereotypes we have to combat," he said. A source had told AFP earlier that statements by one of the suspects and the fact that both knew Knoll was Jewish led them to conclude that the murder was motivated by her religion. "She was a woman of modest means," her family's lawyer, Gilles-William Goldnadel, told AFP. "There was absolutely nothing of value to steal." - Escaped deportation - Knoll managed to escape the notorious 1942 roundup of more than 13,000 Jews in Paris by fleeing with her mother to Portugal when she was nine. After the war she returned to the French capital and married a Holocaust survivor, who died in the early 2000s. The CRIF on Monday urged "the fullest transparency" by the authorities investigating Knoll's murder "so that the motive of this barbarous crime is known as quickly as possible." Last month, a judge confirmed that the April 2017 murder of Sarah Halimi, the woman who was thrown out of her window, was motivated by anti-Semitism. Jewish groups had reacted angrily to the investigators' delay in declaring that killing an anti-Semitic act. Halimi's murder reignited the debate over anti-Semitism in working-class districts in France, where Jews have been targeted in several deadly jihadist attacks in recent years. France's half-a-million-plus Jewish community is the largest in Europe but has been hit by a wave of emigrations to Israel in the past two decades, partly due to the emergence of a virulent strain of anti-Semitism in predominantly immigrant neighbourhoods. In 2011, an Islamist gunman shot dead three children and a teacher at a Jewish school in the southwestern city of Toulouse. Four years later, an associate of the two brothers who massacred a group of cartoonists at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo killed four people in a hostage-taking at a Jewish supermarket in Paris. Quito (AFP) - Two journalists for an Ecuadoran newspaper and their driver were abducted on the border with Colombia in a zone where former Colombian FARC rebels remain active, officials said Tuesday. The three, all Ecuadoran citizens, were seized early Monday in the village of Mataje, in Esmeraldas province, Ecuadoran Interior Minister Cesar Navas told a news conference. "We presume they are in Colombia," he said. "We know they are well. There has been contact. We can't give more details." The area where the abduction happened has seen increased Ecuadoran military activity in a crackdown against armed former FARC insurgents who officials say now work for drug cartels. A week ago, three Ecuadoran soldiers were killed and 11 were wounded by a bomb as they patrolled Mataje. Other attacks in the Esmeraldas province have wounded 32 soldiers and civilians. Ecuador's government sees the attacks as being carried out by FARC dissidents who refused to go along with a peace deal signed by the rebel group and Colombian authorities in 2016. The governments of Ecuador and Colombia have stepped up cooperation to tackle what they term "transnational crime" across their common border. Asia Times Security, So what happens now? U.S. Military Admits Its "Helpless" Against a Hypersonic Missile Strike by China or Russia The United States defense establishment has not stopped ringing alarm bells on what they say are rising threats posed by Russia and China, and their warnings are prompting fear among members of Congress. Last week, US military officials and lawmakers highlighted hypersonic missiles as a particular area of concern. Right now, were helpless, Republican Senator James Inhofe, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was quoted by The Hill as saying in advocating for more funding for hypersonic missiles. The talk on Capitol Hill comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that Russia now has intercontinental ballistic missiles that are invulnerable to Western anti-missile systems. We dont have any defense that could deny the employment of such a weapon against us, so our response would be our deterrent force, which would be the triad and the nuclear capabilities that we have to respond to such a threat, Hyten told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. Recommended: How Israel Takes U.S. Weapons and Makes Them Better. Recommended: North Koreas Most Lethal Weapon Isnt Nukes. Recommended: 5 Worst Guns Ever Made. Thomas Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, when asked if the US was really behind Russia and China on hypersonics, said flatly: Yes. And the reason is the US hasnt been doing anything near the same pace both in terms of developing our own capabilities but also failing to develop sensors and shooters necessary to shoot down theirs, he continued. Others have noted to Asia Unhedged that the US defense establishments goal when speaking to lawmakers is to drum up support for more funding. Exaggerating threats, or short comings, instills a sense of urgency for additional investment in arms development. Story continues In short, to no ones surprise, classified materials on the progress other countries have made in developing weapons reads a little bit differently from the information that is leaked to the press. This first appeared in AsiaTimes here. Read full article Abu Dhabi (AFP) - The United Arab Emirates said two Qatari fighter jets "dangerously approached" an Emirati passenger flight and a civilian helicopter on Monday, sparking a swift denial by Doha in the latest such incident between the Gulf rivals. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the "reckless manner" in which the Qatari fighter jets purportedly harassed its planes. "The distance was so close that the traffic collision avoidance system was triggered," said Ismail al-Blooshi, assistant director of the aviation authority's safety affairs division. In the case of the commercial passenger plane, he said the aircrafts came within 700 feet of one another at high speed -- with the Emirati plane taking an emergency climb in altitude. "Any wrong manoeuvre at this stage by either aircraft would have been a catastrophe," Blooshi told AFP by phone. The Qatari jets "were not on scheduled routes", he added. Blooshi declined to specify to which company the passenger plane belonged, but aviation is a key sector in the UAE economy. Its metropolis Dubai, situated on transcontinental air routes, was the busiest airport for international passengers for the fourth year running -- hosting more than 88 million travellers in 2017. The UAE and Qatar, a rival air transit hub, have rowed repeatedly over alleged airspace violations this year, as a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf enters its 10th month. Abu Dhabi in January said it would re-route flight routes to pass over its ally Bahrain to avoid Qatari airspace. The latest incidents -- according to Blooshi -- occurred over Bahrain. He said the UAE would be filing a fresh complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization. "We were one of the first countries to ban (our planes) flying over areas of conflict when there is a risk to civil aviation," he told AFP. "These are declared international routes and this is unacceptable." Doha denied the accusation in a statement released by its civil aviation authority. Qatar -- under boycott by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt over alleged support for Islamist extremist groups -- is banned from using its rivals' airspace. DUBAI (Reuters) - Two Qatari fighter jets flew dangerously close to two civilian aircraft from the United Arab Emirates while they were in Bahraini airspace on Monday, UAE state news agency WAM quoted its civil aviation authority as saying. WAM said the General Civil Aviation Authority had condemned the "provocative action", which it said followed two similar incidents that had been reported by the UAE to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations' aviation agency. Qatar denied the claim in a statement by its civil aviation authority saying that the UAE was trying to cover up for its own violations of Qatari airspace. The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, imposed travel, diplomatic and trade sanctions on Qatar last June, accusing it of supporting regional foe Iran as well as Islamist extremists. Qatar has denied the charge and accused the four countries of trying to make it conform to their foreign policy positions. Qatar in June 2017 asked the ICAO to intervene after its Gulf neighbors closed their airspace to Qatar flights as part of the sanctions. Bahrain's civil aviation authority confirmed the incident took place, saying two Qatari fighter jets flew under a UAE Airbus A320 en route from the emirate of Fujairah to Rome, forcing the UAE aircraft to fly at a higher altitude. Bahrain said this was the second such incident to take place on the same day. The airline involved was not specified. The Bahraini agency said in a statement carried by state news agency BNA that the Qatari jets entered airspace managed by Bahrain without prior authorization, and that the necessary measures had been taken to file a complaint with the ICAO. While the UAE has banned Qatari aircraft from using its airspace as part of the restrictions, Qatar has not reciprocated. (Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Mark Heinrich, G Crosse and Nick Macfie) By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) - Julian Assange was called a "miserable little worm" on Tuesday by a British foreign affairs minister who said the WikiLeaks founder should leave the Ecuadorean embassy in London and give himself up to British justice. Assange has been living inside the embassy since June 2012, when he entered the building to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning about allegations of sex crimes, which he has always denied. The Swedish investigation was dropped in May last year, but Assange, who was on bail at the time when he walked into the embassy, faces arrest by the British authorities for breaching his bail terms should he step outside. "Its of great regret that Julian Assange remains in the Ecuador embassy," junior minister Alan Duncan said during a question-and-answer session on foreign affairs in parliament's House of Commons, in response to a question about Assange. "Its about time that this miserable little worm walked out of the embassy and gave himself up to British justice." Assange responded to Duncan's comment with a tweet. "As a political prisoner detained without charge for 8 years, in violation of 2 UN rulings, I suppose I must be 'miserable'; yet nothing wrong with being a 'little' person although I'm rather tall; and better a 'worm', a healthy creature that invigorates the soil, than a snake," he said. Assange says the real reason for his legal troubles is the fact that WikiLeaks published U.S. diplomatic and military secrets, and fears that if he leaves the embassy he risks being extradited to the United States. He considers himself to be under arbitrary detention in the Ecuadorean embassy - a description of his situation rejected by the British authorities who say he voluntarily went into the building and could leave anytime if he were prepared to face up to the consequences of his actions. "I have already fully served any theoretical (I haven't been charged) 'bail violation' whilst in prison and under house arrest. So why is there a warrant for my arrest?" he said in an email to Reuters. Last month, a British judge refused to halt legal proceedings against Assange for jumping bail and said he was "a man who wants to impose his terms on the course of justice". British police ended their permanent guard on the embassy in October 2015 but said they would maintain "covert tactics" to arrest Assange if he left. At the time, they said 12.6 million pounds ($17.8 million) had been spent on guarding the embassy. (Editing by Stephen Addison) Geneva (AFP) - UN investigators gathering evidence against perpetrators of horrific crimes committed in Syria's seven-year war said Tuesday they had begun sifting through "unprecedented" amounts of information. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, the French judge leading the new UN push to bring Syria's war criminals to justice, said "overwhelming" amounts of data were flooding in and it would be impossible for investigators to probe all of the crimes. "We are faced with unprecedented volumes of information," she told reporters in Geneva, adding that her team was setting up IT systems capable of managing the vast amounts of data. The so-called "International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism" was created in 2016 to compile prosecutorial files that could be used by any jurisdiction -- domestic or international -- capable of acting against the perpetrators of major crimes in Syria. Marchi-Uhel, who was appointed last July and who published her first report this week, said the team, which is due to swell to 60 people, was still at the data gathering and sorting stage. But she said it was already clear it was "not going to be in a position to investigate each and every crime. That would be an impossible task." The team had recently reached an agreement to access most of the information gathered by the UN Commission of Inquiry that has been reporting on atrocities in the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 350,000 people since 2011. It also wants to cooperate with many non-governmental organisations that have been compiling documentation of crimes, she said, stressing that the mechanism would re-evaluate and re-analyse all data and draw its own conclusions. - 'High-level perpetrators' - "Exercising our discretion when selecting cases is going to be a crucial aspect of the work," Marchi-Uhel said, adding that investigators would rely on multiple criteria to determine which cases to focus on. Story continues Obviously the gravity of the crime would be important, but the French judge pointed out that there are widespread allegations of "war crimes, crimes against humanity or even possibly genocide", so "you can't just take gravity as a sole criteria." The team would focus on cases where it is possible to "establish responsibility of high-level perpetrators", and cases involving sexual and gender-based crimes as well as violations against children, she said. "We are looking for individual criminal responsibility," she added, acknowledging that the options for prosecuting perpetrators in Syria's conflict were currently slim. The UN Security Council has ignored repeated calls to refer the Syria case to the International Criminal Court, with using Syria's domestic courts not an option. But Marchi-Uhel said there a need to start the long process of preparing for prosecution to ensure suspects can go to trial as soon as a solution is possible. Rare displays of public anger were directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday following a fire over the weekend that killed dozens of children in a Siberian shopping centre. The outpouring of emotion since Sunday's inferno has been stoked by revelations about breaches of safety regulations, including locked fire exits and a faulty alarm system. Russian media have reported that 41 of the 64 dead were children. Two employees of the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping centre in Kemerovo appeared in court to face charges of negligence and compromising security systems on Tuesday afternoon. Nadezhda Suddenok, the manager of the shopping centre, and Alexander Nikitin, the employee responsible for the building's fire fighting and alarm systems, appeared at a hearing in the Siberian city's Zavodsky District Court on Tuesday afternoon. Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to locals and relatives of the victims Credit: Alexei Druzhinin They are among five people who have been detained in connection with failings that led to the tragedy, Alexander Batrykin, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, said. In comments carried on national television, Mr Bastrykin told Mr Putin on Tuesday that the building's fire alarm system had been out of order since March 19 and that a guard had not turned on the public address system to tell people to evacuated. Earlier in the day Mr Putin made an attempt to respond to the outrage by visiting some of the victims and the site of the burnt-out shopping centre in the city of Kemerovo. He vowed to punish those guilty of what he said was criminal negligence. "This isn't war, it's not an unexpected methane explosion at a coal mine. People came to relax, children. We're talking about demography and losing so many people," Mr Putin said in a televised meeting with local officials. Relatives held up pictures of children who had perished in the fire Credit: TASS/Barcroft Images "The first emotion when hearing about the number of dead and dead children is not to cry but to wail. And when you listen to what has been said here, speaking honestly, other emotions arise." Story continues Official pictures of Mr Putins highly-choreographed visit contrasted with the raw anger on display at an impromptu rally in the city centre where people carried photographs, in black frames, of children who were killed in the fire. There were placards asking: How many really died?", "Who's really guilty?" and "How much do your closed eyes cost?" At least one sign demanded that Putin and local officials resign, and chants of resign, resign, resign were heard from the crowd. An aerial view shows the roof of the shopping centre had collpased Credit: Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations/AP Igor Vostrikov, a father of three whose children, wife and sister died in the blaze was involved in an angry exchange with the regions deputy governor, Sergei Tsivilyov, who got down on his knees in an attempt to quieten the crowd. Many of those present said they believed the number of victims to be much higher than officially acknowledged. The authorities appeared to do everything they could to try and minimize the impact of the furious crowds. At one point hundreds of riot police were deployed to stop people from storming a local government building. Thousands turned out for the impromptu protests Credit: Sergei Gavrilenko/ AP While Putins visit was reported in detail by state-owned television, there was little coverage of protests. Aman Tuleev, the governor of Kemerovo Region, told the Russian president in a televised meeting that those demonstrating were speculating on the grief of strangers. Shrines of flowers and candles have sprung up in cities across Russia in memory of those killed during what was Russia's deadliest fire in a decade. Vladimir Putin visits victims of the shopping centre blaze at a hospital in Kemerovo Credit: Alexei Druzhinin /TASS/Getty The Kremlin has declared Wednesday an official day of mourning. Several Russian cities held rallies of mourning on Tuesday evening as anger and grief swept the country. In Moscow, several thousand people gathered in silence to lay flowers and light candles at an improvised memorial on Pushkin Square, not far from the Kremlin. A chant of "Fire Putin" was briefly taken up by some members of the meeting, but petered out. New York (AFP) - The CEO of Waymo, the Google subsidiary tasked with developing driverless cars, has said the recent death of a pedestrian in an accident involving an autonomous car would not have occurred with his company's technology. "At Waymo, we have a lot of confidence that our technology would be able to handle a situation like that," John Krafcik told a car dealership conference in Las Vegas on Saturday. He added that Waymo's vehicles had clocked more than eight million kilometers (4.9 million miles) on routes frequented by pedestrians since 2009 without being involved in a fatal accident. But he said he was nevertheless troubled by the incident. An autonomously-operating Uber struck and killed a pedestrian on March 18 in the US state of Arizona. The woman had been walking in the street in the city of Tempe when she was hit, and died from her injuries in a hospital. As a result of the accident, Uber suspended its self-driving tests which it had been conducting in Tempe, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Toronto, Canada. It also raised fears about the future of such cars, which supporters claim will dramatically reduce accidents. Kim Jong Un is reportedly in China. If confirmed, this would be his first foreign trip since becoming North Korean leader in 2011. Ahead of his proposed summit with U.S. leader Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported that Kim was in Beijing, citing three sources. There were reports a train belonging to the Kim family had arrived in the Chinese capital with the rumors being reinforced by the large security presence outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where previous North Korean leaders had stayed in the past. Trending: Huawei P20 and P20 Pro: New Smartphone Has 'DSLR-beating' Camerabut Can It Dethrone Apple and Samsung? Police blocked roads by the building and there was tight security at the Friendship Bridge over the Yalu River on the border between China and North Korea before a train passed. RTX4TB7K KCNA/via REUTERS A senior official in the government in Seoul told the agency: "The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely, while keeping all possibilities open. Don't miss: Trump is Determined to Go to War with North Korea In Conflict That Could Kill 'Millions,' Says Leading Democrat It follows Japanese media reports that a high-ranking Pyongyang official had apparently arrived in Beijing on Monday ahead of the summit with South Korea later in April. The fact that the summits are being held has been beyond our expectations. Right now, the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula is moving very quickly and it would be inadvisable to think with prejudice," the Blue House official said. CNN reported that the train car had not left the secretive state since Kim became leader. Most popular: Facebook Data Probe: Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Says Death of Predecessor May Have Been Poisoning Story continues Yoo Ho-yeol, a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University in Seoul, told Sky News that the visit may allow Pyongyang to shore up its support with China, with whom it has a mutual defense treaty, ahead of the summits. "If North Korea speaks with the U.S. on its own it might feel it is at a disadvantage, but if it has China as an ally, Pyongyang may think it will be able to protect its interests and profits during the summits," he said. Kims father met then president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 and a summit with the South was held later that year. Ties have been strained between Pyongyang and Beijing in recent times after the secretive state conducted a number of missile tests. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek WASHINGTON The White House announced on Monday that Russias consulate in Seattle is being closed and that 60 of the countrys diplomats will be expelled from the United States as a response to the Kremlins suspected role in the poisoning of a Russian defector in Britain earlier this month. The United Kingdom and 13 other countries said they would also send Russian diplomats home. According to one of the senior administration officials who announced the U.S. action on a conference call with reporters, the expulsions will help curtail Russias increasingly aggressive intelligence activities. The official cited Moscows use of its diplomatic establishments as intelligence platforms from which they collect information and conduct destabilizing activities in the U.S. and around the world. The officials said Russias consulate in Seattle was shut down due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing, adding that the 60 diplomats are among over 100 Russian intelligence officers currently in this country. The officials described the move as a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his countrys aggression will not be tolerated. But some experts who talked to Yahoo News said President Trump has sent out confusing signals to Moscow, part of a pattern dating back to the 2016 presidential campaign, when he seemed eager to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer turned double agent, was poisoned along with his daughter in the British city of Salisbury on March 4. The two remain in critical condition. Britains government has blamed the attack on the Kremlin, which has denied any role in the poisoning. British detectives on March 8 scrambled to find the source of the nerve agent used in the brazen and reckless attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, 66, a Russian former double agent, and his daughter. (Photo: Mark Stansall/AFP/Getty Images) The Trump administration had faced criticism over what some in the national security community regarded as a lackadaisical response to the attack. On March 12, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the attack on Skripal an outrage and offered the fullest condemnation. But Sanders declined to name Russia as the perpetrator even when the Associated Press Zeke Miller pointed out that the British government had declared it was highly likely that the Kremlin had played a role in the poisoning. Story continues Right now, we are standing with our U.K. ally. I think theyre still working through even some of the details of that, Sanders said. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was the first top U.S. official to blame the attack on the Kremlin, saying it appears that it clearly came from Russia. Tillerson was fired the next day, and his apparent break with the White House line was said to have played a role in his dismissal, although Trump had been reported for months to have been unhappy with his secretary of state. In Trumps first conversation with Putin after the attack on March 21, he made no mention of the attack on Skripal. Instead, he congratulated Putin on his victory in what most outside commentators consider a sham election. It was widely reported that Trumps briefing paper for the call included an all-caps warning, DO NOT CONGRATULATE. On the conference call announcing the expulsion of the diplomats, Yahoo News asked whether the administration was sending a mixed message to the Kremlin, in following up this conciliatory gesture with Mondays mass expulsion. A senior official disputed the idea that Sanders was slow to accuse Russia in the assassination attempt, suggesting that the White House was following Britains lead. Press secretary Sarah Sanders addresses the daily press briefing at the White House on March 12. (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP) Its just incorrect to say that that the press secretary initially declined to blame Russia. Sarah and the White House generally, and the administration generally, were making the effort to remain consistent with what our partners in the United Kingdom said, the official explained. This was at a moment when the prime minister of the United Kingdom had identified the nerve agent as Russian but had not specified that the Russian government was necessarily responsible. Thats only partially true. At the time, British Prime Minister Theresa May said the nerve agent definitely came from Russia and that it was highly likely the Kremlin was responsible. However, May stopped short of definitively laying blame at the Kremlins feet, leaving open the possibility that Russia had allowed its nerve agent to fall into other hands. Since then Mays government has been more definitive about attributing responsibility to Russia. The official did not address whether the dismissal of Tillerson or Trumps phone call contributed to a mixed message to the Kremlin. Experts who talked to Yahoo News were divided on whether the expulsion of the diplomats sends a clear signal to Moscow. Two former State Department officials suggested that the Trump administrations posture toward Russia appears inconsistent because the president generally leaves it to aides to criticize Moscow or announce steps against the regime, while he personally seems to want to cultivate a good relationship with Putin. Heather Conley, who is director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former State Department official in the first Bush administration, said the United States has not shown a unified approach to Russia. The head of government needs to articulate that policy and the consistency of that policy, as do all the other agencies that are implementing that policy, Conley said. Normally, the White House and the president plays that coordinating role and sets the policy, but we sort of have the inverse here. We have the interagency, and the different departments, and the intelligence community setting one policy, and the president keeps articulating a different one when he speaks out on the subject. Conley described the White Houses position on Russia as incoherent and confusing, thanks to the dissonance between the president and what the White House is putting out. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May visits Salisbury on March 15, where former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned. (Toby Melville/Pool/Reuters) I think no analyst or even government official or member of Congress could explain why this incoherence and inconsistency exists, said Conley. We just dont understand it. Rick Stengel, a former under secretary of state in the Obama administration, also told Yahoo News that the Trump White House was not being consistent toward Russia. One of the hallmarks of most traditional administrations is that you have consistency from the top down. If youre applying sanctions, you have the commander in chief whos supportive of those sanctions and endorses them with the same language that appears in the sanctions, Stengel explained. Stengel said any perception that Trump wasnt fully backing the actions of the State Department or National Security staff could weaken their effect. If the Russians interpret this as a velvet glove over the fist, then theyre not going to be as hurt about it as much as if they interpreted it as a pure first, Stengel said. But Ian Bremmer, president of the consulting firm Eurasia Group, disagreed. While he acknowledged that Trump had previously been deeply unwilling to blame Putin for stuff personally and publicly he suggested that the expulsion of the diplomats is part of a recent shift toward a harder line from the White House. Bremmer pointed to sanctions and a statement by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in response to Russian cyberattacks earlier this month. He said that criticism of the congratulatory phone call from Trump to Putin was overblown. Trumps decision to, congratulate Putin on the election was late, it was perfunctory, it came after a host of Western leaders had done the same and, in many cases, in more effusive terms, Bremmer said. President Vladimir Putin of Russia delivers a speech at his election headquarters in Moscow on March 18. (Photo: Sergei Chirkov/POOL via Reuters) Bremmer also noted that Trump pushed Putin to address the global arms race during that call, and stressed that the expulsion of diplomats was not something Trump was forced to do. The fact that Trump has decided to take this step against Seattle and the 60 diplomats he didnt need to do that, Bremmer said. A number of European governments have not done that. This was Trumps choice. He easily could have said no. The experts were also divided on how definitive a message the expulsion of the diplomats sent to Russia. Bremmer described it as a comparatively light response given what the Russians have been accused of doing in the United States and the United Kingdom. He made the case that the strongest move to make would be targeting the assets of Putins inner circle, an argument echoed by some European law enforcement officials. You could do a lot more. You could go after a lot of Putins sort of confederates. You could close them down shut down their assets take their property, said Bremmer. The Brits have not been willing to do that. The United States has not either. Still, Bremmer said Trump has recently been pursuing what he called clearly a much more hawkish policy toward Russia. That trend could continue, since Trump appointed as his national security adviser John Bolton, a foreign policy hard liner who has called for an aggressive approach to Russia. Conley, the former State Department official, argued that the expulsion of the diplomats was a strong move on two levels. No. 1, just from a historical perspective, this is the most Russian diplomats we have ever expelled in our history, even going back to the Cold War, he said. Ronald Reagan expelled 55 in 1986, so this, just the number itself, is a pretty big move. A metal fence surrounds the residence of the Russia consul-general in Seattle on March 26. (Photo: Elaine Thompson/AP) Conley also said the coordination between 15 different countries was significant. Stengel agreed that the expulsion of the diplomats was a good and strong step. But he said it cant stand alone and should be reinforced by a broader sanctions regime and a clearer denunciation of Russia by the president. It has to be part of a rhetorical punishment of Russia, and calling them out for all of the anti-democratic things that they are doing and have done, Stengel said. Both Stengel and Conley predicted that Russia would follow this move by similarly expelling American diplomats. Stengel described Russias strategy as never letting a punch go without a return punch. And, in light of this, he argued that the Trump administrations move was insufficient, particularly since Trump did not issue any punishments for Russias intervention in the U.S. election. Our sanctions and our tossing out of diplomats are for a violation of the sovereignty of, in this case, the U.K. And weve done nothing about their violation of our sovereignty during our elections, Stengel said. Its an eye for, like, a whole torso, right? We have had this body blow against us, and we basically inflicted this pinprick on them. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 27, 2018 2018/03/27 This morning, we released the information that at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa will pay a state visit to China from April 2 to 6. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold a welcoming ceremony and welcoming banquet for President Mnangagwa. The two heads of state will hold talks and jointly attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Li Zhanshu will meet with President Mnangagwa on separate occasions. Besides Beijing, President Mnangagwa will also visit Anhui and Zhejiang. At the invitation of the Chinese government, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand will pay a visit to China from April 3 to 10. During the visit, the Chinese leaders will meet with Princess Sirindhorn and exchange views with Her Royal Highness on China-Thailand relations and issues of mutual interest. In addition to Beijing, Princess Sirindhorn will also travel to Guizhou and Sichuan. Q: According to Wall Street Journal, China and the US have quietly started negotiating to avoid a trade war. The US has set out specific requests which include a reduction of Chinese tariffs on US automobiles, more Chinese purchases of US semiconductors and greater access to the Chinese market by American financial enterprises. What's your reaction to this? A: With regard to your question, there are several points I would like to make: First, China always stands for and stays committed to properly resolving differences and frictions in the field of trade through negotiation. The door for negotiation always remains open. Having said that, I must stress that negotiation is by no means an occasion for one party to make requests in an arrogant and condescending way. Instead, the two sides need to engage in negotiation in a constructive way in the spirit of mutual respect and treating each other as equals, so as to seek a win-win solution that serves the interests of both sides. Second, China's enormous achievements over the past four decades are accomplished through reform and opening up, and we will further deepen reform and opening up. China's opening up is an independent one, which will be advanced in accordance with the goals, path and pace set by us in an orderly manner. The report of the 19th CPC National Congress made it very clear that we will make new ground in pursuing opening up on all fronts. We will adopt policies to promote high-standard liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, significantly ease market access, further open the service sector, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors. The Report on the Work of the Government adopted at the first session of the 13th NPC lately also mentioned that China will expand the scope and level of opening up, improve the layout, mechanism and institution of opening up and promote high-quality development through high-standard opening up. We will also better align with international trading rules and build world-class business environment. In a word, we are trying to ensure this market with a population of 1.3 billion is one that offers a level playing field to Chinese and foreign enterprises and enterprises under all forms of ownership. Needless to say, opening up should be two-way. We hope the US and other countries will provide fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese and foreign enterprises' normal investment and commercial activities. Q: Many in the US are worried that Chinese companies and government are using trans-border investment to acquire sensitive technologies, weakening relevant US industries and undermining its national security. What's your comment? A: It is true that the US has been trying to make an issue of China-US trade ties under the pretext of "national security" recently, such as the imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum. I don't know whether you are aware that Chinese steel only accounts for less than three percent of the total US steel imports. It's hard to understand why such a low ratio of steel imports from China could pose a threat to America's national security? One example could serve for the rest, and many actions the US has taken and plans to take under the excuse of national security fall short of legitimacy and lawfulness. This reminds me of the US threatening to slap steep tariffs on many industries in relation to the "Made in China 2025" initiative, an attempt apparently with ulterior motives. Regarding such issues, officials from China's commercial authorities have repeatedly stated China's position. I would also like to draw your attention to the remarks Premier Li Keqiang made yesterday when meeting with foreign representatives who attended the annual session of China Development Forum 2018. Premier Li Keqiang stressed that the "Made in China 2025" initiative is being advanced in an open environment and the Chinese and foreign enterprises will be treated equally. We will not force foreign companies to transfer technologies, and will make greater effort to protect intellectual property rights and crack down on infringement behaviors. We welcome more competitive and outstanding international companies to China for cooperation so as to create and share more development opportunities. In addition, at the same forum yesterday, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang also delivered a speech. He pointed out that it's only natural for China and the US to have some differences, but that does not mean that one could wantonly put the blame on the other and make fundamental mistake in strategic judgment, which will hurt itself and others and throw the world into chaos. Instead, we should adopt an objective and rational attitude and try to adapt to each other by putting ourselves in other's shoes. We hope the US will work with China to create a fair, non-discriminatory and sound business environment for the normal trade and investment of both Chinese and American companies. Q: How does China view the current China-DPRK relations? What are China's expectations for improving its relations with the DPRK as the situation on the Korean Peninsula is still fluid? A: As close neighbors, China and the DPRK enjoy traditional friendship and maintain normal exchanges. China is willing to make concerted efforts with the DPRK to stay committed to developing our good-neighborly and friendly relations. Q: The United States and over 20 European countries announced the expelling of almost 100 Russia diplomats in their countries in response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. What is your comment on this? A: We are closely following the development of the current situation. China is firmly opposed to any use of chemical weapons. We believe that the "Skripal incident" should be properly resolved through the dialogue between the UK and Russia based on getting the facts straight. The relevant countries should earnestly abide by the international law and the basic norms governing international relations and avoid taking any step that would escalate the confrontation. Currently, the international community is confronted with multiple challenges. Against this backdrop, all countries should discard the Cold-War mentality, refrain from confrontation, make concerted efforts to uphold world peace, stability and tranquility and jointly stay committed to fostering a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation. Q: It is reported that Peru's new President Martin Vizcarra took the oath of office on March 23. What is your comment? A: Peru is an important country in Latin America and a comprehensive strategic partner for China. China congratulates President Martin Vizcarra on assuming office. We hope and believe that Peru can maintain national stability and economic and social development. Recent years have witnessed the considerable development of China-Peru relations and the ever deepening of bilateral pragmatic cooperation. China is willing to join hands with Peru to constantly step up cooperation in various areas and promote the sustained and steady development of our bilateral ties. Q: According to reports, the CIA and FBI have repeatedly accused China of threatening and spying on overseas Chinese. What is your comment? A: Recently we have taken many questions about all sorts of remarks made by certain people from the United States. Regarding those groundless accusations, we really do not want to waste time responding to them one by one. We hope that relevant people can abandon the Cold-War mentality and zero-sum game mindset and create favorable conditions for the sound development of our relations with an open and inclusive attitude. Q: According to reports, on the evening of October 25 local time, Yemen's Houthi forces launched seven ballistic missiles to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Jazan and other places, which killed one person and injured two others. All the three people are Egyptians. What is your comment? A: China consistently opposes and condemns the violent acts targeting civilians. We hope that all relevant parties to the Yemen issue can launch political dialogue at an early date and find an inclusive solution. The White House is investigating whether loans made to the Kushner family real estate business after finance executives met with Jared Kushner in his role as senior adviser violated ethics laws. Kushner Companies received $325 million from Citigroup and $184 million from Apollo Global Management after executives met with Kushner at the White House, The New York Times reported last month. Kushner, President Donald Trumps son-in-law, stepped down as CEO of his familys business when he followed Trump to the White House, but retains a major financial stake. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics revealed an investigation has been launched in its response to a letter from a House Democrat. Your letter raises questions about the ethical implications of a senior White House official holding a broad portfolio of government responsibilities while also maintaining a financial interest in active business entities ... and meeting with potential investors and creditors in those business entities, David Apol, acting director of the ethics office, wrote to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) in a letter dated March 22. I have discussed this matter with the White House counsels office in order to ensure that they have begun the process of ascertaining the facts necessary to determine whether any law or regulation has been violated, Apol added. The White House informed me that hey had already begun this process. The Times reported that billionaire and Apollo founder Joshua Harris met several times with Kushner as he advised the Trump administration on infrastructure policy. They also discussed a possible White House job for Harris, according to the Times, which didnt happen. The Apollo money to refinance the mortgage on a Kushner Chicago building was three times the typical loan by Apollos real estate lending operation, the Times reported. Citigroup said in a letter to lawmakers last week that its Kushner Companies loan was completely appropriate and was being considered in 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported. CEO Michael Corbat was unaware of the loan when he met with Kushner on March 3, 2017, the bank said. The $325 million loan for a Kushner building in Brooklyn came through less three weeks later. Corbat discussed trade policy with Kushner, according to the letter, and nothing about the loan. Story continues Kushner owns 6.5 percent of the Brooklyn building, part of Kushner Companies 47.5-percent interest in the property, the Citigroup letter says. Citigroup also recently loaned $200 million for a New Jersey building partly owned by Kushner Companies and Jared Kushner. Other funding for that building was obtained through the EB-5 visa program, which offers green cards to immigrants who invest at least $500,000 in certain businesses. Kushner Companies use of the visa program in another development is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn. Apollo attorney Kevin Downey said in a statement to CNN that the company engaged with the professional managers of Kushner Companies, which did not include any members of the Kushner family, to arrange its loan. To our knowledge, Jared Kushner did not play any role on behalf of Kushner Companies with respect to the Chicago loan. Kushner didnt immediately respond to news of the ethics investigation. Kushners continued stake in his familys company has caused repeated entanglements with his White House job. His failure to obtain security clearance is likely linked to private interests that complicate his relationships with other countries and businesses. Kushners father met with the Qatari finance minister in New York last year in a failed bid to secure financing for the firms troubled signature property, 666 Fifth Ave., The Intercept reported. The Trump administration later surprisingly backed a blockade of Qatar led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Kushner buildings are the target of lawsuits by Maryland tenants. New York City is investigating documents filed by the company that misstated the number of rent-regulated residents in Kushner properties. CORRECTION: An earlier version understated the amount of the loans Kushner Companies received. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. On Monday night, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that he is directing the Census Bureau to ask all respondents to the 2020 census to report their citizenship status. He made the decision over the strong objections of former census directors representing both Republican and Democratic administrations, 60 members of Congress, 161 Republican and Democratic mayors, 19 state attorneys general, more than 170 civil rights organizations, and prominent business leaders, among others, all of whom strongly advised against adding a citizenship question. The move raises serious concerns that the upcoming census will be a major failure, harming our democracy, communities and businesses and painting an inaccurate picture of Americas population. Heres what you should know about whats at stake: Why is it a problem for the census to ask about each individuals citizenship status? The U.S. Constitution requires the census, every 10 years, to count each and every individual in the country, regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity or citizenship status. Census professionals agree that a citizenship question will significantly reduce census participation, both by citizens and non-citizens. As former Census Bureau directors recently explained to the U.S. Supreme Court, adding the citizenship question will create a chilling effect on participation by raising privacy concerns and stoking the fears of undocumented individuals that their responses may be used against them. Census professionals currently employed at the bureau have already reported that a heightened environment of suspicion and fear is complicating their work in the field preparing for the census, even before a citizenship question has been added to their questionnaires. Under these circumstances, if the citizenship question remains, the resulting population counts that we all rely on will be wrong. Why should you care about an accurate census? The census touches virtually every aspect of our lives, determining our political representation, shaping how federal resources are allocated, powering our businesses, driving decisions by schools and police departments, and informing medical research. Story continues Under the Constitution, seats in the House of Representatives are divided among the states every 10 years based on the population count that the census generates. Seats in the Electoral College are allocated the same way. States also use census data to draw district lines for congressional and state legislative seats a necessary process to make sure communities are fairly represented. Census data also guides the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid. It informs statistical publications that help business owners and local governments make key decisions on matters ranging from marketing and investment to the assignment of police beats. And it provides academic researchers, journalists, and others with invaluable demographic information. Former Director of the U.S. Census Bureau Robert Groves discusses the results of the 2010 Census during a press conference on Dec. 21, 2010. Groves is one of several current and former officials who opposed the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census. (Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images) What should you make of Secretary Ross claim that the citizenship question will have little impact? Ross is an outlier in his belief that a citizenship question will not have a big impact on census participation. In explaining his decision, he acknowledged that the Census Bureau itself and other key stakeholders objected to the addition of a citizenship question because they believed it would depress participation in the census. Their belief was based on several empirical analyses, as well as on decades of experience by professionals administering and supporting the census. Nonetheless, Ross did not heed their advice, claiming that there is no definitive empirical support for their belief an unusually high standard. The basis for Ross claim that the citizenship question will not impact participation after all? A conversation he had with a television polling firm executive. Needless to say, there is very little in common between the census the largest government data-collection operation and a short television consumer survey. Is citizenship information necessary to enforce our civil rights laws? Despite claims to the contrary in a letter from Department of Justice officials, information on the citizenship status of every person living in the country simply isnt necessary to enforce our civil rights laws. For decades and under both Democratic and Republican administrations the Department of Justice has pursued its civil rights mission without resorting to this kind of information. The only civil rights law for which citizenship data is at all useful is the portion of the federal Voting Rights Act prohibiting discrimination in the drawing of district lines. Yet, no citizenship question has appeared on the census form sent to every household since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Regular yearly surveys of a sample of households already provide current and adequate data for civil rights enforcement to government, litigators and the courts. Rather than improving upon the data relating to non-citizens, civil rights litigators generally believe that adding a citizenship question will lead to less accurate data about the number of non-citizens and citizens alike. So, whats the real reason for asking for peoples citizenship status? While we cant see into the minds of the people who pushed for the citizenship question, unsavory political motives might be in play. Changing apportionment of congressional seats. The most likely impact of the citizenship question is to depress census participation and thus, headcount especially among immigrants, members of mixed-status households and communities of color. States with high concentrations of those populations are likely to experience dramatic undercounts of their residents. If the undercounts are significant, then those states could lose congressional seats, which are apportioned based on the census counts. In other words, the citizenship question might be a ploy to change the distribution of seats in Congress. Meddling with redistricting. It might also be an attempt to meddle in the next round of redistricting, which is set to begin in 2021. Every state currently uses the censuss total population figures to draw district lines. For years, a group of conservative political activists have called for states to base their district lines not on their total population, but instead on their population of citizens who are voting age. The impact of such a change would be dramatic, altering every state legislative map in the country. It would especially harm communities with high immigrant populations, as well as those with high youth populations. In 2015, the Supreme Court rejected an attempt to require states to base redistricting decisions on citizen voting-age population figures. It did not, however, address the question of whether it is permissible for states who wish to use such figures for redistricting to do so. By requiring the census to track citizenship status, the administration might be laying the groundwork to push for redistricting based on citizenship figures. Protesters rally outside the Supreme Court on Oct 3, 2017. The addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census could lay the groundwork for future redistricting efforts. (Photo: Leigh Vogel via Getty Images) According to news reports, the political appointee who requested the change, John Gore, previously defended Republican redistricting plans that were later found to be discriminatory, and another appointee to the census, Christopher Stanley, previously worked for a member of Congress who repeatedly introduced legislation to add a citizenship question to the census. Can the federal government use information collected from the census to pursue immigration actions? No. The law is crystal clear: The Census Bureau cannot share personal information with other agencies, that information cannot be used for any purpose other than statistical ones, and it cannot be used to harm the people who provide that information. Congress has long understood that the privacy and confidentiality of the information that census participants provide to the government is absolutely essential to ensuring everyone participates confidently and fully in the census. So, in the Census Act, Congress included the strongest privacy and confidentiality protections that exist in federal law. Employees of the Census Bureau are prohibited from sharing the personal information that they collect with anyone outside the bureau, even with the employees of other federal agencies. And even when personal information stays inside the Census Bureau, the Bureaus employees can only use it to create statistical products that contain no information that can be traced back to an individual personally. There are severe criminal penalties to back these rules up, including a fine of up to $5,000 or five years of jail time for violating the Census Act. Even in the face of these protections, some people will be reluctant to participate in the census, either because they are unfamiliar with their rights and what the census is all about, or because they do not trust the government to follow the law, especially under an administration that regularly makes headlines with anti-immigrant words and actions. Public education about these rights, and strong reassurances by the administration that it will abide by its legal obligations, will be necessary to counteract this pressure. Can anything be done to block the citizenship question, or is this a done deal? Theres plenty that can be done between now and Census Day on April 1, 2020, to keep the citizenship question off the census. The Commerce Department itself can modify its position, using the powers it has under the Census Act. Congress can pass legislation to override the Commerce Departments decision, using its basic authority under the Constitution. And ordinary citizens can advocate before both of those bodies. Even if we reach Census Day with a citizenship question on the form, the administration will need to work to alleviate concerns that peoples responses will be used against them. Among other things, the administration should publicly commit to uphold the Census Acts basic privacy and confidentiality protections, instruct federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security to pledge not to request or use census data for their own operations and to suspend immigration enforcement actions during census time to ensure that people can answer their doors to census takers without fear. Wendy Weiser is the director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Thomas Wolf is Counsel with the Democracy Program, focusing on redistricting issues. ALSO ON HUFFPOST OPINION As Scott Pruitt Flies First Class, EPA Barely Gets Off The Ground Get Your Butts To The Doctor To Prevent Colorectal Cancer To Be Young, Missing And Black Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. New Zealand announced on Tuesday that it would expel any Russian spies from the country if only it could find any. Over a hundred Russian diplomats alleged to be operatives in western countries have been told to return to Moscow, in retaliation for the alleged poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England on March 4. The U.S. announced on Monday that it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining the ranks of Australia, the U.K., which has expelled 23 Russian diplomats, and other European countries who have issued similar ultimatums following the nerve agent attack on Skripal. However, New Zealands prime minister Jacinda Arden announced on Radio New Zealand that there were no Russian spies working under diplomatic cover in her country. While other countries have announced they are expelling undeclared Russian intelligence agents, officials have advised there are no individuals here in New Zealand who fit this profile. If there were, we would have already taken action, Arden said, according to The Guardian. We remain steadfast with our international partners in our shared concern about the Salisbury nerve agent attack, she added. New Zealands foreign affairs minister, Winston Peters, also added that New Zealand remained staunch supporters of the U.K., and condemned the assassination attempt that took place on British soil. As part of our ongoing support for the United Kingdom, along with the international community, we will keep possible future actions under review and remain in close contact with our international partners, he said. 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. Education Lab is a Seattle Times project that spotlights promising approaches to some of the most persistent challenges in public education. It is produced in partnership with the Solutions Journalism Network, a New York-based nonprofit that works to spread the practice of solutions-oriented Read more The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. When Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo about six months ago (one of many reconciliation agreements in the past decade), there was a lot of skepticism among many elementsPalestinian, Israeli, Arab and internationalas to the chances of its success. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter It was simple logic: Egypt managed to get the bitter rivals in one room, but demanded that they avoid discussing the biggest obstaclehanding the security control over the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority and disarming the military wings. So the organizations leaders sat around one table in Cairo and then in Gaza, shook hands, raised them in the air with a big smile, posed for photographs and promised that this time its for real, that this time it will work out. But the elephant in the room was big, too big. In his distress, Abbas doesnt mind using undiplomatic language (Photo: Reuters) It took Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas only several days to declare from every stage that the Hezbollah model in Lebanon would not be duplicated in the Gaza Strip. Different Palestinian officials asserted in closed briefings that not a single worker in Hamas security apparatuses would be incorporated into the Palestinian security apparatuses. Hamas, for its part, presented a very simple model: Anything above the ground would be under the Palestinian governments responsibility, and anything underground would be under Hamas responsibility. Make no mistakethe word underground doesnt refer to the tunnels alone, but to everything that has to do with the organizations military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas and Fatah representatives sign the reconciliation agreement in Cairo in October 2017 (Photo: EPA) From this point, it was already clear that a full reconciliation would not be reached, but the optimists believed there would be a partial reconciliation. Some referred to it as a 30-percent reconciliation. But plans are one thing, and reality is another thing. Hamas did hand the control over the crossings to the PA, dismantle its front posts near the Erez and Karni crossings and give the PA control over the Rafah Crossing (which remained almost permanently closed), and the Palestinian government ministers in Ramallah did receive control over their ministries in Gaza, at least on paperbut thats more or less where it ended. Signs of escalation Many believed that from this point, the reconciliation process would slowly die down, but then two explosions occurred: A physical explosion in the form of a roadside bomb that was detonated near Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallahs convoy, and the second explosion in the form of Abbas verbal attack on Hamas at a Palestinian leadership meeting in Ramallah. Not only has Abbas failed to lift most of the sanctions he imposed on the strip before the reconciliation agreement, but last week he even announced he would step up the measures against Gaza and Hamas. Further sanctions in the current unstable situation in the Gaza Strip will clearly deepen the crisis and the civilians distress. Ending the reconciliation agreement on a violent note is bad news for the Palestinians, but for Israel too. Members of Hamas military wing (Photo: AP) Why does it concern us? Past experience shows that when Hamas detects growing civilian unrest in Gaza which could lead to civil disobedience, it tends to divert the fire towards Israel. This could happen in the form of a new escalation or an attempt to surprise Israel with a significant attack or, alternatively, by giving thousands of Gazans the green light to march towards the Israeli border, thereby pushing the IDF into a corner in which any response would harm Israel. Such a march is already around the corner and is expected to take place sometime between Land Day and Nakba Day. Signs of escalation have begun both in Gaza and in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, with different terror attacks carried out in recent weeks in both areas: Shooting, car-ramming and stabbing attacks in the West Bank and in Jerusalem, and improvised explosive devices planted on the Gaza border. As for indications that the reconciliation process is over, heres a fresh example: Last week, the morning after Abbas fiery speech against Hamas, the organizations security personnel arrived at a compound that used to serve as Hamas front post before the Erez crossing, for the first time since Hamas handed control of the crossing over to the PA. They got on a bus that was about to leave from the strip to the Allenby Crossing through Israel and checked every single passenger, before letting the bus hit the road. Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. Where has he disappeared to? (: AP) Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, had pushed for a reconciliation with Fatah more than anyone else in the organization. But following the dissolvement of the agreement in the past month, Sanwar has practically disappeared from the public stage. Last week, he was supposed to host the Palestinian factions in his office for a discussion on the state of the reconciliation process. The meeting was held in his office, but he didnt show up. He was replaced by his deputy, Khalil al-Hayya. Does Sinwars disappearance have to do with the harsh disagreements with the Hamas leadership on how to deal with Fatah? Thats unclear at the moment, but these things are likely related. Palestinian-American rift Last week, Abbas also slammed US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman as a son of a dog, but that was a minor part of his speech, which was dedicated almost exclusively to attacking Hamas. The curse may have made headlines, but it doesnt change the given situation between Ramallah and the current American administration since President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capitala complete rift which likely wont be mended as long as the current administration is in power and as long as Abbas remains in his seat. Abbas is in a state of distress and has no real support from the Arab countries or from the European Union. He feels lonely, he has a very short fuse, he is aging and his health isnt getting any better. The Abbas doctrine has failed, and he has been unsuccessful in giving his people a state. For all these reasons, he doesnt mind using less diplomatic language and speaking his mind. The ramifications of this curse as far as Israel is concerned, however, are insignificant compared to the ramifications we may be forced to deal with if Abbas sanctions on Gaza bring the strip to the brink of collapse. It is therefore more important to focus on the Gaza issue than on the son of a dog or may your house come to ruin curses. They are a group of male and female fighters who served in Caracal, the IDFs first mixed-gender infantry combat battalion, in the early 2010s. They were stationed on the Israel-Egypt border and took part in routine operational activities. Some of them were promoted to command posts and even received awards and decorations for their service. But it was all marred by one thing. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter They have suppressed it for years, refused to discuss it with othersand barely amongst themselves. They tried to forget. They didnt want to confront hidden demons. But now, with the upcoming expulsion plan, they feel the time has come to share what only they have seen. Former Caracal fighters testify on what they saw on Israel-Egypt border in early 2010s (Photo: Ido Erez) Those were the record years of what was referred to as the infiltrationthe arrival of African asylum seekers from the Egyptian borderand these fighters were the first people to greet them in Israel after their long journey in the deserts of Africa. The soldiers encountered slim, injured, sick and starved people. The scars from horrors they had experienced on the waybeing kidnapped for ransom, beaten, raped and abusedwere evident on their bodies. And those were the lucky one. There were many others who died on the way. Some died of illnesses and starvation, others were murdered by their captors and others werent lucky enough to escape the Egyptian soldiers bullets before fleeing into Israel. The Caracal fighters heard and saw them. They heard the asylum seekers screams and watched from the observation posts as the Egyptian soldiers sprayed them with bullets, placed them in a line and executed them. Asylum seekers on the Sinai border in 2010 (Photo: Yair Sagi) This isnt political, they stress. Its a humane, humanitarian issue. Anyone who had been there with us would have felt the same way, they say. Its our duty to share it all before it begins. Before its too late. Before the expulsion. These are their testimonies. Staff Sgt. David Avitzour: Paramedics were shocked We caught them and had to watch over them. I arrived with my paramedics, who cared for each one individually. They saw some shocking stuff as they examined them: People with broken hands, with broken ribs, cuts on their back, burns. They described how in the camps they would drizzle drops of boiling plastic on them while they were on the phone with their families, so they would hear them screaming and pay the ransom. Staff Sergeant David Avitzour (Photo: Ido Erez) The thing that stood out the most was the gravity of their situation. I had never seen people in such a situation before, and its something I didnt see afterwards either. It looked like something I might have seen on National Geographic. Slim, injured, scarred, sick people. We discussed it a lot amongst ourselves. After witnessing difficult things, we would share it with each other. One thing I remember in particular is that there were people with all kinds of political opinions and views, but when it came to the people we saw before our eyes, we all found it very important to ease their situation. We caught people in August, at a temperature of 40 degrees, after they had been walking around injured, with no water. The first thing everyone did was ask them if they were thirsty, check if there was anything we could give them to eat, try to find some shade for them, bring over a paramedic, bring over a doctor. These were people with completely different political opinions, because when its right there in front of youyour general thoughts about the world become irrelevant. David Avitzour during his military service in Caracal Theres a wrong image about the situation they were in before they got here. People say, Theyre work migrants. People say, They had a great life, they just wanted to raise their standard of living. Thats not the case. I really saw people who anyone would feel compassion towards and want to help. I want people to understand how the asylum seekers got here, because its important. And if people want to deport them now, I want them to understand why they are being sent away. Because what they went through on their way here isnt something I would want anyone to go through again. Sgt. Neta Danon: An insane mental breakdown We were at the observation post for about three or four days, and we arrived at an area where there were about 100 Sudanese and Eritrean who had approached the border. They were in serious condition. Women, adults of all ages, very thin and injured. They appeared hungry and in need of help. There was a wounded guy and we called a paramedic to attend to him on the ground. Sergeant Neta Danon (Photo: Ido Erez) All the sights were very difficult, both for me and for everyone who was at the observation post with me. When we got back to the base, I felt very bad about what I had seen and experienced. The next morning, I had a temperature of 40 degrees, and so did another guy from the observation post and another one. It turned out we had all fallen ill and had to be flown back home. I was hospitalized for two days. The mental breakdown was insane. Neta Danon during her IDF service Even when we spoke about it, it was difficult for us to digest what we had seen. We discussed the surprise in seeing people like me and you who had gone through such difficult things, who seemed neglected and had experienced horrors. They also spoke about the abuse they had gone through, about how they had been raped and badly beaten on their way here. Staff Sgt .Matan Eldar: Egyptians slaughtered them Its constantly around you, and the images are difficult. Men, women, children and babies, who have obviously gone through very difficult things. Some are bruised, some are really injured, with cuts. One morning, two of our friends who were responsible for the night observations told us they had seen a large group of people, about 40 of them, moving towards the border. At some point, the Egyptian guy at a nearby observation tower woke up and saw them trying to cross the border, and simply started slaughtering them. He just shot them with his machine gun. They dispersed on the Egyptian side, and few climbed the fences and crossed the border, wounded. Some were left lying on the ground, probably dead. Matan Eldar. Looking back at that period isnt easy (Photo: Ido Erez) One morning, two of our friends who were responsible for the night observations told us they had seen a large group of people, about 40 of them, moving towards the border. At some point, the Egyptian guy at a nearby observation tower woke up and saw them trying to cross the border, and simply started slaughtering them. He just shot them with his machine gun. They dispersed on the Egyptian side, and few climbed the fences and crossed the border, wounded. Some were left lying on the ground, probably dead. Matan Eldar during his military service It really affected us, seeing this happening in the most shocking manner. Looking back at that period isnt easy. Because I saw all these things happening, its absolutely clear to me that normal people wont go through all this in search a job. Its important for people to know, to learn about what really happened. Staff Sgt. Maor Kakoon: One had a ear missing When I first arrived at the border, I hated the Sudanese. I couldnt understand why we were letting them in. I wanted to expel them. Over time, the more I got to know them, I began feeling more empathy towards them. One of the things that made me change my approach was when I kept hearing from Sudanese that they had been kidnapped in Sudan by a tribe called Rashaida, sometimes in the middle of the street. They put them in a van, took them to Sinai, and after torturing them, they tossed them on the border. Its not that they came here looking for work. Many of them got here against their will. Asylum seekers on the border in 2010. Many of them had been abused (Photo: Yair Sagi) They would arrive after not eating for a long time. They suffered from diarrhea and kept vomiting. We had trouble giving them food, because they didnt know how to deal with it. I remember this group arriving with a mother and a really small baby. She tried to nurse her and couldnt, after the journey, and the baby wouldnt stop crying. We had a yogurt and I signaled to the mother that I would like to feed the baby, and I fed her with a spoon. Asylum seekers protest at the Saharonim Prison (Photo: EPA) Many of them had been abused. I remember someone arriving at the regimental policemans post with an ear missing. He had a lot of blood coming out of where his ear used to be. They told us the Bedouins had stubbed out cigarettes on them and a lot of other things. Staff Sgt .Nir Leibler: We heard screaming At first, we really hated them because we couldnt sleep because of them. We said that if they had really been refugees or had really come from a difficult place, they would have tried to change the country they came from. We also said they had come for money, but as time went by, we started understanding the place they came from. Staff Sergeant Nir Leibler (Photo: Ido Erez) "We detained people, and those who could speak English showed me where theirs ears had been cut and the burns from the boiling oil the Bedouins had poured on them. And then I began comparing their problems to my own problem, and I regretted the things I had said earlier. It made me sad hearing other people talk about them too. Everything I had said earlier suddenly seemed so detached. Those were difficult times for our squadron. We were kids and we didnt know how to deal with it, how to digest it. We would see dead people and try to let it go. As they crossed the border, we would hear the Egyptians shooting at the them from the other side. They would play a game of hunting humanschase them, kill them, rape them. Nir Leibler during his service in Caracal Once, while I was on guard duty before sunrise, I saw Egyptians executing a group they had captured at night. They placed them in a row and shot them. There were times we would hear screams on the other side all night long. It drives me crazy to hear people say that all the refugees who have come here are thieves, rapists, criminals, because I saw people who went through hell. I remember asking one woman why she wanted to come to Israelthis isnt their country, after alland she told me she had heard Israel was a democracy and she just wanted to live. Sgt .Shani Kuriel: A little compassion Once, there were four of us at the observation post for several days, and one day we heard something happening on the Egyptian border. Using a night vision device, we saw Egyptian soldiers placing a group of refugees in a row and shooting them. It was a traumatic experience. When the refugees reached the border, it was clear they were fleeing something terrible. You could tell what they had gone through on their way here, seeing their wounds and torn clothes. Most of them had no shoes on and had walked on the blazing hot desert earth in the summer and on frozen ground in the winter. It was clear to me they hadnt come here to work. It was clear to me that there was something happening in the place they had come from and that they had escaped to stay alive. Shani Kuriel (R) in uniform. They escaped to stay alive In one case, a large amount of people arrived at the border and we had to catch them. They were so scared, that when they reached us they began running, and we had to walk several kilometers in the desert to catch all of them. The womens bodies carried the signs of what they had gone through on the way. It was so terrible I had trouble looking at them. Im not a particularly political or socially active person, but I do know that I witnessed things which a lot of other people havent seen, so its my duty to spread it and make people understand about the importance of a little compassion here. These people, who may seem threatening, are people who went through difficult things. They wouldnt come here if they werent escaping from something really bad. First Lt. Eliana Bastiaans: I suppressed horrors for years On my first night at the border, there was an infiltration of foreigners and I was sent to check a woman. It was the first time I was able to put a face to what had been an infiltrators headline until then, which is very far from the heart. She slowly started showing me what she had under her clothes. She was full of scars from melted plastic and cigarettes and alcohol shots, and she was extremely slim. Lieutenant Eliana Bastiaans. They are people, not a number (Photo: Ido Erez) They would prepare shoes for themselves from plastic bottles cut in half or from cloths, and the scars they had on their bodies were something I had never seen in my life. It was the first time I suddenly realized what we were dealing with here, that these were not just people who came here looking for money. This is not what people who are looking for money look like. To stay sane and be able to do your job, you have to put on a mask at some point. You have to try to filter what you see, and I suppressed all these horrors I had seen for years after completing my military service. And now that this whole issue is being rehashed, suddenly everything I suppressed is coming back again and cant be ignored. Eliana Bastiaans during her military service I was raised in the shadow of a grandfather from Holland who was a Righteous Among the Nations, and it wasnt discussed my entire life. But there was something very clear in the way I was raised, that if theres someone you can helpyou help them. As far as Im concerned, this whole issue is our duty as human beings. These are people, not a number. These are people, and each one of them has a story and each one of them went through horrible things on their way here. Mere days after a first flight headed to Israel passed over Saudi airspace, another milestones was reached in seemingly defrosting ties with the Arab Gulf states: Dani Pearl, 66, and Itai Moldavski, 51, landed at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge car race. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The pair, members of the "Pearl Pango Racing Team," entered the countrywith which Israel has no open diplomatic relationsusing their Israeli passports accompanied by three team members, all Israelis as well. "Organizers received us in a warm, embracing manner," Pearl said Saturday. "We can't wait to get on the dunes. The excitement is unexplainable." Dani Pearl (L) and Itai Moldavski will race at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Photo: Nimrod Araklis) "We'd like to thank the Emirates Motor Sport Federation and Memsi Israel, representative of the International Automobile Federation, for assisting us in receiving all of the requisite permits," Pearl said. Organizers, however, had not yet acceded to flying the Israeli flag during the UAE competition. The pair's vehicle, for instance, would not emblazoned with the Israeli blue-white and the Israelis were registered on all official publications as belonging to the UAE. The pair's Polaris RZR ATV (Photo: Nimrod Araklis) The Israelis battled to get their vehiclea Polaris RZR ATVprepared in time, as it was held up along with other contestants' vehicles due to a shipping company's error. Organizers expended all efforts so the Israeli team could stand on the starting line Sunday morning at the Emirates' Formula 1 track. The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is one of the Middle East's biggest off-road races. This year, 112 vehicles from 29 countries will be participating. Teams will be driving some 450 kilometers every day, of which 300km will be timed, all in 40 degree heat. The UN envoy for the Middle East urged restraint on Monday as he raised concern about children at risk during Palestinian protests starting this week near the Gaza-Israel border. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Palestinian families are planning to pitch hundreds of tents in the Gaza Strip near the border starting on Friday, launching a six-week show of support for Palestinian refugees. "It is imperative that civilians, in particular children, not be targeted and that all actors refrain from putting children at risk at any time," Nickolay Mladenov told the council via video conference from Jerusalem. UN envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov (: AP) "I call on all sides to exercise restraint and to take the necessary steps to avoid violent escalation," he said. The protest kicks off on Land Day, which commemorates the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976, and ends on May 15. May 15 marks what the Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or the catastrophe, marking when more than 700,000 Palestinians fled their land during the war that led to the creation of Israel. The United States plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem on May 14 , which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the creation of Israel. The US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital infuriated the Palestinians, who have broken off ties with the administration of President Donald Trump. Mladenov told the council that Israel was pressing on with the building of settlements, defying the United Nations, which has branded the expansion of the Jewish outposts in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as illegal. "Israel's illegal settlement expansion and related activities continue further threatening the viability of the two-state solution and eroding the prospects for peace," he said. LONDON - British Jewish groups held a street protest outside parliament on Monday against opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, accusing him of failing to tackle anti-Semitism in party ranks because of a far-left world view hostile to Jews. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Since unexpectedly becoming Labour leader in 2015 after decades spent on the left-wing fringes of the party, Corbyn has repeatedly faced accusations of turning a blind eye to anti-Semitic comments in the party and among groups he supports. "He is repeatedly found alongside people with blatantly anti-Semitic views, but claims never to hear or read them. Again and again, Jeremy Corbyn has sided with anti-Semites rather than Jews," the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council said in an open letter late on Sunday. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: AFP) Around a couple of thousand protesters packed out the green opposite parliament, carrying signs and singing, according to a Reuters photographer at the event. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: EPA) One of the placards read "For the many, not the Jew," a play on Labour's "For the many, not the few" campaign slogan. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: AFP) Corbyn responded on Monday with an open letter to both groups in which he recognized that anti-Semitism had surfaced within his party, apologized for the pain this had caused, and pledged to redouble his efforts to stamp it out, vowing to have "zero tolerance" for anti-Semitism. He offered to meet both groups' leaders urgently to discuss their concerns. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: AFP) The issue had flared up again last week after it came to light that in 2012 Corbyn questioned a decision by London local authorities to remove a street mural depicting men in suits with big noses playing Monopoly on the backs of naked people. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn and met with counter-protest (Photo: GettyImages) "The idea of Jewish bankers and capitalists exploiting the workers of the world is an old anti-Semitic conspiracy theory," Corbyn wrote in his open letter on Monday. "I am sorry for not having studied the content of the mural more closely before wrongly questioning its removal in 2012." British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: GettyImages) Several Labour members of parliament said they would join the protest on Monday, exposing internal divisions within Labour that had been papered over after Corbyn led the party to a stronger-than-expected showing in a general election last June. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: EPA) "While Jeremy is not himself anti-Semitic, he has allowed himself to become the poster boy of anti-Semites everywhere," said veteran Labour lawmaker Margaret Hodge, the daughter of Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria, in a statement. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: AFP) In their open letter, the Jewish groups denounced what they described as the far left's "obsessive hatred of Zionism, Zionists and Israel" and gave examples of how that often translated into overtly anti-Semitic language. They said Corbyn's "empty statements" condemning anti-Semitism had got nowhere near dealing with the problem. British Jews protest outside parliament against Labour's Jeremy Corbyn (Photo: GettyImages) In his response, Corbyn, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights and critic of Israel for several decades, acknowledged that anti-Semitism had sometimes been woven into criticism of Israel. "Comparing Israel or the actions of Israeli governments to the Nazis, attributing criticisms of Israel to Jewish characteristics or to Jewish people in general and using abusive phraseology about supporters of Israel such as 'Zio' all constitute aspects of contemporary anti-Semitism," he wrote South Korea said on Tuesday it was closely watching events that are unfolding rapidly in Beijing, where diplomatic sources said a senior North Korean official was visiting amid reports it was leader Kim Jong Un ahead of a series of historic summits. Bloomberg, citing three unidentified sources, reported on Monday that Kim was in Beijing in what would be his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. The unconfirmed visit also comes ahead of a potential summit with US President Donald Trump. "The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely, while keeping all possibilities open," said the senior official in Seoul, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Three members of the Netanyahu family were questioned Monday morning as part of the Bezeq corruption case, also known as Case 4000 . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met his investigators at his official residence in Jerusalem, while his wife Sara was summoned to the offices of the police's Lahav 433 investigations unit and their son Yair was questioned for the first time at the Israel Securities Authority's offices. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Netanyahus were presented with details revealed testimonies given by their former media advisor, Nir Hefetz, and former Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Filber, who recently signed state's witness agreements in the case, concerning favorable coverage of the family on the Walla! News website. Yair Netanyahu was questioned by a joint police-ISA team, after being warned that he was suspected of receiving benefits and of obstruction of investigation proceedings. Netanyahu Jr. allegedly relayed demands for favorable coverage to Walla! managers through Hefetz. Sara Netanyahu and her son Yair. Denied allegations (Photos: Motti Kimchi, MCT) "I'm a right-wing patriot and, clearly, I didn't want them to write anything against my mother. What's wrong with that?" Yair told his investigators. Asked whether he had deleted text messages from his cell phone, he replied: "I didn't delete any texts." Sara Netanyahu, who was questioned for the second time in Case 4000, was presented with a list of text messages she had sent Nir Hefetz, which read: "They're leftists," "Look at what they're writing," "They're evil, they're writing bad things about us." Mrs. Netanyahu told her investigators in response, "It's legitimate. As a wife, I wanted the coverage of my family to be favorable. What's wrong with that?" When the investigators accused her of asking Hefetz to delete text messages, she replied: "I didn't delete specific text messages. We deleted entire files to free up space on the phone. Everyone does that." When the investigators told Mrs. Netanyahu they were about to confront her with Nir Hefetz, she refused, saying she didn't want to talk to him. At this stage, despite having further evidence, the police decided not to confront Mrs. Netanyahu with the recordings Hefetz had given them. Following his questioning, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted a video on Facebook, repeating his regular response: "There will be nothing, because there was nothing." "I want to wish you all a happy and kosher Passover. Enjoy it with your families. I'll enjoy it with my family. I will celebrate this holiday with great joy, with great confidence, with a lot of haroset and zero bitter herb," he said, referring to two traditional foods on the Passover table. Netanyahu's former chief of staff, David Sharan. Gave a testimony in Case 4000 (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Retiring Bezeq CEO Stella Handler and Bezeq majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch were also questioned Monday morning and confronted with state's witness Hefetz. David Sharan, the former chief of staff at the Prime Minister's Office whose name has been linked to the submarine affair (Case 3000), arrived at the Lahav 433 offices on Monday as well and gave a testimony. Over the last two weeks, Hefetz has sat with investigators who have compiled masses of testimony relating to the case, which erupted in February when the Israel Securities Authority completed its inquiry into Elovitch's ties with Netanyahu and the suspicion he enjoyed benefits for Bezeq in return for favorable coverage of Netanyahu on the Walla! News website, which is fully owned by Bezeq. Hefetz allegedly presented evidence to the interrogators, some of which are backed up by documents and recordings about the behind-the-scenes moves. He identified himself as the individual who acted as the liaison between the Netanyahu family and Walla! News CEO Ilan Yeshua. The states witness also provided his investigators with his cellphone which contained messages from Sara Netanyahu and recordings of other relevant officials. The recordings and messages are believed to buttress suspicions that Elovitch and Netanyahu were engaged in a quid pro quo arrangement. Israelis shouldnt be concerned about Land Day, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh said Tuesday morning, referring to the Palestinian protests expected to take place along the Gaza security fence Friday. "We are coordinated with the Arab sector," he said. "I am unfamiliar with any unusual events in the past 15 years and I don't think anything exceptional will happen this year." Israelis shouldnt be concerned about Land Day, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh said Tuesday morning, referring to the Palestinian protests expected to take place along the Gaza security fence Friday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We are coordinated with the Arab sector," he said. "I am unfamiliar with any unusual events in the past 15 years and I don't think anything exceptional will happen this year." Alsheikh praises 'exceptional cooperation' with Arab sector (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The IDF has been making preparations for the Hamas-organized march towards the border, including reinforcing the obstacles on the border with pyramids of barbed-wire. The army also plans to use advanced measures against rioters. Speaking during a tour of a Border Guard base in Metzudat Adumim, Alsheikh said: "There are no changes regarding the warnings. There is no increase in plans to carry out terror attacks. We are dealing with this routinely, all year round. The overwhelming majority of terror attacks arent implemented after being thwarted by the IDF and Shin Bet together with us. The system can't be completely hermetic. The picture isn't any different on the eve of the (Passover) holiday. At the moment, we aren't seeing a worse security situation as we approach the holidays." As for the Land Day protests, he stressed: "We are working in exceptional cooperation with the Arab sector, which wants to implement its protest. They are doing so in a very dignified manner which is coordinated with us." As for the army's estimates concerning the situation in the Gaza Strip, Alsheikh said that the police were "prepared for any scenario which the IDF fears or thinks could develop, and we will provide the relevant response." Guns and rifles seized by police in wide-scale operation (Photo: Police Spokesperon's Unit) A wide-scale police and Border Guard operation across Israel has led to the arrest of 468 illegal aliens, including Gaza residents. More than 2,300 Border Guard and police officers took part in the operation, arresting 14 terror suspects and dozens of people suspected of providing illegal residents with accommodation and employing them. Police thwart attempt to smuggle 12,000 eggs through Jerusalem vicinity crossings (Photo: Police Spokesperson's Unit) During the operation, a Border Guard force spotted an abandoned helicopter in the Qalandiya landing pad in the Jerusalem vicinity. An investigation revealed that the helicopter had landed there illegally, carrying two suspects, without the required permits and without a pilot license. Police believe the suspects landed in the same place with a different helicopter about a week ago. The aircraft was confiscated and the suspects were arrested. Police also thwarted an attempt to smuggle 12,000 eggs through the Jerusalem vicinity crossings. They also located chop shops, illegal slaughterhouses, eight weapons and dozens of kilograms of drugs. Security forces are conducting a search in the Eshkol Regional Council following the detection of footprints near the border fence, raising concerns of an infiltration from the Gaza Strip. Security personnel at the nearby communities have raised their alert level, but residents have been given no special instructions. Kobi Alexander, the Israeli-American founder of New York-based Comverse Technology, will be released from prison Tuesday after serving two-thirds of his jail sentence. Alexander was convicted for securities fraud in 2016 as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Kobi Alexander , the Israeli-American founder and former CEO of New York-based Comverse Technology, was released from prison Tuesday after serving two-thirds of his jail term. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The State Attorney's Office decided not to oppose the parole board's decision to cut his sentence short. Alexander was convicted of securities fraud as part of a backdating affair and served part of his sentence in Israel after signing a plea bargain, in which he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Kobi Alexander outside the Ayalon Prison, Tuesday (Photo: Yair Sagi) Alexander, the Woodbury, New York-based software developers founder, was sentenced about a year ago by US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn, who criticized the former executive for trying to avoid justice for so long. I really dont understand how someone as brilliant and accomplished and focused and respected as you could be so incredibly, abjectly foolish to make some of the decisions you made, Garaufis said. The sentence was above the up to two years in prison his lawyers sought, but below the 10-year maximum he faced. Alexander, dressed in brown jail clothing, said he was truly sorry for everything I have done wrong. I deeply regret running away instead of dealing with the justice system like I should have, he added. The 64-year-old Israeli citizen had been in custody since he pleaded guilty to securities fraud in August 2016, after Garaufis rejected his request for release on a $25 million bond. He is expected to receive credit for his time in jail. The case was one of the last open US prosecutions arising from government or internal investigations of backdating of stock options at over 200 companies, including Comverse, which was acquired in 2013 by former unit Verint Systems Inc. Kobi Alexander upon his arrival in Israel to serve the rest of his prison setence, earlier this month (Photo: Itay Blumenthal) In backdating, a company retroactively grants stock options on dates when stock prices were lower, making them more valuable. Concealing the practice through improper accounting is illegal, and can inflate earnings. Prosecutors said that from 1998 to 2001 Alexander participated in a scheme to use hindsight to select the effective dates for granting options for employees, resulting in misleading statements to investors. Alexander fled to Namibia with his family in July 2006 amid the investigation. Charges were announced that August against him, William Sorin, Comverses general counsel, and David Kreinberg, its finance chief. Sorin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison. Kreinberg was spared prison after pleading guilty. While abroad, Alexander agreed in 2009 to pay $60 million to Comverse in connection with shareholder litigation, and to waive over $72 million in claims he had against Comverse. He settled related civil government lawsuits in 2010, resulting in a $6 million penalty by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In November 2017, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked approved Alexander's request to serve the rest of his sentence in Israel and he was transferred to Israel from the US in accordance with an agreement between he two countries. An IDF force on Tuesday morning arrested three Palestinians armed with knives and grenades after they had infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip. The terrorists were caught in the Tze'elim area, about 20 kilometers from the Gaza border. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter A police sapper was dispatched to the area to neutralize the grenades with the help of a police robot. The captured terrorists (Photo: Barel Efraim) (Photo: Barel Efraim) The incident is being investigated. There were no reports of injuries. The IDF instructed Gaza vicinity residents to return to their routine schedule. According to details provided Tuesday afternoon by IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Manelis, an tracking force from the Southern Command detected footprints and a breach in the fence at 9:10 am and launched a manhunt procedure which included the army, the police and civilians. At 10:35 am, a military force arrested the terrorists about 200 meters from the Tze'elim base. Terrorists captured in Tze'elim area (Video: Barel Efraim) (: ) X The IDF spokesman said a slight indication had been detected on the border fence on Monday night near the Nir Yitzhak area, where the three terrorists had crossed into Israel. It remains unclear whether the indication has to do with the captured terrorists. It is also unclear when the terrorists crossed the border and whether it happened hours before the breach was detected. The terrorists, who are all members of the same family from Rafah, were captured in possession of three grenades, a knife and two cutters. "We dont know what their target was because they are still being interrogated," the IDF spokesman said. "They didnt pull out the weapons at any point. "This incident shouldn't have happened," Manelis added. "It ended successfully without any injuries. It's unclear why they weren't caught immediately. The terrorists likely didnt have a vehicle that picked them up, but the investigation isn't over yet." Addressing the mass protest scheduled to take place on Friday near the border fence, Manelis said: "We won't allow a mass crossing of the fence. My advice is: Don't try us. We are taking the challenges in the strip seriously, we are prepared for them and we are doing everything so that Israel's citizens will be able to sit around the Passover Seder table calmly." Terrorists were armed with knives and grenades (Photo: Police Spokesperson's Unit) A police spokesperson said the report on the terrorists' arrest was received in the midst of the search. "The three suspects were handed over to the Israel Police and a police sapper is working to neutralize and dispose of the weapons. The Israel Police are continuing their extensive activity and the public is requested to report any suspicious incident to the 100 emergency telephone number." Earlier, IDF forces conducted an extensive search in the border fence area in the southern Gaza Strip after detecting footprints near the fence during a routine activity. Security personnel at the nearby communities were placed on a heightened state of alert. The incident raises some serious questions, in light of the fact that the IDF boosted its forces around the Gaza Strip this week in light of the mass protests expected in the area on Friday. The IDF was prepared for a Palestinian attempt to break through the fence or enter Israel on the eve of the Passover holiday. The Palestinians have now proved that infiltrating Israel is possible despite the advanced technological means deployed around the strip. Eshkol Regional Council head Gadi Yarkoni told Ynet, "The IDF must investigate this incident to prevent such things from repeating themselves. Such an incident could have ended differently. There are many unknown factors here. On the one hand, they infiltrated with ammunition, and on the other hand, there was no resistance. With all the means at our disposal, we cannot afford to have armed people walking around 20 kilometers from the fence." Grenades neutralized by police sappers (Photo: Police Spokesperson's Unit) Knesset Member Haim Jelin (Yesh Atid) said, "This is a serious mishap. Too many events have been happening in the past week, and the feeling is that the IDF is focusing on the larger things, the tunnels and the 'march of the million,' and isn't paying attention to the smaller things." Jelin, who lives in the Gaza vicinity, added: "They infiltrated deep into the territory. It's not one or two kilometers, it's several hours of escaping. They didn't run." Such an incident, he said, "negatively affects the residents' strength, because the resident asks himself where is the IDF which should be protecting him. It's true that the terrorists were eventually caught, but I'm telling you this isn't good. It leaves a very bad feeling and I hope conclusions will be drawn." (Photo: Barel Efraim) Ynet's commentator on security affairs, Ron Ben-Yishai, said the infiltration stems from a mentality that once the Gaza obstacle is built with a wall above and under the ground, all problems will be solved. "The security method must be examined from now until the southern obstacle is fully built," he said. He added that there was a difference in the Israeli response to an infiltration and to a terror attack. "It it were a terror attack, Israel would have issued a forceful response. Since it's an infiltration, the most Israel will do is bomb training camps." (Photo: Police Spokesperson's Unit) On Saturday, four Palestinians entered Israel from the Gaza Strip near Kibbutz Kissufim and attempted to torch heavy engineering equipment used for the construction of the underground anti-tunnel barrier. An IDF force approached them and the four fled back to the Gaza Strip. There were no casualties and only minor damage was caused to the heavy equipment. Israel Air Force fighter jets attacked a target at a Hamas training camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip overnight Saturday in response to the incident. A preliminary investigation revealed that the four arrived at an engineering complex near the border, were large IDF heavy equipment used to build the new subterranean Gaza barrier are kept. They then tried to set the tools on fire with gasoline tanks they brought with them, fleeing when they saw an IDF patrol team headed their way. Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh said Tuesday morning, "There are no changes regarding the warnings. There is no increase in plans to carry out terror attacks. We are dealing with this routinely, all year round. The overwhelming majority of terror attacks arent implemented after being thwarted by the IDF and Shin Bet together with us. The system can't be completely hermetic. The picture isn't any different on the eve of the (Passover) holiday. At the moment, we aren't seeing a worse security situation as we approach the holidays." IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot cautioned Monday that "the Palestinian arena is highly explosive, which requires us to remain constantly vigilant." A police barrier in the Gaza vicinity, Tuesday morning (Photo: Barel Efraim) Tensions have been on the rise on the Gaza border after Hamas held a large-scale military exercise on Sunday and machinegun fire from the strip triggered the Iron Dome missile defense system. In addition, Hamas is planning a mass march of Palestinians in Gaza towards the border with Israel and protests starting this Friday, Land Day, and ending on May 15, Nakba Day. "Each and every generation of the country's protectors had to continue fulfilling the mission of its predecessorfor the present generation and the future generation, which will follow in its path," the IDF chief continued in a speech at a ceremony recognizing excelling officers and non-commissioned officers (NCO). "Seventy years have passed and the IDF has turned from a young army taking shape in the storm of battles to an army that is ready, fit and powerful," Eisenkot added. "Even at this time, we are facing many challenges. And when facing the threats developing in the changing strategic environment, we are required to act with determination and might," he concluded. IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis says an initial investigation of the infiltration incident in southern Israel reveals the three terrorists were caught about 80 minutes after a breach had been detected in the fence. Manelis noted that the three terrorists were members of the same family from Rafah and that their target remained unclear. Israel has expedited construction permits to enable temporary quarters for the US embassy to open in Jerusalem as planned in May, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The move was made at Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's request, to prevent a delay in the embassy's move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Kahlon is expected to sign the order in the coming days. US President Donald Trump in December broke with other world powers by recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital and announcing the US embassy would be moved there from Tel Aviv. Jerusalem Municipality welcomes US embassy move (Photo: AFP) Trumps reversal of decades of US and broad international policy was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a historic decision." But it drew criticism from around the world and outraged Palestinians, who want a capital for their own future state in eastern parts of the city. Israel has said the embassy will be opened on May 14, the 70th anniversary of its founding. A US official said it would be located at a provisional site in Jerusalem that now houses a US consular section. Building a permanent embassy could take several years. Finance Minister Kahlon said in a statement that he would empower the Jerusalem Municipality to waive the permits that would have been required for a wall and an escape route at the interim site. We will not allow needless bureaucracy to hold up the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem, Israels eternal capital, Kahlon said. This is a strategic diplomatic move for the State of Israel and the planning agencies under me will do whatever is necessary to accommodate the schedule being demanded. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat had voiced concern about the timeline, telling Israel Radio on March 9: I hope their (Americans) schedule will be kept. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The Israeli planning permit waiver for the embassy will be good for three years, the Finance Ministry statement said. Initially, the interim Embassy in (the Jerusalem neighborhood of) Arnona will contain office space for the ambassador and a small staff, said a US embassy official in Tel Aviv. By the end of next year, we intend to open a new embassy Jerusalem annex on the Arnona compound that will provide the ambassador and his team with expanded interim office space, he said, adding that a search for site for the construction of a permanent embassy had begun. The National Planning and Building Council, led by Dalit Zilber, head of the Planning Administration, decided to recommend the move to the finance minister after being presented with "the importance and national urgency in completing the required security arrangements until the US embassy's move to Jerusalem, as announced by the US president. "In light of the need to adjust the existing compound to the security requirements of a compound serving as the ambassador's office, and because these adjustments must be completed till the date of the move, the council decided to recommend the said exemption." Most countries do not recognize either sides sovereignty in Jerusalem and have embassies to Israel in the Tel Aviv area. Netanyahu has described Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years, and Trump said the embassy move was a long overdue step to advance the peace process." Palestinian leaders said Washingtons decision meant it was no longer an honest broker in efforts to revive peace talks, which collapsed in 2014. Ireland says it is expelling a Russian diplomat, joining more than 20 other nations in punishing Moscow for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Tuesday that the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia was a "shocking and abhorrent" use of chemical weapons. He said the Russian ambassador in Dublin has been informed that one diplomat from his embassy must leave Ireland. Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other's diplomats since the March 4 attack, which the UK blames on Moscow. British Prime Minister Theresa May says 23 other countries have expelled more than 115 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States. Russia denies responsibility and has vowed a "tough response" to the expulsions. An Israeli woman was left unconscious and in serious condition after falling from the door of a Boeing 737 aircraft onto the runway due to a series of errors made by the flight crew aboard the Czech airline SmartWings. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The 38-eight-year-old woman, Dikla Abitbul from Lod who has two children aged 6 and 13, was on vacation to Hungary and was waiting to take off to return to Israel when a technical malfunction aboard the plane forced the pilots to abort the flight. Smoke entering plane X According to her mother Rikki, Dikla suddenly fell from the plane onto the asphalt after the emergency doors were opened despite instructions from the captain to keep them closed. We are praying for her wellbeing and are worried, she told Ynet. She didnt slide. She didnt manage to slide. She stood in the doorway of the plane, among the first five passengers standing in line waiting for them to open the evacuation slide, she said. Dikla Abitbul Rikki added that the strong force of the engines possibly caused her to fall, but it could also have been due to the panic that erupted among the passengers. We realized that smoke was coming into the plane. They said that the pilot had asked the flight stewards not to open the emergency doors, but the panic among the passengers forced them to open them. Another man was also injured after sliding down from the plane, not from Israel, but Dikla flew from the door onto the asphalt. She is said to be in critical condition and has been anesthetized after arriving at the hospital unconscious. She underwent an operation on her head, she has suffered rib fractures and has a cast on her arms. That is the situation at the moment. We are staying here in Budapest, Rikki said. Dikla went to Hungary on holiday with workers from a car rental company and was supposed to return to Israel last week. Smoke entering the plane She went on the holiday for five days from work to Budapest and told us the whole time how much she enjoyed it, her mother said. She bought presents for the children, told us how the snow fell, and then the terrible news came in the morning. A surgeon and a doctor from Beilinson Hospital at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva was flown to Budapest to be with the family and provide assistance. Diklas workplace sent a representative who is accompanying us all the time and is making sure we have everything, Rikki said. We are praying for something good to happen and that she recovers her consciousness. We ask anyone who can to pray for her recovery. After the incident, the airline brought in a new plane after the technical malfunction was discovered in the original aircraft, which caused an 8-hour delay in the takeoff. State Comptroller Yosef Shapira met recently with relatives of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, and received from them a detailed document critiquing the State of Israel's handling of efforts to return him to Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Following the meeting, the comptroller sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking him to address the Goldin family's claims "as soon as possible." The comptroller's office said that the Shapira's letter was also sent to Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. PM Netanyahu (L) and State Comptroller Shapira (AFP, Gil Yohanan) Goldin, as well as Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, fell in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge. Their bodies are still being held by Hamas as leverage in future prisoner exchange deals with Israel. The Israeli government promised their families that every effort would be made to bring back their remains, but attempts hitherto made have not yielded results. In February, Hadar's mother, Leah Goldin, sent an open letter to Netanyahu and to all cabinet ministers and members of the Knesset marking three and a half years since her son's abduction. Leah Goldin (R), next to her husband Simcha (Photo: Amit Shabi) In her letter, Leah reiterated her demand to pressure Hamas to returning all living and deceased Israelis they are holding captive. "The Palestinian Authority is responsible for holding Hadar and Oron and violates international humanitarian law. We proved this a month ago at a meeting of the UN Security Council. There was a wall-to-wall consensus that the PA was legally responsible for Hadar and Oron and was violating international humanitarian law whenever it failed to bring them home. "Anyone who is silent about injustice is a partner to injustice, no matter how big a kippah (skullcap) he has on his head." Hadar Goldin (L) and Oron Shaul Leah concluded by asking why she and any other mother should have to fight for a country that does not fight for them. "Everyone is silent and everyone shares the injustice of abandoning our soldiers, regardless of party, race, sex or religion," she said. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance will expel seven staffers from the Russian mission due to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. He says NATO will also deny the pending accreditation request of three other workers at the Russian mission. Russia is not a member of NATO. Stoltenberg says, despite the expulsions, Russia will still have a diplomatic mission of 20 people at alliance headquarters in Brussels and that will allow Russia to keep essential contacts with NATO members. Stoltenberg says "we will continue to work for meaningful dialogue" with Russia but the measure announced Tuesday "send a very clear message to Russia that it has costs." CCTV footage shows the three terrorists, who infiltrated into Israel from Gaza Tuesday and who were caught shortly after near kibbutz Tze'elim, wandering around undisturbed for several minute while the gate to the Kibbutz was left wide open. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The three were caught by a group of IDF soldiers, who discovered that they were armed with grenades and knives. Footage of the terrorists near the entrance to the kibbutz X Boaz Kretzmer, who has served in recent years as head of the Strategic Division in the Eshkol Regional Council and now serves as chairman of the kibbutz, noted that while "Tze'elim is 20 kilometers from the border (with Gaza) and is not considered to be within the 'Gaza vicinity,' that did not prevent the terrorists from reaching it." Kretzmer stressed this is especially troubling since it means the kibbutz is not protected in the same way communities in the Gaza vicinity are, and urged the state to "view the incident as a red flagthat the arbitrary distance set for perimeter of the Gaza vicinity is no longer relevant, and that security in the more distant communities must also be strengthened. And the sooner the better." According to details provided Tuesday afternoon by IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Manelis, an tracking force from the Southern Command detected footprints and a breach in the fence at 9:10 am and launched a manhunt procedure which included the army, the police and civilians. At 10:35 am, a military force arrested the terrorists about 200 meters from the Tze'elim base. The captured terrorists (Photo: Barel Efraim) The IDF spokesman said a slight indication had been detected on the border fence on Monday night near the Nir Yitzhak area, where the three terrorists had crossed into Israel. It remains unclear whether the indication has to do with the captured terrorists. It is also unclear when the terrorists crossed the border and whether it happened hours before the breach was detected. The terrorists, who are all members of the same family from Rafah, were captured in possession of three grenades, a knife and two bolt cutters. "We dont know what their target was because they are still being interrogated," the IDF spokesman said. "They didnt pull out the weapons at any point. "This incident shouldn't have happened," Manelis added. "It ended successfully without any injuries. It's unclear why they weren't caught immediately. The terrorists likely didnt have a vehicle that picked them up, but the investigation isn't over yet." Israel's leading demographics expert on Tuesday defended military figures indicating the number of Arabs will soon equal that of Jews in the Holy Landfigures that had sparked outrage from nationalist lawmakers in a Knesset committee. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Sergio Della Pergola, a demographer from Jerusalem's Hebrew University, said the numbers of Arabs and Jews are nearly equal when you factor in the population of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and eastern Jerusalem along with the population of Israel. Jews make up about 80 percent of the population within the Green Line, and advocates of a two-state solution have long warned the country risks losing its Jewish majority if a Palestinian state is not established alongside it. (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, AFP) Della Pergola said that there are currently about 6.9 million Jews in the Holy Landincluding Israel and the Palestinian-controlled territoriescompared to 6.5 million Arabs. He said the gap was likely to be closed completely within 15-20 years. "These are the figures. You can either accept them or not," he told The Associated Press. "For some, it may be uncomfortable so they say they are inaccurate but truthfully that is quite childish." Nationalist lawmakers assailed a senior military officer, Col. Haim Mendes, in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday for saying there were nearly 5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, accusing him of inflating the numbers. Mendes is a high ranking official in COGAT, the Israeli defense body for Palestinian civilian affairs. Avi Dichter, a lawmaker from the ruling Likud Party and chairman for the committee, called the figure "surprising" and asked for clarification. Motti Yogev, a lawmaker from the Bayit Yehudi party, went a step further, accusing the official of relying on Palestinian figures and demanding that the true numbers be revealed. The demographic issue lies at the core of the Israeli pursuit of a comprehensive peace accord with the Palestinians over the past two decades out of concern that Israel cannot fulfil its destiny as a Jewish and democratic state given these trends. Such data undermines the prevailing thought of the current government, which has largely ruled out the concept of a Palestinian state and dismisses the demographic threat. Della Pergola said he could respect the opposing ideologies but that the figures themselves should not be questioned. He said COGAT had the best grasp of the situation on the ground. He added that while Jewish birth rates were catching up with those of Arabs, mostly due to the high fertility rates among ultra-Orthodox Jews, the Arab population was much younger and therefore dying at a slower rate. Arab MK Ahmad Tibi (Joint List) asserted Monday that Israel could soon have an Arab prime minister in light of new statistics. "The vision of an Arab prime minister, which now looks like a delusional idea, is drawing near. And then this will be an equal and democratic country, and not a Jewish and democratic one," Tibi said. The number of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants held in detention decreased in 2017, but there were still no improvements in the conditions of their detention, especially in regards to overcrowding, the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants revealed Tuesday in its annual report on the issue. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The report, as stated by the organization, "focuses on issues including conditions for transgender inmates separated in solitary confinement, the detention of Darfuri asylum seekers during the year in opposition to the states policy, and the handcuffing of inmates during medical examinations." It mentioned that "the majority of those held in detention facilities are asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan that the Israeli government does not deport to their home country. Others are migrant workers or tourists whose visas expired or who violated the terms of their visa." During the course of the past year, the organization observed the conditions in four detention facilities: Saharonim, Givon, Yahalom and Holotwhich closed two weeks ago. The report exposed that overcrowding in the aforementioned facilities stemmed from a decision by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) to reduce the number of utilized cells and not the number of inmates per cell. The report also noted that in the Saharonim facility, there was a marked improvement last year in providing detainees with social welfare and mental health services, as well as in the processing of complaints of violence by immigration inspectors. In the Givon Prison facility there was an increase in the number of cases in which the organization's representatives were prevented from visiting detainees, even though the visitations were coordinated and approved by the IPS. The report then went into detail exposing the harsh conditions endured by transgender detainees in the facilities, giving examples of cases where the treatment of said detainees violated their human rights. In one such case, a transgender detainee was held in solitary confinement for more than a month because of an IPS procedure, according to which "in any case in which a prisoner is received whose identity is not unequivocal, it is necessary to maintain conditions of separation for fear of harming the detainee or others." During her detention at the Givon facility, the detainee was not able to take the gender reassignment hormones she regularly took and was not allowed to wear women's clothing or wear a wig. The report also stated that the prison guards insisted on referring to her as a male. Asylum seekers and illegal migrants are imprisoned for administrative proceedings concerning immigration and not because they are in a criminal proceeding or because they pose a threat to society. Nevertheless, the report shows that the IPS tends to handcuff them even during hospitalization or medical examination. A detainee from the Saharonim facility testified that he had been hospitalized for three days in which he was handcuffed in one hand to the bed except for a short respite during an medical imaging examination. Another detainee held at Givon recounted a time in which he fainted, and when he woke up he discovered that he was handcuffed and connected to an IV. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Shirley Racah, Executive Director of the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, denounced the state's treatment of asylum seekers and illegal migrants "For years now Israel has been arresting people as an alternative to a proper immigration policy and refuses to grant status to those who deserve it or to allow detention alternatives to those who are destined for deportation," she stated. "We are standing at the cusp of an era in which asylum seekers will be imprisoned while innocent of any crime, and now more than ever its important to again iterate that detention does not constitute an immigration policy." According the UNHCRs instructions, "detention is an exceptional measure and can only be justified for a legitimate purpose." "The detention of asylum seekers and migrants should be avoided, and priority given to othermore humane and economically efficientmeasures, in order to control migration flows," the report concluded. The IPS responded to the report by saying it will consider its critique seriously, as it sdoes that of any other human rights organization. "It is clear that efforts have been made to improve the conditions of the inmates and their treatment," it added. "The report mentions improvements on several levels, including the prison guards' attitude towards the inmates, the response of the IPS to external factors, and the shortening of the length of stay of those held-up in the waiting cells. "Due to the short time given to the IPS to respond, it is not possible to carry out in-depth examinations of the specific incidents (mentioned in the reported). As for the claims that transgender people are detained in solitary confinementthese are the separation conditions required to protect them, as distinct from isolation conditions." It also added that "the prison staff is professionally trained and acts with sensitivity. The policy regarding the conditions of holding transgender people in the IPS has recently been updated." The fire service of Ghana is a body working under the Ghanaian Ministry of Interior. It was established 21 years ago with its primary objective being management and prevention of unprecedented fire breakouts in the whole of Ghana. They have over 6,000 employees consisting of top management officials and highly qualified professionals. The Ghana fire service salary 2018 was revised because of their diligence in serving the public exceptionally. Responsibilities of the Ghana Fire Service With every job comes responsibility and this also applies to the individuals working in the recognized fire department of Ghana. The workers who are always on standby to respond to fire emergencies perform the following functions: Train and organize voluntary fire squads at community levels Inspect and provide technical advice on fire extinguishers Provide evacuation and rescue services to those trapped by fire or any other arising emergency. Advice and coordinate the whole training on firefighting process Create and provide awareness of the hazardous effects of fire They offer technical approaches used in building structures used to facilitate escape from arising fires. Heighten the role of a person in fire preventions Organize public fire education programs READ ALSO: The Ghana Police Service would be recruiting 8000 people soon Minister of Interior The Ghana Fire Service salary structure keeps on changing and it depends with the rank of an officer. They also get some allowances that they take home each month, but this has not been disclosed to the public. We can only assume that if you compare their salary with that of the police service, it is almost similar. The technicians indulge in various duties when serving the people, and they include: Advise the Chief Fire Officer on simulation exercises. Ensure effective and safe evacuation services. As much as Ghana national fire service salary is a debate in the whole country, Ghanaian citizens are still applying to join the service. People ready to work in the vast organization that operates in the whole of Ghana need to undergo some training to serve the public better. The support staff consists of accountants, lawyers, engineers, mechanics, and many others who ensure the service delivery process is seamless. Previously, there have been cases of the fire-fighters not getting their full salary, but the Ministry of Finance in Ghana keeps on updating their portal and ensuring they do not work under strenuous conditions. In previous years, the Government took it upon themselves to clear their rent arrears and monies that had not been paid in full. With their type of service delivery, the fire service salary in Ghana is likely to be revised. READ ALSO: Police will now use E-recruitment - IGP Source: Yen.com.gh Arsenal star, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may be new to London but he has started off in style. The former Borussia Dortmund striker has reportedly acquired a plush 16 million (almost GHC100m) mansion. Aubameyang who joined Arsenal in the January transfer window had been leaving in a hotel since his signing. The marble themed floors of Aubameyang's new house. Photo credit: Sun UK According to The Sun UK, the six-bedroom house is located in an exclusive area somewhere in North London. READ ALSO: Death of cancer-suffering teenage philanthropist breaks hearts of Ghanaians The living room of Aubameyang's new London home. Photo credit: Sun UK The stunning mansion, the report added, has an indoor pool, home cinema room and even a lift to move between two floors and his basement. The home cinema The 28-year-old Gabon striker has already moved his belongings into the building. READ ALSO: 11 sad photos from the burial of Ebony's friend Franky Kuri that will break your heart today Aubameyang has six of such spacious bedrooms. Photo credit: Sun UK His partner, Alysha Behague, with whom he has two kids, will also be moving into the new building. The building has a swimming pool inside. Photo credit: Sun UK But there is a down side, the striker's new house has too little a garage for his fleet of cars. READ ALSO: I've been 'chopped' by over 100 men - Pregnant lady confesses to Obinim in new viral video The kitchen. Photo credit: Sun UK Aubameyang made news headlines after importing his fleet of cars from Germany to be parked in front of the hotel he was lodging at. The bathroom. Photo credit: Sun UK It looks like the new acquisition could not solve that problem as his garage can only contain two of his cars. READ ALSO: Ghanaian female celebrities who are virgins The bathrooms have TVs fixed in the mirrors. Photo credit: Sun UK But in everything, this is a very positive news for Arsenal fans because it means their 180,000-a-week striker sees a future in London. Star Gist on YEN brings you an exclusive interview with upcoming music star Kobla Jnr: Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via our official Facebook or Instagram page to get it published on YEN.com.gh Source: Yen The Western African Examination Council, just like any other reputable examination body, strives to be perfect at its job by delivering quality services to all those who take part in the examination process. That is why, even though its a non-profitable organization, its still conducts its duties according to the interest of the public and awards certificates to the candidates who have merited to proceed to the next level. Normally, the results sheets for the candidates are sent to all the schools and private candidate that participated in the exercise without being charged any fee. However, you can also skip the whole process of waiting for the results through the mails by simply browsing through the WAEC RESULTS CHECKER GHANA website for your exam score. The advancement of technology particularly in the internet and computing sector has not only enhanced efficient global communication but also made the process of result submission through the WAEC online result checker for Ghana to be a smooth process. You can check for your results anytime and anywhere even at the comfort of your home without even breaking a sweat. The only thing that may be required is a computer or even smartphone with an internet connection and you are good to go. However, there are some simple instructions that you may be required to adhere to before finally getting what you are seeking. Even though the Western African Examination Council seems to be well advanced technologically and always up to date with the global evolution, it has been operational for a quite a long time, for as long as 1952 when it was first established with its headquarters in Accra, Ghana. The government of Gold Coast, which was the name given to Ghana during that era, legislated the Western African Council Ordinances in 1951 alongside Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia with Liberia joining later on, in 1974. The main aim for the enactment was to standardize the pre-university assessment in the colonial British Western African Region. WAEC Result Checker Ghana: How to Check Your Results Easily- Understanding the Basics It was formed as a non-profit organization for the five countries with its main agenda of facilitating the examination process for the citizens own good and also issuing certificates for the candidates who have attained the required pass mark equivalent to the examining authorities in the United Kingdom. In as much as its an international body, the organization also plays a crucial role in Ghana as a state, since its responsible for many other examinations particularly the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which is assessment for the Junior Secondary Schools and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) for the Senior Secondary Schools. The candidates who have passed the BESE qualify for entry to the Senior Secondary Schools as well as Technical Institutions as soon as the academic year commences in the month of September. READ ALSO:WAEC releases provisional results for BECE 2017; withholds results of 1,298 candidates for cheating The results which are traditionally issued in August and December for the BESE and SSCE respectively are sent to all the candidates in the participating schools. However, unlike other candidates the private candidates always get their statements of results for their SSCE later on in February. They are usually sent free of charge without any hidden costs issued on them. The Basic Education Certificate Examination This is usually one of the vital examinations certificates in the Ghanaian State. Its eligible for only the kind of candidates in the third year of Junior High Schools who have been approved by the Ghana Education Authority. The assessment is basically for the selection to the Senior High Schools as well as the Technical Institution and also for the certification. The exams are usually in between May and June. The subjects being examined are usually nine even though French education is always optional. The entry period for the assessment is always in October/November of every year as participating schools are required to upload their statement of entries accompanied by their selection of school choice before being processed. As for the grading, the candidates performance on the external assessment as well as the continuous internal examination will form the final marks for the examinations. Checking for the BECE results 2017 or whichever year for that matter has made been simple in this generation through the virtual internet access. The process is simple and fast compared to the traditional procedures. There are some guidelines that you are required to follow before getting your results: You need to visit the WAEC result checker Ghana BECE portal through this link: http://ghana.waecdirect.org. You are then required to enter your index number after which you select the type of examination, (for example, BECE).Then select the year of your examination e.g. 2017. once this is done, enter the card serial number which is on the opposite side of your scratch card. Then enter the 12-digit personal identification number on the scratch card. You need to verify the index number and the examination year so as to make sure you are requesting the right information. Finally, click on the submit button and wait for the display which may take just a few minutes. Check Online You can also use the result checker card by buying it from the same website by clicking on the RESULT CHECKER card HERE banner. The process is also as simple as scratch card as you will also receive a personal identification number and serial number on your phone after making payment either through Airtel money, visa card or MasterCard. After submitting your name and email address the examination board will send the information of the result checker on to your email. As luck would have it, the whole process can be done with so much ease on either smartphone or even a desktop browser. When it comes to the BECE results placement, technological advancement has done wonders as candidates are simply designated to their various senior schools through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System, (CSSPS). The system, which mainly is generated through a special algorithm, takes the shortest time possible to group all the qualified candidates to their various prospective senior schools. The BECE placement checker, for the curious students who are eager to know their prospective senior secondary school, is also a straightforward process although it may not necessarily involve going online unlike result confirmation. You also need to text your index number and the year of completion to the code 1060.For instance, if your index number is 1234567890 and you completed your learning in 2017, then you simply text 123456789017 to 1060 and you will receive a confirmatory message after a short while. Nonetheless, take note that if you leave a space in between the number or put a bracket in whichever the number, the whole process would be rendered null and void. The scripts for the exams are usually kept for three months, once the exam has been released, before gotten rid of. During this window they are allowed for review and scrutiny by any accredited concerned party such as the Head teacher of the school and not by every instances of the candidates, parents or guardian or even individuals asserting to act in loco parentis. The rules are well stipulated and clearly laid out by the organization to avoid misunderstanding. Its therefore, the responsibility of the head teacher or any accredited representative of the schools to pass along the concerns and grievances of the candidates or even the entire school regarding their performance and issues that may have led to such an outcome. The certificates on the other hand, are submitted after one month once the exam has been released and issued to the various selected schools where the candidates did their examination. However, they are only produced in a single copy and hence the damaged, misplaced or lost ones can never be replaced. READ ALSO:BECE marks and grades: How to calculate your results The Senior Secondary Certificate Examination The Senior Secondary Certificate Examination is also another crucial certificate for Ghana as a state administered by the Western African Examination Council. Similar to BECE Ghana, the results sheets and statements are issued to the schools and private candidates but after three months of completion from their examinations. The adoption of the internet services has made the results be easily accessible from an internet enabled computer as well as smartphone. Through the WAEC online result checker, you can easily confirm your WAEC results 2017 or whichever year that you had sat for your assessment. The process for checking the SSCE result is also unsophisticated and almost similar to the BECE process. The only vital task needed, is following the rules and guidelines to the latter. Guideline for the WAEC result checker Ghana: How to Check your results easily. You need to visit the WAEC result checker portal through this link: http://ghana.waecdirect.org. Next you are then needed to enter the 10-digit index number (which is usually a 7-digit number for that particular center and 3-digit candidates number). Then select the Type of examination, (for instance, SSCE). Choose the year of your examination e.g. 2016. Enter the card Serial Number which is on the reverse side of your scratch card. Then enter the 12-digit Personal Identification Number on the scratch card . You then need to verify the index number and the examination year so as to make sure you are requesting the right information. The final step is to simply click on the submit button and wait for the display window which may take just a few minutes to pop up with the results. How to Check WAEC Result Without Scratch Card Even though there have been rumors hovering around, WAEC result checker for Ghana or any other member country cannot be retrieved or confirmed without a scratch card. This misunderstanding has mainly been brought about by people mistaking the process of obtaining results through a text message as a way of avoiding use of scratch cards. However, the fact still remains that scratch cards are essential since the SMS method also requires Personal Identification Number from the scratch card, even though the serial number may not be necessarily required. Generally, there are mainly three things about WAEC online result checker that you need to know that are usually false: Confirming WAEC results without necessarily having the examination number with you Checking the WAEC results without issuing money Checking the WAEC results without a scratch card These three factors have been constantly used to mislead naive people who have no idea how the process works. The scratch card, for instance, is very crucial as it protects the result details in the WAEC database through the personal identification codes. Its also used to regulate the number of times your results can be checked on the portal other than also being a way of generating money for the council which is used for the maintenance and day to day operational for the portal. READ ALSO:A no-nonsense guide to BECE placement you'll ever need! The WAEC Ghana index number is also equally essential as it acts as your identity and hence unique for every candidate. You simply cannot check for results without identifying yourself first. Similarly, the year of examination will also make it way easier for your results to be easily located. The same applies to the type of examination that you did. You need to keep in mind that the waec examination body conducts various examinations procedures such as the GCE and SSCE not to mention the BECE and hence without clarifying your exam type will make the whole process of getting your results really hectic and next to impossible. That is why you need to provide the relevant details as required by the portal so as to get the best of the services. For more information about the organization, you can browse through WAEC Ghana contact or simply browse through their website www.ghanawaec.org Source: Yen News Young people are doing great things in Ghana, no doubt about that. But more so are some of them proving their worth in the area of philanthropy. Meet Nafisah Alhassan, a 22-year-old first-year student at the University of Professional Studies (UPS) who is already making strides in putting a smile on the faces of underprivileged boys and girls in the Upper West and Upper East Regions of Ghana. READ ALSO: I will marry my husband again - Ebony's mum promises Embarking on this ambitious project with no external funding whatsoever, Nafisah is able to clothe hundreds of these underprivileged children and also support with learning materials to aid them in learning. After every contribution, she encourages her beneficiaries to be determined, focused and study hard and with all this, they can be whatever they want to be. Unfortunately, despite government's effort to make basic education free, most children living in deprived communities shy away from school due to the non-availability of learning materials accessories like bags, shoes and so on. So far, there are some poverty alleviation programs like the LEAP programme by Government aimed at supporting deprived families and communities with financial aid and also training them with the needed vocational skills to start a business on their own. READ ALSO: Photo of glass casket carrying Ebony's remains shows she's riding home with class Other social intervention programs available are also the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) plus the school feeding program aimed at serving children with nutritious meals at school. Tribute by the parents of the late Ebony Reigns: Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh - An Accra High Court has sentenced a driver to death for killing his master - Kofi Seidu killed and buried his master in an old farm - The court says he has until 30 days to appeal his death sentence A driver in Ghana has been sentenced to death after murdering and burying a British Missionary in a farm at Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Kofi Seidu committed this crime 8 years ago and therefore sparked an intensive investigation by the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the police service. READ ALSO: She is just 22 years old and already the Mother Theresa of Ghana The driver finally got his verdict after seven judges unanimously returned a verdict of guilty on him in respect of the charge of murder. Lawyers say 75-year-old missionary who got killed was attached to the Calvary Chapel in the United States of America. In 1997, he came to Ghana as a missionary and established the Crossroads Christian Mission Incorporated in Koforidua in the Eastern Region. Picture of Kofi Seidu and the deceased British missionary Investigations revealed that the driver, Kofi Seidu, who was supposed to pick his master - the British missionary - from the Kotoka International Airport lied to friends and family that the missionary was nowhere to be found. This was after he had killed and buried him in an old farm. READ ALSO: I will marry my husband again - Ebony's mum promises This raised much concern from family and friends of the missionary resulting in a police case. Subsequent inventions by the CID turned out to reveal the burial place of the deceased missionary. Tribute by the parents of the late Ebony Reigns: Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen - Koku Anhyidohu of the NDC believes the Ghana-US military deal will spell doom for the NPP - The deputy general secretary believes Nana Addo will be "overthrown" because of this decision - There have been concerns over how the Ghana-US military deal could expose Ghana to terrorist attacks Leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and deputy general secretary of the party, Koku Anyidohu, has warned that the move by President Akufo-Addo to sign the US-Ghana military cooperation deal is a sign that his administration will soon be overthrown. The maverick politician believes that Ghana's political history will soon be repeated and that Nana Addo "will end up like his father, who was overthrown together with Dr. KA Busia in 1972." READ ALSO: She is just 22 years old and already the Mother Theresa of Ghana Koku Anyidohu's statement follows that of a self-acclaimed prophet, Cosmos Walker, who warned of an imminent overthrow of the president of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The prophet, based in the Central Region, has revealed that the only prophet who could prevent the prophecy from happening would be the spiritual protection and prayer of Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah. YEN.com.gh has read portions of this memo which also reveals that the agreement was finalized by the cabinet on Thursday, March 8, 2018. It was also gathered that this engagement between Ghana and the US started way back in the last eight months. In fact, excerpts from the agreement show that the U.S. Forces may also import into and export out of, and use in Ghana any personal property equipment supplies material technology, training or services in connection with the agreement. READ ALSO: I will marry my husband again - Ebony's mum promises This controversial decision by the government to grant the US all these permits has been described by a senior Ghanaian academician and jurist, Dr. Akilagpa Sawyerr, as a serious national security issue. Speaking on Joy FM, the academic revealed that this agreement with the US jeopardizes Ghana's sovereignty as an independent country. Tribute by the parents of the late Ebony Reigns: Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen News - The government has described Koku Anyidohu's "coup comments" as treason - Cases of treason, according to the 1992 Constitution, are punishable by death - Koku Anyodohu is in the grips of the Criminal Investigations Department The fate of Koku Anyidohu keeps darkening as the government has issued an official report, describing the "coup comments" made the deputy general secretary "treasonable". The maverick politician was arrested at the International Press Centre while he was emceeing a press conference aimed at paving way for a massive demonstration against the Ghana-US military cooperation deal. READ ALSO: Ghana-US "military deal" will expose Ghana to terrorists - Security expert Koku Anyidohu had described the demonstration as a "civilian coup" saying that the move by President Akufo-Addo to sign the US-Ghana military cooperation deal is a sign that his administration will soon be overthrown. The maverick politician believes that Ghana's political history will soon be repeated and that Nana Addo "will end up like his father, who was overthrown together with Dr. KA Busia in 1972." Government's emergency press statement against Koku Anyidohu raises questions over the charges that could be slapped the maverick politician especially when treason, according to the 1992 Constitution, is punishable by death. "Section - 180 Treason. (1) Whoever commits treason shall be liable to suffer death. (2) For the purposes of this section, "treason" shall have the meaning assigned to it by clause (3) of Article 3 of the Constitution." READ ALSO: Koku Anyidohu of NDC arrested over "overthrow Nana Addo" comments Meanwhile, government is calling on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to put its members in order to forestall similar actions from happening. YEN remembers the beautiful life of dance hall diva Ebony Reigns with this video below: Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. The universe is full of mysterious exploding phenomena that go boom in the dark. One particular type of ephemeral event, called a fast-evolving luminous transient (FELT), has bewildered astronomers for a decade because of its very brief duration. Now, NASA's Kepler Space Telescope -- designed to go hunting for planets across our galaxy -- has also been used to catch FELTs in the act and determine their nature. They appear to be a new kind of supernova that gets a brief turbo boost in brightness from its surroundings. Kepler's ability to precisely sample sudden changes in starlight has allowed astronomers to quickly arrive at this model for explaining FELTs, and rule out alternative explanations. Researchers conclude that the source of the flash is from a star after it collapses to explode as a supernova. The big difference is that the star is cocooned inside one or more shells of gas and dust. When the tsunami of explosive energy from the blast slams into the shell, most of the kinetic energy is immediately converted to light. The burst of radiation lasts for only a few days -- one-tenth the duration of a typical supernova explosion. Over the past decade several FELTs have been discovered with timescales and luminosities not easily explained by traditional supernova models. And, only a few FELTs have been seen in sky surveys because they are so brief. Unlike Kepler, which collects data on a patch of sky every 30 minutes, most other telescopes look every few days. Therefore they often slip through undetected or with only one or two measurements, making understanding the physics of these explosions tricky. In the absence of more data, there have been a variety of theories to explain FELTs: the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, a supernova boosted by a magnetar (neutron star with a powerful magnetic field), or a failed Type Ia supernova. Then along came Kepler with its precise, continuous measurements that allowed astronomers to record more details of the FELT event. "We collected an awesome light curve," said Armin Rest of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. "We were able to constrain the mechanism and the properties of the blast. We could exclude alternate theories and arrive at the dense-shell model explanation. This is a new way for massive stars to die and distribute material back into space. "With Kepler, we are now really able to connect the models with the data," he continued. "Kepler just makes all the difference here. When I first saw the Kepler data, and realized how short this transient is, my jaw dropped. I said, 'Oh wow!'" "The fact that Kepler completely captured the rapid evolution really constrains the exotic ways in which stars die. The wealth of data allowed us to disentangle the physical properties of the phantom blast, such as how much material the star expelled at the end of its life and the hypersonic speed of the explosion. This is the first time that we can test FELT models to a high degree of accuracy and really connect theory to observations," said David Khatami of the University of California at Berkeley. This discovery is an unexpected spinoff of Kepler's unique capability to sample changes in starlight continuously for several months. This capability is needed for Kepler to discover extrasolar planets that briefly pass in front of their host stars, temporarily dimming starlight by a small percent. The Kepler observations indicate that the star ejected the shell less than a year before it went supernovae. This gives insight into the poorly understood death throes of stars -- the FELTs apparently come from stars that undergo "near-death experiences" just before dying, belching out shells of matter in mini-eruptions before exploding entirely. The science team's study appears in the March 26, 2018, online issue of Nature Astronomy. Rest says the next steps will be to find more of these objects in the ongoing K2 mission, or in the next mission of that kind, TESS. This will allow astronomers to start a follow-up campaign spanning different wavelength regimes, which constrains the nature and physics of this new kind of explosion. Reference: "A Fast-Evolving Luminous Transient Discovered by K2/Kepler," A. Rest et al., 2018 Mar. 26, Nature Astronomy [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-018-0423-2]. NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, manages the Kepler and K2 missions for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. operates the flight system with support from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, archives, hosts, and distributes Kepler science data. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, in Washington, D.C. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Strong lines of communication now keep the equine industry up to date when it comes to disease outbreaks. A pivotal part of your sickness prevention plan should include a vaccination program. Only vaccination can prevent death from certain diseases, such as rabies, which has seen its fair share of announcements of late in certain parts of Canada. Dean Wichtel of the Ontario Veterinary College says, according to new information presented at an Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners meeting, the need for vaccination is greater than ever, with emerging new disease patterns that may be due in part to climate change. In times where kids cannot attend school unless they produce up-to-date immunization records, we need to think of horses in the same way. The FEI requires proof of equine influenza vaccinations for horses competing at FEI events. Competing or not, any horse that travels to events, or comes into contact with horses that travel, are exposed to inherent risks of contracting disease. A great starting point for horse owners and veterinarians to discuss their annual vaccination program is Equine Guelphs healthcare tool the Vaccination Equi-Planner. Horse owners are asked to complete six questions that help determine individual farm differences and risk factors, including: age, use, sex, exposure to outside horses and geography. This data is then compiled in a program, and a printable customized vaccination schedule is provided for each horse. Horses tend to receive their first influenza shots of the year in the springtime in anticipation of outings and increased exposure to pathogens. Equine influenza remains one of the most frequent and contagious respiratory tract diseases in horses, says Dr. Serge Denis, equine consultant with Merck Animal Health. As is the case on the human side, the equine influenza virus evolves over time (although at a less rapid pace). Therefore, the use of a vaccine including recent strains of equine influenza which meets AAEPs and OIEs recommendations is highly desirable in order to optimize coverage. The decision as to whether or not to vaccinate your horse against a particular disease is based on the risk associated with your horse becoming infected with certain disease-causing pathogens, says Dr. Alison Moore, the lead veterinarian of animal health and welfare at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Owners of horses that travel for competition need to know the diseases endemic to the areas to which they are travelling to properly protect their horse. Websites such as the Equine Disease Communication Centre (EDCC) can help inform owners regarding disease risk in certain areas. Your veterinarian should also be made aware of your travel plans and be consulted regarding which diseases are in your home area so the most effective vaccination program can be designed. Beyond vaccinations for diseases such as eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile, there are more precautions to help deter the spread of diseases transmitted via insects. Removing breeding grounds can be accomplished by eliminating standing water (e.g. old water feeders, tires around the property) and getting rid of puddles by improving drainage. Keeping manure storage as far away from the barn as possible, but accessible for staff is helpful. Fly zappers and tapes can be beneficial. There are also products that can be fed to horses to interrupt the development of fly larvae in the horses manure (feed through fly control). Fly bait can also be useful but should be used with caution if dogs and cats are around. Other options to control flies and mosquitoes include insecticide impregnated blankets/sheets and the traditional fly sprays. Disease should always be a concern if you are a horse owner and spring serves as a reminder to check your horses vaccination records. Equine Guelphs Vaccination Equi-Planner, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, is a useful tool designed for horse owners to generate personalized immunization schedules for their horses. (Equine Guelph) Military 'Transgender' Ban WASHINGTON, March 27, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- President Donald Trump issued a new memorandum last Friday disqualifying "transgender" individuals from serving in the military, stating that the defense secretary and the homeland security secretary should "exercise their authority to implement any appropriate policies concerning military service by transgender individuals." The memorandum said individuals with a history of gender dysphoria, defined as "those who may require substantial medical treatment, including through medical drugs or surgery," are disqualified from military service "except under certain limited circumstances." Those who are currently in the United States military may remain in the ranks, but the Pentagon could require them to serve according to their gender at birth. In a memo to the president, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis cited "substantial risks" about military personnel who seek to change or who question their gender identity. He found that individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria presented a risk to military effectiveness and "could undermine readiness, disrupt unit cohesion, and impose an unreasonable burden on the military that is not conducive to military effectiveness and lethality." This new policy will enable the military to apply well-established mental and physical health standardsincluding those regarding the use of medical drugsequally to all individuals who want to join and fight for the best military force the world has ever seen. Mattis suggested three exceptions: (1) If a person diagnosed with gender dysphoria can demonstrate a period of at least 36 months where they no longer suffer from the psychological condition; (2) Those diagnosed with gender dysphoria who do not seek to "transition" (receive hormone drugs and undergo plastic and other surgery), and are deployable, may also serve; and (3) Those who have already been serving prior to the effective date of the new policy will not be discharged. Two U.S. district courts, one in the District of Columbia and one in Maryland, previously blocked enforcement of President Trump's proposed August 2017 ban on "transgender" persons in the armed services. According to the Defense Department, those courts required the branches to begin allowing such recruits to sign up for military service. A third order by a U.S. District judge also allowed the state to challenge the ban, stating that Washington has an interest in protecting its residents from discrimination. In the August 2017 order, President Trump reversed policies put in place by the Obama administration in June 2016. Those Obama administration policies themselves reversed long-standing military rules against "transgender" people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Prior to June 2016, "transgender" people were not permitted to enlist in the military and members of the military who identified themselves as "transgender" were discharged. Obama's Department of Defense announced in June 2016 that openly "transgender" people would be permitted to enlist in the military as of January 1, 2018 and those already in the military could not be discharged. This 2018 policy announced by President Trump is based upon the study and findings of the Defense Department in the memorandum released by Defense Secretary Mattis. "I commend President Trump for refocusing the military's mission to emphasize readiness and unit cohesion," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "The report from the Defense Department concludes that there are substantial risks to military effectiveness and readiness regarding people who have gender dysphoria. The military is not a social club but rather a fine-tuned fighting machine of men and women who defend our freedom. It is not a right but a privilege to serve," said Staver. Staver added, "The duty of military officers is to appropriately lead and prepare their personnel to serve and protect, and they cannot do that when there is confusion, dysfunction and distraction." Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. WCC Reaffirms Water as God's Gift and a Human Right Contact: World Council of Churches Media Office, +41 79 507 6363, www.oikoumene.org/press GENEVE, March 27, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Members and partners of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Water Network (WCC-EWN) at the Alternative World Water Forum (Forum Alternativo Mundial da Agua or FAMA, in Portuguese) ratified the "Ecumenical declaration on water as a human right and a public good," originally released 13 years ago. Photo: "Water belongs to the people," read one of the banners of the FAMA rally, in Brasilia. Photo by Paulino Menezes/WCC Promoted by several local and international civil society organizations, FAMA was a parallel event to the official World Water Forum, in Brasilia, Brazil, 18-23 March 2018. The rededication of the ecumenical water declaration took place at the interfaith tent during a worship service at FAMA on 23 March. The declaration had been first issued on 22 April 2005 by the National Council of Churches of Brazil (CONIC), Swiss Confederation of Reformed Churches, National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) and the Conference of Bishops of Switzerland, during a joint meeting in Fribourg, Switzerland. Dinesh Suna, coordinator of WCC-EWN, said, the declaration is still relevant to our present context because the demand to recognize water as a human right and is even more urgent today. "There are 2.1 billion people without access to safe drinking water today - double what it was in 2005," he said. WCC is inviting its member churches to commit to water justice by endorsing the water declaration. On 22 March, World Water Day, at the closing FAMA event, the interfaith group led a march for water justice followed by a prayer service representing several leaders from different faith communities and indigenous people. Links: Ecumenical water declaration 2005 Interfaith Statement of FAMA 2018 (Portuguese) WCC Statement on water for life 2006 The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Detel announces the launch of four new feature phone models D1 Boom and D4 Prime, D120 and D500 with Panic button, specially designed keeping in mind the Government of Indias regulations regarding women safety. The new models are the first phones by the brand to feature a digital camera and while the D1 Boom and D4 prime are priced at Rs.699 and Rs. 599 respectively, both D120 and D500 are priced Rs.649 each. The feature phones are available for purchase exclusively on B2BAdda.com. The feature phones from the new range have the panic button in the form of numeric key 5 to invoke emergency calls. Once a user presses the panic button, five calls will be made to emergency number 112. Following this, five SMSs will be immediately sent to police authorities, and another three to five SMSs will be sent to family members of the user. Detel has always affiliated itself well with the government policies like Connecting India, Make in India and now keeping in mind the no1tification which had made it mandatory for mobile manufacturers to provide panic buttons in cell phones, Detel becomes the first brand to launch feature phones with panic button to ensure womens safety on the go. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Yogesh Bhatia, MD, S. G. Corporate Mobility (parent company of Detel), stated, We envision a world where all women feel safe and secure, anytime, anywhere. Therefore taking a step ahead in this direction and at the same time abiding by the governments guidelines, we are glad to bring to our customers our new feature phones, embedded with a panic button While the D1 Boom boasts of a Big Speaker, all four feature phones come with a Display of 4.5cms(1.8), Dual SIM, Auto call Recorder, Digital Camera, Video Recorder, Phone Vibrator, Wireless FM, Torch ,Power Saving, FM Recording, Audio/Video Player, Call Blacklist, 16GB Expandable Memory, SOS, 1 year warranty. The D1 Boom and D4 Prime are powered by a 1600 mAh battery and a 650 mAh battery respectively whereas the Detel D120 and D500 are backed by1050 mAh battery each and have Micro SD slots for storage expandable up to 16GB. The new feature phones also offer multi-language support with 23 Languages including English, Hindi, Punjabi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali and more. Detel D1 Boom D4 Prime D120 D500 Colour Variants-White, Black, Blue, Brown, Yellow Colour Variants-Red, Blue, Black Colour Variants- White & Blue, Black & Green, Black & Blue, Black & Red Black & Red, Black & Blue, Black & Orange, Black & Green, Black & Yellow Rs 699/- Rs 599/- Rs 649/- Rs 649/- @Technuter.com News Service Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy Obtained by ABC News(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) -- Police searching for missing Fort Bragg soldier whose car was found in a Wal-Mart lot Police in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are searching for a soldier who has been missing for several days. Sgt. Carl Seeman, 25, was reported missing on Sunday night by a fellow soldier, Fayetteville Police spokesman Sgt. Shawn Strepay said. Seeman's car was found at a local Wal-Mart that night with his cellphone inside, Strepay said. The missing soldier's grandfather is pleading for help. "We just need to know he's safe," his grandfather, Jim Maloney, said, according to ABC affiliate WTVD-TV in Durham. "He's done his part for his country," Maloney said. "Now I guess we're asking his country for their help to find him." Seeman, 25, is a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg officials said, according to WTVD-TV. He has served in the Army since 2011 and has been with the 82nd Airborne since 2015, WTVD reported. "Our investigators are actively investigating the disappearance of Mr. Seeman, including the events leading up to his disappearance," Strepay told ABC News via email. Strepay said anyone with information is asked to call Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Catalan ex-leader Carles Puigdemont detained in Germany Al Jazeera News : Fugitive Catalan ex-leader Carles Puigdemont has been detained in Germany, police in the state of Schleswig-Holstein said in a statement. Puigdemont was stopped near the Danish border with Germany, a spokesperson of his party said on Sunday. The ex-leader is being sought by Spanish authorities on charges of rebellion after he led his separatist movement in a bid for an independent Catalonia. Puigdemont had recently left Finland before authorities there could act on a European warrant against him. German police said they arrested Puigdemont in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein on the arrest warrant, which was issued by Spain. In a statement, police said the Catalan ex-leader was detained near a section of the A7 highway, which cuts through the state from the city of Flensburg near the Danish border. Police did not say exactly where Puigdemont was being held. "Schleswig-Holstein police are at this point in time unable to provide more details," it said, other than that Puigdemont was taken into custody at 11:19am (09:19 GMT). Prior to his detention in Germany, the former Catalan leader was visiting Finland for talks with lawmakers. ACC`s appeal hearing to extend Khaleda`s punishment on Wednesday The High Court on Tuesday fixed Wednesday for hearing on acceptance of an appeal filed by Anti-Corruption Commission seeking extension of punishment of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in which she was earlier sentenced to five years' imprisonment. An HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Shahidul Karim fixed the date after the appeal was placed before it. On Sunday, the ACC filed the appeal. Earlier on March 19, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's bail till May 8 in the graft case. The SC also allowed the state and the ACC to file petitions against HC order that granted bail to Khaleda fixing May 8 for next hearing. On March 12, the High Court granted a four-month interim bail to Khaleda Zia. On February 8 last, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the BNP chief and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the case. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city. The court read out a 632-page summarised version of the verdict on that day and it released the full 1174-page copy of the verdict on February 19. --UNB, Dhaka. Todays Events Discussion Bangamata Parishad, Bangladesh organises a discussion on the occasion of glorious Independence Day in the main auditorium of the National Museum in the city's Shahbag at 3:30 pm. Human chain Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote will form a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 11 am protesting conspiracy hatched by BNP against the ruling party government. Discussion Satirtha-Swajan organises a discussion on 'Non-perishable March is Rigid in the Bond of Harmony' in the VIP Lounge of the Jatiya Press Club at 10 am. Conference National Domestic Women Workers Union organises its conference in BMA auditorium in the city's Topkhana Road at 3:30 pm. Turkey, EU fail to reach any 'concrete solutions' in talks Bulgaria\'s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, European Council President Donald Tusk, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pose following a news conference at Euxinograd residence near Varna, Bulgaria on Mon AFP, Varna : The EU on Monday said it failed any "concrete solutions or compromises" with Turkey in talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeking to repair their tattered relations. Erdogan held a working dinner with European Union President Donald Tusk and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in Bulgaria with a litany of issues clouding their discussions. These include EU alarm at Erdogan's crackdown on perceived opponents following a coup attempt in 2016, the arrest of journalists, Turkey's military operations against Kurds in northern Syria and squabbling over Ankara's deal to halt the flow of refugees into Europe. This has all whipped up an increasingly acrimonious war of words and made Turkey's prospects of joining the EU-an objective that Erdogan insisted earlier on Monday that Turkey still pursues-appear even more remote. But despite hopes for a breakthrough at the summit in the Black Sea resort of Varna, Tusk said they made little tangible headway. "In terms of concrete solutions, we did not reach a concrete compromise today but I still hope it will be possible in the future," Tusk told a joint news conference. Tusk said improved relations would depend on progress on issues including the rule of law and press freedom as well as Syria. But Erdogan struck a more optimistic tone, telling reporters: "We hope that we have left a very difficult period behind in Turkey-EU relations." However he added: "We don't want rambling or unfair criticisms on sensitive issues like the fight against terror. We expect strong support." Juncker said the summit was one of "mixed feelings but not mixed messages", adding: "It was a good meeting because as this is the normal principle between big democracies, we were able to talk in all frankness and openness." Temperatures rose further last week after EU leaders condemned Turkey's "illegal actions" towards Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. Ankara hit back at the "unacceptable comments" and said the EU had lost its objectivity on Cyprus, which is divided between the Greek-majority internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north. The statement on Thursday by the 28 EU members meeting in Brussels condemned Turkey over Ankara's arrest of two Greek soldiers and its promise to prevent the Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil and gas. "For as long as the EU does not take a fair attitude, it will not have any contribution to the solution of the Cyprus issue," Erdogan said. And Juncker raised the issue of the Greek soldiers during the press conference, saying they had confidence in the Turkish side "to solve that in the best way". Ankara and Brussels had in March 2016 agreed a controversial deal to stop the flow of migrants, in what was seen as a landmark in cooperation and which Turkey hoped would yield visa free travel to Europe. So far this incentive has not been realised and Erdogan stressed the issue during the talks. Last month Turkey said it had fulfilled the 72 criteria for visa-free travel and Erdogan told reporters that the necessary paperwork had been sent to the European Commission. Erdogan said he told the EU leaders that it was "necessary to complete their work at once" on the issue. Brussels has repeatedly criticised the post-coup crackdown, which has seen nearly 160,000 people detained, including dozens of journalists. Turkey, for its part, has accused Brussels of failing to show solidarity after the coup and appears set on forging a strong partnership with President Vladimir Putin's Russia. But Juncker stressed that the EU showed its support for Erdogan merely hours after the attempted putsch began. In contrast to Erdogan's brisk evening meeting with the EU leadership, Putin-whose relations with the West have nosedived further following the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain-is expected to make a full two-day visit to Turkey next week. Ankara has agreed to buy air defence systems from Russia and Moscow will also build Turkey's first nuclear power station. Next month the EU will release its latest progress report, which is "bound to illustrate a substantial regression" in Turkey, Marc Pierini, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe and a former EU ambassador to Turkey, said in a study. During a visit by Erdogan to Paris earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron said Ankara should settle instead for a looser "partnership" with the EU and suggested no more progress was possible in accession talks. Juncker insisted that he was not in favour of stopping negotiations with Turkey but urged Ankara to improve relations with member states like Cyprus and Greece. Trump administration adds citizenship question to 2020 census Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross before signing a memorandum on intellectual property tariffs on high-tech goods from China, at the White House in Washington. Reuters, Washington : The Trump administration said late Monday it will ask people if they are citizens during the 2020 Census, at the request of the Justice Department. The contentious question was greenlit ahead of the March 31 deadline to submit a formal list of questions, despite being dropped from the U.S. Census Bureau's decennial survey 70 years ago. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross claimed the data will be used to track "alleged or suspected" Voting Rights Act violations to protect minority voters. But California Attorney General Xavier Becerra called the question politically charged and illegal, warning it will hurt minorities by leading to undercounts. He pledged to sue President Trump. "The Trump administration is threatening to derail the integrity of the census by seeking to add a question relating to citizenship to the 2020 census questionnaire," Becerra wrote in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece. "Innocuous at first blush, its effect would be truly insidious. It would discourage noncitizens and their citizen family members from responding to the census, resulting in a less accurate population count." The state's top lawyer has been fighting the Trump administration's travel ban and volatile rhetoric aimed at immigrants. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, disputed Ross' claim that collecting the data will curb voter fraud. "Make no mistake - this decision is motivated purely by politics," Holder said in a statement. Holder said he would launch a legal battle to stop the citizenship question. Mayor de Blasio challenged the Trump administration's decision as well. "The census should count everyone, but the Trump administration's shameful decision to add a citizenship question for the first time since 1950 guarantees that won't happen," the mayor tweeted. In addition to providing a demographic snapshot of the nation, the census is used to apportion the 435 seats in the House of Representatives and to allocate federal aid for various programs. The citizenship question was part of the once-a-decade until 1960 when it was scrapped - except in New York and Puerto Rico, according to federal records. The state and territory collected the data for that census only but were required to pay for it independently "to meet State constitutional requirements for State legislative apportionment." A question about citizenship status will be included on the 2020 Census to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, federal officials said on Monday, but California sued to block the move arguing that it would discourage immigrants from participating. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross decided to add the question to the count after a Department of Justice request based on the desire for better enforcement of the voting law, the U.S. Department of Commerce said in a statement. "Secretary Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information to meet this legitimate government purpose outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts," it said. The census, which is mandated under the U.S. Constitution and takes place every 10 years, counts every resident in the United States. It is used to determine the allocation to states of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to distribute billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities. Ross said in a memo that the Voting Rights Act requires a tally of citizens of voting age to protect minorities against discrimination, and that getting this information as part of the census would make it more complete. Opponents of a Census question about citizenship status say it could further discourage immigrants from participating in the count, especially when they are already fearful of how information could be used against them. The State of California, which has a large immigrant population, responded early on Tuesday by filing a lawsuit in federal court against the commerce department and census bureau. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra asked the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California to issue a preliminary injunction and rule that the move violates the constitution by interfering with the obligation to conduct a full count of the U.S. population. The announcement came as President Donald Trump tries to keep his campaign promise to build a border wall between Mexico and the United States and to crack down on illegal immigration. He ordered stricter immigration enforcement and banned travelers from several Muslim-majority countries soon after taking office in January 2017. "This untimely, unnecessary, and untested citizenship question will disrupt planning at a critical point, undermine years of painstaking preparation, and increase costs significantly, putting a successful, accurate count at risk," the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said in a statement. Test surveys showed in late 2017 that some immigrants were afraid to provide information to U.S. Census workers because of fears about being deported. "This decision comes at a time when we have seen xenophobic and anti-immigrant policy positions from this administration," said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Immigrants and those who live with immigrants are troubled by confidentiality and data-sharing aspects of the count, Mikelyn Meyers, a researcher at the Census Bureau's Center for Survey Measurement, told a meeting of the bureau's National Advisory Committee in November. Census researchers have said immigrants they interviewed spontaneously raised topics like the travel ban and the dissolution of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that has protected from deportation young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. One person, Meyers said, told government interviewers: "The possibility that the Census could give my information to internal security and immigration could come and arrest me for not having documents terrifies me." Citizen questions have appeared on the census in the past and are included on more frequent population surveys that are administered by the census bureau. Ross said he met Census officials and considered arguments for and against the change made by interest groups, members of congress and state and local officials. He said no evidence was provided to the agency that showed a citizenship question would decrease response rates among those who already "generally distrusted government and government information collection efforts, disliked the current administration, or feared law enforcement." However, Ross said the commerce department was unable to determine how the citizen question would affect responsiveness. "Even if there is some impact on responses, the value of more complete and accurate data derived from surveying the entire population outweighs such concerns," he said in the memo. Jimmy Carter calls Trump's hiring of John Bolton his 'worst mistake' yet HuffPost In a CBS interview scheduled to air Tuesday, Jimmy Carter did not mince words when denouncing President Donald Trump's decision to hire John Bolton as his national security adviser. "I have been concerned at some of the things he's decided," the 93-year-old former president told "CBS This Morning" host Norah O'Donnell, according to a press release from the network. "I think his last choice for national security adviser was very ill-advised. I think John Bolton has been the worst mistake he's made." The excerpt CBS released on Monday did not include commentary from Carter on why he thought Trump had erred in hiring Bolton. Bolton, a former United Nations ambassador whom Trump named to the role last Thursday, is known for his hostile foreign policy stances. He fiercely advocated for the Iraq War and promoted the false justification for it, has called for bombing Iran and North Korea, damagedthe United States' foreign policy reputation, and has aligned himself with anti-Muslim hate groups. When Bolton steps into the national security role on April 9, he'll become the third person to serve in the position under Trump. BEZA to allot 500 acres land to BGMEA in MEZ Harunur Rashid, Executive Member of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and Md. Siddiqur Rahman, President of BGMEA, exchanging a MoU signing documents at a hotel in the city recently. Paban Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BEZA and Abul Kalam Azad, Business Desk : Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) is going to allot 500 acres of land to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for setting up a well-planned readymade garments industry park in the Mirsarai economic zone of Chittagong to increase apparel export. In this connection, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two organizations at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the city on Wednesday. Under the memorandum, entrepreneurs will establish their industrial units or relocate there factories in the zone. According to the MoU they will get all kind of facilities, including tax exemptions on business earnings. Investors will also enjoy exemptions from VAT on electricity and taxes on sale and self-generated or purchased electricity for 10 years. Paban Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the BEZA, said that this garments park will help the garment makers to earn $50 billion by 2021 and increase the export competitiveness of local apparel manufacturers through reducing the cost of transportation as the proposed park is located very close to the Chittagong port. BGMEA has a target to export $50 billion worth of apparels by 2021, but it has no roadmap to achieve the target, Paban Chowdhury added. "We will offer competitive incentive package, one stop service and we will promote and protect investment in the economic zone for our valued investors,"said Paban Chowdhury. BGMEA, President , Siddiqur Rahman said, "We will invest $2 billion for setting up RMG and garment accessories factories at the proposed garment park for generating employment for 5 lakh people". Kuwait Fund signs $51m deal with BD Economic Reporter : A loan agreement was signed on Tuesday under which the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) will provide US$ 51 million loan to Bangladesh for urban infrastructure development in 53 municipalities across the country. The loan agreement for the "Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project" was signed this afternoon at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area. ERD Secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam and Deputy Director General of KFAED Hamad Al-Omar signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division (LGD) will implement the project in a bid to ensure integrated physical infrastructure development and socio-economic development of 53 municipalities in eight divisions. Under the project, development works of physical infrastructures like roads, drainage system, bridges, culverts and other civic facilities of these municipalities will be carried out. NBR to start pre-budget talks from April 3 Economic Reporter : The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will start pre-budget discussion with trade bodies and other stakeholders from April 3 as part of its move to prepare national budget for fiscal year 2018-19 (FY19). The NBR will discuss issues relating to customs and tax with representatives of 21 sectors as part of its pre-budget talks. "We are going to open pre-budget talks with trade bodies and other stakeholders from April 3. The list of trade bodies and stakeholders for the talks will be finalized in a day or two," chief budget coordinator of NBR Mohammad Lutfar Rahman told. NBR chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan will chair the pre-budget talks to be held at the NBR's 'Rajashwa Bhaban' in the city's Segunbagicha area. Senior information officer of NBR Syed A Munam said NBR will review all proposals and suggestions of the trade bodies and the stakeholders and send to the finance ministry for taking into consideration for budget preparation. Earlier on March 18, the NBR sought proposals from individuals, trade bodies, organizations and establishments to make its revenue mobilization policy more effective for FY19. The revenue authorities requested the organizations concerned to submit their proposals in written to the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). It also requested the chambers and associations to send a softcopy of their proposals to the NBR's email (nbrbudget2018.2019@gmail.com). The establishments, organizations and offices which are not members of any chamber or association can send their budget proposals to the NBR through this email. 4 of a family among 5 burned in city Staff Reporter : At least five persons, including two women and a child, sustained burn injuries when an underground reservoir of a house exploded and caught fire in the city's Pallabi area on Tuesday morning. The victims are Yakub Ali, 70, building owner, his wife Hasinara Khanam, 60, Yeasmin, 27, Yeasmin's daughter Ruhi, 3, and Hasan, 32, Police said. Witnesses said, the fire broke out in the reserve water tank of the six-storey building owned by Yakub Ali around 11:30am when worker Hasan lit a candle inside it for light while cleaning it. The fire engulfed Hasan and others who were standing outside the reservoir, leaving them injured. The injured were taken to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). In the morning, caretaker Mohammad Hasan opened the cover of the septic tank for cleaning it. He dropped a flaming paper into the septic tank to check the presence of toxic gas. That triggered the blast, according to the Mirpur Fire Service. Dr Partha Shanker Paul, Resident Medical Officer at the DMCH, described their condition as serious, saying they got their throats burned. Of the injured, Hasinara suffered 95 percent burns, Ruhi 90 percent, Hasan 85 percent, Yeasmin 41 percent and Yakub 25 percent, said Bachchu Mia, Sub-Inspector of the DMCH police camp. The incident took place at Pallabi, neighbourhood of Mirpur, around 11:30am and they were admitted to DMCH, said Dadan Fakir, Offier-in-Charge (OC) of Pallabi Police Station. Khaleda`s release demanded Vowing afresh to 'restore democracy and people's rights' and ensure their party chief's release from jail, BNP on Tuesday took out a colourful rally in the city, marking the 48th Independence Day. Hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies started gathering in front of its Nayapaltan central office and its adjacent areas with small processions since noon. The BNP men joined the rally towards Shantinagr from Nayapaltan, led by their central leaders, carrying the national flag, placards, banners, festoons and portraits of party top leaders amid huge presence of law enforcers. They chanted various slogans seeking their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the rally around 2pm in front of the party's central office. The rally ended at Nayapaltan around one hour later after parading Kakrail and Shantinagar roads, creating traffic tailbacks in Motijheel, Fakirerpool, Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Shantinagr and Malibagh areas. In a brief speech before taking out the rally, Fakhrul said the country's people are now deprived of their all rights as the government has snatched those. "We'd fought the Liberation War with the spirit of establishing democracy. But the government wants to cling to power establishing one-party rule by destroying that spirit." He urged his party colleagues to take a vow on the occasion of the Independence Day to be vocal for 'restoring democracy, people's all rights, including voting one', and freeing Khaleda Zia from jail. "The country's people want peace, democracy and their rights to be restored. The government must free our leader (Khaleda) and all other political prisoners from jail," Fakhrul told the rally. He also called upon the government to take steps for holding the next general election under a non-party administration. "The Prime Minister must resign and the parliament will have to be dissolved before the polls." BNP standing committee members Mirza Ababs and Nazrul Islam Khan and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also addressed the rally. BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, vice-chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Mohammad Shahjahan, AZM Zahid Hossain and Ahmed Azam Khan, chairperson's advisers Zainul Abedin Farroque, Abdus Salam, Abul Khair Bhuiyan, Habibur Rahman Habib and Ataur Rahman Daly, joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon and publicity secretary Shaheeduddin Chowdhury Anee, among others, joined the rally. The traffic came to a halt in Nayapaltan and its adjoining areas for nearly one and a half hours since 1:30pm, causing immense sufferings to commuters. Several hundred law enforcers were deployed at different points from Nayapaltan to Malibagh crossing to fend off any untoward incident. SC seeks BGMEA's undertaking Staff Reporter : The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday asked the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to give an undertaking saying that they would not seek more time to relocate their multi-storied building constructed illegally at Begunbari and Hatirjheel Lake in Dhaka. If the BGMEA leaders give the undertaking, then the court will pass order on the time-petition filed by them, said the four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Hossain. The Apex Court was scheduled to pass an order on Tuesday on the petition recently submitted by the BGMEA seeking one-year more time for demolishing the building. "The court will not pass order today (Tuesday)," the Bench said. Barrister Imtiaz Moinul Islam, a lawyer for BGMEA, told the journalists that they had already informed the Supreme Court's order to the BGMEA authorities. The authorities will now decide when they would give the undertaking to the Supreme Court. The BGMEA has already started constructing its new office complex as the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) has allocated land in the capital's Uttara, Barrister Imtiaz said citing the petition earlier. However, the BGMEA needs one year more to relocate its office, he added. On March 5, 2018, leaders of the BGMEA appealed to the Supreme Court for the third time urging more time to relocate the building. The Appellate Division on Sunday heard that prayer and fixed Tuesday to pass order on it. On April 3, 2011, the HC Bench of Justice A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain declared construction of the BGMEA building illegal. The HC released the full text of its verdict on March 19, 2013. The BGMEA authorities filed leave to appeal petition on May 21, 2013. After hearing, a four-member Bench of the Appellate Division headed by the then Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha rejected the appeal petition filed by the BGMEA on June 2, 2016. In December 2016, President of the BGMEA filed a petition seeking review of the Supreme Court judgment. The Supreme Court on March 5, 2017 dismissed the petition seeking review of its judgment that upheld the High Court verdict for demolishing the BGMEA complex. A three-member Bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by the then Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after two days' hearing. Then the SC asked the BGMEA authorities to submit a petition seeking time to relocate the building. Following this order, BGMEA filed an application with the SC seeking three years time. After hearing the petition, the SC on March 12, 2017 granted six months time to the BGMEA. This time expired on September 12, 2017. In the meantime, the BGMEA filed time-prayer seeking one year more time on August 23, 2017. After hearing the petition on October 8, 2017, the SC gave another seven months time to BGMEA to relocate the building from Dhaka's Hatirjheel area. Then the apex court said that it was the last chance for BGMEA. The court will not extend the deadline for relocating the BGMEA building after six months. A five-member Bench of the Appellate Division headed by the then Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah passed the order. This time will expire on April 12, 2018. Meanwhile, the BGMEA authorities filed another time-prayer to the SC seeking one year more time on March 5, 2018. The SC heard the prayer yesterday. The SC said in its full verdict that although both -- site clearance certificate and environment clearance certificates -- were required for the commercial building, the "petitioner failed/did not care to obtain," the latter. No commercial establishment can be set up without obtaining the environment clearance from the Department of Environment as stated in Section 12 of the Environment Conservation Act 1995 and Rule 7(4) of the Environment Conservation Rules 1997, it said. Since the water bodies "never belonged to the petitioner, at any point of time," the construction violates "Section 5 of the "Joladhar Ain, 2000" as well as Sections "6(Uma)" and 12 of the Environment Conservation Act 1995", it observed. It said the two natural water bodies, mentioned in Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan, Vol-II (urban area plan of 1995-2005), drain one-third of Dhaka city's storm and waste-water and retain some rainwater for recreational opportunities. Any commercial building changing the water bodies' nature and character in violation of "Joladhar Ain, 2000" is unlawful and violates Environment Conservation Act 1995, it said. Also, the Export Promotion Bureau has no right to allot the property, it added. The construction violates "Section 3 of the Building Construction Act 1952" and other rules under it, reads the verdict. Moreover, the HC order was "well reasoned and based on proper appreciation of facts and circumstances as well as the law", it said. HC hearing on extending punishment of Khaleda today Staff Reporter : The High Court (HC) is likely to hold hearing today (Wednesday) on an appeal petition filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking increase of punishment awarded to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust case. The appeal petition was submitted on Tuesday in the court of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim. The court said that the petition would be in the cause list of Wednesday for hearing. ACC's lawyer Khurshed Alam Khan told the journalists, "The petition will come in the cause list on Wednesday. Hope, the court will hear the petition." The trial court jailed Khaleda Zia for five years in the case on February 8. The ACC on Sunday submitted the petition to the High Court saying that the five other accused in the same case were given 10 years imprisonment. But the lower court sentenced Khaleda Zia, the prime accused, five years imprisonment only. It is inadequate, ACC's lawyer Khurshed Alam Khan said. In its appeal the ACC prayed to the High Court to enhance the sentence given to Khaleda Zia in Zia OrphanageTrust case, he added. On February 8, Khaleeda Zia was jailed for five years in Zia Orphanage case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2008. Judge of the Special Court-5 of Dhaka also sentenced Khaleda Zia's eldest son and BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Tk 2.10 crore each. On March 12, the High Court bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim granted bail to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for four months in the case. The ACC and the government filed two separate appeal petitions against the HC order to stay the bail on the following day. On March 14, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia till March 18. The SC also directed both the parties to file leave to appeal petitions by this time. Both the parties filed leave to appeal petitions on March 15 and the SC heard those petitions on March 18. After concluding hearing the SC stayed the bail till May 8. Ajit Doval in city to attend Bimstec security chiefs' meet Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval arrived here on Tuesday afternoon on a three-day official visit to attend the Bimstec national security chiefs' meeting and hold discussions with Bangladesh officials. The second meeting of the national security chiefs of the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) will be held here on Wednesday, an official told UNB. Prime Minister's Security Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique is likely to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting. Senior officials from home, defence and foreign affairs ministries will assist him. Member states of Bimstec are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The first meeting of the Bimstec national security chiefs was held in New Delhi on March 21 in 2017. The meeting noted that Bimstec Member States face common security challenges and underlined the necessity of addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges to harness economic prosperity and human security in the region. It underscored the importance of recognising the Bay of Bengal as common security space and agreed to work out collective strategies for common responses. On March 20, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla said terrorism remains the single largest threat to peace and stability in the region. "To achieve the desired regional cooperation, it's essential to have peace and security in the region," he said, adding that the national security chiefs' meeting will deepen the cooperation in the security domain, including maritime security. Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale is likely to be here in the second week of April. He will attend an event on Bangladesh-India relations on April 9 with Prime Minister's International Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi as the chief guest in the city, an official told UNB. The newly appointed Indian Foreign Secretary is likely to discuss bilateral issues, including the much-desired Teesta water-sharing deal, with Bangladesh officials during the two-day visit. US, EU to expel 100 Russian diplomats Reuters, London/Washington : The United States said on Monday it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe in punishing the Kremlin for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain that they have blamed on Moscow. It was the strongest action that U.S. President Donald Trump had taken against Russia since coming to office. He has been criticized by Democrats and members of his own Republican Party for failing to be tough enough on Russia over U.S. allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. electoral system, including the 2016 presidential campaign. British Prime Minister Theresa May, welcoming the show of solidarity, said 18 countries had announced plans to expel Russian officials. Those included 14 European Union countries. In total, 100 Russian diplomats were being removed, the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War. Australia later confirmed it was expelling two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers, citing Russia's "reckless and deliberate conduct". New Zealand said it had no such agents operating on its shores but would expel them if it did. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Twitter Monday's "extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our shared security". May said the coordinated measures sent the "strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law". Britain had evidence Russia has investigated ways of distributing nerve agents for assassinations, May told parliament. Russia's Foreign Ministry called the expulsions a "provocative gesture". A Kremlin spokesman said the West was making a "mistake" and that President Vladimir Putin would make a final decision about Russia's response. Moscow has denied being behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury. Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, were found unconscious on a public bench in a shopping center on March 4 and remain critically ill in hospital. "We assess that more than 130 people in Salisbury could have been potentially exposed to this nerve agent," May said. Monday's wave of expulsions followed EU leaders saying last week that evidence presented by May of Russian involvement in the attack was a solid basis for further action. The staff expelled by Washington includes 12 people identified by the United States as intelligence officers from Russia's mission to the United Nations headquarters in New York. They were involved in activities outside their official capacity and an abuse of their privileges of residence, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said. Russian U.N. ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called it "a very unfortunate, very unfriendly move". Trump also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle because of its proximity to a U.S. submarine base and planemaker and defence contractor Boeing Co, a senior U.S. official said. Seattle was a hub of Russian cyber espionage, both political and commercial, according to two U.S. intelligence officials. The administration officials said "well over 100 intelligence officers" operated in the United States, and Washington's action cuts 60 of them. The envoys and their families have been given a week to leave the United States, according to one U.S. official. Australia has issued the same deadline to its expelled diplomats. Trump, who before he took office in January last year promised warmer ties with Putin, last week congratulated the Russian leader on his re-election, drawing criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. Trump said the two leaders had made tentative plans to meet in the "not too distant future". He did not bring up the poisoning attack in his phone call with Putin. Trump himself was silent on Monday on Twitter, where he often comments about his policy decisions. However, the White House said later it would like to have a "cooperative relationship" with Russia. "The president wants to work with the Russians but their actions sometimes don't allow that to happen," White House spokesman Raj Shah told a news briefing. "The poisoning in the U.K. that has kind of led to today's announcement was a very brazen action. It was a reckless action." U.S. lawmakers largely welcomed Trump's move on Monday. Washington had already imposed sanctions on Russian citizens and firms for U.S. election meddling and cyber attacks but put off targeting oligarchs and government officials close to Putin. "Punishing diplomats is not a direct threat to Putin's power or money. Further, our previous efforts to kick out diplomats has done little to change Kremlin behavior," said former CIA officer John Sipher, who served in Moscow and ran the agency's Russia operations. U.S. officials said the scale of the expulsions was based not only on the expansion of Russian espionage in the United States, but also on its increasing focus on critical infrastructure targets such as electrical grids, financial networks, transportation and healthcare. Goal of development must make a difference in the lives of the people Mahbub ul Haq was that rare combination of thinker-doer. He was acutely aware that theoretical debates were not enough, and that we have to think about policies that make a difference in the lives of people. Articulate, persuasive, he was a thought leader, par excellence. His Cambridge friend Amartya Sen became his close partner in this journey. Other luminaries like Paul Streeten, Gus Ranis, Frances Stewart joined this core group. Coincidentally Amartya won his Nobel Prize in Economic Science in 1998 for his contribution to advance the notion of human development, best captured by the first sentence of the 1990 Human Development Report, that 'people are the wealth of nations. The government has every reason to celebrate that Bangladesh has fulfilled during its time in power the UN eligibility criteria to become a developing country. The country will now work to graduate itself to the status of developing nation by 2024 as it has come out from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Bangladesh unkindly bracketed as bottomless basket when it attained independence. But reaching success to become a developing country the politics of the country has to be changed like many other policy changes. Indulging in corruption and not to be a government of democratically accountability will not be helpful to meet the new challenges. It is the result of many years of slow economic growth under various governments. And major contribution was made by the sector in our agriculture based economy. Criticising the German think-tank for terming Bangladesh an autocracy is not fully justified. The present government believes in democracy of development and that is not democracy. The present government knows it is not a properly elected government but that is no concern for the government. It is not willing to hold free election by resigning from power the same way it is done in other parliamentary systems. Its attack on the judiciary to deny its independence is also not a secret. The government does not believe that there should be opposition in the parliament. The government's intolerance to opposition politics outside is for everybody to see. The people are not assured of their lives free from fear. So this is not democracy. True we are not yet under absolute autocracy. But the bureaucrats know only the autocratic way. The government needs to be democratised if it wants to be known as democratic government. Let it start with free election and faith in public support. Let us come back to the discussion on Bangladesh graduating towards a developing country. The challenges of becoming a developing country will be much harder. There will pressure for democracy and transparency in public expenditure. The banking scandals are one example of what we need to shed to be truly developing-the corruption. Big corruption exists primarily in the public sector of our economy must be halted. We can invest billions to build highways and flyovers but if we cannot reduce corruption the overall costs of development go up. Cleaning up the financial sector is essential towards reducing the costs of investment for true investors. Bangladesh's woven garments are losing competitiveness in the global market mainly for longer lead time, poor backward linkage, and insufficient gas and port facilities so more investment in this sector is essentially important if we are to remain competitive in the international market. We would lose GSP facilities and we have to overcome it improving efficiency and reducing cost of doing business. We have also to strengthening the democratic process to prepare ourselves for good and accountable governance. It needs an inclusive election to avoid factors which may cause economic slow down. The UN body has also cautioned us about the need for acquiring the ability to meet the challenges of becoming a developing country by 2024. We need national unity and not divisive politics for us to go forward together. Political instability is no way to achieve steady progress. Reckless lending ADR of troubled Farmers Bank hits 105.24 pc Staff Reporter : Scam-hit Farmers Bank had maintained a high advance-deposit ratio (ADR) over the last couple of years after plunging into the bad patch of aggressive lending. The ADR of the bank crossed the regulatory limit, rising over 105 per cent as on December 31 last year, according to Bangladesh Bank. The bank disbursed a total loan of Tk 5151.41 crore last year against its total deposit of Tk 4449.57 crore, meaning it has lost the ability to pay the depositors back. Of the total outstanding loan, over Tk 2,000 crore was provided to shady companies violating banking norms, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB). "Farmers Bank had provided more loans than its total deposit crossing the regulatory limit. It expanded credit to the market breaching the central bank rules relating to ADR," a senior BB official told The New Nation yesterday, on condition of anonymity. He said ADR of the bank went high to 105.24 per cent last year due mainly to aggressive lending practices. The bank also maintained over 102 per cent ADR in 2015 and 2016. As per the central bank rules, conventional commercial banks are not allowed to lend more than 85 per cent of their deposits. "The Farmers Bank had started operating banking activities since June 2013. Just after the operation, the then board of the bank adopted an aggressive lending policy making the bank vulnerable," said the BB official, adding, "It was maintaining a high ADR in the last three years despite warnings from the central bank." "The Farmers Bank has already turned insolvent forcing the depositors to approach for the central to get back their deposit. We have received complaints from the depositors as the bank refused to repay them." "My bank has already taken measures to bring down the ADR to permissible limit. The bank will also repay the money of depositors within the shortest possible time as it has already recovered a large amount from defaulters," Md Ehsan Khasru, Managing director of Farmers Bank told The New Nation. 31 commit suicide everyday Lack of necessary support from families, community: Police HQs Md Joynal Abedin Khan : The suicide incident is sharply increasing across the country, creating a deep panic among the people. About 11,095 people committed suicide in the country in 2017, which means, on an average, more than 31 people killed themselves everyday. Barisal topped the list in 2017, with a total of 2,585 deaths by suicide, showed a data of Police Headquarters. Experts said that people go through many hurdles and trauma in their daily lives, but they do not receive the necessary social and psychological support to overcome these issues. They feel that suicide is the only option out of their troubles. According to data from Police Headquarters, among the 11,095 people who committed suicide in 2017, 569 of them hanged themselves, 3,467 took poison, and 59 burnt themselves in fire. In 2016, the total number of suicide cases in Bangladesh was 10,600. In 2017, the number increased to 11,095. The rate of suicide is increasing each year. In 2015, about 10,500 people committed suicide, and in 2014, this number was 10,200. It is notable that, in Bangladesh, the number of suicides is higher than the number of murders every year. In 2014, the number of murders was 4,594 compared with 10,200 in suicide. Similarly, in 2015, about 4,036 people were murdered, but 10,500 people killed themselves. In 2016, some 3,591 murders were reported while in 2017, 3,549 were the numbers. After Barisal, Dhaka district had the highest number of suicides in 2017. That year, 2,585 people committed suicide in Dhaka, 1,433 people in Rangpur, and 1,197 killed themselves in Sylhet. In 2017, a total of 1,239 suicide cases were reported from Railway Range (areas falling under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railways) of the country. When compared with districts, the number of suicide in Railway Range area, after Barisal and Dhaka, is more than any other district. Incidents of suicide are increasing worldwide. According to WHO, across the globe, more people used to die from suicide than in warfare. Dr Md Kamruzzaman Majumdar. Chairman of Clinical Psychology Departmental of University of Dhaka, told The New Nation on Tuesday, "When people do not get necessary support from their family and community, suicide increases." "The most common reason of suicide is mental pressure and grief. Those who cannot tend to believe that their suffering is permanent. So they commit suicide to free themselves of their misery, he said. "Feelings of inadequacy contribute to ultimately feeling helpless. These negative feelings constantly keep an individual under pressure. Moreover, because we lead very busy lives, we do not give time to our friends and families." According to him. He said that people tend to feel isolated. All these are increasing the rate of suicide in the country. Families, society and the State can play an active role in remedying the situation. "I have had clients who have tried to commit suicide in the past. When I asked why did they want to end their own lives, they often talked about many issues and general lack of support from family. If we can solve these issues, the rate of suicide will come down. We have to listen to these people, we have to give them time," he said. Get united to protect democracy, says Dr Kamal UNB, Dhaka : Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Tuesday urged all to get united to protect democracy in the country. "The people of the country achieved the desired victory against the Pakistani occupational forces in 1971...now we must protect the dignity of the victory," he said. The Gono Forum President came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion titled 'Want Democracy, Rule of Law and Fair Election' at the Jatiya Press Club here in the afternoon. "The people of the country have become frustrated at the current situation. Some 30 lakh martyrs sacrificed their lives for the country, but we cannot let it go under any autocratic ruler again," he said. UN Chief hits out at Myanmar army chief AFP : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday (Mar 26) criticised Myanmar's army chief after he declared that the Muslim Rohingya had nothing in common with the country's other ethnic groups. Guterres said he was "shocked" at reports of General U Min Aung Hlaing's remarks at a military gathering and urged Myanmar's leaders to "take a unified stance against incitement to hatred and to promote cultural harmony." At the gathering in northern Kachin state on Monday, Hlaing referred to the Rohingya as "Bengalis," a term meant to describe them as foreigners, and said they "do not have the characteristics or culture in common with the ethnicities of Myanmar." "The tensions were fuelled because the 'Bengalis' demanded citizenship," said the general who was quoted in the Dhaka Tribune. Some 700,000 Rohingya have been driven into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August by a major army crackdown that the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing. Myanmar authorities say the operation is aimed at rooting out extremists. Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize laureate, has lost her democratic credentials on the world stage for failing to speak out in favour of the Rohingya. Guterres said it was "critical that conditions are put in place to ensure that the Rohingya are able to return home voluntarily, in safety and in dignity." The UN Security Council is hoping to travel to Myanmar to get a first-hand look at the refugee crisis, but has not yet been given the green light for the trip by Myanmar authorities. Guterres has for months been weighing the appointment of a special envoy for Myanmar that would keep the plight of the Rohingya in the international spotlight. Harvest rainwater for development: PM UNB, Dhaka : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all concerned to create reservoirs to harvest rainwater during the monsoon to utilise it for the country's development. "We've to work out a plan for creating ways to harvest the water that we get during the monsoon," she said. Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing a function organised by Water Resources Ministry at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), marking the World Water Day 2018. She said, the water preservation capacity of the country's rivers has decreased due to siltation. "Riverbeds get inflated due to siltation. This is how they lose their navigability, but we have to protect our rivers." The Prime Minister said, the rivers could retain their navigability through the planned dredging which will be beneficial for the country. "I always think that through dredging, we could increase the navigability of the rivers and we can preserve the excessive water that comes from the Himalaya during the rainy season. The more water we can preserve the more it will be beneficial for the country," she said. Talking about seasonal flood, Hasina said flood is also needed for Bangladesh. "We've to live with flood, but we need to be careful so that this flood doesn't harm us... we have to utilise the bright side [increasing land fertility] of flood, too," she said. The Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned to take plans keeping that view of flood in mind. "We also have to implement those plans so that we can achieve the desired goal of making Bangladesh a poverty- and hunger-free country as dreamt by Bangabandhu," she said. She said there should always be preparations to face the challenges of nature as the people of the country have to live with it. About filling rivers, canals, beels and ponds in the name of development, Hasina said all must refrain from this practice. She said Bangladesh then initiated the Teesta Barrage construction without considering its consequences. "We didn't think anything about what will happen in the future." As a lower riparian country, Bangladesh should have thought about the outcome of this barrage, the Prime Minister said, adding, "Now we're having problems with the water of the Teesta River." Briefly describing government's various programmes for water management, she said it formulated the National Water Policy-1999, Bangladesh Water Act-2013, Environment Conservation Rules-1997 and National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation-1998. It also signed the 'Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development' with India in 2011 to ensure the sustainable use of water resources. She mentioned that Bangladesh Water Development Board has completed 825 projects since its inception which has brought about 64 lakh hectares of land under the facilities of flood control, drainage and irrigation where additional 10 million tonnes of food grain are being produced annually, ensuring self-sufficiency in food. In addition, 1,030 square km of land have been reclaimed from estuaries and rivers. "We've constructed 139 polders in coastal areas. As a result, 133 upazilas under 19 districts have been protected from the intrusion of saline water which also provides favourable environment for crop production in the coastal areas of Bangladesh," she added. Hasina said, rivers and navigation routes have been protected through dredging and preventing riverbank erosion. "The lives and property of the people of coastal areas have been protected from cyclone and stormsurges by constructing coastal embankments." "The government invested Tk 15,250 crore in the Annual Development Programmein the water sector in the last five years. A total of 57 projects were completed in the last financial year. The government has allocated Tk 4,663 crore in the current fiscal year and increased the allocation for the water resources development," she said. Water Resources Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, State MinisterMuhammad Nazrul Islam and Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Mahfuzur Rahman also spoke at the programme chaired by acting Water Resources Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar. The theme of the World Water Day is: 'Nature for Water'. Yes, the decision belongs on the local level No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks Vote View Results It's probably safe to say there is only one city marshal in the state heck, the country who would knowingly retain a convicted felon on his roster of reserve deputies. It's just another in a long line of examples of Brian Pope doing whatever the hell he wants to do with his office with no regard for the public's best interest. The embattled Lafayette city marshal is facing a seven-count felony indictment charging him with perjury and malfeasance in office. The charges largely stem from lies Pope told under oath about the role the Chad Leger for Sheriff campaign played in a 2015 press conference and Pope's use of public resources to smear Leger's opponent, all of which was revealed after The Independent sued the marshal for public records related to the presser. He is set to go to trial in September. More recently, The IND revealed that Pope is making more than $220,000 a year in large part by personally collecting illegally, it seems fees from city court and a percentage of garnishments administered by his office (and he is now asking the council for more money after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money on his and The IND's legal fees in the public records lawsuit). That hasn't gone over well with voters. Williams took the stand Thursday and claimed the alleged sex act never occurred and that the victim was the aggressor who tried to bribe him with sex to help with drug charges. He told the jury that he was present when the woman was booked and bonded out of jail on drug possession charges. He testified the next time he saw her he was off duty and at the Guillory Bonding Co. Williams said it was during that second meeting that she began to tell him of her troubles after moving from Houston to Lafayette. Williams said he suggested they go into another room out of the presence of others for her to tell about her problems. While in the room, he said, she began to cry and laid her head on his shoulder. He told the jury that he consoled her and the woman persisted in asking for help with her drug charges, even though he insisted he could provide no assistance. Eventually, he said, she offered to perform a sexual favor in return for his help with the drug charges. He recalled she said I dont even like sex. I just want to get out of Lafayette. While making a phone call in the room, Williams said, the woman began taking off her clothes and later unzipped her pants, but he denied his pants were lowered as the victim claimed Wednesday. If his pants had been lowered, he said, his off-duty pistol would have fallen out of his back pocket. He said he refused to allow the woman to proceed, then left the room without engaging in any sexual activity. For a story early last year, The Independent requested from Pope a list of all of the men and women he had commissioned as deputies, full-time and reserve, since taking office. What the list revealed was that he had been doling out badges and commission cards to an extraordinary number of reserve deputies , more than 60 at last count. Thats 10 times what I had, his predecessor, Nickey Picard, told The IND at the time. Reserves are unpaid volunteers who serve as support staff to full-time deputies, supposedly undergoing the same training as full-time officers. In Popes case, however, many of the reserves are nothing more than honorary deputies who have recorded zero training and log little or no hours assisting the department, the marshals own records show.Missing from what Pope provided it soon became evident that he had commissioned so many reserves that he lost track of them was the name Ricky Williams. A parallel public records request for all deputies names to the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court and the Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office, which as a courtesy once processed and printed the cards for the marshals office, turned up the name of Williams and eight other reserves whose names Pope had not supplied. Williams was commissioned in June 2015.As The IND pointed out in the original story about his penchant for deputizing, " Pope & his posse ," some of Pope's reserves had questionable pasts. But the problem with Williams is that he is a convicted felon, having been found guilty of attempted aggravated crime against nature in April 1982 after a woman testified that he forced her to perform a sexual act on him the previous December. Williams was given a two-year sentence in the parish jail.Williams was a police officer with the Lafayette Police Department at the time of the crime and was fired shortly after refusing to take a polygraph, according to local media reports.Mike Harson, then an assistant district attorney, prosecuted the case, in which Williams was initially indicted for aggravated crime against nature, a charge that mandated a sentence of three to 15 years. Harson argued that Williams used his job as a policeman to obtain sexual favors from the woman. Another man, a bail bondsman named Irving Reed, was indicted on a charge of false imprisonment in connection with the incident.According to an April 9, 1982, account from The Advocate, which covered the jury trial: It was the victims testimony, however, and that of a key witness that swayed the jurors. Testifying the day before Williams took the stand, the woman explained that the incident took place her first night on the job at the bonding company. According to The Advocate: The woman said she followed Williams into a room at the bonding company office after he seemed sympathetic about rude behavior by another man at the office. Once in the room, she said, Williams made threats that I would never see my children again and that he could obtain revocation of her bond set for her on drug possession charges. She said she submitted to Williams demand after he told her he could kill her and suffer no consequences. After the incident, the woman testified, she cowered in the corner of a room and cried, but did not go to the police. After having an incident like that with a policeman, another officer was the last person I wanted to see, she said under intense cross-examination by defense attorney Max Jordan. ... She said Reed told her if she told anyone about the incident my body would be found in the morgue chewed up by alligators. ... The last witness of the day was Joseph Comeaux, a janitor at the bonding office. Comeaux corroborated much of the womans testimony and said he heard her crying and noticed she was upset when she came out of the room. She was so scared, she was scared of me, he said. Comeaux said he also overheard Williams tell the woman to shut up in a violent tone of voice. The Marshal conducts background checks on all persons who are considered to become a commissioned deputy marshal (both full-time or reserve). It is the Marshals policy that if any unexpunged felony conviction is noted on the background check, then the person is not eligible to become a deputy marshal. There was nothing to indicate that Ricky Williams was a convicted felon. In fact, Reserve Deputy Marshal Williams has over 30 years of licensed private investigation experience, holding licenses in multiple states (a feat which could not occur if a felony conviction existed in the first instance). When The IND learned of Williams criminal record in the fall, we reached out to Pope with questions about why he would commission a convicted sex offender. Through his attorney, Joy Rabalais, Pope offered the following:The IND has since been unable to determine whether Williams had his record expunged (there is no documentation in the parish courthouse records) or was pardoned by a governor, but Pope is not the only source to confirm that Williams record has been wiped clean.Mike DiBenedetto, also a reserve deputy who runs a private security company in Lafayette, had been employing Williams until DiBenedetto was notified of the criminal conviction by one of Debenedettos clients, River Ranch, last fall. DiBenedetto, a Lafayette police officer from 1980 to 2005, was with the department at the time of the conviction but insists he did not recall it when he, too, ran a background check on Williams. I just forgot all about it. It was like 36 years ago, DiBenedetto tells The IND. Ive got high-end neighborhoods. I would not jeopardize my contracts.DiBenedetto says Williams has his own security company now and acknowledges that while Williams was terminated as an employee, he does some contract work for us offsite, offering that Williams helps with events like weddings and receptions.Until April of this year, Williams was licensed by Louisianas Board of Private Investigator Examiners. Thats when his license expired, and he did not renew it, leaving him with six months from the date of the lapse to pay the annual renewal fee or reapply, a board representative tells The IND.On his 1992 application for licensure, obtained via a public records request, Williams answers "Yes" on a question about whether he had ever been discharged or asked to resign from any position, but when asked if he had ever left a position under circumstances he wanted to explain, he writes, No. On a separate page he signs an "affidavit of truthfulness" swearing that he has not been convicted of a felony.Portions of Williams application were not provided to The IND, along with an accompanying privilege log, as is required by law when public records are withheld. Among the documents not made available were a June 16, 1993, letter from the board chairman to the board attorney and attachments to the letter; the subject was Request for attorney advise on licensure issue. Also withheld was a letter to the board from Lafayette criminal defense attorney Thomas Guilbeau with the subject listed as Information regarding licensure background.It appears that Williams application was approved some time in early 1993. The minutes of the board's April 27, 1993, meeting in which he is listed as having complied with all the board's requirements and was awaiting board approval do not indicate that his pending license was discussed in executive session at that time. Telling from the minutes, however, is denial of another applicants license because he was a convicted felon who has not been pardoned by the Governor of Louisiana.Other than provide the redacted application, the board representative did not answer additional questions about Williams.The IND checked back in with Pope this month to see if Williams remains a reserve deputy marshal and Pope confirmed that he does. Records Pope supplied to this news organization last year showed that Williams was not given a badge, which means he likely only carries a commission card. Records provided by Pope last year indicated Williams had not undergone any training or put in any volunteer hours. Before posting this story, we were not able to determine whether that has changed. We will update the story after Pope responds. Reached by phone, Williams, 60, declined to comment albeit politely about his past. Ricky Williams paid for his crime and deserves the freedom he has earned. But he should never be able to represent a law enforcement agency, and it's unlikely neighborhood organizations would want him providing their security.For Brian Pope, however, there are no rules and no accountability. He's proven that time and time again.But he will have to answer to his actions in court come September, not to mention the possibility of a recall election that could finally put an end to this error in Lafayette law enforcement. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has announced the signing of partnership agreements with several major international firms to support the One Million Arab Coders initiative launched in October last year by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The Foundation signed partnership agreements with Facebook, Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, Careem, Consensys, Emirates NBD, Udacity and Barmej.com. The signing ceremony was attended by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Deputy Managing Director of DFF, Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of DFF, senior officials and executives of partner companies. Commenting on the deal, Al Olama said: "The One Million Arab Coders initiative reflects our enhanced investment in human capital and is part of our efforts to enable Arab youth to change global perceptions about their reality. The Initiative also supports the aspirations of the youth to stay abreast of global technological developments." "The international support and strategic partnerships this initiative has attracted highlights its importance and relevance. The initiative is also part of our efforts to prepare the new generation for the future by helping them gain advanced technology skills that allow them to widen their expertise and meet job market requirements," he stated. "We look forward to continuing our One Million Arab Coders journey in partnership with our private sector partners," he added. As part of the partnership agreement, Oracle, Microsoft and SAP, will provide training opportunities to participants who qualify for the advanced rounds of the programme, in addition to an internationally recognised certificate, said the statement from DFF. Consensys and Coded will provide internship opportunities for participants in the category of trainer, along with international certification that will enable them to train youth in coding. Facebook will provide infrastructure services as well as training and e-marketing, in addition to support for 100 participants to launch start-up projects, it stated. Microsoft, Careem, and Emirates NBD will provide training and job opportunities for winners of the programme. The largest programme of its kind, the initiative seeks to train one million young Arabs in computer programming, said the DFF statement. The programme seeks to empower and equip young Arabs with the tools and technical knowledge necessary for facing the challenges of the future. The ultimate goal is to open a wide range of career opportunities for young Arabs in the future and inspire a new generation of leaders in the digital economy the economy of the future, it added.-TradeArabia News Service JSW Steel is set to invest $500 million at its Baytown, Texas, US, mill in a multi-phase project that will include the installation of an electric-arc furnace, said a report. The move comes at a time of heightened trade tensions following US President Donald Trumps implementation of a 25 per cent tariff on steel imports, added the S&P Global Platts report. JSWs Baytown mill is dependent on imported slabs to produce its plate and pipe products, it said. JSW signed a memorandum of cooperation with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, including a Texas Enterprise Fund grant offer of $3.4 million for the steelmaker. Parth Jindal of Mumbai-based parent company JSW Group, said that the investment reiterates their commitment to stay invested and grow in the US market. He noted that it also provides JSW Steel US an opportunity to participate in the countrys infrastructure development and job creation priorities. NCB Capital (DIFC), a subsidiary of leading investment firm NCB Capital Company, has announced the launch of the NCB Capital Aviation Fund I with $200 million of commitments raised through a private placement. The fund holds a majority stake in Peregrine Aviation Topco Limited, an NCB Capital (DIFC) Limited managed vehicle that has acquired an $800 million portfolio of 21 aircraft, said a statement. The portfolio comprises a mix of narrow-body and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft on lease to 14 airlines across the world, it said. AerCap Holdings, a leader in aircraft leasing and aviation finance, is providing technical and lease management services. AerCap holds a minority stake in the portfolio, it added. The fund offers investors exposure to the global aviation leasing industry that provides attractive returns that are uncorrelated with other alternative asset classes. The industry has proven to be resilient for more than 30 years. Sarah Al Suhaimi, chief executive officer, NCB Capital, said: We were delighted to offer this unique investment opportunity to our investors. The fund attracted a large number of investors, highlighting the appeal of this differentiated opportunity. We are committed to offering a robust platform of innovative and diverse investment solutions that meet our clients needs, he added. TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Energy Agency (KEA) for renewable energy collaboration and investment between South Korea and the UAE. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdars chief executive officer, and Dr Nam Hoon Kang, president and CEO of KEA, signed the agreement, which coincided with the President of South Korea Moon Jae-ins four-day visit to the UAE and his first to the Middle East since his election last year, said a statement. Under the terms of the agreement, Masdar and KEA aim to establish a potential strategic partnership to encourage renewable energy investment in Korea and to develop a number of renewable energy projects using solar, wind, energy storage, floating solar power and waste-to-energy technologies, among others, it said. Al Ramahi said: We are proud to collaborate with industry leaders and like-minded companies that share the same values and goals as us. Our partnership with KEA will allow us to strengthen our relationship with Korea and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and new energy industry projects to improve energy security and spur innovation in smart urban development, he added. Both parties have also agreed to the possibility of expanding the scope of the collaboration in the future and will exchange expertise in the renewable energy and new energy industry fields covering energy auditing, smart grids, energy storage and other related areas. Dr Kang said: We are pleased to enter into this partnership with Masdar, which will lay the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. Utilising Masdar and our specialist knowledge and expertise will enable the Republic of Korea to advance its renewable energy goals. The signing of the agreement follows the Korea-UAE bilateral Economic Cooperation Council meeting in March, where Masdar and KEA initiated the development of the partnership. The agreement builds upon Masdars current ties with the Republic of Korea following the signing of a strategic agreement during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018 with global infrastructure and energy development company Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. to support the commercialisation of low-energy reverse osmosis seawater desalination plants in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Masdars Clean Energy division is a leading developer and operator of utility-scale, grid-connected projects, as well as applications providing electricity access to communities away from the grid. The division also engages in research and development of sustainable technologies, from seawater desalination to solar photovoltaics, biofuel and energy storage to enhance current capabilities of renewable energy technologies and boost local, regional and global renewable energy power generation capacity. TradeArabia News Service British Telecom Al-Saudia (BT Al Saudia), a leading system integrator, professional and managed services provider, has launched its next-generation MSS (managed security services) in Saudi Arabia. BT Al Saudia Security will provide Saudi customers a locally managed world-class cybersecurity platform for protection against emerging threats, said a statement. According to Symantecs Internet Security Threat report, Saudi Arabia is the most impacted country in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in terms of ransomware and with the emerging cyber threats, the need to get secured is ever-growing. Organisations of all sizes, in all industries are struggling to secure their most critical assets. Martin Sutherland, CEO of BT Al Saudia, said: Being one of the top managed services providers in the kingdom for nearly 30 years, we understand the challenges and pain-points of customers here. BT Al Saudia is transforming in-line with the Saudi Vision 2030 to help organisations innovate and invest in the changing business environment, he said. As part of a global leader and trusted brand in security, we bring our local managed security services so customers can leverage from a business-focused, cost-effective and scalable solution that evolves with their needs giving them flexibility and control while safeguarding against cyber risks, he added. BT Al Saudia Security offers businesses with a highly mature 24x7 detection and response capability managed by security experts to proactively detect, respond and mitigate imminent attacks safeguarding customers network and IT infrastructure while keeping all the logs securely within the country meeting kingdoms rules and legislations. These services come with the most stringent SLAs in the region, it added. Mohammed Khedir, head of cybersecurity, said: As cyber-attacks continue to mature, and technologies keep advancing, so should your cybersecurity approach. Unlike traditional MSSPs, who often focus on perimeter monitoring and log collection, we provide necessary business context to allow organisations to effectively assess the practical implications of a risk on its business. BT Al Saudia Security wraps experienced people and efficient processes around leading technologies for tailored next-generation SOC capabilities including managed security devices (Firewall/Web/IPS), endpoint protection, vulnerability management and threat intelligence. These end-to-end managed services are coupled with consulting services to identify and protect what matters the most to businesses. Mazen Tfaili, head of products and alliances, said: We work with best in-class vendors to deliver solutions based on a choice of award-winning technologies to protect your sensitive corporate assets taking out concerns for any IT investments. We help you simplify operations and reduce overheads with the peace of mind that you are covered against vulnerabilities 24x7 by our highly-skilled security professionals, he added. TradeArabia News Service GlassPoint Solar, a leading supplier of solar energy to the oil and gas industry, is showcasing its latest technological offerings at the 11th edition of Omans Oil and Gas Exhibition (OGWA), being held in Muscat, Oman. The event which opened today (March 26) will run until March 28, at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. GlassPoint is demonstrating its innovative solar steam technology now being deployed on oilfields around the world to reduce operating costs and save natural gas consumed in the production of heavy oil, said a statement. GlassPoint is launching its latest 360-degree virtual reality video tour of Miraah, its landmark project with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) that began operating last year, it said. The virtual reality experience allows visitors to immerse themselves within one of the worlds largest solar energy projects, experiencing GlassPoints technology first-hand, it added. GlassPoint also released a new technical paper on the integration of Miraah with conventional steam facilities. The first 100 MWt of the gigawatt-scale project were commissioned safely, on time and in line with budget, and is meeting all targets for steam output required by the Amal oilfield. Marwan Chaar, vice president of project development, GlassPoint Solar, said: Our proven technology delivers the lowest-cost solar steam for thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations, freeing valuable natural gas typically used in the process. Were continuing to come down the cost curve as we execute on additional Miraah blocks and plan for future projects. In the first four blocks alone, weve already achieved over 55 per cent cost savings compared to the pilot we built back in 2012, he added. Chaar will be taking part in OGWAs panel session Effective Resource Management and Capability Development, where he will discuss how large-scale deployment of solar on Omans oilfields can develop local talent and create a local manufacturing base. Miraah is putting Oman on the global solar energy map, creating jobs and developing expertise in solar technology innovation, project deployment and manufacturing. This local expertise will be exported around the world as GlassPoint scales its operations and deploys its technology in new markets, including its project in California, US, with oil and gas producer Aera Energy. OGWA is held alongside the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) EOR Conference, where GlassPoints project development senior analyst, Siddiqa Al Lawati will present a new technical paper. The SPE paper titled Integration of Solar Steam Facilities with Existing Steam Generation Systems, details the first few months of Miraahs performance and integration with the Amal oilfield, including its novel automated control system developed in the sultanate. Al Lawati said: The study showed that large-scale solar steam generation facilities, like Miraah, can be integrated and operated in parallel with conventional steam systems with no adverse impact on existing surface facilities. Miraah is in daily operations, producing steam to PDOs specifications. PDO and us have been carefully monitoring the results as solar steam flow to the Amal oilfield increases and have been very satisfied with performance to date, he added. TradeArabia News Service Saudi Aramco's chief executive officer has reiterated that the oil giant will be ready for a listing in the second-half of this year. In a Bloomberg television interview, Amin Nasser defended prospects for the initial public offering (IPO) of the company. "Theres a lot of work that is still ongoing, the IPO is ongoing," Amin Nasser said in the interview in New York. Still, he said that its the government who will take the final decision. "The venue and the timing is the government, he said. Dont forget this is a very complex process. Aramcos size and complexities is something that requires time." For almost two years, Saudi officials said again and again the IPO was "on track, on time" for the second half of 2018. But for the first time this month they suggested it could be delayed until 2019, pushing back a central plank of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans plan to modernise the economy, Bloomberg said. The Aramco IPO would be a once-in-a-generation event for financial markets. Saudi officials said they hope to raise a record $100 billion by selling a five percent stake, valuing the company at more than $2 trillion and dwarfing the $25 billion raised by Chinese Internet retailer Alibaba Group Holding in 2014. Prince Mohammed, who has made the IPO a key part of his ambitions to ready the economy for the post-oil age, is touring the US, visiting cities from Washington to Houston. So far, American investors have given the IPO a cool response. Yet, the Aramco CEO said he saw lots of appetite for the IPO in America and elsewhere. "I think there is a lot demand for the listing of Aramco. This is a great company," he said. Nasser offered few clues about how Aramco will attract investors, only saying the company will be "competing" with the best in Big Oil. "In terms of dividend, rate of return, that all well share with investors when we go on roadshow," he said. Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is engaging the public to involve them in strengthening its innovative Dubai ArtBank initiative during the 12th edition of Art Dubai. Running till March 24, the Dubai ArtBank will introduce an innovative new model for managing art collections and transacting in creativity and art as bankable assets through a new Dubai Art crypto-currency. It is Dubai Cultures response to the Dubai 10X initiative, which seeks to place Dubai Government entities 10 years ahead of the rest of the world in all sectors, propelling Dubai into the future by implementing today what other cities around the world will be implementing 10 years from now. Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director general of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: We have launched the Dubai ArtBank to support the Dubai 10X initiative announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Government Summit 2017, and implemented under the leadership of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Dubai Future Foundation. Art Dubai provides us with an ideal platform for reaching out to the public and gathering feedback because it is attended by an international audience of arts sector experts. This will provide us with a wealth of global feedback while also allowing us to tap into the views of the local creative community. We are confident that this will strengthen the Dubai ArtBank and our efforts to actively embrace disruptive innovation in the sector. Dubai Cultures engaging Art Dubai stand features an Ideas Bank where visitors can share their ideas about Dubai Cultures Dubai 10X initiative, as well as feedback to a variety of questions related to the arts and culture sectors. The questions have been designed to encourage the public to share their opinions about the Dubai ArtBank so that Dubai Culture can develop the initiative in line with the creative communitys needs, and take their opinions on topics including How can we sustain and grow the creative community in the UAE?, What do artists need to develop their careers?, How can we develop critical discourse around art and culture?, How can collections be shared and viewed by more people? and What role do you think technology should play in the arts?. In line with Dubai Cultures mandate to drive the creative economy, the feedback will be used to support the sustainable development of the local arts sector in the digital era. Art Dubai is an integral part of Dubai Art Season, a citywide showcase of artistic and cultural events which runs throughout March and April under the patronage of HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture. Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubais cultural scene and draw attention to the emirates rich heritage with a variety of initiatives that take place throughout the year. The authoritys mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the Emirates citizens, residents and visitors. - TradeArabia News Service Dubai will be the first city to embark on the journey of democratising travel through the use of emerging technologies as it adds an additional distribution channel for hotels in its first phase. Launched at the World Government Summit by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai Government as one of the Dubai 10X projects, Dubai Tourism (DTCM) is set to implement this ground-breaking programme within the next 24 months, enabling Dubai to enhance distribution of its tourism inventory through a future-proofed virtual B2B (business-to-business) marketplace for the travel industry. Explaining the objective of 10X, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: Success of governments is determined by their ability and flexibility to re-invent themselves, and upgrade their services to cater to the evolving needs of the community. Guided by this principle, the tourism initiative goes beyond providing broader access to the global consumer, and opens up the domestic travel industry to new participants and innovative start-ups into the ecosystem thus delivering value to Dubai in terms of higher and faster visitor conversion, and greater GDP impact. Dubai Tourism aims to give our global guests direct choice across the breadth and depth of the local tourism inventory, within a highly safe, transparent and real-time environment, while equally attracting even more cutting-edge entrants into the tourism sector, by creating an open market ecosystem that is scale agnostic. Allowing equal opportunity to access the global market for high-quality players within the Emirates travel and tourism industry regardless of size, by default immediately broadens the distribution of Dubais multi-faceted inventory and combats some misperceptions on the limitations and luxury orientation of the offering. As the first mover in the facilitation of this type of technologically advanced, secure and scalable digital solution for the travel industry as a whole, it positions Dubai as a think-thank and innovation leader seeking to truly democratise travel. The initiative will deliver a sophisticated Blockchain solution with smart contracting across multiple parties involved in the fulfilment of a travel itinerary, to enable the global travel sales ecosystem live access to Dubais growing inventory with transparent pricing, providing travellers the ability to create more tailored journeys, with full confidence that information is authenticated, tamper-proof and hence credible. Designed to make Dubais tourism proposition available at right time to the broadest relevant audience in every market travellers will have enhanced visibility of the most updated data pertaining to the emirates diverse offerings, addressing the industry challenge of limited permeation of their varied assets across the year at globally competitive rates, adversely impacting yield especially during shoulder periods, by reducing reliance on third-party intermediaries that currently dominate the supply chain. The Blockchain Marketplace initiative will deliver four key tangible benefits to Dubai stakeholders among others: 1. Increased tourist numbers More of Dubais inventory is available real-time, at the right price, with the desired diversity and convenience to the global market. This means greater potential and higher probability to convert the global traveller and drive much stronger visitor growth at a lower cost of acquisition. 2. Revenue protection and growth Increased opportunities for gross value creation for Dubais economy by reducing leakage from Dubais GDP by limiting the dominance of larger-scale intermediaries and allowing smaller players or direct asset owners to have equal opportunity in attracting the market. Additionally, it will provide increased attractiveness for newer age, proven, and emergent technology providers to enter the tourism ecosystem without the barriers of scale requirement. 3. Greater employment Encouraging more participation and companies to enter the Dubai tourism sector, including entrepreneurs thereby increasing employment within the industry and consequently generating higher indirect and induced economic value for Dubais GDP. 4. Increased GDP contribution The long-term effect of this initiative is to secure the future growth of Dubais travel and tourism industry, a major employer and a key contributor to GDP at 9.4 per cent in 2016. Tourism in Dubai has been a consistently high growth sector with 2017 bringing 15.79 million visitors an increase of 6.2 per cent over 2016, reinforcing its ranking as the fourth most visited city in the world. This initiative will seek to accelerate all aspects of the equation, fuelling GDP impact of tourism for Dubai in the medium to long-term. In keeping with the goals and expectations of the Dubai 10X Vision, Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai Tourism, said of the initiative: Guided by the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his powerful future-focused agenda to take Dubai 10 years ahead of its competitors, we at Dubai Tourism are determined to carve a reputation as global leaders in tourism innovation, exponentially accelerating our digital, mobile and social first strategy. Today travel is undergoing one of the most emphatic sectoral transformations due to the radical pace of technological disruption across every aspect of the consumer journey." As the city that aspires to be the number one destination for international visitors, both in terms of traffic and in terms of preference, we believe that the key to leadership lies in our ability to consistently deliver the most ubiquitous travel experience that is unmatched in (a) memorability (is ultra-shareable), (b) efficiency (is simple), and (c) convenience (is at the fingertips) to every prospective traveller across the world. In his launching of the 10X projects across government entities, Sheikh Hamdan had noted: "With this innovative model that reflects the creative potential of our nation, we are ushering in a new phase of development for government services by transforming a whole host of innovative ideas into reality. As mandated, Dubai Tourisms Blockchain Marketplace initiative is fully aligned with the broader government drive towards flexibility, adaptability and enablement of path-breaking services that enhance the lives of the entire community. This is one among our strategic future-competitiveness projects that are oriented towards catering for needs of the next generation and is designed to be an integral contributor to Dubais overall Blockchain Strategy as well as cementing the citys reputation as a global technology leader. And ultimately in delivering this first-of-its-kind solution, we expect to leverage this opportunity to disrupt and set the new standard for global tourism marketplaces. DTCM will be in close contact with all relevant regulatory authorities in Dubai and partners across government entities as their ongoing support is critical to ensuring the project achieves a successful outcome. Additionally, the project will involve collaboration with stakeholders in the hospitality and the wider travel and tourism sector in Dubai, particularly in planning and the implementation phases, to ensure execution of the programme has factored in all practical considerations for smooth roll out with optimal uptake, and widest adoption. Longer-term, the solution is planned to cover the wider tourism ecosystem, e.g. attraction and event providers, tour-op packages, etc., and enable incremental tourism asset owners and operators to distribute their inventory through the platform. - TradeArabia News Service A.S. Haley: Don't Get Drawn In Spitting in Gods Face March For Our Lives Student Protesters Leave Their Trash for Someone Else to Clean Up NYC sees largest increase in tuberculosis cases in 26 years The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:45) iStock/Thinkstock(BEIJING) -- Even as an armored North Korean train pulled away from the Beijing railway station Tuesday afternoon, almost exactly 24 hours after it arrived, the mystery remained in the Chinese capital about whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had made a surprise visit to China. At the daily Chinese Foreign Ministry press briefing Tuesday, unusually packed to the brim with journalists, spokeswoman Hua Chunying continued to claim that the agency did not have any information about the high level delegation that zipped around Beijing in a large convoy. Chunying also said they had no information on the reason for increased security measures in Beijing and the northern city of Dandong that borders North Korea. The ministry confirmed by Beijing or Pyongyang that if Kim Jong Un was indeed part of the delegation, it would mark the first foreign trip for Kim since he officially became leader of the reclusive state after his father Kim Jong Ils death in December 2011. In fact, the visit followed the hallmarks of the elder Kims previous visits to China, the last of which was in May 2011. Everything followed the old playbook, from the increased security in Dandong days before the Kims train crossed the border -- to an overnight stay at Beijings Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Details of those visits were never confirmed by either country until Kim Jong Il was safely back in North Korea. It appears the world will not know the details of this mysterious visit either, until the delegation is back over the border. The relationship between China and North Korea has grown tense in recent years amid Kim Jong Uns relentless nuclear ambitions and repeated missile tests. Since Kim and Chinese President Xi became leaders of their countries, the two have never met. Kim is soon scheduled to hold a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April and a possible face to face meeting with President Trump in May. Xi and China appear to have been left out of the process. This visit could be seen by some as the beginning of a thaw. The North Korean delegation spent three hours in the Great Hall of the People after arriving in Beijing Monday afternoon. The cavernous building is where high level Chinese officials host meetings with foreign delegations. This trip to Beijing could give Kim the chance to show he still has China's support and that might strengthen his position when or if he meets with President Trump. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. [March 27, 2018] Matrix to Showcase Cutting-edge Telecom Solutions at Defexpo 2018 Matrix, known for manufacturing communication solutions suitable for defense environment, is participating at Defexpo 2018. The event is an ideal platform for showcasing latest solutions designed for the defense sector. The same, organized from 11th-14th April18 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu is expected to witness footfall from decision makers. Matrix will unveil its latest solutions PRASAR UCS, PARISAT VC and TEJAS NMS at the event. PRASAR UCS Pure IP Solution offers Collaboration, Communication, Messaging and Mobility. With a capacity of up to 2,100 UC users and 550 concurrent calls, the system offers maximum throughput, ensuring connectivity in mission critical applications. Matrix is entering the server solution market with two solutions PARSIAT VC and TEJAS NMS. As the name suggests, PARISAT VC is a Video Conferencing solution designed to support 12 participants in video conference and 80+ participants in an audio conference. The solution will help professionals communicate with officers deployed at remote locations and discuss and conclude important matters in a short period of time over video phones or smartphones. Nowadays, defense professionals are keen on investing in numerous communication solutions for ensuring connectivity at remote places during crucial times. The change calls for a solution that can centrally monitor network elements of these devices and ensure continuous communication. Matrix TEJAS NMS Server Based Network Management solution addresses the requirement by offering centralized and simultaneous management of 200 devices from Windows PC or Server. All the deployed communication solutions can be managed and monitored over a web based intuitive user interface, eliminating the need to invest time and effort for training the IT and admin team regarding use of a new solution. Apart from these new releases, SARVAM UCS Unified Communication solution is anticipated to gain attention of defense personnel due to its resilient connectivity and mobility features. The product offers radio connectivity which is a prime component of communication for the defense forces. The platform is built on latest security protocols, and hence ensures security of confidential data. Matrix VARTA is a mobility extension for Android, iOS smartphones and Windows PC that offers seamless collaboration across different geographies. Matrix IP Deskphones and Video IP Deskphones will be on display. The endpoints offer a range of features that improves reachability by simplifying communication process. Defexpo 2018 is a great platform for exhibitors to showcase their products for defense Industry. With a huge crowd expected to participate in this event, we look forward to meeting some key decision makers from the forces. We aim to understand their latest requirements and demonstrate how our solutions can assist in improving communication experience, said Ganesh Jivani, Managing Director. Matrix cordially invites you to visit us at Stand Number: 6.8.1, Hall: 6, Defexpo 2018 from 11th - 14th April18 at Arulmigu Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple, Thiruvidanthai, Thiruporur Taluk, Kancheepuram, East Coast Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and get a hands-on experience of our latest Telecom solutions. About Matrix Established in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. Matrix, an innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, VoIP Gateways and Terminals, GSM Gateways, Access Control, Time-Attendance and Video Surveillance solutions. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 1,000 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products. https://www.matrixcomsec.com/ As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Avaya, Pyrios Partner to Proliferate Cloud Presence Share Tweet By Maurice Nagle Web Editor By Maurice NagleWeb Editor The cloud is a global phenomenon, with Gartner (News - Alert) projecting substantial growth in the coming years placing a valuation of $411.4 billion by 2020 on the public cloud services market. Cloud services providers are jockeying for position in this ripe market, many by moving products into new markets. Avaya (News - Alert) announced a partnership with Pyrios bringing Powered by Avaya to New Zealand. The Software-as-a-Service stack providing flexibility fit for a medium sized business seeking cloud migration for unified communications or contact center. Delivering a subscription-based model, businesses can select a fully hosted, hybrid-cloud or on premises. Pyrios will offer systems integration expertise in developing communications solutions, and partners can enhance the package with value add services to provide a complete cloud solution. Aimed at the midmarket, Powered by Avaya joins the Avaya Breeze, Oceana and Equinox platforms seeking to ride the wave of transformation. Gartner noted and increase in market size by nearly 20 percent globally in 2017, with more to come. Mature markets like New Zealand serve as fertile ground. Pyrios Chief Executive Officer, Robyn OReilly, explained, As a nation, New Zealand is among the leaders in the adoption of cloud-based services; from day-to-day applications right through to specialized solutions. Much of this can be attributed to the densely-populated midmarket, which inspires innovation and adaptability as organizations devise advanced strategies to compete in the fast-moving technology climate. The cloud is a global phenomenon, and those capable of providing the keys to future forward technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), big data, machine learning and more will be those with the last laugh. Has your organization migrated communications to cloud? Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Article comments powered by Disqus Article comments powered by Edited by Mandi Nowitz Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved 932 million Euros ($1.15 billion) in loans for the Trans Anatolian gas Pipeline (TANAP) being constructed across Turkey to carry gas from Azerbaijan to Turkish and European markets. Oil Price reports in its article Azerbaijan-Europe Gas Pipeline Gets $1B In Funding that the announcement of the funding for TANAP, which was first mooted early last year, and which has been under active consideration by the bank since June, comes despite concerns over the environmental impact of the project, long-standing criticism of the human rights record of Azerbaijan which owns 58 percent of the pipeline equity, and recently stormy relations between Turkey and the European Union. Last December, 33 members of the European parliament wrote an open letter to EIB President Werner Hoyer, urging him to suspend plans to finance TANAP, citing corruption and human rights concerns in Azerbaijan and Turkey. But confirmation of the loan was never really in doubt. The TANAP pipeline has long been the cornerstone of the European Union's planned "Southern Gas Corridor" (SGC), designed to carry gas from the Caspian basin to markets in central and southern Europe. It will compete with gas from Russia, which currently enjoys a near monopoly in supply to the region. As such, the European Commission last year waved away criticism of the SGC to include it in its priority list of "Projects of Common Interest. TANAP has already received funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. And last month the EIB confirmed loans of 1.5 billion euros its largest ever for TANAP's sister project, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to which TANAP will connect on the Turkey-Greece border. The confirmation of the EIB loan for TANAP also comes at a time when both Ankara and Brussels have been attempting to patch up relations after a series of increasingly bitter diplomatic spats over the past year. A sharp deterioration in relations had thrown into doubt the future of a 2016 agreement under which the European Union undertook to grant Turkey six billion euros towards the cost of hosting an estimated 3.5 million refugees from Syria, as well as taking steps to halt the smuggling of refugees and migrants from Turkey to Greece and Bulgaria. That agreement now appears to have been saved with the announcement on March 14 that the European Commission had agreed to release a second tranche of three billion euros in funding for Turkey's refugee program. However, the commission has yet to deliver on its promise to remove visa restrictions for Turks traveling to Schengen countries. Although the EIB loan for TANAP has only just been approved, the pipeline is set to deliver its first gas to Turkey in June this year. That gas, an initial six billion cubic meters per year, will be supplied to Turkey's state gas transmission and import company BOTAS at the line's sole offtake point at Eskisehir, in northwest Turkey. BOTAS holds a 30 percent stake in TANAP, along with Azeri state oil company SOCAR (58 percent), with the remaining 12 percent held by UK oil giant BP. BP operates Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field, which will supply the initial six billion cubic meters per year of gas to Turkey and another ten billion cubic meters per year for transit to Europe. That ten billion cubic meters per year will be carried by TANAP to the Turkey-Greece border, where it will be transferred to the TAP pipeline for transit through Greece, Albania and across the Adriatic to Italy, starting when the TAP line is completed in 2020. A further 15 billion cubic meters per year of capacity in TANAP and 10 billion cubic meters per year in TAP have yet to be allocated with the pipeline developers reported to have been considering gas from a number of sources, including other Caspian gas fields belonging to Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran and Turkmenistan. Turkey has many possibilities of sources for gas import in the near-term future. Besides Russia, it is not certain whether such gas will continue to come from Iran, or from the Kurdish area of Iraq or from Israel. The gas from Turkmenistan is perhaps the most certain among these possibilities over the longer term, in view of the EU's most recent action in favor of promoting the Trans-Caspian Pipeline. Yeni Safak reports in its article Turkeys energy security and the eastern Caspian shore that in January the EU decided on funding for the study of two energy projects, and works on a third project, in Turkey's neighborhood, or what the EU calls the "Southern Gas Priority Corridor" (SGC). The works would provide 101 million euros to Cyprus in the context of the Southern Gas Corridor, mainly build a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) for anticipated imports to Cyprus of liquefied natural gas (LNG), despite the official name of the project which is "CyprusGas2EU". The perspective, according to the EU, is to help the East Mediterranean energy-rich countries (Israel, Cyprus, and Egypt) to exploit their energy resources and to develop mutually beneficial commercial cooperation," it said. This action is looking, therefore, to help create an LNG market for Egyptian and/or Israeli LNG exports. It has no involvement with projects such as the EastMed or CrossMed pipelines, which seek to transit gas from the region to the EU itself. Two studies also received funding. The first involves 34.5 million euros for a study of the development phase of the EastMed pipeline, which would run from offshore Cyprus to the Greek mainland via Crete. However, this project seems difficult to justify on a commercial basis. The difficulty with this project is that it is not commercially justifiable under current market conditions or for the foreseeable future. This may be one reason why the EU made the separate allocation for Cyprus to import and re-gasify LNG. The other study receiving funding is for the Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP, or TCGP for "Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline") to the EU from Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, via Georgia and Turkey, by way of the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP-(F)X) and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP). According to the publication EUObserver, an internal European Commission document noted correctly that "intensive coordination activities are on-going with Turkmenistan and Georgia." It stated that the Commission's sponsorship of the action is intended "to enable a timely construction [of the pipeline], as well as to give a signal ... that the EU is pursuing the full opening of the potential of the Southern Gas Corridor." This is therefore a favorable indication that the EU is serious about seeing the TCGP built, and that is also good for Turkey. Gas from Turkmenistan will have an impact on gas prices inside Turkey, and also it will promote Turkey's ambitions to be an international natural gas hub. Moreover, this would provide continuity with Turkey's geopolitical aspirations since the 1990s to extend economic and cultural ties with the Central Asian states. Of course, it would help to solidify ties with Turkmenistan in particular. But it would also be a signal to Kazakhstan that gas and even oil from the offshore Kashagan deposit might find a route to world markets through Turkey. For example, preliminary discussions have already taken place concerning possibilities for Kashagan oil to flow through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline. Indeed, there has been, for some time, a plan on the drawing-boards even for gas from Kashagan to join the gas from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan and eventually the TANAP pipeline. Conditions are also ripe for deepening relations with Uzbekistan, although it remains to be seen to what degree Turkey will seek to project its economic influence into post-Karimov Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is the third energy giant in Central Asia. Because of its large population, it consumes much of its own gas domestically. But Uzbekistan has been losing markets in southern Kazakhstan and in Kyrgyzstan. It is contracted to supply natural gas to China through the Trans-Asian Gas Pipeline. Russian and Chinese energy firms are already strongly implanted in Uzbekistan, but so are those of other countries such as South Korea. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visisted Ankara in late 2017, the first visit of a president of Uzbekistan to Turkey since 1999. But Mirziyoyev will not depend only upon Turkey. Yet Tashkent would probably appreciate having a westward "vector" for its new foreign economic policy, to compensate against both the eastward one toward China and the northern one towards Russia. For this, the example of Turkmenistan-Turkey relations would be instructive. At the end of last week, Alexander Lukashenko visited Tbilisi accompanied by his son Nikolai. The President of Belarus met with his Georgian counterpart Georgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Georgi Kvirikashvili, Catholicos Ilia II and visited the Sarajishvili Cognac Factory. Following the path of reviving the agrarian potential, Georgia relies on cooperation with Belarus, despite opposing foreign policy courses - Tbilisi adheres to the pro-Western views, and Minsk is in favor of the tight integration in the post-Soviet space. Small and medium-sized businesses in Georgia see Belarus as an advantageous partner. The desire to support the cooperation is indicated by the positive rhetoric of the political elites of both states. In 2015, during the first official visit of Lukashenko to Georgia, Minsk decided to support the Georgian agrarians with the products of machine building. In Tbilisi, a joint venture was set up to produce Belarusian tractors, and a large shopping center for Belarusian products was opened. At one time, Belarus managed not only to preserve the material and technical base that it inherited after the collapse of the USSR but also to modernize production in accordance with the demands of the 21st century. During Lukashenko's visit to Tbilisi, the previously planned agrarian vector of cooperation was confirmed. Today, 75% of the gross domestic product in Georgia consists of the agrarian production. In this regard, the parties consider the development of the trade and economic cooperation at the level of creating scientific centers for the needs of agriculture. In addition, Belarus can offer Georgian partners access to the market of the Eurasian Economic Union. Despite the fact that Tbilisi refrains from participating in integration projects where the Russian Federation is present, the possibility of selling Georgian goods in the EAEU area is not limited. In turn, Tbilisi can assist Belarusian enterprises wishing to gain a foothold in the European Union, thanks to the current agreement on Georgia's association with the EU. The withdrawal of the republic from the CIS in 2009 was explained by a desire to break the political links, which Georgian parliamentarians consider hopeless. Now Baku remains the main partner of Tbilisi. Georgia is supporting Azerbaijan in the implementation of the global projects, such as the Trans Anatolian and Trans Adriatic gas corridors, Azerbaijan is actively investing in the development of the railway communication of Georgia. In the autumn of last year, the official opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway communication was held. Also, the railway station in the settlement of Akhalkalaki was opened. Meanwhile, the character of the Georgian-Belarusian relations testifies that Tbilisi is ready to interact with all countries of the CIS space. The cooperation between Minsk and Tbilisi can also contribute to the normalization of the Russian-Georgian relations, thanks to Belarus mediation efforts. During his visit to Tbilisi, Lukashenko noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin took a second wind and is determined to find a common language with Georgia, but to achieve mutual understanding, the will of the Georgian leadership is needed to solve problems. Lukashenko expressed an optimistic forecast that problems can be solved soon. Yesterday, the atrium of the new building of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) with the support of the Azerbaijan Youth Organization of Russia and the Azerbaijan Club of MGIMO has opened the exhibition 'Recollection and Reflection' of the member of the Association of Artists of UNESCO Ashraf Heybatov, who presented his Azerbaijani motives in Moscow. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, the artist called the culture and politics two wings of one bird, referring to the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss, who was a professor of art history. "This bird flies at the MGIMO building, where there is a very high aesthetic and architectural level," Ashraf Heybatov assessed both the atrium of the new building and the level of teaching at MGIMO. The rector of MGIMO Anatoly Torkunov told Vestnik Kavkaza: "Any art exhibition, especially if the artist is talented, causes a variety of feelings, reflections, joy, sadness, but what I have seen so far, speaks about the joy of life, the diversity of the world and the possibility of it perception through the prism of the feeling that we live under the sun. This is very important in our difficult times. I am happy that 36 years later MGIMO has become a platform a remarkable artist's exhibition once again.The initiator of Ashraf Heybatov's exhibition in 1981 was student Ilham Aliyev, and today it was also initiated by the students. It was attended by a large number of young people, not only Azerbaijanis. This shows that MGIMO is a university where students strive to know one another, where relations of friendship and mutual understanding develop. Hope God to keep it that way." Anatoly Torkunov clearly remembers the exhibition of 1981: "At that time I was a young pro-rector responsible for international communications and foreign students. When Ashraf recalled that the initiator of that exhibition was Ilham Aliyev, our graduate, our beloved and respected friend, the current president of Azerbaijan, I was particularly proud. 37 years ago none of us knew how our whole life in the USSR will be. Today Ashraf is a well-known artist not only in Azerbaijan and Russia, but also far abroad, during the last decades his exhibitions were held in different countries, in Vienna, in Geneva. Our Russian diplomats also participated in their organization. When joy is added to the bitter truth of life, we all happily visit such exhibitions and pay tribute to the artist's creativity, invention, and talent. Vugar Imamaliyev, an advisor to the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia, greeted the guests and organizers of the exhibition on behalf of the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbul-oglu. "Our compatriot, who we are proud of, has been living outside Azerbaijan for many years, but he still promotes the Apsheron school of painting in his art, being its founder and creator. The exhibition presents very small paintings, but Ashraf muallim is a muralist. His paintings show greatheartedness of Azerbaijanis. In his works Ashraf Heybatov is able to combine the traditions of the East and the modern plastic of the West. This is evidence of why this man became peace envoy. He is also a Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, a member of the Association of Artists of UNESCO, a member of the Russian Academy of Arts, is exhibited at the UN in Geneva, in New York, at NATO headquarters," Imamaliev said. Deputy director of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy Igbal Guliyev recalled that Ashraf Heybatov was born in Baku and he was formed as a professional artist in Moscow under the guidance of professionals, Russian muralists. "Then Ashraf Heybatov moved to Germany and continued his work there. But his first steps in great creativity were made in MGIMO. As a person who actively follows Ashraf Heybatov's work, I attend his exhibitions in different countries. For me, Ashraf Heybatov's works are bright colors, explosion and a burst of emotions, feelings. It always a pleasure. If we look at these paintings, we will see that they are all permeated with eastern threads," Guliyev noted. Today, the atrium of the new building of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) with the support of the Azerbaijan Youth Organization of Russia and the Azerbaijan Club of MGIMO has opened the exhibition 'Recollection and Reflection' of the member of the Association of Artists of UNESCO Ashraf Heybatov, who answered Vestnik Kavkaza's questions. - How did you come up with the idea of holding your exhibition at MGIMO? - I am a former Moscow citizen, although there are no former Baku citizens or former Moscow citizens. After graduating in 1980, I left Baku for the Moscow Olympics - I was lucky to participate in its decoration. In December 1981, with the organizational support of our current president, but then a student of MGIMO Ilham Aliyev, my first exhibition was held in the old building of the institute at Park Kultury. Thirty years later, I was offered to hold an exhibition in a new building, which I'm really pleased about. For me it is a great honor and responsibility to represent my works, being a real artist. There are 35 my works of different periods. In total I had about 20 periods. The name of the exhibition 'Recollection and Reflection' is philosophical. As an artist, I try not to stick out my own self, but create philosophical compositions, where spectators can fill in the rest. - But nevertheless, what's your message to the audience? - Chingiz Aitmatov, who was my friend, wrote once that the art of Geibatov is somewhere between East and West. I have deeply national roots, but European artistic plasticity. My last works are connected with those global events that take place. Chingiz Aitmatov gave me a global understanding of what is happening in the world. I'm no longer a narrowly national artist. I have works in the Council of Europe, in the UN. These are the universal compositions, the metamorphoses of the 21st century, the apocalypse of the 20th century, the dialogue of cultures. - A peacemaking message? - Yes. I was even awarded the diploma of the Ambassador of Peace for the anti-terrorist panel dedicated to the September 11 attacks in the US. I also received gratitude from the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg. Now I live in Berlin, so there were many exhibitions at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Berlin Senate. I also made large panels on the national Azerbaijani theme, dedicated to the events of Black January, Khojaly tragedy. This year marks the centenary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and I am preparing a large exhibition, which possibly will be held in the Bundestag. And in the autumn there will be an exhibition in Rabat. - What theme was chosen for Morocco? - I love this country very much, like India, where I've been a number of times. Both the Moroccan series and Azerbaijani landscapes will be presented at the exhibition in Rabat. - You have the opportunity to compare, because you live in three countries: if we talk about Germany, Russia and Azerbaijan, then how much is art in demand today? - It is not in demand. We live in the material world. Bread and circuses are in demand, while art and culture are for those who aspire after it, who needs it, who has the need for it. But since there is a lot of poverty, hatred and wars in the world, people don't have time for culture or art. Beauty will save the world or ruin it. As an artist I try to do what I can. When we leave this world, we should leave something worthwhile behind. - Do you usually work on one project or deal with multiple projects at once? - I recently finished one great composition for the Council of Europe ... Usually I work on a series of paintings at once. I always have paint and paper on my desk. I come home and do something with it. I am very happy that I studied at the Tbilisi Academy. I was greatly influenced by the Georgian artist Nikolai Ignatov. My first exhibition was held at MGIMO, the second - at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR. I worked with the best Soviet monumentalists - Nikonov, Vladimir and Boris Neklyudov. I received a good education and I believe that the main thing is professionalism. - How did the Olympics affect your work? - When decorating the 1980 Moscow Olympics, I worked with the team of Zurab Tsereteli. The Americans boycotted the Olympics, but I was very happy to be on the rostrum. When the Olympic Bear flew out with balloons in the sky, it made tears come out of our eyes. There, in the framework of the cultural program implemented by the Moscow Komsomol, we met with MGIMO students... - Do you follow the design of other Olympics? - Of course. I'm a monumentalist. This is my profession - to make paintings, mosaics, figurative compositions. I have global way of thinking. I do not want to paint only flowers or women. It is necessary to be in line with the times. I am really worried about what is happening in the world today. There is an information war, hot wars, a struggle for markets. Those who unleash these wars hide behind democracy. I'm an anti-American. I do not even want to go to America for their expense, because I know what the Anglo-Saxons are doing. I have great respect for the professor [historian, social scientist, publicist, sociologist] Andrei Fursov. I listen his lectures while working. Listen his lectures and work for 10-15 hours. In fact, he formed me. Washington's words about its readiness for cooperation with Moscow do not meet the actions, and, contrary to the assurances, the policy of the former administration continues, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said. "Washington's actions are indicative of very disturbing symptoms. The words about the readiness for cooperation do not meet the actions. Contrary to the assurances, the policy of the previous administration has continued," he noted. According to him "the blow to official representatives and missions of Russia" means actions aimed at confrontation, and "there is no justification for it." The Ambassador stressed that Russia will not allow itself to be provoked into an emotional breakdown by the actions against Moscow in response to the alleged involvement in the poisoning of former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Great Britain. "The truth will come out. We will not let ourselves to be provoked into an emotional breakdown," he said. "The people responsible for those few areas in which mutually beneficial cooperation survives - space, science and culture, trade, prisoners and missing persons - are being sent away," the Ambassador noted. "Restoring relations and searching for common ground have been thrown back," he added. The expulsion of Russian diplomats from the United States was most likely planned in advance, but was postponed until a suitable occasion, Antonov said. "The scope of damage and the previous media support indicate that it was probably planned in advance, and was simply postponed - in anticipation of a suitable occasion. The absence of any facts confirming the accusations of Washington and London against us gives rise to suspicions of close coordination and joint planning of the events," TASS cited him as saying. "Internal problems, which Washington and London are trying to hide behind the Russian threat, will not go away. Our opponents do not like the strong and powerful Russia with recently demonstrated capabilities," the ambassador said. According to him, "on the day of the tragedy in Kemerovo" Russia saw "emotional deafness, indifference and callousness" from the official Washington. "They just decided to make it more painful," Antonov said. "At the time when ordinary Americans, together with us in our grief, send us condolences," he said. A Dutch diplomat accused of being a spy left Turkey "for his own safety", the Dutch foreign affairs ministry confirmed. On March 26 various Turkish media sources reported that the Turkish authorities are investigating a Dutch spy, identified by the initials A.Z. They reported that the Turkish intelligence service has been following him for some time. According to Turkish media, he was trying to gather intelligence, and spread false information, about Turkish ties with terrorist organization ISIS, and a Turkish operation in Afrin, Syria. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the man worked at the Dutch Consulate General in Istanbul and was also responsible for regional activities. The Ministry would not say more about the matter, RTL reports. Along with the United States and several European countries, Germany yesterday announced the expulsion of four Russian diplomats. German politicians, commenting on the decision of Angela Merkel's Cabinet, are far from being united in their opinion on this step. "Sanctions should be based on facts, not assumptions," Gunter Verheugen, former European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, told Spiegel. The argument in connection with the Skripal case reminds him of the announcement of the verdict: "The crime was not proven by the defendants, but one can imagine that he could have committed it." Deputy Chair of the SPD faction Rolf Mutzenich in his turn, called the decision to expel Russian diplomats "hasty". The Left Party's leader Sahra Wagenknecht sharply opposed the decision to expel Russian diplomats, which, however, did not become a surprise given the traditionally favorable attitude of the party towards Russia. A Green party politician and foreign policy expert Jurgen Trittin also criticized the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Germany and other EU countries. "It is frivolous to expel diplomats without any reliable evidence, and act against Russia only on the basis of indirect evidence," he said. According to the politician, in the end, the West will not benefit from the expulsion of Russian diplomats - Russia will respond symmetrically, and further channels of dialogue will be blocked. Trittin is also the head of the German-Russian parliamentary group. It is noteworthy that Trittin's colleague Omid Nouripour, who is foreign policy spokesman of the German Green Party, on the contrary, welcomed the decision of the federal government as a sign of solidarity with Britain. The foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU Jurgen Hardt also stood up for the decision to expel Russian diplomats, saying that the evidence provided by Britain "is irrefutable." Director of the Institute of Strategic Planning and Forecasting, Professor Alexander Gusev, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that "the fact that France, Germany and Poland expelled 4 diplomats each, Denmark - two, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Romania, Croatia and Sweden - one is not serious. An important circumstance is that Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium and Austria refused to submit to the will of the UK in the EU, which have already formalized Brexit," he said. "It is clear that the behavior of the largest European countries fits into the clear line of the US foreign policy. The countries that have adopted a consolidated decision within the framework of the EU led by the UK, dance to the US pipe, like Canada. Today, Australia also joined the diplomatic demarche, and it's all clear that we are dealing with a clear provocation. As a matter of fact, the former agent Skripal was poisoned by Western special services, not without the participation of the Mi-6 and Americans, most likely to increase pressure on Moscow before the presidential election to force the world community to raise its voice against Russia once again," Alexander Gusev drew attention. "Speaking of the response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already said that it will respond adequately to these actions, and I think that it makes no sense to expel diplomats in the same way. Many countries that expelled one or two diplomats just formally confirmed the consolidated decision. 22 out of 28 countries either openly voted against or acted very gently. I think we should expect that Moscow will expel 2-3 diplomats, who work under cover and there will be no bigger response," the professor predicts. The senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Olenchenko, in turn, drew attention to the fact that the countries expelling Russian diplomats, thereby limit the development of bilateral relations. "This is the first consequence that the EU countries will face. In addition, the reduction of the number of diplomats will certainly not be left without attention. The Russian side will give an adequate response to these countries," the expert said. In addition, he noted that not all countries are ready to show "solidarity" with London. "The UK calls on the European countries to "solidarity", but has already abandoned this solidarity, since it decided to leave the European Union. So in terms of solidarity, the EU, of course, does not represent an inseparable space. It's about 16 countries out of 28," Vladimir Olenchenko pointed out. According to him, this indicates that a new generation of politicians is growing in Europe, which are capable of pursuing an independent policy. "It should not be forgotten that the United Kingdom, despite its importance, is not the factor that is actually taken into account in Europe. The factor of the US is taken into account in Europe. Due to the fact that the US also announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats, I would draw attention to the fact that the US ambassador in Moscow Jon Huntsman said that it was prepared a long time ago. It may be understood that it was prepared a long time ago and pretext or the situation was created to implement it," the senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences concluded. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili offered his condolences to the Russian people for a fire claiming the lives of 64 people. "Shocked with awful Kemerovo tragedy where people, many of them children horribly died. My sincere condolences to the families of victims," he wrote on his Twitter account. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili also released a statement over the tragedy. "I would like to express my sorrow over the death of dozens of people, unfortunately including children, at a shopping mall fire in Kemerovo, Russia. I offer my sincere condolences and sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims, and the Russian people, Agenda.ge cited him as saying. Russian President Vladimir Putin named criminal negligence and carelessness among the causes of the fire. A catastrophic blaze broke out on the top floor of the Zimnyaya Vishnya four-story shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on March 25, which eventually engulfed an area of 1500 square meters. According to recent reports, the blaze killed 64 people in all, while more than 60 injured requested medical assistance. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the Bona Dea International Hospital, which has been held in Nizami district, Baku. Chief Executive Officer of Bona Dea International Hospital Faig Aliyev and Chief Physician Musa Abbasov informed the president and first vice president about the new hospital. They noted that the new hospital is one of a few of healthcare centers in the world that meets up-to-date standards and is provided with advanced medical and technical equipment. Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the conditions created in the hospital and met with its staff. Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagyntayev ordered the government to conduct inspections of compliance with fire safety in the shopping centers of the country after the tragedy in Russia's Kemerovo. "We should learn a lesson from this accident. Now this is the top discussion in the social media, bloggers go to check the shopping malls if the emergency exits are open or closed," Sagintayev said during the government session. He ordered the Interior Ministry, firefighting services along with the local authorities to check the shopping centers and take necessary measures. Sagyntayev made Deputy PM Askar Mamin responsible for the security checks, AKIpress reported. The fire started on the top floor of the four-storey Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall on March 25, engulfing an area of some 1500 square meters. According to the most recent data, a total of 64 people were killed in the fire, 60 injured were treated in hospitals, 15 of them were hospitalized and 40 received outpatient care. The bodies of 25 victims have already been identified. A criminal case was opened into negligence and violation of fire safety requirements resulting in the death of numerous people. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree that the 26th session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan should convene on April 28, 2018, according to a statement published on the presidents website. According to the decree, the Kazakh government is to ensure organization of the 26th session of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan, Sputnik Kazakhstan reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree declaring a day of mourning on March 28 over the Kemerovo shopping mall fire, the Kremlin press service said. The president conveyed his condolences to the families and friends of the fire victims and ordered that on the day of mourning flags fly at half mast across the country, while cultural institutions, television and radio broadcasters cancel entertaining events and programs. The Kemerovo region will observe three days of mourning starting March 27 for the victims of a shopping mall fire. The corresponding order was signed by the governor Aman Tuleyev. "On the days of mourning, the state flags of the Russian Federation and the flags of the region will be lowered on the whole territory of the Kemerovo region," the regional administration said in a statement. The statement added that all institutions, organizations and TV and radio companies are recommended to cancel recreational activities. The mourning was also declared in Ryazan region. Kaluga region, Bryansk region, Primorsky Krai, Yakutsk and Ingushetia. Russia's Kemerovo region will observe three days of mourning starting March 27 for the victims of a shopping mall fire, the regional administration said in a statement. "The mourning will last for three days from March 27 to 29. The corresponding order was signed by the governor Aman Tuleyev. On the days of mourning, the state flags of the Russian Federation and the flags of the region will be lowered on the whole territory of the Kemerovo region," the statement says. The statement added that all institutions, organizations and TV and radio companies are recommended to cancel recreational activities. The mourning was also declared in Ryazan region. Kaluga region, Primorsky Krai, Yekaterinburg and Ingushetia. The fire started on the top floor of the four-storey Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall on March 25, engulfing an area of some 1500 square meters. According to the most recent data, a total of 64 people were killed in the fire, 60 injured were treated in hospitals, 15 of them were hospitalized and 40 received outpatient care. The bodies of 25 victims have already been identified. US President Donald Trump spoke with many foreign leaders and encouraged them to join the United States in the expulsion of Russian diplomats, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said during the briefing. He also said that the US wants to cooperate with Russia. "Our relationship with Russia is, frankly, up to the Russian government and up to Vladimir Putin and others in senior leadership in Russia. We want to have a cooperative relationship. The President wants to work with Russia, but their actions sometimes dont allow that to happen," he said. On March 26, US authorities have decided to expel 60 Russian diplomats and close the Russian consulate in Seattle. The diplomats being expelled from the US include 48 embassy staff and 12 members of Russias Permanent Mission to the United Nations. In turn, Germany, Canada, Poland and France have decided to expel four diplomats each, Lithuania and the Czech Republic - three each, Australia, Albania, Denmark, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands - two each, Hungary, Latvia, Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Finland, Croatia , Sweden and Estonia - one each, while Ukraine decided to send away 13 Russian diplomats. A total of 41 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were killed during an air operation on March 22 in northern Iraq, the Turkish army said. The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that members of the PKK, who were plotting an attack on Turkish forces, were killed in northern Iraqs Qandil region, Hurriyet Daily reported. Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the PKK has its main base in Mt. Qandil region near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when peace talks between the PKK and Turkey collapsed. Nowruz is a holiday of spring, which marks the beginning of a new year according to the astronomical solar calendar. The history of its origin dates back several centuries and can trace its roots to the Zoroastrian period. In 2009, the holiday was officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since that moment, March 21 was declared the International day of Nowruz. Today it is a state holiday in Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and other countries. In Russia, it is celebrated in Dagestan, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and some other republics. Within the framework of the project 'National holidays' Novoruz was celebrated at the Moscow House of Nationalities. HCM City There is great potential for export of Vietnamese organic agricultural products to the US and Europe, but businesses need guidance and support from trade promotion offices to achieve this. Vietnamese organic products are competitively priced and have high quality but we need government agencies to connect us and organise promotions to get more international customers, Nguyen Lam Vien, chairman and CEO of Vinamit Joint Stock Company, told Nguoi Lao ong (Labourers) newspaper. Vinamit has sold more than 200 tonnes of organic products, most of it to the US and the rest to France. We should process the products to get better profits. Due its limited capacity, Vinamit does not plan to expand now, he said. Bich Chi Food Joint Stock Company in the Mekong Delta province of ong Thap has sold organic rice paper to the US at double the price of ordinary rice paper. It has obtained organic certification from the US. The Can Tho-based Trung An High-tech Agriculture Company has exported organic rice to Saudi Arabia at good prices and is trying to enter the European market. But we have only 100 hectares of internationally certified organic rice, so we cannot fulfil big orders, Pham Thai Binh, the director of the company, said. International customers of the Mua Service and Trade Joint Stock Company Organic want to buy more organic cashew, pepper, coconut oil and ginger from it, but like many other Vietnamese companies it is wary of accepting large orders due to its limited capacity. Vietnamese high-tech agriculture is still done on a small scale and the products are still expensive, a Mua spokesperson said. If authorities can support its development, organic agricultural products could meet the large international demand. Vo Minh Khai, general director of the Vien Phu Organic and Healthy Food who has been in organic production for over 10 years and exports organic rice to several foreign markets, revealed that importers have expressed interest in investing in processing facilities in Viet Nam and for companies like his to process the agricultural produce. He was speaking in the context that most of the organic products are processed little before export. The cost of building a successful organic brand name is high and requires time because enterprises must first have large production capacity to meet the demands of customers, he said. VNS Viet Nams industry will contribute 40 per cent to the national GDP by 2030, according to a newly issued resolution. Photo chinhphu.vn HA NOI Viet Nams industry will contribute 40 per cent to the national GDP by 2030, according to a newly issued resolution. Under Resolution 23-NQ/TW to develop the national industry until 2030, with a vision up to 2045, issued recently by the Politburo, the processing and manufacturing industries will make up some 30 per cent. The value of high-tech processing and manufacturing products is targeted to reach at least 45 per cent, while industrial labour productivity will increase by 7.5 per cent on average annually. The industrial growth rate will average over 8.5 per cent, of which the processing and manufacturing industry will see a rise of 10 per cent yearly. The resolution also sets the countrys competitive industrial performance index among the top three countries in the ASEAN, while the percentage of workers in the industrial and service sectors is over 70 per cent. Under the new plan, the Politburo aims to finalise the countrys industrialisation and modernisation targets and become one of the top three countries in industry in the ASEAN by 2030. To meet the targets, Viet Nam will focus on changing the restructuring of the industry, besides issuing policies on business, investment, human resources and science and technology to develop the industry, especially prioritised segments. Some large industrial clusters will also be built to link domestic industrial enterprises and help them gain international competitiveness. According to experts, the development of the industry will be the key driver to boost the countrys GDP growth in the first quarter of this year. The National Centre for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast (NCIF) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment estimated the GDP growth in Q1 will be 6.23 per cent, much higher than the 5.15 per cent seen in the same period last year. Of this growth, industry and construction will lead all sectors, with a growth rate of 6.87 per cent. Dang Duc Anh, head of the NCIFs Department of Analysis and Forecast, said the surge of 17 per cent in the manufacturing and processing industries in the first two months of this year will drive the whole industry sector. GDP growth in 2018 is now predicted to hit 6.83 per cent, higher than the NCIFs forecast in December last year. The Governments efforts to remove challenges for businesses are expected to help boost the industry and construction sectors, NCIF said. Major projects in the processing and manufacturing sectors and the newly signed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are predicted to lift investment and trade. The GSOs Business Sentiment Survey of manufacturing and processing enterprises released recently also showed that 48.2 per cent of businesses were optimistic that the trend would improve, 35.7 per cent of businesses believed business would be stable and 16.1 per cent of enterprises predicted more difficulties. - VNS HCM CITY Construction and development giant Becamex IDC and Japans Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for building a smart city in the southern province of Binh Duong. Under the MoU, NTT Vietnam will collaborate with Vietnam Technology & Telecommunication JSC, a subsidiary of Becamex IDC, to provide information technology and telecommunications services to customers in industrial parks and urban areas developed by the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP). The tie-up will also include human resource training and technology transfer and implementation of measures to enhance the quality of services. The two sides will also do research on a feasibility study to instal public wi-fi in Binh Duong New City and other areas and another to develop a second data centre in the province. Tran Thanh Liem, chairman of the province Peoples Committee, said Becamex IDC and NTT East would be reliable partners in developing the smart city. The MoU will be the legal framework for the tie-up between Becamex IDC, NTT East and the management of the Binh Duong Smart City to develop information and communication technology network infrastructure, he said. He called on the two companies to quickly draft concrete plans to effectively implement the agreement. The plan to develop Binh Duong smart city in 2016-21 focuses on four areas: humans; technology; business community and infrastructure; and living and working environments. The province has so far attracted more than US$29 billion in foreign direct investment projects, ranking second only to HCM City. VNS HA NOI Viet Nams wood industry faces a quandary as bright export growth prospects are clouded by difficulties in finding the necessary raw materials. Nguyen Ton Quyen, vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES), expected a mixed bag of fortunes in the domestic wood sector this year, with a handful of new trade agreements set to take effect. Quyen said that he was certain exports of wood products from Viet Nam will increase significantly, even for a country that is already the worlds third largest and ASEANs biggest wooden furniture exporter. He cited the Viet Nam-EU FTA and the Partnership for Comprehensive Poverty and Transnational Progress (CPTPP) as major boosts for wood exports, opening up access to a total of 28 markets across the world. But such hope will be in vain without the necessary policies and guidelines to facilitate processing enterprises in the face of high global standards, changing technology and a shifting labor source, he added. Worse still, while exports are to rise, the Vietnamese wood industry faces a seemingly insolvable problem of increasing the quantity of raw materials to meet producers demand for legally obtained timber. Quyen showed particular concern for an imminent fierce competition to obtain materials, especially from the Chinese market, whose wood processing industry is expected to demand about 60 million cubic metres of raw timber this year alone. He explained that Chinese enterprises will scour neighbouring markets to procure this massive amount of materials, thus putting Viet Nam and other Southeast Asian countries under competitive pressure. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar will continue to ban the export of logs and sawn timber directly from plantations, further reducing supply. Nguyen Quoc Tri, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Departments (MARD) Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF), was certain that the countrys wood products export turnover will reach US$9 billion or more in 2018. Tri said that although Viet Nam has closed its natural forests for more than a year, the wood processing industry is still developing well, proving that they can do just fine without consuming natural wood. But in order for that to happen, the country still needs about 34 million cubic metres worth of raw material, he said. Nonetheless, the VAF has set a target of 201,000 hectares of new forests and to regenerate 360,000 hectares with an additional 50 million trees to be planted, in order to supply up to 18 million cubic metres of raw timer in 2018. He worried that without proper sustainable forest management, improved productivity, quality and distribution, there will not be enough wood to meet domestic demand. Huynh Van Hanh, vice president of Handicraft and Wooden Processing Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), told the GDVC that besides the 5 million hectares of recently planted forest, about 1 million hectares are being planted every year, capable of supplying up to 3 million cubic metres of timber per year. Imports of wood materials amounted to just over $2.1 billion in 2017. Thus, most of the materials used for wood processing over time are taken from sources within the country. Hanh said that raw wood imports are meant to enrich the market, creating more choices for consumers and to gradually replace the habit of using precious wood, not to replace domestically harvested wood. Ha Cong Tuan, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development, suggested extending the life cycle of timber forests as a method to improving the added value and quality of raw wood materials. The deputy minister said on the Governments online portal that he counted on the support of foreign partners for Vietnamese enterprises to raise wood export turnover in 2018. According to the MARD, the export value of wood and wood products in the first two months of 2018 had reached $1.34 billion, up by 26.3 per cent over the same period in 2017. VNS Sugar company shares have underperformed in the last three months, contrasting with the general uptrend of the stock market and other sectors, thanks to large stockpiles and falling sugar prices. Photo thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn HA NOI Sugar company shares have underperformed in the last three months, contrasting with the general uptrend of the stock market and other sectors, thanks to large stockpiles and falling sugar prices. Viet Nam s benchmark VN Index recently beat the historical high of 1,170 points with growth rates in many sectors such as banking-financial, energy, real estate and food and beverage. But sugar stocks have experienced a downtrend in the last three months, according to VNirect Securities Company (VNDS). Data from the Ha Noi-based securities firm showed that after increasing between December 25, 2017 and early January 2018, sugar stocks have suffered. Among the four sugar company shares tracked by VNDS, Thanh Thanh Cong Sugar JSC (SBT) lost 11.2 per cent, Lam Son Sugar JSC (LSS) declined by one-fifth and Son La Sugar JSC (SLS) and Kon Tum Sugar JSC (KTS) were down 37.4 per cent and 39.2 per cent, respectively. The securities firm attributes the underperformance of sugar stocks to a downtrend in the global sugar price. According to tradingeconomics.com, the sugar price has fallen from 15 US cents a pound (about 33 US cents per kilogramme) on January 2, 2018 to 12 cents a pound as of yesterday. That meant a 17.6 per cent decline in sugar price in less than three months due to a surplus in the global market, international media reported. In Viet Nam , the sugar price yesterday stood at VN23,000 ($1) per kilogramme, higher than the global price. According to business insiders, one of the major reasons the local sugar price is higher than the global one is that Vietnamese factories are located in disadvantaged locations, leading to low production capacity at the factories. Most of the local producers have not developed their own farms and have to buy sugarcane from local farmers, which leads to decentralised sugarcane farming and high transportation costs between the farming areas and the factories. Local sugar producers have also suffered from high stockpiles. A recent report on cafef.vn showed that sugar stockpiles have remained high for the four sugar companies. For example, SBT had increased its stockpiles from VN613 billion ($27.2 million) in 2014 to VN1.95 trillion in 2017. The figure for LSS had jumped from VN223.5 billion in 2014 to around VN550 billion in 2016-17. In addition, sugar production is one of the industries that have historically received strong protectionism from the Government. That will be a challenge for local producers as they now have to compete with sugar imports from other producers in the ASEAN region. According to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), which took effect January 1, 2018, import quotas will be removed for sugar imports from ASEAN countries to one another and those products will be taxed only 5 per cent. That has raised concerns over strong competition that local sugar producers will face if sugar imports from other ASEAN economies enter Viet Nam . According to chairman of the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association Pham Quoc Doanh, there have been concerns about the removal of import quota for sugar imports from other ASEAN economies and such easing will have negative impacts on the local sugar industry. However, the local authorities need to evaluate accurately the impacts of the ATIGA on local companies and farmers, he said, adding that there are methods of protectionism that can be taken if sugar imports damage the local industry. SBT chairman Pham Hong Duong said that it doesnt matter whether ATIGA is officially implemented; local producers still have to prepare themselves for a more competitive market in the future. We will mainly compete with Thailand-exported sugar. And we need to reduce the price of sugarcane, increase the productivity of the farming areas, cut production costs and expand the market shares, he said. VNS The Government has issued a new decree which it says will help build a "clean and transparent multi-level marketing environment". Photo theleader.vn HA NOI - The Government has issued a new decree which it says will help build a "clean and transparent multi-level marketing environment". The multi-level marketing model is recognised as a legal business model in Viet Nam and is governed by the Law on Competition and Decree 110/2004/N-CP, which were issued in late 2004. The government then issued Decree 42/2014/N-CP replacing Decree 110. However, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh proposed the government tighten control of businesses applying the multi-level marketing model. Therefore, on March 12, 2018, the government issued Decree 40/2018/N-CP to promote the management of business activities, replacing Decree 42. Trinh Anh Tuan, deputy head of the Competition and Customer Protection Authority, said the issuance of the new decree would continue to build a clean and transparent multi-level marketing environment. "This is the driving force for multi-level marketing businesses to continue consolidation and growth of their business, bringing their products closer to consumers," he said. According to him, one of the highlights of the new decree is a ban on fake multi-level marketing activities for businesses under Article 5. This ban will protect the interests of consumers and genuine multi-level marketing enterprises, he said. Business enterprises are not allowed to sell or transfer networks of participants joining multi-level marketing activities of goods to other enterprises, excluding cases of acquisition, consolidation or merger of corporates. The new decree prohibits businesses from providing false or misleading information about the benefits of participating in multi-level marketing, features and uses of goods, as well as activities of multi-level marketing businesses. On the other hand, the State also bans organisation of seminars, conferences and training courses on the multi-level marketing model without the authorisation of the multi-level marketing enterprises. These enterprises are not allowed to entice corrupt participants of other multi-level marketing companies to join their networks. The ministry also warns enterprises and organisations not to abuse their position, authority, social status or profession to encourage or request others to join their multi-level marketing network or buy goods under multi-level marketing activities. - VNS HA NOI Vietnam Airlines Corporation and Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) signed a long-term flight hour support contract for maintenance of Boeing 787-9 in Paris on Monday. The contract, worth more than US$500 million, was signed in the presence of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the National Assembly of France Francois de Rugy. The contract is part of the framework to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and France. Under the contract, AFI KLM E&M will oversee the maintenance of 20 GEnx engines, including 16 engines for eight operating planes and four others for reserve, for 12 years. The firm will also provide access to spare engines for Vietnam Airlines to guarantee seamless continuity in its operations. GEnx engine installed on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is one of the most advanced turbojet engines in recent times. It is made with new-generation material through a design process that reduces weight and improves power. GEnx engines are also eco-friendly, reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide by 15 per cent each (compared to CF6 engines on Boeing 767s). CEO of Vietnam Airlines Duong Tri Thanh said the agreement was significant as it would contribute to enhancing the long-term relationship and expanding cooperation in other facets between Vietnam Airlines and AFI KLM E&M. With the success of providing spare parts and supplies to Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 fleet as well as GEnx engine maintenance, we are confident that AFI KLM E&M will operate well for the Boeing 787-9 fleet of Vietnam Airlines, helping the company to operate more efficiently long-haul international and domestic flights with the quality of four-star service. The contract affirms our commitment to provide the best experience to our passengers, said Thanh. Vietnam Airlines and AFI KLM E&M have been working together for the past 25 years. The French firm has provided complete maintenance service for Vietnam Airlines GE90 engine of the former Boeing 777-200ER fleet. In 2015, the two sides agreed that AFI KLM E&M would provide spare parts and supplies support for Vietnam Airlines 787 fleet. The co-operation reaffirms the long-standing relationship between Vietnam Airlines and Air France. Since 1994, the two firms have been working together on the operational side, with partnerships in the field of aircraft maintenance, crew training and transfer of technology of 10 new A320s, which were among the most modern type at that time. In October 2017, the two companies signed a comprehensive strategic partnership allowing the two airlines to optimise operational efficiency, service quality and expertise in technical maintenance of aircraft equipment. In the development strategy of the modern fleet, Vietnam Airlines has ordered 19 Boeing 787s, which will be delivered gradually by 2021. Currently, the firm operates 11 Boeing 787-9 aircraft between Ha Noi and HCM City and to six international destinations London (England), Frankfurt (Germany), Narita (Japan), Beijing (China), Sydney and Melbourne (Australia) and Moscow (Russia). Vietnam Airlines, a member of Skyteam Alliance, is the flag carrier of Viet Nam, serving 90 routes to 20 domestic and 29 international destinations, with an average of 400 flights per day. During the 20 years of its development at a two-digit annual growth rate, Vietnam Airlines has become a major airline in Asias aviation market with modern aircraft, such as Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350-900 XWB, Airbus A330 and Airbus A321. It has been certified as a Four-Star Airline by the prestigious Skytrax for two consecutive years. AFI KLM E&M is a major multi-product MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) provider. With a workforce of over 14,000, AFI KLM E&M offers comprehensive technical support to airlines, ranging from engineering and line maintenance to engine overhaul, aero structure and fan thrust reverser support, as well as management, repair and supply of aircraft components, structured around a powerful logistics network. AFI KLM E&M supports almost 2,000 aircraft operated by 200 major international and domestic airlines. VNS iStock/Thinkstock(BEIRUT) -- A barrage of missiles fired by Yemens Houthi rebels fell on targets in Saudi Arabia late Sunday evening, killing one person in Riyadh and wounding two, according to Saudi Press Agency, the state-run news agency. This week marked the third anniversary of the Saudi kingdoms participation in the war in Yemen. The casualties were the first in Saudi Arabias capital since the Saudi-led war in Yemen began in March 2015, although others have died from missile strikes in the kingdom. Houthi commanders say they launched the missile attack aimed at Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport, among other sites, striking deep inside Saudi territory. The conflict in Yemen has demolished the nations infrastructure, medical facilities and water treatment centers, leaving the country on the verge of man-made famine. The Saudi military said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis at the kingdom, three of them targeting Riyadh and two targeting the southern city of Jizan. Two missiles targeted other cities. Irans role in the conflict will likely come under renewed scrutiny, as a Houthi-run satellite news channel identified some of the missiles fired as the Burkan, or Volcano, missile. The Burkan is a type the United Nations and Western authorities say resembles Qiam ballistic missiles manufactured by Tehran. Col. Turku al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said in a statement: This hostile action by the Houthi militia, which indiscriminately targets the Kingdom's civilian areas, proves the continued involvement of the Iranian regime. Saudi-owned satellite news media aired footage claiming to show structural damage in Riyadh as a result of the strikes and Patriot anti-missile batteries firing at the incoming rockets. As with nearly every previous missile launched by Yemens Shiite Houthi rebels, Saudi officials said all seven fired were intercepted, but online videos raise new questions about those claims. One video appears to show a Patriot missile launch on Sunday night go wrong, with the missile changing course midair, crashing into a neighborhood in Riyadh and exploding. Another appears to detonate shortly after being launched in the Saudi capital. Col. Stephen Ganyard, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and ABC News contributor, said he would not be surprised if some of the Patriot missiles failed to hit their targets due to the systems technical limitations. Im not sure there has ever been a salvo of long-range missiles shot at a modern missile defense system, Ganyard said, but this is an example of what might happen when numbers increase. Every additional missile adds uncertainty. The Saudi military did not acknowledge the alleged missile malfunctions, with Col. al-Maliki only saying in a statement, All seven ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed. Ganyard said that if the videos of Patriot missiles malfunctioning are authentic, it demonstrates the uncertainty the United States faces with similar anti-missile systems it has deployed in places like eastern Europe to protect against missiles from Iran. Missile defense is really, really hard science, and we dont really know much besides single missile attacks, Ganyard said. Meanwhile, the U.S. provides logistical support and weaponry to the Saudi-led coalition, which has been criticized for killing civilians in Yemen with airstrikes as well as blocking Yemeni ports, bringing the country to the edge of famine. It wasnt immediately clear how the coalition would react to Sundays attack. Houthi leaders warned Saudi Arabia against further airstrikes. As we said before, if you stop your airstrikes, we will stop our missiles and if your airstrikes continue, then we have the right to defend ourselves in all available tools, Saleh al-Sammad, a Houthi leader, said in a speech before thousands gathered in Sanaa. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. PARIS The FLC Group on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to buy up to 24 A321neo aircraft for Bamboo Airways. The agreement was signed in Paris by FLC Group chairman Trinh Van Quyet and Eric Schulz, chief commercial officer, Airbus, in the presence of Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, who was on an official visit to the European country, and Francois de Rugy, President of the National Assembly of France. After carefully reviewing the options, FLC Group and Bamboo Airways decided to choose A321neo aircraft for the airlines operation. The aircraft will allow us to provide effective and convenient services and contribute to the development of the resort market in Viet Nam, Quyet said. Schulz claimed Viet Nam was one of the most vibrant economies in Southeast Asia. We are proud to play a key role in helping to develop the air transport system in this fast-growing market, he said. Airbus said FLC had completed the deposit and initial payment of the contract, fulfilling the pre-condition for handing over the 24 aircraft to Bamboo Airways. Bamboo Airways is set to start operations in 2019 with aircraft on lease from third-party lessors before taking delivery of the aircraft covered by the MoU with Airbus. The carrier will focus on linking international markets to Vietnamese leisure destinations as well as select domestic routes. The A321 aircraft is the largest member of the A320 family, seating up to 240 passengers depending on cabin configuration. In Viet Nam, Bamboo Airways is awaiting approval of its licence in the aviation sector. Once approved, the company plans to buy an additional 26 Airbus A321 long-range airplanes to increase its total aircraft to 50. In May last year, the FLC Group announced the decision of its management board to establish the Viet Bamboo Airways Company with a charter capital of VN700 billion (US$31.4 million). VNS VINH PHUC The Peoples Committee of northern Vinh Phuc Province signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday with the Sumitomo Group of Japan and the Thang Long Industrial Park Co. Ltd. The MoU was signed to establish an agency for promoting investment by Japanese enterprises in the province. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Tri highlighted the contributions made by foreign-invested firms, especially those from Japan, in promoting the localitys socio-economic development in recent years. According to him, as of February 2018, Vinh Phuc was home to 278 projects worth over US$4 billion invested by 16 countries and territories, 31 of which were from Japan and were valued at $816 million. Vinh Phuc has also partnered with Japanese localities and organisations, especially to promote investment cooperation and cultural exchange. The MoU aims to not only provide the best support for Japanese investors but also attract more Japanese firms to invest in the locality, Tri said. Nguyen Tien Hanh, Director of the provincial Public Administrative Centre, affirmed that the formation of Japan Desk Vinh Phuc would make it easy for the province to introduce its investment and business climate as well as for Japanese firms to seek partners and ask for approval for their investment projects in the locality. He said the provincial Peoples Committee would proactively report conditions or preferences of Japanese firms to the government towards granting investment licences and business registration certificates for investment projects in Vinh Phuc within three to five working days. Sumitomo is one of the five largest financial groups in Japan with experience in global-scale production and business sectors such as metal, transportation, construction machines, infrastructure development, minerals, energy, chemicals and electronics. In Viet Nam, the group has succeeded in developing, operating and managing industrial parks (IPs), including Thang Long I and II IPs and Thang Long Vinh Phuc IP. The group will be responsible for seeking potential companies in Japan that intend to expand their business in Vinh Phuc, while assisting support industries in the locality. - VNS HA NOI Some 26,785 new enterprises were established in Viet Nam in the first three months of this year, with total registered capital of approximately VN278.49 trillion (US$12.2 billion). Numbers were up 1.2 per cent and capital 2.7 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Notably, real estate firms recorded a significant increase in new establishment, with 1,226 firms in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 32.7 per cent. Average registered capital in each enterprise established in the first quarter was VN10.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 1.5 per cent. The number of workers employed at newly established enterprises was 225,389 people, down 22.7 per cent against the same period last year. Some 8,449 enterprises resumed operations in the first three months, while 8,115 ceased operations or were awaiting dissolution and 3,321 others completed dissolution procedures. In March alone, some 8,082 enterprises were newly established, with total registered capital of nearly VN81.16 trillion (U$3.56 billion). This was a rise of 2.8 per cent in the number of enterprises and 18 per cent in the registered capital compared with February. On average, the registered capital of individual businesses decreased by 20.3 per cent to VN10 billion. The number of registered laborers for new businesses in the reviewed period saw a modest decline of three per cent to 68,979. Besides this, some 1,801 firms returned to operation in March alone, down 22.3 per cent against the previous month. VNS Recognition: HCM City-based 75-year-old musician and music teacher Duong Thu received the Phan Chau Trinh Awards 2018 Culture and Education prize for his contributions to research and to Vietnamese culture and music. (Photo.thethaovanhoa.com) HCM CITY The 2018 Phan Chau Trinh Awards in HCM City on Saturday recognised 75-year-old musician and music teacher Duong Thu for his contributions to musical research and to Vietnamese culture and music. The annual Phan Chau Trinh Awards, launched in 2008 by Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation, honour individuals and groups for their contributions to Vietnamese culture, translation, research and Vietnamese studies. Bearing the name of nationalist hero Phan Chau Trinh (1872 -1926), the awards aim to restore and spread defining cultural values to renew Vietnamese culture in 21st century. Thu received the Culture and Education prize. Thu, who began his music career in 1982, has composed more than 100 songs in pop and contemporary folk music. Many of his works were top hits and have been performed by music stars. He has worked as a music lecturer at several universities and colleges in Ha Noi and HCM City. In 2009, Thu launched Ca Phe Thu Bay (Cafe Saturday), a cultural programme to introduce Vietnamese culture and music to young people. His programme offers seminars and forums in fine art, literature, painting, photography, film and theatre. The events are hosted by well-known cultural researchers, musicians, writers and artists. Late culturist and scholar Pham Quynh (1892-1945) was honoured at the 11th Phan Chau Trinh culture award ceremony late last week, held on March 24 at the Rex Hotel Saigon, District 1, HCM City. Quynh was honoured in the category of Vietnamese Man of Culture in modern day. With this award, Quynh joins the ranks of five celebrated Vietnamese scholars on the list of Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation award winners: Truong Vinh Ky, Nguyen Van Vinh, Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chau Trinh and Phan Khoi. Gifted: Late scholar Pham Quynh. Photo nongnghiep.vn Pham Quynh is an outstanding and gifted person, having graduated at the top of Bao Ho School (Lycee du Protectorat) for mastering French and world history at the age of 16. In the same year, he was appointed youngest official of Vien Vien ong Bac Co Phap (Ecole francaise dExtreme-Orient) and mastered Chinese characters afterward, said writer Nghiem Ngoc. As the editor in chief of Nam Phong newspaper, until the end of his time, he kept his routine regularly: studying, writing and working in front of the ancestors altar, so they watch over everything he thinks and does, he continued. On behalf of Pham Quynhs family, his son, musician Pham Tuyen, accepted the award at the ceremony. Other culture and education awards were given to Nhat Nghe Tinh translating group and musician Duong Thu and translator Nguyen Tung. The Vietnamese studies award was given to two French researchers, Daniel Hemery and Pierre Brocheux. Film screenings of Vietnamese and famous foreign directors were also part of the programming. The Culture and Education prize was also shared with a group of book translators called Nhat Nghe Tinh, who began their work in 2010 in Germany. They have released many books in education and technology for Vietnamese students and young people. Translator Nguyen Tung received the Translation Prize for his work in anthropology. The Research Prize was shared by Lu Phuong for his works on Marxism and Phan Cam Thuong for his works in Vietnamese folk culture. The Phan Chau Trinh awards also honour the national hero, poet and cultural expert Phan Chau Trinh, a native of central Quang Nam Province. Born in 1872, Trinh was a reformer who fought in the resistance movement against the French when he was very young. He devoted all of his life to the countrys modernisation cause. The Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation is managed by the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations. VNS Nana Chen is a Taiwanese photographer currently working on a variety of projects. She served as an arts columnist for the South China Morning Post in 2005 after holding many positions like violinist, teacher, textbook writer and lifestyle and travel journalist and photographer for newspapers and magazines. She began to focus on personal photography in 2009 and started to work on her own architectural, interior and portrait projects. She came to HCM City in 2011 and has been working since then on a project entitled DISCARDED, featuring photographs of rubble left behind after people were evicted from their homes to make way for new development. Her first solo exhibition was held recently at Heritage Space in Ha Noi, displaying 12 photos from DISCARDED. Nguyen Thuy Binh interviews photographer Chen about her photography career. Could you talk more about the photography project DISCARDED? Which photos from the project do you like best? I had passed by many demolished city blocks and started wondering what people left behind. Having moved more than 45 times in my life, I was curious what Id find. I started taking these photos in 2011. Its an observation of urban development and a documentation Viet Nams history. I cannot say there are any favourites. I chose the 12 photos from hundreds and each shows a different side of the story for me. What was your aim when you started the project? Do you think your art project will impact society? This is up to the viewer to decide. I didnt really have an aim because I didnt know what I would find. It was simply curiosity. It just planned to make pictures I like. What is the strongest impression you got as you were taking the photos? The number of toys children left behind. This made me sad. During my talk at the exhibition closing ceremony on Sunday I was discussing and recalling a favourite doll my parents forced me to leave behind in Buenos Aires when I was eight. At the time we only had a tourist visa to America and they were afraid my doll would show our intention stay. You had an art tour with the exhibition visitors on opening and closing days. Did you enjoy it? I always love interacting with the visitors. Everyone sees differently. I had composed music to go with the images. The arrangement and production were done by my musician friends. It was the first time I added a second element to my images. The result was very interesting. Some people felt very moved, some felt sad, scared, curious, intrigued. What I noticed was people would stare at each image for a very long time in silence, moving back and forward several times. The art tour or artist talk is a good way to engage with small groups of people, a bit like a moving roundtable discussion. Each photograph brought up different topics, beyond the obvious, such as childhood memories, the idea of home, professions, urban development, families, home businesses, development, and so on. Why did you have the first solo exhibition in Ha Noi whilst you are living in HCM City? Will the exhibition be held in HCM City? My dear friend, the curator Tang Fu-Kuen, suggested that I look at Heritage Space in Ha Noi. I would love to show DISCARDED in HCM City. Let me know if theres a gallery interested in showing the work of a foreigner. Otherwise, I am already arranging some private viewings of smaller prints. It will be a pleasure to share these images locally. In Viet Nam you have two photo projects, DISCARDED, and From War Babies to Billionaires": a portrait series on Vietnams super-rich women. Do you usually take photos for artistic creativity or for commission? Which do you prefer? I have focussed mainly on personal art projects for the last four years, but still do some commissioned editorial work from time to time. Sometimes, Im commissioned to create portraits, which I absolutely love. I cannot say I prefer one over the other. They are all different. With personal projects, I can become totally focussed on the emotions and not have much interaction with people for a long time. So it is always important to keep a balance. Your work is in private collections around the world and has been featured in many newspapers and magazines like The Observer Magazine, Guardian, Esquire and Marie Claire. Which is more important to you? The art projects are a way to think things through, work through feelings or emotions current or past. I work alone for long periods of time. With the journalistic commissions, the subject is very focussed, the pace is fast with the collaboration lasting normally one to two weeks. I love this, too, because Ive had the great opportunity to meet and work with some of the best journalists and editors in Asia, Europe, America and Australia. My relationship to people is most important to me. One of the reasons I love my work is because I get to meet people of all ages from different countries, cultures and professions. I love hearing other peoples stories, not just creating my own. I also love learning, so when I meet new people I learn from their different viewpoints on life, their expertise and sometimes we stay in touch so the world expands a bit more. You currently divide your time between Viet Nam, Thailand and Europe. Why do you choose Viet Nam and Thailand and not other countries in Asia? When Im in my own country, people often think Im a foreigner and speak English to me or ask me many questions. In Viet Nam and Thailand, people assume Im one of them. Its perhaps the closest Ive come to a sense of belonging, at least externally. VNS The Ministry of Justice must continue to review business conditions and eliminate overlapping and unnecessary regulations, said Minister and Chairman of the Office of the Government Mai Tien Dung during a meeting yesterday between the Governments working group and the ministry. Photo VGP HA NOI The Ministry of Justice must continue to review business conditions and eliminate overlapping and unnecessary regulations, said Minister and Chairman of the Office of the Government Mai Tien Dung during a meeting yesterday between the Governments working group and the ministry. Dung, who leads the working group, said that vague business conditions for enforcement officers to create difficulties for the people they regulate. For example, the regulation on lawyers apprentice period does not specify the minimum time required. Another regulation requires lawyers to have experience in international legal consultation but does not say how many years of working are necessary before the lawyer is considered experienced. Other requirements related to having good health, having good ethics and being responsible, honest are also vague. Cutting business conditions does not mean totally opening the door and it should still ensure national security, protect peoples health and conserve the environment, he said. The justice ministry currently has 98 business conditions in six laws and four resolutions. The ministry plans to reduce 43 of the 98 conditions in the coming time. Personnel training highlighted Dung said that the ministry should pay attention to the training of the next generations personnel. In the context of global integration, legal consultants must be competent at not only domestic legal affairs but also international laws, he said. Addressing problems arising from investment, institutions and international lawsuit disputes requires officials to be knowledgeable and competent, he said. The ministry has been asked to improve local legal systems and quality of registrars and take measures to address issues related to civil status and criminal records. Dung said that State management of lawyers has been loosened at some localities. Local justice departments and bar associations must work together to tighten supervision of lawyers activities. The Minister and Chairman of the Governments Office pointed out unsolved civil judgment executions, saying that the justice ministry needs to report these cases to the Government and National Assembly for further solutions. The ministry must work with sectors at all levels to set up technical barriers to protect Viet Nam s exported products. On the management of legal documents, the ministry has been urged to ensure the laws feasibility and remove their shortcomings, he said. On the occasion, Dung hailed the ministry for its reforms, especially in accomplishing institutions and working with the Government office and other ministries to accelerate the compilation and submission of draft laws, elaborating documents and ordinances for approval. VNS The Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) has protested Chinas unilateral decision to ban fishing in the East Sea, saying it has no validity. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI The Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) has protested Chinas unilateral decision to ban fishing in the East Sea, saying it has no validity. Chinas Ministry of Agriculture published an announcement on its website that unilaterally adjusts the countrys fishing ban in the East Sea, including Viet Nams territorial waters. The ban will come into force from May 1 to August 16, 2018. The VINAFIS said that the ban will hamper fishing activities of Vietnamese fishermen and violates Viet Nams sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and the Tonkin Gulf territorial waters as well as its legitimate rights and interests. It also breaks international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and related international legal documents, and runs counter to the spirit and wording of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea signed between ASEAN and China in 2002, the VINAFIS said. Chinas action is not in line with the development trend of Viet Nam-China relations and hurts peace and stability in the region, it added. The VINAFIS urged Vietnamese authorities to take measures to stop Chinas action and increase patrols in the sea to protect fishermen and facilitate their fishing in Viet Nams waters. On March 22, the Foreign Ministrys spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang also declared that Viet Nam opposes and rejects Chinas decision. The spokeswoman stressed that Viet Nam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, as well as legitimate rights over its waters in line with the 1982 UNCLOS. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (r) receives CEO and President of Mitsubishi Corporation Takehiko Kakiuchi in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo VGP HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged Japans Mitsubishi Corporation to expand investment in infrastructure, airport transport, seaports and energy, especially renewable energy, in Viet Nam. The leader made the suggestion at a reception for CEO and President of Mitsubishi Corporation Takehiko Kakiuchi in Ha Noi yesterday, during which he stressed the Viet Nam-Japan extensive strategy partnership has developed strongly, comprehensively and practically across fields, with high mutual political trust. Japan was a leading economic partner, the largest official development assistance (ODA) supplier, the fourth biggest trade partner and No. 1 investor of Viet Nam in 2017, he said. The PM affirmed that Viet Nam attached great importance to economic co-operation with Japan, noting Japanese investors prestige in Viet Nam as well as their contributions to the countrys socio-economic development. However, he said, Japans foreign direct investment (FDI) in Viet Nam made up only 3 per cent of its total FDI in Asia, and lower than its investment in a number of Southeast Asian nations. The Vietnamese Government had completed institutions and mechanisms to create more favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Japan, the PM emphasised. Applauding investment and business activities of Mitsubishi in Viet Nam, he suggested the corporation heed manufacturing, automobile and food processing industries in the country. He used the occasion to call on Vietnamese and Japanese businesses to increase exchange and co-operation in order to utilise opportunities generated by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to which both Viet Nam and Japan are members. In reply, Takehiko Kakiuchi applauded PM Phucs suggestions, saying they match his corporations investment strategy in Vietnam in the time to come. He said the great cooperation achievements between Viet Nam and Japan had offered more opportunities for Japanese firms, including Mitsubishi, to intensify exchange, and expand co-operation and investment in Viet Nam. He also called on PM Phuc and competent Vietnamese agencies to continue their support and create the best possible conditions for the corporation to invest and operate in the country. VNS PARIS General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday expressed his delight at visiting Frances Choisy Le Roi City, which witnessed negotiations on the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam from May 1968 to March 1973. Trong said his visit to the southeastern outlying city in Val-de-Marne department, Ile-de-France administrative region, was special as it was on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, the fifth anniversary of Viet Nam France strategic partnership and the 45th signing anniversary of Paris Agreement. He extended the most sincere thanks to French friends and lauded the citys administration for maintaining relic sites linked with Paris Agreement negotiations and signing, saying that they are ever-lasting symbols of Viet Nam France friendship. Choisy Le Roi has formed twinning relationship with Ha Nois ong a District since 1973 and assisted the district in building schools and medical stations. In his speech, Governor of Choisy Le Roi city Didier Guillaume recalled that 45 years ago, the city launched a movement in support of Viet Nam and its struggle against imperialists and the use of massive destruction weapons, which helped put an end to the inexcusable war. He said friendship with Viet Nam proved the citys determination to maintain core values of humanity. French friends said though 45 years passed, they are still proud of making part of contributions to Viet Nams war for justice in the past. The Vietnamese Party leader also visited the square named Paris Agreement which was inaugurated in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th signing anniversary of Paris Agreement, and met French friends. Trong and his entourage arrived in Paris yesterday morning, beginning the official visit to France. A welcome ceremony was solemnly held in rituals for a head of state before the Vietnamese delegation headed to Choisy Le Roi City. Later yesterday, he met young Vietnamese intellectuals in France, who wished that they would make further contributions to the nation. Trong affirmed that the Party and State of Viet Nam always appreciated intelligentsia, consider overseas Vietnamese intellectuals an invaluable resource for the nation, and frequently issue suitable policies and mechanisms to further uphold their contributions to national development. VNS National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan highlighted the development of Viet Nam-Netherlands co-operation in all areas over the past 45 years while addressing a ceremony in The Hague yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc THE HAGUE National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan highlighted the development of Viet Nam-Netherlands co-operation in all areas over the past 45 years while addressing a ceremony in The Hague yesterday. The top legislator attended the ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and the Netherlands as part of her official visit to the country from March 26-28. Viet Nam and the Netherlands are strategic partners in major spheres like climate change response and water management, and food security and sustainable development, she said. Such achievements have been reaped for more than 400 years since Dutch vessels anchored at Viet Nams Hoi An port to trade rice and pepper, the NA Chairwoman stressed. Nowadays, the Netherlands is affirming its role as Viet Nams leading European investment and trade partner, with famous businesses like Heineken, Damen, Unilever, Fiesland Campina and Philips in the Asian country, she said. The leader hailed the contributions of the Dutch firms to Viet Nams development, as well as ties between the two countries. The sectoral strategic partnership created a premise for bilateral collaboration in all areas like marine economy, infrastructure, agriculture, national defence and education, she said. Noting Viet Nams reform efforts, Ngan said the country had received valuable support from the Netherlands in these efforts through various co-operation programmes. The leader expressed her belief that the bilateral relationship would continue to yield fruit, and that cultural and art exchange programmes, along with investment and trade promotion forums, will help bring them closer together. Speaking at the ceremony, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, emphasized the similarities shared by Viet Nam and the Netherlands. She applauded co-operative achievements gained by the two countries over the past decade, especially in water management and climate change combat, with the most noteworthy the Mekong Delta Plan 2013. The Netherlands wanted to maintain close co-operation with Viet Nam towards a Mekong Delta of sustainability and prosperity, she said. VNS Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (l) meets with President of Frances National Assembly, Francois De Rugy, in Paris yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung PARIS Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has urged Viet Nam and France to bring their co-operation, especially in trade and investment, on par with their political ties. Speaking with President of Frances National Assembly, Francois De Rugy, in Paris yesterday, Trong also expressed his wish that the two countries promote co-operation in culture, education and training, which are potential fields for co-operation between the two. The Party leader thanked the French National Assembly for sharing experience in legislative work, monitoring and supporting human resources training. He expressed his wish that the French National Assembly continue to work with Viet Nam, especially in the context that Viet Nam is tweaking its legal system and enhancing the role of the National Assembly and elected bodies. Rugy expressed his admiration of Viet Nams development achievements and the countrys emerging position in the region and the world. Hailing the 45 years of diplomatic relations between France and Viet Nam, the French legislator said that the visit of Trong would contribute to the co-operation between the two countries to make it match their five-year-old strategic partnership framework. The two leaders lauded the co-operation in the past years between the national assemblies of France and Viet Nam. They agreed that the two countries parliamentary bodies should continue to increase the exchange of delegations in order to learn from each other. Trong suggested the French National Assembly support and ratify the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement. On this occasion, Trong invited Rugy to visit Viet Nam on behalf of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, an invitation he welcomed. VNS National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (r) meets with Queen of the Netherlands Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc THE HAGUE Viet Nam attaches great importance to relations and co-operation with the Netherlands, seeing it as a significant and effective relation between Viet Nam and a European country. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the statement while meeting with Queen of the Netherlands Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague yesterday. The friendship and co-operation between the two countries over the past 45 years has developed well in all fields, and political trust between the two sides has improved, Ngan said, noting that the Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management, the Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security between the two countries were models for effective co-operation, contributing to sustainable development in Viet Nam. She highlighted the ties between the two national assemblies, saying the two sides maintained exchanges of delegations, exchanging experience of parliamentary activities, thereby enhancing understanding and tightening bilateral relations. The two sides have also worked together at multilateral parliamentary forums, she said. Ngan recalled Queens Maximas visit to Viet Nam in May 2017 as the UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy on Comprehensive Finance for Development, during which the Queen shared with Vietnamese authorities information and experience on financial markets in the context of Viet Nam developing the field. Viet Nam still needs to make more efforts and hopes to continue to receive the attention and support of the international community, Ngan said, expressing her wish that the Queen, as the representative of the Netherlands and the United Nations Secretary Generals Special Envoy on Comprehensive Finance, would help mobilise financial and technical resources from the United Nations and other international organisations to help Viet Nam implement comprehensive financial efficiency. Queen Maxima lauded Viet Nams efforts in developing the national strategy on inclusive growth to promote full access to financial services, enhance its economic position and develop the country. The Queen urged the Vietnamese Government to approve a national strategy on comprehensive finance and establish a co-ordination committee for the strategy. Along with that, Viet Nam should implement a telecommunications correspondent network for payment functions, she said. The Dutch Queen also proposed Viet Nam pay more attention to training human resources and spend resources to implement this strategy. She said she would discuss with the World Bank to devise policies to help Viet Nam implement this strategy effectively. VNS PARIS General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nams Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong met with President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher in Paris on Monday. The meeting was part of his official visit to France. They were pleased to witness the development of the two countries relations in various fields, while speaking of the highly important contributions of the two countries parliaments towards strengthening the friendship, solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the two nations and peoples. Senate President Larcher affirmed that France attaches importance to Viet Nams position and role as well as the relations between the two countries. He wished for the further development of multi-faceted cooperation between France and Viet Nam, thus contributing to deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. Trong affirmed Viet Nam has always attached importance to relations with France and wishes to further intensify economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries, while expanding co-operation in other fields. He welcomed contributions of parliamentarians to promote collaboration between the countries localities, urging the two sides to closely coordinate to organise the 11th conference on local co-operation in Toulouse city in 2019. The Senate President supported Trongs proposal on boosting bilateral co-operation in economy, trade and investment and wished to increase co-operation in French language training and promotion in Viet Nam. He confirmed wanting to accelerate the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement after the deal is signed, creating a driving force for economic co-operation between Viet Nam and France as well as other EU countries. At the meeting, host and guest discussed regional and international issues of common concern. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong conveyed the invitation of Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to Senate President Larcher to visit Viet Nam at a convenient time. The latter accepted the invitation. VNS THE HAGUE Viet Nam wishes to learn from the Netherlands experience with planning strategies and mobilising finance to sustainably develop its Mekong Delta, said National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Ngan made the remark while meeting Hermen Borst, Director of the Staff of the Delta Programme Commissioner, at The Hague on Monday, as part of her official trip to the European country. Underscoring her visits aim of strengthening ties with the Netherlands and its parliament, the top legislator said Viet NamNetherlands relations have undergone 45 years of fruitful development across multiple fields, with increasing political trust. The two countries signed strategic partnership arrangements on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management in 2010 and on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in 2014, she noted, saying these are effective co-operation models capitalising on the Netherlands strengths and contributing to sustainable growth in Viet Nam. For his part, Hermen Borst said he took part in a conference on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change, held in Viet Nams Can Tho city last year. He said he was impressed with the speech made by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the conference and with the local governments issuance of Resolution 120/NQ-CP on the matter in 2017. Both Viet Nam and the Netherlands are affected by climate change, the official noted, informing the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman of his countrys experience in the field, particularly its support for the Delta Act and Delta Programme. The Delta Act constitutes the legal basis for the Delta Fund, which can be used to finance the projects of the Delta Programme. The Delta Commissioner leads the Delta Programme, which includes research to identify climate challenges and potential solutions and the submission of recommendations to parliament for suitable financing. With such experience, the Netherlands wants to stand side by side with Viet Nam in adapting to climate change and protecting water resources, he said. Expressing her delight at the Dutch officials speech, Ngan said it would be valuable knowledge for Viet Nam on its path to sustainably develop the Mekong Delta. VNS PARIS The Secretary General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Nguyen Phu Trong, met French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in Paris on Monday. The meeting was part of Trongs ongoing official visit to the European country. The head of the French government lauded Trongs current visit, considering it an important milestone in promoting strategic partnership links between the two countries. Both the leaders shared their happiness with the quality and dynamism of Viet Nam-France cooperation in various fields, ranging from politics, diplomacy, economics, security and defence to culture, health, science, education, training, law and justice, besides collaboration among localities. They affirmed their desire to deepen the strategic partnership in the coming time and agreed to improve the exchange of information and contacts, especially high-level ones, to increase the effectiveness of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in all areas, especially in the economy, and to strengthen coordination in regional and international forums. They emphasised that economic cooperation always played an important role in bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen economic, commercial and investment ties to match with the ties in politics and culture. Philippe expressed his satisfaction at the signing of contracts and economic collaboration documents during the visit and said the French government would promote the implementation of the same. He also said his government would encourage and create favourable conditions for French provinces and companies to expand cooperation with their Vietnamese counterparts for mutual benefits, adding he wanted the Vietnamese government to facilitate investment by French companies. On his part, Trong suggested that the two sides make more efforts to promote the potential of economic cooperation and ensure effective implementation of projects. He affirmed that Viet Nam was willing to facilitate the participation of French companies in its industrialisation and modernisation and was ready to be a bridge for them to access the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The leaders expressed their desire to accelerate the signing and ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union in 2018, thus creating a new impetus for economic, commercial and investment co-operation among Viet Nam, France and the European Union. The Vietnamese leader asked the French government to increase support and cooperation in the field of training and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living in France. Trong also invited Philippe to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time. The French leader accepted the invitation. VNS PARIS General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nams (CPVs) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and French National Assembly (NA) President Francois de Rugy marked the anniversary of Vietnam-France ties. The two leaders had attended a ceremony in honour of the 45th anniversary of the two countries diplomatic ties at the NA headquarters in Paris on Monday afternoon. Addressing the event, NA President Rugy said Viet Nam and France had established diplomatic ties on April 13, 1973, starting a new chapter in their bilateral relationship. In the following years, France overcame difficulties to accompany Viet Nam during the countrys struggle for national liberation and national reunification. The legislator said Viet Nam is Frances important partner in Southeast Asia, which is developing dynamically. In 2013, the two countries signed a strategic partnership and cooperated in various realms, from politics, economics, culture and education to science, the parliamentary channel, the military and strategy. The French leader described Viet Nam as a pillar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with high growth, adding that the countrys GDP had increased 15 times over the past 30 years. He highlighted the increasing presence of French businesses in Viet Nam, as well as the number of Vietnamese students in France, reaching some 7,000 students. Besides this, Viet Nam and France have joined hands in coping with global challenges, such as climate change in the Mekong and Red River Deltas, the leader said. In his remarks, Party General Secretary Trong emphasised that since the two countries established diplomatic ties, France has remained Viet Nams leading partner in Europe and the world at large. The Viet Nam-France relationship is always among the priorities of Viet Nams foreign policy, he stated. Trong stressed diverse cooperation between Viet Nam and France, both bilaterally and multilaterally, allowing the two countries to consult each other and share their viewpoints on many regional and international issues. He also noted the diverse exchange of culture between the two countries over time. France is not only Viet Nams leading European sponsor but also its co-operation partner in various spheres, the Party chief said, adding that priorities had been assigned to bilateral collaboration in education and scientific research. He cited hundreds of agreements signed between Vietnamese and French universities and research institutes. Co-operation between the two countries localities has also been expanded with the participation of 20 French localities and 15 cities and provinces of Viet Nam. Viet Nam and France established a strategic partnership five years ago, demonstrating their mutual political trust, he said, underlining enhanced bilateral coordination in regional and international issues. Party General Secretary Trong called on the two countries to scale up efforts to deepen the strategic partnership, increase their political trust and high-level exchanges and meetings, improve the efficiency of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms and step up cooperation in all fields, as well as expand people-to-people exchanges, enhance cooperation between localities and intensify coordination in regional and international issues of shared concern. The two leaders then witnessed the signing of six cooperation documents, comprising a letter of intention on universe technology between Viet Nams Ministry of Science and Technology and Frances Airbus Defence and Space, a co-operation programme in 2018 between Viet Nams justice ministry and the Supreme Council of Notary of France and an agreement on the research and planning of maritime natural resources between Viet Nams Academy of Science and Technology and the French Research Institute for Development. The other documents are a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in intellectual property between Viet Nams Intellectual Property Department and Frances National Industrial Property Institute; an agreement between Viet Nam Airlines, Air France, Air France Industry KLM Engineering and Maintenance of France, and another MoU on purchasing 24 aircraft between Bamboo Airline, FLC of Viet Nam and Frances Airbus. VNS THE HAGUE - Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said she expects that her ongoing official visit to the Netherlands will further deepen the friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and the European country, and in particular with the Dutch parliament. During her talks with President of the Senate of the Netherlands Ankie Broekers-Knol in The Hague yesterday, Chairwoman Ngan expressed her hope that the visit would open up new co-operation prospects in relations between Viet Nam, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), especially as Viet Nam and the Netherlands celebrate the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. Broekers-Knol said the top Vietnamese legislators visit followed the official visit to the Netherlands by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in July 2017. The current visit by NA Chairwoman Ngan has created an opportunity for the two sides to share legislative experiences and promote parliamentary ties, the Senate President said. While discussing the outcomes of her earlier talks with Speaker of the House of Representatives Khadija Arib, Chairwoman Ngan said the two sides exchanged views on many issues and agreed to step up co-operation in specific realms. The chairwoman also highlighted socio-economic development achievements that Viet Nam has notched in 2017, especially since the country joined ASEAN in 1995. The host and guest expressed their pleasure at the growing friendship and co-operation in all spheres over the past 45 years as well as the enhanced mutual political trust between Viet Nam and the Netherlands. Ngan said Viet Nam set up the Viet Nam-Netherlands Co-operation and Friendship Association for the 2013-18 tenure, which has contributed to increasing people-to-people exchanges, hoping that the Netherlands will soon establish a similar association to promote mutual understanding and friendship. The top legislators said that economic, trade and investment relations between Viet Nam and the Netherlands had been growing fruitfully over the past few years. The Vietnamese Party and State embraced the strategic partnership agreement on climate change adaptation and water management signed in 2010 and the strategic partnership agreement on sustainable agriculture and food security sealed in 2014 between Viet Nam and the Netherlands, Ngan said, describing them as effective co-operation models that have contributed to sustainable development in Viet Nam. She recognised and spoke highly of the Netherlands assistance in building the Mekong Delta Plan (MDP) to cope with climate change and improve water management. Viet Nam was particularly interested in environmental issues and high-tech agriculture development, which are the strengths of the Netherlands, and hoped the European country would continue co-operating and sharing experience with Viet Nam in the fields, Ngan said. Viet Nam and the Netherlands were also expected to strengthen collaboration in such potential areas as tourism, transport, education-training and culture, Ngan said, urging the two nations to sign a bilateral tourism co-operation agreement to make a legal foundation for the establishment and implementation of specific co-operation programmes. The two leaders applauded cooperative ties between Vietnamese and Dutch localities, saying they helped promote mutual understanding, friendship and co-operation between the Vietnamese and Dutch people. Broekers-Knol said the Netherlands wanted to cooperate with Viet Nam in various fields, particularly in response to climate change and sea level rise, noting that her country created a perfect breakwater system when sea level rise left critical impacts on the Netherlands 70 years ago. At the talks, the two leaders expressed their interest in high-tech agriculture and discussed measures to tackle global food security. The Vietnamese top legislator briefed the host about Viet Nams agricultural production and exports in recent years. Regarding bilateral legislative relations, the leaders held that cooperative ties between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Dutch Senate had been growing well in recent years. In that spirit, Ngan suggested the two sides continue exchanging delegations to increase mutual understanding and trust, improve the efficiency of consultation mechanisms and closely cooperate at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP). The parliaments needed to supervise the implementation of co-operation agreements inked by the two governments while promoting information exchanges on parliamentary activities in each nation, Ngan said, recommending the establishment of friendship parliamentary groups. As maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of aviation and navigation is to the common benefit of the international community, including the Netherlands, Ngan hoped that the country would raise its voice to support the East Sea issue, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the strict observance and enforcement of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). She took the occasion to thank the Netherlands for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community, expecting that the Senate President would further support Vietnamese nationals so that they could make contributions to the host nations socio-economic development and multi-faceted co-operation between the two countries. NA Chairwoman Ngan invited Senate President Broekers-Knol to pay an official visit to Viet Nam at a convenient time to discuss issues of mutual concern regarding co-operative relations between the two nations and the two parliaments. The State President accepted the invitation with pleasure. VNS THE HAGUE Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had talks with Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands Khadija Arib in The Hague yesterday (local time). This is the first visit by a leader of the Vietnamese parliament to the Netherlands, and it is made amid the 45th founding anniversary of the countries diplomatic ties and their efforts to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. At the talks following the welcome ceremony hosted by Arib, chairwoman Ngan expressed her hope that the visit would intensify the friendship and co-operation between the two countries in general, and between the Vietnamese and Dutch parliaments in particular, thus opening up new co-operation prospects in bilateral ties and between Viet Nam, ASEAN and the European Union (EU). The two legislators noted with satisfaction the development of their countries friendship and co-operation in all aspects as well as their increasingly reinforced political trust. The Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management, formed in 2010, and the Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, formed in 2014, are effective co-operation models, which have helped capitalise on the strengths of the Netherlands and promote sustainable development. Chairwoman Ngan informed her host about Viet Nams socio-economic situation and congratulated the Netherlands on serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2018. She hopes that with their sound co-operation at multilateral mechanisms, especially between the Vietnamese and Dutch missions to the UN, the two sides will continue successfully cooperating at the UN Security Council, thus contributing to regional and global peace, prosperity and stability. She underlined that "maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation is the common interest of the international community, including the Netherlands". She called on the country to support the peaceful settlement of East Sea disputes and the serious adherence to and enforcement of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. Speaker of the Dutch lower house Khadija Arib agreed with her guests opinions, noting that the two countries share many similarities and boast huge potential for stronger cooperation in the time ahead. Discussing bilateral co-operation in certain fields, the leaders expressed their delight at the outcomes in their countries economic, trade and investment ties. The Netherlands is currently the biggest export market of Viet Nam in the EU. In 2017, bilateral trade exceeded US$7.77 billion. Chairwoman Ngan highly valued many effective investment projects of major Dutch businesses in Viet Nam such as Heineken (beer), Unilever (detergents, cosmetics), Royal Dutch Shell (oil and gas exploitation and distribution), Foremost (milk), Akzo Nobel Coatings (pharmaceutical chemistry), and Philips (electronics). With 305 projects worth nearly $8.2 billion, the Netherlands now ranks 11th among the 126 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. She also thanked the Dutch parliament for ratifying the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Co-operation. Recently, Viet Nam and the EU agreed to separate the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) into two agreements, namely the agreement on trade in goods and the agreement on investment. She asked the Dutch parliament to promote the signing and ratification of those agreements, voicing her belief that once the EVFTA takes effect, it would create a legal framework for bilateral trade and investment to make breakthroughs. Regarding co-operation in environment and agriculture, the Vietnamese leader said the Vietnamese Party and State appreciate the Netherlands assistance within the framework of the Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management, especially in building the Mekong Delta Plan which gives a long-term vision and recommendations for the sustainable development of this region amid heavy impacts of climate change. She also applauded co-operation projects between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. She asked the EU nation to continue supporting Viet Nam to carry out projects on enhancing the capacity of integrated water resources management, building pilot water supply models in areas with limited access to water, and making water resources planning in the Mekong Delta. Regarding culture and tourism, the leaders agreed that the two sides will consider strengthening co-operation with other partners in protecting and promoting the values of cultural heritage so as to increase exchanges, cooperation and the sharing of professional experience. The two sides will boost co-operation in researching museology, restoring masterpieces of arts, researching the preservation of relic sites, and promoting of the communitys role in protecting and promoting the values of cultural heritage. The Vietnamese leader said a lot of potential in bilateral co-operation in tourism remained untapped, suggesting the Netherlands sign a bilateral tourism co-operation agreement as a legal foundation for the formation and deployment of specific programmes and cooperative activities in tourism between the two countries. On security-defence ties, Ngan wished that the Netherlands would continue supporting and sharing with Viet Nam its experience in joining in UN peacekeeping missions and establishing the Peacekeeping Centre. At their talks, the leaders reached a consensus that the co-operation between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the House of Representatives the Netherlands has unceasingly been growing. The two sides have maintained the exchanges of all-level visits, shared experience in parliamentary activities, while conducting meetings, coordinating and supporting each other at multilateral parliamentary forums. The leaders agreed to continue exchange high-level visits, as well as visits at other levels, to promote mutual understanding and trust, making the activity as a foundation for the law-making bodies to expand their ties practically and efficiently in all fields. They agreed to continue making the best use of the consultation mechanism, working closely at multilateral forums like IPU and ASEP, and coordinating in monitoring the implementation of co-operation agreements signed by the two governments, and exchanging information about activities of each parliament. NA Chairwoman Ngan and Speaker of the House of Representatives Khadija Arib agreed to consider the establishment of a parliamentary friendship group which will serve as a platform for the two countries legislators to cooperate. The Speaker showed her special interests in the role of women in the political life in Viet Nam, especially the female legislators contributions to the NA. Ngan took the occasion to thank the Netherlands for having created favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community there, suggesting the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the parliament continue helping them integrate into the host society and contribute to its socio-economic development, and promote wide-ranging co-operation between the two countries. She invited the Speaker to visit Viet Nam in the coming time and the host leader accepted the invitation with pleasure. VNS PARIS - France wants to strengthen the strategic partnership with Viet Nam , French President Emmanuel Macron said while holding talks with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in Paris yesterday. The ongoing official visit to France by the Party leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation was taking place at a special time in the bilateral relationship, he said. He said he highly valued the socio-economic development achievements of Viet Nam over the past years. Trong said he was glad to visit France again and thanked the French President, authorities and people for their warm welcome. He said he appreciated the role and position of France in Europe and the world, saying Viet Nam considered the development of friendly co-operation with France a top priority in its external affairs policy. He took the occasion to thank France for supporting Viet Nam in all aspects. The two leaders informed each other about the situation in each country and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, especially security matters. They agreed that disputes should be addressed via peaceful means and international law and countries roles and responsibilities should be promoted for regional peace, security and development. The two sides discussed measures to establish frameworks to create new momentum for a deeper strategic partnership, opening a new development period for bilateral relations. They underlined the long-standing special relationship between Vietnam and France and their historical, cultural and social closeness. They also expressed pleasure at the development of diplomatic ties over the last 45 years and the five-year strategic partnership. The two countries are witnessing the strongest development period with a comprehensive and effective cooperation foundation created in all fields, serving as an important driving force to elevate their ties to a new height. To step up strategic cooperation in all fields, the two leaders agreed to maintain and increase high-level contacts and meetings, improve the efficiency of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, expand cooperation across the board, increase people-to-people exchange and locality-to-locality partnership, and boost coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern. The French President asked Viet Nam to provide favourable conditions for French businesses to invest and implement cooperation projects in Viet Nam , enhance cooperation in defence and security and personnel training, and boost parliamentary cooperation. The Party chief welcomed and noted France s requests and expressed his wish that Vietnam would receive efficient assistance and cooperation from France . The two leaders shared the view that economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries had grown positively, but it was yet to reach the potential created by their political ties and strong desire for further growth. As such, they agreed to step up practical measures to boost trade, speed up important cooperation projects on telecommunications, energy, aviation, safe water, climate change and the environment and seek supportive measures to enable their businesses market entry. They shared the view that the two countries were enjoying conditions to boost cooperation in investment in high technology, clean energy, organic agriculture and digital industry. Measures to boost cooperation in science-technology, healthcare, energy and education and training were on the table as well. The French President suggested the establishment of French schools in Vietnam . Both sides affirmed their desire to make Viet Nam-France friendship cooperation a part of the multilateral spaces like the EU and ASEAN. They agreed to speed up the signing and ratification of the free trade deal between Viet Nam and the EU in 2018, creating new momentum for economic, trade and investment collaboration between the two nations. The two leaders hailed significant contributions made by the Vietnamese community in France to the bilateral ties. Party General Secretary Trong hoped that France would continue support for the Vietnamese nationals in the country so that they could further contribute to relations. On the occasion, the Party chief invited the French President to visit Viet Nam at a convenient time. The later accepted the invitation with pleasure. The same day, Emmanuel Macron held a grand banquet for the Vietnamese Party leader and the high-ranking delegation from Viet Nam. Also, the two leaders witnessed the signing of some significant cooperation deals and met with the press. VNS The visa exemption policy for citizens of five European countries will expire in the next three months. Whether and when it might be renewed are still open questions, creating a headache for tourists and Vietnamese businesses that serve them. Photo dantri.com.vn HA NOI The visa exemption policy for citizens of five European countries will expire in the next three months. Whether and when it might be renewed are still open questions, creating a headache for tourists and Vietnamese businesses that serve them. To address the dramatic decrease of international tourists to Viet Nam in 2015, the Government granted citizens of the United Kingdom, Republic of France, Federal Republic of Germany, Kingdom of Spain and Republic of Italy a visa exemption for stays of less than 15 days, regardless of passport type and travel purpose from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. After one year of piloting the visa exemption, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to renew the policy for one year, till June 30, 2017. He made the decision on June 30, 2016 and it came into effect the next day. Similarly, in 2017 when the Government renewed the policy again, it did so only 24 days before the expiration date on June 6, 2017. Therefore, theres good reason to expect it will be renewed againbut little reason to think it will happen in time for visitors and guides to plan for it with ease. Nguyen Thien Phuc, an inbound tour operator, said that announcing visa policies too close to the enforcement dates puts both tourism enterprises and tourists at risk. Companies commonly build up tour programmes six months to one year prior. They cannot promote tour packages if the visa is not fixed. Phuc told Thanh nien (Young people) newspaper that his foreign partners usually complained about the late announcement of Vietnamese visa policies as tourists usually register for tours four to five months before the departure dates. If Viet Nam suddenly stops the visa exemption policy, a tourist will have to apply for visas in rush when the departure date approaching fast, he said. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2017 published by the World Economic Forum ranks Viet Nam in 34th place in terms of natural resources, 30th place in cultural resources and business travel, 37th place in human resources and labour market out of 136 economies across the world. However, in terms of international openness, the country scored low, at the 73rd place. In comparison to other countries in the region, Viet Nam s visa policies are not as competitive and attractive, with the visa exemption offered only for citizens of 23 countries and territories. That figure is 165 in the Philippines , 164 in Malaysia and 160 in Singapore . Indonesia , aiming to welcome 20 million foreign tourists by 2019, has opened the visa exemption policy for citizens of 169 countries and territories. The visa-exempt stay duration is only 15 days, quicker than the typical trip of an international tourist to Viet Nam . Moreover, citizens of countries enjoying Viet Nam s one-way visa exemption to Viet Nam have to bear a passport which must be valid for at least six months and at least 30 days from the departure date from Viet Nam . Nguyen Quoc Ky, head of Vietravel Company Managing Board, said that these shortcomings obstruct the influx of tourists to Viet Nam . The Ministry of Public Security has set up an interdisciplinary inspection team to supervise foreigners compliance with the regulations on their entry, exit, and residence in central a Nang City. VNA/VNS Photo zing.vn A NANG The Ministry of Public Security has set up an interdisciplinary inspection team to supervise foreigners compliance with the regulations on their entry, exit, and residence in central a Nang City . The move was made after many foreigners were reported to illegally work as tour guides in a Nang City , affecting the tourism sector, security and order in the city. Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Luu, chief inspector of the ministry, said that Major General Nguyen Huu Tiep, deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Public Security, would lead the team. The team is comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and a Nang inspectors. Luu said that during the 45-day inspection, the team would tighten supervision on the implementation of the law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in the city, boost education efforts on those laws and strengthen enforcement. Luu has asked leaders of the units to coordinate well with the inspection team, including preparing reports, dossiers and relevant documents and appointing staff to work with the team. He has also asked the inspection team to ensure their job would not cause any harm to the operation of the concerned agencies and units. Shortcomings, difficulties and obstacles in enforcement would be detected, so that the relevant authorities would propose to amend, supplement or promulgate new regulations on the entry, exit and residence of foreigners, he added. Ho Ky Minh, deputy chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, said that the committee has required all relevant agencies and units to prepare reports and complete dossiers and documents for the inspection. Early this month, the citys Peoples Committee had asked local police to enhance the management of travel and tourist guides, especially co-ordinate with the districts authorities to review the list of foreigners using long-term tourist visas or multiple-entry visas to work with Vietnamese enterprises in Ngu Hanh Son, Son Tra and Hai Chau districts. Last September, the citys government and tourism authority received a petition, which claimed that many Chinese tour guides were working illegally in the city. The petition, with 130-140 signatures, also argued that these tour guides distorted Vietnamese history and culture while serving tourists. Figures from the citys Department of Tourism showed that the department imposed a total fine of VN763.7 million (US$33,680) on 93 violating cases. These cases involved a Taiwanese, two Chinese and eight Koreans. The city currently has 623 Chinese-speaking tour guides licensed by the Department of Tourism. VNS Nguyen Thi Tinh and her husband from Ha Nois outlying district of Chuong My have worked hard for years in the agricultural industry, saving their money in hopes of rebuilding their house. As usual, on March 10 they both left home for the morning market to sell vegetables, and so did their son. Returning home that afternoon, they found the houses gate and main door closed but the lock on the door to the second floors had been broken. Their sons bedroom was a mess, with the wardrobe unlocked. Worse still, some VN125 million (US$5,500) and gold were gone. The family reported the case to local police examined the scene and questioned those involved. Two days later, they arrested Le Quoc Long, living in the same district. It turned out that the thief was none other than the victims son-in-law. Long confessed that he was well aware of where his in-laws kept their house and wardrobe keys and that they had a fair amount of cash lying about. With that in mind, Long planned to break into the house and take the money for gambling. Of course, he made the mess in an attempt to hide the evidence. Through investigation, the police also found that that was the sixth time Long had robbed his wifes family. He successfully stole the familys money as the amounts were smaller for the first three times. For the following three cases, he asked Nguyen Van Ty, another son-in-law of the family, to join in. HA NOI Disabled people face a world of difficulty especially young people who suffer. But one young man with disabilities is a shining light and example to others. Trinh Cong Thanh, head of the Association of Young People with Disabilities in Ha Noi, is one young man with disabilities leading the way by helping other young people. Thanh has researched and successfully manufactured the wheelchairs for Vietnamese disabled people. Currently, wheelchairs in Viet Nam are largely imported through medical equipment supply companies, domestic and foreign charities. The amount of wheelchairs produced domestically is still limited. Thanh has used his own money to train in engineering and design to learn how to make wheelchair. At the beginning, I thought I easily can assemble a wheelchair by collecting some spare parts from a bike accessories shop but it was not, Thanh told Nhan Dan (People) newspaper. After much failure, my friends and I are successful in producing the wheelchairs with same operational mechanism as the imported ones. Nearly 200 wheelchairs Made in Viet Nam under his project named Raise your foot were donated to disabled people. His group also supports users maintenance services and replacement spare part. Design of the wheelchair was improved to better use and could be easily repaired at bike repair shops, Thanh said. But despite his best efforts and hard work, he has been forced to suspend his project due to a lack of funding. Thanh said he hoped to have more money in the future to help supply more wheelchairs. In addition Raise your foot project, he also opens a Centre for Legal Counseling and Judicial Support for Vietnamese People with Disabilities. The idea of setting up a trusted address for legal support for people with disabilities arose from he was working as collaborator at the Ha Noi Justice Department. During that time, he found that many people with disabilities still faced many difficulties to access legal aid, so he tried to set up the centre with the permission of the Ha Noi Justice Department. The centre has two consultants and a team of collaborators, who are lawyers and experts in various social sectors. The centre mainly helps disabled people about education, vocational training, healthcare and legal policy. It also provided legal support to people with disabilities as representatives to participate in legal proceedings, implementing legal procedures, Thanh said. Along the hotline 1900.558846, the centre also has many groups and clubs to receive support requests of disabled people. "We are going to set up branches in some localities to help more people, Thanh said. Nguyen Thi Thuy, a consultant said they faced marginalisation and severe social, economic and civic disparities. According to the National Disability Committee, Viet Nam now has about eight million people with disabilities. There are more 98,790 people with disabilities in Ha Noi and nearly 50,000 in HCM City, according to the statistics of Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Many of them have jobs from the recruitment of businesses and manufacturing establishments in the cities. However, companies employing disabled labourers said although the State had policies to support tax and loans for enterprises but the related procedures was cumbersome. Tran Thi Thuy Vy, a young disabled person and the owner of an establishment producing a book in HCM City, said she understood the sorrow of unlucky ones. I know that if they are respected, they will dedicate themselves to the work. I look forward to welcoming more new people, helping them to have stable jobs, living for themselves, their families and society, Vy said. The HCM Youth Union also organised many activities and workshops in many localities to help people with disabilities integrate into the community. - VNS A NANG More than 200 members of emergency medical teams from 10 ASEAN countries and Japan joined a regional collaboration drill under the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH) project in the central city yesterday. The drill challenged participants to respond to a super typhoon with wind speeds of 200km per hour sweeping central provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai, killing 500 people and wounding 800 others. In the training scenario, dozens of living quarters were isolated and nearly 10,000 victims were taken to hospitals. ASEAN countries then responded to a call for help from Viet Nam through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) and emergency medical teams (EMT) were sent to disaster-hit areas in Viet Nam with air cargo containing logistics and medical equipment. In response to One ASEAN One Response, Viet Nam has enthusiastically participated in the project since 2015. Its the second time that Viet Nam has hosted the drill with the aim of strengthening joint actions with regional countries in dealing with disaster, Vice Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan said in his speech opening the drill. Its also a practical opportunity for EMTs from regional countries and Viet Nam to share experience and skills in management and planning of responses in the future disasters in the region. Dr. Atchariya Pangma, general secretary of Thailands National Institute for Emergency Medicine and director of the AHA project, said the drill, which was jointly organised by the Vietnamese and Thailand ministries of health, the Japanese international co-operation Agency (JICA) and a Nang city, drew many participants and guests. We have designed this field exercise to provide you knowledge and useful experiences in practising medical and humanitarian responses in an extreme disaster simulation, Atchariya Pangma said. In this exercise, you learn how to manage the information; how to report for effective collaboration among the EMTs, and how to work together with various local and international agencies in the affected areas, he said. He added that the exercise was designed to help participating teams test the efficiency of the regional collaboration tools, namely the Standard Operating Procedure for the Coordination of EMTs in ASEAN and the health needs assessment framework that have been developed by the project working group. In 2013, cyclone Nari killed five people and injured 49 in the central region. Five hundred homes were wrecked and nearly 12,000 others damaged in Thua Thien-Hue, a Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. VNS HA NOI A maths competition began in Ha Noi yesterday and for the first time there was a new addition contestants from overseas. It is also the first time Ha Noi has hosted such an international competition. The Ha Noi Open Mathematics Competition (HOMC) runs for four days until March 30, but the competition itself will only take place on March 27, leaving the rest for seminars, workshops, sightseeing as well as performances that feature each countrys cultural characteristics. The contestants are divided into two groups, but the exam questions would be the same with English being the official language. Group A for 75 foreign contestants from 91 countries Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hungary, etc., as well as 12 overseas Vietnamese. The contestants in Group A will engage in individual and team completion, at both Junior and Senior levels. Group B features 411 Vietnamese contestants from 23 provinces and cities across the country, competing at Junior (196 contestants) and Senior (215) levels. The judge panel comprises of leading Vietnamese mathematicians, Speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, the education minister Phung Xuan Nha stressed the role of mathematics as well as natural sciences in the development of a country. Nha also said the ministry would continue to sponsor and provide support for academic activities like this event as part of Viet Nams international integration, in line with the Party and States development policies. The HOMC was first conducted by the Ha Noi Mathematical Society and the municipal education department in 2004 for eighth and tenth grade students in the city, with math challenges being in English. The annual event was soon extended to include contestants from across the country. Several winners of the HOMC have also scored gold medals in international and regional math Olympias. Outside of being a competition, and now in its 15th year, it is expected to be a chance to share experience and math teaching practices between the participating countries, as well as an opportunity to foster understanding of capital city and Viet Nam to international friends. VNS Nguyen Ngoc Quyen. Photo PA Viet Nam News LONDON Two men who raped and killed a Vietnamese student in the United Kingdom have been convicted of her murder. The pair held Nguyen Ngoc Quyen hostage for four hours in August last year, during which she was sexually assaulted and raped to a point at which they rendered her unconscious. Her killers then drove her body to some nearby farm land, dumped the vehicle in a field and then set it on fire as 28-year-old mother of two Quyen lay slumped on the back seat. Killers Stephen Unwin, 40, and William John McFall, 51 who were found guilty on Tuesday of murder of Nguyen Ngoc Quyen. Photo Northumbria Police KHANH HOA The 2018 Viet Nam Renewable Energy Summit opened in the central coastal city of Nha Trang yesterday. The three-day event, a match-making platform for key stakeholders in the renewable energy sector, has brought together some 30 local investors, including TTC Energy, KN Group, Phu Cuong, Ocean Group and Hado Group and international developers and investors like Tata Power, Mainstream and Blue Circle. Also taking part are subsidiaries of the State-owned Electricity of Viet Nam like the National Load Dispatch Centre, Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company No 3, and Thuan Binh Wind Power Joint Stock Company. There are several conferences, workshops, exhibitions and match-making forums, and industry players will share their knowledge and widen business contacts. VRES 2018 has topical sessions to discuss market intelligence and connect key investors with approved renewable projects that are looking for investment. Promotion of renewable energy The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a circular last September on encouraging solar projects in Viet Nam, which included a final template for a power purchase agreement (PPA) and the feed-in-tariff (FiT) rate of 9.35 US cents per kWh for solar projects and specific guidelines for implementation of utility-scale and rooftop solar projects. According to figures released at the summit, there are projects with a combined capacity of over 17GW in various stages of development, mainly in the central and southern regions, as against a solar energy master plan target of just 850MW by 2020. Given the oversupply and speculation in the solar market, investors are facing the big challenge of identifying projects that are bankable and competitive to be awarded PPAs. Khanh Hoa Province where Nha Trang is situated is famous for its abundance of solar and wind power resources. Many investors have chosen it and nearby provinces such as Ninh Thuan and ak Lak to set up renewable projects, the event organisers said. VNS. BRATISLAVA Slovakias parliament on Monday approved a new government appointed by Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, whose predecessor quit in a scandal over an investigative journalists murder that sparked mass protests. The ministers appointment last week led thousands of people to take to the streets across Slovakia on Friday to call for snap elections. Eighty-one MPs in the 150-seat assembly voted in favour of the new cabinet, an official statement said. The new line-up retains most of the same people from the previous administration of Robert Fico, who analysts believe will continue to call the shots from behind the scenes as he remains chairman of Pellegrinis Smer-SD party. Pellegrini and outgoing interior minister Robert Kalinak are the partys deputy chairmen. Journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, both 27, were found shot dead last month in their home near Bratislava. Police said Kuciaks death was "most likely" related to his investigation into alleged ties between top politicians and Italys powerful Ndrangheta mafia. Pellegrini condemned the murder, calling it "an attack on freedom of speech" and saying the government "will do everything to investigate this abominable act". His death has raised concerns about media freedom and corruption in the EU member country of 5.4 million people and sparked weekly anti-government protests. Pellegrini said ahead of Mondays vote that he hoped the approval of the new team from the three-party coalition would "end the torment in Slovakia" and restore stability. "We will do everything possible to ensure that honest people can live well and that those who commit crimes will be punished," he told the TASR news agency. AFP UNITED NATIONS The decision of the United States to expel Russian diplomats is a blow to the Russian Federations mission in the United Nations, Russias permanent representative to the organisation Vasily Nebenzia said at a meeting with reporters. "Of course, this is a blow to our mission, but I think well mobilise," he said answering a question from TASS. Earlier, US authorities have decided to expel 60 Russian diplomats and close the Russian consulate in Seattle. The diplomats being expelled from the US include 48 embassy staff and 12 members of Russias Permanent Mission to the United Nations. While speaking about the members of Russias Permanent Mission to the UN, the US administration official alleged that they were involved in "aggressive collection here in the US" thus abusing their residence privileges under the UN headquarters agreement. The Russian diplomats are supposed to leave the United States within a week. Skripal case On March 4, former Russian military intelligence (GRU) Colonel Sergei Skripal, who had been convicted in Russia of spying for Great Britain and exchanged for Russian intelligence officers, and his daughter Yulia suffered the effects of a nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury. British Prime Minister Theresa May said the substance used in the attack had been a Novichok-class nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union. London expelled 23 Russian diplomats and announced other restrictive measures against Moscow. Moscow rejected all of the United Kingdoms accusations, saying that a programme aimed at developing such a substance had existed neither in the Soviet Union nor in Russia. In retaliation to the UKs steps, 23 British diplomats were expelled, the British consulate general in the city of St. Petersburg was closed and the British Council had to shut down its operations in Russia. At the same time, Moscow pointed out that further measures could be taken "should there be any more hostile actions against Russia." 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it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Chile Insists it has nothing to negotiate over due to the 1904 Peace and Friendship Treaty. The lawsuit presented by Bolivia to the International Court of Justice, or ICJ, in 2013 to oblige Chile to negotiate sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean for the landlocked country entered its the last round of hearings Monday. Bolivia came out strong in the first statement of the last round of hearings. Force gave you access violating a long standing treaty, Bolivias lawyer, Ramiro Brotons, told Chile's defense team and the court in his opening statement, referring to Chiles conquest of the disputed territory after winning the War of the Pacific (1879 - 1884) against Bolivia and Peru. He later showed the inconsistencies in Chiles arguments, reminding them they once used the treaties submitted as evidence by Bolivia in an international dispute with Peru and pointing to the inconsistencies of their attempt to say these documents did not constitute treaties. They must be coherent, and fulfill their commitments, Brotons added. The Bolivian team further emphasized the exchange of documents between Chile and Bolivia in which both parties agreed on negotiating Bolivias sovereign access to the sea. "They reject the documents presented by Bolivia; that seems reckless. Before entering the Peace Palace, house of the ICJ, where Chile and Bolivia continue to present their legal arguments and counter-arguments, Chiles Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said in a press release: We are always very calm, very sure of our approach, very sure of what history is, very sure of the truth something unites us with Bolivians and give us stability and security, and that is the unrestricted respect to the 1904 treaty. The 1904 Peace and Friendship Treaty, in which Bolivia accepted the loss of 400 kilometers of coastline and was granted access to Chilean ports like Antofagasta with a fee, is at the center of Chiles contention that it has no obligation to negotiate with Bolivia. However, President Evo Morales told Bolivian press agency ABI that the lawsuit is not about the 1904 treaty, after the 1904 treaty, in 1920 Chile offered sovereign access to the sea and has not fulfilled this This lawsuit is about Chile fulfilling its promises, offers and diplomatic agreements. This set of rounds will end on March 28, after which the court must set a date for its final and binding ruling. Mar 27, 2018 | By Tess 3D scanning technologies are revealing all sorts of things this week: from shocking mummy discoveries, to the inside of a 700-year-old well in Scotland, to a newly uncovered Bronze Age site on Ramsey Island in Wales. Lets see how 3D scanning and modeling have made these discoveries possible. 3D scanning an ancient Egyptian coffin At Sydney University, a team of archaeologists were understandably shocked to discover that a coffin, believed for over a century to have been empty, actually contained a mummified body. The mummy, which has in fact been encased inside the coffin for roughly 2,500 years, is now being studied with the help of 3D scanning technologies. (Image: Macquairie Medical Imaging) Unfortunately, due to looting in Ancient Egyptian grave sites, the mummys body has not been preserved very well, and finding out more about the mystery person buried inside the sarcophagus has been a challenge. Still, the research team, led by one Dr. Jamie Fraser, has been working hard to learn more about the mummy, and has made some revelations thanks to state-of-the-art technology like 3D scanning. The first clue about the mummy was found on the coffin itself, which bears hieroglyphics indicating that the person buried inside was a priestess named Mer-Neith-it-es. And though this might seem like conclusive evidence, it is not always the case that ancient coffins actually contain the person marked. To gain more information, the archaeologists have captured detailed CT scans of the remains and transformed them into 3D models for careful analysis. From the 3D models of the feet and ankle bones, the team believes they have uncovered an adult person over the age of 30. If they can get a hold of some toenails, the mummy could even be carbon dated. Edinburgh Castle well gets the 3D scanning treatment A 700-year-old well built into the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland was recently captured using laser scanning and transformed into a 3D model. The well, named Fore Well, is one of of the oldest parts of the famous Edinburgh Castle and is dug deep into the volcanic rock hill that the castle is built upon. In medieval times, the Fore Well was the main source of water for the castle. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland Interestingly, the 3D models of the well have been compared with survey drawings done by architect William Thomas Oldrieve in 1912 and bear a remarkable resemblance. The comparison showcases the accuracy of Oldrieves hand measurements drawn over a century ago that were, of course, done without the use of contemporary scanning equipment. Ultimately, the 3D model of the historical well will provide important insight into the history of the castleand how best to preserve it. As Rachel Pickering, Cultural Resources Advisor at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), explains: Very little survives of the medieval castle and it can be hard to understand or appreciate how the early castle would have looked. Exploration such as this helps us to look at the castle in a new light and will continue to help us reconstruct and bring to life the lesser known aspects of the castle's past. Bronze Age sight discovered on Ramsey Island in Wales On Ramsey Island, off the coast of southwest Wales, a laser scanning mission recently revealed the existence of a previously unmarked Bronze Age landscape. The new archaeological findings were distinguished by a scan taken from the air, which has also been transformed into a highly detailed 3D model. (Image: CHERISH project) The scanning initiative was commissioned by Climate Heritage and Environments of Reefs, Islands and Headlands (CHERISH), an EU-funded programme based primarily in Ireland and Wales. The scan was originally meant to capture data for the study of climate change, so finding a new archaeological site was something of a surprise. The 3D model of the site reveals Bronze Age round barrows, a prehistoric coastal promontory fort, and the remains of what could have been a chapel. The discoveries will be further studied by archaeologists and could present new insights into how humans existed on Ramsey Island over the past 4,000 to 5,000 years. Posted in 3D Scanning Maybe you also like: Mar 27, 2018 | By Tess A team of scientists from the Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has devised a 3D printing method capable of fabricating entirely liquid structures. The technique uses a special 3D printer to deposit threads of water into a base of silicone oil, and could be used for constructing liquid electronics and for chemical synthesis. 3D printing goes way beyond depositing layers of melted plastic to build up a poly vase. As scientists from the Berkeley Lab have shown, the technology even extends to printing structures made entirely of liquid. That is, by printing thin threads of water into a silicone oil substance, they have demonstrated the ability to 3D print liquid tube structures inside another liquid. At this stage in the research, the scientists have printed threads of water between 10 microns and 1 millimeter in diameter, and have created a number of different structure types, including complex spiral and branch-shaped patterns reaching several meters in length. As Tom Russell, a visiting faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab who is working on the technology, explains, the 3D printed liquid structures are even able to change their shape and adapt to their surroundings. (Image: Berkeley Lab) He says: Its a new class of material that can reconfigure itself, and it has the potential to be customized into liquid reaction vessels for many uses, from chemical synthesis to ion transport to catalysis. Russell, who worked with Materials Sciences postdoc researcher Joe Forth and a number of other scientists to realize the project, believes the liquid 3D printed technique could have applications in the construction of liquid electronics (in flexible, stretchable devices) as well as in chemical synthesis. For the latter, the scientists explain that the printed tubes could be chemically tuned and have molecules flowing through them, which could offer a new and innovative way to separate molecules or deliver nanoscale building blocks to compounds. In order to actually print liquid into liquid without it turning intoliquid, the scientists had to come up with some innovative solutions. One of these was to coat the tubes of printed water with a special soap-like substance. More precisely, the water tubes were coated in a nanoparticle-derived surfactant which allowed them to retain their shape and prevented them from dispersing into droplets. The so-called nanoparticle supersoap was made by adding gold nanoparticles into water and polymer ligands into oil. When the two liquids come into contact the gold nanoparticles and the polymer ligands try to attach to each other but the oil and water keep them separate. When the water substance is actually deposited into the oil base, ligands in the oil attach to individual nanoparticles in the water, which ultimately forms the nanoparticle supersoap. The result is a glass-like stabilizing layer between the oil and water which keeps the water threads in position. This stability means we can stretch water into a tube, and it remains a tube, added Russell. Or we can shape water into an ellipsoid, and it remains an ellipsoid. Weve used these nanoparticle supersoaps to print tubes of water that last for several months. To automate the novel liquid printing process, the researchers modified an off-the-shelf 3D printer by installing a syringe pump and liquid extrusion needle. The 3D printer was then specially programmed to insert the needle into the oil base and to inject the water in a pattern determined by a 3D model We can squeeze liquid from a needle, and place threads of water anywhere we want in three dimensions, explained Forth. We can also ping the material with an external force, which momentarily breaks the supersoaps stability and changes the shape of the water threads. The structures are endlessly reconfigurable. The innovative 3D printing research was funded by the Department of Energys Office of Science and was recently published in the journal Advanced Materials. Posted in 3D Printing Technology Maybe you also like: Mar 27, 2018 | By Benedict 3D software company Materialise has put together a huge 3D printed model of Antwerp City Hall, a building from the 16th century. The company had to use its Mammoth Stereolithography 3D printers for the large-scale 3D printing project. Antwerp City Hall has been turned into a 3D printed model The Belgian city of Antwerp has many spectacular buildings, including its gold and marble-lined Central Station, its towering Cathedral of Our Lady, and its wildly modern Museum aan de Stroom, set on the edge of a tiny dock. Antwerps 16th-century City Hall is another architectural beauty in the Belgian city. However, 60 years have passed since its last refurb, meaning the grand building is starting to show signs of wear and age. Time has come for a major cleanup of the City Hall, as well as various other buildings, so the municipality of Antwerp recently kicked off a major exhibition highlighting its biggest urban development projects for the next few years. At the center of this exhibition, which is being held at the aforementioned Museum aan de Stroom, is a giant 3D printed model of Antwerp City Hall. It has been printed, unsurprisingly, by Belgian 3D printing giant Materialise, whose Leuven headquarters are just an hour and 20 minutes drive from Antwerp. The 3D printed model is extremely detailed, even on the inside Materialise says it took on the ambitious 3D printing project in collaboration with a 3D engineering bureau from Ghent, Mindscape 3D, a specialist in the creation of digital 3D models. Mindscape 3D made the design of the City Hall model from scratch, before sending the files to Materialise for 3D printing. And while turning the imposing old building into a digital 3D model was no mean feat, the 3D printing part was just as tricky: Materialise used its Magics software suite to turn the 3D data into STL format, clean up the model, and position it properly on its 3D printer build platforms. Honeycomb structures were added to the inside of the City Hall model to add strength without adding weight. Although the 3D printed City Hall was split up into (relatively!) manageable pieces, Materialise still had to use its Mammoth Stereolithography 3D printers to fit the scaled-down building on the print bed. The 3D printed City Hall is 1.7 meters wide. The real building is due a cleanup But just because the 3D printed building is big doesnt mean it isnt extraordinarily detailed. Far from it. Because SLA 3D printing was used to produce the components of the structure, Materialise was able to print in fine resolution, resulting in features like intricate woodwork detailing inside the rooms of the City Hall. When the 3D printed City Hall was unveiled on March 24, Mindscape 3D added the finishing touches by rigging up a lighting system within the model, making the scale model of the iconic building even more like the real thing. Fortunately for all 3D printing enthusiasts heading to Belgium in the near future, the 3D printed building will be on display for two years. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: v wrote at 3/28/2018 12:25:09 AM:your youtube link is broken. Please replace with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_PrzIPeTlc Mar 27, 2018 | By Tess 3D printed housing has really been gaining in momentum the past couple of weeks with the unveiling of New Storys $4,000 3D printed home and the announcement of a 3D printed building in Milan. Now, just outside of the French city of Nantes, a 3D printed social housing project is nearly liveable. The 3D printed housing project is called Yhnova, and is the product of a collaboration between the University of Nantes, Bouygues Construction, Lafarge Holcim, the Nantes Metropole Habitat organization, and TICA architectes & urbanistes. Together, the parties designed, developed, and 3D printed a 95 m home. Since breaking ground on the project this past September, the 3D printed Ynhova house has been inaugurated (in a ceremony held on March 21) and is preparing to welcome its first residents in June 2018. The five-room house was constructed using a patented 3D printing method called BatiPrint3D, which was developed by researchers from the University of Nantes. The additive manufacturing process uses a laser-guided, four-meter-long robotic arm to deposit layers of different construction materials in a pre-determined shape. Unlike other 3D printing construction processes which exclusively deposit concrete mixtures to build walls, the BatiPrint3D robotic printer extrudes three types of layers: one formwork layer made of a foam-like material, an insulating layer, and a structuring layer made from a special 3D printable concrete mixture. The overall goal of the Yhnova 3D printed house project is to demonstrate that 3D printing technologies can be used to not only construct liveable housing structures but affordable housing. After all, the project was initiated in partnership with the Nantes Metropole Habitat organization which seeks to find alternative housing solutions for all residents. Because the Ynhova house was also 3D printed in a wooded area near the University of Nantes campus, the collaborative team was also hoping to demonstrate that the BatiPrint3D 3D printing method could be suitable for constructing in areas that would typically be complicated to build in using traditional construction methods. On April 7, visitors are invited to the Yhnova house open day to see the impressive 3D printed building in person. Then, in June the first residents will be given the keys to the 3D printed house. According to the University of Nantes, a family will be selected to live there based on the established social housing criteria. As a somewhat experimental home, Yhnova will be equipped with a range of sensors and monitoring systems to keep track of the homes air quality, humidity, temperature, as well as how the 3D printed materials are maintained. These smart home sensors will reportedly enable the houses residents to cut back on energy spending. (Images: University of Nantes) Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Josephine Quinn in the New York Review of Books: When Julius Caesar was thirty-one years old in 69 BCE , so the story goes, and serving as a junior Roman magistrate in Spain, he once stood lamenting before a statue of Alexander the Great because he had achieved so little at an age by which Alexander had already conquered the world. He had good reason for concern. Although his recent election as a quaestorone of the officials responsible for financeshad given him a lifetime seat in the Senate, Roman politics were more of a funnel than a ladder: twenty quaestors who had been elected at thirty years old could compete nine years later for eight praetorships, and then, three years after that, for just two annual consulships. To rise, you needed political friends, name recognition, and, in order to buy elections, a great deal of money. Caesar was already admired as an orator, but he was best known for his debts, and he was good at making enemies, especially among the powerful conservatives in the Senate. Furthermore, while he had ably fulfilled the standard military duties of a young Roman nobleman, he had attracted attention only for his first assignment overseas at the age of about twenty: a trip to Bithynia in northern Anatolia, where he had become friendlymany said extremely friendlywith its king, Nicomedes. Whether or not the rumors were true, this was the first hint of a lifelong tendency to test the bounds of Romes unwritten moral and legal codes. What he realized over the next decade was that two very good friends could make up for a lot of enemies if one was Marcus Crassus, the richest man in Rome, and the other its finest general, Gnaeus Pompeynicknamed, no doubt to Caesars annoyance, the Great. This cliquewhich has gone down in history as the overly official-sounding First Triumvirate, but was called at the time the three-headed monstergot Caesar elected consul for 59 BCE . It also got Pompey a new wife in Caesars daughter Julia, apparently a love match despite the thirty-three-year age gap. More here. Michael Prodger at The New Statesman: As 1931 turned into 1932, Picasso was 50 years old, famous, rich and admired. His main home was a swish apartment in Paris but he also owned an 18th-century manor house at Boisgeloup in Normandy; he shuttled between the two in a chauffeur-driven Hispano-Suiza; he was married to the Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova, with whom he had a son, Paulo, and he had a mistress too, Marie-Therese Walter, then 22 but whom he had met when she was just 17. Both the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Venice Biennale wanted to stage a retrospective of his work but he had plumped for the Galeries George Petit in Paris and the show was to open in June. To cap it all, an early work, La Coiffure of 1905, sold for a record 56,000 francs in February. So Picasso in 1932 had a rich, full life. But then, when didnt he? Such was his emotional and artistic fecundity (he is said to have produced some 50,000 individual artworks during his career) that an enterprising curator could make an exhibition from pretty much any year of his career. Those at Tate Modern have gone for 1932 and tagged it his annus mirabilis. more here. Carl Zimmer in The New York Times: Nearly two decades ago, the rumors began: In the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, someone had discovered a tiny mummified alien. An amateur collector exploring a ghost town was said to have come across a white cloth in a leather pouch. Unwrapping it, he found a six-inch-long skeleton. Despite its size, the skeleton was remarkably complete. It even had hardened teeth. And yet there were striking anomalies: it had 10 ribs instead of the usual 12, giant eye sockets and a long skull that ended in a point. Ata, as the remains came to be known, ended up in a private collection, but the rumors continued, fueled in part by a U.F.O. documentary in 2013 that featured the skeleton. On Thursday, a team of scientists presented a very different explanation for Ata one without aliens, but intriguing in its own way. Atas bones contain DNA that not only shows she was human, but that she belonged to the local population. Whats more, the researchers identified in her DNA a group of mutations in genes related to bone development. Some of these mutations might be responsible for the skeletons bizarre form, causing a hereditary disorder never before documented in humans. Antonio Salas Ellacuriaga, a geneticist at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain who was not involved in the new study, called it a very beautiful example of how genomics can help to disentangle an anthropological and archaeological dilemma. DNA autopsies, as Dr. Ellacuriaga calls them, could help shed light on medical disorders by looking to the past to understand the present. More here. Buh-bye, disgusting airplane food. Hong Kong Airlines is now serving up tasty eats that are "big in flavor and rich in texture," according to the chef, who is none other than San Francisco's own Chris Cosentino. The cooking show champ behind SF's Cockscomb and St. Helena's Acacia House is well known for his obsessive love of offal; now he's playing with another category of cuisine oft perceived as gross: the humble in-flight meal. In partnership with Hong Kong Airlines, which launched its inaugural nonstop flight to San Francisco on March 25th and is now offering round-trip service between SFO and Hong Kong four times each week, Cosentino has designed a rotating menu of 12 dishes, from appetizers to desserts, that reflect his style of Californian cooking. With the purchase of a business class ticket, you could dine on charred avocado with rock shrimp remoulade and red sorrel; pate de campagne with cornichons, radish and mustard; braised beef short rib in a Burgundy demi sauce; braised lamb neck in gremolata with polenta and broccolini; and ginger dates and toffee cake topped with whipped cream. It all sounds great, but what will it taste like once it's warmed over and served on a little tray? Well, much care was given to maintaining food quality, so you can rest assured that your kohlrabi salad won't arrive limp and soggy. Cosentino joins a roster of culinary talents who have partnered with the airline, including Hoi King Heen (InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong); Nooror Somany Steppe (Blue Elephant in Phuket); and Gabriel Choy (the first Asian winner of the Gordon Ramsay Scholar competition). Get a taste of his on-board meals below. // hongkongairlines.com ICYMI, refurbished Airstreams are all the rage. You can book one for the night on Airbnb. You can belly up to one for tastings of Central Coast rose. And now you can hop aboard for an even wilder ride. This month, San Franciscobased sex toy company Crave is rolling out its Build-a-Vibe workshop on wheels, inside a 1961 Airstream painted a sassy shade of orange. Cofounder Ti Chang at the Airstreams Build-a-Vibe bar. (Courtesy of Crave) Part showroom, part design studio and mini factory, the sexed up trailer is taking the brand's popular DIY classes, in which women get the chance to customize their own toys, to cities across the country in a tour entirely funded through crowdsourcing on Indiegogo. The mobile Crave Design Factory made a recent stop at SXSW in Austin, TX; later this month, she'll park at The Dinah, the annual lesbian fest in Palm Springs. Founded by industrial designer Ti Chang and entrepreneur Michael Topolovac, Crave is well known for the subtlety and elegance of its modern designsthe award-winning Vesper is a vibrator-no-it's-a-necklace!but is also unafraid to stir up blunt conversation about sex and relationships in public (we all loved their recent portrait series at Folsom Street Fair). So since social networks prevent companies like Crave from posting vibrators to their feeds, the team is hitting the road for an IRL social campaign. "With the Build-a-Vibe tour. we would like to encourage women to explore their sexuality, enjoy it, and not be ashamed of using a vibrator," says Chang, who's personally embarking on the trip, along with her dog Mac Jacobs, and will be on hand to educate her guests on the history of female sex toys. "Participants will receive a kit with all different parts of the sex toy. Then our technicians will walk them through the complete and final creation of the vibrator." And the Airstream is fully equipped for the mission. A neon sign emblazoned with the words Own Your Pleasure announces the mobile design space, which gleams with glossy white paint and retail-style shelving to show off the company's various gadgets. On the tour, participants in the workshop ($99/person) will get to customize their own special edition Duet Pro vibrators, launched just for the occasion. Have a nice ride! // lovecrave.com, indiegogo.com/projects Sale achieves $1,222 psf and 4.04% cap rate, all-time record-low cap rate in the U.S. for a Raising Canes. rn LA HABRA, Calif. Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, a nationally-recognized real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in retail property sales, announced today that the firm has completed the sale of a new single-tenant Raising Canes Chicken Fingers located in La Habra in Orange County, California. Raising Canes is the rapidly-growing Louisiana-based restaurant company known for its ONE LOVE quality chicken finger meals. The purchase price was $3.96 million for a 3,239-square-foot building with a drive-thru, representing $1,222 per square foot and achieving an all-time record-low cap rate for a Raising Canes in the U.S., according to CoStar. Executive Vice President Jeremy McChesney represented the seller, Equitas Investments in Hermosa Beach, California. The buyer, a 1031 exchange buyer also from Hermosa Beach, represented by Steven Schechter, first vice president investments, Marcus & Millichap in Encino, California. We generated seven qualified offers on behalf of the seller and closed escrow 15 days after the store officially opened for business reducing the developers carrying costs, said McChesney. This sale represents the lowest cap rate for any Raising Canes ever closed in the U.S. McChesney also noted that the sale price was an attractive price point compared to similar Raising Canes currently listed for sale in California and closed escrow within one percent of the listed price. Newly remodeled in 2017 on 0.95 acres, Raising Canes is located at 1050 S. Beach Boulevard (CA State Route 39) in La Habra, a heavily trafficked thoroughfare with more than 45,000 cars per day. The single-tenant corporate-guaranteed absolute triple-net lease investment has a new 15-year lease term with rental increases during the primary term. The lease also has four five-year options with 10 percent increases. This is a dense, affluent Orange County location with over 178,000 people residing within three miles with household incomes exceeding $104,000, said McChesney. The trade area is expected to grow by 6.37 percent by 2020 and includes a recently completed 335-unit luxury apartment community located directly across the street from Raising Canes. Nations Restaurant News magazine ranked Raising Canes as the #1 Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain (2017). Louisiana Restaurant Association ranked Raising Canes the Restaurateur of The Year (2016). The Dallas Morning News ranked the chain the Top 10 Places to Work (2011-2016). Founded by Todd Graves in 1996 and named after his yellow Labrador, Raising Cane, the rapidly growing chain is renowned for its fresh, never-frozen chicken fingers, its secret-recipe Canes sauce, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, freshly-brewed sweet tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Raising Canes is continually recognized for its unique business model and customer satisfaction which is to have restaurants all over the world and be the brand for quality chicken finger meals, a great crew, cool culture, and active community involvement. Raising Canes has more than 370 restaurants in 24 states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with multiple new restaurants under construction. About Hanley Investment Group Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors is a retail investment advisory firm with a $6 billion transaction track record nationwide, who works closely with individual investors, lending institutions, developers, and institutional property owners in every facet of the transaction to ensure that the highest value is achieved. For more information, visit www.hanleyinvestment.com. Media Contact Company Name: Hanley Investment Group Contact Person: Jeremy McChesney Email: Send Email Phone: 949.585.7671 Country: United States Website: http://www.hanleyinvestment.com Teal Gold Mine - Production Guidance Upgraded Perth, Mar 27, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Intermin Resources Limited ( ASX:IRC ) ("Intermin" or the "Company") provides the following operational update from Intermin's 100% owned Teal Gold Mine, located 11km north west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia (see Figure 2 in link below).HIGHLIGHTS- Mining operations at Teal Stages 1 and 2 now complete with 230,000t of oxide and transitional ore at a claimed grade of 3.2g/t Au for 23,500 ounces mined- Ore grade in line with the Reserve model, tonnage and metallurgical recovery above Feasibility Study estimates to date(see Note 1 below)- Production guidance for the combined stages increased to 21,000 - 22,000 ounces at original All In Costs (AIC) guidance of A$1,000 - A$1,100 per ounce(see Note 1, 2 below)- Second milling campaign at the Lakewood toll milling facility completed successfully with 26,600dt milled at a reconciled grade of 3.5g/t Au- Reconciled gold production of 2,910 fine ounces at an improved 97.2% recovery with A$4.9m in gross revenue received at an average gold price of A$1,684/oz- Completion of the final milling campaign expected in the current March Quarter 2018(see Note 1 below)- Production and financial reconciliations for both stages of the pit expected in the June Quarter 2018(see Note 1 below)Commenting on Teal, Intermin Managing Director Mr Jon Price said:"While the project has not been without its challenges, Teal has more than delivered on its promises and it is extremely pleasing to see the mine perform well against Feasibility Study estimates.""The Company is now in a strong position to fund an aggressive growth strategy. In 2018 this growth strategy means resource growth and new discoveries in one of the most productive goldfields in the world. We now look forward to delivering ongoing results from the 55,000m drill program underway and believe the key Anthill, Blister Dam and Teal project areas have the potential to deliver a significant step change for the business."OverviewWith the pre-strip complete at Teal Stage 2 in the December Quarter 2017, the focus to date has been on completion of ore mining from both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the pit. As the pit progressed to the end of the design life, additional ore was identified within and below the design and was mined out where possible (see Figure 1 in link below).On 10 March 2018, the final load of ore was hauled to the ROM pad and mine closure activities commenced.In total, 230,000t of ore has been mined grading 3.2g/t for 23,500 ounces mined within a total volume of 2.21M bcm. This compares favourably with the 203,000t grading 3.2g/t Au for 20,700 ounces mined within a total volume of 2.11M bcm estimated in the Feasibility Studies for both stages.(see Note 1 below)Based on the additional tonnage, expected grade and improved recovery from the operation, the Company has increased production guidance to 21,000 - 22,000 ounces with an All In Cost of A$1,000 - A$1,100 per ounce.The second ore processing campaign at the 1Mtpa Lakewood toll milling facility (see Figure 2 in link below) was completed successfully and ran for 17 days up until 4 February 2018. Full reconciliations have been compiled with 26,632 dry tonnes of ore milled at a final calculated head grade of 3.5g/t Au. Plant metallurgical recovery exceeded expectations at 97.2% producing 2,910 fine ounces of gold. Average gold price received for the campaign was A$1,684 per ounce, generating A$4.9m in gross revenue.The final milling campaign will be completed in March 2018 with expected treatment of approximately 50,000t. Final production and financial reconciliations are expected in the June Quarter.(see Note 2 below)Notes:1 As announced to the ASX on 6 July 2016 and 6 September 20172 See Forward Looking and Cautionary statement on Pages 3 and 4To view figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Ryan Giggs has defended Gareth Bale's performance after he suffered his first defeat as Wales manager to Uruguay in the China Cup final. star Bale has been the big attraction at this four-team tournament in Nanning with his every move monitored by the media and his Chinese fan base. Asked about Bale's performance, Giggs said: "The pitch had a big part to play in it as it wasn't ideal for dribbling or sticking the pass in. When Gareth gets the ball of course he is going to have players around him, they're not just going to let him get it. They recognise the quality he's got and make it difficult for him. But I thought he was a threat all night." Ford exported 10,727 cars to South Korea last year. Fiat Chrysler sold 7,284. General Motors exported 2,000 Cadillacs to the country. America's big automakers don't sell a lot of cars in South Korea. And that isn't expected to change significantly, even though the Trump administration and South Korean government have agreed in principle on a new trade deal. If the agreement is finalized, the United States will exempt South Korea, a top trading partner, from President Donald Trump's new steel and aluminum tariffs. And South Korea will raise the cap on the number of cars American automakers can easily export to the country. Under current rules, the annual import cap is 25,000 cars per company in order to exempt an automaker from safety rules they find onerous. South Korea has agreed to raise that limit to 50,000 cars. GM actually has a local business in South Korea. It bought Daewoo, the country's third largest automaker, in 2002 and changed its name to GM Korea. That unit sold 134,000 cars in South Korea last year, almost all of which were made in the country. But GM Korea is suffering from soft sales, and is closing one of its four factories. Related: It's not tariffs keeping American cars out of Japan, it's Japan itself Determining who wins and loses from trade deals is often complex. It's not just about tariffs and regulations. For example, in Japan US automakers have also had trouble gaining a foothold in the market, despite the fact that there are no tariffs on US auto exports or other government restrictions on sales. In South Korea, American automakers also have a tough time breaking through. Hyundai and Kia, which are owned by the same South Korean company, control two-thirds of sales there. GM has 7% of the market because of GM Korea. Imports as a whole have about 13%, but that is mostly controlled by German brands like BMW and Mercedes and Japanese automakers. "In a country like South Korea, where they have a dominant domestic player, it's hard to convince shoppers to buy other products," said Rebecca Lindland, executive analyst with Kelley Blue Book. "The question is not regulation. It's do we make something that is unique that the market is demanding? I don't think we do." Even if GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler each started hitting the new cap of 50,000, that would amount to about less than 1% of the 18.6 million vehicles the three sold globally last year. "It's not enough to move the needle," said Lindland. -- CNN's Daniel Shane contributed to this report. Redding, Calif.-- Bethel Church in Redding has issued a statement on three new bills headed to the California Assembly regarding conversion therapy. These 3 bills are getting prepped for floor votes in the next coming weeks and they are aiming to help mental health within the LGBTQ community. The three assembly bills are AB 1779, 2119, and 2943 and all seek to prohibit any professional therapy that would guide a child towards their biological gender or sexual orientation. This practice is sometimes referred to as conversion therapy and that is particularly why Bethel Church has issued their statement. The statement says in part these bills are troubling to us. Therefore, we have made this uncommon step of broadcasting our concern and encouraging the faith-based community in California. The LGBTQ community, on the other hand, is supporting these bills because of the increased protections for their community. It has been a long-standing idea within the community and among some healthcare providers that conversion therapy can be a damaging practice. Aiden Mares of the NorCal OUTreach project says this just cements it and expands beyond to all persons and also to those within other communities such as the foster care system because they tend to have their voice a little more silenced. Action News Now also reached out to mental health professionals and asked how important it was for anyone regardless of identification to get the help they need. Simeon Jones, Director of Clinical Services from North American Mental Health Services told us today that I believe that serving the mental health needs of individuals in our community is an essential part of a thriving society. Issues of safety, life satisfaction, and productivity are just some of the benefits of having robust programs in place to treat people; no matter how severe the illness. The full statement from the church can be read here. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - San Jose, California-based Cisco Systems Inc. is donating $50 million to address homelessness in Santa Clara County and is encouraging other Silicon Valley companies to also step up. The internet gear maker announced the major donation Monday. In a blog post, Chief Executive Chuck Robbins said it's evident to people in the San Francisco Bay Area that homelessness has reached a crisis level, costing the county $520 million per year. Cisco's donation will be spent over five years with Destination: Home, a public-private partnership focused on providing permanent housing to chronically homeless people. He said the group's work has shown that providing housing and proper social service support help formerly homeless people get healthy, beat addictions, reunite with families and find work. Cisco sells routers, switches, software and services. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the 2020 census and the addition of a question on citizenship (all times local): 3 p.m. The White House says the decision to include a citizenship question in the 2020 U.S. Census was not made in the West Wing. Press secretary Sarah Sanders says the White House "supports" the decision but it "was made at the department level." The Commerce Department, which oversees the Census, says it is including the question in part to provide the Justice Department with the information it needs to implement the Voting Rights Act. The decision is being protested by immigrant rights groups, who contend the citizenship question will depress responses from immigrant communities, skewing the results of the decennial Census. Sanders says she is not aware of any specific outreach efforts being planned to encourage immigrants to respond to the survey. ___________ WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the 2020 census and the addition of a question on citizenship (all times local): 2:35 p.m. New York will lead a coalition of blue states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, announced the lawsuit Tuesday. He said the question asking residents about their citizenship status will create fear and mistrust in immigrant communities and could skew census results if some immigrants choose not to participate. Officials in other heavily Democratic states including New Jersey, Massachusetts and California have said they will sue over the census question. Schneiderman says the decision to add the question "directly targets" states with large immigrant populations. The census results are the basis for each state's number of seats in the U.S. House as well as its share of federal funding. _______________ 10:25 a.m. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, tells The Associated Press that he expects his state would also join in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census. Galvin called the decision an attempt to suppress the count in states such as Massachusetts that have large immigrant populations. Galvin called the addition of a citizenship question "a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to frighten minority groups away from being counted." He said he would be consulting with the state attorney general and possibly other states about filing or joining lawsuits. California has already said it will sue the Trump administration over the decision. Massachusetts has an all-Democratic congressional delegation and its Electoral College votes have gone to the Democratic presidential nominee in 13 of the last 15 presidential elections. __ 12 a.m. The Commerce Department says the 2020 U.S. Census will include a question about citizenship status. Commerce says in a press release issued Monday night that the citizenship data will help the Justice Department enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voting rights. But opponents say the question will discourage immigrants from responding to the census. A coalition of state attorneys general urged the Commerce Department last month to not add such a question, saying it could lower participation among immigrants and cause a population undercount. The decennial census helps determine political representation in Congress, federal funding of programs and other matters. Commerce says that between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.) We welcome the eagerly anticipated draft master trust code from The Pension Regulator today. The new code of practice sets out the Regulators rules around what exactly is expected to become an authorised master trust, filling in some of the current gaps. With more than half of those who have been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme by their employer saving into a master trust scheme, The Pension Regulators master trust code will provide pension savers with further reassurance. The period for submitting a readiness review is only six weeks long starting on 1 May, a matter of weeks away. This is an extremely quick turnaround time for master trusts to prepare their draft applications considering we will only just have received all the requirements. But I expect that most master trusts will use this opportunity to submit draft applications so they can get feedback from the Regulator. This will put them in a stronger position once they do the real thing from October. We expect to see the master trust market consolidate as a result of the extra work and cost implications of adhering to the new regulations and some master trusts are most likely already looking around for buyers. If providers are unable to become an authorised master trust, they simply wont be able to trade. TPRs Master Trust code of practice Helen Baker, partner at Sackers, commented: Were now within two months of the GDPR coming into force and schemes need to prioritise tasks in the run-up. With significant penalties a possibility under the GDPR, the key is to be able to demonstrate that effort has been made to safeguard member data and to help people understand how to enforce their rights. 1) Privacy Notices update yours: integral to the new regulations, this document informs individuals of the data you hold about them and where its being stored. Despite the high volume of information required, the privacy notice must still support transparency and fairness principles by making it abundantly clear how members enforce their rights. Trustees might want to consider layering information, by providing core information in a concise format and then sharing links to further material for those who wish to read more. 2) Communication keep it consistent: the general principles of communicating with individuals are that you must be concise, transparent and intelligible. All information must be shared in clear, plain language and provided in an easily accessible form. Ultimately, trustees should ensure that all communications are helpful for the recipient. 3) Contracts with processors refine them: many of the obligations under the GDPR depend on whether the party holding data is a processor or a controller, so roles must be clearly defined in a contract. Trustees are controllers and, as the ones who own scheme personal data and decide what its used for, the buck stops with them. Trustees need to engage with all their providers to ensure that contractual terms are up to scratch. 4) Data protection policy update it: the policy not only demonstrates that a scheme takes its GDPR compliance seriously but will reduce the overall risk of data breaches occurring and help manage any that do occur. This is where to set out the procedures that have been put in place to safeguard member data, such as cyber security, and to reflect key decisions made by the trustees. Baker added: In the main, the GDPR aims to give individuals a clearer idea of their rights and how to enforce them. Schemes will have to comply with far more stringent rules, but finding a balance between protecting members information and being proportionate will be essential. Three leading Northern Ireland manufacturers have come together to showcase how supply chain collaboration and performance excellence is key to customer partnership at the worlds leading event for airlines and their supply chain for cabin interiors in Hamburg Messe, in April 2018. Above: (left to right) Patricia Clements, MD of Bradfor Ltd, Kelly Murphy, Invest NI, Stephen Cromie, MD of Exact CNC and Joanne Liddle, MD IPC Mouldings. The successful businesses, all exporters, include seat cover manufacturers, Bradfor Ltd, rapid response CNC machining and composite finishing company, Exact CNC and plastic injection moulding company, IPC Mouldings. In addition to showcasing their products and services at Hamburg the companies will be demonstrating how they offer additional value add to their Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers through innovation and excellence. Joanne Liddle, managing director, IPC Mouldings explains: IPC Mouldings is an advanced manufacturing company offering mould tool design and manufacture, CNC machining and plastic injection moulding from concept to completion, specialising in the aircraft interiors industry. Passionate about quality, with a core value of understanding our customer, we meet their current and future needs to ensure their product is brought to market within their timescales. IPC manages both design and operational expectations supporting our customers through planning, testing, production and aftermarket. The aircraft interior expo at Hamburg allows us to showcase our expertise, build relationships, discover new innovation and technologies, be inspired by leading experts and create opportunities to keep us positioned at the top for winning new business. Staged annually in Hamburg, the Aircraft Interiors Expo is a vibrant must attend business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of leading suppliers to Europe and International aircraft interiors professionals and airlines with the latest innovations, technologies and products. Stephen Cromie, managing director of Exact CNC, explains: Specialising in Rapid Response, we recently received an urgent order over a weekend for 16 parts which we programmed, cut the raw material, machined parts, carried out FAI, dispatched the parts from Northern Ireland and had them in North America within 30 hours. The following day we carried out the same process and sent another set of parts to Toulouse, France within 22 hours, living up to our strapline; Around the clock around the world. This is not a typical weekend, however faced with the seemingly impossible, and a good customer in difficulty, Exact made it happen. Hamburg will present us with an opportunity to showcase our precision engineering and composite finishing techniques and show that quality, customer satisfaction and on-time delivery, which are key in all that we do. Northern Ireland is a global leader in aircraft interiors with around one third of the worlds aircraft seats manufactured in the region. The three companies will position their individual products on an exploded seat display. Patricia Clements, managing director, Bradfor Ltd also commented: Northern Ireland has a rich history in the aerospace industry with a cluster of successful companies especially in the design and manufacture of parts for commercial aircraft seating. Bradfor Ltd has been operating from Rostrevor since 1996 providing seat covers, headrest covers, straps and diaphrams along with digitising services to a range of global clients. With our recent investment and addition of lamination and embossing services we are very excited to showcase our many products at Hamburg. All three companies are AS9100 accredited providers with Bradfor Ltd and IPC achieving SC21 Award Silver. Exact CNC has recently committed to achieving this standard. SC21 is an ADS supply chain excellence programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chain. Bradfor Ltd also received EFQM 5 Star Recognised for Excellence with IPC receiving EFQM 4 Star. The Expo takes place from the 10th to the 12th April, and Bradfor, Exact CNC and IPC are exhibiting on the Northern Ireland Aerospace/Invest NI stand as part of the wider UK offering. School committee member Kate Macinanti pointed out that each of those positions would benefit students mental health. Among those identified needs that would be included in a budget with a 2.93 percent PTT are the addition of a family community engagement (FCE) teacher, a SKHS career pathway/ internship teacher, a social emotional learning (SEL) teacher and a teacher assistant (TA) with a chauffeur license who could help transport families to IEP and 504 meetings. Parents now have a lot to answer for. When children cant learn, pay attention, or behave in school, teachers are told, Instead of saying what's wrong with you, why can't you just sit still and pay attention? We say: what happened to you? Incredibly were not seeing any panic over whats happening. In fact, our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has assured us that THEY KNOW WHY childhood is dramatically different: bad parents are raising children in abusive homes. There is a massive effort to educate teachers about what Adverse Childhood Experiences are doing. Below is just a sample of whats out there. Educators are struggling and theyre scared of a student population unlike any theyve had in the past. Over the last 15 months Ive collected around 4,000 stories on the decline of childrens health and behavior and what its doing to schools around the world. The February 14 th shooting in Parkland, Florida is just one factor forcing educators to address mental/behavioral health problems. State legislatures are okaying millions of dollars to address mental health in schools, and districts are adding more experts to help with the social/emotional needs of students. One of the big things that has been a hot topic since [the mass shooting in Florida last month] is the mental health wellbeing of our students, Macinanti said. I think all four of these positions feed into helping to solve that problem, she continued. Theyre all related to social emotional learning and making sure that [students] are being connected with so that they have the support system that they need in place K through 12. Mar 18, 2018, Vermont Digger: Senate backs program that would prevent childhood trauma The state Senate has approved a bill aimed at addressing the long-term health and social effects of severe childhood trauma. The legislation, S.261, which now goes to the House, is designed to bolster the states support for children and families who have experienced toxic stress. Exposure to severe stress has been shown to alter brain chemistry and affect behavior. The bill also seeks to ensure that school administrators, school nurses and accountable care organizations are involved in efforts to prevent and combat the effects of adverse childhood experiences. Mar 18, 2018, The CT Mirror: How Safe Are CT Students at School? This lack of progress in stemming aggressive behaviors is happening as student suspension and expulsion rates steadily decline and as some mental health experts and teachers in Connecticut point out that services aimed at helping children overcome their behavioral issues are not always sufficient. Classrooms have to be repeatedly cleared when a student becomes violent, Ava Biffer, a library media specialist in East Haddam, testified before the Education Committee last week. The behavior is getting worse, testified Jennifer Babb, an art teacher at an elementary school in Bridgeport. There are so many risks to other students and educators in the classroom, and if other parents actually knew what was happening, they would be shocked, testified Laurie Degross, a special education teacher in East Hampton. These teachers were among many including some who had been assaulted by students testifying about the dangers they face at school and in support of a bill that would require school leaders to develop plans to specifically address daily classroom safety problems, such as assault and harassment. State law, already requires safety plans to address bullying, security and responses to emergencies. Mar 19, 2018, Attleboro (MA) Sun Chronicle: As enrollment declines, Norton selectmen consider school closure These are really young children. We shouldnt compromise their well-being for nominal cost savings, school committee member Carolyn Gallagher said. Im very concerned with developmental needs of children and the growth of social and emotional issues and increased special needs. All that is clearly different than in 2002. Mar 19, KMSPTV, Eden Prairie, MN: Mother speaks out after son with autism detained for two days A mother is speaking out after her son, who has autism, was locked up in juvenile detention facility for attacking his teachers. Last Wednesday, 10-year-old Trystan was taken into police custody. According to court documents provided by the family, its alleged Trystan had violent outbursts on consecutive days inside his Janesville school. Prosecutors wrote that Trystan had become angry and stabbed a school staffer in the hand with a pencil before punching, kicking, and head-butting a couple others as they attempted to restrain him. His behavior is described as an ongoing problem. He doesn't have what we all have when we get upset: the ability to calm ourselves, said Frazee. Mar 19, 2018, (UK) Grimsby Telegraph: Pupils to make a splash in new school hot tub Staff members, parents and volunteers gathered at Cambridge Park Academy for a special ribbon cutting ceremony, as they officially opened their new hot-tub facility that will allow students to take part in hydro and sensory therapy. "We are using it to provide hydrotherapy, along with sensory therapy, and we have found that with some of our students that it has a brilliant calming effect them on as they get in the water for a dip. Mar 20, 2018, NBC, Charlotte, NC: Union County Schools raising its focus on students' mental health In response, Union County Schools are figuring out a plan to put "mental health therapists and additional social workers into all schools, so that kids have access to professionals to help them in times of crisis. Houlihan told NBC Charlotte, hiring more counselors and mental health therapists for all schools is his number-one focus for the 2018-2019 school year budget. Mar 21, 2018, New Canaan (CT) Advertiser: Council signals no more reductions to school budget increase now The district-wide special education program is now more costly than the entire high school budget, according to Councilman Steve Karl. Mar 21 2018, Hutchinson (MN) Leader: Resilience is key to dealing with adverse childhood experiences Hutchinson Public Schools is a proud member of PACT for Families Collaborative, a childrens mental health and family services collaborative, that serves to strengthen children, families, and communities. One of their current initiatives, Partners for Resilience, is providing Adverse Childhood Experiences (known as ACEs) & Resilience training through the help of a Bush Foundation grant. I am honored to have been selected to represent our school district and McLeod County at this two-day training in early April. According to Minnesota Communities Caring for Children, ACEs are being considered a public health disaster. Mar 21, 2018, Des Moines Register: Suicide prevention bill gets final OK from Iowa Senate Iowa school employees working with students would be required to have least one hour annually of training in suicide prevention under a bill that received final approval Wednesday from the Iowa Senate . This gives them more in their tool kit to address mental health issues in the classroom," Mathis said." The legislation requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules requiring school districts to adopt protocols for suicide prevention and intervention after a suicide, and for the identification of adverse childhood experiences to mitigate "toxic stress response." The protocols must be based on nationally recognized best practices. Mar 22, 2018, Washington, DC, Sojourners: Mental Health Disorders Are Pervasive in the Juvenile Justice SystemHeres How One State Is Addressing It Between 50 and 70 percent of the young prisoners in state juvenile justice systems have a mental disability, but an analysis of those systems found that only one state Indiana requires all teachers in such facilities to have special education certification. Mar 22, 2018, Fergus Falls (MN) Journal: Health professionals: School safety includes us We are facing a public health crisis, Carol Quinn told the state House Education Finance Committee Wednesday, March 21, with tear-filled eyes. The Minneapolis Public Schools social worker said more people like her, counselors, psychologists and other professionals can help students facing mental health problems find help before they take guns into schools. Mar 22, 2018, Grosse Pointe (MI) News: How adverse childhood experiences can affect ones health ACEs are stressful or traumatic events that include abuse, neglect and other household dysfunction such as witnessing domestic violence, family members with substance use disorders or parental separation/divorce. Significant research demonstrates a relationship between ACEs and health problems such as increased risk for cancers, heart disease, diabetes, substance use disorders and depression. Stress plays a major role. There are many types of stress responses and most are normal and essential parts of healthy development. Children who experience high ACEs experience systems where the body and brain are activated at excessive levels and/or for prolonged time periods. This type of toxic stress has been shown to produce damaging effects, especially to the immune system. Mar 22, 2018, Deccan Chronicle: Childhood 'toxic stress' linked to parenting challenges in adult life: Study Parents who endured toxic stress during childhood may be more likely to have kids with developmental delays and have a harder time coping with their childrens health issues, new research suggests. Adverse childhood experiences, commonly called ACEs, can include witnessing parents fight or go through a divorce, having a parent with a mental illness or substance abuse problem, or suffering from sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Previous research has linked these experiences to whats known as toxic stress, or wear and tear on the body that leads to physical and mental health problems that often continue from one generation to the next. Mar 22, 2018, (Canada) Hamilton (Ontario) Spectrum: Violence on rise in local schools Teachers, educational assistants, administrators, academics, parents and students agree theres a growing problem with school violence but they dont agree on what to do about it If Ivan is prone to aggressive outbursts, it's not entirely his fault. He has autism, obsessive compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome. And unions representing teachers and educational assistants in Ontario don't blame kids like him. But they say a lack of government funding for special-needs students is leaving them ill-equipped to deal with violence in classrooms. There are about 12,000 students receiving special-education services in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, which accounts for about 26 per cent of total enrolment. Mar 22, 2018, Leesburg, VA, Loudoun TimesMirror: 'Tip of the iceberg'Loudoun parents of students with special needs unite, bond over troubling treatment of their kids by some LCPS staff Concerned parents of special education students meet once a week to share stories including the use of seclusion and restraint against their students, a breakdown of communication with teachers and county staff and IEP processes that are so difficult they require advocates or lawyers. While parents stressed there are great teachers and administrators in LCPS, they are working to bring problems to light and hopefully find solutions. The use of seclusion and restraint against special education students has captured the countys attention since a recent Times-Mirror report, but parents say that is only the tip of the iceberg. Four more parents have shared stories of LCPS using seclusion and restraint on their child without following county procedure that calls for alerting parents within 24 hours. Mar 22, 2018, CBS7, Roanoke, VA: Lynchburg leaders continue to push for community wide Trauma Informed Care According to Bridges out of Poverty, those experiences can then go on to affect kids in schools, their behaviors, and ability to do work. The trauma is referred to as adverse childhood experiences or ACE. At the last city council meeting, school and city leaders discussed behavior issues. They're even adding new bus aides to help ease the problem. Trauma informed care teaches how someone can respond differently to behavioral issues. Instead of saying what's wrong with you, why can't you just sit still and pay attention? We say: what happened to you? said Graham. Mar 22, 2018, NBC11, Grand Junction, CO: D51 considering school based health care School based health care. A concept that is currently being explored by District 51. "We are really in a feasibility study, to see if we really could do this. I'm really excited about it I hope we can move this forward," said Prevention Services Coordinator, Cathy Ebel. The focus is keeping kids physically and mentally healthy so they can stay in school. "We are focusing on that physical health element, as well as the mental health or the behavioral health element," Joseph said. Mar 22, 2018, Raleigh (NC) News &Observer: N.C.'s school safety panel makes a good start Jim Deni, immediate past president of the N.C. School Psychology Association, told the committee that there are significant mental health issues in schools, but school funding is inadequate to provide enough school psychologists. He said 20 percent of student have mental health or substance abuse issues, but there is not enough staff to identify or respond to all students in such circumstances. Mar 22, 2018, Kearney, NE ABCTV: Lawmakers pushing for more social workers in Nebraska schools A bill introduced by Senator Lynne Walz is a way to allow more social workers in Nebraska schools at each of the 17 Educational Service Units in Nebraska. Mar 23, 2018, (UK) Wigan Observer: Plans to close all Wigan special schools met with backlash Education chiefs in Wigan have been criticised for launching a consultation with options that include closing all the boroughs special schools. The controversial suggestion is contained in a survey asking parents for their views on ways council chiefs can increase the number of places available for children in the borough with special educational needs. Mar 23, 2018, Evanston (IL) Now: Goren: Harsh political climate spills over into schools Paula Zelinski, president of the Distrct 65 Educators' Council, says more kids are coming to school in crisis. Our teachers have faced a growing challenge to serve students who may not be responding to classroom-based interventions, she says, and the districts response has not kept pace with the number of kids who desperately need resources and supports. Mar 23, 2018, (Canada) Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Soo Today: Hospital to begin training its first ever psychiatrist in residence Admissions to SAHs inpatient psychiatric unit increased by 19 per cent between 2011 and 2017, along with a 47 per cent increase in visits to SAHs emergency department for psychiatric reasons in that same time period. Admissions to the childrens psychiatric unit also increased by 110 per cent. Elbohy commended the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) for having a mental health lead working in schools and referring children and youth to SAH for mental health treatment. Mar 23, 2018, Iron Mountain (MI) Daily News: Proposal: Protect kids with more school police, counselors Sidestepping the debate over gun laws, Michigans law enforcement and education leaders on Thursday proposed a $120 million security plan that includes staffing schools with more police and counselors in light of last months shooting massacre at a Florida high school. It would pay for 500 more resource officers armed local police and sheriffs deputies embedded in school districts and an unspecified number of school-based mental health professionals. About one-third of traditional districts now have such officers. Under the school-security proposal, the state would allocate $50 million annually for school-based police, $50 million for counselors and $20 million to help update school buildings with hardened doors, windows and other security features. Mar 23, 2018, Storm Lake (IA) Pilot Tribune: Sensory room at school provides a common-sense solution Students in Alta are enjoying a less conventional form of therapy implemented at Alta Elementary School. The sensory room gives children up to fourth grade the chance to get their energy out in a positive, mutually beneficial way, just a few minutes at a time. Sensory needs come in so many different ways, said Sheri Van Berkum, coordinator for the program. She works with about 10 regular students every day and a variety of students, as needed, from day to day. No day looks the same, keeping both her and the kids on their toes Mar 23, 2018, Stowe (VT) Today: Budget proposal restores support for 3,000 severely disabled people Special education costs are growing faster than any other cost in state spending, even faster than health care. We hope to repackage how we give funds to schools to serve children with special needs, and in so doing lighten the documentation load on special educators. Mar 23, 2018, WJCTFlorida Public Media: Mental Health Providers Plan In-School Services A few weeks ago, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the states School Safety Bill into law. Part of the new law sets aside $69 million to provide mental health resources in schools. Now a special team is already marshaling those resources for the schools in Leon and seven surrounding counties. Mar 23, 2018, WBTVCharlotte, NC: UCPS Superintendent wants more social workers inside schools Union County Public School (UCPS) Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan wants more social workers and psychotherapists inside the county's more than 50 schools. Mar 23, 2018, NPR Illinois: Students Suffering from Non-School Adversity Can Receive Help Schools in 15 southern Illinois counties can participate in a program to help students deal with stress outside the classroom. The Consortium for Educational Change and the Partnership for Resilience received a 50-thousand dollar grant to support a program to limit the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACES. The consortium's executive director Mary Jane Morris says many students in the area suffer from broken homes or other trauma. "Whether it be physical or mental abuse. Anything that might be traumatizing to a student, even bullying. Anything that causes an impact on a student would be considered trauma." "A student who has been traumatized, it's really difficult for them to think and concentrate. Mar 23, 2018, Orlando Sentinel: Let's make life better for kids: No more trauma Each day hundreds of children in our community experience what are known as ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences. These toxic stress events can be triggered by domestic violence, child abuse, sexual molestation, loss of a parent through death or divorce, opioid overdose or any severely traumatic event that affects early brain and neurological development. But the wounds go deeper. Mar 23, 2018, Chillicothe (OH) Gazette: Teachers get insight for working with traumatized children The session was led by a pair from Findlay City Schools who have trained their district's 800-member staff to recognize when a child's behavior may be the result of trauma or home-life circumstances, how to address it differently, and when to refer for additional services like counseling. Mar 24, 2018, Warwick Valley (NY) Dispatch: Warwick School District Gives Fourth Budget Presentation Holmes provided an overview of the BOCES Budget for 2018-19, which is projected at $12,941.439. This shows a decrease of $10,638 from the previous budget. The significant increases come from a $244,876 increase in Special Education and related services Mar 24, 2018, Jeffersonville (IN) News and Tribune: Autism in education: Mom still pushing for General Assembly's attention According to the Indiana Department of Education, last year, the state identified 15,210 school-age students whose primary disability was autism spectrum disorder; this year, it is 15,721, an increase of 511 or 3.3 percent. "This has been the trend for the last several years," said Pamela Wright, director of the office of special education, Indiana Department of Education. Mar 24, 2018, Penn Live: Parents press West Perry school board for changes Clouse said over his 11 years he has seen an increase in the number students with severe behavioral and emotional issues. Mar 24, 2018, Willmar (MN) Tribune: Montevideo to build $4.5M special education school Construction is expected to get underway late this year on a $4.5 million school in Montevideo to serve special education students in the region. The plans call for constructing an 18,000-square-foot facility on city-owned property about one block north of Minnesota Highway 7 on the city's east side. It will be designed to serve an expected enrollment of 30 to 40 students with special needs. The instruction will focus on students with autism, mental health and severe emotional and behavioral needs. Southwest West Central Service Cooperative expects to staff the facility with up to 30 special education professionals. Mar 24, 2018, Waterbury (CT) Citizens News: Budget proposal keeps school spending flat Though spending is projected to be flat and contractual costs are rising, student enrollment in the district continues to trend downward. Enrollment dropped 13.4 percent over the last eight years to 2,177 students as of Oct. 1, 2017. The number of special education students, however, has gone up 11.7 percent over that same time. Overall enrollment is projected to drop to 2,150 students in 2018-19. Date: 06 March, 2018. Place: Marietta, State of Georgia, United States. Early this month, a very rare event occurred in the city of Marietta, Georgia. According to an anonymous testimony published on Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) online database, a local resident affirmed to have seen a humanoid creature piloting a UFO which was hovering very low over the American town. On 06 March 2018, at approximately 09:40 PM, like every night at that time, I took the dog out to use the potty before bed, the witness explained. As I turned onto the next block, facing the street I live on, I noticed bright, white lights above the treetops. The lights were slowly moving left. My first impression was that when I saw the lights, was that it might have been an aircraft turned sideways about to crash. However the lights stayed in a direct path, skimming above the treetops, he added. The Georgia resident claimed that the object continued hovering over the trees until it almost disappeared. As I turned the corner, it [the UFO] turned, and it followed the wood-line along my street in the opposite direction I was walking. The trees were now denser and I thought I was about to lose sight of the object, he stated. I felt a little disappointment that I had not figured out what I was looking at, he said. As soon as I thought I was going to lose sight of the object, a smaller object swooped down and came right at me. I could tell that it was approximately the size of a medium-sized sedan, the author of the report stated. It had grid a pattern of shiny, silver metal paned glass on top. It had a dim light emanating from the inside. I could tell there was a figure inside. The head, neck and shoulders were of a larger proportion than a normal human shape, he continued. Finally, the two UFOs made a fast turn and disappeared. As it suddenly shot over my head, I could hear the roar. I didn't feel any breeze or air flow. I ran into my house as fast as I could after the dog, and slammed the door. I was out of breath and in a state of shock and disbelief. I heard the sound of the object one more time, shortly after, but I was too scared to look outside to see if it was still there, the American citizen asserted. I'm not surprised that there are these things out there, I'm just surprised it happened to me and where I live, he commented. Draw your own conclusions For more information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=90698&rnd= Agora Publishing is one of the book self-publishing service providers that is giving new local writers in Ottawa an alternative to publishing their work. The presence of modern book self-publishing options has increased the arrays of options available to new writers. One of the hardest challenges faced by new writers is usually trying to impress traditional publishers. With the new options available from Agora Publishing and similar self-publishing services, writers will not have to work so hard anymore. With the help of web-based publishing platforms and customized printing services, budding writers can chase publication and promotion of their book on their own. 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The journey to self-publishing can be a little stormy but you can calm the waves when you subscribe to Agora Publishings self-publishing services in Ottawa. Cargo Community System Japan (CCSJ) has signed an agreement with CHAMP Cargosystems to provide a new cloud-based air cargo messaging system. The messaging system includes IT infrastructure, an operational messaging platform and customer invoicing. CCSJ is the sole Cargo Community System in Japan connecting all participants airlines, freight forwarders and handling agents in the national airfreight market. Arnaud Lambert, chief executive at CHAMP Cargosystems, said: It is an honor to provide the technology for the next chapter of CCSJs air cargo mission in driving digitisation across the Japanese air cargo community. Lambert and CCSJ president Kazuo Hirabayashi marked the occasion at an official ceremony at CHAMPs headquarters in Luxembourg. CCSJ has had a long term relationship with CHAMP, through its Traxon product line, where both companies have been collaborating by connecting the Japanese market to the international air cargo community. Share this story Charlotte's history is diverse: The colonial city was named after King George III's wife in 1768, and a few centuries later, it emerged as a major player in the banking world. A 17-pound gold nugget, found by a local boy and initially used as a doorstop, transformed the city overnight into a financial hub by igniting the country's first gold rush in 1799. Charlotte currently is the third largest banking hub in the country, behind New York City and San Francisco. While Charlotte has evolved into a modern Southern city, the best way to get a feel for the city is to explore the many neighborhoods that celebrate both Charlotte's roots and diversity. No matter your interest--history, art, science, beer, or food--there's a neighborhood for indulging in each. Here's a recap of four must-visit neighborhoods to help you plan a weekend itinerary in Charlotte. Uptown Best for families, museum lovers, and history buffs The heart of the Queen City is at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets. The former Native American trading path is now the city center, which locals refer to as Uptown. It's the best neighborhood for families and museum lovers. Stop by 7th Street Public Market for breakfast at one of many local vendors, including Hazelnuts Creperie and Not Just Coffee before heading over to Discovery Place. While the hands-on science, nature, and technology museum is geared for all-ages, it's a highlight for children. Set aside several hours to explore the Levine Center for the Arts campus that features three world-class museums, as well as the Knight Theater. For Warhol or Picasso, check out the collection at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. The Mint Museum Uptown is the sister museum of The Mint Museum Randolph, the oldest art museum in North Carolina, located in Southeast Charlotte. The museums contain the largest art collection in the Southeast. The stunning Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture explores the cultural contributions of Africans and African-Americans. For $20, you can buy a combo ticket for entry to all three museums for two days. There's no admission charge for children under five. Another must-visit is the award-winning "Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers" display at the Levine Museum for the New South. The exhibit focuses on post-Civil War Southern history, which is the most comprehensive interpretation in the nation. Wrap up your day with dinner at Sea Level NC to try farm-to-fork oysters grown in the state. NoDa (North Davidson) Best for artsy folk, beer aficionados, and foodies North Davidson was a mill village in the early 1900s. A century later, the walls of the old town are now covered in funky murals in the bustling arts district known as NoDa. It's the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Grab a homemade gelato ice pop from Popbar or head over to Smelly Cat Coffee House & Roastery to pose for a photo by the "Drink Coffee Be Cool" mural with a latte in hand. Stop by the NoDa Company Store for a quick drink. The chill cafe/bar/gallery is one of the most interesting venues in town. It's located in an old house covered in black-and-white murals with multiple large patios and a coin gumball machine that sells almonds and other nuts. Beer lovers should check out local breweries like NoDa Brewing and Heist Brewery. Tuesday is dollar taco night at Sabor Latin Street Grill. (They have specials every night of the week in case you can't make it on Tuesday.) Try to catch one of the neighborhood Art Crawls, which are held on the first and third Friday of every month. South End Best for beer lovers and young professionals The South End neighborhood was born as the Uptown gold mining district pushed south. The area became the city's first industrial park with the opening of the Atherton Cotton Mill. Other mills were soon to follow. The mills now serve as galleries, swanky condos, and shops. Proximity to Uptown and the addition of the Blue Line light rail has the made the area a haven for young professionals. Spend a sunny afternoon designing your own self-guided tour of South End breweries. Many are in walking distance of each other, including The Unknown Brewing Company, Wooden Robot Brewing Company, and Sycamore Brewing. Hop the light rail down two stops to check out Charlotte's first cidery, Red Clay Ciderworks. Dilworth Best for shoppers and foodies Rent a bike and explore the postcard-perfect streets of Dilworth, which are lined with white picket fences and cozy cottages. Famous for being Charlotte's first street-car suburb, it's no surprise that most of the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's an excellent neighborhood for shopping. For the perfect gift, stop by Paper Skyscraper for eclectic options ranging from socks to coasters. Other highlights include Vestique, a fashionable boutique focused on affordable women's clothing that was started by two college friends. For local and American-made jewelry and art, there's 32 Flavors Boutique. The waffle cornbread at Fran's Filling Station is a must. For more Southern classics, grab dinner at The Packhouse. The restaurant was built out of recycled materials from old tobacco barns. --Photos and story by Anna Mazurek Details Anna Mazurek is a freelance travel writer and photographer. Follow her adventures on TravelLikeAnna.com and on Instagram at @annamazurekphoto This story appears in Birmingham magazine's March 2018 issue. Subscribe today! The city of Huntsville on Monday reiterated its support of Remington, the firearms manufacturer with a Huntsville facility that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday. In a statement to AL.com, Huntsville officials also acknowledged that Remington is behind in its job-hiring obligations tied to financial incentives provided to the company. According to the project development agreement between the city of Huntsville and Remington, approved by the city council Feb. 27, 2014, Remington promised to have 680 employees at its Huntsville facility by the end of 2017. That's how Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce CEO Chip Cherry interpreted the agreement, which outlines Remington's mandates not by calendar year but by "project year." The statement Monday from city officials put the approximate number of Remington employees "around 500." Remington has met its two other obligations, which is capital investment at the Huntsville facility and overall wages paid, Cherry told AL.com in an interview earlier this month. "Remington is one of the country's oldest companies and it has weathered periods of economic challenge before," the city of Huntsville statement said. "The restructuring plan is a positive step toward the company's readjustment to market conditions. While this current situation has placed Remington slightly behind its employment target numbers for its Huntsville operation, the company has and continues to employ around 500 local employees and contributes $30 million dollars in annual payroll into the community. "Our community remains in a well-structured position to protect the taxpayer, and our economic development team will continue their ongoing engagement with Remington to ensure a positive outcome during this process. We wish Remington the best as it works toward a new business plan." Cherry said Remington had 500 workers in Huntsville, which was verified last year by accountants hired by the city of Huntsville to conduct annual employee inventories at the plant. The chamber said last month that Remington has a total annual payroll impact of $32 million (from both direct and indirect jobs) and an annual jobs impact of 889 (direct and indirect). Cumulative taxes generated by the company since arriving in Huntsville is $14.6 million. In a worst-case scenario, Cherry said that north Alabama taxpayers would be out $1 million should Remington shut down in Huntsville. At the same time, Cherry said he did not anticipate that occurring. "Nobody has a crystal ball," he said. "But based on our conversation with them and based on what they've consolidated and put (in Huntsville) their R&D facilities, their manufacturing facilities and the state-of-the-art equipment that's in there now it would be hard to fathom that they would actually walk away from this." Election years in Wilcox County are particularly fun and entertaining. In the past we have had candidates win by illegal absentees - receiving more absentees than votes at the polls. We have had candidates arrested for buying votes - your choice of $5 cash or a six-pack and all-you-can-eat fried chicken wings. We have had different officials who were put out of office for wrong doing and then voted right back in. We have also had candidates manage, with help, to keep huge wrong-doing covered and quiet. So at this point, Wilcox County citizens should be able to identify lame candidates and not vote for them. If a candidate's number one reason you should vote for them is because who they are related to, there is a very strong possibility they aren't ready for office. Along those same lines...and I write this respectfully, if anybody starts comparing a current election battle to Jesus and Judas, ignore that person. They are trying to manipulate you. I actually heard that comparison last week. There was this man on the radio saying he was only talking to his people - referring to black people - and that if another person of the black community approached them about voting for a new candidate to remember that it was one of Jesus's own people who betrayed him. If someone approaches you asking you to vote for a new candidate it is probably because they realize the short comings and less than acceptable behavior that exists in county government. Wilcox County has too many serious problems. Bridgeport Road, the main road that leads to Roland Cooper State Park - one of the few revenue producing attractions we've got - has recently completely washed off the map. It was built on a fault that shifted. There is no plan yet to fix it. There are no funds to fix it. I'm not completely sure the county engineer knows what do to fix it even if there were funds available. The state has agreed to help. State officials have visited and looked at it. They said they would try and come up with an engineering plan, but currently it is just a gaping hole where the road used to be, full of red dirt and water. There is obvious misuse of county funds. There are too many officials using their office for attention, personal gain, and to grant favors to family, friends, and people they are trying to keep quiet. We have officials making decisions outside the bounds of their authority. When questioned, the response is just go ahead and charge them with the ethic's violation fees. No elected official that has served more than a single term in Wilcox County has any bragging rights. If they have accomplished little in office and nothing in life but failure and a continual starting over...that is not the leadership skills needed to push the county forward. Wilcox voters do not need to be told who to vote for by people who don't need to be voted for. We are all very aware of what failure looks like. It often struts around on display for all to see on the second and fourth Monday nights of the month at county commission meetings. Amanda Walker is a blogger and contributor with AL.com, The Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, Alabama Gazette and Wilcox Progressive Era. Contact her at Walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist. Birmingham city councilors on Monday voted to consider, at its next regular meeting, an agreement to pay $90 million over 30 years towards the construction of a downtown stadium and renovation of Legacy Arena. Mayor Randall Woodfin presented the funding agreement and project cooperation agreement between the city and the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority to members of the council's budget and finance committee and committee of the whole on Monday afternoon. All council members were in attendance to hear the details of the agreements. Eight were in attendance for the vote to put it on Tuesday's agenda for a final vote. Only Councilors Lashunda Scales and Sheila Tyson voting against. Woodfin said the additional revenues from the expansion of the BJCC and new development of surrounding property will go into a neighborhood revitalization fund. A neighborhood revitalization resolution to create this fund was presented to councilors on Monday. Monday's vote to put it on the agenda didn't come without strong words to Woodfin from some councilors. Scales said the downtown stadium isn't what he campaigned on. It's what the incumbent Mayor William Bell campaigned on, she said. Scales said many residents who voted for him aren't supportive of the city contributing to the project, and they won't vote for him again. Scales said all 99 neighborhoods won't benefit. Woodfin said the city has to "at a certain point" be about growth. He said the city doesn't even have enough money to pay for demolishing all of its delipidated structures. "If my demise, if my political career is over, because I am making a long-term effort to support neighborhood revitalization. Cool. It is worth it," Woodfin said. He said it is worth it to put $9 million to $10 million in additional revenues into neighborhood revitalization. Revised versions of the funding and project cooperation agreements presented to the council, and the neighborhood revitalization resolution weren't made available to AL.com on Monday afternoon. Birmingham will pay $3 million annually, beginning this year, on the debt service of city-supported bonds for a period of 30 years, according to the funding agreement. The city will pay using proceeds from the occupational tax. The principal amount of the city-supported bonds is an estimated $46.1 million. The agreement will terminate if the bonds haven't been issued before the end of the year, according to the agreements. The BJCC's 20-year, $300 million master plan includes the construction of a $174 million open-air stadium, a Legacy Arena makeover and an outside piazza renovation. The stadium would have up to 55,000 seats and additional meeting and exhibition space. The BJCC Authority is committing $10.7 million to the annual debt service on the project. Jefferson County has committed $1 million a year for 30 years. UAB and corporate partners have committed to a combined $4 million a year for 10 years through a lease agreement, sponsorship and naming rights. The Alabama Legislature passed a bill last week to levy a 3 percent tax on auto leases and rentals in Jefferson County to help support the debt service for the project. The tax has been on the books since 2001, when it was proposed to help build a domed stadium. The tax, though, has never been collected. The bill would start collection of the tax when the BJCC Authority contractually commits to building the stadium. The project cooperation agreement states that the project will commence construction no later than Jan. 1, 2019. The BJCC should make all efforts to have the project completed by July 1, 2021. Under the terms of the same agreement, the authority agrees to submit a development plan for the project to the city's Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits with 120 days of the effective date of the agreement. The agreement states that the BJCC Authority board of directors has a policy that requires it "to strive for" 30 percent participation by minority and historically underutilized businesses on its capital projects. This includes engineering firms, architectural firms, investment banking firms, construction contractors and other professional firms. The board will also hire an independent firm to ensure, monitor and report to the board of directors on minority and HUB participation in the projects. Scales said she wants the BJCC to do more than "strive for" minority participation. "It leaves a loophole for that not to happen," she said, adding that she wants the BJCC to be required to have 30 percent minority participation. Woodfin said it is against state law to require it. Councilor Steven Hoyt said he wants a diversity officer to be hired to ensure minority participation. The agreement also states that the BJCC Authority will encourage general contractors to buy or lease supplies, materials and equipment from Birmingham vendors. The authority will also encourage hiring city of Birmingham residents on the project, according to the agreements. The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to revoke the business licenses for the Texaco Super Deli on Oporto Madrid Boulevard despite pleas from neighborhood residents. Councilor Steven Hoyt called the business a public nuisance. Councilor Sheila Tyson said a store employee gunned a man "down like a dog" inside the store in November. The council voted 5-3-1 to shut down the business. Councilors John Hilliard, Lashunda Scales, Steven Hoyt, Sheila Tyson and Hunter Williams voted for revocation. President Pro Tem Jay Roberson abstained. Wahouma Neighborhood Association Vice President Robert Walker asked the council to revoke the business licenses after 35-year-old Rodney Lee Williams was fatally shot inside the gas station on Nov. 3, 2017 by a store employee. The gas station is located in the North East Lake neighborhood. The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office has ruled the shooting justifiable. Virginia Meigs, attorney for store owner Hoang Nguyen doing business as Eastlake Suppertter, Inc., said the shooting was in self-defense. She said the victim threatened the store employees. "I don't think anyone can say we don't have a right to defend ourselves," Meigs said. She said the community relies on the business and asked the council not to close it. Victoria Rudolph, president of the North East Lake Neighborhood Association, asked the council to keep the store open. "We don't have problems out there," she said. "We are cleaning up our neighborhoods." She said closing the store will just attract more crime. Other neighborhood residents also asked the council to keep the store open saying children and senior citizens often walk to the store. In a January hearing before city council members, Meigs identified Ty Nguyen, husband of the store's current owner, as the shooter in the Nov. 3 incident. Video of the shooting shown during Tuesday's council meeting showed Williams get into a verbal altercation with a clerk at the store. The clerk wasn't visible in the video. The video shows Williams sprayed with pepper spray from someone behind the gas station counter. William then pulls out a handgun and is shot by someone behind the counter. Ty Nguyen lost his license to operate the gas station after being accused of assaulting a customer in 2007. He was later found not guilty. The gas station later sold to Giau Le. Le sold the business to Hoang Nguyen in 2012. The body of a north Alabama man missing since early February was found buried in the yard of a Cullman County home, and now two men are charged in his slaying. The Cullman County Sheriff's Office and Hartselle police on Tuesday announced formal charges against Andrew Jacob Maresh, 19, and Tyler Stephen Hudson, 20. They are charged with murder in the death of Daniel Ray Osborn II. Osborn's family posted on Facebook that he was last seen on Feb. 3. They had communication with him on Feb. 16 but weren't sure that it was actually Osborn with whom they were communicating. On Feb. 20, they wrote, Osborn's car was found in a Baileyton junkyard with a blown tire and a missing tag. Daniel Osborn disappeared on Feb. 3. His body was found March 26. Sheriff Matt Gentry said investigators on Monday responded to an address in the Fairview community after weeks of "relentless investigation" into the missing person's case. "Sadly,'' Gentry said, "in the course of the investigation, the victim's body was discovered buried at the residence." "This has been a very difficult time for Daniel's family,'' according to a statement from Hartselle police." They would appreciate your thoughts and prayers." After the discovery of Osborn's body, investigators worked throughout the night with the Cullman County District Attorney's Office. A motive and cause of death has not been released. "Due to this being an ongoing investigation we are limited on the details that can be released at this time," Gentry said. Authorities have not said what led to the arrests of the suspects. Maresh is from Hartselle, and Hudson is from Baileyton. They are being held in the Cullman County Detention Center without bond. Andrew Jacob Maresh A Tuesday-morning post on the "Where's Daniel Osborn" called the suspects "wolves in sheep clothing." "Right under our noses this entire time,'' the post reads. "Not only were they friends of Daniel Ray Osborn II, but they were also sharing our posts and joining our group to 'help find him.'" "I would like to commend the hard work and dedication from the Hartselle Investigators and the Investigators from the Cullman County Sheriff's Office in working this case together,'' Gentry said. "Our prayers go out to the victim's family during this time of tragedy and loss." A Shelby County man has been charged in connection with a 2017 crash that killed his passenger. A grand jury indicted Jake Erskin Burcham on charges of criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident with injury, both felonies, according to court records made public Tuesday. The indictments were issued on March 9, and Burcham was arrested last week. The crash happened April 1, 2017 on Highway 467 near Vincent. Alabama State Troopers at the time said Eric Sean Danford, 24, was killed when the 1996 GMC pickup truck, in which he was a passenger, left the roadway and overturned. Danford was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Eric Sean Danford Burcham, 23, left the scene of the crash, which was five miles north of Vincent. Troopers at the time said alcohol may have been a factor. The indictments did not list any specifics about the charges. Burcham was arrested March 23 and released from the Shelby County Jail the same day after posting $30,000 bond. A Blount County man has pleaded guilty to having more than 100 images of children engaged in sex acts. Jeremiah Christian King, who was dressed up like Harry Potter and playing video games when he was arrested in a Florida hotel room five years ago, was initially taken into custody in 2013 after Alabama Bureau of Investigation agents found him on a network that is often used by pedophiles to share child pornography. Authorities said network allowed "like-mind" people to access and download pornographic files from an IP address belonging to King. A search warrant at King's Springville home turned up at least 131 images. A Blount County district judge dismissed the charges against King soon after his arrest based on a finding that the arresting officer's arrest warrant affidavits were insufficient. King then fled to Florida where the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force found King after indictments were issued by a Blount County grand jury. Task Force officers found King in a hotel room dressed like Harry Potter and playing video games. After King's second arrest, his defense attorney argued that the child pornography images were illegally seized by the federal government via "Trojan Horse" malware placed on King's computer as a result of the FBI's "Operation Pacifier" through a website known as "Playpen." Prosecutors argued there was no conceivable way King could have obtained the images from the "Playpen" website since it was not launched until 2014. Prosecutors also pointed out there was no conceivable way the images could have been recovered through "Operation Pacifier" since King was arrested in 2013 and "Operation Pacifier" did not occur until February 2015. King's attorneys then claimed King was using a dark web network known as "The Onion Router" that utilized phone lines and, thus, any communications intercepted by law enforcement officers required a wiretap warrant. Prosecutors pointed out, however, that "The Onion Router" is a cross platform software program often utilized by pedophiles and child pornography enthusiasts to protect their anonymity on the internet. It is not a peer to peer file sharing network. Thus, officers did not use "The Onion Router" to gain access to King's child pornography collection. Many courts have held individuals, such as King, who utilize such peer to peer file sharing programs to make files available to the general public do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such shared files. Following his guilty plea, King was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey commended the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the fugitive task force and Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland for their persistence in obtaining the conviction. "My office will continue to make prosecution of crimes against children our top priority. We will continue to educate parents about the social media applications predators use to prey upon children,'' Casey said. "We will continue to make our resources available to all law enforcement agencies who investigate these crimes. And we will do everything within our power bring those who perpetrate crimes against children to justice." The state of Alabama has agreed to not set any more execution dates for an inmate who survived his February execution attempt after officials couldn't start his IV before midnight. According to a press release from Hamm's lawyer Bernard Harcourt, he and lawyers from the Alabama Attorney General's Office entered into a confidential settlement agreement Monday that resolves all pending litigation in both federal and state courts regarding Doyle Lee Hamm's execution. The settlement will end efforts to set another execution date, the press release stated. Harcourt said the settlement "comes after lengthy, fruitful discussions" with the AG's Office. "I cannot discuss the terms of the agreement, but I will say that Doyle, his family, and his legal team are extremely relieved," Harcourt said. The Feb. 22 execution date came after months of legal battles revolving around whether Hamm's veins were able to handle the IV required for the lethal drugs. Harcourt argued that Hamm's veins had become nearly impossible to access after years of intravenous drug use and Hamm's diagnosis, and treatment, of lymphatic cancer. The AG's Office argued Hamm's cancer is in remission and there was no reason he shouldn't be executed after spending 30 years on death row. Hamm's scheduled execution was on Feb. 22 at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Hamm, 61, was set to die at 6 p.m., but Alabama Department of Corrections officials did not begin preparing him for the execution until approximately 9 p.m., after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a temporary stay. At approximately 11:30 p.m., ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn announced the state wouldn't be executing Hamm that night because medical personnel would not be able to prepare him for the procedure by midnight when the death warrant expired. Dunn did not specify what exactly the problem was and what medical personnel had been doing for more than two hours between when the stay was lifted and when medical personnel advised officials on the situation. Court records filed the next day stated the execution team couldn't find a vein to insert the catheter needed for the lethal drugs. Filings by Harcourt in the following days said staff tried to use Hamm's peripheral veins on his lower extremities, as a previous court order directed them to, but they couldn't find a vein on either leg or either ankle. After those attempts failed, medical personnel moved on to try a central venous line in Hamm's right groin--where, days earlier, an independent doctor who evaluated Hamm said there were abnormal lymph nodes. The settlement discussions began after that execution attempt. Harcourt previously said Hamm was traumatized by the incident, but Tuesday called said the settlement "rewarding." The AG's Office confirmed Tuesday evening that "the two parties have jointly filed a notice to voluntarily dismiss Doyle Hamm's federal lawsuit," but declined to comment further. Hamm has been on death row for over 30 years, after he was convicted in the 1987 murder of Patrick Cunningham. Cunningham was shot in the head while working the overnight shift at Anderson's Motel in Cullman. Assistant Attorney Generals Thomas Govan Jr. and Beth Jackson Hughes prosecuted the case. Harcourt was assisted by several law students from Columbia on his legal team. This post was updated Wednesday at 10:14 a.m. with comment from AG's Office. Keep an eye out for a few strong storms on Thursday. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has placed a slight risk for severe weather across parts of central and southwest Alabama for Thursday. A slight risk means scattered severe storms will be possible. However, this event doesn't seem to have as potent a setup as last week's storms, which produced 15 tornadoes across north and central parts of the state. Thursday isn't the only day with a severe weather risk. An isolated strong storm will also be possible on Wednesday, but mainly for the northwest corner of the state. As for Thursday, damaging winds, heavy rain and tornadoes are the main hazards, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday's slight risk area includes Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Mobile, Greenville and the southern Birmingham metro area. A marginal risk stretches out farther to include nearly all of the rest of the state except for north Alabama and the extreme southeast corner. The weather service thinks storms could develop as early as Thursday morning, and they could last into the evening. Heavy rain for north Alabama The severe weather threat isn't as hight, but forecasters in north Alabama are warning that heavy rain will be possible there both Wednesday and Thursday. The weather service in Huntsville said a few storms will be possible in north Alabama on Wednesday, but the main threat will be locally heavy rain and flooding. A weak front is expected to move into north Alabama and stall, bringing increased chances of moderate or heavy rain to the region. Rain or storms could move over the same areas repeatedly, and the weather service will be on the lookout for potential flooding. Forecasters said rain totals could be 3-4 inches in some areas, and models are suggesting that the highest amounts could fall west of Interstate 65. Flooding concerns are not as great in the rest of the state, according to the weather service. Cooler and drier conditions are expected to take over starting on Friday, and Easter weekend is expected to stay on the dry side statewide. A man that was arrested after being allegedly identified appearing in a viral child porn video is to face new charges as the investigation against him continues. Germaine Moore of Millbrook, an area north of Montgomery, will face 11 felony counts after investigators recently found nine still images and two videos of child pornography on a SD card that allegedly belonged to him. It's believed the videos were made in Elmore and Autauga counties. "That should send a message to everybody about his level of offenses and how dangerous he is to any child at any point, which is why we are going to work together and why we are going to use every resource to make sure he does not get out of jail ever," said Lt. Brook Walker of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Moore, who is also awaiting trial in Detroit, Michigan, was caught after the video went viral on social media. The video allegedly showed Moore sexually assaulting a child that was six at the time, according to previous reporting by AL.com. The child has since been located and is safe. Moore is charged in Alabama with sexual assault of a child, distribution of video depicting the assault and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. More charges against Moore are expected, said Tony Garrett, executive director of Crime Stoppers. In Detroit, Moore is charged with sexually abusing three girls under the age of 13. The Wayne County, Michigan prosecutor's office said Moore sexually assaulted the three girls over a six-year period from 2011 to 2017. "The children were in the care and custody of the defendant, their paternal uncle, while their mother worked,'' said Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller."It is alleged the defendant sexually assaulted the children at this mother's home in Detroit and at his home in Alabama." Alabama's lawmakers appear to have given up on passing any legislation aimed at making schools safer before the session ends this week. Of the nine bills filed in the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting deaths of 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Fla., only one has received lawmakers' approval. Democrats have expressed disappointment that Republicans failed to pass any of the measures, but Republican leaders, including Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said they wanted to avoid "knee-jerk" reactions in the wake of the Parkland massacre. Ivey created the "Securing Alabama Facilities on Education" council via executive order. The council is charged with reviewing proposals on school security and will issue a report on April 30. The only bill to make it through the legislature so far, SB323, allows schools to use money previously earmarked for technology to be used for school security purposes. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, told AL.com she believes her bill establishing the Alabama Task Force on School Safety and Security will become law before the session ends. The bill, HB447, hit a snag last week when the Senate amended the House version. Collins said they have been working to find a compromise, and she believes the bill will receive final passage this week. Collins said her Task Force is different from Ivey's council and will look at trends in school security and provide recommendations to lawmakers each year. Bills to restrict access to certain types of guns never made it for full committee consideration, with lawmakers skipping a meeting to discuss three bills in the House Public Safety committee last week. A bill to make it easier for retired law enforcement officers to work in schools, filed prior to the Parkland tragedy, is still under consideration and does have time to pass before the session ends. Bills that didn't survive include ones that would arm teachers, would create private security forces that have gun-carrying authority on school campuses, and would allow juvenile probation officers to share information with schools about juvenile offenders if concerns about safety were present. Collins said Alabama "is ahead of the curve" in keeping students safe in school and doesn't have as far to go as other states. Recommendations that came from the school safety task force she chaired in 2016 included improving responsiveness of school personnel to emergencies and fostering collaboration between local law enforcement and schools. Collins said many of those recommendations are now in place. For example, Collins said, "Every school has a [emergency operations] plan," which is a detailed plan for how schools would handle, for example, an active shooter. Collins also pointed to additional money in the education budget aimed at improving school safety including $400,000 to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for school resource officer training and $2 million in additional funding for mental health services, some of which is school-based. The Sun-Sentinel in Florida is tracking state-level school safety legislation passed in the wake of the Parkland tragedy. The Sentinel reports eight states have made changes to state laws surrounding guns or school safety. Those changes range from Oregon's restricting gun ownership by anyone who is under a restraining order or has been convicted of stalking or domestic violence to Washington state's ban on bump stocks, a device that turns semi-automatic weapons into automatic ones. Though the Republican super-majority in the statehouse refused to consider any gun restrictions during the session, Collins said she would leave that door open if members of her Task Force decided it was a solution to pursue. "Any solution that has to do with putting guns in schools or keeping guns out of schools will come from them," she said. Lawmakers plan to meet three days this week to wrap up the session. Here are the bills lawmakers filed during the 2018 legislative session related to keeping students safe in school. Bills filed before the Feb. 14 Parkland shooting: HB115 - Filed 1/9/2018 - Would make murder on a school campus a capital offense. Made it out of a House committee. SB151 - Filed 1/11/2018 - Specified that the crime of making a terrorist threat includes those made toward schools and churches. The Senate and House approved it, but it was carried over in the House, meaning it's likely dead for the session. SB148 - Filed 1/11/2018 - Would overhaul the juvenile justice system by implementing the recommendations of the Alabama Juvenile Justice Task Force. Never made it out of a Senate committee. SB223 - Filed 1/25/2018 - Would prohibit anyone convicted of a hate crime from owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm. Never made it out of a Senate committee. HB366 - Filed 2/11/2018 - Would rename the current Student Harassment Prevention Act to the Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act, replacing the word "harassment" with "bullying" and include online bullying as part of the law. Awaiting Gov. Kay Ivey's signature. Bills filed after the Feb. 14 Parkland shooting. SB323 - Filed 2/20/2018 - Would allow money from the Advancement and Technology Fund to be used for school security purposes. Awaiting Ivey's signature. HB434 - Filed 2/20/2018 - Would prohibit the sale or transfer of assault weapons to a person under 21. Never made it out of a House committee. HB435 - Filed 2/20/2018 - Would allow teachers or other school employees to carry a firearm on a school campus. Made it through a House committee. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said this issue would be revisited during the 2019 legislative session. HB442 - Filed 2/22/2018 - Would remove the current requirement that a person would have to have intent to do deadly harm to be prohibited from possessing a gun on school property. Never made it out of House committee. HB447 - Filed 2/22/2018 - Would create the Alabama Task Force on School Safety and Security. Passed the House. The Senate amended it. It is now back in the House. HB449 - Filed 2/22/2018 - Would allow the creation of private volunteer security forces in K-12 schools. The sponsor pulled the bill from consideration. HB452 - Filed 2/22/2018 - Would allow juvenile probation officers to share information with schools to promote safety. On the House floor for consideration. HB472 - Filed 3/11/2018 - Would prohibit the sale or transfer of assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition. Never made it out of a House committee. HB478 - Filed 3/11/2018 - Would establish the Gun Violence Protective Order Act allowing a court to prohibit ownership of a firearm of a person posing an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to self or others. Never made it out of a House committee. Sponsors of a bill intended to identify racial profiling by police agencies said a compromise has been reached and they are hopeful it will pass today. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said the compromise was reached during a meeting today that involved members of the Legislative Black Caucus, the House Republican leadership, law enforcement and others. Last week, the bill lost in the House on a procedural vote by a margin of 34-52, with most of the Republican majority opposing it and Democrats supporting it. Smitherman said the changes in the bill would give law enforcement agencies more flexibility about the way they collect information on traffic stops that would be intended to show if there's a pattern of police stopping people because of their race. "It's only going to be a small percentage of people that we're dealing with," Smitherman said. "The vast majority, 90 percent, 95 percent, maybe more than that, of the officers, they are very good officers. They do their job." Coleman said today the bill is the No. 1 priority for the Legislative Black Caucus. She said she felt "pretty good" about the bill's chances. Last week, Coleman said the failure of the bill sent the message that the state was "backward." But she said there was a mindset at today's meeting to produce a compromise that could pass. "This is what politics is all about, the art of compromise," Coleman said. "And hopefully today we will send a message nationally that Alabama does not want that stain like other states and we want to make racial profiling illegal in the state of Alabama and be able to identify those bad actors." Coleman said a key component added to the bill would require police agencies to include on their websites a complaint form for citizens who believe they have been the target of racial profiling. Alabama plans to give death row inmates a new option - death by oxygen deprivation -- but it's unclear exactly how the never-used method would be carried out. Gov. Kay Ivey last week signed into law a bill to authorize executions by nitrogen hypoxia. Nitrogen is an inert gas that makes up about 78 percent of the air people breathe. With nitrogen hypoxia, death would occur from breathing only nitrogen, without the life-sustaining oxygen that makes up about 20 percent of the air. Two other states -- Oklahoma and Mississippi -- have authorized executions by nitrogen hypoxia. Two weeks ago, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter announced it would become that state's main method when it has a protocol finalized. That is expected to take several months and the state hasn't released any details. The difficulty of obtaining the drugs for lethal injection led to the decision, Hunter said. The Alabama Department of Corrections has no specifics yet about how it will implement the new law, including the possible cost and whether it would require a new death chamber. "The Department of Corrections will follow the law of the state and adhere to the protocols and method of an execution as ordered by the Alabama Supreme Court," DOC spokesman Bob Horton said. Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, the sponsor of the bill, said he got the idea of nitrogen hypoxia executions from Oklahoma. Pittman said he believes it will be a humane method. He said it's important to maintain the death penalty for the worst offenders. "I think the death penalty is a deterrence and I think it's the appropriate punishment for people that commit certain heinous crimes," Pittman said. Last year, Pittman sponsored a bill to authorize executions by firing squad as an alternative to lethal injection. That came after a court ruling postponed the execution of Tommy Arthur for the seventh time in 15 years. Arthur had challenged the state's lethal injection method and suggested the firing squad as an alternative. Arthur was finally executed by lethal injection in May 2017 for a 1982 murder. Pittman said the Department of Corrections opposed his firing squad bill. He said the DOC was initially neutral on the nitrogen hypoxia bill and eventually supported it after problems with one of the state's most recent executions and because of concerns about obtaining lethal injection drugs. Lethal injection remains Alabama's main method of execution. Inmates can also still opt for the electric chair, though none have done so since Alabama adopted lethal injection. Nitrogen hypoxia becomes a third option. The new law says that inmates can choose nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection. It says that if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional or becomes otherwise unavailable, nitrogen hypoxia becomes the state's primary method. The new law takes effect June 1. Federal courts have upheld the legality of lethal injections through repeated challenges by inmates. Alabama and other states have at times experienced difficulties in obtaining the drugs. Alabama's last execution, of Michael Wayne Eggers on March 15, was carried out without incident. But the previous one, of Doyle Lee Hamm on Feb. 22, was called off after medical personnel could not find a vein to inject the lethal drugs. Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said there's no basis for the assertion that nitrogen hypoxia is a humane or relatively painless form of execution. "Nitrogen hypoxia may work, it may not work," Dunham said. "We don't know. It's experimental. And it's unethical to do experiments so that's the dilemma that states are in. Dunham said it's not clear if the executions would be carried out in a vacuum chamber or with just a death mask. The Death Penalty Information Center is a non-profit organization that provides the media and the public analysis and facts about capital punishment. Dunham points to studies that found problems with the use of nitrogen hypoxia in the euthanasia of animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals in 2013 says that nitrogen hypoxia is an unacceptable method for most mammals unless an anesthesia is also used and that an anesthesia can delay death. "So, it's either not going to be fast or it's not going to be appropriate," Dunham said. The World Society for the Protection of Animals recommends against using nitrogen hypoxia for euthanasia for multiple reasons, including that it causes distress before unconsciousness. Pittman said there may be ways to mitigate those concerns, including with a sedative or anesthesia before the loss of oxygen. He also questions whether those concerns are overstated. "People that are worried about a little discomfort when a sentence of death is being carried out, I wish they had shown the same compassion to their victims when they ruthlessly, in most cases, murdered them," Pittman said. A report prepared at the request of an Oklahoma lawmaker by criminal justice faculty members at Oklahoma's East Central University concluded that nitrogen hypoxia would be a humane method of execution. The report cited, among other things, a 1961 study that found that people lost consciousness after breathing pure nitrogen for about 20 seconds and experienced no physical discomfort. The report said the method would be simple and noted that nitrogen is used in industry and is readily available. Dunham said he doesn't think Alabama, or any other state, wants torturous executions. But he said the failure of the Hamm execution and the lack of a clear explanation by the Department of Corrections showed a lack of transparency that could undermine public trust. This story was updated at 10:20 p.m. with additional comments from Robert Dunham. Jacksonville State University will resume classes April 9, officials said Monday. Vice President for Student Affairs Timothy King announced Saturday that students will have three options for completing the Spring 2018 semester: Use the current grade earned as the final grade for all classes or for select classes. Take an incomplete in all or select classes and finish the class(es) through the applicable incomplete procedure. Complete the semester for all or select classes and complete course requirements. "Given a review of our current recovery progress and the revised estimates of time to make the affected facilities safe and usable, the new start date for classes will be April 9th," King said in an update posted on the JSU Facebook page. The school in northeast Alabama is recovering from an EF-3 tornado that slammed into campus buildings and nearby apartment complexes on March 19. There were four injuries attributed to the storm, according to the National Weather Service forecast office in Birmingham. The weather service said in its storm survey that the tornado - with peak estimated wind speeds of 150 mph - "affected the entire campus" and that "several buildings sustained significant damage." In the post, King also outlined several important dates and schedule changes. On April 5, students who live on campus will be allowed to return to the university. Students who live off-campus and are looking for housing can fill out a request form online via the JSU Strong website. King said the university is working out housing options at Ft. McClellan and said he plans to announce this plan Tuesday. On April 6-7, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs staff will be at the TMB Auditorium helping students with their options for completing the spring semester, graduation, advising and registration for the summer and fall semester, and helping students with counseling, housing, financial aid, scholarships, disaster response needs and other services. King said the exact times and more details about this even will be announced in the coming days. The last week of classes will be April 23-30. Commencement will be held at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium May 4. If there is a threat of rain or severe weather, officials will delay the ceremony until either May 5 or 6, he said. "While we have made substantial progress in a short period of time, there is still a significant amount of work for us to do. We appreciate your continued patience. As always, feel free to reach out to us," King said. An Alabama man allegedly shown in a viral video of a young girl forced to perform oral sex on a man will face production of child pornography charges in federal courts, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Moore was arrested Feb. 5 after authorities learned of the video circulating on Facebook. ALEA, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama and the Elmore County District Attorney's office will announce the charges against Moore, 44, in a press conference at the ALEA headquarters at 9 a.m. Tuesday. A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama Monday alleges Moore produced child pornography found on electronic devices seized from his residence and a family member's residence. The complaint says investigators seized several digital media devices, including a 128GB SD memory card, from Moore's Millbrook home while executing a search warrant Feb. 5. Investigators found images of child pornography on the memory card, and investigators claimed they were able to determine where the images were captured, based on their observation of Moore's Millbrook home and one of his relative's apartments in Prattville while executing search warrants at the two locations, according to the complaint. The complaint says five sexually explicit images of children under the age of 18 were produced inside the Prattville apartment, four sexually explicit images of children under the age of 18 were produced inside Moore's Millbrook residence and one sexually explicit video of a child under the age of 18 was produced inside a 1994 Ford Econoline E150 van, which was parking in the driveway of Moore's Millbrook home. Moore has already been charged with first-degree rape, facilitating travel of a child for unlawful sexual acts and three counts of traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, according to state court records. If convicted on the federal charges, Moore could face between 15 years to life in prison, according to federal law. The Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Governor's Office are offering a $10,000 reward on information that leads to the discovery of missing Harvest woman Jennifer Faye Powers. Powers went missing form Granto Road in Harvest during July 2008. The Limestone County Sheriff's Office is assisting in the search. Anyone with information on her location or disappearance should contact Inv. Ken Andrews at krandrews@madisoncountyal.gov or Inv. Rodney McAbee at rmcabee@limestonesheriff.com. As a possible sweeping settlement deal on opioids crawls forward in a federal court in Cleveland, Shelby County has joined the ranks of Alabama jurisdictions angling for a piece of it. The Montgomery-based Beasley Allen law firm announced Monday that it had filed a complaint on behalf of the county in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. "Shelby County is one of the most important counties in Alabama, economically, job wise and in number of residents," said Beasley Allen attorney Rhon Jones in the firm's announcement. "This crisis has impacted Shelby County in a major way and those responsible for this crisis should be held accountable. People are dying on a regular basis due to this crisis. It is time for that to stop or at a minimum be greatly reduced." A national wave of litigation has targeted opioid manufacturers and distributors over the course of the last year. States, cities, counties and other governmental entities, as well as some hospitals and other institutions, have argued that they should be able to recoup costs related to an epidemic of addiction. They've accused the companies of raking in profits while turning a blind eye to the social costs resulting from excessive use -- and misuse -- of their addictive products. The companies have denied wrongdoing: Distributors, for example, have argued that they work within a tightly regulated framework and do not give out prescriptions. In Alabama, Birmingham filed such a suit as far back as August 2017. Through the fall, a number of other cities and counties followed suit. The general trend has been for such suits to be rolled into a multi-district litigation process being overseen by Judge Dan A. Polster in Cleveland. Even before the consolidation, the process was drawing comparisons to the litigation that led to a far-reaching settlement with tobacco manufacturers in the early '90s. Polster has expressly urged participants to work toward a settlement -- but also has barred them from revealing detail about the ongoing negotiations. Alabama municipalities whose suits already have been consolidated into the Cleveland process include Birmingham, Butler, Cherokee, Decatur, Demopolis, Enterprise, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Greenville, Marion, Mobile, Moulton, Ozark, Phenix City, Selma, Trussville, Union Springs, Mobile and Opp. Counties whose suits have been consolidated include Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Coffee, Cullman, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Houston, Lamar, Lawrence, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Morgan, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Washington and Wilcox. The state also has filed a suit, against one manufacturer, that has been consolidated into the Cleveland proceedings. Mobile-based Infirmary Health is party to a suit as well, as is the Mobile County Emergency Medical Services System. There usually is a lag between the time a suit is filed and the time it is consolidated, so there may well be additional Alabama suits working their way toward Cleveland. The last in-court conference was held March 6. Afterward, the court record suggests, Polster was still seeking input on the "scope and timing of a litigation track and the contents of a case management order." The deadliest weather phenomenon in south Alabama isn't hurricanes. Or tornadoes. Or lightning or floods. It's rip currents, and they have killed more people than hurricanes and tornadoes -- and anything else -- combined over the past 20 years, according to the National Weather Service. "If we look at coastal Alabama as well as the western Florida Panhandle ... basically from Dauphin Island to Destin, we've had 101 rip current fatalities since 1996, averaging 4-5 people a year that die in rip currents," said Jason Beaman, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mobile. "You take lightning, tropical systems, tornadoes, floods over our entire 20-county warning area, we only have 52 over that same time stretch. It's almost double the number or rip current fatalities versus all these other phenomenons." Rip currents over the past few days have been blamed for the disappearance of a teenage swimmer off the coast of Fort Morgan on Sunday. And red flags will continue to fly along Alabama and Florida Panhandle beaches through Thursday -- in the heart of the Spring Break season. If you see the red flags, "that's not a good time to get in the water," Beaman said. A red flag means rip currents are likely and the water is dangerous for everyone -- no matter how good of a swimmer you are. "I don't think people realize how powerful the water can be," Beaman said. "They underestimate the power of water when they're in the Gulf of Mexico especially when you have crashing waves -- they can easily sweep you off your feet." A rip current is a channel of fast-moving water that can take hold of a swimmer and pull him or her away from the beach, according to Beaman. "If you panic, potentially that rip current could take you out deep -- and that's where people get in trouble," he said. "So it's something that is a huge problem that we are trying to bring increased awareness to." The weather service in Mobile has extended its rip current forecasts out to four days to alert locals and vacationers alike about what could be lurking under the waves. Here's the extended rip current forecast from the National Weather Service in Mobile. There will be a high risk through Thursday. Find those forecasts here. "What we want to do is be more consistent and be able to provide people with more of a heads up -- especially if we can see a high risk coming three, four days out," Beaman said. "People are planning to come down here, hopefully they see that and get it in their minds that it's something they need to watch out for." As far as forecasting goes, meteorologists look at prevailing wind direction and speed, wave energy and tidal cycles when determining the rip current risk. "Obviously if we have a wind that's onshore ... that helps to promote rip currents," Beaman said. "We also look for wave swells, pieces of wave energy that are moving at us from down in the Gulf of Mexico towards the Gulf Coast. That enhances rip currents. And tidal factors as well. If you have a large tidal cycle, particularly if the tide is outgoing during the day, when there are a lot of people at the beaches, that can also be a factor." You can survive getting caught in a rip current if you know what to do. Some tips from NOAA: # Don't fight the current. It's a natural treadmill that travels an average speed of 1-2 feet per second, but has been measured as fast as 8 feet per second--faster than an Olympic swimmer. # Relax and float to conserve energy. Staying calm may save your life. # Do NOT try to swim directly into to shore. Swim along the shoreline until you escape the current's pull. When free from the pull of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore. # If you feel you can't reach shore, relax, face the shore, and call or wave for help. The temptation to get into the water can be strong -- especially for vacationers who may not get beach time too often. But it's too much of a risk. "I know a big influence for a lot of people, you spend a lot of time and money to take a vacation and you want to enjoy all that our beautiful beaches want to offer. But there are certain days that getting in the water just isn't the best decision," Beaman said. "And that's what we're trying to help people with." Learn more about rip currents here. Packages containing explosive materials were sent to four military installations around Washington, D.C., according to multiple media reports. The National Defense University at Fort McNair, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Fort Belvoir and Naval Support Facility Dahlgren reported receiving suspicious packages Monday. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team responded to the National Defense University package, which tested positive for black powder and residue, according to Fox5DC. An X-ray of the package indicated a suspected GPS and a fuse. The package was later rendered safe, Army officials told the news channel. The other packages were later deemed to be safe but no further information was available on what they contained. Each of the packages was taken by the FBI for further investigation. No injuries were reported in connection to the packages. Every black man has a racial profiling story. Or, more appropriately, a racial profiling nightmare. Oh, there may be a scant few brothers that don't, God bless 'em. But as for the rest of us--we all have a vivid memory of our heart racing, our words carefully parsed through our parched, tightening throat, our hands on the wheel (at "10 and 2")--all while our mind swells with both rage (at the injustice) and fear (of the potential consequences). Jordan (he preferred his last name not be used) has several profiling stories, but one in particular, he says, "scarred me." He is now a minister in Birmingham and, at the time, was a federal law enforcement searching for an interview subject late one night in Kentucky. He was driving slowly, looking for a turn-in. He knew he was being trailed by a state trooper, "but didn't think anything of it," he tells me, "because I knew I was under the speed limit." Then, "suddenly from nowhere," he recalls, two troopers descended upon him--one pulling up beside him, the other in front. "I was boxed in." Jordan mockingly calls his credentials--his law enforcement identification, as well as his driver's license--his "freedom papers," reminiscent of documents former slaves had to carry proving that they were free. "After providing him with my freedom papers, one of the troopers said, 'We good ole boys thought we were about to have a good time tonight, but you're one of us. "I know some of the types of people I worked with, and we still have them," Jordan says. "But the good ole buys scarred me in terms of being afraid of the police, even though I was 'one of them'." Our sisters have stories, too, especially if they have a son. When her twin sons obtained their licenses, a close friend, who lived in a prosperous, mostly white suburb of New York, took them to the local police station and introduced them to the chief and any officers who were there. "These are my sons," she said. "And this is my car. I just want you to know them, and for them to know you." She was friendly, cordial, and didn't need to say much more. I'd venture virtually everyone believes racial profiling is bad, no matter on which side of the political aisle they reside. And yet Alabama currently has no law declaring racial profiling by the police illegal. Some may say, in fact, we have a law on our decrepit books--remember HB56?--that virtually encourages racial profiling by requiring police officers to investigate the citizenship status of anyone they stop (for any reason) if they suspect the person might be undocumented. Makes me think about Jordan's "freedom papers". Last week, the Alabama House billy-clubbed a bill that would have required officers throughout the state to record the race of any motorist they stopped, even if they were not eventually cited for an infraction. The bill, sponsored by Sen, Roger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, an African-American man who, of course, has how own racial profiling story. Or stories. He told a House committee that eventually approved the bill that he'd been stopped five times by the police, with no citation issued in either instance. Even the law enforcement officials who spoke against the bill--who needs all that pesky paperwork"--acknowledged that racial profiling is wrong and is an issue in our state. And yet the bill failed 34-52 on a "procedural" vote. Way to go, Alabama. Way to show once again most of our lawmakers are ignorant hicks who'd rather vote against a law addressing a matter we know is wrong than risk angering a good ole boy constituent or police officer in their neighborhood. Way to go, as Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, simply and plainly put it after the vote, "I guess we still sent a message that Bama is backwards."(Coleman, by the way, as an African-American, has her own racial profiling stories regarding her father, brother, and son.) Our lawmakers still have time, however, to turn around, hold their heads high and say racial profiling by the bad apples among our otherwise stellar police officers is wrong. To say, no, it will not be tolerated in Alabama. Not in this time, not in this state. As the final seconds of the 2018 legislative session tick away, the lawmakers have time for a Hail Mary before they go home on Wednesday or soon thereafter, not to return until 2019. As you read this, they may be constructing a comprise of the bill that was rejected last week, one that may not contain the data-collecting provision but will at least definitively and finally declare racial profiling illegal in our state. Following last week's vote, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, declared: "I think there's hope for the bill." If so, then there's still hope for the state. Hope to show the nation we're not "backwards" and many still want to believe. Hope that, in time, there will be fewer stories to tell. Or maybe even none. Watch my Alabama Media Group colleague Jared Boyd share his racial profiling story: Roy S. Johnson's column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com or/and follow me at twitter.com/roysj. The UF Board of Trustees unanimously selected an Iranian immigrant as its next next chairman, in a meeting last Friday. Mori Hosseini, the CEO of a construction company called Intervest Construction Inc., was nominated by the boards current chairman, Bill Heavener. He will assume his new role July 1, UF spokesperson Margot Winick, wrote in an email. A new chair is chosen every two years, Winick said. Trustees volunteer to serve on the board and do not get paid, according to bylaws. Prior to coming to UF in 2016, Hosseini was chairman for other boards, including the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. UF President Kent Fuchs said that as an immigrant from Iran, Hosseini recognized the immense value in a college education as a means to a better life. Were very, very fortunate that he is the (next) chair of our board, Fuchs said. Hosseini first studied at Chelsea College in England for a few years before receiving his masters in business administration from Embry-Riddle in 1982. Two years before he graduated, he founded Intervest Construction Inc. in Daytona. As a chairman-elect, Hosseini nominated board member Tom Kuntz, also elected unanimously, to serve as vice chair. Kuntz, also a former chairman for the Board of Governors, joined the board this spring after being appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in January, according to Alligator archives. Fuchs said Hosseini is invested in improving Floridas higher education, and regularly meets with Gov. Rick Scott and other politicians in Tallahassee about getting more funding for state universities in his free time. The word passionate is really the only word I can think of, Fuchs said. Contact Elliott Nasby at enasby@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter at @_ElohEl. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now In the west of Naples, Italy, is a large volcanic area called Phlegraean Fields filled with craters of old, extinguished volcanoes. Lying mostly underwater, the area is still volcanically active as evidenced by the numerous boiling pools of mud and fumaroles from which copious amount of steam can be seen rising at any time of day or night. Centuries ago, travellers who could afford to travel came to Naples to see the famous volcano that buried the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under magma and ash. They also made a visit to Phlegraean Fields, where tour guides took them to a small cave called Cave of Dogs, or Grotta del Cane, for a gruesome little experiment. A guide shows a suffocated dog to two tourists at the Cave of Dogs near Naples. The caves entrance is a narrow opening on the side of a hill, that leads to a short corridorabout ten meters longthat slopes downward ending in a cavity. Inside this cavity is a fumarole that releases carbon dioxide, which being heavier than air settles at the bottom of the cavity forming a shallow lake about 30 centimeters deep. The carbon dioxide lake doesnt affect people because their heads are well above its surface, but for something much shorter, such as a dog, the condition inside the cave can be fatal. Carbon dioxide is a normal component of air, and the low concentration at which it exists is harmless to humans and other living beings that breathe oxygen for survival. But as the concentration of carbon dioxide in air increases, it leads to serious physiological harma condition known as hypercapnia. Initially, carbon dioxide poisoning causes flushed skin, muscle twitches, elevated blood pressure, and reduced neural activity. Severe hypercapnia causes headache, lethargy, increased cardiac output, irregular heart beat, panic, disorientation, convulsions, loss of consciousness and finally death. In this 17th century etching of Lake Agnano and the Grotta del Cane, three men are seen taking a dog into the grotto to demonstrate the experiment in which noxious gases emitted from it cause asphyxiation of the dog. On the left, two local men suspend an asphyxiated dog in the lake in order to revive it. To demonstrate the phenomenon to tourists, in earlier times, local guides would take a dog into the cave. The dog would be led into the pool of carbon dioxide, at which the poor animal would start to suffocate from lack of oxygen and soon lose consciousness. The collapsed dog would then be taken out of the cave and resuscitated by submerging it in the cold waters of the nearby Lake Agnano. The cave was mentioned as early as Roman times, described by Pliny the Elderwho died in 79 AD during the eruption of Mount Vesuviusbut it didnt became famous until about 400 years ago. This was when the dog experiments started taking place. Some of the famous tourists who saw this experiment included Goethe, Alexandre Dumas and Mark Twain. In his travelogue, The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain describes his visit to the Grotta del Cane: Nero's Baths, the ruins of Baiae, the Temple of Serapis; Cumae, where the Cumaen Sybil interpreted the oracles, the Lake Agnano, with its ancient submerged city still visible far down in its depths-these and a hundred other points of interest we examined with critical imbecility, but the Grotto of the Dog claimed our chief attention, because we had heard and read so much about it. Every body has written about the Grotto del Cane and its poisonous vapors, from Pliny down to Smith, and every tourist has held a dog over its floor by the legs to test the capabilities of the place. The dog dies in a minute and a halfa chicken instantly. As a general thing, strangers who crawl in there to sleep do not get up until they are called. And then they don't either. The stranger that ventures to sleep there takes a permanent contract. I longed to see this grotto. I resolved to take a dog and hold him myself; suffocate him a little, and time him; suffocate him some more and then finish him. We reached the grotto at about three in the afternoon, and proceeded at once to make the experiments. But now, an important difficulty presented itself. We had no dog. The spectacle of the cave fell into disuse once Lake Agnano was drained in 1870. The cave no longer attracts tourist as it did in earlier times. A paintings by Camillo DeVito (1794-1845) shows a man dragging an unconscious dog away from Grotta del Cane. The principle of the Cave of Dogs sketched by Alfred Swaine Taylor, an English toxicologist and medical writer, in 1832 Lake Agnano and Grotta del Cane by Sieur de Rogissart, dated 1706. The cave as it appears today. Photo credit: Fiore Silvestro Barbato/Flickr A member of the Anglican Communions delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the Revd Laura Marie Piotrowicz, reflects on the CSW upon her return to her home in the parish of St Johns in Port Dalhousie, Canada. Ive been receiving a number of heartfelt greetings since my return from New York. Its lovely to be home, and its amazing the things I missed. Theyre not the fancy things: its having breakfast in my PJs (not in a hotel restaurant), making a full pot of coffee or tea, having proper cutlery (single-use plastics are a scourge on society), a bathtub, my own pillow, and of course an abundance of happy-puppy dog snuggles (with resultant paw prints and fur). Home. Its good to be home. But and we discussed this as delegates home feels a little bit smaller, a little bit different after the UN experience. Its all the same, but its also not the same. The reality is that the change is in us: we have changed, and we have been changed. We have been engaging with people from around the world as we commit to one another and to God to work even more passionately towards gender equality and justice. We have become friends and sisters with people from places we couldn't even find on a map two weeks ago. We have heard stories of challenges in those places, stories of good ministry in those places, stories of Gods power prevailing over all evil in those places. We have shared laughter, and tears, and hugs, and love. We have prayed, and praised, and worshiped. We did not have a vacation; we grappled with some of the most difficult challenges the world is facing: we discussed them openly and bravely (even when our voices trembled). We connected with one another with great trust and love and faith; we held one another up as we were held; we opened ourselves up to new joys and new possibilities as we live into the body of Christ. We were offered a bigger, broader perspective not in a way that is meant to keep us segregated from our small home lives, but rather to enhance it, to enrich it, to help us see and celebrate the astonishing in the ordinary. For that is where we see our God: in the everyday realities where dignity is upheld, where justice is sought, where peace is shared. Our worlds have got a little bit bigger. Our networks have extended. Our knowledge has increased. So coming home feels a little different. Because coming home does not mean going back to who we were before this experience. Instead, it means bringing home the amazing truth of the bigger world. It means opening the eyes and ears and hearts of those around us, and sharing the energy around making the world a better place. So I am grateful for every welcome home! I receive. It means that I am cared for and appreciated in the here and the now. It also means that those who are caring for and with me are aware that I have come home well well-inspired, well-enthused, well-committed. I have come home well ready to continue to strive for the kingdom of God. Posted on: March 27, 2018 8:29 AM The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has today repeated his offer to contribute towards any peace negotiations while violence continues to erupt in some parts of Nigeria. Archbishop Justin tweeted in January: I am deeply saddened by the killings and displacements in #Nigeria. President @MBuhari and authorities are exhorted to act now to end this violence and begin mediated dialogue. I mourn with this great country and stand with them in prayer, #prayforthepeaceofNigeria. Im deeply saddened by the killings and displacements in #Nigeria. President @MBuhari and authorities are exhorted to act now to end this violence and begin mediated dialogue. I mourn with this great country and stand with them in prayer. #PrayForThePeaceOfNigeria Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) January 22, 2018 However, the attacks have continued and spread rather than abate. A question was put to the British government in the House of Lords the upper house of the UK Parliament yesterday (Monday) on the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria. Archbishop Justin said: I once again exhort President Muhammadu Buhari and other authorities, civil and religious, national and international, urgently to build a coalition to end this violence immediately. In communications earlier this year with the Primate of All Nigeria, His Grace Nicholas Okoh, I offered to contribute towards such effort to the extent such might be useful. I repeat that offer again, knowing, however, that within Nigeria are all the skills needed for resolution of the suffering of the people. My condolences go to those who have lost loved ones and property. I urge the authorities to seek for ways to ameliorate their sufferings and losses. I call on all people of goodwill to continue to pray for the peace of Nigeria. Since the start of this year, some 175,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Nigerias Benue State and are now living in refugee camps including more than 80,000 children. The root cause is a conflict between nomadic herdsmen who graze cattle over vast areas; and farmers who wish to cultivate land for crops. Five people were killed over the weekend in clashes near the Agatu local government area, the AFP news agency reports. The Council on Foreign Relations, an international think-tank based in New York, reported that 63 people were killed in eight separate incidents in the week leading up to 23 March. In January, the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria called on the government as a matter of urgency to address these ugly trends and ensure that the culprits are brought to justice. Posted on: March 27, 2018 11:07 AM A Joint Holy Week and Easter message from the Anglican and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Armagh and Primates of Ireland, Richard Clarke and Eamon Martin A moment for all time There is a beautiful moment in the biblical account of the crucifixion when Our Lord says to his mother and to John, the closest of his disciples, that they are now to care for each other as mother and son (John 19.26-27). It is a moment in time, and a moment for all time. The need for a human familys care and love becomes greater with each passing day. We are living in a time when families are under threat from a myriad of pressures. Some of these pressures are material, others are societal or spiritual. And sadly, there are many people who, for whatever reason, can only dream and wish for the warmth and care of family. Our Lords instinctive concern, that his mother and his closest friend should be there for each other, re-echoes down through the centuries to us today. As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are called to be patient and kind, gentle and generous, welcoming to those in need. We are to be family for others, including those who are, or who feel they are, estranged from the family circle. This summer, Christians of different traditions will share the joy of thousands who will gather in Dublin from around the world to celebrate the good news of Family as Joy for the World. The accounts of the Easter Church, that grew from the resurrection of Jesus, remind us that the hospitality and generosity of the human family is a hallmark of Christian belonging. In Acts of the Apostles chapter 16, when Lydia and her household take the Christian faith for themselves, they instinctively offer their home to Saint Paul as his home too. In the coming days we will remember the profound expression of self-giving love which is at the heart of the Cross and the Resurrection. Selfless love is also the key to the wonderful Christian vision of what the family is called to be by God. May we be ready to make that vision a living and vibrant reality in a world which more than ever needs Family at its heart. +Richard Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh +Eamon Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Posted on: March 27, 2018 1:14 PM Archbishop George Takeli, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, has spoken out after a spate of high-profile cases of sexual violence against girls in the Solomon Islands. The Archbishop, who is also Bishop of Central Melanesia, issued a statement in his role as chairman of the ecumenical Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) to condemn acts of sexual violence against our children and girls as reported by the daily media in past weeks. Amongst them is the alleged rape of a six-year-old girl by a 70-year-old man in the Western Province earlier this month. We strongly condemn acts of violence in every form, and declared that sexual violence against our children and girls is sin by its painful dishonest exploitation, and a crime against humanity, he said, referring to the ecumenical group that brings together the United Church in the Solomon Islands, the Catholic Church, the Church of Nazarene, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the South Sea Evangelical Church, and the Anglican Church of Melanesia. His statement was intended to convey the position of SICA on this immoral action committed against our children and girls in families and communities around our country, he said. As leaders of member churches [of SICA], we want to jointly express our serious pastoral concerns over reports of regular occurrences of cases of sexual violence against our children and girls in some communities around our country. We want to assure victims of these acts of sexual violence and their families our prayers and support. We declare that men of whatever age, status, race or relationship in the family or community, do not have the right to freely advance their personal desires to cause violence, especially sexual violence against children and girls in their families or communities. We are concerned that the actions of only a few in our communities had influenced the belief that men are the perpetrators of violence in the family, communities and nation. We believe that in the scriptures, man is not presented as the perpetrator of violence, but as: the image of God (Gen 1:26), the presence of God in the family (Gen 2:7), the manager of Gods family (Gen 2:15), and an agent of Change (Gen 2:4b-21). We believe that men are entrusted with the highest moral or spiritual responsibility to be father leaders, witnessing the presence of God in the family, an agent of change and channel of healing and hope for the family. And so the children, both boys and girls and the whole family can find love and care and hope for the future from the man in the family. He continued: We urge men and especially elderly men in our nation to recognise that as men we cannot do this work alone, as affirmed by the Holy Scriptures (Gen 2:18), but must work with our mothers and women to carry out these duties to build safe, happy and prosperous homes for every family and community in our nation. The racist Left, Jews for Jez and Jeremy Corbyns inability to spot anti-Semitism Only around a thousand people turned up on Parliament Square to protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. The polite request was that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn works to expose and confront the hatred of Jewish in his partys membership and that he stops acquiescing to anti-Semitism. Some Labour MPs did attend. And thats great. But only about a dozen of them bothered to make the shot walk from the Commons to the grassy roundabout. Accompanied by chants of enough is enough, the crowd heard from Haringey Council leader Claire Kober, and Labour MPs John Mann, Louise Ellman and Wes Streeting, Ian Austin, Chuka Umunna and Luciana Berger, who said antisemitism is very real and alive in the Labour Party. Some Conservative MPs also turned up, including Priti Sushil Patel, and cabinet ministers Sajid Javid and Penny Mordaunt. Mr Streeting told the throng: To those Jewish members who felt enough is enough and cut up their membership cards and walked away, our commitment to you is to work with every ounce of strength to drain the cesspit of antisemitism in the Labour Party so you can come back. We know what needs to be done. We dont need any more mealy-mouthed statements from the leader of the Labour Party, we need actions. The actions are very simple: Ken Livingstone should not be in the Labour Party. Antisemites need to be drummed out of the Labour Party. And that whitewash of a report the Chakrabarti Report can we at least implement every one of those recommendations. We had a wishy-washy report, it got someone a place in the House of Lords, but lets at least make sure its delivers a genuine fight against antisemitism in our party. Slippery and nuanced Jeremy Corbyn wasnt there, of course. He never is. But he did address the Jews via a letter: I recognise that antisemitism has surfaced within the Labour Party, and has too often been dismissed as simply a matter of a few bad apples. This has caused pain and hurt to Jewish members of our party and to the wider Jewish community in Britain. I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused, and pledge to redouble my efforts to bring this anxiety to an end. I must make clear that I will never be anything other than a militant opponent of antisemitism. Not a single world on how he has contributed greatly to that pain. Not a single word from his supporters, those intolerant people who if this were a Tory or anyone else they did not like giving a big thumbs up to anti-Semitism would be demanding their resignation. They screamed in outrage when Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris said nigger in the woodpile. They howled for Toby Youngs removal because hed tweeted about womens looks and described wheelchair ramps as part of ghastly inclusivity in schools. They pilloried Tim Farron for his views on homosexuality (he called it a sin) ubiquitous Corbyn fan Owen Jones called Farrons comments an absolute disgrace. To his supporters, Corbyn can do no wrong. Some Corbyn fans are Jews. A small number arrived carrying signs that said Jews for Jez, the words written on a yellow star. If Brass Eye did protests: Instead of being upset by Corbyns links to anti-Semitism, his supporters tasked themselves with getting the hashtag #PredictTheNextCorbynSmear to trend on Twitter. Blessedly, not everyone thinks anti-Semitism is no big deal: Nobody promoting #PredictTheNextCorbynSmear tonight (trending) can expect to be taken seriously as an opponent of anti-semitism; those doing so undermine any commitment or future effort to ensure that the Labour party does not tolerate anti-semitism. Sunder Katwala (@sundersays) March 25, 2018 #predictthenextcorbynsmear just proves the point that people are making about Corbyn, his supporters and anti Semitism. Rather than address the issue they create a mocking hashtag that dismisses the concerns of the Jewish community & all those opposed to racism Eddie Marsan #FBPE (@eddiemarsan) March 25, 2018 5 stages of Corbynista: 1) Denial Its all Tory Smears 2) Anger Blairites & Murdoch & the MSM are out to get him 3) Bargaining He apologised (in a vague tweet) 4) Depression Whatabouttery responses at the ready. 5) More anger Create a #PredictTheNextCorbynSmear hashtag pic.twitter.com/EhN8EERQUI Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) March 25, 2018 Corbyn did have more to say. And it, as ever, vague: Sometimes this evil takes familiar forms the east London mural which has caused such understandable controversy is an example. The idea of Jewish bankers and capitalists exploiting the workers of the world is an old antisemitic conspiracy theory. This was long ago, and rightly, described as the socialism of fools. I am sorry for not having studied the content of the mural more closely before wrongly questioning its removal in 2012. Amazing, no, how Corbyn, a man who presents himself in public as highly sensitive to anti-Semitism can looks at the picture above and not realise its might be even a tad anti-Jewish without study. Is he blind to anti-Semitism or does he think its ok? As Brendan ONeill puts it: Corbyn is in essence saying: Ah, I didnt notice the anti-Semitism. And that is precisely the problem. This section of the left never notices anti-Semitism. It always seems to pass them by. Or worse, they acquiesce to it in the belief that objecting to it might lose them support among some of their key bases, in particular the old left and young Muslims. I didnt see it, they say, not realising that their failure to see anti-Semitism is the crux of the problem. It is a wilful blindness to hatred that they would treat as unforgivable in relation to any other racial or religious group. Anti-Semitism is a sickness. Its been excused time and time again under Corbyns watch. You can look at Corbyn and his fans and ask yourself: if it looks like a duck, quack likes a duck and talks like a duck, what is it? And you can vote in the election. Karen Strike Posted: 27th, March 2018 | In: Key Posts, News, Politicians Comment | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, March 27 - Prosecutors on Tuesday asked for three sentences, an indictment and a plea bargain for four directors of oil engineering firm Bonatti and its Libya representative in the kidnappings in the north African country of four workers, two of whom later died. The five are all accused of culpable complicity in culpable crimes. Earlier this month three Libyan ISIS militants were arrested in Libya for kidnapping the four Bonatti workers. The three have reportedly confessed, sources said. Fausto Piano, Salvatore Failla, Filippo Calcagno and Gino Pollicardo were kidnapped in Sabratha on July 19 2015. Piano and Failla died on March 3 2016 during a firefight while they were being moved by their captors. Calcagno and Pollicardo were freed. "I knew we were in the hands of ISIS," said Pollicardo after the three arrests. "The network (of kidnappers) is probably wider," he said. The three are accused of kidnapping with a terrorist aim aggravated by the deaths of two hostages. The three are already in jail in Tripoli on other charges. They are Youssef Aldauody, the driver of the vehicle carrying the Italians when they were abducted, and Ahmed Dhawadi and Ahmad Elsharo. They have reportedly confessed the four were taken hostage to get a ransom to fund the terror group. The trio have reportedly confirmed that no ransom was paid for the Italians. Another 10 people allegedly took part in the abductions, all of whom died in the firefight. Bonatti are an oil and gas international general contractor with 70 years of experience in the service of the oil and gas and power industries, according to their website. photo: Failla (L) and Piano, the two Bonatti workers killed (ANSA) - Milan, March 27 - An Italian man missing in Turkey since March 12 did not have a meeting set up in the country, his father said Tuesday. "I recharged the battery of Alessandro's phone and I redialled all the numbers he had last called: there was no stranger," said Eligio Fiori. Manager Alessandro Fiori's documents and cellphone were found in a bin in his hotel room while his Italian bank account has been emptied, sources said Sunday. Fiori's suitcases and clothes were found in his room along with his empty wallet. He has not been reported as being admitted by any hospitals or morgues. The parents of Fiori, a 33-year-old from Soncino near Cremona, have ruled out his having fled. Witnesses told Turkish TV they had seen him near the Sultanhamet Hotel and then in a taxi that allegedly took him to the city centre. Eligio Fiori, the father, said he could "rule out he was runnign away from anything" on Monday. He said his son often took low-cost flights to places for a few days when work permitted. "My son left with a simple backpack so as not to have to put his luggage in the hold," Eligio Fiori said on the telephone. "It was a habit of his. That backpack was found in his room at the Sultanhamet Hotel. I can't say anything else other than ruling out it was a flit". The man reportedly told his tobacconist he was going to Istanbul for a short holiday. (ANSA) - Rome, March 26 - Beloved Italian TV presenter Fabrizio Frizzi died of a brain haemorrhage in a Rome hospital overnight, his family said Monday. He was 60. Frizzi, who presented prime-time shows on State broadcaster RAI, had had to take time out following an ischemia in October but had recently returned to his show L'Eredita (The Inheritance) which led into the evening news on Raiuno. "Thank you Fabrizio for all the love you gave us," said his wife Carlotta, his brother Fabio and the rest of his family. Upon his return to the show in December, Frizzi said: "L'Eredita is a joy, its good for your health. "I feel that the adrenalin helps me get better". He turned 60 on February 5 and on that occasion said "the illness has not passed yet." He said "if I get well I will tell it all in all the details, because I'll become a witness for research. "Now research is helping me". RAI said in a statement: "From children's television to prime time, over a 40-year career, he was a fresh-faced figure, totally beloved by the public. "He was a great artist and showbusiness figure. "A man of smiles, and hugs for all. "An extraordinary interpreter of courage and will to live," the public broadcaster said. RAI said Frizzi's body would lie in State at RAI's headquarters in viale Mazzini in Rome on Tuesday and that his funeral would take place at noon on Wednesday at the Chiesa degli Artisti (Church of the Artists) in Rome's central Piazza del Popolo. As tributes poured in from politicians and fellow entertainers, veteran RAI presenter Pippo Baudo said: "he was a boy who loved his work". La7 news chief Enrico Mentana said "it was impossible not to love him". Evergreen pop star Gianni Morandi said "I never once saw him get angry". Italian pop queen Laura Pausini broke down in tears on Italian radio, saying "I'm devastated". Former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano said "his disappearance makes me very sad". Showgirl and 1988 Miss Italy Nadia Bengala said, fighting back the tears, "he was the cleanest person you could ever have met". The two winners of the March 4 general election, anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader Matteo Salvini and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio, took time out from possible government talks to mourn the presenter. Salvini said "he was among the nicest and kindest people on TV". Di Maio said "Ciao Fabrizio, you were unforgettable for your smile and elegance". Italian Jews 'shocked' by Mireille Knoll murder 85-year-old escaped Nazi round up (ANSAmed) - Rome, March 27 - Noemi Di Segni, the president of the Italian union of Jewish communities, on Tuesday expressed shock at the murder of Mireille Knoll in her home in Paris. Knoll was an 85-year-old Jewish woman who in 1942 escaped the Vel d'Hiv round up of some 13,000 Jews in Paris, who were then deported to Nazi death camps. "Profoundly shocked and worried about this episode, only the latest in a dramatic series, the Italian Jews are close to the pain of the family of Mireille, to the representative council of Jewish institutions in France, and to all the Shoah survivors," said Di Segni. Two men, aged 22 and 29, have been arrested in relation to the murder. The crime is being treated as a suspected anti-Semitic attack. (ANSAmed). Italy trains Lebanese military in leadership skills Projects for 180 NCO students at Baalbeck (ANSAmed) - Beirut, March 27 - The closing ceremony of the first leadership course organised by the bilateral military mission (Mibil) in Lebanon took place at the Lebanese army's NCO training college in Baalbeck on Tuesday. The two-week course saw participation from 180 third- and final-year students in view of their assignment to various army units. It was led by a mobile training team made up of officer psychologists and trainers using a methodology that alternates traditional frontal instruction with practical activities. The Italian mission is now evaluating the possibility of extending the teaching method to officer pupils. Mibil has been organising and running army training courses in Lebanon since 2015. Following the international meeting in Rome on March 15 the training activities are set to increase. (ANSAmed). BRUSSELS - Fabrice Leggeri, the Executive Director of EU border agency Frontex, said Tuesday that the state of alert about potential terrorist attacks remains high. "(The terrorism threat) remains high and we must be certain that there are no frontier crossings to the EU that are not intercepted, as this would be to the detriment of European security," Leggeri told the European Parliament as he reported on the Themis operation. He said Frontex aircraft had detected un-intercepted migrant flows from Algeria and Tunisia, adding that this raised "security concerns". BELGRADE - Calm returned Tuesday in the northern Serb majority sector of Kosovska Mitrovica after clashes the previous day. Kosovan police arrested Marko Djuric, head of the Serb government office for Kosovo, Monday on charges of illegally entering Kosovo, leading to clashes in which 32 people were injured, five of whom seriously. Meanwhile, the Serb minority party Srpska Lista has as a result of the incident decided to leave the Pristina government. The official announcement came at the end of a meeting that Srpska Lista representatives had in Belgrade with Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic, who had strongly condemned Djuric's arrest by what he called "a gang of terrorists in uniform" backed by the West. Instead, Kosovan Serbs will be forming their own Community of Serb Municipalities on April 20 in Kosovo, as announced on Tuesday by Goran Rakic, mayor of the northern Serb sector of Kosovska Mitrovica and leader of Srpska Lista. The Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led international peacekeeping force, on Tuesday called for the removal of a roadblock set up by the Serbs along a road connecting Kosovska Mitrovica to Zvecan in the northern part of the country. Heavily armed police in anti-riot gear had interrupted a meeting of Serbs called as part of internal dialogue in Serbia about the Kosovo issue. After being brought before a judge in Pristina, Djuric was expelled and handed over to Serbian officials at the Merdare checkpoint. The political representative, who sustained minors bruises and scrapes during his arrest, was treated and he is in good condition. Daily life and activities in Mitrovica did not seem to have been affected by the incident, but there is still tension among the Serbs, some of whom spent the night watching over barricades set up in the city. UN registers Puigdemont complaint on rights violation Commission to rule on case (ANSAmed) - MADRID, MARCH 27 - The United Nations Human Rights Commission has registered a complaint by Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, who alleges that Spain violated his political rights. The Commission, which Catalan media said will now have to rule on the matter, had in recent days also registered a complaint by another Catalan leader in detention, Jordi Sanchez, and called on Spanish authorities to protect his political rights on a precautionary basis. Protests in Catalonia continue after Puigdemont's arrest in Germany. Groups of demonstrators blocked traffic on the AP7 highway in the morning in Figueres, near the French border. The protestors are calling for the release of the former regional president and other Catalan leaders in preventative detention in Madrid. (ANSAmed). Air Algerie has now migrated its reservation, inventory, ticketing, revenue management, loyalty, payment, departure control and digital capabilities to the Amadeus Passenger Service System. This change is part of a landmark 10-year transformation program, initiated by Air Algerie in 2017, to upgrade most of its operational and travel management systems in partnership with Amadeus. Now serving nearly six and a half million passengers annually, the move to the Amadeus Altea Suite will provide Air Algerie with a unique, integrated solution for managing its mission-critical platforms while protecting the airlines key business functions as it continues to expand. This will also support Air Algerie in getting access to new markets and travel partners, delivering integrated, yet flexible solutions, ensuring choice, simplicity and better travel experience for passengers throughout their journey. The use of the Amadeus platform will also enable the airline and travel agencies to reach more customers and take control of their payment processes. Zohir Houaoui, Head of Commercial Division at Air Algerie, said: The migration to the Amadeus Altea Suite is a great achievement and a very good example of synergy between Air Algerie and Amadeus teams. As a result of using this new generation platform, we expect to provide our customers the best travel experience on the one hand, and to optimize our costs, simplify our internal procedures, automate our processes, and develop new partnerships on the other hand. Although a migration of an operational and travel management system is a complex process, the challenge was met thanks to the efforts of all Air Algeries employees who embraced this great change. Our next step with Amadeus is to complete the program in its entirety and an important part of it would be the implementation of digital payment in Algeria. Maher Koubaa, Vice President, Airlines Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Amadeus IT Group, added: Airline passenger service systems are mission-critical for any carrier, enabling airlines to grow and optimize their revenues with speed and efficiency. They are also highly-complex systems that require a great deal of technical expertise in todays digital world. Over 200 airlines around the globe are already using the Amadeus Passenger Service Systems and we look forward to cooperating with Air Algerie to develop its competitive edge and achieve its expansion plans. Etihad Airways launched its flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Abu Dhabi Geneva route on Sunday, 25 March, beginning with the summer schedule. Geneva is the second Swiss destination after Zurich served by Etihad Airways next generation aircraft which is fast becoming the backbone of the Abu Dhabi-based carriers long-haul fleet. The three-class aircraft, featuring eight First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats, replaces the Airbus A330s previously operating daily on the route, and offers additional cargo capacity. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive officer, said: We are delighted that Switzerland, one of our most attractive markets for both business and leisure travellers, will now be exclusively served by our flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In addition to maintaining attractive timings for guests travelling between Abu Dhabi and Geneva, we will create further suitable connections in many markets that will benefit more travellers to conveniently connect to Geneva via our Abu Dhabi hub. Through our optimized schedule, more business and leisure guests from an increasing number of destinations will now have the opportunity to experience our next generation aircraft throughout their journey with us. Oman Air France has been awarded for its continued contribution to the development of tourism in the Sultanate. The award was presented to Rocio Jolivet, Country Manager France by the Oman Minister of Tourism H.E. Ahmad Al Mahrizi at the prestigious Oman Workshop in Paris on 14 March. The Oman Workshop in Paris was created to help promote Oman in France. The event was attended by a number of VIPs, including the former French President Francois Hollande, and more than 160 travel agencies. The Omani delegation was headed up by DG Salim Al Maamari and comprised of 26 partners including hotels and DMCs. Five awards were presented at the event two for the best-selling resorts, two for the media and one in recognition of Oman Air France for its efforts in promoting the Sultanate in France. Oman Air takes its role to promote Oman to overseas markets very seriously and the airlines team in France were proud to be recognised for their efforts in advancing tourism to their home country. The airline operates daily flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and is the only carrier to offer nonstop flights between Atlanta and Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: We are exceptionally proud to deploy the state-of-the-art A350 aircraft on our popular Atlanta-Doha route. Since our arrival in Atlanta in 2016, weve been honoured to provide the utmost travel experience to the local community, as Atlanta has been and continues to be a key route for business and leisure traffic. With our extensive network and Doha-based hub, we offer geographic advantages other airlines cannot; conveniently connecting passengers to the Far East, Africa and the Middle East. With our A350 arrival, Atlantans will continue to enjoy unprecedented levels of comfort and innovation that will meet their long-haul demands. SITA has been named Service Provider of the Year in the prestigious annual Air Transport Awards held in Dubai. The winners are voted for by the readers of Air Transport News and a jury of international aviation experts, chaired by Henrik Hololei, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission. The Service Provider of the Year award was given to SITA in recognition of its role in providing IT and communication solutions globally to the air transport industry. SITAs unique role as the community provider being owned by the industry means it has an unprecedented understanding of the industrys requirements, combined with dedicated teams around the world which deliver services needed to keep people flying. Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SITA said: Being named as Service Provider of the Year at the 2018 Air Transport Awards is a significant achievement and a strong validation of our unwavering collaboration and contribution to the air transport community. To be selected by our industry peers for this award is testament that our continued focus on delivering real value to the community is both justified and valued by the industry. Nearly every passenger flight in the world relies on SITA technology. SITA works with the industry to provide technology solutions that make a difference. It innovates collaboratively, while developing and managing solutions over the world's most extensive network, one that forms the communication backbone of the global air transport industry. The United Arab Emirates, represented by the UAE Space Agency, has signed a Letter of Intent with both Russia and Kazakhstan to cooperate in various fields of space exploration and to collaborate on future space projects. The signing took place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where the leader of the UAE Space Agencys official delegation, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency signed the agreement with Beibot Atamkulov, Kazakhstans Minister of Defense and Aerospace Industry, and Igor Komarov, Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). The agreement proposes that all involved parties set up joint working groups to explore and implement a number of future space related initiatives and projects. A meeting is to be held next month at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to discuss the initiatives, the procedures and mechanisms for their implementation, as well as the roles and obligations assumed by each party. Dr. Ahmad Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi said: This agreement is the cornerstone of future cooperation between the rapidly-growing Emirati space sector and two of the most prominent players in the global space arena, and we look forward to expanding and enhancing such a mutually beneficial collaboration. The UAE recognises the importance of developing national capabilities in the space sector through international cooperation and collaboration. The transfer of knowledge and expertise in science, research and space technology is vital for the continued development of national industries for both parties and subsequently, for their national human capital. These values form a key part of the UAE Space Agencys vision and mission, and since its founding, the Agency has worked to foster international cooperation and collaboration to both advance UAEs space agenda as well as build on our local talents, added H.E. Dr. Al Falasi. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, said: This agreement supports our mission at the UAE Space Agency to foster cooperation in the fields of space science, research, technology, and services. It also enhances our relationship and partnership with Russia and Kazakhstan, which strengthens international cooperation and ensures we collectively continue to advance our knowledge of space and the universe in which we live. This agreement ensures our national cadres will have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the worlds leading space experts, added H.E. Dr. Al Ahbabi. During the visit, the UAE Space Agency delegation held a series of meetings with representatives from both the Russian and Kazakhstani space sectors to explore means of cooperation and the development of partnerships in the field of space scienceall prior to witnessing the successful launch of the Soyuz MS-08, a manned spacecraft carrying crew and equipment to the International Space Station. According to the Ukrainian state-owned defense holding Ukroboronprom, the contract for the supply of Oplot-T Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) to Thailand ended successfully. A new batch of Oplot MBT was tested under the presence of Thai Defense Ministry officers and will soon be sent to Thailand. Ukrainian-made Opolot main battle tank for Thailand during field tests in Ukraine (Picture source Ukroboronprom) The contract was completed despite the announce by Thailand to purchase Chinese VT-4 main battle tank instead of the Ukrainian tank, due to the long-term delivery schedule. in November 2017, Thailand had received 31 of the T-84 Oplot-T tanks, with an additional five tanks heading to Thailand by ship and the final batch of the remaining 13 tanks already manufactured. In March 2011, the Royal Thai Army had placed an order for 49 T-84/Oplot-T MBTs from Ukroboronprom. State Administration of Industrial Security Ukraine. The tanks were to be manufactured at the Malyshev plant based in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to replace its fleet of aging American M41A3 Walker Bulldog light tanks, dating from the Vietnam war era. The Oplot-T is an Oplot-M (export version) with some minor modifications to meet local requirements, such as different radio, air conditioner and so on As a reminder, the T-84 is a development of the Soviet T-80UD. It was first built in 1994 and entered service in the Ukrainian army in 1999. Its high-performance opposed-piston engine makes it one of the fastest MBTs in the world, with a power-to-ratio of about 26 HP/ton (19 Kw/t). Ten of them entered Ukrainian service in 2001. Main armament of the T-84 Oplot consists of one 125 mm KBA-3 (this is the local built version of the Russian 125 mm 2A46M-1) smoothbore gun fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. This is fed by an automatic loader which is similar to that installed in the T-64 in that the separate loading ammunition is stowed vertically whereas that of the T-72 and T-80 is stowed horizontally. Looks like 2018 has been very fruitful for lost actor Prateik Babbar, both personally and professionally. Mumbai: Looks like 2018 has been very fruitful for lost actor Prateik Babbar, both personally and professionally. Earlier this year, he got engaged with his writer-director Sanya Sagar in Lucknow and now he is gearing up for his next big release Baaghi 2. The actor will be playing an anti hero in the film opposite Tiger Shroff but twist to the tale is that Prateik was never the first choice for the role. In fact Upen Patel, last seen in 'Ek Haseena Thi Ekk Deewana Tha', was initially approached for the movie, which he refused. A close source informs, Ahmed Khan narrated the story to Upen Patel but the actor refused the film since he didnt like his role as a villain. Later, the role went to Prateik. Interestingly, Upen had also rejected Jas Aroras role in Sohail Khan directorial Freaky Ali citing the same issues, our source concludes. Well, apart from Baaghi 2, Prateik will also be seen in Anubhav Sinha's social thriller 'Mulk' with Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu. Gully Boy is a musical drama based on the lives of rappers Divine and Naezy from the streets of Mumbai. Mumbai: Ranveer Singh who is currently busy shooting for his forthcoming movie Gully Boy, recently shot an important scene at Mumbais Churchgate railway station. According to a report in a leading daily, Ranveer was shooting for a crucial scene and his character will be seen boarding a train. The shoot was done on Sunday as the team didn't want to disturb the daily hustle-bustle at the railway station. The team also had 50-60 junior artistes who were in the scene as his co-passengers in the train. The shoot went on for a couple of hours in the afternoon and wrapped up around 5.45 pm. The train was heavily guarded with security personnel. In Gully Boy, Ranveer will team up with none other than Alia Bhatt. 'Gully Boy' is being directed by Zoya Akhtar. This is Ranveer's second collaboration with Zoya after 2015 'Dil Dhadakne Do'. The film is a musical drama based on the lives of rappers Divine and Naezy from the streets of Mumbai and is slated to release next year on Valentines Day. Though, BJP chief quickly realised his gaffe and corrected himself, the video clip soon went viral on social media. While rattling allegations against Siddaramaiahs government at a meeting in Karnataka's Davanagere, BJP chief Amit Shah said, 'Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition of the most corrupt government then the Yeddyurappa government is number one...' (Photo: File) Bengaluru: BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday embarrassed BS Yeddyurappa, partys chief ministerial candidate in Karnataka, with a slip of tongue by calling his government the 'most corrupt' ever. Though, Shah quickly realised his gaffe and corrected himself, the video clip soon went viral on social media, mostly by the supporters of Congress. While rattling allegations against Siddaramaiahs government at a meeting in Karnataka's Davanagere, Amit Shah said, "Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition of the most corrupt government then the Yeddyurappa government is number one..." The Truth can never be Suppressed. Even Amit Shah agrees that Yeddyurappa led the Most Corrupt Government ever. #BJP420 pic.twitter.com/KJdSGVIuO5 Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 27, 2018 Yeddyurappa who was sitting next to him looked redfaced. Immediately, another leader sitting next to Shah whispered correction into his ear. Following this, Shah corrected himself and repeated, Siddaramaiah is the most corrupt. Within minutes, Congress reacted, tweeting and retweeting the video. "The Truth can never be Suppressed. Even Amit Shah agrees that Yeddyurappa led the Most Corrupt Government ever," tweeted the handle of the Karnataka Congress. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shared the clip and tweeted The #ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Divya Spandana Ramya, social media head of Congress, also took a jibe a Amit Shah and posted, Who knew @AmitShah could also speak the truth- we all concur with you Amit ji @BSYBJP is the most corrupt! Who knew @AmitShah could also speak the truth- we all concur with you Amit ji @BSYBJP is the most corrupt! pic.twitter.com/GFbTF3Mg7H Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 She also posted another video, without a date or location, saying: "This isnt the first time btw (by the way)- what exactly are Amit Shahs feelings towards Yedyurappa? Alls not good in the hood." Yeddyurappa, who had led BJP to its first ever government in the state in the 2008 assembly polls, was forced to step down in August 2011 amid corruption allegations by Karnataka's Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in the Rs 40 crore bribe in Bellary illegal mining case. This isnt the first time btw- what exactly are Amit Shahs feelings towards yedyurappa? Alls not good in the hood- pic.twitter.com/cVzGtsOIz3 Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 In 2016, a special CBI Court acquitted Yeddyurappa, his two sons, son-in-law and nine others in the graft case. The BJP has named the 75-year-old leader, who enjoys a strong support among the Lingayat community, as its chief ministerial candidate ahead of the elections scheduled for May 12. With election dates being declared now, the campaign is all set to intensify in the southern state and the Congress campaign machinery may not leave any opportunity to throw this back whenever BJP leaders raise the issue of corruption. Christopher Wylie, whistleblower behind the Facebook data breach, also said that his company worked extensively in India. 'I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of project. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally,' Christopher Wylie said while testifying in London before UK lawmakers. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Christopher Wylie, former Cambridge Analytica employee and the whistleblower behind the Facebook privacy scandal, told British that his company worked extensively in India and he believed the Congress was the companys client at the regional level. "I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of project. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain," Wylie was seen saying while testifying in London before UK lawmakers. He also said that Cambridge Analytica has offices in India and employed staff. Soon after the testimony details came out, the ruling BJP sought apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Today the whistleblower Christopher Wylie has confirmed that Cambridge Analytica worked with Congress. This has exposed Rahul Gandhi who was denying all along. Congress and Rahul Gandhi must now apologize, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Christopher Wylie came into the limelight last week after he alleged that information from more than 50 million Facebook users improperly ended up in the hands of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica. He further alleged that the data was used to help politicians, including US President Donald Trump during 2016 presidential polls and the Brexit campaign. Last week, BJP questioned links between the Congress and the data analysis firm. The Congress denied any links with the disgraced firm and said that BJP and JD(U) used its services in 2010. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, who deleted his tweet on Karnataka poll dates, gave credit to TV channel for information. The tweet by BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, which had the date of counting wrong, was deleted quickly. (Photo: Facebook) Mumbai: Moments before the Election Commission announced the date for the Karnataka Assembly election on Tuesday, the date of voting - May 12 poll - was revealed in a tweet by the BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya, which has set off a huge controversy. It soon emerged that the Congress's social media in-charge in Karnataka put out a tweet at the same time - 11.08 am - a good 15 minutes before the announcement. The tweet by Amit Malviya, which had the date of counting wrong, was deleted quickly. Called out by a journalist on his "scoop", Amit Malviya gave credit to a television channel for the information. The counting and results of Karnataka polls will be held on May 15. The deleted tweet had it as May 18. BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018 On spotting Amit Malviya's tweet in the middle of Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat's press conference to announce the Karnataka poll schedule, reporters questioned the apparent "leak". "Strict legal and administrative action will be taken on the leak of information," Rawat said. He had earlier seemed to imply to reporters that since the date of the results was wrong, it didn't count as a leak. "We won't comment on changing date because of a leak. The decision was just taken. They were wrong about counting date so it's wrong to say they were prepared beforehand," said the top election officer. The tweet was seized by the Congress to reinforce its allegation that the Election Commission is "biased". But soon the party was having to explain screenshots of a tweet by its own member. The ruling Congress in Karnataka faces a massive challenge with BJP gearing up to campaign in full swing to snatch one of the only three states ruled by the party. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Malviya tweeting the date of Karnataka polls before the Election Commission (EC) shows that BJP is dictating voting dates to the EC. Kharge said, "Amit Malviya tweeted Karnataka elections dates at 11 am. It means BJP is dictating polling dates to Election Commission. I expect EC to work according to the Constitution and law, and not let information leak. Such a thing has never happened before." Read: Karnataka Assembly elections to be held on May 12, counting on May 15 A "BJP tsunami" is coming to Karnataka, said party president Amit Shah. Amit Shah has pitted BS Yeddyurappa - the chief minister of Karnataka's first BJP government - against the Congress's chief minister Siddaramaiah. Banerjee is also scheduled to meet Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, a potential leader of a united Opposition. New Delhi: Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who has been positioning herself as the leader of an anti-BJP national alliance, arrived in Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit during which she will meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other Opposition parties. Congress president Rahul Gandhi might walk in during her meeting with Mrs Gandhi. Ms Banerjee is also scheduled to meet Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, a potential leader of a united Opposition. Ms Banerjee who has, since demonetisation, reached to leaders of various regional parties, is also likely to meet rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. She may also call on leaders of the Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena. This would be the West Bengal chief ministers first visit to the capital since she made clear her ambitions of leading an Opposition alliance of parties to take on the Modi-led BJP in the 2019 general elections. While Ms Banerjee has no issue in aligning with the Congress, or even the Left, she has indicated that it would be difficult for her to work under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as she is politically more experienced. On the other hand, Ms Banerjee shares a very good rapport with former Congress chief Mrs Gandhi. Trinamul Congress sources maintained that discussions have already taken place for a possible meeting between Mrs Gandhi and Ms Banerjee, and that she is unlikely to meet the Congress president. Congress sources, however, said that Mr Gandhi might just walk in and join the discussions. The Trinamul Congress chief has floated the idea of a Third Front and has spoken to numerous leaders like Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao. Recently she has also come out in support of BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav for coming together to defeat the BJP in two crucial by-polls in Uttar Pradesh. She also appreciated Ms Mayawatis call for a united Opposition before the 2019 elections to take on the BJP. However, what is interesting is that while many regional parties like TMC, TRS and TDP are seeking a Federal or a Third Front, the Congress wants the non-BJP Opposition to unite under its umbrella with Mr Gandhi as the leader. Incidentally, Mr Pawar, whom the TMC chief is scheduled to meet on March 28, had also called meetings of Opposition parties one in Mumbai in January and one in Delhi in February. Prime Minister Modi, meanwhile, asked party leaders to increase their visibility on the ground. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his interaction with the partys parliamentarian on Friday, gave clear indications that the 2019 general elections would not be advanced, not atleast till January. Addressing the parliamentary party meeting of the BJP on March 23, the Prime Minister told the party leaders not to talk about elections before January next year. There had been speculations among the BJP that the government could advance the general elections and hold them by the end of the year. A senior BJP leader, present in the Parliamentary Party meeting held for the first time at the newly-built headquarters in New Delhi, told this newspaper that the Prime Minister told all legislators present there to not talk too much about 2019 general election before the end of this year. The next Parliamentary election is scheduled in April-May 2019. Prime Minister Mr Modi has put an end to all speculation doing rounds that general elections will be advanced. Mr Modi clearly instructed everyone present in the meeting to not talk about the Parliament polls, he added. It was learnt from sources that the Prime Minister does not wish to create any hype regarding the BJPs preparation or agenda for the general elections well in advance. It is believed that talking too much too early may over expose the partys preparation to the electorate. Over exposure is not going to do good strategically, said a party MP present in the meeting. Another party MP clarified that the campaign or talks for last general election held in 2014 kicked off in September 2013 after Mr Modi was announced as the BJPs prime ministerial candidate. Earlier, there was speculation that the government was planning to advance the general election by five to six month. Prime Minister Modi, meanwhile, asked party leaders to increase their visibility on the ground. Mr Modi urged all of us present in the meeting to create mass awareness about good works of the government and also sought feedback from the public or their expectations from the government, said a BJP parliamentarian. Islamic law says that a Muslim man can divorce and remarry the same woman twice. New Delhi: Within months of the Supreme Court striking down triple talaq as unconstitutional, a Constitution Bench of the top court will look into the legal and constitutional validity of the prevalent practices of polygamy and nikah halala among Muslims. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, while issuing a notice to the Centre on four petitions filed by Sameena Begum of Delhi, BJP leader and social activist Ashiwini Kumar Upadhyaya and two others, referred the matter for adjudication by a Constitution Bench. Polygamy allows a Muslim man to have four wives. Under Islamic jurisprudence, men are permitted, under specific circumstances, to marry up to four wives at one time. Islamic law states that a man can marry more than one woman if he has the financial resources to maintain all wives and their children and behave with complete justice and no favouritism to all. It is not mandatory, but permissible for those who can afford it. Polyandry, the practice where a woman can have more than one husband, is not permissible. Islamic law says that a Muslim man can divorce and remarry the same woman twice. However, if the marriage is dissolved for the third time, it will only be halal for both to remarry after the wife first marries another man, consummates the marriage and if the other man willingly divorces her or dies. If any step of this process is not observed, the halala is not valid. While agreeing to take up the matter, the bench, which also comprised Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, considered the submission that an earlier five-judge constitution bench, in its August 22, 2017 verdict, had kept open the issue of polygamy and nikah-halala while quashing triple talaq. The petitioners sought a declaration that Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, is unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution insofar as it seeks to recognise and validate the practice of polygamy and nikah-halala. The bench sought the response of the Centre on the petitions, which also questioned the validity of nikah-mutah and nikha-misyar (temporary marriage for a few days), and left it open to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and others to become a party in the matter. The court took note of the submissions of senior counsel appearing for petitioners that last year the Constitution Bench had left the issues of polygamy and nikah-halala to be decided later and confined its hearing only to triple talaq. It was submitted that Muslim women are being discriminated against due to the practice of polygamy and nikah-halala and the court should go into the legality these provisions of the Muslim personal law to determine whether it infringes on their fundamental right to equality. Petitioner Ms Begum and two other victims of polygamy said that they were filing the petition to highlight the plight of thousands of Muslim women across the country suffering due to the draconian practice. They submitted that the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, provides nine grounds for dissolution of marriage, including impotency, incapacity to fulfil martial obligations and cruelty. There is also no requirement for a Muslim husband to take permission from his first wife before contracting second marriage, keeping them out of the purview of offence of polygamy as defined under penal provisions, they said. Mr Upadhyaya submitted that a ban on polygamy and nikah-halala has been the need of the hour to secure the basic rights of women. This court has already expressed the view that triple talaq is not an integral part of religion and Article 25 of the Constitution merely protects religious faith, but not the practices, which may run counter to public order, morality and health and fundamental rights. He said polygamy is a practice that has been recognised as an evil similar to sati and has been banned under Section 494 of the IPC. Unfortunately, even in the 21st century, it continues to vex Muslim women notwithstanding that such practice poses extremely serious health, social, economic, moral and emotional injury. A survey carried out by the government in 1974 put the polygamy figure at 5.6 per cent among Muslims, and 5.8 per cent for upper-caste Hindus. Research by Mallika B. Mistry of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics in Pune in 1993, later recorded by John Dayal, also concluded that there is no evidence that the percentage of polygamous marriage (among Muslims) is larger than for Hindus. According to the third National Family Health Survey carried out in 2006, 2 per cent of women reported that their husbands had more than one wife. The survey indicated that more than the religion of the parties involved, the determinant reasons were not having a child or a male child from the first wife, education and the age of first wife. It found that a polygamous Hindu was likely to have 1.77 wives, a polygamous Muslim 2.55, Christian 2.35, and Buddhist 3.41. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that Malviya had no intention to undermine the stature of the EC. A delegation led by Naqvi met the EC officials in connection with the case. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday defended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya for his tweet on Karnataka assembly election dates. Naqvi said Malviya had no intention to undermine the stature of the Election Commission (EC). Talking to media, Naqvi said, "Amit Malviya's tweet was based on a TV channel's source. He had no intention to undermine the stature of the EC. A Karnataka Congress leader had also tweeted the same thing. We agree that he (Malviya) should not have tweeted it." A delegation led by Naqvi met the EC officials in connection with the case. Also Read: BJP IT cell head announces K'taka poll date moments before EC Ahead of the announcement of polling and counting dates for Karnataka, Malviya took to Twitter to announce that the polling date would be May 12 and counting would be on May 18. However, following social media uproar on his knowledge of the dates prior to the official announcement, Malviya deleted the tweet. On a related note, a delegation led by Naqvi is slated to meet EC officials in connection with Malviya's tweet on the election dates. The 224-member Karnataka Assembly will go to polls on May 12, and counting of votes will be held on May 15, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat in a press conference held earlier on Tuesday. A pseudonymous researcher alleged that Modi's app was pumping personal data to servers controlled by the firm without the users' consent. The BJP, however, said the permissions required are all contextual and cause-specific and that the data is being used for only analytics using third party service. (Photo: AP) New Delhi/Washington: A US-based analytics company facing allegations that it received personal data from the official mobile app of Prime Minister Narendra Modi without the consent of app users, has said that it does not sell, rent or re-market data. "CleverTap employees don't have access to any of the data stored with it by a publisher," said Anand Jain, co-founder of California-based firm, in a short e-mail statement when asked if his company has access to users' personal information from the NaMo App. The five-year-old US-based start-up founded by three Indians is facing the heat after a pseudonymous researcher alleged that Modi's app was pumping private information like name, e-mail, mobile number, device information and location, to servers controlled by the firm without the users' consent. The researcher, who goes by the pseudonym Elliot Alderson, in a series of tweets, pointed the privacy lapses in the NaMO App and alleged that mobile marketing platform CleverTap was the beneficiary of the data transfer. In a blog post on Monday, Jain without making any reference of the NaMo App, said, "Given the recent discussion over privacy, security, and the role of service providers such as CleverTap, we'd like to clarify our stand on security, user consent, and data privacy......CleverTap doesn't sell, share, rent, re-market, or do anything funny with publisher data." He said the company works with first-party data provided by the app publisher. "The data collected by the publisher and shared with a service provider is governed by the publisher's privacy policy. We neither control how publishers frame their privacy policies nor review them." "We don't enhance or combine data from other sources at our end," said Jain, adding that CleverTap is the brand name, while WizRocket is the name of the parent company. "CleverTap offers a variety of hosting locations globally, including Indian data-centers for those businesses that might have a legal or governance requirement. CleverTap hosts its servers within AWS, wrote Jain. AWS stands for Amazon Web Services. CleverTap said that Amazon Web Services is its hosting provider. They maintain datacenters that are fully compliant with a range of certifications which allow finance, healthcare and government data to be stored in their datacenters. Describing his company as an app/web analytics and user marketing platform, Jain said it also provide a dashboard to its customers to view business metrics related to the use of their app/website, and communicate with their users using e-mails, SMS, push notifications, etc. Founded in May 2013 by three Indians, Jain, Sunil Thomas, and Suresh Kondamudi, CleverTap is a behavioral analytics company and a mobile marketing platform that provides real-time insights to marketers. "At CleverTap, we believe in making our customers successful. Earning their trust is what we strive for and we realize that consent, privacy, and data security are critical milestones in this journey, Jain said. The company argued that the customer data is stored in an encoded format optimised for performance, rather than stored in a traditional file system or a database. Data is dispersed across a number of physical and logical volumes for redundancy and expedient access, thereby obfuscating it from tampering, the company said. "When you create a profile in the official @narendramodi #Android app, all your device info (OS, network type, Carrier ) and personal data (email, photo, gender, name, ) are send without your consent to a third-party domain called http://in.wzrkt.com," the researcher tweeted. The BJP, however, said the permissions required are all contextual and cause-specific and that the data is being used for only analytics using third party service. He pleaded with the police that he had tried to steal the nightshade because he was unemployed and desperate to feed his child. He pleaded with the police that he had tried to steal the nightshade because he was unemployed and desperate to feed his child. (Photo: Pixabay) An Italian man has finally been acquitted of stealing an aubergine nine years after first being charged, ending a legal wrangle over a piece of fruit worth pennies that cost taxpayers thousands. The man, then aged 49, had the incriminating aubergine in his bucket when police caught him trying to escape through a privately owned field near Lecce, in the southern region of Puglia, in 2009. While being taken away, he pleaded with the police that he had tried to steal the nightshade because he was unemployed and desperate to feed his child. However the courts initially showed no mercy, sentencing him to five months in prison and ordering him to pay a 500-euro ($620) fine. That punishment was reduced on appeal to two months' jail and 120 euros. The man's legal counsel was still not satifised and took the case to the Court of Cassation in Rome, Italy's highest appeals court, where the defendant was acquitted nearly a decade after he was first arrested. The Court of Cassation criticised the lower courts in Lecce for not taking into account the extreme weakness of the prosecution's case given the man's financial situation. The La Repubblica newspaper quoted the ruling as saying that the man "was definitely acting to satisfy the hunger of his family... there are grounds for justification (of the theft)." The court also lamented the amount of public money spent on the case, with 7,000-8,000 euros going towards legal fees as the man was too poor to pay for his own defence, La Repubblica reported. The family members of the deceased stated that the couple and their daughter had consumed poison on their own. His father stated that Vicky had threatened him of committing suicide and giving poison to his family as well a year ago. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Dejected over a property row with his father, a 35-year-old man killed his wife and their six-year-old daughter by giving them poison. He later ended his life by consuming the same. According to police, the incident took place in South Delhis Govindpuri area on Saturday. The deceased man, identified as Vicky, was living with his wife Lalita (30) and two children including a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. The later survived the homicide as he was at a neighbours house. Deputy commissioner of police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said that a PCR call regarding a quarrel was received at the Govindpuri police station at about 10.12 am on Saturday. On reaching the spot it was found that Vicky and his wife had already been taken to ESI hospital by the PCR staff, where they were declared brought dead. Ranchi (6), the daughter of the deceased couple, was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre by another family member. She died during treatment. An investigation was taken up by the police in the matter. The family members of the deceased stated that the couple and their daughter had consumed poison on their own. Upon inquiry, it was found that deceased Vicky lived on the first floor of the house, which was owned by his father. Vicky wanted his father to give the first and second floor of the house to him. His father refused to give him the same. Being unhappy with this decision, and owing to the constant quarrels and bickering, Vicky committed suicide by consuming poison and administering the same to his wife and daughter. His father stated that Vicky had threatened him of committing suicide and giving poison to his family as well a year ago. At this, the deceaseds father had registered a written complaint with the senior citizen cell at PHQ in January last year. The matter had been sorted out then through counselling. The post mortem examination of the dead bodies was conducted on Sunday and viscera preserved. A crime team examined the spot and samples of food, suspected to contain poison, were collected from the scene. The same was sent to the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) for further examination. First Ashish, Solankis employee was arrested and during interrogation, he accepted the theft of the cheque. During probe, it was found that a cheque was stolen from Solankis office and same was presented in Kolkata. (Representational Image) New Delhi: The Delhi police busted a nationwide cheating and forgery racket and arrested seven persons in this regard. The police also seized images of cheques worth approximately Rs 2.6 crore. The police said that complainant Vikas Solanki reported that an amount of Rs 10.5 lakhs was debited from his account and transferred to the account of Landmark Construction company, Kolkata without his knowledge and a case was registered on December 30 last. During probe, it was found that a cheque was stolen from Solankis office and same was presented in Kolkata. First Ashish, Solankis employee was arrested and during interrogation, he accepted the theft of the cheque. Ashish added said he passed the cheque to his friend Deepak, who said that he had sent the cheque his friend Rishikesh in Jharkhand. The team reached Bihar, Jharkhand including Hazaribagh and arrested Rishikesh from Bihar. His arrest led to the arrest of Probal Sen Gupta, Satinder Sharma, and Biplob Das. Also, some bank and telecom employees were also party to this crime syndicate. The opposition pointed out alleged lapses in maintaining law and order issues. Mumbai: NCP MLA Jayant Patil attacked chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over the violence at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1, holding him responsible for it. Mr Patil questioned whether the government was interested in it? Leaders from the Congress, NCP and other opposition parties, too, slammed the government for protecting right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide, who allegedly incited the violence; and demanded his immediate arrest. The opposition pointed out alleged lapses in maintaining law and order issues and controlling the crime rate across the state when the violence occurred. Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde and others in the Council slammed the government. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and other opposition leaders attacked the government. Mr Patil claimed, Not a single minister visited Bhima-Koregaon after the violence. Did they know about the incident or was it simply ignored? Or was the government interested in inciting violence? Interestingly, Mr Patil who is also from Mr Bhides hometown, Sangli, did not demand the latters arrest. Commuters complained that auto drivers deliberately create a jam. Despite there being a dedicated auto lane, the autos were parked in front of the bus stop to offer rides to those waiting at the stop. (Photo: Asian Age) Mumbai: Mumbaikars are enjoying the cool rides offered by Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC)-bound air-conditioned (AC) hybrid buses however, the wait for them stretches owing to the ruckus created by auto-rickshaws outside the Bandra east suburban railway station. Commuters have alleged that the autos create a traffic jam on purpose, making it difficult for these buses to move, thereby forcing commuters to hail autos instead of the hybrid buses. When The Asian Age visited the spot, auto drivers were found to have clogged the station road which leads towards the BKC. Despite there being a dedicated auto lane, it was seen that these vehicles were parked in front of the bus stop to offer rides to those waiting at the stop. Pratik Vyas, a regular commuter waiting for a hybrid bus on Monday, said, The police is not there which is why the autos are creating a mess here. They just want to force commuters to take an auto instead of a bus. Among other buses, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)-introduced hybrid buses, too, have to wait for a long time due to the traffic. Another commuter waiting at the stop said, Even if I want to take a hybrid bus, due to the chaos and delay, I have to forcibly change the mode of transport as nobody wants to get delayed at work. This reporter had tweeted to the Mumbai police handle about the problem, in response to which, police personnel were seen regulating the traffic at the spot during the evening hours. The tweet also elicited responses from aggrieved commuters. Asif Hameed, a commuter, said, Its a common thing out there and till now, no one has decided to resolve the issue. It looks like no one wants to find a solution to it. Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil questioned the government as to why permission was denied for the protest. MUMBAI: The January 1 violence in Punes Bhima-Koregaon region was raised in the Assembly on Monday when Opposition members demanded the arrest of right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide over his alleged involvement in the case. Without encouraging any discussion on the issue, the government only said that it had taken note of the protest initiated by Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar at Azad Maidan on Monday, which sought Bhides arrest. Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil questioned the government as to why permission was denied for the protest. The government has denied permission to the protest. Bhide is absconding. The government is protecting the accused. The government is very insensitive towards the issue, Mr Vikhe-Patil alleged. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad said that he would carry out a protest to ensure the arrest of Bhide. On the one hand Bhide is absconding and on the other he is holding press conferences outside. Why is the police not arresting him? I will protest against this, Mr Awhad said. In his reply, minister of state for home Ranjit Patil said that the government had taken note of the protest by Mr Ambedkar and that security has been beefed up. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Kadam from Dapoli then said that a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Konkans Khed region was desecrated. To this, Mr Patil said that appropriate measures would be taken. Prakash Ambedkar seeks immediate action against accused in the Bhima-Koregaon clashes. Mumbai: After addressing the mammoth Elgar morcha at Azad maidan on Monday, Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) president Dr Prakash Ambedkar gave an eight-day ultimatum to the state government to take action against Sambhaji Bhide, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence of January 1. The caste clashes occurred during an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle between British- Maratha forces. Mr Ambedkar led a delegation and met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The CM assured him that he would look into the matter. The delegations sole demand was Bhides arrest. Mr Ambedkar said that if government does not act against Bhide within eight days, then the leaders of 'Elgar Parishad' would meet and decide the next course of action. The dalit leader also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was protecting Bhide from arrest. We do not want to make this battle between us and the PM. But if he wants we will also not step back, warned Mr Ambedkar. Meanwhile, the Congress criticised the Maharashtra government for not granting them permission for the protest march. Elgar Parishad, a conglomeration of 200 organisations held a massive rally at Azad Maidan on Monday. We have given an ultimatum to the state government. We showed Facebook status of Bhide's supporter Raosaheb Patil who appealed to kill even CM Fadnavis. We have requested the state government to arrest Bhide, said Mr Ambedkar after meeting Mr Fadnavis in Vidhan Bhavan. Mr Ambedkar along with communist leader Prakash Reddy, and community leaders from Maratha, Dhangar met the CM. He sarcastically demanded the closure of the police department. Bhides supporters are threatening to kill the CM but the police is still not taking any action. Then what is their use? he asked. The delegation raised the issue of FIR against Mr Bhide and Milind Ekbote, another accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence. Mr Ekbote is the accused number two, while Bhide is accused number one in the FIR. Why is the state government protecting him? the delegation said. Fadnavis also denied charges that Ekbote was arrested after the Supreme Courts order. MUMBAI: A day after Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh led a protest to arrest Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide in connection with his alleged role in the January 1 violence at Punes Bhima-Koregaon, Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday gave a clean chit to the accused. The CM said that Bhide and his close aides neither went to the area where violence took place in the last six months nor were in conversation with anyone from there over the phone. Also, in controversial death of Judge Loya case, the CM ruled out any foul play and said that the Supreme Court would give its order soon. In the reply in the Assembly over the law and order situation in the state, the CM said that the police took all the measures to curb the violence during Bhima-Koregaon commemoration programme on Janaury 1. A woman lodged a complain saying that she saw Bhide and Milind Ekbote instigating riots at Bhima- Koregaon. However, the evidence did not show anything against Bhide. In a statement later, the woman said that she had never seen Bhide and Ekbote but the people mentioned the two names. But in last six months, neither Bhide and his close aides went to that area nor talked to any one in the area. But the inquiry is still on, the chief minister informed the House. Mr Fadnavis also denied charges that Ekbote was arrested after the Supreme Courts order. It was not true that Ekbote was arrested after the Supreme Courtss order. He was absconding. But we ensured that he did not get bail in the lower courts. The government took stand of custodial interrogation in the Supreme Court. We appointed the attorney general for this case, the chief minister added. On evidence given by BBM leader Prakash Ambedkar on Monday in connection with the violence, the CM said that the government would check it within eight days. No foul play in loya case Speaking on the death of Judge Loya, the CM termed the media report as completely false. He narrated the entire incident and said that even the family members did not have any doubt over the death. The story was politically motivated and the SC order will soon come, he said. He added, Loyas name was not mentioned in the register of Ravi Bhavan because it was booked by the court retainer whose sign is there. Loya was accompanied by Justice Modak and Justice Kulkarni when he was taken to Dande Hospital. The hospital told them that he needed treatment in multi-specialty hospital. He was declared dead with proper evidence. Mr Modak and Mr Rathi told the family about his passing. Two judges along with a traffic constable took the body to his village, he added. The present laws against corruption do not give permission to confiscate the assets. MUMBAI: Public servants with unaccountable property better be aware. In a major move to restrict public servants from accumulating unaccountable property and income, the Maharashtra government has introduced a bill to confiscate the property if it is more than 50 per cent than the declared assets or more than Rs 10 lakh. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the bill in the Assembly for discussion on Tuesday. The present laws against corruption do not give permission to confiscate the assets. As per the provisions of the said Criminal Law Ordinance, the assets are only attached and cannot be confiscated. The attached assets are in the custody of the public servant, he can enjoy the property and its relevant benefits up to the end of all court proceedings, the bill said. The proposed bill states: Any public servant, committed the offence, and has assets in excess of 50 per cent of his known sources of income or Rs 10 lakh which is more, the state government may authorise an officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police for making an application to court for confiscation of the money and property. It is also proposed to constitute designated court to initiate the proceeding of confiscation, which will be separate from the trial for the offence. The government considers it expedient to enact a special law for confiscation of the money and property of public servants. The features of the bill include, appointment of designated court, confiscation of disproportionate property of public servant, transfer of such property pending the proceeding to be null and void, time limit for speedy disposal of cases and refund of confiscated money or property if person is acquitted, the bill said. Currently, the Prevention of Corruption Act provides for appointment of special judges to try the offences punishable under the said Act. The Criminal Law Ordinance 1944, provides for attachment of property of the scheduled offences,it includes certain offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, the bill added. The maximum temperature recorded for Tuesday was 32.8 degrees, at par with the normal. Children dive into the Arabian Sea on a hot day in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI) Mumbai: After the city experienced high temperatures, with the mercury rising to 41 degrees on Sunday, Mumbaikars can look forward to getting a respite from the sweltering heat. The maximum temperature recorded for Tuesday was 32.8 degrees, at par with the normal. The Indian Meteorological Departments officials claimed that the higher temperatures are expected to decline by up to five degrees this week. Although the IMD has withdrawn the heat wave warning for Mumbai, officials said that citizens should take precautions and keep themselves hydrated. The heatwave like conditions in the city prevailed due to the setting in of warmer easterly winds, followed by delay in the surfacing of cooler sea winds. Now with the arrival of northerly winds, the soaring temperatures are expected to drop, said a senior IMD official. The minimum temperature recorded for Tuesday remained 24.4 degrees. As per the weathermen in Skymet Weather, the anti-cyclone is being pushed away since Monday and northerly winds have begun to blow over the region. Additionally, sea breeze also played its role and began to set in over Mumbai earlier than it usually does. However the humidity levels still remained on the higher side, as the Colaba observatory recorded the relative humidity at 78% in the morning, 9% higher than normal. Officials stated that the humidity levels may play a role in creating discomfort for Mumbaikars during afternoon. As the cooler sea winds set in during evening, it will be pleasant, added the official. Narendra Modi began well by inviting Nawaz Sharif, along with the leaders of other South Asian countries, to his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014. Indians and Pakistanis should have accepted by now that, irrespective of who is to blame, the two countries will not enjoy a cordial cooperative relationship in the foreseeable future. That being so, a page should be taken from the Sino-Indian book to minimise scope for friction and highlight only areas where positive action benefits either party, or both. At Chinas urging, India agreed to freeze the border dispute and develop other ties so that trade could expand. Similarly, it is in Indias interest to set aside contentious issues like Jammu and Kashmir and respond sympathetically to human situations concerning ordinary Pakistanis. The simple four-point protocol that the two foreign secretaries signed on September 14, 1974 to take note of the sentiments and devotion of the various communities in the two countries for the historic and sacred shrines in the other so that 20 parties of pilgrims could cross the border every year demonstrated far-sighted wisdom. Sikhs visit Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak who also first preached there, for Gurupurab. Pakistanis go to Ajmer for the annual Urs (death anniversary) ceremony of the Persian-born Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, whom many non-Muslims also revere as the Protector of the Poor. Its extremely unfortunate, therefore, that New Delhis reported refusal to grant visas prevented 503 Pakistani pilgrims (out of 3,000 who wanted to go) from participating in this months 10-day celebrations at Ajmer Sharif. Such action rankles with ordinary people and creates ill will and hostility at the popular as distinct from the military, bureaucratic or political level which India should court most assiduously. Some reports suggest the refusal was a tit-for-tat response to what is described as the elite Islamabad Clubs rejection of Indias high commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisarias membership application. The club has since sought to explain that the application is still pending because Pakistans interior ministry must issue a no-objection certificate. If so, it means that Pakistanis dont know the gentlemanly codes on which such institutions are run in England, where they originated. At least two august London clubs, the Athenaeum and The Travellers, invite the accredited representatives of certain countries to become honorary members. Kolkatas Calcutta and Bengal Clubs do the same with some consuls-general. All four clubs are mature enough to understand that if the government has given what is called agrement in diplomatic parlance to a certain individual, he and his country must be above suspicion. If the Islamabad Club doesnt know this, Mr Bisaria would be justified in reconsidering his wish to join it. It isnt Indias job to teach Pakistan English etiquette or natural politeness. Its Indias duty as a responsible neighbour which abides by certain values and seeks stability in the region to ensure that political differences dont spill over to poison other areas of contact. This means not over-reacting to provocations like the club controversy, complaints about diplomats being ill-treated, the Pakistani high commissioners recall to Islamabad, and what amounts to the refusal by Pakistans commerce minister, Pervaiz Malik, to participate in the informal World Trade Organisation meeting that the Indian government hosted in New Delhi. Lee Kuan Yew once explained to Rajiv Gandhi how Indonesias President Suharto, being similarly placed as leader of the regions biggest country, had earned the confidence of smaller neighbours. The first of the five points of the doctrine that Inder Kumar Gujral famously propounded as external affairs minister stipulated that with neighbours like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity, but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust. He might have included Pakistan for, although much bigger than the other five, it sees itself as a small and vulnerable victim. India cant shrink to order, Manmohan Singh once told a foreign journalist in Singapore, but it can, like Indonesia, try to remove suspicions that might be inherent in the disparity in size. Narendra Modi began well by inviting Nawaz Sharif, along with the leaders of other South Asian countries, to his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014. But it may have been a bit over the top when, 19 months later, carried away by his own exuberance as he was returning from a day-long trip to Afghanistan after a two-day visit to Russia, he landed unexpectedly at Lahore airport to hug Mr Sharif before being whisked off by helicopter to the latters birthday party at his Raiwind residence in the citys outskirts. A mature leader who looks beyond showmanship to substantive results knows where to draw the line. Playing to the gallery may be good politics. It is poor statesmanship. The goodwill generated by Mr Modis earlier invitation may be eroded if all his actions are written off as empty and expensive public relations gimmicks. There have been other hitches over pilgrims. Only in February, 173 Hindus bound for the Katas Raj temple complex in West Punjab were forced to withdraw their visa applications because although the Pakistani authorities were willing to receive them, the external affairs ministry failed to issue the necessary clearance. Earlier, Indian Sikhs missed the opportunity of taking part in the death anniversaries of Guru Arjan Dev and Maharaja Ranjit Singh even though Pakistan had offered to send a special train for them. Indias negative action is sometimes linked to a specific outrage, like alleged Pakistani harassment of Kulbushan Jadhavs wife and mother. Sometimes it is retaliation for unprovoked firing across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Sometimes it is a protest against Islamabads abetment of terrorists. This absence of consistency means relations will always be hostage to the whim of the moment. Even a settlement in Kashmir may not change that if Pakistan remains unresponsive and recalcitrant. But India should not give up trying. Mr Gandhi needs a new, imaginative narrative to persuade voters to vote for the Congress. One doesnt have to be a rocket scientist to sense that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is undergoing a metamorphosis. Those who derided him as Pappu with a dismissive refrain on their faces have stopped doing so. Surprisingly, this is despite the fact that in the recent Assembly elections, the Congress couldnt even open its account in Tripura and Nagaland and failed to cobble together a coalition in Meghalaya. The political clout of the Congress Party has been shrinking; there are BJP or BJP-led governments in 22 states now, giving the BJP a pan-India footprint. But a month is a long time in politics. After forming the government in Tripura and Nagaland, and playing a big role in Meghalaya, witnessing a lotus bloom in the Northeast, the loss in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur byelections in Uttar Pradesh must have come as a rude shock to the BJP. This loss could put a questionmark on the BJPs prospects for returning with a parliamentary majority in 2019. Combined with the losses in byelections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP has lost six parliamentary seats since 2014. Isnt it a wake-up call for the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo? Do they still look invincible? Mr Gandhis political transformation has been a gradual process, with mixed results. For a decade, he tried to rediscover India like his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru by criss-crossing its length and breadth and apprising himself of the problems of people at the grassroots level and also trying to figure out what ailed the Congress Party. His performance in an interview with Arnab Goswami in January 2014 was lacklustre. When he tore away the ordinance brought in by UPA-2 while then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was overseas, he came across as an arrogant, immature and irresponsible scion of a leading political family who considered himself above Indias PM. Then the dismal performance of the Congress Party in May 2014 showed beyond doubt that despite his vigorous campaigning he was no match for Narendra Modi. A shrewd and seasoned politician, with indefatigable energy, enviable oratorical skills and tireless campaigning, Mr Modi rode the wave of the hopes and aspirations of millions of Indians. He sought votes saying Abki bar Modi Sarkar, and promised Achche Din with jobs, an end to corruption and bringing about an infrastructural revolution. Mr Gandhis two-month-long sabbatical (February-April 2015), when he reportedly visited various monasteries in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, contrary to mocking comments, seems to have helped him discover his inner strength, self-belief, determination and spirit to fight Mr Modi as also convince his followers that the Congress has a chance to bounce back to power in 2019. Only time will tell whether it is merely a fascinating daydream or a likely reality. The Gujarat elections results (of December 2017), where in spite of a no-holds-barred campaign by Mr Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and several Union Cabinet ministers, the BJP barely managed a thin majority, was a shot in the arm for Mr Gandhi. He campaigned aggressively with strategic support from young leaders like Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakur and Jignesh Mewani, and gave the BJP a tough fight. In terms of the electoral message, the Congress appeared a winner despite its defeat, and the BJP a loser in spite of its victory. It threw up two clear takeaways one, that the Modi-Shah duos citadel could be breached with well-planned, methodical and relentless campaigning, which highlighted the BJPs failure in fulfilling its grand and alluring promises; and two, a coalition could be stitched between different Opposition parties by harnessing each others strengths, and stopping cross-voting. This template, if finetuned and modified according to the prevailing conditions on the ground in each state, and focusing on local issues to the maximum with the help of regional leaders, could significantly enhance the prospects of a Congress-led united Opposition alliance next year. But what showcased Mr Gandhis mark on the global stage was his interaction with US academics and media at top US universities like Berkley and Princeton in September 2017. Unlike his interview with Arnab Goswami, here he was calm, confident, articulate, self-assured, well-informed and disarmingly frank. With his elevation as Congress president, there is a new robustness and aggressiveness among the young Congress leaders who attack Mr Modi on every possible occasion with the wildest charges. They are also using the social media more professionally and extensively, and trying to create a nationwide perception that the Modi government is very high on promises but very low on delivery; that it has failed miserably in creating jobs, addressing farmers distress, mitigating the negative fallout of demonetisation, taking care of the needs of the defence forces, upgrading infrastructure and preventing crony capitalism. They also accuse the NDA government of allowing the likes of Nirav Modi, the main accused in the PNB scam, flee India and also of mishandling relations with neighbours. In politics, perceptions are, at times, often more important than reality. While BJP spokespersons can dismiss all these charges as rubbish, it will be naive on their part to ignore them as some of them might resonate with voters. While there are signs of disappointment and disenchantment with the NDA government, and some erosion in PM Modis popularity, there isnt any kind of anti-Modi wave like the anti-Indira wave of 1977, which united the Opposition on the single objective of Indira hatao. Mr Gandhi needs a new, imaginative narrative to persuade voters to vote for the Congress. Merely accusing Mr Modi and harping on the NDAs failures wont help. Besides, Mr Modi has an advantage he is the unquestioned leader of the BJP while Mr Gandhi isnt the consensus face of the Opposition. Evidently, Mr Gandhi alone cant stop Mr Modi in 2019! But if he combines the strategy in Gujarat with the strategy in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, and the Opposition parties form an alliance, they can give the BJP run for its money. Swallowing their egos, they must embrace the idea of a flexi leadership and flexi agenda. In each state, only the most winnable party should field candidates and all other parties should support it. The agenda and the focus ought to be modified according to the needs of each state. Mr Modis charisma and oratory, Mr Shahs meticulous planning and strategy and the dedication and discipline of the vast network of the RSS cadre pose a formidable challenge. At present, Mr Gandhi may appear incapable of stopping the NaMo chariot; but he can slow down its march. Also, a lot can happen between now and 2019, when the general election actually takes place. The Moto G6 has surfaced with a 5.7-inch display, dual rear cameras and a 3D glass body. It has been a while since the rumoured Moto G6 has been popping up in the world of leaks and rumours. Previous reports had suggested that the Moto G6 could be coming with a modern 18:9 display and sport some of the latest internals presently available in the market. However, it seems that Motorola might be finally prepping the G6 for a launch soon as the 2018 Moto midranger has made its visit to TENAA and Amazons official UK website. Android Headlines had grabbed documentation of the Moto G6 doing rounds of TENAA, where the devices form factor has been leaked. The Moto G6 retains the pebble shape form of its predecessors but now adorns a modern 18:9 5.7-inch display. Surprisingly, Motorola has managed to embed the fingerprint sensor on the bottom lip along with their branding. The display appears to sport a 2.5D curved glass as well. However, the rear panel seems to be made of glass, like its more premium sibling Moto X4.The rear glass panel has curved edges similar to Samsungs flagship Galaxy S9. The circular dual camera module is also retained from the Moto X4. The Amazon UK listing reaffirms the presence of a 5.7-inch 18:9 Max Vision display with a full HD+ resolution. The listing also mentions the presence of a 3D glass back. A 1.8GHz quad-core processor is claimed to take care of the daily processes, which we predict could be the Snapdragon 636 SoC. The rear camera is 12MP+5MP setup that will also feature depth and face filters. Motorolas voice assistant will be also present as well. The G6s leaked price is stated as 239 Euros, which is roughly Rs 19,266. However, dont take this information to be completely true as these are still leaks. Since the device has appeared on TENAA, you can expect the Moto G6 to be pretty similar to the leaked device. However, the Indian pricing for the G6 could be rivalling the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. Also, a bigger Moto G6 Plus is also rumoured to be in works. (source) Ubisoft has announced a brand new studio Ubisoft Mumbai to open its doors in June. Hopefully this isnt just a development push and leads to Ubisoft concentrating more on the Indian market a little more in the coming few years. Its no secret that India is considered one of the largest gaming markets in the world, at least in terms of potential. The shift from mobile to console and PC is expected to be massive in the coming years with publishers and hardware companies eagerly waiting on the edge. However, with the current popularity of mobile games, weve seen mobile development make huge leaps forward in India, with scores of studios around the country however most still lack the quality that youd expect in such a huge market. Big name publishers and developers have still not really established themselves in India with the exception of Ubisoft who, up until now only had a small studio in Pune that pretty much did support work for their fringe titles. However thats all a thing of the past now; Ubisoft has announced a brand new studio Ubisoft Mumbai thats set to open its doors in June that will in fact work on AAA projects with their primary studios. Ubisoft Mumbai will be partnering with the IIT to research topics on machine learning and AI as well providing a comprehensive four-year Game Design Art programme in collaboration with Inuit Lab. Our ambition is to contribute towards the development of the Indian videogame ecosystem by partnering closely with top schools and institutions, said Jean-Philippe Pieuchot, managing director for Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Mumbai. Ubisoft Mumbai is a huge leap forward for game development in India that might soon see India contribute more than just art and grunt work for major titles. The studio will be hiring up to 100 developers over the next two years. Hopefully this isnt just a development push and leads to Ubisoft concentrating more on the Indian market a little more in the coming few years. The Federal Trade Commission, in a statement, confirmed that it has an "open non-public investigation" into Facebook's privacy practices. 'Facebook has made promises about users privacy in the past, and we need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken,' the letter said. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) Washington: The US Federal Trade Commission has confirmed that Facebook is under investigation into its privacy practices, amidst allegations that its connection with British company Cambridge Analytica resulted in misuse of personal data of some 50 million users. The FTC, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that it has an "open non-public investigation" into Facebook's privacy practices. "FTC takes very seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook, said Tom Pahl," FTC's Acting Director in the Bureau of Consumer Protection said. Pahl said the FTC is firmly and fully committed to using all of its tools to protect the privacy of consumers. "Foremost among these tools is enforcement action against companies that fail to honour their privacy promises, including to comply with Privacy Shield, or that engage in unfair acts that cause substantial injury to consumers in violation of the FTC Act," the statement said. "Companies who have settled previous FTC actions must also comply with FTC order provisions imposing privacy and data security requirements," it said. In a related development, attorney generals of as many as 37 states on Monday sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling for answers to reports that millions of Facebook users personal data was provided to third parties without their knowledge or informed consent. In the letter, the attorney generals demand to know about Facebook's role in the manipulation of users data by Cambridge Analytica without those users' knowledge as well as Facebook's policies and procedures for protecting users private data. The letter requests that Facebook produce information regarding their business practices and safeguards to protect users' privacy. Signatories to the letter, among others, includes New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S Grewal. Early reports indicate that user data of at least 50 million Facebook profiles may have been misused and misappropriated by third-party software developers, the letter said. "According to these reports, Facebook's previous policies allowed developers to access the personal data of "friends" of people who used applications on the platform, without the knowledge or express consent of those "friends"," the attorney generals said. It has also been reported that while providing other developers access to personal Facebook user data, Facebook took as much as 30 per cent of payments made through the developers' applications by Facebook users, they said. "Facebook apparently contends that this incident of harvesting tens of millions of profiles was not the result of a technical data breach; however, the reports allege that Facebook allowed third parties to obtain personal data of users who never authorised it, and relied on terms of service and settings that were confusing and perhaps misleading to its users," the letter said. These revelations raise many serious questions concerning Facebook's policies and practices, and the processes in place to ensure they are followed, they said. According to the attorney general, even with the changes Facebook has made in recent years, many users still don't know that their profile and personal data is available to third-party vendors. "Facebook has made promises about users privacy in the past, and we need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken," the letter said. Earlier this month, China passed a unanimous resolution protesting the 'illegal detention' of the men's families. Shadowy "reeducation centres" that have swept up the region's Uighur Muslim minority over fears of Islamic militancy crossing the border from Pakistan. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Every autumn on the mountainous Karakoram Highway, part of the ancient Silk Road, groups of Pakistani merchants living in China's far west would wave goodbye to their Chinese wives and cross the border to spend winter in their home country. As the snow piled high, the men would stay in touch with their families by phone, longing for the spring thaw that would allow them to be reunited in Xinjiang. But in 2017 many of their calls suddenly went unanswered. Their families, they learned, had disappeared into a growing network of shadowy "re-education centres" that have swept up the region's Uighur Muslim minority over fears of Islamic militancy crossing the border from Pakistan. "My wife and kids were taken away by the Chinese authorities in March last year and I haven't heard from them since," said Iqbal, a Pakistani businessman who declined to give his surname over concern about his family's safety. In July 2017, he headed to China to find them, but was turned away at the border. Authorities "said my wife was in 'training' and the government was taking care of my kids", he said. "I begged them to let me talk to my daughters, but they refused," he added. Iqbal is one of dozens of merchants from Gilgit-Baltistan who return to Pakistan for visa reasons or to run their businesses and have been unable to contact their Uighur families living in China, according to Javed Hussain, a member of the local assembly for the Pakistani region that borders Xinjiang. Earlier this month, the delegates passed a unanimous resolution protesting the "illegal detention" of the men's families. "The Chinese authorities should at least allow the men to meet their wives and children," Hussain said. "China is our friend and this incident will leave a bad taste," he added. China's foreign ministry said that the "two sides are maintaining communication about problems related to interactions between both countries' people", while Pakistan's said the issue was being "actively discussed with the government of China". Like many of the men, Iqbal's family lived in Kashgar, an ancient city along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a trade route connecting China's far west to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. In recent years, China has heavily pushed its relationship with Pakistan, investing tens of billions of dollars in CPEC infrastructure projects in the country, and Beijing has upgraded the treacherous mountain road connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to Xinjiang. But China has had difficulty reconciling its desire for development with fears that Uighur separatists will import violence from Pakistan. Chinese authorities have long linked their crackdown on Xinjiang's Muslims to international counter-terrorism, arguing that separatists are bent on joining foreign extremists like al-Qaida. Uighurs have been tied to mass stabbings and bombings that left dozens dead in recent years across the country. Riots and clashes with the government killed hundreds more. Over the past year, China has turned to increasingly drastic methods to eliminate what it describes as the "three forces": terrorists, religious extremists and separatists. In 2017, the government flooded Xinjiang with tens of thousands of security personnel, with police stations on nearly every block in urban areas and tough regulations to "eliminate extremism". This included the increased use of compulsory "re-education" for anyone suspected of harbouring separatist sympathies. Iqbal and the other Pakistani men believe their wives -- and even business associates -- have been targeted because they received calls and messages from Pakistan. "Any communication from Pakistan is considered a threat," said Qurban, a businessman who has worked in Kashgar for over 30 years. "One of my employees, a Uighur, was picked up two years back just because he was in touch with me when I went to Pakistan," he added. Chinese authorities have denied the existence of reeducation centres. But regulations against extremism adopted by Xinjiang last March call for authorities to step up political reeducation. In Kashgar alone, more than 120,000 people -- about three percent of the area's population -- were being held in the facilities in January, according to Radio Free Asia. An AFP review of state media reports and government documents verified the existence of at least 30 such centres and almost 4,000 cases of people being sent to them. Regulations posted on a local website in Xinjiang's Hejing county explained that even minor transgressions of strict religious regulations can be punished with up to three months in a centre. Ali, a businessman who lost contact with his wife in December, said she had been taken by authorities to do a "sort of training where they teach them about Communism and prepare them to be patriotic citizens". "My wife told me that Chinese police had come to her house and asked her about the calls from Pakistan and asked her to explain her links with ETIM," said Ali, referring to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a militant group China has accused of attempting to foment Uighur separatism. He plans to cross the border in May to find his family, but has been told his children are in the custody of the Chinese government and doesn't know if he will see them again. "They never tell you anything, they just say your family will come back to you when they finish their training." Sailing in linear form, sign of visual publicity than hard military operations, the flotilla was headed by submarines, with aircraft above. The photos, taken on Monday, show what appear to be at least 40 ships and submarines flanking the carrier Liaoning in what some analysts described as an unusually large display of the Chinese military's growing naval might. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) Hanoi/Hong Kong: Dozens of Chinese naval vessels are exercising this week with an aircraft carrier in a large show of force off Hainan island in the South China Sea, satellite images obtained by Reuters show. The images, provided by Planet Labs Inc, confirm a Chinese carrier group has entered the vital trade waterway as part of what the Chinese navy earlier described as combat drills that were part of routine annual exercises. The Liaoning carrier group last week traversed the Taiwan Strait, according to the Taiwanese defence ministry. The photos, taken on Monday, show what appear to be at least 40 ships and submarines flanking the carrier Liaoning in what some analysts described as an unusually large display of the Chinese military's growing naval might. Sailing in a line formation more suited to visual propaganda than hard military manoeuvres, the flotilla was headed by what appeared to be submarines, with aircraft above. Jeffrey Lewis, a security expert at the California-based Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies, said the images showed the first confirmation that the carrier was joining the drills. "It's an incredible picture," he said. "That's the big news to me. Confirmation that, yes, the carrier participated in the exercise." It is unclear where the flotilla was headed, or how long operations will last. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. Collin Koh, a security expert at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, described the deployment as unusual for its size and scope. "Judging by the images, it does seem they are keen to show that elements of the South Sea Fleet are able to routinely join up with the carrier strike group from Dalian in the north," he said. "It does seem they want to show inter-fleet interoperability - something the (Chinese) navy has been quietly working on for some time." Chinese naval and coast guard forces have expanded rapidly in recent years and now patrol the vast swathes of the South China Sea, but little is known about their combat readiness and co-ordination. Also Read: For future wars : China on conducting drills in S China Sea again Koh said as well as the destroyers, frigates and submarines that would ordinarily support a carrier, the flotilla appeared to include a large oiler for re-supply as well as smaller corvettes and possibly fast attack catamarans. "While it highlights an extensive ability to deploy, we are still left to guess at the PLAN's combat readiness," Koh said. As well as Vietnam, China's claims in the South China Sea are disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei while Taiwan also has claims. The exercises come amid fresh signs of tension in the resource-rich waterway, with Vietnam recently halting oil exploration off its coast by Spanish firm Repsol under pressure from Beijing. Beijing also objected to a so-called freedom of navigation patrol by a US warship last week close to one of its artificial islands in the Spratlys archipelago further south. by Bernardo Cervellera About 158 refugee families live in the parish of Amadiya and surrounding villages. They need food, clothes, shoes, school support, kerosene. Many Christian, Yazid and Arab families returned to Mosul only to turn back. The Adopt a Christian from Mosul campaign is ongoing. Rome (AsiaNews) The refugee families from Mosul still need our help. Fr Samir Youssef, parish priest in Amadiya, to whom I am bound by a long friendship, has recently sent me a letter asking "if it is possible to help us this Easter too, because without your help we cannot really do anything for refugee families and people in need." It is common knowledge that almost 500,000 people fled the brutal violence of the Islamic State (Daesh) in the summer of 2014. They found refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan, where the Catholic Church has been heavily involved in providing food and clothing as well as finding jobs for them. In June 2017, following Daeshs expulsion from Mosul, their ordeal did not end. Many refugees went home to their villages and to the city they had fled, but found a disastrous situation: destroyed homes, impassable roads, minefields. Some time ago, Fr Samir told me that "many Christian and Yazidi families who had returned to Mosul, Teleskof and Sinjar, have come back" because of the tensions between the Kurds and the Iraqi army. "About 158 Christian, Yazidi and Arab families have stayed with us, Fr Samir said. They cannot go back to Mosul: their homes have been destroyed and their area is not stable. Furthermore, there are no schools, hospitals or power supply. Above all, being unable to send their children to school has held them back." All these refugees "are waiting for the end of the summer, when school is out, to return to their cities and villages", hoping for a more stable situation. But in the meantime, they need food, heating, clothes, help for the school of their children. Fr Samir lists the needs of families: rice, oil, bread, shoes, clothes, kerosene (whose price has risen to US$ 140 a barrel, as a result of the conflict between the government and Kurdistan). Thanks to the help sent by AsiaNews, Fr Samir and his staff have been able to provide these necessities (see photo gallery) on a weekly basis. "In my parish, he says in his letter, and in the surrounding villages, many families are waiting for our help . . . I count on you and our dear friends at AsiaNews . . . and I believe in divine providence." Dear readers, we cannot remain indifferent to such a simple and urgent appeal. As you know, some years ago, AsiaNews launched the Adopt a Christian from Mosul campaign, which, thanks to you, has been able to raise and donate almost 2 million euros for Christian and other refugees in Kurdistan. To help the 158 families supported by Fr Samir, we ask everyone to make a donation following the campaign instructions, which will remain in place until all the refugees return to Mosul. "On Palm Sunday, Fr Samir writes, we asked the Lord to accept our lives, our weaknesses, to make them a means for Him to enter people's hearts." Our charity, dear friends, is part of the Church's mission. Thank you. Donations can be made in a number of ways. 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The two are set to meet today. Lee Ming-cheh is serving a five-year sentence for subversion. On 19 March 2017, he went missing on entering the mainland from Macau. For more than 170 days, Chinese authorities refused to say where he was. Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) The wife of a Taiwanese human rights activist jailed in mainland China travelled to the country on Monday after being granted permission to visit him in prison for the first time. The case has strained relations between the two countries. The Taiwan Association for Human Rights said Lee Ching-yu (pictured) left Taiwan on Monday to see her husband Lee Ming-cheh in prison in Changsha, capital of central Chinas Hunan province. Lee is serving a five-year prison sentence after he was convicted of subversion during a trial that began last September, which his wife dismisses as a political show. During the proceedings, Lee admitted the charges, stating that he had written and distributed online articles that criticised the mainlands ruling Communist Party and had promoted democracy. The 43-year-old activist was often in touch with civil society groups in mainland China. He also discussed Taiwans democratic experiences online, sending books to his interlocutors. On 19 March 2017, he went missing when he entered in China from Macau through Zhuhai. Chinese authorities kept silent for more than 170 days. His wife thought he was missing, and eventually sought to enter China to find him, but was barred. Taiwans Central News Agency reported Chinese authorities informed Lee through a mainland-based Taiwanese business association on Thursday that they would issue a one-off document allowing her to enter the mainland. Her previous application was rejected because she did not have a valid Mainland Travel Permit needed by Taiwanese citizens. CNA said that Lee is being accompanied by an official from Taiwans semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), which handles relations with the mainland. She is set to return to Taiwan on tomorrow. by J.B. An Dang Rome and Hanoi have recently boosted cultural cooperation. Italian universities are favourites among young Vietnamese who want to study in Europe. Pontifical institutes and universities play the same role for priests. After 60 years without educational freedom under the communist regime, the Church opened a local Catholic college in 2015. Hanoi (AsiaNews) Vietnam benefits the most from its ties with Italy in the cultural field, in particular at the level of university education and clerical training. The two countries marked 45 years of diplomatic relations last Friday, 23 March. In 1973, Italy officially recognised North Vietnam, a move seen by many as a slap against South Vietnam, which at that time was fighting against Communist forces that had infiltrated from the north. Within two years, Saigon was overrun and South Vietnam capitulated. However, ties between the two countries remained largely symbolic until the early 1990s, when political relations began to develop and consolidate. Following an official visit by then Italian Foreign Minister Gianni De Michelis to Vietnam in December 1989, Rome and Hanoi undertook regular diplomatic relations. Over this period of time, Vietnam has become Italys main partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bilateral trade continues to grow at an annual rate of almost 9 per cent, reaching US$ 4.7 billion in 2016, which is expected to rise to US$ 6 billion in 2017-2018. Vietnam exports to Italy mainly footwear, fish products, coffee and clothing, whilst it imports mechanical and transportation equipment and leather materials. Rome and Hanoi have recently boosted cultural cooperation, agreeing to 72 projects in education and training. Italian universities are a favourite choice for many young Vietnamese who want to study in Europe in fields like architecture and mechanical engineering. The Association of Vietnamese Students in Italy, an organisation funded by the state, claims to have 4,650 members. Thanks to generous scholarships by Pontifical institutes and universities, Italy is also the most important destination for Vietnamese priests. A priest who obtained a licentiate in Theology at the Lateran University told AsiaNews that the Italian language is a major obstacle for those who want to study in Italy. "The language itself is among the most difficult to learn, he said. When I prepared for my trip to Rome, I did not find any Italian course in Vietnam. However, now things have changed: since October 2016 a course is available by Uni-Italy and the Italian Embassy in Hanoi. That is a great move. Vietnams Communist authorities have also authorised the Church to set up a Catholic college, which opened on 6 August 2015 under Mgr Joseph inh uc ao, bishop of Xuan Loc and president of the Education Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Vietnam (CBCV), the first facility of its kind in 60 years. Before returning to Vietnam in 2009, Bishop ao received a doctorate in Moral Ethics from the Alphonsian Academy and one in Missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Later he lectured at the Faculty of Missiology and the Institute of Catechesis of the Pontifical Urban (Urbaniana) University in Rome. In North Vietnam, the Church lost the right to educate in 1954 after the Communist takeover. This was extended to the south in 1975. At that time, Catholics ran more 2,000 educational facilities, from kindergartens to higher education institutions, all seized by the government. In all, the Church had 1,060 primary schools, 145 high schools and four universities, including the Saint Pius X College and the prestigious universities of Saigon and Da Lat. The latter remains at the centre of a dispute with government authorities and, even today, it is not clear whether it will be ever returned to Catholic control. Ownership of land and buildings remains another unresolved issue in the relationship between Church and state in Vietnam. Thousands of faithful flock to the churches for the rites of Holy Week. The celebrations are an opportunity for the community to meet in a context characterized by a "popular faith, peculiarities and different traditions". Msgr. Hinder: pastoral care of migrants is a priority theme, fundamental to sharing in their joys and sorrows. Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) - The celebrations of Holy Week and Easter are "opportunities of encounter" for a community composed almost exclusively by immigrants that lives the rites [confessions, Masses, Via Crucis] "with a popular faith, impregnated with the influence of their origins ", recounts Msgr Paul Hinder to AsiaNews. The apostolic vicar of southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen) describes a climate of expectation and participation ahead of the climax the holidays. "Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian - he explains - have a different style compared to Filipinos, Indians. However, this difference creates faith filled atmosphere and is witness to true catholicity ... Thousands of people with different peculiarities and traditions ". About one million faithful, all of foreign nationality, live in the southern Arabian region. The most important community is the Filipino one, followed by Indian Catholics, mainly from Kerala. The rest of the Church is made up of Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, Egyptians and Jordanians who have come to the region for work. Thanks to the freedom of worship granted by the emirates of the Persian Gulf, the life of the Church is very active and is organized around seven parishes in the United Arab Emirates, four parishes in Oman with about 18 thousand faithful and a small community in Yemen, which wreaked by violence. 55 priests work in churches and Catholic schools dedicated to migrants. "The Arabian Church is a living Church - underlines Msgr. Hinder, a Franciscan of Swiss origin - and the places of worship are crowded with believers. Several Catholics from the West, having encountered this reality, say that it is an antidepressant and a source of vigour and warmth ". Last week at the evening masses there were on average, "a thousand faithful, singing and praying, a sign of profound faith". In these days the Christians have crowded the confessionals for the sacrament of penance. Until 9.30 in the evening, 5 or 6 priests in every church in Abu Dhabi welcomed thousands of people "wishing to go through the confessional", said Mgr. Hinder. From the feast of St. Joseph, patron of the cathedral in the capital of the Emirates, to the Palm Sunday Mass, the celebrations attracted entire communities, even from remote places. Despite the concerns of everyday life, from the employment crisis to fears over an uncertain future, people "do not want to miss the weekly appointment with Mass". The priests of the entire vicariate are expected to attend the Chrism Mass on Thursday, even if some from Oman cannot be present. For Good Friday and Holy Saturday there will be double celebrations to cater to high attendance. "Otherwise - underlines the vicar - it would not be possible to welcome everyone". Security remains an issue: "The authorities are attentive - he adds and discreetly keep watch of Christian places of worship, to prevent any kind of violence". The pastoral care of migrants, a subject dear to Pope Francis, remains the priority for the vicar of southern Arabia and for priests and nuns operating throughout the territory. "They need material and spiritual comfort - he says - both those who have moved with their families and have to struggle to survive, and those who are alone, living in the compounds they work in and it is not always easy to reach them". "For us men of the Church - concludes Msgr. Hinder - it is essential to be ready to listen to their joys and sorrows, to encourage them to share the Easter message of resurrection. "(DS) by Anna Chiara Filice Daniel Bashir comes from the diocese of Karachi. He is the national president of a movement of lay missionaries in Pakistan. He hopes the universal Church will listen and welcome the demands of us young people. He wants to spread the Gospel by ones deeds and pray for the fundamentalists. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Daniel Bashir, 28, is a young Pakistani from Karachi. He calls for a conversion of hearts and minds" to create harmony between religions. At the same time, people must "learn to respect one another" to create a peaceful society. He spoke to AsiaNews in Rome, on the sidelines of the pre-synodal meeting that brought together 300 young people from around the world. A recent graduate from medical school, he is the National Youth Coordinator of Jesus Youth, a movement of lay missionaries in Pakistan. He was the only Pakistani at the meeting. "For me it was a grace. I have been blessed twice: for being here and for having had the opportunity of meeting Pope Francis. I thank God for this great gift." "I hope the universal Church will listen and welcome the demands of us young people," he said speaking about the purpose of the pre-synodal meeting. Daniel, who comes from a Catholic family, is about to enter the seminary. "My family wanted me to finish my studies in medicine, he explained. Finally, in June I will begin my religious training." The young man feels blessed by God, and still cannot fathom how he "could have hugged the Holy Father twice: the first time at the opening of the meeting, the second during Mass on Palm Sunday in St Peter's Square. They asked me to be part of the group that went up to the altar to deliver the young peoples document to the pope. I started to cry with joy and at the end I also asked Pope Francis to take a selfie. I was so excited. I turned to the Lord and gave him thanks." Daniel stressed the ecumenical aspect that distinguished the work of young people. "We were more than 300. There were not only Catholics, but also Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and Hindus. It was a unique opportunity offered by the Catholic Church to young people from all over the world to think and question their faith, and face the problems that exist in various cultures, religions and societies." The proceedings were inspired by the popes words. He told us very clearly: 'You are the youth of the world and the young are the prophets'. So, he invited us to be prophets in our own countries. He also admitted that in the past the Church had never spoken about young people. Instead now, for the first time, the Church was speaking with young people and is willing to listen to our voice." The document presented to the pontiff "highlights the difficulties and challenges of young people today. These are different challenges according to countries and societies. As far as I am concerned, the major issues for a Pakistani Catholic are those that concern the sphere of sexuality and love. I mean homosexuality, divorce and mixed marriages. Faced with all these difficulties, we ask the Church to give the best answers and help us face these circumstances, not to be left alone in front of all this, but to support and accompany us in everyday life." Regarding the Pakistani context, in particular young Pakistani Catholics, Daniel said that "the lay movement is very active. I work in the diocese of Multan, where we try to involve young people on apologetic issues and spreading the faith." The best way to profess Christian values in a country with an Islamic majority, such as Pakistan where more than 90 per cent of its 200 million inhabitants are Muslim and not offend anyone, is through ones deeds. I reveal what I am through my deeds, my work, my service. It is the others who then realise my worth and recognise 'Yes, you are different: you are Catholic'." On relations with young people from other religions, he said that "my best friend is a Muslim and I have several other Muslim friends. We have studied together and we continue to see each other. We meet and party together. We participate in each others religious celebrations." According to Daniel, "the real problem in Pakistan is discrimination, which children learn from an early age in schools during their years of study. In our educational system, a message is passed: if you are not a believer, you are an infidel (kafir). Discrimination is inherent in the child's mind, whod rather not go to school than be considered an infidel. So, the first area in which we must act is education, if we want to overcome this kind of difficulty." Pakistan however "is often marked by incidents of extremism and Islamic fundamentalism, which not only affect Christians but also mosques. All religions are affected by the same problem." In his opinion, "the only thing we can do is pray for them. It is not possible to engage extremists in dialogue; hence, we must pray for them. Pray that God can help them and change their lives. If we entrust ourselves completely to him, he will save us. We must pray for the fundamentalists, not that they change their faith, but that God convert their hearts and minds." Hi All, Hope someone could help. My partner has got Tourist visa without 8503 condition (I have verified the VISA grant and done VIVO check) and yet to travel to Australia. Meanwhile, i thought i shall start preparing for her partner Visa application(Stage 1 - Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa (300,309/100,820/801) and when i click 'next' on 4th step, i am getting below error. *************************** One of the following issues is preventing this application from continuing: The applicant has a previous visa cancellation or refusal. The applicant does not hold an appropriate visa. The applicant has a condition on the current visa. The applicant's location cannot be confirmed. The applicant is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. The applicant will not be able to continue. The applicant should review the eligibility information on the department's website. **************************** Is it because my partner still in offshore location? Thanks, The Auto Care Association hosted technology standards conferences in El Salvador on March 19 and Guatemala on March 21 in a series of technical missions to key Latin American countries as part of an export promotion award the association received from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The conferences, attended by top local auto care industry executives and government officials, focused on the processes around standards development and maintenance. Topics covered included detailed adoption methodologies for existing standards, ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) and PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard). The conferences were co-organized by the U.S. Commercial Service Office with the U.S. Embassies in El Salvador and Guatemala. A delegation composed of Auto Care Association staff and Evaristo Garcia of Integrate Data Facts, a strategic partner to the association on various standards initiatives, attended and presented at the conferences. The delegation also spent two days meeting with key industry stakeholders to identify strategic partners for the development and implementation of standards for these markets. We are very excited to replicate the Auto Care Associations standards in our region in order to enhance the development of our aftermarket product lines, said Ricardo E. Moreno C., Aftermarket Regional Manager of Excel Automotriz. We have the responsibility to the industry to offer a better service to our customers. We look forward and confirm our support in the development of this tool in Central America to bring our industry together. Excel Automotriz has a large aftermarket presence in Central America, with stores and distribution centers in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama. ACES makes compiling an electronic catalog with high-quality, consistent content about thousands of product lines possible and efficient. Using ACES, suppliers can describe vehicle configuration with valid database values. Suppliers can define product terminology with a database of product names, all in a computer-readable format for the exchange of this information from supplier to receiver. PIES defines the rules of managing elements of product information, product images and product attributes. PIES defines the format of the information and the valid values. With PIES, customers and those in the distribution chain will know what a product looks like, what it weighs, the size of the box and how many are packed inside, the length of the warranty, the country of origin, the performance attributes, and much more. For more information on the technology standards, visit http://www.autocare.org/technology/. Photo courtesy of Torero/Wikipedia. Colorado authorities have begun their Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement in rural counties to motivate drivers to buckle up and reduce fatalities, according to a report in the Journal Advocate. From March 26 to April 1, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local law enforcement officials are conducting the campaign. Last year's Click It or Ticket program resulted in 1,306 seat belt citations. Penalties for not wearing a seatbelt begin at $65. However, parents or caregivers stopped for an improperly restrained child can receive a minimum summons of $82. The Click It of Ticket campaign was born to help reverse lack of seatbelt compliance and ultimately, reduce fatalities. In 2017, Colorado's seat belt use rate was 84% 36th among all states in the nation. Moreover, findings from a CDOT 2017 statewide survey verify that five rural counties had the lowest seatbelt use rate among 31 counties studied. These include Delta, La Plata (74%), Montezuma (74.4%), Cheyenne (75.2%) and Mesa (75.5%) reports the Julesburg Advocate. According to preliminary data, some 211 unbuckled drivers and passengers died in crashes in Colorado, marking a 14% increase over 2016 fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration (NHTSA) estimates that 58 lives could be saved every year if Colorado had 100 percent seatbelt compliance. Currently, Colorado has a secondary enforcement law for adult drivers and front-seat riders, meaning drivers get a ticket for violating seatbelt laws only if stopped for another traffic violation. For teen drivers, the seatbelt law is a primary enforcement. For children, the law is a primary enforcement, meaning drivers can be pulled over and ticketed if an officer sees an improperly restrained child under 16 in the vehicle, according to reports. Singapore-based ride-hailing company Grab officially announced that it has acquired Ubers Southeast Asia operations. Grab, which celebrated its five-year anniversary in 2017, plans to integrate Ubers ridesharing and food delivery tech into its own existing multi-model transportation platform. The acquisition includes Ubers assets in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, Uber now holds a 27.5% stake in Grab and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will sit on Grabs board. The two companies are working together to seamlessly integrate Ubers drivers and riders onto Grabs app. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today A mainly sunny sky. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High 98F. S winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 69F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Scientists from all over the world are expected to visit Pasco County to study what happens to the body as it decomposes. Gov. Rick Scott just approved funding to get a new body farm up and running. Forensics facility named for principal who died in crash Officials see economic impact to forensics field Gov. Scott approved $4.3 million in funding The facility is named for Adam Kennedy, a middle school principal from Spring Hill who was killed in a car accident. Researchers are already at the farm on a daily basis using the bodies for forensic training. Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco said with new state money that forensics workers will expand to look at more than just the decomposition of bodies. "What would happen to a body in a tragic situation? Such as burnings or other types of tragic incidents that we deal with all the time?" Nocco said. The state approved $4.3 million that will help get the project completed in the next year. In addition to the field, three buildings are under construction to be used for classes, labs, research and training. "All of those components have never been done in one institution," said manager Roderick Green. "We're looking forward to this being something special, right here in the Tampa Bay community." The facility will eventually offer dozens of jobs but also will be used as a host to train forensics teams from around the world. "We're estimating that it's going to be a $2.5 million impact just to the visitors to this market alone," said Pasco Economic Development Chairman Bill Cronin. The Sheriff's Office is working with the Florida Institute of Forensic Anthropology and Applied sciences at the University of South Florida. St. Petersburg Police say they are searching for a cop impersonator who targeted a local woman. Impersonator conducted "traffic stop" March 22 Victim wished not to be named Police released digital composite sketch March 26 On Monday officials released a digital composite image of the suspect, which was created from the description provided to them by the victim. Police say it happened on Thursday around 10:30 p.m. near 5th Avenue S. and 34th St. in St Petersburg. The victim, who spoke to Spectrum Bay News 9 but didn't want to be identified, says the fake officer was dressed in a full uniform complete with a badge and was driving a white sedan. She says he pulled her over and approached the car before asking for her ID. From there, he asked her to exit the car and completed a pat down, where she says he touched her inappropriately. If you're driving alone and not sure if the officer pulling you over is real, police say to call 911 and report your location. Dispatch can then confirm the police officer behind you is real. If you have any information about the suspect or this incident, St. Petersburg Police ask that you call (727) 893-7780. One by one, they were honored on stage and awarded for going above and beyond to help others. They are some of Spectrum Bay News 9's Everyday Heroes. "Everyday Heroes" stories air every Monday Seven "heroes" honored with special awards "Salute to Everyday Heroes" will air on April 1 "I just know I'm doing a good thing and it makes me feel good," said Kiana Lollis, who received the Young Hero Award. On Tuesday, March 27, seven received awards at the annual Salute to Everyday Heroes luncheon. "When you have a chance to gather people together, who take of their own time and their own money, to do something for our community to give back in a variety of ways, I think these folks deserve a day for us to say 'thanks' and for us to honor them," said Spectrum News Group Vice President South Alan Mason. The afternoon's biggest honor, "Hero of the Year," went to a long-time volunteer, Kristine Berry. A cancer survivor who has had two transplants and suffers from blindness, Berry has devoted her life to help other patients overcome their struggles. "It's a bit overwhelming," Berry said. "What I do is just minor you know. I don't have a degree. I'm not a nurse. I'm not a doctor." But Berry does have an innate gift of helping others and giving them a reason to fight. "It just gives me a purpose of doing something and a reason to be up first thing in the morning," Berry said. Awards were handed out in seven categories, including public service, education and viewer's choice. Spectrum Bay News 9 will air the awards ceremony in its entirety on Sunday, April 1 at 4 p.m. As much as 450 acres may have been burned during the brush fire still burning in the Nalcrest area of east Polk County. Still contained, Polk brush fire burns more acres 450 acres burned, fire about 50 percent contained Crews still fighting fire Fire crews are still trying to get the upper hand on the fire, which is about 50 percent contained. According to the Florida Forestry Service, crews are having a difficult time using heavy equipment in the woods where the fire is still burning. Officials said the fire likely started Sunday due to a ligthning strike. There is only one road going in and out of Nalcrest, so many residents worry about how they would evacuate if the fire flares up in a major way again. "The fire is in wet area and the majority of the fire is smoldering," said Todd Chlanda a Widlife Mitigation Specialist with the FFS. "This is why we are having a difficult time plowing containment lines around the entire fire. It is slow work. "We are still at 50 percent. At this time, no structures are threatened or in danger. This fire is burning inside of a 2,000 acre swamp." Even though it wasnt fully contained Monday, dozens of residents felt safe enough to leave their homes behind and go about their plans for the day. Some, like Nittoli, were getting on buses to attend a spring training game in Lakeland. In February 2017, about 5,000 acres burned along Highway 630. The "630 Fire" left at least a dozen families homeless. Another brush fire in late April of that year burned 700 acres near Indian Lake Estates and was estimated to have caused $1 million in damages. Noor Salman has spent the past year and a half in protective custody, but soon, a jury will decide whether she can walk out of Orlando federal court a free woman or potentially spend the rest of her life in prison. After the defense rested its case Tuesday, the widow of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen was escorted out of court as she gave a short wave to her family sitting a few rows back. Her uncle, Al Salman, spoke to reporters outside. Just to give her hope, I want her to feel a little happiness... he said. Her family seemed optimistic with how the defense presented its case and the testimony of clinical psychologist Dr. Bruce Frumpkin. Frumpkin told jurors that Noor Salman has a below-average IQ of 84 and is at a greater risk of giving a false confession. This goes to the heart of defense arguments that say in the hours after the Pulse shooting, Salman was coerced and manipulated into giving false statements to please the FBI. BREAKING: Defense rests in Noor Salman Trial. Closing arguments Wednesday morning before jury of 12 to deliberate fate of Pulse nightclub gunman. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/LlrRb0rg9e Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) March 27, 2018 Those 11 hours with the FBI changed her life. She thought she was helping them, Salman family spokeswoman Susan Clary said. Despite her statements, defense witnesses said cellphone and internet records prove neither Salman nor her husband were ever at Pulse or the Pulse website in the days before the attack. Prosecutors, for their part, contend Salman was well aware of the attack her husband was about to carry out. They showed jurors not only the graphic video of the attack from inside the club but also text messages, purported cover stories and receipts detailing days of spending almost $30,000 on jewelry, clothes, firearms and ammunition. Attorney David Haas, who is not a part of the trial, thinks this will be a main point of the prosecutions closing argument Wednesday. Those financial transactions are really what I think youre going to see the government focus on, and how that was so out of the normal for a couple who earned less than $30,000 a year, Haas said. Defense attorneys are likely to argue to jurors that the government has failed to prove its argument that Salman not only knew, but helped, her husband plan the Pulse attack, and then lied about it to the FBI. For the defense, youre going to see the biggest argument is going to be what the government did not have, Haas said. Salman is charged with obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting. The jury can decide to find Salman guilty on both charges, just one of the charges, or not guilty at all. Either way, the 12-person jury must be unanimous in its decision. Closing arguments are expected to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Earlier testimony The week started off with some revealing information after the defense filed a motion on Sunday that stated the evidence collected on the day of the Pulse shooting showed that Seddique Mateen, father of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen, may have been involved in the promotion of violent activities by providing funds to unknown sources in Afghanistan and Turkey. According to the defense motion, the email also claimed that an anonymous tip made Nov. 1, 2012, showed that Seddique Mateen was trying to raise up to $100,000 through a donation drive to contribute toward an attack against the government of Pakistan. The defense said the omission of the evidence has prevented them from properly defending Salman, who is charged with aiding and abetting her husband and obstruction of justice, in this case, as well as violating Salman's constitutional right to due process and a fair trial. It came after an FBI special agent testified that Seddique Mateen worked as a FBI informant from 2005 to 2016. It was also revealed that the Pulse gunman himself was considered being a FBI informant at one point. The jury also heard from Salman's family and friends, who described her as a kind, peaceful person. Noor Salmans uncle, Al, told Spectrum News 13 Monday that Noor is a peaceful and kind woman, devoted to her son and did not deserve to have spent the past year and a half living life daily in solitary protective custody. "We have high hope when they get to see who Noor really is, they'll let her go," said Al Salman. Prosecutors last week rested their case in Orlando federal court as they doubled down on their arguments that Salman knew her husband was going to attack Pulse nightclub in June 2016. The government highlighted Salman's statement to FBI agents that she scouted Pulse nightclub with her husband before the attack. For Immediate Release, March 27, 2018 Contact: Ileene Anderson, (323) 490-0223, ianderson@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Seeks Federal Protection for Eight California Wild and Scenic Rivers LOS ANGELES The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit in federal court today to force the Trump administration to show how it will protect eight congressionally designated wild and scenic California rivers, which wind though three national forests and other public lands and provide habitat for imperiled fish, birds and other wildlife. The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service have failed to create management plans for these southern California rivers as required under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, putting the rivers at risk. Todays lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, seeks to ensure protection of more than 100 miles of waters in the Amargosa River, Owens Headwaters, Cottonwood Creek, Piru Creek, North Fork San Jacinto River, Fuller Mill Creek, Palm Canyon Creek and Bautista Creek all designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2009. These rivers are some of southern California's crown jewels and provide critical habitat for endangered birds and other imperiled species, said Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist at the Center. They also provide respite and recreation for people, who rely on the government to protect these special places for their kids and grandkids. Without a management plan, a wild and scenic river designation is meaningless. The act ensures rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values remain in free-flowing, wild condition. It requires the federal agencies to prepare comprehensive management plans to protect the river segments within three years of their designation. No management plans for these rivers have been finalized to date. Wild and scenic river management plans provide important protections by ensuring that the qualities for which the river was designated wild, scenic, or recreational remain for future generations. River management plans ensure that water flow and water quality are protected from threats such as poorly managed grazing, off-road vehicles and other harmful activities. Background on Californias Wild and Scenic Rivers Amargosa River: Congress designated more than 26 miles of the Amargosa River in Inyo and San Bernardino counties as scenic, wild or recreational. The Amargosa River is an entirely spring-fed perennial desert river system, harboring a remarkable level of biodiversity in the hottest and driest part of the Mojave Desert. This includes critical habitat for the entire wild population of the endangered Amargosa vole, the endangered plant Amargosa niterwort, the endangered least Bell's vireo, and the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. The designated river segments are located on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Owens Headwater: Congress designated nearly 20 miles of the Owens Headwaters in Inyo County (along the Upper Owens River, Glass Creek and Deadman Creek) as wild, scenic or recreational. Owens Headwaters and its adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for many species, including the threatened Yosemite toad and a wide diversity of butterflies. The designated segments of the Owens Headwaters are on public lands managed by the Inyo National Forest. Cottonwood Creek: Congress designated more than 20 miles of Cottonwood Creek in Inyo County as wild or recreational. Cottonwood Creek and its adjacent riparian corridors provide habitat for threatened Paiute cutthroat trout and rare spotted bat. The designated wild segment of Cottonwood Creek is on public lands managed by the Inyo National Forest and the recreational segment is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Piru Creek: Congress designated more than 7 miles of the Piru Creek in Ventura County wild or recreational. Piru Creek, a tributary of the Santa Clara River, contains unique geological formations, unusual gorges and riparian vegetation. The creek and adjacent riparian corridors provide critical California condor nesting and roosting sites, as well as habitat for the threatened arroyo toad and native trout. The designated segments of Piru Creek are on public lands managed by the Los Padres National Forest. North Fork of the San Jacinto River: Congress designated more than 10 miles of the North Fork of the San Jacinto River in Riverside County wild, scenic or recreational. The North Fork of the San Jacinto River and its adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for the critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frog, California spotted owls, the rubber boa and the San Bernardino flying squirrel. The designated segments are on public lands managed by the San Bernardino National Forest. Fuller Mill Creek: Congress designated 3.5 miles of Fuller Mill Creek in Riverside County as scenic or recreational. Fuller Mill Creek and its adjacent riparian corridors provide habitat for critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs, California spotted owls, the rubber boa and the San Bernardino flying squirrel, among others. The designated scenic segments are managed by the San Bernardino National Forest. Palm Canyon Creek: Congress designated 8 miles of Palm Canyon Creek in Riverside County as wild. Congress also instructed that the area be managed cooperatively with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to protect and enhance river values. Palm Canyon Creek and its associated riparian corridoes provide habitat for endangered southwestern willow flycatcher and endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep. The designated wild segment is on public lands managed the San Bernardino National Forest. Bautista Creek: Congress designated a 10-mile segment of Bautista Creek in Riverside County as recreational. Bautista Creek and its adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for threatened arroyo toads, endangered southwestern willow flycatchers, endangered Quino checkerspot butterflies and the endangered slender-horned spineflower. The designated segment is on public lands managed by the San Bernardino National Forest. For Immediate Release, March 27, 2018 Contact: Chris Nagano, (916) 765-9097, cnagano@biologicaldiversity.org Restrictions Sought on Unsustainable Export of America's Imperiled Turtles More Than 17 Million Turtles Exported From 2011 to 2016 WASHINGTON The Center for Biological Diversity today submitted extensive comments asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to seek increased restrictions on the unsustainable export and trade of 15 imperiled turtle species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Turtle traders exported more than 17 million freshwater turtles from the United States between 2011 and 2016. Most are used to supply food and medicinal markets in Asia, where turtle consumption rates have soared and native populations of turtles have already been decimated. The indiscriminate commercial capture and export of millions of our turtles to Asian markets is placing these important animals at serious risk, said Chris Nagano, senior scientist at the Center. Alligator snappers and map turtles desperately need strict protections from international trade, so U.S. wildlife officials should seek global safeguards immediately. The two alligator snapping turtle and 13 map turtle species are native to the southern, midwestern and northeastern United States and are severely imperiled by trapping and export. Overharvest has caused population declines in almost all the species. In response to a 2012 petition from the Center, the two species of alligator snapping turtles and four species of map turtles are under consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act in large part because of massive exploitation. The Trump administration should not stand back and watch as these animals are pushed toward extinction, said Nagano. Our turtles are already suffering from habitat loss, water pollution and other threats. They just cant withstand commercial exploitation. Alligator snapping turtles and map turtles are currently listed under CITES Appendix III, which requires certain permits or certificates for the international trade of listed species. The Centers proposal asks that the western alligator snapping turtle, Suwannee alligator snapping turtle and 13 species of map turtles be listed on CITES Appendix II, which would only allow international trade with a permit if it can be shown that the trade would not be detrimental to their survival. CITES-listed species are also subject to mandatory reporting requirements. In separate comments, the Center also requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service seek increased protections for the polar bear, walrus, narwhal, hippopotamus and several species of sea horses and sea cucumbers. The Service sought comments from the public on species that need additional protection under CITES. The agency may propose species for additional protections in preparation for the next CITES meeting of the parties in Sri Lanka in May 2019. Background The United States is a turtle biodiversity hotspot, home to more types of turtles than any other country in the world. As part of the Centers campaign to protect this rich natural heritage, the group petitioned states with unrestricted commercial turtle harvest to improve harvest regulations. Many states, including Alabama, Florida and Georgia, responded by banning or regulating commercial harvest of freshwater turtles. More recently, Missouri banned commercial collection of wild freshwater turtles and Iowa adopted stricter regulations. In March, Texas proposed banning all commercial turtle harvest. The Center recently petitioned for a ban on unlimited commercial trapping in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Center has also petitioned to list several species of imperiled freshwater turtles under the Endangered Species Act. Mounting scientific evidence shows that amphibians and reptiles (together called herpetofauna) are among the most imperiled species on Earth. Ubiquitous toxins, global warming, nonnative predators, overcollection, habitat destruction and disease are key factors leading to demise of amphibians and reptiles in the United States and worldwide. View more information about the Centers campaign to stop the herpetofauna extinction crisis. Following the success of its previous 28-roomed offering, Bon Hotels' Bon Hotel Abuja recently celebrated the launch of its upgraded and extended offering - which has been in process for 18 months - at an event on 20 March 2018. Bon Hotel Abuja - Reception Celebrating the Nigerian hospitality industry Bon Hotel Abuja - Bar Lounge The four-star Bon Hotel Abuja, which was taken over by the Bon Hotels Group in October 2016, has completed phases one and two of a total revamp. The initial phases saw a refurbishment and redecoration of the existing rooms and bathrooms, an upgrade and revamp of all the public areas, the addition of a swimming pool, a gym and a coffee lounge.The final phase, which is still in progress, is the addition of 20 new rooms on the recently acquired property adjacent to the existing hotel. The owner and general manager in consultation with executive chef, Chris Geldart have also upgraded their restaurant and kitchen facilities and launched a new menu.General manager Ankia Geldart explained that it wasnt without its challenges: "As a working hotel, with in-house guests, the revamp was often a challenge as the hotel needed to consider guests and mitigate any inconvenience."Ikenna Chukwueke, owner of the property, confirmed the joint commitment: "Our mutual commitment to this project speaks for itself; you simply do not achieve an average room occupancy of 90% by accident. This takes careful design, and commitment of both parties to consistently delivering four-star international service standards and products, and Bon Hotels have certainly proved their worth."Addressing guests at the event, CEO of Bon Hotels International West Africa, Guy Stehlik confirmed the groups dedication and enthusiasm to the hotels they manage and market, and moreover their commitment to the upliftment, success and transformation of the Nigerian hospitality industry: "With owners who are wholeheartedly passionate about our brand, with the value and experience our board, management and staff bring to the table, we are undoubtedly confident about our success in Nigeria." Sometimes cute does work in advertising. And sometimes, as a critic of advertising, if you pan something which is cute - or, even more dangerous, includes an animal - you incur the wrath of diverse constituencies, whose hate mail wishes you all manner of unpleasantness. Screengrab from the ad. Screengrab from the ad. I learned that the hard way some years ago when I had a go at Buddy, Toyotas long-served Boxer dog, which featured in a series of ads over a long time. I suggested that it was time he was put downSouth Africans do love their dogsand their Toyotas. And they do love cute.But I think cute for cutes sake can detract from the serious point youre trying to make in your advertising.Just in case you think it is just me, the grumpy old git, again, let me point out that when latest TV commercial for Sanlam comes on, its my wife who yells at me Change the channel! (seriously, which household is it where the women have control over the remote on a normal TV night?).Titled Bright idea (yo, cool one, copywriting dudes), it features weapons-grade cuteness in the form of a little bicycle-riding girl. She pedals through the streets of a town on the outskirts of San Francisco (and tells us so in what is quite clearly a South African accent) and then heads for a local fire station where, so Wikipedia tells us, a light bulb has been burning continuously (other than one or two times it was switched off) for more than 116 years.With a wise head (and an even wiser copywriter), Miss Cutie Pie asks: Why cant we make things to last?Cue Sanlam, which will make your money last and keep it going, just like that light bulb.You went all the way to the States with a local kid (unless you dubbed the sound track afterwards) to make this ad? Didnt we have anything locally which could have made the same point?But what really irks me is the cloying cuteness of the whole thing. Id prefer the people looking after my money to be expert, rather than cute.So, Sanlam, you get a long-lasting Onion (this will go online and, as people are now beginning to realise, nothing ever dies in cyberspace, so it will be around, somewhere, far into the future).After starting off with an Onion, Ill follow it up will another well-deserved Orchid for the people at agency Joe Public (this time Joe Public Unlimited) for the thought-provoking activation they did on behalf on the Apartheid Museum on Human Rights Day.At selected restaurants around the country, patrons who ate there were presented with an extra bill, that of the human cost of Apartheid.It was done just like a restaurant bill but with lives, instead of rands and cents. And it was sobering. A reminder that the day was not just a day off for wining and dining, but for remembering those who sacrificed to get us to where we are today.Excellent piece of work, So Orchids to the Apartheid Museum and to Joe Public Unlimited, particularly, for proving that advertising and marketing does have some redeeming social value.And now for an interesting tale about the power of advertising.I have been insured through a firm of brokers for ten years, with only one claim and no hassles. This year, when renewal time came around and I had no response to some urgent queries, I got in a huff.Instantly, thanks to the call-to-action marketing out there, I went on hippo.co.za to get some comparison quotes. After giving details online, I was called back in double quick time and gave some more details, and again in double quick time, got a number of different quotes.Dialdirect was a name which stuck in my mind (as did the five others, mind you) and, because it was at the top of the list, I opted for that.Again, very efficient follow up (within minutes). Gave even more detail and was then sent a detailed quote. I had a query on that, which was handled quickly.Then, finally, and ready to sign, I sent an email to confirm where the insured vehicles would be parked during the day, wanting to be absolutely accurate (as they tell you to be when dealing with insurance).Three weeks later, I am still waiting for a call back from Dialdirect.That didnt do much for my mood, so I contacted Outsurance this time my train of thought was started by an Outsurance-branded licence disc holder lying on my desk.And, surprise, surprise, Outsurance lived up to its claims (or more correctly, the claims of its customers) in its current TV commercials: good, friendly service (even if there were a few extra calls to correct mistakes) and a good rate.I save R4,000 annually on two cars. And no, I am not being paid to say this.So, for living up to your promises, Outsurance, you get an Orchid from me.But, as for Dialdirect, I am considering giving you the Onion of Lost Opportunities but I will get back to you on that. I promise LONDON, England - Ireland's Smurfit Kappa, which makes cardboard and paper packaging, said on Monday that it has rejected an improved 8.9-billion ($11-billion) bid from US peer International Paper. Image credit: Smurfit Kappa London-listed Smurfit, which had earlier this month snubbed an initial 8.6-billion bid, said in a statement that the latest offer also failed to reflect its value, track record and prospects.The improved cash-and-stock bid - pitched at 37.54 per share - was therefore inadequate, it added. "The board has unanimously rejected the revised proposal," Smurfit said in its statement."The board is resolute in its belief that the best interests of the group's stakeholders are served by pursuing its future as an independent company, operating as the European and pan-American leader in paper-based packaging."The revised proposal also fundamentally undervalues the group."International Paper responded with a statement detailing the revised proposal. The US giant added that the "combination of two highly complementary businesses has compelling strategic and financial rationale".The group "remains willing to move quickly and cooperatively to engage with Smurfit Kappa with a view to achieving a recommended transaction".Dublin-based Smurfit employs about 46,000 staff in 35 countries dotted around the world. The company's annual sales stood at about 8.6 billion in 2017.International Paper is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, in the southeastern Unites States. It has a global workforce of 56,000 and annual revenues of around $21.7 billion. PARIS - American designer and celebrity DJ Virgil Abloh is to take over menswear at Louis Vuitton, the brand said on Monday, in a dramatic shake-up at the top of men's fashion. Virgil Abloh A post shared by @virgilabloh on Mar 25, 2018 at 9:43pm PDT The appointment of rap star Kanye West's longtime friend and creative director to the French luxury label shows the massive impact street style is now having on fashion.Abloh, 37, a former architect, who has won plaudits for his own Off-White label, posted a picture of a vintage Louis Vuitton travel chest to his 1.6 million Instagram followers to announce the move. He had earlier teased them with a post of a white T-shirt with the initials "SHM", which stood for "something huge Monday".He is the second black man to head one of the big Paris fashion houses, with French designer Olivier Rousteing responsible for both Balmain's men and women's lines. They follow in the footsteps of British creator Ozwald Boateng, who led Givenchy menswear from 2003 to 2007."It is an honour for me to accept the position of men's artistic director for Louis Vuitton," Abloh said in a statement released by the brand, the largest in the luxury giant LVMH's stable."I find the heritage and creative integrity of the house are key inspirations and will look to reference them both while drawing parallels to modern times," he added.Abloh takes over from British designer Kim Jones - who has gone to Dior Homme - and will stage his first Vuitton show during Paris men's fashion week in June, the label said. He looks set to continue Jones' high-profile hook-ups with street style labels, with Jones famously teaming up with New York street brand Supreme.Abloh - who has an address book full of celebrity friends that goes from the Kardashian clan to the art world - is responsible for some of the most sought-after trainers of the moment. "The Ten" trainers his Off-White label designed for Nike have reportedly sold for as much as $2,000 (1,600) a pair, with his Air Jordan 1s on sale for up to 950 on eBay.Described bymagazine as "one of fashion's consummate purveyors of cool and hype", and "a master of irony, reference and the self-aware wink" by the, he has not been afraid to court controversy. Last year he teamed up with the famed American artist Jenny Holzer for a show in Italy that shone a light on the migrant crisis there.Raised in the US state of Illinois by Ghanaian parents, his mother was a seamstress who taught him her trade before he went on to study civil engineering and later architecture. He began his fashion career alongside his friend Kanye West as a 500 euro-a-month intern at Italian label Fendi, setting up his own label in 2012. The following year West made him his creative partner."I feel elated," the designer told the, saying he would move his family to the French capital."This opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams." In recent weeks South Africans have suffered yet another shock when nationally beloved consumer brand, Enterprise, was found to be the source of what the United Nations has called the "worst outbreak of listeriosis recorded globally." Whats the biggest mistake you can make in a crisis? Not knowing youre in a crisis... Olivia Pope, The Fixer, S7 E12 Uncoordinated engagement How it could have played out differently Steps to successfully handling a reputational crisis If you lose money for the firm, Ill be forgiving. If you lose reputation, Ill be ruthless. In recent weeks South Africans have suffered yet another shock when nationally beloved consumer brand, Enterprise, was found to be the source of what the United Nations has called the worst outbreak of listeriosis recorded globally.Tiger Brands did not fully understand the gravity of the situation when it began engaging with the public and the media. Perhaps like my fictional heroine Olivia Pope from the TV series The Fixer says, they did not realise they were in a crisis. Or if they did, perhaps they discovered too late that their plan of action was inadequate and there was no precedent on which to draw from.Failing to plan for a reputational crisis happens more often than it is comfortable to think about. Depending on who is in charge, companies often wing it and pull in the big legal guns to protect themselves once the news has broken in the public domain. And it shows. Its obvious that Tiger Brands has been taking its legal counsel at the expense of its brand and reputation strategy.The cost of this approach has been high for Tiger Brands. The immediate fallout of the crisis has been the destruction of consumer trust with nationwide product recalls making headlines, closely followed by erosion of the companys market cap, profits and stature as one of South Africas leading listed companies.The Financial Mail reported on 8 March 2018, that the scandal has wiped off R4.4bn from Tigers market cap considerably in excess of the contribution made by its value-added meat products division. Of its R27bn in sales recorded for the year ended September, value-added meat products accounted for R2.24bn in revenue. Ouch!Tiger Brands has remained defiant in their infrequent communication and uncoordinated engagement with stakeholders and consumers, attempting to distance themselves as much as possible from the accusations that they are responsible for this outbreak of Listeriosis, and the resulting deaths of over 180 people.The company appears to be following a line of protecting itself from potential class action lawsuits, and the narrative being developed appears to be driven by legal counsel, evidenced by the lack of sincere and open stakeholder engagement, lack of demonstrable sympathy with victims families and poor relationships with the media.The result is that Tiger Brands is being perceived as arrogant, unsympathetic and more interested in protecting its profits than the safety of consumers. I believe that even if legal counsel is advising caution with public statements of admissions of guilt, it should not be done at the expense of engagement and open communication with affected stakeholder and the general public.Back in 2003, Pick n Pays then chief executive Sean Summers adopted a similar approach when dealing with the poison threat in the companys no name brands. Summers was known to have engaged with everyone on an ongoing basis, also employing a Forgiveness strategy in the face of fierce criticism. Despite a serious threat to the company, its brand and customers, goodwill in the brand and the share price grew in the face of this crisis, rather than eroding its value.Warren Buffet said:I understand this perspective because I have seen how the price for reputational damage often far exceeds the value on the balance sheet. To avoid a situation like Tiger Brands is in, where managing the crisis becomes the crisis, companies should invest in a long-term, strategic approach.I am a strong believer in planning for the worst and hoping for the best. In reputation management, companies need to plan for every scenario and have a robust reputation management and crisis communication strategy in place together with risk management and risk mitigation strategies, with clear plans and areas of responsibility in place.Tiger Brands never acknowledged the seriousness of the problem, to begin with, and thought it was an operational hiccup that would pass, hoping that the damage could be contained locally. This was not to be, and the brand giant was caught unawares.Once a crisis breaks, its essential to acknowledge it for what it is, categorise its level of severity appropriately, and activate the most suitable plan with the right level of resources to support the activities required to address the challenges adequately. Companies must act quickly, but with facts.Critical decision makers must convene to agree the strategy and leaders with the appropriate profile and media experience should be appointed to share information on a regular and ongoing basis. Having an open line of communication to the media is key to this approach.This requires a robust reputational crisis management plan. Without it, companies could find themselves exposed in the most unflattering light and inadvertently be unprepared to make the best of a bad situation. An ultra-fine biodegradable film some 50,000 times thinner than a human hair could be enlisted to protect the Great Barrier Reef from environmental degradation, researchers said on Tuesday, 27 March. The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists each year, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change.Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Biology have been buoyed by test results of a floating "sun shield" made of calcium carbonate that has been shown to protect the reef from the effects of bleaching."It's designed to sit on the surface of the water above the corals, rather than directly on the corals, to provide an effective barrier against the sun," Great Barrier Reef Foundation managing director Anna Marsden said.The trials, headed by the scientist who developed the country's polymer bank notes, on seven different coral types found that the protective layer decreased bleaching of most species, cutting off sunlight by up to 30%."It (the project) created an opportunity to test the idea that by reducing the amount of sunlight from reaching the corals in the first place, we can prevent them from becoming stressed which leads to bleaching," Marsden said.With its heavy use of coal-fired power and relatively small population, Australia is considered one of the world's worst per capita greenhouse gas polluters, with advocates urging Canberra to do more to protect the environment.The reef is also under threat from the predatory coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish as well as farming run off.Marsden said it was impractical to suggest that the "sun shield" - made from the same material found in coral skeletons - could cover the entire 348,000 square-kilometre reef."But it could be deployed on a smaller, local level to protect high value or high-risk areas of reef," she added."The concept needs more work and testing before it gets to that stage, but it's an exciting development at a time when we need to explore all possible options to ensure we have a Great Barrier Reef for future generations."A report last year from Deloitte Access Economics valued the Great Barrier Reef as an asset worth AUS$56bn, which included its tourism revenues and indirect value for people who have not yet visited the site but know it exists. Declining biodiversity, now and in the future - Africa Global development goals in jeopardy Promising policy options available The reports, a result of three years of work, entail four regional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services covering the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, as well as Europe and Central Asia - the entire planet except the poles and the open oceans."Biodiversity and nature's contributions to people sound, to many people, academic and far removed from our daily lives," said the chair of IPBES, Sir Robert Watson. "Nothing could be further from the truth - they are the bedrock of our food, clean water and energy. They are at the heart not only of our survival, but of our cultures, identities and enjoyment of life."The best available evidence, gathered by the world's leading experts, points us now to a single conclusion: we must act to halt and reverse the unsustainable use of nature - or risk not only the future we want, but even the lives we currently lead. Fortunately, the evidence also shows that we know how to protect and partially restore our vital natural assets."The extensively peer-reviewed IPBES assessment reports focus on providing answers to key questions for each of the four regions, including: why is biodiversity important, where are we making progress, what are the main threats and opportunities for biodiversity and how can we adjust our policies and institutions for a more sustainable future?In every region, with the exception of a number of positive examples where lessons can be learned, biodiversity and nature's capacity to contribute to people are being degraded, reduced and lost due to a number of common pressures - habitat stress; overexploitation and unsustainable use of natural resources; air, land and water pollution; increasing numbers and impact of invasive alien species and climate change, among others."Africa's immense natural resources and its diverse cultural heritage are among its most important strategic assets for both human development and well-being," said South Africa's Dr Emma Archer, co-chair of the African assessment with Dr Kalemani Jo Mulongoy (DRC) and Dr Luthando Dziba (South Africa). "Africa is the last place on Earth with a wide range of large mammals, yet today there are more African plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and large mammals threatened than ever before by a range of both human-induced and natural causes.""Africa is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and this is going to have severe consequences for economically marginalised populations. By 2100, climate change could also result in the loss of more than half of African bird and mammal species, a 20-30% decline in the productivity of Africa's lakes and significant loss of African plant species."The report adds that approximately 500,000kmof African land is already estimated to have been degraded by overexploitation of natural resources, erosion, salinisation and pollution, resulting in significant loss of nature's contributions to people. Even greater pressure will be placed on the continent's biodiversity as the current African population of 1.25-billion people is set to double to 2.5-billion by 2050.Marine and coastal environments make significant economic, social and cultural contributions to the people of Africa. Damage to coral reef systems, mostly due to pollution and climate change, has far-reaching implications for fisheries, food security, tourism and overall marine biodiversity."One of the most important findings across the four IPBES regional assessments is that failure to prioritise policies and actions to stop and reverse biodiversity loss, and the continued degradation of nature's contributions to people, seriously jeopardises the chances of any region, and almost every country, meeting their global development targets," said Dr Anne Larigauderie, the executive secretary of IPBES."Achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and the Paris Agreement on climate change, all depend on the health and vitality of our natural environment in all its diversity and complexity. Acting to protect and promote biodiversity is at least as important to achieving these commitments and to human wellbeing as is the fight against global climate change.""Richer, more diverse ecosystems are better able to cope with disturbances - such as extreme events and the emergence of diseases. They are our 'insurance policy' against unforeseen disasters and, used sustainably, they also offer many of the best solutions to our most pressing challenges."All the plausible future scenarios explored in the Africa assessment highlight that the drivers of biodiversity loss will increase, with associated negative impacts on nature's contributions to people and human well-being. Achieving the African Union's Agenda 2063, the SDGs and the Aichi Targets is unlikely in three out of five scenarios explored.Accompanying the stark concerns of the IPBES experts, however, are messages of hope: promising policy options do exist and have been found to work in protecting and restoring biodiversity and nature's contributions to people, where they have been effectively applied.Measures taken by African governments to protect biodiversity and nature's contributions to people, have contributed to some recovery of threatened species, especially in key biodiversity areas, and these efforts could be enhanced. Such measures include the establishment and effective management of protected areas and networks of wildlife corridors; restoration of degraded ecosystems; control of invasive alien species and reintroduction of wild animals. Despite the African Union's priorities of poverty alleviation, inclusive growth and sustainable development, especially in the context of global climate change, the report finds that the continent is greatly undervaluing its natural resources.In addition to enhancing biodiversity conservation through appropriate governance, policies and national implementation, the authors emphasise the need for better integration of indigenous and local knowledge and greater use of scenarios in African decision-making. Of the five possible scenarios they explore, two (regional sustainability and local sustainability) are identified as the most likely paths to meet Africa's economic, social and environmental development aspirations, but the authors point to the need for capacity building on the use of scenarios in decision-making.Speaking about the policy options emerging from the four regional assessments, Watson said: "Although there are no 'silver bullets' or 'one-size-fits all' answers, the best options in all four regional assessments are found in better governance, integrating biodiversity concerns into sectoral policies and practices (e.g. agriculture and energy), the application of scientific knowledge and technology, increased awareness and behavioural changes.""It is also clear that indigenous and local knowledge can be an invaluable asset, and biodiversity issues need to receive much higher priority in policy making and development planning at every level. Cross-border collaboration is also essential, given that biodiversity challenges recognize no national boundaries." In a 'best practice step to commercialise homegrown cultivars' locally and internationally, a new agreement has been signed between Culdevco and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) for a further 10-year period. This agreement dates back to 2006 but has recently expired. Agricultural Research Council: Back: Prof Bongani Ndimba (ARC), Dr Cynthia Motsi (ARC), Dr Leon von Mollendorff (Culdevco). Front: Dr Shadrack Moephuli (ARC) and Dappie Smit (Culdevco). Keeping the homegrown advantage New cultivars of great benefit to the industry According to the agreement, Culdevco, amongst other players, is being tasked with the commercialisation of deciduous fruit cultivars developed by the ARC. Culdevco was established in 2006 when the South African deciduous fruit industry and the ARC formed a joint venture to commercialise all ARC-bred varieties.As with all things, everything changes with time, said Culdevco Chairperson Dappie Smit. The environment within which cultivars are being managed and commercialised in the deciduous fruit industry has changed substantially over the past number of years and new negotiations and agreements had to be drawn up that would create a win-win for all parties involved.Culdevco will in future evaluate, commercialise and promote selected ARC cultivars locally amongst growers. The aim is to keep the homegrown advantage before we commercialise cultivars abroad, Smit said. The recent launch of Joybells, a new table grape variety, at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, is an example of this approach.ARC CEO, Dr Shadrack Moephuli, said: Partnerships such as the one with Culdevco enable the ARC to directly disseminate technologies and scientific solutions to farmers and their associated organisations for use in commercial enterprises which, in turn, facilitates the competitiveness and sustainability of the South African agriculture sector. The net effect is market access and sustainable jobs for our society. We, therefore, hope this agreement will strengthen the relationship between Culdevco, the deciduous fruit sector and ARC for the growth of South African farmers.Commercial development of ARC-bred varieties has already made a significant impact on the South African deciduous fruit industry. This impact is clearly reflected in the number of new cultivars that have been released to the industry during the last 20 years, as well as the foreign exchange earned through exporting these cultivars to countries abroad. In total, 10 pome (apples and pears) fruit, 11 table grape and 67 stone fruit cultivars have been released to the South African deciduous fruit industry during this period.Currently, there are more than 150 cultivars under the management of Culdevco, which include varieties of apples, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and table grapes, as well as apple and stone fruit rootstocks.All these varieties will be of great benefit to the South African deciduous fruit industry as they have been specifically developed for South African growing conditions. Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash Against the backdrop of climate change, resource shortages and urbanisation, the question of how to ensure adequate food supply for everyone looms rather large. The usual response emphasises intensifying the output of agriculture through the common model of petrochemical, large-scale, one-crop, intensive farming. Alf Ribeiro / Shutterstock.com Agroecology Support agro-ecological practices and actions to reduce post-harvest losses and food waste, as well as to protect soils, conserve water resources, halt, prevent and reverse deforestation, and maintain biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. Morley Read/Shutterstock.com Absent aid But business as usual is no longer an option for food and agriculture. The global agriculture system will have to be radically transformed to avoid further environmental and social problems, as was concluded by a three-year study commissioned by the UN and the World Bank involving more than 400 scientists. This report, as well as subsequent international studies by the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food , have convincingly demonstrated that agroecology farming that imitates natural ecosystems is the most promising pathway to sustainable food systems on all continents.Agroecology is based on the idea that farms should mimic the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems. In ecosystems, there is no waste: nutrients are recycled indefinitely. Agroecology aims to close nutrient loops returning all nutrients that come out of the soil, back to the soil. In the case of vegetable farming, for example, this could be achieved through composting of vegetable scraps, human and farmyard manure.Agroecology also harnesses natural processes to control pests and build soil fertility. Agroecological practices include integrating trees with livestock and crops ( agro-sylvo-pastoral farming), producing food from forests (agroforestry), growing several crops together in one plot (polyculture) and using locally adapted and genetically diverse crops and livestock.Throughout the world, small-scale farmers are uniting under the banner of agroecology . They do so not only to produce healthy and nutritious food, enhance biodiversity and adapt to climate change, but also to improve their income and working conditions by developing short food chains and local markets . Local ecologies and economies are being regenerated from below through an insistence on food sovereignty (community control over the way food is produced, traded and consumed) and transformative agroecology (as opposed to more watered down versions of agroecology, such as climate-smart or conservation agriculture).But changes also need to be made on a larger scale. Some bodies recognise this. Faced with the growing social and environmental costs of industrial farming, the European Union adopted a New European Consensus for Development in June 2017. This commits the EU to:But opening up agroecological pathways to sustainable food systems in the EU is a major challenge. Radical changes in funding priorities and research agendas are necessary. Similarly, a total overhaul of overseas aid programmes is urgently needed to support crucial transitions to agroecology in Africa, Asia and Latin America.However, this is not currently happening. Our recently published research shows that very little overseas aid is directed at agroecological research and development. Since 1 January 2010, no funds at all have been directed at or been committed to projects with the main focus on development or promotion of agroecological practices.It is true that minor funds have been directed at projects which promote resource efficiency in farming. But this is a very basic agroecological principle. Based on the most generous interpretation of available figures, our study shows for the first time that aid for agroecological projects is less than 5% of aid given for agricultural purposes and less than 0.5% of the total UK aid budget. By largely supporting industrial agriculture, UK aid priorities contribute very little to the transition towards global socio-ecological sustainability.Despite the obscure nature of available information, it is reasonable to assume that there is a similar lack of funding for agroecology in the overseas aid priorities of other so-called developed countries. There is, after all, a chronic lack of internal investment in agroecology within these nations Business, as usual, may rhetorically no longer be an option in food and agriculture. But it will be, as usual, practically the only option as long as these stark funding asymmetries remain.In April 2018, government representatives from around the world will travel to Rome to discuss how to scale up agroecology. This UN Food and Agriculture Organisation International Symposium on Agroecology is a unique opportunity to rethink priorities for agricultural development worldwide. Among the many actions needed, we urgently need to see a substantial increase in public funding for agroecology both within and between nations.This article was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article SA's steel and aluminium exports to the US are such a small proportion of its total imports that they do not pose a threat to US national security and to the US steel and aluminium industries, the government has argued in its submission to the US government in support of its application for an exemption from the duties that President Donald Trump has imposed on steel and aluminium imports. On 9 March Trump announced his decision to impose a 10% ad valorem tariff on imports of aluminium articles and a 25% ad valorem tariff on imports of steel articles from countries excluding Canada and Mexico to take effect from 23 March. The decision followed reports from the secretary of commerce that imports of these products threatened to impair US national security.The proclamation for the duties made provision for country-based exclusions from the duties should the US and that country arrive at a satisfactory alternative means to address the threat to national security.The South African government, through Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, has made a formal submission to the US requesting the exclusion of South Africa from the imposition of duties on steel and aluminium. SA's ambassador to the US, Mninwa Mahlangu, has also engaged with the White House national security council staff, the state department and the office of the US trade representative in this regard.In its submission, SA emphasised that South African exports of aluminium products per year were about 1.6% of total US aluminium imports.On Friday the Department of Trade and Industry noted the US Census Bureau data that in 2017 the US imported a total of 33.4-million tonnes of steel, of which imports from SA were approximately 330,000 tonnes, or less than 1% of total US imports and 0.3% of total US steel demand of 107-million tonnes."Furthermore, SA assured the US that to a very large extent, the inputs for all steel and aluminium product exports to the US are sourced from local producers and that SA has a robust customs control system which prevents circumvention," said Department of Trade and Industry spokesman Sidwell Medupe."SA acknowledges the adverse effects of global steel overcapacity."The domestic steel sector has been severely impacted by low-priced steel and steel product imports and as a result SA has implemented a number of trade remedy measures.... SA participates in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and [Group of 20] multilateral process to achieve outcomes of a fair, sustainable and viable steel industry," he said. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has released the Baseline Survey's final sample, which will provide government, civil society and the public with vital information in order to assess where South Africans stand on constitutional and human rights awareness. Constitutional, human rights awareness Land issue Civil engagement The survey is a part of the multi-year programme called Socio-Economic Justice for All (SEJA), which aims to contribute towards the promotion, protection and realisation of socio-economic rights.The programme, in partnership with the Foundation for Human Rights, is funded by the European Union.According to the Department of Justice, the SEJA programme is premised on a rights-based approach to the long-term eradication of poverty, in which people living in poverty are empowered to assert their constitutional rights as active members of society.The Baseline Surveys final sample consisted of nearly 25,000 interviews and provides insightful and very useful information on a number of issues - all of which are highly relevant and of much interest in the country at present.These issues include the publics general mood about the country, land and property, levels of constitutional awareness, attitudes towards the Constitution, civic and political engagement, sex and sexuality, foreign nationals, human rights and attitudes towards democracy in the country.According to the department, the aim of the survey is to ascertain levels of awareness of human rights and the Constitution and to identify barriers to entrenching a human rights culture in South Africa.With regards to constitutional awareness, the respondents were asked if they had heard of the Constitution of South Africa and if they had heard of the Bill of Rights in Chapter 2 of the Constitution.Slightly more than half, 51%, of respondents, had heard of either.Male respondents were more likely at 55% than their female counterparts, who stood at 47%, to have heard of either the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.With regards to the race of respondents, whites were the most likely (68%) to have heard of either, followed by Indian/Asian respondents (61%).While the majority (56%) of coloureds had heard of either the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, less than half (48%) of black African respondents had heard of either.Speaking at the release of the report, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Michael Masutha said: What this tells us is that there is still an enormous task ahead of us in raising levels of constitutional and human rights awareness. If persons or communities are not even aware of their rights, how can they possibly enforce them?The respondents were also asked on the issue of land which is the subject of much debate and discourse in the country currently.Almost 72% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that land should be returned to black people where it was taken away.As one would expect, there were differences across the races.While 77% of black Africans agreed, this was true for 63% of coloureds, 61% of Indians and 45% of whites.However, despite these levels of support for returning the land to black people where it was taken away, 75% of all adults agreed that no-one should be allowed to take their land away from them or their families.Minister Masutha said this confirms that there is no simple solution to land reform.The Minister reiterated the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa that government is "... going to handle this matter in the way we've always handled difficult issues in our country: by dialogue, discussion, engagement - until we find good solutions that will take our country forward South Africans must, therefore, navigate this issue, not by fear or distrust.The respondents were also asked about civil engagement and the data found that some 56% thought that contacting their local councillor was very difficult. The highest proportion of respondents (88%) thought that contacting a Member of Parliament was the most difficult.Some 76% thought it was difficult or very difficult to challenge a violation of their rights in court, while 82% thought it was difficult or very difficult to approach the Constitutional Court.Some 82% thought it was difficult or very difficult to lodge a complaint with a Chapter 9 body, like the South African Human Rights Commission or the Public Protector.Minister Masutha said what these figures show is that people generally feel that enforcing their rights is either difficult or very difficult.More than two decades after the dawn of democracy, this shouldnt be so. In fact, active citizenship is a fundamental pillar of the NDP and goes to the heart of the developmental state.This is why the Baseline Survey is so useful, the Minister said.The information will greatly assist in helping us, as government, to focus and tailor-make our policies and programs where they are most needed and where they can have the biggest impact, Minister Masutha added. Tiso Blackstar's share remained untraded on Tuesday morning, with only a wide spread between its bid and ask price showing a reaction to a statement released at 5.30pm on Monday that a special dividend of R40m promised in July 2017 had been delayed indefinitely. A buyer was willing to pay R4.66 per Tiso Blackstar share, which if accepted would cause the price to drop more than 30% from the R6.70 it last traded at. A seller was willing to accept R6, which would equate to a 10% drop from Mondays closing price.The owner of BusinessLIVE said on Monday that the proposed buyback of its 22.9% holding of unlisted Kagiso Tiso Holdings (KTH), whose subsidiaries include radio stations Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio, had been revised.In July 2017, Tiso Blackstar said it expected KTH to repurchase its shares for R1.5bn over an 18-month period.Mondays statement said the parties had agreed to renegotiate these deals "due to adverse market conditions in the latter half of 2017, which resulted in a decline in the KTH portfolio valuation and it was therefore not in the best interests of KTH to continue with the full quantum of the buy-back".Under the first phase of a revised repurchase plan, KTH agreed to buy 3.61% of its shares from Tiso Blackstar for R197.9m, which the seller expects to receive by 30 April.Tiso Blackstar will use these proceeds to reduce its debt, which stood at R407.2m at June 30 2017, Mondays statement said."In light of the events as detailed above, the special dividend of R40m, which was conditional upon implementation of the intended KTH disposal, will be reconsidered as part of phase two of the revised KTH disposal."Tiso Blackstar issued a trading statement on March 14 saying it expected to report on Wednesday that its headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months to end-December had increased nearly sevenfold.The media group whose titles include Sunday Times, Business Day and Sowetan said it expected to report interim HEPS of between 19.96c and 20.57c from the matching periods 3.05c."The groups core businesses, media and related operations, performed exceptionally well under tough trading conditions, delivering a mix of sustainable new revenue streams and tight cost management," the company said in its trading statement."The core businesses delivered combined growth in earnings and revenue and are well placed to benefit from the improving economic climate." Despite thousands of South Africans struggling to find employment because they never finished school, few are aware of the option of completing a Technical Matric, which allows them to access a myriad of careers where employers are desperately seeking skilled staff. Artisan opportunities If your lack of a Matric Certificate is holding you back, it is important to know that it is never too late to get your qualification, and also that there are more options open to you than a regular matric, says Zabo Mhleli, senior Student Advisor at Oxbridge Academy, which serves more than 20,000 South African distance learning students every year.He says the Technical Matric qualification is a great option for those who never completed their Matric Certificate, but who are neither in a position nor inclined to return to school.This qualification focuses on technical subjects as well as business languages, and also provides more hands-on experience than the National Senior Certificate curriculum. Once passed, the Technical Matric qualification allows students to continue with any N4 qualification because it is considered equivalent to a regular Matric, he says.The Technical Matric is a Department of Higher Education qualification, and students are required to complete four technical and two business language subjects in order to graduate. An added bonus is the fact that it can be studied via distance learning, Mhleli notes.He says while the Technical Matric Certificate wont grant a student access to university, it does provide access to a range of solid opportunities, including furthering ones studies at N4-level and providing a qualification that one can rely on when applying for apprenticeships and entry-level technical positions.This qualification is a particularly good option for those with good numerical skills who also enjoy working with their hands. It is equally appropriate for people who have a passion for designing, conducting experiments or doing other types of practical projects.We also have many students who signed up because they already work in a technical field, but now need a Matric to qualify for promotion, he says.Mhleli says the local job market is tough, and not having a Matric makes it substantially more difficult to find work and build a career.However there continues to be a huge demand for qualified vocational professionals, with employers desperate for workers with technical knowledge and experience.We want to urge those who have given up hope to investigate their options particularly on the technical front, and to not resign themselves to never living up to their potential. A Technical Matric can be completed on a part-time basis from home, which also means saving on transport, accommodation and all the related costs associated with furthering ones studies. There are thousands of technical positions waiting to be filled, and a Technical Matric is an excellent way to gain the qualification youll need to be able to supply in this demand. infrastructure Understanding protocols Universal language: TCP/IP 1. Transmission control protocol (TCP) Electronic information: bits and bytes 2. Internet protocol Addresses and DNS of the internet. In this post, we will see just how computers talk to one another, using protocols so that they all speak the same language.Protocols are rules and instructions which govern how bits of information are processed. There are several protocols which make communication between devices over a network possible.The internet exists today because of the creation of TCP/IP, which is how we refer to two very important protocols: the transmission control protocol (TCP) and the internet protocol (IP).These protocols work hand-in-hand and make up the control system for the internet, which is why they are listed together as TCP/IP.Transmission Control Protocol is responsible for the division of data into packets and reassembling them. You could think of it as an instruction manual for how to de- and reconstruct the data file.Computers process information in Binary Form: ones and zeros. The smallest unit of data is a bit, and each bit has a value of either one (1) or zero (0). All of the information we send over the internet is broken down into its smallest components and is represented as a sequence of bits.There are 8 bits (b) in a byte (B), 1000 bits in a kilobit (kb), 1000 kilobits in a Megabit (Mb), 1000 Megabits in a Gigabit (Gb), and, you guessed it, 1000 Gigabits in a Terabit (Tb).Data files are broken down into bits and placed in packets of between 1000 and 1500 bytes. The average file size of an mp3 is for instance 3.5Mb. If you would like to download a song from iTunes, the data file -which is the song- will be sent in packets from iTunes servers to your computer.We classify our internet packages by the processing speed of each line. For example, your 10Mbps line is capable of transferring 10 Megabits of data per second!Internet protocol (IP) is the communications protocol. Devices that are connected to a network use IP to process information for formatting and addressing the data packets.This is why every device on the internet has a unique IP address. It is the to and from address.Just like your home has a physical address, all the devices on the Internet have an IP address.An IP address traditionally looks like this: 121.232.145.052. That format is based on the 32-bit system, called IPv4, which only provides four billion unique addresses.Were fast running out of IPv4 addresses, so the world is now in the process of transitioning to a 128-bit system, called IPv6. With this, there will be more than enough addresses, 340 undecillion to be exact. It looks like this: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.You would not normally see or need to remember an IP address because of a system called the domain name system (DNS). It associates a name with its corresponding address.Instead of typing 21.74.116.124 in your browser to visit BitCos* server, you can type www.bitco.co.za. This is the basis for how data travels over the internet and the workings of the world wide web (WWW) which we will discuss in our next post.Each packet has labelled information about where the packet is coming from, where it needs to go, what type of data it contains, and how it fits together with the rest of the data. Once the packets arrive, the file is reassembled according to the packet information.TCP/IP makes it possible for all computer devices to process multiple types of data singly, whether it be an email, an image or larger and more complex data files. From your computer to your ISP to your friends computer on the other side of the world.But how do the packets know exactly where they are going and how do they all arrive at their final destination?In our next post, well explore packet switching, protocol stacks and how information travels over the internet.*Nope, sorry, thats not our real IP address. This company article has been removed. This job expired on 26 May 2018. BORDERLAND BEAT The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. General Mail Box: borderlandbeat@gmail.com Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send us an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. In some of these chain shops, a man is the manager and his wife is the assistant - Tshireletso All the campsites and lodges in Ngamiland and Chobe are managed by foreigners - Kwerepe Government through its actions seems to be promoting delocalisation - Nkaigwa Members of Parliament have condemned governments Localisation Policy for failing Batswana. The MPs have indicated that there are no measures put in place to ensure that foreigners and foreign companies adhere to the requirements of the policy. MP for Mahalapye East Botlogile Tshireletso told Parliament that it is painful to see Batswana in chain shops across the country not being appointed to managerial positions by their employers. She said businesspeople from China and India recycle their families in businesses and only Batswana are employed at lower level. You will find that in some of these chain shops, a man is the manager and his wife is the assistant. Batswana you will only see them manning the shelves and doing other lower activities. These we see in Indian and Chinese shops. When the manager leaves the country, another one from his country of origin is roped in to take over. You will never see a Motswana ascending to a higher post, said Tshireletso when debating budget proposal for Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development for financial year 2018/19. Tshireletso who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said government has to do something about the situation lest the policy is deemed useless to Batswana. MP for Gaborone North Haskins Nkaigwa said it is worrisome to learn that government through its actions seems to be promoting delocalisation. Nkaigwa stated that most companies run by foreigners are disregarding the policy. The legislator said that in most instance people are employed on three months contract basis and such contracts are never renewed. He indicated that this makes it unachievable for the policy to work. Even Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana for the past 8-9 years has been employing people on a three (3) months contract. An organisation owned by government doing that, what can we expect of those of foreigners. These people are learning from this government that workers are not treated well. That is why these foreign companies even fail to localise just a changing of motor vehicle tyres. If we love this country and our people we would not be giving permits to people to do such jobs that can be done by our own, Nkaigwa posited. Also to condemn lack of implementation of the policy was Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Thato Kwerepe who is also MP for Ngami. Kwerepe said all the campsites and lodges in Ngamiland and Chobe are managed by foreigners. According to the ministers only naturalised Batswana are found in managerial positions. As for Motswana of mine skin you will never find them in supervision positions. We have to emphasise on localisation when we give these people permits. Batswana are made to work dangerous jobs where they have to encounter dangerous animals. When our people leave those camps, you will mistake them for tourists because they have nothing to show, Kwerepe said. The thought of Opposition parties infiltrating the ruling Botswana Democratic Party sounds like an absurdity, but BDPs Secretary General Mpho Balopi is convinced it is a reality. Such fears are borne out of last weeks scare by BDP Members of Parliament who threatened during the partys parliamentary caucus meeting to resign en-masse from the party unless their concerns regarding registration of members are addressed. The bone of contention is that some of the cell secretaries who are custodians of the Registration Books have been captured by some of the people interested in contesting for political office. MPs also queried about abuse of the party office where registration books are issued. To address this, BDP Central Committee has since assigned the partys Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC) to oversee registration of members across the country. Balopi told the Press this week that the committee will ensure that all processes are duly followed. The BDP will conduct its last batch of primary elections on the 11th of August this year where democrats will battle it out in 39 constituencies and some of the wards in those constituencies. Most of the MPs are expected to defend their seats come August. The MPs feared that should their concerns not be addressed what was experienced in the January 20th 2018 primaries in opposition held constituencies might be worse this time around. Balopi said the committee which is chaired by Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri will be on a membership drive starting next week. The PEEC would be engaging on that campaign to ensure everything is done properly. They would be also doing auditing alongside registration of members. We just want to ensure that by the time we conduct our primaries in August everything is in place. The January primaries would be used as a yardstick so that whatever mistake or challenge we encountered then would be avoided, Balopi said. The secretary general stated that the intention is to ensure that two weeks before the primaries all the challenges would have been addressed. He said they want things to be done right because as the BDP they have since discovered that opposition members are the ones attempting to cause chaos within the party. We know about their infiltration. They are busy telling our members especially those interested in political office that they are being purged. We know that those who contested in the opposition held constituencies and have filed their complaints have been advised by members of the opposition that we are sitting on their complaints with the aim of frustrating them. Democrats should be on the lookout for such comment because their purpose is to divide us, Balopi revealed. President Lt. Gen. Ian Khama who doubles as Kgosikgolo of Bamangwato tribe will have a showdown in the greater Serowe area beginning this week in his last leg to bid the nation farewell. Khamas visit to Ga-Mmangwato capital will be done in two parts. First, he began with a tour of the three Serowe constituencies on 22 March and yesterday (Thursday) an emotional visit to Mmashoro in Serowe West constituency at 9 am then Paje in Serowe North at 11:30 am before completing his tour in Thabala village at 14:15 pm at Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pelonomi Venson-Moitois Serowe South constituency. The last meeting of Khama is expected to be attended by all cabinet ministers, Magosi a Botswana, diplomats and many invited dignitaries. There will be a Kgotla meeting on March 27 where he will visit the main Kgotla in Serowe. Khamas farewell visits were done in such a way that he starts in Moshupa- Mmanaana constituency where he informed BaKgatla baga Mmanaana that he is leaving the presidency in the capable hands of their Member of Parliament and Vice President, Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi. Although March 27th still remains a closely guarded secret, Khama is expected to inform his tribe that he has completed the national assignment in which he served both the army and politics in the presidency and is now returning to take his Bogosi position on full time basis. Khama was installed as Kgosikgolo of Bangwato in 1979 while still a Brigadier in the Botswana Defence Force. He has never assumed the responsibilities of traditional leadership on full time basis. In line with cultural practice, the ceremony took place at the main Kgotla- the same place where he is expected to announce his return to take his position and birthright. On his coronation, Khama was draped in a lions skin by his father and founding president, the late Sir Seretse Khama. On that day he wore his ceremonial military uniform. Sir Seretse told Bamangwato that although he was installing Ian Khama as their Kgosikgolo, he nevertheless is borrowing him so that he continues doing his national duty as he was serving in the army as a deputy commander. The tribe agreed to let him continue in the military. As records shows, from the time of his coronation it has been understood that, for the time being, he would remain engaged in national service, leaving Bamangwato tribal administration duties in the hands of a nominated Tribal Authority, Sediegeng Kgamane. Among the many presents that Bamangwato gave to their Kgosikgolo at the time was a Mercedes Benz car. Khama retired from the army in April 1998 and joined politics. He was appointed Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration. In July of that year, he won the Serowe North Constituency bye-election following the resignation of the then MP, Roy Blackbeard. He was thereafter nominated for Vice President by President Festus Mogae which nomination was endorsed by Parliament. He was then appointed Vice President and Minister of Presidential Affairs. More cattle The three constituencies are expected to set a new record regarding presents Bamangwato tribe and their friends will give Khama for serving the nation for so many years. It goes without saying that Bamangwato, who count amongst great cattle barons of this country, will surely give him more cattle than any other constituency and, or tribe. It is just a question of how many. So far Khama has received in excess of 500 cattle from Batswana. The P1.7 billion Boatle- Game City dual carriageway is only 25 percent complete and is likely to be completed way after its scheduled time, Parliament has been told. The reconstruction of the road is meant to defuse traffic congestion along this section of the A1 Road. The start date of the project is the 24th March 2017 and it is expected to completed on the 23rd March 2019. Scope of works include the upgrading of the existing 23KM Gaborone - Boatle Road from a single carriageway (2 lanes) to dual carriageway (4 lanes) road of bituminous standard with associated geometric improvements including an interchange at Boatle Junction. Answering a question in Parliament, Minister of Transport and Communications, Kitso Mokaila said the progress on the construction of Boatle-Game City Road project to date is at 25 per cent against a planned 33 per cent target. It is unlikely that the project will be completed on time and within the initially approved budget. He attributed the delay to the late acquisition of burrow pits, late relocation of services at Boatle Junction and Kgale. The contractor has already submitted a claim for extension of time, with costs. This is currently being considered, Mokaila said in response to Member of Parliament for Ramotswa Samuel Rantuane. However, the answer attracted supplementary questions from the floor starting with Rantuana who complained that failing to complete projects on time is becoming a bad habit. He further aksed when the Boatle-Lobatse project will start. To that Mokaila said, This is exactly why we have decided that the ministry needs what we call a programme management office for better planning of projects, ensuring that all the things that need to happen, do happen before the project actually begins. The relocation of services and acquisition of burrow pits are great delays and that is what we are trying to address. I am hoping it is not a thing for the future. With regards to the rest, it is all subject to having money. MP for Gaborone Bonnington North, Duma Boko asked the Minister how much the cost escalation would be and whether this will not adversely the execution of the project in a manner that makes it shoddy and substandard, in the event they are unable to raise the additional funding. I cannot stand here and talk of a specific figure because that would be determined as time goes on. There is a possibility that time might catch up with us, but as far as I am concerned, we are continuing to ensure that the right quality of work is delivered. That is the change in part of the transformation of the ministry, we are ensuring that we do not compromise on quality, because we want the road to last 20-25 years, rather than finish it quickly and then last for five years. As far as the ministry is concerned we think we are doing what is right. Meanwhile on Tuesday, the Ministry issued a public statement warning about the closure of a section of road from Game City traffic lights to allow for continued construction works on the Gaborone - Boatle road project. Botswana recently hosted the Space for Giants, The Giants Club Summit 2018 from the 15th to 17th March 2018 in Kasane. The Giants Club is an initiative of Space for Giants, which is an international conservation organisation headquartered in Kenya and operating in Botswana, Uganda and Gabon. Its mission is to protect Africas elephants and the landscape they occupy forever. The Giant Club unites visionary leaders of all the countries it operates in, enlightened heads of major businesses operating in Africa, global philanthropists, key influencers and leading wildlife protection experts. Its founding members are President Ian Khama as Patron of Tlhokomela Trust, President Museveni, President Ali Bongo and President Uhuru Kenyatta. All these countries are home to half of Africas remaining elephants with Botswana having the largest population. Khama said the population of Botswanas elephants currently stands between 160 000 and 200 000 about one third of Africas population. Botswana shares her population with neighbours Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As a consequence of this fact, the management practices by the different countries impact upon the others, hence the birth of acclaimed Kavango Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation area, which encompasses protected areas, conservancies and community lands in these countries to increase habitat available for these magnificent species, Khama said. He said everyone has to stand up and make quantifiable contribution to the preservation of this endangered species and that protection of space and that of habitat could be the only way to ensure that elephants will continue to coexist with humans. Safety of African elephants has always been under threat. Botswana banned hunting safaris and converted them into photography safaris. The move was to help conserve wild species and also influence other countries to ban illegal trade of endangered species. China has officially banned trade in all ivory and ivory products. On the other hand the president of the United States of America Donald Trump lifted a ban on elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, a ban that was put in place by former President Obama. Meanwhile the Giants Club has launched The African Giants Club Conservation Journalism Fellowships Programme. It is a new network of specialist journalists working for major national media in all four Giants Club countries to increase conservation coverage in Africa. The Giants Club Conservation Journalism Fellowship connects reporters in Botswana, Gabon, Kenya and Uganda and supports them to widen their coverage. President Ian Khama has infuriated some members of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) who supported candidates who lost Bulela-Ditswe in January this year when he endorsed others. Khama endorsed candidates who won primaries in opposition-held constituencies last week Friday during the partys National Council held in Gaborone. The president paraded the candidates as he called out their names during his official speech. This was despite that some of the candidates who lost the primaries have launched protests on the outcome of the primaries. Botswana Guardian understands that at the time when Khama made the statement the complainants had not received communication regarding their appeal. The BDP had established a three-man Appeals Board to handle the appeals. Khama told the Council that let me introduce to you winners of our Bulela-Ditswe candidates who will represent the party in the next general elections. The president called on fellow democrats to give them support labelling the candidates incoming Members of Parliament. We have to support them. One for all, all for one, he said. Khama urged those who lost the primaries to follow proper party procedures when lodging their complaints. He urged them to support those who won to ensure that the BDP wins the 18 opposition held constituencies. According to insiders this could mean at that time the president was pre-empting the outcome of the appeals or his statement could influence the decision of the appeals board. This publication learns that a preliminary report by the appeals board has been forwarded to the Central Committee. It is alleged that all the complaints have been dismissed except one for council ward in Goodhope-Mabule Constituency. At press time BDP Head of Communications, Lesedi Dintwe had not responded to a questionnaire sent to him. A fortnight ago party Secretary General Mpho Balopi told a press conference that the appeals committee was busy at work and would announce its findings the following week. He said the party was not deliberately delaying the process to frustrate the complainants. This incident, democrats say, should not be looked in isolation with what transpired when six members of BDP National Youth Executive Committee were suspended for two years. Following their suspension new members were co-opted into NYEC and endorsed by party leadership within the period of an appeal process. The suspended were given 14 days to appeal but their replacements were announced in less than week of their suspension. This resulted in some of them resigning from the party arguing that processes are being flouted by the leadership and dismissing the possibility of having a fair appeal. Botswana Peoples Partys (BPP) secretary general Venter Geletshabiwe says there is no hope for suspended party chairperson Richard Gudu and his partner in crime, Peter Kuchwe if they do not crawl back to the party leadership and beg for forgiveness. Both men have always maintained their innocence and said they would not apologise for a wrong they did not commit. They said they only attended the UDC press conference as bona fide partners in their personal capacities like any other executive party member continues to do up to date. Galetshabiwe told Botswana Guardian in a telephone interview that the only time that the two can be forgiven or excused from internal disciplinary hearing is when they apologise to the party leadership. If they apologise then we can be rest assured that the people we are going to be working with are with us all the way but by just letting it go wed be sending out a wrong message to the party followers that the constitution can be trampled. By not apologising, they are literally squeezing a rope around their necks slowly, he said. Despite the partys stance, the disciplinary case is allegedly tearing the party apart due to an internal power struggle within the executive fuelled by some executive members desires to represent the party at Tati East and Tati West constituencies. When Gudu and Co. were suspended from party activities last year, one could have expected the party executive to have dealt with the matter promptly but it was never to be as they were only called for a hearing after the prescribed number of days despite that the two had argued that the duration taken by the executive to drag them was past hence they cried out that it was unconstitutional. On the other hand, the partys spokesperson Galetshabiwe maintained that the suspension letters of the two did not have any validity period. When the two first appeared for their disciplinary hearing, the board did not form a quorum only for the case to resume this time around under board Chairperson Leonard Mantswe. In his findings, it was discovered that the case with Kuchwe did not have a complainant whereas Gudu was never invited for the hearing save through SMS which forced the board chairperson to dismiss it. An inside source at BPP has revealed that most in the party leadership are of the view that Gudu is an old furniture who need to be replaced with some power hungry Mafikizolos(newcomers). The source continued that the aim of the party is not to discipline the two but to thwart their efforts to represent the party at Tati East and West constituencies at which they represented BPP under the Umbrella coalition in 2014. Currently, the problem comes from the party secretary general and the vice president who expressed their interest to do so. They are busy selling themselves to the electorate whilst Gudu and Kuchwe are barred. Looking at the circumstances surrounding the whole disciplinary hearing one would see that there is witch-hunt since the two did not commit so grave a crime to warrant the present treatment unless of course the party no longer wants them for personal reasons, the executive member disclosed. What angers him most is that some people within the party leadership want to satisfy their egos at the expense of the party. In fact BPP Vice President Mbaakanyi Lenyatso has admitted in a recent interview with Botswana Guardian of his democratic right to stand for election at any constituency his party has been allocated. Last week, the two attended a disciplinary hearing whose verdict will be released in two to three weeks or even beyond. Asked why the party decided to drag the matter despite that it was once thrown out by a disciplinary board for non-compliance with the party constitution, Geletshabiwe revealed that those who have the tendency to do as they please should be brought to book irrespective of whether they have been in the party for a very long time or not. When quizzed as to what it would take to bury the hatchet between the two opposing camps, Geletshabiwe did not hide the partys displeasure as he said that what is standing between Gudu, Kuchwe and BPP is for the two to apologise rather than squeezing the rope tightly around their necks. Ovaherero Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro has warned his tribe and the Nama to be wary of the German governments dirty tactics that it will employ to avoid paying reparations to the two tribes. Speaking over the weekend at the Ngatu jarukee ko Takarive Ovaherero Heritage Day held in Takarive near Mahalapye, Rukoro rejected what he called Germanys cheque book diplomacy in the form of development aid towards the Namibian government, instead of discussing reparations with us as the Namas and Ovaherero for the genocide they committed. The weekend event attracted Ovaherero and Ovambanderu from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The Ovaherero and Nama are engaged in a protracted battle with the German government through a court case in New York demanding reparations over the tens of thousands of indigenous people killed in the 1904-1908 massacres. Speaking at the same event as Guest Speaker, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Botswana Government Communication and Information System (BGCIS), who was speaking in his capacity as a historian Dr. Jeff Ramsay said the terrible period of death and destruction by the Germans has been rightfully characterised as Genocide. There can be no doubt about this! Measured in terms of demographic loss, the final 1904-08 Ovaherero and Nama uprising against the Germans in Namibia was the most horrific of Africas many anti-colonial struggles. Its impact can be summarised by the fact that it claimed the lives of well over 70 percent of all Ovaherero at the time, along with not less than half of the Nama, he said, further noting that in moving forward we cannot escape the past. Dr. Ramsay said the ugly truth is that the Nazi holocaust in Europe did not spring from the twisted post-World War I mindset of one individual or political movement. Its roots can be directly traced to the pre-war fate of the indigenous communities of Namibia. A second ugly truth is that the atrocities of the Kaiser-Reich were known and at the time enabled by others. For those unfamiliar with what can rightfully be described as the Kalahari Holocaust, between 1893 and 1908 the Ovaherero in Namibia, along with the Ovambandero, Nama and others, repeatedly took up arms in resistance to the German policy of depopulating large areas for European settlement, he narrated. The Germans proclaimed their Protectorate over most of Namibia in 1884; a move that in direct response led to the parallel proclamation of a British Protectorate over most of Botswana. This was, incidentally, ten years and eight months before Dikgosi Sebele I, Bathoen II and Khama III boarded the Tantallon Castle passenger ship at Cape Town bound for England. Said Ramsay, In 1884 the first German Governor in Namibia was Ernst Goering, the father of Hitlers deputy, Hermann Goering. However it may be said that the Kalahari Holocaust truly began about a decade later, when the colonial regime in Windhoek set out to militarily subdue all local communities as part of a systematic campaign to rob them of their land for European settlement. Meanwhile, Advocate Rukoro said Germany committed an act of genocide in terms of international law and by the same token Germany is bound to pay reparations. Germany in similar circumstances has acknowledged genocide towards the Jews of Israel, they have apologised for it, and they have paid compensation, he said, adding that Germany sat down in a trilateral arrangement which involved the State of Israel, Government of Germany and no less than 23 groups representing the victim groups of the Jewish people. He said the Ovaherero and Nama want to adopt the same arrangement. The German government refuses to adopt this model and instead has persuaded the Namibian government that the negotiations should only be confined to the two governments and should not directly be involved with representatives of the victim groups. Clearly the German government is resorting to its old proven and successful tactics of divide and rule, which it practised during the colonial days. It is using the same tactics to divide the Namibian government and its own citizens. He told the gathering that the German government is now discussing development aid to the Namibian government in exchange and in place of reparations to our people in Namibia and in the Diaspora in Botswana, South Africa and other places. Obviously it is a very cheap way for the Germans to get away with murder. They dont want to talk to us directly, the affected people, the victim groups, that is why colleagues we decided after consulting with the chiefs in Botswana and in SA to institute legal action against the German government in an appropriate legal jurisdiction in New York. The action involves charging Germany with genocide, unlawful confiscation of land which by today should have been our inheritance, as well as the unlawful confiscation of the livestock of our ancestors and other forms of property which actions have dumped us into generational poverty for more than 100 years, and other kind of related crimes against humanity. Rukoro however warned that, typical of all imperialist governments Germany has co-opted local agents and traditional leaders that they are parading and collaborating with. I am sure they will very soon start visiting Botswana to try and confuse you and lie to you but fortunately more traditional leaders, the genuine ones who have already given us powers of attorney to represent you in court, are well aware of this, they are part of our struggle to hold Germany accountable and make sure that when the victory ultimately comes you are part of the fruits of our victory and that we share in that victory as well. Therefore my friends stay firm through the diversionary tactics of the Germans that will come in all forms, even if they come through their local agents which they are going to send in whatever capacity to Botswana, he said. Despite justified celebrations of anti-poaching progress that has seen illegal killings of elephants dropping for five years in a row across Africa, the job is not done to protect populations forever, this publication has learnt. The Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism; Tshekedi Khama debunked this myth when he said that, Our elephants are under threat from poaching and we are not satisfied that the equation has been concluded on anti-poaching. With the ecosystem now facing increased pressure from poachers, Khama is adamant that the day when we all realise that environment and wildlife are the most important assets that we have, will be the day we can say we have succeeded. Central Africas herds of forest elephants also continue to suffer very high levels of illegal killing. Theres no time left now for talk, talk, talk, we just need to get on with it. These populations of wildlife are the reserves for the future. He applauded the Giants Club saying of the many initiatives to protect elephants, the Giants Club is the first one that weve seen something tangible coming out. The Giants Club is an initiative of Space for Giants that aims to effectively protect half of Africas elephants and their landscapes by 2020 by uniting the political will, technical know-how, and financial muscle to achieve that goal. This year alone philanthropists, governments, and corporate leaders from Europe, China, the US and Africa today pledged more than $6 million for urgent action to protect wildlife habitats at the close of a key conservation summit. $2 million from the EU and matched funds is reserved to train KAZA rangers and prosecutors, $2 million Challenge Fund from Giants Club members, $1.5 million expected value of new work by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, $280,000 for improving prosecutions and sentencing in Uganda from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Department of the Interior, $200,000 to boost wildlife crime court cases in Botswana from Wild Lives Foundation, $100,000 from the African Wildlife Foundation for Uganda tourism and conservation initiative From the summit held last week in Kasane, members gathered to make out innovative ideas how to protect elephants and their landscapes before negotiating finance and securing political will to expand the reach of those ideas. Max Graham, CEO of Space for Giants said there have been some major gains made against poaching which is all worth celebrating. But to hear that elephants in the region we thought were safest are actually under new and growing threats, its a huge worry. Im grateful that the Giants Club has come together and done what it does best: galvanise new money for quick and effective action, Graham said. Trouble for Umbrella for Democratic Change deepens as the leadership continues to fail to meet and evaluate the congress that was held in Gaborone last month. The controversial issue which the congress wanted to be revisited is the allocation of constituencies, especially those allocated to Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). At the centre of this failure President Advocate Duma Boko has been fingered for failing to convene the meeting. Advocate Boko of late has been under fire for allegedly defying a resolution to kick out BMD from the UDC. Tensions were high at the February 24th Congress as lobbying for expulsion of BMD was done. Some members of the UDC especially from Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) have argued that since the split of the BMD last year what is left is an empty shell. Expectation from UDC members was that the leadership would move swiftly to evaluate the congress and report back before contracting partners go for their primary elections. At the congress the members had said that in the event BMD is not kicked out it has to surrender some of its constituencies, at least ten (10) from its original 14. The main beneficiary from the exercise could be BCP, which currently some of its leadership including the President Dumelang Saleshando, have been left without constituencies. BMD gained most of its constituencies through incumbency a model that the BCP has since the start of the negotiations expressed reservations with. The BCP had wanted that in any constituency where there are capable people the UDC should allow for primary elections by members of all the contracting partners. It is alleged that the UDC which has not enjoyed any smooth sailing since the incoming of BCP is sitting on a ticking time bomb before it splits. According to sources should the BCP president not have a constituency the party might reconsider its decision of joining the Umbrella when it meets at its conference in July this year. The friction between BCP and BMD is likely to affect the UDC performance at Ralekgetho bye-election tomorrow (Saturday) as some of the BMD members are not active in the campaign. Within BNF things are also not all well for Advocate Boko as his central committee is after his head. His relation with his committee is said to have hit its lowest ebb. A secret position paper is being circulated among BNF members around the country. The intention of the paper is to restore the dignity of the BNF and take it back to the masses. BCP and BMD are expected to conduct their primary elections in May this year. BCP Information and Publicity Secretary Dithapelo Keorapetse told Botswana Guardian after the partys Leadership Forum held in Palapye that it has been resolved that by end of May primaries should have been conducted.It was agreed that by end of May all the 17 constituencies that we are managing for Umbrella for Democratic Change should have held primaries. The same would apply to the wards that we would be allocated as some have to be agreed at the UDC congress later in the year, Keorapetse revealed. BMD Spokesperson Rasina Rasina said they have already issued a writ for primary elections in all their 14 constituencies. And so yes, preparations for the BMD primaries are at an advanced stage, he explained. Rasina revealed that the Secretary General and the National Organising Secretary including the mobilisation team continue to traverse the country, particularly within the 14 constituencies training their members who will be facilitating and coordinating the primary elections. I can assure you that we are more than ready for the primaries and we shall ensure that they go as smoothly as possible in our interest and in the interest of the UDC. We shall have our primary elections on the 5th of May 2018 in all our 14 constituencies. The primaries shall be to identify and finalise as per internal democratic process both parliamentary candidates and council candidates in wards that we are incumbent on and wards that have been allocated to us by our partners within the UDC as per the principle of 60/40 on wards allocation per constituency, he said. Rasina revealed that BMD have not received any communication nor had any interaction with any party within the UDC on possibilities or requests for trade-offs and or inside trading. We are thus proceeding on the notion that no one has had any interest in such a dialogue with us. We are also proceeding with full knowledge that we might also have wanted and or thought of negotiating some constituencies being assigned to some of our UDC partners but since we did not make such request, we have resolved to proceed with our 14 assigned constituencies. UDC Head of Communications Moeti Mohwasa acknowledged that the UDC leadership has not met to do the evaluations. He explained this is due to some commitments on the part of the leadership. Mohwasa stated that even though there are dissenting voices within the UDC about BMD, people and the media are blowing things out of proportion. He expressed confidence that everything would be sorted out and UDC will move forward and united. Regarding the BNF, Mohwasa indicated that they are meeting as the central committee this coming Sunday. He said at the meeting various issues including primary elections would be discussed including the setting of dates. Over P3 billion worth of Zimbabwes monies externalised through illicit financial flows, have found their way into Botswana, Zimbabwes reserve bank records showed this week. The report detailing these illicit flow transactions comes three months after Zimbabwes new President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued an ultimatum for companies and individuals to declare any externalised funds. Some of the individuals that externalised funds into bank accounts in Botswana include - Ryan Joseph a sum of US$331,700, Farid Shahadat - US$1,197,080 and Delny Ashley Davies made three transactions in different currencies ZAR500 000, 465 275.00 and US$ 5, 916,926. Other individuals are Edward Nyevera linked to US$ 500,000 and Agrippa Bopela Masiyakurima US$40,000. On companies The Big Secrete externalised US$997,410 Jason Neville Leanders - US$977,000 Jinan Mining -US$332,980,000 and Rosevin Enterprises - US$230,000. In total monies externalised into Botswana amounts to P3, 3 billion. According to the report, the financial flows into Botswana are under: Funds externalised to foreign banks in cash or under spurious transactions. Botswanas Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) could not be drawn to say whether these transactions constituted money laundering and what sanctions would be taken against offenders if caught within its jurisdiction. Produced from the Computerised Exchange Control Batch Application System (CEBAS) of the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank (RBZ), the report also shows that most Chinese mining companies externalised their monies to their native countries. Apart from mining companies, trading companies supplying equipment, cotton and plastic merchandise are also named on the list. Other categories of the alleged illicit financial flows listed in the 44-page document also indicate funds externalised through payment of goods not received in Zimbabwe and funds externalised through non-repatriation of export proceeds. Other countries that have been destinations for externalised money from Zimbabwe are France, USA, UK, South Africa, Mauritius, Ghana, Denmark, Mozambique, Pakistan, Switzerland, Portugal and Uganda. Following the release of the report President Mnangagwa is yet to announce actions to be taken against the perpetrators of the externalised money. Authorities in Harare could pull instruments from the regional body SADC to support their bid to recover the lost money. However, the SADC Finance and Investment Protocol currently contain more annexes dealing with money laundering than illicit financial flows. Tumie Nthutang is a blogger, fashion stylist, digital and social media influencer, and she uses fashion to communicate individuality and authenticity. A doer and excelling at everything that she sets her sights on, her golden touch has been seen and felt by many. She uses fashion to convey a number of messages. She strongly believes that a good outfit can boost or fix a bad day, and that people will always treat you based on their first impression. And yes, that appearance and tidiness count, which means that one should always put their foot forward and be well groomed. And lastly, that a good outfit is a form of expression and identity that should speak to who one is. The above pretty much sums up Nthutang and her many show stopping looks. Be it jeans, a sunny dress or a red carpet look, Nthutang has come to prove why clients trust her with their looks. Nthutang boasts of clients that include some of the top women in the arts and culture industry such as Oratile Kefitlhile and Gaona Dintwe. She also has other clients who are not in the public eye and she is keeping her lips sealed about their identities. Recently, one of her clients, Obonye Malope who is the Director-Marketing and Communications for First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) gushed on Facebook about how last year she made a conscious decision to work with or hire young people. One of these young people, she said in the post, was none other than Nthutang. Nthutang was behind Malopes red carpet look for the recently held Yarona FM Music Awards, as well as her magnificent 40th birthday party celebration. Describing how the YAMAs look was brought to life and the inspiration behind it, she explains that Malope wanted a fashion-forward yet red carpet appropriate dress that could be done in two days. Working alongside designers, Dihdah, they decided to go with a fitted breathtaking mermaid dress. They added life and fashion structure to it via the puffy shoulder detail. We brought the look together with a glitzy touch with the matching shimmer beads for that extra sparkle every red carper needs, she says. The blue dress was a hit, and many who saw it were blown away. She says communication is key when one is working with a client. She wants a client who is able to communicate themselves and what they want. I also need a client that can trust my work and sometimes let me push them to taking fashion risk strategically and tastefully. Time management is important to me so the clients and my time schedule must not conflict otherwise it wont be practical to work together, she explains. Back to the YAMAs, Nthutang went all out and brought together an outfit that was out of this world. Eccentric style loft designed the emerald green dress, and it was stunning. Her style, she says, is feminine, chic, structure, sexy and sometimes playful. However mostly structure because I love those kinds of garments and pieces, she says. Her choice of wardrobe is inspired by the location or event that she is attending, stylish celebrities, her mother, fashion magazines and runways and most importantly herself. I cant explain that part but I tend to over-think things that translate to my style too. I always find ways of wearing my outfits more than once, says Nthutang. Besides styling Kefitlhile and Dintwe, she dreams about styling Sadi Dikgaka, who she has been eyeing for ages. I have wanted to style her for ages now, the universe has not allowed it yet but I believe it will happen soon, she shares. Internationally, she would love to style, Kourtney Kardashian who she says she relates to and loves her style. It would be an experience to push her to take risks here and there but still maintaining what I love about her, she points out. One of her fashion icons is South Africas Kefilwe Mabote. So which fashion trends are hot right now: it has to be short tulle dresses, beaded cornrow lines and of course slip-on flat shoes are a big hit. Meanwhile, her blog has allowed her to commercialise her love for fashion, and style. She has been blogging for four years and through the blog, www.tumienthutang.com she shares her fashion journey, lifestyle, fitness, and her work as a stylist and digital entrepreneur. Her wish is to own a fashion house that handles styling on a bigger scale and she would have a team of stylists who she will mentor and supervise. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Cookie maker Unibic is planning to set up a production base outside of south India as the company looks at breaking into the Hindi heartland apart from going deeper into markets in eastern India. The firm has its manufacturing plant located in Bengaluru, where it is has five production lines with a capacity to produce up to 100 tonnes a day. Nikhil Sen, managing director, Unibic Foods, said the intent was to have a deeper footprint in the northern and eastern India, especially the Hindi-speaking states such as Uttar Pradesh where it had not seen much success with its premium range ... The step, the company said, is to ensure that DAMEPL's accounts do not turn into a non performing asset (NPA) by the end of March this year. "The High Court held that a party successful in arbitration and Section 34 cannot be allowed to become NPA for want of enforcement of the Award. The Court directed that it is just ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The capitals iconic hotel Taj Mansingh, which is being auctioned by the NDMC, should remain a Taj property, Jean-Michel Casse, the chief operating officer (India and South Asia) at French hotel firm Accor Hotels said. Casse said this is more of his personal view. I believe this hotel has been known as Taj for so many years and it should remain a Taj. This hotel is so much embedded as a Taj. If you bring a Pullman there what are you going to do? You have break everything, renovate, spend money and the investment is huge. Then you will re-launch. You will ... Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries on Tuesday, announced an agreement to divest its interest in certain acreage, producing wells and related assets in the western portion of its Eagle Ford shale position for a consideration of $100 Million. Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP, a subsidiary of both Reliance Holding USA, Inc., and Reliance Industries, announced the signing of a purchase and sale agreement with Sundance Energy Inc. to divest its interest in certain acreage, producing wells and related assets in the western portion of its Eagle Ford shale position for ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor US technology giant Apple Inc and India's telecoms regulator are at loggerheads over the development of a government anti-spam mobile application, with user privacy at the heart of a deepening rift between the two sides. The latest impasse comes after Apple in October agreed to provide some help to the regulator to tap into new iOS features to build the "Do Not Disturb" app, which allows users to report unsolicited calls and text messages as spam. At issue has been Apple's contention that allowing the app broad access to customers' call and text logs ... Delhi's Patiala Court will on Tuesday hear the final arguments in a case against gangster in 2002 Delhi extortion case. Last month, the court had issued fresh production warrant against the gangster. On January 16, Salem claimed that the prosecution did not have enough evidence against him in the case. Through his lawyer, the gangster also claimed that his trial in the case violated an order by which he was extradited to India from Portugal in 2005. Salem is facing trial for allegedly demanding Rs 50 million as protection money from Delhi businessman Ashok Gupta in 2002. He has already been granted bail regarding the case; however, he continues to be in jail in various other cases, including the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. The Congress insisted it had never used the services of the British data analytics and political advisory firm that is now embroiled in a controversy for micro-targeting voters in the US and the UK elections using data it had mined from Facebook. It also claimed it had evidence that Ovleno Business Intelligence, an arm of CA, conspired to spread misinformation about the Congress-led UPA ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor At its height in the 1940s and 50s, polio paralyzed more than 35,000 Americans every year. But thanks to vaccines as well as good hygiene and sanitation practices, polio has largely been forgotten in the developed world. Now, even in less-developed regions, its close to being wiped out entirely. But there are still challenges to overcome before polio can join smallpox as a virus that has been eradicated worldwide. With the support of the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (a strategic partner of The Conversation US that provides funding ... In a bid to curb corruption among public servants, the Maharashtra government today introduced a bill in Legislative Assembly proposing confiscation of assets if they are found to be in excess of 50 per cent of the known sources of income of such officials or are worth Rs 1 million. "Any public servant who commits the offence (of corruption) and has assets in excess of 50 per cent of his/her known sources of income or Rs 1 million whichever is more; the state government may authorise the officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police for making an application to designated court for confiscation of the money and property of such public servant," stated the Maharashtra Confiscation of Disproportionate Property (of public servants) Act 2018 which was tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat. Underlining the need to bring such a law, Bapat referred to the provisions of the Criminal Law Ordinance 1944 that allow only attachment of the assets of corrupt public servants but not confiscation. Moreover, the attached assets are in the custody of the public servant (so) he can enjoy the property and its relevant benefits till the end of the court proceedings, the bill said. At present, the Prevention of Corruption Act provides for the appointment of special judges to try the offences punishable under the said Act. "The Criminal Law Ordinance 1944, provides for attachment of property of the scheduled offences including certain offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. As per the provisions of the said Criminal Law Ordinance, the assets are only attached and cannot be confiscated," it stated. The draft law also proposes to constitute a designated court to initiate the proceeding of confiscation of assets which will separate from the trial of the offence. "The government considers it expedient to enact a special law for confiscation of the money and property of the public servant," the bill said. It also proposes that transfer of such confiscated properties be declared null and void pending the proceedings. The bill stipulates a time limit for speedy disposal of cases and refund of the confiscated money or property if the person concerned is acquitted. The bench stated that its not enough that the UIDAIs own servers are securely situated inside its complexes because the data travels upwards from enrolment agents and authentication agencies which may store data and misuse it for commercial interests. This observation came just a day after Business Standard reported on why UIDAIs defence that its own servers are secure rests on shaky grounds as long as there ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Microblogging platform Twitter will block cryptocurrency-related advertisements, beginning from Tuesday. The move follows other social media platforms like Reddit, Facebook and Google, which have already banned cryptocurrency ads. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of the Twitter community. As such, we have added a new policy for Twitter Ads relating to cryptocurrency," The Verge quoted a company statement. "Under this new policy, the advertisement of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and token sales will be prohibited globally," the company added. Rumours initially circulated earlier last week that Twitter would ban such ads. The company began removing accounts that intentionally solicit cryptocurrency exchanges, impersonating famous figures like Elon Musk, John McAfee, and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, earlier in March. "The policy will be fully enforceable among all advertisers within a month," Twitter confirmed to The Verge. All ICOs and token sales will be banned, but cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets will be restricted to only public companies listed on major stock markets. In a major legislative victory for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday passed the tough UP Control of Organised Crime (Act) (UPCOCA) Bill, clearing the decks for turning it into an Act. With the passage of Bill, UP joins the league of Maharashtra and Karnataka in having the anti-organised Act in place. This comes in the backdrop of the UP Police in hot pursuit of wanted criminals under the Adityanath regime. Thus far, about 45 criminals had been killed by police in encounters and more than 3100 arrested. At least four cops have also given their ... How do you convince your local municipality officer that yes, you have every right to access clean water, walk on paved streets or have streetlights at night so you can feel safe? And how do you do that when you are not only living in an Indian slum, but youre also a woman with no formal education? This is exactly the case we studied in Indore, the most populous city of Madhya Pradesh, a western-central state of India. According to the census of India, the population of Indore was 2 million in 2011 and has since increased to 2.8 million inhabitants in 2018. About 30% ... Economists like to say that no one wins in a trade war. We may soon find out if they're right. Only hours after U. S. President Donald Trump said he would slap tariffs on a range of Chinese products, China imposed punitive duties on some imports from the U. S. in retaliation for previously announced U. S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. And here we go, down the rabbit hole. Companies, workers and consumers from both countries are almost certain to get hurt in a tit-for-tat conflict. On the other hand, the carnage could produce big winners elsewhere in the developing world. On ... The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has resumed consultations with stakeholders, including bankers and business associations, to garner their views towards policy making decisions, according to top official sources. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, is to meet on April 4 and 5 to decide the first bi-monthly monetary policy of the next fiscal. The sources said the RBI has re-started consultations with stakeholders, including bankers and business associations, to gather their views which could be possibly incorporated at the time of policy making. One such meeting was held today and more such meetings are likely, they added. The views of the stakeholders would then be presented before the MPC in order to consider them at the time of policy making, they added. For quite sometime, especially after the setting up of MPC, the central bank had discontinued the process. In the next financial year, the MPC is scheduled to meet six times. The committee was constituted in September 2016. Besides the RBI Governor, Deputy Governor in charge of Monetary Policy and an RBI officer are part of the panel. Others members are Chetan Ghate, Professor at Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Professor Pami Dua, Director at Delhi School of Economics and Ravindra H Dholakia, Professor at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Telecom regulator Trai on Monday said that "license fee" collected by it had declined from Rs 32.49 billion for the quarter ended September 2017 to Rs 31.04 billion for the quarter ended December 2017. "The quarterly and the year-on-year growth rates of license fee are 4.46 per cent and 16.04 per cent respectively in this quarter," Trai said in the "Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report" for the quarter ended December, 2017. The declining sales revenue of telecom players is expected to have an adverse impact on government revenue collection in the form of spectrum usage charges and licence fee in the current financial year. Auto workers in the US hoping President Donald Trumps tougher approach to China will help create jobs at home and cut the trade deficit by $100 billion may be in for a huge disappointment. General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co. are among companies that already make cars in China with domestic partners for the local buyer, not only to avoid the 25 per cent import duty but also to take advantage of lower costs. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor A top American senator has sought an investigation into potential violations of federal election law by (CA), the scandal-hit communications firm at the heart of the Facebook data scandal. Whistleblower Christopher Wylie, a founding employee of CA, has accused that the firm, hired by Donald Trump during his primary campaign, illegally mined tens of millions of users' Facebook data and then used it to target potential voters. In a letter to the FEC, Senator Richard Blumenthal said that Wylie's disclosures have raised significant issues that warrant the attention of the FEC pertaining to the involvement of foreign nationals and political action committees in the management of election campaigns. "I urge the FEC to take these allegations seriously, open an investigation into possible violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) by and its clients, and take enforcement action as necessary," Blumenthal wrote. In an exclusive report, 'The Washington Post' said that CA employed dozens of non-US citizens in its political strategy and communications work for state campaigns, Congressional candidates, and political action committees working in the US. CA was founded as an American subsidiary of the British consulting firm Strategic Communication Laboratories ("the SCL Group") by the director of its elections division, Alexander Nix. Despite presenting CA as an American face for the SCL Group, media reports indicate that its leadership and employees were mostly foreign nationals working on tourist visas with the company providing potentially misleading letters to help with entry into the country, the lawmaker wrote. Blumenthal said that millions of dollars in payments from political action committees were made to CA at the same time that the firm was directly employed by three presidential campaigns and multiple Congressional campaigns. In the 2014 mid-term and 2016 presidential elections, CA played a direct role in managing strategy and communications for Republican campaigns across state and federal offices while working for conservative political action committees (PACs) supporting those same candidates, it said. According to the New York Times, one of CA's most lucrative clients has been former Ambassador John Bolton's PAC, "John Bolton Super PAC", which has spent nearly USD 1.2 million on its services since 2014. Bolton has now been appointed as National Security Advisor to the US president. The firm was reportedly contracted by Boltons PAC to perform "behavioral microtargeting with psychographic messaging", designing and targeting online and television advertisements, Blumenthal said. "The company provided these services at the same time as working directly for the same candidates and state parties. Additionally, Cambridge Analytica's foreign staff was closely involved in the strategy and communications of the Bolton PAC with the firm reportedly writing talking points for Mr. Bolton," he wrote. Meanwhile, Senator Jerry Moran sought an explanation regarding how the personal data of 50 million Facebook users was transmitted to without users' consent and how that information was used. In light of reports that Cambridge Analytica mined information from 50 million Facebook users and irrefutable evidence that Russia used the social media site to spread disinformation, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree called on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress. "For too long, Facebook has operated like the wild west, which has made the site vulnerable to abuse by organisations like Cambridge Analytica and allowed Russia to weaponise information," she said. "Like millions of Americans, I use Facebook to connect with my community, but its clear this tool has been exploited to spread disinformation and propaganda," said Pingree. "I am encouraged to hear Mark Zuckerberg say he is open to increased regulatory oversight of Facebook, but he needs to testify before Congress and detail how he plans to safeguard his website from cyberattacks and protect user data," the lawmaker said. Meanwhile, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been forced to issue a statement outlining his firm's role in the scandal and apologised last Wednesday to its billions of users for the breach. The company has seen its stock market value plunge by around USD 75 million since March 16, when Facebook first acknowledged that user data had been improperly channelled to Cambridge Analytica. One of the most aggressive campaigns to fight global warming is happening in a Canadian province. Theres just one problem: the same place is also home to some of the dirtiest oil in the world. Alberta is boosting its use of renewable energy, closing power plants that burn coal and in January increased its tax on carbon emissions by 50 per cent, moves that will help Canada curb emissions under the global Paris climate agreement. However, the province is also increasing output from its vast reserves of oil sands, a gooey fossil fuel that produces more than twice as much carbon dioxide ... Technology giant Apple on Tuesday introduced a new 9.7-inch iPad with Apple Pencil support, at its education event in Chicago. Apple had previously lowered the price of its 9.7-inch iPad last year, with a base model starting at USD 329, The Verge reported. But today it went a step ahead for students. The company is offering the new iPad to schools priced at USD 299 and to consumers for USD 329. Further, the optional Apple Pencil will be priced at USD 89 for schools and the regular USD 99 price for consumers. The tablet will include Touch ID, an HD FaceTime camera, 10 hours of battery life, an eight-megapixel rear camera, LTE option, and Apple's A10 Fusion chip. This new iPad will be a key addition to Apple's lineup as it aims to fight back against Google's Chromebooks. According to The Verge, the new iPad has an updated software suite, which includes new versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote that support the Apple Pencil. The updated iPad will be available in Apple stores in silver, space gray, and a new gold finish. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spokesman of Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) U Myo Nyunt has rebuffed reports of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi retiring in the near future. "There are reports that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would retire. I didn't say that. I said she would be able to retire soon if party members worked hard. It is what she always says. But it doesn't mean she will retire soon," the spokesman was quoted as saying by a Burmese news portal. As per local media reports, NLD chief Suu Kyi told members of her party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Saturday that she would like to step down if possible. Nyunt said that the meeting with CEC members was a social gathering that did not involve discussions on political matters. Another NLD lawmaker U Nay Myo Tun, said that the 73-year-old had said, "she was old and would like to retire as a way of giving her party members friendly encouragement to work harder." Recently, Suu Kyi cancelled a public speech and question-and-answer session in Sydney, citing ill health. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of recent communal clashes that erupted here during Ram Navami celebrations on Sunday, three additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be deployed in Aurangabad to maintain law and order in the district. The decision comes two days after a clash broke out between two communities during Ram Navami celebrations here. The situation became tense on Sunday evening when rioters set ablaze more than 20 shops and pelted stones at those participating in a Ram Navami procession through Nawadih Colony. As per reports, nearly 50 shops near Jama Masjid located on Old GT Road were torched by rioters, while nearly 60 persons, including 20 policemen were injured due to stone pelting by miscreants. The situation further intensified on Monday, which thereby led to a curfew being imposed in the vicinity. Furthermore, internet services were reportedly suspended for a 24-hour time span. Meanwhile, minor clashes were also reported from other parts of the state, including Gaya, Siwan and Kaimur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday defended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya for his tweet on Karnataka assembly election dates. Naqvi said Malviya had no intention to undermine the stature of the Election Commission (EC). Talking to media, Naqvi said, "Amit Malviya's tweet was based on a TV channel's source. He had no intention to undermine the stature of the EC. A Karnataka Congress leader had also tweeted the same thing. We agree that he (Malviya) should not have tweeted it." A delegation led by Naqvi met the EC officials in connection with the case. Ahead of the announcement of polling and counting dates for Karnataka, Malviya took to Twitter to announce that the polling date would be May 12 and counting would be on May 18. However, following social media uproar on his knowledge of the dates prior to the official announcement, Malviya deleted the tweet. On a related note, a delegation led by Naqvi is slated to meet EC officials in connection with Malviya's tweet on the election dates. The 224-member Karnataka Assembly will go to polls on May 12, and counting of votes will be held on May 15, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat in a press conference held earlier today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear parents, music lessons can improve your child's cognitive skills and academic performance. According to the study, visual arts lessons were also found to significantly improve children's visual and spatial memory. "Despite indications that music has beneficial effects on cognition, music is disappearing from general curricula," says Dr Artur Jaschke, from VU University of Amsterdam, who led the study with Dr Henkjan Honing and Dr Erik Scherder. "This inspired us to initiate a long-term study on the possible effects of music on cognitive skills that may underlie academic achievement." The researchers conducted the study with 147 children across multiple Dutch schools, using a structured musical method developed by the Ministry of Research and in the Netherlands together with an expert centre for arts education. All schools followed the regular primary school curriculum, with some providing supplementary music or visual arts classes. In these, the children were given both theoretical and practical lessons. After 2.5 years, the children's academic performance was assessed, as well as various cognitive skills including planning, inhibition and memory skills. The researchers found that children who received music lessons had significant cognitive improvements compared to all other children in the study. Visual arts classes also showed a benefit: children in these classes had significantly improved visual and spatial short-term memory compared to students who had not received any supplementary lessons. "Children who received music lessons showed improved language-based reasoning and the ability to plan, organize and complete tasks, as well as improved academic achievement," says Dr Jaschke. "This suggests that the cognitive skills developed during music lessons can influence children's cognitive abilities in completely unrelated subjects, leading to overall improved academic performance." The research has been published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will hold an executive council meeting over the Cauvery issue on March 30 in Chennai. The DMK has been pressing the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). This comes after the Supreme Court ordered the Central Government to set up the CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee within six weeks from February 16, that is, by March 29. Earlier, DMK working president MK Stalin had met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and put forward a proposal of the mass resignation of all state MPs from the Union Cabinet to stress this point to the Centre. In settling the long-standing Cauvery dispute among the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, the apex court had reduced Tamil Nadu's share in the Cauvery water to 177.25 thousand million cubic feet, much to the dismay of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday registered a case and conducted searches at three places in relation with Jai Ambe Gauri Chemicals Limited cheating State Bank of India, Hyderabad, to the tune of Rs 65.39 crore. According to a complaint registered by the CBI, the company registered with Registrar of Companies (RoC) Hyderabad has been dealing with the SBI since 2009, after taking over credit facilities from Axis Bank. Credit facilities were being availed by the company till April 30, 2015, when its account became a non-performing asset and declared as a fraud. The company had also then removed its stocks without the SBI's approval and withdrew heavy cash. The company and its directors have also been declared willful defaulters by the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur. The development follows multi-billion-dollar Punjab Nation Bank fraud by celebrated jeweller Nirav Modi along with Gitanjali Gems owner Mehul Choksi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Tuesday, registered an FIR against an unidentified person after Railway Ministry complained about the existence of a fake website of Rail Vikas Nigam limited (RVNL). The unidentified person has been accused of illegally cloning the official website of RVNL with an intention to cheat job seekers applying through the web portal. The FIR comes a month after a complaint was filed by P.P. Pandey, General Manager, RVNL, a government company under the administrative control of Railway Ministry, on February 8, 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will visit Delhi on April 2 and April 3 and meet representatives of all political parties over the demand of Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. Naidu on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting here to address the special status issue. "Meeting is convened as emergency to take everyone's suggestions and decide how to go forward in Parliament. We have invited organisations that fought for the state during bifurcation and the ones fighting now," Naidu said at the meet. On March 16, the ruling TDP reached a deadlock with BJP over the non-issuance of 'special category status' to the state, and the former ultimately quit the BJP-led Democratic Alliance at the Centre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cambridge Analytica (CA), which is in the midst of the Facebook data privacy storm, has come to the fore and responded to the hearing of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, saying that whistleblower Chris Wylie had "no direct knowledge of the company's work or practices since 2014." "Chris Wylie was a part-time contractor who left Cambridge Analytica in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of the company's work or practices since that date. He was at the company for less than a year, after which he was made the subject of restraining undertakings to prevent his misuse of the company's intellectual property while attempting to set up his own rival firm. He was not, as he claims, a founder of Cambridge Analytica," the firm, said in a statement. "Wylie has misrepresented himself and the company to the committee, and previously to the news media. He admits himself that what he says is speculation," the statement added. Cambridge Analytica is accused of harvesting personal data of Facebook users to influence elections in several countries including the US presidential elections. The company, founded by Stephen K. Bannon and Robert Mercer, a wealthy Republican donor who has put at least USD 15 million into it, offered tools that could identify the personalities of American voters and influence their behaviour. The so-called psychographic modelling techniques, which were built in part with the data harvested from Facebook, underpinned the company's work for then-Republican nominee and US President Donald Trump's campaign in 2016. On that note, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has finally decided to testify before US Congress after repeated calls to speak over data privacy. This comes after immense pressure on Zuckerberg from lawmakers, the media and the public after the Facebook founder last week apologised for data breach and said the platform had made "mistakes". The sources believe Zuckerberg's willingness to testify will also put pressure on Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to do the same. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has officially invited all three CEOs to a hearing on data privacy on April 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) lawmaker has demanded information about the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister' Shahid Khakan Abbasi. Birodh Khatiwada, a lawmaker from the CPN-UML, demanded information on the engagements of Prime Minister Abbasi during a parliamentary meeting. "Pakistani Prime Minister came amidst the commencement of the parliamentary meeting. I thought the information regarding his visit was not released because of the discussion over various other issues in the parliament but today (Monday) also it is not included in the schedule of the house. The parliament retains the right of being notified about the issues and topics of the discussion held between the state head of two nations," Khatiwada said. "The sovereignty of parliament links the people. If the issues of such visits are not regarded as the issue of public interest and the parliament remains isolated from it then the parliament will gradually lose its rights, which ultimately means the public also will be restrained from their right to be informed," he added. Khatiwada requested the government encompassing honourable speaker of the house to notify about the talks made during the visit. "Or is this the visit compared with Sushma Swaraj, which had the mandate of flourishing the relation between the two countries, a valentine visit?" Khatiwada said. Abbasi had visited Nepal from March 5 for three days and held the meetings and series of talks with the politicos. This visit of Pakistan Prime Minister came with the formation of the government under the leadership of Left alliance pressurised Nepal over the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit which failed to commence with the wake of a terrorist attack by Pakistan supported terrorist on India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four people, including a foreign national, were caught in two separate incidents at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi on Monday. In the first case, the Central reserve Police Force (CISF) personnel caught three people with fake tickets at Terminal-3 of the IGI Airport. They were caught while trying to exit from the international offloading gate without any luggage. Their movement aroused the suspicion of the CISF personnel and they intercepted them, according to the police. They three identified themselves as Akhil Arora, Vipul Arora and Karan Arora. When questioned, they revealed that they had managed to gain access into the terminal building by showing edited tickets of flight No. 15-796/STD, which was bound for Goa. They said they had done so to see off their friend namely Arun Fnu, who was bound for Abu Dhabi by flight No. 9W-212/STD at 1740 hrs. After verifying the facts with the concerned airlines the three were handed over to the Delhi Police for further inquiries and legal action. The police have registered a case against the three at the police station. In the second case, CISF Sub-Inspector Rohit Kumar, while on duty in the Security Hold Area (SHA) of Terminal-1D of IGI Airport, New Delhi detected a live round of unknown calibre in the handbag of a passenger named Carlos Junko, who was holding a Spanish passport. When questioned he revealed that he was bound for Hyderabad. He could not produce any other valid documents or explanation regarding the ammo when questioned. He was later offloaded from the plane and handed over to the Delhi Police. The police later registered a case under the Arms Act against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chitkara University is happy to host H.E. Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of Netherlands and Karanpreet Kaur, Senior Policy Officer at its Punjab Campus on March 26th 2018. The objective of the visit was to inform faculty and students about higher opportunities in the Netherlands and newly launched scholarships, specifically for Indian students. At Chitkara University, students are a part of one of the finest curriculums during their student exchange program. Chitkara University has tie-ups with only the world's best. The university encourages its students to get a global exposure and provides all possible help to make dreams come true. It would be a great opportunity for students to grab the opportunities in Netherlands and the session provided all the necessary information. A nation's educated workforce shapes its future. India has the world's youngest population since half of its population is under the age of 25. Over years, the Dutch higher system has witnessed the potential of young, bright Indian minds, and is keen on establishing the Netherlands as a hub for Indian students. With its inclusive infrastructure, and close to 2,200 courses taught in English across sectors such as agriculture, governance, engineering, humanities, management and life sciences, the Netherlands is an advanced-yet-affordable higher education destination for Indian students. The Netherlands is the fourth most competitive economy and the third most innovative country in the world as per the World Economic Forum 2017 rankings. Interestingly, the Netherlands is ranked the first worldwide in terms of work-life balance and ranks in the Top 20 countries in terms of happiness and safety index. The study in Holland initiative attracts nearly two percent of all internationally mobile students. In the last decade, Dutch universities like Erasmus University Rotterdam, Wageningen University, TU Delft and University of Twente have seen a significant rise in the number of Indian students. 13 Dutch universities rank in the Top 100 in Europe and Top 200 in the world as per Times Higher Education and QS World Rankings 2017. The Dutch government has also designed certain funding options, scholarships and fellowships specifically for Indian students. The Holland scholarship which amounts to 5,000 is one of the scholarships provided. There are others such as Orange Knowledge Program and Orange Tulip scholarship, which provide part or full waiver of the tuition fee. "Indian talent comes to the Netherlands to pursue engineering or courses. Yet, courses on accounting and finance, bioscience, economics, law, agriculture, medicine or the arts are increasing in popularity. Currently, we have over 1,600 Indian students in the Netherlands and aim to increase numbers of Indian students and teachers studying, researching, and teaching in the Netherlands and vice versa," said Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of the Netherlands. "We are glad to have His Excellency Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of the Netherlands with us. Many thanks to the ambassador for having provided insightful information to our students and faculty about the education opportunities and scholarships for Indian Students in the Netherlands. Chitkara University has a prestigious student exchange program with reputed organisations that has benefited our students a lot. We are happy to have new door open for us to Netherlands. I am sure our students will strive hard to make use of this wonderful opportunity," said Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor of Chitkara University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Karnataka Assembly elections will be held on May 12, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Tuesday. The counting of votes will be held on May 15, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat told the media here. Issue of gazette notification will be on April 17 and the last date of nomination will be April 24 followed by their scrutiny the very next day. The last day of withdrawal of candidature will be April 27. In order to ensure smooth polling, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed at all 56,696 polling booths across the state. A little less than five crore voters will exercise their franchise to elect members for the 224 assembly constituencies. Rawat also said that relevant measures have been taken to increase the polling percentage from 71.45 percent of 2013. While the Congress party is trying to retain power in Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is pulling all stops to wrestle the southern state into its fold. Even before the announcement of the election schedule, Karnataka has turned into a political battleground with parties extensively campaigning across the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After meeting various opposition leaders here to discuss prospects of forming a third front, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would also meet senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and Shatrughan Sinha tomorrow. "Yes, Sonia (Gandhi) ji is unwell right now and recovering, will meet her once she is fine. Tomorrow will meet Shatrughan Sinha ji,Yashwant Sinha ji, and Arun Shourie ji," Banerjee told reporters here. The three senior BJP leaders, on more than one occasion, have expressed their displeasure with some of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's decisions. "Will certainly go meet if they (Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav) call us for a meeting to Lucknow," Banerjee said, who is on a four-day visit to Delhi, to form a common front against the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of 2019 general elections. Earlier in the day, Banerjee met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. She also met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. Notably, BJP's embittered ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has announced to break the alliance before the general elections 2019. Although Banerjee is also scheduled to attend a dinner meet hosted by Pawar, the latter had brushed off such reports earlier in the day saying, "There is no meeting, there is no dinner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi, on Tuesday. The meeting is speculated to discuss forming an Opposition front against the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Banerjee also met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, later in the day. Notably, BJP's embittered ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has announced to break the alliance before the general elections 2019. "When political people meet then, of course, they will discuss politics, there is nothing to hide in that. The Lok Sabha election of 2019 will certainly be very interesting," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. Although Banerjee is also scheduled to attend a dinner meet hosted by Pawar, the latter had brushed off such reports earlier in the day saying, "There is no meeting, there is no dinner." The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief's visit to the capital is being seen as a bid to assemble forces against the BJP, in the run up to the 2019 general elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Soon-to-be member of the British Royal family and American actress Meghan Markle's nephew said that he and his mother have not yet received the wedding invitation from the former. Tyler Dooley and his mother Tracy told Good Morning Britain through a video link from Oregon, US, that they did not receive an invitation, although they were mailed out last week, according to Fox News. The mother-son pair further said that Markle used to babysit Tyler and his brother Thomas and added, they did not "harbour any hard feelings" over being left off from the guest list. Tracy said, "I don't think we are getting invitations, but that is fine. We are so proud of her." Tyler recalled that he last communicated with the former 'Suits' actress three years ago and said it was an "honour" to see Markle to become part of the royal family. On rumours that Markle's father will walk his daughter down the aisle, Tracy said that "he would be going there (to the wedding) and arrangements are being made." While Tracy and Tyler are unlikely to attend the wedding, they are planning on travelling to the UK as part of "Good Morning Britain's" royal wedding coverage. On Thursday, the Kensington Palace announced that the royal wedding service would be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, UK on May 19. Around 600 guests will soon be handed out official invitations for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Markle. The invitations, made using American ink on English card and printed by Barnard and Westwood, also reveal the dress code for guests attending the wedding ceremony - uniform, morning coat or lounge suit, or day dress with a hat. Prince Harry, who was a former soldier in the British army and is now the Captain General of Royal Marines, will likely don a uniform for the ceremony. A further 200 guests will join Prince Harry and Markle at an evening reception at Frogmore House, about half a mile south of Windsor Castle. Frogmore House has been a Royal residence since 1792. This is the venue where Prince Harry and Markle posed for their official engagement photos in November last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has retweeted a poll started by the Congress Party on Twitter, which asks whether the death of 39 Indians in Iraq was her biggest failure, to which a majority of citizens said 'No'. "Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swaraj's biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks," Swaraj retweeted the Congress tweet, posted on Sunday. In the poll, 33, 879 people voted, out of which 76 percent chose the option, 'No', while the remaining 24 percent said, 'Yes'. Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swaraj's biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2018 Last Thursday, the Congress announced that they would move a Privilege Motion against Swaraj for misleading the families of Indians killed in Iraq by the Islamic State. On March 20, Sushma Swaraj informed Rajya Sabha members that 39 Indians who went missing in Mosul in 2014, had been killed by the terror group IS. Swaraj said Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs General V.K. Singh would go to Mosul to bring the mortal remains of the deceased back. The victims, most of whom hailed from Punjab, were working on projects near Mosul when they were kidnapped. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on Tuesday expelled seven officials from Russian mission in the aftermath of poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal at his home in Britain's Salisbury. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in a conference here, announced the organisation was cutting the size of its Russian mission by a third, removing accreditation of seven Russian staff members and rejecting three other pending applications. The permanent size of the Russian mission has now been cut from 30 to 20 people, according to the Guardian. The Nato official said the latest action was "a clear and very strong message that there was a cost to Russia's reckless actions" in poisoning the agent earlier this month. He claimed that Russia had underestimated Nato's resolve and said the announcement would reduce Moscow's capability to do intelligence work across Nato. The move came after more than 20 western allies ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack in the UK, in a show of solidarity that represents the biggest concerted blow to Russian intelligence networks in the West since the cold war. The Secretary-General also said the Nato response was aimed not just at the poisoning -- the first use of a nerve agent on Nato territory, but against the country's unacceptable and illegal behaviour. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier in the day claimed the US had used "colossal blackmail" to force European and other western powers to expel Russian diplomats, and promised Moscow would respond harshly to the expulsion of over 100 diplomats worldwide. "When one or two diplomats are asked to leave this or that country, with apologies being whispered into our ears, we know for certain that this is a result of colossal pressure and blackmail, which is Washington's chief instrument in the international scene." British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday told UK Parliament that 23 countries had expelled more than 115 Russian intelligence diplomats, which "represents an unprecedented series of expulsions that demonstrates to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security". Only a handful of EU countries including Austria, Portugal, Greece and Malta, have declined to take any step. Many other countries have expelled one or two diplomats, a move designed to register support for the UK. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said they have not found any evidence against Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence case. "There is no role found yet of Sambhaji Bhide in Bhima Koregaon violence case, but investigation is continuing," chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the Maharashtra Assembly. Bhide is accused of instigating violence against Dalits during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle on January 1. During the violence in the Pune district, a person was killed, while many others were left injured. Apart from Bhide, one Milind Ekbote is also accused of playing a role in the violence and has been sent to 14 days judicial custody on March 21. Sambhaji Bhide, however, had denied all the allegations levelled against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP leader D.P. Tripathi on Tuesday said that opposition parties, including the Congress, have initiated the process to impeach Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. "A lot of opposition parties have signed the draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra. Many parties like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Left parties and I think TMC and Congress have also signed it," NCP General Secretary D.P. Tripathi told ANI. The development follows West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's meeting with senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan earlier in the day to discuss a possible impeachment motion against the CJI. The impeachment motion is in relation to the CJI's handling of the matters raised by four Supreme Court judges in a press conference on January 11. Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M.B. Lokur and Kurien Joseph had earlier this year said Misra was assigning important cases in an arbitrary manner to junior judges, ignoring these four senior judges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the controversy surrounding Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya's tweet on the Karnataka Assembly Polls date, senior Congress Party leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the BJP was dictating polling dates to the Election Commission. Speaking to ANI, Kharge urged the election-governing body to avoid any such information leak from taking place ahead of the polls. "Amit Malviya tweeted Karnataka elections dates at 11 am, even before the schedule was announced by the Election Commission; it means the BJP is dictating polling dates to them. I have never seen such a situation before, where a political party has access to so much information. However, I expect the EC to work according to the Constitution and law, and not let information leak," he said. Meanwhile, Congress leader Veerappa Moily accused the BJP of disregarding a constitutional office. "What the BJP has done gives an impression that they don't regard a constitutional office. Congress is ready to face election, and we will emerge victorious against the BJP. Weaker section of society has always been with the Congress party," he said. Ahead of the announcement of polling and counting dates for Karnataka, Amit Malviya took to Twitter to announce that the polling date would be May 12 and counting would be on May 18. However, following social media uproar on his knowledge of the dates prior to the official announcement, Malviya deleted the tweet. On a related note, a delegation led by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is slated to meet EC officials in connection with Malviya's tweet on the Karnataka election dates. The 224-member Karnataka Assembly will go to polls on May 12, and counting of votes will be held on May 15, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat in a press conference held earlier today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Monday refuted the charges made by Congress President Rahul Gandhi regarding the NaMo app and described the latter as "technologically illiterate". "Congress President Rahul Gandhi is technologically illiterate," BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said. Patra went on to add, "He (Rahul Gandhi) does not know that data analysis is not equivalent to spying or snooping. This new age is the age of information technology, which Rahul ji will not understand". "Through the NaMo app, Prime Minister Narendra Modi communicates with the ground level party workers. It is a smart app and like all smart apps, it will be called smart only if it facilitates two way communication with ease," he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for misusing his app NaMo to build a personal database with data on millions of Indians. "Modi misusing PM position to build personal database with data on millions of Indians via the NaMo App promoted by Govt. If as PM he wants to use tech to communicate with India, no problem. But use the official PMO APP for it. This data belongs to India, not Modi" Earlier on Sunday, he tweeted, "Hi! My name is Narendra Modi. I am India's Prime Minister. When you sign up for my official App, I give all your data to my friends in American companies." Rahul made the statement after media report quoted a French security researcher claiming that the Narendra Modi app sends all the device info and personal data including email IDs, photos, gender and names of the users without consent to a third-party domain belonging to an American company. However, Government sources on Sunday clarified that the app does not ask for a blanket access to the users' personal data. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell head Amit Malviya also hit back at the former and accused him of sharing users' data from his party's official App with Singapore firm. Taking to his Twitter handle, Malviya on Monday shared a picture of the disclaimer of the site and targeted the Congress party for being upfront to accept that they will share the data with a third party. "Hi! My name is Rahul Gandhi. I am the President of India's oldest political party. When you sign up for our official App, I give all your data to my friends in Singapore," Malviya Tweeted. "Full marks to @INCIndia for stating upfront that they'll give your data to **practically anyone** - undisclosed vendors, unknown volunteers, even 'groups with similar causes'. In the theft of all forms, Congress has never been discreet!," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday said a strict action will be taken against those who took out a tableau in Jodhpur on Ram Navami to honour Shambhu Lal, accused of killing a Muslim labourer from West Bengal. Talking to media, Kataria said, "It is my duty to take strict action against the culprits." Last year, Lal allegedly killed the labourer and set his body on fire, as the latter was said to be romantically involved with a Hindu woman. While murdering the victim, Lal recorded the brutal act on video, uploaded it to social media and justified it in the name of 'love jihad'. He is in jail since December 2017 after a case was registered against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large number of people on Tuesday gathered in front of a municipal building at Kemerovo in Russia to protest against the negligent behaviour of the authorities leading to an outbreak of fire at Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall. About 4,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the mall and raised doubts over the official figures of those who died, alleging that the number is much higher than 64 people, reports The Washington Post. The protesters further demanded the resignation of Kemerovo Mayor Ilya Seredyuk and regional Governor Aman Tuleyev. As per the local officials, a child may have lit a foam ball in the children's play area, which might have caused the outbreak of the fire and trapped the children within a theatre hall situated in the mall, as told by The Washington Post. Reportedly, the fire alarms did not go off while all the emergency exit doors were locked. The investigative committee informed that the alarms were out of service since March 19 and no manual alarms were kept in-place of the automatic alarms. On Tuesday morning, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the hospital morgue where the deceased had been kept for post-mortem and held an unplanned meeting with the members of a civic action group at Kemerovo and assured punishment to those responsible for the massive fire hazard. Late night on March 25, a massive fire engulfed a shopping mall named Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) in Kemerovo in Siberia. The fire started on the fourth floor of the mall and consumed an area of about 1,600 square meters. It is yet to be ascertained as to what caused the fire. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to improve the livelihood of widows and destitute women in Mathura and Vrindavan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed temples in the two cities to donate all flowers offered to them to shelter homes. By doing so, the top court said women in these shelter homes run by the Uttar Pradesh government can use the flowers to make perfumes, incense sticks (agarbattis) and so on, thereby providing a means of livelihood for them. The Supreme Court further sought consideration from the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) to extend this scheme to all major temple towns such as Varanasi, Tirupati, and others, keeping in mind the welfare of widows and destitute women. The apex court also directed all state governments to provide details of shelter homes being run, number of widows and destitute women residing in these homes as well as the schemes in place for the welfare of these women to the aforementioned ministry so that the functioning of the schemes can be monitored and extended to multiple states, wherever necessary. The plight of widows in places like Mathura and Vrindavan has been examined by authorities time and again, and measures are being taken to improve living conditions and eradicate the social stigma surrounding them after being abandoned by their families. In July last year, the top court while expressing concern over the plight of widows who are forced to live a life of destitution, asked the Centre to frame schemes to promote their remarriage. The court stated that the Centre must take steps to rehabilitate them by imparting skills, thereby helping make them independent. Further to this, the Supreme Court in August had constituted a five-member team to ensure proper rehabilitation for the Vrindavan widows, suggest steps and measures that could be taken to rehabilitate, compensate and make lives of the women residing in Vrindavan better. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear an appeal filed by the co-owner of Kamala Mills, Ravi Surajmal Bhandari seeking his release from the jail in connection with a fire incident that claimed 14 lives last year. In his petition, Ravi Surajmal Bhandari has claimed his arrest was an illegal detention and said that he could not be held liable for the fire tragedy. Earlier, the Bombay High Court had dismissed Bhandari's bail application. Earlier on January 25, a Mumbai court rejected the bail applications of all five accused- Yug Tuli, Yug Pathak, Abhijit Mankar, Jigar Sanghvi and Kripesh Sanghvi, in connection with the fire case. The massive fire that broke out at the two pubs in the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai in December last year claimed 14 lives and left several others injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that the all-party meeting was convened in order to take everyone's suggestion and decide how to go forward with the state's demand for 'Special Category Status' in the Parliament. At the all-party meeting called by him, Naidu said, "The meeting is convened as emergency to take everyone's suggestions and decide how to go forward in Parliament. We have invited organisations that fought for the state during bifurcation and the ones fighting now." However, three parties- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Jan Sena party- did not attend the meeting held at the state assembly, the TDP chief noted. "We've been hoping each day that discussion on no-confidence motion will take place. Almost all parties across the country endorse discussion on our issues in Parliament, the state government hopes for a discussion on centre's attitude towards important issues of Andhra Pradesh," he added. On March 16, the ruling TDP reached a deadlock with BJP over the issue of granting 'special category status' to the state, and ultimately quit the Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The White House on Monday dismissed adult star Stormy Daniels's claims of having an alleged sexual affair with US President Donald Trump and being threatened to keep quiet in a TV interview on Sunday as "absolutely inaccurate and incoherent". White House spokesman Raj Shah dismissed the entirety of Daniels's story, aired Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes." "The President strongly, clearly and has consistently denied these underlying claims. The only person who has been inconsistent is the one making the claims," Shah said in a statement. "President Trump doesn't believe that any of the claims that Ms. Daniels made are accurate. There is nothing to corroborate her claim," he added. In a highly-anticipated interview on CBS's news magazine, hosted by American journalist Anderson Cooper, '60 Minutes', Daniels on Sunday claimed that she was 'threatened' publicly by a man, who told her - "Leave Trump alone." The adult star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, recalled an encounter she said took place in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. Daniels was on her way to a fitness class with her infant daughter when she said she was approached by a man. "A guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story. It was then at that point that the alleged threat of physical violence was made," Daniels recalled. The adult star added that the man, whom she could not identify, leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom." After such comments, the man disappeared from the scene, according to Daniels. That alleged altercation occurred months after Daniels agreed to tell a sister publication of 'In Touch magazine' her story about the alleged affair in exchange for USD 15,000, The Hill reported. When pressed specifically on the alleged threat, Shah clarified that President Trump "doesn't believe any of her claims are accurate." The "60 Minutes" interview breathed new life into Daniels's story, which has dogged the US president for months. It drew 22 million viewers on Sunday night, the program's highest ratings in a decade. She acknowledged that she started her "intimate relationship" with President Trump at Lake Tahoe in 2006 and continued it in 2007 as well. Further, Daniels claimed that she had a sexual encounter with the US President "just once with consent". With days to go before the November 2016 presidential election, Daniels signed the non-disclosure agreement in return for USD 130,000 in hush money arranged by the US President's attorney Michael Cohen. Daniels told CBS that she agreed to the gagging contract because "I was concerned for my family and their safety". Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti complained in the course of the 60 Minutes film that the veiled threat that was allegedly made against his client in 2011 was effectively repeated in the filing of a lawsuit earlier this month by Trump's legal team claiming USD 20 million in damages against her with a further USD 1 million penalty for any further violation of the non-disclosure agreement. Avenatti said the suit was a form of intimidation. "You threaten someone with a USD 20 million lawsuit, it's a thuggish tactic. It's no different than what happened in the parking lot in Las Vegas." Daniels refused to answer a question from Cooper about whether she had handed over all digital images, email messages and text messages relating to Trump as part of the 2016 gagging contract. She then replied that her lawyer had advised her not to discuss "those things". On Thursday, Avenatti posted a tweet that featured a picture of a digital disc in a safe deposit box with the words "If 'a picture is worth a thousand words', how many words is this worth?" On March 6, Daniels filed a civil lawsuit against President Trump claiming the nondisclosure agreement, which contains details about her alleged nine-month affair with the latter is "invalid" because the US President had "never signed it." In response, President Trump's team sued Daniels, claiming that "she violated the agreement." On Friday, former Playboy model named Karen McDougal in a CNN interview claimed that President Trump had tried to offer her money after they allegedly went intimate. Further, McDougal expressed regret and apologised to Melania for her alleged encounter with the US President. Both McDougal and Daniels claim that President Trump had allegedly had a sexual encounter, when the latter's wife and First Lady Melania Trump, had given birth to his son, Barron. Many women have in the past have alleged that they had allegedly gone intimate with the US President. However, the White House has refuted claims that President Trump had affairs with other women, including Daniels and McDougal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Adult star Stormy Daniels on Monday accused US President Donald Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen for defamation, amending her lawsuit against the US President. According to the lawsuit, it now claims that Cohen defamed Daniels by suggesting that she is lying about her alleged 2006 affair with Trump, The Hill reported. The suit specifically points to a statement Cohen made last month, "Just because something isn't true doesn't mean that it can't cause you harm or damage," he said. This comes hours after Cohen sent a cease and desist letter to Daniels over her claims of being threatened by a man, purportedly sent by Cohen and having an alleged sexual encounter with the US President. Cohen's lawyer, Brent Blakely, wrote in a letter to Daniels' attorney that she had made false and defamatory comments, "namely that he [Cohen] was responsible for an alleged thug who supposedly visited" and threatened Daniels. "In truth, Mr. Cohen had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any such person or incident, and does not even believe that any such person exists, or that such incident ever occurred," Blakely added. Daniels has been locked in a legal battle with President Trump earlier this month, seeking to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she and Cohen had signed more than a decade ago. The adult star said that the deal is not valid because the US President "never signed it himself". Cohen has also said that he used "own personal funds to facilitate a payment of USD 130,000" to Daniels for her silence on the matter, weeks before the 2016 presidential election. A hearing for the lawsuit Daniels filed against Trump and Cohen's company to dissolve the nondisclosure agreement has been set in Los Angeles County Superior Court for July 12. The change to the lawsuit comes just one day after Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, defied her nondisclosure agreement in a TV interview, "60 Minutes", hosted by CBS. Daniels on Sunday claimed that she was 'threatened' publicly by a man, who told her - "Leave Trump alone." The adult star recalled an encounter she said took place in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. She was on her way to a fitness class with her infant daughter when she said she was approached by a man. "A guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story. It was then at that point that the alleged threat of physical violence was made," Daniels recalled. The adult star added that the man, whom she could not identify, leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom." After such comments, the man disappeared from the scene, according to Daniels. She acknowledged that she started her "intimate relationship" with President Trump at Lake Tahoe in 2006 and continued it in 2007 as well. Further, Daniels claimed that she had a sexual encounter with the US President "just once with consent". The White House on Monday dismissed Daniel's claims in the CBS interview as "absolutely inaccurate and incoherent". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will embark on a three-day official visit to Japan from Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official release said, "At the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Japan H.E. Taro Kono, External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj will pay an official visit to Japan from 28-30 March, 2018." During the visit, Swaraj will co-chair the 9th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Kono on March 29. "The two sides will review all aspects of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest," the release added. In 2014, India and Japan concluded a Special Strategic and Global Partnership during the landmark visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan. "Bilateral relations have been strengthened in diverse sectors in recent years. The visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India in September 2017 has given fresh impetus to the ties," the MEA said. "Japan is today one of the largest investors in India, with a growing presence in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, financial markets and capacity-building, among others," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will be holding an all-party party meeting at the state assembly on Tuesday over the non-issuance of 'Special Category Status' to Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu had called for the meeting on Monday. The Andhra ruling party and the BJP-ruled Centre have been at the loggerheads ever since the announcement of 2018-19 Union Budget. The TDP alleged that the Centre ignored the demand of 'Special Category Status' to Andhra Pradesh in the budget, while the latter brushed aside the charges. On March 16, the ruling TDP reached a deadlock with BJP over this issue and ultimately quit the Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump has written a letter to the family of Meadow Pollack, one of the victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida that claimed 17 lives. "Our entire Nation mourns the tragic loss of Meadow. Our hearts are heavy for you and your entire family," read the letter. The victim's father and brother had earlier participated in a listening session with the President, where the enraged father had drawn attention to the recurrent mass shootings in schools and had urged the administration officials to prioritize school safety. "I am deeply grateful for your presence at the White House for discussions regarding school safety. I was touched by the memories of Meadow you shared. It was clear that she had a bright future, full of tremendous potential -- I know that you were so proud of her. We will not forget her life, and we are resolved to confront the evil that so senselessly took her from us. Melania and I hold you close in our hearts, and we pray for your comfort and strength," Trump further wrote in the letter. The letter has been shared by Pollack's brother, Hunter Pollack on Twitter, who wrote, "Thank you @realDonaldTrump for opening the Whitehouse to my family with open arms. Was great talking about my sisters beauty , and school security with you. Thank you Mr. President." On February 14, at least 17 people- children and adults- were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. On March 24, the public, primarily students across the US also held a "March for Our Lives" rally pressing for stricter gun control measures after the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 41 terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PYD/PKK) have been "neutralised" in an air operation conducted by the Turkish forces. The word "neutralised" is used to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. Anadolu Agency quoted the Turkish Army on Tuesday as saying that the operation was carried out on March 22 in northern Iraq's Qandil region. Turkish General Staff said in a statement that the terrorists were plotting an attack on Turkish forces. On Saturday, the Turkish military said they have neutralised at least 3,733 terrorists belonging to the PYD/PKK and Islamic State (IS) group in a military operation in Syria's Afrin region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday welcomed Afghanistan's unconditional call to initiate a peace process with the militant group Taliban. "We welcome the call of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for starting negotiations with the Taliban without preconditions," Cavusoglu said while addressing the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan in the Uzbek capital, as reported by the Anadolu Agency. Earlier on March 25, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was optimistic to end the four-year-old insurgency crises in the country while saying that the on-going peace process was on for national consensus. Cavusoglu further urged various groups that are active within Afghanistan to recognise the ruling Afghan government. "We want all the groups in Afghanistan to recognize the Afghan government, condemn violence and become part of legitimate politics," Cavusoglu added. He further emphasized on the need of the participation by the international agencies to help in the reconciliation process. Speaking at the same conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored the importance of a constructive dialogue between Afghanistan and Taliban for peace and stability in the country. Further European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said it to be an exemplary opportunity for peace. Earlier on February 28 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani dwelled on a plan to conduct a peace process with Taliban which might include the latter to be declared as a political party. However, the Taliban group is yet to respond to President Ghani's offer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping has condoled the fire incident at Russia's Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall that claimed 64 lives. According to the People's Daily, President Xi sent a condolence message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. He said, "On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and also in his own name, I deeply mourn those killed in the fire and show sympathy to the bereaved families and those injured." Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a similar message to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. A major fire broke out on Sunday at the fourth floor of the shopping mall where victims were present inside a theatre. Over a 100 people had to be evacuated, while 12 injured were hospitalized. Thirty six persons received out-patient medical assistance. Around 660 emergency personnel were deployed to the location to conduct rescue operations that lasted for over 17 hours. A criminal investigation has also been launched in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP CM Ramesh on Tuesday accused the rival YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of being hand in glove with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after its members refused to attend the all-party meeting called by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. "YSRCP says they'll not attend it. They don't have clarity and credibility, they are hand in glove with the BJP," Ramesh told ANI. He further said the YSRCP must have spoken to the Centre to reject the resignation of its MPs, "They say five of their MPs will resign. Let us see, they must have spoken to the government that they don't accept the resignation." The Andhra ruling party has called a meeting today over the non-issuance of 'Special Category Status' to Andhra Pradesh, by the BJP-led Central government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices traded with modest gains in mid-afternoon trade tracking firmness in European stocks. At 14:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 151.46 points or 0.46% at 33,217.87. The Nifty 50 index advanced 59.85 points or 0.59% at 10,190.50. Market sentiment remained positive on strong global cues amid reports of trade negotiations between the United States and China, which eased fears of a trade war and improved investors' risk appetite. Key indices opened the session on a higher note on positive global stocks. Indices trimmed gains in morning trade and hovered with small gains in mid-morning trade. Indices hit intraday lows in early afternoon trade before recovering some intraday gains and trading range bound in mid-afternoon trade. Among secondary indices, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index advanced 1.18%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.47%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. Overseas, European and Asian stocks advanced after Wall Street rebounded in previous trading session amid a slight easing in trade tensions. US stocks closed sharply higher yesterday, 26 March 2018, bouncing back from strong losses in the previous session as trade tensions between the US and China appeared to ease. Closer home, the broader market depicted strength. On the BSE, 1,841 shares advanced and 704 shares declined. A total of 137 shares were unchanged. Auto stocks were mixed. Eicher Motors (up 2.24%), Maruti Suzuki India (up 0.8%), Ashok Leyland (up 0.35%) and Tata Motors (up 0.29%) gained. Bajaj Auto (down 0.96%), Hero MotoCorp (down 0.53%), TVS Motor Company (down 0.43%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (down 0.31%) edged lower. Aviation stocks surged. Jet Airways (India) (up 4.75%), InterGlobe Aviation (up 2.57%) and SpiceJet (up 1.16%) advanced. Kalpataru Power Transmission gained 1.53% to Rs 470.45 after the company announced that it has secured new orders/notification of award of Rs 901 crore. The announcement was made during market hours today, 27 March 2018. On the political front, voting for the Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on 12 May 2018, and the results will be out on 15 May 2018. Meanwhile, the no-confidence motions moved by various opposition parties against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have not been taken up even today as both the houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day. Ever since the second half of the Budget session commenced from March 5, the Parliament has been adjourned over vociferous protests from the opposition parties over a range of issues like PNB scam, Cauvery water board and Andhra Pradesh special category status. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Certain tourist places/circuits in the country are developed with the assistance of various International Agencies/foreign banks including World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The details of External Assistance received for the development of tourism infrastructure and other related activities are as follows: i. Buddhist Circuits in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (Phase-I) (1988-1998): The Government of India and Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) entered into loan agreement for 9244 JPY million in 1988 for Development of Buddhist Circuits in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (Phase-I). This project covered Buddhist Centres of Sarnath, Kushinagar, Piprawaha, Srawasti in Uttar Pradesh and Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali in Bihar. The above project was completed in December 1988. The total expenditure incurred on the project was Rs.250.95 crore (appox). ii. Ajanta- Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project (Phase-I) (1992-2002): The Government of India and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) entered into loan agreement for 3745 JPY million in 1992 for Ajanta -Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project (Phase I). The places covered under the project were Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra. The project was completed in 2002 and the total expenditure incurred was Rs.127.50 crore in March 2002. iii. Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project (Phase-II): A loan Agreement for an amount equivalent to 7331 million Japanese Yen (Rs.299 crore approx was signed between the Government of India (Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance) and JICA on 31st March 2003 for AEDP-II. The loan became effective from 31st July 2003 (Loan Agreement No. ID - P150). The places covered were Ajanta, Ellora, Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Patnadevi, Lonar in Maharashtra. The work on the project is complete and the validity of loan Agreement expired on 31st July 2014. iv. An agreement for Rs.450 lakhs was signed between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Departments of Tourism of the Governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) in 2013 to cooperate in upgrading the quality of services and goods provided for tourists along the Buddhist Circuit in India. The project has been completed and the strategy for integrated tourism development of the Buddhist Circuit in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh INVESTING IN BUDDHIST CIRCUIT' was launched on 17th July 2014. v. South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development project (SATIDP)-India: SATIDP-India with an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan of $20 million was approved by ADB on 16th November 2009, signed on 4th October 2010 and made effective on 25th January 2011, focuses on the state of Sikkim. The project components included (i) connectivity enhancement, (ii) nature and culture based tourism destination improvements, and (iii) support to community participation, capacity building and project management. vi. Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT): IDIPT was approved by ADB on 4th October 2010 as a Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF) for $250 Million. The loan allocations are $ 66.61 million to the State of Himachal Pradesh, $61.98 million to the State of Punjab, $55.79 million to the State of Tamil Nadu and $61.62 million to the State of Uttarakhand. The Program targets enhanced economic growth and provision of livelihood opportunities for local communities through tourism infrastructure development with a focus on preservation and development of built, natural and cultural heritage and incidental services. viii. Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development Project: The World Bank has approved a loan of the amount of US$ 40 Million for the Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development project on December 20, 2017. The program development objective is to increase tourism-related benefits for local communities in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The project is expected to have far-reaching social, economic and environmental benefits by targeting local communities and entrepreneurs near some of the main tourist and pilgrimage attractions in Uttar Pradesh, namely, Agra as well as Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Govardhan in the Braj region. Development of more tourist places/circuits in the country with foreign assistance is a continuous process. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The eleventh session of the China-India joint-group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology was held on March 26, 2018. The session was co-chaired by the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Shri Suresh Prabhu and the Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Zhong Shan. The two Ministers while reaffirming and reiterating their commitments to promote a balanced and sustainable bilateral trade, agreed to continue to take forward the initiatives identified in the Five Year Development Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and India signed in September 2014. The Chinese side noted India's concern regarding the long existing trade imbalance and requests for market access of Indian products and services and expressed its commitment to address these concerns through the broad framework provided by successive JEGs and the Five Year Development Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India. The Chinese side reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the provision of market access for Indian agricultural products pertaining to non-basmati rice, rape-seed meals, soya-meals, pomegranate and pomegranate arils, okra, banana and other fruits and vegetables and bovine meat expeditiously. The two sides reaffirmed their aim to promote bilateral trade in the field of pharmaceuticals including resolution of issues of Indian pharma products exports to Chinese markets. The Ministers agreed to draw-up a medium and long term roadmap with action points and timelines for increasing bilateral trade between the two countries in a balanced and sustainable manner, as the two countries are the largest emerging economies of the world with 35% of the world's population and around 20% of the world's GDP but the relative volume of bilateral trade is less than 1% of global trade. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation within WTO, and other multilateral and regional frameworks, to maintain their common interest. Both the sides reiterated their commitment to rules based multilateral global trade. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), signed the Host Country Agreement. The Agreement will give ISA a juridical personality and gives it power to contract, to acquire and dispose off movable and immovable properties, to institute and defend legal proceedings. Under this agreement, ISA shall enjoy such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities as are necessary for ISA's Headquarter to independently discharge its function and programmes. ISA shall be deriving its status, privileges and immunities as per Article 10 of Framework Agreement. The agreement was signed by General (Dr.) V. K. Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs and Shri Upendra Tripathy, Interim Director General, ISA in the gracious presence of Shri R K Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy. Shri R. K. Singh said that ISA has potential to change developmental paradigm in the world. He said that energy will now be available to less developed tropical countries at affordable rates and in an easily deployable manner. The Minister also mentioned that many countries have shown interest to learn from India's experience in renewable energy. He emphasized the need for our industry to go and set up infrastructure in these countries and talked about doing necessary de-risking in this regard. General (Dr.) V. K. Singh also congratulated ISA and stated that ISA has an onerous task at hand to mobilise over US $ 1000 billion of investment into the Solar Sector and deploying over 1000 GW of Solar capacity. He also stated that ISA need to firm up financial partnership deals with more multilateral and bilateral donor agencies in order to meet its stated objectives. Shri Upendra Tripathy called the signing of Host Country Agreement an important milestone and thanked the Government of India for its wholehearted support. Secretary, MNRE; Secretary (ER), MEA were among the dignitaries present at the event. Background: The International Solar Alliance is an initiative jointly launched by the Prime Minister of India and President of France on 30th November 2015 at Paris, in the presence of the Secretary General of the UN, on the side lines of COP21 UN Climate Change Conference. The main objective of ISA is to undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology, mobilize more than US $ 1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy, and pave the way for future technologies adapted to the needs of 121 countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics. ISA has presently four ongoing programmes: Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use, Affordable Finance at Scale, Scaling Solar Mini Grids and Scaling Solar Rooftop catering to the needs of solar energy in specific areas. The Framework Agreement coming into force on 6th December 2017, the ISA became the first international intergovernmental treaty based organization to be headquartered in India. ISA celebrated its founding day on 11th March, 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices edged higher in early trade on positive global stocks as global trade war fears appear to ease. At 9:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 145.34 points or 0.44% at 33,211.75. The Nifty 50 index advanced 53.25 points or 0.53% at 10,183.90. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index advanced 0.91%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.99%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. Overseas, Asian stocks edged higher after Wall Street rebounded in previous trading session amid a slight easing in trade tensions. US stocks closed sharply higher yesterday, 26 March 2018, bouncing back from strong losses in the previous session as trade tensions between the US and China appeared to ease. Closer home, the broader market depicted strength. On the BSE, 1,015 shares advanced and 206 shares declined. A total of 23 shares were unchanged. IT major Wipro rose 1.57% after the company announced an expanded global relationship with Adobe to create, build and run digital marketing solutions and campaigns for their clients, across the globe. As a part of this alliance, Wipro will embed Adobe's design and prototyping software, Adobe XD CC, the all-in-one UX/UI solution for designing and prototyping mobile apps and websites, into its Digital Experience Platform. The announcement was made after trading hours yesterday, 26 March 2018. Pharma major Cipla advanced 0.78% after the company said that the closing conditions in relation to disinvestment of entire 99% equity stake held by company's joint venture company in UAE i.e. Saba Investment Limited in Al Jabal for Drugs and Medical Appliances Company, Yemen (AJDMS) have been fulfilled. Consequently, AJDMS has ceased to be subsidiary of Saba Investment with effect from 26 March 2018.The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 March 2018. On the macro economic front, the Government of India (GoI), in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), deliberated over its borrowing programme for FY 2019 and finalised its borrowing calendar for the first half of FY 2019. GoI had budgeted for FY 2019 Gross G-Sec borrowing of Rs 6.05 lakh crore. The GoI intends to use larger inflows from small savings schemes to fund its fiscal deficit during the year. The GoI will borrow Rs 1 lakh crore from NSSF as against budgeted amount of Rs 75000 crore. After making careful assessment of its financial needs for the first half, the GoI's gross G-Sec borrowing will be only Rs 2.88 lakh crore in the first half of FY 2019. This makes up only 47.5% as against 60-65% share in this period in previous years. The GoI also plans to issue more Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs) and introduce CPI linked bonds, both put together, to the extent of 10% of issuances during the year. The GoI will introduce two benchmarks during this half year - 2-year and 5-year - to meet the market demand. More issuance will be planned in short and long-term maturity bucket, reducing the issuance in medium term segments of 10-14 years to around 29%, as against more than 50% issuances in previous years. GoI's T Bill programme for the first quarter is to raise Rs 1.95 lakh crore. During this period, T Bills of Rs 1.53 lakh crore will expire. The gross borrowing per week under T-Bills will be Rs 15000 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices recovered some gains after hitting intraday lows in early afternoon trade. At 12:17 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 95.47 points or 0.29% at 33,161.88. The Nifty 50 index advanced 41.50 points or 0.41% at 10,172.15. Market sentiment remained positive amid reports of trade negotiations between the United States and China, which eased fears of a trade war and improved investors' risk appetite. Key indices opened the session on a higher note on positive global stocks. Indices trimmed gains in morning trade and hovered with small gains in mid-morning trade. Indices hit intraday lows in early afternoon trade. Among secondary indices, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index advanced 0.98%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.24%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The broader market depicted strength. On the BSE, 1,755 shares advanced and 636 shares declined. A total of 134 shares were unchanged. Metal and mining stocks gained on easing trade war fears between US and China. Jindal Steel & Power (up 3.92%), Steel Authority of India (up 1.89%), Tata Steel (up 1.77%), Hindustan Copper (up 1.74%), Hindalco Industries (up 1.45%), JSW Steel (up 1.06%), Hindustan Zinc (up 0.83%) and Nalco (up 0.15%) gained. NMDC was down 1.27%. Vedanta rose 0.99%. The company said that as a part of regular maintenance program, the company's smelting operations at Tuticorin have taken a maintenance shutdown for approximately 15 days. This activity was earlier scheduled in the month of April 2018. The Refining and Copper rod manufacturing operations will continue as usual, it added. The announcement was made during market hours today, 27 March 2018. Cement stocks edged lower. Shree Cement (down 0.63%), Grasim Industries (down 0.34%) and ACC (down 0.32%) declined. Ambuja Cements (up 0.11%) and UltraTech Cement (up 0.01%) edged higher. On the macro economic front, the Government of India (GoI), in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), deliberated over its borrowing programme for FY 2019 and finalised its borrowing calendar for the first half of FY 2019. GoI had budgeted for FY 2019 Gross G-Sec borrowing of Rs 6.05 lakh crore. The GoI intends to use larger inflows from small savings schemes to fund its fiscal deficit during the year. The GoI will borrow Rs 1 lakh crore from NSSF as against budgeted amount of Rs 75000 crore. After making careful assessment of its financial needs for the first half, the GoI's gross G-Sec borrowing will be only Rs 2.88 lakh crore in the first half of FY 2019. This makes up only 47.5% as against 60-65% share in this period in previous years. The GoI also plans to issue more Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs) and introduce CPI linked bonds, both put together, to the extent of 10% of issuances during the year. The GoI will introduce two benchmarks during this half year - 2-year and 5-year - to meet the market demand. More issuance will be planned in short and long-term maturity bucket, reducing the issuance in medium term segments of 10-14 years to around 29%, as against more than 50% issuances in previous years. GoI's T Bill programme for the first quarter is to raise Rs 1.95 lakh crore. During this period, T Bills of Rs 1.53 lakh crore will expire. The gross borrowing per week under T-Bills will be Rs 15000 crore. Overseas, Asian stocks edged higher after Wall Street rebounded in previous trading session amid a slight easing in trade tensions. US stocks closed sharply higher yesterday, 26 March 2018, bouncing back from strong losses in the previous session as trade tensions between the US and China appeared to ease. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Held on 27 March 2018 The Board of Directors of Fortune Financial Services (India) in their meeting held on 27 March, 2018, have transacted the following business. 1. Issue and allotment of 30,000 Optionally Convertible Debentures of Rs. 1,00,000 each fully paid aggregating to Rs. 300 crore 2. Disinvestment in ITI Reinsurance 3. Issue of corporate guarantee to Yes Bank for Rs. 300 crores against credit facilities to be availed by Fortune Credit Capital (a wholly Owned Subsidiary) 4. Other business as per agenda of the meeting. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of State for Planning (IC) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, informed that the Department of Expenditure has conveyed its approval for the Special Banking Arrangement (SBA) upto Rs. 7000 crores from Nationalized Banks to meet fertilizer claims from September 2017 to February 2018. The Minister said that the Government releases subsidy to the fertilizers companies on a regular basis subject to availability of budget. Whenever there was a shortage of funds, the Government tried to liquidate the pending subsidy by arranging loans under a Special Banking Arrangement (SBA). The delay in release of fertilizer subsidy is due to paucity of funds and non-receipt of Quality Certificate (Proforma B2) from State Governments, the Minister added. The Department of Expenditure has given approval of an SBA upto Rs. 7000 crores, subject to the following conditions: Department of Fertilizers should use only minimum required amount making sure that amount raised is actually utilized during current Financial Year. The rate of interest to be borne by Government of India shall be 6.84% per annum or the actual rate of borrowing by Fertilizer companies, whichever is lower. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The stock market registered small gains on positive global cues. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 107.98 points or 0.33% at 33,174.39, as per the provisional closing data. Metal and mining stocks gained on easing trade war fears between the US and China. Engineering and construction major L&T nudged higher after securing orders. Market sentiment remained positive throughout the trading session on strong global cues amid reports of trade negotiations between the United States and China, which eased fears of a trade war and improved investors' risk appetite. The Sensex had opened the session on a higher note on positive global stocks. The index trimmed gains in morning trade and hovered with small gains in mid-morning trade. It hit intraday low in early afternoon trade before recovering some intraday gains and trading range bound for the remainder of the session. Among secondary indices, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index provisionally advanced 1.06%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index provisionally gained 1.36%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. Overseas, European and Asian stocks advanced after Wall Street rebounded in previous trading session amid a slight easing in trade tensions. US stocks closed sharply higher yesterday, 26 March 2018, bouncing back from strong losses in the previous session as trade tensions between the US and China appeared to ease. Closer home, the broader market depicted strength. On the BSE, 1,830 shares advanced and 825 shares declined. A total of 152 shares were unchanged. The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 5400.23 crore, lower than the turnover of Rs 7010 crore registered during the previous trading session. Metal and mining stocks gained on easing trade war fears between the US and China. Jindal Steel & Power (up 5.91%), Steel Authority of India (up 2.31%), Tata Steel (up 1.05%), Hindustan Copper (up 2.05%), Hindalco Industries (up 3.15%), JSW Steel (up 1.69%), Hindustan Zinc (up 0.58%) and Nalco (up 0.59%) gained. NMDC was down 0.7%. Vedanta rose 1.5%. The company said that as a part of regular maintenance program, the company's smelting operations at Tuticorin have taken a maintenance shutdown for approximately 15 days. This activity was earlier scheduled in the month of April 2018. The Refining and Copper rod manufacturing operations will continue as usual, it added. The announcement was made during market hours today, 27 March 2018. Engineering and construction major L&T was up 0.76% after the company said that the power transmission & distribution business of L&T Construction has bagged EPC orders worth Rs 4353 crore. The announcement was made during market hours today, 27 March 2018. Separately, L&T during market hours today, 27 March 2018 announced that its heavy engineering arm has received orders worth Rs 747 crore in Haryana. Lupin rose 1.12% after the company announced the launch of its Carbidopa Tablets 25mg having received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier. Lupin's Carbidopa Tablets, 25mg is the generic equivalent of Aton Pharma, Inc.'s Lodosyn Tablets, 25 mg. It is indicated for use with carbidopa-Ievodopa or with levodopa in the treatment of the symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (paralysis agitans), postencephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism, which may follow injury to the nervous system by carbon monoxide intoxication and/or manganese intoxication. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 27 March 2018. On the political front, voting for the Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on 12 May 2018, and the results will be out on 15 May 2018. Meanwhile, the no-confidence motions moved by various opposition parties against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have not been taken up even today as both the houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day. Ever since the second half of the Budget session commenced from March 5, the Parliament has been adjourned over vociferous protests from the opposition parties over a range of issues like PNB scam, Cauvery water board and Andhra Pradesh special category status. On the macro economic front, the Government of India (GoI), in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), deliberated over its borrowing programme for FY 2019 and finalised its borrowing calendar for the first half of FY 2019. GoI had budgeted for FY 2019 Gross G-Sec borrowing of Rs 6.05 lakh crore. The GoI intends to use larger inflows from small savings schemes to fund its fiscal deficit during the year. The GoI will borrow Rs 1 lakh crore from NSSF as against budgeted amount of Rs 75000 crore. After making careful assessment of its financial needs for the first half, the GoI's gross G-Sec borrowing will be only Rs 2.88 lakh crore in the first half of FY 2019. This makes up only 47.5% as against 60-65% share in this period in previous years. The GoI also plans to issue more Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs) and introduce CPI linked bonds, both put together, to the extent of 10% of issuances during the year. The GoI will introduce two benchmarks during this half year - 2-year and 5-year - to meet the market demand. More issuance will be planned in short and long-term maturity bucket, reducing the issuance in medium term segments of 10-14 years to around 29%, as against more than 50% issuances in previous years. GoI's T Bill programme for the first quarter is to raise Rs 1.95 lakh crore. During this period, T Bills of Rs 1.53 lakh crore will expire. The gross borrowing per week under T-Bills will be Rs 15000 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of buses found plying illegally in the national capital has increased by 282 per cent, the Delhi government informed the Assembly on Tuesday. The total number of buses found plying illegally has increased to 7,961 in 2017-18 (till February) from 2,084 in 2016-17 -- an increase of 280 per cent, the government said in reply to a starred question. Also, the number of challans issued has increased to 13,962 in 2017-18 (till February) from 3,010 in 2016-17. The reply said the number of such buses impounded jumped to 5,359 from 748 in the same time period in 2016-17. --IANS nkh/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A six-year-old girl was forcefully fed cow dung by her neighbour for breaking down the water pump in Nepal's Banke district. Police arrested Gita Pariyar, 50, of Kohalpur for the act that took place when the girl was playing on the foreyard of the woman's house on Monday evening, the Kathmandu Post reported. Pariyar accused the girl of breaking down her water pump and force-fed her in a fit of rage. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of Delhi ruling AAP on Tuesday continued to attack bureaucrats for not giving proper written answers to the Delhi assembly questions, among other matters and Speaker Ram Niwas Goel referred three matters to different Assembly committees. Goel also adjourned the House for 30 minutes as a protest against officials not giving written answers to assembly questions. Since the budget session began on March 16, the Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers have been attacking bureaucrats mainly for not giving proper written answers to Assembly questions. Bureaucrats have been boycotting meetings with AAP ministers and MLAs after an alleged attack on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two party MLAs in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. On Monday also, the Speaker had referred a question to Question and Reference Committee of the House as officials did not give a "proper written answer". Last week also saw AAP MLAs attacking officers for giving "incomplete" and "false" answers to Assembly questions. On Tuesday, while one question was referred to Question and Reference Committee, another was referred to Estimates Committee. Also, an issue of files of works being done with MLA funds pending with a government department was sent to the first panel. --IANS nkh/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of angry Russians took to the streets in the Siberian city of Kemerovo demanding a full investigation into a shopping mall fire that claimed the lives of 64 people -- 41 of them children. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who flew to the city to offer his condolences to the victims' families, declared three days of national mourning beginning on Wednesday. He blamed the blaze on "criminal negligence" and promised that those responsible would be held accountable, Sputnik news agency reported. Deputy Emergencies Minister Vladlen Aksyonov said that rescue workers recovered the bodies of all 64 victims and they were handed over to Russia's Investigative Committee. However, relatives said as many as 85 people were still missing, most of them children, according to Interfax news agency. The deadly blaze swept through the four-storey Winter Cherry shopping mall on Sunday, the first weekend of school holidays, trapping many families who had gathered at a children's play area and cinema hall there. Russian investigators said the mall's fire exits were blocked and a fire safety technician at the complex "switched off the alarm system" after being alerted about the fire. The cause of the fire was not yet known, but Russia's Investigative Committee spoke of "serious violations" at the shopping mall. It said a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire had begun, although reports suggested that it could have been started by a child misusing a cigarette lighter or malfunctioning electrical wires. A video released by Putin's press office showed him laying roses at a makeshift memorial scattered with candles and toys. "What is happening here?", Putin said after laying a wreath at the scene. "This is no battle or an unexpected methane outburst in a mine." "People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness," he said. Putin did not meet with demonstrators in Kemerovo, who had gathered in front of the local administration office to call for a full probe into the fire. They also demanded that officials be sacked over the fire safety shortcomings. Members of the distraught crowd cast doubt on the official death toll and demanded that the Forensic Examiner's Office verify the number, TASS news agency reported. Footage from the scene showed riot police standing between protesters and the municipal building. "A lot of children died. They died because of irresponsibility of management," said one protester Svetlana Shestakova. The main slogans were "Truth!" and "Resign!" -- directed at local officials. Dozens of people vowed to stay on the square until Kemerovo's Governor Aman Tuleyev resigns. However, Putin said "it was not right to apportion blame right away." He added that officials at every level will be closely investigated. Out of 64 bodies, 25 were identified which included 13 children. An official in the emergency services said that another 68 people were injured and poisoned with combustion products. Putin also visited the injured in Kemerovo's regional hospital. Meanwhile, the head of the city's fire department Sergei Yakovlev said that the blaze had spread via flammable thermal insulation that complicated the process of extinguishing the inferno. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday announced that the country will expel two Russian diplomats as part of a global action against Moscow over an alleged nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy living in the UK. Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, issued a joint statement saying that two Russian "diplomats" had been identified as undeclared intelligence officers and would be ordered to leave Australia within seven days, reports the Guardian. Australia joins more than 20 western countries including the UK and the US in expelling more than 100 Russian diplomats alleged to be spies in the wake of the use of a chemical weapon in the attempted murder of a former Russian intelligence official, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury on March 4. It is the largest coordinated diplomatic blow to Russian intelligence networks in the west since the Cold War. "This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack - the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community," the joint statement said. "It takes into account advice from the UK government that the substance used on 4 March was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. "We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law." Opposition Labor party leader, Bill Shorten, said he supported the decision, the Guardian reported. Australia's move comes a day after US President Donald Trump's administration expelled 60 Russian diplomats accusing them of being "intelligence agents" and also shut down the consulate in Seattle. British Prime Minister Theresa May has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats, among other measures, after saying the Russian state was to blame for the poison attack which left Skripal and his daughter in a critical condition. The Kremlin has denied any involvement. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Tuesday welcomed the single-phase Assembly polls on May 12, while regional party Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) termed it a setback. "The JD-S had requested the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the polls in two or three phases, as we are a regional party with limited number of campaign leaders. "It is very difficult for us as a regional party. Single-phase polls is a setback for us," JD-S state spokesman Ramesh Babu told IANS here. Single-phase polling for the 15th 225-member Assembly will be held on May 12 and the votes counted on May 15, the EC announced on Tuesday. BJP President Amit Shah, who is on a two-day tour in central Karnataka, expressed confidence over a poll victory. "The BJP welcomes the poll announcement. We are confident that we will form the next government in Karnataka under the leadership of (BJP state President) B.S. Yeddyurappa," Shah told the media in Davanagere, about 260km northwest from here in Davanagere district. Congress state unit chief G. Parameshwara said the party was election-ready. "The Congress welcomes the EC's (poll) announcement... we are election ready," tweeted Parameshwara. The JD-S spokesman ruled out any pre-poll tie-up of the party with the BJP or the Congress. "The JD-S is very clear in the matter (over alliance with other parties) that it wants to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and Congress," Babu said. "Both parties are two sides of the same coin, not caring about the people and farmers of Karnataka," he said. In the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated, there are currently 122 members from the ruling Congress, 43 from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 30 from the Janata Dal-Secular, eight Independents, 14 vacant seats, with a few others from regional parties. Of the 224 Assembly constituencies, 36 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes. A total of 4.96 crore electors have been registered in the southern state with the poll panel so far. --IANS bha/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Raipur, March 27 (IANS/VNS) A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district was hacked to death, police said on Tuesday. Jagadish was talking to some people near his house on Monday evening when five people attacked him with sharp weapons, Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Vivekananda Sinha said. "We are probing the matter and working to find out whether Maoists are behind the attack or if there is some political rivalry," Sinha said. Several leaders from the area who supported the BJP have been killed by Maoists. --IANS hindi-nks/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Chinese government on Tuesday called for tranquility and the abandonment of the Cold War mentality in response to a wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats in countries around the world. "Relevant countries should obey international law and basic norms of international relations and avoid further escalating confrontations," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a press conference. Hua responded to the decision of the US and over 20 other countries to expel almost 100 Russian diplomats in their territories in support of the UK, which did the same last week with 23 Russian officials in retaliation for the alleged poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, Xinhua news agency reported. Referring to the incident, Hua said that China strongly opposes "any use of chemical weapons but we still believe that this issue will be properly handled by UK and Russia on the basis of getting all the facts straight. "Under the current circumstances all the parties should discard cold war mentality, renounce confrontation and work together for world peace, stability and tranquility," said the spokeswoman. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fringe Christian group on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Padma Vibhushan music maestro Illayaraja for what it said was "hurting the community's sentiments" with his comments on Jesus Christ's resurrection. At an event organised by Google in the US, Illayaraja had sung a few lines from his song on Ramana Maharishi and said that the true resurrection happened only in respect of the seer. "There is no other seer in the world who was like Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi." He said that there was a belief about the resurrection of Christ. "Whenever I find time, I watch documentaries on YouTube that say that the resurrection of Christ did not happen at all... It is not known whether the resurrection of Christ happened or not. But true resurrection happened in the case of Ramana Maharishi," Illayaraja said. On Monday, a group of persons were prevented by police from holding protest outside Illayaraja's residence here. --IANS vj/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Clashes erupted on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore area during a search operation by the security forces, police said. The clashes took place in Brath village after the arrest of two locals following the search operation carried out by members of the Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group and Central Reserve Police Force. "Tear smoke and pellets were used by the security forces to quell the clashes. Four protesters were injured," police sources added. --IANS sq/ksk/vm (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of a Bhind-based television channel journalist who was run over by a truck. Sandeep Sharma, who exposed the illegal sand mining in the area through a sting operation, on Monday was killed while he was going on his two-wheeler. "While analysing the law and order situation, Chouhan expressed grief over the death of the journalist. He said to reveal the truth, the CBI will probe the matter," an official said. The truck driver, Ranveer, was arrested and the truck seized. Bhind Superintendent of Police Prashant Khare on Monday announced that a special investigation team will be set up to probe the matter. It is believed that Sharma was killed as he exposed the connection between sand mafia and the police. Sharma, on several occasions, sought police protection and had written letters to the Chief Minister, the Governor and even the Prime Minister. --IANS hindi-nks/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The South Korean government on Tuesday said that it does not know if North Korea's Kim Jong-un was visiting Beijing. A South Korean presidential office spokesperson said that the government was closely monitoring the situation, studying all possibilities and communicating closely with the countries involved, reports Efe news. On Monday, a Japanese TV channel showed images of an armoured train similar to the ones used by the North Korean leaders to reach Beijing's main station. In Beijing, where the government has not yet made any comments, a heavy security presence has been observed around the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where Kim might be staying. Access to the Tiananmen Square has been restricted, which is common protocol when there is a state meeting with a foreign president in the Great Hall of the People. The North Korean media also did not report on the supposed visit. The development comes ahead of the proposed summit between Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April, and a possible meeting between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump in May. The meeting in April would be the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years while the one in May would be the first ever summit between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president. --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie on Tuesday told British Parliament that his company worked in India and that he "believe" Congress was a client. "I believe their (Cambridge Analytica) client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of projects. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain," he said as part of his deposition. Wylie also told the lawmakers that Cambridge Analytica has offices in India and employed staff. "I believe I have some documentation on India which I can also provide to the committee if that's something of interest." Data analytics expert and formerly an employee at Cambridge Analytica, Wylie, alleged that the political consultancy firm used personal information harvested from more than 50 million Facebook users to influence elections. Soon after the news broke, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in New Delhi told reporters that this vindicated BJP's allegations that Congress used the services of Cambridge Analytica during the Gujarat Assembly elections last year. "Congress and Rahul Gandhi must now apologise," he demanded. The Congress hit back saying "He (Prasad) is perpetually lying" and challenged the government to register an FIR against CA, its India partner Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) and Facebook. "It is all false. Why is India's perpetually lying Law Minister throwing allegations in the media. He is in power why doesn't he show all the evidences and register an FIR against these companies. We challenge you. They fear they will be exposed if they initiate a probe," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. Surjewala also said that if Prasad could not answer to the questions raised by the Congress, he must resign. "If you can't answer, you better quit your office. You have no right to remain law minister of this country," he said. --IANS ahm-sid/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealing massive Facebook data misuse, Apple chief Tim Cook and IBM chair Ginni Rometty have called for more measures to ensure user data protection. Speaking at the China Development Forum in Beijing, the two tech honchos called for better regulations to protect personal data shared online, the USA Today reported on Monday. The call for additional protection measure comes after the leak of personal and other data on some 50 million users to the London-based political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica became public. US Federal Trade commission confirmed on Monday that it was investigating Facebook and said that it "takes very seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook". Cambridge Analytica, which collaborated with the election campaign of Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election, used the leaked information to develop a computer programme to predict the decisions of US voters and influence them. "Today, the FTC is confirming that it has an open non-public investigation into these practices," Efe quoted Acting FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director, Tom Pahl, as saying. Rob Sherman, Facebook's deputy privacy chief, said in a statement last week that the tech social networking firm remains "strongly committed to protecting people's information", adding that "we appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have". A week ago, after the controversial leak of private information on millions of users came to light, press reports said that the FTC was investigating whether Facebook violated the terms of a 2011 consent agreement requiring user consent for sharing data by providing use data to Cambridge Analytica in 2014. A Haryana resident was stabbed to death in North Goa's popular beach village of Calangute following a scuffle over a bottle of water, police said on Tuesday. Manish Singh, 31, was stabbed to death by history-sheeter and Karnataka native Krishna Belgaokar, who is absconding after the crime. "The accused had gone to a shop to buy a mineral water bottle where he had a heated argument with the victim, followed by the stabbing," Calangute police station incharge Inspector Jivba Dalvi told reporters here. A First Information Report has been filed under Sections 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and the knife allegedly used in the crime has been seized, the official said. --IANS maya/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba concluded on Tuesday a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir after reviewing the security situation here. Top sources in the government said that before leaving for New Delhi in a Border Security Force (BSF) plane, the Home Secretary called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her high-security residence in Srinagar. The Home Secretary also visited the Lethpora camp of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. State police chief and the Director General of the CRPF accompanied the Home Secretary during his visit to the CRPF complex. The Home Secretary on Monday chaired a high-level security meeting in Srinagar, which was attended by senior officers of state police, Army, paramilitary forces and those of state and central intelligence agencies. Gauba also held a review meeting on the Prime Minister's development package for Jammu and Kashmir. The Home Secretary advised various implementing departments of the special developmental package to stick to deadlines in order to ensure the success of the package. He noted with concern that the package had already jumped from Rs 80,068 crore when it was announced on November 7, 2015 to Rs 1 lakh crore in just two years because of overshooting of deadlines. --IANS sq/nir/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Women's rights crusader and controversial writer Taslima Nasrin was only 32 when she was hounded out of her country and forced to live in exile in Europe and America. Twenty-four years on, she's lost all hope of returning to her native Bangladesh, where the crowds once bayed for her blood and where she feels she "would be killed right away". Starting out with her first collection of poetry in 1986, she published several books before "Selected Columns", that led to the formation of "Taslima Smash Committee". Her newspaper columns explored everyday perils of women and, to a large extent, held Islam responsible for the subjugation of women and their rights. "Fundamentalists were angry because I was writing against Islam. It did not matter to them that I was also writing against other religions. In fact, I was not writing against anyone but for women and their rights," Nasrin recalled in an interview with IANS here. Notwithstanding this complication, her second book of essays was published in 1992, but copies of it were soon burnt at the National Book Fair in Bangladesh which she was not allowed to visit. Almost at the same time -- not very far away from her home country -- a large crowd of Hindu kar sevaks demolished the 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and just as a series of communal riots were engulfing India, Nasrin could feel its ripples back in Bangladesh. "I was seeing and observing everything. Hindus were being targeted. Their shops were being broken down by mad crowds of people and so many Hindu patients were in hospitals telling their horror stories. I visited many places to see what was happening. I gave shelter to some of the Hindus. I just thought that nobody should be oppressed or tortured because of some buildings being destroyed. It was not the fault of Bangladeshi Hindus," she explained. And so her documentary novel "Lajja", which is a protest against the torture on the minority community of Bangladesh, was published, and banned simultaneously in 1993. However, contrary to popular beliefs "Lajja", or Shame, was not the reason behind her ouster from Bangladesh. "In 'Lajja' I didn't write anything against Islam. The fanatics were angry from before, because of my newspaper columns on women, not 'Lajja'. It was not against Islam, but my 'Selected Columns' was very much against Islam because I was defending women. Fanatics were demanding the banning of my other books, not 'Lajja'. They were happy that it was banned though," she maintained. In April 1994, Nasrin was invited to Paris for a talk on Press freedom and stopped in Kolkata on her way back to Dhaka. "I gave an interview to The Statesman newspaper and said that Quranic law should be changed, but it was misunderstood and headlined that Quran should be changed," she claimed. Nasrin issued a rejoinder immediately, saying "I don't believe in religion so why should I feel the need to change it" and the newspaper obliged by publishing a corrigendum the following day -- but it was too late. "When I entered Dhaka, aag jal raha tha (the city was on fire). They would have killed me right away. They believe Allah has written the Quran and the interview said that I wanted to change the Quran. It was a big thing. There were lakhs of people on the streets across the country. The government filed a case of blasphemy against me. The fundamentalists were already angry, now they had got something solid against me," she said. Through June and July of 1993, Nasrin remained in hiding. "Baad main mera bail hua on condition that I had to leave the country," she recalled. Meanwhile, several Human Rights organisations were pressurising the governments in the West to come to her rescue. Noted writers like Milan Kundera and Salman Rushdie, among others, wrote open letters, published in several leading European newspapers at the same time. "One night, the police put me on a flight. I was received in Bangkok by the Chief Security officer of Sweden and they took me to Sweden. I just didn't want to believe that it was forever. I thought it would be for one month, two months or three months, maximum six months. So I was very restless to go back to my country. I never wanted to settle anywhere else... but I slowly realised it was not possible. Bangladesh was left far behind," she lamented. From Sweden to Germany to Paris and then to the United States and finally to India, Nasrin was living what she calls the "celebrity life" -- her books were being translated into foreign languages, many ministers would come to visit her and she was being bestowed with several prestigious honours. "It was all too big for me. Prize, prize. But I always wanted to go back to my country -- that would have been the real prize," she said. "I so much wanted to go back to my country, but now all my close relatives and family are gone. And I know that the country has been totally Islamised now. All my old classmates now wear the hijab, so many of my friends have been hacked to death. Bloggers are being killed. Those people are being hacked to death and I am their old target. I would be killed right away," she says. Nasrin maintained that "I will never be able to go back because the government will always prevent me from entering", but yearns for freedom of movement. "Why should Bangladesh say that you are not allowed to enter this country? I should be allowed, if I don't go there, that is my choice, but as a universal citizen, I should be allowed to move freely. Not only me, everybody," she maintained. Nasrin's latest book is titled "Split" and its Bengali original was banned by the Left Front in West Bengal as well as by Bangladesh in 2003. While the West Bengal government lifted the injunction after the ban was struck down by the Calcutta High Court in 2005, Nasrin was eventually driven out of Kolkata, the city that she found closest to her home in Bangladesh. Taslima Nasrin has since been living in New Delhi under a government Residence Permit which needs to be renewed at regular intervals. (Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in) --IANS ss/vm/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and the US on Tuesday held the 15th meeting of their Counter- Joint Working Group here and reviewed threats posed by terrorosts groups across the world. "The Working Group reviewed threats posed by terrorist groups worldwide and in their respective regions including cross-border in the South Asian region," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement in an obvious reference to Pakistan providing financial support and safe havens to terror groups. "Both sides committed to strengthening information sharing on some of the world's most dangerous terrorist groups and individuals and exchanged views on efforts to counter the financing and operations of regional and global terrorist organisations," the statement said. "The two sides discussed international efforts to counter threats posed by foreign terrorist fighters." Tuesday's meeting was led by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary in India's Ministry of External Affairs, on the Indian side and Alina L. Romanowski, the US State Department's Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counter- According to the statement, the working group also discussed international and bilateral cooperation on justice, law enforcement and capacity building efforts to counter terrorism and UN Security Council Resolution 2396. Adopted in December last year, UNSC Resolution 2396 is aimed at helping UN member states detect and counter the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, especially those returning from the conflict zones in Iraq and Syria. The statement added that following up on the inaugural US-India Counter-terrorism Designations Dialogue in December 2017, the delegations in Tuesday's meeting "discussed ongoing efforts to ensure the effective implementation of domestic and international terrorist designations". The US will host the next meeting of the Joint Working Group in 2019. --IANS ab/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baguette lobster thermidor, chicken roulade, escargots de bourgogne and croissants. Indians are no strangers to these French delights and more, says French chef Chez Jerome Cousin who, encouraged by the evolving tastes of well-travelled "desi" foodies, has opened an "authentic" bistro here. Born in a family of restaurateurs, Cousin has been living in India for the past 15 years. He finds India's culture and climate better than Europe's. "In Europe now, everything has changed. You don't find the respect; they don't respect the teacher, the professor, nothing. The culture has totally finished. In India, I find what I like. I am not old, but I like culture. I like people who respect their culture. In my country nobody respects anything and in India they respect everything, I also like the climate here," he said. Professionally, Cousin is continuing the tradition as a fourth-generation chef. And he is happy to serve Indians willing to try the authentic French palette. "Indians now do understand the cuisine. In the beginning it was very difficult. What has happened is that Indian people have started travelling a lot, whereas 15 years back it was not so much as it is today," Cousin told IANS at his Chez Jerome Restaurant in south Delhi here. "Indians are going everywhere now. In the beginning, when I opened my restaurant the first time, they would complain that there is no taste, it's not spicy; now that is no more the case... nobody complains any more. They try to understand the French taste and they like it," he added. His first endeavour in the food business in India was Le Pe'tit Bar, followed by Rara Avis. Unhappy with "certain things in life", Cousin shut down both the outlets and later opened a guest house, among other things. But after much prodding from his friends and fans about his cooking skills, he opened his latest restaurant in Greater Kailash's M Block market. While a string a restaurant owners are trying to woo customers with fusion food, Cousin has steered clear from it as he is "totally against" the trend. So, he has included 25 per cent Asian and Italian dishes to his mostly French menu to cater to a table that wants "variety". "Everybody now wants to make fusion food. Many people want to open restaurants with fusion in their menu, but those have not really been successful. Europeans would say the food is not French enough and Indians would say it is not Indian enough. I love traditional food...it is very important to me. "If I teach people French cuisine, I must show them real cuisine." Cousin does not think it would be a great idea to mix French food with Indian spices. "It is not good and I do not want that. For me, tradition is important... and so is real food. In all my creations, I only use fresh ingredients. Everything is homemade and nothing frozen comes in. I make a bit of Italian also," he added. (Kishori Sud can be contacted at kishori.s@ians.in) --IANS ks/rb/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that voting to elect a new Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 12 and results will be declared on May 15, setting the ball rolling for one of the most prestigious battles between the Congress and the BJP. "It will be a single phase election," Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat told reporters here. He said the date of notification is April 17 and the last date to file nominations is April 24. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 25 and the last day for withdrawal is April 27. He said the model code of conduct came into effect immediately in the state which will also be applicable to the central government. The polling will take place on May 12 and counting will be held three days later on May 15, he said. Rawat said VVPAT machines, apart from EVMs, will be deployed in Karnataka for the polls. The 224-member Assembly expires on May 28 in the state where the Congress is currently in power, with 122 seats against the BJP's 43. Karnataka is one of the eight states where polls were scheduled this year. Elections to three northeastern states were held last month. --IANS mg-sar/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday slammed the Central government and Lt Governor Anil Baijal for hampering the works done by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in favour of the poor in the capital. Addressing the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal said that people voted BJP to power in the Centre and AAP in Delhi, hoping for change but were disappointed with the former. "We planned a scheme to deliver ration to the people of Delhi at their door step but the LG disapproved of it. "I and all these MLAs will visit the jhuggis in the city and tell people that we were bringing this system for you but the BJP didn't let it happen," he said. Kejriwal said there was no difference between BJP and LG. "Call it LG or BJP -- it's the same thing". "There are 3,000 ration shops in the city -- half of them are in the hands of BJP, other half with the Congress," he said, alleging leaders of the two parties "benefit" from these ration shops. "That is why there is an objection to the scheme by the BJP," he said. "We will tell the 70 lakh poor people in the city that you didn't allow the scheme (to be launched). Not even one poor person will vote for you. The public will teach you lessons," he added. Kejriwal said four years after BJP's rule in the Centre, people were complaining about the bank frauds, in which the scammers were "made to run away by the BJP-led central government". "People voted against the UPA regime hoping for a change but nothing happened. First demonetisation, then GST, then sealing -- the BJP has made big attacks on the traders." He further said that the BJP government was adamant in not bringing an ordinance against sealing which, he said, was the "only solution to deal with it". "The Central government has made a joke of the country's big institutions like RBI, CBI, RTI, Lokpal and Delhi Police." About his party's government in the capital, he said people were saying that the system of education has been "revolutionised" under the rule of AAP. He also said they were applauding the works done in the fields of health, electricity and water. Noting that Delhi doesn't have its own water and that it gets it from neighboring states, he said: "The BJP is indulging in dirty water "For three months, (BJP-ruled) Haryana was giving ammonia water. After that they started giving 70-80 MGD (million gallons per day) of water lesser (than before)." --IANS mg/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dubbing the upcoming 2019 General Elections as one that is going to be "interesting", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met leaders from Opposition parties, as well as government ally Shiv Sena to discuss the political situation. Banerjee, who is in the national capital, visited Parliament on Tuesday where she met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. She also met Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP K. Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. MPs from Biju Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and DMK also met Banerjee. who is also the Trinamool Congress chief, in the Parliament House. "When political people meet, of course, they will discuss politics, there is nothing to hide in that. The Lok Sabha election of 2019 will certainly be very interesting," Banerjee told reporters later. She also dubbed the ruling BJP as the "most communal party". When asked about Shiv Sena, which also supports Hindutva, she said: "No one is more communal than BJP. They talk about Hindutva, but these people (BJP), they propagate Hindutva with a pistol, they malign Hindutva". Banerjee also called for all parties opposed to the BJP to come together in the 2019 General Elections. "All should work together. Wherever the parties are strong, they should work with each other, like Mayawati (BSP) and Akhilesh (Yadav of SP) in Uttar Pradesh," she said. Banerjee however could not meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, as she was not well. "Sonia ji is not well... I wanted to ask her about her health..." she said, indicating that she meet the Congress leader if her health permits. She also said she would meet more MPs on Wednesday, including veteran BJP leaders like Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha who have been vocally opposing moves like demonetisation. The meetings come at a time when opposition parties as well as former government ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), have come together to move a no confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. Banerjee is seen as a key player in a possible grouping of non-BJP political parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. --IANS ao/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The body of a Rohini resident has been exumed from a graveyard in west Delhi after his father raised suspicion over the death, police said on Tuesday. Vakil of Begampur was admitted to a hospital in January but died on March 9 due to alleged drug addiction. After his father Mohammad Hanif lodged a police complaint that his son was not an addict, police registered a case and launched an investigation. Hanif said he suspected his son's wife Najma, whom he married in 2007, was involved in Vakil's murder due to her illicit relationship with his nephew Salman, a senior police officer said. The complainant alleged that she and Salman hatched a plan to kill Vakil and regularly served him food laced with drugs, following which Vakil's health deteriorated. During investigation, police found that Najma went to stay at her parents' house in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh after her husband's death and did not visit her two minor daughters. "We seized Vakil's mobile phone whose call details record revealed conversations between Najma and Salman regarding the planned crime. The body has been sent for a post-mortem to know the drug misused to poison Vakil slowly. Police is trying to arrest Salman and Najma, who are at large," he added. --IANS sp/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pune-based MIT World Peace University on Tuesday proposed to set up a Leadership School in Odisha. The varsity's Executive President Rahul Biswanath Karad, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the secretariat here, said that the Leadership School will serve to promote professional and ethical leadership among elected representatives at all level and will ultimately strengthen democracy. Noting today's youth are quite reluctant to join politics, and hardly consider it an option, he proposed setting up of Odisha Institute of Political Leadership under the aegis of Odisha Legislative Assembly in association with MIT School of Government. He said that his MIT School of Government in Pune is the first ever leadership Institute in India and Asia for a career in During the discussion, the Chief Minister said the state government will consider the proposal with a positive attitude. Patnaik had received Ideal Chief Minister award from MIT School of Government in January this year. --IANS cd/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Joining a music class may help children improve academic performance as researchers have found that such lessons can enhance their cognitive abilities -- including language-based reasoning and short-term memory. "Despite indications that music has beneficial effects on cognition, music is disappearing from general curricula," said study co-author Artur Jaschke from VU University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. "This inspired us to initiate a long-term study on the possible effects of music on cognitive skills that may underlie academic achievement," Jaschke added. For the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, the researchers conducted the study with 147 children across multiple Dutch schools, using a structured musical method developed by the Ministry of Research and in the Netherlands together with an expert centre for arts education. All schools followed the regular primary school curriculum, with some providing supplementary music or visual arts classes. In these, the children were given both theoretical and practical lessons. After 2.5 years, the children's academic performance was assessed, as well as various cognitive skills including planning, inhibition and memory skills. The researchers found that children who received music lessons had significant cognitive improvements compared to all other children in the study. Visual arts classes also showed a benefit. Children in these classes had significantly improved visual and spatial short-term memory compared to students who had not received any supplementary lessons. "Children who received music lessons showed improved language-based reasoning and the ability to plan, organise and complete tasks, as well as improved academic achievement," Jaschke said. "This suggests that the cognitive skills developed during music lessons can influence children's cognitive abilities in completely unrelated subjects, leading to overall improved academic performance," Jaschke added. --IANS gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following intense engagement and continuous global pressures, Myanmar last week entered an agreement with Bangladesh to repatriate, in phases, the Rohingyas who took refuge there, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said on Tuesday. "We need to sustain the ongoing international pressure. We believe India would continue its support in the coming days as well to maintain the momentum of the international pressure for securing the rights of these displaced people in Myanmar," he said while giving a talk on "Current trends of the Indo-Bangladesh relationship" at the Mumbai Press Club. Ali urged the cooperation of India and Bangladesh to resolve the Rohingya issue, which he termed as "one of the world humanitarian crisis in the modern world" affecting these "citizenshipless citizens". He said that since in August 2017, around 700,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh and with the existing 400,000 already present, the figure shot up to more than one million. "We have been giving them 'temporary' shelter on humanitarian consideration, but the ultimate solution is that they have to go back to their homes in Myanmar," he stressed. However, he said that despite the Rohingya problem, both Bangladesh and Myanmar continue to enjoy very friendly bilateral relations. "The core problem of the issue is the refusal of Myanmar to recognize them as their citizens, although they have been living there for centuries as their citizens," Ali pointed out. In this context, he said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tabled a five-point solution to resolve the crisis at the last UN General Assembly. "We believe that continued and sustained international pressures on Myanmar would be a catalyst for a long-term solution in this regard, in order to ensure the rights of the Rohingyas, so that they can return to their homes and live there with peace and dignity," Ali said. He added that India, as a regional power with common borders and good relations with both Bangladesh and Myanmar, "should continue to play a crucial role in persuading Myanmar for the early and secured return of Rohingyas to their homes". India has already sent substantial relief materials for the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN-Rohingyas) by air and water, which is the largest humanitarian assistance given by any country to Bangladesh during the crisis. "We count on India's continued support in the international arena for the early return of the refugees, appreciate Indian initiatives for rehabilitation projects to be taken in Myanmar for constructing prefabricated houses along with China and Japan for them," Ali said. Owing to the intense engagement and continuous global pressures, Bangladesh concluded a 'Physical Arrangement' with Myanmar last week by which Myanmar has agreed to repatriate the Rohgingyas who took refuge in Bangladesh. On other issues, Ali announced that Bangladesh last week has graduated from the category of Least Developed Country to a Developing Country status. The achievement was announced by the UN Committee for Development Policy on March 16, just ten days before the 47th anniversary of Bangladesh Independence Day which was celebrated on Monday. "This significant achievement partly fulfills the dream of our Father of National, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to make Bangladesh, once ridiculed as 'a bottomless basket' into 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bangla). The next target is 'Vision 2041' to make Bangladesh a Developed Country," Ali said. --IANS qn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after prominent Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "shielding" Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that there was "no evidence" to prove Bhide's involvement in the January 1 caste riots in Bhima-Koregaon. Fadnavis said although an offence has been registered against Bhide, alias Guruji, who heads the Shri Shiv Pratishthan, based on a complaint by a woman, there is no evidence to prove that he had "instigated" the riots that day. "Based on the complaint by the woman, police had registered a case against Bhide Guruji. The complainant's statement was recorded in camera before a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. She told the magistrate that she had not seen Bhide Guruji taking part or instigating the riots. She had named him as an accused based on speculation that was on in the locality," Fadnavis told the assembly during a discussion on the law and order situation in the state. He added that during investigations, it was revealed that the GPS locations of Bhide's mobile phone and 8-10 of his associates proved they were not in the vicinity of the Bhima-Koregaon area of Pune when the riots broke out. "However, the state government has not closed the investigations against Bhide Guruji and his associates. I assure that the government will initiate stern action against all those found guilty in the matter," Fadnavis said. Detailing the circumstances leading to the riots, he said tension erupted between the two communities after an objectionable billboard was put in the village. After this cases were lodged against some people under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, but were withdrawn after the leaders of both communities met and sorted out their differences. Despite adequate precautions by the police to ensure the prevention of any untoward incidents on January 1, trouble erupted in a local parking lot where some misreants indulged in violence, he added. Since the rioting, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) President Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Architect of Indian Constitution B. R. Ambedkar, and others have accused Hindutva elements of having instigated the riots and sought their arrest. On Monday, (March 26), the BBM and other parties organized a massive procession in Mumbai demanding the arrest of Bhide within the next one week, failing which they would intensify the agitation. Ambedkar charged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of not arresting Bhide as "he enjoys the backing of Modi, and it is a well known fact that Modi considers Bhide as his Guru." "We are not interested in fighting with Modi. However, if action is not initiated against Bhide by Maharashtra government, then we know how to deal with it at the appropriate time,a he warned, giving time of eight days to the state government. Hitting back, Bhide on March 19 blamed Ambedkar and others like Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani, JNU leader Umar Khalid and retired Bombay High Court judge Justice B. G. Kolse-Patil for the Bhima-Koregaon incidents, for inciting people to violence at their public meeting in Pune on December 31. In retaliation, Bhide's supporting groups have planned processions all over Maharashtra including Mumbai on Wednesday (March 28) to oppose the campaign against him by Dalit groups. --IANS qn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government on Tuesday signed an MoU with the Vedanta Group to set up a 500 bedded medical college and hospital in Kalahandi district. A total of Rs 350 crore will be spent on the project, said state Health Minister Pratap Jena, adding that while Vedanta will spend Rs 100 crore to develop infrastructure, the state government will provide the remaining amount for the medical college and hospital. The medical college will have intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats, he added. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was also present on the occasion, said the medical college and hospital will benefit the people in Kalahandi and other parts of western Odisha. Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the medical college at Bhangabari in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters town of Kalahandi, in November 2016. --IANS cd/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Only eight per cent of schools across the country comply with the provision of Right To (RTE) Act, the RTE Forum said on Tuesday. The civil society organisation said that the number of RTE -complying schools has declined over the years and that vacancies in teachers posts continues with around 13 lakh posts to be filled. "India's spending on is less than three per cent of GDP, compared to its obligation of spending six per cent; India's per capita spending on is approximately four times less than the spending incurred by middle income countries," the consortium of civil societies working on RTE said in a statement, issued on the day it held its national stocktaking convention here. "Only eight per cent schools across the country comply with the provisions of the RTE Act; the share of compliant schools has indeed declined over the years... Teacher vacancies continue; almost 20 per cent of teachers in India are untrained," it said. Forum convener Ambarish Rai told IANS this is the result of underfunded education and lack of seriousness on the part of the government. "Out of 15 lakh schools (government and government-aided), only eight per cent schools can said to be complying with the RTE provisions. The government had set the deadline of 2013 to make all schools RTE complaint, but they are far from hitting the target even after five years of that," he said. The 92 per cent schools which fell short of the RTE Act, were also found lacking on several measures as separate toilets for boys and girls, availability of drinking water, student-teacher ratio, etc. The failure of government in training the teachers was one of the principal reason for poor quality of schooling, Rai said. "The teachers were supposed to be trained by 2015, a deadline they missed. Now, they are training them through mobile, through TV because the training institutes they had opened are paralysed due to lack of funds. How do you expect to improve the education quality like this?" he said. --IANS vn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nationalist Congress Party leader D.P. Tripathi said on Tuesday that that some opposition parties have started putting signatures on a draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. "Some opposition parties have started putting their signatures on the draft proposal," he said. The NCP and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have put their signatures. Opposition parties including the Congress and Trinamool Congress have been deliberating over bringing an impeachment motion against the CJI in the Rajya Sabha. There has been an opinion among some opposition parties that key issues raised by the four seniormost judges concerning the functioning of Supreme Court have not been addressed. The four senior-most judges had complained about arbitrary allocation of cases in the Supreme Court at a press conference in January. Following their unprecedented press conference, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury had said that the party was contemplating an impeachment motion with other opposition parties against the CJI. --IANS ps-sid/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani news channel has hired the country's first transgender TV newsreader. Marvia Malik, a journalism graduate who has also worked as a model, told the BBC Urdu she was moved to tears when she was offered the job. She anchored her first show on private broadcaster Kohenoor TV on Friday, after three months of training. Transgenders face discrimination in Pakistan and many struggle to find work. Some are forced into begging, dancing or prostitution to earn money. Malik told the BBC she had to stop herself from screaming with joy when she learnt she had got the job. "The dream that I saw for myself, I was able to climb on the first stair to achieving it," she said. Malik said she hoped her work would help improve the lives of Pakistan's transgender community. "Our community should be treated equally and there must not be any gender discrimination. We should be given equal rights and be considered ordinary citizens, (not as) third gender." The owner of Kohenoor, Junaid Ansari, told Voice Of America that Malik was selected on merit, not on gender issues. Earlier this month, Pakistan's Senate voted to support a bill protecting the rights of transgender people and allowing them to determine their own gender identity. --IANS ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after being elevated as the skipper of the Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, Ajinkya Rahane on Tuesday expressed his excitement at leading the side, which he considers as "family". Rahane was named the captain of the side, returning to the IPL fold after a two-year ban, in place of Australian Steve Smith, who is currently under fire for the infamous ball tampering episode in the third Test against South Africa. Speaking on his appointment, Rahane said: "I am very excited to be captaining the team that I have always considered as my family. I would extend my thanks to the entire management of Rajasthan Royals for having shown the trust in me and considered me for this role." "I am thrilled to be back with the Royals again and I am ready to get to work and do all that I can, to ensure we go all out and give our best. We won't miss a beat as we gear up for yet another exciting IPL season in a few days from now." "I would also like to thank the fans and followers who have stood by us and I look forward to their continued support for Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming season," he added. The Mumbai batsman has proved his ability and temperament to lead whenever he was handed the responsibility. He captained the India side in one of the most important Test matches against Australia and won the series 2-1 with India retaining the top spot in the ICC rankings in 2017. Back in 2015, he was also handed the captaincy of the Indian team against Zimbabwe in a bilateral three-match ODI series and two-match T20I series. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday left Tehran for Turkmenistan for talks on bilateral and regional issues. Rouhani's visit came at the official invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Before heading for Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat, the Iranian President said that his country "attaches importance to the promotion of its ties with the neighbouring countries", Xinhua news agency reported. During the two-day visit, Rouhani will hold talks with Berdimuhamedow while the two countries' high-ranking delegations would hold meetings. Iran and Turkmenistan will also sign cooperation documents in the presence of the two leaders. On Wednesday, Rouhani will head for Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to hold talks with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Tehran and Baku are scheduled to sign several cooperation agreements after which the two Presidents will attend a joint press conference. An economic meeting would be held on Thursday to discuss the strengthening of cooperation among the two countries' state-run sectors and economic agents. --IANS and/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the much talked about Malayalam film "S Durga" is slated to release on April 6, says the director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. Since the film has gone through a lot of controversies earlier for its screening at the International Film Festival of Indian(IFFI) last year, asked about his feeling on the pan-India release of the film, Sanal told IANS, "Feeling great. Now the controversy and hardships are over; it is time for people to watch the film and see what was the reason for the unwanted controversies." "I request all the people who opposed and who really supported unconditionally to watch the film," he added. The film has got a huge international recognition at film festivals like 53rd Pesaro Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam 2017, International Film Festival of Valencia, Spain and also screened at the Jio MAMI Film Festival. "S Durga" features Rajshri Deshpande in the title role. --IANS aru/qd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and government provides security cover to separatists in the state and the Central government has nothing to do with it, Parliament was told on Tuesday. "As reported by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, it provides security cover (to separatists) based on security categorization as decided by the State Security Review Coordination Committee (SSRCC)," Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told the Lok Sabha in a written reply in response to an question of Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajendra Agrawal. "Security categorization is reviewed periodically by the SSRCC," he said, stressing that the Central government has nothing to do with it as it is a state subject. Data presented last month in Jammu and assembly reveals that Rs 10.88 crore was spent on the security of separatist leaders, including moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and former chairpersons Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulana Abbas Ansari and others. A sum of Rs 10.36 crore was spent on the salary of the policemen guarding and protecting the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders, while Rs 49.7 lakh has been spent on the fuel for the vehicles used for escorting the separatist leaders. According to data, Rs 19.51 lakh was provided on the salary of the guards/escort of Mirwaiz in 2017-18. Besides, Rs 77.37 lakh was spent on the guard's salary in the current fiscal. Since 2008-09, Rs 1.27 crore has been spent on the salary of the guards and escort personnel of Mirwaiz. Similarly, Rs 5.06 crore was spent on the guards' salary of Mirwaiz since last 10 years. Security of former Hurriyat chairman Bhat has cost the state exchequer Rs 2.3 crore in the last 10 years. Similarly, Moulana Abbas's security has cost state Rs 3 crore since 2008-09. State government was also providing security to Mirwaiz's media secretary Shahid ul Islam till he was arrested by National Investigation Agency in the terror funding case. His security has now been withdrawn. Now the state is providing the security to only 10 separatist leaders, mostly from the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference. Hardline Hurriyat leaders do not enjoy any security cover. --IANS rak/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an embarrassing goof-up in poll-bound Karnataka, BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday said the party's Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt government in the country. "Recently, a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition for the most corrupt government, then the Yeddyurappa government is number one," Shah told the media with Yeddyurappa sitting next to him. The former Chief Minister, who was rattled, leaned over to Shah in a bid to correct him. Another BJP leader nudged the party President to make him realize that he had made a blunder. Shah corrected himself, went on a damage control and said he meant that Congress government of Chief Minister "Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government". Shah said the BJP government at the Centre had done a lot to develop Karnataka. "Siddaramaiah asks what has the Modi government done for Karnataka. I would like to remind that when there was the 13th Finance Commission during UPA regime, funds worth Rs 88,583 core were allocated for the state of Karnataka. "But when the 14th finance commission was implemented after the BJP came to power at the Centre, funds for Karnataka were increased to Rs 2,19,506 crore." But by this time the damage was done. Congress leaders latched on to it and had a field day on social media networks. Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! "Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Government ever," Gandhi said, posting a clip of Shah's faux pas. Siddaramaiah also tweeted to Shah that the "#ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Thank you @AmitShah". "Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth - We all concur with you Amitji BSY-BJP is the most corrupt," tweeted Divya Spandana of the Karnataka unit of the Congress. Spandana posted an undated clip of Shah in which he is heard saying that "Yeddyurappa says the BJP doesn't help with the development of Karnataka". Yeddyurappa was the chief minister of the first BJP government in Karnataka from 2008. He was forced to step down in 2011 following corruption allegations by Karnataka's Lokayukta Santosh Hegde. But he was acquitted in 2016. --IANS sar/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka has called for stronger maritime and air links with Bangladesh to boost bilateral trade and investments between the two nations, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said on Tuesday. The Ministry said that while the ports of Hambantota and Colombo were of vital importance to the maritime industry due to their strategic locations in the Indian Ocean, there could now be strong linkages between these ports and the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh to facilitate shipping, tourism and investments, Xinhua news agency reported. In addition, the Ministry said more frequent direct air links between Colombo and Dhaka too shall strengthen economic cooperation, investment promotion, tourism and people-to-people contacts. "Expansion of air links would bring more opportunities to entrepreneurs and investors of the two countries," said Commerce and Industry Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. "As neighbouring members of the Bay of Bengal region, both countries have many commonalities. Our common cultural affinities and historical links have immensely nourished our modern day inter-state relations," Bathiudeen added. He said that in recent years, Sri Lanka's bilateral trade with Bangladesh saw a surge. In 2017, apparels, plastics and petroleum products were Sri Lanka's leading exports to Bangladesh. --IANS and/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke with leaders of France and Germany on the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Earlier on Monday, he also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to coordinate stances on the issue. The White House said Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. The three nations on Monday announced to expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning attack of former Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter in Britain's southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4. In his call with Macron, Trump and the French top leader expressed support for the West's "strong response" to the Russia-related incident, including the expulsion of a large number of Russian intelligence officers on both sides of the Atlantic. In the call, Trump also stressed the need to intensify cooperation with Turkey with respect to shared strategic challenges in Syria. In a separate call with Merkel, Trump reaffirmed with her the cooperative relationship between the two countries. Both leaders praised the joint announcements from North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies, EU member states and other countries to expel "undeclared Russian intelligence officers" in solidarity with Britain and in response to Russia's alleged use of chemical weapons, said the White House. Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Earlier on Monday, Trump spoke with Trudeau to affirm the solidarity of both countries with the UK and discuss the joint expulsions of Russian intelligence officers in response to Russia's alleged use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the United Kingdom's soil. The White House said in a separate statement that Russia's behavior "is the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world." On Monday, at least 137 Russian diplomats were ordered out by 24 governments, including 60 Russians from the US. William Courtney, adjunct senior fellow of RAND Corporation, said that West-Russia relations will become more strained, but the West is willing to run this risk. In his protest, Russia Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that Moscow will give adequate response with regard to each case in the coming days. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said later that the West's expulsion of its diplomats is an unfriendly step, and vowed to react accordingly. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump have discussed the current expulsion of Russian diplomats and the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) during a phone call, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday. In their conversation on Monday, the two leaders discussed measures taken by Canada and the US to support Britain, their common ally, against Russia in response to the "egregious nerve agent attack in Salisbury", Xinhua news agency cited a statement as saying. Trudeau also underscored his country's commitment to conclude a modern, mutually beneficial Nafta as soon as possible and mentioned the "strong measures" Canada was taking to address unfair trade in steel and aluminium. On the diplomats' expulsion, Moscow vowed to retaliate in kind after 25 Western nations decided to expel Russian diplomats over the country's alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter by using a chemical weapon on March 4 in Britain. The Russian government fiercely denied any role in the case. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons have been arrested on the charge of snatching the mobile phone and wallet of an Army soldier in south Delhi, police said on Tuesday. Danish, 22, and his accomplice Deepak, residents of Delhi's Sriniwaspuri and Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad respectively had committing the crime in a train at the Okhla railway station on March 7. Both drug addicts were involved in robbing train passengers near Okhla Mandi and Okhla railway station. "When Danish was arrested on March 20, the jawan's ID card, Aadhaar card and a loaded pistol were seized from him. Deepak's arrest led to seizure of six mobile phones," Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said. He said efforts were on to arrest their accomplices. --IANS sp/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has suspended ride-hailing giant Uber's self-driving vehicle tests following a fatal accident at a suburb in state capital Phoenix. "The move by Ducey is notable for the governor, who is an advocate for fewer regulations in a bid to attract companies and high-paying tech jobs to the state," Fortune reported late Monday. "As Governor, my top priority is public safety. Improving public safety has always been an emphasis of Arizona's approach to autonomous vehicle testing and my expectation is that public safety is also the top priority for all who operate this technology in Arizona," Ducey wrote in a letter to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Uber has already suspended its self-driving operations in cities including Tempe, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto following the fatal accident. A self-driving Volvo SUV from Uber travelling at 64 km per hour killed a woman last week, triggering a heated debate on whether autonomous cars are safe enough and who is to blame for the death. According to the police, the victim was walking outside of the crosswalk when she was hit by the car, which was in autonomous mode at that time although a vehicle operator was behind the wheel. --IANS ksc/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Roaring off the deck of a 40,000-tonne amphibious assault ship, new F-35B fighter jets piloted by American Marines soared over the Pacific Ocean near the Japanese island of Okinawa as a show of force by the US military, the media reported. Monday's display comes ahead of its annual war games -- Foal Eagle and Key Resolve -- with South Korea starting April 1, reports CNN. The fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II jets -- warplanes equipped with stealth technology to avoid radar and detection -- have just started their first maritime deployment on board the USS Wasp, a warship sometimes dubbed a baby aircraft carrier that will take part in the joint exercises. The F-35B is one of three variants of the F-35 aircraft and the only one with the ability to land vertically like a helicopter. It can also takeoff in a much shorter space than other fighter jets, which is why it can operate off the Wasp, a warship only half the size of the 100,000-tonne aircraft carriers in the US fleet. "It really is an historic deployment, bringing this capability of the F-35 and the USS Wasp together to create the most significant increase in our capability the Navy and Marine Corps team has seen in our lifetime," Rear Adm. Brad Cooper told CNN onboard the Wasp. With a projected price tag of a trillion dollars over the lifetime of the program, the F-35 fleet is the most expensive weapons system in history. The F-35 stealth fighters have been sold around the world to countries including the UK, Japan, and Israel. South Korea has also ordered 40 F-35A stealth fighters, a move which has angered North Korea according to an article on state news agency KCNA published Sunday, which called it a "perilous move against the rare atmosphere of reconciliation". --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US' decision to expel Russian diplomats was a "very unfortunate and very unfriendly move", Moscow's Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has said. The US on Monday expelled 60 Russian diplomats accusing them of being "intelligence agents" and shut down the consulate in Seattle in retaliation for the chemical attack in Britain on a former Russian spy and his daughter. The 60 diplomats to be expelled include 12 members of Nebenzia's delegation to the UN, reports Xinhua news agency. "It is very unfortunate and very unfriendly move. We were informed that 12 diplomats from the Russian mission to the UN are expelled from here and they have to leave by April 2," Nebenzia told reporters on Monday before a luncheon of the Security Council with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Both Nebenzia and US ambassador Nikki Haley were present. Nebenzia refused said to name the 12 diplomats. "We don't name those diplomats. We safeguard their privacy," he said. Earlier on Monday, Haley said her country has begun the process of "expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission to the UN who have abused their privilege of residence in the US". "After a review, we have determined that the 12 intelligence operatives engaged in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security. Our actions are consistent with the UN Headquarters Agreement," said Haley in a press statement. Asked whether Washington's decision was in accordance with the UN-US agreement on the UN Headquarters in New York, Nebenzia said: "I don't think so." On March 4, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia suffered a chemical attack in Salisbury in Britain and were in a critical but stable condition in hospital. British officials identified the chemical as Novichok, a nerve agent developed by Russia during the Cold War. Britain has expelled 23 Russian diplomats last week and Russia ordered retaliatory expulsions. Besides the US and Britain, European Council President Donald Tusk too announced that at least 14 European Union countries have decided to expel Russian diplomats --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The national security advisors of the US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met at the White House on Friday to discuss joint efforts to counter the "Iranian regime's malign influence and provocative behavior." The White House said in a statement that security officials of the three nations talked about issues of strategic importance to the three countries. Senior officials from the US Departments of State, Defense, the Treasury and the intelligence community participated in the meeting, Xinhua reported. The leaders agreed to meet trilaterally on a regular basis to develop and implement joint frameworks to mitigate threats to regional security and to bring greater peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East. "Additionally, the National Security Advisor of Afghanistan joined a session focused on discussing ways the US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE can partner with Afghanistan to support the Afghan government and set conditions for an enduring peace settlement," said the White House. Also on Friday, the US sanctioned an Iranian entity and 10 individuals over "malicious cyber-enabled activities," saying the hackers worked at the behest of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the US measures were "illegal and provocative," proving the US inherent hostility against Tehran. It also condemned Saudi Arabia's allegations that Iran "is the source of terror and extremism," saying that Saudi Arabia itself was the "essential source and cause of terrorism and extremism. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apropos of Win one, lose one (March 27), it goes without saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has turned out to be the largest beneficiary in the just concluded Rajya Sabha elections with its tally inching up to 68 seats and that of the National Democratic Alliance going up to 87 seats (out of 245 seats in the Upper House). However, the Congress partys RPN Singh must also be patting his own back after he managed to win one (out of two seats) in Jharkhand by a fraction thereby putting the BJPs top brass in a fix. Incidentally, the elections also ... 20KMeek Mill's two-to-four-year prison sentence for violating probation continues to be a hot topic. Legal expert and Make It Rain! author Areva Martin tells ABC Radio that though she wasn't involved in the case, she became "concerned, as a lawyer, about what was happening to [him] and whether the punishment that he was getting was fair." Martin believes that compared to the sentence he received, the crime Meek committed "seemed to be fairly insignificant." As previously reported, last year, Meek was sentenced to two to four years for violating his probation on a 2008 drug and weapons charge. Areva tells ABC Radio, "I was on CNN one morning having a debate with someone about this and they were pretty hardlined about it: 'If you violate your probation, you should go to jail.' [And] I'm the first person to say, as a lawyer, if someone commits an offense, you have to face the consequences of your action." "But I also believe in parity and fairness and that we know all too often in the criminal justice system, particularly when we're dealing with African-American males, the system isn't fair," she adds. "And the system is stacked against them." Martin continues, "This isn't just Areva talking. There's statistics, there's studies, scientific evidence that supports this, that African-American men face a different criminal justice system than non-African-American men." "And this was a case that raised a lot of concerns." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Following Chinas two sessions the annual meetings of the national legislature and the top political advisory body all Western observers, it seems, are discussing the removal of the two-term limit for the president. Xi Jinping, the international media insists, is consolidating power, and may even be laying the groundwork for a Mao Zedong-style personality cult. But this reading is fundamentally flawed. The predominant Western view that Mr Xis growing authority represents a dangerous trend partly reflects anxiety over growing challenges to democracy in the United States and across Europe. But it makes little sense to view Chinese political developments through a Western lens, especially at a time when the world is shifting from a unipolar to a multipolar system. Recent changes in China should instead be regarded as part of a broader process, in which competing systems of governance are emerging to cope with complex, globally connected challenges, such as disruptive technologies, geopolitical rivalries, climate change, and demographic shifts. In short, countries are trying to find their governance footing. In a fast-changing world, governance systems must support rapid decision-making under conditions of radical uncertainty, while maintaining accountability. That not the Western expectation of what a governance system should look like is the standard by which we should be assessing political developments in China. In fact, Western-style governance no longer looks like the gold standard its advocates long proclaimed it to be. Western democracies are facing serious internal threats most notably, populist forces espousing dangerous policies like trade protectionism that have risen largely in response to these systems failure to manage problems such as income inequality, political polarisation, rising debt, and failing infrastructure. That failure partly reflects the short-termism that tends to dominate in Western democracies, where short electoral cycles (from about six months to four years) often compel politicians to focus on cyclical issues, rather than on structural impediments to long-term productivity gains and income growth. (Similarly, Western companies tend to base their operations on quarterly results, and thus may neglect long-term risks and opportunities.) By contrast, when Chinas leaders formulate and execute policies, they tend to think in terms of decades. This is vital to enable an effective response to the structural problems such as corruption, environmental pollution, and inequality that more than two generations of rapid growth and development have brought. The current bureaucracy, working within its silos, is already addressing these problems, in order to create a more equitable society that is also innovative and adaptable. Only then can China escape the infamous middle-income trap before population aging begins to take a higher toll on economic growth. Illustration by ajay mohanty More broadly, Chinas leaders have set a 30-year target for modernising the countrys economy and governance a long-term goal that reflects the kind of vision that few countries have managed to articulate, let alone implement. By removing the presidential term limit, Chinas leadership is improving its chances of success, by opening the way for Mr Xi and his vice president, Wang Qishan, to go further in realising this vision. Mr Xi and Mr Wang are seasoned politicians with extensive experience dealing with crises and managing complex institutional and social challenges, from the local to the global level. Both have a strong grasp of history, as well as the charisma and will needed to confront recalcitrant vested interests. Their continued leadership is thus invaluable. But this does not mean that accountability will be lost. On the contrary, the National Peoples Congress has approved a major overhaul of Chinas governance structure, creating a new National Supervision Commission to check corruption by all Chinese officials, regardless of their affiliations or status in the Communist Party of China. The State Council has also been restructured, with ministries, commissions, and agencies consolidated and streamlined to manage reforms in a more coordinated and efficient way. For example, agriculture and rural affairs have been combined under one ministry, as have all environmental issues. Likewise, in order to reduce financial-sector risks (including excessive leverage and shadow banking), regulation of banking and insurance have been consolidated under the new China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. These sweeping institutional reforms would make Chinas governance structure look functionally similar to American and European counterparts. Like Mr Xi and Mr Wang, officials at these institutions are dedicated, competent, and experienced reformers. Assisting Premier Li Keqiang will be the Harvard-educated Vice-Premier Liu He, who has spent more than 30 years in long-term development planning, and has a deep understanding of how market forces can support efficient resource allocation. Financial reforms are in the hands of Peoples Bank of China Governor Yi Gang, a US-educated economist, and the chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, Guo Shuqing, an Oxford-trained economist with experience in provincial leadership, central banking, and securities regulation. Two thousand years ago, the Chinese philosopher Han Fei argued that effective governance required three things: the rule of law, bureaucratic tools, and political will. Changing laws or honing the tools of governance is important, but they mean little without sustained and determined efforts by political leaders. Chinas system has survived because its leaders have been willing to confront market failures and administrative deficiencies in a direct and consistent manner. New efforts to boost accountability vital to reinforce legitimacy will strengthen the system further. China, like the US and Europe, is too big to fail. It thus has a responsibility to develop a system of governance that can deliver structural changes to its economy and society, while ensuring effective accountability. The test is whether that system adapts to long-term challenges and contributes to national and global wellbeing, not whether it adheres to Western standards. Andrew Sheng is distinguished fellow at the Asia Global Institute at the University of Hong Kong and a member of the UNEP Advisory Council on Sustainable Finance. Xiao Geng, president of the Hong Kong Institution for International Finance, is a professor at the University of Hong Kong Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018 : Thirteen Maoists, among whom five were women, surrendered before police in two different cities today, while three others were arrested. Among those arrested was a B.Tech graduate V Balakrishna Naidu and a Maoist Dalam (unit) member Kovasi Somaraju alias Santosh (24). Twelve of the Maoists surrendered before East Godavari Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni here today while another Maoist, Naidu, surrendered before the SP (Visakhapatnam rural) Rahul Dev Sharma. Gunni told reporters that Santosh was involved in seven major incidents, including an ambush in Burkampal near Chintagufa in Bastar, where 25 CRPF personnel were killed. He was also involved in the murder of a police informer and associated with three major blast incidents, the SP said. Santosh decided to surrender due to family problems, he said. Gunni said he would be provided all assistance in accordance with the government policy for them to join the national mainstream. The other 12 who surrendered would be sent back to their villages situated in interior areas, to enable them lead a normal life, he said. Gunni also said that three more Maoists, including a dalam member were arrested by police at Etapaka today. All of them were tribals and were nabbed by police with the assistance of CRPF personnel. They were aged between 22 and 35 years, he said. In Visakhapatnam, Naidu, who joined the Maoists last year, surrendered before the SP, (Visakhaptnam Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma. He said he had taken the decision to surrender as he was disillusioned with the Maoist movement. The SP said Naidu (28) had completed his B.Tech from a private engineering college in Hyderabad in 2012, worked in the pharmaceutical sector for a few years and finally joined the Maoists in 2017 at the egging of his relative. He said Naidu rose through the ranks to become Area Committee member of Pedabayalu of the outfit on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha Border and carried a reward of Rs four lakh on his head. Naidu had participated in two encounters at Pepperameta and Tikarpada and was also close to Central Committee member Akkiraju Haragopal and Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee leader Gajarla Ravi, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men allegedly fled with a safe containing over Rs three lakh after threatening the supervisor of courier company at gunpoint, the police said today. Deepak, the supervisor of Ecom Courier company, told the police that he got couriers loaded in two vans around 6.30 am yesterday, they said. After the vans left, three men came to the office in a white car bearing Haryana registration number, they added. They threatened him at gunpoint and fled with the safe containing Rs three to four lakh. They also took the digital video recorder of the CCTV cameras, the police said. The cash comprised earnings from Saturday and Sunday and it was supposed to be deposited in the bank on Monday. Police said they had ascertained the ownership of the vehicle and raids were being conducted in Faridabad and Ballabhgarh to nab the accused. A few suspects are being questioned about their involvement, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Forty-one children were among the 64 people killed in a fire that ripped through a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo at the weekend, Russian state agency RIA Novosti reported today. "There are names of 41 children in the list of those who died," RIA Novosti quoted a source in the regional emergencies services as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A five-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified woman from Palghar district in Maharashtra and was later found dead in a toilet at Navsari railway station in Gujarat, the police said today. The victim was kidnapped from Nalasopara in Palghar on Saturday night last week. Her body was found in a ladies' toilet at Navsari railway station in south Gujarat on Sunday evening, the Government Railway Police (GRP) officialsaid. The police suspect that the girl was killed after being kidnapped, he said. He said after the postmortem at the Navsari civil hospital, the body was yesterday handed over to the Palghar police officials who had come along with the father of the deceased to Navsari, which is located around 280 km from Ahmedabad and about 200 km from Nalasopara. Meanwhile, the Tulinj police in Palghar's Virar division said the girl was kidnapped from outside her house in Nalasopara on March 24 by an unidentified woman. The girl's father, Santosh Balchandra Saroj, had subsequently approached the police which lodged a case of kidnapping under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 363. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jayant Bajbale of Virar division said they have obtained the CCTV footage of the area where the girl lived. The CCTV recordings showed that the woman waited outside the girl's house for about one-and-a-half to two hours on Saturday evening before kidnapping her, and pretended as if she knew the child, he said. She later took away the girl, who was at that time playing with other children, he said. The CCTV footage showed the woman walking along with the girl for about 1.5 km, Bajbale said. "The police suspect that the woman was either a resident of the locality or acquainted with the area. Our probe is heading in that direction," he said. "On Sunday evening, we got a message that the girl's body was found in Navsari," Bajbale said. Meanwhile, some angry residents of the area protested outside the Tulinj police station yesterday and demanded immediate arrest of the woman. The police has now added IPC section 302 (murder) in the case and launched a manhunt for the woman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators today walked out of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to protest the rejection of a bill on conflict of interest by the speaker. AAP MLA Aman Arora had submitted 'The Punjab Unseating of Members of Legislative Assembly found indulging in Conflict of Interest Bill, 2018' in the House which was rejected by Speaker Rana K P Singh. Under the proposed bill, any elected representative, be it the chief minister, cabinet ministers or other MLAs, shall be liable for disqualification and hence unseated within a period of six months if found guilty of the Conflict of Interest Act. Any MLA found furthering his own private interests, financial or commercial, directly or indirectly, at the cost of interest of the state shall be unseated, Arora told mediapersons outside the Assembly. Arora contended that mafias like those of mining, liquor, transport, cable, power, irrigation, construction and real estate would never have come into existence had this law been in place. He questioned the government for not taking any step toward this direction, saying contrary to its other pre-election promises, this Act would not entail any financial expenditure and would be useful in preventing loot by corrupt politicians. Arora expressed displeasure in the way politicians have "flourished over the years, pushing the state into a debt trap of more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore today". For this purpose, Arora had suggested forming a five-member commission, headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court, comprising members of eminence from the fields of law, economics, journalism, defence, education, health, etc. He had proposed that a five-member select committee be constituted, comprising the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the second senior most judge of the high court, the chief minister, the speaker and the leader of opposition, to appoint the members to the commission for a period of six years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India said today the Afghan people are victims of ideological extremism and brutal terrorism, often sponsored from beyond their borders, by elements trapped in regressive doctrine and cynical interests, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. Speaking at Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar said India is profoundly troubled by the continuing suffering of Afghan people, a tragedy that has crossed generations. "This has to change," he said. "Conflict born of extreme radicalism can be contagious, it is in our combined interest to eliminate it, so that Afghanistan and its neighbours can pursue the objectives of peace and prosperity for their people," Akbar said. Asserting that the Afghan people are being denied both rights and opportunity by fear and violence, he said, "they are victims of ideological extremism and brutal terrorism, often sponsored from beyond their borders, for reasons that they do not always understand, by elements trapped in regressive doctrine and cynical interests." The minister said India supports strong action to pursue those who still choose the path of terrorism, aided by those who manipulate funds from an illicit narcotics trade to finance terror against innocent people. "India stands committed to any process which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has held that centuries-old religious customs and practises cannot be stopped by government machinery by citing administrative inconvenience or anticipated trouble, unless such events become unlawful in present times. The court was disposing a petition by an executive trustee of Sri Kamatchi Amman temple in Cuddalore district, assailing an order of the local police refusing permission to the temple car festival conducted during night. Justice K Ravichandrabaabu directed the Revenue Divisional Officer, Cuddalore, to pass appropriate orders on the plea to permit the temple to take out the car during night time on the day of 'Panguni Uthiram' festival onMarch 31. The police shall also extend sufficient protection at the time of conduct of such festival, the judge said. He said it was not in dispute that the temple had been conducting the car festival every year in the Tamil month of 'Panguni' (March-April) during night hours based on some astronomical calculations. Police cannot ignore the fact that the festival was being conducted for centuries during night hours and therefore, such custom and practice cannot be changed by the officials casually by the stroke of pen. "Such centuries-old custom and religious practices cannot be ignored or found as insignificant since such long-run customs, privileges and practices go with the sentiments of people of such locality with which the government machinery cannot interfere in a casual manner, as has been done in this case, that too, under mere apprehension," the judge said. Unless some untoward incidents had taken place in the past which went beyond the control of law enforcing authorities, such interference cannot be made, he added. Even under such circumstances, the interference could be only by way of regulatory measure and certainly not to ban or prohibit the very event itself. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All arrangements would be made and action taken to ensure "free and fair" assembly polls in Karnataka on May 12, state electoral authorities said, as the Election Commission announced the polling dates today. "We have already taken all necessary precautions.. strict instructions have been given, everybody should participate in the election process impartially without being affected by any kind of allurements," Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar told reporters here. "All arrangements will be done and action will be taken so that the elections will be free and fair," he said. The Election Commission of India today announced asingle phase election to the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly on May 12. Counting of votes would be taken up on May 15. Officials said awareness about the importance of electoral participation was being created among voters through Systematic Voter Education and ElectoralParticipation (SVEEP) and it is expected that the voting wouldcross 75 per cent. "After awareness and other campaigns, already we have expectations that compared to voters' turnout in the last elections, it may increase. We are working towards achieving about 75 per cent voter turnout," Kumar said. The voting percentage during the 2013 assembly election was 71.45. Stating that total electors, including service electors in Karnataka as per the 2018 final rolls is 4,96,82,351 as compared to 4,36,85,739 in 2013, the CEO said, "there is a nine percent increase in the total voters." The male voters are 2,52,05,820 in 2018 as compared to 2,23,15,727 in 2018. The female voters are 2,44,71,979 in 2018compared to 2,13,67,912 in 2013. The transgender voters are 4,552 in 2018 as compared 2,100 in 2013, he added. There are 15,42,000 young voters in the age group of 18-19 in 2018 as compared to 7,18,000 in 2013. The young voters ratio has increased from 1.16 percent to 2.20 per cent and the gender ratio from 958 to 972in the same period; while Elector Population (EP) Ratio remained the same, officials said. Noting that due to increase in the voters, the number of polling stations has also increased from 52,034 to 56,696 from 2013 to 2018, Kumar said an additional 1,850 auxiliary polling stations are being set up. There are 56,696 BLOs (Booth Level Officer) in place, one for each polling station. Electronic Voting Machines along with Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used for the Karnataka assembly elections, officials said. A total of 76,110 VVPAT machines, 87,819 Ballot Units and 73,185 Control Units would be used. A total of 3,56,552 polling personnel are required for the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections, Kumar said. For enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct that has come into force, there would be 1,361 MCC teams, 1,503 Static Surveillance teams, 1542 Flying squads and 1097 Check posts, he said. On maintenance of law and order, hesaid police have been directed to execute all pending 42,815 Non Bailable Warrants immediately. Instructions havebeen given on seizure of illegal arms, preventive action and illicit liquor, among others, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao,who suggested forging a non-Congress,non-BJP coalition in national politics, today said the alternative being proposed by him would be a 'people's front of India'. "Ultimately, it's a people's front of India" and not merely an amalgam of a few political parties, he said in the Legislative Assembly during the debate on Appropriation Bills, 2018. Saying that people are not satisfied with the way things are in the country, he said a "qualitative change needs to come about in and governance." "China, which was behind India in development earlier, has now marched ahead of our country," he said and also referred to the tremendous progress made by Japan. Favouring transfer of various subjects from the Centre to the states as against centralisation of powers, he asked why departments like health, agriculture, rural development, urban development should remain with the Centre. Rao had met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata recently to discuss the plans for evolving a coalition of regional parties. On the issue of expulsion of two Congress members for their alleged unruly behaviour during the Governor's address to the joint sitting of the legislature, he said the government would be tough to ensure decorum in the House. The Chief Minister said Telangana has made rapid progress in the last four years since its formation and the state government is implementing numerous development and welfare schemes which are unparallelled in the country. "The state contributed substantially to the Central funds and there is no kindness shown by the Centre towards the state in devolution of funds," he said. The government plans to conduct health tests to all the people in Telangana annually like the way private citizens in the United States get their medical check-up done every year, he said. "If it is to be put in one line, Health Profile of Telangana State. Each person will be given a health card. (We are) bringing out such a scheme. It takes time," Rao said. The state government is making efforts to develop airstrips at six places in the state, he said. The international airport in Hyderabad has made impressive progress in terms of the number of flights landing and taking off and air traffic, he said. The GSDP, per capita income of Telangana is more than the national average and the state is faring better than other states on different counts, Rao said. The state is ranked number one in Ease of Doing Business, the Chief Minister said. Opposition BJP floor G Kishan Reddy highlighted the alleged failures and shortcomings of the state government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah today accused the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka of trying to divide Hindus and being the "most corrupt" one in the country. On a two-day visit to the poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said the move to accord religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Linagayats was an attempt to 'divide' the Hindus. "Just ahead of the (assembly) elections in Karnataka, they have tried to divide Lingayats and Veerashaivas, also Lingayats and other communities, by announcing minority status for them," Shah told reporters here. Questioning the timing of the move, he asked the Siddaramaiah government, "What were you doing for five years?" "In 2013 when your own (UPA) government was in power at the Centre, they had rejected it. Why was Siddaramaiah silent then. This is an attempt to divide the Hindus..," he said. Shah said it was not a programme towards the welfare of the Veerashaiva and Lingayat community but a "conspiracy" to stop Yeddyurappa, considered a Lingayat strongman, from becoming the chief minister. "Lingayat community understands it and I'm sure the people of Karnataka will answer it through ballots," he said. The Karnataka Cabinet had recently decided to recommend to the Centre to accord the religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, apparently to cut into the vote bank of the BJP, which significantly banks on their support. Alleging that Siddaramaiah even tried to bring 'mutts' and temples under the government control, he said it was given up following opposition to the move. "I have made five to six visits to Karnataka and after meeting people I have been able to understand the feeling of Karnataka," said Shah. "The feeling of people of Karnataka is that he (Siddaramaiah) is not AHINDA leader, an AHINDU (anti-Hindu) leader," he added. AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and dalits. He said if the Congress didn't stop Siddaramaiah, the party may have to face "harsh consequences" in elections. "On one hand, Congress president speaks about uniting Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, while on the other hand in Karnataka, its own chief minister is speaking about dividing Hindus. "I have not seen such a sharp difference within a political party," he added. Accusing the Islamic outfit, Popular Front of India and its political wing SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) of being involved in killing Hindus and the BJP and the RSS activists, Shah alleged that the state government was playing "dirty vote bank politics" by withdrawing cases against them. "On one side, the Kerala government has recommended to ban PFI to the Union government, but Siddaramaiah finds nothing wrong with the PFI. This appeasement policy is the biggest threat to the security of Karnataka and India." Shah also said the people of Karnataka had understood that "this is the most corrupt government.""Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was competition for corruption in the country, Siddaramaiah government will get number one award," Shah said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Anna Faris has said she was angered by the social media reaction to her split from Hollywood star Chris Pratt. The duo separated in August last year after eight years of marriage, and identical divorce papers were filed in December, with both citing irreconcilable differences. Faris said she was annoyed at how some people mourned their break-up and dramatically proclaimed "love is dead", after holding the pair up as an example of the perfect couple. "I had a little bit of a childish feeling like, 'Oh, come on, f*****g grow up,' like, a little anger. Chris and I did talk about, like, 'Oh boy (we're letting fans down)', and we got on the Twitter feed (messages like), 'Love is dead' and 'relationship goals'," she said on the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. The 41-year-old actor, however, believes they were partly to blame for having "cultivated the idea of this beautiful family" with their previous social media photos. "I do think, we obviously cultivated something (the idea of a perfect relationship), and it was rewarding for a while, like, 'Oh, people seem to think that we got all this s*** (sorted), that's nice!'," she said. Faris is not sure if she would be willing to walk down the aisle again in future. "I need to figure out what the purpose (of marriage) is. Is it safety for your children? Is it convention? Is it so other people respect your relationship more? For me, I'm just not quite sure where it fits," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 50-year-old man, allegedly involved in supplying weapons to criminals in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, was arrested here, the police said today. Fifteen sophisticated pistols and two revolvers along with 10 spare magazines were recovered from the possession of Khazan Singh at the time of his arrest near Ashram Chowk here, they added. The Special Cell was having information about the arms syndicate led by Singh, who belongs to Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Teams were sent to Burhanpur, Sendhwa, Khargone and Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh) to track the movements of the members of this syndicate. On March 25, the police learnt that Singh, who used to procure illegal arms from Khandwa and then supply to Delhi, Haryana and UP has received a big consignment of pistols, said PS Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell). Singh, who was on his way to deliver the consignment of weapons to criminals in Delhi and Western UP, was arrested from a pre-decided meeting point near Nafed building, Ashram Chowk here, the place where the illegal arms trade was going to take place. During interrogation, he told police about supplying over 700 pistols to various criminals in the last two years. "He revealed that he used to purchase a pistol for Rs 10,000 from suppliers of MP and thereon sell them for an amount ranging from Rs. 20,000 to 25,000 per pistol," police said. The accused has been previously arrested in 12 criminal cases including that of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, assault, etc. Notably, Singh's elder brother is an engineer in the electricity department of UP government and his younger brother is an architect. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today said Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and no force in the world can separate it from the country. "We are part of united India since thousands of years when Lord Krishna from Dwarika of Gujarat wedded princess Rukshmini of Arunachal Pradesh," Rijiju said on the occasion of Madhavpur fair organised jointly by Ministry of Culture and the Gujarat government at Madhavpur Ghed near Porbandar. Madhavpur is said to be the place where Lord Krishna had married Rukshamani. The traditional fair is held every year between Ramnavmi and Teras. This year, the fair is being held between March 25 and 28. The fair will highlight the historical and cultural ties between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Invoking Lord Krishna, Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency, said Gujarat and his home state are connected with each other since thousands of years. "No force in the world can separate Arunachal Pradesh from India," he said. Arunachal Pradesh shares a common border with China which claims the Northeastern state as part of South Tibet. On the occasion, Union Culture minister Mahesh Sharma recalled the contribution of the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in keeping India united. Chief Ministers of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were also present on the occasion. Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh said, "The Northeastern states were ignored politically and socially in the past despite being part of united India". Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu hailed Narendra Modi government for the "historic day" today as his state can exchange its cultural activities with other states like Gujarat. "This efforts taken by the prime minister will boost the tourism business in Arunachal Pradesh as well as Gujarat. "The Northeastern states are ready to rub shoulders with other states for the country's overall development," he said. Khandu also invoked the marriage of princess Rukshmini with Lord Krishna to stress age-old ties with Gujarat. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said his government would develop the fair with a view to boost tourism. "This fair is a symbol of the national unity and the state government will develop the fair so the cultural connection between Gujarat and the Northeast becomes stronger," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Assembly today passed a resolution seeking amendments to existing laws to make stalking a non-bailable offence and to award the death penalty to those convicted of raping minors. The resolution, moved by AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, demanded that the Delhi government present a Bill asking the Centre to amend the law. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Alka Lamba had demanded that the government make stalking a non-bailable offence in an anti-stalking bill. Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain told the House that the government would present the Bill seeking amendments. "The government will table the Bill. It will be sent to the Centre once it is passed by the Delhi Assembly," Jain said. The minister added that he hoped the Centre would not object to it. "The law should be amended to make stalking a non-bailable offence. The law should also be amended to make juvenile rape punishable with the death penalty," the resolution stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel today adjourned the House proceedings for half-an-hour in protest against officers "declining" answer to a question raised by the legislator on "reserved subjects." The move came after Home department of Delhi government did not provide answer to question number 132 pertaining to police station level committees. "I adjourn the proceedings for 3o minutes in protest against this," Goel said. The AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi who had asked the question said that the Thana level committees were replaced with district level committees chaired by MP concerned. "I have attended 4-5 meetings and except one, the MP was absent in all others. No work is being done by these committees," he said expressing dissatisfaction over reply to his question. Ravi had sought to know the reason for discontinuing the Thana level committees., number of meetings held, and attendance of MP, with regard to Central district, in the current year. Home minister Satyendar Jain expressed disappointment over failure of his department to provide answer to the question asked by the MLA. The Speaker also referred a question related with illegal inter-state buses plying in Delhi, to the Question and Reference committee of the House, after reply on it was found unsatisfactory. The state Assembly was rocked yesterday also with the Centre asking Speaker Goel not to accept any question on "reserved subject." The AAP legislators had came down heavily on officers for not giving a "proper reply" to an Assembly question, prompting Goel to refer the matter to the Question and Reference Committee. Notably, the bureaucrats have drawn flak on several occasion since the start of the state Assembly's Budget Session on March 16. On March 20, the Speaker had forwarded four matters involving the officers to the Question and Reference Committee following the demand of action by the AAP MLAs. The ruling AAP and the bureaucracy have been involved in a tussle over various issues after an alleged assault by some Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel today adjourned the House proceedings for half-an-hour in protest against officers "declining" answer to questions raised by legislators on "reserved subjects" such as public order, police and services. The Speaker's move came during the Question Hour after the home department did not provide answer to a question pertaining to the functioning of police station level "thana committees". Later, Goel forwarded the matter to the privilege committee of the House for further action. "As there has been no reply from departments once again, I am adjourning the proceedings for 3o minutes in protest against this," the Speaker told the House. Earlier this month, the Union Law Ministry advised the Lt Governor's office to communicate to the Speaker that he should not admit any question related to reserved subjects such as public order, police, services and land and the concerned departments have been refusing to answer many questions on this ground. This is the first time when the Speaker has adjourned the House proceedings as mark of protest against officers not providing answers to questions on reserved subjects. AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi, who had asked the question, said that police station-level committees were replaced with district-level committees chaired by the parliamentarian concerned. "I have attended 4-5 meetings and except one, the MP was absent in all others. No work is being done by these committees," he said, expressing dissatisfaction over reply to his question. Ravi had sought to know the reason for discontinuing the Thana-level committees, number of meetings held, and attendance of MP, with regard to central district, in the current year. Home Minister Satyendar Jain also expressed disappointment over failure of his department to provide answer to the question asked by the MLA. During the day, bureaucrats came under attack of the Aam Aadmi Party legislators as four matters involving officers were forwarded to the House committees. Goel also referred a question pertaining to illegal inter-state buses plying in the national capital to the Question and Reference Committee of the House, after reply on it was found "unsatisfactory". He sent the matter of District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) to the Question and Reference Committee of the House after Karol Bagh MLA Vishesh Ravi complained to Goel, saying that officers are not providing answers on pending proposals with the agency. "It is serious matter. I am referring the matter to Question and Reference Committee," the Speaker said. The matter of questions going unanswered or in some cases "incomplete replies" have dominated the ongoing budget session of the House with AAP MLAs using it to target a section of bureaucrats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sanket Jaibhay, prime accused in Sanket Kulkarni murder case, called up the latter's "girlfriend" after the crime on Friday and told her that he had eliminated his "competitor", a police official said today. Though Jaibhay is in the police custody, three of his accomplices are still at large, even four days after the incident. Jaibhay allegedly knocked down Kulkarni (19) with his car and repeatedly ran over him, following an altercation between the two over the girl who hails from Pune. According to police, Jaibhay was jealous of Kulkarni's proximity with the girl. The deceased, a native of Pathri tehsil in Parbhani district, was studying in Pune. On March 23, Jaibhay allegedly called up Kulkarni and asked him to come to Kamgar Chowk in Aurangabad to sort out the issue between them. Mukundwadi police station inspector Premsagar Chandramore said the hunt was on for other accused who had accompanied Jaibhay in his car on the day of the incident. He said Jaibhay showed no remorse during interrogation. According to a police official, Jaibhay told his interrogators that he had called up Kulkarni's "girlfriend" after the incident and told her that he had eliminated his competitor. He also said Jaibhay had allegedly stabbed Kulkarni in Pune some months back following a brawl. "The accused has no regrets over the gruesome crime he had committed. He casually told the girl that he had killed Kulkarni," said ACP Nagnath Kode. When asked whether Jaibhay and other accused used a firearm to threaten Kulkarni, Kode said the police have not found any evidence in this regard. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Australian government will expel two Russian officials over the use of nerve agent allegedly by Moscow against a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. The officials will be directed to depart Australia within a week. In doing so, Australia joins the UK, the US, 14 European Union member states, and other allies who yesterday expelled a number of Russian diplomats in a coordinated response. "The twoRussian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by Australian for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna Conventions," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in an official statement today. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, both remain critically ill in hospital in Britain. Bishop said Australia's decision reflectedthe "shocking" nature of the attack,the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community. "It takes into account advice from the UK Government that the substance used on March 4thwas a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law," she said. Moscow has denied these allegations. "The attack was part of a pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state that constitutes a growing threat to international security, global non-proliferation rules against the use of chemical weapons, the rights of other sovereign nations and the international rules-based order that underpins them," said Bishop. She said that Australia has had strong sanctions in place since 2014 in response to Russia's threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. "We also continue to support international efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the downing of MH17, and we have called out unacceptable Russian action in cyberspace," said Bishop. "In the same way, we will vigorously back the UKs full investigation of the nerve agent attack," she said. The minister stressed Australia's commitmentwith its allies and partners to deter Russia's actions where they are a threat to international security. "This is why the Government is overhauling offences for espionage, secrecy and treason, and for the first time establishing powerful new foreign interference offences in legislation currently before the Parliament," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Assam Women's University student's indefinite strike for a permanent vice-chancellor entered its 23rd day today, state Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the assembly that there is no mention of the post in the Assam Women's University Act, 2013. The state government has not violated the act as there is no mention of the post of vice-chancellor in it and regular teachers were not appointed as no advertisements were given for the purpose, he said. Abdul Khaleq of Congress had raised the issue in the assembly and questioned why a permanent VC had not been appointed though about five years had passed since the University, the only one of its kind in the north east, began classes. He also said that the government is trying to close down the university when Sarma himself as minister in the erstwhile Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government had passed the Assam Women's University Bill in 2013. Sarma in his reply said, "The state government has not violated the Assam Women's University Act as there is no mention of the post of vice-chancellor in the Act. "Tarun Gogoi was the Chief of the University as per the Act (which states chief minister is the head of the institution). Why did Gogoi not appoint a VC then ?" Stating there are no professors but assistant professors only on contractual and ad-hoc basis in the university, Sarma said no advertisements were given for appointment to the regular posts. He said Assam Agricultural University Vice-chancellor and registrar have been functioning as the Women's University's mentor and registrar respectively. There are 74 teachers in the University, besides 15 non teaching staff on contractual and ad-hoc basis, Sarma said adding they do not receive UGC scale salaries. The University has been witnessing indefinite stir by its students since March 5 for a permanent VC and against downgrading it to a technical institute. The students had also held a 36-hour hunger strike from March 19. Speaker Hiten Goswami addressing a press meet in the Assembly premises appealed to the media to have a positive outlook on the subject "so that a negative message does not go out". Constructive discussion should be held on the issue in the House, he said adding the students of the University should withdraw their agitation. According to AWU Students' Forum President Chinmoyee Gogoi, the students want a written undertaking from the government on the appointment of a permanent VC and transforming the institute into a full-fledged university. On March 23 former Tarun Gogoi visited the campus and lent his support to the agitation. After his visit Gogoi had tweeted: "Assam Women's University was one of my dream project for empowering the women. It is not only a pride of Assam but of the whole country. Assam BJP Govt's decision on AWU exposes the hollow promises of flagship program 'BetiBachaoBetiPadhao' ". Protests had been held across upper Assam in support of the AWU students. Effigies of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Sarma were burnt and nearly 175 colleges under Dibrugarh University organised satyagraha marches. The agitation has garnered support from students and teachers of JNU, TISS, BHU, NEHU, IIT-Kharagpur, Jadavpur University and Sikkim University among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a nearly 24-year trial, a special court has convicted a former Punjab National Bank manager and three private persons in a loan fraud case and sentenced them to five years rigorous imprisonment, a CBI official said today. The Tis Hazari court in its recent order also imposed fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh on Charanjeet Arora, PNB manager in 1992 when the case was registered, as well as Sushil Kumar Gupta, Narendra Kumar Gupta and Manoj Kumar Gupta, CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said. He said the CBI had registered the case following allegations that Sushil Kumar Gupta, then director of Pankaj Finance and Leasing Limited (PFLL), and Arora and the other accused entered into a criminal conspiracy with each other. In 1994, the agency filed a charge sheet in the special CBI court where the case has been going on since. The CBI found during its investigation that the accused enjoyed a credit of Rs 2 crore from the New Bank of India (which later merged with PNB) branch in Connaught Place and Rs 25 lakh from the Corporation Bank in Karol Bagh. "The firm allegedly got a loan of Rs 23.94 lakh on forged and bogus documents. It was also alleged that a part of loan was credited in advance against seven vehicles which were already financed by Corporation Bank, Karol Bagh, and the other part was credited on the security of two vehicles without mortgaging the bills and other relevant documents," the spokesperson said. The CBI added that an advance of around Rs. 8 lakh was also credited to PFLL for financing four vehicles which were also already financed by the same branch of the bank. Two former bank officials were acquitted by the court and one private person died during the course of the trial, the spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey's son Arijit Shashwat, who is evading arrest in a case of communal violence, has moved a bail plea in a court here, which directed the police to produce the case diary. The order was passed by Additional district judge Kumud Ranjan Singh, who is officiating as the district judge, on the bail petition of Shashwat, son of senior BJP leader and Union health minister Choubey. The court directed the police to produce the case diary by the next date of hearing on March 31, according to the petitioner's counsel Veeresh Mishra. Shashwat has been named, along with eight others, in an FIR lodged in connection with a clash in the Nathnagar police station area of Bhagalpur district on March 17. Violence had erupted after people belonging to minority community objected to loud music being played during a procession taken out on the occasion of the new year as per the Hindu calendar. The procession was being led by Shashwat. A court issued arrest warrant against Shashwat last Saturday following an application by the Nathnagar police. Arguing for Shashwat, Mishra submitted, "No provocative or objectionable act took place during the procession which was taken out to celebrate the Hindu new year. The petitioner is a responsible citizen." The counsel also alleged "a false case has been slapped against Shashwat by elements who wish to spoil the young leader's political career". Earlier yesterday, talking to reporters at his residence in Patna, Shashwat had accused the police of acting on instructions of the Bhagalpur MLA. Ajeet Sharma of the Congress represents the Bhagalpur seat. He won the constituency in the 2015 polls by defeating Shashwat. The failure of the police to nab the Union minister's son even after more than a week since the incident has drawn flak from opposition parties like the RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bihar Appropriation (No 2) Bill 2018 was passed by voice vote in the Assembly to clear the decks for withdrawal of the state's annual budgetary provision for Rs 1.76 lakh crore for 2018-19 from the state's consolidated fund. The passage of the Apprpriation Bill authorises the government to meet various outstanding expenditure in addition to those sanctioned in the budget 2018-19. As Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds finance portfolio, finished his reply to a debate on the Bill, the opposition RJD members objected to the Speaker's decision to pass the Bill by voice vote and demanded voting on it. The RJD members staged a dharna in front of the Speaker Vijay Choudhary's chamber and its leader Tejashwi Yadav termed the decision as a "murder of democracy." Yadav, who was not present in the House when his party pressed for voting, said that he could not enter the Assembly as its gates were closed for voting by the time he reached it. The party's members shouted slogans and staged a walk out of the House in protest against the Speaker's decision. "This is murder of democracy. The speaker did not allow voting (head count) as he got an indication from the treasury benches in this regard," Tejashwi told reporters at the assembly premises. "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should resign on moral grounds as he has murdered democracy twice. First, by severing his ties with grand alliance and the second time today," he said adding that he would meet the Governor Satya Pal Malik and would apprise him of the situation. "We will also send our memorandum to the governor through fax/e-mail," the RJD leader said. Yadav also held a meeting with RJD legislators which was also attended by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and Congress leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bihar Assembly was adjourned till lunch break today within minutes of commencement of the proceedings, amid opposition uproar over recent increase in incidents of communal violence in some parts of the state. As Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary took the Chair, RJD MLAs Samir Kumar Mahaseth and Shakti Singh Yadav moved their adjournment motions alleging that "atmosphere of communal harmony has been vitiated in the state and an organisation is trying to sow the seeds of hatred against members of a particular community. When the Speaker asked the legislators to raise the matter at an appropriate time and allow the Question Hour to take place, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said, The issue being raised is very important." "Yesterday, when I raised the issue of Aurangabad, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave a statement which left me both glad and dissatisfied. I was glad that he used the endearing word 'babu' (a patronising word) to address me, since I always look upon him as an avuncular figure. But I was dissatisfied with the way he tried to dismiss my concerns over the communal conflagration in Aurangabad," Tejashwi said. His utterances evoked angry protests from ministers Prem Kumar and Vinod Narayan Jha both from the BJP. They accused the RJD of raising the matter everyday with politics in mind. Many of the opposition MLAs then trooped into the Well waving copies of the Constitution and alleging it was under threat since Right to Equality and Freedom of Religion have been designated as fundamental rights. As the bedlam persisted, Chaudhary adjourned the proceedings till 2 P.M. Later, talking to reporters outside the assembly, Yadav said the ruling side did not allow me to complete my statement. I wished to pinpoint the anomalies in the statement given by the Chief Minister yesterday who had accused me of giving in to rumour-mongers. I was permitted neither yesterday nor today to pose the counter-question. If my concerns of a communal flare-up in Aurangabad were based on rumours, why has the government dispatched a bunch of senior officials to the affected district. Why was the chief minister, admittedly, monitoring the situation in that town from his chamber," Tejashwi asked. As we have said many times, Nitish Kumar has lost his grip over the administration in the state. The entire bureaucratic machinery has become subservient to the agenda of the BJP-RSS. Bihar is now being ruled, not from Patna, but from Nagpur (the RSS headquarters)," he alleged. It was a pathetic sight yesterday when the Chief Minister stated on the floor of the House that there was no curfew in Aurangabad upon being prompted to do so by his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, Yadav remarked. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Aurangabad where clashes had erupted between members of two communities on Sunday during a Ram Navami procession. A week earlier, communal violence had erupted in Bhagalpur over playing of loud music during a religious procession which was being led by Arijit Shashwat, son of Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a power tussle between the lieutenant governor and the Delhi Assembly, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today accused the BJP of indulging in "dirty politics" by "stalling" his government's work through the bureaucracy. Kejriwal's allegation comes after the Centre asked Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel not to accept any question on any reserved subject. The move had prompted Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to assert that the Assembly should not be treated as the "subordinate" of the Home Ministry. Kejriwal alleged that the BJP was trying to "stall Delhi" through the L-G and the bureaucracy. He said that people were being made to "suffer due to BJP's dirty politics". "Despite BJP's efforts to obstruct work and in most adverse conditions, AAP govt delivering," he said on Twitter. The Union Law Ministry, in its advice to the L-G's office through the Home Ministry, stated, "Rule 29 of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Legislative Assembly of National Capital Territory of Delhi states that the subject matter of Questions must relate to a matter of administration for which the government is responsible. "Its purpose shall be to elicit information or to give suggestion of action on a matter of public importance." Citing rules, the ministry stated, "Legally the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly cannot admit any Question on any reserved subject." In his ruling, the Speaker said, "The officers should realise that legislation on reserved subjects and seeking replies on matters of public interest which directly affect the people of Delhi are two different issues. "Hence, I direct that the officers are duty bound to provide replies to all questions which are admitted." Goel today adjourned the House for half an hour as a mark of protest over the Home department declining to give a reply to a question related to replacement of police station level committees with district level committees. In the continuing tussle, the Assembly has also passed a resolution directing the AAP government to present a "status report" on files which have been "delayed or blocked" by the office of L-G Anil Baijal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today alleged that growing dominance of the BJP-RSS combine was the reason behind a rise in the incidents of communal violence in the state and took a jibe at Nitish Kumar saying the chief minister seemed helpless. A party delegation led by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee acting chief Kaukab Qadri met Governor Satya Pal Mallik and submitted a memorandum seeking a judicial probe in to clashes in Aurangabad town during a Ram Navami procession on Sunday and deployment of additional forces in the affected areas. "The Governor assured us that our concerns would be looked into. However, we have a strong feeling that the recent vitiation of atmosphere in Bihar is a result of the growing dominance of the BJP-RSS combine which is trying to use the state as a laboratory for its own brand of politics," Qadri told PTI. "We have reports that in Aurangabad, which is a district in the Magadh region with no history of communal tension, people from other parts of the state and even from outside Bihar had gathered ahead of Ram Navami," he said. The communal violence there was preplanned and the reported shouting of provocative slogans followed by arson was part of a well thought out strategy, he alleged. The rising dominance of the BJP-RSS is also preventing the bureaucracy from acting effectively against such attempts at communal polarization. The matter has been made worse by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appearing helpless," the BPCC leader said. After disintegration of the RJD-JD(U)-Congress alliance, which was also called the Grand Alliance, in July last year, Nitish Kumar joined hands with the to form a coalition government in Bihar. Kumar is the chief minister in the new dispensation and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi is his deputy. The Congress is maintaining its ties with the RJD to give a strong opposition to the NDA government in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today cited a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the Congress and demanded an apology from its president Rahul Gandhi, saying he stood "exposed". Christopher Wylie, a former Analytica employee turned whistleblower, in a deposition before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in London said the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress. "The whistleblower has publicly confirmed that the Congress was indeed their client. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to divert attention. Today, he stands exposed. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters tonight. This vindicates what the BJP had been been saying from day one, he said. "Cambridge Analytica is in the dock for data theft and trying to manipulate voters using unlawful means. Congress party needs to apologise to the nation for data theft and trying to manipulate voters. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica," he said. Prasad also dismissed the Congress' allegation that the BJP had used the firm's services, calling it a "pack of lies". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alleging a conspiracy by the BJP to break the SP-BSP alliance, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav today said that the saffron party would not return to power if it failed in its endeavour to create a discord between the two parties in Uttar Pradesh. "Now the SP and the BSP are united. Now you (BJP) will try to create fissures between us. You are citing guest house case and other things to the BSP, but I am happy that you got a reply from BSP leader (Mayawati). Now they (BJP) will taste defeat in every battle," Akhilesh said, referring to the assault of Mayawati allegedly by SP workers in a state guest house in 1995. He was speaking during budget discussion in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. "The BJP did everything to ensure a fight between us (SP-BSP) and even blamed us that we have got the BSP's Rajya Sabha candidate defeated. I want to tell you (BJP) that we samajwadis have big heart and if we have to give up something, we will give it up in future," he said. "You should let us (SP-BSP) break. If you fail (to break our unity), you will not be able to grab power in future," he said pointing at Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and other ruling party members. "I want to thank the BSP again and the Peace Party and other allies for supporting our candidates in Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls and for sending a message to the entire country," he said. Alleging that the ruling party members including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have forgotten using dignified language, Akhilesh said, "I thank you for making be backward. We are progressive backward Hindu with whom no one can compete. Yogi in House said he is proud of being Hindu. So, am I not proud? He compared our friendship with that of snake and mole." Attacking the BJP on charges of 'pariwarwad' (nepotism), Akhilesh said, "How Yogi became head of the Math in Gorakhpur. Had his relative not being head there, he could not have taken over from him. BJP is the party which practices casteism." Mentioning reports regarding probe of his properties and cases of party leader Azam Khan, Akhilesh said, "This is not political behaviour."On two defence corridors being made in UP, Akhilesh said, "The scheme was started during the BSP regime and the Centre did not move ahead in this regard."Terming the state budget as disappointing, he said, "People have seen five budgets of the Centre and two budgets of the state government during BJP rule. Now, they will give reply to the BJP when the right time comes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today accused the BJP-led NDA government of "using and misusing" all agencies, including the Election Commission. Banerjee, while speaking to media on the issue of the leaked dates of the Karnataka polls, lashed out at the ruling party and said all institutions were being transformed into "BJP institutions". "All agencies are being used and misused. All institutions are becoming BJP institutions," Banerjee told reporters here. BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya today tweeted the date of the Karnataka Assembly polls before the Election Commission announced it, prompting the panel to describe the leak as a "very serious issue" that merited a probe and "stringent action". Banerjee, who is in Delhi to meet various leaders of opposition parties to form a front against the BJP, also attacked the ruling party for demonetisation and bank frauds. "I have travelled to all states, the issue of demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grass root level. Time has come for the BJP to pack its bags and go," she said. Banerjee will be leaving for Kolkata on Thrusday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former employee of turned whistleblower said today that the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress party during his evidence before a UK parliamentary committee investigating the issue of fake Christopher Wylie deposed before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) here amid an escalating row around alleged Facebook data breaches linked with the controversial UK-based company, which has also been linked with alleged attempts to influence elections in India. "When you look at Facebook's biggest market, India is the top in terms of numbers of users. Obviously, that's a country which is rife with political discord and opportunities for destabilisation," said Labour MP Paul Farrelly, member of the parliamentary committee, during his questioning. "They (Cambridge Analytica) worked extensively in India. They have an office in India," Wylie responded. "I believe their client was Congress, but I know that they have done all kinds of projects. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff there," the 28-year-old added, on being probed further. He offered to provide the committee "documentation" on India, which was welcomed by Farrelly, who said India was a country that did not need any added "tensions". During his evidence, Wylie also said that his predecessor, Dan Muresan, Head of Elections at SCL Group, had also been working in India before he died in Kenya under mysterious circumstances. He claimed to have heard stories that Muresan, a Romanian national, may have been poisoned in a hotel room while in the African country. Paul-Olivier Dehaye, co-founder of PersonalData.IO, a service that helps individuals regain control over their personal data, also giving evidence to the committee, added that he had heard reports that Muresan was being paid by an Indian billionaire who wanted Congress to lose elections. "So he was pretending to work for one party but actually paid underhand by someone else," said Dehaye. He added that it would be for Indian and Kenyan journalists to get together to investigate the matter further. At the start of Tuesday's session, it emerged that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has declined to appear before the committee amid an ongoing row over data breaches linked to the social media company. A summons letter had been sent to Zuckerberg by Damian Collins, the chair of DCMS. In a response to Collins, Facebook's head of public policy, Rebecca Stimson, said the company would be putting forward its chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, or its chief product officer, Chris Cox. "Facebook fully recognises the level of public and Parliamentary interest in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position to answer your questions," Stimson said. "As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the Committee," she said, adding that both men likely to step in report directly to Zuckerberg and are among the longest-serving senior representatives in Facebook's 15-year history. The DCMS, which is currently hearing oral evidence as part of its inquiry, is likely to hear from one of the Facebook executives after the Parliament's Easter recess, which ends on April 16. "We will seek to clarify from Facebook whether he (Zuckerberg) is available to give evidence or not because that wasn't clear from our correspondence. If he is available to give evidence then we would be happy to do that either in person or by video link if that would be more convenient for him," Collins said in a statement. Wylie has accused his former employer, Cambridge Analytica, of gathering the details of 50 million users on Facebook through a personality quiz in 2014. He alleges that because 270,000 people took the quiz, the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks. Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver material in favour of Donald Trump during the 2016 US presidential elections. He also criticised for running campaigns in "struggling democracies", which he called "an example of what modern-day colonialism looks like". "You have a wealthy company from a developed nation going into an economy or democracy that's still struggling to get its feet on the ground and taking advantage of that to profit from that," he told MPs. denies any of the data acquired was used as part of the services it provided to the Trump campaign. As the controversy continues to escalate, Zuckerberg took out full-page advertisements in several UK and US Sunday newspapers to apologise. "This was a breach of trust, and I am sorry," the back-page ads said. In an undercover report last week, Cambridge Analytica executives had been caught boasting that they, along with parent company Strategic Communications Laboratories, had worked in more than 200 elections around the world, including India, Nigeria, Kenya, the Czech Republic and Argentina. The recordings were made during a series of meetings at London hotels between November 2017 and January 2018. BJP seeks Rahul's apology over data firm whistleblower's claims The BJP on Tuesday cited a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the Congress and demanded an apology from its president Rahul Gandhi, saying he stood "exposed". Christopher Wylie, a former Analytica employee turned whistleblower, in a deposition before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in London said the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress. "The whistleblower has publicly confirmed that the Congress was indeed their client. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to divert attention. Today, he stands exposed. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters tonight. This vindicates what the BJP had been saying from day one, he said. "Cambridge Analytica is in the dock for data theft and trying to manipulate voters using unlawful means. Congress party needs to apologise to the nation for data theft and trying to manipulate voters. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica," he said. Prasad also dismissed the Congress' allegation that the BJP had used the firm's services, calling it a "pack of lies". State-owned IDBI Bank today said the CBI has registered cases in the two of the five complaints with regard to loans aggregating to Rs 772 crore for pisciculture. It said in a regulatory filing, the bank had sanctioned pisciculture loans during the period from FY2009 to FY2013 at a few branches of erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, these cases were parked in five branches -- Basheerbagh in Hyderabad, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Bhimavaram and Palangi. "It was later discovered that some of these loans (52 aggregators with principal outstanding of Rs 772 crore) were fraudulently obtained by some industrialists who stood as common guarantor for these loans and were referred to as aggregators, by submitting fake lease documents of non-existent fish ponds," the bank said. Further, the empanelled valuers also inflated the value of the collateral securities, it said. "CBI has recently registered the cases for two of the five complaints filed with them in respect of the branches at Basheerbagh and Guntur. "CBI is, however, yet to register the cases filed by IDBI Bank in respect of the remaining three branches at Rajahmundry, Bhimavaram and Palangi," the bank, while in a clarification to stock exchanges. The bank further said that it has already provided for these loans to the extent of 100 per cent and hence, there is no further impact of these accounts on the profitability / balance sheet of the bank. Bank continues to pursue all legal actions to recover the dues from these borrowers, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Special provisions will be made by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the modernisation of the state police force, a senior officer said here today. The announcement was made by Joint Secretary (MHA) Vivek Bhardwaj at the 4th Regional Workshop organised by the home ministry for effective implementation of the Umbrella Scheme for assistance to states to modernise their police forces at the police headquarters here. Special provisions for internal security, law and order, women security, availability of modern weapons, mobility of police forces, logistics support, upgradation of police wireless, the National Satellite Network, the CCTNS project and the e-prison project would be made under the scheme, a spokesman said. Further, the scheme would help maintain law and order, women and child security, the CCTNS project, mobility, infrastructure, FSL and telecommunication systems in Haryana, he added. Representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Rajasthan along with the Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata, the Directorate of Coordination Police Wireless, Delhi, attended the workshop, the spokesman said. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has released Rs 149.27 crore from the year 2009-10 to 2016-17 to strengthen Haryana Police, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's first experimental space lab is expected to fall back to Earth between March 31 and April 4 and should burn up in the atmosphere, space authorities said. Tiangong-1 has officially stopped sending data and entered its final phase of life on March 16, a statement issued yesterday by the China Manned Space Engineering Office said. The Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, is orbiting at an average height of about 216.2 kms, the announcement noted, but did not disclose any re-entry location. It is impossible to name the exact re-entry location at this stage, a Chinese aerospace expert told state-run 'Global Times'. The approximate re-entry location cannot be decided until the last two hours before it starts to fall based on international precedents, he said. The lab will likely enter the atmosphere between March 31 and April 4, according to Beijing Aerospace Control Centre and other agency estimates. The China Manned Space website will supply daily updates. Launched in September 2011, Tiangong-1 an experimental had a design life of two years. The heavenly vehicle successfully docked with the Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spacecraft and undertook a series of experiments. The lab completed its main missions following Shenzhou-10's return in June 2013. During its extended flight, Tiangong-1 conducted experiments in space technology, space-earth remote sensing and space exploration, the office said. China plans to finalise its space station to rival Mir, the Russian space station currently in orbit by 2022. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Christian man was killed during a scuffle between doctors and a patient's attendants at Services Hospital in Lahore. The incident took place late last night when Kiran Saleem, a Christian woman, went to see a gynecologist in the hospital. Police registered a murder case against 15 persons including five doctors of the Services Hospital. Kashif Shafique told police that he brought his pregnant wife Kiran to a lady doctor at gynaecology ward of the Services Hospital last night. "The doctor who was talking with someone on her cell phone asked a nurse to see her. My wife insisted to be seen by the lady doctor that ensued a verbal altercation between them. The dispute was however settled after the intervention of the medical staff present there," he said. Kiran was later admitted to the hospital because of her condition. After sometime, he alleged when he along with Kiran's brothers - Sunil Saleem and Anil Saleem - went to the ward to give food to her the on duty security guards and some doctors started hurling abuses at them that led to another scuffle. Sunil Saleem sustained critical injuries and lost his life before getting any medical aid. "My other brother-in-law and I also suffered injuries," he said. A guard also suffered injuries is stated to be in a critical condition at the hospital. Police official concerned Rahmatullah said the police have registered a case against Dr Salman, Dr Irfan, Dr Hasan and Dr Sahi and 11 others. "We are raising their whereabouts to arrest them," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coal handling activity of South West Port Limited at Mormugao Port faced a fresh hurdle after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) refused to give it the "Consent to Operate" in the absence of a valid environmental clearance, officials said. The firm, a venture of the JSW group, had applied to the GSPCB for consent to operate under the Air and Water Pollution (Control) Act for its berths 5A and 6A at MPT, some 40 kilometres from here. GSPCB chairman Ganesh Shetgaonkar told reporters today that the consent was refused as the environmental clearance given to the company in 2001 to operate at MPT was valid only for five years. After this, Shetgaonkar said, the firm needed to apply for fresh permissions from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The company had earlier faced action from the GSPCB in January this year after it handled coal in excess of stipulated limits. In January, the GSPCB had revoked the company's consent to operate after it had handled 10.112 million tonnes of coal/coke during the fiscal 2016-17 though it was permitted to handle only 4.125 million tonnes, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) was decommissioned today after 20 years of service. ICGS Bhikhaiji Cama was decommissioned in a traditional ceremony held at Chennai Port, a Defence release here said. The ceremony was presided over by Inspector General Rajan Bargotra, Commander Coast Guard Region East. During the ceremony, an impressive Guard of Honour was paraded and with the setting of the sun, the Coast Guard Ensign was hauled down on the ship for the last time, it said. Soon after, the 'Decommissioning Pennant,' which is equal to the ship's length was lowered, it said, adding, Commandant J G Varun Upadhya, the Commanding Officer of the ship, supervised the final ceremony. ICGS Bhikhaiji Cama, the fourth ship in the Priyadarshini class of Fast Patrol Vessels of Indian Coast Guard, has served the nation for more than 20 years. During her lifespan, ICGS Bhikhaiji Cama sailed for 2586 days at sea and had covered a total distance of 2,46,937 nautical miles, it said. She participated in various missions and saved 85 valuable lives in eight search and rescue operations, apprehended 10 foreign fishing vessels and 131 crew responsible for poaching in Indian EEZ and evacuated 137 personnel during Tsunami relief operations, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress has had no truck with Cambridge Analytica, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asserted today and accused Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad of "lying" to divert the agenda after he cited a whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the opposition party. Surjewala used the statement of an Indian citizen, who was a partner in OBI, the Indian arm of Cambridge Analytica, that the controversial firm was hired by an NRI using undisclosed funds to bring down the Congress government, and asked whether Prasad believed more in a foreign citizen than an Indian. He also dared the Law Minister to answer questions posed at him and whether he would lodge a case against Facebook, OBI and Cambridge Analytica for the truth to come out. A former employee of Cambridge Analytica turned whistleblower, Christopher Wylie, deposed before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) in London today and said that the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress party "The Congress has had no truck with Cambridge Analytica ever or have we ever hired its services. But BJP needs to answer, who was this NRI business person who hired Cambridge Analytica in the run-up to 2014 polls to manufacture false surveys, to ask leading questions and to bring down the Congress Government?" he asked. Surjewala said the Law Minister and the Modi Government refuse to answer these questions and "they only want to divert the agenda". The Congress leader said they had challenged them to lodge an FIR against Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, their partner firm in India, but asked, "Why has the Law Minister not done so. Why is he perpetually lying." "Lies, lies and lies is the only way forward for the Modi Government," he alleged, saying there is a 'No Confidence Motion' pending consideration, which the Modi government is desperately trying to avoid. It is preposterous to even assume that a company that was being used by an NRI businessman from undisclosed funds to bring down and spread canards against the Congress UPA government in 2014, would be used by the Congress party, he said. Surjewala said Prasad did not deny when a categorical question was asked whether or not he knows that an NRI business person was used to hatch a conspiracy against the Congress in 2014 elections and he did not deny. He alleged that privacy is being infringed on a daily basis, yet the Law Minister "continues to lie". "We want to show him the mirror of truth and ask him that the same whistleblower that he continues to quote, who does not know whether or not a political party used Cambridge Analytica," he said. The BJP today cited a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the Congress and demanded an apology from its president Rahul Gandhi, saying he stood "exposed". "The whistleblower has publicly confirmed that the Congress was indeed their client. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to divert attention. Today, he stands exposed. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters tonight. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today opposed the Centres plan to relax the Restricted Area Permit(RAP) regime in Arunachal Pradesh and urged Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra to intervene as the state shares borders with three foreign countries. "Arunachal is a very sensitive border state with China claiming its territory. The recent incident of road construction by China inside the Indian territory at Tuting in Upper Siang district speaks volume of the states sensitiveness," the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee said in a memorandum submitted to the governor. "In such a sensitive situation if tourists are allowed to move freely in the state and the border areas it will create a vulnerable situation. There is every apprehension of spying in the sensitive border areas if RAP is relaxed in the state," the APCC memorandum said. The union home ministry is examining whether to relax the six-decade-old Restricted Area Permit regime, under which foreigners must obtain a special permission to visit Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and parts Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir among others, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Sunday. Stating that the indigenous local people had suffered a lot during the 1962 Chinese aggression, it said the then Jawaharlal Nehru government took prompt and necessary measures for which the could be re-settled. "The people of Arunachal will never accept and allow free movement of any foreigners, even Indian citizens along the sensitive border areas," the APCC said. The state, earlier called the North East Frontier Agency, had various regulations passed to protect the area and its indigenous tribal people according to Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873 which clearly stated that the area is a protected zone. The memorandum said that the Panchsheel Treaty was signed with China (in 1954) to protect the tribals' rights and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system was introduced to protect and safeguard the life and property of the indigenous people of the state. "Since then the state is under the Inner Line Permit system and even Indian citizens from the rest of the country cannot enter the state without ILP," the party said. Under the Foreigners Protected Areas Order 1958 all areas falling between the inner line and international border of the state have been declared protected area which is applicable to entire Arunachal Pradesh and other sensitive border states, the memorandum added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today poked fun at Amit Shah saying it agreed with his description of Karnataka's Yeddyurappa government as "number one" in corruption in a gleeful reference to a gaffe made by the BJP president when he sought to mention Siddaramaiah but named his party's former chief minister instead. Congress social media in-charge Divya Spandana Ramya went to town on Twitter over Shah's comment at a press conference earlier today in Karnataka. "Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth - we all concur with you Amit ji B S Yeddyurappa is the most corrupt!," she tweeted. In another tweet, Ramya said this was not the first time Shah had expressed such feelings towards Yeddyurappa. Shah had said, addressing the media, "A Supreme Court retired judge has said that if a comparison is made on corruption, then the Yeddyurappa government would get the number one award." Former BJP Karnataka chief Prahlad Joshi, also present at the conference, sought to nudge him by naming Siddharamaiah, the Congress chief minister in the state, and Shah promptly corrected himself. "Er...Siddaramaiah government will be given the number one award," Shah said. Shah is campaigning for his party in Karnataka for the May 12 Assembly elections, in which the BJP seeks to upstage the Congress. The BJP has already put its weight behind Lingayat leader Yeddyurappa by projecting him as its chief ministerial candidate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Prakash Javadekar, the BJP's in-charge for Karnataka polls, today claimed the Congress will "disappear" from the state like it has from other parts of the country and accused the Siddaramaiah government of being "anti-farmer and anti-poor". On a day the Election Commission announced May 12 as the polling date in the state, Javadekar claimed that the people there are eager to throw out the Congress government due to its "divide and rule policy". "The BJP is confident of a victory. Their game is divide and rule. They are anti-poor and anti-farmers. People don't appreciate such policies. The Congress will disappear from the state as it has from other parts of the country" he told reporters. He also claimed that the state government had wanted to take over properties of mutts in the state which, he said, was a display of its "anti-Hindu" character. Javadekar also took a dig at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his visits to shrines and holy places, saying people understand who is a real devotee and "whose rounds of temples are driven by elections". He said farm distress, lawlessness and lack of development in the state were the main poll issues. The 224-member state assembly will go to the polls on May 12 and the counting of votes is on May 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dalit activists today staged a protest against the Supreme Court's order diluting a law on atrocities against dalits and tribals. Led by Valmiki leader Dharamvir Sethi, the protesters burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gave a call for a strike in Phagwara on April 2 in protest against the dilution of the Act, the police said. The protesters first assembled at Valmiki Chowk in Bansawala bazaar, the police said, adding that after passing through city bazaars, they converged at National Highway 1. After holding a demonstration there and raising slogans against the BJP-led NDA government, they set ablaze the prime minister's effigy. Addressing the protesters, senior Valmiki community leaders Dharamvir Sethi and Satish Salhotra alleged that the Modi government was anti-dalit. "By letting the provisions of the Act diluted, the Modi government wanted to subject dalits to more atrocities," one of the protesters alleged. "We will not allow it to happen. We will fight tooth and nail against it. Phagwara will observe complete Bandh on April 2 to protest dilution of SC/ST Act," the protester said. A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court took note of the rampant misuse of the stringent Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against government servants and held that there shall be no immediate arrest on any complaint filed under the law. Before arresting a public servant under the Act, a preliminary probe by an officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent is a must, the court said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan today alleged that data collected through an application of the Maharashtra government's information and public relations department was being transferred to a private trust, with the state government refuting the claims. The application is headed by the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) which disseminates information to print and electronic media about government policies. The trust, called Anulom, was started by oneAtul Vazewith the "blessings" of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chavan claimed in the Legislative Assembly here today. Chavan's allegation came on a day the Election Commission said that it will look into allegations of harnessing user data through mobile apps of political parties and personalities. Recently, Fadnavis felicitated active social media users called Mahamitras, who were chosen based on their activities on social media, their followers on Twitter, friends on Facebook, likes and contacts etc. "These Mahamitras are being used to win over people's minds and their votes. All data collected goes to a private trust called 'Anulom', which was founded by Atul Vaze with the blessings of the chief minister," Chavan said. An app launched with government funds sends data to a private trust, which is a supporter of Fadnavis, the Congress leader said, and sought to know if the BJP-led government had signed any MoU with the trust. "What is being done is sociological micro targeting and weaponisation of data," Chavan said. "Data is being collected without consent of the user. This amounts to violation of privacy," he said. Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde asked the government to check whether the state funds were used for data collection. Chavan later told reporters outside the House that the server of Anulom was based in Germany. "Data of anyone who clicks on 'Mahamitra' appgoes to the Anulom trust. Details of the social media app, photos and phone record details of the users go to this trust. This is just like how the NaMo app is used for political purpose," he alleged. Refuting Chavan's allegations, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil said no information had been shared with any private entity, especially Anulom. "A total of 84,000 youths had participated in the Mahamitra initiative. The only information collected from them was mobile numbers and e-mails. No private information had been sought and nor was it given to any private party," Patil told the Assembly. The minister also rejected allegations of connections between Mahamitra and Anulom apps, claiming that the two were completely different. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi Congress delegation today met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and demanded shifting of a proposed landfill site at Geeta Colony in east Delhi to somewhere else. Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken claimed after the meeting that Baijal has accepted the demand. "The Lt. Governor accepted our suggestion and ordered the shifting of the proposed landfill site from Geeta Colony," he claimed. The Congress leaders said that they were protesting setting up of the landfill site at Geeta Colony as the land for it was situated close to residential areas and the Yamuna riverbed. The LG agreed that no landfill site should be constructed in the middle of a thickly-populated area, which will not only be a serious health hazard for the residents of the area but also contribute to air pollution, Maken said. He said that the land was meant for construction of a hospital according to the Master Plan but it was later identified for use as a landfill site. Maken alleged that solid waste segregation norms are not followed in the capital which was reason behind problems of disposal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air New Zealand said today that a drone came within meters of a flight descending into Auckland Airport from Tokyo, putting the safety of 278 passengers and crew at risk. After yesterday's incident, the national carrier is calling for prison terms for drone operators who endanger lives. Air New Zealand said the pilots of Flight NZ92 spotted the drone about 5 meters (16.4 feet) from their Boeing 777-200 at a point in their descent when it was impossible to take evasive action. The airline said the drone passed so close that the crew worried it had been sucked into an engine, although a later inspection showed that hadn't happened. "It's clear the time has now come for tougher deterrents for reckless drone use around airports to safeguard travelers," David Morgan, the airline's chief operations and integrity standards officer, said in a statement. He called for penalties to be imposed more consistently and also called for better education around drones. The airline said it was the second example of reckless drone use this month, after an Air New Zealand pilot reported the presence of a drone within controlled airspace on March 6 at Auckland Airport. That incident prompted the airport to halt all flights for 30 minutes. Under current regulations, drone operators who breach aviation rules can be fined up to 5,000 New Zealand dollars ($3,600). New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority said it supported the airline's call for better education, and that a government-led group was considering new drone regulations. "There is no excuse for anyone flying a drone near an airport without authorization or in the flight path of aircraft," Graeme Harris, the director of civil aviation, said in a statement. "Such action is highly irresponsible and is the height of stupidity." Harris said New Zealand was not alone in trying to grapple with a rapid rise in the use of drones in its skies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party today alleged that the Election Commission was working "one-sided in favour of the BJP", hours after the saffron party's IT cell chief announced the Karnataka Assembly polls date in a tweet before an official declaration. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party also demanded a probe into BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya's tweet. "The way EC is working one-sided in favour of the BJP, this has not happened in its history," Sanjay Singh, AAP MP and spokesperson said. "The EC has become BJP's institution and its subordinate," he alleged. Ahead of the official announcement by Election Commission, Malviya had tweeted that voting would be held on May 12 and the counting on May 18. He was correct about the day of the voting, but got the counting date wrong. The counting would be held on May 15. The Election Commission has set up a committee to probe the leak. AAP's fresh attack on the poll panel comes nearly a week after the Delhi High Court set aside the Election Commission's order to disqualify 20 party MLAs for allegedly holding offices of profit. Suggesting that all parties should unite over the issue, Singh said AAP will approach all the opposition parties to stop the "BJP from doing whatever it wants". "All opposition parties should come together to oppose the dictatorial tendencies of the BJP government," Singh said. Questioning the decisions of the Election Commission in the case of deferring the assembly elections in Gujarat and disqualification of AAP MLA's, senior AAP leader Ashutosh claimed, "The EC is working at the behest of the BJP". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egyptians were voting today on the second day of the presidential election which is set to deliver an easy win for incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who is firmly in power since 2013 in the largest Arab nation. There are few doubts that President Sisi, 63, will win a second term after most challengers withdrew. The only other candidate is the little-known centrist politician and al Ghad party chief Moussa Mostafa Moussa. The first day of the three-day election witnessed a remarkable turnout across the Egyptian governorates, Chief of the Egyptian cabinet's operation room Ali Haridi was quoted as saying by the state-run agency MENA. Army and security troops were deployed across the country to secure the polling stations, while delegates of the two presidential candidates are employed in the polling stations to ensure the safety of ballot boxes. The Cabinet's central operations room opened early today to follow up the voting process in the Egyptian governorates. The room is contacting governors through video conference to receive any updates about the voting process. The governorates of Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Sharqia and North Sinai witnessed a high turnout on the first day of election, the National Elections Authority (NEA) spokesman Mahmoud el-Sherif said. Sisi overthrew Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in 2013 following mass protests against his rule. He then won a landslide in the 2014 presidential election. About 60 million people are eligible to vote in the election spread over March 26, 27 and 28. There are 13,687 polling stations across Egypt. The result is expected to be announced on April 2. President Sisi's rival Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a longtime supporter of the president, emerged as a last-minute challenger. The interior ministry also launched a hotline to receive calls from old people who want to cast their votes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union has given Facebook two weeks to answer questions raised by the scandal over personal data harvested from the social network, according to extracts of a letter obtained today. The letter EU's justice commissioner Vera Jourova sent Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg also asks what steps the firm plans to take to prevent a similar scandal in the future. "I would appreciate a reply in the next two weeks," the letter said. "Have any data of EU citizens been affected by the recent scandal?" Jourova wrote, listing one of the five key questions. "If this is the case, how do you intend to inform the authorities and users about it?" Jourova asked. Jourova asked whether stricter rules were needed for social media platforms as exist for traditional media and whether it would change its approach on transparency toward users and regulators. At their summit in Brussels last week, the leaders of the 28-nation EU discussed the misuse of Facebook data by British firm Cambridge Analytica, which played a role in US President Donald Trump's election campaign. "Social networks and digital platforms need to guarantee transparent practices and full protection of citizens' privacy and personal data," the summit statement said. "EU and national legislation must be respected and enforced." EU leaders will further discuss the data privacy issue at a summit in the Bulgarian capital Sofia in May, it added. European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has also invited Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to address the elected body about its concerns. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government has warned all private schools in the national capital against asking for the Aadhaar number of children while admitting them in entry level classes under the economically weaker section or the disadvantaged group categories and refusing admission to such students on the grounds of distance range. "Private unaided recognised schools are once directed to ensure and facilitate the admission of the selected candidates of EWS/DG Category in the respective class without creating any hindrance," the Directorate of (DoE) said in a letter to the schools. "The schools should not ask for Aadhaar number of the children and income certificate from those EWS category parents who submit copy of BPL/Food Security Card issued by Food and Civil Supply Department," it said. The department has also warned schools against demanding any school fees and denying admission to students under the EWS/DG category either on grounds of distance range or on pretext of minor spelling errors. The schools have been asked to set up help desks for parents reporting for admission and deal with the parents sympathetically and politely. "The department is going to constitute teams (district-wise) to conduct inspection of the private unaided recognised schools for ensuring the admission of EWS/DG category candidates in accordance with the instructions/directions issued," the DoE letter said. While those belonging to families with annual income less than Rs 1 lakh can seek admission under the economically weaker section (EWS) category, the disadvantaged group (DG) category applicants include -- the SC, ST, OBC, non-creamy layer, physically challenged, orphan and transgender, and all children living with or affected by HIV. A total of 25 per cent seats are supposed to be reserved in all schools for the two categories. The application process for the two categories began on January 22 and concluded on February 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Federal Trade Commission has confirmed that Facebook is under investigation into its privacy practices, amidst allegations that its connection with British company Cambridge Analytica resulted in misuse of personal data of some 50 million users. The FTC, in a statement yesterday, confirmed that it has an "open non-public investigation" into Facebook's privacy practices. "FTC takes very seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook, said Tom Pahl," FTC's Acting Director in the Bureau of Consumer Protection said. Pahl said the FTC is firmly and fully committed to using all of its tools to protect the privacy of consumers. "Foremost among these tools is enforcement action against companies that fail to honour their privacy promises, including to comply with Privacy Shield, or that engage in unfair acts that cause substantial injury to consumers in violation of the FTC Act," the statement said. "Companies who have settled previous FTC actions must also comply with FTC order provisions imposing privacy and data security requirements," it said. In a related development, attorney generals of as many as 37 states yesterday sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling for answers to reports that millions of Facebook users personal data was provided to third parties without their knowledge or informed consent. In the letter, the attorney generals demand to know about Facebook's role in the manipulation of users data by Cambridge Analytica without those users' knowledge as well as Facebook's policies and procedures for protecting users private data. The letter requests that Facebook produce information regarding their business practices and safeguards to protect users' privacy. Signatories to the letter, among others, includes New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S Grewal. Early reports indicate that user data of at least 50 million Facebook profiles may have been misused and misappropriated by third-party software developers, the letter said. "According to these reports, Facebook's previous policies allowed developers to access the personal data of "friends" of people who used applications on the platform, without the knowledge or express consent of those "friends"," the attorney generals said. It has also been reported that while providing other developers access to personal Facebook user data, Facebook took as much as 30 per cent of payments made through the developers' applications by Facebook users, they said. "Facebook apparently contends that this incident of harvesting tens of millions of profiles was not the result of a technical data breach; however, the reports allege that Facebook allowed third parties to obtain personal data of users who never authorised it, and relied on terms of service and settings that were confusing and perhaps misleading to its users," the letter said. These revelations raise many serious questions concerning Facebook's policies and practices, and the processes in place to ensure they are followed, they said. According to the attorney general, even with the changes Facebook has made in recent years, many users still don't know that their profile and personal data is available to third-party vendors. "Facebook has made promises about users privacy in the past, and we need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken," the letter said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's national cyber security agency has cautioned internet users about lurking data thieves and advised them against sharing details such as their vote preferences and Aadhaar details over social media platforms and mobile applications. As the debate over Facebook data breach disclosure intensifies, the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) has issued an advisory asking Facebook and all other social media users to "not share their personally identifiable information (PII) on these sites or mobile applications". CERT-In is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and fortifying security-related defences of the country's internet domain. "Social media users should not share official data or personal secrets on social media messaging platforms. They should never share details like their vote preferences, PIN, passwords, credit card details, banking details, passport information, Aadhaar card and all those details which are meant to be kept as a secret for personal safety and security," the advisory accessed by PTI said. The agency specified that the advisory was being issued for internet and social media users in the country in the backdrop of the recent Facebook data compromise incident. "Facebook admitted that there had been a data breach as the personal data tracked was used by various external parties for unauthorised activities. "In the wake of this development, users are advised to take diligent measures to safeguard their personal data," it said. The Ministry of Information and Technology had last week asked UK-based Cambridge Analytica - the firm at the centre of the date breach scandal--to furnish a list of clients and the source of data it had collected from India. The notice came after reports suggested that political parties had used the data analytics firm for furthering their poll prospects. CERT-In said users of cyberspace should follow best practices such as not posting private information and non-disclosure of an individual's location. "Facebook being part of a public network could allow easy access to information which should not be disclosed," it said. Suggesting some more dos and don'ts, the advisory asked users to immediately approach the help desk of the concerned social media platform in case of a data breach incident, and also lodge a complaint with the cyber wing of the police. It asked netizens to not allow unknown/untrusted applications to access their Facebook account and be diligent in giving permission to third party apps that can access public profile, which includes name, profile pictures, username, user ID (account number), friends list, gender, age range and locale. "Do not open the messages/images received from untrusted sources or received unexpectedly from trusted sources. Use strong account-specific passwords and a mix of different types of characters to make the password harder to crack," it suggested. The advisory also asked the users to "close" unused accounts as they could be compromised without their knowledge. "Assess the applications being used in your mobile devices or browsers as most of the applications either use Facebook or Google to sign in. "Also, keep all mobile apps updated along with regularly updating the security settings on social networks," it said. Union Law and Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently warned social media giant Facebook of stringent action for any attempt to influence polls through data theft. He had even threatened to summon its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cautioning internet users against online data thieves in the wake of the recent Facebook data breach revelations, the Indian cyber security agency has advised them to desist from sharing their vote preferences and Aadhaar details on social media platforms. TheComputer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In), the country's nodal agency to combat hacking and phishing and mandated to fortify the country's internet domain security, has issued an advisory asking Facebookand other social media users "not to share their personally identifiable information (PII) or personal information (PI) on these sites or apps (mobile applications)." "Users should not share official data or personal secrets on social media messaging platforms," said CERT-In. "The social media users should never share details like their vote preferences, PIN, passwords, credit card details, banking details, passport details, Aadhaar card details and all other details which are meant to be kept secret for personal safety and security," said the CERT-In advisory accessed by PTI. The CERT-In specified that the advisory was being issued for the internet and social media users in the country in the backdrop of the recent Facebook users' data compromises. "Facebook admitted there has been a data breach as the personal data tracked was used by various external parties for unauthorised activities. "In the wake of this development, the users are advised to take diligent measures to safeguard their personal data," it said. The Information and Technology Ministry has last week asked Cambridge Analytica, the firm allegedly at the centre of Facebook data breach scandal, to furnish a list of clients and the source of data it had collected from India. The notice came after reports that political parties had used the data analytics firm during elections. The cyber security sleuths' organisation said the users of the cyberspace should stick to the "best practices" like non-posting of private information and non-disclosure of an individual's location. "Facebook being part of a public network could allow easy access to information which should not be disclosed," it said. The advisory also suggested some more dos and don'ts and advised the users that in case of a data breach, they should immediately approach the help desk of the concerned social media platform and also lodge a complaint with the cyber wing of the police. It suggested social media users against letting unknown or unverified applications access their Facebook account. It also asked them to be diligent in giving permission to the third party apps that can access their public profile which includes name, profile pictures, username, user ID (account number), friends list, gender, age range and location. "Do not open messages/images received from untrusted sources or received unexpectedly from trusted sources and use strong account-specific passwords, usea mix of different types of characters to make the password harder to crack," it suggested. It advised that internet users should "close" dormant accounts as they could be compromised without the users knowledge. "Assess the applications being used in your mobile devices or browsers as mostof the applications either use Facebook or Google to sign in. "Also, keep all the mobile apps updated and update the security settings on social networks regularly," it said. The IT ministry notice to the overseas data analytics firm had come days after Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad warned the social media giant Facebook of stringent action for any attempt to influence polls through data theft. Prasad had even threatened to summon its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, if needed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five people were killed when a fire broke out in a camp housing thousands displaced by Boko Haram violence near the Nigerian border with Cameroon, military and civilian sources said. The incident happened yesterday in a camp for around 55,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) in the town of Rann, 175 kilometres (105 miles) east of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, they said. "There was a fire outbreak in the IDP camp... which killed five people, three women and two children," a senior military officer in the town said. Several people suffered burns, dozens of livestock were lost and around 200 makeshift tents were destroyed, the officer said. A civilian guard assisting the military in the town said the blaze was caused by flying embers from open fires. "The fire started in the morning while residents of the camp were making breakfast in the open and the morning breeze carried some splinters to the shelters," the militiaman, Kaka Ari, told AFP. Rann, where nearly 80,000 people are living with the help of international aid agencies, has been vulnerable to attacks from Boko Haram. On March 1, heavily-armed Boko Haram fighters killed three aid workers and abducted a female nurse, prompting aid agencies to suspend operations. In January 2017, a botched Nigerian air strike intended to hit jihadist fighters killed at least 112 people as aid workers distributed food. The Boko Haram insurgency which began in 2009 has claimed at least 20,000 lives and forced some 2.6 million to flee their homes, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Swedish luxury watch brand GoS today announced its foray in India and has appointed Excedo Luxuria, a luxury brand distributor, to retail its watches in the country. Excedo has exclusive marketing and distribution rights for the GoS brand across the Indian subcontinent. "GoS is a niche luxury brand in the design-driven category of sophisticated watches from Sweden and offers an exclusive selection of timepieces designed by a renowned watchmaker," Excedo co-founder Rahul Kapoor said. The company's 80 per cent production is exported outside Europe, mainly to the US, China and the Middle East. The partnership establishes Excedo as the exclusive retail store and online partner for GoS watches in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Telangana government is taking steps to prevent scarcity of drinking water in Hyderabad during this summer season, state Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao said today. Rao held a meeting here with city officials on supply of drinking water, a state government release said. Adequate water supply is taking place from Godavari and Krishna rivers and the city water board has increased its capacity by 100 mld compared to last year, the release quoted him as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh over a probe into allegations against a US-based firm responsible for water supply projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore in Assam and claimed that the pace of investigations had slowed after the BJP government came to power in the state. Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, in his letter to Singh, demanded a speedy probe by the CBI and claimed that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, as BJP's state chief, had levelled allegations against a politician, who later joined the BJP and became a minister. "The allegations of corruption between the officials of the Guwahati Metropolitan Developmental Authority (GMDA) and Louis Berger (US-based firm) are a matter of concern and demand speedy investigation," Gogoi wrote in his letter. "The Assam government had initiated an investigation by the CID in 2015. Yet after the new government came to power in 2016, the CID investigation has gone slow and they failed to update the Gauhati High Court on many occasions. The high court finally handed over the investigation to the CBI in 2017 after stating that the CID is acting in a partisan manner," he said. Gaurav Gogoi told PTI, "There has been remarkable change in the pace of investigation after the new government came into power in Assam. It is getting slow day by day." He said the investigation in a similar case in Goa has seen considerable progress and there should be no reason for the slow pace of investigation in the Assam case. Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Himanta Biswa Sarma, then a Congress leader and minister for Guwahati Development Department under which GMDA functions, blame each other for giving the contract to Louis Berger. Sarma switched over to the BJP in 2015 to eventually become a minister in the Sonowal government. Gaurav Gogoi claimed that the probe, now under the purview of the CBI, has still not picked up pace. "The US-based firm had pleaded guilty before a New Jersey court to allegations that it had paid bribes to the governments of Assam and Goa to secure contracts as consultants in water supply projects. "The fact that Gauhati High Court had to transfer the case from the CID to the CBI in 2017 is all the more alarming. This is against the 'Na Khaoonga, Na Khaane Doonga' slogan of the Government of India. I urge to enquire into this case and seek a status update," he wrote in the letter to Singh. The case dates back to July 2015 when the US department of justice under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey-based Louis Berger. The case involved water management projects in Assam and Goa. Soon after the US lawsuit, a man named Bhaben Handique filed a police case in Guwahati alleging Louis Berger had paid Rs 6 crore to Assam officials and politicians to secure a water supply project in Assam worth Rs 1,452 crore. The GMDA had awarded Louis Berger a contract in 2010 to manage three water supply projects. These projects, are funded by Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency. The case was handed over to the CID, but Handique went to the high court seeking a CBI probe as he felt the state agency was trying to shield influential people involved. The court later ordered a CBI investigation. A 40-page FIR was filed by the CBI in New Delhi on October 4, 2017, against unnamed officials of GMDA and Louis Berger. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GST collections slid for the second straight month to Rs 85,174 crore in February as only 69 per cent of the assessees filed returns. Around 59.51 lakh GSTR 3B returns were filed for February. This is 69 per cent of the total taxpayers who are required to file the monthly returns, the finance ministry said in a statement. "The total revenue received under GST for the month of February 2018 (received up to March 26) has been Rs 85,174 crore," it said. The collection in January was Rs 86,318 crore, while in December and November it was Rs 88,929 crore and Rs 83,716 crore. Till March 25, 1.05 crore taxpayers had been registered under GST. Of these, 18.17 lakh are composition dealers who are required to file returns every quarter and the rest, 86.37 lakh, are required to file returns every month. Of the Rs 85,174 crore GST collected for February, Rs 14,945 crore has been garnered as Central GST and Rs 20,456 crore as State GST. Besides, Rs 42,456 crore has been collected as Integrated GST and Rs 7,317 crore as compensation cess. A total amount of Rs 25,564 crore is being transferred from IGST to CGST/SGST account by way of settlement. "Thus, the total collection of CGST and SGST up to 26th March (for February) is Rs 27,085 crore and Rs 33,880 crore respectively, including transfers by way of settlement," the statement added. According to a finance ministry reply to the Lok Sabha, GST collections were Rs 93,590 crore in July, Rs 93,029 crore in August, Rs 95,132 crore in September and Rs 85,931 crore in October. EY Partner Abhishek Jain said the next big hope for the government would be the introduction of e-way bills with effect from April 1, which may provide a boost to GST collections. After the e-way bill roll out, transporters of goods worth over Rs 50,000 will have to generate an e-way bill. The e-way bill, which would be required to be presented to a GST inspector if asked for, is being touted as an anti-evasion measure and would help boost tax collections by clamping down on trade that currently happens on cash basis. Deloitte India Partner M S Mani said the declining mop up would lead to several anti-evasion measures over and above the imminent e-way bill launch. "We should now expect the relaunch of reverse charge on transactions with unregistered dealers, invoice matching, more return scrutiny etc," Mani added. Meanwhile, the ministry tweeted that its followers on twitter has crossed one million mark. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a rare political compromise, the Congress today withdrew its no-confidence motion against Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi while the House, in which the BJP is in majority, reduced the suspension period of three Congress MLAs. The MLAs will now remain suspended till the end of the budget session tomorrow instead of for varying terms prescribed by the speaker on March 14. Amrish Der and Pratap Dudhat were suspended for a period of three years while Baldevji Thakor for one year for indulging in violence in the House. The no-confidence motion, admitted by the 182-member House on March 22, was supposed to come up for discussion and voting on or before March 28, the last day of the session. Congress leader Shailesh Parmar had filed the no-trust motion application on February 28 with the Assembly secretariat, stating that Trivedi was "acting in a biased manner in favour of the ruling BJP". Parmar, also Deputy Leader of Opposition, withdrew the motion today after seeking permission of the House. Reciprocating the gesture, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel urged the Assembly to allow curtailing of the suspension period of the three Congress MLAs. Patel then moved a motion proposing that the suspension period of the three legislators be till the end of this budget session only, i.e. March 28. The motion was passed unanimously. BJP MLA Jagdish Panchal, who had allegedly hurled verbal abuses at Dudhat and Der on March 14, tendered an apology in the House for his behaviour. Panchal, however, maintained that he never used any abusive or unparliamentary words during the ruckus. To this, Parmar assured the House that Der, Dudhat and Thakor would also tender apologies during the monsoon session of the Assembly. Speaker Trivedi thanked Parmar for withdrawing the no-trust motion against him. Commenting on the Congress' allegation that he had acted in a biased manner, Trivedi maintained that reality was totally different. "I always acted in a neutral way. I have the data to prove that I have given more opportunities to the opposition members than the ruling fold to put forward their questions," Trivedi said after announcing that Patel's motion was approved by the House. Given the numerical strength of the BJP (99) and the Congress (77) in the House, the no-confidence motion against the speaker would have been defeated if it were put to vote. According to sources, backdoor discussions were on between the BJP and the Congress since Der, Dudhat, and Thakor were placed under suspension. During such discussions, Congress floor leaders had proposed that they would think of withdrawing the no-trust motion against the speaker if the BJP curtailed the suspension period of the MLAs, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court has directed the DMRC, which has to pay Rs 5,164.79 crore to Reliance Infrastructure's (Rinfra) subsidiary DAMEPL as per an arbitral award, to settle the immediate amount the private company owes the banks for the Airport metro line project, so that its accounts are not termed non-performing assets. Justice Vibhu Bakhru asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to ascertain what is the immediate amount that DAMEPL has to pay to the 11 banks and to make the payment before March 28. The court said that the accounts of Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Ltd (DAMEPL) in the 11 banks cannot be allowed to become non-performing assets (NPAs) despite having an arbitral award in its favour. The direction came on an interim plea by DAMEPL claiming it has to pay over Rs 1,882 crore to the banks to prevent its accounts with them from being categorised as NPAs. According to DAMEPL's plea, the 11 banks to whom immediate payments have to be made are -- Axis Bank, UCO Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, Andhra Bank, Central Bank of India, Dena Bank, Allahabad Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of India, IIFC UK and Canara Bank London. The interim plea was raised by the company in its petition seeking enforcement of an an arbitral award of Rs 5,164.79 crore, including interest of over Rs 2,000 crore, granted in its favour by a tribunal in connection with the Airport Express premium corridor. The award was upheld by the high court which on March 6 had given DMRC four weeks time to pay the amount. DMRC, on the other hand, had contended that the immediate need of the company to service the debt was only around Rs 186.76 crore and not Rs 1,882 crore as claimed by DAMEPL. Taking note of the stand taken by DMRC, the court directed it to send its officials to all the banks to ascertain "the immediate amount required to avoid the petitioner's (DAMEPL) account with the bank concerned to be classified as a NPA and if the account has already been classified as such, the minimum amount necessary to be paid to thebank for the account to be removed from the category of the NPA". "DMRC shall ensure that the amounts so ascertained are paid to the credit of the petitioner on or before March 28," the court added. On March 6, while dismissing DMRC's plea against the Arbitral Tribunal's May, 2017 order asking it to make payments to DAMEPL, the court had allowed a separate plea of the Rinfra subsidiary for an early payment of 75 per cent of the arbitral award in its favour. According to the DAMEPL's earlier plea, the concession agreement was signed by the two parties on August 25, 2008. Under the agreement, DMRC was to carry out the civil works, excluding at the depot, and the balance, including the project system works, were to be executed by DAMEPL. The Airport Express line was commissioned on February 23, 2011 after an investment of Rs 2,885 crore, funded by the DAMEPL's promoters' fund, banks and financial institutions. DAMEPL had said it had terminated the concession agreement as DMRC had not cured certain defects in the Airport Express line within 90 days of a notice issued by it. It had also said the agreement had come to effect from January 1, 2013 and the project was handed over to DMRC on June 30, 2013. Till the handing over of the project, DAMEPL had operated the line as a deemed agent of DMRC, it had said. The arbitration was entered into in August, 2013 after efforts to amicably resolve the issue did not yield any result. DAMEPL is a joint venture of Rinfra and a Spanish construction company -- Construcciones Y Auxiliar De Ferrocarriles -- with a shareholding of 95 and five per cent respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following are the top at 1730 hours: NATION: DEL27 KARNATAKA-LD POLLKar goes to polls on May 12, BJP eyes last Cong fortressNew Delhi: The Election Commission today announced that the Karnataka Assembly polls will be held on May 12, beginning the countdown to the crucial electoral battle that will decide whether BJP's juggernaut will breach the last major Congress fortress. DEL22 INDOPAK-IWT-MEET India, Pakistan to hold Permanent Indus Commission meet from Thursday New Delhi: India and Pakistan will hold a two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission here from Thursday to discuss various issues under the Indus Waters Treaty, sources said today. DEL25 MEA-SWARAJ-JAPAN Swaraj to visit Japan for strategic dialogue New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a three-day visit to Japan starting tomorrow during which she will co-chair the strategic dialogue with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and review the entire gamut of bilateral ties. DEL28 LD PARLIAMENT RS, LS adjourned as noisy protests continue New Delhi: The second leg of the budget session of Parliament seemed to be heading for a washout as both the Houses failed to transact any business on the 16th straight day today due to adjournments forced by noisy protests by some parties. DEL31 EC-MALVIYA-BJP Malviya's poll date tweet based on channel report: BJP to EC New Delhi: The BJP today told the Election Commission that its IT cell chief Amit Malviya's tweet on the Karnataka Assembly election dates before the poll panel's announcement was based on a channel's report and a state Congress office-bearer had also tweeted about it. CAL3 WB-RANIGANJ-RAM NAVAMI Ram Navami violence: Heavy police force deployed in Raniganj Raniganj (WB): Heavy police force was deployed today in the Raniganj area of Bardhaman West district, a day after clashes broke out between two groups over a Ram Navami procession, killing one person and injuring two police officers, a district official said. BOM1 GJ-GIRL-KIDNAP-BODY 5-yr-old kidnapped from Maha, found dead in a toilet in Guj Ahmedabad/Palghar: A five-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified woman from Palghar district in Maharashtra and was later found dead in a toilet at Navsari railway station in Gujarat, the police said today. MDS2 KA-SHAH Amit Shah accuses Siddaramaiah govt of 'dividing' Hindus Davanagere (KTK): BJP president Amit Shah today accused the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka of trying to divide Hindus and being the "most corrupt" one in the country. LEGAL LGD8 SC-LD KHAP Khap interference in marriage of two adults absolutely illegal: SC New Delhi: In a relief to inter-faith or inter-caste couples who often face threat to their lives due to their relationship, the Supreme Court today banned any interference by illegal assemblies like 'khap panchayats' into their marriages, terming the intrusions as "absolutely illegal." LGD11 DL-HC-ARMY Recruiting married persons into JAG expensive: Centre to HC New Delhi: Recruitment of married men and women into the Indian Army's legal branch, JAG, will be expensive for the Centre as it will have to incur "heavy expenditure" to find replacements for such recruits when they are absent from training due to their marital obligations, the government has claimed in the Delhi High Court. LGD13 SC-GIRL SUICIDE SC agrees to hear plea for CBI probe into Noida girl suicide case New Delhi: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a plea seeking a CBI investigation into the reasons behind the suicide by a 16-year-old girl who, according to her father, took the extreme step as she was allegedly "sexually exploited, oppressed and harassed" by certain teachers and officials of her school. FOREIGN FGN8 CHINA-KIM-LD VISIT North Korean leader Kim visits China: Reports Beijing: Speculation is rife that Kim Jong Un made a surprise visit to China after media reports that a special train believed to be carrying the North Korean dictator arrived here. By K J M Varma FGN10 US-COMMITTEE-LD ZUCKERBERG Senate committee summons FB, Google, Twitter CEOs to testify Washington: A powerful Congressional committee has summoned the CEOs of the top three tech giants - Facebook, Twitter and Google - to testify next month about UK communications firm Cambridge Analytica's misuse of private data from up to 50 million user profiles. By Lalit K Jha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, who is on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, today called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to discuss the overall security situation in the state. Gauba and Mehbooba held two meetings here and discussed the security and the law and order situation in the state, an official spokesman said. Gauba, who arrived here yesterday, also met with top officers of the civil administration, the police, the CRPF and the BSF. He also reviewed the progress of the Prime Ministers Development Plan (PMDP) pertaining to Kashmiri migrants at another meeting, the official said. The home secretary was scheduled to hold several meetings today with deputy commissioners and police chiefs of various districts of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today expressed serious concern over the Chinese build-up in South Doklam which it said threatens national security and asked whether the "56-inch strongman" with "red eyes" has a plan to deal with the situation. The opposition party also alleged that the Modi government's "uncertain" foreign policy and "continuous double-speak" on the issue was harming India's strategic interests. Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he hoped the "56 inch strongman" had a plan for Doklam. Gandhi's comments came after China on Monday asserted that Doklam belonged to it and India should have "learnt lessons" from the stand-off last year. In a reference to China's statement, Gandhi said on Twitter, "Last week thousands took my Twitter poll. 63% felt Modi Ji would use hugplomacy, blame RM and cry in public to deal with the Doklam issue! "For India's sake, I hope you were wrong and our 56 inch strongman has a plan." Congress spokesperson RPN Singh alleged that India was facing persistent efforts by China to intrude into Chicken Neck - or the Siliguri Corridor -- through Doklam, but a "clueless Modi Government is caught snoozing". "Modi may have forgotten his false bravado of a 56-inch chest and laal aankh, but four years down the line, people of India are still waiting for his 'Tackle China Plan'," he told reporters here. Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi had talked about showing "laal aankh" (angry eyes) to the Chinese over repeated transgressions at the border and spoken about the might of a "56-inch chest". Singh said the BJP was "utterly consumed in managing headlines for domestic expansion" and had forgotten media reports on the Chinese military building a new road South of the Doklam plateau that would give China easy access to the corridor that connects India's north-eastern states to the rest of India and threaten national security in the region. Eight states including Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura are connected with the rest of India through this narrow corridor in West Bengal. "In the backdrop of the Chinese military moving closer to Chicken Neck, the Congress party would warrant a response from the defence minister and the prime minister in this regard. Mere lip service is no response," he said. Quoting media reports, he said on March 10, three Chinese military helicopters entered Indian air space at Barahoti, Uttarakhand. He said this was the fourth such intrusion in the area. "Why have such intrusions become a routine affair? The Indian government cannot have multiple stands on the Chinese misadventure. It will only harm national interests," he said. Singh said in October 2017, Prime Minister Modi took on his critics and came very close to acknowledging victory at Doklam. "After accepting victory and taking on his critics by calling them pessimists, will Modi acknowledge that there is a fresh threat to our borders now? "How will he answer to China that Doklam is Chinese territory? Has Modi failed to secure India's strategic interests as also the interests of a time-tested ally, Bhutan? Is India losing its influence in Bhutan to China," he asked. Singh said the number of face-offs with the Chinese on the LAC has shot up by 48 per cent last year and there were 415 transgressions by Chinese soldiers into the Indian side in 2017, as against 271 in 2016. "What does it say about Modi's empty rhetoric in election rallies? What steps has the Modi government taken to prevent these intrusions? "How would the issue of the tri-junction at Doklam be decided in the future in this scenario? As we all know, this is an all-important issue for Bhutan and even more important for India's strategic interests viz-a-viz Chicken Neck," he said. He alleged the Modi Government had failed to provide answers to these questions, but the Congress would always press for a disengagement of an India-China-Bhutan conflict at Doklam through diplomatic means. "The Congress believes the Doklam issue should be sorted out by conversation, persuasion and diplomacy in the first instance in the interest of all the three countries," he said. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam near Sikkim last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had said on Monday the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary had been demarcated and Dong Lang (Doklam) was China's territory and that last year the two sides had resolved the incident with diplomacy and wisdom. "We hope that India will draw lessons from that, abide by historical boundary treaties and basic norms governing international relations," it had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today expressed hope that its two-way trade with Africa would reach USD 150 billion in the next five years, from USD 52 billion currently. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said the current level of trade is widely seen as way below the potential. He asked the African region to properly utilise the Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme to boost trade between the two regions. Under the scheme, import of almost all products from least developed countries (LDCs) to India attract lower or zero duties. "I am confident that India-Africa bilateral trade can touch USD 150 billion in the next five years. To begin with, trade can increase sharply if African LDCs can optimise use of the facility of DFTP," the minister said at the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave here. He said that African exports can be enhanced through value addition and targeted promotion strategies. The minister also said that huge investment potential exists in African region in areas such as infrastructure, energy, IT and agriculture. Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia called upon African businesses for greater utilisation of the scheme to promote trade. She said that EXIM (export-import) bank has approved about 167 lines of credit worth USD 10 billion of projects to 40 African countries as of February this year. The secretary, however, made a case for creating an enabling policy framework for fast implementation of projects. Seeking Indian investments, Uganda Vice President Edward Ssekandi said there are huge opportunities in sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Pakistan will hold a two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission here from Thursday to discuss various issues under the Indus Waters Treaty, sources said today. This will be the 114th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), which should meet at least once a year as per the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), they said. India's Indus water commissioner PK Saxena and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials will be part of the Indian delegation for the annual meeting. Pakistan's six-member delegation will be led by Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah. The meeting will take place in the backdrop of the continuing tension between the two countries over a host of issues, including the alleged harassment of diplomats. The meeting will be held on March 29 and March 30, a government source told PTI. According to the sources, the issues relating to India's Ratle hydroelectricity, Pakul Dul and Lower Kalnai projects, located in Jammu and Kashmir, may come up for discussion during the meeting. Pakistan contends that Ratle (850 MW), Pakal Dul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) projects -- located in the Chenab basin -- were violating the IWT, signed in 1960. But India is very clear that designs of the projects are in accordance with the treaty, a sources said. The sources said that the issues concerning the 340 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project, located on river Jhelum's tributary in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, may not figure during the meeting since the project has already been commissioned. The PIC had last met on March 20 and March 21 in Islamabad. The IWT covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The treaty specifies that waters from the three western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- are reserved for Pakistan, while waters from eastern rivers -- Ravi, Sutlej and Beas -- are for reserved for India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking strong objections to non-implementation of solid waste management rules in the country, the Supreme Court today said "India will go down under the garbage one day". The top court said that days are not far when garbage mounds at the Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi will match the height of iconic 73-metre high Qutub Minar and red beacon light will have to be used to ward off aircraft. "We keep on passing orders but solid waste management rules are not implemented. What is the use of passing the orders when no one is bothered to implement it. India will go down under the garbage one day," a bench of Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. It said, "Garbage mounds at the Ghazipur landfill site will one day touch the height of Qutub Minar and red beacon light will have to be used to ward off the aircraft". The apex court also asked all the states and union territories to frame a policy for disposal of solid waste in three months. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, assisting the court as an amicus curiae, said the court should direct all local bodies in the country to implement the solid waste management rules in 3-4 months and if they failed to do so they can be held for contempt. He said solid waste management rules are very elaborate and comprehensive and Delhi has already implemented it. Additional Solicitor General ANS Nadkarni said "garbage mounds are like a time bomb which we are sitting upon and the court should direct the local bodies to implement the rules". The court then directed the secretaries of the urban development ministry in Haryana, Jharkhand, Manipur and Meghalaya to appear on the next date of hearing and apprise it about the implementation of rules. It got annoyed as no counsel was available with information indicating whether these four states have constituted state-level advisory boards in accordance with the provision of the 2016 rules. The bench posted the matter for further hearing in second week of July. The bench was hearing a matter related to implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 across the country. On February 6, the apex court had warned the Centre for dumping "junk" before it in an 845-page affidavit containing incomplete information about solid waste management in the country, saying the court is not a "garbage collector". It had declined to take the affidavit on record and observed the government cannot dump junk before it and there was no point in filing an affidavit if it contained "nothing". The court had on December 12 last year asked the Centre to follow up on the matter of solid waste management with all states and UTs and furnish details before it. The court had earlier expressed grave concern over the deaths due to vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya and said that lack of waste management was the cause of several lives being lost across the country. In 2015, the apex court had on its own taken cognisance of death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue. He had been allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals and his distraught parents subsequently committed suicide. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian aviation market has vast growth potential and can achieve the target of flying 500 million passengers annually within the next decade, Indigo airlines president Aditya Ghosh said here today. Ghosh was speaking at the 64th convention and exhibition of travel agents association of India (TAAI) here. "The goal of national civil aviation policy of the Government of India has set a target of ensuring that there is a half a billion domestic air travelers in India in next nine years. "It would seem like an impossible task but if we grow at 25 to 30 per cent every year, we may well get to that half a billion mark before the next decade is out," Ghosh said. He said tourism and travel has a very symbiotic relation with the GDP of the country. "Today, 9.4 per cent of the country's GDP is contributed by travel and tourism alone. What that means is that today travel and tourism business in India supports 41 million jobs in this country. That is the third highest in the world in terms of absolute numbers," he said. Ghosh said in the next 10 years, the travel and tourism industry in India is expected to contribute about US 500 billion dollars in revenue every year. Citing the example of Andhra Pradesh, Ghosh said one of the measures the Jammu and Kashmir government should take for increasing the footfall of tourists in the state is to reduce the sales tax on aviation fuel. "Andhra Pradesh reduced the sales tax on aviation fuel from 26 per cent to 1 per cent. In two years, the state saw an increase of 250 per cent in air travellers. I suggest the state government should reduce the sales tax from 26.25 per cent to one per cent. If it does not work as it is expected to, you can always go back to previous rates but give it a try," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ireland says it is expelling a Russian diplomat, joining more than 20 other nations in punishing Moscow for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said today that the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia was a "shocking and abhorrent" use of chemical weapons. He said the Russian ambassador in Dublin has been informed that one diplomat from his embassy must leave Ireland. Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other's diplomats since the March 4 attack, which the U.K. blames on Moscow. British Prime Minister Theresa May says 23 other countries have expelled more than 115 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States. Russia denies responsibility and has vowed a "tough response" to the expulsions. A top Russian diplomat says Moscow is preparing a "tough response" to today's announcement by the United States that it is expelling 60 Russian diplomats. The United States, European Union nations and some other countries announced today they would expel a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in critical condition in the hospital in the English city of Salisbury after being exposed to what British authorities say was a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent on March 4. Australia has become the latest country to announce that it is expelling Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Tasaduq Mufti today said the state needs to create alternate and positive stories to change its perception among tourists. The minister, who was addressing a press conference along with president, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Sunil Kumar ahead of the 64th convention of the apex travel agents body, said there should be strategies in place to attract tourists. "You have to create alternate stories and a civil society is very responsible for that, because unless you do not create points of focus elsewhere, this problem will persist. We have to create positive stories amongst ourselves and then talk about those," the tourism minister said here. Terming the TAAI convention as historic, Mufti said events like these would help the state create a positive perception and attract tourists. "This is a historic event and we could not have hoped for a better start for the year. I see TAAI's attention to detail in the way they organize things and the observations that they have made so far about the state... some fine ideas have already started flowing," he said. Asked about the government's plans to attract tourists in view of a negative perception and continued violence, the tourism minister said there is need for creating opportunities and to have strategies in place. "We have to start by creating opportunities and by talking to the world outside and also to have strategies in place because, god willing this will be a very wonderful year, but then things could go wrong as they often do. "So, I think the need is to strategise and also make these partnerships more tangible, and create associations that are specific with people," he added. Also, replying to the question whether the state government would write to the Centre to reduce the footprints of security forces near the potential tourist places like near the Line of Control (LoC), Mufti said the department is working on a comprehensive tourism policy which would cover all those issues. "When you frame a comprehensive tourism policy, these things are a part of that. That will be a part of our overall vision, our overall policy. I think if we keep our city vibrant, if we keep our culture vibrant, we have other stories to talk about, we have wonderful kids who are doing well, we have events like this, it will change perception," he said. Speaking on the occasion, the TAAI president exuded confidence of attracting tourists to Kashmir. "I must mention emphatically here that TAAI convention itself addresses the lot of matters that have come up (about perception). This convention going successful will be a message to the whole world that TAAI has done its convention here, they got the whole industry here and that itself addresses the perception," Kumar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Journalists here today protested killing of a local scribe and demanded compensation and a government job to his family members besides the arrest of one of the accused who is absconding. The accused former village headman Harshu Miyan, whose vehicle had knocked down the motorcycle which victim scribe Navin Nishchal was riding along with a fellow villager, was today produced before a court which remanded him to 14 days in judicial custody. The deceased scribe Navin Nishchal worked for a Hindi daily. Vijay Singh, who was with Nishchal was his fellow villager and both were crushed to death near Nahsi village. The demands were raised at a meeting held at Ara Press Club, situated in the district headquarters of Bhojpur, to mourn the death of Navin Nishchal, who was crushed to death by an SUV in a remote part of the district on Sunday night. At the meeting, president of the Ara Press Club Tanveer Shabbu said "the state government should provide Rs 25 lakh ex gratia and government job to one of the bereaved family members. The police should also confiscate the property of those named as accused in the case". Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Avakash Kumar said efforts were on to nab Harshu Miyan's son Dablu, whom the eyewitnesses have accused of being inside the vehicle along with his father when the Scorpio car crushed the two persons under its wheels. The vehicle was set on fire by angry onlookers. Meanwhile, former Ara MP and leader of the ruling JD(U) in the state Meena Singh today visited Nishchal's residence and consoled her family members. She said "there has been a deterioration in law and order situation in the state because of laxity of police and administration. I will speak to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about the issue". A report from Purnea district said journalists there met the District Magistrate and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister demanding "speedy trial and death penalty" for the accused. A legislation ensuring protection to journalists was also demanded by the protesting scribes in both districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today dismissed allegations that Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh was denied an appointment for the submission of a report on sacrilege cases, saying the panel was yet to complete its probe and so the report was not ready for submission. Interacting with reporters in the press gallery of the state Assembly, Singh said while the commission had completed its probe into the Behbal Kalan and Bargari incidents, other cases of sacrilege of scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagvad Geeta, Quaran and Sri Gutka Sahib were still being investigated. Once the entire investigation was completed, the government would immediately take the complete report instead of receiving it piecemeal, he added. To a question about Local Government Minister Navjot Sidhu's participation in television shows, the Singh reiterated his earlier stand that he did not find anything wrong with it. It was Sidhu's source of livelihood, he said adding, "If someone asks me to give up agriculture tomorrow, do you really think I can do that, since it is my source of livelihood?" The chief minister also said that he had obtained all required approvals and clearances before execution of any type of construction activity or boring of tubewell at his farmhouse in Siswan. On the issue of multi-crore scams in the Irrigation Department, the chief minister said the Vigilance Department was already investigating it and assured that no one would be spared, if found guilty, irrespective of how influential he might be. Replying to a question on the skyrocketing prices of sand and gravel, Singh attributed it to his government's clampdown on illegal mining which had resulted in scarcity of construction material. A cabinet sub-committee had been constituted and mandated with the task of monitoring the situation and giving recommendations to tackle the problem of illegal mining effectively, besides ensuring supply of sand and gravel at affordable prices, Singh said. The committee would soon submit its report after which the present crises would ease out, he added. Referring to the issue of leakage of the STF report in the media, the Congress leader said the matter would be investigated and action taken accordingly. He made it clear that anyone found involved in drugs, irrespective of his/her political affiliation, would be punished as per the law of the land. Replying to a query regarding the expansion of his Cabinet, Singh said he would be seeking an appointment with AICC president Rahul Gandhi in this regard soon after the Budget session. On the issue of enacting legislation of conflict of interest to bring propriety and integrity in the public life, he said the government was already working in this direction. Justifying the development tax of Rs 200 on Income Tax payees, Singh said this decision was taken for the creation of a dedicated fund to meet social obligations such as payment of financial assistance to elderly people, widows, destitute besides physically challenged. He said there was pressure from world bodies such as the IMF and the ADM to levy such taxes to mop up finances as a pre-condition for them to pitch in with money. To a question regarding restoration of student unions' elections in state universities from 2018-19 academic session, Singh said it had been decided to revive the democratic process in view of the peace and stability prevailing in the state. Denying apprehensions about the involvement of gangsters in these elections, he said any such attempt would be tackled with an iron hand. To a question about the recruitment of new college teachers, the chief minister said the government had already decided to open 10 more degree colleges in the state and the recruitment would be done as soon as the state's fiscal condition improved, he added. On the issue of teaching foreign languages in schools as an optional subject, he said it was important in the current scenario where the world had become a global village, making it necessary for youths seeking jobs overseas to know the language of that country. Singh pointed out that Mandarin was catching up fast in view of the expanding Chinese market, which offered enormous job opportunities to youths. The chief minister also underlined the need for Punjab's students to learn English, especially in rural areas, along with their mother tongue to enable them to compete with their peers at the global level. Rubbishing the claims of opposition about harassment and exploitation of NRIs at the hands of the state government, he said the government was sensitive to their problems and was ready to offer all help to redress their grievances. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission today announced that the Karnataka Assembly polls will be held on May 12, beginning the countdown to the crucial electoral battle that will decide whether BJP's juggernaut will breach the last major Congress fortress. The votes -- which will determine whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will beat back the saffron tide in Karnataka -- will be counted on May 15, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said. The announcement was shadowed by controversy with BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeting the election date while Rawat was addressing a press conference but had not declared the date. The CEC described it as a "very serious issue" and promised stringent legal and administrative action. While Malviya said he had only quoted a channel, many social media users pointed out that another Twitter user, Srivatsa, whose profile describes him as Congress' social media in-charge in Karnataka, also put out the same information at almost the same time. Both Malviya and Srivatsa got the polling date right but the date of the counting of votes wrong. Rawat said the notification for the polls for the 224-member assembly, which will be held in a single phase like the last time, will be issued on April 17. The last date for filing of nomination will be April 24 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature April 27. All electronic voting machines will be linked to Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, he said. As the EC announced the dates in the national capital, BJP president Amit Shah was in Karnataka on the last day of a two-day tour of the state, leading his party's bid to unseat the Congress from the only big state it continues to rule. If the stakes are high for the BJP, which believes that a win will energise its cadres after its shock defeat in recent by-polls and reaffirm its pole position before the Lok Sabha elections, they are higher still for the Congress as a defeat will be a telling blow to its political fortunes, say political observers. Outside Karnataka, the Congress is in power in Punjab, Mizoram and Puducherry. A loss in the southern state will deprive it of power in the only remaining big state, defined as one which sends 20 or more MPs to the Lok Sabha, in its kitty. Siddaramaiah had recently announced religious minority status for Lingayats, a move aimed at denting the BJP's vote bank as the state's largest community is seen to be backing the saffron party's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurapa, who hails from the same caste. Seeking to rally different castes under the saffron umbrella, Shah has been reaching out to mutts linked to different communities with his party playing the Hindutva card by accusing Siddaramaiah of practising "appeasement politics" to court Muslims. Congress president Rahul Gandhi too has been crisscrossing the state, holding rallies and visiting holy places. The Janata Dal (Secular) led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is the third player in the fray. While the Congress and the BJP are the main claimants for the power, the JD(S), a strong force in southern Karnataka, can play spoilsport for both. It hopes to be a kingmaker in the event of a hung verdict, a result the state has often thrown in the past elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Karnataka Assembly polls will be held on May 12 and the votes will be counted on May 15, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat announced today. There will be a single phase election for the 224-member assembly, like the last time. The notification for the polls will be issued on April 17 and the last date for filing of nomination will be April 24, Rawat said at a press conference. April 27 will be the last date of withdrawal of candidates, he added. All electronic voting machines will be linked to Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, he said. To questions from reporters about the polling date being leaked even before he made the official announcement, Rawat said the poll panel will investigate the matter and take stringent legal and administrative action. The polls are being seen as politically crucial for Karnataka's ruling Congress as well as the BJP. It is the only big state where the Congress is in power after losing a string of assembly elections to the saffron party over the last few years. The BJP is making a concerted bid to unseat the Congress. The JD(S), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, is the third player in the fray. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA's planet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope has helped scientists to solve the mystery of the fast and furious explosions that have bewildered astronomers for a decade. The universe is full of mysterious exploding phenomena that go boom in the dark. One particular type of ephemeral event is called a Fast-Evolving Luminous Transient (FELT), which has a very brief duration. Now, scientists have used Kepler to catch FELTs in the act and determine their nature. They appear to be a new kind of supernova that gets a brief turbo boost in brightness from its surroundings. "We collected an awesome light curve. We were able to constrain the mechanism and the properties of the blast," said Armin Rest from the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US. "We could exclude alternate theories and arrive at the dense-shell model explanation. This is a new way for massive stars to die and distribute material back into space," said Rest. Kepler's ability to precisely sample sudden changes in starlight has allowed astronomers to quickly arrive at this model for explaining FELTs, and rule out alternative explanations. Researchers conclude that the source of the flash is from a star after it collapses to explode as a supernova. The big difference is that the star is cocooned inside one or more shells of gas and dust. When the tsunami of explosive energy from the blast slams into the shell, most of the kinetic energy is immediately converted to light. The burst of radiation lasts for only a few days - one-tenth the duration of a typical supernova explosion. Over the past decade several FELTs have been discovered with timescales and luminosities not easily explained by traditional supernova models. Only a few FELTs have been seen in sky surveys because they are so brief. Unlike Kepler, which collects data on a patch of sky every 30 minutes, most other telescopes look every few days. Therefore, they often slip through undetected or with only one or two measurements, making understanding the physics of these explosions tricky. In the absence of more data, there have been a variety of theories to explain FELTs: the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, a supernova boosted by a magnetar (neutron star with a powerful magnetic field), or a failed Type Ia supernova. Kepler's precise, continuous measurements that allowed astronomers to record more details of the FELT event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mercurial North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today made an unprecedented whirlwind trip to Beijing - his first foreign trip since he took over power in 2011 - and reported to have held talks with the top Chinese leadership ahead of his planned summit with US President Donald Trump. While the Foreign Ministry here parried questions over his reported visit which threw the road and rail traffic in Beijing out of gear, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted Chinese 'sources' confirming that Kim visited Beijing. "It wasn't his sister, it was Kim himself," the paper quoted a source as saying. Kim is reported to have left by the "distinctive green train" to Pyongyang by which he had arrived earlier. A beaming Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying parried a volley of questions about Kim's visit at a packed daily briefing today, saying that she is not aware of his visit and would get back in "due course" if she gets the details. "If we have information, we will publish it," Hua said. The first hint that the mystery guest was Kim was the appearance of the green train of the type favoured by North Korea's senior leadership, which was seen travelling from the border city of Dandong to Beijing, the Post reported. Earlier, media personnel rushed to the plush Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where foreign dignitaries usually stay as it was cordoned off with heavy security. Local people were told to avoid the area. While reporters were held back behind a cordon a few hundred metres away, a motorcade reportedly carrying Kim was spotted passing by Tiananmen Square, apparently en-route to the Beijing railway station, it said. North Korean leaders preferred to visit China, their closest ally, secretly or without much publicity through selective leaks by the Chinese officials. Kim's late father Kim Jong-il too used to visit China secretly. This is Kim's first overseas visit since he took over power in 2011 after his father's death. Though allies, the China-North Korean relations went through some testing times since Kim took over as the supreme leader of the country as he pressed ahead with his nuclear programme disregarding caution from Beijing. He also shared uneasy relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the implementation of UN sanctions leading to serious crisis of essential commodities in North Korea. Tensions temporarily abated in the Korean Peninsula recently over the North Korea's nuclear programme following which Trump agreed for a summit meeting with Kim. Observers say that Kim's visit here was due as it is diplomatically inconceivable for him to meet Trump without ever meeting Xi, who is now set to become leader for life after the recent constitutional amendments removing the two term limits for the Chinese president. Though North Korea remained a long-standing ally of China, relations between the two countries have been strained after Beijing beefed up UN sanctions by blocking essential supplies like oil and coal following pressure from Trump. Observers say the severity of sanctions made Kim to tone down his rhetoric on acquiring nuclear weapons and consider the option for talks with US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man attacked worshippers with a knife inside a mosque in Sudan's eastern state of Kasala today, killing three people and wounding several others, a police officer told AFP. Kasala police chief Yahi Sulayman said it took place when worshippers had gathered for evening prayers in a mosque in Kasala city which borders Eritrea. "Three people have been killed and several wounded," Sulayman said. A medic at a hospital where the wounded were brought said they had been stabbed. Residents said the attacker had tried to address worshippers who refused to listen to him and then started stabbing them. "People in the mosque then retaliated and killed the attacker," Sulayman said, adding that the identity of the attacker had not been established. Since January Sudan has shut its eastern border with Eritrea, days after Khartoum declared an emergency in the state of Kasala. Officials say the decision to declare emergency was part of a government campaign to collect illegal arms in the state. Hundreds of Sudanese soldiers have been deployed in Kasala in recent months, residents say. Thousands of Eritreans, fleeing a repressive regime at home, cross into Sudan illegally through the border with Kasala every year and later make perilous voyages across the Mediterranean to Europe. Apart from Kasala, a state of emergency is in place in Sudan's war-torn regions of Darfur, Blue Nile, South Kordofan and North Kordofan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala State Human Rights Commission today recommended removal of a woman anganwadi teacher from service after a video clipping showed extreme cruelty on her part towards a three-year-old kid. "The video clipping shows extreme cruelty on the part of an anganvadi teacher towards a three-year-old student," Commission Acting Chairman P Mohana Das said, taking a suo-motu case against the lone staff of the Anganwadi in Mulanthuruthy area, based on a media report. A commission release said the child expressed her desire to go to the toilet, which was snubbed by the teacher(aaya) thrice,resulting in her urinating inside the class. "The teacher got furious over the incident. The child was subjected to extreme physical harassment and she was even sent out from the class." "If the report is true, the so called aaya should be removed immediately from the school, pending enquiry", the Commission said. The Commission also took serious note of the report that the anganvadi building, its toilet and premises were in a pathetic condition. "The toilet is so filthy.Why are these types of anganvadi institutions running? the situation warrants urgent inspection of all similar centres in the state", the Commission said. It directed the Ernakulam District Collector and social justice officer to intervene in the matter and file a report within a month. The authorities have to explain as to the prevailing condition in all the centres in Kerala, it said. "The Director of social justicedepartment shall give necessary direction to all district social justice officers in the state to get a report regarding the state of affairs of all anganvadi institutions in the state especially rural areas of state", the Commission said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Linda Brown, who was at the centre of the landmark 1950s court battle leading to the desegregation of US public schools, has died at age 75. The US Supreme Court ruling on the Brown vs Board of Education case in 1954 was a key moment in the movement to end widespread discriminatory practices against black people in the United States -- but discrimination, racism and racial tensions still plague the country more than 60 years later. "Linda Brown Thompson 75, of Topeka (Kansas), passed away March 25, 2018 at Lexington Park Nursing & Post Acute Centre," according to an obituary provided by her sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson. She is survived by a son and a daughter as well as other relatives, it said. Brown "is one of that special band of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy -- racial segregation in public schools," Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People's Legal Defence and Educational Fund, said in a statement. "She stands as an example of how ordinary schoolchildren took center stage in transforming this country," she said. "It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country." The NAACP spearheaded the legal battle against school segregation in the US, an effort that involved Brown and many other students and their parents from several states and the US capital. In the early 1950s, Oliver Brown sought to enroll his daughter in an all-white school near the family's home in Topeka, but was told she had to go to an all-black school that was farther away. Instead, he turned to the courts for justice, as did others. Cases from Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina and Virginia as well as the capital, Washington, were ultimately combined when they were appealed to the US Supreme Court, becoming the ground-breaking Oliver Brown vs Board of Education. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregation was unconstitutional. But segregation was far from over despite the court ruling, and integration was bitterly opposed by some whites. President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed American soldiers after the Arkansas governor sought to block African-American students from being integrated into an all-white high school in the state's capital Little Rock in 1957. Though segregation was illegal in schools after the Brown vs Board ruling, it nonetheless continued because of opposition from racists, as well as due to the prevalence of separate black and white neighbourhoods, which led to de facto segregation in local schools. Busing students from their home neighborhoods to schools in other areas was begun to address the situation, but that move was still being contested more than 20 years after Brown vs Board. Schools were not the only segregated areas in the US: there were also separate restaurants, bathrooms and water fountains for blacks and whites in parts of the country -- something protesters held sit-ins to oppose as part of the civil rights movement. Even now, racial tensions continue to plague America -- where black people have faced hundreds of years of discrimination and slavery -- and African-Americans still make up a disproportionate percentage of the country's incarcerated and poor. Brown, who was just a girl when the court case unfolded, became a school teacher later in life, taught piano lessons and worked with the Brown Foundation, an organization that seeks to promote the legacy of the case, according to its website. She also "travelled the country with other family members lecturing about the history of this significant civil rights milestone," the obituary provided by her sister said. Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer paid tribute to her in a Twitter post yesterday. "Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world," Colyer wrote. And the American Civil Liberties Union rights group hailed the impact of the court case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mahindra & Mahindra today said it will form a joint venture with Sri Lanka's Ideal Motors to assemble vehicles in the island nation. The company will hold 35 per cent of the share capital in the joint venture(JV), with the remaining proposed to be held by Ideal or any of its affiliates, M&M said in a regulatory filing. The new company will be formed for the purpose of assembly of vehicles in Sri Lanka and M&M's investment will not be more than 25 crore Sri Lankan rupees but subject to requisite RBI approvals, it added. The company, however, did not elaborate what type of vehicles would be assembled through the new joint venture. The homegrown auto major has a range of utility vehicles and SUV besides being a major player in tractor segment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government said today that it will consider bringing in a law to check copying by students during exams and will also take strict action against those who leak the question papers. School minister Vinod Tawde made an announcement to this effect in the Legislative Council while replying to a debate, initiated by Vikram Kale (NCP), on the spate of incidents of copying in the recently held exams of Classes 10 and 12 in the state. The minister also warned of stringent action against the officials who change the designated examination centres at the last minute. The Maharashtra State Board every year conducts the exams of Classes 10 and 12, also referred to as the Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, respectively. This year, there have been several complaints of students copying during the exams and the leakage of question papers. Replying to the debate on the issue in the Upper House, Tawde said, "Strict action will be taken against the teaching and non-teaching staff found guilty of indulging in leaking question papers." He urged the MLCs, specially those representing the teachers' constituencies, to support him in taking action against the erring teachers, even if the latter were the voters of the House members. The minister said the government will tell the Board to print an additional set of 25,000 question papers only for the centres where the question papers have been leaked. The government cannot change the leaked question paper sets all over the state, he said. Tawde also said that the government will probe claims made by Kale about two candidates being made to sit side by side at an SSC exam centre in Nagpur district. "The government will consider bringing in a separate legislation to deal with the scourge of copying during the SSC and HSC exams," he said. The minister said that copying during examinations was on the rise due to competition for marks, and the middlemen were taking undue advantage of the situation. "The government will take strict action against copying during the SSC and HSC exams," he asserted. The legislators often make pleas for setting up examination centres close to villages, other than the already designated and approved ones, he noted. Strict action will be taken against the Board officials who change the already designated examination centres at the last minute, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra governmentwill initiate a legislation to make life imprisonment as the maximum punishment for food adulteration, Minister for Food and Drug Administration Girish Bapat today said. He was responding to a'Point of Information' on cases of food adulteration and spurious chemical products having increased drastically across Maharashtra in the last three years according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. It was raised by Congress member Sanjay Dutt in the Legislative Council. "The government will initiate a legislation to make life imprisonment the maximum punishment for adulteration cases," Bapat said. He added that the government was working to increase the number of world class laboratories and mobile units in the state to curb adulteration. Speaking on the issue earlier, Dutt pointed out that a Patanjali product, which was being distributed in the market, had its manufacturing date marked as "April 2018", despite it still being March. Responding to him, Bapat said action would be be taken as per law, adding that no one was above law. Dutt also said adulteration cases had doubled from 1,162 in 2015 to 2,529 in 2017 and added that Maharashtra currently ranked second, after Uttar Pradesh, in registering food adulteration cases in 2016-17. He, however, pointed out that none of the accused in these 1,256 cases were convicted. Dutt submitted an opinion of medical experts, stating that such adulteration, especially found in packaged food products, milk, cooking oil and other consumables meant for human consumption, was detrimental to health and caused kidney, liver and other complications. Dutt demanded that the concerned ministry strengthen its monitoring department to ensure swift action and conviction of those guilty of adulteration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of some regional parties as well as NDA ally Shiv Sena to explore a "federal front" option to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls, mooting a "one-to-one" fight in all the states. According to a senior NCP leader, who did not want to be identified, Banerjee at the same time favoured a front without involving the Congress. The Trinamool Congress(TMC) supremo sought to rally the regional parties against the NDA even as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who mooted a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in national politics, said the alternative being proposed by him would be a "people's front of India". Coming down heavily on the NDA-led Centre, Banerjee said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and that it was time for the BJP to "pack up and go". She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the BJP. Banerjee, who is in Delhi for three days, had an hour-long meeting with Pawar and other NCP leaders at his office in Parliament. Pawar had earlier in the day denied that a meeting over dinner with opposition parties was scheduled tonight. "There is no meeting, there is no dinner," Pawar had said in response to a question whether there will be a dinner meeting with the West Bengal chief minister. Banerjee, who also met leaders from other opposition parties like the TDP, which recently walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, TRS, SP, RJD, BJD, NC and JMM, once again emphasised that the need of the hour is have a state-wise strategy to defeat the BJP. She met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut along with other Sena members of Parliament triggering speculation in political circles. The Sena, though a part of the ruling NDA, has been critical of Maharashtra and central governments. "All opposition parties should work together. It should be a one-to-one fight against the BJP. All opposition parties should help the strongest one in the state against the BJP," Banerjee told reporters. On the issue of opposition unity, Banerjee hailed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh and said that all opposition parties should come together to help the alliance. "If Akhilesh and Mayawati call a meeting in Lucknow, we will all go. We should help the parties where they are strong," she said. Raut denied that Shiv Sena was joining any front, but said that the Shiv Sena and Banerjee have "a very warm" relationship and there were certain things which Banerjee wanted to convey to Uddhav Thackeray. Banerjee later said that she "respects" Shiv Sena. "At least it does not do with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP," Banerjee said. The chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie tomorrow. Though Banerjee is said to be favouring a Front without the Congress, she did say she was in touch with its president Rahul Gandhi. TMC leaders said she is planning to meet Sonia Gandhi. Replying to a query, Banerjee said she has been exchanging messages with Rahul Gandhi According to a senior NCP leader, Banerjee favoured forming a "federal front" to defeat the BJP without involving the Congress. "She said that a non-Congress federal front should be formed to take on the BJP in the assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections. She feels that if the Congress becomes a part of the opposition front, then many parties like the BJD, TDP would not join the alliance. But she urged the NCP leader to also speak to other opposition parties to know their views," the leader, who did not want to be identified, said. Later NCP leader Praful Patel, while briefing the media on the meeting, said that both the leaders agreed that there should be "maximum unity" among opposition parties to take on the BJP. "The situation will evolve in the coming months for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. There are of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach should be taken. "But certainly what the leaders discussed was that opposition unity should be maximum possible as has been witnessed today in Uttar Pradesh where the BSP and the SP have started working together and therefore it is important that political differences among opposition should be resolved,"Patel told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, triggering speculations of an alliance in the political circles. Raut, however, denied that his party was joining any front. "The Shiv Sena and Mamata Banerjee have a very warm relationship. There were certain things which Mamata ji wanted to convey to Uddhav ji (Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena)," he said. The Sena leader declined to elaborate further on the meeting. "I respect Shiv Sena. At least it does not do with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. The TMC supremo has been trying to weave a federal front, ahead of the 2019 polls. The meeting also assumes significance as the Shiv Sena has differed with the BJP on numerous fronts. Although the two parties are in power in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, the second largest party in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, has been critical of the BJP dispensation at the Centre as well in the state. The Sena also recently announced that it would go solo in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This is not the first time Mamata has met a Shiv Sena leader. Last year, Uddhav Thackeray met Banerjee when the latter was in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena also supported the rally by Banerjee against demonetisation. Irked with the BJP over the Union budget, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had also called Thackeray last month. Naidu-led TDP recently pulled out from the NDA after the Centre declined to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Of the issues that divide Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and President Donald Trump's incoming national security adviser, John Bolton, one stands out: North Korea. Bolton, who will replace Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster on April 9, has publicly advocated for overthrowing the North Korean government. Mattis, a retired Marine general who knows intimately the costs of war, favors diplomacy to rid the North of its nuclear weapons and has said war on the Korean peninsula would be "catastrophic." On Iran, too, Mattis would seem at odds with Bolton, who has argued for abandoning the Obama-era nuclear deal. These and other matters of war and peace will test Mattis' influence with Trump as his national security team is overhauled. Mattis was sometimes at odds with McMaster, but the arrival of the hawkish Bolton, combined with the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the uncertain status of John Kelly as White House chief of staff, appears to leave Mattis more isolated than at any time since he took over the Pentagon 15 months ago. Often described as a steadying or moderating influence on the impulsive Trump, Mattis has little previous relationship with Bolton. The North Korea issue is front-and-center: Trump has agreed to meet with North Korean President Kim Jong Un by May to discuss the North's nuclear disarmament. The unprecedented summit could be a turning point in a decades-old US-North Korean standoff that Trump himself has said could end in "fire and fury" - an American nuclear attack __ to stop the North from gaining the ability to strike the U.S. with a nuclear missile. "This is buckle-up time," retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, said last week on MSNBC. "For the military I have three words: Sharpen your swords. He (Bolton) is someone who is going to reach for the military instrument." The changes in the White House and at the State Department, while significant for Mattis, are hardly heart-stopping. People close to him sense no change in his commitment to the job; some suggest that Trump's decision to move former Republican congressman and current CIA director Mike Pompeo to State, replacing Tillerson, could benefit Mattis in the sense that he'll have a partner at State who is better aligned with Trump. Publicly, Mattis has said little about the shakeup. He was in Afghanistan when Tillerson got the ax. When reporters asked his reaction a couple of days later, Mattis said he preferred not to comment on the details, although he went on to suggest that its importance was being exaggerated. He said that in all of his discussions abroad with foreign government officials and American troops, the matter was not brought up once. "I understand why you're asking, but I'm just pointing out that in most parts of the world this is a Washington, D.C. story," he said. Another Washington story is Mattis and his ability to forge a workable relationship with Trump despite differences on some issues like the Iran nuclear deal, which Mattis says is flawed but worth honoring as long as the Iranians do. Mattis also has differed with the president over Trump's wish to bar all transgender people from serving in the military, and he helped sway Trump from his inclination last year to end U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan. The Mattis formula seems to be simple. Out of the spotlight, out of trouble. The less he says publicly, the less he risks losing influence with Trump. "Part of his success ... is absolutely the fact that you don't see him in the limelight terribly much," says Loren Dejonge Schulman, a defense analyst at the Center for a New American Security who served in key national security positions in the White House and Pentagon under President Barack Obama. "That may be keeping him out of trouble with the White House but I think it's setting an incredibly bad precedent in terms of Pentagon transparency." If Mattis, who spent more than 40 years in uniform and is the first career military officer to lead the Pentagon since George C. Marshall in the early 1950s, isn't the most experienced politician to run the military's vast bureaucracy, he has shown a knack for staying out of trouble with his thin-skinned boss. Mattis has even broken Trump of his habit of calling the retired general "Mad Dog," which Mattis insists was a media invention to begin with. Trump frequently has lunch and dinners with the defense secretary and speaks glowingly of him to outside advisers. White House officials have said that Trump sometimes repeats military historical anecdotes he heard from Mattis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bahrain has jailed nine Shiites, including a minor and a relative of a prominent London-based activist, on charges of throwing petrol bombs at police, a judicial source and activists said today. The kingdom's Sunni rulers have cracked down heavily on all displays of dissent ever since they bloodily suppressed mass protests led by the Shiite majority in 2011 for a constitutional minority with an elected prime minister. The court sentenced eight defendants to seven years in prison on Monday after convicting them of attacking a police patrol with Molotov cocktails in the southern village of Aley, the judicial source said. The ninth, a minor, was sentenced to three years. The court transcript did not give the names of any of the defendants. But the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy named one of them as Sayed Nizar Alwadaei, 19, a relative of its London-based head of advocacy, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. Sayed Ahmed said lawyers had confirmed to him that his young relative, who is already serving a three-year jail sentence on the charge of planting a fake bomb, was among those convicted. Sayed Nizar's mother, Hajer Mansoor Hassan, was also jailed for three years in the fake bomb case, which has drawn heavy criticism from international human rights groups who have questioned whether it had any basis. Hassan ended her second hunger strike in prison this week. Amnesty International has called the jail sentences "a reprisal" for the work of Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. Washington has criticised Bahrain's crackdown and called for moves towards dialogue with the Shiite-led opposition. But the tiny island kingdom just across the Gulf from Iran is a strategic ally and provides the home base of the US Fifth Fleet. Bahrain says it is the victim of a campaign of violence orchestrated by Shiite Iran and aimed at overthrowing its constitutional government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The governments of Mizoram and Assam today agreed to maintain status quo in the disputed border area of Kolasib-Hailakandi districts following a visit by officials of both the states and the Centre, a Mizoram official said. "A spot verification was conducted today by officials of both the neighbouring states under the supervision of Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary (North East) Satyendra Garg," Mizoram Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama told PTI. Lalbiakzama was among the officials who conducted the verification. The border separating Hailkandi of Assam and Kolasib of Mizoram witnessed violence early this month when members of a Mizoram students' body, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, tried to construct a rest house on NH 154. The Assam police had resorted to lathicharge, and several students and journalists were injured in the incident. Lalbiakzama said a joint verification team would be set up comprising representatives of both states under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The team would identify structures erected by both sides in the disputed area and demolish all illegal ones in April, he said. Officials from Mizoram were headed by Home Secretary Lalrinliana Fanai and the Assam officials were headed by the principal secretary for home. Talks were held between chief secretaries of the two states in Delhi on March 20 to defuse the border tension. Another round of discussion would be held on April 5 under the aegis of the Union Home Secretary, the official said. Official sources said the Centre also proposed to hold talks between the home ministers of the two states as also between the two chief ministers. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in response to a letter from Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, had initiated talks between the two states to defuse the tension. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is 44 per one lakh live births and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 300 per 1000 live births in Assam, the state Assembly was informed today. Replying to a question of Dr Numal Momin of the BJP in the Assembly, Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said MMR in the state was falling since 2001-03 when it was 490. The MMR came further down to 480 during 2004-06, 390 during 2007-09 and 328 during 2010-12, he said. The IMR has also fallen during the period from 74 in 2001 to 44 in 2016, Sarma said. Strategies implemented to reduce IMR in the state include Facility Based New Born Care, New Born Care Corner, New Born Stabilisation Unit, Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre, Nutritional Counselling cum Management Centre, Paediatric Intensive Care Units, Home Based Newborn Care, the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said today the alliance was expelling seven Russian diplomats and denying accreditation to three more as part of international measures over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. "I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff of the Russian mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others," Stoltenberg told a conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Lahore-based private channel has hired 21-year-old Marvia Malik as Pakistan's first transgender anchor. Malik, whose first appearance on Kohenoor TV on Saturday went viral on social media, said she decided to apply for the job of a broadcast journalist as journalism has always been her passion, the Express Tribune reported. "On hearing the that Kohenoor TV was about to re-launch itself after 10 years and were looking for news anchors, I immediately applied for the position," she said. "When I was called for the job interview, I was quite nervous and anxious about how things would unfold. As soon as I was called in, I gave my best and managed to impress my directors...They were quite impressed with my confidence and ambitions and I was hired on the spot," she said. Malik's appointment came weeks after Pakistan's Senate passed a key bill to ensure the third gender's protection against sexual and physical assaults and harassment. The Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Rights of Transgender Persons) Act 2017 criminalised a host of offences against the transgender persons and provides for awarding stringent punishments to the perpetrators. Malik said her plan is to fight for the rights of the transgender community. "I believe that empowerment of my community is my empowerment," Malik added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NHRC has issued notices to Bihar's chief secretary and the state's police chief over death of two journalists in Bhojpur district in a road accident involving the scribe's motorbike and an SUV of a former village head. Taking a cognizance of media reports, the Commission said the incident which happened on March 25, raises a big question mark on the safety of scribes. Reportedly, the accused persons allegedly had heated arguments with the journalists and threatened them with dire consequences and soon after this both were crushed to death, the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement. The Indian Federation of Working Journalist (IFWJ) has strongly condemned the incident and called for stern action against the accused. Reportedly, this is the fourth incident of journalists being killed in the past two years in the state, indicating how they have become the soft targets of miscreants, the human rights body said. The notices have been issued to the chief secretary and the director general of police seeking a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. If the deceased journalists have actually been targeted as indicated in the report, it is indeed a serious threat for a civilized society, the NHRC said. "The state authorities are required to take immediate stringent action against the miscreants...to uphold the rule of law and constitutional safeguards extended to journalists in our democratic society. "In a democratic country, such tragic incidents cannot be allowed to happen. Freedom of speech and expression is essential for political liberty and proper functioning of democracy," the commission observed. The incident happened when Naveen Nishchal and his friend Vijay Singh, who worked for a Hindi daily, were returning home on their two-wheeler after covering a rally on the occasion of Ram Navami. Police said a speeding SUV hit them from behind resulting in their death on the spot. The scribe's family alleged that it was a case of murder and a former village head was behind it. Nishchal's brother has alleged in the FIR that a former Panchayat Mukhiya, Ahmed Ali alias Harsu, and his son Dabloo were behind it, the district police chief has said. It was alleged in the FIR that Harsu had been nursing a grouse against the reporter, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There is "no prima facie evidence" of any leakage of the Physics question paper for the March 21 Kerala State Higher Secondary examination for the plus two students, the police said today. The Cyber crime police had registered a case following the reports of the leakage of the Physics question paper through WhatsApp. The investigation by the Cyber police wing of the state crime branch revealed that there was no prima facie evidence of the leakage of the question paper, State Police chief Loknath Behara said. The investigation would continue, DGP Behara said in a statement here. Kerala Education Minister C Raveendranath had on March 23 stated in the state assembly that there was no confirmation that the question paper had been leaked. The Thrissur district coordinator of the examination had received a set of questions, "similar to the ones that appeared in the exam," on WhatsApp. A complaint had been lodged with the police to ascertain if the WhatsApp message had begun to circulate before or after the examination, the minister had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Holding that his government did not stand for 'badla' (revenge) but for 'badlaav' (change), Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today vowed not to spare anyone found guilty of acts of commission and omission during the previous Akali Dal-BJP regime. Winding up the debate on the Governor's address in the Assembly here, the chief minister attacked the BJP leadership for "trying to deflect public attention from the wrongs done by them, hoping to go scot-free". He came down heavily at the SAD-BJP combine for their so-called Pol Khol Rallies, demanding to know what was there to expose. His government, said Amarinder Singh said was in the process of verifying and examining every action of commission and omission done by the previous regime, and shall take appropriate legal action wherever necessary. "I assure the people that those found guilty will not be spared," he declared, while adding his government did not stand for revenge but for change. He informed the House that the Justice Mehtab Singh Commission of Enquiry had so far submitted five interim reports recommending cancellation of 225 cases, and compensation and disciplinary action in 31 cases. Further legal action in this regard was currently underway, he said. The CM's speech on the motion of thanks to Governor's address was marred by walkout by opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLAs. AAP legislators protested the rejection of 'Conflict of Interest Bill 2018' by Speaker Rana K P Singh while LIP members opposed the use of English by the CM in his motion of thanks. "These members should learn a bit of English," the CM remarked. The chief minister, while listing down the achievements of his government, said the first year was spent in restructuring the systems, redefining the policies and reformulation of the programmes needed to put the state back on the track of growth and development. Besides ending the 'jungle raj' and restoring the rule of law in the state, the first year of the Congress government had been a year of people experiencing relief from oppression, exploitation and hooliganism that people had come to associate with the previous government in the last ten years, he claimed. This relief will now be followed by development and change, he said. Noting "growing influence" of China in areas surrounding India, he suggested introduction of Mandarin language as an optional subject in the curriculum. Citing the success of the STF's war against drugs, the Chief Minister announced his government's decision to strengthen the STF on Drugs by restructuring it as an independent and autonomous vertical of the Department of Police with dedicated personnel and resources. A policy of no political interference in civil and police functioning had been adopted, the chief minister said pointing out that of 32 cases of sacrilege, 22 had been solved. Amarinder Singh made a special mention of the war against corruption, reiterating his government's decision to lay the report of Justice Narang Commission in the ongoing Budget Session. The chief minister also expressed satisfaction at the decline in the resource gap from Rs 10,000 crore in the previous fiscal to about Rs 4,000 crore this year. He appealed to the people of Punjab to bear with his government for some time while it works to put the state back on the path of high-trajectory growth. "Is it not ironical that Congress Governments are always required to correct the State's finances whereas the SAD-BJP Governments bring it to complete ruin?," he said. Referring to the Development Tax imposed by the State at the rate of Rs 200 per month on income tax payees, he made it clear that the amount would be fully deductible from an individual's income under the existing Income Tax laws. Reaffirming the Governor's statement that Punjab's water was only for Punjab, he announced his government's decision to launch a water conservation campaign in the state. Dismissing as "sheer deception" SAD-BJP allegations on farm debt waiver, Amarinder Singh declared that though Rs 4,250 crore had been provided in the budget for 2018-19, his government would fully meet its commitment of Rs 9500 crore for the Debt Relief Scheme. He also announced holding of polls in colleges and universities of the state which were stopped during the militancy period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Scheduled Castes Alliance, a socio-political organisation, today announced that it would file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against its recent order "weakening" the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The alliance welcomed the collective decision taken by Punjab legislators against the apex court's verdict and called for a more proactive and united approach. Noting that the act was being abused, the Supreme Court had last week laid down safeguards, including provisions for anticipatory bail, "preliminary enquiry" before registering a case, and prior sanction before arrest. Paramjit Singh Kainth, the president of the alliance, said, "Though we welcome the decision of the Punjab Assembly...the government can't make such decisions just to appease the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste community." He claimed that the Punjab government had so far been unable to implement the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 and the delay showed its apathetic attitude towards the community. "The alliance will file an SLP in the Supreme Court so that it can be a party in the issue and also so that it can appeal to the court representing the voice and opinions of the SC community in general," he said. Kainth said there was a need for leaders from various political parties to be educated on the policies and issues affecting the scheduled caste population. SCs forms a comprehensive part of Punjab's population, with almost 35 per cent of the people belonging to this community. It is being discriminated against and in recent times been the target of assault, rape and murder, he said. Social Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot needs to be informed by officials about the present state of the SC/ST Act in Punjab, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The delay in appointment of a Lokayukta rocked the Odisha Assembly for the second consecutive day today with Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourning the proceedings thrice amid the commotion. The members of the Congress and the BJP staged a dharna before the Speaker's podium, seeking an explanation from the government on the matter. The Opposition members also urged Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat to solicit a reply from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard. As soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour, the Congress members, led by the Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra and Opposition Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, rushed to the Well of the House, iterating their demand for a clarification from the CM on the issue. Unable to run the House, Speaker Amat adjourned the proceedings till 11.30am When the House reassembled for the Zero Hour, the BJP members, led by senior leader KV Singhdeo, staged a dharna near the Speaker's podium, demanding immediate implementation of the Odisha Lokayukta Act. They were joined by the Congress MLAs soon after. Amid the pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the House twice again - once till 4pm and finally for the day. "This House had passed the Odisha Lokayukta Bill in 2014 and got the president's assent in 2015. However, the government has been delaying the appointment of a Lokayukta. As the members have passed the Bill, they need to be told what led to this delay," Mishra told reporters outside the House. It is responsibility of the speaker and the government to break the deadlock, he said. "The speaker should ask the Chief Minister to give a clarification on the delay," he added. Taking a jibe at the BJD government, BJP MLA Pradip Purohit said four years have passed since the bill was passed, but the government has not taken any initiative till date. The implementation of the act would go against the bureaucrats and the ruling party leaders who are busy looting the government, he said. Downplaying the issue, treasury bench member and BJD spokesman D S Mishra said the opposition members are raising the issue in view of Anna Hazare's agitation in Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha government today signed an MoU with the Vedanta Group for establishment of a 500-bed medical college and hospital in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarter of Kalahandi district. The MoU was signed in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and state Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena. According to the agreement, a total of Rs 350 crore will be invested for setting up the proposed medical college, of which Vedanta will spend around Rs 100 crore. While the State government will run the medical college and hospital, Vedanta will develop the infrastructure support for it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Only 8 per cent schools across the country comply with the provisions of the Right to (RTE) Act, according to a study by a civil society group on implementation of the act. RTE forum, the civil society coalition working on Right To Education, today organised the 8th National Stocktaking Convention with over 10,000 NGO members from across 20 states. According to the study, India's spending on is less than 3 per cent of GDP, compared to its obligation of spending 6 per cent; and its per capita spending on is approximately four times less than the spending incurred by middle income countries. And while vacancies for the posts of teachers remains to be a serious issue, the study suggest that almost 20 per cent of teachers in India are untrained. The event, which brought together over 500 people from 15 states to discuss the status of education in the country, saw a national campaign being launched by the forum to make education a critical issue in the upcoming elections. "There is a need of education for development and that while India has a range of progressive legislations, governments are lethargic in their implementation. "While much effort has gone to frame the right to education, slow implementation risks depriving a generation of children of the basic human right to education. I regret that quality of education in India is poor and improvement in learning outcomes is unlikely without filling existing vacant teacher posts," said Justice Madan B Lokur. Kishore Singh, former UN special rapporteur on the Right to Education, emphasised the need for India to adhere to its international human rights obligations of delivering universal quality public education and stop profit making from education. Former foreign secretary Muchkund Dubey also expressed his disappointment on the poor implementation of the act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Orange snow has fallen in parts of eastern Europe after a rare meeting of Siberia and the Sahara. Meteorologists say the snow from Siberia collided with dust-filled wind from the Sahara desert in Africa. The orange snow has been spotted on mountains in Russia's Sochi region, farther east in Georgia's Adzharia region and at Romania's Danube port of Galati. Some skiers have posted photos on social media joking that they were on Mars, not a mountain. Romanian meteorologist Mia Mirabela Stamate says a wind carrying sand particles from the Sahara met with a massive snowfall on Friday. She predicts that the orange-hued snow will move eastward. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today held a rare one-on-one meeting with Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, amidst bitter row between the government and the judiciary over increasing judicial activism. The meeting took place at the Supreme Court where the Chief Justice welcomed Prime Minister Abbasi who reached the court without official protocol. Sources in the judiciary said that the meeting was apparently suddenly arranged as it was not scheduled until in the evening. The meeting continued for two hours. So far officially no details have been provided about the meeting and its agenda. The government and top judiciary are at loggerheads since dismissal of prime minister Nawaz Sharif who has repeatedly targeted the judges in his speeches. The tension between the government and the apex court increased when the latter in February rejected a law made by the parliament in October last to let Sharif become president of his ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party after his disqualification. The repeated suo moto actions taken by the chief justice against various departments of the government has also exasperated the tension. Abbasi last month urged the parliament to decide who has final say in legislation while the chief justice hit back by saying that the parliament was supreme but it should work within the Constitution. There is also increasing criticism by opposition parties about alleged encroachment of various organs of the state in the domain of others. It is believed that Abbasi discussed legal issues with the chief justice to remove friction and pave way for smooth holding of election which are due to be held after June. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Panama President Juan Carlos Varela today called on world governments, civil society and the private sector to work together to implement public policies to eradicate child labour and migration, scourges that violate the rights of children. Speaking at the 'Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit 2018' here, he hoped Panama will become the first Latin American country to completely eradicate child labour. The President said that Panama has made serious commitment to children, and that work is being done to ensure that they have full access to health, education and a safe environment throughout their childhood. "We are pleased that, through a collaborative effort of different sectors of our society, we have been able to reduce the rate of child labour to historic levels, in 2016 it was only 2.5 per cent, the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean," he said. He also lauded Jordan for its commitment towards protecting Syrian refugees, most of which are children. "The hard work the Kingdom is making, with its own resources and with the help of the international community, is worthy of praise," he said, adding "more international resources are needed in Jordan and the Middle East region for humanitarian aid and to offer hope to the victims of war." The second edition of the two-day summit, established by Indian Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, is being held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre on the historic banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan. First Lady of Panama Lorena Castillo Garcia said the entire world needs to realise that they are one. "If somebody needs help, we must help them. This very feeling is required to the refugees and ease their pain," she said. According to estimates by the UN, more than 5.6 million Syrians have fled the country as refugees and half of the people affected are children due to the ongoing conflict in the Arab country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Peace and complete education" are necessary for the prosperity of the future generation, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said, noting that the last century became the "century of violence" despite the fact that several achievements were accomplished during that period of time. Speaking at the 'Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit 2018' here, he said that "we cannot change the past". "We cannot change what has happened but we can think about the future. Peace is very important if we want prosperity for the future generation," the Dalai Lama said. There is a need to focus on education. A complete education also includes moral education, he said. "We have to focus on education and peace for the betterment of the future generation. "Several achievements were accomplished during the last century, but in reality, that period of time became the century of violence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said. Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein said that India is a big economic power and this summit gives the message that India has also become a global power when it comes to ensuring children's rights. The second edition of the two-day summit, established by Indian Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, is being held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre on the historic banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland. He has been living in India in exile since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Peace Accord Review Committee has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide special housing assistance for members of the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF), who had returned to the main stream after the Mizo Accord was signed in 1986. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today said this in a written reply to a query from Lalruatkima of the MNF in the state Assembly. Lal Thanhawla said several demands of the former MNF personnel were taken into consideration by the Committee and had been considering absorbing family members of the former militants in the state government service. He said that the Peace Accord Review Committee was set up on August 13, 2015 under the chairmanship of state chief secretary but it was dissolved and reconstituted under the chairmanship of the chief minister on May 2, 2017. The committee had held five meetings till date and a sub-committee was formed to send proposals for housing assistance and ex-gratia payment to the Government of India for the MNF returnees, he added. The MNF and the Centre had signed the Mizo Accord on June 30, 1986, after 20 years of insurgency in Mizoram. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A constable died and 16 other police officers sustained injuries early today when their bus overturned after colliding head-on with a truck on NH-31 in Bihar's Nawada district, the police said. The bus, with 25 policemen on board, was on its way to Nawada town from Rajauli sub-division area around 1.30am when the truck hit it near Chhapra Mor, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Upendra Prasad said. The truck driver, however, managed to flee the spot, he said. The injured officers were rushed to the Nawada Sadar Hospital, where constable Aakash Kumar (25) succumbed to his injuries. The other policemen, who were injured in the accident, have been referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), the SDPO said, adding that the condition of another constable, Mukesh Kumar, has been stated to be serious. "An investigation has been initiated into the incident and the police are making all efforts to trace the truck driver," Prasad asserted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police today cited possible law and order situation to deny permission to Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan to hold rallies in Pune and Mumbai in support of Hindutva leader Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide, one of the main accused in the Bhima Koregaon caste violence of January 1. In Mumbai, the Pratishthan wanted to hold a rally from Byculla to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and from Shaniwarwada to the district collectorate in Pune. However, police allowed the organisation to hold a gathering at Azad Maidan, a Mumbai police official said. "We have denied permission to the march," said Shrikant Shinde, senior inspector, Vishrambaug police station, Pune. Pune district president of Pratishthan Sanjay Jadhar alleged the police denied them permission at the "last moment". He said Bhide's supporters would still gather at the riverbed near Shaniwarwada in the city to "express their sentiments" and hold the march. Jadhar said the outfit wanted the case against Bhide to be withdrawn immediately. Bhide (85), who heads Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan, and another Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote were booked on January 2, a day after the violence, under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and under various sections of the IPC including attempt to murder as one person was killed in the clashes. Ekbote was already arrested by the police after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court. Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar had alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi and the Shiv Pratishthan were responsible for the caste clashes. The violence had occurred at an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon in which the British Army comprising Dalits had defeated the Peshwas. A large section of Dalits view the historical battle as the defeat of the 'casteism' of upper-caste Peshwas. Dalit activists led by Ambedkar yesterday held protests in Mumbai's Azad Maidan demanding Bhide's arrest. Ambedkar has given a one-week ultimatum to the state government to arrest Bhide. However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today told the Assembly that there was no proof of the involvement of Bhide in the violence. Bhide, who hails from Sangli district in western Maharashtra, has been maintaining that he was not present at the spot on the day of the incident and was away to attend MLA Jayant Patil's mother's rituals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gutkha worth Rs 16 lakh was today seized from a truck at Talasari on the Khanvel-Udhva road here, police said. The contraband was being smuggled in packets which had "milk" marked on them, police said. They added that the gutkha was being transported from neighbouring Gujarat to Ulhasnagar near Mumbai. Senior Inspector Kailas Barve of Talasari police said two people had been detained and the Food and Drug Administration would carry out further investigations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today took strong exception to over-crowded jails in the country and said that "prisoners also have human rights and they cannot be kept in jail like animals". The top court said that many of prisoners are lodged in jail because they have got bail but could not furnish sureties while some are lodged in jails for petty offences, who could have got bail long back. "It's unfortunate that the prisons are over-crowded. Prisoners also have human rights and they cannot be kept in jails like animals," a bench of Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. It said, "Some of the jail inmates have got bail but they cannot be released as they cannot furnish sureties. Some are lodged in jail for petty offences under which they should have got bail long back." The top court said, "What's the point in talking about prison reforms when we cannot keep them in jail. We should release them, if you cannot keep them properly." The court's remarks came when it was informed that there are over 600 per cent occupancy in various jails of the country. The bench was also critical of legal service authority lawyers who do not ensure they are released and said that apex court has held 30-40 years back that even prisoners have human rights. The apex court had on February 21 asked the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to look into the issue of overcrowding of prisons and furnish figures before it regarding the population in the jails where occupancy was over 150 per cent as on December 31 last year. It had asked an advocate, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter, to look into the issue of rehabilitation and welfare of women prisoners as well as their children, including the aspect of education of such kids. It had asked NALSA Director Surinder S Rathi to ascertain through the member secretaries of the state legal services authorities, the number of vacant posts lying in major prisons in all states and union territories. It had also asked for the issues related to standard operating procedure for Under Trial Review Committees (UTRCs) and responses received from states and union territories on open jails. The committee, set up in every district, deliberates and recommends the release of undertrial prisoners and convicts who have undergone their sentences or are entitled to be released from jail due to bail or remission granted to them. Semi-open prisons or open prisons allow convicts to work outside the jail premises and earn a livelihood and return in the evening. The concept was brought in to assimilate the convicts with the society and reduce their psychological pressure as they faced lack of confidence in leading normal lives outside. The top court is hearing a matter relating to inhuman conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons across the country. It had earlier expressed shock at the large number of people languishing in jails in "complete violation" of their rights despite recommendations for their release by the legal services authority and had termed the situation as unacceptable. In September last year, the apex court had also passed an order on the issue of custodial deaths and said this was a crime and such incidents indicated the "apparent disdain" of the state to the life and liberty of prisoners. It had also passed a slew of directions over unnatural deaths and on prison reforms across India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today assured the state Assembly, and the families of those from the state killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, his government will work out a proper assistance package for them, and will continue giving them a monthly pension until it is done. During his reply to a debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor's address, the chief minister said in the Vidhan Sabha that as the state awaits the bodies of those confirmed dead in Mosul, his government is working out an adequate assistance package for the affected families. "The mortal remains of 27 Punjabis of the total 39 killed by the ISIS will reach Amritsar airport early next week," he said, urging members of the House to receive the bodies at the airport. The chief minister said he had requested the Ministry of External Affairs to announce ex gratia to the families and his government was awaiting their decision. The chief minister said he was in constant touch with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her junior minister V K Singh to ensure the mortal remains are brought back at the earliest and with due respect. Presently, the families of the victims from Punjab are being given a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 by the state government. Swaraj had told Parliament last week that the 39 Indians, abducted by the ISIS in Iraq in 2014, had been killed and their bodies recovered. As many as 40 Indians were abducted by the ISIS terror group from Mosul in Iraq but one of them escaped posing as a Muslim from Bangladesh, Swaraj had said in Rajya Sabha. The remaining 39 Indians were taken to Badoosh and killed, she had said. Search operations led to a mound in Badoosh where locals said some bodies were buried by the ISIS. Deep penetration radars were used to establish that the mound indeed was a mass grave, she had said, adding the Indian authorities requested their Iraqi counterpart to exhume the bodies. Swaraj said the mass grave had exactly 39 bodies, with distinctive features such as long hair, non-Iraqi shoes and IDs. The bodies were then sent to Baghdad for DNA testing. The DNA testing by Martyrs Foundation established the identity of 38 Indians while there has been 70 per cent matching of the DNA for the 39th person, she had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said the state government would soon convene an all-party meeting to deliberate on ways to check the menace of noise pollution caused by loudspeakers and public address system. Intervening in a Calling Attention raised by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Aman Arora, the chief minister said the issue was a matter of grave public concern and warranted a serious discussion. Expressing concern over the implications of noise pollution, the chief minister said the norms on the issue were being flouted blatantly, especially in the case of DJs at social functions, which result in inconvenience and disturbance to students. The chief minister had earlier authorised Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa to reply on the call attention on noise pollution. However, sensing the gravity of the issue and responding to the AAP MLA's insistence on a reply from the chief minister, Singh intervened to assure the House that his government would take inputs from various political parties and evolve a consensus on finding a permanent solution to the problem. The chief minister pointed out that there were guidelines under the Noise Pollution Regulation and Control Rules-2000 issued by the Government of India and, in accordance with the provisions of the Punjab Instruments Control of Noise Act, 1956, comprehensive guidelines had already been notified for the regulation of noise/sound pollution. Underlining the need to enforce these guidelines in letter and spirit, he said the authorities should strictly comply with these guidelines in the larger public interest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking serious note of the lack of teachers in state universities, Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh has sought details from vice chancellors about the vacant posts, an official release said today. The governor noticed that there is a difference in approved posts and teachers appointed in the state universities, the release said. He has asked the VCs to give the details along with an action plan by April 20, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborty today took over as the new director of Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management. Chakraborty, who was earlier the Registrar of Calcutta University, said he got the letter from state higher education department about the new posting at Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) yesterday. He had joined the university as professor of economics in 1989 and became the registrar in April last year. He was also the head of the department of South and South-East Asian Studies. Soma Bandopadhyay was earlier the Director of IISWBM, which is affiliated to CU. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a disturbing development, Shambhu Lal Raiger, accused of murdering a Muslim man, Afrazul, was deified in a procession taken out by right-wing groups on the occasion of Ram Navami here on Sunday, a matter which the police are now looking into, officials said. Raiger, who is presently behind bars, is accused of hacking Afrazul in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. What had made the 'hate-crime' all the more shocking was that it was committee on camera and the chilling video-clip had then gone viral on-line. In the procession, out of several tableaux, one was dedicated to Raigar. A man, impersonating the murder-accused posed with a pickaxe in his hand and another posed as the victim and lay on the ground. A flex message hailed the hate crime accused as someone who had tried to fight 'love-jihad'. "Wake up Hindu brothers, save your sister and daughter; Nation should be liberated of love jehad," the message, in hindi, said. It hailed Shambhu as someone who tried to eliminate 'love-jihad'. Shockingly, some of the organisers even defended the brazen eulogising of a hate-crime accused. Mahaveer Singh, an office bearer of Vishva Hindu Parishad, justified the inclusion of the controversial tableax in the procession. Terming "love-jihad" a big and serious issue, the VHP leader said if the government did not take any action and came out with a law pertaining on this matter, the country will be on the brink of a civil-war like situation. "The government needs to be serious and act before this issue pushes the country to the brink of a civil war," Mahaveer Singh said. Regar, he said, was an under-trial and could not be declared a criminal. Similarly, Hari Singh, an office bearer of Shiv Sena, who was also a part of the organizing committee, expressed pride in Regar's act. He brought to the attention of all Hindus to the issue of Love Jihad, which is a more serious matter of the time than even cancer. He did it for the Hindu community and it wasn't wrong, he said. Meanwhile, the police swung into action and began gathering information about the incident. We have learnt about this tableau and have began an investigation into the matter," said a senior police official. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajya Sabha could not bid farewell to 40 retiring MPs today or transact any business for the 16th day in a row as Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House for the day after AIADMK members protested over the Cauvery water issue. After laying of listed papers, the chairman said the House should bid farewell to retiring MPs. However, AIADMK members entered the Well of the House shouting slogans and carrying placards and were soon joined by the TDP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the House. "We don't have courtesy even for retiring members," Naidu remarked as he asked protesting members to go back to their seats. As his appeal went unheeded, Naidu asked both Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley: "Are we so helpless?". To this, Azad said the House should function. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affair Vijay Goel also appealed to protesting MPs to let the House function. He was seen persuading V Maitreyan of AIADMK to give up the protest and let the farewell process begin. As the AIADMK and the TDP did not relent, Naidu adjourned the House for 15 minutes and asked leaders of different political parties to meet him in his chamber. When the members reassembled, Naidu again appealed for peace in the House. "This is a very important occasion...40 members are retiring. We want to give them farewell," Naidu said, asking members to give the farewell in a "peaceful and dignified" manner. As the ruling Tamil Nadu party continued protest, Naidu said there were two options. One is to name the protesting members and take action against them, or adjourn the House and deprive retiring members from sharing their experience. Maitreyan sought intervention of the prime minister on their demand for immediate setting up of the Cauvery river water management board. "We are raising Tamil Nadu issue," Maitreyan said. To this Naidu quipped everybody was concerned about Tamil Nadu which is "part of Bharat Nadu". However, the AIADMK did not yield. An angry Naidu then adjourned the House for the day leaving opposition parties surprised. After the adjournment of the House for the day, Azad was heard urging members to remain seated in the House. Most of the opposition members, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remained seated in the House till 12 noon. Members from treasury benches too were in the House for quite sometime after the Chair had called it a day. Union Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley was seen holding discussion with several opposition members, including Azad. Earlier, when the House was adjourned for 15 minutes, most members and also the Prime Minister remained seated in the House. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh walked up to NCP cheif Sharad Pawar to exchange pleasantries. Several members both from the opposition as well as treasury benches were also seen discussing issues with the prime minister. BJP MP Roopa Ganguly was seen taking the prime minister's autograph on a book. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Babul Supriyo today alleged that police inaction was the reason behind the violence in Raniganj which claimed a life and demanded immediate deployment of central forces in the area. Supriyo said he had called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and requested him to look into the matter. Clashes had broken out between two groups over a Ram Navami procession yesterday, killing one person and injuring two police officers. "The violence in Raniganj took place because of police inaction in the area. Had the police acted earlier, it could have been averted. The police acted on behalf of their political masters and allowed the goons to have a free run in the area," the MP from Asansol told reporters here. A BJP delegation today met West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi here and complained about the clash in Raniganj. Supriyo said the state government should initiate action to deploy central forces in Raniganj to control the situation as locals did not have faith in the police administration. "I have informed Rajnathji and requested him to see that central police forces are deployed. But the fact is it is for the state government to ask for central forces," he said. The Union minister hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on a visit to New Delhi, claiming that she was busy with her political aspirations in the national capital when her own state was burning. Heavy police force was deployed during the day at Raniganj Bardhaman West district, a district official said. Peace has been restored with additional police forces patrolling the area, District Magistrate Shashanka Shetty said. State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak, who rushed to Raniganj last evening, said a man in his mid 50s was hacked to death during the clashes. He assured the local people that the situation had been largely brought under control by the police. Senior TMC minister Partha Chatterjee accused the BJP of trying to divide the people of the state along religious lines. "But they (the BJP) will never taste success as the people of this state stand for secularism and development," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Recruitment of married men and women into the Indian Army's legal branch, JAG, will be expensive for the Centre as it will have to incur "heavy expenditure" to find replacements for such recruits when they are absent from training due to their marital obligations, the government has claimed in the Delhi High Court. The submission by the central government has been made in an affidavit filed before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar which is hearing a lawyer's PIL that alleged "institutionalised discrimination" against married women by not inducting them into the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department. After the petition by lawyer Kush Kalra was filed in May 2016, the Army had come out with a corrigendum in August last year which had said that even married men are barred from recruitment into the JAG service. The reason behind the Army's decision, according to the affidavit, was that "if the bar of marriage is removed, it will lead to huge practical difficulties as a result of which very heavy expenditure would have to be incurred by the respondents (Centre and Army) to make arrangements for substitutes of the trainees during their absence for a period necessitated by domestic needs resulting from marriage." On why married men were being recruited into JAG (till the PIL was filed), the Army has taken the stand that its recruitment norms were of 1960-70 when young men married early and preventing them from applying would have reduced eligible candidates by half. "It is further respectfully submitted that Army instructions governing the entry of male candidates are of 60/70s vintage. At the time when these Army instructions were formulated, the socio-economic realities in the country were such, wherein, at the age group of 20-25 years, a large number of males are married. "Under such circumstances, not permitting married males would have reduced the eligible candidates to less than half," the government has said in its affidavit in which it has also stated that from 1992, women were being inducted in the Army as the socio-economic realities had changed and both sexes were opting for careers before settling down. "Thus, there was no dearth of eligible candidates, both male and female, for commission into the Indian Army," it has said. The government has also said that there is no bar on male and female officers getting married after being commissioned into the service. The prohibition is there only during the training period and first year of service. The reason for this is -- non-eligibility of officers, up to the age of 25 years, for married accommodation. The PIL is expected to come up for hearing on May 21, 2018. The high court had earlier asked the Army how it could object to the recruitment of married women in JAG after the display by women fighter pilots and the BSF all-women bikers' contingent on the Republic Day. The JAG, responsible for dispensation of justice, handles varied legal issues of the force, including disciplinary and litigation cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Resolving the Rohingya crisis will be in interest of both India and Bangladesh, as the presence of thousands of "unemployed" refugees in the region can be as much a threat to India as to his country, Bangladesh High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali said here today. "We would like to see India play a major role in resolving the refugee crisis," he said, during a media interaction. "It is our problem today. It might be your problem tomorrow. Because if we keep another thousand Rohingya refugees unemployed in our region, then it will be a threat for you as well," Ali said. The Rohingya refugee influx into Bangladesh is not a matter of whether something is legal or illegal, he said, adding, "A group of people were driven out of their country and they had to take shelter in our country for their lives." Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown "maximum magnanimity" by letting the Rohingyas come in, he said. "But she had mentioned quite clearly that this will be a temporary shelter and the solution to the Rohingya issue must be found in Myanmar itself as this is where they have been living for a couple of centuries," Ali said. There were some agreements for rehabilitation of Rohingya refugees, Ali said. "India had signed some agreements with Myanmar government and we are trying to put pressure on Myanmar jointly as well as individually for the early repatriation of these Rohingya refugees," he said. Expressing concern about the possibility of refugees being misled, Ali said, "It is better for all of us for them to remain in their own country instead of falling in the wrong hands." "If they (Rohingyas) go to the Middle East, I don't know where they will end up, because we have seen ISIS in the past and I am quite concerned that these people should not be found in wrong hands", he said. On terrorism, Ali said Sheikh Hasina has shown zero tolerance to the menace and has banned several terror outfits. At the moment, there are no terrorist outfits operating from Bangladesh, he added. Sheikh Hasina has firmly controlled the situation and also handed over some terrorists to Indian authorities, he said. "India hasn't expressed any security concerns to us," Ali said. Security agencies of both the countries have checked smuggling of fake currency and drug syndicates, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) today said its subsidiary Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP will sell certain assets in Eagle Ford shale to Sundance Energy Inc for a consideration of USD 100 million (over Rs 650 crore). Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP is a subsidiary of both Reliance Holding USA, Inc and Reliance Industries Ltd. Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP has signed a purchase and sale agreement with Sundance Energy Inc to divest its interest in certain acreage, producing wells and related assets in the western portion of its Eagle Ford shale position for approximate consideration of USD 100 million, it said in a statement. The assets being sold are located in Atascosa, La Salle, Live Oak and McMullen Counties, Texas. Reliance continues to retain its interest in the remaining Eagle Ford assets that are core to its development priorities, the company said. The deal is subject to certain customary adjustments and closing terms and conditions. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of FY2018-19. RIL said the "transaction is in conjunction with sales made by Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc and Newpek LLC, the other working interest owners in the Joint Development with Reliance". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government will come out with a Rs 350 commemorative coin to mark 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and last Sikh Guru. "The Rs 350 coin shall be coined at the Mint for issue under the authority of the Central Government to commemorate the occasion of 350th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji," said the finance ministry in a notification. The coin with standard weight of 35 gram will have 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper and 5 per cent each of nickel and zinc. The obverse will bear the rupee symbol and denominational value '350' in international numerals below the Lion Capitol. The reverse side will bear the picture of Takht Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib in the centre. The years '1666' and '2016' in international numerals will be on the left and right periphery of the coin. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajya Sabha was today adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by AIADMK and TDP members over various issues even as most members wanted to bid farewell to about 40 retiring colleagues. As soon as the House was adjourned for the day, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad was heard urging members not to leave the House and remain seated. Most of the members, including those from the BJP and opposition parties, remain seated. However, after about 10 minutes most members from treasury benches left the House. Union minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley was seen interacting with several opposition members including Azad. Later at around 12 all the protesting Congress and BSP members too left the House. Earlier in the day Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu first adjourned the House for 15 minutes following protest by AIADMK and TDP. When the House reassembled, Naidu again made an appeal to protesting AIADMK members to sit down and let the farewell process start. However, AIADMK members remained standing and sought intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present in the House. As AIADMK members did not relent, the House was adjourned for the day even as the entire opposition expressed surprise over the abrupt adjournment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moscow today charged Washington had put "colossal pressure" on allies to expel scores of Russian diplomats, and vowed to retaliate. "This is the result of colossal pressure, colossal blackmail which is the main instrument of Washington on the international arena," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Uzbekistan. "We'll respond, have no doubt! No one wants to put up with such loutish behaviour and we won't." At least 116 alleged agents working under diplomatic cover were ordered out by 22 governments yesterday, dwarfing similar measures in even the most notorious Cold War spying disputes. The expulsions were a response to the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Expulsions of Russian diplomats were ordered by the United States Canada and Australia as well as a number of European Union countries, Albania and Ukraine. The row has plunged Russia's relations with the West to new lows amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine and Syria. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on Afghanistan in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent, Lavrov said the expulsions justified Russia's view that there are "few independent countries" remaining in Europe. Comments by British Prime Minister Theresa May blaming Russia for the poisoning were "simply an affront to the system of Anglo-Saxon justice system," Lavrov added. Britain had urged allies to take strong action in response to the attack that left former Russian spy Skripal and his daughter in critical condition. The United States responded particularly strongly, ordering 60 Russians to leave embassies and consulates and shutting down the Russian consulate general in Seattle. Australia also joined in the coordinated diplomatic move, expelling two Russian diplomats today that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said were "undeclared intelligence officers". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German tech company SAP SE today signed a pact with NITI Aayog's innovation unit under which the company will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) this year to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in schools. SAP SE will select among secondary schools from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the company said in a statement. The collaboration will allow SAP SE to further ignite innovation in India's large student population by providing right guidance, knowledge, and infrastructure, said Bernd Leukert, SAP SE Executive Board member, Products & Innovation. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said India's growth for the next few decades will depend on the innovation coming out of these tinkering labs under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Mission's director Ramanathan Ramanan said so far AIM has selected 2,441 schools across the country to establish ATLs, out of which 1,100 tinkering labs are operating. By this year, at least 2,000 tinkering labs will be functioning, he said. ATLs are play workspaces with state-of-the-art technologies like 3D printers, robotics, sensor technology kits, Internet of things (IoT), miniaturised electronics to stimulate innovation among students of class 6-12th. SAP SE has a strong presence in the Indian market. India is the second largest R&D facility for SAP with about 8,000 employees, according to the company statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a plea seeking a CBI investigation into the reasons behind the suicide by a 16-year-old girl who, according to her father, took the extreme step as she was allegedly "sexually exploited, oppressed and harassed" by certain teachers and officials of her school. The petition by the girl's father was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud which agreed to hear it next week. The father in his plea for CBI probe filed through advocate Sushil Tekriwal, has alleged that the Uttar Pradesh police has "botched up and hushed up the entire investigation". He has also sought directions to the respondents -- the Centre, UP and Delhi governments, UP police and CBI -- to ensure security and safety of the family members of the girl who was found hanging at her Noida residence on March 20. According to her father, the Delhi-based school, where she was studying in class IX, had allegedly "deliberately" failed her in two subjects -- Science and Social Science -- leading to his daughter taking the extreme step. He has said in his plea that he has moved the apex court as the school was located in Delhi, while the incident of suicide occurred at Noida in UP, giving rise to "jurisdictional compulsions for the police of both the states, jurisdictional complications, a big gap in the investigation process, procedure and communication and also non-cooperation and inaction amongst themselves". The father, who claims to be a noted Kathak dancer, has alleged that his son, now an undergraduate student, also studied in the same school where "he was also bullied, tortured and humiliated by certain teachers for being good in performing arts and not being good in studies". He claimed that as a result of the school's conduct, his son was forced to leave the institution, and added that he could not remove his daughter, who also faced similar treatment there, as he did not have the means to admit her anywhere else. He has also said in his plea that his daughter was a brilliant artiste who was well versed in Kathak and used to perform in several high profile dance festivals of national and international fame. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today allowed a co-owner of Mumbai's Kamala Mills to withdraw his petition challenging his arrest in the case related to the fire tragedy in the building complex that had claimed 14 lives last December. The top court granted liberty to Ravi Surajmal Bhandari to approach the trial court for bail and directed it to consider the bail application forthwith. During the hearing, the bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Bhandari, how can the habeas corpus petition filed by him be entertained when he is in lawful custody. A habeas corpus petition is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a court. Divan cited an earlier verdict of the apex court and said even if he was arrested, a habeas corpus petition can be filed saying it was an illegal detention by the police. "I am the owner of Kamala Mills complex which is spread on 20 acres and has 40 restaurants and over 100 corporate offices. I was arrested because I had signed the lease agreement with the restaurants allowing them to operate," he said. When the bench asked Divan what the cause of the fire was, he said it was found that some decorative items had caught fire at the restaurant and people had rushed to the bathroom to save themselves, which in turn resulted in their death due to asphyxiation. The court said the habeas corpus petition cannot be entertained and his client should file a bail application. Divan then sought permission to withdraw the petition with the liberty to file a fresh bail application before the trial court. The bench, while granting the liberty to Divan, directed the trial court to forthwith consider the bail application of Bhandari. On March 23, Bhandari had told the apex court that he cannot be held liable for the fire tragedy and had dubbed his arrest as "illegal detention". He had said that he cannot be booked for the offence of culpable homicide as Kamala Mills was a commercial complex and no role can be attributed to him in the fire incident. "This court has already held in the Bhopal gas tragedy and Uphaar cinema hall fire cases that, at the most, there can be a case of negligence, which is a bailable offence and not culpable homicide," he had said. Bhandari was arrested in January along with fire officer Rajendra Patil and Utkarsh Pandey, who supplied 'hookahs' to the pubs Mojo's Bistro and 1 Above where the fire started. All the three are in judicial custody. Fourteen persons were killed and several others injured when a fire had broken out at the two pubs in the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai on December 29, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today asked the temples of Vrindavan in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh to give flowers offered by devotees to the shelter homes run for widows and destitute women for making perfume, coloured powder or incense sticks so that the inmates have a source of livelihood. The top court said that the Centre may consider extending this scheme to all major temples of the country at Varanasi, Tirupati and Puri. A bench of justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said that the temples in Vrindavan dump these flowers offered by devotees in river Yamuna which in turn results in pollution. "If these flowers are given to the shelter homes run for widows and destitute women by the Uttar Pradesh government, it may provide some livelihood for them," the bench said. The Ministry of Women and Child Development may consider extending this scheme to all major temple cities for welfare of widows and destitute. It directed all state government to give details of shelter homes, including the number of widows and destitute women in these institutions. The bench also asked Uttar Pradesh to give details of various schemes run for the welfare of these widows/destitute women, to enable the extension of beneficial schemes in other states. On February 7, the apex court had observed that state authorities do not appear to be interested in the welfare of widows and stressed on the need for a combined effort to improve their condition. It had said that several posts in the state commissions for women (SCW) were lying vacant in various states and there was "lack of communication" between the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the states on the action plan agreed upon for welfare of widows. It had told the Centre that there has to be a scheme for utilisation of funds given by the Centre to states for the welfare of widows. The court had said the state governments and UTs should inform the SCWs concerned, National Commission for Women as also the WCD ministry about the steps they proposed to take so that there is a combined effort and monitoring to improve the conditions of widows. The SC had earlier asked the ministry to respond to the report of a six-member panel set up by it to study the reports furnished before the court about the condition of widows and come up with a common working plan. The apex court had earlier taken note of the "pathetic" condition of widows after a plea was filed in 2007 highlighting how they lived in welfare homes in Vrindavan. It had referred to various reports filed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), District Legal Services Authority and National Commission for Women on the condition of shelter homes for widows in Vrindavan. One of the reports had said that there was lack of proper toilets and bathrooms in the shelter homes, besides poor water and electricity facilities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today refused to extend the May 31 deadline for the ongoing process of publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam in the wake of panchayat elections in the state, saying the polls should not become an impediment. The top court, however, spared the Additional Deputy Commissioner rank officer currently engaged in NRC updation work for the local bodies elections scheduled next month. "We have already said that the deadline for updation of NRC is May 31 and the next 30 days for cross-checking of data till June 30. It can't go beyond that and complete final draft should be ready by then. You deploy your surplus employees or request neighbhouring states, but no employee engaged in NRC work can be spared or disturbed," a bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said. The bench's remark came after the state government said the panchayat elections were due next month and urged that the employees engaged in NRC work be allowed to be deployed for the polls. The NRC is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam. The bench said it had no intention to interfere with the panchayat polls in the state and it should be held as per schedule. But the polls shall not become impediment in the work of NRC, it added. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Assam, told the court that as per the Panchayat Constitution Rules of the state, deputy commissioner is responsible for the elections but he was currently engaged in NRC work. "When we asked the deputy commissioner to work for polls, the state coordinator of NRC Prateek Hajela said it will be contempt of court as no officer can be engaged in any other work," he said. To this, the bench said if there was a statutory requirement, then the additional deputy commissioners of each district can be spared for the local bodies' election, but no other official can be allowed to do any other job, except NRC updation. The bench asked all state governments, railways, banks, CBSE, UIDAI and Ministry of External Affairs to assist the NRC officials in verification of the records in the stipulated period. Mehta said if the panchayat elections are delayed in Assam, then the state will lose a grant of Rs 1000 crore, which can be given only if the elected local bodies are in place as per the recommendation of 14th Finance Commission. During the hearing, the bench also pulled up the Registrar General of India (RGI) for "putting spanners" in the work of updation of NRC. "Mr. Attorney General, we have received a confidential report from our sources and have found that this gentleman (Registrar General of India) is putting spanners in the work," the bench said. Attorney General K K Venugopal, who was present in the courtroom, asked whether the court meant that the RGI was delaying the work. "Yes. We have received a confidential report regarding this. If that will be the case, we will not hesitate to direct for replacing the Registrar General of India," the bench said. RGI Shailesh was also present in the courtroom when the bench made the observation and warned him of the action. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on May 8. On February 20, the apex court had made it clear that the ongoing process of publication of the final NRC in Assam has to be completed by May 31 this year and work on it should continue without "any interference from any quarter". The bench, while noting in its order that the work of final draft NRC would be completed by June 30, had also dealt with the issue of the upcoming panchayat and local body elections in Assam, which were due in for April this year. The top court had said that the state election commission would conduct these elections as per schedule but the poll process should not cause "slightest of interference in the publication of NRC". It had said that the work of holding election will not be at the cost of upgradation and preparation of NRC. The first draft NRC for Assam was published in December end as per the apex court's direction to come out with the first draft NRC by December 31, 2017. The apex court had said that claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by December 31 last year, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine. The NRC of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement among the state and central governments and the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Teenagers from a Scottish and an Indian group will perform together at a dance show here on March 30 as part of the British Council's year of culture celebrations. The show, 'Teenage Times Remix Kolkata', is based on Scottish choreographer Christine Devaneys production Teenage Trilogy, which was premiered in Scotland last month. Along with Hendrik Lebon from Belgium, Devaney will work with 15 teenagers, three local dancers and a visual artist, a British Council statement said yesterday. "Such collaborations help to deepen and broaden our mutual creative and learning experience by making something together which we can share across cultures, Devaney was quoted saying in the statement. The collaboration between ThinkArts India and Curious Seed Scotland is supported by the British Council and Creative Scotland. British Council (East and North-East) director Debanjan Chakrabarti said, "This year, as we celebrate 70 years of the British Council in India, we hope this Scotland-India collaboration will inspire young people in both countries to know each other better." This performance, an extension of Devaneys previous workshop with ThinkArts in October 2017, was conceived on the basis of the "overwhelming response" received from the audience last year, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena today asked the BJP to "fearlessly" remove those bureaucrats from the Maharashtra secretariat who delayed the implementation of projects and hindered development. The Sena also said when it pulled up the government for not implementing its schemes, the anger behind the criticism had to be understood. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has often been at loggerheads with senior ally BJP and has been vocal in criticising the Central and Maharashtra governments. The Sena's comments came a day after senior BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari slammed the state bureaucracy, particularly IAS officers, for a "negative mindset" which impeded development. Gadkari spoke on this yesterday at an event in Nagpur, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The Sena said during the previous BJP-Shiv Sena rule in the state, such hurdles in the way of development were "fearlessly removed" from the 'Mantralaya' (the state secretariat). "It is easy to allege that development is not happening due to such hurdles. However, weeding out such hurdles fearlessly and taking the development further is the sign of a strong administrator," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. The party, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, added that the anger over the non-implementation of schemes had to be understood. Innumerable announcements made by the present government in the last three-and-a-half years had not been implemented and only remained on paper, it claimed. "The state's treasury is unstable while the debt is increasing by the day. Where does one get the money for development," the Sena asked. It claimed that Fadnavis had to struggle to get an amount of Rs 89 crore cleared for setting up the Nagpur Police Bhavan, and this showed the pace of development in the state. Nagpur is the hometown of the chief minister. "The question plaguing the people is that if the chief minister himself has to struggle so much to get a mere Rs 89 crore sanctioned for a project, what will happen to the demands of people's representatives and the common man," the Sena asked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah today accused the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka of trying to divide Hindus and being the "most corrupt" one in the country. On a two-day visit to the poll-bound state, he said the move to accord religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Linagayats was an attempt to "divide" the Hindus. "Just ahead of the (assembly) elections in Karnataka, they have tried to divide Lingayats and Veerashaivas, also Lingayats and other communities, by announcing minority status for them," Shah told reporters here. Questioning the timing of the move, he asked the Siddaramaiah government, "What were you doing for five years?" In 2013, when your own (UPA) government was in power at the Centre, they had rejected it. Why was Siddaramaiah silent then? This is an attempt to divide the Hindus.." Shah said it was not a programme towards the welfare of the Veerashaiva and Lingayat community but a "conspiracy" to stop Yeddyurappa, considered a Lingayat strongman, from becoming the chief minister. "Lingayat community understands it and I am sure the people of Karnataka will answer it through ballots," he said. The Karnataka cabinet had recently decided to recommend to the Centre over according religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, apparently to cut into the vote bank of the BJP, which significantly banks on their support. Alleging that Siddaramaiah even tried to bring 'mutts' and temples under the government control, the BJP chief said it was given up following opposition to the move. "I have made five to six visits to Karnataka and after meeting people, I have been able to understand the feeling of Karnataka," said Shah. "The feeling of people of Karnataka is that he (Siddaramaiah) is not AHINDA leader, an AHINDU (anti-Hindu) leader," he added. AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits. He said if the Congress did not stop Siddaramaiah, the party might have to face "harsh consequences" in elections. "On one hand, Congress president speaks about uniting Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, while on the other hand in Karnataka, its own chief minister is speaking about dividing Hindus. "I have not seen such a sharp difference within a political party," he added. Accusing the Islamic outfit, Popular Front of India and its political wing SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) of being involved in killing Hindus and the BJP and the RSS activists, Shah alleged that the state government was playing "dirty vote bank politics" by withdrawing cases against them. "On one side, the Kerala government has recommended to ban PFI to the Union government, but Siddaramaiah finds nothing wrong with the PFI. This appeasement policy is the biggest threat to the security of Karnataka and India," he said. Shah also said the people of Karnataka had understood that "this is the most corrupt government." "Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was competition for corruption in the country, the Siddaramaiah government will get number one award," he said. On the charge by Congress president Rahul Gandhi describing JD(S) as BJP's 'B team' , Shah said there was no tacit understanding between the two parties. He said the BJP would contest all the 224 seats and form the government with clear majority without anybody's support. To a question on certain Lingayat seers demanding BJP tickets to contest the poll, Shah said it would be premature to answer the query as tickets have not been finalised yet. Asked about his meeting with Lingayat seers yesterday, Shah said there was no political motive behind it and it was done out of respect for them. To a question on absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, Shah said efforts were on to bring him back to India. Earlier, Shah kickstarted the 'Mushti Dhaanya Abhiyaan' (fistful foodgrain campaign) at Doddabati village near here where he collected food grains from farmers. The campaign is aimed at showing solidarity with the distressed farmers of Karnataka who have committed suicide. Shah said, "We will cook and eat the foodgrains collected from you all. It courses through our veins in the form of blood. It will constantly remind us of our commitment to rid you of stress and work towards your benefit." He rued that in the last four-and-half years, 3,500 farmers have committed suicide in the state due to the "utter negligence" of the Siddaramaiah government. He also promised setting up a state-of-the-art research and development centre at an investment of Rs 500 crore in Karnataka to find out the medicinal values of coffee and arecanut besides finding solutions to the diseases of arecanut and coconut. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha today showered praise on RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav and said he saw a "bright future" for the young leader. The actor-turned-politician also said Tejashwi would be a "major player" in the next Assembly polls in Bihar. "I am amazed at the maturity and poise that Tejashwi displays while answering tough questions. He has a bright future. He will definitely emerge as a force to reckon with," he told a channel here. The comments of Sinha, who represents the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, come close on the heels of his meeting with jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in Ranchi on Saturday. This meeting was followed by a visit, a day later, to the residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi whom he met in the presence of her sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap. "The precision with which Tejashwi speaks reminds me of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in his hey day," Sinha remarked. Replying to a query, he said, "Undoubtedly Tejashwi would be a major player in the next assembly polls in Bihar. I cannot say whether he will be in a direct fight with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also my dear friend. But even Nitish said the young man has a long political career ahead." Sinha was referring to Kumar's intervention in the Assembly yesterday wherein the chief minister had advised his former deputy to exercise restraint while raising, on the floor of the House, matters relating to communal tensions. Sinha, who has been critical of his own party and the Narendra Modi government for quite some time, said he was upset over not getting an invitation for the Bihar Diwas celebrations held last week. "The Bihari Babu was not invited to Bihar Diwas, for reasons we all know and I need not elaborate upon. So I thought it would be a good idea to meet my old friend Lalu who is a mass leader," Sinha said. "Bihari Babu" is one of the sobriquets by which Sinha is known. "Thereafter, on coming to Patna I met his family members and told them that Lalu was doing fine. It was a great reunion after a long time," he added. Sinha had visited a Ranchi hospital, where RJD supremo Lalu Prasad is admitted, accompanied by local Congress MP and former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay. Prasad has been serving sentence after being convicted in fodder scam cases. He was admitted to the hospital on March 17 after he fell ill at the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi. Sinha, however, parried questions about his future political moves as well as queries relating to the allegations levelled against his party over the recent spurt in communal tension in Bihar. "We shall talk about these things later," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Spanish man has been arrested after being caught at the Delhi airport with a live bullet in his bag, an official said today. Carlos J was going through the security checks at the Indira Gandhi International airport yesterday when a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel detected a "bullet-like object in his luggage, a force official said. A live bullet was recovered from his bag. Carlos J was handed over to the police as he could not produce valid documents for carrying the ammunition. The police arrested him, he said. The man was supposed to take a flight to Hyderabad, he said. In a separate incident at the same airport, three men were apprehended by the CISF security personnel yesterday for allegedly using a forged ticket to enter the airport. The three men were apprehended when they were found roaming suspiciously inside the Terminal-3 (T3) building of the IGI airport, the official said. The three told security personnel that they entered the terminal to see off their friend, who was travelling to Abu Dhabi, he said. They used a cancelled ticket of Goa to enter the airpor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan Navy today dumped in sea several bullet proof vehicles, including an LTTE ship, used by former presidents during the three-decade long civil war to prevent them from falling into "wrong hands". The vehicles, including one used by Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan, the former LTTE deputy leader who later became a politician, were dumped in the deep sea area off the western coast and destroyed last morning, the Navy said. It said the vehicles used by Presidents JR Jayawardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa were sunk after dismantling their communication equipment. The move was to prevent them from falling into "wrong hands" if they were disposed of through public auctions, it added. Armored vehicles became part of politicians' retinue due to LTTE's feared suicide squads. They allegedly assassinated several top leaders through suicide attacks, including Premadasa who was President between 1989 to 1993. Kumaratunga, the President between 1994 and 2005, survived an assassination attempt carried out by the suicide squad while suffering severe eye injuries. The Navy had also sunk an LTTE ship used to transport their arms supplies from Indonesia, the Navy said. The ship, which belonged to the LTTE fleet previously, was taken control of by the Navy in Malaysia and brought back to Colombo. According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the 30-year- long separatist war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives. The LTTE, which led the war for a separate Tamil homeland, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a three-day visit to Japan starting tomorrow during which she will co-chair the strategic dialogue with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and review the entire gamut of bilateral ties. The 9th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue will take place on March 29. "The two sides will review all aspects of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest," a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said. India and Japan concluded a Special Strategic and Global Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in 2014. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had also visited India in September 2017. Bilateral relations have been strengthened in diverse sectors in recent years. India and Japan have a strong cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, defence and science and technology. The Mumbai to Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project will be based on the Shinkansen super speed trains in Japan. Japan is today one of the largest investors in India, with a growing presence in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, financial markets and capacity-building, among others. According to official figures, Japanese FDI in India during 2016-17 was USD 4.7 billion, an increase of 80 per cent over the last year. In 2016-17, India-Japan trade reached USD 13.61 billion, showing a decrease of 6.21 per cent over 2015-16, when the total bilateral trade was USD 14.51 billion. India's export to Japan for 2016-17 was USD 3.86 billion, whereas India's import from the East Asian country for 2016-17 was USD 9.76 billion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Indian-origin men along with their two Pakistani accomplices have been sentenced to a total of 95 years in jail by a UK court for running an international drug-smuggling racket to "flood the streets of Britain" with more than 10 million pounds of illegal Class A drugs. The five men were part of a Leicester-based organised crime gang involved in importing heroin and cocaine hidden in purpose-built secret compartments in furniture, industrial bolts and children's clothes, the Leicestershire Police said. Jagdish Patel, 51, was found guilty of conspiracy to import and supply cocaine and heroin, and was sentenced to 25 years; Ravindra Modha, 55, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and was sentenced to 16 years; and Paulvinder Randhawa, 47, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and was sentenced to 18 years. Their Pakistani-origin accomplices Talib Hussain, 59, and Ayaz Hussain, 28 were sentenced to 24 years and 12-and-a-half years respectively by Leicester Crown Court yesterday. They were engaged in a plot to flood the streets of Britain with more than 10 million pounds of Class A illegal drugs, the court was told. The gang organised the importation of 60 kg of cocaine, with a street value of 9.6 million pounds, as well as 1 kg of heroin with a street value of 316,000 pounds. A further shipment of cocaine and heroin, organised by the group, was seized in France, while a shipment of heroin, destined for the UK, was seized in Pakistan. "Patel and Talib Hussain, with the support of Modha, were drug traffickers of a serious calibre. They were well connected in their trade to import a regular supply of drugs from Pakistan and the Netherlands," said Detective Inspector Harry Rai, who led the operation. Their racket was thwarted by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), working with the UK's National Crime Agency and law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands, Pakistan and France. Rai, who was EMSOU's Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said the sentencing marks the end of a very long and complex investigation that was undertaken over a number of months. "The communities of Leicestershire should be reassured that a significant amount of drugs have been prevented from reaching the streets... "In my 22 years in policing and 14 years being part of serious and organised crime investigations, I haven't come across anything on this scale," he added. An investigation was launched by EMSOU after Randhawa was caught by Scotland Yard in 2016 with a batch of bolts with heroin hidden inside. Working in liaison with the National Crime Agency and law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands, Pakistan and France, British detectives arrested the five men last year after establishing that they were involved in arranging, managing and overseeing the importation of drugs, as well as their distribution within the UK. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The RSS today accused the West Bengal's Trinamool Congress government of trying to appease a particular community and blamed it for creating a "deliberate confusion" over armed Ram Navami rallies and trying to shield fundamentalists involved in the violence. RSS state general secretary Jishnu Basu alleged that the state government restrained the police from taking action against fundamentalists who had attacked the peaceful Ram Navami rallies. The government, he said, couldn't decide on the armed rallies and had said it would give selective permission to those who have been holding armed rallies for the last several years, he said. "From the very beginning, we had said that we don't want to take out any armed rally if the government decides to ban it. We had said we would abide by the government order, but the state government deliberately created a confusion over it," he said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last week directed the police not to permit any organisation to hold armed processions during Ram Navami, except by those who have been doing it for a long time. Trouble over Ram Navami processions had erupted in various parts of West Bengal as members of saffron outfits clashed with the police in Murshidabad and Bardhaman West districts yesterday, resulting in a senior police officer losing his hand due to a bomb hurled at him. One person was killed and five police personnel were injured on Sunday in a clash between two groups in Purulia as sword-wielding BJP supporters defied the state governments ban on armed rallies on Ram Navami. At Raniganj in Burdwan West district, one person was killed and two police officers were injured in a clash between two groups over a Ram Navami procession organised by the BJP on Monday. Basu alleged that the TMC-backed fundamentalists had attacked the Ram Navami rallies across the state. "If you go through the FIRs lodged by the police, you will find the names who had hurled bombs at Ram Navami rallies," he said. "None of our activists were involved in any kind of violence. False cases are being lodged against us just because we want to celebrate religious festivals. Since Independence, the state has never witnessed such an anti-Hindu atmosphere. The TMC is silent just for the sake of vote bank politics," the RSS leader said. Hailing the participation in the Ram Navami rallies, Basu said Hindus of the state are uniting against the appeasement of the TMC regime. "If the state pursues separate rule for separate religions, the Hindus will unite to protest against it," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today expressed hope the Centre will set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) by March 29, a demand persistently made by the state government in the backdrop of recent Supreme Court judgement on the inter-state water dispute. The Supreme Court on February 16 pronounced its verdict on the vexed dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. After the verdict was announced, the lower riparian state has been urging the Centre to set up the CMB and the CWRC to ensure it received its due share of water. Tamil Nadu is of the stand the Centre must constitute the panels within six weeks from the day the apex court gave its verdict, which would be March 29. "There is still time...we expect the centre to set up CMB and also Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC)," Palaniswami told reporters here. He also recalled the legal struggles undertaken by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on the issue, including moving the court to get the final award of the Cauvery water dispute tribunal notified in a central gazette. AIADMK MPs have been disrupting Parliament to press their demand for the constitution of CMB and CWRC. The chief minister also pointed out to the protest by his party MPs in parliament over the issue. Last week, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had informed the state assembly that there was time till the end of the month for constituting the CMB and the CWRC. He also hinted that the government will formulate its strategy based on the Centre's move. To a question on the protest by locals against the expansion of Sterlite Copper Plant in Tuticorin, Palaniswami said the unit was not set up during the present regime, but assured that the objections raised by the people would be addressed. On the opposition to the proposed neutrino observatory in Theni district in the state, he said it was a not a new scheme that took shape recently and accused "some persons" of trying to create a "crisis" for the government. "They are doing so because they can't find any fault with the government." Anti-sterlite protesters are contending that the effluent discharge from the existing plant contaminated ground water and the expansion would further aggravate the situation. Opposition parties, including the DMK, have voiced concern on the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Virtually scoring a political point on its state autonomy plank, DMK working president M K Stalin today said that Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit told him that he would "consider and take a decision" on his review meetings in districts. "When we asked him how he could go on tour of districts and hold meetings, he told us candidly that he would think about it, consider and take a decision," the DMK leader said. Stalin, who is the leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said he and his party top leader Duraimurugan asked the Governor if it was proper for him to go on a tour to districts and hold meetings with officials when an elected government is in office. Purohit's initiative went against the state's autonomy and this was made clear to him, he said. "Whether it is the DMK or AIADMK regime, or if it is a horse-trading regime, it does not really matter. The fact is that there is a government in place," Stalin told reporters after calling on Purohit at the Raj Bhavan here. After about a 45-minute meeting with Purohit, he said if the Governor went ahead with his tour initiative after "saying that there is no government," his party would not object. The DMK leader, flanked by Duraimurugan,said he explained to Purohit that this was the reason behind his party holding protests whenever he went to districts for review meetings. Stalin said the Governor told them that he was not holding review meetings, but visiting districts to know about development work. The DMK leader said "we did not accept that." After giving up its separatist demand of "Dravida Nadu," in the early 1960's, DMK had been steadfastly wedded to the state autonomy plank. Conceptually, Dravida Nadu comprsied the southern States and DMK had made such a demand, claiming that only North India was growing. To a question, the DMK leader said either the Raj Bhavan or the government should come out with an official statement, saying that Purohit was not holding review meetings in districts for his party to give up protests against the State's figurehead. He said they spoke to the Governor on the State's autonomy persuasively and 'mounted pressure' so that he would desist from his review tour. Stalin said he called on the Governor on the latter's inivitation. Purohit apprised them that the appointment of the Vice-chancellor to the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University was as per norms. Political parties, including the DMK, had opposed that appointment as the VC faced "disciplinary proceedings." Stalin said the Governor's approach to explain the rationale behind the appointment issue was praiseworthy. Purohit told them that a panel which went into the charges against Sastri, who was appointed as VC, had given him a clean chit. "We will consider what needs to be done on this issue (law varsity appointment)," he said. Purohit, who assumed office last October, began touring the districts in November 2017 during which he had held review meetings involving officials. It evoked strong opposition from DMK and its friendly parties like VCK, which said it went against the State's autonomy and the Governor was only a titular head. While DMK had spearheaded the protest, VCK joined it in several locations. The Congress, an ally of the DMK, had also strongly critisied the Governor for his action. Purohit, had, however defended his district tours and meetings with officials, saying it was to "subserve his Constitutional function." He has already visited several districts, including Vellore, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Thanjavur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today reached out to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on their coordinated actions against Russia and his forthcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the White House said. In a decision reminiscent of the Cold War era, the US yesterday expelled 60 Russian diplomats, describing them as "intelligence officers" and ordered closure of the country's consulate in Seattle over the use of nerve agent allegedly by Moscow against a former Russian spy in the UK. The US move was followed by 14 EU members who expelled a number of Russian diplomats in a coordinated response. Germany and France said they would each expel four Russian diplomats. During separate phone calls, the three leaders expressed support for the West's strong response to Russia's chemical weapons attack in Salisbury, the UK, including the expulsion of numerous Russian intelligence officers on both sides of the Atlantic, the White House said. Trump and Merkel praised the joint announcements from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, European Union member states and other partners to expel undeclared Russian intelligence officers in solidarity with the UK and in response to Russia's reckless use of chemical weapons. "The President and the Chancellor discussed joining forces to counter China's unfair economic practices and illegal acquisition of intellectual property. They also discussed levelling the playing field on tariffs and the crisis with North Korea," the White House said in a readout of the call with the German leader. In his call with the French leader, Trump stressed the need to intensify cooperation with Turkey with respect to shared strategic challenges in Syria. "The two leaders also discussed trade practices between the United States and European Union and the next steps in addressing China's unfair trade practices," the White House added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Turkish court has again ruled against the release from jail of two Greek soldiers who strayed across the border and are accused of illegal entry into a military zone and espionage. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the court in Edirne, northwestern Turkey, ruled Tuesday there was sufficient evidence against the two and that they might flee if granted bail. The soldiers a lieutenant and a sergeant were arrested in Edirne earlier this month. Greece says they accidently crossed into Turkey due to bad weather while on a patrol against migrant smuggling. The arrests have further strained relations between the two NATO allies who have longstanding disputes over maritime boundaries and commercial rights. Greece has asked for assistance from the European Union, NATO and the United Nations for their release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men were arrested for allegedly robbing an Armyman of his wallet and mobile phone near the Okhla railway station in southeast Delhi, police said today. With the arrests, police claimed to have solved eight cases of snatching. The duo, Deepak (19) and Danish (22), used to target passengers in slow moving trains near the Okhla railway station, they said. As soon as the train slowed down further, one of them would snatch articles from unsuspecting passengers and get down immediately while the other would physically block the victim, police added. They also committed snatchings near the Okhla Mandi area, officials said. On March 7, Danish snatched the mobile phone of the complainant seated near the train door, deboarded the train and tried to escape along with his associate while the victim gave them a chase, they added. Soon the complainant caught up with the accused, police said, adding that the duo hit him in the head before running away with his wallet containing an Indian Army ID card, two Aadhaar cards and Rs 1,300 cash. On March 20, Danish was nabbed near Okhla Mandi. He was carrying a loaded country-made pistol. An Indian Army ID card and an Aadhaar card were found on him, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said. His associate, Deepak, was arrested later and six smartphones were recovered from him, he said. Police are probing why the accused specifically snatched the ID card of an Armyman, the DCP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A local court today sentenced two persons to 20 years in jail for gangraping a Dalit woman five years ago. Additional sessions judge B P Pujara sentenced Sultan Mekwa and Imtiaz Sheikh to 20 years in jail, while acquitted two others for lack of evidence. "The two were convicted under IPC section 376 (2). The court also fined them Rs 10,000 each. This amount will be given to the victim," public prosecutor Sameer Khira said. The crime took place on November 19, 2013, when the victim and her relative were abducted by Mekwa, Sheikh and two others, who took them to an isolated place near IP Mission School. Mekwa and Sheikh then gangraped the woman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN chief has expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the 64 victims who were killed in a major fire at a busy shopping mall packed with children and their parents in Russia's Kemerovo city. The fire at the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo, about 3,000 kilometres east of Moscow, was doused yesterday. Russian television showed images of thick black smoke billowing out of the roof of the shopping centre. Emergency services minister Vladimir Puchkov said on Russian television: "We have recorded that unfortunately as a result of the accident 64 people died." "The Secretary-General is saddened to learn about the deadly fire at a shopping mall in the city of Kemerovo in the Russian Federation," a statement issued by his spokesman said. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres wished speedy recovery to the wounded and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Russia. Russia's Investigative Committee said the roof collapsed in two theatres of the cinema in the blaze, which erupted at around 4 PM local time on Sunday. The doors of one of the shopping centre's cinemas, where children were watching cartoon films, were locked and people did not hear alarms, Witnesses told Russian television. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed shock over Myanmar army chief's reported remarks that Rohingyas have nothing in common with the country's other ethnic groups, calling on the leaders to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred. General U Min Aung Hlaing, during a speech to a military gathering in Kachin State, referred to the ethnic Rohingya community as "Bengalis", according to a report in the Dhaka Tribune. The report quoted him as saying that the "Bengalis do not have any characteristics or culture in common with the ethnicities of Myanmar. The tensions (in Rakhine State) were fuelled because the 'Bengalis' demanded citizenship. In a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman, Guterres expressed shock at the reports of remarks attributed to Hlaing. The UN Chief urged "all leaders in Myanmar to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred and to promote communal harmony," the statement issued by Guterres's spokesperson said. He said such leadership is critically needed to advance institutional measures to combat discrimination and implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission. "The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of the violence and the responsibility of the Government of Myanmar to provide security and assistance to those in need," the statement said, adding that it is critical that conditions are put in place to ensure that the Rohingya are able to return home voluntarily, in safety and in dignity. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been driven into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August in the wake of a military crackdown in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is closely following the US government's decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats and will engage "as required" with the governments concerned, a UN spokesman has said. "We have seen the announcement by the US Government of its decision to take action against the certain diplomats of the Russian Federation in the US, Deputy UN Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at the daily press briefing yesterday. He said he can confirm that the United States Mission to the UN informed the UN Secretariat of its decision to take action under Section 13(b) of the UN-US Headquarters Agreement with respect to certain members of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the United Nations. "This action may require those members to leave the country, Haq said, adding that the world body will not comment further on the issue at this stage due to the "sensitivity" of the ongoing matter. He added that the Secretary General will closely follow the matter and engage as appropriate with the governments concerned. The Trump administration ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the US, following similar actions taken by other countries in the wake of the allegation by the United Kingdom that Russia was behind an attack using a deadly nerve-agent in Salisbury on March 4 that left former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, hospitalized in critical condition. Of the 60 expelled, 12 are intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission to the United Nations who have been accused of abusing their privilege of residence in the United States. "After a review, we have determined that the 12 intelligence operatives engaged in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security. Our actions are consistent with the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said. She slammed Russia for its "destabilizing behaviour" across the world, such as its participation in the atrocities in Syria and its illegal actions in Ukraine, saying it has now used a chemical weapon within the borders of one of Washington's closest allies. "Here in New York, Russia uses the United Nations as a safe haven for dangerous activities within our own borders, she said. On March 14, the UK brought the charge before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, where Haley said that the US stood in solidarity with the UK in denouncing the crime and believed Russia had been responsible for the attack. At the same meeting, both Russia and the UK said the incident should be investigated by the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN-backed body which works to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and eliminate chemical weapons use, and the threat of their use. The UK Foreign Ministry announced later that independent investigators from the OPCW were due to arrive in the UK to kick off their probe into the nerve agent used in the Salisbury attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today announced a hike in the state MLAs local area development fund from Rs 1.50 crore to Rs two crore annually. Responding to the demands of MLAs on the last day of the state Assembly's budget session that commenced on February 8, he said the 'vidhayak nidhi' or the fund given to MLAs for local area development will now be Rs 2 crore. The chief minister also granted 100 handpumps to each MLA in rural areas and submersible pumps for the urban areas. To a senior BJP member's suggestion for plot or flat for legislators at subsidised rates in Lucknow, Noida or Ghaziabad, Adityanath said that it seemed unbecoming for legislators to raise demands for themselves as they are answerable to the people. To a suggestion that the 'vidhayak nidhi' be hiked to Rs five crore or works worth that amount be taken up, Adityanath said it was a good suggestion and if all the members agreed, it could be taken forward. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Security Council members vented frustrations and traded blame over their unheeded demand for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria, with the US envoy calling it "a day of shame." With a unanimous February 24 vote, the council called for a 30-day break in hostilities "without delay" to enable humanitarian aid and medical evacuations as Syria enters its eighth year of civil war. But bombings didn't stop, though key Syrian ally Russia arranged five-hour daily "humanitarian pauses" in the besieged Damascus suburbs known as eastern Ghouta. "History will not be kind when it judges the effectiveness of this council in relieving the suffering of the Syrian people," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said yesterday, adding it "should be a day of shame for every member." Since the resolution passed, the UN and other agencies have delivered aid to about 137,000 people around Syria -- an improvement since earlier this year but still "crumbs" compared to what's needed, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said. And "5.6 million Syrians in acute need cannot live on crumbs," he added. Last month, the Syrian government launched a massive military operation with Russian air support to retake eastern Ghouta, which pro-government forces have besieged since 2013. After weeks of heavy bombardment, two rebel groups and al-Qaida fighters withdrew from their strongholds; Syrian troops are now trying to push rebels out of a last one, the town of Douma. More than 1,600 civilians have been killed in the recent government offensive, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Over 120,000 people have left eastern Ghouta. Critics say the evacuations amount to forced displacement, and the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross have refused to facilitate them. Haley blamed the Syrian government, Russia and Syrian ally Iran of making "a mockery" of the cease-fire demand and said Russia had used its veto-wielding seat to stop the Security Council from doing more. British Ambassador Karen Pierce implored Russia to use its influence with Syria to further UN humanitarian efforts, calling the lack of aid access "diabolical" -- "a strong word, but there are no others to describe what is happening," she said. Syria refers to opposition fighters as terrorists and says they're the cause of civilian suffering. "We have been witness to a state of hysteria over the past weeks in the council as the Syrian government sought to exercise its sovereign right and to combat terrorist groups ... and to restore security and stability," Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said. Russia's envoy argued his country was the only council member implementing "concrete measures" toward the resolution's goals. He pointed to the "humanitarian pauses," insisting the evacuations were voluntary, and said Russians had provided food, drinking water and medical aid to evacuees. Russian also has been negotiating with rebels to try to get them to leave Douma. "The Russian Federation has proactively taken measures to normalize this situation," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said. "Some members of the Security Council prefer to squander time on letters and rhetoric with unfounded claims against our country." The discussion came a day after the U.S., the U.K. and about two dozen other countries, some of them council members, announced they were expelling a total of over 130 Russian diplomats, in a show of solidarity with Britain over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England. Russia has protested the expulsions and has said President Vladimir Putin will decide how to respond. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States is looking forward to a potential meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the White House has said. Earlier this month, a South Korean delegation, led by its national security advisor, had conveyed Kim's invitation to Trump for a meeting. The invitation was accepted by Trump, taking the world by surprise. The North Korean leader reportedly expressed a commitment to denuclearisation. Trump had said that Kim had also promised not to conduct missile tests till the meeting. "We're looking forward to a potential summit some months in advance," White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters at a conference yesterday. Asked about the reports suggesting that Kim Jong-un was in China, Shah refused to confirm their veracity. "We can't confirm those reports. We don't know if they're necessarily true," he said. "Where we are with North Korea is in a better place than we used to be because the president's maximum pressure campaign, in conjunction with dozens of countries around the world, has paid dividends and has brought the North Koreans to the table," Shah said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two top American senators have urged President Donald Trump to sell F-35 fighter jet to Taiwan so that the small island nation can defend itself from China. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is believed to have requested the purchase of the F-35B vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft to bolster Taiwan's air defence. "Taiwan has a legitimate requirement to field a modern fighter fleet to address a myriad of defence contingencies. Therefore, Taiwan is requesting US support in their procurement of the F-35B," Senators James M Inhofe and John Cornyn wrote in a letter to Trump. After years of military modernisation, China shows the ability to wage war against Taiwan for the first time since the 1950s, they said. These fighters will have a positive impact on Taiwan's self-defence and would act as a necessary deterrent to China's aggressive military posture across the Asia-Pacific region, the senators said. "The survivability of the F-35B and modern long-range sensors could help Taiwan intercept Chinese missiles, promoting deterrence well into the next decade. The F-35B would not only provide a modern fifth-generation fighter, but would also bolster their capabilities in next-generation warfare," the letter said. However, if determined that release of the F-35B to Taiwan is premature, the two Senators hoped that Trump will instead make available additional F-16Vs to address the "quantitative and qualitative challenges confronting Taiwan's fighter fleet". Taiwan already fields the F-16, and this would represent a cost-effective solution to Taiwan's legitimate defense requirement for additional fighters, they said. "If Taiwan's air defence fleet is allowed to degenerate in number and quality, I am concerned that it would be destabilising and would encourage Chinese aggression to ensue.Additionally, I am concerned that Taiwan's military weakness and the inability to mount a credible air force would place an undue burden on forward-deployed US forces in North East Asia," the letter said. In 1993, the US sold Taiwan 150 F-16s to bolster its air defences, ensuring that Taiwan pilots flew US-made fighters to defend Taiwan's sovereign airspace. "Those F-16s have been the backbone of Taiwan's air force for over 20 years," the senators wrote. Taiwan currently has approximately 144 F-16 fighters in its inventory; 15 are in the US for training, and an additional 24 will be offline on a rolling basis in their ongoing upgrade program that runs through 2023. "At a reasonable operational rate, Taiwan is likely able to field only 65 F-16s at any given time in defense of the island. In my opinion, this is not enough to maintain a credible defense," Cornyn and Inhofe wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The merger proposal of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, to create the country's largest telecom company, is in the final stages of approval, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said today. The two companies last week announced the top deck for the the soon-to-be-merged entity, naming Balesh Sharma as the new CEO. Asked about the status of the merger process that is awaiting the telecom department's approval, Sundararajan said: "It is in final stages of approval." The merger has already received the green signal from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) as well as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), she noted. "FDI approvals are involved and also liberalisation of licences... There are a number of clearances involved. We are in the process of expediting it," Sundararajan told reporters on the sidelines of a Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) event on catalysing 5G launch in the country. Vodafone and Idea, the second and the third largest operators in the country, recently announced the new leadership team of the merged entity that will have Kumar Mangalam Birla at the helm as the non-executive Chairman. The merger - slated to create India's largest telecom operator in terms of customer base and revenue market share - is expected to be completed by June this year, subject to statutory approvals, the two companies had stated. The combination, which is set to dislodge the numero uno player Bharti Airtel, was imminent as the incumbent operators have been bruised by aggressive tariffs from newcomer Reliance Jio, triggering a price war in the industry. The merged entity is projected to be worth over USD 23 billion with a 35 per cent market share. Sundararajan also said that the Department of Telecom is in the final stages of drafting the new National Telecom Policy 2018, and will thereafter place it before the Telecom Commission for approval. "I cannot give a specific date...but we're in the final stages of drafting the policy before we take it to the Telecom Commission. After that it will go to the government," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane today said that he would meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the issue of fees being charged from non-Goan patients availing medical treatment at state-run hospitals. The Maharashtra government had recently written to the Goa government to waive this fee for patients arriving from Maharashtra for treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and other hospitals. Rane maintained that the recent decision to charge patients coming from outside the state would continue, adding that he would be in Mumbai tomorrow to meet Fadnavis to seek an amicable solution. "I have asked for an appointment with Maharashtra CM Fadnavis. I will suggest that GMCH or north Goa district hospital be empanelled under the medical insurance scheme of Maharashtra. By tomorrow we should be able to resolve the issue," Rane said. Fees for foreigners availing treatment in state-run hospitals would be hiked in the near future, Rane informed, "I want to charge foreigners more as they can afford to pay. When we travel to Germany or Australia, no one gives us free medical treatment. Goa is a tourist state but that doesn't mean we can provide it for free," Rane said. He informed that the state government was planning to increase fees for foreigners from the current 20 per cent of the rates that the government pays as part of the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana to 50 per cent for "A" level hospitals. The DDSSY is a state-run medical insurance scheme under which people of Goa are provided free medical treatment at government and private hospitals. Speaking about the differences that have cropped up between Goa and Maharashtra on the issue of medical fees for non-Goan patients, Rane said that some people "working with political motivation" want the issue to "flare up". He added that poor people would not be hurt by this move as the medical superintendent of the GMCH has the power to exempt the fees of those who are poor and are unable to pay. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman gave birth to a girl in the running Akal Takht Superfast train today, railway officials said. Railway officials said Priya Verma, who hails from Patna, was travelling to Ludhiana in the Akal Takht Superfast along with her husband. When the train reached near Roorkee, the woman suffered labour pain and with the help of some of the female passengers she gave birth to a girl child in the train, railway officials said. When the train reached Ambala Cantonment railway station, her husband contacted railway authorities and informed them about the "serious" condition of the new-born, an official said. The station superintendent made arrangements to send her to a local civil hospital. Dr Satish Kumar, a doctor of the civil hospital who attended the child, said the child was under-weight and was referred to PGIMER at Chandigarh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) John Krasinski and Emily Blunt may have been married for almost a decade but they collaborated for the first time on "A Quiet Place" and the actor-director says it was "the best time"of his career. Krasinski has earned universal praise for his directorial venture, which features him and Blunt as a couple who along with their children are forced to live in silence to escape the mysterious creatures roaming the earth. If they make a sound, they will be hunted. The actor, best known to fans for his role of Jim Halpert in "The Office", said it was a very intense experience as they lived their worst fears as parents on the survival drama. "We were about to live through our biggest fears as parents together on screen, which was a bit crazy. (But) Working with my wife will go down as probably the best time I've ever had in my career," he said in a statement. "We usually keep our careers completely separate, but we're each other's biggest fans. We each have our own process and we weren't sure how they would intermingle, but it turned out to be absolutely the most fun I've had. Emily is a tremendous and sensitive actress, and it's been amazing for me to work so closely with someone I admire so much," Krasinski added. Blunt said it felt risky to play Evelyn to Krasinski's Lee but they realised they were on the same page creatively and it helped them overcome their initial anxiety. "The timing meant John and I were able to approach these roles with great vulnerability," says Blunt. "I felt so valued by John creatively. I've always felt valued as his wife and mother of his kids, but this was about discovering that we could be on the same creative page. We were definitely nervous about it and it was a bit scary, but it turned out to be amazing." Exclusively distributed by Viacom18 Motion Pictures in India, the Paramount Pictures' "A Quiet Place" will release in India on April 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of Indian Youth Congress activists today staged a protest outside the Election Commission office here over alleged leak of the date of Karnataka Assembly election. A protest march was taken out from the IYC office on Raisina Road to the Election Commission's office on Ashoka Road. The activists raised slogans against the Election Commission and the BJP in front the ECI headquarters. Terming the "leak" as "unprecedented", the IYC leaders alleged that BJP was "encroaching" upon functioning of the Election Commission. "This is very unfortunate. The ruling BJP has encroached upon the functioning of Election Commission of India. The very neutrality and independence of it is in doubt," said a IYC statement. BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya today tweeted the date of the Karnataka Assembly polls before the Election Commission announced it, prompting the panel to describe the leak as a "very serious issue" that merited a probe and "stringent action". Malviya, however, tweeted that he had only quoted a channel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid boycott by the principal opposition party YSR Congress and BJP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today convened an all-party meeting to discuss the next course of action for securing the state's rights under the AP Reorganisation Act,2014. Naidu, however, said he would visit New Delhi on April 2 and 3 to meet leaders of various political parties and seek their support for the state's fight for its rights. The Jana Sena floated by actor Pawan Kalyan also stayed away from the meeting which was attended by other organisations including industrial and employees' bodies. The Jana Sena and Left parties said Naidu's party, the TDP, was to be equally blamed along with the BJP for the injustice being done to the state post-bifurcation. Though friendly with the Jana Sena, the Left parties attended the four-hour-long meeting but did not support a resolution proposed by the Chief Minister. CPI-M state secretary P Madhu and CPI secretary K Ramakrishna hit out at the chief minister, saying he was only trying to "wash his sins off." "You booked cases against us and threw us in jails when we were fighting for the states cause," they said, referring to the agitations over the last three years seeking special category status (SCS) for the state. The Congress and various other organisations, however, backed the resolution. They said they would support any fight taken up by the state government against the Centre to get the Reorganisation Act and the promises made in Rajya Sabha ahead of the bifurcation, including grant of special category status, fully implemented. The YSRC, in a statement, objected to Naidu leading a fight for securing SCS and asserted that it would not be party to "yet another conspiracy" of the Chief Minister. Terming the meeting a "political ploy" of the TDP, Jana Sena founder-president Pawan Kalyan said the Chief Minister lacked a "strong will and commitment" to bring out a positive result. "The so-called all-party meet should have been held three years ago when the BJP was trying to get away from fulfilling its promise of granting SCS to AP," he said. "The TDP is now seeking to push the blame on all other parties to cover up its wrong deeds," Kalyan said. Meanwhile, an official release said the resolution at the 'all-party-organisations' meet decided to "awaken people in the next ten days and prepare them for the fight to protect the states interests." All those committed to the state's cause should sport black badges and protest the Centres attitude, the release said, referring to another decision taken at the meeting. It quoted the employees organisations as saying that they would work extra hours in "Japanese style" to register their protest. The state government, at the meeting, circulated a 118-page note on the bifurcation issues and a 17-page summary of utilization certificates submitted to the Centre for central funds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (In March 25 story, corrects paragraph 16 to remove reference to Richard Mille, which said it is not working with Anish Bhatt)By Sarah White and Silke KoltrowitzBASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - A boom in online luxury goods sales is finally convincing high-end watchmakers, long sceptical that customers would pay thousands to buy intricate timepieces on the web, to step up their investments in e-commerce. Courting younger shoppers, brands large and small are joining an online push sweeping the luxury goods world, where web sales are already major growth drivers for fashion labels. "We didn't ... (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank is seeking to replace Chief Executive John Cryan amid an intensified boardroom row over the bank's future and alarm at its performance, the Times newspaper reported on Monday.Germany's largest bank has approached Richard Gnodde, a senior executive of Goldman Sachs , to take on Cryan's role less than two years into his tenure, the newspaper said.Deutsche Bank was not immediately available to comment on the London newspaper's report. https://bit.ly/2G8F3AM Gnodde, who is a vice chairman of Goldman Sachs, is said to have been pursued by the lender amid a breakdown ... (Reuters) - Fortis Healthcare Ltd said on Tuesday it would sell its hospital business to Manipal Hospitals Enterprises Private Ltd, creating the largest provider of healthcare services in India by revenue.For every 100 shares of Fortis held, a shareholder will receive 10.83 shares in Manipal Hospitals, the combined company that will be created following the deal, Fortis said. Fortis, based in the northern Indian city of Gurugram, also said it approved the sale of a 20 percent stake in diagnostics chain SRL Ltd to Manipal Hospitals, providing Fortis with more than 7 billion rupees.Manipal ... By Hyunjoo JinSEOUL (Reuters) - General Motors said its loss-making South Korean operations would file for bankruptcy if its union did not agree to cut labour costs by April 20, heaping pressure on workers and the South Korean government to swiftly agree a rescue plan. The U.S. automaker announced in February it would shut down one of its four factories in South Korea, and asked for government support and union concessions to stay in South Korea.Barry Engle, the President of GM International, also told the union leader of GM Korea on Monday the unit needed to secure $600 million in operating ... India's Income Tax department has frozen Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp's bank accounts and deposits in Chennai and Mumbai for allegedly evading a dividend distribution tax (DDT), according to a report on Tuesday. A Cognizant spokesman confirmed the report and said in a statement that a court has instructed the tax department not to take further action pending further hearings. Cognizant failed to pay the tax of more than 25 billion rupees ($385 million) in the 2016-17 financial year, the Hindu newspaper reported, citing officials from the tax department. ... By Pamela Barbaglia, Martinne Geller and Ben HirschlerLONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Food giants Nestle , Kraft Heinz and Unilever are expected to bid for GlaxoSmithKline's Horlicks health nutrition business, which could fetch more than $4 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.GSK has started a strategic review of Horlicks - a malt-based drink brand popular in India - and some of its smaller products, after buying Novartis out of their consumer healthcare venture for $13 billion on Tuesday.The main asset on the block is GSK's 72.5 percent stake in its Indian subsidiary ... (Reuters) - Vedanta Resources Plc said on Tuesday its India unit Vedanta Ltd's copper smelting operations at Thootukudi, in Tamil Nadu, will be closed for about 15 days as part of a maintenance shutdown.The news of the maintenance activity, which Vedanta said was earlier scheduled for April, comes amid local media reports that thousands had taken to the streets and shut shops in Thootukudi to protest against the expansion of the smelter.The refining and copper rod manufacturing operations would continue as usual at the smelter, Vedanta said in a statement. The company did not return calls ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is investigating whether two loans totalling more than $500 million to the family real estate business of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner violated any criminal laws or regulations, according to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.Democratic lawmakers asked the White House and Kushner Cos for documents after the New York Times last month reported the loans extended in 2017 by Citigroup Inc and the private equity firm Apollo Global Management.In a letter to a congressman made public on Monday, David Apol, acting ... For close to a century, almost every urban Indian male had his first suit, or jacket tailored at one companyRaymond. But over the last decade, the proliferation of both custom-tailored brands and off the rack options or what some call "The Zara-fication of fashion" has pushed the brand off the default list for many. And that is triggering a rethink on the brands future role and positioning in the evolving universe of Indian male fashion. In some part, change is being led by an organizational transformation on the digital front and being pushed through ... Your letters for Sept. 23 Those with knives out have agenda of their own Albertans need to be careful what they wish for. I am not a fan of Jason Kenney and I think he has demonstrated that he doesnt have the strength to provide the kind of leadership the province requires. However, there are many within the UCP ranks, including the party hierarchy (Joe Mullan) and caucus, whose primary interest is in protecting the ranks of the unvaccinated to continue to spread the pandemic. They appear to be prepared to ignore the rights of those of us who have done what was asked and would now like to return to some semblance of normalcy. | BY Lynchy | Dentsu Aegis Network Malaysia has appointed Chinar Joshi as Managing Director of Vizeum Malaysia, succeeding Wong Siew Wai who has moved on to pursue other opportunities. Joshi (pictured) joined Vizeum last year as General Manager, Strategy. Since then, he has been instrumental in streamlining the agencys operations and driving more integrated marketing solutions for Vizeums clients, as well as overseeing strategic deliverables across the network. Recent RECMA report ranked Vizeum as the worlds number one network for new business growth, with over USD1 billion of new business wins recorded globally in 2017. This fantastic achievement is a testament of our product and quality of service and solution we bring to the table. I am excited to leverage our global success and products for the Malaysian market, thus driving more commercial initiatives and new revenue streams for the firm. More importantly, backed by a strong team and a great product we are determined to ensure that the agency delivers smart and insightful business solutions to our clients. We think of ourselves as a business solution partner and not just a media agency, which allows us to cater to companies with a business model thats built for the digital economy, Joshi said. Its been quite a rewarding experience and Im grateful for this opportunity to step up, he shared. Joshi has been in Malaysia for 7 years. Prior to Vizeum, he was at IPG Mediabrands Malaysia, first with Universal McCann in a Strategy & Planning role, and subsequently promoted to General Manager to lead IPGs media agency BPN. During his stint at IPG, Joshi was part of the team that had won three consecutive Agency of the Year titles at the Malaysian Media Awards, while managing high-billings portfolios such as Johnson & Johnson, CIMB, U-Mobile and Suntory & Cerebos. Joshis industry experience also includes insights gained from his time in global creative shops such as Wieden+Kennedy and Ogilvy & Mather in home country, India. He reports to Nicky Lim, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network Malaysia. Lim said, Vizeum has achieved tremendous growth over the last decade, but with our industry rapidly changing in this fourth industrial revolution, theres just so much more that an agency as dynamic and agile as Vizeum can take on for greater success under a new age leadership. Joshi possesses qualities of an ambitious and forward-thinking leader, and for that, were entrusting him with this vital task of bringing Vizeum to the next level. | BY Lynchy | BBH Singapore further grows their creative talent with the addition of Creative Director Mara Vidal. Vidal brings a wealth of experience having previously been involved in many award winning campaigns at both creative and digital agencies in London. Starting her career at Fallon London, Vidal (pictured) worked on Cadburys famous Gorilla campaign, and from there continued to develop award winning campaigns at Mother where she worked on Becks and IKEA; Digitas where she helped to launch Microsofts critically acclaimed Brandon Generator, and BBH London working on Tesco, H&M, Vigin Media and KFC to name but a few. Most recently Vidal, worked as Creative Director for The Corner, in London, where she won Marketing Campaign of the year for her efforts on the celebrated Heart Immigration campaign for Jigsaw. Outside of the agency space, Vidal worked at Google as the Creative Director for their Across the Pond production team in London, where she developed her skills by integrating creative ideas and technology in new and innovative ways. This led to the production of the popular content series Malibus Best Summer Ever. At BBH Singapore, Vidal will mainly focus on IKEA, where she will build on the creative work that BBH has already been delivering for the brand. Joakim Borgstrom, ECD, BBH Singapore said, We are thrilled to have Mara as part of the team no doubt her ideas will spread much inspiration around to the office, the client, and all around Singapore through the campaigns she works on. COVID-19: Case counts growing rapidly in under-10s in B.C., while declining in older age groups "We need to get ahead of this early," says data expert Jens von Bergmann. "That little advantage that age group used to have, there was some consensus that they transmit a little less, it's just not enough any more." Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 9:25AM Foxconn, who is known for manufacturing Apple products in Taiwan, has bought consumer electronics brands Belkin, Linksys and Wemo fo US $866 million. A subsidiary of Belkin FIT Hong Ten will acquire Belkin by way of a merger. The acquisition of Belkin includes Linksys, Phyn and Wemo. With the merger, FIT will own all 700 of Belkins patents, which will come in handy in developing new smart home and networking businesses. Belkin has built a reputation for creating quality accessories for Apple products and is well-represented in Apple Retail Stores. Source: 9to5Mac news, latest-news The Barr government has quietly shelved a 2016 election pledge for a new community-driven master plan for the Manuka Oval precinct until at least the start of next year, as concerns grow about a potential major development next to the oval. Chief Minister Andrew Barr pledged to develop the plan, to be advised by a panel of community representatives, in the wake of failed GWS-Grocon bid to develop the oval, weeks out from the October 2016 election. At the time of the killing of the unsolicited bid, Mr Barr said the panel would determine the new master plan and that he received a "clear message from the community" for a "desire to be more involved in the future of the oval and its surroundings". But since then, the government has quietly shelved the plans, to be revisited once its planned multimillion-dollar media centre is built, which is not expected to be complete until January 2019. Residents in the area remain worried what the future may hold for both the oval precinct and the wider area, as the Canberra Services Club last week confirmed it planned either a $45 million development, or a sale, of its block next to the oval. The club applied earlier this year to deconcessionalise the land, Block 1, Section1 5, Griffith, to make way for the development, or to capitalise on what its commercial value may be, should the application be approved. Under the current 2013 masterplan, a hotel is allowed on the land, and club president Mike Kinniburgh has said the club would consider a mixed use development with a new club, residential and commercial space on the site, if it is not sold. Kingston Barton Residents Group president Rebecca Scouller has called on the government to withhold any approval of the club's application until the new master plan, and any conservation and land management plans are completed. She said residents believed Mr Barr had been "disingenuous" in his 2016 pledge, when he said the community panel would be set up by the end of 2016. "The ACT Labor government has used its call in powers twice for Manuka Oval, initially for the lights and late last year for the media centre," she said. "This does not give the community any confidence that their good ideas or concerns for the precinct will be heard. "To hold off on convening a community panel until the media and broadcast facilities are completed shows contempt for the community and that Mr Barr's 2016 election promise was a hollow attempt to recover from the GWS/Grocon unsolicited bid fiasco." Ms Scouller said the community welcomed the club's return to its "spiritual home" next to the oval, but there were concerns about the potential loss of "yet another parcel of community land for the profit of a club" and that privatisation of such land was becoming unsustainable. Mr Barr referred all questions about the master plan to Planning Minister Mick Gentleman, who said the government had "deferred" forming the community panel to advise on the new plan until the media centre was finished. He also said it was also deferred until after the National Capital Authority's review of the development control plan was completed, which was done in November last year. "Any future development of Manuka Oval would be guided by the community through the development of the master plan," he said. Mr Gentleman said that before the application to deconcessionalise the block was determined, he had to decide if it would be in the public interest against the requirements of planning laws and the Territory Plan. Ms Scouller said any development on the site should also consider impacts on the future use of the oval and its "local heritage", the Forrest Fire Station, St Christopher's Cathedral, Telopea Park School and the nearby Manuka and Kingston group centres. "We are not against development on the site but ask that it be considered as part of a comprehensive planning model," she said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/09284d17-637d-47a0-91fc-1cc5c7052094/r0_130_2000_1260_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Tech giant Microsoft is continuing its aggressive pitch for more government business, announcing that it will offer subsidised training in its cloud technology to 5000 public servants. Along with training companies DDLS, New Horizons and Advanced Training, Microsoft has developed specialised cloud computing courses at different levels, with the company saying they are designed to line up with the government's Secure Cloud Strategy. Some 800 public service employees are expected to take part in the training in the next four months, with 5000 people in the public sector set to go through a Microsoft course by 2020. Microsoft Australia managing director Steven Worrall said that while the government had not asked Microsoft to develop the courses specifically, they were developed in response to the government's strategy document, which was released in February. "We've responded to the extent that we've always viewed that it's a collaboration between government and industry that's going to be the most effective way forward, which is why this announcement today is very much part of a sequence of announcements we've made." The company has contacted "pretty much all of the agencies," about the courses, Mr Worrall said. The bill will be mostly footed by Microsoft and the training companies involved. Mr Worrall said the private companies involved were subsidising more than 70 per cent of the costs. "For example, a five-day class might typically cost about $4000; with this program that class will be less than $1000 for those five days. So heavily subsidised to recognise that this is a unique moment. That is, we're going through a massive digitisation phase and we need a massive injection of new skills. We felt this this the best way for us to help contribute," he said. The company has already been pursuing business in the government sector, announcing last year that it would be offering "hyperscale" cloud services in Canberra, with two new regions for secure government data to be opening at the Canberra Data Centre in the first half of next year. The company is not shying away from the prospect of more work with the government, saying more projects like this are the way forward. "It's a collaboration between industry and government, and obviously specifically us and government, that we think is the best way forward. The combination I think works to the extent that we provide a lot of the cloud infrastructure, we obviously can through this program, help to address the other issue and perhaps the more important issue which is people over technology," Mr Worrall said. Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation Michael Keenan said the government welcomed the announcement from Microsoft. "Microsoft's announcement today further demonstrates the significance of cloud computing to digital transformation. We are pleased to be working with the private sector on this important agenda," he said. "This initiative also complements the investment by this Government to build the digital skills of the Australian Public Service." Mr Keenan said the government is spending $13.9 million on attracting and retaining "digital talent" and "to develop digital leadership skills in the Australian Public Service". /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/cd0ea695-6a8c-463d-ade2-20aed9dcc271/r0_146_2000_1276_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg A Lee Health officer has received the Cape Coral Community Foundations top honor, the Elmer Tabor Award. Scott Kashman, Chief Acute Care Officer at Lee Health, was honored for his outstanding philanthropy in the community and leadership that inspires other to be generous. The Generous Cape reception, held Thursday at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, celebrates the accomplishments of those who give back. This is a huge honor and completely unexpected. Cape Coral has embraced me and my family since we moved here, Kashman said. We wanted to focus on a shared vision of a healthier Cape Coral and Southwest Florida. The community has rallied around the work we have done. The other nominees were Elaine Green, E. Howard Grossman, Brad Middaugh, Karen Scott and Gloria Tate, who on Tuesday won the Burton Award for citizenship, presented by the Board of County Commissioners. Kashman came to Cape Coral in August 2011 to become chief administrative officer at Cape Coral Hospital before assuming his current position in January 2017. Kashman said he thought Tate would win for her work in the community that has lasted as long as the community itself. Tate said there are plenty of awards to go around to the many who give back. Scotts done a great job taking Cape Coral Hospital from where it was to a great hospital, Tate said. Its great honor to be nominated. Elmer Tabor is someone I grew up with and who I look up to and desire to walk in his shoes. Karen Scott said it was an honor to be nominated and that the foundation is doing things that are necessary to make Cape Coral a better place. The mark of true success is when you can give and you dont care who gets the credit because its about helping people, said Scott, who has started an organization in North Fort Myers that helps keep together foster siblings who have faced poverty, abuse and neglect in foster homes. Michael Chatman, president and CEO of the foundation, said the idea of the event is to celebrate generosity citywide with donors and professional advisors the great year the foundation has had, which was full of firsts. We gave about $125,000 in collective grants to non-profits. We launched our EMPY Awards which celebrates non-profit excellence and our Power Players event, and we had our first ever Florida event fundraising conference, Chatman said. The event also featured numerous grants given to non-profits including the American Military Veterans Foundation, ECHO, Hope by Song, the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Waters Edge Church, Golisano Childrens Hospital, Cape Coral Historical Society & Museum and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida. Americas Boating Club of Sanibel Captiva held its monthly dinner meeting on March 20 at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel. Tim Barrett, training officer for the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, reminded those in attendance to know their safety equipment. He said that means keeping all safety gear in excellent condition and current watch the expiration dates and storing it in an accessible place on the boat for everyone. Past Commander Jim Strothers, who leads the clubs Sanibel Emergency Rescue Assistance Team, walked the members through the search and rescue system, which is based on a newly-developed grid system. It assures a logical, thorough and informed rescue formation for emergencies on the water. Club member Bob Simpson, who is also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, demonstrated a new electronic flare beacon that replaces and augments the traditional pyrotechnic flares. Also during the meeting, the club collected donations to support the Sanibel Fire and Rescue Districts efforts to raise funding for an automated external defibrillator, or AED, for the Lighthouse Beach. Past Commander Steve Abbott received the Distinguished Educator Award. Abbott has been an essential part of the squadrons educational courses, serving as the leader of boating education at the local and national level. His work was recognized at the national meeting of the United States Power Squadron, when he earned the Meritorious Service Award for his dedication to boating education. The time to change tires is coming up and I noticed that almost every second or third ad could be confusing to some. For decades we had 3 words we had tires, we had rims and we had wheels. The only one usable on a car is a wheel (which is the combination of a tire and a rim). For some time now tire stores advertise wheels for sale, but they actually mean rims. I have not seen anybody selling tires advertising them as wheels, however, some places advertise free tire change, but actually mean free wheel change. Why do we have to change things that have been established for a long time and make it, at least for some, confusing? A female friend of mine wanted to buy a set of new wheels. She sent a written request for a quote for 4 wheels and even put in brackets "Tires & Rims". She received a quote that, according to her, was an offer she could not refuse and was exited when she told me about it. After checking that quote, I found out that it was for rims only, but they called them wheels and there was no mentioning of a tire brand or size or price or labour or anything else. If she would have ordered those "wheels", she would have had a very big surprise and all of a sudden the deal was not even half as good anymore. So, if you are not 100% sure what an ad means, ask specific questions. A wheel change is not a tire change and what you have in the trunk is not a spare-tire, it's a spare-wheel! Roger von Dach Photo: Contributed Kelowna's Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help with its Emergency Disaster Services team. The team helps during disasters, such as floods and fires. Both hit the Central Okanagan in unprecedented levels last year. Working alongside the city's Emergency Support Services, more than 4,000 evacuees were welcomed through the doors. Two teams were also sent to Williams Lake to assist during last summer's wildfires. In an effort to be proactive, an information session is scheduled for April 5, 6 p.m. at the Kelowna Community Church on Sutherland Avenue. "Our team is seasoned in being able to mobilize teams at short notice to provide what is needed," the Salvation Army says. "By being a part of our team, you will have a unique opportunity to learn how to walk alongside those facing disaster in practical ways." We are a family of 9 coming to Kelowna for spring break. As we are all coming from different regions of Canada I was in charge of getting accommodations. This was not an easy feat . My frustration was huge and I finally contacted a Kelowna travel company. So this is a huge shout out and thank you to "Capri Travel". Alison McCormic was not a voice out of country, was not a computer, she was fantastic, helpful and knowledgeable about Kelowna and booked our dream family gathering and spring break with ease. Thank you again, Capri Travel and Alison! Dan York Photo: RCMP A prolific West Kelowna bank robber has been caught by RCMP. The 26-year-old man is linked to multiple bank robberies in late 2017 and was taken into custody last Tuesday, police said Monday. RCMP responded to BMO on Gosset Road on Dec 9, 2017, after a man entered, passed a note to a teller and fled with cash. Within a few days, additional West Kelowna banks were targeted and robbed in similar ways. West Kelowna RCMP released images captured by the BMO surveillance cameras on Dec. 12. Thanks to tips from the public, our investigators were provided with solid leads to a possible identity for their robbery suspect, said Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey. Police believe robberies committed on Dec. 9, 12 and 15 are linked to the man. The suspect s expected to appear in court at an unknown date. Alanna Kelly Photo: City of Kelowna You can help shape Kelownas Transportation Master Plan. Residents are invited to provide input online and in person on a draft of the plan. Since the vision and goals will form the foundation of the plan and be used to inform investment priorities, this is a key time for the public to get involved in shaping the future of our transportation network, said Mariah VanZerr, the city's strategic transportation planning manager. Input will help guide strategic transportation investments that the City of Kelowna will make over the next 20 years. The plan, strategies and implementation are expected to be delivered in 2019. For more information about the plan or provide input, visit this link. Photo: Darren Handschuh The City of Armstrong remains under a local state of emergency due to recent flooding. City crews were busy over the weekend implementing mitigation measures by placing diversions at culvert intakes. "These actions, along with a positive change in weather conditions, greatly decreased flood concerns," was stated in a press release. Emergency Management BC is providing help to the city. The city is still urging caution around creeks as fast-moving water may cause erosion and instability of bank edges. The City of Armstrong would like to remind residents that they are responsible for protecting their buildings and properties from flooding. Sand and bags are currently available for self-filling, at no cost, at the Public Works Yard located at 2950 Patterson Avenue and at the corner of Bridge Street and Okanagan Blvd. Residents whose homes are impacted by the Meighan Creek flooding event should call City Hall, 250-546- 3023. Photo: The Canadian Press Canada could soon have its first customs facilities inside the United States, says an American official who cites Florida and Arizona as potential sites for pilot projects in ongoing experiments to modernize the border. This would come decades after American preclearance facilities were first placed at major Canadian airports, where travellers have long cleared customs before flying to the U.S., with the goal of reducing wait times at the back end. Newer innovations involve train travel, with pilot projects to have rail passengers clear U.S. customs in Montreal and B.C., as the latest in ongoing efforts between the administrations of Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Next, the project could spread south, an official said Monday. "While Canada has not yet deployed inspection personnel to the United States to facilitate pre-clearance movement into Canada, we hope to see steps on this in the near-future. Perhaps in a pilot project in Scottsdale, or in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for example," said Kenneth Merten, a deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state. "Such deployments can only make cross-border commerce and travel more efficient. ... With the world growing smaller every day, we look to these and other programs to further facilitate trade and travel flows." He was among several speakers at a conference about the future of the Canada-U.S. border, hosted in Washington by the Wilson Center. A Canadian official speaking at the conference says speeding up the border is an economic imperative. He said border wait times cost the Canadian economy somewhere between one per cent and 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2010. "A more efficient, seamless border will make it easier for passengers," said Vincent Rigby, associate deputy minister at Public Safety Canada. "It's also essential to our economies." His boss, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, has said his ultimate prize is introducing preclearance for cargo. In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, he described the goal this way: have customs officers inspect car parts at an auto-manufacturing plant, observe the sealing of cargo packages and send them on their way for speedy movement between the countries. Photo: The Canadian Press Alexandre Bissonnette The man accused of killing six men as they attended prayer at a Quebec City mosque last year pleaded not guilty Monday to six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder. Alexandre Bissonnette, who was handcuffed and had shackles around his ankles, entered the 12 not-guilty pleas in Quebec Superior Court, The preliminary procedures that began Monday and resume Wednesday were struck with a publication ban. Jury selection is scheduled to start April 3. The charges against Bissonnette, 28, are related to an attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre in January 2017. The counts of attempted murder involve five people who were struck by bullets and a sixth charge encompasses the other 35 people present at the mosque. Many members of Quebec City's Muslim community were present in court Monday. Photo: Contributed A respected naturopathic doctor will lead the True Leaf Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Chris Spooner will assume the role of Chief Scientific Officer. The 'life cannabis company for people and their pets' made the announcement Tuesday morning. Joining Spooner on the board will be Dr. Caroline MacCallum and Dr. Zeid Mohamedali, "two of the most progressive medical doctors advising the cannabis industry today," according to True Leaf. The True Leaf MAB will oversee the research and development of a highly-effective medicinal cannabis product line to address, among others, neurological, musculoskeletal, gynaecological, and gastrointestinal conditions. Photo: Wayne Moore Kelownas city manager was given a standing ovation Monday, at his last ever council meeting. City staff packed council chambers to see Ron Mattiussi off, paying their respects ahead of his March 30 retirement. Mattiussi began his career with the City of Kelowna as its director of planning, and has spent the last 13 years as city manager. The legacy that you leave here is that you did treat everyone as an equal, and you did whatever you could, and did the best you could to go out of your way to make sure ... everybody felt they were an important part of this organization, Mayor Colin Basran said. I think that the fact that we have some of the best staff in the country leading this organization is a testament to the foundation that you helped to create. Basran thanked Mattiussi for the tremendous legacy he has left for the community. After a standing ovation from the crowd, a red-faced Mattiussi said it was an honour to work with a city staff he considers some of the best in the world. For the first time in my career here, Im actually speechless, he said, wiping his eyes. Photo: Wayne Moore West Kelowna's mayor is disappointed in Monday's real estate speculation tax announcement from the provincial government. "We are disappointed, of course, that West Kelowna is included," said Mayor Doug Findlater. He acknowledged the province has reduced the financial impact on homeowners, calling the exemption of cottage and vacation properties "a step forward." "But we are particularly concerned in our young city," he added.... "We have used development to our advantage." Findlater said West Kelowna has "an ambitious infrastructure upgrade plan to improve to full urban status," but if investment is discouraged, "that hits the bottom line on the city budget quite significantly." In the event development were to come to complete standstill, he said the fallout would result in an additional two per cent tax hike to fund the infrastructure plan. He said council is waiting to hear from developers, and the matter is on the agenda for a council meeting tonight. "We will decide if we want to keep going in seeking some mitigation from the finance minister," he added. The tax will affect properties in Metro Vancouver, the Capital Regional District (excluding the Gulf Islands and Juan de Fuca), Kelowna, West Kelowna, Nanaimo-Lantzville, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission. Other changes announced by Finance Minister Carole James include exemptions for homes with a value of a less than $400,000 and for long-term rental properties. Lula Lake Land Trust announced today they are launching the Conservation Ambassador Program designed specifically for young professionals ages 21-30. Spearheaded by Matthew Hubbard, the director of Development and Communications, this program will focus on teaching the conservation efforts of Lula Lake Land Trust. Selected individuals will tour the core property of Lula Lake Land Trust in addition to on-site visits with other conservation partners, such as Tennessee River Gorge Trust and Lookout Mountain Conservancy, to better understand how conservation organizations work together. Mr. Hubbard, a fundraising expert, will also provide experiences in the fields of fundraising and marketing that will directly tie into conservation and the nonprofit sector. It is our duty to preserve the wonders around us, Mr. Hubbard states. Both the engagement of young professionals and the teaching of conservation initiatives are important. The future of conservation relies on choices made today. This comprehensive program is a great resume builder for those looking to gain experience in the environmental or nonprofit field; Im excited to lead it. Together, we will work toward a better understanding of conservation. I can guarantee it will be eye-opening. Interested parties should send resumes to matthew@lulalake.org by April 13. The Georgia Northwestern Bobcats suited up for the competition of the year in Atlanta, this past weekend. After a record-setting performance at SkillsUSA Georgia last year, Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges team managed to raise the bar a little higher at the professional skills competition in 2018. GNTC competitors won gold medals in 10 total categories this year, besting the 2017 mark of eight total first-place finishes for the college. As President of GNTC, I am very proud of the performance of our students at the 2018 SkillsUSA State of Georgia competition, said Georgia Northwestern Technical College President Pete McDonald. Seventeen students from GNTC have qualified to compete at the National SkillsUSA competition this Summer. The Bobcats qualified 43 students to compete in 20 different categories at the state-level event. On March 24, the Bobcats SkillsUSA team brought home gold in half of the categories in which they competed: Brandy LeVan (Catoosa County, GA), Prepared Speech; Chris Roberson (Floyd County, GA), Sheet Metal; Jacob Hargrove (Catoosa County, GA), Welding; Tristin Bethune (Walker County, GA), Automotive Service Technology; Taylor Eagle (Chattooga County, GA), Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance; Brandon Battles (Chattooga County, GA), Industrial Motor Controls; Patricia Escutia (Polk County, GA), Medical Assisting; Stephen Bottoms (Floyd County, GA), Nathan Rittweger (Bartow County, GA), and Tucker Tumlin (Floyd County, GA), Welding Fabrication Team; Marvin Pointer (Polk County, GA), Noah Ranels (Gordon County, GA), Logan Thomas (Gordon County, GA), and George Soto (Whitfield County, GA), TeamWorks; and Beck Maxwell (Bartow County, GA), Jake Woodall (Floyd County, GA), and Derek Walck (Floyd County, GA), Engineering Technology/Design. Leading the way for the GNTC teams was the GNTC TeamWorks squad. The construction-based crew competed at SkillsUSA Georgia three consecutive years. And, three consecutive times, the TeamWorks entry brought home the gold. We truly felt we had a great chance at turning a lot of heads in many of the categories on the state level, said Missy Mclain, Georgia Northwestern Technical College SkillsUSA coordinator. We have many incredibly well-trained and talented young men and women. This competition really allowed us to showcase these students. The national SkillsUSA competition will be held during the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky the week of June 25-29. More than 16,000 students, instructors, and business recruiters and partners are expected to be in attendance. Bringing home silver medals for the Bobcats at SkillsUSA Georgia were Bo Dooley (Gordon County, GA), Electrical Construction Wiring; Autumn Tomlinson (Polk County, GA), Cosmetology; Audrey Andrews (Paulding County, GA), Barbering; and Josh Barlow (Floyd County, GA), Medical Terminology. Earning bronze medals for their third-place finishes at the state competition were Amanda Teeters (Walker County, GA), Pin Design; Melvin Mitchell (Bartow County, GA), Job Demonstration; and Kimberly Kelly (Floyd County, GA), Briska Bailey (Bartow County, GA), Savannah Almond (Floyd County, GA), and Ariel Crider (Floyd County, GA), Health Knowledge Bowl. Also competing for GNTC in the SkillsUSA this past week were Maegan Gibson (Haralson County, GA), Medical Math; Courtney Compton (Douglas County, GA), Medical Math; Shanna Ely (Floyd County, GA) Medical Math; Amber Wilson (Cherokee County, GA), Medical Assisting; Erica Brown (Polk County, GA), Medical Terminology; Van Wright (Floyd County, GA); Medical Terminology; Raphaella Hawkins (Floyd County, GA), Health Occupations Professional Portfolio; Josh Embree (Floyd County, GA), First Aid/CPR; Cynthia Kirk (Polk County, GA), Related Technical Math; Corey Knight (Polk County, GA), HVAC; Austin Vinson (Polk County, GA), Mechatronics; Yony Escalante (Polk County, GA), Mechatronics; Austin Tapp (Chattooga County, GA), CNC Milling Specialist; Geovani Ramirez (Whitfield County, GA), Information Technology Systems; Austin Boyd (Floyd County, GA), Automotive Refinishing; and Cesar Bejarano (Whitfield County, GA), Automotive Refinishing. GNTC's SkillsUSA chapter also earned a Silver Chapter of Distinction award from the states Chapter of Excellence Program. SkillsUSA Georgia judges also awarded the Bobcat chapter of the organization the title of Quality Chapter. I would also like to recognize the outstanding job done by our faculty advisors to mentor the students, said Mr. McDonald. Preparing them not only to succeed in the SkillsUSA competition, but also to prepare them for successful careers in the future. Essien scored 25 times for the Blues over the course of his nine-year Chelsea career, and there were some magnificent - and important - goals among them. A huge number of fans took part in the supporter vote and there were two goals - Essien's stunning strikes against Arsenal and Barcelona - which dominated the poll. Those two goals alone accounted for an enormous 78 per cent of the overall vote, and while they were neck and neck for long spells, eventually it was Essien's left-footed volley against Barcelona which came out on top. His Champions League goal against the Spanish side was voted for by 43 per cent of supporters, with the long-range effort against Arsenal taking 35 per cent of the vote. Both, it must be said, would have been worthy winners! Thank you to everybody who took part, and to see if your vote matched the choice of Essien himself, click on the video below. Researchers at the University of Wurzburg in Germany have succeeded in twisting molecules so much that their double bonds have been completely destroyed. The result: unusually stable biradicals. Boron has a range of uses throughout everyday life, from laundry bleaches to heat-proof glass and ceramics. Chemists at Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) in Bavaria, Germany, have a particular interest in the chemistry this element, and have been researching the fundamental properties of boron for years. These researchers have now succeeded in twisting molecules with multiple bonds between boron atoms, leading to unusually stable biradicals. Biradicals are usually highly reactive molecules. They are generated in energetic processes such as combustion and are normally so short-lived that they are unable to be isolated or studied by traditional methods of chemical analysis. The new biradicals prepared at the JMU are dramatically different, however: they are solid compounds and were found to be stable for weeks. "We now have model compounds in hand that we can study without having to rush", explains Prof. Holger Braunschweig from the Institute for Inorganic Chemistry. Twisting of boron-boron double bonds For a long time, chemists have attempted to twist, distort and rupture double bonds between atoms with only limited success. The JMU team has now made the dream of twisting a double bond by a full 90 degrees a reality. The Wurzburg researchers had originally expected to obtain diborenes from their reactions: the products should have had double bonds between their boron atoms, as would normally be the case. Instead, they obtained molecules where the double bond between the atoms was twisted by 90 degrees and thereby completely broken. Biradicals in their electronic ground state The result of the experiments was the synthesis of unusually stable biradicals. This is highly unusual: "When a molecule is twisted against its will, it usually becomes less stable, and also more reactive", explains Julian Bohnke, doctoral student at the JMU and first author of the publication in Nature Communications. "The stability of the molecules is due to them being biradicals in their electronic ground state, despite their two unpaired electrons", says Braunschweig. "This structure was completely unexpected." Applications of the molecules are still far away, according to Prof. Braunschweig. If they could be installed into a polymeric material, their use in organic electronics could become a possibility. However, Braunschweig emphasises that "this is still a long way off". The next step for the JMU chemists is to test whether similarly stable biradicals can be prepared with double bonds between boron and carbon. A success story of Research Training Group 2112 The study of the biradicals was particularly extensive and complex, involving sixteen researchers and three years of research. The main part of Julian Bohnke's doctoral thesis will be based on the topic. Bohnke is part of the Research Training Group (Graduiertenkolleg) 2112 (Molecular Biradicals: Structure, Properties and Reactivity), a research consortium headed by Prof. Ingo Fischer. The Research Training Group allows doctoral students to investigate the physical and chemical properties of biradicals in an interdisciplinary team. Critical to the success of the study was the efficient collaboration with expert theoretical chemistry groups. Work by the teams of Profs. Bernd Engels and Roland Mitric was essential in obtaining a thorough understanding of the bonding situations in the newly-prepared biradicals. Two other German research groups from Gottingen and Mulheim an der Ruhr were also integral parts of the team. The work was financially supported as part of the Research Training Group 2112 funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Further support came from Prof. Braunschweig's Advanced Grant from the European Research Council. On the left, a polymer with an elongated backbone (red-yellow). The long side chains (grey) of the molecular building blocks form a scaffold that stabilizes the elongation. On the right, a polymer with a bent backbone. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are used in smartphones and televisions to facilitate the high-contrast display of colours. Conjugated polymers are also often employed as organic semiconductors in such diodes. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have found out how the spatial structure of these polymers can be used to control the colours of the OLEDs and help to increase the brightness of monitors. Polymers with a backbone: spatial structures determine the colour of light Polymers that are well-suited for use in organic light-emitting diodes play a central role in the new research findings. Thanks to the chain formed by connecting molecular building blocks, they possess a backbone. If the polymers are then exposed to a laser beam, they absorb the light and store it as excitation energy. This energy spreads along the backbone. Shortly after that, it is released by emission of light. Up to now it had been assumed that the colour of the emitted light depends on how far the excitation energy spreads along the polymers: supposedly, the more bent the polymers were, the smaller the distance over which the energy spread. However, the scientists in Bayreuth have now refuted this assumption. The polymers they studied have backbones that are chemically identical and bent to different degrees, but the excitation energy always spreads over the same distance. Bent polymers emit green or blue light, while elongated polymers radiate yellow or red light. When these polymers come to be used in organic light-emitting diodes, their various spatial structures can be utilized to precisely control the colour of the light emit from the OLEDs, explained physicist Dominic Raithel (M.Sc.). The researchers in Bayreuth also found out that the elongated polymers possess a scaffold formed by its side chains, which stabilizes the elongated structure. This results in a special advantage for light-emitting diodes: when elongated polymers are layered on top of one another, the scaffolds provide stability. Optical emission is not thereby weakened, said Raithel, who recently completed his dissertation in the University of Bayreuths DFG-funded research training group Photophysics of Synthetic and Biological Multichromophoric Systems. In this context, natural and synthetic organic materials are studied in close interdisciplinary cooperation. For example, experimental physicists Prof. Dr. Anna Kohler and Prof. Dr. Jurgen Kohler along with Prof. Dr. Mukundan Thelakkat, expert in functional polymers, were involved in the new experiments. A transatlantic interplay of theory and experiment The comparative experimental investigations of polymers made use of different types of spectroscopy methods. A decisive factor was single-molecule spectroscopy at very low temperatures, for which Bayreuth provided us with its high-performance infrastructure. Using this method, we were able to determine the colour of the emitted light and finally the extension of excitation energy over the chain-like polymers, explained Dr. Richard Hildner, who coordinated the research at the University of Bayreuth. The scientists in Bayreuth worked together closely with a research group at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Dr. Lena Simine and Prof. Dr. Peter J. Rossky carried out extensive calculations on the impact of polymer structures on the colour of the emitted light. Linking experimental and theoretical methods led to insights into the spatial structures of individual polymer chains which would have been impossible using traditional imaging techniques. Schools continue to grapple with driver shortage, technology issues Despite some improvements, including enhanced pay and recruitment efforts, Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to search for answers to the ongoing bus driver shortage thats frustrated parents and dogged administrators... School system sees rise in COVID cases, quarantining students As the district nears the end of its first month of school, just over 3% of Chesterfield County Public School students are at home in quarantine. According to the school... Voice of the People I can drive on the left lane of Ind. 49 and not have to deal with the truck traffic any more. I dont think I know you Jim Ton but apparently youre the one that made this happen. My life is a little better now.... 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... The verdict in Chicago federal court was the result of the second trial in the case of Jesse Mitchell, who last July was awarded $150 million in a verdict that was later tossed. His lawsuit is one of thousands alleging harm caused by testosterone-replacement drugs and the marketing tactics that led men to use them to combat fatigue, low sex drive and other age-related conditions. The 8,184-mile Chicago-Auckland flights will take about 15 to 16 hours, depending on whether passengers are flying northbound or southbound, and will top Uniteds second-longest route out of OHare, which lands in Hong Kong, by nearly 400 miles, United spokesman Jonathan Guerin said in an email. Neil Stern, senior partner at Chicago-based consulting firm McMillanDoolittle, said he was optimistic that the GGP team and Chicago office would continue to function more or less as is, given the size of its retail-specific portfolio and industry expertise. Brookfield is more diversified, and many of its retail properties are outside the U.S., Stern said. Mathrani said last May that GGP was exploring strategic alternatives, and that all options were on the table. In August, he reversed course and said the real estate investment trust would instead look to diversify its holdings by adding hotels, apartments and other alternative uses to its properties. Boston-area realty broker Anthony Lamacchia calls this a national epidemic" that might be lessened if sellers and buyers would consider some win-win compromises, even if they seem unpalatable at first: Sellers should be open to buyers who need to sell their current homes in order to come up with the cash to close on a new home. Sellers can do that by not automatically rejecting contract offers that come with subject-to contingencies giving the buyers a reasonable time to sell and close on their house. Police originally had reported that a man had been shot at that location and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he initially was in critical condition. Someone came up to the man and shot him before running off, police said at the time. The Brewers Association has tweaked two-thirds of its definition of a craft brewer small (the maximum production was raised from 2 million annual barrels of production to 6 million) and traditional (the organization now allows for adjuncts such as rice and corn to be used). However, it has held fast to its definition of independent no more than 25 percent of a craft brewer can be owned by a brewery that itself is not considered craft resulting in a data set that is adjusted with every brewery sale. Grigaliunas said Tuesday that he believes the whole situation to be a miscommunication. He said that there was a verbal agreement with Passon & Passons owners two years ago about Lago Wine Bar and that the owners had no problems with it at the time. Why take the leap from making an everyday liquor to creating a more obscure Scandinavian spirit? Says Emily, I'm basically all Norwegian I'm actually a Norwegian-American dual citizen and aquavit was a spirit that had always figured into our holiday celebrations. Terroir can be the land, but it can also be the people, the culture and heritage of a place. So our aquavit is a reflection of my heritage and the Scandinavian heritage of people in (the Duluth) area. It was inspired by thinking about immigrants, and the flavors we bring with us that remind us of home. The ruling is a win not just for FX and Murphy, but for screenwriters and producers generally. Had the court ruled in de Havilland's favor, it could have opened the door for other public figures -- or anyone, for that matter -- to file aggressive legal challenges if they objected to the way they were portrayed in fictional works. This isn't the first we've heard of "Bob Honey." Back when Penn still collaborated with others -- during the 2016 election season, specifically -- he, Frances McDormand and a few others recorded a free audiobook version of the story. It credited someone named Pappy Pariah as the author, whom Penn, in a past appearance on the "Late Show," allegedly claimed he met at a writers' conference 40 years ago. Colbert remained skeptical, though, and on Monday night got Penn to admit that he had lied. The stealth beast strikes in ways similar to whatever that thing was in the jungles of Lost. (How does a man get sucked up out of a tent, then spat back out a bloody pulp seconds later?) But because no one really knows what happened to all those poor souls between the time they set sail in 1845 to Croziers last dated note in 1848, the monster serves as a physical manifestation of the mystery thats engulfed the tragic voyage for centuries. The question is how to stop that from happening, and here Weisman disappoints. He is correct that too many established Jewish organizations have been so focused on supporting the current Israeli government that they have overlooked or minimized the rising threat from the alt-right. But if the leaders of those organizations are blinded by their conservative politics, Weisman suffers from his own myopia. He airily dismisses the growing threats from the extreme left, where too often anti-Zionism is, in fact, bleeding into anti-Semitism. He harshly criticizes American Jewry for not being grounded in morality and argues that Jews must create multi-faith alliances and take the fight against hate into the public square. A reception offered guests, many in attendance with their dogs, the opportunity to shop a silent auction (the top prize was a meet-and-greet with Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein, which sold for $2,500), take photos with animal-related props, pose for illustrations by Kristine Steiner and receive temporary tattoos (for owners and dogs) by Laine Too. Lucky pets attending the event could lounge in the dog spa and receive massages, brush-outs and more. "In order to disrupt the chains of infection in a population, a large portion of the population needs to be immune to the infection," Zerbo explained. "A higher vaccination rate can break those chains of infection. This is why it is important for a large proportion of the population to be vaccinated." If you know in advance youre dealing with a Bridezilla, the best strategy is to ask her or her mother what the dress requirements are including the color of everything associated with the wedding (even the icing flowers on the cake) and whether youre supposed to steer clear of those shades. Generally, the only rule is dont take the attention away from the bride with your choice of wedding clothing. It used to be that women were warned not to wear white or black to a wedding, but thats no longer the case (at least in most circles). Kapoor this week told Inc. through a spokesman that Cloud Column dates from 2000 and is a unique work which is completely different from Cloud Gate. He did not say whether there are other cloud sculptures, leaving open the possibility that even lesser cities will soon have their own, incorrectly oriented beans. The local organizing committee was made up almost entirely of white students from Chicago and nearby suburbs. Its not that black kids werent interested in standing up against the handgun violence that disproportionately affects their communities. Its that they have gotten so accustomed to being ignored. Williams, of the 4100 block of South Federal Street, is on probation in a 2013 federal gun case, in which he pleaded guilty to the 2012 possession of a .45-caliber handgun that had its serial numbers filed off. The same day Goodman and her granddaughter were attacked, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer issued a warrant for Williams arrest on charges he violated his probation in the gun case after he was released in January following a prior arrest on charges of violating his probation, according to court records. On Monday night, a 16-year-old girl was wounded in the left foot in the Gresham neighborhood about 9:20 p.m., police said. She told police she was getting off a CTA bus in the 1100 block of West 79th Street when she heard gunshots and started running home. She realized she was shot when she got home and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where her condition was stabilized, police said. President Trump reached out to Dan Webb and Tom Buchanan to provide legal representation. They were unable to take on the representation due to business conflicts. However they consider the opportunity to represent the President to be the highest honor and they sincerely regret that they cannot do so. They wish the president the best and believe he has excellent representation in Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. Sgt. Sara Balmes, of the sheriffs office, said a witness near the scene saw a man exit his car from a nearby business parking lot, walk in front of the oncoming Metra train and stand still. The thoughts and prayers of the entire organization are with Sergeant Gudino's family and friends, and the Soldiers who were closest to him," said Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. Its unclear whether authorities suspect Malailua, of Redding, Calif., in the theft, but an NYPD official said Malailua could face criminal charges in New York if hes tied to the crime. The theft was captured on video, and New York police said they were working with Chicago authorities and their investigation was ongoing. When Munoz introduced the measure in January and proposed that the Housing Committee consider it, Burke called for the proposal to go to the Finance Committee he controls. That resulted in the measure being sent to the Rules Committee, which is supposed to resolve assignment conflicts but often becomes a purgatory where legislation withers on the vine. This undated file photo shows Linda Brown. Brown, the Kansas girl at the center of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down racial segregation in schools, has died at age 76. (AP) Great Mills High School in Great Mills, Md., on March 20, 2018, where police said a student gunman fatally shot a classmate and later killed himself as police were closing in. FLORENCE, S.C. A South Carolina mayor said he was bothered Tuesday after watching video of a white volunteer police officer shooting at a black driver as many as eight times during a traffic stop. Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela wouldn't detail what's on the dashboard and body camera video, saying "the whole incident is troubled." He said his police department was trying to process the recordings to release to the public later Tuesday. The video "speaks for itself," Wukela said. Constable Christopher Bachochin was riding with a Florence police officer Saturday night so Bachochin could keep his certification. The trouble began after the regular officer tried to pull over a vehicle. Authorities gave few details about the encounter, but said at some point the vehicle backed into a police cruiser. Solicitor Ed Clements said it was likely the wounded driver would at least face charges of failing to stop for police. He left the hospital Monday and his name has not been released and his injuries have not been detailed. The man was ordered to get out of his car Saturday night and refused, Clements said Tuesday. The constable fired up to eight shots as the driver appeared to be grabbing something inside his car, Clements said. Because of a conflict of interest, Clements said he would let the state Attorney General's Office decide whether to prosecute Bachochin to once the State Law Enforcement Division investigation into the shooting is finished. The prosecutor said he did not want to say if it looked like the shooting was justified or not, because he has turned the case over to someone else, "The best thing for me to do now is to keep my feelings to myself," Clements told The Associated Press. The mayor and police chief immediately sought to clear the city of responsibility, saying the officer with Bachochin and a second officer who came to help did not fire. Bachochin has been suspended from his volunteer duties. He did not return a message at a phone listing for him. Bachochin is an advanced constable, which requires about 85 hours of training, said Thom Berry, a spokesman for the state law enforcement agency. Constables can be armed, but lack arrest power under South Carolina law unless working under the supervision of a law enforcement agency. A family spokesman for the wounded man said he was not ready for his name to be made public, but expected his family to release a statement or speak to reporters later this week. The release of the police video just three days after the shooting is unusual in South Carolina. Videos typically are not made public in South Carolina for months or years until cases go to trial or are resolved or prosecutors decide not to charge the officers. Clements said he wished the city would have waited. Wukela said he decided hours after the shooting to release the videos as soon as he could because he thought it was important to be transparent. Florence is nearly evenly split between black and white residents. "That's the way you build the trust of a community," Wukela said. This April 13, 2016 file photo shows the seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) In this Jan. 31, 2018 file photo, a mother whose daughter said she was sexually assaulted during first grade by a classmate at their elementary school on a U.S. military base in Germany, stands in her daughter's bedroom at their new home in Colorado. (David Zalubowski / AP) Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has just done the NRA and its allies a great favor: In an opinion piece in The New York Times, he proposed to repeal the Second Amendment. I know the court evangelicals agree with me. Many of Trumps most ardent supporters are pastors. I am sure they have counseled people who are addicted to pornography. They can tell stories about families that have been torn apart by porn. They have seen men squander their savings or run up massive credit card debt on internet porn sites. Some of the most unsung heroes of the evangelical world are those who work with ministries that help men whose lives have been destroyed by pornography. So this year at the Seder, I will reflect, too, but in a way that is substantive to me. Passover now serves as a reminder of the rigid and orthodox world I came from and the secular and free world Im a part of now. The 14 years it took me to shed the guilt of not becoming the next great rabbi of my generation. Learning how to be present in the world and make decisions for me and not for a rabbi or deity. Getting an education and making something of myself. Having a fantastic woman in my life who hails from a country my namesake wouldn't approve. Bolton, who will be the last one in the room to whisper in Trump's ear and the first one in the morning (along with "Fox & Friends") to frame the news, proudly made his name as a warmonger, never seeing a war that he wouldn't promote (nor one that he would fight in). Under Bush, he cooked intelligence to fit the case for the Iraq War. He still defends what was the greatest foreign policy debacle since Vietnam. He has advocated "preventive war" a euphemism for an illegal war of aggression against both Iran and North Korea. He has also urged ramping up the pressure on Russia in Ukraine and China in the South China Sea. He believes U.S. military might entitles the United States to dictate terms in every corner of the world. Go ahead and be skeptical because of Chicagos long history we wont say tradition of police misconduct. Abusive police treatment of citizens has been a major issue for years, said U.S. Rep. Ralph Metcalfes stunning report, The Misuse of Police Authority in Chicago. That was in the early 1970s. Before Cmdr. Jon Burge, who allegedly tortured suspects. Before crooked Sgt. Ronald Watts, who stole from drug dealers and shook down residents of South Side housing projects. Before so many other bad cops. Before Officer Jason Van Dyke, who will stand trial for the murder of Laquan McDonald. Sixty-three percent of Americans surveyed in a new CNN poll, taken before Sundays 60 Minutes broadcast, say they believe women who have come forward with allegations of extramarital affairs with Trump. Only 21 percent say they believe the president and, as hard as it may be for me to believe, 16 percent claim to have no opinion on the matter. "And because of that, I've always been passionate about education, which has led me to spend the second half of my career in education," Bein said. 219 E. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, No. 2A, Chicago: $5,115,000 | Listed: Aug. 4, 2021 This five-bedroom home has six full bathrooms, two half-baths, two large outdoor patios and two private elevators. A formal living room with a fireplace overlooks the lake and has a wall of windows. The family room has built-in bookcases and shelving, and the kitchen is equipped with a large island, granite counters and an eating area that opens onto one of the patios. The primary bedroom has a fireplace, a wall of windows overlooking the lake, two walk-in closets, a sitting room and a full Luxe bath. This unit comes with three garage parking spaces and is located in a building with a 24-hour door person. Agents: Linda Rosenbloom, @properties, 847-892-4800; Carol Gooze, @aproperties, 847-909-5585 *Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options. To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news. U.S. involvement in Vietnam started slowly with an initial deployment of advisers in the early 1950s, grew incrementally through the early 1960s and expanded with the deployment of full combat units in July, 1965. The last U.S. personnel were evacuated from Vietnam in April 1975, according to the website. A key to recovery is for people "to be willing to constantly and honestly challenge and confront themselves, and change the delusions, illusions, and confusion that were held in the world of addiction," said Valerie Hammond, clinical coordinator with the council. "A recovering individual has to have the willingness to examine oneself even when it hurts and make the necessary adjustments and changes to win. . ." Response to Irvin: This is in response to Mr. (Richard) Irvin, our dear mayor, who wrote a Letter to the Editor about how he would love to lead Aurora. Why doesn't he start by not hiring someone to tell him what to do and then hiring someone to tell that person what to do then hiring someone to tell that person what to do? Can he not think on his own? The only ones you care about is your Hispanic people who can't speak English, are in a sanction city and are illegal. You have done nothing for native born citizens, whites or African Americans. The only ones you care about are the illegals. He is not going to make it in for a second time, too many people got wise. Attorneys representing Clare Oaks and its insurance provider sought to overturn the jury's decision and grant a new trial. Judge Lyons rejected the motion and upheld the 2017 decision. According to the Trendel family's attorneys via a news release, Lyons awarded more than $147,000 to the family to go along with the original $4.1 million award. The defendants will have to pay an additional $1.3 million in attorney fees as part of nursing home victims rights found under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, said Levin. Carpentersville Village Board Trustee Don Burroway (second from left), shown at a 2015 forum, announced his retirement from the board on March 20. (Romi Herron-Cologna / The Courier-News) Bohleke estimates the cost of the Honda program at between $8,000 and $10,000, including tuition and lab fees. He said class sizes will be limited to 18 students, and he projects the programs first graduating classes will be about the same size, although he expects the number of graduates will grow as the program becomes more established. "How do you explain to an individual, this is what I did and this is why I did it?" Eddington said. Explain it "to the point that the citizen has some understanding that this isn't some random act where we decided to pick on you. That training, it has diffused some of these situations." Mary Hood and Roz Sanders, both of Evanston, shared the proudest day of their lives with one another on Saturday. Hood said she is proudest of "not claiming" her breast cancer and living to tell about her victory over the disease, while Sanders shared a day in 1959, when she graduated from National College in Virginia, with her six children in attendance as she received her diploma. The Northbrook Working Families Coalition, a group of residents in support of increasing the minimum wage, raised the issue late last year after the Board of Trustees voted to opt out of Cook County ordinances that would increase the minimum wage and require businesses to offer paid sick leave. The residents claimed that Northbrooks transfer of $87,000 in fiscal year 2017-2018 to the chamber is a de facto payment for lobbying against its own workers. McClellan, an Oak Lawn resident who is missing one leg, appeared in court in an orange jail jumpsuit and used crutches to get in and out of a wheelchair. The judge said he considered McClellan's disability in determining that bond would be appropriate, as well as the fact that he has no felony convictions on his record. Even though both events were geared toward younger children, officials also are hosting the "Nitelite" egg hunt for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Paulus Park. The nighttime event will include a "Hide-n-Glow seek" egg hunt and a party that includes a DJ, pizza and beverages, Caputo said. "The main reason why is because the new proposal is essentially the same scale as the old proposal," Gannon said. "Although they lowered the height of the building, the square footage of the building is the same. It's virtually the same number of parking spots and it's virtually the same pool deck area. The new property has the same footprint as the old property." "It's important to point out, first and foremost, that every vote was counted and the integrity of the process was not compromised in the least," he said. "But there was no ability to communicate with every polling place, and these cards were not tested. This is the third election cycle where we've had a problem, and you would think to test the equipment and have a dry run. How hard would that have been?" During the primary campaign, Elleson also had to answer questions over his plea of "no contest" in 2003 to a theft charge related to his work at a social service agency in Hawaii. The court ultimately ordered the case against Elleson dismissed in May 2008 at the end of a five-year deferral period of his no-contest plea, according to an article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Sam Girgis, who lives adjacent to 1.8-acre property on York Road, said he is concerned the Village Board will settle a lawsuit with Romanelli and sell him the right of way, which would allow for the property to be divided into two lots for the building of two homes. The village has a minimum requirement of one acre for the building of homes in that area. An analysis conducted by Montana-based firm Education Logistics Inc. found that there are no longer any hazardous intersections in Oak Park that students would be forced to cross to get to school. That means District 97 is no longer obligated to provide bus service to any elementary school student, according to the firms analysis. The couple, who live near Oak Park and River Forest High School, enjoyed eating at Felony Franks. When they heard of the restaurants closure, I was thinking, hmm, that might be a good spot for us, Denise Roy said. We moved in, and we were like oh yeah, this is it. The numbers are in contrast to vote totals for the entire Maine Township, which covers most of Park Ridge's city limits, as well as large portions of Des Plaines and Niles and smaller areas of Morton Grove and Glenview. According to the unofficial results, J.B. Pritzker won Maine Township with 4,911 votes. Kennedy came in second, with 4,725 votes, and Biss followed in third place with 4,280 votes, according to the Cook County Clerk's Office. Judge Salvador Vasquez said from his experience, there are a variety of reasons why child molesting cases don't go to trial. In McGee's case, it's not that the victim, who is now in her 20s, recants the allegations, but instead "doesn't want to face the trauma of going to trial," Vasquez said. Smith was indicted in May in a federal court in Kansas on charges of sexual exploitation of a child production of child pornography, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and possession of child pornography, according to court records. "This is one of those times when the youth of America is stepping up to demand action and leadership from elected officials at all levels of government," Smith said, in a statement. "We want to hear from the young people of Northwest Indiana, but we encourage all who are fed up that nothing is being done to join with us on April 7 and offer their ideas on what should be done." The council and Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. have defended a decision not to pass a resolution opposing an end to the DACA program saying it could put the city at risk of losing federal or state money, but residents continue to lobby for the measure to be passed. "I can still deliver the goods but it's getting tougher," Mr. Sanchez replied to my email. "The Kennedy-King years were the absolute best of my career. You were part of that. I had the most fun being a teacher in those years and since at that time our children had not arrived, you all were my children." Murphy planned to become an orthopedic surgeon, until his sophomore year of college, when he took one art class taught by Mocek. She told him, I have a feeling that you have more to say than you think, Murphy related. That was the first time I was aware of my skill set as an artist. I took a graphic design course my junior year, and I havent looked back since. A: There was so much negativity last year, we wanted to do something positive. We realized among us there is someone who is Jewish, Muslim, Protestant and two Catholics. We live in Chicago, La Grange, Skokie and Western Springs. Each of us has our own social silos that we work and play in. We thought why don't we bring our friends together. Our goal was to have 100 people at a meal together. We held the first one at Lacuna Lofts in Pilsen on Cinco de Mayo. Arrested CSU Pueblo student reportedly planned mass shooting An arrest affidavit in the case of CSU Pueblo student Robert James Killis alleges that Killis "appeared to be in the planning stage" for an active shooter event. Shanghai has backtracked on plans to implement a controversial rule that would require Chinese citizens who have settled abroad to renounce their Shanghai residency. On March 13, the Shanghai government announced that it would enforce The Shanghai Permanent Residency Management Rule (the Residency Rule) starting from May 1, 2018. The Residency Rule has existed since 2003, but had not been consistently implemented in practice. Following public outcry, however, Shanghai authorities said that they would not implement the rule for the time being, citing the rules vague definition of settling abroad. The Residency Rule would have required Shanghai residents with the right to permanent residence in a foreign country or who had acquired a foreign nationality to cancel their hukou (). If they did not voluntarily report to the police within a month, local authorities could terminate the hukou unilaterally. A hukou is a domestic household registration permit for Chinese citizens that allows holders to access residence rights such as education, healthcare, and social insurance within a given city or region. According to the Residency Rule, those who gave up their Shanghai hukou could reacquire it once they returned to Shanghai permanently. In practice, however, the process to reacquire a hukou is notoriously difficult. International Payroll & HR Solutions from Dezan Shira & Associates Analysts attribute the now-overturned decision to implement the Residency Rule to the central governments aim to limit the outflow of capital and control the population of major cities. Over the past 10 years, about US$3.8 trillion of Chinese capital outflowed to foreign countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. Part of this outflow has been attributed to Chinese citizens who purchase foreign property and subsequently gain overseas residence rights. Shanghai is also under pressure to limit the size of its population, which has been capped at 25 million by 2035. Shanghais population is officially 24.18 million, but some estimates put it closer to 30 million. The Residency Rule, if implemented, would seem to contradict recent incentives designed to attract domestic and foreign talent and damage Shanghais reputation as Chinas most international city. The three consecutive emperors of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Kangxi, his son Yongzheng and grandson Qianlong, were known as keen art patrons and connoisseurs who through decades built an imperial assemblage of immensity in categories and sophistication in quality. Objects that they once personally appreciated often trigger bidding races when they appear at auctions now. Two such works of art dating to the 18th century will be auctioned on April 3 in Hong Kong. One is an falangcai, or enameled porcelain bowl produced at imperial workshops, under the watchful eyes of Emperor Kangxi, in the late 1710s and early 1720s. It will go under the hammer during Sotheby's major spring sales. Fanglangcai refers to the porcelain items made using the enameling technique imported from the West in the 17th century. Nicolas Chow, the chairman of Sotheby's Asia, tells China Daily that "falangcai objects represent the last major development in the long and rich history of Chinese ceramics in China". The bowl to be sold features a rarely-seen soft pink ground, on which various floral kinds were painted on four five-lobed, azure panels. Few bowls with the similar pastel pink and turquoise grounds are found in existence. Chow says a closely related example decorated with identical colored grounds is now housed at the Palace Museum in Taipei, but it is painted with a different combination of floral sprays. He says the two bowls would have been painted using the very same batch of subtly shaded colors, and it was nearly impossible to replicate at a later time. The bowl to be auctioned also shows Emperor Kangxi's keen interest in Western knowledge and techniques so much that he established enameling workshops inside the Forbidden City. He wanted the first-hand observations of artisans experimenting with the technical procedures, even though the undertaking would not only generate noise, smells and dirt but also pose fire risks. The bowl was first fired plain at the imperial factories in Jingdezhen, hailed as the "porcelain capital" in East China's Jiangxi province. It was then carted off to the court workshops in Beijing for the second stage of processing, enameling and firing to completion. Former Beatles member Paul McCartney joined thousands of people Saturday in the March for Our Lives in New York against gun violence, close to the site where John Lennon, one of McCartney's fellow Beatles, was killed 37 years ago. Wearing a shirt that said, "We can end gun violence," McCartney told local media that he came to the march "just to support the people." "One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here," he said, "so it's important to me." On Dec. 8, 1980, a man opened fire on Lennon and killed him when Lennon was walking in Manhattan with his wife, Yoko Ono. George and Amal Clooney, Jimmy Fallon, Miley Cyrus among other celebrities also joined the rallies held in different U.S. cities. The March for Our Lives was a student-led demonstration in honor of the 17 students and faculty members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and to rally people to say enough to gun violence. Over 800 events were scheduled around the world Saturday, the organizers said, including the anchor one in Washington. China will continue to promote its reform and opening up drive, and improve investment environment for foreign companies, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday. Li made the remarks when meeting with a group of chief executives of Fortune 500 companies and renowned scholars, who had participated the China Development Forum (CDF) from Saturday to Monday in Beijing. Li said China's commitment to further reform and opening up accords with its own interest, and is conducive to maintaining free trade and the healthy development of globalization. China will open its door wider to the outside world, and is willing to learn the advanced technology and management experience from foreign countries, promote cooperation in production, knowledge, technology and service, and optimize its business environment for foreign companies, he said. Talking about trade relations between China and the United States, which are mutually beneficial in nature, Li said the current trade volume between the two countries is achieved thanks to market demand and business rules. "There is no winner in a trade war," the premier said, calling for a rational and earnest attitude when addressing the problem of China-U.S. trade imbalance. Li urged the international community to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system with free trade as its corner stone, and clearly oppose protectionism and unilateralism. Responding to questions related to the "Made in China 2025" action plan, Li said domestic and foreign companies will be treated equally, and foreign companies will not be forced to have their technologies transferred into China. China will strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, he added. The CDF, organized by the Development Research Center of the State Council, is a high-level meeting that gathers leaders from international institutions, academia and companies worldwide. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He has called for rationality and joint efforts by China and the United States to safeguard the stability of China-U.S. trade relations. He made the remarks at two symposia on March 24 and 25, with over 20 representatives from international organizations, entrepreneurs and scholars who were in Beijing to attend the China Development Forum 2018. Liu said China would continue its reform and opening-up, support economic globalization, and promote the building of "a community of shared future for humanity." Liu said the recent U.S. release of a Section 301 investigation report ran counter to global trade rules, and was detrimental to the interests of China, the United States and the whole world. "China is ready and has the strength to safeguard its national interests," he said. Many participants at the symposia consider the releasing of the Section 301 investigation report as politicizing a trade issue, posing a threat to the global multilateral trading system. They believe the trade war is not the correct solution to the trade imbalance between China and the United States, and that the U.S. government should squarely face the deep structural reasons for its trade deficit, instead of blaming economic globalization and major trading partners. They also suggested that China should take the lead in the multilateral trading system, create a favorable business environment for foreign enterprises in China through further reform and opening-up, and promote and lead economic globalization. The participants include former director-general of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy, Nobel Laureate in Economics Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate in Economics Joseph Stiglitz and Nobel Laureate in Economics James Heckman. You are here: Business A new freight train service between Caofeidian Port in north China's Hebei Province and Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, was launched Monday. Departing from Caofeidian Port, a train loaded electrical appliances, furniture and raw materials will travel via Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and finally arrive in Ulan Bator. "This was the first international freight train service launched in Tangshan City," said Wang Kesheng, president of Caofeidian Port Group Incorporation. He said steel products and construction materials produced in Tangshan would be exported to Mongolia and European countries through the new route. Caofeidian Port will also be built to access the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, according to a strategic cooperation agreement signed by Caofeidian Port Group Incorporation and the government of Ulanqab City of Inner Mongolia. Caofeidian is an economic development zone in Bohai Bay, about 200 kilometers east of Beijing. China on Monday defended its policy on banning the imports of solid waste after a U.S. official expressed concerns that the ban could cause a fundamental disruption in global supply chains for scrap materials. "The concerns are neither reasonable nor have any legal basis," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing in response to a U.S. representative's remark at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Council for Trade in Goods last Friday. According to reports, at the meeting the U.S. official said that China's import restrictions on recycled commodities had caused a fundamental disruption in the global supply chains for scrap materials,directing them away from productive reuse and towards disposal. "It's very hypocritical of the U.S. to say China is breaching its WTO duty," Hua said. She pointed out that if the United States thought it legitimate to restrict exports of high-tech and high-value-added products, then China's ban on foreign waste imports should not be illegal. "Restricting and banning the imports of solid waste is an important measure China has taken to implement the new development concept, improve environmental quality and safeguard people's health," Hua said. Hua said that according to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, every country has the right to ban the entry of foreign hazardous waste and other sorts of waste. "We hope that the U.S. can reduce and manage hazardous waste and other waste of its own and take up more duties and obligations." Geng said. China has started to channel more energy into improving the benefits of skilled workers, as the world's second largest economy is counting on a bigger high-quality workforce to help facilitate its transition. A guideline has been issued by central authorities to boost the incomes and social status of skilled workers. Businesses will be encouraged to provide more incentives to technical personnel, including a greater say in corporate operation, higher salaries and stock options. Governments will grant skilled labor honorary titles and favorable treatment in areas such as housing and children's education. China hopes the policies will motivate workers to sharpen their skills and make innovations, and attract more talented young people choose blue-collar jobs. "It is the first time that China has put such great emphasis on the issue," said Tang Tao, vice minister of human resources and social security, at a press conference Monday. Skilled workers have long been undervalued, which results in a huge demand-supply gap in the labor market. China has an employed population of 776 million, of which only 20 percent are skilled labor and a mere six percent are highly-skilled. "Both ratios are very low...and there has been a serious shortage for skilled workers." Tang said. Policy makers have decided to tackle the problem as the country's shift to high-quality development will boost demand for skilled labor, such as the "Made in China 2025" strategy that calls for more qualified industrial workers to push the manufacturing sector up the value chain. The Communist Party of China has announced that the country will build an educated, skilled and innovative workforce, foster respect for model workers, and promote quality workmanship. Tang said the government would closely track the implementation of the guideline and expects the new policy will achieve sound results. China will support highly-skilled workers to participate in national research programs and strengthen the protection of their intellectual property rights and technological innovations, according to the guideline. Blue-collar workers will also be granted higher political status as more of them will be able to enter Party committees, legislatures and political advisory bodies. You are here: World Flash A total of 64 people have been confirmed dead in a major fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Kemerovo city in southwestern Siberia one day ago, the Russian Investigative Committee said Monday. The fire, which started Sunday afternoon, was reported to have been put out by Monday morning, but video footage showed smoke rising in the afternoon from the building that was still smoldering. Rescuers are struggling to reach the upper floors because the roof of the four-story building collapsed. The committee said the death toll has climbed to 64, among whom 15 victims have been identified. Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov said he expected 64 to be "the final figure of deaths". However, the exact number of the missing is still unknown. Previous reports said 64 people were missing, including 41 children. Witnesses told local media that many children who were watching kids' movies in the mall's cinema were killed. A total of 44 people were provided medical treatment and 10 of them remained in hospital, the Investigative Committee said in a previous statement. An 11-year-old boy who jumped out of a window from the fourth floor suffered severe injuries, according to Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova. The Winter Cherry shopping center, a business complex with a cinema inside, is usually packed with people on Sunday afternoon. A total of 663 people took part in the search and rescue operation, the Emergency Situations Ministry said, adding that work is complicated by strong gas contamination, high temperatures and dense smoke. The Investigative Committee said that four people have been detained and interrogated, including the tenants of the premises where the fire possibly started and the head of the management company servicing the building. The investigators were checking the information that fire exits of the building were blocked when the fire broke out, it said, adding that it was deciding whether to detain a guard of the building, who allegedly disabled the warning system. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended condolences to the families and friends of the victims on Sunday and ordered related authorities to provide all necessary help. Kemerovo Regional Governor Aman Tuleyev has signed an order declaring mourning in the region from Tuesday to Thursday. Flash The White House continued on Monday to lash out at Russia over an alleged ex-spy's poisoning attack in Britain, saying Russia's behavior was "brazen and reckless." However, adding the United States wanted to talk with Russia over the issues of mutual concern. Citing the U.S. expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said the U.S. action is a response to Russia's reported use of a military-grade chemical weapon on Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter in London earlier in March. Shah said that "the poisoning in the U.K. that has led to today's announcement was a very brazen action. It was a reckless action. It endangered not just two individuals who were poisoned, but many civilians -- many innocent civilians. And this is not the type of conduct that the United States or our allies can accept." The U.S. effort was later joined by 14 EU member states, Ukraine and Canada. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday it was nonsense to think that Moscow would have poisoned the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Russia also vowed on Monday to retaliate after U.S., Europe expel its diplomats. Shah admitted that this was a coordinated effort. "The president spoke with many foreign leaders, our European allies and others, and encouraged them to join the United States in this -- in this announcement. " However, he said that Trump "still remains open to working with the Russians on areas of mutual concern: counterterrorism, for example, and others." The U.S. relationship with Russia is up to the Russian government, he said. "We want to have a cooperative relationship. The president wants to work with Russia ... the president will continue diplomacy was Russia and with Putin." As for Russia' threatening to take retaliations earlier on Monday, Shah said "the ball's in their court with respect to how they want to respond." Trump last week told the media that he and Putin might meet in the near future. When asked about the meeting, Shah did not rule out its possibility despite Monday's expulsion either. "The ball's in their court. They -- it is up to them on whether we're going to have a fruitful and constructive relationship, or an adversarial relationship," he said. Flash South African former president Jacob Zuma has been formally served with a summons to appear in court on corruption charges next Friday, reported local media. Zuma's lawyer Michael Hulley confirmed to local media that the summons had been served on Monday afternoon. Zuma is expected to appear in the Durban high court on April 6. Coincidentally, that date marks the nine-year anniversary of then acting National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe's decision to drop the case against Zuma, the then ANC president. Last year the High Court ruled that dropping charges against Zuma was unlawful and irrational. National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams announced that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was reinstating corruption charges against Zuma on March 16. The charges include one count of racketeering, two counts of corruption, one count of money-laundering and 12 counts of fraud. Flash Two Russian Su-35s fighter jets for the first time landed in an airfield on Iturup (called as Etorofu by Japan), one of the four Pacific islands claimed by both Russia and Japan, during a training flight, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday. The jets took off from Khabarovsk Territory in Russia's Far East, flew more than 2,000 km and returned to their home base after completing the training flight, the ministry said in a statement. The exercises were conducted to improve flight training and pilots' skills in protecting air borders, it said. They also involved servicemen of the motor rifle division which flew over a number of Kuril islands in helicopters and destroyed "a subversive-reconnaissance group of a conventional enemy" upon landing. Su-35s is an improved version of Su-35 which is single-seat, twin engines, highly-maneuverable multipurpose aircraft and was first commissioned by the Russian Air Force in 2009. Russia and Japan are involved in a territorial row over Iturup, which Japan calls Etorofu, and other three islands off Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido. The four islands that are under Russia's control are called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia. The decades-old territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a post-World War II peace treaty and hindered diplomatic and trade relations between them. Last month, Russia said it planned to station combat jets and civil aircraft on Iturup island, which incurred protests from Japan. Russia and Japan have agreed on joint economic activities on the four islands, but nothing substantial has been achieved. Flash Brazil's Finance Minister, Henrique Meirelles, will step down from the government next week and join the ranks of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, senior government officials said on Monday. The news of Meirelles' move was broken by the government's chief of staff, Eliseu Padilha. Meirelles' quit from the post opens the possibility that he will run in the Oct. 7 presidential election, or be on the ticket as vice president. Meirelles is currently a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which has said it will support him in the election. Moreover, the minister of political affairs, Carlos Marun, also told the press that "the natural candidate is President (Michel) Temer but if he does not want it or can't run, Minister Meirelles' candidacy would be very welcome." Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles plans to be a presidential candidate, he has to resign from the government post by April 7. Meirelles' fame has been rising in Brazil as he is credited with turning around the country's economy after two years of severe recession. He also has a measure of cross-party appeal as he was governor of the central bank during the left-wing government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The news of his exit spurred worries on Brazilian markets, which dropped earlier Monday before bouncing back amid indications that trade tensions between the United States and China might be alleviating. While Meirelles denied for a long time he had any intention of running, he has since last year admitted he was thinking about the possibility. Current polls find Lula leading preferred candidates for the October election, but he is facing a 12-year prison sentence for corruption that could bar him from running. Flash The Pakistan Culture Day was co-hosted by the Embassy of Pakistan and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing on 26th March, 2018. The Event was titled as "Nine Magical Notes". Welcoming the guests, the Secretary General of SCO, Mr. Rashid Alimov said that today's musical performance by Pakistani musicians is symbolic as music brings people together and unites the world. He expressed hope that such events shall contribute to the deepening and expansion of cultural dialogue between the SCO member states. Ambassador of Pakistan Masood Khalid lauded the efforts of the SCO Secretary General for hosting the event and said that such events contribute to strengthening of cultural linkages and in fostering Shanghai spirit between the SCO member states. Ambassador said that Pakistan is the birth place of civilizations, characterized by harmony and cultural co-existence between various segments of society. He termed music as a timeless manifestation of our culture which transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Highlight of the evening was a soul stirring musical performance by Mr. Shahbaz Abdullah and Mr. Haroon Shad, two eminent pianists from Pakistan who played Pakistani, Chinese and western tunes much to the delight of the audience. In addition, paintings by famous Pakistani artists, Pakistani handicrafts and artefacts were also on display. The guests also enjoyed a taste of Pakistani cuisine. The event was attended amongst others by SCO Secretary General, Ambassadors of SCO member states and diplomatic representatives from SAARC countries. Editor's Note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy. Since the Special Olympics China was founded on June 17, 1985, six national Olympic Games have been held across the country. In October 2007, Shanghai held the Special Olympics World Summer Games, becoming the first city in Asia to host the event. More than 7,500 intellectually challenged athletes from home and abroad participated. 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. Dozens of diverse Christian leaders in the United States have come together to pray that possible diplomatic talks with North Korea will soon lead to peace on the Korean peninsula. We call on all Christians everywhere to join us in praying for a just and peaceful resolution, wrote the group, which includes National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson, Sojourners president Jim Wallis, author Eric Metaxas, and Evangelicals for Social Action executive director Nikki Toyama-Szeto. We pray for wisdom for our political, diplomatic and military leaders as they work across differences toward a goal of peace, security and freedom. We pray that God will bless the efforts of citizens who seek to bridge the vast differences between our countries. Their statement was released Tuesday, less than three weeks after President Donald Trump announced possible plans to meet with Kim Jong-un this spring. Johnnie Moore, one of the signatories and the unofficial head of Trumps evangelical advisers, said the North Korea situation has often come up in their prayers at the White House. The 90-plus initial signatories include several Korean Americans leading churches and ministries, such as activist Kathy Khang, pastor Eugene Cho, and North Park University professor Soong-Chan Rah. The group notes that a majority of the 2 million Korean Americans in the US are Christians, many of them evangelical. In the statement, the leaders encouraged fellow believers to pray with empathy and in a spirit of friendship and emphasized that they do not view the North Korean people as our enemies. Evangelicals are more hopeful than the rest of Americans that leaders can successfully negotiate to end North Koreas nuclear weapons program. In a Politico/Morning Consult poll from mid-March, 48 percent of self-identified evangelicals were confident in negotiations, compared to 40 percent of US voters overall. We are heartened by proposals for dialogue between our national leaders at a time when increasing tensions seemed to be marching our countries perilously in the direction of greater conflict, if not war, the Christian leaders wrote. The recent poll found evangelicals were more likely (39%) than most Americans (32%) to support air strikes against military targets and suspected nuclear sites in North Korea. A representative for the advocacy group Open Doors wrote for CT last week on the potential for negotiations to address North Koreas harrowing human rights record and to free the three Americans being detained in the country. Christianity is regarded as a political crime, and it is punished like one, a North Korean refugee said in the piece. There is a great risk to hold the Bible in North Korea. The children, young and old, would not imagine talking about the Bible. Pyongyang was once known as the Jerusalem of the East. Korean Christians living in North America have been among the few to regularly visit the communist country and offer humanitarian aid, such as missionary Kenneth Bae, Toronto pastor Hyeon-Soo Lim, and professors at a private university in Pyongyang. South Korea, the leaders statement points out, is home to some of the worlds largest megachurches and have dedicated ministries to praying for and helping North Korea. The full text of the letter reads: The magic returns; the strains of our music will once more ring forth. Consortium Aurora Borealis is back in action after the silence imposed on so many arts organizations by COVID-19. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. AKRON, Ohio - An Akron police officer was disciplined for failing to properly search a 17-year-old boy who fatally shot himself while in police custody. Officer Devin Ray failed to thoroughly search Xavier McMullen before he put the boy in the back of a patrol car during an Aug. 25 arrest, according to a disciplinary letter signed by Akron police Chief Kenneth Ball and Capt. Steven Swartz. Xavier shot himself in the head while sitting in the patrol car, the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office determined. Investigators found a .45-caliber gun near the boy in the back seat, police said. Xavier's hands were cuffed behind his back when the shooting occurred, police said. Ray was docked 24 hours of pay for violating the police department's transportation and prisoner control procedure, according to the disciplinary letter. Six police officers took Xavier and two 18-year-old boys into custody while investigating an armed robbery on 10th Street SW, police said. A man and woman told investigators they were sitting in a van when three robbers approached them. One of the robbers showed a gun and demanded money, police said. Officers learned the suspects ran away to a house on 7th Street SW near Kenmore Boulevard. Xavier and two 18-year-old men were arrested at the house, police said. The officers placed the three suspects in separate police cruisers while they continued to interview witnesses. One of the officers returned to his police cruiser a short time later and found Xavier dead, police said. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Xavier's death a suicide. None of the six police officers who were at the scene were placed on administrative leave after Xavier's death, police said. The other two men arrested in connection with the robbery later pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in the case, Summit County court records show. Mathew W. Allen, 19, and Anthony W. Criss, 18, were each sentenced to two years of probation when they pleaded guilty Dec. 13, court records say. To comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments page. AKRON, Ohio - Don your favorite Akron 330 shirt on 330 Day, snap a selfie and you could win two round-trip Spirit Airlines vouchers. The vouchers, worth $1,000, are good for travel almost anywhere Spirit Airlines flies from the Akron-Canton Airport. The Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau is hosting the contest as part of its "Wear Your 330 Shirt to Work Day" promotion. All residents and employers in the 330 area are encouraged to wear locally themed t-shirts to work Friday, March 30 - 330 Day. To be eligible to win the airline vouchers be sure to: include someone wearing a local 330 t-shirt post the photo to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter on March 30 include #330ShirtDay in the post T-shirts can be from area high schools, local bands or local businesses and organization. Or, buy a new shirt from such local retailers and producers as Rubber City Clothing in the Northside marketplace, The Social Dept. in Cuyahoga Falls, Rockeverywear and 7th Floor Clothing. Visit the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau website for more information. You can follow the convention & visitors bureau on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @akronsummitcvb. 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. AVON LAKE, Ohio -- About 250 people attended a gathering at Avon Lake High School on March 24 that was billed as part of the March For Our Lives protests held in several cities across the country. Richard and Maureen Merwarth drove from Huron, Ohio, to attend the march. Maureen attended Avon Lake High School, and the couple now have a grandson who will be a freshman there in the fall. "We wanted to support the kids. They are our future," she said. Both said they believe assault weapons should be outlawed, but Maureen said hunters should still be able to have rifles and homeowners should still be allowed to have handguns for their protection. Marchers at Avon Lake High School joined the March For Our Lives day on March 24. Holding homemade signs, as well as some manufactured signs, the group shouted various slogans, such as "Be seen, be heard, be the change," and paraded around the school's front parking lot, as well as the sidewalk along Avon Belden Road, for about 45 minutes. Police officers were in attendance. Afterward, some students spoke to the group, underscoring their desire to see action on the part of legislators regarding gun violence and student safety. Rudy Breglia, local activist for seatbelts on school buses, brought his seatbelt display and said his issue ties into the day because it is about children's safety. Tables lined along the sidewalk highlighted voter registration, signing student pledges and other ways to become involved. A local Brownie troop led by Lisa Sheehan displayed rocks with messages of kindness painted on them that people could hand out or just place somewhere in view. They also came up with a pass-out list of 100 acts of kindness. The Nord Center -- a private, non-profit agency providing comprehensive behavioral and mental health services to children, adolescents and adults in the greater Lorain County area -- was also there in support. Speakers included Kristen Gould, a senior at the high school; the Rev. Paige Boyer from Lakeshore Avon Lake Methodist Church; and Kristen LePrevost, the march organizer. Gould encouraged getting involved with her moving speech. "I was born after the Columbine shooting," she said. "I am here today because, when I heard about the Parkman shooting, I wasn't even surprised. Over 400 kids have died since I was born due to school violence. That's not OK. It is so easy to ignore and pretend that it is not happening. This year, there was something different about it." BRECKSVILLE, Ohio -- Three of five Brecksville-Broadview Heights school board members said they would not consider -- and would never vote to approve -- arming teachers or staff to improve school building security. However, the board will study other security measures, including installing metal detectors and increasing police presence. Meanwhile, the district has already begun tightening building security and is looking for ways to improve mental health services for pupils. Also, the district is expanding its Safety and Security Committee -- consisting of school board members, administration officials and police -- to include parents. The committee, now with more than 35 members, will review ways to beef up security, then make recommendations to the board. Board President Kathleen Mack said the safety-security committee must act quickly. "This is something the public thinks is very timely and important, and it can't be a long process," Mack said during a March 19 board meeting. The ongoing safety and security discussions started last month after a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left 17 people dead. Brecksville-Broadview Heights parents and pupils have expressed concern over school building security and skepticism over existing security measures. At least one parent asked the school board to consider arming teachers and staff. But at the March 19 meeting, board member Fred Pedersen said he was "adamantly opposed" to arming teachers and staff and that the safety-security committee should not even bother discussing that option. "I believe the more guns, the more gun deaths," Pedersen said. Mack and board member Ellen Kramer agreed. "I don't want to see our staff carrying guns," Mack said. "They have enough of a job taking care of the kids and keeping them safe." Board members Mark Dosen and Michael Ziegler dissented, saying they didn't want to rule out in advance any possible security measure for the safety-security committee to weigh. Mack said the committee can look at other options involving weapons. For example, the district might add a second resource officer, who would be stationed at one of the schools. Dosen warned that any recommendation the committee presents will probably add costs to the district budget. He said the team should show cost benefits of all its recommendations. Also, Dosen said the committee should seek input from parents and citizens not on the committee, perhaps through a town hall meeting or community survey. Superintendent Joelle Magyar said the safety-security committee will meet for the first time in its expanded form at 7:30 a.m. April 11. Taking steps Magyar said the district has already taken steps to improve security over the past month. Measures have included: Tightened main entrances. Heightened review of identification badges. Stricter enforcement of door policy. Safer evening door policy. Increased staff presence during dismissal. Updated evacuation and reunification protocol. Reconstituted security small groups. Elimination of key access. Upgraded video surveillance. Added door locks. Mental health initiatives Magyar said the district is also addressing pupil mental health by: Hosting focus groups. Posting a banner with positive messages. Creating Quick Response Codes. Brainstorming mental health strategies. In addition, the district is considering setting aside a classroom where pupils needing therapeutic intervention can "de-escalate" before returning to their regular classes, Magyar said. The classroom would have a trained teacher-counselor, an educational assistant and a social worker. The program would be staffed by Positive Education Program, a Cleveland firm that, according to its website, "helps troubled and troubling children learn and grow." Brecksville-Broadview Heights schools already use PEP for one-on-one pupil counseling. Magyar said the district, to save money, might train its own staff for the teacher-counselor and-or educational assistant roles. Initially, the PEP program would be offered at the high school. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man who raped a child in the 1990s has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for downloading child pornography. Roland Wolfe, 53, had child pornography on a laptop and five USB drives when he was at a Cleveland homeless shelter in 2017, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Authorities also said he viewed illegal images while at Cleveland State University using the school's free wireless internet in 2016. Wolfe pleaded guilty in December to receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Senior U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent sentenced Wolf on Friday. In addition to 293 months in federal prison, Wolfe was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution. Wolfe has a history of committing sex crimes. He pleaded guilty in Wayne County in 1997 to raping a child under 13 years old. The judge sentenced him to eight years in prison. He pleaded guilty in the same county in 2011 to pandering and illegal use of minor in nudity oriented material. He was sentenced to five years in prison and was released in July 2016. He was on probation when he was arrested in the federal case. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio - National experts in health care, government, community organizations and foundations plan to convene in Cleveland to choose an issue related to the opioid crisis, such as opioid-dependent babies, then gather data and define a solution. More than 70 of the experts gathered privately on Monday at the Global Center for Health Innovation to begin the discussions. It was the second private meeting organized by BioEnterprise, which manages the Global Center and promotes and nurtures health-care companies and bio-science technologies. "We want to take on big challenges that no one can do on its own, identify areas and find collaborators across sectors that can deliver value," BioEnterprise CEO Aram Nerpouni said Monday following the executive briefing titled "The Role of Private Capital in Attacking the Opioid Crisis." He was joined by Dr. Michael Petersen, medical director with Accenture's health-management delivery operations team in Austin, Texas. Accenture, a consulting company based in Chicago that works with top companies, is partnering with BioEnterprise on the endeavor. Petersen said Monday's gathering was unique. "Most opioid summits discuss the common problem and educate those who attend," he said. "Everyone here understood the problem and could accelerate ideas and push for collaborations. It is a multi-faceted problem that not one entity can solve." From the 70 attendees of Monday's session, a working group of about 20 people will be defined within a few months and will likely meet regularly at the Global Center for up to a year to develop a solution to the identified issue. "There are places we feel this group can make meaningful progress," Petersen said. He said the working group will chose a specific issue related to the opioid crisis, such as opioid-dependent babies, gather data and define a solution. He and Nerpouni said the solution might initially be defined for a specific geographic area but could likely be adapted nationally. They acknowledged that there are numerous local, statewide and national efforts to battle the crisis, but said their effort differs because it includes experts who can develop innovative solutions. They said there will likely be other working groups from Monday's meeting that will prioritize opioid issues once the initial effort concludes. Nerpouni said the initiative will receive input from the Global Center's tenants, including the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.He added that the initiative is part of the center's new focus of participating in solving health-care issues. According to BioEnterprise, those attending the seminar Monday included representatives from the offices of Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman and Attorney General Mike DeWine; the Ohio Development Services Agency; Ohio Third Frontier; the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium (Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, Northeast Ohio VA Healthcare System, St. Vincent's Charity Medical Center and University Hospitals); Surescripts; Appriss Health; Groups Recover Together; Self Refind; the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Health Velocity Capital; Cordata; Axial Healthcare; and The Dalton Foundation. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Heart vocalist Ann Wilson says she will be inducting the Moody Blues into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during ceremonies April 14 in Cleveland. Wilson disclosed the news in an interview with Joe Milliken, editor of Standing Room Only, a New England music, arts and dining guide. Wilson, who is on a solo tour of the U.S. that will stop in Cleveland April 7 for a show at the Hard Rock Rocksino, broke the news at the end of a long interview with Milliken, talking about her upcoming projects. "I am singing the national anthem at the Special Olympics in Seattle on July 1st, and playing our own shows until July when the tour starts with Paul Rodgers and Jeff Beck," she said. "I will also be inducting the Moody Blues into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April!" The Rock Hall has yet to officially reveal any special tributes or presenters for the 2018 inductions. All we know so far is that Howard Stern will induct Bon Jovi. The other 2018 inductees are Dire Straits, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and The Cars. Coincidentally, Milliken is the author of an upcoming biography of late Cars bassist and vocalist Benjamin Orr. Milliken added an editor's note to his Wilson interview saying he would be in Cleveland for the Cars induction. Orr, who died in 2000, is a graduate of Parma's Valley Forge High School and met Rick Ocasek in Northeast Ohio in the 1960s. Wilson was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2013 along with her sister Nancy as a member of Heart. Wilson is working on a new album, "Songs for the Living: Volume 1," which is slated for release this summer. It will pay homage to artists who have died in recent years. "It's a project very dear to me -- a collection of songs by artists who have departed in the last several years including Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Tom Petty, Chris Cornell and Amy Winehouse to name a few," Wilson said in a press release promoting her tour. "I feel these souls have made a real, lasting contribution to the art of the popular song and to honor them is my deepest pleasure." The album is produced by Mike Flicke, who worked on Heart albums such as "Dreamboat Annie," "Magazine," "Little Queen," "Dog and Butterfly" and "Bebe Le Strange." Among the confirmed tracks on the new Wilson album: Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me," Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black," and The Eagles' "Life in the Fast Lane." Wilson will promote the album this summer on the "Stars Align Tour," sharing the bill with Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers. That tour kicks off July 18 in West Valley City, Utah. The 2018 Rock Hall induction ceremony takes place April 14 at Public Hall in Cleveland. CLEVELAND, Ohio - University Hospitals confirmed to The Plain Dealer this morning that double the number of eggs and embryos originally thought to be affected in a fertility clinic failure are unviable. As many as 4,000 eggs and embryos were ruined as a result of a temperature fluctuation in a storage tank in the fertility center March 3-4, UH told The Plain Dealer. In a letter UH sent patients, the hospital system said the remote alarm system on the tank in question that automatically would have alerted staff to any changes in temperature was turned off when the temperature fluctuation occurred. The letter was sent to patients via FedEx March 26, UH told The Plain Dealer. "We don't know who turned off the remote alarm nor do we know how long it was off, but it appears to have been off a period of time," UH said in the letter, of which The Plain Dealer has obtained a copy. Initially, UH said 700 patients could be affected. Now that number is 950, UH told The Plain Dealer. UH will talk to the media in more depth later this afternoon. "The technical manner in which the eggs and embryos are stored in these freezers complicated our initial determination of how many patients and specimens were affected," UH wrote in the letter. "We are heartbroken to tell you that it's unlikely any are viable." In the letter, UH said they had "experienced difficulty" with the autofill function on the tank, which replenishes the cooling agent liquid nitrogen, for several weeks prior to March 3. UH had been working with the manufacturer of the tank to thaw the tank in question and eventually relocate the eggs and embryos to a new tank but had not yet completed that process when the temperature fluctuation occurred, UH said in the letter. Custom BioGenic Systems is the manufacturer of the storage tanks UH used prior to the incident, NBC News reported. Custom Biogenic Systems, based in Bruce Township, Mich., designs and manufactures liquid nitrogen laboratory freezers, cryogenic equipment and accessories, according to its website. The company has not yet responded to requests from The Plain Dealer for comment. While the autofill function was down, staff had been manually filling the storage tank for several weeks by connecting the tank to a line to a liquid nitrogen reserve tank, UH said in the letter. However, for several days prior to the March 3 weekend, staff could not manually fill the tank using a line because UH did not have liquid nitrogen tanks available in the embryology lab. Staff instead had to manually fill the tank by pouring containers of liquid nitrogen from the andrology lab into the top, UH said. On the Friday before the incident, liquid nitrogen was poured into the tank. "The liquid nitrogen levels in the tank were monitored and appeared to be appropriate on Friday and Saturday but we now suspect that may not have been the case," UH wrote in the letter. "We do not yet know if this fill process may explain the rise in temperature over the weekend." UH said it is continuing to investigate the situation. UH purchased new storage tanks with new alarms from a different vendor, Dr. Daniel Simon, president of UH Cleveland Medical Center, wrote in a letter sent to patients March 22. At that time, UH said it was still investigating why there was a temperature fluctuation in the tank. UH announced in early March that about 2,000 eggs and embryos stored in a large liquid nitrogen freezer at UH's Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood may have been damaged when the temperature rose in a storage tank. That number has since been updated to 4,000. UH is under investigation by two accreditation organizations and the Ohio Department of Health. About 18 lawsuits against UH have been filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The hospital, which also has been conducting its own investigation, said it does not comment on litigation. UH previously had trouble with an incubator in March 2016. On March 17, UH released a statement acknowledging that an incubator lost power in 2016, which destroyed embryos. Five patients were affected. This story was updated with information from the letter UH sent patients March 26. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Custom BioGenic Systems, located in a small town in Michigan, might be the manufacturer of the liquid nitrogen freezer at the center of an incident at University Hospitals fertility clinic that led to about 4,000 eggs and embryos being nonviable. NBC News reported Tuesday that Custom BioGenic is the manufacturer of the tank that malfunctioned at UH. Custom BioGenic has a history of malfunctions dating back years, with 21 incidents reported in the United Kingdom, according to a NBC News investigation. Custom BioGenic did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, and UH has not confirmed that this company made the tank involved in the March 3-4 local incident. British regulators warned Custom BioGenic that there were problems with the auto fill systems on its tanks - something that UH said they experienced with the tank involved in this incident. The warning was withdrawn when the company said the issue was fixed, according to NBC. In a copy of a letter sent to patients this morning, UH said their failed tank had experienced problems with the liquid nitrogen auto-fill function, and needed preventative maintenance. The hospital also said that the remote alarm system on the tank, designed to alert UH employees to changes in temperature, was turned off, meaning alerts that should have been sent to staff were not sent. The hospital's also letter said that 950 patients were affected by the freezer failure. About 4,000 eggs and embryos were affected, or double the number originally stated. Custom BioGenic, founded in 1987, designs and manufactures liquid nitrogen laboratory freezers, cryogenic equipment and accessories, according to its website. It ships products internationally from its headquarters in Bruce Twp., Michigan, which is between Flint and Detroit. Typically, fertility freezers are units about the size of a beer keg. They are filled with liquid nitrogen, which chills tissues to a temperature of - 196 Celsius. Frozen embryos are thawed when it is time for them to be transferred to a woman's uterus. There are two main types of freezer tanks. Manual-fill freezers must be checked every day to ensure the level of liquid nitrogen is adequate. Lab technicians refill the freezers manually using a hose connected to a liquid nitrogen tank. Auto-fill freezers, like the kind at UH, are connected to computers and sensors that automatically measure the level of liquid nitrogen and refill the tank using pumps. Both types of tanks are usually inspected every day, and undergo regular maintenance. An alarm system is normally attached to a senor inside the tank. If the tank's temperature begins to rise dangerously, an audible alarm sounds in the lab. The alarm system also automatically calls the cellphones of lab technicians on a prearranged list. The system will call each technician, in order, until someone acknowledges the alarm. An online manual for a Custom BioGenic Systems liquid nitrogen freezer stated, "VersAlert will monitor your temperature critical products and send alerts via text message or email if specified parameters are exceeded." The manual also stated that the company offers a five-year warranty on the freezers' vacuum seals, and a two-year warranty on electronics and parts. The manual's list of recommended best practices for safe tissue storage included having a secondary or backup alarm, an independent temperature alarm for each freezer, a remote alarm connection and other measured. The Custom BioGenic Systems manual also recommended separating samples in to two different freezers. At least three people, with home, cell and pager numbers, should be on the alarm contact list, the manual said. MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council on Monday approved a budget that will have the city projected to spend more than it takes in in 2018, but one that will still leave the city with a "healthy" general fund balance of about $8.5 million. Approved was a budget that projects revenues totaling approximately $22,336,000 and expenses of about $22,348,000. Finance Director Robert Tribby said that, if all goes well in approving the city's six union contracts this year, the expenditures figure will increase by another $325,000. This would have the city projected to spend about $340,000 more than revenues gained. "We have a healthy balance," Mayor Anthony DiCicco said of the $8.5 million reserve. "We're thankful for that." Passage of the budget ordinance did not go smoothly, however. With Councilwoman Diane Snyder not present, six votes were needed for council to suspend the rules and pass the ordinance. Councilman Donald Manno voted against the ordinance, making the vote 5-1 in favor. Councilman Robert DeJohn then asked Tribby about the urgent need to pass the ordinance on Monday. Tribby stated that a budget must be passed by March 31 so that it can be submitted to the state of Ohio by its April 1 deadline. Without passage, Tribby said, the city government would shut down. DeJohn then asked for a second vote and, this time, Manno voted in the affirmative. Afterward, Manno said he merely made a mistake when voting against the budget and was glad DeJohn asked for a second vote. "I didn't want to shut down the government," he said. Tribby noted that the rule of thumb for cities is to have a reserve equal to about 15 percent to 20 percent of what it spends during the year. "Our balance (the $8.5 million) would be about 37.7 percent of our expenses," he said. Union contracts Council could not agree Monday on passage of police and fire union contracts. The contracts, which the administration and the union leaders had agreed upon, each received only three votes in favor, with Manno, DeJohn and Councilwoman Gayle Teresi abstaining. The contract, however, will still take effect. It will just take a while longer to do so. In accordance with state law, because the administration and union negotiators had agreed on deals, even though council did not pass the contract ordinances, they still will take effect in 30 days. If council had approved the contracts Monday, they would have gone into effect immediately. The contracts call for a 2.5 percent raise in 2018 and 3 percent raises in 2019 and 2020. "I think the negotiations went well," DiCicco told council before a vote was taken. "Both parties conceded and gave ground, and we came to a contract that's good for everybody." When asked why he abstained, Manno said: "I abstained rather than vote no. I want to see them get a pay raise, but we didn't agree on the amount of the raises." At a council Finance Committee meeting held March 19, Manno said he preferred rate increases of 2.5 percent, 2 percent and 2 percent in the three years the contract covers. He said that Mayfield Heights safety workers are already among the highest paid in the area. "I know the city's in good shape financially, but that doesn't last forever," he said. Manno said the city has infrastructure needs, such as bad roads and an old and deteriorating swimming pool, that should be addressed. DeJohn said of his abstention: "I abstained because we (council) were not included in any of the negotiations. Why should I vote on something somebody else negotiated? The last time I did that, I felt uneasy about it." After the meeting, DiCicco said that, while the police officers and firefighters were given raises, the city received concessions. In this negotiation and the one that took place three years ago, he said, the union agreed to pay a greater share of medical expenses and to accept fewer retirement benefits. "In these last two negotiations, we've set the city up better for its future," DiCicco said. Contracts with four unions -- representing service department workers, building department employees, safety force dispatchers, and police sergeants, lieutenants and captains -- have yet to be finalized. These unions will be offered the same raises as police and fire are to receive. Preparing for November Also at Monday's council meeting, council elected to table a resolution that would have the mayor enter into a contract with Melamed Communications LLC. Council is considering putting on the November ballot an issue that would seek to raise the city's income tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent. The issue would also look to increase the current half-percent income tax credit residents who work outside the city pay to 100 percent of the first 1.5 percent residents pay to another community. Melamed may be hired to provide the city consulting and communications services in explaining the potential ballot issue. Melamed is seeking a four-month contract. Again, Manno and DeJohn are not in favor of hiring Melamed. Both said the matter was tabled because Snyder was not present and that there wouldn't have been enough votes to pass the resolution without her. "I think it's wrong to spend $40,000 of taxpayers' money to educate people on why they should vote for a tax increase," Manno said. "It's real simple: Just tell them that the money is needed for infrastructure repairs. They see the bad shape of our roads and that we need a swimming pool." DiCicco said that council can act to hire Melamed at its next meeting on April 9 and still give the firm the time it needs to prepare for November. Dispute resolved At council's Feb. 26 meeting, Executive Caterers at Landerhaven owner Harlan Diamond objected to council rezoning property for a nursing facility because a property he owns just west of the site would become hemmed in and "economically unviable," according to Diamond's lawyer, Dennis Nevar. A three-acre property that has a home upon it is located directly west of Diamond's, which would have meant that his property would be cut off from future development. The matter was resolved, DiCicco said, when CA Senior Living Holdings of Chicago, the firm building the nursing facility, agreed to purchase Diamond's property. CA will build a two-story, apartment-style building containing 182 units at 6200 Landerhaven Drive, across the street from Executive Caterers' party center. SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Although the budget South Euclid City Council passed at a special meeting March 19 calls for the city to spend more than the revenues it is projected to receive in 2018, Mayor Georgine Welo says spending the full amount council has allotted in the budget is not an option. "It won't happen," Welo said. "I'm very conservative after seeing what Gov. John Kasich did to municipalities." Welo has for years been critical of the cuts Kasich has made in the state's Local Government Fund, and the need she sees that it creates for municipalities' to make up the difference on the backs of local taxpayers. The LGF, in 2010-11, the year before Kasich took office, delivered a total of $694.4 million to Ohio municipalities. The budget that took effect July 1, 2017, afforded $381.8 million to municipalities. "You can't trust the state," Welo said. Council President Dennis Fiorelli said that Welo has, for the past seven years, not spent all the money council has included on the projected expenditures side of the city's budget. The budget council passed for 2018 projects revenues of $16.8 million, and expenditures of $19.1 million. In 2017, the budget projected spending $18.6 million. The city actually spent just less than $16.8 million. Welo said that city needs more money coming in. "We have to increase our revenue by $2 million a year," she said. "We're hoping to add three police officers and two or three people in the service department. City hall needs a new roof, and our pool (at Bexley Park) is going to expire. And, we have to pay for our own roads, where we used to get more help from the county." The Mayor said that, if all goes well, there is a chance that a portion of the roof will get fixed this year, and that perhaps one police officer can be added. In deciding what she will spend, Welo said she keeps an eye on the general fund cash balance, which now stands at $4.45 million, but is projected to be down to about $2.4 million at year's end, as union contracts are being negotiated and other expenses loom. Welo aims to keep the general fund balance at $3.2 million-$3.5 million. Fiorelli said it is good practice for a city to maintain a general fund balance equal to at least 20 percent of that year's expenditures. With the city projected to spend $19 million in 2018, that formula would have the balance standing at about $3.8 million. "It shouldn't go below $2 million," he said. Council has been considering since last summer the way or ways it should go about raising the needed $2 million annually. It is considering charging a fee for garbage collection, raising the city's 2-percent income tax, and other things. Welo said council has until the end of June, before its recess, to decide which method it will present to residents. An income tax increase would require voter approval in November. Shopping carts Council heard, at its March 26 meeting, the first reading of a proposed ordinance that seeks to regulate the number of shopping carts found abandoned on streets. Community Services Director Keith Benjamin said that the ordinance was prompted by the Oakwood Commons Walmart, 1868 Warrensville Center Road. "We find abandoned shopping carts from Walmart all over Warrensville Center Road," Benjamin said. "We don't have that problem with Giant Eagle or Marc's." Under consideration is an ordinance that would require signs on carts identifying the owner, and possibly requiring magnetic locks on carts. Magnetic locks prevent, through use of a magnetic field, a cart from being wheeled off a property. Benjamin said initial plans called for Walmart to use magnetic locks on carts. The ordinance could also give the city the ability to take possession of an abandoned cart, and then discard or destroy unclaimed carts after 14 days. The ordinance has been put into council's Service Committee for further discussion. A new agreement Also at its March 26 meeting, council entered into a new three-year agreement with its community development corporation, One South Euclid. One South Euclid was created and entered into its first three-year deal with the city six years ago. The city created it to revitalize South Euclid's commercial districts and residential neighborhoods. The non-profit One South Euclid is operated by a board of volunteer business and community leaders. MEDINA, Ohio -- City Council voted 6-1 last night to prohibit the sale of alcohol at the new French restaurant operated by the Medina County Recovery Center. Serenite Restaurant and Culinary Center is part of the recovery center's operations at 538 W. Liberty St., site of the former Medina Steakhouse, in one of the city's oldest historic buildings. The center opened last summer as a place where recovering addicts -- particularly those impacted by opioid abuse -- can gather for meetings, exchange ideas, learn a trade and meet with counselors. Some of the clients will be working at the recently opened restaurant, honing their culinary skills for future careers. The restaurant will be serving meals without wine or other alcohol, however. The idea of serving alcohol at a facility where recovering addicts will be working had a lot of community members upset. Mayor Dennis Hanwell said that during the planning process for the facility, "the only discussions on food were breakfast and lunch. Never dinner and absolutely never alcohol." Hanwell stated that several people involved with the process believed that "you can't represent one thing to the public and then come back and change the whole dynamic of what's going to happen." Council President John Coyne allowed one community member to go to the podium last night and address council on behalf of those opposed to the restaurant's request for a liquor permit. Chip Jenkins, from Seville, spoke about his son's battle with addiction and how, at the time, there was nowhere in the area that his son could go for help. While he thinks that a place like the Medina County Recovery Center is necessary, he said that "having alcohol in a treatment center is outrageous." Many of the council members spoke out against the idea of serving alcohol at the restaurant, as well. Councilman-at-large Bill Lamb said he felt as though "there is something fundamentally not right" about serving alcohol at the facility. CLEVELAND, Ohio - City Council approved a 2018 budget for Cleveland Monday that calls for about $1.7 billion in spending that Mayor Frank Jackson has said will enhance services, fill vacant jobs and extend the benefits for the city's economic recovery to all city residents. Jackson proposes spending about $622 million in general fund services such as police and fire protection and parks and recreation. That's up from about $595 million in 2017. The balance of the spending is slated for enterprise operations such as the water department and the airport, which raise their own money to support themselves. Jackson unveiled his budget plan to council late in February and it sailed through committee hearings. Council made few changes to the mayor's plan before giving its initial approval on first and second readings. The final vote Monday evening was 16-0. One change that was made was to increase spending to help elderly Clevelanders keep their homes in good repair and maintain the city's housing stock. The money, $1.275 million, will be divided between Cleveland's 17 wards. Each member of City Council will have $75,000 to use for helping seniors. That program will be administered through the city's Department of Aging once guidelines are drawn up. Jackson and members of City Council frequently have discussed the need for programs to help elderly homeowners who live in Cleveland's impoverished neighborhoods keep up their homes. Senior home assistance is a component of a $65-million neighborhood revitalization program that Jackson launched last year in the East 105th Street corridor on the East Side and the Clark-Fulton area on the West Side. Members of council will also be able to direct an additional $75,000 toward small capital improvement projects in their wards. That pot of money was something the council put in last year's budget, too. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's election season and that means campaigns are openly truthful and honest as they vie for hundreds of elected offices around the state. Well, truthful about what they want you to know. Generally speaking, there's no such thing as the perfect candidate. Everybody has some sort of baggage -- votes they wish they hadn't made, past positions they wish they hadn't taken or just plain gaffes and scandals. But candidates for office often play a careful game of making sure people know what they want them to know. Instead of focusing on that unpopular position they held eight years ago, they'll focus on a different issue they're much stronger on. The race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. John Kasich is no exception. The six candidates each has a narrative they're trying to push -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- while ignoring glaring truths about themselves. Let's take a look at what the candidates want you to know -- and what they don't. Mike DeWine Job: Ohio attorney general Age: 71 Experience: DeWine is a former U.S. senator (1995-2007), lieutenant governor (1991-1994), congressman (1983-1991), state senator (1981-1982) and county prosecutor (1977-1981) What he wants you to know: DeWine is one of the mainstays of Ohio politics, with a political career spanning more than 40 years. He is a lifelong Ohioan who lives in Greene County, around 10 miles from where he grew up. As Ohio attorney general, DeWine ordered the testing of 14,000 previously unexamined rape kits, an endeavor that helped link 300 suspected serial offenders to 1,127 crimes, which the attorney general's office says are mostly rapes. DeWine over his career has cast some moderate votes and has emphasized the value of compromise, but consistently has been a social conservative who opposes abortion and same-sex marriage. He has been endorsed by the Buckeye Firearms Association, the Ohio Republican Party and a number of county-level parties and law enforcement officials. A central plank in his campaign platform is a 12-point plan he says will help Ohio in the fight against opioid addiction. Last year, he sued prescription-drug manufacturers and distributors in an effort to recover some of the damage the opioid epidemic has wrought on the state. Although he lost a high-profile race in 2006, he has won most of the elections in which he's run, including outperforming George W. Bush in the 2000 election more than 20 points. DeWine's folksy style of campaigning includes annual ice-cream socials at his family farm in Cedarville. His wife, Fran, whom he met in grade school, has released several cookbooks and says she's working on another. The DeWines have seven children and 23 grandchildren. What he doesn't want you to know: DeWine was voted out of office in 2006 amid a national Democratic wave election during which he had a chilly relationship with conservative Republican activists. High on their list of grievances: DeWine co-sponsored a Sen. Chuck Schumer bill to extend a federal assault-weapons ban, which landed him an F rating from the NRA, as well as another 2006 immigration-reform bill that would have created a pathway to citizenship for some people who immigrated here illegally. Now that he's running in a Republican primary, he's emphasized that he will ban sanctuary cities and touted his endorsement from the Buckeye Firearms Association. He also was part of the "Gang of 14" U.S. senators who negotiated blocking the appointment of some conservative George W. Bush judicial nominees while paving the way for others -- like Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts -- to be confirmed. As an eight-year incumbent, DeWine was in office during a time when the opioid crisis worsened and Ohio's job growth slowed compared to the national average. (This same theory could be applied to Ohio's struggles since DeWine first took office in the late 1970s.) Like other Ohio attorneys general, he has been criticized for accepting campaign contributions from lawyers seeking to get hired by the state. And finally, his 40-plus years in politics makes him a career politician in the truest sense of the word, something that could be a liability in the current political environment. Mary Taylor Job: Lieutenant governor Age: 52 Experience: Taylor is a former Ohio auditor (2007-2011), state representative (2003-2006) and Green city councilwoman (2001-2003). What she wants you to know: Taylor is a conservative Republican who has espoused uncompromising views on the Second Amendment, abortion and limited government. Before her life in politics, Taylor, a certified public accountant, worked for 16 years as a tax professional for a pair of accounting firms, giving her some of the most extensive private-sector experience of any statewide candidate. Her husband, Donzell, owns a successful contribution company and is on the board of directors for the Greater Akron Chamber. Taylor has advocated for President Donald Trump's proposal to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and believes that Ohio should end expanded Medicaid eligibility that was championed by Gov. John Kasich. Ohio deserves a fearless, unapologetic conservative. I am an ardent defender of the Second Amendment. I am pro-life without exceptions. I believe life begins at conception. https://t.co/UR9ODalHjg Mary Taylor (@MaryTaylorOH) March 22, 2018 Taylor was the only Republican to win a statewide office in Ohio in 2006 (the year DeWine lost his senate seat to Sherrod Brown, a Democrat). She has proposed fighting the opioid crisis by borrowing $1 billion, which the state could dole out in zero-interest loans to help build new treatment centers and hire new narcotics officers around Ohio. While she doesn't often discuss it publicly, her two adult sons have struggled with opioid addiction themselves, which Taylor has said gives her a personal perspective on the challenges facing families whose loved ones are addicted to drugs. She has criticized DeWine as a "liberal politician" whose time has passed. What she doesn't want you to know: For her first six years as lieutenant governor, Taylor was an ardent supporter of Gov. John Kasich, including at the Republican National Convention, even when it was clear that Donald Trump was in line to receive the GOP nomination. Although she's differentiated herself by criticizing Kasich policies she's disagreed with, it still has muddled her attempts to cast herself as a conservative reformer who pushes back on the status quo. On behalf of the great state of Ohio, we are proud to cast our votes for @JohnKasich! #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/kVskXjPmlh Mary Taylor (@MaryTaylorOH) July 19, 2016 Her opposition to Medicaid expansion, while playing well with the Republican base concerned about its cost, could harm Ohio's fight against opioid addiction if enacted. Medicaid covers half of all medication-related addiction treatment in Ohio. While lieutenant governor, Taylor's chief of staff and another aide resigned amid a state investigation after it was noticed that they had claimed to be working during hours when their cars were not parked in the state parking garage. Taylor has seen high turnover in her office while serving as lieutenant governor, and has burned through at least six chiefs of staff. In 2011, Kasich ordered her to repay the state $1,039.50 for being either picked up or dropped off at the Akron-Canton airport -- about six miles from her home -- by a state airplane. Richard Cordray Job: Former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Age: 58 Experience: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director (2012-2017), attorney general (2009-2010), treasurer (2007-2009), Franklin County treasurer (2002-2007), Ohio solicitor general (1993-1996), Ohio House of Representatives (1991-1992) What he wants you to know: Cordray is proud of his work as the federal watchdog that punishes banks, credit-card companies, payday lenders and the like for acting inappropriately. The bureau also set some policy through the rules process. He's been a consistent critic and thorn in Wall Street's side, a progressive champion in the mold of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama. During his tenure at the CFPB, he frequently beefed with Republicans, who have sought to dismantle the agency. Members of President Donald Trump's administration (and occasionally Trump himself) butted heads with him. What he doesn't want you to know: Cordray was very cozy with the gun lobby. He received an A-rating from the National Rifle Association in 2010 in the attorney general's race while his opponent, current Attorney General Mike DeWine, received an F-rating. Contrary to much of the Democratic base today, Cordray does not support an assault weapons ban in the wake of the Florida school shooting that started a massive nationwide debate on guns. During his time as attorney general, he directed the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board to allow a rally of gun-rights supporters - many of whom were armed - to march at the Capitol, including taking personal responsibility if there were any incidents. Video of that rally showed a variety of racially tinged merchandise directed at Obama. As far as gun control measures, Cordray said he supports finding bipartisan solutions on background checks, mental health treatment and stiffer penalties for illegal gun sales. As attorney general, Cordray also defended a state law that banned cities like Cleveland from enacting gun-control measures. He's said he was required to defend the law as attorney general, but attorneys general have discretion in which laws they choose to defend. Cordray also previously called for expanding where concealed carry is allowed. "It allows people to protect themselves in everyday situations around the state," Cordray said in 2010 during a speech in front of Ohioans for Concealed Carry. "We actually should have access to more locations instead of less on that." Cordray also loses elections. A lot. He lost his congressional election in 1992, the attorney general's race in 1998, the Senate election in 2000 and the attorney general's race in 2010 -- to DeWine. Bill O'Neill Job: Former Ohio Supreme Court justice Age: 70 Experience: Supreme Court justice (2013-2017), appeals court judge (1997-2007), assistant attorney general (1984-1996) What he wants you to know: O'Neill was the only Democrat sitting on the Supreme Court until he recently resignied to run. During the race for that office, O'Neill only spent $4,000 campaigning. He attributes the victory to his use of social media, his message of ridding judicial elections of campaign contributions and his Irish last name. Prior to his time on the high court, he had a long career of public service, including serving on the appeals court, as a labor organizer and a prosecutor in the attorney general's office. O'Neill also had a respected military career. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Army and served in Vietnam. He's also a pediatric emergency room nurse. What he doesn't want you to know: O'Neill has made outrageous and offensive remarks that he's been forced to apologize for. In a now-deleted Facebook post in August, O'Neill ripped Cleveland Browns players for kneeling in protest during the national anthem, a position he recently stood by when asked during a recording for the Ohio Matters podcast. That wasn't the end of his Facebook escapades. In November, O'Neill set off a firestorm after posting a defense of now-resigned U.S. Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota who was accused multiple times of sexual harassment and assault. In the post - which has since been deleted - O'Neill said he was speaking up "on behalf of all heterosexual males" by laying out what he described as his past sex life with "approximately 50 very attractive females." Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill's original Facebook post about his sexual escapades. O'Neill later edited this version before deleting it entirely. O'Neill also equated the sexual harassment allegations with consensual sexual encounters. He has since apologized. Dennis Kucinich Job: Former congressman and Fox News contributor Age: 71 Experience: Congress (1997-2013), Ohio Senate (1995-1996), Cleveland mayor (1977-1979), Cleveland clerk of courts (1975), Cleveland City Council (1969-1973) What he wants you to know: Kucinich, the longtime congressman, stood up to the utility companies, banks and the mob during his time as Cleveland mayor. He was politically crucified and exiled, but vindicated in the end as Municipal Light and Power - now Cleveland Public Power - has generally been considered a boon to the city. He spent his 16 years in Congress advocating for a cabinet-level Department of Peace and focusing on foreign policy, becoming one of the most dovish members of Congress. He voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the PATRIOT Act, which massively increased the United States government's ability to spy domestically. He ran for president twice on a platform of ending American involvement in foreign wars. Kucinich also spent the majority of his time in Congress fighting free trade deals like NAFTA, which damaged the Ohio economy by allowing the outsourcing of some jobs. He pushed for universal health care and an increase in the federal minimum wage. What he doesn't want you to know: While Kucinich's decision not to sell Muny Light is generally seen as a good idea in retrospect, his administration was not without its problems. The city defaulted on its debt on his watch and City Hall was in a general state of chaos. He barely survived a recall attempt and was defeated two years after he took office by George Voinovich. The New York Times described Kucinich's 56 percent to 44 percent drubbing as a "rejection of Mr. Kucinich's two years of abrasive politics." Kucinich has admitted some of this was his doing - such as firing his police chief on live television. Kucinich has been accused of stoking racial tensions through his opposition while mayor to forced busing of Cleveland students. And he hasn't always been the pure progressive he's painted himself to be. Despite once calling for a ban on handguns, Kucinich owned a handgun after he received credible assassination threats from the mafia. While he's known today for wanting to protect women's access to abortion, he didn't feel that way until 2003 - just before his first run for president. He's also defended Trump against the so-called "deep state." That may play OK in a general election, but Trump isn't exactly popular with Democrats. Kucinich likely realizes this. After declaring for governor, he deleted several pro-Trump tweets that defended the president's inaugural speech. #WakeUpAmerica, enough of the BS re #Russia stealing election =CIA & State Dept propaganda to legitimize hostilities https://t.co/miimumHIHd Dennis Kucinich (@Dennis_Kucinich) December 10, 2016 Joe Schiavoni Jobs: State senator Age: 38 Experience: Ohio Senate (2009-present), Senate minority leader (2014-2017) What he wants you to know: At 20 years younger than any of the other Democrats running in this race, Schiavoni represents the youth movement. But he's not without some experience. He served as Senate minority leader for four years before deciding to run for governor. Young voters are done waiting. So @StephanieDodd and I are taking action. We're here today, and we're going to hold my colleagues' feet to the fire until we pass sensible #GunReform in Ohio.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/K5rOtuHxK1 Joe Schiavoni (@JoeSchiavoni) March 24, 2018 He also represents the tough-nosed area of Youngstown and could have appeal with white working class Trump voters who identified as Democrats at some point. During his time in the Senate, he worked on several bipartisan measures. What he doesn't want you to know: There's not much Schiavoni doesn't want voters to know about him - mostly because a lot of voters don't know who he is. Schiavoni is a longshot candidate in a race that includes the much bigger names of Kucinich and Cordray. Cordray dwarfed Schiavoni's fundraising totals during the last reporting period, with Schiavoni bringing in a meager $261,000 compared to Cordray's $2 million. While he does have experience in the Senate, the Democrats didn't get a whole lot done during that time, especially with only nine senators since 2017. Democratic initiatives during Schiavoni's tenure were mostly nonstarters in a Republican-dominated chamber. In 2014, he received a B+ from the National Rifle Association. PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council on Monday night approved the $1.9 million sale of Parma Heights' Greenbriar Commons cell tower leases to Landmark Infrastructure Operating Company LLC. Parma Heights Mayor Michael P. Byrne A major factor in the City Council decision to sell the leases was the city's projected $677,598 balance deficit. "The majority of council approved a balanced budget and the reassignment of the cell tower leases," City Council President Marie Gallo said. "The passage of the budget allows the city to continue to operate and does not interrupt the level of services our residents expect. We are fortunate to have had options, which led to a balanced budget." Mayor Michael Byrne added: "This was a difficult budget season due to the projected deficit for fiscal year 2018. We discussed and evaluated many options in order to provide a balanced budget." The Greenbriar Commons cell tower sale included six leases that were collectively bringing in roughly $162,000 annually to the city. Not part of the deal is Parma Heights' second cell phone tower at Nathan Hale Park. Those leases bring in roughly $125,000 annually. The Landmark Infrastructure Operating Company LLC payment schedule includes $1.77 million this fall, $56,560 in 2019 and 2020, as well as $32,320 in 2021. "We will assign the current leases to the tower for 25 years, but the tower remains the property of the city, as well as the surrounding (land)," Byrne said. "The other nice thing with our agreement is that (if there are) any other potential leasees, that revenue stream comes back to the city." While the City Council decision eliminates the city's budget deficit for this year, the mayor said Parma Heights needs to be fiscally prudent going forward. "We've got to be very cautious," Byrne said. "We tighten our belt, get through 2018 and there are contract negotiations and things like that." The deal for the cell tower leases falls right in line with other recent money-saving decisions, including laying off three full-time City Hall employees late last year and shifting collection of the city's municipal income tax to Cleveland's Central Collection Agency earlier this year. "Parma Heights is a bedroom community," Byrne said. "We don't have a diverse tax base. We are limited to our income tax and a little bit of commercial. It's always going to be a challenge, and it doesn't help us or any other community when the state government continually takes money away from the local government fund and so forth. "So we're always having to try to find new revenue streams. That's pretty much where we're at." ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- A group of Rocky River residents has been protesting a change in zoning along Lake Road since 2016. They attended another City Council meeting last night. Several days ago, a group of them talked about their goals and objectives, including Malcom and Mary Wood, Karen Heckerman, Thomas Pavlik and one other who prefers to remain anonymous. At the center of the issue is an unusual strip of land, as well as current homes on Breezevale Cove, that the developer, Rocky River Preservation Partners -- headed by Andrew Brickman, -- wants rezoned from single family to be able to build a multi-story building of condominiums and townhouses. The protest group claims it will forever change the essence of lakefront living in Rocky River and that the development does not blend in when placed in the middle of the current single-family homes. Mary Wood said the city's master plan has "no suggestion that this area is appropriate for multi-family." Her concern, she said, is that the development will set a precedent on the lakefront that will change Rocky River forever. Malcolm Wood, a retired engineer, has concerns about the vertical topography that includes a 25-foot drop from the western to eastern boundaries, as well as soil that Wood said is a silt-type soil. Both components, Wood maintains, will make for a development that cannot stand the conditions. If the condominiums and townhomes begin to crumble, he said, property values in the area will be affected, and he questions who, then, would be liable. He also noted a conversation he had with the developer. "The developer approached me about digging up my back yard to supply him with fill soil to level out these lots. Not a chance," he said. Some of those in favor of the rezoning believe Rocky River needs more multi-family living opportunities. Those opposed said they do, however, support single-family or detached single-family cluster homes. There have been speakers at several City Council and Planning Commission meetings, as well as letters written, on both sides of the issue. The developer has made several changes in his requests that are being taken under consideration. City Council decided last night to refer the issue, once again, to the Planning Commission for their comments. The next Planning Commission meeting is at 7 p.m. April 17, according to the city's website. SEVEN HILLS, Ohio -- On Monday night, City Council approved by a vote of 5-2 a $1,481 moral claim payment to resident Louise Loejos regarding flood damage in her home. Councilwoman Stacey L. Kelly and Councilman Pat Elliott voted no. The Aspenwood Drive homeowner originally sought a moral claim of more than $28,000 tied to basement damage she felt was caused by faulty city sewer lines. "The vote was largely based on an extensive review of the claim by the Law Department, which determined there was not enough evidence to award the $28,000 moral claim," Council President Anthony D. Biasiotta said. "However, a jagged pipe on the city side of the property may have contributed to a smaller issue. Therefore, the Law Department review recommended a payment of $1,481." Mayor Richard Dell'Aquila said the council-approved payment was based on a "vague, remote possibility" that a city pipe could have caused an occasional problem resulting in Loejos' cleanout costs. "It's regrettable that the resident was led to believe she had a more substantial claim, but the facts did not bear that out," Dell'Aquila said. Biasiotta added that after looking at all of the receipts and all of the factors, the city Law Department determined that culpability on the city's part for the majority of expenses wasn't evident. "A number of expenses have already been reimbursed by the insurance companies," Biasiotta said. "Also, she's had two bathrooms installed below grade, and the Seven Hills Building Department wanted to inspect them because the permit wasn't pulled. She refused to let the building inspector come into her house." Kelly said her decision to vote against the moral claim payout was based around numerous considerations. "Ms. Loejos decided after 13 years to proceed with a course of action and raise a moral claim with our city," Kelly said. "While I'm sympathetic to her ongoing flooding issues, no definitive liability has been found to be with the city. "Other factors I considered were that Ms. Loejos did not have a home inspection when she purchased her property, and she had other forms of remedy available to her which she chose not to pursue." Biasiotta noted that while City Council takes resident concerns seriously, it will conduct extensive due diligence before approving a payment. Last month, City Council passed legislation creating a process for moral claims and capping payouts at $1,000. "She seems like a nice person and should not have been misled," Dell'Aquila said. "To prevent repeated similar cases, the current council passed legislation setting fair and open moral claim procedures and limits to protect tax dollars." COLUMBUS, Ohio - A majority of Ohio voters, including both parents and teachers, support starting the school year later in the summer -- in contrast to a statewide trend that has more districts opening earlier, as early as the first week of August. A survey commissioned by the Ohio Travel Association found that 71 percent of voters said schools shouldn't start before the end of August. Among the reasons why: High temperatures in August that make learning difficult. The travel association, a trade group that represents tourism-related businesses, has been lobbying for a later start to the school year - in part to extend the summer travel season and also to better ensure that tourism-related businesses can find young people to work through the summer. The organization supports a proposed law by State Sen. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, which would require school districts in Ohio to start after Labor Day unless local school boards hold public hearings on an earlier start date. The trend toward earlier start dates is fueled, in part, by state-mandated testing that occurs in the spring. Starting earlier gives schools more time to prepare for the tests. Public Opinion Strategies conducted a statewide survey of 800 registered voters in September. A large majority - 93 percent - said they had never been asked their opinion by their local school boards about when the school year should begin. Sixty-six percent of Ohio voters said they support the proposed law, including 65 percent of teachers and 61 percent of parents. Said Manning: "They're the ones paying the taxes. They should have a voice on this." She added, "I'm not asking for less days or less hours. Children are still going to go to school the same amount of time. In addition to the August heat, voters identified several other reasons for supporting a later start date: greater uniformity across the state, increased ability for students to secure summer jobs and internships, more family time and lower school utility costs. Manning said starting later would give families more opportunity to vacation in Ohio, when the weather is nicer. "The weather isn't as good in May and the first part of June," she said. "August is almost always dry and hot. Michigan has been doing this for a number of years. Michigan tourism doing very well." Melinda Huntley, executive director of the Ohio Travel Association, said the survey was commissioned to give greater clarity about what the public wants. "This issue has been discussed for many years," she said. "It was important to identify what Ohioans really thought about it." She said support for a later start to the school year cut across all demographics and regions of the state. "It's something that people really feel strongly about." ALBANY, N.Y. >> Clifton Park resident Carol Hotaling visited the state capitol Thursday as part of her ongoing efforts to have Yellow Ribbon Day established as a national day of observance for Americas armed forces. Hotaling, the Yellow Ribbon Lady, has fashioned countless yellow-ribbon decorations for troops around the world, and special veterans and military-related events, ever since Desert Storm in 1991. New York State observes Yellow Ribbon Day annually on April 9, but Hotaling is working for nationwide recognition. We should never forget the heroic men and women who serve in our armed forces and defend our freedom, she said. Freedom is not free. It is paid for in the service and sacrifice of our armed forces. We must forever remember and honor not only them, but their families, who also make incredible sacrifices. Hotaling was a guest at the capitol of state Sen. Kathleen Marchione, R-Halfmoon, and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, R-Ballston. Yellow ribbons are an enduring symbol of our support for, and solidarity with, the members of our military, Marchione said. I am hopeful that adoption of my Senate resolution, memorializing April 9, 2018 as Yellow Ribbon Day here in New York, will be another step toward establishing it across our nation. I applaud Carols dedication to, and leadership of, this important patriotic cause. In Saratoga County, special Yellow Ribbon Day ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10 at Halfmoon Town Hall. In conjunction with this event, Blue Star Mothers of America, Saratoga County Clerks Office and municipalities throughout the county are collecting donated personal care items and food snacks that will be sent in Freedom Boxes to troops around the world. Donations will be accepted at town halls and county offices until Friday, April 6. Items will be presented to Blue Star Mothers during the April 10 ceremony in Halfmoon. A full listing of suggested items and drop-off points may be viewed at the county clerks website: www.saratogacountyny.gov/saratoga-county-clerk/. Yellow Ribbon Day seeks to promote unity and respect for brave military members who defend Americas liberty. Many patriotic individuals have devoted considerable time distributing yellow ribbons around the state to heighten awareness of, and express support for, U.S. service men and women. 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Market Overview Oil & Gas industry is one of the major revenue generating industries which has pushed the market for exploration and production activities, where, oil field chemicals market is one of them. In other words, the growth in the Oil & Gas industry will create a positive impact on the market for global oil field chemicals. This market is majorly influenced by the increasing crude oil production. The current oil price dynamics is anticipated to affect the overall market growth as the declining crude oil price may offset the profit margins of the specialty oilfield chemicals manufacturers. Deep-water and unconventional reserves exploration requires specialized and sophisticated chemicals. With the current oil market scenario, formulating them will be an expensive task. Therefore, the market is projected to register a moderate CAGR ~5% during the forecast period. However, the sale of production chemicals is not expected to be as affected as chemicals used in drilling, stimulation, and other applications. Additionally, the Growing concerns pertaining to energy security makes it mandatory to optimize exploration and production of hydrocarbons. With an outstanding range of specialized technologies, this need of optimization can be achieved, which is acting as the primary driver of the market. Moreover, as the oil and gas industry is burdened by stringent timelines and environmental issues, oil field chemicals allows bacterial growth as well as foam and wax formation. Since the cost to produce oil from new sources is significantly higher than the rejuvenation of old sources, the demand for oil field chemicals is benefitted. The report also notes that the exploration of unconventional and deep-water reserves requires specialized and sophisticated chemicals. With the current oil market scenario, formulating them will be an expensive task. This factor will further augment the demand during the forecast period. Conversely, declining oil prices is expected hinder the potential of the market. Get Sample of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1755 Competitive Analysis The market appears to be fairly stable as far as eyes can see however a fierce competition will resurge replacing the stability and prompting to the players operating in the market to take up M&A activities, collaboration, contracts, agreements, and partnerships to churn the market competition.Some of the key players in the Oil Field Chemicals market are BASF SE (Germany), Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.),AkzoNobel N.V. (Netherlands), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Schlumberger, Halliburton (U.S.), Kemira Oyj (Finland) and Clariant (Switzerland) among others. Industry/ Innovation/ Related News: January 29, 2018 Exxon Mobil Corporation (US) a global O&G Company, announced its plans to pump up USD 50 billions investments over the next five years, in view with the recent tax deduction by the US governments. The company also mentioned its plans to increase the daily production at the Permian Basin, Southwest US at a rate of 600,000 barrels a day. January 15, 2018 Exxon Mobil Corporation (US) announced discovering the Hydrocarbons reserves during an onshore drilling at Pnyang (South-2 well), Western Province of Papua New Guinea. The company expects that; the recent discovery will add value to its growth combining with the InterOil Corporation acquisition, and increased assessed reserves in the existing PNG LNG project. January 10, 2018 SNC Lavalin (US) announced that it has been awarded an exclusive agreement for rending its engineering services to a downstream petro-chemical and refining company in the US Gulf Coast. The agreement approximately values USD 100M. Get Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/oil-field-chemicals-market-1755 Regional Analysis of Oil Field Chemicals North America is the leading region for this market mainly due to the increased exploration activities in USA and Canada. The increasing exploration activities in this region have in turn resulted in an increase in the Oilfield Chemicals market. Although there exists political instability in the Middle East, this region is expected to register high growth rate in the forecast period due to increasing trend of deep water exploration and working in high temperatures which require much more expensive Oilfield Chemicals. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Overview Calcium Propionate is calcium salt of propionic acid, formed by reaction of calcium hydroxide with propionic acid. The compound exhibits mold inhibiting property, which is extremely beneficial for prevention of growing microorganisms in food and beverages. Growing consumption of calcium propionate as a preservative and leavening agent in bakery and dairy products is a major driver of the global market. The increasing applications of Calcium Propionate in bakery products hold a major share of the market in terms of value. It is used for milk fever prevention in cows and is a great feed supplement for poultry, dogs, cattle, and horse. The use of calcium propionate in baked products depends upon various influencing factors such as storage method, storage temperature, product type, and others. It acts as an anti-microbial agent which is beneficial in the production of pharmaceuticals, especially for skin disease caused by a parasite. This property is also useful in preventing bacterial growth and preventing cosmetics from spoiling. Being less toxic and cost-effective compared to other substitutes such as sodium propionate, sorbates, and others are the primary drivers of the market growth. Changing lifestyle and food consumption habits coupled with growing working population have increased the demand for processed and ready-to-go food products and are likely to propel the market growth during the forecast period. R&D innovations in food processing and the extensive use of the product in emerging markets are projected to drive the market positively. Get Sample of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5648 Market Segmentation The Global Calcium Propionate Market is segmented on the basis of its Application and Region. Based on the Applications, the global market is segregated into bakery products, dairy products, animal feed, processed meat, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and others. Regional Analysis The Global Calcium Propionate Market is segmented into five major regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the leading region in the Global Calcium Propionate Market owing to the presence of well-established mature foods & beverages industries in this region. Countries such as the U.S. and Canada hold a major share of the regional market and may further witness healthy growth in the coming years due to the high production and consumption of bakery and dairy products in this region. Europe is another substantial region expected to witness positive growth in the market. The growing need for the longer shelf life of the foodborne disease is anticipated to fuel the regional market in countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and others. The Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in terms of the consumption of Calcium Propionate. Countries such as China, India, Japan, and others are the major contributors to the market share in this region. The surging demand for food and increasing disposable income are the major drivers of the market in this region. Moreover, use in pesticides to increase productivity and productivity in the emerging countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand in this region. Lastly, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are also significant contributors to the market growth of countries in Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. Get Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/calcium-propionate-market-5648 About Market Research Future: At the Research Market Future (MRFR), we provide our customers to unravel the complexity of our industries through our Cooked Research Reports (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous -Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimal quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Applications, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enabling our clients to see more important questions. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Global Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market: By Type (Software and services, Instruments, Reagents and consumables), By Products (Blood testing, Immunodiagnostics, Tissue diagnostics, Molecular diagnostics, Chemical chemistry), By Disease Condition(Immune system disorders, Infectious disease, Neurological disorders, Cancer, Nephrological diseases, Gastrointestinal disorders, Others), By Animal Type (Ruminants, Equine, Canine, Feline, Swine, Others), By End User (Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics), and Geography Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2024 Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market: Market Dynamics Veterinary In-vitro diagnostics are used for detecting infections, conditions and diseases, and also used to monitor the health status of animals and therapeutic procedures by examining the specimens like blood, tissue, urine, stools and other bodily fluids derived from body of the animal. Various technologies are incorporated in Invitro diagnostics such as micro array techniques, mass spectrometry, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing technology are used for testing the sample preparation. Factors such as upsurge of pet adoption, increase in zoonotic diseases, rise in Veterinary healthcare awareness in pet owners are driving the Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market globally. Furthermore, increase in healthcare expenditure on animals, technological advancements in veterinary diagnostics also propels the growth for Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market globally. However, lack of awareness, high cost of the tests, stringent regulatory framework may hamper the growth of the Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market globally. A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx Market Scope: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented on the basis of Type, Products, Animal Type, and Distribution channel and Geographical regions Based on the Type, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into the following: Software and services Instruments Reagents and consumables Based on the Products, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into the following: Blood testing Immunodiagnostics Tissue diagnostics Molecular diagnostics Chemical chemistry Based on the Disease Condition, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into the following: Immune system disorders Infectious disease Neurological disorders Cancer Nephrological diseases Gastrointestinal disorders Others Based on the Animal Type, This Market is segmented into the following: Ruminants Equine Canine Feline Swine Others Based on the End User, This Market is segmented into the following: Veterinary Hospitals Veterinary Clinics To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu Regional Analysis: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market Geographically, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and theMiddle East and Africa regions. Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is dominated by North America followed by Europe due to the increasing practitioners in veterinary and well established veterinary healthcare in those regions. Due to the increase in adoption of animals, growing health concerns about the pets and humanization of animals are the factors which are supporting the Asia Pacific regions such as India and China to show a significant growth in the Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market. Competition Assessment: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market Key playersprofiled in the global Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market include: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.) Heska Corporation (U.S.) Pfizer, Inc. (U.S.) Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.) Life Technologies Corporation (U.S.) VIRBAC (France) Abaxis (U.S.) Prionics AG (Switzerland) Notable Market Developments: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market In February 2017, Samsung Electronics entered into veterinary market by collaborating with Henry Schein, Inc., a provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners and Samsung launched PT10V, its point-of-care (PoC) blood analyzer to expand its business in US Pet market. In 2016, Fujifilm Corporation entered into clinical laboratory outsourcing services for animals by acquiringMonolis Co., Ltd. a Japanese outsourcing provider of veterinary clinical laboratory services including blood tests for pets, Need more information about this report @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2013-2016) and forecast (2017-2024) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key marketdevelopments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, and regulatory framework The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the market Get access to full summary @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/ About Precision Business Insights Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs. Contact to Precision Business Insights, Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX Email: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.com Toll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553 Website @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trials Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trials Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment Overview: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is an acute lung dysfunction, which occurs as a result of injury or illness. It is known as adult respiratory distress syndrome, it may also affect children. In this condition small air sacs (alveoli) in lungs are accumulated with fluid which makes difficulty in passing of oxygen into blood stream. Symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome includes difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing, hyper ventilation. ARDS can be developed into deep infection which causes pneumonia, trauma. ARDS can be diagnosed by blood tests, chest x-rays and others. Treatment for the ARDS are mechanical ventilation, supplemental oxygen, fluid management and a technique called positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) to help push the fluid out of air sacs, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, human mesenchymal stem cells. A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome-disease-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx Segmentation: By Drugs, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome pipeline drugs are segmented as: Interferon Beta-1a Imatinib Sivelestat L-Citrulline Poractantalfa Ganciclovir Others By Route of Administration, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome pipeline drugs are segmented as: Oral Parenteral By Trial Phase, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome pipeline drugs are segmented as: Preclinical Trials Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 By Company, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome pipeline drugs are segmented as: AltorBioScience Genentech, Inc. Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd. AltorBioScience Suntory Pharmaceutical Eli Lilly and Company Asklepion Pharmaceuticals, LLC BioMarck Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. Others Space Analysis: In January 2016, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A initiated phase II clinical trials of its CHF 5633 in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. In August 2017, BioMarck Pharmaceuticals initiated Phase-II clinical trials in Adult respiratory distress syndrome in USA (Inhalation) To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome-disease-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu Report Description: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment report studies the various therapeutics under clinical development for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome treatment along with targets for various drug candidate. The report provides plethora of information pertaining to trail phases, companies involved in the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome disease pipeline drugs development. This report studies the dynamics of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Disease Pipeline Drugs i.e. drivers, challenges and opportunities which are significantly impacting the product development. The report provides various information pertaining the clinical trials such as designation, grants, patents, and technology among others. Moreover, the report on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome disease pipeline drugs assessment comprehensively presents the geographic location, trial status information along with key players involved in the therapeutics development. Need more information about this report @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome-disease-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 Key Features of the Report: Provides the information related to universities and research institutes working in the therapeutics development Report comprehensively covers the all active and discontinued studies Studies the entire pipeline with special emphasis on companies actively involved in the therapeutics development Presents the prominent targets for drug development in each stage of clinical trial Provides the in-depth analysis on the each drug candidates in the clinical trial phases Get access to full summary @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome-disease-pipeline-drugs-assessment/ About Precision Business Insights Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs. Contact to Precision Business Insights, Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX Email: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.com Toll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553 Website @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd., which owns GPU-based digital currency mining facilities in Iceland and Sweden for minting digital currencies like Ethereum, announced plans for a major new facility north of the Arctic Circle. HIVE Blockchain has agreed to acquire Kolos Norway AS for approximately US$9.9 million. Kolos' primary asset is a 64-hectare property located in Ballangen, Norway, approximately 225 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and in proximity to hydroelectric facilities able to supply 1 GW of excess capacity to the planned data centre. "This is another major milestone in our continuing global expansion as a leading blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure company," said Harry Pokrandt, CEO and Director of HIVE. "Kolos will be a flagship data centre project for HIVE for years to come and has the potential to expand to more than 1.0 GW, or 1,000 MW, of green hydroelectricity consumption dedicated to blockchain infrastructure. For context, our advanced mining operations in Iceland and Sweden will collectively represent 44.2 MW of consumption also from green sources." We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. Iraq war 15 years long War crime continues This March 20 marked the 15th anniversary of the criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq by the Coalition of the Willing that included Australia. The ongoing death and destruction in the Middle East and the rise of terrorist organisations such as ISIS are part of the legacy of the conflict begun in March 2003 based on the lie of weapons of mass destruction and the arrogant rejection by one the perpetrators of the crime, John Howard, of the mass demonstrations and clear public opposition to the war. As the current war preparations, with the US military build-up in Australias north testifies, the subservient commitment to the US-Australian alliance by successive Australian governments, both Liberal and Labor, means a continued commitment to criminal, US-led wars. In February 2003, Mike Salvaris, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, (Melbourne) warned: Australias participation in an armed invasion of Iraq without explicit UN Security Council authority will be illegal under international and Australian law. It will render the Prime Minister (John Howard) and his government liable to be prosecuted as war criminals, and expose our servicemen and women to the same action. Australia is signatory to the UN Charter and the Australian government is constitutionally bound to obey it. The main purpose and effect of the Charter is to outlaw war and the use of force, except in narrow and explicitly prescribed circumstances: when a country is acting in individual or collective self-defence against an actual or imminent armed attack; and when the UN Security Council has authorised the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security. Neither of these circumstances now exists. Iraq has not attacked Australia or any other State and is not immediately threatening to do so. UN Security Council resolution 1441, requiring [Iraqi president] Saddam Hussein to cooperate with weapons inspections, does not include any automatic authorisation for force against Iraq in the event of a breach of the resolution, either by the UNSC or any Member State. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq, no officials or leaders of governments in the Coalition of the Willing were ever charged. Today the barest mention is made of the real reason for the war: the determination to impose regime change on Iraq in order to secure US corporate control and domination of the vast oil and gas resources of the region. Iraq was to be an example to every country attempting independent development that the only choice was complete submission or total destruction as Australia has followed on behind the US in carving a swathe of destruction through the region to the roadblock in their plans in Syria. The 2003 war was a continuation of the 1991 war to destroy Iraq as a sovereign nation in control of its own resources. There is barely a mention of the targeted destruction in 1991 of drinking water, sanitation, sewage, irrigation, communications and pharmaceutical industry facilities, as well as the civilian electric grid and basic food supply. Erased today is all mention of 13 years of US/UN starvation sanctions imposed on Iraq from 1990 to 2003, which caused the deaths, through hunger and disease, of more than one million Iraqis, more than half of them children. Despite the horrendous toll, the failure of US/UN-imposed sanctions to create a total collapse in Iraq compelled US corporate power to opt for a military invasion to impose regime change. Libya, Syria This is also the month of two other war anniversaries. March 19 is the anniversary of the US/NATO war on Libya the seven months of bombing that destroyed the modern, beautiful cities, schools, hospitals and cultural centres built with nationalised oil and gas of Libya. The NATO operation assassinated the Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi in 2011 and laid waste to the whole country. But it has not yet secured a stable source of US profits. March 15 is the anniversary of the continuing US/NATO effort to destabilise and utterly destroy modern, secular Syria. Despite US/NATO backing and funding from the corrupt feudal monarchies of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, diplomatic support, the arming of death squads and mercenaries, and the setting up of safe havens and bases in Turkey, the Syrian government mobilised the population and resisted the US-orchestrated regime change. In February 2003 John Howard declared he would not be moved. My charge as Prime Minister is to make whatever decisions are in the interest of this country, he said, at the same time railing about Saddam Hussein being a dictator. He rejected the reports of the weapons inspectors, who, after three months in Iraq had found no evidence that Iraq possessed any weapons of mass destruction. He rejected the opposition to war coming from the governments representing the majority of the people of the world. He dismissed the fact that the worlds people simply did not believe the succession of lies coming from Tony Blair, George Bush and himself in an attempt to whip up support for war. Howard and his warmongering cohorts were lying. Their war plans had nothing to do with Saddam Husseins record. It had nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction. It had nothing to do with the allegation that Iraq could provide terrorist groups with weapons of mass destruction. Their arguments were diversions to cover up the truth: that the US war drive was motivated by the dire need of the US corporations to control the oil resources of the whole of the Middle East and the wider world. John Howard as a perpetrator of crimes against humanity is living free in Australia in 2018, feted and fawned upon by his political peers, who are continuing his legacy of blood and destruction to this day. Solidarity against Venezuela blockade Statement on Australias vote against Venezuela The Communist Party of Australia condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision of the Australian government to support the US campaign of sabotage and disruption against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at a recent meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The bulk of the countries represented at the gathering supported a motion from the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM) to condemn US actions including the imposition of sanctions, including one last week against Venezuelas crypto currency, the Petro. As the NAMs motion pointed out, the sanctions disproportionately affect the poor and most vulnerable classes. Support from these sectors of Venezuela are solidly behind the government of Nicolas Maduro. Despite current hardships, it is the poor of Venezuela who have been the main beneficiaries of the many programs directed towards social justice since the beginning of the Bolivarian Revolution in 1998. Of particular concern with the Australian governments support for the US blockade on Venezuela is that it prevents the government from purchasing food and medicines for the people. The blockade also affects those working at the Venezuelan embassy as both the CBA and NAB banks are prevented by the US blockade from trading with Venezuela; a situation that makes it extremely difficult for the embassy in Canberra to operate. It is Venezuelas very wealthy who dont experience the hardships imposed by the US, who give local support to often violent opposition. The people of Venezuela will win and their revolution will continue to deepen. The Communist Party of Australia urges it members and supporters to do all they can to offer solidarity to the people and government of Venezuela. For unity and integration Speech by Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, at the 15th ALBA-TCP Summit, held in Caracas. Companero Nicolas Maduro Moros, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Esteemed Heads of State and Government; Esteemed Heads of delegations and guests: This March 5, on which we commemorate the fifth anniversary of the passing of President Hugo Chavez, founder together with Fidel of ALBA, my first words are dedicated to reaffirming our tribute to his work and his example and the unwavering loyalty to his legacy. Today, ALBA has as its strategic and urgent task the joint defence of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The military threat, hostility and economic aggression of US imperialism against Venezuela; the neo-liberal onslaught to reverse the social gains; the interference against the sovereignty of progressive governments; the attempts to dismantle the progress in the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean, destabilise the region and pose risks to regional peace and security. The United States, since 1999 when Hugo Chavez became President, and even more so when companero Nicolas Maduro did so, has resorted to methods of unconventional warfare, with the aim of defeating this country, the owner of immense riches coveted by imperialism. President Donald Trump has just renewed the executive order that declares Venezuela an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The threats to peace and stability in Venezuela also represent a threat to regional peace and stability. Some appear to have forgotten the lessons of the past, the cruel years of the military dictatorships, the impact of neo-liberalism; that they attempt to reinstate the disastrous consequences that the policies of extortion, humiliation and isolation had for our region that, as then, have the United States as their chief articulator. They openly announce the full validity and relevance of the Monroe Doctrine which proclaims colonial subordination to the governments and corporations of Washington and that, as Bolivar warned, plagued Our America with sorrow and misery in the name of liberty. Once again, they underestimate our peoples. We proclaim unwavering support for the Bolivarian Revolution and the civic-military union of its people, led by their President, companero Nicolas Maduro Moros. We condemn the unilateral coercive measures and external interference against the Bolivarian and Chavista process that threaten the peace and dialogue between Venezuelans, with destabilising purposes, and create hardships for its population. Cease the economic aggression against Venezuela so that its people can enjoy the rights conquered by their Revolution. We reject the exclusion of President Nicolas Maduro from the 8th Summit of the Americas. This illegal decision is unacceptable and interventionist, whilst it takes the hemisphere back to stages that appeared to have been overcome. Exclusions do not contribute at all to peace, dialogue or hemispheric understanding. It is unacceptable that a group of countries, with no right or mandate, intend to speak for the region and serve as an instrument of aggression against a member of the Latin American and Caribbean family, using as a pretext an alleged rupture of the democratic order, precisely in a country that has undertaken more than 20 electoral processes and has now called presidential elections, as was previously demanded, even via violent methods. Why dont they denounce the covert coup detats, the massacres, the forced disappearances suffered by the peoples of the region? Nor do we recognise any moral authority of the discredited Organisation of American States (OAS) to give lessons in democracy, governability or constitutionality. They violate the postulates of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, signed by Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, during the 2nd CELAC Summit, in Havana, and evade strict compliance with the obligation not to interfere, directly or indirectly, in the internal affairs of any other state, and observe the principles of national sovereignty, equality of rights and the self-determination of the peoples. The only solution to the problems of Venezuelans is in the hands of Venezuelans themselves. Esteemed companeros: I speak on behalf of our Revolution and our people, as will any other Cuban compatriot from this position in the future, who will always know, as Fidel believed, that Our peoples have no future without unity, without integration. Bolivar and Marti, Fidel and Chavez bequeathed us invaluable teachings, among them loyalty to principles. Their lessons show us the course to follow in this decisive hour of the Great Homeland, which calls for our unity to forge together our second and definitive independence. Thank you. Call for calm on child comments Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar has used a platform at the United Nations to call for calm in the wake of recent inflammatory public comments about Indigenous children and families. I am deeply concerned about the debate raging in Australia right now about child protection, Ms Oscar said. As I have previously said, every child has a right to safety and in cases of immediate risk there should never be any hesitation to do what is in their best interest. There is no simple solution to this very complex issue. We know that past policies of removal, of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children from their families, have had devastating long-term effects. We must ensure the systems to protect vulnerable children are working and that families who are struggling can access the supports they need. We must invest in family supports and community-led solutions. I strongly urge governments to work with peak organisations such as Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and the Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (ABSEC) to address the issue and take a preventative rather than interventionist approach. Last week the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released a report into child protection, which showed that the rate of children receiving child protection services continues to rise, with Indigenous kids seven times as likely to be in the child protection system as other kids. Children who received these services were those who were the subject of an investigation (following a notification to a child protection agency); on a care and protection order; and/or in out-of-home care (such as foster care). A notification is considered substantiated when, after an investigation, it is concluded that there is sufficient reason to believe the child has been, is being, or is likely to be abused, neglected, or otherwise harmed. AIHW spokesperson Louise York said in 2012-13, about 127 per 1,000 Indigenous children were receiving child protection services, increasing to about 164 in 2016-17. For other children, the rate rose from about 19 to 22 per 1000 over the same period. Indigenous rates of contact with the child protection system are higher than other rates and increasing at a faster rate, with rates up by 29% over the five-year period for Indigenous children compared with 21 % for other children. A range of factors could be contributing to this rise, Ms York said. Increased public awareness and reporting, legislative changes and inquiries into the child protection processes all play a part, as well as potential rises in the rate of child abuse and neglect. Services The report also shows that the majority of children in the child protection system are repeat clients. In 2016-17, almost three-quarters (74%) of children receiving child protection services had received services previously. Overall, the report shows that emotional abuse was the most common main type of substantiated abuse (48%), followed by neglect (24%). This was followed by physical abuse (16%) and sexual abuse (12%). However, there is often overlap between types of abuse. Federal Childrens Minister David Gillespie labelled the increasing numbers of children in care a crisis in an interview with the ABC and said one option might be an increase in open adoption, where children are able to have ongoing contact with their biological parents. We need to shake this reluctance about the fear of being accused of creating a Stolen Generation or another forgotten generation, he said. Following the ministers comments, Channel 7 TV program Sunrise broadcast an all-white panel, with no qualifications in social welfare, commenting on whether white families should be able to adopt Indigenous children. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle aims to keep Indigenous children in care placed with relatives or Aboriginal carers, but is not always followed and many Indigenous children are placed with white carers. Just like the first Stolen Generation, where a lot of children were taken because it was for their wellbeing, we need to do it again, commentator Prue MacSween told the Sunrise audience. Following the Sunrise segment Aboriginal protestors and supporters flocked to Martin Place, Sydney, where the live show is filmed, in the hope that Channel 7 would acknowledge its role in spreading misinformation and apologise. But, instead, Sunrise blocked out the protest and broadcast old footage. In the wake of the alleged sexual assault of a young child in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs town councillor Jacinta Price asked in The Australian why both NT and federal Aboriginal MPs had not been more outspoken. NT Labor MP Chansey Paech told Parliament that there had been failings in child protection from both sides of politics. The argument that we leave children with Aboriginal families to make ourselves feel okay is just a cheap political attempt to further peoples political agendas and that is disgraceful, he said. Using children who have come from traumatic experiences to use as political pawns for your own agenda is a disgrace. Using a childs tragedy to further a political platform is disgraceful. The finger pointing and blame game must stop if Aboriginal Territorians are to affect real and meaningful change and our children are to have a bright and safe future. Koori Mail Australias collision course Australia has ramped up anti-Chinese rhetoric, challenging Beijing over its growing influence in the Pacific. Trumps pick for ambassador to Australia, stalwart anti-Chinese Admiral Harry Harris, paints a clear picture of whats to come. An Australian recruitment poster used during World War I. In 1900, then-Senator Albert Beveridge famously said to lawmakers in Washington that the power that rules the Pacific, is therefore the power that rules the world. As recent developments will demonstrate, this imperialist sentiment continues over 100 years later to the present day. The battle for control over the Pacific is taking place right before our very eyes and is placing both Australia and China in a precariously confrontational position, though the mainstream media refuses to pay due focus to the issue. Australias recent attacks on China It all went downhill at the end of last year when Australia went out of its way to accuse China of foreign interference, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stating that Australia would stand up to China against meddling in its national affairs. Later, Australia strained its relationship with China even further, after Australias Minister of International Development Concetta Fierravanti-Wells accused China of building roads to nowhere in the Pacific. She also claimed that China was constructing useless buildings throughout the region, and berated it for allegedly loading Pacific Island countries with mounting debt that they cannot afford to pay. Not surprisingly, these verbal attacks were not necessarily received well by the countries that matter the most. Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele found Australias critical remarks against China insulting saying he did not really know that Australia is able to finance the kind of assistance provided by China. At the end of last year, China signed a series of infrastructure deals with Papua New Guinea as part of Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative. Australia immediately responded negatively to this development, with opposition MPs voicing their concern that Australia had lost its leadership role throughout the Pacific whatever that means. In a pre-emptive attempt to stifle Chinas relationship with PNG, Australia agreed to sponsor PNGs ambitious plan to host the APEC summit set to take place this year. In other words, Australias only real desire to involve itself further in the region is to combat Chinas expanding influence in the region. As of right now, Australia still maintains its position as the regions largest donor. Chinas growing friendships in the Pacific has rattled Australia in more ways than one. In September 2016, Fijis Prime Minister Bainimarama called for New Zealand and Australia to be kicked out of the Pacific Islands Forum as they are not Pacific Islanders, with strong indications that Fiji would rather they be replaced by China instead. Australias close friend and ally, New Zealand, for its part, just this past week went on a tour of the Pacific as well, pledging money left, right and centre. As noted by the Samoan Observer, it was no secret that New Zealand, too, is equally concerned by Chinas growing role in the region. Prior to their arrival on Sunday evening, the New Zealand government had been talking about re-sharpening their focus on the Pacific amidst concerns about Chinas growing dominance, the paper said. Chinas Belt-Road initiative The US has long had a containment strategy specifically targeting China, famously dubbed the Pivot to Asia strategy under the Obama administration. As a key ally of Washington, it makes sense that Australia holds similar views as to the perceived threat of Chinas rise on the global stage. Make no mistake, however, that Washingtons issue with Chinas mounting influence in the region is purely economic. In fact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) was undoubtedly an attempt for the US to unite its transpacific allies against China, so it makes little sense that Trump wanted to discontinue it, given his known animosity towards China prior to his election. Right now, China is in the process of uniting much of the world under its One Belt, One Road initiative, a monumental project which will endeavour to connect China, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Pacific and largely leave the United States out of its profit-sharing completely. As it stands, all that is left blocking China from injecting itself into the rest of the global sphere is a chain of islands known as the first island chain, a term that refers to the Kuril Islands of Russia, the Japanese archipelago, Taiwan, the northern Philippines and Borneo. China has traditionally been blocked from injecting its military influence eastward into the Pacific Ocean by Americas strong control of this chain, but this control is already being challenged. Just recently, China flew an intelligence aircraft near these southern outlying islands of Japan. Russia is also reportedly looking to build a naval base in the area, which will further complicate Washingtons ability to exert its control over the islands. Role of the US The extent of Americas direct role in this particular debacle is less obvious. Writing in the Asia-Pacific Journal, Andre Vitchek explains that the reason Americas role is less forceful in some Pacific Island nations is because New Zealand, Australia and the US have divided the Pacific between themselves, with New Zealand controlling Polynesia, Australia in charge of Melanesia and the US charged with maintaining Micronesia. However, in early February, US President Donald Trump said he planned to nominate Admiral Harry B Harris, the commander of the US Pacific Command and an outspoken critic of China, as ambassador to Australia. This is a man who described Chinas artificial island project as a Great Wall of sand, and has repeatedly called Chinas policy in the South China Sea provocative and expansionist. He also openly stated in 2014 that he believes the most volatile and dangerous threat facing the world to be North Korea, a current ally of China. Unsurprisingly, Harris celebrated Trumps nomination by immediately advising the United States Congress that Washington should prepare for the possibility of a war with China in the South China Sea, adding that Chinas impressive military build-up could soon challenge the United States across almost every domain. Australia is one of the keys to a rules-based international order, Harris also said. I look to my Australian counterparts for their assistance, I admire their leadership in the battlefield and in the corridors of power in the world ... a key ally of the United States and they have been with us in every major conflict since World War I. Just over a week ago, Harris met with Australias defence minister in Canberra to discuss the two countries amazing alliance. Sleep-walking into confrontation Speaking in regard to Harris appointment, Euan Graham, director of the international security program at the Lowy Institute said what Harris needs to be aware of is the sensitivity around looking like Australia is doing Americas bidding. Unsurprisingly, Australia is viewed as the right hand of the United States in the part of the Pacific region under discussion, and it seems overtly likely that Australia is acting in its capacity as an American client state, carrying out Americas interests by vehemently confronting Chinas expanding influence. Perhaps Australias recent demeaning remarks towards China are a mark of a change in posture in the Asia-Pacific region and go far beyond that of mere verbal sabre-rattling. Former colonial overlord Britain will send a warship from Australia through the South China Sea this month, a direct attempt to provoke China. Shell be sailing through the South China Sea ... and making it clear our navy has a right to do that, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson reportedly told the Australian newspaper. Whether or not the mainstream media pays this issue the respect it so desperately demands, the reality is that Australia is sleepwalking into a confrontation with China, as journalist John Pilger described the current conundrum. There is a reason Australia is playing an increasingly militaristic role in the region, joining in navy and military drills with the United States and its close Asia-Pacific allies. Aside from the fact that Australia has joined in almost every US-led military adventure from Vietnam to Iraq; in 2016, Australian warplanes assisted the US-led coalition in Syria to strike and kill over 60 Syrian troops in direct contravention of international law. Australia is far from a passive player in US-led conflicts, and the pending appointment of the hawkish Harris as ambassador to Australia should be a horrifying sign of things to come. Darius Shahtahmasebi is a New Zealand based legal and political analyst. RT Russia Today Stoking the fires of war Events in Syria increasingly resemble a direct confrontation between major powers rather than a proxy war. An alarming warning by Sergei Lavrov and Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, was announced via the RT broadcaster and several Russian media. The content is explosive and deserving of the widest possible dissemination. Gerasimov claimed that Moscow had reliable information that fighters are preparing to stage the use by government troops of chemical weapons against the civilian population. President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov watch a military exercise. He alleged that the US intends to accuse Assads troops of using chemical weapons against civilians, and then carry out a bombing attack on Damascus. Gerasimov warned that Russia would take retaliatory measures if the US targeted areas where its military are located in the Syrian capital. Russian military advisers, representatives of the Centre for Reconciliation and members of military police are currently in the Syrian capital, Gerasimov said, adding that in the event that the lives of Russian military personnel are placed in danger, the Russian Armed Forces will respond with certain measure to both missiles and their launchers. A few hours earlier, Lavrov responded, criticising the remarks by the US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, about Washingtons readiness to bomb Damascus and even the presidential palace of Bashar Assad, regardless [of the] presence of the Russian representatives there. It is an absolutely irresponsible statement, the Russian top diplomat added. The words of Gerasimov are even more dire, since he explains how the United States and its allies are preparing the ground to justify an attack on Syria. According to reports, terrorists stationed in Al-Tanf (an illegal US military base in Syria) received 20 tons of chlorine gas and detonators, disguised as cigarette packs, in order to attack in an area under the control of the terrorists that is densely inhabited by civilians. What would then happen is already obvious, with the White Helmets (AKA Al-Qaeda) and mainstream media ready to broadcast the images of the victims of the attack, tugging at the heartstrings of Western viewers otherwise unaware of the conspiracy being played out. Efforts to frame Russia have already reached the highest alert levels, with the false-flag poisoning of the Russian spy in Britain. It seems that there is a significant effort by the United States, Britain, France and Germany to provoke a military confrontation with Moscow. How else are we able to interpret threats from French president Macron to strike Damascus, together with his ominous advice to foreign journalists not to go to Damascus in the coming days and, for those already there, to leave the capital immediately? There has even been chatter within diplomatic circles that suggest that UN personnel are leaving Damascus. This could be psychological warfare, or it could be a prelude to war. With the stakes so high, we cannot afford to ignore any detail, even if it may be disinformation. The American attack seems imminent, with mounting signs of movements of American and Russian warships in the Mediterranean in attack formation. Russian military representatives have reiterated that in the event of an attack, they will respond by hitting both the missiles launched as well as the ships from which the missiles were launched. Things are getting pretty dicey, and the risk of a direct confrontation between the United States and the Russian Federation are rising with every passing hour. The transfer of numerous US aircraft from Incirlik, Turkey, to Al-Azrak, Jordan, is another indication of preparations for an attack, since the forces moved to Jordan are close to the Al-Tanf base. The proposed strategy could involve an assault on the city of Daraa, for the purposes of securing the borders between Syria and Jordan and Syria and Israel. The warnings raised by Lavrov and Gerasimov appear unprecedented, given that they detail a plan already set in course, evidently approved at the highest levels and aimed at provoking and justifying an attack on Syria; an attack that would encompass the Russian forces in Syria. Tensions continue to grow, following Russias shooting down of a drone by two surface-to-air missiles launched from its Hmeimim Air Base. Moscow has even deployed to the Mediterranean the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate Admiral Essen and the Krivak II-class anti-submarine frigate Pytivyy. Both are prepared for anti-ship and anti-submarine operations. Sources claim that this deployment was planned some time ago and is part of a routine deployment of the Russian navy. But during such a delicate moment, it pays to focus on every detail. Without resorting to excessive alarmism, if Lavrov said that the movements of the warships of the United States and its allies in the Mediterranean seem compatible with the strategy of using this chemical attack to justify an attack on the Syrian Arab army and government installations, then it is reasonable to speculate on whether the Russian ships are moving in to the area to counter any provocations. There are two fundamental flaws in the reasoning of US policy-makers and the US military establishment. They are convinced that an American demonstration of strength (involving a large number of cruise missiles launched against Syria through a significant involvement of aircraft carriers as well as bombers) would stun Russia into passivity. Furthermore, US commanders are convinced that Syria and Russia do not have the ability to defend themselves for an extended period of time. They seem to be fooling themselves with their own propaganda. As their Israeli colleagues have already learned, such an assumption is mistaken. While the idea that a high level of firepower would meet with some kind of success, the possibility of a response from Syrian and Russian forces remains. And this possibility seems not to have been given sufficient weight by the US and her allies. How would the American military and the Trump presidency react to a US warship being sunk by anti-ship missiles? It would only serve to demonstrate how vulnerable American naval forces are when confronted with such advanced weapons. It would represent a tremendous shock for the US military, possibly the biggest shock since the end of WW2. What would Trump and the generals in charge do? They would respond with further bombardment of Russian forces, leaving themselves open to a devastating Russian response. The conflict could escalate within the space of a few minutes, leading to a situation where there could be no possible winners. The normal reasoning I employ when considering total annihilation is placed to one side when US special forces deliver 20 tons of chlorine gas to Al-Qaeda terrorists in Syria to execute a false flag for the purposes of blaming Damascus and Moscow. If we connect this event to what is currently happening in Britain, and the hysteria in the United States surrounding alleged Russian hacking during the American elections, we can understand just how much international relations have deteriorated. This situation is reminiscent of Ukraine in 2015. Ukrainian forces suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the Donbass resistance, being contained in the thousands in different cauldrons. Within NATO headquarters in Brussels during that time, there was open discussion over sending a contingent to support Ukrainian troops. The plan, however, was never realised, given the possibility of direct confrontation in Ukraine between the Russian Federation and NATO. In recent months, the possibility of a war on the Korean Peninsula has also been evoked and perhaps simultaneously averted by the unpredictable consequences for both Seoul and the American forces in the region. In Syria, the approach of Washington and its diplomatic and military emissaries seems more reckless and less tied to a chain of command where the buck stops at the American president. We saw this during the Obama presidency, where the US Air Force bombed government troops in Deir ez-Zor only a few hours after a ceasefire had been reached between Lavrov and Secretary of State Kerry. The grave circumstance about which we write seem to be without precedent, appearing as they do to lead towards a direct confrontation between nuclear-armed powers. Never before has the region been on the verge of such an explosion as in the next few hours as a result of the typically reckless actions of the United States. globalresearch.ca Turkeys Syrian invasion Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan vowed last week to expand his countrys invasion of northern Syria into other Kurdish-held areas, following his militarys seizure of Afrin. Residents and human rights monitors have reported widespread looting in the town by Turkish troops and their local allies, which are fighting under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) banner. Video footage showed that one of the first acts of the FSA fighters, who appear to be former members of jihadist groups, in Afrin was to bulldoze a statue of a mythological Kurdish figure. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters in Brussels that she was worried about the Turkish offensive in Afrin, as it ran counter to recent international efforts to wind the fighting down. Turkey claims that the Kurds in northern Syria are a threat to its security and has vowed to purge them from the region. Ankara has carried out a bloody crackdown on its own Kurdish population and anyone expressing support for the Kurds is routinely branded a terrorist. Thousands of Afrin residents, many of whom had earlier fled from the villages near the Turkish border to the town centre, streamed out of Afrin before the invading troops entered. Lines of vehicles and civilians on foot headed towards Syrian government-controlled territory to the south or other Kurdish-controlled areas. Jiwan Mohamed, a hospital doctor who worked in Afrin, said the news from inside the town and images of looting were disturbing. The central hospital was bombed before the town centre was captured, he said. Syrian Kurdish officials have reported that more than 800 fighters of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia died in the 58 days of fighting for Afrin, while an estimated 500 civilian lives were lost. Among the YPG casualties was Briton Anna Campbell, who was fighting with the Kurdish Womens Protection Units (YPJ), the womens militia of the YPG, when she was killed in a Turkish air strike on the town. YPJ commander Nesrin Abdullah said her killing was a great loss and that Ms Campbell had wanted to work for the unity, solidarity and mutual liberation of women around the world. The Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign in Britain noted that Anna is not just the first woman from these shores to die fighting for the Rojava revolution but the first British citizen to be killed by our NATO allies Turkey. Morning Star Culture & Life Rape as a weapon A new report, Rape by Command published by Kaladan Press Network, documents mass violence against women and girls by the Myanmar military, in its 2017 purge of Rohingya people across northern Rakhine State. We met Pippa Curwen, a human rights defender, who helped publish the research. She has been involved in life-saving work on the Thai-Myanmar border for over a decade. The chief researcher of the report is lawyer Razia Sultana, a former teacher. She interviewed 36 survivors 24 women and 12 men who had just arrived on the border with Bangladesh having fled for their lives. They described the torture they had suffered and what they had seen inflicted on others horrific crimes committed by the military during their August 2017 campaign to ethnically cleanse the northern Rakhine state where many Rohingya had lived. Eight were rape survivors. Sultana is from the region and this is the closest we have to the authentic voices of the Rohingya themselves, uncensored by the interpretations of outside observers or academics. Sultana had recorded earlier witness evidence of atrocities in 2016. The background chapter tells how the Myanmar government had refused visas to independent international investigators, instead installing its own Rakhine investigative commission, which did not report any instances of abuses during the whole of the 2016 military operations. This impunity gave a green light to atrocities on an even larger scale in 2017. Women and girls were raped, mutilated and killed for their very identity as Rohingya. Rape is being used as a weapon of genocide. Sultana documents testimony that hundreds of women and girls were gang-raped in front of their loved ones by groups of Myanmar soldiers as their homes were ransacked and destroyed. Often, these rapes were accompanied by other horrific violence using knives, burning and other forms of torture. Women and children were brutally attacked in their homes, while fleeing, and in military camps where they were held prisoner. She notes that particular acts of mutilation of womens breasts and genitals, indicate that the violence was the result of a directive, rather than individual soldiers actions. Atrocities were authorised by the military and the border police, which systematically cleared Rohingya communities from the countryside and towns, razing their homes, leaving only non-Muslim villages intact. They aimed to extinguish the very existence of the Rohingya. As an immediate precursor to violence targeting women and children, Myanmar troops invaded the villages, rounding up men and boys for arrest, torturing and killing, often using allegations of terrorism. This left women and children alone and vulnerable and paved the way for mass rape. Given the systematic organisation of the military raids, coordinated by the armed forces from the sea, air and on land, the report concludes that war crimes have been committed. It calls for the military leaders at the highest level to be held responsible. Myanmar has so far blocked any independent UN fact-finding investigation. This is being used as a pretext for some governments to take no action at all, and to carry on supporting investments with the excuse that they are waiting for an official UN report. The countrys de-factor leader Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to mention the Rohingya, to the outrage of people around the world who supported her when she was under house arrest by Myanmars military junta. Some experts have avoided acknowledging that this mass rape and murder is genocide. As anti-rape organisations with over 60 years of combined experience of working with survivors of rape, including historic child and domestic abuse in Britain, we know how hard it is to get justice. Some of us have fled to Britain after suffering rape and torture by military forces or others in authority. Our collective self-help with survivors, and our attempts to hold their attackers to account, addresses the trauma of rape, of witnessing loved ones killed, and the many barriers to recovery faced by victims of sexual and racist and Islamophobic crimes. These are compounded by victims losing their homes and in some cases becoming refugees. There are now 900,000 Rohingya in the camps of Bangladesh who need our support and action. Rape by Command calls for the military to be held to account for systematic rape and other violence against civilian women and children and a place of safety for all the refugees to settle and rebuild their lives. They must not be forced back to Myanmar. The majority who want ultimately to return must be guaranteed rights and safety. The Sisters of Rohingya are demanding sanctions against Myanmar, not just military sanctions, and an end to foreign investment. On International Womens Day, March 8, we joined a large and lively picket outside Unilevers London HQ calling for the company to divest from Myanmar. Unilever is one of the biggest foreign investors in the region, investing about 500 million a year. It claims to respect the dignity and rights of women and girls, especially in its marketing of Dove products, and has been named Impact Champion by UN Women. Its time it put this into practice by withdrawing from Myanmar instead of enhancing the funds available to the government. The Unilever protesters handed in a letter to chief executive Paul Polman who was paid 9.4m in 2015 urging him to divest. The international movement against sexual violence, from Hollywood to #MeToo and #TimesUp, must be extended to the Rohingya women, children and men. Corporations must be forced to put life before profit and to stop funding rape and genocide. We are all sisters and brothers of Rohingya. Cristel Amiss is a member of the Black Womens Rape Action Project and Lisa Longstaff is a member of Women Against Rape. You can support the campaign by using the hashtags #NoPeace #NoDove. For more information please email bwrap@rapeaction.net, follow @bwrap1, and @AgainstRape or visit the Sisters of Rohingya blog sistersofrohingya.wordpress.com. You can see the full report Rape by Command at: kaladanpress.org. Morning Star For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Eleven years ago, I wrote a Saturday essay in this newspaper exposing a virulent new strain of anti-Semitism. It was based on what I had discovered while making a documentary for Channel 4, called The War On Britains Jews? My thesis was that while the far-Right hadnt gone away, most of the hostility towards the Jewish community was coming from an unholy alliance between those I dubbed the Fascist Left and Islamist fanatics. Ive returned to the subject occasionally over the past decade, as anti-Semitism has seeped from the political fringe to the poisoned heart of the Labour Party. Back in 2007, despite the weight of conclusive evidence, it was difficult to get many people even to admit publicly that there might be a problem. Ever since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader, anti-Semitism has gone mainstream. It can no longer be overlooked or played down Though I received help from the Community Security Trust, a charity which provides protection for the Jewish community, there was a reluctance among prominent members of what we might call the Jewish establishment to take part in the programme. Not that they were unsympathetic, just that they were understandably wary of making too much of a fuss, or blowing the issue out of proportion. Thats what is so significant about last nights unprecedented demonstration in Parliament Square, involving the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council. Ever since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader, anti-Semitism has gone mainstream. It can no longer be overlooked or played down. The charge sheet was laid out in this newspaper yesterday, culminating in the latest revelation that Corbyn himself had defended a deeply offensive mural in East London, which depicted a gaggle of Jewish financiers playing Monopoly on the backs of naked black slaves. Corbyn now says he regrets supportive comments he made about the mural, but cant bring himself to offer a full apology merely acknowledging there are pockets of anti-Semitism that exist in and around the party. Even though he has said sorry, its meaningless. Though he may consider himself not guilty of anti-Semitism, he promotes a world-view which traduces Jews, both in this country and around the globe. Every time a fresh expression of anti-Jewish sentiment by a Labour activist is exposed, Corbyn wriggles and dissembles. The lame excuse about being anti-Zionist and opposed to the policies of the government of Israel, not anti-Jewish, simply wont wash any more. Labour MP Luciana Berger speaks during a protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in Parliament Square, London, yesterday Corbyn is typical of those on the Left who have convinced themselves that because they are the repositories of all goodness they cant possibly be accused of harbouring any kind of prejudice. But they should be judged by their actions, their words and deeds, not their self-serving propaganda. And the reality is that Jew-baiting still doesnt constitute a hanging offence in todays anti-racist Labour Party. Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, was quickly reinstated after a brief suspension from the party for suggesting that Israel should be relocated to America. Serial offender Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London who once compared a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard, remains a party member. In a strongly worded letter, Jewish leaders say: Again and again, Jeremy Corbyn has sided with anti-Semites rather than Jews. At best this derives from the far-Lefts obsessive hatred of Zionism, Zionists and Israel. At worst, it suggests a conspiratorial world-view in which mainstream Jewish communities are believed to be a hostile entity, a class enemy. Plenty of Jews oppose the policies of the Israeli government. But, unlike Corbyn, they dont back Hamas and Hezbollah who are dedicated to wiping Israel off the face of the earth. How the hell does Corbyn think his support for his terrorist friends is going to play with the Jewish community in Britain, many of whom have family living in Israel and take holidays there? It was bad enough when this kind of bigotry was confined to the outer limits of agitprop politics. But whats horrifying is when its embraced by the leader of Her Majestys Official Opposition, someone who might conceivably become Prime Minister after the next General Election. Last nights unprecedented demonstration in Parliament Square involved the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council When small c conservative organisations like the Board of Deputies feel they have no option but to take to the streets in protest, you know the problem has reached a critical level. My documentary was originally planned to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, when trades unionists, Labour activists and members of Londons Jewish Community combined to stop a march through the East End by Oswald Mosleys fascist Blackshirts. More than 80 years on, the real fascists these days are to be found on the Left. In 2007, there were plenty of people ready to accuse me of only raising the question of anti-Semitism as a convenient stick with which to beat Leftists and Islamists. Many of them are using the same argument today, claiming that the demonstration outside Parliament is just part of a vast, Right-wing and media conspiracy aimed at discrediting Corbyn. More than a decade ago, only a few brave Labour MPs would speak out on the subject, most notably Bassetlaws John Mann. Today, others are prepared to stand up and be counted, calling on Corbyn to make a proper apology over the mural and rid the party of the cancer of anti-Semitism once and for all. But were talking leopards and spots here. Corbyn might regret the pain caused to the Jewish community, but hes not going to change his beliefs, nor denounce his terrorist friends, nor kick visceral anti-Semites out of the party. The only good news is that 11 years after my documentary, the problem is at last being taken seriously. Lets hope this week marks the beginning of the end of the hard-Lefts war on Britains Jews. A man with a one-bedroom flat was not allowed to foster a cat because his home is considered too small. Joe Lines, 32, was told in a letter from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home that the moggy would need its own room: Although we do not doubt your commitment to animal welfare, it is a requirement that foster carers can provide the cat/kittens a secure, comfortable spare room of their own. Thats a new one on me. Our old labrador, Ossie, used to sleep on our sofa until we turfed him off and bought him a proper dog bed. Given half the chance, Im sure hed have loved his own bedroom. But since when have cats needed their own room? Most of them spend all night on the tiles, so why would they care? Anyway, that most famous of felines, Top Cat, wasnt so fussy. He lived in a dustbin. Facebook users are busily deleting their accounts after discovering, in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, that their data is being harvested. Why is anyone surprised that their private information is not secure? Ive just been rewatching an old episode of the U.S cop/lawyer show Law & Order, which airs here on several different channels. Its called Access Nation and revolves around the prosecution of a data mining company misusing so-called private information from the internet. Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy isnt aware of the scale of the problem, until his young sidekick says shes been doing some research into him, using a different firm. She tells McCoy he banks at Citibank, she knows his account balances and all the websites hes visited. Facebook users are busily deleting their accounts after discovering, in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, that their data is being harvested. Pictured: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg Hes taking a migraine medicine, reading a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, should really stop using his grandmothers maiden name as his password, and has a very weird obsession with the Clash. That was first broadcast in 2002. No one can claim they werent warned. On Friday, I brought you news of a chap in Southport who was refused entry to a rubbish tip because the permit was in his wifes name. He was allowed to enter after telling the security guard he was identifying as a woman. Two days later, a letter appeared in the Sunday Telegraph, from Captain James Mallard, in Oxfordshire. After a training exercise in London, Capt Mallard took his troop of 30 male squaddies to a pub. They were stopped at the door by a bouncer, who said large groups of men were not admitted. A quick-witted young soldier said: Actually, we identify collectively as a mixed-gender group and as a gender non-binary adult I find your remarks most offensive. The bouncer backed down immediately. Capt Mallard wrote: Not only were we allowed in, but Happy Hour was extended all night on our behalf. A six-man moped gang held up traffic on Putney Bridge, in South-West London, while they tried to steal a 250,000 camera erected by the BBC to film the Boat Race. They left empty-handed after being confronted by an off-duty policeman. Given that this was 5pm, during the rush hour on one of Londons busiest river crossings, I dont suppose they thought there was ever any danger of them being interrupted by an on-duty policeman. No takeover has excited such passion in recent times as the 8 billion swoop by asset-strippers Melrose for GKN, a venerated British engineering firm whose heritage dates back to the Napoleonic wars. The fight for control of a company that employs 58,000 people across 30 countries reaches a climax this Thursday. Among those opposed to the takeover including this newspaper there are rising fears that the super-rich who run Melrose have entered into an unholy alliance with a gang of unsavoury, sharp-suited hedge fund bosses whose only apparent loyalty is to enriching themselves. What I find deeply disturbing is the insouciance of the Government, and in particular Business Secretary Greg Clark, about the prospect of one of Britains research and development powerhouses succumbing to Melrose ownership. GKN has a record of spending up to a decade developing new technologies. It has worked on Airbus wings, for example, and precision fans for Rolls-Royce turbine aerospace engines. Some 12,000 jobs at Airbus in North Wales are dependent on its supply of parts and know-how. In sharp contrast, Melrose bosses boast of their ability to slice and dice companies and sell them off to the highest bidder within two to five years. The tragedy is that, if the takeover goes ahead, engineering skills built up over generations at GKNs Redditch base in the heart of the Midlands could be lost on the eve of Brexit, when British engineering should be one of the jewels in our industrial crown. Alex Brummer says: 'What I find deeply disturbing is the insouciance of the Government, and in particular Business Secretary Greg Clark, about the prospect of one of Britains research and development powerhouses succumbing to Melrose ownership' (file photo) Sadly, we shouldnt be that surprised at the neglect shown by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In spite of Theresa Mays pledge to look after Britains most strategic companies, Greg Clark and his colleagues have been largely hopeless. Clark signed off the sale of the British firm Vauxhall to the French giant Peugeot last year, and now we find that hundreds of jobs at Ellesmere Port, one of the most efficient car plants in Europe, are to be lost. Meanwhile, the department did nothing to prevent new contracts being granted to construction group Carillion in the months before its collapse earlier this year. And it allowed Britains biggest gas storage facility, at Rough off the Yorkshire coast, to shut down last year meaning the freezing Beast from the East brought the nation perilously close to black-outs last month. In spite of GKNs huge strategic importance to Britains leadership in aerospace and as a key supplier to the Pentagon of the F-35 Lockheed Martin fighter (destined for the UKs new aircraft carrier fleet) Greg Clark has maintained a hands-off approach. Only brash Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has made the case for intervention on grounds of national security and has been largely ignored. But whats really shocking is the way in which Britains free and open capital markets are apparently so vulnerable to the machinations of hedge funds and short-term investors seeking fast profits at the expense of the nations future. Eight years ago the then chairman of Cadbury, Sir Roger Carr, launched a fusillade of criticism against hedge funds as the nations emblematic chocolate company was subjected to a hostile takeover by Kraft. Carr told me he had no choice but to surrender because in the final days of the bid, hedge funds started buying up large numbers of shares in search of a quick killing. Carr was so incensed that he made a proposal that only investors whod owned shares in public companies for more than six months should be allowed a vote on the fate of those firms. Now, the scenario could be playing out again. As the Mail reported yesterday, the ruthless U.S.-controlled hedge fund Elliott Advisors has led the way, building a 3.4 per cent stake in GKN with the aim, it is suspected, of selling the shares at higher prices if the takeover goes through. Rather than admit it was out for a quick profit, it launched a fearsome attack, claiming GKN has incompetent management. GKN has had trouble following a profits warning last year and musical chairs on the board. But to be lectured by the likes of Elliott whose parent company is one of the most ruthless and unprincipled investment firms on the planet is beyond the pale. We should, however, expect a more responsible attitude from long-term, UK-based firms who have invested the savings and pensions of millions of ordinary British citizens in GKN. Aviva Investors, the fund management arm of the big UK insurer Aviva, shocked the financial community when it said it would sell a 3.1 per cent GKN stake to Melrose. Whats most astonishing is that the Aviva decision was announced by David Cumming who, in his previous job at Standard Life, was one of the most outspoken supporters of better governance in Britains boardrooms. His decision raised eyebrows, although its his view that the takeover would benefit shareholders in both firms. The truth is that, irrespective of Melroses past successes in making short-order profits for investors, it doesnt appear to have any rigorous governance to speak of. He added: 'The answer to this bid should be a resounding no otherwise the UK might as well give up its claims to be a great engineering nation, not that rapacious hedge funds would care a damn about that' It has an executive chairman in Christopher Miller, an executive vice-chairman in David Roper (a big Tory Party donor) and chief executive Simon Peckham, who seem to run the group as if it were a medieval fiefdom. Together theyve extracted vast sums of money, becoming fabulously rich without any constraints imposed by the board or outside investors. Over less than a decade, the trio plus finance director Geoffrey Martin have cumulatively acquired 457 million in pay, bonuses, incentive shares and share purchases. If the hedge funds and long-term investors such as Aviva allow Melrose to take control of GKN, these bosses could earn a further 285 million. The Melrose threes interest in rapid gains rather than long-term investment was demonstrated when they appeared before the Business Select Committee chaired by Bank of England economist turned Labour MP Rachel Reeves. Asked to make formal commitments to future research and development, and the pension funds at GKN, they initially declined to do so. Under pressure for clarity from GKN and its advisers, they eventually came up with pledges. But how enforceable they would be if GKN is smashed into several parts and sold off is open to question. A huge responsibility rests with GKNs biggest long-term investors, led by BlackRock (with a 5.07 per cent stake) whose advisers include former Chancellor George Osborne. Earlier this year, BlackRock boss Larry Fink, the most powerful fund manager in the world, wrote to chief executives of firms in which it is invested, laying out a strategy of engaging with companies to drive the sustainable, long-term growth our clients need to meet their goals. Now, Fink and BlackRock have a chance to demonstrate their belief in long-term excellence by voting to give GKN chief executive Anne Stevens and her team a second chance. If not, the hedge funds that have built up a 25 per cent stake in GKN will hold sway. It has become fashionable among some commentators to back Melrose. But as the final judgment over the future of GKN looms, major investors must decide whether Melrose a company one-fifth the size of its target, with questionable governance and a mixed record of management is to be trusted with an asset critical to the UKs future in aerospace, defence and electric technology for cars. The answer to this bid should be a resounding no otherwise the UK might as well give up its claims to be a great engineering nation, not that rapacious hedge funds would care a damn about that. Someone on the backbenches emitted a whistle of impressed surprise when Theresa May told the Commons how many Russian diplomats were being sent packing by our allies. Today more than 18 countries have announced their intention to expel more than 100 Russian intelligence officers from their countries. Whistle. This includes 15 EU member states as well as the US, Canada and the Ukraine. This is the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. It was also, though she did not say so, the largest collective success for the Foreign Office for many a calend. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, sitting just down the bench from the Prime Minister, looked tired but somehow more substantial. At the start of this Russian scandal, Boris was criticised by the Establishment and some of its lackeys for being so instinctively angry at the Kremlins conduct. Those critical sneers seem, at least temporarily, to have evaporated. Someone on the backbenches emitted a whistle of impressed surprise when Theresa May told the Commons how many Russian diplomats were being sent packing by our allies Same with Mrs May. In the past year she has often been listened to in the Chamber with a certain amount of rhubarbing and sarcasm, not least from the handful of Remainers on the Tory benches. But yesterday the House was completely quiet for much of her cool, grown-up statement on the recent European Council and her speech in the days main debate (about Russia). Europhiliac crotchet Kenneth Clarke (Con, Rushcliffe), who had earlier in the day been on testy form, walked out just before the Prime Minister stepped to the despatch box. Up in Remainer corner, the likes of Anna Soubry (Con, Broxtowe) and Nicky Morgan (Con, Loughborough) for once put away their lemon-sucking expressions. Up in Remainer corner, the likes of Anna Soubry (Con, Broxtowe) and Nicky Morgan (Con, Loughborough) for once put away their lemon-sucking expressions When a prime minister is talking about chemical and biological defence, it is no time to play narrow games. Unless your name is Corbyn. Outside Parliament, a large protest was being held by Jewish people who accused Mr Corbyns Labour Party of anti-Semitism. Inside Parliament, his problem was more one of oratorical critical mass. He was heard with cold indifference by the Labour side. He tried to talk about the National Health Services readiness for widespread attacks and tried to insist he thought the Russia attack was an outrage, but no one was much persuaded. During the debate, Tory MPs kept trying to intervene on him. Mr Corbyn accepted a few of these Tory backbenchers, not by any means normal suspects. Alex Chalk (Con), a non-tribal moderate whose Cheltenham seat is home to GCHQ, asked does he hold Russia responsible for the Salisbury attack? Much the same question was put with the force of an operatic soprano by pro-European Vicky Ford (Chelmsford). Former defence secretary Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks) also sought Mr Corbyns confirmation that Russia had been involved in the poisoning. Theresa May said: Today more than 18 countries have announced their intention to expel more than 100 Russian intelligence officers from their countries. All these interventions were dodged by Mr Corbyn. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, sitting beside Mr Corbyn, started bawling sit down! and hes not going to give way to you! and go away! when other Government supporters tried to intervene on Mr Corbyns speech. Then Mr Corbyn made an unwise boast: Ive been a robust critic of the activities of the Russian government for more than 20 years. Cue loud, astonished dissent from the Tory benches. Miss Abbott continued her shut ups! and sit downs! But she had not reckoned with one of her own side taking exception to Mr Corbyns laughable claim. Up stood John Woodcock (Lab, Barrow & Furness), a solid supporter of British defence interests. I cannot let that remark go by, he said with disgust. He recalled an article written in the communist Morning Star by Mr Corbyn after Vladimir Putin invaded the Ukraine, and he said it had been terribly soft on Russia, reserving its venom instead for America and Nato. Any claim that Mr Corbyn was a long-standing critic of Russia was just not true. Mayhem. Miss Abbott was furious. Other Corbyn supporters turned on Mr Woodcock and gesticulated angrily at him. Russias bad behaviour has left Mrs May considerably enhanced. It has left Mr Corbyn in peril. An independent fashion brand has filed a lawsuit against Versace after accusing the luxury label of copying its logo. British company No Fixed Abode (NFA) claims the Italian house's Versus line has used its 'knocker' emblem, consisting of a lions head with a ring in its mouth, across its clothing, accessories and footwear. Its founder alleges that Versace has passed off the design as its own, 'on a global scale' and is calling for the fashion giant to stop selling products bearing the image and 'publicly admit what they have been doing'. Founded by Emma Mann, London-based NFA, which sells streetwear-inspired clothing and accessories, has been using its distinctive lion logo since its incorporation in 2013. No Fixed Abode's label, designed in 2013 (left) and detail from a Versus Versace accessory from its 2015 collection (right). NFA claims the luxury label has 'ripped off' its design Launched in 2013 by Emma Mann (pictured) NFA, which sells streetwear-inspired clothing and accessories, has been using its distinctive lion logo since its incorporation in 2013 Mann says she noticed a striking similarity between Versus Versace's graphics and her own branding while walking past a store in 2016, and claims she has since identified more than 200 products bearing the logo. After trademarking the lion image at the start of 2017, the independent label is now taking on the corporate giant after launching legal proceedings and is calling for Versace to pay her a licensing fee. A spokesperson for NFA said: 'This is not a one-off case. It is happening time and time again. 'Its time we do something to protect artists rights around the world.' NFA has drawn comparisons between its own designs (left) and more than 200 Versus Versace products, such as this gold lion-emblazoned t-shirt from its 2015 collection (right) Mann noticed a striking similarity between Versus Versace's graphics and her own branding, and claims she has since identified more than 200 products bearing the logo (pictured: a pair of shoes and a belt from Versus Versace featuring a lion 'knocker' emblem in 2015) Legal documents seen by MailOnline show the company filed a complaint against Gianni Versace S.p.A. and Versace UK PLC at the High Court of Justice in February. Versus was launched in 1989 by the late Gianni Versace - currently the subject of an FX crime series based on his 1997 murder - and relaunched in 2005 by his sister Donatella. Versace declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Plus-size model Paloma Elsesser stars in a flirty new swimwear campaign for the plus-size brand Eloquii. The 25-year-old model flaunts her curvaceous figure in a slew of new swimsuits for the retailer, and confidently struts around a cafe and laundromat in nothing but a bathing suit for a video ad for the brand. Filmed in New York City, the ad comes with the very spot-on tagline: So Good You'll Want to Wear it Anywhere. Swimwear: Plus-size brand Eloquii just released its 2018 swim campaign Stunning: Paloma Elsesser, 25, flaunts her curvaceous figure in a slew of sexy new swimsuits Amazing: Paloma struts around a cafe and laundromat in nothing but a bathing suit for the campaign, which has the tagline: 'So Good You'll Want to Wear it Anywhere' The brand carries clothing for women sizes 12 to 28, and its new digital campaign features the California-born model going about her business in swimwear. She wears her one-pieces while watching a movie with her girlfriends, reading a book in a cafe, and doing laundry, all while receiving compliments from strangers and passersby. The brunette model rocks three different swimsuits throughout the video, including a black polka-dot number, a red and pink color-blocked suit, and a frilly flamingo-print one. The video campaign features an all-female cast, and was directed by award-winning Vince Peone of Vogue's 73 Questions videos. Campaign: The brand carries clothing for women in sizes 12 to 28 Hilarious: The campaign shows Paloma comfortably wearing a swimsuit while out in New York City Confident: The scenarios include watching a movie with her girlfriends and reading a book in a cafe, all while receiving compliments from strangers and passersby Message: 'Fashion should be fun-always, and uncomplicated,' she said Paloma spoke with Bustle about what it was like starring in the campaign, as we 'The message I think this campaign sends is that fashion should be fun-always, and uncomplicated. 'For so long, plus-size women have dreaded the beach because weve been forced to digest a very unrealistic "beach body" type. For me, ANY body is bathing suit ready. All you have to do is literally put on a bathing suit and go to beach. Or in this case, get a matcha, watch a movie, or do your laundry.' The Hot Tropics swim collection is modeled by another brunette in images released online. Paloma continued to the site explaining why the campaign meant so much to her, saying: 'The concept of being able to be myself and wear what I want, when I want spoke to me. It's how I live my everyday life, so it was easy.' Versatile: The brand's new Hot Tropics swim collection is on sale now Swimwear: Pieces range in price form $60 to $120 The campaign will run on YouTube and Instagram, and the swimwear is already available for purchase online with prices ranging from $60 to $120. Paloma also recently appeared on the spring cover issue of i-D magazine, which came out last month. She spoke candidly with the magazine about what it was like when she first started working as a model in the industry and how unprepared she was. While she discussed being scared and feeling emotional in the beginning, Paloma also admitted that she had to embrace her fears and insecurities in order to thrive and survive in life as well as in the business. Struggle: Paloma graced the cover of i-D magazine's spring issue Learning curve: Speaking to i-D magazine, she shared that when she started out working as a model, she was unprepared for how emotional and scary it would be Insta-famous: Discovered on Instagram by make-up artist Pat McGrath, Paloma is hopeful that vocal women in the industry are creating a safe space which will signal more change 'The fashion industry is such an expressive, creative space, but it's very devoid of empathy,' she said. Paloma also explained that she never even imagined she would be a model because of her size and she wasn't 'skinny' growing up. However, due to her parents nurturing and accepting her, she was able to be confident and grow as a person. Considering Paloma is also a proud supporter of the #MeToo movement, she insisted that being heard is 'the best weapon against further abuse.' A devoted father has appealed for help to find his daughter a job - after she was sacked because of her blue and purple hair. The Twitter user going by the name of JBizzleBeard, a father-of-five from Brighton, said his daughter Jess had been fired because 'her last employer decided her hair colour was stopping her productivity.' He added: 'She's desperate to get another job. She's a hard worker and a good kid.' Although he didn't specify what her job was, he said she was looking for retail positions. His tweet was met with an outpouring of support, receiving 8,000 likes and a flood of suggestions for where she could find another job. A father-of-five from Brighton revealed how his daughter Jess (pictured) had been fired from her job because of her blue and purple hair colour The devoted dad appealed for help to find his daughter a new job in the Brighton area And other Twitter users shared images of their own coloured hair, saying it had never got in their way of doing a good job. A grandmother aged 60 said she'd recently had flashes of turquoise put in her hair and was met with a great reception at her job as a senior analyst from an energy company. 'Her look is positive and vibrant,' another added. 'Who wouldn't want her on their staff?' Meanwhile, local authority workers and an A&E doctor also shared their stories of having coloured hair. The father's post received an outpouring of support from people who said nobody should be discriminated against for having dyed hair It's not the first time workers have been discriminated against because of hair colour or body art. In November 2017, jobseeker Joe Parsons, 21, from Manchester said he'd been rejected from 30 potential employers because of a giant neck tattoo dedicated to his late grandfather. And at schools across the country, pupils can be put in isolation or even excluded for turning up with dyed hair. When Stephanie Devine was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago, she found herself struggling to find a bra to suit her needs. 'I was unable to find a cotton-lined, non-wired bra in my cup size that wasn't a maternity bra, to get me through chemo,' Stephanie, from Sydney, told FEMAIL. Since that point, she confessed she's been 'obsessed' with making 'the perfect non-wired bra in natural fibres'. The result is The Very Good Bra, whose slogan is 'no wire, no toxins, no waste'. The product will launch in April and is made from sustainably-farmed Eucalyptus trees and natural fibres. The Very Good Bra is a bra made from sustainably-farmed Eucalyptus trees and natural fibres - the founder, Stephanie Devine, spoke to FEMAIL about it Stephanie Devine (pictured), from Sydney, first came up with the idea to make her own zero waste bra when she was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago and couldn't find a cotton-lined, wire-free option Speaking to FEMAIL about the need for the bra, Stephanie confessed she has always been interested in the 'buy less, buy better' movement. However, this reached a high point when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted something toxin-free for her recovery: 'I spent four years working on a non-wired bra,' she said. 'The more I've learned about materials, the more I've had to re-calibrate my thinking in terms of what is "good". Once you discover that it takes 20,000 litres of water to produce a kilogram of cotton, organic or not, it really gets you thinking. 'When you realise that apparel is the second-largest polluting industry in the world behind oil and gas, and that 40 per cent of landfill is clothing, you realise that if things are going to change, you need to do your bit.' She spent the past 18 months developing The Very Good Bra as a result. 'The more I've learned about materials, the more I've had to re-calibrate my thinking in terms of what is "good",' Stephanie told FEMAIL of her product The Very Good Bra (left) is made from a botanic fibre called Tencel, which comes from sustainably-farmed Eucalyptus trees - there is a matching pair of underwear (right) The Very Good Bra is made from a botanic fibre called Tencel, which comes from sustainably-farmed Eucalyptus trees: 'They require minimal water for growth and processing,' Stephanie explained. 'The tencel is knitted and organically dyed in Melbourne. We have tree-rubber and elastic sourced from sustainably-managed plantations, which is then knitted into organic cotton to make strap elastic, and our metals are cadmium and nickel free.' But while the entrepreneur is proud of her creation, she said it's just a 'drop in the ocean'. Though she is not advocating 'zero-waste wardrobes', Stephanie said she is trying to 'raise public awareness about waste and landfill'. 'People need to think harder about their buying choices,' she added. 'Buy less and buy better.' Though she is not advocating 'zero-waste wardrobes', Stephanie said she is trying to 'raise public awareness about waste and landfill' (pictured: The Very Good Bra) She recommends that people think more carefully about their buying choices, and buy less, but buy better (pictured: The Very Good Bra) Lastly, Stephanie shared the other small things you can do to help the planet: 'Ditch plastic straws, bottles and bags to start with,' she said. 'Invest in a keep cup and make it part of your normal coffee routine. 'Wherever possible, don't take the packaging when shopping and where there are two comparable options, choose the one that is consciously trying to be clean.' The Very Good Bra will launch in April. To find out more, you can visit the website here. You can also follow them on Instagram here, and use the hashtags #PledgeforthePlanet and #WireFreeWasteFree. Lack of intimacy can often lead to a relationship breakdown. And unfortunately, sexual droughts can happen. So what if you are stuck in a rut or struggling to secure a sexual partner? Here, Sydney sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein has revealed her top tips to survive a dry spell when you are in a relationship, marriage or single - and how you can bring the spark back into the bedroom - even if you're alone. Lack of intimacy can often lead to a relationship breakdown - before you fall under a dry spell Sydney sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein revealed her tips to survive a dry spell when you are in a relationship, marriage or single So what defines dry spells? Dr Goldstein explained how the time-frame varies for everyone. 'Dry spells are different for everyone. It could be a few weeks for some while others say it's six months or even years. 'Everyone has different levels of sexual desires so it's difficult to reveal [time frame]. It's a dry spell when you say it's a dry spell.' RELATIONSHIP 'If you're not having sex, look at the importance of sex in your relationship,' she said. 'Take out sexual pleasures and orgasms, and look at what's missing from your intimacy, it's important to create that in a relationship rather than sex. 'Bring back affection, touching and make sure you're kissing everyday, every morning. Whatever the reason is on why you're going through a dry spell, it's all about intimacy and it's not always about sex.' Dr Goldstein said it was important for couples to enjoy sex as much as they can - and frequency will naturally vary for different couples. She explained there was no magic number of times per week the average couple should be aiming for to keep their partners happy in and out of bed (stock image) She explained there was no magic number of times per week the average couple should be aiming for to keep their partners happy in and out of bed. 'Whatever works for them,' she said. 'As a society, we get so swept up with numbers. I get worried that couples are just having sex to feel normal because they saw the figures in an article or something. 'Couples should be looking at the types of sex that works for their relationship not just having sex to keep the numbers up. 'So when you're not enjoying that type of sex, this could lead to boredom - and this comes in because you're having sex for all the wrong reasons.' She likened sex to children with toys. 'It's like a kid with a toy - they play with it a lot at the beginning. They love the toy and still keep it in a toy box but they are not playing with it as much as they first did. 'So don't freak - it's not a matter of losing spark but it's about changing the spark to something more satisfying. 'If you want to continue the primal sex, you're not thinking of what to explore such as fantasies - things that you can do in an intimate relationship so you can bond and get to know someone better.' Dr Goldstein explained if there's a sexual dry spell, there are three things to look at in your relationship that may be causing a lack of intimacy - emotions, lifestyle and boredom MARRIAGE Dr Goldstein explained if there's a sexual dry spell, there are three things to look at in your marriage that may be causing a lack of intimacy. 'Emotions, lifestyle and boredom,' she said. 'Look at your emotions in your relationship. Are you frustrated with each other? Are you both sweeping your problems under the rug? Are you pulling away from your partner? 'For lifestyle, are you both busy? Tired and not sleeping? Do you have young kids or your work schedule is busy? 'And there's boredom - is sex not exciting at the moment? Do you feel tired and busy, feel distant from your partner or if it's not exciting with your partner anymore? 'Have a conversation about what it is you want in the bedroom because no one is a mind reader. 'Our sexual desires change overtime, so it's important to to talk about what it is you want and get an update on the changes you both want in the bedroom.' Dr Goldstein said it was important for couples to enjoy sex as much as they can - and frequency will naturally vary for different couples (stock image) To rekindle the passion, Dr Goldstein said there are many things to look at before you jump to conclusion. 'Spark is one of those terms that people freak out about. But if the spark is gone completely, don't panic,' she said. 'Let's look at marriages [or long-term relationships], you're not going to maintain the same sparkiness from the beginning. Five years down the track, you might not be fulfilling the same sexual desire or you're not having it as much. 'But when you do have sex, your connection level is more satisfying in the long run than ripping off clothes type of sex.' For couples who are lacking intimacy, Dr Goldstein said 'just do it - take the Nike philosophy'. 'It's one of those things to getting back on the bandwagon. If things get so swept up, just have sex again - it feels good and nice to have sexual contact,' she said. 'Stop trying to look for more of a solution and just have sex again. Then when it does happen, have that conversation - and say you've noticed your partner feeling frustrated in the bedroom.' For singles, how can you survive the sexual dry spell without lowering your standards? Dr Goldstein said 'masturbation' SINGLE For singles, how can you survive the sexual dry spell without lowering your standards? 'Masturbation,' Dr Goldstein said. 'You don't have to have a partner to have sex. It's a great opportunity to explore what you want. Have sex with yourself. 'If you're in a dry spell, start exploring self-love. It's healthier to explore masturbation rather than having a one-night stand.' She explained single people having sex for the sake of breaking the drought leads to negative sexual behaviours - emotionally and psychologically. 'He or she could be throwing themselves at you but it's not healthy. If we can satisfy ourselves with self-pleasuring, than we're safer in the single world.' For many families, homework time can be a difficult task, and a recent national survey has revealed Australian students would prefer longer school days to slogging it out at home. One Sydney mother told FEMAIL that although her primary school daughters take homework in their stride, it can sometimes be an added stress in their life. Lizzy Williamson, 40, said she is also worried for when they get to high school. 'It doesn't always work, there have been times we do it the night before and there have been tears and late nights getting it done,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'They don't need extra pressure on them, if it happens it happens and if it doesn't it doesn't.' One Sydney mother (pictured with her daughters) told FEMAIL that although her primary school daughters take homework in their stride, she's worried for when they get to high school Over 1,000 parents and 500 school-aged children took part in the nationwide homework habits survey, commissioned by school learning tool, Firefly Learning. The findings show Aussie kids would prefer to clean their room, get a job and even stay at school for an hour longer each day than do homework. Lizzy has two daughters, one 10-year-old and another who is 11, who will be going into high school next year. 'I'm concerned about the change from year six to year seven because from what I've seen, it's really massive,' she said. Lizzy has two daughters, one 10-year-old and another who is 11, and who will be going into high school next year 'The other night we asked our neighbours to come over for a dance off and the daughter, who is in year seven, said she couldn't because she had too much homework,' Lizzy continued. 'That's so sad that a 12 year old has that much homework and pressure already.' In Lizzy's family home they aim to do one night of homework a week and this is when they aim to get all of it done and dusted. Unfortunately this does take them a couple of hours to do. 'I do think that some schools pile it on and sometimes I think, can't children just get home from school and do no more school work?,' she said. 'We should be encouraging them to be free to play and have free time and use their imagination. I understand why they do it, but the less pressure we can put on kids after school the better.' In Lizzy's family house they aim to do one night of homework a week and this is when they aim to get all of it done and dusted One reason children find it difficult to do their homework is because they're also trying to juggle extra curricular activities. Lizzy explained that she tries not to get her children to do too many things after school but also wants to ensure they're having fun and learning other skills. 'Between the two of them they still do dance, piano, gymnastics, sewing,' she said. 'There's a lot but I try and make sure we have a few afternoons free so they can go and play their Lego for a couple of hours or hang on the couch with a book. 'A lack of free time is not great for children's mental health and they need time where they can just go and be children and not have to worry about school for five minutes.' Lizzy explained that she tries not to get her children to do too many things after school but also wants to ensure they're having fun The study revealed that out of school interests and busy schedules are taking priority for 26 per cent of respondents, who would rather do that than spend time doing extra work. Lizzy explained that her daughters are lucky as the primary school they go to understands that children learn in different ways. 'They don't look at learning as a one-size-fits-all approach and they try and do it in such a way that the children are actually going to enjoy it,' she said. 'If it's going to feel like a chore then it's going to be like pulling teeth getting your kids to do it.' The study revealed that out of school interests and busy schedules are taking priority for 26 per cent of respondents (stock image) 'Modern family commitments can present a challenge for families,' Denise Bramhall, spokesperson for Firefly Learning added. 'From our experience active parental support is crucial to a childs learning experience, cognitive development, literacy and numeracy skills. 'In fact, research has shown that parental involvement in a childs schooling between seven to 16 years of age is more influential than family background, size and level of parental education.' Denise believes a regular three-way dialogue between teacher-student-parent is an effective way to help support their childs development. 'Checking in regularly with your school while understanding the curriculums teaching milestones and development aids available is a tangible way parents can support their childs education.' A former schoolteacher turned dominatrix has opened up about how she shares her life with her boyfriend - and two live-in slaves. Dahlia Rain, 35, from New Jersey, turned her back on marriage and a regular job in education in favour of working as a dominatrix, and now spends her time asking her submissive slaves to do anything from cooking to cleaning in return for 'rewards'. Her boyfriend John, 41, also enjoys being waited on hand-and-foot when he comes to visit and says he respects the fact that his girlfriend is so strong. Scroll down for video Dominatrix Dahlia Rain, 35, pictured with her boyfriend John Fathom, has two live-in slaves at her home in New Jersey. The men, Chris and Fluffy, enjoy carrying out mundane household chores in exchange for submissive play sessions with their female boss 'It's safer for a sub to be owned' Dahlia, who doesn't sleep with her slaves including Fluffy, pictured above, rewards their hard work by whipping, gagging and binding them, something the men enjoy Dahlia's boyfriend, John, left, says he loves the fact that she's a strong woman and doesn't mind sharing her life with slaves Chris and Fluffy Dahlia explains how she found her current vocation several years ago: 'Everybody comes into fetish at different times of their life. I did the normal housewife thing but there were things that were missing. 'I wanted some more excitement and they were things [my ex husband] didn't want.' After divorcing from her husband, Dahlia started to dip her toes into the fetish scene. She says: 'I started meeting more kinky people and going to fetish parties and then it just became part of my life' It was here that she met her 'slaves' - another name given to submissive partners in BDSM relationships - and her boyfriend John, who they also cater to when he visits. While some might expect Dahlia to sleep with her subjects, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. 'I don't have sex with my subs, there's no sexual relationship at all. That's a fantasy. 'I get a lot of emails and messages from people wanting to be my sex slave, and be tied up in my bedroom 24-hours a day, but that's not the type of dominance I do.' The 35-year-old says no money changes hands between herself and her subs Chris and Mike - AKA Fluffy. 'There are lifestyle dominatrixes, and there are professional dominatrixes - I am both,' Dahlia said. 'When people schedule a session, they are giving me money to be in my hands for an hour, whereas lifestyle slaves are just giving themselves into my care permanently. 'They might pay for things, like my shopping, but they are not paying me. From a foot rub to breakfast: Mike aka Fluffy says Fluffy: 'I do pretty much anything Dahlia asks of me' Fluffy enjoys being submissive and says his boss takes 'good care of him' Dahlia met Fluffy at a fetish party and quickly formed a master/slave relationship 'Fluffy is not paying per hour for my time. That would be very expensive. He wouldn't be able to afford life at that point.' As reward for serving Dahlia, the subs receive BDSM punishments, such as being bound, gagged and whipped. Dahlia said: 'Play is always a reward for them, but they have to earn it - it's not easy.' Fluffy, also 35, said: 'I do pretty much anything Dahlia asks of me. Even if it's just a matter of serving her breakfast or giving her a foot rub. 'I like making her happy. It feels good when I see a smile on her face, and she takes care of me. 'She rewards me in a lot of different ways. For example the other night, I wanted to sleep by the foot of her bed, and she said I could, and it was great. I was very happy.' John Fathom, Dahlia's boyfriend, said when he first met Dahlia she seemed like a strong character who would allow him to be himself. If you are a sub, you are safer being owned, because then you have guidance, and someone sticking up for you... Dahlia Rain 'I had run into a lot of girls who were attracted to me because at first I seemed very confident, or arrogant, but over time that would become and issue. They tried to diminish me and make me feel bad about it. 'When I met Dahlia, I was like 'this girl has been called Goddess all day for six years - that must build your ego up to be really strong and healthy. That person will not be someone trying to chop me down',' he told Barcroft TV. The 41-year-old artist and business owner said he discovered Dahlia has slaves the first time he was out with her at a fetish party. 'A slave just walked up and started shouting. I was like 'how dare he just come over to us and start talking? Doesn't he know his place?' And then shortly after I saw her whip him. 'I thought 'wow, this girl can really whip, she has the wrist action'. It was fun to watch her work. 'In the summer time we spend a lot of time lounging on the roof and we think 'this would be so much better if we had Champagne or watermelon' and I can just call a slave and he'll bring us the Champagne and watermelon.' Mike is consenting to being treated like a slave; seen above been taken for a walk by Dahlia while attached to a human leash 41-year-old artist and business owner John says he's more than happy with his girlfriend's vocation Alongside requests for physical domination, Dahlia receives offers of payment for other types of treatment. 'I've had people say 'I will pay you $5,000 to ruin my life. Please contact my wife and tell her that I am a pervert - this is her phone number'. 'I don't want to ruin your life! I am not into ruining lives, but you can find someone who will do that. 'I want to make lives better. I want to make you more efficient, happier, fitter - let's improve your life rather than make you homeless in your car or on the street.' Dahlia says she has no interest in ruining people's lives and has turned down money for requests that she doesn't feel comfortable with While Chris lives full-time with Dahlia, Fluffy is a performer in the adult industry and splits his time between Las Vegas and her house in New Jersey. The pair first met six years ago at a fetish party in New York City, and quickly became friends before entering into a dom/sub relationship. Dahlia said: 'People were taking advantage of him. When you have a submissive personality, people will walk all over you. If you are a sub, you are safer being owned, because then you have guidance, and someone sticking up for you. 'It's something I plan on doing forever. I'm going to be an old lady with slaves pushing my wheelchair.' A 10 eye shadow primer has been declared 'the best in the world' by a leading blogger as dozens of beauty experts clamour to get their hands on a bottle. The P. Louise Base is sweeping social media after being given the seal of approval by Nikkie de Jager - aka NikkieTutorials, who has a 9.4million-strong following and has praised its long-lasting properties. The cult product - used as a base to keep eye shadow in place without caking or 'creasing' - is the brainchild of British makeup mogul Paige Louise. After deciding to create her own shadow base, Paige launched the product in January much to the delight of her followers - and has since announced more shades to hit shelves in May. Online fame: The P. Louise base is sweeping social media after being given the seal of approval by Nikkie de Jager - aka NikkieTutorials , who has a 9.4million-strong following Sellout: The cult product - used as a base to keep eyeshadow in place without caking or 'creasing' - is the brainchild of British makeup mogul Paige Louise Paige was inspired to develop the product after her technique for using foundation as a shadow base previously went viral according to Cosmopolitan. The cruelty-free primer is designed to 'create a smooth, flawless finish ready to make your shadow pop'. Now de Jager has propelled the product to online fame after she praised it for providing 'maximum coverage and pigmentation'. Speaking on her YouTube channel, the Dutch blogger enthused: 'It blends like a dream,' adding: 'It's like a magnet, it just grabs the shadow and takes every little bit of pigment out of it that it can.' She also praised the base for 'really grabbing the shadow' and making the blending process 'smooth and easy'. Online fame: Hundreds of Instagram users have praised the product online, with many desperate to get their hands on a bottle despite it selling out after de Jager's online review The base has won rave reviews on social media too, with hundreds of beauty fans desperate to get their hands on a bottle. Commenting below one of PLouise's recent Instagram posts, one wrote: 'Didn't realise how good at makeup I was until I used your base? It's a game changer!' Another penned: 'Got mine on pre-order! Cannot wait to try it.' Currently out of stock, the primer is available for pre-order from plouise.co.uk. She is known for her eye-popping wardrobe, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands turned heads once again on Tuesday when she stepped out in a neon pink dress and gigantic hat. The Dutch queen consort was in Amersfoort, Utrech for the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Het Begint met Taal Foundation, but stole in her vibrant frock as she walked the red carpet with local mayor Lucas Bolsius. Maxima, 46, teamed her eye-catching look with a berry-coloured handbag and matching gloves, teamed with a pair of suede pointed stilettos. Scroll down for video Colour pop Queen! Maxima of the Netherlands certainly turned heads on Tuesday when she stepped out in a neon pink dress and gigantic hat The wife of King Willem-Alexander added a touch of glamour to her look with a dazzling pair of bejewelled earrings and a gold chain bracelet, sweeping her hair into a chic side bun. Het Begint met Taal (It Begins with Language) aims to strengthen and coordinate voluntary foreign language organisations from around the Netherlands. March is shaping up to be a busy month for Maxima, who last week hosted the King and Queen of Jordan in Amsterdam, and on Monday welcomed Vietnamese politician Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to The Hague. An international financier by training, Maxima was born in Argentina and married into the Dutch royal family in 2002, three years after meeting her husband-to-be in Seville, Spain. Regal style: The wife of King Willem-Alexander added a touch of glamour with a dazzling pair of bejewelled earrings and a gold chain bracelet, sweeping her hair into a chic side bun Working mum: March is shaping up to be a busy month for Maxima, who last week hosted the King and Queen of Jordan in Amsterdam, and earlier this week met a Vietnamese politician Guest of honour: The Dutch queen consort was in Amersfoort, Utrech for the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Het Begint met Taal Foundation, but stole in her vibrant frock Think pink: The royal was in high spirits as she arrived in Amersfoort today for the language organisation's tenth anniversary celebrations In full bloom: Maxima could be seen clutching a bouquet of yellow tulips - the Dutch national flower - as she left the foundation's headquarters on Tuesday Such fun: The 46-year-old royal collapsed into fits of giggles at one point as she shared a joke with locals in Amersfoort, Utrecht this morning Modern fairytale: An international financier by training, Maxima was born in Argentina and married into the Dutch royal family in 2002, three years after meeting her husband-to-be Despite reportedly having no inkling that Willem-Alexander was heir to the throne when the pair first met, she eventually became Queen consort when her husband ascended to the throne. Willem-Alexander became king after his mother, Beatrix, abdicated in April 2013 after 33 years as reigning monarch. The couple are parents to Princess Amalia, Alexia and Ariane - affectionately dubbed 'the A team' by their doting father. Clutching a cheering posy of seasonal flowers, the Queen looked elegant as she arrived in Plymouth this morning for the decommissioning ceremony of HMS Ocean. The 91-year-old wore a powder pink coat by Stewart Parvin, with a matching hat with floral detail by Rachel Trevor-Morgan, as she took the royal train down to the Devon city to officially mark the end of the 'Mighty O's' time as a Royal Navy vessel. The royal carried a black Launer bag and accessorised her Spring look with a three-tier string of pearls, coordinating earrings and her mother's 1938 Cartier diamond palm leaf brooch. A crowd of well-wishers greeted the monarch on the platform at Plymouth station around 11am including local school children and members of the coastal city's Air Training Corps. Dressed in a pretty powder pink coat with black button detail, the Queen injects some Spring radiance into a grey Devon this morning as she arrived at Plymouth station to attend the decommissioning ceremony of HMS Ocean Greeted by local school-children waving Union Jacks, the Queen shakes the hand of an Air Training Corp after arriving by royal train Despite grey skies above and rain forecast, the Queen, who celebrates her 92nd birthday next month, paid tribute to the outgoing vessel. HMNB Devonport was lined with hundreds of people who had turned out to watch the ceremony that will officially mark the end of HMS Ocean's service. The vessel, which first sailed for the British navy in 1998, is being sold to the Brazilian navy. Her Majesty the Queen smiled as she clutched her small bouquet of flowers - which echoed the decoration on her pink hat The Queen is seen with Captain Rob Pedre, the Captain of HMS Ocean, after the decommissioning ceremony More flowers! The decommissioning ceremony was followed by a reception on board The delighted Queen chatted to children there to greet her at the ceremony on Thursday The Queen made time for the grown-ups too, chatting to former officers at the reception She was presented with a bottle of HMS Ocean gin by commanding officer Captain Pedre at the gathering to mark the occasion The ship's officers and members of their families gathered on board for the party The Queen inspected a parade of the ship's company on the jetty before proceeding to the dais, where she addressed the crowd. She said: 'We are gathered here in Plymouth today, in the midst of this city's rich maritime heritage, to say farewell to this unique and remarkable vessel, and to reflect on her considerable achievements. 'With three generations of naval officers in my family, I recognise the significant demands that have been placed on all those who have served in the ship over the last two decades, as well as the contribution of their families and loved ones. The Queen told Naval officers: 'As you all prepare to move on to new challenges I know that, like me, you will always treasure your memories of HMS Ocean.' Wearing the Queen Mother's Cartier palm leaf brooch, the Queen officially announces that the 'Mighty O' aka HMS Ocean is out of service as a Royal Navy vessel during this morning's ceremony Farewell Mighty O! The ship will now sail off to South America to join the Brazilian navy End of an era: The Queen, who turns 92 next month, looked solemn as she announced that the HMS Ocean would no longer sail for the country's navy Surrounded by Royal Naval offices, the Queen addressed the audience at HMNB Devonport The Queen, with First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones, meets the current Captain of HMS Ocean, Rob Pedre The ensign is lowered on the ship during the ceremony to mark the end of her time serving the Royal Navy; the vessel first sailed for the Royal Navy in 1998 Striding forth, the Queen will watch as the HMS Ocean sails into Plymouth Sound for one last time, accompanied by a string of sister ships The ship is said to have been sold to the Brazilian navy for around 84million The train chugged into Plymouth station around 11am before the Queen was whisked to the docks for the decommissioning service The Queen will inspect HMS Ocean, taking a tour onboard the ship before it is officially decommissioned after being sold to the Brazilian navy Thousands of well-wishers are expected to attend the ceremony at HMNB Devonport to watch the navy vessel as it's officially taken out of service Accessorising her pink collar-less coat with a three-tier string of pearls and matching earrings, the Queen also wore a striking diamond brooch Her Royal Majesty boarded the Ocean to meet some of those who've served on board, and their families. The ceremony then saw the ship sail for her last official voyage into Plymouth Sound as sister vessels joined her, before docking at the port's naval base. A helicopter fly-pass and a 21 gun salute was arranged to mark the Queen's departure from Devonport. Disembarking the royal train this morning, the Queen is set to meet some of the crew who have sailed on board the ship A royal salute, Ma'am! The Queen smiles as she arrives on the south coast this morning HMS Ocean, or the Mighty O as she is known throughout the fleet, has been sold to the Brazilian navy for 84m. She most recently carried out humanitarian work in the Caribbean following the effects of Hurricane Irma in British Overseas Territories. The helicopter and amphibious assault craft has also been involved in operations off Sierra Leone in 2000, Iraq in 2003 and Libya in 2011. HMS Ocean entered service in 1998 and has since covered more than 450,000 nautical miles. Until the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers, she remains the largest warship in the Navys surface fleet. Vet students have stripped off for a very racy calendar to celebrate making it half way through their degrees. Students at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, took part in the photoshoot to raise money for charity. Around 50 students got involved, striking cheeky poses with strategically-placed animals, farming gear and hats to preserve their modesty. The naked calendar has now become an annual tradition for third-year veterinary students at Massey University. Vet students at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, took part in a naked calendar to celebrate making it half way through their degrees The calendar has become a tradition for third-year veterinary students at the university Proceeds from this year's calendar will go to the Retired Working Dogs charity, as well as funding a day of celebrations to mark the students making it half way through their degree. The vets-in-training normally celebrate 'Half Way Day' by enjoying outdoor activities such as white water rafting, skydiving and bungee jumping. Aimee Alexander, who helped co-ordinate the calendar, explained how the project came together. She said: 'People in the class split into their various friend groups for their month group photos. Around 50 students took part, striking cheeky poses with strategically placed props Many of the pictures were taken on location at various farms nearby the university Proceeds from the calendar will go to the Retired Working Dogs charity, as well as funding a day of celebrations to mark the students making it half way through their degrees 'Most groups had one person in them that knew a farm in the area that made for some good photos. 'My group, for example, went to my partner's farm, and we drove around looking for great New Zealand scenery that would look amazing in the photos. 'Other groups really wanted to incorporate their own pets, so would pose with their dogs or horses on a farm.' Student Hannah Burrows, who took part in the shoot, added: 'Getting ready for a naked photo, with 50 other people from your class, was certainly an experience. The students described taking part in the naked photoshoot as 'an experience' The vets-in-training posed with a variety of different animals in the naked calendar 'But we have all come to be good friends over the past two and a half years of our degree, so managed to laugh it off and enjoy the photoshoot.' Tommy Mills, another student who took part, said: 'Despite a bit of awkwardness at the start, it was all worth it for a good cause.' Retired Working Dogs is a charity dedicated to finding loving homes for animals who've finished up their jobs so they can have the retirement they deserve. The calendar, which is released tomorrow, is shipped internationally and can be purchased for $15 (7.75) from the Barely There Vet Calendar website. The organiser said they looked around New Zealand for interesting backdrops for the calendar Queen Mathilde of Belgium has paid a poignant visit to the Kazerne Dossin memorial and museum where she met a Holocaust survivor who escaped being taken to Auschwitz at the age of 11. Simon Gronowski, now 86, and his mother were among those packed on to a cattle train bound for Auschwitz in 1943 when he jumped to freedom. Today the Belgian Queen spent time touring the memorial with Mr Gronowski and listening to his story. The museum stands near the site of the 18th century Dossin barracks in Mechelen from where 25,484 Jews were deported to Auschwitz between 1942 and 1944. Mathilde, 45, who was understated in a black and white floral dress visited the exhibition Neighbours 2018, which chronicles he daily life of the Hasidic Jews of Antwerp. It combines photos by Dan Zollman with excerpts from the book Mazel Tov by Margot Vanderstraeten. Queen Mathilde of Belgium spent time with Holocaust survivor Simon Gronowski, 86, at the Kazerne Dossin memorial and museum today The monarch was understated in a black and white floral dress for the visit Clearly moved by her visit, the Queen stayed at the museum for an hour longer than planned. Mr Gronowski was among those held at the camp with his mother Channa after his father had managed to escape the Gestapo. He hoped to rejoin his father and after hearing about people leaping off trains, he used his bunk bed in the Nazi camp to practice jumping in preparation for his own escape. He had some luck when Belgian resistance fighters managed to get on the train taking him to Auschwitz, and the young boy was encouraged to jump during the raid, which freed 17 Jews from the train. Queen Mathilde heard how Mr Gronowski escaped Auschwitz by jumping from a cattle train when it was stormed by the Belgian resistance The Queen was visibly moved by the visit and spent an hour longer than planned at the museum A group of men in Gronowski's wagon were able to force open the door, but with the train building speed, the young boy paused while hesitating. Taking the jump off the train, his mother's last words to him were that the train was going too fast. While he survived, his mother was murder in Auschwitz shortly after. He told the BBC in 2013: 'My mother held me by my shirt and my shoulders. But at first, I did not dare to jump because the train was going too fast for me. The Queen also took in the exhibition Neighbours 2018, which chronicles he daily life of the Hasidic Jews of Antwerp The exhibit combines photos by Dan Zollman with excerpts from the book Mazel Tov by Margot Vanderstraeten 'I saw the trees go by and train was getting faster. The air was crisp and cool and the noise was deafening. I remember feeling surprised that it could go so fast with 35 cars being towed. 'But then at a certain moment, I felt the train slow down. I told my mother: 'Now I can jump.' She let me go and I jumped off. 'First I stood there frozen, I could see the train moving slowly forward - it was this large black mass in the dark, spewing steam.' He was the only survivor from his family and became a lawyer after the war. Now she is a fashion icon, but supermodel Iman has admitted that it wasn't always easy as a black woman to be cast for modeling jobs. In an interview for Harper's Bazaar, the 62-year-old widow to David Bowie talked with actress Taraji P. Henson about how the fashion industry has changed and how she still plant to work to make it more diverse. The star even suggested that if a designer won't work with black models, they should stop buying that brand's clothes. Diversity: Supermodel Iman, 62, revealed how the fashion industry has become less diverse since she started modeling in 1975 Iman also revealed the shocking thing a casting director one told her earlier in her career. 'Casting agents have assumed an outsize power as gatekeepers. Some had the audacity to say, "We're not seeing black models this season." As if black is a trend,' she said. But the odd thing that Iman noted was that there were more black models working back when she started than there have been recently. And in an attempt to raise the numbers, she along with Bethann Hardison and Naomi Campbell decided raise awareness about the need for diversity in fashion. 'We talked about it in the press and to The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and I think we're seeing the change on the runways and in campaigns,' she said. And to further promote change, she said she's not above 'boycotting' certain designers. 'If a designer boycotts me, I should boycott him,' she said. 'I'm not going to buy a bag from someone who doesn't use black models. We should celebrate and highlight the people who actually step it up.' Raising the numbers: In an attempt to increase diversity in the fashion industry, Iman has spoken to The Council of Fashion Designers of America Change: And to further promote change, she said she's not above 'boycotting' certain designers Iman believes that image is very important, especially when it comes to young girls seeing themselves portrayed. But at least young women will be able to see and emulate Iman, who was named a fashion icon by the CFDA. Of the honor, she said it was a 'weighty' title but at the same time, that's all it was a title although she does admit that it was nice that it came from peers in the fashion industry. But regardless of the title, it's clear that Iman is an icon both inside and outside the fashion world. But even figures such as Iman have role models too. 'I was majoring in political science in Kenya and had never even looked at a fashion magazine when I was scouted to model, but after coming to the United States I remember being really taken with the first black supermodel, Naomi Sims,' she said. 'Boy! It was just beautiful the way she dressed and how she carried herself.' Representation: Iman believes that image is very important especially when it comes to young girls seeing themselves portrayed Best advice: The best guidance Iman has received was to 'walk away from things that don't serve you' Many can say the same about Iman, who admitted that even she had insecurities (she's not a huge fan of her legs) but she added that the trick to aging gracefully lies in 'not giving damn'. That's only philosophically of course but as for how to physically age gracefully, Iman said to take care of your skin. She swears by the SK-II 3D mask, and even said it makes you look like you stepped off a plane from Ibiza regardless of illness or tiredness. She also said women should remain classic, as 'true style is like a great black-and-white picture: It never looks dated'. However, she does have her fashion faux pas and said that anything from the 1980s shouldn't return even shoulder pads because 'they don't travel well and only looks good on a 20-year-old. Cadbury has launched a new coconut-flavoured chocolate bar that could rival the much-loved Bounty. The new Dairy Milk Coconut Rough bar contains flakes of the tropical fruit and chocolate fans are already going wild for the new treat on social media. It comes in a 200g family sized sharing block - but currently they're only available in New Zealand. The Dairy Milk bars are only available in New Zealand for now but you can order them over to the UK at a cost Describing the product on its website in a tongue-in-cheek style, Cadbury states: 'At 3 oclock every day our chocolatiers ready their coconut cannons and wait for the Milk Chocolate Geyser to erupt. 'Then they blast it with a blizzard of delicious coconut snow. Its the best way weve found of mixing the scrumptious coconut flakes into Cadbury Dairy Milk milk chocolate to make Coconut Rough.' The description makes the bar sound somewhat similar to a Bounty bar, which is a Mars product. A Bounty has a thick coconut filling which is wrapped in milk chocolate. The new bars contain flakes of toasted coconut Although it's not currently on sale in the UK or US, you can buy it online via Amazon. It will cost you 8 with free shipping but it could be an option if you are desperate to try the new bar. Online sweet shop Candy Hero sells it for slightly less at 5.80. It's one of a few new products Cadbury has launched in the last few months. In January, the chocolate maker launched an Oreo biscuit sandwich-style bar, which has whole Oreo halves on the top and bottom of each square of Dairy Milk chocolate, with a circle of the famous white stuf included too. And in early January, Cadbury surprised Creme Egg fans by announcing it had made a limited number of white chocolate eggs. Researchers in the U.S. have created a vaccine they believe will help treat multiple allergies, including hay fever. The jab contains a cocktail of allergy-causing compounds and is administered in several increasing doses over eight weeks. The theory is that by gradually upping the amount of these triggers in a controlled way (a treatment known as immunotherapy), the immune system becomes more tolerant to them, which eradicates symptoms and provides long-term protection against other allergies. Researchers in the US claim to have created a vaccine that can treat hay fever and multiple allergies with just a single jab In a new trial, patients with common allergies, such as hay fever and allergic rhinitis, will be given the new injection or a placebo. Around one in five people has allergic rhinitis, a reaction to triggers, also called allergens, such as dust or animal dander. Allergens contain proteins that can trigger the production of histamine, a chemical in the body that causes cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose. Whereas hay fever, also called seasonal rhinitis, is caused by pollen or mould spores at certain times of the year, allergic rhinitis can in some cases affect people all year round, when it is known as perennial rhinitis. Treatments include antihistamines and corticosteroids, which tackle inflammation and swelling. Side-effects of antihistamines can include drowsiness, dry mouth and blurred vision, while long-term use more than three weeks of steroids has been linked to an increased risk of health problems such as weight gain and muscle weakness. Immunotherapy, usually in the form of drops, can be given to those with severe allergies (typically to pollen) to try to make the immune system less reactive to a specific allergen. The conventional treatment involves being given small doses of one allergen. However this works only for one allergy and needs to be given at three monthly intervals for years. The theory is that by gradually increasing the dosage of the vaccine over several weeks, the immune system will become strengthened But in the new trial, doctors are using a cocktail of six different allergens in the same shot and its hoped that the effects of the new jab will be lifelong. The treatment is designed to help people with moderate to severe perennial rhinitis who may or may not have hay fever, too. In the trial at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S., 36 patients will be given increasing doses of the jab (named Allergen Immunotherapy Extract) or a placebo, twice a week for eight weeks. They will be monitored for symptom changes for more than three months. Commenting on the study, Christopher Corrigan, a professor of asthma, allergy and immunology, at Kings College, said: Immunotherapy is not a cure but significantly reduces symptoms in most patients. Treating people with a cocktail of allergens sounds like a good idea to combat multiple allergies. But, in practice, treating with an arbitrary mixture of allergens may mean inadequate treatment for key allergens that are causing symptoms, and unnecessary treatment for others which are not causing symptoms. Meanwhile stress during pregnancy may increase the risk of allergies in children. New research, based on an analysis of data from more than six million people, examined links between prenatal stress in pregnancy and subsequent allergies. Results published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy showed that any type of stress whether anxiety, bereavement, even money problems was associated with a 30 per cent higher risk of the baby suffering allergic rhinitis. Its thought stress increases levels of the hormone cortisol which may affect the developing immune system. DO THIS.... If youre prone to cold sores and go for a walk on a warm sunny day, try to walk with your back to the sun, as sunshine can trigger them, advises Dr Justine Hextall, an NHS Consultant dermatologist. Also use a good sunblock on your lips and face. Advertisement Brain zapper could help beat nicotine cravings A treatment for depression may help people stop smoking. The therapy, deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS), involves wearing a stimulator on the head that emits electromagnetic waves. Researchers are using it on 300 smokers in trials in the U.S., targeting an area of the brain thought to play a role in craving. Participants will have 20- minute sessions for four weeks. A study in the journal Biological Psychiatry tested 20-a-day smokers for whom other methods of quitting had failed and found more than a third had not smoked six months after the new treatment. A study of budgies may hold the key to why humans yawn. Researchers at the State University of New York found that when birds yawned, their facial temperature a marker of brain temperature dropped. Writing in the journal Temperature, they said yawnings function may be to cool the brain to keep us alert. Why a cup of tea might be good for your sight Can drinking tea help lower the risk of blindness? Thats the suggestion from new U.S. research. Based on a survey of 1,600 people, researchers from the University of California discovered that those who drank at least one cup of tea a day had a 74 per cent reduced risk of developing glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds in the eye, which, in turn, puts pressure on the optic nerve. The researchers, who published their findings in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, believe tea could be beneficial due to its high flavonoid content. These compounds are thought to be protective to the tissues and nerves around the eye. Strange injuries Bizarre injuries your body can inflict on itself. This week: Yawning can dislocate your jaw Yawning is a surprisingly common cause of a dislocated jaw. A study on the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2015 found yawning was responsible for nearly 50 per cent of the 94 jaw dislocations examined. In 2011, a 16-year-old student from Northampton, Holly Thompson, dislocated her jaw while yawning deeply during a politics class, which left her unable to close her mouth. (Other common signs include pain, difficulty speaking and your upper and lower teeth no longer aligning.) Hollys friend tried to close it for her, but this only caused more pain. Everyone burst out laughing. It was awful, she recalled. Holly was taken to A&E at Northampton General Hospital after the jaw-lock (or temporomandibular joint dislocation) occurred. The doctors prised her jaw back into place by forcing 26 wooden splints into her mouth, in order to lever the jaw back into its sockets. TRY THIS Halo Tops healthy ice cream is high in protein and low in calories, fat and sugar. Sweetened with stevia and erythritol, a whole pint tub of vanilla bean Halo Top (5, ocado.com) contains 280 calories the same amount youd typically get from just two scoops of standard ice creams. MOOD MEDICINE How drugs change our behaviour. This week: Insomnia drug can make you hungry A quick-acting sedative used to treat insomnia can cause an unusual side-effect: unconscious binge eating. A study by the Federal Health Department in Australia in 2007 identified cases where the drug zolpidem was linked to sleepwalking, hallucinations and amnesia. One patient put on 23kg over seven months while taking zolpidem and it was only when she was discovered eating in front of an open refrigerator while asleep that the problem was resolved. The UK drugs regulator has also recorded cases of odd side-effects among people taking zolpidem. The drug triggers the release of GABA, a brain chemical that induces sleep, but its not clear how it might cause hunger. New way to heal cuts: cucumber! Sea cucumbers could be an unlikely new treatment for wound healing. The four-inch-long, worm-like marine creatures a delicacy, and used in Chinese medicine have been found to contain anti-inflammatory compounds that can aid healing. A trial involving 25 patients at University Hospital Malaysia found that using a gel made from sea cucumbers led to faster healing, stimulating the release of compounds involved in tissue repair, according to the results published recently in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Previous studies have shown that the creatures are very high in chondroitin sulfate, used to treat joint pain and arthritis. The asthma inhaler thats easier to use An inhaler that delivers drugs in a dry form rather than a standard aerosol may be easier to use for those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new review. The Ellipta can hold multiple medications so is suitable for those with complex conditions. The medication is pushed out of the inhaler by force rather than needing a chemical propellant, which is what can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth with standard inhalers. A review by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, published in Therapeutic Delivery, said patients found it easier to use. Socks offer insight into mental health People who experience knee pain, for example when putting on socks or getting in and out of a car, are more at risk of depression, a new study has found. A team from Japan monitored 573 people aged 65 and over for two years. While none had depression at the start of the study, by the end, those who experienced knee pain commonly caused by osteoarthritis were more likely to be depressed. The researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggest that asking older people whether their knees hurt as they carry out tasks could help screen those at risk of depression. They believe it is the combination of pain and difficulty doing day-to-day tasks that can lead to a low mood. Four months after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, Fiona Backler, 55, had died. For a year shed complained of agonising stomach pains, going back and forth to her GP several times, to be told it was probably kidney stones. By December 2014, she was waiting to find out when her hospital appointment with a specialist for further tests would be. But then the pain became so unbearable she went to A&E, believing she might finally get treatment. Instead, she was told she had bowel cancer which had spread to her liver. A week later she was told that the cancer was so advanced she had only a year to live. The news came as a complete shock to Fiona, husband Peter, 59, and their children David, 34, Lauren, 27, and Scott, 23. Bowel cancer just wasnt on our radar, says trainee teacher Lauren, who lives in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Mum was health-conscious she never smoked, for example. When she told me I burst into tears, but she told me to be brave. George Alagiah, pictured with his wife Frances, said that his bowel cancer could have been caught earlier if the screening programme in England was the same as in Scotland I thought if anyone could fight this it would be her, but this was not something I would have imagined in my wildest dreams. Mum went downhill very quickly, adds Lauren. There was no time for her to go into a hospice. After lung cancer, bowel cancer is the UKs second biggest cancer killer around 16,000 people die from it each year. If caught early, at stage one, patients have a 97 per cent survival rate for at least five years, but discovered later, at stage four, this falls to just 5 per cent for men and 10 per cent for women. Around a quarter of cases are only diagnosed once the symptoms are so bad the patient goes to A&E. A recent study found women are much more likely to have their cancer picked up this way despite frequent trips to their doctor beforehand because GPs can mistake the symptoms for gynaecological problems. Researchers at University College London found 34 per cent of women are diagnosed in A&E, like Fiona was. They found 30 per cent of men were diagnosed this way. Over 80 per cent of people with this cancer initially have vague symptoms such as changes in bowel habits and bloating, which can mean it goes undetected, says Andrew Renehan, a professor of cancer studies and surgery at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester. Major signs blood in the stools, changes in bowel movements, persistent lower abdominal pain can also be caused by other less severe conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or haemorrhoids. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, bowel cancer screening is offered to those aged 60 to 74 in Scotland, its from 50. Last weekend the BBC news presenter George Alagiah said that his bowel cancer could have been caught earlier if the screening programme in England was the same as in Scotland. He was first diagnosed four years ago, at the age of 58; last Christmas he was told that the cancer had returned and its now stage 4. Had they had screening at 50, like they do in Scotland. I would have been screened at least three times and possibly four by the time I was 58 and this would have been caught at the stage of a little polyp: snip, snip. I have thought, why have the Scots got it and we dont? More than one in ten of the 41,000 cases diagnosed annually are in the 50-59 age group. Mr Alagiah says he is unlikely to survive the next five years and said: I have thought, why have the Scots got it and we dont? Last year, the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service-Cancer Research UK partnership published data which showed that bowel cancers diagnosed through screening are more likely to be found at stage one, compared with other routes to diagnosis. In Scotland, around three in ten bowel cancers at ages 50-59 were detected via the screening programme. The evidence from Scotland is that there is a 27 per cent reduction in bowel cancer mortality among those individuals who take up screening, says Professor Renehan. The main screening method is the faecal occult blood test (FOBT), which looks for hidden blood in stools. It is posted to people in the age range every two years they then post a sample back. The test can generate false positives it can be affected by factors such as taking aspirin. Uptake, at around 58 per cent, isnt as high as hoped, partly because some people are squeamish about doing it. Lauren says her mother would definitely have taken up the option of screening at 50 had she been offered it. Mum was very vigilant about her health, she recalls. She warned me to never put off going to the doctor if I felt unwell, and frequently told me about the importance of going for cervical screening. She definitely would have done this right away, and thats the painful thing I know that, but it wasnt available to her. Lauren has channelled her immense grief and rage into a petition to lower the screening age in the rest of the UK to 50. It has over 400,000 signatures. But why this discrepancy in the first place? When the pilot scheme in the UK was started in 2003-4, the National Screening Committee suggested to the NHS that it should start at 50, says Lauren. Scotland followed that when they launched screening in 2007, yet when screening began in England the year before, pilots had shown lower uptake among 50-59 year olds, so the decision was made to start it later. The biggest barrier to screening at 50 is the provision of follow-up testing with a colonoscopy, suggests Professor Renehan. If the FOBT picks up blood, an appointment at a screening centre with a specialist nurse follows. The next step is a colonoscopy where a camera is inserted into the large bowel. Each costs the NHS 372 and the argument is that screening younger people would mean more colonoscopies some needlessly, after false positives. In 2016 in England alone, 302,643 patients were referred for urgent investigations for suspected bowel cancer by their GP, with most having colonoscopies 95 per cent did not have the disease. However, a study that will involve 6,000 people could better identify those who need this further testing. Led by the Croydon Health Service NHS Trust, the aim is to halve colonoscopies by 2020 by using a much more accurate screening test. The fecal immunochemical (FIT) test has been used in Scotland since early 2017. It detects human blood more accurately, avoiding false positives for instance when someone eats steak, it can lead to animal blood traces in their stool affecting test results. It is also more sensitive to a smaller amount of human blood than FOBT, so can detect cancers at an earlier stage. And because it can record the presence of blood in just one gram of sample FOBT requires a few given over a number of days Beating Bowel Cancer has estimated up to 7 per cent more people will complete the test. The charities Beating Bowel Cancer and Bowel Cancer UK, which merged earlier this year, have launched a campaign to lower the age of cancer screening in England and Wales to 50. Until things change, Lauren wont stop campaigning. I saw a man on TV who had moved to Scotland for his job. Hed been screened earlier, therefore his life was saved, she says. Hearing this made me more determined. Ill grieve for ever, but I want to stop other families going through what mine has. Soaring numbers of antibiotics are being taken worldwide, raising fears the drugs will become useless. Countries including Spain and Greece, which hand out antibiotics over the counter without prescription, are fuelling the rise in antibiotic use. Britain, where the chief medical officer has warned of a 'post-antibiotic apocalypse', is cutting back on antibiotics. But previously poor countries are using them more often, with African doctors now handing out the drugs for malaria. The UK's chief medical officer has warned of a 'post-antibiotic apocalypse' The latest figures show global antibiotic use has soared by almost 40 per cent in 15 years, raising fears of a 'tipping point' beyond which routine operations could become deadly. This is because too many people using antibiotics creates 'superbugs' resistant to the drugs, which could infect people following surgery. A study of 76 countries involving Princeton University found the global population took an estimated 35 billion daily doses of antibiotics a day in 2015. The rate per 1,000 people was up 39 per cent from the year 2000. Spanish people take the highest number of antibiotics per person of any high-income country. Greece, France, Belgium and Ireland are also using large numbers of the drugs. But the rise is chiefly being driven by low-income countries where people are now richer and able to afford to take antibiotics such as penicillin, even when they are unnecessary. Dr Herman Goosens, a co-author of the report and Professor of Microbiology at the University of Antwerp, said: 'This milestone paper on global antibiotic use should create awareness about excessive antibiotic use in countries, and provide an incentive to all governments to improve antibiotic prescribing.' Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria but are often prescribed wrongly and unnecessarily for those caused by viruses, such as ear infections or the flu. Spanish people take the highest number of antibiotics per person of any high-income country Previously rich countries have taken the lion's share of the drugs, but some low and middle-income countries are now overtaking them. This is due to people being better able to afford antibiotics, coupled with a rise in illness from city living and traffic pollution, according to the study published in the journal PNAS. India, China and Pakistan are now the leading low and medium-income countries taking antibiotics. The figures, based on national samples, show antibiotics taken across the world have leapt from 11.3 daily doses per 1,000 people in the year 2000 to 15.7 daily doses in 2015. The consumption rate of broad-spectrum penicillins, the most commonly used class of antibiotics, rose 36 percent between 2000 and 2015. The greatest leap was seen in poorer countries, where the consumption rate increased by 56 percent, compared to 15 percent in high-income countries. But new and last-resort antibiotics are also being used in increasing numbers, with the US a large consumer. It comes as Britain is managing to crack down, with antibiotic consumption per person falling three per cent from 23.8 daily doses per 1,000 people in 2000 to 23.2 doses in 2015. Dr Eili Klein, a co-author of the report from the US-based Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, said: 'Finding workable solutions is essential, and we now have key data needed to inform those solutions. 'Now, more than ever, we need effective interventions, including stewardship, public education, and curbing overuse of last-resort antibiotics.' A suburban house that has been transformed into a living laboratory is, scientists believe, set to revolutionise the treatment and diagnosis of Parkinsons disease and even some forms of dementia. The property is equipped with sensors that detect tiny changes in the patients strength, posture and the time it takes them to finish tasks. These help track how well patients respond to medication and pick up signs of improvement or deterioration that might otherwise be too subtle to detect. The idea is that patients would go into the house to test new drugs, allowing doctors to see how well they work. This could speed up clinical trials of disease-halting medications by providing pinpoint measurements of changes to such things as gait or grip. Scientists believe that the house is set to revolutionise the treatment and diagnosis of Parkinsons disease and even some forms of dementia (FILE photo) For instance, fridge handles, the kettle and the kitchen cupboards are fitted with sensors that can detect the grip strength or the amount of pressure the patient exerts. Sensors can also monitor the time it takes them to open the bread bin and put bread into and remove it from the toaster. Meanwhile, sofas, beds and chairs are made with smart textiles, which detect body weight and subtle changes in position. Patients, who will stay for days or weeks at a time, will wear sensors on their wrists, feet, chest and lower back to track gait and posture as well as any tremor a characteristic of Parkinsons and bradykinesia (abnormally slow movement). Readings can be sent wirelessly to a command suite near the entrance hall, where the information is collated to track how a patients condition is progressing or how they respond to a medication. One of the issues we have with Parkinsons is that we cannot monitor the progression of the disease accurately, which means we cannot test new drugs very effectively, says Dr Beckie Port, research communications manager at Parkinsons UK. Clinical trials could have failed in the past, not because the drugs have not worked, but because we were unable to test them effectively in Parkinsons. The house in New York is the focal point of Project BlueSky, a joint venture between pharmaceutical company Pfizer and computer firm IBM. Technicians have trialled the technology for a year on IBM staff to calibrate standard settings that can be compared to those of the Parkinsons patients. The condition affects an estimated 127,000 people in the UK, but a report warns that numbers may double by 2025 because of our ageing population. The living laboratory is equipped with sensors that detect tiny changes in the patients status, such as strength and time taken to finish tasks (FILE photo) It is a progressive neurological condition caused by a lack of dopamine, a brain chemical that helps control movement. Symptoms include slowed movement and stiff muscles, but can extend to pain, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and bladder issues. Diagnosing Parkinsons is difficult as the symptoms are often dismissed as natural ageing. Currently there are a series of often-crude tests, such as walking up and down a hospital corridor, or touching your nose with a fingertip. The gold-standard medication, levodopa, was introduced 50 years ago, but treats only the symptoms and becomes less effective with time. Trials of new drugs have been hampered by the difficulty in measuring the changes they bring. We are in a strong position to develop better drugs in the future, says Dr Beckie Port. But we know that people need these drugs now, so we need to get them faster with improved clinical trials. The hope is that the Parkinsons house will also provide information that will help improve diagnosis of the disease. If you go back ten years, for most people with Parkinsons there are signs these are the things we are trying to capture and measure now, says Peter Bergethon, Pfizers head of quantitative medicine. My father had Parkinsons. He was a professor known for his speeches and his stentorian voice; one of the first things that goes often unrecognised is the ability to motor your voice, as happened to my father. The idea is for doctors to note changes in movement, just like they would in blood pressure for other conditions, and have the ability to treat Parkinsons before it becomes devastating. Dr Port adds: Technology could help with early diagnosis and create opportunities for digital health to provide home monitoring, allowing people to stay put for as long as possible and allowing carers and family members to know their loved ones are safe. Thousands more families were affected by the failure at a Cleveland fertility center than previously thought. The University Hospitals Fertility Center has now admitted 4,000 frozen eggs and embryos were damaged beyond repair, despite saying 2,000 when the scandal emerged three weeks ago. Around 1,000 families will soon receive letters from the hospital informing them that they too lost their eggs, due to 'human error'. Initially, it was a group of 600. The news follows a wave of families filing lawsuits against the hospitals, seeking millions of dollars in damages. Some patients have had their eggs stored for years if not decades. While it is not clear yet what led to this malfunction - or to the near-identical fault that damaged 400 embryos at San Francisco's Pacific Fertility Center in the same week - Cleveland officials told NBC News today that an alarm system on the tanks was shut off, likely by a person. The University Hospital in Ohio and another fertility clinic in San Francisco experienced equipment failures on the same day that may have damaged hundreds of frozen eggs and embryos, something that a fertility expert called a stunning coincidence HOW DOES EGG FREEZING WORK? Women inject high levels of hormones for a week in order to ovulate as many eggs as possible. Patients typically have to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 for these. This hormone is called AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone), which is secreted in the ovarian follicles. AMH levels are a marker of one's fertility: women with a high level are likely to produce more eggs. The patient's doctor will perform a blood test to check their AMH levels and determine the exact concentration of hormones they need. After about 10 days, the patient comes in for their retrieval. The patient will be immediately told how many eggs were retrieved. At most clinics, patients with fewer than 12 eggs will then have an option: to settle with that or to pay for another cycle. It costs around $450-a-year for egg storage. Advertisement The center has ruled out inappropriate access to the tank area, and did not identify anyone as complicit. However, investigations into the malfunction suggest a person was actively involved in affecting the tank. The crisis at both centers, which fertility experts have called a stunning coincidence, is already producing lawsuits from crestfallen couples. The first blunder, announced last week, involved a storage tank malfunction on March 4 at University Hospital's storage center in suburban Cleveland, with as many as 2,000 frozen eggs and embryos possibly damaged. A San Francisco fertility clinic said thousands of frozen eggs and embryos may have been damaged in a liquid nitrogen failure in a storage tank on the same day. At least two families have already come forward with lawsuits against UH - Amber and Elliott Ash, of the Cleveland suburb of Bay Village, and an unidentified couple from Pennsylvania. Lawyers for the couples who went to the Ohio clinic are seeking class action status, which would require approval from a judge. The Ashes said they stored two embryos at a University Hospitals fertility clinic in suburban Cleveland after Elliott's cancer diagnosis in 2003. They said they were told over the weekend that their embryos are no longer viable. 'It's heartbreaking, just heartbreaking,' Amber Ash told WEWS-TV. 'The medical community calls it tissue. I like to think of it as my children.' The couple has a two-year-old son conceived through in-vitro fertilization and hoped to bring him a genetic sibling. 'With this lawsuit, we will get answers and stop this from happening again,' said Mark DiCello, an attorney for the Ashes. The Pennsylvania couple was beginning to set up a time last week for transferring a frozen embryo to the woman's womb when they later were told something went wrong, attorneys said. They had spent eight years trying to become parents and were devastated, attorney Lydia Floyd said. University Hospitals officials said that they are determined to help the patients who lost eggs and embryos, and that the lawsuit will not affect an independent review. Dr Carl Herbert, president of the Pacific Fertility Clinic in San Francisco, told ABC News in an interview released Monday that a senior embryologist noticed the nitrogen level in one tank was very low during a routine check of the tanks March 4. That embryologist, Herbert said, 'immediately rectified' the problem by refilling the tank. The embryos, he said, were later transferred to a new tank. As of early March, the clinic was sending letters to about 500 patients 'that may have been involved in this tank,' Herbert said. It has put in place more failsafe measures to prevent a repeat. Dr Kevin Doody, lab director at the Center for Assisted Reproduction in Texas and past president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, told The Associated Press that the nearly simultaneous storage failures are 'beyond stunning' but appear to be 'just a bad, bad, bad coincidence.' 'It's two black swan events happening in the same day,' he said. 'One of them causes the beehive to buzz. Two? We're all in shock,' Nobody knows so far of any connection between the two failures, he said. The industry in the long run will end up being safer because there will be investigations and other facilities will examine their own backup measures and alarm Vsystems, he said. Video courtesy WKYC After 68 years of marriage, and eight years caring for his dementia-suffering wife, Carl Gacono is as besotted as ever. The 88-year-old retired insurance salesman, adamant to keep 86-year-old Mary Jane from a nursing home facility, has insisted on providing as much of her care as possible. But his children had no idea how dedicated he was to keeping his wife's life as enjoyable and dignified as possible, with a step-by-step morning routine that includes arranging her jewelry and picking her undergarments. Their daughter Becky, 55, learned of the specific ritual six weeks ago when she stopped by their home in Annville, Pennsylvania, one morning to step in so that Carl could go to a doctor's appointment. Speaking with Daily Mail Online, Becky explains her father's adorable schedule, and his incredible love for her mother after six decades together and six children. Carl Gacono has a daily morning routine to help his wife Mary Jane cope with dementia (pictured in 2017) Carl and Mary Jane (pictured here on their wedding day in 1950) have been married for 68 years 'We knew he had a routine,' Becky said. 'We assumed he was doing everything but everything down to the detail was what was amazing to me. It made me love him more if that was possible.' When Becky arrived to her parents' house at 7.45am, she said her mother Mary Jane was in the shower and her father, who was getting ready for his doctor's appointment, had already cleaned her glasses and had them waiting for her by the bathroom sink, next to the jewelry she wears every day. Carl, who's also a retired Army Lieutenant colonel, then spent 10 minutes going over his morning ritual to help Mary Jane cope with her dementia. 'He reminds me to put her jewelry on after shes dressed, explaining which one clips and which one fits over her head,' Becky wrote in Love What Matters. She said Carl told her 'dont forget the bracelet with the heart goes on the left with her watch. The other two bracelets go on the right.' Becky said the next part of his ritual was choosing Mary Jane's outfit. On that day, Carl picked out a turtleneck and a red decorative sweater for Mary Jane to wear along with a pair of pants. On the floor next to her outfit were her shoes with a part of Mickey Mouse socks folded on top of them. 'Her under garments are neatly laid across the back of her waiting wheelchair. He explains each undergarment,' Becky wrote. Once Mary Jane is dressed, Carl makes her breakfast and then hangs out with her for the rest of the day. Their daughter Becky, 55, said Carl doesn't want Mary Jane to go to a nursing home Carl cleans Mary Jane's glasses and arranges her jewelry as part of his daily morning routine Becky said her parents, who met while attending the same high school in New Jersey, always had a deep respect for each other. The couple met in 1948 after then-18-year-old Carl threw a snowball at then-16-year-old Mary Jane. 'He was throwing a snowball at a girl he liked and he missed her and hit my mom,' Becky said. She isn't sure when the two started dating, but it was probably soon after since they got married two years later - after Mary Jane had finished high school. 'Whenever we ask [about dad's proposal] they would both look at each other like they don't remember, so I guess it wasn't that impressive,' Becky quipped. Mary Jane and Carl, who was in the Army Reserves, moved around for a couple of years after they married - they lived in Louisiana - before settling down in Annville, Pennsylvania in 1952. They started expanding their family in 1954 with the birth of their first son Carl. Carl and Mary Jane, who also worked as a realtor, were well known in their community due to the many traditions they have started in their town - which has a small population of 4,500 and only one traffic light. 'They were very much the giving back type of people,' Becky said. Mary Jane and Carl (pictured in the 1950s) met in high school after he hit her with a snowball meant for another 'girl he liked' The couple adopted Becky's two younger brothers from Vietnam in 1975, and they frequently let foreign exchange students stay in their home, since it was walking distance from Lebanon Valley College. In 1990, they launched Annville's Memorial Day Parade, which, according to Becky, is the largest Memorial Parade in Pennsylvania with more than 5,000 people attending annually. A few years later, they started a community Christmas tree lighting tradition. 'The things that go on in Annville, a lot of them were started by my parents,' Becky said. But what struck Becky the most was how much love and respect they had for each other even when they disagreed with each other. 'They would discuss things... then they would agree to disagree,' Becky said. 'But we always knew they loved each other.' Throughout their marriage Mary Jane has always been supportive of Carl, Becky said. Now he feels like it's his turn to take care of her. Although they have caregivers five days a week, who are there during the afternoon until Mary Jane goes to bed, Carl has made it his mission to help her cope with her dementia by laying out a morning routine that she's used to. 'Things that are different tend to rattle her,' Becky said. 'She's more confused when things are not the norm.' Becky said her family began noticing Mary Jane's dementia symptoms about nine years ago while she and Carl were organizing a Memorial Day Parade. 'It was just little things,' Becky said. 'My mom was calling the same people on the parade list over and over again. The daily routine of things she said, she was doing them repetitively.' Becky said she's stunned by how much love and respect her parents have for eachother The couple, who met while in high school in the 1940s, has 14 grandchildren and six great grandchildren She said her father Carl denied what was happening until things seemed to be getting worse. They took her to a doctor in 2010 who diagnosed her with dementia, an incurable, progressive disease. The news was devastating for the couple's family, including their 14 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. An overwhelming sadness paralyzed the family as her symptoms worsened. 'We could see all see that we're slowly losing her,' Becky said. 'Things that are different tend to rattle her. She's more confused when things are not the norm Becky Gacono, Mary Jane's daughter She said it has definitely taken a toll on her father, who is caring for Mary Jane while watching her 'slip away.' Becky said that although Carl is 'amazingly healthy,' she can see that the morning routine - which takes an hour to complete - is exhausting him. She said her father doesn't get enough sleep due to Mary Jane waking up at different hours of the night. 'He wants her there with him, so he doesn't mind,' Becky said, explaining that her father doesn't want Mary Jane to end up in a home. 'He never complains which is amazing to me because I would be telling everyone how tired I am.' Becky said that caring for Mary Jane, who was a realtor before she retired, is something her father wants to do. But as her symptoms get worse - 'she's becoming more forgetful about basic things like brushing her teeth... brushing her hair' - Becky and her siblings plan on hiring a morning caregiver to help 'relieve Carl of the physical part of getting here ready in the morning.' Becky, who has created a Facebook page to write about her experience dealing with Mary Jane's dementia, said she's touched by her father's routine and that the love he has for Mary Jane is palpable and inspiring. The feature will direct users to the nearest clinic that offers 'non-judgy' testing The world's largest gay dating app, Grindr, will now offer regular reminders to get tested for HIV. The new feature will send discreet push notifications every three to six months to any of the 3.6 million users around the world who opt in for it. It will also direct them to the nearest clinic that offers 'non-judgy' testing, and will post ads from queer-friendly clinics and support groups. The move, hailed by public health officials as a 'breakthrough', comes after the huge success of a pilot version in a low-income, rural part of Pennsylvania. A quarter of responders had never been tested before, and almost half (46 percent) hadn't been tested in more than a year. Grindr is made for all people who identify as bi or homosexual, but is primarily geared towards men. It is available in every country in the world, and executives say they are actively working to offer the notification feature in to all users, though they anticipate some obstacles in homophobic countries like Indonesia, which have laws penalizing homosexuality. Starting in the app's home country, America, healthcare providers are excited about the impact it could have. 'Anything that helps make HIV testing a more routine part of 'life maintenance' is a welcome addition to the landscape, especially in a space so important to many men's sexual fulfilment,' said Dr Demetre Daskalakis, the deputy commissioner for New York City's Department of Health. Dr Daskalakis, whose campaigns in the last couple of years have been credited with driving up testing rates in New York, added that he hopes the platform spreads awareness about both contraception and medications to help prevent infection, and treatments for those that test positive. Recent CDC figures revealed HIV infection rates have plummeted among all groups but are on the rise among some groups of gay men, particularly the young and Latino. Since 2008, the overall rate among men who have sex with men (MSM) decreased around 14 percent. However, the rate has increased 5.7 percent among gay men aged 25 to 34, and 3.1 percent among Latinos. 'Grindr's making it as easy to get tested as to find a date,' said Dan Wohlfeiler, director of Building Healthy Online Communities. 'Getting tested regularly for STDs, including HIV is one of the most important things a guy can do for his own health, and his partner's.' Wohlfeiler said they encourage other apps to follow suit, gleefully insisting they have no intentions to trademark the feature. Crucially, he said, he hopes apps geared towards black and Latino users will start to provide similar feature. In 2015, Grindr collaborated with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to fund a survey into racial disparities in the way doctors prescribe HIV-prevention medication (PrEP). The findings revealed doctors more freely prescribed PrEP to white patients, and questioned Latino and African American patients on their motives. The testing notification move is the latest in a series of measures the app has taken to incorporate health into the user's experience. Last spring, Grindr launched a section on user profiles to include their HIV status and last test date in a bid to destigmatize prevention and testing. The app also now translates health information into Spanish as many advocates insist the language barrier is one of the big issues to overcome in order to curb Latino HIV rates. Autistic children are missing out on life-saving vaccinations, new research suggests. Only 81.6 per cent of those on the autism spectrum have received all the recommended vaccinations for children aged between four and six years old, a study found. For those without the developmental disability, 94.1 per cent have had the necessary jabs, including diptheria, polio, and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), the research adds. Lead author Dr Ousseny Zerbo, from Kaiser Permanente, California, said: 'These findings suggest that children with autism and their younger siblings may be at greater risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. 'Vaccine hesitancy or refusal may play a role in children not getting properly vaccinated.' The decision by parents not to vaccinate their children could be attributed to the disgraced gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield's discredited theory that the MMR vaccine is linked to bowel disease and autism. Around 1.1 percent of people in the UK are on the autism spectrum, according to the National Autistic Society. Autistic children are missing out on life-saving vaccinations, new research suggests (stock) IS GUT BACTERIA LINKED TO AUTISM? Gut bacteria may be linked to autism, research suggested in August 2017. Pathogens in the stomach alter the brain's development and may increase an individual's risk of suffering from the disorder, a study implies. A three-way relationship between the brain, gut and stress hormone cortisol appears to influence how 'messages' are communicated in the body, which may result in autistic symptoms, the research adds. Lead author Austin Mudd, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said: 'Changes during infancy can have profound effects on brain development, and it is possible that the microbiome - or collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses inhabiting our gut - plays a role in this process.' The researchers claim further studies are required before this three-way mechanism can be used to determine autism symptoms. The researchers analysed one-month-old piglets. Piglets were chosen as their brain and gut development most commonly resembles that of humans, compared to other animals. The researchers examined the piglets' faeces to determine if bacteria in their stools influences compounds in their blood and brains. Results suggest the presence of the bacteria Bacteroides and Clostridium in faeces is associated with higher levels of a substance involved in cell signalling, known as myo-inositol. The presence of such bacteria was further found to influence levels of the hormones cortisol and serotonin, both of which are determined by gut bacteria. Advertisement Younger siblings of autistic children also miss out on jabs Results further suggest just 89.1 percent of children with autism have been vaccinated against diptheria, tetanus and whooping cough, compared to 96.6 percent of youngsters without the disorder. Only 84 percent of autistic children are protected against MMR versus 95.9 percent who do not suffer such developmental and behavioural challenges. The younger siblings of autism sufferers are also missing out, with 6.8 percent receiving fewer vital jabs than their peers. Dr Nicholas Wood, from Sydney University, who was not involved in the study, added: 'Parents of autism spectrum disorder kids may be worried; they may still feel that the MMR vaccine led to autism. 'And that a second dose may cause a regression.' How the research was carried out The researchers analysed the vaccine data of 3,729 children with an autism spectrum disorder; 592,907 youngsters without the condition and both of their younger siblings. Participants were born between 1995 and September 2010, while their younger brothers or sisters were born between 1997 and September 2014. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Is Andrew Wakefield's discredited research to blame for low vaccination rates? In 1995 the gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield published a study in The Lancet showing children who had been vaccinated against MMR were more likely to have bowel disease and autism. He speculated that being injected with a 'dead' form of the measles virus via vaccination causes disruption to intestinal tissue, leading to both of the disorders. After a 1998 paper further confirmed this finding, Wakefield said: 'The risk of this particular syndrome [which he termed autistic enterocolitis] developing is related to the combined vaccine, the MMR, rather than the single vaccines.' At the time, Wakefield had a patent for single MMR vaccines and was therefore accused of having a conflict of interest. Nonetheless, MMR vaccination rates in the US and UK plummeted, until, in 2004 the then-editor of The Lancet Dr Richard Horton described Wakefield's research as 'fundamentally flawed', adding he was paid by attorneys seeking lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers. The Lancet formally retracted Wakefield's research paper in 2010. Three months later, the General Medical Council banned Wakefield from practicing medicine in Britain, stating his research had shown a 'callous disregard' for children's health. On January 6 2011, The British Medical Journal published a report showing that of the 12 children included in Wakefield's 1995 study, at most two had autistic symptoms post vaccination, rather than the eight he claimed. At least two of the children also had developmental delays before they were vaccinated, yet Wakefield's paper claimed they were all 'previously normal'. Further findings revealed none of the children had autism, non-specific colitis or symptoms within days of receiving the MMR vaccine, yet the study claimed six of the participants suffered all three. Heading to a Beyonce concert is more beneficial for your wellbeing than yoga, a new study claims. Researchers found that people who listened to 20 minutes of live music had a 21 percent boost in mood, while those who took a yoga class for the same amount of time increased their wellbeing by just 10 percent. Previous studies have found that music releases the mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain and that happier people live longer lives. The study, conducted by researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London, suggests listening to live music could add more years to a person's life. Researchers found going to a Paloma Faith concert was more effective at improving wellbeing than yoga For the study, researchers carried out psychometric tests - tools used to measure individuals' mental capabilities and behavioral style - on 60 people who either went to a Paloma Faith music concert, a yoga session, or walked their dog. They gave the participants a psychometric test before they performed these activities - which are known stress-busters - to assess their general wellbeing as well as stress levels, happiness and how they get on generally with others. After completing the 40 question, ten minute quiz the participants were formed into three groups of 20 and fitted with heart rate monitors. They were then sent off to perform their tasks. One group went to see Paloma while another group took dogs for a stroll along Regent's Canal in Kings Cross, London. The third group took part in specially arranged yoga sessions nearby. Researchers found that those who went to the concert had a 21 percent boost in mood, while those who took a yoga class only saw a 10 percent increase. Those who walked their dogs only had a seven percent hike in happiness. 'Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness and wellbeing with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key,' said Patrick Fagan, an expert in behavioral science and associate lecturer at Goldsmiths University in London. This isn't the first study to link music to happiness. A 2011 study published in Nature Neuroscience found that listening to music increased dopamine levels - a chemical that enhances mood - by at least nine percent. Meanwhile, meta-analysis published in Cell in 2013 revealed music was associated with immunoglobin A, an antibody that helps fight off bacteria, viruses, and other invaders. Another study published in 2011 found that people who are happier or in better moods were 35 percent less likely to die in the next five years. Investigators aren't sure why, but it's believed that negative moods and chronic stress can cause inflammation - which can contribute to a host of health problems such as heart disease. The absence of chronic stress may reduce that risk. Researchers of the current study combined their findings with the results of a poll of 2,000 conducted by the 02 Arena, a major concert venue in London. The results showed those who attend live concerts once a fortnight or more were the most likely to score their personal happiness, contentment, productivity and self-esteem at 10/10. 'Combining all of our findings with O2s research, we arrive at a prescription of a gig a fortnight which could pave the way for almost a decade more years of life,' Fagan said. Maziar Hashemi, a naturalized US citizen who lives in Massachusetts, has been told by doctors that his best hope for surviving a rare form of blood cancer is a bone marrow transplant. President Donald Trump's travel ban could make that impossible. Bone marrow transplants require a close match between donor and recipient. A few months after his diagnosis last September, Hashemi, 60, learned that his brother in Iran, Kamiar Hashemi, was a rare 100-percent match. The only problem was Kamiar's nationality. The latest travel ban, issued as a presidential proclamation and implemented on December 8 after months of legal wrangling, bars most travelers to the United States from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea, as well as certain government officials from Venezuela. Although the ban allows for case-by-case waivers to be granted, including for medical need, Kamiar Hashemi has so far been denied a visa. After his blood cancer diagnosis last year, Maziar Hashemi (pictured), 60, a US citizen, found out his brother in Iran, Kamiar, was a rare 100-percent match. But Kamiar was barred Maziar, who has Myelodysplastic syndrome, and his wife Fereshteh talk after meeting with his transplant doctor at a hospital in Boston this week. Without a transplant, he will likely die Attorneys who regularly deal with visa issues say the waiver process is opaque. Visa applicants aren't allowed to apply for waivers; they are simply granted or not without explanation. US officials won't say how they make their decisions or how long they generally take. A US State Department official told Reuters that since the ban took effect, more than 375 waivers have been approved but he declined to say how many total visa applications have been filed from countries covered by the ban. He said he could not comment on the specifics of Hashemi's case. Kamiar Hashemi began the visa application process soon after learning he was a match for his brother. In February, the 57-year-old small business owner traveled to Armenia to be interviewed at the US embassy there, since there is no embassy in Iran. Later on the day of the interview, Kamiar's brother back in Massachusetts checked the status of the application on the State Department's website. A pop-up window announced in bright blue letters: 'Refused.' Waivers can later be granted to applicants initially refused for visas, according to the State Department, so Maziar Hashemi continued checking the website each day, but his brother's status hasn't changed. He hired an immigration lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, hoping she might smooth the way. The Trump administration has said travel restrictions are needed to protect the United States from terrorism. Critics have challenged the latest ban, as they did previous versions, saying that it discriminates against Muslims. Six of the eight countries included in the current ban are majority Muslim. Under the current proclamation, waivers can be granted in cases where denying entry would cause undue hardship, when the individual is found not to be a threat and when their entry is in the national interest. The proclamation lists ten examples of situations in which an applicant might be eligible for a waiver. One reason mentioned is an applicant's need for urgent medical care, something that comes close but doesn't exactly fit the Hashemis' situation, since it isn't Kamiar Hashemi, himself, in urgent need. The State Department has declined to provide details of how waiver decisions are made beyond some general answers to frequently asked questions posted on its website. One reason mentioned is an applicant's need for urgent medical care, something that comes close but doesn't exactly fit the Hashemis' situation, since it isn't Kamiar Hashemi, himself, in urgent need Hashemi looked into traveling to India to have his bone marrow harvested there and rushed to the United States, but that option was also thwarted But a State Department letter obtained by Reuters earlier this month said 'there is no waiver form to be completed' and that applicants who fall into the categories outlined in the proclamation 'must be considered' for one. 'The process is as transparent as mud,' said Hashemi's attorney Khanbabai. 'There are no clear guidelines. It's difficult to figure out what the process is and who is actually doing the processing.' Nevertheless, Khanbabai submitted a packet of information on the Hashemis' behalf to the embassy on March 19, including a letter from Massachusetts General Hospital explaining that a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant is very rare and could provide the only viable treatment for Maziar Hashemi's Myelodysplastic syndrome. Worried about the ticking clock, Kamiar Hashemi looked into traveling to India to have his bone marrow harvested there and rushed to the United States, but that option was also thwarted. A non-profit organization trying to facilitate the transfer, Be The Match, said it had to pull out after its legal team concluded that Kamiar's bone marrow couldn't be exported to the United States because of US sanctions on Iranian exports. 'Can you imagine that the cells of an Iranian needed in order to help a US citizen are embargoed?' said Maziar Hashemi, a civil engineer who has lived in the United States since the 1970s. 'It is just unfair,' he said in a phone interview. 'I cannot wait much longer.' GlaxoSmithKline is to buy out Novartis 36.5 per cent stake in its consumer healthcare joint venture for $13billion (9.2billion), just days after walking away from a deal with US giant Pfizer. The deal, which is expected to be completed in the summer, will see Glaxo will take full ownership of the division which makes Panadol and allow shareholders to capture full value of future performance, the drugs giant said. To fund the acquisition, Glaxo said it was now considering putting its malted drinks brand Horlicks up for sale as well as other nutrition products. Glaxo chief executive Emma Walmsley It comes as last week, Glaxo abandoned plans to buy the consumer healthcare arm of rival Pfizer, which includes painkiller Advil and Chapstick lip balm. New chief executive Emma Walmsley, which took the helm last year, said the deal agreed today would allow Glaxo to use capital for other priorities, in particular research and development of new drugs. [] The transaction is expected to benefit adjusted earnings and cash flows, helping us accelerate efforts to improve performance, she said. Most importantly it also removes uncertainty and allows us to plan use of our capital for other priorities, especially pharmaceuticals R&D. Shares in Glaxo rose 4 per cent to 1,340.40p in morning trading. Glaxo and Novartis joint venture was formed in 2015, but Swiss group Novartis said the deal was at an attractive price and that this over-the-counter division was no longer central to its business. Novartis chief executive Vas Narasimhan said: While our consumer healthcare joint venture with GSK is progressing well, the time is right for Novartis to divest a non-core asset at an attractive price. This will strengthen our ability to allocate capital to grow our core businesses, drive shareholder returns, and execute value creating bolt-on acquisitions as we continue to build the leading medicines company, powered by digital and data. To fund the acquisition, Glaxo said it was now considering putting its brand Horlicks up for sale Glaxos strategic review of Horlicks will also include an assessment of the companys 72.5 per cent stake in its Indian subsidiary GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. Glaxo said over-the-counter and oral health products make sales of around 550million a year, with the bulk generated in India. Mobile phone giants and banks are using private companies to root through customers' social media profiles before issuing contracts and loans. A major Money Mail investigation found that firms are using data from Facebook and other social media websites such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to find out about customers' spending habits and earnings as well as to confirm their age, address and employment. Insurers and even the taxman also rely on this data to make life-changing decisions about our finances. Firms are using data from Facebook and other social media websites such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to find out about customers' spending habits Our investigation also found: Mortgage lenders are turning down applications because of how borrowers describe their job on LinkedIn. Insurers are using information on customers' social media profiles to refuse claims. Tax investigators are grilling workers about their earnings after trawling through photographs online. Some car insurance deals are only available to drivers who agree to receive quotes via Facebook. The findings come as Facebook battles to salvage its reputation after 50 million users had their personal data harvested without their knowledge or permission. There is no suggestion that any firm named in our investigation has broken any rules or laws, or has misused data. Dr Tom Fisher, researcher at campaign organisation Privacy International, says: 'The financial sector is exploiting social media to learn about your habits, personality, political beliefs and more. 'They are using companies, many of whom you've never heard of, to analyse this data and judge your credit worthiness and other attributes.' App reads emails for shop receipts One of the most startling findings from our investigation was the emergence of a new breed of credit scoring companies that rely on social media to help banks, mobile phone giants and even car finance companies make lending decisions. Ordinarily, a firm would use your credit score to determine how much risk you pose as a borrower. The higher your score, the more likely you'll be accepted for a loan or credit card. Traditional credit reference firms such as Experian and Equifax calculate this by looking at how many credit cards and bank accounts you have, if you pay your bills on time and whether you're on the electoral roll. But newer companies claim they can use social media to verify someone's identity and predict whether they will be a good borrower. Friendlyscore claims to work with banks, car finance companies and mobile phone firms, including Carphone Warehouse's iD Mobile. It says it can build a picture of your financial health by analysing anything from social media and emails to mobile phone activity. Crucially, you have to agree to let the company access these accounts by setting up an account online or downloading the mobile app. Then you can choose which accounts the company can access. If you select Twitter, for example, it will build a picture of your interests by looking at who your followers are and what you write in direct messages. If you have Gmail, it can monitor your emails to get an idea of how you spend your money via receipts for online shopping, or tickets for events or flights. A new breed of credit scoring companies rely on social media to help banks, mobile phone giants and even car finance companies make lending decisions From LinkedIn, it can check you haven't lied about your education and employment history. If you sign up for the mobile app, the firm can also monitor your whereabouts via its GPS tracker to see the sorts of places you visit and where you live and work. The app also has access to your contacts and advises you only to store the details of creditworthy friends and family on your phone. 'Choose the friends and family that you keep in your contact book wisely,' it says on the app. Carphone Warehouse's iD Mobile says it is working with Friendlyscore to trial its technology as an alternative way of verifying someone's identity. This should help people who have not yet built up a traditional credit history, perhaps because they are young or new to the country. Friendlyscore adds that it doesn't see any of the data collected and says it does not assess the creditworthiness of customers. Loubna Bazine, chief executive of Friendlyscore, says: 'All of the data analysis is done by machines. No humans look at it. We then pass the company a score and a short report of our findings.' She says around 10,000 people have signed up to its service in the UK and that the firm has created scores for 1 million people worldwide. Friendlyscore, which has a London office, is applying for a licence from the financial regulator to be able to view your bank account spending under the new Open Banking rules. Some customers may have used this type of credit scoring system without even hearing of Friendlyscore, as firms can choose to brand the service as their own. Data analytics company Hello Soda, based in Manchester, said on its website that it has worked with Visa Europe and payday lender peachy.co.uk. It said its software system 'Profile' which can be integrated into a firm's sign-up or application process can analyse the digital 'footprint' of a consumer to verify their identity and personalise marketing. On the Peachy website, for example, you can sign up for a loan through your Facebook account. If you do this Peachy will receive access to your posts, birthday, education and work history, email address and even photos and posts you have 'liked'. Again, customers must first give their permission for firms to access their data. A report published two years ago by Visa Europe, which no longer works with Hello Soda, says: 'It is much harder to fake a genuine social media footprint than it is to falsify alternative means of identification.' It adds that this type of technology could reduce fraud as the more firms know about customers and their behaviour, the more likely it is that they will spot out-of-the-ordinary spending. This type of information also allows firms to personalise advertisements and products based on your hobbies and interests. Facebook checks for car cover Insurers keep a close eye on their customers' social media profiles to weed out suspected fraud. In one case dealt with by the Financial Ombudsman last year, an insurer tried to stop making payments to a customer who had claimed on their income protection policy. The insurer, Unum, had found posts on a social media site that showed the customer, who had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, taking part in activities that 'were inconsistent with his reported limitations'. In 2016 car insurer Admiral said it intended to use Facebook posts to help it price premiums However, the Ombudsman ordered Unum to continue paying, with 8 per cent interest as well as 500 compensation, because the customer had been advised by his doctor to stay off work. In another case, Axa refused to pay a car insurance claim following an accident on the basis that the customer had failed to mention that her vehicle had been modified. The woman claimed she hadn't disclosed the alterations because she didn't know about them. But Axa discovered posts on a social media website where the woman's family discussed the car in great detail. It said this was proof that the woman should have known that the vehicle had undergone major changes and the Ombudsman took the insurer's side. Insurers are also looking at ways they can use social media to work out how much customers should pay. In 2016 car insurer Admiral said it intended to use Facebook posts to help it price premiums. It planned to use techniques pioneered by scientists which involve analysing customers' language for clues as to whether or not someone is a good risk. The theory is customers who write short, concrete sentences, make lists or use exact mentions of time are likely to be conscientious and therefore a safe driver. Repeated use of exclamation marks, on the other hand, could indicate that someone was over-confident and so more likely to speed. The project ran into trouble after Facebook barred the firm from using people's data in this way. Admiral has since launched First Car Quote, an insurer for new motorists who are typically charged much higher premiums. Customers must sign into the website via their Facebook profile to get a quote. They will then receive details of their policy through Facebook's private messaging service. Admiral told Money Mail that the only personal data it uses is your name, email address and date of birth. It says that signing in through Facebook speeds up the application process as this information is automatically filled in. A spokesman for First Car Quote says: 'We don't have access to any other customer Facebook data. We do not use personality quizzes nor do we use data scoring cookies on our website to set prices for customers.' However, in First Car Quote's privacy policy it states that customers are agreeing to the firm collecting 'lifestyle and other behavioural information' about them. Social media credit scoring Experts say lenders and brokers are increasingly looking at homebuyers' social media profiles particularly new borrowers with a limited credit history. Ray Boulger, of mortgage brokers John Charcol, says: 'First-time buyers are in a tricky situation because their credit rating is often low, simply because they haven't had a mortgage before. 'This is when a lender is most likely to turn to other sources to judge their eligibility and check what kind of lifestyle they lead.' Experts say lenders and brokers are increasingly looking at homebuyers' social media profiles particularly new borrowers with a limited credit history If you claim to spend a modest amount of money on holidays, but post pictures from expensive trips overseas you could find you're turned down. One borrower was recently turned down because of how he described his job on LinkedIn. He had been self-employed for more than a decade and made a minor change to his profile saying he had stopped freelancing for an agency. The lender spotted the change and became suspicious that this meant the borrower had worked on staff for the agency and had only just become self-employed. It refused the loan application, despite evidence that the borrower still had a steady income. Frazer Horton, managing director of mortgage broker Edward Frazer, says: 'I find this a very worrying development. LinkedIn is effectively a dating site for people looking for work or trying to 'big up' their careers. Information is presented in such a way as to drum up business. 'To give the information anything other than the most passing regard or to draw the conclusions that the lender has seems ludicrous.' The taxman is watching too HM Revenue & Customs inspectors regularly snoop on social media websites to check people are paying the correct amount of tax. They are looking for people whose lifestyles do not match their declared earnings. If they see someone who claims to be on a low income posting pictures of flashy cars or luxury holidays, it raises a red flag. Fiona Fernie, a tax partner at London accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg, says one of her clients was questioned by the taxman after posting pictures of a Ferrari parked in their driveway. In fact, the client had inherited not bought the car and planned to sell it because they couldn't afford the cost of upkeep. Fiona says tax inspectors are most interested in the two main indicators of wealth the value of someone's house and their car. Anything the taxman finds is plugged into HMRC's database, Connect, which contains data about you from government records, banks and building societies, the Land Registry and DVLA details. Ms Fernie says that misinformation posted online can be damaging. She had one client who was named in a local newspaper which said they had been living in the UK for decades. In fact, they had only recently returned after living abroad. HMRC grilled the client to check they hadn't actually been living in the UK and failed to declare earnings. In 2016, HMRC gained powers to spy on eBay and Airbnb customers' accounts to find out what they buy and sell. It means investigators can get users' names, addresses and bank account numbers. If someone is selling the odd piece of second-hand furniture, the taxman will pay no notice. But if you are trading full-time, it will check whether your earnings have been declared. HMRC can also see customers' online shopping and sales receipts with payment firms such as PayPal and Worldpay. Dawn Register, a tax partner at BDO, says HMRC uses Google Earth to spy on properties to check if you're building on your property. 'If you've forked out for a massive extension but are declaring a low income, that'll raise a red flag. And if you've built a granny flat, they could ask why you're not declaring a rental income,' she says. A spokesman for the taxman says: 'HMRC collects and analyses data from a range of sources to understand and manage risks to the tax system. Sometimes this includes the use of publicly available data.' HMRC adds that while it often checks the social media profiles of people whose tax affairs they are looking into, this information would not be the starting point of any investigation. v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk A large bull elephant has been shot dead by a Russian trophy hunter in Zimbabwe despite wearing a research tag. The elephant, known as a tusker for the size of his tusks, was killed on March 7, around 5km outside the Gonarezhou National Park in the country's south west. While it is not illegal to shoot animals wearing tags, it is considered unethical. The hunters claimed not to have noticed the tag until after the animal was dead. It comes after Cecil the lion was killed by hunter Walter Palmer in Zimbabwe in July 2015, despite also being tagged by researchers. A Russian trophy hunter killed a large male elephant just outside the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe earlier this month despite it wearing a research tag. Pictured is the dead elephant alongside hunt leader Martin Pieters. The Russian has not been identified Martin Pieters, ex-chairman of the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association, was leading a legal 14-day excursion near Gonarezhou when the killing happened, Africa Geographic reports. Pieters and his Russian client, who has not been named, were with his unarmed friend, two trackers, a park ranger and a local council representative when they picked up the elephant's tracks on day six of the expedition. The group began tracking the animal before finding it standing in thick bush, meaning they were not able to see the male in its entirety. However, Pieters was able to see the elephant's large tusks and ordered his client to shoot, the Zimbabwe Professional Hunter and Guides Association says. 'It was only after approaching the elephant on the ground that the tag was noticed,' the statement says. The male had been tagged inside the national park but had wandered outside the unfenced boundary into an area known as the Naivasha Community Conservancy, which has been set aside for hunting by locals. The bull had been in the area since around February 20. Pieters had not been made aware of this fact, the statement says, but adds that he had not checked either. 'This was a genuine mistake due to a lack of communication,' the statement says. Asked by Netwerk 24 about the loss of the elephant, Mr Pieters said: 'It does not matter, the hunt was completely legal.' The tag belongs to the Frankfurt Zoological Society which collared elephants in the park in 2009 and again in 2016. It is not clear precisely when this male was collared. A statement from the society says: 'A collared bull was shot on a legal hunt in Naivasha in the first week of March. Cecil the lion was also wearing a research collar from Oxford University when he was shot and killed near Hwange National Park, also in Zimbabwe Dentist Walter Palmer was investigated over the death of Cecil but was never charged after the hunt was found to be legal 'There is no law that protects a collared animal from being hunted in Zimbabwe, but there is general acceptance that the ethical position is that a hunter will avoid shooting an animal with a collar. 'The data from this bull has been captured and will help us with our ongoing efforts to find solutions, together with our local and international partners, to conservation questions in a world where the challenges to find space for wildlife and their habitats are becoming ever more complicated.' In 2015 there was an international outcry when Palmer shot Cecil, a famous collared lion in one of Zimbabwes other national parks, Hwange. The 13-year-old, who had an unusual black mane, was wearing a tracker fitted by a researchers linked to Oxford University. Last year, one of Cecils cubs, Xanda, was also killed by a hunter, very close to the spot where his father died. Palmer was forced into hiding for weeks following his shooting of Cecil which prompted an international outcry. Charges against Dr Palmer and his professional hunter were withdrawn after the hunt of Cecil was ruled to have been legal. 'Tusker' is a term used to refer to particularly large male elephants carrying a lot of ivory, with many of their tusks reaching down to the ground. Because they carry so much ivory they are a prime target for poachers and have become extremely rare, with as few as 25 left in the whole of Africa, according to National Geographic. Female elephants tend to prefer mating with older, larger males, meaning that tuskers are seen as vital to conservation efforts. Their age and experience are also vital to teaching younger elephants and preserving herd balance, since elephants are a highly social species. Eight crew members who were on a fishing boat when it sank hundreds of miles of the coast of Hawaii have been pictured clinging to a life raft during a dramatic rescue operation. The US Coast Guard said it received an emergency distress alert from the 61-foot long Princess Hawaii late Sunday morning about 400 miles (644 kilometers) north of the Big Island. A few hours later, a Coast Guard plane got to the area, where rescuers saw a flare and found eight people in a life raft. The longline fishing boat was mostly submerged with only the stern above water. The commercial longline fishing vessel Princess Hawaii sinks about 400 miles north of the Big Island on Sunday The eight crew members of the commercial 61-foot Princess Hawaii float in a life raft after their vessel sank The rescue attempt as eight crew members of a sinking fishing boat were hauled from the ocean Officials said the Coast Guard air crew dropped a radio to the life raft and helped establish communication with the vessel's sister ship, the Commander, which was fishing nearby and went to rescue the survivors. It arrived nearly 12 hours after the distress call and brought the crew aboard, Coast Guard spokeswoman Tara Molle said. She said the crew were expected to arrive back in Honolulu later this week and that they were in 'good condition'. Most longline fishing vessels in Hawaii use foreign crews with no US work visas. The workers cannot legally enter the United States so they are required to live aboard their vessels for the duration of their contracts, often a year or two at a time. Most workers come from poor Southeast Asia and Pacific island nations and are paid between $300 and $600 dollars a month. The US Coast Guard said it received an emergency distress alert from the 61-foot long Princess Hawaii late Sunday morning about 400 miles (644 kilometers) north of the Big Island According to NOAA permit records, the Princess Hawaii is owned by Holly Fishery LLC. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission lists the captain of both the Princess Hawaii and the Commander as Loc Nguyen of Honolulu. State commercial fishing license records show the two boats employ workers from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Kiribati. Attempts to reach the owners Monday were unsuccessful. A call to the satellite phone aboard the Commander was answered, but the connection was bad and the man who answered hung up. A Massachusetts man accused of abusing a dog so severely that it had to be euthanized was convicted Monday of animal cruelty charges. Radoslaw Czerkawski, 37, was found guilty of torturing and abandoning the pit bull, known as 'Puppy Doe,' nearly five years after the dog was found abandoned near a playground in Quincy, Massachusetts. Czerkawski, who is already in prison on two unrelated larceny convictions, was cleared of lying to police. He will be sentenced Tuesday. Radoslaw Czerkawski (in court March 6) was found guilty of 12 counts of felony animal abuse in the case of a one-year-old pit bull who was beaten so badly it needed to be euthanized in 2013 'Puppy Doe' was found with a skull, spine and rib fractures, a stab wound to the right eye and a split tongue and had to be euthanized when veterinaries determined he was too injured to save The Norfolk District Attorney's Office said that he faces up to 60 years in prison if sentenced to consecutively serve the maximum five year sentence for each of the 12 felony animal abuse counts he was convicted of, according to the Boston Herald. The case received widespread attention when the year-old pit bull mix was found in Quincy in August 2013 with skull, spine and rib fractures, a stab wound to the right eye and a split tongue. Veterinarians determined the dog was too badly hurt to save. Czerkawski's attorney acknowledged his client owned the dog but said it ran away and someone else was responsible for the abuse. The Patriot Ledger reports that his attorney suggested during the trial that the dog may have been hit by a car or attacked by another animal. Czerkawski (in 2015) will be sentenced on Tuesday. He is already in prison on two unrelated larceny convictions, including stealing $130,000 from a woman, 95, he was hired to care for Czerkawski's attorney said that his client owned the year-old pit bull but said it ran away and claimed that someone else was responsible for the abuse After Puppy Doe was found, Massachusetts enacted stiffer penalties for felony animal abuse Czerkawski's attorney didn't immediately return a message left at his office Monday. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey applauded the Quincy Policy Department for taking the case 'very seriously from the onset.' 'Law enforcement at every level needs to treat animal cruelty cases as the serious crimes that they are,' he said in a statement. Massachusetts has stiffened the penalties for animal abuse since Puppy Doe was found, but Czerkawski will be sentenced according to law as it was in 2013. Under the 2014 PAWS Act, which was enacted in the wake of Puppy Doe's abuse, Czerkawski would have faced up to 84 years in prison, with each felony animal abuse count amounting to seven years in prison. The guilty verdict came after the judge dismissed two jurors and replaced them with alternates. Czerkawski, a Polish national, is already in prison for larceny convictions, including stealing $130,000 from a 95-year-old woman has was a live-in caretaker for. Hollywood fashion stylist Phillip Bloch has told for the first time how he was raped by a New York nightclub owner when he was a teenage virgin. Bloch, who has worked with an A-list roster of stars for three decades, shared his harrowing ordeal with DailyMailTV after watching his friends, including actresses Salma Hayek, Eva LaRue and Annabella Sciorra, come forward with their Me Too stories. Bloch says he was sexually assaulted after he arrived in Manhattan to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology in the late 1970s. 'I came to the city from Long Island when I was 18,' Bloch, 57, said. 'I lived in a time of innocence - I was gay and I didn't even know what gay was. 'I was uninformed and misinformed. Not to disrespect my parents but they didn't know much and my mother had a very innocent idea of what the world was. My parents never had a sex talk with me. They gave me a book and asked if I had questions. I said no.' Hollywood fashion stylist Phillip Bloch says he was sexually assaulted by Xenon nightclub owner and restaurateur Peppo Vanini in the late 1970s Bloch was an 18-year-old virgin when he moved to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in the late 1970s. He's pictured above at the iconic nightclub Studio 54 in 1982 'Disco Daddy': Peppo Vanini, a European restaurateur, was the joint owner of Xenon, a club which rivaled Studio 54 and was a favorite of JFK Jr and RFK Jr Bloch says he was very 'uninformed and misinformed' about gay culture when he was a teenager. He said his parents never gave him a talk about sex Kennedy central: Xenon was a favorite of the Kennedy clan in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Among those who partied there were (left) RFK Jr and his first wife Emily Black and her sister Sara, and (right) RFK Jr's brother David - who died in 1984. In the 1970s, the hottest clubs in New York were the mecca of disco, Studio 54, and its rival, Xenon, which also attracted a fashion crowd and was owned by promoter Howard Stein and restaurateur Peppo Vanini. 'FIT students were given cards to get into Xenon for free. All these grown-up European people were partying there,' Bloch said. 'It was very influential. To me, Europe was a symbol of success and making it. 'Peppo introduced himself and asked me out on a date. He was this rich European he wore a nice suit, he was very suave. He must have been in his forties at the time, more than twice my age. 'I had never had sex with a guy. I'd fooled around with girls but I was a virgin.' Vanini took Bloch to a French restaurant on the Upper East Side, he says. 'After dinner, we walked and talked,' he said. 'I looked at a jacket in a store window and Peppo said, "Do you like it? We can come back tomorrow and get it". 'I remember thinking, "How are we going to get it tomorrow?" It didn't register. I knew I was on a date but my level of understanding was that of an 18-year-old from Long Island in 1978.' Vanini asked Bloch up to his apartment to see his art collection. 'I debated whether I should or I shouldn't go,' Bloch said. 'It was a beautiful apartment and he showed me art which I pretended to know about. 'I was very influenced by it all but sadly, many of these monsters, as Salma [Hayek] calls them, use that power they know that about you.' Vanini asked Bloch to stay over in his guest bedroom but before he got there, they stopped in the club owner's own bedroom to look at more art. 'He had a king-size bed, with lots of pillows and beautiful soft fabrics. Peppo said, "Why don't we sleep in here? The bed's big, don't worry". 'He knew the right things to say. I believed that he saw me as this sophisticated, creative artist. But the reality was he wanted to f*** me. Bloch, pictured above in a series of modeling photos, says he was assualted during a date with Vanini shortly after arriving in the city Vanini, who was twice Bloch's age, had asked Bloch (pictured above in modeling photos) on a date and the pair went to a French restaurant on the Upper East Side After Bloch (pictured in a modeling photo) and Vanini went to dinner, the nightclub owner invited him upstairs to his apartment to show Bloch his art collection Vanini asked Bloch (pictured above in a modeling photo) to stay the night, and the now-stylist agreed. He thought he would stay in the guest bedroom, but Vanini invited him to his own bed Bloch (pictured in modeling photos) said Vanini started to kiss him and then assaulted him as they shared the bed. He said he remembered it being 'painful and messy' 'I undressed and was on the far side of the bed. He started to kiss me and I hated his smell, I think he drank champagne. To this day, it makes me recoil. 'I was in a multi-emotional situation. I remember hating his sloppy tongue kisses but I didn't know what to do. 'I told him no over and over, that I didn't want to do this and then he became more forceful and he was bigger than me. He kept insisting, he was like an octopus. 'He pulled out his thing and started going in me. I remember it being painful and messy. I was so repulsed. 'I remember clenching and thinking I can't keep it out. At some point, I looked the other direction and blacked out. 'When I awoke in the morning, I wanted to leave. There was a tray of tea and pain au chocolat and Peppo asked me if I wanted to eat but I couldn't. I left, moved on and tried not to have thoughts about it.' Bloch suspects now that he was drugged that night. 'I wasn't drunk but I do question now whether I was roofied. Beverly Johnson is a friend of mine [the former supermodel who accused Bill Cosby of drugging her]. 'We have talked about how, in that era, we didn't know that being roofied existed - the communication was not like it is now. 'At the time, I remember thinking - how did I sleep here? He might have put something in my drink, like a Valium.' Bloch blamed himself for the attack and said that the thought of going to the police never crossed his mind. 'I believed that I went to Peppo's room and I shouldn't have gone. I thought, 'Is that what being gay is? Well that wasn't good.' 'I didn't even think to go to the police. I didn't know it was a crime. This was a time when I didn't even think a guy could be raped. 'At that time attitudes were very aggressive towards gay people. Stonewall had only happened a few years before that. Bloch's assault came at a time when two nightclubs were at the center of New York's fashion scene - Studio 54 and Vanini's Xenon, which is pictured above in 1978 Celebrities and fashion icons flocked to the clubs for performances and nights woud. Pictured above, Diana Ross, who first became popular as a member of the Supremes, makes a limbo-like move on a New York dance floor Grace Jones is pictured above at Xenon with friends during a birthday celebration at an unknown date Andy Warhol (right) is pictured above with models andB ob Colacello during Xenon's Disco opening in 1978 Singer Grace Jones (left with male dancers) performed at Studio 54 during the night club's heyday. Pictured right, people dancing at the disco club Xenon in New York City in 1978 'I also think in the gay community there can be a passive-aggressive, dismissiveness of sex. In the past few months, when I've talked to other gay guys about Peppo, a few have said, "Girl, please - you wanted that." 'And no, I really didn't. What happened was inappropriate, so wrong. I was an 18-year-old boy.' Peppo Vanini passed away in 2012 after suffering from Parkinson's disease. He had ben married to the British actress Elizabeth Tennant from 1969 to 1967. She later married Steve Martin. DailyMailTV was unable to identify any survivors of Vanini to reach out to. Bloch returned to Xenon because he wanted to hang out with the cool crowd that populated its dancefloor, including Brooke Shields and Mariel Hemingway. Xenon was also a favorite hang-out of the Kennedy children, including John F Kennedy Jr and Robert Kennedys children, among them RFK Jr. According to a 1989 New York Magazine profile of JFK Jr, owners Stein and Vanini were considered disco daddies by the young members of the Kennedy clan. Vanini treated them like kings when they came to his Times Square club, considering them the closest thing to royals in America. Bloch said: 'I needed a job so Peppo gave me one at the club. He kept coming on to me but he was doing this with all these other guys - I was one of a long list. Some guys that I've met along the way had similar experiences with him.' Bloch says the rape shaped the direction of his life over the following decade. He developed a tough exterior and focused on being the 'cool party boy' with an insatiable appetite for alcohol and drugs. 'After that experience with Peppo, a switch got flipped,' Bloch said. He would head to the East Village to buy drugs with his close friend Gia Carangi, a model in the early Eighties who passed away in 1986 from AIDS complications. 'Gia had famous Vogue and Cosmo covers out at the same time,' the stylist recalled. 'We were leaving in a car service and there were gunshots. 'I looked through a crack in the window as we sped past a bodega and the magazines were there. I thought this was so cool. 'This life was so crazy and I thought it was how it was supposed to be. I was hanging out with Janice Dickinson, having lunch with Bianca Jagger.' Bloch then took a job as a busboy at Studio 54. He worked alongside fellow teenager, and now world-renowned photographer, David LaChapelle. The Broadway nightclub attracted the great and good of Hollywood and rock and roll royalty from Mick Jagger and David Bowie to Elizabeth Taylor and Andy Warhol. Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley, Jr, and wife Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol all attended Studio 54's parties, including the New Years Eve celebration pictured above In the 1970s, the hottest clubs in New York were the mecca of disco, Studio 54, and its rival, Xenon. Pictured above, people chatting at Studio 54 in the 1970s An elevated view of the crowded dance floor at the Studio 54 disco in New York in October 1981 'Steve Rubell [Studio 54's owner] was my boss. I got up in the afternoon, got a slice of pizza and went to the club,' Bloch said. 'In the early 80s, a rock and roll vibe became popular the models Gia and Leslie Winer and David and I had that look. 'My job was to put on skimpy shorts - never skimpy enough for Steve - but he understood that there was an attraction to certain people. He hired you based on your looks and your sexuality. 'I would get there at 10pm, take off my clothes and basically get sexually molested by famous people and plied with liquor, drugs and wild times until 6am. 'Every celebrity in the world came in there, everyone that I had ever seen from my little TV on Long Island. Truman Capote would always put his hands on the bar and rub up against you. 'I've seen everything in that Studio 54 basement I can't remember most of it but it was things that 19-year-olds should not see. I wasn't ready for it. The things I've seen in Studio 54 99 per cent of the population have never seen.' Bloch was discovered during his days at Studio 54 and started modelling, eventually ending up in Paris in the shows of a young John Galliano and John Paul Gaultier. But the fashion world came with its own array of pitfalls. Bloch said: 'I was at an agency in Paris when I was booked for a fitting by a man called Cyril at Yves Saint Laurent. It was YSL it was a big deal. 'Cyril was old and had this tobacco-stained, handlebar moustache. I got there at lunchtime and Cyril had me put on underwear. Then he fidgeted with my butt and d***. He fiddled and touched in a way that was unnecessary. 'I wasn't the "body boy" so who was hiring me to put on underwear? I was the model in leather jacket and jeans with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. 'But I had become tougher. I saw a packet of cigarettes on his desk, took one and sat down on the couch in the underwear. My modus operandi was let's hang out so I don't have to f*** with you. After the supposed fitting, Bloch returned to his agency and shared what happened. After being assaulted by Vanini, Bloch took a job as a busboy at Studio 54, which was owned by Steve Rubell (pictured left and right). At Rubell's Studio 54, Bloch worked alongside fellow teenager, and now world-renowned photographer, David LaChapelle Bloch said that when he worked at Studio 54, his shorts were 'never skimpy enough for Steve [Rubell]', but said the staff was hired for their 'looks and sexuality'. Pictured above, Rubell and Biana Jagger at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in 1981 'I told the modelling agency about Cyril but he had called and I was booked again for tomorrow. 'I told them again he was touchy. The agency said, "Well, he's a very important client and it's YSL, so if you want to work with them, I would go there tomorrow". 'The next day, Cyril gave me a carton of cigarettes. I put on the underwear again and he began adjusting my d***, trying to get me hard. The fittings happened multiple times. 'He was inappropriate but that's the business. What was I going say - don't touch me? Then I wouldn't be invited back. 'It was clear that what he was doing was unacceptable except that it had to be.' Yves Saint Laurent's eponymous fashion label was sold in 1993 to a French pharmaceutical company and then again by it to Kering, the luxury conglomerate run by Francois Pinault. The designer Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008. Bloch's work in Paris then led to Milan, where he booked the cover of Italian Vogue. Model agencies would also send young male models away with older, rich gay men for weekends. 'There was always some older guy with a Testarossa or Lamborghini and a villa. On the weekend, they would ask boys to go to Lake Como or other resort areas outside Milan. 'Young guys would sleep with them but I would get really f***** up by drinking and doing drugs. It was a coping mechanism and my way not to have to have sex with these men. 'I would be on the table with a bottle of vodka in my hand, getting everybody drunk. Meanwhile the other boys were sitting in the chairs getting molested. 'I became belligerent. I wasn't impressed by or cared about anything.' But another horrific sexual assault in Paris, where Bloch believes he was date-raped again, triggered the end of his wild, modelling days. Bloch said that at the time of the assault, he 'moved on and tried not to have thoughts' about the incident. Years later, he believes he was drugged Bloch, pictured above with Cameron Diaz at the 1995 Academy Awards, said he decided to speak out after watching his friends, including actresses Salma Hayek, Eva LaRue and Annabella Sciorra, come forward with their Me Too stories Since his teenage years, Bloch has become a stylist to the stars. He's pictured above with Jennifer Lopez (left) and Keri Russell (right) Bloch said: 'I was drunk at a house party in Paris and I ran into a TV journalist I had known from my Studio 54 days. He would always try to get with me then. 'There's a difference from passing out at the end of the night when you've been partying to throwing up and losing total memory. 'I knew when I took drugs and when I didn't take drugs. I think I was roofied that night from the reaction I had. I passed out and was throwing up in a shower in an upstairs bathroom. 'This man was a predator. He saw me in a vulnerable point - I was lying under the shower, letting warm water run on me. I woke up and he was having sex with me. I can hear his voice, he haunts me. 'I saw him again years later when I became known as a stylist.' Bloch added: 'People question how could Uma Thurman sit with Harvey Weinstein after what happened to her? The answer is - you just do.' The traumatic ordeals and hedonistic lifestyle began taking its toll. Bloch said: 'I felt like I didn't have it anymore. I would look at pictures of myself on shoots and felt something was missing. It was a real cliche - my soul wasn't there, my eyes were vacant, my hair was brittle. 'It had all been too much. I'd had a wild ride and I didn't fasten my seatbelt.' Throughout his modelling days, Bloch's eye for style impressed the designers and magazine editors he worked with. When he returned to New York in the late Eighties, he started over as a stylist and was quickly in high demand. Around that time, he got clean of drugs and alcohol after some close encounters with those who are not so fortunate in beating their demons. 'One of my first jobs was in LA on a shoot with River Phoenix. It turned out to be the last he ever did. 'My experience with him was as someone else who had been a drug addict, so we had a very good bond. River died of an overdose a couple of weeks later.' Bloch added: 'I've had a lot of great bonds with people in Hollywood, like Charlie Sheen. I feel like that's my brother, I just so relate to him. 'I've been very lucky in my career and I feel so grateful. I'm a man of faith and I've dedicated my life to my clients Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock. I love Meg Ryan and Cindy Crawford is my favorite. And Pierce Brosnan I've got to work with James Bond! 'I worked with Diana Ross. I had seen her film Mahogany when I was a teenager and it changed my life. I walked out of that movie and I said I'm going to live a life just like that I'm going to be a model and I'm going to be a designer.' 'I met so many great and crazy people. It's so important not to let the monsters overtake all of that. I always let the good stories and good people happen.' Bloch added: 'But I've learned since that your mind is like files and every experience is like a file - some of them are great and others you don't want to go into. 'But you can't hide it forever.' Bloch was watching an episode of Oprah about five years ago when a guest's experience tapped into his past. 'A woman was describing her rape, the rapist getting on top of her, entering her and how she looked to the side and blanked out. 'I thought, oh my god, that's exactly what I did with Peppo. But the acceptance that I had been raped didn't come to me quickly it just ruminated. 'Over a long period, things would come back to me - the shower in Paris or I'd have a flash, a shiver. 'I suddenly understood - I was raped. Maybe it wasn't my fault. Yes, I went to Peppo's room but did I deserve to be punished that way? Did I deserve to have a lifetime of anguish? 'I wondered to what extent it had all played a part when I thought I was keeping it so hidden.' Bloch said as he started to face his ordeals, he found himsef lashing out at people. 'I was beat down and my brain was constantly tired. I was stressed and aggravated, I couldn't understand it. I wasn't the person I wanted to be - a joy had been taken away from me,' the stylist said. 'The universe forces you to confront the issues you have inside of you.' Bloch underwent neuro-therapy to deal with the traumas he had never faced. Several of Bloch's close female friends have come forward to share their allegations of sexual abuse in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. He says CSI Miami star, Eva La Rue, who voiced her own accusations of sexual harassment against Steven Seagal, has helped him find the courage to tell his story. Bloch said: 'I took all the blame on myself. I always thought that I chose this [to happen to me]. 'I'm not out to get a book deal or make anyone pay for my suffering. 'My friends told me that my story was important. I get my strength from these experiences and for me, I would love to be able to empower someone else.' A water park company's co-owner was arrested Monday in Texas in connection with a Kansas criminal case arising from a 10-year-old boy's death on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide. Records show that Jeffery Henry, co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, was booked into the jail in Cameron County, Texas. He was being held without bond, and a jail booking clerk said he would remain there until a court appearance Tuesday. Henry's arrest follows a Kansas grand jury's indictment last week of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. Jeffery Henry (left) was arrested on Monday in connection to the death of a 10-year-old boy in Kansas City, Kansas. Tyler Austin Miles (right), who is the former operations director for the park, was indicted last week on 20 felony charges including involuntary manslaughter Caleb Schwab, 10, was decapitated in 2016 after riding a waterslide at the Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts The Verruckt slide, which is a German word for 'crazy' or 'insane', has been closed since the boy's death. It is nearly 170-feet tall and features a 17-story plunge The charges included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. He and the park were also charged with several counts of aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child and interference with law enforcement. Schlitterbhan spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in a statement that considering last week's indictment, the company is not surprised by Henry's arrest. 'We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident,' she said in an emailed statement. Caleb was decapitated while riding on the Verruckt slide in the Kansas City park. The indictment alleges that the ride met few, if any, industry standards and that Miles delayed or avoided necessary repairs. The nearly 170-foot slide was reportedly built hastily in order to earn the title of the 'world's largest waterslide', so serious safety violations and red flags were ignored. Verruckt, which is a German word for 'crazy' or 'insane', has been closed since the boy's death. Investigators say that the company ignored obvious red flags and safety violations in regards to the slide. Henry allegedly pushed for it to be done in seven months despite knowing it was unsafe Henry is being held without bond in a Cameron County, Texas, jail and is expected in court on Tuesday. Pictured is him with the slide after he designed it Investigators say that company knew the ride was unsafe even before Caleb's death. There are allegations that other riders suffered from several injuries, such as neck pain and concussions, but the slide remained open anyway. Officials say the company even hid these reports about the other injuries in order to keep the ride open. Since the ride's grand opening on July 10, 2014, to Caleb's death on Aug. 7, 2016, 13 people were injured largely because the rafts went airborne, according to the 47-page indictment. When the rafts went airborne, the people would hit the large metal netting that enclosed the slide, which would cause injury. The 47-page indictment against the company said that there were 13 other serious injuries before Caleb was decapitated by the slide. Pictured is the 10-year-old with his father Scott Caleb died on Aug. 7, 2016 after his raft went airborne in the slide. He died from what KCK POlice described as a 'fatal neck injury'. His family had a funeral for him on Aug. 12, 2016 at Life Mission Church in Olathe, Kansas Advertisements from before the attraction officially opened in 2014 showed rafts flying through the air out of the top of the chute during the building and testing phases for the ride. The raft Caleb rode on that fateful day went airborne at some point during the ride, and Caleb's body struck a metal pole that was in place to support a netting system installed to keep riders from flying off the slide. KCK Police described his death as resulting from a 'fatal neck injury.' 'The presence of the overhead netting and support hoops speaks volumes about the designers' extreme disregard for the value of human life,' the indictment said. It claims that the netting violates standards put in place for these rides because it obstructs the riders' path. Henry reportedly pushed for the slide to be finished in seven months and made comments that he knew it would be dangerous. '(Verruckt) could hurt me, it could kill me, it is a seriously dangerous piece of equipment today because there are things that we don't know about it,' Henry said, according to the indictment. Henry faces 12 counts of aggravated battery and five counts of aggravated child endangerment. Richard Vance (pictured), 33, the pilot in the NYC helicopter crash tried to turn the fuel supply back on after it was reportedly switched off by a passenger's restraint The pilot in the New York City helicopter crash tried desperately to turn the fuel supply back on after it was reportedly switched off mid-flight by a passenger's restraint. Richard Vance, 33, told investigators of the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) that he went to flip off the switch because the craft was going down, but discovered that it was already off and that part of the harness was underneath it. According the NTSB's preliminary report that was released Monday, Vance told investigators that he believed the fuel was shut off when a passenger's restraint tether tangled with an emergency fuel cutoff switch. Five passengers who couldn't free themselves from their harnesses drowned in the East River when the helicopter rolled over into the water. Trevor Cadigan, Daniel Thompson, 34, 29-year-old Tristan Hill, Carla Vallejos Blanco, 29, and Brian McDaniel were all killed in the March 11 crash. Vance, who was not wearing a harness, escaped with only minor injuries. Scroll down for video Vance is seen walking on the banks just moments after he was pulled from the East River following the crash According the NTSB's preliminary report that was released Monday, Vance told investigators that he believed the fuel was shut off when a passenger's restraint tether tangled with an emergency fuel cutoff switch on the aircraft (pictured) Five passengers who couldn't free themselves from their harnesses drowned in the East River when the helicopter rolled over into the water. Trevor Cadigan (left), Brian McDaniel (center) and Daniel Thompson (right), 34, all died in the crash Carla Vallejos Blanco, 29, was also killed in the March 11 crash Vance, who was not wearing a harness, escaped with only minor injuries. Tristan Hill (pictured), 29, was also killed in the crash The NTSB has not issued any findings on the cause of the crash, and the report did not offer an opinion as to whether the pilot's observations were correct. In his interview, Vance said the helicopter, on an open-door flight, had been traveling over Central Park when the front-seat passenger turned sideways and extended his feet outside the aircraft to take a photo. It was at that point that the pilot began experiencing problems. The front passenger's restraint harness had already come off once before that during the flight, said the pilot, who recalled passengers on earlier flights also accidentally releasing their seatbelts. Vance said he briefly considered landing in Central Park, 'but thought there were 'too many people'. Liberty Helicopters said in a statement earlier this month that it was 'focused on supporting the families affected by this tragic accident,' adding that it was cooperating with investigators. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 16 ordered an end to so-called 'doors off' helicopter rides unless passengers are equipped with quick-release restraints. The NTSB has previously raised safety concerns about the safety of the fuel controls on the helicopter model involved in the crash, the Eurocopter AS350. The NTSB has not issued any findings on the cause of the crash (left and right), and the report did not offer an opinion as to whether the pilot's observations were correct In his interview, Vance said the helicopter, on an open-door flight, had been traveling over Central Park when the front-seat passenger turned sideways and extended his feet outside the aircraft to take a photo. It was at that point that the pilot began experiencing problems The front passenger's restraint harness had already come off once before that during the flight, said the pilot. Pictured are first responders during search and rescue operations on March 12 After one of the helicopters crashed in Alaska in 2008, killing four people, investigators determined that a passenger had likely bumped the aircraft's fuel flow control lever with either his foot or backpack. It noted that Canadian officials had blamed a non-fatal accident in 1994 on a similar accidental movement of the fuel control lever by a passenger. 'The NTSB is concerned that the FFCLs on Eurocopter AS350-series helicopters can be easily and inadvertently moved out of their detents by objects or persons, including the pilot and passengers, in flight or on the ground,' the NTSB wrote in its report on the 2008 crash. It recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration require modifications of the control system to protect the lever from being deployed accidentally. The fuel flow control lever implicated in those crashes is a different lever than the emergency fuel shut-off switch, but they are next to each other on the console. Cairns caravan park residents made desperate calls for help as floodwaters brought on by Cyclone Nora inundated their vans during heavy rains overnight. 'We're flooding up to the van, the water is absolutely raging, we are seriously in trouble,' a caller from the Big4 Caravan park said in a video replayed on the Nine Network. Flood warnings have been issued for the Cairns area as heavy rains lash the far north Queensland city in the aftermath of former cyclone Nora. A Cairns caravan park (pictured) was inundated with floodwaters over Monday night The SES said they received numerous triple 0 calls from the caravan parks The caravan park (pictured) residents made desperate calls for help as floodwaters inundated their vans during heavy rains overnight SES spokesman Sean McGuinness told Nine on Tuesday they had received numerous triple 0 calls from the caravan parks overnight. 'Swift water people were sent in first and flood boat crews were tasked to assist for that situation, just because of the number of people that were reported,' he said. He said the water went down quickly, but several people lost property. 'Some people did have the opportunity to get their belongings up and safe, but a lot of reports are from the people that had come to our SES headquarters was in regards to the fact that their belongings were still in the caravans,' Mr McGuinness said. Cairns council has warned residents that major flood levels are occurring on the Barron River at Caravonica, Kamerunga and Lake Placid Flood warnings were issued for the Cairns area as heavy rains lash north Queensland '(There was) a lot of damage and light will tell us how bad the damage is and we'll be able to get in there safely.' Cairns council has warned residents that major flood levels are occurring on the Barron River at Caravonica, Kamerunga and Lake Placid. 'Properties in this area may experience flooding as a result of heavy rainfall overnight combined with a high tide this morning,' the warning said. The council has urged residents to get ready for flooding, and again warned motorists not to drive through roads covered by water. A giant huntsman jumped on a flight en route to Germany from Australia with two young backpackers. The German couple were coming home from a trip around Australia when the poisonous spider scurried in for free a trip overseas. The traveller opened up his carry-on luggage when he was faced with the massive Australian arachnid. A German traveller opened up his carry-on luggage when he was faced with the massive Australian arachnid On the trip to Munich the couple were on the second leg of their long-haul flight. They had just stopped over in Dubai and boarded their next flight when they found the giant spider. The man opened up his bag, saw the spider and quickly closed it tightly until they got off the flight and approached Munich customs officers. A spokesperson for Munich customs said the spider caused a flurry of concern for the officers because they didn't know what species it was. Customs officers quickly called in a vet to determine its species and how venomous the spider was Customs officers quickly called in a vet to determine its species and how venomous the spider was. They caught and confined the spider to then determine that it was the highly-aggressive and venomous huntsman spider. Although huntsman spiders can be dangerous it is very rare to be sent to hospital with a bite and no deaths have been reported from the spider. The species are found living in confined spaces under rocks, barks and in crevasses. Huntsman spiders aren't strictly Australian. with the species found living across Asia, America and Africa. Authorities are now looking for a German spider-lover to take the overseas traveller into their home. Las Vegas police announced that five suspects have been arrested in connection to 10 murders tied to the MS-13 gang. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo announced on Monday that the five are in federal custody for the homicides that have taken place over the course of a year, reported Las Vegas Now. Lombardo added that all of the victims either were shot or stabbed numerous times. According to police, six of the 10 victims were kidnapped before being murdered on the outskirts of town. The suspects were taken into custody on Jones Boulevard on March 7 as they were on their way to kill another person, according to homicide Captain Robert Plummer who was also at the news conference. 'The suspects involved in these crimes are extremely violent,' said Lombardo. 'They kill their victims over as little as identifying with another gang or participating in street level narcotic sales.' Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo (pictured, far right) announced on Monday that five suspects are in federal custody in connection to 10 murders tied to the MS-13 gang that have taken place over the course of a year All of the victims were either were shot or stabbed numerous times. According to police, six of the 10 victims were kidnapped before being murdered on the outskirts of town (Pictured, victims Izzak Towery, left, and Richard Gaudio, right) The murders were committed between March 2017 and March 2018. At least two of the victims were involved with MS-13 (Pictured, victims Juan Carlos Estrada Raya, left, and Ricardo Olivas, right) 'The suspects involved in these crimes are extremely violent,' said Lombardo. 'They kill their victims over as little as identifying with another gang or participating in street level narcotic sales' (Pictured, Daniel Clark) The victims were identified as Daniel Clark, Richard Gaudio, Carlos Pachaca-Rodriguez, Arquimidez Sandoval-Martinez, Juan Carlos Estrada Raya, Jose Hernandez, Ricardo Olivas, Izzak Towery, Earl Ryan and Rony Fuentes. The murders were committed between March 2017 and March 2018. At least two of the victims, Pachaca-Rodriguez and Sandoval-Martinez, were involved with MS-13. Several of the victims were affiliated with other Mexican gangs. Lombardo did not release the names of the suspects but he did reveal that three are from El Salvador and one is from Honduras. Of the five, one is a juvenile aged 17. 'Our investigation this far has recovered 18 firearms, which include an AR-15, semi-automatic pistols and shotguns,' Capt Plummer said. 'Eight of those guns were stolen in Metro's jurisdiction; one in Henderson.' The suspects, believed to be in the US illegally, have been charged with kidnapping, assault with intent to commit murder, first-degree murder, use of a firearm resulting in death and crimes occurring on federal land. Police did not release the names of the suspects but he did reveal that three are from El Salvador and one is from Honduras. Of the five, one is a juvenile aged 17 (Pictured, map naming the location where each victim was killed) According to Captain Robert Plummer (pictured), 18 firearms have been recovered, 'which include an AR-15, semi-automatic pistols and shotguns' The El Salvadorian criminal enterprise MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is the first and only criminal organization in the US to be named as 'transnational' by the FBI (Pictured here, four unidentified members of MS-13 show their tattoos at the National Penitentiary in Tamara, Honduras in February 2006) The El Salvadorian criminal enterprise MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is believed to have a presence in 46 states, according to an independent study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. MS-13 is the first and only criminal organization in the US to be named as 'transnational' by the FBI and operates on the motto of 'Kill, Rape, Control', former Massachusetts US Attorney Carmen Ortiz said. The group was started nearly 20 years ago in Los Angeles after millions of immigrants from El Salvador came to the US after a violent civil war left more than 100,000 dead. According to Lieutenant John Leon, the gang has about 50 members in Clark County, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The student who fatally shot a female classmate last week at a Maryland high school died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation with a school resource officer who also fired his gun, authorities said Monday. The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that 17-year-old Austin Rollins fired a fatal shot to his head just as he encountered sheriff's deputy Blaine Gaskill. The shot fired by Gaskill struck the gun in Rollins' hand, the sheriff's office added. The shooting occurred last Tuesday at Great Mills High School in Maryland where Rollins pulled out a handgun in class and shot ex-girlfriend Jaelynn Willey, 16. Austin Wyatt Rollins, 17 (left), has been identified as the shooter in last Tuesday's shooting at a Maryland high school. The sheriff's department revealed Monday that deputy Blaine Gaskill's (right) shot only hit Rollins hand Jaelynn Willey (pictured) died in the ICU two days after she was shot. Police revealed that she was previously in a relationship with Rollins before he shot her In a statement released Monday, authorities said the student who fatally shot a female classmate at the school died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Pictured is Great Mills High School in Maryland where the shooting happened Willey died two days later after being taken off life support and her funeral service is scheduled for Friday. The sheriff's office said Rollins and the girl had been in a relationship that recently ended. Desmond Barnes, 14, who was shot in the thigh, was released from a hospital a day after the shooting. New details released by the sheriff's office show how Rollins died. The sheriff's office also released a timeline of the incident and 911 calls from adults and students, including the 14-year-old who survived. The sheriff's office also released a timeline (above) of the incident and 911 calls from adults and students, including the 14-year-old who survived Gaskill who helped stop the shooting is seen above According to the sheriff's office, Rollins entered the main entrance of the school the day of the shooting about five minutes before he shot Willey in the head with his father's gun. The same bullet traveled into the leg of Desmond Barnes, who had sought shelter in a classroom. Rollins then turned a corner and passed several classrooms before the confrontation with the school resource officer, which occurred about three minutes after shooting Willey, the sheriff's office said. Rollins and Gaskill fired their weapons about 30 seconds later. In one of the 911 calls released, Barnes tells a dispatcher, 'I was just shot in my school.' A woman, possibly a teacher, gets on the phone and tells the dispatcher that four students are inside her classroom, one of them shot and bleeding. 'We have him laying down,' she said. 'I'm afraid to transport him to safer place.' For the next several minutes, the woman talks to the dispatcher or is heard talking to Barnes. A voice on the school's intercom system urges students to stay in their classrooms. 'It'll be OK,' the woman can be heard saying. 'It's OK ... They're coming. They're coming. Don't worry.' Rollins shot Willey and the bullet reportedly passed through her and hit another student in the thigh. Desmond Barnes, 14, who was shot in the thigh, was released from the hospital that day The gunman behind a shooting at Great Mills High School in Maryland on Tuesday has died from his own fatal shot to the head. Students are pictured above being escorted by officers to a safe location after the attack Officials said the gunman opened fire around 7:45am, shortly before classes began for the day Barnes and the dispatcher talk again. The teen said he's been shot in the back of the thigh and that 'it's burning.' 'Oh my knee hurts so bad,' he said. 'We're getting help to you Desmond,' the dispatcher replied. 'Stay strong for me buddy.' Emergency responders soon arrive. 'Hi Desmond, we're putting a tourniquet on you, all right?' one of them is heard telling him. 'A tourniquet stops the bleeding.' Another person who called 911 from the school, possibly a teacher, tells a dispatcher that she heard a single gunshot and saw a girl bleeding outside the classroom. 'We're hiding behind my desk,' the caller said before counting each of the 11 students with her, one by one. The resource officer, who doubles as a SWAT team officer, was not injured in the shooting. The sheriff praised Gaskill, a six-year veteran in his first year at the high school, at the time of the shooting for containing the situation in less than a minute. 'He had to cover significant ground,' Cameron said. 'The premise is simple: You go to the sound of gunfire.' Viagra will be available without prescription in pharmacies from today at a cost of less than 5 a pill. It follows a decision last year by health officials to reclassify the drug so it could be sold over the counter. Manufacturer Pfizer said it hoped making it more widely available would encourage the millions of British men with erectile dysfunction to seek help. The Viagra Connect tablets will be available in Boots from today priced at 19.99 for four or 34.99 for eight. Viagra will be available without prescription in pharmacies from today at a cost of less than 5 a pill (file photo) Other pharmacies will be able to stock them in two weeks. Men must answer questions to check the drug is suitable before they buy. Some, such as those with heart problems or taking certain interacting medicines, will still need a prescription. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency announced in November that it would reclassify Viagra Connect so it could be sold over the counter in pharmacies. Pfizer said it is the first pharmacy medicine for erectile dysfunction to be made available without prescription. Erectile problems affect up to one in five men the equivalent of 4.3million men across the UK but many do not seek medical help for their condition. Pfizers medical manager Kristie Sourial said: Viagra Connect offers men a convenient route of access to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Its important to remember that erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, and that the impact often goes beyond the physical symptoms. It can lead to men feeling anxious, depressed and lacking in confidence. Officials also hope the move will deter people from buying drugs on websites operating illegally. A bowl of lamb stew could be as polluting as boiling a kettle 258 times, a report has suggested. Producing and cooking the ingredients for one portion of a traditional Welsh Lamb Cawl produces 5.9kg of greenhouse gases because of the methane produced by sheep, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said. The claims made in the study has provoked outrage from farmers who said it did not highlight the environmental benefits of rearing sheep. Producing and cooking the ingredients for one portion of a traditional Welsh Lamb Cawl produces 5.9kg of greenhouse gases because of the methane produced by sheep The report, called Food in a Warming World, looked at the environmental impact of four traditional British dishes - Chicken Tikka Masala, Fish and Chips, a Ploughman's, and Welsh Cawl. Based on greenhouse gas emissions, or carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), the charity found Welsh Cawl was the most environmentally unfriendly of the four. Of the 5.9kg of CO2e produced in preparing the stew, 4.51kg came from rearing the lamb. The total environmental impact of the dish was found to be the same as driving 31 miles in a car, or charging a smartphone 722 times. The traditional stew, made with potatoes, swede, carrots and leeks, also produced greenhouse gases equivalent to switching an LED lightbulb on for 65 days. The report said: 'The iconic dish with the highest footprint is for cawl, at 5.9kg CO2e per serving, of which three quarters derive from the lamb, largely due to the enteric fermentation of sheep digestion that leads to methane release.' A Cheese Ploughman's was the second most environmentally unfriendly out of the four, producing 2.6kg of CO2e. The pollution created by the selection of bread, cheese and onions was equivalent to boiling a kettle 113 times, or charging a smartphone 316 times. The report looked at the environmental impact of four traditional British dishes including Chicken Tikka Masala Almost half of the greenhouse gases came from making the cheese, around 1.28kg of CO2e for just 125g. Chicken Tikka Masala was the second least environmentally unfriendly dish, producing 2kg of C02e, the same as having an LED lightbulb on for 22 days. Fish and chips was the least polluting dish out of the four examined, with just 1.54kg of CO2e, or boiling a kettle 67 times. Yesterday farmers voiced their outrage at the report, claiming it did not highlight the environmental benefits of rearing sheep. Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, told the Daily Telegraph: 'It has taken a very narrow view of the impacts of lamb cawl and is it really quite astonishing. 'Lamb cawl is the exact kind of dish that we should be promoting, it is highly nutritious and a good source of protein.' Hedd Pugh, National Farmers Union Cymru rural affairs board chairman, also told the paper grazed livestock help to maintain their environment, even though they produce greenhouse gases. A WWF spokesman said in a statement: 'Climate change is a major threat to our world and its precious wildlife and landscapes. 'Food consumption is one of the biggest drivers of carbon emissions which is why our report showed the impact of climate change on Britain's most iconic dishes, including Welsh cawl.' White House officials are looking into whether $500million in loans that went to the Trump administration's senior adviser Jared Kushner's family real estate company may have spurred ethics or criminal law violations. David J. Apol, acting director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), said in a letter sent late last week to Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi that the White House Counsel's office told him that officials were probing the loans to Kushner Cos. 'I have discussed this matter with the White House Counsel's Office in order to ensure that they have begun the process of ascertaining the facts necessary to determine whether any law or regulation has been violated,' Apol said in the letter. White House officials are looking into whether $500 million in loans that went to Trump administration senior adviser Jared Kushner's (pictured in November 2017) family real estate company may have spurred ethics or criminal law violations The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) said in a letter sent to Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi last week that the White House Counsel's office told him that officials were probing the loans to Kushner Cos The OGE is trying to determine whether 'additional procedures are necessary to avoid violations in the future'. Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, had asked Apol on March 1 about a New York Times report in February that Kushner Cos accepted $184million in loans from Apollo Global Management. According to the report, Kushner Cos accepted $325million from Citigroup last year over a span of several months after Kushner met with officials from the two firms. Both companies have insisted their officials did nothing wrong in meeting with Kushner. Both firms had financial interests overseen by the federal government at the time and both firms - either independently or through industry groups - backed elements of the tax reform legislation that passed Congress last year with support from Trump. In one case cited by the Times, Citigroup lent $325million to Kushner Cos in spring 2017 shortly after Kushner met with Citi's chief executive, Michael Corbat. Last week, Citigroup's general counsel told several Democratic lawmakers in a letter that the loan was 'completely appropriate'. In a second case, Kushner met several times with Apollo co-founder Joshua Harris and discussed a possible White House job - followed by Apollo's loan of $184million to the Kushner family firm. Kushner Cos reportedly accepted $184million in loans from Apollo Global Management and $325million from Citigroup last year over a span of several months after Kushner met with officials from the two firms. Both firms have denied wrongdoing. Kushner pictured with Trump An Apollo spokesman previously told The Associated Press that Harris 'never discussed with Jared Kushner a loan, investment, or any other business arrangement or regulatory matter involving Apollo'. In a separate letter last week to Democratic lawmakers, an Apollo official added that 'to our knowledge, Jared Kushner did not play any role on behalf of Kushner Companies with respect' to the loan. In the letter to Krishnamoorthi, Apol responded to several of her questions about Kushner's conduct during the period when his family's real estate firm received the two loans. Apol was careful not to offer legal opinions on Kushner's behavior, instead noting that 'the White House is in a position to ascertain the relevant facts related to possible violations and is responsible for monitoring compliance with ethics requirements.' Apol said he raised those questions with White House officials 'to ensure that they have begun the process of ascertaining to determine whether any law or regulation has been violated'. He said during the conversations, 'the White House informed me that they had already begun this process'. As President Donald Trump's son-in-law and key adviser, Kushner plays an influential role in domestic and foreign policy decisions. A spokeswoman for Kushner Cos said Monday night that the firm had not received any correspondence or other notifications from the White House or OGE. Spokesmen for Kushner and the White House were not immediately available to comment on Apol's letter. Toddler killed by vehicle on Albany Highway, east of Perth, about 6.20am Friday A Perth woman who witnessed the tragic moment a young girl was struck by a ute on a busy road outside of Perth has told of giving the girl CPR and of seeing her brother searching for her. Sharon Arkwright, 46, told 9 News Perth that she was driving in busy traffic about 6.30am when she saw the 3-year-old girl run out in front of her car, still dressed in her pyjamas, before being struck by the ute. 'I kept asking where's her mum and dad?', said Ms Arkwright, who stopped her car to help the girl. 'What was she doing in the middle of the road?' A three-year-old girl died after being struck by a ute on Albany Highway near Perth Friday morning Ms Arkwright phoned emergency services and the toddler was taken to Armadale-Kelmscott Hospital with critical injuries, which she later died from Ms Arkwright phoned emergency services who guided her through CPR but the girl was not responding. Ambulance officers eventually arrived and the toddler was taken to Armadale-Kelmscott Hospital with critical injuries, which she later died from. Ms Arkwright said the 30-year-old driver was distraught and she called his mother for him. 'I kept telling him it wasn't his fault, there was nothing he could have done, she just stepped out in front of him,' she said. 'I saw a little dark haired boy in black pyjamas and he walked up to the police and I saw him ask if they'd seen his little sister,' she said Ms Arkwright also said she witnessed the little girl's brother asking first responders if they had seen his sister. 'I saw a little dark haired boy in black pyjamas and he walked up to the police and I saw him ask if they'd seen his little sister,' she said. The three-year-old suffered fatal injuries after being hit by the vehicle on Albany Highway, east of Perth, about 6.20am Friday. The incident occurred near the turnoff into Verna Street in Gosnells, 20 kilometres east of the city, near the Gosnells Baptist Church. Police believed the girl had wandered onto the busy stretch of road shortly before being knocked down, ABC News reported. Albany Highway was closed to traffic in both directions from Ferrier Drive to Dorothy Street due to the serious crash. Police are appealing to the public for information about the moments before the accident that involved a white 2005 model Toyota Hilux ute and the toddler. If you know anything police urge the public to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a report online here. Police believed the girl had wandered onto the busy stretch of road shortly before being knocked down Advertisement The parents of Britain's highest-ranking transgender soldier have spoken of their joy after she married her actor boyfriend - who was born a woman. Captain Hannah Winterbourne, 31, and Jake Graf, 40, walked down the aisle at Chelsea Town Hall in London and said last night: 'We're just like any other bride and groom'. The newlyweds have been dubbed the world's foremost transgender 'power couple' and said their white wedding was 'like a Disney movie'. Parents Brian and Wendy, of Cardiff, were at the ceremony and Brian told MailOnline: 'We are very happy for Hannah and Jake, delighted for them. And we had a lovely day at their wedding on Friday. Captain Hannah Winterbourne (right) has married actor Jake Graf (right) - who was born a woman. Pictured, the pair after getting engaged in New York's Central Park The newlyweds, pictured, are delighted to have married and said they were 'just like any other bride or groom' Her parents Brian and Wendy, pictured, said they were 'very happy' after the wedding and said the occasion was a 'lovely day' Captain Winterbourne (pictured with Mr Graf) said she was 'terrified' before their first date but is now overjoyed at their nuptials Jake Graf (pictured left before his transition and right afterwards) said he went through hell when he was a child Captain Winterbourne, pictured with her mother, grew up in south Wales with her family before joining the Army Captain Winterbourne, who was born in Pontypridd, south Wales, spent her first few years in the Army as a man, before deciding to undergo a sex-change operation while on a tour of duty at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan five years ago. Jake, who starred alongside Eddie Redmayne in Hollywood film The Danish Girl, began transitioning in his mid-twenties having endured a hellish childhood where he would 'pray every night I would wake up a boy'. But having started to date a few years ago the couple, who prefer not to reveal their previous names, found love and wept as they married last Friday. Hannah told The Sun: 'I never thought when I was younger this could happen to me. It was always a pipe dream'. The couple will now live in Army quarters near Hannah's barracks and the new Mrs Graf said: 'To me, I'm just another girl married to another guy', adding they may consider having children. The pair revealed previously that Jake had popped the question earlier this month while on a holiday in New York and plan to get married next summer. Hannah who joined the Army as a man, came out as transgender and started transitioning four years ago after a tour to Afghanistan. Britain's highest-ranking transgender soldier, pictured with Mr Graf, said she thought love and marriage was a 'pipe dream' for her Hannah, pictured left before her transition, started the process four years ago after a tour of Afghanistan Capt Winterbourne said she 'forgot about her past' as she transitioned and that the couple are now considering having children The newlyweds, pictured on ITV's Lorraine last year, have been dubbed a 'transgender power couple' Captain Winterbourne, pictured left before her transition and right afterwards, wed Mr Graf at a ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall last week Her picture on the front-page story in January 2015 caught the eye of Jake Graf, 40, who told a mutual friend that he thought she looked cute before the pair starting talking. Although Captain Winterbourne said she was 'terrified' before their first date on London's South Bank, the fact that Mr Graf was also transgender made things a lot easier. Their relationship flourished and in September, the pair got engaged when Mr Graf who was in 2015 film The Danish Girl alongside Eddie Redmayne - proposed in New York's Central Park. On Friday, Captain Winterbourne wore a strapless gown to wed her groom in a ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall that she described to The Sun as 'like a Disney movie.' 'We're just like any other bride and groom,' the newlyweds told the newspaper. Hannah, pictured as a man during her tour of Afghanistan, added the ceremony was 'like a Disney movie' The captain, pictured left, in uniform, and right on Lorraine, said to her the marriage was 'just another girl married to another boy' Captain Winterbourne said the fact that Mr Graf was also transgender made things a lot easier Captain Winterbourne (left, before, and right, after her transition) spent her first years in the Army as a man before she spoke about her decision to transition while still on active duty Captain Winterbourne added: 'To me, I'm just another girl married to another guy. 'As you transition and meet someone new, you kind of forget about your past.' Mr Graf has spoken about how he'd pray every night that he would 'wake up a boy' and said it had made him very angry. He said it was only after he met a transgender man when visiting New York at the age of 25 that he felt hopeful. The newlywed couple, who are both patrons of the transgender children's charity Mermaids, will live together in the married quarters near Captain Winterbourne's Army barracks. They're keen to start a family together soon now that they've tied the knot. Patriots owner Robert Kraft left a touching note on the seat of each Parkland student who traveled on his team's jet to fly to the anti-gun march in Washington, DC Patriots owner Robert Kraft left a touching note on the seat of each Parkland student who traveled on his team's jet to fly to the anti-gun march in Washington, DC. 'On behalf of the New England Patriots organization, I want to express our support as you travel to Washington for this weekend's March for Our Lives,' the letter reads. 'In the wake of incredible tragedy, we have hurt for you, mourned with you and been inspired by you. It is an honor for us to now partner with you as you push for progress,' Kraft continued. On Thursday, the families and students from Parkland, were transported to DC ahead of the march against gun violence that took place on Saturday. Some of the students who were transported by the Patriots' jet were injured in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 staffers and students dead. Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the Boston Globe last week that Kraft decided to donate his Boeing wide-body 767, called 'AirKraft,' when Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, reached out to him and asked for the favor. 'Your community is stirring our country towards a better future. That is the true mark of a patriot. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration. Best wishes as you prepare for takeoff on your journey. We are all Patriots,' Kraft said in the letter. Scroll down for video 'Your community is stirring our country towards a better future. That is the true mark of a patriot. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration. Best wishes as you prepare for takeoff on your journey. We are all Patriots,' Kraft said in the letter (pictured) On Thursday, the families and students from Parkland, were transported to DC ahead of the march against gun violence that took place on Saturday. Student Kali Clougherty shared this photo on Twitter thanking the Patriots for allowing them to fly on their jet 'Heading to D.C. & Im so thankful to be here with so many amazing people. Thank you @Patriots for donating your plane to help us get to D.C.! And always so happy to have @isabelabarry by my side through everything I do' student Sawyer Rayne shared last week Some of the students (pictured) who were transported by the Patriots' jet were injured in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 staffers and students dead The letter also included a quote from American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: 'Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed that's all who ever have.' Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the Boston Globe that Kraft decided to donate his Boeing wide-body 767, called 'AirKraft,' when Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, reached out to him and asked for the favor. 'Not only did their friends and teachers get shot and killed, other friends shot and injured . . . most of them they had bullets flying over their heads,' said Kelly told the Washington Post 'This is not fair that they have to deal with something like this at their age. They wanted to go to Washington and be heard, and so I felt it was our obligation to help them.' 'No report other than they took off and everyone was happy,' James said, after adding he didn't know if any players were on the flight, and Kraft was not travelling with the group. The Patriots owner has been a friend and supporter of President Donald Trump, who faced backlash over his slow response to the tragedy, although the president has since said he supports more gun control laws. Some of the students shared photos from their time on the plane as well as boarding the flight as they headed to the march where thousands protested gun violence. Kraft shakes President Trump's hands during the team's visit to the White House in 2017 Luxury ride: The 767 Boeing has first-class configurations with some of the seats fully reclining The plane was unveiled in October, and it's one of two jets the Patriots purchased. The airplane designs follow the team's traditional red, white and blue colorway and features its Minuteman profile logo and team name. The design also includes five red stars on the body and five Lombardi trophies on the tail fin, highlighting the team's five Super Bowl wins. When the Patriots purchased the two 767 Boeings, they had the existing seats removed. They replaced them with first-class configurations only. Some of those new seats are even the lie-flat design, the type typically sported on planes doing long-haul international flights. More than one million Americans came out for Saturday's event in Washington, DC Pauline Hanson has given a scathing assessment of the Sydney suburb of Lakemba, where she was abused and told to 'go back where you came from'. The controversial Queensland senator said she would never live in the Muslim enclave, and found the sight of women in Islamic veils confronting. Speaking before the launch of her new book, Pauline: In Her Own Words, Ms Hanson said would continue to give her opinions about Muslim immigration. Scroll down for video Pauline Hanson (pictured) has given a scathing assessment of the Sydney suburb of Lakemba, where she was abused and told to 'go back where you came from' The One Nation leader received a mixed reaction when she visited the majority-Muslim suburb in Sydney's south-west (pictured) 'What we're not talking about is do these women want to wear a full burqa? This is Australia, we should be able to talk about it, but people are too scared to bring it up,' Ms Hanson said (pictured is a stock image of people celebrating Ramadan in Lakemba) 'In Iran we have people protesting saying they don't want to be controlled and told what to wear, but here we are fine with it?' Ms Hanson said (pictured is a stock image of people celebrating Ramadan in Lakemba) 'Lakemba is not a place I want to be, it's very foreign, to see all the women walking around covered up, this is not the Australian way of life,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'What we're not talking about is do these women want to wear a full burqa? This is Australia, we should be able to talk about it, but people are too scared to bring it up. 'In Iran we have people protesting saying they don't want to be controlled and told what to wear, but here we are fine with it?' The One Nation leader received a mixed reaction when she visited the majority-Muslim suburb in Sydney's south-west. Speaking before the launch of her new book, Pauline: In Her Own Words (pictured), Ms Hanson said would continue to give her opinions about Muslim immigration While some locals were friendly, Ms Hanson (pictured) was also the target of yelled obscenities and told: 'Go back where you came from' Members of the Sydney Muslim community rally in Lakemba, Sydney, against counter-terror raids While some locals were friendly, she was also the target of yelled obscenities and told: 'Go back where you came from'. Ms Hanson said we need to continue to discuss the issue, but her stance on Muslims does not mean she is against concentrations of immigrants from all countries. 'Many suburbs have concentrations of people from the same country, in London you have areas with lots of Australians, but these are similar cultures,' she said. 'The difference with Muslims is they push for Sharia, for Halal, for segregation, they walk around covered up in the burqa and the niqab, it's confronting. Ms Hanson (pictured during her maiden speech in 1996) said her critics accuse her of being anti-Muslim, but she insists many Muslims agree with her, but are afraid to speak out The controversial Queensland senator (pictured wearing a burqa in the Senate last year) said she would never live in the Muslim enclave, and found the sight of women in Islamic veils confronting 'They want swimming pool curtains for Muslim women, they want religious schools that teach these things, this is not the Australian way of life.' Ms Hanson said her critics accuse her of being anti-Muslim, but she insists many Muslims agree with her, but are afraid to speak out. 'But a lot of Muslims tell me they agree with me, they don't want to wear the burqa either or to be controlled by the religion, that's why they came to Australia,' she said. 'One man, a taxi driver, he told me he left the Islamic faith as a teenager and now his uncle wants to kill him. 'Lakemba is not a place I want to be, it's very foreign, to see all the women walking around covered up, this is not the Australian way of life,' she said on Tuesday (pictured is Ms Hanson wearing a burqa in the Senate last year) Ms Hanson (pictured in 2002) said we need to continue to discuss the issue, but her stance on Muslims does not mean she is against concentrations of immigrants from all countries 'This is a real fear for many people, they don't want Australia to become like the countries they have left. 'They can see what's going to happen, a lot of people are living in fear. Fear of terrorism, fear of murder.' Poll Do you agree with Pauline Hanson's views on immigration? Yes No I don't know Do you agree with Pauline Hanson's views on immigration? Yes 598 votes No 77 votes I don't know 19 votes Now share your opinion Her strong stance on Islam and immigration does not make One Nation a single-issue party, she said, and urged Australians to read her speeches in full. 'I'm not a one issue politician, what I've been known for since 1996 is immigration but that's not the only thing I and One Nation care about. 'We have positions on farmers, on family courts, on multinationals, on tax, on the budget . 'We have a wide range of policies and I hope people see the benefits of voting for One Nation and our common sense approach. 'We're concerned about the future and the Australian way of life instead of just pandering for votes.' Her book was launched in Canberra on Tuesday morning by none other than Tony Abbott, a man she detested and blamed for her brief stint in jail for electoral fraud before her conviction was quashed. Ms Hanson (pictured leaving jail) has said she detested Tony Abbott and blamed him for her brief stint in jail for electoral fraud before her conviction was quashed 'If I can actually get over it, I think the rest of the people should,' she told ABC Television. 'I can't keep wallowing in the past. I put my differences behind [me].' She said she asked Mr Abbott to launch her book because he'd congratulated her for being elected to federal parliament, and because they shared views on issues such as immigration and climate change. But when asked if she disliked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as much as Mr Abbott does, she said that's where they differed. 'No, I don't dislike Malcolm Turnbull at all. Do I agree with the way he handles things all the time? No, I don't. But I have respect for the man.' But her opinion of Opposition leader Bill Shorten was less forgiving. Ms Hanson (pictured with her daughter) book was launched in Canberra on Tuesday morning by none other than Tony Abbott 'Do I trust Bill Shorten? No, I don't. Do I think he's going to make a good prime minister? No, I don't.' Mr Abbott was behind a trust fund set up to fund legal cases against One Nation in the 1990s, when the party posed a threat to the Liberal Party. Ms Hanson and One Nation co-founder David Ettridge served 11 weeks of a three-year jail sentence after being convicted of electoral fraud in 2003. The convictions were later overturned on appeal. Soon after her release from jail, Senator Hanson said: 'Heaven help this country if Tony Abbott is ever in control of it. I detest the man.' Speaking before the launch, Ms Hanson said her experience behind bars had a deep impact on her and her family. 'It's hard to talk about it stil. 'I've always been a very strong person, but it was hard to deal the injustice of it,' she said. 'It was a witchhunt. It taught me you can't trust the system, you can't trust the judiciary politics is a dirty game.' Ward was banned from loaning funds in Queensland in the mid 2000s He was seen at the weekend walking through a shopping centre at Southport A former millionaire money lender who moved to Thailand after becoming a police target has been spotted shopping on the Gold Coast. Tim Ward, dubbed 'Sharky' for his time as a loan shark, moved to Pattaya, in Thailand, after finding himself in the crosshairs of the Australian police but still owns a luxury place in Surfer's Paradise. He returned to the Glitter Strip at the weekend and the body builder, who turned over millions as a high-flying loaner - charging up to 200 per cent interest, was seen walking through Australia Fair shopping centre at Southport. Scroll down for video A former millionaire money lender who moved to Thailand after becoming a police target has been spotted at the Australia Fair shopping centre at Southport Ward was banned from loaning funds in Queensland in the mid 2000s, and was made to pay $270,000 in fines and $100,000 in court costs, after he was prosecuted by the Department of Fair Trading, the Courier Mail reported. As police rounded in on Sharky by stepping up their intelligence, he decided to move to Thailand in 2009. Looking back on his time as a powerful loan shark on the Gold Coast, Ward said the luxurious lifestyle was all ' worthless, fake bull****t'. 'As for being a gangster, a judge once said that my very presence was extortion. But that's nonsense, I'm a gentle giant. 'I'm just not comfortable driving the Lamborghinis and eating at fancy restaurants. I feel most at home sitting on the beach in the dirt with a couple of dogs by my side.' Looking back on his time as a powerful loan shark on the Gold Coast, Sharky said the luxurious lifestyle was all, ' worthless, fake bull****t' The muscle bound man helped abandoned children and dogs on the streets of Thailand Since relocating, the tattoo-clad body builder would spend four hours every night handing out meat to dozens of stray dogs and cats on the streets of 'sin city', according to reports in 2016. With more than 70,000 puppies born on the streets of Thailand every year, Sharky was believed to be walking more than 10 kilometres a night feeding the desperate animals. 'I guess my passion for helping animals and kids comes from when I was vulnerable as a child. When I was a young I was very vulnerable so I know what they're going through,' the passionate animal carer said at the time. 'Animals and kids cannot always take care of themselves so they need someone looking out for them.' The muscular animal welfare warrior even went as far as defending the animals when the drunk tourists take aim at the defenseless creatures. Sharky was known to also be looking out for the abandoned children roaming the dangerous streets of Pattaya. A 16-year-old youth has been charged with the rape of a four-year-old boy in a remote Northern Territory desert community. The boy was flown about 380km by the Royal Flying Doctor Service from Ali Curung to Alice Springs Hospital on Sunday night and was in a stable condition. Ali Curung is about 170km south of Tennant Creek, where a two-year-old girl was allegedly raped on February 15. The four-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted behind Ali Curung's Baptist Church on Sunday evening, the NT News has reported. A police spokesperson said on Tuesday: 'A 16-year-old male has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and will appear in Alice Springs Youth Court today.' NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the latest incident would be referred to the Children's Commissioner and extra staff from Territory Families had been sent to Ali Curung. A boy has allegedly been raped in remote desert community Ali Curung, Northern Territory Ali Curung (pictured) had a population of 494 at the 2016 Census; 93 per cent were indigenous Ali Curung, where a four-year-old boy was allegedly raped, is 170km south of Tennant Creek Ali Curung (pictured) in the Northern Territory has long had trouble with alcohol and violence 'I'm aware of an alleged sexual assault of a child in Ali Curung,' Mr Gunner said. 'This is an extremely disturbing incident. Every child, no matter where they live, deserves to be in a safe environment.' Police confirmed on Monday night they had arrested 'a youth' following investigations into the alleged sexual assault of the four-year-old. 'Police from the Northern Territory Child Abuse Taskforce are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a child in a remote Northern Territory community,' a spokesperson said. 'A youth is currently in custody and is assisting police with their inquiries.' The spokesperson said no one else was being sought in relation to the alleged rape of the four-year-old. Ali Curung has a population of about 500, almost all of whom are indigenous, and is part of the Barkly Regional Council area which also takes in Tennant Creek. Barkly mayor Steve Edgington met Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion on Tuesday to discuss issues including Ali Curung and alcohol restrictions in Tennant Creek. Ali Curung has historically had major problems with alcohol consumption and crime. The Royal Flying Doctor Service flew the four-year-old boy to Alice Springs Hospital on Sunday The road from the Stuart Highway into Ali Curung, about 170km south of Tennant Creek Ali Curung and Tennant Creek (pictured) have long had serious problems with alcohol Two small children have been reported as having been raped in the Northern Territory this year Barkly Regional Council chief executive Edwina Marks said in 2015: 'It's the same thing, extraordinary consumption of alcohol. There's a lot of anti-social behaviour.' 'People are leaving their kids and going off and buying grog at 10am. People desert their family life.' Restrictions on alcohol sale and consumption have since been tightened. Alcohol consumption is also restricted in Tennant Creek, where a 24-year-old man has been charged with sexual assault and refused bail over the incident in February. In that case the alleged victim was flown to Alice Springs Hospital before being rushed to the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, where she was placed in an induced coma due to the severity of her injuries. Her parents are understood to have troubled pasts and are known to be heavy drinkers. The Northern Territory Government has admitted it failed to protect the girl. Tennant Creek has a population of 3,000, one supermarket and 10 main alcohol retailers, including three clubs, two pubs, three bottle shops and two licensed motels. This two-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man, 24, in a house at Tennant Creek last month Tennant Creek (pictured) has a population of about 3,000 and 10 main alcohol retailers Crime statistics showed in the year ending December 31, 2017 there were 319 assaults - more than one for every 10 Tennant Creek citizens - and 13 sexual assaults. Domestic violence-related assaults had risen 32.7 per cent to 264 in the same period and alcohol-related assaults rose 21.9 per cent to 256 incidents. A dispute involving a number of people in a house on Bornite Street on February 6 allegedly led to the death of a 44-year-man 10 days later. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told reporters in February that Tennant Creek was 'probably the highest policed population in Australia.' Tennant Creek is the fifth largest town in the Northern Territory with a population of 2991 at the 2016 Census. Slightly more than half its residents - 1536 - are indigenous. The town is on the Stuart Highway, about 1,000km south of Darwin and 500km north of Alice Springs. A man 'known to authorities' was arrested in connection with the suspicious packages intercepted at various military intelligence sites in the DC area on Monday. The FBI identified the man as Thanh Cong Phan, 43. He was arrested late Monday at his home in Everett, Washington, and was set to appear in federal court Tuesday afternoon. The FBI seized packages delivered to Fort McNair, Fort Belvoir, Dahlgren Naval Station, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, the mail screening centers at the CIA and Secret Service, and other locations. At least two were stuffed with explosive components such as black powder, fuses and circuit boards, and all were said to be accompanied by 'rambling and disturbing' notes. Officials said none of the bombs appeared to be fully functioning, and that they were intended to frighten more than to injure or cause actual damage. A man 'known to authorities' was arrested in connection with the suspicious packages intercepted at various military intelligence sites in the DC area on Monday. The first of the packages was reported at The National Defense University at Fort McNair around 8.30am Another package was also discovered at two sites at Fort Belvoir in Virginia in the afternoon, addressed to The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the defense university Packages were also sent to the Naval Support Facility Dahlgren (pictured), a White House mail-sorting facility and a CIA mail-sorting facility Pictured above is Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, where another suspicious package was sent Monday Phan's motive was not immediately clear, but the official said there was no immediate connection to terrorism. Investigators also told NBC the suspect may have an 'obsession' that motivated him to deliver the bombs. According to the outlet he may have had 'long-standing grievances' and 'had probably expressed them before.' Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on Tuesday that that all of the packages sent to Defense Department facilities are under the control of the federal authorities. 'Basically there's a set procedure, they went through the procedure,' said Mattis. 'We've had nobody injured and all those packages and all the evidence is accessible and is the hands of the FBI right now.' The first package raised alarm at The National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, DC around 8.30am. The package was found to contain black powder, which can be used to make explosives. An X-ray also found what appeared to be a GPS and a fuse. The building was evacuated and later cleared around 1:15pm. 'At 12.10pm, 52nd Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal from Fort Belvoir, VA, confirmed the package tested positive for black powder and residue, Army spokesman Michael L. Howard said in a statement. 'The X-ray conducted indicates suspected GPS and an expedient fuse were attached. The package was rendered safe. No injuries are reported,' he added. Parcels also arrived at a CIA mail-sorting facility, a White House mail-sorting facility, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and two locations on Fort Belvoir - the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and another defense university. Previous reports said there were six packages sent in total. But a law enforcement official told CNN that more than 10 packages were intercepted. All were investigated and deemed to be safe. The FBI is analyzing the packages at their lab in Quantico, Virginia. One of those packages contained liquid in a vial and a circuit board, according to law enforcement officials. The packages were found at these three locations near the Capitol as well as CIA and White House mailing facilities Some of the deliveries were also accompanied with some long letters, described as rambling and disturbing, according to officials. Officials do not believe the packages are linked to the bombings in Austin, Texas. It is not yet clear if the packages are all linked to one another. CNN reported that the military bases where the packages were sent make up the backbone of military presence around the Capitol. Phan has a prior criminal record, having been arrested in 2011 near Woodland, Washington, the Daily Democrat reported. He was apprehended after stealing a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo from a gas station in Redding in May, 2011. Police there put out a 'lookout' alert for the car, and he was arrested at 7.30am on the 23rd after a police chase. Phan was charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle and felony evading. At one point Phan also called into the California Highway Patrol to tell officers he had killed his brother, who was contacted and confirmed to still be alive. MPs from all parties called on Greg Clark to intervene to protect UK industry and jobs The Business Secretary was urged last night to block the hostile takeover of GKN on national security grounds. With just two days to go until the firms fate is decided, MPs from all parties called on Greg Clark to intervene to protect UK industry and jobs. Mr Clark has so far said little on the battle despite mounting concern for the historic engineering firm, which made Spitfires during the Second World War. The 259-year-old company, which also made cannonballs for the British in the Battle of Waterloo, is under pressure from predator Melrose, which snaps up underperforming businesses and sells them on at a profit. In the past, Theresa May has signalled that the government will block the takeover if it is not in the national interest. The Prime Minister told the House of Commons in February: Of course the Business Department will be looking closely and have been following closely the issue that he has raised, and I can ensure him [Labour MP Jack Dromey] that I and the Government as a whole will always act in the UK national interest. It emerged over the weekend that 25 per cent of GKNs shares are now held by hedge funds aggressive speculators seeking to profit from deals. This means its future could rest with a band of ruthless investors with little long-term interest in the firm. With only two days left until the shareholder vote on Thursday afternoon, MPs ramped up the pressure on Mr Clark. Tory MP Rachel Maclean, whose constituency includes GKNs Redditch headquarters, said: I have met Greg Clark and have made my concerns very clear, it is at the top of his agenda. I really want him to listen and if it is the right thing to do, to exercise his power. Labour MP Jack Dromey, who has been campaigning against the takeover, said: The failure to intervene would let down the British people and British industry. [Mr] Clark must now not let the country down. Workers gathered last month to stand against the GKN takeover Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labours shadow business spokesman, said: The Secretary of State for Business has the power to stop this deal. He should use that power now. The grounds for the Government to intervene in a takeover bid are limited, though it can step in on national interest fears if they have concerns over security, financial stability or media plurality. Last month Alex Chisholm, the permanent secretary to the Business Department, said ministers were assessing whether the bid should be blocked over national security. Asked about the issue in Parliament on March 13, Mr Clark said he would look very carefully at evidence given by both Melrose and GKN to an earlier business committee hearing. However, the future of the firm could be decided by a company based across the Atlantic. US investment titan Blackrock, which employs former chancellor George Osborne as an adviser, is GKNs biggest shareholder, with a 6.57 per cent stake worth 487million. In the past, Theresa May has signalled that the government will block the takeover if it is not in the national interest It is likely to play a crucial role in the knife-edge vote on whether the firm should be taken over by Melrose. City insiders believe Blackrock is secretly preparing to support Melrose, in which it is the second-largest shareholder with a 9.38 per cent stake worth 402million. Its support for Melrose would be embarrassing for Mr Osborne, who talked up Britains manufacturing prowess as chancellor. A Business Department spokesman last night said that because of Mr Clarks role in the process he could not comment further at this stage. Melrose has stressed it invests in firms as if it owned them forever. It has said: We believe that Melrose has the right team to transform GKN. Blackrock did not respond to a request for comment. Larry Nassar's former boss William Strampel, 70, was taken into custody in the Ingham County Jail in Michigan on Monday night A Michigan State University official who oversaw Larry Nassar was arrested Monday amid an investigation into the handling of complaints against the now-imprisoned former sport doctor. William Strampel was in jail pending an arraignment, Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth told The Associated Press. He declined to say what charges Strampel was facing because the probe is being led by the Michigan attorney general's office. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill Schuette declined to comment. A news conference was scheduled for Tuesday. Strampel, 70, is the first person to be charged in connection with the scandal besides Nassar, who is serving decades in prison for molesting patients under the guise of treatment and for possessing child pornography. Strampel was the dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which includes the sports medicine clinic, until he announced a leave of absence for medical reasons in December. He told police last year that he never followed up after ordering Nassar to have a third person present during certain treatments. In February, interim Michigan State President John Engler announced plans to fire Strampel, who still has tenure that protects his employment as a faculty member. Scroll down for video Disgraced former gymnastics doctor Nassar is months into life prison sentence for molesting multiple underage girls while he was treating them In 2014, Strampel ordered Nassar to have another medical staffer in the room when providing treatment to 'anything close to a sensitive area.' He also said any skin-to-skin contact needed to be explained in detail. 'I am happy to have you back in full practice,' Strampel told Nassar in an email. Nassar was fired in 2016 for violating the rule. His dismissal came less than a month after former gymnast Rachael Denhollander filed a criminal complaint saying Nassar had sexually assaulted her with his hands while treating her for back pain years earlier. Strampel told a campus detective and FBI agent in 2017 that he had never followed up to see if Nassar was following the order because Nassar had been 'exonerated' in an investigation of a patient's complaint and the imposed guidelines were 'health care 101.' Peter Dutton has angrily hit back at a Greens senator for accusing him of being a neo-Nazi for wanting to help white South African farmers. Nick McKim, the Greens's immigration spokesman, last week suggested the immigration and home affairs minister was a 'white supremacist' for flagging the idea of giving special refugee visas to white landowners. However Mr Dutton, a former Queensland police officer, hit back saying the Greens had failed to point to one word or sentence he had spoken which could imply he is a fascist. Scroll down for video Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has angrily hit back at a Greens senator for accusing him of being a neo-Nazi for wanting to help terrified South African farmers 'Having been called a racist or a fascist or a neo-Nazi as they did last week, you know some of that mud sticks and it angers me because thats not the person I am and if you look at my life in this place and as a police officer, I've not discriminated against people,' he told Sky News on Monday night. 'Point me to a sentence, to a word that I used that was racist or fascist or neo-Nazi in its context or intent and of course they can't.' After Senator McKim's delivered an inflammatory speech in parliament, Canberra-based Sydney Morning Herald press gallery journalist Jacqueline Maley suggested the Greens politician had 'danced his steps perfectly when he came out on Thursday and labelled Dutton "racist" and "fascist".' Nick McKim suggested the immigration and home affairs minister was a 'white supremacist' for flagging the idea of giving special refugee visas to white landowners Mr Dutton (right on Sky News), a former Queensland police officer, said the Greens had failed to point to one word or sentence he had spoken which could imply he is a fascist Without mentioning her by name, the immigration minister suggested there was left-wing media bias that supported the Greens. 'Unfortunately, they've got many travellers on the left within the media who don't call them out, who refuse to call them out and I'm just not going to be cowered into submission,' he said. Last week, Senator McKim condemned Mr Dutton for wanting to give refugee status to white South African landowners who will be forced off their properties without compensation. In 2017, 400 farmers were bashed in South Africa, with two farmers murdered every week. 'They're adopting an approach to South Africa that's been lifted from neo-Nazis and white supremacists,' Senator McKim said. 'Make no mistake. The yearning for apartheid and the White Australia policy still exists inside the Liberal Party in Australia today.' The Tasmanian senator's speech came three weeks after South Africa's mainly black lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to confiscate white-owned land without compensation. The motion was moved by radical MP Julius Malema, from the Economic Freedom Fighters, who later said he wanted to 'cut the throat of whiteness'. White elderly farmers have been murdered and brutally assaulted on their land, as South Africa tries to undo the racist, colonial policies of Apartheid. Peter Dutton has called for special humanitarian visas to be given to these farmers. Peter Dutton has called for special humanitarian visas to be given to farmers (pictured is Piet Els, 86, who was bashed with a metal bar despite being a friend of the late Nelson Mandela) In 2017, 400 farmers were bashed in South Africa, with two farmers murdered every week However, Senator McKim said this idea was racist, even though Australia under Tony Abbott in 2015 agreed to settle 12,000 Syrian refugees. 'Without a moment's hesitation, Home Affairs Minister Dutton jumped into the fray, saying that these white farmers needed rescuing by a 'civilised country' like Australia,' he said. 'Now, in using those words, Minister Dutton is not dog-whistling to racists; he is actually foghorning to racists. 'There's nothing subtle about this racism and this white nationalism, and it is becoming more and more blatant in the Australian Liberal Party every day that passes during which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull does not rebuke and pull his home affairs minister into line.' South Africa's constitution is set to be amended after the national parliament in Cape Town voted, 241 to 83, to seize land from white farmers. The policy had the support of the ruling African National Congress, led by new president Cyril Ramaphosa, but it was opposed by the Opposition Democratic Alliance. One of Australia's worst paedophiles has successfully applied to be released from jail, but will be unable to hide his location from the public. Colin Humphrys, 66, who will live in the Bowden-Brompton area of Adelaide, wanted his location kept private out of fear of possible vigilantes and violent reprisals. Humphrys was jailed for 19 years in 2009 for sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy, after previously being convicted for attacks on a nine-year-old. Colin Humphrys (pictured), 66, who will live in the Bowden-Brompton area of Adelaide , wanted his location kept private out of fear of possible vigilantes and violent reprisals The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved Humphrys' release, which is set for May 14 on a supervised licence, The Advertiser reported. Release conditions require Humphrys to take anti-libidinal medication and undergo counselling, and his movement will be restricted. When assessing Humphrys' application to have his release location kept hidden, Justice Trish Kelly said the public had the right to know. 'Having weighed this up anxiously, the interests of justice are best served in exactly the way that's been put forward by prosecutors and, to some extent, by the media,' she said. 'It's in the public interest, and it's in the interests of monitoring Humphrys, that the community is aware, generally speaking, of the Bowden-Brompton area. 'That way, if he's not where he should be, there will be more than just police looking for him.' Humphrys' lawyer Peter Morrison had argued his client's address could be revealed to the public as the release area was confined, but Justice Trish rejected that claim. She said courts needed to decide what is in the public interest, but admitted it was a 'vexing' issue. In 1985 Humphrys kidnapped a boy in Queensland, and he served eight years behind bars for molesting a boy, 9, in 1990 to 1991 after taking him to Kings Cross, Sydney. Justice John Sulan gave him a 19-year sentence in 2009, without a parole period, for the three-year-long abuse of a 14-year-old boy. An iconic live music venue that has hosted famous music stars including Prince and Missy Higgins is closing its doors. The Basement in Sydney, hailed the 'beating heart of Sydney's live music scene', has ended its lease with owners AMP. The venue has hosted famous musicians including Neil Diamond, Prince, Missy Higgins, Dizzie Gillespie, Guy Pearce and Herbie Hancock, while also providing a haven for local jazz musicians. An iconic live music venue that has hosted famous music stars is is closing its doors. American singer Neil Diamond pictured at The Basement in February 2011. Australian rock band Killing Heidi is pictured performing at The Basement in May 2002 The venue has been hailed the 'beating heart of Sydney's live music scene during a parliamentary inquiry Legendary British Blues-man John Mayall performing live at The Basement in Sydney in February 2003 Sydney musician Danny G Felix expressed his devastation at the venue closing 'in less than a week' while reflecting on his 'life changing performances' on Facebook. 'This place has come to mean a lot to me and has been an important part of my own musical journey,' he said. 'I will miss it dearly and really hope something changes in Sydney before there are no venues left for people to escape and for artists to create.' Jacqui Munro, who has performed at the venue, described The Basement as a 'special home for live music in Sydney.' Jimmy Barnes and Glenn Hughes, former bassist of Deep Purple, performing at the live music venue The venue has hosted famous musicians including Neil Diamond, Prince, Missy Higgins, Dizzie Gillespie, Guy Pearce and Herbie Hancock Sydney musician Danny G Felix expressed his devastation at the venue closing 'in less than a week' while reflecting on his 'life changing performances' on Facebook The live jazz venue (pictured) first opened in Bulletin Place, Circular Quay in 1972 before the original venue was demolished and they moved next door to the current site at 7 Macquarie Place Chris Bailey from The Angels performs on stage at The Basement in July 2005 The owners, AMP, confirmed they have 'amicably agreed to end the lease' after working with management at The Basement for more than six months. The live jazz venue first opened in Bulletin Place, Circular Quay in 1972 before the original venue was demolished and they moved next door to the current site at 7 Macquarie Place. 'Like our partners at The Basement, we are equally disappointed the partnership and venue won't continue after a decade of working together,' she said. 'While it's too soon to say whether another music operator, bar or restaurant will move in, there is absolutely no intention to convert The Basement into office space.' The owners, AMP, confirmed they have 'amicably agreed to end the lease' after working with management at The Basement for more than six months' American Emily King (pictured) performing at the venue, which first opened in Circular Quay in 1972 'AMP has enjoyed a great relationship with The Basement for more than 10 years and has been strong supporters of the venue, their artists, patrons and live music in Sydney.' The Basement still lists events until the end of the year including a Diesel solo tour on April 28. Mischa Simmonds, who attended a performance at the venue Monday night, told Daily Mail Australia The Basement was a 'packed house'. 'It upsets me a great deal that even an iconic venue like The Basement can not survive in Sydney,' he said. 'There are now so few options for quality live music in Sydney. A city without a vibrant creative pulse is not a city worth living in.' A parliamentary inquiry was told the venue is 'the beating heart of Sydney's live music scene', with 61 per cent of live music venues lost in the past 10 years. Archaeologists digging at the proposed site of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago have found a host of artifacts dating back to the 1893 World's Fair. As part of the federal review of plans for the proposed center, archaeologists from the Illinois Department of Transportation have been conducting a survey of Chicago's Jackson Park, site of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, aka World's Fair, and where the Barack Obama Presidential Center would be built. Among the items found by the archaeologists are pieces of World's Fair buildings including what could be parts of architect Louis Sullivan's famed Transportation Building as well as fragments of fair coffee supplier Chase and Sanborn-branded cups and saucers, according to the Chicago Tribune. Archaeologists surveyed the Chicago park land and site of the 1893 World's Fair where the proposed Barack Obama Presidential Center would be built Archaeologists excavated seven sites in the 543-acre Jackson Park and the eastern end of the Midway Plaisance in late 2017 to see if any historically significant materials were buried there Since only black and white photos of the World's Fair exist, historians believe that the unearthed building fragments could help identify the exact colors of the Transportation Building and others. Researchers found 9,841 artifacts all told, including the World's Fair building fragments and bones, most of which were said to be beneath the land earmarked for the Obama Center. Aside from nails, spoons, buttons, graphite rods used to light World's Fair lamps and bottles, they discovered a fan-shaped brass Japanese necklace likely from the 1940s and lost by a parkgoer. The archaeologists also found animal bones in an area of the park where the World's Fair incinerator, capable of eliminating 100 tons of garbage a day, was located. Most of the bones were burned and said to be fairgoer food waste. Among the more than 9,800 artifacts found were World's Fair (shown) building fragments, pottery shards, animal bones and bottles. Officials said the findings didn't make the site eligible for the National Register of Historic Places Federal environmental and historic preservation laws require US agencies to examine the local impact of proposed historic buildings and sites, such as the proposed Obama Center (shown) Opponents of the Obama Center said it will ruin the park's landscape, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and already listed on the National Register The archaeologists' report suggested that there was 'the remote possibility' that some of the bones might've belonged to the pair of camels and five reindeer that were featured in the fair's 'Streets of Cairo' and 'Lapland Village' attractions and said to have died on site. A spokesman for the citys Department of Planning and Development said none of the bones found were identified as being camel or reindeer bones, though. State officials said that the archaeologist's discoveries did not indicate significant new knowledge of Jackson Park to warrant listing on the National Register of Historic Places. 'People may be interested in those bits and pieces, but just because theyre these historical curiosities doesnt make them eligible for the National Register,' Brad Koldehoff, chief archaeologist for the Illinois Department of Transportation, told the Chicago Tribune. Had the findings been significant enough to be worthy of the National Register, however, the findings could have impacted both the approval and construction of the Obama Center, which is currently under review by both city and federal authorities. Federal environmental and historic preservation laws require that US agencies need to examine the local impact of proposed historic buildings and sites, such as presidential libraries and museums. Researchers for the Illinois State Archaeological Survey excavated seven sites in the 543-acre Jackson Park and the eastern end of the Midway Plaisance the planned location of the center's parking garage in late 2017 to see if any historically significant materials were buried there. The Obama Foundation is building the $500million, privately-funded Obama Center The archaeological findings will be presented and discussed on Thursday at a public meeting. Officials will also discuss a new list of historic properties that the Obama Center might impact if build on the currently proposed location. Opponents to the Obama Center have already said that the $500million privately-funded building will ruin the park's landscape, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and already listed on the National Register. In January, the Obama Foundation decided to move the parking garage to an underground location within the centers 19-acre site. City officials have said that it will cost taxpayers $175million to build roads and underpasses to serve the Obama Center. The Obama Foundation, which is building the Obama Center which would consist of a museum tower, a forum building and a third building is hoping to break ground in late 2018 and open the center to the public in 2021. An elderly cancer patient has been left covered in bruises after she was allegedly violently restrained and robbed of money by a nurse at a Sydney hospital. The 77-year-old woman was recovering from surgery at the Bella Vista hospital on March 16 when a worker is said to have gone into her room. Police allege the female employee rummaged through her belongings, taking two credit cards from her wallet. An elderly cancer patient has been left covered in bruises after she was allegedly violently restrained and robbed of money by a nurse at a Sydney hospital (file picture) The nurse is accused of 'physically restraining the woman' while demanding the PINs to the cards. The patient complied. 'It is alleged the woman then withdrew money from the victim's bank account at a nearby shopping centre,' police said in a statement on Tuesday. The cancer patient suffered deep tissue bruising to her arms, legs, neck and chest. The 45-year-old hospital worker was arrested on Tuesday and charged with aggravated robbery, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage. She was refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court later in the day. The Australian army has fought many battles, but not many have resulted in outright failure. One of those defeats was not suffered at the hands of a rival military force, but a flightless bird running amok in Western Australia. The Great Emu War of 1932 was fought in order to curb the emu population in the Campion district. One of those defeats was not suffered at the hands of a rival military force, but a flightless bird running amok in Western Australia The Great Emu War of 1932 was fought in order to curb the emu population in the Campion district There was growing public concern that the birds were destroying the crops of farmers (Pictured: Sergeant S.McMurray and gunner J. O'Halloran armed with a Lewis machine gun) There was growing public concern that the birds were destroying the crops of farmers, and a number of former soldiers who had settled in the area after World War I requested machine guns to manage the emu population. Minister of Defence Sir George Pearce authorised the use of automatic Lewis machine guns in the war against the emus under the condition that they were only to be fired by trained soldiers. A report from Melbourne newspaper The Argus at the time said the 'emus were appearing in thousands'. The farmers were desperate for their crops to stay intact in the wake of the Great Depression. The emu's status as a national symbol did not go completely amiss however, with one publication reporting that the 'war, ironically enough, is one being continually waged against a creature regarded at home and abroad as a national symbol of Australia'. The Western Australian government agreed to fund the war, including the cost of 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Farmer Ray Owen holds an emu during the Great War of 1932 The Western Australian government agreed to fund the war, including the cost of 10,000 rounds of ammunition The battle against the world's second-largest bird was expected to be straight-forward, but it proved to be anything but The battle against the world's second-largest bird was expected to be straight-forward, but it proved to be anything but. The emus were often positioned too far away for the machine guns to reach, and when soldiers attempted to move closer the emus used their speed to run away. An ambush on a flock of more than 1000 emus proved to be a failure as the birds split into smaller groups. The soliders were only managing to kill about 12 emus at a time, and their crops were still being destroyed. An army official noted that the emus even changed their tactics in response to the gun fire. The emus were often positioned too far away for the machine guns to reach, and when soldiers attempted to move closer the emus used their speed to run away The soliders were only managing to kill about 12 emus at a time, and their crops were still being destroyed '[Each] pack seems to have its own leader now - a big black-plumed bird which stands fully six feet high and keeps watch while his mates carry out their work of destruction and warns them of our approach,' he said. The emus' cunning and guerilla tactics meant they rendered the machine gun-fire useless. Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Royal Australian Artillery commanded the Australian forces in the Great Emu War, and was so impressed with the efforts of his enemy that he wished he could recruit them. 'If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds it would face any army in the world,' he said. 'They can face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks.' Public pressure and the realisation that the emus would not surrender forced the army's retreat. Only 1000 of the birds had been killed, one death for every 10 bullets used. The war was deemed a failure, and a bounty system and emu-resistant fences proved to be more effective at limiting the population. A Long Island man pleaded guilty last week to terrorizing his ex-girlfriend by posting her information on prostitution sites and mailing drugs to her university address after they broke up last year. Thomas Traficante, 23, entered the guilty plea in federal court on Thursday to cyberstalking and possession of illegal drugs as part of a two-month harassment campaign against his ex-girlfriend. On three occasions Traficante sent drugs to the young woman's address at the State University College at Geneseo, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. Thomas Traficante (pictured), 23, of Long Island, has pleaded guilty to posting his ex-girlfriend's information on prostitution sites and mailing drugs to her unversity address after they broke up last year Courtesy of WHAM Two of the mailings contained cocaine, and one of them contained methamphetamine. He posted her phone number on backpage.com under a category known for prostitution solicitation. She told authorities that she received dozens of calls from men seeking sex. In the plea, Traficante also admitted to sending the victim a screen shot of her location and asking 'where she was'. Traficante (pictured) was arrested in December for allegedly terrorizing his ex-girlfriend and about a dozen of her Sigma Kappa sisters in November He also admitted to sending 'numerous threatening text messages to the victim and her classmates and her housemates'. Traficante sent the first threatening text message to his ex-girlfriend and her Sigma Kappa sorority sisters on November 10. 'its [sic] not safe out there tonight kappas [sic],' the message read. Another message read: 'There are various people among different orgs who have hurt me. My plan is to hurt them.' According to the Democrat and Chronicle, about a dozen Sigma Kappa sisters at the university told authorities they received the message. The sisters said they ended up changing their plans on November 10 and postponed their event after they received the text. Authorities said at the time that Traficante sent another text about 24 hours later. 'glad [sic] you all mostly took my advice last night, but moving it forward one night doesn't make kappas [sic] or their dates any safer. I mean no harm, im [sic] not the threat, but harm is coming,' the message read. Traficante (pictured) posted her phone number on backpage.com under a category known for prostitution solicitation. She told authorities that she received dozens of calls from men seeking sex Traficante (right) and his girlfriend had broken up shortly before the harassment started Traficante and his girlfriend had broken up shortly before the harassment started. Officials said Traficante, who did not attend SUNY Geneseo, did most of the harassment from downstate. University police checked on the telephone number that had a 585 Rochester-region area code, but found that it was generated by an online service and not linked to a mobile phone. He was arrested in December and charged with cyberstalking and threats. When Traficante sent his ex-girlfriend cocaine, he then alerted campus police to the shipment in hopes she would be arrested. An affidavit from FBI Special Agent Barry Couch said at the time that 'local police searched the sorority members' house and reported the sorority sisters were extremely concerned and scared for their safety after receiving a text that read: 'I'm in the house.' Within a week after calls and texts, Traficante's former girlfriend discovered that someone had posted her contact information on the prostitution website. His ex-girlfriend said she received dozens of calls from men soliciting sex. In early December, university police subpoenaed information about the telephone number that was the source of the texts and were led to Traficante's Long Island home address. The FBI found a semiautomatic AR-15, one that he legally owned, during a search of his home, according to media reports. Under his plea agreement, his recommended sentence is between 30 and 37 months. Traficante is now awaiting sentencing, which is expected in several months. The Sigma Kappa sisters (file image) said they were rattled by the numerous threatening texts The hunt is on for one lucky shopper who scooped nearly $5million in the Lotto at the weekend - but is yet to claim their prize. The punter bought their ticket from a newsagent in Caringbah in Sydney's south, and can look forward to $20,000 a month for the next 20 years. However, attempts from NSW lotteries have been stonewalled and they haven't be able to contact the registered ticket holder. One Caringbah shopper will be awarded $20,000 a month for the next 20 years if they claim their Set for Life prize The ticket was first in the 962 draw on Sunday and was purchased at the Caringbah Village Newsagency. Steve Sutton, the owner of the store where the ticket was purchased, thinks it is a local who won the prize. 'Most people that come through here are from around the area,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's really fantastic if we can put a face to the win,' Mr Sutton said. Attempts from NSW lotteries have been stonewalled as they haven't be able to contact the registered ticket holder The Village Newsagency owner said it had been a few years since a big prize has been won, but this is the 17th first prize ticket bought from his store. Ticket holders are being urged to double check their numbers as soon as possible to claim the prize. A spokesperson for the company said that the registered ticket holder is set for life now and wants to share the news. 'Our winner could be completely unaware that NSW Lotteries is trying to contact them with the dream come true news,' xxx told the Caringbah Leader. NSW Lotteries have asked the person to contact them if they discover they are the ticket holder so they can start claiming their prize. The winning numbers were 2, 14, 20, 30, 29, 24, 16 and 21, with the bonus numbers 37 and 19 in the Sunday night draw. A man who was reportedly bitten by a rat at Walt Disney World has filed a lawsuit against the theme park, seeking more than $15,000 in damages. Galen Haldeman, then 59, and his wife, Carol, were visiting Magic Kingdom in April 2014 when the incident occurred. Haldeman claims he was bitten by the rat as he and his wheelchair-bound wife exited the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland. Galen Haldeman, then 59, and his wife, Carol (both pictured), were visiting Magic Kingdom in April 2014. During that trip Haldeman was reportedly bitten by a rat that had jumped on his wife's wheelchair According to the lawsuit, filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on March 19, a large rat ran into the merchandise store near the ride when Haldeman (left) was bit. He said he was pushing his wife (right) through the store when it happened According to the lawsuit, filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on March 19, a large rat ran into the merchandise store near the ride when Haldeman was bit. Somebody yelled, 'rat!' and kicked the animal, the suit says. Haldeman claims he was pushing his wife through the store when the rat jumped onto one of the wheels of her chair and moved toward her arm. 'Just as the rat was about to bite into Carol's arm, Galen grabbed the rat and yanked it off the chair,' the lawsuit said. 'As he did so, the rat bit into one of Galen's fingers. Galen had to twist the rat's neck, and the rat fell to the floor where someone threw an empty plastic container over it.' According to the suit, a Disney employee rushed over to help the couple and urged visitors not to photograph the animal. The employee then took the rat away. Haldeman and his wife are seeking more than $15,000 in damages for his ensuing medical expenses, physical handicap, disfigurement, mental anguish and other problems related to the incident that occurred after they left the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (pictured) 'Disney violated its duty to keep its park clean and safe by allowing conditions to get to the point where rats were inhabiting the park and were even bold enough to come out openly, among people,' the lawsuit reads. Haldeman and his wife are seeking more than $15,000 in damages for Haldeman's ensuing medical expenses, physical handicap, disfigurement, mental anguish and other problems related to the incident. The Haldemans attorney and Disney were not immediately available for comment. A car crash that sent a toddler flying through the rear window glass has been caught on camera. The two-year-old son of Artesia Cowart, 23, is recovering from bruised lungs and bruises on his head after the car crash on Sunday in Winter Haven, Florida, News 6 reported. Cowart was driving a silver Buick LeSabre with the boy and her three-year-old daughter in the back seat when she pulled up to a stop sign at about 5.05pm, police say. She waited at the stop sign for about 32 seconds, and then pulled out onto four-lane Highway 7 directly into the path of a maroon Ford F-150. Drivers: Arteshia Crowart (left) was driving the LeSabre with the two children in the rear, and Bryan Whiddon (right) was driving the Ford F-150 Cowart pulled up to this stop sign and waited for about 32 seconds, before pulling out into traffic and being stuck by a truck on the driver's side, police said The video shows the truck t-bone the LeSabre near the rear driver's side, sending the car spinning across the road The video shows the truck t-bone the LeSabre near the rear driver's side, sending the car spinning across the road. The boy comes flying through the rear window glass of the car as it spins, lands on the pavement and rolls onto the sidewalk. The car continues rolling backwards along Highway 17. Police say it missed hitting the boy by about five feet. The LeSabre continued rolling until it hit a parked car, cops said. The boy who was ejected from the car was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for treatment. He suffered he suffered bruised lungs and bruises on his head, his aunt said. The LeSabre rolls backward after the crash. Police say it missed hitting the boy by about five feet The LeSabre continued rolling until it hit a parked car, cops said He is in good condition and expected to be released soon. Cowart's LeSabre had two car seats and a booster seat strapped into the rear, but police have not said whether they were properly installed and the children secured. Neither child seat was ejected from the car with the boy. The driver of the truck, 48-year-old Bryan Whiddon, did not require medical treatment. His passenger was transported for minor leg injuries. Crowart and her daughter were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Police said neither speed nor impairment were factors in the crash. A skateboarder was hospitalized after being stabbed during a road rage incident with a bicyclist in New York City. The incident took place in Manhattan's East Side on Monday night at about 8.30pm. Witnesses said a bicyclist collided with a skateboarder near the corner of a street. The 20-year-old skateboarder, who has not been identified, was said to have picked up his deck and mimed hitting the bike rider, according to CBS New York. Authorities said a skateboarder, 20, was stabbed by a bicyclist during a road rage fight near the corner of a street on the East Side of Manhattan Monday night A pool of blood could be seen on the cordoned off street corner where the stabbing took place Witnesses said the bicyclist stabbed the skateboarder in the thigh multiple times and rode off Police said the bicyclist then pulled out a knife and stabbed the skateboarder in the left thigh multiple times and then rode away. The skateboarder was then taken to a local hospital in serious, but not life-threatening condition, according to WPIX. A pool of blood could be seen on the cordoned off sidewalk where the stabbing occurred. The bicyclist is said to be a man who is between 35 to 50 years old. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black hat and a helmet. Police are asking anyone with information about the stabbing to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Australian Conservatives MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins has revealed she discovered her husband's secret stash of child porn with her teenage son. Dr Carling-Jenkins an MP for Victoria, told Insight on SBS she left her husband Gary Jenkins as soon as she discovered the pornography on his laptop. The 42-year-old said she met Jenkins, 46, on a Christian 'cafe site' when she was a single mother in her late 20s with a young son. 'We dated for about six months and then we were engaged for six months and got married,' she said. Dr Carling-Jenkins said it was her husband's gentle nature and his religious beliefs that attracted her to him. Australian Conservatives MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins has revealed she discovered her husband's secret stash of child porn with her teenage son Dr Carling-Jenkins an MP for Victoria, told Insight on SBS she left her husband Gary Jenkins as soon as she discovered the pornography on his laptop 'I was looking for a Christian man, everything that I was looking for in a man, Gary came across with those qualities.' The couple were unable to have children but she felt they were building a life together. At the time she felt their marriage was ordinary, but in hindsight she noticed abnormalities in his personality and thought he may have been depressed. In February 2016, Dr Carling-Jenkins drove from Parliament House in Melbourne to her home 23km away, and logged on to her husband's computer with the help of her teenage son Terry. She said she thought she might find pornography, but discovered something far worse. 'I saw a number of icons on the screen, and I could see small images. So some were photos, some were videos and I started to click on them to see what it was and they were all of children and all of little girls. I saw child rape.' Dr Carling-Jenkins said she broke down in hysterics after finding the pornography. Gary Jenkins, 46, was sentenced to four months in jail in March 2017 for possessing child pornography. He will be forced to report to police for the next eight years, and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register. Australian Conservatives MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins (pictured) has opened up about how she discovered her husband's secret stash of child pornography A picture shared on Twitter by a 7News reporter shows other MPs consoling MP Rachel Carling Jenkins after the speech Dr Carling-Jenkins reported her husband to police, and after he was arrested she cut off contact with him and his family. She said it will be hard for her to trust another man ever again. 'The thing that I will find the hardest now is the images of the children that I saw. So I will still be triggered when I'm in a shopping centre or walking down the street and I see a little girl with particular colour hair or a particular look on her face, that will trigger some of the images that I saw and that's something that I think will take a lot longer to work through.' Dr Carling-Jenkins previously told Sky News she was shocked to discover the pornography. 'I just had a feeling that there was something wrong ... and it was connected to his laptop, so I broke into his laptop and what I found was not what I expected,' she said. Speaking to Andrew Bolt on Sky News on Thursday night Dr Carling-Jenkins (pictured) also revealed political opponents had threatened to use her husband's paedophilia against her 'I went into hysterics. I was just completely overwhelmed. In a lot of ways I guess I just didn't know what to feel, so I guess I lost it.' Dr Carling-Jenkins declined to name the person responsible for making the political threat, but said it led to her asking parliament for permission to make a statement. 'I thought that was probably a step too far, to try and use something like that against me,' she told Mr Bolt. Dr Carling-Jenkins named her ex-husband as a paedophile in a stunning speech in Victoria's parliament on Thursday. Her former husband Gary Jenkins has been convicted and jailed for possessing child exploitation images in the family home, she said. Australian Conservatives MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins has named her ex-husband as a paedophile in a stunning speech in Victoria's parliament She said that she and her son Terrence discovered Jenkins had an 'extensive collection of child pornography' in the family home in February 2016. Dr Carling-Jenkins said her marriage ended in that moment and she immediately left the family home. But she added that he has refused to sign divorce papers and is still in touch with their son. In the heartbreaking speech on Thursday, she admitted she is haunted by the images of the little girls she saw - and does not regret reporting Jenkins to the police. She added: 'I have been silent on this topic until now only because I would not do anything to interfere with police investigations or judicial proceedings, but these are completely over. 'And so it is time to speak out on behalf of the voiceless and the vulnerable in this story: the victims.' Dr Carling-Jenkins said 'the faces of many [victims] are etched in my memory for eternity. 'I pray that the police were able to identify and rescue as many of these poor helpless and vulnerable victims as possible 'I find myself now unconsciously searching the faces of little girls that I see on the streets distressed when a face triggers a memory of a photo or a video of a little girl that I glimpsed in his collection. 'These little girls have lost their innocence, their childhood and their control. These little girls would not have been abused if people like my ex-husband did not provide a market for that abuse.' She also expressed her view that a 'few months in jail' and being on the child sex offender list was not enough of a punishment given the seriousness of the crimes committed. 'I have no regrets as a mother or a wife in reporting and exposing this dreadful crime, which occurred in the privacy of my home. 'My son Terrence has no regrets either, but make no mistake, our lives were turned upside down the day of the discovery. Dr Carling-Jenkins' former husband Gary has been convicted and jailed for possessing child exploitation images in the family home, she said 'We were gutted. My marriage ended instantly and I left home the day I made that discovery and I have not returned to the family home since, except to pick up belongings. 'I have no intention of returning to the house which now holds such haunting memories or to the marriage. 'I ceased all support the day I discovered that Gary had perpetrated such a horrendous crime. 'Unfortunately, in true felonious style, he has used our time apart to abuse me, financially, emotionally and psychologically. 'He has refused to give me a property settlement or access to any assets, leaving me with continued unstable accommodation 'He has contacted my son repeatedly, who he had little interest in or investment in previously and he has resisted signing divorce papers.' She added: 'In this discovery, I personally viewed deeply distressing images which have caused me immediate and ongoing anguish. 'Gary was initially picked up based on witness statements my son and I provided to the police, these statements were recorded shortly after our discovery. 'I want to make one thing clear, I had no idea prior to February 2016 that my husband was addicted to child pornography. 'I had believed for a long time that he was suffering from a mental illness and I had attempted on numerous occasions to get him help. 'However, Gary had consistently rebuffed or sabotaged these attempts and I thought at the time that was another symptom of a mental illness.' She continued: 'Gary does not have a mental illness, his behaviours stem from something much more sinister.' A picture shared on Twitter by a 7News reporter shows other MPs consoling her after the speech. After being elected to parliament in the 2014 election, Dr Carling-Jenkins said she 'refused to be a bystander' in her maiden speech. 'I am no William Wilberforce, but he inspires me to value conviction over comfort, tenacity over temporary gain and devotion over indifference,' she said. 'Like Wilberforce, I am a non-conformist. I am not a bystander; I refuse to be a bystander. 'Under my watch there will not be silence... And so I stand here today and for the next four years as a voice for the vulnerable, a voice for the enslaved and a voice for the voiceless.' Marijuana could be legalised for recreational use in Australia as lawmakers campaign to end long-standing bans on the mind-altering drug. Victorian members of parliament want their state to consider following Colorado and California and allow adults to carry or buy cannabis for personal use without being fined or charged. The parliamentary Inquiry Into Drug Law Reform made the call after visiting areas of the United States where it is legal to get high on marijuana. Marijuana could be legalised for recreational use in parts of Australia if some politicians have their way They argued a sales tax could be levied on marijuana if it was legalised, and explored how cannabis could be regulated so it had child-proof packaging and was only available for sale to adults. The eight-member parliamentary committee visited Sacramento, in California, and Denver, Colorado, to explore the 'non-medical' use of cannabis. 'The committee found this is an area of drug law reform worthy of further investigation,' their report said. Geoff Howard, a state Labor MP who chaired the parliamentary inquiry, said existing laws banning mind-altering drugs had not worked. Victorian members of parliament (Melbourne's Flinders Street Station pictured) want their state to consider decriminalising cannabis, like Colorado and California 'Historically, the approach to drugs both internationally and in Australia was based on prohibition of recreational drug use,' he said. 'There is growing recognition that a dominant focus on law enforcement strategies has not eradicated the supply or demand for such substances, but has contributed to increased harms such as overdoses and black market crime.' The 640-page parliamentary report also explored how medical cannabis could be legalised so doctors were able to prescribe it to their patients. It is illegal in every state and territory of Australia to grow or possess cannabis. However in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, offenders caught with small amounts of cannabis pay a fine and avoid criminal charges. In other Australian states, repeat offenders are charged after cautions and treatment programs fail. In the United States, Colorado allows people aged 21 or older to grow and carry 28 grams of cannabis. California this year allowed adults to buy a similar quantity of marijuana for personal use. A woman posted pictures of the horrific injuries she suffered after a man punched her in the face during a bachelorette party in hopes it would help police catch him. Amanda Comparetto, 23, from Sarasota, Florida, was at an Irish pub with her friends when an unidentified man attacked and gave her 'a concussion and permanent facial scaring'. The attack occurred outside MacDinton's Irish pub in St. Petersburg, Florida, after the bar was closed. After months of police being unable to identify the attacker, Comparetto made a post on Facebook in a plea for the public to help her. Amanda Comparetto, 23, was attacked by an unidentified man in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was leaving an Irish pub with her friends when he approached them He punched her in the face, which knocked her out, after she told him to leave all of them alone Comparetto said she was assaulted by a man wearing a red shirt as she and her friends were leaving the bar after a bachelorette party. They were waiting for their Uber to arrive when he grabbed one of the other female's arms and said he was 'taking her to be my wife'. The 23-year-old tried to tell the guy to leave them all alone, but he just kept saying 'this is my wife' in reference to one of the women. He then punched Comparetto in the face and she woke up on the ground covered in her blood. In her Facebook post, she said she did not touch the man and did nothing to encourage the unjustified attack. A video from the night at the pub shows the man dancing in a red shirt to the right of another man wearing a white jacket. Comparetto posted her injuries on Facebook in hopes that it would help police find the suspect. She described the man as Hispanic and 5'11'' The 23-year-old is recovering from her injuries but she says she will forever have a scar on her face. She said she did nothing to justify him punching her This video was handed over to St. Petersburg police who say the investigation is ongoing. Comparetto described him as a Hispanic male who is around 5'11'' and in his late 20s to early 30s. While her injuries have mostly healed since the incident, the victim says she will forever have a scar on her face from where he punched her. The owner of the pub has been cooperating with police and says that there is no surveillance footage to show the attack. Comparetto is asking anyone with information to call 941-809-8121. Anastacio Eugenio Lopez-Fabian, 24, was deported to Guatemala twice but was arrested in February in Oregon for raping a girl under the age of 14 A man who was deported twice to Guatemala has been charged with the rape of a girl younger than 14 in Oregon. Anastacio Eugenio Lopez-Fabian, 24, was arrested by Seaside police in Oregon in February after investigators found he had sex with the underage girl multiple times. He has been charged with rape as well as assault and harassment. He posted bail and was released but was later detained again on March 7 after police learned of his illegal status in the US and that he had been deported twice before. He is currently held at a detention center in Tacoma, Washington. Lopez-Fabian was deported to Guatemala twice, in 2013 and 2014, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman Carissa Cutrell. Alarm was raised last week when the victim's mother reported her as a runaway to police last week. She said the girl left the house and did not want to go to school after attending a party the night before, according to the Daily Astorian. Police found her at Lopez-Fabians home. The crime was discovered when police interviewed her. On Monday ICE released a statement to KATU News revealing Lopez-Fabian is an illegal immigrant in the US. Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said to the ICE he wants to take Lopez-Fabian to court in Oregon (above) due to the severity of his crimes 'Anastacio Eugenio Lopez-Fabian is a citizen of Guatemala illegally in the U.S. ICE deportation officers removed him to his home country on two prior occasions, once in April 2013 and another time in January 2014,' the statement said. 'On Feb. 16, 2018, Lopez-Fabian was arrested for felony rape, among other charges...Hours after his release, ICE deportation officers received information from federal databases about his prior immigration history and his most recent arrest,' it continued. 'From there, they conducted an online review of jail and court records and determined that Lopez-Fabian did not have lawful status in the country, and subsequently, targeted him for immigration enforcement,' it said. He was then arrested for his immigration violations. He is scheduled to appear before Clatsop County court next month for the rape charges. Clatsop County has been criticized by ICE for not detaining undocumented immigrants. Sheriff Tom Bergin said 'He posted bail, so there's not much we can do unless ICE notifies us, which it didn't' on the matter. Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said to ICE he wants to take Lopez-Fabian to court due to the severity of his offenses against the young girl, according to KATU News. An American photojournalist who managed to escape al-Qaeda captivity in Syria five years ago claims the FBI betrayed him and that agents put intelligence gathering ahead of his safety. Matt Schrier, now 39, was taken hostage by Jabhat al-Nusra, a militant group aligned with al-Qaeda, while he traveled through Syria back in December 2012. He claims he was tortured and beaten by Syrian rebels who accused him of working for the CIA and imprisoned him in dark cell for seven months until he managed to escape. Matt Schrier was taken hostage by Jabhat al-Nusra, a militant group aligned with al-Qaeda, while he traveled through Syria back in December 2012 Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Following his return to the US, Schrier said he started investigating his abduction and claims to have uncovered a pattern of 'betrayal' from the FBI agents assigned to his case. He claims he was tortured and beaten by Syrian rebels who accused him of working for the CIA and imprisoned him in dark cell for seven months until he managed to escape In an interview with Fox News' The Story on Monday, Schrier said the FBI was monitoring his bank accounts after the terrorists used his money to purchase a dozen computers and tablets. He claims the agents were trying to run an intelligence operation by trying to track the computers and learn more about the terror group's activity. The New York native says the FBI should have instead been investigating how to rescue him. 'So they're monitoring my financial records straight off the bat. They're letting them steal this money. Why are they letting them steal the money, what's the angle? Well, what are they buying? They're buying laptops and tablets,' he said. 'If they intercept them, they do their little spy thing and then they deliver them right into the hands of al-Qaeda and they create, basically, a dream come true for the intelligence community, a way to infiltrate the enemy like never before, without them even knowing it.' Schrier said soon after he was abducted, the terrorists forced him to hand over his bank account details, passwords and social security number so they could steal his identity. Following his return to the US, Schrier said he started investigating his abduction and claims to have uncovered a pattern of 'betrayal' from the FBI agents assigned to his case He claims that when the terrorists were spending his money, the FBI agent assigned to investigate his disappearance misled his mother. They wrote to her saying early indications suggested he was in fact the one using the money. 'I'd been kept in the dark for extremely long periods of times, I'm infested with bedbugs,' Schrier said. 'Yet, according to the FBI, I'm speaking to people on my cellphone, I'm buying laptops and cologne and boots and sunglasses, maybe going into Turkey once in a while to get away from things, you know, just like all jihadis do, you know. 'Cause Southern Turkey's like the Hamptons, you know?' Schrier said he demanded answers from the FBI, which was then headed by Robert Mueller, when he returned but claims he was ignored. He maintains his communications still went unanswered when James Comey took over the ranks. 'I was emailing him questions. I was forwarding him all these emails. I was demanding answers from him and I never got anything back,' he said of his correspondence with Comey. Schrier said he demanded answers from the FBI under both Robert Mueller (left) and James Comey (right) but claims he has been ignored Schrier said he debriefed the FBI and CIA when he returned to America, but claims they didn't offer much help when it came to trying to reclaim his stolen identity. He said he needed help getting another social security number and rebuilding credit after recovering more than $16,000 in stolen funds. 'I gave them more information than probably 50 informants could've given them... I gave them Skype names, I gave them more than anyone in my situation has ever given them. I can say that definitively. And what I got in return was lies, betrayal, nothing,' he said. 'I have all the evidence, I have made one attempt after another to have this investigated so that the people responsible can be held accountable, nobody will return my calls, nobody will investigate this, despite all the evidence.' The FBI said they could not comment on Schrier's case because it was part of an ongoing investigation. 'The FBI works closely with our federal partners not only to ensure that the U.S. Government does all that it can to safely recover Americans taken hostage overseas but to also assist victims who have been defrauded or further abused by a hostage-taker,' an FBI spokesperson said. Three former US presidents shared a pew and a pulpit Tuesday as they remembered former Georgia Governor and US Senator Zell Miller (pictured in an official senate portrait) Three former US presidents shared a pew and a pulpit Tuesday as they remembered former Georgia Governor and US Senator Zell Miller. Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George Bush were among hundreds to attend the funeral, held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Tuesday's service was the second of three public services for the 86-year-old who died on Friday after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. 'Zell Millers just don't come along very often,' said Reverend Bill Britt at the opening of the service, with Carter, Clinton and Bush seated on the first pew near Miller's flag-draped casket. The three former presidents also commemorated the late public servant. Bush called Miller 'one of a kind,' according to WSB-TV, and said he 'never forgot where he came from, or where he's headed.' Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George Bush were among hundreds to attend the funeral, held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta Bush called Miller 'one of a kind,' according to WSB-TV , and said he 'never forgot where he came from, or where he's headed' 'His life is a testament to all that is good, and all that is possible to the country we love,' Bush said during his memorial. He is pictured touching the casket after speaking Speaking at the memorial, former President Bill Clinton said he felt an immense 'personal debt' to the late politician and said he 'not only liked Zell Miller, I admired him' The author of Georgia's HOPE college scholarship program, Miller was a lifelong Democrat but is the only American to have delivered the keynote address at a Democratic and Republican national convention. He is pictured at the 1992 convention, where he spoke for Clinton 'His life is a testament to all that is good, and all that is possible to the country we love.' Former president Carter called Miller 'outspoken' and said he might have been one of the most important governors for education policy, and 'one of the most public servants we've ever seen in Georgia.' Clinton said he felt an immense 'personal debt' to the late politician and said he 'not only liked Zell Miller, I admired him.' The author of Georgia's HOPE college scholarship program, Miller was a lifelong Democrat but is the only American to have delivered the keynote address at a Democratic and Republican national convention. He did it for Clinton, a Democrat, in 1992 and Bush, a Republican, in 2004. Former President Jimmy Carter is pictured giving a heartfelt memorial to Miller on Tuesday Former president Carter called Miller 'outspoken' and said he might have been one of the most important governors for education policy, and 'one of the most public servants we've ever seen in Georgia' Former President Clinton is pictured gingerly touching Miller's casket before speaking to a crowd of hundreds gathered at his funeral service Former presidents Clinton and George Bush chat during the funeral service Tuesday's service was the second of three public services for the 86-year-old who died on Friday An aerial shot of the funeral service for former Georgia Governor and US Sentaor Zell Miller shows the hundreds of mourners gathered at his second of three services Miller served as Georgia's governor from 1991 to 1999 and then as US senator from 2000 to 2005. He was also remembered as the architect of the HOPE scholarship, an education lottery financing pre-kindergarten programs for 1.6million children. Miller began his political career as a city councilman in his tiny Appalachian hometown of Young Harris before being elected to the state Senate, where he served with Carter. Besides eulogies from three presidents, the church service is replete with hymns from Miller's Methodist faith and a eulogy from one of his grandsons, Bryan Miller. . Pictured Georgia State Patrol troopers salute Miller's casket Miller served as Georgia's governor from 1991 to 1999 and then as US senator from 2000 to 2005. He began his political career as a city councilman in his tiny Appalachian hometown of Young Harris before being elected to the state Senate, where he served with Carter Besides eulogies from three presidents, the church service is replete with hymns from Miller's Methodist faith and a eulogy from one of his grandsons, Bryan Miller. Miller was celebrated Monday in his hometown of Young Harris in the north Georgia mountains where he was born, served as Mayor from 1969-1960, and where he died. After Tuesday's service, Zell Miller will lie in state at the Georgia Capitol until a state funeral Wednesday. A health warning has been issued after a Queensland man was infected with the highly contagious measles virus. The alert was issued after the a man caught a Brisbane train on Monday and Tuesday, in what was the eleventh case of the disease nationwide. The news comes as six people including a baby were diagnosed with the contagious virus in Melbourne. A health warning has been issued after a Queensland man was infected with the highly contagious measles virus In Western Australia, three people contracted measles after travelling to Bali, Indonesia. The third case was confirmed on Saturday, one day after a Sydney infant was also diagnosed after travelling to south Asia. Both the Sydney infant and Melbourne baby were too young to be vaccinated against the disease. The Brisbane man infected with measles caught an 8.31am train from Enoggera station to Roma Street station on Monday and a train at 1.30 Tuesday from Roma Street to Enoggera station. The case comes after six people were diagnosed in Melbourne, three in Western Australia and two in New South Wales In an alert posted to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon, Queensland Health urged anyone with measles symptoms to contact a GP. 'Remember it is very important to call the medical practice first if you think you might have measles, so that staff can take precautions to avoid you spreading it to others,' the alert read. Symptoms of measles include fever, running nose, moist cough and sore eyes followed by a blotchy, red rash often starting on the face and then spreading to the rest of the body. Health departments in all four states have warned the public to contact a GP in the case of suspected measles and stay isolated so the disease doesn't spread. A baby too young to be immunised is the sixth victim to be infected with measles from a man on a Kuala Lumpur flight to Melbourne California has sued the administration of President Donald Trump over a move to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census, citing fears the state will loose Congressional seats and federal funding. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the return of the citizenship question on Monday evening, saying the additional data was needed in order to enforce the Voting Rights Act. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra immediately announced he would sue over the change. Decennial censuses asked about citizenship from 1820 to 1950, and annual sample surveys continue to ask the question. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (center) announced the return of the citizenship question on Monday, saying the additional data was needed in order to enforce the Voting Rights Act California Attorney General Xavier Becerra immediately said he would sue over the change The decennial census, which is mandated in the Constitution, is relied upon for a myriad of important government decisions, including apportionment of Congressional seats and allocation of federal funds. Some in states with high numbers of non-citizens - California has an estimated non-citizen population of 5.2million - fear that people who are living in the country illegally will be afraid to respond to the census. Lowered response rates could reduce a state's representation in Congress and its allocation of federal funds. On the other side, there are those who argue that Congressional representation should be determined by the citizen population alone. Only citizens are allowed to vote in US federal elections. This map shows the population numbers of non-citizens by state. California has an estimated non-citizen population of 5.2million In a memo announcing the change, Ross wrote that 'neither the Census Bureau nor the concerned stakeholders could document that the response rate would in fact decline materially' if a citizenship question were added. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra wasted no time challenging the change, however, calling the citizenship question 'truly insidious' in a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed. 'It would discourage noncitizens and their citizen family members from responding to the census, resulting in a less accurate population count,' Becerra wrote. Becerra said in a statement that he filing a federal lawsuit over the citizenship question, calling it 'illegal' to add to the 2020 Census. A Sydney man has been granted bail after appearing in court charged over obtaining the personal information of controversial anti-bikie policeman 'Raptor 13.' Ebrahim Siamandi appeared at Parramatta Local Court after being charged with obtaining personal information about a law enforcement officer, planning to use the sensitive information to harass and possession of a prohibited drug. Police launched an investigation after Senior Constable Andrew Murphy, who is also known as Raptor 13, had his personal information posted online without his consent earlier this month. Scroll down for video A Sydney man has been granted bail after being charged with obtaining the personal information of Constable Andrew Murphy (pictured) 'Raptor 13', whose real name is Senior Constable Andrew Murphy, was filmed in the middle of the roadside confrontation After footage emerged of the police officer acting in what some felt was an overly aggressive manner a petition was launched calling for a public inquiry into his behaviour. An investigation led by the NSW Police at the time found all allegations against Senior Constable Andrew Murphy were a part of his duties. During their investigation into Siamandi officers obtained a search warrant for his home and seized a Harley Davidson motorcycle, mobile phones, laptop computers, and steroids during their search. He was bailed on the condition that he restrict all contact with Senior Constable Andrew Murphy through the internet or any social media platforms. He is also banned from using electronic equipment which can can access the internet such as a computer, tablet or mobile phone. Constable Murphy is part of an elite militarised police unit which tackles violent bikie gangs. Anti-gang enforcer 'Raptor 13' became a target of vile online abuse after a petition was launched calling for a public inquiry into the controversial New South Wales policeman In 2015, Const Murphy was filmed holding a metal pole to a drivers head while showing how it could be used as a weapon after a routine traffic stop He has previously been seen on camera appearing to throw a motorcyclist's licence on the ground, seemingly push away a woman, refusing to show a driver his speed radar and holding a metal pole to a man's head. Footage obtained by the Daily Mail showed Constable Murphy 'demonstrating' how the metal bar could be 'used as a weapon' after finding it in the front of a mans car. He was also filmed pushing a woman away after she pushes her camera phone under his nose. More recently, footage appeared to show him shove a motorcyclist and confront a group of men at the funeral of a slain bikie boss. A petition was launched in March calling for a public inquiry into his behaviour. In the video uploaded to Facebook on Friday, 'Raptor' 13 pulled out a measuring tape and started sizing up the motorcycles' specifications The officer was seen checking out the luxury cars a number of attendees to Hawi's funeral arrived in 'Officer Murphy has gone too far and something needs to be done,' the petition read. 'Police should be protecting our civilians instead of harassing them. Please sign, nothing will be done unless we stand up in numbers.' The petition was signed by thousands of people and he become the victim of vile online attacks. Over other social media platforms users threatened to rape and kill Constable Murphy. Strike Force Raptor are an elite police unit made up of 55 specialised and heavily armed officers who concentrate on dismantling violent bikie gangs. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any of the people shown committed any crime, or that 'Raptor 13' misused his position of power in any way. A highway pile-up involving 23 vehicles - including 12 trucks - has killed one person and left another in a critical condition. The string of related accidents happened at about 7am Monday on westbound Interstate 80 near Echo Junction in the city of Coalville, Utah. Twelve semi-trucks and two cars were involved in the first crash, according to a Utah Highway Patrol report. A highway pile-up in Coalville, Utah, involving 23 vehicles has killed one person and left another in a critical condition. Twelve semi-trucks were among the vehicles involved (five pictured above after the crash) This caused four more crashes within a half-mile span. The driver of one of the semi-trucks, 61-year-old Oscar Longoria from Missouri, was killed. An unidentified person in a critical condition was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden by helicopter. Chaos: The aftermath of the shocking crash which happened at about 7am Monday on westbound Interstate 80 near Echo Junction. Overturned vehicles and debris can be seen littered across the highway Courtesy of Good4Utah Two others were taken to Park City Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders used The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Coalville to treat 13 others with minor injuries. A total of seven ambulances and two medical helicopters were called to the scene and members of the Park City Fire District agency were in attendance. The Utah Department of Transportation blamed the first collision on icy conditions. 'It is definitely weather related,' said Sergeant Nick Bricker from the Utah Highway Patrol. Utah Highway Patrol Lieutenant Harley Watkins said: 'It was a very significant crash. In 18 years, this is one of the worst I've ever seen.' An investigation has been began to determine what happened. This aerial shot shows some of the semi-trucks involved in the horrific pile-up during the morning commute. By 11am Monday, 125 crashes had been reported in 24 hours None of the trucks were said to be carrying hazardous material and all lanes have reportedly been reopened since the crash. Multiple accidents were reported during the treacherous morning commute. By 11am Monday, 125 crashes had been reported in 24 hours, according to Department of Public Safety officials. The shocking extent of the chaos inside hospitals during the height of winter pressures has been laid bare in a new documentary. BBC2's Hospital went inside Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre in January where dozens of patients were seen lined up on trolleys in waiting rooms. They spent up to 15 hours waiting for beds or to be seen by medics as bosses at the hospital struggled to cope with the 'huge influx' and urged people to stay away unless absolutely necessary. The hospital was put on 'black alert', which means it was operating at full capacity with no bed spaces left. Shocking pictures from inside Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre show dozens of patients lined up on beds in the A&E waiting room in BBC2 documentary Hospital The hospital was shown to be struggling to cope at the height of the winter pressures that hit in the NHS in January At one point the nurse in charge of the A&E department, Claire Reay, can be heard saying 'Where there is space, there will be a trolley'. She added: 'There are a lot of people who have been waiting all night for a bed and we have more patients coming in. There is no stop button'. Queen's director of operations Miriam Duffy is shown talking to staff and telling them to get the message out that only 'genuine emergencies' can be dealt with. She added: 'We have started the day with 30 people needing beds and we have used all our bed space, so this is uncharted territory for us.' The documentary revealed patients were just as anxious as staff, with one who could not be seen properly voicing their concerns. The patient said: 'It makes me feel anxious that I can't see what's around me, but I know I'm in the middle of a big room with lots of people I don't know. 'It's not dignified, people spending their nights next to random strangers when they are poorly.' In footage from an upcoming episode, cancer surgeon David Grant said: 'I know in my own practice sometimes a delay in getting someone in the operating theatre could be the difference between life and death. Nurse Claire Reay, pictured, told the documentary 'where there is space, there will be a trolley' Cancer surgeon David Grant, pictured, said the delays in care of patients 'could be the difference between life and death' 'It stings when that happens. These are people, they are not numbers, they are not targets. They are your mothers, your wives, and your children. Treat them like it.' Meanwhile medics in other parts of the hospital said they were 'at a loose end' because they felt like they should be doing something to help, with many non-urgent procedures cancelled to free up as much space as possible. Orthopaedic consultant Peter James, who finished his clinical work by 9am, told the documentary: 'We're just left largely at a loose end, feeling that we should be doing something to contribute, that we should be working. We are being paid to work and we're just trying to find something constructive to do. 'In a hospital like this we are all so specialised as consultants that we can't make decisions on patients who don't belong to our speciality because we don't have the knowledge or expertise. 'It's not just me, we have all the theatre staff who will be underutilised; the anaesthetists will be in the same position. The lists are doing down so everyone is finishing early; it is a frustrating time for all.' Last year the winter pressures were described as a humanitarian crisis but this year a 'perfect storm' of bad weather, a flu outbreak and norovirus have made matters even worse. Hospital is in its third series on BBC2 and reveals the daily struggles doctors and nurses endure while treating all manner of illnesses and injuries Just 85 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within the four hour target of arrival in A&E last month according to the latest figures and the target of 95% has not been met since July 2015. This winter has seen the worst flu season since 2011, with 306 confirmed deaths according to Public Health England (PHE). Thousands of people have also been affected by norovirus, leading to hundreds of hospital beds being closed every day. The Royal College of Surgeons said at least 62,000 fewer NHS treatments, including surgical operations, were performed by consultants this winter compared to the previous winter. In trauma and orthopaedics, there was an 8.4 per cent fall in treatments. It said the 'necessary evil' of postponing all planned surgery in January to relieve pressure on A&E departments resulted in many patients not receiving treatment when they needed it, 'extending their time in pain or discomfort'. A former CSIRO employee from Canberra has had her compensation cut off for taxpayer-funded massages to treat back pain instigated by a chronic cough. Retiree Eva Pethes developed a respiratory condition after she was exposed to passive cigarette smoke from her colleagues and paint fumes from office renovations while working at the CSIRO as a payroll clerk in 1989, according to Administrative Appeals Tribunal documents. She received almost 700 weekly massages between 1994 and 2016 before government insurer Comcare stopped the payments. A payroll clerk developed a respiratory condition after she was exposed to cigarette smoke from her colleagues and paint fumes from renovations while working at the CSIRO (pictured) Mrs Pethes appealed the decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 'I know that the massage therapy that I need will not restore me to health, nor stop the cough, nor eliminate the muscle pain, but it lessens the pain and helps me to move a bit more freely,' Mrs Pethes told the tribunal recently. She said the massages were for pain relief and gave her greater mobility. 'Massage alleviates the pain and it makes it easier to move around ... I am not as bad as I used to be,' Mrs Pethes said. She added that coughing fits prevented her from living a normal life and at one stage 'had to stop driving for a while.' When asked by the tribunal how confident she is that massage therapy improved pain levels, she replied that she couldn't be 'entirely sure.' Mrs Pethes was also asked to explain how massage makes a difference to her functional ability. 'It depends... sometimes its more painful, sometimes its more restricted... and other times its a little bit easier, its very hard to just pin-point what happens,' was her response. The tribunal was asked to determine whether remedial massage was classified as a medical treatment, whether it pertained to Mrs Pethes' condition, and whether it was 'reasonable in all the circumstances'. According to Comcare's estimates, the cost of Mrs Pethes weekly massage treatment for the remainder of her life expectancy would be $53,508.99. Occupational and environmental physician Dr Angus Forbes noted in his medical reports that massage therapy is 'likely to improve her back pain for a period of hours to days'. He told the tribunal that while massage therapy would provide symptomatic relief from back pain, he said that it could neither cure Mrs Pethes back or respiratory condition. 'The management of back pain through passive therapy such as massage may provide some short-term relief,' Dr Forbes said. 'An appropriate spinal rehabilitation program including core strengthening exercises may offer further improvements. However, given the duration of Ms Pethes pain and her self-reported exercise tolerance it is unlikely that there would be significant improvement.' According to Comcare's estimates, the cost of Mrs Pethes weekly massage treatment for the remainder of her life expectancy would be $53,508.99 AAT deputy president Gary Humphries upheld Comcare's decision and said the evidence indicated that massage treatment cannot have the effect of improving Mrs Pethes' compensable condition. 'The evidence also suggests that the benefits of massage are merely short-term and that it does not lead to any substantial improvement in Mrs Pethes functionality,' he said. 'The overall effect of these factors is that, on the whole, the benefit that massage therapy provides to Mrs Pethes is ephemeral and slight but comes at a substantial ongoing cost. Therefore, the Tribunal finds that massage therapy is not reasonable treatment for Mrs Pethes to obtain in the circumstances.' A Sydney man who said he bit and shook his baby daughter for cultural reasons has been refused bail on a charge of murdering the two-month-old girl. The 35-year-old, who cannot be identified and who was on a bridging visa at the time, has been charged with murdering his daughter, who died of catastrophic brain injury on November 13, 2015. In the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Natalie Adams refused him bail saying at the very least the crown case for manslaughter was strong. A Sydney man who said he bit and shook his baby daughter for cultural reasons has been refused bail on a charge of murdering the two-month-old girl (stock picture of NSW Supreme Court) She also noted he was now in protection after being stabbed in jail following the naming of him in a media report. The man has pleaded not guilty to murder as well as to domestic violence-related charges. He allegedly told police he had bitten and shaken the child 'for cultural reasons'. His lawyer told the court the kissing, biting and shaking was done in a 'misguided' attempt to assist the baby. Referring to the crown case, the judge said a friend noticed bruising on the baby's cheek days before her death. The father had responded by saying: 'I love her too much, what can I do?' The prosecutor on Tuesday said it was 'nonsense' to say kissing a child on the cheek caused a bruise. Authorities visited the home in October after a notification about the risk of serious harm to the baby and mother, but concluded the family was safe. The mother reported that the baby had been giggling and responsive but started crying, and the father held the infant while she went to the kitchen to prepare a bottle. Suddenly she heard a loud scream, then dead silence. The father allegedly looked shocked, before they rang triple-zero and the infant was taken to hospital where she later died. She had bruises on her body and marks that were consistent with bite marks, while the direct cause of death was a catastrophic head injury. In relation to the baby's rib injuries, the father allegedly said that about a week before she died he had dropped her while putting her in the bath. 'The mother said she had not seen the baby completely naked for some time as (the father) would not allow her to bath the victim,' the judge said. He is due to be arraigned in the Supreme Court on April 6. A commuter has been swallowed by an escalator after it collapsed during rush hour. CCTV footage shows a stream of people walking down the escalator, which was out of action for repairs, at Ayazaga Metro station in Istanbul, Turkey. But it suddenly began moving causing a line of people to simultaneously fall down the metal stairs, with some trying to grip on to the handrail. At the beginning of the video, commuters can be seen streaming down the escalator The escalator then suddenly begins moving, with a section at the top opening up, swallowing the victim The escalator kept moving after the man was swallowed up when a section collapsed One man, who the Turkish media named as Mehmet Ali Erik, at that moment stepped on but a section opened up leaving large gaping hole that swallowed him. The escalator, with the victim still underneath, then kept moving for a few seconds before coming to halt. Witnesses stood for a few moments before they rushed to the edge of the hole and looked down to check on Mr Erik's condition. The victim was reportedly trapped for one hour under the metal stairs. After he was rescued by firefighters, he was taken by ambulance to hospital after the accident on February 27. It took firefighters in Istanbul an hour to free the victim from underneath the escalator The local authorities in Istanbul had put up a sign warning people not to use the escalator Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality had reportedly put up a warning sign near the broken escalator before the accident occurred but it failed to prevent people from using it. In 2015 mother was killed when she fell into an escalator at a shopping mall in China, after she heroically threw her toddler to safety. Xiang Liujuan, 30, was travelling up the escalator at Anliang department store in Jingzhou, in the central province of Hubei, with her two-year-old son. When the pair reached the top, however, a floor-plate gave way and the woman fell through the floor. Seconds before falling to her death, the mother was able to thrust her toddler towards mall staff, who dragged the child to safety. Jeremy Corbyn (pictured leaving his London home today) is struggling to contain a growing backlash over his failure to tackle problems within Labour Jewish groups today demanded Jeremy Corbyn takes action against anti-Semitism - warning that 'words are not enough'. Pressure is mounting on the Labour leader amid fears that rampant problems could tear the party to shreds. Mr Corbyn was forced into a grovelling apology last night in a letter to the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council. The veteran left-winger admitted he had been too slow to act and pledged he would be a 'militant opponent' of anti-Semitism. The organisations had accused him of siding with anti-Semites 'again and again'. In a letter following a protest rally at Westminster, the heads of the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council said: 'We note Jeremy Corbyn's apology but we are almost three years into his leadership and words are no longer enough - now we need action. 'The Labour Party must finally demonstrate that it has the genuine will and determination to act effectively against the hate in its membership. We will not be silent and we will continue to hold it to account.' The glare on Mr Corbyn intensified again today as senior backbencher John Mann warned that Labour would 'cease to exist' if it did not address the antisemitism issues. He said opposing such racism was 'in the DNA' of the party. Tories have been urging moderate Labour MPs to form a new party rather than help Mr Corbyn try to become PM. Meanwhile, Tony Blair raised the temperature by arguing that neither the leader nor his aides even understand the depth of the problems. And Labour peer Lord Levy said he was no longer sure he had a place in the party because of the handling of anti-Semitism by the leadership. At least a dozen Labour MPs joined a protest at Westminster against anti-Semitism last night. Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, said anti-Semitism was a 'stain on the conscience of the Labour Party' as he called on Mr Corbyn to take action such as expelling Ken Livingstone, who has been suspended over accusations of anti-Semitism instead of 'mealy-mouthed' statements. As another senior Labour politician broke ranks to condemn Mr Corbyn, Dame Margaret Hodge said she was 'deeply offended' by 'persistent and pervasive anti-Semitism' in and around her party. In a Facebook post, the MP for Barking wrote: 'While Jeremy is not himself anti-Semitic, he has allowed himself to become the poster boy of anti-Semites everywhere.' MPs also vented their fury at the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) last night. Stoke MP Gareth Snell asked why Mr Corbyn had not attended the session, and demanded that he publicly denounce a counter-demonstration being staged by Corbynistas against the rally in Parliament Square. Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies, had accused Mr Corbyn of 'swimming in a sewer totally polluted by anti-Semitism', adding: 'Finally, Jeremy, take some responsibility. Because it's you, and your leadership, that are responsible for this. Token words, token apologies, are no longer enough.' Labour's John Mann today renewed his warning that the party could cease to exist if the anti-Semitism problems are not addressed Hundreds of protesters gathered on Parliament Square last night (pictured) to hear Jewish leaders warn Jeremy Corbyn 'enough was enough' in an anti-Semitism storm Cabinet minister Sajid Javid and Labour's Chuka Umunna stood shoulder to shoulder at the anti_Semitism protest last night Around 100 Corbyn supporters staged a counter-demonstration organised by Jewish Voice for Labour. Spokesman, Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, suggested the public would think Jews were 'interfering with the UK' by attending the protest. In his letter last night, Mr Corbyn apologised for questioning the removal of a controversial mural in the East End in 2012 without studying its content. He wrote: 'I recognise that anti-Semitism has surfaced within the Labour Party, and has too often been dismissed as simply a matter of a few bad apples. 'I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused, and pledge to redouble my efforts to bring this anxiety to an end. I will never be anything other than a militant opponent of anti-Semitism.' Tory MPs including Nicky Morgan and Will Quince have raised questions about whether moderate Labour MPs can continue to serve under Mr Corbyn Mr Corbyn (pictured in the Commons last night) Luciana Berger wrote to fellow Labour MPs last night on behalf of the Jewish Labour Movement to warn: 'We have faced consistent attack from within in our own party. 'We are told we only exist to weaponise anti-Semitism in order to undermine the leadership.' Tory MPs including Nicky Morgan and Will Quince have raised questions about whether moderate Labour MPs can continue to serve under Mr Corbyn. Mr Quince tweeted: 'How can they continue to sit behind Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs and campaign for Labour in the knowledge that they are working to make him PM?' Labour's shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey defended Jeremy Corbyn's stance on antisemitism, but admitted the party needed to do more to combat the problem. Referring to a demonstration outside Parliament by Jewish groups, Ms Long-Bailey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It was devastating for every single Labour MP to realise that the Jewish community had lost faith in our approach to anti-Semitism going forward. 'But... we do take a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism, but has that been enforced as effectively as it should have been? 'I think there is a lot more that needs to be done and I think Jeremy addressed that clearly yesterday. 'He has always been a militant opponent of anti-Semitism. 'But too often, I think, the issue has been dismissed as a few bad apples when we needed to take very serious root and branch action to root out the cause of the problem.' Kellyanne Conway's husband George appears to be going up against President Trump on his home turf: Twitter. The White House Counselor's husband has gone from posting little to no tweets on his account, to firing off 200 in March alone, half of which have been jibes at Trump in one way or another. Conway, a lawyer, has spent the last few weeks tweeting and re-tweeting posts critical of Trump, and in particular of the President's issues with his legal team defending him in the Russia-probe. Conway comments: Kellyanne Conway's lawyer husband George has gone from a dozen tweets per year to 200 in the last month - most of them critical of President Trump Sly dig: George Conway retweeted an article saying Tump's 'overpromising and underdelivering' had made him the least credible president in modern times Not even hiding it: Conway re-tweeted a post about why White House officials won't speak on Trump's behalf, saying: 'So true. Its absurd,' before adding a sarcastic comment about the job his wife has been rumored to be taking Huffington Post points out that despite joining Twitter six years ago, Conway has only posted about 520 tweets and retweets: In all of 2017, he only tweeted 31 times. However, out of the 200 posts from the past four weeks, 'nearly half were written with the express purpose of castigating his wifes boss, President Donald Trump'. Conway - a partner in a law firm - has been openly pro-Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and has been frequently re-tweeting posts about why Donald Trump has struggled to find and keep lawyers. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that Jay Sekulow is now the only Trump attorney working full-time on legal issues related to the Special Counsel's probe. Legal comments: A majority of Conway's tweets in the past two weeks have been pointing out the chaos of Trump's legal team defending him in the Robert Mueller probe Conway re-posted several scolding tweets, including one which pointed out that the reason why many law firms won't work with Trump is because - allegedly - he has used them before and not paid them, effectively accusing the President of stealing. He also retweeted CNN's White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, who claimed that the reason why Trump has such issues finding officials to speak for him is his constant flip-flopping on issues. Conway added to Collins' post: 'So true. Its absurd,' before adding sarcastically: 'Which is why people are banging down the doors to be his comms director.' Telling us something George? Several of the articles Conway has been posting or re-tweeting concern White House staffers and Trump aides - one of whom are his own wife Nixon fan: Conway has endorsed Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon in several posts The latter addition, Huffington Post points out, is particularly telling as his wife Kellyanne has been rumored to be in the lineup to fill the vacancy left by Hope Hicks. Hicks' successor has yet to be announced, despite the fact that she tendered her resignation in February. Besides hitting out at Trump, Conway has been endorsing former Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon who is challenging the Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, saying she will 'crush' her fellow Democrat. A notorious money lender who fled from the Gold Coast to the streets of Pattaya after becoming a police target has stepped back into the limelight. Tim 'Sharky' Ward is a heavily tattooed Kiwi expatriate who has forged a reputation in Thailand as the 'Shark of Pattaya'. He is a man who turns heads for his intimidating bodybuilder physique - but those same heads would stay glued to the ground if they owed money to the infamous loan shark. Tim 'Sharky' Ward (pictured) is a heavily tattooed Kiwi expatriate who has forged a reputation in Thailand as the 'Shark of Pattaya' He is a man who turns heads for his intimidating bodybuilder physique - but those same heads would stay glued to the ground if they owed money to the infamous loan shark (pictured) Ward's colourful life began on the streets of New Zealand where he grew up without parents and quickly became a social pariah; and his early reputation has followed him to adulthood. 'You have to make it when no-one is going to give it to you. No mummy and daddy to run to so you gotta do what you gotta do. I was given up for adoption at birth. No mummy and daddy,' Ward told the blog Stickman Bangkok. 'I was picked on when I was a kid. A boy brought me home with him and his parents pulled him inside and slammed the door. I was that kid.' He began an obsession with earning quick money by playing pool for cash while still living across the Tasman and he first stepped into a gym at age 16. Ward left his hometown of Waitara, Taranaki on New Zealand's North Island in 1990 to pursue his dreams on the Gold Coast in Australia. He was a well-known nightclub owner and millionaire personal lender who, at his peak, owned three Lamborghini cars in three different colours - a luxurious life he earned by charging up to 200 per cent interest on his loans. But after finding himself at the crosshairs of the Australian police in 2009, Ward moved to Thailand where he could finally be 'free'. Ward left his hometown of Waitara, Taranaki on New Zealand's North Island in 1990 to pursue his dreams on the Gold Coast in Australia He was a well-known nightclub owner and millionaire personal lender who, at his peak, owned three Lamborghini cars in three different colours (Ward pictured) But after finding himself in the crosshairs of the Australian police in 2009, Ward moved to Thailand where he could finally be 'free' (Stock image of Pattaya) He has openly admitted to sleeping with Thai sex workers and explained how easy it is to buy your way out of trouble in Pattaya. 'I don't have to wear a shirt. I don't have to abide by the rules and if I do break the rules I just pay,' Ward explained. 'It is one of the only places in the world where I really do feel free. I f*** up all the time but I pay. It beats going to jail. In Australia I would be in jail.' He even bears a tattoo of a shark clutching a wad of cash to serve as a reminder of his tough loan shark persona. His lawless approach to money lending has landed him in a lot of hot water with authorities - and it has affected his personal life too. Ward admits he doesn't entertain any new friendships in Pattaya and has long abandoned the idea of having a long-term girlfriend. Looking back on his time as a powerful loan shark on the Gold Coast, Sharky said the luxurious lifestyle was all, ' worthless, fake bull****t' 'I have been raided by cops, I have been done over by so many people, been ratted on so many times that the friendship thing closed for me about 10 years ago,' he said. 'I had girlfriends in the beginning and it did my head in. I never let them sleep with me overnight. They never stay in my bed. I have not slept with a woman for 3 years. It's too emotional.' But despite his love affair with the seedy streets of Pattaya, Ward travels back to Australia regularly and was spotted on the Gold Coast's Glitter Strip over the weekend. Ward was banned from loaning funds in Queensland in the mid 2000s, and was made to pay $270,000 in fines and $100,000 in court costs, after he was prosecuted by the Department of Fair Trading, the Courier Mail reported. Looking back on his time as a powerful loan shark on the Gold Coast, Ward said the luxurious lifestyle was all ' worthless, fake bull****t'. But despite his love affair with the seedy streets of Pattaya, (pictured) Ward travels back to Australia regularly and was spotted on the Gold Coast's Glitter Strip over the weekend 'As for being a gangster, a judge once said that my very presence was extortion. But that's nonsense, I'm a gentle giant. 'I'm just not comfortable driving the Lamborghinis and eating at fancy restaurants. I feel most at home sitting on the beach in the dirt with a couple of dogs by my side.' Since relocating, the tattoo-clad body builder would also spend four hours every night handing out meat to dozens of stray dogs and cats on the streets of 'sin city'. With more than 70,000 puppies born on the streets of Thailand every year, Sharky was believed to be walking more than 10 kilometres a night feeding the desperate animals. 'I guess my passion for helping animals and kids comes from when I was vulnerable as a child. When I was a young I was very vulnerable so I know what they're going through,' the passionate animal carer said at the time. 'Animals and kids cannot always take care of themselves so they need someone looking out for them.' The muscular animal welfare warrior even went as far as defending the animals when the drunk tourists take aim at the defenseless creatures. This is the horrifying moment eight people including a mother and her newborn baby were killed after a minibus was swept away by a flooded river in Lesotho. The bus, which was carrying 15 people at the time, was trying to cross a flooded bridge in central Thaba Tseka district when it was pushed into the river. Video shot by another driver captures the moment the bus is swept away, and the desperate struggle of passengers as they try to make it to the shore. A taxi carrying 15 people in Lesotho attempted to cross a flooded bridge in heavy rain (left) before being swept away (right), killing eight people Seven people, including the driver, managed to escape the vehicle and survived, but the other eight were killed. Police spokesman Mpiti Mopeli told IOL News that rescuers began searching for survivors immediately, but heavy rains hampered their efforts. Most of the bodies were discovered scattered downstream on Saturday, once the rains had eased. Heavy rain and hail storms have brought chaos and dozens of deaths to Lesotho and parts of surrounding South Africa over the past week. Another four workers were swept to their deaths in Lesotho after their lorry was caught in a flash flood amid a heavy rainstorm. The South African capital Pretoria was left without power for a time last week after heavy rains damaged the electricity network. Jason Butler (pictued) created hundreds of fake invoices to steal millions of pounds A businessman who masterminded a 9.8million international tax fraud to fund his lavish lifestyle of flash cars and a luxury Spanish home has been jailed for nine years. Fraudster Jason Butler, 46, created hundreds of false invoices to steal millions of pounds in VAT. He then tried to hide the scam in a complex trading chain involving companies in the UK, Gibraltar, Spain and the US, a HMRC investigation revealed. Butler, who now lives in Spain, told HMRC officers he bought almost 60million worth of personal data, but checks revealed this was a lie. In reality Butler was forging invoices to falsely reclaim VAT and trading very cheap raw data through a complex international supply chain in a bid to hide his crimes. Butler used money from the fraud to fund his collection of supercars including; Ferrari Fiorano FI, Ferrari 360, Mercedes SL350, and a Lamborghini Murcielago. He also owned a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, speedboat, a luxurious Spanish home in Marbella and 96 properties in Leeds. He was arrested by police at Manchester International Airport when he arrived into the UK from Malaga on 18 January, 2015. Butler was found guilty at Leeds Crown Court of VAT fraud after a trial and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Butler used money from the fraud to fund his collection of supercars including; Ferrari Fiorano FI (pictured), Ferrari 360, Mercedes SL350, and a Lamborghini Murcielago In 2003, the Yorkshire Post newspaper interviewed Butler, then a successful 31-year-old entrepreneur who had set up a property business at the age of 22. Butler claimed he planned to retire by the age of 35, and set out his ambition of eventually opening 80 branches of Jump across the UK. He boasted: 'There are some things you are born with. Fast cars are in my blood. I have been driving my parents mad about them since I was two. 'I would like to retire by the time I'm 35. I'm a big believer in goal-setting. I'll do something in property... or possibly selling high-class, expensive Ferraris to high net-worth individuals. But whatever I do, I would like to do it at my leisure.' Butler controlled a company called Multi Level Media (MLM), based at Britannia House in Leeds. He said he bought and sold valuable Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) customer data from nine UK companies via an international agency which he also controlled, between November 2011 and January 2015. However, checks with the companies revealed that no trade ever took place and Butler had created hundreds of phoney invoices. Butler was found guilty at Leeds Crown Court of VAT fraud after a trial and was sentenced to nine years in prison (pictured is another of his Ferrari supercars) Instead he was buying and selling cheap raw data to a series of firms in the UK, who then sold it to a respectable data company in Gibraltar. The data was sold by them to a company in the US, which was also controlled by Butler. Each step of the transaction chain was arranged and controlled by Butler. He created this series of transactions to try and hide his fraud by involving several companies, some of which had an established tax history with HMRC. On paper it appeared the fraudster had paid substantial amounts of VAT. But the purchases were fake and backed up by forged invoices, which he used to falsely reclaim 9,875,806 in VAT. HMRC fraud director Eden Noblett said: 'Butler thought he was clever and his scam too sophisticated to be uncovered. But, he was not as clever as he believed. 'This was a complex fraud involving offshore companies and moving money internationally. 'This case serves as a warning to anyone considering stealing taxpayer's money. No matter how clever and sophisticated you think your fraud is, we will catch you. 'Tax fraud takes money away from the vital public services we all use. Butler stole enough money to pay for more than 500 new NHS nurses. 'We will not allow anyone to steal funding from our schools and hospitals.' This is the horrifying moment a motorist is caught red-handed after she was filmed appearing to FaceTime a friend while driving down a busy freeway. The young motorist was filmed by a passenger in a passing car and can be seen holding her smart phone in front of her face while she drives her Honda down the Mitchell Freeway. She is resting the phone on the steering wheel directly in front of her line of sight. In the footage you can see the Perth driver holding her phone up in front of her face as she drives along the highway 'Get the rego,' a man can be heard saying in the car filming the driver. 'Can you see her FaceTiming?' he asks. As the other car approaches it honks repetitively at her. The woman initially seems not to notice the car which is now driving side by side whilst filming her. After a few more seconds of honking the woman looks up and realising she's being filmed quickly throws her phone down. Paul Blankley, who was travelling in the other car, shared the footage to his Facebook page in a bid to shame the woman. 'Driving on the Mitchell freeway yesterday and was next to this woman....100kmh FaceTime!!!' he said in the post. She is smiling into the phone and appears to be having a conversation 'How long before she kills someone or herself! She definitely needs to lose her licence!!' The Facebook post quickly went viral with over 108K views and 2,000 shares. Most users are outraged by her dangerous actions and are calling for her to be reported by the police. 'Irresponsible road user...get a hands free kit installed in y car...if you own a pricey car...otherwise she can pay for someone's damages,' one user wrote. 'People like her are the ones that will cause an accident and she will come out ok give the footage to the police,' wrote another. After the car filming her honks she notices she is being watched and throws the phone down After several people called for her to be reported Mr Blankey commented on the post that he had sent the footage to the police. 'A lot of people asking and yes I have reported this woman to the police via crime stoppers whether they choose to do anything is up to them!' he said. 'Phone use whilst driving is a massive pet hate of mine and I hope she does lose her licence as this is unacceptable and one day she will probably cause a serious accident!' In Western Australia using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving carries a penalty of 3 demerit points and a $400 fine. Gavin Williamson has said Russian propaganda bots pumping out fake news on Salisbury are like the notorious Nazi defector 'Lord Haw Haw'. He said around 2,800 robotic accounts have been churning out messages to foster doubt over official accounts that the Kremlin is to blame for the poison attack. The Defence Secretary said these trolls are trying to exploit the debate allowed in free and democratic societies to sew division and discord in Britain. And he said the tactic was straight out of the Nazi playbook when Hitler enlisted Lord Haw Haw - the nickname of William Joyce - to read out propaganda during the war. Gavin Williamson (pictured in Estonia on Sunday) has said Russian propaganda bots pumping out fake news on Salisbury are like the notorious Nazi defector 'Lord Haw Haw'. Defence Secretary said around 2,800 robotic accounts have been churning out messages to foster doubt over official accounts that the Kremlin is to blame for the poison attack. Joyce would take to the radio airwaves to broadcast propaganda in his affected upper class English accent, beginning each with the words 'Germany calling, Germany calling'. What is the Novichok nerve agent used against the Skripals? The Novichok nerve agent used against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia is among the most deadly poisons ever created. They were secretly developed by the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold war in the 1970s and 1980s. Communist scientists developed the poison so it would not be able to be detected by Nato's chemical detection equipment. They come in the form of a ultra-fine powder, Novichok is up to eight times more potent than the deadly VX gas. Victims who are poisoned by the powder suffer muscle spasms, breathing problems and then cardiac arrest. There is a known antidote to the nerve agent - atropine can block the poison. But doctors find it very tricky to administer the antidote because the dose would have to be so high it could prove fatal for the person. Novichok poisons are highly dangerous to handle, requiring the expertise of skilled scientists in a sophisticated lab. Dr Vil Mirzayanov, former Chief of the Foreign Technical Counterintelligence Department at Russias premiere, was among the team of scientists who helped develop the agent. Advertisement His broadcasts from Berlin were prized by Hitler's notorious propaganda chief Goebbels. Speaking on a visit to Nato troops in Estonia, Mr Williamson said the disinformation war was being backed by the Kremlin through channels like Sputnik and RT. 'What actually happens is it completely distorts the narrative of what people think about things', he told The Times. 'We have to make sure that that narrative is countered ... It is effectively the Lord Haw-Haws of the modern era. He said Britain's investigation of the disinformation campaign being waged in the wake of the nerve agent attack had exposed 'shocking' levels of Russian meddling. Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are both fighting for their lives in hospital after being poisoned by Novichok. Britain and the country's allies have blamed the Kremlin for the attack and over 100 Russian diplomats from 20 countries around the word has expelled Russian diplomats. The US has announced the expulsion of 60 Russians, including including 12 intelligence officers from Russia's mission to UN headquarters in New York. Mr Williamson said that Vladimir Putin may seek to attack the UK and its allies again if given the chance. He said the West's patience is wearing 'very, very, very thin' and stressed the need for Nato to stand united to see off the threat posed by the Kremlin. The Government may try to work with social media giants like Twitter and Facebook to tackle the state-backed disinformation in the same way they are being pressed to take down terror content, he said. He told the newspaper: 'You maybe do need to look at ... if you have to deal with this in a slightly different way and that is maybe working with some of those providers.' The warning comes just days after news broke that Britain's anti-doping agency was the target of a cyber attack. Gavin Williamson said that Vladimir Putin (pictured today) may seek to attack the UK and its allies again if given the chance The Kremlin-linked hacking group Fancy Bears has been linked to the attempted hack. Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Theresa May said the united response showed Mr Putin's attempt to use the Salisbury attack to split the West had 'spectacularly backfired'. She told MPs: 'This is the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. 'If the Kremlin's goal is to intimidate and divide the Western alliance then their efforts have spectacularly backfired. 'Today's actions by our allies clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to shoulder in sending the strongest signal to the Kremlin that Russia cannot continue to flout international law and threaten our security.' A convicted Scottish pedophile has been extradited to the US to face charges of sexually abusing four other children in Arizona. Jordan Kemlo, 21, was booked into the Pima County jail on February 23 accused of the continuous abuse of the minor, sexual conduct with a child under 15, two counts of child molestation and solicitation to commit sexual conduct with a minor in 2014. He was jailed for four years in the UK back in 2015 for a prolonged period of sexual assaults he committed between 2011 and 2014 on the same young boy who was just six when his torment started. Kemlo will now be tried on the charges against different children who he is said to have attacked while living in Tucson in 2014. Kemlo emigrated to the US between the abuse and his arrest in Scotland. He was flown to Arizona to face fresh charges and a source told The Press and Journal: 'He was arrested in connection with a 2014 case involving child molestation and is charged with one count of continuous sex abuse of a child and one count of sexual contact with a minor under the age of 15.' The convicted child molester could be in jail for weeks before a judge hears the case at Pima County Superior Court, and the Home Office has handed over his file to the US authorities. The convicted child molester could be in jail for weeks before a judge hears the case at Pima County Superior Court (pictured), and the Home Office has handed over his file to the US authorities In his original case, Glasgow Crown Court (pictured) heard how Kemlo's young victim described him as 'the bad boy' In his original case, Glasgow Crown Court heard how Kemlo's young victim described him as 'the bad boy'. At the time, he told police: 'I never thought of the consequences. I was shocked, confused why it happened.' Having carried out a campaign of sexual abuse, including attacking the boy both at his own house and his victim's house, Kemlo decided not to hand himself in because he was 'ashamed', according to The Press Journal. A Holocaust survivor celebrated his 94th birthday by having his bar mitzvah decades after his family was torn apart by the Nazis. Samuel Heider, from Ohio, had dreamed of the day he would be able to have the ceremony - which is a rite of passage for Jewish teenagers. But his traumatic early years as World War II broke out meant he was never able to complete the important milestone. His parents and siblings were separated and sent to concentration camps after the Nazis invaded Poland. In the dark years that followed, his loved-ones perished. The only remnant of his past is a battered black and white picture of his sister which he managed to save while fighting to survive Auschwitz. But now decades later, his daughter Linda organised the incredible surprise for him days before his 94th birthday. Surrounded by his community, he finally took part in the landmark ceremony Saturday at Beth Jacob Synagogue in Dayton, Ohio. Samuel Heider, whose childhood was marred by World War II, had dreamed of the day he would be able to have his bar mitzvah (pictured on the day of the ceremony) Now decades later he has finally taken part in the ceremony, which is usually performed when a Jewish boy turns 13 Samuel's daughter Linda (right) organised the incredible surprise for him days before his 94th birthday Recalling the moment she delivered the surprise, Linda said: 'I told him "We're not having just a birthday party today - it's going to be your bar mitzvah".' Choking back tears on the emotional day, he told ABC News: 'My parents didn't live to be at my bar mitzvah.' Surrounded by his community, he walks down the aisle of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Ohio Heartwarming footage shows him singing and reading from the Torah before raising a toast The moving ceremony on Saturday at Beth Jacob Synagogue in Dayton, Ohio Heartwarming footage shows him walk down the aisle of the synagogue as his friends and family proudly watch. He can be seen singing and reading from the Torah during the moving ceremony before raising a toast. Samuel, one of six children - three boys and three girls - was born in 1924 in the small village of Biejkow in Poland. Samuel (pictured as a young man) was separated from his parents and siblings after the Nazis invaded Poland The only remnant of his past is a battered black and white picture of his sister which he managed to save while fighting to survive Auschwitz After the war Samuel emigrated to Dayton in Ohio and began his own family, marrying fellow Holocaust survivor Phyllis (pictured together with one of their three children) What is a bar mitzvah? 'Bar mitzvah' means 'son of commandment' in Hebrew. The coming-of-age ceremony takes place when a Jewish boy turns 13. It marks the child's commitment to following the commandments of the Torah, the Jewish holy book. From then on he will attend synagogue servives and take part in his community. He will also wear the tefillin - black leather boxes containing parchments inscribed with biblical passages - on his head and upper arm during weekday morning prayers. During the bar mitzvah ceremony, the child may be called up to the Torah, asked to lead services or deliver a speech. Directly after the synagogue ceremony a party and festive meal is usually held. Source: Chabad.org Advertisement The family's farming land was confiscated by the Nazis in 1941. They were forced to move to the town of Bialobrzegi south of Warsaw with 80,000 other Jews. A year later, the ghetto they were living in was destroyed and Samuel's parents were sent to their deaths at the Treblinka extermination camp. More than six million Jews were murdered in concentration camps during World War II. Samuel was at a work camp in the city of Radom and managed to survive the horror of the German occupation. After the war Samuel emigrated to Dayton in Ohio and began his own family, marrying fellow Holocaust survivor Phyllis. The pair had met in 1945 at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. She passed away in 2014. The couple have three children and five grandchildren. Killed: Mireille Knoll, 85, was found stabbed to death after a fire in her flat in Paris A man accused of stabbing an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor to death in her Paris apartment screamed "Allahu Akbar" during the anti-Semitic attack, it has been claimed. Two men, one a convicted paedophile and the other a vagrant burglar, have been charged with knifing Mireille Knoll to death at her home in the French capital then burning her body. A source close to the investigation has revealed the two arrested men gave conflicting accounts to police. One told interrogators he heard the other shout the words 'God is greatest' in Arabic during the attack. The pair also allegedly targeted her because her Jewishness meant she had money. 'The terrible thing is that one of the attackers told the other: 'She's a Jew, she must have money',' Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told parliament on Tuesday. 'There are the stereotypes we have to combat,' he said. Ms Knoll lived at the flat alone, and had treated one of the alleged attackers 'as a son' for more than 20 years, according to a source close to the case. The prime suspect is aged 29 and has convictions for sex crimes including attacking a 12-year-old girl. He lived next door to Mrs Knoll, and regularly used to visit her, after the pair first met when he was seven. The second suspect is a 21-year-old homeless man who has convictions for burglary. Data related to both men's phones place them at Mrs Knoll's apartment last Friday evening, when the fire broke out. Both suspects deny the charges. A French-Israeli MP Meyer Habib said he was convinced Mrs Knoll had become the victim of the 'hatred and barbarism of an Islamist', who 'stabbed her eleven times in her family flat'. Yesterday Ms Knoll's granddaughter Noa Goldfarb posted a picture of them together and claimed that a 'Muslim neighbour decided to take my grandmother's life'. She added: 'He burned away all the childhood memories we had.' Neither police nor prosecutors have commented on the religious or racial background of the attackers, simply describing them as French residents. Ms Knoll's son Daniel told Israeli channel i24 News today that one of the suspects was a long-time neighbour who recently finished a jail sentence for a sex offence. He said the neighbour had spent much of Friday, when the Jewish day of rest begins at sundown, chatting with his mother at the apartment, with the two sharing a drink. Daniel Knoll said his mother suffered from Parkinson's disease and was not aware that her neighbour had spent time in jail for molesting a 12-year-old. Reacting on Twitter President Emmanuel Macron condemned the 'dreadful' killing and reiterated his determination to fighting anti-Semitism. Scroll down for video The men, who have not been named, are said to have attacked Mireille Knoll (pictured), an 85-year-old Jewish woman, in her Paris council flat last Friday A French-Israeli MP Meyer Habib has said he was convinced Mrs Knoll had become the victim of the 'hatred and barbarism of an Islamist', who 'stabbed her eleven times in her family flat'. The apartment block is pictured above Neither police nor prosecutors have commented on the religious or racial background of the attackers, simply describing them as French residents. Red police tape and photos are seen on the front door of the apartment Prosecutors believe the suspects stabbed Ms Knoll, who was found by police lying on her bed, and then set fire to her apartment in a bid to destroy evidence. The blaze was put out within 40 minutes, after emergency workers were called. 'Both men are in custody and have been charged with murder related to their victim's religion, real or imagined,' a source close to the case said. An autopsy showed she had been stabbed several times before being partly burned by a fire that was started in the apartment where she lived alone. A picture taken on Tuesday shows the window of the apartment of Mireille Knoll in Paris sealed by the police, after she was found dead in her apartment on March 23 by firefighters called to extinguish a blaze A picture taken on Tuesday shows Mireille Knoll's heart-shaped documents and seals of the police posted on the door of her apartment in Paris after she was found dead by firefighters called to extinguish a blaze The two men have been charged with murder, aggravated robbery and damaging property in a case investigators are treating as hate crime. 'My mother, my sweet and gentle mother, murdered for being Jewish... in 2018, how is it possible?' Daniel Knoll wrote on Facebook. A spokesman for SPCJ, the Protection Service for the Jewish Community in Paris, originally said 'the investigation does not reveal any anti-Semitic elements'. But during a visit to Israel on Monday, France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said it was 'plausible' that Mrs Knoll was killed because she was a Jew. Mr Le Drian said anti-Semitism 'would not be surprising, and only strengthens the notion that this battle is not over and we will need to keep fighting [anti-Semitism].' Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told the Senate that since the start of the year, no fewer than 33 anti-Semitic acts have been committed. This cancer cannot be allowed to eat away at our nation,' he said. Mireille Knoll had lived in the neighbourhood - in the building where she died and another on the same street - for 60 years, said Francis Kalifat, head of Crif, a body that represents France's 400,000-strong Jewish community. Daniel Knoll said his mother suffered from Parkinson's disease and was not aware that her neighbour had spent time in jail for molesting the 12-year-old daughter of a woman who acted as her live-in carer. Mrs Knoll, who is now the mother of two grown-up sons living in Israel, was just nine when, in 1942, she escaped the so-called Vel d'Hiv Roundup in Paris. French police directed by the occupying Nazis arrested 13,152 Jews, including more than 4000 children, and held them in the city's winter bicycle stadium. Mireille Knoll's son Daniel Knoll and his wife Jovita are pictured in Paris today. Daniel Knoll said his mother suffered from Parkinson's disease and was not aware that her neighbour had spent time in jail for molesting a 12-year-old girl Reacting on Twitter President Emmanuel Macron condemned the 'dreadful' killing and reiterated his determination to fighting anti-Semitism Most were then entrained to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where fewer than 100 survived. Mr Habib said Ms Knoll was able to escape from the roundup 'thanks to her mother's Brazilian passport.' A spokesman for CRIF, France's Representative Council of Jewish Institutions, said he expected 'the utmost transparency in the ongoing investigation so that the reasons for this barbaric crime are revealed as soon as possible.' Jewish groups in France regularly complain about growing anti-Semitism, saying they are routinely targeted by radical Islamists and far-Right activists. Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has urged all Parisians to join a silent march in memory of Mrs Knoll on Wednesday In January this year a Jewish supermarket in Paris was believed to have been attacked by anti-Semitic arsonists, three years to the day since the terror attack on another kosher shop in the city In April 2017, Sarah Halimi, a 65-year-old Jewish woman, was killed in her Paris flat by Kada Traore, an immigrant from Mali who is said to have shouted anti-Semitic slogans as he carried out the crime. Jewish groups were furious that it took a full five months for the French authorities to categorise Mrs Halimi's alleged murder as being motivated by anti-Semitism. Traore is currently in a psychiatric hospital awaiting trial. France's half-a-million-plus Jewish community is the largest in Europe but has been hit by a wave of emigrations to Israel in the past two decades, partly due to the emergence of a virulent strain of anti-Semitism in predominantly immigrant neighbourhoods. In 2011, an Islamist gunman shot dead three children and a teacher at a Jewish school in the southwestern city of Toulouse. Four years later, an associate of the two brothers who massacred a group of cartoonists at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo killed four people in a hostage-taking at a Jewish supermarket in Paris. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo urged all Parisians to join a silent march in memory of Mrs Knoll on Wednesday, and politicians across the political spectrum pledged to attend. France's government presented a plan earlier this month to fight racism and anti-Semitism, focusing on social media and prevention in schools. It also wants to change French law to force internet platforms to detect and remove illegal content. An annual national count of racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and anti-Christian acts - most involving threats - dipped in 2017 compared with the year before. But anti-Semitic violence increased by 26 percent, and criminal damage to Jewish places of worship and burial by 22 percent. A hero who dived into freezing water to save a baby girl in a tragedy that killed a family of five today slammed his former girlfriend who is suing over the stress of watching them die. Davitt Walsh says his ex Stephanie Knox, who witnessed the horror unfold, is 'wrong' to try and claim compensation - adding: 'I am having no part of it.' Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Walsh said: 'What I feel is that this is all wrong. It has got nothing to do with me - that is all about money. 'I am not interested in money. Stephanie can do whatever she wants but I don't want any money. I just want to get on with my life. 'I did my bit. I saved a child. I risked my life and nearly died. It was a miracle that I came out alive. 'I am struggling to move on. Jesus, how would you feel if you saw five people die? It is not nice. I get nightmares and I am struggling.' Scroll down for video Davitt Walsh (pictured) dived into freezing waters to save a baby in a car tragedy that killed a family of five Mr Walsh has slammed his former girlfriend Stephanie Knox (pictured) who is suing over the tragedy after watching the family die. He told MailOnline today: 'I am having no part of it.' Mr Walsh ran a marathon with Louise James (pictured) the mother whose baby girl he saved in the car tragedy that killed five members of her family Mr Walsh jumped into the water to help when an Audi Q7 jeep slid off the slipway in Buncrana, Donegal, Northern Ireland and ploughed into the Lough Swilly. Sean McGrotty, 49, who was three times the drink drive limit, died along with his sons Mark, 11, and eight-year-old Evan, his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels, 57, and her 14-year-old daughter Jodie-Lee Tracey. Mr Walsh managed to rescue four-month-old Rioghnach-Ann, who was the only survivor. The baby's mother Louise James, who was the partner of Mr McGrotty and lost five members of her family, was not present during the accident. Ms Knox has controversially lodged a claim for 'loss of earnings' as a result of the accident. She sent a letter claiming compensation to the McGrotty family - although her sister today claimed that she is suing the local council. Ms James (pictured), who was at a hen do in Liverpool when the tragedy took place, is pictured with her baby daughter who survived and son Evan, who passed away Sean McGrotty (back left) and his sons Mark, 11, and Evan, eight (pictured front) died when the Audi they were in plunged off a pier and into the water. Their baby sister Rionaghac-Ann (pictured with their mother Louise James, who was not involved in the crash) survived Ms James's mother Ruth Daniels, 57, (left) and her younger sister Jodie-Lee Tracey, 14, (right) also died in the accident in March 2016 Mourners at the funeral carry one of the coffins at the funeral of the family of five killed in the Ms Knox, a cardiac physiologist, told Independent.ie.: 'I'm under so much stress and heartache and I would love it to just blow over. 'I knew there was a claim being made against the council and the insurance company...I know what they're [the family] going through is hard. 'I've been suffering with PTSD ever since that day. It took me a long time to get help because I was afraid to talk about the accident. I just wanted to hide it. I'm on medication and everything. This has just been a horrible nightmare.' Her solicitor Maeliosa Barr added that she is not suing the McGrotty family - adding: 'She is making a claim, on the advice of her legal team, against Donegal County Council and the estate for injuries sustained.' Ms Knox and Mr Walsh separated several months after the tragedy in March 2016. Mr Walsh cradles the four-month-old baby girl that he saved Her former partner said that he was still undergoing counselling over the ordeal. He said he and Ms Knox had broken up 18 months ago, but refused to reveal the reason. 'That is between me and her,' he added. But he said he believed that Ms James, the mother of the children who perished, should press ahead with her compensation claim. 'Louise has to be compensated obviously. She lost her family. I don't think money is ever going to help her. But if she wants money she should have it.' He said he was no longer in contact with Ms James, adding: 'She changes her number every few months.' Ms Knox's sister Laura said in a Facebook post she would 'never be as spiteful to claim off the family' and stressed that she thought she was suing Donegal County Council. Laura explained: 'Stephanie was informed by the Gardai [police] that people who were on the pier that day were claiming so Stephanie went to her solicitor for advice. 'Stephanie is not the type of person that people are making her out to be all over Facebook and anyone who actually knows her would know this.' She added: 'She was under the impression that the claim was against the Donegal council and due to the same reason that the family were claiming for - algae being on the slipway and other reasons. The family died when the car slid off Buncrana Pier and into the waters of Lough Swilly in Donegal (pictured) in March 2016 'That day has ruined her life forever witnessing five people die in front of her and her life will never be the same. 'So before you go and give your opinion think of what she may already be going through as it is and that by giving your opinion about something you know nothing about, the knock on affect that it may have.' Mr McGrotty's elderly father Noel, 86, has told of his confusion after being a letter by Ms Knox. He added: 'It was a big envelope full of legal documents - hard for the ordinary man in the street to understand,' he said. 'Then I saw the name Knox and realised it was from the girl that took the baby when she was brought out of the water that day.' But he said he was unsure why he was sent the documents because he is not the executor of his late son's estate. Louise James (pictured) has filed High Court proceedings against Donegal County Council over the Buncrana pier tragedy in which her partner, two sons, sister and mother died Ms James (pictured centre) is pictured leaving the Lake of Shadows Hotel in Buncrana, where she said her heart was shattered by her family's deaths An inquest in November 2017 concluded Mr McGrotty died by misadventure. It later came to light his partner Ms James was suing the council after claiming the slipway at the pier should have been closed to the public. High Court proceedings began on June 9 last year. But legal experts are skeptical she will have a case. A lawyer has said: 'The fact that he, as the driver of the car which went over this pier, was three times over the drink drive limit, could play a significant part in deciding any civil court case.' They added that any culpability the council may have would be severely reduced by Mr McGrotty's drink driving. Ms James said the pier was an 'accident waiting to happen' because there were no signs warning of the dangers of slipping and a gate designed to control crowds using a summer ferry service in the popular tourist spot was left open. 'I knew something wasn't right': Woman reveals moment she found out five members of her family had died The bereft woman who lost her mother, partner, sister and two little boys in the Buncrana drowning tragedy told an inquest how she knew something was wrong the moment she got a phone call alerting her to the tragedy. Louise James told the hearing that she had last seen her family on Friday, March 18, when her partner Sean McGrotty and the two boys had left her at a friend's house ahead of a hen weekend in Liverpool. She was at the airport travelling back from the weekend when the incident took place. Ms James told the inquest how minutes before the tragedy, she spoke on the phone with her tragic sister Jodi Lee who said the boys were playing in a playpark on the shorefront in Buncrana. Half an hour later, she received a phonecall from her brother Joshua. She told the hearing: 'I got a feeling something wasn't right.' Joshua then told Ms James there had been an incident in Buncrana and that a car had gone into the water, but it was not clear who was in there. Ms James said she had tried to contact both her partner and her sister but could not reach them. When she landed in Belfast, she was informed that five members of her family had died. She travelled to her home in Derry before going to Letterkenny University Hospital to see her surviving child and to identify the bodies of the rest of her family. Advertisement 'My heart is shattered,' she said, as she described Mr McGrotty as a wonderful partner and adoring father and spoke of her 'disbelief, pain and anger'. 'He lived for them and it is clear from what this inquest has heard that in fact he died as he lived, in that he could have saved himself and chose not to,' she said. 'I firmly believe the slipway should have been closed to the general public or else proper warning signs displayed as it was an accident waiting to happen. 'Hopefully lessons will be learned and the recommendations made following this inquest will be implemented.' The panel had been asked to deliberate on whether the deaths were accidental or a result of misadventure. Pauline Hanson left Australians stumped at the launch of her book this week, comparing herself to anti-apartheid revolutionary, Nelson Mandela. The One Nation leader, joined by former nemesis Tony Abbott, announced the release of her book, Pauline, In Her Own Words, in Canberra on Tuesday. She likened her 18 year absence from parliament to the former South African president's 28 years spent behind bars, SBS News reported. Pauline Hanson (pictured) left Australians stumped at the launch of her book this week, comparing herself to anti-apartheid revolutionary, Nelson Mandela Senator Hanson likened her 18 year absence from parliament to Nelson Mandela's (pictured), 28 years spent behind bars 'It's a clear indication that we have stuck with what we believe in to work for the Australian people,' Senator Hanson told reporters. 'I think that like Nelson Mandela did, after 28 years in prison he forgave and he forgot and I think that's what we need to do.' 'Everyone in this place, if you have your grievances or your differences, put them to once side (and) work together, because the people of Australia are calling out for true leadership.' Senator Hanson also explained her bizarre choice to invite Mr Abbott to stand alongside her at the launch. Senator Hanson also explained her bizarre choice to invite Tony Abbott (pictured kissing Senator Hanson) to stand alongside her at the launch 'I think it was about last Thursday, I rang you (Tony Abbott) up and I said "Tony, it's going to be cheeky, I'm going to ask you a cheeky question",'. 'I said, "would you launch my book?".' According to Senator Hanson, her 'cheeky' question was met with amusement from Mr Abbott - 'you burst out laughing', she said. But Mr Abbott was obviously won over eventually, praising Senator Hanson for her longevity as a politician in front of reporters Tuesday. 'If I may say so, Pauline, adversity has made you a better, deeper person.' 'You are certainly confirmation of that old adage that you are always better the second time around,' Mr Abbott said. An international student has blamed study stress for his decision to film his female housemates as they showered, a Tasmanian court has heard. Nam Phan Trinh, 25, faces the threat of his student visa being cancelled and possible deportation after he pleaded guilty to three counts of recording in breach of privacy. Hobart Magistrates Court heard that Mr Trinh filmed his female housemates in the shower on two separate occasions in September 2017, the ABC reports. He placed a coin in the bathroom door jam to prevent it from closing so he could film them in the shower. Nam Phan Trinh filmed his female housemates in the shower on two separate occasions in September 2017 until he was caught in the act by one of them Lawyer Pip Monk said her client was stressed by exams and assignments at the time. 'He didn't realise the magnitude of his behaviour until he was confronted by his housemate,' she told the court. 'She was extremely upset and angry and made him realise what he had done.' The court heard that Mr Trinh immediately moved out and that he lost his partner and friends because of his actions. Mr Trinh is studying accountancy on a student visa. His lawyer pleaded for a conviction to not be recorded. 'A conviction is likely to have a far more serious impact [on Mr Trinh] than on a citizen of Australia,' Ms Monk said. 'There is a real risk that he'll be unable to complete his study and be deported.' Mr Trinh pleaded guilty to three counts of recording in breach of privacywhen he appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court (pictured), where he was convicted. He now faces the risk of being deported But Magistrate Simon Cooper said Mr Trinh's actions were 'inexplicable' and 'very serious', which have a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail. Mr Trinh was convicted and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond. 'It's made worse by the fact that it involved a breach of trust,' Mr Cooper said. 'I acknowledge that there is a real risk of deportation if I convict you, but notwithstanding, your offending is so serious that you must be convicted.' Satellite images have emerged showing dozens of Chinese naval vessels putting on a show of force in the South China Sea. The overhead images confirm a carrier group has entered the vital trade waterway off Hainan island as part of what Beijing earlier described as combat drills that were part of routine annual exercises. Up to 40 ships can be seen in a line formation with submarines flanking the carrier Liaoning and aircraft above. Some analysts have described the movements, captured in photos taken on Monday and provided by Planet Labs Inc, as an unusually large display of the Chinese military's growing naval might. Satellite images have emerged showing dozens of Chinese naval vessels putting on a show of force in the South China Sea Up to 40 ships can be seen in a line formation, in photos taken on Monday and provided by Planet Labs Inc, while submarines flank the carrier Liaoning with aircraft above The exercises come amid fresh signs of tension in the resource-rich waterway, with Vietnam recently halting oil exploration off its coast by Spanish firm Repsol under pressure from Beijing. Beijing also objected to a so-called freedom of navigation patrol by a U.S. warship last week close to one of its artificial islands in the Spratlys archipelago further south. According to the Taiwanese defence ministry, the Liaoning carrier group also crossed the Taiwan Strait last week. Jeffrey Lewis, a security expert at the California-based based Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies, said the images showed the first confirmation that the carrier was joining the drills. 'It's an incredible picture,' he said. 'That's the big news to me. Confirmation that, yes, the carrier participated in the exercise.' While the Liaoning has previously entered the South China Sea as part of drills in uncontested training grounds south of Hainan, its annual exercises are closely watched by regional and international powers eyeing Beijing's growing military might. It is unclear where the flotilla was headed, or how long operations will last. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. Collin Koh, a security expert at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, described the deployment as unusual for its size and scope. According to the Taiwanese defence ministry, the Liaoning carrier group also crossed the Taiwan Strait last week. The Liaoning carrier is pictured above in 2017 'Judging by the images, it does seem they are keen to show that elements of the South Sea Fleet are able to routinely join up with the carrier strike group from Dalian in the north,' he said. 'It does seem they want to show inter-fleet interoperability - something the (Chinese) navy has been quietly working on for some time.' Chinese naval and coast guard forces have expanded rapidly in recent years and now patrol the vast swathes of the South China Sea, but little is known about their combat readiness and co-ordination. Koh said as well as the destroyers, frigates and submarines that would ordinarily support a carrier, the flotilla appeared to include a large oiler for re-supply as well as smaller corvettes and possibly fast attack catamarans. 'While it highlights an extensive ability to deploy, we are still left to guess at the PLAN's combat readiness,' Koh said. As well as Vietnam, China's claims in the South China Sea are disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei while Taiwan also has claims. Lottie Harris, 23 (pictured outside Worcester Crown Court), made life 'hell' for victim Ali Malik after becoming 'infatuated' with him when they worked together at a restaurant A transgender waiter has been given a suspended sentence for falsely accusing a gay co-worker of rape - and putting his penis in his letterbox. Lottie Harris, 23, made life 'hell' for victim Ali Malik after becoming 'infatuated' with him when they worked together at a restaurant. Between September 18, 2016 and July 23 last year Harris made 23 fake allegations of rape and assaults against Mr Malik who was arrested on two occasions. Harris even claimed Mr Malik shoved his penis inside the letterbox of his front door and threatened to slit his throat. A court heard Harris was living as a woman at the time of his fake claims, but has 'gender dysphoria' and now identifies as a man called Lucien. Former university student Harris, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, admitted six counts of perverting the course of justice at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. He was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and pay Mr Malik 2,500 compensation. A judge also slapped Harris with a restraining order preventing his from contacting Mr Malik. Although the false rape allegation was not listed on the indictment, it was considered to be an 'aggravating factor'. Judge James Tindal told Harris: 'You have made it clear you now identify as a man. 'I will respect your wishes and address you as such. 'I only wish that you had shown the smallest respect for Ali Malik, whose life has been made a living hell for months. The court heard Harris made two rape allegations in September and October 2016 and told police Mr Malik held a knife to his face Although the false rape allegation was not listed on the indictment, it was considered to be an 'aggravating factor' 'I must only sentence you for the matters that you have pleaded guilty to. 'The story begins in the start of 2016 when you started working with Mr Malik. 'You became infatuated with him, even though he made it clear that he was not interested in you.' The court heard Harris made two rape allegations in September and October 2016 and told police Mr Malik held a knife to his face. Judge Tindal said: 'The police decided that they would not take any sort of action because by then they knew what they were dealing with - and what they were dealing with was a liar. 'I can and do take it [the rape accusation] into account as an aggravating feature for the matters on the indictment. 'On May 3, 2016 you made a complaint to the police that Mr Malik had scratched at your door and tried to put his penis through your letterbox, and that you jabbed at it. 'You claimed that it was bleeding, and took the blood into the police station. 'This was clearly a lie. 'It's perfectly obvious that Mr Malik has done nothing that can explain why you have gone on this campaign against him. 'Rape is a shameful crime, but a false allegation can have nightmarish consequences for the accused. 'This case is highly exceptional, but the message should go out loud and clear that in other cases which do not carry the exceptional circumstances as in this case, those who falsely complain of rape will go to prison.' 'Rape is a shameful crime, but a false allegation can have nightmarish consequences for the accused,' the judge told Harris Reading out his victim impact statement in court, Mr Malik said: 'I have been arrested twice and I have been interviewed numerous times by the police. 'In total, I have spent 24 hours in a police all - 24 hours I will never get back. 'I feel like I have been living in limbo for the past 18 months. 'Initially I did not feel that anyone believed me. I feel like I have been treated like a criminal. 'Even though I protested my innocence, I was still interviewed on numerous occasions. 'I was scared and isolated, even though I knew that I had done nothing wrong. 'I had visions of being sent to prison and no-one believing me. 'Every time I see a police car or a police officer I get scared that they are going to arrest me or that [he] has made up another lie. 'I have been accused of things from rape to assault. I have been accused of using a knife to cut Lottie Harris. He was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and pay Mr Malik 2,500 compensation Mark Savage, defending, said: 'It's clear that Mr Harris is not a young person actuated by malice, but one who is struggling with identity. 'I was a very sociable person, but because of these allegations I have lost many friends and become isolated. 'People have looked at me differently and treated me differently. 'I have found myself scared to go out, as I'm looking over my shoulder constantly to see if Lottie is there. I have not been able to live my life as I would like to. 'I feel scarred for life. 'At one point, I was close to losing my job because my boss did not want the police entering. I have had to explain to my boss what has been said against me. 'I was arrested in full view of customers and colleagues. 'It has proved to be very embarrassing and shameful. 'Men are victims too. I do not want someone else to be in a similar position to me in the future.' Mark Savage, defending, said: 'It's clear that Mr Harris is not a young person actuated by malice, but one who is struggling with identity.' Speaking outside court, Mr Malik said: 'Harris formed a weird, romantic fixation. 'I said "you're a lesbian and I'm gay", I don't understand the logic behind it. 'People always think women are the victims but it can be the other way around as well.' Louis Vuitton has named Virgil Abloh as its new Artistic Director in a landmark appointment as the first ever black man to be given this role. The French fashion house confirmed that Kanye Wests protege would now be the chief menswear designer before the likes of Kim Kardashian-West and Vogue editor Edward Enninful OBE went on to praise this announcement. Enninful said: Virgil is one of the few designers who truly marries street culture with high fashion - and the first black designer to be given such a position in the gilded halls of LVMH. His appointment is a step in the right direction for diversity, as well as a particularly exciting creative moment for the industry. Louis Vuitton has named Virgil Abloh as its new Artistic Director in a landmark appointment The founder of Off-White has taken over the role from Kim Jones, the new Christian Dior menswear designer and his first mens collection with Louis Vuitton is expected to be presented in June during Paris Mens Fashion Week. He said in conversation with The New York Times that he is elated with his new position and this opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams. And to show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start, Virgil said. But who is Virgil Abloh? A post shared by @virgilabloh on Mar 25, 2018 at 9:43pm PDT Who is Virgil Abloh? Born on September 30, 1980 in Chicago, the first generation Ghanaian-American Virgil Abloh was raised in Rockford, Illinois. Abloh studied for his Masters of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology before receiving his undergraduate in Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although having no formal training as a designer, he learned from his mother who was a seamstress. On the day he graduated in 2003, Virgil met Kanye and went on to meet his then-manager John Monopoly. He became a member of his creative team soon after. Career highlights include the launch of his art and menswear boutique RSVP Gallery and being the art director for the 2011 Jay Z and Kanye West album Watch the Throne and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package. Virgil had no training as a designer and he learned from his mother who was a seamstress When did Virgil Abloh start to design clothes? Virgil is also thought to have got the inspiration for the launch of his own streetwear brand Off-White after working with the rappers at Fendi Roma before they launched Pyrex Vision. Speaking with the Times, he said that for the last eight to ten years weve been having this conversation about whats new, and for me, that has to do with making luxury relatable across generations. The first thing I am going to do is define new codes. My muse has always been what people actually wear, and I am really excited to make a luxury version of that. Since being founded, the brand has been worn by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Justin Bieber, Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner. Off-White has also collaborated with other brands like Nike, Ikea, Champion, Jimmy Choo, Sunglass Hut and Timberland. In 2015, Virgil was a finalist for LVMHs Young Designers Prize which led to Ablohs appointment as a creative director for the fashion houses menswear. Alongside this, Virgil is also an international DJ, having played a number of shows in New York City, Miami and South Korea and had a residency at Las Vegass XS Nightclub. He will also be performing at this year's Lollapalooza music festival. Virgil Abloh with Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton Menswear Fall/Winter 2018-2019 PFW show Who is Virgil Ablohs wife? Virgil married Shannon Sundberg after ten years of dating in April 2009 and the couple currently reside in Chicago with their two children, Lowe and Grey. The family are expected to relocate to the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris. What is Virgil Ablohs net worth? Virgil Ablohs net worth has accumulated to approximately $3 million (2m), according to a report in Gazette Review. Virgil Abloh Louis Vuitton reactions In addition to Kim Kardashian-West and Edward Enninful, many have taken to Twitter to congratulate Virgil Abloh on his new job. The Man At LOUIS VUITTON! Congratulations @virgilabloh on your appointment as menswear designer. I look forward to your vision for #LV. pic.twitter.com/RPQYNYRn6A Edward Enninful OBE (@Edward_Enninful) March 26, 2018 .@VirgilAbloh joins #LouisVuitton Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Virgil Abloh as its new Mens Artistic Director. His first show will take place in June during Mens Fashion Week in Paris. pic.twitter.com/4aEOH7T9J8 Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) March 26, 2018 Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton is like Barack Obama for the United States nicholas (@ONS_OH) March 26, 2018 Im moved. Your next. virgil abloh (@virgilabloh) March 26, 2018 Most people had no idea who Virgil Abloh was 5 years ago. If this doesn't motivate you, I don't know what will. https://t.co/Hdsp5OeJVV Everette Taylor (@Everette) March 26, 2018 President Donald Trump huddled with Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron in a pair of phone calls on Tuesday afternoon in which the world leaders discussed an assassination attempt on an ex-Russian spy living in the U.K. More than two dozen nations have expelled Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. The U.K. led the way, tossing out 23, with the United States adding another 60 to the list on Monday. NATO joined the effort on Tuesday, marking what London called a 'turning point' in the West's relations with Moscow. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump huddled with Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron in a pair of phone calls on Tuesday afternoon in which the world leaders discussed an assassination attempt on an ex-Russian spy living in the U.K. The NATO member nations' leaders booted four Russian diplomats each in addition to the 60 that the U.S. kicked out on Monday The US-led military alliance expelled seven Russian staff and denied accreditation to three more, bringing the total number of suspected Russian spies expelled to almost 150, including the 23 initially dispatched by Britain. Which countries are expelling Russian diplomats over Salisbury? In an unprecedented move, countries across the west have banished Russian diplomats in response to the Salisbury poison outrage. Here is a list of the countries who have expelled diplomats. EU - Recalled its ambassador Britain - Expelled 23 Russians alleged to have worked as spies under diplomatic cover. Promised to freeze any Russian state assets that "may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents". United States - Expelling 60 Russians, including 12 intelligence officers from Russia's mission to U.N. headquarters in New York. Closing Russian consulate in Seattle. Canada - Expelling four Russians alleged to have worked as spies or interfered in Canadian affairs under diplomatic cover. Denying three applications for Russian diplomatic staff. Ukraine - Expelling 13 Russian diplomats France - Expelling four diplomats Germany - Expelling four diplomats Poland - Expelling four diplomats Lithuania - Expelling three diplomats Czech Republic - Expelling three diplomats Italy - Expelling two diplomats Netherlands - Expelling two diplomats Denmark - Expelling two diplomats Sweden - Expelling one diplomat Ireland - Expelling one diplomat Latvia - Expelling one diplomat Estonia - Expelling one diplomat Finland - Expelling one diplomat Romania - Expelling one diplomat Croatia - Expelling one diplomat Spain - Expelling two diplomats Norway - Expelling one diplomat Hungary - Expelling one diplomat Macedonia - Expelling one diploma t Albania - Expelling two diplomats Moldova - Expelling three diplomats Australia - Expelling two diplomats Advertisement 'This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour,' NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels. In an unprecedented act of coordination, at least 24 countries have echoed Britain's action in response to the March 4 attack on Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. France and Germany booted four Russian diplomats each. A White House readout of a call on Tuesday between Macron and Trupm said, 'Both leaders expressed support for the Wests strong response to Russias chemical weapons attack in Salisbury, United Kingdom, including the expulsion of numerous Russian intelligence officers on both sides of the Atlantic.' Trump separately spoke to Merkel about the issue in a call on Tuesday. 'Both leaders praised the joint announcements from North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies, European Union member states, and other partners to expel undeclared Russian intelligence officers in solidarity with the United Kingdom and in response to Russias reckless use of chemical weapons,' the readout of their call said. London and its allies have blamed Moscow, citing the use of a Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok, Russia's record of targeting dissidents and its history of aggression in recent years, from Crimea to cyber-attacks. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the mass expulsions were 'a blow from which Russian intelligence will need many years to recover'. It 'could become a turning point', he wrote in The Times newspaper, adding: 'The Western alliance took decisive action and Britain's partners came together against the Kremlin's reckless ambitions.' Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer imprisoned by Moscow for passing on information about Russian agents in various European countries, came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap. Moscow has fiercely denied any involvement in his attempted murder, instead pointing the finger at London. It responded to Britain's expulsions with its own, and the closure of the British Council cultural organisation -- and on Tuesday promised it would hit back against the coordinated moves. 'We'll respond, have no doubt! No one wants to put up with such loutish behaviour and we won't,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on the sidelines of a conference in Uzbekistan. Lavrov said the coordinated response was the result of 'colossal pressure, colossal blackmail' from the United States. US officials said Monday that 48 'intelligence officers' attached to Russian diplomatic missions in the US would be expelled, along with 12 accredited to the United Nations in New York Washington led the way by ordering out 60 Russians in a new blow to US-Russia ties The expulsions were a response to the poisoning in England of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Washington led the way in responding after the U.K., ordering out 60 Russians in a new blow to US-Russia ties less than a week after President Trump congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on his re-election. Australia, Canada, Ukraine and 17 European Union states followed with smaller-scale expulsions, which have revived fears of a return to the Cold War. 'Relations between Russia and the West are entering a period of full Cold War,' foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov wrote in the Vedomosti daily. The Izvestia daily dismissed the expulsions as a 'russophobic flashmob'. But Western officials made it clear in announcing the expulsions that they share Britain's assessment that only the Kremlin could have been responsible. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Washington and its allies were acting 'in response to Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom'. The Skripals remain in a critical state in hospital, and Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday that 'they may never fully recover'. Britain has emphasized that the attack took place in the context of 'reckless behavior' by Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the annexation of Crimea. May's spokesman said Tuesday that the 'unprecedented' actions by allies were in part because they 'recognize the threat that these Russian networks posed to the security of their own countries'. Downing Street says that May had received a 'very positive' response from allies in Brussels last week, including a public show of support from Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel (pictured with her on Thursday night) NATO joined the effort on Tuesday, marking what London called a 'turning point' in the West's relations with Moscow British officials say Russia has sought to divert attention by putting out more than a dozen explanations for the attack, the first using a nerve agent in Europe since World War II. 'There was a time when this tactic of sowing doubt might have been effective, but no one is fooled any more,' Johnson wrote, adding that the expulsions were 'a moment when the cynicism of the propaganda machine was exposed for all to see'. Washington's expulsions represented the largest ever of Russian or Soviet agents and came after Trump's predecessor Barack Obama expelled 35 in late 2016 over alleged election meddling. The Russian embassy in Washington responded by asking its Twitter followers to vote on which US consulate should be closed, listing those in Vladivostok, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg as options. New Zealand said it would like to expel Russian spies in retaliation for allegedly poisoning an ex-agent in Britain - but it can't find any. Scores of Russian diplomats have been ordered from the United States, Canada, Australia and various European countries in the wake of the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury. New Zealand is a member of the 'Five Eyes' intelligence-sharing network, which also includes the US, Britain, Canada and Australia. But while it offered in-principle support, the country admitted a lack of Russian spy activity meant there was little action it could take. It comes as Ireland became the latest country to order out a Russian diplomat, with deputy premier Simon Coveney describing the Salisbury chemical attack as an affront to international law New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said there are no Russian spies in her country to kick out Ms Ardern said New Zealand wanted show solidarity with the UK over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (pictured) A swathe of European states have expelled Russian diplomats alongside Canada and the US Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz said his country wanted to keep channels of negotiation open with Russia New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told state radio it had 'done a check', but 'we don't have Russian undeclared intelligence officers here. If we did, we would expel them.' 'When there's a range of international interests does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually.' Ardern said New Zealand 'will keep under review what further actions it can take to support the international community over the Salisbury attack'. Russia has denied it was behind the attempted assassination, which left Skripal and his daughter gravely ill in perhaps the first nerve agent attack in Europe since World War II. Which countries are expelling Russian diplomats over Salisbury? In an unprecedented move, countries across the west have banished Russian diplomats in response to the Salisbury poison outrage. Here is a list of the countries who have expelled diplomats. EU - Recalled its ambassador Britain - Expelled 23 Russians alleged to have worked as spies under diplomatic cover. Promised to freeze any Russian state assets that "may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents". United States - Expelling 60 Russians, including 12 intelligence officers from Russia's mission to U.N. headquarters in New York. Closing Russian consulate in Seattle. Canada - Expelling four Russians alleged to have worked as spies or interfered in Canadian affairs under diplomatic cover. Denying three applications for Russian diplomatic staff. Ukraine - Expelling 13 Russian diplomats France - Expelling four diplomats Germany - Expelling four diplomats Poland - Expelling four diplomats Lithuania - Expelling three diplomats Czech Republic - Expelling three diplomats Italy - Expelling two diplomats Netherlands - Expelling two diplomats Denmark - Expelling two diplomats Sweden - Expelling one diplomat Ireland - Expelling one diplomat Latvia - Expelling one diplomat Estonia - Expelling one diplomat Finland - Expelling one diplomat Romania - Expelling one diplomat Croatia - Expelling one diplomat Spain - Expelling two diplomats Norway - Expelling one diplomat Hungary - Expelling one diplomat Macedonia - Expelling one diploma t Albania - Expelling two diplomats Moldova - Expelling three diplomats Australia - Expelling two diplomats Advertisement Austria, however, said it would not follow a number of other EU countries in expelling Russian diplomats, thelocal.at reported. 'We stand behind the decision to recall the EU ambassador, but we will not take any national measures,' Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said in a joint statement. 'Indeed, we want to keep the channels of communication to Russia open. Austria is a neutral country and sees itself as a bridge-builder between East and West.' The Kremlin has promised to 'respond harshly' after Britain's allies threw out diplomats from 23 countries in response to the Salisbury nerve agent poisoning. The US has expelled 60 officials and shut the Russian consulate in Seattle following the attempted assassination of the Skripals. And this afternoon, Ireland's deputy premier Simon Coveney expressed solidarity with the UK saying: 'The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, anywhere, is particularly shocking and abhorrent. 'The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom, but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and well-being. 'In light of the European Council conclusions, and following an assessment conducted by the security services and relevant departments, I have briefed the Government on my intended course of action. 'The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has subsequently met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation and informed him that the accreditation of a member of his staff with diplomatic status is to be terminated, in line with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 'The individual in question is required to leave the jurisdiction.' Ahead of an anticipated expulsion announcement, Russia's ambassador to Ireland, Yury Filatov, had warned against any action that might 'ruin' the relationship between the two countries. Russia has 17 accredited diplomats working out of the Russian embassy in Rathgar in south Dublin. 'We should be concerned about the best interest of the Irish public and best interest of the Russian public - the Irish/Russian relations,' he told RTE on Monday night. 'We have a huge amount of good will, we have a very nice relationship - positive, constructive, stable relations, open dialogue and good business. I don't see anything which would really point to the necessity to ruin it.' The extraordinary Western response is a coup for Theresa May, who has spent days warning allies that they could face similar Russian aggression if they stand by. The Prime Minister told MPs: 'This is the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. If the Kremlin's goal is to intimidate and divide the Western alliance then their efforts have spectacularly backfired. Sixteen EU countries said they would also be expelling Russian agents, with at least two more expected to follow in the coming days. The Prime Minister revealed that more than 130 people in Salisbury may have been exposed to the Novichok nerve agent. The Kremlin warned the world was entering a new Cold War as it hit out at those trying to 'contain Russia'. Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will on Tuesday unveil 'measures' in response to the poisoning as international pressure mounts on Moscow. NATO has warned that the nerve agent attack on Skripal and his daughter must have 'consequences' and Stoltenberg will hold a news conference in Brussels at 3.30pm to make an announcement on 'further decisions', the alliance said in a brief statement. Relations between NATO and Russia were already at a low ebb over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and its role in the Ukraine and Syria conflicts. An Australian mountaineer is on top of the world after he became the first paraplegic to reach the foot of the world's highest peak. On March 14, Scott Doolan set out in his wheelchair to climb/wheel 18,192 feet to the Mount Everest base camp with little assistance. It took the Newcastle resident 10 days to reach the camp, 5364 metres above sea level, taking barely longer than many able-bodied trekkers. Scroll down for video Scott Doolan in Kathmandu after becoming the first paraplegic to reach the foot of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak The gruelling journey wasn't easy for Scott Doolan and his team. 'We could have called it quits or found a way.' 'I was struggling to breathe at that time because I was walking on my hands but I just remember looking up and seeing a crowd of about 20 people. Once I actually got there they all start cheering and that was pretty damn humbling,' Doolan said. The gruelling journey wasn't easy. Walking on his hands, Doolan wore through five pairs of gloves during the trek. He suffered a stress fracture while navigating the rocky terrain and extreme altitude -- in his wheelchair where possible, on his hands and occasionally being carried. One of the front wheels of his wheelchair purpose built for the trek snapped off on day seven. A rope was tied to the broken side of the wheelchair to stop it tipping. 'I was pretty devastated. I was just sitting by myself on a rock, thinking how am I going to do this now,' Doolan told AFP. 'We could have called it quits or found a way.' Prior to the trek, Doolan told the Channel Nine's Today Show he wanted to do it to inspire and motivate others. 'What better way to inspire people than to do something crazy,' he said. He previously posted on his Facebook page: 'Hopefully I can motivate and inspire as many people as possible. And truly show no matter how hard something may seem, if you put your mind to it and work your absolute ass off to achieve it, you will come out on top.' Once a sports-mad teenager, Doolan was 17 when he broke his spine in a motorbike accident when he hit an oncoming vehicle while coming around a blind corner. 'It broke every bone in my body and I became a paraplegic,' he told the Today Show. The journey took its toll on Scott, who had to be airlifted to hospital after he reached the base of Mount Everest It took the Newcastle resident 10 days to reach the camp, 5364 metres above sea level The trek came about after he accepted a challenge from clothing company Apexgen. It has pledged the first $70,000 from its clothing sales to the campaign to fund the trip and make a documentary. 'Its been an incredible so far and we cant wait to share the stories with you all soon,' the company posted on its Facebook page on the final day of the trek. Not even eight months of daily cardiovascular and strength training to build upper body strength, two altitude sessions a week and a stint in the Blue Mountains could prepare Doolan for the trek, which was '100 percent more difficult' than he had expected. 'I didn't expect the terrain to be so brutal. I've never seen anything like that before and I've never trained on anything like that,' he said. Scott has a stress fracture in his tailbone but is expected to make a full recovery Scott Doolan now has the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo in his sights Doolan was airlifted from base camp on Sunday to be taken to hospital in Kathmandu. X-rays revealed he had a stress fracture in his tailbone but is expected to make a full recovery. Doolan is now deciding his next adventure He also wants to swim for Australia in the 2020 Paralympics. Migration Advisory Committee chairman Professor Alan Manning said firms were reluctant to sign up to any reforms which reduced the pool of qualified candidates for vacancies Businesses in all sectors fear the loss of migrant workers after Brexit because they offer better skills at lower costs, a committee advising the government warned today. The Migration Advisory Committee said firms were reluctant to sign up to any reforms which reduced the pool of qualified candidates for vacancies. The committee said it remained true that what was best for business was not always better for the population at large and promised to study the impact on wages and employment. Its conclusions were contained in an interim report on how workers from the European Economic Area - which includes the EU and some additional countries - currently impact the British jobs market. Brexit is expected to end current free movement rules with a view to slashing the number of people moving to Britain each year. In the interim report, committee chairman Professor Alan Manning said: 'The vast majority of employers do not deliberately seek to fill vacancies with migrant workers. 'They employ EEA migrants when they are the best or, sometimes, the only available candidates.' Prof Manning said high skill employers did not want candidates subjected to the same restrictions as migrants from around the world, warning the immigration system was not held in 'high regard'. Low skill employers told the committee they were concerned at being hit hardest by higher costs and more bureaucracy to bring in needed workers. The current net migration level is 244,000 people a year and the Government is committed to reducing it toward 100,000 Prof Manning added: 'A thriving business sector is vital but it is part of the means to the end of providing a high quality of life for UK residents, an objective that the MAC has always used in evaluating migration policy. 'How the lives of UK residents are affected by EEA migration requires a full assessment of the impacts of that migration, not just the perspectives of employers.' The Home Office, run by Amber Rudd (pictured in Downing Street), said it was committed to reducing immigration in a 'controlled and sustainable' way He said the final report would make recommendations for the post-Brexit transition that take into account impact on wages, unemployment and prices. But Prof Manning warned: 'We do understand the importance of migration policy, but coming to the right, rather than a rushed, conclusion is what matters: our work is for a system coming into force from 2021.' A Home Office spokesman said the Government remained committed to reducing immigration in a 'controlled and sustainable' way. The spokeman said: 'The British people want control of our borders, and after we leave the EU we will ensure that we can control immigration to Britain from Europe, putting in place a system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK. 'This system will be based on evidence, including from the MAC, and on engagement with a range of stakeholders, including businesses, universities, the Devolved Administrations and NHS leaders. 'We welcome the MAC's interim report and will consider its evidence in full when it publishes its final report in September.' Residents are being warned of dodgy backpackers posing as locksmiths around Brisbane. The fake locksmiths are charging residents hundreds of dollars and the advertised $45 call out fee. Lydia Wilson called a locksmith on Sunday and when the job was finished she said the locksmith took out a tax invoice telling her she needs to pay $290 - six times the normal price. Lydia Wilson (pictured) called a locksmith on Sunday and when the job was finished she said the locksmith told her she needs to pay $290 Residents are being warned of dodgy backpackers posing as locksmiths (pictured) around Brisbane It's been revealed others have fallen to the same scam with one person being charged $770 by an unlicensed locksmith and then someone had to go back and fix it 'I said ''I'm not paying it, don't unlock the door',' Ms Wilson told Seven News. 'I then had to pay him the $45.' It's been revealed others have fallen to the same scam with one person being charged $770 by an unlicensed locksmith and then someone had to come back and fix what was not fixed. The dodgy backpackers are using a number of websites such as ampmlocksmiths.com.au and locksmithinbrisbane.com.au. Unfortunately, people who use these sites are left exposed and vulnerable to the scammers. Credit cards are stored on the site and can be used again. The dodgy backpackers are using a number of websites such as ampmlocksmiths.com.au (left) and locksmithinbrisbane.com.au (right) If you suspect you've been scammed, get in touch with the Office of Fair Trading Victims are also unaware if the backpackers are cutting extra keys and keeping it to themselves. Residents are told to keep an eye out for the unlicensed locksmiths not in uniform, no marked car, and that are charging a high price. The dodgy system has been around since December and all the jobs are charged in Canadian dollars. If you suspect you've been scammed, get in touch with the Office of Fair Trading. Advertisement Stunning footage shows an air force pilot flying through the dazzling Northern Lights. Ross Franquemont, 40, was left awestruck when the green natural light began reflecting into his plane and swirling around outside the cockpit window. And he even took incredible pictures of the display, photographing straight down the line of his U-2 Dragon Lady plane's wings as he flew over Canada. The Northern Lights are created when charged particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles are deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, but some enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles. These collisions emit light in many colours, although pale green and pink are common. Ross Franquemont was left awestruck when the green natural light of the Northern Lights began reflecting into his plane and swirling around outside the cockpit window This incredible selfie shows Ross sitting in his plane thousands of feet up as the swirling lights beam brightly behind him The 40-year-old pilot poses against the stunning background while travelling at about 500mph The lights can be seen from the ground and are most visible in darker places away from light pollution in towns and cities. Ross, who had never seen the iconic lights before, was flying his spy plane in late February when the astonishing scenes unfolded. The pilot from Lenoir, North Carolina, captured the dancing aurora as he shot across the sky at about 500mph some 70,000 feet off the ground. The radiant green light can be seen encircling his plane as he sailed over Canada in late February Ross even managed to photograph straight down the line of his U-2 Dragon Lady plane's wings 'What fascinates me most about aerial photography, especially from the U-2, is the reaction it gets from other people,' said Ross. NORTHERN LIGHTS The lights are created when charged particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles are deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, but some enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles. These collisions emit light in many colours, although pale green and pink are common. Advertisement 'The reaction has been incredible to say the least. We have more interest in pilots looking to come fly the U-2. 'Probably one of the best feelings came from my co-workers, many of whom have flown this exact same flight. ''Finally someone was able to capture it,' one of them put it.' He added: 'Seeing an image from a U-2, is kind of a first step toward that bigger picture and I think it evokes a small sense of overview effect in each person that views it. 'I'd love to take everyone up to see for themselves, but we'll have to wait for Virgin Galactic and hopefully others to start taking the public up.' Light can be emitted in many colours during the natural phenomenon, although the most common pale green (pictured) and pink The stunning beams cast a jaw-dropping luminous shadow across the night sky as Ross flew past in his plane Ross (pictured), from Lenoir, North Carolina, had never seen the iconic lights before and was left stunned by the display He also said CA-linked SCL distributed 'kompromat' in Nigeria's 2015 election Were also rumours Kenyan police were bribed to delay investigation into death Told MPs there were rumours Mr Muresan was poisoned after a deal went sour Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie has today revealed his predecessor died mysteriously in a Kenyan hotel room - and may have been poisoned. He said Dan Muresan was working for President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election campaign when he was found dead in 2012 amid reports a deal he was working on went 'sour'. Giving evidence to the culture select committee of MPs, Mr Wylie told how rumours that Mr Muresan had been killed circulated around the controversial data firm. And he heard talk the Kenyan police had been bribed not to enter the hotel room for 24 hours in a bid to cover up the possible murder. He made the explosive comments to a committee of MPs investigating the spread of fake news. Rumours that the death could have been murder will fuel concerns about Cambridge Analytica and the shady world it operated in. Scroll down for video Cambridge Analytica Christopher Wylie has today revealed that his predecessor died mysteriously in a Kenyan hotel room - and may have been poisoned. Dan Muresan (pictured) was working for President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election campaign when he was found dead in 2012 amid reports a deal he was working on went 'sour', MPs were told Giving evidence to the culture select committee of MPs today (pictured) Mr Wylie told how rumours that Mr Muresan had been killed circulated around the controversial data firm He said: 'Cambridge Analytica was working with Kenyan politicians, but because in a lot of African countries if a deal goes wrong you pay for it. Who was Dan Muresan, the former Cambridge Analytica employee who died in Kenya? Dan Muresan was found dead in 2012 amid suspicious circumstances, Parliament has been told (file pic) Dan Muresan was Cambridge Analytica's elections chief when he died in mysterious circumstances in 2012. He had been working for the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's reelection campaign when he died. Rumours which later surfaced suggested he may have been poisoned after a deal went 'sour'. Mr Muresan was the only child of Romania's former Agriculture Minister Ioan Avram Muresan, who is now serving a seven year jail stint for corruption. His family reportedly chose to keep the cause of his death private - a choice Romanian citizens are offered/. and the results of the postmortem were never revealed publicly. He studied at the prestigious LSE university before moving to the Us where he got a master's degree in political management from the George Washington University. He joined Cambridge Analytica working on their elections team and headed up campaigns in various states of south Africa, south-east Asia and eastern Europe. At the time of his death, Romania's Foreign Ministry told the Bucharest Herald: 'The Romanian citizen was working with a British telecommunications company, being in Kenya for a while. 'He had not yet registered his presence on Kenyan territory with the Romanian diplomatic mission. The same source shows that after the police arrived, the body was taken by an undertaker company for an autopsy.' Advertisement 'Dan was my predecessor....what I heard was that he was working on some kind of deal of some sort - I'm not sure what. 'The deal went sour. 'People suspected he was poisoned in his hotel room. I also heard that the police had got bribed not to enter the hotel room for 24 hours.' He added: 'That is what I was told - I was not there so I speak to the veracity of it.' Mr Wylie said that when he joined Cambridge Analytica in 2012 he did not know the name of his predecessor or what happened to him. But he asked his colleagues after he could not find a file he was hunting for. It was then that he heard the rumours about the death, MPs were told. Mr Muresan was the son of former Romanian Agriculture Minister Ioan Avram Muresan, who is now in prison for corruption charges. His mysterious death made the news in his home country. According to a report of his death which ran in 2012 in the Bucharest Herald, the 32 year-old had studied at the LSE in London and had coordinated election campaigns in Europe, Africa and the US. Romania's Foreign Ministry told the Bucharest Herald at the time: 'The Romanian citizen was working with a British telecommunications company, being in Kenya for a while. 'He had not yet registered his presence on Kenyan territory with the Romanian diplomatic mission. 'The same source shows that after the police arrived, the body was taken by an undertaker company for an autopsy.' Paul-Olivier Dehaye, an IT expert, told the committee: My understanding relating back to your predecessor Dan Muresan. There are stories that have come out in Indiahe was working for Congress apparently according to reports. But apparently he was really paid for by an Indian billionaire who actually wanted Congress to loose. So he was pretending to work for one party while actually paid by someone else. He called for collaboration between the three countries to get to the bottom of what happened to Mr Muresan. In a lengthy appearance in front of the select committee, Mr Wylie also made more claims about questionable activities carried out by the SCL Group, a strategic communications company linked to CA. Christopher Wylie (pictured last night with Vote Leave whistleblower Shahmir Sanni) also said that Cambridge Analytica's parent company SCL was involved in the distribution of kompromat during the Nigerian elections in 2015 in an effort to intimidate voters He claimed that SCL had been involved in a project in Nigeria in 2015 which had involved hacking the private information of Muhammadu Buhari, who was running for president. Cambridge Analytica's parent company involved in distributing kompromat to intimidate voters in Nigeria, MPs hear Cambridge Analytica's parent company was involved in the distribution of kompromat to try to intimate voters in the Nigerian election in 2015, a whistleblower today claimed. Christopher Wylie said SCL was involved in a project involving the hacking the private information of Muhammadu Buhari, who was running for president. He claimed AIQ distributed compromising material - known as kompromat - and videos designed of people having their throats slit to intimidate Mr Buhari's supporters. He told MPs: 'The company utilised the services of an Israeli private intelligence firm, Black Cube. 'Black Cube on the Nigeria project was engaged to hack the now-president Buhari to get access to his medical records and private emails. 'AIQ worked on that project. AIQ was handed material in Nigeria from Cambridge Analytica to distribute online. 'That's distribution of kompromat and of incredibly threatening and violent video content which I've passed on to the committee. 'The videos that AIQ distributed in Nigeria with the sole intent of intimidating voters included content where people were being dismembered, where people were having their throats cut and bled to death in a ditch, they were being burned alive. 'There were incredibly anti-Islamic and threatening messages portraying Muslims as violent.' Mr Wylie also alleged AIQ had worked on a project in Trinidad & Tobago, which involved attempting to harvest the internet data of the country's entire population. He said: 'You've got AggregateIQ, who received 40 per cent of Vote Leave's spending, also involved in projects which involved hacked material and kompromat and distributing violent videos of people being bled to death to intimidate voters. 'This is the company that played an incredibly pivotal role in politics here.' In a statement issued after the hearing, Black Cube said it has always operated within the law. It said: 'Whilst we are flattered that we are seemingly being connected with every international incident that occurs, we will state that Chris Wylies testimony is a flagrant lie. 'We categorically declare that neither Black Cube, nor any of its affiliates and subsidiaries, have ever worked for, or engaged with, SCL, Cambridge Analytica, or any of their affiliates and subsidiaries. 'Black Cube has never operated in Nigeria nor has it worked on any project connected to Nigeria, and none of its employees have ever set foot in Nigeria. 'Black Cube will investigate this claim on a pro bono basis, and will reveal the truth and the motive behind Wylie's defamatory lie.' They also threatened to sue Mr Wylie. Advertisement And he claimed AIQ had distributed compromising material - known as kompromat - and videos designed to intimidate Mr Buhari's supporters. He said: 'The company utilised the services of an Israeli private intelligence firm, Black Cube. 'Black Cube on the Nigeria project was engaged to hack the now-president Buhari to get access to his medical records and private emails. 'AIQ worked on that project. AIQ was handed material in Nigeria from Cambridge Analytica to distribute online. 'That's distribution of kompromat and of incredibly threatening and violent video content which I've passed on to the committee. 'The videos that AIQ distributed in Nigeria with the sole intent of intimidating voters included content where people were being dismembered, where people were having their throats cut and bled to death in a ditch, they were being burned alive. 'There were incredibly anti-Islamic and threatening messages portraying Muslims as violent.' In a statement issued after the hearing, Black Cube said it has always operated within the law. It said: 'Whilst we are flattered that we are seemingly being connected with every international incident that occurs, we will state that Chris Wylies testimony is a flagrant lie. 'We categorically declare that neither Black Cube, nor any of its affiliates and subsidiaries, have ever worked for, or engaged with, SCL, Cambridge Analytica, or any of their affiliates and subsidiaries. 'Black Cube has never operated in Nigeria nor has it worked on any project connected to Nigeria, and none of its employees have ever set foot in Nigeria. 'Black Cube will investigate this claim on a pro bono basis, and will reveal the truth and the motive behind Wylie's defamatory lie.' They also threatened to sue Mr Wylie. in his evidence, Mr Wylie also alleged that AIQ had worked on a project in Trinidad & Tobago, which involved attempting to harvest the internet data of the country's entire population. He said: 'You've got AggregateIQ, who received 40 per cent of Vote Leave's spending, also involved in projects which involved hacked material and kompromat and distributing violent videos of people being bled to death to intimidate voters. 'This is the company that played an incredibly pivotal role in politics here. 'Something that I would strongly recommend to the committee would be that they push the authorities here and give them the support they need to investigate this company.' He said that SCL would help politicians win elections in African countries so it could use its influence to broker commercial deals and line their pockets. Describing how SCL operates, Mr Wylie said: 'You can be a colonial master in these countries...it was very much like a privatized colonial operation' He also revealed more details about the characters behind Cambridge Analytica and SCL Group. He said that Alexander Nix, CA's chief executive, set up a fake office in Cambridge in a bid to woo Steve Bannon - Donald Trump's former chief strategist, who was more at home speaking to students than sitting in the firm's plush Mayfair offices. He also revealed that Mr Nix was very wealthy. He said: 'You have to remember that a lot of these people are very wealthy already. 'Alexander Nix in particular - there was one time when we were running late because he had to pick up a 200,000 chandelier. 'These are people who don't need to make a lot of money, but the thing that I learned is that for certain wealthy people, they need something to keep them occupied and they need projects. Michael Gove and Boris Johnson (pictured after David Cameron announced he was resigning after losing the Brexit referendum) were the leading faces of the Vote Leave campaign Mr Wylie told MPs that Vote Leave strategist Dominic Cummings (pictured) cheated election spending rules in the referendum by telling other organisations how to spend their money 'Going into the developing world and running a country is something that appeals to them.' Cambridge Analytica has been plunged into controversy after Mr Wylie blew the whistle on claims that it harvested data from 50 million Facebook users without getting their permission. My Wylie told MPs that thought Mr Nix was 'exceptionally misleading' in his evidence to the committee adding: 'Not just misleading but dishonest.' He also accused Dominic Cummings, the strategist at Vote Leave who is credited with masterminding the victory, of finding ways of cheating in the Brexit referendum. Mr Wylie said he found ways to bust spending limits by telling other Brexit backing organisations including BeLeave to used their money to pay for a digital advertising blitz by AIQ. He said: 'This is cheating....if you cheat on an exam you get a fail if you chat on the Olympics you lose your medal. You should not win by cheating.' He added: 'There could have been a different outcome in the referendum had there not been cheating.' He said Cambridge Analyica is not a legitimate firm and that 'no good' has come from it. This shocking video shows two vicious thugs pursuing and attacking a victim for trying to defend a woman after she was headbutted. Terrified Colin Mclean was chased through town in a taxi as he ran for his life when he was set upon by violent duo Stephen Doyle and Samuel Bullen. He was eventually caught and savagely beaten, and he later said the effects of the attack have ruined his life. Now Doyle, 29, and Bullen, 22, have been sent to jail for the attack in Torquay, Devon, thanks to this CCTV footage that was meticulously pieced together by police. This shocking video shows two vicious thugs pursuing and attacking a victim for trying to defend a woman after she was headbutted in Torquay, Devon Stephen Doyle, 29, (left) and Samuel Bullen, 22,(right) have now been sent to jail for the attack thanks to CCTV footage that was meticulously pieced together by police Exeter Crown Court heard violence escalated in a fast food takeaway when Doyle headbutted local woman Denise Sloan, who is standing with Mr Mclean before he valiantly steps in to defend her. Mr Mclean throws one punch which sends Doyle staggering backwards, dazed, before he regains his senses and launches after him. The victim then makes a quick dash for the exit and jumps in a waiting cab to make his escape back to his hotel, a Travelodge in nearby Paignton. But Doyle and Bullen already know where Mr Mclean is staying and go after him in their own cab. In a cruel twist of fate, Mr Mclean's taxi makes a wrong turn and arrives at the hotel 31 seconds after the vicious thugs. Mr Mclean then runs for his life but is eventually caught before being beaten, and was later found unconscious lying in the road by a taxi driver on January 11. He spent five days in intensive care in hospital, and suffered swelling and bleeding to the brain, a severely torn ear, broken ribs, perforated lung and a fractured eye socket. The violent duo chased Colin Mclean town in a taxi as he ran for his life. Mclean was eventually caught and savagely beaten, and he later said the effects of the attack have ruined his life Exeter Crown Court heard violence escalated in a fast food takeaway when Doyle headbutted local woman Denise Sloan, who is standing with Mr Mclean before he valiantly steps in to defend her He had a titanium plate fitted to his face and still suffers from poor vision and may need more surgery to his ear. He is also unable to drive which may cause problems working in the future. The self-employed electrician said in a statement: 'My life has become a living nightmare. My life before has been completely destroyed. 'I know my attackers will forget about me, but I will never forget what they did to me. 'The effects of this assault will never leave me. I am reminded of this every day, and will be for the rest of my life. 'I just want to forget it all, but I know I never will.' Exeter Crown Court heard that Mr Mclean, from Liverpool, was visiting Paignton and while out for a drink in The Spinning Wheel he heard fellow northern accents, belonging to Doyle and Bullen. The victim introduced himself and the three can be seen laughing and joking in the pub, and later they ended up in the same fast food restaurant. Police assembled all the footage into a single video which was shown during the trial and helped Recorder Malcolm Galloway piece together the sequence of events before jailing the thugs While in the eatery, Doyle and Bullen are seen using a punching machine and getting more and more aggressive before the night descended into violence. Doyle, who led the assault, was jailed for eight years and two months after admitting grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm. Bullen, who joined in the chase and the kicking, was jailed for one year and eight months after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm without intent. A network of ten cameras followed every moment of the terrifying pursuit, from the moment they first met to the victim's desperate attempt to flee. Eight private and public CCTV cameras followed their movements and two Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras helped police find the two taxi drivers who were unwittingly caught up in the incident. Police assembled all the footage into a single video which was shown during the trial and helped Recorder Malcolm Galloway piece together the sequence of events before jailing the thugs. A network of ten cameras followed every moment of the terrifying pursuit, from the moment they first met to the victim's desperate attempt to flee Eight private and public CCTV cameras followed their movements and two Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras helped police find the two taxi drivers who were unwittingly caught up in the incident After the sentencing on Friday, Detective Constable Tim Platt praised Mr Mclean's bravery and strength. He said: 'Doyle and Bullen have shown themselves to be mindless, violent criminals with no regard for the consequences of their actions or the impact this has had on the life of Mr Mclean and his family. 'It was the CCTV and the impact it had that underpinned the key evidence and helped secure the length of sentence handed down. 'It really shows the value of good quality CCTV to a police investigation.' Australia is home to a seedy underworld of illegal plastic surgery, led by unqualified 'cosmetic surgeons' who perform the procedures in flats and hotel rooms. Described as the 'dark web' of cosmetic surgery, the 'doctors' work in a lawless arena preserved almost exclusively for unwitting women trying to save a few thousand dollars. It is the same deathly brand of cosmetic enhancement which killed Sydney woman Jean Huang, 35, after she died of a heart attack following a botched boob job. Scroll down for video Described as the 'dark web' of cosmetic surgery, the 'doctors' work in a lawless arena preserved almost exclusively for unwitting Asians trying to save a few thousand dollars (Stock image) It is the same deathly brand of cosmetic enhancement which killed Sydney woman Jean Huang, 35, after she died of a heart attack following a botched boob job (Clinic pictured) Merrilyn Walton, former NSW Health Care Complaints Commissioner, warns the world of dodgy cosmetic procedures is one that is flourishing. 'It's like it's a subculture of illegal activity around Botox and invasive procedures,' Ms Walton told SBS Viceland. The illegal activities is like the dark web... it's impenetrable. People are being harmed, there are people who have died.' After Ms Huang's death, NSW Police conducted raids on 10 dodgy 'clinics' across Sydney, seizing illegal botox and other drugs. However no charges were laid and the clinics are still operating to this day, injecting customers with potentially lethal cocktails of drugs. The Chinese tourist allegedly responsible for the botched procedure, Jie Shao, 33, is behind bars and facing 20 years' jail after being charged with manslaughter. Shao, who has no licence to practice medicine in Australia, met Ms Huang through a mutual friend. The 'doctors' are part of a backyard beauty industry which sees mostly Asian nationals perform procedures in their own homes. Some clinics - like Shao - put on a professional front and appear to be licensed surgeries from the outside. The 'doctors' are part of a backyard beauty industry which sees mostly Asian nationals perform procedures in their own homes (Stock image) After Ms Huang's (pictured) death, NSW Police conducted raids on 10 dodgy 'clinics' across Sydney, seizing illegal botox and other drugs Shao, (pictured) who has no licence to practise medicine in Australia, met Ms Huang through a mutual friend They advertise online mostly in languages other than English and order in cheap knock-off injectables from China. Procedures are promoted on Chinese messaging app WeChat and fellow Chinese nationals provide glowing testimonials, reeling other potential clients in. The illegal beauty industry is also thriving in Melbourne, where over 10 of these makeshift clinics were found online. SBS Viceland contracted a Chinese journalist to visit two of the clinics, where she filmed sordid conditions including bloodied tissues and used needles visible in a bin and cats and dogs roaming around freely. The owners openly admitted they had no real qualifications in Botox or cosmetic surgery and one said they purchased the products from Korea. One woman told the journalist the items can only be brought into Australia by person and are confiscated if they are sent via post. 'You're not allowed to import it, so we can only get it through illegal channels,' she said. Procedures are then advertised on Chinese messaging app WeChat and fellow Chinese nationals provide glowing testimonials, reeling other potential clients in (Huang pictured) The owners openly admitted they had no real qualifications in Botox or cosmetic surgery and one said they purchased the products from Korea (Huang pictured) The illegal beauty industry is also thriving in Melbourne, where over 10 of these makeshift clinics were found online (Stock image) The dodgy practitioners prey on vulnerable Asian women looking for double eyelid lifts and breast augmentation. When it goes wrong, the women are then forced to spend thousands of dollars on corrective surgery. One anonymous woman who attended a Melbourne clinic complained her eyelid surgery was 'so painful I will never forget the feeling for the rest of my life'. In September last year, the NSW government issued a public warning against seeking cosmetic procedures from unlicensed clinics. 'The Commission has serious concerns that persons are carrying out medical-related procedures to improve aesthetic appearance whilst not appropriately registered as a medical practitioners,' it said in a statement. There are now extra protections in place for patients having procedures such as significant liposuction, fat transfer, facial implants that are on the bone or involve deep tissue surgery, breast augmentation or reduction, and 'tummy tucks'. A ghost hunter is convinced he captured the specter of a former RAF serviceman on film during a paranormal investigation at an abandoned airbase. Kyle Thompson, 30, was shocked to see the towering 'apparition' when he replayed video footage from his visit to the empty RAF Church Fenton base near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. Captured in the room where WWII officers used to gather to drink and relax, the figure can be seen rising from the floor before walking out of the room followed by what Kyle claims are 'balls of energy'. Scroll down for video A ghost hunter is convinced he captured the specter of a former RAF serviceman on film during a paranormal investigation at an abandoned airbase in Tadcaster, north Yorkshire The officer appears to have been a tall, imposing officer with a large beard when he was alive. Kyle, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said: 'There were around 14 buildings in the base and we wanted to try and get in as many of them as possible. 'We found the bar area and as soon as we went in there we could hear voices.. It was a really active area of the base. 'When we went into that room Dave told us he felt funny so we decided to video the room to see what we could spot. Kyle Thompson, 30, was shocked to see the towering apparition when he replayed video footage from his visit to the empty RAF Church Fenton base near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire 'We didn't notice the shape of the officer until we were editing and looking at the video later on.' Kyle was amazed when he reviewed the video and saw they had been stood right next to an officer's ghost. He claims the former serviceman can be spotted rising from the ground before walking away, followed by the residue of his own powerful energy. Kyle, from Barnsley, South Yorks, said: 'There were around 14 buildings in the base and we wanted to try and get in as many of them as possible' He said: 'It's a mist coming from out the floor as if he had been lying down and was getting up. 'The officer takes a few steps, looks directly at the camera before turning away and walking off. 'Then six or seven balls of light follow him. They just come out of nowhere. Kyle was amazed when he reviewed the video and saw they had been stood right next to an officer's ghost 'They aren't specks of dust like some people say as they were pulsating. I think it was the rest of his energy following him out of the room. 'We have captured the figure before on previous visits but this is the clearest one. 'You can see that the figure is about six foot four and has a big white beard and you can see the outline of his shoulders. Warehouse worker Kyle (right), as well as friends Dave Saunders and Mark Gallagher (left), both 30, make up the Soul Reaper Paranormal group and spend their spare time exploring locations around the UK for unusual paranormal activity 'It all happens in the blink of an eye, and you can see it better when the video is slowed down.' Warehouse worker Kyle, as well as friends Dave Saunders and Mark Gallagher, both 30, make up the Soul Reaper Paranormal group and spend their spare time exploring locations around the UK for unusual paranormal activity. The trio have been friends since school and all enjoy exploring the locations so they can share their findings with the public. Father-of-two Kyle said: 'We have known each other since school and we all go out and do this together. 'We really enjoy it and we like to do it in our spare time and almost always at night. 'We have been to the base before and we have had equipment turned off on us before and spotted other apparitions with our naked eye. 'RAF Church Fenton is one of our favourite locations and we always plan to go back there to see what we can capture.' Rare sketches of Luftwaffe planes used to identify enemy aircraft during bombing raids in the Blitz have been uncovered scrawled on the walls of a Poundland. The drawings were discovered on a stairwell at the shop in Ramsgate, Kent, and depict what is believed to be two Dornier DO 17 German bombers, as well as an RAF Wellington bomber. Royal Observation Corps (ROC) volunteers, known as fire watchers, positioned themselves on rooftops to spot incendiary bombs and Luftwaffe bombers, and would have used the sketches to identify enemy aircraft. Rare sketches of Luftwaffe planes used to identify enemy aircraft during bombing raids in the Blitz have been uncovered. Pictured: The top two diagrams show the DO 17 German bomber, while the bottom sketch is thought to show an RAF Wellington The drawings were discovered on a stairwell at this branch of Poundland in Ramsgate, Kent The information would be reported back to RAF bases so fighter pilots could intercept them. It is believed the civil defence team sketched the planes' outlines on the wall so they knew what to look for during German bombing raids. Merchandiser Sharron O'Conner, who took a photo of the diagrams after spotting them while making a delivery, said: 'It's drawings and descriptions of planes. 'Apparently, the fire brigade used the building in the war to spot enemy planes to warn the air force of an attack.' The drawings were discovered on a stairwell at the shop in Ramsgate, Kent, and depict what is believed to be two Dornier DO 17 German bombers, as well as an RAF Wellington bomber The top sketch is believed to show a Dornier DO 17 German bomber (like this one, pictured) There is also a reference to Canterbury Cathedral School of Music written next to the diagrams. The ROC was set up in 1925 to detect and track aircraft over Britain. Its civilian volunteer corps was disbanded in December 1995. Thousands of fires were extinguished or prevented by civilian volunteers working alongside the fire service and air-raid wardens. The Ramsgate building, which was previously the Bull and George Hotel, was bombed in 1915 during the Great War, killing two guests. Two high-explosive bombs were dropped by Zeppelin LZ 38, passing through the building and exploding on the ground floor at around 2am. Poundland store staff have contacted the Imperial War Museum following the World War Two drawings' discovery. The ISIS gunman who killed four people in France last week had been summoned to meet anti-terror police shortly before his shooting rampage, it has emerged. Radouane Lakdim, a Moroccan-born French national, had been on a list of suspected extremists since 2014 and was being monitored, sparking criticism of the country's security services. The 25-year-old killed four people and injured four others on Friday in three separate shootings in the towns of Carcassonne and Trebes, where he took hostages at a supermarket before being shot dead by police. A police source has since revealed Lakdim had been sent a letter in March asking him to arrange a face-to-face meeting with agents from France's domestic intelligence agency DGSI. The attempt to engage with Lakdim emerged as France says farewell to one of his victims, hero policeman Arnaud Beltrame, who died saving hostages at the supermarket in Trebes. France is preparing to say farewell to hero policeman Arnaud Beltrame who died saving hostages from ISIS killer Radouane Lakdim. Beltrame's coffin is pictured being loaded on to an aircraft at Carcassone airport this morning Arnaud Beltrame (left) agreed to swap himself for a captive but was then killed by Lakdim (right) who slit his throat Members of parliament stand for a minute of silence to pay tribute to French police officer Arnaud Beltrame and the victims of the attacks in the Aude during a session of questions to the government at the French National Assembly in Paris today President of the French National Assembly Francois de Rugy (left) speaks as the French National Assembly pays tribute to French police officer Arnaud Beltrame this afternoon French President Emmanuel Macron will lead a national commemoration on Wednesday for the officer, who agreed to swap himself for a captive but was then killed by Lakdim who slit his throat. The ceremony will be held in the main courtyard of the Invalides monument, home to Napoleon's tomb, in the presence of Beltrame's family and the families of other victims of the attack. Three people, including Beltrame, were killed in the supermarket while a fourth person was killed earlier during a carjacking in the nearby city of Carcassonne. The fact that Lakdim was on France's terror watchlist has led to accusations from the right and far-right that Macron's government is too soft on Islamists, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen has called for the interior minister to resign. Experts point out that France has around 20,000 people suspected of being Islamic extremists and security forces have been successful in thwarting a series of attacks in recent years thanks in part to tough new anti-terror laws. Since the violence on Friday, police have arrested Lakdim's 18-year-old girlfriend, a radicalised Muslim convert, as well as a 17-year-old friend. A French prosecutor said yesterday that the girlfriend is a radicalised convert to Islam and that she shouted 'Allahu akbar' or 'God is Great', when she was arrested. French President Emmanuel Macron will lead a national commemoration on Wednesday for Arnaud Beltrame. French gendarmes carry a coffin draped in the national flag containing the body of their slain colleague this morning A ceremony will be held in the main courtyard of the Invalides monument, home to Napoleon's tomb, in the presence of Beltrame's family and the families of other victims of the attack Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said the 18-year-old woman 'shows all signs of radicalisation'. She was taken into custody hours after Lakdim, killed four people on Friday before being killed by police who stormed the supermarket in Trebes. The woman told investigators that she converted to Islam when she was 16. She denied 'having been informed and associated with the deadly project of her boyfriend,' Molins said during a news conference. But Molins said the girl posted online a Quran verse 'indicating that infidels were promised to hell' just a few hours before the attacks. On Friday, Lakdim carried out the attacks in Carcassonne and Trebes after dropping his younger sister at school in the morning, Molins said. The 25-year-old killed four people and injured four others on Friday in three separate shootings in the towns of Carcassonne and Trebes, where he took hostages at a supermarket before being shot dead by police ISIS claimed that the attacker was answering its call to target nations in the U.S.-led coalition fighting jihadists in Syria and Iraq. When Beltrame entered the supermarket during the hostage situation, he started a negotiation with Lakdim, who had found shelter in the store's vault with the hostage. 'He (Beltrame) raised his hands in the air, dropped his weapon and asked to take the place of the person taken hostage,' Molins said. A few minutes after Beltrame entered the vault and offered himself as a hostage, Lakdim released the woman he was holding. Beltrame then contacted his colleagues to ask them to leave the premises. He added the attacker was demanding the release of Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving assailant of the November 13, 2015, attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead. Beltrame surreptitiously left his cellphone on so that police outside could hear what was going on inside the supermarket. Molins said that several explosive devices were placed around the supermarket by Lakdim and the attacker threatened to set them off. Elite police units stormed the store after hearing gunshots. They killed Lakdim and found Beltrame seriously wounded. French Police raid the apartment of Redouane Ladkim in the Ozanam district of Carcassonne, on March 23 Beltrame died in a local hospital on Saturday from several stab wounds 'including a very severe injury in the trachea and larynx,' Molins said. The prosecutor said Lakdim arrived in France with his family in 1992 soon after he was born in Morocco. Both a French and Moroccan national at first, he was then naturalised as a French citizen in 2004 when he was 12, following his father's naturalization. Molins said Lakdim had been listed on a police register for radicalized people since 2014 because of its suspected links with the local Salafist circles. He was still under an ongoing and effective intelligence monitoring in the days leading up to the attacks, the prosecutor said. But the surveillance didn't allow police to detect any warning signs that he was going to commit a violent action or any intention to go to Iraq or Syria, Molins said. When he was jailed in 2016, the prison administration noticed no visible sign of radicalisation. A son is battling his younger stepmother for a share of his late father's 600,000 fortune and claims there is 'no way' he would have left it all to her. Retired postal worker John Payne was 59 when he married Kim Payne, now 50, in 1997 when she was less than half his age after divorcing his first wife. The pensioner died in 2012, aged 74, and since then a battle has been raging between Kim and the children from his first marriage over his inheritance. The sum includes his majority share in the 450,000 house in Plaistow, east London, which the family had 'saved up for four generations' to put a deposit on. John Payne Jr (pictured left, with his mother Vera Baxter) says there is 'no way' his late father would have left the 600,000 inheritance to his second wife Kim Payne (right) Kim insists her husband made a valid will leaving her all of his assets 14 months after they were wed. But John Payne Junior, 57, is spearheading a challenge to that will, saying there is 'no way' his late dad would have let the cherished property pass out of the family. Kim is battling to get the will upheld and told Court of Appeal judges that the stress of the battle with her late husband's first family has left her 'a broken woman.' The court heard that, in March 1997, after 30 years of marriage, John Payne senior dumped first wife Vera Baxter, who is now in her late 70s. Kim, who was then in her mid-20s, produced a will after the pensioner's death, dated May 1998, under which she was to be left the whole of his fortune. That included his three-quarter stake in the house, while his son also believes he had a share portfolio worth 250,000. John Payne Sr (pictured) died aged 74 in 2012 and a battle for his money and the family home quickly started But John Junior says his father made a later will, dated April 2012, underwhich he left just 15,000 to Kim, 15,000 to his grandson Tommy, and the rest to him, the eldest son. However, in February last year, after a 'protracted' battle at Central London County Court, Judge Diana Faber concluded that neither will was in fact valid. The 2012 will was 'not witnessed correctly,' while Kim had been 'unable to produce a signed copy of the 1998 will', the judge found. She said the 1998 document had not been signed by the witnesses, who instead wrote their names in capitals on an envelope containing the will. But Kim is now asking Lord Justice Henderson and Lord Justice Flaux to overturn the ruling over the 1998 will and allow her to introduce new evidence to prove it is valid. John Junior asked the judges to refuse her appeal, saying he is suspicious of the 1998 will and telling the judges: 'There's something not truthful about it.' He told the court that his mother owns a 25 per cent share of the house, which is her former matrimonial home. But he added: 'My mother was married to my father for 30 years and had four children. She's going towards 80 now and she hasn't seen a penny of her money.' The 600,000 sum includes his majority share in the 450,000 house in Plaistow, east London (pictured) Outside court, he added: 'My family are not from a wealthy background. It has taken four generations of hard-working ancestors saving until there was enough money spare for my late father to put a deposit on a house. 'There is no way my late father would not have passed it on to his family.' He said he also believes his father had shares worth 250,000, which, added to three quarters of the value of the house, would leave about 600,000 in the pot for whoever stands to inherit his wealth. Mrs Baxter, who also attended court, said that her son had been 'crucified' by the battle with his late father's second wife. The judges heard one of the witnesses to the 1998 will give evidence, which Kim says backs her claim that it reflects the true dying wishes of her late husband. Describing her experience of the legal fight, Mrs Payne told the court: 'It's emotional. The stress I've been put through, my doctor says its a wonder I haven't had a breakdown. 'I'm a broken woman. It's just never-ending for me.' The judges reserved their decision at the end of the hearing, to be delivered at a later date. Should neither will be held to be valid, Mr Payne will have died intestate, meaning that his estate will be divided amongst his next of kin. John Junior said outside court that, if he comes away with anything from his father's estate, he will split it with his three siblings. A woman who allegedly bit a waiter after attempting to dine-and-dash from a seafood restaurant faced court on assault charges. Chunping Quan ordered the barramundi at a South Australian establishment, and objected to the price of the fish when she received the bill refusing to pay the whole price for what she claimed was a half serve of barramundi. Ms Quan appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with assault over the incident on 20 June 2017. Scroll down for video Chunping Quan (pictured) allegedly bit a waiter after she refused to pay for her dinner at a restaurant Fan Chi Kong, 19, (pictured) the waiter working at the time, was told by his boss to follow Ms Quan and her male companion Chunping Quan ordered the barramundi at a South Australian establishment, and objected to the price of the fish when she received the bill Chunping Quan ordered the barramundi and refused to pay the whole price for what she claimed was a half serve of barramundi The court heard Fan Chi Kong, 19, the waiter working at the time, was told by his boss to follow Ms Quan and her male companion. Mr Kong said to the court that he grabbed Ms Quan's hand to stop her getting away and that's when she started to bite him. He then grabbed her purse and squatted on the floor before Ms Quan grabbed his neck, making it hard for him to breathe, he said in evidence. Justin Tran, who witnessed and recorded the alleged biting, told the court the waiter was struggling for air as she had him in the headlock. Ms Quan, who had eaten most of the barramundi before the confrontation, is alleged to have repeatedly put her hand in the face of the waiter, appearing uninterested in his explanation. She then allegedly threw half the price of the meal, $26, at the waiter before taking off out of the Chinese restaurant and up Gouger Street, a well-known dining hub. Mr Kong was allegedly left with several bite marks on his arm when he grabbed Ms Quan's hand to stop her from getting away The court heard he was also grabbed around the neck and when Ms Quan put him in a headlock The disagreement is alleged to have occurred in the Nice Fish Cafe on Gouger Street in Adelaide's CBD At the first court hearing Ms Quan claimed was she acting in 'self-defence' as he was trying to take her bag. Police bodycam footage was also played for court, which shows an officer speaking with Ms Quan following the incident. According to evidence given in court, Ms Quan can be heard admitting 'I bit him' to the policeman, who replies with shock. 'For f***s sake, do you know how serious that is? Over fish?' he says. An Australian man accused of smuggling a mix of marijuana, tobacco and prescription-only drugs into Bali has been sentenced to 10 months of rehabilitation. Joshua Baker, from Queensland, was arrested by police at an airport in Bali on October 8, and was found guilty Tuesday of possessing an illegal narcotic for personal use, Nine News reported. The 32-year-old was ordered to stay in Indonesia for the duration of his treatment, after being given a lessened punishment because of his mental health condition. Joshua Baker (pictured inside Bali courtroom Tuesday) has been sentenced to 10 months of rehabilitation for smuggling a mix of marijuana, tobacco and prescription-only drugs into Bali Baker had his bags searched after customs officers became suspicious of him as he passed through airport security last year. Inside his luggage they found 28 grams of marijuana mixed with tobacco and 37 tablets of an anti-anxiety drug believed to be Diazepam. Baker was denied a plea to have his case thrown out because of his mental health. In his sentencing, the head judge said Baker had damaged Bali's reputation as an international tourism destination, but he still agreed to spare him prison. Baker (pictured), from Queensland, was arrested by police at an airport in Bali on October 8 Inside his luggage they found 28 grams of marijuana mixed with tobacco and 37 tablets of an anti-anxiety drug believed to be Diazepam (pictured is marijuana allegedly possessed by Mr Baker) Baker had his bags searched after customs officers became suspicious of him as he passed through airport security last year The judge said Baker was still young enough to turn his life around, and described him as a 'drug addict' with 'psychiatric problems'. He argued the sentence was lessened because Baker admitted to the crime and appeared to 'regret his actions'. The 32-year-old was spotted hugging his sister last month inside what appeared to be a reception area for the mental health unit. Following his arrested, Mr Baker led police on a 10-hour chase when he allegedly escaped after asking to use the toilet. Baker initially faced 15 years in prison but was released from police custody and taken to a mental health institution. The head judge said Baker had damaged Bali's reputation as an international tourism destination, but he still agreed to spare him prison Remainer grandee Chris Patten (file image) lashed Jacob Rees-Mogg as a 'caricature' who eats 'dogma pie' in a renewed round of Tory infighting with a year until Brexit Remainer grandee Chris Patten lashed Jacob Rees-Mogg as a 'caricature' who eats 'dogma pie' in a renewed round of Tory infighting with a year until Brexit. In return, the Tory darling lashed Remain critics as 'cave dwellers' who refused to accept quitting the EU would bring economic benefits. Mr Rees-Mogg and Lord Patten gave rival speeches in Westminster today as the anniversary of triggering Article 50 on Thursday nears. Britain will formally leave the EU at 11pm on March 29 next year but political rivals are still clashing over what Brexit will mean. Lord Patten said Brexiteers were seeing their red lines diluted, insisting: 'Red lines are turning pink, or disappearing entirely. 'The Brexiteers swallow one slice of dogma pie after another. 'They are trying to put lipstick on what they used to call a pig - or at least a vassal state.' He took a swipe at arch-Brexiteer Mr Rees-Mogg. He said: 'The thing about Jacob is that he is much better than he has allowed himself to seem. 'It is all very well having those views and being thought to be rather an eccentric but interesting lad when you are eight. But having the same views when you are 48 raises, I think, one or two eyebrows. 'And, I think, he has allowed himself a bit to be taken over by his own image and caricature.' Lord Patten said ministers negotiating trade deals were not skilled enough to achieve good deals. He mocked: 'The ministers who talk about these trade deals have never actually negotiated one... the closest they have come to a trade deal is the checkout at Waitrose.' Mr Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of backbench Tory MPs argued in his own speech that leaving the EU will mean that the UK will be able to control its borders. Rounding on those who want to reverse the referendum result, he compared them to 'Mr Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese soldier who finally surrendered in 1974, having previously refused to believe that the Second World War had ended'. In return, Tory darling Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured today at Carlton House Terrace) lashed Remain critics as 'cave dwellers' who refused to accept quitting the EU would bring economic benefits Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured in Westminster today) today claimed Remain supporters are like 'Mr Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese soldier who finally surrendered in 1974' Mr Rees-Mogg said that restoring Britain's 'constitutional order' will mean better government. 'Politicians will no longer be able to evade the blame if things go wrong by saying it was decided elsewhere, they will have to take responsibility for their actions,' he said. 'Equally it will not be possible to pretend that if it was not for a remote bureaucracy we would not make mistakes. 'Power and responsibility go hand-in-hand and will be reconnected once we have left the European Union.' Britain's influence in the world will be boosted by taking seats on international bodies that are delegated to the EU such as the World Trade Organisation. 'This will inevitably give us more influence because we will be there arguing our corner rather than leaving it to an EU representative to have to stand up for us,' Mr Rees-Mogg said. 'There is a world of opportunity ahead of us. Economically, leaving the European Union by getting rid of unfair, anti-competitive tariffs and by controlling our borders will help the least well off in society the most. 'Constitutionally, we will be in charge of our own destiny [and] protected by our own laws. In international affairs, we will be setting our own direction, not hiding behind the skirts of the German chancellor.' Shocked witnesses have described the moment they saw a pallet of bricks fall five storeys from a crane and hit a woman who is now fighting for her life. The 28-year-old woman is critically ill in hospital after being struck by falling debris while walking next to the construction site for a new housing development in Mile End in east London on Tuesday morning. Officers attended the scene at 9.38am, where bystanders were helping the woman who had been spotted lying in a pile of rubble and broken wood on Burdett Road, Tower Hamlets. Paramedics took the woman to hospital after the incident outside Bow Corner, a new development of luxury flats. A second person was also taken to hospital. Alan Harris, who owns go-kart track Revolution Karting that faces the development, said he rushed over to see what had happened after hearing a 'loud bang.' 'One woman was out cold underneath the bricks and another woman next to her was screaming hysterically for an ambulance and looking up into the heavens,' he told the East London Advertiser. Bystanders gave her first aid next a building site in Mile End after the incident at 9.30am today Mr Harris said it wasn't clear if the two women were together. The 72-year-old said he called for ambulance and indicated 'the seriousness of the situation' to the operator. Witness Aladdin Rahman said: 'My friend who's a bus driver and was driving a bus at the time it happened, said that some bricks had fallen on the woman. 'Several people were trying to get to the lady and so were the construction workers. It was a hectic scene at the time.' Pedestrians on Burdett Road caught the aftermath of the accident on video, Bricks could be seen scattered around the victim as she lay on the pavement with bystanders giving her first aid next a building site. Paramedics took the woman to hospital with severe injuries after the incident in East London The aftermath of the bricks which appear to have fallen from a crane in Mile End today The basket on the crane from which the pallet of bricks is believed to have fallen this morning Scotland Yard said the woman appeared to have been injured by the debris just after 9.30pm The London Ambulance Service later took the woman to an east London hospital where she remains in a critical condition, Metropolitan Police said. A man was also treated for shock and forensic investigators remain at the scene. A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said: 'Inspectors have attended the site and are making ongoing enquiries in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police to investigate the circumstances of the incident. 'As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further at this time.' Bow Corner is a development of 19 one, two and three bedroom apartments by Higgins Homes that is expected to be completed this year. One beds start from 435,000, two beds from 545,000 and three beds from 650,000. Steve Boreham, construction director of Higgins Homes, said: 'Our primary thoughts and concerns are with the lady who has been injured and those affected today. The woman is in a critical condition after being hit by a pile of bricks in East London today The basket on the crane can be seen following the shocking incident at the building site today Police officers established a cordon around the area where the bricks fell in Mile End The incident happened next to the Bow Corner housing construction in East London today Local road closures were put in place while emergency services dealt with events 'We are working with the Health and Safety Executive who are investigating the incident to determine the cause and will release more information as soon as it's available. Our priority at the moment is of course to make the area safe.' Local road closures were put in place while emergency services dealt with events. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police in Tower Hamlets are dealing after a woman was injured by falling debris. 'Officers were called at 9.38am. A woman has apparently been struck by debris falling from a building site crane. Bow Corner in East London is a development of 19 one, two and three bedroom apartments Police in Tower Hamlets were called after the woman was injured by falling debris today One bedroom flats at Bow Corner (artist's impression pictured above) start from 435,000 'London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was taken to an east London hospital in a critical condition. Her next of kin have been informed.' A London Ambulance Service spokesman added: 'We were called at 9:38am today to E14 to reports of an incident. 'We sent a number of resources to the scene including an incident response officer, a motorcycle responder, two single responders in cars and two ambulance crews. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance by car. 'We treated a woman at the scene for serious injuries and took her as a priority to a major trauma centre. We also took a second person to hospital.' A French company has entered the global race to develop a viable cargo airship with a 500-foot blimp designed to lift lumber from deep woodland. Flying Whales is joining a contest that includes defence giant Lockheed Martin and a clutch of smaller players. The company says it has an advantage over rivals by combining the benefit of a blimp that can lift 60 tons but without any requirement for mooring pylons. Scroll down for video: Flying Whales can lift cargo without having to land like a conventional blimp Despite its enormous size, the airship requires only a small amount of power The company has already secured about 200 million (175 million) in capital and plans an initial public offering in 2021, when a prototype is slated for its first flight. 'There have been a lot of blimp projects over time and there have been many failures,' said Flying Whales founder and Chief Executive Officer Sebastien Bougon told Bloomberg. 'We have a solid base. The wood market alone justifies our investments, and we've got low-risk prospects beyond.' The Flying Whale will be twice as long as a 747 jumbo jet and have a rigid structure with individual pockets of helium, technically making it an airship rather than a blimp, which relies solely on internal gas pressure. The aircraft'shelium-filled, rigid-structure does not require an airport or a runway in order to operate and needs minimal power, generated by small diesel or electric engines. The company says this gives it an important competitive advantage over other hybrid transporters under development which are designed to make conventional take-offs and landings. The HAV's Airlander 10, nicknamed the 'Flying Bum' is currently the world's largest aircraft Bougon estimates likely sales at 5 billion (4.4 billion) over 10 years from a fleet of 150 machines built in factories in France and China. Beyond logging, markets could include the transportation of outsize parts and machinery, and companies including rail-industry giant Alstom SA and oil-services provider Technip SA have expressed an interest, according to Bougon. Investors include state fund Bpifrance, which injected 25 million (22 million) this month, and AVIC, China's main producer of warplanes, transport aircraft and helicopters. France's ONF national forestry office and the Nouvelle Aquitaine region in the southwest of the country are also backing the project. The 300-feet long HAV's Airlander 10 is currently the world's largest aircraft. Dubbed the 'flying bum' because of an elliptical profile that allows it to gain lift like a conventional plane. The model suffered setbacks in 2016, when it crashed-landed after mooring lines became caught in telegraph wires, and again last year after breaking free of its mooring mast in windy conditions. It could take a year or more for the Federal Election Commission to decide whether President Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels violated federal election law. There are a number of factors complicating an FEC investigation, which was first called for by the watchdog group Common Cause in January, just 10 days after the Wall Street Journal's first story on the payment broke. The current make-up of the commission, a staffing shortage and politics will all play a role in whether the independent agency will take up the case. The Federal Election Commission could take a year or more to determine whether the money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, given to her several weeks before President Trump (pictured) was elected, violated federal law The payment was made by President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen (pictured) using a Delaware-registered LLC and was given to the porn star just weeks before the 2016 vote occurred Porn star Stormy Daniels spoke to Anderson Cooper for a 60 Minutes episode broadcast Sunday night. On the show she discussed the $130,000 payment that could, eventually, prove problematic for President Trump Currently, there are two vacancies on the six-member commission, which can only ever have three members of the same political party. Right now the make-up is two Republicans, one Democrat and one independent, who tends to agree with the Democrats. President Trump has nominated one Republican, James E. Trainor III, for one of the vacant slots, but didn't bother nominating a Democrat, even though his predecessors have often filled vacancies in pairs. The make-up of the commission is important because four commissioners have to vote in the affirmative to even take up the case. Trevor Potter, a former Republican FEC commissioner, who appeared in Anderson Cooper's Stormy Daniels 60 Minutes package, warned that the FEC might not be able to resolve a case about the payment. 'The commission has deadlocked, split between Democrats and Republicans, on almost every issue in the last eight years,' Potter told NBC News. 'There's a possibility that the DOJ could step in if they thought this was worth directly investigating.' When DailyMail.com reached out the the DOJ earlier this month about a potential investigation of the hush money payment, spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said, 'We don't confirm or deny investigations.' On 60 Minutes, Potter argued that the $130,000 payment Cohen made to Daniels through the Delaware-based company Essential Consultants LLC was a an 'in-kind contribution by Cohen to the Trump campaign, which is about $126,500 above what he's allowed to give.' Trevor Potter, a former Republican FEC commissioner, who appeared in Anderson Cooper's Stormy Daniels 60 Minutes package, warned that the FEC might not be able to resolve a case about the hush money payment 'And if he does this on behalf of his client, the candidate, that is a coordinated, illegal, in kind contribution by Cohen for the purpose of influencing the election, of benefiting the candidate by keeping this secret,' Potter continued. Additionally, if the president paid Cohen back that, too, should have been reported. 'If he was then reimbursed by the president, that doesn't remove the fact that the initial payment violated Cohen's contribution limits,' Potter pointed out. 'I guess it mitigates it if he's paid back by the candidate because the candidate could have paid for it without limit,' the ex-FEC commissioner mused to 60 Minutes' Anderson Cooper. If Cohen was never paid back, he's still on the hook for the in-kind contribution. 'You're saying this is more serious for Michael Cohen if the president did not pay him back?' Cooper asked during the 60 Minutes segment. Potter answered in the affirmative. 'Yes, I think that's correct,' he said. Making a similar argument, Common Cause had requested that both the FEC and the DOJ look into the matter. The group's FEC complaint will be reviewed by attorneys at the non-partisan Office of General Counsel, and a report will be submitted to the FEC's commissioners stating whether a violation occurred and recommending whether or not there should be an investigation. A staffing shortage could delay the process as well. Sources told NBC News, which was the first outlet to speculate on the year-long timeline, that the FEC is still trying to wrap up other cases from the 2015-2016 election cycle. 'The FEC is understaffed primarily in the enforcement division. So it does have an impact on the ability to aggressively enforce matters and bring them up before the commission in a timely fashion,' former Democratic commissioner Ann Ravel told the network. Finally, the FEC's current chairman, Republican Caroline Hunter, could simply drag her feet. 'The chair of the commission has the authority to determine when to place matters on the agenda for consideration,' Ravel told NBC. 'And the commissioners themselves can request that matters be postponed.' 'One request can postpone a matter,' Ravel said. Two additional white collar attorneys have turned down an offer from President Trump to join the legal team that is handling the Russia probe. The law firm Winston & Strawn told Politico Monday night that attorneys Tom Buchanan and Dan Webb would not be joining the president's effort 'due to business conflicts.' 'However they consider the opportunity to represent the president to be the highest honor and they sincerely regret that they cannot do so,' the law firm said. 'They wish the president the best and believe he has excellent representation in Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow.' Scroll down for video Two more white collar attorneys have turned down an offer to work as part of President Trump's outside legal team, which is handling the bulk of the Mueller probe Lawyers Tom Buchanan (left) and Dan Webb (right) of the law firm Winston & Strawn are the latest to turn down President Trump's offer to do work for him on the Mueller probe President Trump (right) only has one lawyer working outside the White House full-time on defending him in the Mueller probe, that of Jay Sekulow (left) President Trump's other lawyer, Ty Cobb, works from inside the White House on Mueller-related matters President Trump dashed off two tweets early Sunday morning arguing that his legal team for the Russia probe was in good shape Despite tweets protesting otherwise, Trump has struggled to recruit lawyers to his legal team navigating the Russia probe. The New York Times reported Monday that Jay Sekulow is now the only outside attorney working full-time on legal issues related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe. Cobb, meanwhile, is handling Russia-related matters from inside the White House. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders only name-dropped Sekulow and Cobb when asked if it was true that the president was having trouble recruiting. 'Look, the president has highly-qualified team with several individuals who have been part of this process, Ty Cobb, Jay Sekulow,' she said Tuesday. 'For specific details on any search process outside of the White House I would refer you to his outside counsel.' When asked who the lead counsel was, she pointed to Sekulow. 'Outside of the White House I would refer you to Jay Sekulow who can address any detailed questions on that front,' the press secretary said. The president had tried to recruit GOP super-lawyer Theodore Olson, known nationally for his legal work on gay marriage, without success. In an interview Monday with Mother Jones, Olson stayed tight-lipped about the Trump ask, but told Washington bureau chief David Corn that 'no,' no lawyer has told Olson that he or she would be willing to work for Trump. 'Not at all,' Olson said. The Times also reported that Trump had met with veteran lawyer Emmet Flood, but the president didn't like that Flood had previously defended President Bill Clinton. GOP super-lawyer Ted Olson was also reportedly offered work on President Trump's team, and turned it down Attorneys Joe diGenova (left) and Victoria Toensing (right) were supposed to join Trump's legal team. A senior administration official told Politico that they looked disheveled during their meeting with Trump leading the president to change his mind And while lawyer William A. Burck is working for former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, ex-Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and White Counsel Don McGahn, he wouldn't take the president's case, the Times reported. Additionally, two new lawyer hires who were announced last week now won't be joining the president's legal team. While Trump's attorney John Dowd resigned from his post last week. On Sunday, the president put out a nothing-to-see-here tweet, suggesting he was having no problem finding legal representation. 'Many lawyers and top law firms want to represent me in the Russia case...don't believe the Fake News narrative that it is hard to find a lawyer who wants to take this on,' Trump wrote. 'Fame & fortune will NEVER be turned down by a lawyer, though some are conflicted,' the president continued. The president said the problem is that a 'new lawyer or law firm will take months to get up to speed (if for no other reason than they can bill more), which is unfair to our great country.' And he said he was 'happy with my existing team.' A short time after, Sekulow put out a statement saying the two new hires wouldn't actually be doing work on the Russia probe. 'The president is disappointed that conflicts prevent Joe diGenova and Victoria Toensing from joining the president's special counsel legal team,' Jay Sekulow said in a statement Sunday to the Times. Sekulow said that the two lawyers, who are a married couple, would still be able to assist the president with matters outside the Russia probe and so 'the president looks forward to working with them.' Now it's down to Sekulow and Cobb, who's working within the White House, dealing with Mueller's demands. Dowd had been working on negotiating with Mueller on the scope and terms of an interview with the president. Dowd's decision to resign, according to the Times, came after Trump signaled he planned to ignore the lawyer's advice and sit down for an interview with investigators. Dowd had deemed the decision as too risky. The choice of diGenova also seemed risky as he had floated conspiracy theories on the Fox News Channel that the FBI and the Department of Justice had framed the president on the Russia matter. For Trump, though, it was that the couple looked disheveled, a senior administration official told Politico, that helped him decide that diGenova and Toensing weren't the right fit. Meanwhile, Trump has said again publicly that he wished to sit down with Mueller, telling reporters at the White House 'I would like to' when asked whether he would meet with the special counsel. It's this attitude that has made working for the president such a tough sell among top legal talent. The turmoil among Trump's legal team started early on, the Times reported, with the president's longtime personal attorney Marc Kasowitz recommending that Trump handle the Mueller probe like Clinton did with an outside legal and communications team handling all aspects of the inquiry. But Trump didn't like the idea, nor did he manage the two teams well, and so the Mueller team and the White House were often not on the same page. Kasowitz also wished to deal with Mueller in an adversarial way, an approach Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner disagreed with, the Times wrote. Kasowitz was out the door in July. Next up came Cobb, and then Dowd, who both urged cooperation. Cobb handled the first phase of the inquiry, which was the turning over of documents. He then passed the baton to Dowd, who was dealing with the second phase of the Mueller inquiry, an interview with the president. The president has been insistent about sitting down with Mueller, believing that if he testifies under oath, it will improve his chances of being cleared. John Phyllips (pictured outside court at his bigamy trial, has admitted harassing his illegal second wife A convicted bigamist has admitted harassing his illegal second wife as he tried to woo her back by bombarding her with gifts. John Phyllips, 60, sent her 25 cards, including passages from the Bible, flowers, text messages and underwear in a failed bid to get back with her. But Lorraine Collins contacted the police and the semi retired ostepath, of Rhyl, north Wales, pleaded guilty to harassment. Llandudno Magistrates' Court heard in July 2015 the father of seven had been convicted of bigamy after his daughter Marie Beswick reported the sham wedding to the authorities. She had thought she was only attending a 'blessing' but realised it was a marriage when she heard the Registrar started giving the service. Ms Collins, a medical secretary, met Phyllips at a Stockport bus stop in 2011. He asked her out two years later, and told her he had been married to Catherine Dixon, but was now divorced. When Collins discovered that he was lying and he was still married she had been in 'complete and utter shock.' By February 2016 their bigamous marriage had been annulled, but Phyllips continued to contact her. Prosecutor James Neary said the victim had been alarmed by Phyllips contact and in one card he even claimed their marriage had not been annulled. Phyllips, an osteopath, with his second wife Lorraine Collins (left) at his bigamy hearing in 2015. The marriage was reported by his daughter Marie Beswick (right) Hed also sent a letter to her aunt aged 82. The allegations took place between May 2016 and last August. The prosecutor added : She just wants to lead a normal life and be left alone. A probation officer said Phyllips had hoped the relationship would blossom again. Rebecca Boswell, defending, said Phyllips, who had a dozen grandchildren, was now living alone and worked part-time. Marie Beswick arrives at court in 2015 alongside her mother and Phyllips' first wife Catherine Beswick She said: Mr Phyllips has genuine feelings for the complainant. She was the love of his life.' Phyllips was also handed a five year restraining order banning contact with Ms Collins. He was given a twelve month community order which involves 225 hours of unpaid work and 15 days rehabilitation. He must also pay 250 compensation to the victim and 205 costs. He told the court: 'I am sorry to have caused any distress.' A Western Australian schoolgirl given little chance of survival after an electric shock at her Perth home continues to defy the odds. Denishar Woods has said her first words since the March 3 accident that almost killed her when 240 volts of electricity coursed through her body when she tried to turn off a tap outside her Beldon home. Nine News Perth reports that Denishar, who initially had her life support turned off but continued to breathe on her own, is making more miraculous progress and has now started saying the word 'Mum'. Stunned doctors are so pleased with her progress that they have since told her hopeful family that Denishar could be discharged from Princess Margaret Hospital within three to six months. Scroll down for video Family of a school girl who received an electric shock while trying to turn off a tap at her home have been given renewed hope Denishar Woods has said her first words since the near fatal accident almost four weeks ago 'OMG, just got the best news, we could possibly be home with Denishar within the next 3 to 6 months max. I'm so excited,' her mother Lacey Harrison posted on Facebook on Tuesday. The latest improvement comes a week after Ms Harrison shared a picture of the 11-year-old when she was moved from her hospital bed to a wheelchair. 'Last week we were told she wouldn't make it off life support,' she said. 'Now, watching her get in the hoist and get in the wheelchair.... I just want to bring my baby outside.' A Go Fund Me page for Denishar and her family has raised more than $12,600 since March 6. 'She's doing so well considering what she has gone through,' Ryan Veitch recently posted on the page. 'We are so proud of what a little fighter she has been.' The 11-year-old received a horrific electric shock in her yard in front of her mother who also got shocked helping her Ms Harrison and her six other children have yet to return home out of fear they too could be electrocuted at the 'evil' property. 'I want answers because I'm going home every night and reliving the moment me and my daughter dropped to the ground,' Ms Harrison told 9 News at the time. 'All Homes West homes need a major look into - because this should never have happened.' Ms Harrison said the family were now also scared to touch light switches or metal objects. 'It's not home, it's evil, I don't want to be here, it's traumatising. I should be laying there not her.' she said. Energy officials said the cause of the electrical shock was likely due to the circuit breaks which effectively caused the electrical current to find another route back to the source, in this case the metal tap Michael Bunko, a director at WA's electricity regulator, believed the tragedy was likely caused by a fault in the neutral conductor supplying power to the property. While the incident was still being investigated, lawyers said the state government faced a potential multi-million dollar claim. A spokesman for Housing Minister Peter Tinley said Ms Harrison had expressed interest in moving house. 'The Department has reserved a five-bedroom property for Ms Harrison and her family,' he said. 'Ms Harrison has advised she would like to consider the property and the Department will continue to talk to her regarding her options.' The family was offered short-term motel accommodation, but were instead staying with relatives. Advertisement Steve Buscemi joined New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and hundreds of firefighters from all over the US to pay tribute to the heroic firefighter who died tackling a blaze under a movie set on Tuesday. Father-of-four Michael Davidson, a 15-year veteran with the FDNY, died last week after being overcome by smoke while trying to extinguish a fire in the basement of a Harlem building where Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe and Alec Baldwin were shooting the film Motherless Brooklyn. Today, hundreds gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown, to say their final farewells to the firefighter. Cremation will take place later this afternoon at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Davidson's casket arrived on the back of his fire truck, Engine 69, shortly before 10am, covered in a red FDNY flag. Firefighters lined the streets surrounding the cathedral, which had been closed off for the occasion, while members of the FDNY's Emerald Society band solemnly banged their drums. Davidson's family, including widow Eileen Davidson, the mother of his four children, were seen arriving at St Patrick's. Eileen, who was wearing dark shades, appeared to be visibly upset. Eileen and her children followed the casket out of the church after the moving service on Tuesday, before the widow was presented with her husband's helmet. Scroll down for video The family of firefighter Michael Davidson, including his wife Eileen Davidson, center, follow the casket out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral Eileen Davidson, center, widow of firefighter Michael Davidson is presented with a helmet after the funeral of her husband as she holds their daughter in her arms Emily Davidson waves while being held by her mother Eileen Davison as the casket containing firefighter Michael Davidson is loaded onto a fire truck New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks with actor Steve Buscemiat the conclusion of the funeral for New York City firefighter Lt. Michael Davidson The casket of New York City firefighter Michael Davidson is carried on a fire truck down Fifth Avenue, which is lined by firefighters, as it leaves St. Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral, in New York The funeral procession of firefighter Michael Davidson makes it's way across 42nd Street, Tuesday, March 27 The funeral procession of firefighter Michael Davidson was led by a run of motorbikes, followed by fire engines and their crews A firefighter bows his head during the funeral procession for New York City firefighter Michael Davidson at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The 15-year FDNY veteran died early last Friday from smoke inhalation while fighting a fire in the basement of a Harlem building Firefighters from around the country gathered in Manhattan for the funeral for Davidson who died from smoke inhalation on March 22 Family members met with Davidson's firefighter colleagues at St. Patrick's Cathedral after the funeral Eileen Davidson, wife of firefighter Michael Davidson, was accompanied by two of her husband's colleagues at Davidson's funeral Eileen Davidson, wife of firefighter Michael Davidson, arrived for his funeral, outside St. Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday The hero firefighter is survived by his wife wife Eileen, and their four children; Brooke, seven; Joseph, six; Emily, three; and Amy, one (not pictured) The firefighter's coffin was lowered from the truck and his uniformed colleagues were seen carrying into into the cathedral and walking the coffin down the aisle for the beginning of the ceremony. As it entered, hundreds of firefighters saluted the coffin while the bagpipes played. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who led the funeral, called Davidson a 'hero' whose blood contained 'the DNA of the FDNY,' 'Never did I meet this hero but now now I along with this entire teaming metropolis feel that I know him very, very well,' he said in his homily, adding that 'Jesus and Michael have quite a bit in common' as both had laid down their lives for others. Actor Steve Buscemi, a former firefighter who also helped with the 9/11 rescue effort, joined Mayor Bill de Blasio, at the funeral to pay his respects to Davidson. Eulogies were delivered by his brother, Eric Davidson, his cousin's wife, Lauren Cote, de Blasio, and Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. The surrounding roads were closed as fire crews carried Davidson's casket into New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral Firefighters salute as a casket containing the body of firefighter Michael Davidson is carried out of St. Patrick's Cathedral Davidson's wife and children follow behind his coffin as firefighters carry it down the steps of St Patrick's after the funeral Firefighters stand outside St. Patrick's Cathedral as they wait for the start of the funeral of Davidson in New York A procession with a fire truck carrying the casket of the late New York City firefighter Michael Davidson makes its way down Fifth Avenue toward St. Patrick's Cathedral Members of the Fire Riders motorcycle club join other firefighters from around the country for the funeral NYPD officers rode through the streets as part of the procession to pay tribute to the brave firefighter Dozens of firefighters, in uniform, lined the streets as Davidson's coffin arrived on the back of a fire truck Firefighters attend the funeral of firefighter Michael Davidson at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York The sidewalks near St. Patrick's Cathedral were congested with people watching the funeral of firefighter Michael Davidson The coffin, which was covered in the FDNY's red flag, was carried into St Patrick's by his unformed colleagues The casket of New York City firefighter Michael Davidson, is secured atop a fire truck as it leaves St. Patrick's Cathedral following his funeral Hundreds of mourners gathered outside St. Patrick's Cathedral for the funeral for firefighter Michael Davidson who died early Friday battling a fierce blaze on a movie set 'Michael made this city great through his actions every day,' de Blasio said in his, adding that Davidson was 'a firefighter's firefighter' who was the 'embodiment of the term 'the bravest.' 'Now this whole city knows that Lt. Michael Davidson was a hero of the highest order.' Davidson's brother, Eric, also an FDNY firefighter, called Davidson 'an amazing' husband and father. 'He just had this aura about him,' he said. 'You would think to yourself, 'Wow, if I could just be a fraction of the man that he is, then I'm doing all right for myself.' Outside the place of worship, a screen on 51st Street showed photo of Davidson in his uniform and helmet with the FDNY logo, 'Lieutenant' and 'Rest in Peace.' Firefighters from departments all over the country had traveled to New York today to pay their respects. Calvin Hunt, 56, of Harlem, was a neighbor of Davidson. He told Newsday that the firefighter liked to let loose and he was devastated to learn of his death. Hundreds gathered for the funeral of Michael Davidson at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown today Dozens of firefighters, in uniform, joined family and friends to say their final farewells to Davidson His fellow firefighters helped carry his coffin down the center aisle of the cathedral for the start of the ceremony The fire crews placed a hand over their hearts as they walked the cloth-covered coffin to the front of the cathedral 'Michael made this city great through his actions every day,' de Blasio said in his eulogy (pictured), adding that Davidson was 'a firefighter's firefighter' who was the 'embodiment of the term 'the bravest' Actor Steve Buscemi, second from left, attends the funeral for firefighter Michael Davidson in New York 'During the summer we'd have block parties and this guy gets out there like he's a teenager,' he said. 'When I heard it was Davidson, it called something in my heart. Davidson, 37, a father-of-four and a 15-year veteran of the FDNY, died on Thursday Hunt was at the funeral with his son, 10, who was holding a sign that read 'God bless the bravest.' 'It's like family at the end of the day,' he added. 'My prayers go out to his wife and his four kids. This is something that affected us. We're going to keep his spirit alive and pray for his family.' Davidson was honored by family and friends Sunday at the first of two wakes, where Fire Capt. Robert Allen called him a 'terrific person. Hundreds of fellow firefighters lined the street saluting Davidson's coffin as it was brought inside the funeral home. His colleagues have shared pictures of the 15-year veteran firefighter and the family he leaves behind: his wife Eileen, and their four children; Brooke, seven; Joseph, six; Emily, three; and Amy, one. Alongside the pictures posted to Instagram, those who worked with Davidson told of the men who they knew as a leader who was always the first to run into a dangerous situation while holding a nozzle to try to save lives. 'Mike was on the Lieutenant list and he would have made a terrific Lieutenant. He could take charge, he could take direction, he had all the qualities that would make a good officer,' said Captain Robert Allen, a 34-year veteran of the FDNY who served with Davidson at Engine Company 69. Davidson has been posthumously promoter to Lieutenant. Firefighters wait for the funeral to start outside the 140-year-old cathedral in New York City's Midtown The casket carrying the body of Lt. Michael Davidson is carried into New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral as mourners gathered Tuesday Firefighters salute the coffin as it is brought up the steps of the cathedral, past Archbishop Timothy Dolan, for the funeral A casket containing the body of firefighter Michael Davidson is brought into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, Tuesday Archbishop Timothy Dolan, center, presides over the casket of New York City firefighter Michael Davidson as it enters St. Patrick's Cathedral Firefighters march down the street before the funeral for firefighter Michael Davidson in New York, Tuesday The 37-year-old husband and father of four young children, who was posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant on Saturday, spent all 15 years of his career with Engine 69. Today, crews from multiple fire engines gathered near his home to transport the family to the cathedral Today, hundreds gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown, to say their final farewells to firefighter. Cremation will take place later this afternoon at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn Allen also worked with Davidson's father Bobby and met him as a young boy already hanging out at the fire station. Firefighting was the family business, with Bobby serving 26 years mostly at the same station as his son, and Davidson's brother Eric being an 11-year veteran at Engine Company 88 in the Bronx. 'It was nice to watch a friend's son following in his father's footsteps,' Allan added. Lt Ray McCormack, on his part, spoke of Davidson as a man who never stopped until getting the job done. He recalled a difficult three-alarm fire in 2005 in which Davidson continued to fight the fire even after sustaining burn injuries to both hands. The team's bravery during that fire were awarded a citation for their heroic actions, but to McCormack, the credit that day was all Davidson's. He said: 'What [Davidson] was able to do that night was amazing. He made the rest of us look great, we all got his credit that night because he did such a good job. 'He didn't stop. Where some people might back up and start again, Mike didn't stop. There was no stopping him. Room after room of fire, where some may stop and back up and try again, he just kept going.' Actor Edward Norton, who was on the scene of the fire, has also honored Davidson and vowed to support his family. Davidson's colleagues have taken to social media to honor the man they knew as a leader 'Mike didn't stop. There was no stopping him. Room after room of fire, where some may stop and back up and try again, he just kept going,' said Lt Ray McCormack Actor Edward Norton, who was on scene at the fire, has also honored the firefighter 'I have never witnessed firsthand that kind of bravery. I'm in awe of that kind of selfless courage. It's devastating to contemplate that one of the men we watched charging in there lost his life. Please send a prayer of thanks for the spirit and courage of Michael Davidson,' he wrote on Instagram on Saturday. While the actor first vowed to establish a way to support Davidson's family through this difficult time, he later learned the NYPD Foundation has already set up a scholarship fund for the hero's four children. Norton also fact-checked some reports that the fire started in the set of his movie, saying it 'actually appears to have started in the basement cellar of the building we were working in. Norton vowed to help Davidson's family through the difficult time in any way he can and asked his followers to donate to his children's education fund, set up by the FDNY Davidson was killed while working to extinguish the blaze in the Harlem neighborhood of New York on March 22 Firefighter Michael R. Davidson of Engine Company 69, became separated from his unit as they battled the fierce, smoky blaze (pictured) He also clarified that, despite reports, he was not the one who smelled smoke and raised the alarm about the fire. He said he was actually outside of the building setting up a shot at the time and it was an assistant director who first realized something was wrong. 'I cannot praise the professionalism of our crew highly enough. Had our team not noticed the situation and responded and alerted the fire department with the speed they did, I believe the residents of the building above would have perished,' he added. You can donate to Davidson's family by visiting www.fdnyfoundation.org/donate/ and selecting 'Firefighter Michael Davidson's Children's Educational Fund' from the drop-down menu. Blood-stained bowls, rusty catching poles and terrified pooches crammed into tiny iron cages, these are the shocking scenes from inside an illegal Chinese dog slaughterhouse. The grotty underground workshop in the city of Dalian is said to have been in business for years before being raided by police on March 25. Police officers rescued nine dogs that were still alive. They huddled in a squalid cage and were almost hidden amongst piles of rubbish in the filthy facility. Nine dogs are pictured being crammed into a tiny rusty cage at the illegal slaughterhouse A bowl containing blood is found at the scene by Chinese police who have raided the facility A metal catching pole, used to yank the dogs from the cage to the slaughter room, is also seen A pile of dog hair is seen on the floor next to a machine used to remove fur from the animals The underground slaughterhouse is located in the Lvshunkou District of Dalian, a port city in eastern China. Police were notified of the existence of the slaughterhouse by Dalian-based animal rights group VShine, which in turn was notified by Dalian Shuguang Stray Dogs shelter. Volunteers from VShine and its partner Humane Society International, another animal welfare organisation, entered the property with Dalian police. Peter Li, China Policy Specialist from Humane Society International, described the horrifying scenes witnessed by his colleagues. 'When our team entered the property, they were faced with the dreadful sight of nine trembling dogs huddled together on the blood-stained floor of the slaughter room. 'The slaughterhouse itself was a disgusting, filthy sight and it was clear that if the activists and police hadn't received a tip-off, these dogs would have been bludgeoned to death like so many poor animals before them.' Humane Society International, an organisation that assisted the raid, describe that nine trembling dogs were huddling together on the blood-stained floor of the slaughter room The owner (right) of the filthy workshop (left) is said to have run the business for years in Dalian Volunteers from VShine and Humane Society International rescue dogs from the workshop The volunteers say the dogs were likely to have been stolen as they were 'so friendly despite their ordeal'. Photos of the raid show a discarded bowl still fresh with blood and a blood-stained catching pole. According to the animal organisation, workers at the slaughterhouse would use the catching pole to yank dogs from their pen to the kill floor. A pile of dog hair was also seen on the floor. The hair is said to be from the so-called de-hairing machine, a cylindrical devise fitted with rubber spokes. Humane Society International told MailOnline that workers would put a dead dog into the de-hairing machine, which would then spin the animal's body very fast to pluck out the fur. After the de-hairing process, the animal's carcass is blowtorched to get the typical brown appearance one could see on the dog meat market stalls, according to the spokesperson. A letter, written and signed by the slaughterhouse's owner, shows the man admitted that he had illegally killed dogs and sold dog meat 'for a long time'. The owner promised to stop 'buying dogs, stealing dogs, killing dogs and selling dog meat' in the future. The owner also said he is willing to be penalised if he breaks his promise. It's understood the owner will not be penalised after signing the promise letter. The saved pooches, said to be stolen pets, are being treated at two animal hospitals now The terrified animals are pictured being checked at the VShine Animal Hospital in Dalian The nine rescued dogs have been taken to the VShine Animal Hospital to be examined. They are now recovering at two pet hospitals and will be moved to a facility built and funded by Humane Society International in north-east China. There, the pooches will be available for adoption. It's estimated that 10 million dogs are slaughtered for meat in China every year. But in many cases the lack of relevant law in China means illegal dog meat traders are hard to be punished. Humane Society International praised the quick reaction from Dalian police. Peter Li from Humane Society International said: 'Most people in China don't eat dogs and would dearly love to see China's police forces nationwide act as swiftly to tackle the illegal dog meat trade as the Dalian law enforcement. 'But sadly until China creates an animal protection law, we are unlikely to see the change in attitude and actions needed.' The father of a fashion designer brutally stabbed to death by a mentally-ill student today insisted that her killer must not be released until he shows remorse. Jason Braham spoke after his daughter's killer William Jaggs was pictured dressed 'as a 1950s housewife' while on a supervised trip outside of a secure mental health unit. Jaggs stabbed Lucy Braham, 25, some 66 times and tried to saw her body in half in the sexually-motivated attack at her home in Harrow on the Hill, North West London. William Jaggs (left) stabbed Lucy Braham (right) some 66 times and tried to saw her body in half in the sexually-motivated attack at her home in Harrow on the Hill, North West London Oxford-educated Jaggs's plea of not guilty to the murder in September 2006 was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility through mental illness. But the judge sentencing at the Old Bailey in 2007 told drug user Jaggs, who is now 34, that he was so dangerous he might never be freed. He was sent to Broadmoor high-security hospital indefinitely after admitting manslaughter before transferring to Littlemore mental health unit in Oxford in 2015. The Sun's photo, splashed on the front page, showed Jaggs wearing a long floral and lacy dress and slip-on shoes, and holding a black carrier bag from a local shop. Jason Braham insisted that his daughter's killer must not be released until he shows remorse The newspaper also reported he had been on trips to Primark and Sainsbury's. Mr Braham, a former art director at Harrow School, said: 'I don't know why the guy is wearing a dress - he was a sort of show-off anyway, he might be being a narcissistic show-off as always or it may be more sinister.' The 68-year-old said he did not believe Jaggs was stable enough to be released and suggested the process had happened too quickly. In a statement, he said: 'We understand that on the day of the news photograph he was under escort, though this still suggests that the early stages of his potential release, during which he would have been confined to the hospital grounds, have been passed through very rapidly. Jaggs (left), who killed Ms Braham (right) is not stable enough to be released, Mr Braham said 'There is no punishment on earth that would be equal to the crime that William Jaggs committed, but however long his sentence he must never be released until he has demonstrated insight into the monstrosity of what he did and shown remorse. Murder victim's father hits out at 'monstrosity' of William Jaggs Here is Jason Braham's full statement on the staged release of his daughter Lucy's killer William Jaggs: 'The revelation that William Jaggs has been photographed outside the secure hospital where he has been resident since his move from Broadmoor came as a surprise to Lucy's immediate family, who understood that his staged release would be drawn out over four years or more. 'To Lucy's friends the news will have been a terrible shock. We understand that on the day of the news photograph he was under escort, though this still suggests that the early stages of his potential release, during which he would have been confined to the hospital grounds, have been passed through very rapidly. 'As to his dressing in women's clothes, we do not know whether this is just an illustration of his narcissism and attention seeking or indicates something more sinister. 'It is now 11 and a half years since Lucy's death and just under ten and a half since her killer was sentenced. We have tried to build new lives, and throughout this time we have enjoyed the support of Lucy's closest friends. 'In the successes that they have enjoyed in their careers they have always said that they have felt Lucy has played a part. To us these successes have been an indication of the qualities of the friends whose companionship she cherished and this has confirmed our estimation of Lucy herself. 'We very much regret that these friends and so many others who knew and loved her have had to see the story of Lucy's murder re-run under new photographs of her killer, apparently walking a suburban street dressed as a 1950s housewife. 'We had been assured that we would be kept informed of significant developments such as this and are very disappointed that this has not happened. 'There is no punishment on earth that would be equal to the crime that William Jaggs committed, but however long his sentence he must never be released until he has demonstrated insight into the monstrosity of what he did and shown remorse. 'Even then he could only be freed under the closest monitoring to ensure he keeps to his prescribed medication and cannot return to the illegal drugs that precipitated his psychosis.' Advertisement 'Even then he could only be freed under the closest monitoring to ensure he keeps to his prescribed medication and cannot return to the illegal drugs that precipitated his psychosis.' Mr Braham said Jaggs's lack of remorse was shown in a chilling letter to a former neighbour, telling her he would 'be out soon'. Jaggs had offered the woman his kitten but was turned away before he gave it to Miss Braham, who later returned it to him when she changed her mind - triggering the attack. Mr Braham, who now runs a pottery studio in Dolau, in Powys, mid-Wales, said: 'About four years ago, he wrote a letter to another of the neighbours, who happened to be a childhood friend of Lucy's. 'He had tried to deliver his cat to her first of all. I have not seen it (the letter) but she was very, very upset by it.' He added he was 'very disappointed' he had not been kept informed about Jaggs's staged release, which he thought would be drawn out over four years or more, and had found out from a newspaper reporter. 'The system does not seem to work for letting the victim's family know what's going on,' Mr Braham said. 'I would expect to have been informed of that and it was a bit of a shock. 'To Lucy's friends the news will have been a terrible shock. I'm presuming most of them had seen it on the newstand. 'We started getting phone calls from Lucy's pals, who were horrified. I'm particularly upset they've been hurt by this. I reassured them it must be part of the staged release.' In his statement, he added: 'We have tried to build new lives and throughout this time we have enjoyed the support of Lucy's closest friends. 'We very much regret that these friends and so many others who knew and loved her have had to see the story of Lucy's murder re-run under new photographs of her killer, apparently walking a suburban street dressed as a 1950s housewife.' Oxford Health NHS Trust, which runs Littlemore, declined to comment on the specific case but said: 'The trust works with the Ministry of Justice to help patients to safely rehabilitate and recover, including extremely careful monitoring of risk to ensure the safety of both the patient and wider public.' Two dogs lay on the ground refusing to budge even as their owners tried to drag them forward - they knew they were about to be abandoned. Their heartbreaking resistance outside the Harris County Animal Shelter in Houston was short-lived as the two women just carried them inside and left them to die. Ann Flores photographed the heartbreaking scene as she arrived to help a friend adopt a dog, unable to believe what she was seeing. Scroll down for video One of the dogs lays on the ground refusing to budge even as its owner tries to lift it up The other dog sits still but the pets' heartbreaking resistance outside the Harris County Animal Shelter in Houston was short-lived as the two women just carried them inside and left them 'They were both pulling, but the dogs wouldn't budge. They had to pick them up because they just would not move. They would not walk in there,' she told The Dodo. 'They didn't care. They were just laughing and giggling because the dogs wouldn't move. To them, it was just like throwing trash away. There was no remorse, nothing.' The two pups, Truman and Mandi, were dumped and had just a few days to find new owners before the overcrowded shelter would have to put them down. Both dogs were in bad condition with heartworms and other issues including Mandi suffering mange over most of her body, as well as a painful eye infection. Mandi, who was suffering from a painful eye infection, was dumped with Truman. The two dogs had just a few days to be adopted before the crowded shelter would have to put them down On the ride to his new home Truman began to relax and warm to rescuer Kellie Donoghue Local animal lovers rallied to publicize their plight on social media and foster owners were found just hours before they were due to be killed. The brother and sister were also traumatized by their experiences and Truman was so terrified he had to be carried to the car. On the way to his new home, Truman started to warm up to animal rescuer Kellie Donoghue and was happy after the 25-minute ride. 'In just an hour, we saw a fantastic transformation of a dog who wouldn't even walk and being flat on the ground and shaking, to feeling safe enough to sleep in the car and get close to me,' she said. Truman was fostered by Christina Caballero and is learning to be comfortable inside a house Mandi was suffering from mange - with big patches of fur missing - as well as an eye infection 'He's going to be just a fantastic dog to live with.' Truman was fostered by Christina Caballero along with her other dog and three cats, though he is still learning to be comfortable inside a house. Mandi was fostered the day after by Jackie Duncan and is slowly recovering from her conditions and growing her fur back. A drug dealer on the run has been shot and killed by police in Taiwan during a dramatic midnight shootout. Police rained bullets on the fugitive, named Chen Chi-an, who was carrying multiple weapons in his car including two machine guns, four handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, according to the police. Officers fired dozens of shots after suspect Chen's gun got jammed due to its poor quality. A fatal shot hit Chen in the left hip and he died at the hospital. Pictured: Chen was previously arrested for firing a shot in a drug rehab centre in 2011 Police found heavy weapons and ammunition in the suspects' car, including two machine guns Police fired 22 shots, including 10 warning shots, towards the armed suspects and the car The wanted man, 43, was caught by two policemen who were investigating an illegally parked car in Kaoshiung, south Taiwan, according to Apple Daily Taiwan. Apparently, Chen and his two accomplices were in the car. Police officer Yu Ho-chien asked the driver and his two passengers to step out from the car. Chen, who was sitting at the back, came out with a pistol in his hand. He tried to shoot the policemen but the firearm malfunctioned. Terrifying bodycam footage shows officer Yu and his colleague firing 22 shots including 10 warning shots afterwards. Chen was heavily wounded at the scene and died at the hospital. His two accomplices, named Hung I-yuan and Chen I-cheng, have been arrested. Police found two Colt RM22401 sub-machine guns, a modified Clark pistol, one modified Mauser HSc Mod. 19 pistol, two modified Taurus handguns and 305 rounds of ammunition inside the car. They also found two bags of Heroin weighing 0.4 grams (0.014 ounces), five packets of of amphetamine weighing 127.8 grams (4.5 ounces), a pipe, cash notes of NT$495,000 (12,055) and a pet lorikeet. Wanted drug dealer, Chen Chi-an, circled, was gunned down by Taiwan Police The suspect, in connection with robbery and drug trafficking, died of massive blood loss Chen was shot in the left hip and a bullet lodged in his right chest. He was sent to Chung-ho Memorial Hospital immediately and died of massive blood loss. Chen was previously arrested for firing a shot at a drug rehabilitation centre in Kaoshiung in 2011, according to SETN.com. Chen's two accomplices both had history of drug trafficking. Bodycam footage of a police officer shows a suspect gets off the car with a gun in Taiwan One suspect, left, walked out the car and surrendered after Chen was shot in the hip One of the accomplices Hung told the police the trio had stopped their car at roadside to set a GPS navigation system. He said they had been en route to a drug rehabilitation centre in Nantou county, which is about a five-hour drive from Kaoshiung city, reported Apple Daily Taiwan. Kaoshiung Police believed the suspects were planning to sell the ammunition to potential buyers. 'As we inspect the ammunition, they are using the poor quality ones and selling the good quality ones,' said the policeman. The police believed it was the reason why the bullet was jammed inside Chen's gun. The case is still under investigation. Elizabeth Smart would not have been her captor's only victim, if it wasn't for a snoring man who scared him off from abducting another young woman. Smart has revealed that her kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, almost abducted another girl after posing as a Mormon and meeting her family at church. Mitchell went so far as to enter the girl's house, but quickly fled when he heard a man snoring nearby. Smart, now 30, revealed the incredible story in her new book When There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up. Elizabeth Smart has revealed that her kidnapper Brian David Mitchell posed as a Mormon and tried to abduct another young girl from a California church while she was in his captivity Smart, now 30 and a mother-of-two, revealed the incredible story in her new book When There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up Smart was just 14 years old when Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee abducted her from her Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002. Mitchell raped Smart on a daily basis in her nine months of captivity, during which the trio traveled from Utah to Southern California and back. It was in California where Mitchell became obsessed with finding his 'next wife', Smart reveals in an excerpt obtained by People. Mitchell would prowl the local churches and was eventually invited to dinner by a kind Mormon family in El Cajon. While at their home Mitchell saw a picture of a young girl on the family's piano. She was the host's daughter from a previous marriage, and visited every Wednesday. Smart (pictured in 2004) was just 14 years old when Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee abducted her from her Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002 Mitchell kidnapped Smart at knifepoint in the middle of the night in her home (pictured) Mitchell raped Smart daily in her nine months of captivity, during which they traveled from Utah to California (pictured is Smart revisiting the camp where she was held captive) 'That was all it took for him to decide that this young girl would be his next victim,' Smart writes in her book. Smart said Mitchell told her all about his plan, claiming he was going to 'rescue' the girl. On the night of the kidnapping, he put on the same clothes and took the same knife he had used when he abducted Smart. But when Mitchell arrived at the home, he heard a man snoring and decided to leave. 'I know most people consider snoring a health risk or an annoyance. But in the case of this young girl, it saved her life,' Smart writes. Smart was rescued nine months after her abduction on March 12, 2003, when two witnesses recognized Mitchell and Barzee from an America's Most Wanted episode Smart testified against Mitchell in 2009 and he was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 Smart is pictured with her father Ed Smart and mother Lois at the Rose Garden of the White House in 2003 Smart was rescued nine months after her abduction on March 12, 2003, when two witnesses recognized Mitchell and Barzee from an America's Most Wanted episode. The couple were both charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault. Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines. She testified against her husband in court, as did Smart, in 2009. Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison in 2011. Since her kidnapping, Smart has become an author and an advocate for survivors missing persons and sexual abuse victims Smart said she has since been able to forgive her captors to move on with her own life 'I know that you know what you did was wrong,' Smart told Mitchell at his sentencing. 'You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned.' Now a married mother-of-two, Smart said she has been able to forgive her captors. Smart discusses finding hope and forgiveness in her new book (pictured) 'I think my mom's advice when I came home was that these people had stolen nine months of my life, and the best punishment I could ever give them is to move forward and to be happy,' she told Desert News. 'I think that was given to me at a very poignant time that kind of set me on that course of forgiveness, to move on with my life.' Smart said she was only able to truly forgive when she realized she was doing it for herself, not for Mitchell and Barzee. 'My captors will never care if I forgive them, it will not make a day of difference to them at all, but it will make a huge difference to me,' she said. 'If I stay angry from holding onto this in my life, it would be eating away at me.' 'It would mean I wouldn't be 100 percent mother to my children, I wouldn't be 100 percent wife to my husband, I wouldn't be able to work for survivors 100 percent because there would always be this percentage of me inside holding onto this anger.' 'I love myself too much to do that to myself.' Uber may have disabled the standard collision-avoidance technology in its autonomous Volvo SUV before it hit and killed a pedestrian last week, according to the safety system manufacturer. Zach Peterson, a spokesman for Aptiv Plc, which produces Volvo's radar and camera, said Uber may have disabled the safety feature so it could test and develop its own autonomous driving system. Uber declined to comment. Intel Corp.'s Mobileye, a supplier for Aptiv which makes chips and sensors for collision-avoidance system, said their own tests suggest that their systems would have detected the pedestrian one second before impact, if the technology had been enabled. That second may have given the car time to slam on the breaks before it hit 49-year-old victim Elaine Herzberg, who was crossing the street, killing her. The claim comes as Arizona's governor Doug Ducey suspended Uber's self-driving vehicle testing privileges in the state in the wake of the fatal collision and after it emerged that Uber replaced a policy of having two engineers pilot its self-driving cars, with solo 'safety drivers' who receive just three weeks of training, including a felon and a former Pizza Hut manager. Uber disabled the standard collision-avoidance technology in its autonomous Volvo SUV before it hit and killed a pedestrian last week, according to the safety system manufacturer (pictured is the damaged car involved in the crash) Zach Peterson, a spokesman for Aptiv Plc, which produces Volvo's radar and camera, said Uber may have disabled the safety feature so it could test and develop its own autonomous driving system Aptiv were keen to distance themselves from the cause of the crash. 'We don't want people to be confused or think it was a failure of the technology that we supply for Volvo, because that's not the case,' Peterson told SF Gate, adding that the Volvo XC90's standard advanced driver-assistance system 'has nothing to do' with the Uber vehicle's autonomous driving system. A Volvo spokesman declined to comment while awaiting a full investigation report. In November, Uber agreed to buy 24,000 Volvo SUVs, which already feature a driver-assistance system with collision avoidance, lane-keeping aid and other safety features, onto which it was planning to add its own software for pilot-less driving. The claim that Volvo's safety system was turned off comes after it emerged that Uber testing program was rife with issues, according to a New York Times report on Friday. They included trouble driving through construction zones and requiring far more human intervention than competing companies. Uber have also, quietly replaced a policy of having two engineers pilot its self-driving cars, with solo 'safety drivers' who receive just three weeks of training. It has also insisted the 'safety drivers' - who include a felon and a former Pizza Hut supervisor - sign gag orders stopping them from talking about what happens when they are 'pilots' in the cars. The move to water down the level of supervision of its fleet of autonomous Volvos was never publicized to authorities, its investors or the public in the cities where Uber is trialing the cars. The video, released by Tempe police, shows the car traveling at about 40mph in a 45mph zone along a relatively empty roadway on Sunday night In the seconds leading up to the collision, Rafaela Vasquez, 44, the safety driver who must take control of the car if there are any problems, is seen looking down and to the side Seconds later, Vasquez grows alarmed when she realizes the car is about to hit the pedestrian. The footage appears to back up her claims that she was alert during the ride and nothing she could have done would have prevented the fatal collision None are required to have an engineering or technical background, although all must pass a manual driving exam, submit to Uber's background check and complete a 21-day training course. A history of issues with self-driving cars Uber road tests its self-driving car for the first time in Pittsburgh in September 2016. Phoenix is launched as the company's main testing ground with 400 employees and more than 150 autonomous cars in 2017. New Uber CEO Khosrowshahi is persuaded to keep the autonomous car project after visiting the Phoneix site in the summer of 2017. In September 2017, Uber's autonomous cars had driven one million miles in a year. In October 2017, Uber moved from two employees in every car to one. In December 2017, Uber missed its target to seek regulatory approval for a self-driving car service in Arizona. By March 2018, Uber was struggling to meet its target of 13 miles per intervention. The firm has suspended its self-driving vehicle testing on public roads. The testing period has also seen issues such as cars having trouble driving through construction zones and requiring far more human intervention than competing companies. And in recent month, a driver was fired after falling asleep at the wheel and being spotted by a colleague. Another driver was seen air drumming while driving through an intersection. Advertisement The truth about who is really behind the wheel emerged as DailyMail.com investigated how one of Uber's fleet of self-driving vehicles came to kill a pedestrian. Homeless woman Elaine Herzberg, 49, died on March 18 in Tempe, Arizona, after being struck by a gray Volvo XC-90 SUV piloted by Rafaela Vasquez, 44. Vasquez, a convicted felon who was sentenced to five years in jail in 2001 after being caught attempting to rob a branch of Blockbuster Video using an imitation firearm, told police she had attempted to brake but was unable to avoid the mother-of-two. A video of the incident appears to show her looking repeatedly down at something inside the car before her jaw drops in horror as she finally spots the 49-year-old. Herzberg, a three-time-married mother-of-two, was crossing busy thoroughfare North Mill Avenue and had already made it across three lanes and a wide central meridian when she was struck. The incident is now being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, who are delving into why the car's Lidar laser detection system failed to spot Herzberg, among other things. The death, the first caused to a pedestrian by a self-driving car, has also raised fresh questions for Uber not least how a single 'safety driver' with limited training came to be behind the wheel. At the launch of their self-driving car project in Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Arizona, Uber showed off cars with two engineers up front and never challenged reports that claimed this would always be the case during the pilot scheme. Homeless woman Elaine Herzberg (left), 49, died on March 18 in Tempe, Arizona, after being struck by a gray Volvo XC-90 SUV piloted by Rafaela Vasquez (right), 44. Vasquez, a convicted felon, told police she had attempted to brake but was unable to avoid the mother-of-two But it admitted in a statement to DailyMail.com that it has now ditched that requirement and has switched to drivers with just 21 days of training and no technical background. 'After more than a year of thorough planning, development and safety reviews, we transitioned most operations to having a single vehicle operator, without a second person to collect feedback for our engineers using a laptop in the passenger seat,' the company said in the statement. 'This transition happened slowly as we worked with our vehicle operators to make sure they were well-trained and felt comfortable with this new job. Uber BANNED from self-driving car tests in Arizona following fatal car crash Arizona governor Doug Ducey suspended Uber's self-driving vehicle testing privileges on Monday in the wake of a pedestrian fatality in a Phoenix suburb last week. Mr Ducey said in a letter to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi that video footage showed the company's 'unquestionable failure'. The crash raised concerns about the San Francisco-based company's ability to safely test its technology in Arizona, he warned. He said he expects public safety to be the top priority for those who operate self-driving cars. 'The incident that took place on March 18 is an unquestionable failure to comply with this expectation,' Mr Ducey said. Mr Ducey said in a letter (pictured) to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi that video footage showed the company's 'unquestionable failure' The move by the Republican governor marks a major step back from his embrace of self-driving vehicles. He previously welcomed Uber and other autonomous vehicle companies to use Arizona as a place for testing under few, if any, regulations. In early March, he authorized self-driving vehicle companies to run tests without a person in the car to act as a safety operator. Uber immediately suspended its self-driving vehicle testing in Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. If Uber resumes its self-driving vehicle testing, the governor's decision means the company will still be prevented from doing so in Arizona, said Mr Ducey's spokesman Daniel Scarpinato. Uber released a statement that said it will 'continue to help investigators in any way we can, and we'll keep a dialogue open with the Governor's office to address any concerns they have.' In Arizona, companies such as Uber only need to carry minimum liability insurance to operate self-driving cars. They are not required to track crashes or report any information to the state. Scarpinato said Monday that Ducey considers self-driving vehicles a way to improve public safety and limit road fatalities. 'We see real long-term benefits to it, and we want to know more about this incident, whether it was an outlier or not,' he said. But he wouldn't say if the governor regretted not having state reporting requirements that could have given advance warning of the problems with Uber's program. California requires added insurance, reports of all accidents regardless of the severity and an annual report showing how many times operators had to take over from the computers. Scarpinato called Mr Ducey's action 'aggressive' but declined to say if the governor was reconsidering requiring more oversight. 'I think we have prudent, responsible regulation,' Scarpinato said.'I think you saw with today's action is that we are all about public safety and accountability and public safety.' Advertisement 'We decided to make this transition because after testing, we felt we could accomplish the task of the second person - annotating each intervention with information about what was happening around the car - by looking at our logs after the vehicle had returned to base, rather than in real time. 'We continue to use two operators for tests in which detailed in-vehicle feedback is important. It was not and never has been the role of the passenger-seat operator to maintain the vehicle's safety. 'That is and always has been the clear and primary responsibility of the operator behind the wheel.' On Friday, the company claimed to have 'introduced this' change to the local press in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last Fall. But after being informed that no contemporary news reports could be found, Uber admitted that the move had never been publicized either via a press release or a public announcement. Indeed, a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dating from September 2017 again refers to 'two technicians' being at the wheel. Uber made last week's statement after first falsely claiming to DailyMail.com that it had never suggested two engineers would always be present in each car. Friday's statement also points the finger of blame in the death of Herzberg at Vasquez, a felon who had committed a series of driving offenses - all of which was known to Uber when she was hired. She has not responded to requests for comment from DailyMail.com. However, DailyMail.com has also learned that Uber requires all of its drivers, including those in the regular fleet, to sign non-disclosure agreements - meaning they would face financial penalties for publicly discussing any safety concerns they might have. When DailyMail.com approached another driver, Patrick Murphy, 49, of Chandler, Arizona, who had been involved in a previous non-fatal crash, he declined to comment citing the NDA. The disclosures over the level of supervision of its self-driving cars and the secrecy Uber has insisted on for its drivers are likely to be seized on by lawyers for the family of the dead woman. Rafaela Vasquez was behind the wheel of the self-driving Volvo SUV which struck Herzberg. Police say she stepped in front of it with her bicycle (shown above next to the car) The revelations are also likely to be looked upon with interest by regulatory authorities and Uber investors, as well as the growing number of advocacy groups concerned about safety standards. Rosemary Shahan of Sacramento-based Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) claims Uber does not do enough to protect the public and slammed the company for opposing proposed Federal safety measures for self-driving cars. 'I think Uber has a real contempt for the law and a very high disregard for public safety, Shahan, 68, told DailyMail.com. 'They did not even screen out cars that are subject to a Federal safety recall in their fleet.' She added: 'They're trying to do this without any safety standards they're even opposing just a basic standard saying a car should be secure from being hacked. 'The FBI has been warning them they're very concerned about the potential for criminals or terrorists to hack into these cars and weaponize them to deliver bombs or potentially drive them off the road or over a bridge. 'But Uber and the auto manufacturers are saying, no, no, no, trust us - we will self-certify that our cars are OK. 'They give a lot of lip service to safety but if they really cared about safety they wouldn't be allowing their drivers to drive around in these recall cars that they know are unsafe. 'That's just playing Russian Roulette with their customers' lives.' The watering down of the two engineers requirement and the imposition of NDAs took place when the company was still led by Travis Kalanick. Forty-one-year-old Kalanick was forced to resign from Uber last June after a series of scandals rocked the firm including accusations of sexual harassment and a 'toxic' workplace culture. In February 2017, former Uber engineer Susan J Fowler penned an explosive blog post that claimed, among other things, she had been pestered for sex by a manager. The watering down of the two engineers requirement and the imposition of NDAs took place when the company was still led by Travis Kalanick (pictured), who stepped down from the company last year This is not the first time Uber has grounded its fleet of self-driving cars. In March 2017, an autonomous Volvo SUV (pictured on its side) got into accident when the other vehicle 'failed to yield' while making a left turn, according to police Ten days later, senior executive Amit Singhal was forced to quit after he failed to disclose he had been subject to a sexual harassment complaint while working for Google. Then, a video showing Kalanick berating an Uber driver as he was being transported from a Super Bowl party emerged, which also captured the 41-year-old boasting: 'I make sure every year is a hard year. 'That's kind of how I roll. I make sure every year is a hard year. If it's easy, I'm not pushing hard enough.' Less than a month later, Kalanick's ex-girlfriend Gabi Holzwarth publicly revealed he and five other Uber employees had visited an escort bar in Seoul, South Korea, in mid-2014. On June 6, 2017, 20 Uber employees were fired after a law firm conducted an investigation into 215 staff complaints dating from 2012. A day later, another executive was canned for obtaining the medical records of a woman raped by an Uber driver in India in 2014 and sharing them with Kalanick. Kalanick, who had initially announced he was taking 'an indefinite leave of absence' from the company, eventually stepped down on June 21. Uber, which was launched in 2009, has also previously been accused of targeting reporters who produce negative reports about the company, and of operating a 'Grayball' system that makes it impossible for certain individuals including law enforcement officers to use the app. The company's self-driving car scheme has also been hit by scandal, including a lawsuit filed by Waymo the autonomous vehicle company set up by Google accusing it of filching trade secrets. In the lawsuit, filed in March 2017, Waymo said one of its former engineers who became chief of Uber's self-driving car project took thousands of confidential documents with him. The case was settled last month in San Francisco after Uber agreed to hand over $245million-worth of its shares to Waymo's parent company and said it would not use any of Waymo's technology in future designs. Richard Guy (pictured) was driving a 1.5million Koenigsegg Agera R home when he was caught travelling at 120mph A wealthy businessman today avoided a driving ban after he was caught doing 120mph in a 1.5million supercar. Richard Guy, 58, had taken his Koenigsegg Agera R - which has a top speed of 277mph - to a Help for Heroes charity event held by Lord Robert Lewis in Farnham, Surrey. He had been giving injured veterans rides in the top-of-the-range vehicle during the special charity bash in September last year. Guy, who lives in an eight-bedroom house near Salisbury, Wiltshire, was driving home when he was caught by a manned speed camera on a 70mph limit road. The businessman, who owns a company that builds recovery trucks for the AA, Green Flag and some police forces, had just overtaken a lorry when he was caught. Aldershot Magistrates' Court in Hampshire heard Guy would take the car to charity events on a lorry, but because of limited access to the venue he had driven it there. And while driving on the A3 between Horndean and Waterlooville near Portsmouth he put his foot on the accelerator, reaching 120mph when he was caught. Beth Tongs, prosecuting, said: 'This matter is in relation to a manned speed camera, placed on the A3M on September 6 last year. 'At 16.04 [Mr Guy's] vehicle was recorded travelling at 120mph in a 70mph limit.' The court heard Guy, who lived in a 2million house in the leafy village of Sherfield English, Hampshire, at the time, does a lot of charity work, giving people 'dream rides' in the Koenigsegg. David Patience, defending, asked magistrates not to disqualify Guy because of the charity work he does and because he was the only person at his company with an HGV licence, required for driving larger vehicles they build. Mr Patience said: 'I am going to seek to persuade you to deal with Mr Guy today by way of a fine and points and not a disqualification. 'The reason he was driving the vehicle in question, a supercar, is that he had just taken it to a charity event at the home of Lord Robert Lewis. 'The event was for Help For Heroes and Mr Guy had taken the vehicle to the event to take disabled veterans out for a ride. '[Mr Guy] was driving home from the event when he was caught speeding. 'He has taken [the Koenigsegg] to a number of different charity events and he is involved in organising events to help charitable causes. Guy had taken his Koenigsegg Agera R (stock image) to a Help for Heroes charity event held by Lord Robert Lewis 'He also organises dream rides for children to go in their dream car. Mr Guy would normally take the vehicle to events on the back of a transporter, to help keep the mileage of the car down. 'But on this particular occasion, he was unable to do that because of the narrow access to the location of the event.' Mr Patience added: 'Mr Guy is 58 and runs J&J Conversions, building recovery vehicles for companies such as the AA, Green Flag and police forces. 'He travels around 35,000 miles a year and is the only person at the company with an HGV licence. 'If he is disqualified, he could also lose the HGV licence which he needs to take larger vehicles to be checked by VOSA and sometimes driving them to clients. 'He has no previous convictions or points on his licence. 'There is no suggestion here of any unacceptable driving, outside of the speeding - he had just overtaken some lorries when he was caught. Aldershot Magistrates' Court in Hampshire (pictured) heard Richard Guy would typically take his car to charity events 'The [Koenigsegg] is designed to accelerate and travel at high speeds; Mr Guy accepts he should not have been travelling at that speed.' Koenigsegg began making the Agera R in 2011, with it being debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle won a number of world records the following year for speed, including being the fastest car to go from zero to 300kmph (186mph) and back to zero again - doing it in just 21 seconds. Magistrate Jo Kingswell told Guy, who also has a disabled daughter he drives around, he would not be banned from driving. Handing him six penalty points and a 1,200 fine, Ms Kingswell said: 'We have listened to everything that has been said. 'We are going to give you six penalty points on your licence and fine you 1,200.' Guy was also ordered to pay a 70 victim surcharge and 85 costs. A 66-year-old woman was critically injured this weekend when she ran back into her burning house to try and rescue her nine cats. A fire broke out in Barbara Cisco's Deerfield Beach, Florida home early Sunday morning, where she lives with her nine rescued stray cats. Surveillance footage shows the moment Cisco, covered in soot, bangs on her neighbor's Lu Vencl's door for help after the blaze broke out. 'Help! Please open up! Its Barb!' she says in the video while knocking on the door. Scroll down for video Barbara Cisco, 66, is seen above knocking on her neighbor's door for help early Sunday morning when her house caught fire The widow then returned to her burning home to try and rescue her nine cats Cisco was rushed to the hospital for critical burns after going back into the hospital. One of her nine cats is seen at the scene after being rescued 'She was in shock,' Vencl told WPLG. 'She was all full of black soot, her hair was on fire, she had some burns.' After realizing that his neighbor's house was on fire, Vencl called 911. But before first responders arrived on the scene, Vencl says his neighbor went back into her burning home to try and rescue her cats and the urn containing her late husband's ashes. 'She apparently went back inside of the house to try to save the animals, and unfortunately, that's not really the right choice,' Vencl said. 'They're like her kids. I get that, but it's landed her in the hospital.' Two cats have been found alive and two have been found dead. The other five are still unaccounted for Friends at the Humane Society helped board up Cisco's house on Monday while she continued to recover at the hospital The fire started in a front room of the home. It's still unclear what caused the fire to start in the first place Cisco was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital's burn unit in critical condition, but has since been stabilized. Four of the nine cats have been accounted for: two dead and two alive. One of the cats was given oxygen and a blanket by firefighters at the scene while the other was found the next day with burns on its body. Cisco's husband's urn was also recovered from the home. The Florida Humane Society, where Cisco volunteers her time, sent workers on Monday to board up her house while she was in the hospital. They are also taking care of her cats. 'They are terrified, being that they are inside cats and now they're outside. But they'll be safe now,' Florida Humane Society President Carol Ebert said. Fire officials say the fire broke out in a front room of the home, but it's still unclear what caused it. A 12-year-old student in New Jersey faces charges for making a threat against his school. Garfield police were alerted Sunday morning that a student at Garfield Middle School had posted on social media that a school shooting was going to take place on Monday. The boy's home was searched but police did not find any weapons, NorthJerssey.com reports. When he was questioned by authorities, the boy said his post was meant as a joke. A 12-year-old boy at Garfield Middle School in New Jersey was charged for posting on social media that a shooting was going to happen at the school Authorities still took the threat seriously and increased police presence at the middle school on Monday. The building was also searched with the K-9 unit but police did not find any weapons or anything suspicious, NJ.com reports. Students were also checked with a metal detector as they entered the building. The student who made the threat was suspended from school until further notice and also faces criminal charges. Police did not release his identity because of his age. 'The (student) was charged with juvenile delinquency for acts which if they had been committed by an adult would constitute violations of false public alarms, terroristic threats and cyber harassment,' police Commander Darren Sucorowski told NJ.com. The boy is expected to appear before a Family Court judge in Bergen County Superior Court, police said. Garfield Police charged the student with juvenile delinquency for making the social media threat Schools around the country have been taking threats more seriously following last month's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. 17 students and staff members were killed at the school when former student and gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire with an AR-15 assault rifle. Cruz was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and faces the death penalty if convicted. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been accused of using Facebook data to track down migrants. A new report by The Intercept has found the government department who deport illegal immigrants used the swathes of information held by the social media giant. One example flagged in the document was how the ICE was able to get their hands on Facebook login details and corresponding IP addresses when a man they were hunting in New Mexico. A suspected illegal immigrant is taken into custody by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Los Angeles. The department has found itself in the middle of the Facebook scandal (file photo) Facebook has hit back, saying the department made a legitimate legal request for the information which involved a probe into an 'active child predator', according to The Intercept Facebook has now been called into question about its involvement in the ICE deportation operation. Last year, agents are said to have asked the social media site for a cellphone number. This was apparently used to track an illegal immigrant in Detroit who was on their radar and the number was pinged from cell sites to locate him, according to The Intercept. Facebook has hit back, saying the department made a legitimate legal request for the information which involved a probe into an 'active child predator', according to The Intercept. The technique is understood to involve ICE officials obtaining details of when users log in to their Facebook accounts. Their IP addresses are then logged and the ICE can use their tracking tools to hunt down their targets. A statement by Mark Zuckerburg's tech empire to the website said: 'We take the enforcement of laws protecting children from child predators very seriously, and we responded to ICE's valid request with data consistent with our publicly available data disclosure standards. 'ICE did not identify any immigration law violations in connection with its data request to Facebook in this case. 'Facebook does not provide ICE or any other law enforcement agency with any special data access to assist with the enforcement of immigration law. 'We require officials to provide a detailed description of the legal and factual basis for their request, and we push back when we find legal deficiencies or overly broad or vague demands for information.' US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (left) and Border Patrol agents detain a man caught after illegally crossing the border with Mexico in 2006 Facebook has now been called into question about its involvement in the ICE deportation operation. Meanwhile, the European Union has given Facebook two weeks to answer questions raised by the scandal over personal data harvested from the social network, according to extracts of a letter obtained on Tuesday. The letter EU's justice commissioner Vera Jourova sent Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg also asks what steps the firm plans to take to prevent a similar scandal in the future. 'I would appreciate a reply in the next two weeks,' the letter said. 'Have any data of EU citizens been affected by the recent scandal?' Jourova wrote, listing one of the five key questions. 'If this is the case, how do you intend to inform the authorities and users about it?' Jourova asked. Jourova asked whether stricter rules were needed for social media platforms as exist for traditional media and whether it would change its approach on transparency toward users and regulators. In a statement to The Intercept, an ICE spokesman said, 'Due to law-enforcement sensitivities, we're not going to comment on investigative techniques or tactics other than to say that during the course of a criminal investigation (and I emphasize criminal investigation), we have the ability to seek subpoenas, warrants and court orders to legally compel a company to provide information that may assist in case completion and subsequent prosecution.' Demonstrators enraged by the detention of former Catalan leader president Carles Puigdemont have blocked road in central Barcelona and across their region as the separatist politician remains in a German jail. Transport authorities in the northeastern Spanish region said a main motorway remained blocked in Figueres, near the border with France. Demonstrators also stopped traffic in another highway leading to the city of Lleida, and a national road between Tarragona and Valencia. Protesters caused disruptions early today on several roads in central Barcelona, the regional capital. Demonstrators stopped traffic in another highway leading to the city of Lleida, and a national road between Tarragona and Valencia. Pictured: Riot police pushing back protesters Puigdemont was ousted and fled to Belgium. Last week, a Spanish Supreme Court judge charged the 55-year-old politician with rebellion and misuse of public funds. Pictured: A protester is carried by two riot policemen Further decisions on Puigdemont's immediate future appear unlikely before Easter. A court in Schleswig will decide on formal pre-extradition custody and whether his extradition is admissible. Pictured: Puigdemont in Brussels late last year Protesters caused disruptions early today on several roads in central Barcelona, the regional capital Regional riot policemen stand guard in front of pro-independence protesters who blocked AP-7 toll road near the town of Figueres, in Girona, Catalonia Puigdemont was detained on Sunday, shortly after crossing the border into Germany from Denmark. Pictured: Protesters being held by riot policemen The demonstration was called by the radical Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDR), which were set up just before Catalonia held an independence referendum on October 1 that was banned by the courts. 'With the latest incarcerations and the arrest of president Carles Puigdemont, it clearly seems that we have crossed the point of no return,' the CDR announced in a statement on Monday following mass demonstrations the day before. Prosperous Catalonia has been marred by largely peaceful protests for more than six months, since a bid for secession from Spain began in earnest. The Catalan parliament's declaration of independence in late October following an ad-hoc referendum banned by the Spanish government received no international recognition and provoked a takeover of the regional government by Spanish authorities. Puigdemont was ousted and fled to Belgium. Last week, a Spanish Supreme Court judge charged the 55-year-old politician with rebellion and misuse of public funds. A yellow ribbon, the symbol used to demand the release of jailed Catalonian politicians, is displayed on the facade of Barcelona's Town Hall A protester, holding a pro-independence Catalan flag, shouts slogans in front of a regional riot policeman as the security forces members try to clear the AP-7 toll road near of th town of Figueres A regional riot policeman throws a pro-independence Catalan flag during the disruptions across the region A group of protesters huddle together on a road near Figueres in Catalonia as they chant slogans in favour of independence and the release of Puigdemont Spain then issued arrest warrants for six of the seven Catalan separatists who have fled the country. Puigdemont was detained on Sunday, shortly after crossing the border into Germany from Denmark. He today said he would 'never surrender' and vowed to continue the fight for Catalan independence, while also stressing he had 'full trust' in the German legal system. Further decisions on Puigdemont's immediate future appear unlikely before Easter. A court in Schleswig will decide on formal pre-extradition custody and whether his extradition is admissible. Such cases are typically dealt with in writing, without a hearing, though one is possible. Germany's criminal code - unlike Belgium's, where Spain had earlier sought Puigdemont's extradition - includes an offense that appears to be comparable to rebellion, the main accusation against the Catalan politician. It calls for prison sentences for anyone who 'undertakes, by force or through threat of force' to undermine the republic's existence or change its constitutional order. Prosperous Catalonia has been marred by largely peaceful protests for more than six months, since a bid for secession from Spain began in earnest. Pictured: People hold banners that reads in Catalan 'Freedom for the political prisoners' in support of Catalonian politicians jailed on charges of sedition and condemning the arrest of Catalonia's former president Further decisions on Puigdemont's immediate future appear unlikely before Easter. A court in Schleswig will decide on formal pre-extradition custody and whether his extradition is admissible. Pictured: Demonstrators yesterday A picture of Carlos Puidgemont is fixed in front of the entrance building of a prison in Neumuenster, northern Germany today, where Carles Puigdemont, the fugitive ex-leader of Catalonia and ardent separatist, is believed to be held after he was arrested Sunday by German police on an international warrant as he tried to enter the country from Denmark In a move celebrated by his supporters, the United Nations Human Rights Committee announced that it has registered a complaint by Puigdemont alleging that Spain has violated his political rights. A group of lawyers and human rights experts lodged the case in March, claiming that Spain has violated human, civil and political rights in its crackdown on Catalonia's independence bid. The Spanish government has six months to respond. This is the moment a bride-to-be showed how eager she was to get down the aisle, by giving passengers her own version of a safety demonstration before takeoff. Tara Berenbaum, 26, was filmed strutting down the aisle in an air hostess outfit looking more than a little merry while dishing out safety instructions to passengers. The hilarious clip shows Miss Berenbaum showing fliers how to use an oxygen mask comically while pointing out where exits were in a flamboyant fashion. Scroll down for video This is the moment a bride-to-be showed how eager she was to get down the aisle, by giving passengers her own version of a safety demonstration before takeoff in Brussels Miss Berenbaum, from Belgium, even donned a deflated life jacket much to the amusement of other passengers. Travelling to Barcelona on her hen party with friends, the bride-to-be was clearly having a good time while being egged on by passengers. One of the passengers filming, Julie Mariner, was travelling with Miss Berenbaum and began filming the clip. The hilarious clip shows Miss Berenbaum showing fliers how to use an oxygen mask comically while pointing out where exits were in a flamboyant fashion She later tweeted the video with the caption: 'Thank you Ryanair for helping us make her bachelorette extra special.' She revealed to The Sun afterwards: 'We woke her up yesterday at six in the morning so she could pack her suitcase and we dressed her up as a flight attendant! 'When we boarded we asked the crew if she could help with the flight instructions since she was dressed like them.' Miss Berenbaum, from Belgium, even donned a deflated life jacket much to the amusement of other passengers. Travelling to Barcelona on her hen party with friends, the bride-to-be was clearly having a good time while being egged on by passengers The group flew out on Saturday morning and returned the next day. She is set to walk down the real aisle in Italy in May. A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'This customer "assisted" one of our cabin crew on this flight from Brussels to Barcelona while the aircraft was stationary. 'The safety demonstration was also carried out by two other crew members and was clearly visible to all customers on this flight.' An Ohio babysitter who allegedly beat and shook a three-year-old girl to death has been charged with murder. A Butler County prosecutor said Monday that 35-year-old Lindsay Partin has also been indicted on involuntary manslaughter and felony child endangering after Hannah Wesche was found unconscious in her caretaker's Hanover Township residence on March 8. Following the alleged beating, Hannah was left brain dead, her family said, and died in the hospital three days later. Partin was arrested a day after the toddler was found in Hamilton and jailed on counts of felonious assault and endangering children. At her Monday morning arraignment, Partin's charges were upgraded, and her bond set at $30,000. Lindsay Partin (left) has been charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter and felony child endangerment of three-year-old Hannah Wesche (right), who was left brain dead This photo taken at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center shows Hannah hooked up to monitors and machines. She died on March 18 The victim, Hannah, was taken from the Hanover Township home to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where she died. Court records allege that Partin struck and shook the toddler, causing 'serious physical harm', but there is still no word on what might have provoked the alleged attack. Hannah's father, Jason Wesche, spoke further about the incident to WXIX-TV. The father said that he had been taking the girl to Partin's home for months leading up to his daughter's death. The late toddler is seen above playing and smiling. She was allegedly beaten to death by her babysitter that Hannah's family said they trusted Loved ones posted pictures and messages following Hannah's memorial/burial Hannah's funeral service was held on March 22. Family and friends are seen above celebrating Hannah's life The father-of-three said he knew Partin through a friend and she had all the necessary credentials to look after his youngest daughter. According to Wesche, he got a frantic call from Partin a short time after he dropped off his daughter at her house. When he rushed to the woman's residence, he found the toddler unconscious and with a black eye. When interviewed by police, the babysitter allegedly admitted to shaking Hannah and claimed the toddler had fallen and hit her head against a concrete garage floor the previous day. Hannah's family said doctors had removed a portion of the girl's skull to relieve the swelling on her brain but did not have high hopes of her surviving the injuries. 'We have to sit here and look at our dead little Hannah and just wait for these exams to tell us what we already know,' Hannah's aunt, Megan Latham, told WLWT previously. Hannah is pictured left grasping her father's hand on the day of her birth. Jason Wesche is seen on the right holding Hannah Hannah and her mom Megan are pictured above in this Facebook photo posted to the 'Hannah Strong' page Mr Wesche launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his daughter's medical expenses. Supporters donated a total of $10,442 to the campaign which has closed. The page featured a heartbreaking image taken at the hospital that show the little girl hooked up to monitors and other equipment, with stuffed animals in her bed. The victim's eldest sister, Kaitlyn Wesche, shared a Facebook status on March 19, the day after her younger sister had been pronounced dead. 'Cant believe my sisters been taken away.. Ive been strong all day and now that Im laying here by myself I feel like my heart is cramping up.. I just wanna fall asleep holding her knowing everythings alright.,' sister Kaitlyn wrote. Hannah's funeral service was held on March 22. On Saturday, Kaitlyn took to Facebook page again to share to share information about the memorial service the family held for little Hannah. 'What an emotional but beautiful service we held for our Hannah. She is our little angel,' her sister wrote. 'Thank you to everyone who was supportive and helped us in this tragedy. Thank you for all the donations, flowers and photos. Our family is thankful for everything!' Hannah and her sister Kaitlyn are seen above in this Facebook photo. Her sister wrote to her page: 'Cant believe my sisters been taken away... I feel like my heart is cramping up' Kaitlyn and her little sister are seen above. Kaitlyn wrote on Facebook Hannah is 'our little angel' after the tragic news A deadly disease which has claimed the lives of dozens of dogs this year has struck again, leaving the owner of a Shih Tzu heartbroken. Shannon Wilson, 23, took her Shih Tzu Paris for a walk in Moses Gate, Fanworth, Greater Manchester, and noticed a wound on the dog's paw a few days later. Within a week, the wound had become inflamed and swollen, and Paris became sick. The case of the potentially fatal Alabama Rot, also known as 'Dog's Black Death', has led to further calls for owners to be cautious on muddy walks. Shih Tzu Paris, pictured, is the latest dog to die from Alabama rot just two weeks after displaying the initial symptoms The disease damages dogs' blood vessels, cutting off blood supply to areas of the skin and sometimes the internal organs, which causes skin sores and can lead to kidney failure. It is believed the illness is picked up in muddy areas, and can rot the flesh of a dog very quickly. Blood tests taken by the veterinary charity PDSA from Paris revealed kidney failure. The dog was put to sleep just two weeks after first showing symptoms of the disease. Ms Wilson said: 'We are bereft after losing Paris. We couldn't have had a more loving dog. 'She deteriorated so quickly, it was incredibly frightening to see. 'We had no idea what the symptoms were and I'd never even heard of Alabama Rot so it's been a complete shock to all the family. Paris hurt her paw while on a walk in Greater Manchester and the wound became infected with the disease which shut down her kidneys 'I want to warn other pet owners of the dangers of this disease and to take extra care when out walking. Paris was only four and has gone far too soon.' Alabama Rot was first identified in greyhounds in the United States in the 1980s and has only surfaced in the UK in the last six years. There have been reports of the disease across the country. In 2012, just six cases were reported in the UK. The number grew to 40 in 2017, and there have already been 29 reports of the disease in the first three months of this year. PDSA vet Emma Deards said: 'Despite extensive research in this area, vets are still not sure what causes the disease and how to prevent it. 'Following this confirmed diagnosis of Alabama Rot in Manchester, vets and owners are understandably concerned. 'Washing any mud off your dog after a wet or muddy walk may be of benefit but this has yet to be proven as an effective method of prevention. 'The important thing for owners to do is check their dogs after every walk for any unexplained redness or sores on the skin, particularly on their paws, legs, face, mouth or tongue. 'In many cases, the cause of these sores will not be Alabama Rot, but it's important for a vet to examine your dog and rule it out.' Murderers Stephen Unwin and William McFall took a selfie after they set fire to the car their victim was inside In shocking footage, firefighters rush towards a blazing car containing the body of a mother, brutally raped by two killers who teamed up in jail. Stephen Unwin and William McFall put victim Quyen Ngoc Nguyen through an unimaginable four-hour ordeal after she was lured to Unwin's home in Tyne and Wear. The pair met in prison and murdered again after persuading parole boards to free them. Shocking dashcam footage captured by fire fighters rushing towards the gutted wreck shows the vehicle engulfed in flame - with the victim's body inside. In the clip, three personnel race to put out the flames but arrive too late. Nguyen, a mother-of-two, had employed Unwin as a handyman, unaware that he was a life prisoner out on licence for murdering a pensioner in 1998. McFall had also murdered a pensioner during a 1996 break-in and met Unwin in HMP Swaleside. The National Victims Association has called for the Parole Board to be held accountable for releasing the pair after each served just 13 years for their first killings. They ate a curry as Ms Ngygen lay unconscious on the floor and then set her alight in her car near allotments while she was still alive. As they drove to the bank afterwards to use her cash card, they took a selfie, with McFall grinning into the camera while Unwin was at the wheel. McFall (left) and Unwin (right) were released from life sentences they were given for killing pensioners before they teamed up to murder again, this time a Vietnamese mother Quyen Ngoc Nguyen was murdered by the two killers after they were freed by parole boards Footage showed fire engines arriving at the torched car where the victim's body was found Charred remains: The vehicle containing Ms Nguyen's body was removed revealing a blackened patch of ground A jury took four hours to find both guilty of murder and Unwin guilty of rape. McFall was cleared of rape. They will be sentenced to their second life sentences next month. In an outburst from the dock Irishman McFall shouted: 'You've found an innocent man guilty, so you have. I have never had a fair trial.' Quyen's sister questioned why the two were released from their original sentences, both imposed for the murder of vulnerable elderly victims in their own homes in the 1990s. Devastated Quynh Ngoc Nguyen said the British government had been 'too kind to evil men.' Quyen, a mother of two who entered the country in 2010 to study business at the London School of Commerce was murdered on August 15 last year after coming into contact with Unwin, 40, and McFall, 51, when they were carrying out work as handymen on flats she was renting out. The victim visited Unwin at his terraced home in Shiney Row, near Sunderland, to discuss some more work for him and was set upon by the pair after she stepped inside. Miss Nguyen's sister (pictured centre) has criticised authorities over the release of the two killers Miss Quyen, a mother of two who entered the country in 2010 to study business at the London School of Commerce was murdered on August 15 last year Prosecutor Jamie Hill, QC, told Newcastle Crown Court she was killed for 'a combination of violent, warped sexual fantasy and greed.' On the night of her murder McFall messaged Unwin to ask: 'Are we raping the c****?' Quyen was beaten, throttled with a ligature around her neck and raped by Unwin who used a gas-powered pistol and a Star Wars lightsabre toy in the degrading assault. After she'd been in the house for five hours she was wrapped in a white sheet and carried out to her black Audi A4 which was then driven by Unwin to a lane leading to allotments. They doused her in petrol and set both her and the car ablaze. Forensic tests later revealed that Quyen was still alive when she was set on fire. Chilling CCTV images show Ms Nguyen arriving at the house where she was tortured and killed Unwin was caught on CCTV after the killing using Miss Nguyen's bank card in a Co-op store The pair used her bank cards and PIN numbers, which they had forced out of her, to make a number of withdrawals from her account. Unwin and McFall, who first met in HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, were swiftly arrested by police who tracked them on CCTV. The inseparable friends cooked up a plan to blame each other, hoping it was would give them a legal loophole. Unwin claimed McFall strangled their victim with a ligature, a scene he walked in on while buying cigarettes at the local Coop. McFall said he watched Unwin smother her before he went to the shop. Whilst on remand McFall wrote a letter to Unwin headed: 'Destroy once you have read bro.' Videos recovered from McFall's phone showed him with a gun and bragging to prison friends In it he wrote: 'Spent last week going through a law book in the library. With a bit of luck I've found a legal loophole.' Unwin killed cancer-stricken retired pharmacist John Greenwell in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, knocking his 73-year-old victim to the floor before torching his bungalow, setting three seats of fire. He was released on licence on December 20, 2012. McFall bludgeoned to death Martha Gilmore, 77, to death with a hammer in a raid on her home on May 5th 1996, hiding the weapon in a graveyard. He was released on licence on October 29, 2010. Unwin also had previous convictions for theft, burglary and arson, the court was told. In a previous burglary he had set fire to the victim's home but the 72-year-old man was rescued by neighbours. Flowers were left at the scene in the wake of the shocking murder last August David Hines of the National Victims Association said the Parole Board and probation service must be held accountable for McFall and Unwin being freed to kill. He said: 'The Parole Board makes these decision about who is and who is not fit to be freed from prison and when it goes wrong, as it has so catastrophically in this case, they are never held accountable and that is wrong. 'We need to put some fear into these people, some sense that the decisions they are making are vital to the safety of the general public but as things stand no action is ever taken when things go wrong. 'Someone involved in freeing these two people, in failing to monitor them correctly, in allowing this young woman's murder, should themselves be standing in front of a court to answer for their failings. 'It's another appalling example of how the justice system is failing the people it is set up to protect.' Victim's sister says Britain is 'too kind' and should never have freed 'evil' murderers to kill again The sister of a Vietnamese woman who was tortured by two convicted murderers has said they are evil and should die behind bars. Nail bar owner Quyen Ngoc Nguyen suffered unimaginable horror at the hands of Stephen Unwin and William McFall, who teamed up after meeting in prison when they were serving life sentences. Her sister, Quynh, 32, said that for the safety of the public they should never be released. Quyhn Ngoc Nguyen with a picture of her murdered sister Quyen Ngoc Nguyen Quyen came from Vinh, a city in the north of Vietnam, and moved to the UK in 2010 to study business in London Speaking through an interpreter, she said: 'I don't want to blame anyone but it seems that the Government is too kind to these people, because what they have done is terrible. 'My sister has passed away and nothing can change that. But I believe that if these two people were released at some point in the future, then definitely some innocent people could be harmed. 'I think they should never be released, they are evil.' The sisters ran a nail bar in Gateshead, and lived together in Killingworth, North Tyneside, bringing up their children in the same house. When she heard the news that her sister had been murdered, Quynh could not bring herself to tell their parents in Vietnam. She described her sister as trusting but also naive. Mother-of-two Miss Nguyen ran a nail bar in Gateshead and would help others from Vietnam Devastating pictures show Ms Nguyen's heartbroken family at her funeral in Newcastle She has followed the court proceedings, despite the torment of hearing in detail the ordeal her sister faced. Quynh, holding a framed photo of Quyen, said: 'I took all the courage that I have in order to know exactly what happened to my sister. 'But sometimes when I hear the stories from the two defendants, I was so resentful, I couldn't control myself. 'They make up stories that you just cannot imagine how they do things like that.' Quyen came from Vinh, a city in the north of Vietnam, and moved to the UK in 2010 to study business in London. As well as working in the nail bar Quyen helped Vietnamese people who may not have had the correct documents to find accommodation. Beijing has confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China to hold talks with President Xi Jinping, in his first foreign visit since taking power. The announcement corroborated speculation which was sparked when a train similar to the one the dictator's father used was spotted making a round-trip to Beijing. Xi held talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and he and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju. 'I have had successful talks with General Secretary Xi Jinping on developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, our respective domestic situation, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and other issues,' Kim said at the banquet. Kim also committed to denuclearisation in Korea if the United States and the South showed 'goodwill', it was reported, with China agreeing to support its neighbour if nuclear tensions could be eased. Scroll down for video Beijing has confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China to hold talks with President Xi Jinping, his first foreign visit since taking power Kim visited China from Sunday to Wednesday with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, where they held talks and a banquet while Kim said he was willing to talk to the United States Kim Jong Un, left, and his wife Ri Sol Ju wave from a car as they bid farewell to President Xi and his wife, Ri Sol Ju During the visit from Sunday to Wednesday, Kim held talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the Chinese president hosted a banquet to welcome the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping that it was his 'solemn duty' to make Beijing his first overseas destination as he made his maiden foreign trip as leader Kim Jong-un, sat alongside his wife Ri Sol-ju, speaks to President Xi Jinping in this photo taken on board the train used by Kim to arrive in China Kim laughs inside crowded carriage as photographers and cameramen clamber around him Kim visited China from Sunday to Wednesday with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, a South Korean news agency said, with President Xi also accepting an invitation to visit North Korea. The trip comes weeks after US President Donald Trump accepted an invitation to meet Kim. Analysts say Kim would have felt a need to consult with his country's traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with Mr Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. 'If South Korea and the United States respond with good will to our efforts and create an atmosphere of peace and stability, and take phased, synchronized measures to achieve peace, the issue of the denuclearization of the peninsula can reach resolution,' Mr. Kim said, according to Xinhua's summary of his meeting with Mr. Xi. In a statement Tuesday night, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: 'The Chinese government contacted the White House earlier on Tuesday to brief us on Kim Jong Un's visit to Beijing. 'The briefing included a personal message from President Xi to President Trump, which has been conveyed to President Trump. 'The United States remains in close contact with our allies South Korea and Japan. 'We see this development as further evidence that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea.' Kim (right) said he had successful talks with General Secretary Xi Jinping (left) on developing relations between the two parties and the two countries President Xi and Kim strolled through Beijing together as they did their best to show relations were back on track after a recent chill Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, visit an exhibition highlighting achievements by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Kim signs a message during his trip to Beijing, which was only recently confirmed by China Kim Jong-un waves from the window of his personal train during his whirlwind visit to China North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju for the unofficial visit Mr Kim made the unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday at Mr Xi's invitation, China's official Xinhua News Agency said Kim told Xi that it was his 'solemn duty' to make Beijing his first overseas destination as he made his maiden foreign trip as leader, Pyongyang's official news agency reported. Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of secretive North Korea, but ties have been frayed by North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and China's backing of tough U.N. sanctions in response. Xi hailed Kim's visit as embodying the importance with which the North Korean leader regarded ties with China. 'We speak highly of this visit,' Xi told Kim, according to Xinhua. At a banquet in Beijing Kim said: 'There is no question that my first foreign visit is to the Chinese capital,' KCNA reported. Bottoms up: The two leaders enjoyed a glass of wine as they met in Beijing this week It was all smiles as the North Korean dictator sat down for a banquet during his visit to China The leaders sought to portray strong ties between the long-time allies despite a recent chill as both countries confirmed Mr Kim's secret trip this week North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju pose for pictures alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju are pictured visiting the Chinese Academy of Sciences 'This is my solemn duty as someone who should value and continue the DPRK-PRC relations through generations,' he added using the countries' official acronyms. Kim confirmed that his nuclear-armed regime was willing to hold a summit with Washington, Xinhua said. 'The DPRK is willing to have dialogue with the United States and hold a summit of the two countries,' Kim reportedly said. 'It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearisation on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il,' he said. 'The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace.' A dark green train (pictured), believed to be carrying a senior North Korean delegation, left the Chinese capital on Tuesday following a dramatic whirlwind visit Earlier, a motorcade of blacked out cars had been seen entering Beijing Railway Station. The meeting between the leaders of China and North Korea was later confirmed President Xi said: 'Both Comrade Chairman and I have personally experienced and witnessed the development of China-DPRK relationship. 'This is a strategic choice and the only right choice both sides have made based on history and reality.... This should not and will not change because of any single event at a particular time,' Xi said. The visit to China marks Kim's first known trip since taking power in 2011 and his reported meeting with Xi was his first meeting with a foreign head of state. Kim's father, late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, visited China several times during his rule, for the final time in May 2011, months before his death. Past visits by Kim Jong Il to China were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea. A limousine without car plates and bearing a gold color emblem on its side arrives amid heavy security at the train station in Beijing A senior U.S. official said the available evidence suggested that Kim had travelled to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Beijing later confirmed the meeting Earlier, a motorcade of blacked out cars had been seen entering Beijing Railway Station while a foreign guesthouse in Beijing had a heavy security presence overnight. The visit came ahead of planned summit meetings with Mr Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Improving ties between North Korea, which is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits, an official in Seoul said. A Reuters reporter saw a convoy leave Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest House, where senior foreign leaders often stay, and drive north on Tuesday morning. It was unclear where the convoy was headed. Later, a journalist saw what was believed to be the delegation's train pulling out of a Beijing station. The group was reported to have arrived in China on Sunday after crossing from North Korea in the border city of Dandong. The dark green train bears a distinctive yellow stripe down the side and looks the same as one used by Kim Jong-il in the past There was a heavy police presence as a motorcade travelled along hang'an Avenue, a major east-west thoroughfare in Beijing The news of the meeting came amid talk of preparations for a meeting between the North's reclusive leader and President Donald Trump Xi and Kim Jong Un had reasons to meet in advance of Kim's meetings with Moon and possibly Trump, a U.S. official said. 'Xi has met Trump, and in many respects learned how to deal with him better than some people here do,' the official said. 'At the same time, despite the recent tensions, he needs to know what Kim has in mind for dealing with the South and the U.S., and he still has a lot of leverage with the North.' Beijing is the main ally of secretive and isolated North Korea, as well as its biggest trading partner. The rail journey between Dandong and Beijing covers more than 680 miles. It takes at least 14 hours by ordinary service, according to Chinese railway timetables. A South Korean in Seoul watches a television news report about a visit to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Police in tactical gear block a road leading to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing amid reports Kim Jong-un was in town, which were later confirmed The train appeared to be the same one that was used by Kim Jong-il to visit China multiple times in the past (pictured here in 2011) Kim Jong-il pictured visiting China on board a North Korean armoured train in 2001 The North Korean leader is due to hold separate summits with South Korea in late April and the United States in May. 'The fact that the summits are being held has been beyond our expectations. Right now, the situation surrounding the Korean peninsula is moving very quickly and it would be inadvisable to think with prejudice,' a Blue House official said. Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. Kim Jong Il was considered at the time to have made the visit to reaffirm close ties with China. 'North Korea likely wants to confirm its relationship with China and believes it has some leverage with which it can ask for things from China,' said Yoo Ho-yeol, Professor of North Korean studies at Seoul's Korea University. 'If North Korea speaks with the United States on its own, it might feel it is at a disadvantage but, if it has China as an ally, Pyongyang may think it will be able to protect its interests and profits during the summits.' A woman was chased by a council litter warden on foot and by car after she was spotted removing a leaf or stone from her shoe, it was claimed today. The victim, who had two young children with her, was forced to hide inside a friend's house after staff from private company Kingdom Security Services demanded she pay a 75 fine. After following her and warning she could face a fine of up to 2,500 the warden spent 10 minutes on the doorstep before giving up. Kingdom has repeatedly been accused of being heavy handed after fining people who accidentally dropped bookmarks, receipts and even for feeding the ducks for councils all over the country. A woman was chased by a council litter warden on foot and by car after she was spotted removing a leaf or stone from her shoe in an incident caught on camera The incident was captured by an undercover reporter who worked for Kingdom on Anglesey for a week while wearing a secret camera. The journalist, working for ITV Wales, said: 'The lady just took her shoe off and emptied it. It could have been anything, a stone a leaf. I didn't see it as being fair. 'We were in a car following her, watching her and she didn't know we were doing that. I didn't feel comfortable with that, I wasn't comfortable at all'. When she asked bosses whether she had a ticket target to meet he said: 'Nobody's giving anybody targets It's one (ticket) every two hourson a normal day? That's not anything too strenuous'. The local council has ended its deal with Kingdom but insisted it was a success. Kingdom Security Services: Who is behind the firm accused of heavy-handed tactics? Kingdom Security Services is a privately-owned company which has contracts with 28 councils in the UK. It has grown in size in recent years, thanks to an increase in local authorities outsourcing contracts. Local councils have been hiring Kingdom to deploy wardens in their boroughs to police environmental issues such as graffiti, littering and parking. The Daily Post in North Wales revealed last year Kingdom wardens working as 'litter police' were paid cash bonuses for every fine they handed out. Advertisement A spokesman Anglesey Country Council said: 'Our agreement with Kingdom came to an end by mutual agreement.' 'Without a doubt the trial period with the company has been a success and the partnership with Kingdom has lifted the profile of our ongoing work to keep the streets of Anglesey clean'. In response to the Anglesey allegation made by ITV Wales Kingdom said: 'Kingdom are a privately owned company who provide excellent value to the taxpayer through the return of substantial funds to the local authority. 'To ensure a direct benefit to the taxpayer, it is correct that there is an expectation that an amount of fines need to be issued to make the project viable'. Last month private litter wardens trying to ticket an elderly customer at Tesco were forced to leave the supermarket's car park after security staff told them they were trespassing. A video from a Tesco store in Holyhead, Anglesey, shows the confrontation between security staff and a Kingdom enforcement officer. Kingdom has repeatedly been accused of being heavy handed after fining people who accidentally dropped bookmarks, receipts and even for feeding the ducks In the clip, a man tells the warden 'you guys have been told before', suggesting it wasn't the first time staff have had to tell wardens to leave their land. The warden even delays leaving before being told that he is committing aggravating trespass by refusing to move. Wardens need permission before entering private land to give out tickets for littering or graffiti. They added that fines are only issued when 'proportionate and appropriate'. Kingdom have been branded the 'Litter Stasi' and 'scourge of the high street' after a string of high profile cases. Campaigner Mark Watson filmed his confrontation with private litter wardens from Kingdom in the car park of a Tesco store as they were told to leave The incident happened at the Tesco store in Holyhead, Anglesey (pictured). Mr Watson said the video was 'highlighting the problem we are facing with Kingdom employees thinking they can do what they want' In 2015 David Ellis, from the Wirral, was a high profile victim of this misguided regime which allows private security staff to patrol streets issuing fines for the smallest of misdemeanours and allows their firm to keep a fat slice of every fine issued. Mr Ellis left work and his bookmark fell out of his hardback. He was spotted by enforcement officers who issued him with a 60 fixed penalty notice for littering, despite his protests that he hadn't realised the bookmark had fallen out. Ann Coleman, from Ruthin, North Wales, was hit with a 75 fixed penalty notice when she accidentally dropped a receipt. Enforcement officers, also from Kingdom, told the 68-year-old she could pay straight away or face being taken to court by Denbighshire County Council. In 2016 a town council has suspended its team of litter wardens after one of them handed a woman an 80 on-the-spot fine for feeding 'imaginary' ducks. The lady was fined in the summer after a warden caught her throwing breadcrumbs near the River Loose, a tributary of the River Medway, in Maidstone, Kent. She told the warden she was feeding the ducks near the waterway, which she was entitled to do, but he said he 'couldn't see any ducks' and fined her for littering. Another victim, who asked to be identified only as Louise, said she was visiting the Welsh resort of Rhyl with her young son on his birthday when he ran into an arcade. As she gave chase, she dropped her roll-up cigarette. Louise said: 'When I came out of the arcade a woman grabbed me I didn't know who she was.' When Louise offered to pick up the cigarette, the woman said: 'Leave it where it is. You are going to be issued with a caution. You have been caught on CCTV.' Kingdom keeps a large part of every fine paid. Officials for Kingdom Security have issued penalty notices to people who have accidentally dropped bookmarks and orange peel in the street, or fed bread to ducks in a pond. One litter warden, who allegedly forced a smoker off a bus because he dropped a cigarette butt before boarding, used the catchphrase of sci-fi character Judge Dredd to warn: 'I am the law.' Whistleblower: Sgt Steven Lee, with the NYPD, claims that the 109th Precinct in queens was riddled with corruption, but Internal Affairs turned a blind eye to it An NYPD sergeant-turned-whistleblower who earlier this year went public with allegations of corruption within a Queens precinct has shared new details about the police department's alleged efforts to sweep the scandal under the rug. Sgt Steven Lee in January took the first legal step towards filing a $35million lawsuit against the City of New York, accusing the NYPD of going out of its way to hide the truth about the alleged corruption in the 109th Precinct and then attempting to derail his career in order to silence him. Lee revealed at the time that in 2013, his superior at the 109th, Lt. Robert Sung, planned to frame their new commanding officer, Thomas Conforti, for the rape of a female escort to cover up rampant karaoke bar bribery. Lee claimed that at least 100 officers were accepting payoffs from Queens business owner Jimmy Li in exchange for advance warnings about impending raids on his unsavoury karaoke joints in Flushing. Lee tells the New York Post that any officer who tried to look into the goings on at the clubs, or arrest anyone associated with them, would hear from Lt Sung or his right-hand man, Detective Yatyu Yam. They go, like, Yo, leave that place alone. Do the right thing, Lee said. According to Lee, it was common knowledge within the precinct that Li's establishments were under Sung's protection and detectives knew, in his words, to put the 'blinders on' and look the other way. Lee helped bring down Lt. Robert Sung (left) after he hatched an alleged plan to frame his commanding officer, Thomas Conforti (right) for the rape of an escort People had ideas that something shady was going on, Lee said. But everybody turned a blind eye. But Lee tells the Post that his blinders came off in 2013 when Sung took him aside one day and allegedly shared a plan with him to 'get rid of' Thomas Conforti by framing him for a rape with the help of one of the prostitutes working at Lis karaoke clubs. It was believed that Conforti, who was a family man and a by-the-book commanding officer, was not going to put up with the bribery scheme. Lee decided to turn on Sung by going to NYPD's Internal Affairs and eventually agreed to wear a wire. But according to Lee, he soon discovered that Internal Affairs was not interested in exposing suspected widespread corruption for fear of causing embarrassment to the NYPD. Lee said as part of his covert operation for IA, he would go to Jimmy Li's karaoke clubs, the JJNY Cafe on Northern Boulevard and CEO KTV & Cafe on College Point Boulevard, with Sgt Sung after work and spend time drinking and talking with other sergeants, lieutenants and 'higher-up' from the NYPD. For the next year and a half, Lee wold produce many recordings exposing what he claimed was a entire network of clubs protected by police officers in exchange for payoffs in cash and sexual favors from escorts. Lee said he learned that Li, the club owner, would pay Sgt Sung and Detective Yam thousands of dollar a month to keep his seedy establishments out of trouble. But when he would take this information to his handlers at Internal Affairs, Lee said they would brush it off and ask him to focus exclusively on Conforti's rape framing. On one occasion in 2014, Lee inadvertently raided one of Li's bars and arrested a roomful of people who were seen allegedly doing drugs. Sung and high associates were allegedly getting payoffs from Jimmy Li, the owner of JJNY Cafe on Northern Boulevard (pictured) and CEO KTV & Cafe on College Point Boulevard While he was still at the scene, which was littered with vials containing white powder, Lee said he got a call from Yam warning him that the club was 'Sung's place ' - meaning that it was under the protection of the sergeant - and telling him to let the suspects go. The next day, Lee said he got Yam on the wire thanking him for releasing the drug suspects and promising him that as a reward, 'Jimmy will take care of you.' Lee again took this information to Internal Affairs, and was again instructed to concentrate on the bogus rape case. I let three people go who had drugs, Lee tlls the paper, and then theyre telling me theyre going to reward me for it if I want. At one point, Lee said he learned from Jimmy Li himself that there was a lieutenant from Brooklyn who had a stake in a club that was rife with drugs and prostitution, and that he was interested in expanding his business into the 109th Precinct. That, too, failed to pique his Internal Affairs' handlers' interest, Lee claimed. Lee noted that sometimes he would be told that his audio recordings could no be uploaded, or the voices were inaudible. Lee's undercover work finally paid off when he got Li on the wire paying him $10,000 to frame a rival karaoke bar owner on trumped-up drug charges. Li agreed to turn in on Sung and Lee, who were both arrested in 2015 on charges of bribery and misconduct. The pair later pleaded guilty to downgraded charges: attempted official misconduct for Sung and obstructing governmental administration for Yam. Both were spared jail time and allowed to keep their NYPD pensions. According to Lee, at one point federal officials were planing to investigate the 109th Precinct, but then-Commissioner Bill Bratton allegedly convicned them to back down and allow NYPD's internal Affairs handle the matter. 'Because if the feds took care of it, they would have taken everybody down that were involved. And then it would have been a big thing, and the Police Department would have been embarrassed,' said Lee. Bratton has not commented on these claims, but NYPD Assistant Commissioner Peter Donald told the Post that Internal Affairs 'fully and independently' investigated the allegations and the case resulted in criminal charges against Sung and Yam. China appears to have backed its neighbour amid a worldwide condemnation of Russia over the nerve agent poisoning of a former spy in Britain. Over 20 countries have joined the UK in expelling Russian diplomats after the attempt to murder double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury. Moscow vehemently denies responsibility, and has vowed a 'tough response' to the expulsions. China's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying, however, said the case 'should be properly handled through dialogue between the UK and Russia on the basis of clarifying the facts', mimicking Russian emphasis on requiring evidence. She added: 'The countries concerned should earnestly abide by the basic norms of international law and international relations and avoid taking any measures that intensify contradictions. China's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the case 'should be properly handled through dialogue between the UK and Russia on the basis of clarifying the facts', mimicking Russian emphasis on requiring evidence Over 20 countries have joined the UK in expelling Russian diplomats after the attempt to murder ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (pictured) in Salisbury A swathe of countries across the world have expelled Russian diplomats in response to the outrage in Salisbury Nato chief Jen Stoltenberg announced that seven staff were being kicked out of Russia's mission to the military alliance A man rides a bicycle in front of the Russian embassy building in Warsaw, Poland, where four diplomats were ordered to leave President Putin is set to 'respond to every country' in kind after EU states, the Ukraine, the US and Canada announced the expulsion of more than 130 diplomats This image shows the Russian Embassy in Paris, France, from where four diplomats have been ejected Denmark's Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen addresses the press after announcing his nation would join a coordinated expulsion effort against Russia A policeman stands in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin after Germany's foreign minister said Berlin had ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats 'With the current international community facing many challenges, all countries should abandon the Cold War mentality, give up confrontation, work together to safeguard world peace, stability and tranquillity, and work together to build a new type of international relations that is mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation.' Chunying also said that China 'firmly opposes any use of chemical weapons' while expressing that her party is 'highly concerned about the current state of affairs' precipitated by Russia. It comes as Australia and Ireland joined more than 20 other nations in expelling over 130 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States. Today Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said his country was expelling two Russian diplomats whom he described as undeclared intelligence officers. They have been given seven days to leave Australia. Turnbull slammed Russia for 'reckless and deliberate' conduct that harms global security and violates rules against the use of chemical weapons. The Russian Embassy in Canberra said the decision was regrettable and jeopardized bilateral relationships. 'It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly contrary to the norms of civilized bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against ... common sense,' it said. Ireland also announced it was ordering one Russian diplomat to leave. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney called the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter a 'shocking and abhorrent' use of chemical weapons. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also said the military alliance will expel seven staffers from the Russian mission due to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. Germany's foreign minister said Berlin had ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats from its Berlin embassy, pictured, over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced the country is expelling three staffers from the Russian embassy as part of a coordinated European effort He said NATO will also deny the pending accreditation request of three other workers at the Russian mission. Bulgaria said it recalled its ambassador from Russia on Tuesday to discuss the nerve agent attack in Britain which London blames on Moscow. The announcment marked a toughening in the former communist country's position, four days after Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had said he had no plans to recall the envoy. Bulgaria, which holds the rotating EU presidency, has not gone as far as Britain and other countries in the bloc which have directly accused Russia of carrying out the attack and have expelled Russian diplomats. Borissov had said on Friday that while there was 'high probability' that Russia was behind the attack, he needed more hard evidence and was worried that the recall of EU ambassadors would further damage relations with Russia. The Skripals remain hospitalized in critical condition after they were found unconscious on March 4 in the English city of Salisbury, where the former spy lived. Britain says they were poisoned with a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent known as Novichok. Official in Moscow on Tuesday condemned the expulsions but have not yet announced steps of retaliation yet. Speaking at a conference in Uzbekistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that a reaction will follow because Russia 'will not tolerate such rude behavior.' Lavrov also speculated that the United States might have coerced some of the European countries into expelling Russian diplomats. Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow was working on a 'tough response' to the expulsions. Advertisement Startled holidaymakers got a bit more than they bargained for when a cheeky elephant nearly toppled their jeep. The curious animal thrust its head inside the cars window to look for food, but got its trunk and tusks caught - completely blocking the vehicle from moving. As the panicked driver tried to speed away, the fearful passengers stopped taking selfies and one man leapt out of the side of the jeep to escape the elephants trunk. The elephant approaching the tourists jeep from behind after spotting it driving by in Sri Lanka's Yala National Park A man is forced to take evasive action as the elephant sticks its trunk into the safari vehicle According to photographer Sergey Savvi the elephant was 'screaming like mad' and at one point threatened to topple the vehicle The terrifying close call was captured by Russian wildlife photographer Sergey Savvi, 37, who was on safari in Sri Lankas Yala National Park with his wife Julia. He said: It was terrifying and amazing at the same time. The elephant was screaming like mad, making clouds of dust with its legs and shaking the jeep quiet easily as it wasnt a heavy vehicle full of people. For a moment, I thought the elephant would turn the jeep right over! Mr Savvi had stopped to take pictures of the male elephant, which was the biggest he had seen in the safari park. He said: He was looking calm and friendly, just eating grass and leaves from trees near the road. Then most likely it saw some food inside the jeep. The curious creature thrust its trunk in to look for food which Mr Savvi believes it saw as the vehicle went by The photographer said the animal was an Asian elephant and was the biggest he had seen in the safari park The driver should have moved the jeep away immediately as he saw the elephant was interested but he didnt. All the people inside continued taking pictures and selfies. When the elephant put his head inside the drivers cabin it was too late to move away - the jeep was blocked by his head and tusks. After a few seconds the elephant shifted his attention to the passenger cabin. It was looking very angry now. Eventually the jeep managed to escape and the screaming and crying occupants, a group of locals from Sri Lanka, were unhurt. The animal then lodged his trunk and tusks inside the jeep, meaning it was unable to move for a while The occupants of the vehicle, who were were a party of locals, were left shaken but unhurt by the elephant's intrusion Mr Savvi, a former financial manager at a publishing house from St Petersburg, Russia, later bumped into some of the occupants of the jeep. He said: During a lunch stop, when most of jeeps stop in an area where people can get out of cars and have a rest, I talked to a man who was inside the attacked jeep with his family. He said they were all okay, everybody had calmed down a bit after the shocking event and they even smiled when I showed them my photos of their "elephant adventure".' The elephant was an Asian elephant, which are the continents largest mammals. They average male is nine foot tall and can weigh as much as five tons. The Sri Lankan elephant is an endangered species, with an estimated population of just 3,000. The elephant is protected under the Sri Lankan law and killing one carries the death penalty. Danielle Baker, 41, from the city of Bolivar in Missouri, was arrested after her 14-year-old son died of an overdose A nurse has been charged with second-degree murder after her son allegedly overdosed on prescription drugs she stole. Danielle Baker, 41, from the city of Bolivar in Missouri, was arrested after the 14-year-old went into cardiac arrest at their home March 20. Deputies attended the property on West Broadway Street and found a bottle of morphine sulfate with a torn label which was traced to Baker's workplace. They also recovered evidence of prescription drug abuse in the boy's room, including an empty bottle and a syringe containing residue, as well as liquid Xanax. The teenager, who lived with his mother, grandmother and brother, was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been in rehab twice before for alcohol and drug abuse, according to court documents. An autopsy revealed he died of an overdose and toxicology results will soon reveal what substances were in his system. Baker admitted to stealing medication from Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility where she had worked as a nurse, according to a probable cause statement. She has now been dismissed from her role, which she had held for about two years. The morphine she took had been prescribed to a patient who had recently died and hospital records showed it had been destroyed. 'We have evidence that leads us to believe that she had provided drugs that should otherwise have been disposed of and that ultimately is what the young man had ingested,' said Lieutenant Rogers Barron from Bolivar Police Department. The Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility where Baker had worked as a nurse for about two years Baker was charged Friday with second-degree murder, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, possession and theft of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence. Detectives say Baker brought medications home from work even though she knew her son had a substance abuse problem. Court documents state Baker created a substantial risk to the life, body, and health of her son, especially knowing of his previous drug use. Prosecutors must prove she committed a felony which led to her son's death. The property on West Broadway Street where deputies found a bottle of morphine sulfate with a torn label which came from Baker's workplace Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility said in a statement: 'CMH is cooperating with the Bolivar PD in their investigation. 'Ms. Baker was a registered nurse at Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility. She has been terminated. 'CMH has specific policies and protocols established for the disposal of unused patient medication. 'Our preliminary review of the documentation shows that all procedures were followed by the facility.' Baker is being held in Polk County Jail on a $150,000 bond and will next appear in court Wednesday. A bond is when the defendant secures a loan from a bail bond company, often using an asset such as a house or car. The defendant and the company both pay a proportion of the bond amount and the company guarantees the rest will be paid if the defendant disappears. This is the adorable moment the first polar bear cub born in Britain for 25 years dipped a cautious paw into a paddling pool. During the cute video the inquisitive little bear is seen excitedly approaching the paddling pool before taking the plunge and splashing around the water. The baby bear even stopped for a sip of water before rushing back to the safety of its mother, who was keeping careful eye on her brood. Scroll down for video This is the adorable moment the first polar bear cub born in Britain for 25 years dipped a cautious paw into a paddling pool. During the video the inquisitive little bear is seen excitedly approaching the paddling pool before taking the plunge and splashing around the water The bear was born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie and was the first to be born in the UK in 25 years. The Scots wildlife park explained the bear, who still hasn't been named, is getting used to the water before its introduction to the main pool when it's older. For now, it is happily enjoying being mollycoddle by mother Victoria. The baby bear even stopped for a sip of water before rushing back to the safety of its mother, who was keeping careful eye on her brood. The bear was born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie A spokesperson said: 'Pool training polar bear style! The young cub is having great fun investigating some of the new features outside of the den. 'Keepers recently placed this paddling pool near the den to help the new arrival get familiar and more confident with water. 'Preparing the cub for venturing near the main pool in the outdoor enclosure. The Scots wildlife park explained the bear, who still hasn't been named, is getting used to the water before its introduction to the main pool when it's older. For now, it is happily enjoying being mollycoddle by mother Victoria 'Victoria and her cub are still spending a lot of time in and around the den with short spells in their outdoor enclosure.' Victoria, who was born in Germany, last had a cub in Denmarks Aalborg Zoo in 2008 and is the only female polar bear to have her first baby as a British resident. A psychiatrist has been banned from practice for two years for telling an alleged sex offender his behaviour was 'OK' and offering to lie on his behalf. Dr Ian de Saxe, a Sydney practitioner, was found guilty of engaging in professional misconduct with three patients, dating back to 2010. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal deemed Dr de Saxe unfit for practice on Tuesday, ABC News reported. The tribunal suspended Dr de Saxe in September and says he 'may remain out of practice for some time'. Sydney psychiatrist, Dr Ian de Saxe, has been suspended for two years after telling an alleged paedophile it was 'OK' to have sexual contact with children (stock image) 'Young males particularly remain vulnerable, as the practitioner recognises,' it was revealed. In one case, Dr de Saxe was found to have told a 36-year-old man - who was alleged to have had sexual contact with children - 'in other countries it is legal' and 'back in Greek times it was OK'. The tribunal also found him to have told the patient: 'I'm willing to lie for you and willing to write you a report. Get your solicitor to contact me and I will talk to him'; and to have invited the patient to perform oral sex on him. Dr de Saxe was treating the man at Mosman Private Hospital in August and September 2010. He was found to have looked into the patient's eyes as he spoke about his sexuality, before inviting the patient to engage in a sexual act with him. Dr de Saxe claimed he could not remember the encounter. The tribunal found he had inappropriate relations with a patient he was treating for substance abuse, anxiety, depression and symptoms of psychosis. He engaged in mutual masturbation and sexual intercourse with the patient during treatment at his practice in The Rocks in mid-2013, the tribunal found. According to the tribunal, Dr de Saxe also prescribed the patient with a Schedule 8 drug without proper authority. In that instance, the doctor admitted his actions were wrong and he had abused his power as a psychiatrist to meet his own sexual gratification. He also conceded he massaged the legs of a 29-year-old patient at his Lindfield practice in November 2011, before asking 'Do you want me to go any higher?'. The tribunal also found he had inappropriate relations with a patient he was treating for substance abuse, anxiety, depression and symptoms of psychosis (stock image) Dr de Saxe said he was sexually attracted to the male patient and part of him wanted to touch his penis. Since his suspension, Dr de Saxe had started a course to teach English as a second language, telling the tribunal he thought it would be helpful 'to test his boundaries around students'. The Health Care Complaints Commission had been seeking to ban his medical registration for 10 years, a move Dr de Saxe described as 'draconian'. He said he hoped his suspension would be lifted so he could undertake medico-legal assessments. Dr de Saxe also claimed he suspected he had cancer at the time of his offending, and had lost his mother, who he had provided care to his whole life. A midwife from Channel 4's One Born Every Minute told a mother she had slept with her husband because she is 'dead against cheating', friends claimed today. The mother has alleged that Joanne Lumsden admitted having the fling while her police officer partner was on a 'lads' holiday' in Spain and she was pregnant at home. The 37-year-old midwife, who is said to be in 'absolute bits' over what happened, is now facing disciplinary action and no longer works at Liverpool Women's Hospital. Joanne Lumsden worked as a midwife at Liverpool Women's Hospital but is now facing disciplinary action over the affair with the woman's partner But Miss Lumsden's friends have now rallied around her. Claire Kearney said: 'I've been mates with this midwife for many years and she is the most lovely person ever. 'I can't say exactly why she's told the mother but I guess it's due to the fact she's dead against cheating. 'Maybe she thought the woman had the right to know what her fella was really like. Let's be honest here, he obviously knew he had a girl. How's Joanne meant to know?' Lorraine Cotter added: 'I know for a fact that Jo is in absolute bits over this. And her family who are lovely people too.' Meanwhile Kay Lee said: 'She's a fabulous midwife she looked after me amazingly after I had my two in November at 32 weeks and they were in Nicu (neonatal intensive care unit). She really cared. It's awful she's being punished like this.' The mother, who asked not to be named, said the day after she had her baby Miss Lumsden revealed she had met her partner in Benidorm. Miss Lumsden's friends have rallied around her, while others have praised her midwifery skills The midwife said she had 'rubbed suncream' into his back, then called later to reveal full details of the affair, it is alleged. The mother said: 'I was subjected to the most horrific ordeal. As any woman about to give birth would understand, I put my utmost trust and confidence into the hands of a midwife who I thought was a medical professional with mine and my daughter's best interests at heart. I can't say exactly why she's told the mother but I guess it's due to the fact she's dead against cheating Claire Kearney, midwife's friend 'This will haunt me for as long as I live. This woman held my baby in her arms knowing she had engaged in recent sexual activity with her father.' Miss Lumsden, who appeared in the TV series in 2013, is understood to have delivered more than 500 Liverpool women's babies. But she failed to declare a conflict of interest when helping to care for the mother's daughter. An internal investigation into her conduct has been carried out by the hospital and is understood to have been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which has the power to strike her off. The mother said: 'This has amounted to the destruction of a family. Miss Lumsden chose to ignore a series of opportunities to declare the conflict of interest. Instead, she took matters into her own hands and made sure she was present that day.' Miss Lumsden has not yet commented on what happened. The mother said the daughter was the first child she was having with her unnamed partner. But she described how he started acting 'strangely' when he returned from the holiday, making excuses to miss scans and appointments related to the pregnancy. I know for a fact that Jo is in absolute bits over this. And her family who are lovely people too Lorraine Cotter, midwife's friend Last summer, she was admitted to the hospital for a planned caesarean but her partner missed the birth. The mother believes this was due to fear of having his affair with Miss Lumsden exposed. Her claims are detailed in an official complaint she made to Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital. In her letter of complaint, the mother, who has three older children, claims Miss Lumsden cared for her and her newborn daughter. She said she feels 'violated' and any happy memories of the birth have been tainted. A week later, when a community midwife visited her while she was still under the care of Liverpool Women's Hospital, she claims she broke down and told her what had happened. The mother has written a letter of complaint to Liverpool Women's Hospital Trust (pictured) The community midwife is also the subject of disciplinary proceedings, although details of that case are not known. The mother, who is understood to have split from her partner, said she sent her letter of complaint in November after she finished breastfeeding and felt able to take the emotional strain. The hospital trust has since sent her a letter apologising for her ordeal and telling her the complaint was upheld. A spokesman said: 'We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings were undertaken by the trust as a result of two members of staff's conduct. 'The trust took this action immediately upon being made aware of the incident. The disciplinary process is now being dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. 'The patient also made a formal complaint and we have been in regular communication with [her] throughout the process. 'We would like to apologise for the upset caused to the patient as a result of their experience.' The Nursing and Midwifery Council said it could not comment on current investigations. In publicity for One Born Every Minute, which is currently filmed in Birmingham, Miss Lumsden said: 'I get to experience the miracle of childbirth every day, and watch couples become a family.' 2006 Assange creates Wikileaks with a group of like-minded activists and IT experts to provide a secure way for whistleblowers to leak information. He quickly becomes its figurehead and a lightning rod for criticism. 2010 March: U.S. authorities allege Assange engaged in a conspiracy to hack a classified U.S. government computer with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. July: Wikileaks starts releasing tens of thousands of top secrets documents, including a video of U.S. helicopter pilots gunning down 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007. What followed was the release of more than 90,000 classified US military files from the Afghan war and 400,000 from Iraq that included the names of informants. August: Two Swedish women claim that they each had consensual sex with Assange in separate instances when he was on a 10-day trip to Stockholm. They allege the sex became non-consensual when Assange refused to wear a condom. First woman claims Assange was staying at her apartment in Stockholm when he ripped off her clothes. She told police that when she realized Assange was trying to have unprotected sex with her, she demanded he use a condom. She claims he ripped the condom before having sex. Second Swedish woman claims she had sex with Assange at her apartment in Stockholm and she made him wear a condom. She alleges that she later woke up to find Assange having unprotected sex with her. He was questioned by police in Stockholm and denied the allegations. Assange was granted permission by Swedish authorities to fly back to the U.K. November: A Swedish court ruled that the investigation should be reopened and Assange should be detained for questioning on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. An international arrest warrant is issued by Swedish police through Interpol. Wikileaks releases its cache of more than 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables. December: Assange presents himself to London police and appears at an extradition hearing where he is remanded in custody. Assange is granted conditional bail at the High Court in London after his supporters pay 240,000 in cash and sureties. 2011 February: A British judge rules Assange should be extradited to Sweden but Wikileaks found vows to fight the decision. April: A cache of classified U.S. military documents is released by Wikileaks, including intelligence assessments on nearly all of the 779 people who are detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. November: Assange loses High Court appeal against the decision to extradite him. 2012 June: Assange enters the Ecuadorian embassy in London requesting political asylum. August: Assange is granted political asylum by Ecuador. 2013 June: Assange tells a group of journalists he will not leave the embassy even if sex charges against him are dropped out of fear he will be extradited to the U.S. 2015 August: Swedish prosecutors drop investigation into some of the sex allegations against Assange due to time restrictions. The investigation into suspected rape remains active. 2016 July: Wikileaks begins leaking emails U.S. Democratic Party officials favoring Hillary Clinton. November: Assange is questioned over the sex allegation at the Ecuadorian Embassy in the presence of Sweden's assistant prosecutor Ingrid Isgren and police inspector Cecilia Redell. The interview spans two days. 2017 January: Barack Obama agrees to free whistleblower Chelsea Manning from prison. Her pending release prompts speculation Assange will end his self-imposed exile after Wikileaks tweeted he would agree to U.S. extradition. April: Lenin Moreno becomes the new president of Ecuador who was known to want to improve diplomatic relations between his country and the U.S. May: An investigation into a sex allegation against Assange is suddenly dropped by Swedish prosecutors. 2018 January: Ecuador confirms it has granted citizenship to Assange following his request. February: Assange is visited by Pamela Anderson and Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel. March: The Ecuadorian Embassy suspends Assange's internet access because he wasn't complying with a promise he made the previous year to 'not send messages which entailed interference in relation to other states'. August: U.S. Senate committee asks to interview Assange as part of their investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. September: Assange steps down as editor of WikiLeaks. October: Assange reveals he will launch legal action against the government of Ecuador, accusing it of violating his 'fundamental rights and freedoms'. November: U.S. Justice Department inadvertently names Assange in a court document that says he has been charged in secret. 2019 January: Assange's lawyers say they are taking action to make President Trump's administration reveal charges 'secretly filed' against him. April 6: WikiLeaks tweets that a high level Ecuadorian source has told them Assange will be expelled from the embassy within 'hours or days'. But a senior Ecuadorian official says no decision has been made to remove him from the London building. April 11: Assange has his diplomatic asylum revoked by Ecuador and he is arrested by the Metropolitan Police; he is remanded in custody by a judge at Westminster Magistrates Court. April 12: He is found guilty of breaching his bail terms. May 1: Sentenced to 11 months in jail. May 2: Court hearing takes place over Assange's proposed extradition to the U.S. He tells a court he does not consent to the extradition and the case is adjourned until May 30. May 13: Swedish prosecutors reopen rape case saying they still want to question Assange. June 3: Swedish court rules against detaining him in absentia, setting back the extradition case. June 12 Home Secretary Sajid Javid signs an extradition request from the US. June 13 A hearing sets out the date for Assange's full extradition hearing - February next year. November Swedish prosecutors stop investigation into an allegation of rape against Mr Assange November 25 - Medics say without correct medical care Assange 'could die' in Belmarsh December 13 - Hearing in London hears he is being blocked from seeing key evidence in case December 19 - Appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video-link where his lawyer claims US bid to extradite him is 'political'. 2020 June: Assange failed to appear via video link for his most recent court matter in London's Westminster Magistrates' Court The Argentine government has been attacked on Twitter after posting an image that reads: 'Heterosexuality is part of sexual diversity'. The image was posted online on Monday by the ministry for human rights and diversity along with the message: 'Whatever your orientation, we are all part of sexual diversity.' But angry Twitter users attacked the message, saying the government should have used the opportunity to bring attention to minority groups instead. Twitter users attacked the Argentine government after the ministry for human rights and diversity posted this image, which says 'heterosexuality if part of sexual diversity' One user, going under the handle @agostinaaznar, wrote: 'I've never been discriminated against for being heterosexual and as such I'm already quite visible... 'You'd be better off giving more visibility to LGBT people, who are oppressed and in need.' Another, calling themselves Idol Of Roses, wrote: 'Heterosexuality does not need visibility, because it is standard. 'However other sexualities need it, because they are taken as taboo when they are a fairly common reality.' Many others questioned whether the tweet was meant as a joke, saying they thought it had come from a parody account before realising it was genuine. Jey Mammon, a well-known radio host, wrote: 'Is this a fake account? I genuinely wonder.' Another user, @Marutarantino, added: 'I thought they were a fake, I couldn't believe they were tweeting this seriously.' The government has come under criticism for stalling Argentina's progressive agenda in recent weeks as campaigners demand a vote on legalising abortion Argentine President Mauricio Macri has been accused of doing little to advance LGBT rights in a country once considered the most progressive in South America. Under previous leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to allow gay marriage in 2010. A gender bill the same year also allowed people to change sex on official documents without needing to prove they were undergoing hormone treatment or had gender reassignment surgery. Criticism of Macri's record came to a head recently amid a push to legalise abortions across the country. Activists have been demanding that women be allowed to abort up to 14 weeks, which is currently banned. While abortions are allowed in extreme cases, such as rape, many doctors still refuse to perform the procedure for fear of prosecution, the Guardian reports. Congress will vote on the bill later this month. A Texan couple have been arrested in Boston after police found a haul of weapons inside their hotel room including AR-15 and AK-47 rifles along with parking tickets which suggest they were surveilling the site of Saturday's March for Our Lives protest. Francho Bradley, 59, and Adrianne Jennings, 40, were arrested at the Marriott Residence Inn in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, on Saturday after he called police to report someone breaking into his room. He told police he was in his Jeep where he had surveillance video feed from his hotel room linked up to a laptop in his car but that it had suddenly cut out. He said he worried someone had broken into the room and gotten their hands on his one weapon which he said he had hidden in a drawer. When police went to the room, they found several assault rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, smoke grenades, military vests and several computers inside. They also found parking tickets which suggested he had spent the last several days 25 miles away in Cambridge, Boston, near the site of Saturday's March For Our Lives protest. He had been given parking tickets on three separate consecutive days for a site just a mile from the protest at Boston Common where 50,000 gathered. It is also the site of the Boston Marathon finish line. The marathon will take place on April 16. Francho Bradley, 59, and his common law wife Adrianne Jennings, 40, were arrested in Boston on Saturday after police found their enormous haul of weapons which included rifles with sniper scopes, grenades, handguns and revolvers in a hotel room on the day of the March For Our Lives Protest This is the enormous stash of weapons and ammunition police found in the hotel room and in the couple's white Jeep In his room and car, police found five assault rifles, a shotgun, a revolver and a pistol. They also found hundreds of rounds of ammunition, scopes, bump stocks, walkie-talkies, helmets and grenades. 'My suspicions grew that he may be surveilling the area. There was a major demonstration, March for Our Lives, in Boston that day,' Detective Patrick Connor They also found three parking tickets from Cambridge, a mile from the Boston Common where Saturday's protest took place. Bradley received the tickets on three consecutive days before Saturday's mass protest. The exact location of the parking violation was on Atheneum and Second Street, just a short walk from the Charles River, on the other side of which the protest was taking place. 'My suspicions grew that he may be surveilling the area. There was a major demonstration, March for Our Lives, in Boston that day,' Detective Patrick Connor wrote in his report. Upon questioning, Bradley told officers he was performing a secret government mission but would not say what it was. He claimed he had been sent there to work on a 'virus'. Jennings, his common law wife who has a history of mental illness, told police her husband had been in Massachusetts for the past week for a job interview and that he went home to get her and their stash of weapons then went back. He had been staying at the hotel since March 11. WHAT POLICE FOUND IN HOTEL ROOM AND JEEP Weapons AK-47 rifle AR-15 with grenade launcher 40mm (bump stock) and silencer Farsi 308 Federal Arms Corp 22cal Rifle A-11 HK pistol (in the car) 9mm Vektor and two large capacity magazines containing 17 rounds .45 caliber Revolver with six rounds in the gun and additional two speed loaders, each containing six bullets Shotgun loaded with six shotgun shells and with five shells Armory rifle with three loaded large capacity magazines (30 rounds) Three smoke grenades Two flare guns Ammunition Eight loaded large capacity magazines (80 rounds) A tactical vest containing four loaded large capacity caliber magazines and five loaded large capacity magazines .45 caliber large capacity magazine (in the car) Silencer One .223 large capacity magazine Another vest which contained two loaded large capacity 7.62 magazines .308 caliber 54 rounds 7.62mm 20 rounds black box 7.62mm 20 rounds orange box .308 caliber 20 rounds 2 miscellaneous firearms accessories Technology and paperwork Six laptops A Cloud external hard drive Dell external driver Cyber sniper recorder and two memory cards in a pocket book Birth certificate, concealed license badge, texas license to carry, social security card, passport, a press pass, DOD concealed carry badge Three parking tickets Four cell phones Eight thumb drives Black notebook 10 firing canisters small black ledger for a firearm Advertisement The officers who arrested the pair said they both changed their stories several times and had difficulty grasping reality. At one stage during interviews, Bradley claimed he had worked for the LAPD and had knowledge about the O.J. Simpson case. He also claimed to have worked on the Obama campaign and for the German government. On Facebook, he is a member of a group of Liberian veterans in the United States. At 3.41pm on Saturday, as the protest wound down in Boston, Bradley called police to report his feed being interrupted. They had been staying in the hotel since March 11. On Tuesday, an employee at the hotel who declined to be named told DailyMail.com there were no signs that the pair were dangerous or planning anything. According to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com, Bradley told the police dispatcher that his gun was not locked up but 'hidden' when he made his report at 3.41pm on Saturday. He said he did not want the weapon to get into the wrong hands and asked police to go and check the room. Along with the guns, police found parking tickets from the area where the enormous March For Our Lives protest took place in Boston. The tickets were from three separate days but were all roughly in the same place. Three Tewksbury police officers went to the scene. When they arrived, they found no one in the room but spotted what they thought was a green duffel bag with several 'long guns sticking out of it'. It was in fact a flight suit which had been rolled up to contain the weapons. It was placed in the middle of the room, as if for them to find it. Police then found a fully loaded revolver in the drawer which Bradley said was his hiding place. In the second drawer, they found hand-held radios and other 'electronic devices', the report says. The third drawer contained eight high-capacity gun magazines which all stored more than 10 rounds of ammunition. There were also two speed loaders which stored six rounds of ammunition each and were designed for the revolver. There was also a silencer on a black rifle. The AR-15 had a grenade launcher affixed to the bottom and was also fitted with a silencer. 'All three rifles were semi-automatic that were capable or readily modified to accept any detachable large capacity feeding device for more than 10 rounds of ammunition. 'The magazines located in the dresser draw appeared to match each of the rifles and were all loaded. 'Five of the high capacity magazines were affixed to each other by a homemade case. This was concerning because it allows an individual to shoot off all five magazines in a short amount of time,' the police report states. The man then arrived back at the hotel in his white Jeep. As he approached police, he waved his hands in the air in a show of surrender. On three separate consecutive days before Saturday, Bradley was given parking tickets in Cambridge, a mile away from where 50,000 gathered on Boston Common for Saturday's protest. His car was parked near the Charles River which has a view of the site Tens of thousands marched in Boston to Boston Common as part of the anti-gun protest on Saturday (above) This is the hotel where the couple was arrested. It is 25 miles away from the protest and from where Bradley received three separate parking tickets days earlier Upon questioning, he showed officers his Texas handgun license which is valid. He did not have a Massachusetts license, however, and had no military or police ID cards on him but said the weapons were part of his 'mission'. 'Francho stated that he brought the guns with him from Texas because he needed them with him for his mission,' the report reads. 'He went on to say that he can't tell us what he does for work or why he has all the guns with him but that he is down in this area working for a government agency that is dealing with a virus. 'I asked him what agency he works for but he stated that he couldn't tell us and that if we found out what he was doing, he would have to be writing reports for a long time due to the fact that it is classified,' one of the arresting officers said. The officer described him as being 'very odd' and said it appeared as if he was trying to 'hide something'. At one stage, he claimed he had previously worked for the LAPD but the police could not confirm it. He later said he was a bomb technician for the military, and claimed elsewhere that he owned a company called Ensyme Engineering, of which there is no record. Jennings, 40, went missing in 2013. She has a history of mental illness and told police she was afraid her husband was going to shoot her with his handgun. On Saturday, she had a walkie-talkie in her purse and told police that Bradley had gone back to Texas to collect her and bring her back with him to Massachusetts after spending several days there himself Later came his claims about his other work. His wife told officers that he had told her he was in the area because he had a job interview. At other stages during her police interview, she said they brought the weapons with them 'in case he got deployed'. Bradley and Jennings are considered to be in a common law marriage. He told police that he decided to be with her after the death of his first wife who was 60 when she died. He said that the fact Jennings was 20 years younger than him 'took care of that problem'. On his Facebook page, there are many photographs of her but none of him. They have separate addresses - Bradley's is listed as a four bedroom home worth $322,000 and Jennings' is a five-bedroom property worth $430,000. Police in Tewksbury were unable to find any relatives who could corroborate their stories. The couple remain in custody on a slew of charges including illegal firearms possessions. It is not clear yet if they have had bail set but police are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tewksbury Police Department on 978-851-7373 or CrimeStoppers on 978-851-0175. A sham marriage gang who pocketed more than 500,000 by setting Asian immigrants with Eastern European brides so they could stay in the UK are facing jail. The group arranged at least 13 fake weddings to get round Home Office restrictions on international students. They used photographs of the 'happy couples' together who forged job offers to convince officials to grant residency to the grooms from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Only two of the 13 couples married between 2011 and 2014 are still living together. Ayaz Khan, 32, and wife Jurgita Pavlovskyte, 25, earned more than 500,000 after setting up sham marriages The group was led by Sainsbury's workers Ayaz Khan, 32, and his Lithuanian wife Jurgita Pavlovskyte, 25. He ran the groom side of the business, while she was responsible for finding the brides. The pair, together with Muhammad Saqlain, 32, and Diana Stankevic, 26, were all convicted of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration following a trial at the Old Bailey. Imran Farooq, 35, was convicted of securing or seeking to secure the avoidance of enforcement action by acting as a fake groom. It is claimed that the marriage of Imran Farooq and Diana Stankevic (pictured together) was one of the sham 13 The grooms - eleven from Pakistan, one from India and one from Bangladesh - were all desperate to stay in the UK after their student visas expired. To get permission to live and work in the UK, non-EU nationals need to prove they are married to an EU national, that the marriage is genuine, they live together and the EU national is working and has a National Insurance number. The grooms were often paid thousands of pounds at a time to the sham marriage gang to find European brides and sort out the paperwork. Some of the money paid for flights to the UK, wedding expenses and a small payment of a few hundred pounds to the bride, but most went into the organisers pockets. Khan spent large sums of cash away at a casino in Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, east London. One groom had been repeatedly refused leave to remain in the UK after his student visa ran out, only to be granted residency after marrying a 20 year-old Lithuanian cleaner. Prosecutor Tom Forster told the court: The Home Office was fooled. This was not a genuine marriage. This was a put up job. He said the gang deliberately breached immigration controls for profit. Muhammad Saqlain (right) was involved in a sham marriage to Tatjana Rolic (left) Mr Forster added: Residency rights are very valuable indeed. The system of legal controls was wholly undermined by a criminal agreement to help men make dishonest applications to live and work in the UK based on marriage to women from Lithuania. These marriages were sham. Each was a union of pure convenience and designed to fool the immigration authorities. Twelve of the fake brides were from Lithuania and one was from the Czech Republic. Two of the sham marriages took place in Stoke and Gretna Green, Scotland, with the others happening in London, jurors heard. The first bogus wedding involved a 29 year-old Pakistani groom who came to the UK in 2003 on a four-year student visa. His application for leave to remain to continue his studies was initially refused but later granted until 2009. Valerija Bartosevic, 25, (left) was one of the sham brides, while Sheikh Ahmad, 36, (right) was one of the fake grooms Further applications for leave to remain were refused in June 2009, September 2009 and July 2010. He then applied for a certificate of approval of marriage to a 20 year-old Lithuanian woman but this was refused in March 2011. Their marriage went ahead anyway and photos were taken of the pair posing alongside Khan, Pavlovskyte and another couple whose own sham marriage took place later the same year using a similar bouquet of flowers. The application for residency was then granted by the Home Office on March 19 2012. It was due to last five years but the groom was eventually deported in 2016. Employment at Sainsburys was a common theme, with Khan and four other grooms having worked at the companys stores. A forged job offer from Sainsburys to sham bride Valerija Bartosevic, 25, was later found during the investigation. Analysis of the ringleaders bank accounts found a total of 297,000 was paid into Khans accounts in addition to his small salary from Sainsburys. Another 238,000 of unexplained income went into Pavlovskytes bank account, the court heard. Mr Forster said: There is an unexplained income which isnt attributed to his salary. A great deal of that is dirty money to do with this enterprise. Many of the bank transfers from grooms were given the references wife or wedding. The gang were all convicted at the Old Bailey today The 13 sham marriages included those between Farooq and Stankevic and between Saqlain and Tatjana Rolic, 30. Stankevic flew home to Lithuania the day after her marriage to Farooq, having already signed his application for UK residence. She returned to the UK three months after he sent it in to the Home Office. Saqlain, who came to the UK in 2009 to study for an MBA, married Rolic on February 9, 2013 - nine days before his visa was due to expire. His flatmate, Bangladeshi Mohammed Faisal, married Rolics sister Aliona Ovcankova. Both women had flown from Lithuania to the UK on the same day. The gang insisted the marriages were all genuine and denied knowledge of plot to get round immigration rules. Khan, of Ilford, Pavlovskyte, of Barking, east London, Stankevic, both of Hounslow, west London, and Saqlain, of Slough, all denied but were convicted of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Farooq, also Hounslow, was cleared of that charge. Khan and Pavloskyte also denied but were convicted of acquiring criminal property and converting criminal property relating to payments made for the organisation of marriages of convenience. Farooq, Saqlain and Sheikh Ahmad, 36, of Brockley, southeast London, all denied, but were convicted of securing or seeking to secure the avoidance of enforcement action by acting as grooms in the weddings. Fake brides Rolic, of Ilford, east London, and Bartosevic, of Brockley, southeast London, denied but were convicted of assisting unlawful immigration by entering into marriages of convenience. Jurors heard that several of the fake grooms and brides mentioned in the case, including Zia Uddin, 33, of Ilford, and Eirka Vorbjova, 27, of Walworth, southeast London, are not before the court. The convicted women sobbed as they were led away with their partners to the cells. Judge Rebecca Poulet later adjourned sentencing until April 4. No criminal charges will be filed against two white police officers involved in the fatal shooting of black father-of-five Alton Sterling, whose death in 2016 sparked widespread protests. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced this at a news conference on Tuesday, saying that his office came to this decision after a 'thorough and exhaustive review of the facts'. Sterling, 37, was killed while selling home-made CDs outside a convenience store in July 2016. Police had been called to the convenience store by a member of the public who said Sterling waved a gun in a threatening manner. The final report released by the Louisiana Department of Justice on Tuesday stated that Sterling had a loaded .38 caliber handgun on him at the time of his shooting and 'was under the influence of a number of drugs.' His urine tested positive for opioids, Cocaine, cannabinoids, amphetamines, and fentanyl. His blood level for Methamphetamine was 280 ng/mL, which put him in the same range (200 - 600 ng/m) as 'methamphetamine abusers who exhibited violent and irrational behavior' according to the report. That same report also states that after Sterling asked 'what I did' prior to the shooting, one of the officers withdrew his gun from its holster and stated: 'Dont f***ing move or Ill shoot you in your f***ing head.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO - WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT Alton Sterling, 37, was killed by police outside the Triple S Food Mart in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on July 5, 2016 Andricka Williams (left), the mother of Sterling's three youngest children, joins attorney Mike Adams (center) and attorney Brandon DeCuir (right)for a meeting with Attorney General Jeff Landry When officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II arrived, Sterling did not draw his weapon but they began arguing. The pair then wrestled Sterling to the ground and, while on top of him, Salamoni shot him six times. He claimed he believed Sterling was reaching for his own gun at the time. Two videos taken by bystanders captured Sterling's death. They went viral in 2016 along with others depicting the deaths of Philando Castile and Michael Brown, two other black men who were shot dead by police The announcement on Tuesday closes the possibility that either cop will face criminal prosecution over Sterling's death. Sterling's aunt, who met with the Attorney General before the announcement was made, said she was told the two cops' actions were ruled 'justifiable'. 'They said they didnt find anything. They said it was justifiable, what happened to Alton was justifiable,' Veda Washington-Abusaleh said on Tuesday. Last year, the Department of Justice confirmed that neither would face federal charges. Sterling's five children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city last year and his family have claimed his death is another example of the excessive force exercised by white cops against black men across the country. On July 5, 2016, Sterling was selling CDs outside the Triple S Food Mart. A homeless man reportedly made the call to police that he was threatening people at around 12.30am. The two officers arrived not long afterwards. They began arguing with Sterling and were filmed throwing him to the ground, bouncing him off of a car in the parking lot. The two cops were straddling Sterling when one shot him six times at point blank range on July 5, 2016 Unidentified members of Sterling's family are pictured above arriving at the AG's office in Baton Rouge on Tuesday to learn if charges will be brought As they both straddled him, they screamed: 'Don't move, I swear to God!' Salamoni then pulled out his gun and fired three shots into his body at point blank range. As Sterling struggled on the ground, they fired another three in to his back. It is unclear if Sterling was in a relationship at the time of his death. His five children do not all have the same mother. One of those women spoke of her grief last year when the Department of Justice announced it would not be pressing charges. Sterling should not have been in possession of a gun when he died. He was a convicted felon with a criminal history of battery, domestic violence and sexual offences. Last year, when the Justice Department announced it would not file federal charges against him, they conceded that the videos do not show him reaching for a weapon. They however argued that because neither cop was 'in control' of Sterling's hand, they were justified in their actions. In this June 27, 2017 photo, Ronald Smith gets on his bicycle after stopping at the Triple S Food Mart, where Alton Sterling was shot by police a year earlier, in Baton Rouge, La S Theresa May today demanded Facebook take seriously users concerns about data security after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In evidence to the powerful Liaison Committee of MPs, the Prime Minister swerved questions about whether Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg should personally appear in Parliament. She said Mr Zuckerberg must make his own decision about giving evidence but demanded the social media giant acknowledge 'why this is so significant to people' after 50 million accounts were leaked. Mr Zuckerberg has refused an invitation to appear in front of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee - announcing he would be sending a deputy instead. Committee chairman Damian Collins has branded the snub 'absolutely astonishing'. In a further escalation it emerged tonight Mr Zuckerberg was willing to give evidence to US politicians in Congress despite his refusal to talk to MPs in the UK. Theresa May (pictured today speaking to MPs) has demanded Facebook take seriously users concerns about data security after the Cambridge Analytica scandal The Prime Minister swerved questions from the Liaison Committee about whether Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg should personally appear in Parliament Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has refused an invitation to appear in front of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee - sending a deputy instead. It emerged tonight he will talk to Congress in Washington DC Quizzed on Facebook and the misuse of data, Mrs May said: 'People do want to ensure their data is being used properly and that they can have confidence in the use being made of their data. 'I would hope Facebook and Cambridge Analytica will cooperate fully with the Information Commissioner. 'Mark Zuckerberg will decide for himself whether he wants to come before the committee. 'I hope Facebook will recognise why this is so significant to people and ensure that the committee is able to get the answers they want.' Mrs May said there were 'deep concerns' about the Cambridge Analytica allegations The firm is accused of misusing Facebook data to help swing polls on both sides of the Atlantic. Announcing Mr Zuckerberg would not give evidence himself, Facebook today sent a a letter to Culture Committee chair Mr Collins. The social media giant said it recognised the 'public interest' in the row and that it should be addressed at the 'most senior levels of the company'. But Public Policy head Rebecca Stimpson wrote: 'Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the committee.' Chairman Damian Collins today insisted he still wanted the MPs to hear from Mr Zuckerberg as he branded the Facebook chief's snub 'absolutely astonishing' Speaking this afternoon after the committee took three and a half hours of testimony from whistle-blower Christopher Wylie, Mr Collins said: 'I think it is absolutely astonishing that Mark Zuckerberg is not prepared to submit himself for questioning in front of a parliamentary or congressional hearing, given that these are questions of fundamental importance to Facebook users as well as to our inquiry. 'I would certainly urge him to think again if he has any concern for the people who use his company's services.' The political developments came as teams searched the troubled tech company's headquarters after a High Court judge granted the Information Commissioner's Office a warrant. Facebook ran full-page ads in major British and US newspapers to say sorry. But the apology did not mention Cambridge Analytica. Mark Zuckerberg has taken out full-page ads in nine major US and British newspapers to apologize for the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Pictured is the New York Times on Sunday Mr Collins, chairman of the DCMS committee, accused Facebook of previously misleading the committee by understating risks posed by firms who harvest vast swathes of personal data from millions of users of the social network. In a letter to Mr Zuckerberg on March 20, Mr Collins said: 'It is now time to hear from a senior Facebook executive with the sufficient authority to give an accurate account of this catastrophic failure of process. 'The committee has repeatedly asked Facebook about how companies acquire and hold on to user data from their site, and in particular about whether data had been taken without their consent. 'Given your commitment at the start of the New Year to 'fixing' Facebook, I hope that this representative will be you.' In response, Facebook offered that Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox could come to answer questions. 'Both Chris Cox and Mike Schroepfer report directly to Mr Zuckerberg and are among the longest serving senior representatives in Facebook's 15 year history,' the letter said. 'Both of them have extensive expertise in these issues and are well placed to answer the committee's questions on these complex subjects. 'One of them can be made available to the committee straight after the Easter Parliamentary recess, depending on the committee's preferred timing.' A teenager who admitted to spraying satanic and anarchist messages on the walls of a church in Georgia has been forced to return to the scene of the crime to apologise to its pastor. Nathanial Rabideau and his friend Tyler Casey, both 19, broke into the Seed Planters Church in McDonough and desecrated it with symbols and profanities last week. Rabideau later confessed his crime to his father, who frogmarched the teenager back to the church, before turning him in to police - where he has left his son to 'sweat' despite a judge granting him bail. Sorry: Nathanial Rabideau, left, and his friend Tyler Casey, right, both 19, vandalised a church in Georgia, spraying anarchist and satanic symbols on the walls The pair had reportedly kicked down a back door and painted red anarchist symbols, pentagrams and '666' on doors and walls. The vandalism of the building was discovered by members of Seed Planters Church the following day. The building had recently been bought by its pastor, who told a local news website that they had not even had their first service. When news of the vandalism broke, Rabideau's father Danial said his son approached him and said he had thought the building was abandoned, calling it a 'joke that went wrong'. 'That's not something that was on my radar to be worried about,' he told a local news channel according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Vandalism: Some of the offensive graffiti sprayed on the walls of the church Scene of the crime: Rabideau later confessed to his father, who frogmarched the teenager back to the church and made him apologize to the pastor, before turning him in to police 'He's been baptized. He's been in church, never been satanic and never shown any anarchism view.' Before handing himself over to police, Rabideau and his father visited the Seed Planters Church to apologise. Rabideau and Casey have been arrested on multiple charges, including burglary, criminal damage to property and vandalism to a place of worship. However, despite being granted a $15,000 bail, they remain in jail. Rabideau's father told AJC.com that he is 'debating whether I should bail him out or sweat it out because he needs to learn that lesson.' A Kansas water park owner and his chief operations officer knew that their newest water slide was deadly before it decapitated a 10-year-old boy, an indictment claims. Caleb Schwab was killed in August 2016 while riding the 170-foot Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Now a grand jury have indicted Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffery Henry and his former employee Tyler Austin Miles on 20 felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter for Schwab's death. Designer John Schooley were charged with reckless second-degree murder, along with Henry & Sons Construction Co., which is described as the private construction company of Schlitterbahn. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of 9 years to 41 years in prison. The indictment has revealed numerous allegations of negligence, including that Miles and Henry ignored safety red flags in their quest to build the world's tallest water slide, according to the Washington Post. Scroll down for video Schlitterbahn Waterpark co-owner Jeffery Henry (left) and his chief operations officer Tyler Austin Miles (right) knew their newest water slide was deadly before it decapitated a 10-year-old boy, a new indictment has claimed Caleb Schwab (pictured) was horrifically killed in August 2016 while riding the 170-foot Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City The indictment has revealed numerous allegations of negligence, including that Miles and Henry ignored safety red flags in their quest to build the world's tallest water slide Schlitterbahn and Miles have also been charged with several counts of aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child, and interference with law enforcement. Investigators claim Henry and Miles knew that Verruckt was dangerous but rushed to get the ride open, even replacing mathematical calculations with 'crude trial-and-error methods'. It also cites comments from Henry in which he plainly states that the slide is a 'seriously dangerous piece of equipment'. '[Verruckt] could hurt me, it could kill me,' Henry stated, according to the indictment. 'There are things that we don't know about it.' 'Every day we learn more. I've seen what this one has done to the crash dummies and to the boats we sent down it...it's complex, it's fast, it's mean.' 'If we mess up, it could be the end. I could die going down this ride.' In this July 2014 image, the Verruckt water slide designers, John Schooley, left, and Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffrey Henry, speak about the challenges of opening the 17-story tall attraction prior to it's operation in Kansas City The Verruckt slide, which is a German word for 'crazy' or 'insane', has been closed since the boy's death. It is nearly 170-feet tall and features a 17-story plunge The indictment also states that Henry and Miles tried to hide from investigators reports of a number of injuries that had occurred on the ride before Schwab's death. It was Henry who came up wit the idea for Verruckt, wanting to build a ride that would impress producers of the Xtreme Waterparks series on the Travel Channel, according to the indictment. 'Clearly the issues with Schlitterbahn go far beyond Caleb's incident, and we know the Attorney General will take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety Caleb's family statement Henry designed the ride with his business partner Schooley, despite the fact that neither of them 'had any credentials in mathematics, physics, or engineering'. The pair raced to have the entire slide finished in just seven months, completing a prototype of the ambitious ride in just 36 days. An engineering firm was then hired to test the slide's safety just a week before its grand opening. The tests showed that, when carrying a weight of 400 to 550lbs, the rafts on the slide were likely to go airborne. This was especially dangerous as the slide was covered with a net suspended by metal hoops, meaning riders could knock into them if the raft went airborne. Two women, Hannah Barnes and Matraca Baetz, who rode behind Caleb on that ride were also seriously injured, but survived The indictment also states that Henry and Miles tried to hide from investigators reports of a number of injuries that had occurred on the ride before Schwab's death Investigators say the company ignored obvious red flags and safety violations in regards to the slide. Henry allegedly pushed for it to be done in seven months despite knowing it was unsafe The indictment notes that this is in violation of international standards that prohibit a ride from obstructing a rider's path. 'Henry and Schooley did the opposite,' the indictment states. 'They installed metal bars directly across the known flight path.' 'The presence of the overheard netting and support hoops speaks volumes about the designers' extreme disregard for the value of human life.' Schwab was decapitated when his raft collided with the hoops, and two women he was riding with suffered bone fractures and lacerations. The indictment claims that Henry was well aware of this problem and tried to fix it before eventually ignoring it entirely. It states that 13 people total were injured in the two years the ride was opened, with some reporting neck pain and even concussions. Schwab's family (pictured) settled a multiple defendant lawsuit with Schlitterbahn for $20million last year Caleb is pictured here with his father, Kansas state Representative Scott Schwab Investigators also revealed that designers scratched a plan to make the minimum age 14 years old to ride the slide on the eve of its grand opening. Henry was arrested on Monday in Texas and is being held without bond until a court appearance on Tuesday. Miles, who left the company in September, turned himself in on Friday to the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office and was released on $50,000 bond. Schlitterbhan spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in a statement that considering last week's indictment, the company is not surprised by Henry's arrest. 'We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident,' she said in an emailed statement. 'The safety of our Schlitterbahn guests and employees has been at the forefront of our culture throughout our 40 years of operation. Many of us rode Verruckt regularly, as did our children and grandchildren.' Verruckt, which is a German word for 'crazy' or 'insane', has been closed since the boy's death. It was named the world's tallest water slide in 2014. The slide, however, still remains standing due to a court order to facilitate investigation. Schwab's family settled a multiple defendant lawsuit with Schlitterbahn, an affiliated general contractor called Henry & Sons Construction, the raft manufacturer Zebec USA, and a consultant named John Hunsucker for $19.7 million last year. 'While we as a family continue to mourn and heal from Caleb's passing, we wanted to again thank the community of Kansas City for its continued prayers and support,' Caleb's family said in a statement. 'Clearly the issues with Schlitterbahn go far beyond Caleb's incident, and we know the Attorney General will take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety.' A teenager who left a 17-year-old college student blind and paralysed after stabbing him in the heart during a petty row outside a supermarket is facing jail. Tyrese Osei-Kofi, 18, pulled out a knife and attacked his friend Jamel Boyce just a few hours after the pair were captured on CCTV laughing and joking together at a McDonalds. Jamel, who was nicknamed Smiley by fellow pupils at St Francis Xavier sixth form college in south London, suffered permanent damage to his brain after it was starved of oxygen. He is likely to remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life and needs 24-hour care at an acute rehabilitation unit. Scroll down for video Jamel Boyce is likely to remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life and needs 24-hour care at an acute rehabilitation unit after the stabbing on Clapham High Street Jamel was stabbed by Tyrese Osei-Kofi, pictured, who is facing jail after being found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a trial at the Old Bailey His father Patrick Boyce has since spoken out against the epidemic of knife crime in the capital, saying: Its like demons have taken over the youth of today. Osei-Kofi admitted arguing with Jamel but claimed that someone else stabbed the teenager at the rear of a Sainsburys store in Clapham High Street. He was cleared of attempted murder but convicted of the lesser alternative charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a trial at the Old Bailey. The jury took 25 hours and 16 minutes to each its guilty verdict by a majority of ten-to-two. Judge Richard Marks, QC, ordered reports and remanded Osei-Kofi in custody ahead of sentence on May 4. Prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis told jurors the reason for the attack on 14 October 2016 was unclear. He said: Something happened between them that led to the use of the knife in an effort to kill. All we know is this is another case of a young man using knives with devastating result. Jamel met up with Osei-Kofi at McDonalds in Clapham after leaving St Francis Xavier at around 2.30pm. They hung out and socialised with other people, Mr Corsellis told the court. They were friends with seemingly no issues between them. Jamel Boyce was seen smiling in Osei-Kofis company. Jamel (pictured), a business student, was stabbed in the heart and suffered permanent damage to his brain after it was starved of oxygen Jamel met up with Osei-Kofi at McDonalds in Clapham after leaving his sixth form college at around 2.30pm (pictured) Jamel then left to meet a mutual friend of theirs in Wandsworth Road while Osei-Kofi met up with two of his friends. The two groups met up shortly before 7pm near the back of Sainsburys in Clapham High Street. One witness later heard someone shouting: You think you are a f***ing big man. Another saw Jamel Boyce falling face first on the ground as three youths walked away. The witness grabbed a tire iron and ordered one of the youths to call for an ambulance. Osei-Kofi was still at the scene as the 999 call was made but then left before police arrived. Jamel had suffered one stab wound to the thigh and a wound to the chest which pierced his lung and the right ventricle of his heart. CCTV footage of the pair showed the friends laughing and joking just hours before Osei-Kofi stabbed Jamel An air ambulance flew to the scene but his brain was starved of oxygen before doctors managed to restart his heart. He is now in a vegetative state, requires 24 hour care, he is blind, paralysed, bedbound, said Mr Corsellis. The phrase life changing injuries barely describe the effect of this attack on his life and his family. On a fundraising page, Patrick Boyce wrote: Jamel can not move voluntarily, he can not talk, see, breathe properly and has to be feed directly through his stomach. At present Jamel is in a hospice away from his friends and family. Most of the time when I visit hes just there in front of the TV. Following a public appeal for information, Osei-Kofi handed himself in at Brixton police station on 20 October. Osei-Kofi, of Glennie Court, East Dulwich, southeast London, denied attempted murder and an alternative charge of wounding with intent. The family of one of the young victims who was shot dead last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has revealed that they received a condolence letter from President Donald Trump. 'I am deeply grateful for your presence at the White House for discussions regarding school safety. I was touched by the memories of Meadow you shared,' wrote Trump in the note, addressed to Meadow's parents Andrew and Julie as well as her brothers Hunter and Huck. President Trump went on to write that he was 'touched' by the memories the family shared of Meadow, saying it was clear she had a 'bright future' ahead of her when she was brutally murdered back on February 14, just a few months before her graduation. 'We will not forget her life, and we are resolved to confront the evil that so senselessly took her from us,' stated President Trump later in the letter. President Trump penned a letter to the family of Meadow Pollack, who was killed in the Parkland shooting (above) Pollack's father Andrew (above) has become very involved in the school safety movement in the wake of his daughter's death Obama sent a handwritten letter to the students of Parkland Hunter Pollack shared the letter on Twitter, just a few days after the family of another victim said that they had received handwritten notes from a number of politicians, but not President Trump. Michael Schulman and Linda Beigel Schulman told New York that they had received letters from Barack and Michelle Obama as well as Senator Marco Rubio earlier this month, among others. They were the parents of teacher Scott Beigel, who was killed while trying to protect his class. 'Your son seemed like an extraordinary young man, and Michelle and I grieve alongside you,' read the letter. 'We can only imagine the hardship you are going through; hopefully all the wonderful memories can help ease the pain. Well get the details about your fund in his honor. In the meantime, you are in our thoughts and prayers.' Barack's letter, unlike the one sent by President Trump, was handwritten, much like the letter he sent dated March 10 to the students of Parkland. 'I received no correspondence whatsoever. I received nothing from the White House. I got a beautiful letter from Marco Rubio,' said Linda Schulman. 'Ive gotten letters from other congressmen. But no, nothing from the president.' Obama also sent handwritten letters to the students of Parkland and another school, Kalamazoo Central High School, who launched a petition to end gun violence after the Valentine's Day massacre. The family of hero teacher Scott Beigel (above with fiancee Gwen Gossler) did not get a letter form Trump Hunter Pollack with President Trump at a town hall last month The former president also sent a note to students at Kalamazoo Central High School, who launched a gun violence petition The Pollack family gained national attention when they attended a town hall on school safety hosted by President Trump in the wake of the massacre. Pollack's father said at the event that he was 'pissed' as he described his daughter Meadow's horrific death to the president last month during an event at the White House. 'I'm very angry that this happened, because it keeps happening,' said Andrew. He went on to point out that 9/11 'happened once, and they fixed everything. How many schools, how many children have to get shot?' He continued: 'It stops here with this administration and me. I'm not going to sleep until it's fixed. And Mr. President, we're going to fix it. Because I'm going to fix it. I'm not going to rest. 'Fix it! It should have been one school shooting and we should have fixed it! And I'm pissed! Because my daughter I'm not going to see again. She's not here. She's not here. She's at, in North Lauderdale, in King David Cemetery. That's where I go to see my kid now.' President Trump then announced that he would be looking at making concealed carry permits available to teachers to stop armed gunman. A bumbling burglar got more than he bargained for as he was bitten by three angry snakes as he stole them from a pet store. The hooded thief first knocked open the front door of Wild About Reptiles in Adelaide and made off with the cash register. However, he soon realised it was empty and returned to desperately hunt around the store looking for anything he could steal instead. A bumbling burglar got more than he bargained for as he was bitten by three angry snakes as he stole them from a pet store The pythons didn't go quietly, wriggling away from the thief and biting him several times as he tried to pick them up - all caught on CCTV He broke open an enclosure containing a jungle python, spotted python, and a hatchi bredli, one of which was less than four weeks old. But the pythons didn't go quietly, wriggling away from the thief and biting him several times as he tried to pick them up - all caught on CCTV. 'He smashed into the tanks so that would have startled them in the middle of the night,' owner Martin White told 9 News. 'They wouldn't have been real happy being disturbed like that.' He broke open an enclosure containing a jungle python, spotted python, and a hatchi bredli, one of which was less than four weeks old Owner Martin White said the pythons were worth about $200 each but other snakes in the store were worth four times as much Mr White said one of the snakes was just four weeks old and not yet feeding on its own, sparking fears it could die before it was found. Mr White said the pythons were worth about $200 each but other snakes in the store were worth four times as much. 'There are much more valuable snakes here that he could have taken so that makes me think he didn't know what he was looking for,' he said. One of the snakes was just four weeks old and not yet feeding on its own, sparking fears it could die before it was found. 'I fear it wont make it after such an ordeal,' Mr Whit said in a Facebook appeal for information on the burglary. Theresa May told MPs today that 26 allies have now expelled Russian diplomats and spies in solidarity with the UK after the Salisbury attack. The Prime Minister told the powerful Liaison Committee in Parliament more than 115 Russians had now been sent home by allied nations. Ireland, Moldova and Belgium became the latest of Britain's allies to expel Kremlin agents today in an unprecedented show of international defiance toVladimir Putin. Mrs May confirmed Nato's announcement earlier today that it was shrinking its Russian delegation from 30 to 20. Moscow is thought certain to respond in kind against Britain's allies in the coming days. Theresa May (pictured today in the Commons) gave evidence to MPs today about Russia and her actions in response to the Salisbury attack The Prime Minister told the powerful Liaison Committee (pictured) in Parliament more than 115 Russians had now been sent home by allied nations Sergei Skripal, 66, (left, in 2006) and his daughter Yulia, 33, (right) are critically ill in hospital after being exposed to an unknown substanc Ahead of today's committee appearance, Mrs May's spokesman said the PM told the Cabinet the move against Russia was 'an unprecedented series of expulsions that has demonstrated to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security'. The Prime Minister added: 'It is also important to note that our partners are not only taking these measures out of solidarity with the UK, but also because they recognise the threat that these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of Russian aggression which has affected us all.' Irish deputy premier and foreign minister Simon Coveney said: 'The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, anywhere, is particularly shocking and abhorrent. 'The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom, but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and well-being.' Moscow's revenge: President Putin is set to 'respond to every country' in kind after EU states, the Ukraine, the US and Canada announced the expulsion of more than 100 diplomats A swathe of European states have expelled Russian diplomats alongside Canada and the US Trump's ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, welcomed the move and said: 'Here in New York, Russia uses the United Nations as a safe haven for dangerous activities within our own borders.' Spokeswomen for the White House and the State Department, along with Haley and US ambassador to Moscow Jon Huntsman condemned the alleged Russian attack. But Trump himself, who was expected to tweet on the subject, was silent. Announcing the EU's coordinated action, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said: 'Last week the European council condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent attack on Salisbury. 'The European Council agreed with the UK government assessment that its highly likely the Russian federation is responsible and there is no plausible alternative explanation. In the wake of the US expulsion of 60 Russian nationals, Trump has stayed silent 'And we decided to recall the EU ambassador to Russia for consultation. As a direct follow up to last week's European council decision to react to Russia within a commons framework already today 17 member states have decided to expel Russian diplomats. 'Additional measures including further expulsions within the EU framework, are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks. 'We remain critical of the actions of the Russian government.' A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry said: 'The provocative gesture of solidarity with London by these countries, who have bowed to the British authorities in the so-called Skripal affair and did not bother to understand the circumstances of what happened, is a continuation of the confrontational path to escalation. 'Britain's allies ... are blindly following the principle of Euro-Atlantic unity, to the detriment of common sense, the norms of civilized international dialogue, and the principles of international law.' 'It goes without saying that this unfriendly act by this group of countries will not go without notice and we will react to it.' A retired Supreme Court justice is dramatically calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment. In an op-ed for the New York Times, the former justice, John Paul Stevens, touched off on the anti-gun violence marches led by students across the country and said that true reforms would only come from a constitutional amendment ending Americans' right to bear arms. 'That simple but dramatic action would move Saturday's marchers closer to their objective than any other possible reform,' Stevens, a Republican-appointed justice, wrote. Former justice John Paul Stevens touched off on the anti-gun violence marches led by students across the country and said that true reforms would only come from a constitutional amendment ending Americans' right to bear arms The 97-year-old retired in 2010 after 35 years of service, making him the third-longest serving justice. He's seen here with his fellow justices in 2009 in the front row, second from left Protesters hold signs and shout during the 'March for Our Lives' rally in support of gun control in Washington. Stevens' op-ed was in direct response to the marches On the court, Stevens often sided with the liberal wing, even though he was appointed by Republican President Gerald Ford. He has declined to state his political affiliation in recent years. The 97-year-old retired in 2010 after 35 years of service, making him the third-longest serving justice. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. What the Second Amendment says Stevens said in the Times that he'd been inspired by the student-led marches that represent a broadening level of support for gun reforms. The marches are a clear sign that legislators should raise the minimum age for certain types of firearms from 18 to 21, he said, and introduce stricter background checks for purchasing firearms. 'But the demonstrators should seek more effective and more lasting reform. They should demand a repeal of the Second Amendment,' he said. The concerns that led to the creation of the constitutional amendment, the need fight back against a government assault, 'is a relic of the 18th century,' Stevens wrote. He pinpointed loose gun regulations on powerful lobbying by the National Rifle Association, calling the gun group a 'propaganda machine.' 'Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the N.R.A.'s ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option,' he said. Repealing the Second Amendment, he wrote, would get rid of the only legal standing that firearms sellers have in America. 'It would make our schoolchildren safer than they have been since 2008 and honor the memories of the many, indeed far too many, victims of recent gun violence,' he stated. A fierce debate over gun control is underway in America following a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last month. Students from the high school started a nationwide movement that has taken hold and led to marches on Washington and other major cities over the weekend. The federal government last week passed two minor measures that had bipartisan support and the backing of President Trump. Students and activists are asking legislators to do more before the conversation moves on, including the creation of a rule requiring background checks on private gun sales. President Donald Trump has said that schools should allow teachers to carry firearms as a deterrence to violence in schools. The White House is also pressing state governments to authorize temporary restraining orders for mentally ill persons to block their access to firearms. As a justice, Stevens led the dissent in the most significant Second Amendment case he was party to, 2008's District of Columbia v Heller, which ended with a 5-4 ruling that the right to bear arms was not connected to service in a militia. It opened the way for 2010's decision that state regulation of them has to be in line with the 14th Amendment's Due Process clause. Together both of them were seen as victories by the gun lobby, and Stevens' op-ed suggests that he sees no other way to regulate guns effectively than by abolishing the Second Amendment in its entirety. The FBI is in possession of a secret report that was written by the former MI5 agent behind the Trump dirty dossier which claims Putin's former media tsar Mikhail Lesin was beaten to death in 2015, directly contradicting the government's official line that he died by accident after drinking too much. The report was written by Christopher Steele, the British spy behind the infamous 'golden showers' dossier put together in an attempt to prove Trump's alleged collusion with the Russians, after Lesin was found dead in a hotel room in Washington in November 2015. It claims that a Russian oligarch hired men to beat him after the pair fell out but that they went too far and accidentally killed him. It does not indicate whether Putin knew about the alleged plot, however it adds to previous claims that Lesin's death was no mistake. BuzzFeed News published details of Steele's report on Tuesday. According to his research in Moscow, Lesin was murdered after falling out with an unnamed oligarch who is close with Putin. In 2015, British spy Christopher Steele (right) gave the FBI a report about the suspicious death of Mikhail Lesin (left), Putin's former media tsar who was found dead in a Washington DC hotel room with multiple traumas to the head. Like others in the FBI and intelligence agencies, Steele said Lesin had been killed by a group of hired thugs but the US government later publicly declared his death an accident caused by drinking He was due to meet with US investigators the day after his body was found at the Dupont Circle hotel in DC and was due to tell them about how Putin used Russian media, including RT, to peddle propaganda, it is claimed. Steele's report does not indicate that this is the reason he was killed, instead it only says that he was not meant to die. On the night of his death, the thugs hired were only meant to beat him but they went too far. The FBI received Steele's report while it was working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department in the UK to investigate Lesin's death before US officials announced in late 2016 that Lesin's death was accidental. 'Based on the evidence, including video footage and witness interviews, Mr. Lesin entered his hotel room on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, after days of excessive consumption of alcohol and sustained the injuries that resulted in his death while alone in his hotel room,' was the statement given at the time. They pointed to the numerous bottles of alcohol taken from a minibar fridge in a different hotel room and eye witness accounts which described him as being severely intoxicated. He was found dead in his room at the Dupont Circle Hotel at 11.30am on November 5. For two days beforehand, he had been drinking from the fridge in a room at the Four Seasons, where he had been staying and was more in line with his taste for his luxury. He went to Dupont Circle Hotel at 5am on November 4 while he still had a room at the Four Seasons. The FBI has not confirmed nor denied its existence of Steele's report. A spokesman declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com on Tuesday. Lesin was staying at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington DC when he died. It was a strange choice given his extravagant lifestyle and it has long been asserted that he was in the states preparing to work with US investigators who wanted to know about how Putin used media to push political propaganda Steele's report claimed that the man was bludgeoned to death by accident by a group of cronies who had been hired by an unnamed oligarch who is close to Putin. They were only ever meant to beat him but took it too far and he died, they said. The US blamed his death on him falling over drunk and they pointed to his excessive drinking both at the Dupont Circle Hotel and at the Four Seasons where he had taken miniature bottles of alcohol from the minibar in his room before being locked out (above) It is not the first time the theory that he was murdered has been peddled. In 2017, BuzzFeed published similar claims by other sources. It is however the first time Steele, who was infamously behind the Trump 'golden showers' dossier that was funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign. According to previous reports on Lesin's death, 'no one' in the FBI believed he died by accident. Lesin had been working for Putin when he died but was prepared to turn on him and inform US authorities about his propaganda techniques, intelligence agents claim 'Whether it was over RT, money, p****** off Putin or a combo or all of it, I dont know. 'But falling down drunk? Come on. Thats bulls***,' one unnamed FBI agent reportedly said. Steele was infamously behind the 'dirty dossier' against Donald Trump which he said proved how the then-presidential candidate colluded with Russians to win the 2016 election. It contained unsubstantiated and widely denied allegations about Trump, namely that he cavorted with prostitutes during a business trip to Moscow and that he was being blackmailed over a tape which laid bare a urine fetish he had. None has ever been proved. Steele is due to be deposed in a defamation case launched by Russian businessman Aleksej Gubarev over claims made in his dossier. BuzzFeed, which published the dossier, is also being sued in the same case. Steele has also recently been linked to the Russian poisoning of a double agent in the UK. Sergei Skripal was attacked with a nerve agent in Salisbury earlier this month. He was reportedly close to an unnamed security expert who worked for Steele's company, Orbis Business Intelligence. Perth's 'worst boss' paid a worker just $200 for four months work, then sacked him via text when he took a single sick day. Simon Peter Mackenzie was fined $34,815 and his company Siner Enterprises $174,075 for 'egregiously' exploiting his restaurant's cook in 2012. Indian immigrant Gurprit Singh, then 24, answered a Gumtree job ad for The Curry Tree in the inner Perth suburb of Nedlands in May 2012. His boss paid him $200 cash for his first week and then nothing for four months of working six nights a week, despite the business making a $120,000 yearly profit. Simon Peter Mackenzie sacked a cook from his Indian restaurant The Curry Tree in 2012 because he took a sick day, after not paying him for four months Mr Singh did not complain about not being paid because he was hoping the job would earn him a work visa to stay in Australia. He sent Mr Mackenzie a text saying he was unwell and would provide him with a medical certificate the next day. The reply was a simple 'for that good luck, don't come back', followed by a stream of abuse making it very clear Mr Singh had been sacked. 'Dont expect .any sympathy,pls don't my lawyer sue you for defamation of/mycharacter. Pls return key today (sic),' Mr Mackenzie wrote. The next one read: 'If you dont answer i will ring the police and say you possession of my keys to my business and I want them bak. they will come to your house and arrest you for theft (sic).' The short-tempered boss had a history of ill-mannered texts to his staff, once complaining about an alarm going off in a 5.10am missive. 'I'm gona kill u. My security company waking me f**king up. The alarm was not set last night. U c**t I'm gona smash your head in,' he wrote. 'If my restaurant got broken into I would not know. U just lost more money.' Mr Mackenzie, representing himself in the Federal Circuit Court, launched into tirades at Mr Singh and Judge Antoni Lucev. This was not the only bizarre chapter in the business history of Mr Mackenzie's and his partner Janina Groger (pictured) Even after the case was decided, the sore loser impinged on Mr Singh's character and implied he may have had something to do with the restaurant burning down in 2014. 'You can give me whatever penalties you want to give me but at the end of the day I know that I was guilty of nothing and this guy is guilty of deception,' he said. Mr Mackenzie added there would be 'no apology at all', and tried to claim Mr Singh was working for free to improve his skills and get a visa. This outburst earned a stinging rebuke from Judge Lucev, who labelled his conduct 'sheer belligerence' and 'hostility'. 'Your submissions should not consist of casting aspersions and accusations upon a person... who this court has listened to and made findings in relation to and found that his evidence in essence is accurate and that yours is not,' he said. 'You don't shout at the court, you don't call the people on the other side 'guys'.' This was not the only bizarre chapter in Mr Mackenzie's business history as he and his partner Janina Groger refused to come down from the roof of their deli when the building owner began to demolish it. 'They are trying to kick my boss out so they can put up apartments,' Ms Groger wrote in a Facebook post in May 2016. 'I will be sitting on the roof the whole day to stop them from working, until we get what we want.' Judge Lucev said Mr Mackenzie's actions towards Mr Singh were so 'egregious' that people would likely consider not working for him ever again. 'Mr Mackenzie's attitude as evidenced at the penalty hearing is cause for serious concern in relation to any possible future employment by him or by any company with which he is associated,' he said. The in 2016 refused to come down from the roof of their deli (pictured) when the building owner began to demolish it In determining punishment, the judge said deterrence was more important than usual to prevent such exploitation from happening again. This was due to the 'ongoing denials of liability, and the unsubstantiated assertions concerning the conduct of Mr Singh, together with the sheer belligerence exhibited by Mr Mackenzie before the court'. 'The conduct in relation to the termination of employment of Mr Singh is... more egregious because of the manner in which it was carried out,' Judge Lucev said. Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the case involved 'shameful exploitation of a vulnerable worker' and Mr Mackenzie deserved the judge's scathing comments. 'Migrant and overseas workers in Australia are lawfully entitled to the same minimum wages and conditions as any other worker,' she said. 'There is no place in Australia for this kind of highly exploitative and callous treatment of a young, overseas worker and we will not hesitate to pursue any business operator who seeks to engage in this type of conduct.' Jeremy Hunt has vowed to build a new hospital every year in the biggest infrastructure expansion for a decade. The Health Secretary gave details of the ambitious project as Theresa May unveiled plans to pump billions more into the NHS. The Prime Minister said she accepted 'serious cost and demand pressures' meant that resources had to be increased. Appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee, Mrs May insisted she was personally committed to the NHS and relied on it every day because of her diabetes. Meanwhile, Mr Hunt fleshed out proposals to 'expand capacity for the future' with 3.5billion investment. Pointing to a 300million scheme that would will turn two hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford into a 'hot' emergency care hospital and 'cold' hospital for scheduled appointments, he said: 'We are backing local NHS services with new buildings, beds and wards so that staff who have been working incredibly hard over winter can have confidence we are expanding capacity for the future. 'Further projects are also under consideration and we intend to announce one large-scale scheme the size of the Shrewsbury and Telford plan every year.' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt (file image) has been pressing for a 10-year NHS plan Theresa May (pictured last night at the Commons Liaison committee) unveiled plans to plough extra money into the NHS with a 'long term plan' to address budget shortfalls The Prime Minister used an appearance in front of the Commons Liaison Committee (pictured) to announce the Government accepted it could no longer top up the health service budget each winter Giving evidence to MPs last night, Mrs May gave no figures for the increase in day-to-day spending. But her pledge comes after it emerged Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is pressing for a 10-year NHS plan. Mrs May said the increased funding would be unveiled before the long-awaited spending review across Whitehall - admitting the NHS could not wait another year. Mrs May said the Government needed to get away from annual top-ups of the health service budget. She told the committee: 'What I want to do is develop a long-term plan for the NHS and then ensure that that is properly resourced. 'By definition we have already committed to putting more money into the NHS over the coming years so, yes, more money will be going in.' Hinting at urgent action, she told the committee: 'We can't afford to wait until next Easter.' But Mrs May added: 'Funding isn't the only answer. I think there are some other important elements we need to look at.' The PM said there needed to be accountability for 'every pound that is spent'. 'There is another element, which is about looking at how we can all take more responsibility for our health so that the pressures on the NHS are reduced.' Mrs May said she hopes 'no-one doubts my personal commitment' to the NHS. 'I rely on the NHS every day as a diabetic,' she added. 'I'm eternally grateful to the NHS.' NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens welcomed the announcement as 'very welcome, timely and significant'. May hints resolving customs issues could take years Theresa May has hinted that resolving post-Brexit customs arrangements could take years. Giving evidence to the Liaison Committee, Mrs May said the negotiations were only now looking at the options. She said: 'I think it is fair to say that, as we get into the detail and as we look at these arrangements, then what becomes clear is that sometimes the timetables that have originally been set are not the timetables that are necessary when you actually start to look at the detail and when you delve into what it really is that you want to be able to achieve.' Remain critics have repeatedly warned a failure to prepare a new customs regime could cause chaos and raise costs for business. Advertisement Mr Stevens said: 'The Prime Minister's announcement of a funded long term plan for the NHS this year is very welcome, timely and significant. 'The NHS celebrates seven decades of service this July, at a time of great pressure on frontline staff and great promise for improved care. 'So now is absolutely the right time to recommit to all that's best about our NHS, while also accelerating and capitalising on the huge promise of medical advance for the decade ahead. 'Charting a multi-year path for modern efficient and sensibly funded health and social care, could mean huge gains for cancer patients, mental health services and support for frail older people, as well as the several million nurses, doctors and other care staff who devote their lives to looking after us.' The Health and Social Care Secretary said on Sunday it was premature to speculate that a 4 billion-a-year boost will be announced, amid reports the Government could back a ring-fenced tax rise to generate funds. But he said a long-term deal would allow proper planning to train the staff needed to cope with the challenges of Britain's ageing population. Almost 100 MPs have written to the Prime Minister urging her to set up a Parliamentary Commission on the long-term funding. This would establish whether to raise taxes and, specifically, if there should be a ring-fenced levy for health and social care. NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens (file image) welcomed the announcement as 'very welcome, timely and significant' On Sunday Mr Hunt said tax increases were the only way to provide extra cash for such services. Mr Hunt told ITV's Peston on Sunday: 'We are a taxpayer-funded system so in the end if we are going to get more resources... it will have to come through the tax system. 'If you ask the public...they are very clear they would like to see more money going to the NHS and they would be prepared to see some of their taxes going into the NHS.' However, he was clear the service would also need to tackle inefficiencies. Last week Mr Hunt warned that elderly patients were being treated like 'tasks' on a to-do list in the failing social care system. Advertisement She was a fixture in the Kennedy White House, a prim and proper Englishwoman never too far from the rambunctious John Jr and his shy older sister Caroline. Maud Shaw spent more than seven years as the Kennedys nanny, enjoying her own private quarters at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and accompanying the family on personal trips as she charted the childrens development, taught them and became a beloved figure in their young lives. It was Shaw, in the end, who actually broke the heartbreaking news of their fathers death to Caroline and John Jr. And now, nearly 55 years after JFKs assassination, Shaws personal diary is being auctioned offering intimate glimpses into the First Childhoods of her young charges. The diary, which will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction, includes 22 handwritten pages detailing the development of the children as infants and toddlers between 1957 and 1962 everything from first steps to height and weight to the budding emergence of their little personalities. Writing about Caroline in the summer of 1959, she notes: Says Da-Da, laughs very loudly, play pat-a-cake, while John Jr, in March 1962, was repeating words after me very well. The Malta-born Englishwoman had spent decades caring for other children across the world before she was employed by the Kennedys, joining the family just days before Carolines birth. Maud Shaw, a Malta-born Englishwoman, holds John F. Kenned, Jr in his nursery following a joint birthday party for him and his sister, Caroline Shaw helps John F. Kennedy, Jr put on a shirt on the beach in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod, Massachusetts during a Labor Day trip; she joined the family as nanny in 1957, just days before the birth of Caroline President-elect John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline and Shaw travel in the back of a car with newborn John Jr; they are traveling from Washington DC to Palm Beach, Florida Shaw had spent decades working for other families across the globe before accepting employment with the Kennedys; here she carries John Jr as his father leaves the Palm Beach Airport for a Democratic Dinner in Miami I nursed the children from the cradle and came to love them just as if they had been my own, Shaw wrote in her memoir White House Nannie. Happily they repaid me with their own love and affection. Her detailed notes about the childrens development in the diary show the close bond she has with them almost from birth; she describes them in terms such as angelic and 'full of fun and mischief' and includes a 1960 note following a doctors check-up for Caroline in which she proudly reports the girl is healthy, strong and has above average intelligence. And the childrens affection for Ms Shaw, as they called her, is equally evident. Accompanying the diary are signed letters and postcards addressed to the nanny from Caroline. In one letter, written on Antigua, West Indies letterhead, the First Daughter writes: Thank you so much for The Finding Out Treasury. It is so good. I read about how Smallpox Vaccination was invented. It was very interesting. I didnt have time to read anything else as I was busy opening presents. John loves his book too. Thank you again. I MISS YOU! Another letter, from March 26, 1967, reads: I miss you. We are in Mexico now. It is beautiful! Postmarked January 1, 1966, a third letter reads: Thank you very much for the pink thing (I dont know what to call it) and the picture frame. I have it here in Switzerland. She signs her correspondence Love, Caroline, and at times includes an affectionate row of Xs and Os beneath her name. Shaw looks after John Jr and the family dogs outside the White House in October 1963 Shaw looks on as President John F. Kennedy greets son John Jr and daughter Caroline outside the White House in March 1963 Shaw fixes Caroline's hair in Hyannis Port in August 1963; the nanny and her young charges formed a close bond that continued after her retirement Shaw's diary, which is being auctioned, documented everything from the children's baby steps and baby teeth to their meals and early words Items being auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction include postcards written by Caroline to her beloved nanny, Shaw Caroline, as she got older, continued to write to Shaw and express affection; the pair were close and it was Shaw who first told the children about their father's death Perhaps some of that affection grew out of the bonds that develop from tragedy. Shaw was asked by the childrens maternal grandmother to break the news of the JFK assassination to them, and describes that deeply sad moment in her memoir. I sat on the edge of [Caroline]s bed [that night] and felt tears well up in my eyes. Caroline looked up at me, she wrote. Whats the matter, Miss Shaw? Why are you crying? I took her in my arms. I cant help crying, Caroline, because I have some very sad news. Then I told her. It was a dreadful time for us both. Eventually she fell asleep while I sat on the bed, still patting her. At last I tiptoed from the room, leaving the door open just a crack, as always. Michael Powell, writing for The Washington Post in 1999, said that Shaw hadnt wanted to break such terrible news to Caroline, nearly 6, and John Jr, 3. He wrote: Your father has gone to look after Patrick, Shaw said, referring to the baby who had died just two days after birth that previous summer. Patrick was so lonely in heaven. He didnt know anybody there. Now he has the best friend anybody could have. Shaw looks after John Jr in the President's secretary's office prior to Memorial Day ceremonies in May 1963 Shaw, left, follows the First Family as they prepare to board Air Force One for a trip to Florida; Shaw wrote her own book about her service to the family titled White House Nannie John squinted at Shaw and asked: Did Daddy take his big plane with him? Yes, Shaw said. The little boy considered that. I wonder when hes coming back, he said. Shaw cared for the children until her retirement in 1965, when she returned to England. She died in 1988 at the age of 85 'Victory map' used during Cuban Missile Crisis up for auction - featuring stickers of jets, boats, bombers, missiles and nuclear storage sites In addition the intimate portrait of the First Children and their nanny, also being auctioned is JFKs victory map used during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The map consists of two sheets that feature eight types of sticker symbols applied to the surface, representing Soviet MiG fighter jets, Komar class missile boats, IL-28 bombers, SS-4 missiles, SSM-Cruise missiles and nuclear storage sites. According to the auctioneer: The intelligence represented by this map was supplied by U-2 spy planes, confirming President Kennedy's worst fears of an increasing Soviet military presence just one hundred miles away from the American coast. The map is marked "Secret" in the lower left and upper right corners. A two-page key paperclipped to the upper right corner, headed "MRBM-IRBM Status of Cuban Missiles," dated October 27, 1962, summarizes the Soviet military buildup, listing sites, enumerating number of launchers and missiles, and completion status. President John F. Kennedy in a National Security Council Executive Committee meeting in October 1962, when the Cuban Missile Crisis raged President Kennedy used a 'victory map' consisting of two sheets featuring eight types of sticker symbols representing Soviet MiG fighter jets, Komar-class missile boats, IL-28 bombers, SS-4 missiles, SSM-Cruise missiles and nuclear storage sites The 'victory map' is being auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction; it ends April 11 The map is accompanied by a letter of provenance, which states: 'The map shows the position of every Soviet missile, bomber and fighter jet and nuclear storage facility in Cuba as of noon on Saturday, October 27, 1962. This was the most dangerous moment of the Cuban Missile Crisis. October 27 was the day the crisis came within hours, even minutes, of triggering a war between the United States and Soviet Union. 'That morning, a Soviet anti-air missile shot down a U-2 spy plane on a photo reconnaissance mission over Cuba ... Later that afternoon, two US destroyers dropped depth charges on a Soviet submarine. At last minute, the Soviet captain surfaced his submarine, his other option being to launch his missiles against the US mainland ... The Joint Chiefs of Staff pushed for an air strike against the Soviet missile sites and other targets. Had Kennedy given the order, this map shows the nine Soviet targets U.S. warplanes would have bombed. But overnight, everything changed. 'Relying on a letter from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to President Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Soviet ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin hammered out a deal. The Soviets agreed to withdraw their missiles and other offensive weapons in return for the US pledging not to invade Cuba. 'The US secretly promised to remove obsolete missiles from Turkey. The nine targets on the map became the weapons the U.S. forced out of Cuba. When Kennedy presented the map to McNamara, he called it the "victory map".' The Fine Autographs and Artifacts from RR Auction is currently underway and concludes on April 11. The 'victory map' is expected to sell for more than $20,000 and bids have already surpassed $10,000. A 52-year-old retired naval officer was found dead and floating in waters off Florida by a fisherman on Saturday morning. Kevin Dion Graham, whose family affectionately referred to him as 'Joe Navy,' often disappeared for days at a time, his wife of 18 years Kerlyn Graham told the Sun Sentinel. So she didn't worry when he left their home in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, on Friday, because it was just part of his normal routine. 'This is typical for Kevin,' she told the newspaper. 'When he needs to clear his head, he'll go away for a few days.' Kevin Dion Graham, whose family affectionately referred to him as 'Joe Navy,' was found dead and floating in the ocean by a fisherman in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida on Saturday morning He was spotted by a fisherman floating near the Commercial Boulevard Pier just after 5am and pulled out by deputies, the Broward Sheriff's office said (stock image) But this time was not like all of the others; instead of welcoming him home after a few days, she was notified Sunday morning by authorities that his body was found a fully 24 hours earlier, floating in the ocean. His wife, Kerlyn Graham, said the worst thing is that the family had no idea anything was wrong for a full 24 hours after his body was found dead He was spotted by a fisherman just after 5am and pulled out by deputies, the Broward Sheriff's office said. 'That's what's so hurtful about this whole episode; the fact that we didn't know something had happened to him and they were trying to identify him,' she said on Monday night. 'We had zero clue, because that was something normal for him to do, to just go away.' A medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of Graham's death, though foul play is not suspected, the sheriff's office said. Kerlyn and Kevin met in 1996 while both stationed in San Diego as part of the US Navy. They have two children, a 12-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter. Kevin also had a 22-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, Kerlyn said. A medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of Graham's death, though foul play is not suspected, the sheriff's office said She said that even after he retired from the Navy he wore his gear constantly - eventually fashioning himself the nickname 'Joe Navy' for his affinity. 'He was a perfect representation of the Navy,' she said lovingly. Graham was a chief petty officer and served for 22 years in both active and reserve duty. Then, from December 2000 and December 2009 Graham worked as a recruiter before officially retiring. Kerlyn said she and her family are full of sorrow, but also feel 'guilt' over not being able 'to help, or step in, or intervene.' The family has planned a memorial service in Lauderdale Lakes on March 31. His remains will then be transported to California for another service with relatives there, followed by a military burial. 'He was a wonderful person, I wish he knew that,' Kerlyn told the Sentinel. A man who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in regional Victoria last year told a passer-by he had been 'hit by lightening', but police believe a group of illegal deer hunters may be responsible for his death. Bryce Airs was walking home from a hotel in Jamieson, about 200 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, about midnight on November 25 when he was struck by a vehicle on Mansfield-Woods Point Road. A passer-by stumbled upon the severely injured man around 1.15am. Scroll down for video Bryce Airs (pictured) was walking home from a hotel in Jamieson, about 200 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, on November 25 when he was struck by a vehicle, police said 'I've been hit by lightning,' Mr Airs said before dying at the scene. Police said they believe Mr Airs was mistaken and could have been hit by illegal deer hunters, who frequent the area. Officers said the hunters mow down deer by driving with their lights off before startling them by turning on a spotlight, according to ABC. Road Crime Investigations Detective Inspector Stuart McGregor hinted that Mr Airs may have been stunned by the vehicle's lights. 'We believe that Bryce may have mistaken the flash of spotlights for the flash of lightning,' he said. Mr Airs was struck by a vehicle on Mansfield-Woods Point Road (pictured) and died at the scene The post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Airs was standing at the time he was hit by a vehicle with a high clearance and which most likely had a bull bar. Det Insp McGregor says hunting between sunset and sunrise around Jamieson is illegal, however, it is known that hunters are breaking the law in that area. 'Our investigation has very clearly led us to a small rogue group of illegal hunters who break the law; they hunt during the night and they hunt for deer,' he said in a statement. Det Insp McGregor says there are other people who know what happened that night and appealed for them to come forward. 'We want to hear your side of the story, come and tell us what happened, maybe panic kicked in, maybe alcohol was involved, maybe people were scared because they knew they were hunting illegally. 'What matters is we work through what occurred and provide some sort of closure for Bryce's grieving family.' An increasing number of violent attacks, lack of integration and cultural differences are leading to a chronic breakdown of discipline in some German schools, a leading teachers' representative has said. Heinz-Peter Meidinger, President of the German Teachers' Association, said that there was now an urgent need for security guards at schools with migrant populations of 70 per cent and more. He said that Germany's huge migrant influx of 2015 had only served to aggravate the problems and incidents such as verbal attacks and assaults on teachers or classmates are now no longer a rarity. There have been an increasing number of cases of teachers being assaulted or verbally abused, Heinz-Peter Meidinger said Meidinger said that knifes and CS gas were increasingly being found in some schools Even children at elementary school are not escaping some of the abuse and violence Emergency service vehicles are sometimes called to schools to deal with incidents of violence While some have welcomed Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open up her country to migrants, other argue that the surge on newcomers is undermining stability More than a million people from across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East entered Germany three years ago after Mrs Merkel opened her country's doors to refugees. 'Unfortunately, these are no longer individual cases, not even with very young students at elementary schools,' Meidinger told bild.de (in German). 'Such incidents now exist at many schools in Germany. One thing is certain: Cruel violent videos in social networks have long since arrived in student life. 'In chat forums like WhatsApp, movies including ISIS beheading video are spreading like wildfire.' He said that many of the attacks were carried put by teenagers from Arab and north African countries whose view of women is 'incompatible with ours' and that knives and CS gas were increasingly being found on school premises. Meidinger said that while incidents of anti-Semitism were rare, some schools in urban areas were experiencing growing polarisation and there were more cases of pupils bringing makeshift weapons to school. 'If we do not make progress on integration in these problem areas, American conditions are threatening. 'And at some focal-point schools in problem areas, we run the risk of getting the situation out of control. We can not permit that.' Advertisement This is the awe-inspiring moment that a U.S. submarine broke through feet of ice to surface in the Arctic Ocean during a training drill. The USS Hartford is one of two submarines taking part in the biennial Ice Exercise - a five-week drill to assess operation readiness in the Arctic region. The ice where they attempted to surface was reportedly 16 inches thick according to Ice Age Now, a website dedicated to climate matters. In video taken last Wednesday, the Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine breaks through a sheet of ice covering the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska, and then bobs at the surface before coming to a stop. Sailors are then seen peaking out of the top of the submarine while others clean ice off the massive rig. The Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean is seen just before a U.S. Naval submarine broke through the ice last week The USS Hartford is seen breaking through the ice in the Arctic Ocean last week during the U.S. Navy's biennial Ice Exercise The USS Hartford is one of two U.S. submarines taking part in the five-week drill. The British Royal Navy has also sent one of their submarines to take part in the exercise Rear Adm. James Pitts, commander of the Undersea Warfare Development Center, said in an announcement earlier this month that the Navy builds experience with every Ice Exercise, referred to as ICEX. 'We are constantly testing new tactics, techniques and procedures under the ice and this exercise allows us to do so on a larger scale and alongside our U.K., joint and academic partners,' he said. Two U.S. and one British submarine are participating. The cost is estimated at $8.3million, said Navy spokesman Corey Barker, but final figures for travel, contracts and other expenses will not be known until after the exercise. After the submarine surfaces, sailors are seen peaking their heads out of the top of the submarine for a little air Workers then bring shovels to clean ice and snow off the top of the submarine ICEX 2018 is a five-week drill to assess operation readiness in the Arctic region. The USS Hartford is one of two submarines taking part in the biennial Ice Exercise along with another US sub and British sub The Navy has set up a temporary camp on ice in the Beaufort Sea about 150 to 175 miles miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The camp has portable tents that house and support more than 50 people and serve as a temporary command center for under-ice navigation, torpedo exercises and research. The Navy named the camp Ice Camp Skate in honor of the USS Skate, the first submarine to surface through open-water surrounded by ice in 1958 and the first submarine to surface through ice at the North Pole in March 1959. The 1968 movie Ice Station Zebra, told the story of the US submarine dispatched to the frozen wastes of the North Pole to recover a Soviet satellite crammed full of strategic snapshots of US bases and is loosely based on the 1959 mission. In addition to the USS Hartford, the other U.S. submarine participating in the exercise is the Seawolf-class fast attack submarine USS Connecticut from Bangor, Washington. The British Royal Navy's Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Trenchant is also on hand. The Navy has set up a temporary camp on ice in the Beaufort Sea about 150 to 175 miles miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska for the exercise In addition to the USS Hartford, the other U.S. submarine participating in the exercise is the Seawolf-class fast attack submarine USS Connecticut from Bangor, Washington The exercise required approval for possible unintentional disruptions to marine mammal activities such as feeding, nursing and breeding. In its application to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Navy said it will install portable tracking equipment for submarine training and testing near the ice camp The last Arctic exercise by the U.S. Submarine Force was conducted in 2016. A crack in sea ice through the command center camp forced its early evacuation The vessels are conduct multiple Arctic transits, a North Pole surfacing, scientific data collection and other training, the Navy said. The exercise required approval for possible unintentional disruptions to marine mammal activities such as feeding, nursing and breeding. In its application to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Navy said it will install portable tracking equipment for submarine training and testing near the ice camp. As part of the exercises, eight hydrophones that detect sound waves under water will be lowered on cables from sea ice to 98 feet. The last Arctic exercise by the U.S. Submarine Force was conducted in 2016. A crack in sea ice through the command center camp forced its early evacuation. This file photo of the USS Hartford shows it in action in the waters of the Sea in the Persian Gulf Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier (pictured) said we live in a time when 'the global networks we rely on are being challenged by Russia and other states' Space operations have become 'increasingly important' to the RAF, the chief of the air staff has said as he warned Russia may also attack Britain from above the earth. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier said we live in a time when 'the global networks we rely on are being challenged by Russia and other states'. He said this includes the Global Positioning System (GPS), a constellation of satellites, which could be jammed by an adversary such as the Kremlin, ultimately impacting life on the planet. It comes as NATO joined two dozen governments around the world in expelling Russian diplomats following the poisoning of a former spy and his daughter in Britain. The military alliance expelled seven Russian staff and denied accreditation to three more, bringing the total number of suspected Russian spies expelled to almost 150, including the 23 initially dispatched by Britain. 'This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour,' NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels. NATO joined two dozen governments around the world in expelling Russian diplomats following the poisoning of a former spy and his daughter in Britain. Pictured: Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg Following a lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London, Air Chf Mshl Hillier said there are international rules and protocols in space that should stop a full-scale conflict happening. But he warned: 'We have potential adversaries like Russia who are disregarding that rules based international system and exploiting environments in whatever way they feel they can to their advantage. 'I don't foresee, if you like, a war in space, but I can see us being contested for use of space and for people trying to deny some of our specific capabilities. 'We already see that to a significant degree and we need to be prepared to deal with that threat.' Air Chf Mshl Hillier said in order to defend space you need to have 'space situational awareness', adding that the RAF is 'introducing more capabilities which allow us to see more into space and understand what is happening'. Boris Johnson (left) said the expulsions were 'a blow from which Russian intelligence will need years to recover', while RAF chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier (right) said the air force was at the forefront of efforts to resist Russian aggression During his lecture, held days before the centenary of the RAF, he revealed how space operations has become an 'increasingly important part of RAF business'. Pressed by reporters on what the impact a state jamming of GPS would have, he said positioning on mobile phones would not work, as well as in cars and aircraft. 'The degree to which we are reliant on GPS I do believe that most people just don't realise the degree of that dependency,' he added. 'Not all of our communications go via satellite but a lot of them do across defence, across the civilian network as well. Imaging capability google earth, it is not just a military situation. 'What we are trying to do in the military is both ensure that we can protect the space environment in order to allow us to do our military tasks, but ultimately we are about protecting its interests and the nations, and its interests are very heavily dependent upon space to a degree that most people I don't think properly appreciate.' In an unprecedented act of coordination, at least 24 countries have echoed Britain's action in response to the March 4 attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the mass expulsions were 'a blow from which Russian intelligence will need many years to recover'. It 'could become a turning point', he wrote in The Times newspaper, adding: 'The Western alliance took decisive action and Britain's partners came together against the Kremlin's reckless ambitions.' Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed NATO's move and said it sent a strong message to Moscow that it cannot ignore international law. Meanwhile Air Chief Marshal Hillier, speaking ahead of the RAF's centenary, said: 'The post-War consensus that has provided the basis for the rules-based international order is being challenged and undermined. Air Chf Mshl Hillier said in order to defend space you need 'space situational awareness', adding that the RAF is 'introducing more capabilities which allow us to see more into space' 'We must respond, collectively with our NATO and other partners, to counter hostile acts by Russia against our countries, our interests and our values. 'The RAF is in the forefront of that effort.' During his lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London, Air Chief Marshal Hillier said that no one expected a return to the 'potential state-based conflict and threats from Russia'. He added of those threats: 'Military grade nerve agent being used for attempted murder on the streets of our country; the reckless and indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Syria. 'The illegal annexation of Crimea, the first time since the Second World War that one sovereign nation has forcibly annexed territory from another in Europe; the criminal activities of the Russian state in cyberspace.' Air Chief Marshal Hillier also revealed that the RAF is the busiest it has been in at least a generation - undertaking the most sustained period of high intensity war fighting since the Second World War. With 13 operations in 21 countries on five continents, he said the RAF's work includes fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria to defending British skies, as well as Nato operations in Europe and Afghanistan. Police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby after a group of teens discovered a human placenta in a dumpster. The teenagers made the grisly discovery while they were dumpster diving in a parking lot at Hidden Trails Park in Bunnell, Florida on Saturday. Believing it was a dead fetus, they buried placenta, which was wrapped in a medical pad, in the nearby park so it could 'go to heaven', First Coast News reports. Police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby after a group of teens discovered a human placenta in a dumpster (Deputies at the scene in Hidden Trails Park) They also alerted the police who are now searching for the mother to check that she and her baby are safe. 'It's a little bizarre the way this incident has unfolded, but we just want to verify the baby is ok and the mother is ok,' said Sheriff Rick Staly. 'It could be a midwife assisted in the birth and disposed of it this way. It could be very innocent, but we don't know that until we can talk to whoever the mother is and hopefully see a live baby.' Experts believe the mother gave birth at sometime between March 19 to March 23. Police say there are no signs of foul play, and there are no criminal charges pending. They are asking anyone who has any information to come forward to ensure the health of mom and baby. Dynasty star Catherine Oxenberg is hoping to be reunited with her daughter, who joined a cult where the leader allegedly branded his female followers. Keith Raniere, 57, was taken into custody by Mexican authorities and charged with sex trafficking after he was found at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta on Sunday. Raniere is the leader of the secretive New York-based group NXIVM, which Oxenberg's daughter India joined in 2011. Oxenberg, who met with New York prosecutors to discuss India's experience, said she 'greatly hopes' Raniere's arrest will 'go far in reuniting her with her daughter'. Dynasty star Catherine Oxenberg is hoping to be reunited with her daughter after the arrest of a cult leader who allegedly branded his female followers Oxenberg's daughter India (pictured here in 2007) joined the New York-based group NXIVM seven years ago 'I want to help all the young women affected by this cult,' she said in a statement. 'They are the victims of human trafficking - which is slavery. For months, I have worked to expose Keith Raniere and NXIVM and today's arrests vindicate my efforts.' 'I want my daughter to know I love her and I want her back in my life.' The group, which has been described by former members as a 'sex cult', claims to be a self-help organization that operates centers in US, Mexico, Canada, and South America. Oxenberg, 56, attended a workshop with India seven years ago and found it 'weird and creepy', she previously told PEOPLE. But India was hooked, signing up for more and more of the expensive classes and draining her inheritance. When Oxenberg talked to her friend Bonnie Piesse, a former NXIVM member, she became gravely concerned. 'You need to save your daughter,' Piesse had told her. 'You need to save India.' Keith Raniere, the 57-year-old leader of the group, was taken into custody by Mexican authorities and charged with sex trafficking on Sunday Raniere allegedly turned some of his female followers into sex slaves and had them branded on their pelvic areas using a cauterizing pen with a symbol (pictured) that incorporated his initials Piesse recalled seeing India just before she left the group, where former members have claimed they weren't allowed to eat more than 800 calories per day. India had told Piesse she planned to go without food for three days to 'try and correct her behavior'. Oxenberg spoke to India shortly afterwards and her daughter admitted her hair had been falling out and that she hadn't had her period in a year. But when Oxenberg tried to confront India about NXIVM, her daughter shut her out completely. 'I'm helpless. I've lost my child and will do whatever I can to get her back,' Oxenberg said in November. 'I was completely ignorant about the dangers and traps associated with these so-called "personal growth self-help" groups.' Raniere was extradited to Fort Worth on Monday and has also been charged with forced labor conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to charges and will face the US District Court in Fort Worth on Tuesday. New York prosecutors plan to extradite him. Oxenberg, 56, attended a workshop with India seven years ago and found it 'weird and creepy' but said her daughter was instantly hooked. The pair are pictured here in 1992 When Oxenberg tried to confront India about NXIVM, her daughter shut her out completely (pictured together in 2000) Raniere left the US last year after the New York Times reported that some women who joined a group in his organization had been branded with a symbol that included his initials. The women told investigators they were subjected to 'master-slave' conditions that involved physical punishments for disobeying orders. 'As alleged in the complaint, Keith Raniere created a secret society of women whom he had sex with and branded with his initials, coercing them with the threat of releasing their highly personal information and taking their assets,' US attorney Richard P. Donoghue said. The complaint states that Raniere founded NXIVM in 2003 and held a series of purported self-help workshops. Since NXIVM's creation, Raniere has maintained polyamorous relationships with its members, according to the complaint. Courses associated with the group costs thousands of dollars each and participants are encouraged to pay for additional classes and to recruit others in order to rise within the ranks. Raniere allegedly taught his followers that he was the 'smartest and most ethical man in the world'. He also taught his followers that men need to have multiple sexual partners while women should be monogamous, according to investigators. A former member of NXIVM recalled a conversation in which India (pictured here in 2012) said she planned not to eat for three days to 'correct her behavior' According to the complaint, Raniere created a secret society within NXIVM called DOS in 2015, which loosely translated to 'Lord/Master of the Obedient Female Companions', or 'The Vow'. DOS operated with levels of women slaves headed by masters and most were recruited from within NXIVM's ranks. 'Raniere has maintained a rotating group of 15 to 20 women with whom he maintains sexual relationships,' the complaint states. 'These women are not permitted to have sexual relationships with anyone but Raniere or to discuss with others their relationships with Raniere.' When new DOS slaves were recruited, they were required to provide collateral, which included highly damaging information about friends and family members, nude photographs and/or rights to the recruit's assets. The complaint says DOS slaves feared that their collateral could be released by the group if they left. Smallville actress Allison Mack (pictured) was considered a high-ranking member of the cult and was believed to have been second in charge to Raniere Many DOS slaves were branded on their pelvic areas using a cauterizing pen with a symbol which, unbeknownst to them, incorporated Raniere's initials, according to the court documents. During the branding ceremonies, slaves were required to be fully naked and a master would order one slave to film the branding while the others restrained the slave being branded. Raniere has claimed in previous statements posted on his website that all involved in the subgroup are 'consenting' adults. Smallville actress Allison Mack was considered a high-ranking member of the cult and was believed to have been second in charge to Raniere. If convicted, Raniere is facing up to life in prison. 'As alleged, Keith Raniere displayed a disgusting abuse of power in his efforts to denigrate and manipulate women he considered his sex slaves,' FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney said. 'He allegedly participated in horrifying acts of branding and burning them, with the cooperation of other women operating within this unorthodox pyramid scheme. 'These serious crimes against humanity are not only shocking, but disconcerting to say the least, and we are putting an end to this torture today.' A gracious Georgia mother made her teenage son wear thrift clothes to classes for a week in hopes to teach him a life lesson about the value of a dollar and a good attitude. Cierra Brittany Forney took to her Facebook page Sunday morning to share a comical snapshot of her 13-year-old son dragging his 'new' clothes along the floor of a Goodwill store in Hog Mountain. In the picture post, which received nearly 600,000 Facebook user reactions as of Tuesday afternoon, Forney shared details about her reasoning for ordering her child to wear the cheap attire. 'So lately, my 13-year-old son had been acting a little... entitled. Acting like he's too good to shop at Wal-Mart or making snarky comments about kids at school who shop at the goodwill and quite a few other things,' the mother wrote to her page. Cierra Brittany Forney took to her Facebook page Sunday to share details about a lesson she hoped to teach her son Forney took to her Facebook page Sunday morning to share a comical photo of her 13-year-old son dragging his 'new' clothes along the floor of a Goodwill store in Hog Mountain Forney is pictured above on Facebook with her children during what appears to be a day a shopping 'I don't tolerate that. Today, he took his own $20 to the goodwill to buy clothes to wear the entire week to school. Whatever he found is what he would have to wear. 'He isn't happy and shed a few tears but I firmly believe in 15 years he will look back and laugh at the day his Mom made him shop at goodwill.' Forney went on to explain that she hopes to her children will realize there is more to life than money. She said she would not tolerate her kids degrading others in any way. The mom proved she wasn't a hypocrite as well - as she added that she 'loves the Goodwill' and shops there herself. Forney boasted about the amazing deals she has found at the thrift store. The teen boy went to buy $20 worth of clothing at this Goodwill after his mom said he had been acting 'too good to shop at Walmart' Forney and her family are seen above in this Facebook photo from Halloween time On Tuesday morning, Forney shared an update to her page, where she expressed her shock over the unexpected and overwhelming attention the post received. She said she takes part of the blame herself when it comes to her son's recent attitude - adding that she has given her kids name brand clothing. Still, her son, who was a good sport and agreed to wear the clothes this week, seems to have learned the important lesson. 'I SOLELY did this to help my son become a better man,' Forney explained on Tuesday. 'All the positive feedback and comments have brought me to tears and so have all the negative ones. 'My son has learned a valuable lesson from this AND my son is rockin' his button up shirt he bought from the Goodwill with PRIDE today!!!,' she concluded. On Tuesday morning, Forney shared an update to her page, while expressing her shock after the post received unexpected and overwhelming attention Despite organizing a global movement against gun violence which they themselves billed as a 'revolution', some of the survivors of the Parkland school massacre have not been granted admission to their chosen colleges. On Tuesday, David Hogg, one of the most vocal survivors of the February 14 atrocity, revealed that he had been rejected from four of the schools he applied to; UCLA, UCSD, UCSB and UC Irvine. Hogg, 17, is not alone. Fellow survivor Ryan Deitsch was turned down by UCLA. It is not clear what either wants to study. Hogg has a 4.2 GPA and scored a 1270 on his SATs, both of which are considered above average. He is unfazed by the rejection and still has some options in Florida Atlantic University, California Polytechnic and California State University San Marcos. Most of the schools did not respond to DailyMail.com's requests for an explanation as to why the boys' were rejected on Tuesday. Parkland survivor and March For Our Lives organizer David Hogg, 17, revealed on Tuesday he had been rejected from four colleges that he applied to. He has been accepted to three A spokesman for UC Irvine said they could not confirm that he had been rejected and that they were not sure the school had even given out rejection or acceptance letters yet. 'It's been kind of annoying having to deal with that and everything else that's been going on but at this point, you know, we're changing the world. 'We're too busy. Right now it's hard to focus on that,' he told TMZ on Tuesday. Hogg said he was not surprised by the decision and did not attribute his rejection to his involvement in the movement, suggesting instead that he had been overlooked in a vast number of applications. 'I am not surprised at all honestly I think there's a lot of amazing people that don't get to college not only that do things like I do but because their voices just aren't heard in the tsunami of people that apply every year for college in such an economic impacted school system which we have here in America where people have to go into massive amounts of debt just to go to college and get an education. 'I think it's really sad but it's the truth.' He said he was yet to decide where to go and that it was not a priority given his ongoing activism. Ryan Deitsch, another student survivor who spoke at Saturday's event in Washington DC, has also been rejected from schools in California UCLA (above) is one of four colleges which turned Hogg down. Its staff has not commented on the decision Emma Gonzalez will attend the New College of Florida, a liberal arts college 'Right now, I have no clue. I haven't even thought about it, honestly. It is absolutely disappointing but at this point we're already changing the world. 'If colleges want to support us in that, great, if they don't it doesn't matter, we're still going to change the world,' he said. A million people around America turned out for coordinated protests against gun violence on March 24. The largest was held in Washington DC where Hogg gave an impassioned and, some said presidential, speech on the issue of gun reform. Since February 15, he has been at the forefront of advocacy for tighter gun laws. Emma Gonzalez, his classmate who stood silent on the enormous stage at Saturday's protest for as long as gunman Nikolas Cruz sprayed her school with bullets, will attend the New College of Florida, a liberal arts school, he said. Arizona authorities say the mother of a baby and a toddler found dead in car seats has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. The Pinal County Sheriffs Office identified the mother as 20-year-old Brittany Velasquez. Authorities did not immediately provide information on how the two-year-old boy and 10-month-old girl died, but said that autopsies are being conducted. Scroll down for video Brittany Velasquez, 20, has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her two-year-old son and 10-month-old daughter Ten-month-old Brooklyn (left, in June) and two-year-old Christopher (right, in July), were found dead inside a car parked outside of their home in Superior, Arizona Monday night Cops were called to the house the woman shares with her children and grandparents in small-town Superior Monday night, where they found the two kids dead inside a car parked in the driveway. They were buckled into their car seats, and cops say there were signs of foul play. The statement gives Velasquez age as 20 but jail records list her age as 21. She has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. AZFamily.com identified her children as daughter Brooklyn Rose Miranda and son Christopher Miranda. Cops won't say how the two kids were killed. Above, the house where the children were found. They lived there with their mother and great-grandparents The victims' grandmother, Cathy Wernett, said that she called CPS several times on the mother Velasquez's former mother-in-law, the children's grandmother, told Fox 10 that Velasquez was 'volatile' and 'mentally unstable'. She said the children's father recently died of a meth overdose. The grandmother said that she called Child Protective Services several times to say that Velasquez was a danger to her own kids and that they should be taken out of her care. Autopsies are being conducted on the bodies of the two children, pictured above in August The children's father, Christopher Miranda (right, with their mother) had recently died of a meth overdose 'You can only make so many calls. And then when they don't call you back...I mean, come on, what are you supposed to do? Go down there and literally show them?' the woman asked. She added: 'Do you think 80-year-old grandparents should be taking care of a two year old and 10 month old? 'Come on, they can barely take care of themselves. She's in a walker, he's barely walking around they have a handicapped son.' Its not immediately known whether Velasquez has an attorney who could comment on the allegations. Student charged: Timothy Felker, 18, from Kentucky, has been charged with terroristic threatening against his school after purchasing an AR-15 An 18-year-old boy from Kentucky has been arrested after police say he bought an AR-15 rifle with money his mother had given him to get a tattoo and was planning to carry out a shooting at his high school. Timothy Felker was arrested in Lexington earlier this month on a charge of second-degree terroristic threatening and appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday. Lexington police detective Sean Stafford testified that Felker purchased the firearm and about 500 rounds of ammunition around Christmas in December 2017, reported WKYT. Police launched an investigation into Felker in mid-February after officials at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, where the boy is a senior, learned that another student had submitted an anonymous report about possible threats through the Safety Tipline Online Prevention (STOP) tip line. Scroll down for video His classmate at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School alerted school officials in February through a tip line, saying Felker often talked about shooting up the school and killing himself Felker (far right) was in court of Monday for a preliminary hearing, which concluded with a judge's decision to send his case to a grand jury The complainant wrote that Felker owns a gun and constantly talks about killing himself/ shooting up the school. He tells specific people he would shoot them first and then shoot up the classroom, according to court documents cited by Lexington Herald Leader. The Lexington Police Department was notified on the threats on February 17, while the teen was out of town. According to his Instagram page, Felker had traveled to Chicago to watch a local production of The Phantom of the Opera , which is one of his two favorite musicals, along with Sweeney Todd. Felker was active in his high school's drama department and starred as the Beast in a December production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. In a July 2017 Instagram post, he talked about the prospect of attending college at Roosevelt University because he was drawn to the school's 'amazing program for the performing arts.' Theater buff: Police learned of the threats while Felker was a way in Chicago, here he had traveled to watch a production of his favorite musical The Phantom of the Opera Aspiring actor: In December, Fellker (pictured center) starred as the Beast in Dunbar High School's production of 'Beauty and the Beast Jr' Police said three classmates of Felkers heard him issue threats, and that the boy himself later admitted to saying he would carry out a shooting because he was bullied When he returned to Lexington on February 19, Felker was picked up by police at the Blue Grass Airport and detained. Following a two-week investigation, the high school student was booked into jail on the terroristic threatening charge, which carries up to five years in prison. He was released after later posting $5,000 bail. Police said three classmates of Felkers heard him issue threats, and that the boy himself later admitted to saying he would carry out a shooting at Paul Laurence High because he was bullied. During his arraignment on March 5, Felker pleaded not guilty. A judge placed him under house arrest with an ankle monitor, and he has been barred from possessing or buying firearms. Felker is currently out on bail and remains under house arrest. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison The AR-15 he bought in December has been seized by police while Felker was out of town. The detective who testified at Felker's preliminary hearing on Monday said the teenagers mother told police her son has anger issues but she did not feel he would harm anyone. The woman said she was unaware of the treats against the school. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge ruled that there was sufficient probable cause to send the case to a grand jury. President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, asked a federal judge in Virginia on Tuesday to dismiss an indictment brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, saying the case falls outside the scope of Mueller's authority and is unrelated to Trump's 2016 election campaign. Tuesday's motion to dismiss was similar to one filed this month in another federal court, in Washington, where Manafort is facing a separate, but related indictment also brought by Mueller. The move is a high-profile attack on Mueller, whose investigation has so far seen Manafort's deputy Rick Gates plead guilty to a felony and Trump's former national security advisor Mike Flynn also take a plea deal. Manafort's legal applications came after this made last week when in a series of motions, attorneys for Paul Manafort attacked the case brought against him in Washington, arguing that special counsel Robert Mueller exceeded his authority to prosecute Manafort on criminal charges that date back more than a decade. The arguments largely mimic a civil suit Manafort filed earlier this year. The filings were the first volley from the defense in a criminal case that exposes Manafort, 68, to the possibility of a decade or more in prison. Former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort has asked a judge to dismiss the charges against him (pictured outside a Virginia court on March 8) Attack on charges: Robert Mueller is being accused by Paul Manafort of exceeding his brief He is charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for his work on behalf of Ukrainian interests as well as lying to the government. He is also accused of orchestrating an international money laundering scheme involving at least $30 million that was funneled through offshore accounts and used to fund a lavish lifestyle in the US Manafort has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Manafort's lawyers argue that Mueller shouldn't be allowed to prosecute him since the allegations in the indictment predate the 2016 presidential election. Mueller was appointed to investigate potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, but his mandate allows him to prosecute crimes that arise from his investigation. In their motion to dismiss, the defense lawyers say Mueller has improperly surpassed his authority including that granted to him to investigate any crimes arising from his inquiry. Jason Maloni (left), a spokesman for former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort (right), throws a Russian flag back at a protester while leaving Alexandria federal courthouse after an arraignment hearing earlier this month; Manafort is now on 24/7 home detention until a July trial 'The original and superseding indictments do not focus in the slightest on alleged coordination between the Russian government and the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, or even Mr. Manafort's brief involvement in the campaign,' the attorneys write. Instead, the lawyers say, the indictments are focused on foreign consulting work that ended in 2014 and on years-old bank accounts and tax filings that have no connection to either the Trump campaign or the Russian government. Lawyers for the Justice Department, which represents Mueller's office in the civil suit, have argued that Mueller is well within his authority. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing Mueller's investigation, has also expressed support for Mueller's investigation, saying it is being carried out properly. In a separate motion filed Wednesday, Manafort also asks U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to dismiss one of two charges against him, saying they accuse him of the same crime of making false statements on forms he filed with the Justice Department's Foreign Agents Registration Act unit. Manafort's attorneys argue that allowing both charges to go forward would violate his Fifth Amendment protection from double jeopardy. In another motion, Manafort's team is also challenging a money-laundering conspiracy charge against him, saying the millions he routed through offshore accounts was legitimate income from his foreign consulting that shouldn't be considered tainted by the allegations that he was acting as an unregistered foreign agent in the U.S. The motions are the latest move by Manafort's lawyers since his co-defendant and longtime business associate, Rick Gates, pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Manafort also faces a separate indictment in Virginia that accuses him of several counts of tax evasion and bank fraud. Both cases carry the potential for heavy prison sentences. In a recent order confining Manafort to his home, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, who presides in the Virginia case, noted that Manafort posed a significant flight risk because of his wealth and the fact that he 'faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.' While Manafort waits for his trial, in July, he has been told he will need special permission to leave his house because if he's convicted he might never be a free man again. Manafort's trial on tax fraud, bank fraud and other felony charges will begin July 10 in a Virginia federal courtroom. Judge Thomas S. Ellis III ruled last week that since Manafort has enough money and a serious motive to flee the United States, he must remain locked up in his own home 24 hours a day, as a condition of bail. 'Given the nature of the charges against the defendant and the apparent weight of the evidence against him, defendant faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison,' Ellis wrote in an order made public Tuesday. 'In this regard, he poses a substantial risk of flight and the above-mentioned conditions are the least restrictive conditions that will reasonably assure defendant's appearance at trial.' Even if Manafort should escape trial on 18 criminal counts in Virginia unscathed, he still faces 12 charges in the District of Columbia including money laundering, conspiracy against the United States and failing to register as a foreign agent for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government of former President Viktor Yanukovich. That trial is scheduled to begin in September. Manafort is 68 years old. In the Virginia trial, he could receive five-year sentences on each tax fraud charge and 30 years for each of nine bank fraud charges. While he waits for the wheels of justice to turn, he can't leave his waterfront condo in Alexandria, Virginia, except for court hearings, doctor appointments, religious services and meetings with lawyers. And even for those exceptions, he must ask permission 48 hours in advance. Violating the judge's order could get him locked up in a federal jail and cost him $10 million in forfeited bail money. 'These conditions are necessary because the defendant is a person of great wealth who has the financial means and international connections to flee and remain at large, as well as every incentive to do so,' Ellis wrote. Manafort pleaded not guilty to the Virginia charges last week, as he did in D.C. earlier this month. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating alleged Russian interference in the election, possible obstruction of justice and alleged financial crimes by Manafort and others. Trump has denied his campaign colluded with Russia, and Moscow says it did not try to interfere in the election. None of the charges against Manafort make reference to alleged Russian interference in the election nor the accusations of collusion between Moscow and Trumps campaign. Manafort has been under increasing pressure to cooperate with Mueller's probe, especially after his former business partner and former Trump aide Rick Gates pleaded guilty last month to lying to investigators and conspiring to defraud the United States. Prosecutors in Washington have alleged that Manafort laundered more than $30 million and duped banks into lending money. They say he used funds from secret offshore accounts to enjoy a life of luxury. On Thursday another of Trump's former campaign managers, Corey Lewandowski, was also interviewed for a second time by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, which has its own investigation into possible Russian election meddling. Manafort was ordered to stay in his house 24/7 as a condition of bail; the judge feared he might flee because he faces 'the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison' The long list of conditions includes a second GPS ankle monitor he already had one from a D.C. federal court and random drug tests After the hearing, committee members said Lewandowski had refused to answer many of their questions. Adam Schiff, the panel's top Democrat, told reporters after the testimony that members of his party had requested that Lewandowski be subpoenaed. Republicans, who control the committee, have not decided whether they would do so. Lewandowski helped Trump win the Republican presidential nomination, running his campaign for around 18 months. He was fired in June 2016 after he clashed with other advisers over how to appeal to the broader general electorate after Trump won the nomination. Manafort then ran the campaign for several months. At Thursday's hearing, Manafort and his lawyers indicated that he fully intends to contest the charges. Judge Ellis, expressing concern that Manafort still posed a substantial risk of flight, said he was considering stepping up restrictions on his movement from his current status of home confinement to the home incarceration. However, the judge agreed that Manafort should still be subject to the less-rigorous home confinement but that he must now wear two wrist bracelets, enabling probation officials based in both Washington and Virginia to monitor his movements. Lawyers told the judge details of a $10 million bail package was still being finalized, which ultimately could lead to easing of restrictions on Manafort's movements. Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann from Mueller's office said he expected a Manafort trial on the Virginia charges would last eight to ten days and would involve the calling of 20 to 25 prosecution witnesses. The future of the Great Barrier Reef may depend on a type of 'cling film' 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Scientists have created the biodegradable covering to block the sun's rays and protect the reef from bleaching. This occurs when corals, under heat stress, expel the algae living in their tissues, turning completely white. David Attenborough has warned such reefs could die off by 2050 because they rely on algae for food and are more vulnerable to disease after bleaching. The key to protecting coral reefs may be plastic, new research suggests In trials the film reduced the light reaching seven different coral species by up to 30 per cent. Anna Marsden, managing director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which helped to develop it, said: 'The sun shield is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair and completely biodegradable, containing the same ingredient corals use to make their hard skeletons calcium carbonate. 'It's designed to sit on the surface of the water above the corals, rather than directly on the corals, to provide an effective barrier against the sun.' In early 2016 the Great Barrier Reef suffered the worst bleaching yet, affecting an estimated 93 per cent of coral on its vast northern section and killing more than a fifth. Last year it happened again, raising fears for the future of the 1,400-mile long World Heritage site. Carbon dioxide pollution is believed to make the problem worse, by trapping heat within the atmosphere. The trials found the ultra-thin film decreased bleaching of most coral species. It is understood that it can join itself back together if disturbed by divers or fish. Miss Marsden said it was impractical to suggest the 'sun shield' could cover the entire reef. The ultra-fine biodegradable film some 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Pictured are live coral in sun shield trials in Townsville, northern Queensland A fifth of the Great Barrier Reef died off in 2016 after significant bleaching 'But it could be deployed on a smaller, local level to protect high-value or high-risk areas of reef,' she added. 'The concept needs more work and testing before it gets to that stage, but it's an exciting development at a time when we need to explore all possible options to ensure we have a Great Barrier Reef for future generations.' The reef is also under threat from plastic pollution and run-off of waste from farms. It is home to 3,000 varieties of molluscs, more than 100 types of jellyfish, 1,625 species of fish, 133 types of sharks and rays and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins. The film was developed with help from the University of Melbourne and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Media icon Oprah Winfrey has urged Americans to look to the land down under for inspiration to prevent tragedies like the February 14 Parkland shooting and other mass shootings in the United States. Winfrey has become increasingly active on social issues in recent months and gave a rousing speech at the Golden Globes in support of the #MeToo movement that even sparked rumors of a presidential run in 2020. She has now thrown her support to students protesting gun violence in the United States and says theyre looking at Australias tough gun laws as a model for reform. We see whats happening with our young people who have said "enough is enough", Winfrey said on ABC News Breakfast. Oprah Winfrey has recently thrown her support to gun control protesters in the United States Winfrey went on to state that students are using Australia as an example of how things can change when people decide that they want to make life better for other people. 'You had the shootings and then changed the laws and havent had one since. I think its a good time to be alive, for people to find their own warriors within and take charge of what really matters to all of us. In addition to pushing for tougher gun control laws in the United States, shes also aiming to take the Times Up movement global. There are conversations with the Times Up women about how we move this into a global environment and not just confined to the United States and not just confined to whats happening in Hollywood, Winfrey said. Winfrey has most recently starred in Disneys latest blockbuster A Wrinkle in Time, a film that centers on a young heroine undertaking a heroic journey. Given the films themes of empowering young girls, Winfrey said she believes that it was now the right time in the zeitgeist for the movies release. The film, based on a 1962 book of the same name, was directed by Ava DuVernay, who also directed the acclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma in 2014. What are Australias gun laws? The Australian gun control laws cited by Winfrey are among the strictest in the world. Though the laws are mainly in the jurisdiction of the countrys states and territories, the Australian government has passed tough gun laws that require a person who wishes to own or use a gun hold a valid firearm license. Holders of such licenses have to demonstrate genuine reason for wishing to own a firearm, which in turn must be registered by serial number to the owner. The impetus for the countrys stringent firearms regulations came after a series of mass shootings in the 1980s and 1990s, the most notable of which was the deadly Port Arthur massacre in April 1996 in which 35 people were killed and 23 others wounded by a deranged gunman named Martin Bryant. The mass killing shocked and horrified the Australian people and prompted the Australian government to institute much stricter gun laws, codified in the National Firearms Agreement in 1996. The law sought sweeping bans on semiautomatic and fully-automatic weapons in the country and also created a weapons buyback program. Though critics have said that the law is too restrictive and infringes on personal rights, others say its saved countless lives by lowering the countrys murder rate and cut mass shootings like the Port Arthur massacre down to virtually none since its adoption. Who is Oprah Winfrey? Oprah Winfrey is a media proprietor, actress, talk show host and philanthropist best-known as the host of The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1986 to 2011. Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She was raised in an impoverished family in rural Mississippi and later in Milwaukee by a single mother. She later worked at a local radio station in Tennessee while still in high school and started to co-anchor local news broadcasts at just 19 years old. After relocating to Chicago to continue to work in media, she was named as the host of the low-rated Chicago AM talk show. Under Winfreys guidance, the show quickly surged in ratings and became the top talk show in the city, eventually being renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show and expanding to a national audience in 1986. Winfrey soon built up a global brand and became known as The Queen of All Media due to her omnipresence in the media landscape and vast influence. Her show revolutionized daytime TV in the United States and consistently drew high ratings year after year. Since the show ended in 2011, Winfrey has launched her own TV station, the Oprah Winfrey Network, and has dedicated much of her time to acting, authoring books and philanthropic works. For her philanthropy and groundbreaking influence, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in 2013. What is Oprah Winfreys net worth? According to Celebrity Net Worth, Oprah Winfreys net worth is about $3.2 billion (2.26 billion). Denied: Lavinia Woodward's attempt to see her case taken to the Court of Appeal has been rejected The Oxford University medical student who escaped jail after stabbing her Tinder date with a bread knife has been denied permission to appeal her sentence. Lavinia Woodward, 24, was let off with a 10 month suspended jail sentence in December last year after Judge Ian Pringle QC said she was 'too bright' for jail. Despite avoiding prison after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding, Woodward was unhappy and tried to appeal for permission to take her case to the Court of Appeal. But today her application was rejected and Woodward was denied permission by a judge to escalate the case. Woodward can still apply to have her case heard by a full court of two or three judges however, the BBC reports. The case sparked outrage last year when the judge was accused of giving Woodward preferential treatment because of her academic credentials. Judge Pringle described Woodward as 'an extraordinarily able young lady' and said sending her to prison would damage her hopes of becoming a surgeon. Oxford Crown Court heard Woodward attacked her then boyfriend, whom she met on dating app Tinder, while he was visiting in December 2016. Lavinia Woodward, 24, (pictured arriving at court in September) was handed a suspended 10 month jail term - she has now applied for permission to take her case to the Court of Appeal She became angry when he contacted her mother on Skype when he realised she had been drinking. She threw a laptop at him and stabbed him in the lower leg with a breadknife, also injuring two of his fingers. In his sentencing remarks Judge Pringle said there were 'many mitigating features' of the case, and she had shown 'a strong and unwavering determination' to rid herself of her addictions. Woodward has voluntarily suspended her studies at Oxford until the end of her sentence, when she will face a disciplinary procedure if she decides to return. It had initially been thought Woodward would leave the university voluntarily. Her legal counsel, James Sturman, QC, said at the time of the hearing Woodward was 'reluctant' to return because she was worried at being recognised. After the court case Oxford had also suggested she would be subject to a speedy inquiry that could have seen her kicked out of the university. At other universities and medical schools, students convicted of violent offences who are also drug addicts can expect to be expelled. But she has now voluntarily suspended her studies, meaning a disciplinary panel cannot rule on whether to expel her until she decides to return. A source at Oxford University said Woodward could be trying to 'set the terms' of the process so she is looked on more favourably once she completes her sentence. But they highlighted that she will go through the same rigorous disciplinary procedures regardless of how much time passes. A friend of the 24-year-old claimed Woodward had the support of a number of senior figures at Christ Church College. The unnamed friend said she had 'an awful lot of institutional support' and academics recognised her as a 'potential Nobel Prize winner'. A source at Oxford University said Woodward could be trying to 'set the terms' of the process so she is looked on more favourably once she completes her sentence They said: 'I think they would be happy to have her back, and that she will end up returning quietly. She's done some very interesting work in cardiology, they've described her as a future Nobel Prize winner. Woodward is already in conversations to do a DPhil at Oxford, the friend claimed. But they added: 'There obviously is a safety concern associated with somebody who has pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding being in an educational environment. 'Clearly she's been having help, but it's up to college officials to decide whether it's safe for us for her to come back.' But Martyn Percy, dean of Christ Church, said: 'I do not think [Woodward] is getting special treatment.' Woodward (pictured left and right) looked relieved as she left Oxford Crown Court last month with a suspended sentence Woodward (circled) posed naked with her fellow students to raise money for the university's LGBTQ society Critics claimed she would have been sentenced differently if she was a man or came from a council estate. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) rejected three complaints against Judge Pringle in connection with the case. A judge must now look at Woodward's application and decide whether to grant her permission to appeal. Since the trial Woodward is reported to have returned home to her parents' villa in Italy. She is also undergoing drug rehabilitation which is said to have prompted a substantial change to her character. The case caused outcry, with critics saying she would have been treated differently were she not a wealthy Oxford student Police have arrested a psychologist after nearly a week on the run with a dangerous mentally ill patient she is accused of helping flee from Arkansas State Hospital. Psychological examiner Michelle Messer, 41, and Cory Chapin, 46, were found at a home in North Las Vegas at 8am on Monday and are being held in the Clark County Detention Center in Nevada. Messer is accused of walking Chapin out through the forensic unit on Tuesday morning after she was questioned by staff about illicitly providing him with a cell phone, an electronic vaporizer and a bag of 21 unknown pills to the patient. Psychological examiner Michelle Messer, 41, (left) and Cory Chapin, 46, were found at a home in North Last Vegas at 8am on Monday morning. They are pictured in police mug shots taken on Monday The pair drove away at around 8.20am in a blue Mazda 3S Grand Touring car with Arkansas plates 502RBD - Messer's personal car, according to hospital police. No reports indicated whether the two were romantically involved, but Messer does have a female partner, Judith Lewis. The two share a home in the neighborhood of Sherwood. In 2014, Chapin faced several charges, including kidnapping and drug possession. Allegedly, he claimed that God had instructed him to kidnap and rape a woman who had cut his hair, reported the Lovely County Citizen. Messer (pictured in an earlier undated photo) is accused of walking Chapin out through the forensic unit on Tuesday morning after she was questioned by staff about providing him contraband He was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in 2015, with a doctor saying Chapin has bipolar disorder and needs treatment, otherwise he poses a 'moderate risk' for violence. This is not the first time Chapin has escaped. While on a 48-hour leave from Arkansas State to visit his father in February 2016, he fled. He was found in October 2017 in Las Vegas and extradited back to the hospital. The DHS website says the hospital's 24-bed forensic service area assesses and treats patients with mental illnesses who are accused of a crime. The site also says that all people in the unit have been court-ordered to undergo evaluation or treatment. Messer specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and has 13 years of experience providing treatment to intellectually disabled clients with psychiatric disorders, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Messer is being held on a misdemeanor charge of aiding Chapins departure from the hospital and faces a felony charge of providing prohibited articles to a patient. Messer specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and has 13 years of experience providing treatment to intellectually disabled clients. Pictured: An undated file photo of Arkansas State Hospital President Donald Trump may have found a new source of funding for his border wall -- the U.S. military. Trump suggested that the $25 billion he's asking for could come from the Pentagon in a Sunday tweet. His White House press secretary did not deny in a Tuesday news conference that Trump was eyeing the defense department's massive budget for his border barrier. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders merely said she was 'not going to get into the specifics of that' as she was questioned about Trump's plan. President Donald Trump may have found a new source of funding for his border wall -- the U.S. military On Friday, the president approved an omnibus spending bill that gave the military a major boost in funds. Trump nearly vetoed the measure but put his name to it, he said, as a matter of national security. Explaining it in a Sunday tweet, the president said, 'Because of the $700 & $716 Billion Dollars gotten to rebuild our Military, many jobs are created and our Military is again rich.' But then he said, 'Building a great Border Wall, with drugs (poison) and enemy combatants pouring into our Country, is all about National Defense. Build WALL through M!' The 'M' was short-hand for military -- revealing Trump's apparent desire to tap Pentagon funds for the border structure he originally said that Mexico would pay for. Asked to say Tuesday what Pentagon programs Trump intends to make cuts to in order to fund the wall, Trump's spokeswoman dodged. 'You know, I can't get into the specifics of that at this point. But I can tell you that the continuation of building the wall is ongoing,' she said, 'and we're going to continue moving forward in that process.' Trump's border wall has become a wedge issue between the United States and the country it shares a southern border with. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is one of the few heads of state from an allied country that Trump has not met with since taking office. Pena Nieto and Trump have repeatedly called off visits to the White House over the dispute. Mexico has said unequivocally that it will not pay for the border barrier that Trump promised he'd build in the 2016 election. Trump has said he will exact the charges through new trade regulations that the two countries and Canada are currently negotiating. 'I think he still has plans to look at potential ways for that to happen,' Sanders said Tuesday of Trump's desire to make Mexico fund the barrier. On the front end, the president has asked the U.S. Congress to fund the border structure. More than half of the 110 funded miles 63 in all will look like this section, with replacement 'bollard walls' going up so weaker fencing can be torn down Trump has said he would only need to build between 700 and 900 miles of walls to secure the border; more than half of the 1,954 miles is lined by 'natural barriers' like mountains and rivers Legislators have steadily rejected his demands for the full amount of money, which his administration now puts at $25 billion. They granted him a $1.6 billion reprieve in the spending document he signed Friday that will buy him six months of time and materials, however. The money covers the costs of 14 miles of secondary fencing in San Diego along the border, Fox News reported, and 25 miles of 'primary pedestrian levee fencing' in the Rio Grande sector. The rest of the funds will go toward the 'replacement of existing primary pedestrian fencing along the southwest border, in addition to 'planning and design,' and border security technology.' Congress approved fewer miles of new wall than the White House asked for in fiscal year 2017, authorizing repairs to existing wall instead. 'Not exactly what we wanted, where we wanted,' Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney admitted. 'Congress chose to ignore some of the suggestions that [Customs and Border Protection] made on where the best kind of wall should go and that's unfortunate.' Lawmakers fulfilled the entire $1.6 billion request for the fiscal cycle, however, with the other money being appropriated to repairs for 63 miles of fencing that was already there. Ordinary fencing already stretches along 650 miles of the border. An administration official said last week that a stronger wall 'would have to be replacing all of that.' The president indicated during his campaign that the entire 1,954 miles of U.S.-Mexico border would have physical protection from illegal immigration and the drug trade, although the White House has taken the stance that mountains and other natural barriers will do the trick in many places and only 700-900 miles of border wall is necessary. An identity fraud victim spent Christmas and New Year inside a maximum security prison for a crime he didn't commit after a work mate stole his drivers licence. Tony Hawkins, 65, was caught drink-driving one night in December 2014 and when officers checked his licence, they found he was a wanted man. Police believed Mr Hawkins was wanted over a dangerous driving incident 17 years prior at Sandgate. Scroll down for video Tony Hawkins (pictured) was caught drink-driving one night back in December 2014 and when police checked his licence they found he was a wanted man 'I said ''it's not me''. It couldn't be me. I was working at Crown Casino at the time,' Mr Hawkins told 9 News. It was later found a former colleague had stolen his identity in the early 1990s after letting the man borrow his driver's licence. Despite explaining that he knew who the person was and that he was a victim of identity theft, he was unable to convince law officials that he wasn't the man they had been seeking. Despite explaining he wasn't the man they were looking for, he was locked up for 23 days Mr Hawkins went on to spend 23 days which included Christmas and New Year's Day behind bars. As it turned out, the ex-friend of Mr Hawkins had assumed his identity for the next two decades. Now, three years later, Mr Hawkins has finally had his conviction overturned. 'There's no longer a conviction but I'll never get back those 23 days,' he said. Mr Hawkins is now seeking an apology and compensation. Mexican drug kingpin Francisco Quiroz-Zamora, 41, was arrested in a sting operation late last year after he traveled to New York to collect a payment from an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer A Mexican drug kingpin has been charged with smuggling 44 pounds of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico, which authorities say is enough to kill 10 million people. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora, who is a high-level member of the Sinaloa cartel, was arrested in a sting operation in November after he traveled to New York to collect a payment from an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer. Agents intercepted the 41-year-old drug trafficker as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. Police said Quiroz-Zamora, also known as El Gordo, has been involved in high-level trafficking for a number of years. An indictment announced on Tuesday said that Quiroz-Zamora had arranged for narcotics to be smuggled from Mexico to Arizona and California via trucks, cars and drug couriers. He communicated directly with New York City-based narcotics customers and arranged for members of his trafficking network to conduct transactions. Quiroz-Zamora is accused of smuggling 44 pounds of fentanyl into the New York City area, which authorities say is enough to kill 10 million people The drugs (pictured above) were seized at the the Umbrella Hotel in the Bronx on June 19 last year and at an apartment on Central Park West on August 4 Quiroz-Zamora is charged in connection to the 44 pounds of fentanyl seized at the Umbrella Hotel in the Bronx on June 19 last year and at an apartment on Central Park West on August 4. Authorities said during that time frame, he received about $22,500 from an undercover officer via Western Union and wire transfer. Quiroz-Zamora, who lived San Jose del Cabo in Baja, traveled to New York on November 27 to collect an additional narcotics payment from the undercover officer posing as a dealer. Agents had tracked him across the country and were waiting to arrest him when he got off the train at Penn Station. Quiroz-Zamora, who lived San Jose del Cabo in Baja, traveled to New York on November 27 to collect an additional narcotics payment from the undercover officer posing as a dealer Police said he took a circuitous route from Texas to New York. He flew to Connecticut and then made his way to Delaware before boarding an Amtrak train to New York. He was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan court on Tuesday to face drug trafficking conspiracy charges stemming from the Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. Last year, seizures of fentanyl in cases brought by the narcotics prosecutor increased from 35 pounds to 491 pounds. At the same time, fatal overdoses tied to fentanyl reached an all-time high of more than 1,400 in New York City in 2017, officials said. The drug is far stronger than heroin and cheaper to produce, making the potential profit margin much higher for traffickers who usually mix it with heroin for sale to users who often don't know what they're getting. The former girlfriend of a Queensland butcher who died after falling into a woodchipper has been revealed as a person of interest in the man's killing. Sharon Graham, 57, is the beneficiary of Bruce Saunders' estate, and could inherit hundreds of thousands of dollars from his life insurance - which was raised shortly before his untimely death, The Courier Mail reported. Police are also looking to speak with friends of the mild-mannered 54-year-old; Greg Roser, 58, and Peter Koenig, 61, who were with him on a property near Gympie when he was killed. Sharon Graham (left) has been named as a person of interest in the death of her ex-partner Bruce Saunders (right) Mr Saunders, 54, was killed after falling into a woodchipper in November last year while helping a friend clear trees off her property near Gympie His death on November 12 was declared accidental at the time but police launched a murder investigation earlier this year after discovering 'several items of interest' during a search of the area. In a press conference in February, Detective Inspector Gary Pettiford revealed police had 're-interviewed two friends of the victim who were with him at the time' following the discovery. Det Insp Pettiford did not say who the friends were but said he expected to lay charges 'in the near future'. Pettiford said the machine was not faulty and would not pull someone into the machine if they fell, meaning he was likely pushed. 'Nothing was wrong with the machine, including all safety features,' he said. Peter Koenig (left), Greg Roser (centre) were named along with Sharon Graham (right) as persons of interest in the death of Mr Saunders Police labelled his death suspicious in February after discovering 'several items of interest' while executing a search warrant Mr Saunders, who had been married twice before, met Ms Graham online, and is described as a 'dear friend' in his obituary. In a comment below the online memorial, Ms Graham said her former partner had treated her 'like gold'. 'Nothing in this world would be too much for Bruce to do. He smiled everyday with not a care in this world,' she wrote. 'His love to me was bigger than anything in this world. He never stopped wanting to do for me. Im so lost without you Bruce.' A family spokesman told The Courier Mail they would be contesting the will on behalf of Mr Saunders' only son Blake. 'The will is out of character with Bruce's wishes previously stated,' they said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment. Authorities in Northern California have found human remains that may be those of Adea Shabani, an aspiring actress from Hollywood who has been missing since February Authorities in a rural area north of Sacramento have found human remains that may be those of an aspiring actress from Hollywood who has been missing since February. Nevada County sheriffs deputies cordoned off an area near Beale Falls on Tuesday while forensics investigators work to positively identify the victim. The remains were found near the banks of Dry Creek, a body of water flowing through the Spenceville Wildlife Area about 50 miles north of the state capital, according to the Los Angeles Times. Investigators who have been searching for over a month for Adea Shabani, 25, a Macedonian model who moved to Los Angeles to become an actress, say that the LAPD has been following up on the case in the Sacramento area in recent weeks. News of the discovery of the human remains, which investigators fear belong to Shabani, was also reported by Fox 40 TV. The remains were found near the banks of Dry Creek, a body of water flowing through the Spenceville Wildlife Area about 50 miles north of the state capital, Sacramento. Dry Creek is seen in the stock image above The LAPD did confirm on Friday that Shaban's boyfriend shot and killed himself after a police chase Thursday night. Chris Spotz, 33, lead police on a chase through Los Angeles County, from Hespeira to Coronona, driving a stolen Toyota Tacoma. At the end of the chase Spotz fatally shot himself with a handgun, police told NBC Los Angeles. The man was identified as Spotz on Saturday, and was said to be the boyfriend of the missing model. Scroll down for video Chris Spotz (left), 33, lead police on a chase through Los Angeles County, from Hespeira to Coronona, before fatally shooting himself with a handgun. The man was identified as Spotz on Saturday, and said to be the boyfriend of Shabani (right) Shabani was last seen near her home in Hollywood on February 23, and family members are now offering a $25,000 reward for any information about her whereabouts Shabani is a Macedonian woman who went missing at the end of February. She was last seen near her home in Hollywood on February 23, and family members are now offering a $25,000 reward for any information about her whereabouts. During Thursday's chase police thought the car was connected to a homicide in Los Angeles County. Spotz is pictured above Shabani moved to Los Angeles less than two years ago to pursue a career in modeling and acting, according to friends. She graduated from high school in Skopje, Macedonia in 2007 before attending the American University in Paris, where she graduated in 2010. During Thursday's chase police thought the car was connected to a homicide in Los Angeles County. Cops deployed two spike strips in an effort to slow down the driver during the pursuit, but he evaded them and continued onto the freeway. He then got off of the highway. When officers attempted a felony traffic stop, Spotz pulled out his handgun and shot himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene moments later. Details of that homicide, including when it occurred and the name of the victim or any potential suspects, have not yet been released. Shabani is a 25-year-old Macedonian woman who went missing at the end of February Al Sharpton's half brother has been charged with murder after the body of a 23-year-old woman was found in a wrecked car in Alabama. Kenneth Glasgow, 52, was taken into custody Sunday night along with Jaime Townes, 26, after Breunia Jennings was found shot to death. The Dothan Police Department said in a press statement that officers responded to a suspicious vehicle at Stringer Street A.M.E. Church at 10.50pm. Al Sharpton's (right) half brother, Kenneth Glasgow (left), 52, was arrested and charged with murder after the body of a 23-year-old woman was found in a wrecked car in Alabama Glasgow (left), 52, was taken into custody Sunday night along with Jaime Townes (right), 26, after Breunia Jennings was found shot to death Jennings (pictured) was found in the wrecked vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head and pronounced dead at the scene While officers were in the area they discovered a wrecked vehicle at the intersection of Lake Street and Allen Road. Jennings was found in the wrecked vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head and pronounced dead at the scene. Dothan police said several people, including Townes and Glasgow, at the scene were arrested and transported to the department for interviews. Police then charged Townes and Glasgow with capital murder. According to police, Jennings was shot during a dispute over a car. During a news conference on Monday, police said they believe that Townes was angry at Jennings because he believed she had stolen his car. 'Instead of him notifying law enforcement, he took matters in his own hands and jumped in Mr. Glasgow's vehicle to find Breunia Jennings,' Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish told reporters. Police then charged Townes and Glasgow with capital murder. According to police, Jennings (pictured) was shot during a dispute over a car Police said on Monday that Townes took matters into his own hands and 'jumped in Mr. Glasgow's (left and right) vehicle to find Breunia Jennings' Glasgow (left) is the half brother of Rev Al Sharpton (right), the founder of the National Action Network Authorities said numerous shots were fired at the vehicle Jennings was driving and police believe Townes fired those shots. Glasgow appeared in court on Tuesday and questioned the murder charge against him. 'I don't know why I am facing capital murder charges,' Glasgow stated, according to The Dothan Eagle. 'I'm not responsible for what someone else does. He just asked me for a ride to take him to look for his car.' According to Alabama law, murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle is considered a capital crime, the Eagle reported. Glasgow was charged with murder because it's believed he aided or abetted Townes by letting him use his car. In this case, aiding or abetting is equally liable for the underlying crime, according to the state's complicity statue. According to Alabama law, murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle is considered a capital crime. Glasgow was charged with murder because it's believed he aided or abetted Townes by letting him use his car In this case, aiding or abetting is equally liable for the underlying crime, according to the state's complicity statue. Glasgow is set to appear in court again on April 6. He's pictured with Hillary Clinton A 'no bond' has been issued for both men because of the nature of the charges. Jennings' death came just a day after Glasgow's community ministry, Ordinary People Society, participated in the nationwide March For Our Lives on Saturday. Millions turned out for March for Our Lives in numerous cities across the US to advocate for gun control and protest gun violence. Glasgow is the half brother of Rev Al Sharpton, the founder of the National Action Network. Since he was released from prison after a drug conviction in the 1980s, Glasgow has been involved in numerous community movements. Glasgow is set to appear again in court on April 6. Britains youngest councillor - who dreamed of becoming Tory prime minister - was awaiting the results of heart tests when she died in her bed after spending the evening eating pizza and watching Downton Abbey, MailOnline has learnt. Clarissa Slade, 21, a Conservative councillor in Devon and a third year Classics student at Winchester University, was found at lunchtime on Monday by her housemate who had been studying until the small hours. The bright undergraduate was born with a heart defect and had recently been complaining of pain but a cardiologist told her that there was nothing to worry about. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, her father, Colin Slade, 64, who is a Devon county councillor for the Tories, said: Were devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter. She had very much more to give. Her ambition long-term was to one day be Prime Minister. Who know what she might have achieved? Clarissa Slade, Britains youngest Tory councillor, was awaiting the results of heart tests when she died in her bed after spending the evening eating pizza and watching Downton Abbey, Mail Online can reveal Miss Slade, who was elected at the age of 18, was found by a housemate at her university accommodation in Winchester on Monday morning (pictured above with the Prime Minister last year) The 21-year-old, who dreamed of becoming prime minister, had been for an endoscopy for a heart condition she was born with but was told by a cardiologist that there was nothing to worry about that she should 'go out and enjoy life', said her father Colin (above) Tragic Clarissa, who dreamed of being a Tory Prime Minister and was the country's youngest councillor, pictured as a schoolgirl Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Slade, who is a Devon county councillor for the Tories, said: Were devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter. Her ambition long-term was to one day be Prime Minister. Who know what she might have achieved?' We know that she did have a couple of small holes in her heart, but they had not been assessed as being of any great risk going forward. She was told by the cardiologist to go out and enjoy life. So it is a complete shock and we dont have any answers yet. Clarissa was elected as a district and town councillor at the age of 18 in Tiverton, Devon, where she was brought up. The former private schoolgirl spent Saturday campaigning in Winchester ahead of the local elections and on Sunday undertook a shift at the local Wetherspoons pub before going home to her shared student house in the evening. She sat up with her housemate watching Downton Abbey and eating pizza and went to bed about half-past one, Mr Slade said. When they parted and went to bed, Clarissa said how much she was looking forward to coming home and we were supposed to be going to Sheffield this Easter for my sons 40th birthday. She was really looking forward to that. Her housemate found her in bed about lunchtime. You know what students are, her housemate had actually been up until about half-past-four in the morning doing some coursework or something. She didnt wake up until about 12 and then somehow realised that Clarissa hadnt left the house, so she went into her room and found her and raised the alarm. Clarissa was elected as a district and town councillor at the age of 18 in Tiverton in Devon where she was brought up. Pictured with Jacob Rees-Mogg in October 2017 The former private schoolgirl spent Saturday campaigning in Winchester ahead of the local elections and on Sunday undertook a shift at the local Wetherspoons pub before going home. Pictured with former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon (left) and William Hague (right) Mr Slade said: 'She sat up with her housemate watching Downton Abbey and eating pizza and went to bed about half-past one.' Pictured with Boris Johnson As far as we understand, she died in her sleep. We wont know for sure for a while yet but that certainly appears to be the case. Her half-brother James, 39, and half-sister Trudy, 42, are in bits, Mr Slade added. The last time that he and Clarissas mother, Elizabeth Slade, 66, saw their daughter was two or three weeks ago, her father revealed. She was fine in herself, he said. She had had one or two pains and she had had to go to a Hampshire hospital. They thought theyd better check, so they did do an endoscopy and they did take a biopsy. We havent been told the results of that, so its more questions than answers. Clarissa was due to travel by train back to Devon on Monday to attend a council meeting and when she did not reply to text messages from her parents, they contacted Hampshire police. We were told [of her death] later that afternoon by an officer from a local station here in Devon, Mr Slade said. What happened? We simply dont know. We just dont know. He added: I have a timeline from the police but we have no medical findings as yet. There will be a post mortem. Ive been advised by the coroners office that because of the Easter holiday, they might not actually have anything until next week. 'This is obviously very frustrating, because once you get over the initial shock the first question is: why? The last time that he and Clarissas mother, Elizabeth Slade, 66, saw their daughter was two or three weeks ago, her father revealed, as he described her siblings as 'in bits' over the news of her death Clarissa was due to travel by train back to Devon on Monday to attend a council meeting and when she did not reply to text messages from her parents, they contacted Hampshire police. Pictured with her parents after being elected onto two local councils in May 2015 Post-mortem results are not expected until after Easter, much to the frustration of her parents Clarissa was brought up in a Conservative family. Both her parents were Tory councillors and Mr Slade worked for CCHQ in the southwest from 2010 to 2013 Clarissa was brought up in a Conservative family. Both her parents were Tory councillors and Mr Slade worked for CCHQ in the southwest from 2010 to 2013. She kind of followed in my footsteps, he said. She professed herself to be very comfortable being a Conservative and she didnt want to go anywhere else. She had friends of other persuasions but she was very comfortable with being a Conservative and she became very active. She went to party conference, she met a number of leading politicians, she was invited to 10 Downing Street when David Cameron was prime minister. It was a great achievement to have become Britains youngest councillor at the time of her election. Her passion for politics was all the more remarkable considering that she suffered from Asperger syndrome, her father said. She never tried to hide it or shy away from it, he said. She was doing pretty well. There were certain things she found difficult but she found ways to overcome them. She initially found any kind of social interaction very difficult and it took her a long time to make friendships at school. Then once she made friends they became very loyal friends. She kind of threw herself into life, particularly getting involved in politics and campaigning and so on, as a way of overcoming some of those difficulties. Her passion for politics was all the more remarkable considering that she suffered from Asperger syndrome, her father said. She never tried to hide it or shy away from it, he said. She was doing pretty well' The promising student, who was single at the time of her death, also had a great love of the mystery writer Agatha Christie The promising student, who was single at the time of her death, also had a great love of the mystery writer Agatha Christie. She loved Agatha Christie books and the spin-off TV series and things, her father said. For her 21st birthday, we asked if she wanted a party and she said that shed rather go to Greenway, Agatha Christies home in Devon. Its a National Trust property. So we went to have a day at Greenway and I bought her Agatha Christies autobiography as a birthday present, which she was thrilled with. Steve Brine, Conservative MP for Winchester, said: Clarissa was a lovely girl who enjoyed campaigning with us and we enjoyed having her on the team. Our prayers are with her family at this sad time. George Marshall-James, the chair of Winchester Students' Conservative Society, who often went campaigning with Clarissa, said: Clarissa had a wonderful personality that shone through all aspects of her life, from politics to her studies and to her programme on the university radio station. She was a pleasure to know and she will be deeply missed by us all.' Russell Norton, a local Tory activist and fellow campaigner, added: Clarissa brought fun, enthusiasm, dedication and energy to her campaigning over the past three years here in Winchester and Chandlers Ford, and we will all miss her greatly. Former supermodel Christina Estrada described her ultra-wealthy lifestyle during her marriage to a rich Saudi businessman as 'magical'. The backdrop to family life over the years was one of opulent houses, yachts and private jets, with the couple enjoying what a High Court judge said was an 'exorbitant standard of living'. They travelled internationally in their quest to find works works of art and antiques to furnish their vast London home. Ms Estrada was often given gifts of expensive jewellery and lavish parties were held to celebrate birthdays. Their homes included a substantial chalet which was built on a plot of land in Gstaad, Switzerland. Several floors were constructed underground to house a swimming pool and parking for up to 16 vehicles. Quartz was imported from Afghanistan to create one particular wall in the chalet - and walls in an underground spa were fashioned in amethyst, which is Ms Estrada's birthstone. Her 46th birthday was celebrated at the chalet in 2010 when she was presented with diamond jewellery worth around one million dollars. For her 50th birthday, a party at a luxury resort in Abu Dhabi was attended by 200 guests and the cost of the firework display alone was said to have been one million dollars. Advertisement Living on the water could become a breeze if this concept yacht is ever launched. Plans for a stunning 50-foot-long (15-metre) luxury houseboat that includes an aquatic parking spot for planes have been unveiled by engineers. The 150,000 ($210,000) 'HydroHouse', which can serve as a pier for boats and yachts, has two electric engines powered by a huge bank of solar panels on its roof. Designed by Russian naval architect Maxim Zhivov, customers could use the craft as a permanent residence or a holiday home. Scroll down for video Living on the water could become a breeze if this concept yacht is ever launched. A 50-foot-long (15m) luxury houseboat that includes an aquatic parking spot for planes has been designed by a naval architect Mr Zhivov, who worked with experts at the Russian Baikal Yacht Group for the project, told MailOnline his team is currently looking for an investor to make the design a reality. The HydroHouse has a kitchen, living room, master bedroom, two guest bedrooms, bathroom and its own aquatic 'garage' that can fit small boats or a seaplane. Its second floor features storage room for equipment as well as space to sunbathe on the upper decks. With 700 square feet (65 square metres) of solar panels attached to its upper deck, the vehicle forms part of Mr Zhivov's vision to make houseboats eco-friendly. Superyachts burn a lot of fuel and designers are looking at ways to make them more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, often turning to renewable power sources and hybrid propulsion systems. The entire vehicle is transportable by truck, meaning that it offers a relocatable lifestyle for pilots and water enthusiasts. The HydroHouse has a kitchen, living room (pictured), master bedroom, two guest bedrooms, bathroom and its own aquatic 'garage' that can fit small boats or a seaplane The 150,000 ($210,000) 'HydroHouse', which can serve as a pier for boats and yachts, has two electric engines powered by a huge bed of solar panels on its roof Designed by Russian architect and houseboat specialist Maxim Zhivov, the craft could be used as a permanent residence or a holiday home Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Zhivov said: 'The idea of this project appeared after I read several forums of hydroplane pilots. 'I found out that there is lack of such type of mobile water parking for planes. 'So I got an idea to combine a houseboat, a wharf for boats, a garage and water parking for a hydroplane.' The naval architect has designed eco-friendly houseboats before, including an eccentric yacht entitled 'You Yacht Your Home', plans for which were unveiled in 2016. The craft has an outer layer of solar panels that capture the suns energy, which powers everything on board. Pictured is the boat's kitchen. Mr Zhivov, who worked with experts at the Russian Baikal Yacht Group for the project, told MailOnline his team is currently looking for an investor to make the design a reality With 700 square feet (65 square metres) of solar panels attached to its upper deck, the vehicle forms part of Mr Zhivov's vision to make houseboats eco-friendly Superyachts burn a lot of fuel and designers are looking at ways to make them more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, often turning to renewable power sources and hybrid propulsion systems The open stern resembles the back of a house, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a tiny balcony off a bedroom, a small patch of grass and a lounge area. Dock-like extensions create space for tenders or could double as a sun deck on pleasant days. The yacht also has an extendable cover to provide shade or protect from the rain, and the front has a retractable sun deck with loungers. Zhivov told boatsandoutboards.co.uk: 'From the front, its prominent nose gives it a similar appeal to classic rum-runners. As it passes, the open stern evokes scenery not unfamiliar to a small suburban home.' The craft's design combines a houseboat, a wharf for boats, a garage and water parking for a seaplane. Customers could use the craft as a permanent residence or holiday home Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Zhivov said: 'The idea of this project appeared after I read several forums of hydroplane pilots. I found out that there is lack of such type of mobile water parking for planes' The entire vehicle is transportable by truck, meaning that it offers a relocatable lifestyle for pilots and water enthusiasts Arizona governor Doug Ducey suspended Uber's self-driving vehicle testing privileges on Monday in the wake of a pedestrian fatality in a Phoenix suburb last week. Mr Ducey said in a letter to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi that video footage showed the company's 'unquestionable failure'. The crash raised concerns about the San Francisco-based company's ability to safely test its technology in Arizona, he warned. He said he expects public safety to be the top priority for those who operate self-driving cars. Scroll down for video Arizona governor Doug Ducey suspended Uber's self-driving vehicle testing privileges on Monday in the wake of a pedestrian fatality in a Phoenix suburb last week (stock image) 'The incident that took place on March 18 is an unquestionable failure to comply with this expectation,' Mr Ducey said. The move by the Republican governor marks a major step back from his embrace of self-driving vehicles. He previously welcomed Uber and other autonomous vehicle companies to use Arizona as a place for testing under few, if any, regulations. In early March, he authorised self-driving vehicle companies to run tests without a person in the car to act as a safety operator. On 21 March, police in Tempe released a 22-second video showing a woman walking from a darkened area onto a street just before an Uber SUV strikes her. The Volvo was in self-driving mode with a human backup driver at the wheel when it struck 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, police said. The human backup driver appears to be looking down until just before the time of the impact. Mr Ducey said in a letter (pictured) to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi that video footage showed the company's 'unquestionable failure' This image made from video Sunday, 18 March, 2018, of a mounted camera provided by the Tempe Police Department shows an exterior view moments before an Uber SUV hit a woman in Tempe, Arizona HOW DID AN UBER AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE HIT AND KILL A WOMAN IN ARIZONA? A self-driving Uber vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in the first death involving a fully autonomous test vehicle on March 19, 2018. The accident prompted the ride-hailing company to suspend road-testing of such cars in the US and Canada. The Volvo SUV was in self-driving mode with a human back-up operator behind the wheel in Tempe when a woman walking a bicycle was hit. Elaine Herzberg, 49, died in hospital. Police have said that the victim, 49 year old Elaine Herzberg, stepped out in front of the car suddenly and they do not believe the car was to blame. Uber suspended its self-driving vehicle testing in the Phoenix area, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. The testing has been going on for months as car makers and technology companies compete to be the first with cars that operate on their own. Uber's self-driving car crash that led to the death of a mother-of-two could have been avoided, driverless vehicle experts have claimed. Cortica, a firm that develops artificial intelligence for autonomous vehicles, has analysed the dash cam video. The company concludes the car, which failed to brake or swerve before the collision, had enough time to react and potentially save Ms Herzberg's life. Speaking to CNET, Cortica's CEO Igal Raichelgauz said the firm's self-driving AI system detected Ms Herzberg 0.9 seconds before impact. At this point the car was around 50 feet (15 metres) away. He said the autonomous car's cameras and radar system should have had enough time to pick up the pedestrian and react to the situation. Driverless cars are fitted with a system of cameras, radar and lidar sensors that allow them to 'see' their surroundings and detect traffic, pedestrians and other objects. An AI computer system then decides what actions the car takes to avoid a collision - a setup that is supposed to work as well at night as during the day. A top executive for the maker of Lidar sensors used on Uber's self-driving car said she was 'baffled' as to why the vehicle failed to recognise Ms Herzberg. Advertisement The fatal crash in Tempe was the first fatality involving a self-driving vehicle in the United States. Uber immediately suspended its self-driving vehicle testing in Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. If Uber resumes its self-driving vehicle testing, the governor's decision means the company will still be prevented from doing so in Arizona, said Mr Ducey's spokesman Daniel Scarpinato. Uber released a statement that said it will 'continue to help investigators in any way we can, and we'll keep a dialogue open with the Governor's office to address any concerns they have.' The video shows a human backup driver in the SUV looking down until seconds before the crash. The driver looked up and appeared startled during the last moment of the clip The crash is being investigated by Tempe police, the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Experts who viewed the video told The Associated Press that the SUV's sensors should have seen the woman pushing a bicycle and braked before the impact even though it was at night. On Friday, The New York Times reported that the company's own documents showed the testing program was rife with issues. They included trouble driving through construction zones and requiring far more human intervention than competing companies. In Arizona, companies such as Uber only need to carry minimum liability insurance to operate self-driving cars. They are not required to track crashes or report any information to the state. A vehicle goes by the scene of Sunday's fatality where a pedestrian was stuck by an Uber vehicle in autonomous mode. In Arizona, companies such as Uber only need to carry minimum liability insurance to operate self-driving cars Mr Scarpinato said Monday that Mr Ducey considers self-driving vehicles a way to improve public safety and limit road fatalities. 'We see real long-term benefits to it, and we want to know more about this incident, whether it was an outlier or not,' he said. But he wouldn't say if the governor regretted not having state reporting requirements that could have given advance warning of the problems with Uber's program reported by the New York Times. California requires added insurance, reports of all accidents regardless of the severity and an annual report showing how many times operators had to take over from the computers. Mr Scarpinato called Mr Ducey's action 'aggressive' but declined to say if the governor was reconsidering requiring more oversight. 'I think we have prudent, responsible regulation,' Mr Scarpinato said. 'I think you saw with today's action is that we are all about public safety and accountability and public safety.' A new tactic to avoid feelings of embarrassment in awkward situations has been uncovered by scientists. Experts say that viewing an embarrassing situation as an out-of-body spectator can help you to disconnect from feelings of humiliation. The US team suggests training your mind to think of yourself as an 'observer' rather than a 'participant' in these moments to help to alleviate shame and distress. Scroll down for video A new tactic to avoid feelings of embarrassment in awkward situations has been uncovered by scientists. Experts say that viewing an embarrassing situation as an out-of-body spectator can help you to disconnect from feelings of humiliation (stock image) In a new study, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, suggest that a fear of embarrassment affects many people. The phobia can push some people to sidestep seemingly everyday situations, and for some people may be life-threatening. While some simply fear asking a shop assistant a question that may make them sound stupid, others may be too scared to take an embarrassing yet potentially life-saving medical test. Study lead author Li Jiang said: 'Embarrassment prevents us from asking advice about what we should do, for example, about our mounting mortgage bills or unplanned pregnancies. 'In many cases, if we are to help ourselves, and others, we must overcome our fear of embarrassment in social situations.' Ms Jiang and her colleagues conducted three sets of studies, in which they asked different groups of US students how they felt about a series of situations. The US team suggests that training your mind to think of yourself as an 'observer' rather than a 'participant' in these moments helps to alleviate fear and distress (stock image) In the first study, the researchers asked participants to respond to an advertisement showing someone accidentally farting in a yoga class. The second study tested participants' reactions to an advertisement about getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The third study questioned participants about an advertisement where a man accidentally farts in front of a potential love interest. In each study, the researchers wanted to test the hypothesis that adopting an observer's perspective can reduce feelings of embarrassment. One finding was that people who are extremely self-conscious are more likely to take an actor's perspective in embarrassing situations, even if they concern others. Self-conscious people will even feel distressed when watching an advertisement that depicts an embarrassing moment. WHAT ARE THE 27 DISTINCT EMOTIONS HUMANS FEEL? In a recent study, researchers at UC Berkeley found there are 27 distinct human emotions. It was originally thought we feel just six emotions. Researchers asked more than 800 participants to freely report or rank the emotions they felt after watching 30 short video clips. In addition to happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and, disgust, they also determined confusion, romance, nostalgia, sexual desire, and others to be distinct emotions. The full list inclues: Admiration Adoration Aesthetic Appreciation Amusement Anxiety Awe Awkwardness Boredom Calmness Confusion Craving Disgust Empathetic pain Entrancement Envy Excitement Fear Horror Interest Joy Nostalgia Romance Sadness Satisfaction Sexual desire Sympathy Triumph Advertisement However, levels of self-consciousness drop in these people when they are able to picture themselves as observers of a situation, and not as being directly involved. 'Our research shows that devising strategies to successfully reduce embarrassment avoidance is complicated,' Ms Jiang said. 'This is because consumers will react differently to persuasion tactics depending on their level of public self-consciousness and their amount of available cognitive resources.' She believes the results have significant implications for marketers who often use potentially embarrassing situations in their advertisements. 'Embarrassment-avoidance forms the basis for attempts to motivate consumers to buy a wide variety of products, from laundry detergents that can resolve rings around someone's collar, to dishwasher liquid that can remove unsightly spots on dishes,' Ms Jiang said. 'Our research is relevant to those situations in which marketers want to inoculate consumers against a fear of embarrassment and encourage them to take actions they might otherwise avoid.' Apple has unveiled a new iPad at today's Spring 2018 event held at a Chicago high school. The latest incarnation of the tablet integrates with Apple Pencil and will be available for $329 to consumers and $299 for schools in the US. The gadget, available in silver, space grey and gold, will ship in the UK from 319. Apple has not yet said if a cheaper price will be available for schools outside the US. As well as a ten-hour battery life, eight mega-pixel camera, an A10 fusion chip and 9.7-inch Retina display, the one pound (154g) mobile computer will also feature over 200,000 education dedicated apps. Scroll down for video Apple has announced a new version of its iPad tablet that features an 8MP camera and an A10 microchip (top). The gadget features support for Apple Pencil digital stylus (bottom) 'This new 9.7-inch iPad takes everything people love about our most popular iPad and makes it even better for inspiring creativity and learning,' said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Product Marketing. 'Our most popular and affordable iPad now includes support for Apple Pencil, bringing the advanced capabilities of one of our most creative tools to even more users. 'This iPad also has the power of the A10 Fusion chip, combined with the big, beautiful Retina display, advanced cameras and sensors that enable incredible AR experiences simply not possible on other devices.' The iPad will be compatible with mobile internet plans, and is LTE compatible, Apple said. It will cost 319 ($450) in the UK for a 32GB Wi-Fi only model and 449 ($635) for 32GB for a Wi-Fi + cellular model. The firm's Apple Pencil digital stylus, which can be used to 'draw' on the gadget's screen, is available separately for 89 ($125). The Apple Classroom app, Apple School Manager, and Schoolwork are designed to assist teachers with the latest apps. The gadget will feature augmented reality (AR) support for its host of educational apps (pictured) WHAT ARE THE SPECS OF APPLE'S NEW 'AFFORDABLE' IPAD? At Apple's Spring 2018 event in Chicago the company announced a new 9.7-inch iPad dubbed its 'most affordable' model yet. The latest incarnation of the tablet integrates with Apple Pencil and features over 200,000 education dedicated apps. Below are the device's specs: - Available for $329 for consumers and $299 for schools in the US - It will cost 319 in the UK for a 32GB Wi-Fi only model and 449 for 32GB for Wi-Fi + cellular model - Support for Apple Pencil - Available in silver, space grey and gold - TouchID fingerprint scanner - Ten-hour battery life - Eight mega-pixel camera - A10 fusion microchip - Augmented Reality (AR) compatibility Advertisement The iPad's stunning Retina display features a higher-resolution touch sensor that enables Apple Pencil support. First introduced for iPad Pro, Apple Pencil provides a 'fluid and natural drawing experience', the company said. It is designed for activities from note taking to illustration in apps like Notability, Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Microsoft Office. Advanced sensors measure both pressure and tilt on the device, and iPads palm rejection technology even makes it possible to rest your hand on the screen while you use Apple Pencil. The latest incarnation of the tablet integrates with Apple Pencil and will be available for $329 to consumers and $299 for schools in the US. The gadget, available in silver, space grey and gold, will ship in the UK for a retail price of 319 Via the Apple Classroom App teachers can maintain control and access all information on a device. You can control kids' devices remotely, see what they're doing on the iPad, and display a student's iPad on an Apple TV Apple said the iPad's A10 Fusion chip comes with with 64bit desktop-class architecture, delivering 40 per cent faster CPU and 50 per cent faster graphics performance than the company's previous 9.7-inch model. The device also features a large viewfinder for immersive AR experiences, and is designed to support the next generation of AR apps, Apple said. At its Spring event, Apple also announced a variety of apps to allow teachers to manage and view the work of their students. The Apple Classroom app, Apple School Manager, and Schoolwork were designed to assist teachers in the classroom. They allow teaching professionals to set digital assignments, mark work online and track students' progress. Schoolwork builds on Apple's older Classroom app. At its Spring event, Apple also announced a variety of apps to allow teachers to manage and view the work of their students. Apple CEO Tim Cook is pictured at the Chicago event Via the Apple Classroom App, teachers can maintain control and access all information on a device, according to the firm Apple said: 'Schoolwork is a new app that helps teachers create assignments, view student progress and bring the power of apps to the classroom in exciting new ways. 'Schoolwork features Handouts, an easy way to create and send assignments with almost any type of content, from web links to PDFs and documents.' Via the Apple Classroom App, teachers can maintain control and access all information on a device. You can control kids' devices remotely, see what they're doing on the iPad, and display a student's iPad on an Apple TV. This feature is also coming to Mac. Apple also launched a sister branch of its 'Everyone Can Code' initiative, which aimed to get more children interested in coding and technology. The newly announced 'Everyone Can Create' launch aims to achieve similar goals for the liberal arts. Apple has announced a new version of its iPad tablet that features an 8MP camera and an A10 microchip. The gadget features support for the Apple Pencil digital stylus The new version of Apple's iPad should appeal to the education market,making it easier for teachers and students alike to co-ordinate via a variety of apps 'Creativity sparks a deeper level of engagement in students, and we're excited to help teachers bring out that creativity in the classroom,' said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. 'When you combine the power of iPad, the creativity of Apple Pencil, over a million iPad apps in the App Store, the rich curriculum in Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create, and unique Classroom and Schoolwork apps that support students and help schools manage technology in the classroom, we believe we can amplify learning and creativity in a way that only Apple can.' The announcement of the new iPad and the apps it features followed a brief talk about the importance of education and teachers from Apple CEO Tim Cook. He said in his introductory speech: 'We've always believed that people with passion can change the world.' He says that was 'on display in marches' over the weekend. The iPad will also feature over 200,000 education dedicated apps. As well as the Apple Pencil integration the latest iPad is designed to be easier to use than ever before 'We are deeply inspired by the courage of students using their voices to bring about change in America.' 'We've never stopped working on' tools for educators.' Hoping to return to the head of the class in an increasingly crowded market, Apple sees the education sector as its most viable option. Apple is trying to regain ground lost to rivals Google and Microsoft during the past few years. All the major technology companies are battling for dominance in US schools, a market seen as important for hooking young consumers. Apple has announced a new iPad at its Spring 2018 event (logo pictured) held at a Chicago high school. Apple's previous price cutting, along with software changes, have been followed by an improvement in iPad sales Google has emerged as the education leader in the US market, thanks largely to laptop computers running on its Chrome software. Some of those so-called Chromebooks sell for $200 to $250 (140 - 175) while the cheapest iPad currently costs $329 (230). An even-lower priced iPad could help Apple teach Google a lesson. Apple's previous price cutting, along with software changes, have been followed by an improvement in iPad sales. Nasa has delayed the launch of its 'Super Hubble' space telescope that could spot alien life. Officials say they need more time to assemble and test the James Webb Space Telescope, which is now set to fly in 2020. The vast telescope, which has already cost more than $7 billion (5 billion), is considered a successor to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Originally, the observatory was supposed to fly this year, but then in autumn the space agency pushed the launch back to 2019 and then today announced it would not fly until 2020. Scroll down for video Officials say they need more time to assemble and test the James Webb Space Telescope (pictured), which is now set to fly in 2020 Nasa and its partner, the European Space Agency, will work together to firm up a new launch date. Once a new date is determined, Nasa says it will provide a new cost estimate. Officials say the cost may exceed the $8 billion (5.6 billion) program cap set by Congress. The space agency has already poured $7 billion (5 billion) into the telescope. The James Webb telescope has been described as a 'time machine' that could help unravel the secrets of our universe. The telescope will be used to look back to the first galaxies born in the early universe more than 13.5 billion years ago, and observe the sources of stars, exoplanets, and even the moons and planets of our solar system. In January the telescope had been successfully tested in a giant vacuum chamber at the Johnson Space Centre - proving it will function in deep space. The telescope went through 100 days of cryogenic testing where temperatures dipped hundreds of degrees below the freezing point to ensure it functioned in extreme cold. 'The successful completion of this test represents a very significant milestone for JWST', said Bill Ochs, the telescope project manager at the time. The vast telescope, which has already cost more than $7 billion (5 billion), is considered a successor to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope WHAT IS THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE? The James Webb telescope has been described as a 'time machine' that could help unravel the secrets of our universe. The telescope will be used to look back to the first galaxies born in the early universe more than 13.5 billion years ago, and observe the sources of stars, exoplanets, and even the moons and planets of our solar system. The vast telescope, which has already cost more than $7 billion (5 billion), is considered a successor to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope The James Webb Telescope and most of its instruments have an operating temperature of roughly 40 Kelvin about minus 387 Fahrenheit (minus 233 Celsius). Officials say the cost may exceed the $8 billion (5.6 billion) program cap set by Congress. The space agency has already poured $7 billion (5 billion) into the telescope. When it is launched in 2021, it will be the world's biggest and most powerful telescope, capable of peering back 200 million years after the Big Bang. Advertisement 'It verified the alignment of the telescope to the science instruments, the image quality of the telescope as well as confirming the thermal performance of the telescope', he said, writes CBS News. 'We now have verified that Nasa and its partners have an outstanding telescope and a spectacular set of science instruments', he said. To detect infrared light from faraway objects, the telescope must be kept very cold, according to Nasa. The James Webb Telescope and most of its instruments have an operating temperature of roughly 40 Kelvin about minus 387 Fahrenheit (minus 233 Celsius). During additional tests last year, the 18 gold primary mirror segments were tested as well, to ensure they act as a single mirror. The test even managed to continue as Hurricane Harvey battered the Texas coast. The James Webb Telescope and most of its instruments have an operating temperature of roughly 40 Kelvin about minus 387 Fahrenheit (minus 233 Celsius) Inside the chamber, the team monitored the telescope using thermal sensors and specialised cameras, to track the temperature and the physical position as each component moved. After 15 years of planning, chamber refurbishment, hundreds of hours of risk-reduction testing, the dedication of more than 100 individuals through more than 90 days of testing, and surviving Hurricane Harvey, the OTIS cryogenic test has been an outstanding success, said Dr Ochs. The engineers began cooling the chamber on July 20 after removing the air. The process that took roughly 30 days; then the telescope remained in a cryo-stable state for another 30 days. The team began to warm the chamber back up on September 27, before pumping air back in. Then, on November 18, they unsealed the door. With an integrated team from all corners of the country, we were able to create deep space in our chamber and confirm that Webb can perform flawlessly as it observes the coldest corners of the universe, said Jonathan Homan, project manager for Webbs cryogenic testing at Johnson. I expect [Webb] to be successful, as it journeys to Lagrange point 2 [after launch] and explores the origins of solar systems, galaxies, and has the chance to change our understanding of our universe. Some people can make themselves produce goose bumps, and one researcher is working to understand why. A doctor from Northeastern University is conducting an as-of-yet unpublished study explaining how people can control the seemingly involuntary sensation, the Atlantic reports. The study draws on decades-old research that references individuals who can produce goose bumps on command. Northeastern University researcher James Heathers has identified a handful of people able to produce goose bumps for his study. Heathers assessed 32 people who control the ability to have goose bumps for the research, which has not yet been peer reviewed. Several other individuals have reached out to him claiming they, too, can control the sensation. One of the study participants told the Atlantic that he thought everyone controlled this ability. Javier Palejko, 34, told the outlet: 'It starts in the back of my neck. It's like I have a muscle there, and I just make it work.' When asked if he could do it during the interview, he did, saying: 'Do you see it? I thought everyone could do that.' Palejko said his brother possessed the ability, too. Another person with the strange power told the Atlantic it takes concentration. Eliza Bacon said: 'I always have to close my eyes. I try to do it without closing my eyes, and I can't.' Bacon got in touch with Heathers after she found out about his research, and she told the Atlantic she uses the ability to ease headaches. She said that when she produces goose bumps a tingling sensation begins on her head and then spreads through her body. She shared that when she was a child she thought she possessed special gifts because of the strange ability. 'It's like those were my powers. I don't think I said anything. I was at least intelligent enough to know that was weird, and other people would think that was weird.' Bacon is not the only one who has to focus to produce the sensation; one of the study participants told Heathers he had to try to convince himself his girlfriend was getting murdered in order to produce goose bumps. Scientists think modern humans experience goose bumps because our ancestors kept warm and safe thanks to the sensation. A Northeastern University researcher is now trying to explain how some people can give themselves goose bumps on command (file photo) Some said they had to conjure up an emotional reaction for their 'power' to work. But for Palejko, it is not nearly as complicated - he can give himself goose bumps as easily as he can move a limb, he told the Atlantic. However, he cannot do it back to back without letting some time pass in between. 'I can do it again, but it's just like losing power, and I have to wait around 10 minutes.' College student Brenna Mickal echoed this, saying: 'If I do it twice in a row, I have to concentrate more the second time.' Additionally, Mickal told the Atlantic, if she cannot give herself goose bumps an uneasy feeling washes over her, one akin to the sensation of not being able to sneeze when you need to. WHY CAN SOME PEOPLE CONTROL THEIR GOOSEBUMPS? Dr Timo Siepmann has studied the potential to induce goose bumps via 'a small electric shock,' the Atlantic reported. The idea brought to mind epileptic patients displaying abnormal brain activity. This activity occurs in the cerebral cortex, and, at times, involuntarily goose bumps are consequences of it. Dr Siepmann has considered whether or not people who can give themselves goose bumps can activate specific cerebral cortex regions. 'It's a fascinating story,' he told the Atlantic, referring to new research on the humans who can control the sensation. But he said he is not at all sure his theory on cerebral cortex activity is accurate. 'At this stage, I have no idea,' he said. Advertisement Mickal said she can use the capability to warm herself up when she is chilly. Researchers believe humans' ancestors benefited from goose bumps because when they got them their hair would become fluffy. This could have been used to scare away enemies or warm up. The sensation is caused by tiny muscles, controlled by the nervous system, pulling at hair follicles, according to the Atlantic. The autonomic nervous system additionally manages ones' heartbeat, and Heathers compared the ability to create goose bumps to the ability to stop your heart. The researcher became interested in the subject after reading old studies. 'I have a particular fondness for old journals and forgotten, abandoned articles,' he said. This fondness is what first led him to study the bizarre ability. He came upon a case study from 1938 that described a man, middle-aged, who could control the sensation. A handful of individuals can give themselves goose bumps repeatedly, but it can require focus. One individual told the Atlantic he has to think of his girlfriend getting murdered to make it work (file photo) Next, Heathers found an even older study, from 1902, that provided details about a student, 27, who could give himself goose bumps. A physiologist wrote about the student: 'He can produce the condition of "goose-flesh" at will in from two to 10 seconds from the instant of volition and can cause it to disappear in a like time.' German and Austrian scientists provided footage of a man, 35, who could give himself goose bumps for a 2010 study. This collection of research led Heathers to wonder about what causes some people to be able to control their goose bumps, and he took his quest to the internet. He created an in depth survey that 32 people responded to, claiming they could control the sensation. Heathers has not yet studied his subjects in a lab. He admitted to the Atlantic: 'I have never seen it with my own two eyes.' Facebook has ideas about your politics, and you can easily discover what the company thinks it knows about you. Recent reports of improper data use have left the company under fire in Europe and the US, after the firm allegedly allowed software company Cambridge Analytica to access personal data about 50 million users. Lawmakers, Facebook users and advertisers alike are upset about the scandal, which has brought to light much information on Facebook users that the company has collected over the years. Users can easily see which political party Facebook thinks they're affiliated with by going to the Ad Preferences section. Facebook has ideas about your politics. In the Ad Preferences section, it labels you on a scale from 'very liberal' to 'very conservative.' Here, it guessed Assistant Science & Tech Editor Cheyenne MacDonald is very liberal Here, there is a 'Your Categories' tab that houses a 'US Politics' subsection. Facebook lets you know here whether the company thinks you are Very Conservative, Conservative, Moderate, Liberal or Very Liberal. The site said it makes these decision 'based on information [users have] provided on Facebook and other activity' according to Fox News. The 'Your Categories' section also lets users see information on their birthdays and whether or not Facebook thinks they are affiliated with expats. Additionally a 'multicultural affinity' section can be found here. The 'Your Information' section on Facebook also shows users whether or not Facebook thinks they are associated with expats. Here, it shows the site guessed Science & Tech reporter Maggie O'Neill to be 'conservative' The five options for political affiliations simplify users' ideologies to a handful of vague categories. Facebook 'determines' users' political affiliations regardless of whether or not they have publicly shown interest in a particular candidate or party on the site. The platform groups together users that have liked the same pages and makes assumptions about their political beliefs based on these 'likes'. HOW CAN YOU SEE HOW FACEBOOK HAS LABELED YOUR POLITICAL LEANINGS? Facebook attempts to guess its users' political affiliations, labeling them on a scale from 'very liberal' to 'very conservative.' To find it, go to Settings > Ads (Ad Preferences). Then, click 'Your information,' and select the tab that says 'Your categories'. This section, which can be found on the 'Ad Preferences' page, shows Facebook users what the social media platform assumes about their political beliefs Advertisement A recent poll suggested that a mere 41 percent of people in the US trust Facebook in handling their personal data. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declined to testify before British lawmakers to discuss the data scandal plaguing his company, which relies heavily on advertisers. However, Zuckerberg has allegedly expressed willingness to testify in the US. Cambridge Analytica has been linked to Donald Trump's campaigning during the 2016 presidential election. The firm, which is based in the UK, has denied allegations of wrongdoing. Facebook 'determines' users' political affiliations regardless of whether or not they have publicly shown interest in a particular candidate or party on the site. The site guessed Science & Tech reporter Annie Palmer is 'very liberal' Researchers from Duke University and Arizona State University worked together on a new report about what motivates fighting among chimpanzees. The scientists found that power, jealousy and ambition - some of the same motivators of human fights - cause these battles. They studied events from the 1970s for the new report, using Jane Goodall's hand-written notes on a 'civil war' between chimpanzees in Tanzania. The report said: 'The researchers say the schism was likely triggered by a power struggle between three high-ranking males. The community's troubles came amid rising tensions between a recently crowned alpha male, Humphrey, and his southern rivals Charlie and Hugh.' Pictured left to right are Hugh, Charlie and Humphrey, all of which competed for power during a 'civil war' among chimpanzees recorded by Jane Goodall in Tanzania during the 1970s Duke professor Anne Pusey explained: 'Humphrey was large and he was known to throw rocks, which was scary. He was able to intimidate Charlie and Hugh separately, but, when they were together, he tended to keep out of the way.' The report said the battle for dominance was probably heightened by a competition for females that were able to reproduce. 'The resulting hostility was not restricted to these rival males; it affected the whole web of social ties the males were embedded within,' the report said. Duke researcher Joseph Feldblum said: 'It's not possible to say for sure that any one thing was causal, since this is the only such event we've ever seen in chimpanzees.' The report said the results reflect behavior among humans and other primates that scientists have observed. In the UK it has to measure more than 2,000 feet while in the US the peak usually has to be over 1,000 feet. But in China, 60cm (1.9ft) is apparently enough for a rock to be classified as a mountain. Welcome to Jing Mountain in Shandong Province. It's China's smallest mountain and can be conquered with just one step. Scroll down for video Jing Mountain in Shandong Province is China's smallest mountain and can be conquered with just one step The rock is four feet long and just over two feet wide - but it's thought to go down 157 feet. Needless to say, it's become a popular tourist attraction. Zhen Binhai, the former curator of Shouguang Museum, told Pear Video how the rock came to be a mountain. He said: 'During the Republic of China era, some people challenged the claim that it was a mountain and insisted it was just a rock. The authority arranged for people to dig around it. They dug a long time but couldnt reach the bottom. Therefore it was classified as a mountain. 'There was another attempt to dig it in 1958, and they couldnt get to the bottom either, so it was confirmed to be a mountain. Its the smallest mountain in the country.' Zhen Binhai, the former curator of Shouguang Museum, said: 'During the Republic of China era the authority arranged for people to dig around it. They dug a long time but couldnt reach the bottom. Therefore it was classified as a mountain' The rock is four feet long and just over two feet wide - but it's thought to go down 157 feet A local man added: 'Legend has it that, hundreds of years ago, a woman urinated on the mountain causing it to stop growing.' According to China.org, digging around the mountain is now forbidden. However, Jing Mountain might not be the smallest in the world, with Mount Wycheproof in Australia also famous for its lack of loftiness. It has an elevation of just 43 metres (141ft) above sea level. Advertisement How would you like to have the Champs-Elysees all to yourself? Or to peer down from the Eiffel Tower on to the City of Love, but without the hordes of tourists? Well, you can. All you have to do is fly to Hangzhou in south-eastern China. Hangzhou is the closest city to a development called Sky City, or originally, Tianducheng. What makes this place so astonishing is that its a mini replica of Paris. Whats more, it was built for 10,000 - but no one turned up. Sky City near Hangzhou in south-eastern China is home to a remarkable replica of Paris, complete with a rather rusty 350ft Eiffel Tower. The city was built to accommodate 10,000 people - but no one turned up On the outskirts of Sky City is a quintessential French chateau that's fallen into disrepair. But it does afford visitors good views of the replica city below, with Hangzhou in the distance A shop on Sky City's Champs-Elysees (left) and the lobby of the five-star hotel there, which Leigh says has all the pomp and ceremony of the famous Hotel de Crillon on Pariss Place de la Concorde The city's five-star hotel boasts a jaw-dropping chandelier The lack of Paris enthusiasts hit developers pockets hard and helped to create a truly extraordinary atmosphere, like a post-apocalyptic version of the City of Love. I travelled to the thriving metropolis of Hangzhou in 2015 and during my trip I made a daytime excursion to Sky City. Leaving the high-rise flats behind and hurtling through the picturesque Chinese countryside I began to see something familiar piercing the sky. It was the Eiffel Tower, in a desolate corner of the Far East! In reality, it was actually a rusty replica standing at 350ft. The extraordinary thing about this eroding structure was that it was rising up out of overgrown grass in the incapacitating Chinese humidity with a gaggle of female farmers tending to crops at its base in their straw hats. The replica of the famous structure took pride of place at the start of Chinas very own Champs-Elysees. Walking down the Chinese version of the famous avenue, its not love thats in the air. Its the sound of silence. Haussmann-styled Parisian apartments lining the Chinese Champs-Elysees Female farmers in straw hats tend to the grass in the development (left). Some of the very few people who moved to Sky City drape their rugs and clothing out of their French balconies (right) Chinas very own Champs-Elysees features manicured grass and grand fountains Estimates suggest that 2,000 people came to live in the development to escape the hefty prices of renting in nearby Hangzhou, and many of them work in a nearby French-themed amusement park. I struggled to fathom where these people were, as when I walked around I saw nothing but empty shell buildings and eroded facades. The avenue boasted everything else Paris has, its famous Haussmann architecture, wide boulevards, meticulous fountains and of course the famous Parisian boulangeries and cafes. Upon inspection of this beautiful scene, however, I found that the fruit outside the empty shops was rotten a metaphor for the whole place. It was just an echo chamber version that lacked any of the real grandeur and class of the original. I visited the exhibition centre and this is where I found some of the only human life I saw in Sky City. It was fully staffed with people readily available to protect the vision of the developers. I saw scale models of the plans for the city, blueprints for greatness, all from 2007. I found a Chinese man leading an excursion of English speakers and asked him what the deal was with Tianducheng. He said: Actually it is very common in China, everywhere has seen the rise of real estate. I reminded him that in England we have a lot of buildings springing up too, but not necessarily a replica Pagoda on Oxford Street. A man-made beach at the back of the five-star hotel (left). Pictured right is a view of the beach with rolling hills in the background Now on the same wavelength, he said: I think it was an attempt to get people interested in living here, its also just 700 per square metre to live here and in Hangzhou its 30,000. The developers it appears just want to make money. This admission made it clear that the flop was another money-driven ploy to attract investors. But despite its ghost town feel the city actually succeeds in making you feel like youre on another world, and isnt that the point of travelling? Sky City does, by the way, have its fair share of surprises, including a five-star hotel with all the pomp and ceremony of the famous Hotel de Crillon on Pariss Place de la Concorde. The gardens of the luxury five-star hotel (left and right). Leigh said: 'If you want to feel surprised, amazed, confused, amused and completely out of this world, I recommend a visit to Tianducheng' A damaged shop facade on the 'Champs-Elysees' that depicts French wine And it is lined with beautiful oil paintings and grand chandeliers - and I was surprised to find a manmade beach at the back after slipping through a barrier to investigate. This is where China collides with Paris, and I dont mean international relations. Further out is a quintessentially French chateau perched on top of lush, rolling Chinese hills. The hills leaped backwards to the horizon, each casting the other into shadow, like the layers of a beautiful landscape painting. Looking at the French imagery and feeling the Chinese heat was certainly confusing for the senses. I inspected the hill-top chateau. It was boarded up and crumbling but that did nothing to take away from the view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, battling for skyline space with the cranes working on the next sky scraper in Hangzhou. The sight was obscured by fluttering lines of heat and thick, humid air, but it helped to paint the picture of China and its love for replicas in its own special way. If you want to feel surprised, amazed, confused, amused and completely out of this world, I recommend a visit to Tianducheng, the post-apocalyptic Paris. They are rumoured to have found love after meeting on Bachelor in Paradise. And now Jake Ellis has revealed he felt a connection with busty blonde Megan Marx long before they filmed the new spin-off series. The Gold Coast hunk admits he had a thing for the Perth-born beauty when she was still with her now ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Scanlon. Scroll down for video 'There was chemistry between us': Bachelor In Paradise contestant Jake Ellis says he felt a connection with his co-star Megan Marx when she was 'still with Tiffany Scanlon and he doesn't care if she's bisexual Megan and Tiffany became the world's first same-sex Bachelor couple in 2016, but shortly thereafter announced their split in early 2017. The 31-year-old hunk explained to TV Week the pair met roughly one year ago at an 'event in Sydney' after their reality TV seasons had wrapped. 'She was still with Tiffany (Scanlon) then, but there was chemistry between us,' Jake told the publication. The former Bachelorette star revealed he discussed Megan's bisexuality with her during Bachelor In Paradise. 'That's a part of who she is and I appreciate and respect that. It didn't bother me,' the hunky reality TV star continued. 'That's a part of who she is and I appreciate and respect that: The former Bachelorette star revealed he discussed Megan's bisexuality with her during Bachelor In Paradise Furthermore Jake claims Megan's lesbian tryst with Elora Murger, which hit screens earlier this month, 'didn't complicate anything' for the handsome star. A new promo trailer for Bachelor In Paradise shows Megan sharing a passionate kiss with season five contestant Elora. Steamy! Furthermore Jake claims Megan's lesbian tryst with Elora Murger, which hit screens earlier this month, 'didn't complicate anything' for the handsome star The pair are seen stripping down to tiny bikinis as they lock lips in the ocean, with a voice over of one of the girls gushing about her new conquest. 'She's absolutely gorgeous, she's definitely my type of girl,' one of the ladies gushes in the voiceover. The pair are seen sitting and gazing at each other before enjoying a night dip where the steamy smooch takes place. Joanna Krupa is ready for the whole world to know she's taken. The 38-year-old model flashed her massive diamond ring while out for coffee in Tampa on Monday. Krupa announced her engagement to boyfriend Douglas Nunes just a day ago. Peace and love! Joanna Krupa is ready for the whole world to know she's taken. The 38-year-old model flashed her massive diamond ring while out for coffee in Tampa on Monday Going to the chapel! Krupa announced her engagement to Douglas Nunes just a day ago Later the same day Joanna posted a cute snap of the couple on Instagram, the first following her engagement news. 'This is it,' she captioned the photo of her kissing Nunes. The silver-haired fox is the COO of 451 Media Group, but very little else is known about him. The wedding news comes just eight months after her split from her ex-husband Romain Zago, 45. If fans weren't already reeling over her speedy engagement, they certainly are now after Joanna posted a curious photo of her bloated belly on Instagram leading some to believe she also has baby news. 'OMG someone ate too much,' she captioned the image. Her happy engagement news was revealed on Sunday when Joanna posted a snap of herself wearing the sparkler on her wedding finger while holding hands with Nunes. On Monday afternoon, Joanna posted the first photo with her fiance on Instagram. 'This is it,' she said as she kissed on Nunes who keeps his social media accounts private Model status: Krupa stepped out in a pair of skin-tight jeans, black booties, and a tank top She captioned the image: 'Just another weekend in the Krupa-Nunes household.' Confirming the news to MailOnline, a spokesperson said: 'Yes they are engaged - that's all for now.' Last October, Joanna hinted that she was single when she spoke to US Weekly and admitted she was focusing on her work. She said at the time: Honestly, right now Im trying to focus on work. I just feel like men in Hollywood are looking for a trophy wife. Baby news? If fans weren't already reeling over her speedy engagement, they certainly are now after Joanna posted a curious photo of her bloated belly on Instagram Moving on: The wedding news comes just eight months after splitting from her ex-husband Romain Zago, 45 'Its really hard to get to know somebody. If prince charming comes along, great, but I just feel like its really tough in LA. Just following her divorce from Romain, the Poland native decided to freeze her eggs. 'You never know what life will bring,' she told Life & Style Magazine. 'What if that moment comes when you cant have kids? Thank goodness I froze my eggs.' The playboy vet also told the magazine that ideally she'd like to have a boy and a girl. She failed to find love with 'husband' Sean Thomsen on Married At First Sight, with Sean now moving on with fellow MAFS star Tracey Jewel. And this week, Blair Rachael hinted she might have a new man. The blonde revealed on her Instagram storythat she went on a 'date night' with a mystery man. Scroll down for video Who's the mystery guy? Married At First Sight's Blair Rachael teases new romance as she goes on a 'date night'...as 'ex-husband' Sean Thomsen (seen with her) prepares to move in with Tracey Jewel Keeping his identity under wraps, her date's hands can be seen as they were about to tuck into some soup. It comes after she joked online about her relationship status. Sharing a meme, it read: 'Relationship status. Avocado.' New romance? Keeping his identity under wraps, her date's hands can be seen as they were about to tuck into some soup 'Avocado': It comes after she joked online about her relationship status Her ex Sean is now in a relationship with Tracey Jewel, who was 'married' to Dean Wells on MAFS. Tracey confirmed this week that she's moving to Melbourne to live with Sean. Speaking to New Idea, the 35-year-old revealed her eight-year-old daughter will visit her on 'school holidays.' 'We are moving to Melbourne! When we move there, I want to focus on my writing and Sean's almost qualified as a personal trainer,' Tracey said. Moving on: Her ex Sean is now in a relationship with Tracey Jewel (seen), who was 'married' to Dean Wells on MAFS Speaking about Grace, her child from a previous relationship, Tracey added: 'I'll travel to Perth regularly to see my daughter and she'll come here on school holidays.' Tracey emphasised that her new romance 'isn't a rebound relationship'. Meanwhile, Sean described his girlfriend as 'the love of (his) life'. Despite Tracey revealing her daughter will not live with them full-time in Melbourne, she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that Grace and Sean have already bonded. Tracey said that the pair get along 'like great mates' and enjoy playing board games. She added: '(Grace) has been fine with this whole thing. I've been open and honest with her. It was my decision for her not to be filmed or part of it, but I certainly kept her in the loop about everything that's been happening.' It was supposed to be a reality dating show for lovelorn singles hoping to find new romance. But for a handful of contestants, Bachelor In Paradise was simply a convenient way to make a quick buck, an insider has claimed. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia this week, a source revealed that contestants were paid $600 a day to stay on the show, prompting some cast-members to create secret plans off camera. Cha-ching! For a handful of contestants, Bachelor In Paradise was simply a convenient way to make a quick buck, an insider has claimed 'They had agreements to keep each other on the show for money', the insider said. 'People knew each other so they formed alliances to keep each other in longer to keep the cash rolling in.' Meanwhile, another spy told Daily Mail Australia: 'The girls partnered up with some of the boys before the show even started filming, making pacts to keep each other on the show'. Well that went well! According to several insiders, Florence Alexandra and Davey Lloyd formed an agreement before Davey was eliminated on Tuesday night's rose ceremony 'For half of the contestants, $600 is a massive pay-day. It's obvious why some of them were keen to stay in Paradise.' According to several insiders, Florence Alexandra and Davey Lloyd formed an agreement before Davey was eliminated on Tuesday night's rose ceremony. There were also reportedly pacts made between Jake Ellis and Megan Marx as well as between Michael Turnbull and Leah Costa. Oh dear! There was also reportedly a secret agreement made between Jack Ellis and Megan Marx Something to tell us? Michael Turnbull and Leah Costa are also said to have enjoyed a secret pact Despite these claims, Bachelor In Paradise host Osher Gunsberg has adamantly defended the intentions of contestants on the show. '[Bachelor franchise stars] come to that mansion and they want to find love. They're all genuinely there for the same thing and not all of them make it to the end. Not all of them stand on the beach in Thailand and say 'Hey, let's do this'', he told News Corp last week. 'Some of them get their hearts broken, and to be able to have the opportunity [on Bachelor In Paradise] to give these people what they came to us to find, is really great,' he said. Osher also assured fans that genuine love stories would be told on Bachelor In Paradise this season, explaining that: 'Through the process people really do fall in love and really powerfully so.' 'Through the process people really do fall in love': Despite these claims, Bachelor In Paradise host Osher Gunsberg has adamantly defended the intentions of contestants on the show Warner Bros has been approached for comment. Advertisement She's a model, television personality and budding entrepreneur. But Rachael Finch is not all about glitz and glamour, having chosen to stay at a $274-a-night 'tiny house' in the Southern Highlands, just short of a two-hour drive from Sydney, over the weekend. Joined by husband Michael Miziner and their two children, the 29-year-old enjoyed a stay at the 'Edmond' property, that takes up just 15 square metres. A secret location less than two hours from Sydney offering waterfall views and idyllic walks: Inside Rachael Finch's eco-friendly 'tiny house' vacation at just $274-a-night. Rachael is pictured with husband Michael Miziner Offering a private sanctuary for guests, the humble abode's exact location is only disclosed once a booking has been made. Located just short of a two-hour drive from Sydney, the eco-friendly house offers stunning waterfall views and plenty of opportunity for idyllic walks. Accommodating just two to four people with one queen bed and two single beds, the space contains one bathroom, a compact kitchen and lounge, and has a barbecue area outside. Country retreat: Occupying just 15 square metres, the humble home is per fect for those wanting to unwind and 'switch off' Rich hues: The facade takes on a charcoal colour palette and features a corrugated iron roof Decor: Meanwhile the interior takes on a much lighter note with white walls, pine wood and bold yellow cushions While the facade takes on a charcoal colour palette with a corrugated iron roof, the interior is much lighter with white walls, pine wood and canary yellow cushions. Perfect for those wanting to 'switch off', the home and surrounding area only offers limited phone reception. Rachael took to Instagram after her trip on Sunday to document one of her intense outdoor workouts completed during her country getaway. Details: The property contains one bathroom and a compact kitchen, with a timber stairwell leading up to a bedroom Sleeping arrangements: Two single beds also feature in the living area For the adults: A queen bed takes up space upstairs Sporting a blue crop top and black minuscule workout shorts, the fitness fantastic showed off her toned arms, washboard stomach and trim pins. Breaking out into a sweat, Rachael had her signature brunette locks swept into an effortless topknot and appeared to go makeup-free. The beauty went through a sequence consisting of jumping lunges, push-ups and reverse jumping jacks, all to strengthen the core. Trim and terrific: Shortly after her trip, Rachael took to Instagram to share an intense workout, completed during her weekend getaway. The fitness fanatic showed off her toned arms, washboard stomach and trim pins in a blue crop top and black minuscule workout shorts Rachael met her professional dancer husband on the 2010 season of the now-defunct show, Dancing With The Stars. The couple wed in 2013, and are now proud parents to daughter Violet, four, and son Dominic, one. Rachael has launched a health and fitness program, aptly titled Body By Finch, where Michael makes a cameo in the form of online workouts. She currently leads the cast of critically acclaimed play Frozen. And Suranne Jones put on a chic display following her performance at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket on Monday evening. The Doctor Foster star, 39, showcased her off-duty style as she slipped her slender frame into a leather biker jacket and a frilly midi skirt, embellished with bird patterns throughout. Making her exit: Suranne Jones put on a chic display following her Frozen performance at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket on Monday evening The award-winning film actress kept casual in a simple black tee, and accessorised with a dainty pendant necklace. Scraping her tresses into an effortless bun, Suranne's beauty was on full display for all to see as she wore minimal make-up. Teaming her attire with a pair of comfy boots, the Top Girls star appeared to be in a hurry as she swiftly headed into a black car. All in the details: The Doctor Foster star, 39, showcased her off-duty style as she slipped her slender frame into a biker jacket and a frilly midi skirt, embellished with bird patterns Low-key: The award-winning film actress kept casual in a simple black tee, and accessorised with a dainty pendant necklace Funky: Her ensemble was cutting edge, with the boots adding a funky and tough touch Suranne's low-key appearance came after she appeared on ITV's Lorraine last week, where she hinted Doctor Foster fans could be in for a very long wait for season three of the hit BBC thriller. The former Coronation Street star - who portrays leading lady Dr. Gemma Foster in the drama - admitted filming for the forthcoming series won't be getting underway anytime soon. During the interview, Lorraine asked Suranne when the acclaimed drama would return, with the star revealing that her other acting commitments, as well as parenting her son, could get in the way. Hey there! Another successful run on the show was complete and she looked happier than ever Saying their goodbyes: Suranne was spotted hugging a pal as they parted ways She said: 'I move on from this show in seven weeks and then I go to do a Sally Wainwright drama until December. 'I'll look at next year when it comes, because I've got a two-year-old as well!' Following the second series cliffhanger in October, Doctor Foster fans begged the BBC to bring the show back for another season. And while the channel has remained vague on the show's future, its creator Mike Bartlett, already revealed that he has a story mapped out for another run, which will focus on the doctor's missing son Tom Foster (Tom Taylor). Off she goes: Teaming her attire with a pair of comfy boots, the Top Girls star appeared to be in a hurry as she swiftly headed into a black car Honest: The former Coronation Street star - who portrays leading lady Dr. Gemma Foster in the Doctor Foster - admitted filming for the forthcoming series won't be getting underway anytime soon Suranne and her fellow actor Jason Watkins went into detail about her West End play, which tells the dark tale of a mother whose child went missing, and her confrontation with the man responsible. The Trollied star said: 'People have a huge appetite for going into dark places, it's very challenging for the audience but also very rewarding.' 'It's a show of brilliant three-dimensional characters.' 'Are people born evil or are they made evil.? It's not an apology for his behaviour but it's a way of understanding why they do things, it doesn't excuse the behaviour but we as human beings need to understand why it is.' She's newly-single after her Bachelorette romance with millionaire Stu Laundy, 44, ended in January. And on Monday, Sophie Monk showed fans 'how not to date' as she acted out a series of 'awkward' trysts with KIIS FM drive-time hosts Will & Woody. The former Bardot star, 38, took to Instagram to share a series of videos of the trio demonstrating the worst dating fails. 'Awkward dates. Which one are you? I'm pretty much all of them. I'm shit at dating... clearly' she captioned one of the videos. The first clip she shared with her 484,000 Instagram followers was titled 'The Most Awkward Dates'. The first 'awkward date' explores the unsavory subject of farting during courtship. Dating fails: The Bachelorette Sophie Monk showed fans 'how NOT to date' on Monday while acting out a series of 'awkward' scenes with KIIS FM drive time hosts Will & Woody The clip begins with Sophie sitting in the front seat of a vehicle waiting for her 'date' (played by Woody) to hop into the car. Before Sophie's male suitor gets into the driver's seat, Sophie decides to lift up a cheek and loudly relieve herself. Seconds later, Woody jumps into the car. 'Do you smell that?' The first 'awkward date' explores the unsavory subject of farting during courtship The radio presenter begins to suspiciously sniff the air before asking Sophie: 'Do you smell that?' She responds: 'Yeah, it smells like an old banana or something!' The second scene is titled 'The Tinder Date', and centres around Sophie meeting a man from the dating app who looks absolutely nothing like his profile picture. Tinder fail: The second scene is titled 'The Tinder Date', and centres around Sophie meeting a man from the dating app who looks absolutely nothing like his profile picture Meanwhile, the last scene explores the dangers of dating a man who still lives at home with his parents. In the scene, Sophie and Woody are lying on a bed gazing into each other's eyes. The romantic moment is interrupted when Woody asks Sophie is she'd like anything to eat. He then awkwardly shouts: 'Mum! Mum! Can we get some spring-rolls?' 'Mum! Mum! Can we get some spring-rolls? Another scene explores the dangers of dating a man who still lives at home with his parents 'The Too Close For Comfort Date' is the next 'awkward' date on the agenda for Sophie, Will and Woody. In the video, Sophie and Will's cuddly date is cut short when they discover they are in fact 'cousins'. Following on from this, 'The Netflix And Chill Date' begins with Woody inviting Sophie into his home. Netflix and Chill? In another scene, Sophie looks excited by the prospect of some 'Netflix and Chill' - only to discover her date actually wants to watch films and relax In the scene, Sophie looks excited by the prospect of some 'Netflix and Chill'. However she is disappointed when she discovers Woody genuinely wanted to watch films and relax. The last clip is titled 'The Wrong Message Date' and centres around Sophie being 'friend zoned' by her date. In the scene, Sophie goes in for a passionate kiss but Will pulls away, kisses her on the cheek politely and runs off. Kevin Dillon's estranged wife Jane Stuart says he misstated their date of separation in court docs - by eight years. The New York native, 52, is currently in divorce proceedings with Stuart, the mother of his 11-year-old daughter Ava. Stuart said that her separation from the actor - best known for playing Johnny Drama on the HBO hit Entourage and in the 2015 motion picture - took place May 29, 2016, according to TMZ - and not the October 10, 2008 he put in court papers. Scroll below for video Out and about: Actor Kevin Dillon, 52, was snapped at the Dirt premiere in Hollywood earlier this month. He's in a divorce battle with his estranged wife Jane Stuart Stuart said that while she moved out of a home she once shared with the TripTank actor in 2008, she continued with actions comparable to a significant other, according to the outlet. Those included intimate relations, cooking and attending public premieres and dinners, she said in court docs, adding that there were no financial changes following her departure from the home with Ava. Stuart said that she and Kevin, the younger brother of Hollywood stalwart Matt Dillon, parted a decade back due to needing space, according to the outlet, but were discussing expanding their family as recent as three years ago. The discrepancy in separation dates might play a factor in finances moving forward, according to the outlet. Out and about: The veteran actor was snapped with daughter Amy and estranged wife Jane Stuart in Malibu in 2010 Tinseltown: The couple was snapped at the Emmys in LA in 2008, the year Kevin claims they separated, though Jane says that came eight years later In the driver's seat: Dillon starred on the HBO hit Entourage with (L-R) Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara and Adrian Grenier The finances were at the heart of a dispute between Dillon and Stuart last October, the outlet reported, as the actor said that he was depleted of funds to provide for private schooling for his daughter, amid monthly payments of $3,174 a month for child support and $7,214 for spousal support. Dillon said that his daughter, who was attending a school in Calabasas, would have been fine served going to a highly-rated school in Malibu. Stuart said that the school was at the center of allegations linked to drugs, as well as cancer-causing agents on the campus, according to the outlet. She won over Married At First Sight viewers with her bubbly, outspoken personality. But Sarah Roza reportedly suffered terribly during filming, with a source claiming producers were worried about her emotional behaviour. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, a TV insider said there was some concern on set over how she was coping. Claims: Sarah Roza (pictured) reportedly suffered terribly while filming Married At First Sight, with a source claiming producers were worried about her emotional behaviour 'They did have concerns about Sarah's emotional well being,' the source said. Sarah - who spoken candidly about her past struggles, including being 'abandoned' by a former partner - apparently acted in a way that had the crew worried. The insider, who acknowledged the fact they were not qualified to make any kind of medical diagnosis, would not provide details about Sarah's alleged behaviour. 'They did have concerns': Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, a TV insider said there was some worry on set over how Sarah was coping On Monday, Daily Mail Australia spoke exclusively with Telv Williams' mother, Tracey Bamblett Onus, who said there were instances which raised questions for her. Admitting she first thought that Sarah's overzealous sharing was just for the cameras, Tracey said it continued even after filming stopped. She added that her son Telv 'felt concern for her' and wanted to part ways amicably. Having appeared on a 'meet the parents' episode, Tracey said that the dinner was 'very uncomfortable', despite appearing cordial on-screen. 'Very, very upset': On Monday, Daily Mail Australia spoke exclusively with Telv Williams' mother, who said there were instances which raised questions for her Tracey explained that Sarah got 'very, very upset' at one point and a family member tried to console her. Speaking of Sarah and Telv's relationship, Tracey claimed that her son felt like he was walking on 'eggshells'. 'He didn't think the woman he was going to get was going to be so demanding,' she said. 'But he still wants to remain friends, he still wants to remain amicable.' Tracey also revealed that each MAFS couple was assigned a 'manager' and that their relationships were 'strictly monitored.' Concern: Speaking of Sarah and Telv's relationship, Tracey Bamblett Onus claimed that her son felt like he was walking on 'eggshells' She gave birth to daughter Goldie just over three months ago. And proud mother Lindy Klim shared a heartwarming clip pf her baby girl to her Instagram Story on Monday. The adorable post saw the 39-year-old capturing her newborn's 'first giggle'. Scroll down for video Precious! Lindy Klim captures newborn daughter Goldie's 'first giggle' in heartwarming video Wearing a fluffy robe, Lindy is seen doting on her precious daughter, who lays on a plush bed. Tickling Goldie's stomach, the little one is heard giggling and letting out a wide grin. Proud father and Lindy's fiance Adam Ellis is heard in the background letting out an appreciative sigh. Lindy captioned the sweet moment: 'Goldie's first giggle!!! I can't believe we managed to capture it!' Adorable: Little Goldie looked cute in a white onesie with a pastel print Addition: Lindy welcomed Goldie, her first child with fiance Adam Ellis, just over three months ago Goldie is the fourth child for Lindy, who is already a proud parent to daughters Stella, 11, Frankie, 6, and son Rocco, 9, with ex-husband Michael Klim. The model called time on their high-profile marriage in February 2016. She then became engaged to British property developer Adam in October of that year after a whirlwind romance. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia back in 2016, Lindy said she didn't predict falling back in love so soon after her split from former Olympian Michael. Family: Goldie is the fourth child for Lindy, already a proud parent to daughters Stella, 11, Frankie, 6, and son Rocco, 9, with ex-husband Michael Klim '[It's] completely not what I expected, to fall back into another relationship, but he's so lovely,' she said cheerfully. 'It's about time I got on with my life,' Lindy continued. The brand ambassador also said it was 'difficult' juggling single parenthood and wished Michael and his new flame Desiree Deravi 'all the best.' Bachelor In Paradise star Brett Moore was sent packing on Tuesday after becoming embroiled in a 'secret relationship' plot-line, which he claims producers created. And Married At First Sight's most controversial bride Davina Rankin has now empathized with the reality star's 'villain' portrayal. The busty Instagram model, 27, shared Brett's post surrounding his shock exit from the show, adding: 'Feeling for @suchislife.co(Brett).' Scroll down for video 'Feeling for him!' MAFS 'villain' bride Davina Rankin defends Bachelor In Paradise star Brett Moore after he claims producers were aware of his relationship before being embroiled in 'secret girlfriend' scandal on show Brett claimed in his lengthy upload that producers were aware he was dating former Bachelor star Stephanie Boulton and had implied she would join him on the show, before 'ripping up her contract' to make it seem like he went on a dating show without her. Davina, appearing to relate to his unique situation, wrote: 'But if the public is entertained, that's all that matters.' While on MAFS, Davina was labeled a 'villain' for pursuing what appeared-to-be a secret relationship with 'alpha male' Dean Wells, while they were both 'married' to different people. 'Portraying you as a sh** bloke and as always, forever putting production over humanity': Brett claimed in his lengthy upload that producers were aware he was dating former Bachelor star Stephanie Boulton and had implied she would join him on the show, before 'ripping up her contract' to make it seem like he went on a dating show without her Shock plot! While on MAFS, Davina was labeled a 'villain' for pursuing what appeared-to-be a secret relationship with 'alpha male' Dean Wells, while they were both 'married' to different people While Davina has remained tight-lipped about her portrayal on Married At First Sight, her TV bridesmaid slammed the show's producers last month over her friend's unflattering portrayal. Gillian Godwin even blamed the 'strategically edited' episodes for a torrent of 'cyber bullying' against the busty Instagram model. Gillian went on to accuse the producers of 'strategically editing and typecasting' Davina by going down 'a totally unoriginal stereotypical avenue'. 'But if the public is entertained, that's all that matters': Davina, appearing to relate to his unique situation NOT happy! While Davina has remained tight-lipped about her portrayal on Married At First Sight, her TV bridesmaid slammed the show's producers last month over her friend's unflattering portrayal He was sent packing from Bachelor In Paradise after his not-so-secret relationship with Stephanie Boulton was exposed. And taking to Instagram after Monday's episode, Brett Moore addressed the scandal. In a lengthy post, Brett blamed the show's producers for making him look like a 's**t bloke' and insisted the original plan was for Stephanie to join him in Fiji. Brett Moore was kicked off Bachelor In Paradise on Monday after his not-so-secret relationship with Stephanie Boulton was exposed - but he claims there is another side to the story Brett explained that he and Stephanie were both approached to appear on Bachelor In Paradise in the 'early days' of their relationship. The idea was that they would film the series and allow their romance - which had already started back in Australia - to 'blossom' in front of the cameras. However, things apparently went pear-shaped when Brett 'arrived on the island first' and Stephanie's contract was summarily 'ripped up' - making it 'look like (he) went on a dating show without her'. Was it all a set-up? In a lengthy post, Brett blamed the show's producers for making him look like a 's**t bloke' and insisted the original plan was for Stephanie to join him in Fiji The ensuing controversy over Brett's 'secret' girlfriend and what he was doing on a dating show for singletons was one of the main storylines in the first two episodes. Bachelor fan favourite Tara Pavlovic was even dragged into the embarrassing situation after she was accused of 'covering' for Brett. Brett explained: 'Imagine then airing it to Australia, portraying you as a s**t bloke and, as always, (TV execs) forever putting production over humanity.' Scandal: Brett explained that he and Stephanie were both approached to appear on Bachelor In Paradise in the 'early days' of their relationship - but, for some reason, only he made it to Fiji Insisting that he and Stephanie 'never changed (their) story about seeing each other in the lead up', Brett added that they 'couldn't wait to be reunited in Fiji'. Brett appeared to have support from his Bachelor In Paradise co-stars after Monday's episode aired, with Megan Marx commenting below his post: 'Love you guys.' Mackane Reid also wrote on Instagram: 'Big love to my brother from another mother. Sorry it turned out the way it did... Go to this great man's last post for the full story.' A Warner Bros. spokesperson said: 'Once it was confirmed during filming that Brett and Stephanie were actually dating, Stephanie was no longer eligible for the show.' They have been married for two years. But Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello still look to be in the honeymoon phase. The 45-year-old actress and hunky 41-year-old actor could not keep their eyes off of one another at the Ready Player One premiere in Los Angeles on Monday. Scroll down for video Just the two of us: Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello attended the Ready Player One premiere in Los Angeles on Monday Aww: The 45-year-old actress and hunky 41-year-old actor could not keep their eyes off of one another at the gala The two put on quite the display as they stared adoringly at one another on the purple carpet of the gala held at the famous Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Sofia looked spring chic in a strapless midi dress featuring a floral pattern. She teamed the fashionable dress with a pair of beige heels while accessorizing with a blinged out clutch and matching bracelet. Loved up: The two put on quite the display as they stared adoringly at one another on the purple carpet of the gala held at the famous Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Cool guy: Joe posed with a point Flower power: Sofia looked spring chic in the midi dress Look of love: The two put on quite the adorable display Handsome couple: They looked fantastic as always Her brunette tresses were worn down flowing over her shoulder as she accentuated her natural looks with complimentary make-up. Joe looked handsome in a navy blue suit over a light blue dress shirt with several of the top buttons undone to show off his muscular chest. He also sported black dress shoes as his dark locks were disheveled and sported a salt and pepper goatee. Sheer daring: They were not the only stars at the gala as they were joined by Jaime King Pretty: She looked gorgeous in a flowy sheer powder blue dress Showy display: The 38-year-old actress looked quite proud of her look as she shook the long billowy skirt around to show it off even more on the red carpet Just the two of us: Jaime and husband Kyle Newman posed for snaps on the purple carpet They were not the only stars at the gala as they were joined by Jaime King who looked gorgeous in a flowy sheer powder blue dress. The 38-year-old actress looked quite proud of her look as she shook the long billowy skirt around to show it off even more on the red carpet. Leading man in the flick Tye Sheridan ' looked dapper in a navy blue suit over a striped dress shirt and argyle patterned black and blue tie. Handsome:Leading man in the flick Tye Sheridan ' looked dapper in a navy blue suit over a striped dress shirt and argyle patterned black and blue tie Gorgeous: Olivia Cooke is the top billed actress in the sci-fi adventure film as she looked ravishing in a red leather number featuring a very intricate tie-up design near the top Starlet: The 24-year-old British actress teamed the interesting piece of couture with matching strappy stilettos Talented: Lena Waithe looked cool in white cement Air Jordan III sneakers Tremendous trio: Tye, Olvia, and Lena looked great at the gala Comfort: Olivia soon slipped into a comfy pair of Converse sneakers as she enjoyed the star-studded after party Tight knit: Olivia stuck close to pal and co-star Lena as they kept the evening going Star-struck: Olivia warmly created Back To The Future icon Christopher Lloyd Sci-fi frenzy: Olivia beamed as she rubbed shoulders with the sci-fi favourite Olivia Cooke is the top billed actress in the sci-fi adventure film as she looked ravishing in a red leather number featuring a very intricate tie-up design near the top. The 24-year-old British actress teamed the interesting piece of couture with matching strappy stilettos. Her brunette tresses were put up in an elegant updo as she accentuated her natural looks with complimentary make-up topped off with pink lip. Legend: Director Steven Spielberg looked cool as always Tremendous trio: The 71-year-old actor was joined by his two leading stars Back in black: Hannah John-Kamen stunned in a sheer black look with jumpsuit Intelligent: Author Ernest Cline rocked a navy suit with white dress shirt Dapper dudes: Simon Pegg (left) and Ben Mendelsohn (right) looked handsome Strike a pose: Olivia shimmered in her red ensemble and offset Lena's casual Letterman jacket Paired up: Hannah John-Kamen posed alongside Australian co-star Ben Mendelsohn Cheery: Lena couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she posed with Christopher Lloyd No doubt many are excited about the new Steven Spielberg film as it has received generally positive reviews. According to a press release, 'the film is set in 2045, with the real world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But people have found salvation in the OASIS, an immersive virtual universe where you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone.' The creator of OASIS, James Halliday, dies, leaving behind his fortune and a contest to find keys that will lead to the winner taking control of the virtual world. Stunning: Kat Graham looked good in a red leather blazer Stylish: Aisha Tyler looked fashionable in black leather pants Just us: Seth Green and wife Clare Grant Mandatory looked happy on the purple carpet Family affair: Christopher Lloyd brought his son to the gala Rubbing shoulders: Lena happily posed alongside film executive Toby Emmerich Wade manages to find the first key, but immediately becomes a target for nefarious forces bent on claiming OASIS and Halliday's immense fortune for themselves. The unlikely young hero then joins forces with a group of friends who call themselves the High Five to save OASIS and defeat the forces of evil threatening it. The High Five is composed of Sheridan, along with characters played by Olivia Cooke, Lena Waithe, Philip Zhao and Win Morisaki. Ready Player One is based off the fantastically popular novel of the same name by Ernest Cline, and was written by Cline and Zak Penn. The Steven Spielberg directed flick hits cinemas around the world on Thursday, Support: The director's wife Kate Capshaw was front and center Family affair: She was accompanied by their daughter, Jessica Great Scott! There was a DeLorean at the gala which was made famous by Eighties adventure film franchise Back To The Future It's unlikely her incarnation of the Fantastic Four will ever get to do battle with the Silver Surfer. But it doesn't mean Kate Mara can't still dig the look, as she rocked an all-silver ensemble on Monday. The 35-year-old rocked a stunning Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet two-piece suit for her visit to SiriusXM Studios in New York. Silver belle! Kate Mara looked gorgeous in an alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet silver blossom-patterned blazer and shorts combo as she visited SiriusXM in NY on Monday She teamed a silky blossom patterned blazer with matching shorts, finishing the outfit in a ruffled high-collar silver top and dark navy pumps. Her dark red hair was regimentally center-parted and tied back just as tight. The actress was on hand to talk about her latest film Chappaquiddick, named after the Island and infamous incident that occurred there in 1969. In it, she plays Mary Jo Kopechne, the campaign assistant who ended up dead in Senator Ted Kennedy's car. Tight: Her dark red hair was regimentally center-parted and tied back just as tight Project: The actress was on hand to talk about her latest film Chappaquiddick, named after the Island and infamous incident that occurred there in 1969 The two were driving away from a party when the car crashed off a bridge into a lake; a huge political scandal erupted shortly afterwards as the details emerged, such as Kennedy not reporting the incident until ten hours later. Mara was joined at the studio by Jason Clarke, who plays the Senator in the historical drama. The film was screened last year at the Toronto film festival, but goes on general release on April 6. She also chatted about her upcoming series with Ryan Murphy, Pose, with Heroine Magazine. 'I feel a moral obligation to make things that somehow create conversations among people,' she told the mag, of which she also adorns the cover. Co-star: Mara was joined at the studio by Jason Clarke, who plays Senator Ted Kenedy in the historical drama 'I think that is the whole point of art anyway, whether it is film or a painting, or whatever, to bring people together and to talk.' 'Ive done quite a few political projects, but to me it doesnt have to be, it can be emotional in a lot of ways,' she said. The new drama 'looks at the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in 1980s New York: the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world.' It will feature the largest cast of transgender actors in series regular roles and the largest recurring LGBTQ cast ever for a scripted television series. She added: 'Right now with this new series is breaking a lot of ground with an amazing trans cast that really does reflect that conversation of whats happening in todays world.' She's The Bachelor winner known for her flawless visage. And on Sunday, Laura Byrne, 32, joked that her perfect complexion might have had a little help along the way, with the common injectable Botox. Taking to Instagram, Laura uploaded a short clip of herself with Bachelor in Paradise star Florence Alexandra, with the pair having a mock interview at the Grand Prix. Sitting together at the Melbourne event, the clip shows the pair laughing and joking, only for Florence to say: 'Why does your face not move?' Brunette beauty Laura, then appearing to jokingly say: 'Botox.' Following the upload of the video, Daily Mail Australia contacted the former reality star, asking if she had undergone the procedure. 'Slow news day hey': Laura Byrne, 32, has refused to confirm if she's undergone a Botox treatment, after appearing to joke about it in a mock interview with Bachelor in Paradise star, Florence Alexandra To which she replied: 'Slow news day hey,' adding two 'laughing crying,' emojis. The former reality star is known for her complexion, with Laura having a radiant glow in the selfies she posts to her Instagram account. It comes after she posted a close-up of herself last week, while appearing to be asleep, next to a glamours picture in a side-by-side. Perfect skin! The TV personality is known for her flawless complexion with the former reality star barely having a line on her face The brunette beauty captioned the hilarious post: 'What I think I look like vs the goddess Matt gets to gaze at every single time we are on a plane.' She joked, 'I know what you're thinking .... lucky guy.' The statuesque beauty highlighted her 'what I think I look like' shot by sharing a rather fetching selfie. 'What I think I look like vs the goddess Matt gets to gaze at every single time we are on a plane': Earlier this month, Laura shared a hilarious side-by-side of herself on a plane In the snap, Laura's skin is positively glowing as she styles her mane in soft, beach waves. Whereas in the second snap, the jewellery designer draws attention to the rather funny face she is pulling as she dozes on an airplane. In the seemingly makeup free snap, Lauren looks flushed as she rolls her tongue to one side of her mouth. It seems Matty J and Laura are still as smitten as ever, after they were snapped packing on the PDA at The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival earlier that month. They were some of the most recognisable reality TV faces while taking part in the latest season of Married At First Sight. And now that the popular dating show has wrapped, it appears many of the 'brides' and 'grooms' are trying to make the most of their 15 minutes of fame. Taking to their Instagram accounts, the unlucky-in-love singletons shamelessly flaunted what appeared to be freebies. Cringe alert! Married At First Sight stars shamelessly plug beauty freebies on social media after their stint on the reality show wraps up Troy Delmege's former 'wife' Ashley Irvin couldn't resist uploading a shot of herself in the midst of a visit to a skin treatment clinic. The blonde flight attendant was all smiles as she posed in a moss green T-shirt and rocked peace signs with both hands. 'My first skin needling @laserclinics Carindale. My poor little beetroot face,' she wrote. 'My poor little beetroot face': Ashley (top) took to Instagram to share a snap of herself undergoing her first skin needling session Patrick Miller, who was matched with Charlene Perera on the series, shared a bizarre video on Tuesday sporting a blue mouth guard and bright orange glasses. Tagging in Melbourne's Vogue Dental Studios, the 34-year-old looked be undergoing a teeth whitening treatment, with Dr. Deepan Duraisamy. It's the same dentist that former MAFS stars Nick Furphy and Nadia Stamp have utilised in the past - with Nick revealing in February he underwent a $25,000 teeth transformation. All smiles: Patrick Miller (pictured) shared a bizarre video of himself getting what appeared to be a teeth whitening treatment 'What am I getting done?' Telv (pictured) previously tagged the dentist in an Instagram Story of his own It seemed to be the dentist of choice for current MAFS stars as well, with co-star Telv Williams previously uploading a snap at the same venue. FIFO worker Telv shared a snap in similar orange glasses and tagged the same dentist and venue on his Instagram account. 'What am I getting done?' Telv captioned the snap at the time. Meanwhile, it's not just beauty perks that MAFS stars receive. A Byron Bay Rentals spokesperson confirming to Daily Mail Australia that this season's 'villain' Davina Rankin received a special rate at the luxuryPavilion 2 at Broken Head thanks to her 'social media influencer' status. Jaime King always puts her best foot forward on the red carpet. And it was no different on Monday, as the actress/model, 38, dazzled at the premiere of Steven Spielberg's latest movie Ready Player One at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California with her spouse Kyle Newman, 42. The Omaha, Nebraska native was clad in an arctic blue maxi dress with a sheer, billowing floor-length skirt, with a red patch on the top and red sandal heels. Scroll below for video Elegant: Jaime King, 38, dazzled at the premiere of Steven Spielberg's latest movie Ready Player One at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California Monday The 5ft9 stunner had her blonde locks styled down and with bangs as she posed with her husband of 10 years, filmmaker Kyle Newman. Newman - who tied the knot with the stunning King in November of 2007 in Beverly Hills - was clad in a black jacket over a grey shirt with grey pants. King, who's in the upcoming films Ocean's 8 and Escape Plan 2: Hades, hit a number of poses as she walked the red carpet for photographers, at times pulling on parts of the skirt area to showcase the garment's wingspan. The mother-of-two - to James Knight, four, and Leo, two, has been busy as of late with FLL x Jaime King, a new fashion line she's been collaborating on with the fashion house For Love and Lemons. Magical: The multi-talented King let her sheer gown billow to showcase it at the debut Happy: King posed alongside her husband of a decade, Kyle Newman, at the premiere Special occasion: The celebrity couple was affectionate as they posed for photographers Speaking with Forbes last week, King stressed the need for focus and clarity when asked on her maxims for success. 'The more stuff you have - whether its bad relationships or too many clothes in your closet - the less creative you will be,' she said. 'Clutter bogs you down. When you live as clear and edited a life as possible, thats when youll be the most productive.' Other celebs at the debut of the movie, which features Tye Sheridan and T.J. Miller, included super-couple Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, Kat Graham and Christopher Lloyd. Substance and style: King is hard at work on her latest fashion endeavor, FLL x Jaime King Roxy Jacenko recently presented a touching speech as a guest speaker at a Wollahra Council's citizenship ceremony in Sydney. The savvy businesswoman, 37, shared footage of her speech congratulating and offering advice to new Australian citizens as part of YouTube series: The Real Roxy. Scroll down for video 'Im inspired every day to call this incredible country home': PR queen Roxy Jacenko congratulates new Australians at citizenship ceremony as she reflects on successfully creating a 'prosperous life' for her family 'To each and every one of you who is here this evening celebrating their Australian citizenship I offer my sincere congratulations and welcome!' she began her address. Roxy, the founder of Sweaty Betty PR, shook hands with new citizens and posed for photos and selfies with the proud recipients, who held their certificates. Professional Boxer and NSW State Heavyweight Champion Matt Davoren was presented citizenship on the evening and posed alongside Roxy for a photo. 'There is nowhere else Id rather work or live, Im inspired every day to call this incredible country my home and to make the most of all opportunities being Australian had afforded me,' the mother-of-two continued, advising her audience to do the same. Roxy, the founder of Sweaty Betty PR, shook hands with new citizens and posed for photos and selfies with the proud recipients, who held their certificates (PICTURED with Professional Boxer and NSW State Heavyweight Champion, Matt Davoren) 'Taking every chance to create a happy, healthy and prosperous life for my family': The mother-of-two advised the audience to maximising opportunities available to them as Australians, as she has done with her working life 'To me being an Australian means maximising these opportunities and taking every chance to create a happy, healthy and prosperous life for my family,' Roxy added. Roxy is the wife to Oliver Curtis, who she shares two young children with - six-year-old daughter Pixie and three-year-old son Hunter. The blonde stunner was reunited with her husband last June after he was released from prison following being found guilty of conspiring to commit insider trade. While Roxy's networth is unknown, News Limited previously claimed Roxy's Sweaty Betty and Ministry Of Talent businesses had a rumoured turnover of $13 million in 2015. Flashy! While Roxy's networth is unknown, News Limited previously claimed Roxy's Sweaty Betty and Ministry Of Talent businesses had a rumoured turnover of $13 million in 2015 She previously shared a clip of the ceremony to Instagram last week, noting what 'an incredible evening and opportunity' it was to be a part of. Fans commented with praise at her kind words, claiming she should be proud to have been afforded such 'an honour'. 'Your words of welcome to our newest citizens were just beautiful', and 'Nice that you contributed! Im sure you have some good inspiration to new citizens!' were also comments left in the thread. They last worked together in 2010, the year their TV sitcom Scrubs came to an end after nine seasons. But on Monday night, Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke reunited for one night only at PaleyLive NY. The two hung out together to promote the actor's new comedy Alex, Inc. which marks his return to ABC. Back together: Former Scrubs stars Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke reunited for one night only at PaleyLive NY on Monday night Braff, 42, and Chalke, 41, posed together for photos on the red carpet before the actress hosted a Q&A with the actor and filmmaker about his new show. The single-camera comedy is based on the podcast StartUp, which tells the story of former NPR journalist Alex Blumberg's attempts to start his own podcast company, THR.com reported. Braff stars as Alex Schuman, a father of two with a cautiously supportive wife (Tiya Sircar) who is launching a podcast business with his cousin (Michael Imperioli). Supportive: Chalke, 41, was on hand to help Braff, 42, promote his new ABC comedy Alex, Inc. Pertinent: Braff stars in the single-camera show as a father-of-two trying to launch his own podcast company Former co-stars: The pair last worked together in 2010 when Scrubs ended after nine seasons Playful: But the chemistry between the two, which had made Scrubs such a success, was still there for the audience to see Braff and Chalke proved they still have chemistry together during the playful on stage session. The Canadian, who's since starred on How I Met Your Mother and is about to return to the screen in the Roseanne reboot, showcased her legs in a black mini dress paired with a black sweater. She added silver heels and wore her honey blonde hair loose. Braff, meanwhile, paired a striped t-shirt with a dark blue suit and brown shoes. Leggy look: Chalke, who returns to TV on the reboot of Roseanne on ABC, wore a black sweater with a black mini skirt. She added silver heels and wore her honey blonde hair loose The way they were: Braff and Chalke starred as young doctors on Scrubs She's climbed to the top of the ranks as a sought-after model. And Hailey Baldwin proved worthy of the title as she commanded attention in a casual chic ensemble stepping out in Los Angeles on Monday. The 21-year-old beauty rocked a double denim outfit that showcased her enviable figure as she enjoyed a sunny day out in the tony neighborhood of West Hollywood. Denim dare: Hailey Baldwin, 21, commanded attention in a casual chic ensemble stepping out in Los Angeles on Monday Daring to impress, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin threw on a super laid back, yet infinitely stylish Adidas denim jacket that featured white stripes. Her pert derriere and gorgeous gams were swathed in a skimpy Adidas mini skirt that matched the jacket with the alluring stripes. Pausing to affirm her position as a modern style icon, Hailey topped the look with a bright red Supreme messenger bag and complimentary retro shades. Her trademark golden tresses were left loose and parted in the middle as they brushed atop her petite shoulders. Impressive: Daring to impress, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin threw on a super laid back, yet infinitely stylish Adidas denim jacket that featured white stripes Meanwhile, Hailey was joined by BFF Kendall Jenner as they participated in the March For Our Lives protest on Saturday. The last time we saw Kendall marching was in her much-derided and swiftly pulled, 2017 Pepsi advertisement. But this time she had a serious political statement to make, as she wore a denim jacket with an anti-Donald Trump slogan in Los Angeles on Saturday. The model rocked an image of the commander in chief with the slogan He Ain't My President as she joined Hailey Baldwin in the March For Our Lives rally. Giving it: Her pert derriere and gorgeous gams were swathed in a skimpy Adidas mini skirt that matched the jacket with the alluring stripes Kendall has not had the best of luck with political statements in the past, following the backlash from her infamous Pepsi advertisement. The short film was accused of trivializing civil rights and political protests as she was seen making the peace with a can of the fizzy drink. But this time round, it seems Kendall has a genuine point to make. She and Hailey were joined by Jaden Smith at the march that was organized after the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that left 17 dead on February 14. He welcomed his fifth child earlier this month, at the age of 57. And Hugh Grant certainly looked to be enjoying new parenthood as he made his first public appearance since the arrival on Monday evening at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival screening of Maurice at BFI Southbank in London. The esteemed actor, who plays Clive Durham in the groundbreaking 1987 period drama, looked incredibly handsome while beaming at the bash just three weeks after his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley broke his baby news on Andy Cohen's show. Happy days! Hugh Grant certainly looked to be enjoying new parenthood as he made his first public appearance since the arrival on Monday evening at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival screening of Maurice at BFI Southbank in London During his appearance at the event, Hugh certainly seemed in his element following the delightful news that his girlfriend Anna Eberstein, 35, was said to have welcomed their baby late last month - according to Elizabeth. Looking typically dashing, Hugh went for smart-casual look as he wore jeans with a white shirt tucked in, a battered brown belt and a sharp velvet blazer over the top. Within the event, he posed alongside Tricia Tuttle, the director of BFI Flare, and his Maurice co-star James Wilby, who plays the titular character and Hugh's love interest in the three-decade old movie. While he was certainly chipper, Hugh showed no signs of being a weary new dad as he joyously beamed at the event following the news broken by his ex. Happy days: Hugh became a father for the fifth time, his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley claimed on US TV Overjoyed! The esteemed actor, who plays Clive Durham in the groundbreaking 1987 period drama, looked incredibly handsome while beaming at the bash just three weeks after his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley broke his baby news on Andy Cohen's show The whole gang: Within the event, he posed alongside Tricia Tuttle, the director of BFI Flare, and his Maurice co-star James Wilby Way back when: James (left) played the titular character and Hugh's love interest in the three-decade old movie Appearing on Watch What Happens Live earlier this month, Elizabeth was asked if she was surprised by the amount of kids Hugh has - and responded: 'He had another one last week. He has five. He was over 50 when he spawned them all.' Andy asked Elizabeth if she was shocked by it and she delightfully responded: 'No, hes an enchanting dad. Really, really sweet.' The actress then cheekily cracked up her fellow guest on the chat show, David Oyelowo when she spoke of Hugh's forray into fatherhood. She said: 'Having these kids has transformed him from a very miserable person into a fairly miserable person. Its improved him. Hes gone up the scale.' MailOnline has contacted Hugh and Elizabeth's representatives for comment. Happy days! While he was certainly chipper, Hugh showed no signs of being a weary new dad as he joyously beamed at the event following the news broken by his ex Father again: Andy asked Elizabeth if she was shocked by it and she delightfully responded: 'No, hes an enchanting dad. Really, really sweet' Hugh's children 1987-2000 - Hugh enjoyed an extremely high-profile romance with Elizabeth before splitting following his infidelities. While they never had children, he is Godfather to her son Damian, 15 September 2011 - Hugh became a father for the first time, to a daughter Tabitha with receptionist Tinglan Hong, after 'a fleeting affair' September 2012 - The actor later became a father for a second time to John Mungo, his first baby with Anna December 2012- After a brief reunion, Hugh and Tinglan had another child, as she gave birth to a boy called Felix although this only became publicly known when a birth certificate leaked when he was 16-months-old December 2015 - Anna and Hugh became parents once more to a second child, although they have never announced the child's name Advertisement In January, Anna's mother Susanne is said to have spoken to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, to confirm the news as she said: 'I'm very happy to be getting another grandchild. She's due rather soon.' Hugh and Anna have two young children together - a son John, born in 2012, and a second child, born in December 2015. Clearly delighted at the prospect of becoming a grandmother once again, Susanne reportedly spilled the beans to the magazine. The name of the couple's second child still remains a mystery, but back in 2015 the birth was confirmed by Anna's mother to a Swedish newspaper. In the statement released at the time, she said: Anna Eberstein from Sundsvall has had her second child with film star Hugh Grant. The newest member of the family saw the light of day for the first time last Wednesday. Her mother, a judge and prominent left-wing politician, confirmed to Swedish newspaper Ornskoldsviks Allehanda the baby, her second grandchild, was born. She went on: 'I can confirm that I have another grandchild. It is wonderful that we now have grandchildren (more than one grandchild).' Happy days: Hugh and Anna have two young children together - a son John, born in 2012, and a second child, born in December 2015 A close friend of the family told MailOnline at the time: I heard from Annas parents that she had given birth last Wednesday. It was a little girl. Everything seemed to have gone okay. Hugh also has two other children - a daughter Tabitha, six, and son Felix, four, with Chinese beauty Tinglan Hong. The Notting Hill star went from having no children to being a father of four in just four years. At the time of Tabitha's birth, Hugh's spokesman said: 'He and the mother had a fleeting affair and while this was not planned, Hugh could not be happier or more supportive. He and the mother have discussed everything and are on friendly terms.' When Ms Hong gave birth to Felix, Mr Grant wrote on Twitter: 'In answer to some journos. Am thrilled my daughter now has a brother. Adore them both to an uncool degree. They have a fab mum.' Happy days: The actress then cheekily cracked up her fellow guest on the chat show, David Oyelowo when she spoke of Hugh's forray into fatherhood In 2014, he spoke for the first time about his son. Speaking to Swedish newspaper Nojesbladet, he said of Anna: We are very good friends and shes a very good mother. The actor said he had plenty of contact with his son. He said: 'I see him all the time, all the time - most days'. His relationship with the boy was excellent, he said, adding: I love him very much. He also spoke warmly about the charms of Sweden, which he has visited several times. Elizabeth and Hugh's close friendship will come as a surprise to many, given that he famously solicited the services of Divine Brown in Hollywood's notorious Sunset Strip in 1995, when he and Elizabeth were still very much in a relationship. Both the Four Weddings actor and the prostitute were pulled over by the police and detained - leading to Hugh's famous sheepish mugshot. The big reveal: Elizabeth revealed the news on Andy Cohen's show Liz and Hugh, who began dating in 1987, were plagued with troubles after his cheating was exposed. The couple worked through their issues, but eventually split amicably in 2000 after 13 years of dating, with Liz previously telling MailOnline that Hugh is 'family' to her. The pair met in 1987 when Hugh played Lord Byron in a Spanish production called Remando Al Viento, and Elizabeth was cast in a supporting role as Byron's former lover Claire Clairmont. Liz and Hugh, who began dating in 1987, were plagued with troubles after his cheating was exposed. The couple worked through their issues, but eventually split amicably in 2000 after 13 years of dating, with Liz previously telling MailOnline that Hugh is 'family' to her. Bill Nighy has revealed he has considered quitting acting numerous times, because he 'hated' it for years. In an honest interview with the Radio Times, the 68-year-old admitted he was 'so unhappy' he was driven to give up filming altogether, but could not think of another career path to pursue. The star, best known for his work in Love Actually and the Underworld franchise, explained that while working on screen is 'not unpleasant', it is never fulfilling - and led him to feel incredibly self-conscious. 'The actual process is never satisfactory': Bill Nighy has revealed he has considered quitting acting numerous times, because he 'hated' it for years (pictured in October 2017) He said: 'I thought of quitting, if not daily, then weekly. I was so unhappy. I just hated it, for years.' Revealing the perks that kept him going through his career struggle, he went on: 'It's not unpleasant all the time, and you work with great people and I am proud of some of the things I've done. 'You get a degree of satisfaction when it's over, but the actual process is never satisfactory.' Iconic: Bill, who is best known for playing Billy Mack in Love Actually (above), said: 'I thought of quitting, if not daily, then weekly. I was so unhappy. I just hated it, for years' Bill first rose to prominence as Mark Carleton in BBC's The Men's Room back in 1991, but shot to the heights of fame after playing ageing rock star Billy Mack in Love Actually twelve years later. Despite portraying one of the best known characters in the rom-com world, the actor also revealed he can't bear to watch himself in anything on-screen. He recalled the first and only time he did so: 'I tried when I was young and less complicated to look at, and it was bloody awful. Cringe: Despite playing one of the best known characters in the rom-com world, he also revealed he can't bear to watch himself on-screen - deeming the experience 'bloody awful' 'I was third bank robber in Softly, Softly. I was staying in digs with some people they were all crowded in the front room, and then I came on TV. I walked out, it was so terrible. 'I had a phoney accent, which was just not committed enough, and my hair, obviously. Oh!' However, the State of Play star admitted he stuck his acting career out as he 'couldn't think of anything else to do' - and enjoyed the sense of pride after making a successful film. Staying strong: However, the State of Play star admitted he stuck his acting career out as he 'couldn't think of anything else to do' - and enjoyed the sense of pride at making a good film 'I flunked school not that that would prevent you from doing anything in life but I didn't have any other ideas,' he added. 'I was deeply self-conscious, which you are supposed to be. Every actor is self conscious.' The BAFTA winner has now been acting for more than 40 years, and is currently embarking on a completely new project - a live-action movie, Detective Pikachu. Bill was spotted on set in London earlier this month, but his role in the Pokemon flick has been kept tightly under wraps by producers. Confused: He said of his career struggle: 'I didn't have any other ideas. I was deeply self-conscious, which you are supposed to be. Every actor is self conscious' According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bill will join a whole galaxy of stars for the movie including: Justice Smith, Ryan Reynolds, Big Little Lies' Kathryn Newton, Rita Ora and Suki Waterhouse. It will chart the story of teenager Tim Goodman (Smith) who joins forces with Detective Pikachu (Reynolds) to hunt down his kidnapped dad. The unconventional action role is no doubt a welcome part for Bill, who recently confessed the difficulties of portraying romance to an audience. He said last year: Its always a good day when you dont have to be romantic. Even when I was young and eligible for such parts I used to hate doing them. As someone who didnt feel attractive or at all charming, I just felt exposed. I used to hate having to be the object of desire. He has been trying to hold it together through sister Liv's legal troubles. And things aren't set to get any easier for Emmerdale's Aaron Dingle, as he is kidnapped and tortured by a furious Syd McFarlane. Aaron (Danny Miller) will be tied to a chair by Adam Barton's ex-cellmate Syd (James Foster) next week, after finding him in his house holding baby Seb hostage. In danger: Emmerdale favourite Aaron Dingle is set to be kidnapped next week by a furious Syd McFarlane, who returns to the village holding baby Seb hostage as he demands 100,000 Fans may remember that Syd was carted off to Scotland by Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) back in January, as part of his and Aaron's plot to break Adam out of prison. But Syd is back with a vengeance as Aaron find him in the house holding Robert's son Seb, demanding 100,000 for the tot's safety. At first Aaron calls in the big guns in the form of Cain and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), with the three of them beating Syd up in the car junkyard before locking him in a cage. Scary: Aaron will find Syd in his house after the ex-cellmate of Adam Barton was carted off to Scotland as part of Cain Dingle's plot to break him out of prison Dramatic: After originally discovering Syd, Aaron will call in the help of Robert Sugden and Cain Dingle, who proceed to beat him up in the junkyard But this doesn't stop Syd like they hoped, as Robert later receives a video call of his partner tied to a chair, looking battered and bruised after being tortured. Fans will have to wait and see whether the much-loved character pulls through, or if Cain and Robert can track down the money in time. Things had been going well for Aaron after reuniting with Robert - to the delight of fans - and settling into a happy family with Liv (Isobel Steele) and baby Seb. Save him! But their threats prove fruitless, as Robert later receives a video call of Aaron tied to a chair after being tortured by Syd But after Liv was arrested for spiking Lisa Dingle's drink with ketamine, Aaron was forced to step up and support his sister, who could be sent to prison for the crime. Liv hit the bottle after heading to court in a desperate bid to receive a lighter sentence, and despite trying to maintain her tough exterior broke down to Lisa over the news. Lisa later retracted her statement saying Liv was responsible, but it came too late as fans wait to hear whether Aaron will be forced to see his sister go through the same tough time he did. Declan Donnelly's wife Ali Astal covered up her baby bump as she headed to work on Tuesday morning. The wife of Saturday Night Takeaway presenter Dec looked chic in a smart black coat and skinny jeans as she headed out and about near her Chiswick home, followed by her husband a short while later. Dec confirmed the couple are expecting their first child in a social media post on Sunday night, amid his presenting partner Ant McPartlin's ongoing personal battles. Expecting: Declan Donnelly's wife Ali Astal covered up her baby bump as she headed to work on Tuesday morning Making her way through the rain-soaked streets, talent manager Ali dressed for the dreary weather in her winter coat, gloves and white sneakers. She flashed a small smile as she headed off to work, looking glam with a touch of makeup and tied back locks. Dec, who has also been working hard this week prepping for his solo stint on Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend, was spotted leaving the couple's home shortly after his wife, looking deep in thought. It was reported on Monday that Ant McPartlin will return to the hit show this weekend as ITV airs a pre-recorded episode of the special segment in which he stars as a secret agent. Wrapped up: Making her way through the rain-soaked streets, Ali dressed for the dreary weather in her winter coat, gloves and white sneakers Pregnant: There was no sign of her husband Dec, who has also been working hard this week prepping for his solo stint on Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend Off to work too: Dec, who has also been working hard this week prepping for his solo stint on Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend, was spotted leaving the couple's home shortly after Busy week: The TV star clutched his phone and appeared deep in thought as he walked The presenter, who was charged for drink-driving and has returned to rehab, will appear in new footage from the Saturday Knight Takeaway mini-series. Ali was also seen on Monday morning near her Chiswick home, hours after the couple confirmed they're expecting their first baby. The morning after her husband, 42, responded to pregnancy reports, Ali, 40, was seen at her local train station while a short time later a beaming Dec was spotted leaving the couple's house. Dressed in a pale pink coat over a smart navy sweater and shirt, Ali showed a hint of bump as she waited for her train. Expecting: Ali was also seen on Monday morning near her Chiswick home, hours after the couple confirmed they're expecting their first baby Ali kept comfortable in white trainers and added skinny jeans to her ensemble as she kept busy on her phone. It's been reported she is keen to wind down her work commitments in the coming weeks to 'look after herself' and to enjoy an 'easy' pregnancy. Dec's wife, who works as her husband and Ant's talent manager, looked in good spirits as she chatted to a friend on her walk to the station. Dad-to-be! A short time later a beaming Dec was spotted leaving the couple's house Mum-to-be: Dressed in a pale pink coat over a smart navy sweater and shirt, Ali showed a hint of bump as she waited for her train Exciting time: Dec's wife looked in good spirits as she happily chatted to a friend on her walk to the station for her Monday morning commute Commuting: Ali added comfy white trainers and skinny fit jeans to her Monday morning look Working: Ali, who works as her husband's talent manager, was busy checking her phone as she arrived at her local station The ITV star couldn't contain his joy as he grinned at photographers while leaving his house a short time after his wife. After what has been the most turbulent week of Dec's career, the star was smiling again as he headed off to work, prepping for the final two shows of his hit show Saturday Night Takeaway, which he'll present solo following Ant's return to rehab. The proud dad-to-be confirmed the baby news in a brief statement published on social media platform Instagram on Sunday evening. Beaming: The Saturday Night Takeaway star couldn't contain his joy as he beamed at photographers while leaving his house a short time after his wife Happier news: Dec looked on cloud nine after what has been the most turbulent week of his career, following his best friend and presenting partner's arrest a week ago Family man: It's been reported the couple have been trying for some time to start a family Off to work: The star was dressed smartly in a blazer as he jumped in his car to head to work, prepping for the final episodes of hit show Saturday Night Takeaway which he'll present solo Sharing a black and white image from his 2015 wedding to Ali, 40, he wrote: 'Just wanted to say thank you for all the lovely messages. 'The news has sneaked out a little earlier than we had hoped but Ali and I are delighted to be expecting our first child. Thanks for all the love, we really appreciate it.' Earlier that day Declan was seen out and about in London, hours after it was reported that Ali is pregnant. Support: Dec has spent the last few days in talks with Ant and ITV, before confirming last week that this series of Saturday Night Takeaway will end with the planned US finale Busy man: Dec will jet to Orlando for the April 7 final before heading home to work on his other hit show Britain's Got Talent So happy: Dec confirmed that he is expecting his first child with wife Ali in a post shared with Instagram followers on Sunday evening Reports of their growing family comes hot on the heels of Dec preparing to host Saturday Night Takeaway solo next weekend, in light of presenting partner Ant McPartlin heading to rehab following his recent drink-drive arrest. Just hours before the confirmation The Sun reported that the couple, who wed in 2015, are 'delighted to be expecting - especially since they have been trying for some time.' It is alleged that the couple first learnt they were pregnant soon after Dec left the Australian jungle after the last series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Oh Here! finished in December. 'They have been keeping the pregnancy a closely guarded secret, but now that Ali is safely over 12 weeks, they are starting to let people know,' it is claimed of the happy news, with the source quickly adding that they have told 'key people at ITV'. Exciting news: Earlier that day Declan was seen out and about in London, hours after it was reported that Ali is pregnant What a week: The TV star was seen returning to his West London home, dressed casually in jeans and a baseball cap during what has been the most turbulent weeks of his career Rollercoaster few days: Dec, 42 , failed to raise a smile on Sunday as he headed to the house he shares with Ali Ali has reportedly told her close colleagues and will be stepping away from work commitments to 'look after herself' and to enjoy an 'easy' pregnancy. 'They have both always wanted a family but worried that it might not happen for them.' A representative for Dec and Ali refused to comment on the claims when approached by MailOnline. 'They are delighted': Dec Donnelly, 42, and his wife Ali Astall are reportedly expecting their first child Growing family: According to The Sun, the pair, who wed in 2015, are 'delighted to be expecting - especially since they have been trying for some time' Woes: Reports of their growing family comes hot on the heels of Dec preparing to host Saturday Night Takeaway himself, in light of Ant McPartlin heading to rehab following his recent drink-drive arrest It has also been inevitable to ignore the fact that his happy news comes hot on the heels of his best friend Ant's woes. 'This has come at a difficult time for them both, given everything that Ant is now going through and the pressure that has put on Dec in the past week,' it was said, before adding that 'their priority now is their baby and an experience that they see as the best of their lives.' Dec and Ali - who has acted as the presenting duo's manager for over a decade - married in Elswick, Tyne and Wear in August 2015 after two years of dating. Happy news: It is alleged that the couple first learnt they were pregnant soon after the last series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Oh Here! finished in December It is claimed of their delight: 'They have been keeping the pregnancy a closely guarded secret, but now that Ali is safely over 12 weeks, they are starting to let people know' In an interview with Fabulous magazine in February last year, Ant and Dec both said that the focus in their lives has always been on their families as they bared all about marriage and hopefully having children in the near future. Ant - who had previously spoken about his struggles with having children and of course has since split from his wife - revealed he would be 'over the moon' to become a dad, while Dec echoed similar wishes. Dec said: 'Absolutely at some point, when the time is right! Well have to put some time in the diary. Things are pretty busy!' In April of last year, while recording the finale of the 2017 season of Saturday Night Takeaway at Walt Disney World in Florida, both men admitted that being there made them feel a little broody. Mum to be: Ali has reportedly told her close colleagues and will be stepping away from work commitments to 'look after herself' and to enjoy an 'easy' pregnancy As reported in OK!, Dec said: It is almost like a prescription everyone should come and spend a couple of days in Disney once in their life. Would we come back with a little Ant and Dec? Oh, definitely! 'We saw it on the show, what it means for young ones to come out here. It would be one of those things to do with children, definitely. This comes after Ant - who split from wife Lisa Armstrong earlier this year after 11 years of marriage - was arrested for a drink drive incident over the weekend and has since made the quick decision to return to rehab earlier this week. One onlooker, Jake Spencer, said the Britain's Got Talent star was argumentative towards cops when they tried to put him in a police car after he failed a breath test. A source added: 'They have both always wanted a family but worried that it might not happen for them' Love: Dec and Ali - who has acted as the presenting duo's manager for over a decade - married in Elswick, Tyne and Wear in August 2015 after two years of dating 'This has come at a difficult time for them both': It has also been inevitable to ignore the fact that his happy news comes hot on the heels of his best friend Ant's woes He told The Sun newspaper: 'Ant looked in a right state and was acting argumentatively toward a policewoman. I couldn't believe it when I saw who it was. 'The woman was trying to arrest him and get him in the police car but he clearly wasn't having it. He was not making it easy for her and he seemed to be trying to wriggle out of her clutches. He was not in a good way. 'Eventually she got him in the police car. There were about six or seven police cars in total.' Candid: In an interview last year, Ant and Dec both said that the focus in their lives has always been on their families and hopefully having children in the near future Marital breakdown: Ant split from his wife of 11 years, Lisa Armstrong, earlier this year It is thought Ant veered into the wrong lane after coming round a sharp bend, hitting a green Mini before crashing into a BMW X5. A three-year-old girl was taken to hospital to be checked over as a precautionary measure. In 2013, Ant also discussed he and his estranged make-up artist wife were finding it difficult to conceive. At the time he confessed to Radio Times: 'Lisa and I would love to have kids. Were trying. Its tougher than you think when you get a bit older.' Explaining the issue in terms of his friendship with Dec, Ant revealed: 'Theres a rumour that we do everything together and Im holding off having kids till Dec finds himself Mrs Right. I love that idea, but Im afraid its not true.' They've been inseparable since they first went public with their romance back in May 2017. And Sofia Richie, 19, couldn't wait to kick off Spring Break with boyfriend Scott Disick, 34, as she shared a snapshot of the couple boarding a private plane on her Instagram page on Monday. The model and the reality star father-of-three posed in front of the luxury aircraft, but were quickly torn apart for their 15-year age gap - referring to Scott as Sofia's 'babysitter'. 'You mean babysitter': Sofia Richie, 19, and Scott Disick, 34, were trolled for their 15-year age gap as they headed off on Spring Break on Monday The couple nailed the casual chic look with their similar cosy monochrome ensembles as Sofia wrapped her arms around the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star. Sofia - the daughter of music icon Lionel Richie and Diane Alexander - sweetly captioned the snap: 'Spring break with my [love]' and signed off with a heart emoji. Fans quickly jumped on the couple for the loved-up snap, pointing out their age difference in a number of trolling comments. Always together: The model and the reality star father-of-three have been inseparable since they began their relationship in May 2017 (pictured in September 2017) One follower replied: 'Doesn't she know students aren't allowed to date professors', while another quoted: 'So glad you have a chaperone. Stay safe!' 'lol more like your dad' another follower quipped. Fans continued to badger the model about the age gap, with another writing: 'You meant your babysitter', while one follower asked: 'What do you possibibly talk about he's old enough to be ur dad'. 'More like your dad': Fans quickly jumped on the couple for the loved-up snap, pointing out their age difference in a number of trolling comments Other commentators were decidedly more positive, with one writing: 'So sweet just love you both as a couple'. Scott and Sofia were first seen getting close aboard a yacht in Cannes last May, but didn't confirm their relationship until a few months later. She said Scott is very much like her, which makes their relationship stronger. In an interview with E!, Sofia explained: 'I just think he's the male version of me. Our humor. We have very similar humor.' Tight knit: Scott and Sofia were first seen getting close aboard a yacht in Cannes last May, but didn't confirm their relationship until a few months later Prior to his romance with Sofia, Scott was in a long-term relationship with Kourtney Kardashian for almost a decade. The former couple have three children together - Mason, eight, Penelope, five and Reign. But Scott is not the only one to have moved on with a younger flame. Kourtney has been dating male model Younes Bendjima, 24, following her split from the father of her children. He acrimoniously split from the former Made In Chelsea star back in 2016, after three years of marriage. And Professor Green appeared to take another swipe at his ex-wife Millie Mackintosh on Tuesday, and criticise her for publicising her romance with Hugo Taylor online. Speaking to Closer, the 34-year-old revealed he finds it 'crass' when people 'plaster' their relationships everywhere - in a subtle dig at his ex, who moved on with former flame Hugo just months after their split. 'It's a bit crass': Professor Green took another swipe at his ex-wife Millie Mackintosh on Tuesday, and slammed her for publicising her romance with Hugo Taylor online Professor Green - real name Stephen Manderson - and Millie announced their split in February 2016, and the heiress was pictured cosying up to her former flame Hugo just three months later. However, in an interview with Closer, the rapper appeared to throw shade at his ex for publicly displaying her new relationship so soon afterwards. He told the magazine: 'I'm not cynical about love and romance at all - I just don't feel the need to plaster it everywhere, it's a bit crass.' Hitting out: The rapper revealed he finds it 'crass' when people 'plaster' their relationships everywhere - in a subtle dig at his ex, who moved on with Hugo (above) months after their split After confirming their on-again romance, Millie and Hugo became engaged in June 2017, fourteen months after her divorce from Stephen was finalised. The musician meanwhile moved on with model Fae Williams, who he has been besotted with ever since. Discussing their new romance, Pro Green revealed the pair were in no rush to settle down - although his failed first marriage has not put him off the idea of starting a family. Happy: After confirming their on-again romance in May 2016, Millie and Hugo became engaged in June 2017, fourteen months after her divorce from Stephen was finalised 'We're not engaged but we're really happy': The musician has also moved on with model Fae Williams, who he started dating two years ago (pictured in February 2018) He said: 'We're not engaged, but what does marriage signify? We're really happy. She is gorgeous. I'd love to be dad one day, but I'm not broody yet - I can have them until I'm 50!' 'I've definitely learned something from every relationship I've had. If you don't learn something then it is time wasted. But Millie hasn't put me off tying the knot again.' The Just Be Good To Green hitmaker announced his split from wife Millie in February 2016, after three years of marriage. Happier times: The Just Be Good To Green hitmaker announced his split from wife Millie in February 2016, after three years of marriage (pictured in September 2015) The rapper had first contacted Millie through her agent and the pair went public at the Brit Awards in February 2012, with Stephen proposing on holiday in Paris just over a year later. They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Babington House in Somerset in September 2013, before their marriage was dissolved in just 30 seconds with a decree nisi. However, the pair have been on acrimonious terms ever since, with the musician even recently accused of mocking his ex-wife on social media, after her clothing line went bust. Over: They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Babington House in September 2013, before their marriage was dissolved in just 30 seconds with a decree nisi (pictured in Feb 2012) Sharing a snap of himself and Fae looking blissfully happy while behind the wheel of his car last week, the rapper wrote: 'Hahahahahaahahahahaha. Not one to gloat, but Hahahahahaha.' While it's not known if his Instagram post was definitely aimed at Millie, it wouldn't be the first time Pro Green has publicly mocked his ex. Shortly after images of Millie looking a little worse for wear while on holiday with Hugo emerged back in May 2016, he tweeted: 'Money really can't buy you class can it'. His heart shattered into tiny pieces after Florence Alexandra left him without a rose on Monday night's episode of Bachelor In Paradise. But it might not be all bad for Davey Lloyd, with the star hinting on Tuesday that he'll be returning to the Fijian island. Appearing on The Project, the 28-year-old confessed he still had feelings for the Dutch beauty and believed the love was requited. Scroll down for video Is he making his return? After being booted off Bachelor In Paradise on Monday night, on Tuesday, Davey Lloyd hinted he'd be making a return to win over Florence Alexandra's heart 'There's definitely some feelings there,' he confessed. 'Obviously, I didn't spend as much time as I wanted to with her but who knows what the future holds.' And even host Carrie Bickmore teased his return, slyly saying: 'you never know'. Coming back for love: 'There's definitely some feelings there,' he confessed But Davey's chat didn't end there, confirming that Florence also had feelings for him and not her rose recipient Jake Ellis. 'I hope so deep down,' he said when asked if she still had feelings for him, before adding: 'I don't think she has feelings for Jake'. The star who rose to reality fame as the larrikin on Georgia Love's season of The Bachelorette, was left without a rose on during the first rose ceremony on Monday night. All for the cameras? But Davey's chat didn't end there, confirming that Florence also had feelings for him and not her rose recipient Jake Ellis What started as a love triangle was quick to become a love square after he kissed villain Leah Costa before regretting his decision and expressing his desire to pursue his relationship with Florence once again. But his antics soon backfired, failing to get a rose from either of the girls. Bachelor In Paradise returns to Ten on Monday night at 7:30pm. It's only been one week since she confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star Sean Thomsen. But it appears as though Tracey Jewel is already preparing to take the next step with her beau. Speaking to Hello Darlinks on YouTube this week, the 35-year-old spoke about her plans to walk down the aisle and expand her family. Scroll down for videos Not wasting any time! After confirming her romance with Sean Thomsen last week, Tracey Jewel has already opened up about her marriage and baby plans 'I'm always an ambassador for love,' proclaimed Tracey. 'I'm a hopeless romantic so I hope so,' she replied when asked if marriage was in her future. And while she didn't specify whether she wants to be a wife to Sean, the mum to Grace, eight, added that she would also like to have more children. Blushing! 'I'm a hopeless romantic so I hope so,' she added when asked if marriage was in her future 'I hope maybe more kids in my future as well,' she added. Tracey's confessions come after she revealed to New Idea earlier in the week that she and Sean were moving to Melbourne from their respective Perth homes to live together. However, according to the publication, Tracey's daughter would not be making the grand move. Moving in! Tracey's confessions come after she revealed to New Idea earlier in the week that she and Sean were moving to Melbourne from their respective Perth homes to live together 'I'll travel to Perth regularly to see my daughter and she'll come here on school holidays,' she said. But despite Grace not heading to the East Coast, the brunette reality star told Daily Mail Australia last week that her daughter and Sean had bonded and get along like 'great mates'. 'Grace has been fine with this whole thing,' confessed Tracey. 'I've been open and honest with her. It was my decision for her not to be filmed or part of it, but I certainly kept her in the loop about everything that's been happening.' She has been plagued with 'spoilt' claims, since her gilded life was laid bare on ITVBe reality show Tamara's World. Yet Tamara Ecclestone and Jay Rutland's daughter Sophia is far from this, as the 33-year-old billionaire heiress insisted her darling 'Fifi' is grounded and down-to-earth, as she revealed to Closer magazine the wholly-un glamorous elements of her life. The 33-year-old daughter of Formula One mogul Bernie was adamant the tot was far from spoilt, as she detailed the list of her 'typical' activities, such as a love of Sainsbury's, her ventures on to public transport and her respectful nature. Famous family: Tamara Ecclestone and Jay Rutland's daughter Sophia is far from this, as the 33-year-old billionaire heiress insisted her darling 'Fifi' is grounded and down-to-earth, as she revealed to Closer magazine the wholly-un glamorous elements of her life Last week, Tamara's followers were quick to scorn her for 'spoiling' Sophia with a life-size cake, mountain of presents and lavish birthday party at a London eatery. But Tamara insisted her critics are just 'envious, jealous and insecure', when she clapped back at trolls on Instagram after she was harangued by commenters on her posts about adorable Fifi's celebrations. 'Never do the envy, jealous and insecure,' she wrote. 'Be the hustler, the well-wisher, the go-getter.' She posted the cryptic message last week, alongside the simple caption, 'Never,' to reiterate her point. Echoing her annoyance, she defended her darling daughter in the interview, as she said: 'Fifi's not spoilt. She loves going on private jets but she also takes the tube and the bus! She's even been on the subway in New York. Insistent: The 33-year-old daughter of Formula One mogul Bernie was adamant the tot was far from spoilt, as she detailed the list of her 'typical' activities, such as a love of Sainsbury's, her ventures on to public transport and her respectful nature Spoilt? Echoing her annoyance, she defended her darling daughter in the interview, as she said: 'Fifi's not spoilt. She loves going on private jets but she also takes the tube and the bus! She's even been on the subway in New York And she's addicted to Sainsbury's. I've taught her that she speaks to everyone exactly the same - whether that's the cleaner of the CEO. When she goes on play dates with the other children she shares all her toys.' Proud Tamara had filled her social media feed with updates about her daughter Sophia's very special fourth birthday on Saturday. She threw a glittering party, with little Sophia seen starting the day clad in a pair of custom-made '4 Fifi' pyjamas and sat on a multi-coloured mountain of presents. Tamara was presented with her first cake of the day, a blue butter cream single tier cake, beautifully decorated with a rainbow and topped with a pink Care Bear. Later, at a party held inside upscale Japanese eatery Benihana in Chelsea, Fifi was presented with a second, mega cake bigger than the tot herself. Cryptic message: Just one day after facing a barrage of criticism, Tamara wrote a quote seemingly aimed at her critics Wow factor; Formula One heiress Tamara pulled out all the stops to treat her young daughter Sophia to a spectacular birthday bash to remember on Saturday, but faced criticism from her social media followers for the extravagant celebration 'Birthday breakfast': The little girl was treated to a unicorn themed breakfast with a lavish party following Piece of cake: The 33-year-old threw a glittering party, with little Sophia seen celebrating at the party in front of a giant three-tiered cake which was almost as tall as she is Beating the kids party staple of jelly and ice cream, Sophia could be seen being cradled by her proud mother, in front of a jaw-dropping three tier cake, decorated once again with the little girls' favourite Care Bears theme. Fifi, who wore a blush pink glittered party dress with tulle skirt for her big day was seen being swung by her mother and father Jay Rutland, 37, in front of a large 4 composed out of multi-coloured balloons. Continuing the birthday tributes, Tamara added: 'Your confidence never ceases to amaze me just when I thought you couldnt get any more sassy you told the dj to drop the beat. 'You light up every room that your in with you energy and your huge personality. So proud of you Fifi beautiful girl. Sweet treat: Beating the kids party staple of jelly and icecream, the stunning cake was decorated in blue buttercream and topped with a pink icing bear, rainbows and clouds Confident: Tamara added: 'Your confidence never ceases to amaze me just when I thought you couldnt get any more sassy you told the dj to drop the beat. You light up every room that your in with you energy and your huge personality. So proud of you Fifi beautiful girl. 'Happy Birthday to the special little Girl who is just to good to be true. Fifi is four. Thank you for completing us we love you more than you will ever know.' However not all of Tamara's followers were supportive of Sophia's lavish day, with some accusing Tamara of spoiling her child. One follower wrote of the youngsters presents, 'I mean seriously, does she need all of them?!' Cute: Tamara gave her girl a loving look as the group all sang Happy Birthday to Sophia Another wrote: 'Ridiculous amount of presents! Just my opinion...Im not jealous or a hater! Hood she had a lovely birthday'. (sic) Another added: 'This is called being spoilt..... and kids in Africa are dying from hunger!' while another wrote 'to many gift's spolit rich child'. One fan blasted Tamara for sharing the luxury day on social media, writing: ' I hate social media present piles making other parents feel inadequate if they arent going to same extreme for their child. I know it has no baring on if you are a good parent or not but I just dont see the need to share. Opinion: However not all Tamara's followers were supportive of Sophia's lavish day, with some accusing Tamara of spoiling her child Lavish lifestyle: Tamara regularly shares photos of her daughter's glamorous lifestyle 'A lovely picture of Sophia on the sofa or at the breakfast table would suffice. Anyway if I had the money chances are I may do the same but I just would not plaster it on social media x' Although many fans stuck up for Tamara, with scores wishing the little girl a happy day and one writing: 'They are a happy family just trying to live their life (money doesn't come into it). If you genuinely can't be happy for them, then we all know your bitterness is actually jealousy. ' Devoted mother Tamara has a history of laying on extravagant birthday celebrations for her beloved daughter with Sophia's first birthday party featuring a balloon castle, a petting zoo and a zebra at a cost of around 70,000. Zebras, sheep, puppies and ponies were just some of the animals that were seen arriving at the family home, which had been kitted out with pink balloons crafted into 'S' shapes in honour of the youngster. Each animal had its very own station complete with a gazebo and pink name sign and a balloon artist was also seen making his way into the family home. First class: At four years old Sophia is already a seasoned first class traveller Presents: Tamara is a devoted mother to her only child and regularly lavishes her with gifts She recently revealed she has only just started to feel comfortable with her appearance, after battling a string of insecurities in her youth. But Bella Hadid was certainly the picture of confidence on Tuesday, as she stripped topless for a saucy new Chrome Hearts shoot with Jordan Barrett. The model, 21, set pulses racing in nothing but skinny jeans and sunglasses - flashing serious side-boob to all as she cosied up to the shirtless Australian hunk for the brand's SS18 campaign. Peek-a-boob! Bella Hadid was certainly the picture of confidence on Tuesday, as she stripped topless for a saucy new Chrome Hearts shoot with Jordan Barrett The pair put on a very steamy display at the shoot as they embraced for cameras, clad only in jeans and accessories. The first shot saw the brunette beauty drape herself around the hunk - giving a glimpse of her bare assets, which she concealed with only her arms. Later cosying up to Jordan from the front, the male model's muscular frame took centre stage as they fiercely smouldered for the camera, in their matching blue-tinted shades. Steamy: The pair put on a very steamy display at the shoot as they embraced for cameras, clad only in jeans and accessories The LA native went on to pose alone later on in a crisp white shirt, which she hung loosely across her shoulders to display her enviably slender frame and plenty of smooth skin to all. Rounding off the shoot, Bella lastly wrapped a white bath robe around her frame as she modelled a trendy set of round sunglasses in front of a mirror. Sweeping half of her hair away from her face, and sporting perfectly bronzed, contoured make-up, Bella proved her naturally striking features and top model status as she worked the camera in the final shots. Busty babe: The brunette beauty draped herself around the hunk in numerous shots - giving a glimpse of her bare assets, which she concealed with only her arms Sexy: The LA native went on to pose alone later on in a crisp white shirt, which she hung loosely across her shoulders to display her slender frame and plenty of smooth skin to all Despite being one of the most recognised faces in the fashion industry, the beauty admitted to only 'recently' feeling comfortable with her appearance - after her weight and thin eyebrows left her feeling insecure when she was a teenager. Speaking to Cosmopolitan.com, the brunette beauty confessed: 'I think I had more beauty insecurities growing up than probably anybody. 'Growing up, I was always self-conscious about my brows but I never knew that you could do something about it. I've always had really thin brows, I got them from my dad. Work it: Rounding off the shoot, Bella lastly wrapped a white bath robe around her frame as she modelled a trendy set of round sunglasses in front of a mirror Stunning: Sweeping half of her hair away from her face, and sporting perfectly bronzed, contoured make-up, Bella proved her naturally striking features as she worked the camera 'I was also kind of chubbier growing up until I was 15, so there were a lot of things I had to grow into - I definitely had to grow into my face a lot. I wasn't very secure with myself until recently.' However, Bella is now a fan of her striking features and only chooses to enhance her brows by filling them in with a pencil. She said: 'Fake it till you make it, I guess. Brows are such a beautiful part of a woman and a man's face, so to be able to enhance them now is revolutionary for me.' He horrifically raped David Platt in shocking scenes aired earlier this month. And Coronation Street's Josh Tucker - played by ITV newcomer Ryan Clayton - will be in pursuit of an alibi next week when he targets Alya Nazir (Sair Khan), just as David (Jack P. Shepherd) threatens to finally go to the police. Josh will show off his flirting skills with Alya after showing no remorse for his horrific crime towards David, who is still struggling to cope with the aftermath. Net is closing in: Coronation Street rapist Josh Tucker will pursue a new alibi next week as David Platt threatens to finally call the police and report him for his crimes Fans will see Josh flirting with Alya as David continues to crumble following his assault earlier this month. David is furious to discover that the mechanic is still on the Street acting as if nothing untoward has happened, confronting him in the Rovers Return yard. While he immediately threatens to report Josh to the police, David is later stunned to see his attacker flirting with Alya inside the pub. No going back: David will later be stunned to see Josh flirting with Alya Nazir, as the mechanic says the claims will be less believable if he has a girlfriend Josh then reveals that having a girlfriend will make David's claims less believable, leaving the mainstay unsure of whether to go through with the threat. Fans will have to wait and see whether David decides to report Josh, in what will be another difficult week after his rape ordeal. David's relationship with Shona (Julia Goulding) will come to an end next week, after she demands answers over their lack of intimacy. The couple were at odds after David decided to move to New Zealand with his dad Martin (Sean Wilson), making it clear that Shona must join them or their relationship is over. Breaking point: In another difficult week for the soap mainstay, David's relationship with Shona will come to an end next week, as he throws her out of the Platt home for demanding answers While David later retracted on his decision, Shona's continuing demands for answers lead him to throw her out of the Platt household next week. Things are not set to get any easier for David, as producer Kate Oates recently revealed the controversial storyline will run for many weeks to come. David has reached breaking point following his rape ordeal, as Josh showed no remorse for the attack. The villainous character confidently told David last week that he has no plans to leave the cobbles just yet, as the rest of the Street continue to fall for his 'nice guy' persona. She welcomed her beloved mini-me daughter Polly in April. And Amy Childs proved she is certainly a yummy mummy as she displayed her sensational frame in a sizzling red swimsuit with a plunging neckline while lounging by the pool on a recent trip to the Melia Dunas Resort in Sal, Cape Verde. The 27-year-old former TOWIE star looked sensational in a burgundy lace-up one-piece which perfectly complemented her trademark flame-red locks, while displaying her eye-popping curves and drinking Prosecco. Eye-popping: Amy Childs proved she is certainly a yummy mummy on Monday as she displayed her sensational frame in sizzling red swimsuit with a plunging neckline while lounging by the pool at the Melia Dunas Resort in Sal, Cape Verde Amy was determined to make the most of her famous curves in the killer swimsuit, which added to the Jessica Rabbit look she is famed for. With a deeply-plunging neckline, fastened only with a heaving lace-up, she made the most of her incredible figure with the perfect cut. Boosting her endless legs, she sported studded wedges with stylish ankle straps and undoubtedly a hefty designer price tag for her frolic by the pool. The high-rise hips on the swimming costume helped highlight her perky posterior, which she was all too happy to display while strutting her stuff. Red hot! The 27-year-old former TOWIE star looked sensational in a burgundy lace-up one-piece which perfectly complemented her trademark flame-red locks, while displaying her eye-popping curves and drinking Prosecco Woah mama! With a deeply-plunging neckline, fastened only with a heaving lace-up, she made the most of her incredible figure with the perfect cut Legs eleven: Amy's tan helped enhance her stunning look as she showed off her staggering pins in the sizzling ensemble This old thing? The swimming costume could barely contain her assets as she reclined in the sunshine to best show off her stunning figure Snap, snap! Reflecting on their split, Amy later revealed she started to feel more like Bradley's 'mum' than his fiancee, and admitted the two even began sleeping in separate rooms before they officially called time on their romance Proving she had no intention of splashing around in the water, Amy's hair was flawlessly styled into coiffed curls with the colouring meshing perfectly with her swimwear - starting with a deep mahogany on top and lighter red on the bottom. While 10-month-old daughter Polly was no where to be seen on the holiday, Amy regularly shares adorable snaps of her youngster on Instagram. In October 2016, Amy confirmed to OK! magazine that she was expecting Polly with her jailbird boyfriend Bradley after trying to get pregnant before he served his five-month spell in prison for handling stolen goods last year. In the interview the delighted star revealed she is 'shocked but happy' as she awaited the arrival of her first child after revealing she did not think she could get pregnant. Lady in red! Proving she had no intention for splashing around in the water, Amy's hair was flawlessly styled into coiffed curls with the colouring meshing perfectly with her swimwear - starting with a deep mahogany on top and lighter red on the bottom Out and a pout: She was trying her best to hold on to her heaving assets with the unravelling lace Smouldering: The pair met in a pub in Essex three years ago but their relationship came to a halt in 2015 when Bradley was sentenced to 16 months in prison for handling stolen goods Trying it out? Amy was checking the temperature of the pool - however did not seem prepared to jump in Having a giggle: Amy seemed particularly tickled by something on her phone as she sipped her drink poolside Out and a pout: Amy's trademark pout was in firm place as she gazed into the distance during her baby-free visit to the pool Legs eleven: She was keen to show off her figure by opting for the scantiest swimwear possible Sizzling: Reflecting on their split, Amy later revealed she started to feel more like Bradley's 'mum' than his fiancee, and admitted the two even began sleeping in separate rooms before they officially called time on their romance The pair met in a pub in Essex three years ago but their relationship came to a halt in 2015 when Bradley was sentenced to 16 months in prison for handling stolen goods. Reflecting on their split, Amy later revealed she started to feel more like Bradley's 'mum' than his fiancee, and admitted the two even began sleeping in separate rooms before they officially called time on their romance. Speaking to OK! magazine in June, she confessed: 'When I found out I was pregnant, I said, "I want to work so hard to give her the best in life" but it felt like Brad wasn't thinking about that... 'Even when he came home from work he'd have a cuddle with her and he did that a little bit but then he'd go upstairs. I think he was just so over it. When she was crying in the night, he wouldn't come in and say, 'Can I help?' It was always me.' Selfie sensation! Keen to capture the perfect shot, the preening star snapped away Hot stuff! Amy was posing ready yet looked as though she had no plans to go for a dip Hitting back: Speaking to OK! magazine in June, she confessed: 'When I found out I was pregnant, I said, "I want to work so hard to give her the best in life" but it felt like Brad wasn't thinking about that' They are no stranger to a hilarious on-screen gaffe, whether it's an on-air blunder, breaking into fits of giggles, or an innuendo or two. And Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby couldn't contain their laughter after Alexander Armstrong made a very cheeky revelation about Jeff Brazier's manhood on This Morning on Tuesday. The Pointless host, 48, made an appearance to talk about the show- The Real Full Monty: Live on ITV, where himself and a host of stars will strip off for the audience. Scroll down for video Giggles: Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby couldn't contain their laughter after Alexander Armstrong made a very cheeky revelation about Jeff Brazier's manhood on This Morning During their chat, it wasn't long until the presenters got down to the gritty details and quizzed the actor if there was any 'willy envy' between the men. To which, Alexander replied: 'I think Jeff Brazier wins that one hands down! So no, not really. You remember Horse in the original Full Monty? That's all I'm saying!' The camera then panned to Jeff, who looked red-faced as he was pulled in front of the camera by Diversity's Ashley Banjo from the show's rehearsals in Sheffield, while the chat show hosts burst into laughter. Red-faced: During their chat, it wasn't long until the presenters got down to the gritty details and quizzed the actor if there was any 'w**** envy' between the men Stripping off: The Pointless host replied: 'I think Jeff Brazier wins that one hands down! So no, not really. You remember Horse in the original Full Monty? That's all I'm saying!' The interview was filled with innuendos from the beginning, with Holly asking about the auditioning process, saying to Alexander 'what do you see in all of them?', before releasing what she had just asked. Falling into fits of laughter, the blonde beauty said: 'This is really hard!' Speaking about whether he thought all the celebrities will strip, the comedian said the cast were left unsure if James 'Arg' Argent was brave enough to take his clothes off live on stage. Awkward: The camera then panned to Jeff, who looked red-faced, as he appeared with Ashley Banjo from the show's rehearsals in Sheffield, while the chat show hosts laughed He said: 'We're still persuading Arg if I'm honest. We've had a lot of discussion about whether he will do the Full Monty I personally think he will. 'But he didn't even take his shoes off in the audition! Every second we've spent in Arg's company has been hilarious. Ashley added: 'I'm not sure he will take his kit off, this is live tomorrow so have no idea what's going to happen.' Cheeky: The interview was filled with innuendos from the beginning, with Holly asking about the auditioning process, saying to Alexander 'what do you see in all of them?' Hearing them speak about him, the TOWIE star made an impromptu appearance on camera, hitting back: 'I can hear you! I'm in Sheffield, I made it here but I didn't make the same train as the lads. 'After much persuasion I'm here but the performance is a different kettle of fish. I'm sure I'll be here tomorrow night, I haven't yet taken my clothes off during rehearsal but I can't let the boys down.' Other celebrities in the line-up include Ainsley Harriott, Tom Parker, John Hartson, John Partridge and Ugo Monye. The stripping off will be broadcast on Wednesday at 9pm with funds being donated to Movember, Prostate Cancer UK, Cancer Research and Everyman. Speaking about the charity strip tease, Ashley added: 'It's not comfortable, being here in front of 2000 people getting naked, but it's such an important reason so close to the heart of the boys. 'If you catch it early enough testicular cancer is so curable, so I think they'll all do it.' Someone forget to tell Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) that snakes and planes don't go together. At the launch of Qantas' non-stop Australia to London flights in Perth on Friday, the 26-year-old achieved what Samuel L. Jackson's woeful 'Snakes On A Plane' couldn't. While the 2006 film was overflowing with tasteless, senseless mediocrity, Jesinta's faux snakeskin ensemble was nothing but class. Snakes on a plane! Jesinta Campbell flashes a glimpse of her stunning physique in a tiny python print crop at the launch of the first ever non-stop Australia to London flight in Perth Taking to Instagram on Tuesday night, the wife of Sydney Swans star Lance 'Buddy' Franklin shared a glimpse of the head-turning outfit she wore to the event. Seen posing for a mirror selfie, Jesinta showcased her incredible physique in a $960 python print skirt and matching $590 crop from Salvatore Ferragamo. Her bronzed slender frame was on full display in the strapless, midriff-baring outfit. Not everyone could pull off the risky look, but even without the added help of her flawless makeup and glamorous earrings, Jesinta looked stunning. Yum! On the night, the model documented her trip to Perth, where Qantas' embarked on the first-ever non-stop commercial flight from Australia to London - she definitely enjoyed the in-flight food 'Last Friday night with @qantas celebrating the launch of the first non-stop flight from Australia to London,' she wrote in the caption. On the night, the model documented her trip to Perth, where Qantas' embarked on the first-ever non-stop commercial flight from Australia to London. Fans got the inside scoop via her Instagram story, where Jesinta filmed herself chowing down on a hot dog while relaxing in the Qantas lounge. Cheat day! Despite her well-known commitment to health and fitness, the beauty wasn't going to let the mouth-watering snacks pass her by Despite her well-known commitment to health and fitness, the beauty wasn't going to let the mouth-watering snacks pass her by. While not listed as an official Qantas ambassador, Jesinta has worked for the brand on a number of occasions, including modelling their new female-specific pilot's outfit back in 2016. He was last seen on the soap in 2013, after running away from the street with Gail Platt's fortune. But Coronation Street's Lewis Archer will soon by reunited with former flame Audrey Roberts, as Nigel Havers was seen filming with co-star Sue Nicholls on location in Manchester on Tuesday. The villainous character joined Audrey and her on-screen daughter Gail Platt - played by Helen Worth - for his return storyline, as he was also involved in another nasty brawl with David Neilson's Roy Cropper. Reunited: Coronation Street's Nigel Havers was reunited with co-star Sue Nicholls on Tuesday, as he filmed scenes for conman Lewis Archer's returns to the cobbles this summer Lewis made his arrival on the cobbles in a stylish vintage car. While Audrey was thrilled to see her former flame five years after he fled to Italy, his other ex Gail was less pleased and looked ready for a fight. Fans may remember that Lewis fled the UK with Gail's money after conning her into thinking they were going to move to Italy to run a small hotel together. Sweet: Helen Worth's Gail Platt enjoyed a heart-to-heart with her on-screen mum as they filmed the scenes Fight! David Neilson's Roy Cropper was seen brawling with Nigel in the shadow of a vintage car, after Lewis' return to the cobbles as part of a comedic storyline Let me at him! Gail was held back by Audrey as Roy tackled Lewis to the ground, five years after the charming character was last seen on the soap But in a sensational scene - which won Best Exit at the 2013 Soap Awards - Lewis revealed to Gail that their marriage had all been a ruse, and he was long gone from Weatherfield with the contents of her bank account. It appears that Roy will be close by to defend Gail's honour, as he and Lewis are seen fighting in the dramatic scenes. This is not the first time the heroic cafe owner has come to the Platts' rescue, as he also scared off a gang of thieves in Monday night's double bill, after they tried to rob Audrey of her handbag and pushed her to the ground. Despite the dark moments, it appeared the stars were thrilled to be back together filming the scenes, as Nigel and Sue were seen sharing a laugh, while Sue and Helen also enjoyed a brief heart-to-heart. Dramatic: Gail was conned by Lewis after he pretended to have feelings for her, fleeing to Italy with the contents of her bank account He conned me! Lewis' departure from the Street won Best Exit at the 2013 British Soap Awards, declaring his love for Audrey as he left for Italy Nigel first arrived as Lewis on the soap in 2009 as a male escort who soon caught the eye of Audrey, before getting involved in a love triangle with her and Rita (Barbara Knox). His romance with Audrey progressed and decided to move to a Greek island, but the relationship was doomed after he stole a large sum of money from Peter Barlow's betting shop and fled the country. The Chariots of Fire star then returned in 2012 as a changed man who wanted to apologise to those he had hurt and to make amends for his devious ways, including giving the money back to Peter (Chris Gascoyne). Candid: Audrey and Lewis looked thrilled to see each other again, while Gail stood nearby in disdain that her former flame was showing his face on the cobbles again Take him down! Roy tackled Lewis to the ground, just a day after fans saw the heroic cafe owner defend Audrey against a gang of thugs At odds: Audrey has been unlucky in love in recent weeks, after a hinted romance with Ken Barlow failed to materialise After rekindling his romance with Audrey the couple decided to go on holiday which caused a feud between the salon owner and her grandson David. But it all ended in tears as the pair went their separate ways. A representative for the soap confirmed to MailOnline earlier this month that Audrey's former flame Lewis will return to Weatherfield this summer as part of a comedic story line He will be joined by salon owner and former friend Claudia (Rula Lenska), who decides to set up a rival to Audrey's hairdressers right across the street. Working hard: Helen took a sip of her drink between takes, while Nigel relaxed on the crash mat after the brawl You're back! Sue was thrilled to be back with her former co-star, just over a year after Nigel admitted he would love to return to the soap Nigel admitted last year he would love to return to the Corrie cobbles, doing the decent thing and returning Gail's money. Speaking on Piers Morgan's Life Stories he said: 'I would love to, actually. 'I do owe Gail 40 grand at the moment and I think as an honourable man, I'd like to pay that back. It was wonderful doing the show.' They were one of Sydney's most photogenic young couples. But according to The Daily Telegraph, high jumper Amy Pejkovic and GWS Giants player Adam Tomlinson have broken up after 18 months together. Citing 'multiple sources', the publication claimed on Wednesday that the genetically-blessed pair split up 'a while ago.' 'They went their separate ways a while ago': Model and high jumper Amy Pejkovic 'splits' from GWS Giants player Adam Tomlinson after 18 month romance 'They went their separate ways a while ago,' a source told the publication. Amy and Adam began dating in mid-2016, with the blonde beauty crediting the footy player with helping her recover from a life-threatening brain tumour. Daily Mail Australia has contacted both Amy and Adam for comment. Pillar of strength: Amy and Adam began dating in mid-2016, with the blonde beauty crediting the footy player with helping her recover from a life-threatening brain tumour Despite her successful career as an athlete and model Amy has faced her fair share of hardship, previously being diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 19. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in 2016, Amy recounted how she was told by doctors she needed surgery to remove the mass from her brainstem in 2012. I just sat there and didnt say anything for ten minutes, she said, explaining the surgery cost her spot at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Social scene regular: Besides being one of Australia's top high jumpers, Amy is also a successful model Started as a side gig: Amy only turned to modelling as a means to achieve her sporting dreams Competing! Amy won bronze in the girl's high jump at the Iaaf World Youth Championships at the Bressanone Sports Complex in 2009 in Brixone Bressanone, Italy (Pictured age 16) Speaking to The Daily Telegraph last August, Amy revealed she only turned to modelling as a means to support her sporting career as it is 'ridiculously hard to find a sponsor' otherwise. Fortunately the side gig has well and truly paid off, with the leggy blonde now signed to top modelling agency Chic Management. 'Realistically, if you're not top three in the world, it's ridiculously hard to find a sponsor especially in an area like track and field,' Amy explained. They're the most photographed sisters in the world and have been setting catwalks across the globe alight this season. And Gigi, 22, and Bella Hadid, 21, used the airport arrivals as their very own runway as they touched down in Charles-de-Gaulle airport, Paris, on Tuesday afternoon. Reunited in the French capital, the sisters arrived separately after leaving from Los Angeles and New York City, wasting no time in showing off their own original styles. Contrasting outfits: Gigi, 22, and Bella Hadid, 21, used the airport arrivals as their very own runway as they touched down in Charles-de-Gaulle airport, Paris, on Tuesday afternoon Newly-single Gigi cut a very casual figure and went make-up free for her Parisian debut. The Tommy Hilfiger ambassador, who split from beau Zayn Malik earlier this month, covered up in a denim jacket teamed with a subdued sweatsuit. Gigi completed her look with pointy eggshell-hued boots on her feet as she masked her eyes behind trendy 90s-inspired shades. However, despite her high-profile split, the superstar was in high spirits as she smiled and laughed while being photographed at the airport. Glowing: The Tommy Hilfiger ambassador cut a very casual figure and went make-up free for her Parisian debut All-smiles: The newly-single model was in high spirits, despite her recent split from Zayn Malik, as she smiled and laughed while being photographed at the airport The Matrix: Bella made sure all eyes were on her as she appeared to take inspiration from the 1999 film for her outfit choice 90s inspired: The 2016 Model of the Year stepped out in an all-leather ensemble and dark sunglasses Meanwhile, Bella made sure all eyes were on her as she appeared to take inspiration from The Matrix for her outfit choice. The 2016 Model of the Year stepped out in an all-leather ensemble and dark sunglasses. Bella hid her statuesque pins beneath a slouchy set of pants, which were tucked into a pair of black Chanel trainers. Yum: The superstar couldn't stop smiling as she was handed delicious Lindt chocolate Easter eggs from her fans Stylish: Bella hid her statuesque pins beneath a slouchy set of pants, which were tucked into a pair of black Chanel trainers Casual: Gigi covered up in a denim jacket teamed with a subdued sweatsuit as she completed her look with pointy eggshell-hued boots Au naturel: The supermodel hid her trademark blue-green eyes behind trendy 90s-inspired sunglasses as she tied her blonde locks into a low bun She layered a matching leather blazer over the top, with the addition of a black handbag and headphones. The 21-year-old was all smiles as she was handed chocolate Easter eggs from her adoring fans while listening to music and making her way to her Parisian hotel from the airport. While the stunning duo wasted no time in documenting their reunion on Instagram, with Bella posting an adorable photo to her story of the two holding hands, she captioned it as: 'Back with my one [heart emoji] @gigihadid'. The sisters' reunion comes after Gigi shared a photograph of herself with Bella on her social media accounts just seven days ago. Reunited: Bella posted an adorable photo to her Instagram story of her holding hands with her older sister Gigi Parisian chic: The brunette model layered a matching leather blazer over the top, with the addition of a black handbag and headphones Cool: Bella looked futuristic in her The Matrix inspired outfit as she made her way from the Paris airport to her hotel She captioned it simply as 'miss u sister' followed by an airplane emoji. Just two weeks ago, Gigi and Zayn confirmed their split after more than two years together, insisting they will remain friends. According to The Sun, the couple made the decision to split after their busy schedules added strain and distance to their high-profile romance. Friendly: The 2016 Model of the Year waved to her adoring fan base and photographers as she arrived at her Parisian hotel from the airport Series eight of ITV's hit show Cold Feet has begun filming with some very dramatic scenes in Manchester. John Thomson (who plays Pete Gifford) was seen leaping into the chilly waters of the canal to rescue a man, as James Nesbitt (who plays Adam Williams) helped pull him out. Filming on Tuesday morning, the scene provided high drama for passers by in the city where Mike Bullen's fan-favourite show is set. Feeling the chill? Series eight of ITV's Cold Feet has begun filming with dramatic scenes in Manchester on Tuesday as John Thompson and James Nesbitt rescued a man from the canal Contending with a spot of rain as well as the freezing temperatures of the canal, John dragged the red-headed mystery man to the bank where James was waiting. The two men managed to haul the man out while what looked like a heated exchange took place. Filming for the eighth run of Mike Bullen's beloved drama kicked off in Manchester a week ago, with the new six-part series set to shoot until July for a broadcast date later this year. Dramatic rescue: Thomson (who plays Pete Gifford) was seen leaping into the chilly waters of a canal to rescue a man, as Nesbitt (who plays Adam Williams) helped pull him out Hero: Contending with a spot of rain as well as the freezing temperatures of the canal, John dragged the red-headed mystery man to the bank where James was waiting Made it: John was soaked wet as he climbed out to help check the man over Hermione Norris, Robert Bathurst and Fay Ripley are also returning for the new episodes. It seems to have been a no-brainer for ITV to bring back the show, which had an original five series run from 1997-2003 before its return in 2016, as it's been wildly popular. The latest series, which aired last autumn, attracted an average of 5.1 million viewers in its 9pm prime time Friday slot. Viewers were not happy with one major plot twist in the series seven finale though, as James' character Adam called time on his relationship with Tina, played by Leanne Best, following his affair with work colleague Sarah. Not the weather for it! The dreary weather in Manchester no doubt made the scene extra difficult to shoot I got you! James showed the strain on his face as he helped get the sopping wet man out Back for more Filming for the eighth run of Mike Bullen's beloved drama kicked off in Manchester a week ago, with the new six-part series set to shoot until July Is he OK? James pulled out all the stops for the tense scene, looking shocked as the man was pulled to safety Luckily though things were looking up for the relationship between John's character Pete, played by John Thomson, and Jenny, played by Fay Ripley, as they renewed their vows in a moving finale to the series. Meanwhile David (Bathurst), grew closer to Nikki - and his ex Karen's (Norris) romance with her new boyfriend from the bookshop was back on track. Mike Bullen has teased the new six part series to ITV, saying: 'It's great to be back in Manchester at the start of another shoot. We've still got so many stories to tell for these characters and I'm delighted that we're being given the opportunity to tell them. As usual, we'll be aiming for the viewers' funny bones and tear ducts.' Giving it his all: John looked strained as he struggled through the water with the soaking man Will he make it? The duo looked anxious as they checked over the seemingly unconscious man The gang's all here: Hermione Norris, Robert Bathurst and Fay Ripley are also returning the new episodes of ITV's drama Fan favourite: The latest series, which aired last autumn, attracted an average of 5.1 million viewers in its 9pm prime time Friday slot She shared a photo on Monday as she began her preparation for the role of Michelle Payne in forthcoming biopic Ride Like A Girl. And director Rachel Griffiths has praised Teresa Palmer's commitment to playing the female jockey, who famously won the Melbourne Cup in 2015. The Muriel's Wedding star told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday Teresa's dedication was similar to that shown by Margot Robbie while playing Tonya Harding. 'It's not dissimilar to Margot Robbie in I, Tonya': Rachel Griffiths praises Teresa Palmer's preparation for the role of Michelle Payne as she prepares to direct movie about the jockey's life 'It's not dissimilar to Margot Robbie in I, Tonya,' Rachel told the publication, praising Teresa's work ethic. Rachel also hinted that Teresa had made the decision to method act as much as possible, despite the resulting pain and stamina needed to ride a racing horse. 'I certainly won't dictate to Teresa the choices I might have made as a young woman in the role,' she added. 'Its begun! Day 1 of training': Taking to Instagram on Monday, Teresa shared a photo of her sitting on a model horse as she began preparation for her role as Michelle Both method actors: The Muriel's Wedding star told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that Teresa's dedication was similar to that shown by Margot Robbie while playing Tonya Harding Taking to Instagram on Monday, Teresa shared a photo of her sitting on a model horse as she began preparation for her role as Michelle. 'Its begun! Day 1 of training to play @michellejpayne_ in #RideLikeAGirl,' she captioned the photo. Teresa also added the hashtags '#feeltheburn' and '#jellylegs', revealing the preparation was already taking a physical toll. Last September, Teresa confirmed she was set to play Michelle in a biopic, writing on Instagram that she was over the moon with the role. Authentic edge: Rachel also hinted that Teresa had made the decision to method act as much as possible 'Thrilled that I'll be playing Michelle Payne in "Ride Like A Girl" directed by Rachel Griffiths,' she wrote. Quoting Michelle's 2015 Melbourne Cup victory speech Teresa also added: 'I just want to say to everyone else to "Get stuffed" if they think women aren't strong enough, because we just beat the world.' The film will star Sam Neill as Michelle's dad Paddy, with the jockey's brother Stevie playing himself in the biopic. Advertisement Catt Sadler had a rough 2017 after she exited E! over the gross pay inequality with Jason Kennedy - he earned twice as much as the siren for doing more or less the same job, she maintained. But it looks as if 2018 is going much better as the 43-year-old TV personality was seen splashing around with her designer beau Nick LaKind in Tulum, Mexico on Monday. The brunette beauty showed off her very toned figure in a black string bikini while holding hands with her tattoo'd beau during a cheerful day at the beach. Life's a beach when you're in love: Catt Sadler looked very happy with her beau Nick LaKind as they enjoyed a day in the surf in Tulum, Mexico on Monday Must be nice to be hot: The brunette beauty showed off her very toned figure in a black string bikini that made the most of her incredible curves No one can take THIS away from her: She was allegedly treated poorly by E!, but she still has her incredible looks not to mention her pride in tact. Here she is seen looking at her sunglasses and fixing her hair She found her catch: Catt never stayed far from her hunky boyfriend, who was muscular with abs, arm muscles and strong legs as he wore swim shorts Catt never stayed far from her hunky boyfriend, who was muscular with abs, arm muscles and strong legs as he wore swim shorts. The man also wore an interesting hair style that made it look like he had a carpet of hair on top of his head with the sides shaved. And on his face was a partial beard that seemed very heavy. She was seen not only holding his hand but also riding on his back. The beauty swam in the ocean and also walked on the beach then walked up the shore where she put on a white straw hat with a black ribbon. The LA hipster look: The man also wore an interesting hair style that made it look like he had a carpet of hair on top of his head with the sides shaved. And on his face was a partial beard that seemed very heavy Not a flaw on the gal: The beauty swam in the ocean and also walked on the beach which had seaweed and plants everywhere He likes to ink: LaKind had an array of tattoos including a bird, a fish, a flower, a sun, a snake, a star and a man's face In February Sadler talked about her side of the pay dispute at E! that saw her earning half as much as male co-host Jason Kennedy, 36, in an interview on The View. 'I just feel so strong in my conviction that what was happening was an injustice, and thats why I felt very compelled to fight for what was right at the time,' said the TV personality. The issue hit the headlines during the Golden Globes in January, when Hollywood stars Debra Messing and Eva Longoria spoke out on the TV anchor's behalf. They're in sync: The former red carpet fixture also had tats on her body with writing on her side and a large design on her arm Sadler said that having them leap to her defense made her feel vindicated in her stand that she was worth the same money as Kennedy. 'For the people that watched E! religiously and I can even bring in these Hollywood heavyweights that kind of came to my defense, and I think its because they knew.' The former Daily Pop anchor also revealed she has a new gig lined up. Time to cover up: After some time in the ocean, the TV favorite pulled on some Daisy Duke shorts and added a white straw hat with a black ribbon to keep out the sun. And the friend of Debra Messing was standing near a selection of lounge chairs Just me and my man: Here the stunner was seen face down on her lounge chair as her lover soaked up the sun 'Ive got some things in the works from a development standpoint. But I do have a job at the Oscars! 'Im returning to the red carpet for the Vanity Fairs Oscars party.' In January, Sadler took to the streets of LA on the one year anniversary of Donald Trump's inauguration for the Women's March. The former anchor was joined by her boyfriend Lakind, who stood with her arm in arm. 'What an honor to march through the streets of LA today alongside such brave, bold, fierce females (and men!) filled with hope and expectation for real change in this country,' she wrote on Instagram. The production company behind Bachelor In Paradise has released a statement defending their decision to cast former Bachelorette contestant Blake Colman. Their support comes in the wake of viewers expressing outrage over his presence on the new dating show, despite his chequered past. In a statement made to News Corp on Wednesday, Bachelor series production company Warner Brothers said police checks were completed and 'all clear.' 'His police check was clear': Bachelor In Paradise producers defend casting Blake Colman - despite revenge porn allegations and his conviction for a horrific assault on a stranger in 2015 'Background checks, including police checks, are done on all contestants in reality shows, and these checks are conducted by the relevant production company,' a rep said. 'In Blake's case, his police check was clear.' It appears the checks didn't flag any issues relating to his conviction for assaulting a stranger back in 2015, or revenge porn allegations made against him last year. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Blake for comment. Passed? 'Background checks, including police checks, are done on all contestants in reality shows... 'In Blake's case, his police check was clear,' a Warner Brothers representative said In April 2017, Blake pleaded guilty to a sickening street attack on West Australian local Tristan Cooper, 31. CCTV footage from the August 2015 incident reportedly shows Tristan attempting to stop an argument between two groups of men outside Hungry Jack's in Claremont. Blake was one of the men the local had attempted to calm down - but as he was walking away, footage is said to show the reality star attacking him from behind. Checks out! It appears the checks didn't flag any issues relating to his conviction for assaulting a stranger back in 2015, or revenge porn allegations made against him last year 'He picked me up by my neck and threw me down,' he told Perth Now last year. Tristan, who had never met Blake prior to the attack, was left' unconscious, paralysed and bleeding from the head'. After the attack, an ambulance rushed Tristan to the hospital where he received four staples in his head. Guilty: In April 2017, Blake pleaded guilty to a sickening street attack on West Australian local Tristan Cooper, 31 Blake was identified when Crime Stoppers released his photo, subsequently pleading guilty in April 2017. He received a spent conviction and also was ordered to pay $850 in compensation. In October, NSW Police confirmed Blake was being investigated against allegations he threatened to sell nude photos of ex-girlfriend and Bachelor star Jen Hawke. Exposed: CCTV footage reportedly showed Tristan attempting to stop an argument Blake was involved in. As Tristan was walking away, Blake is said to have attacked At the time, they said: 'Due to the ongoing investigation, no further information is able to be provided.' Jen had told police she allegedly received a text message from Blake threatening to sell nude images she had sent him during their relationship. When Blake was announced as a member of the Bachelor In Paradise cast in November, Jen quickly expressed serious safety concerns. Conviction: He pleaded guilty in April 2017, receiving a spent conviction and ordered to pay $850 in compensation 'She has expressed concern for the safety of both the men and women who are on the island with Blake,' a source told Daily Mail Australia last year. 'Not only is he facing revenge porn allegations but has faced court over a physical assault of somebody', they said. 'She is horrified Warner Bros. are promoting this kind of behaviour,' the insider added. There's more: October 2017 was the same month NSW Police confirmed Blake was being investigated against allegations he threatened to sell nude photos of ex-girlfriend and Bachelor star Jen Hawke On Saturday, Blake addressed his past behaviour in an interview with The West Australian. 'A lot happened to me after (The Bachelorette) and there are some things I cant change and I made some mistakes,' he said. 'I just sort of took that time away from social media and I didn't actually leave the house really for two months. I was invited to all of these events and I couldnt go because I was just thinking how... I can't change the past but how can I make the future better.' According to the publication, Blake 'wholeheartedly admitted he messed up and is ready to put it behind him'. She has been treading the boards as a grief-stricken woman in the Broadway show Yerma. But Billie Piper took a break from the stage on Monday to go shopping with her rocker boyfriend Johnny Lloyd in New York. The actress, 35, cut a casual figure in a black leather jacket and khaki cargo trousers for their afternoon stroll. Billie Piper took a break from her Broadway show on Monday to go shopping with her rocker boyfriend Johnny Lloyd in New York Billie covered up her incredible figure, layering the leather jacket atop of a rosy pink heart jumper, which was loosely tucked into the cropped trousers. She teamed the understated look with ribbed peach socks and donned a pair of black platform trainers. In keeping with her casual ensemble, the former Doctor Who star opted to go make-up free for the outing and let her blonde locks fall naturally over her shoulders. Understated look: The actress, 35, cut a casual figure in a black leather jacket and khaki cargo trousers for their afternoon stroll Her former Tribes frontman beau also dressed down for the shopping trip, sporting a red tartan jacket and black chinos. The lovebirds appeared smitten, with Billie linking arms with Johnny as they strolled along the streets of East Village in the Big Apple. The happy couple have been dating for nearly two years, after the Because We Want To hitmaker split from her husband Laurence Fox in March 2016. Low key: In keeping with her casual ensemble, the former Doctor Who star opted to go make-up free for the outing and let her blonde locks fall naturally over her shoulders The Swindon-born actress has gained critical acclaim in the production Yerma, which tells the story of a married peasant woman who endures unbearable psychological and cultural challenges when she finds that shes infertile. The show first debuted in the West End before Billie reprised the role for the US production. The actress has recently made headlines after speaking out on social media about the 'Metoo' and 'Time's up' movements. Breathtaking: The Swindon-born actress has gained critical acclaim in the production Yerma, which is being showcased in New York after a successful run in the West End She told The Sunday Times: 'Let's say I know a lot of headstrong actors and actresses wanting to get something who wouldn't say they're victims of this'. The mother-of-two said she had reservations about the 'whole sisterhood thing', arguing that the 'oversexed' images posted by women on social media 'doesn't feel like feminism' to her. Billie broke into the showbiz industry when she was just a teenager, signing her first recording contract at the age of just 15. She famously married Chris Evans in secret when aged 18 back in 2001, with the 16-year age gap between the pair sparking controversy. The couple divorced three years later in 2004, with Billie later marrying actor Laurence Fox, with whom she shares sons Winston and Eugene. Billie and Laurence announced they were separating in 2016, following seven years of marriage. Suki Waterhouse has hinted she has experienced sexual harassment, but hasn't felt 'strong enough' to share her experience. The model and actress, 26, said she hoped other women would understand why she has chosen not to come forward about the unwanted advances she's received from men in the fashion and film industries. In a revealing interview with Grazia magazine, Suki - who started modelling when she was only 16 - revealed: 'I haven't chosen to talk about any of my experiences. I haven't felt ready to, or strong enough yet. 'I haven't felt ready': Suki Waterhouse has hinted she has experienced sexual harassment, but hasn't felt 'strong enough' to share her experience (pictured in September 2017) Suki continued: 'I know that means I haven't contributed to the movement with my story. But I'm hoping other women will be OK with that.' The #MeToo movement - which sprung into action after numerous sexual harassment allegations made against shamed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein - has made the star think differently about how women are treated in both industries Suki explained she now understands things are 'tough', rather than the notion that she and other women need to be 'tough' to make it. Early days: The model and actress, 26, said she hoped other women would understand why she has chosen not to come forward about the unwanted advances she's received (pictured 2011) The fashionista continued: 'I never really thought of myself as marginalised. I've always thought you've just got to be tough. 'But the recent goings-on have made me question that and think, "No this is really tough and I do have a hard time". I always think, "I'm so lucky, I'm so lucky," but that doesn't mean I'm not marginalised. Suki has been busy carving out her own modelling career since the tender age of 16 and quickly became a favourite of fashion heavy-hitters Burberry and Tommy Hilfiger. Suki's close friend, fellow catwalk queen Cara Delevingne, previously spoke out about her experience with the disgraced movie mogul and claimed he had tried to get her to kiss both him and another woman in his hotel room. Queen of the catwalk: Suki started modelling when she was only 16 (pictured in November 2011 when she was 20) Cara, 25, revealed last year: 'I went to a meeting with him in the lobby of a hotel with a director about an upcoming film. The director left the meeting and Harvey asked me to stay and chat with him. 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room 'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation.' Similar experiences? Suki's close friend, fellow catwalk queen Cara Delevingne (right), previously spoke out about her experience with the disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein The fashion-forward starlet also put to rest any rumours that she's romantically linked to Mother! director Darren Aronofsky, 49, after the pair were spotted looking cosy during a lunch date in January. The pictures came shortly after the filmmaker's split from Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, 27. 'Absolutely nothing was going on. It's absolute nothing' Suki contested. British-born Suki - much like her model pal Cara - has turned her talents to acting of late, having been cast in the serial killer drama Charlie Says. Clearly dedicated to the craft, Suki revealed to Vogue that she has been growing out her leg and chin hair for her role as cult Mary Brunner. No love here: The starlet also put to rest any rumours that she's romantically linked to Mother! director Darren Aronofsky, 49, after the pair were spotted looking cosy during a lunch date 'I'm growing all my leg hair out.' she told Vogue. 'I really don't mind it, I've done it lazily before. This is an opportunity to grow my chin hair out.' Suki will star alongside Matt Smith - who will play psychopathic serial killer Charles Manson - in a new film focusing on the female Manson family members. Aside from her acting aspirations, Suki has already cemented her name in the fashion industry not just as a model, but also a designer. Suki set up accessories brand Pop & Suki with gal pal Poppy Jamie and boasts a celebrity following, including Jessica Alba, Cara Delevingne and Taylor Hill. He was forced to let her go after she revealed her true feelings for Kate Connor. But it appears Coronation Street's Zeedan Nazir isn't going to let his marriage to Rana end so easily, as his obsession with her continues to escalate. Actor Qasim Akhtar was spotted filming scenes on Tuesday as he attempted to catch Rana on a date with love interest Kate and pal Sophie, by filming their trip to the pool bar on his phone. Dramatic: Coronation Street's Zeedan Nazir's obsession with his wife Rana will continue to escalate in the coming weeks, as he was spotted filming scenes on Tuesday In the scenes, Zeedan was spotted filming Rana's outing on his phone while attempting to stay hidden behind a wall. His attempts to go unnoticed fail as Rana (Bhavna Limbachia) storms into the street demanding to know why her husband is spying on her. A furious row ensues between the pair, with Rana confessing she doesn't even recognise her husband anymore. Luckily Kate (Faye Brookes) and Sophie (Brooke Vincent) continue their game of pool, but do appear to spot Zeedan in the act as they take some snaps of their own. Explosive: Rana (played by Bhavna Limbachia) sported a typically glamorous ensemble as she filmed the explosive scenes after catching her husband with a camera outside the pool bar No going back: A furious row ensued as Rana confronted Zeedan about his struggles to move on from the end of their marriage Furious: Rana had been maintaining she and Zeedan were still together in a bid to gain money to fund his business from her conservative Muslim parents Come away: Rana furiously dragged Zeedan away from the window, as she enjoyed a trip to the pool bar with love interest Kate and pal Sophie Busted! Luckily Sophie (Brooke Vincent) and Kate (Faye Brookes) caught the chef in the act, turning the tables by taking their own snaps on their phones Bhavna looked as glamorous as always filming the scenes, donning black skinny jeans and a leather jacket, adding a pop of colour with a matching red wrap top and statement lip. Qasim sported a matching blue shirt and jacket look for the filming outside of the pool bar, as Zeedan struggle to come to terms with his marriage coming to an end. Rana originally agreed to go along with the idea that she was still married to Zeedan, after her conservative Muslim parents agreed to give the chef money for his business if they pretended to be still married for another year. At odds: Fans saw Rana try to end her marriage to Zeedan to pursue her true feelings for Kate, but refused to get a divorce right away so he could gain the funding for his food business Cosy: Bhavna donned a thick padded coat to keep warm in between takes, covering her long curled tresses with a hood and white head wrap Gorgeous: The soap star showed off her incredible features with dramatic eye makeup and a statement red lip Casual: Brooke also put on a stylish display in loose black trousers and a red turtleneck as she made her way out of the bar after filming the scenes Hilarious: The co-stars looked to be having a whale of a time in between takes, as the storyline surrounding Kate and Rana's blossoming romance continued to escalate While Zeedan agreed to the plan, Rana was unable to contain her love for Kate, eventually proclaiming she was going to go public with her same-sex relationship, but would wait to get a divorce. Fans will have to wait and see whether Zeedan will eventually come to terms with his wife's sexuality, as he eventually teams up with Kate to stop her being sent to Pakistan by her parents. The stars were spotted filming scenes last month which saw Zeedan and Kate stop Rana from driving to the airport with her family, as they attempted to send her away to hide the shame brought on their family by having a lesbian daughter. Jokers: Sophie and Kate enjoyed a trip to the pool bar with Rana as they caught Zeedan in the act by taking a snap on their phones Over: Fans saw Kate break off her romance with Sophie as she decided to be with Rana, with the fan favourite pair going public with their relationship earlier this month Say cheese! The two friends caught Zeedan trying to film them, taking their own snaps on their phones On the brink: Fans will be left wondering whether Zeedan can come to terms with his wife's sexuality, as he also tries to stop her being sent to Pakistan by her family A soap insider told the Daily Star: 'Rana's family will do whatever it takes to stop their daughter bringing shame upon them - even if it means sending her away. 'As she continues to defy her family they decide they have no choice but to send her away to Pakistan, she has no idea of their plan and is distraught when she realises what they're up to. 'It's horrific for her and Kate can't believe the lengths her family will go to in order to keep them apart.' Despite the tense scenes, the Corrie co-stars appeared to be getting on like a house on fire once the cameras stopped rolling, with Faye and Brooke sharing a giggle as Bhavna also chatted to her on-screen husband Qasim. In danger: Actor Qasim was spotted filming scenes with Bhavna last month, as her parents attempted to send her away to avoid her lesbian romance bringing shame on the family Don't let her go: Zeedan appeared to convince Rana not to go with her family, as she publically disowned them for failing to accept her sexuality Evidence: Zeedan showed Rana the video of her with Sophie and Kate, in a bid to keep their false marriage from being exposed What's next? Fans have been left on tenterhooks to see whether Kate and Rana can finally be together, especially as actress Bhavna recently teased a wedding could be on the cards Rana and Kate became a fan-favourite after beginning their steamy affair late last year, and actress Bhvna recently admitted that she hoped a wedding could be on the cards for the pair very soon. She told Digital Spy earlier this month: 'We hope so. Theyve already been through so much to be together. Theyve been fighting their feelings. 'As far as [Rana's] concerned, she's fallen in love with somebody who happens to be a woman. So hopefully they are together. We'd love to see a big, fat gay Muslim wedding.' Close bond: It will be a waiting game to see whether Zeedan can come to terms with Rana's true love for Kate Having fun? Luckily the stars looked to be having a whale of a time as they filmed the scenes She finally confirmed her romance with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice in a romantic Valentine's Day Instagram snap. And smitten Jessica Wright declared 'age is just a number' and shouldn't come in the way of a loving relationship as she discussed the dilemma of age gaps in Tuesday's issue of Now magazine. The former TOWIE star, 32 - who is five years older than her new beau, 27 - argued that a 'big age gap in relationships are only a problem if you're both in different places in life mentally and emotionally'. Loved up: Jessica Wright, 32, said she 'doesn't believe age plays a part in love' a month after going public with Strictly's Giovanni Pernice, 27 (pictured earlier this month) Of what brings out the best in any romance, Jess continued: 'A relationship is about chemistry, connection and how close you are to one another - not how old you are'. While not directly talking about her dancing hunk, the brunette gave an insight into what she looked out for in a relationship - namely how mature the potential love interest can be. While admitting that she's dated on both sides of the spectrum, it wasn't the age difference that caused the issues. 'I just noticed the difference in general maturity - and that can be a problem with any guy you date, whether they're your age, older or younger' the starlet concluded. Cute couple: The former TOWIE star finally confirmed her relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice in a romantic Valentine's Day Instagram snap The reality TV beauty has had her fair share of relationships with age gaps, including her two-year relationship with fellow TOWIE star Ricky Rayment, 27. Following their split in 2014, Jess told her pals on an episode of the ITV reality hit filmed in Tenerife: 'Everyone needs to stop blaming his age that's not the reason we broke up.' Putting her past relationship woes firmly behind her, the star appears to be happier than ever after going public with her romance with Giovanni. The new couple have remained largely private about their romance until earlier this year were recently spotted enjoyed a cosy dinner date in London. Happier than ever: Putting her past relationship woes firmly behind her, the star appears to be happier than ever after going public with her romance with Giovanni The couple finally confirmed months of dating rumours by posting a smitten social media snap on Valentine's Day before they declared their love by sharing a throwback snap from New Year's Eve. Jessica and Giovanni - who previously dated his Strictly partner Georgia May Foote, 27 - are believed to have got together around December time. It's thought the couple met through the Strictly crowd, with Jessica's younger brother, TV presenter Mark Wright, 31, having appeared on the BBC One show in 2014. The loved up pair made their first red carpet appearance at the TRIC Awards in London earlier this month. She turned heads at the 2018 American Foundation for AIDS Research (amFAR) gala at Shaw Studios in Hong Kong on Monday night. And by the end of the evening, Shanina Shaik, 27, was in a reflective mood, taking to Instagram to post about the effect the gala had had on her the following morning. 'I was truly touched and bought to tears last night,' she captioned an image of white roses. 'An 8-year-old boy, who is living with HIV, lost his parents at a young age and only 3 years ago lost his younger brother. 'I was brought to tears last night!' Shanina Shaik reflected on her emotional evening raising awareness for AIDS at the amFAR gala. Pictured with Alessandra Ambrosio Touched: 'I was truly touched and bought to tears last night,' Shanina wrote alongside an image of white roses 'He is being punished by society for a virus he never asked for. Not being able to attend certain schools, sit in the cafeteria with the other kids and even just the modern day contact with people. 'Let's educate ourselves with the facts about AIDS and support all adults and children who are living with HIV.' Ahead of the event, the Australian model commanded attention in a plunging gown which she paired with an aquamarine stone necklace. The gown was adorned at the front with an oversized bow detail, and the rest of the outfit silver and sparkling. Pensive: She was in a reflective mood, taking to Instagram to post about the effect the gala had had on her the following morning Star quality: Shanina sparkled in a silver dramatically plunging gown and showed off her incredible pins at the amFAR Gala in Hong Kong While the back of the gown cascaded to the floor behind her, the front featured a high-cut, slanted hem, which showed off her toned pins. She wore black strap heels and accessorised with a hot pink clutch. Shanina teamed her necklace with statement earrings, and styled her chestnut tresses in chic updo. Sweeping statement: While the back of the gown cascaded to the floor behind her, the front featured a high-cut, slanted hem, which showed off her toned pins The 2018 gala honoured the innovative American artist KAWS and philanthropist and longtime HIV/AIDS activist Cathy Lee. Previous honorees have included Michelle Yeoh and Victoria Beckham, with the likes of Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Adrien Brody, and Michelle Rodriguez serving as Event Chairs since the gala's inception. In just three years, amFAR Gala Hong Kong has raised more than US$11 million in support of the Foundations lifesaving work. Former Dance Moms reality TV star Abby Lee Miller has been released from prison early. Miller, who has shed a whopping 100lbs during her time behind bars, was originally scheduled for release June 21. She has been in a California prison since turning herself in this past July. She will continue the rest of her sentence in a halfway house in California, where she will be under close supervision. Freedom: Dance Moms reality TV star Abby Lee Miller has been released from prison early. She is pictured left in January after shedding 100lbs while behind bars Abby must reported within 72 hours of her release to the federal judicial district's probation office. When she arrives, she will get instructions on how to report to her probation office as well as all rules for her release, which includes her living arrangement and full-time employment, reports the magazine. Court documents from Miller's case, obtained by Us Weekly, read: 'You must refrain from any unlawful use of a controlled substance. You must submit to one drug test within 15 days of release from imprisonment and at least two periodic drug tests thereafter, as determined by the court. 'You must cooperate in the collection of DNA as directed by the probation officer.' According to Us Weekly, during her supervised prison release, she cannot interact with anyone she knows 'is engaged in criminal activity, she can't be arrested and can't 'pose a risk to another person or organization.' Abby is forbidden from possessing a firearm or weapon and must report any change of address while her fine remains. 'My world flipped upside down': The reality star has shared some of her journey on social media She began her prison sentence on July 12, 2017 at the Federal Correctional Complex in Victorville, California. Miller was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for hiding $775,500 worth of income and bringing $120,000 in Australian currency to the U.S. without reporting it. The 51-year-old had filed for bankruptcy after defaulting on a Florida condominium mortgage and a mortgage on her Abby Lee Dance Company studio in Penn Hills, a Pittsburgh suburb. Her lawyer argued Miller had become 'ill-equipped to deal with the brand she became.' Bye: After leaving prison she checked into a halfway house in Van Nuys, California Moving forward: According to Us Weekly, during her supervised prison release, she cannot interact with anyone she knows 'is engaged in criminal activity, she can't be arrested and can't 'pose a risk to another person or organization;' seen on May 14, 2017 in LA She was supposed to get released early from prison on February 20 and transferred to a halfway house in Van Nuys, California. But Abby Lee Miller's early release got pushed back, and her prison consultant and coach Jennifer Myers revealed that the reason why is due to a protocol shift for the Bureau Of Prisons, according to Entertainment Tonight. The Dance Moms star didn't get news of her delayed release until she 'just didn't get out' on February 20, Jennifer said. Jennifer explained that stricter budgeting from the Bureau Of Prisons caused the delay - after too many women were released at the time. Her coach said: 'The prisons pay for the inmates to go to halfway houses' and if the budget allowed only eight women to be released, they would often release 20 'because they wanted to help them get out.' According to ET, Abby lost about 100 pounds since her incarceration and is feeling 'great.' The star, who underwent gastric bypass surgery before her prison term, is already looking forward to excess skin removal surgery, a breast lift and a tummy tuck, their source added. Blast from the past: According to ET , Abby lost about 100 pounds since her incarceration and is feeling 'great;' pictured on May 13 in Hollywood at the 3rd Annual Reality TV Awards Jourdan Dunn has revealed she suffers with anxiety and depression in a candid post. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the Victoria's Secret model shared a tweet detailing another person's battle with the conditions as she admitted she can relate. Addressing her 2.2 million followers, the 27-year-old beauty wrote: 'My life in a tweet.....' Candid: Jourdan Dunn has revealed she suffers with anxiety and depression. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the Victoria's Secret model shared a tweet detailing the condition The screenshot of the tweet read: 'Having anxiety & depression is like being scared and tired of the same time.It's the fear of failure, but no urge to be productive. 'It's wanting friends but hate socializing. It's wanting to be alone but not wanting to be lonely. It feels everything at once so it's like you numb [sic].' The mother-of-one was immediately inundated with supportive messages in the comment section from fans, who praised her for her honesty. Speaking out: Addressing her 2.2 million followers, the 27-year-old beauty wrote: 'My life in a tweet.....' alongside the original post detailing another person's experience Jourdan was scouted at the age of 15 by Storm Model Management and has gone on to find fame across the globe. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline in September, Jordan admitted that being in the spotlight means she finds it hard to form friendships - and she trusts her instincts to filter out the disingenuous people. Ive made strong friendships in the spotlight and youre meeting new people all the time. But you soon become wary and realise that some people just want to get near you for your name. One to watch: Jourdan was scouted at the age of 15 by Storm Model Management and has gone on to find fame across the globe (pictured walking in the Victoria's Secret show) 'I have developed good judgement and go off vibes now. Anyone with bad energy is cut off straight away. Being part of the newest batch of supermodels, which includes Kendall Jenner and Gigi and Bella Hadid, Jourdan counts Karlie Kloss as one of her closest friends. Relaxed about her A-list shoulder-rubbing is her son Riley, who she reveals helps keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. She always manages to turn heads wherever she goes. So it was no wonder Chloe Khan garnered attention at Manchester Airport on Tuesday where she was jetting off to Japan for a host of business meetings. Dressed to impress as well as for comfort, the 26-year-old model was a vision of beauty in a cropped black top that showed off her enviably toned abs. Turning heads: It was no wonder Chloe Khan garnered attention at Manchester Airport on Tuesday where she was jetting off to Japan for a host of business meetings The mother-of-one also offered a look at her peachy posterior as she donned figure-hugging grey leggings that clung to her every curve. Chloe swapped her typical vertiginous heels in favour of a pair of sensible yet stylish white trainers, whilst she toted her belongings in a black handbag. The Playboy model finished off the look by styling her glossy raven locks in a centre parting that framed her stunning and surgically enhanced features. Is there anything she Khant do? Chloe even made travelling seem to be an glamorous affair as she turned several heads whilst preened to perfection at the airport Abs-olutely fabulous: Dressed to impress as well as for comfort, the 26-year-old model was a vision of beauty in a cropped black top that showed off her enviably toned abs Legs eleven! The mother-of-one also offered a look at her peachy posterior as she donned figure-hugging grey leggings that clung to her every curve All about the accessories: Chloe swapped her typical vertiginous heels in favour of a pair of sensible yet stylish white trainers, whilst she toted her belongings in a black handbag Brunette bombshell: The Playboy model finished off the look by styling her glossy raven locks in a centre parting that framed her stunning and surgically enhanced features Chloe has spent 100,000 on altering her figure, but last year, the social media sensation suffered devastating side effects after her rhinoplasty left her unable to smell or breathe properly. Speaking on This Morning, she said: 'I cant smell and I cant actually breathe through my nose anymore. 'I woke up during surgery. It was a disaster from the get go. I have to tape it 20 hours a day with a roll of medical tape.' Strutting her stuff! Chloe treated the pavement like a catwalk as she sashayed into the airport Working it! Chloe proved she looks just as glamorous dressed down as she does on a night out Fitness fanatic: Despite being open about her enhancements, Chloe recently shot down claims her tiny waist is the result of anything but hard work at the gym Despite being open about her enhancements, Chloe recently shot down claims her tiny waist is the result of anything but hard work at the gym, as she hit out at claims she had been photoshopping her pictures. Addressing her followers, she said: 'Wobbly door frame ? B***H WHERE just because someones had a surgery does not mean they dont kain the gym everyday and just because someone Kains the gym everyday dont mean they havent had a surgery. 'I know so many fitness models / gym guru that have had bbl with my surgeon who will sware on everything they are natural and I dont blame them tbh because the hate is real . No drama anyway just saying.' (sic) A custody agreement has finally been reached in the ugly divorce battle between Jesse Williams and ex Aryn Drake-Lee. The Grey's Anatomy star has been granted joint physical custody of daughter Sadie, four and son Maceo, two. Williams, 36, will get custody of his children every other weekend, two days each week, as well as on Father's Day. Jesse Williams has been granted joint custody of his two children with ex Aryn Drake-Lee The legal documents, seen by People, show a custodial schedule for the months when Williams is filming Grey's Anatomy and another schedule for when he's not working on the show. They will alternate custody of their children over major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Easter Sunday and the Fourth of July. Drake-Lee had filed court documents seeking sole custody of their children in August. According to the website Williams and Drake-Lee are to 'communicate exclusively through OurFamilyWizard,' a website designed to help remove conflict between divorced or separated parents, improving the lives of the children involved. The parents have been permitted to communicate via text or phone 'in the event of an emergency'. Split: The former couple (pictured in 2013) called it quits last April. Aryn was seeking sole custody of their two children Sadie, four and son Maceo, two. The former couple called it quits last April after five years of marriage and were granted joint legal custody of their children last summer. In January the actor was accused of introducing his children to his new girlfriend before the agreed upon time by his ex according to a report from TMZ. Drake-Lee had stipulations that laid out parenting procedures she wanted Williams to adhere to, including agreed-upon nap times, agreeing to 'age appropriate viewing content,' and that 'neither parent will introduce a new intimate partner until the relationship has endured at least six months.' Real estate broker Drake-Lee says that Williams has been taking their two children to his new girlfriend's house since October and that they are so familiar with her that they call her 'Mama C.' She also claims that the actor had taken the youngsters on a short vacation to Big Bear Mountain in California with his new ladylove who has yet to be named. Drake-Lee believes this is all a violation of their custody agreement in which it states that each of them have to wait at least six months into a new relationship before the significant other can be introduced to the children. Williams was dating his Grey's Anatomy co-star, 37-year-old Minka Kelly but they reportedly split in January. Kelly repeatedly denied she had anything to do with the split. Tough times: Williams will get custody of his children every other weekend, two days each week, as well as on Father's Day Earlier this year TMZ spoke to a source close to the former couple who claimed that Drake-Lee is lying because of her desire to be seen as the victim. 'Aryn is obsessed with being seen as a victim. She hasn't had a job in nearly a decade, blew a marriage with a successful, generous, happy man who just built her a new house, loves his kids and pays her over $50K a month.' The source also said that 'Jesse kills himself working for his community and to provide for his family.' Williams' monthly spousal support payments were also been increased from $33k to $50k. Drake-Lee made the request to the court based on his ability to pay, and the judge granted it. Drake-Lee is responsible for all mortgage payments and expenses on the family home. She is also entitled half of his residual checks from September 2102 to April 2017. She recently sat down with a Vogue magazine for a high-end shoot and tour of her home. And Amal Clooney cemented her place as one to watch in the style stakes as she put on an effortlessly glamorous display whilst out in New York on Tuesday. The 40-year-old British-Lebanese barrister was a vision of beauty on the outing as she braved the chilly climes whilst forgoing tights. Dazzling: Amal Clooney cemented her place as one to watch in the style stakes as she put on an effortlessly glamorous display whilst out in New York on Tuesday Showcasing her enviably long legs, the mother of two donned a fitted black and tan leather trench coat that cinched in at her tiny waist. A hint of a black midi dress peeked through beneath, whilst she stuck with her neutral colour scheme by boosting her frame with tan court heels. Amal, who is married to Hollywood superstar George Clooney, finished off the look by styling her glossy chestnut locks in loose waves to frame her pretty features. Leggy lady! The 40-year-old British-Lebanese barrister was a vision of beauty on the outing as she braved the chilly climes whilst forgoing tights Amal's outing comes amid claims she threw open the doors of her familys newly refurbished 10 million Berkshire mansion to renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, for an at home interview, set to be published in Vogue in a few months time. In the unlikely event that the A-listers nine-bedroom property isnt impressive enough, Amal also borrowed 7 million of diamonds to wear for the occasion. A source close to the Clooneys told The Mail on Sunday: This has been organised for a long while. It is Amals chance to do a sit-down interview and show the inside of her house. It will be a really special piece for her. She and George have put blood, sweat and tears into getting their house to be perfect, so its the ideal location to do this. That's a wrap! Showcasing her enviably long legs, the mother of two donned a fitted black and tan leather trench coat that cinched in at her tiny waist Chic and cheerful! A hint of a black midi dress peeked through beneath, whilst she stuck with her neutral colour scheme by boosting her frame with tan court heels The choice of photographer is also significant, as Leibovitz took the pictures of Amal during the final fitting of her Oscar de la Renta wedding dress for the couples marriage in September 2014. However, it is understood that neither George, 56, nor nine-month-old twins Alexander and Ella will appear in the new pictures. The couple bought the 17th Century, Grade II listed mansion in the village of Sonning Eye where neighbours include Theresa May and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page for about 7.5 million in 2014, soon after they married. She recently broke up with her beau Chris Clark. But proving she has well and truly moved on, Amber Dowding cut a stylish figure as she arrived at the Murad Skin Care Launch Party in London on Tuesday night. The former TOWIE star, 24, flashed a glimpse of her toned stomach in an eye-catching motif crop top and flared jeans. Looking good: Amber Dowding, 24, cut a stylish figure as she arrived at the Murad Skin Care Launch Party in London on Tuesday night Amber looked absolutely sensational as she made a super cool statement in the clingy black top with 'Vogue' etched on metallic gold detailing. She injected some seventies flair into the look with a pair of high-waisted denims and boosted her height in strappy black heels which exposed her blood red pedicure. Amber ensured she was primped and preened to perfection with a glamorous coat of make-up. Her glossy brunette tresses fell in stylish waves down her front and she toted her belongings in a chic chained handbag. Sensational: The former TOWIE star flashed a glimpse of her toned stomach in an eye-catching motif crop top and flared jeans Fashionista: Amber looked absolutely sensational as she made a super cool statement in the clingy black top with 'Vogue' etched on metallic gold detailing Era-defining: She injected some seventies flair into the look with a pair of high-waisted denims and boosted her height in strappy black heels which exposed her blood red pedicure Her outing comes after it was reported that she and Chris had called time on their two-year on-off relationship, just weeks after being axed fromThe Only Way Is Essex. The couple are said to have drifted apart over the past few weeks and now that cameras have stopped rolling 'never spend any time together'. Chris is said to be keen to 'focus on his business' following his split from former co-star Amber. Babe: Amber ensured she was primped and preened to perfection with a glamorous coat of make-up Snoozing: Meanwhile, The Saturdays star Vanessa White was also present at the skincare bash and made quite the stylish statement herself A source close to the couple told The Sun Online: 'They spent a lot of time together while filming TOWIE but now they're not on the show they've spent less and less time with one another and they've drifted apart.' A friend of Chris' added: 'He's only 23 and has a lot of living to do, he wants to focus on his car business and other suitable TV work.' Meanwhile, The Saturdays star Vanessa White was also present at the skincare bash and made quite the stylish statement herself. She looked sensational in a plunging pink pyjama style ensemble which exposed a peek of her black lace bra. She is pregnant by her former Dancing With The Stars partner Robert Herjavec. And Kym Johnson, who has twins on the way, draped her bulging bump in a tight LBD with a sloping neckline that betrayed just a hint of cleavage. The Sydney-born 41-year-old was pap-snapped smiling and chatting with a pal as she crossed a parking lot on Tuesday in Los Angeles. On the move: Kym Johnson, who is expecting twins, was pap-snapped smiling and chatting with a pal as she crossed a parking lot on Tuesday in Los Angeles Sweeping her blonde hair back into a ponytail, the professional hoofer popped on a pair of pink sunglasses and clasped on a chic little necklace. She slipped into a pair of flats and slung a brown leather purse from the crook of her right arm, carrying a Fiji water bottle as she headed on her way. While she rose to fame on the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars, her 55-year-old businessman husband gained recognition on ABC's Shark Tank. Accessorizing: Sweeping her blonde hair back into a ponytail, the professional hoofer popped on a pair of pink sunglasses and clasped on a chic little necklace Kym went down the aisle with her Croat-born husband in Los Angeles in July of 2016, kicking off her first marriage and his second. Robert had previously spent 1990 until 2016 in holy matrimony with his first wife Diane Plese, whom he separated from in 2014. Diane and Robert share daughters Skye and Caprice and son Brandon, whereas Kym's two upcoming children will be her first. Staying hydrated: She slipped into a pair of flats and slung a brown leather purse from the crook of her right arm, carrying a Fiji water bottle as she headed on her way Kym went public with her pregnancy in December, making her big reveal by posting an ultrasound picture to her Instagram page. One of the fetuses appeared to be making a hand gesture that prompted the mother-to-be to caption: 'It's a thumbs up.' At the end of January, E! News reported that she was six months into her pregnancy, and she dished to them: 'We are in the home-stretch now.' They star in the upcoming comedy Instant Family. And on Tuesday, Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne and Octavia Spencer were spotted on the set of their movie in Atlanta, Georgia. Mark was seen walking with Rose, who had her arm around his, for one scene they filmed at a fair. Close: On Tuesday, Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne and Octavia Spencer were spotted on the set of their movie Instant Family in Atlanta, Georgia; Mark and Rose pictured Mark cut a casual figure in navy trousers with a matching striped pullover. The 46-year-old sported a clean shaven face while hitting the pavement in sneakers. Meanwhile, Rose flaunted her slim legs in skinny jeans, adding an olive jacket and knee high boots. The Australian actress, 38, sported sleek hair and minimal makeup while carrying a large tan handbag. In character: They star in the upcoming comedy Instant Family; Octavia pictured Octavia donned a blue top with a heavy jacket, complete with her character's name tag. The film is about a couple, played by Mark and Rose, who adopt three children and find themselves in over their heads. Instant Family is directed by Sean Anders; the comedy was co-written by Sean and John Morris. Talking it out: Mark cut a casual figure in navy trousers with a matching striped pullover The film, which is set to be released on February 15, 2019, also stars Eve Harlow, Julie Hagerty and Tig Notaro. Two weeks ago, an attorney for the Time's Up campaign confirmed that Mark did good on his promise and donated his $1.5 million reshoot fee. The actor was at the center of a controversy last year when it was revealed he got paid hundreds of thousands of dollars more than his co-star Michelle Williams for reshoots of their movie All The Money In The World. Michelle only got paid scale, which was $80 a day. The reshoots occurred because Christopher Plummer replaced disgraced Kevin Spacey. It was made worse after it was revealed both Mark and Michelle are repped by the same agency - William Morris Endeavor. Mark announced he will donate his fee to Time's Up soon after the scandal came to light. According to Deadline.com, attorney Nina Shaw was asked if they received his money while at a Q & A at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. She said: 'Yes, Mark has written that check.' Christina Aguilera is exciting fans yet again, posing makeup-free on the cover of Paper Magazine. Inside the publication's glossy pages she opened up about her physical and personal transformation, her upbringing and what's going on in her career right now. While she didn't reveal plans to put out new music - something she hinted at on Instagram in January - the mother-of-two did state that she'll be appearing in a few films, which she's excited about. Christina Aguilera is making headlines yet again, this time for her stripped down Paper Magazine shoot After voicing Akiko Glitter in The Emoji Movie, the famed songstress was booked to play a robot in Drake Doremus's Zoe, and herself in Life of the Party, which will also star Melissa McCarthy. Christina told Paper Magazine she hopes to do more acting in the future: 'My ultimate goal would be to do something with Will Ferrell. Just super funny, just laughing and being stooges.' Prior to these parts, the five-time Grammy Award-winner hasn't been on the big screen since 2010 when she appeared in the blockbuster film Burlesque. Still, her well-rounded resume is impressive. Xtina's new era aesthetic. Just too gorgeous omfg. pic.twitter.com/6ivd9jDSGu E (@MimiAtrapado) March 26, 2018 So how much is multi-hyphenate Christina Aguilera's net worth? Who is Christina Aguilera? Christina Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, on December 18, 1980. Her mother, Shelly Loraine Kearns, was a musician, and her father, Fausto Xavier Aguiler, was an Army soldier. They divorced when Christina was young and she moved to Pennsylvania with her mother. She opened up about her difficult childhood to Paper, saying: 'I watched my mom have to be submissive, watch her Ps and Qs or she's gonna get beat up. 'You can either be, unfortunately, so damaged by it that you take a turn for the worse, or you can feel empowered by it and make choices to never go down that route.' In 1991 she auditioned to be in the Mickey Mouse Club, but wasn't selected. She joined two years later, starring alongside Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake until the show's eventual cancellation. At 14, Christina recorded her first song, All I Wanna Do, with Keizo Nakaniski. After that, she sent a cover of a Whitney Houston song to Walt Disney Pictures in the hopes that they'd choose her to sing the Mulan theme song. They did and the single, Reflection, hit No. 19 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. #tbt A post shared by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Dec 21, 2017 at 5:36pm PST Her big break came with the release of Genie in a Bottle, which was released nearly two decades ago. Her debut album followed soon after, selling 14 million copies around the world. Christina won best new artist at the Grammy Awards in 2000. She went on to release two more albums, Mi Reflejo and My Kind of Christmas, the former winning her a Latin Grammy Award for best female pop vocal album in 2001. Displeased with a controlling manager, that same year Christina began playing with her image. She released a cover of Labelle's Lady Marmalade for Moulin Rouge! which also featured Pink, Mya and Lil Kim. Despite pushback from her label, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for several weeks. Britney and Xtina are slaying this year omg they don't let the new girls breathe #B10 #X6 pic.twitter.com/YPL4RmGGnj Jeremy Spears (@JeremySpears3) March 26, 2018 It was nominated for best pop collaborations with vocals at the 2002 Grammy Awards, too. By her fourth studio album, Christina had been completely reinvented. She called the project Stripped, which featured her hit single Dirrty. The album also featured popular songs like, Fighter, Beautiful and Can't Hold Us Down. Despite their individual popularity, the album was met with mixed reviews. During this time, Christina became known as Xtina, a sexy, edgier version of her former self. In 2004, she began to tone it down embracing an old Hollywood glam look. Her fifth studio album, Back to Basics, was reflective of this change. It featured callbacks to early jazz and blues. The album sold more then 5 million copies worldwide. Christina Aguilera net worth According to Celebrity Net Worth, Christina Aguilera's net worth is about $160 million (113m). How did Christina Aguilera make her money? The majority of Christina Aguilera's money has been made through music, though she's had a number of other jobs. The 37-year-old has had a relatively serious acting and voice acting career, appearing in Burlesque, The Emoji Movie and soon Zoe, and also served as a judge on The Voice for a time. For everyone loving @xtina's fresh and naturalinspired look, it isn't the first time she's embraced this style. Throw it back to her 2003 @Versace campaign, so gorgeous and those clothes: pic.twitter.com/GQ8qT5CGlE Jeff Benjamin (@Jeff__Benjamin) March 26, 2018 Christina Aguilera kids Christina Aguilera welcomed her first child, called Max Bratman, with now ex-husband Jordan Bratman in 2008. In 2014 she got engaged to Matt Rutler. In August of that year, Christina and Matt welcomed their daughter, Summer Rain Rutler. Her children are 10 and three respectively. A post shared by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Dec 5, 2017 at 6:25pm PST Christina Aguilera magazine cover Christina Aguilera is on the cover of the April issue of Paper Magazine. In the cover photo she appears to be wearing little-to-no makeup, bearing her freckles and fair skin for the world. Her blonde hair, which may be a wig based on the content of the article, is being brushed from her face by her own hand, adorned with a ring that reads, 'Mom.' hi mom @papermagazine #Transformation #xtinaPAPER A post shared by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Mar 26, 2018 at 10:59am PDT Christina Aguilera discography Christina Aguilera's first studio album was self-titled. It was released in 1999 to much buzz. The project charted on both the American and Canadian Billboard charts and sold millions of copies. Her second album, Mi Reflejo, in 2000 helped Christina break into new markets. She won a Latin Grammy Award for best pop vocals that year. Stripped followed in 2002 and then Back to Basics in 2006. The former became one of the best selling albums of the year while the latter reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts in several countries. Christina didn't release her fifth studio album, Lotus, until 2012. She hasn't released an album since. I'm gonna be so annoying once Xtina drops her album Ezra Miller (@rihztofenty) March 27, 2018 The Voice Christina Aguilera appeared on NBC's The Voice for seasons one through three, returning for seasons five, eight and 10 before leaving for good. Rumors swirled about her reasons for walking away from the competition series, but Christina finally set the record straight in her interview with Paper Magazine. She explained: 'I can't stay in a stagnant place for too long, which is why I think the position I was in with television just became very stifling. 'I need movement, I need to go explore, be an artist, create and transform.' Speculation has been rife over the past month that Ashley Irvin and Justin Fischer are the latest Married At First Sight stars to indulge in a little 'wife swapping'. After being spotted together on dinner dates and getting cosy at the airport, KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O decided to find out the truth once and for all. On Wednesday, the Sydney radio presenters called Justin and asked whether he could confirm he was hooking up with Ashley. Scroll down for video 'We are still in touch!' Married At First Sight's Justin Fischer confirmed he is sleeping with flight attendant co-star Ashley Irvin during a phone chat with Kyle and Jackie O on Wednesday At the start of the phone call, Kyle tried to trick Justin into admitting he was in bed with Ashley. He said: 'Good morning, I know it's early. Can you just roll over and put Ash on for a sec?' Playing along with the joke, Justin replied: 'Hang on... Ash, wake up, wake up!' However, the blonde flight attendant did not appear to be in the room with him. New romance? Ashley has been rumoured to be hooking up with Justin for weeks Found love? Justin confirmed speculation that he and Ashley have 'kept in touch' after filming MAFS but refused to divulge too many details When asked about his relationship with Ashley, Justin remained coy. 'Well out of respect for Ash, I can't say too much but we are still in touch,' he said. Kyle then jumped in: 'Right, so it's sex only - is that what you're saying?' 'Correct, yes,' Justin responded. 'Correct, yes': When Kyle if he and Ashley were having sex, Justin replied that they were Justin and Ashley have been spotted several times in recent weeks. They were sighted at Sydney Airport when Justin was picking up Ashley after her flight from Brisbane. They also shared a romantic dinner at Sydney's Park Hyatt before heading to the businessman's Rose Bay apartment. Once upon a time, Karl Stefanovic was rarely seen in public without his favourite pair of well-worn Birkenstocks. But the Channel Nine host, 43, swapped his casual footwear for $260 Gucci slides on Tuesday as he arrived for a radio interview in Sydney. Looking youthful, Karl also rocked a pair of skinny jeans while stopping by Triple M's studios for a brief chat with Jane Kennedy and Mick Molloy. Taking style tips from Jasmine? Karl Stefanovic wore spray-on jeans and $260 Gucci slides while arriving at Triple M's Sydney studios on Tuesday Karl, who is engaged to Mara & Mine designer Jasmine Yarbrough, completed his look with a black T-shirt and a Boston Red Sox cap. The Today host was joined by a gentleman in a pink shirt, who appeared to be assisting Karl with his media appearances. And really showing a love for his new ensemble, Karl was seen wearing the denim for a second time on Wednesday. Urban style: Karl, who is engaged to Mara & Mine designer Jasmine Yarbrough, completed his look with a black T-shirt and a Boston Red Sox baseball cap Hope he washed it! And really showing a love for his new ensemble, Karl was seen wearing the denim for a second time on Wednesday His new look: Wednesday once again saw Karl donn his fresh sprayed on denim jeans and designer Gucci slides Stepping out in Manly with a spring in his step, the TV host was seen speaking on the phone while flaunting his fresh new look. The Triple M interview and overworn fashionable new style follows an eventful few weeks for Karl. He exchanged vows with his fiancee Jasmine in a surprise commitment ceremony in Sydney's Palm Beach earlier this month. What a time to be alive! Stepping out in Manly with a spring in his step, the TV host was seen speaking on the phone while flaunting his fresh new look Taking a breather: The Triple M interview and overworn fashionable new style follows an eventful few weeks for Karl But shortly afterwards, it emerged that an Uber driver was trying to sell details of a private conversation between Karl and his brother Peter. The Uber driver had reportedly 'overheard' the Stefanovic brothers discussing Channel Nine management and other on-air talent. What a month! This month has seen the star exchanging secret vows with his fiancee Jasmine before finding himself in the midst of an Ubergate scandal with his brother Peter Style transformation! Once upon a time, Karl was rarely seen in public without his favourite pair of well-worn Birkenstocks During the conversation, Karl allegedly criticsed his Today co-host Georgie Gardner for being a 'fence-sitter' and not having enough opinions. On Monday 19th March, the day New Idea published a front page expose about 'Ubergate', Karl was presenting the breakfast program with Georgie. Georgie, 47, appeared to take a thinly-veiled swipe at her co-host, branding him 'pathetic' during a segment about a dachshund parade in the UK. As the self-professed 'selfie king' he feels most a home in front of the camera. So Kurt Coleman was well and truly in his element as he attended the Kookai Runway Show in Melbourne on Tuesday night. The Instagram star posed up a storm on the media wall before watching the models saunter down the catwalk. Velvet crush! Selfie king Kurt Coleman is in his element as he strikes a pose at the Kookai runway show in a black velour two-piece outfit The 21-year-old made sure to look his very best on the night, wearing a fashion forward black velvet two-piece ensemble paired with a striking leopard print shirt and denim jacket. And even Kurt was impressed with his own appearance, writing on social media 'I look hot as tonight at the fashion show tonight.' The photogenic star recently treated his 149,000 Instagram followers to a very cheeky snap when he soaked up the sunshine from the poolside. The Australian hunk went shirtless to show off his impressive figure as he only donned a pair of swimming trunks. Making a statement: The 21-year-old made sure to look his very best on the night, wearing a fashion forward black velvet two-piece ensemble paired with a striking leopard print shirt and denim jacket 'Thinking about how much I love myself': Kurt recently treated his 149,000 Instagram followers to a very cheeky snap when he soaked up the sunshine from the poolside From the pool, Kurt shot a cheeky look back over his shoulder as he posed up a storm for in front of the camera. The Instagram star exuded confidence when he cooled off from the blazing sunshine in the swimming pool. Keen to show off his sense of humour and personality, he wrote in the caption: 'Swimming in the pool thinking about how much I love myself.' On Monday, the Instagram sensation looked unrecognisable when he shared a comparison picture of himself now with a throwback on Instagram on Monday. The Melbourne-based hunk's tanned cosmetically-enhanced complexion was worlds away from his baby face in the throwback snap. What a look! Kurt first rose to a fame as a teenager thanks to his very confident social media posts on his Instagram account, which now boasts of 149,000 followers 'You can really tell the difference': Kurt was unrecognisable in throwback snap shared on Monday after he confessed Botox and fillers 'f**ked' his face Kurt insisted he 'obviously looked different' and boasted of 'amazing plump olive skin' thanks to his diligent use of skin products over the last four years. He wrote on social media: 'People say skin care doesnt even do anything before I started using skin products on the left 4 years ago & on the right is my amazing plump skin now, havent missed a day of taking care of my skin and you can obviously tell the difference... 'I just urge everyone to take care of themselves because it feels good to be healthy inside and on the outside but just sayin' it actually makes the biggest difference after years of taking care !! Love ya.' (sic) Tan-tastic: Selfie king Kurt Coleman suffered an epic fake tan fail as he showed off an alarming mahogany glow in his latest Instagram snaps Earlier in March, the selfie king divulged how getting so much Botox and fillers in the past left him with unwanted facial changes He told ABC's Hack: 'I didnt look like a normal person. I just didnt look like myself. I always loved myself, so why did I change it for no reason?' He decided to stop when he realised his face was 'f**ked', which made him think 'what the hell'. Kurt had managed to stay off his beloved fake tan for six months in 2017 amid his vow to favour a more natural look. Regrets getting botox at 18: The selfie king revealed how getting so much botox and fillers in the past has left him with permanent facial changes But he was off the wagon with his latest spray. 'I just think it feels so good to have a spray tan,' he gushed in his Instagram stories, while he paraded his bronzed look. The hunk added: 'You can take the spray tan off him but you can't take the spray tan out of him. Some things never change aye, spray tans will be forever.' The sun-kissed gent is delighted that he has often been likened to his idol, the former reality TV star Paris Hilton. Kurt made the move from his native Gold Coast to Melbourne in 2017, where he has dabbled in DJing at nightclubs. She's happier than ever after falling in love with Lee Elliott on The Bachelorette. But while the couple's relationship is going from strength to strength, baby rumours are starting to annoy Georgia Love. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, the Ten Eyewitness News journalist slammed Woman's Day for speculating she could be pregnant. 'When you're in the public eye and not a size 6': The Bachelorette's Georgia Love slammed Woman's Day magazine for speculating that she could be pregnant The Studio 10 star shared a photo of the magazine article, which featured the headline: 'Is Georgia pregnant?' The publication had circled Georgia's stomach in order to suggest that her body was proof she is expecting a child. Georgia wrote in the caption: 'When you're in the public eye and not a size 6.' Taking a stand: While her relationship with Lee Elliott is going from strength to strength, baby rumours are starting to annoy Georgia It's not the first time Georgia has hit back at Woman's Day's pregnancy rumours. In June last year, she denied similar speculation during an appearance on Studio 10. Georgia explained she had just had a big breakfast with a friend when pictures were taken of her in activewear, which were later used as evidence of her 'baby bump'. 'I'm not pregnant': It's not the first time Georgia has hit back at pregnancy rumours 'No, I'm not pregnant,' Georgia confirmed at the time. 'I just had a big breakfast! Which I am not sorry for, because it was delicious.' She continued: 'I'm not a big girl. So to go out for a walk and go out for breakfast with a friend and I'll be wearing my daggy walking clothes because I'm walking and to have people label me as pregnant for that reason!' She's the outspoken bikini model who caused a stir with her seductive antics on The Bachelor last year. And Elora Murger has now weighed in on the biggest controversy to hit Bachelor In Paradise this season - the shock elimination of Brett Moore after he was outed for having a secret girlfriend. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, the upcoming Bachelor In Paradise intruder shared a romantic photo of Brett and his ladylove Stephanie Boulton - who starred alongside Elora on The Bachelor last year. Showing her support: Elora Murger has now weighed in on the biggest controversy to hit Bachelor In Paradise this season- the shock elimination of Brett Moore after he was outed for having a secret girlfriend 'Man, I would have wished for you in paradise too': Taking to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, the upcoming Bachelor In Paradise intruder shared a romantic photo of Brett and his ladylove Stephanie Boulton 'Man, I would have wished for you in paradise too [love-heart emoji],' wrote Elora in the caption, tagging Brett's Instagram page. On Monday, Brett was sent packing after becoming embroiled in a 'secret relationship' plot-line, which he claims producers created. In a lengthy post, Brett blamed the show's producers for making him look like a 's**t bloke' and insisted the original plan was for Stephanie to join him in Fiji. Look who's back! Elora is gearing up ton make her triumphant return to screens as an intruder on Bachelor In Paradise next week Scandal: On Monday, Brett was sent packing after becoming embroiled in a 'secret relationship' plot-line, which he claims producers created But wasn't it a show for singles? In a lengthy post, Brett blamed the show's producers for making him look like a 's**t bloke' and insisted the original plan was for Stephanie to join him in Fiji Brett's claims: The idea was that they would film the series and allow their romance - which had already started back in Australia - to 'blossom' in front of the cameras Brett explained that he and Stephanie were both approached to appear on Bachelor In Paradise in the 'early days' of their relationship. The idea was that they would film the series and allow their romance - which had already started back in Australia - to 'blossom' in front of the cameras. However, things apparently went pear-shaped when Brett 'arrived on the island first' and Stephanie's contract was summarily 'ripped up' - making it 'look like (he) went on a dating show without her'. Controversy: The ensuing controversy over Brett's 'secret' girlfriend and what he was doing on a dating show for singletons was one of the main storylines in the first two episodes The ensuing controversy over Brett's 'secret' girlfriend and what he was doing on a dating show for singletons was one of the main storylines in the first two episodes. Brett appeared to have support from his Bachelor In Paradise co-stars after Monday's episode aired, with Megan Marx commenting below his post: 'Love you guys.' Mackane Reid also wrote on Instagram: 'Big love to my brother from another mother. Sorry it turned out the way it did... Go to this great man's last post for the full story.' A Warner Bros. spokesperson said: 'Once it was confirmed during filming that Brett and Stephanie were actually dating, Stephanie was no longer eligible for the show.' Australia needs to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to foreign aid, a major review has found. Australian Council for International Development chief executive Marc Purcell responded to an Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development report, saying Australia's international partners were calling on the government to do more. "Australia wants the benefits of being part of the club, but isn't willing to chip-in when the clubhouse roof starts leaking," Mr Purcell said on Tuesday in response to the five-year review. "After successive cuts, now is the time to rebuild and reinvest in Australia's aid program." Mr Purcell said Australia has no aid volume trajectory and desperately needs a vision for its aid program going forward, in the face of "short-sighted" cuts. The review commended Australia's global engagement on development and focus on fragile Pacific states and disaster risk reduction. It highlighted the introduction of a "performance-based framework" for aid in 2014 and the integration of aid agency AusAID with DFAT in 2013. These changes have encouraged innovation and a development-friendly outlook on trade, the review found. But the bottom line was that Australia needs to boost its official development assistance. Projections indicate levels of Australian assistance could drop to "an all-time low" of 0.22 per cent of gross national income in 2017/18. OECD Development Assistance Committee chair Charlotte Petri Gornitzka said Australia used its voice on the global stage to advocate for developing states. "At the same time the decline in aid flows, despite steady economic growth, has affected the scope of development and humanitarian programs," she said. "We encourage Australia to find a way to reverse this trend." The OECD Development Assistance Committee reviews the programs and policies of members every five years. It pays particular attention to poverty reduction, sustainability and gender equality. The biggest recipients of Australian assistance include Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. Russia will expel Australian diplomats in retaliation for Canberra booting out two of Moscow's spies, a leading national security analyst predicts. Australia is expelling two Russian diplomats it believes are undeclared spies as part of a coordinated international effort to punish the Kremlin for a nerve agent attack in Britain. Russia will almost certainly respond by expelling some Australian diplomats, Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings says. "We'll see a sort of like for like response ... we can expect a couple of our own diplomats to come back," Mr Jennings told ABC radio on Tuesday. "When the Brits expelled 23 Russians, who again were all undeclared intelligence agents, the Russians in response expelled 23 British diplomats from Moscow." The UK, United States and European allies of Britain have now expelled 100 Russian diplomats over the nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, the biggest expulsion since the Cold War. Australia quickly joined the list on Tuesday morning, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying: "Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation." Mr Jennings said Australia's response was "about right", and Canberra would not want to completely kill off its relationship with Russia by expelling all 16 diplomats at Moscow's Canberra embassy. He said those allowed to remain here would include undeclared spies. "There are 16 (Russian diplomats in Canberra), which is actually a very large number for a country which frankly has a tiny economic relationship with Australia," he said. "You can take it as an absolute certainty that there will be more undeclared intelligence agents in that embassy than the two which are going to be expelled." He said Russian spies had been active in Australia since the Cold War days of the 1950s. "In part that's because they see us as a close ally of the United States, so they can use Australia as almost a back door into getting information that would be useful about the US." Bill Shorten has signalled the Labor Party may shift its position on offshore immigration detention at this year's national conference. The opposition leader said there was no doubt issues around asylum seekers and people smuggling will come up for debate at the July meeting. Newly-elected Batman MP Ged Kearney is among several Labor figures promising to argue for more "humane" party policies on asylum seekers and offshore processing. "In terms of the policies that emerge, I make one thing very clear, we don't support the way the government has treated people in detention," Mr Shorten told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. "We don't believe that mandatory detention has to be the necessary result of stopping the boats." However, Mr Shorten is not for budging on turning back people-smuggling vessels at sea. "We recognise the boat turn-back policy has been effective, and I have no interest in changing that policy," he said. Former prime minister Tony Abbott says Pauline Hanson's One Nation should be "rewarded" with Liberal Party preferences for supporting the government's agenda. Mr Abbott told the launch of a book of speeches by Senator Hanson in Canberra that he believed Liberal how-to-vote cards at the next federal poll should put the Greens last, Labor second-last and then preference "constructive conservatives". "I would certainly put One Nation above Labor and the Greens because we have been able to work constructively in the Senate with One Nation," Mr Abbott said on Tuesday. "We would not have been able to pass any legislation in this current parliament but for the constructive work of Pauline Hanson and her team of senators. It's only right and proper that good and constructive conduct should be rewarded." Senator Hanson said her party wanted coalition preferences. "No way in the world do I want to hand (government) to Labor and the Greens to destroy this country. I think it's very important as conservatives that we do work together." Incoming storms look set to be the final nail in Tasmania's coffin as Queensland stand on the brink of an eighth Sheffield Shield title. Needing an outright victory to claim the crown at Brisbane's Allan Border Field, the Tigers put the foot down on Tuesday morning. Alex Doolan (82 not out) and Jordan Silk (74) dominated as the visitors reached 1-166 from 26 overs before bad light stopped play shortly before lunch. Tasmania lead by 127 but with heavy storms approaching it appears unlikely they will even get the chance to take the 10 wickets needed for a miracle victory. Queensland pair Joe Burns and Matthew Renshaw both took the field on Tuesday morning, while Tasmania skipper George Bailey struck a relaxed figure in the grandstand. Time is running out for any of them to board a flight and join the Australia Test side in South Africa, should any Test players join Steve Smith in being suspended in the wake of the ball-tampering saga. Triple word champion Mick Fanning is certain he has picked the right time and the right place to end his professional surfing career. The 36-year-old will bow out at the upcoming Rip Curl Pro at iconic Bells Beach - an event he has won four times, including his first top-tier title as a teenager back in 2001. "It's been something that's been going on in my mind for a few years now. It was always the idea to come and finish at Bells," Fanning told reporters on Tuesday. According to the man who once helped land her in jail, Pauline Hanson is a testament to the adage 'you are always better the second time around'. The apparently pointed remark came from Tony Abbott as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the woman who once detested him. Was the country's 28th prime minister also talking about himself? "That's an entirely hypothetical question and I couldn't possibly comment," Mr Abbott said when asked if it also applied to his own political career. The book launch love-in in Parliament House to mark a new compilation of the One Nation leader's speeches was a far cry from the "political witch-hunt" Senator Hanson accused Mr Abbott and John Howard of in the early 2000s. "Between Pauline and myself there has been a lot of dirty water under the bridge, but her willingness to let the past be the past is a sign of decency which is all too rare these days in our public life," Mr Abbott said. Back in 1996, when Senator Hanson was a "lone voice crying in the wilderness", Mr Abbott thought she was damaging what he believed was the best conservative government in the nation's history. Now she has worked with her colleagues constructively in the Senate to help the coalition government implement its agenda, he said. "If I may say so, Pauline, adversity has made you a better, deeper person and you are certainly confirmation of that old adage that you are always better the second time around." And while he insists he's fighting for the re-election of the coalition, he agrees with many of Senator Hanson's ideas - namely scaling back immigration, building more coal-fire power stations, dams and recognising "we do have a problem with Islamism". He is even making it his mission for the government to preference One Nation below themselves and above Labor and the Greens. Senator Hanson says she called Mr Abbott last Thursday with a "cheeky" request for him to launch her book. "Well you burst out laughing," she said. "Whether he thought I was having a go at him I don't know." She said both of them have had their ups and downs, praising Mr Abbott for not walking away when he lost the prime ministership. "It's a clear indication that we have stuck with what we believe in to work for the Australian people," Senator Hanson said. "I think that like Nelson Mandela did, after 28 years in prison he forgave and he forgot and I think that's what we need to do." AUSTRALIAN ACTION AGAINST RUSSIA - Two Russian diplomats told to leave Australia within seven days. - Action relates to Russia's use of military-grade nerve agent in an attempted assassination in Salisbury, UK, on March 4. - Last expulsion from Australia was of two Syrian diplomats in 2012 over the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons. - Prime Minister says the federal parliament should also pass new foreign interference and espionage laws. - Australia accuses Russia of political assassinations, cyber attacks, attempts to manipulate Western elections, illegal annexation of Crimea, invasion of Georgian and Ukraine territory and disruption of the investigation into the downing of flight MH17. - 23 countries are taking action against Russia. A group of people returning to their remote Cape York community were stranded by rising floodwaters for 24 hours and unable to call for help because a local phone tower was out of action. The only 3G phone tower at Lockhart River was knocked out in a lightning strike six weeks ago, leaving the 800 residents unable to make calls unless they are close to small temporary satellite dish brought in as an interim measure. Two stranded cars carrying eight people were only found last Tuesday because locals have been patrolling the area due to the lack of communications, mayor Wayne Butcher said. Punters will no longer be able to bet on the outcome of lotteries or Keno, with the federal government cracking down on wacky wagers. Legislation will be introduced to parliament on Wednesday, banning the practice known as "synthetic lotteries" which is a bet type offered by Gibraltar-based gambling company Lottoland. The move comes after a backlash from official lottery and Keno providers including newsagents, pharmacies, pubs and clubs. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the practice was undermining a long-standing acceptance of traditional lotteries. "Online services offering products that involve betting on lottery outcomes are relatively new and have generated considerable community concern," Senator Fifield told parliament on Tuesday. "Since these concerns were first raised last year, the government has listened carefully to a range of groups that have views on the undesirability of permitting betting on these products." The ban will start six months after the bill passes parliament, to give gambling companies a transition period. Lottoland is licensed in the Northern Territory where the government banned betting on Australian lotteries. But the capacity for bets to be placed on the outcomes of overseas lotteries and Keno remained, prompting the federal government to step in. Brisbane train goers have been told to be wary of measles symptoms after a man infected with the disease caught public transport. The Metro-North Public Health Unit confirmed the man caught an 8.30am train from Enoggera Station to Roma Street on Monday and a train running in the opposite direction at 1.30pm on Tuesday. "Metro-North Hospital and Health Service encourages people who were in those areas at the same time as the person to be aware of measles symptoms," the unit's Dr James Smith said. Wildlife conservationists have slammed seismic blasting that is set to take place off the Newcastle coastline in the lead up to the annual whale migration season, and have called for it to be stopped pending an environmental review. Greenpeace Australia Pacific claims the local whale watching industry wasn't consulted about the petrol and oil testing to be undertaken by Asset Energy and has lodged a complaint with the federal regulator National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority. "The company behind this flawed plan for seismic testing never sought comment from the whale watching industry which operates inside the survey area, and knocked back the requests of fishers who've been working off this coastline for generations," senior campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said in a statement. Student loans debts could be clawed back from deceased estates without it being a death tax, federal Labor MP Julian Hill says. The suggestion goes against his party's policy, but Mr Hill believes the idea should be considered. He has the support from at least one government backbencher, Ben Morton, who flagged the idea himself in parliament on Monday. It was first mooted by former education minister Christopher Pyne in 2014 and branded by Labor as a "death tax", though Mr Hill told parliament on Tuesday that label was a furphy. "It's politically difficult mainly because it's very easy to carry on and call this a death tax and such nonsense, but there is a case to look more closely at it," he said. Mr Hill said the case would only grow as more debt is written off over time and more unfair options for considering debt repayment are considered. He raised the idea during a debate on the government's proposal to lower the income threshold at which loan repayments begin, from $55,000 to $45,000. "We can flesh it out, run some numbers and see if the case does stack up, and we can garner some support from across parliament," Mr Hill put to Mr Morton in a display of bipartisanship on Tuesday. He acknowledged there would need to be a carefully crafted policy to protect families with young children where a parent dies young, or where wealth is tied up in assets. Mr Morton told parliament on Monday for the long-term sustainability of student loans more was needed than lowering the repayment threshold. "There is a strong policy case for looking at the option of recouping student debts from certain estates," he said. The original suggestion from Mr Pyne was killed off by former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2016. WHY AND WHEN IS IT CRASHING TO EARTH? * China admitted last year it hadn't been able to contact its first space station since March 2016. * That confirmed astrononmers' concerns the bus-sized piece of space junk known as Tiangong-1 or "Heavenly Palace 1" was on an unavoidable, uncontrolled collision course with Earth. * It's predicted to re-enter over the Easter weekend. WILL IT HIT ME? * No. You have a better chance buying a regular quick-pick to the next two Saturday lotteries and winning both. (1 in 460 billion v 1 in 1 trillion) WHAT ARE THE CHANCES IT WILL LAND IN AUSTRALIA? * Still quite low. It'll come down in the latitudes of 43 degrees north and south, and that is somewhere between southern France and Hobart. * The few bits of space junk that could possibly survive re-entry (the fuel tanks) will most likely drop in the ocean. CAN I KEEP THE SPACEJUNK ONCE IT LANDS ON EARTH? * No, the space junk remains the property of China. That also means China is liable for damage. WHY IS ITS PATH SO DIFFICULT TO PREDICT? * Many complex factors can affect the seven-year-old space station on re-entry, including its changing orientation and the varying thickness of the upper atmosphere. * China hasn't revealed its exact mass and material composition, making it harder to estimate how and what will break-up. WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE THE RE-ENTRY? * Depending on location, time of the day and cloud visibility, it may be possible to view pieces of the spacecraft burning up on re-entry. * The Aerospace Corporation, a US independent space research agency, says visibly incandescent objects will likely last up to a minute or more. The agency also has a handy location tracker that's updated every few minutes: http://www.aerospace.org/CORDSuploads/TiangongStoryboard.png (Sources: European Space Agency, Aerospace, Australian Science Media Centre) If the mention of Q fever leaves you wondering what on earth the disease is, you are not alone. Too few people know about the bacterial infection, which can spread to people from animals and be like a bad flu, the NSW government says. In hopes of improving awareness of Q fever, the government will spend $475,000 on an education program and efforts to improve a vaccine for it. The current vaccine is effective but requires screening to prevent severe reactions and is not suitable for those aged under 15. Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said awareness was the first step to preventing farmers, meat workers and vets from being struck down by the "nasty disease". Infected people can suffer fevers, chills, headaches and profuse sweating, and may even wind up with pneumonia, hepatitis or heart complications, he says. "It can cause you to be bedridden for weeks or longer at a time, which is not something you want when you're a farmer," Dr McAnulty told reporters at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Tuesday. In 2017, more than 200 people contracted Q fever in NSW, mostly males aged between 40 and 70, and almost half were admitted to hospital. A seventh person is suspected of contracting measles from an Australian man who returned to Melbourne from Kuala Lumpur while infectious. It comes after five people and a baby were diagnosed with the illness after being at the Tullamarine Airport international baggage collection area along with the man who travelled on flight D7214 on March 7. Victorian health authorities on Tuesday revealed what they believed to be a seventh case potentially linked to the flight, and urged people who were on the aircraft or at the baggage collection terminal at the time to watch out for symptoms. A new parliamentary committee will examine how stillbirth research and education can be improved in a bid to stop the devastating loss of six Australian babies a day. New Labor senator Kristina Keneally garnered bipartisan support to establish the Select Committee on Stillbirth and Research Education which is due to make its inaugural report to parliament early next year. The committee's first inquiry will look at funding for research, education priorities, availability of data to researchers, the role of the private sector and the impact of stillbirths of the economy. Senator Keneally, who nominated better funding for research into pregnancy loss and stillbirth as a cause she would champion in parliament, said it was an overlooked and under-investigated public health issue. "Six babies a day in Australia are stillborn. That is six lives lost every day in Australia," the former NSW premier told parliament. "Surely, we as a nation can do better than this." Government frontbencher James McGrath said the coalition backed the inquiry. "This is important public health issue and we'll work co-operatively in a bipartisan manner with the committee," Senator McGrath said. One of Australia's largest salmon farming companies has slammed Tasmania's environmental regulator for being "late to the party" on reducing fish stock limits at Macquarie Harbour. Huon Aquaculture executive director Frances Bender has hit out at the state's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which last week flagged a reduction in biomass levels. Last week, EPA director Wes Ford said the harbour's fish stock maximum would be cut from 16,000 tonnes to 9,000. But Ms Bender said that figure simply reflected of the amount of fish in the harbour. 'Mr Ford is late to the party," she said on Tuesday in Hobart. "The biomass has been reduced by mother nature - a cumulation of disease, poor environmental practises - that's where the numbers are drawn from. "The EPA has not bought the biomass back in this draft determination. They've just added up the numbers that we've still got alive." Mass fish deaths have in recent years plagued the picturesque harbour on Tasmania's west coast, part of which lies inside a World Heritage Area. Ms Bender said an outbreak of pilchard orthomyxovirus, or POMV, had killed a "significant" number of fish over summer. "If we don't manage the biosecurity practises - and the horse may have already bolted - we may actually have a scenario where we fallow the harbour," she added. Huon Aquaculture, who along with Petuna and Tassal have fish pens in the harbour, has brought action against a 2012 decision by the federal environment minister to allow farming expansion. Huon Aquaculture claim the decision has led to environmental degradation and was invalid. The federal court hearing wrapped up on Monday, with justice Duncan Kerr reserving his decision. Petuna and Tassal are parties in the case and support the minister's decision. Huon Aquacultures's legal proceedings, launched early last year, followed an Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) report that found "dead zones" existed in the harbour. An updated IMAS report, released last week, said oxygen levels in the harbour remained very low but there was "capacity" for recovery. The EPA has been contacted for comment. Workers are being overlooked amid all the negative sentiment towards the corporate world, the Business Council of Australia argues in a new advertising campaign. The council is using its annual forum in Canberra on Tuesday evening to launch a campaign to remind Australians that business generates jobs and how big and small firms rely on each other to be successful. It says the business community has become an easy target for a wave of populist attacks but there is limited appreciation of the positive contribution of business to the nation and people's lives. "We cannot sit back and allow Australians to only see the negatives and forget about our workers," it says. The Australia at Work campaign centres on two television commercials focusing on how 86 per cent of jobs today are generated by business and how big and small business work together - like a small business owner supplying snacks to a major airline. This will be backed by a mix of radio, print and digital advertising, along with a substantial social media strategy over the next year. "We need to highlight the good business does every day - from creating jobs, exporting, innovating and giving back to the community - and address the issues that irritate the community," the council says. Seven coalition backbenchers have urged the party to consider the plight of white South African farmers they say are being targeted for attacks. The MPs raised their concerns about the "unique" issue in the coalition party room meeting on Tuesday, but stopped short of calling for a special visa to be issued. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton told the MPs people do not need to be "refugees" in order to qualify for Australia's humanitarian program. The MPs told the party room they were concerned their worries about white farmers in South Africa had been misconstrued as "racist" in media reports. They also asked if there were any diplomatic actions Australia could take. Ms Bishop said Australia's high commissioner in South Africa had been urging the government to plan for land reforms. Mr Dutton last week said he was going to stare down criticism from "crazy lefties" over the plan to bring farmers to Australia. "They don't realise how completely dead they are to me," Mr Dutton told 2GB radio. A lewd message on a Wicked Campers van has sparked renewed calls to legislate against inappropriate slogans on vehicles in NSW. A campervan with a slogan on its back window making reference to anal sex and virginity, reportedly spotted in Ballina, prompted Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi to call on the government to ban the slogans. Ms Faruqi, who described the message as misogynistic and disgusting, said she tried to introduce a bill to ban the use of offensive advertising on vehicles in 2017. She wanted to amend the Road Safety Bill so vehicles displaying offensive advertising could have their registration cancelled. The government did not support the amendment, according to Ms Faruqi, choosing rather to strike a voluntary agreement with Wicked Campers that their vans would not carry offensive slogans. "This shows voluntary agreements with businesses do not work, especially when their business is to shock and offend," Ms Faruqi said in a statement. "Other states have done it, I call on the minister to support my bill and ban these offensive and misogynist slogans once and for all." Queensland and Tasmania are understood to have imposed similar bans. Wicked Campers and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey have been contacted for comment. As Malcolm Turnbull's corporate tax cuts bit the dust in the Senate, the prime minister was seeking wise counsel from Australia's oldest checkout chick. His government has given up on passing corporate tax cuts this week but will make a fresh attempt in the May Budget week. The coalition is two votes away from securing passage of its bill to reduce the corporate tax rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent across all-sized businesses. Mr Turnbull rallied business leaders to continue to fight the good fight on Tuesday evening. "We're not giving up," Mr Turnbull told a Business Council forum at Parliament House. "We're determined to get this passed." He encouraged the chief executives to talk to the crossbenchers. "We are the party of aspiration on our side so I would encourage you to talk to the opposition and the Greens but it might be a slog for you. "You're not afraid of a challenge." Mr Turnbull was joined on stage by a panel of three workers including Brenda Palmer who has worked at Coles for 51 years. She often provides cooking advice to her customers and Mr Turnbull was interested to know how that had changed over the years. "I've noticed they read the labels more carefully these days," she said. "I remember when jam only came in tins and the bread was wrapped in wax paper, which wouldn't be a bad idea if they went back to the wax paper." Mr Turnbull replied: "that's some very good advice." The Business Council used its annual forum in Canberra on Tuesday evening to launch a campaign to remind Australians that business generates jobs and how big and small firms rely on each other to be successful. It says the business community has become an easy target for a wave of populist attacks but there is limited appreciation of the positive contribution of business to the nation and people's lives. "We cannot sit back and allow Australians to only see the negatives and forget about our workers," it says. The Australia at Work campaign centres on two television commercials focusing on how 86 per cent of jobs today are generated by business and how big and small business work together - like a small business owner supplying snacks to a major airline. Kristina Keneally never imagined she'd make a political comeback. "Simply put, I thought my race was run," the former NSW premier turned senator told federal parliament. But a call from Bill Shorten asking her to switch from commentator to candidate reminded the US-born Labor senator why she was drawn to politics - to turn promises into progress. While she lost the Bennelong by-election to incumbent John Alexander last year, Sam Dastyari's fall from grace paved the way for her ascension to the upper house. "There is nowhere else I would rather be," she said in her maiden speech on Tuesday. Her commitment to unions was forged in 1987 in her hometown of Waterville, Ohio, where she worked on an assembly line in a fibreglass factory. Senator Keneally said she worked there months after another young woman, Leslie Lambert. "One afternoon Leslie was caught by the adhesive, spun around 10 times, cracking her head and back on to the machine, before she was thrown to the floor," she said. "She died. Leslie was 19." The experience seared the importance of a safe workplace and unions into Senator Keneally's "very existence". It wasn't the last life-changing moment which would inform her policy pursuits. Less than an hour after winning bipartisan support for a Senate committee to examine stillbirth research and education, Senator Keneally recounted what sparked her passion for the issue. "Our daughter Caroline never drew breath, but she changed me forever," she said. Stillbirth was a national public health crisis with major economic impact and devastating effect on families, she said. There was unsurprisingly no mention of jailed former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid, who the Liberals attempted to link to her during the Bennelong campaign. But Senator Keneally outlined her hope a federal anti-corruption watchdog would become a reality. "What I and the people of New South Wales know from ICAC inquiries is that when people choose to act corruptly, they do it in secret," she said. "When it comes to safeguarding trust in our democracy, sunlight isn't just an effective disinfectant, it is an essential precondition." Senator Keneally famously told NSW parliament she was "nobody's girl" to shake off accusations that she was Obeid's "puppet". In her maiden address in Canberra, she defended her achievements as premier while accepting her government made mistakes. As she embarks on her second crack in politics, a stronger, fairer and more generous Australia is in her sights. "And now that this first speech is done, it is time to get on with that task." The family of Elijah Doughty say they feel "gutted" after the man who struck down and killed the Aboriginal teenager was granted parole following 19 months behind bars. The 14-year-old boy was driving a stolen motorcycle near Kalgoorlie in August 2016 when the man, who cannot be named, hit him with his ute. The father-of-six stood trial charged with manslaughter, but was convicted of the lesser offence of dangerous driving causing death, and was sentenced to three years in jail. The Prisoners Review Board recently determined the man's release "would not present an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community". But he will have to move interstate to start his new life. Elijah's grandfather Albert Doughty said there had been no justice for the boy. "It's opened up old wounds," he told AAP on Tuesday. "He'll be walking around free as a bird and Elijah is dead. I feel gutted." The board took into consideration the fact the man has no prior criminal record, is considered a low risk of re-offending and the "salutary effect" of his imprisonment. "The conditions of parole will further reduce the risk to the safety of the community," the board said. The man must not have any contact with Elijah's family and cannot enter the Kalgoorlie area, including Boulder. He must also attend programs and counselling, seek employment and not change address without approval from a community corrections officer. Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said there had been little reaction within the community. "The town just wants to move on," he told AAP. Mr Bowler said he was very proud of the family and community for the peaceful march held last month ahead of the man's parole hearing. But racial tensions appear to be continuing on social media. Mr Doughty said he had seen some shockingly racist Facebook posts. "These aren't kids, they're grown people. These are educated people. That's what makes me sick," he said. There was a violent riot in Kalgoorlie when the man first appeared in court, with police injured and nearby shops forced to close. Protests were later held across the country over the case, calling for "justice for Elijah". A man has been charged after he allegedly walked up to a woman at a Brisbane bus stop and sliced her throat with a piece of glass. The woman sat at a bus stop in Fortitude Valley just after midday when she was approached by the man, police said on Tuesday. The 23-year-old man allegedly leaned over and cut her throat with a piece of glass before fleeing the scene. Officers chased the man down a nearby lane and arrested him. The woman was treated for a small, non-life threatening wound to her neck. The man was charged with intending to cause grievous bodily harm and is expected before Brisbane Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. An Australian man detained in Bali after he was found with a small amount of marijuana and antidepressant pills has avoided jail. Instead the court has ordered Joshua James Baker, 32, to undergo rehabilitation at a local centre. Joshua James Baker, 32, was found with 36 grams of marijuana and 37 Diazepam antidepressant pills in his luggage at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport after he flew in from Bangkok on October 8. In the Denpasar District Court on Tuesday, presiding judge Wayan Kawisada said Baker needed rehabilitation because he suffers from depression and bipolar disorder, and is addicted to anti-anxiety medication, the Associated Press reports. Baker, who was born in Mount Isa in Queensland, was ordered to undergo rehabilitation at the Kasih Kita Foundation in Bali's capital. The 10-month rehabilitation period includes the time Baker has spent in jail since his arrest. A bid to put Victorian Labor's $388,000 rorts-for-votes scandal under more scrutiny is due to be made in state parliament. The opposition wants to create an upper house select committee, while the Greens are suggesting a privileges committee, to try to fill the gaps in a damning Ombudsman report into the 2014 election campaign scheme. Motions calling for further analysis are expected to be made on Wednesday in the upper house. It's been a week since Ombudsman Deborah Glass reported on the systematic misuse of public money by 21 past and present Labor MPs to partially fund their winning campaign. Ms Glass found the MPs breached parliamentary guidelines by authorising electoral officer time sheets when the staff were instead working on campaigns in other seats. However, she also found that MPs who participated believed it was within the rules. "The public have a right to know exactly how much has been rorted by the government," Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said on Tuesday. "Come clean or it will be solved the hard way and that will be an inquiry which people will be subpoenaed and evidence will be required." Labor has repaid the money, Premier Daniel Andrews has apologised and the government says it is time to move on. As the north of the state deals with the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Nora, the rest of the Queensland coast is bracing for a wet Easter weekend. Nearly a thousand millimetres of rain has fallen on some parts of the north and far north regions over the past seven days, culminating in an emergency on Monday night when 100mm fell in Cairns in one minute, causing a local levee to break its banks. Two caravan parks were inundated, with three people taken to hospital with minor injuries while many lost their vans, cars, and personal belongings. As the clean-up begins in the Cairns region on Wednesday, the area between Ingham and Townsville is bracing for more rain as the low pressure system moves south. And authorities are warning a second low pressure system in the Coral Sea could combine with ex-tropical cyclone Nora to create a dangerous rain system which could drench the Queensland coast down to the southeast over the Easter weekend. State Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said they were closely monitoring the systems. "There is potential for high rainfalls for a lot of parts of Queensland this week," Mr Crawford told reporters in Cairns on Tuesday. "Being a long weekend we're mindful that people could be out camping, fishing and boating, and the message to everyone is please stay tuned to the weather and emergency services, and know what the weather is doing." Mr Crawford will join Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday on a tour of Cape York communities affected by Nora. Ms Palaszczuk praised the resilience of the remote centres which regularly weathered severe weather. "Thankfully there were no injuries or loss of life, but we want to get power restored as quickly as possible," she told reporters in Cairns on Tuesday. "I just want to see if there's anything else we can do to help. They may be a long way away from Cairns and even further away from Brisbane, but everyone here is part of Queensland." Proposed laws to create a treaty between the Victorian government and the state's Aboriginal people will be debated in parliament. Traditional owners are expected to join MPs in the lower house on Tuesday as they debate the proposed treaty, which the government says will give Aboriginal Victorians a bigger voice. "(The) treaty presents an opportunity to accelerate closing the gap by building a relationship that both acknowledges the wrongs of the past and shared goals for the future," Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins said. The state's Aboriginal Treaty Working Group earlier this month recommended the establishment of an independent Aboriginal Representative Body. The body would be made up of 30 traditional owners, who would design a framework for future treaty negotiations. But the Greens and some Aboriginal Victorians are unhappy with the government's treaty process, which they say has sidelined elders and clans. "Treaties must be with the sovereign peoples of the land - the clans," said Gary Murray, an Aboriginal elder with the Victorian Traditional Owners Land Justice Group. "The Victorian government must consult with and negotiate with the elders, who are the law in our culture." A sense of hopelessness is pervading a remote community in the Northern Territory after a second attack on a young child, a local leader says. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with sexually assaulting a four-year-old child at Ali Curing, south of Tennant Creek. It comes after a 24-year-old man was charged with sexually assaulting a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek last month. "There is an absolute sense of hopelessness in Tennant Creek and the region," Barb Shaw, general manager of the Anyinginyi local health network, told ABC radio. She said the issue of overcrowding in homes was leading to an explosion of dysfunctional behaviour. "One of the things we have always pushed for, and are now at the point of pleading for, is for the construction of new housing in Tennant Creek," she said. The peak body for Indigenous health said the NT government needed to re-examine the number of liquor licences granted in the Territory, while Deputy Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro called for long-term solutions to issues related to both housing and alcohol-related harm. Chief Minister Michael Gunner said additional staff from the Territory Families department would be deployed to the area. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is set to give Russia's ambassador to Australia a dressing down over the nerve agent attack in England, as Australia prepares to kick out two Russian spies in solidarity. The two "undeclared intelligence officers" have seven days to leave the country, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Ms Bishop revealed on Tuesday. Moscow's envoy to Canberra Grigory Logvinov insists the pair are career diplomats and have been treated unfairly. The UK, United States and European allies of Britain have also expelled 100 Russian diplomats over the nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, the biggest expulsion since the Cold War. Mr Logvinov remains coy on what retaliatory action may follow. "The final decision is with the President (Vladimir Putin)," he told ABC TV. Ms Bishop is standing firm, saying the UK had provided Australia with a compelling case that either Russia was behind the attempted assassination or had lost control of its illegal stockpiles of nerve agent. "We didn't take this decision lightly," she told ABC TV. She expects to meet with Mr Logvinov soon. "My message would be that Australia condemns the use of chemical weapons any time, anywhere by any country," Ms Bishop said. Russia has a particular responsibility as a member of the United Nations Security Council to uphold international law, she said. Mr Logvinov will urge Ms Bishop to "follow the facts" and said he looked forward to exchanging views with her on the issue. Malcolm Turnbull has urged business leaders not to give up on corporate tax cuts. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told parliament on Tuesday the government had only secured seven of the nine crossbench votes needed to pass the laws, which would cut the corporate tax rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent for all businesses. The prime minister told a Business Council event on Tuesday night the government would not be giving up, with the bill to return in the May Budget session of parliament. "We're determined to get this passed," he said. Two independents, Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer, have yet to lend the government their support. Mr Turnbull encouraged corporate chief executives to talk to all senators. "I would encourage you to talk to the opposition and the Greens, but it might be a slog for you. You're not afraid of a challenge." Labor has vowed to scrap the cuts for businesses over $50 million if it defeats the coalition at the next election. Some of Australia's biggest businesses have launched an advertising campaign to remind Australians of their contribution to society. Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has quit his role in overseeing Melbourne's safe injecting room trial in protest of Labor MPs' misuse of almost $400,000 in taxpayer funds. Mr Kennett supports the North Richmond-based trial but on Tuesday night confirmed to AAP he "regretfully" could not stay on as chair of the panel overseeing it. "So disappointed am I at the failure of the Andrews government to apply its standards consistently, to accept responsibility for the fraud they have collectively committed, I have decided to resign as chairman," the former Liberal premier earlier told the Herald Sun. "As a citizen I do not feel comfortable on one hand criticising the government for an abject failure of standards, yet on the other hand working for them." Twenty-one past and present Labor MPs were last week found to breached parliamentary guidelines in the lead up to the 2014 state election by approving $388,000 of taxpayer money for electorate officers who instead worked as campaign staff. But the report by Ombudsman Deborah Glass also found participating MPs thought they were acting within the rules. Labor previously repaid the money and Premier Daniel Andrews last week apologised to voters. But the opposition and the Greens are now calling for different parliamentary inquiries into the rort. The investigation into an Aboriginal land council is scrutinising the "central role" of a former assistant tax commissioner in property deals. The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption on Tuesday began a three-week public inquiry into transactions involving Nicholas Petroulias and property owned by the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council. Mr Petroulias was jailed for two years in 2008 for corrupt conduct and unauthorised publication of commonwealth documents when he worked at the Australian Taxation Office. Mr Petroulias is alleged to have used aliases to purchase and sell a property owned by the land council. The inquiry will examine the actions of two Awabakal board members involved in executing the transactions, Richard Green and Debbie Dates, and Despina Bakis - the lawyer who drafted all four transactions. Ms Bakis, Mr Petroulias' on-again off-again partner of 20 years, had "no relevant experience" in the kind of work she was apparently tasked to undertake by the council, the inquiry heard. The inquiry continues. A move to reclassify the rape and murder of South Australian outback nurse Gayle Woodford as a workplace death has sparked a fresh look at similar cases. SafeWork SA says the original decision to tell Ms Woodford's relatives that her death was not work related was wrong. The safety regulator came to the conclusion after a review of the case by executive director Martyn Campbell, who has moved to reopen the investigation into her death. "I am also looking at how SafeWork SA can identify whether there are other cases that need to be reassessed in light of this matter," Mr Campbell said. Ms Woodford was lured from her home in the remote community of Fregon, where she worked in the community health centre, by Dudley Davey who had gone to the property asking for assistance. Her body was found in a shallow grave three days later with Davey ultimately pleading guilty to her rape and murder. He is serving a minimum 32-year jail sentence. Ms Woodford's family has called for a coronial inquiry into her death. British superstar Anthony Joshua insists he didn't snub New Zealand media in the lead-up to his bout with Kiwi Joseph Parker in Cardiff. Olympic gold medallist Joshua, unbeaten in 20 fights since turning professional, was dubbed 'disrespectful' by the New Zealander before Tuesday's press conference in London. "I don't want to lose," he said. "It's little things. People thought I walked out on the New Zealand press, but that wasn't the case. "It was because I was there from 10.30 in the morning until 5pm, and I had to be back in the gym for 6.30pm to train, and I hadn't eaten. "It wouldn't have mattered if it was African press, the Chinese press, Russian or the New Zealand press, I told my team 'can I make a move now because I have to be back in an hour and a half? Do they mind waiting?" "But they didn't want to wait, and with all due respect, I have to focus on my training. "The fear of losing is that unless I take care of my business, no one is going to want to interview me anyway so I have to make sure I stay focused." Saturday's fight at the 78,000-capacity Principality Stadium represents the first time two unbeaten world champion heavyweights have ever gone toe-to-toe in the UK. Joshua, who has won all of his 20 fights by knockout, is accustomed to the crowds. The then-IBF champion's first stadium bout was the stunning defeat of Ukrainian legend Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley last April that won him the WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight crowns. He then made his first defence of the three belts at the Cardiff venue against Cameroonian-Frenchman Carlos Takam in October. WBO champion Parker (24-0, 18 KO), by contrast, is preparing for by far the biggest crowd of his career, but heavy favourite Joshua isn't taking anything for granted. "I feel like every fight is a blessing," Joshua said. "Whether it's Joseph Parker sitting here, or X, X or X sitting here every fight will have reason in the long run. "He's a champion, he's done well for himself and he's someone who will add something to my life journey. "He's quick, and he can take a punch." A second man has been charged in relation to the shooting of a couple in Sydney's west last week. A 43-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man remain in Westmead Hospital in a serious condition after they were shot inside their home at Bidwell, near Mt Druitt, about 7.30pm on March 20. A 23-year-old man was charged in relation to the incident and remains before the courts. A 27-year-old man was arrested at a Plumpton home on Tuesday afternoon and later charged with two counts of shooting with intent to murder, police say. He was refused bail to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday. A giant new home for a pride of lions is set to open at NSW's Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo following a multi-million dollar renovation. The zoo will officially unveil the 3.8 hectare precinct for its eight lions on Wednesday, offering visitors the chance to check out the predators from a replica African village. A driving safari will also run at the Lion Pride Lands, for those who wish to get even closer to the animals. The new precinct, which is the first significant change to the regional zoo's circuit since it opened in 1977, has been built through a joint $9 million investment by the state government and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia. NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said she was confident the world-class precinct will boost tourism in the state's central west. The area will also act as an avenue to educate people on lions, Taronga Conservation Society Australia chief said Cameron Kerr said. He said the wild population of lions is now down to about 20,000 as their habitat is becoming fragmented, made worse by conflicts and poaching. The public will be able to access the new Lion Pride Lands from Sunday. A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder following the investigation into the death of a man in far north Queensland. Police say the younger man punched a 56-year-old man in the head a number of times, causing him to lose consciousness during a fight at a home at Maadi near Tully about 7pm on Tuesday. The 56-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and the 25-year-old man is due to appear in the Innisfail Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with one count of murder. Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan will announce a national initiative to bolster support for an Australian resource sector he sees as under attack. The Resources 2030 Taskforce, reportedly to be announced during his address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, will help the government increase exploration, improve mining's 'social licence' and increase coal exports to Asia - and it's already drawing the ire of the Greens. "Minister Canavan and the federal government should save their money and recognise what is already well-established: there is no role for coal," Greens senator Andrew Bartlett told reporters in Canberra. A Victorian registered sex offender who has failed to notify authorities of his address hasn't been seen in three months. Police on Wednesday appealed to the public to help track down Darren McDonald, 53, who has not been since December 17, saying he may be frequenting the St Albans and inner west areas and is known to sleep rough. McDonald is described as having short grey hair and blue eyes and a number of distinct tattoos including a star on his right ear, a dragon on his left arm and two fish on his upper right arm. Police say he may have grown a beard and moustache. I Putu Astawa, a 25-year-old driver, was found guilty of the murder of Nurio Matsuba and his wife Hiroko -- both in their seventies -- at their home in Jimbaran, a resort area in southern Bali A Bali court Monday sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for killing an elderly Japanese couple on the Indonesian holiday island last year. I Putu Astawa, a 25-year-old driver, was found guilty of the murders of Nurio Matsuba and his wife Hiroko -- both in their seventies -- at their home in Jimbaran, a resort area in southern Bali. "The defendant has been beyond reasonable doubt guilty of committing burglary which caused the loss of other people's lives," presiding judge I Wayan Sukanila told the Denpasar District Court. The victims' bodies were found burned beyond recognition on September 4, a day after the murder was committed by Astawa. He sneaked into the couple's house after noticing the front gate was open, the court heard. He tied up and gagged Hiroko, who was killed first, before killing her husband using a knife he found at the front door. Astawa stole 110,000 yen ($1,050) and two mobile phones before leaving the house using the couple's car. Later in the evening, Astawa returned to the house and set the bodies alight with gasoline and a lighter, the court heard. He used the stolen money to repay debts and pay rent. Two weeks later, Astawa surrendered to a police post and became the only suspect in the murders. Astawa's lawyer IB Alit Yoga Maheswara said his client had accepted the conviction and would not appeal the sentence, which is the maximum possible for violent robbery leading to death. The victims had lived in Bali for seven years, where the husband was a broker in a tuna export company, according to police. Bali is a popular tourist destination known for its tropical climate and palm-fringed beaches. Shinzo Abe has come under mounting pressure over the scandal A Japanese official at the heart of a cronyism and cover-up scandal that has dented Shinzo Abe's popularity said Tuesday that the prime minister's office was not involved in falsifying documents. In hotly awaited parliamentary testimony beamed live on national television, Nobuhisa Sagawa said only his office took part in altering key documents relating to a controversial land sale. "This is an issue only for the finance bureau (of the ministry) ... therefore we never reported outside the finance bureau ... not to mention reporting to the prime minister's office," said Sagawa, 60. He said neither Abe nor his cabinet secretary or finance minister had ordered the alterations. Sagawa's testimony came as fresh polls showed public support for Abe's government plunging by double digits, apparently due to the scandal, amid opposition calls for the prime minister to resign. However, the official declined to answer detailed questioning about how and when documents were altered, saying he was under criminal investigation. The scandal revolves around the 2016 cut-price sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator who claims ties to Abe and his wife Akie. The row deepened when the finance ministry admitted official records of the sale were altered, with references to Abe, his wife, and Finance Minister Taro Aso scrubbed. Abe has apologised repeatedly, but denies any wrongdoing. On Monday he pledged a "thorough investigation so that everything can come to light". - 'Properly calculated' - Sagawa was head of the finance ministry department that oversaw the sale in 2016, and was promoted to head Japan's tax agency the following year. As the scandal made national headlines, he stepped down, and the opposition has sought repeatedly to bring him before parliament to testify. Several times last year, Sagawa told MPs the price of the land "was properly calculated" and stressed there was no evidence of political pressure in the sale. Official documents relating to the sale were apparently altered to make them consistent with his testimony, according to the finance minister. Sagawa's testimony Tuesday was the first time he has been officially summoned to address parliament under oath. A career bureaucrat who began working at the finance ministry in 1982, Sagawa stepped down earlier this month, with some experts saying Abe's government hoped the resignation would draw a line under the scandal. But the opposition has continued to press Abe and his cabinet to take responsibility for the scandal, as well as pushing for Akie Abe to testify to parliament -- a request the premier's ruling party has so far rejected. The opposition says Sagawa's testimony "is only a first step towards revealing the whole truth" about the scandal. The affair took a tragic turn earlier in the month when an official from the finance ministry apparently involved in the scandal took his own life. The row has battered Abe's popularity and called into question whether he can still win a party leadership contest this September and become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. His approval rating plunged by 14 percentage points to 42 percent this month, according to a survey published Monday by the business daily Nikkei, with his disapproval rating at 49 percent. The liberal TV Asahi's poll Monday said public support dropped by 11.7 percentage points to 32.6 percent. Linda Brown (C) -- pictured in 1964 -- was at the center of a landmark Brown v. Board of Education court case that ended segregation in US public schools Linda Brown, who was at the center of the landmark 1950s court battle leading to the desegregation of US public schools, died on Monday at age 75. The US Supreme Court ruling on the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954 was a key moment in the movement to end widespread discriminatory practices against black people in the United States -- but discrimination, racism and racial tensions still plague the country more than 60 years later. "Linda Brown Thompson 75, of Topeka (Kansas), passed away March 25, 2018 at Lexington Park Nursing & Post Acute Center," according to an obituary provided by her sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson. She is survived by a son and a daughter as well as other relatives, it said. Brown "is one of that special band of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy -- racial segregation in public schools," Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in a statement. "She stands as an example of how ordinary schoolchildren took center stage in transforming this country," she said. "It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country." The NAACP spearheaded the legal battle against school segregation in the US, an effort that involved Brown and many other students and their parents from several states and the US capital. In the early 1950s, Oliver Brown sought to enroll his daughter in an all-white school near the family's home in Topeka, but was told she had to go to an all-black school that was farther away. Instead, he turned to the courts for justice, as did others. Cases from Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina and Virginia as well as the capital, Washington, were ultimately combined when they were appealed to the US Supreme Court, becoming the ground-breaking Oliver Brown v. Board of Education. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregation was unconstitutional. - 'An incredible impact' - But segregation was far from over despite the court ruling, and integration was bitterly opposed by some whites. President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed American soldiers after the Arkansas governor sought to block African-American students from being integrated into an all-white high school in the state's capital Little Rock in 1957. Though segregation was illegal in schools after the Brown v. Board ruling, it nonetheless continued because of opposition from racists, as well as due to the prevalence of separate black and white neighborhoods, which led to de facto segregation in local schools. Busing students from their home neighborhoods to schools in other areas was begun to address the situation, but that move was still being contested more than 20 years after Brown v. Board. Schools were not the only segregated areas in the US: there were also separate restaurants, bathrooms and water fountains for blacks and whites in parts of the country -- something protesters held sit-ins to oppose as part of the civil rights movement. Even now, racial tensions continue to plague America -- where black people have faced hundreds of years of discrimination and slavery -- and African-Americans still make up a disproportionate percentage of the country's incarcerated and poor. Brown, who was just a girl when the court case unfolded, became a school teacher later in life, taught piano lessons and worked with the Brown Foundation, an organization that seeks to promote the legacy of the case, according to its website. She also "traveled the country with other family members lecturing about the history of this significant civil rights milestone," the obituary provided by her sister said. Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer paid tribute to her in a Twitter post on Monday. "Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world," Colyer wrote. And the American Civil Liberties Union rights group hailed the impact of the court case. "The Brown decision made America a beacon of hope to the rest of the world; it taught us that we could, through the rule of law, end a kind of oppression and race-based caste system," the group said on Twitter. "Today we honor Linda Brown and all the fights we have left to win." A floating sun shield some 50,000 times thinner than a human hair could be enlisted to protect the Great Barrier Reef from environmental degradation, researchers said today. The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists each year, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change. Scientists have been buoyed by test results of an ultra-fine biodegradable film made of calcium carbonate that has been shown to protect the reef. The world-famous site has undergone unprecedented bleaching over the past two years, which has devastated more than two-thirds of it, experts say. Scroll down for video An ultra-fine biodegradable film some 50,000 times thinner than a human hair could be enlisted to protect the Great Barrier Reef from environmental degradation, researchers said today. Pictured are live coral in sun shield trials in Townsville, northern Queensland 'It's designed to sit on the surface of the water above the corals, rather than directly on the corals, to provide an effective barrier against the sun,' Great Barrier Reef Foundation managing director Anna Marsden said. 'It (the project) created an opportunity to test the idea that by reducing the amount of sunlight from reaching the corals in the first place, we can prevent them from becoming stressed which leads to bleaching'. They looked at seven different coral types found that the protective layer decreased bleaching of most species, cutting off sunlight by up to 30 per cent. Researchers from a breadth of disciplines contributed to the project, which was headed by the scientist who developed the country's polymer bank notes. 'In this case, we had chemical engineers and experts in polymer science working with marine ecologists and coral experts to bring this innovation to life,' Ms Marsden said. Scientists have been buoyed by test results of an ultra-fine biodegradable film made of calcium carbonate that has been shown to protect the reef from the effects of bleaching The Great Barrier Reef has undergone unprecedented bleaching over the past two years, devastating more than two-thirds of the reef, experts say (stock image) With its heavy use of coal-fired power and relatively small population, Australia is considered one of the world's worst per capita greenhouse gas polluters, with advocates urging Canberra to do more to protect the environment. The reef is also under threat from predatory coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, as well as farming run off. Ms Marsden said it was impractical to suggest that the 'sun shield' - made from the same material found in coral skeletons - could cover the entire 348,000 square-kilometre (216,000 square-mile) reef. 'But it could be deployed on a smaller, local level to protect high-value or high-risk areas of reef,' she added. The trials have been carried out by scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Biology. They looked at seven different coral types found that the protective layer decreased bleaching of most species, cutting off sunlight by up to 30 per cent Coral expel tiny marine algae when sea temperatures rise which causes them to turn white Corals have a symbiotic relationship with a tiny marine algae called 'zooxanthellae' that live inside and nourish them. When sea surface temperatures rise, corals expel the colourful algae. The loss of the algae causes them to bleach and turn white. This bleached states can last for up to six weeks, and while corals can recover if the temperature drops and the algae return, severely bleached corals die, and become covered by algae. In either case, this makes it hard to distinguish between healthy corals and dead corals from satellite images. This bleaching recently killed up to 80 per cent of corals in some areas of the Great Barrier Reef. Bleaching events of this nature are happening worldwide four times more frequently than they used to. An aerial view of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The corals of the Great Barrier Reef have undergone two successive bleaching events, in 2016 and earlier this year, raising experts' concerns about the capacity for reefs to survive under global-warming Advertisement 'The concept needs more work and testing before it gets to that stage, but it's an exciting development at a time when we need to explore all possible options to ensure we have a Great Barrier Reef for future generations.' Hard corals, also called reef-building corals, produce a rock-like skeleton made of the same material as classroom chalk - calcium carbonate. Soft corals produce smaller amounts of calcium carbonate. A report last year from Deloitte Access Economics valued the Great Barrier Reef as an asset worth Aus $56 billion (US $43 billion/30 billion). This included its tourism revenues and indirect value for people who have not yet visited the site but know it exists. US President Donald Trump (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin speak last July during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany Donald Trump has ordered an unprecedented expulsion of Russian officials and warned the Kremlin needs to change, a setback for his courtship of Vladimir Putin, but perhaps not its end. On the face of it, the latest iteration of Washington's endless "reset" of relations with Moscow is in serious trouble. Having wooed Putin for the better part of two years, the 71-year-old US president on Monday expelled 60 alleged Russian spies. True to Trump's embrace of superlatives, that was the largest single expulsion of Russians or Soviet intelligence officers on record, according to one senior official. Trump also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle -- within snooping distance of a US submarine base and a plant run by aircraft-maker Boeing, one of the president's favored companies. Trump's aides, aware that Americans think he and Putin are too cozy, stressed the expulsions were the president's decision. It was "a decision that he was involved in from the beginning and that he personally made after several meetings," said a senior administration official. Trump "was briefed on the ongoing preparations throughout the weekend," he added. The expulsion announcement was accompanied by an out-of-character warning that Russia has to change if Trump's stated aim of better ties are to come true. Better relations "can only happen with a change in the Russian government's behavior," the White House said. It seemed like, as with US presidents past, the scales may be falling from Trump's eyes when it comes to the former KGB officer who now runs Russia. George W. Bush declared at the beginning of his presidency that he was able to look Putin in the eye and "get a sense of his soul," but later came to publicly acknowledge a misreading of the Russian leader. Barack Obama's aides admit it took him one failed "reset" and a series of confrontations, including over Russia's annexation of Crimea, to realize that Putin's interests and the interests of Russia were often not the same. Those claiming a similar shift in Trump's stance can now point to Monday's expulsions and US sanctions earlier this month against Russians for election meddling and cyber attacks. But for the last 14 months in office, Trump has sent one message to Russia and his administration has sent quite another. - 'Not done with sanctions' - While officials have fumed at Russia's "malicious contempt" for others' sovereignty, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has toured the world reassuring jittery allies, Trump has sung from his own script. His remarks -- both public and private -- have been markedly more conciliatory toward Putin. The Kremlin will notice that Monday's warning that better ties are at risk came, symbolically, from press secretary Sarah Sanders, not Trump himself. US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam last November Even before he entered the White House, Trump had aggressively defended his engagement with Russia. Brushing aside invasions and bombings and meddling, he has argued that the route to solving issues from Ukraine to Syria to arms control to terrorism runs through Moscow. In December, he marveled that cooperation between the CIA and Russian agencies had prevented a "major terrorist attack" in Saint Petersburg. He went on to stun critics by suggesting a joint cybercenter with the Kremlin, despite Russians being charged by special counsel Robert Mueller over their alleged interference in the 2016 election which Trump won. "I believe that President Putin really feels -- and he feels strongly -- that he did not meddle in our election," Trump said during a trip to Vietnam last November. Trump and Putin have met at least twice and the US leader's comments towards his counterpart have been effusive, speaking of good "chemistry" and a relationship of peers. Last week, Trump aides warned him: "DO NOT CONGRATULATE," but he did so anyway in a phone call to Putin after his re-election as Russian president. In response to Trump's expulsions, Moscow has already promised tit-for-tat measures. An escalation seems inevitable. "Washington probably is not done with sanctions against Russia over other issues," said Alex Brideau, a consultant with Eurasia Group, "but pressure will remain on President Donald Trump's administration to respond further" to cyber breaches and other issues. That will only create more domestic headwinds for Trump's effort to improve ties. But Trump -- never eager to admit failure -- may see this latest crisis as more evidence of the costs in butting heads with Moscow. Who would bet that president and his administration will now get on the same page? No caption Self-testing kits and vending machines distributing prescription drugs are two ways that HIV treatment is being automated to reduce stigma in South Africa, home of the world's biggest HIV epidemic. With 7.1 million people living with HIV in the country, removing human intervention is helping experts target hard-to-reach groups like young men who are often reluctant to queue in public clinics. Students, porters and labourers have flocked to a new HIV self-testing stand outside a supermarket in Hillbrow, a gritty district of central Johannesburg. The project was started in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2015 and expanded last year to include South Africa, which has an 18.9-percent HIV rate among adults. A small team of young and stylishly-dressed "peer educators" convince men aged between 18 and 30 to take the tests, which -- in a breakthrough for South Africa -- are self-administered. "It's targeted at young men and if we have a group of young men around, we pull more people in," said Lynne Wilkinson, an expert at the University of the Witwatersrand's Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, which oversees the project. From May, the scheme will be extended to several of Johannesburg's bustling minibus taxi ranks which carry hundreds of thousands of commuters every day. After passers-by complete a simple form, they are handed a pack to take into one of a row of unassuming portable pop-up tents to ensure privacy. - 'Did it to inform myself' - Musician Oscar Tyumre, 45, is one of those who tested positive after self-screening and said knowing his status was a relief. He received counselling and advice to begin medication They follow a short guide showing how to swab their gums with a wand before placing it into a holder. "Instructions are in six languages and most of the time people do it right," said Mokgadi Mabuela, a confident 25-year-old, who distributes and demonstrates the tests. "They respond quite well when you explain it's a self-test -- although the men will often ask if you want to date!" she said. After 20 minutes, the test results are delivered by lines that indicate negative or positive. Those showing positive are offered immediate confirmation tests which, if conclusive, are followed-up with treatment referrals. Those not wanting to wait for their results can take the packs home. "Last week I came past with my brother who tested and I was passing by today. It was easy and I did it to inform myself," said one young man, who declined to be named. The kits, which are free to the users, contain advice on what to do if a home test is positive. The project is an initiative of Unitaid, the Geneva-based organisation that says three out of every 10 people with HIV worldwide do not know they have the virus. It has so far brought hundreds of thousands of the tests into South Africa and surrounding countries and plans to distribute 4.8 million self-screening kits in total. One of those who tested positive after self-screening was 45-year-old musician Oscar Tyumre from Alberton, east of Johannesburg. "With their counselling, they advised me to go to their clinic to take their medication right away," he told AFP. "I was delicate at the time -- but I started right away." - 'Know your health status' - The self-administered HIV test involves swabbing the gums and then placing it in a holder. After 20 minutes, the test delivers a result Oscar added that knowing his status was actually a relief. "My advice is don't despair. It's not the end of the world, you can go straight into treatment and still live to 100," he said. Ten kilometres (six miles) north, in the sprawling Alexandra township, South African not-for-profit Right ePharmacies last week launched an ATM-style dispenser that removes the need for face-to-face interaction with a pharmacist to collect HIV treatment. Patients can activate the vending machines -- the first in Africa -- using a membership card and PIN number which calls up repeat prescriptions pre-loaded by doctors. Law requires a live pharmacist sign off on the transaction so after a Skype-like video call, the medication is dispensed. It takes less than five minutes. "It's much easier and quicker," said Alexandra resident Philda Dladla, 59, who uses the machines to collect HIV treatment twice a month. "Before, we used to wait for the whole day at a clinic. It's easy and anyone can do it -- as long as you don't forget your PIN number!" The system's privacy booths also mean patients can avoid publicly revealing their condition -- unlike in busy local clinics. "The only way anyone would know your health status is if you left with the medication showing," said operations manager Thato Mathabathe beside one of the pharmacy's four $170,000 (137,000 euro) German-made robotic dispensers. Roughly 200 patients use the system every day and users have collected 16,000 items, including HIV/AIDS drugs as well as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and hypertension medication since September. There are now plans to expand it to three other sites in the Johannesburg region. Russian, EU and French flags are seen at the entrance to the village of Pissa, not far from Berengo Palace, the former palace of the president Jean-Bedel Bokassa, which has been transformed into a military training camp Inside a sprawling former "imperial palace" near Bangui, Russian instructors have set up a camp where they are training soldiers of the Central African Republic (CAR) in using Russian weapons. Since late January, the former home of president Jean-Bedel Bokassa -- who took over in 1966 and later declared himself emperor before being overthrown in 1979 -- has been transformed into a hive of activity. Over the past two months, more than 150 instructors have been brought in, according to a diplomatic source. They are training soldiers to use Russian arms at this 40-hectare (100-acre) site 60 kilometres (35 miles) from the CAR capital. Bloodily divided by ethnic and religious strife between rival armed gangs, the CAR has been subjected to a United Nations arms embargo which was recently extended until February 2019. But after lengthy negotiations with the UN, Moscow managed to secure an exemption and in mid-December, it delivered a sizeable stock of weapons including handguns, assault rifles, machine guns and even rocket launchers. Russia also won UN approval to offer weapons training to two battalions -- around 1,300 men -- of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) which is currently undergoing an overhaul. Officially, the Russian programme aims at strengthening a ramshackle military in a country where swathes of territory are controlled by armed groups. Beyond this, though, the mission will clearly boost Moscow's influence in a struggling strategically-located state whose treasures include diamonds, gold, uranium and timber. There is little indication of such weighty geopolitical developments at the entrance to the Berengo Palace. A soldier allows a few journalists to venture into the grounds as far as Bokassa's ornate tomb, located inside the palace remains, while repeatedly insisting: "No photo, no video, no interview." Just to the right of the emperor's resting place are about 10 huge tents housing a battalion of FACA troops, some of whom already underwent training by a specialised European Union mission last year. "These soldiers are ... learning to work with the specific equipment supplied by Russia," explains a military source. "The training is very hard," whispers one of the FACA soldiers walking near the camp's entrance. - Tackling the chaos - Given the chaotic situation in the CAR, Washington, Paris and London have demanded that Russia take firm precautions to ensure that the weapons are safely stored and accounted for. "So far, there haven't been any real inspections," one diplomatic source admitted. On the outskirts of the palace, such questions are not raised and the Russian instructors are looked on in a very favourable light. "They are going to help our country get out of this mess," said Roger Okoa-Penguia, mayor of a nearby village called Pissa. "The Sangaris didn't finish their mission," he said, referring to a French peacekeeping operation which formally drew to a close in October 2016, ending a nearly three-year mission. "They are nice, they buy food, it helps local trade," enthused one local resident who gave his name only as Alexis. "The French pretend they're helping us, they sign agreements but do nothing, but the Russians do! If they had brought security, why would we need the Russians?" asked another called Thibault. On January 24, several of Bokassa's descendants who live in France released a statement saying they had "learned with shock and dismay about the presence of Russian soldiers" at the palace, which they consider to be "a private family estate". "All misunderstandings have been lifted over the subject of Berengo. It belongs to the state, there's no doubt," Bangui government spokesman Albert Yaloke told AFP. A traditional sesame oil press powered by camel in Mazar-i-Sharif Old Afghan men looking to soothe their aching joints or enrich their rice dishes stand around a tiny shop where they are lulled by a camel's steady steps as sesame oil flows into a plastic bucket. The traditional industry in northern Afghanistan is the domain of ethnic Turkmen, though its origins seem unclear. The sesame are pressed not by hand but by camel power to extract their precious oil. Two of the animals take turns every couple of hours walking around in circles in the cramped space, a pack on their shoulders supporting a mast that drives the wooden press, a patch covering one eye to narrow their gaze. Chari Amini has taken over the business started by his father and his 12-year-old son is already helping him as he prepares to become the next generation of sesame oil producers. Amini buys sesame at the local market, which are grown between rows of wheat, hashish and poppies in the fertile soil of Balkh province, which borders Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. If the seeds are of good quality, one kilogramme can produce half a litre of oil. "We are about 35 producers in Mazar-i-Sharif, all Turkmen, and we all know each other," says Amini, his bald head covered with a turban, referring to the capital of Balkh. "We are honest -- it's the key to business," he explains. "We never stopped during the wars." Amini also presses sesame for farmers who bring their harvest to him, charging 100 Afghanis ($1.50) per ser, a traditional unit of weight that is equal to seven kilogrammes. The traditional method of producing sesame oil has to compete with more efficient industrial presses Dark chunks of residue are collected and used as fuel in homes. This modest trade brings Amini 20,000 Afghanis per month -- not as lucrative as opium poppy used to produce heroin, but better than the income of a soldier. And it is enough to support his five children. His shop is one of several facing a wide road in Mazar-i-Sharif, the front entirely open to customers. Every two hours, his employee Alokozai pours 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of seeds into the press and takes the reins of the camel to guide him around the circle. Alokozai never considered doing anything else with his life, he says, surprised by the question. - 'Healthier and sweeter' - Each camel works for 10 hours a day. Amini keeps the animals for 18 months and then resells them "for a profit" once they are muscular. Roughly 300,000 litres of sesame oil are produced using the traditional method each year in Balkh, according to Zabihullah Zubin, a director at the provincial Department of Agriculture. That provides a livelihood for about 50 producers About 300 farmers produce sesame but they prefer to sell on the regional market for a higher price -- 120 Afghanis per kilo against 90 Afghanis in the Mazar-i-Sharif bazaar, explains Zubin. This method of producing sesame oil is competing with more efficient industrial presses, of which Mazar-i-Sharif has three. "They have the food technology, they know how to process, to clean the seeds, do the packaging... the small manual production would need investment and technical support" to access the overseas market, said Zubin. Joseph Nezam, an Afghan-French businessman, is trying to develop local sesame oil production with the support of the American development agency USAID so they can sell directly into markets abroad. "Afghanistan has a very good quality sesame but people prefer to sell to neighboring countries that serve as an intermediary to the international market, and help them to produce at European standards," Nezam says. Old customers of Amini swear that the camel-pressed sesame oil they use to flavour their traditional Afghan rice dish kabuli palau is "totally organic, healthier, and sweeter" than industrial presses that "burn" seeds by crushing them. "It's better than any tablet or medicine," says Hajji Abdul Ghani Rahmani, a traditional doctor who stops by Amini's shop to stock up on sesame oil to use at his clinic. "You can use it and feel better very soon," he adds, as he massages the knee and leg of an elderly man sitting inside the shop. Shinzo Abe has come under mounting pressure over the scandal A Japanese official at the heart of a cronyism and cover-up scandal that has dented Shinzo Abe's popularity said Tuesday the prime minister's office was not involved in falsifying documents. In hotly awaited parliamentary testimony broadcast live on national television, Nobuhisa Sagawa said only his office took part in altering key documents relating to a controversial land sale, potentially easing the pressure on the embattled Abe. "This is an issue only for the finance bureau (of the ministry) ... therefore we never reported outside the finance bureau ... not to mention reporting to the prime minister's office," said Sagawa, 60. He added that neither Abe nor his cabinet secretary or finance minister had ordered the alterations. Sagawa's testimony came as fresh polls showed public support for Abe's government plunging by double digits, apparently due to the scandal, amid opposition calls for the prime minister to resign. However, Sagawa declined to answer detailed questioning about how and when documents were altered, saying he was under criminal investigation. This sparked furious scenes in the normally restrained Japanese parliament, as opposition lawmakers jeered and dismissed the testimony as a waste of time. "There is no point in us asking more questions," shouted Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Akira Koike. Tetsuro Fukuyama, the secretary general of the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, told reporters: "These were totally hollow answers, and we must say suspicion only increased." - 'Dire situation' - Political analyst Yoshinobu Yamamoto stressed that Abe was not out of the woods yet. "My gut feeling is that the problem won't go away with this. I expect further developments ahead .... The public will not think this is the end of this problem," Yamamoto told AFP. "His government is in a dire situation but it is not yet bad enough to push him to resign," he added. However, financial investors cheered the fact there was no damaging revelation for Abe and stocks closed up 2.65 percent. Nobuhisa Sagawa said his office acted alone The scandal revolves around the 2016 cut-price sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator who claims ties to Abe and his wife Akie. The row deepened when the finance ministry admitted official records of the sale were altered, with references to Abe, his wife, and Finance Minister Taro Aso scrubbed. Abe has apologised repeatedly, but denies any wrongdoing and has pledged a thorough investigation. "I am deeply sorry if this has undermined public trust in civil servants across the nation," Sagawa said, bowing deeply before MPs. Sagawa also backed Abe's assertion that neither he nor his wife were involved in the sale. - 'Properly calculated' - Sagawa was head of the finance ministry department that oversaw the sale in 2016, and was promoted to head Japan's tax agency the following year. He stepped down when the scandal hit national headlines and the opposition has repeatedly sought to bring him before parliament to testify. Several times last year, Sagawa told MPs the price of the land "was properly calculated" and stressed there was no evidence of political pressure in the sale. Official documents relating to the sale were apparently later altered to make them consistent with his testimony, according to the finance minister. The opposition says Sagawa's testimony "is only a first step towards revealing the whole truth" about the scandal and is pushing for Akie Abe to testify -- a request the premier's ruling party has so far rejected. The affair took a tragic turn earlier in the month when a finance ministry official involved in the scandal took his own life. Abe's popularity has been hammered by the scandal and called into question whether he can still win a party leadership contest this September and become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. His approval rating plunged by 14 percentage points to 42 percent this month, according to a survey published Monday by the business daily Nikkei, with his disapproval rating at 49 percent. The liberal TV Asahi's poll Monday said public support dropped by 11.7 percentage points to 32.6 percent. A US Border Patrol Unit sails down the Rio Grande River dividing Mexico and the United States The United States and Mexico sought to play up their cooperation on security issues Monday as US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited Mexico City at a time of strained ties. In her first visit to Mexico as homeland security chief, Nielsen met with the country's foreign and interior ministers and oversaw the signing of three deals to work more closely together on customs and border issues. "No one should underestimate the strength and commitment of the United States to the United States-Mexican partnership," she said, adding in thickly accented Spanish: "We are neighbors, we are allies, we are friends." Mexico has been stung by President Donald Trump's verbal attacks on Mexican immigrants, his insistence on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and his vow to make the country pay for his planned border wall. The latter subject has twice caused Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to cancel trips to Washington after heated phone calls with Trump. In the wake of the second cancellation, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner visited Mexico, and Nielsen is now the latest high-level US envoy to visit in what appears to be an effort to smooth over ties. The strain has raised fears over the future of the two countries' close cooperation on issues like migration, drug trafficking and other border security matters. But Nielsen was upbeat on bilateral ties. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray acknowledged the tension, but said the countries were trying to find common ground. "It's true, there are issues on which we have different opinions. We don't agree on everything. But we are determined not to let our differences define our relations," he told a press conference. "The focus of our work is on the areas where we agree and the things we can do together." The newly signed agreements are three of more than 20 that are currently in the works, Nielsen said. Under them, the US and Mexico will work more closely together to crack down on contraband or counterfeit manufactured goods, consolidate customs inspections for commercial shipments, and streamline health inspections for agricultural goods, said Videgaray. Beijing was under tight security Tuesday, with a heavy police presence at venues where President Xi Jinping usually hosts foreign dignitaries, fuelling speculation that Kim Jong Un was in town Chinese censors scrubbed social media of unflattering references to Kim Jong Un on Tuesday, while superstitious investors snapped up shares resembling the North Korean leader's name, as rumours swirled that he was visiting Beijing. The capital was under tight security, with a heavy police presence at venues where President Xi Jinping usually hosts foreign dignitaries, fuelling speculation that Kim was in town. State media and officials did not confirm whether Kim, or any other top North Korean official, was visiting Beijing after Japanese media reported that a special North Korean train had arrived in the city on Monday. Authorities deleted or blocked any mention of Kim, North Korea, or the supposed visit on the country's heavily-used social media, even going so far as to bar insulting Chinese nicknames for him. Kim is often referred to on China's internet by the moniker "Kim Fatty the Third" -- as the third Kim to lead North Korea after his grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il. Even variations like "Fatty Fatty Fatty has come", "Fatty Fatty Fatty Beijing" and "he really came" appear to be banned phrases on the Twitter-like Weibo service. But Chinese investors, who are known for their often bizarre, superstition-based buying choices, sought to make a profit off the rumoured visit. The Mandarin character for "Kim" is pronounced "Jin" and means "gold", and some Chinese companies with Jin in their name soared on Tuesday. A Chinese firm called Changbai Mountain Tourism Co. Ltd, which is based in northeastern China, also surged by its 10 percent daily limit in Shanghai. Changbai mountain is a peak along the China-North Korea border. Another firm called Dongguan Golden Sun Abrasives, a company that makes products like sandpaper, also surged by its 10 percent limit. "Golden Sun" is seen by some Chinese as referring to Kim. Other companies whose names contained at least one character from Kim's full name also jumped. In Shenzhen, Kingsignal Technology, which Chinese name contains the "Jin" character, also surged by its daily 10 percent limit. Russia has denied it was behind the attempted assassination, which left Skripal (L) and his daughter gravely ill New Zealand said Tuesday it would like to expel Russian spies in retaliation for allegedly poisoning an ex-agent in Britain -- only it can't find any Moscow operatives in the remote South Pacific nation. Scores of Russian diplomats have been ordered from the United States, Canada, Australia and various European countries in the wake of the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury. New Zealand, a former British colony and staunch London ally, offered in-principle support but admitted a lack of Russian spy activity meant there was little action it could take. "We have done a check in New Zealand. We don't have Russian undeclared intelligence officers here. If we did, we would expel them," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told state radio. "When there's a range of international interests ... does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually." Ardern said New Zealand "will keep under review what further actions it can take to support the international community over the Salisbury attack". Russia has denied it was behind the attempted assassination, which left Skripal and his daughter gravely ill in perhaps the first nerve agent attack in Europe since World War II. New Zealand is a member of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing network, which also includes the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. Regions all over the country are getting ready to receive visitors who seek unforgettable experiences in northern, central and southern areas. For this reason, the travel platform in coordination with the private sector offers discounts of up to 55% on full-day and multi-day trips. Ica and Apurimac If you are heading to the South, Ica is a great option. The Lima- Paracas -Lima tour includes a boat ride to Ballestas Islands pisco vineyard visits, and sandboarding valued at S/160 (about US$49). Price includes roundtrip transfers, entrance fees, and services of a tour guide. 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The website has received 12.8 million visits from its launch date in 2012 to December 2017. (END) NDP/MAO/RMB Loading... Online travel platform Ytuqueplanes.com offers a varied program of travel experiences with over 100 packages for this year's Holy Week in Peru, the South American country's Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) informed.Publicado: 27/3/2018 A busload of Syrian rebels evacuated from Eastern Ghouta arrives in government-held territory on March 25, 2018 The largest convoy yet of evacuated Syrian rebel fighters and civilians began leaving a devastated pocket of Eastern Ghouta overnight, state media said on Tuesday. One hundred buses carrying 6,749 people -- around a quarter of them fighters -- left a part of the enclave controlled by the Faylaq al-Rahman rebel faction, the SANA state news agency said. The departure was part of a deal reached last week between the Islamist group and Russia, which is helping its Syrian ally negotiate such deals to clear the last rebels out of Ghouta. Russian-backed Syrian troops and allied militia have waged a brutal offensive since February 18 in which they have recaptured more than 90 percent of Ghouta, a onetime rebel bastion on the edge of Damascus. Moscow has negotiated two evacuation deals so far for Ghouta. One, implemented last week, saw hardline Islamist rebels from Ahrar al-Sham leave the battered town of Harasta in the west of the enclave. The agreement with Faylaq al-Rahman was announced on Friday and its implementation started the following morning. Nearly 1,000 people -- including rebels, their relatives and other civilians -- were evacuated on Saturday, followed by 5,435 people on Sunday. President Bashar al-Assad has used such agreements to recover swathes of territory since the uprising against him began seven years ago this month. AkzoNobel, the world's leading paintmaker, owns brands such as Dulux and Trimetal Dutch chemical giant AkzoNobel announced Tuesday it was selling its chemicals arm to US-based investors Carlyle Group and Singapore's GIC for 10.1 billion euros ($12.6 billion), as part of its strategy to bolster the company. "AkzoNobel today announces the sale of 100 percent of its specialty chemicals business to The Carlyle Group and GIC for an enterprise value of 10.1 billion euros... as part of its strategy announced in April 2017," it said in a statement. The deal is expected to be complete by the end of 2018, and the Dutch company said it considered the move "in the best interests of AkzoNobel, Specialty Chemicals and its respective stakeholders, including employees, shareholders and customers". The world's leading paintmaker, which owns brands such as Dulux and Trimetal, said last year it was splitting off its chemicals arm as it fended off an increasingly hostile takeover bid by US-based rival PPG. After making three offers, PPG eventually dropped its efforts in mid-2017, which would have valued the Dutch company at 26.9 billion euros. The hostile move was led by US activist investor group Elliott Advisors, which finally agreed to bury the hatchet in August after losing one court case. In November, AkzoNobel announced that merger talks with another US company, Axalta, had been ditched, after the two failed to reach an agreement. Year-end figures released in March showed AkzoNobel's 2017 sales were up 3.0 percent on the previous year to 14.6 billion euros. But profits dipped 14 percent to 832 million euros compared to 970 million euros in 2016. Formed in 1994 from the merger of the Dutch and Swedish firms Akzo and Nobel, AkzoNobel has a 45,000-strong workforce and operates in about 80 countries around the world. Based in Washington DC, the Carlyle Group is one of the world's largest asset investment management groups, with $178 billion of assets. Singapore's GIC is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Singaporean government in 1981 to manage the city-state's foreign reserves. Indian workers use boats to remove sand from the River Yamuna in Allahabad: in addition to legal extraction, a "sand mafia" is at work in the country Amid growing outrage over the latest murder of a journalist in India, police have arrested a truck driver accused of killing Sandeep Sharma over his investigative reporting into the country's 'sand mafia'. The television journalist was mown down by a truck as he rode a motorcycle on Monday -- the second hit and run killing of a journalist in 24 hours. Sharma had reportedly told local authorities he feared he would be a target of the gangs that traffick sand for the construction industry. Activists say the networks are helped by police and political patronage. The journalist had reportedly exposed links between a police official and the mafia. Police in Bhind in the central state of Madhya Pradesh confirmed to AFP that a truck driver had been detained. They did not give an identity or say whether he was suspected of carrying out a contract killing. CCTV footage of the attack early Monday showed Sharma riding his motorbike when the truck swerved and crushed him. According to journalist groups, Sharma is the latest of many victims of sand gangs. Sand, often dubbed "India's gold", is crucial for the booming construction industry. The criminal networks provide sand illegally sourced from the coast and marine and wildlife reserves, often causing major environmental damage. With a growing urban population clamouring for housing, demand has soared in recent years and given rise to a surge of black market dealers ready to use violence against anyone blocking their way. The Reporters Without Borders group noted that journalists "who cover India's sand mafia are often the victims of violent reprisals". It particularly highlighted cases in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. "The shocking manner in which Sandeep Sharma was murdered is a terrible warning to journalists who investigate the sand mining mafia phenomenon," the group said in a statement. It said two journalists covering the illegal sand trade were killed in 2016 in Uttar Pradesh. In 2015 two other reporters were killed while one was beaten and dragged behind a motorbike for 100 metres in the same state. The death of Sharma came less than 24 hours after another journalist, Navin Nischal, and an associate were run over and killed by a former village chief in Bihar state over a different issue. Forty-four journalists have been killed in India since 1992, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Reporters in the world's largest democracy often face harassment and intimidation by police, politicians, bureaucrats and criminal gangs, while scores work in hostile conditions in conflict-ridden pockets of the country. Reporters Without Borders ranks India 136th of 180 countries in its world press freedom ratings. A convoy transporting Syrian civilians and rebel fighters evacuated from Eastern Ghouta waits in a government-held area prior to entering the village of Qalaat al-Madiq, some 45 kilometres northwest of the central city of Hama, on March 26, 2018 The largest convoy yet of Eastern Ghouta evacuees arrived in northwestern Syria Tuesday as the regime threatened to resume its blitz if the last remaining rebels do not leave. Government troops, backed by Russia and loyalist militia, launched a ferocious assault more than a month ago to retake the enclave on the outskirts of Damascus. They have recaptured more than 90 percent of it and are draining the last rebel-held pockets through negotiated withdrawals brokered by Russia. Russia and the Syrian regime it supports reportedly threatened to resume their blistering bombardment if the last holdout pocket that includes the main Ghouta town of Douma does not agree to a similar deal. Jaish al-Islam, the powerful Islamist faction that holds Douma, had hoped talks with Moscow would result in their staying in the town, instead of being bussed out like other rebels. But negotiations have stalled and Russia is reverting to its initial "leave or die" approach, two opposition sources close to the negotiations said. "At the end of their meeting Monday, the Russians gave Jaish al-Islam two choices: surrender or face an attack," one of them told AFP. Jaish al-Islam spokesman Hamza Bayraqdar had said the negotiations were for a deal whereby the group lays down its heavy weapons in exchange for government-provided water and electricity returning to the town. Two deals have already seen thousands of rebels, their relatives and other civilians bussed out of bombed-out Ghouta districts to Idlib, a northwestern province that is mostly out of government control. - Thousands board buses - The largest numbers have quit the towns of Arbin and Zamalka, and the adjacent district of Jobar, all controlled by the Faylaq al-Rahman Islamist faction. The group reached a deal with Moscow on Friday and its implementation began the following morning with nearly 1,000 people boarding buses and leaving. Control of Eastern Ghouta The numbers have grown steadily since, with the biggest convoy yet departing in the early hours of Tuesday with more than 6,700 people aboard. They arrived Tuesday afternoon in the Qalaat al-Madiq area of central Hama province, a staging ground frequently used in such deals, an AFP correspondent said. In Qalaat al-Madiq, a man wearing an ammunition belt unloaded a bag from a bus hold, while a young man with his leg in a cast was wheeled away by rescue workers. That convoy brought the total number of evacuees from areas under Faylaq al-Rahman's control to more than 13,000 people. The group's spokesman, Wael Alwan, has said as many as 30,000 people could be evacuated in all. President Bashar al-Assad has used such evacuation agreements to recover swathes of territory since the uprising against his rule began seven years ago this month. A Syrian soldier walks down a bombed-out street in the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta on March 26, 2018, after government forces entered the town following the negotiated evacuation of rebel fighters They have usually begun with the military encirclement of an area, followed by bombardment and a ground operation before a deal is reached. Eastern Ghouta lies within mortar range of Damascus, and rebels had repeatedly used it as a launchpad for rocket attacks on the capital. The regime responded with a crippling half-decade siege of the enclave's 400,000 residents, sealing off access to food, medicines and other goods. - Rebel prisoners freed - On February 18, the regime, its ally Russia and loyalist militia launched an all-out air and ground assault that killed more than 1,600 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A Syrian rebel fighter looks out of the window of an evacuation bus from Eastern Ghouta as it reaches government-held territory on March 25, 2018 The Britain-based monitor said it had also documented the detention of more than 40 men and boys by Syrian troops in recaptured areas. Devastating air strikes and artillery fire have reduced large parts of Ghouta to ruins, forcing their residents to abandon them. At a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the failure of a 30-day ceasefire resolution adopted on February 24 should be a "day of shame" for council members. Russia hit back that it was the only country working to turn the ceasefire into a reality on the ground in Syria. Some 110,000 people have fled into government-held territory, most of them on foot or motorbike, through corridors opened up by the army and its Russian allies, according to state media. The United Nations says around 55,000 of them are housed in very basic conditions in regime-run temporary shelters on the edge of Ghouta. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council the departures were voluntary and that Moscow's forces were providing food, shelter and medical aid to those in need. Moscow has brokered talks with the rebel groups that control the three remaining pockets of the enclave. The first agreement, with hardline Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham, saw more than 4,500 people, including rebel fighters, leave the town of Harasta last week. Under the second deal, rebels from Faylaq al-Rahman are being given safe passage to the northwest, along with thousands of civilians, in exchange for releasing prisoners they were holding. Eight were freed on Sunday and another 26 the following day, state news agency SANA said. Amin Nasser, chief executive of state oil company Saudi Aramco, at the International Oil Summit in Paris on April 27, 2017 The head of Saudi oil giant Aramco has said a much-anticipated IPO is on track for 2018, but declined to give a fixed date -- or venue. "We should be ready for listing in the second half of 2018," CEO Amin Nasser told Bloomberg Television on Monday, conceding that the oil giant was looking at a "complex process". "There's a lot of work that is still ongoing, the IPO is ongoing," Nasser said. "The venue and the timing is the government... Don't forget this is a very complex process. Aramco's size and complexities is something that requires time." Saudi authorities plan to list five percent of Aramco on an as-yet unspecified stock market, but the company has struggled to arrive at a $2 trillion valuation sought by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Investors are reportedly sceptical about the lengthy process of placing Aramco on a foreign stock exchange, potentially the largest stock sale ever, with New York, London and Hong Kong among the potential sites. Nasser, however, said there was "a lot of demand for the listing". Saudi Arabia's energy minister has raised concerns that litigation would complicate a listing in New York, although President Donald Trump has publicly lobbied for a US Aramco listing. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the company may scrap its international plans and opt instead for a domestic exchange listing. London's Financial Times reported earlier this month that the IPO may be delayed until 2019 at the earliest, citing British officials briefed on the matter. The Aramco IPO plan is a pillar of the petro-state's "Vision 2030" reform programme, which aims to wean the economy off its reliance on oil revenues. Saudi Arabia, which counted on crude for more than 90 percent of its public revenues, has struggled to bounce back from a 2014 global oil market crash triggered by an output surplus. The kingdom this year introduced a value-added tax for the first time in its history, along with new fees on its sizeable expatriate workforce, and it is opening up the ultraconservative country to tourism. Saudi soldiers reveal the remains of missiles that a Saudi-led military coalition claim are Iranian and were fired by Yemeni rebels, during a press conference in Riyadh on March 26, 2018 Iranian officials and analysts on Tuesday rejected claims of supplying weapons to Yemeni rebels and mocked Saudi warnings of retaliation for a weekend missile attack. But while deriding the threat of direct Saudi military action, analysts in Tehran did express worry about what they said were increasingly coordinated efforts by the United States and its allies to destabilise the country. The latest flashpoint in the ever-volatile region came on Sunday when Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen fired seven missiles into Saudi Arabia. Riyadh said the missiles were Iranian-made and vowed "to respond against Iran at the right time and right place". Iran supports the Huthis, but denies any military ties. "These war-mongering and irresponsible remarks can be followed up legally at the international level," said foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi in a statement. "The aim of such claims by Saudi Arabia is to divert public opinion from the atrocities (they) are committing in Yemen," added Yadollah Javani, a political officer for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, according to the conservative Tasnim news agency. "The reality is that the nation of Yemen is standing up to Saudi aggression and has managed to build defence tools by relying on its own capabilities, including missile power, and this is the very thing Saudi Arabia never imagined," he added. Javani said it was impossible to send weapons to Yemen due to the blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition, which has been engaged in an aerial bombing campaign against the Huthis since 2015. Analysts in Tehran dismissed the threats from Riyadh, saying the Yemen conflict had exposed Saudi Arabia's weakness. "The Saudis are incapable of defeating one of the poorest countries in the world," said Mohammad Marandi, a political analyst at the University of Tehran. "The people of Yemen are fighting the Saudis in their slippers. They don't even have boots. Even though the Saudis have hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons from Western countries to massacre these people and impose starvation, they have failed completely," he added. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it does what it can to avoid civilian casualties and investigate civilian deaths, but has been accused by rights groups of possible war crimes. - Uniting anti-Iran elements - Military confrontation aside, there are concerns in Iran over what appears to be the increasingly coordinated attempts to target Tehran by Gulf Arab monarchies, the United States and Israel. "What I am concerned about is the Saudis' intensified efforts to unite all anti-Iran elements including non-state actors... with the political and military support of its allies, particularly the US," said Mojtaba Mousavi, a Tehran-based analyst who founded the Iran View journal. He cited the alleged support Riyadh has given to anti-Iran jihadist militias and the exiled opposition group, the People's Mujahideen, considered a terrorist organisation by Tehran and blamed for stoking recent protests in the country. "While a direct military war against Iran, either by Saudi or the US, is unlikely, there are efforts to destabilise Iran by empowering militia groups and increasing economic pressure on its society," said Mousavi. US President Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from a 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran when it next comes up for renewal in May. Iranian soldiers march during a military parade on September 22, 2017 in Tehran Mousavi said the economic pressure on Iran was aimed at reducing public support for the Revolutionary Guards and their ballistic missile programme. Widespread protests in Iran in December and January included chants against Iran's overseas interventions, which some Iranians see as draining much-needed money from the struggling economy. Iran's enemies are seeking "to persuade the Iranian government and people to decrease the role of the IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) and their military capabilities like the missile programme," said Mousavi. Such efforts are not new, he said, but "a coalition of the US, Israel and Arab states is what makes it different from the past." There are recurrent rumours that Washington has worked to broker ties between the Gulf monarchies and Israel -- who still have no diplomatic relations -- in order to better confront common foe Iran. European governments have meanwhile sought to salvage the nuclear deal by putting fresh pressure on Iran to curb the Guards' regional activities and missile tests, in the hope this will appease Trump. Iran's conservatives worry that President Hassan Rouhani, who has already clashed with the Guards over their intrusion into the economic sphere, is poorly placed to confront this outside pressure since he has staked his legacy on efforts to rebuild trade ties with Europe. Rouhani "relies too much on friendly diplomatic initiatives which may lead him to compromise on these serious issues," said Mousavi. A child runs along a street in front of clouds of smoke following a reported air strike on Douma, the main town of Syria's rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, on March 20, 2018 Syria and its ally Russia have threatened to resume bombing the final opposition holdout of Douma in Eastern Ghouta unless rebels there agree to evacuate, sources told AFP on Tuesday. Jaish al-Islam, the powerful Islamist faction that holds Douma, had hoped that talks with Moscow would result in their staying in the town, instead of being bused out like other rebels. But negotiations have stalled and Russia has demanded a full withdrawal from Douma, two opposition sources close to the negotiations said. "At the end of their meeting Monday, the Russians gave Jaish al-Islam two choices: surrender or face an attack," one of them told AFP. Russia gave the group a few days before a military assault on the town, they said. The source said Moscow urged them to follow the example of Faylaq al-Rahman, another Islamist faction that agreed last week to withdraw from its zone in Ghouta after immense military pressure. Russia has brokered deals with Faylaq and another hardline group that has seen more than 17,000 rebels, their relatives, and other civilians bused out of Ghouta. Before they faltered, talks over Douma's fate had envisioned Jaish al-Islam laying down its heavy weapons in exchange for government-provided water and electricity returning to the town. Douma had been relatively calm as negotiations were underway, without the heavy bombing raining on other towns. But Moscow was no longer willing to accept a special exception for Douma, the second opposition source told AFP. "The Russians don't want an agreement for Douma that's different from other parts of Ghouta, but Jaish al-Islam wants to stay and doesn't want any residents to leave," the source said. "They gave them an ultimatum," the source said, adding that the group had "until Wednesday or Thursday" to respond. Al-Watan, a newspaper close to the Syrian government, reported Tuesday that military forces were already amassing around Douma. "All forces involved in Eastern Ghouta are heading towards Douma ahead of a massive military operation if the terrorists of Jaish al-Islam do not agree to hand over the city and leave," the daily said, citing a military source. Syrian troops have already captured more than 90 percent of Eastern Ghouta through a blistering assault that has killed more than 1,600 civilians. Oman's Foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi (L) receives Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Muscat during an official visit to the Gulf sultanate on March 26, 2018 Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday praised Oman for being one of the few Arab states to maintain ties with Damascus over the past seven years of civil war. Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 for its deadly crackdown on an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule and fellow Arab countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar have supported the opposition. Oman's Sultan Qaboos adheres to a strict policy of non-interference in regional affairs, maintaining relations with rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran -- a key backer of Assad. During a visit to Oman, Muallem praised Muscat for taking "supportive positions towards Syria at various Arab and international forums", the state-run Oman News Agency reported. Syria's top envoy touted economic and investment cooperation with the sultanate, noting that reconstruction opportunities were on the horizon. "The reconstruction of Syria will be launched soon, as the crisis approaches its end," Muallem said. The visit, which started on Monday, is slated to last several days, during which time Muallem will inaugurate the headquarters of Syria's new embassy in Muscat, Syrian state media said. It is Muallem's second trip to Oman since 2011, with the sultanate the only Gulf state to have hosted the Syrian envoy since then. "There are no points of contention between us. We are always in brotherly dialogue, and we always hear out the ideas of the Omani leadership," Muallem told Oman TV on Monday. "It is enough for us that the sultanate has maintained a consistent approach." Actress Olivia de Havilland, photographed in Paris April 8, 1970 A California appeals court has tossed out a lawsuit by Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland, who sued FX over her depiction in the network's Emmy-nominated miniseries "Feud: Bette and Joan." In a unanimous decision Monday, the 2nd District Court of Appeal prioritized the show's creators' First Amendment rights to freedom of speech over the actress's complaint. "Books, films, plays, and television shows often portray real people ... Whether a person portrayed in one of these expressive works is a world-renowned film star -- 'a living legend' -- or a person no one knows, she or he does not own history," the panel of three judges wrote in its decision. "Nor does she or he have the legal right to control, dictate, approve, disapprove, or veto the creator's portrayal of actual people." The 101-year-old De Havilland, who won Oscars for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949, had argued that she did not consent to the use of her likeness in the miniseries, nor has she received any remuneration for the use of her name and identity. She also contended that the series put her in a bad light, violating her right to privacy, by showing her fictional version describing her sister, Joan Fontaine, as a "bitch." Court documents indicated writer Ryan Murphy used "bitch" as a modern synonym for "dragon lady," a term De Havilland had publicly used to describe her sister. But the judges added that overall, the portrayal of De Havilland by Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones was "overwhelmingly positive." "As played by Zeta-Jones, the de Havilland character is portrayed as beautiful, glamorous, self-assured, and considerably ahead of her time in her views on the importance of equality and respect for women in Hollywood," they said. The FX miniseries focuses on the famous rivalry between Bette Davis, played by Susan Sarandon, and Joan Crawford, as portrayed by Jessica Lange. Also depicted in the show is the rivalry between De Havilland -- Davis's friend -- and her younger sister by 15 months Joan Fontaine, also an Oscar winner. The rivalry only ended with Fontaine's death in 2013. Of the stars featured the miniseries, only de Havilland is still alive. Shortly before leaving for the northern region hit by Piura River's overflow on 27 March 2017 the leader recalled the event left some 50,000 victims, who lost their homes and had to be relocated to safer areas. "I think this is a special day to make commitments to Piura and to all regions affected by Coastal El Nino . Making a commitment on the spot is better than doing it from the capital of the Republic, which is far away from the affected area," the newly sworn-in Head of State pointed out. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has assured US President Donald Trump, seen here together at the White House in October 2017, that Canada will block foreign steel and aluminum shipments bound for the US Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has assured US President Donald Trump in a telephone call that Canada will block foreign steel and aluminum transshipments to the United States. The prime minster, according to a Canadian readout of the conversation released on Tuesday, "raised the strong measures Canada is taking to address unfair trade in steel and aluminum." In a separate statement, Ottawa said it was "strengthening enforcement further to stop foreign exporters from avoiding duties meant to level the playing field." The White House confirmed Trump spoke to Trudeau but mentioned only Russia as a topic of their conversation. "These past few days, we've looked at strengthening the measures that we already have in place because it's important that we not be taking in dumped steel from around the world," Trudeau told reporters. "We've told the Americans that we will block the diversion (of steel). We've always had good measures in place, but if we can demonstrate that we are doing more, that's a good thing," he added. Canada -- the top exporter of steel and aluminum to the US market -- was exempted from new US tariffs on imports of the metals unveiled earlier this month. Since then, Trudeau has echoed Trump's message that China was flooding global markets with cheap steel. Beijing has rejected the accusation, saying it was an international problem. Seventy-one Canadian "trade remedy measures" are already in place to prevent foreign steel from flooding into the Canadian market or using Canada as a backdoor to ship foreign steel and aluminum into the United States, said a statement. In addition, the Canadian government unveiled on Tuesday new "anti-circumvention investigations" at the border to "identify and stop companies that try to dodge duties." Ottawa said it would also coordinate more closely with Washington and other stakeholders to prevent the transshipment and diversion of "unfairly cheap foreign steel." Niger has seen regular protests against the new taxes Four leading opposition and rights figures are being held in Niger prisons following a banned weekend demonstration that turned violent in the capital Niamey, media reports said Tuesday. They were among 23 people arrested after the protest Sunday against new taxes degenerated into clashes between demonstrators and police. Officials of the Collectif d'ONG, an association of grassroots groups that organised the protest, said those in custody had been charged with organising and taking part in a banned march and "abetting damage to public and private property". Local television said opposition figure Nouhou Arzika, rights activists Moussa Tchangari and Ali Idrissa and rights lawyer Lirwana Abdourahamane were all in custody in different prisons around the former French colony. Rights watchdog Amnesty International called Monday for the 23 arrested to be released. "The wave of arrests of activists and the clearly brutal response by security forces not only violates the right of demonstrators to peaceful assembly but also risks inflaming an already tense situation in Niger," Amnesty said on its website. Niger, one of the world's poorest nations, has seen regular protests against the new taxes and tax breaks to telephone companies that critics say are worth tens of millions of euros (dollars). Interior Minister Bazoum Mohamed told AFP that Sunday's protest had been banned for "security reasons", notably because it was planned for after dark. "They incited (the public) and disrupted public order and were arrested for rebellion for describing the ban as illegal," he said. The Labari radio and television network owned by Idrissa was also ordered closed on Sunday. The economy of the largely desert country has been hit by falling prices for oil, which it officially began exporting in 2011, and uranium, of which it is a major exporter. The government says it is cash-strapped as it has to spend resources to combat attacks by Boko Haram, whose Islamist insurgency has spilled over from Nigeria, as well as from jihadists, including the Islamic State group, near the border with Mali. Finance Minister Hassoumi Massadou said in February that the 2018 budget would "barely affect" people in the countryside, where more than 80 percent of Niger's 20 million people live. UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been tasked with helping to prepare elections and avoid deadly violence The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously backed a resolution that tasks the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo with helping to prepare elections and avoid deadly violence. France presented the measure that renews the mandate for MONUSCO, the UN's biggest peacekeeping mission, until March 2019 and emphasizes the need to protect civilians as the DR Congo heads toward historic elections in December. Western powers are turning up the pressure on President Joseph Kabila to allow a peaceful transfer of power after the December 23 vote and rein in his security forces after dozens of protesters were killed. Russia warned that peacekeepers must not take sides in the elections while the DR Congo's ambassador said the mission's focus should be fighting rebel groups -- not supporting elections. The resolution "underscores the need to do everything possible to ensure that the elections on 23 December 2018 are organized with the requisite conditions of transparency, credibility and inclusivity and security." French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the vote was "crucial for the future of the DRC but also for the region as a whole," paving the way to the first peaceful transfer of power in the DRC's history. "Without credible elections accepted by all, the stability of the country and of the entire region will be at risk," he told the council after the vote. Kinshasa authorities have set a date for the vote but Kabila, in power since 2001, has not clearly stated whether he will step aside, raising fears that the country will slide into all-out violence. The council requested that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres make plans for beefing up the peacekeeping mission if needed, "looking at all options" such as sending reinforcements from other missions. Guterres will report to the council in 90 days on the contingency planning. Under the resolution, MONUSCO will provide technical assistance and logistical support for the elections, help train the Congolese police and monitor human rights abuses which it will report to the council. - Russia, China warn against meddling - Russia stressed that the mission's mandate was to protect civilians and not meddle in the country's internal affairs while China said the DR Congo's sovereignty must be respected. "It is necessary to completely avoid a situation when MONUSCO might deliver support to one of the Congolese parties with the fight against electoral violence also under way," said Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy. The international community must help the Congolese leadership "strengthen its own security capacity so that it can achieve stability in the country autonomously," said Chinese Deputy Ambassador Wu Haitao. Congolese Ambassador Ignace Gata Mavita disagreed with the council's decision, saying the mission's mandate should be "to combat armed groups to protect civilians and restore peace and security in the east of our country." The ambassador renewed calls for MONUSCO's exit from the country, after nearly 20 years. Under pressure from the United States, the council last year reduced the troop ceiling for MONUSCO by some 3,600 military personnel. This year, the ceiling remained unchanged, with 16,215 military personnel, nearly 1,450 police and 4,000 civilians. The United Nations has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the DR Congo, with at least 13.1 million Congolese in need of aid, including 7.7 million who are severely food insecure. An international conference will be held in Geneva on April 13 to mobilize funding for a $1.7 billion humanitarian appeal, but Kinshasa said it would not attend and accused the world body of exaggerating the crisis. Stormy Daniels' (R) lawyer Michael Avenatti has accused US President Donald Trump (L) of lying when he denies the porn actresses claims of a sexual encounter Big name lawyers are duking it out as Donald Trump braves two storms threatening his rocky presidency: the Russia election meddling probe and adult film actress Stormy Daniels' allegations that she had a steamy fling with him. The battles have featured some headline-grabbing casualties -- a big deal considering that defending the president would seem to be an attorney's dream assignment. The roster of heavyweight lawyers at the heart of the legal fights looks like this: - A flamboyant speed racer - Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti has piercing blue eyes, a golden California tan and a life fueled by adrenaline rushes. He has vowed to be Trump's worst nightmare by making him fess up to the sexual encounter the actress says she had in 2006 with the president. Trump denies it. A professional race car driver and frequenter of jet set outings and the Grand Prix circuit, on his law firm's web site he displays pictures that boast of his passion for racing. But he is also a feared presence in the halls of justice. The bachelor, in his 40s, has a lucrative business litigation practice. Last year, he won a fraud conviction and $454 million in damages for clients in a class action suit involving defective surgical gowns manufactured by the firm Kimberly-Clark. Avenatti has accused Trump of lying when he denies claims made by Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. But this lawyer -- who positively loves TV cameras -- says that's not the worst part. Rather, Daniels is threatened all the time by the Trump legal team. Avenatti also says that a non-disclosure agreement that she signed in 2016 with Trump's longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, is not valid because the president himself did not sign it. "It is just the beginning," said Avenatti. "We have a whole host of evidence. This is not going away. And Mr. Cohen better come clean for the American people, and they better do it quickly." He promised bombshell revelations over the next few weeks and months. Last week Avenatti tweeted a photo of a CD, suggesting he might have compromising photos of the president. Avenatti is backed by the organization Common Cause, which has filed suit accusing Cohen of violating campaign finance laws by paying $130,000 to Daniels just days before the 2016 election. "This was a payment to influence an election. It should have been reported by the Trump campaign. It was not. That's violation number one of federal campaign financing law," said Paul Ryan of legal watchdog Common Cause. "Then violation number two is that Michael Cohen is only allowed to give $2,700 to a US candidate. He effectively gave $130,000 to Donald Trump through this in-kind contribution by paying Stormy Daniels to stay quiet," said Ryan. - A real pit bull - Cohen is Trump's long-time personal attorney and has been described as defending him like a pit bull. The Long Island native used to be a Democrat before switching to the Republicans. He has invested in several Trump real estate deals and started working for the Trump Organization in the 2000s. Later, he would go on to become a Trump spokesman during the presidential race. "I will always protect Mr. Trump," said Cohen, who has admitted paying Daniels $130,000 in what she says was hush money. In 2015, Cohen threatened a reporter from the Daily Beast who had contacted him over accusations by former wife Ivana Trump that compared their sex life to rape. "You write a story that has Mr. Trump's name in it, with the word 'rape,' and Im going to mess your life up," Cohen was reported as saying. - Rocking the boat - Trump said Sunday that lots of top-flight lawyers were willing to defend him in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible collusion with Russia by the Trump campaign in 2016, and whether Trump has tried to obstruct this investigation. But actually as of Monday, his legal team had been reduced to "a one-man army," as the New York Times put it. That one guy would be Jay Sekulow, a conservative who specializes in religious freedom cases. John Dowd, the attorney who had led the team, resigned on Thursday, reportedly because Trump was ignoring his advice. That resignation reinforced the image of a White House in wild disarray. Two other big name lawyers said to be joining the team -- Joseph diGenova and Victoria Toensing -- have since announced they will not after all. Another Washington lawyer, Theodore Olson, turned down an invitation to defend Trump. He defended George W. Bush in the court saga over the disputed results of the 2000 election against Al Gore. - A feminist star - In the shadow of these two big cases there is another attorney who is among the most renowned in America. She is Gloria Allred, who is representing a woman named Summer Zervos, who accuses Trump of kissing her forcibly in 2007. The statute of limitations applies here, so Allred has sued Trump for defamation of character. A judge in New York last rejected arguments by Trump's team and said the proceedings can move forward. China's Tiangong-1 or "Heavenly Palace" spacelab was put into into orbit in September 2011 An uncontrolled Chinese space station weighing at least seven tonnes is set to break up as it hurtles to Earth on or around April 1, the European Space Agency has forecast. "It will mostly burn up due to the extreme heat generated by its high-speed passage through the atmosphere," it said in a statement. Some debris from the Tiangong-1 -- or "Heavenly Palace" -- spacelab will likely fall into the ocean or somewhere on land, but the chances of human injury are vanishingly small, said Stijn Lemmens, an ESA space debris expert based in Darmstadt, Germany. "Over the past 60 years of space flight, we are nearing the mark of 6,000 uncontrolled reentries of large objects, mostly satellites and upper (rocket) stages," he told AFP. More than 90 percent of those bits of high-tech space junk weighed 100 kilos (220 pounds) or more. "Only one event actually produced a fragment which hit a person, and it did not result in injury." Lemmens calculated the odds of being struck by space debris at one in 1.2 trillion -- 10 million times less likely than getting hit by lightning. The China Manned Space programme, which put Tiangong-1 into orbit in September 2011, has been mostly mum on the fate of China's first space station, designed to test technologies related to docking in orbit. Daily updates on its official website have tracked its gradual descent -- average altitude as of Tuesday was 207.7 kilometres (129 miles) -- but not much else. On Monday, China's state-run news agency Xinhua cited the agency as saying the spacelab "should be fully burnt as it reenters the Earth's atmosphere." During its operational lifetime, Tiangong took part in two crewed missions, and an unmanned one. As with all large satellites and spacecraft, the Chinese spacelab had been slated for a "controlled reentry" that would have seen it fall somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, far from human habitation. In March 2016, however, the space station ceased functioning. - 'Design for demise' - With ground teams no longer able to ignite its engines, Tiangong is "expected to make an 'uncontrolled reentry'," the ESA said. Fall of Chinese space station Tiangong-1 "It can be surmised that Tiangong-1 will break up during its atmospheric reentry and that some parts will survive the process and reach the surface of Earth." Debris has become a major headache for space agencies and private companies lobbing satellites and other modules into Earth orbit. The problem is not what comes back down, but what stays in space. More than 5,000 rockets launched since 1957 have hoisted some 7,500 satellites into orbit, with more than 4,300 of them still in place. The US Space Surveillance Network tracks some 23,000 debris objects travelling at speeds of up to 28,000 kilometres per hour (17,500 miles per hour). Statistical models estimate that there are nearly 30,000 objects of at least 10 centimetres across, and 20 times that number measuring between one and 10 cm in diameter. "These form a real collision risk for spacecraft and manned space-flight activity," said Lemmens. "What we really fear is the so-called 'Kessler Syndrome', whereby objects collide in an exponential cascade, with one collision causing thousands of fragments that in turn start colliding with others." Not much can be done to reduce the volume of orbiting space junk, much of which will eventually drift into Earth's atmosphere and burn up. To avoid further clutter, programmed reentry is crucial, said Lemmens. All nations capable of launching a spacecraft have signed a treaty making them liable for damages caused, in space or on Earth, he noted. Future spacecraft will also be 'designed for demise' upon reentry. A new generation of fuel tanks, for example, will replace ones currently made with titanium, which can withstand very high temperatures. Tiangong-1 weighed 8.5 tonnes on take off, but with fuel consumption has probably shed at least one tonne. The French territory of Mayotte has been rocked by protests in recent weeks France said Tuesday that it had summoned the ambassador of the Comoros after the Indian Ocean nation refused to take back illegal immigrants deported from the neighbouring French island of Mayotte. France's foreign affairs ministry said it summoned Mohamed Soulaimana on Monday, reminding him of France's "serious concern regarding the measures taken last week by Comorian authorities". "We firmly reiterated our demand for them to immediately lift these measures which are stopping the return of Comorian residents who have entered Mayotte illegally," ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muehll said in a statement. Mayotte, located between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, has been rocked by weeks of protest over living standards and a wave of immigration from the Comoros. Mayotte deported 19,000 people in 2015 -- barely less than the 20,000 from all of mainland France. Mayotte authorities have been increasing the pace of deportations, but the Comoros government responded last Wednesday by refusing to accept those pushed back. On Friday the Comoros did however agree to reinforce security on the archipelago's island of Anjouan, the main departure point for migrants, including by targeting traffickers. The Comoros, one of the world's poorest countries, was a French colony until 1975 when it declared independence. Immigration into Mayotte, where income is 13 times higher per head, has surged for years as Comorians have sought better opportunities on the French island. Many in Mayotte say the uncontrolled migration is to blame for spiralling crime levels, while a huge influx of pregnant mothers hoping to give birth on the French island has put a strain on public health services. US President Donald Trump's new national security advisor John Bolton is known for his vehement opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and defense of a US first strike against North Korea US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday he had "no reservations" about working with John Bolton, the controversial hawk named by President Donald Trump to be his new national security advisor. "Last time I checked he's an American. I can work with an American," Mattis told reporters. The retired Marine general said he had never met Bolton before, but expected to get together with him soon at the Pentagon. A former US ambassador to the United Nations and Fox News contributor, Bolton is known for his vehement opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and defense of a US first strike against North Korea. Mattis has stressed diplomacy in dealing with both countries, and has argued against scrapping the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Asked whether he could work with Bolton, Mattis said he had "no reservations, no concerns at all." "I hope that there's some different world views, that's the normal thing you want unless you want group think," he said. Demonstrators protest in July 2016 over the fatal police shooting that month of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana's attorney general announced on Tuesday that two police officers will not face any charges in the 2016 shooting death of an African-American man in the southern US state, which sparked widespread protests. California's state justice department meanwhile announced that it will oversee an investigation into another controversial police shooting -- that of an unarmed black man in Sacramento. The two cases have revived concerns about police misconduct -- fatal shootings of African-American suspects in recent years have fueled a nationwide debate over race and criminal justice. Alton Sterling, 37, was shot dead in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 5, 2016 in a scuffle with police outside a convenience store where he had been selling CDs. The shooting was captured on cell phone video. The state's attorney general Jeff Landry told a press conference that no legal action would be taken against officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake, both of whom are white. "Our investigation has concluded that officers Lake and Salamoni attempted to make a lawful arrest," Varney said, adding that the decision not to file charges "was not taken lightly." He said Sterling was armed, under the influence of illegal drugs and had resisted efforts to arrest him. "Throughout the encounter, the officers attempted several non-lethal techniques to gain compliance and control of Mr. Sterling's hands," he said. "Their efforts to do so were a direct result of the information relayed to them by the Baton Rouge police department dispatcher -- and that was that Mr. Sterling was armed with a firearm. "Furthermore, the officers' concern that he was armed and dangerous was in fact subsequently verified and correct," he said. According to the Louisiana Justice Department report into the shooting, a loaded .38 caliber handgun was found in the right front pocket of Sterling's pants. - 'Fight for justice' - Sterling's aunt, Sandra Sterling, condemned the decision not to charge the police officers. "You put a killer back on the streets," Sterling said. "We're going to continue to fight for justice," said another aunt, Veda Washington. "One way or another it's going to come," she told CNN. This undated file photo released by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office shows Alton Sterling -- police found he was armed when he was fatally shot by police Nearly a year ago, the US Justice Department also declined to press charges against the officers involved in Sterling's shooting. The US Justice Department said it found "insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges" against either officer. According to investigators, Salamoni shot Sterling three times in the chest and then again in the back in an encounter that lasted less than 90 seconds. The United States was then set on edge for weeks after an African-American man shot and killed five police officers in Dallas, Texas. A similar assault took place in Baton Rouge, where three officers were shot dead by another black man, also a former military veteran. - Sacramento shooting probed - Authorities in Sacramento, the California state capital, called for calm on Tuesday as they announced a probe into the March 18 fatal shooting of Stephon Clark. "Our independent oversight of the investigation and our separate review of the (Sacramento police) department will be based on the facts and the law. Nothing more, nothing less," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said. Clark, a 22-year-old father of two, was shot dead by police in the backyard of his grandparents' home. Protesters at a vigil for Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man who was shot dead by police in Sacramento, California The incident was triggered by an emergency 911 phone call stating that a man was smashing car windows in the neighborhood. Videos caught by a helicopter and by the officer's body cameras showed Clark running through the neighborhood, then entering the backyard of his grandparents' home, where he lived. The officers burst into the yard with their weapons drawn and confronted Clark, shouting: "Show me your hands!" followed soon after by "Gun, gun, gun!" The officers fired at least 20 rounds. Clark did not have a weapon but was clutching an iPhone. Protests were held outside the state capitol building and in the streets of downtown Sacramento, with marchers blocking traffic and clashing with police. The officers involved in the shooting were put on leave pending the investigation. Syrians sit in the street with their belongings as they wait to be evacuated from Arbin in Eastern Ghouta on March 27, 2018 US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday rebuked the UN Security Council over Syria, saying the failure of a 30-day ceasefire should be a "day of shame" for council members. Russia hit back that it was the only country working to turn the ceasefire into a reality on the ground in Syria, where government forces have recaptured nearly all of Eastern Ghouta in a fierce month-long offensive. "This should be a day of shame for every member of this council," said Haley. She said 1,600 people had "died on our watch" in Eastern Ghouta since the council unanimously adopted a ceasefire resolution on February 24 after intense negotiations with Russia, President Bashar al-Assad's ally. Syrians continued to be taken on buses out of Eastern Ghouta on Tuesday in an evacuation the West sees as a strategy of starve-and-siege, directed against civilians to force a surrender of armed groups. "After years of enduring siege and starvation, residents are surrendering Eastern Ghouta," an enclave on the outskirts of Damascus, said Haley. "History will not be kind when it judges the effectiveness of this council in relieving the suffering of the Syrian people." Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the departures were voluntary and that Moscow's forces were providing food, shelter and medical aid to those in need. "Perhaps it is not to the liking of some, but in fact we are the sole member to undertake concrete measures to implement Resolution 2401," said Nebenzia. France expressed concern with the fate of 55,000 civilians held in nine camps administered by the Syrian government near Eastern Ghouta, without access to water or electricity. "Their fate has not improved. Their hell has just moved a few kilometers (miles) away," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre. UN aid agencies continue to be denied access to Eastern Ghouta. Sweden and Kuwait, which drafted the ceasefire resolution, maintain that it remains in force and are urging action to ensure the truce finally takes hold across the country. UN aid chief Mark Lowcock told the council that "the last few months have been some of the worst yet for many civilians inside Syria." About 80,000 civilians from Eastern Ghouta have been taken to places in Damascus city and in rural Damascus while nearly 20,000 combatants and civilians have been transported to locations in northwest Syria, said Lowcock. The war in Syria entered its eighth year this month with little hope of a breakthrough on a diplomatic solution to end the carnage. Oracle's copyright infringement lawsuit against tech rival Google got fresh life with a federal appeals court ruling An appeals court on Tuesday gave Oracle another shot at wringing billions of dollars from Google in a keenly watched legal battle over the use of freely available Java software code. A federal appellate court revived Oracle's case, ruling that the application programming interface (API) code at issue is protected by copyright law and sending the case back to the original judge to figure out how much Google owes the business software titan. A trial two years ago ended with a jury deciding that Google did not unfairly use Java code, saving the internet giant from a possible multibillion-dollar verdict. The appellate court on Tuesday disagreed, saying the software is entitled to copyright protection. Oracle, a major business software and cloud firm, sought billions in damages from Google over the search engine company's use of Java programming language in its Android smartphone operating system. But Google and its allies argued that extending copyright protection to bits of code, called application programming interfaces, or APIs, would threaten innovation. The case was closely watched by the tech industry because of its implications for software innovation and copyright law. Google, at the time, said that its victory at trial was "a win for the Android ecosystem; for the Java programming community and for software developers who rely on open and free programming languages to build innovative consumer products." Oracle, which obtained Java when it acquired Sun Microsystems in 2009, had been seeking some $9 billion in damages. Dorian Daley, Oracle's general counsel, welcomed the latest decision, saying it "upholds fundamental principles of copyright law and makes clear that Google violated the law." She added in a statement, "This decision protects creators and consumers from the unlawful abuse of their rights." Google said it was reviewing its options, which could include an appeal to the US Supreme Court. "We are disappointed the court reversed the jury finding that Java is open and free for everyone," a Google spokesperson told AFP. "This type of ruling will make apps and online services more expensive for users. We are considering our options." - 'Devastating effects' - In a big Silicon Valley trial, Oracle argued that Google improperly used Java software to develop the Android mobile operating system The case dates back to 2012, and Google prevailed at an initial trial. Oracle appealed, and an appellate panel ruled in 2014 that the lower court had erred, sending the case between the two Silicon Valley titans back for a new trial at which Google again triumphed. Silicon Valley watched the case closely, since weaving open source code into software programs is commonplace and often eliminates a need to reinvent commands considered fundamental. APIs are seen as snippets of code that simply direct one program to another, almost the way a restaurant menu points diners to meal options. Public Knowledge policy counsel Meredith Rose lambasted the appellate court, saying it has erred in ruling twice against Google in this case. "Taken together, these decisions -- which run counter to decades of software industry practice -- could have devastating effects on the competitiveness, openness, and development of the technology industry," the nonprofit public interest group counsel said in a release. "This could lead to higher prices, fewer choices, and worse products for consumers." Presidente @MartinVizcarraC participo en la ceremonia de promulgacion de la Ley de Fortalecimiento de la Contraloria General de la Republica y del Sistema Nacional de Control, realizada en Palacio de Gobierno. pic.twitter.com/X6ZkrWhZcZ US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced a plan to ask about citizenship during the US national census, but Democrats have concerns Washington's plan to ask about citizenship during the US census drew sharp rebukes from Democrats on Tuesday, setting the stage for a bruising partisan brawl with electoral implications. President Donald Trump's plan was announced late Monday by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who said an accurate count allows for proper enforcement of the Voting Rights Act -- aimed at prohibiting racial discrimination at the polls -- among other advantages. But Democrats said the move will lead to the undercounting of legal immigrants, distorting the US electoral balance. California sued to block the move. Only US citizens are allowed to register to vote. But Trump has long claimed that millions of illegal immigrants voted in the 2016 presidential election, without providing proof. The US Constitution mandates a count of its population every decade, with the next estimate coming in 2020. The estimate is used for many purposes, including apportioning congressional seats and allocating federal funds for schools, hospitals and other programs. The Census Bureau, part of the Commerce Department, has not asked about citizenship in the 10-year survey since 1950. The Department said the 10-year census question will mirror a query used on an annual census survey, which asks: "Is this person a citizen of the United States?" It further queries whether the person was born in the US, in a US territory like Puerto Rico, to a parent overseas, or is naturalized and, if so, the date of naturalization. Ross defended the decision as a common-sense move. The 10-year census is "relied on for a myriad of important government decisions, including apportionment of congressional seats among states, enforcement of voting rights laws, and allocation of federal funds," Ross said in a memo. "These are foundational elements of our democracy, and it is therefore incumbent upon the department and the Census Bureau to make every effort to provide a complete and accurate decennial census." - 'Fear and distrust' - But the decision drew immediate rebukes from leading Democrats, including Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "This detrimental change will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities, and cause traditionally undercounted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind," Pelosi said. Pelosi also castigated Trump for disregarding the views of earlier Census Bureau directors from both parties who objected to the question, and to recent census staff research that pointed to worries in immigrant communities that census takers will pass data to immigration officials. On Tuesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed suit against the move, saying on Twitter that "California simply has too much to lose." "Field representatives conducting surveys and other experiments are already reporting widespread and unprecedented fear among test respondents," said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. "Adding a question on citizenship at this time would only seek to fan the flames of fear and distrust in the census, further risking depressed response rates." If minority populations do not participate in the survey out of fear for themselves or their relatives, that could result in a large undercounting of those populations. That in turn could have political implications by under-representing Democratic-leaning cities where many immigrants live. Stanford sociologist Matthew Snipp said the implications on political representation could be especially serious in Texas, California and Arizona where the Hispanic population is particularly robust. Those backing the decision included a trio of Republican Senators, Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, who had lobbied for the move and praised the decision. "It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide-ranging impacts it will have on US policy," Cruz said. "A question on citizenship is a reasonable, commonsense addition to the census." The 2010 census estimated the US population at 308.8 million. Experts now estimate the US has 327 million people. Fort McNair Army Base in Washington, DC, was one of the facilities that received suspicious packages A 43-year-old man has been arrested after around a dozen packages containing potentially explosive material were posted to military and intelligence facilities around the US capital, the FBI said Tuesday. Thanh Cong Phan, who lives near the northwestern city of Seattle, was taken into custody after the FBI "determined that the packages contained potential destructive devices and appeared to be sent by the same individual," an FBI statement said. The agency said that multiple packages had been received at facilities on Monday in and around Washington, including the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters at Langley and the Fort Belvoir and Fort McNair military bases. The suspect was due to appear in federal court in Washington state later Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis confirmed that no one had been injured by any of the material in the packages, which were intercepted by the FBI. However, the FBI warned that more packages could have been sent and were still awaiting processing, urging caution. WASHINGTON (AP) - From Washington to Warsaw, Western nations banded together Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats they accused of being spies, punishing Moscow for its alleged poisoning of an ex-intelligence officer in Britain. President Donald Trump, under constant political heat for his reluctance to challenge Russia, ordered 60 of its diplomats out of the U.S. - all of them spies, the White House said. The United States called it the largest expulsion of Russian spies in American history, and also shuttered Russia's consulate in Seattle, deeming it a counterintelligence threat. All told, at least 21 countries have ousted more than 135 Russians, including 23 kicked out earlier by the U.K. A metal fence surrounds the residence of Russia's consul general Monday, March 26, 2018, in Seattle. The United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats on Monday and the Trump administration ordered Russia's consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Moscow's alleged role in poisoning an ex-spy in Britain. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) "Together we have sent a message that we will not tolerate Russia's continued attempts to flout international law and undermine our values," British Prime Minister Theresa May told Parliament. The American moves illustrated an increased willingness by Trump's administration to push back on the Kremlin, even as the president himself steadfastly avoids challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin personally or directly. Less than a week ago, Trump congratulated Putin for his re-election but didn't raise the March 4 spy poisoning, Russia's alleged election-meddling in the U.S. or its own tainted voting process, prompting dismayed critiques even from Trump's fellow Republicans. In a choreographed show of trans-Atlantic unity, the U.S. and European allies carefully timed their announcements for maximum effect. Within a few hours, at least 16 European Union nations expelled Russians, with more likely to follow. Germany, Poland and France each said it planned to boot four Russian diplomats, the Czech Republic and Lithuania ousted three and Italy, two. Canada also took action, kicking out four Russians and denying three who have applied to enter the country. The list included nations in Russia's backyard that have perhaps the most at stake. Ukraine, a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, was expelling 13 Russians. All three Baltic states said they would make diplomats leave. Almost all of the countries said publicly that those being expelled were actually Russians intelligence operatives working under diplomatic cover. Moscow threatened retaliation of the tit-for-tat variety, suggesting it would kick out an equal number of foreign diplomats. Russia's Embassy in Washington responded to the Seattle consulate closure by asking its Twitter followers to "vote" which U.S. consulate should be shuttered in turn: St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg or Vladivostok. "This is an attempt on the lives of Russian citizens on the territory of Great Britain," Russia's Foreign Ministry said. "It goes without saying that this unfriendly move by this group of countries will not go unnoticed." Yet it was unclear whether the expulsions, which may be inconvenient for Moscow but don't take aim at its economy, would be enough to alter Putin's behavior. "There is no actual deterrence and squeeze," said James Nixey, head of the Russia program at think-tank Chatham House. "There is, so far, no cyber-response, no financial response." Still, the dueling allegations added to a serious escalation of tension and distrust between Russia and the West, intensified most recently by a bizarre poisoning this month that evoked the spy-vs.-spy rivalries of the Cold War. Britain has accused Moscow of using the Soviet-developed nerve agent Novichok to poison Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the U.K., and his daughter, Yulia, on British soil. The two remain in critical condition and unconscious. The U.S., France and Germany have agreed it's highly likely Russia was responsible. Russia has denied responsibility, while accusing Britain of leading a global charge against it without proof. The expulsions came with a chorus of condemnation for the Kremlin - for the poisoning, Russian spying and other Western grievances. Poland's Foreign Minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, called it "the right response to the unfriendly, aggressive actions of Russia." In the Czech Republic, where Russian officials have claimed the poison may have originated, Prime Minister Andrej Babis dismissed that allegation as "an utter lie." And the United States warned of an "unacceptably high" number of Russian spies in the U.S., describing them as a national security threat. Among the 60 Russians expelled were a dozen posted to Russia's mission to the United Nations who senior U.S. officials said were engaged in "aggressive collection" of intelligence on American soil. "When we see these espionage tactics that are taking place right here at the heart of the U.N., we can't have that," said Nikki Haley, Trump's envoy to the U.N. In Washington, Russia's ambassador was summoned early in the morning and told his diplomats have one week to leave the U.S. and must evacuate the Consulate General in Seattle by April 2. Located on the 25th floor of a large, downtown office building, the consulate is a particular counter-intelligence concern because of its close proximity to a U.S. Navy base, said U.S. officials. The officials said they estimated Russia had roughly 100 intelligence officials in the U.S., suggesting that dozens will remain even after the 60 are expelled. The officials weren't authorized to be identified by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump has repeatedly wavered on whether he believes Moscow was behind the election meddling, despite assessments from U.S. intelligence agencies and the special counsel investigation into Russia's actions and potential collusion with Trump's campaign. But this month, Trump's administration hit Russians with its first sanctions for the campaign interference, and also accused Moscow of an elaborate plot to hack America's electric grid and infrastructure. Even lawmakers who have scolded Trump the loudest for failing to confront Russia for spying and election meddling praised the expulsions Monday. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called it "a welcome step forward in holding Putin accountable." The U.S. has kicked out scores of Russians before, though never a group this size. In 1986 the Reagan administration expelled 55, and in 2001 the George W. Bush administration ejected 50 Russians in retaliation for the Robert Hanssen spy case. ___ Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington, Chris Grygiel in Seattle, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Raf Casert in Brussels, Jennifer Peltz at the United Nations, Sylvia Corbett in Paris, Monika Scislowska in Warsaw and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report. People walk near the U.S. State Department in Washington, Monday, March 26, 2018. The White House says the expulsion of Russian diplomats and closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle will "make the United States safer." White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement that President Donald Trump is responding to "Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom." She says the move will reduce "Russia's ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America's national security." (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) A metal fence surrounds the residence of Russia's consul general Monday, March 26, 2018, in Seattle. The United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats on Monday and the Trump administration ordered Russia's consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Moscow's alleged role in poisoning an ex-spy in Britain. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) A taxi in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, March 26, 2018.Russia's Ambassador to Poland Sergei Andreev was summoned Monday to Poland's Foreign Ministry and said he will stay in Warsaw in the coming weeks, but "we will see" about other embassy employees.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A Russian flag flies outside the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, on Monday, March 26, 2018. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada is expelling four Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain and three applications by the Russian government for additional diplomatic staff will now be denied. The U.S., Canada, Ukraine and 15 European nations have joined Britain in ordering out Russian diplomats who are accused of being spies working under diplomatic cover. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) A woman walks past the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation in New York Monday, March 26, 2018. The United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats on Monday and the Trump administration ordered Russia's consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Moscow's alleged role in poisoning an ex-spy in Britain. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) The Russian embassy is pictured in Paris, Monday, March 26, 2018. France's foreign ministry says French authorities have decided to expel four Russian diplomats by next week, in show of solidarity with Britain following the poisoning of a former spy. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) SAO PAULO (AP) - A TV helicopter has captured images of a shootout in a Rio de Janeiro favela amid rising gang violence in the Brazilian city. Footage aired live by Globo TV on Monday showed several men taking cover behind a building in a marginalized area of Praca Seca, while one fired an assault weapon around a wall. It was not clear who the men were or whom they were firing at. The men then piled into cars, some sitting in their trunks with the hatchbacks open, and sped away. Others fleeing on foot pointed their weapons at drivers so that they would stop and allow the caravan to pass. Brazil has put the military in charge of security in Rio, but there are no indications the situation has improved. MODESTO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on two people missing from flash flooding in California last week (all times local): 4 p.m. Authorities say two people missing since last week's flash flooding in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California are presumed dead. The Mariposa County sheriff's office said Monday that a large-scale search effort found their damaged vehicles but has so far failed to locate a man and a woman who went missing in separate incidents. The missing woman is 72-year-old Carol Brown of the community of Catheys Valley near Merced. Authorities say she didn't return home after going to check on some horses and her car was found on its side in a surging creek. Separately, 67-year-old John Honesto was reported missing in Tuolumne County when he did not return home from a substitute teaching job. ___ 8:50 a.m. Authorities are searching for two people missing since flash floods from heavy storms swept through parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills last week. The Modesto Bee reports that crews on Sunday were searching for the missing man and woman using a helicopter and dive teams in the areas they were last seen Thursday. The Mariposa County Sheriff's Department did not release the names or descriptions of either person but said they were believed to have been swept away in separate incidents tied to the recent storms. Crews continued repairs to numerous roads damaged by the flash floods throughout Mariposa County, near Fresno in the Sierra foothills. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - A human rights official in Kenya says authorities are seeking to deport an opposition politician again despite court orders that he should be allowed into the country. Kamanda Mucheke said early Tuesday that police cordoned off an area in Kenya's main airport as politician Miguna Miguna staged a protest after being denied entry upon returning from an earlier deportation. Miguna was deported to Canada when authorities cracked down on opposition politicians who participated in the mock Jan. 30 inauguration of opposition leader Raila Odinga. A Kenyan court has ordered Miguna's Kenyan passport restored. Odinga argued President Uhuru Kenyatta lacked legitimacy because his Aug. 8 re-election was nullified by the Supreme Court and the repeat ballot had a low turnout. Odinga boycotted the repeat election citing lack of electoral reforms. MEXICO CITY (AP) - The U.S. secretary for homeland security has announced three agreements with Mexican officials during a visit to Mexico's capital. Kirstjen Nielsen says two of the agreements involve commercial shipments across the shared border. She says they are meant to make customs inspections more fluid through "cargo pre-inspections" and to tighten controls on blocking contraband goods. She says the third agreement calls for coordination to streamline the importation of agricultural goods, specifically regarding health inspections. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen places her earpiece for translations before the start of a joint press conference with Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray in Mexico City, Monday, March 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Nielsen spoke Monday after meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray. She says the two talked about fighting cross-border criminal organizations. Videgaray says they also spoke about immigrants into the U.S. as well as the status of people in the DACA program. He noted that "there are areas where we have different opinions." U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, left, enters with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray to give a joint press conference in Mexico City, Monday, March 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) LAS VEGAS (AP) - Five members of the MS-13 street gang have been arrested in the killings of 10 victims in the Las Vegas area over the past year, authorities said Monday. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo did not identify any of the suspects but released a list of victims found stabbed and shot to death since March 2017. He also provided a map of places where the 10 bodies were found, including federal land in remote areas near Lake Mead and mountains around the city. The announcement comes amid declarations by President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions that they are committed to cracking down on the violent street gang. Sheriff Joe Lombardo, right, stands with Deputy Chief Christopher Darcy, left, Lieutenant John Leon and Captain Robert Plummer to discuss details of a multiple murder investigation that is suspected to be gang related, during a press conference at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters on Monday, March 25, 2018. Police in Las Vegas declared Monday that the recent arrests of five people with ties to the hyper-violent MS-13 street gang broke up a murderous ring responsible for 10 slayings within the last year. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) The gang known as La Mara Salvatrucha emerged in the 1980s as a neighborhood street gang in Los Angeles but is believed by federal prosecutors to have thousands of members across the U.S., primarily immigrants from El Salvador and Honduras. They have been linked to waves of violence in the suburbs of New York City, Washington, D.C., and other communities. Trump blames lax U.S. immigration laws for allowing deported members of MS-13 to return to the U.S. to prey upon law-abiding people. He also faults a federal system that has allowed tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America who crossed the U.S. border illegally to remain in the country. Lombardo, who faces re-election this year, insisted that having the four adults in federal immigration detention and a 17-year-old held as a juvenile crippled a Las Vegas cell of MS-13 that he numbered at less than 50 members. He said the case had ties to Los Angeles and Fresno, California, but did not elaborate. "I'm very confident that the active players of the gang associated with MS-13 are in custody," Lombardo said. A spokeswoman for interim U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson didn't immediately comment about the case. Lt. John Leon, head of the Las Vegas police gang unit, said the MS-13 link to the Las Vegas-area slayings became clear in January after investigators found that two men who knew each other and had current or former ties to the gang were found similarly shot, stabbed and left dead in remote areas. Another break came after police raids netted 18 weapons, including one gun used both in a March 2017 killing and in the Dec. 31 death of a man gunned down in the driveway of a home. Three people who were arrested with the others were cleared and not charged, Lombardo said, after they provided what the sheriff called cooperation and information that was vital to the investigation. LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California appeals court on Monday threw out a lawsuit by 101-year-old actress Olivia de Havilland against the creators of the FX Networks show "Feud: Bette and Joan," bringing an abrupt end to a closely-watched case that pitted an individual's rights to their life and likeness against the rights of artists to depict them. The 2nd District Court of Appeal said in a unanimous decision that the First Amendment rights of the show's creators clearly trump de Havilland's claims that permission to use her likeness was needed and she should have been compensated. "Whether a person portrayed in one of these expressive works is a world-renowned film star - 'a living legend' - or a person no one knows, she or he does not own history," the three-judge panel wrote in its decision. "Nor does she or he have the legal right to control, dictate, approve, disapprove, or veto the creator's portrayal of actual people." In this combination photo, actress Olivia de Havilland appears in Rome on Oct. 4, 1968, left, and actress Catherine Zeta-Jones portrays de Havilland in a scene from the FX series, "Feud: Betty and Joan." A California appeals court has thrown out a lawsuit by 101-year-old actress Olivia de Havilland against the creators of the FX Networks show "Feud: Betty and Joan." De Havilland claims that she should have been compensated and asked permission for the use of her likeness on the show. (AP Photo, left, FX via AP) The judges agreed with FX along with entities like the Motion Picture Association of America and Netflix, which supported the network, that the logic behind de Havilland's suit would make legal action possible against "all books, films, plays and television programs that accurately portray real people." "The First Amendment does not permit this result," the judges said. "Feud" creator Ryan Murphy called the reversal "a victory for the creative community and the First Amendment" that "gives all creators the breathing room necessary to continue to tell important historical stories inspired by true events. Most of all, it's a great day for artistic expression." De Havilland, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones on the show that chronicled the decades-long squabbles of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, also alleged that the show portrayed her in a "false light" by making the character a vulgar gossipmonger. De Havilland's lawyer Suzelle Smith called the ruling an "entirely pro-industry decision" that she and de Havilland plan to appeal. Smith said in a statement that the judges have taken on themselves "the role of both judge and jury, denying Miss de Havilland her constitutional rights to have a jury decide her claims to protect the property rights in her name or to defend her reputation against knowing falsehoods." De Havilland objected in particular to being shown calling her estranged sister Joan Fontaine a "bitch" and a joke she makes about the heavy-drinking habits of Frank Sinatra. The show's writers said in court papers that de Havilland had often called her sister a "dragon lady," and "bitch" was a distillation of that for modern ears. The judges wholeheartedly agreed, finding that no reasonable person would find her characterization offensive, and in fact most would find it positive. "As played by Zeta-Jones, the de Havilland character is portrayed as beautiful, glamorous, self-assured, and considerably ahead of her time in her views on the importance of equality and respect for women in Hollywood." The judges said that her character's "lighthearted" crack about Sinatra only showed that she was a "wise, witty, sometimes playful woman." The panel also found that because de Havilland, whose character is shown in interviews and occasionally acts as narrator, appears in only 17 minutes of the 6 hour limited series, she could not claim that her likeness was essential to it. The "Gone With the Wind" actress, the only major character portrayed on the show who is still alive, filed the lawsuit in June, and it was expedited because of her age. The trial court rejected a defense motion to throw out the case, and FX appealed that motion, leading to Monday's ruling. It comes amid a heyday for high-quality TV series and movies based on real stories that might have been taken up with a more trashy approach in the past. The decision name drops several such works that would have been threatened by the logic of de Havilland's lawsuit, including the film "Fruitvale Station" and Murphy and FX's own "The People V. O.J. Simpson," the show that arguably sparked the current surge in high-end docudramas. MPAA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said in a statement that the opinion reaffirms the "right to tell stories about and inspired by real people and events." '' It's this right," Rivkin said, "that has allowed filmmakers to make movies from Citizen Kane to The Devil Wears Prada to Primary Colors to The Social Network to Hidden Figures. ___ Follow Andrew Dalton on Twitter: at https://twitter.com/AndyJamesDalton TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A water park company's co-owner was arrested Monday in Texas in connection with a Kansas criminal case arising from a 10-year-old boy's death on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide. Records show that Jeffrey Henry, co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, was booked into the jail in Cameron County, Texas. He was being held without bond, and a jail booking clerk said he would remain there until a court appearance Tuesday. Henry's arrest follows a Kansas grand jury's indictment last week of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. This photo provided by the Cameron County, Texas, Sheriff's Department shows Jeffrey Henry. The Kansas City Star reports that Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts co-owner Henry was arrested Monday, March 26, 2018, in Cameron County. (Cameron County Sheriff's Department via AP) Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in a statement that considering last week's indictment, the company is not surprised by Henry's arrest. The company also promised to aggressively fight the criminal charges against Miles and the park, and respond to the allegations in the 47-page indictment "point by point." "We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident," she said in an emailed statement. Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office did not immediately respond to phone calls and emails seeking further comment, details about Henry's arrest, or information about exactly what criminal charges he faces. The Kansas City Star reported that Henry was taken into custody by U.S. marshals out of Brownsville, Texas. Prosapio said Schlitterbahn does not expect any changes to the Kansas City park's season, which is set to open May 25 and run through Labor Day. The big slide there - Verruckt, or German for "insane" - has been closed since Caleb died. The boy was decapitated after the raft on which he was riding went airborne. He was the son of Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab, of Olathe, and the family reached settlements of nearly $20 million with Schlitterbahn and various companies associated with the design and construction of the waterslide. The two women who rode with Caleb suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount. The indictment against Miles and the park alleges that Verruckt met few, if any, industry standards and that Miles delayed or avoided necessary repairs, even after the ride's brake system failed. The indictment also said Henry helped design the giant waterslide even though he had "no technical or engineering credentials" and that he set a "rushed timeline" for its construction. Schlitterbahn said last week's indictment is "full of false information," and the company also rejected its allegations that Miles and the company withheld information from law enforcement officials. It said the allegation that Caleb's death was foreseeable is "beyond the pale of speculation." Miles' attorneys said in their own statement that they welcome the opportunity to prove his innocence in court. "Not only had Tyler ridden the slide numerous times, but, as the State is aware, he had scheduled his wife, to ride it on the day of the accident," the attorneys, Tom and Tricia Bath, said in their statement. "These are not the actions of someone who believed the ride to be dangerous." ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Schlitterbahn co-owner's first name is Jeffrey. ___ Also contributing was Terry Wallace in Dallas, Texas. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna . As'ad's Bio As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants. GREAT MILLS, Md. (AP) - The student who fatally shot a female classmate last week at a Maryland high school died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation with a school resource officer who also fired his gun, authorities said Monday. The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that 17-year-old Austin Rollins fired a fatal shot to his head just as he encountered sheriff's deputy Blaine Gaskill. The shot fired by Gaskill struck the gun in Rollins' hand, the sheriff's office added. The shooting occurred last Tuesday at Great Mills High School, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southeast of Washington. Jaelynn Willey, 16, died two days later after being taken off life support. Her funeral service is scheduled for Friday. The sheriff's office said Rollins and the girl had been in a relationship that recently ended. FILE - This Tuesday, March 20, 2018, file photo, shows crime scene tape around Great Mills High School, the scene of a shooting in Great Mills, Md. In a statement released Monday, March 26, 2018, authorities said the student who fatally shot a female classmate at the school died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Desmond Barnes, 14, who was shot in the thigh, was released from a hospital a day after the shooting. New details released by the sheriff's office show how Rollins died. The sheriff's office also released a timeline of the incident and 911 calls from adults and students, including the 14-year-old who survived. According to the sheriff's office, Rollins entered the main entrance of the school the day of the shooting about five minutes before he shot Willey in the head with his father's gun. The same bullet traveled into the leg of Desmond Barnes, who had sought shelter in a classroom. Rollins then turned a corner and passed several classrooms before the confrontation with the school resource officer, which occurred about three minutes after shooting Willey, the sheriff's office said. Rollins and Gaskill fired their weapons about 30 seconds later. In one of the 911 calls released, Barnes tells a dispatcher, "I was just shot in my school." A woman, possibly a teacher, gets on the phone and tells the dispatcher that four students are inside her classroom, one of them shot and bleeding. "We have him laying down," she said. "I'm afraid to transport him to safer place." For the next several minutes, the woman talks to the dispatcher or is heard talking to Barnes. A voice on the school's intercom system urges students to stay in their classrooms. "It'll be OK," the woman can be heard saying. "It's OK ... They're coming. They're coming. Don't worry." Barnes and the dispatcher talk again. The teen said he's been shot in the back of the thigh and that "it's burning." "Oh my knee hurts so bad," he said. "We're getting help to you Desmond," the dispatcher replied. "Stay strong for me buddy." Emergency responders soon arrive. "Hi Desmond, we're putting a tourniquet on you, all right?" one of them is heard telling him. "A tourniquet stops the bleeding." Another person who called 911 from the school, possibly a teacher, tells a dispatcher that she heard a single gunshot and saw a girl bleeding outside the classroom. "We're hiding behind my desk," the caller said before counting each of the 11 students with her, one by one. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - As a girl in Kansas, Linda Brown's father tried to enroll her in an all-white school in Topeka. He and several black families were turned away, sparking the Brown v. Board of Education case that challenged segregation in public schools. A 1954 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court followed, striking down racial segregation in schools and cementing Linda Brown's place in history as a central figure in the landmark case. Funeral officials in Topeka said Brown died Sunday at age 75. A cause of death was not released. Arrangements were pending at Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel. CORRECTS AGE TO 75, INSTEAD OF 76 - In this April 30, 1974, file photo, Linda Brown, right, and her two children pose for a photo in their home in Topeka, Kan. Brown, the Kansas girl at the center of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down racial segregation in schools, has died at age 75. Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka confirmed that Linda Brown died Sunday, March 25, 2018. (AP Photo/File) Her sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson, founding president of The Brown Foundation, confirmed the death to The Topeka Capital-Journal. She declined comment from the family. Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel at NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., said in a statement that Linda Brown is one of a band of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy - racial segregation in public schools. "She stands as an example of how ordinary schoolchildren took center stage in transforming this country. It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country," Ifill said in a statement. The NAACP's legal arm brought the lawsuit to challenge segregation in public schools before the Supreme Court, and Brown's father, Oliver Brown, became lead plaintiff. Several black families in Topeka were turned down when they tried to enroll their children in white schools near their homes. The lawsuit was joined with cases from Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that separating black and white children was unconstitutional because it denied black children the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. "In the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place," Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote. "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The Brown decision overturned the court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which on May 18, 1896, established a "separate but equal" doctrine for blacks in public facilities. "Sixty-four years ago, a young girl from Topeka, Kansas sparked a case that ended segregation in public schools in America," Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer said in a statement. "Linda Brown's life reminds us that by standing up for our principles and serving our communities we can truly change the world. Linda's legacy is a crucial part of the American story and continues to inspire the millions who have realized the American dream because of her." Brown v. Board was a historic marker in the civil rights movement, likely the most high-profile case brought by Thurgood Marshall and the lawyers of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in their decade-plus campaign to chip away at the doctrine of "separate but equal." "Her legacy is not only here but nationwide," Kansas Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis said. Oliver Brown, for whom the case was named, became a minister at a church in Springfield, Missouri. He died of a heart attack in 1961. Linda Brown and her sister founded in 1988 the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research. The foundation says on its webpage that it was established as a living tribute to the attorneys, community organizers and plaintiffs in the landmark Supreme Court decision. Its mission is to build upon their work and keep the ideals of the decision relevant for future generations. "We are to be grateful for the family that stood up for what is right," said Democratic state Rep. Annie Kuether of Topeka. "That made a difference to the rest of the world." DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A top Emirati aviation official accused Qatar on Tuesday of allowing its military fighter jets to come dangerously close to a large airplane and a helicopter, allegations immediately denied by Doha amid an Arab boycott of the energy-rich Gulf nation. Speaking to The Associated Press, Ismaeil al-Blooshi of the General Civil Aviation Authority left open the possibility Emirati officials would formally order its many commercial aircraft to stay away from Qatar, citing earlier decisions not to fly over territory once held by the Islamic State group. While the claims and counterclaims represent just the latest dispute within the wider diplomatic crisis tearing at Gulf Arab nations, aviation remains the lifeblood of Dubai, home to the world's busiest international airport. Any disruptions or new routes would affect millions of travelers passing through the region. "I can assure the general public ... we will take all necessary measures to protect the safety of aviation," said al-Blooshi, the GCAA's assistant director-general for aviation safety. "If there is a need for such action, we will definitely take it." Al-Blooshi declined to offer specifics about the aircraft involved in the alleged incidents Monday in international waters off the coast of Bahrain, an island near Saudi Arabia. However, Bahrain's state-run news agency identified the plane as an Airbus A320 with a tail number corresponding to an aircraft flown by the ruling family of Fujairah, one of the UAE's seven emirates. Fujairah officials did not respond to a request for comment. The Emirati aircraft was at 32,000 feet (9,755 meters) and climbing when it noticed a "blip" on its radar, al-Blooshi said. Within minutes, the Qatari fighter jets came within 700 feet (213 meters) of the Emirati aircraft, causing collision-avoidance warnings to sound and forcing pilots to quickly climb to 35,000 feet (10,670 meters), he said. His comments mirror those reported by officials in Bahrain, another of the nations along with the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia now boycotting Doha. Data from FlightRadar24, a flight-tracking website, shows that an Airbus A320 associated with Fujairah's ruling family flew Monday en route to Rome and did climb to 35,000 feet near Bahrain. However, that data did not offer an explanation for the gain in altitude. The second incident, involving the helicopter, happened at 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) and authorities have less information, al-Blooshi said. He said an investigation into both incidents was underway. Across the world, military aircraft are understood to have wide latitude in their operations. However, al-Blooshi called the Qatari fighter jets' alleged conduct Monday dangerous. The state-run Qatar News Agency issued a statement from civil aviation authorities late Monday denying the Emirati claims and calling it an attempt to cover up previous violations of Qatari airspace. Qatar accused Emirati military jets of violating its air space in December and January in two incidents, filing a complaint to the U.N. The UAE denied those allegations and filed its own complaints over similar alleged incidents in January. Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut off Qatar's land, sea and air routes on June 5 over its alleged support of extremists and close ties with Iran. Qatar has long denied funding extremists, though it supports Islamist opposition movements that are considered terrorist groups by other countries in the region. After the boycott began, Doha restored full diplomatic ties with Iran, with which it shares a massive offshore natural gas field. The diplomatic crisis has hurt Qatar Airways, Doha's long-haul carrier that competes with UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad. Qatar had complained to the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization about the boycotting nations cutting off its air routes, forcing the carrier to take longer flights through Iran and Turkey. Its regional feeder flights in Saudi Arabia and the UAE also have been cut off. Widening the Gulf dispute to include civilian aviation and airspace could hurt Emirati airlines already stung by President Donald Trump's travel bans, as well as last year's ban on laptops in airplane cabins, which has been lifted. For those flying in the region from Dubai, passengers have gotten used to seeing flights divert either north or south over Qatar, a peninsular nation that sticks out like a thumb in the Persian Gulf. Al-Blooshi said there was no formal order from the GCAA demanding airlines fly those routes, though officials likely would consider whether to issue one after concluding their investigation. The GCAA's chairman, Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri, said the UAE would complain again to the U.N. over Monday's incident. He did not elaborate while speaking to journalists outside an event featuring South Korean President Moon Jae-in. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz . PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodia's leader has rejected the idea of reconciliation talks with the country's only significant opposition party, which was dissolved by court order last November. Prime Minister Hun Sen also said Tuesday he would reject the appeals of foreign nations promoting such talks. He also ruled out the possibility of pardons for the two founders of the now-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, one of whom is in exile and the other who is in jail awaiting trial on treason charges critics consider trumped up. The CNRP would have been the only credible opposition to Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party in this July's general election. Its dissolution, and a crackdown on the press, are considered efforts to ensure a victory for Hun Sen, who has held power for more than three decades. ATHENS, Greece (AP) - The leader of the Greek government's junior coalition partner says his party will not accept any solution in a name dispute with neighboring Macedonia that includes any derivative of the term "Macedonia." Panos Kammenos, who is Greece's defense minister, said in a television interview Tuesday his right-wing Independent Greeks party will "prevent in any way the use of the term 'Macedonia'" in the neighboring country's name. The two countries have disagreed for a quarter-century over the former Yugoslav republic's name, with Greece claiming its neighbor harbors territorial aspirations on the northern Greek province of the same name. Athens and Skopje have intensified talks on the issue, and Greece's left-led government proposals have reportedly included derivatives of 'Macedonia.' A refusal by Kammenos' party to back the deal could threaten the government's stability. VATICAN CITY (AP) - A bishop in China's underground Catholic church has reportedly been detained, just as the Vatican has been laying the groundwork for him to step aside as part of a long-sought deal with Beijing over bishop nominations. The AsiaNews agency, which closely covers the Catholic Church in China, said Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin and his chancellor were taken away Monday, at the start of Holy Week. AsiaNews noted that Guo had disappeared for several weeks last year around Easter as well. The Vatican has for years been seeking to unite China's underground and official churches to bring the more than 12 million Chinese Catholics ostensibly under the pope's wing for the first time since China and the Holy See severed relations nearly seven decades ago. Worship in China is officially allowed only in state-authorized churches outside the pope's authority. Pope Francis celebrates a Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, March 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Recently, the contours of a deal were hammered out under which the Vatican would recognize the seven "illegitimate" bishops in China, who were consecrated without papal consent, ask two underground bishops to step aside and allow the official ones in Mindong and Shantou to become the de-facto Holy See-recognized bishops, a Vatican official told The Associated Press. Guo agreed earlier this year to the Vatican request to step down and become the auxiliary bishop of Mindong, the official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to reveal the content of the negotiations, said the deal was not a "good" arrangement for the Holy See, since it limited its activities. But the official said it was the best the Holy See could get for now. Going forward, the agreement calls for the pope to be able to "intervene" in future bishop nominations, which the official said amounted to a papal veto over names proposed by Beijing. The Vatican spokesman didn't immediately comment Tuesday on Guo's reported detention. Police officials in the city of Fu'an, where Guo is based, as well as the city of Ningde, which oversees Fu'an, said they "did not know" anything about the reported detention. The deal has been buttressed on the Vatican side by years of goodwill gestures, including favorable coverage in Vatican-affiliated media, Vatican invitations for Chinese participation in scientific and cultural exchanges and a recent symposium at the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University on Christianity in China. In the keynote speech Thursday, the Vatican's foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, went out of his way to laud China for both the "stable and influential" role it is playing in international relations and its "priceless heritage of culture and civilization." While much of the West has criticized recent moves by China to remove term limits on Chinese President Xi Jinping and consolidate the Communist Party's control over media, Gallagher highlighted Chinese programs that seek to overcome poverty and drive science and technology developments. He said he was convinced that "it should be possible to work out the coordinates of an authentic Christian presence in China," even under China's insistence of a "Sinicized" Catholic Church. Xi and his administration have increasingly emphasized the importance of "Sinicization" of foreign religions to show their fealty first and foremost to the Chinese government and ruling Communist Party. Following a major government reorganization this month, the party's governing role over the State Administration of Religious Affairs that oversees relations with the church in China has been strengthened. The Rev. Bernardo Cervellera, whose AsiaNews agency has charted the underground dismay at the reported Vatican-China deal, dismissed Gallagher's speech as part of the Vatican's "campaign of courtship" to try to get a deal with Beijing. He doubted that Beijing would sign, saying some government factions still oppose any agreement because it could set a precedent for other religions. Of Guo's detention, Cervellera added: "It's very curious that this has happened precisely in the diocese where they are putting in place this famous deal." LONDON (AP) - The Latest on diplomatic developments following the nerve agent attack on a Russian spy in Britain (all times local): 1:50 a.m. New Zealand is facing criticism for not expelling any Russian diplomats or spies. Russian Ambassador Grigory Logvinov speaks to reporters briefly in Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, March 28, 2018. Russia's Embassy has accused Australia of blindly following Britain by deciding to expel two Russian diplomats. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk) Many of its allies are doing so in solidarity with Britain after its government blamed Russia for attacking a former spy with nerve agent in England. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Winston Peters say that while other countries are expelling "undeclared Russian intelligence agents" - or spies - they haven't found anybody in New Zealand fitting that profile. But security analyst Paul Buchanan told Radio New Zealand the politicians are trying to wriggle out of their responsibilities and their stance has made New Zealand a laughing stock. He says some of the Russians kicked out of other countries are regular diplomats and the expulsions are often only symbolic. ___ 00:45 a.m. Russia's ambassador to Australia says the dozens of countries that have expelled Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain are "not a significant number." Ambassador Grigory Logvinov held a press conference in the Australian capital Canberra a day after the government announced that two undeclared Russian intelligence officers had been given seven days to leave the country. Logvinov denies Russia is responsible for the nerve agent attack. Logvinov says he doesn't know how Russia will retaliate against Australia for the expulsions. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said before the press conference that she expects Australian diplomats will be expelled in retaliation. Bishop says she will meet with the ambassador later Wednesday. ___ 6:15 p.m. Belgium has decided to expel one diplomatic staff member from the Russian mission in the wake of the nerve agent attack in Britain. The prime minister's office said the official will have two weeks to leave Belgium. Despite the measure, Belgium said it remained committed to an "open and frank dialogue" with Moscow. The United States, NATO, 16 European Union nations and some other countries have announced they would expel more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the March 4 nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. ___ 5:55 p.m. U.S. President Donald Trump is speaking with leaders from France and Germany to praise the coordinated expulsion of Russian intelligence officers from their countries in response to Russia poisoning a former spy on British soil. That's according to the White House, which says Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in separate calls Tuesday. The leaders "expressed support" for the move and "praised" the announcement by other Western allies who have followed suit. The United States, NATO, 16 European Union nations and some other countries have announced they would expel more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. The White House says the leaders are also discussed trade policy, Syria and North Korea. ___ 5:30 p.m. Bulgaria, which has so far not made a decision to expel Russian diplomats, says it has recalled its ambassador to Moscow for "consultations." Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Ambassador Boyko Kotsev discussed by phone the nerve agent attack on an ex-Russian spy in England, as well as the reactions in Russia, the European Union and the international community, the government's press office said. Speaking to reporters in Brussels last week, Borissov said that the EU's support for Britain, which blames Russia for the March 4 attack, was a "joint decision which we support." But he said that since Britain had claimed there was "high level of possibility" that Russia was behind the nerve attack on the Skripals, he had asked for more evidence before his government makes a decision. Two dozen Western countries have ordered the expulsion of Russian diplomats in response to the spy poisoning case. ___ 4:50 p.m. Slovakia's president has asked the foreign ministry to explain why his country has not joined two dozen other countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the nerve agent attack on an ex-intelligence officer in Britain. In a statement Tuesday, President Andrej Kiska says he has met Deputy Foreign Minister Lukas Parizek and considered his explanation unsatisfactory. Kiska says he has called Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini over the issue and told him he expects Slovakia to respond to "a request to express solidarity with our important ally." Slovak leaders are scheduled to meet to discuss it on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday to condemn the use of a nerve agent in the attack in Salisbury, calling it "unacceptable," but no Russian diplomats have been expelled from Slovakia so far. ___ 4 p.m. Moldova's foreign ministry has ordered three Russian diplomats to leave the former Soviet republic within seven days. The foreign ministry summoned Russia's Ambassador Farit Muhametshin on Tuesday to inform him of the decision, which followed similar expulsions of Russians from many other Western countries Monday. The moves were a gesture of solidarity with Britain over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain. A statement said the attack was "a threat on the collective security and international law." Moldova's pro-Western government is seeking closer relations with the U.S. and the European Union. Last year Moldova expelled five Russian diplomats, accusing them of espionage. ___ 3:40 p.m. NATO's secretary-general says that the spate of expulsions of Russian diplomats by alliance members shows Moscow that it its behavior since the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine "has costs." Jens Stoltenberg announced the expulsion of seven Russian staff at the alliance mission and the rejection of three more accreditations, reducing Russia's diplomatic manpower from 30 to 20 at the alliance. Stoltenberg said that "I actually think that Russia has underestimated the unity of NATO allies." Since the Crimea annexation in 2014, Stoltenberg said the NATO alliance has built up its military presence, increased defense spending and imposed economic sanctions on Russia, now compounded by diplomatic action since the March 4 nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy in Britain, which blames Moscow for it. Russian denies any involvement. He said it "is a very strong response and which also imposes costs on Russia because of their behavior since the illegal annexation of Crimea." ___ 3:20 p.m. The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has praised a coordinated reaction by Western allies to the nerve gas attack on a former Russian spy in England. Addressing the lower house of Czech Parliament and later talking to reporters, House Speaker Paul Ryan says: "solidarity on this frontier of freedom is more important than ever." Western nations have expelled more than 130 Russian diplomats in a show of solidarity with Britain over the nerve agent attack. Ryan says: "Civil nations don't act like that ... it's important that we act in solidarity with our ally, particularly in this case the British, to condemn this kind of activity by Russia." Ryan also accused Russia of spreading disinformation and engaging in cyberattacks. He says Russia "meddles in democratic elections through Europe as it did in the United States ... we cannot and we will not tolerate this." ___ 3:10 p.m. Russia's foreign minister says the expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain have followed U.S. "blackmail." Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday on a trip to Uzbekistan that the U.S. has applied "colossal pressure, colossal blackmail, which have become Washington's main instrument on the international arena." The United States, NATO, 16 European Union nations and some other countries have announced they would expel more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. Britain has blamed the March 4 poisoning on Russia, which has fiercely denied the accusations. Lavrov says, according to Russian news agencies, that Moscow will retaliate for the expulsions, saying "such boorishness can't be tolerated." ___ 2:55 p.m. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance will expel seven staffers from the Russian mission due to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. He says NATO will also deny the pending accreditation request of three other workers at the Russian mission. Russia is not a member of NATO. Stoltenberg says, despite the expulsions, Russia will still have a diplomatic mission of 20 people at alliance headquarters in Brussels and that will allow Russia to keep essential contacts with NATO members. Stoltenberg says "we will continue to work for meaningful dialogue" with Russia but the measure announced Tuesday "send a very clear message to Russia that it has costs." ___ 2:15 p.m. Top EU lawmaker Guy Verhofstadt wants the European Union to sharpen sanctions on the Kremlin if necessary but also insists on a broader strategy to reach out to Russians in general. The leader of the liberal ALDE group backed the expulsions of diplomatic staff by EU nations but said "that's not enough." In an interview with The Associated Press, he said that economic cooperation and visa liberalization were just as important as a clampdown on President Vladimir Putin and his closest allies. He compared it to the Helsinki detente process during the Cold War when channels were being kept open despite the fact that both sides had hundreds of nuclear warheads pointed at one another. "Why not establish a big economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok?" Verhofstadt asked. "And at the same time asking, requesting for changes in the Russia society for application of the rule of law for a democracy, freedom of speech." "So political reforms in Russia as a counterpart for economic cooperation which we have to offer," he said. ___ 12:50 p.m. Ireland says it is expelling a Russian diplomat, joining more than 20 other nations in punishing Moscow for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Tuesday that the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia was a "shocking and abhorrent" use of chemical weapons. He said the Russian ambassador in Dublin has been informed that one diplomat from his embassy must leave Ireland. Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other's diplomats since the March 4 attack, which the U.K. blames on Moscow. British Prime Minister Theresa May says 23 other countries have expelled more than 115 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States. Russia denies responsibility and has vowed a "tough response" to the expulsions. ___ 12:20 p.m. A top Russian diplomat says Moscow is preparing a "tough response" to Monday's announcement by the United States that it is expelling 60 Russian diplomats. The United States, European Union nations and some other countries announced they would expel a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in critical condition in the hospital in the English city of Salisbury after being exposed to what British authorities say was a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent on March 4. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti news agency on Tuesday that Russia was disappointed by the U.S. announcement that it would expel 60 Russian diplomats and shut down a Russian consulate in Seattle. Ryabkov said the U.S. move "will be met with a tough response" but he did not elaborate. ___ 9:10 a.m. Australia has become the latest country to announce that it is expelling Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed "reckless and deliberate" conduct by Russia that harms global security and violates rules against the use of chemical weapons. He said in a statement Tuesday that the two diplomats targeted are undeclared intelligence officers and have been given seven days to leave Australia. Western nations have expelled more than 130 diplomats in recent days. The Russian Embassy in Canberra said the decision was regrettable and jeopardized the bilateral relationship. "It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly contrary to the norms of civilized bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against ... common sense." A man takes a photo of the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Germany will expelling four Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan addresses media at the Czech Republic's Parliament in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A sign reading 'Emabassy of the Russian Federation' displayed at entrance of the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Germany will expelling four Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Russian Ambassador Grigory Logvinov arrives to speak to reporters briefly in Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, March 28, 2018. Russia's Embassy has accused Australia of blindly following Britain by deciding to expel two Russian diplomats. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk) Signs reading 'Emabassy of the Russian Federation' displayed at entrance of the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Germany will expelling four Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) A sign reading 'Emabassy of the Russian Federation' displayed at entrance of the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Germany will expelling four Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky attorney who fled the country to avoid going to prison before being captured is seeking to have part of a federal case against him thrown out. WKYT-TV reports an attorney for Eric Conn asked a federal judge in a motion to dismiss an 18-count indictment that was reinstated after Conn was arrested. The motion says the original indictment cannot be reinstated because federal prosecutors accepted Conn's plea deal. Conn spent six months on the run after pleading guilty to bribing judges and doctors in a $500 million Social Security fraud scheme. His sentencing went on without him last summer, when he was given a 12-year prison term. Conn was flown back to Kentucky after he was caught outside a Pizza Hut in Honduras in December. The Kentucky Supreme Court permanently disbarred Conn last month. ___ Information from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com BARNSTABLE, Mass. (AP) - A grand jury has indicted a Massachusetts man who police say broke into homes while the residents attended wakes or funerals. The Cape Cod Times reports 35-year-old Randy Brunelle was indicted on seven counts Friday, including three counts of felony breaking and entering, three counts of larceny from a building and one count of attempt to commit a crime. Police, who deemed Brunelle the "obit bandit," believe he is responsible for at least three break-ins on Cape Cod. Plymouth police say he's a suspect in five similar break-ins in their town. Brunelle was arrested Feb. 9, after he allegedly broke into a Barnstable home while the resident attended her mother's wake. He has pleaded not guilty. Brunelle's attorney previously said his client had an addiction to heroin. ___ Information from: Cape Cod (Mass.) Times, http://www.capecodtimes.com ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland's General Assembly has passed a bill that would give a tax break to people who donate all or a portion of an organ to another person. The bill would let liver, kidney, intestine, pancreas, lung or bone marrow donors subtracts up to $7,500 in income on state tax returns to offset donation expenses. The Baltimore Sun reports that the bill is sponsored by Speaker Michael E. Busch, who had a liver transplant last year that is credited with saving his life. His sister, Laurie Bernhardt, donated a piece of her liver. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has said he will sign the bill. ___ Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com I don't know how many young women come to this blog or how many are parents of teenage or young adult women, but here are some safety tips from Kelsey's Army: T I P S 1. Trust your instincts - If something feels wrong then something probably is wrong.2. Know your surroundings - know who and what is around you.3. Always have a plan for where you would go and what you would do if a situation arises.4. Be willing to make a scene in order to be noticed.5. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.Remember the acronym TIPS:ake Chargenform others of your whereaboutsrepare for any situationurvival Mentality (role play situations so you will respond should they happen)For more information, go to Kelsey's Army MIAMI (AP) - Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Park Service are looking for a 57-year-old man who didn't return from a 10-day kayaking trip into the Florida Everglades. The Coast Guard said in a Tuesday morning news release that James Matthew Soltis of Lockport, Illinois, didn't return as planned from an Everglades Wilderness Waterway kayaking trip. His daughter told Everglades National Park rangers that Soltis departed from the Flamingo Visitor Center on March 15 and was expected back on Sunday. National Park officials searched for Soltis on Monday and asked the Coast Guard for help Monday night. A helicopter crew was dispatched for a first-light search Tuesday morning. NEW YORK (AP) - An alleged drug trafficker was accused Tuesday of flooding the New York City area with large quantities of fentanyl from Mexico at a time when overdoses related to the powerful opioid have skyrocketed. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora faced drug-trafficking conspiracy charges following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan and other law enforcement agencies. Quiroz-Zamora, 41, was arrested in a sting operation late last year after he traveled to New York City to collect a payment from an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer, authorities said. An indictment in state court charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year at a hotel in the Bronx and at an apartment in upper Manhattan used as a stash house. This undated photo provided by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor of New York City shows Francisco Quiroz-Zamora. Authorities said they've charged the alleged drug trafficker with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. He is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor of New York City via AP) A judge in State Supreme Court in Manhattan ordered Quiroz-Zamora held without bail Tuesday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last year, seizures of fentanyl in cases brought by the narcotics prosecutor increased from 35 pounds to 491 pounds. At the same time, fatal overdoses tied to fentanyl reached an all-time high of more than 1,400 in New York City in 2017, officials said. The drug is far stronger than heroin and cheaper to produce, making the potential profit margin much higher for traffickers who usually mix it with heroin for sale to users who often don't know what they're getting, officials said. According to U.S. authorities, Quiroz-Zamora, who lived in San Jose del Cabo in Baja, had the drugs smuggled by cars, trucks and couriers over the border into Arizona and California before the supplies reached the New York City area. Last year, an undercover officer posing as a drug dealer reached Quiroz-Zamora by phone and struck a deal with him to buy the fentanyl for between $45,000 and $50,000 per kilo, authorities said. In November, Quiroz-Zamora traveled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. LONDON (AP) - The Latest on the Facebook privacy scandal (all times local): 11:30 p.m. Published reports say Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning to testify before Congress about how his company collects and uses people's data. FILE - In this May 25, 2017, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the commencement address at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Published reports say Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning to testify before Congress about how his company collects and uses people's data. The company is facing unprecedented scrutiny following reports that a data mining firm used ill-gotten data from tens of millions of its users to try to influence elections. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) CNN is citing unnamed sources in a report Tuesday that Zuckerberg has "come to terms" with the fact that he'll have to testify in a matter of weeks. A Facebook representative said the company has received invitations to appear before congress and is talking to legislators. Zuckerberg said last week in a CNN interview that he'd be "happy to" testify if he is the right person to do it. The company is facing unprecedented scrutiny following reports that a data mining firm used ill-gotten data from tens of millions of its users to try to influence elections. ___ 2 p.m. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is snubbing a summons from a British Parliamentary committee investigating the rise of fake news, offering to send senior executives in his place. Damian Collins, chairman of Parliament's media committee, urged Zuckerberg to "think again" Tuesday about choosing not to appear and repeated an offer to have him testify via video link. Facebook has offered to send chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer or chief product officer Chris Cox. Zuckerberg is also under pressure to appear before U.S. Congress following allegations that consultants Cambridge Analytica harvested details of 50 million Facebook users and used the material in U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 election. ___ 1:50 p.m. The computer expert who sparked a global debate over electronic privacy has told lawmakers that the official campaign backing Britain's exit from the European Union had access to data that was inappropriately collected from millions of Facebook users. Christopher Wylie previously alleged that Cambridge Analytica used data harvested from more than 50 million Facebook users to help U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. Wylie told the House of Commons' media committee on Tuesday that he "absolutely" believed Canadian campaign consultant AggregateIQ had drawn on Cambridge Analytica's databases for its work on the EU referendum. He told the committee: "You can't have targeting software that doesn't access the database. Cambridge Analytica would have a database and AIQ would access that database, otherwise the software wouldn't work." ___ 9:55 a.m. The whistleblower at the heart of the Facebook privacy scandal is set to testify before British lawmakers investigating the increasing rise of fake news. Christopher Wylie has alleged that Cambridge Analytica harvested details of 50 million Facebook users and used the material in U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. It is alleged the material made it possible to micro-target users with campaign material. At a news conference on Monday on a linked issue, Wylie declined to answer questions about whether the data was also used in Britain by the campaign to leave the European Union. He said he would discuss the matter when he spoke to lawmakers from Parliament's media committee on Tuesday. In this image taken from video, Chris Wylie gives evidence to the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee's inquiry into fake news, in Portcullis House, London, Tuesday March 27, 2018. (PA via AP) Whistleblower Christopher Wylie who alleges that the campaign for Britain to leave the EU cheated in the referendum in 2016, speaking at a lawyers office to the media in London, Monday, March 26, 2018. Chris Wylie's claims center around the official Vote Leave campaign and its links to a group called BeLeave, which it helped fund. The links allegedly allowed the campaign to bypass spending rules. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Whistleblower Christopher Wylie who alleges that the campaign for Britain to leave the EU cheated in the referendum in 2016, speaking at a lawyers office to the media in London, Monday, March 26, 2018. Chris Wylie's claims center around the official Vote Leave campaign and its links to a group called BeLeave, which it helped fund. The links allegedly allowed the campaign to bypass spending rules.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The 97-year-old Stevens says in an essay on The New York Times website that repeal would weaken the National Rifle Association's ability to "block constructive gun control legislation." Stevens was on the losing end of a 2008 ruling in which the high court held that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own a gun for self-defense. He had previously called for changing the Second Amendment to permit gun control. FILE - In this April 30, 2014, file photo, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens testifies on the ever-increasing amount of money spent on elections as he appears before the Senate Rules Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Stevens is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The 97-year-old Stevens says in an essay on The New York Times website that repeal would weaken the National Rifle Association's ability to "block constructive gun control legislation." (AP Photo) Stevens says the decision in that case, District of Columbia v. Heller, "has provided the N.R.A. with a propaganda weapon of immense power." Stevens retired from the court in 2010, after more than 35 years. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the arrest of a water park company's co-owner in Texas in connection to a Kansas criminal case (all times local): 1 p.m. The number of people indicted in the death of a 10-year-old Kansas boy on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide has grown to three. This photo provided by the Cameron County, Texas, Sheriff's Department shows Jeffrey Henry. The Kansas City Star reports that Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts co-owner Henry was arrested Monday, March 26, 2018, in Cameron County. (Cameron County Sheriff's Department via AP) The Kansas attorney general's office says Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts co-owner Jeffrey Henry and ride designer John Schooley are charged with reckless second-degree murder in the indictment unsealed Tuesday. The charges stem from the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab who was decapitated in 2016 when his ride went airborne at the water park in Kansas City, Kansas. Schlitterbahn didn't immediately respond to questions about whether they have attorneys. The attorney general's office announced Friday that the Schlitterbahn park and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, had been indicted on 20 felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter. ____ 11:45 a.m. A Texas judge has ordered the co-owner of a water park company held without bond as a criminal case proceeds in the death of a 10-year-old boy at one of the company's parks in Kansas. Victoria Cisneros, spokeswoman for the Cameron County District Attorney's Office, says 62-year-old Jeffrey Henry appeared for a hearing Tuesday. She says county prosecutors asked that Henry be held without bond at the request of the Kansas Attorney General's Office. Henry was earlier being held on a $500,000 bond. He's facing charges in Kansas of murder, aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment. Henry will remain at the Cameron County jail in far South Texas as he awaits extradition to Kansas. Cisneros didn't immediately have details on when extradition may occur. Henry's arrest Monday follows a Kansas grand jury's indictment last week of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, and a former operations director on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. ___ 11 a.m. The family of a 10-year-old Kansas boy killed on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide says a criminal indictment shows that issues with the water park company "go far beyond" the boy's death. The family of Caleb Schwab released a statement Monday in reaction to a 20-count indictment released last week of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and one of its co-owners. Another co-owner, Jeffrey Henry, was arrested Monday and booked into a Texas jail on suspicion of murder, child endangerment and other charges. He's expected in court Tuesday. The Schwab family says they have "full faith and trust" in Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and know he'll "take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety." Caleb was killed in August 2016 while riding the waterslide at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas. The indictment released last week alleges the slide met few, if any, industry standards and that necessary repairs were avoided or delayed. ___ 8:45 a.m. Jail records show the co-owner of a Kansas water park where a 10-year-old boy died on a giant water slide is being held in Texas on suspicion of murder, aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment. Cameron County jail's brief online records cite a "Kansas agency" in the booking charges against Jeffrey Henry. The records don't provide any detail, but a spokeswoman for the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, said Monday that Henry had been arrested in the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab. The office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt hasn't responded to phone calls and emails seeking details about possible charges against Henry. The Kansas indictment is sealed. A Cameron County booking clerk says Henry is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. A Kansas grand jury last week indicted Schlitterbahn and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter in Caleb's death. Henry is co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts. Online jail records did not list an attorney for him. ___ 1 a.m. A water park company's co-owner is expected to appear in court after his arrest in Texas in connection with a Kansas criminal case arising from a 10-year-old boy's waterslide death. Jeffrey Henry is being held without bond at the jail in Cameron County, Texas. A jail booking clerk says he'll remain there until a court appearance Tuesday. Henry's arrest Monday follows a Kansas grand jury's indictment last week of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. The boy died on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide. Henry is co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts. NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on charges against an alleged drug trafficker charged with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. (all times local): 10 a.m. Authorities say they've charged a drug trafficker with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. This undated photo provided by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor of New York City shows Francisco Quiroz-Zamora. Authorities said they've charged the alleged drug trafficker with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. He is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor of New York City via AP) Francisco Quiroz-Zamora is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday to face charges stemming from a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Authorities say Quiroz-Zamora was arrested late last year after he traveled to New York to collect a payment from an undercover agent. An indictment charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year in the Bronx and Manhattan. Authorities say the drugs were smuggled into Arizona and California then taken to the New York City area. The charges come at a time when seizures and overdose deaths involving fentanyl have skyrocketed. Zamora travelled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. ___ 8:05 a.m. Authorities say they've charged a drug trafficker with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday to face charges stemming from a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. Authorities say Quiroz-Zamora was arrested late last year after he traveled to New York to collect a payment from an undercover agent. An indictment charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year in the Bronx and Manhattan. Authorities say the drugs were smuggled into Arizona and California then taken to the New York City area. The name of his attorney wasn't immediately available. The charges come at a time when seizures and overdose deaths involving fentanyl have skyrocketed. Zamora travelled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. NEW YORK (AP) - The Metropolitan Opera has a new production of Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" that moves the action from 18th-century Naples, Italy, to a modern-day boardwalk amusement park much like Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Director Phelim McDermott says he hopes the setting creates "a slightly magical world where people get swept up in a romantic dream." The opera will be broadcast to movie theaters worldwide Saturday as part of the Met's "Live in HD" series. This image released by The Metropolitan Opera shows a performance from Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte," in New York which will be broadcast to movie theaters worldwide Saturday as part of the Met's Live in HD series. (Marty Sohl/The Metropolitan Opera via AP) The Metropolitan Opera is a company based in New York City. BERLIN (AP) - A German court has ruled that authorities are entitled to deport a Tunisian man considered a potentially dangerous Islamic extremist although they can't rule out him being sentenced to the death penalty at home. The man, who wasn't identified, was arrested after Tunisia sought his extradition, accusing him of involvement in the deadly 2015 attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis. In August, authorities in Hesse state ordered his deportation, citing the threat of potential terrorist activities in support of the Islamic State group. The Federal Administrative Court said Tuesday that Germany's Foreign Ministry couldn't rule out the man being given the death sentence, which Germany opposes, at home. But it said Tunisia stressed that a moratorium on imposing death sentences has been in place for years. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi has enacted unfair barriers that stop former convicts from regaining their right to vote, a new federal lawsuit says. The class-action suit, filed Tuesday, says Mississippi's system is "harsh, punitive and unforgiving" and disproportionately hurts African-Americans. The lawsuit seeks what 40 states already have: automatic or uncomplicated restoration of voting rights once a person completes a sentence for a disenfranchising crime. Former convict Byron Coleman, 54, says he would like to be able to vote before he dies, at a news conference in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 27, 2018, where the Southern Poverty Law Center announced a new federal lawsuit, that seeks in Mississippi, what 40 states already have, which is automatic or uncomplicated restoration of voting rights once a person completes a sentence for a disenfranchising crime. The SPLC says Mississippi's system is "harsh, punitive and unforgiving" and disproportionately hurts African-Americans. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) "They've paid their debt to society and they're productive citizens with families, with loved ones, who love this state but unfortunately are not loved back," said Jody Owens of the Southern Poverty Law Center. He's one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit against the Mississippi secretary of state. The suit was filed on behalf of six men who have completed their sentences and want to vote and tens of thousands of other people who remain disenfranchised. Byron Coleman, 54, of Byram, Mississippi, lost his right to vote when he was convicted of receiving stolen property in 1997. He completed his sentence the next year, but remains disenfranchised. A father of 11 and grandfather of 16, Coleman, who is African-American, worked as a delivery driver until he had a stroke. He said Tuesday that he hopes to vote "before I leave this world." During a news conference about the lawsuit, Coleman, who is one of the plaintiffs, said: "If God can forgive me, why can't man?" The Mississippi Constitution specifies 10 crimes for which convictions remove voting rights, including murder, forgery and bigamy. A state attorney general's opinion later added 12 more disenfranchising crimes, including timber larceny and carjacking. To regain their right to vote, these ex-convicts must get permission from two-thirds of the Legislature and the governor. The lawsuit says only 14 people have managed this in the past five years. The current governor, Republican Phil Bryant, has been letting suffrage restoration bills become law without his signature. "It is a cumbersome process," said Jonathan K. Youngwood, a New York-based attorney who also represents the plaintiffs. "It takes months or years. It is rarely successful and ... it is rarely invoked." Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, is Mississippi's top elections officer. Spokeswoman Leah Rupp Smith said Hosemann does not comment on pending lawsuits. Between 1994 and 2017, about 47,000 people in Mississippi were convicted of disenfranchising crimes, and about 60 percent of them have completed their sentences but have not regained their voting rights, Youngwood said. Some are still serving time. African-Americans make up about 38 percent of Mississippi's population and 36.5 percent of the state's registered voters. Youngwood said 59 percent to 60 percent of people convicted of disenfranchising crimes in the state are black. Another plaintiff, Dennis Hopkins, 43, of Holly Springs, was convicted of grand larceny 20 years ago and completed his sentence 16 years ago. Hopkins, who is white, is a father of eight. He owns a towing business and has served as a volunteer fire chief and youth sports coach. "It makes me sad that the state of Mississippi doesn't allow me to vote, but it allows me to pay my taxes. ... Everything that they've asked me to do, I've done it," Hopkins said Tuesday. "I feel that Mississippi is doing me wrong." ____ Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus . CORRECTS AGE TO 43, NOT 42-Former convict Dennis Hopkins, 43, says he is devastated by his inability to vote, at a news conference in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 27, 2018, where the Southern Poverty Law Center announced a new federal lawsuit, that seeks in Mississippi, what 40 states already have, which is automatic or uncomplicated restoration of voting rights once a person completes a sentence for a disenfranchising crime. The SPLC says Mississippi's system is "harsh, punitive and unforgiving" and disproportionately hurts African-Americans. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Jody Owens, of the Southern Poverty Law Center, says Mississippi's system is "harsh, punitive and unforgiving" and disproportionately hurts African-Americans, during a Tuesday, March 27, 2018, news conference in Jackson, Miss., where the center announced their new federal lawsuit challenging the limited way Mississippi restores voting rights to ex-convicts who complete their sentences. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Jonathan K. Youngwood, second from left, an attorney assisting the Southern Poverty Law Center with a new federal lawsuit, challenging the limited way Mississippi restores voting rights to ex-convicts who complete their sentences, speaks about the difficult process they face in regaining full voting rights, Tuesday, March 27, 2018 in Jackson, Miss. Former convicts Dennis Hopkins, second from right and Wayne Kuhn, gave their testimonials on the importance of voting, as Jody Owens of the SPLC listened. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Former convict Wayne Kuhn, 47, explains how personally important is the right to vote, at a news conference in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 27, 2018, where the Southern Poverty Law Center announced a new federal lawsuit, that seeks in Mississippi, what 40 states already have, which is automatic or uncomplicated restoration of voting rights once a person completes a sentence for a disenfranchising crime. The SPLC says Mississippi's system is "harsh, punitive and unforgiving" and disproportionately hurts African-Americans. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Former convict Jon O'Neal, 37, says his inability to vote has damaged his identity, at a news conference in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 27, 2018, where the Southern Poverty Law Center announced a new federal lawsuit, that seeks in Mississippi, what 40 states already have, which is automatic or uncomplicated restoration of voting rights once a person completes a sentence for a disenfranchising crime. The SPLC says Mississippi's system is "harsh, punitive and unforgiving" and disproportionately hurts African-Americans. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) LONDON (AP) - Anthony Joshua predicts an early end. Joseph Parker is still deciding how he will end it. For a world heavyweight unification title fight refreshingly free of trash talk, predicting the outcome on Saturday in Cardiff was as close as Joshua and Parker came to banter on Tuesday at their first joint news conference in fight week. Parker, the WBO titleholder from New Zealand, said, naturally: "I'm going to beat him, I haven't decided how, yet. I don't know if it's a knockout, or points, or decision. See how I feel on fight night." Britain's World Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, left, and New Zealand's World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, face off during a press conference in London Tuesday March 27, 2018. Joshua and Parker will meet in a title in Cardiff on Saturday (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Joshua, the WBA and IBF champion on home ground, put his view this way: "Let's say I've got 20 quid (pounds) in my pocket and I'm looking at Joseph Parker. I believe Anthony Joshua can knock Joseph Parker out for sure." Joshua added he's trained to go all 12 rounds if necessary, even though he's never had to in an unbeaten 20-win pro career. He has made no secret of his long-term view, of unifying the four main heavyweight belts. And even though he said he was "1,000 percent" focused on Parker, he still gave the impression his opponent is the hors d'oeuvres to the main meal that is Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), the American who holds the other main belt, the WBC's. "Every fight will have reason in the long run," Joshua said. "Parker, he's a champion, he's done well for himself, he's someone who will add something to my life journey." Trainer Rob McCracken added: "He just sees it as another fight on the ladder to becoming the undisputed champion." Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) smiled through the subtle putdowns from Joshua and McCracken, of being a "lively challenger" with "solid credentials." Asked what worried him about Parker, Joshua answered as if he hadn't seen any Parker video: "He's quick and can take a punch. That's what I've heard." Parker is receiving only a third of the purse, an estimated 7 million pounds ($9.9 million), but backing for him has increased by at least as much since he arrived in Britain more than a week ago, thanks to a charm offensive. While Joshua came to the news conference in T-shirt and tracksuit trousers, Parker appeared in jacket, tie, and spectacles. A power suit, so to speak. "I feel it's my time," Parker said. "I'm young, I'm fast, I'm strong, and I'm determined to win. "I'm not here to put on a show or for a payday, I'm here to take those belts back to New Zealand and Samoa. I'm here to be a part of history. I'm not doing it just for myself, I'm doing it for my team, my family and my country." Joshua has suggested that Parker will be intimidated and unprepared for the biggest crowd he's ever boxed in front of - 78,000 - but Kevin Barry, Parker's trainer for five years, dismissed the fear-mongering. Barry said Parker has wanted this fight for too long to be put off by a Principality Stadium crowd which will include his parents Sala and Dempsey. "One of the huge strengths of Joseph Parker is the way he controls his emotions," Barry said. "Whether the crowd is 800, 8,000 or 80,000 it'll be the same Joseph Parker smiling all the way to the ring, the same guy preparing in the dressing room." But McCracken believed Parker's calculated calm won't help him. "Being fast and calm and relaxed, it doesn't prepare you for getting into a ring with Anthony Joshua," McCracken boasted. "He hits you and you don't know why you're getting hit." Both fighters are expected to be lighter than their previous fights at the weigh-in on Friday. "He's at his best, I'm at my best," Parker said. "There's going to be no excuses afterwards." Britain's World Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, left, and New Zealand's World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, face off during a press conference in London Tuesday March 27, 2018. Joshua and Parker will meet in a title in Cardiff on Saturday (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Britain's World Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, left, speaks during a press conference in London Tuesday March 27, 2018. Joshua will meet New Zealand's World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in a title in Cardiff on Saturday (Nick Potts/PA via AP) For the fifth consecutive year, MBDA recorded a high in orders, worth EUR 4.2 billion, in 2017 while revenue amounted to EUR 3.1 billion. By 31 December the company's order book reached a record peak of EUR 16.8 billion, giving the group prospects for sustained growth over the next five years. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. (Picture source: MBDA) In 2017 export orders (EUR 2.6 billion) once again exceeded orders from the company's domestic countries (EUR 1.6 billion). This high volume of export orders, achieved despite recent increasingly stiff American competition in Europe and the Middle East, confirms the competitiveness of MBDA products and enables the group to strengthen its critical mass vis-a-vis the US missile giants. Export orders in 2017 notably include contracts with Qatar for MCDS coastal batteries and the arming of Fincantieri corvettes, but do not take into account the Typhoon armament for Qatar, a contract that is expected to enter into force in 2018. Other major contracts won in 2017 include VL MICA systems for GoWind corvettes in Egypt, Sea Ceptor for Type 23 frigates in Chile and Marte for fast patrollers in the UAE. On the international front 2017 saw the creation in India of a joint venture between MBDA and its Indian partner Larsen & Toubro to meet the Indian Armed Forces' future requirements under the New Delhi government's 'Make in India' policy. Domestically the year was marked in France by the first deliveries of naval cruise missiles (MdCN) and medium-range missiles (MMP) for land combat; in the United Kingdom, by the order for additional Meteor missiles to continue with integration on F-35 Lightning II; in Germany, by the formal kick-off of negotiations with the authorities on the TLVS air defence and anti-missile programme; and in Italy, by the choice of the CAMM ER missile within the framework of the replacement of the Aspide air defence missile system. Co-operation in Europe on missile technologies also made significant progress in 2017 which will deliver future economies of scale and enhanced competitiveness in the coming years. In this context, France and the United Kingdom launched the concept phase of the FC/ASW (future cruise/anti-ship missile) programme, which aims to replace SCALP/Storm Shadow, Exocet and Harpoon in both states. The Franco-German summit of 13 July 2017 opened the prospect of co-operation in the segment of ground combat missiles fired from helicopters, and the development of a future European air combat system whose performance will require further leaps forward in the field of missiles. In addition, 25 EU countries joined the Permanent Structured Cooperation nitiative, which should facilitate the launch of European cooperation programmes. MBDA is proud to participate in the very first defence research programme (Ocean 2020 project), funded by the new European Defence Fund, which aims to explore future maritime monitoring and interdiction technologies. Finally, a number of co-operation projects involving the United Kingdom and the other domestic countries made good progress in 2017 (arming of Typhoon aircraft with Germany, Italian ground-based air defence, local air defence for Spanish F 110 frigates, etc.). MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier declared: "The group continues to move forward on each of its three strategic pillars: to give its domestic countries guaranteed access to missile technological sovereignty, to pursue European consolidation, to develop international activities; these three actions jointly contribute to the critical mass of MBDA, that is its ability to achieve long-term development faced with its global competitors. We continue to view the future with optimism, targeting, as we expected, EUR4 billion in revenue by 2020. To support this growth, the group plans to hire nearly 1,200 people this year, after recruiting 1,000 in 2016 and as many in 2017." With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2017 MBDA achieved a turnover of 3.1 billion euros with an order book of 16.8 billion euros. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development. MBDA is jointly held by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%). President Donald Trump has attended a dinner in Virginia at the home of a real estate developer who hosted a fundraiser for him in 2016. The Tuesday night event was organized by the super PAC America First Action and hosted by Giuseppe Cecchi and his wife, Mercedes. Giuseppe Cecchi developed the Watergate complex and founded International Developers Inc. The super PAC's president, Brian O. Walsh, and White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters say the event was not a fundraiser. President Donald Trump has attended a dinner in Virginia at the home of a real estate developer who hosted a fundraiser for him in 2016. Trump's motorcade is parked in front of the home in McLean, Virginia on Tuesday night The Tuesday night event was organized by the super PAC America First Action and hosted by Giuseppe Cecchi and his wife, Mercedes. Giuseppe Cecchi developed the Watergate complex and founded International Developers Inc Walsh says the group was 'extremely honored' to be hosting Trump as their 'special guest, along with supporters and friends' of the organization. Trump ran his campaign promising to 'drain the swamp' of Washington influence, and he frequently railed against super PACs. The dinner was Trump's second with members of the group this month. Trump's approval rating is up 7 points since last month, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The improved poll numbers come despite the Stormy Daniels saga that has grabbed headlines in recent days. The porn star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford gave an interview to 60 Minutes on Sunday in which she recounted embarrassing details about her alleged affair with the president. The bad news? That only lifts Trump's approval to 42 percent, low for a president at this point in his tenure. Trump's approval rating is up 7 points since last month, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research The improved poll numbers come despite the Stormy Daniels saga that has grabbed headlines in recent days. Daniels is seen above on 60 Minutes during an interview which aired Sunday Still, the trajectory is a welcome shift for a White House that has been battered by chaos, controversies and internal upheaval. The poll suggests that at least some of the president's improving standing is tied to the economy and the Republican tax overhaul, which offers a glimmer of hope for GOP lawmakers who plan to make both issues the centerpiece of their efforts to maintain control of Congress in November. Nearly half of Americans surveyed - 47 percent - say they approve of how Trump is handling the economy, his highest rating on any issue. When it comes to tax policy, 46 percent of Americans back Trump's moves. 'Our fortunes will rise and fall with the economy and specifically with the middle-class tax cut this fall,' said Corry Bliss, executive director of the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan. Bliss urged Republican candidates to view the law as 'an offensive, not defensive weapon. BALTIMORE (AP) - Imani Holt was just 10 when she saw a neighbor get fatally shot by a triggerman riding a bicycle. The African-American girl from a gritty section of Baltimore was so traumatized by the drug-fueled bloodshed she refused to leave her family's apartment for weeks. In the eight years since, Holt has seen the chaotic aftermath of two more deadly shootings and has lost seven high school classmates to the daily drip of gun violence. Like many black teenagers in neighborhoods hobbled by generational poverty, she is scrutinizing the national gun control debate intensely, frustrated because her community feels ignored but also cautiously hopeful that the massacre in Florida may bring about change closer to home. In this March 20, 2018 photo, student Imani Holt poses for a photograph in a classroom at Excel Academy in Baltimore. Holt was just 10 when she saw a neighbor getting fatally shot by a triggerman. She was so traumatized by the violence she refused to leave her family's apartment for weeks. She's since seen and heard the horrific aftermath of two more deadly shootings and attends the high school that's lost seven classmates to the daily drip of gun violence. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) "I feel really bad that they lost those kids in Florida. But, like, we go through shootings all the time. It's just that our shootings happen day by day. Because it happens on the regular up here, the world says it's really not that important," said the 18-year-old Holt, a junior at Excel Academy, an alternative high school across the street from a cluster of West Baltimore's boarded-up row houses. Christina Martin, a 17-year-old who lost two schoolmates to gun violence this year at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington, noted that the victims in the affluent Parkland community were mostly white and Latino. None were African-American. "We should have got the same attention in return," said Martin, who is black. The gun violence toll is unrelenting in parts of Baltimore - a city that reached a grim milestone last year when the per-capita homicide rate rose to 56 killings per 100,000 people. That's the highest rate among the country's 30 biggest cities. Even as Excel Academy students prepared for last Saturday's March for Our Lives protest, gun violence struck again: A 17-year-old classmate was shot on a street corner, three bullets in the back by an unidentified gunman. The deaths of seven classmates to gun violence over the span of 15 months have left deep emotional scars. The students at Excel agree that their high school - with a metal detector at the entrance- provides a sense of security. But the toll on their bodies and minds is significant. Nerves are on edge. It can be hard to concentrate. "It's really scary. You just want to go to sleep, wake up and see the same people you saw yesterday. But it's like: One day you see somebody, the next day they're gone," Holt said. At the New Hope Baptist Church in New Orleans' Central City neighborhood - an area that has struggled with crime - Pastor Jamaal Weathersby has presided over funeral services for a toddler killed in a shooting and three brothers all shot in the same incident. He worries about the impact that repeated gun violence has on young people. "There are so many young people who are suffering silently, trying to internalize how their brothers, sisters, uncles, even parents are being gunned down in our streets and I think it's something, no matter how long, eventually I believe it's going to come out in some shape, form or fashion, whether it's depression, keeping up in school," he said. Parkland's student protesters are well aware that their peers in inner-city districts are dealing with the impact of gun violence daily. Earlier this month, they met with Chicago teens. Before the Washington march on Saturday, a number of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School went to Thurgood Marshall High School to hear from students there. "We openly recognize that we are privileged individuals and would not have received as much attention if it weren't for the affluence of our city. Because of that, however, we share the stage today and forever with those who have always stared down the barrel of a gun," Parkland student Jaclyn Corin said during a speech Saturday. Many worry that despite the renewed attention on gun violence and gun laws, little will change. Angel Anderson went to the New Orleans March for Our Lives rally Saturday to support her 13-year-old daughter. Her own son was robbed at gunpoint outside her house in the middle of the day by a gunman who wanted his hover board. "I just feel like we're on our own," she said. Others are hopeful that the voices of impassioned young people can push policymakers to do something. "This gun violence has got to stop somewhere," said Holt, who was among 25 Excel Academy students and staff who joined hundreds of thousands of people Saturday to call for tougher laws against firearms and ammo at Washington's March for Our Lives rally. "This might be the start of real change happening now. Not just for Florida, for us too. For everybody." ___ Santana reported from New Orleans. Associated Press reporter Noreen Nasir in Washington D.C. contributed to this report. In this March 22, 2018 photo, student Imani Holt, right, speaks with Deborah Wallace, a teacher at Excel Academy in Baltimore. The deaths of seven classmates to gun violence over the span of 15 months have left deep emotional scars on everyone at the school. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) In this March 20, 2018 photo, student Imani Holt waits for a bus after school at Excel Academy in Baltimore. Students at Excel agree that their high school provides a sense of security. But the toll of gun violence on their bodies and minds is significant. Nerves are on edge. It can be hard to concentrate. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A suspected arson fire at Joshua Tree National Park in California has damaged a historical landmark. The fire that broke out late Monday damaged the Oasis of Mara, a site settled by Native Americans who planted the 29 palm trees that inspired the name of the nearby city Twentynine Palms, according to the National Park Service. Strong winds stoked the rapid spread of the fire, which was contained at less than a square mile (2.58 square kilometers), said Eric Sherwin, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. This Monday, March 26, 2018 photo provided by Steve Raines shows a fire that broke out at Joshua Tree National Park, damaging a historical landmark. The National Park Service says the fire that broke out late Monday damaged the Oasis of Mara, a site settled by Native Americans who planted the 29 palm trees that inspired the name of the city of Twentynine Palms. (Steve Raines Photography via AP) Photos show multiple trees ablaze as firefighters snuffed out the flames in less than an hour. In the light of day Tuesday, at least half a dozen palms looked more like burnt matchsticks jutting out of the ground. The fire is being investigated as arson, the National Park Service said. No arrests have been made. Initial assessments show damage to vegetation and wildlife and potential impact on archaeological resources, the agency said. The agency did not describe the extent of the damage, saying a full assessment still needed to be conducted. Steve Raines, a longtime Twentynine Palms resident and a professional photographer, was in the area when a friend texted him that the Oasis of Mara was on fire. Raines raced to the scene to take photos. "It's significant damage," he said. "And it looks like it's going to be damaged for a long time." The Serrano people settled the oasis, naming it Mara, "the place of little springs and much grass." Located near Joshua Tree's headquarters and a bustling visitor's center, the oasis is among the first sites for the millions of people who visit the park every year. Raines said it was tough to watch the oasis burning. "It's a piece of history," he said. "It's always heartbreaking seeing something like that go up in flames." ___ Follow Amanda Lee Myers on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmandaLeeAP In this Monday, March 26, 2018 photo provided by Steve Raines, a firefighter works at the scene of a fire that broke out at Joshua Tree National Park, damaging a historical landmark. The National Park Service said the fire that broke out late Monday damaged the Oasis of Mara, a site settled by Native Americans who planted the 29 palm trees that inspired the name of the city of Twentynine Palms. (Steve Raines Photography via AP) HONOLULU (AP) - John Fitisemanu, who works for a lab company in Utah, has paid U.S. taxes and been subject to American laws his whole life. But the 53-year-old father and husband isn't considered a U.S. citizen by the federal government because he was born in American Samoa, a U.S. territory and the only place in the country without automatic claim to citizenship. Now, he's suing to be recognized as an American. Fitisemanu is the lead plaintiff on a lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of American Samoans in Utah to be treated as U.S. citizens under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. The Associated Press obtained the documents before the case was filed. American Samoa, a U.S. territory since 1900, is a cluster of islands 2,600 miles (4,184 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii perpetually stuck in a legal loophole. People born in the territory are labeled U.S. nationals. Under that status, they cannot vote, run for office, sponsor family members for immigration to the U.S., apply for certain government jobs, or serve on a jury -- despite paying taxes to Uncle Sam. They're even issued special U.S. passports that say: "This bearer is a United States national and not a United States citizen." In this undated image provided by nonprofit advocacy and legal group Equally American, John Fitisemanu, an American Samoan and the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the United States seeking full U.S. citizenship, poses for a photo in Salt Lake City, Utah. A lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in federal court in Utah seeks to grant U.S. citizenship status to American Samoans. John Fitisemanu, and others who were born in American Samoa, are asking the court for citizenship under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which confers citizenship at birth to anyone born in the U.S. (Katrina Keil Youd/Equally American via AP) With colleagues, "it's kind of like an office joke -- 'Hey! John is not a citizen, he's an alien!' I know they're joking, but it still hurts," Fitisemanu told the AP. "It feels like a slap in your face, that you're born on U.S. soil, but you're not recognized as a U.S. citizen." He's been rejected for jobs that list U.S. citizenship as a requirement. Prospective employers "need me to show them proof that I am a U.S. citizen, which I am not." Around elections, "I sit quietly at my cubicle, and don't say a word, because I know I can't vote," he said. "It's kind of embarrassing." Rosavita Tuli, another plaintiff in the case, has had to obtain special permits and pay fees that wouldn't apply to U.S. citizens when visiting her aging parents outside American Samoa, according to court documents. Although American Samoans can pursue naturalized citizenship, the lawsuit says it is a "lengthy, costly, and burdensome" process. The cost to apply is $725, and legal fees pile up if applicants hire an attorney to help navigate the process. For Fitisemanu, a previous divorce and other financial burdens have prevented him from going that route. Also, "there's no guarantee of success," said Neil Weare, the attorney leading the suit, and president of non-profit Equally American. "If someone has a birth certificate showing they were born on U.S. soil, they shouldn't have to jump through any more hoops to be recognized as a U.S. citizen." Those born in the territory, however, can claim citizenship at birth if one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. The same generally holds true for children born abroad to Americans. This is Weare's second attempt on the issue. A previous case he led stalled in 2016 when the Supreme Court declined to reconsider a ruling from a lower court in D.C., which found the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship didn't apply to American Samoa, and referred back to controversial colonial era decisions from the early 20th century after the U.S. acquired a spate of territories in the Spanish American War. Known as the "Insular Cases," the Supreme Court distinguished between "incorporated" and "unincorporated" territories. The former, such as Arizona and New Mexico, mostly settled by white people, were thought destined to be a permanent part of the U.S. The latter, such as American Samoa, weren't considered candidates for statehood, whose inhabitants were described as "alien races" and "uncivilized," and thus weren't granted full constitutional rights. Over the years, Congress has decided on a per territory basis to allow those born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands to claim citizenship by birth. American Samoa's population of about 55,000, however, has continued to fall to the wayside. "This is the holding pattern we've been in now for over a century," said Sam Erman, an expert in constitutional law and a professor at the University of Southern California. Still, Erman and many legal scholars agree that "American Samoans are clearly citizens under the 14th Amendment." This lawsuit places a question mark over whether the millions that lived in the Philippines while the country was a U.S. territory for five decades until 1946 would also be able to seek U.S. citizenship, said Erman, who plans to file a legal brief on the current lawsuit. The local American Samoan government has before taken a nuanced view over the issue, given concern about how aspects of Samoan life and culture "would be jeopardized if subjected to scrutiny under the 14th Amendment," according to court documents filed in 2014 by lawyers representing the government. American Samoa Governor Lolo Moliga didn't respond to a request for comment. The U.S. State Department, named as the defendants on the lawsuit, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Utah has a major Samoan population. If the case there is decided favorably, that would create a "circuit split" -- a conflicting ruling to what was previously decided in another court, which could add pressure to the Supreme Court to review. Until then, Fitisemanu is standing firm: "People will say what they want to say, and I'm going to believe in what I want to believe, and I believe that I should be a U.S. citizen." In this undated image provided by nonprofit advocacy and legal group Equally American, Pale Tuli, right, and Rosavita Tuli, both American Samoans and individual plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the United States seeking full U.S. citizenship, pose for a photo in Salt Lake City, Utah. A lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in federal court in Utah seeks to grant U.S. citizenship status to American Samoans. John Fitisemanu, and others who were born in American Samoa, are asking the court for citizenship under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which confers citizenship at birth to anyone born in the U.S. (Katrina Keil Youd/Equally American via AP) In this undated image provided by nonprofit advocacy and legal group Equally American, John Fitisemanu, an American Samoan and the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the United States seeking full U.S. citizenship, poses for a photo in Salt Lake City, Utah. A lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 27, 2018 in federal court in Utah seeks to grant U.S. citizenship status to American Samoans. John Fitisemanu, and others who were born in American Samoa, are asking the court for citizenship under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which confers citizenship at birth to anyone born in the U.S. (Katrina Keil Youd/Equally American via AP) In this undated image provided by nonprofit advocacy and legal group Equally American, Pale Tuli, left, and Rosavita Tuli, both American Samoans and individual plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the United States seeking full U.S. citizenship, pose for a photo in Salt Lake City, Utah. A lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in federal court in Utah seeks to grant U.S. citizenship status to American Samoans. John Fitisemanu, and others who were born in American Samoa, are asking the court for citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, which confers citizenship at birth to anyone born in the U.S. (Katrina Keil Youd/Equally American via AP) ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The wife of a Pennsylvania man arrested in Mexico with a missing 16-year-old girl has filed for divorce. The (Allentown) Morning Call reports that 45-year-old Kevin Esterly's wife filed for divorce Monday, citing infidelity and an "irretrievable breakdown" of their marriage. Esterly and the teenager were found in Mexico on March 17, about two weeks after they disappeared from Allentown. Police have said they believe the girl went willingly with Esterly, who had posed as her stepfather and repeatedly signed her out of school in recent months. The girl's family previously said the two met at church years ago, and the teenager was friends with one of Esterly's four children. Esterly is in jail on a felony charge of custodial interference. SAO PAULO (AP) - The giant Brazilian construction company at the center of Latin America's largest corruption scandal has signed a $174 million contract with the power utility company Furnas, which is a subsidiary of Brazil's electricity holding company, Eletrobras. Odebrecht's contract was signed March 19 after a bidding process and disclosed Monday in the government's official gazette. It is one of the few contracts that the company has gotten since the onset of the sprawling "Car Wash" investigation in 2014 that has ensnared many of Brazil's business and political elite on corruption charges. The contract is aimed at boosting the capacity of Rio de Janeiro's Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant from 350 megawatts to 507 megawatts. NEW YORK (AP) - A Turkish banker convicted of helping Iran evade U.S. economic sanctions deserves a lenient sentence because he at most had a small role "in someone else's mammoth plot," his lawyers said. Mehmet Hakan Atilla, 47, who is facing sentencing on April 11, made the appeal to a New York federal court judge through his lawyers in papers filed late Monday. The attorneys said a calculation by court employees that federal sentencing guidelines call for a life sentence is "draconian" and "stupefyingly unreasonable and unjust." The lawyers said their own calculations showed guidelines should estimate a sentence of no more than four to five years in prison and that a proper penalty should be substantially less because of a variety of factors, including Atilla's minor role. The lawyers wrote that Atilla's only connection to the United States was rare business trips on behalf of Turkey's state-run Halkbank, where he worked as deputy general manager. Beginning in 2011, prosecutors said he conspired with Turkish gold trader Reza Zarrab, who pleaded guilty and testified against Atilla at a trial where testimony about top Turkish officials strained relations between Turkey and the U.S. Atilla's lawyers said evidence showed he was, "at most, a functionary in someone else's mammoth plot to circumvent American economic sanctions aimed at Iran - a plot that was motivated by the greed of its mastermind, architect and principal beneficiary, Reza Zarrab, as well as others, who, along with Zarrab, realized huge financial gains." Prosecutors have not yet filed their sentencing recommendations. Atilla was convicted in January of multiple conspiracy charges and bank fraud. He has remained held without bail since his March 2017 arrest. His lawyers said the alleged crimes were "an aberration in an otherwise honest, law-abiding and honorable life and career, lived entirely in Turkey." They added that his incarceration has had a "profound and devastating" effect on his family. They said he has remained a model prisoner even though his wife has been able to come to the U.S. only twice and his son only once. A serial criminal killed two young brothers in a hit-and-run just six days after being released from prison for possessing an 18in machete. Robert Brown admitted causing the deaths of Corey and Casper Platt-May, aged six and two, by dangerous driving on February 22. The two boys were with their mother in MacDonald Road, Coventry, at around 2pm when a Ford Focus, driven by Brown, ploughed into them at a speed above the legal limit. Two-year-old Casper Platt-May (left) and his brother Corey, six, were killed when Robert Browns car ploughed into them (West Midlands Police/PA) The 53-year-old had been jailed for six months in November last year for possessing the red-handled machete on September 12 and had been let out on licence just six days before the collision. He had been convicted of the offence in his absence and the reason given for his lengthy sentence was a previous history of carrying offensive weapons. Before being handed six months in prison, Brown had been convicted of wounding in 2014 and common assault and theft from a shop in 2016. After the incident, the boys were taken to hospital with severe injuries, but Casper could not be revived and died a short time later. Corey was rushed into surgery, but also later died. Their mother was unhurt. Robert Brown and Gwendoline Harrison (West Midlands Police/PA) At Warwick Crown Court, he remained calm in the dock as he entered his guilty pleas despite twice shouting This is a f****** kangaroo court and calling the chairman of the bench a f****** prick during his magistrates court appearance. Brown, of Attwood Crescent in Wyken, Coventry, remained emotionless as he admitted all charges including two counts of death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance and using a motor vehicle without a licence. His co-accused, Gwendoline Harrison, 42, who was the passenger in the car, later admitted a charge of assault intending to resist arrest after she hit a member of the public as the pair tried to flee the scene. On Monday Harrisons birthday the prosecution said they would offer no evidence on Harrisons second alleged offence of perverting the course of justice. At a previous hearing, a court heard that part of Browns release conditions was not to contact Harrison, of Triumph Close, also in Wyken, while on licence. Robert Brown and Gwendoline Harrison appeared at Warwick Crown Court (Joe Giddens/PA) Adjourning sentencing until April 27, Judge Anthony Potter told Brown: Im satisfied theres good reason for adjournment in your case. In the meantime you will be remanded into custody. Tyrone Smith QC, defending, said the presiding sentencing judge would need to watch troubling CCTV footage before they passed sentence. He said: The mitigation I am likely to put forward is the plea. The victims mother, Louise Platt-May, paid tribute to her sons after the collision, describing them as amazing and cheeky boys who will be deeply missed. She said: Casper was a cheeky little boy, always getting into trouble and driving his brothers crazy. But he was so loving and caring and constantly told his family how much he loved them. Corey was an amazing boy. He never kept still, always had to be doing something and coming up with new ideas of things to do. European human rights judges have been asked to analyse the case of a 22-month-old boy at the centre of a high-profile life-support treatment battle in Englands courts. Alfie Evans parents want judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, to intervene after running out of legal options in the UK. Tom Evans and Kate James, who are in their 20s and from Liverpool, have made an application to the ECHR after losing fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Kate James and Tom Evans (Philip Toscano/PA) A High Court judge ruled that doctors at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool could stop treating Alfie, against the wishes of his parents. That decision was upheld by Court of Appeal judges and Supreme Court justices. An ECHR spokesman said on Monday that lawyers representing Alfies parents had written asking judges to stay the withdrawal of treatment, as an interim measure, and to analyse arguments. He said judges were considering the couples requests and no decisions had been made. A pregnant woman ate nothing but Smash for three weeks after she was sacked from her job without being paid her outstanding wages, an MP has claimed. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey said the Government will not stand by any bad employer, as she urged Labours Helen Goodman to provide more details about the case. Bishop Auckland MP Ms Goodman, speaking at Work and Pensions questions, said: Whats the minister going to do about employers like the one in my constituency, who sacked a lot of young people without paying the wages they were owed, so that one of them, a pregnant woman, ate nothing but Smash for three weeks? A woman was forced to survive on mashed potato after being sacked, an MP claimed (PA) Ms McVey replied: I think the best thing she could do is give us the name of that employer to see what he has done and what is he doing, because this Government will not stand by any bad employer. We want to help workers and make employers do the right thing. The URS Labs team has returned to the United Arab Emirates this week, after being selected to participate in a weeklong boot camp at the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Innovation Accelerator. The boot camp culminated in a live pitch night at the Google offices in Munich, Germany where URS labs outlined how they plan to help solve hunger using the Made in the UAE unmanned logistics solutions. URS Labs was selected to participate in a weeklong boot camp at the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Innovation Accelerator. (Picture source URS) Mr. Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of WFP's Innovation Accelerator, thanked URS Laboratories for their participation in the recent Innovation boot camp. "It was great to have URS Labs participate in our innovation boot camp and pitch their tech solution to a wide range of investors and partners in the social impact spacer. We look forward to exploring avenues of collaboration for the future." The URS Labs CEO, Mr. Matthew Cochran, will be briefing UAE Government partners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this week to discuss his company's participation and experience with both WFP and Google Developers Launchpad and what comes next for URS unmanned logistics initiatives globally. Mr. Cochran has been very positive about his company's participation at the boot camp by stating, "URS Labs is honored to have been selected to be a part of this important project and we are very thankful to Mr. Bernhard Kowatsch, the Head of Innovation Accelerator at United Nations World Food Program and his amazing WFP team." UN World Food Program (WFP) Innovation Boot Camps are often the first stop on the journey for many projects and start-ups. Over the course of five days, innovation and humanitarian experts help teams deep dive challenges, ideate solutions and refine project plans. Boot Camps combine innovation techniques such as human centered design with WFP's deep field knowledge and operational excellence. URS Labs pitched to an audience of donors, partners and Accelerator management at the Google offices in Munich on March 8th. Mr. Cochran said, "URS is committed to continuing to work with both the WFP and Google Developers Launchpad mentor teams we have meet in Munich this month to secure funding, hands-on support and access to WFP's extensive field operations to provide URS unmanned logistics to achieve the zero hunger campaign WFP has targeted." Detectives have released a CCTV still of a man suspected of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. The schoolgirl was waiting for a bus at around 4.20pm on January 11 on Alder Grove in Dollis Hill, north west London, when a man started a conversation with her. She got on a route 182 bus going towards Bannister Playing Fields and he followed, sitting near her on the lower deck and trying to speak to her. Police are appealing for anyone who recognises this man to contact them (Met Police/PA) Worried, she got off the bus at the next stop in Brook Road but her attacker followed, grabbed her and sexually assaulted her. She screamed and struggled and managed to outrun the predator even though he chased her. Detective Constable Chris Tester of the Metropolitan Police said: The young victim is very shaken by this incident and I would appeal to the public to help us identify the man responsible. Thankfully incidents of this nature are rare, but when they do happen it is understandable that there are concerns. Following the incident, extra patrols have been carried out in the area and the public are asked to report any concerns. The suspect is a bald, black man with scars under both eyes. He is more than 6ft, was wearing a gold or yellow jacket and black trousers, and was carrying shopping bags. He spoke with an African accent. Anyone with information can tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 5218/11JAN18 or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Western nations have banded together to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats they accused of being spies, punishing Moscow for its alleged poisoning of an ex-intelligence officer in Britain. President Donald Trump, under constant political heat for his reluctance to challenge Russia, ordered 60 of its diplomats out of the US all of them spies, the White House said. The US called it the largest expulsion of Russian spies in American history, and also closed Russias consulate in Seattle, deeming it a counterintelligence threat. The Russian Embassy in Washington (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) At least 21 countries have ousted more than 135 Russians, including 23 kicked out earlier by the UK. The American moves illustrated an increased willingness by Mr Trumps administration to push back on the Kremlin, even as the president steadfastly avoids challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin personally or directly. Less than a week ago, Mr Trump congratulated Mr Putin for his re-election but did not raise the March 4 spy poisoning, Russias alleged election-meddling in the US or its own tainted voting process, prompting a backlash even from Mr Trumps fellow Republicans. In a choreographed show of transatlantic unity, the US and European allies carefully timed their announcements for maximum effect. Today 14 EU Member States decided to expel Russian diplomats as direct follow-up to #EUCO discussion last week on #SalisburyAttack. Additional measures including further expulsions are not excluded in coming days, weeks. Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 26, 2018 Within a few hours, at least 16 European Union nations expelled Russians, with more likely to follow. Germany, Poland and France each said they planned to boot out four Russian diplomats, the Czech Republic and Lithuania ousted three and Italy two. Canada also took action, kicking out four Russians and denying three who had applied to enter the country. The list included nations in Russias back yard that have perhaps the most at stake. Ukraine, a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, was expelling 13 Russians. All three Baltic states said they would make diplomats leave. Almost all of the countries said publicly that those being expelled were Russians intelligence operatives working under diplomatic cover. Moscow threatened tit-for-tat retaliation, suggesting it would kick out an equal number of foreign diplomats. US administration ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle @GK_Seattle. What US Consulate General would you close in @Russia, if it was up to you to decide Russian Embassy in USA (@RusEmbUSA) March 26, 2018 Russias Embassy in Washington responded to the Seattle consulate closure by asking its Twitter followers to vote which US consulate should be closed in turn: St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg or Vladivostok. This is an attempt on the lives of Russian citizens on the territory of Great Britain, Russias Foreign Ministry said. It goes without saying that this unfriendly move by this group of countries will not go unnoticed. The duelling allegations added to a serious escalation of tension and distrust between Russia and the West, intensified most recently by a bizarre poisoning this month that evoked the spy rivalries of the Cold War. Britain has accused Moscow of using the Soviet-developed nerve agent Novichok to poison Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the UK, and his daughter Yulia on British soil. The two remain in critical condition and unconscious. The US, France and Germany have agreed it is highly likely Russia was responsible. Russia has denied responsibility, while accusing Britain of leading a global charge against it without proof. Bill Nighy has said he frequently considered quitting acting because he just hated it for years. The Bafta winner, 68, admitted he thought about giving up his television and film career on a weekly basis but stuck with it because he did not know what to do instead. He told Radio Times magazine: I thought of quitting, if not daily, then weekly. Bill Nighy (PA) I was so unhappy. I just hated it, for years. Its not unpleasant all the time, and you work with great people and I am proud of some of the things Ive done. You get a degree of satisfaction when its over, but the actual process is never satisfactory. Nighy said he kept going because he couldnt think of anything else to do. I flunked school not that that would prevent you from doing anything in life but I didnt have any other ideas, he said. I was deeply self-conscious, which you are supposed to be. Every actor is self conscious. The Love Actually star also avoids watching himself on television. He said: I tried that when I was young and less complicated to look at, and it was bloody awful. I was third bank robber in Softly, Softly (1976). I was staying in digs with some people they were all crowded in the front room, and then I came on TV. I walked out, it was so terrible. I had a phoney accent, which was just not committed enough, and my hair, obviously. Oh! Nighy said the scenes came back to haunt him during an appearance on Richard and Judy, when the presenters surprised him with a clip from the programme. So I was on TV, watching myself on TV, he said. It was horrible. If you wanted to find out the perfect way to wind me up, this was it. :: The Radio Times is out on Tuesday. Free speech at UK universities is being put at risk, MPs and peers have warned. A new report argues that free speech on campus is being hampered by factors such as intolerant attitudes and unacceptable behaviour, red tape and a lack of clear guidance. It warns that whole universities cannot be safe spaces and they must be places where unpopular and controversial ideas can be heard and debated. Free speech on university campuses is being inhibited by intolerant attitudes, bureaucracy and a lack of clear guidance, a report warns (David Cheskin/PA) The findings, published by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, come amid continuing debate about free speech at universities. There have been reports of speakers, debates, literature and organisations being opposed or criticised, often by student unions, societies or specific groups of students. In its report, the committee concludes that, in general, there is support for the idea of free speech among students, and a survey of student union officers found that most said restriction of free speech was not a problem at their institution. But it goes on to warn that, even though many concerns about free speech have come from a small number of incidents which have been widely publicised, any interference with free speech rights in universities is unacceptable. We are concerned that such interference as has been reported could be having a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of speech more widely, the committee says. The report notes that former universities minister Jo Johnson previously raised concerns about no-platforming and safe space policies being used to stifle discussion and cited student protests against events featuring speakers such as campaigners Peter Tatchell and Julie Bindel as examples of groups seeking to shut down debate rather than confront ideas. The report says there is evidence that safe space policies which aim to create an environment in which students can express themselves and are protected from harassment and discrimination may restrict the expression of groups with unpopular, but legal views, such as pro-life organisations. Universities must be places where open and uncensored debate (within the law) can take place so students can think for themselves and develop their own opinions on ideas which may be unpopular, controversial or provocative, the report says. However, the concept of safe spaces is either too broad or very vague and therefore we do not find it helpful. University is an environment where a range of opinions should be heard and explored. Minority views should not be barred from student union premises. The report also concludes: Student societies should not stop other student societies from holding their meetings. The right to protest does not extend to stopping events entirely. Intimidating people exercising their free speech rights is particularly deplorable when meetings are invaded by masked protesters seeking to intimidate. Masked protest, intimidatory filming or physical disruption is unacceptable and must be stopped. Law enforcement agencies should take action when appropriate. Where student groups or bodies are inhibiting free speech rights in this way, universities should take disciplinary action to protect the right to free speech, in line with their statutory duty. The report also calls for the Charity Commission, which regulates student unions as registered charities, to review its guidance, and that university codes of practice on freedom of speech should be clear, and help to enable debate, not restrict it. Committee chairwoman Harriet Harman said: Freedom of speech within the law should mean just that and it is vital in universities. Evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights showed that there is a problem of inhibition of free speech in universities. While media reporting has focused on students inhibiting free speech and in our report we urge universities to take action to prevent that free speech is also inhibited by university bureaucracy and restrictive guidance from the Charity Commission. Chris Hale, director of policy at Universities UK, said: Universities are absolutely committed to promoting and securing free speech and will not allow legitimate speech to be stifled. There is already a legal duty on the higher education sector to secure free speech within the law and universities have developed policies in this area. As the report states, there is little hard evidence of a systematic problem of free speech in universities. But, despite the thousands of events that go ahead across the sector without incident, a small number of flashpoints and challenges do arise from time to time. It is important that universities are well equipped to secure free speech within the law, while balancing this with other responsibilities such as the safety of students and staff. We will look at the advice of the committee in this area and how it can complement the already extensive experience of managing such events and policies universities have in place. Universities must continue to be places where difficult topics are discussed and where people, however controversial their views, should be allowed to speak within the law, and their views challenged openly. A spokesman for the Charity Commission said: We recognise the important role that students unions play in promoting or engaging in analysis, debates or discussions on controversial or sensitive issues. Our existing guidance is clear that charities can legitimately challenge traditional boundaries, encourage the free exchange of views and host speakers with a range of views. What we expect of student unions trustees as is expected of all charity trustees in accordance with charity law is that when carrying out activities, they consider and take reasonable steps to assess and manage any associated undue risks to their charity and people who come into contact with it. Only around one in eight firms are happy with their employees levels of engagement with their pension, an industry survey has found. Just 12% of firms said they are happy with current levels of employee engagement, according to the findings from the CBI and Aegon. Workers who were older, earning higher wages and who had been working for their company for a longer period were significantly more likely to be engaged with their pension than younger workers and lower earners, the research found. Firms recognised that improved employee engagement with pensions would benefit their business. More than half (55%) felt stronger engagement would improve their ability to retain or recruit staff or with planning. Paul Bucksey, managing director, Aegon workplace investing said: Pensions are a big financial commitment for employers but this investment often goes underappreciated. A workplace pension is part of an employee pay package. The challenge is for businesses to help their employees recognise this. The survey of businesses of all sizes found 92% of firms were contributing above the statutory minimum level requirement into workplace pensions under automatic enrolment. The current minimum contribution rate is 2%, comprising 1% from staff and 1% from their employers. From April 6, minimum contribution rates rise to a combined 5%, with a minimum of 2% from the employer and the remaining 3% from staff. In April 2019, the rate will increase again, to 8%, with a minimum of 3% from the employer, leaving a 5% minimum staff contribution. Nearly half of businesses (47%) felt that the pension freedoms, which give people more choice over how they use their pension pot, have led employees to become more engaged, the report found. But a big barrier to engagement, reported by more than half (59%) of firms, is employees diverting money away from their pensions due to other financial priorities, emphasising the need to support staff to manage saving alongside living costs and any debts they have, the report said. Firms also highlighted challenges around insufficient resources within their business to communicate with employees about pensions, as well as uncertainty about where to find high-quality advice for staff. Guy Opperman said many employers were already paying more than the minimum contribution rate Neil Carberry, CBI managing director, said: Businesses are contributing billions to their workers pensions each and every year, playing their part in a quiet pensions revolution with auto-enrolment having a growing influence over workplace saving. While many businesses rightly recognise the positive effect that their investment in pensions can have on recruiting and retaining staff, others need to open their eyes to grasp the opportunities in front of them. Engaging better with your workforce on pensions is not a nice-to-have but absolutely fundamental to the success of workplace pensions schemes and well-funded retirements for workers. Although many firms do a great job, theres an awful lot more that can be done to get staff engaged in their financial futures and to gain a better grasp of retirement planning. Many younger workers, those on lower incomes and employees who have been at a business for a short period are not getting the support they need to get to grips with issues that will help determine a successful path to when they retire. The research included a survey of 189 firms, from small to large businesses, as well as further in-depth interviews with businesses from a range of sizes and sectors. The report highlighted key steps that can help employee engagement: 1. Educating staff about the benefits of saving through workplace pensions and wider financial education. 2. Use simpler language and minimise jargon in pension communications. 3. If used appropriately, technology can be a valuable aid to communication and engagement. 4. Individualising pension communications as far as possible. Minister for pensions and financial inclusion, Guy Opperman, said: Employers across the country have helped to reverse two decades of declining pensions saving through automatic enrolment and many are already paying more than the minimum contribution rate, demonstrating their commitment to their employees futures. They should be proud of what they offer their staff and make the most of it when it comes to recruiting and retaining employees. Green MSPs are to hold a vote in Holyrood in a bid to get the Scottish Government to scrap the outdated unfair council tax system. The SNP had promised to abolish the charge when it was first elected to power in 2007, with ministers forced to go back on this two years later as there was no consensus in Holyrood for the change. Since then the Scottish Government has made some reforms to the charge, which contributes towards council funds. With the SNP now forming a minority administration, Greens believe they can build on the work of the Commission for Local Tax Reform, which recommended axing the tax in 2015. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay insisted the Scottish Government was committed to making local taxation more progressive, adding he was open to further dialogue on options for local tax reform. The Greens have already told SNP ministers they want changes to be made to the council tax system if they are to support the Governments budget next year. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay (David Cheskin/PA) Andy Wightman, the partys local government spokesman, said at the moment the public are being penalised with an outdated, unfair system under which most households are paying the wrong amount. Speaking ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday he added: Successive Scottish Governments have ducked this issue but with a parliament of minorities, we have a chance to build on the agreement struck during the 2015 cross-party Commission on Local Tax Reform that the present council tax system must end. Pressure from the Greens resulted in the SNP making changes to income tax in Scotland, Mr Wightman argued, saying this had resulted in a shift toward a fairer system of income tax, with lower earners paying less and higher earners paying more. He demanded: We must see a shift in local tax so we have a fairer system that gives local authorities flexibility to raise the funds they need for local services. I hope other parties agree that after years of talking, its deeds not words that count, and we must see movement on this issue before the summer. But Scottish Conservative local government spokesman Alexander Stewart said: When the Greens call for a fairer tax system, we all know what that means. They want to punish hard workers across the country. Even those on modest salaries, or living in very normal homes in certain parts of the country, would be hammered if this went through. Taxpayers in Scotland will be hoping the Greens cosy relationship with the SNP, which has already seen two budgets go through, wont lead to these madcap changes too. Mr Mackay said: This Government remains committed to making local taxation more progressive and we have made clear that we are open to further dialogue on options for local tax reform. The Finance Secretary said ministers, together with the local government body Cosla, had launched a Local Governance Review, which will make sure communities have more say about how public services in their area are run. Mr Mackay continued: A transformation of local democracy can be best achieved by looking at how public services work with each other and inviting communities to identify the powers and resources they need to thrive. We have also made council tax fairer and included a 25% increase to the child allowance in the reforms that were introduced last year. The scheme was extended in April 2017 to provide relief for low to middle income households from the impact of the council tax reforms on properties in bands E-H. And we have invested over 1.4 billion in the council tax reduction scheme since 2013/14, assisting almost half a million households each year to meet their council tax. In addition, the Scottish Land Commission is researching land value tax in the wider context of land reform. But Scottish Labour finance spokesman James Kelly, said: The SNP came to power more than ten years ago promising to scrap the unfair council tax yet its successive governments have failed to do so. Scottish Labour has put forward proposals which would see the council tax abolished and a new property tax introduced which would make 80% of households better off. Broadcaster Lynn Bowles has said she never took offence at being called totty from Splotty on the radio, but that it would be different today. Bowles, 55, was given the nickname by the late Sir Terry Wogan when they worked together on his BBC Radio 2 morning show, as an affectionate nod to Splott in Cardiff, near where she was born. She told Radio Times magazine: It was just how we were on that show. It was entirely innocent. Lynn Bowles with Sir Terry Wogan (BBC) I took it in good part because I was very young in comparison to the fellows on there. It was dearly meant and they treated me like a younger sister. She said nowadays the nickname would have a different connotation, adding: But then it was just silliness. Earlier this month, Bowles announced live on Ken Bruces Radio 2 show that, after 18 years, she is leaving her role as traffic reporter. She said: Having done very early mornings for so long, Im just a bit tired. And Im fully aware that lots of people do really early mornings I get that because Im there on air with them. But one does not have an infinite life. I want to do other things. :: The Radio Times is out on Tuesday. Air pollution may be responsible for nearly 40% of childhood asthma cases in a northern city that was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution, a study has found. The new research puts Bradford on the map but not in a good way. International scientists used computer simulations to assess the impact of exposure to irritant gases called nitrogen oxides in the West Yorkshire city. Graphic charting the impact of air pollution. (Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health www.carteeh.org/PA) They found that up to 38% of all annual cases of childhood asthma in Bradford may be attributable to air pollution. Pollution from road vehicles alone was linked to 24% of cases. Dr Haneen Khreis, who led the research while working at the University of Leeds Institute for Transport Studies, said: Overall rates of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are higher than the national average as were emergency hospital admissions for asthmatic children under 16 years of age. Traffic-related air pollution is a real concern to the community. Our teams previous research has shown that children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution have a higher risk of developing asthma. Quantifying the number of childhood asthma cases that are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution has not been done in the past and as we show now, a significant portion of cases is largely preventable. The computer models in the study allowed the team to chart how much air pollution was present in the city and how much of it could be traced to road traffic. The findings, reported in the journal Environment International, shed light on the reasons why rates of childhood asthma have soared in the UK since the 1950s. Britain has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the world, with an estimated one in 11 children suffering from the lung condition. Around 5.4 million people in the UK are living with asthma, including 1.1 million children, according to the charity Asthma UK. In 2016, a total of 1,410 people in Britain died from asthma. Overall, asthma rates in the UK are thought to have plateaued since the 1990s. Professor John Wright, director of the Bradford Institute for Health Research, said: This important study adds to the overwhelming evidence that air pollution is harming our children. The good news is that we can all save lives by driving less and using cleaner fuels. Bradford was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, which saw the city become a textile boom town in the 19th century, largely thanks to easy access to coal for fuel. Major sources of air pollution in the Bradford area include traffic, industry, domestic and commercial heating, and to a lesser extent diesel trains and aircraft, said the researchers. Simon Bowens, from the environmental group Friends Of The Earth, said: Bradfords rates of childhood asthma are a chilling reminder that air pollution is a public health crisis, and it is our children that are bearing the brunt of it. Swift action is needed to clean up Bradfords air, with the wellbeing of residents depending on it. More than 5,000 Scots have waited longer than the target time to start cancer treatment in the last five years within the struggling NHS, a leading has charity said. Macmillan Cancer Support called for action after figures were published showing waiting times target for the disease had been missed again with the goal of having 95% of all people urgently referred beginning treatment within 62 days having not been achieved for the last five years. Analysis by the charity showed from the start of January 2013 to the end of December 2017 a total of 5,509 patients waited more than two months to start treatment. These included the latest NHS figures, which showed that in the last three months of 2017 87.1% of cancer patients began getting help within the target time down very slightly from the previous quarter. There were 3,394 people referred for treatment during the period, an increase of 4.3% on the same time in 2016. New statistics published today show that only 87.1% of patients were seen within the 62-day waiting time target. It's been five whole years since the target was last met. We're calling for action. pic.twitter.com/luKPW4Mhqf Macmillan in Scotland (@MacmillanScot) March 27, 2018 But the figures showed three out 10 urological cancer patients including people with kidney, bladder and prostate cancer waited more than two months to start treatment in October to December 2017. More than a fifth of cervical cancer patients waited longer than this, with the target met for 78.3% of women in this group. None of the 10 main types of cancer covered by the statistics achieved the goal of having 95% of patients start getting help within 62 days, the figures showed. Four regional health boards managed this, with the target met in NHS Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Lanarkshire and Orkney, while 10 areas failed to achieve it. Macmillan Cancer Supports national programme manager in Scotland, Gordon McLean, said: Its now five years since cancer waiting times were met. Thats five years of people who are waiting to start cancer treatment facing unnecessary stress and anxiety. The NHS failing to meet these targets is a clear sign that its struggling. NHS staff work extremely hard, but they cant make up for an outdated system. Gregor McNie, Cancer Research UKs head of external affairs in Scotland, said: Its very concerning that cancer waiting time targets continue to be missed. Its an unacceptable situation which causes a great deal of anxiety for people. These statistics tell us that cancer services in Scotland are struggling to cope as every year more people are referred for diagnostic tests. A plan of action is urgently needed and we hope the Scottish Governments on-going review of waiting times will soon publish some bold recommendations for the future. The NHS also narrowly failed to meet another cancer waiting time target, of having 95% of eligible patients start receiving treatment within 31 days of a decision being made on how best to care for them. This was achieved for 94.6% of patients in the last three months of 2017, the same as the previous quarter. Health Secretary Shona Robison (Andrew Milligan/PA) Health Secretary Shona Robison said: The Scottish Government is committed to beating cancer, investing more than 100 million in our cancer strategy which is focused on improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of those affected by the disease, including 5 million to improve cancer waiting times across Scotland. There are more urgent suspected cancer patients being treated than ever before, and our expert group is continuing to focus on driving forward cancer performance. In May, we will host an event bringing together cancer experts across Scotland to share best practice and learning and consider what other innovative approaches can be taken to drive up performance. And we are also pulling together a package of bold measures to tackle the root causes of cancer. Obesity is the second-biggest cause of preventable cancer, behind smoking. We have recently consulted on a package of bold measures which includes world leading proposals to restrict the promotion and advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, including bargain buy special offers on junk food. Scotland is also the first part of the UK to have set a target to eliminate smoking from society by 2034. We have already reached a record low in the numbers of teenagers smoking, and halved the number of children being exposed to second hand smoke. We want to go further, and next month the Scottish Government is launching a major campaign to encourage more smokers to stop. New Ambassador of Ireland to Armenia Michael Forbeswith residence in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofiaon Tuesday presented his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan. March 27, 2018, 16:44 Armenia President: Cooperation with Ireland within international organizations needs to be intensified STEPANAKERT, MARCH 27, ARTSAKHPRESS:Congratulating the ambassador on assuming office, the President wished him success in carrying out his diplomatic mission in Armenia, and expressed the hope that during his tenure, Ambassador Forbes will spare no effort to intensify the Armenian-Irish political discourse and expand bilateral cooperation, press office of the President informed. Also, he pointed to the avenues for the development of Armenia-Ireland relations, and added that their cooperation within international organizations needs to be intensified to a greater extent. Ambassador Michael Forbes, for his part, stressed that the avenues, which the President noted in terms of the development of cooperation, are among the priorities of his future activities, and that his objective is to promote bilateral relations and intensify political dialogue. The Irish diplomat likewise spoke with satisfaction regarding the two countries cooperation within international organizations, and highlighted that Armenian-Irish parliamentary ties and their collaboration within the framework of the European Union (EU)considering the partnership agreement which Armenia has signed with the EUalso can develop with success. A Lebanese man has been charged with murdering a maid from the Philippines whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in Kuwait, according to reports. The National News Agency reported that a south Lebanon prosecutor charged 40-year-old Nader Essam Assaf and that Assaf confessed to the crime. Assaf and his Syrian wife are suspects in the death of Joanna Demafelis. NNA said Assafs wife is still at large. Jessica Demafelis, the sister of Joanna Demafelis, hugs the coffin (Bullit Marquez/AP) The news agency said Assaf faces a possible death sentence and is expected to go on trial soon. Last month, the Philippine foreign secretary said the suspect was under arrest in Lebanon. The Queen has paid tribute to the Royal Navys largest operational warship at a decommissioning ceremony in Plymouth. HMS Ocean, or the Mighty O, as she is known throughout the fleet, has been sold to the Brazilian navy for 84 million. She most recently carried out humanitarian work in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in British overseas territories. The Queen arrives at HMNB Devonport and is met by Captain Robert Pedre, Commanding Officer, who will present Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord, and Commodore Ian Shipperly, the Naval Base Commander. pic.twitter.com/WyohI11qSc The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 27, 2018 The Queen the helicopter and amphibious assault crafts lady sponsor was greeted with a 21-gun salute as she arrived at Devonport Naval Base. She was guest of honour at the decommissioning ceremony, along with the head of the Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones, and more than 500 of the ships company and their families. The Queen inspected a parade of the ships company on the jetty before proceeding to the dais. We are gathered here in Plymouth today, in the midst of this citys rich maritime heritage, to say farewell to this unique and remarkable vessel, and to reflect on her considerable achievements, she said. The Queen delivers her speech at Devonport (Andrew Matthews/PA) Throughout her life, HMS Ocean has been at the forefront of global operations, bringing together the men and women of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force in their common purpose of defending our nations interests and spreading peace and prosperity across the world. It is a testament to the unique nature of this ship and her crew that her success on operations as an amphibious helicopter carrier, in Sierra Leone, Iraq and Libya, has been matched by her capacity to deliver vital humanitarian aid, from the very beginning of her career to her final deployment last autumn. With three generations of naval officers in my family, I recognise the significant demands that have been placed on all those who have served in the ship over the last two decades, as well as the contribution of their families and loved ones. The Queen with First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones and Captain Rob Pedre (Andrew Matthews/PA) As you all prepare to move on to new challenges I know that, like me, you will always treasure your memories of HMS Ocean. The Lord High Admiral, the Duke of Edinburgh, joins me in wishing you well in your future endeavours. The ship that replaces HMS Ocean, HMS Prince of Wales, is much larger and has greatly increased advanced capability. The Queen, wearing a coat and dress by Stewart Parvin, hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan and a diamond paisley brooch, observed a flypast of three Merlin helicopters, a Chinook, a Sea King and a Wildcat. The ceremony concluded with the Royal Navy White Ensign being symbolically hauled down from the ships main mast. Members of the parade removed their hats and gave three cheers for the Queen. The Ensign is lowered at the decommissioning ceremony (Andrew Matthews/PA) HMS Ocean, commissioned in 1998, officially leaves service with the Royal Navy this week after 20 years of service. Commander Nick Wood, the ships second-in-command, said: This is a sad day for us all. This is our home when we are away. But while we will miss HMS Ocean we mustnt let emotion cloud the bright future for the Royal Navy or stand in the way of progress. Firefighters say everyone has been accounted for after a blaze broke out on the eighth floor of a residential tower block in Leeds. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said a man, woman and child were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation following the fire in the block in Poplar Way, Bramley. A spokesman said six fire engines were initially sent to the scene after a call was received at 10.29am on Tuesday but this has now been scaled back. We have now scaled down to 2 fire engines at the incident in #Bramley @WYFRSFireInvest are working to investigate the cause pic.twitter.com/HvvYwYRVvH West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (@WYFRS) March 27, 2018 He said: A man, woman and child managed to get themselves out of the building and have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Their injuries are not believed to be serious. The incident is now being scaled back and crews continue to damp down. All persons are now accounted for. Smoke from the fire was visible across large parts of Leeds on Tuesday morning and witnesses said flames could be seen coming out of the window of the flat involved. Fire service incident commander Richard Gomersal told BBC Look North that all residents were evacuated from above the eighth floor but those living below were told to stay in their homes. He said: Every floor above the eighth floor we evacuated we made a systematic search, made sure everything was safe. Below the fire, we actually had a stay-put policy in place and made sure the message got out to people to stay in place. Everything was safe for the rest of the occupants. Leeds West Labour MP Rachel Reeves thanked the emergency services for their swift response (UK Parliament/PA) Leeds West Labour MP Rachel Reeves said in a statement: My thoughts go out to residents in Poplar Court after the very worrying fire reported earlier this morning. I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response in tackling the blaze and for ensuring the safety of local people living in the high-rise blocks and surrounding houses in Bramley. Whilst a full investigation into the circumstances of this fire must be carried out, I want to assure local residents that I am doing everything in my power to support them after this incident, and that I will continue to fight for improved fire safety in all high-rises. A fire chief has made a public apology for firefighters being delayed two hours before joining in the response to the Manchester Arena terror attack. Dawn Docx, the interim chief fire officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said she apologised unreservedly for the failures in the previous leadership of the service at the time of last Mays outrage. It is clear that our response fell far short of what the people of Greater Manchester can expect, she told a press conference following the publication of a report by Lord Bob Kerslake into the emergency response to the attack. I apologise unreservedly for that, Ms Docx said. There were clearly failures in leadership and poor decisions made. As a result firefighers themselves, desperate on the night to attend the incident, were let down by some of their senior colleagues. The fire service was left outside of the loop of the police and ambulance emergency response and firefighters, some who heard the bomb go off, and trained in first-aid and terror scenarios with specialist equipment, did not get permission to go to the scene, despite the nearest station being half a mile away. Strategic oversights by police commanders led to confusion with other 999 services over whether an active shooter was on the loose and poor communications between Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) meant the valuable assistance of fire crews was delayed by two hours and six minutes after the bombing, which left 22 dead and scores injured. Manchester Arena blast: key locations (PA Graphics) The 226-page report by Lord Bob Kerslake was commissioned by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and concluded the emergency response was overwhelmingly positive. But Lord Kerslake described the failure by fire chiefs as extraordinary and incredible. The then 155,000-a-year chief fire officer, Peter OReilly, has now retired, keeping his pension with no action taken against him. Ms Docx added: We are very much a learning organisation. We are not seeking to go down a discipline route. Andy Burnham said no one individual should bear all the responsibility for failures and no one should be scapegoated. He announced that a root and branch review of the policies, leadership and culture of GMFRS is now under way. The panel of experts who authored the report state they are not able to say whether earlier arrival of the fire service would have affected any casualtys survivability. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated his home-made device at 10.31pm on May 22 last year, in the foyer of Manchester Arena as 14,000 people streamed out at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. The police duty inspector in the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force control room declared Operation Plato, a pre-arranged plan when it is suspected a marauding armed terrorist may be on the loose and assumed wrongly that other agencies were aware. Armed police and 12 ambulances were on the scene within 20 minutes but there was a shortage of stretchers (Peter Byrne/PA) GMFRS and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) were only informed an hour and a half later and by then Operation Plato was effectively put on stand by as it emerged the attack was from a single suicide bomber and not the prelude to further armed attacks. Armed police and 12 ambulances were on the scene within 20 minutes but there was a shortage of stretchers to ferry the injured from the foyer to a casualty area on the station concourse. The senior fire officer on duty, a National Inter-Agency Liaison Officer, came to believe an active shooter scenario was still in play and stuck to rules which dictate keeping emergency responders 500 metres away from any suspected hot zone of danger from a potential armed terrorist. The fire service was brought to the point of paralysis to the immense frustration on the firefighters faces. Instead of rushing to the scene to help, fire crews and a Special Response Team, trained to deal with terrorist incidents, rendezvoused at fire station outside the city centre. It was fortuitous the NWAS were not informed otherwise they may have pulled out their paramedics and instead they stayed and lives were saved the report said. And while a joint Strategic Co-ordinating group of emergency response services and others gathered at GMP HQ in east Manchester, GMFRS chief fire officer Mr OReilly focused his senior officers at their own HQ in Salford, which played a key role in delaying the response further. Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Chris Patten has said he does not want Northern Ireland to go back to the days of shooting and maiming as he urged the Government to be very careful over how Brexit impacts on the border. The ex-EU commissioner made the call as he delivered a scathing assessment of how withdrawal will hit Britain if it leaves the customs union. Lord Patten, who chaired a commission into policing in Northern Ireland as part of the peace process, said: I feel emotionally very strongly about this. I think we did a really good job on the Good Friday Agreement. And I dont want to go back to the days when people were being shot and maimed. There is a simple answer to the Northern Ireland border question and to much else besides. Lets stay in the customs union. The comments came as Lord Patten traded jibes with arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who likened opponents of withdrawal to Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda, who spent 29 years in the jungle because he did not believe the war was over. (PA Graphics) It is a great sadness that he wanted democracy for the people of Hong Kong but rejects it for the people of the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, prominent pro-Europe Labour MP Chuka Umunna launched a strong attack on his front bench for parroting the Tories on immigration. He said: One of the things I cannot abide, and I find intensely irritating is, frankly, to hear the Labour front bench increasingly parrot what the Conservative front bench says about this issue immigration and Brexit and, increasingly, too many other issues. You need only look at the comments of Liam Foxs shadow, Barry Gardiner, in respect of the Brexit issue, and you do wonder where is the Opposition? A police inspector has been jailed for at least 19 years for the brutal killing of his detective constable wife. Darren McKie, 43, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday for the murder of wife Leanne, 39. The Greater Manchester Police officer had admitted the manslaughter of his wife, who was found in Poynton Lake, Cheshire, on September 29 last year, but was found guilty of her murder last Friday. Leanne McKie was murdered by her husband (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) Sentencing him to life imprisonment, judge Mr Justice Spencer said: You strangled her to death in the family home. It was a cruel killing. Then, abusing your knowledge with criminal investigations and abusing the public trust in you as a senior police officer, you set about disposing of your wifes body in a callous and despicable way. He added: You have robbed your children of their mother and have robbed Leannes parents of their beloved only child. Darren McKie killed his wife and dumped her body in a lake (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) McKie, wearing a navy blue suit, looked straight ahead and showed no emotion as he was sentenced. Families of both the defendant and Mrs McKie were in court for the hearing. Mr Justice Spencer said McKie and his wife appeared to have a perfect marriage and a perfect family. But he said, the spectre of serious and constant debt was in the background and the couple were living beyond their means. He said: Your combined monthly income was greatly exceeded by your monthly expenditure. Despite this you took an expensive family holiday in Portugal that summer, costing over 6,000. There was bound to be a day of reckoning. A wheelie bin which contained trainers with traces of blood from Leanne McKie (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) He said McKie resorted to subterfuge and fraud to hide the debts, said to be more than 115,000, from his wife. The court heard he forged his wifes signature and misused the police computer to obtain copies of her payslips for a loan application. When the documents were returned to the family home in Wilmslow and discovered by Mrs McKie on the morning of her death she sent a text message to her husband calling him a liar. Mr Justice Spencer said: At 11.32am you texted her that you were coming home. Within the hour you had killed her. Mrs McKies mother Ellen Dodd was in tears in court as the judge described the brutal killing. He said: She must have been aware that she was being strangled to death, in the family home, by the father of her children. It was an awful way to die. The red Mini belonging to Leanne McKie (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) The court heard McKie put his wifes body in the boot of her red Mini and drove it a short distance away, returning to the car later that night after putting their three children to bed and taking her body to Poynton Lake. He denied responsibility for her death during police interviews and when his trial started, changing his plea to admit her manslaughter nine days into the case. Mr Justice Spencer said: I am quite sure that you did so not out of remorse, but simply as a damage limitation exercise. In a statement read to the court, Mrs Dodd said: We are so sad that Leannes children have been left without a mother to look after them and watch them grow up. They love her so much and miss her. Nothing will bring our beautiful daughter back to us. Our lives will never be the same again. Trevor Burke QC, defending, said: Nothing I say in mitigation for Mr McKie can minimise the suffering of his family and his children. He added: On any view there was severe stress in the background of this entire sorry case. Morgan Stanley and Citi have announced median gender pay gaps of 35.2% and 30.1%, the latest in a string of banks to reveal such figures. Both lenders said the imbalance was caused by the high number of men in senior roles, in the top pay quartile, 80.7% of Morgan Stanley UK Group employees are male. They joined Bank of America and Credit Suisse, who announced on Tuesday gender pay gaps of 30.5% and 28.9% respectively. File photo dated 14/7/2010 of the CITI bank building in Londons Docklands as the US banking giant plans to keep the vast majority of its 9,000 strong workforce in the UK, regardless of how Brexit talks pan out. In a memo sent to UK staff, seen by the Press Association, chief financial officer at Credit Suisse David Mathers told employees: As a bank, we believe that the public reporting of gender pay gaps is an important step in understanding and tackling gender equality issues. At the same time, we are conscious that in order to close that gap we need to have more women in more senior roles. The companys median gender pay gap is down on the previous year, when it was 31.9%. With little more than a week to go until the deadline for companies to submit their data to the Government Equalities Office, other investment banks to publish their median gender pay gap figures include Goldman Sachs International (36.4%), UBS (25.0%) and JP Morgan Chase Bank (23.0%). The gender pay gap is calculated as the difference between the average salaries of men and women, it is not the same as equal pay, where firms are required to pay people doing the same job the same salary regardless of gender. By April 4 companies and public bodies with 250 employees or more are required to have submitted their median and mean gender pay gap figures to the Government. The national median gender pay gap is 18.4%. An estimated 9,000 employers are expected to have to submit such data, with those who miss the deadline potentially facing legal action. The lives of a mother and her unborn son were saved in the first operation of its kind in the UK. Polly Marshall, 38, was admitted to St Georges Hospital in Tooting, south London after suffering severe abdominal pain during her pregnancy. Doctors discovered a large swelling in the uterine artery supplying blood to her baby, which would have had devastating consequences if it had burst. Ms Marshall, who was 29 weeks pregnant, underwent an emergency operation to close off the swelling known as a pseudoaneurysm in June. Polly Marshall with husband Mat Fearon and baby Gus (/PA) She was able to give birth to son Gus by cesarean section on September 5. The operation had never been carried out on a pregnant woman in the UK and there is only one other documented case in France, St Georges Hospital said. Dr Kevin Hayes, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who led the team which diagnosed the condition, said it was extremely rare for women to develop pseudoaneurysms while pregnant. He said: Detailed scans showed that the swelling in Pollys artery was 5cm in diameter and also getting bigger. Blood flow through this artery is particularly strong during pregnancy, so we knew doing nothing was not an option. Medics inserted a fine tube into a pin-size hole in Ms Marshalls groin to reach the aneurysm. Metal coils were then inserted into the artery supplying the swelling to stop the blood flow. Professor Anna-Maria Belli, a consultant interventional radiologist who carried out the procedure, said: The fact she was able to undergo the procedure and carry her baby to term is a fantastic achievement and has positive implications for other women in her position. Ms Marshall, from north west London, said it was amazing that she could carry Gus to full term. She said: I will always be grateful that the problem was identified so early. A case involving thousands of disgruntled motorists is gearing up at the High Court. Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda owners want compensation from Volkswagen in what could be the largest consumer action in UK legal history. More than 60,000 individuals are already represented by various law firms out of a total of 1.2 million potential claimants. At a preliminary hearing in London on Tuesday, Senior Master Fontaine was due to hear an application for a group litigation order to set a deadline for the claims and to appoint lead solicitors. After a day of out-of-court discussions, Oliver Campbell QC for the claimants represented by Slater and Gordon told the judge that a proposed order would be prepared for when the hearing resumes on Wednesday. Volkswagen Group admitted in September 2015 that 482,000 of its diesel vehicles in the US were fitted with defeat device software to switch engines to a cleaner mode when they were being tested for emissions. The company announced that 11 million vehicles were affected worldwide, including almost 1.2 million in the UK. It has agreed a settlement running into billions with the US authorities and owners of affected vehicles, but there have been no payouts in the UK. VW has said the instigation of legal proceedings in the UK is unfounded and it will robustly defend any litigation. Volkswagen says that the legal proceedings are unfounded (Gareth Fuller/PA) Earlier, there was a demonstration on the steps of the court by members of Greenpeace London groups. Campaigner Morten Thaysen said: So far VW has managed to evade any real consequences for lying to the public about harmful diesel emissions. That has to change. British towns and cities are in the midst of a public health crisis caused by toxic air. Colin Scott, 64, of Oban in Scotland, said: I feel that VW has totally betrayed my trust. The low level of emissions claimed by VW for my car were an important selling point when I bought my car. And by installing these cheat devices, VW has not only shown contempt for me and other customers, but also the environment and the air we all have to breathe. A Volkswagen spokesperson said: We intend to defend these claims robustly and are confident of a successful outcome. It has not been established that the relevant software is an illegal defeat device. We have made it clear that we do not anticipate that our UK customers have suffered any loss or financial detriment as a result of the NOx (nitrogen oxide) issue. In particular, we note that an adverse financial impact on the residual value of affected vehicles as a result of the NOx issue has not been identified. We have implemented the technical measures in over 840,000 vehicles in the UK and in over 6.4 million vehicles across Europe, and the overwhelming majority of customers with these vehicles are satisfied. Jurors in the rape trial of two Ireland rugby players have been released for the day. The eight men and three women spent more than two hours deliberating on Tuesday but did not return any verdicts. As she discharged the jury for the day, judge Patricia Smyth repeated warnings not to discuss the trial with anyone outside the 11-person panel. The judge said: Because of the critical state that you are at in the trial, I have to tell you in particular that you may not speak to anyone about this trial. Do not let anyone speak to you. Do not look at the press. Do not look at social media. Do not look at Twitter. Closing speeches by prosecution and defence legal teams concluded last week. Earlier Judge Smyth spent more than an hour issuing legal direction to the jury. She instructed them to consider the case for and against each defendant separately. They must also take into account all of the evidence, including testimony provided by the defendants which has to be assessed in the same way as any evidence, the judge said. Jurors were further advised that if evidence bears upon the case of another defendant that person may have an interest of their own. It is a matter for jurors to determine whether someone may have tailored his evidence accordingly. Ms Smyth added: It is entirely for you to decide. Blane McIlroy (Niall Carson/PA) Meanwhile the 11-person panel was instructed to determine whether inconsistencies in accounts from the defendants amounted to a lie. People lie for all sorts of reasons and the defendants are no different, said Ms Smyth. Reasons include panic or confusion, the court heard. Referencing text and WhatsApp exchanges, Ms Smyth told jurors to consider all of the messages that have been sent by all of the young people in the case. Consider all the possible innocent interpretations before you reach your final conclusion. She also told the jury they could decide what, if any, weight should be attached to good character evidence presented in respect of each defendant. Meanwhile, alcohol consumption must also be taken into account. Rory Harrison (Niall Carson/PA) Ms Smyth said: All defendants have told you that they were drunk on the evening of June 27, 2016. It is important that you do not leap to the conclusion that just because the defendants were drinking that they were prepared to engage in non-consensual sex. Throughout the hearing all four defendants, dressed in dark suits, shirts and ties sat side by side in the glass dock in the middle of the courtroom number 12, one of the biggest in the Laganside complex. The public gallery was also packed to capacity. Judge Smyth reminded jurors that it was for the prosecution to prove the defendants guilt. She added: The defence do not need to prove anything, in particular they do not have to prove their innocence. The jury would also have to decide on defence arguments that the complainant was motivated to make false allegations because she was petrified photographs showing her engaging in group sex would enter the public arena and thereafter she began a process from which there was no way back. The judge said: Thats for you to decide. The case has been adjourned until Wednesday. ABC/Image Group LAMiranda Lamberts fans not only turned out to see the passionate dog-lover on her Livin Like Hippies tour, they also showered no-kill shelters in 22 cities with dog food, supplies, toys, treats and cash. Its all part of the CMA Female Vocalist of the Years ongoing Fill the Little Red Wagon campaign, which takes its name from her top-five single from 2015. Its one of Mirandas passion projects, fueled by her MuttNation non-profit. My fans are passionate, Miranda says. They care about music and they care about animals. Without them, neither my music nor MuttNation could reach as many people or help as many dogs as we do. Its incredibly heartwarming to see the Little Red Wagon overflowing at each show and it makes me crazy happy to combine two of my biggest loves, music and mutts, every night, the Texas native adds. Miranda has eight rescue pups herself. She plans to roll out the red wagon again when she cranks up her Bandwagon Tour this summer with Little Big Town. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Bryan Kramer STAFF REPORTER | PNG Today MADANG - Member for Madang, Bryan Kramer, has stated on social media that he has officially tendered his resignation from the Pangu Party. "I submitted my formal resignation as a member of Pangu Pati pursuant to the party constitution, a party I formally joined as a strategic adviser back in 2015, Mr Kramer said. I would like to acknowledge the other members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build the machinery that underpinned Pangu's success following the 2017 general elections. My resignation follows the Registrar of Political Parties decision approving the name registration of Allegiance Party Inc, a party I now intend to lead in an effort to reshape the PNG's political landscape. Prof. Amarendra P. Behera, Joint Director of the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) of India visited Sri Lanka recently to participate in the South Asia Regional Symposium on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Education 2018. During his visit Prof. Behera spoke to the Daily Mirror on the growing importance of ICT and expressed Indias willingness to assist Sri Lanka in its endeavours to utilize ICT in the field of education. The excerpts: Q What is the role of technology in the education sector? Technology has a great role to play in education, starting from the teaching-learning process itself. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can unburden children from the heavy curriculum and make the teaching-learning experience more interactive, more enduring, and more experiential. I cant see how a bud blossoms into a flower with my naked eye. But if we video every fraction of a second then we can show the child how it happens. Environmentalists campaigning for a sustainable environment object to the dissection of frogs. In that case children need to know how to do it. So they can watch and learn through virtual dissection. Training teachers is also a challenge. We can train teachers using ICT. We can have a cumulative assessment of children and store the results. So data gathering, data storing, data retrieval becomes easy and instant. If a child is comparatively a slow learner the teacher can give some special classes, some special resources for the child. For instance, if I am a blind child, I cannot read a book. It has to be either in Braille or someone has to read it to me. So I can design talking books for visually impaired children. Q To what extent has ICT been used in the education sector in India? In India there are two important schemes running in the school education sector. One is the CAL programme which is a computer assisted learning programme. As part of that programme 50 lakhs(INR) is spent on each district annually to provide ICT in schools. Similarly, we have the ICT @ Schools Schemes for secondary and senior secondary schools. This was launched in 2004. As part of that scheme each school should have a computer lab with a minimum of 10 computers, 2 MB/S internet connectivity, and training is provided to the teachers. Almost 50% of schools in India are covered by this scheme. The government of India has also created digital content through many agencies. Children can access the digital content through web portals, mobile apps, tablets, laptops etc. The child should also develop creativity so that the child can approach the content in multiple ways India is happy to provide any support to develop educational portal to facilitate the teaching-learning process in Sri Lanka Q Have any surveys been carried out to assess whether there has been an improvement in the competence of students after introducing ICT? Many surveys have been done and the result has been a mixed one. Infrastructure is provided, but the availability of internet is a challenge due to power cuts. If the connection is 2Mbps, downloading content becomes problematic. Q Recently a program to provide A/L students with tabs was suspended in Sri Lanka. In a country like Sri Lanka- a developing country like India- where we talk of the lack of basic facilities in rural schools, do you think a program of this nature could actually benefit students? ICT is a reality and it is going to stay for many years. Children need to master the 21st century skills. The child should have full blown language skills, be it Sinhala, Tamil or any other language. The child should also develop critical thinking. He or she must question everything. The child should also develop creativity so that the child can approach the content in multiple ways. When we talk of creativity we speak of fluency, flexibility and originality. If the child has done a project on tsunami using ICT or watched 20 to 30 videos on it, and one day the child sees a change in tide, he or she can predict that a tsunami is on its way. The child can then warn others. That way children save many lives. So we have to develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills which are 21st century skills. ICT is required to develop these skills. Developing critical thinking, for instance, means you need to gather information on many things. Q Do you suggest that each student should have a tab? Ideally, every child in a class should have a laptop or tab. Tabs are now not very costly. Q The TAB programme in Sri Lanka is also said to cost around Rs. 4 billion and that was one of the reasons as to why the programme was suspended. What are the cost-effective methods by which ICT can be incorporated into the education system? We advocate for each child to have a tab so that it will be a personalized learning experience for the child. Under the ICT @ schools scheme funds are provided by the Government of India to all the states. Implementation of all the parameters of any project is vested with the states. Some are prompt in implementation and some take more time for implementation. It is the prerogative of the state to decide on the gadget. The Government of India has an open plan. States can provide laptops, desktops and tablets. For instance, suppose there are some remote schools. They might say it is difficult to maintain tabs. So they can opt for desktops. Q So the government has to provide financial support and also have to fulfil basic necessities in schools. How do you strike a balance here because sometimes the best schools would get all the resources while rural schools, for instance, would be left behind? Whenever the government plans something, it is for all the schools because equity, equality and quality are equally important to the Government. So its not a case of the best school or worst school. Whenever the Government plans it provides basic amenities to all the schools. Q In practice do rural schools also benefit from this programme? In practice it depends on the promptness of the system - how quickly they do it. Suppose it is a remote school. It will be difficult to find a supplier who can provide infrastructure and maintain them. So it is not a problem of the school or the government. It is a problem in the system. Q How could India assist Sri Lanka in revolutionizing the education sector with the use of technology? Sri Lanka is a SAARC country. It is a close neighbour of India. We would be happy to provide any support related to developing an educational portal to facilitate the teaching-learning process in Sri Lanka. We can help in digitizing text books in Sri Lanka. The National Institute of Education (NIE) in Sri Lanka is the agency to develop the syllabi and textbooks. We can help them. If the Government of Sri Lanka requests support we would be happy to support. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi President Maithripala Sirisena said the education authorities had informed him that 10% to 12% of the 350,000 teacher population in the national education system did not have the ability or experience to teach a single subject or even to train students at least in extracurricular activities. He said the government incurred a massive amount of funds for free health, free education, subsidies and other welfare facilities and the time was right to review these services to make them more people-oriented. The President said this at the 35th Annual General Meeting of the of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SLASA) at the Nelum Pokuna Performing Arts Theater yesterday. I had a long discussion with education authorities yesterday to sort out problems in the national education system. These officials told me that there are 4.2 million people and 350,000 teachers in the national education system. They also told me that 12% of the teachers do not have experience or skills to teach a single subject or train students in extracurricular activities. There is no doubt that this is going to be a pressing issue in the free education system, he said. The President requested public officials not to be upset by the political theatrics enacted in Sri Lankas body politic. The entire world at the moment is entangled with many problems. They may be of religious, social, economical or terrorism. We hear more often than not about incidents of gun violence in the US. Free use of guns is common in the US. We hear shooting on innocent people, school students and pedestrians dastardly killing of many innocent people and students. That is what US is where so-called five-star democracy is reigned," he said. The public expect an efficient, clean and unblemished service from you and deliver them to the utmost satisfaction of the people is of paramount importance under whatever drawbacks you confront in the way." The keynote address was delivered by Finance Ministry Secretary R.H.S. Samaratunga while the welcome address was delivered bySLASA President Ranjith Ariyaratne. (Sandun A Jayasekera) A deal has been sealed to sell some of the key EAP Group assets to a Singapore-based investment holding company, with Sri Lankas Central Bank giving the green light to proceed with the deal, Mirror Business learns. The assets that will be sold under the US $ 75 million deal would be Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC, EAP Films and Theatres Private Limited, EAP Broadcasting Company Limited and Swarnamahal Jewellers. The sources familiar with the deal however said only 45 percent of EAP Broadcasting Company, which houses a TV station and several radio stations, would be sold, as the regulations only allow foreigners to hold up to 45 percent ownership in media companies. They further said EAP Group is likely to receive an advance payment running into several million US dollars today and the deal may be completed by end-April. The deal will be carried out in two tranches and the first tranche would amount to US $ 43 million. All attempts to obtain a comment from the Central Bank over the developments proved unsuccessful. An email query sent to Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy yesterday went unanswered. Despite various speculations and rumours about the source of the funds, the Singaporean monetary authority is said to have cleared the investments. Earlier newspaper reports suggested that the real investors behind the deal were the UK-based Lyca Group, owned by Sri Lankan-born entrepreneur Allirajah Subaskaran. The Central Bank in January placed troubled ETI Finance and Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC of ETI Group under a three-member expert panel to bring the two illiquid, mismanaged, non-banking financial institutions into liquidity within six months, mainly through the sale of assets within ETI Group. The panel consists of former Central Bank Assistant Governor Sepala Ratnayake, former Bank of Ceylon Senior Deputy General Manager P.A. Lionel and former Bank of Ceylon Assistant General Manager H.M. Thilakarathne. According to the Central Bank, ETI Finance, which has an asset base of Rs.33 billion, has 33,000 depositors with Rs.33.5 billion in deposits, while Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC, with an asset base of Rs.2.5 billion, has 2,300 depositors, with Rs.2.4 billion in deposits. (Indika Sakalasooriya) The DIG had instructed Sugathapala to remove the pages of the GCIB where he had entered the notes When Sugathapala showed his disapproval, DIG Nanayakkara had warned Sugathapala and revealed that he was following a directive DIG Nanayakkara told him that the IGP had wanted to destroy the evidence leading to Wickrematunges murder Nanayakkara had further asked Sugathapala whether he would like to be killed if the IGPs orders are not implemented According to Adikari, he and Sugathapala had become helpless and the pages of the GCIB had been removed Meanwhile the first suspect in Wickrematunge murder case, military intelligence officer Premananada Udalagama, who is on bail for abducting Wickrematunges driverone of the witnesses in the murder case- had been later posted to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Germany by the then Defence Ministry officials Udalagama was given a separate apartment in Germany and all his food and lodging was paid for by the Government of Sri Lanka The B report further reveals how two Tamil youths had been stopped in Vavuniya by those who came in a jeep and taken away. Their blue coloured motorcycle had been taken away by some of them who were involved in the abduction The CID had received information regarding two unidentified charred bodies found from Gambirisgaswewa, north of Anuradhapura on January 19, 2009- the day after the abduction had taken place The unfolding evidence the Criminal Investigation Department is now gathering reveals how the former Head of Sri Lanka Police is alleged to have had in his possession the most vital evidence which was destroyed to thwart the investigations conducted into the brutal murder of former Editor of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge. Despite destroying the vital evidence to botch the investigations allegedly carried out on the directives of the then Inspector General of Police (IGP), the timely action reportedly taken secretly by the former Crime OIC Mt. Lavinia SI, Tissasiri Sugathapala to photocopy and preserve the evidence has helped the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to obtain concrete proof into who was behind The Sunday Leader Editors assassination. Meanwhile the CID told the court that there was no necessity for the former Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital Kalubowila, Dr. K. Sunil Kumara to issue a misleading autopsy report claiming that the cause of death was due to cranio cerebral injuries following a discharge of a firearm unless pressure was mounted on him to release the report to hoodwink the investigators. Upon receiving the information from Balrajs wife, a CID team in 2016 had made inquiries from all police stations in and around Vavuniya to obtain details of the missing Tamil youths Although Dr. Kumaras postmortem report says as such, Prof. Mohan Silva, who performed the emergency operation on Lasantha Wickrematunge soon after he was brought to the hospital, says in the report that there was no trace of gunshot injuries. So was the Government Analysts finding as well. Colombo Chief JMO Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, who headed a three member JMO team, too confirmed in his autopsy report of 2017 that the death was caused as a result of multiple stab injuries to the deceaseds skull. B REPORT Meanwhile the B report submitted to court by the CID states how the details of the telephone conversation which features former Kalubowila JMO shows that he was in touch with the third suspect, DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara, to conceal evidence of the Wickrematunge murder. According to the details of the call, the DIG had been constantly in touch with Dr. K. Kumara from the time Wickrematunge was pronounced death and also after the CID began the investigation, following the fall of the Rajapaksa regime. The Supreme Court in February issued an interim Order preventing the arrest of former IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne, who was the Head of Sri Lanka Police at the time the murder took place, until a final determination is made in connection with the Fundamental Rights petition filed by Wickramaratne to prevent his imminent arrest. Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge was murdered on January 8, 2009 in Attidiya in the high security zone in close proximity to the Ratmalana Airforce Base. According to the respective B Report submitted to court by the CID, from the time the attack took place, the Sri Lanka Police had allegedly adopted methods to conceal evidence. However, former OIC Crime Mt. Lavinia had taken photocopies of Wickrematunges notebook and other vital documents before handing over the originals to the DIG Western Province (South) which had helped the CID to conduct further investigations. According to the statements made by the former SSP Mt. Lavinia Adikari Appuhamilage Hemantha Harischandra Appuhamy alias Hemantha Adikari and the then OIC Crimes SI, Tissasiri Sugathapala (second suspect), it was on the directives of the then IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne through DIG Mirihana, Vitharana Arachchige Sirimevan Prasanna Nanayakkara (third suspect), that evidence had been concealed or destroyed to botch the investigation. Sugathapala had further stated how he got Vishwakala Printers at Pirivena Road, Mt. Lavinia to bind the GCIB in question, inserting new pages in place of the removed ones Wickrematunge, was a vocal critic of abuse of power and corruption of the former regime and was subjected to intimidation on several occasions before he was killed in 2009 in broad daylight. The Sunday Leader newspaper was once sealed and it was also subject to continuous bomb attacks during which the attackers targeted their Ratmalana press. These attacks were carried out to stop Wickrematunge from exposing nepotism, corruption and abuse of power in the country. It was not a secret that The Sunday Leader under Wickrematunge posed the biggest threat for the Rajapaksa regime. Wickrematunge did not leave any stone unturned to expose corruption and fraud that took place in the Rajapaksa administration one after another with substantial proofs. Not even three weeks after slaying Wickrematunge, the then Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella at a media briefing, held on January 28, 2009, said that the Government was aware of the identities of Wickrematunges killers and President Mahinda Rajapaksa was anticipating to uncover some very important details by February 15, 2009. However, these very important details never came to light although Wickrematunges widow Sonali Samarasinghe Wickrematunge repeatedly made written requests to Rajapaksa and the then IGP to get an impartial investigation carried out to arrest the murderers and those who had given orders to assassinate her husband. AN ORDER FROM THE TOP Be that as it may, in his statement to the CID, Hemantha Adikari states as to how he instructed Crime OIC Mt. Lavinia, SI Sugathapala to conduct investigations on to the two motorcycle registration numbers which Wickrematunge had penned down on his notebook moments before he was killed. The Crime OIC had been quick enough to obtain the details of the owners of the two motor bicycles from the Department of Registration of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Adikari further states how DIG Nanayakkara reacted when the latter was informed of the new findings- details pertaining to the two registration numbers. Nanyakkara had instructed Adikari to come to his Mirihana office immediately with the Crime OIC together with Wickrematunges notebook and the police Grave Crime Information Book (GCIB) where the entries had been made by SI Sugathapala regarding the two registration numbers and the information regarding the owners of the said two motorcycles. The former SSP has further revealed how the DIG wanted SI Sugathapala to read out the note he (Sugathapala) had made in the GCIB and what Wickrematunge had written on the cover page of his note book. The DIG had then instructed Sugathapala to remove the pages of the GCIB where he had entered the notes, to which the latter had shown his disapproval. It was at that point that DIG Nanayakkara had warned Sugathapala and revealed that he was following a directive given by IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne. Nanayakkara had further asked Sugathapala whether he would like to be killed if the IGPs orders are not implemented. According to what the CID informed court, when Udalagama was under arrest, the former Chief of National Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence, Kapila Hendawithana, had once made a request to the then Foreign Ministry to purchase three tickets for Udalagamas wife and two children to visit Germany According to Adikari, he and Sugathapala had become helpless and the pages of the GCIB had been removed and handed over to Nanayakkara together with the victims notebook knowing well that the order had come from the top. Adikari has further stated how DIG Nanayakkara told him that the IGP had wanted to destroy the evidence leading to Wickrematunges murder and Sugathapala was asked not to conduct any investigation into the two motorcycle registration numbers Wickrematunge had noted down. Furthermore, Adikari in his statement to the CID had stated that although Nanayakkara had informed him of the information received by the IGP on January 26, on the motorcycle believed to be used by Wickrematunges assailants, it was later revealed that the police team headed by Sugathapala had looked out for professional drivers on the day before the IGP is said to have received the information. Upon the recovery of the motorcycle on January 27, 2009 the Mt. Lavinia Police had been able to trace its owner, Paravasivam Thiyagarajah from Vavuniya. A police team led by IP Lalith Weerasinghe has been dispatched to bring Thiyagarajah for questioning. Weerasinghe informed me that although the legal owner is Thiyagarajah, it had been sold to Balraj Ram Prakash in 2008. When this was reported to the DIG, instructions were given to arrest Thiyagarajah, obtain a detention order and bring him to Colombo for questioning. Although the DIG instructed to stop conducting further investigation into the registration numbers Wickrematunge had noted down, trying to question a Tamil over a motorcycle found in Attidiya canal was an attempt to implicate that the LTTE was behind the murder, Adikari states in his proclamation . Meanwhile, former Crime OIC Mt. Lavinia SI, Tissasiri Sugathapala in his statement to the CID states that he had to remove four pages from the GCIB and handed them over to the DIG together with Wickrematunges notebook on January 16, 2009. He had further stated as to how he got the pages of the GCIB and Wickrematunges notebook photocopied and kept them safely for future reference before handing over the originals to DIG Nanayakkara. Sugathapala had further stated how he got Vishwakala Printers at Pirivena Road, Mt. Lavinia to bind the GCIB in question, inserting new pages in place of the removed ones. Giving a statement, Senaka Ralalage Premasiri Samarawardane (PC 50345) had told the CID how two officers from the Presidential Security Division (PSD) had visited Attidiya in civil when the search operation was in progress to recover the motorcycle. He had further stated how he had accompanied Sugathapala to Nalaka Book Industries at Borupana Road, Ratmalana to find a notebook similar to that of Wickrematunges. In the statement, he has stated how he overheard Sugathapala saying over the phone that the two motorcycles used in the ambush had been the properties of the Sri Lanka Army. PAGES REMOVED The CID has also obtained statements from Athugal Pendige Priyantha Kumara (PC 63764), Henaka Ralalage Premasiri Samarawardhana (PC 50345), Dilanimangalika Gunawardena (WPC 2949), IP Lalith Weerasinghe, Welikalage Chandana Pushpa Kumara (Civil Defence Force) Bandula Seneviratne (PC 70423), SI Jayantha Adikaram, Kapila Janaka Kumara Rajapaksa (Sergeant 13578), Susantha Kumari Welagedara (WPC 2941) and Aruna Janaka Kumara de Alwis (PC 63794) who were attached to the Crimes Division Mt. Lavinia Police at the time of the murder. They have confirmed how few pages of the questionable GCIB had been removed and handed over them to DIG Nanayakkara together with Wickremathunges note book. They have also stated that although the victims notebook was handed over to the Crime OIC on January 16, it had not been returned to date. According to the B Reports, the motorcycle had been stolen in Vavuniya on January 18 by blindfolding and abducting Balraj Ram Prakash and Kumarasingham Vishnukumar whist they were travelling to Settikulam. The B report further reveals how these two Tamil youths had been stopped in Vavuniya by those who came in a jeep and taken away. Their blue coloured motorcycle had been taken away by some of them who were involved in the abduction. Upon receiving the information from Balrajs wife, a CID team in 2016 had made inquiries from all police stations in and around Vavuniya to obtain details of the missing Tamil youths. The CID had received information regarding two unidentified charred bodies found from Gambirisgaswewa, north of Anuradhapura on January 19, 2009- the day after the abduction had taken place. At the investigation, it had come to light that Dr. Ajith Jayasekera JMO Anuradhapura, who performed the postmortem on the two charred bodies, had found out that the two had died due to gunshot injuries caused to the back of their heads whilst their hands were tied. On October 10, 2016, the CID got the relatives of these two Tamil youths to identify the dead using the pictures of the charred bodies. The family members had identified the two deceased as their relatives. The B report reveals that it is now confirmed that there was a military involvement in the murder and they wanted to connect the matter with the LTTE after killing the two Tamils and bringing the motorcycle they were riding on to Attidiya. Meanwhile the first suspect in Wickrematunge murder case, military intelligence officer Premananada Udalagama, who is on bail for abducting Wickrematunges driver- one of the witnesses in the murder case- had been later posted to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Germany by the then Defence Ministry officials. Meanwhile, former Crime OIC Mt. Lavinia SI, Tissasiri Sugathapala in his statement to the CID states that he had to remove four pages from the GCIB and handed them over to the DIG together with Wickrematunges notebook Udalagama, who was in charge of former MP Karuna Ammans security at the time of his alleged involvement in abducting a witness, had been posted to Germany temporarily by creating a new post to provide security to a certain official by the then Defence Ministry officials. Although this particular official returned after his assignment overseas, Udalagama had remained in Germany for another two years. According to what the CID informed court, when Udalagama was under arrest, the former Chief of National Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence, Kapila Hendawithana, had once made a request to the then Foreign Ministry to purchase three tickets for Udalagamas wife and two children to visit Germany which request was declined by the Foreign Ministry. However under extraordinary circumstance, on the directives of a top official, the Foreign Ministry had purchased the air tickets for Udalagamas family since Udalagamas children were at home for the school vacation. It was revealed that Udalagama was given a separate apartment in Germany and all his food and lodging was paid for by the Government of Sri Lanka. The CID meanwhile had obtained permission of the court to record a statement from former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara and a further statement by former Crime OIC Tissasiri Sugathapala while they were in remand prison. The two are to be produced in Mt. Lavinia Magistrate Court on March 29. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) made a statement to the media yesterday expressing concern over Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayakes recommendations to cabinet that the ban on agrochemical Glyphosate be lifted. Secretary of the GMOA Dr Haritha Aluthge said attempts by current cabinet members to remove the ban were purely political and called on President Maithripala to have a proactive dialogue with the association, as well as environmentalists and economists, without making an impetuous decision about the ban. Dr Aluthge said the Government had a responsibility to uphold its election promise to ban Glyphosate and consideration ought to be taken of the potential environmental, health and economic damage caused by the herbicide. Whether the ban should remain has been a controversial Parliamentary topic in recent weeks, with UNPs Rural Economic Affairs Minister P. Harrison recently blaming the ban for the party's failure in the last Local Government Elections. Harrison said the elections were an indication that the Government was "compelled to provide the poisonous synthetic fertiliser". The Government issued a Gazette notification banning the popular herbicide on June 10 last year, which had the immediate effect of preventing its import and release. The ban was made under a directive of Minister Duminda Dissanayake. The sudden decision was widely criticised by various stakeholders, including the Planters Association of Ceylon, which complained that no viable alternative was given by the Government, causing the tea industry to lose over $100 million in the first 18 months following the introduction of the ban. The agricultural use of Glyphosate is contentious, with academics and researchers divided on whether the chemical had a direct link to the high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of an uncertain aietology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka. CKDu has killed over 20,000 people predominantly from agricultural regions in the last two decades and its direct cause is still unknown. The GMOA maintains that that Glyphosate is a causative factor in CKDu and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Sri Lanka, and the pesticide was controversially classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as likely to cause cancer in 2016. However, whether glyphosate has a link to CKDu is still unclear, with the World Health Organisation and Presidential Task Force for CKDu Prevention stating in a joint International Expert Consultation in 2016 that evidence of a link between Glyphosate and CKDu was inconclusive. Professor of Agriculture Buddhi Marambe from the University of Peradeniya said the decision to ban Glyphosate was made without proven scientific evidence of a causal link between it and CKDu, and highlighted that many problems had resulted from the absence of stakeholder consultation throughout the process. There is no proper alternative for weed control as such. Yield of important plants such as maize, have been significantly affected by the glyphosate ban, Professor Marambe said. When a proven technology is taken away, what is the alternative? There should be a cost-effective and environmentally viable alternative available, especially when it is widely used in different industries. We have to strike a balance in all these cases, he said. (Tilini Rajapaksa) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe chaired the District Secretaries Conference held in Colombo today. At the meeting, the district secretaries briefed the Premier on the progress of the development programs. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana WHY PRABHAKARAN WILL LOSE was the title of an article by me that was published in newspapers and websites (e.g. The Island, Asian Tribune) on October 17, 2004. That was over a year before Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed Secretary/Defence and Gen. Sarath Fonseka made Army commander. Note that the title did not read Why Prabhakaran can be defeated. It was more inflexibly definite: Why Prabhakaran will lose. I cannot think of anyone, local or foreign, who made that prediction and that early. That was a tough one to call. The prediction I am making now is far easier: Why this government will lose the next election. A more specific title would be Why the UNP will lose the next election. What makes this an infinitely easier prediction than the one I got right about Prabhakaran? It is the following headline in the Daily FT of Wednesday, March 21, 2018(which was echoed by News in Asia): 2017 SINKS TO SLOWEST ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 16 YEARS. The story went on to explain: The countrys economy in 2017 had grown by only 3.1%, the slowest rate in 16 years and lower than the 4.4% achieved in 2016, as per data released yesterday by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS). Can anyone show me a government that won an election when the economic growth rate plummeted on its watch? Certainly governments have won while an economy was not doing well, but NOT when the economy did much worse than under its immediate predecessor. Can anyone tell me a government anywhere on the planet under which the economy performed worse than it has done for over 15 years, and yet was re-elected? If the answer to either question is NO, then what rational analysis can project anything other than a crushing electoral demise of this government? The cherry on the cake is the magic figure 16. This is the lowest economic growth we have experienced in 16 years. So, what happened 16 years ago? Was there anything in common between the situations today and back then? Was there a common factor, a shared variable? Yes, there was. 16 years ago takes us back to 2002. If Ranil remains the PM and the SLFP remains with the UNP, then theres not even a basement floor above which the SLFP vote will stabilize at upcoming elections. Its 13% will vanish into the Mahinda vortex. April 4 is the SLFPs last exit ramp to survival and sustainability The single common factor was that back then too we had the same Prime Minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe! So, much for the mans economic punditry and wizardry! What we are seeing here is not a cyclical downturn in a specific quarter which will change for the better in the next quarter. No annual economic growth rate which has plunged to its lowest in 16 years can be restored to health -- at least to the economic growth level of the previous administration with which the electorate will instinctively compare it-- in the 20 months left of this governments term of office. That kind of turnaround is unknown anywhere in the world. Why has Ranil kept the UNP away from the nations helm for almost quarter century? Firstly, unlike his predecessors in the UNP and his counterparts in both wings of the SLFP, Ranil is not an organic leader but an accidental one; even an artificial implant. When I define him as disorganic or inorganic, my criticism isnt that he is not a nativist. My point is that he did not rise to the leadership through a political process of natural selection of political struggle and winning over the base. Nor did mass emotion play a part as in Mrs. Bandaranaikes succession. He became leader because Velupillai Prabhakaran serially decapitated the UNP, assassinating all other existing and possible leadersPremadasa, Ranjan, Lalith, Gamini and Ossieuntil leadership came to rest on Ranil. Curiously, Prabhakaran never once tried to have Ranil assassinated. Secondly, in a country in which contemporary history has been dominated by a thirty years of war which will structure our exceptionally long historical chronicle and shape consciousness for generations (especially of the vast majority, the Sinhalese) the UNP boss and PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe, played no heroic leadership role whatsoever. Indeed his role --the CFA, the calling off of the LRRP decapitation strike on Prabhakaran, the Millennium City affair, allowing the LTTE to return to Jaffna which had been liberated by the SLA, while the Sri Lankan State was banned from Tiger held areas-- is seen as that of a Chamberlain, Petain or Quisling, in contradistinction to Mahinda Rajapaksas Churchill. Ranils track record would make any opponent appear Churchillian! Thirdly, Mr. Wickremesinghe consistently fails to win for himself and his party the support of a majority of the overwhelmingly preponderant majority community (74% Sinhala, 70% Sinhala Buddhist) of the island. Fourthly, he has deleted the three economic models which have sustained the UNPs economic success since its inception: the agrarian-based welfarist model of the Senanayakes, the State-led and driven economic modernization model of JR Jayewardene and Ronnie de Mel, and the growth with equity populist model of Premadasa. Ranils economic model (to which Mangala Samaraweera has converted) of neoliberal globalism, comprising de-nationalisation, de-statisation and free-market fundamentalism, has ravaged economic growth and electoral popularity. A particularly insidious myth is that Ranil is needed for ethnic/ethno-religious reconciliation. The exact opposite is true. Sinhala extremism thrives on the profile and policies of the Prime Minister (and his allies Chandrika and Mangala). Without Ranil, and with a liberal-nationalist as PM instead, President Sirisena would be far better positioned to neutralize Sinhala-Buddhist extremism-- but with Ranil as hate symbol and target, militant majoritarianism grows exponentially. Those who decry the triumphalism of Sinhala nationalist discourse are guilty of unconscious hypocrisy of the most irresponsible sort, because such triumphalism thrives on the presence of its antipode, the personification of appeasement of terrorism, Western interference and domination. Without Ranil Wickremesinghe as opponent there will be no visible, provocative reminder of appeasement. Without a liberal globalist and anti-nationalist elitist as Establishment leader and opponent, the militant passions of majoritarian nationalism will not be fed. Without Ranil as party leader, and with a pragmatic populist at the helm, the UNP would re-brand, be a viable alternative for the Sinhala-Buddhist voter and a counterweight to Sinhala militancy -- which it is not and can never be under Ranil. Where does all this leave the moderate-centrist SLFP? It was savagely mauled by its voters for its collaboration with Ranil and is down to its lowest percentage vote ever, at the same election at which Mahindas breakaway SLPP-JO beat SWRDs winning percentage (36%) of 1956! If Ranil remains the PM and the SLFP remains with the UNP, then theres not even a basement floor above which the SLFP vote will stabilize at upcoming elections. Its 13% will vanish into the Mahinda vortex. April 4 is the SLFPs last exit ramp to survival and sustainability. All that said, the main questions we face on April 4 arent political, but moral and ethical ones. If we allow a Prime Minister to remain after so disgraceful a scandal as the Central Bank bond swindle, what kind of society and polity would we be? What kind of ethos would this society be revealed to have? What example of decency and accountability would be set across the board and down the generations? What kind of persons would each of us be if we didnt wish him to be removed, whosoever and from whichever party his successor as PM may turn out to be? From a moral and ethical point of view, what could be a worse practice and example than his continuation as PM? Due to the bond scam the government and state are enveloped in a crisis of legitimacy while the economy suffers a crisis of confidence. DOUMA AFP March 26, 2018-Talks over the fate of Douma, the final rebel-held zone in Syrias Eastern Ghouta, have stalled over divisions within the Islamist faction that holds the area, a monitor said Monday. Battered by a five-week regime offensive, two major rebel factions have agreed in recent days to leave other pockets of Ghouta for opposition-held territory in the countrys northwest after talks with Russia. Negotiations are now underway with Islamist group Jaish al-Islam, which controls Ghoutas largest town, Douma. Heavy fighting and strikes on the town have largely subsided, but talks have yet to bear fruit. Negotiations are ongoing, but theyve been delayed by internal differences in the rebel group, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. Senior DIG in-charge of the FCID, Ravi Waidyalankara today rejected reports that former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga had been arrested in Dubai. Media reports quoting Senior DIG Waidyalankara earlier said that authorities in Dubai had arrested Weeratunga on Monday morning based on the investigations and submissions made by the FCID. However, when Daily Mirror contacted Senior DIG Waidyalankara, he dismissed the report of Udayanga being arrested and concluded that he had not made such a statement to the media. I think, if they could be lined up, there might be hundreds, if not thousands, of such positive stories that PNG Attitude could report. These stories are positive in that they refer to good things happening, but bad in that they highlight the PNG governments indifference and inadequacy. There have, in fact, been a few heart-warming stories in PNG Attitude lately but they all seem to relate to dedicated and selfless outsiders coming into the country to provide much-needed help where the government has failed. Daniel Kumbon has countered by saying there are so many bad things happening there's no space to report the good stuff. TUMBY BAY - Paul Oates, in a comment on this blog, has suggested we need to see some good stories coming out of Papua New Guinea for a change. And then there are the good news stories that the government and its spin doctors hawk. Included in these are APEC and various infrastructure projects happening in Port Moresby. Of course, these stories have another side, a downside, usually related to massive loans that will never be paid off or obscene profits garnisheed by unscrupulous business people and politicians. That the good news stuff seems to be coming from outside sources seems to indicate that Papua New Guinea is rapidly becoming a mendicant state. A state is mendicant when it relies on other countries for charity. The word was originally coined to describe certain religious orders dependent upon others for their existence but it is now applied more broadly to include secular institutions including nation states. To suggest that Papua New Guinea might be becoming mendicant is really playing down the problem. When you think about it, what becomes clear is that it has always been a mendicant state, prior to independence and ever since. It has always relied on outside support to survive. There are a couple of Australian states that occasionally are labelled as mendicant, notably Tasmania and my own state of South Australia. Both take more money from the national tax kitty than they give back. They do this because they havent got the population or resources to keep pace with the rest of Australia. Where PNG differs from South Australia and Tasmania is that it actually has both the population and resources to support itself and its citizens well. Papua New Guinea is a resource-rich nation where everyone should be enjoying the rewards. But thats not the case. Like a spoiled brat, it takes everything it can get, wastes it on fripperies and then cries out for more. All those dedicated and selfless people from outside are, in fact, supporting a spoiled child that should be able to take care of itself. What it needs, like any spoiled child, is to be taken into a corner and have its backside firmly slapped. Then it needs to be taught how to look after itself properly. It just needs a mature adult to do it. Any takers? I didnt think so. Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! Del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County is seeking the state's help as it faces an uncertain financial future and what a spokesman described as a "blatantly unfair competitive disadvantage." Tom Wilmot, co-chairman of the casino and a Rochester-area developer, was in Albany Tuesday. Wilmot is seeking state assistance for the casino, according to the USA Today Network's Albany bureau. It's unclear what Wilmot wants the state to do to help del Lago. But Steven Greenberg, a spokesman for the casino, mentioned the Seneca Nation's dispute with the state. Beginning last year, the Seneca Nation stopped paying taxes to the state. The tribe made tax payments in accordance with a 2013 agreement with the state. After the Senecas halted the payments, Greenberg said they have used the funds for marketing efforts aimed at the Rochester area a key market for del Lago, which is located less than an hour east of the city. Two of New York's top elected officials criticized the U.S. Commerce Department's announcement Monday that a question regarding an individual's citizenship status will be added to the 2020 census questionnaire. The decision by the Commerce Department followed a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to reinstate the citizenship question. The agencies believe it will help enforce the Voting Rights Act. But since the Voting Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, the citizenship question has never appeared on a census form. Critics, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, view the question as an attack on immigrants. Schneiderman will lead a multi-state lawsuit challenging the question, he announced Tuesday. Schneiderman believes the question that will appear on the 2020 census form violates the 14th Amendment. U.S. Rep. John Katko is aware that central New York students participated in the March For Our Lives, whether it was by traveling to Washington for the national anti-gun violence rally or joining local gatherings in Seneca Falls or Syracuse. "I think it's great," Katko, R-Camillus said after a press conference Monday in Skaneateles. "I think it's great that people are exercising their First Amendment rights and we're having a debate, which I applaud us having and we're going to continue to have it." March For Our Lives was organized by survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people, including 14 students, died in the mass shooting. The alleged gunman was a former student at the school. The purpose of the marches over the weekend was to demand action against gun violence. Several Parkland students have been meeting with members of Congress urging them to support stricter gun laws. "It was dirt. It was steel beams. It didn't have its identity," he said. In February 2017, del Lago's casino opened for business. Five months later, the resort's 205-room hotel and spa opened to patrons. It was the fourth casino opening Babinski has been a part of as an employee, but it was his first as a general manager. "This will always have a place in my heart," he said. "I'm going to check up on it periodically and stay in touch with the team that we have here and continue to see growth and prosperity. That will be exciting to see." His successor hasn't been chosen. An interview process is ongoing, but he said no decisions have been made. There isn't a timetable for hiring a new general manager. In the meantime, a team of executives will take over the general manager's day-to-day duties. While Babinski and his family are excited to return to the Midwest, he said he will miss his employees at del Lago. "We have a great team and we have a lot of fun," he said. "We also know when the going gets tough, we get going, and we've had the team to do it." Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 5 Funny 9 Wow 8 Sad 8 Angry 7 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local Girl Scouts from the NYPENN Pathways Council have been busy taking part in community service projects and personal growth opportunities across the region this winter. These girls uphold the Girl Scout promise and law by helping others, respecting and thanking those in authority, and helping to make their communities and the world a better place. Troop 10029 from Skaneateles volunteered to serve eggnog during the 24th annual Dickens Christmas event in Skaneateles. Troops 40171 and 60181 from Moravia put together care package/thank you baskets for staff at their local police, ambulance and fire departments. Troop 60311 from Auburn toured the Finger Lakes SPCA of CNY and learned about companion animal supportive care services and humane education. The troop donated pet toys and cleaning supplies to the organization, and also created a coloring book on pet care tips for its 3 Cheers for Animals Journey. Way to go, girls! If you have a local Girl Scout or troop doing great things in the community and would like to share your news with NYPENN (and readers of The Citizen), visit our "Troop Stories" page at gsnypenn.org/troopstories. Were the worlds preeminent leadership development organization for girls. We believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader) to change the world. Girl Scouts develops girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place! Join now to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. Visit gsnypenn.org, email info@gsnypenn.org or call (855) 213-8555. Jaime Alvarez is communications director for Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The day-long educational camp, which stands for Medical Academy of Science and Health, exposes students to a variety of health professions. They learn about career options, educational requirements and job duties, and take part in hands-on workshops that highlight the skills, equipment, technology and resources used by health professionals. Posted Monday, March 26, 2018 1:00 pm Michael A. Versch, 28, was arrested Feb. 20 on a charge of trespassing when officers responded to the report of trespassing at Walmart. Joshua A. Collins, 20, was arrested Feb. 20 on a warrant in another jurisdiction. He was transported to the Johnson County Jail. Sylvester Taylor, 45, was arrested Feb. 20 on a warrant in another jurisdiction when officers responded to the report of a disturbance in the 500 block of West Clark Street. Officers responded Jan. 29 to a report of trespassing at Walmart. Officers responded Feb. 1 to a report of fraud. Officers recovered items after responding Feb. 5 to a report of stealing past occurred. Officers responded Feb. 5 to a report of fraud at Walmart and identified the suspect. WPD investigated the case. Officers responded Feb. 13 to a report of shoplifting at Salvation Army. Officers responded Feb. 14 to a report of a disturbance in the 1200 block of Basswood Street. Officers recovered and returned Feb. 12 a reported found wallet, after investigation. Officers responded Feb. 14 to the report of a domestic disturbance. Officers recovered drug paraphernalia Feb. 14 when officers responded to the report of property damage in the 500 block of West Young Street. Officers responded Feb. 14 to the report of suspicious activity in the 400 block of Broad Street. Officers responded Feb. 14 to the report of a hit and run in the 300 block of East Gay Street. Officers responded Feb. 15 to the report of attempted burglary, did not find the subject when on scene, and recovered a street sign in the 1000 block of West Drive. Officers responded Feb. 15 to a report of stealing in the 400 block of Jefferson Street. Officers responded Feb. 15 to the report of an injury in the area of the Warrensburg Community Center and Grover Park Baptist Church. The report states the injury occurred at a maintenance hole that the American Water Company left open for a meter check. The report states the company was contacted to cover the hole. Officers responded Feb. 16 to a report of missing property in reference to a found property report on Feb. 10. Officers responded Feb. 16 to a report of harassment. Officers responded Feb. 16 to the report of a possible burglary in progress in the 400 block of Larkin Court. Officers responded Feb. 18 to the report of stealing and property damage in the 200 block of Carpenter Street. Officers responded Feb. 18 to the report of abuse. Officers responded Feb. 19 to a report of stealing in the 800 block of North Maguire Street. Melissa A. Rochester, 37, was arrested Feb. 21 on a probation and parole violation warrant. Jacob E. Norman, 33, was arrested Feb. 21 on four warrants in another jurisdiction when he turned himself in to the Warrensburg Police Department. He was booked and released after posting bond. Quentin Conaway, 22, was arrested Feb. 22 on a warrant in another jurisdiction when officers conducted a traffic stop on East Gay Street. He was transported to the Johnson County Jail Christopher T. Bell, 41, was arrested Feb. 22 on a charge of fraud/stealing by deceit when officers responded to the report of fraud by deceit at Walmart. He was trespassed from Walmart and released. John G. Nelson, Jr., was arrested Feb. 23 on a charge of obstructing process when officers conducted a subject check near Maguire Street and Hale Lake Road. Jennifer M. Murrow, 33, was arrested Feb. 23 on a probation and parole violation warrant when officers conducted a subject check in the 300 block of East Cooper Boulevard. Officers responded Jan. 16 to the report of a juvenile receiving pictures of male genitalia from an older male. Officers responded Jan. 29 to the report of property damage in the 500 block of West Young Street. Officers conducted a traffic stop Feb. 9 in relation to a shoplifting case in Knob Noster. The report states officers gained consent to search the vehicle and located a bottle of fake urine in the vehicle, being contraband for the vehicle owner that was on probation. Officers located Feb. 11 two backpacks in the 400 block of East Market Street. Officers responded Feb. 15 to the report of a burglary in the 800 block of West Market Street. Officers assisted the Sedalia Police Department in responding Feb. 16 to the report of a rape that occurred in Sedalia on Feb. 15. Officers responded Feb. 19 to the report of theft from auto in the 500 block of South Main Street. Officers responded Feb. 21 to the report of property damage and burglary along North Holden Street. Officers responded Feb. 21 to the report of a subject choking and discovered a person deceased when they arrived on scene. Shelly L. Waid, 51, was arrested Feb. 23 on a charge of assault/officer/simple/hands/fists/feet when officers responded to the report of a domestic disturbance in the 1000 block of East Gay Street. Elizabeth A. Milak, 43, was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Wesley J. Romans, 23, was arrested Feb. 23 on charges of armed criminal action, domestic assault and on a warrant in another jurisdiction when officers responded to the report of a domestic assault in the 500 block of North Ridgeview Drive. Joseph M. Farris, 22, was arrested Feb. 22 on a probation and parole violation warrant when officers responded to a possible warrant service. He was transported to the Johnson County Jail. Kegri C. Ilu, 29, was arrested Feb. 27 on a warrant in another jurisdiction when he turned himself in. He was released after posting bond. Jermell L. Hundley, 22, was arrested Feb. 28 on two warrants in another jurisdiction when officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of South and Washington streets. Officers also searched the vehicle and located a very small burnt marijuana roach. He was booked and released after posting bond. Officers responded Feb. 19 after receiving a 911 hang up, later discovering the report of an assault. Officers reported the suspect left the scene before they arrived. Officers responded Feb. 19 to the report of stealing in the 300 block of East Cooper Boulevard. Officers responded Feb. 23 to the report of a found marijuana pipe in the 200 block of East Gay Street. Officers responded Feb. 23 to the report of lost property. Officers responded Feb. 23 to the report of a hit and run in the 100 block of South Holden Street. Officers responded Feb. 24 to the report of child abuse and neglect. Officers responded Feb. 26 to the report of counterfeit money. Sergio Deltoro, Jr., 18, was arrested Feb. 28 on a charge of possession of marijuana. Officers responded Feb. 22 to the report of counterfeit money at McDonalds. Officers responded Feb. 23 to the report of theft. Officers responded Feb. 26 to the report of child abuse. Officers responded Jan. 4 to the report of possible assault. Officers responded Feb. 28 to the report of a criminal intelligence call in the 400 block of South Main Street. Officers responded Feb. 1 to the report of a collision in the southbound lane of Maguire Street when David J. True is reported to have improper lane usage/change causing a collision between his 2014 Chevrolet Camaro and Jacob A. Wiggins 2013 Subaru XV. Officers responded Feb. 1 to the report of an injury collision in a parking lot at East Gay Street and Burkarth Road between Jayne A. Barrys 2012 Chevrolet and Michele L. Warrens 1987 Cadillac Deville. Officers responded Feb. 6 to the report an injury collision in the 1500 block of East Hale Lake Road between Garry T. Walkers, Knob Noster, 2002 Volkswagen Jetta that was reported to have crossed the center line after he reported to have hitting some ice while traveling westbound and Rebecca A. Meyer-Vallejos, Sedalia, 2015 Chrysler 200 that was eastbound. An ambulance transported Meyer-Vallejos to Western Missouri Medical Center. Officers responded Feb. 6 to the report of an injury collision in the 600 block of Creach Drive between a 2006 Ford Freestar, that the driver is reported to have been distracted/inattentive, as it approached Creach Drive from a parking lot to the west and Hailli N. Elliotts 2003 Toyota Camry that was southbound on Creach Drive. Officers responded Feb. 7 to the report of a collision in the 300 block of Anderson Street between Demi A. Bollingers 2015 Chevrolet Cruze that is reported to have been illegally parked after she attempted to park the parallel park the vehicle and Hannah S. Franks, Linn, parked 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. Officers responded Feb. 8 to the report of property damage along East Hale Lake Road. Officers responded Feb. 8 to the report of a collision on West Pine Street near North Holden Street when Dale E. Mercer, Raytown is reported to have had his vision obstructed as he backed out of a parking spot causing a collision between his 2015 Chevrolet Equinox and Kimberly D. Eatons 2010 Ford Escape that was stopped at the stop sign in the eastbound lane of West Pine Street. Officers responded Feb. 5 to the report of a hit and run at Walmart. Officers responded Feb. 9 to the report of a collision in the eastbound lane of Gay Street near Mitchell Street when Yvonne M. Hursh, Chilhowee, is reported to have improperly turned as he attempted to make a turn onto southbound Mitchell Street causing a collision between his 2005 Nissan Murano and Lora J. Meschkats 2006 Ford Econoline E350. Officers responded Feb. 10 to the report of a hit and run at the intersection of Young Street and Burkarth Road. Officers responded Feb. 10 to the report of a collision in the eastbound lane of Gay Street when Sangjin Hyun is reported to have had vision obstructed causing a collision between his 2010 Ford Fusion and Heath Browns parked 2013 Dodge Avenger. Officers responded Feb. 10 to the report of property damage near the intersection of South and Washington streets. Officers responded Feb. 11 to the report of a collision at the intersection of East Gay and North Maguire streets between Shatoria N. Patricks 2009 Honda Accord that was westbound through the intersection on East Gay Street and Mark W. Beasleys, Knob Noster, 2007 Chevrolet Aveo that was southbound through the intersection of North Maguire Street. Beasley is reported to have violated signal/sign and been distracted/inattentive. Robert C. Barnes was arrested Feb. 28 on a warrant in another jurisdiction. He was transported to the Johnson County Jail. Roger Lee, 50, was arrested March 1 on a charge of assault. Jacob R. Stagl, 33, was arrested March 1 on a charge of trespassing when officers conducted a subject check in the 700 block of North College Street. Jamane P. Crawford, 19, was arrested March 1 on a charge of discharging firearms/projectiles prohibited when officers responded to a weapons call in the 700 block of North Warren Street. Officers responded Feb. 23 to the report of lost property at Bi-Lo. Officers responded Feb. 23 to a report of stealing and forgery. Officers responded Feb. 28 to the report of a burglary in the 400 block of Chapel Road but had no suspects at the time. Officers responded Feb. 28 to the report of sexual assault. Officers responded Feb. 28 to the report of property damage. Officers responded Feb. 28 to the report of a hit and run on Burkarth Road near Young Street. Officers responded Feb. 12 to the report of a collision at the intersection of Montserrat Park Road and Ridgeview Drive when Amy B. Coleman is reported to have failed to yield causing a collision between her 2013 Ford Escape that was through the intersection eastbound on Montserrat Park Road and Amy C. Workoffs 2013 Ford Escape that was southbound on Ridgeview Drive. Officers responded Feb. 12 to the report of a collision at the intersection of College and North streets when Arayah P. Lewis is reported to have failed to yield as she entered the intersection eastbound on North Street causing a collision between her 2018 Hyundai Sonata and Terry P. Kosmiskis 1993 Chevrolet C/K 1500 that was northbound on College Street. Officers responded Feb. 13 to the report of property damage at Ace Car Wash. Officers responded Feb. 13 to the report of a collision in the northbound lane of South Maguire Street near Grover Street when Nathan McLain is reported to have followed too closely causing a collision between his 2010 Dodge Caliber and Justice A. Baileys 1996 Cadillac Deville. Officers responded Feb. 14 to the report of a collision in the northbound lane of Maguire Street near South Street when Shelby L. Beauchamp, Camdenton, is reported to have followed too closely causing a collision between her 2004 Pontiac Grand Am and Ariel L. McLanahans, Concordia, 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. Officers responded Feb. 14 to the report of a hit and run on East Gay Street near Land Street involving a parked 2018 Toyota Rav4 Sport Utility. The report states James A. Hudson contacted officers Feb. 19 and reported to them that he hit the parked vehicle with his 2012 Kia Optima. The report states Hudson was distracted/inattentive. Officers responded Feb. 15 to the report of a collision in the southbound lane of Maguire Street when Aili T. House, Calhoun, is reported to have been distracted/inattentive causing a collision between her 2014 Nissan Altima and Hu Yuhlins 2002 Acura MDX. Officers responded Feb. 15 to the report of a collision at the intersection of Broad and South Maguire Streets when Arin J. Rupp, Overland Park, Kansas, is reported to have failed to yield as he entered the intersection eastbound on Broad Street causing a collision between his 2014 Ford Fiesta and Amanda G. Brendles, Leawood, Kansas, 2008 Toyota Camry that was southbound on South Maguire Street. Officers responded Feb. 16 to the report of a hit and run on Shady Lane near Sunrise and Sunset drives. Ryan M. Leeman, 36, was arrested March 3 on a charge of assault when officers responded to the report of a domestic assault. Robert A. Sponseller, 30, was arrested March 3 on a charge of driving while intoxicated liquor when officers conducted a traffic stop. The report states he was released to a sober friend. Juliann K. Finn, 23, was arrested March 3 on charges of resist/obstruct/fail to obey officer and indecent exposure when officers responded to the report of a nude subject yelling in the street and running up to a house in the 1200 block of Vest Drive. Marilyn J. Rodriguez, 60, was arrested March 3 on a Warrensburg warrant when officers responded to the report of a subject looking through vehicle windows in the 100 block of West Young Street. She was unable to post bond and was transported to the Johnson County Jail. Keshonna I. Ross, 19, was arrested March 2 on a Warrensburg warrant when officers conducted a traffic stop. She posted bond. Meleah White and Kari Schumacher, both 19, were arrested March 4 each on a charge of public affray after an DPS officer brought a public affray cause to the Warrensburg Police Department involving a fight between two subjects that occurred at Lions Lake and was caught on video. Officers responded Jan. 16 to the report of fraud. Officers located Jan. 25 two bags reported as left by a subject. Officers responded Feb. 26 to the report of theft. Officers responded Feb. 27 to the report of suspicious activity in the 1300 block of Veterans Road. Officers responded Feb. 27 to the report of theft from vehicle in the 100 block of Pine Street. Officers responded March 3 to the report of a stolen phone. The American Red Cross depends on volunteers to help us fulfill our mission of alleviating human suffering during emergencies. These volunteers help staff blood drives, volunteer at veterans hospitals, respond to home fires and teach CPR, first aid and other lifesaving skills. National Volunteer Week is April 15-21, and the Red Cross of Central New York will be honoring our volunteers who give their time and talent to help our communities in their time of need. Locally, more than 700 volunteers serve our communities in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. Last year, central New York volunteers provided food, shelter, comfort and hope to 210 local families who faced emergency situations. They made 409 households safer through the installation of 1,167 free smoke alarms; trained 11,706 people in lifesaving skills; connected 421 military families via emergency communications services; and collected 39,346 blood donations from volunteer donors. Throughout the year, but particularly during National Volunteer Week, we want to sincerely thank our volunteers for their selfless service and support. Our volunteers are true heroes who give their time to help their neighbors and local community. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday blamed the mall fire that killed at least 64 people in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on "criminal negligence" as he travelled there. "What is happening here? These are not armed hostilities. This is not an unexpected release of methane. People, children came to relax," Putin told officials in Kemerovo in comments released by the Kremlin. "We are talking about demographics but are losing so many people. Because of what? Because of some criminal negligence, slovenliness," he added. The newly inaugurated branch of Indian lender HDFC Bank in Mumbai's Fort area landed itself in hot soup after images of metal spikes they had built to prevent homeless people from resting on their veranda went viral on social media. But the ire of social media soon caught up with the bank, and they buckled under pressure and decided to remove the metal spikes. A Mumbai correspondent of Financial Times Simon Mundy posted the photos on Twitter. An eyecatching response to Mumbais homelessness crisis from @HDFC_Bank (Fort branch) pic.twitter.com/5H8ErgUoth Simon Mundy (@simonmundy) March 25, 2018 Mundy also tweeted by quoting his earlier tweet, saying "As others have pointed out, these anti-homeless spikes from @HDFC_Bank Fort branch are not only a depressing gesture towards Mumbai's many rough sleepers, but could also impale any pedestrian unlucky enough to trip and fall in this crowded passageway." He also said in a reply that similar thing is appearing in London but not anything like spikes. Similar things have been appearing in London, which are indeed sad and show a real lack of compassion. However, I have never seen spikes as long, sharp and potentially lethal as these. Simon Mundy (@simonmundy) March 26, 2018 Mundy's tweet soon went viral and Twitteratti began to respond very aggressively. Sanjeev Kapoor compared Mumbai and London. Absolutely shocking. For those pointing to London spikes, there were far less dangerous, and protested vigorously there too. https://t.co/jy4ueuZdn2 Sanjiv Kapoor (@TheSanjivKapoor) March 26, 2018 Another netizen made a suggestion to the bank: Is this a public safety hazard? Definitely. Can we blame a private bank for not wanting strangers to sleep in their premises at night? Definitely cannot. If people are so righteous, they should open their own doors for the homeless. Why point fingers at others? https://t.co/dStt6zDlvH AJ (@babablahblah_) March 26, 2018 Raju Das pointed out that the move is very dangerous for public: Not just it is insensitive and inhuman, it is also dangerous and a public safety hazard. Whoever did this, bank or landlord, should be punished. https://t.co/wqsXw5L26M Raju Das | (@rajudasonline) March 26, 2018 HDFC responded to the pic saying they would remove it soon. Neeraj Jha the head of corporate communication of HDFC Bank came to Twitter to announce the bank's decision. "Thank you Simon Mundy for bringing this to our attention," Neeraj Jha tweeted. "We are having it removed and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the public," he added. Thank you @simonmundy for bringing this to our attention. We are having it removed and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the public. https://t.co/F14itqYWdI Neeraj Jha (@NeerajHDFCBank) March 26, 2018 The bank permanently removed the spikes and put flowerpots there instead. BJP national president Amit Shah has embarrassed the party's Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa with a slip of the tongue.Recently, a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition of the most corrupt government, then the Yeddyurappa government is number one... said Shah, inadvertently, while addressing a press conference.The comment has shocked Yeddyurappa and the BJP leadership. BJP MP Pralhad Joshi immediately corrected Shah by saying into his ear, Siddaramaiah government. Realising his gaffe, Shah corrected himself and said: Arre re...Siddaramaiah government is number one in corruption.Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah then tweeted, saying that the BJP president had spoken the truth. He wrote: The #ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Thank you @AmitShah. Shah is in Karnataka, where assembly elections will take place on May 12 with the vote counting set for May 15. Cassie Fedyshyn was 27 when she was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer. It was July 21, 2016, and the mother of three found herself getting a bilateral mastectomy with 22 lymph nodes removed. Her surgery was in August of that year, followed by rounds of chemotherapy between September 2016 and March 2017. Radiation treatment ended in May. "Right now I'm cancer-free, so that's good. I like to say that," she said. The Auburn native shook her head and laughed, large brunette curls springing around her face. "I did radiation until May of last year, that's why I've got these voluptuous curls," she said. "Hopefully they last. I used to be wavy, so this is just, it's crazy. I don't have to do anything, just throw some mousse in and go." Things are better for Fedyshyn now. She works at the Cayuga County Probation Department as a clerk, and her children two boys and one girl between the ages of 5 and 8 are keeping her busy. She's also taking business classes at Cayuga Community College, and hopes to get her bachelor's degree soon. But since her experience with cancer, the 28-year-old's life is taking a new path: patient advocacy. BJP president Amit Shah today accused the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka of trying to divide Hindus and being the "most corrupt" one in the country. On a two-day visit to the poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said the move to accord religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Linagayats was an attempt to 'divide' the Hindus. "Just ahead of the (assembly) elections in Karnataka, they have tried to divide Lingayats and Veerashaivas, also Lingayats and other communities, by announcing minority status for them," Shah told reporters here. Questioning the timing of the move, he asked the Siddaramaiah government, "What were you doing for five years?" "In 2013 when your own (UPA) government was in power at the Centre, they had rejected it. Why was Siddaramaiah silent then? This is an attempt to divide the Hindus..," he said. Shah said it was not a programme towards the welfare of the Veerashaiva and Lingayat community but a "conspiracy" to stop Yeddyurappa, considered a Lingayat strongman, from becoming the chief minister. "Lingayat community understands it and I'm sure the people of Karnataka will answer it through ballots," he said. The Karnataka Cabinet had recently decided to recommend to the Centre to accord the religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, apparently to cut into the vote bank of the BJP, which significantly banks on their support. Alleging that Siddaramaiah even tried to bring 'mutts' and temples under the government control, he said it was given up following opposition to the move. "I have made five to six visits to Karnataka and after meeting people I have been able to understand the feeling of Karnataka," said Shah. "The feeling of people of Karnataka is that he (Siddaramaiah) is not AHINDA leader, an AHINDU (anti-Hindu) leader," he added. AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits. He said if the Congress didn't stop Siddaramaiah, the party may have to face "harsh consequences" in elections. "On one hand, Congress president speaks about uniting Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, while on the other hand in Karnataka, its own chief minister is speaking about dividing Hindus. "I have not seen such a sharp difference within a political party," he added. Accusing the Islamic outfit, Popular Front of India and its political wing SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) of being involved in killing Hindus and the BJP and the RSS activists, Shah alleged that the state government was playing "dirty vote bank politics" by withdrawing cases against them. "On one side, the Kerala government has recommended banning PFI to the Union government, but Siddaramaiah finds nothing wrong with the PFI. This appeasement policy is the biggest threat to the security of Karnataka and India." Shah also said the people of Karnataka had understood that "this is the most corrupt government." "Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was competition for corruption in the country, Siddaramaiah government will get number one award," Shah said. A train believed to be carrying a senior North Korean delegation left the Chinese capital on Tuesday following a dramatic whirlwind visit that some reports said included the country's leader, Kim Jong-un. The conservative South Korea "Chosun Ilbo" newspaper, citing an unnamed senior intelligence official, said the delegation had included Kim and that he had since left to return to North Korea. South Korea's left-leaning press "Hankyoreh" also reported Kim had travelled to Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon before leaving for a "third location" on Tuesday. It did not cite specific sources. The "Hankyoreh" did not specify where the "third location" was but said it could be in China. South Korea said it was closely watching events in Beijing, where a foreign ministry spokeswoman deflected a question on whether Kim, his sister or some other senior North Korean was visiting. South Korea's spy agency declined to confirm the report. "At present, I have no understanding of the situation you mention. If there is news we will release it," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular daily briefing. Diplomatic sources in Beijing said a senior North Korean official was in town but did not know exactly who. Bloomberg, citing three unidentified sources, reported late on Monday that Kim was in Beijing in what would be his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. The unconfirmed visit came ahead of planned summit meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump. "The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely while keeping all possibilities open," said the senior official in Seoul, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Improving ties between North Korea, which is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits, he said. A senior US official who follows North Korea closely said the available evidence suggested that Kim had travelled to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, but stressed that has not been confirmed. Underscoring the mystery, one senior Beijing-based diplomatic source said, "We just don't know." One source with ties to China's leadership said it was possible Kim's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was in town. She visited South Korea for the Winter Olympics last month, paving the way for a summit between the two Koreas. South Korean news agency "Newsis" reported that Kim Yo Jong and the North's ceremonial leader, Kim Yong Nam, were visiting Beijing, citing an unidentified North Korea-related source in Beijing. The pair visited South Korean President Moon Jae-in at his office in Seoul during the Winter Olympics in February. The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unlikely Kim Jong Un would have sent his sister on such an important mission, unlike her ceremonial visit to South Korea for the Olympics. On the contrary, the official said, a summit with Xi would underscore Kim's standing as a world leader. Xi and Kim Jong Un had reasons to meet in advance of Kim's meetings with Moon and possibly Trump, the US official said. "Xi has met Trump, and in many respects learned how to deal with him better than some people here do. "At the same time, despite the recent tensions, he needs to know what Kim has in mind for dealing with the South and the US, and he still has a lot of leverage with the North," the official added. Japanese media reported on Monday that a high-ranking Pyongyang official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing. The Blue House official said South Korea had been aware of "related movements" in North Korea, such as the train, for a few days but he could not confirm whether Kim or another high-ranking North Korean official was visiting China. Beijing is the main ally of secretive and isolated North Korea, as well as its biggest trading partner. China has not confirmed any visit by a North Korean but has not totally censored speculation. There were posts on Chinese social media talking about the possibility Kim Jong Un was in China, some citing family members in Dandong. The rail journey between Dandong and Beijing covers more than 1,100 km. It takes at least 14 hours by ordinary service, according to Chinese railway timetables. The North Korean leader is due to hold separate summits with South Korea in late April and the United States in May. "The fact that the summits are being held has been beyond our expectations. Right now, the situation surrounding the Korean peninsula is moving very quickly and it would be inadvisable to think with prejudice," the Blue House official said. Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. Kim Jong-Il was considered at the time to have made the visit to reaffirm close ties with China. "North Korea likely wants to confirm its relationship with China and believes it has some leverage with which it can ask for things from China," said Yoo Ho-yeol, Professor of North Korean studies at Seoul's Korea University. A proposal to roll out Google Street View, an application through which one can explore cities, tourist spots, hills and rivers using 360-degree panoramic and street-level imagery, has been rejected by the government, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said Google had submitted a proposal on the Google Street View for the government's permission in July 2015 which allows users to explore places around the world through 360-degree panoramic street-level imagery and view public area. "The government has not agreed to the proposal," Ahir said in a written reply to a question. As per Google's plans, using the app one could explore Indian cities, tourist spots, hills and rivers through 360-degree panoramic and street-level imagery. The internet services giant wanted to cover most parts of India through the Google Street View. The app explores places worldwide through 360-degree panoramic and street-level 3D imagery. Everything that is captured is posted online. While it has been extensively used in the US, Canada and many European countries, its application in India was initially permitted for a few locations. Google had on an experimental basis launched street view for some tourist sites such as the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Varanasi river bank, Nalanda University, Mysore Palace, Thanjavur temple and Chinnaswamy stadium, in partnership with the Archaeological Society of India. Google Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth, which provides panoramic views from positions along many streets in the world. It was launched in 2007 in several cities in the US and has since expanded to include cities and rural areas worldwide. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has retweeted a Congress Party Twitter poll, which asks people to assess her "failure" as Foreign Minister in handling the case of 39 missing Indians killed in Iraq. The poll, which the Congress posted on Monday, asked: "Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajs biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks". Swaraj retweeted the post, which has a total of 33,879 votes so far. The result - 76 percent of people have voted 'no' on the notion that Swaraj has failed. Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajs biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2018 The Congress party's social media head Divya Spandana blamed the Swaraj poll failure on "bots". Bots janta party having a field day with our polls! But the lies said and the misery and pain caused to those 39 families, will not forget- https://t.co/qYndeg8wrM Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 On March 20, Swaraj informed Rajya Sabha members that 39 Indians who went missing in Iraq in 2014, had been killed by the IS terror group. The revelation set off a row with the opposition, which accused the Central government of insensitivity by failing to first inform the victims' kin. Each candidate, who will contest Assembly polls in Karnataka, can spend up to Rs 28 lakh, said the Election Commission on Tuesday. However, the EC said there was no upper limit in spending by political parties. "As per the revised ceilings, the maximum limit of election expenses for the Assembly constituencies is Rs 28 lakh per candidate for the state of Karnataka," OP Rawat, Chief Election Commissioner, told the media here. All candidates are required to furnish their accounts of expenditure within 30 days of the declaration of results. "All political parties sponsoring candidates for the Legislative Assembly elections are required to maintain day-to-day accounts of all elections campaign expenses and submit the accounts to the Commission within 75 days of the completion of such elections. Such accounts will be uploaded on the website of the Commission for public viewing," he said. The commission will appoint expenditure observers and assistant expenditure observers for each constituency. Control room and a complaint monitoring centers with 24-hour toll-free numbers will be operative during the entire election process. The Punjab National Bank has refused to disclose records pertaining to the process of issuing loans to Nirav Modi, citing an ongoing probe into the over Rs 13,000-crore scam involving the billionaire jeweller. In an response to Mumbai-based RTI activist Anil Galgali, the bank has cited section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act to deny the information sought by him. Galgali said he had sought details of all the records including minutes of the meeting, agenda notes, total loans sought by Nirav Modi and the amount sanctioned by the bank. The sections bars disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. KPCC President G Parameshwara today maintained that there was no politics in Siddaramaiah government's motion for a separate religious minority status for Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, saying the party did not expect "too much" of electoral gain from it. "It is wrong to say that Siddaramaiah government has proposed the separate religion and minority tag for Lingayats to gain electoral benefits," Parameshwara said. He said the proposal was sent to the central government in 2013 also but was rejected. "This time too we have sent the proposal to meet the pending demand of the community. That is all. There is no politics in it," Parameshwara told reporters here. "We are not expecting too much of an electoral gain out of Lingayat issue," he said "If Lingayats perceive Congress as the first political party to have fought for their cause of getting them a separate religion and minority tag, we (Congress) expect a marginal gain from it," the KPCC chief said. Asked to comment on political ramifications of BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Lingayat seer Sri Shivakumar Swami of Siddaganga Mutt, he said the pontiff does not have any political affiliations and wouldn't ask his followers to vote for any party. "Amit Shah has visited and sought blessings like any other Congress leaders had done and will do in future," he said. Replying to a query, Parameshwara said, "Myself, Siddaramaiah and the party also are aware of anti-incumbency factor, but the Congress is going to definitely form the next government by winning May 12 elections," he said. The anti-incumbency factor, however, is not very substantial, Parameshwara said. "There may be some unhappiness over some individuals or legislators for not working to the people's expectations, but on the whole, there is nothing substantial unhappiness expressed against Siddaramaiah government," he said. To a query, he said the party is not expecting a hung assembly. He also said the JDS-BSP combine would not affect the Congress' electoral prospects. Asked if all sitting MLAs would be given tickets, he said the party high command will take the winnability factor of candidates, instead of considering their relationship with party leaders or ministers. Replying to a query, Parameshwara said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is going to contest from Chamundeshwari constituency and reports about his contesting from either Vijayapura or Bagalkote were false. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Nissan released a recall plan involving a total of 689,000 vehicles at the end of February. It is the defect in brake that triggered the recall. However, it is odd that the quality complaints were still escalating after the recall released. Several car owners said that the reasonability of smearing silicone oil remains to be discussed. They hope that Dongfeng Nissan could change the master cylinder and prolong the maintenance for brake system. Industry insiders analyzed that since the problem of brake was much relevant to safety, auto manufactures will adopt effective measures to solve this problem, thus they can ensure the reliability of their brand images. However, car owners seem to disagree with this explanation, requesting Dongfeng Nissan to make a guarantee for the reliability of smearing silicone oil. Dongfeng Nissan denied the issue on the complaints escalation, responding that smearing silicone oil is an effective and proved measure to counter the brake defect. Started on Feb. 28, 2018, the recall involved a total of 689,031 vehicles, covering the new Nissan Lannia, the new TIIDA, the new-gen TIIDA, the Sylphy and the all-new Sylphy models manufactured between Apr. 6, 2015 and July 21, 2017. In terms of the involved vehicles, it is said that Dongfeng Nissan will add special silicone oil on the master brake cylinders free of charge in order to prevent the oil seals from reversing. As to the models whose oil seals had reversed, Dongfeng Nissan will change master brake cylinders to eliminate the hidden danger. Dongfeng will adopt the improved parts on the newly-produced model. According to an industry insider, the recall may impact sales of Dongfeng Nissan in a short term, but will not exert bad results on the company in the long run. Dongfeng Nissan also stated that it still saw robust growth momentum in the previous two months of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017. Statistics shows that the company posted a YoY sales growth of 6.4% during January and February, 2018. On Ram Navami (birthday of Lord Ram), a tableau of Shambhu Lal Regar, who hacked a Muslim labourer to death, was taken out in a procession by Hindu outfits in Jodhpur. In the pictures of the tableau, a man who bears a striking resemblance to Regar is seen sitting on a throne-like chair with a pickaxe in his hand. He is seen dressed in clothes similar to what Regar was wearing when he allegedly committed the murder. Regar hacked Bengali laborer Mohammed Afrazul to death in December last year. He uploaded a series of videos, including the one of the crime, ranting against Muslims and accused them of converting Hindu girls to Islam. Regar is presently housed in the Jodhpur Central Jail for Afrazul's murder. The organisers of the procession who call Shambulal an inspiration said that there was no harm in carrying out his tableau. "Regar's personality has impressed many and I take inspiration from him. This is true that we were hailing his good quality in the procession," Hari Singh Panwa, who organised the tableau told DH. However, the police are yet to take any action against the organisers. "We have not received any complaint. Only a few media persons informed us. We may also take a cognisance on the basis of reports in case no one lodges a complaint", Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jodhpur East) Amandeep Singh said. As most children are writing their last paper of this academic year, they seem to be already filled with excitement and are making elaborate plans for the longest break of the year - Summer vacation. Many parents are all set to make the next two months of their kids a fun-filled and fruitful experience. Being a part of the generation that loves to travel, most of them have chosen trips as their main agenda. Vindya Ajaay Thambi, mompreneur takes it on herself to make her daughters summer vacation an interesting one. She says, "My daughter Sadvi Ajaay Thambi, is someone who gets bored easily, so it is important to keep her engaged in different activities. As a family, we love travelling and make sure to make at least one international trip a year. This year we are going to Hong Kong. It is a 12-day trip in the second week of April." She says that according to her daughter, holidays always meant luxury but since the last three years, Vindya and her husband Ajaay Srinivaas choose places that are not plush in any way like a resort or five-star hotels. "Whenever we are travelling, we experience everything that is local and authentic to that place. Sadvi wants to try the tuk-tuk ride, a ride in the metro and also explore the night bazaar in Hong Kong," says Vindya. The family has also planned to visit Lepakshi and Belum Caves in Andhra Pradesh for a two-day trip, where they want their daughter to experience the rich culture while engaging herself in a small expedition. "After we come back from Hong Kong, my daughter and I will go on a trip to the Himalayan base camp. The organisers have arranged trekking for kids there," she adds. Sunaina Bhat, homemaker has enrolled her daughter, Avni B M for swimming classes. "My daughter loves water and since she is interested in swimming, nothing could have been better than merging the two. Moreover, since the temperature is soaring, this will be a good way to beat the heat," she says. Sunaina also has plans to visit the Mysuru zoo and making a trip to Hyderabad to show her children the historical structures and also visit Ramoji Film City. "Summer vacation is a great time for the entire family to bond, especially siblings. My daughter is very fond of her brother Aryan's company. This is usually a good tuning time between the two. I have also planned to give my kids an overview of their course for the next class at least for an hour every day." For Gigi Mathews, her husband, Baskar Ceri and kids Siddharth and Priyanka, holidays are all about experiences. "We wanted Priyanka to experience camping in the midst of nature, she will be going to Uttarakhand for a camp by the bank of river Tons. This is going to be a 10-day trip and she is already excited about it." She adds, "Both Priyanka and Siddharth are backpackers and adventure junkies. There is a lot of research and homework that goes in before each trip. Siddharth is planning to go snorkelling in the Maldives with his uncle this vacation." If you thought stargazing was only a romantic scene in Bollywood movies, think again! Gigi Mathews and her family love stargazing on the beaches of Chennai. And yes, they aim for the same this holiday too. "Our travel and vacation are always planned around meeting people, the food and experiences like cooking, farming, adventure and the local music and that's why children tend to choose places in India over outside because there is so much to see and do here," says Gigi. With two months of fun, excitement and adventure in these kids basket, parents have managed to sneak in some learning in their schedule. Are you planning something exciting for your kid? Environmentalists and locals on Tuesday scoffed at the Environment Clearance accorded to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) to set up a lab in Theni district, declaring that they would challenge the nod in the National Green Tribunal. The Ministry of Environment and Forests on Monday gave its green signal for setting up the lab - the first of its kind in India that would study atmospheric neutrinos produced by cosmic rays in a 1,200m deep cave under a mountain - in the forests near Bodinayakkanur, 525 km from here. The activists say the clearance was "illegal" since the ministry has called it a Category 'B' project, for which Environmental Impact Assessment is not necessary, despite the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal cancelling the previous nod and asking the INO to apply for fresh clearance under. Poovulagin Nanbargal, an NGO that filed the petition before the NGT, said it will seek legal recourse against the clearance, calling the nod "illegal". "The NGT quashed the environmental clearance last year saying the project should be categorised under Category 'A' and not 'B' as it has been done by the government. No public hearing of the project was conducted, but still they have got the clearance," G Sundararajan, convenor of the NGO, told DH. "We will challenge the environment clearance in the NGT's principal bench in New Delhi. If that does not happen for some reason, we will certainly approach the high court or Supreme Court soon," he said. Since the project involves tunnelling and excavation of six lakh cubic metres of Charnockite rock from the mountain, environmentalists and villagers feel it would have a cascading effect on various natural resources. Another green activist Nityanand Jayaraman said it was unfortunate that a project that claims it would result in the advancement of science is bypassing the most fundamental principle of science, which is openness. "It is extremely irresponsible on the part of the government to grant clearance without conducting a public hearing on the project. But this government is very consistent in the way it has been carrying out things like this," Jayaraman said. However, the INO has said it has followed all procedures before applying for clearance. The NGT wanted the project to be classified as Category 'A' since the location falls within 5 km of the Madhikettan Shola Natural Park in Kerala and from the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. If a project is classified as 'Category A', a number of processes should be followed before granting the clearance, the environmentalists said. Villagers who stay close to the proposed site have also upped the ante saying they will soon announce their protest plans. Describing the Rohingya crisis as "one of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world of modern time", Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said that Myanmar has agreed to take back Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) in phases. Ali was speaking at a media meet in the Mumbai Press Club. "We are happy that, due to our intense engagement and continuous international pressure, we have been able to conclude a 'Physical Arrangement' with Myanmar government last week, under which Myanmar government agreed to repatriate the FDMN who took shelter in Bangladesh in phases," he said, adding that the "ongoing international pressure" must continue. Acknowledging India's support in tackling the issue, he said: "We believe, India would continue its support in the coming days as well to maintain the momentum of the international pressure for securing the rights of these displaced people in Myanmar." He said Rohingyas have become "citizenless citizen" in their own country. "You all are aware, about 700,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017. This new influx, adding to the already existing 400,000 Rohingyas who had entered Bangladesh in several earlier rounds before August 2017, taking the total number over a million," Ali said. "This recent mass exodus of about 700,000 Rohingyas has been termed as a "humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportion" by the UN Secretary-General (AntAnio Guterres). We have been giving them "temporary" shelter in Bangladesh on humanitarian consideration, but the ultimate solution is that they have to go back to their homes in Myanmar," he said. Ali said that the Bangladesh government do not have any problems with the Myanmar government. "The core problem of the issue is the refusal of Myanmar authorities to recognize them as their citizens, although they have been living there for centuries, as their citizens. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tabled a five-point solution for the resolution of the crisis at the last UNGA session and we believe that continued and sustained international pressure on Myanmar would be catalyst for a long-term solution in this regard, in order to ensure the rights of the Rohingyas, so that they could return to their homes and live there with peace and dignity," he said. The Indian government had sent substantial relief materials for the FDMN, by air and ship, which is the largest humanitarian assistance given by any country to Bangladesh during the crisis, the Bangladesh High Commissioner said. Speaking further on India's role, he said, "We also count on India's continued support in the international arena for the early return of FDMN. We also appreciate Indian government's initiative for rehabilitation projects to be taken in Myanmar for constructing prefabricated houses along with China and Japan, for the FDMN," he said. No one has, perhaps, seen a smoking elephant. But this one in Nagarahole tiger reserve did so in 2016. A video of the smoking jumbo has now gone viral. But then, the pachyderm in question was not smoking a cigarette, but grass (not the intoxicating variety though). The elephant is seen spitting out burnt grass, ash and burnt wood it had ingested. The video was shot by Vinay Kumar, assistant director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Kumar recorded the act at around 6.45 am, when he, along with his team, had gone to the tiger reserve to check the cameras installed by WCS to study animal population. "So far, the short video was part of my recordings. A month ago I was discussing with WCS veterinarian and elephant expert Dr Varun Goswami and I decided to release the video. This particular video had raised many questions among researchers and experts. It had left many wondering as to what could it be," he said. In the 40-second video, one can see the elephant, aged around 30-35 years, spit burnt materials, including ash, from her mouth. After a small jerk, she releases the ash, which looks like smoke. Forest officials are now trying to track the elephant. Some, including retired forest officials, say such an occurrence is not new and that there have been instances in the past where they have seen elephants put burnt wood into their mouth along with ash and then sneeze it all out, making it look like smoking. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition Congress in Gujarat on Tuesday agreed to take a step back from their respective stance on the suspension of three Congress legislators from the Assembly for up to three years and 'No Trust' motion against Speaker of the House Rajendra Trivedi. Accordingly, Congress withdrew its 'No Trust' motion it had moved on February 28, while BJP agreed to cut short the suspension of the Congress legislators from up to three years to just the end of the ongoing budget session, which might conclude on Wednesday. The agreement was reached after series of informal talks between the leaders of both the parties over last 48 hours. "It is the duty and responsibility of both, the ruling party and the Opposition, to uphold the democratic values of the House and I am glad that we did," Paresh Dhanani, leader of Opposition in the House, told media persons. Accordingly, his deputy in the House, Shailesh Parmar, withdrew his notice for a no-trust motion against the Speaker. The BJP too kept its word and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel proposed a reduction in length of suspension of Congress legislators. On March 14, two Congress legislators, Ambrish Der from Rajula constituency and Prabhatbhai Dudhat from Savarkundla constituency were suspended from the House for three years and Kalol legislator Baldevji Thakore for a year, after they entered into a physical altercation with BJP legislators in the House and its premises. The Speaker had even banned their entry into Assembly premises since. Against rules "On the day of the shameful incident, I had proposed the suspension of the Congress legislators with regret. Today, after the opposition leaders and senior MLAs' gesture of maintaining the decorum of the House, I propose to revise the suspension of their MLAs," Nitin Patel said while moving the motion to reduce the penalty. "I request the Speaker too, to calm down and be light-hearted," he said addressing the Speaker. Both the parties, meanwhile, maintained that no "deal" was struck and that both the issues were not related. "We welcome the move by the House to curtail our suspension as we wanted to raise the issues concerning our constituency and would not have been able to do so," Pratap Dhudhat said. "We were willing to go to the court as there was no provision for suspension of a legislator for more than the length of a session in the rules of the House," he said. Having made anti-corruption as the main agenda of his political party, Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said his first signature as chief minister, if elected, would be towards the constitution of Lokayukta. Tamil Nadu is the only state in southern India without the anti-corruption ombudsman in place. Addressing college students in Ponneri, the actor, who has launched his political party Makkal Needhi Maiam, said Lokayukta was necessary to ensure that no corrupt politician takes the seat of power in the future. "There is something called Lokayukta. If I get the opportunity (to be the chief minister), signing the file towards the establishment of the body will be the first signature. Even if you get the opportunity, you should do it," Kamal said. The actor was responding to a question from a student on what would be his first decision if gets to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Touching several topics like NEET, Dravidianism, rot in the education system and corruption, Kamal also accused the Tamil Nadu government of "obstructing" him from meeting students and interacting with them in colleges. "The government can stop me from visiting educational institutions, but they will never be successful in stopping me from learning," the actor said. He also exhorted students to be "politically conscious" to ensure that they elect "honest and competent" politicians. The government on Tuesday extended the deadline to link individuals' Permanent Account Number (PAN) with their Aadhaar to June 30 from March 31. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued an order to this effect after the Supreme Court earlier this month had extended indefinitely the deadline for linking Aadhaar with various services. The deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking for filing I-T returns is being extended after consideration of the matter, the CBDT order said. The order came four days ahead of the income tax return filing deadline, March 31. This is the fourth time the government has extended the deadline for linking PAN with Aadhaar. Earlier, the dates were extended to August 31, December 31 and March 31. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Trumpchi plans to set up a sales company in North America and a trade platform in Hong Kong in the first half of this year, according to an official source from GAC Trumpchi. GAC Trumpchi attended the 2018 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in Las Vegas during Mar. 23 and 25 and showcased its star product lineup at the NADA , including the GS8, GM8, GA4 and GS4. GAC Trumpchi has become the first Chinese auto brand to attend the NADA. Currently, GAC Trumpchi has a R&D center in Silicon Valley. Besides, its Detroit R&D center and Los Angeles forward-looking designing center had begun to take shape and also embarked on the vehicle R&D tailored for the American market. It is said that GAC Trumpchis first model which will hit the American market has entered into designing stage. According to Yu Jun, general manager of GAC Motor and also vice director of executive committee of GAC Group, entering into the North American market is the latest and also key step of GAC Trumpchis globalization strategy. At the NADA, GAC Trumpchi had close contact and face-to-face communication with more than 150 dealerships in America and Canada. Lithia, one of the world top 500 companies as well as the largest auto dealership group in North America also showed their expectation of cooperating with GAC Trumpchi. The NADA laid a solid foundation for GAC Trumpchi to build good relationship with all kinds of dealerships in North America, and also made preparations for GAC Trumpchis establishment of dealership network in North America. The merger proposal of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular is in the final stages of approval, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said on Tuesday. "FDI approvals are involved and also liberalisation of licences... There are a number of clearances involved. We are in the process of expediting it," Sundararajan told reporters on the sidelines of a Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) event here. She also noted that the merger has already received the green signal from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) as well as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The merger - slated to create India's largest telecom operator in terms of customer base and revenue market share - is expected to be completed by June this year, subject to statutory approvals, the two companies had stated. Vodafone and Idea, the second and the third largest operators in the country, recently announced the new leadership team of the merged entity that will have Kumar Mangalam Birla at the helm as the non-executive Chairman. The two companies last week named Balesh Sharma as the new CEO of the merged entity. To a question on telecom policy, she said the Department of Telecom is in the final stages of drafting the new National Telecom Policy 2018, and will thereafter place it before the Telecom Commission for approval. 5G technology India will be ready with a full roadmap for 5G technology by June this year, Aruna Sundararajan said. "A high-level forum on 5G, which includes global experts, industry experts, IITs, IISc, has already commenced work and done a fair amount of deliberation. By June, India will have a full roadmap ready on this," she said. Insisting that India will be a front-runner in the area of 5G, she said that expert panel is deliberating on the vision, goals, and roadmap on 5G, and will also look at related areas of spectrum policy, regulatory regime, pilot programmes and the test bed. 'Khaki' may be a synonym for the police personnel but at the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, its 'dhoti-kurta'. Apparently in deference to the wishes of the devotees, the administration in Varanasi has decided to change the uniform of the police personnel, who were deployed inside the 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple, to white 'dhoti' and yellow 'kurta'. Police officials said the decision was taken after considering the wishes of the devotees, who flocked in large numbers to pay obeisance at the temple, which is among the 12 'jyotirlingas' (holiest temples of Lord Shiva) in the country. They said that the devotees had often objected to the presence of rifle clad uniformed cops inside the 'garbha griha' saying that it created a sense of fear among them. Women cops The police officials said that the male cops would wear 'dhoti-kurta' while the female cops would be in their usual uniform. ''We have started it as an experiment....it will become a permanent feature if the experiment is successful,'' said a senior police official in Varanasi. He also said that the cops would be in their original uniform outside the sanctum sanctorum. Cops are deployed inside and also around the entry and exit points in the lanes that lead to the temple. Situated on the western bank of the holy Ganga river, the Kashi Vishwanath temple is famous all over the world and Hindu devotees from across the globe flock it in large numbers. The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay any proposed action by the Karnataka government on 362 candidates whose selection by the KPSC in the 2011 batch has been set aside by the high court. However, a bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and R F Nariman said any action, if taken by the state government, would be subject to the outcome of the apex court's final order. The court apparently found nothing wrong in withdrawing notification for appointment on the basis of an inquiry report, indicating irregularities in the process. "If the government withdraws its requisition on the basis of suspicion, can anyone claim appointment as a matter of right? See the investigation report, after all, these candidates are going to be a major part of the governance. The administrative decision taken by the government can be questioned only if it is arbitrary and mala fide exercise of power," the bench said. The top court was hearing a batch of special leave petitions filed by a group of candidates, challenging the high court's judgement of March 9, which had quashed the directions issued by the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal on October 19, 2016, to issue appointment letters to them. Senior advocates V Giri, Raju Ramachandran and Guru Krishna Kumar, representing the candidates, contended that the high court had failed to segregate the tainted ones from the selection list for the post of a gazetted probationer in Group A and B services. The high court acted on a writ petition filed by unsuccessful candidates, they pointed out. They argued that the state government could not have withdrawn its 2011 notification on August 14, 2014, the basis of the 2013 CID report, when the whole selection process was complete. The counsel claimed only a few candidates were found to be in touch with the KPSC members. "On that basis, the whole process cannot be suspect," they submitted. Ramachandran contended that the state government had accepted the KAT's decision and did not prefer an appeal. "Can the government be asked to stick to suspicion," he asked. The counsel also pointed out that no substantial action has been taken based on the investigation report. To this, the bench said, "In the criminal law, you may not be able to convict. But here, the ultimate test would be irrationality and arbitrariness." Guru Krishna Kumar sought the court to stay the notice issued by the state government to selected candidates on the basis of the high court's judgement. The bench said, "We will not stay any action by the state government but it will be subject to the outcome of the case." The court refused to issue a notice to the state government but sought assistance from Additional Advocate General Devdatt Kamat in the matter on April 3, the next date of hearing. The Bengaluru city police on Tuesday arrested four kidnappers and recovered Rs 2.3 lakh in cash along with other valuables that they had robbed from a photographer. The arrested are Madhu Kiran alias Madhu (32), a resident of Kembathahalli, Manjunath V (29), a resident of Muneshwara Layout, Anand Ramaswamy (26), a resident of Doddakallasandra, and Narendra Ramakrishna (24), a resident of Anekal taluk in Jigani Hobli. All of them were produced before a magistrate who remanded them in judicial custody. Beside robbing, these men had recently abducted Prathap Krishna from Kothnur Dinne in East Bengaluru. Although the kidnapping and robbery happened on March 10, Prathap could only muster the courage to lodge a complaint with the Konanakunte police on March 16. The police said that before releasing Prathap, the kidnappers had threatened him with dire consequences if he took shelter of law. According to the police, Prathap, a resident of Kodichikkanahalli main road in Bommanahalli, received a phone call from his friend and left to meet him at Kothnur Dinne to help him prepare set up a new photo studio. Incidentally, Prathap had to withdraw money from an ATM kiosk. But as soon as he stepped out of the kiosk, four unidentified men abducted him in a Mahindra TUV. They then drove him to Eiffel Green Resort on Begur-Koppa Road in Mylasandra Dinne and illegally confined him for a day where he was robbed off Rs 80,000 in cash along with his debit cards, phone and other valuables. His abductors threatened Prathap at knife point to give them his debit PIN numbers, after which they withdrew and swiped away a sum of Rs 2.72 lakh from his account on several instances. The kidnappers also bought gold jewellery swiping his cards, the police said. Later, when Prathap lodged a complaint, the police formed teams and based on clues provided by him picked up all the gang members for questioning, and recovered the robbed valuables from them. The Election Commission (ECI) on Tuesday called upon the Information Technology professionals from Karnataka to help it make it sure that the social media was not misused to run malicious or divisive campaign during the electioneering for the state Assembly polls. The Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said that the IT professionals of Karnataka could render a "great service to strengthen democracy" in the country if they could do "whatever is within their reach" to help the commission to ensure that no one could misuse social media to influence the poll outcomes, either by running divisive and malicious campaign or by harvesting data unduly. The ECI noted the reports about data harvested from social media had been unduly used to sway public opinion "in some developed countries". Rawat said that the ECI itself had formulated social media policy and had set up a social media hub at the commission to keep tab on social media during elections. He stressed on cooperation from the IT professionals of Karnataka, noting that the state was known as the "IT capital of India." Notwithstanding the controversy regarding harvesting of data from Facebook by Cambridge Analytica, the ECI is likely to continue using the social media during and beyond the polls in Karnataka, the CEC said. "Any aberration won't stop the use of modern technology... bank-frauds have taken place, but we don't stop banking," Rawat said while announcing the schedule of polls in Karnataka in a press conference at the Nirvachan Sadan. The EC has been using Facebook and other social media platforms to engage with youths to encourage them to enrol as voters and cast their votes to participate in democratic exercise. The EC partnered with the Facebook to reach out to them. The EC took note of the controversy over alleged role of British political consultancy company Cambridge Analytica harvesting data from Facebook to sway public opinion in favour of Donald Trump during the US Presidential election in 2016 as well as to influence the referendum the same year when the British voted to leave the European Union. With the model code of conduct in place, the state government can no longer announce new schemes or launch new projects. Also, schemes already announced cannot be given effect to, the Election Commission said Tuesday. Restrictions binding on the government have been sent to Chief Secretary K Ratna Prabha, Additional Chief Electoral Officer K G Jagadeesha said. "Directions have been issued to remove all government advertisements within 24 hours," he added. Only administrative decisions required for the day-to-day functioning of the government can be taken. Beneficiary schemes can continue, but new beneficiaries cannot be identified. "Foundation stones for development works cannot be laid. Civil works already underway can continue. For civil works whose action plan is ready, the government cannot float tenders or issue work orders," Jagadeesha said. Ministers are barred from convening review meetings with officials. They can leave Bengaluru for official business only after informing the chief secretary and the Election Commission in writing. A "total ban" is in place for transferring officials on election duty. Also, no departmental enquiry can be ordered against such officials. The state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday turned into a classroom, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah taking time to advice his Cabinet colleagues about their required conduct during the next couple of months. As the model code of conduct came into effect on Tuesday, the Cabinet, which had gathered for the scheduled meeting, decided not to take up any new subjects, except for confirming the previous meeting's decisions. Siddaramaiah made use of the opportunity available to give certain suggestions to the ministers. While assuring them that the Congress would come back to power for the next term also, Siddaramaiah, however, told his colleagues to be careful while making speeches or issuing statements. He cautioned them not to issue any controversial statements, which could dent Congress's prospects during the elections. He is also learnt to have told them to resolve issues (if any) at their own level, and not bring the matter to "Bengaluru". Claiming that there is no anti-incumbency factor, Siddaramaiah has asked his colleagues to be positive and also to effectively educate the electorate about the government's programmes. He also entrusted the district in-charge ministers with the responsibility of winning maximum number of seats in their districts. Drinking water Siddaramaiah also directed Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil to convene a meeting to ascertain the drinking water situation across the state. The issue of worsening drinking water situation came up for discussion during the meeting. Later speaking to reporters, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said that six to seven ministers, including himself, had broached the subject before the Cabinet. Stating that the model code of conduct does not apply for supply of drinking water, Jayachandra said that it was decided to ascertain the amount required to make provisions for supply of drinking water, especially digging of borewells. Jayachandra said that though the water shortage problem was alarming, it was not yet acute. "At this stage, there is no need to supply water through tankers," he added. Jayachandra also said that the state government has written to the Centre asking it to grant a four-month extension to Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha, who is scheduled to retire on March 31. "If the Centre does not grant the extension, then we will have to take a decision. The letter was dispatched more than 10 days ago," Jayachandra added. BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the ruling Congress of snatching grants meant for the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and giving it to the minorities to appease the latter. In his first political convention after the poll dates were announced, Shah also tried to invoke local pride by stating the government gave preference to personalities like Hyder Ali, who defeated Chitradurga chieftain Madakari Nayaka through betrayal. "The Siddaramaiah government has earmarked Rs 130 crore for scholarships to ST students, but the amount for minority students is Rs 513 crore. I am not saying do not provide money to minorities, but it is not right to divert the funds meant for STs," he said. Shah said the government does not recognise the patriotism of Madakari Nayaka, but celebrates Jayantis of Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and Bahamanis. He said the BJP, if voted to power, will construct a memorial for Madakari Nayaka and the Chitradurga fort will be developed as a major tourist spot. A faux pas by BJP president Amit Shah during a press conference in Davangere on Tuesday left the party embarrassed. Shah said, "A retired Supreme Court recently said that if we hold a competition for the most corrupt government in the country, then Yeddyurappa government shall be given the No. 1 award." Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi who was seated next to Shah tried to correct him, but by then the damage had been done. When asked for his comments, state BJP president Yeddurappa said, "it was inadvertent" Within a few minutes, a video of the Shah's statement went viral and the Congress made the best use of it. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted #shahoflies hs spoken the truth. AICC chief Rahul Gandhi dubbed it as his "top secret campaign video". Rahul's taunt at Shah triggered a video war between the Congress and the BJP. Senior BJP leaders, including a Union Minister, tweeted videos of some embarrasing goof ups by Congress leaders. "Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever... True," Rahul said on Twitter and appended a short clip of Shah's presser in Davangere. Congress' social media head Ramya also took a dig at the BJP president for the slip of tongue. "Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth we all concur with you Amit ji. B S Yeddyurappa is the most corrupt," Ramya said on Twitter. Union Minister Giriraj Singh posted a video of bloopers by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. "Dear Rahul Gandhi, mistakes happen. But why not show the full video where it was rectified and none other than Siddaramaiah had been called corrupt," Singh said. "Oye Rahul, You prove your silliness by wanting to base your campaign on a slip of tongue! Btw, unlike you we have no secrets, we believe in complete transparency. Visit https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi to know our star campaigner, gifted to us by India's most corrupt dynasty," the Karnataka BJP hit back Old video posted Ramya also posted an old video on her Twitter timeline where Amit Shah could be heard criticising the "Yeddyurappa government" in Karnataka. "This isnt the first time by the way what exactly are Amit Shah's feelings towards Yeddyurappa? All's not good in the hood," she said. Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday ruled out having pre-poll alliance with the Congress or any secular parties, citing time constraint. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Gowda said that earlier in the day, members of the Samvidhana Rakshanegagi Karnataka had met him and urged him to forge an alliance with the Congress to ensure the "communal" BJP's defeat in the elections. "But where is the time to do this? They have said that the BJP should be defeated in the elections," he said. Gowda also said that his conversation with the members of the organisation had been misinterpreted by the media. After the members of the organisation sought the secular forces to unite, Gowda is learnt to have told them to ask the Congress to release its list on seat sharing with the JD(S). This had fueled speculations that the JD(S) was forging a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. It also created a buzz in the political circles, as, just the day before, Gowda had launched a scathing attack against Congress and its national president Rahul Gandhi. Gowda, however, made it clear that he was not entertaining any such thoughts. "I was saddened by these speculations. The JD(S) has formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The party is also exploring a pre-poll alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP). There is no time to explore alliances with any other parties. I was sarcastic when I spoke about an alliance with the Congress. I have already clarified that the JD(S) will not form an alliance with either the BJP or Congress," he added. Later, party spokesperson Ramesh Babu issued a statement clarifying that the Samvidhana Rakshanegagi Karnataka members were "supporters" of the Congress and that the members had approached the JD(S) to "mislead" the electorate. US to Provide Record $705M for Israeli Missile Defense Programs The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 19.6%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. Stefan Prestrelski, a student from Torrey Pines High School, has won first prize in the 10th Grade Individual Category from the 2018 NASA Ames Space Settlement Design Contest. The NASA Ames Space Development Contest is an annual contest co-operated by NASA Ames Research Center, San Jose State University, and the National Space Society. Middle and high school students from anywhere in the world can submit projects on the design and considerations in all aspects of space settlement and supporting systems. The 2018 contest received approximately 2,500 submissions from 10,000 students from more than 20 countries (settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/). Inspired by a revolutionary technology currently in development by NASA for spacecraft launch systems, Stefan worked with his adviser, Torrey Pines High School Science and Engineering teacher Brinn Belyea, to design a novel emergency evacuation system for use in space stations. The system described in his submission, Project EMLEE: Conceptual Design of a High Velocity Electromagnically-Launched Emergency Evacuation System for the Moon-Orbiting Space Settlement MOSS-2033, is designed to rapidly evacuate a small space settlement and send the escape capsules to a safe range within 10 minutes of evacuation. Stefan worked extremely hard on his project. His knowledge of and passion for space travel are inspiring said Belyea. 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. Subscriber content preview Hecla President Phillips S. Baker Jr. was formerly CFO for bankrupt Pegasus Mining Co., which paid only part of a $100M cleanup bill. By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. An Idaho mining company sued Montana environmental regulators on Friday for labeling the company and its president bad actors who should pay for cleanups at several polluted sites before pursuing two new mines beneath a wilderness area. Attorneys for subsidiaries of Hecla Mining described the state's allegation that the company is responsible for past and ongoing pollution from defunct mines as frivolous. . . . While futurists talk about Artificial Intelligence and robots ruling the workforce, the HR industry has a challenge that is much closer to home. Digitising recruitment and retention processes is critical in todays hot talent market in order to strike the delicate balance between maximising profit and retaining the best staff. This fact is amplified for a few reasons The fight for talent is reaching fever pitch as buying power becomes increasingly skewed in the favour of individual talent who collectively have more choice and influence over how they work and the conditions they find attractive. Employers must now appeal to the more mindful employee and what they value in a job. In PwCs Workforce of the future report: Forces shaping 2030, 25 per cent of people said their ideal employer is an organisation with values matching their own. Even if a job looks good on paper and pays well, employees are looking for workplaces that offer a good cultural and value fit. Market conditions are also tight and HR managers are up against challenging external forces. On the home-front, visa requirements are driving up remuneration and many businesses are paying top dollar for often less than top performers. There are also real talent shortages for high-demand jobs such as software developers, data analysts, and change managers, which doesnt make the situation much easier for businesses requiring specialised skill. Lets not forget that 70 per cent of the global workforce is made up of passive talent rather than active job seekers, meaning employers need to genuinely understand their candidate and engage them more tactfully than ever before and in places where talent isnt looking. Most businesses already know that talent is its biggest asset and people arent a commodity. This is why a people first approach to talent capture and management is likely to stick but HR teams are still navigating this trend. Globally, only 34 per cent of CEOs believe HR is well prepared to capitalise on transformational trends, a confidence measure that needs increasing. Deloitte research also tells us that while 56 per cent of businesses are planning to leverage digital and mobile tools to improve HR, only nine per cent of Australian businesses understand how to build a future-ready organisation. While there is enough evidence to show why HR needs to be digital and why HR teams need to appropriately invest in digital assets to play at a higher vantage point, many businesses are still not utilising digital technology or are using outdated and on-premise HR legacy systems with complex pricing and implementations. Quite simply, if you want to win and retain top talent, you need to embrace digital and be equally savvy in applying the right digital tools to capture that talent. Otherwise, expect to be competing for lower hanging fruit. Specialised HR cloud-based solutions now allow HR managers to leverage data analytics to determine, for instance, the most effective channels, time, and day to post job ads to make smarter and cost effective hiring decisions. Best-fit candidates for instance can be sourced by identifying and measuring where current and previous top talent has come from including which channels are most successful such as Seek or LinkedIn to optimise recruitment spend. HR teams can also create talent pools to efficiently hire from identified talent, as well as set and track their business recruitment KPIs around time-to-hire, cost of hire, and return on investment. To help win talent in todays digital and competitive market, here are five talent sourcing and management processes that every business and HR manager should adopt now Branding LinkedIns Global Recruiting Trends 2017 Report asked talent acquisition managers where theyd invest the company budget. Branding topped their wish list (51 per cent), followed by new technology (39 per cent), better sourcing tools (38 per cent), candidate experience (30 per cent), and training for recruiters (29 per cent). While it takes more than an updated brand logo and good job ad to standout to potential talent, how your business presents itself in a crowded market is an important consideration this is because the brand is a reflection of company culture and todays employees place a high value on just that, culture. Onboarding Once the right candidate is hired they need an orientation to be aligned with business values and culture, and often, candidates need to meet certain training and compliance requirements which typically comes at a big cost. If an employee undergoes job training and leaves six weeks after the training is complete, there is a tremendous cost burden to the organisation. A specialised onboarding program could avoid this issue. For instance, todays onboarding programs have features that allow for seamless document capture, transparent workflows, and visibility across team and organisational profiles so that everyone is working harmoniously Career Development Businesses can avoid the high-cost of early staff turnover by helping new hires with a career lattice, rather than an unattainable career ladder. This approach goes beyond vertical options to vertical, diagonal and lateral career choices. Specialised cloud-based software refines and structures performance reviews and appraisals to help identify how employees can best attain their career goals and then enables managers to fill training gaps, such as by using an e-learning tool. Eliminate poetic license Trawling through a pile or virtual stack of CVs is still a reality for many recruiters. The right talent management software can easily and efficiently filter applications by comparing candidates suitability by skills, performance, potential and aspirations. Any discrepancies in their claims or career histories are also picked up as jobseekers are evaluated on their track record, not prose. Forecasting Unified HR platforms can mitigate the hire-fire cycle by having succession plans mapped out and having a risk strategy for future vacancies this strategy should include an assessment of critical talent and flight risk to enable efficient forecasting and planning. To win todays war for talent, it is essential you have the right ammunition. Arming your organisation with a people first attitude and an effective talent management system will ensure that you attract and retain the best talent. About the author Danny Lessem is the founder and CEO of ELMO Software Limited (ASX:ELO), which provides innovative HR cloud technology to more than 500 organisations across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Danny has a law background and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) qualifications. Discussions begin about extending Banks engagement in the country beyond 2020 EBRD President Chakrabarti welcomes progress made in Greece, but much still to be done Highlights strong support for Greek private sector Greek authorities request extension of Banks mandate beyond 2020 EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti has visited Thessaloniki and Athens where he met Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Development and EBRD Governor Yiannis Dragasakis, Minister of Finance Euclid Tsakalotos, and Thanassis Savakis, President of the Association of Northern Industries of Greece. President Chakrabarti said: In less than two and a half years we have invested 1.6 billion in the Greek economy and Greece has become the fifth largest country in which we invest. This demonstrates what the EBRD can do and illustrates our commitment to the country, one of the founding members of our institution. If our shareholders agree, we are ready to work with the Greek authorities to extend our mandate to support economic recovery. Following a decision by its shareholders, the EBRD started investing in Greece in 2015 based on a temporary mandate until the end of 2020. Since the beginning of its operations the Bank has made major contributions to supporting the private sector, developing renewable sources of energy, improving competitiveness and strengthening the regional integration of the local economy. Recognising the contribution of the EBRDs activities to Greeces recent economic recovery and the benefit of further engagement by the Bank, the Greek authorities have requested an extension of the EBRD mandate. EBRD shareholders will vote on the extension at the Banks Annual Meeting in May. All EBRD investments in Greece to date have been in the private sector, and 20 per cent have been equity investments. Notable examples are: the stabilisation of the banking sector with the acquisition of equity stakes in the countrys four systemic banks; a 187 million participation in the modernisation of 14 regional airports led by Fraport; a 300 million framework for renewables; and support for corporates such as Fourlis, Loulis and Mytilineos as well as an equity investment in the real estate developer Dimand. In policy engagement the EBRD is active in developing responses to the continuing issue of non-performing loans. New Zealand's dairy industry close to becoming unsustainable At the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Christchurch, New Zealand, a scientist pointed out that dairy production in the country may be reaching a stage where it is "probably not going to be suitable in the future," Newshub reported. 120 renowned scientists were at the event, where IPCC's worldwide coalition of scientists and academics met to discuss solutions to climate change. This discourse would bring out "positive solutions" to improve New Zealand's farming systems, which scientists warned, have reached their limit, according to Anita Wreford, an associate professor of Lincoln University. "I'm not saying (we) move away from dairy completely but I think we certainly need to look at other options. I think we need a mix of land use, more diversity in our landscapes, different types of products," Wreford said, adding that "there will always be a place for dairy production", which, even then, could become unsustainable in future. She further highlighted New Zealand's strength in the efficiency and productivity of its agriculture sectors but also noted "environmental limits" affecting current practices in production. "We need to think carefully about how we use our land not only for agriculture but for a variety of land uses, what types of things we are producing and (if) they are suited to the climate (today)," she commented. For five days during the IPCC conference, scientists were drafting a report which will inform governments on how to best deal with climate change in the coming years. Dear @IlhanMN, I hear you plan to go on a fact-finding tour of Israel. In fact, Israel is doing pretty well. Its, Somalia, your native country, that could truly use your formidable skills. Maybe you could use your frequent flyer miles and swing by. Is Sofia Richie coming to her senses and considering making a break from her months-long relationship with reality star Scott Disick? While the couple has been spotted out together frequently in recent weeks, a new report claims that the 19-year-old model is becoming fed up with the 34-year-old Keeping Up With the Kardashians star's antics. Sofia is definitely becoming more woke when it comes to Scott, a source close to Richie told Hollywood Life on March 25. Shes starting to see a lot of things that she was initially blinded to." Scott Disick Is Showing His True Colors After Months Of Dating According to the insider, Richie enjoyed their relationship fully when it began because it was filled with travel and fun. However, as time has continued, things between the couple have reportedly become mundane and Disick is no longer the attentive, charming boyfriend he was once. In fact, the source said Disick is often a "d**k" to Richie and because of that, she's begun listening to her friends and family and is beginning to realize that Disick may not be the love of her life after all. Scott Disick Recently Discusses His Romance With Sofia Richie I guess its kind of flattering that people care, Disick told People magazine on March 23. In recent months, Disick's relationship with Richie has been highly publicized. Even during their vacations, paparazzi have been known to follow the couple and share photos of them online. That said, Disick told the magazine that he isn't mad about fans' interest. Scott Disick And Sofia Richie Are Always Fighting As rumors continue to swirl in regard to a potential love triangle between Disick, Richie, and Disick's ex-girlfriend, Kourtney Kardashian, the Hollywood Life insider has revealed that Disick and Richie have begun to fight frequently. As for what the couple's reported fights are about, the source said that the majority of their issues stem from his alleged obsession with Kardashian and what she's doing in her life. Although Kardashian is currently involved in a relationship with Younes Bendjima, that hasn't stopped Disick's reported curiosity about his former girlfriend. They've also been at odds due to Disick's poor treatment of Richie. Disick and Richie first went public with their relationship last summer after facing romance rumors for months. Captain Marvel began production recently, and Brie Larson, who plays the titular role, proves she is more than ready for the superhero film. The film centering on Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel started rolling in Los Angeles, California, just one of the production locations of the film. With the announcement is Larson's photo on what seemed like a jet with Brigadier General Jeannie Leavitt. Apparently, the 28-year-old award-winning actress is at Nevada in Nellis Air Force Base "to research her character." This is not the first time preparations of Larson for the Captain Marvel film were revealed. In January, back when production has not yet started, the Room actress's dedication already shone. Larson took to Instagram early this year to share to her fans just how much dedicated she was in giving justice to her portrayal in Captain Marvel. The photo showed the actress with full uniform on and a helmet, along with another service staff guiding her. "Learning how to fly," she wrote. Workout Additionally, she has been working hard to keep her body in shape. Of late, Larson was seen working out on her social media, showing her doing some pull-ups. The caption revealed she has been doing this for nine months already, and no one's asking about the authenticity of the duration of her workout as plain as day, her back is ripped and has muscles. "Nine months of training really does some stuff to your body #mondaymotivation," Larson said. Clearly it is not a walk in the park for Larson, or for anyone else for that matter, to be shedding out sweat and building up muscles. However, her current form is saying that what she is finally reaping is something fruitful, thanks to her dedication and effort. Behind-the-scene Photos Her toned and ripped body was also evident in photographs fans were able to take at the set of Captain Marvel. The behind-the-scene images showed Larson in her green suit, which fits her perfectly. To be fair, Marvel bosses have already lauded Larson, describing her as the perfect choice for Captain Marvel. However, accepting the titular role was't easy, but she eventually did, citing the things she could impart to young women. "The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races," the plot read. Captain Marvel is slated for a March 8, 2019 release and will star, apart from Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, and Ben Mendelsohn. The White House is calling for legal action to be taken against adult actress Stormy Daniels after her explosive interview in 60 Minutes. Scared Into Silence Brent Blakely, the attorney for Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen, claims his client never made threats to Daniels. In fact, Blakely denied his client's involvement in a letter on Sunday. He argued that Daniels and her lawyer Michael Avenatti made false and defamatory statements during the show's episode, which aired on Sunday night. Many anticipated the interview with the adult film star as Daniels was expected to reveal untold details regarding her relationship with President Trump. During the interview, Daniels confessed that an unidentified man threatened her and told her to keep quiet about the alleged affair. The said incident took place in a parking lot, where she was instructed to leave Trump alone and forget about it. "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom," the man then said, referring to Daniels's young daughter. Nothing To See Here According to Blakely, Cohen has nothing to do with the alleged incident. In fact, he insists that it didn't even happen in the first place. He's accusing Daniels and her lawyer of libel against his client. He demands an immediate cease and desist and a public apology to Cohen. Although the 60 Minutes interview with Daniel was highly publicized, she actually revealed little about her alleged affair with Trump that happened in 2006, that wasn't already widely known. She did, however, admit to facing various intimidation tactics meant to ensure she kept her mouth shut back in 2011. Regardless of whether or not anything new was gleaned, the episode was still the show's highest rating in 10 years, according to CBS. Daniels reputedly received a $130,000 payout just days before the 2016 presidential election. She has since sought to invalidate an NDA that Trump never signed. Everything Is 'Fake News' The President has refuted the allegations, although he has curiously kept quiet about Daniels on social media. He did, however, complained on Twitter about the amount of fake news currently circulating the net. Cohen claims the affair never happened and that the $130,000 was a personal payment out of his own funds. Avenatti told 60 Minutes that he has documents to prove Cohen used his Trump Organization e-mail address to set up the payment. He also claims that he has proof that the NDA was sent by FedEx to Cohen at his Trump Organization office in New York. David Schwartz, one of Cohen's lawyers, appeared on Good Morning America and said Daniels is lying. "The lying is all over that piece," he said. Avenatti, on his part, told Today that Daniels will not divulge everything just yet, but promised that more information will be unveiled. Daniels filed a defamation suit against Cohen's lawyer on Monday, just a day after her interview aired. The complaint alleged that Trump's lawyer stating on national television that Daniels was lying has damaged her reputation. It also noted that the NDA is invalid not just because Trump didn't sign it, but the payment also violated campaign finance law. Toeing The Party Line Raj Shah, deputy press secretary, fielded several questions about the 60 Minutes interview at Monday's White House press briefing. "With respect to that interview, the president strongly, clearly and has consistently denied these underlying claims, and the only person who's been inconsistent is the one making the claims," he responded to one journalist. As for the all-important question of whether or not Trump himself watched the interview, Shah was tight-lipped. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber have been on a break for weeks but according to a new set of tweets, there may still be hope for a future reunion. Earlier this week, Bieber's mother, Pattie Mallette, posted a couple of suspicious tweets that many believed were in reference to her son's on-again, off-again romance with Gomez. This comes days after Bieber was spotted with another woman, model Baskin Champion. It aint over til its good. Pattie Mallette (@pattiemallette) March 26, 2018 While Mallette stayed mum on what her tweets were in regard to, "Jelena" fans immediately assumed that she was talking about Gomez and Bieber's relationship. Justin Enjoyed The Company Of Champion Days Ago After spending time with Champion last week, and being caught with her at his home, a source spoke out claiming that Bieber has no serious interest in the model. He isnt dating. He thinks and talks about Selena all the time, a friend of Bieber's explained to People magazine. Bieber has been linked to Champion for several days now but neither he nor the model has spoken out to confirm or deny the rumors of a potential relationship. Instead, they've maintained silence and have not been seen together since their latest hangout. It Isn't Over For Justin And Selena? According to the source, Bieber and Gomez may be spending time apart at the moment but when it comes to their reunion in late 2017, they are definitely not finished. Instead, after struggling to get along after their reconciliation last year, the on-again, off-again couple decided to take a break and will likely be back together sometime soon. Bieber and Gomez were seen together at church in Los Angeles on March 7 and haven't been seen in the same place since. How Is Selena Handling Their Split? Following a trip to Texas to see her family and a visit to Australia with several of her friends, Gomez is back in Los Angeles and doing her best to enjoy spending quality time with her close friends. After a rough 2017, which included a breakup from The Weeknd and a kidney transplant, Gomez has been focusing on her health and working out regularly. In recent months, she's been seen on several bike rides in Los Angeles and has also hit up a few pilates classes. While Kim Kardashian is arguably one of the most famous women in the world, she revealed shed rather have her businesses than the spotlight. The star also talked about her husband, having a surrogate, and if theyll have more kids. Kim On Why She Wants Business Over Fame As for why shed choose the life of a businesswoman over being famous, Kardashian said business is something shes had a passion for since she was a little girl. Even when I worked in my dads office, I was doing side eBay jobs on my lunch break, said Kardashian. I lived a really great life growing up, but we were taught that if we wanted to keep that up, we had to work. She said that ultimately, if she had to choose between one or the other, shed choose business over fame. For now, she is still a celebrity with a following that cant be denied. Still, fans know Kardashian and her family are no strangers to backlash and criticism that they often respond to. She explained that she dealt with the negativity when she stopped caring about what other people think, and started focusing on what makes her happy. She insisted that not everyone can handle the life of the rich and famous and credited her close ones for helping her cope. Kim and Kanye Learn From Each Other Fans can thank one of Kardashians close ones, her husband Kanye West, for her decision to speak out more these days. She said that one thing shes learned in her marriage to the outspoken rapper is to have more of an opinion. Still, she added that shes taught him how to tone it down when it comes to sharing his thoughts. Were a good balance together, added Kardashian. Will The West Family Ever Welcome Baby Number 4? The two just welcomed their third child together, Chicago West, earlier this year. This time around was a bit different for the couple as they went the surrogacy route. Kardashian said while she wasnt a fan of being pregnant after carrying North West and Saint West, if she could, she would have carried Chicago as well. Still, she knew her body couldnt go through another pregnancy. When it came to how they determined which embryo to choose, Kardashian said the healthiest one was the most important to her. That one happened to be a girl. Now, Kardashian said shes not sure if she wants to have baby number four, but shes open to it. She made it clear she wouldnt be able to handle more than that and explained she would want to be there for Kanye as much as she is for her children. Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest news and updates on your favorite celebrities. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is still unsure what the United States wants in return for a permanent EU waiver from steel tariffs but she promised that she would resist pressure to decrease EU duties on US cars. Ms. Malmstrom who leads negotiations on behalf of the 28-state EU admitted that it still needs to be figured out what would satisfy the ultimate arbiter in the White House. US President has given the EU and six other allies until 1 May to negotiate permanent exemptions from tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum. The EU was already cooperating with the US to address trade practices that promoted overcapacity of both steel and aluminum. Then they always come back to these car tariffs, she said, referring to longstanding US grumbling over EU duties. If you have analyzed all the speeches by President Trump, he seems to think that, and Im almost quoting him, that the rest of the world is cheating the US, that we have unfair trade practices, she added. Brussels disputes Trumps view on tariffs and his focus on cars, for which the US tariff, at 2.5 percent, is lower than the EUs 10 percent. For other products, such as trucks, American tariffs are higher than European ones. Ms. Malmstrom said that the EU also had a long list of trade irritants with the White House; for example, the Buy America Act that requires federal funds for road and rail projects to be spent on American-made goods, or the Jones Act, which requires goods shipped between US ports to be transported on US vessels crewed by US citizens. These are things that would be mutually beneficial if we can solve, and were always willing to engage but we need to know what is the expected outcome for May and how serious is that deadline, Ms. Malmstrom pointed out. As to the deadline, Ms. Malmstrom commented that the May deadline puts pressure on negotiations with NAFTA countries (Canada and Mexico) and with South Korea on revamping their trade deals. Im not sure exactly what this deadline means and what they are expecting from this, she said. The EU is certainly not negotiating anything under threat, especially when we dont really know what it is. EU chief of trade also added that no one in the White House was proposing to revive the stalled EU-US trade negotiations. European leaders have joined their UK and US counterparts in blaming Moscow over the poisoning of a Russian former double agent in Britain, thus backing UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays statement that there was no other plausible explanation. In an unusual manifestation of solidarity with Britain, EU leaders put aside their internal differences over Russia and supported the UK amid one of the most significant foreign policy tests in recent years. This is considered a sign of the continuity of a strong defense and security partnership following Brexit. The European Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent attack in Salisbury, EU leaders said in their statement. It agrees with the United Kingdom governments assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and there is no plausible alternative explanation. We stand in unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security. Last week, EU leaders hinted that capitals were working on their own responses to the Salisbury attack. For the time being, new EU-wide sanctions are not on the table but the leaders signaled that this could change if the Kremlin does not help facilitate investigation efforts. More importantly, more than 20 countries, including several European nations, the US and Australia, have expelled dozens of Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy, whereby this action is described as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. Russia vowed to retaliate to the provocative gesture. In early March 2018, former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury, England, with the chemical identified as Novichok nerve agent. Weeks after the attack, both remain in critical condition. In the aftermath of the incident, Prime Minister May expelled 23 Russian diplomats, bringing tensions between London and Moscow to their worst levels since the end of the Cold War. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? you can't use equity on real property as proof of settlement funds . The funds must be available both when you apply and when (if) we issue you a permanent resident visa. You must prove to an immigration officer that you can legally access them to use to settle here when you arrive. For proof, you must get official letters from any banks or financial institutions where you are keeping money. Letter(s) must: be printed on the financial institutions letterhead include their contact information (address, telephone number and email address) include your name list outstanding debts such as credit card debts and loans include, for each current bank and investment account: account numbers the date each account was opened the current balance of each account the average balance for the past six months Funds must be readily available to you. For example,The funds must be available both when you apply and when (if) we issue you a permanent resident visa. You must prove to an immigration officer that you can legally access them to use to settle here when you arrive.For proof, you must get official letters from any banks or financial institutions where you are keeping money.Letter(s) must: Click to expand... You can't use overdrafts or lines of credit as proof of funds - you don't actually own the money in them - you borrow against them and then repay them - that "...hard earned money saved in the home loan..." isn't yours to do as you wish, it just frees up equity in your overdraft or line of credit, which means that while youspend against it you will still have to pay it back at a later date and, as such, the CIC could (correctly) argue that the Rs 35000/month extra that you put in is just your attempt to get your overdraft down to Rs 0 (overdrafts and personal lines of credit exist in Canada, so the CIC is well aware of them and how they work).Also, for Express Entry, you can't use equity of any kind as proof of funds... see the following from the Government of Canada The CSO has today released tourism data for the first two months of 2018 The data shows that the number of overseas visits to Ireland for the first two months of 2018 increased by 7.9%, compared to the corresponding period in 2017. A breakdown of todays data shows that visits from Mainland Europe were up by 17.6%, compared to the same period last year, while visits from North America and Britain were up by 4.2% and 4% respectively. Visits from the rest of the world (long-haul) were down by 3.8%. Commenting on todays CSO data, Failte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly said: Today we have another set of robust figures which reflect the strength of the tourism sector, but obviously it is too early in the year to draw hard and fast conclusions from the data we have to date. In Failte Ireland, we still anticipate that the British market may be down this year. We are working with hundreds of businesses across the country through our Get Brexit Ready Programme to prepare for further consequences from the Brexit effect, and to minimise any exposure to our nearest overseas market. Failte Ireland is particularly helping businesses to diversify into other markets and to ensure their customer mix is balanced. Indeed we saw the first businesses who participated in the Failte Ireland China Ready Programme graduate this week. Tourism sustains 235,000 jobs and generates revenue of 6.7bn, of which an estimated 1.6bn goes to the Exchequer. The key to maintaining this vital contribution to the Irish economy, and safeguarding it from fluctuations in overseas markets, is to build a compelling visitor experience which can compete globally. % change All Visitors (Overnight & Day trips) (000) Jan-Feb 2017 Jan-Feb 2018 % Change Britain 486 505 4.0 North America 167 174 4.2 Mainland Europe 347 409 17.6 France 66 57 -13.4 Germany 56 74 30.5 Italy 31 44 40.2 Spain 43 45 6.1 Other Europe 152 190 25.0 Other Areas 77 74 -3.8 Australia/New Zealand 25 24 -4.0 Other long haul areas 52 50 -3.8 Total Visitors 1,076 1,161 7.9 CSO Overseas visitor numbers January-February 2018 Jump to top Pictured - Madame Xue, Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy with Paul Keeley, Failte Ireland The first graduates of Failte Irelands China Ready Programme - aimed at ensuring Irish tourism businesses are prepared for growing numbers of Chinese visitors - were presented with their certificates at a ceremony in Failte Irelands Dublin HQ. The Programme is aimed at educating Irish tourism businesses about the opportunities available from the Chinese tourist market and is part of Failte Irelands work to assist tourism businesses to diversify their market mix and reduce the risks currently posed by Brexit. The Programme is being run by Failte Ireland in cooperation with Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland. Presenting the certificates, Paul Keeley, Director of Commercial Development at Failte Ireland said that the Irish tourism industry was gearing up to Get China Ready in anticipation of the first direct flights from China starting in June 2018. He emphasised: China is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world with numbers predicted to grow to 200 million by 2020. Last year, an estimated 70,000 Chinese visitors travelled to Ireland and with new direct flights from Beijing and Hong Kong beginning in June, we would expect a substantial increase in those numbers over the coming years. The aim of the China Ready Programme is to ensure that the Chinese visitor is warmly welcomed to Ireland and that tourism businesses are prepared and culturally aware of the requirements of our Chinese visitors. The presentation was attended by Madame Xue, Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy. The first Failte Ireland China Ready certificates were awarded to: Glenkeen Farm Co. Mayo City North Hotel, Gormanstown, Co. Meath Westgrove Hotel, Clane, Co.Kildare Europa Hotel, Belfast, Co. Antrim Culodden Hotel, Belfast, Co. Antrim Stormont Hotel, Belfast, Co. Antrim Newbridge Silver Irish Greyhound Board Failte Ireland anticipates training up to 150 more businesses through the programme during the rest of 2018. Jump to top By Haley Apel Devon Vancura, a senior agricultural engineering major, checks a connection for a testing monitor in the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory. The facility is the designated tractor testing station for the entire United States. New research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is bringing tractor testing into the modern era. Though tractor technology has changed rapidly, the testing techniques used on the machines have not changed in several decades, said Santosh Pitla, project lead and assistant professor in biological systems engineering. Research in precision agriculture often focuses on agronomy, but there has not been as much focus on the power houses, of tractors, Pitla said. Tractors are a primary power source for operations, and they rely heavily on fuel and energy efficiency. Nebraska researcher Santosh Pitla (center) assists students with a sensor-building project. Pitla is leading a new research project that will update techniques used to test tractors. Tractors play an important role in precision agriculture, which is seen as one of the primary ways to provide food, fiber and fuel for a growing population. This project will assess three types of power power takeoff, hydraulic and drawbar used by tractors to pull implements such as planters, field cultivators or ammonia applicators. Older implements would use only one type of power at a time, but todays modern implements use a combination of PTO, hydraulic and drawbar power simultaneously. Because current tractor testing looks only at the drawbar, the research project will focus on implementing mixed mode testing so all three powers can be evaluated at the same time. The biggest opportunity for improved tractor-testing techniques in this area is in fuel efficiency, Pitla said. Its about matching the right tractor to the right implement. Right now, tractors are oversized for some of the implements they are pulling, so they are wasting a lot of energy. The research will occur at the universitys Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead and at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory . The tractor test lab is the officially designated testing station for the United States and gauges tractors according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development codes. The long, oval track on East Campus has completed more than 2,000 tractor tests since 1920. The university is uniquely positioned to conduct this research because of our Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, Pitla said. Were the only facility of our kind capable of testing the largest tractors, and the only facility in the Western Hemisphere. For this project, instrumentation such as sensors and data-logging devices will be placed on the tractors pulling an implement. The instrumentation will help the researchers gather fuel-rate, engine-load and hydraulic-power data. Using this data, the researchers will assess what kind of power is needed for different implements. The data collected from the mixed-mode testing could support manufacturers in their efforts to design more efficient engines. According to Pitla, the research will not be specific to one company and could easily be adopted across the tractor industry. This project is funded by a four-year, $472,887 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agricultures Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. Other researchers involved include: Roger Hoy, director of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory; Joe Luck, associate professor in biological systems engineering; and Rodney Rohrer, research engineer at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory. With President Trumps America First rhetoric it looked like NAFTA renegotiations would end in a stalemate, but Canadian give-aways to appease Trump are keeping NAFTA alive. Farmers and consumers must not be complacent regarding the federal government's political commitments to defend supply management against Trump's demands. Supply Management, a Canadian innovation created in the1960s, regulates the supply of dairy products, chickens, eggs and turkeys. Committed farmers in every region produce the required quantities in exchange for a farm-gate price that reflects the cost of production. Supply Management creates stability in the farming community, eliminates the need for government farm bailouts, allows processors to maximize plant capacity utilization, reduces food miles and prevents waste. Consumers are offered a wide range of high quality products for prices that are on par with countries without supply management. To understand supply management, it is critical to recognize the difference in responses to depressed prices by industrial goods manufacturers versus farmers. The industrial manufacturer reduces variable costs by laying off workers, idling or reducing production and storing inventory until the market improves. In contrast, a farmer depends on predominantly family labour, absorbs labour costs and tries to pay the other bills with increased production, despite the smaller margins. Farmers working with animals, soils and plants, generally in annual cycles, have a very limited ability to stop or reduce production. While it can make sense for individuals to increase production to maintain household income, when everyone does, the market is glutted and prices drop. A vicious circle of over-production and declining prices quickly becomes a crisis. Systemic over-production has produced crises everywhere dairy farmers produce for the international market. Even processors that have invested in more capacity to process lower-priced milk are finding that the market cannot absorb their products, no matter how cheap. At a recent dairy conference in New Zealand, Lino Saputo, CEO of Montreal-based international dairy giant Saputo, urged the world to reign in milk production to stamp out price volatility. In dairy exporting countries without Supply Management, massive permanent government bailouts are paid out to prevent disaster. Canada's supply management system is a beacon of success, increasingly recognized and envied around the world as an elegant solution to overproduction, price volatility, and rural economic vitality. The European Parliament is presently dealing with a resolution to reintroduce supply management after abandoning it in 2012, as member states increasingly see no other solution. Yet our political leadership has a history of trading it away in bits and pieces. When the World Trade Organization (WTO) was founded in the 1990s, Canada was forced to replace 5% of our domestic market with imports. Since then, the American processors have used tariff loopholes to export dubious new products into Canada -- butter oil blends for ice cream, casein concoctions as pizza ingredients and diafiltered milk to replace Canadian milk in cheese production. Canada did not enforce border control measures and sat idly by while these imports caused havoc. Farmers were forced to manage the situation by absorbing quota cuts and providing discounts to Canadian processors. Consequently, the farm gate price is now well below the cost of production formula Canada committed to when to the system was established. Upon signing CETA, the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement with Europe, Canada agreed to import 17,000 additional tonnes of European cheese, taking the production of 400 Canadian farms out of our economy. Although significant here, it will do nothing to help European dairy farmers swamped by over-production. With the Trans Pacific Partnership, the Canadian government agreed to gradually increase imports for all supply managed products and immediately eliminate tariffs for milk protein imports displacing even more Canadian poultry, eggs and dairy another major blow to Canadian farmers. The Canadian government's eagerness to promote globalization by giving away critical pieces of our economy is surely apparent to American NAFTA negotiators. Although many US dairy farmers and other experts acknowledge that the problems in the US dairy industry are due to over-production and access to Canada's market will not solve their problems, there are always a few willing to lobby on behalf of processors and traders with the expectation of future rewards. Source : National Farmers Union The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. For over a year, Brazilian federal police could not access the files on Marcelo Odebrechts notebook computer. They tried using the password from Marcelos cell phones, with no luck. Even Marcelo himself could not access the computer, as his password had been generated by two different electronic tokens that change combination with each access, and he no longer had the tokens following his arrest. When the investigators finally accessed Marcelos computer, the emails, spreadsheets and data they found opened a window into a massive corruption scheme that supported a record 2016 corruption settlement by Odebrechts family business with authorities in Brazil, the United States and Switzerland. The company, Odebrecht SA, admitted to paying $800 million in bribes in exchange for lucrative public infrastructure projects in Brazil and a dozen other primarily Latin American countries. The scandal touched all parts of Brazilian political and corporate life, contributing to the 2016 impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff and the conviction of popular former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison on charges that he and his wife illegally received $1.1 million from Odebrecht in improvements for a beachfront apartment. Through its infamous Division of Structured Operations, Odebrecht bribed its way into projects with Petrobras, the state-controlled oil company, while simultaneously gouging the oil giant on its contracts. A ten-page document written with an old typewriter, captioned the Relacao de Parceiros or relationship of partners, contains 530 names along with their respective nicknames and projects to which they were linked. In 2016, Odebrecht and a related entity agreed to pay $3.5 billion in fines, but this was only the tip of the iceberg of the impact that the scandal would have across Latin America. Since the settlement, prosecutors in nations across Latin America have requested evidence from Brazilian authorities concerning Odebrechts corrupt practices. What has followed is a reckoning of countless political officials and corporations for their involvement in the scandal. Most recently, the president of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, tendered his resignation on the eve of a second impeachment vote that appeared certain to end his presidency. Evidence emerged linking Kuczynski to indirect payments from Odebrecht when he served as Perus economy minister. Kuczynski initially denied the evidence, but then belatedly claimed the payments were made to business partners without his knowledge. Kuczynski released a prior president from prison days before surviving a December impeachment vote, but suffered an immense hit to his public approval as a result. The most recent last straw appears to have involved the release of video tapes allegedly showing a political ally offering public contracts in exchange for a no vote on Kuczynskis impeachment. Elected on a pledge to fight corruption, Kuczynski now has become the third Peruvian president to fall victim to the Odebrecht scandal, with one former leader sitting in pre-trial detention and another subject to an extradition request issued to the United States. Kuczynskis private residences were searched by prosecutors over the weekend, as he is now under criminal investigation and barred from leaving the country. All of these events come just weeks before Lima is to host Western Hemisphere leaders for the Summit of the Americas, an event boasting a now-ironic anti-corruption theme. In his first speech last week, new President Martin Vizcarra promised to fight Perus corruption. Dont lose faith in our institutions, Vizcarra, who had been vice president, told the nation. Let us show you that Peru is bigger than its problems. While Vizcarra transitions to power, Peruvian prosecutors are pursuing the Peruvian companies that worked with Odebrecht, including a group local media has labelled the Construction Club, consisting of companies that formerly worked closely with Odebrecht in Peru on massive public work projects ranging from the main coastal highway to agricultural irrigation systems. Prosecutors recently searched the offices of Perus largest business association, Confiep, after an Odebrecht agent testified to having given money to the group for political campaigning. In the meantime, major projects worth billions of dollars and sales of facilities such as the Chaglla hydroelectric plant have been halted while prosecutors sort out the graft. Recent legislation seeks to ensure that funds from companies involved in bribery will be available to pay restitution to Peru. A member of the parliamentary committee considering the matter recently warned that Every new revelation, every new detail, keeps telling us that this is bigger than we ever thought. The fallout is not limited to Peru. Investigations have spread in other countries, resulting in charges against a Colombian senator, a former vice president of Ecuador, a former economy minister in Argentina, and even Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Countless others remain under review. Brazilian prosecutors have been working closely with their counterparts in other countries to bring the corruption to light. Last year, the Brazilians hosted prosecution officials from 11 countries to form a joint investigation of Odebrechts bribery across Latin America. The cooperation declaration resulting from this meeting has allowed for sharing of evidence and witness testimony among the nations. These agreements, for example, have provided Peruvian prosecutors with access to Marcelo Odebrecht and other former company officials to quiz them about details of the graft in Peru. Prosecutors also have several powerful new laws available to help in their fight against corruption. Brazil led the way with the Clean Company Act, which imposes strict liability on companies for acts of bribery committed in the companys interest or for its benefit. Similar new laws took effect this year in Peru and Argentina. The new laws also emphasize the importance of corporate compliance programs, designed to detect and deter participation in future corruption schemes. For companies doing business in Latin America, the best guidance is to keep abreast of the developments in the region and evolve compliance requirements to reflect the important changes in the environment. The guidance from the Justice Department and SEC recommends such continuous improvement, which may require updates to risk assessments and compliance policies, procedures and practices. This vigilance will help companies to avoid liability and the harm that comes from involvement in improper activity. _____ Gregory Paw, above left, is a partner with Pepper Hamilton LLP. Hes a trial lawyer with extensive white collar experience. A former Deputy U.S. Attorney and past director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, hes a member of Peppers White Collar Litigation and Investigations Practice Group. He is also a member of the firms Business Integrity Practice Group. He can be contacted here. Sandra Orihuela, above right, is a U.S. and Peru licensed attorney and founder of a legal boutique specializing in international business transactions primarily involving Latin America, with a special emphasis on corporate governance, anti-bribery and compliance. She can be contacted here. I didnt set out to be a thriller writer. I originally thought Id become a journalist, and worked as a writer and editor at my university paper. When my kids were small I wrote freelance, and started publishing poems I even did an MFA in poetry, but it was in that program I started writing short stories and found that fiction is my true love. Id imagined my first novel (The Devil You Know) would be more of a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a community in fear my own hometown of Toronto in the shadow of a real-life serial killer in the 1990s but once I got writing, the story became a thriller almost organically. And now, of course, with I Remember You, Im hooked. Elisabeth de Mariaffi I have a Brady Bunch family. When my husband and I merged our families six years ago, we ended up with four kids altogether then ages 4, 9, 11, and 14. It felt a bit risky at the time (mine were the older of the two, I barely remembered the pre-kindergarten days!) but our big, raucous family is so much fun, I cant imagine life any other way. Every book Ive written has a dog in it. I love dogs, and I grew up with them. I have an extremely energetic border collie-shepherd cross now. If I hadnt become a writer, I would have loved to train as an artisan baker or pastry chef. I love to cook and bake, and we often host dinner parties. I have this secret burning desire to train more formally, and learn to bake things that are both delicious and beautiful. I live on an island in the middle of the North Atlantic. Where I live, in St. Johns, Newfoundland, were about a ten-minute drive from the easternmost point in North America. On a windy day we like to tell the kids to stay low to the ground or theyll accidentally blow across to Ireland. Sitting still is the hardest part of my job. Im a runner and I love hiking in the woods just like my character, Heike Lerner. I even rent an office on the top floor of a yoga studio, so catching the noon class is always an option. My family background is actually Transylvanian. My fathers family left in 1944, but we recently got a chance to take my own kids back to see the place where he was born and yes, Ive met people who think Transylvania is just a place Bram Stoker made up. (Its real! And its beautiful.) I have a real weakness for my horoscope. Im a Sagittarius, with a Sagittarius rising, how about you? (I also save all my fortune cookie fortunes.) I was a Hitchcock buff before writing I Remember You, but Id only ever seen two episodes of the Twilight Zone --- because the show scared me as a child. But I knew I wanted to base my character, Leo Dolan, in part on Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling so I watched every episode in the first four seasons. Research! Im not much of a collector of things except clothes. I love a good vintage shop, and I cant abide by that if you havent worn it for a year rule. True fact: I still own dresses that I bought when I was 17. I cant help it. (Luckily my daughter occasionally relieves me of some of that collected wardrobe.) Angelina Jolie has "no interest" in dating. Angelina Jolie The 42-year-old actress split from her estranged husband Brad Pitt - with whom she has Maddox, 16, Pax, 14, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox - after two years of marriage in 2016, and although dating rumours have been circling the 'Maleficent' star, sources have insisted her only focus right now is her brood. One insider told People magazine: "She is absolutely not seeing anyone and will not be. She will focus only on their children and being with them. She has no interest in dating at all." It isn't the first time sources have shut down romance rumours surrounding Angelina, as it was previously claimed the star wouldn't be ready to hit the dating scene again for "a very long time". A source said previously: "Angelina isn't dating anyone and won't be for a very long time. She is focused on her children and their needs." Meanwhile, although Angelina is steering clear of any romance, 54-year-old Brad - who had been dating Angelina for almost a decade before they married in 2014 - is said to be "casually" dating away from the spotlight following the pair's high profile split. An insider said: "He's very private about who he's seeing, but he does continue to casually date. The women he sees are not in the public eye." The Hollywood hunk - who was also previously married to Jennifer Aniston - has decided to overhaul his lifestyle since splitting from Angelina. The source added: "He has made changes in his life since the split. "When they first split he spent a lot of time at home and was often very down about what was going on. He was a homebody for many months, but in the last month or two, he's been going out more. He enjoys going out to eat with close friends." Despite this, another source close to the situation has insisted that Brad isn't looking to settle down again anytime soon. The insider shared: "He is in no way ready to get serious with anyone. "He invites his dates over to his house and never takes women out in public. While it's been a year and a half [after their split], it still feels too soon to him." Maya Jama stars in the new Maybelline Fit Me foundation campaign. Maya Jama The 23-year-old presenter features in a new campaign alongside Jourdan Dunn to celebrate the company expanding their cosmetics range to include more shades, and Maya is proud to be a part of a campaign which celebrates diversity as she struggled to find make-up when she was younger. Maya - whose parents are from Somalia and Sweden - told Vogue.co.uk: "I didn't wear foundation for ages, like in school when all my friends started, because I couldn't find the right shades and also couldn't afford the super expensive brands. So having Maybelline's Fit Me foundation in shops at that time would have been a lifesaver. "And it's affordable and a really good foundation that covers what you need to cover and lasts all day. There are so many different shades of human, and so there should be different shades of foundation too, right?" The BBC Radio 1 presenter wears minimal make-up during the day but likes to add a bold lipstick shade and glowing highlighter for a night out. She said: "I'm quite basic in terms of make-up on a day-to-day basis. To switch it up at night I'll add a lip. It transforms your whole look - you can be wearing a plain outfit and then a strong lip completely changes the vibe. I'll usually go for red or like a brownish shade. I like a strong highlight too, at night you can proper whack it on and be a glowing goddess. Maya - who has been dating grime star Stormzy for three years - often shows off her toned figure on holidays around the world and she puts her enviable curves down to "dancing around the house". She admitted: "I dance around the house a lot of the time. I turn on the radio as soon as I get up and then dance. If I'm feeling sluggish I'll dance around with weights, and also I have ankle weights that I wear sometimes. I'm quite an active person anyway, running from job to job. Otherwise I'm a sit-up and squat girl, and I use the leg machines at the gym." And the 'Cannonball' host uses a simple trick to keep her naturally curly locks looking shiny with a homemade hair mask. She shared: "My hair is actually curly, like loose big waves, so I straighten it a lot. I try to do hair masks to combat the damage, and I do a homemade one that's olive oil with an egg cracked into it and manuka honey. Put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds so it gets warm, paste it all over your hair, put a plastic bag over it and tie it tight, then the humidity in there helps it sink in." This article was written by and is published with kind permission of Spot Blue. For their 2018 Travelers Choice Awards, Trip Advisor has named Istanbul, the 9th best destination in the world. The boost to its tourism reputation will be welcomed by many travel industry experts on Turkey who are expecting 2018 to be a record year for tourism. Over the last two years, Turkey and its main tourism hub, Istanbul, suffered when tourists stayed away due to security concerns and an attempted coup. About the Travelers Choice Awards Every year, Trip Advisor releases its Travelers Choice Awards based on user ratings and reviews. Separating the travel industry into sectors like airlines, hotels, landmarks and attractions, Trip Advisor also names the most popular destinations. They say. Travelers Choice awards are the highest honour TripAdvisor can bestow. Based on millions of reviews and opinions from travellers around the world, these annual awards reflect the best of the best for service, quality, and customer satisfaction, from hotels and accommodations to destinations, attractions, and even brands and products. Awarding Istanbul 9th position for the best destination in the world is one of three Trip Advisor awards for Turkey for 2018. They also named the Kayakapi Cave hotel in Cappadocia as the 12th best hotel in the world and Cleopatras beach in Alanya, 19th place on the worlds best beaches list. 2017 was a difficult year for Turkey as they completely slipped off the Travelers Choice Award list. In 2014, Istanbul received top place on the Destinations Travellers Choice award beating the likes of Rome, London and Beijing. In 2015, it was also ranked by annual Mastercard Global Destinations cities index as the fifth most visited city in the world. The re-emergence of Istanbul onto the top destinations list confirms industry statements that the Turkish tourism industry is making a comeback. Istanbul Tourism In 2017, 10,730,510 tourists visited and enjoyed the delights of Istanbul. Accounting for 33% of the countrys tourism industry, it ranks as the top visited destination in Turkey. Most of those visitors arrived via the airports, with a small number also entering via seaports. These figures are expected to rise, with the Turkish Government giving cruise ship companies monetary incentives to return back to the country. The opening of Istanbuls new third airport in October of 2018 is also expected to increase flight schedules and destinations, making it easier than ever before for business and leisure travellers to explore Istanbul. For more tourism and business news coming out of Turkey, follow Spot Blue on Facebook. For more information about Spot Blue please click on the advertisement at the right of this page. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category HON. PM BAINIMARAMA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE FIJIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND REBRANDING Honourable Ministers;Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps;The Chairperson, Board of Commissioners and CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission;Members of the Fijian Business Industry;Distinguished Guests;Ladies and Gentlemen.Bula vinaka, and a very good evening to you all.We are gathered here this evening to celebrate the launch of the Fijian Competition & Consumer Commissions new strategic plan. Tonight marks a significant milestone not just for the organisation, its Board, management, and staff, but for the progress of the Fijian economy, and by extension, the whole of Fiji.FCCCs 5-Year Plan isnt just new, it is the first such plan to be launched in the history of the organisation. That historyspanning more than 40 years has seen the Commission evolve from the Prices & Incomes Board to its current state today.This strategic plan comes shortly after the FCCC adopted a new name an extra C was added to the former Fiji Consumer Commissions title just last year. While it may make it more of a mouthful to pronounce, the additional C is one that is vitally important for small economies and price-takers like Fiji, as it stands for competition.Ladies and gentlemen, in any economy, a competitive environment is needed for growth and development. When different producers or vendors are forced to compete, it creates a better outcome for everyone higher quality goods, increased efficiencies, a wider selection to choose from, and lower prices. But effective and fair competition is not automatic.My Government has worked to put into place robust competition laws and policies, and we actively partner with strong institutions like the FCCC to ensure that these rules are enforced. And its not just about the new C, either; along with regulating competition, the Commission also safeguards consumers interests against unfair business practices. Through this collaboration between Government and the FCCC, we are improving Fijis productivity, promoting innovation, and ensuring fair prices.Ladies and gentlemen, the Commission has been tasked with a renewed focus on ensuring that as our economy continues to grow, markets are competitive, forward-thinking regulations are justified and consumers interests are protected. They work with key agencies such as Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and the Financial Intelligence Unit to carry out their duties, ensuring that every Fijian benefits from a healthy and well-regulated market.And I am pleased to see that they are taking this task to heart. As the FCCC has actively enforced legislation and instituted fines for those businesses who break the rules, we have witnessed a very positive response; more businesses are becoming compliant, resulting in a fairer market for Fiji. The trailblazing work undertaken by the Commission, paired with the pro-growth agenda of my Government, can serve as a successful model for other small island and developing nations to follow. In fact, in the past few months, four other Pacific Island countries have sent delegations to Fiji to examine how our Commission operates and replicate its success.And my Governments commitment to not only maintaining, but to growing, the enforcement capabilities of the Commission is clear. From 2010 to 2017, the resources that have been allocated by Government to the FCCC has grown from 600,000 dollars to 3.3 million dollars a 400 per cent increase.We are working alongside the Commission to create a level playing field for businesses to compete fairly. This is particularly important to Fijis small businesses, which rely on these kinds of protections to allow them to succeed. And my Government has helped more of these micro and small enterprises to take root through our Micro Small Business Development Grants, and now, our Young Entrepreneurship Scheme.The public response to these grant initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive. As your Prime Minister, it gives me great pride to see Fijians from all stretches of life come up with new and innovative ideas for businesses. Where these ideas, passion, and drive exist within Fijians, it is the privilege of Government to foster their development. Because these businesses are not just helping the individual people who start them, or even the other workers who they may grow to employ. These businesses are helping to build the new Fijian economy.Ladies and gentlemen, through my Governments sound economic policy, and through the provision of various Government incentives to the private sector, Fiji has witnessed increased competition across different industries, including in our retail food stores and supermarkets. I am pleased to see that some supermarkets have responded to this, and they are now working with the Commission to rework their business models to focus on lowering food prices for ordinary Fijians.And thanks to our 2017 - 2018 National Budget, my Government granted additional legislative powers and resources to the Commission to be used for special investigations. And this increased oversight and additional funding has already proven to be well-spent, as the FCCC has penalised several monopolistic importers and wholesalers who were gouging prices at the expense of Fijian consumers.Ladies and gentlemen, as many items that were controlled by monopolies in the past are now being cracked down on, these set powerful examples that are already working to deter others from unethical behaviour. From food to pharmaceuticals to hardware to baby products and more, we are seeing these laws drastically bring down prices for the benefit of Fijians everywhere. And all of this increased protection isnt coming at the cost of business growth; just last year, Fiji experienced a 7.2 per cent growth in retail sales.Ladies and gentlemen, despite this economic progress and the work of the Commission, youll hear the political opposition try to score points by attaching themselves to issues like the price of gas or butter. The reality is, as an small developing economy, a price taker that relies on imports, we are more susceptible to the swings of supply and demand on a global stage.These things can be explained in fairly simple terms. This has been a particularly cold winter in Europe, increasing the global demand for gas. And butter prices around the world are increasing, as consumption around the world is booming due to changing views about its health benefits. But the opposition doesnt account for any of these global factors that affect prices; they seem to operate under the viewpoint that Fiji is a land with millions of head of dairy cattle, and endless fields of fossil fuels. They either dont understand how an economy works, or worse, they are intentionally misleading the Fijian public.Ladies and gentlemen, these outside forces that the opposition chooses to ignore underscores the importance of organisations like the FCCC. We need to ensure that Fiji is as protected as possible from swings in global prices. Because while many of the factors that contribute to the price of imported goods are beyond our control here in Fiji, other factors are. And unfortunately, we have some unethical businesses who, if left unchecked, would take advantage of these swings and make their effect much more dramatic. Because of this, the FCCC actively prevents additional price gouging by enforcing price caps, resulting in fair prices for ordinary Fijians.While the Commission is hugely important for its role in protecting Fijian pockets from unfair and unethical business practices, at the end of the day, none of that would matter if those pockets were empty to begin with. And I am proud to say that, thanks to the economic stewardship, tax reforms, and the consumer-focussed policies put into place by my Government, those pockets are fuller than at any point in Fijian history.Ladies and gentlemen, Fijians today are living in an era of unprecedented economic growth. We have accomplished eight straight years of growth, and we are on track to extend that streak to ninethis has never happened in Fijis post-independence history. Our national GDP per person is at the highest level ever, and has nearly doubled from 2006 to today. Our unemployment rate is at a 20 year low. Our foreign reserves are at an all-time high. These record figures arent just numbers on paper, either; it is undeniable, it is everywhere. We can literally see and feel the progress all around us today. Our economy is more diverse, it is stronger, and it is fairer than it has ever been. And, my fellow Fijians, we are not stopping here.Last year in Bonn, Fiji launched our 5- and 20-Year National Development Plans, or NDPs, which provide a glimpse into how my Government plans to continue this growth, Transforming Fiji into an even more progressive, vibrant, and inclusive society. Similarly, we see the FCCC launching their look into the future, and their vision for continued growth, with this new 5-year strategic plan tonight.This strategic plan fully embraces my Governments vision for sustainable growth, and it actively works to make life easier and more affordable for ordinary Fijians. The plan has four main strategic goals that it sets out to accomplish over the next five years: ensuring competitive markets; promoting safe goods and services and a well-informed public; regulating in areas when necessary; and establishing itself as a premiere competition agency for the region. I am confident that through the Commissions hard work and dedication, these goals will be realised.Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to congratulate the Commissions Board, management, and staff for their commitment, not only to forming this plan and crafting this enhanced identity, but to protecting ordinary Fijians. Your behind-the-scenes work is making a better and stronger Fijian economy that benefits us all.I now have great pleasure in launching the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commissions Five Year Strategic Plan, and with it, their new brand and office.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. SINGAPORE (dpa-AFX) - Flex Ltd. (FLEX) said it has entered into an agreement with Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc. or MFLEX, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd or DSBJ, to divest the China-based operations of Flex's subsidiary, Multek. Multek is a value-add manufacturer of printed circuit board technologies, including high density interconnect, multilayer, flexible circuit and assembly solutions. MFLEX is a provider of technologically advanced flexible printed circuits and assemblies to the consumer electronics industry. According to the terms of the agreement, upon closing, MFLEX will acquire all of the equity interests in the non-U.S. subsidiaries of Flex that operate the China-based business of Multek, for proceeds of about $273 million, net of cash. Multek will continue to operate with its current name and location in Zhuhai, China. The U.S.-based Multek operation will remain a wholly owned Flex subsidiary. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of calendar year 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. 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. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 2:00 am ET Tuesday, Destatis releases German import price index for February. The index is forecast to fall 0.3 percent on month, compared to a 0.5 percent rise in January. The euro traded mixed against its major rivals before the data. While the euro held steady against the yen, it dropped against the rest of major rivals. The euro was worth 131.51 against the yen, 1.1764 against the franc, 0.8748 against the pound and 1.2448 against the greenback as of 1:55 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The successful disposal represents a 541 per cent gain over the acquisition cost and an internal rate of return of 20 per cent MACAU, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate fund manager, Sniper Capital Limited is pleased to announce the successful divestment of Senado Square, a 70,000 square foot retail development project in Macau. The divestment price was in excess of the asset's latest valuation and is a major milestone in Sniper Capital's strategy of maximising value and outcomes for its investors. The site, located within the prime UNESCO-listed heritage district of downtown Macau, was sold to a local developer for HK$800 million (c. US$102 million) by Sniper Capital's London-listed Macau Property Opportunities Fund. The sale price represents a circa 14 per cent premium to the property's valuation and a gain of 541 per cent over the acquisition cost of HK$124.8 million (US$15.9 million) in 2007. This translates to a return on investment of 469 per cent and an internal rate of return of 20 per cent. The sale of Senado Square exemplifies Sniper Capital's commitment to maximise portfolio exit values and return cash to shareholders of Macau Property Opportunities Fund. Sniper Capital Principal Mr Tom Ashworth said, "The sale of Senado Square - at a significant premium to valuation - adds to Sniper Capital's strong track record of successful divestments and asset stewardship. It is an excellent example of our ability to stay the course and add value to assets to achieve a great outcome for our investors." The Fund's remaining properties all command prime positions, including its flagship residential asset The Waterside, a premium luxury en-bloc tower located in Macau's preeminent development, One Central Residences. "We remain confident in the appeal these properties hold to investors seeking value opportunities in one of Asia's most compelling and attractively positioned property markets," added Mr Ashworth. Sniper Capital Principal Mr Martin Tacon said, "We were an early entrant into Macau and have been investing and developing in this market since 2004 when the international casino operators first opened their doors. Our first-mover advantage and local presence have enabled us to secure some of the best property assets in Macau and deliver tremendous value for our investors. "Today, the Sniper Capital Group manages and advises on a diverse range of real estate assets worth over US$600 million across Asia, the UK and Southern Europe. We apply our thematic investment philosophy across all our target markets, identifying unique and undervalued opportunities, where we can deliver attractive returns to our investors. "Our experience and success in Macau and southern China have given us the team and platform to continue to identify emerging trends and themes across a wide range of property markets. We are currently working on some excellent opportunities to strategically deploy capital and add value to real estate assets." Further Information Sniper Capital launched Macau Property Opportunities Fund in 2006 - the first and only Macau property fund listed on the London Stock Exchange. Since then Macau, the only legal gaming jurisdiction on Chinese soil, has rapidly transformed into the world's largest gaming market with gross gaming revenues in 2017 growing by circa 19 per cent to US$33.2 billion. Driven by China's rapidly emerging middle class population, this number is expected to exceed US$60 billion by 2022. Today, Sniper Capital manages four Macau-focused funds - three of which are dedicated to sustainable heritage projects in the historically rich vicinity of Taipa Village. Over the past decade, Sniper Capital has made over 20 acquisitions in Macau, generating IRR's of 20 per cent and above for its investors. About Sniper Capital (www.snipercapital.com) Founded in 2004, Sniper Capital Limited is a property investment manager focused on investment, development and redevelopment opportunities in niche and undervalued markets. With a particular focus on and presence in Macau, Sniper Capital has also been involved in real estate activity in other parts of Asia, the UK and Southern Europe. Over the last decade, Sniper Capital has demonstrated a proven capacity to successfully manage complex projects through all cycles and over the long term, adding value to its real estate projects and generating strong returns for investors through careful management, an on-the-ground presence and a focus on maximising shareholder value. Today, Sniper Capital manages a range of funds with combined assets of over US$600 million, including its flagship LSE-listed Macau Property Opportunities Fund (LSE: MPO). Sniper Capital also manages the unlisted Sniper Macau Heritage Properties I, II and III, which have delivered good returns for their investors. About Senado Square Senado Square project is a retail redevelopment project with a freehold tenure, located in Macau's prime UNESCO-listed shopping precinct. Once completed, the project has the potential to offer c.70,000 square feet of modern retail and F&B space. About Macau Property Opportunities Fund Macau Property Opportunities Fund Limited is a closed-end investment company registered in Guernsey. Listed on the London Stock Exchange's main market, it is also a constituent stock of the FTSE All-Share and FTSE SmallCap indices. Launched in 2006, the Company targets strategic property investment and development opportunities in Macau and mainland China's western Pearl River Delta. Its current portfolio comprises mainly well-positioned residential property assets. The Fund is managed by Sniper Capital, an Asia-based property investment manager with an established track record in fund management and investment advisory. Ferratum Oyj: NOTICE TO CONVENE FERRATUM OYJ'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS DGAP-News: Ferratum Oyj / Schlagwort(e): Hauptversammlung Ferratum Oyj: NOTICE TO CONVENE FERRATUM OYJ'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 27.03.2018 / 10:30 Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent verantwortlich. NOTICE TO CONVENE FERRATUM OYJ'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS Shareholders of Ferratum Oyj are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Company on 19 April 2018, commencing at 9.00 a.m. (EEST, Finnish time) at Restaurant Savoy, Etelaesplanadi 14, Helsinki, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting will commence at 8.15 a.m. (EEST, Finnish time). The meeting will be held in the English language. 1 MATTERS ON THE AGENDA OF THE GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS At the General Meeting of Shareholders, the following matters will be considered: (1) Opening of the Meeting (2) Calling the Meeting to Order (3) Election of Persons to Scrutinize the Minutes and to Supervise the Counting of Votes (4) Recording the Legality of the Meeting (5) Recording the Attendance at the Meeting and Adoption of the List of Votes (6) Presentation of the Annual Accounts including the Consolidated Annual Accounts, the Report of the Board of Directors and the Auditor's Report for the Year 2017 Review by the CEO (7) Adoption of the Annual Accounts (8) Resolution on the Use of the Profit Shown on the Balance Sheet and the Payment of Dividend The profit for the financial year 2017 of Ferratum Oyj amounted to EUR 18,469,816. Distributable equity of the Company at the end of the financial year stood at EUR 53,139,380. The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that, for the financial year ended 31 December 2017, the Company will distribute a per-share dividend of EUR 0.18 to a total of EUR 3,883,997 after which distributable equity would stand at EUR 49,255,383. No dividend is paid to the own shares held by the Company. Compared with year-end 2017, no significant changes in the Company's financial position have taken place. The liquidity of the Company is sound and, according to the assessment of the Board of Directors, the proposed payment of dividend does not endanger the solvency of the Company. The dividend will be paid to shareholders registered in the shareholders' register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the dividend record date, 23 April 2018. The dividend will be paid on 30 April 2018. (9) Resolution on Discharging the Members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from Liability (10) Resolution on the Remuneration of the Members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes on recommendation of the Remuneration Committee that the Chairman of the Board of Directors be paid EUR 2,000 per month and the other members of the Board of Directors EUR 1,500 per month. Furthermore it is proposed that no remuneration will be paid to the members who are employees or Managing Directors of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. (11) Resolution on Remuneration of Auditors The Board of Directors proposes on recommendation of the Audit Committee that the Auditor be paid reasonable remuneration in accordance with the Auditor's invoice, which shall be approved by the Company. (12) Resolution on the Number of Members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes that the number of members of the Board of Directors be confirmed as six (6) ordinary members. (13) Election of the Members, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes that the following current members of the Board of Directors be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors for a term ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting: Pieter van Groos as Chairman, Jorma Jokela as Deputy Chairman and Erik Ferm, Lea Liigus, Juhani Vanhala and Christopher Wang as ordinary members. The curricula vitae of the proposed members of the Board of Directors are available on the Company's website at www.ferratumgroup.com. (14) Election of the Auditor The Board of Directors proposes on recommendation of the Audit Committee that audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy, which has stated that APA Mikko Nieminen will act as the responsible auditor, be appointed as Auditor to serve for a term ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The Auditor proposed herein has given its consent for the election. (15) Authorisation to the Board of Directors to Decide on the Issuance of Shares and Special Rights Entitling to Shares The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorises the Board of Directors to decide to issue at maximum 2,026,196 new shares and to convey the Company's 146,200 own shares held by the Company. The authorisation also includes the right to issue special rights, in the meaning of Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act, which entitle to the Company's new shares or the Company's own shares held by the Company against consideration. The amount of shares to be issued shall not exceed 2,172,396 shares, which corresponds to approximately 10.0 per cent of the Company's total amount of shares. Shares potentially issued by virtue of the special rights entitling to shares are included in the aforesaid maximum number of shares. The authorisation entitles the Board to decide on a directed share issue and issue of special rights in deviation from the pre-emptive rights of shareholders subject to the conditions mentioned in the Finnish Companies Act. The Board can use the authorisation in one or several tranches to all purposes decided by the Board of Directors. The authorisation is proposed to be in force until the next Annual General Meeting, however, no longer than until 30 June 2019. (16) Closing of the Meeting 2 MEETING MATERIALS The proposals of the Board of Directors relating to the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders as well as this notice are available on Ferratum Oyj's website at www.ferratumgroup.com. The Annual Report of Ferratum Oyj, including the Company's Annual Accounts, the report of the Board of Directors and the Auditor's report, is available on the above-mentioned Ferratum Oyj's website. The proposals for the decisions on the matters on the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders and the Annual Accounts are also available at the meeting. Copies of these documents and of this notice will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the meeting will be made available on Ferratum Oyj's website no later than on 3 May 2018. 3 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 3.1 Shareholders Registered in Shareholders' Register Each shareholder who is registered on 9 April 2018 in the shareholders' register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd, has the right to participate in the General Meeting of Shareholders. A shareholder whose shares are registered on his/her personal book-entry account in the book-entry system of Euroclear Finland Ltd is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company. A shareholder, who is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company, and who wants to participate in the General Meeting of Shareholders, shall register for the meeting no later than 16 April 2018 at 3.00 p.m. (CEST, Frankfurt time) by giving a notice of participation. Such notice can be given: (a) on the Company's website: www.ferratumgroup.com; (b) by telephone to +358 40 7248247 (Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. (CEST, Frankfurt time)); (c) by e-mail to ir@ferratum.com; (d) by regular mail to Ferratum Oyj, Attn: "Annual General Meeting", Ratamestarinkatu 11 A 00520, Helsinki, Finland. In connection with the registration, a shareholder shall notify his/her name, personal identification number or business identity code, address, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of the proxy representative. The personal data given to Ferratum Oyj will be used only in connection with the General Meeting of Shareholders and with the processing of related registrations. 3.2 Holders of Nominee-registered Shares A holder of nominee-registered shares has the right to participate in the General Meeting by virtue of shares, which he/she holds on the record date of the General Meeting, i.e. on 9 April 2018 and based on which he/she would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders' register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd. The right to participate in the General Meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholder on the basis of such shares has been registered into the temporary shareholders' register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd at the latest by 16 April 2018 at 9.00 a.m. (CEST, Frankfurt time). In case of nominee-registered shares, temporary registration in the shareholders' register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd constitutes due registration for the General Meeting. A holder of nominee-registered shares is advised to request without delay the necessary instructions regarding the registration in the shareholders' register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the General Meeting of Shareholders from his/her custodian bank. In order for a holder of nominee-registered shares to have the right to participate in the General Meeting, the account operator of the custodian bank has to register a holder of nominee-registered shares into the temporary shareholders' register of the Company at the latest by the time stated above. 3.3 Proxy Representatives and Power of Attorney A shareholder may participate in the General Meeting of Shareholders and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder at the General Meeting of Shareholders. When a shareholder participates in the General Meeting of Shareholders through several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares on different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the General Meeting of Shareholders. A form of proxy is provided on Ferratum Oyj's website at www.ferratumgroup.com. The form of proxy is provided for the shareholders' convenience and it is not necessary to use the form provided on the website. Possible proxy documents shall be delivered in originals to Ferratum Oyj, "Annual General Meeting", Ratamestarinkatu 11 A 00520, Helsinki, Finland before the last date for registration. 3.4 Other Instructions and Information Pursuant to Chapter 5, section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the general meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the Meeting. On the date of this notice to the General Meeting of Shareholders, dated 27 March 2018, the total number of shares in Ferratum Oyj is 21,723,960 and each of these shares carries one vote. Ferratum Oyj holds 146,200 of its own shares as treasury shares. Accordingly, the number of voting rights carried by the outstanding shares is 21,577,760. In Helsinki on 27 March 2018 FERRATUM OYJ The Board of Directors 27.03.2018 Veroffentlichung einer Corporate News/Finanznachricht, ubermittelt durch DGAP - ein Service der EQS Group AG. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich. Die DGAP Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen. Medienarchiv unter http://www.dgap.de Sprache: Deutsch Unternehmen: Ferratum Oyj Ratamestarinkatu 11 A 00520 Helsinki Finnland Internet: https://www.ferratumgroup.com ISIN: FI4000106299 WKN: A1W9NS Borsen: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Munchen, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange Ende der Mitteilung DGAP News-Service 669165 27.03.2018 ISIN FI4000106299 AXC0124 2018-03-27/10:30 Research shows that European companies receive more suspicious emails than their US counterparts LONDON, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Today Cofense', the leading provider of human-driven phishing defence solutions worldwide, announced the results of its European-wide Phishing Response Trends Report, which looked at the phishing response strategies of IT security decision-makers across a variety of industries throughout Europe. The report found that 45 percent of European countries are not prepared for a phishing attack, despite 78 percent of IT professionals having dealt with a security incident originating from a deceptive email. This was significantly lower than the 66 percent in the US that had dealt with a similar incident. Across all the European countries surveyed, security teams reported that they are struggling to manage their response to the number of suspicious emails being received. The US and Europe differ, however, in their appetite for automated email analysis to solve this problem. 59 percent of respondents in Europe had automated email analysis on their wish list, compared to only 33 percent in the US. Arguably, this could point to the skills gap much discussed across Europe1. With organisations of all sizes struggling to find IT talent and particularly cyber security skills, perhaps the need for an automated and integrated system to deal with suspicious emails is being felt more acutely in Europe. Other key findings in the report include: The number one security concern is phishing and email-related threats. security concern is phishing and email-related threats. 41 percent of respondents say their biggest anti-phishing challenge is poorly integrated security systems. of respondents say their biggest anti-phishing challenge is poorly integrated security systems. 6 in 10 companies believe they have insufficient defences against email-based threats. companies believe they have insufficient defences against email-based threats. The UK reports the most suspicious emails each week across Europe with 23 percent reporting more than 500, Belgium reports the least at 16 percent followed by Germany at 18 percent, France at 20 percent and the Netherlands at 22 percent. With phishing and email-related threats being the primary security concern of the European-based survey respondents, it is critical that businesses have an effective strategy to counter the attack vector which is fully integrated with broader security solutions. It is paramount, for example, that phishing simulations are akin to the real thing and encourage reporting which, in turn, can not only stop a malicious email compromising an enterprise's network, but can give the incident response team a head start. "The analysis of email-based attacks gives us extremely valuable insight into the security posture of European organisations," said Rohyt Belani, co-founder and CEO of Cofense. "What we're really looking at here is addressing human susceptibility and building human resiliency to work in concert with technology to combat security threats facing Europe. Technology solutions alone have proved time and time again that they can only go so far to protect enterprises. It is not enough to lock down systems and force users into acting a certain way, instead we need to build a human-driven phishing defence posture that leverages human instinct for detection and technology to scale response," he concluded. The full report is available for download here:https://cofense.com/phishing-response-trends-europe/ To learn more about Cofense's incident response solutions, please visit: https://cofense.com/product-services/triage/ Survey Methodology This study was commissioned by Cofense and delivered by Gatepoint Research, an independent market research organisation. Gatepoint Research surveyed 400 select IT professionals, largely senior decision-makers, on phishing response strategies across five European countries; the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. They represented firms in a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to, business services, high tech, primary manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, retail trade, wholesale trade, transportation, consumer services, and telecom services. Businesses of all sizes from small or mid-market firms to Fortune 1000 companies were included in the sample. About Cofense Cofense, formerly known as PhishMe is the leading provider of human-driven phishing defence solutions world-wide.Cofensedelivers a collaborative approach to cybersecurity by enabling organisation-wide engagement to active email threats.Our collective defence suite combines timely attack intelligence sourced from employees with best-in class incident response technologies to stop attacks in progress faster andstayahead of breaches.'Cofense customersrepresent Global 1000 organisations in defence, energy, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing sectors that understandhowchanging user behaviour will improve security, aid incident response and reduce the risk of compromise.'To learn more, visithttps://cofense.com. Media Contact Nick Lagalante Global Corporate Communications COFENSE media@cofense.com +1-571-393-2403 1https://www.consultancy.uk/news/16068/majority-of-companies-now-hit-by-a-cybersecurity-skills-gap Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/645799/Cofense_Logo.jpg Accomplished team will guide the research and development of True Leaf medicinal cannabis products Vernon, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2018) - True Leaf Medicine International Ltd. (CSE: MJ) (FSE: TLA) (OTCQB: TRLFF) ("True Leaf"), the quality of life cannabis company for people and their pets, announced today the formation of the True Leaf Medical Advisory Board ("MAB") under its Chief Scientific Officer, a team of three leading B.C. medical practitioners committed to advancing integrative healthcare with cannabis. Dr. Chris Spooner, a respected naturopathic doctor and champion of integrative medicine, will lead the MAB in his role as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Spooner will be joined by Dr. Caroline MacCallum and Dr. Zeid Mohamedali, two of the most progressive medical doctors advising the cannabis industry today. The True Leaf MAB will oversee the research and development of a highly-effective medicinal cannabis product line to address, among others, neurological, musculoskeletal, gynaecological, and gastrointestinal conditions. "Today's announcement is a significant milestone in our mission to be Canada's leading purpose-driven cannabis company," said Darcy Bomford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of True Leaf. "Our MAB has the expertise to help us research and develop world-class medicinal cannabis products that fill the gaps that exist in medical treatment today. These doctors have extensive success treating patients with cannabis who have found their pharmaceutical treatments ineffective or intolerable. They have taken a progressive approach to treating their patients, and because of that, have helped people live happier, healthier lives." The True Leaf MAB is a group of accomplished medical cannabis advisors who will also help the company create strategic partnerships within the medical community, provide education and outreach to physicians and policy makers, and identify opportunities for research on medicinal cannabis. Dr. Spooner is a North Okanagan naturopathic doctor with more than 20 years of experience in naturopathic medicine. He is also a board member of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia and adjunct professor for several naturopathic colleges. "We want to help True Leaf build trust in the medical community," said Dr. Spooner. "True Leaf is unique because it is committed to the whole plant medicine. Fifty percent of the medicine comes from components other than CBD or THC, and we want to take the lead on research and development of the potential of the whole plant. True Leaf has brought us in right at the beginning of the project development phase so we are set to collaborate on selecting effective strains and begin pilot trials on whole plant medicines and extractions." Dr. MacCallum, MD, FRCPC, is an internal medicine specialist with a background in pharmacy and expertise in complex pain and cannabinoid medicine. Dr. MacCallum has extensive clinical training in the field of medical cannabis and has developed cannabinoid treatment plans for more than 2,000 patients. She has acted as a cannabis preceptor to a number of clinicians and has presented internationally on the topic. She is also a clinical instructor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, associate member with the Department of Palliative Care, and provides inpatient care for the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Vancouver General Hospital. "True Leaf stands out because they started with hemp-seed based supplements for pets," said Dr. MacCallum. "They are now also focused on cannabis genetics for several niche patient populations where therapeutic options are limited or ineffective. I have seen first-hand how powerful cannabis can be in the management of complex diseases and polypharmacy reduction. What meaningful research can we do in the cannabis space to fill the knowledge gaps? What is the best combination of cannabinoids for each patient? These are the issues we will be tackling." Dr. Mohamedali, MD, PhD, FRCSC, is an urologist and researcher with a special interest in uro-oncology and pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr. Mohamedali has more than 20 years of experience in clinical research and surgical practice. His medical cannabis practice is focused on treatments for pain related to chronic pelvic pain, musculoskeletal trauma, and cancer. He also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Greenleaf Medical Clinics, one of Canada's top telehealth cannabis organizations. "These are exciting times in healthcare," said Dr. Mohamedali. "Companies like True Leaf are reshaping how we view many medical conditions. Traditional treatment algorithms are being modified to accommodate the inclusion of cannabis. The True Leaf MAB will be using unique plant chemovars, nanotechnology, genetics, and much more to provide cutting edge treatments. We hope our efforts will have a dramatic impact on many patients and their loved ones." True Leaf has received permission by Health Canada to build its True Leaf Campus cannabis cultivation facility and broke ground on March 2, 2018. The 25,000 square foot facility is expected to be completed in late summer 2018. True Leaf is currently in the final stages of Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) process. About True Leaf Founded in 2013, True Leaf has two main operating divisions: True Leaf Medicine Inc. and True Leaf Pet Inc. The Company's goal is to provide federally-approved cannabis products that will be sold across Canada and the United States. True Leaf Medicine Inc. was launched in July 2013 to become a licensed producer of medicinal cannabis for the Canadian market. True Leaf Medicine Inc. has been granted approval by Health Canada to build its grow facility and will be subject to a Health Canada inspection upon completion to allow for the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis products. Currently, True Leaf does not have a license to produce cannabis. Established in 2015, True Leaf Pet Inc. markets hemp-seed based products for the pet industry. The Company launched the True Hemp pet supplement line in Canada, the United States, and Europe, becoming one of the first hemp-seed based pet product lines to be marketed worldwide. True Hemp North American products are free of CBD and THC. Media Contact: Paul Sullivan Director, Public Relations Paul@trueleaf.com O: 604-685-4742 M: 604-603-7358 Investor Contact: Kevin Bottomley (Canada) Director and Corporate Relations Kevin@trueleaf.com M: 778-389-9933 Tirth Patel (US) Edison Advisors tpatel@edisongroup.com O: 646-653-7035 Follow True Leaf trueleaf.com twitter.com/trueleafpet facebook.com/trueleafmedicine instagram.com/trueleafpet Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements; and management may make additional forward-looking statements in response to your questions. Such written and oral disclosures are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although True Leaf believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, True Leaf's actual results and performance and the value of its securities could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements due to the impact of many factors including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties detailed in the "Risk Factors" in the Risk Factors section of True Leaf's Offering Circular on Form 1-A, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities and other discussions of risk factors contained in True Leaf's periodic filings or supplements to the offering circular filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. True Leaf Offering Circular on Form 1-A can be found at www.trueleaf.com/pages/investor. True Leaf claims the safe harbor protection for forward-looking statements contained in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. True Leaf undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such information for any reason after the date of this presentation, unless required by law. VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights (FMI) has published a new report on the varicella zoster infection treatment market titled "Varicella Zoster Infection Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 - 2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017 - 2027." Varicella zoster infection comprises two main types namely varicella chickenpox and herpes zoster. Varicella is a highly contagious infection with an incubation period of 10-21 days, most commonly 14-16 days, after which characteristic rashes appear. Acute varicella may be complicated by secondary bacterial skin infections, cerebellitis, encephalitis, haemorrhagic complications, and viral and bacterial pneumonia. The climate is a core factor that seems to have an impact on the epidemiology of varicella. In most of the temperate climatic regions, 90% of the people are infected before adolescence. In tropical climates, VZV infection occurs later in life and adults are more susceptible to it than children. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO ) On the other hand, herpes zoster or shingles is a sporadic disease that is caused by the reactivation of latent VZV in the sensory nerve ganglia. It is usually self-limiting and is categorised by severe pain with dermatomal distribution and at times followed by post-herpetic neuralgia that can be chronic and debilitating among the geriatric population. Though herpes zoster can occur at any age, most of the cases are reported after the age of 50 along with increasing risks of complications. In order to cater to the needs of the patients and provide a potential treatment for this infection, companies are entering into strategic partnerships in order to make use of the technology of the other leading companies and are also focussing on research and development. Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6466 For instance, in December 2016, Slayback and Sandoz signed an agreement with Novartis AG for the sale and marketing rights of Slayback Generic Zovirax Ointment (Acyclovir Ointment). Per the agreement Novartis obtained the sales and marketing rights, which increased their position in the market. Other leading companies operating in the market are Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Pfizer Inc., Mylan N.V., Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline Plc., and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., among others. According to the report, the global varicella zoster infection treatment market is expected to register a 4.2% CAGR from 2017 to 2027. In 2016, the market was worth US$ 1,257.1 Mn and is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 1,969.1 Mn by the end of 2027. Risk of Varicella in Pregnancy and the Need to Adhere to the Guidelines of Chickenpox Treatment to Bode Well for the Market Primary infection with varicella zoster in pregnancy may cause maternal mortality or serious morbidity issues. A particular guideline issued in 2015 assesses the evidence regarding maternal and foetal risks of varicella zoster virus infection in pregnancy. The U.K. Advisory Group and Swiss and Canadian national guidelines prescribe procedures for the use of antiviral drugs in pregnancy. The U.K. Advisory Group provides guidelines for chickenpox as well. These guidelines recommend oral acyclovir, which should be prescribed for pregnant women within 24 hours once they present the onset of the rash and if they have 20+0 weeks of gestation or beyond. Guidelines are unanimous nevertheless, in recommending that intravenous acyclovir be administered in cases of severe maternal infection. This factor along with the fact that the rate of exposure and transmission is extremely high in this infection and is a threat for pregnant women and kids, is expected to boost the growth of the varicella zoster infection treatment market. Preview Analysis on Global Varicella Zoster Infection Treatment Market Segmentation By Drug Type - Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir; By Route of Administration Type - Oral, Topical, Injectable; By Distribution Channel Type - Hospital Pharmacies ,Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, Drug Stores: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/varicella-zoster-infection-treatment-market Natural Products to Challenge Market Growth Several people opt for other treatment options for herpes zoster and varicella. These alternative treatment options are expected to hamper the growth of the antiviral drugs market for varicella zoster infection treatment. Homeopathy, supplements, and other natural herbal medicines are used to treat herpes zoster and varicella. Our advisory services are aimed at helping you with specific, customised insights that are relevant to your specific challenges. Let us know about your challenges and our trusted advisors will connect with you: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6466 More from FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence: Oral Controlled Release Drug Delivery Technology Market Oral Controlled Release Drug Delivery Technology Market Segmentation By Drug Release System - Diffusion Controlled Release System, Dissolution Controlled Release System, Osmotically Controlled Release System, Dissolution & Diffusion Controlled Release System, Ion Exchange Resins Controlled Release, Hydro-dynamically Balanced Drug Delivery System, Others; By Dosage Form - Solid Dosage Forms, Semisolid, Liquid/Suspensions: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/oral-controlled-release-drug-delivery-technology-market Medical Bionic Implants And Exoskeletons Market Medical Bionic Implants And Exoskeletons Market Taxonomy By Product - Bionic Forelimbs/Hand Bionics (Wrist Bionics, Bionic Elbow Braces, Bionic Limbs, Bionic Fingers), Bionic Legs/Lower Limbs (Bionic Knee Braces, Ankle Bionics, Bionic Foot Below Knee), Bionic Exoskeletons And Suits; By Mode - Prosthetic Bionics, External Bionics: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/medical-bionic-implants-and-exoskeletons-market Intra-Abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Market Intra-Abdominal Pressure Measurement Devices Market Taxonomy By Procedure Type - Muscle, Abdomen; By End User - Hospitals, Trauma Centres, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Clinics; By Product Type - Disposables, Equipment; By Application - Intra-Abdominal Hypertension, Intra-Compartment Pressure: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/intra-abdominal-pressure-measurement-devices-market About Us Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Browse More Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices Market Insights Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): + 44(0)20-7692-8790 Sales: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Press Office: Press@futuremrketinsights.com FMI Blog:http://www.fmiblog.com/ Website: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bring powerful NVIDIA Data Center GPUs to Dell PowerEdge FX blade servers NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Unique architecture: combines IntelXeonScalable processors and NVIDIATesladata center GPUs with the efficiency of blades, and the cost benefits of rack-based systems, to handle today's evolving workloads. combines IntelXeonScalable processors and NVIDIATesladata center GPUs with the efficiency of blades, and the cost benefits of rack-based systems, to handle today's evolving workloads. Market leading density: drives efficiency and performance with up to 128 GPU accelerated virtual desktops across four dual-socket servers in only 2U of rack space. drives efficiency and performance with up to 128 GPU accelerated virtual desktops across four dual-socket servers in only 2U of rack space. Powerful performance: to handle graphics and GPU accelerated compute for virtual workstation, high-performance computing, big data analytics, machine learning and deep learning. Amulet Hotkey Inc., a leader in design, manufacturing and system integration for remote physical and virtual workstation solutions, today announced a significant addition to the CoreStation blade family based on the Dell EMC PowerEdge FX architecture. For the first time, powerful NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs can be used in the industry leading Dell EMC PowerEdge FX architecture. The Amulet Hotkey CoreStation VFC640 GPU accelerated blade server uses a unique PCIe expansion module and GPU card developed in collaboration with Dell EMC and NVIDIA product engineering teams. Two Amulet Hotkey DXF-EXP-V modules support up to eight NVIDIA Tesla P6 GPUs in the FX2 server chassis, while maintaining the benefits of the FC640 blades and FX2 architecture. The result is a powerful and agile platform that can handle a broad range of workloads. "The Amulet Hotkey CoreStation VFC640 expands upon the market leading blade workstation portfolio designed to meet the graphics and compute performance needs of professionals while driving customers' IT transformations," said Andrew Jackson, president, Amulet Hotkey Inc. "Our unique solution enables up to eight powerful GPUs, with up to four dual-socket servers in a PowerEdge FX2s chassis. Delivering this capability in an industry standard 2U rackmount form factor demonstrates our commitment to use innovative design and manufacturing to meet enterprise IT needs for a truly flexible and scalable computing architecture." "NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs and NVIDIA virtual GPU software dramatically increase the graphics and compute performance of blade servers to handle evolving workflows with AI, photorealism and unlimited mobility," said Bob Pette, Vice President, professional visualization, NVIDIA. "Customers working with large datasets, complex models or graphics-intensive productivity applications found in Windows 10 can leverage the benefits of high-density blades integrating multiple Tesla GPUs, NVIDIA virtualization software, Dell EMC OEM Solutions and Amulet Hotkey technology." "With the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, customers are looking for enhanced compute solutions that optimize these workloads," said Ron Pugh, Vice President and General Manager for the Americas, Dell EMC OEM Solutions. "We are excited to work with Amulet Hotkey to develop game changing solutions for our customers that accelerate IT transformation." CoreStation VFC640 features and benefits: ForVirtual Blade Workstations ForWindows 10 Virtual Desktops Availability The CoreStation VFC640 will be available in May 2018.Click hereto submit a request to participate in the CoreStation VFC640 Early Access Program. For more information visithttp://www.amulethotkey.com. About Amulet Hotkey Copyright 2018 Amulet Hotkey Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Amulet Hotkey and CoreStation are trademarks of Amulet Hotkey Ltd., and are registered in the United Kingdom, United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners. Lakeside Software, Inc. "Elevating User Experience Through GPU Acceleration: A Windows 10 versus Windows 7 Analysis". Lakeside Software White Paper. 2017 Amulet Hotkey Contacts: European Editorial: Tony Hilliard, Tel: +44-20-7960-2400, tony.hilliard@amulethotkey.com US Editorial: Stu Robinson Tel: +1-212-269-9300 stu.robinson@amulethotkey.com Company to Hold Conference Call on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 11 a.m. ET (4 p.m. UK) GAN plc ("GAN" or the "Company") an award-winning developer and supplier of enterprise-level B2B Internet gaming software, services and online gaming content in the United State, today announced that it will release its interim financial results for the 2017 year ending December 31, 2017 on March 29, 2018. GAN will discuss these results in a conference call on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. ET 8 a.m. PT (4 p.m. UK time). Conference Call Details Date/Time: Thursday, March 29, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. ET/4 p.m. UK time Participant Dial-In Numbers: United States Canada: 877-407-8629 United Kingdom: 0-800-756-3429 International: 201-493-6715 To access the call, please dial-in approximately five minutes before the start time. An accompanying slide presentation will be available in PDF format on the "Results and Presentation" page of the Company's website after issuance of the earnings release. Webcast The call will also be simultaneously webcast over the Internet via the following link http://gan.equisolvewebcast.com/gan-2017YE and such link will also be made available in the "Results and Presentation" section of GAN's website (http://gan.com/investors/results-and-presentations). GAN Overview GAN is a leading B2B supplier of Internet gaming enterprise software-as-a-service solutions to the US land-based casino Industry. GAN is listed on the ESM Market of the Irish Stock Exchange and the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker: GAN The Company has developed an Internet gaming enterprise software system, GameSTACK, which it licenses principally to land-based US casino operators as a turnkey technology solution for both regulated real-money and/or virtual Simulated Gaming. GAN has thirteen (13) casino operators as clients of Simulated Gaming principally in US; two (2) clients of real money Regulated Gaming in New Jersey; and ten (10) clients of real money Regulated Gaming in Europe. The Internet Gaming System, developed in London under a UK Gambling Commission license, is certified to the highest technical standards currently required by gaming regulators. In April 2017 GAN was granted a Casino Service Industry Enterprise license by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement being GAN's first privileged gaming license in the United States. For more information please visit www.GAN.com FAQ's about GAN's Simulated Gaming real money online Regulated Gaming 96% of Americans cannot legally play online casino games for real money. Launched in the US by GAN in January of 2014, Simulated Gaming allows these Americans to engage with a realistic for-entertainment-only online casino. American players may open an account online and purchase virtual credits with real money in order to extend their time playing their favourite casino games online. American casino patrons frequently cite ' practising at home online before visiting the casino ' as a major reason for playing casino gaming online, despite not being permitted to win real money. ' as a major reason for playing casino gaming online, despite not being permitted to win real money. Supported by GAN's 270 months of operating data across thirteen (13) major US casinos' deployments, Simulated Gaming has repeatedly proven to drive increased visitation back to the casino and is proven to increase property visitation among existing patrons, reactivate lapsed patrons bringing them back to the casino and drive acquisition of new patrons from outside the typical drive distance to the property. Real money online Regulated Gaming for GAN comprises wholly-regulated and US-compliant Internet gaming where end user players resident in wholly-legal jurisdictions deposit wager real money while playing casino games online. GAN received its first full US gaming licence in April 2017 awarded by the State of New Jersey. GAN's Regulated Gaming business activities are centred on the UK and Italy in Europe and the State of New Jersey in the US with preparations for real money regulated Internet gaming in Pennsylvania already underway following the passage into law of enabling legislation on October 30, 2017. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327005847/en/ Contacts: GAN Dermot Smurfit, +44 (0) 20 7292 6262 Chief Executive Officer dsmurfit@GAN.com or US Investors: The Equity Group Adam Prior, 212-371-8660 aprior@equityny.com or UK & Ireland Investors: Walbrook PR Paul Cornelius, +44 20 7933 8780 GAN@WalbrookPR.com or Davy (Nominated Adviser, ESM Adviser and Joint Broker) John Frain Barry Murphy, +353 1 679 6363 or Liberum (Joint Broker) Neil Patel Cameron Duncan, +44 (0) 20 3100 2000 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. PARIS, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic supermodel and renowned photographer uses the world ' s first triple-lens Leica camera, HUAWEI P20 Pro, to capture an intimate portrait series HUAWEI P20 Pro fuses an incredible camera with powerful A.I., giving photography lovers the tools to master their craft in the palm of their hand Leading technology brand Huawei has today announced the launch of its new flagship 'intelligent' phone, the HUAWEI P20 Pro. By combining the world's first triple-lens Leica camera and exciting innovation, driven by Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Huawei delivers the most exceptional photography experience possible. At the launch, held at Paris' iconic Grand Palais, Huawei also announced a partnership with one of the worlds most celebrated supermodels and photographers, Helena Christensen, to shoot an intimate gallery of portraits. The series of portraits captures three fascinating subjects that showcase the vivid colours and stunning detail of photography delivered through the HUAWEI P20 Pro - in a greater level of detail than ever before. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659278/Huawei_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659279/Helena_Christensen.jpg ) The beautiful collection entitled "See More", focuses on the stories of three talented professionals, and demonstrates how HUAWEI P20 Pro allows photographers and viewers alike to see more of subjects, thanks to the perfect balance of light and detail in each portrait. The series demonstrates Helena's skill and dexterity as a photographer, effortlessly complemented by the incredible HUAWEI P20 Pro - bringing technology and creativity together in one perfect art form. The expertly-crafted Huawei 40MP Leica triple-lens combines with powerful proprietary innovation including object recognition and super slow-motion to deliver a professional photography experience. Recognised for iconic campaigns with fashion houses including Chanel, Versace and Prada, Helena Christensen is one of the world's most famous supermodels. Having long held a passion for photography, she has stepped back behind the camera lens in recent years to focus on her work as a photographer, and has been credited with exhibitions in galleries across the globe. "For this shoot, it was important to me that I captured the spirit and dedication of my subjects, and that my portraits faithfully convey what kind of person they are without the need for words," says Helena Christensen. "Shooting with the HUAWEI P20 Pro smartphone not only made this process a lot easier, but it also meant I could get a lot closer to these amazing women, as it removed the need for any additional equipment, effectively breaking down the physical barriers that previously stood between me and my subjects." Huawei worked closely with photographers and specialists at Leica Camera AG to develop and engineer a new generation of 'intelligent' phone that allows users to easily master the art of taking the perfect photograph. As a result, HUAWEI P20 Pro delivers the most advanced camera experience in a smartphone - the A.I. knows what makes a good picture. It automatically recognises and adjusts settings according to the subject matter to help enhance results, as well as give guidance on composition and framing, providing users with a lifetime of professional knowledge in an instant. Other features that enhance photography results include the largest light sensor in a smartphone (to allow in more light, resulting in a clear, focused image) and Super Night Mode (for incredible night-time photography). In addition, the HUAWEI FullView Display maximises the display for stunning visuals, whilst the ultra-efficient battery will keep users connected and shooting for hours. Plus, with HUAWEI SuperCharge they will be back up and running in just a few minutes* when a power top-up is finally needed! "With HUAWEI P20 Pro we are ushering in a new era of and benchmark for smartphone cameras," said Richard Yu, CEO Huawei Consumer Business Group. "HUAWEI P20 Pro combines the very latest in smartphone technology with Leica Camera's legendary expertise, to deliver an incredible master photography experience driven by A.I., giving users the tools to achieve professional-standard results with every shot.." Beautiful colourways make the HUAWEI P20 Pro a fashionable and stylish smartphone choice, allowing users to express their personality and emotion through their handset. Striking Twilight, Midnight Blue and Pink Gold hues complement more traditional Black shades, whilst the world's first gradient-coloured glass body provides another aesthetic twist to stand out from the crowd**. Helena's three subjects were specially chosen for the passion for perfection in their craft. Their portraits, taken by Helena Christensen using the HUAWEI P20 Pro allow us to "See More" of their dedication and commitment within their everyday lives. Helena captures the dedicated concentration of jewellery designer Adeline Rapon as she evolves and develops her designs; she captures the grace of ballerina Melissa Chapski as she perfects the perfect pirouette; and she photographs the enigmatic Maria Fagerstrom, an international pilot who has travelled almost every corner of the world. HUAWEI P20 and HUAWEI P20 Pro smartphones were launched at a spectacular event on Tuesday 27 March at the iconic Grand Palais in Paris. This stunning venue has long held strong associations with the world's most fashionable brands, from Chanel to Hermes; and Huawei follows in the footsteps of these designers to show the intersection of fashion and technology in the beautifully-crafted HUAWEI P20 series. For full details and to check availability in your region, please visit http://consumer.huawei.com . Follow Huawei on Instagram and Twitter (@HuaweiMobile) to discover more from the SeeMooore campaign with Helena Christensen. Notes to editors * A 30-minute charge powers the battery to 58 percent, under laboratory conditions ** Gradient colourway available in the Twilight (ultra-violet) and Pink Gold SKUS For more information please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com For more campaign assets please visit: https://releasd.com/761e/ BROOKFIELD, Wisconsin, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2017, Cielo (formerly Pinstripe), the world's leading strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner, helped organizations around the globe and across several industries transform their talent acquisition by leveraging new technologies, like artificial intelligence, to improve the quality of hire. The firm's commitment to tailor solutions that deliver superior results helped Cielo rank #1 in customer satisfaction among all global RPO companies and spurred further international growth. "We believe technology is only as valuable as the human experience it improves," said Sue Marks, Cielo's Founder and CEO. "This philosophy, coupled with Design Thinking, creates an unparalleled client and candidate experience and a clear competitive advantage for our clients in a tight talent market. We're delighted that both third-party surveys and external analysts recognized us in many areas, most importantly viewing us as the top in the quality of service we deliver." In 2017, Cielo filled 157,000 roles in supporting 154 organizations globally, and added 30 new clients, renewals and multi-regional expansions. Its Total Talent Acquisition model flourished in Europe and is being rolled out to other regions. To meet demand, and to position itself for future success, the organization added key talent in sourcing, technology, customer experience and employer branding. Cielo launched two cutting-edge, technology-based products in 2017: Cielo TalentCloud and High Volume RPO. Cielo TalentCloud offers a suite of technologies that allows recruitment teams to work smarter, not just harder. It consists of SkyRecruit, Cielo's exclusive Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) software, SkyAnalytics, a platform that enables data-driven decision making, and SkyLabs, Cielo's innovation engine. High Volume RPO is an exclusive, mobile-first technology that uses the latest in artificial intelligence to help organizations in retail, customer service, hospitality and other industries keep up with the velocity of hourly vacancies improving the quantity of quality candidates and reducing cost and time to hire at the same time, providing measurable business results to clients. Cielo expanded operations in multiple geographies, further reinforcing its global prominence and ability to serve clients across regions and industries. The organization more than doubled its number of employees in Latin America and is now delivering service in 14 LATAM countries. In Europe, Cielo tripled the size of its Budapest delivery center, and in Asia Pacific opened a new full-service delivery center in Manila, Philippines. It is Cielo's third center in Asia Pacific, where the organization doubled its team size to accommodate new global and regional partnerships. Cielo collected several awards in 2017, most notably five #1 rankings in HRO Today's Baker's Dozen list, which ranks global RPO firms based on client satisfaction surveys. Cielo took #1 in Global RPO Providers Overall, Quality of Service, Breadth of Service, Size of Deal, and Healthcare Industry Providers. Cielo also was identified as a Leader in NelsonHall's NEAT vendor evaluation, and for the fifth consecutive year as a Leader on Everest Group's 2017 Global Recruitment Process Outsourcing PEAK Matrix. Cielo also won the Brandon Hall Group's coveted bronze award for the Best Advance in RPO Technology for Cielo TalentCloud. About Cielo Cielo is the world's leading strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner. Under its WE BECOME YOU' philosophy, Cielo's dedicated recruitment teams primarily serve clients in the financial and business services, consumer brands, technology and media, engineering, life sciences and healthcare industries. Cielo's global presence includes 2,000 employees, serving 154 clients across 92 countries in 36 languages. The industry has verified Cielo's reputation for executing innovative solutions that provide business impact through numerous awards and recognitions, including its #1 position on the HRO Today RPO Baker's Dozen listing, PEAK Matrix Leader placement by Everest Group and Industry Leader designation by NelsonHall. Cielo knows talent is rising - and with it, an organization's opportunity to rise above. For more information, visit cielotalent.com. Contact: Kristen Wright Kristen.Wright@cielotalent.com +1 262-754-5340 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/336468/Cielo_Logo.jpg Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2018) - Grizzly Discoveries Inc. (TSXV: GZD) (OTC Pink: GZDIF) (FSE: G6H) ("Grizzly" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with a private group (the "Vendors") to purchase the Cobalt-Copper-Silver "Robocop Property", located within the Fort Steele Mining District in southeastern British Columbia. The Robocop Property (the "Property") is located in southeastern British Columbia, approximately 45 kilometres (km) south of Fernie and 70 km southeast of Cranbrook, and is immediately north of the Canada-USA border. The Property is comprised of 5 mineral claims totalling 9,891 acres. The property is located east of Grizzly's Greenwood Property in southeastern British Columbia. Areas with significant historic cobalt-copper-silver (Co-Cu-Ag) in soil anomalies have been identified on the Robocop Property. Additionally, historic drilling during the 1990's (Teck Explorations Ltd.) and early 2000's (Ruby Red Resources) has yielded grades of up to 0.18% Co, 0.28% Cu, 4.1 parts per million (ppm) Ag over 1 m core length (Pighin, 2009) and 0.134% Co, 1.19% Cu and 33.8 ppm Ag over 1.23 m core length (Thomson, 1990) for individual core samples. The Co-Cu-Ag mineralization is hosted in Sheppard Formation and is classified as Proterozoic sediment hosted mineralization. Grizzly believes that significant potential exists to expand the known extent of the known Co-Cu-Ag mineralization on the Property and further exploration is warranted. Under the terms of the LOI, Grizzly would acquire a 100% interest in the Robocop Property subject to a 3% net smelter royalty ("NSR") by issuing to the Vendors 2,000,000 units, with each Unit consisting of one common share of Grizzly and one transferrable share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one further share of GZD at an exercise price of $0.14 for a period of 3 years from the date of issuance. The Property carries a 3% NSR and, under the terms of the LOI, Grizzly has the right to purchase up to 2% of the NSR (down to 1% NSR) within two years after the delivery of a positive Feasibility Study for the Property, for the amount of $1,500,000. Pursuant to signing the LOI, the Company will conduct due diligence and work to enter into a definitive agreement to complete the transaction. The definitive agreement is subject to approvals by the Board of Directors and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. Brian Testo, CEO of Grizzly, commented, "We have been able to negotiate a favourable purchase of 100% interest in the Robocop Property, which we believe will provide an excellent cobalt exploration opportunity for Grizzly. It is in the same region of BC as our Greenwood Property, where we have excellent relationships with the First Nations, and years of operating experience. We feel that the historic sampling and drill results are very significant, and that this Property has excellent potential for the discovery of a Co-Cu-Ag deposit. Our first step will be to undertake exploration including an airborne survey and drilling leading to an initial resource estimate." Click this link for:Signature Video with Grizzly CEO Brian Griz Testo ABOUT GRIZZLY DISCOVERIES INC. Grizzly is a diversified Canadian mineral exploration company with its primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange with 58.7 million shares issued, focused on developing its precious metals properties in southeastern British Columbia, and significant Potash and Diamond assets in Alberta. The Company holds, or has an interest in: over 180,000 acres of precious-base metal and cobalt properties in British Columbia; metallic and industrial mineral permits for potash totalling more than 60,000 acres along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, and more than 161,000 acres of properties which host diamondiferous kimberlites in the Buffalo Head Hills region of Alberta. The technical content of this news release and the Company's technical disclosure has been reviewed and approved by Michael B. Dufresne, M. Sc., P. Geol., P.Geo., who is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. On behalf of the Board, Grizzly Discoveries Inc. Brian Testo President (780) 693-2242 For further information, please visit our website at www.grizzlydiscoveries.com or contact Investor Relations: Nancy Massicotte IR PRO COMMUNICATIONS INC. Tel: 604-507-3377 Toll Free: 1-866-503-3377 Email: ir@grizzlydiscoveries.com www.irprocommunications.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. Caution concerning forward-looking information This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Grizzly in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Grizzly's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Grizzly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required by law. Aeron has achieved its objective to offer a decentralized general aviation record system focused on flight safety. Mobile applications replacing the manual act of logging flight hours on paper are now available in Google Play and Apple App Store. All features including blockchain recording of flight hours are offered to early adopters free of cost. One of the main verification methods used by the aviation authorities for issuing licenses and ratings to individual pilots (as well as checking their validity) is the pilot manual log book, a paper folio. Such a book is a recording of flight hours and other relevant information. This is the only document which is supposed to directly evidence the pilot's experience. Aeron's solution based on the blockchain technology allows storage of all necessary log book data in digital format. This is an alternative to hard copies and it minimizes the hindrance met by people when handling documents on paper. For example, the obstacles in recovering lost or damaged documents are solved, since digital information has less chance of being erased with the use of reliable blockchain technology for its storage. Typically, it proves next to impossible to recover the individual pilot's log book, should it be lost or stolen, especially in a case where the pilot does not have an association with a single flight school or location. The company is developing a decentralized database and online system that would host global data on aircraft, flight schools and pilots. The improvement in aviation safety today can be achieved by using blockchain technology. It will exclude the possibility of loss, distortion or forgery of vital flight log data, therefore significantly reducing the risk of accidents. Information should be transparent and available for the authorities for verification or audit. About Aeron: Aeron is the new standard of aviation safety powered by blockchain. We believe that aviation safety is closely related to record integrity. Once the log records are stored in blockchain and can't be forged, both authorities and passengers can be confident that a pilot actually has the experience claimed. Aeron (ARN) token has been introduced for further development of the platform and is available on world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance. It will become an integral part of Aeron ecosystem. To learn more about Aeron, visit the web site https://aeron.aero. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327005976/en/ Contacts: Aeron Labs Maria Shirokova, +372 7121717 pr@aeron.aero https://aeron.aero Invitation to the ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Fenix Outdoor International AG Dear Shareholder, The Board of Directors is pleased to invite you to the ordinary General Meeting concerning the financial year 2017 Date: Wednesday, 25 April 2018, 2 pm Place: Hemvarnsgatan 9, Solna (Sweden) I. Agenda items and motions of the Board of Directors 1. Approval of the Annual Report 2017 and taking note of the audit report The Board of Directors proposes to approve the Annual Report 2017 consisting of the consolidated financial statements, parent financial statements as well as the compensation report and to take note of the Audit Reports. 2. Appropriation of the balance sheet profit 2017 The Board of Directors proposes to approve the appropriation of the balance sheet profit 2017 as follows: Retained earnings Profit reserves at the beginning of the period TEUR 48 194 Net profit of the year TEUR 42 768 Profit reserves at the end of the year TEUR 90 962 Allocation to the general legal profit reserves TEUR - Profit to be carried forward TEUR 90 962 Proposal of the appropriation Capital contribution reserves TEUR 423 946 Capital contributions TEUR - Dividends TEUR 13 674 Capital contribution reserves TEUR 410 272 Dividend The Board of Directors proposes the distribution of a dividend in the amount of EUR 1,016/SEK 10,00 (previous year: 0,837/8,00) per share of category B and EUR 0,1016/SEK 1,00 (previous year: 0,0837/0.80) per share of category A, total EUR 13 673 581). 3. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the Senior Executives The Board of Directors proposes to grant discharge to the members of the Board of Directors and the Senior Executives for their actions taken in the financial year 2017. 4. Elections 4.1. Members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes to elect: Mr. Rolf Schmid as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect: a)Mr. Ulf Gustafsson as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; b)Mr. Mats Olsson as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. c)Mr. Hans Sebastian Von Wallwitz as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; d)Mrs. Gitte Susanne Dalsgaard Nordin as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. The Board of Directors also proposes to elect Mr Sven Stork as Permanent honorary member of the Board. 4.2. Chairman of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes to elect Mr. Martin Nordin as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.3. Compensation Committee The Board of Directors proposes to elect: Mr. Ulf Gustafsson as member of the Compensation Committee for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect: Mrs. Gitte Susanne Dalsgaard Nordin as member of the Compensation Committee for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.4. Independent Proxy The Board of Directors proposes to elect Dr. iur. Philippe Meyer, attorney at law, as Independent Proxy (with respect to General Meetings of Shareholders to be held in Switzerland) and Mr. Lars Sandberg, attorney at law, as Independent Proxy (with respect to General Meetings of Shareholders to be held in Sweden), both for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.5. Auditor The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect Ernst & Young Ltd (CHE-491.907.686), in Zurich, for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 5. Compensation 5.1. Approval of the total fixed compensation to the Board of Directors for the financial year 2019 The Board of Directors proposes to approve the total fixed compensation to the Board of Directors for the financial year 2019 amounting to a maximum of EUR 900 000. 5.2. Approval of the total fixed compensation to the Senior Executives for the financial year 2019 The Board of Directors proposes to approve the total fixed compensation to the Senior Executives for the financial year 2019 amounting to a maximum of EUR 3 200 000 5.3. Approval of the total variable compensation to the Senior Executives for the financial year 2017 Board of Directors proposes to approve the total variable compensation to the Senior Executives for the financial year 2017 equal to a maximum amount of EUR 600 000. II. Documents The annual report, the financial statements, the consolidated financial statements as well as the audit report for the business year 2017 are available for inspection at the Company's registered office in Zug. Copies of the documents are also available on the Company's website www.fenixoutdoor.se. III. Notification Shareholders who wish to attend (in person, representation by proxy or by the Independent Proxy) the ordinary General Meeting must be recorded in the Company's share register as at Thursday 19 April 2018 and must notify the Company no later than Monday 23 April 2018, 1 p.m. by telephone +46 660 26 62 00, by mail to Fenix Outdoor International AG, Hemvarnsgatan 15, 171 54 Solna (Sweden) or by e-mail info@fenixoutdoor.se https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=1ZaTon0u_UGCXuIvElP31Y_MuI1UMf4fTHpam9CQQGQTwh8y98G2y39-2r-KR11GrCzVRBORFheRolwqqy8GpTNlmM63BakIF4BGWihGEtE= of their attendance. An e-mail from the Company confirming the receipt of the notification must be presented at the entrance in order to be admitted to the ordinary General Meeting. The notification of the Shareholder must include name, personal identification number (registration number), address, email address (if applicable), phone number and the names of accompanying advisors, if any. Shareholders holding shares through a nominee must, in order to be entitled to attend and vote (in person, representation by proxy or by the Independent Proxy) at the ordinary General Meeting, temporarily register the shares in their own name. For the shares to be re-registered in time, shareholders should instruct the nominee, bank or broker that manages the shares, well in advance of Thursday 19 April 2018 for temporary re-registration, so called voting registration. After the shares have been registered in the shareholder's own name, the shareholder shall follow the instructions as set out above in this section III. IV. Representation and proxy Shareholders who do not personally attend the ordinary General Meeting may be represented as follows: -- by any representative, who does not need to be a shareholder; -- by the designated Independent Proxy being Mr. Lars Sandberg (Skarp Stockholm Advokatbyra AB, attn. Lars Sandberg, P.O. Box 7467, 103 92 Stockholm, Sweden). In case representation is intended by proxy, the proxy should be submitted to the representative in original along with the notification. Proxy forms are available on the Company's website www.fenixoutdoor.se. In case representation is intended by the Independent Proxy, the instruction form should be submitted in original along with the notification to the Independent Proxy and in advance by e-mail (as mentioned on the instruction form). Instruction forms are available on the Company's website www.fenixoutdoor.se. The instruction form must reach the Independent Proxy by e-mail no later than Friday 20 April 2018. V. Shares and votes As of 27 March 2018, the total number of shares and votes in Fenix Outdoor International AG is 35,060,000, whereof 24,000,000 are category A shares and 11,060,000 are category B shares. As of the same date, the company holds 6 700 B-shares, of these as treasury shares. Zug, 27 March 2018 Fenix Outdoor International AG On behalf of the Board of Directors Sven Torsten Stork, Chairman AGM 2018 04 25.docx https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=tYXDJ-czMp3M32VaMM5d6aHw1uL5JHMmy5sKQYpIQKxFIpRpXEG2AIlk_DRaDENCLAzgJjH6BZb_bN6CS2q4DJw7EBPC7UicDiaaru_ThMlSJSPgWFeQg2gbR-O54d7BfExsol-Sy3nuUI54C6ovPs1c-jRQ_QW-dpwdZKLoNhanW_bxdyfFdHUCPgfYA26m (END) Dow Jones Newswires March 27, 2018 11:00 ET (15:00 GMT) WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Popular series creator and actor Dan Schneider will no longer work with Nickelodeon. A joint statement said the Nickelodeon and Schneider will pursue opportunities and projects away from the Disney Channel's main TV rival. The company said it has agreed not to extend the current deal with Dan Schneider or Schneider's Bakery. Game Shakers, a very successful show that that played 63 episodes in three seasons will stand cancelled. The joint statement further said, 'We thank Dan and his Schneider's Bakery producers, executives and social media team for their immeasurable contributions to Nickelodeon, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors. And Dan and Schneider's Bakery are proud of the work they did together with Nickelodeon and will always remain big fans of the network.' Schneider was behind the screens for the production of several productions including, the Amanda Show, Drake and Josh, iCarly, Hencry Danger, Victorious, Kenan and Kel, etc. These series were produced under the banner Schneider's Bakery since 2003. 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. Regulatory News: OSE Immunotherapeutics (Paris:OSE) (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE), today announced it will be featured as a presenting company at the H. C. Wainwright Annual Global Life Sciences Conference. The conference is being held on April 8-10 at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Dominique Costantini, CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, will provide an overview of the Company's business during the live presentation and will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to attend the conference. If you are an institutional investor, and would like to attend the Company's presentation, please click on the following link (www.hcwevents.com) to register for the conference. Once your registration is confirmed, you will be prompted to log into the conference website to request a one-on-one meeting with the Company. Event: H. C. Wainwright Annual Global Life Sciences Conference Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 Time: 4:15 4:40 PM CET Location: Salon Atlantique-Meridional (2nd Floor); Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco The presentation will be webcast live. To access the webcast, please visit www.hcwevents.com The webcast replay will remain available for 90 days following the live presentation. ABOUT OSE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS Our ambition is to become a world leader in activation and regulation immunotherapies: OSE Immunotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative immunotherapies for immune activation and regulation in the fields of immuno-oncology, autoimmune diseases and transplantation. The company has several scientific and technological platforms: neoepitopes, agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its first-in-class clinical portfolio offers a diversified risk profile. In immuno-oncology: Tedopi,10 combined neo-epitopes to induce a specific T lymphocyte activation.Phase III trial in advanced NSCLC:after temporary pause of new patient accrual end of June 2017,new recruitment strategy in December 2017, following the recommendation of the trial's Independent Data Monitoring Committee, to focus the trial on patients who failed a previous treatment with a PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. In Q1 2018, after approvals from the competent authorities, resume of patient accrual in the US and in Europe, and initiation of the trial in Israel. Phase II with Tedopi in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor planned in advanced pancreatic cancer,in collaboration with GERCOR, a cooperative group of clinical research. OSE-172 , new generation checkpoint inhibitor targeting myeloid cells via the SIRP-a receptor In preclinical development for several cancer models. Clinical program planned end of 2018. , new generation checkpoint inhibitor targeting myeloid cells via the SIRP-a receptor In preclinical development for several cancer models. Clinical program planned end of 2018. OSE-703, cytotoxic monoclonal antibody against the alpha chain of IL-7R Under a research collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. In auto-immune diseases and transplantation: FR104 , CD28-antagonist in immunotherapy - Phase 1 trial completed For the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use with transplantation Licensed to Janssen Biotech Inc. to pursue clinical development. , CD28-antagonist in immunotherapy - Phase 1 trial completed For the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use with transplantation Licensed to Janssen Biotech Inc. to pursue clinical development. OSE-127, interleukin receptor-7 antagonist- In preclinical development for inflammatory bowel diseases and other autoimmune diseases. Clinical phase planned end of 2018. License option agreement with Servier for the development and commercialization. The portfolio's blockbuster potential gives OSE Immunotherapeutics the ability to enter global agreements at different stages of development with major pharmaceutical players. Immunotherapy is a highly promising and growing market. By 2023, cancer Immunotherapy could represent nearly 60% of treatments compared to less than 3% of treatments currently*. The projected market is estimated to be at $67 billion in 2018 **. There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases that represent a significant market including major players in the pharmaceutical industry with sales towards $10 billion for the main products. The medical need is largely unmet and requires the provision of new innovative products involved in the regulation of the immune system. *Citi Research Equity **BCC Research Click and follow us on Twitter and Linkedln Forward-looking statements This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics' management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "target", "plan", or "estimate", their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics' shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Reference Document filed with the AMF on 28 April 2017 under the number R.17-038, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2016, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics' website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327005896/en/ Contacts: OSE Immunotherapeutics Sylvie Detry, +33 143 297 857 Sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com or French Media: FP2COM Florence Portejoie, +33 607 768 283 fportejoie@fp2com.fr or U.S. Media: LifeSci Public Relations Matt Middleman, +1 646 627 8384 M.D. matt@lifescipublicrelations.com or U.S. and European Investors Chris Maggos, +41 79 367 6254 chris@lifesciadvisors.com Regulatory News: Legrand (Paris:LR) Meeting on March 20, 2018, Legrand's Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and in the run-up to the 2018 General Meeting of Shareholders, adopted proposals for renewing Directors' terms of office due to expire and for the appointment of Directors, as well as items relating to the compensation policy for the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. The terms of the following Directors, which are due to expire at the upcoming General Meeting of Shareholders on May 30, 2018, are proposed for renewal: Mr. Gilles Schnepp, Chairman of the Board of Directors and previously Chief Executive Officer of Legrand; and Mr. Olivier Bazil, former Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Legrand. The Board also approved the proposed appointments of the following candidates as independent Directors: Mr. Edward (Ned) Gilhuly, a US citizen, founding partner of Sageview Capital; Mr. Patrick Koller, of dual French and German citizenship, Chief Executive Officer of Faurecia. Biographical details will be included in the Company's 2017 Registration Document and in the convening brochure for the 2018 General Meeting of Shareholders. These proposed appointments are the result of a search conducted by an independent firm acting on a mandate from the Nominating and Governance Committee. This mandate was based on the conclusions of the annual process of assessment of Board operations, during which the Directors expressed the wish to recruit candidates with the following profiles and skills: the profile of an executive manager of a listed company with an industrial focus; and the profile of an American national, given the increasing share of the Group's operations in the United States, especially after recent acquisitions. The Board of Directors verified that the candidates selected fulfilled these conditions and would have sufficient time to perform their duties. The Board of Directors also approved a draft resolution to amend the Company's articles of association in order to allow the appointment of a Director representing employees on the Board1 as of June 2018. These proposed appointments are made after the decision of Mr. Francois Grappotte, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of Legrand and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Legrand, not to request renewal of his term of office as Director which will expire on the date of the upcoming General Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Gilles Schnepp, speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Benoit Coquart, speaking on behalf of the Legrand management team and employees, wish to express their deep gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Francois Grappotte for his exceptional contribution to the Group's development in his capacity as senior executive and Director from 1983 to 2006, and for his support and active participation in the work of the Board as a Director since 2006. These propositions also follow the decision of Mr. Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SEB and an independent Director of Legrand since its return to the stock market in 2006, to relinquish his office as Director since he will no longer qualify as an independent Director in April 2018. The Board of Directors wishes to express its thanks and gratitude to Mr. Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise for his active contribution to the work of the Board and its committees throughout his term of office. Moreover, Mr. Dongsheng Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TCL and an independent Director of Legrand since 2012, has declared his intention not to request renewal of his term of office as Director, since the number of directorships he holds in other listed companies in China exceeds the number of mandates recommended by good governance practices. The Board of Directors also wishes to express its thanks and gratitude to Mr. Dongsheng Li for his active contribution to the work of the Board throughout his term of office. Subject to the adoption of these resolutions by the General Meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Directors would comprise: 9 members elected by the General Meeting, including 5 women ( i.e. 56%) and 7 independent Directors ( i.e. 78%); and 56%) and 7 independent Directors ( 78%); and 1 Director representing the employees elected by the Central Works Committee1 Furthermore, 5 nationalities would be represented on the Board: American, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The Board of Directors also defined, at the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee and subject to approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders, the compensation policy applicable to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer in respect of 2018, on the basis of benchmarks and in line with the Afep-Medef Code of Corporate Governance. As for Mr. Gilles Schnepp's compensation in respect of 2017, it will be submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders for approval. All of the above items will be detailed in the 2017 Registration Document and will be the subject of resolutions voted on by the General Meeting of Shareholders in the context of ex-post, ex-ante votes and votes on regulated agreements and commitments. KEY FINANCIAL DATES: 2018 first-quarter results: May 3, 2018 "Quiet period 1 " starts April 3, 2018 "Quiet period " starts April 3, 2018 General Meeting of Shareholders: May 30, 2018 Ex-dividend date: June 1, 2018 Dividend payment: June 5, 2018 2018 first-half results: July 31 2018 "Quiet period1" starts July 1, 2018 ABOUT LEGRAND Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings-including Eliot* connected products with enhanced value in use. Legrand reported sales of more than 5.5 billion in 2017. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is notably a component stock of the CAC 40 index (code ISIN FR0010307819) http://www.legrand.com *Eliot is a program launched in 2015 by Legrand to speed up deployment of the Internet of Things in its offering. A result of the group's innovation strategy, Eliot aims to develop connected and interoperable solutions that deliver lasting benefits to private individual users and professionals. http://www.legrand.com/EN/eliot-program_13238.html 1 The appointment of the Director representing employees on the Board of Directors of Legrand SA will take effect upon conclusion of the process of designation by the Central Works Committee meeting in April 2018 and upon expiry of the term of office of the Director representing employees on the Board of Directors of Legrand France, a subsidiary of Legrand SA, i.e. at the end of June 2018. 1 Period of time when all communication is suspended in the run-up to publication of results. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327005987/en/ Contacts: Investor relations Legrand Francois Poisson, Tel: +33 (0)1 49 72 53 53 francois.poisson@legrand.fr or Press relations Publicis Consultants Vilizara Lazarova Tel: +33 (0)1 44 82 46 34 Mob: +33 (0)6 26 72 57 14 or vilizara.lazarova@consultants.publicis.fr Eloi Perrin Tel: +33 (0)1 44 82 46 36 Mob: +33 (0)6 81 77 76 43 eloi.perrin@consultants.publicis.fr HONG KONG, Mar 27, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd ("Ausnutria" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; 1717.HK), a company engaged in the research and development, production and distribution of all dairy products (including infant formula) and nutrition products with production facilities principally based in the PRC, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2017 (the "year under review" or the "Year 2017") today.During the year under review, the dairy industry across the People's Republic of China (the "PRC") faced huge challenges due to the change in regulatory policies, particularly the implementation of registration requirements for infant formula. In response this, the Group implemented continuous corresponding strategies and maintained significant growth in operating performance. For the Year 2017, the Group's revenue increased by 43.3% YoY to RMB3,926.5 million, gross profits increased by 50.3% to RMB1,690.2 million, and the gross profit margin was 43.0%, representing an increase of 1.9 percentage points. Profit attributable to shareholders increased by 44.9% to RMB308.1 million and basic earnings per share was 24.61cents, a rise of 44.4% compared with the same period last year. Given the Group's strong business growth and sound financial position, the Board recommended a final dividend payment of HK$0.10 per share for the Year 2017 (the year ended 31 December 2016 (the "Year 2016"): HK$0.05).Mr. Yan Weibin, Chairman of the Group, said - "In 2017, Ausnutria overcame a host of difficulties by adhering to its principle of 'responding to market uncertainty with firm strategies' and executed strategies with full faith. The Company has achieved satisfactory results in terms of operational performance, product diversification and business chain deployment. The Group's performance continues to grow steadily, mainly due to the sustained effects in fine tuning of strategic plans and layout of the Group's core own-branded infant formula business, improvements in the Group's organization structure and sales network, clear brand positioning and the implementation of innovative business strategies, which allowed the Group to cater effectively to different market demands in the PRC, and enhanced the business development of the Group."In 2017, the multi-branding strategy of formula milk powder of the Group propelled sustainable growth, and the sales of our own-branded business increased by 57.5% YoY to 2,862.6 million. Among this amount, cow milk formula revenue increased by 55.3% to RMB 1,582.8 million, compared with the year ended 31 December 2016. Revenue from the Company's own-branded goat milk formula, Kabrita, increased by 60.2% YoY to RMB1,279.8 million. In addition, sales of Kabrita in the PRC and overseas amounted to RMB1,067.2 million and RMB212.6 million, representing a substantial increase of 60.8% and 57.0%, respectively, compared to the Year 2016. Kabrita has been ranked the number one imported goat milk infant formula in the PRC in terms of both sales and import volume since 2014. Kabrita products are also now available in more than 66 countries and regions. This highly successful network has set a solid foundation for the distribution and promotion of the Group's products across the globe.The Group continues to improve its upstream business chain in response to the challenging market environment and growing market demand. Among which, two new factories in the Netherlands obtained certification from and completed its registration with the CNCA in November. The NZ Factory New Zealand, jointly developed with Westland (the second largest dairy cooperative in New Zealand), was also completed during the year and obtained a production permit from the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand. In addition, the ADP factory in Australia has already started producing the Group's two main series of infant formula during the year. Taking into account that the construction of the Smart Factory in Wangcheng, Changsha City, the PRC is expected to be completed in 2018, the Group will then have ten factories around the world, realising Ausnutria's strategy of maintaining a global supply chain network with premium milk sources, and laying a solid foundation for the Group's future growth.With respect to global marketing network, the Group has extended its sales and distribution network in Taiwan by completing the acquisition of a 60% equity interest in Youluck in Taiwan. By acquiring a 50% equity interest in Ozfarm in Australia, which owns the number one maternal women's milk powder brand in Australia, the Group has further improved its overall product diversification. At the same time, with the acquisition of a 100% equity interest in ADP, the Group's international profile has been further enhanced. Following the completion of acquiring the nutrition business in Australia in 2016, the Company has successfully launched a number of nutrition products across the PRC and received a nice feedback from the market.Looking forward, Mr. Yan Weibin concluded - "2018 is the Group's fifteenth year in business, we believe that the PRC economy will continue to maintain stable growth. The upscaling of consumption patterns has created enormous opportunities for food and nutrition enterprises in the PRC. Factors such as technological improvements, the social media boom, the sharing economy, advances in data management, and the PRC's national strategies such as "The Healthy China Dream" and "The Belt and Road Initiatives", have all created excellent opportunities for Ausnutria to overtake its competitors. In 2018, the Group will continue its mission of 'Nourishing Life and Growth'. While strengthening the quality of our products coupled with our solid foothold in the PRC, the Group will continue its efforts to develop global markets. Backed by clear brand positioning and effective marketing strategies, the sales of the own-branded infant formula of Ausnutria will achieve even better results, it will also allow the Group to seize opportunities in the PRC and overseas markets, maintain rapid and sustainable growth, and produce the greatest returns for consumers and shareholders."Source: Ausnutria Dairy Corporation LtdCopyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Vitaly Pruss, President of TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, reports that the meeting between the official delegation from the City of Kharkiv, Ukraine and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and John Huvane, CEO of Giuliani Security & Safety, was a success. The City of Kharkiv was represented by First Vice Mayor Igor Terekhov. During the meeting Mr. Terekhov expressed gratitude to Mr. Giuliani from Kharkiv's Mayor Gennadiy Kernes for assisting in organization of the visit of Kharkiv representatives, with the aim being to study the setup and experience of the Offices for Public Security and Offices for Emergency Management in the states of New York and New Jersey. The parties also discussed the areas of future cooperation with the goal of establishing and operating a new Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv. During the meeting Mr. Giuliani emphasized that the creation of an Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv is an important step for implementing the previously relayed recommendations for improved Kharkiv security system development. (Presetned by Mr. Giuliani during his visit to Kharkiv in November 2017.) "The establishment of the single Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv and the prompt interaction of all necessary agencies of the city will increase the overall level of security, and will also provide an opportunity for prompt response to emergencies," Giuliani said. "And thus," adds Mr. Pruss, "the city will become safer and more attractive to investors." A separate topic in the meeting was devoted to discussing software development issues related to the United States Centers for Emergency Response. Moving forward, Giuliani Security & Safety will provide expert assistance in creating an Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv. TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, a New York-based business development company which facilitated introduction between the City of Kharkiv and Giuliani Security & Safety, is going to be involved in future cooperation with potential partners and investors as well. For more information on TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, please visit http://tgsv.net/. Friday, April 13 2:00 - 6:00 PM (Focus on Professionals- CEU's) Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Focus on Families and Caregivers) Campbell Community Center BURLINGAME, California, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a medical practice providing house calls for challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families, will be hosting a conference for families and elder care professionals on overcoming the challenges of dementia. Geriatricians will speak on the controversial topics of medication use and misuse, treating pain and addressing caregiving from a professional and personal perspective.A neuropsychologist will address distinguishing early dementia (and risk for financial abuse) from just eccentric or irritable behavior. A lawyer will discuss needed legal planning, and pitfalls.Several more eldercare professionals will be speaking on challenging transitions, and family issues.The conference will be held on two half days: Friday, April 13 from 2:00 - 6:00 PM and Saturday April 14 from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM at the Campbell Community Center, Orchard City Banquet Hall, 1 Campbell Avenue, Campbell CA. The fee is $25 for general admissions and $45 for CEU units for selected professionals: Nurses, RCFE Administrators, Nursing Home Administrators, CNA/HHA, and Geriatric Care Managers. All are welcome for both days! Discount if you register for both days $10.00 off for non-CEU, $20.00 off for CEU professionals. Discount for groups of Five or More: Save $10.00 per person per day. Registration is required. All press will be provided food, coffee and free admission as guests. Please connect with us at elderconsult.com to register. Break snacks and conference materials will be provided. Free parking. Resource Fair with 30 trusted elder care businesses and services will be held at the same time offering help and services to families. ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine founder Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, will be the keynote speaker at the conference both days and will discuss 'Medication Challenges' and 'Pain Effects in Dementia.' Other speakers include: Michelle Dhanak, MD "Intro to Dementia," Dr. Elizabeth Sutherland, PhD "When Odd Behavior Indicates Dementia," Barbara Small, Esq., "Personal Planning and Pitfalls," Stephanie Howard, "Best Care Practices," Tami Anastasia, MA, "Caregiver Challenges and Strategies," and Ann Kositsky, GNP "Engaging Activities." ElderConsult is a geriatric medical practice, founded by Elizabeth Landsverk, MD in 2006 and based in Burlingame, CA. Dr. Landsverk is a triple board-certified Geriatrician, Internist and Palliative care physician, with extensive experience in addressing complex medical and psychosocial issues in older individuals.She has particular expertise working with patients with dementia and agitation. She has found that outcomes for her elders with very challenging behaviors often require treatment that is not the standard care.We use no benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, sleeping pills), we do use narcotics for serious bone on bone arthritis or spinal arthritis or for serious behavioral issues causing dangerous behavior or severe distress. Also, we do use antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers, not for sedation, but for improved quality of life. One patient had frontal brain surgery that left him irritable and paranoid, his wife left him and all but 1 of his 6 children are estranged.He started on the above classes medication and was more pleasant, alert and engaged within a few days. It takes a village to care for our elders, and we appreciate your role in informing and educating. According to Dr. Landsverk, "ElderConsult's Mission is to 'Make Life Worth Living' and we practice this every day with every patient and family. Hosting this educational conference is in line with our goals to provide helpful and practical solutions to the many problems encountered with dementia care." Elizabeth Landsverk, MD, isfounder of ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a house calls practice in the San Francisco Bay Area that addresses the challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families. Dr. Landsverk is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and palliative care and is an adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University Medical School. http://www.elderconsult.com Contact: Irene Dockins, CSA, Director of Training and Education 650-357-8834 X4 Regulatory News: The Board of Directors of Total Gabon (Paris:EC) met on March 27, 2018 to approve the financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2017. As announced in the news release dated November 14, 2017, Total Gabon, which used to publish its financial statements in accordance with the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) accounting standard, will publish its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as from its 2017 Annual Financial Report, at the request of Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), the French financial markets regulator. The 2017 Annual Financial Report, which will be published on April 27, 2018, will include a note describing the impact of this change in accounting standard. The impacts on the main financial statement items are described below. Brent averaged $54.2 per barrel ($/b) in 2017, up 24% from $43.7 in 2016. Total Gabon's equity share of oil production averaged 44,600 barrels of oil per day (b/d) in 2017, compared to 47,400 b/d in 2016. Revenue increased by 17% to $914 million from $784 million in 2016, thanks primarily to higher average crude selling prices. Net income amounted to $108 million versus a loss of $13 million in 2016 (IFRS), reflecting higher crude prices, the Company's cost-cutting program and the disposal of certain mature assets. The Board of Directors decided that it will recommend at the Annual Meeting on May 22, 2018 that shareholders approve the payment of a dividend of $5.5 per share, for a total payout of $24.75 million. This represents an increase of 22% from the previous year's dividend of $4.5 per share. The dividend will be payable in euros (or the equivalent in CFA francs), based on the /$ exchange rate on the date of the Annual Meeting. Main Financial Indicators 2017 2016 2017 vs. 2016 Average Brent price $/b 54.2 43.7 +24% Average Total Gabon crude price(1) $/b 49.7 37.9 +31% Crude oil production from fields operated by Total Gabon kb/d (2) 48.5 55.0 -12% Crude oil production from Total Gabon interests(3) kb/d 44.6 47.4 -6% Sales volumes(1) Mb(4) 15.9 17.6 -10% Revenue(5) $M 914 784 +17% Funds generated from operations(6) $M 379 108 x3 Capital expenditure $M 152 156 -3% Net income (loss)(7) $M 108 (13) N/A (1) Excluding profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. (2) kb/d: Thousand barrels per day (3) Including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. (4) Mb: Million barrels. (5) Revenue from hydrocarbon sales and services (transportation, processing and storage). As from 2017, the Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Following the application of IAS 18 Revenue, profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic is now included in revenue. This reclassification, which was also applied to 2016 revenue, has no impact on net income. (6) Funds generated from operations operating cash flow gains (losses) on disposals of assets working capital changes. (7) As from 2017, the Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Various items taken into account in the calculation of 2016 net income have been adjusted as a result of the adoption of IFRS. A summary of these adjustments is provided in Appendix 1. 2017 Results Selling Prices Reflecting the higher Brent price and strong Asian demand for West African crude oil grades, the selling price of the Mandji and Rabi Light crude oil grades marketed by Total Gabon averaged $49.7 per barrel, up 31% from the year before. Production Total Gabon's equity share of operated and non-operated oil production(1) declined 6% from the previous year to 44,600 barrels per day in 2017, due mainly to: The sale of mature assets to Perenco on October 31, 2017. The increase in the amount of produced water and the presence of sulfate scale in certain wells on the Anguille field. The natural decline of fields. This was partly offset by: Improved facility availability. The impact of the increased stake in the Baudroie-Merou license from 50% to 100% in June 2017. _____________________________ 1 Including profit oil reverting to the Gabonese Republic as per production sharing contracts. Revenue Full-year revenue amounted to $914 million versus $784 million in 2016. The 17% increase reflected higher average crude selling prices, partly offset by a 10% decline in sales volumes due primarily from the disposal of mature assets and the lifting schedule. Revenue from services provided to third parties also decreased during the year, by $20 million, mainly due to the sale of the Rabi-Coucal-Cap Lopez pipeline network. Funds Generated From Operations The threefold year-on-year increase in funds generated from operations to $379 million reflected higher revenue and lower operating expenses following the implementation of the Company's cost-cutting program. Capital Expenditure Capital expenditure amounted to $152 million in 2017, down 3% on the prior year, and included the acquisition of an additional 50% interest in the Baudroie-Merou license from MPDC Gabon Co. Ltd., integrity works offshore (Anguille, Torpille, Grondin) and onshore (Cap Lopez terminal), a coiled tubing campaign on Anguille and Torpille, and geophysical and development surveys and studies. Net Income Net income amounted to $108 million for the full year, a significant improvement from the prior-year loss of $13 million thanks primarily to higher crude prices, the Company's cost-cutting program and the sale of interests in five mature fields and in the Rabi-Coucal-Cap Lopez pipeline network. Fourth-Quarter 2017 and First-Quarter 2018 Highlights Board of Directors Meeting of November 29, 2017 The Board of Directors reviewed and approved the budget for 2018 at its meeting on November 29, 2017. APPENDIX 1: IMPACT OF ADOPTING IFRS ON THE 2016 STATEMENT OF INCOME Information on Options Retained in First-Time Adoption The move from the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) accounting standard to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) was conducted in accordance with IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. As an affiliate that became a first-time adopter later than its parent, the Company chose to measure its assets and liabilities as the carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements of Total S.A. Overall, adoption of IFRS had a positive impact on the Company's net equity. The 2017 Annual Financial Report, which will be published on April 27, 2018, will include a note describing the impact of this change in accounting standard. Summary of the Main Impacts on the 2016 Statement of Income Net income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was impacted by changes in the treatment of property, plant and equipment and in the recognition of deferred taxes. thousands of United States dollars OHADA Reclassifications (IFRS) Adjustments (IFRS) IFRS Sales note 7 745 096 39 049 784 145 Purchases, net of changes in inventory note 4 (165 797) 5 230 (160 567) Other operating expenses note 2 (324 627) 6 272 15 981 (302 374) Exploration costs note 1 (6 684) 307 (6 377) Depreciation, depletion and impairment of tangible assets and mineral interests note 2 (166 190) (216 906) (383 096) Other income note 6 11 328 7 304 18 632 Other expense note 8 (26 439) 17 572 (59) (8 926) Financial interest on debt (21 502) (21 502) Other financial income 1 720 1 720 Other financial expense note 3 (57 721) 25 506 (32 215) Income tax benefit (expense) note 5 17 284 (62 119) 142 639 97 804 Net income 6 468 774 (19 224) (12 756) Other comprehensive income Actuarial gains and losses (774) (774) Tax effect 592 592 Comprehensive income 6 468 (19 406) (12 938) Net income (OHADA) 6 468 Exploration expenses IFRS 6 307 Site restoration IAS 16 (10 243) Unit-of-production method IAS 16 (64 626) Exceptional depreciation IAS 16 (99 189) Measurement of oil and gas inventories IAS 2 5 230 Deferred taxes IAS 12 143 231 Share-based payment IFRS 2 (586) Other 6 470 Total adjustments (19 406) Net income (IFRS) (12 938) Notes Conversion of the financial statements affected both measurement (restatements with an impact on net income) and presentation (reclassifications with no impact on net income). In terms of measurement, 2016 net income was primarily impacted by the application of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment, as well as by the recognition of deferred taxes. In terms of presentation, the most significant change resulted from application of IAS 18 Revenue, which led the Company to redefine revenue. Measurement Differences Note 1 Intangible Assets Application of IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources had no material impact on the Company's statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2016. Note 2 Property, Plant and Equipment Development costs for the drilling of development wells and for the construction of production facilities are capitalized, together with borrowing costs incurred during the period of construction and present value of estimated and future costs of asset retirement obligations. The depletion rate is equal to the ratio between oil and gas production for the period and proved developed reserves (unit-of-production method). Previously, the Company determined depreciation using the straight-line method. In addition, property, plant and equipment and intangible assets were tested for impairment as of January 1, 2016, in accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of Assets The recoverable amount was determined for the asset's cash-generating unit (CGU). The CGU is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. The value in use of a CGU is determined by reference to the discounted expected future cash flows, based on management's assumptions concerning future economic and operating conditions. When this value is less than the carrying amount of the CGU, an impairment loss is recorded and allocated to "Depreciation, depletion and impairment of tangible assets and mineral interests." No impairment losses were recorded in 2016. Note 3 Asset Retirement (Site Restoration) Under IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment, an item of property, plant and equipment should initially be recorded at cost. Cost includes the estimated costs of dismantling and removing the item and restoring the site on which it is located if such an obligation exists when the asset is recognized. A corresponding asset retirement obligation is recorded in liabilities. Changes in the liability for an asset retirement obligation due to the passage of time is measured by applying a risk-free discount rate to the amount of the liability. The increase of the provision due to the use of a discount rate is recognized under "Other financial expense". Note 4 Other Current Assets Over- or underliftings of hydrocarbons are valued based on the entitlement method, under which production is valued at the selling price at the date of the preparation on of the financial statements. Previously, any such difference between volumes sold and entitlement volumes, based on net working interest, was valued at production cost. Note 5 Deferred Taxes Under the deferred tax method, both current tax expense (or income) and deferred tax expense (or income) relating to the current or previous periods are disclosed in the financial statements. Current taxes, calculated according to tax regulations, are recognized in the statement of income and the balance sheet. Deferred income taxes are recognized on a separate line. In accordance with IAS 12 Income Taxes and the "comprehensive balance sheet method," deferred income taxes are recorded based on the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recorded in the balance sheet and their tax bases. Permanent differences do not give rise to deferred taxes. Note 6 Other Income In 2016, the Company sold the Mboga license to the Gabonese Republic. The conversion to IFRS had an impact of $7.3 million on net income. Presentation Differences Note 7 Revenue In accordance with IAS 18 Revenue, the Company now includes profit oil in revenue. An equivalent adjustment was made to income tax expense. Note 8 Other Expense Total Gabon's diversification and sustainable development projects are primarily financed by the "Provision pour Investissements Diversifies (PID)" (contribution to diversified investments) and the "Provision pour Investissements dans les Hydrocarbures (PIH)" (contribution to investments in hydrocarbons). These provisions are considered as tax and have therefore been reclassified under tax expenses. These two reclassifications had no impact on net assets. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327006134/en/ Contacts: Total Gabon Florent Caillet florent.caillet@total.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - In a move that could impact Congressional representation and federal funding, the Commerce Department announced Monday that a question on citizenship status will be reinstated to the 2020 census questionnaire. The Commerce Department claimed adding the citizenship question will help enforce the Voting Rights Act, although critics have argued the decision is politically motivated. Data collected in the census is used to determine how congressional districts are drawn, funding for federal programs and other matters. Critics contend the addition of the citizenship question would dissuade undocumented immigrants from responding to the census, which counts the entire population and not just citizens. The Commerce Department said Secretary Wilbur Ross's decision to reinstate the question follows a request by the Justice Department. Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts, the Commerce Department said. The decision by the Commerce Department drew swift condemnation from opponents, including California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Becerra filed a lawsuit challenging the move, saying, 'Including the question is not just a bad idea - it is illegal.' In an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Becerra and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla accused President Donald Trump's administration of attempting to hijack the census for political purposes. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2018) - Brisio Innovations Inc. (CSE: BZI), (the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Financing") of a minimum of 18,571,428 shares (each, a "Share") at a price of $0.35 per Share for gross proceeds of a minimum of $6,500,000 (the "Financing"). The Company may pay finders a fee in cash and/or share purchase warrants in connection with the Financing. The proceeds of the Financing will be used for the Company's acquisition of NameSilo LLC and working capital purposes. On behalf of the Board Paul Andreola President, CEO and Director Phone: (604) 644-0072 paul@brisio.com www.brisio.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this press release related to the proposed Financing are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding the Company's ability to complete the Financing and the use of proceeds thereof. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors, and the Company is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SANTA CLARA (dpa-AFX) - Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) temporarily suspended its self-driving vehicle testing. The shares tumbled as much as 7.2 percent. The company, which provides technology to Uber Technologies Inc., stopped its self-driving test program on public roads in the aftermath of a March 18 fatal accident involving an Uber vehicle in Tempe, Arizona. It will continue to use vehicles with drivers that gather data. Ultimately, autonomous vehicles 'will be far safer than human drivers, so this important work needs to continue,' the Santa Clara, California-based company said. 'We are temporarily suspending the testing of our self-driving cars on public roads to learn from the Uber incident. Our global fleet of manually driven data collection vehicles continue to operate.' NVDA is currently trading at $226.91, down $17.57 or 7.19 percent. 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Two pilots flying on two separate planes reportedly claim to have witnessed an unidentified flying object over Southern Arizona and New Mexico. In audio shared with Inverse by the Federal Aviation Administration, pilots can be heard discussing about an 'UFO' with the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center on February 24. 'I don't know what it was. It wasn't an airplane but it was, the path was going in the opposite direction,' the pilot of a Learjet said to air traffic control. Control then asked a nearby American Airlines plane lookout for any flying object going in opposite direction. Few minutes later the American Airlines pilot contacted the tower and said, 'Something just passed over us, like a, don't know what it was, but it was at least two, three thousand feet above us.' He added, 'Yeah it passed right over the top of us.' In a statement to KOB 4, the NBC station in Albuquerque, the FAA said, 'We don't have any comment beyond what you hear. Other than the brief conversation between two aircraft, the controller was unable to verify that any other aircraft was in the area. We have a close working relationship with a number of other agencies and safely handle military aircraft and civilian aircraft of all types in that area every day, including high-altitude weather balloons.' 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2018) - Pancontinental Gold Corporation (TSXV: PUC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to increased demand, its previously announced financing, see press release of March 14, 2018, has been increased for total gross proceeds of up $2,100,000. The flow-through component of the financing will now include up to 17,500,000 common shares of the Company which will qualify as "flow-through shares" pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "FT Shares") issued at a price of $0.06 per FT Share, for gross proceeds of up to $1,050,000. The unit component of the financing has been increased to up to 21,000,000 units of the Company at a price of $0.05 per unit, for gross proceeds of $1,050,000. Each unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.08 per common share for a period of eighteen months from the date of issuance, provided that the expiry date can be accelerated in the event the common shares trade on a stock exchange at a volume weighted average trading price $0.15, or greater, per common share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days following the expiry of the statutory four month and one day resale restriction. The Company may pay certain finder's fees with respect to gross proceeds raised. About Pancontinental Gold Corporation Pancontinental is a Canadian-based mining company focused on the exploration and development of its Montcalm West nickel-copper-cobalt project in Ontario, Canada, and its 100%-owned Jefferson gold project in South Carolina, USA. The Company continues to focus on acquiring additional prospective properties in low-risk areas in proximity to producing or former mines. In 2015, Pancontinental sold its interest in its Australian rare earth element (REE) and uranium properties, formerly held through a joint venture, and retains a 1% gross overriding royalty on 100% of future production. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Layton Croft For further information, please contact: Layton Croft President and CEO 1-416-293-8437 1-980-309-8419 laytoncroft@pancongold.com For additional information please visit our web site: www.pancongold.com, and our Twitter feed: @PanconGold. 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. Cautionary Language and Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2018) - ChroMedX Corp. (CSE: CHX) (OTCQB: CHXIF) (FSE: EIY2) (the "Company") , developer of the HemoPalm Handheld Blood Analyzer Platform, is pleased to announce that CEO Lahav Gil will speak at the 2018 bioTEC Conference at the University of Waterloo to discuss innovation culture and Medtech commercialization. Lahav is an invited speaker on the industry panel at the bioTEC Biotech and Bioengineering Conference, the first of its kind in Canada. The conference is designed as a platform for students, researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to connect and discuss advances in the biomedical field. Notable past speakers include Frank Baylis of Baylis Medical and Dr. Julie Audet of University of Toronto. "I truly appreciate the opportunity to be invited to this event." said Lahav Gil, CEO & Director of ChroMedX Corp. "It is so important to have students, graduates and academic leadership mixing and meeting with industry professionals and learning from one another." Lahav has lectured at the Bzelel Academy of Art and Design in Israel, and has appeared as a guest lecturer at several major universities in Toronto in the area of innovation culture, technology entrepreneurship, medical device commercialization and values based leadership. This event will be held on November 17, 2018 on the University of Waterloo's campus. More information is available on the conference's website. About Lahav A leader in Medtech product development and business, Lahav Gil is the founder and former CEO of the innovative Toronto based Kangaroo Group, which he built into a national brand and recently sold to Starfish Medical of Vancouver Island. He has founded/co-founded six companies and has accompanied many Canadian start-ups on their journey from napkin to launch, critically contributing to their investability, clinical and market readiness. He has contributed to over 200 technology product launches and to game-changing innovations for companies such as: IMRIS, FIO, fSona, Cellaegis, XOR, Ultrasonix, Exact Imaging, Sciex, and others. Lahav Gil joined ChroMedX in January 2018, as CEO and Director to lead the techno-commercial team, expand projects capabilities, accelerate time to market and increase value towards strategic acquisitions. ChroMedX News & Disclosure Parties interested in keeping abreast of latest news and updates can subscribe on the Home and News pages on the Company's website at www.ChroMedX.com About ChroMedX Corp. ChroMedX Corp. is a medical technology company focused on the development of novel, handheld medical devices for diagnostic testing at the patient's bedside. HemoPalm, the Company's lead product is the only handheld blood analysis system which combines Blood Gases & Electrolytes with full CO-oximetry. It has a single-use cartridge/handheld reader format, providing the simplest, most rapid and accurate testing process for use in management of critical care patients. Current handheld blood gas systems require purchase of a second device to carry out CO-oximetry measurements. In addition, HemoPalm has the ability to draw capillary blood directly from pin-prick sites into the cartridge, in addition to the commonly required, risk-associated arterial blood draws. ChroMedX Corp. technologies are protected by the Company's issued and pending patents, covering blood/plasma/serum collection, and processing and analysis. Website: www.chromedx.com Contact: W. Clark Kent President & Director ChroMedX Corp. Office. 647-872-9982 ext. 2 TF. 1-844-247-6633 ext. 2 investor.relations@chromedx.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com Publication of the offer document approved by the AFM Offer to be discussed at Gemalto shareholders' meeting on 18 May 2018 Acceptance period from 28 March to 6 June 2018 Regulatory News: With the publication of the Offer Document today and with reference to the joint press release dated 17 December 2017, Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) and Gemalto (Euronext Amsterdam and Paris: GTO) announced today that Thales is launching its recommended all-cash offer (the "Offer") to all holders of issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Gemalto for EUR 51.00 per share, cum dividend. Patrice Caine, Thales's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The publication of the Offer Document is the first major step of the proposed acquisition of Gemalto, to create a world leader in digital security." Philippe Vallee, Gemalto's Chief Executive Officer, added: "Thales's and Gemalto's teams are working together to obtain the required authorizations for the success of the operation. Alex Mandl, Chairman of Gemalto's Board of Directors, stated: "After full and careful review with its financial and legal advisors of the various options available to the company, the Gemalto Board of Directors unanimously recommends Gemalto's shareholders tender their shares into the Offer. I am counting on the support of all the company's shareholders for the upcoming general meeting. Transaction highlights Recommended all-cash offer for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Gemalto (each, an "Ordinary Share"), including Ordinary Shares represented by American Depositary Shares (each, an "ADS"), with every two ADSs representing one Ordinary Share (Ordinary Shares and ADSs are collectively referred to in this press release as the "Shares" and each, a "Share"), at an offer price of EUR 51.00 ( cum dividend) per Ordinary Share (the "Offer Price") and EUR 25.50 per ADS. dividend) per Ordinary Share (the "Offer Price") and EUR 25.50 per ADS. The Gemalto's Board of Directors fully supports the Offer and unanimously recommends shareholders tender their Shares. All members of the Gemalto Board who have Shares have irrevocably committed to tender all of their Shares into the Offer. Thales and Gemalto have agreed on certain non-financial terms, including: Thales to combine its digital assets with Gemalto, creating a world leader in digital security; increased R&D expenses which remain at the heart of the digital security businesses of Thales and Gemalto; existing rights of Gemalto employees will be respected; Gemalto's brand will be maintained. The acceptance period (the "Acceptance Period") will commence on 28 March 2018 at 9:00 hours CET (3:00 am New York time), and will end on 6 June 2018 at 17:40 hours CET (11:40 am New York time). Thales plans to extend this period until customary conditions for a transaction of this kind are met, in particular obtaining the required regulatory clearances. The payment of the Offer Price to the shareholders who tendered their Shares into the Offer is expected in the course of the second half of 2018, provided that the Offer is declared unconditional. In parallel, Gemalto shareholders will be invited to attend the shareholders' meeting on 18 May 2018. The consummation of the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of conditions that are customary for transactions of this kind, including: a minimum acceptance level of at least 67% of Gemalto shares; having obtained the required regulatory clearances; no material adverse effect having occurred and continuing; no material breach of the merger agreement having occurred; and no Superior Offer having been made or agreed upon. Gemalto has made available on its website the Position Statement (as defined below) providing further information to shareholders, including the recommendation on the Offer and the agenda for Gemalto's annual general meeting. Thales and Gemalto have also made available on their websites a French summary of the Offer Document including in particular the description of the tendering procedures applicable to French shareholders and the material French tax aspects of the Offer. Creation of a global digital security leader By combining their businesses, Gemalto and Thales have the intention to create a leading global player in digital security. Acceleration of Thales's digital strategy Over the past three years, Thales has significantly increased its focus on digital technologies, investing over EUR 1 billion in connectivity, cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence, in particular with the acquisition of Sysgo, Vormetric and Guavus. The integration of Gemalto strongly accelerates this strategy, reinforcing Thales's digital offering, across its five vertical markets (aeronautics, space, ground transportation, defence and security). Unique and innovative technology portfolio in IoT, mobile and cloud worlds Combined with Gemalto's unique leading digital security portfolio, Thales will be ideally positioned to offer end-to-end solutions to secure the full critical digital decision chains, from data creation in sensors to real-time decision making. This unrivalled and innovative technology portfolio will put Thales in a highly differentiated position to provide enterprises and government agencies with a seamless response to the data security challenges that lie at the heart of their digital transformation. Creation of a global leader in digital security and cybersecurity By acquiring Gemalto, Thales adds around EUR 3 billion of revenue to its digital business sales and acquires a set of technologies and competencies that have applications across Thales's five vertical markets. The combination creates a powerhouse with a solution portfolio including security software, expertise in biometrics and multifactor authentication, and the issuance of secure digital and physical credentials. These technologies, which combine diverse and constantly evolving use cases, are expected to yield significant commercial opportunities and revenue synergies in the years ahead. Capacity to address all customer digital security needs Thales will combine its digital businesses with Gemalto, which will continue to operate under its own brand as one of the seven Thales global business units. Both Thales and Gemalto management teams share a common industrial vision and endorse the growth project of this newly created digital security global business. The Gemalto CEO, Mr. Philippe Vallee, will lead this newly created "Digital Security" global business unit. R&D: the common DNA of Thales's and Gemalto's digital businesses Gemalto and Thales are technology-driven companies with world-class R&D capabilities. R&D is at the core of Thales's and Gemalto's digital security businesses, and will remain so. The future entity can access five Thales R&D centers worldwide and its portfolio of 16,500 patents. In 2017, Thales increased its R&D investments by 9% and will continue its efforts in 2018, with growth of 10%, faster than sales. The combination will result in a combined group of more than 28,000 engineers and 3,000 researchers, which will invest more than EUR 1 billion annually in self-funded R&D. Offer fully supported and unanimously recommended by the Board of Directors of Gemalto The merger agreement regarding the combination of Thales and Gemalto was entered into at the time when a unilateral unsolicited offer for Gemalto's shares was announced by Atos. The Board of Directors of Gemalto considered that Atos's unsolicited and conditional offer was not compelling when compared with Gemalto's standalone strategy. Thales's subsequent approach to Gemalto set into motion constructive discussions on the terms of a combination and the strategic rationale thereof. Throughout the process, Gemalto has discussed on a frequent basis the progress of the discussions and negotiations with Thales and the key decisions in connection therewith. The Board of Directors of Gemalto, with the support of its financial and legal advisors, has given careful consideration to all aspects of the Offer, including the strategic, financial, operational and social points of view. Each of Deutsche Bank AG, Paris Branch and J.P. Morgan Securities plc delivered a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Gemalto dated 16 December 2017 indicating that as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors, qualifications and assumptions set forth in the fairness opinions the Offer Price to be paid to the shareholders pursuant to the Offer was fair from a financial point of view to the shareholders. In the merger agreement, Thales and Gemalto agreed on the undertakings that the Board of Directors of Gemalto had identified as relevant for its support of the proposal put forth by Thales. The merger agreement signed between Thales and Gemalto thus provides for (i) a strategic direction that is in the best interest of Gemalto and promotes the sustainable success of its business, (ii) adequate protection for all stakeholders, (iii) deal-certainty and (iv) a fair price. Consistent with its fiduciary duties the Board of Directors, following a careful review of alternatives and of the different stakeholders' interests with the support of its advisors, unanimously concluded that the Offer is in the best interests of Gemalto, the sustainable success of its business, and its stakeholders, in particular its clients, employees and shareholders. The Gemalto's Board of Directors unanimously decided to fully support the Offer, to recommend Gemalto's shareholders tender their Shares into the Offer and to vote in favour of the Gemalto resolutions to be taken at Gemalto's annual general meeting. Gemalto Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2018 Gemalto has convened its annual general meeting. This shareholders meeting will be combined with the shareholders' meeting to discuss the Offer, which is required under the Dutch offer rules, and shall be held at 10:00 hours CET on 18 May 2018 at the hotel Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Schiphol Boulevard 701, 1118 BN Schiphol, The Netherlands. Separate convocation materials are available on Gemalto's website (www.gemalto.com). A position statement of Gemalto's Board of Directors including the information that is required pursuant to Section 18 paragraph 2 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids(Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) (the "Position Statement") is available on Gemalto's website (www.gemalto.com). This is a joint press release by Thales and Gemalto pursuant to Section 4, paragraphs 1 and 3, Section 10 paragraph 1 sub c and 3 and Section 18, paragraph 3 of the Dutch decree on public takeover bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) and Article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation in connection with the recommended all-cash offer by Thales for all the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Gemalto, including all American depositary shares. This announcement does not constitute an offer, or any solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in Gemalto. Any offer will be made only by means of the Offer Document, which is available as of today. About Thales The people we all rely on to make the world go round they rely on Thales. Our customers come to us with big ambitions: to make life better, to keep us safer. Combining a unique diversity of expertise, talents and cultures, our architects design and deliver extraordinary high technology solutions. Solutions that make tomorrow possible, today. From the bottom of the oceans to the depth of space and cyberspace, we help our customers think smarter and act faster mastering ever greater complexity and every decisive moment along the way. With 65,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of 15.8 billion in 2017. www.thalesgroup.com About Gemalto Gemalto is the global leader in digital security, with 2017 annual revenues of 3 billion and customers in over 180 countries. We bring trust to an increasingly connected world. From secure software to biometrics and encryption, our technologies and services enable businesses and governments to authenticate identities and protect data so they stay safe and enable services in personal devices, connected objects, the cloud and in between. Gemalto's solutions are at the heart of modern life, from payment to enterprise security and the internet of things. We authenticate people, transactions and objects, encrypt data and create value for software enabling our clients to deliver secure digital services for billions of individuals and things. Our 15,000 employees operate out of 112 offices, 43 personalization and data centers, and 30 research and software development centers located in 48 countries. www.gemalto.com Annex further details on the Offer The Offer Thales announces that it is making the Offer on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the offer document that is published today (the "Offer Document"). Terms not defined in this annex have the meaning ascribed to them in the Offer Document. Shareholders that have tendered their Shares pursuant to the Offer and not validly withdrawn such tender will be paid, subject to the Offer being declared unconditional, in consideration of each Share validly tendered (or defectively tendered, provided that such defect has been waived by Thales) for acceptance and transferred, a cash amount of EUR 51.00 cum dividend per Ordinary Share (the "Offer Price"), and for each ADS 50% of the Offer Price, or EUR 25.50 (the "ADS Offer Price"), paid in cash in an equivalent amount of U.S dollars, with the U.S. dollar equivalent being calculated by Thales using the spot market exchange rate for the U.S. dollar against the euro published on Bloomberg at 12:00 p.m., New York time on the day immediately prior to the date on which funds are received by American Stock Transfer Trust Co., LLC, in its capacity as ADS Tender Agent, to pay the ADS Offer Price following the Offer being declared unconditional. The Offer Price represents a premium of 57% over Gemalto's unaffected closing share price as of 8 December 2017 and values Gemalto at approximately EUR 4.8 billion. Thales confirmed in the joint press release of 17 December 2017 that Thales will be able to finance the Offer through its available cash resources and through new debt arrangements. Reference is made to Section 6.5 (Financing of the Offer) of the Offer Document for further details. Regulatory clearances Thales and Gemalto are in the process of making all necessary filings to obtain the required clearances from the competent antitrust authorities in Australia, the European Union, China, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States. In addition to approval from the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, Thales and Gemalto will seek similar regulatory clearances from the competent authorities in Australia, Canada and Russia. Thales and Gemalto expect to have obtained all regulatory clearances in the course of the second half of 2018. Thales will timely request an exemption from the AFM and subject to receipt of such exemption extend the Acceptance Period until such time as Thales, in consultation with Gemalto, reasonably believes is necessary to obtain the required regulatory clearances. Governance After the successful completion of the Offer, and assuming a successful passing of the relevant resolutions at Gemalto's annual general meeting, the Board of Directors of Gemalto will be composed of three non-executive directors selected by Thales, being Mr. Pascal Bouchiat, Mr. Pierre-Eric Pommellet and Mrs. Isabelle Simon, and two non-executive directors as "Independent Members", being Mr. Philippe Alfroid who is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Gemalto, and Mrs. Marie-Helene Sartorius. In addition, Mr. Philippe Vallee shall maintain his position as executive director and Chief Executive Officer of Gemalto (and will become head of the "Digital Security" global business unit ("DIS GBU")). The Independent Members are considered independent members within the definition of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, and they are not representatives of Thales. The Independent Members (or their successors) will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of Gemalto for the duration of the Non-Financial Covenants Duration further detailed in Section 6.20.10 (Duration) of the Offer Document. Non-Financial Covenants Thales has agreed to certain non-financial covenants with regard to, inter alia, strategy, R&D, employees, location and brand. The non-financial covenants are set out in detail in Section 6.20 (Non-Financial Covenants) of the Offer Document and will apply for at least two years following the Settlement Date, except as otherwise provided. Any material deviation from the non-financial covenants requires the prior written approval of the non-executive directors of the Board of Directors of Gemalto, with the two Independent Members having a veto right. Certain non-financial covenants are highlighted below. Thales shall create the DIS GBU by contributing its world class digital-security business to Gemalto. The DIS GBU will be one of the world leaders in the digital security industry. The headquarters of the DIS GBU will be located in the Paris region. R&D is at the core of Thales's and Gemalto's digital-security businesses and will remain so. R&D expenditures in the coming years will be in excess of the current combined R&D expenditures of Thales and Gemalto. The current Gemalto R&D activity will remain within the DIS GBU. To facilitate the integration of the Gemalto Group within Thales, an Integration Committee will be established as of the Settlement Date and composed of representatives of both Thales and Gemalto. The Integration Committee will determine an integration plan, monitor its implementation and do all things necessary to assist and facilitate the integration Irrevocable undertakings by members of the Board of Directors of Gemalto As described in more detail in Section 6.8 (Irrevocable undertakings of Gemalto shareholders) of the Offer Document, each of Mr. Mandl, Mr. Vallee, Ms. Akbari and Mr. Piou has irrevocably undertaken to tender his/her Shares and/or ADSs into the Offer, under the same terms and conditions as the other Shareholders, and to vote in favor of the Gemalto Resolutions at Gemalto's annual general meeting, in each case subject to the conditions that the Board of Directors of Gemalto continues to support and recommend the Offer and that the Merger Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms. None of Mr. Mandl, Mr. Vallee, Ms. Akbari or Mr. Piou received any information from Thales or Gemalto relevant for a Shareholder in connection with the Offer that is not included in the Offer Document. Acceptance Period The Acceptance Period will begin at 9:00 hours CET (3:00 am, New York time), on 28 March 2018 and, unless extended in accordance with Section 5.4 (The Acceptance Period and extension of the Acceptance Period) of the Offer Document, will end at 17:40 hours CET (11:40 am, New York time), on 6 June 2018. Acceptance under the Offer must be made in the manner specified in the Offer Document. Thales has agreed that it will accept book-entry tenders of ADSs (including pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 5.3.4 (Acceptance by holders of ADSs) of the Offer Document) until 5:00 pm, New York time, on the Acceptance Closing Date. Any Shares tendered on or prior to the Acceptance Closing Time may be withdrawn at or prior to the Withdrawal Deadline but may not be withdrawn thereafter, subject to the rights of withdrawal set forth in Section 5.3.7 (Withdrawal Rights) of the Offer Document, in particular the right of withdrawal of any tender during an extension of the Acceptance Period in accordance with the provisions of article 15, paragraph 3 of the Decree. Extension of the Acceptance Period Thales reserves the right to extend the Offer past the Acceptance Closing Date. If the Offer is extended past the Acceptance Closing Date, Thales will make an announcement to that effect in accordance with the Decree. The provisions of article 15, paragraph 2 of the Decree, require that such an announcement be made within three business days following the Acceptance Closing Date. As described in further detail in Section 5.4 ( The Acceptance Period and extension of the Acceptance Period) of the Offer Document, Thales will timely request an exemption from the AFM to further extend the Acceptance Period until such time as Thales, in consultation with Gemalto, reasonably believes is necessary to cause the offer condition relating to the required regulatory clearances to be satisfied. Unless the Acceptance Period is extended, Thales will, in accordance with article 16 paragraph 1 of the Decree, announce whether the Offer is declared unconditional within three business days following the Acceptance Closing Date. See Section 5.5 (Declaring the Offer unconditional) of the Offer Document for further details. Declaring the Offer unconditional The Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver (either in whole or in part and at any time) of the Offer Conditions set out in Section 6.6.1 (Offer Conditions) of the Offer Document. Thales reserves the right to (either in whole or in part at any time) waive certain Offer Conditions under the conditions set out in Section 6.6 (Offer conditions, waiver and satisfaction) of the Offer Document. If Thales (either in whole or in part at any time) waives one or more Offer Conditions, Thales will inform the Shareholders. No later than on the third business day following the acceptance closing date, Thales will determine whether the Offer Conditions have been satisfied or waived. On that date Thales will announce, in accordance with article 16, paragraph 1 of the Decree, whether the Offer (i) has been declared unconditional, (ii) will be extended in accordance with article 15 of the Decree, or (iii) is terminated as a result of the Offer Conditions not having been satisfied or waived. Post-Closing Acceptance Period If and when the Offer is declared unconditional, Thales will publicly announce, in accordance with Article 17 of the Decree, a Post-Closing Acceptance Period to enable Shareholders that did not tender their Shares during the Acceptance Period to tender their Shares during such Post-Closing Acceptance Period under the same terms and conditions applicable to the Offer. Settlement In the event that Thales declares that the Offer is unconditional, Thales will accept transfer of all tendered Shares under the terms of the Offer and at the latest on the Settlement Date, transfer the Offer Price in respect of each tendered Ordinary Share and the ADS Offer Price in respect of each transferred tendered ADS, respectively. The Settlement Date shall be no later than five business days after the Offer having been declared unconditional. Liquidity and delisting The purchase of Shares by Thales pursuant to the Offer will reduce the number of Shareholders, as well as the number of Shares that might otherwise be traded publicly. Should the Offer be declared unconditional, Thales and Gemalto intend to procure the delisting of the Shares on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris as soon as possible. This may further adversely affect the liquidity and market value of any Shares not tendered. In addition, Thales may initiate any of the procedures set out in Section 6.12 (Intentions following the Offer being declared unconditional) and Section 6.15 (Possible post-Settlement Restructuring and future legal structure) of the Offer Document. Squeeze-out Procedure If, following the Settlement Date or the settlement of the Shares tendered during the Post-Closing Acceptance Period, Thales and its affiliates hold at least 95% of the issued share capital of Gemalto, Thales intends to commence a compulsory acquisition procedure in accordance with article 2:92a or 2:201a of the DCC or the takeover buy-out procedure in accordance with article 2:359c of the DCC to buy out the Shareholders that have not tendered their Shares into the Offer. Post-Settlement restructuring measures Shareholders who intend not to tender their Shares into the Offer should carefully review Section 6.11 (Implications of the Offer being declared unconditional) up to and including Section 6.15 (Possible post-Settlement Restructuring and future legal structure) of the Offer Document which describe certain implications to which such Shareholders will be subject if the Offer is declared unconditional and settled. These risks are in addition to the exposure of such Shareholders to the risks inherent to the business of Gemalto, as such business and the structure of Gemalto may change from time to time after the Settlement Date. If the Offer is declared unconditional, Thales may effect or cause to effect any restructuring of the Gemalto Group for the purpose of acquiring 100% of the Shares, delisting Gemalto, and fully integrating the respective businesses of Thales and Gemalto and realise the operational, commercial, organisational, financial and tax benefits of the combination in accordance with the merger rules and the applicable laws, even though some of which may have the (side) effect of diluting the interest of any remaining minority Shareholders. Announcements Any further announcements in relation to the Offer will be issued by press release. Any joint press release issued by Thales and Gemalto will be made available on the websites of Thales (www.thalesgroup.com/en/investors) and Gemalto (www.gemalto.com/investors). Offer Document, Position Statement and further information The Offer will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Offer Document, dated 27 March 2018, which is available as of today. In addition, as of today, Thales and Gemalto have made available a French summary of the Offer Document and Gemalto has made available the Position Statement, containing the information required by Article 18, paragraph 2 and Annex G of the Decree in connection with the Offer. This announcement contains selected, condensed information regarding the Offer and does not replace the Offer Document and/or the Position Statement. The information in this announcement is not complete and additional information is contained in the Offer Document and the Position Statement. Shareholders are advised to review the Offer Document and the Position Statement in detail and to seek independent advice where appropriate in order to reach a reasoned judgment in respect of the Offer and the content of the Offer Document and the Position Statement. In addition, shareholders may wish to consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of tendering their Shares into the Offer. Digital copies of the Offer Document and its French summary are available on the website of Thales at www.thales.com and the website of Gemalto at www.gemalto.com. Such websites do not constitute a part of, and are not included or referred to in, the Offer Document. Copies of the Offer Document are also available free of charge from the Settlement Agent for Ordinary Shares, ADS Tender Agent, the Information Agent for Ordinary Shares and the U.S. Information Agent for ADSs at the addresses mentioned below. The Settlement Agent for Ordinary Shares: ING BANK N.V. Address: Bijlmerplein 888, 1102 MG Amsterdam, The Netherlands Telephone: +31 20 56 36 619 E-mail: iss.pas@ing.nl The ADS Tender Agent: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER TRUST COMPANY, LLC Address: 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11219, United States Telephone: +1 (877) 248 6417 E-mail: dapisa@astfinancial.com The Information Agent for Ordinary Shares: IPREO Address: 10, rue du Colisee, 75008 Paris, France Telephone: +33 (0)1 79 73 12 12 E-mail: Thales-Gemalto@ipreo.com The U.S. Information Agent for ADSs: D.F. KING CO., INC Address: 48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York, 10005, United States Telephone: +1 (877) 536 1556 Email: GTO@dfking.com Transaction advisors In connection with the transaction, Thales's financial advisors are Lazard, Messier Maris Associes and Societe Generale and its legal counsel are Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton LLP and NautaDutilh N.V. Gemalto's financial advisors are Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan and its legal counsel are Allen Overy LLP and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier. Notice to U.S. holders of Gemalto Shares The Offer will be made for the securities of Gemalto, a public limited liability company incorporated under Dutch Law, and is subject to Dutch disclosure and procedural requirements, which are different from those of the United States of America. The Offer will be made in the United States of America in compliance with Section 14(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Regulation 14E (subject to any exemptions or relief therefrom, if applicable) and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Dutch law. Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to the Offer timetable, settlement procedures, withdrawal, waiver of conditions and timing of payments that are different from those applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and laws. The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a U.S. holder of Gemalto Shares may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and under applicable state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each holder of Gemalto shares is urged to consult his independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of accepting the Offer. To the extent permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, and in accordance with normal Dutch practice, Thales and its affiliates or its broker and its broker's affiliates (acting as agents or on behalf of Thales or its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time after the date of the joint press release by Thales and Gemalto dated 17 December 2017, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly purchase, or arrange to purchase Shares or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such Shares. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. In no event will any such purchases be made for a price per Share that is greater than the Offer Price. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in The Netherlands, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform U.S. shareholders of Gemalto of such information. No purchases will be made outside of the Offer in the United States of America by or on behalf of the Thales or its affiliates. In addition, the financial advisors to Thales may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of Gemalto, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities. To the extent required in The Netherlands, any information about such purchases will be announced by press release in accordance with Section 5 paragraph 4 or Section 13 of the Dutch decree on public takeover bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) and posted on the website of Thales at www.thalesgroup.com. Restrictions The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Thales and Gemalto disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither Thales, nor Gemalto, nor any of their advisors assumes any responsibility for any violation by any of these restrictions. Any Gemalto shareholder who is in any doubt as to his position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay. Forward Looking Statements This press release may include '"forward-looking statements" and language indicating trends, such as the words "anticipate", "expect", "approximate", "believe", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "may", "potential" and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are only based upon currently available information and speak only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are unknown and many of which Thales and Gemalto are unable to predict or control. Such factors may cause Thales and/or Gemalto's actual results, performance or plans with respect to the transaction between Thales and Gemalto to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Neither Thales nor Gemalto, nor any of their advisors accepts any responsibility for any financial information contained in this press release relating to the business or operations or results or financial condition of the other or their respective groups. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327006268/en/ Contacts: Thales Media Relations Cedric Leurquin, +33 1 57 77 86 26 cedric.leurquin@thalesgroup.com or Investor Relations Bertrand Delcaire, +33 1 57 77 89 02 ir@thalesgroup.com or Gemalto Media Relations Isabelle Marand, +33 6 1489 1817 isabelle.marand@gemalto.com or Media Relations Agency Frans van der Grint, +31 629044053 Frans.vanderGrint@hkstrategies.com or Arien Stuijt, +31 621531233 arien.stuijt@hkstrategies.com or Investor Relations Jean-Claude Deturche, +33 6 2399 2141 jean-claude.deturche@gemalto.com or Sebastien Liagre, +33 6 1751 4467 sebastien.liagre@gemalto.com Stocks in Europe staged a partial rebound on Tuesday following a raft of modest concessions from China the day before that triggered a rally on Wall Street. Against that backdrop, by the closing bell the benchmark Stoxx 600 was higher by 1.21% to 867.57, alongside a rise of 1.56% for the German Dax to 11,970.83 and a 0.90% jump on the FTSE Mibtel to 22,209.75. Helping to put a bid into stocks as well, in parallel euro/dollar was down by 0.39% to 1.2400. Overnight, Beijing said it would open-up ... 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. Adagene Inc., a Suzhou, China-based antibody discovery and development company, raised $50m in Series C financing. The round was led by Sequoia China, with participation from New World TMT, AVIC Trust, King Star Capital, Gopher Asset Management as well as other investors. The funds will be used to advance novel antibody therapeutics into human trials across the globe. Led by co-founder and CEO Dr. Peter Luo, Adagene has developed the Dynamic Precision Library [DPL] platform which is leveraged to discover highly differentiated portfolio of agonist and antagonist therapeutic antibodies, now advanced into clinical trials. FinSMEs 27/03/2018 casavi, a Munich, Germany-based online property management platform, raised a seven-figure additional financing round. Backers included Bayern Kapital, High-Tech Grunderfonds, WenVest GmbH and a family office active in the property industry from the BayStartUP network. The company will use the funds to expand in German-speaking regions. Founded in Munich in 2015 and led by Peter Schindlmeier, CEO, casavi provides a cloud-based property management platform that serves as a digital link between all parties active in the property sector from administration to owners, tenants and service providers. The solution enables housing companies and administrative bodies to get in contact with residents. The range of functions of a digital process management system is also supported by a German property law and tenant service app as well as interfaces with existing accounting software and service provider portals. Since market launch, the product has gained more than 200 clients from German-speaking regions, who manage over 600,000 housing units in total. FinSMEs 27/03/2018 GetMyBoat, a San Francisco, CA-based boat rental and water experience marketplace, secured up to $10M in funding. The round was led by Yanmar with participation from other investors. Yanmar is a privately held, multibillion dollar multinational company headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Its investment includes a strategic partnership between GetMyBoat and Yanmar Group company Yanmar Marine International, a provider of marine engines. As part of the strategic partnership between GetMyBoat and Yanmar, Ms. Shiori Nagata, President Yanmar Marine International, will join the Board of Directors of GetMyBoat. The company intends to use the funds to further strengthen its leadership position in the United States, accelerate growth in both Europe and Asia, as well as grow both the platform and product. Launched in 2013 CEO Sascha Mornell, GetMyBoat is a boat and watercraft rental marketplace with over 108,000 listings in 184 countries and over 9,300 locations. FinSMEs 27/03/2018 Root Insurance, a Columbus, OH-based car insurance company that incorporates individual driving behavior in every quote, closed a $51m Series C funding. The round was led by Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Scale Venture Partners and existing partners Ribbit Capital and Silicon Valley Bank Capital Partners. In conjunction with the funding, Elliot Geidt, a partner at Redpoint Ventures, will join Roots Board of Directors. The company will use the funds to expand into additional states and continue to invest in technology to improve the customer experience. Led by Alex Timm, CEO and Co-Founder, Root Insurance is a licensed insurance carrier offering personalized car insurance that gives good drivers the rates they deserve, managed through a mobile app. Root leverages its proprietary mobile app and data science to give drivers customized quotes based primarily on actual driving behavior such as hard brakes, aggressive turns, and mileage driven. It makes it ease to to get car insurance at 18 years. Currently, it is available to drivers in Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. Root is backed by the largest reinsurance companies in the world, including Maiden Re, Munich Re and Odyssey Re. FinSMEs 27/03/2018 Spring Labs, the Los Angeles, CA- and Chicago, IL-based company behind the Spring Network, a blockchain-based network being designed to allow lenders, banks, and data providers to exchange data with one another, raised $14.75m in seed funding. The round was led by August Capital with participation from Victory Park Capital, GreatPoint Ventures, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Multicoin Capital, Wavemaker Genesis (part of the Draper Venture Network), and Jump Capital. The company will use the funds to build its platform in the coming months and to grow the engineering team. Led by Adam Jiwan, CEO, Spring Labs is the core maintainer of the decentralized Spring Network, a blockchain based network that will be created to enable financial institutions and data providers to share data and underlying beliefs about credit and identity information. The network will be built on a 2nd generation blockchain, incorporating both public and permissioned nodes to facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements and enforce information security through the use of privacy-preserving smart contracts. FinSMEs 27/03/2018 A government notification announcing the contours of the Air India sale is expected Tuesday night The government is likely to release an expression of interest (EoI) document shortly that will kick-off the disinvestment process at the troubled Air India group. The Narendra Modi regime is likely to sell a 76 percent stake in Air India, a 76 percent state in Air India Express and a 50 percent stake in cargo joint venture AISATS, according to media reports. While a CNBC-TV18 report said the Centre could push out the EoI document on Wednesday, The Hindu BusinessLine claims the document could be out late-Tuesday. The bidding process is likely to end by June this year. The EoI is expected to impose a minimum net worth condition on bidders, speculated to be Rs 5,000 crore. It could also include a clause that will force the winning bidder to retain all Air India employees for at least one year. Government sources said the net worth criteria could be fixed at Rs 1,000 crore. However, the government has reportedly decided to revisit that figure in order to block frivolous and dubious contenders. The government aims to execute the divestment process of the debt-ridden Air India group in phases, and separate expressions of interest (EoIs) will be issued for each entity under the corporation. New Delhi will kick-off the exercise with the sale of the parent airline and Air India Charters, which operates low-cost flights under the Air India Express brand. In June 2017, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle approval for the strategic divestment of Air India, which has a debt burden of over Rs 50,000 crore. The government is planning to retain a 24 percent stake in the ailing carrier. With inputs from agencies The 'crisis' in Indian banking sector, particularly in the public sector space, should be used as an opportunity to privatise banks, ASSOCHAM said Hyderabad: The 'crisis' in the Indian banking sector, particularly in the public sector space, should be used as an opportunity to privatise the banks, industry body ASSOCHAM said. But it must be done in a manner that the exercise gets "wider acceptability," it said. "For starters, the government equity which is as high as 80 percent in some PSBs, should be brought down to below 50 percent." "The moment the government equity is below 50 percent, the banks would be out of the clutches of the CVC, CBI and CAG, giving more autonomy and confidence to the top management to lend freely without fear of being haunted," ASSOCHAM secretary general DS Rawat told PTI. Besides, the boards would then be much more professional and the independent directors would be truly independent, according to him. "Moreover, the boards would then be empowered to take strategic decisions without going to the Finance Ministry, although the RBI should and would continue to play the role of a regulator, but in a much more effective manner," he said. However, Rawat said, privatisation of the banks should not be done in a harsh manner and be done in a way that is acceptable to the "political leadership." "No signal should go as if with privatisation, the priority sector lending norms would be diluted. The narrative must be built to the effect that the government can use both PSU and private sector banks as the agents of change, without hurting the interest of the lenders," he added. Finance ministry will be holding a performance review meeting of general insurers - National Insurance, United India Insurance & Oriental India Insurance The finance ministry will soon review the performance of state-owned general insurers - National Insurance, United India Insurance and Oriental India Insurance, according to a media report. The review meeting will serve as a precursor to the proposed merger of the three companies and their eventual flotation on the stock markets. The ministry has already told the three state-run insurers to align their operations, according to The Economic Times. We are hopeful that the firms will improve their performance, and we will be able to merge these companies in the next six months and after that we will look at listing, a finance ministry official was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Last week, the government told the Rajya Sabha that the proposed merger will help in effective use of infrastructure and improve solvency margins. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha on 20 March, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said the three firms will be merged into a single insurance entity and subsequently listed, the PTI reported. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the merger of the three insurers in his Budget speech on 1 February. The three companies together had a market share of 34.73 percent in fiscal 2016-17. While United India Insurance and Oriental Insurance reported a loss that year, National Insurance posted a decline in profit.. Why the merger? According to Mint, the merger, which will lead to the formation of a giant organisation, is a key part of the Narendra Modi regime's divestment plan, which aims to bring in Rs 80,000 crore from the sale of the government's stake in several firms during the 2018-19 financial year. K Sanath Kumar, the CMD of Kolkata-headquartered National Insurance Company, had told The Hindu Business Line in February that the merged company will see its valuations improve. Elaborating on the merger, United India Insurance's CMD M N Sarma had said that it would help insurers consolidate their strengths. "Like each one of us has 30 regional offices so total number is 90. But after merger we can keep only 30 offices so the merged entity can reduce costs significantly," Sarma told the IANS. The insurance sector has seen some consolidation and that action is expected to continue, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company CEO Tapan Singhel told the PTI last December. Some promoters could look at exiting non-core businesses, and consolidation will help large insurers achieve scale and bring in better synergies, and they could pass on cost efficiencies to customers and shareholders, he added. With inputs from agencies What has made buyback so attractive is the 2016 Budget amendment slapping a 10 percent tax on dividend in excess of Rs 10 lakh received by a shareholder, targeting mainly the company promoters. The financial year 2018 witnessed a frenetic buyback activity with 41 companies completing their share repurchase offers worth Rs 49,067 crore, the highest-ever. Of this, buyback offers by seven IT services companies accounted for Rs 44,984 crore or 92 percent. This includes the Rs 16,000-crore buyback by TCS and Rs 13,000 crore by Infosys. Close to Rs 34,000 crore of buyback offers were announced by companies last year. What has made buyback so attractive is the 2016 Budget amendment slapping a 10 percent tax on dividend in excess of Rs 10 lakh received by a shareholder, targeting mainly the company promoters. This coupled with the already existing dividend distribution tax (DDT) of 15 percent plus surcharge and education cess makes dividend an unattractive option insofar as company promoters are concerned. Prior to the introduction of the additional 10 percent tax in the hands of the shareholders, company promoters got away with a slap on the wrist---just DDT which they vicariously paid through the medium of the company they had promoted whereas were dividend to be taxed fully in the hands of the recipients as was the case till 1996, promoters would have had to shell out more than 30 percent. The additional 10 percent tax in the hands of the recipients was to correct this skew. But company promoters are a smart lot. They found a way out by preferring to collect their rewards through the buyback route rather than by way of dividend. Section 10(38) exempts long term capital gains from equity provided securities transactions tax (STT) were paid on the shares both at the time of acquisition as well as sale. Buyback by companies through the stock exchanges also makes the grade for such exemption. There is another mode of buying back---the tender route under which the company invites shareholders to offer their shares for buyback. Since this is an off-market deal, no STT is payable and hence it becomes liable to capital gains tax. But still this route is good because companies offer a substantial premium vis-a-vis the market quotations so as to ensure that the buyback scheme does not bomb or fail. The point is, if such substantial premium offsets the tax payable, the shareholder should not mind the tax. Tax authorities are perfectly justified in sending out notices to the shareholders who sold their shares back to the company under the tender route. But eyebrows have gone up at the creative reading of the law by the taxman when it comes to market purchases by the company of its own shares---they are not normal market operations of buying and selling. This is unfair because section 10(38) does not distinguish between market purchase and sale consummated by market players and the ones consummated between company and its shareholders. True, a company incestuously indulging in market operations of its own shares borders on insider trading and hence not a normal market operation. But the government ought to have amended section 10(38) expressly shutting the doors to the LTCG exemption if the company itself was a player in the market by way of buyer. The government ought to have put its foot down to the market route for buyback for another reason---tender route is democratic in that everyone gets a fair and upfront chance to offer his shares and beget an attractive price, the one that is much higher than the market price whereas in the rough and tumble of the market, small shareholders are likely to be left out given the fact that the quantity to be bought by the company would be in larger lots which only its promoters can offer. The tax authorities rightly suspect that the stock exchange platform is being misused by promoters just the way they misused while they transferred controlling interest through bulk trading platforms of the stock exchanges. But nothing short of an express amendment even retrospective to section 10(38) makes their action beyond legal scrutiny and judicial censure. In other words, buyback through stock exchanges should not have been exempted from LTCG tax. This ought to have been done through legislation and not by administrative order. (The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan) The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has refused to provide any information pertaining to absconding scamster, diamantaire Nirav Modi, to queries sought under RTI Mumbai: The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has refused to provide any information pertaining to absconding scamster, diamantaire Nirav Modi, to queries sought under RTI, an activist said in Mumbai on Tuesday. Anil Galgali said that he had sought specific RTI replies from PNB on the total quantum of loan sanctioned to Modi, the procedures applied by the bank for sanctioning the same and the resolution of the Board of Directors by which the loans were approved. "I sought to know the quantum of the loans extended, the board meeting details like agenda, proposal, approval and minutes of the meeting in which those loan proposals were sanctioned to Modi, under RTI," he said. However, the PNB's Deputy General Manager and CPRO Joy Roy replied that the case has exemption from disclosure under the RTI Act's Section 8(1)(h), about information could impede the process of investigations or apprehension or prosecution of offenders, and hence the plea was declined, he said. Now, Galgali has filed the first appeal as per the RTI Act and is awaiting the reply. "It is important to expose the officers who failed in their duty to safeguard the public money from being siphoned off, hence the details of the Board meeting of the PNB is important, the details like the agenda of the meeting, resolution adopted in the meeting for sanction and the minutes of the meeting will help in exposing such officers," he said. Galgali said that the cooperating officers are equally responsible along with Nirav Modi in conducting the scam. Once such information is made public and the officers are punished, the bank authorities will work with responsibility to safeguard the public deposits and will adopt proper measure while approving loan applications, he said. Modi, his group companies and others have been implicated in the Rs 13,500 crore scam which was admitted by PNB mid-February, leading to a massive upheaval in the country's banking system. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on Tuesday said its subsidiary Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP will sell certain assets in Eagle Ford shale to Sundance Energy Inc for a consideration of $100 million (over Rs 650 crore) New Delhi: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on Tuesday said its subsidiary Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP will sell certain assets in Eagle Ford shale to Sundance Energy Inc for a consideration of $100 million (over Rs 650 crore). Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP is a subsidiary of both Reliance Holding USA, Inc and Reliance Industries Ltd. Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP has signed a purchase and sale agreement with Sundance Energy Inc to divest its interest in certain acreage, producing wells and related assets in the western portion of its Eagle Ford shale position for approximate consideration of $100 million, it said in a statement. The assets being sold are located in Atascosa, La Salle, Live Oak and McMullen Counties, Texas. Reliance continues to retain its interest in the remaining Eagle Ford assets that are core to its development priorities, the company said. The deal is subject to certain customary adjustments and closing terms and conditions. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of FY2018-19. RIL said the "transaction is in conjunction with sales made by Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc and Newpek LLC, the other working interest owners in the Joint Development with Reliance". (Disclosure - Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd) The DGGSTI has launched an investigation into alleged collusion between some banks and ATM service providers to avoid payment of value added tax (VAT) The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI) has launched an investigation into alleged collusion between some banks and ATM service providers to avoid payment of value added tax (VAT), according to a media report. The DGGSTI has written letters to State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank and some of their ATM service providers, The Economic Times reported. In connection to the investigations into alleged irregularities in availment of cenvat credit pertaining to ATM transactions by certain banks, please provide details in respect of Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India and erstwhile associate banks of State Bank of India, DGGSTI was quoted as writing in the letter by the newspaper. The investigation by DGGSTI comes in the wake of a number of banking frauds coming to light recently such as the Rs 14,500 cr fraud at Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, and Rs 1,394 crore Union Bank of India fraud has set the alarm bells ringing in the government. The scandals have triggered a series of steps, including a new legislation to confiscate assets of those account holders who have fled the country and are evading arrest. According to a report in The Times of India, bankers are filing complaints with investigative agencies on instructions from the finance ministry, which has asked them to scan all loan default cases of over Rs 50 crore to check for fraud. When is a company Indian? Is it by who it serves, who or how many it hires, the origin of the person who runs it, or who owns it? Editors note: As India stands at the cusp of a new era in economic growth, it is time to ask a big question: Can a nation of one billion people build a global tech giant as new frontiers of technology arrive? The answer involves understanding global economic dynamics, innovation, ownership, management, competition, regulation, finance and intellectual property rights. Firstpost is publishing a series of stories that will seek to address these issues in a manner that helps entrepreneurs, policymakers and ordinary citizens understand what it takes to reach new highs without losing one's ground in a world where threats are as real as opportunities. Here's the fourth piece in the series. On 4 July, 1996, an Indian emigrant Sabeer Bhatia launched the world's pioneering webmail, called Hotmail. The Silicon Valley-based venture was eventually acquired by Seattle-based Microsoft for about $400 million. Indians cheered this success and many a startup dream was fired across the nation where Bhatia's father had served as an army officer. Officially, Hotmail was not an Indian company, but Microsoft, which owns it now, is run by India-born Satya Nadella. Adobe, which made the familiar Photoshop and other software products, is headed by India-born Shantanu Narayen. Google is now headed by Chennai-bred Sundar Pichai. What is less known is that both Microsoft and Adobe have substantial product design facilities in India and employ Indian engineers at high salaries, but the patents go to the US parent. Philips, Amazon and Google are among the other companies in the same league. All these companies have between them armies of software developers working out of India. In IT services, Accenture, IBM and Cognizant employ hundreds of thousands of techies in India but none of them is technically an Indian company, as they are listed abroad and have their headquarters overseas. Facebook and Google are revolutionising social communication across India and democratising content, connecting hundreds of millions of people across the planet. But the bulk of their intellectual property is created outside of India. Nor do they employ people on the scale IBM and Accenture do. It pays now to ask a question: When is a company Indian? Is it by who it serves, who or how many it hires, the origin of the person who runs it, or who owns it? As I kicked off this series on technology and nationalism, I spoke of how Chinese giants like Tencent and Alibaba, Japan's Softbank and US giants like Amazon are raising questions on whether Indian companies like Flipkart or PayTm are really Indian by virtue of ownership, and later of how their founders become more like employees when the investors call the shots. Meanwhile, Amazon says it is as Indian as any Indian startup, and there is room for more confusion. Now, consider four other companies: iflex solutions, Zoho, Zomato and Ola Cabs (technically ANI Technologies, the company that runs the brand). Born and bred in Mumbai and Bangalore with venture funding from Citigroup, iflex solutions was present in 115 countries with its cutting-edge banking product, and was also listed in the local stock exchcanges. However, in 2005, it was acquired by Silicon Valley's' Oracle for an impressive $909 million and its name changed to Oracle Financial Services in 2008. Chennai-based Zoho is an amazing born-on-the-cloud software company with a proud Made In India, Made for the World tag, and it competes worldwide with Microsoft and Oracle. It is not interested in an IPO and is happy to stay private. Gurgaon-based Zomato is present in 24 countries, and Ola entered Australia recently to rival Uber. Ola and Zomato, like iflex, PayTm and Flipkart, are tied to the apron strings of those who funded them. But those who seek protection from capital dumping by foreign investors play it both ways. Flipkart, for instance, is talking to Walmart to sell a big chunk of itself to the giant US, even as it competes with Amazon. In such a scenario, it pays for policymakers and ardent technology patriots to ask what it really means to be Indian. On the one hand, India cannot let its consumers down, or allow unfair competition. But nor can it sidestep its national pride or lose its grip over intellectual property developed in India. It is natural for entrepreneurs to seek control and/or get rich, but you can't have it all. Governments cannot fall prey to simplistic lobbying in a complex universe of emerging businesses and technologies. A balance has to be struck by the government so that inward-looking ideologies do not speak the dubious language of national pride, while it ensures that innovative, audacious local entrepreneurs get that extra bit of support. The whole thing is like solving a Rubik's cube with many coloured sides. Perhaps it is time for policy-makers to put together an Indian-ness index so that the nation can nurture Indian technology entrepreneurs better without being gamed into Nehruvian-style protectionism. On the other hand, global giants cannot be allowed to steamroll Indian startups. If a company scores high on Indian incorporation, Indian stake holding, patents filed by Indian entities and a higher global footprint, you could call it high on the Indian-ness index. Such a company may deserve special support from the government in terms of land, tax incentives or special funding windows. On the other hand, if a global company incorporated overseas generates a huge number of jobs in India or serves the Indian market by ushering in cutting-edge practices, it does not deserve any negative discrimination. But it may score high on a swadeshi index if it employs more people in India directly or indirectly, with a higher weightage for direct employment. If it lists in India, it may be given a higher weightage. The NITI Aayog maybe the right agency to spearhead such an index with an accompanying philosophy that can lead to guidelines for banks, budget-makers or state governments. Like the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index or the UNDP's Human Development Index, a swadeshi index can be a useful tool in building technology giants out of India. If startups and companies are ranked according to such an index, it might open avenues for India to have its pride of place on the global technology map. The author is a senior journalist. He tweets as @madversity Read the other parts of the series here: Part 1: Right or Left? Home or away? The time has come for India to talk double-edged tech nationalism Part 2: Facebook crisis holds lessons for India and Aadhaar: we need multi-pronged regulation to ensure fair play and innovation Part 3: Visionaries or 'employeepreneurs'? India's tech unicorns hide weaknesses that deserve a hard look Part 5: Tech needs a MAD formula: It is time for India to make the transition from 'dukandar' to disruptor Part 6: True tech power comes from harvesting patents: ISRO, Cipla and Biocon show the way for future entrepreneurs Part 7: Engineered in India: Technology transformation must provide solutions for sustainable development Two journalists died on the spot when an SUV rammed into their bike in Bihar while another journalist in Madhya Pradesh was run over by a truck Three journalists were killed in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh over the past two days under suspicious circumstances, according to several media reports. On Sunday night, two journalists died after an SUV rammed into their bike in Bihar's Bhojpur district and on Monday, another scribe in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district was run over by a truck. In Bihar, families of the victims identified as Navin Nishchal and his associate Vijay Singh alleged they were murdered by the former village village head. Rajesh, brother of Navin, who worked for a Hindi daily, alleged in the FIR that former panchayat mukhiya Ahmed Ali alias Harsu, and his son Dabloo, were behind the incident, the police said. Police added that the SUV was driven by Harsu, and it was alleged in the FIR that Harsu had been nursing a grouse against Nishchal. Efforts are still underway to nab the father and son duo who are absconding, police said, adding that villagers vandalised the house of the ex-village head after the incident. Security was heightened in the village where the situation is tense but under control. "The incident smacks of a well-hatched conspiracy to murder the journalists by ramming an SUV on them so that it will look like an accident," The Hindu quoted villagers as saying. The SUV was later set on fire, allegedly by the suspects in order to remove evidence. The report added that a group of people staged a protest on the state highway with the bodies of Nishchal and Singh, and demanded immediate arrest of the accused. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Bhai Birendra said, "Even the fourth pillar of our democracy is not safe in Bihar under the Nitish Kumar government we demand the immediate arrest of those involved in the incident." In Madhya Pradesh, 35-year-old journalist Sandeep Sharma, who was investigating illegal sand mining cases in Bhind district, was mowed down by a truck, even after having alerted the police about a threat to his life. He is survived by his wife and two children, aged 14 and 15. The incident, where the scribe was crushed under the truck while riding a two-wheeler, was reportedly caught on CCTV camera. The truck driver was arrested later Monday. #WATCH:Chilling CCTV footage of moment when Journalist Sandeep Sharma was run over by a truck in Bhind. He had been reporting on the sand mafia and had earlier complained to Police about threat to his life. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/LZxNuTLyap ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018 According to a report in The Times of India, Sharma filed the complaint after he carried out a sting operation against a police officer. The report added that Sharma filed a story with a national news channel accusing the officer of being involved with the sand mafia. According to ANI, the police formed an SIT (Special Investigation Team). Indian Express reported that Bhind SP Prashant Khare said an offence under Section 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) has been registered. Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia also reacted to the death of the journalist, saying "nothing less than a CBI inquiry" should be held. "He was killed in broad daylight. Nothing less than a CBI inquiry should be done. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and that is being crushed under BJP's rule," Scindia said. The BJP on Tuesday cited a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the Congress New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday cited a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the Congress and demanded an apology from its president Rahul Gandhi, saying he stood "exposed". Christopher Wylie, a former Analytica employee turned whistleblower, in a deposition before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in London said the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress. "The whistleblower has publicly confirmed that the Congress was indeed their client. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to divert attention. Today, he stands exposed. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Tuesday. This vindicates what the BJP had been been saying from day one, he said. "Cambridge Analytica is in the dock for data theft and trying to manipulate voters using unlawful means. Congress party needs to apologise to the nation for data theft and trying to manipulate voters. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica," he said. Prasad also dismissed the Congress' allegation that the BJP had used the firm's services, calling it a "pack of lies". After widespread criticism on social media, HDFC Bank on Tuesday removed metal spikes outside its Fort branch in Mumbai designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping or sitting on the narrow slab After widespread criticism on social media, HDFC Bank on Tuesday removed metal spikes outside its Fort branch in Mumbai designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping or sitting on the narrow slab. #LatestVisuals: Iron spikes installed outside #Mumbai's Fort branch of HDFC bank being removed. pic.twitter.com/GrlZ3YBIDh ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 Sharp metal spikes, which were over three inches tall, were installed last week after the bank on Nanik Motwani Marg was renovated, posing a danger to passers-by as well, Mumbai Mirror reported. The BMC, however, claimed that the spikes were not illegal because they were not installed on the footpath. "We will conduct a site inspection and if the spikes are posing a danger to people, we will issue a notice to the bank. They have not taken any specific permission from us to install the spikes since it is fitted on their building and not on the footpath," the report quoted Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner, as saying. Photographs of the metal spikes tweeted by Simon Mundy, Mumbai correspondent for Financial Times, sparked outrage on social media, receiving over 2,900 retweets and 2,700 likes on Twitter. "As others have pointed out, these anti-homeless spikes from HDFC Bank's Fort branch are not only a depressing gesture towards Mumbai's many rough sleepers, but could also impale any pedestrian unlucky enough to trip and fall in this crowded passageway," he said in another tweet. An eyecatching response to Mumbais homelessness crisis from @HDFC_Bank (Fort branch) pic.twitter.com/5H8ErgUoth Simon Mundy (@simonmundy) March 25, 2018 On Monday, HDFC Bank issued a statement promising to remove the spikes at the earliest. "We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the public by the installation of the spikes at our Fort Branch, as part of the recent renovation. We're having the spikes removed on priority," the bank tweeted. Neeraj Jha, head of corporate communications at HDFC Bank, tweeted on Tuesday to show how flower pots have replaced the metal spikes outside the bank's branch. Communal violence broke out in Aurangabad district of Bihar for the third consecutive day on Monday as authorities failed to contain the rising tensions. Communal violence broke out in Aurangabad district of Bihar for the third consecutive day on Monday. As many as 50 shops were destroyed and several people, including policemen, were injured. The tension escalated on Sunday when a Ram Navami procession was taken out by Hindu Akhadas which snowballed into full-blown mob violence by Monday. At around 2 pm on Monday, more than 40 shops were set ablaze, ransacked and looted by the mob, superintendent of police (SP) Satya Prakash Singh told Firstpost, and added that a few shops were again torched after 8 pm the same day. The mob also attacked at least two dozen policemen, Singh added. According to Singh, the procession took a violent turn when it reached the Islamtoli Mohalla at around 2 pm. "There were hundreds of people in the procession and someone threw a stone at them when they reached Jama Masjid which resulted in violence between the two communities," Singh said. The district administration, meanwhile, suspended mobile internet services for 24 hours. Singh also said that three companies of CRPF, additional forces from the adjacent district and around 15 companies of PAC have been camping in the city to restore normalcy. Curfew was imposed in the city but the district magistrate confirmed that Section 144 wasn't imposed in the area. On Tuesday morning, the markets remained closed, but the curfew was relaxed at 9 am. What led to the clash? "On Sunday, a clash ensued between the two communities when a Ram Navami procession reached the Muslim-dominated Kaji Mohalla and objectionable comments were made by the people in the procession," district magistrate Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal said. While permission for Sunday's procession was granted by the district administration, Monday's procession was taken out after an oral assurance was given by both groups that they will help restore peace and communal harmony in Aurangabad, Mahiwal said. "Both groups violated the assurance of reinstating communal harmony," he said, adding that both sides (people from both Hindu and Muslim communities) were at fault, as they went on a rampage across the city. "The mob did whatever it could to harm the peace and harmony of this peaceful city. They destroyed shops and set ablaze anything that came in their way. The situation became peaceful only after the police chief and I came out on the street to pacify the outraged crowd. The mob was brought under control on Sunday without major loss, but unfortunately, it broke out again on Monday with larger intensity," Mahiwal said. "Patrolling has been intensified and we are going through CCTV footage to identify the culprits and notorious elements involved in this violence. Over 200 people have been detained so far," he added. 'Police failed to learn a lesson' Zahir Ahsan Azad, spokesperson of the ruling Janata Dal (U) in Bihar, said that people from both the communities were involved in disturbing the peace in Aurangabad. "Remember it takes two to clap. There are wrong people in both the communities and anti-Islam slogans were raised when the procession reached the Muslim-dominated area. The event took a wrong turn when community members objected to the slogans," he added. A total of six localities, all Muslim-dominated, which fall on GT Road were the worst affected by the violence. The mob also resorted to firing and allegedly used hand-made bombs, people in these localities said. A video shot by one of the Hindu mobsters accessed by this reporter shows hundreds of men raging havoc at a Muslim burial ground and proclaiming victory with loud chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', after having pitched a saffron flag there. "How is it right to destroy a mosque, or how is it right to raise slogans that hurt sentiments and damage the Karbala?" questioned the JD (U) spokesperson. Is sheher ke musalmaano ne mishaal pesh ki hai. Wo chup chaap sehte rahe aur kuch logo ne is sheher ko jala daala (Muslims of the city have proved a point by silently enduring (violence) while some folks went out burning the city)," Azad said, while also holding the district administration and police accountable for the entire episode. "I fail to understand why proper deployment of forces was not made when people in such a large number were gathering for this procession. Police's carelessness shows they did not learn a lesson from Sunday's incident. What were they (police) doing when shops of the Muslim community were ransacked and set ablaze by the mob," he questioned. A repeat of Kasganj Mohammad Naeem, a resident of Purani Kaji Mohalla, who was admitted to the Aurangabad district hospital, told reporters that he had sustained a bullet injury but his condition was stable. "I think it was a police bullet that hit me. I am an ambulance driver and I do not have animosity with anyone. It was a mob, so I cannot name a single person," Naeem told media. Chief surgeon at Aurangabad district hospital, Dr Janardan Prakash, told Firstpost that five additional doctors had been called in and added that the condition of all the injured was stable by Tuesday. Aurangabad's mob violence unfolded in a manner similar to how the riot broke out in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, in January. A procession was taken out in both the incidents, objectionable comments were raised, which resulted in stone pelting, and then shops and religious places were set ablaze. While the impact of violence was within a six-kilometre radius, borders of Aurangabad city were sealed and vehicles were diverted on GT Road, away from the affected area. Senior police officers from Gaya and Patna also reached Aurangabad on Monday night. Medical services have not been affected, but schools and colleges have been asked to remain shut on Tuesday. District BJP unit representative, who participated in the peace committee meeting, refused to comment on the turn of events. The author is a Lucknow-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. At least five government-owned banks in Bihar are likely to take a fiscal hit worth Rs 500 crore in the disbursement of the MUDRA sceme and Kisan Credit Cards New Delhi: At least five government-owned banks in Bihar are likely to take a fiscal hit worth Rs 500 crore under a heap of bad loans and shoddy verification in the disbursement of the Kisan Credit Cards and the prime minister's flagship MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) scheme. Two complaints have been filed with the Prime Minister Office (PMO), Union Ministry of Finance, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and top brass of the Bank of India (BoI), State Bank of India (SBI), Allahabad Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), raising a stink in loan disbursements. It is alleged that middlemen in connivance with bank officials in the district of Rohtas (Sasaram) conned the banks using fake certificates and false appraisals to obtain loans. Whistleblower Vijay Kumar Choudhary, a former member of constitutional body National Commission for Scheduled Castes, has told the PMO that he had gathered evidence before filing the complaints, alleging loan fraud worth over Rs 500 crore and sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to book the culprits preying on the vulnerable rural population. If Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi were sharks, the middlemen operating in the hinterland using people like Paras Ram and Ashok Pandey are small fish in the growing NPAs. Ram's a resident of Purvi Bhelari credentials were used by the middlemen to obtain Rs seven lakh in MUDRA and Kisan Credit Card loans. Similarly, Ashok Pandey, an SBI account holder had sold his assets house and land way back in 2007, but middlemen forged the documents making him eligible to access a Kisan Credit Card loan. Choudhary filed the first complaint to the PMO and finance ministry on 19 February, 2018 against Bank of India Mahror Branch in Sasaram. Choudhary has alleged that over Rs 100 crore was siphoned off from the BoI branch between 2012 and 2017 under various government schemes by producing forged credentials of alleged beneficiaries. Choudhary's complaint, that is being examined by the PMO and finance ministry, carries an RTI reply from BoI admitting that investigation was carried out by the bank and further action is being taken against suspects involved in the loan disbursement fraud, including Kisan Credit Card and the MUDRA scheme launched by Modi in April 2015. "Bank of India branch heads, loan managers and middlemen conned the bank between 2012 and 2017 under various government schemes including Kisan Credit Card and MUDRA, swindling over Rs 100 crore by producing fake names, addresses and asset papers. I had filed an RTI with BoI's Patna circle. They refused to divulge the amount of loans and details of beneficiaries citing it as personal and commercial information related to third parties. However, they have admitted to the fraud," Choudhary wrote in his letter to Modi. The file accessed by Firstpost shows that BoI's RTI reply of 12 February this year confirms the fear. "The bank has carried out an investigation and appropriate action is being taken against people suspected to have been involved," BoI's reply furnished by Information Officer Amrendra Kumar said. A detailed questionnaire sent to the BoI zonal head, Patna and Chief Vigilance Officer remained unanswered. Firstpost also reviewed a copy of evidence detailing five loans that were issued by BoI officials on the allegedly forged documents that include loans sanctioned and disbursed to Bhola, Santosh Kumar, Vikrama Ram and Baliram. All these loans were allegedly sanctioned on fake certificates. Unscrupulous brokers and loan officers nexus On 28 February, an unfazed Choudhary shot off another letter to Modi and the finance ministry alleging that a similar scam was unearthed in various other banks as well, but the officials were trying to conceal the findings. "I have solid evidence that Punjab National Bank's Natwar branch officials in Sasaram during 2014-2017 conspired with middlemen to sanction loans under Kisan Credit Card, MUDRA and other welfare schemes. State Bank of India's Natwar branch was conned by its own officials and middlemen using a similar modus operandi," Choudhary wrote in his letter. The SBI, however, refused to share details of loan sanctioned to the individuals and investigation carried out by the bank, citing the RTI Act 2005. The SBIs RTI response ( RBO-4/RTI/333) dated 28 February, said, "Information sought cannot be provided because it is related to the third person which comes under the section 8 1(j) of the Act." This particular section says "there shall be no obligation to give any citizen information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has not relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information: Provided that the information, which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a state legislature shall not be denied to any person." Choudhary, who is planning to appeal against the RTI response, argued that information sought by him is in larger public interest because taxpayers have been defrauded and the government is being misled. Choudhary, who is ready to share the evidence with investigative agencies, claimed that bank officials did not raise any alarm while issuing MUDRA and Kisan Credit Card loans on fake papers. He said some honest officers in these banks have turned whistleblowers and are ready to provide all the documents to the agencies and the government to expose the nexus. "Bank of Baroda and Allahabad Bank's Dinara branches are also involved in swindling the money under these loan schemes. I have sought details from all these banks through RTI but instead of providing information, they are trying to cover up the scam. They have also refused to divulge details related to internal investigations," Choudhary said. Firstpost had sought comments from Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and the SBI seeking their versions of the story. but repeated attempts and detailed questionnaires yielded no response. Chaoudhary has alleged that brokers are well-networked and powerful people. A week after his complaint, Choudhary alleged, the state police acted with vengeance and withdrew his security leaving him vulnerable. "I was surprised to receive a letter from the Patna Police dated 26 February, 2018 informing me that my security is being withdrawn due to lack of police personnel. Subsequently, I received several messages from mafias offering me huge amount of money if I was ready to withdraw my complaint filed to the PMO. I am a whistleblower in this massive scam and facing a threat to my life but police authorities ignored it completely," Choudhary told Firstpost. Why government schemes fall prey to loan fraud Government schemes like the Kisan Credit Card are susceptible to grand theft because they offer loans without collateral security to farmers and have flexible repayment options. A study published by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in 2017 observed that the number of operative/live Kisan Credit Cards as on 31 March, 2015 stood at Rs 7.41 crore. "This achievement is against the total operational land holdings estimated at Rs 13.83 crore by Agricultural Census (2010-11)." The regulatory body also revealed that there were cases where land certificates to get Kisan Credit Card loans were found to be fake or reported to have been used simultaneously in two banks to get Kisan Credit Card account opened in more than one bank. "Land records/revenue records were not available online, which created problems for banks to verify these records and also there was no facility for the online creation of charge on the land records," the NABARD report had said. NABARD had lauded the scheme claiming that Kisan Credit Card holders were earning more money than non-Kisan Credit Card farmers. However, it added that the overall impact depended on the resources. "The overall impression is that the implementation of Kisan Credit Card scheme has certainly benefited agriculturists albeit in varying magnitude to different farmers depending on the availability and quality of land resources and their capacity to manage various resources," the NABARD report said. On the other hand, scamsters are also targeting the MUDRA scheme that aims to create an inclusive, sustainable and value-based entrepreneurial culture. Just two days after Choudhary's complaint to the PMO, a case had surfaced in Barmer (Rajasthan) where Punjab National Bank was duped by over Rs 62 lakh. The branch manager in connivance with unknown people had fraudulently sanctioned 26 MUDRA loans. The CBI had registered a case on 21 February disclosing that no pre-loan sanction, inspection and physical verification was conducted and no post-loan sanction was conducted to verify the end use. The CBI in the Barmer case said: "Rate of interest of MUDRA loans is relatively lower in comparison to other loans. The important aspect of the MUDRA loans scheme is that it does not require any collateral security However, after sanction/disbursement of loan, the asset is mandatorily required to be created out of the loan amount and the same is then mandatorily required to be charged with the bank as security (so that the disbursed amount of loan is secure). It has also been learnt that loans have been sanctioned to the persons who are not even living in Barmer. Further, the bank cannot recover the outstanding amount of Rs 62,40,773.50 as no security is available with the bank. Thereby, the suspect public servant caused a wrongful loss of Rs 62.4 lakh the bank and corresponding wrongful gain to himself and other unknown persons. During the verification process, it has also been learnt that an inquiry has also been conducted by the office of the DGM, PNB, Jodhpur in this matter and SO was also suspended from the bank, but later on he had been revoked and is presently posted at Punjab National Bank, Abu Road branch." In 2015-16, Rs 1,32,954 crore was disbursed under the MUDRA scheme followed by Rs 1,75,312 crore in 2016-17 and Rs 2,01,977 crore in 2017-18. Choudhary has asked the PMO and finance ministry to conduct a thorough inquiry into MUDRA loans in Bihar branches of state-owned banks as he claims to have substantial proof of misappropriation of government funds. "It is a serious matter and government must order CBI probe to recover the money and prevent more fraud cases. The banks are also under pressure to meet the target by showing that huge loans are being disbursed. The brokers are happily taking advantage of it," Choudhary said. In 2015, Union Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra rejected Rs 41 crore as a full and final settlement from a company that had defaulted on Rs 49.29 crore. Three years later, the banks inexplicably settled for Rs 25.5 crore from the same company. Ideally, the amount should have increased. But the rules of a normal universe do not apply if one of the guarantors in the company is also in charge of the Maharashtra's Ministry of Labour, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. In 2015, Union Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra rejected Rs 41 crore as a full and final settlement from a company that had defaulted on Rs 49.29 crore. Three years later, the banks inexplicably settled for Rs 25.5 crore from the same company. Ideally, the settlement amount should have increased. But it seems the rules of a normal universe do not apply if one of the guarantors in the company is also in charge of the Maharashtra's Ministry of Labour, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, guardian minister of Latur, who was inducted into the cabinet of Devendra Fadnavis in 2016, is listed as one of the guarantors of M/S Victoria Agro Food Processing Pvt. Ltd, which was incorporated on 1 May, 2008. In merely three years, the company became a willful defaulter. The directors of the company include Ashish Marwah, brother-in-law of Nilangekar and Prajaktha Marwah, sister of Nilangekar, among others. Prajaktha Marwah is also a guarantor, and so is Nilangekars brother Arvind. The summary by the recovery department of Bank of Maharashtra dated 31 March, 2015, notes that Marwah offered to settle the matter by paying Rs 41 crore to both the banks. It was rejected by the head office, which tried to convince the guarantor and key personal Mr Nilangekar to improve the offer but he did not. The document also noted the properties of Nilangekar in Delhi, Gurgaon and Jaipur, which are not mortgaged to the bank, and which are valued at approximately Rs 100 crore, meaning he is capable of paying more than just 41 crore. However, the same recovery department of Bank of Maharashtra issued a letter on 16 February, 2018, noting that Rs 12.75 crore was to be accepted in full and final dues of M/S Victoria Agro Food Processing Pvt. Ltd. It wrote off the ledger balance of Rs 7.31 crore, unapplied interest of Rs 12.79 crore and processing fee of Rs 6.37 lakh, meaning the company now owed Bank of Maharashtra approximately Rs 32.91 crore. The letter also stated that Union Bank of India, which is the lead bank in this consortium, is subject to similar sanction. The share of Union Bank of India is 50.05 percent, while Bank of Maharashtras share is 49.95 percent. Therefore, the amount owed by M/S Victoria Agro Food Processing Pvt. Ltd. in 2018 to Union Bank of India would also be around the same it owed Bank of Maharashtra. A questionnaire sent to the managing director of Bank of Maharashtra went unanswered. This reporter also attempted to reach Nilangekar, but he was in a meeting during the day, and the phone was later unreachable. The story will be updated if a response is received. M/S Victoria Agro Food Processing Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated in 2008 as a grain-based distillery unit to manufacture grain-based alcohol. The registered office address and the address for communication is the Nilangekar Bungalow in Latur. The first credit facility was sanctioned on 2 July, 2009, and on 30 June, 2011, it became a Non-Performing Asset (NPA). In fact, since January 2011, the unit stopped commercial production. The reasons behind the account becoming an NPA cited by the Bank of Maharashtra are initial bottlenecks in fine tuning of machinery, along with scarcity of resources resulting in mismatch of cash flow due to wastage of raw material and inputs. On 12 September, 2011, and 14 December, 2011, the two banks conducted Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI) actions, which allow banks and other financial institutions to auction residential or commercial properties to recover bad loans. But the banks did not take anything into possession because of protest by the borrowers/guarantors. The primary security with the bank was the land and building of factory in Sakol, Latur, and the collateral security consisted of a theatre, shopping complex and residential unit in Nilanga. When these properties were valued, its realisable value was pegged at Rs 60.38 crore, but the distress sale value was Rs 39 crore as of March 2015. In February 2012, the case was with the divisional magistrate, which was then transferred to the sub-divisional magistrate of Nilanga, where it made little progress till 2015, because the post was vacant. Eventually, a complaint was lodged with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 8 February, 2014, and subsequently with the Banking Securities and Fraud Cell. The CBI booked Nilangekar for being party to a criminal conspiracy for cheating the Union Bank of India and the Bank of Maharashtra to the tune of Rs 49.30 crore. Newspapers reported in 2016 that the CBIs claim was that they had allegedly tampered with a couple of pages of the 2009 mortgage deed for illegally substituting the mortgaged property with another property of a lesser value. Meanwhile, Mahendra Kumar Jajoo, one of the guarantors, filed a case against RBI and Union Bank of India in Delhi High Court for declaring him a willful defaulter. However, as per the Bank of Maharashtra letter dated 16 February, 2018, the guarantor/borrower will withdraw all the suits, claims, counter claims, writ petitions filed against the banks unconditionally, but the settlement shall not in any way be construed as a settlement of ongoing criminal/CBI case/proceedings pending in the court against the borrowers/guarantors. The full and final settlement is slated to go through before 31 March. Congress and some other Opposition parties have signed a draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, ANI reported. Congress and some other Opposition parties have signed a draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, ANI reported. The news agency quoted NCP leader DP Tripathi as saying that many parties, including NCP, Left parties, and TMC may have signed the proposal apart from Congress. The parties had resumed discussion on the impeachment motion after they felt that the chief justice was not doing enough to address the key issues raised by the four seniormost judges concerning the functioning of the Supreme Court when they held an unprecedented joint press conference in January, The Economic Times reported quoting a senior leader in an Opposition party. The impeachment motion could be tabled in the ongoing Budget Session. To bring an impeachment motion, the proposal should have a support of 50 members if it is introduced in the Rajya Sabha, and likewise 100 members in Lok Sabha. The motion can be submitted in either House and the Speaker may admit or reject such a proposal. In case the proposal is accepted, the Speaker forms a three-member committee to probe the charges laid against the judge, in this case, CJI Misra, and if found guilty the House can take up the matter. The President then finally addresses the Parliament and passes the impeachment order. Reports said that the Congress party had circulated the draft to like-minded parties to gather the support of required 50 MPs as it plans to introduce the motion in Rajya Sabha, where the BJP is not yet in majority. Furthermore, The Scroll reported that senior advocate Prashant Bhushan has also met Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday to discuss the impeachment motion. Bhushan had earlier filed a complaint against Misra in the medical college scam case and requested five senior most apex court judges, including the four rebel judges, to hold an in-house inquiry into the matter. In January, four out of the five members of collegium took the unprecedented step of addressing the media to accuse Chief Justice Dipak Misra of breaching rules and "selectively assigning" cases that have "far-reaching consequences for the nation" to "junior judges." Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Kurian Joseph and Madan B Lokur besides Justice Chelameswar said that the Supreme Court administration was "not in order" and hinted that they were unhappy with the way the case on CBI special judge Justice Loya's death was allocated for hearing. Following this, Communist Party of India (Marxist) said that it was reaching out to other parties to move the impeachment motion, but most parties then preferred to adopt the wait and watch approach. "The CPM is discussing with other Opposition parties the possibility of bringing an impeachment motion against the CJI," Sitaram Yechury had said on 23 January just ahead of the Budget Session. But nothing materialised at the time. Now with Banerjee and other Opposition parties reaching out to forge a unified front, the matter seems back on agenda for the Opposition parties. A 36-year-old PhD student at AIIMS allegedly attempted suicide, accusing his supervisor of mental harassment, abuse and delay in his fellowship. New Delhi: A 36-year-old PhD student at AIIMS allegedly attempted suicide, accusing his supervisor of mental harassment, abuse and delay in his fellowship. The incident triggered protests by the PhD students of the premier health institute who are demanding suspension and strict action against the accused supervisor. The fifth-year student of the Microbiology department attempted suicide on Sunday at his residence in Gautam Nagar by overdosing on drugs. The victim, according to an acquaintance, is right now admitted at the hospital's psychiatry ward for counselling. Though a preliminary inquiry was conducted, according to the police, they were yet to receive any formal complaint. "Dr Rajat Prakash was admitted to AIIMS after consuming sleeping pills. Preliminary enquiry revealed that the patient is a student of PhD and was feeling harassed by his guide. He had taken sleeping pills. He is stable but still in AIIMS. No formal complaint received so far," Romil Baaniya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) said. In his letter to AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, the student alleged that he was being mentally harassed and humiliated by the supervisor under whom he got registered in August 2013. "I have been under constant mental harassment and humiliation. She has again and again used filthy and abusive language in front of everyone. She scolds even when work is done correctly. My mental harassment is aggravated as she is not able to procure appropriate facilities, funds in the lab and makes no attempt to get the things done. Due to not holding of DCs in time, my fellowship is delayed and this puts me in additional financial problem and mental burden," the student alleged in the letter. He also claimed that some students, who also are undergoing PhD under the same guide, having contracted TB while working in the lab due to lack of proper equipment and personal protective accessories given to them. "We are looking into the matter and the allegations made by the student...an inquiry into the incident will be conducted accordingly," a senior AIIMS official said. The AIIMS Director has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Dean (Academic) to look into the matter. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week. The first meeting of the committee was held on Monday. On Tuesday, in line with the prime minister's announcement, the Power and Skill Development ministries joined hands to launch a skill development programme in New Delhi to speed up the implementation of the Saubhagya Yojna, the Modi government's flagship universal household electrification programme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating Deendayal Urja Bhawan the corporate office of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in September 2017 had launched the Saubhagya Yojna, which was an ambitious scheme to ensure Ghar Ghar Bijli (Electricity for all homes). On Tuesday, in line with the prime minister's announcement, the Power and Skill Development ministries joined hands to launch a skill development programme to speed up the implementation of the Saubhagya Yojna, the Modi government's flagship universal household electrification programme. Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power RK Singh jointly, through video conferencing, connected six state capitals Lucknow, Bhopal, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati to unveil the initiative. The ministers took stock of the manpower situation, the targets set, and other requirements during the session. "This (initiative) has added a new chapter to our economic development. Our PM Modi ji wanted a targetted approach so that the scheme could be implemented in a time-bound manner. His dream is to make electricity available to the poorest of poor across the country. It's first of its kind of institutional effort where four stakeholders Centre, states, Rural Electrification Corporation and National Skill Development Corporation have been brought together to implement this project. Besides, providing electricity to the last man in the row the poorest person, our focus is on developing skilled artisans," Pradhan said. For timely implementation, the scheme needed 35,0000 trained personnel. After interacting with the states and setting goals, Singh said, "The power sector will be immensely helped by this. Lack of skilled manpower was the only hurdle in implementation of Saubhagya Yojna, which has now been overcome." The objective of Saubhagya Yojna or Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna is to provide energy access to each household. The scheme aims to take electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification in the country. The scheme targets to achieve 4 crore connections by March 2019. The project is initially slated to cover six states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam) at an estimated cost of Rs 16, 320 crore. During video conferencing, Madhya Pradesh said that they would complete the target (4.5 lakh) by December end. The Odisha officials said that there's a skill gap in power sector but it would be fulfilled with the implementation of this initiative. "We'll require more than 5,000 skilled artisans and training would be provided to them," the official mentioned. Uttar Pradesh representative said that the state government has been aggressively working on the project and would complete its target within time. "It'll be a socio-economic game changer and convergence of two national programmes. Mobile training centres will provide training. Bihar has started its first batch of training, added Singh. The main agenda of this scheme is to provide substitution to Kerosene as household fuel, improve electrical services, provide electricity to poor and increase job opportunities. India and the US reviewed threats posed by terrorism, including cross-border terror in the South Asian region, and vowed to strengthen cooperation to combat the menace New Delhi: India and the US on Tuesday reviewed threats posed by terrorism, including cross-border terror in the South Asian region, and vowed to strengthen cooperation to combat the menace. In a statement, issued after the 15th meeting of the India-US Counterterrorism Joint Working Group in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides achieved important progress on counter-terrorism cooperation. "The working group reviewed threats posed by terrorist groups worldwide and in their respective regions including cross-border terrorism in the South Asian region," the statement said. Both sides committed to strengthening information sharing on some of the world's most dangerous terrorist groups and individuals and exchanged views on efforts to counter the financing and operations of regional and global terrorist organisations, it said. Joint Secretary in the MEA Mahaveer Singhvi led the Indian side at the meeting, while State Department's Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Alina L Romanowski headed the US delegation. During the deliberations, the two sides discussed international efforts to counter threats posed by foreign terrorist fighters, the statement said. "The working group also discussed international and bilateral cooperation on justice, law enforcement and capacity building efforts to counter terrorism and UN Security Council Resolution 2396," the statement said. The Indian and US sides discussed ongoing efforts to ensure the effective implementation of domestic and international terrorist designations, following up on the inaugural US-India Counterterrorism Designations Dialogue in December last year. The United States will host the next meeting of the Joint Working Group in 2019. A case was registered on Monday against a Delhi Police inspector accused of molesting a journalist during a march organised by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and he was sent to district lines, police said New Delhi: A case was registered on Monday against a Delhi Police inspector accused of molesting a journalist during a march organised by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and he was sent to district lines, police said. Dependra Pathak, the special commissioner of police (traffic) and chief spokesperson for the Delhi Police, said that following a vigilance inquiry, the Delhi Cantt SHO was booked under molestation charges and sent to district police line. Police said the case will be investigated by the crime branch. On Friday, JNU students had taken out a march from the varsity campus towards the Parliament. At the Sanjay Jheel in Lakshmi Bai Nagar area, police lathicharged and used water canons to disperse the crowd of students, teachers and journalists who were covering the protests. Two journalists filed separate complaints one for molestation and another for assault with regard to incidents during the protest march. On Monday, a woman constable and a male head constable were suspended for allegedly snatching the camera of a photojournalist during the march. A major fire broke out at a marriage hall in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Tuesday. No casualties were reported even as five fire tenders were rushed to the spot. A major fire broke out at a marriage hall in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Tuesday, according to media reports. Although no casualties have been reported so far. Fire broke out at a marriage hall in Jaipur's Sirsi Road; 5 fire tenders & police present on the spot. More details awaited #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/b4sAqsG63U ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 According to Dainik Bhaskar, the fire broke out at 1:30 pm from a banquet hall called Mysore Mahal, situated on Sirsi road in the city. Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot. According to News18, the fire was brought under control after 2-3 hours. The marriage hall has been reduced to ashes. The extent of the fire was such that fumes could be seen from a couple of kilometres away, the report added. In January, a massive fire that broke out in Sector 9 of Vidhyadhar Nagar area had claimed the lives of five people of a family. The fire engulfed the entire two-storied independent house, burning it to ashes, The Times of India reported. The Punjab National Bank has refused to disclose records pertaining to the process of issuing loans to Nirav Modi, citing an ongoing probe into the over Rs 13,000-crore scam involving the billionaire jeweller. New Delhi: The Punjab National Bank has refused to disclose records pertaining to the process of issuing loans to Nirav Modi, citing an ongoing probe into the over Rs 13,000-crore scam involving the billionaire jeweller. In an response to Mumbai-based RTI activist Anil Galgali the bank has cited section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act to deny the information sought by him. Galgali said he had sought details of all the records including minutes of the meeting, agenda notes, total loans sought by Nirav Modi and the amount sanctioned by the bank. The sections bars disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. Given Punjab's massive unemployment problem, thousands of marginalised and poor youths continue to ignore the risks and seek prospects in the Middle East Editor's note: On 20 March, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament that 39 Indian workers, most of them from Punjab, were killed by the Islamic State in Iraq last year. Given the state's massive unemployment problem, thousands of marginalised and poor youths continue to ignore the risks and seek prospects in the Middle East. This is the first of a four-part series analysing the plight of Indian workers in the region. On 28 January this year, 48-year-old Baljit Singh was on his way from Jeddah to Riyadh when he suffered a heart attack and died immediately. It's been two months since but his family back in Punjab's Dhanaula town hasn't received his body. Baljit's wife Paramjit Kaur and his mother Baljinder Kaur have run from pillar to post but to no avail. Baljit, a driver by profession, was not formally educated. He switched jobs only two months before his death. His employment card hadn't been generated, due to which neither his current employer nor the earlier one took upon the responsibility to send the body home. For decades, poor opportunities in Punjab have been sending thousands of unskilled and semi-skilled youth from low-income families to the seemingly greener pastures in Gulf nations like Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They work as masons, drivers, carpenters, plumbers, construction labourers and daily-wage workers, and are often tricked by agents into taking up jobs which have poor working conditions and no job security. Baljit was preparing to permanently return to Dhanaula after 25 years in Saudi Arabia. His mother said the family owned one acre of land, which was insufficient to support a family. "Baljit always told me he wanted his daughter and son to be educated. This desire took him to Saudi Arabia. But he was planning to return permanently this year. Maybe his destiny did not want it," Bajlinder said. Meanwhile, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has taken up the case with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and said efforts are on bring Baljit's body home soon. Prabhjot Singh worked in Iraq for four years until 2015 before returning to his village, Bagga in Jalandhar. A year earlier, it was reported that the Islamic State had abducted 40 Indians in Iraq. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed on 20 March that 39 of them are dead, 27 of whom were from Punjab. "Despite dangerous conditions, unskilled youth have no option but to leave their homes due to declining agricultural prospects and low wages," Prabhjot said. Ashwini Kumar Nanda, professor at the Centre for Research on Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) in Chandigarh, said unskilled youths in Punjab are moving to developed countries due to the prospect of quick money, even ignoring the "risk factors" involved. According to the MEA, there were about 10,000 to 12,000 workers in Iraq as of August last year, "most of them in Kurdistan, Basra, Najaf and Karbala". "With the lifting of the Government of India advisory against travel of Indians to Iraq which was in vogue from 2004 till May 2010, the number of Indian workers had steadily increased in the more stable Kurdistan region comprising Erbil, Sulaimaniya and Dohuk governorates, with better salaries and working conditions in steel mills, oil companies and construction projects," it said. Punjab has the eighth highest rural youth unemployment rate in India. "Punjab's rural youth joblessness rate in 2015-16 was 16.5 percent, more than seven percentage points higher than rural India's 9.2 percent," IndiaSpend reported in March last year. Economist Sucha Singh Gill said mechanisation of agriculture in Punjab over the decades has been a factor in forcing youths in rural areas to move out. But things on the industrial front haven't been great either. Badish Jindal, president of the Federation of Small Scale Industries, said due to weak economic policies of consecutive governments, an "exact data is impossible, but it is estimated that during the past 10 years, more than 10,000 small-scale industrial units have shut down". "Cheap migrant labour, on the other hand, is leaving no space for the local youth," he said. The Congress party, which formed the government in Punjab last year, had addressed the unemployment problem and promised in its poll manifesto that it targets to "provide employment to at least one person in each family in five years from 2017-22". "Till such time these jobs are given, all identified unemployed would be given an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per month," it had said. After the Congress came to power, more than four lakh people got themselves registered for the scheme, bringing out the glaring unemployment in the state, said a member of the team that worked for the party in Punjab polls. With such conditions, the Gulf states continue to be an attractive option. Karamjit Singh, a carpenter from Barnala district who had worked in Dubai for three years, pointed out that it's a struggle for a daily-wage worker in Punjab to save even Rs 5,000 a month. "In Gulf, you get residence facilities and food from the company, and you can save a lot. Companies pay for overtime too, which is not common here," he said. Earlier this month, at a job fair in Ludhiana, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said 1.61 lakh jobs have been created during his government's first year. But not everybody was impressed. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, senior leader of the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said, "It has not been able to generate an environment for employment." Read Part 2: Travel agents who sent 27 Punjabis killed in Iraq to work under probe Read Part 3: Lack of jobs at home pushes Indians into fatal Gulf trap The author is a Ludhiana-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. With inputs from Sukhcharan Preet from Barnala The Supreme Court passed a slew of directions for better implementation of the RTI Act. Speaking to Firstpost, one of the petitioners in the case welcomed the order. The Supreme Court last week, in a significant order, passed a slew of directions for better implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. A bench of Justice AK Goel and Justice UU Lalit passed the order on 20 March. The court has held that public authorities cannot ask RTI applicants to state their motive for filing a query. For cases which are yet to have been decided, the apex court has held that the permission of the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court will only required if the information is exempt under the Act. Further, the court has also directed that the application fee for filing a query should normally not be more than Rs 50, and fees for per page information (in cases where documents have to be photocopied) should not be more than Rs 5 per page. It also held that public authorities should transfer queries to appropriate authorities if information is available to them, and not send them back to applicants. RTI activists have hailed the apex court's order. Activist and former chief information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said that the regulation requiring a motive to be spelt out "violated the provisions of the RTI Act, and the Supreme Court has acknowledged the supremacy of the Act." Sunil Ahya, one of the petitioners in the case, spoke to Firstpost on the importance of the Supreme Court's order and its implications for transparency: What does the apex court's order mean for RTI applicants? Normally, in legal disputes, litigants are required to establish their locus standi on a case, that is, they must state reasons for why the matter concerns them. However, under the RTI Act, it is the other way round. The Act clearly states that the motive for seeking information is not required to be stated. On the contrary, if an authority has to deny information to an applicants, the reasons for it have to be specified. The Supreme Court agreed with my contention, and held that the law does not require people to say why they are asking for a particular piece of information. Could you shed light on the rules under the RTI Act which you challenged in your petition? Throughout the country, High Courts have framed Rules for the implementation of the RTI Act. The Rules framed by the High Courts of Allahabad, Jharkhand and Rajasthan were in contravention to the Act with respect to specifying the motive. Similarly, the High Courts of Gujarat, Gauhati, Madhya Pradesh, Patna, Punjab and Haryana and Sikkim had framed Rules which dealt with action to be taken if a particular authority does not deal with the subject of the query. In such a situation, the Rules stated that public authorities should advice applicants about the correct authority only "wherever possible." Thus, applicants would have to run from pillar to post in an effort to find the correct authority or department and on top of that, their application fees would not refunded. Thus, the order of the apex court in this regard is a very significant one. The provisions in each of the state's Rules were worded in the exact same manner. From a plain reading of the provisions, it is clear that authorities had simply copied the provisions from each other. What were the regulations regarding application fees which were challenged? The point about the application fees was not a part of my petition; it was raised by other petitioners. However, to illustrate how high the fees prescribed were, the Allahabad High Court's Rules had stipulated that applicants need to pay Rs 15 per page to photocopy documents. What can be done to make the RTI Act more accessible to common people? For any RTI activist as of now, the most important provisions to be strengthened are contained in Section 4 of the Act. These require authorities to maintain records in a way which facilitates the right to information and put as much information in the public domain suo motu as possible. If these provisions are implemented, the need for people to file queries will be reduced and the process of transparency will be aided. Shivraj Singh Chouhan recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of a Bhind-based television channel journalist Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of a Bhind-based television channel journalist, who was run over by a truck on Monday. Sandeep Sharma, who exposed the illegal sand mining in the area through a sting operation, was killed while he was going on his two-wheeler. "While analysing the law and order situation, Chouhan expressed grief over the death of the journalist. He said to reveal the truth, the CBI will probe the matter," an official said. The truck driver, Ranveer, was arrested and the truck seized. Bhind Superintendent of Police Prashant Khare on Monday announced that a special investigation team will be set up to probe the matter. It is believed that Sharma was killed as he exposed the connection between sand mafia and the police. Sharma, on several occasions, sought police protection and had written letters to the chief minister, the governor and even the prime minister. India, on Monday, expressed its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the 64 victims who were killed in a major fire at a busy shopping mall packed with children and their parents in Russia's Kemerovo city Moscow: India, on Monday, expressed its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the 64 victims who were killed in a major fire at a busy shopping mall packed with children and their parents in Russia's Kemerovo city. The fire at the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo, about 3,000 kilometres east of Moscow, was doused on Monday morning. Russian television showed images of thick black smoke billowing out of the roof of the shopping centre. Emergency services minister Vladimir Puchkov said on Russian television, "We have recorded that unfortunately as a result of the accident 64 people died." The Embassy of India said, in a tweet, that it "expresses its deepest condolences to the families and friends of victims of Kemerovo tragedy". "We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives, including many children. Our prayers and thoughts are with them," the embassy added. India's Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran said in a tweet: "Deepest condolences on tragic loss of lives in fire in Kemerovo mall in Siberia". Russia's Investigative Committee said the roof collapsed in two theatres of the cinema in the blaze, which erupted at around 4 pm local time on Sunday. The doors of one of the shopping centre's cinemas, where children were watching cartoon films, were locked and people did not hear alarms, witnesses told Russian television. The contribution of the north and east Indian states has been immense in terms of the food security of our country, which is an enormous one considering the pressure of our large population. The pre-poll politics happening in Karnataka is probably the worst of its kind which the country has witnessed, since its Independence. We have to look at events like having a separate flag and the present debate on the sharing of revenue with the north Indian states in the same series of events. The argument that south Indian states support the poorer north Indian states doesnt make even a rudimentary economic sense. If we stretch the same logic at a global level, then the richer countries shouldnt be a part of free trade agreements with poorer nations. The European countries shouldnt have agreed to join their economies, irrespective of the state of their individual economies. Presently, Germany as one nation is essentially supporting the rest of the European economies to be afloat. The answer to this is twofold. Firstly, the poorer states or economies even though being relatively poor, provide for a healthy market for the relatively economically richer states. For instance, even though per capita of Uttar Pradesh is well below the national average and is poorer than Tamil Nadu. But Tamil Nadus economy which is largely dependent on the automobile sector finds a huge market in Uttar Pradesh. This is manifested by the fact that Uttar Pradesh has the third highest number of registered automobiles in India. Therefore, states like Tamil Nadu have a higher income, due to, among other reasons, the huge free market of the poorer states they get in India. In reality, the higher contribution of revenue from higher income states towards the development of lower income states is also in the interest of the higher income states. This is because this is how they increase the buying capacity of the population of the lower income states, enabling them to buy products from the industries in the higher income states. At an international level, a similar example can be seen in the European Union, where Germany, is supporting the economy of other European countries, so that a healthy market for German goods exists in its vicinity and its economy thrives. The same is also true for the mandate of the World Trade Organisation, which aims to create a free market globally. Secondly, any economy has three sectors agriculture, industry and services, which are referred as primary, secondary and tertiary sectors respectively. The income in the secondary and tertiary sectors is naturally more because of the nature of economic activity they undertake. For instance, manufacturing automobile will lead to more economic profits instead of agriculture. However, the importance of primary sector cant be undermined primarily because it takes care of the most basic human necessity, that being food. In India, the southern and western states are more industrialised and hence are higher income. The northern and eastern states are primarily dependent on the primary sector and hence are lower income. However, they do take care of the food security of the country. This is something so basic that we even fail to notice and to the contrary undermine it, simply because it doesnt result in a higher income. Also, the agricultural activity in the north and east Indian states has been more ecologically sustainable, which is evinced by the fact that the groundwater levels in these parts of the country are at a far better level than the south and west Indian states. The same is indicated by the figure below, which gives us the condition of groundwater assessment units, across the country: It can thus be emphatically said, that the contribution of north and east Indian states, has been immense in terms of the food security of our country, which is an enormous one considering the pressure of our large population. This fact cant simply be undermined because the output of agriculture is less than the industrial and tertiary sector, in solely economic terms. Hence, such a conclusion being drawn by the politicians like Siddaramaiah, in addition, to being an unrequired threat to the national integrity of the country, can only be uninformed or simply political. The author is a senior research fellow with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay. He can be reached at raghav10089@gmail.com He tweets @raghavwrong Sushma Swaraj will leave for Japan on a three-day visit during which she will co-chair the Ninth India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will leave for Japan on Wednesday on a three-day visit during which she will co-chair the Ninth India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, it was announced on Tuesday. According to external affairs ministry, India and Japan will review all aspects of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest during the 29 March Strategic Dialogue. India-Japan ties have been on the upswing after the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in 2014. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India in September last year for the annual bilateral summit gave fresh impetus to the ties. During that visit, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, to be built with Japanese aid, was also held. "Japan is today one of the largest investors in India, with a growing presence in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, financial markets and capacity-building, among others," an External Affairs Ministry statement said. India-Japan trade stood at $13.61 billion in fiscal 2016-17, showing a decrease of 6.21 percent over fiscal 2015-16 when the total trade was $14.51 billion. The bilateral trade during April-August 2017 was $6.183 billion. The two countries are also part of the recently revived quad that also includes the US and Australia. The announcement of the Karnataka Assembly election dates snowballed into a political slugfest after BJP's IT cell head tweeted the poll dates before the Election Commission announced it The announcement of the Karnataka Assembly election dates snowballed into a political slug-fest after the head of BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted the date of the polls before the Election Commission announced it, according to several media reports. On Tuesday, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted that the Karnataka Assembly polls would be conducted on 12 May and the counting would be on 18 May. Malviya reportedly tweeted the dates before they were officially announced by the Election Commission (EC). Malviya tweeted as Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat addressed a press conference to announce the schedule for Karnataka polls. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya's deleted tweet about the Karnataka polls. Twitter@rachitseth Malviya later deleted that tweet, but in a follow-up tweet, added that he was only quoting TV channel Times Now. He later deleted the followup tweet as well. Malviya also wrote a letter to the EC clarifying that his information came from TV channel Times Now and did not intend to "infringe upon the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission." Letter submitted to the Election Commission by Shri @malviyamit, National In-charge, Information and Technology, BJP regarding a tweet pertaining to the election dates in Karnataka. https://t.co/0mDUFzOKCH pic.twitter.com/CziIhciO2B BJP (@BJP4India) March 27, 2018 EC: 'Very serious issue' While Malviya was correct about the polling day, he was incorrect on the date of counting. The votes for the will be tallied on 15 May. When Rawat's attention was drawn to the tweet, he described it as a "very serious issue". Rawat said people can conjecture but noted that as information has been "leaked", the Election Commission will probe the matter and take "stringent action" both "legally and administratively". Congress mocks BJP The Congress dubbed the BJP "Super Election Commission", and took strong objection to the incident. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the EC's credibility was at stake and asked if there would be any action against the ruling party and its chief Amit Shah. BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018 Congress president Rahul Gandhi also fired a salvo against the BJP president on Twitter, not only mocking the saffron party for the leaks, but also sharing a video of Shah calling former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa's office "the most corrupt government ever." Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever... True. pic.twitter.com/UYqGDZuKyR Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2018 Shah, on his recent two-day visit to the southern state, called Yeddyurappa "a leader of the farmers for championing their causes and rights over the decades." BJP was quick to react to the tweets, sharing a video of Congress leader and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and calling him the "undisputed king of slip of tongue moments." Siddaramaiah is the undisputed king of slip of tongue moments. What else to expect from someone who is always half asleep. Here is a compilation of his most honest confessions! pic.twitter.com/8zWC6o1602 BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 27, 2018 BJP also reacted to Rahul's video of Amit Shah, saying the party has no secrets and "believes in complete transparency." Oye Rahul, You prove your silliness by wanting to base your campaign on a slip of tongue! Btw, unlike you we have no secrets, we believe in complete transparency Visit https://t.co/AFMqCAosTZ to know our star campaigner, gifted to us by India's most corrupt dynasty Cheers! https://t.co/YLi32Lcote BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 27, 2018 While the political back-and-forth continues, a delegation of BJP leaders reached the Election Commission office. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the party had no intention to undermine the poll panel's authority. He said a Congress staffer had also tweeted at the same time and the information in the tweet was sourced from Times Now. Following the meeting with the delegation, the EC set up a committee of senior officials to probe the leak of the poll schedule for Karnataka. The committee, which has been asked to submit its report within a week, would also suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future. The polls are being seen as politically crucial for Karnataka's ruling Congress as well as the BJP. It is the only big state where the Congress is in power after losing a string of Assembly elections to the saffron party over the past few years. The JD(S), led by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, is the third player in the fray. With inputs from agencies Follow LIVE updates of the Karnataka election date announcements here Christopher Wylie was deposing in front of the British Parliament when he named the Congress party saying he believes they employed the firm for some regional elections in India. In a fresh twist to the Facebook data leak controversy that has Congress and BJP lock horns since the past week, Cambridge Analytica director and whistle-blower in the case Christopher Wylie has said that Congress party had employed the controversial firm for certain "regional projects". Wylie was deposing in front of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the British Parliament when he named the Congress party saying he believes they employed the firm for some regional elections in India. "When you look at Facebook's biggest market, India is the top in terms of numbers of users. Obviously, that's a country which is rife with political discord and opportunities for destabilisation," said Labour MP Paul Farrelly, member of the parliamentary committee, during his questioning. "They (Cambridge Analytica) worked extensively in India. They have an office in India," Wylie responded. "I believe their client was Congress, but I know that they have done all kinds of projects. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff there," the 28-year-old added, on being probed further. He offered to provide the committee "documentation" on India, which was welcomed by Farrelly, who said India was a country that did not need any added "tensions". However, it wasn't clear at the time whether Wylie meant that Congress was Cambridge Analytica's only client in India or if other parties and individuals have also employed the controversial data-mining firm. During his evidence, Wylie also said that his predecessor, Dan Muresan, Head of Elections at SCL Group, had also been working in India before he died in Kenya under mysterious circumstances. He claimed to have heard stories that Muresan, a Romanian national, may have been poisoned in a hotel room while in the African country. Paul-Olivier Dehaye, co-founder of PersonalData.IO, a service that helps individuals regain control over their personal data, also giving evidence to the committee, added that he had heard reports that Muresan was being paid by an Indian billionaire who wanted Congress to lose elections. "So he was pretending to work for one party but actually paid underhand by someone else," said Dehaye. He added that it would be for Indian and Kenyan journalists to get together to investigate the matter further. Wylie has accused his former employer, Cambridge Analytica, of gathering the details of 50 million users on Facebook through a personality quiz in 2014. He alleges that because 270,000 people took the quiz, the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks. Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver material in favour of Donald Trump during the 2016 US presidential elections. He also criticised Cambridge Analytica for running campaigns in "struggling democracies", which he called "an example of what modern-day colonialism looks like". "You have a wealthy company from a developed nation going into an economy or democracy that's still struggling to get its feet on the ground and taking advantage of that to profit from that," he told MPs. Cambridge Analytica denies any of the data acquired was used as part of the services it provided to the Trump campaign. Meanwhile, the BJP was quick to latch on to the revelations and said that Wylie's statement has exposed Rahul Gandhi. "The whistle-blower has publicly confirmed that the Congress was indeed their client. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to divert attention. Today, he stands exposed. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Tuesday night. This vindicates what the BJP had been been saying from day one, he said. "Cambridge Analytica is in the dock for data theft and trying to manipulate voters using unlawful means. Congress party needs to apologise to the nation for data theft and trying to manipulate voters. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica," he said. Prasad also dismissed the Congress' allegation that the BJP had used the firm's services, calling it a "pack of lies". The heat of the controversy first reached India on 21 March when Prasad held a presser to accuse Congress of employing the London-based firm. He cited media reports to say that the Congress party was in talks with the firm to influence the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "Will Congress party depend upon data manipulation and theft to win votes? Mr. Rahul Gandhi should explain the role of Cambridge Analytica in his social media profile," he had asked. According to reports, Cambridge Analytica's CEO Alexander Nix had been in talks with several Opposition parties in India to design an electoral strategy for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. Another report claimed that the company was in talks with both Congress as well as BJP through its India partner Oveleno Business Intelligence Private Limited. Interestingly, OBI's CEO is Amitesh Tyagi, son of Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi, who has previously worked with individual candidates in the Uttar Pradesh elections in 2017 and with JD(U)-BJP to manage booth-level demographic data. Tyagi's company, however, denies its involvement in any social media work yet. Both BJP and JD(U) have also denied the charges. The Congress party has, meanwhile, denied all such charges vehemently and counter-attacked by pointing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's app, NaMo app, which it said had leaked user data to a US firm. Hi! My name is Narendra Modi. I am India's Prime Minister. When you sign up for my official App, I give all your data to my friends in American companies. Ps. Thanks mainstream media, you're doing a great job of burying this critical story, as always.https://t.co/IZYzkuH1ZH Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 25, 2018 Earlier, Elliot Alderson, a French vigilante hacker had alleged that personal data, including email IDs, photos, gender and names of the users of Modi's mobile app were being sent to a third party domain without their consent. When you create a profile in the official @narendramodi #Android app, all your device info (OS, network type, Carrier ) and personal data (email, photo, gender, name, ) are send without your consent to a third-party domain called https://t.co/N3zA3QeNZO. pic.twitter.com/Vey3OP6hcf Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 23, 2018 In an undercover report last week, Cambridge Analytica executives had been caught boasting that they, along with parent company Strategic Communications Laboratories, had worked in more than 200 elections around the world, including India, Nigeria, Kenya, the Czech Republic and Argentina. The recordings were made during a series of meetings at London hotels between November 2017 and January 2018. With inputs from agencies The Congress might have felt the heat of West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjees efforts to form a non-BJP, non-Congress federal front to confront Narendra Modi-led government and Amit Shah-led BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Tuesday wasn't a great day for the Congress as the Lok Sabha got adjourned till Wednesday due to ruckus and the House failed to take up no-confidence motion notices against the BJP-led NDA government, including one that the Congress wanted to move. Days after YSR Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) gave notices for no-confidence motion followed by the Left, the Congress got desperate to follow the same route of protest. Congress was fourth in the row. The Congress might have felt the heat of West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjees efforts to form a non-BJP, non-Congress federal front to confront Narendra Modi-led government and Amit Shah-led BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Banerjee who was in the National Capital on Tuesday to attend a meeting called by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar regarding the formation of an alternative political force to put brakes on Modi juggernaut. On the other hand, besides YSR Congress, it's the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP an erstwhile ally of NDA that gave no-confidence motion notice. If TDP, a strong ally of NDA could quit the alliance and give notice, besides other two, why couldnt the principal opposition Congress do the same? This thought probably inspired Congress to follow YSR Congress, TDP and the Left, especially, as the Congress had decided way ahead of current Parliament session to attack the government inside and outside the Parliament on the PNB scam and other issues of corruption and farmers distress. The decision to do so was taken during partys Steering Committee meeting led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "Congress could have easily given the no-confidence motion notice right at the beginning. But we didnt because we wanted to give the NDA some time to have a healthy discussion in the House, which the latter didnt. It was the Congress party that decided much before the beginning of the Parliament session to attack the government both inside and outside the Parliament and also demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe against PNB scam," a Congress Member of Parliament told Firstpost on condition of anonymity. However, leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said that the government was apparently running away from a discussion on the issue. "We moved the vote of no-confidence motion in the House under Rule 198. Theres a need for minimum 50 members to move the motion. It becomes difficult for the Speaker to count the numbers as AIADMK members were in the Well. We facilitated the process so that the Speaker could count our MPs and were 80. But we were not given permission to discuss. This clearly shows the government doesnt want a discussion... well do it again tomorrow," said Kharge to the media after the House got adjourned on Tuesday. > According to sources, the central leadership of Congress was under the pressure from Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee to give the notice, so that YSR Congress and TDP shouldnt be able to steal the show alone. On 23 March, in a meeting of the Congress MPs, it was decided that the party would submit a notice on 27 March. A whip was issued by the party high command to all its Lok Sabha members to remain present in the Lower House. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had said the other day that its not only the Congress but three-four other parties have moved a no-confidence motion against the government. "This must have something to do with the kind of mal-governance you are having in this country," he had said. Given its position in terms of numbers in the Lok Sabha making it the principal opposition party, the Congress is now trying to garner support through floor coordination, so that it could successfully move the no-confidence motion against the government. It's also important for the party to join ranks with the other three parties in moving no-confidence motion and appear as an opposition force against the Modi government, especially when TMC has given clear indication that it wouldnt accept Rahuls leadership in any form of alliance. Much before its formation, Mamata and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao have made it clear that the Federal front would have collective leadership. BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted the date of the Karnataka Assembly polls before the Election Commission announced it, prompting the panel to describe the leak as a 'very serious issue' that merited a probe and 'stringent action' BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Monday tweeted the date of the Karnataka Assembly polls before the Election Commission announced it, prompting the panel to describe the leak as a "very serious issue" that merited a probe and "stringent action". Malviya, however, tweeted that he had only quoted the news channel Times Now. He also went on to write to the EC, clarifying the same. His tweet came when Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat was addressing a press conference to announce the schedule for Karnataka polls but had not announced the date. The BJP IT cell head said the election would be held on 12 May and counting would take place on 18 May. While he was correct on the polling day, the votes will be counted on 15 May. The CEC later said the tweet was incorrect as the actual date of counting was 15 May and not 18 May. Here is the complete text of Malviya's letter to the EC: To, The Election Commission of India, New Delhi. Subject: Information relating to Karnataka election dates scheduled to be held in May 2018 Dear Sir, It was brought to my attention that my tweet on the likely dates of Karnataka election put out in the morning of 27 March 2018 posted at 11.08 am has raised certain apprehensions. I wish to clarify that the source of my information was based on a newsbreak put out by Times Now, a leading national TV channel at 1 1.06 am. Attached with this letter are the screen prints of the television channel along with the time stamps when they broadcast this news, which as you can see was done at '1 1.06 am, two minutes before I used the same information in my tweet. I'm also attaching a similar tweet by the social media in-charge of Congress in Karnataka who, it seems, also used the same source to post the same information exactly when I did. As is evident now, the final dates announced by the EC were different from what Times Now had reported, that was the sole source of the information in my tweet. I wish to reiterate that I firmly believe in the exclusive constitutional domain of the Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections in the country, and also in the confidentiality and secrecy mandated upon it in process of doing so. It is my kind submission that my tweet was in no way intended to infringe upon the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission. I hope your good self will take this submission in good faith. Regards, Amit Malviya, National ln-Charge, Information and Technology, Bharatiya Janata Party The full text has been entirely reproduced from a mail by BJP Central Media and has not been edited by Firstpost for style and content Welcoming the Election Commission's schedule for the Assembly polls in Karnataka, political parties on Tuesday said they are 'election ready', with all three players, Congress, BJP and JDS, claiming that they would come to power. Bengaluru: Welcoming the Election Commission's schedule for the Assembly polls in Karnataka, political parties on Tuesday said they are "election ready", with all three players, Congress, BJP and JDS, claiming that they would come to power. The EC on Tuesday announced a single-phase election for the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly on 12 May, with the counting of votes to be taken up on 15 May. BJP President Amit Shah welcomed the announcement, saying that the party would come to power with a thumping majority under the leadership of state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa. Speaking to reporters at Davanagere on the second day of his tour to central regional of Karnataka, Shah said the party is all geared up to fight the election and will come to power and Yeddyurappa will become the next chief minister. The ruling Congress, which is facing a tough challenge from BJP, welcomed the election dates, asserting that the party is poll ready. @INCKarnataka welcomes the Election Commission's announcement. Karnataka Assembly Polls on 12th May and counting on 15th May 2018. We are election ready!" KPCC President G Parameshwara said in a tweet. Commenting on the poll dates, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about Congress coming back to power for a second term. "Expectation was that it will be announced any time after March 23, today they have declared (the dates)," he told reporters in Chikkaballapura. Responding to a question, the chief minister reiterated his allegation that JDS has joined hands with the BJP. "We are contesting independently, JDS is also contesting independently, but they have relationship with BJP," he said. Asked about a pre-poll survey forecasting 126 seats for the Congress in the coming polls, he said "there is no doubt about it; we will come back (to power). On the other hand,BJP too welcomed poll dates and claimed that the party was a step closer to "Congress Mukth Bharat." "Dear Kannadigas, Our redemption from the tyrannical rule of @siddaramaiah is not far." "On May 15th, 1.BJP will win with thumping majority 2. @BSYBJP will become 23rd CM from NDA 3. We will be a step closer to Congress Mukth Bharata," BJP said in a tweet. Yeddyurappa has urged voters to participate in the election process. "The countdown has begun for a #CongressMuktKarnataka! I welcome the Election Commission's announcement to hold the #KarnatakaElections2018 on May 12 | Counting: May 15. I urge every eligible voter to participate in the election process, which is fundamental to democracy!" he said in a tweet. Janata Dal (Secular) state President H D Kumaraswamy invoking the gods, said that their blessings were on his party. "I'm confident that this time the Janata Dal government, which is Janata government, will come to power," he said, reacting to the poll dates. Kumaraswamy also ruled out any alliance with Congress or BJP for the Karnataka polls. "People of the state have decided to throw away both (Congress and BJP) parties from the state and I'm working amidst the people," he said. The JDS, which has already announced candidates for 126 constituencies, is in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party for the Karnataka polls. The Election Commission will announce the polling schedule for 224-member Karnataka assembly today. The last state elections were held in the first week of May in 2008. Auto refresh feeds Karnataka is one of the few states where the Congress is in power. It is also the only state in south India where the BJP had been able to form a government. Karnataka - one of the few states where the Congress is still in power The polls are being seen politically crucial for the ruling Congress as well as the BJP as it is the only big state where the former is in power after losing a string of assembly elections to the saffron party in the last few years. The last Karnataka elections were held in the first week of May in 2013 Besides visiting a number of mutts associated with various communities, including Lingayats and Dalits, Shah will also address farmers' and traders' meetings, take out a road show and attend party events in the poll-bound state, a BJP statement said. BJP president Amit Shah will be touring Karnataka for two days starting Monday during which he will visit mutts associated with the Lingayat and Dalit communities. On Monday, the BJP chief said that the Congress government's move to give separate religious minority status to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats was aimed at preventing BS Yeddyurappa from becoming the chief minister in Karnataka. Yeddyurappa is considered a Lingayat strongman. After Congress president Rahul Gandhi's whirlwind tour of temples in Malnad, coastal and south Karnataka, BJP president Amit Shah is on a tour to south central Karnataka. Keeping Siddaramaiah government's decision to accord separate religion tag to Lingayats in mind, Shah has carefully planned his tour. During his trip on Monday and Tuesday, he will cover four important Lingayat mutts in the state. Rahul had invoked his grandmother Indira Gandhi as he sought people's blessings for his party's victory in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. "You stood by my grandmother during her toughest days (1977-79) and helped her achieve a historic win in the Lok Sabha by-election from here in 1978," said Gandhi at a public rally in the coffee-growing district. Apart from continuing his temple visits, Rahul held two mega rallies, one in Indira Gandhi's old constituency Chikmagalur, and another in Hassan. In a hard hitting attack on the BJP, Rahul accused it of spreading violence, forming governments using money and dividing the country for the sake of power. He also lashed out at Modi, charging him with "insulting" the common man by claiming credit for the country's progress. "The number of new voters across the state has increased by 60 lakh, taking the total number of the electorate to 4.96 crore as per the tentative electoral rolls as against 4.36 crore voters in 2013 assembly elections," state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Kumar said. According to the tentative electoral rolls, the number of male voters is 2.51 crore and female voters 2.44 crore. In February, chief electoral officer had announced that nearly 60 lakh people have enrolled as new voters across Karnataka ahead of the 15th Assembly elections, due in early May. Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said that the total number of electorate in Karnataka is 4.96 crores. "Total number of polling stations in the state is 56,696 which is an increase of 9 percent from last Assembly elections," Rawat said. Model Code of Conduct for the elections will come into effect immediately. Eco-friendly material should be used for all propaganda exercise. Use of loud speakers will be regulated so that people can sleep at night. Loud speakers won't be allowed from 10 pm to 6 am, says CEC Om Prakash Rawat. CEC Rawat said per candidate has been allotted Rs 28 lakh for expenditure. "I urge my media friends to ensure that any wrongdoings or aberrations are highlighted," Rawat said. 17 April, 2018: Issue of notification 24 April, 2018: Last date of nomination 25 April, 2018: Date of scrutiny 27 April, 2018: Last date of withdrawal of candidates 12 May, 2018: Date of Polling 15 May, 2018: Counting of votes After journalists questioned CEC regarding Amit Malviya's tweet stating the date of voting as 12 May and date of counting as 18 May , Om Prakash Rawat said that the matter will "definitely be investigated" and strict action will be taken. After journalists questioned the Chief Election Commissioner on Amit Malaviya's tweet, CEC Rawat said it will be investigated. "Be assured that actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken," Rawat said. Journalists questioned how BJP's IT Cell head Amit Malviya had the dates of Karnataka elections on social media even before the official announcement. With the announcement of the dates for the Karnataka Assembly elections by the Election Commission, the political battle for power in the state is set to intensify. The state elections are crucial for the Congress following election defeats in the North East. The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on 28 May and the new House has to be constituted before that. Karnataka to vote on 12 May, counting of votes on 15 May: All you need to know about these elections Issue of notification: 17 April, 2018 Last date of nominations: 24 April, 2018 Date of scrutiny: 25 April, 2018 Last date of withdrawal of candidates: 27 April, 2018 Date of polling: 12 May, 2018 Date of counting of votes: 15 May, 2018 Karnataka is one of only three states to be ruled by the Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), fresh from victory in Tripura last month, has been targeting the South Indian state aggressively. Karnataka has traditionally voted anti-incumbency, and if the Congress government of Siddaramaiah does manage to win, it would be the first time in nearly two decades that a party has bucked anti-incumbency to retain power. Even though Malviya seems to have deleted the tweet now, journalists questioned Malviya on how he got to know about the Karnataka poll dates before the Election Commission announced them. BJP's national Information and Technology cell head Amit Malviya landed the saffron party in a controversy on Tuesday when he tweeted about the dates of the Karnataka Assembly election before the Election Commission announced it through a press conference. The Karnataka Assembly elections in 2013 had witnessed the Congress storming to power with 122 seats after seven years, landing a huge blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which suffered a loss at the hands of a fractious split and corruption charges. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly comprises two Houses, a Lower House, and an Upper House. The Lower House is the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Upper House is called the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The Assembly is bicameral with 224 seats. After a controversy erupted over BJP's national IT cell head Amit Malviya's tweet, BJP leaders are going to meet the poll panel shortly. Malviya had tweeted about the dates of the Karnataka Assembly election before the Election Commission announced it through a press conference. However, the damage was already done it seems as the Congress party was quick to latch on to the blooper as they termed the mistake Amit Shah's moment of truth. Amit Shah, while speaking to reporters, mistakenly called BS Yeddyurappa corrupt, while he perhaps meant Siddaramaiah. "I am not saying this, a retired Supreme Court judge has said this that Yeddyurappa government is the most corrupt government," Shah accidentally said before someone promptly corrected him and he amended his statement. The fact that BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted out the Karnataka election dates was widely reported and the party got trolled for it. However, as The Print journalist Ruhi Tewari pointed out, a Karnataka Congress staffer also tweeted out the election dates at the same time as Malviya. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met the Election Commission and said that the party had no intentions to undermine the poll panel's authority. He said that a Congress staffer has also tweeted at the same time and the information in the tweet was sourced from Times Now. However, what the party could not explain was a similar tweet by Malviya that was posted on Mondya night. According to India Today, the party's national IT cell chief had put out a similar tweet announcing election dates last night as well, but it was promptly withdrawn. The TV channel also reported that a Kannada channel, owned by a BJP MP, also had the same information. The controversy over Amit Malviya's tweet announcing (wrong) election dates before the poll panel did so refuses to die down, even as BJP claimed that the information was sourced from Times Now TV channel. "BJP will get clear majority in the upcoming elections in Karnataka. No divisive politics will work this time," Rajnath Singh told reporters outside Parliament. BJP's IT cell head Amit malviya has written to the Election Commission seeking to clarify his tweet that predicted poll dates before formal announcement. He said that he sourced the information from a TV channel's reportage and said a Congress staffer also put out a tweet at the same time. 17 April, 2018: Issue of notification 24 April, 2018: Last date of nomination 25 April, 2018: Date of scrutiny 27 April, 2018: Last date of withdrawal of candidates 12 May, 2018: Date of Polling 15 May, 2018: Counting of votes Looking at the controversy that surrounded the veracity of EVMs in the past, the Election Commission of India announced that all electronic voting machines will be equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. The BJP's Karnataka unit has taken to twitter to slam Rahul Gandhi for latching on to the mistake made by Amit Shah. The party tweeted a compilation video of all the times Siddaramaiah has misspoken in the past. They put out another video of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well. "It is wrong to say that Siddaramaiah government has proposed the separate religion and minority tag for Lingayats to gain electoral benefits," Parameshwara said. KPCC President G Parameshwara maintained that there was no politics in Siddaramaiah government's move for a separate religious minority status for Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, saying the party did not expect "too much" of electoral gain from it. This is the new reinvented avatar of Siddaramaiah. In IT city Bengaluru lingo, his 2.0 version. Though it is obvious that a 24x7 hands on the keypad backend team is operating the chief minister's account, it has succeeded in giving Siddaramaiah a much-needed makeover. Always good at working the crowds, Siddaramaiah in his new avatar, is more pugnacious and using his new playground of social media space rather well. Read more here. Siddaramaiah did not let go of this momentary lapse to score brownie points. His Twitter handle put out the video, with the line "The #ShahofLies finally speaks truth" cleverly editing the bit where Shah corrects his mistake. The Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday evening that it has set up a panel to investigate the leak of Karnataka election dates. The committee will submit its report in seven days and due action will be taken against those found guilty after that. Looking at the controversy that surrounded the veracity of EVMs in the past, the Election Commission of India announced that all electronic voting machines will be equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. Siddaramaiah is the undisputed king of slip of tongue moments. What else to expect from someone who is always half asleep. Here is a compilation of his most honest confessions! pic.twitter.com/8zWC6o1602 The BJP's Karnataka unit has taken to twitter to slam Rahul Gandhi for latching on to the mistake made by Amit Shah. The party tweeted a compilation video of all the times Siddaramaiah has misspoken in the past. They put out another video of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well. Oye Rahul, You prove your silliness by wanting to base your campaign on a slip of tongue! Btw, unlike you we have no secrets, we believe in complete transparency Visit https://t.co/AFMqCAosTZ to know our star campaigner, gifted to us by India's most corrupt dynasty Cheers! https://t.co/YLi32Lcote "It is wrong to say that Siddaramaiah government has proposed the separate religion and minority tag for Lingayats to gain electoral benefits," Parameshwara said. KPCC President G Parameshwara maintained that there was no politics in Siddaramaiah government's move for a separate religious minority status for Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, saying the party did not expect "too much" of electoral gain from it. Since Siddaramaiah govt came in power, more than 20 karyakartas of BJP and Sangh have been killed. The people of Karnataka know that the Siddaramaiah govt is the most corrupt govt and its days are now numbered: Shri @AmitShah , Shivamogga, Karnataka pic.twitter.com/yENianwn3z This is the new reinvented avatar of Siddaramaiah. In IT city Bengaluru lingo, his 2.0 version. Though it is obvious that a 24x7 hands on the keypad backend team is operating the chief minister's account, it has succeeded in giving Siddaramaiah a much-needed makeover. Always good at working the crowds, Siddaramaiah in his new avatar, is more pugnacious and using his new playground of social media space rather well. Read more here. Siddaramaiah did not let go of this momentary lapse to score brownie points. His Twitter handle put out the video, with the line "The #ShahofLies finally speaks truth" cleverly editing the bit where Shah corrects his mistake. The Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday evening that it has set up a panel to investigate the leak of Karnataka election dates. The committee will submit its report in seven days and due action will be taken against those found guilty after that. Karnataka Assembly Election dates announced latest updates: The Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday evening that it has set up a panel to investigate the leak of Karnataka election dates. The committee will submit its report in seven days and due action will be taken against those found guilty after that. A massive twitter was has erupted after Rahul Gandhi mocked Amit Shah after he mistakenly called BS Yeddyurappa corrupt. BJP's Karnataka unit's twitter handle put out tweets addressed to Rahul Gandhi calling him silly for wanting to base his party's campaign on a mistake. ECI has set up a committee to look into the poll date leak issue. BJP national IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote to the election commission clarifying his tweet before the poll dates were announced. He said that that his party did not have any special access to election commission sources and he merely saw it on TV before taking to twitter. He also said that a Congress functionary also got the dates at the same time. Rahul Gandhi took to twitter to mock Amit Shah after he mistakenly called Yeddyurappa corrupt, while he in fact meant to come down on Siddaramaiah. The Congress president also wittily managed to compress a comeback at the saffron party's IT cell chief Amit Malviya in the same tweet. BJP leaders will meet the Election Commission at 2.30 pm after a controversy broke out over Amit Malviya's tweet, who tweeted out the dates of election and counting before the poll panel could announce them. The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that voting to elect a new Karnataka Assembly will be held on 12 May and results will be declared on 15 May, setting the ball rolling for one of the most prestigious battles between the Congress and the BJP. "It will be a single phase election," Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat told reporters here. He said the date of notification is April 17 and the last date to file nominations is 24 April. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on 25 April and the last day for withdrawal is 27 April. He said the model code of conduct came into effect immediately in the state which will also be applicable to the central government. The polling will take place on 12 May and counting will be held three days later on 15 May, he said. Rawat said VVPAT machines, apart from EVMs, will be deployed in Karnataka for the polls. The 224-member Assembly expires on 28 May in the state where the Congress is currently in power, with 122 seats against the BJP's 43. Karnataka is one of the eight states where polls were scheduled this year. Elections to three northeastern states were held last month. Here are the important dates for Karnataka elections: 17 April, 2018: Issue of notification 24 April, 2018: Last date of nomination 25 April, 2018: Date of scrutiny 27 April, 2018: Last date of withdrawal of candidates 12 May, 2018: Date of Polling 15 May, 2018: Counting of votes Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat was addressing the media in New Delhi and said that the model code of conduct will come into effect immediately after the dates are announced. The elections are expected to be single phase. The elections are politically crucial for the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah as well as the BJP as it is the only big state where the Grand Old Party is in power after losing a string of assembly polls to the saffron party in the last few years. The high-octane political campaigns which have been ongoing for past couple of months witnessed both the Congress and the BJP slugging it out alleging each other of communal politics. The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on 28 May and the new House has to be constituted before that. The last state elections were held in the first week of May in 2008. The elections are being seen politically crucial for the ruling Congress as well as the BJP as it is the only big state where the former is in power after losing a string of assembly elections to the saffron party in the last few years. The BJP is making a concerted bid to unseat the Congress. Beside, the Congress and the BJP, the JD(S) led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is the third player in the fray. The high-octane political campaigns which have been ongoing for past couple of months witnessed both the Congress and the BJP slugging it out alleging each other of communal politics. The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on 28 May and the new House has to be constituted before that. Incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is eyeing a second term in the state. The BJP, which is currently in power in 20 states, is trying to add a 21st state to the list. A win in Karnataka would be a massive boost for the BJP as the saffron party has been eyeing South India for a while now.The Congress government's decision, political observers have said, is aimed at denting the vote bank of the BJP, which has declared BS Yeddyurappa its chief ministerial candidate. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is the third party in the fray. The Congress on Tuesday dubbed the BJP 'Super Election Commission', taking strong objection to its IT cell chief tweeting the date of the Karnataka Assembly election before the Election Commission had announced it. New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday dubbed the BJP "Super Election Commission", taking strong objection to its IT cell chief tweeting the date of the Karnataka Assembly election before the Election Commission had announced it. BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018 Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala also said the Election Commission's credibility was at test and asked if there would be any action against the ruling party and its chief Amit Shah. "BJP becomes the Super Election Commission' as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. "Credibility of Election Commission is on test. "Will EC now issue a notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking EC's confidential information?" Surjewala said on Twitter. Malviya, whose tweet came when Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat was addressing a press conference to announce the schedule for the Karnataka polls but had not declared the date, said he had only quoted a news channel. The BJP IT cell head said the election would be held on 12 May and counting would take place on May 18. While he was correct on the polling day, the votes will be counted on 15 May. When Rawat's attention was drawn towards the tweet, he described it as a "very serious issue" that would merit a probe and "stringent action". To follow live updates of the poll schedule's announcement, click here With the announcement of the dates for the Karnataka Assembly elections by the Election Commission, the political battle for power in the state is set to intensify With the announcement of the dates for the Karnataka Assembly elections by the Election Commission, the political battle for power in the state is set to intensify. The state elections are crucial for the Congress following election defeats in the North East. The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on 28 May and the new House has to be constituted before that. Composition of the Assembly The Karnataka Legislative Assembly comprises two Houses, a Lower House, and an Upper House. The Lower House is the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Upper House is called the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The Assembly is bicameral with 224 seats. The Karnataka Assembly elections in 2013 had witnessed the Congress storming to power with 122 seats after seven years, landing a huge blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which suffered a loss at the hands of a fractious split and corruption charges. The BJP tied with the JD(S) in second place, with both parties securing 40 seats each. The internal conflict in the BJP had played a big role in the Congress getting a majority in 2013. Senior leader in the Karnataka BJP, Yeddyurappa had split from the party to form a new outfit, Karnataka Janata Dal (KJP), dividing the BJPs vote bank. Congress' Siddaramaiah had gained a majority with votes from Dalits, backward classes and other minorities as the Lingayat and Vokkaliga vote banks were divided between BJP and KJP. The partywise share of seats after the results of the 2013 elections were announced saw the Indian National Congress (INC) with 122 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 40 seats, the Badavara Shramikara Raitara Congress Party (BSRCP) with 4 seats, the Karnataka Jantha Paksha (KJP) with 6 seats, the Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) with 40 seats, the Karnataka Makkala Paksha (KMP) with 1 seat, the Samajwadi Party (SP) with 1 seat, the Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha (SKP) with 1 seat and Independent (IND) with 9 seats. Number of Voters Around 60 lakh people have enrolled as new voters across Karnataka ahead of the 15th Assembly elections, an official had said. "The number of new voters across the state has increased by 60 lakh, taking the total number of electorate to 4.96 crore as per the tentative electoral rolls as against 4.36 crore voters in 2013 Assembly elections," state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Kumar had been quoted as saying by IANS. According to the tentative electoral rolls, the number of male voters was 2.51 crore and female voters 2.44 crore. Around 4,552 people, who identify with the 'third gender', had registered to vote in the upcoming elections. "The number of young voters (aged 18-19), who will be voting for the first time, has doubled to 15.42 lakh as per the tentative rolls as against 7.18 lakh in 2013 elections," Mr Kumar had added, according to IANS. Bengaluru South Assembly constituency was said to have the highest number of voters at 5.5 lakh, while Sringeri constituency, around 320 kilometres west of Bengaluru in Chikkamagaluru district the lowest number of voters at 1.6 lakh, as per the draft rolls. There were about 2.18 lakh voters on an average in each constituency, Kumar had said. Number of Constituencies Karnataka has 225 state Assembly constituencies, out of which members for 224 seats are elected through Assembly elections and the remaining one is nominated by the Karnataka governor from the Anglo-Indian community. The Assembly lasts for five years, except if dissolved earlier. Presently, the state's House is the 14th Assembly, with KB Koliwad functioning as the Speaker of the House. With inputs from IANS Follow all the LIVE updates here Siddaramaiah's online proficiency has also seen him elevating his stature from one of the four Congress chief ministers in India to someone who sets the national agenda. Minutes after the Election Commission announced the dates of the Karnataka election on Tuesday, Amit Shah, with BS Yeddyurappa to his right, was addressing the media in Davanagere. "A retired judge of the Supreme Court has said that Yeddyurappa's government should get the number one award for corruption," Shah said. Even as Yeddyurappa looked at him shell-shocked, BJP MP Prahlad Joshi sitting by Shah's side, quickly pointed out the slip of tongue. Shah without losing his composure clarified he meant to say "Siddaramaiah's government". But Siddaramaiah was not letting go of this momentary lapse to score brownie points. His Twitter handle put out the video, with the line "The #ShahofLies finally speaks truth" cleverly editing the bit where Shah corrects his mistake. This is the new reinvented avatar of Siddaramaiah. In IT city Bengaluru lingo, his 2.0 version. Though it is obvious that a 24x7 hands on the keypad backend team is operating the chief minister's account, it has succeeded in giving Siddaramaiah a much-needed makeover. Always good at working the crowds, Siddaramaiah in his new avatar, is more pugnacious and using his new playground of social media space rather well. His tweets, with a mix of sarcasm, aggression, wit have seen him leading from the front. Quite a change for a man, who till the other day, was seen only as a rustic politician, more at ease in a rural setting than among the elite and the Twitterati. It is also a different approach from the one Captain Amarinder Singh adopted in Punjab. The 'Coffee with Captain' strategy worked in rural and semi-urban Punjab while in tech-savvy Karnataka, staying connected virtually is as important as the real thing. Siddaramaiah's online proficiency has also seen him elevating his stature from one of the four Congress chief ministers in India to someone who sets the national agenda. His Facebook post highlighting discrimination against south Indian states and subsequent tagging chief ministers on a tweet has seen him take leadership position of a South caucus, a pressure group of sorts. But the online bellicosity is only an image. The real achievement has been the manner in which the chief minister has made the Karnataka battle more about Siddaramaiah vs Narendra Modi and Shah. This has helped the Congress kill two birds with one stone. This means Rahul Gandhi is no longer the only one in the firing line like he was during the Gujarat campaign. In Siddaramaiah, the Congress president has an effective commander while in Gujarat, he had outsourced the battle tanks to the trio of Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mewani and Alpesh Thakor. Two, it has reduced Yeddyurappa, the man who hopes to be chief minister, to a supporting cast. By punching above his weight politically, Siddaramaiah is forcing Yeddyurappa to play catch-up, both online and offline. Interestingly, till about a year ago, Yeddyurappa firmly believed that with Siddaramaiah in charge, the BJP's return to Vidhana Soudha in May 2018 will be a walk in the park. This was because the chief minister had a brusque image, someone who seemed to shrug off issues like burning lakes in Bengaluru and struggling in a party that just was not winning in any state election. A bit of that has changed now. The challenge of winning a second consecutive term, unaccomplished in Karnataka by any chief minister since 1985, has spurred Siddaramaiah into action. Which explains the personal attacks on him, with Yogi Adityanath questioning his Hindu credentials because he had not banned cow slaughter in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah, not one to back off, responded by pointing to the 'Rama' in his name, to show he was as good a Hindu as any BJP leader. The BJP next labelled him a "Jehadi CM" for allegedly favouring Muslims in coastal Karnataka. Siddaramaiah did a BJP to the BJP when he accorded separate religion status to the Lingayats, effectively threatening to divide the saffron party's core voter base. It is this decision that provoked Shah to give a spin to Siddaramaiah's AHINDA vote bank that consists of Muslims, Dalits and BCs to say the CM is actually AHINDU. It suits Siddaramaiah if the BJP does not want to focus solely on issues where his government has been found wanting - be it agrarian distress, large-scale rural migration, urban civic mess or law and order situation. He is happy to counter Shah's Mutt hopping with Gandhi's temple run, reducing the election to a meaningless battle of optics. Siddaramaiah knows that Modi and Shah will fight the regional election by bringing in national issues to make it BJP vs Congress. So what he is doing is to fight the BJP's plank of nationalism with his own brand of Kannada sub-nationalism, be it by highlighting the separate flag, Kannada language and now the Lingayat decision. Thanks to his training in the JD(S) school of politics, Siddaramaiah has also made the Congress fight this election like a regional party, sending the message that he is primarily interested in Kannadiga interest. Karnataka Congress is today pretty much Siddaramaiah Congress, with the chief minister calling the shots. That was evident in the manner he put his foot down to insist there will be no non-Kannadiga candidates in the Rajya Sabha polls. Rahul knows a victory in Karnataka will be like Sanjeevini for the Congress. Only then, other regional opposition parties will be willing to cede space to the Congress. Karnataka is a do or die battle for the Congress and unlike in Gujarat, there is no scope for searching for a moral victory in a defeat. Ten years ago, the BJP opened new frontiers across Vindhayas by winning Karnataka. BS Yedyurappa, a powerful leader from Lingayat community emerged as a hero. Ten years ago, the BJP opened new frontiers across Vindhayas by winning Karnataka. BS Yedyurappa, a powerful leader from Lingayat community emerged as a hero. Ten years ago, the BJP opened new frontiers across Vindhayas by winning Karnataka. BS Yeddyurappa, a powerful leader from Lingayat community emerged as a hero. But that new found glory didnt last long, both for the party and the leader concerned. It took years for the BJP and Yeddyurappa to emerge from the rough patch it hit. Yeddyurappa is back in the party and its de facto chief ministerial nominee. Ten years later, the BJP is ruling at the Centre and is in expansionist mode across the country. The Congress, which has otherwise become a diminished political force nationwide is holding firm in Karnataka thanks to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Thus, when the people of Karnataka vote on 12 May, their ballot will not only decide who rules the state for next five years but the shape national politics could potentially take for 2019. Not just the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, but almost an entire spectrum of so-called liberal-secular forces, political or otherwise are pinning their hopes on Karnataka polls. If Congress retains Karnataka, it will come as a huge boost to the party and help workers and sympathisers believe in Rahul's leadership (even if it is really Siddaramaiah's victory) and generate hope that the Congress president has ability to counter the magic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and put him on a higher pedestal as some kind of challenger for 2019. Conversely, Karnataka is yet another opportunity for BJP president Amit Shah to showcase his organisational ability (by pulling off another victory) and Modis charisma to draw massive crowds and convert that into votes. If BJP wins, Modi would take another step towards achieving his goal of 'Congress-mukt Bharat'. Karnataka is the only big state ruled by the Congress. Two other Congress-ruled states are Punjab and Mizoram. Congress also is in power in Puducherry, a Union territory where V Narayansaamy is chief minister, but actual power is wielded by Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi. In Karnataka, the BJP was voted out of power in 2013. Yeddyurappa was forced to exit BJP and form his own political outfit, Karnataka Janata Paksh (KJP). Yeddyurappa got around 11 percent of the votes and BJP was restricted to around 20 percent of votes. Which gave the Congress a smooth win at the booth. The BJP strategists also figure that even as the electorate, for past few decades, have been following a revolving-door policy in state Assembly elections, they have continued to place their trust in the BJP. Karnataka is among those states where Modi has been campaigning even when he was Gujarat chief minister: During 2008 and 2013 elections. The state also has substantive presence of Hindutva forces, both in urban and rural areas. But this time around challenges are different for Modi and Shah: Not because Rahul is engaged in another round of temple-hopping, but because Siddaramaiah, while being part of the Congress, has projected himself as a regional chieftain and is inclined to do all kinds of political maneuvering to win the election such as coming out with idea of separate state flag and minority tag for Lingayat community. The first move was to woo sub-regional sentiment and second to create confusion within the BJP and Yeddyurappa's most influential support base. Yeddyurappas skill and personal connect with voters, inside and outside of his Lingayat community cant be underestimated. Shah is also spending great deal of time there. After Uttar Pradesh election, Karnataka is all set to be an exciting political theatre which will keep the nation hooked till 15 May, and even afterwards, for its wider impact. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has already been in talks with Opposition leaders to mount pressure on the government, on Tuesday said no party is more communal than BJP and the Centre has zero credibility as a government, media reports said. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has already been in talks with Opposition leaders to mount pressure on the government, on Tuesday said no party is more communal than BJP and the Centre has zero credibility as a government, media reports said. In an interaction with journalists in New Delhi, the West Bengal chief minister spoke of building up a federal front which is anti-BJP and anti-Congress for the better future of the nation. Talking of a slew of meetings with the Opposition leaders, Banerjee said she will meet Omar Abdullah, Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha, and Arun Shourie on Wednesday, ANI reported. On Tuesday night, she will be attending a dinner hosted by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. On her terms with the Congress, the veteran leader said, "Soniaji is unwell right now and recovering, will meet her once she is fine. On Wednesday, will meet Shatrughan Sinhaji. Will certainly go if they (Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav) call us for a meeting to Lucknow." She further said that the alliances depend on both parties. In Tripura, she had asked Congress to fight with them but it was their prerogative so alliances work both ways. "I worked 23 years for the Parliament, I know this country very well," said Banerjee. She added that when political people meet then, of course, they will discuss politics, there is nothing to hide in that. "The Lok Sabha election of 2019 will certainly be very interesting after meeting leaders of NCP, Shiv Sena and RJD," she said adding, "We should help the strongest regional parties in different states to fight BJP." Banerjee was confident about DMK making a clean sweep down south next time and said that like TDP, the different parties will slowly gain power. About data breach, the Trinamool Congress leader said to India Today, "There is no right, no privacy even when it is a democratic country. This is how the government is misusing the money." Appealing to the media, she said that media should objectively report on various things since this is a democracy and not play a tool in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands. Besides Pawar, who has called the meeting, she will also meet Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, representatives of Shiv Sena, TDP among others. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Delhi on a four-day visit, met opposition MPs in the Parliament on Tuesday Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Delhi on a four-day visit, met Opposition MPs in Parliament on Tuesday. The West Bengal chief minister met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar and DMK MP Kanimozhi. The meeting focused on the formation of an anti-BJP front, India Today reported. Banerjee also pledged support to Kanimozhi and said DMK will come to power in Tamil Nadu. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also met Banerjee in Parliament and said, "We are with you," according to Times Now. The Shiv Sena is an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Banerjee is expected to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal while she is in Delhi. The meeting with Sonia Gandhi is expected to take place on Wednesday. There have been suggestions that the Opposition parties should put up common candidates against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. There have also been efforts to form a third front involving parties that want to be equidistant from both BJP and Congress. Banerjee is seen as a key player in a possible grouping of non-BJP political parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is keen on a third front, had met Banerjee earlier this month. With inputs from IANS Mamata is in Delhi on Tuesday to weave together an anti-BJP alliance. She has indicated her willingness to meet all like-minded leaders At the recent plenary of the Congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu asked Rahul Gandhi to be ready to hoist the Tricolour at Red Fort. In case the Congress president took Sidhu seriously, he should be watching the evolving politics of Mamata Banerjee carefully, because she seems to have her own mind made up about who should be flying the flag next year. Mamata is in Delhi on Tuesday to weave together an anti-BJP alliance. She has indicated her willingness to meet all like-minded leaders. Except, of course, the Congress president. The West Bengal chief minister has said she is ready to meet Sonia Gandhi, in case the Congress matriarch has recovered from her recent illness. The Congress could be happy about Mamata's overt anti-BJP crusade. But it should be wary also of her covert anti-Rahulism. It is apparent that Mamata is practicing in public what many other Opposition leaders believe in private: The reluctance to accept Rahul as the next prime minister. During the past few weeks, Banerjee has emerged as an important player in national politics. She has gone out of her way to meet leaders from the North and South in a bid to put together a federal front against the BJP. Indicating that being anti-BJP is her only ideology, she has parleyed with leaders of parties as disparate as the Shiv Sena, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Aam Aadmi Party. Her stance shows acceptance for anybody ready to take on the BJP. The Congress should now be asking itself seriously: What if Mamata succeeds in putting together a coalition against the BJP? What if she manages to bring together the BSP-SP, TRS, AAP, TDP, TMC, BJD, NCP and a few more regional players? If that happens, we are looking at a coalition capable of winning around 120-150 seats in 2019 and giving both the Congress and the BJP a hard time. Every permutation and combination suggests the Congress on its own can at best double its 2014 tally, putting it in the vicinity of 100 seats. It can gain seats only in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana. Everywhere else, it will remain a fringe player. So, how will the Congress counter a coalition with more seats than its own likely tally in 2019? The answer lies in Mamata's anti-Rahul politics. In every likelihood, the Congress will either have to forgo its dream of leading the next government, or it will have to ask Rahul to step aside for someone else within the Congress. Mamata's reluctance to deal with Rahul is understandable. She has been in politics since the days of his father, the late Rajiv Gandhi. For her, it would be difficult to accept Rahul as leader just because he is the latest beneficiary of the dynastic culture of the Congress. And, like her, other senior leaders like Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu, and K Chandrasekhar Rao may have problems with the Gandhi scion. In all likelihood, they would say no to his leadership. The Congress at the moment can do very little about this but wait for the politics to unfold. Over the years it has become a marginal players in so many states that regional parties no longer fear it. In West Bengal, for instance, Mamata doesn't need to pay much attention to the Congress. Similarly, in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where the Congress was the dominant force till 2014, the regional players don't need to keep Rahul in good humour. And since he is dispensable regionally, these parties can afford to dump the Congress president nationally too. If Rahul can read the tea leaves, he should be ready to play a secondary role in the post-elections politics. The BJP may or may not form the next government. But, Rahul's chances of fulfilling Sidhu's prophesy appear bleaker still. Misgovernance and the central government's efforts to spread a climate of fear and oppression have brought together various parties irrespective of their differences in states, the Congress said Misgovernance and the central government's efforts to spread a climate of fear and oppression have brought together various parties irrespective of their differences in states, the Congress said on Monday. With the CPM moving a notice of 'no confidence' motion against the BJP-led NDA government on Tuesday, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said parties which may not agree with each other across the country today have a very strong feeling about the various malpractice of this government. "This government in a short while has started a climate of fear of oppression, of misgovernance, of threat, of vendetta and you are finding a natural conversions, it is not that anybody is making much of an effort," he told reporters. Singhvi said not only the Congress, three-four other parties have moved no confidence motions' against this government. "This must have something to do with the kind of mal-governance you are having in this country," he said. He said there is a spontaneous way of action by the people and by parties which have diverse and may be warring at that state level. The Congress leader said he finds no contradiction in that as state-level and central-level coordinations were two different things and parties that may have differences in states can come together on a central issue. West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who has already been in talks with Opposition leaders to mount pressure on the government, reached New Delhi on Monday for a four-day visit, NDTV reported. She will be attending a dinner hosted by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, and is also is likely to meet former Congress president Sonia Gandhi during her tour, the report added. The meeting with Sonia is expected to be a personal visit, The Indian Express reported. "She (Sonia) is hospitalised. Let her recover. I do not want to disturb her," the report quoted her as saying. However, a meeting with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has not be finalised yet. With logjam in Parliament entering the 15th day, the CPM on Monday submitted a notice of no confidence against the BJP-led central government in Lok Sabha, the fourth party to do so after the Congress, TDP and YSR-Congress. Parliament will resume its sitting on Tuesday after a three-day recess amid indications that the logjam may continue. On Friday, the Congress gave a notice of no-confidence against the government in Lok Sabha, days after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress adopted a similar measure. Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan has not taken up the no-confidence motions, saying the "House is not in order". Asked about the emergence of a third front, Singhvi said no government has done the task of uniting so many parties as the Modi dispensation. He said despite their differences with each other the Modi government has brought diverse parties together, be it the BSP and SP, DMK or Trinamool Congress or even Shiv Sena. With inputs from PTI Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the 15th day on Friday as the stalemate between the Opposition and the government continued. Auto refresh feeds Amid the outrage over the Nirav Modi scam and Karti Chidambaram's arrest in the INX Media case, the NDA government is possibly staring at a stormy second half of Budget Session which begins from Monday. The first part of the budget session was held from 29 January to 9 February, while second half of the session will come to a close on 9 April. The Congress is also likely to denounce the government over the arrest of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti by the CBI in the INX Media alleged bribery case. The Congress has termed the CBI action "political vendetta". The Opposition is also likely to corner the government over the tussle between Prasar Bharti and the Information and Broadcasting ministry. It is likely to raise issues concerning farmers, the Rafale deal, Staff Selection Commission "job scam", loss of life and property due to ceasefire violations on the LoC and increase in cost of petroleum products. Meanwhile, YSRCP MPs from Andhra Pradesh are likely to hold a dharna against the Centre in the Parliament premises. The party is also expected to initiate a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha on 21 March, reported Livemint. BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe calls for suspension of today's session under rule 267 of the Parliament in order to discuss allegations of corruption indulged by family members of former ministers under the tacit protection of ministers. D Raja of the CPI too has issued an adjournment notice in the Rajya Sabha in order to discuss the Punjab National Bank scam. This is the third adjournment motion on the issue. CNN-News18 is reporting that the BJP president will be meeting a delegation from the TDP to discuss the issue of special status to the state of Andhra Pradesh. According to the report, TDP is currently adamant on the 19 demands for the state. On the other hand, the YSRCP is also pressurizing the government over the same issue. The bill to target economic offenders was approved by the government following the escape of diamond merchant Nirav Modi and other accused in the over Rs 12,700-crore Punjab National Bank scam. The passage of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, which seeks confiscation of assets of absconding fraudsters and loan defaulters, and the triple talaq bill will be high on the government's agenda. The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill 2017 and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill 2017 will be tabled in the Lower House of the Parliament, reported PTI. TDP MPs prtoest outside the Parliament over the issue of special status for Andhra Pradesh Today has been the day of adjournment motions. A notice for an adjournment motion can be issued under rule 267 of the Parliament. It is generally utilised by an MP to discuss a matter of public importance. Three of the adjournment motions have been issued to discuss the Nirav Modi scam, while Pappu Yadav has issued an adjournment motion to discuss the alleged scam in the SSC exams. On the other hand, BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has issued an adjournment notice to discuss the allegations of corruption by relatives of former ministers. While the Opposition is expected to target the government over financial scams in the recent past, the BJP is likely to pin the blame on the Congress-led UPA regime. The BJP has already claimed that the PNB scam had begun when the UPA was in power and its government has acted with alacrity after the fraud came out in the open. The party, energised by the win in Tripura and impressive performance in Nagaland and Meghalaya elections, is likely to be aggressive in Parliament and rake up scams that happened on the Congress watch to pin it down, party sources said. BJP may take the attack to the Opposition However, Opposition created a ruckus in the House as soon as the session began. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Venkaiah Naidu is saying that everyone who issued an adjournment notices under rule 267 will get a chance once he holds a discussion with Arun Jaitley, the Leader of Rajya Sabha. He added that many of the members have to look at some other rule in the Parliament rule book to talk in the Parliament. On the issue of Cauvery water, Naidu said that the adjournment notice issued by AIADMK MP Navneethakrishnan will be discussed in Zero Hour. According to Financial Express, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah are scheduled to meet a TDP delegation, and more importantly the Andhra Pradesh finance minister, over the issue of granting Andhra Pradesh with special category status. "Don't create hungama," said Venkaiah Naidu as Opposition continued to create ruckus over PNB scam, 'Special Category Status' to Andhra Pradesh and other issues. This forced Naidu to adjourn the Upper House of the Parliament till 2 pm. However, the Opposition continues to create ruckus. The Opposition has also walked into the Well of the House to protest against the government. The resignation of Neiphiu Rio, who was elected to the Nagaland Assembly unopposed, and who is likely to be the next Chief Minister of Nagaland, has been accepted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. The Rajya Sabha has resumed operations, with PJ Kurien seated at the Chair. However, MP's continued there agitation even as the Speaker took his seat. Slogans of "Nirav Modi vapas lao" raged in the Parliament while Kurien urged the MPs to maintain decorum of the House. PJ Kuries, in an attempt to calm down the agitated members, acknowledged that the issues raised by them were important and agreed to allow discussion on them one by one. For today, he granted permission to conduct a debate on the frauds in public sector banks. However, Opposition MPs refused to vacate the Well and continued raising slogans. There demand was that the prime minister must explain why he could not keep his promise to bring back Nirav Modi and other people alleged scamsters. In the Rajya Sabha, ministers are laying the papers on the table Members of the Opposition come to the Well of the House to protest against Nirav Modi. Slogans of "Nirav Modi ko wapas lao" are being heard. Meanwhile, Venkaiah Naidu has adjourned Rajya Sabha till 11.30 am. People will give befitting reply to deaths of our cadre, says BJP Times Now is reporting that Lok Sabha will be holding a marathon four-hour-long discussion on the issue, starting at noon. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the much talked about Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Bill, 2018 which will be tabled in the remaining Budget session in Parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that the government has also decided to set up an independent body NFRA (National Financial Reporting Authority) to crackdown on big scams and avoid Nirav Modi-like situation in future. For the purpose the government will amend Companies Act. Economic Offenders Bill to be tabled in the Parliament today, say reports While the ministers have tabled their papers, the Opposition continue raise slogans against the government. The Opposition is raising slogans like "Chota Modi, bada Modi Murdabad". "The second half of the Budget Session is important for passing financial bills. I request the Congress, TDP, TRS and other parties to calm down and let the Hosue continue its work," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said. While speaking in the Parliament, Union Minister Ananth Kumar said that Arun Jaitley will be making a statement on the issue. However, he also took the opportunity to target the Congress and the previous UPA government. "No one involved in the Congress-led UPA era corruption scandals will be spared," he said. According to News18, MPs from four parties storming the Well to protest for different demands. While the Congress and the Trinamool Congress want debate on the PNB scam, the AIADMK is protesting over the Cauvery issue. The TRS wants the Constitution amended to skirt the 50% ceiling for reservation in jobs and education, while the TDP wants special status for Andhra Pradesh. "We have to look at the importance of passing the women's reservation bill," Kanimozhi said. "Families want to abort and kill the girl child. There are so many dowry deaths. Domestic violence is on the rise. When is all this going to stop?" she further said. "Men are celebrating us today as mothers, sisters, daughter. I think it's time for women to say, 'enough of that'. We don't want to be celebrated for our sacrifices. We want to be celebrated for our identity," Kanimozhi said in the Rajya Sabha. Women don't want to be celebrated for their sacrifices, they want to be celebrated for their identities: Kanimozhi "I find it strange that we celebrate Women's Day. But men don't celebrate any particular day. I am not in favour of this tokenism. I request all the men to stop throwing crumbs at us and treat us with respect throughout the year," Anu Aga said in the Rajya Sabha. Anu Aga says celebration of Women's Day is strange, calls for men to reject tokenism "Earlier, people used to say, 'behing every successful man, there is a woman'. But now, the saying has become 'behind every successful man, there is a nationalised bank," said Derek O'Brien in the Rajya Sabha, clearly taking a dig at the Modi government over the PNB scam. "Everyone should promise that the restrictions imposed on women by men will be abolished. On Valentine's Day, girls and couples should not be beaten up. In the name of anti-Romeo squad, women were beaten up in UP," AAP's Sanjay Singh said in the Rajya Sabha. Girls should not be beaten up on Valentine's Day: AAP's Sanjay Singh "On other hand, there are crimes against women which bring about shame to us. Which is why this day is one on which we should take a pledge to end such crimes," Swaraj said. "This should be a movement," she added. "India is a country where a woman became president, prime minister, twice became the Speaker of a House," she said. "Today, women are doing combat duty in the army, flying planes in the air force," she added. "International Women's Day gives us an opportunity to look at the requirements for gender equality," Sushma Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha. "Women's reservation bill is important. But there are achievements by women even without reservation," she said. We should take a pledge this day to end crimes against women: Sushma Swaraj The Opposition parties protested against the passage of the budget without debate, as the session is slated to continue till 6 April. The Finance Bill as well as the Appropriation Bill were passed in a matter of 25 minutes during which Opposition parties and ruling NDA ally TDP shouted slogans and created a din. The Lower House was adjourned for the day immediately thereafter. The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the crucial Finance Bill 2018 and a Rs 89.25 lakh crore spending plan for the next fiscal year without discussion amid ruckus, which led to the adjournment of both the Houses of Parliament for the eighth day. The Rajya Sabha began Thursday's session with an obituary of former MP Hamida Habibullah. The members observed a minute of silence for the same. Rajya Sabha is in session now; Chair begins with obituary to ex-MP Hamida Habibullah Lok Sabha MPs could be heard protesting in the background even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tries to conduct the Thursday's session. Congress and other Opposition party members stormed the Well. Ministers speaking can hardly be heard over the din. Even as Opposition party members stormed the Well in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the Centre is willing to discuss the Cauvery issue and special package to Andhra Pradesh but it cannot be done so with protests in the Well. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was forced to adjourn the Lower House till 12 pm on Thursday within less than 10 minutes of the session's beginning. Former Union minister and TDP MP YS Chowdary speaks on why he resigned from the BJP-led Centre in Rajya Sabha Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, former Union MoS for Science and Technology YS Chowdary said that the Andhra Pradesh bifurcation was done unjustly and unscientifically. "The division could have been done after taking care of employment potential, development in both states. Both states must have been developed equally for 10 years by the government in power at the time," he said. Following his opening remarks, other members of the House began to clamour and protest, creating a din. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu was forced to adjourn the House due to loud protests over former Union minister and TDP MP YS Chowdary's remarks on why he resigned from the Council of Ministers of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government. Opposition MPs continued to storm the Well of the House even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan resumed the session. The Rajya Sabha was earlier adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid sharp exchanges between former Union minister from the TDP, YS Chowdary, and the Congress members over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 under the UPA government. If accepted, it will be the first no-confidence motion moved against the Modi-government. The motion can be accepted only if it has the support of at least 50 members in the House. YSR Congress has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha. The YSR Congress's MP YV Subba Reddy gave the notice to the Lok Sabha secretariat for including the motion in Friday's list of business, his office said. The YSR Congress on Thursday gave a notice for moving a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led NDA government following the Centre's refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh and found unlikely support from its arch-rival Telugu Desam Party (TDP). YSR Congress Party MP YV Subba Reddy submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General Snehalata Shrivastava for moving a motion on 'No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers' in the house. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has become the first BJP ally to break away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Follow LIVE updates on the same here. After announcing the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) pulls out of the NDA, party MP Thota Narasimhan told ANI that the TDP will be moving a no-confidence motion on Friday. "We have decided... we are out of the NDA," he added. "TDP withdrew support from the NDA, which did injustice to Andhra Pradesh. TDP president Chandrababu Naidu took this decision in an emergency teleconference with party politburo members and MPs, which was unanimously supported. TDP to also introduce no-confidence motion against NDA government," ANI quoted the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office as saying. "TDP's decision to quit was inevitable after its mischievous propaganda against Centre. People of Andhra Pradesh have now realised that TDP is resorting to lies to cover up its inert governance. TDP's exit is a timely opportunity for the BJP to grow in Andhra Pradesh," BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao tweeted. Speaking to ANI , BJP MP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi commented on the TDP-NDA break up saying that every year before actual elections, there is always a rehearsal in Parliament. "We will see what happens in Parliament, which party chooses to go which way. In a way it is election year, and every state has demands and issues. It is not right for us to comment on it. It is a custom, before actual elections there is always a rehearsal in Parliament," he said. 'Before actual elections, there is always rehearsal in Parliament' Sarfaraz Alam (Araria, Bihar), Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel (Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh), Pravin Kumar Nishad (Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh), who won the recent bypolls held in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, took their oath as Lok Sabha MPs on Friday. Supporting the no-confidence motion against the NDA government, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted: "Its (BJP's) betrayal of the promise of special status for Andhra Pradesh is inexcuseable. Its all-round failure and evasion of parliamentary accountability needs to be highlighted." After the obituary references were read out, Opposition parties' MPs created a ruckus over the no-confidence motion against the NDA government. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till 12 pm. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said his party will support the no-confidence motion against the NDA government in the Lok Sabha. "MIM party will support the no confidence motion in Lok Sabha, not only for failure of Modi government to implement State Reorganisation Act but their failure to fulfill their promise to provide employment to youth ans for injustice to Muslim women and minorities," CNN-News18 quoted him as saying. "We have no confidence in their no-confidence motion, so we have decided to go on our own," he said. - PTI TDP MP CM Ramesh added that YSR Congress MP Vijaysai Reddy was seen making attempts to meet the prime minister and this hinted at a nexus between both parties. Andhra Pradesh's ruling party had on Thursday offered to back the YSR Congress' no-confidence motion but has now said it withdraws the support as it smells a nexus between it and the BJP. TDP decided to move its own no-confidence motion after suspecting nexus between YSRCP and BJP Speaking to ANI , BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao claimed that the Andhra Pradesh government and TDP are wary of the BJP's rise in the state. "The state government and TDP are feeling the pinch of the public opinion going against them and BJP will use this as an opportunity to grow as a political party and emerge as a dominant political force in Andhra Pradesh. For us it will prove to be the next Tripura," Rao said. Even as Opposition MPs continued to chant slogans in the House, with TRS, TDP MPs storming the Well of the House, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan began with business for the day. She also said that she is duty-bound to introduce the two no-confidence motions but asked protesting MPs to sit in their places. As she said this, Opposition protests began to get louder. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after Telagana Rashra Samithi (TRS) MPs stormed the Well. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she cannot introduce the two no confidence motions by YSRCP and TDP if House members continued to disrupt proceedings as she needed to check if there are 50 members to support each motion. Protesting MPs created more ruckus in response, forcing her to adjourn Lok Sabha till Monday. The NDA had stormed to power with 336 seats in 2014, of which the BJP alone claimed 282 seats. However, a series of bypolls that went against the saffron party meant that its tally in the Lok Sabha currently stands at 273 seats. When one adds the allies the BJP does have by its side Shiv Sena, JD(U), Apna Dal, LJP, SAD, RLSP, PDP the tally rises to 312. If the TDP can be persuaded to come around once again, this could rise to 328, a comfortable majority. The TDP has 16 MPs, and it said it would move a no-confidence motion against the Central government. In doing so, it would be following in the footsteps of rival Andhra Pradesh party, the YSR Congress, which has also said it would be moving a no-confidence motion against the Centre. The two Andhra parties have been miffed with the BJP following the latter's inability to grant special status for the state. As some other Congress members were on their feet trying to join the issue simultaneously, Naidu adjourned the House till 2.30 PM. "Do you want this sort of a thing to continue? ... Is that your suggestion. This is your party view," he said. To this, Naidu asked if somebody committed a mistake in the past, does it mean that he should also do the same. As he was making the appeal, Congress member Satyabrat Chaturvedi stood up and said he agreed with the Chair, but sought to know whether it was for the first time that he is witnessing such a scenario in Parliament. "I am very much pained that the Upper House of Parliament is not able to transact its business for last two weeks. Dont't test my patience...We are meeting, greeting and not doing anything and adjourning," the Chairman said. Before adjourning the House till 2.30 PM, Naidu said there were larger issues like banking scam, Cauvery river water sharing, demand for a special package to Andhra Pradesh and sealing in the national capital, which were agitating the minds of people and needed to be discussed. After tabling of the listed papers, Naidu expressed his anguish saying the House has not functioned ever since it resumed on March 5 after recess during the Budget session. The Rajya Sabha today witnessed an abrupt adjournment following a brief argument between Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and some Congress members soon after the House assembled for the day. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha told Chowsary to resume his speech from yesterday, which was interrupted due to the disruption of the House. He, however, added that Chowdary must stick to the speech approved by the Chairman and resist making any allegations. Chowdary said that the former prime minister Manmohan Singh has promised that Centre's hand-holing to Andhra. He then added that both the national parties were responsible for the secession of Andhra Pradesh and a certain help was promised to us at the time. Chowdary further said that the new constitutional restriction being cited by the Centre should not be applicable retrospectively to what was promised to Andhra. The deputy chairman, however, expunged those remarks as he said the Chairman had seen and vetted the speech but Chowdary had deviated from the approved version. In the course of his speech, Chowdary quoted the Opposition MP Venkaiah Naidu requesting special status for Andhra for at least 10 years. This elicited an objection from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal who said that Chowdary was trying to cast aspersions on the Chair (Venkaiah Naidu). This was met with sharp opposition from the Congress members who requested the quotes to be repeated. It is expected to be a stormy day in the Parliament on Monday, especially for the Lok Sabha where the two no-confidence motions against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party are likely to be taken up. However, equations with the existing allies aren't particularly rosy. In particular with Shiv Sena, the largest non-BJP constituent of the NDA. If the Sena follows TDP by backing out, the figure of 314 will go down to 296, just 23 more than the magic figure of 273, and the BJP can no longer be certain of its future. The NDA had stormed to power with 336 seats in 2014, of which the BJP alone claimed 282 seats. However, a series of bypolls that went against the saffron party meant that its tally in the Lok Sabha currently stands at 274 seats. When one adds the 11 allies the BJP still has by its side Shiv Sena, JD(U), Apna Dal, LJP, SAD, RLSP, PDP, PMK, SWP, NPP and AINR Congress the tally rises to 314 . If the TDP can be persuaded to come around once again, this could rise to 330, a comfortable majority. RECAP: With TDP quitting NDA, Centre's strength comes down to 314 from 336 in Lok Sabha RJD's JP Yadav gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on Monday over the recent "communal incidents of violence in Araria, Bhagalpur and Darbhanga", reported ANI . Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the party will "wait and watch" what happens in the Parliament on Monday. He said: "We will also have to see if the Speaker allows the no confidence motion or rejects it. TDP has its own state issues and we welcome them. As of now we have not decided yet on no confidence motion. Uddhav ji (Thackeray) will take a call." The Parliament secretariat received three separate notices for a no-confidence motion against the BJP government on Monday, two of which were from TDP and one from the YSR Congress, reported ANI . Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan is likely to take up the notices after Question Hour if the House is in order. CPI leader Duraisamy Raja said that the Left parties will be supporting the no-confidence motion in the Parliament on Monday. "People have started expressing their no confidence in the Modi government, it is time the Parliament does it too," ANI quoted him as saying. He had earlier also said the BJP enjoys support "inside and outside" the Parliament, according to Business Standard . "I want to tell the Congress and other Opposition members that there is confidence inside and outside the House. That's why the BJP is ready to face the no-confidence motion," said Kumar. Ahead of Monday's Parliament session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said that the saffron party was ready to face the no-confidence motion as it is sure it has the necessary support. In less than two minutes of being in session, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm. As soon as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan entered the House, loud protests and sloganeering dominated the scene, making it impossible for any business to be conducted amid the din. Slogans of "We want justice" could be heard as Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said, "This is not in the interest of the country, and Parliament. I am willing to allow also these discussions. How long should we continue like this?" The Upper House of the Parliament was adjourned till tomorrow after TDP and AIADMK MPs began protesting in the Rajya Sabha. He also said that the TDP also increased the state's budget by Rs 1100 crores. "We will strive to do the same in future. We are moving to work to move forward in skill development to help the people of Andhra Pradesh," he said. He also claimed that the YSR Congress Party is only 'playing politics' and has no interest in the state's welfare. Trying to assuage people's sentiments, Naidu said that the "TDP government is undertaking multiple irrigation projects to ensure the state's development is not stalled amid all this." Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that the state is being cheated by the Central government. "We are being cheated by the government. The BJP is making false allegations against me," he said. 'We are being cheated by the government': Chandrababu Naidu Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant told ANI that the party will abstain from the no-confidence motion. "We will neither support the government nor the Opposition. We will abstain," he said. As soon as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took up the Question Hour, members from these parties trooped into the Well holding placards. While members from the TDP, YSR Congress, TRS and AIADMK were in the Well raising slogans and holding placards, MPs from the TMC and Congress were seen standing at their seats. This forced the House to be adjourned till 12 pm. The Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the 11th day on Monday as the TDP, YSR Congress, TRS and AIADMK continued their noisy protests over various issues, including the banking scam and special status for Andhra Pradesh. Even as the Lower House resumed its proceedings, sloganeering dominated the scene as TDP, AIADMK MPs could be heard shouting "We want justice". However, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan began with day's business, asking ministers to lay their papers on the table. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "We want discussion on the no-confidence motion. I request all MPs to maintain decorum so that we can discuss it. We are ready to discuss any issue with any member." Following continuous uproar in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till Tuesday. TSR, YSRCP MPs trooped into the Well, while chanting slogans such as "We want justice". Mahajan tried to introduce the no-confidence motion notices but requested all MPs to sit at their designated spots so that a quorum could be established. Opposition members and other parties' MPs continued to create a ruckus, forcing the House to be adjourned for the day. 'Will do whatever the Opposition does': Farooq Abdullah The Samajwadi Party on Monday accused the government of egging AIADMK to stage protests in the Lok Sabha to avoid a no-confidence motion even as Tamil Nadu's ruling party warned that it would not allow business in both the Houses of Parliament till the Centre gives an assurance on the constitution of the Cauvery River Management Board. The 39 Indians who were kidnapped in Iraq are dead, Sushma Swaraj tells Rajya Sabha. MoS Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said the government is ready discuss all issues. However protests cause Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the Rajya Sabha till 21 March. Sushma Swaraj starts speaking about the Indians in Mosul. She had spoken about the issue in the Rajya Sabha earlier. The Bills have already been passed in the Lok Sabha Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to move Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill gives the government power to confiscate the assets of such defaulters. Bill to deal with economic offenders who leave the country in Lok Sabha today "Let us all protest and, if required, sit on hunger strike at every place, sport black badges during working hours in offices. Let us awaken the people," party chief N Chandrababu Naidu said at a meeting of women self-help groups. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) held protests in Vijayawada on Thursday about the Andhra Pradesh special status row, reported CNN-News18. The TDP had decided to extend support to the National Highways blockade programme called by the Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh seeking special category status to the state. As the deadlock in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha continued on Wednesday, here is a look at how both the Houses spent their time while in session ( as per PRS ): What has the Parliament been spending its time on? Protests and sloganeering marked the day's proceedings in the Lok Sabha as it began on Thursday. Opposition MPs could be heard chanting "We want justice" in the background, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct the day's business. As the protests grew louder, she said, "Nobody wants to listen, nobody wants to run the House." She then adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12 pm. "At the time of passing the AP Reorganisation Act, they (government) gave some provisions under it. People are suffering in Andhra Pradesh," said TDP's CM Ramesh. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that several leaders had approached him personally and let the the amendment Bill be passed. MoS Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said, "The government wants to discuss everyone's issues. I request we discuss and pass other Bills." Just as the House passed the Gratuity Bill, AIADMK and TDP MPs trooped into the Well of the House holding placards and created ruckus. To this, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said " People want to know why the Chairman is adjourning the House? I would like to tell the people that I don't want these ugly scenes to be seen by them. Each day, some or the other party troops into the Well." Nearly 20 MPs stood in the Well surrounding Naidu, and chanting loud slogans. As the Opposition refused to back down, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned Rajya Sabha for the day. "I would like to request all the MPs to go back to their places and let the House function. We are ready to talk about all issues, including the no-confidence motion notices that are being brought to the House," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, even as AIADMK and TDP MPs continued their sloganeering near the Well of the House. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she cannot act upon the no-confidence motion notices until there is order in the House. "I can't see anybody. I need to count heads (to establish a quorum of 50 members)," she said. After 14 days of low productivity in the second edition of the Budget Session of the Parliament, the Centre is likely to make a fresh push to pass pending bills even as the Opposition remain vehement to corner the government over issues like the Punjab National Bank scam, the murder of 39 Indians in Iraq by Islamic State among others. The Congress has issued a three-line whip to all its MPs in the Rajya Sabha asking them to be present in the House at 11 am in full strength on Friday and support the party's stand, PTI reported. The Parliament is lagging behind in terms of finishing scheduled tasks with productivity level really low. The Budget Session of Parliament, which reconvened after a brief break on 5 March, has been marred with protests, with the daily functioning in both Lok Sabha and Rajya well below 0.1 hours (six minutes), according to PRS data. Daily functioning of Parliament during Question Hours less than six minutes, shows PRS data With TDP's no-confidence motion notice still pending before the Lok Sabha, Chandrababu Naidu's party, which recently exited the NDA alliance, has appealed to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to hold an all-party meeting on special status to Andhra Pradesh as well, reports said. "I request the leaders of the parties to come to the chamber of the chairman," Naidu also said. "This is totally undemocratic, totally unbecoming of Members of Parliament. You are weaking your cause. Please, you are all members. You must uphold the dignity of the House," Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said before adjourning the House for 15 minutes. "Madame Speaker, you have always asked the House to be conducted in order. The government is ready for a discussion...Congress has become a marginal party," said Union minister Ananth Kumar in response. "There are more than 50 members here who want to move a no-confidence motion," said Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. As the ruckus in the Lower House continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for the day. According to News18, irate Opposition MPs are demanding discussion on the no-confidence motion. Narendra Modi to retiring Rajya Sabha MPs: I am sorry Parliament failed you in this last session Modi also said that the doors of Parliament and his Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will always remain open to them, and they are welcome to visit him whenever they like. While bidding the departing MPs goodbye, Modi also took a sarcastic jibe at protesting Opposition MPs, saying they nearly ensured this Session didn't take place and nearly denied this vote of thanks. Opposition ensured this Sesssion didn't take place and nearly denied this vote of thanks: Narendra Modi Narendra Modi also added that it was unfortunate that they didn't get a chance to pass important legislations in their final session, but may look back at their tenure gladly given the passing of landmark bills like the Triple Talaq bill. Unfortunate that you didn't get chance to pass important legislations in their final session: Narendra Modi "People have been agitating for special status, for their water, for their poor farmers and labourers. The MPs have been fighting on their behalf. If the people get what is rightfully theirs, it's not their parliamentarians who will stand to benefit," Azad said. He added that it's unfair to say MPs have been fighting and disrupting Parliament, because they are sent to Parliament to represent the needs of the people. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, meanwhile, said the Central Hall of Parliament is full of former MPs and he looks forward to seeing many of the retiring MPs at the same place in the future. Unfair to say MPs have been disrupting Parliament, because they are sent to Parliament to represent needs of the people: Ghulam Nabi Azad The second part of this session has 22 sittings, and is scheduled to conclude on 6 April. Five more sittings are slated. This is the final week that the Houses are functioning in the Budget Session Members from the Congress, the Left, the TDP and some other parties stood up holding the blue placards, apparently to show her that there were 80 members supporting the no-confidence motion After a brief discussion on scams in public-sector banks, Bills such as the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today Arun Jaitley to move Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill in the Lok Sabha today, which is a Bill to deal with economic offenders who leave the country "Most MPs are already seated. If everyone stops shouting and goes back to their seat, I can see how many support for the no-confidence motion. the House must be in order," Sumitra Mahajan said. Day 19 of Parliament's Budget Session is likely to get underway shortly, but MPs from various Opposition parties have already begun protesting inside Parliament premises, drawing attention to various causes. Punjab Congress MPs demand financial help for families of Indians killed in Mosul With Opposition parties slamming the central government over atrocities being committed on Dalits, Union minister Ananth Kumar has said the government is "committed" towards protecting the rights of Dalits. "Whenever Congress is in power, they are responsible for inciting people and spreading violence," Ananth Kumar said. Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon within six minutes of starting proceedings, with Tamil Nadu MPs launching their demand the formation of a Cauvery Management Board. Congress MPs from Punjab have climbed on to the roof of Parliament Political leaders elected as Rajya Sabha MPs last month, including Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, have taken oath of office. When Lok Sabha reconvenes at noon, Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to address the House. Rajnath is expected to talk about the violence that singed large parts of the country of Monday. As Opposition MPs kept up noisy protests, Home Minister Rajnath Singh addresses Lok Sabha over violence that singed large parts of the country on Monday. "The government has not diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Act. In fact, we have strengthened the act. We have introduced provisions for the protection of victims, who are already suffered enough. Moreover, if officials are found lacking in their response to a complaint filed by anybody, we want action initiated against them as well," Rajnath Singh said. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to address Lok Sabha on Tuesday, but noisy protests kept her from speaking. She was responding to Home Minister Rajnath Singh's speech earlier in the day. Faced with unrelenting Opposition protests, Mahajan adjourned Lok Sabha for the day. Within minutes of proceedings beginning, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm after MPs raised slogans of 'We want justice, we want Cauvery board' Amid loud protests, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the Rajya Sabha for 30 minutes, after having pleaded with protesting MPs to go back to their seats. New members who took oath on Wednesday, have not been given division: Anand Sharma It is unfortunate that Rajya Sabha failed to carry out daily business: Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien Announcing the decision, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said it has been decided that the NDA MPs would be giving up their salary and other allowances for 23 days "for which parliament was not allowed to function by the Congress". BJP and NDA party MPs announced on Wednesday night that they will take a pay cut for the 23 days wasted in the second phase of the Budget Session as they accused the Congress party of playing negative politics. Congress issues three-line whip to its Rajya Sabha MPs asking them to be present in Upper House, reports ANI Over a dozen Opposition parties had appealed to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday for holding discussion on key matters like the SC/ST Act, PNB bank fraud, CBSE paper leak and Cauvery issue. Opposition leaders, including from the Congress, BSP, SP, DMK, NCP, TMC and the Left parties, had met in Parliament to discuss the lack of debate. Leaders of several Opposition parties are holding a demonstration inside the Parliament premises over various issues. Congress had said on Wednesday that it would not mind if Parliament session was extended by a day or two, but a debate on key issues should take place. "We want to hold discussions on key issues of national importance and we also want to pass legislation. The government should take the lead in doing so. We are not averse even if the session is extended by a day or two," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had told reporters. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi have joined the Opposition protest in New Delhi against the Centre. Asserting that he attended the House proceedings daily, Subramanian Swamy said that it isn't his fault if the Parliament didn't function. "Anyhow, I'm the president's representative. Until he says so, how can I say I'll not take my salary?" ANI quoted him as saying. Both the Houses of the Parliament were adjourned within minutes of reconvening on Thursday amid protests by the Opposition parties. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to take up the no-confidence motion as the AIADMK continued protesting in the Lower House. Kurien went on to read the rules of the Rajya Sabha. "You are all eligible for suspension," he said. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said that he has an alternative to deal with the protests in the Upper House. "As per rule. I will see that a motion is moved to expel all protesting members. Thereby, you will lose all your voting right," he told the protesting MPs. PJ Kurien says he can move motion to expel members protesting in Rajya Sabha LS Speaker reminded the MPs that today was the last day of the second leg of the Budget Session, even though the MPs continued shouting. "This Sabha is for a platform the raise issues for the welfare of the people. I understand that MPs have several issues they want to raise but they should keep in mind that the country has a variety of issues which need to be focused on," said Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. "I make an appeal to all of you to appear here next time to do what we were given to do at the time of Independence," said Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. BJP works for connecting people, Congress works for dividing people. Congress indulges in divisive, negative politics. It didn't let the House function. We'll sit in protest against the negative attitude of Congress during last 23 days: Ananth Kumar,Parliamentary Affairs Minister pic.twitter.com/T710ENwveX BJP MPs to observe fast on 12 April to protest the impasse in Parliament caused by Congress: Union minister Ananth Kumar | PTI "Congress has become a marginal party, even in the Parliament," he said. "They don't have their own parliamentary strategy for both the Houses. They don't have parliamentary logic," he added. "From 5 March to 27 March, why did the Congress not allow business to happen?" said Union minister Ananth Kumar. "On 15 and 16 March, the YSRCP and TDP motions of no-confidence were brought up. Congress brought it up on 27 March? Why did they bring it up so late?" he added. Why did Congress not allow business to happen? asks Ananth Kumar Latest updates: In an unprecedented turn of events, irate Opposition members are sitting in the Rajya Sabha even after adjournment. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as ruckus in both Houses continued. The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm after Opposition members began protesting loudly in the House. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the 15th day on Friday as the stalemate between the Opposition and the government continued for the third week of the second leg of the budget session with ruckus prevailing unabated. While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day in less than 20 minutes after it assembled on Friday morning, the Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon and then for the day after laying of the listed papers. The Lower House also did not take up the no-confidence motion against the government due to the noisy protests. It has been a week since the motion has not been taken up due to the unruly scenes. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had last Friday announced that she had received two notices for the motion but was unable to start the process due to the disruptions. However, before they were adjourned on Friday, both the Houses paid glowing tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who were hanged on this day 87 years ago by the British rulers. The Rajya Sabha could not transact any business on Friday, as Opposition parties continued to create ruckus, forcing the adjournment of proceedings. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the proceedings for the day but not before expressing anguish over the House not functioning since it met on 5 March when the second part of the budget session started. Naidu said past disruptions should not be cited to justify the "present wrong" and expressed hope that the government will take the Opposition into confidence to ensure that the House functions next week. He said it was distressing that the Rajya Sabha has not discharged its mandate for three weeks. "People of the country have been let down." Andhra parties, including the TDP, and KVP Ramachandra Rao of the Congress trooped into the Well shouting slogans for special status to the state, while Tamil Nadu parties DMK and AIADMK demanded setting up of the Cauvery management board for river water sharing between riparian states. Congress members too were in the Well, raising slogans that the government was against scheduled castes and tribes, in an apparent reference to the recent Supreme Court ruling diluting certain provisions of the Scheduled castes and tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Naidu said he could understand that MPs may resort to disruption for a couple of days to press their issues but "persisting with it for three weeks has no justification". Congress members countered this by blaming the government for the stalemate and alleged that it has not engaged with the opposition parties on these matters so far. The Chairman, however, went on to state that while some may cite past instances to justify the present impasse, the three-week long disruption had no justification. "How long do you want to justify the present wrong, based on the past," he said. "People of the country are aspiring for a change. Should the change not begin from Rajya Sabha." He said people were asking why the House was not being adjourned sine die but added that this was not in his hands. "I am pained, I am sad," he said, adding he would not like to hazard a guess about what will happen next week or "if you are going to change for better...If you are not interested in running of this House, it is another matter." When Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel read out the government agenda for next week, Naidu hoped the government will take the Opposition into confidence to ensure that the House functions. Naidu said he was willing to allow discussion on any issue the members wanted, but placards, demonstrations and slogan shouting was not justified. He then adjourned the proceedings till Monday. The Lok Sabha proceedings were also disrupted on Friday due to noisy protests by the AIADMK and TRS members, following which Speaker Sumitra Mahajan expressed her inability to take up the notices for no-confidence motion and later adjourned the proceedings for the day. She also announced a holiday for members on Monday on account of Ramnavami on Sunday as many of them had conveyed they would be busy in various related events and would find it difficult to join the House the next day. The House was adjourned till noon soon after it met at 11 am following noisy protests by members of the AIADMK and the TRS over the Cauvery and quota issues respectively. When it reassembled, the protests continued and Mahajan said she cannot not take up the notices for no-confidence motions as the House was not in order. The requisite head-count of members supporting the notices can be done only if they are in their seats, she added. At least 50 members need to support a no-confidence notice for the House to accept it and start a debate. The Speaker said the government had expressed its readiness for a discussion on it. The BJP-led NDA government enjoys a comfortable majority in the House. The Lok Sabha was then adjourned for the day as the protests continued. This is the third straight week that both the Houses were adjourned without undertaking any significant business, barring the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha. Earlier when the House met for the day, Mahajan paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who were hanged on 23 March, 1931 by the British. The House observed silence as a mark of respect to the martyrs. Before taking up the question hour, the Speaker urged members to maintain order but those from AIADMK and TRS trooped into the Well holding placards and raising slogans. Congress members too were on their feet protesting against the Supreme Court verdict on the SC/ST Act. It has been demanding that the Centre seek a review of the court order which diluted provisions related to immediate arrest in cases related to atrocities on scheduled castes and tribes. Expelled RJD member Pappu Yadav was seen holding two placards demanding special status for Bihar. The Rajya Sabha was on Tuesday adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by AIADMK and TDP members over various issues. New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was on Tuesday adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by AIADMK and TDP members over various issues even as most members wanted to bid farewell to about 40 retiring colleagues. As soon as the House was adjourned for the day, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad was heard urging members not to leave the House and remain seated. Most of the members, including those from the BJP and Opposition parties, remain seated. However, after about 10 minutes most members from treasury benches left the House. Union minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley was seen interacting with several opposition members including Azad. Later, at around 12, all the protesting Congress and BSP members too left the House. Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu first adjourned the House for 15 minutes following protest by AIADMK and TDP. When the House reassembled, Naidu again made an appeal to protesting AIADMK members to sit down and let the farewell process start. However, AIADMK members remained standing and sought intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present in the House. As AIADMK members did not relent, the House was adjourned for the day even as the entire opposition expressed surprise over the abrupt adjournment. Soumen Goswami Aadhaar, a brainchild of the Indian Government, provides a 12-digit numeric code to its citizens for an unforgeable identity. Backed with 10 fingerprints and facial biometrics, it is the identity layer of a large ecosystem that can be built around it to solve real-world problems. Till date, more than 1.19 billion personally identifiable information (PII) records are stored and managed centrally by the government. The question arises that how can this massive data be used to solve real-world problems? Can we solve the taxation problem, problems in government subsidies distribution, etc.? The central government is pushing citizens to link their Aadhaar number with a host of services, including bank accounts, mobile phone connections, welfare schemes, Employee Provident Fund, etc. However, the Supreme Court has now extended indefinitely the 31 March deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile phones. Key challenges to Aadhaar Since its inception, Aadhaar has been criticised as a project encompassing ample scope for forgery and fraud. The fallibility of biometric data: An affidavit has already been presented in court stating that fingerprints can be replicated and the same has been demonstrated to the UIDAI as well. Replicated fingerprints as passwords can be used to modify Aadhaar data without any notification to the end user and auditor. and the same has been demonstrated to the UIDAI as well. Replicated fingerprints as passwords can be used to modify Aadhaar data without any notification to the end user and auditor. The government has control over data, code and tracking: Aadhaar is under control of the government through which it can track anyones login patterns, posing a threat to the Right to Privacy , a fundamental right as per a recent judgement by the Supreme Court. , a fundamental right as per a recent judgement by the Supreme Court. The effectiveness of linking Aadhaar with Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT): Leaked data can be used to modify already existing data linked with DBT. If the central database is hacked, the entire system may crumble down affecting the countrys citizens at large. How can Blockchain help? The blockchain is a distributed shared peer-to-peer ledger, like a spreadsheet that can record any transaction. In Blockchain, a ledger gets created on entering an individuals biometric and demographic details. A copy of the same ledger shall be shared between all stakeholders, specifically government departments and private entities requiring Aadhaar linking. Any transaction pertaining to an individual, such as transfer of subsidy, initiation of any new subsidy, stoppage or termination in case of demise etc. shall be recorded with no one having the capability to tamper the data. Any update on the data shall be visible to all related parties instantly. In addition, all updated changes would be visible to everyone without involving an intermediary. If someone tries to cheat the system, the other record keepers can detect it. Getting the right data at the right time without relying on any single data provider is the motive behind Blockchain adoption. Blockchain is an immutable shared ledger. Data could be created and read but it cannot be updated or deleted. Since the data stored in the Blockchain is securely encoded, no plain data can be simply retrieved from the underlying ledger until the given user has required permission and entitlement to get the data. Owner of the data can retrieve it by using secure credentials only. Therefore, it can be almost 100 percent safe. Let us analyse one use case to solve the problem of fair distribution of government subsidies by linking Aadhaar data without compromising on data privacy and data security. In Blockchain-based Aadhaar, details of the involved parties, including government departments, schemes, vendors, banks, beneficiaries etc. can be on the Blockchain. Here the concerned government department will release a subsidy amount in the name of an Indian Citizen As bank account. Simultaneously it will be broadcasted to the other parties on the network. Therefore, the beneficiary will be intimated about the disbursement and will approach the bank for withdrawal of the amount. Before disbursement of the subsidy amount to the claimant, the bank will validate the requestors identity from the Blockchain. Once the PII information matches between the claimer details and the data shared by government, subsidy amount would be disbursed by the bank. After disbursement, the bank updates the same in the ledger to provide a transparent record of the transaction for auditors. This way it would ensure that the subsidies reach the right people directly within the right amount of time. In this case, peer-to-peer network approval works and is a classic example of how data can be updated and the same is relayed to the user. The system has a consensus algorithm, which runs on a distributed network, and provides a tamper-free environment for the participants for any transaction. The way ahead While Blockchain is firmly footed to play a transformational role in determining the future, it is also important to note that Blockchain technology is not yet fully explored. This can prove to be a challenge for a Blockchain-based Aadhaar, as developing smart contracts covering the complex rules for authentication and record keeping of digital transactions may not be straightforward. The performance may also be a little slow, as we need to keep multiple identical data stores. A Blockchain-based Aadhaar would ensure that records are difficult to tamper with and are more secure. With no need of intermediaries, the data wont be owned and controlled by Government. To realise the vision of a truly digital India and to further bolster confidence in the Aadhaar program, a Blockchain-based Aadhaar should be the way forward. The author is a manager at Sapient Consulting Reuters Brazil President Michel Temer on Monday signed into law a bill regulating car-hailing apps like Uber without vetoing any provisions. The law will allow local governments to institute rules for the services, although Congress had voted to eliminate more stringent requirements such as special red plates for ride-hailing cars and that drivers must own their vehicles. The new regulation dictates that drivers must have certain insurance coverage and must be registered as individual contributors in the social security system. Uber Technologies Inc and competitors had praised the final version of the bill passed by Congress last month with Spains Cabify saying it puts Brazil on the forefront of regulation for individual passenger transportation service apps. Reuters The European Commission pressed Facebook on 26 March over whether EU citizens data were among those improperly harvested by a British political consultancy, after the US regulator said it was investigating the firms privacy practices. That piled yet more pressure on a firm that has lost more than $100 billion in market value in the last 10 days. Facebook shares fell more than 5 percent on 26 March after the US consumer protection regulator made public its investigation of how the social network allowed data of 50 million users to get into the hands of Cambridge Analytica. Facebook executives have apologised after reports emerged that Cambridge Analytica had used personal data to target US voters. Have any data of EU citizens been affected by the recent scandal? EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova wrote in a letter to Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, seen by Reuters. If this is the case, how do you intend to inform the authorities and users about it? Jourova said that statements by Facebook executives had not alleviated her concerns. This is particularly disappointing given our efforts to build a relationship based on trust with you and your colleagues ... this trust is now diminished." A Facebook spokeswoman said the company remained strongly committed to protecting peoples information and appreciated the opportunity to explain what we know and will respond to the questions that the Commissioner has asked. Jourova asked Sandberg whether she was certain that a similar situation could not be repeated today and if she thought stricter rules were needed for platforms like those that exist for traditional media. As Mark Zuckerberg said this week, we are working hard to tackle past abuse, prevent future abuse and give people more prominent controls, the Facebook spokeswoman said. Germanys justice minister called for stricter rules for Facebook after meeting with company executives on 26 March who said around 1 percent of 3,00,000 users of a personality quiz whose results were later fed into Cambridge Analyticas voter-targeting algorithms were in Europe. Jourova said she wanted a reply to her letter within two weeks. The Cambridge Analytica scandal emerged only a few months before a landmark EU data protection law comes into force under which companies found to be in breach could be fined up to 4 percent of global turnover. Any eventual sanctions for Facebook will fall under the current privacy regulations, and so would be much lower. Britains data watchdog is taking the lead in investigating Facebook and Cambridge Analytica from the European side, and Jourova said she expected the social network to cooperate fully with European data protection authorities. Reuters Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg will not answer questions from British lawmakers over how millions of users data got into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica as the company faces further pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. Zuckerberg will instead send his Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox to appear before parliaments Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee. In response, its chairman said on 27 March that lawmakers still wanted to speak to Zuckerberg and would see whether they could set up a session in person or via video link. Zuckerberg apologised last week for the mistakes Facebook had made and promised tougher steps to restrict developers access to such information, which saw the companys share price fall and prompt new questions from politicians and regulators. In response to a request by British lawmakers to appear before them, the firms Head of UK Public Policy told lawmakers that Schroepfer or Cox were better placed to answer questions. Facebook fully recognises the level of public and Parliamentary interest in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position, wrote Rebecca Stimson. As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the Committee. AP Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is promising to do a better job protecting user data following reports that a political consultant misused the personal information of millions of the company's subscribers. The fact is, European regulators are already forcing him to do so. A similar data breach in the future could make Facebook liable for fines of more than $1.6 billion under the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation, which will be enforced from 25 May. The rules approved two years ago, also make it easier for consumers to give and withdraw consent for the use of their data and apply to any company that uses the data of EU residents, no matter where it is based. The law is the latest attempt by EU regulators to rein in mostly American tech giants who they blame for avoiding tax, stifling competition and encroaching on privacy rights. European analysts say GDPR is the most important change in data privacy regulation in a generation as they try to catch up with all the technological advances since 1995 when the last comprehensive European rules were put in place. The impact is likely to be felt across the Atlantic as well. "For those of us who hold out no hope that our government will stand up for our rights, we are grateful to Europe," said Siva Vaidhyanathan, a professor at the University of Virginia who studies technology and intellectual property. "I have great hopes that GDPR will serve as a model for ensuring that citizens have dignity and autonomy in the digital economy. I wish we had the forethought to stand up for the citizen's rights in 1998 (the start of Google), but I'll settle for 2018." The US has generally taken a light touch approach to regulating internet companies, with concerns about stifling the technology-fed economic boom derailing President Barack Obama's 2012 proposal for a privacy bill of rights. But Europe has been more aggressive. EU authorities have in recent years taken aim at Google's dominance among internet search engines and demanded back taxes from Apple and Amazon. The European Court of Justice in 2014 recognized "the right to be forgotten," allowing people to demand search engines remove information about them if they can prove there's no compelling reason for it to remain. Now data protection is in the crosshairs of the 28-nation bloc, where history has made the right to privacy a fundamental guarantee. Nazi Germany's use of personal information to target Jews hasn't been forgotten, and the new Eastern European members have even fresher memories of spying and eavesdropping by their former communist governments. In today's world, digital commerce companies collect information on every website users visit and every video they like. This data is the lifeblood of social media sites that give users free access to their services in exchange for the right to use that intelligence to attract advertisers. But the Facebook scandal shows it can also be used for other purposes. A whistleblower this month alleged that Cambridge Analytica improperly harvested information from over 50 million Facebook accounts to help Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election. News reports have focused on the relationship between Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and billionaire computer scientist Robert Mercer, who bankrolled the operation. Cambridge Analytica says none of the Facebook data was used in the Trump campaign. Facebook is investigating. "The regulation is trying to balance the power between ourselves as individuals and organizations that use that data for a whole variety of services," said David Reed, knowledge and strategy director at DataIQ, a London-based firm that provides research on data issues. The EU's new rules expand the reach of regulations to cover any company that processes the data of people living in the bloc, regardless of where the company is based. Earlier rules were ambiguous on this point, and international companies took advantage of that to skirt some regulation, the EU says. While Facebook is based in Menlo Park, California, it has some 277 million daily users in Europe out of 1.4 billion globally. The EU legislation also demands that consent forms are written in plain language anyone can understand. No more legalese across pages and pages of terms and conditions that few people read before clicking "I Agree." The regulations also require that consent must be as easy to withdraw as it is to give. To ensure compliance, there's the potential for big fines. Under GDPR, organizations face fines of up to 20 million euros ($25 million) or 4 percent of annual global turnover, whichever is greater for the most serious violations. Facebook reported $40.65 billion in revenue in 2017. That means a serious violation could cost the company as much as $1.63 billion. Even though GDPR doesn't legally protect the data of people outside the EU, analysts expect many companies to apply the rules worldwide. Smaller firms are likely to decide it's too expensive to run multiple compliance systems, though bigger firms like Facebook and Google may still decide to "bracket off" European operations, Vaidhyanathan said. Sarah T Roberts, a professor of information studies at UCLA, says the EU is formulating the rules of engagement, rather than allowing internet companies to dictate. While US-based platforms were created in the image of Silicon Valley, that type of bravado and no-holds-barred capitalism doesn't go down well in Europe. "Despite claims that cyberspace is not fettered to planet Earth, that is not true," she said. Facebook, for one, has taken notice, setting aside a page of its website to explain what the company is doing to comply with GDPR. "We've built tools to help people manage their data and understand their choices with respect to how we use their personal data," it says. But GDPR is not a panacea that will ensure everyone's data is protected. Some analysts suggest the next step should be to ensure that everyone owns their own data and can sell it in exchange for services. Pressure is building for increased regulation in the US, where members of Congress have called on Zuckerberg to testify about the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The alleged conspiracy has captured the public imagination, focusing worldwide attention on data protection, Vaidhyanathan said. "Cambridge Analytica's story sounds like a spy novel," he said. "It has a bond villain in Alexander Nix. It has a secretive billionaire genius in Robert Mercer. It has the evil sidekick in Steve Bannon. It is working for right-wing interests and it claims to be able to control our minds," he said. "We needed a few Bond villains to make the story lively." Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. After all the leaks and rumours, the day has finally arrived. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei is all geared up to take the wraps off its new P Series of smartphones. The new smartphones according to past leaks and rumours will be called the P20 Lite, the P20 and the P20 Pro. It's unclear as to why Huawei decided on segmenting its P series of devices, this is because the P20 Lite is expected to be the most affordable of the lot and comes with lesser specifications, while the P20 Pro sits at the top end of the range and priced at a premium. The highlight of all the smartphones are the full view displays along with the Leica-branded camera optics with the Huawei P20 Pro expected to feature a triple primary camera setup on the back of the smartphone. Also a expected is 5X hybrid zoom on one of the three cameras that should make the Huawei P20 Pro's premium pricing worth it. The Huawei P20 is price at 649 euro 4 GB RAM + 128 GB model while the P20 Pro will be available in 899 euro 6 GB + 128 GB variant. The P20 will be available in available on 27 march 2018 in international markets, while the P20 Pro will be available on 6 April, 2018 in the same markets. India pricing of P20 and P20 Pro is unavailable at the moment but you can expect the device to be available by the last week of April. Huawei also announced its all-new Porsche Design Mate RS inspired by the 911 GT3 RS that will be available in 6 GB RAM + 256 GB at 1,695 euro and a 6 GB RAM + 512 GB storage at 2,095 euro. Reuters The head of Mobileye said on Monday its computer vision system would have detected the pedestrian who was killed in Arizona by a self-driving Uber vehicle, and called for a concerted move to validate the safety of autonomous vehicles. Amnon Shashua, chief executive officer of Mobileye, the vision system company owned by Intel Corp, in a blog post also criticized new entrants in the self-driving field that have not gone through the years of development necessary to ensure safety in the vehicles. Police and safety regulators are investigating the March 18 fatality in which a woman crossing a wide roadway at night was struck and killed by the Uber self-driving test vehicle. The incident has focused new attention on the safety and validation of such vehicles. Mobileye said it took the dashboard camera video released last week by police and ran it through Mobileyes advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), a building block of even more sophisticated full self-driving systems that is currently found in 24 million vehicles around the world. Despite the low quality imaging from the police video, Mobileyes ADAS technology was able to detect the pedestrian, Elaine Herzberg, and the bicycle she was pushing across the road approximately one second before impact, Shashua wrote in the blog, which was published on Intels website. Uber has not said whether the sensors in its self-driving vehicle detected Herzberg in the seconds before the accident. New developments in self-driving technology and a host of new entrants in the field wrongly give the impression that the decade-plus experience of incumbent computer vision experts should be discounted, Shashua wrote. Experience counts, particularly in safety-critical areas, Shashua wrote in a veiled reference to Uber, which only began to develop its self-driving program in 2015. Mobileyes CEO has previously argued for a formal model for provable safety assurances that all self-driving companies could use to validate the safety of their systems and ensure their vehicles do not cause accidents. I firmly believe the time to have meaningful discussion on a safety validation framework for fully autonomous vehicles is now, Shashua wrote. tech2 News Staff Udacity, a global online learning platform that provides courses to students and professionals has announced a new facility that allows its students to implement the learned code in a real-world testing environment. The new facility will be available for the students of its Robotics Software Engineer Nanodegree programs, Self-Driving Car Engineer and the Flying Car Nanodegree Program. The new facility called as KUKA Robot Learning Lab installed at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, will provide an exclusive web interface to put their code on a real robot and watch the results via a video feed. Another facility called as 'Udacity Universe' will help the learners to simulate self-driving and self-flying vehicles in urban and rural landscapes to tackle complex mobility challenges. Ishan Gupta, the Managing Director of Udacity India, said, As the field of autonomous system matures, people being hired in the sector are expected to have real-world experience in programming, but access to such learning resources is highly limited." He also added "Our initiatives in Robotics Learning Lab and Udacity Universe will prepare our students with extraordinary real-time experience equipping them with cutting-edge skills. Our partnership with industry experts like KUKA and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has helped us create this wonderful resource for our students. Udacity has also partnered with 120 employer-partner companies that includes AT&T, Google, Facebook, Mercedes-Benz, and NVIDIA. Reuters The leading US consumer protection regulator and attorneys representing 37 states stepped up pressure on Facebook Inc on 26 March to explain how the social network allowed data of 50 million users get into the hands of a political consultancy. The US Federal Trade Commission took the unusual step of announcing that it had opened an investigation into the company, which it generally only does in cases of great public interest, citing media reports that raise what it called substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook. On the same day, a bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys wrote to Facebook, demanding to know more about the companys role in the manipulation of users data by the consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, which used it to target US and British voters in close-run elections. These revelations raise many serious questions concerning Facebooks policies and practices, and the processes in place to ensure they are followed, the letter said. We need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken. Facebook shares fell as much as 6.5 percent, briefly dipping below $150 for the first time since July 2017, before recovering the days losses to close up 0.4 percent at $160.06. The shares are still down 13 percent since 16 March, when Facebook first acknowledged that user data had been improperly channelled to Cambridge Analytica. The company has lost more than $70 billion in market value since then. The recovery in Facebooks stock on 26 March may have been due to investors taking advantage of the lower stock price and the belief that the latest regulatory scrutiny may not ultimately hurt the companys relative long-term growth prospects, Wall Street analysts said. The FTC investigation is looking at more than whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent order it reached with the FTC over its privacy practices, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters. If the FTC finds Facebook violated terms of the consent decree, it has the power to fine it thousands of dollars a day per violation, which could add up to billions of dollars. We remain strongly committed to protecting peoples information, Facebook Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman said in a statement on Monday. We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have. All apologies Lawmakers in the United States and Europe continue to pressure Facebook and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to explain the companys privacy practices. The US Senate Judiciary Committee said on 26 March that it had invited Zuckerberg and the CEOs of Alphabet Inc and Twitter Inc to testify at a 10 April hearing on data privacy. The US House Energy and Commerce Committee and US Senate Commerce Committee have already formally asked Zuckerberg to appear at a congressional hearing. Facebooks failure to protect confidential user information likely violated specific legally binding commitments, but also basic norms and standards, said US Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. In Europe, the European Union Justice Commissioner asked Facebook if the company is absolutely certain that the Cambridge Analytica incident could not be repeated. Zuckerberg apologised last week for the mistakes the company had made and he promised to restrict developers access to user information as part of a plan to protect privacy. He also said sorry in full-page advertisements in British and US newspapers. The was a breach of trust, and Im sorry we didnt do more at the time, Zuckerberg said in the ads. We are now taking steps to make sure this doesnt happen again. Future regulation His apologies have failed to quell discontent. Germanys justice minister said Facebooks promises were not enough. In future we will have to regulate companies like Facebook much more strictly, Katarina Barley said after talks to which she summoned Facebook executives including European public affairs chief Richard Allan. Advertisers and users are also unhappy. US auto parts retailer Pep Boys suspended all advertising on Facebook on 26 March while wireless speaker maker Sonos said in a blog post it will remove advertising from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Alphabets YouTube for one week. Internet company Mozilla Corp, Germanys second-largest bank Commerzbank AG and British advertising group ISBA all suspended advertising on Facebook last week. Opinion polls published on 25 March in the United States and Germany cast doubt over the trust people have in Facebook. Fewer than half of Americans trust Facebook to obey US privacy laws, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on 25 March while a survey published by Bild am Sonntag, Germanys largest-selling Sunday paper, found 60 percent of Germans fear that Facebook and other social networks are having a negative impact on democracy. tech2 News Staff Chinese smartphone maker and electronics giant Xiaomi is launching its upcoming and highly-anticipated, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, today. The company will launch the smartphone at a launch event in Shanghai at 2 pm local time which translates to 11:30 am in India. If you want to catch all the action of the launch event then you can check out the live stream which will be aired on YouTube at 11:30 am. You can also head to the official Facebook page of Xiaomi Global to check the live stream on their social media platform. Xiaomi has not announced anything official about the upcoming device. However, a number of leaks over the last couple of months have given us some idea about the device specifications. As previously reported, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is likely to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage. In addition to the top of the line specifications, it is likely that Xiaomi will also add wireless charging to the device. The report mentions that the smartphone will come with a 6.01-inch FHD+ 18:9 aspect ratio OLED display, which will be supplied by Samsung. The Mi Mix 2S will most likely not be having a notch on the display and follow a design language similar to that in last years Mix 2. The smartphone is expected to come with a dual-camera setup with rumoured AI functionality as part of its camera software to control the expected dual camera setup on the back according to an earlier report. The dual-camera set-up is vertically placed on the top-left on the rear of the device, which looks similar to the Apple iPhone X dual-camera set-up or on the recently launched Xiaomis Redmi Note 5 Pro. The Mi Mix 2S is also expected to come with a fingerprint sensor placed on the rear side of the smartphone. Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. Chinese smartphone maker and electronics giant Xiaomi is launching its upcoming and highly-anticipated, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S. The company will launch the smartphone at a launch event in Shanghai at 2 pm local time which translates to 11:30 am in India. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is likely to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage. The reports also mention that the smartphone will come with a 6.01-inch FHD+ 18:9 aspect ratio OLED display, which will be supplied by Samsung. The Mi Mix 2S will most likely not be having a notch on the display and follow a design language similar to that in last years Mix 2. It is expected to pack a dual-camera setup with rumored AI functionality as part of its camera software to control the expected dual camera setup on the back according to an earlier report. In addition to the top of the line specifications, it is likely that Xiaomi will also add wireless charging to the device. We have already detailed the ways on how you can follow the launch event. However, we will be covering the event LIVE to bring you updates on things as they happen during the event. PTI Chinese smartphone major Xiaomi Corp. on 26 March said it will invest Rs 6,000-7,000 crore in around 100 Indian startups in the next five years to strengthen its hardware and software ecosystem. Till 2017 the net investment of the company was Rs 3,000 crore. In the next five years we will invest Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore in around 100 startups in India, Manu Jain, the managing director and vice-president of Xiaomi India, said in Chandigarh. The companies that the company is looking to invest in, are more in mobile software tech side which will help strengthen hardware and software ecosystem, he said. Assuring that the companys position of strength in smartphones will continue in future as well, he said that Xiaomi had invested in 10 startups until 2017 and the new investment will be to further strengthen the ecosystem. Seeking to expand beyond smartphones in India, the company, which launched its first flagship experience store in Chennai three weeks ago, is offering products sold in China but not available in India. The products include an electric cycle, a self-balancing scooter, an electric folding bike, smart shoes, smart cooker, laptop and water purifier, he said. The company will use feedback from customers on these products to understand the level of customisation required before launching some of them in India, he said. When Xiaomi started almost eight years ago, the aim was to build an internet company, he said adding that the company has several internet products called as ecosystem products. There are 30-40 such categories in China, such as smart shoes, smart cycles, smart scooters, smart air purifiers, smart water purifiers, and smart routers, he said. Our aim is to make everything smart, internet-enabled, and eventually run by a smartphone, he said. Everything that we have in China is not suitable for India market, he said. For instance, we have a water purifier but it doesnt have a water tank whereas, in India market where you have power and water shortage, you need a water tank, he added. India is the first market outside of China, where Xiaomi has introduced its televisions. In India, Xiaomi currently sells smartphones, air purifiers, and mobile accessories like power banks. India is a very important market for us and within a very short time, we have been able to capture significant market share in the smartphone market. TV is a big category after smartphones for Xiaomi and in China, we are the fastest growing TV brand, he said. The combined market share of the company in online and offline is 27 percent as per market research institute GFK, he said. We grew almost 20-30 times in offline. We already have 2,500-Mi preferred partners in 25 big cities in India, he said. The company has around 750 service centres for phones across the country, he said. The company want to manufacture everything in India. But we need certain volumes to start manufacturing and you have to do a return-on-investment analysis. If that is favourable, we would want to set up local factories for everything here, he said. The company has expanded to five big warehouses and 26 smaller ones in India, he said. To a question, he said Chandigarh is one of the biggest centres for the company in north India. As per GFK, Xiaomi holds 40.3 percent market share in Chandigarhs offline smartphone market for January 2018, he said. The hearing will broadly cover privacy standards for the collection, retention, and dissemination of consumer data for commercial use. Amidst reports of misuse of consumer data, a powerful Congressional committee has summoned the CEOs of top three social media platforms: Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Indian-American Sunder Pichai of Google, and Jack Dorsey of Twitter for a hearing on data privacy. The hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee has been scheduled for 10 April. In a statement, Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said Zuckerberg has been invited to discuss the company's past and future policies regarding the protection and monitoring of consumer data. The hearing will broadly cover privacy standards for the collection, retention, and dissemination of consumer data for commercial use. "It will also examine how such data may be misused or improperly transferred and what steps companies such as Facebook can take to better protect the personal information of users and ensure more transparency in the process," a media statement said. Grassley also invited Pichai and Dorsey to discuss the future of data privacy in the social media industry and how to develop "rules of the road" that encourage companies to develop tailored approaches to privacy that satisfy consumer expectations while maintaining incentives for innovation. Senator Mark Warner also sought answers from these social media companies on data protection. "I celebrate the success of Facebook, Google, and Twitter; but with their power comes responsibility that they must acknowledge. This isn't a Russia problem. If we value civic discourse and fair elections, they have to step up and answer to more than their shareholders," he said. Senator Ed Markey said Facebook's failure to protect millions of Americans private information in the Cambridge Analytica breach shows "why we cannot rely on corporations" to police themselves. "We need laws that prevent corporations from abusing Americans privacy rights," said Markey. Meanwhile, online news publication Intercept reported that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses backend Facebook data to locate and track immigrants that it is working to round up. Congressman Bobby L Rush has introduced a legislation that would require the FTC to issue regulations requiring companies like Facebook that own or possess data containing personal information to establish specified security policies and procedures to treat and protect such information. NATO joined two dozen governments around the world in expelling Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in Britain, marking what London called a 'turning point' in the West's relations with Moscow London: NATO joined two dozen governments around the world Tuesday in expelling Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in Britain, marking what London called a "turning point" in the West's relations with Moscow. The US-led military alliance expelled seven Russian staff and denied accreditation to three more, bringing the total number of suspected Russian spies expelled to almost 150, including the 23 initially dispatched by Britain. "This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels. In an unprecedented act of coordination, at least 24 countries have echoed Britain's action in response to the 4 March attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. London and its allies have blamed Moscow, citing the use of a Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok, Russia's record of targeting dissidents and its history of aggression in recent years, from Crimea to cyber-attacks. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the mass expulsions were "a blow from which Russian intelligence will need many years to recover". It "could become a turning point", he wrote in The Times newspaper, adding: "The Western alliance took decisive action and Britain's partners came together against the Kremlin's reckless ambitions." Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer imprisoned by Moscow for passing on information about Russian agents in various European countries, came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap. Moscow has fiercely denied any involvement in his attempted murder, instead pointing the finger at London. It responded to Britain's expulsions with its own, and the closure of the British Council cultural organisation and on Tuesday promised it would hit back against the coordinated moves. "We'll respond, have no doubt! No one wants to put up with such loutish behaviour and we won't," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on the sidelines of a conference in Uzbekistan. Lavrov said the coordinated response was the result of "colossal pressure, colossal blackmail" from the United States. 'Full Cold War' Washington led the way in responding, ordering out 60 Russians in a new blow to US-Russia ties less than a week after President Donald Trump congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on his re-election. Australia, Canada, Ukraine and 17 European Union states followed with smaller-scale expulsions, which have revived fears of a return to the Cold War. "Relations between Russia and the West are entering a period of full Cold War," foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov wrote in the Vedomosti daily. The Izvestia daily dismissed the expulsions as a "Russophobic flashmob". But Western officials made it clear in announcing the expulsions that they share Britain's assessment that only the Kremlin could have been responsible. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Washington and its allies were acting "in response to Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom". The Skripals remain in a critical state in hospital, and Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday that "they may never fully recover". 'No one is fooled anymore' Britain has emphasised that the attack took place in the context of "reckless behaviour" by Russian president Vladimir Putin, including the annexation of Crimea. May's spokesman said Tuesday that the "unprecedented" actions by allies were in part because they "recognise the threat that these Russian networks posed to the security of their own countries". British officials say Russia has sought to divert attention by putting out more than a dozen explanations for the attack, the first using a nerve agent in Europe since World War II. "There was a time when this tactic of sowing doubt might have been effective, but no one is fooled anymore," Johnson wrote, adding that the expulsions were "a moment when the cynicism of the propaganda machine was exposed for all to see". Washington's expulsions represented the largest ever of Russian or Soviet agents and came after US president Donald Trump's predecessor Barack Obama expelled 35 in late 2016 over alleged election meddling. The Russian embassy in Washington responded by asking its Twitter followers to vote on which US consulate should be closed, listing those in Vladivostok, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg as options. Hundreds of supporters of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement joined activists and political party workers to protests against the arrest of Fata Political Alliance chief Arif Khan Wazir and three other PTM leaders in Wana Hundreds of supporters of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) joined activists and party workers on Monday to protest the arrest of Fata Political Alliance chief Arif Khan Wazir and three other PTM leaders in Wana, according to several media reports. According to a report in Dawn, protesters across party lines demanded an end to the victimisation of Pashtuns. According to the report, PTM announced nationwide protests in front of press clubs in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Zhob, Swabi, Loralai, Qilla Saifullah, Bannu, Ziarat, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat and Hyderabad. The report added that if their demands aren't met, the protesters would march to Islamabad and hold a nation-wide sit-in. This is the second major Pashtun protest this year after there was an outcry in January against the killing of Naqibullah Mehsud. According to Reuters, Mehsud was gunned down by police in Karachi. An inquiry ruled that it was not a case of extrajudicial killing. The killing, initially described by police as a shoot-out with terrorist suspects, sparked peaceful protests across the country by members of the 30 million-strong Pashtun community, who say hundreds of their young men have been disappeared. Rights groups say such disappearances have been common for the past decade. The PTM, which has been organising these protests, compiled a list of approximately 1,200 missing persons after speaking to families. The Hindu reported that young Pashtuns from Pakistans restive tribal areas have been staging protests in major cities against the situation in the restive border belt of the country. These tribal areas, situated on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, see tribals caught in the crossfire between militants, Pakistani security forces and US drones and Pashtuns are protesting against inhuman treatment by both terrorists and security personnel. According to Reuters, Pashtuns believe the insurgency has led to security forces treating them all as potential militants, leading to the further victimisation of the community. According to a report in The Hindu, since Pashtuns live in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan, they face stringent security checks and have no access to internet and cellphones. Pashtuns also cannot air their grievances in Pakistani courts as these areas do not come under the Pakistani Constitution. This has lead to Pashtuns' grievances going largely unreported. But after January's peaceful protests, tribal people and other marginalised communities have been holding a slew of peaceful protests. Human rights' activist Diep Saeeda told Dawn the protest would continue and added that a daylong sit-in in Lahore would be held on 31 March to denounce the disappearance and extrajudicial killings of young Pashtuns. We will continue to protest against coercive tactics used to silence activists, she said. With inputs from agencies British prime minister Theresa May says former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter may never recover from a nerve-agent attack that has left them in critical condition London: British prime minister Theresa May says former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter may never recover from a nerve-agent attack that has left them in a critical condition. May says "their condition is unlikely to change in the near future, and they may never recover fully." May told lawmakers that more than 130 people in the English city of Salisbury may have been exposed to the nerve agent used to poison the Skripals. More than 50 people have been assessed in hospitals. A police officer left seriously ill after the 4 March attack was released from hospital last week. The UK blames Russia for the attack, but Moscow denies responsibility. On Monday, around 20 countries, including the United States, joined Britain in expelling Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning. The UAE said that one of four nuclear reactors at its debut plant has been completed as it moves closer to becoming the first Arab nation to produce atomic power Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates said on Monday that one of four nuclear reactors at its debut plant has been completed as it moves closer to becoming the first Arab nation to produce atomic power. The announcement came after visiting South Korean president Moon Jae-in and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed toured the $20-billion Barakah plant, the state-run WAM reported. The plant west of Abu Dhabi is being constructed by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Sheikh Mohammed described the achievement as "historical" for the energy sector of UAE, which is rich in oil and gas but is looking to increase other sources of power. The UAE previously announced the first reactor would start operations in 2017 before delaying the start date. The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, which is overseeing the nuclear programme, is awaiting the approvals from the regulatory authority to start operating. Nuclear and renewables, which currently make up a small portion of the federation's energy sources, are slated to contribute around 27 percent to UAE electricity needs by 2021. The second reactor is 92 percent complete, the third 81 percent while 66 percent of the fourth has been completed, WAM reported. When fully operational, the four reactors will produce 5,600 megawatts of electricity, or around 25 percent of the country's needs, according to the UAE energy ministry. UAE says it aims to continue diversifying toward its goal of 50-percent clean energy by 2050. Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude oil exporter, also has accelerated plans to acquire nuclear energy and is expected to prequalify several international companies next month to bid for building two nuclear reactors. The Australian government will expel two Russian officials over the use of nerve agent allegedly by Moscow against a former Russian spy in the UK Melbourne: The Australian government will expel two Russian officials over the use of nerve agent allegedly by Moscow against a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. The officials will be directed to depart Australia within a week. In doing so, Australia joins the UK, the US, 14 European Union member states, and other allies who on Monday expelled a number of Russian diplomats in a coordinated response. "The two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by Australian for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna Conventions," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in an official statement on Tuesday. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, both remain critically ill in hospital in Britain. Bishop said Australia's decision reflected the "shocking" nature of the attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community. "It takes into account advice from the UK Government that the substance used on 4 March was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law," she said. Moscow has denied these allegations. "The attack was part of a pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state that constitutes a growing threat to international security, global non-proliferation rules against the use of chemical weapons, the rights of other sovereign nations and the international rules-based order that underpins them," said Bishop. She said that Australia has had strong sanctions in place since 2014 in response to Russia's threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. "We also continue to support international efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the downing of MH17, and we have called out unacceptable Russian action in cyberspace," said Bishop. "In the same way, we will vigorously back the UKs full investigation of the nerve agent attack," she said. The minister stressed Australia's commitment with its allies and partners to deter Russia's actions where they are a threat to international security. "This is why the Government is overhauling offences for espionage, secrecy and treason, and for the first time establishing powerful new foreign interference offences in legislation currently before the Parliament," she said. . WBC COVID. , , . COVID, . , . ... Working from home? Switch to the DIGITAL edition of CLICK HERE to signup now! Samsung started rolling out Android 8.0 (Oreo) update for Galaxy Note8 in France recently. Today it has finally started rolling out the update in India. This bring Samsung Experience 9.0 replacing older 8.5 version along with Oreo and brings features like a customizable keyboard, new emoji, stickers, Bixby briefing, new color lens display settings, dual apps, enhanced DeX support, and many more changes. The update comes with firmware version N950FXXU3CRC1, is about 1.47GB in size and has March security patch included as well. Samsung today promised that all the Galaxy S8/+ and Note 8 devices will get the Oreo update within the next 2-3 weeks, so others should get the update soon. Samsung Experience 9.0 upgrade with Android Oreo Samsung Experience 9.0 brings you Android Oreo, with exciting new features from Samsung and Google based on feedback from users like you. We recommend that you back up your important data to keep it safe during the upgrade. Some apps, including Samsung Pay, Samsung Internet, Samsung Notes, and Email, should be updated individually before you can update your OS. Heres whats new. Biometrics To improve your security, features that use biometrics (face, fingerprints, and irises) are only available when you use a secure screen lock type (pattern, PIN, or password). When you switch to a non-secure screen lock type (Swipe or None), biometric authentication is suspended for unlocking and for verification in apps like Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass. If youre using biometrics now without a secure screen lock type, youll be able to continue after the upgrade, but changing to a secure screen lock type is recommended. Quick Panel Manage notifications for each app with notification categories (supported apps only). Icons will be shown at the bottom of the notification panel for notifications that arent currently visible. Home Screen Touch and hold an app to display shortcuts to common or recommended tasks within the app (supported apps only). Notification badges on app icons are linked with the notification panel. Clear a notification in one location, and it will also be cleared in the other location. Samsung Keyboard The toolbar gives quick access to useful functions. The GIF keyboard lets you send GIFs. More high-contrast keyboards are available. System Performance Background services are limited to improve performance and battery life. Currently running apps will always be shown in the notification panel. Edge screen Improved font size, color, and other settings for better Edge panel visibility. Touch and hold the Edge panel handle to change its position. Added 3 more Edge lighting effects and color customization for apps. Lock Screen and Always On Display New clock styles for the Lock screen and Always On Display. Adjust the transparency of notifications to get the look you want. Smart View Let your phones screen go dark when mirroring to another screen. Samsung account Control your account settings and profile information for multiple apps. Tap your profile picture on the main Settings page to access your profile information and account settings. Samsung Cloud View and manage photos and notes stored only in Samsung Cloud. Store any type of file in Samsung Cloud Drive. Select specific items to delete or restore from your backups. See how big each backup is and how many items it contains. Find My Mobile Back up Secure Folder remotely in Samsung Cloud when your phone is lost. Lock Samsung Pass using Find My Mobile. Samsung DeX See more apps at once by changing the app list view to full-screen. Use Game launcher in Samsung DeX for a full-screen gaming experience. Added support for 2 additional Samsung covers (LED View Cover, Clear View Standing Cover). Other improvements Bluetooth now supports high-quality audio codecs, including AAC and Sony LDAC. Video player includes auto repeat and 2x speed option. Voice Recorder provides smart tips to conveniently block calls while recording. Email lets you flag Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync emails. Samsung Healths new sticky notification lets you see your step count at a glance. Clock now includes a Landscape mode and timer sound options. The digital clock widget goes directly to the Clock app when you tap it. Samsung Pass added the ability to manage usernames and passwords in third-party apps. Integrated LinkedIn content will no longer be shown in Email, Calendar, or Contacts. Last week Sharp said that it will introduce AQUOS S3 smartphone in Vietnam on March 28th, now the company has announced that phone in Taiwan early. It pack a 6-inch FHD+ display with a notch and has 91% screen-to-body ratio, and the company says that it is the most compact smartphone with a 6-inch screen. It is powered by Snapdragon 630 with 4GB RAM, runs Android 8.0 (Oreo) with Smile UX, has a 12-megapixel primary rear camera with f/1.75 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, dual-tone LED flash, similar to the S2, but has have a 13-megapixel secondary camera for portrait shots, instead of 8-megapixel in the predecessor. It also offers 2x loss-less zoom. There is a 16-megapixel front camera with support for face unlock that scans 1024 facial points to unlock the phone in 0.1 seconds. It also has a fingerprint sensor on the curved glass back and packs a 3200mAh battery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. SHARP AQUOS S3 specifications 6-inch (21601080 pixels) Full HD+ display with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass protection, 135% RGB ultra-wide color gamut,1500:1 contrast ratio, 550 nits brightness Octa Core Snapdragon 630 14nm Mobile Platform (Quad 2.2GHz Cortex A53 + Quad 1.8GHz Cortex A53 CPUs) with Adreno 508 GPU 4GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB internal storage, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano/microSD) Smile UX based on Android 8.0 (Oreo) 12MP rear camera with wide-angle lens, f/1.75 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, dual-tone LED Flash, PDAF, secondary 13MP camera with telephoto lens 16MP front-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor Dimensions: 148.2 x 74.2 x 7.98 mm; Weight: 165.44g 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, NFC, USB Type-C 3200mAh (typical) / 3100mAh (minimum) battery with Quick Charge 3.0 The SHARP AQUOS S3 comes in Black color, is priced at NT$ 11,990 (US$ 412 / Rs. 26,710 approx.) and will go on sale from April 1st in Taiwan. Source 1, 2 | Via Huawei just unveiled P20 Pro, its latest flagship smartphone at an event in Paris, as it had promised. It packs a 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED 2.5D curved glass display, is powered by an Octa-Core HiSilicon Kirin 970 10nm SoC with i7 co-processor, dedicated neural network processing unit and runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo) with Emotion UI 8.1 on top as well as support for Google AR Core. It has Leica triple-lens camera with 40-megapixel RGB sensor, a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor and an 8-megapixel sensor with telephoto lens with f/1.8, f/1.6 and f/2.4 wide aperture, dual-tone LED flash and new Leica 3x telephoto (VARIO-SUMMILUX-H 1:1.6-2.4/27-80ASPH) lens for long-range photography of up to 5x Hybrid Zoom. It can capture low light photos with up to ISO 102400. It also has a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with AI beautification. 3D portrait lighting and support for face unlock. It supports 960fps super slow motion. Ultra Snapshot mode lets you capture an image in as little as 0.3 seconds by just double clicking the down volume button, even from an off screen. It also has AI image stabilisation allows you to capture incredible blur-free, handheld shots in low-light using Night Mode. At the launch Huawei said that the phone has scored 109 overall points and 114 points in photo n DxOMark beating all other flagships. It has a curved glass body and also comes in new exclusive, fashionable colors, Twilight and Pink Gold, achieved by applying several layers of NCVM optical coatings underneath the glass back, so light hitting the surface refracts and creates a vivid, yet gradual change of hue. Huawei P20 Pro specifications 6.1-inch ( 2240 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ OLED 2.5D curved glass display Octa-Core Huawei Kirin 970 (4 x 2.4 GHz A73+ 4 x 1.8 GHz A53) 10nm processor + i7 co-processor,Mali-G72 MP12 GPU, NPU 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage Android 8.1 (Oreo) with EMUI 8.1 Single / Dual SIM 40 MP (RGB, f/1.8 aperture) + 20 MP (Monochrome, f/1.6 aperture) + 8 MP (Telephoto, f/2.4 aperture), with Leica VARIO-SUMMILUX-H lesness, dual-tone LED flash, laser focus, deep focus, PDAF, CAF, 960fps super slo-mo 24MP front-facing camera with Sony IMX576 sensor, f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor USB Type-C Audio, HiFi audio with HWA, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos Dimensions: 155 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm; Weight: 180g Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2 LE, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C 4000mAh battery with fast charging The Huawei P20 Pro comes in Black, Twilight, Pink Gold and Midnight Blue colors, is priced at 899 Euros (US$ 1,114 / Rs. 72,350 approx.) and will roll out from April 6th. It is expected to launch in India in the future, but no details about the exact time-frame yet. Abby Lee Miller is out from behind bars, ET has learned. The 51-year-old former "Dance Moms" star was released from the Federal Correctional Complex in Victorville, California, prison on Tuesday, after surrendering herself last July 12. She was transferred to a halfway house, a residential re-entry center, in Long Beach, California, for the remainder of her sentence. As of now, Miller is scheduled to be released from the halfway house on May 25. Miller was originally sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison last May, after pleading guilty to bankruptcy fraud in June 2016. Abby Lee Miller Shows Off Weight Loss in Instagram Photo From Prison A source tells ET that Miller is looking forward to her new life outside of prison and that she is definitely eager to return to the spotlight. The sky is the limit, the source says of Miller's future prospects after serving time in prison, adding that upon her release, the controversial reality star will have lots and lots to say. As for her actual prison experience, the source says that for Miller, some things about prison were absolutely horrific and other things were pretty much the same. A second source tells ET that Miller will also be going under the knife again very soon following her release, furthering her physical transformation. Last April, prior to her sentencing, the dance instructor underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure that reduced her stomach by 80 percent. Abby Lee Miller Has Lost 100 Pounds in Prison, Will Be Released Next Month (Exclusive) By January, Miller had already lost approximately 100 pounds and was feeling "great," a source told ET in January. According to the source, she had already requested multiple surgeries for when she's released, including a tummy tuck, breast lift and excess skin removal. A few days before she headed to prison, Miller told ET in July that serving time would actually be an opportunity for her to concentrate solely on herself. "I've always put everybody else's child first before my own health, before my own outfit, before my own time frame," she explained. "Everybody else was dressed and out the door and looking perfect and I was running around trying to find a clean towel to take a shower with, so I think this will be a little 'me' time." Abby Lee Miller Talks Not Being a Part of Maddie Ziegler's Success: 'That's Not the Kid I Raised' Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her Utah home in 2002, has a new book out. In it she claims the man who kidnapped her attempted to snatch another girl from her home to be his next wife, People reported. In When Theres Hope: Healing, Moving Forward and Never Giving Up, released March 27, Smart writes that her abductor, Brian David Mitchell, concocted a plan to kidnap a girl he had seen in a photo. Smart was kidnapped at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was held captive by Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, for nine months. Smart said she was raped, tethered to trees by steel cables and left without food and water for days at a time while in captivity. CHRISTINA AGUILERA UNRECOGNIZABLE IN NEW MAKEUP-FREE COVER SHOOT Smart goes into detail about the kidnapping and her road to recovery in her book. Smart wrote Mitchell would go to churches to seek out young girls. He was invited to dinner by a Mormon family he befriended, she wrote, and went to their home. Smart claimed that he found a photograph of a girl who was the hosts daughter from a previous marriage. Mitchell was told the girl visited the home on Wednesdays and every other weekend. Smart claimed Mitchell devised a plan to kidnap the girl who would be his next victim. She added Mitchell told her and Barzee that he planned to rescue the young girl or, as Smart described, kidnap and rape her. Smart wrote Mitchell ventured out one night assuming the girl was at the home to kidnap her. He allegedly wore dark clothes and carried the same knife he used to abduct Smart. She said Mitchell was not able to kidnap the girl because he heard a man snoring once he entered the home and decided to retreat. STEPHEN COLBERT SAYS TRUMP SHOULD BE SPANKED REGULARLY AFTER STORMY DANIELS INTERVIEW I know most people consider snoring a health risk or an annoyance, Smart wrote. But in the case of this young girl, it saved her life. Smart was found on March 12, 2003 about 18 miles from her home. Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010, and Mitchell is serving two life terms. Following the kidnapping, Smart has been a public figure for child safety. She is a motivational speaker and author. She married Matthew Gilmour in 2012 and the couple has two children. Tom Arnold is dishing on his ex-wife Roseanne Barr. The 59-year-old star claimed in a review for The Hollywood Reporter of the upcoming Roseanne revival that Barr told him not to date actress Laurie Metcalf, who plays Barrs sister, when he was working as a writer on the show in 1988. One night while partying during pilot week in 1988, Roseanne, who was in the front seat with [John] Goodman, noticed me holding Lauries hand in back, Arnold wrote in the article, which was published Monday. The next morning she called me into her office and told me, Writers cannot date actors. Thats a rule of show business. Arnold said Barr made the comment just two years before the pair got married, noting they divorced after four years. ROSEANNE BARR: REBOOT WILL TACKLE HEALTHCARE, OPIOIDS AND DIFFERENT CULTURES Who was I to break a rule of show business? he recalled thinking at the time. Arnold, who said he held various roles from writer to producer with the show before he was fired by Barr in 1994, admitted he was a Metcalf super fan both personally and professionally. Laurie is a tour de force, he said in his review. She could carry this show. She could carry every show ever. As for his thoughts on the sitcom itself? Bottom line: If you want to watch a show because it's the voice of your political point of view, right or left, do not watch the 'Roseanne' reboot. You'll be disappointed," he said. But if you're a fan of the original 'Roseanne,' especially the glory years you know, the 'Tom Arnold years' this is as good as it's going to get. Barr has previously stated her sitcom character is a Trump supporter. The actress has been open about her support for Trump as well. Its just realistic, she explained of the choice to make the TV family pro-Trump. I have always attempted to portray a realistic portrait of the American people and working class people. And, in fact, it was working class people that elected Trump so I felt that was very real and something that needed to be discussed. The actress told reporters at the Television Critics Associations Winter Press Tour that the revival of the ABC show will maintain its same formula. In its heyday, Roseanne was known for tackling tough-to-talk-about issues. Im very excited to dig my teeth into the subject of healthcare in America, and that was a very big part of this season, she teased. I am really happy with that. And also about aging parents and opioids, and all the things that Ive noticed that everybody in my family and around my neighborhood are kind of dealing with too. So its like lets do it. Roseanne premieres Tuesday on ABC. Fox News' Leora Arnowitz contributed to this report. It was the "perfect storm," Jim Flath says of his 26-year-old son's sudden death during a family ski vacation in Colorado. His youngest son, James, died Sunday -- one day after he was diagnosed with the flu. "It was a really unfortunate series of events," Flath, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, told Fox News. "The flu combined with high altitude sickness ... and he had sleep apnea, which may have caused some of the problems." Feeling under the weather, James went to a nearby urgent care Saturday morning. Doctors told him he had the flu and to take it easy. His parents and his girlfriend planned to go out to dinner that night, but James decided to stay behind and rest in the condo, hoping he would recover quickly. "He said, 'Go have fun!'" Flath recalled. "I don't think he or us realized how sick he was." So, they left for a short period of time and returned to find James unresponsive. "James loved life. He always liked doing things for other people and rooting for the underdog." Jim Flath "He was breathing but we couldn't revive him," Flath said. The man's family and friends were devastated by the news of James' death. But Flath said they had to do something -- they couldn't just sit around being sad. "We're sad, obviously," Flath said. "But James loved life. He always liked doing things for other people and rooting for the underdog." In order to celebrate the life James lived, his family started a social media movement called Giver 4 Jimmer." The idea is to inspire others to pay it forward with acts of kindness -- whether it's paying someone's bill or carrying someone's heavy shopping bags. "Everyone is angry at each other and if we can do something to help people be a little less angry and kinder to each other then why not?" Flath said. With help from two of James' friends, who work in social media, Flath created a Facebook page for the movement. More than 900 people have already followed the page. The family even created "Giver 4 Jimmer cards" for people to pass out after they've done an anonymous good deed. The bright green cards encourage others to follow suit. Dozens of people across the country -- from San Francisco to New England -- have already shared their kind acts in honor of James with the Flath family. "Paid for the womans groceries in front of me today," a woman from Kennedy, Texas, posted on the page Tuesday. "Wasnt much but with tears in her eyes thanked me and told me how much it helped because her husband has cancer and they were struggling with their money." "I saw this today and even though I am unemployed and financially struggling this year, I had a friend even worse off than I am," another man from Seattle explained. "So I anonymously went in and made a car payment for him ($212) so that he would not lose his car." Reading about people's kindness warms Flath's heart. "If we make some people's lives better, that's obviously a huge bonus," he said. Flath recalled a time his son paid for a father's meal when he noticed him "struggling" at breakfast with his young daughters. He also remembered how James would never forget to bring money with him to the gym so he could give homeless men who sat outside an extra buck or two. "When he gave them money they'd pump him up and tell him how strong he looked. He'd brag that he has to buy his compliments," Flath recalled James joking. Even with the positive response on social media, Flath admits it's impossible not to feel sad about James' death. The 26-year-old was supposed to be the best man for his brother's destination wedding in April. But whether he has good or bad days, Flath plans to keep the movement alive for as long as he possibly can. "I don't plan on ever shutting it down. I'll have cards in my wallet forever," he added. Fans of Cosmopolitan will now have a harder time finding the magazine at Walmart. The retail giant will be pulling the publication from checkout lines at 5,000 stores across the U.S., the National Center on Sexual Exploitation announced in a news release Tuesday. The organization cited the sexually explicit material some deemed "pornographic" published in the magazine amid the #MeToo culture as a reason for the removal. This is what real change looks like in our #MeToo culture, and NCOSE is proud to work with a major corporation like Walmart to combat sexually exploitative influences in our society, Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said in the news release. Women, men, and children are bombarded daily with sexually objectifying and explicit materials, not only online, but in the checkout line at the store, Hawkins continued. Hawkins equated Cosmopolitans messages to that found in Playboy magazine. She said the popular womens magazine targets young women by placing Disney stars on the cover while publishing sexually erotic articles. It places womens value primarily on their ability to sexually satisfy a man and therefore plays into the same culture where men view and treat women as inanimate sex objects, she added. Walmart said in a statement to Fox News that they heard the concerns people had about the magazine. As with all products in our store, we continue to evaluate our assortment and make changes. Walmart will continue to offer Cosmopolitan to customers that wish to purchase the magazine, but it will no longer be located in the checkout aisles. While this was primarily a business decision, the concerns raised were heard," the statement read. Cosmopolitan lauds itself as the best-selling young womens magazine that focuses on fashion, sex advice, dating and relationships as well as celebrity news. The organization isnt the first to criticize Cosmopolitan, a Hearst publication. Victoria Hearst, one of the granddaughters of William Randolph Hearst, helped NCOSE launch the anti-Cosmopolitan campaign. Hearst, who is not involved with Hearst Corporation or its management, said the magazine should carry a warning label because it pushed pornography on minors, the New York Post reported in 2015. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Nothing spooky hereGod told me to work to get Cosmo out of the hands of children, so thats what I am doing, Hearst said, according to the Post. Cosmopolitans then-Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles fired back and said the campaign was sexist and a double standard. I have no time for a debate, Coles said at the time. I am too busy putting out a magazine and encouraging American women to have more and better orgasms. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Trumps order Monday to expel 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officers from the U.S. in retaliation for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain has sent U.S.-Russian relations to their lowest point yet during the Trump administration. The U.S. joined at least 22 other nations in expelling Russian officials in support of Britain, after the British blamed Russia for the March 4 attack on former Russian spy Sergei V. Skripal and his daughter with a deadly nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union. Both remain hospitalized in critical condition. Just about all Americans, regardless of political party, can agree that Russian President Vladimir Putin is an aggressive leader who is one of our greatest geopolitical adversaries not just because of the poisoning in Britain, but because of a series of other actions he has taken. But unfortunately, realizing that Putin is not our friend doesnt tell us how to deal with him and his government. Were already at peak craziness. Was it the Russians who prompted Sen. Tim Kaine to call for progressives to fight in the streets? Did the Russians ask Hillary Clinton to join the resistance? Do they edit the Washington Post and New York Times, or operate CNN and MSNBC? We could do nothing and just let our differences with Putin and his government fester. But that would mean acceptance of the status quo a divided and bloodied Ukraine, a continuing civil war with massive casualties and a refugee crisis in Syria, and a costly an arms race. Alternatively, President Trump could seek an accommodation with Russia to resolve as many of our differences as possible. But isnt accommodation with a dictator who denies his people many freedoms that we take for granted beyond the pale? If you think we should have nothing to do with despots, how do you feel about the proposed meeting in May between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un? And what about other dictators America has worked with throughout our history and deals with today? Given the number of times weve sought a deal with the North Koreans only to be lied to repeatedly and be treated as patsies do you think them more trustworthy than Putin? And while Russia interfered with our 2016 presidential election, Kim has threatened to nuke the U.S. On the scale of things, isnt that a wee bit more serious? But lets talk about the meddling by the Russians in our presidential election. In monetary terms, it was small potatoes. And if the Russians had wanted to disrupt our politics, its unlikely they could have done very much in 2016 or this year. Were already at peak craziness. Was it the Russians who prompted Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to call for progressives to fight in the streets? Did the Russians ask Hillary Clinton to join the resistance? Do they edit the Washington Post and New York Times, or operate CNN and MSNBC? We dont need the Russians to make a mockery of American politics. We do it all by ourselves. And if we are to take further actions against Russias meddling in our elections past and future, just what might we do? The First Amendment to our Constitution bars the federal government from interfering with free speech and freedom of the press. If our government tried to censor what is said on the Internet and in the media about our elections, such an action would be unconstitutional. Instead, it makes the most sense to respond to Russias interference in our election by going on the offense, tit-for-tat. If the Russians interfere in our elections, we should interfere in their elections. But guess what? Were interfering with Russias internal politics already and we were doing it long before the Russians started meddling on social media sites. If they messed with us, we had started it and it was they who were playing tit-for-tat. The U.S. government has a long record of supporting pro-democracy non-governmental organizations that seek to subvert undemocratic governments in other countries. For example, the National Endowment for Democracy is funded primarily by U.S. taxpayer dollars with a mission of exporting democracy. It does so around the world. In Russia, the National Endowment for Democracy has directed its grants to organizations that employ Putins opponents or that engage activists to foster civil engagement. When the Russians enacted their Undesirable Organizations Law in 2015 to bar such activity, the first group banned was unsurprisingly the National Endowment for Democracy. In truth, America has a long history of messing with other countries, beginning with our invasion of Canada in 1775. On the right, conservatives have decried our support for regime change in Libya and our efforts at nation-building in the Arab world in recent years. People on the left are apt to remember our support for the right-wing rebel group known as the Contras in Nicaragua under President Reagan, or our ousting of democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran under President Eisenhower. In a more recent example of taking sides in a foreign election under cover of supporting democracy, in 2015 President Obamas State Department gave $350,000 to an Israeli group ostensibly to seek an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. In reality, the $350,000 was spent to build a voter database and train activists to oppose the democratically elected government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Obama detested. So where does that leave us? We might either shut down our efforts to export our ideals or expect that if we mess with Putin hell mess with us. President Trump largely favors the former strategy. Hed like to slash the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy and clip its wings. He doesn't believe we should seek to export democracy, except by way of providing an example for other countries. Such a move would be a radical break in the American tradition of defending democracy abroad and one we should not make. With all the mistakes weve made with all the ways in which the cause of exporting democracy has been used to excuse foreign wars the ideal of liberal democracy is worth defending and even exporting. We did so to resist communism and have no apologies to make on that score. So lets keep the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Voice of America and support democracy and freedom in other parts of the world. But if we do these things, lets be realistic. Its naive to think weve heard the last from Russian trolls. As we do unto others, they do unto us. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! There's a new book out by Hillary Clinton's former communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, suggesting that sexism by American voters not Clinton's email scandal was the key factor responsible for Clintons loss to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Palmieri writes in her book titled Dear Madam President that Clinton couldn't get out of the email box because American voters couldnt get past their unease about a woman seeking power. In fact, Palmieri goes on to suggest that the Clinton email issue was both trivial and irrelevant notwithstanding the fact that a Reuters poll just six weeks before the election showed a significant 46 percent of Americans were very concerned about that very issue. In her book, subtitled An Open Letter To The Women Who Will Run the World Palmieri writes: One thing our campaign was never able to move beyond was the vexing issue of Hillarys emails I think it was the unease people felt about Hillarys motivation as a woman seeking power that made it impossible for us to very fully put this matter to bed. I have weathered a lot of political crises, but never encountered one quite like this. It was a box we could never get out of. (Emphasis added). Hillary Clinton's problem was that many Americans didn't trust her because she was caught telling untruths repeatedly about her email system. Given Clintons recent comments that Trump voters were backwards and women voters were manipulated by men, it is no surprise to see a Clinton adviser attacking American voters rather than suggesting that voters fairly evaluated Clinton based upon her conduct. Clinton's problem was that many Americans didn't trust her because she was caught telling untruths repeatedly about her email system. She first told us it was simply a matter of convenience to use her unsecure, non-government email system. That wasn't true. Clinton next told us there was no classified information on the email system. That wasn't true. Then the Democratic presidential candidate told us she turned over all the government emails that she had. That absolutely was not true. And the kicker was Clintons attempted deletion of over half the emails she supposedly took with her when she left the State Department 33,000 in total. On top of that, there is the pay-to-play scandal that Judicial Watch uncovered in August of 2016 that raised further legal issues about Clintons conduct as secretary of state. Palmieris suggestion that sexism made it impossible for Clinton to explain her way out of the email scandal insults all voters. The real concern among male and female voters alike was about putting someone into high office who had such utter contempt for the rule of law. Recall that Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination back in 2008 thanks in part to his argument that Bill and Hillary Clintons record of corruption would be an albatross during the general election. Just a few months ago, we disclosed the classified emails from the Clinton email server found on the laptop of Clinton aide Huma Abedins scandal-ridden husband, disgraced former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y. It was one more instance of misconduct in a serial violation of national security laws that would have gotten anyone else arrested. This trivial and irrelevant email scandal resulted in a FBI investigation into whether Clinton was in violation of criminal laws concerning the handling of classified information. She escaped prosecution because of the political intervention of the Obama White House, FBI and Justice Department leadership. Palmieris book shows that Clinton wasn't the only person on her campaign oblivious to the way people perceived her misconduct. While Palmieri does a poor job of explaining the Clinton email scandal, she does a good job of showing how Clintons aides enabled her misbehavior. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! When President Trump recently visited California, he came away with the sense that it is totally out of control. If he arrived at that conclusion from just a single visit, imagine how many who live in the state feel. To be fair, California itself isnt out of control. There are many among the 40 million who honorably and honestly go about their daily business. Outside of Antifa riots and some infantile behavior on college campuses, there are no mobs in the streets; crime is up but not unrestrained; there are multiple efforts brewing to break up the state, but none are threatening violent insurgencies (though there is a Calexit movement that calls for the state to leave the union). What is out of control is Californias ruling class. Much of its political agenda is hostile to basic human liberty and mocks the limits on what government should be allowed to do in an ostensibly free society. Likely the sharpest thorn in Trumps side is California lawmakers contempt of our federal system. States enjoy wide latitude to pursue their own destinies. The 10th Amendment provides states with powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, but it doesnt allow them to conduct their own foreign policy, which is the province of the federal executive branch. If all this isnt enough to convince the rest of the country that California lawmakers are out of control, add to it legislation that regulates cattle flatulence in the name of the climate. Yet California has decided that it is a sanctuary state where federal immigration laws dont apply. Since Jan. 1, state and local law enforcement officers have been barred by law from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. No matter what one feels about immigration, those who respect the federal system have to admit that this is out of bounds. Of course, the 78 state lawmakers who voted in favor of declaring California a sanctuary state think that their sort of secessionist thinking is just fine. But they have a test ahead. Its going to be interesting to see if its acceptable to them for one of their cities to secede from their secession. What are they going to do with the Los Alamitos City Council, which voted on March 19 to exempt their Orange County city from the state sanctuary law? Like the Legislature, Gov. Jerry Brown has also dabbled in foreign affairs. Hes invited the whole world to a climate summit in San Francisco this year and has signed climate deals with Chinese officials. While Brown played on the world stage, state lawmakers were hard at work at home banning plastic shopping bags from grocery stores, proposing to criminalize what they see is the irresponsible use of plastic straws, and continuing to raise taxes, which are already the most backbreaking in the nation. According to the Tax Foundation, California has the sixth-highest state-local tax burden as a percentage of income; ranks 48th in the State Business Tax Climate Index; has the most punishing individual top income tax bracket; and is home to the highest state sales tax. After passing a $52 billion fuel tax hike last year, California has moved closer to having the highest combined gasoline and diesel taxes in the country, though its not quite there yet. If all this isnt enough to convince the rest of the country that California lawmakers are out of control, add to it legislation that regulates cattle flatulence in the name of the climate; a law that requires greenhouse gas emissions to be cut 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, even though the laws language says it will at least cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year; and a $15 minimum wage by 2022 that Brown admitted may not make sense economically and will without question depress employment. Can it get worse? Bet on it. One legislator has proposed banning the sale of gas-powered cars by 2040. Another wants to require every kilowatt of electric power sold in the state to be generated by renewable sources by 2045. These ideas are, like so much public policy in California, as foolish as they sound. After he escaped from Al Qaeda in Syria, American photojournalist Matt Schrier investigated his own kidnapping and uncovered what he describes as a pattern of "betrayal" by FBI agents handling his case. Schrier is now asking hard questions of former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who now leads the special counsel Russia probe, and former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired by President Trump in May 2017. "Not every FBI agent is bad. Some are very good people," Schrier told Fox News. "But the ones that are bad need to be weeded out. And the ones who let them be bad, and who turn their head, need to be exposed." In an exclusive cable interview that first aired Monday on "The Story" with Martha MacCallum, Schrier went in depth, sharing emails, financial records and formal letters of complaint, which backed up allegations that after he was taken hostage in 2012, the FBI monitored his accounts as Al Qaeda terrorists used his money to buy at least a dozen computers and tablets. While he was tortured and held by al Nusra, the brutal Al Qaeda franchise in Syria, Schrier claimed the FBI put intelligence gathering ahead of his personal security, hoping to track the computers and tablets to learn more about Al Qaeda recruits and future plots. After his harrowing escape, Schrier started demanding answers from the FBI, which at the time of his kidnapping was led by Mueller. Since his return to the U.S. in mid-2013, Schrier shared documents with Fox News and explained, "I faxed-- I emailed them, probably between my mother and my father and me, between 50 and 100 complaints." Comey took over from Mueller in September 2013, and Schrier said the stonewalling continued. "I was emailing him questions. I was forwarding him all these emails. I was demanding answers from him," Schrier said. "And I never got anything back." Schrier said he has been unable to obtain credit cards or open new bank accounts because Al Qaeda stole his identity and passwords. Unable to get a lease for an apartment, Schrier said his FBI case manager suggested he temporarily live in a New York City homeless shelter. "I just got clean clothes without bed bugs. I don't want to go through a situation where I have to deal with lice and bed bugs again. Like, no thank you." The publisher for Comey's upcoming book, "A Higher Loyalty," did not immediately respond to Fox News' questions. The Office of the Special Counsel referred Fox News to the FBI. The FBI did not dispute Schrier's account. An FBI spokesperson said the bureau could neither respond to specific questions nor make the agent assigned to Schrier's case available for an interview. "The FBI's investigation into the kidnapping of Matthew Schrier remains open, therefore, we are not able to discuss investigative details surrounding this case. The FBI works closely with our federal partners not only to ensure that the U.S. Government does all that it can to safely recover Americans taken hostage overseas but to also assist victims who have been defrauded or further abused by a hostage-taker," the spokesperson said. A leading group that helps American hostages and their families, Hostage US, confirmed 2012 and 2013 represented a dark period. "By the U.S. government's own admission, there were many problems relating to their engagement with families around this time, mixed messages from different parts of government," Hostage US Executive Director Rachel Briggs told Fox News. "President Obama ordered a review of the U.S. government's handling of hostages' cases in late 2014, which... led to a range of policy and procedural changes. The review came about largely because families themselves were vocal in their criticisms, and they should take the credit for the changes they brought about." Briggs cited a new Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell -- a cross-government unit focused on hostage cases, as well as a Hostage Response Group at the National Security Council. -------------------------------------------------------- Schrier's story began in 2012 when, as a freelance photographer, he traveled to Syria, one of the most dangerous places on the planet for journalists to operate. Schrier said he wanted to witness history. "I love military history and I'm not really the type who wants to photograph handshakes. So I thought it would be a great experience witnessing history, photographing history, bringing it back," Schrier explained. On New Year's Eve of 2012, instead of crossing back into Turkey, Schrier was kidnapped by the Al Qaeda franchise known as al Nusra. "ISIS pushed them out, but at that time, they were number one," Schrier said. "They were the guys you did not want to be held by." Schrier spent the next seven months held in six prisons across Syria where he was routinely tortured and starved. "They caught me trying to escape a month and six days in, so they put a tire around my knees and they lock it in place by sliding a bar in the crook between the tire and your knee -- the back of your knees. And they flip you over so your feet are in the air and you're handcuffed... And they take a cable... about as thick as nightstick, and they whack your feet." Six weeks after his disappearance, records reviewed by Fox News showed 10 computers were purchased using his accounts, after Schrier said his Al Qaeda kidnappers threatened him. "They sat me down in the office in a circle with the emir, three Canadians and another guy. And they put a piece of paper in front of me and said, basically, 'Write down all the passwords for every account you have, from Facebook to your credit cards to your bank accounts, we want your social security number.'" At least two tablets were shipped to a Canadian address. Fox News called phone numbers listed under the name and address but there was no response. A February 2017 email reviewed by Fox News from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police suggested a criminal case was being built, but there was no public evidence charges were pursued. By February 2013, Schrier said the terrorists had everything to steal his identity. "They bought laptops, they bought tablets, they bought boots, you know, things to fight with. They practically rebuilt a Mercedes with parts. I mean, all sorts of stuff... They bought a Kama Sutra guide. They bought sunglasses, cologne." At the same time, Schrier claimed the FBI was monitoring the transactions, and the bureau's point person for his family, agent Lindsey Perotti, misled his mother. Six months into his captivity, the FBI agent wrote Schrier's mother, "Everything at this point seems to indicate he is the one using his phone, credit card, and bank account." Despite working as a freelance war photographer, Schrier had not posted any new work. "I'd been kept in the dark for extremely long periods of times, I'm infested with bedbugs," Schrier said. "Yet, according to the FBI, I'm speaking to people on my cellphone, I'm buying laptops and cologne and boots and sunglasses, maybe going into Turkey once in a while to get away from things, you know, just like all jihadis do, you know. 'Cause Southern Turkey's like the Hamptons, you know?" Schrier, from New York, hid the fact he was Jewish from his captors because he said it meant certain death. Two intelligence officers, one current, the other former, told Fox News that Schrier's theory -- that the FBI was tracking Al Qaeda's online activity with his accounts, as well as the computer purchases -- suggested it was part of a larger operation. "So they're monitoring my financial records straight off the bat. They're letting them steal this money. Why are they letting them steal the money, what's the angle? Well, what are they buying? They're buying laptops and tablets. If they intercept them, they do their little spy thing and then they deliver them right into the hands of Al Qaeda and they create, basically, a dream come true for the intelligence community, a way to infiltrate the enemy like never before, without them even knowing it," Schrier said. He claimed the FBI's priority was running an intelligence operation and not an investigation to secure his release. Pressed by Fox News to back up the serious allegation, Schrier said, "Beyond a reasonable doubt, I have all the evidence, I have made one attempt after another to have this investigated so that the people responsible can be held accountable, nobody will return my calls, nobody will investigate this, despite all the evidence." Halfway through his captivity, by April 2013, there was a conversation between FBI agent Perotti and a government official familiar with the case. "He's like, 'Do you think that he joined them? Like, what's going on?' She's like, 'No, no, no. We're pretty sure he didn't join 'em based on his financial records.' Boom, she slipped. She admitted she was monitoring my financial records as of early April," Schrier said. A government official backed up the account to Fox News. Nearly five years after a harrowing escape, Schrier documented his story in a new book, "The Dawn Prayer." The 39-year-old Schrier said he remained angry at how the FBI handled his case. "You know, what I needed help with was reestablishing a life for myself, which means a new social security number and rebuilding my credit." Schrier emphasized that he still couldn't get a credit card though he was able eventuallly to recover more than $16,000 in stolen funds through PayPal and Citibank, but it took months. "You have the Witness Protection Program, you give new social security numbers to murderers and pimps and drug dealers. I'm a witness too and I didn't do any of that stuff. 'No -- can't help you.'" After he returned, Schrier described a debrief for the FBI and CIA. The CIA had no comment for Fox News. "I gave them more information than probably 50 informants could've given 'em. And that's when I went from feeling like, 'All right, I don't deserve anything,' to, 'You know what, yeah, yeah I deserve some things. I deserve a new social security number, I deserve decent health care, I deserve to be treated with respect.' I didn't ask for anything. I gave them Skype names, I gave them more than anyone in my situation has ever given them. I can say that definitively. And what I got in return was lies, betrayal, nothing," Schrier said. An FBI spokesperson added, "The FBI offers assistance to victims to aid them in rebuilding their lives. We continue to work with our interagency and international law enforcement partners to gather intelligence as well as assess the possibility of bringing charges against those who victimized Mr. Schrier." California on Monday promised to sue the Trump administration over its decision to ask the 2020 census respondents if they are citizens of the United States. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the suit against the administration late Monday on Twitter, saying the measure would be unlawful. Filing suit against @realdonaldtrump's Administration over decision to add #citizenship question on #2020Census. Including the question is not just a bad idea it is illegal, Becerra wrote. The Commerce Department said in a statement that the citizenship question would be added in response to a request by the Justice Department made in December. The statement said that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross "has determined that reinstatement of a citizenship question on the 2020 decennial census questionnaire is necessary to provide complete and accurate census block level data." Democrats have criticized the administrations announcement, saying the inclusion of such a question amounts to an effort to intimidate immigrant communities and siphon money and electoral power away from them. In a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece published Monday, Becerra and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla wrote that the inclusion of a citizenship question would be "illegal" and "an extraordinary attempt by the Trump administration to hijack the 2020 census for political purposes." "California, with its large immigrant communities, would be disproportionately harmed by depressed participation in the 2020 census," they wrote. "An undercount would threaten at least one of Californias seats in the House of Representatives (and, by extension, an elector in the electoral college.)" According to the Commerce Department, "almost every decennial census" between 1820 and 1950 "asked a question on citizenship in some form." The department also said the citizenship question would be "the same as the one that is asked on the yearly American Community Survey (ACS)." The ACS is sent to a much smaller percentage of American homes than the actual census. The decennial census count is required by the Constitution and its results are used to determine federal spending, as well as the number of congressional seats allocated to each state for the next decade and the number of electoral votes available from each state. A California sheriffs office announced Monday that it will provide public information on when inmates are released from jail -- a move coming amid a growing backlash against the liberal states sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Orange County Register reported that the countys sheriffs department will publish a Whos in Jail online database, including the date and time of inmates release, to help cooperate with other law enforcement agencies including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE.) Undersheriff Don Barnes cited Californias sanctuary legislation, which limits the instances when state and local police agencies can inform federal authorities about an illegal immigrants release from detention, specifically as a reason for the move. This is in response to SB-54 limiting our ability to communicate with federal authorities and our concern that criminals are being released to the street when theres another avenue to safeguard the community by handing them over (to ICE for potential deportation), Barnes said, according to the Register. Annie Lai, co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at UC Irvine, noted that SB-45 does allow authorities to notify federal agencies of the release dates of illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes. This change in policy is basically affecting everybody else who doesnt have a serious criminal history under SB-54, she said. The move by Orange County comes as more local authorities in California are looking at ways to reject the states controversial sanctuary policies passed in January, aspects of which are being challenged by a lawsuit from the Department of Justice. MORE CALIFORNIA CITIES LOOKING TO REJECT STATE'S SANCTUARY LAW Members of the Los Alamitos Council voted this month to opt out of the sanctuary law, noting that it may be in direct conflict with federal laws and the Constitution. That has in turn inspired officials in other parts of the states, including Orange County, Aliso Viejo and Buena Park, to consider doing the same. Californias immigration debate was put in the national spotlight last month when Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf tweeted out a warning about an imminent ICE raid in northern California. While over 200 illegal immigrants were caught in the raid, ICE officials said hundreds more -- including serious criminals -- evaded capture because of Schaafs warning. But Schaaf has defended her decision, and was supported by a number of state Democrats. Fox News' Lukas Mikelionis contributed to this report. Democrats are blasting the Trump administration for a craven attack on our democracy this week, in the wake of its decision to ask 2020 census respondents if they are citizens of the United States. On Monday, the Commerce Department said in a statement that the citizenship question would be added to the 2020 census in response to a request made by the Justice Department in December 2017. The statement said that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has determined that reinstatement of a citizenship question on the 2020 decennial census questionnaire is necessary to provide complete and accurate census block level data. The decennial census count is required by the Constitution and its results are used to determine federal spending, as well as the number of congressional seats allocated to each state for the next decade, as well as the number of electoral votes available from each state. To Republicans, the additional census question is perfectly logical. But Democrats are up in arms, saying the inclusion of such a question amounts to an effort to intimidate immigrant communities and siphon money and electoral power away from them. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez slammed the move, assuring Americans that Democrats would fight this attempt to undermine our democracy. This is a craven attack on our democracy and a transparent attempt to intimidate immigrant communities, Perez said in a statement. The census is a constitutionally-mandated count of all U.S. residents, not a political tool for Donald Trump to push his agenda and disempower Latinos and other people of color. Perez alleged that adding the citizenship question not only allows Trump and Republicans to stoke fear in an attempt to make immigrant communities invisible, but are guaranteeing an inaccurate count that lays the groundwork for sustained racial gerrymandering and jeopardizes critical resources for communities across the country. And just hours after the announcement, Californias Attorney General Xavier Becerra promised to sue the administration, calling the measure illegal. Including the question is not just a bad idea it is illegal, Becerra tweeted Monday. Former Attorney General Eric Holder also promised to litigate to stop the administration from moving forward with this irresponsible decision. The addition of a citizenship question to the census questionnaire is a direct attack on our representative democracy, Holder said in a statement on Monday evening following the administrations announcement. This question will lower the response rate and undermine the accuracy of the count, leading to devastating, decade-long impacts on voting rights and the distribution of billions of dollars of federal funding. Holder added: Make no mistakethis decision is motivated purely by politics. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also blasted the Trump administrations measure as a dog-whistle tactic to raise funds for his campaign committee. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., introduced the 2020 Census Improving Data and Enhanced Accuracy Act, to prevent the question from being added to the census. This is a deliberate effort to politicize the census for partisan gains that violates the standards set forth in the Constitution mandating an accurate count of the nation, Maloney said in a statement. Congress should block this action by passing the Census IDEA Act, which I introduced last week. We cannot accept an incomplete or unfair count in 2020too much is at stake. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., introduced a similar piece of legislation in the Senate. But the Commerce Department said that almost every decennial census between 1820 and 1950 asked a question on citizenship in some form. The department also said the citizenship question would be the same as the one that is asked on the yearly American Community Survey (ACS), which is sent to a much smaller percentage of American homes than the actual census. But Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Ted Cruz of Texas are praising the move, calling it a reasonable, common-sense addition to the census. It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide-ranging impacts it will have on U.S. policy, Cruz said in a statement. Census counts are taken by mail and by workers going door to door. The Census Bureau said that the 2010 census drew a massive response, with about 74 percent of households mailing in forms, and the remaining households counted by workers in neighborhoods. The citizenship data provided to the [Department of Justice] will be more accurate with the question than without it, Secretary Ross wrote. Which is of greater importance than any adverse effect that may result from people violating their legal duty to respond. Fox News Samuel Chamberlain and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts legal team filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss a second round of charges brought forth by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in Virginia. The lawyers asserted that Mueller exceeded the scope of the investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates during the 2016 presidential election. And they claimed Mueller wasn't even investigating their client for any possible collusion. Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing filed a motion in federal court to dismiss the superseding indictment brought by Mueller in early February, noting that the charges against Mr. Manafort do not arise directly from the special counsels investigation. The conduct alleged here was not discovered because of the special counsels investigation into alleged coordination; nor was it demonstrably related to that investigation, the filing states, citing examples of alleged tax violations that occurred well before the start of the Trump campaign or Mr. Manaforts brief involvement with that campaign, or the alleged failures to disclose foreign assets. The DOJ well knew about both of those supposed crimes because it had already investigated Mr. Manafort about them, it said. The special counsel thus cannot credibly claim that he discovered them because of his original investigation. Manaforts attorneys added: Indeed, the special counsel has never suggested that Mr. Manafort had anything to do with alleged 'coordination [with] the Russian government,' or even that he is investigating Mr. Manafort on that subject. A federal grand jury returned the new charges, which included conspiring against the United States, conspiring to launder money, failing to register as an agent of a foreign principal and providing false statements. That superseding indictment was brought against both Manafort and his ex-associate Rick Gates, separate from the original indictment in October 2017. Manafort pleaded not guilty to the new round of charges, just as he he'd done to the first round in October, but Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and lying to the FBI. Muellers team then moved to dismiss the superseding indictment against Gates. Gates has intimate knowledge of Manaforts years of political consulting work in Ukraine, as well as other events that sparked the interest of federal investigators. Despite Gates guilty plea, Manafort has said that he will continue to maintain my innocence, and that he hoped and expected Gates would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, who is assigned to the superseding indictment in Virginia, suggested that Manafort could face life in prison, and poses a substantial flight risk because of his financial means and international connections to flee and remain at large. Specifically given the nature of the charges against the defendant and the apparent weight of the evidence against him, defendant faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison, Ellis wrote. Fox News' Kelly Phares contributed to this report. Mitt Romney claimed Monday that he is more conservative than President Trump on immigration, expressing skepticism about allowing recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to gain a path to citizenship. Romney, who is running for outgoing Utah Sen. Orrin Hatchs Senate seat, made the comments at a question-and-answer in Provo, describing himself as a hawk on immigration. For instance, Im a deficit hawk, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee said, according to Utah's The Daily Herald. That makes me more of a conservative than a lot of Republicans and a lot of Democrats. Im also more of a hawk on immigration than even the president. My view was these DACA kids shouldnt be allowed to stay in the country legally." Trump came under fire last week from immigration hardliners after he signed a $1.3 trillion omnibus bill which provided only $1.6 billion for border security funding, which was mostly for repairs or additions of already-existing fencing and explicitly ruled out recent wall prototypes Trump had viewed in California. Trump briefly considered vetoing the bill, both over the lack of funding for border security and also the failure to provide a legislative fix for the expiring DACA program. He told DACA recipients that Republicans are with you and blasted Democrats for not doing enough to come up with a legislative solution. TRUMP, GOP LEADERS FACE BACKLASH OVER $1.3 TRILLION SPENDING PACKAGE But, according to the Herald, Romney said he believed there should be qualifications DACA recipients should earn to justify residency, such as going to college, becoming a teacher or joining the military. Now I will accept the presidents view on this, but for me, I draw the line and say, those whove come illegally should not be given a special path to citizenship, he said. A spokesman later clarified Romneys remarks to The Boston Globe, ruling out support for a pathway to citizenship but agreeing that President Obamas DACA commitment should be honored. President Obama enacted DACA and Gov. Romney believes the commitment made by President Obama should be honored, the statement said. Therefore, he agrees with President Trumps proposal to allow DACA recipients to legally stay in the country but does not support a special pathway to citizenship. A Democratic candidate for sheriff in North Carolina apologized Sunday for a joke about taking guns away from peoples cold, bare hands. R. Daryl Fisher, who is seeking the Democratic Partys nomination in the upcoming primary election for Buncombe County sheriff, has come under criticism following his remarks at a monthly Moms Demand Action meeting for gun control earlier this month. During his short speech, where he expressed support for banning high-capacity magazines and any weapon thats designed for use by the military, he joked about taking away guns once people are dead. Dont believe the scare tactics, because youve heard people say, You'll have to pry my gun from my cold, dead hands, Fisher is heard saying in a video posted by his campaign at the 3:04 minute mark. OK Whenever you pass away, we'll come get it, he quipped. The remark prompted laughter and applause from the audience, but he added that he was joking just a little bit there. The sheriff hopeful told North Carolinas The News & Observer on Monday that a one-sentence clip from that meeting has been taken out of context and circulated on social media with a false interpretation of what I actually said. Fisher still issued an apology about the joke, saying it was a mistake he should not have made and affirmed his support for the Second Amendment, although he favors some gun-control measures. There is one statement that many up to now have taken offense to I admit the joke was a mistake and I should not have joked, Fisher wrote on his Facebook page, noting that the government cannot take away any guns or any items that were legally sold before any new laws take effect. Responsible gun owners have nothing to worry about. We have to do something different because what has been done is not working, he added. Officials in California's Orange County voted Tuesday to join a lawsuit from the Trump administration fighting the state's "sanctuary city" laws, hours after the county sheriff's department anounced its own methods of pushing back against the legislation aimed at protecting illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra would not rule out taking action of his own against officials who fight the laws, including the sheriff. "State law is state law. Its my job to enforce state law and I will do so. We want to make sure that every jurisdiction, including Orange County, understands what state law requires of the people and the subdivisions of the state of California," Becerra said at a news conference. When asked if that meant an arrest or lawsuit against the sheriff, Becerra responded, "I think I just answered that." The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 to join the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit, which argued three recent California laws deliberately interfered with federal immigration policies. One of the laws bars police in many cases from turning over suspects to federal immigration agents for deportation. "This legislation prevents law enforcement from removing criminals from our community and is a threat to public safety," Supervisor Shawn Nelson said before the vote. The county moved earlier this week to improve communication with federal immigration agents by publishing the release dates of inmates online. The sheriff's department used to screen inmates in the county's jails to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents identify those subject to deportation but had to stop after the state law passed. CALIFORNIA SHERIFFS OFFICE TO PUBLISH INMATES RELEASE IN PUSHBACK AGAINST STATES SANCTUARY LAW Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes told Fox News in an interview that Becerras comments were threatening, but the sheriff's office was not doing anything that the law did not allow. "My hope would be that he would read the language of the law that was passed," he said on "Hannity." "It very clearly says in there what we can and cannot do." Barnes added that the law has put Californians at risk by returning dangerous individuals back into the communities and that by making this information public, the sheriff's office was trying to help the community be safer. "Theyre very serious crimes and theyre being return back into the community, and quite honestly back into the communities in which they preyed upon and committed their crimes to begin with." The Orange County Register reported that the sheriffs department would publish a "Whos in Jail" online database, including the date and time of inmates release, to help cooperate with other law enforcement agencies including ICE. "SB 54 makes local law enforcements job more difficult and requires bureaucratic processes that could allow dangerous individuals to fall through the cracks of our justice system," Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said. "My department, however, remains committed to cooperating fully with federal authorities in all areas where I have discretion to remove serious criminals from our community." Annie Lai, co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at UC Irvine, noted that SB-45 does allow authorities to notify federal agencies of the release dates of illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes. "This change in policy is basically affecting everybody else who doesnt have a serious criminal history under SB-54," she said. Earlier this month another California city, Los Alamitos, approved an ordinance to opt out of the sanctuary city law that council members say conflicts with federal law. Board members say that the state law may be in direct conflict with federal laws and the Constitution, and goes against the oath they took for office. Fox News' Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Senate Republicans fed up with the Democrats' refusal to allow confirmation votes on a slew of critical appointments - including the high-profile case of the Trump administration's first openly gay ambassadorial nominee may move more aggressively to finally break the logjam. "It's time to end this partisan spectacle. We have 78 more nominees for various jobs whove made it through their committee hearings and are waiting for a vote on this floor," Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said on the floor of the Senate last week. "Most of these people have bipartisan support, they can be confirmed easily." Barrasso wants to change a rule that allows for 30 hours of Senate discussion for each nominee, which Republicans say effectively allows Democrats to jam up the appointment process to a ridiculously slow crawl. Barrasso wants to limit the number of hours of discussion down to eight - a standard Democrats themselves supported under the Obama administration. TRUMP ACCUSES DEMS OF SLOW-WALKING 'HUNDREDS' OF NOMINATIONS "Its time to return to the rules for debating nominations that the Senate used four years ago Democrats controlled the Senate at the time and a Democrat was making the nominations, that was President Obama," Barrasso said. The logjam holding up one particular nomination has attracted more attention in recent weeks, and may be contributing to the effort to change the rules. Richard Grenell, a conservative and experienced foreign policy expert who is openly gay, was nominated by Trump to be ambassador to Germany last year, but remains among those held up in the process. Grenell's nomination, which has been championed by a broad range of Republican and conservative officials and commentators, recently picked up the support of a liberal gay rights group, the Harvey Milk Foundation. I understand those who are frustrated with the Trump administration and the actions the Trump administration has taken who have also opposed Grenell, Stuart Milk, the co-founder of the group, told the New York Times. And I think thats misguided." In response to the growing calls to approve Grenell, Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., last week went to the floor of the Senate and called for a unanimous voice consent to push the nomination through. But Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., objected, citing his objections to some comments Grenell, a former Fox News contributor, posted on his Twitter feed. According to Merkley, some of Grenell's tweets showed "a complete disregard for the Senate confirmation process." Grenells supporters have pushed back strongly on Merkleys objections, and say Grenells tweets since he was nominated last fall have focused on foreign policy issues. His supporters have taken their case to twitter, through #confirmgrenell and other online efforts. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has also stepped up its effort to push through Grenell's nomination. Speaking at a White House press briefing last month, spokesperson Sarah Sanders cited the Democrats' "historic obstruction" in blocking that and the growing number of other nominations. "Mr. Grenell, a Harvard-educated experienced diplomat, was the longest-serving U.S. spokesperson at the United Nations. He was nominated in September of last year. He was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with bipartisan support. He is waiting to represent America's interest and be our country's top voice in a G-7 country," Sanders said. The hyper-political delay on Mr. Grenell puts our national security and America's foreign policy interests in jeopardy," Sanders said. "The Senate should move to confirm him immediately." A range of foreign policy experts have also expressed their concern over the lack of a U.S. ambassador to Germany. The U.S.-Germany relationship is a critical one, particularly with the Berlin government's involvement in issues like the Iran nuclear deal, trade, and NATO security. The holdup of Grenells nomination has also irritated German politicians and the media. "America needs a voice in Germany!" read the headline of a commentary piece by Florian von Heintze, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of BILD. "When the German-America relationship suffers, that damages Germany. We have no more an important ally in the world. John Paul Stevens, the 97-year-old retired Supreme Court justice, is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment and is encouraging anti-gun protesters to do the same. Stevens, once the leader of the court's liberals, said the schoolchildren and their supporters who have been demonstrating against school shootings should seek more effective and more lasting reform. They should demand a repeal of the Second Amendment, Stevens wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times on Tuesday. Stevens argued that the amendment which states that a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed is a relic of the 18th century. Repealing the Second Amendment, he argued, is the most effective way to stop school shootings. Stevens retired from the court in 2010. That simple but dramatic action would move Saturdays marchers closer to their objective than any other possible reform, Stevens said. It would eliminate the only legal rule that protects sellers of firearms in the United States unlike every other market in the world. Repealing the Second Amendment would be extraordinarily difficult for anti-gun activists to do. That would require both houses of Congress proposing the amendment with a two-thirds vote, or two thirds of state legislatures calling on Congress to hold a constitutional convention. It would then have to be ratified by three-fourths of the states or state legislatures. In his op-ed, Stevens also railed against the 2008 Supreme Court District of Columbia v. Heller decision that established an individual right to bear arms. That decision which I remain convinced was wrong and certainly was debatable has provided the NRA with a propaganda weapon of immense power, Stevens said. Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the NRAs ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option. Chris Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement Tuesday that the gun-control lobby is no longer distancing themselves from the radical idea of repealing the Second Amendment and banning all firearms. The men and women of the National Rifle Association, along with the majority of the American people and the Supreme Court, believe in the Second Amendment right to self-protection and we will unapologetically continue to fight to protect this fundamental freedom, Cox said. There has been a renewed push for gun control since February's school shooting in Parkland, Fla. But there has been no serious push by Democrats to repeal the amendment. But speaking to conservatives last month, President Trump said he believes Democrats would try to repeal the Second Amendment if they take back control of the government. TRUMP AT CPAC: 2ND AMENDMENT AT RISK IF DEMS TAKE POWER They will take away your Second Amendment, which we will never allow to happen, Trump said. Oklahomas senior senator says he has a novel way to end the controversial practice of catch and release on the border. Instead of releasing illegal immigrants once they are caught trying to enter the country and hope they show up to immigration court Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., proposes sending them back to their home country. That way, he said, the illegal immigrants dont become absorbed in the U.S. after they fail to show up to court. A large number of illegal immigrants who are caught, then released, fail to show up to immigration court, he said. They end up staying in the county illegally, he said. Following a tour with border agents in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday, Inhofe said he planned to introduce legislation in the next three weeks that would allow immigration agents to send those caught illegally crossing the border back home. This merely says if theyre caught in the country, send them back to their country while they wait for the court date, he said. President Trump signed an executive order last year to end catch-and-release, when illegal immigrants are detained and let go in the U.S. But his plan, to keep the immigrants detained until their court proceedings have ended, was stymied by a years-long backlog in immigration court and shortage of beds at detention centers. But Inhofe said catch and release does not have to continue because of the bed shortage. "The reason why 70 percent of [undocumented immigrants] don't make their court date is because [the federal government doesnt] make them stay in their country, he said. And, obviously, if I were in that position, I'd be off someplace else too." A report released last year by the Center for Immigration Studies said about 46,000 illegal immigrants a year who are detained after illegally crossing the border do not appear in court and disappear in the county. Deportation orders for failure to appear are the largest group of orders issued by immigration courts outside detention facilities, said the report, written by Mark Metcalf, a former immigration judge in Miami. Inhofes office did not comment on the details of his proposal, saying the legislation is still being drafted. But his proposal has come under fire from immigration groups who call it inhumane and logistically impossible. Aida Montanaro-Flores, an immigration attorney in Brownsville, said it would be a financial burden to send the immigrants back to their country and then require them to make a trip back for a court hearing. Are they going to be allowed a travel permit? Will the government pay for their travel to come back to the country and attend their court dates? Montanaro-Flores asked. What guarantees do we have that they theyll be allowed to come back for their court date? Other immigration groups said the idea was outright ridiculous. Have we really stooped this low? This suggestion is absurd, illogical and cruel not to mention a waste of resources, said Kica Matos, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Immigrant and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change. Republicans need to focus on making communities safer instead of continuing to tear families apart. A Republican lawmaker is warning that the $1.3 trillion spending bill approved by Congress last week means more aging veterans could be deprived of owning guns because of a policy that targets those who no longer handle their finances. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told the House Committee on Rules the bill could result in more veterans losing the right to keep and bear arms because it includes an unrelated provision bolstering the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. At the VA, you have veterans who are losing their right to keep and bear arms every day... if they do so much as just to say to the person interviewing them that 'somebody else manages my finances,'" Massie said. Under current policy, the Department of Veterans Affairs asks veterans who apply for benefits whether they handle their own finances. If they don't do their own bills, the government considers them "incompetent" to handle their benefits, and their name then goes to the FBI's "NICS" background check system. If that happens, the veteran is blocked from buying or owning any guns. In many cases, those affected say they are of sound mind and are surprised to find themselves blocked from purchasing a firearm. "It was a total shocker," Mark Jeffery, an Ohio-based veteran affected by this policy, told Fox News. "The guy who made this determination on me was not a psychologist." He appealed and waited more than two years for a final answer, which was settled in his favor just this week. TRUMP, GOP LEADERS FACE BACKLASH OVER $1.3 TRILLION SPENDING PACKAGE Massie says the new bill will make the situation worse because it will apply more pressure on the VA to more diligently put report those veterans' names into the database. When this happens to a veteran, they have a 30-day window to appeal. If they appeal, the process often takes years and thousands of dollars in legal fees. VA reports a veteran to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System if he or she is adjudicated as incompetent by the Veterans Benefits Administration for purposes of managing his or her monetary benefits, a Veterans Affairs spokesman said. The VA spokesman continued: This process is mandated by law and provides protections for the Veteran, including an opportunity for the Veteran to appeal. The VA's system mirrors a process set up by the Obama administration that applied the same policy to Social Security recipients. Congress repealed that Obama rule, but a similar measure to end the same practice for veterans died in the Senate. The VA sent more than 35,000 veterans' names to the FBI to be blocked from buying or owning guns in 2017 alone, according to a VA document. The document was obtained by a lawyer named Seth Watkins via a Freedom of Information request, and he provided it to Fox News. "The system is just absurd" Seth Watkins, attorney representing several veterans "The system is just absurd," Watkins, who represents several veterans going through appeals, told Fox News. More than 200,000 veterans have lost their gun rights since 2010, the documents indicate. Im not on the right or the left. Theres just a problem in the mechanics of how this is done, a Veterans Administration employee told Fox News. The problem is, theres no delineation between the individual who is ready to climb up into a clock tower and start shooting, as opposed to the individual who has a touch of dementia and has lost their checkbook, the employee said. The VA employee requested that he and his job title remain anonymous for fear of retaliation by the VA. Henry Wrobel, 63, a veteran affected by this policy, won his appeal after two years of being on the gun blacklist. Yesterday I got the pistol permit back again, Wrobel of Canton, Texas told Fox News on Wednesday. Wrobel said his ordeal began when a lower-level VA hospital person asked him about his finances. He told the employee that his wife suggested it would be easy to set up auto-debit payments. I set up auto-debit to pay my electric bill, phone bill, insurance, TV, Wrobel said. And out of that, he checked no, his wife does it. He prides himself on being good with finances. Wrobel says has bought, improved and sold land and has a credit score over 700. He said he was treated as a convicted felon with his firearm rights taken. Eventually the VA overturned their decision and asked the FBI to remove Wrobels name from the banned list making him a rare case where a veteran beat the system. Constitutional rights are so fragile. Youve got to fight for it... its like people dont want you to have the right to have guns, Wrobel said. Wrobel won his challenge, but other veterans say theyre giving up hope. About a year and a half ago, I tried to purchase a firearm to go deer hunting, Pennsylvania-based veteran Cataldo Amico, 69, told Fox News. But his background check came back denied. He says he told the store clerk: I dont have a criminal record, Ive never spent time in an insane asylum where do you get this from? Multiple calls to government agencies later, Amico was told he had been adjudicated mentally defective. I think -- what the hell are they talking about? he recalled. Nobody ever informed me of this. I just want to get back in the woods with deer hunting, you know? Amico said the only thing he can think of is that he was treated for depression years back but he says hes felt better for a long time and is on no medications. He says he got nowhere talking with the VA, as the window for a normal appeal was past. He paid several hundred dollars for a lawyer to put in a formal complaint, but the VA response came back: go ahead, sue us. He asked his lawyer what it would cost to sue. He said, it could cost $7,500 to take them to court. I says, what? I cant do that. Thats a lot of money for a middle-class guy. Not only that, the wheels of justice turn slowly... Im in very good health for a guy whos 69, but this could take years -- if I ever got cleared, To be honest with you, Im kind of giving up hope, Cataldo said. It would take an act of God to fix this. Maxim Lott can be reached on Twitter at @maximlott. The White House is looking into whether two loans worth over $500 million to Jared Kushners family business may have violated federal ethics regulations or criminal laws, The Wall Street Journal reported. White House attorneys are examining if a $184 million loan from the real-estate arm of Apollo Global Management LLC and a $325 million loan from Citigroup Inc. could have violated rules and laws regarding the conduct of federal employees, according to a letter from a federal ethics agency to a Democratic lawmaker. The two loans were given to the Kushner Cos., a real-state company founded and run by the Kushner family. Kushner, President Donald Trumps son-in-law and a White House senior adviser, reportedly met with top executives from the two companies before they provided each loan. I have discussed this matter with the White House Counsels Office in order to ensure that they have begun the process of ascertaining the facts necessary to determine whether any law or regulation has been violated, David Apol, the acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, wrote in the letter published on Monday. During that discussion, the White House informed me that they had already begun this process. The letter was addressed to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois and a member of the House Oversight Committee. The lawmaker asked earlier this month the Office of Government Ethics for an opinion about possible ethical issues surrounding Kushners meeting with executives while they provided the loans to his family business, the Journal reported. The loans raise serious ethical questions that need to be investigated, Krishnamoorthi wrote in the letter to the ethics agency. Do the above actions by Mr. Kushner constitute a breach of his ethical obligations to the American people? he asked. Do the above actions by Mr. Kushner constitute a breach of his ethical obligations to the American people? Illinois Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi Citigroup said last week that the loan was completely appropriate and that the transaction was already in the works in 2016 prior to Kushners meeting with Citigroups CEO Michael Corbat in 2017. Nothing related to the [Brooklyn] loan or any other personal business with Mr. Kushner or the Kushner Companies was discussed at that meeting, Citigroup said. The Kushner family has been a client of Citi for decades, it added. An attorney for Apollo also denied it provided the loan after its executive met with Kushner, according to a letter sent to members of Congress this month, the Journal reported. Josh Harris and Jared Kushner never discussed any loans related to Kushner Companies, the letter said. The loan was negotiated on behalf of ARI by an Apollo investment professional with a history of doing business with Kushner Companies that predated his tenure at Apollo. Kushner had been running the family business before the election in 2016, but after Trump took office, he sold most of his assets to others. He still maintains a stake in some companys properties, including those that received the loans subject to a probe. Experts in Australia have found the tattered remains of an ancient priestess in a 2,500-year-old Egyptian coffin that was long thought to be empty. Reuters reports that the coffin, which was acquired by the University of Sydney 150 years ago, was erroneously classified. Late last year, however, experts were stunned to find the remains of a mummy when they opened the coffins lid. Scientists subsequently harnessed scanning technology to reveal the coffins secrets. MYSTERIOUS ANCIENT ARTWORK DEPICTING FEMALE PHARAOH FOUND BY ACCIDENT The coffin of an ancient Egyptian priestess called Mer-Neith-it-es, which had most recently sat in our education room, underwent a series of scientific and visual analysis, the University of Sydneys Nicholson Museum explained, in a Facebook post. The coffin and the mummified remains were scanned and the damaged remains of the body excavated. At some point in history the coffin had been targeted by tomb raiders, leaving just 10 percent of the mummy, according to the BBC. A CT scan and excavation were performed last week, revealing bones, bandages, fragments of resin and over 7,000 beads from a funeral shawl. KING TUTANKHAMUN BOMBSHELL? MYSTERIOUS PHARAOH MAY HAVE BEEN A BOY SOLDIER Experts hope that the bones will shed new light on the mummy, revealing details about disease and the persons lifestyle. Citing John Magnussen, professor of radiology at Sydneys Macquarie University, who performed the scan, ABC Australia reports that the remains belong to an adult aged 30-plus. Ancient Egypt continues to reveal its secrets. A rare ancient artifact depicting the famous female pharaoh Hatshepsut, for example, has surfaced in the U.K. Stunning new research also claims that King Tutankhamun may have been a boy soldier, challenging the theory he was a weak and sickly youth before his mysterious death at around 18 years of age. DESERT DISCOVERY: LOST TEMPLE OF RAMSES II UNCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS Experts in the U.K., for example, recently found the worlds oldest figurative tattoos on two ancient Egyptian mummies, one of which is the oldest tattooed female ever discovered. Other recent finds include an ancient cemetery in Egypt with more than 40 mummies and a necklace containing a message from the afterlife. An ancient statue of a Nubian king with an inscription written in Egyptian hieroglyphics was also found at a Nile River temple in Sudan. Scientists also believe that they may have found the secret of the Great Pyramids near-perfect alignment. Experts are also confident that they have solved the long-standing mystery of the screaming mummy. DESERT DISCOVERY: LOST TEMPLE OF RAMSES II UNCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS In February, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 4,400-year-old tomb near the pyramids. Late last year, archaeologists also revealed that they had uncovered the graves of four children at an ancient site in Egypt. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers NASA's Kepler space telescope captured a dying star's final moments, revealing a violent explosion unlike any other supernova. A new study from the Australian National University (ANU) examines the death throes of the star, which was cocooned inside a dense shell of gas and dust. As a massive star nears the end of its life, a bright explosion expels stellar material into space, in what is known as a supernova. In this case, when the massive amounts of energy released from the cocooned star slammed into the shell of gas and dust, nearly all the kinetic energy was immediately converted to light. The star's demise lasted only a few days, so its death was about 10 times faster than that of a typical supernova, according to a statement from ANU. [Supernova Photos: Great Images of Star Explosions] "We've discovered yet another way that stars die and distribute material back into space," Brad Tucker, a researcher from the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, said in the statement. More From Space.com Supernova Photos: Great Images of Star Explosions This kind of speedy supernova is a rare event known as a fast-evolving luminous transient (FELT). Due to the brief duration of these events, astronomers know little about FELTs, compared to traditional supernovas. The Kepler space telescope is designed to hunt for exoplanets outside our solar system. The instrument detects these exoplanets by watching for stars dimming as planets pass in front of them. Astronomers have also used Kepler to find black holes, supernovas and other explosions in space. Traditional supernova models do not easily explain the rapid evolution of FELTs. However, the Kepler space telescope can make precise measurements of sudden changes in starlight, allowing astronomers to create a new model for FELTs, according to the new study's statement. The new findings suggest that FELTs represent "a new kind of supernova that gets a brief turbo boost in brightness from its surroundings," said the study, published March 26 in the journal Nature Astronomy. "Using Kepler's high-speed light-measuring capabilities, we've been able to see this exotic star-explosion in incredible detail," Tucker said. "With the imminent launch of NASA's new space telescope, TESS, we hope to find even more of these rare and violent explosions." The new work sheds light on the different life cycles of stars, as well as how violent explosions like this one may affect planets orbiting those stars. Tucker said in the statement. Original article on Space.com. A new solar-sailing spacecraft will be a call to all (future) occupants of interplanetary craft. The Planetary Society's LightSail 2 spacecraft will be a test bed for future missions wanting to use solar sails including NASA's proposed cubesat, the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout). LightSail 2 will launch no earlier than June 13 from the Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, Florida, using SpaceX's new and powerful Falcon Heavy rocket. The spacecraft's ultimate destination will be medium-Earth orbit of about 725 kilometers (450 miles) roughly double the altitude of the International Space Station. The mission's ultimate goal is to test out "flight by light," as The Planetary Society calls it solar sailing in space. This type of propulsion uses the gentle push of photons streaming from the sun to move the spacecraft around. The greatest benefit is that the spacecraft doesn't have to carry fuel with it. On a small satellite like a cubesat, said Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, every gram of weight counts. [The Evolution of Solar Sails in Photos] "We've been waiting for a launch where we could get to a higher altitude [above Earth], where solar pressure will dominate over the atmospheric drag," Betts told Space.com. "We actually will be trying to do controlled solar sailing every half an [Earth] orbit, we will be pushed by the sunlight, and for the other half of the orbit, we will be edge-on to the sunlight," added Betts, who is also The Planetary Society's director of science and technology. Improvements from LightSail 1 The Planetary Society's LightSail 1 launched on May 20, 2015, along with the Air Force's supersecret X-37B space plane. It survived for just under a month in low Earth orbit. While it met its major mission objective of deploying the sail, the test flight had several issues along the way. Just two days after launch, a software glitch delayed plans to deploy the solar sail until June 7. The spacecraft transmitted an image June 9 showing that the sail unfurled successfully, meeting its primary mission objective. But then, more problems arose. "Before engineers could get a picture from the opposite-side cameras, LightSail's radio began transmitting a continuous, nonsensical signal, and the spacecraft stopped responding to commands," said the Planetary Society's Jason Davis in a blog post on June 15, 2015. The spacecraft also stopped transmitting on June 10, shortly before it entered the atmosphere as originally planned. "We learned a lot from LightSail 1," Betts said. "It taught us a lot about the spacecraft, and after the various issues, we made a lot of improvements." Some of the key improvements will help LightSail 2 make more efficient use of the particles coming its way. The most dramatic hardware difference is a momentum wheel, or a rapidly spinning wheel that helps LightSail 2 maintain position in space. Its attitude determination and control software is different from LightSail 1's equipment. The cameras were also upgraded to transmit higher-quality images of the sails. Other improvements were intended to make the spacecraft more robust. Instead of "waiting for reboots to sometime, magically happen," Betts said, there are timers on board with automatic settings to restart processes, or, at worst, to reboot the entire spacecraft in case of trouble. More information will be included in the radio signal to give controllers information about the spacecraft's health status. Engineers also added reflectors to make the position of LightSail 2 easier to track from the ground. Interplanetary craft A couple of other spacecraft have successfully tested out solar sailing in space. The most notable example is the Japanese Ikaros (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun), which successfully traveled using a solar sail in 2010 during Japan's Akatsuki mission to Venus. It's the only spacecraft that uses that method to move so far in deep space in 2012, Ikaros received the Guinness World Record as the first solar sail spacecraft between planets. [Are Solar Sails the Future of Space Travel?] NASA also deployed a solar sail on the NanoSail-D2 in low Earth orbit in 2010 as well; that mission focused more on the sail's deployment, and how the sail behaved in low Earth orbit. (The agency planned another solar-sailing mission called Sunjammer, but it was canceled before launch.) This means LightSail 2 will add vitally needed, real-world information about how solar sails behave in space. Its team is in contact with another solar sail experimental team as well: the NEA Scout team, which will use a solar sail to fly by an asteroid. "They are planning on using a solar sail with similar type design and characteristics to LightSail 2," Betts said. NEA Scout is scheduled to join a dozen other tiny missions aboard the Orion's Exploration Mission-1, which will also be the first test flight of NASA's Space Launch System and is currently scheduled for no earlier than 2019. NEA Scout is expected to fly past an asteroid called 1991 VG, although the decision to fly by the asteroid hasn't been finalized yet. Solar sailing is a possible propulsion method for distant-future interstellar missions because fuel doesn't need to be carried on board. NASA has played around with various mission-concept ideas. Similarly, the privately funded Breakthrough Starshot initiative plans to use a laser in combination with a sailto send a tiny probe to Earth's nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. Original article on Space.com. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey suspended Uber from testing autonomous vehicles in the state on Monday after a self-driving car fatally struck a woman last week. The Republican governor, in a letter to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, ordered the Arizona Department of Transportation to suspend the company's self-driving testing. Ducey said he found recent dashcam footage released of the crash "disturbing and alarming," adding that "it raises many questions about the ability of Uber to continue testing in Arizona." The camera footage released on Wednesday by the Tempe Police Department showed both exterior and interior angles of the car ride leading up to the moment the pedestrian, identified as Elaine Herzberg, 49, was hit. UBER'S SELF-DRIVING CAR ACCIDENT LATEST HIT TO RIDE-SHARE'S REPUTATION The incident, Ducey said, "is an unquestionable failure to comply" with the expectation of public safety being a "top priority for all who operate this technology in the state." Uber tweeted in response that the company "proactively suspended self-driving operations in all cities immediately following the tragic incident last week," and added it's working with investigators "in any way we can." The company previously said in a statement it found the dashcam video "disturbing and heartbreaking to watch." The interior video shows the car's driver, Rafaela Vasquez, 44, buckled in behind the wheel of the vehicle which police said was moving around 40 miles per hour around 10 p.m. on March 18. While the Volvo XC90 SUV was in self-driving mode, Vasquez was in the car as a safety driver, who, in the event there was a malfunction or issue, could take control. In the moments before the car struck Herzberg, Vasquez is seen repeatedly looking down, seemingly toward the console area of the car, until she suddenly looks shocked at the pedestrian in front of her. Exterior video shows the Uber car driving at night when the vehicle's headlights suddenly illuminate Herzberg, who is walking her bike in the street, outside of any crosswalks. Paramedics rushed Herzberg to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries. Police have said neither Herzberg nor Vasquez showed signs of impairment in the crash, and Vasquez has been cooperating in their investigation. The incident was the first fatality involving a self-driving vehicle. Fox News' Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. At an event in Chicago Tuesday, Apple showed off a new iPad and software aimed at the education market as it attempts to reengage students and educators. Apple's vice president of iOS, iPad and iPhone product marketing, Greg Joswiak, announced the new 9.-7-inch iPad. It supports Apple Pencil, comes with Touch ID, A10 Fusion chip and 10 hours of battery life. It costs $329 for consumers and $299 for schools. Our most affordable iPad has support for our most creative tool," he said during the announcement. He also announced new versions of Apple's iWork suite of productivity apps, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote, all of which now support Apple Pencil, Apple's stylus. A new version of "digital book creation" was announced for the iPad, which has over 200,000 apps dedicated just for education use. APPLE IS TRYING TO MAKE ITS OWN DISPLAYS, REPORT SAYS New versions of the GarageBand and Clips app were also introduced. The new iPad is available today and starts shipping this week. Apple, which usually holds its product events in California, showcased the new products at Chicago's Lane Tech College Prep High School. The company also said it was bumping up free iCloud storage for students to 200GB worth of storage, up from 5GB. For consumers, iCloud storage remains at 5GB. Apple also introduced a third-party stylus and keyboard for the iPad, with Logitech showing off the $49 Crayon, which works with the iPad. The tech giant showed off a new cloud-based app, Schoolwork, which lets teachers assign handouts and track students' progress. It also works with other educational apps and is available starting in June. Apple's Susan Prescott noted that Classroom, which lets teachers control students' devices remotely, would be available on the Mac, starting in June. Prior to the product unveiling, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company was "deeply inspired by the courage of students using their voices to bring about change in America," a reference to the recent March For Our Lives event that took place over the weekend. Near the end of the presentation, Cook summed up the announcements, citing Apple's expertise as a key advantage over the competition. Weve been at this for 40 years, and we care deeply about education," Cook said. "We believe that our place at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts makes it possible for us to create powerful products and tools that amplify ... creativity. This is something that only Apple can do. TODDLER LOCKS MOM OUT OF HER IPHONE FOR 47 YEARS Turning the tables According to a report in The Washington Post, Apple has ceded significant ground to competitors such as Google and Microsoft in the education market. Apple's iOS operating system accounts for just 12 percent of school technology, behind Microsoft at 22 percent and Google at a staggering 60 percent, aided in large part by its cheaper Chromebook laptops. The tablet market, where Apple still retains dominance, could be one area to even out the playing field in the education sector and potentially set the stage for future growth, according to experts. "[W]hile the tech revenue generated by the education segment remains small, at less than 10 [percent] of the market, the products used in schools are important as they set a precedent for future use," Deutsche Bank analyst Sherri Scribner wrote in a research note ahead of the event. While research firm IDC found that the overall tablet market fell 6.5 percent in 2017 to 163.5 million units, Apple managed to buck the trend and grow its shipments to 43.8 million, giving it 27 percent of the market. The research firm credited Apple with maintaining its "solid lead" in the market due to its lower-priced 9.7-inch iPad and its newly refreshed iPad Pro tablets. "While the lower-price iPad has continued to drive a strong consumer upgrade cycle, the shifting focus is to iPad Pro and its potential in the commercial and education segments," IDC wrote in the February press release. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia Facebook is facing a backlash on two continents from users, advertisers and lawmakers for having allowed Cambridge Analytica to allegedly amass information on 50 million of its users. The companys core business that powers around $4 billion in monthly revenue is monetizing everything you do on Facebook to serve its advertisers. However, users may not know that the powerful social network already has an opinion about your political leanings and its fairly easy to find out what Mark Zuckerbergs company thinks of your political preferences. Hidden in plain sight under Ad Preferences is a section called Your Information. If you click on that tab, youll see an option for Your Categories, which contains a section called US Politics in parentheses, Facebook will have you labeled as Very Liberal, Liberal, Moderate, Conservative or Very Conservative. The social network says it fills up these categories based on information you've provided on Facebook and other activity. 'SILICON VALLEY' TAKES A JAB AT FACEBOOK DURING SEASON 5 PREMIER Under Your Categories, users will also find their birthday, whether or not they are listed as friends of expats, and whether or not they have a "multicultural affinity" on Facebook. It seems like those five labels are the only options for Facebook political affiliation, which is a bit limiting on a platform that lets its 2 billion monthly users choose among 58 different gender identities. APPLE IPAD EVENT PREVIEW: WHAT TO EXPECT Regardless of whether youve clicked like for a particular candidate or political party, Facebook also tries to determine the self-professed political identities of other users who have liked the same pages as you and then lumps you in with them. Dont want the algorithm to factor in your presumed political affiliation for advertising purposes? Just hover over the box, click the X and see how the tweak impacts your experience on the site. Meanwhile, as a new poll shows only 41 percent of Americans trust Facebook with their personal data, Zuckerberg has declined to testify in front of British lawmakers about the data scandal but the CEO and co-founder has reportedly expressed willingness to do so in the United States. U.K.-based Cambridge Analytica, which has ties to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign, has denied any wrongdoing. A JetBlue plane on its way from Boston to Palm Beach, Fla. was forced to make an emergency landing in North Carolina Monday night due to mechanical issues. Flight 221 was forced to land shortly after 10 p.m. at Raleigh-Durham Airport. LAW ENFORCEMENT BUST MYTH ABOUT 'PEPPERONI PIZZA' 911 CODE, DESPITE INTERNET CLAIMS A JetBlue spokesman told Fox News the emergency landing was done in an abundance of caution due to the potential mechanical issue. No specific details were reported. Fifty-eight people were on board and no one was injured. The passengers were placed on another flight to their destination at a later time. JetBlue released the following statement: JetBlue flight 221 from Boston to Palm Beach (PBI) diverted to Raleigh-Durham in an abundance of caution after the pilots reported a potential mechanical issue. The flight landed safely at approximately 10:16 p.m. local time, and customers deplaned normally. Customers were accommodated on another aircraft. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS This wasnt JetBlues only trouble over the weekend. On Saturday, a JetBlue passenger on a flight from Boston to Fort Myers, Fla. had to be arrested upon landing after reportedly causing a disturbance on board. A Massachusetts man has been arrested after reportedly causing a disturbance aboard his JetBlue flight on Saturday. Joseph Gallagher, 35, was charged with disorderly conduct, disorderly intoxication and interfering with the operation of an aircraft during his flight from Boston to Fort Myers, Fla., according to arrest records with the Lee County Sheriffs Office. EASYJET PILOT SUSPENDED FOR USING SNAPCHAT DURING FLIGHT The disturbance reportedly began when the flight crew refused Gallaghers request for alcohol, according to WCVB. He then used vulgar language when talking back to a flight attendant, who subsequently asked him to curtail his cursing and belligerent behavior. Gallagher then shot back, allegedly saying, What are you going to do? Turn this plane around and go back to Boston? The passenger continued to curse after being taken into police custody, when being led through the terminal. Gallagher also gave conflicting reports concerning his drinking, telling one attendant that he didnt drink at all, and another that he had only one drink, according to Floridas News Press. In the official Lee County police report, Gallagher later admitted to drinking three beers prior to the flight and another drink on the plane to calm his nerves about flying. It just takes the edge off before I fly, he reportedly told police. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Gallagher was released after posting bond the same day. He is due back in court for arraignment in April, the News Press reports. A pilot decided to dump 30 tons of fuel mid-air to enable a safe emergency landing and save a passengers life. The China Eastern Airlines flight was headed to New York from Shanghai, China, Friday night when a 60-year-old unnamed woman began having trouble breathing, Asia One reported. AIR CANADA FLIGHT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER SMOKE DETECTED IN COCKPIT The air crew onboard tried to help the woman and transferred her from economy to business class to better perform first aid, The Straits Times reported. There the woman started slipping into a state of unconsciousness, according to the publication. The pilot, Gu Jian, decided the woman, who was traveling with her daughter, needed more medical attention than she could receive onboard and discharged tons of fuel in-flight so it would be light enough to land at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska. "The airplane's weight was 282 tons, far more than the maximum landing weight," Jian explained to CGTN. "When the sick passenger needed medical attention for safety reasons, the plane had to descend and dump gasoline at the same time." The woman was removed from the plane and rushed to a hospital in Alaska. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The plane refueled at the Anchorage airport and then resumed its flight for New York, where it landed safely after a six-hour delay. According to reports, the woman was later discharged from the hospital and she and her daughter continued on their trip the next morning. Five British passengers were removed from a Thomas Cook Airlines flight bound for Las Vegas for disruptive behavior that included fighting and lighting a cigarette, according to reports. WOMAN CLAIMS SHE WAS KICKED OFF FLIGHT FOR MENSTRUAL CRAMPS The group was flying to Nevada from Manchester, U.K., for a bachelor party when they became abusive and started fighting with each other, eyewitnesses said, per The New York Post. They had been fighting with each other and lighting a cigarette, Krystyna Sczcygiel, who filmed a video of the men, told The Daily Mail. Every time they were told to sit down or fasten their seat belts, they just ignored them. Then the other passengers were telling them to be quiet, so they started abusing them. They were warned so many times, she added. The flight was rerouted to Winnipeg, Canada, where the passengers were arrested and removed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Five disruptive passengers were offloaded for mischief and causing disturbance, an airline spokesperson told the Winnipeg Sun. Passengers booed the group of men as police officers led them off the plane in handcuffs. One of the arrested members fired back obscenities at the other passengers. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS An airline spokesperson told the New York Post that they could not confirm whether the group had been drinking, but did say that alcohol was served on the flight, as well as back in Manchester. The flight landed in Las Vegas two hours and 40 minutes behind schedule. The stranded bachelor party will have to find their own transportation out of Winnipeg, as Thomas Cook Airlines does not fly out of that airport. One too many drinks evidently got the best of a female EasyJet passenger and her friends on a flight from Manchester, England, to Paphos, Greece, as their foul-mouthed rant in the high skies became so hysterical they were forced to deplane in Athens. The Liverpool Echo reported that a 23-year-old British woman and her three female traveling companions were removed from flight EZY1975 for her intoxicated, expletive-laden tirade at 30,000 feet, as evidenced in video footage. According to the Manchester Evening News, they have since been released. SOUTHWEST SLAMS PASSENGER'S ANTI-MUSLIM TWEET, BUT PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR COMPANY TO DO MORE In the blurry clip of the March 23 incident, passengers and crew members try to calm the woman down to no avail, as she stands at her seat and loudly cries, seeming to believe that she is being forced to live on the streets as a prostitute on the Greek island of Corfu. She begins crying and claims she is going to get raped if she is thrown off the flight. I am not messing around. If the police come on theyll take you off in handcuffs, a stern passenger says. The best thing you can do is get off. Im asking you, please. Getting your [expletive deleted] phone out of my face, the frantic woman screeches as a fellow passenger is filming the scene. EASYJET PILOT SUSPENDED FOR USING SNAPCHAT DURING FLIGHT Im scared. I just want to go home Please take me home Please. I dont even want to go on holiday. Please take me home, she cries repeatedly. Youve got to stay in your seats, a flight attendant chimes over the aircrafts intercom through the chaotic scene, as the woman continues crying. Read me my rights, read me my rights! I havent done nothing, she says. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS One passenger told the Mirror that the rowdy woman and her traveling companions gradually got worse and worse through the duration of the holiday flight. They started swearing and arguing as they took out a bottle of vodka and a bottle of brandy. "They were warned about bringing their own alcohol but they had a go at the stewardess. They took one bottle from them but they still had one more and they carried on drinking, he said. We thought theyd fall asleep but they didnt. Two of them were talking about performing sex acts in the toilet and they kept going to the toilet. Another 41-year-old passenger traveling with her husband and young sons said one of the girls spat over the face of one passenger. It was unbelievable. Shocking, just shocking, she said of their behavior. EasyJet confirmed the incident to Fox News and offered the following statement: EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY1975 from Manchester to Paphos on 23 March was diverted to Athens and met by the police on arrival where four passengers were offloaded as a result of disruptive behavior onboard and the flight continued to Paphos once the passengers were offloaded, a company spokeswoman said. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always EasyJets priority. In addition, a Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed to the Manchester Evening News that they are taking action on behalf of the four women. We are assisting four British women arrested in Greece. Our staff are in contact with their families and the Greek authorities, the spokesperson said. This is the second time in a week that the carrier has made headlines for wild antics in the high skies, as an EasyJet pilot was suspended for using Snapchat during a flight just days before. Amanda Comparetto was out with her girlfriends for a bachelorette party at MacDintons Irish Pub on January 20, when a man -- who has yet to be identified -- punched her in the face and knocked her out, leaving her bleeding on the pavement as he ran off. After months of no answers, the 23-year-old says shes hoping the public can help identify him. I did not deserve this, Comparetto said. I didn't do anything to him, I don't think anyone deserves this. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES She says was assaulted by a man in a red shirt as she and her friends were leaving the bar. He grabbed one of the girls by her arms and said this is my wife I am taking her with me, she said. My friend just shoved him off of her and said, 'What are you doing?' and he was like, 'This is my wife,' he just kept saying that. And I was trying to talk to the guy, saying, 'Leave us alone,' and the next thing I knew he punched me and I woke up on the ground covered in my own blood. She told police the suspect is the man seen in video recorded by her friend earlier in the night. The man is seen wearing a red shirt dancing to the right of a man in a white jacket. She handed the video over to St. Petersburg police, who say the investigation is ongoing. Read more news from Fox 13 Tampa. The co-owner of a water park company was arrested in Texas Monday in connection with the 2016 death of a 10-year-old Kansas boy on what was billed as the world's largest water slide. Jeffery Henry, the co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, was booked into the jail in Cameron County, Texas. According to the county's online "inmate list," Henry faces charges of murder, 12 counts of aggravated battery and five counts of aggravated endangerment of a child. Last week, a Kansas grand jury indicted the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kan., and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges over the death of Caleb Schwab. Caleb was decapitated on Aug. 7, 2016 while on the Verruckt ride at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City after the raft he was riding went airborne. Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in a statement that considering last week's indictment, the company is not surprised by Henry's arrest. The company also promised to aggressively fight the criminal charges against Miles and the park, and respond to the allegations in the 47-page indictment "point by point." "We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident," she said in an emailed statement. Cameron County Sheriff's Capt. Javier Reyna told the Kansas City Star that Henry was arrested by U.S. Marshals out of Brownsville, Texas. Prosapio said Schlitterbahn does not expect any changes to the Kansas City park's season, which is set to open May 25 and run through Labor Day. The Verruckt slide -- which took its name from the German word meaning "insane" -- has been closed since Caleb died. Caleb Schwab was the son of Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab, of Olathe, and the family reached settlements of nearly $20 million with Schlitterbahn and various companies associated with the design and construction of the waterslide. Two women who rode with Caleb suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount. The indictment against Miles and the park alleges that Verruckt met few, if any, industry standards and that Miles delayed or avoided necessary repairs, even after the ride's brake system failed. The indictment also said Henry helped design the giant waterslide even though he had "no technical or engineering credentials" and that he set a "rushed timeline" for its construction. Schlitterbahn said last week's indictment is "full of false information," and the company also rejected its allegations that Miles and the company withheld information from law enforcement officials. It said the allegation that Caleb's death was foreseeable is "beyond the pale of speculation." Miles' attorneys said in their own statement that they welcome the opportunity to prove his innocence in court. "Not only had Tyler ridden the slide numerous times, but, as the State is aware, he had scheduled his wife, to ride it on the day of the accident," the attorneys, Tom and Tricia Bath, said in their statement. "These are not the actions of someone who believed the ride to be dangerous." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 20-year-old mother was being held Tuesday on a $2 million bond on suspicion of first-degree murder after her two children were found dead in car seats inside a car, officials said. The bodies were found outside the family's home in the historic mining town of Superior, a historic mining town of about 2,900 people about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Phoenix. Superior Interim Police Chief Christian Ensley said that members of his department had called Child Protective Services in early January because of concerns about the two children. The state agency said Tuesday it had received two calls about the children, including the one in January, but had never found evidence of child neglect or abuse. Autopsies were being conducted to determine causes of death of the 2-year-old boy and 10-month-old girl and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office did not immediately disclose what evidence had been found. The mother was identified as Brittany Velasquez, 20. She was jailed and authorities did not know whether she had a lawyer who could comment on the allegations, said sheriff's spokeswoman Navideh Forghani. The names of the children were not immediately made public. A $2 million bond was set during a Tuesday hearing at the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility. She is scheduled to next appear before a judge on April 30. Ensley provided few details during an afternoon news conference, including how the children may have died. He said the mother had made the initial call to authorities. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, whose office is helping the small town police department with the investigation, said he was unaware of any stab or gunshot wounds to the children. Some relatives of the children were inside the home when authorities went to crime scene late Monday night but Forghani said she could not provide information about the circumstances of how the children were placed or left in the car or a motive into their killings. She declined to discuss the evidence that was discovered but the sheriff's office said in a statement that it "indicated foul play." During the afternoon news conference, both Ensley and Lamb declined to discuss a possible motive in the case. Ensley said the children's father had died last year and that he knew many members of the Velasquez family. The killings were bound to have a real impact on the tight community, the acting police chief added. "This is a real blow," he said. "This doesn't happen often." Ensley said his officers had been called to the home where Velasquez was living in early January to investigate a theft and called the state's Department of Child Safety to report possible child abuse or neglect. He did not elaborate. The state agency said Tuesday it had received two reports about the children in the past, most recently in early January. "The children showed no visible signs of abuse or neglect," the agency said in a response to a query from The Associated Press. "There were no legal grounds to remove the children from the parent's custody." No one answered the door Tuesday at the run-down, one-story brick house in the hardscrabble community where the car containing the children had been parked. Ensley confirmed that Velasquez's grandparents Lorenzo and Sally lived there and the children had been found in a car parked outside. Broken wooden furniture, cardboard boxes and a rusted barbeque grill littered the brown, dried up grass in the front yard. Two pickup trucks and a car with its hood up sat at the end of dirt driveway. Authorities said the car the children had been in was towed away earlier. Residents of the community established in the 1800s to support a copper mine include retirees and former mining workers. The nearby mine is currently closed but a mining company is trying to reopen it. ___ Paul Davenport reported from Phoenix. Al Sharpton's half brother was arrested and charged with capital murder after a 23-year-old woman was shot dead in Alabama in a dispute over a car, authorities said Monday. The Dothan Police Department said in a news release that Kenneth Glasgow, 52, was arrested along with Jaime Townes, 26, after Breunia Jennings was found dead in a wrecked car around 10:50 p.m. on Sunday. Jennings' death came just a day after Glasgow's homeless and community ministry, Ordinary People Society, participated in the nationwide March For Our Lives, which advocated for gun control and protested gun violence. In a news conference on Monday, police said they believe that Townes was angry at Jennings because he believed she had stolen his car, according to The Dothan Eagle. Instead of him notifying law enforcement, he took matters in his own hands and jumped in Mr. Glasgows vehicle to find Breunia Jennings," Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish told reporters. Jennings "suffered a gunshot wound to the head," according to Parrish, who said Townes fired several rounds at the vehicle she was driving. "I want the family of Breunia Jennings to know our thoughts and prayers go out to them during this time," he said. Authorities said several people are believed to have been in the car at the time, and additional arrests may occur. In an appearance in court Tuesday, Glasgow repeatedly questioned the murder charge against him, The Dothan Eagle reported. I dont know why I am facing capital murder charges, Glasgow stated. Im not responsible for what someone else does. He just asked me for a ride to take him to look for his car. MURDER SUSPECT ON 'JIHAD' AGAINST US POLICY IN MIDDLE EAST ADMITS TO NJ ARMED ROBBERY A judge told Glasgow he needed to stop making comments until he could speak with an attorney, and that he is not eligible for bail because of the nature of the charges. According to Alabama law, murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle is considered a capital crime, the Eagle reported. A person believed to have aided or abetted a crime is equally liable for the underlying crime, according to the state's complicity statue, the newspaper reported. The 52-year-old has been involved in community movements since being released from prison after a drug conviction in the 1980's, according to the Eagle. Glasgow has referred to himself as Rev. Kenny Sharpton Glasgow on several occasions and is the half-brother of the Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network. The two were pictured together in 2006 delivering meals to the needy on Thanksgiving in an Associated Press photo. He is also pictured in another photo with 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Glasgow is set to appear again in court on April 6, when a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to send the charge to a grand jury for possible indictment, according to the Eagle. An Arizona mother was arrested Tuesday after her toddler and baby were found dead in a vehicle, still strapped into their car seats, officials said. Brittany Velasquez, 21, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of murder, FOX10 Phoenix reported. Pinal County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Navideh Forghani said police found the bodies of two children a 2-year-old boy and 10-month-old girl inside a car parked outside a home in Superior, 60 miles east of Phoenix. Velasquez was arrested after evidence at the scene suggested foul play. Some relatives were also inside the home when the children were found dead, but further information on the circumstances were not provided. Autopsies will be conducted to determine the childrens cause of death. Superior is a town of about 2,900 people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities in Southern California were mourning one of their four-legged crime fighting partners who died Friday. The Chula Vista Police Department said Griffen, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, suffered from an undisclosed medical condition. Griffen's handler, Officer Curtis Chancellor, his handler's family and other members of the department's K9 program were present when he passed, police said. The department posted a photo on Twitter of Griffen's handler giving an emotional last goodbye, embracing the dog with both of his arms. It is hard to overstate the bond that a K9 and his handler have when working long hours in dangerous situations," a police spokesperson told FOX5 San Diego. "CVPDs law enforcement family extends deepest sympathies to his partner officer." CALIFORNIA POLICE K-9 RECOVERS FROM SURGERY AFTER LOSING TEETH IN SUSPECT TAKE-DOWN Chula Vista police Lt. Eric Thunberg told FOX5 that Griffen worked alongside his handler on the night shift, and was well known in the community as a frequent guest at public events. On behalf of all the women and men at the Chula Vista Police Department, Thank You Griffen for your service," police said in a statement. "You will be missed." A Texas woman received minor injuries after a car suddenly plowed into a Metro PCS store and rammed her, authorities said. Surveillance video caught the extremely close call Saturday morning. Dallas police said an unidentified teenage driver accidentally pushed the gas instead of the brake while stopping in front of the store. A customer and female employee, who is eight months pregnant, managed to jump out of the way. Diane Min, who was working at the Metro PCS store, appeared to take a direct hit. Youre talking about a 4,000-pound vehicle coming through a wall, Mins daughters boyfriend, Jason Mareno, told FOX4 News. Youre right behind it, so youre getting hit by a door, a wall and a truck. Surveillance video from inside the store shows the driver appearing to make a left turn as if to park, but then jumping the curb and crashing into the store. The driver keeps going through the store and appears to hit Min through a wall before coming to a stop in an adjacent store. Moments later, the video shows the customer running out of the store followed by the driver. Min is seen standing up near the vehicle and walking away. She was taken to a local hospital and did not suffer serious injuries. Like an angel was riding with her. Because if you look at it, she just gets blown away and she disappears, Mareno said. Which doesnt make any sense because it looks like she got pushed between the wall and the truck and then she just pops up. Like an angel just picked her up and said, Heres your nine lives. Go about your business.' Police said the driver was not issued a citation because it was an accident, FOX4 News reported. Min is expected to return to work next week. Doctors say anytime an opiate prescription is written, it can be a gateway to addiction. With the opioid crisis raging nationwide, including in Colorado, a group of hospitals here grouped together to try and reduce the number of opioids doled out in emergency rooms. The results of the pilot study exceeded researchers' wildest expectations. A trial launched by the Colorado Hospital Association, or CHA, had the goal of reducing opioid prescriptions in emergency rooms by 15 percent. Instead, opioid prescriptions were cut by 36 percent. Ten hospitals across the state participated in the groundbreaking pilot program. The medical providers said they succeeded by writing fewer opioid scripts and treating pain without narcotics. Doctors, instead, turned to using ALTO's (alternative to opiates) whenever possible. Examples include treating pain at the source and targeting its specific cause. This could mean starting with non-opiate medications, trigger point injections and Lidocaine patches placed right on the area of pain, or IV drips with Lidocaine. "We're not trying to tell people: We're not going to treat your pain. We're trying to tell people: We're going to treat your pain differently and we're using different approaches," said Dr. Adam Barkin, medical director of the emergency department at Sky Ridge Medical Center. Conversations with patients, especially those accustomed to being treated with narcotics, was key. "We have had issues with patients who have maybe had long-standing issues with pain control, so they kind of know what works well for them, said Nicole Zoerink, the emergency department manager at Sky Ridge Medical Center. "We've actually used that as an opportunity, to explain to them, let's try this and see if this non-narcotic version or even non-medication version of pain control can help." They would also intervene sooner to get addicted patients onto therapy medication. All of this is done without government money, at very little cost. Barkin said the new practices are now ingrained and the norm. Now, other facilities that did not participate in the original study are asking how they can get on board. CHA is looking at how it can roll this out to more hospitals. "We have other hospitals banging on the door, saying 'let's get started,' " said the association's clinical manager, Diane Rossi MacKay. She said it was such a success because the hospitals and medical providers worked together as a team. "I really believe we are saving lives and that's what this is all about, MacKay said. We all have the same goal." Patients are not pressured into ALTO's if their pain does not subside. Doctors in the study acknowledge, sometimes, an opioid is the proper course of action. But this program promises to make sure safe and effective alternatives are not overlooked. Patients, meanwhile, are thankful. "We've had patients thank us for being innovative and creative, Zoerink said. We've had patients tell us stories how they've had past issues with addiction and they were very appreciative that there were alternatives." An alleged drug trafficker was accused on Tuesday of flooding the New York City area with large quantities of fentanyl from Mexico at a time when overdoses related to the powerful opioid have skyrocketed. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora faced drug-trafficking conspiracy charges following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan and other law enforcement agencies. Quiroz-Zamora, 41, was arrested in a sting operation late last year after he traveled to New York City to collect a payment from an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer, authorities said. An indictment in state court charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year at a hotel in the Bronx and at an apartment in upper Manhattan used as a stash house. An arraignment for Quiroz-Zamora was scheduled for later Tuesday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last year, seizures of fentanyl in cases brought by the narcotics prosecutor increased from 35 pounds to 491 pounds. At the same time, fatal overdoses tied to fentanyl reached an all-time high of more than 1,400 in New York City in 2017, officials said. The drug is far stronger than heroin and cheaper to produce, making the potential profit margin much higher for traffickers who usually mix it with heroin for sale to users who often don't know what they're getting, officials said. According to U.S. authorities, Quiroz-Zamora, who lived in San Jose del Cabo in Baja, had the drugs smuggled by cars, trucks and couriers over the border into Arizona and California before the supplies reached the New York City area. Last year, an undercover officer posing as a drug dealer reached Quiroz-Zamora by phone and struck a deal with him to buy the fentanyl for between $45,000 and $50,000 per kilo, authorities said. In November, Quiroz-Zamora traveled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. The dangers of burn pit exposures at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, were first noticed when the U.S. military presence was at its height, but nothing was done to correct the problem, Fox News has learned. A former Army major, who served as the bases environmental officer back in 2004, said he warned Marezs top brass of the dangerous chemical compounds that were being released into the air after medical waste, chemicals and trash were thrown into open-air garbage pits and set ablaze. But, he added, his warnings fell on deaf ears. They werent very receptive when I brought it up, retired Maj. John Doc Nelson said in a recent interview with Fox News investigative unit. We could never get an answer. Im worried about the burn pits becoming another Vietnam or Agent Orange, he added, and I dont think these vets should have to wait for 25 years for someone to recognize that theres a problem. During the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the burn-pit disposal method was originally adopted as a temporary way to get rid of the massive amounts of waste and garbage generated at numerous bases. A range of materials went to the pits for incineration: plastics, batteries, appliances, medicine, dead animals, even human waste. The items were often set ablaze with jet fuel as the accelerant. The incineration generated numerous pollutants including carbon monoxide and dioxin the same chemical compound found in Agent Orange, which left many Vietnam vets sick after it was used as a defoliant in that conflict. The 65-year-old Nelson says that he was able to see the dangers of the burn pits while serving at FOB Marez. It would literally darken the sky, he said, recalling the large plumes of smoke that rose from the pit and hung over the base. I remember one day, I was standing back about 300 feet. I could still see the flames rising above the pit. Nelson alleges that the trash piled up at his bases burn pit over the two years that he was there, and that the smoldering fires almost never went out. Concerned with the safety of his fellow soldiers, Nelson raised the issue with the top brass at Marez, but he said he soon found out that bureaucracy and red tape prevented implementation of proper procedures. I told em its not a matter of if, but when, Nelson said referring to the potential for danger. That burn pit kept bothering me, because I could smell it and I could see it. It never stopped burning. Retired Maj. John "Doc" Nelson Fed up with the pace that it took to make headway on improving methods for waste disposal, Nelson, along with one of the workers for base contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR), took matters into their own hands. They gathered volunteers to pull hazardous materials out of the trash piles by hand before they could be added to the smoldering burn pits. We started putting pressure on the local level, Nelson said. We got some volunteers and we went in and started pulling items out of the pits. Marez is the same base where KBR contractor Veronica Landry worked, also in 2004. As first reported on Fox News Channel, Landry recently filed a case with the Department of Labors Office for Workers Compensation Programs, and last month a judge decreed that open-air burn pits -- where thousands of chemicals were released into the air after trash and other wastes were incinerated at bases in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are connected to lung disease. My concern was that we had SOPs [standard operating procedures] that werent being followed, Ray Gelinas, a former KBR contractor who assisted Nelson in the cleanups, said to Fox News. You just never knew what was being thrown in there. It was around September 2004, when Gelinas and Nelson started going to the pits, that they discovered what was being thrown in. That burn pit kept bothering me, recalled Nelson, because I could smell it and I could see it. It never stopped burning. I was told that it was burning for a whole year before I got there and a whole year while I was there. I started going down to the burn pit because I was growing more and more concerned with the amount of debris, so I started taking a look and I started seeing batteries, the cadmium batteries, the lead. All of that was burning. They were putting the oils and the paints and fuels. All of this stuff, and it was leading to this creation of toxicity and I was becoming concerned about it. Nelson says that they also found large amounts of medical waste, like IV drips, needles, bloody gauze and even appendages. They would wait until the middle of the night to drop it off, he said. The next morning we would show up and there was all kinds of stuff in there. According to a 2008 KBR memo on standard operating procedure for burn pits obtained by Fox News, items that were not to be disposed of in burn pits included: propane cylinders, fuel cans, paints, fuels, oils, chemicals, ammunition, explosives, combustibles, medical waste, metals, batteries and tires. Nelson maintains that not only were all these things put into the Marez burn pits, but there were no protocols in place during his time there. Nobody thought. Nobody cared, he said. Nelson and Gelinas tried to correct the situation by setting up systems to control the problem. We did what we could to help with what we had, he said. We worked with some way that we could to start controlling this problem. Of course, everything stayed at our level, we never got support from the upper echelons. I dont think anybody understood what was going on because we were supposed to have incinerators in place. Nelson alleges that the incinerators were purchased to properly dispose of hazardous material at FOB Marez but they were never installed and were left to rust away at a storage facility. If we had the incinerators in place, we could have used it for the medical waste. We could have made do, he says, But KBR had the incinerators already in the country [Iraq], DOD had already paid for them and they were ready to be installed. They did not install them. And they had them for maybe nine or 10 months and they still didnt install them. A spokesperson from KBR declined to comment on Nelsons claims, instead referring to a previous statement provided to Fox News. At the limited number of bases where KBR operated burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, KBR personnel did so safely and effectively at the direction and under the control of the U.S. military, read the statement. The governments best scientific and expert opinions have repeatedly concluded there is no link between any long-term health issues and burn-pit emissions. Officials with the Department of Defenses Central Command (CENTCOM) were unable to confirm for Fox News that incinerators were bought around 2004 for FOB Marez and other bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that records were archived after three years. They said, however, that installation of any such systems might have been delayed due to procedural issues. As for installation, the contract with the service provider had to be modified before the incinerator could be installed, read a statement from CENTCOM officials provided to Fox News. The original contract called for the contractor to manage burn pits, and any change to the original contract had to be worked out between the contracting office and the service provider. Nelson is also a survivor of a suicide bombing that occurred at a mess tent on Marez in 2004. As a consequence of his injuries, which included severe damage to his shoulder joints, and short-term memory loss, he had to retire. His permanent disabilities left him unable to continue practicing medicine when he returned to Maine in 2005. He was unsure what he would do. Then he started helping a few vets in his community who were having difficulty getting medical assistance and coverage from Veterans Affairs. I liked helping them. It gave me some purpose, Nelson said. So I kept helping more and more vets. Nearly 15 years later, Nelson is still helping vets all over Maine, and even beyond the state's borders. He opened an office in a building he owns on Main Street in Lincoln, about an hour north of Bangor. Vets come for his assistance in navigating the often-complex VA benefits system. He named his office after Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary Gordon. MSG Gordon, also a native of Lincoln, was killed in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. The engagement was the basis of the 1999 book Black Hawk Down. The center has pulled in volunteers to help with day-to-day office tasks as Nelson takes on more and more cases. I have always felt honored to help our veterans, he said. I care about them deeply. He also hopes that 150,000-plus veterans on the VAs burn-pit registry get the assistance they need. I think its time for the VA to stop giving lip service and creating registries and start doing something with those registries," he said emphatically. "What is the research going to do for us and how long do we have to wait? A homeless woman was critically injured when a dumpster she was inside of was unloaded into a garbage truck and compacted, officials said Monday. Phoenix Police told FOX10 the woman and a man were sleeping inside the dumpster when it was picked up for service by a garbage truck. The woman was eventually rescued and taken to a hospital, where she was listed in critical condition, Sgt. Vince Lewis said Truck driver Austin Todd told FOX10 he had seen the same man and woman around the dumpsters for the past six months when he made deliveries in the area. "It was obvious they were homeless, usually when I see them they were arguing, fighting, yelling at each other," he said. "The woman would stand outside the dumpster with the trash bag and the man would throw the cans out into the bag." HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT RELOCATION PLAN HAS CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS OUTRAGED The man who was in the dumpster was able to escape before it was picked up and fled the scene before police arrived, leaving his companion behind. "I cant believe he just jumped out and left her there. That's crazy," Todd said. "I dont know if thats because of the drugs, or quick thinking type of thing, I dont know." Todd said he wasn't surprised the garbage truck driver didn't hear or see anyone in the dumpster. "Big dumpster truck, its probably really loud, probably a lot of beeping going on, and machinery, probably couldnt hear anyone yelling at him. And that's probably something hes not really looking out for," Todd said. In a statement to FOX10, Waste Management said: "We encourage everyone in the community to be an extra set of eyes and ears, and if you see signs that your dumpster may be used for shelter, please contact local police or social service agencies to prevent a tragedy." An Ohio woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly getting drunk and making lewd comments to an Easter Bunny impersonator at a park. The Mansfield Police Department told FOX8 they were called to the Richland Carousel Park after receiving a complaint that Ladonna Hughett, 54, appeared to be intoxicated while having her picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Hughett made lewd comments to the bunny, then took a ride on the carousel, police said. The incident took place at the carousel park in the city's downtown area, located about 80 miles south of Cleveland. The park opened in 1991 and features the "first new, hand-carved carousel to be built and operated in the United States since the 1930's." BIKINI-CLAD DRUNK DRIVER PLEADS GUILTY IN CRASH THAT KILLED MAN AND UNBORN CHILD The 54-year-old showed "common signs of intoxication," police said, including "slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, an odor of alcohol on her breath and unsteadiness." She was arrested on a drunkenness charge, and taken to the Richland County jail. A Kentucky teenager used money his mother gave him for a tattoo to buy an AR-15 rifle and 500 rounds of ammunition meant to shoot up his high school, police said. Timothy Felker, 18, a student at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, was charged with second-degree terroristic threatening, WKYT reported. He appeared in court Monday for a preliminary hearing. He pleaded not guilty. The Lexington Police Department said during the preliminary hearing that Felker bought the gun with money his mother gave him for a tattoo. "Around Christmas or December 2017 is when he purchased the AR-15 with money that his mom gave him for a tattoo, and that he also purchased 500 rounds of ammunition," Sean Stafford, a detective with the Lexington Police Department said. KENTUCKY PUSHES FIRST-IN-NATION OPIOID TAX A tip was made online to STOP, Safety Tipline Online Prevention, on Feb. 16 which stated Felker owns a gun and constantly talks about killing himself/shooting up the school. He tells specific people he would shoot them first and shoot up the classroom, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Felker reportedly said he wanted to shoot up the school because he was bullied. Felkers mother said she was not aware of her sons threats to the school. She agreed to hand over her sons rifle and ammunition to police, court documents stated. "Ms. Felker stated that Timothy does have some anger problems but she could not see him being violent and didn't feel like he would harm anyone else," Stafford said. WKYT reported Felker was not prohibited from owning firearms and posted photos of the rifle to social media. One of the pictures showed Felker with the gun in his mouth. KENTUCKY TROOPER FATALLY SHOOTS ARMED SUSPECT IN CAR THEFT Felker, a senior at the school, was detained at Blue Grass Airport on Feb. 19 after he flew to an undisclosed location for the weekend. He was charged on March 2 was released after posting a $5,000 bond. He has not been back to school since the anonymous tip was made. The threat came about a month following a school shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., which left two students dead. The suspected gunman, Gabe Parker, 15, was charged with murder, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported. The Latest on charges against an alleged drug trafficker charged with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. (all times local): 10 a.m. Authorities say they've charged a drug trafficker with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday to face charges stemming from a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Authorities say Quiroz-Zamora was arrested late last year after he traveled to New York to collect a payment from an undercover agent. An indictment charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year in the Bronx and Manhattan. Authorities say the drugs were smuggled into Arizona and California then taken to the New York City area. The charges come at a time when seizures and overdose deaths involving fentanyl have skyrocketed. Zamora travelled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. ___ 8:05 a.m. Authorities say they've charged a drug trafficker with smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into the New York City area from Mexico. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on Tuesday to face charges stemming from a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. Authorities say Quiroz-Zamora was arrested late last year after he traveled to New York to collect a payment from an undercover agent. An indictment charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year in the Bronx and Manhattan. Authorities say the drugs were smuggled into Arizona and California then taken to the New York City area. The name of his attorney wasn't immediately available. The charges come at a time when seizures and overdose deaths involving fentanyl have skyrocketed. Zamora travelled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. The Latest on the arrest of a water park company's co-owner in Texas in connection to a Kansas criminal case (all times local): 1 p.m. The number of people indicted in the death of a 10-year-old Kansas boy on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide has grown to three. The Kansas attorney general's office says Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts co-owner Jeffrey Henry and ride designer John Schooley are charged with reckless second-degree murder in the indictment unsealed Tuesday. The charges stem from the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab who was decapitated in 2016 when his ride went airborne at the water park in Kansas City, Kansas. Schlitterbahn didn't immediately respond to questions about whether they have attorneys. The attorney general's office announced Friday that the Schlitterbahn park and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, had been indicted on 20 felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter. ____ 11:45 a.m. A Texas judge has ordered the co-owner of a water park company held without bond as a criminal case proceeds in the death of a 10-year-old boy at one of the company's parks in Kansas. Victoria Cisneros, spokeswoman for the Cameron County District Attorney's Office, says 62-year-old Jeffrey Henry appeared for a hearing Tuesday. She says county prosecutors asked that Henry be held without bond at the request of the Kansas Attorney General's Office. Henry was earlier being held on a $500,000 bond. He's facing charges in Kansas of murder, aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment. Henry will remain at the Cameron County jail in far South Texas as he awaits extradition to Kansas. Cisneros didn't immediately have details on when extradition may occur. Henry's arrest Monday follows a Kansas grand jury's indictment last week of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, and a former operations director on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. ___ 11 a.m. The family of a 10-year-old Kansas boy killed on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide says a criminal indictment shows that issues with the water park company "go far beyond" the boy's death. The family of Caleb Schwab released a statement Monday in reaction to a 20-count indictment released last week of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and one of its co-owners. Another co-owner, Jeffrey Henry, was arrested Monday and booked into a Texas jail on suspicion of murder, child endangerment and other charges. He's expected in court Tuesday. The Schwab family says they have "full faith and trust" in Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and know he'll "take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety." Caleb was killed in August 2016 while riding the waterslide at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas. The indictment released last week alleges the slide met few, if any, industry standards and that necessary repairs were avoided or delayed. ___ 8:45 a.m. Jail records show the co-owner of a Kansas water park where a 10-year-old boy died on a giant water slide is being held in Texas on suspicion of murder, aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment. Cameron County jail's brief online records cite a "Kansas agency" in the booking charges against Jeffrey Henry. The records don't provide any detail, but a spokeswoman for the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, said Monday that Henry had been arrested in the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab. The office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt hasn't responded to phone calls and emails seeking details about possible charges against Henry. The Kansas indictment is sealed. A Cameron County booking clerk says Henry is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. A Kansas grand jury last week indicted Schlitterbahn and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter in Caleb's death. Henry is co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts. Online jail records did not list an attorney for him. ___ 1 a.m. A water park company's co-owner is expected to appear in court after his arrest in Texas in connection with a Kansas criminal case arising from a 10-year-old boy's waterslide death. Jeffrey Henry is being held without bond at the jail in Cameron County, Texas. A jail booking clerk says he'll remain there until a court appearance Tuesday. Henry's arrest Monday follows a Kansas grand jury's indictment last week of the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, and its former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Caleb Schwab in 2016. The boy died on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide. Henry is co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts. A man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the series of packages containing explosive materials found at military bases in the greater Washington, D.C., area, a law enforcement official told Fox News. The FBI said Thanh Cong Phan, 43, was taken into custody at his home in Everett, Washington, on Monday night. In a six-minute hearing Tuesday, Judge James Donohue set a preliminary hearing for April 10 and a detention hearing for March 30. Phan faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The suspect only said two words, Yes, sir, when asked if a financial affidavit he filled out was correct. No possible motive was immediately disclosed. Law enforcement officials described him as emotionally disturbed and no stranger to federal and local authorities. He had written to many government agencies in the past, including members of Congress. Phan emerged as a suspect when a U.S. Postal Service inspector traced the tracking information on one of the packages to the Mill Creek, Washington post office self-service kiosk, the office of U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said, adding that surveillance images appeared to capture Phan at the time of the mailing. Officials previously said they were looking at more than five locations in the area where the packages were received, including the White House and CIA mail facilities located at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, officials told Fox News. Investigators have said more packages could still be out there. Basically there's a set procedure, [workers] went through the procedure, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters. On Monday, three military bases confirmed receiving packages containing explosive materials, but all packages were detected before they could be opened. The items were located at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, Fort Belvoir in Fairfax, Va. and the Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center located about an hour south of the nations capital. It is possible that further packages were mailed to additional mail processing facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the FBI said in a statement Tuesday, adding a joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is ongoing. Officials said black powder was discovered in at least one package along with a fuse, but it was neutralized by the FBI. Multiple threatening letters also were discovered. All packages were being analyzed in the FBI forensics lab at Quantico. Last month, a suspicious package was sent to Fort Myer near the Pentagon, but no hazardous material was found. The current scare comes in the wake of the Austin package bombings that left two people dead and several injured. The bomber, 23-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt, died after detonating an explosive during a confrontation with law enforcement. Military bases in the U.S. are also increasingly becoming targets. Last week, a 51-year old man drove a flaming minivan filled with propane tanks and gasoline onto Travis Air Force base located an hour outside San Francisco. He was identified as Hafiz Kazi. Law enforcement officials described the incident as possible terrorism. Authorities extracted a video from one of the attacker's three mobile phones and are analyzing it to find a motive. Fox News' Robert Shaffer in Seattle contributed to this report. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis acknowledged Tuesday that he and President Donald Trump's incoming national security adviser, John Bolton, have different world views but predicted they will develop a working partnership. "I look forward to working with him no reservations, no concerns at all," Mattis told reporters at an impromptu news conference. "Last time I checked he's an American. I'm not in the least bit concerned." Mattis said he has never met Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations and conservative firebrand. He said he expects Bolton to pay a visit to the Pentagon soon, perhaps this week, to begin developing a relationship. "I'll tell you right up front: it's going to be a partnership," he said. When a reporter mentioned that people see his world view as significantly different than that of Bolton, Mattis replied, "That's the normal thing you want, unless you want group-think." Bolton, who will replace Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster on April 9, has publicly advocated for overthrowing the North Korean government, possibly by force. Mattis, a retired Marine general who knows intimately the costs of war, favors diplomacy to rid the North of its nuclear weapons and has said war on the Korean peninsula would be "catastrophic." On Iran, too, Mattis would seem at odds with Bolton, who has argued for abandoning the Obama-era nuclear deal. These and other matters of war and peace will test Mattis' influence with Trump as his national security team is overhauled. Mattis was sometimes at odds with McMaster, but the arrival of the hawkish Bolton, combined with the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the uncertain status of John Kelly as White House chief of staff, appears to leave Mattis more isolated than at any time since he took over the Pentagon 15 months ago. The North Korea issue is front-and-center: Trump has agreed to meet with North Korean President Kim Jong Un by May to discuss the North's nuclear disarmament. The unprecedented summit could be a turning point in a decades-old U.S.-North Korean standoff that Trump himself has said could end in "fire and fury" - an American nuclear attack __ to stop the North from gaining the ability to strike the U.S. with a nuclear missile. "This is buckle-up time," retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, said last week on MSNBC. "For the military I have three words: Sharpen your swords. He (Bolton) is someone who is going to reach for the military instrument." The changes in the White House and at the State Department, while significant for Mattis, are hardly heart-stopping. People close to him sense no change in his commitment to the job; some suggest that Trump's decision to move former Republican congressman and current CIA director Mike Pompeo to State, replacing Tillerson, could benefit Mattis in the sense that he'll have a partner at State who is better aligned with Trump. Publicly, Mattis has said little about the shakeup. He was in Afghanistan when Tillerson got the ax. When reporters asked his reaction a couple of days later, Mattis said he preferred not to comment on the details, although he went on to suggest that its importance was being exaggerated. He said that in all of his discussions abroad with foreign government officials and American troops, the matter was not brought up once. "I understand why you're asking, but I'm just pointing out that in most parts of the world this is a Washington, D.C., story," he said. Another Washington story is Mattis and his ability to forge a workable relationship with Trump despite differences on some issues like the Iran nuclear deal, which Mattis says is flawed but worth honoring as long as the Iranians do. Mattis also has differed with the president over Trump's wish to bar all transgender people from serving in the military, and he helped sway Trump from his inclination last year to end U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan. The Mattis formula seems to be simple. Out of the spotlight, out of trouble. The less he says publicly, the less he risks losing influence with Trump. "Part of his success ... is absolutely the fact that you don't see him in the limelight terribly much," says Loren Dejonge Schulman, a defense analyst at the Center for a New American Security who served in key national security positions in the White House and Pentagon under President Barack Obama. "That may be keeping him out of trouble with the White House but I think it's setting an incredibly bad precedent in terms of Pentagon transparency." If Mattis, who spent more than 40 years in uniform and is the first career military officer to lead the Pentagon since George C. Marshall in the early 1950s, isn't the most experienced politician to run the military's vast bureaucracy, he has shown a knack for staying out of trouble with his thin-skinned boss. Mattis has even broken Trump of his habit of calling the retired general "Mad Dog," which Mattis insists was a media invention to begin with. Trump frequently has lunch and dinners with the defense secretary and speaks glowingly of him to outside advisers. White House officials have said that Trump sometimes repeats military historical anecdotes he heard from Mattis. Even Mattis' few known stumbles have not dogged him. In August, for example, Mattis told sailors at a submarine base in his home state of Washington that the Navy would give them the worst and the best days of their lives, and then added, "That means you're not some (expletive) sitting on the sidelines," he said. "You know what I mean, kind of sitting there saying, 'Well, I should have done something with my life.'" His language was quickly forgotten. The episode pointed to a man who has shaped the job and not let it shape him. So much so that perhaps the most poignant criticism of his tenure has been the secrecy with which the military has handled everything from troop deployment numbers to the details of its military strategies things that often were made public under previous secretaries. ___ Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report. A mural honoring the five Dallas police officers who were killed during a 2016 ambush attack was taken down Monday over city code violations, but a family member hopes the artwork can still be saved. The large mural was painted on a fence with metal panels outside the Last Call Lounge in the city's Bishop Arts District located south of downtown, and paid tribute to the officers who were killed during an attack on law enforcement at a Black Lives Matter rally in Dallas on July 7, 2016. We got together with the artist, and the artist came up with this idea, owner Diana Paz told FOX4. That's how it started." Paz was issued a violation notice in May 2017, which said she failed to obtain a permit to use metal panels in the construction, and that the fence blocks visibility at a nearby four-way stop. A city official on Tuesday told Fox News city compliance staff photographed the fence in June 2017 and documented the fence without the mural. The mural is believed to have been painted the next month, in July, after Paz had received the violation notice, according to Dallas Public Affairs Officer Corbin Rubinson. OUTRAGE AS DALLAS OFFICIALS THREATEN TO TEAR DOWN WALL HONORING FALLEN POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE IT 'RUNS AFOUL OF REGULATIONS' We were in meetings and conversations with them, Paz told FOX4. Then about a month ago, we stopped getting any information from them." Rubinson said the city filed a lawsuit on March 5 regarding the property as a result of the ongoing violations. After receiving a warning of a potential $1,000 per day fine for keeping the mural up, Paz said the decision was made to take the mural down this week. For Valerie Zamarripa, whose son Patrick was killed in the ambush, along with Michael Smith, Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol and Brent Thompson, anything that honors the officers killed that day is worth keeping. I feel like if it's trashed it's a dishonor to my son and the other officers who lost their lives, she told FOX4. The fence is described by city officials as "illegal" and "constructed in such a way that it can conceal illegal activity." "The mural painted on this illegal fence depicts a painful moment in Dallas history that should never be forgotten and pays tribute to our fallen heroes," Rubinson told Fox News in an email. "However, the illegal fence poses a real and undisputed public safety issue for the surrounding neighborhood that cannot be ignored." The city of Dallas unveiled the Dallas Circle of Heroes Memorial last year, which is a stone monument detailing the sacrifice of each fallen officer. Zamarripa told FOX4 she remains hopeful that someone will see what's happened, and will help to restore the mural someplace where it won't violate any ordinances. "Once I saw it, it showed me people do care, showed respect and honor for my son and the other officers," she said. Fox News' Elizabeth Llorente contributed to this report. A 13-year-old boy in North Carolina was reportedly suspended after he drew a picture of stick figures holding guns and knives. Roseboro Salemburg Middle School in Sampson County suspended the unidentified seventh-grader for two days over the doodle, which portrayed one stick figure holding what appeared to be a rifle and another carrying two large knives. James Herring, the boys father, was surprised his son was suspended for just expressing himself. I see a guy in a race car souped-up. I see a tower that he built. I see him holding his gun; hes a deer hunter. I see him with a magician and I see him as a Ninja Turtle ... nothing violent, Herring told WRAL. Herring also told the news station that their family does hunt, but any guns used for the sport are locked up. Dr. Eric Bracy, superintendent of Sampson County Schools, said in a statement to Fox News that "schools are on heightened alert after the tragedy in Florida and safety is our highest priority," adding that he isn't allowed to discuss individual students. Roseboro Salemburg Middle School declined to comment when contacted by Fox News. Herring told WRAL that his son drew the picture before the deadly mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 people. Bracy also told WRAL that the schools student handbook outlines a variety of reasons for suspension, explaining that there are some things that list possible threats or things like that. The punishments are divided into different categories depending on the seriousness of the offense, he explained. While the boy is back in school, according to WRAL, Herring still thinks the punishment his son received for the drawing was unfair. When I see that, I see a normal 13-year-old boy. I drew pictures like this, any other person of his age drew drawings like this. Its nothing to get expelled from school for, he said. A New York City detective is being hailed a hero after snatching a man from the ledge of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City on Sunday who was threatening to jump. Dozens of officers responded to a call of a jumper over the weekend after a 31-year-old man scaled a section of the bridge, NBC 4 reported. Helicopter video of the incident shows the man passing out on the platform after he wrapped something around his neck. Emergency Services Unit Detective Claudio Sanchez sprung into action and pulled the man off the ledge while he appeared limp. In a split-second decision, Sanchez can be seen darting across the platform to pull the man back from the ledge and into a harness, avoiding a disastrous 100 foot fall into the East River below, according to the station. I immediately talked back to my rope guy and told him give me some slack on the line, Sanchez told the station. It was an instant thing. Turned around. We grabbed him. Police then proceeded to perform CPR on the man, before being rushed to a nearby hospital where he remains in stable, but serious condition, the station reported. At one point, it was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Two years after 49 people were massacred inside a crowded nightclub in Orlando, the wife of the gunman responsible was put on trial -- with families of the victims looking for justice. Omar Mateen opened fire with a Sig Saur semi-automatic rifle on June 12, 2016, killing dozens of people before he was fatally shot hours later by police. The trial of his widow, Noor Salman, was the only criminal prosecution for the incident. Testimony began on March 14. After deliberating for three days, the jury announced on March 30 that Salman was found not guilty of obstruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization. In light of the verdict, here's what you need to know. What was she being accused of? Salman pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding and abetting Mateen's allegiance to the Islamic State. She was also charged with obstruction of justice, as FBI agents say she lied to them during questioning hours after the attack. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mandolfo said Salman gave conflicting statements to FBI agents. In one conversation with authorities, before they informed her of any details of the attack, she said, "My husband is safe with guns." "No one ever told her about guns," Mandolfo said. FBI agents interviewed Salman three times after the attack. They said she was aware Mateen was planning to do something and that texts to her husband prove it. "She knew he was going to conduct the attack," federal prosecutor Roger Handberg told a judge during a hearing in Oakland on Jan. 17, 2017. One text recovered from Salmans phone reads, If ur mom calls say nimo invited you out and noor wants to stay home. Another reads, She asked where you were xoxo. Love you. Nimo, or Nemo, is the name of one of Mateens friends, whom defense attorneys said Mateen often used to cover his tracks when he went out to cheat on his wife. She shopped with her husband at Walmart the night before the attack when he bought five containers of ammunition, a source close to the investigation previously told Fox News. A law enforcement source also told Fox she had driven her husband to Pulse nightclub at least once before the deadly shooting. What was her defense? The family and Salmans lawyers denied she had anything to do with Mateens plot. In a November 2016 interview with The New York Times, Salman apologized for her husband's act and claimed she was unaware of his plan. "I don't condone what he has done," she told the newspaper. "I am very sorry for what has happened. He has hurt a lot of people." Defense attorneys described Salman as a simple woman with a low IQ, who was abused by her husband and was in constant fear for her life. Her attorneys also claimed she wasn't given proper Miranda warnings, which tell suspects they have a right to remain silent and have an attorney present, before she made statements. I knew when he left the house he was going to Orlando to attack the Pulse Night Club, Salman confirmed in a signed statement written by an FBI agent, according to documents obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. Defense attorney Linda Moreno argued that this confession was coerced and, therefore, should not be admissible in court. "Noor Salman denied any knowledge of Omar Mateen's plans for hours," Moreno said, claiming agents told Salman that she could go to jail and not see her child. What about her family? FBI agents arrested Salman in January 2017 inside her California home, where she had been living with her young son, whom she shared with Mateen. The now 5-year-old boy, who lives with his maternal grandmother in California, has since learned about his father's act and hasn't had any contact with Mateen's side of the family, Susan Clary, spokeswoman for Salmans family, told the Orlando Sentinel. Salman reportedly calls the boy daily. "They talk about what he learned in his kindergarten class that day and what his favorite toys are," according to the Florida newspaper. What were the highlights of her trial? U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron, federal prosecutors and defense attorneys picked 12 jury members and six alternates on March 12. Opening statements started in federal court on March 14 in downtown Orlando. On the first day of the trial, jurors listened to a witness who hid under a dead body for three hours as shots were fired and an Orlando police detective who choked up on the stand. They also watched a video taken during the shooting by a survivor inside the club. Jurors watched graphic videos of the massacre the next day. Salman shielded her face as the videos and images were displayed on screen, the Orlando Sentinel reports. One video showed Mateen opening fire shooting people already lying motionless on the dance floor. He then walked toward the restroom where he began targeting people hiding in the bathroom stalls. On March 18, Salman's defense team filed a motion, asking the judge to ban the prosecution from using any damning statements the widow may have made to an FBI agent about Mateen's plan, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The next day, FBI Special Agent Ricardo Enriquez took the stand to reveal the statement Salman had given him the night he questioned her about the mass shooting. I am sorry for what happened, Enriquez read Salman's note, according to the Orlando Sentinel. I wish Id go back and tell his family and the police what he was going to do. Salman's defense attorneys argued those statements weren't accurate. On March 20, the mother of Mateen's friend, known only by the nickname "Nemo," testified in court. She discussed the pair's relationship, and told the court her son was working that night in Washington, D.C., and had not been with Mateen. Jurors got a deeper look into Mateen's past on March 21 as they searched through his browser history, which included ISIS propaganda and beheading videos. They also flipped through photos taken inside his Florida home. Final text messages between the couple were then read aloud in court. Salman texted Mateen twice during his hours-long standoff with police, asking, "Where are you?" Mateen responded, "You heard what happened." "????" Salman replied. "What happened?!" Salman texted. "I love you babe," Mateen wrote in his last text message at 4:29 a.m. "Habibi what happened?!" Salman wrote, using an Arabic term of endearment. "Your mom said that she said to come over and you never did." On March 22, jurors watched security footage of Salman standing by her husband's side -- with their young son close by -- as Mateen bought ammunition at Walmart. "I knew Omar was preparing for Jihad when he bought the rifle, was going to the range to shoot, was spending a lot of money and bought the ammunition, Salman said, according to a transcribed statement jurors were given earlier, the Orlando Sentinel reported. I saw these things as a green light for Omar to do an act of violence." On March 24, lawyers revealed that Mateen's dad was a secret FBI informant for more than a decade -- a revelation that led to immediate calls by the defense for a mistrial. "Seddique Mateen was a FBI confidential human source at various points in time between January 2005 and June 2016, the defense lawyers, in a court document, quoted United States Attorney Sara Sweeney as saying in a letter. Salmans lawyers, who denied she had anything to do with the attack, added: Moreover, the defenses questioning of the Governments witnesses has also been hindered by the Governments actions. During the cross-examination of Shahla Mateenshe denied any knowledge of a relationship between Seddique Mateen and the FBI. This was either false and the Government knew it since Seddique Mateen had been working with the FBI for eleven years or Seddique Mateen had kept this information from his wife a situation ripe for cross-examination. U.S. District Judge Paul Byron rejected the defense's motion for a mistrial on March 26, saying it had little bearing on the trial. "This trial is not about Seddique Mateen. It's about Noor Salman," Byron said. Sweeney told the 12 jurors on March 28 that Mateen's initial target was not Pulse, but Disney Springs. The target of that terrorist attack was not the Pulse nightclub. ... The target of his attack was Disney, Sweeney argued during closing arguments, showing the jury photos of a baby stroller and doll she believed Mateen planned to use to hide his weapons and get into Disney, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Salman's defense lawyers said Sweeney's information didn't make the incident "any less tragic" and argued that it had nothing to do with his wife's knowledge of an attack. "It's a horrible, random, senseless killing by a monster. But it wasn't pre-planned," defense attorney Charles Swift said. "And if he didn't know, she couldn't know." Deliberations began following the closing arguments around 2 p.m. on March 28. On March 30, after deliberating for three days and 12 hours, the jury in Salman's case reached a not guilty verdict on all counts. The widow was found not guilty of obstruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization. Fox News' Phil Keating and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Human remains that were recovered from a shallow grave in California on Tuesday are believed to be those of Adea Shabani, an aspiring model-actress who went missing last month. Shabani, 25, was last seen in Hollywood on Feb. 23, but the Los Angeles Police Department said at a news conference Tuesday that human remains, believed to be the missing woman's, were found in the Spenceville Wildlife Area in Nevada County, nearly 60 miles north of Sacramento. Officials said that while they believed the remains belonged to the missing woman, a definitive identification would not be available until an autopsy, scheduled for Wednesday morning, is conducted. ASPIRING ACTRESS BELIEVED DEAD AFTER GOING MISSING; BOYFRIEND COMMITS SUICIDE AFTER POLICE PURSUIT Authorities added that they believe that Christopher Spotz, a 33-year-old man believed to be Shabani's boyfriend who fatally shot himself during a police chase on Thursday, was involved in her death but could not elaborate. He was considered a person of interest in Shabani's disappearance before his death. Investigators were led to the area in their search for Shabani and "discovered what they believed to be a shallow grave" in the bank of Dry Creek around 8 a.m., the Nevada County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. A native of Macedonia, Shabani moved to the U.S. less than two years ago to pursue an acting career. She had been living in Los Angeles when she was last seen. Detectives are investigating the case as a homicide. Fox News' Kathleen Joyce and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A former Marine reservist from San Antonio known as the suitcase killer is set to be Texas fourth executed inmate on Tuesday though his attorneys are making a last-ditch effort to halt his death. Rosendo Rodriguez III, who turned 38 Monday, confessed to killing 29-year-old Summer Baldwin, whose battered, naked body was found stuffed into a new piece of luggage that was tossed in the trash. Workers at the Lubbock city landfill in September 2005 spotted the suitcase and found Balwins corpse. She was 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. Detectives used a barcode label sewn to the luggage to establish it was purchased at a local Walmart the day before. Debit card records and store surveillance video helped identify the buyer as Rodriguez. TEXAS MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY HAD WEAPONS STOCKPILE IN BOSTON-AREA HOTEL SAYS HE WAS ON A CLASSIFIED MISSION Rodriguez lived in San Antonio with his parents and was arrested there days after Baldwin's body was discovered. Three weeks later, he gave Lubbock police a statement saying he killed her in self-defense when she pulled a knife on him after the two had consensual sex on Sept. 12, 2005, in a hotel room. Testimony at his 2008 trial showed Baldwin had about 50 blunt force wounds and may have been alive when she was folded into the suitcase and tossed into a trash bin. The contents subsequently wound up at the city dump. Rodriguez, who also confessed to killing 16-year-old Joanna Rogers and similarly disposing her body a year earlier, was convicted and sentenced to die for raping and killing Baldwin. Rogers mummified remains were also found inside a suitcase at the city garbage dump. Military officials at the time said Rodriguez was in Lubbock for training that included martial arts combat. On Monday, Rodriguezs attorneys looked to the Supreme Court to halt his execution, claiming lower courts improperly turned down appeals that focused on the medical examiners trial testimony about Baldwins autopsy and her injuries. WATER PARK OFFICIAL FACING MURDER CHARGE IN WATERSLIDE DEATH Attorney Seth Kretzer said the Supreme Court was his last hope to show Rodriguez was innocent of the heinous crimes. In filings, Kretzer sought a hearing to a recent disclosure of the settlement of a whistleblower lawsuit which attorneys said previously was unknown to them that alleged the coroner delegated some duties to unqualified underlings. He said the practice raised questions about the credibility and admissibility of the medical examiners testimony in this case. Rodriguez would be the fourth Texas inmate to be executed this year, and the seventh nationally. Assistant Texas Attorney General Tomee Heining said the high court appeal was improper, untimely and meritless, and "nothing more than a last-ditch effort" to undermine scientific findings that were unfavorable for Rodriguez. "He's really good at killing people," Lubbock County District Attorney Matt Powell, who prosecuted Rodriguez, said Monday. "Very calm, very calculated. A Texas man who was arrested Sunday after police said they found a weapons stockpile that included an AK-47, AR-15 and bump stock in his hotel room told investigators that he was on a classified government mission, The Lowell Sun reported. Francho S. Bradley, 59, and Adrianne D. Jennings, 40, were taken into custody after Bradley called police to the hotel room to report that someone was breaking in. Police responded and found the weapons, the report said. Bradley called the police while away from the room and informed authorities that he had a firearm in his hotel room. Tewksbury police noticed rifles and said they later found smoke grenades, walkie talkies, cell phones and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Some of the weapons were reportedly recovered in a nearby vehicle. Bradley reportedly told investigators about the secret government mission but refused to go into detail. The couple had allegedly driven from Texas to Massachusetts with the weapons. The report said the couple faces eight counts of possession of a large capacity firearm, three counts of possession of a silencer and other charges including possession of a firearm without a license and possession of a bump stock. The two are being held without bail after being arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court in connection with a large seizure of weapons. Robert Normandin, who represented Bradley at the arraignment Monday, told the paper that his client is a veteran and the weapon accessories were props and not actually functional. Normandin reportedly said his client uses them as he conducts business. Authorities are investigating why the couple was staying at the Marriott Residence Inn in Tewksbury, Mass. The Associated Press contributed to this report A twice-deported illegal immigrant -- who posted bail the same day he was charged with the rape of a young girl in Oregon -- is now in the custody of immigration officials, federal records show. Seaside police arrested Guatemalan national Anastacio Eugenio Lopez-Fabian, 24, in February after investigators determined he had sex several times with a girl younger than 14, the Daily Astorian reported Monday. He was also charged with assault and harassment. Lopez-Fabian was released the same day he was arrested after he was able to post $25,000 bail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him March 7 at a courthouse parking lot prior to a scheduled hearing. Lopez-Fabian is now in custody at a detention center in Tacoma, Wash., according to federal records. Hours after his release, ICE deportation officers received information from federal databases about his prior immigration history and his most recent arrest, ICE spokeswoman Carissa Cutrell told the Daily Astorian. "From there, they conducted an online review of jail and court records and determined that Lopez-Fabian did not have lawful status in the country, and subsequently, targeted him for immigration enforcement. Lopez-Fabian had been deported in 2013 and 2014, Cutrell said. Cutrell criticized the Clatsop County Sheriffs Office for not alerting the agency of Lopez-Fabians arrest. Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin pushed back on the criticism, however, saying there wasnt much his office couldve done because Lopez-Fabian had posted bail. My office knows to cooperate with ICE, Bergin told KATU-TV. "But, ICE also has a blanket statement that they have been putting out saying that this agency didn't do this or failed to do that. We will continue to cooperate with ICE, within the confines of the law. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Uber was accused Tuesday of disabling the software in the self-driving Volvo vehicle that fatally struck a woman last week in Arizona. Aptiv PLC, the company that makes the collision-avoidance technology, told Bloomberg that Uber disabled the software in the self-driving SUV that killed Elaine Herzberg, 49, as she was crossing a street in Tempe on March 18. We dont want people to be confused or think it was a failure of the technology that we supply for Volvo, because thats not the case, Aptiv PLC spokesman Zach Peterson told Bloomberg. The Volvo XC90s standard advanced driver-assistance system has nothing to do with the Uber test vehicles autonomous driving system. UBER SUSPENDED FROM TESTING SELF-DRIVING CARS IN ARIZONA Uber declined to comment on the accusation and Volvo told Bloomberg they were waiting for the investigation to be completed before they speculated. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey suspended Uber from testing autonomous vehicles in the state following the deadly incident. Mobileye, which produces the sensor chips in the safety systems supplied to Aptiv PLC, told Bloomberg it tested the software Monday following the crash by watching the footage of the accident. The company said the software was able to detect Herzberg one second before impact in its internal tests despite the videos poor visual quality. The software by Aptiv, using the sensors and chips from Mobileye, make the vehicle able to detect a person or object nearby in order to avoid hitting it. Vehicles with the technology are able to stop automatically if it detects an object. Last week, police released camera footage of the crash which showed both exterior and interior angles of the car ride leaving up to the moment the SUV struck Herzberg. The interior video showed the cars driver, Rafaela Vasquez, 44, buckled in behind the wheel of the vehicle that was reportedly moving around 40 miles per hour. SELF-DRIVING UBER CAR KILLS ARIZONA PEDESTRIAN, POLICE SAY While the Volvo SUV was in self-driving mode, Vasquez was in the car as a safety driver, who, in the event there was a malfunction or issue, could take control. In the moments before the car struck Herzberg, Vasquez is seen repeatedly looking down, seemingly toward the console area of the car, until she suddenly looks shocked at the pedestrian in front of her. Exterior video shows the Uber car driving at night when the vehicle's headlights suddenly illuminate Herzberg, who is walking her bike in the street, outside of any crosswalks. Police have said neither Herzberg nor Vasquez showed signs of impairment in the crash. Paramedics rushed Herzberg to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries. Police have said neither Herzberg nor Vasquez showed signs of impairment in the crash, and Vasquez has been cooperating in their investigation. The incident was the first fatality involving a self-driving vehicle. Fox News Nicole Darrah and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report. A North Carolina woman is warning pet owners to comb their lawns for poisonous mushrooms after two of her dogs were found dead in her backyard on Sunday. Janna Joyner, who fosters several dogs through nonprofits Cause for Paws of North Carolina and German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions, said "Death Angel" mushrooms -- deadly, poisonous fungus that pops up around the spring -- are to blame for killing her beloved pups and sickening four other dogs. "Adoni and Drago passed away after ingesting Death Angel (Amanita virosa) mushrooms in my own back yard," Joyner wrote in a Facebook post that has since gone viral with more than 15,000 shares. "The toxins in these mushrooms will cause liver failure in dogs. There isn't an antidote necessarily, so you just have to manage the symptoms." It was too late for her 3-year-old Saint Bernard, Drago, and 8-year-old lab-retriever mix, Adoni, but Joyner was able to rush the remaining animals that were struggling to stand, salivating and vomiting to the veterinarian. Tests showed traces of Amatoxin, a deadly toxin in poisonous mushrooms, in the dogs' bloodstreams. Joyner said the mushrooms are especially appealing to dogs because of their "fishy odor and taste." A dog that consumes those mushroom can go from healthy to very clinically sick, to dead within 24 to 48 hours. So its a very rapid disease syndrome, David Dorman, a toxicology professor at N.C. State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, told WRAL. There's not a specific description of so-called "Death Angel" mushrooms, Dorman said, as they vary in color and length. To be safe, homeowners should remove any form of mushroom that pops up in their yard. (Its) always best to cut them, bag them and throw them away. And then wash your hands yourself so you dont get exposed, he advised. Joyner suggested going a step further: survey areas around your bushes and landscaping. Her friend, Nicole Kincaid, told WRAL that the mushrooms Joyner's "babies" ingested were hidden under a pile of mulch. "Its just scary to know how close it was to home and how it can happen to any dog, said Kincaid. Thats what were really hoping, that we can educate people. Echoing her friend, Joyner said she decided to share her story so she can save at least one dog. "Please, Please, PLEASE clear out all mushrooms from your yard," she begged. Joyner declined Fox News' request for further comment, saying it's too "hard to talk about over and over." World leaders are taking action after ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his adult daughter were allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent earlier this month. So far, at least 24 countries have announced the expulsion of 139 Russian diplomats. The U.S. alone is kicking out at least 60 Russian intelligence officers. President Trump also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, senior administration officials said. The news comes in the wake of the alleged attack on Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia, who remain in critical condition. They were found unconscious on a bench in a shopping mall in Salisbury on March 4. The U.K. has pointed the finger for the alleged attack at Russia, which has strongly denied any involvement. Read on for a look at the countries that have announced diplomatic measures against Russia. Albania, 2 Albania is expelling two Russian diplomats, Reuters reported. Australia, 2 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a March 27 statement that two diplomats were undeclared intelligence officers and have been given seven days to leave Australia. Turnbull slammed the attack as "the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II." He also called it "reckless and deliberate" conduct by Russia that harms global security and violates rules against the use of chemical weapons. Canada, 4 Canada is kicking out four Russians and is denying three who have applied to enter the country, according to a March 26 statement from Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. The nerve agent attack in Salisbury, on the soil of Canadas close partner and ally, is a despicable, heinous and reckless act, potentially endangering the lives of hundreds," she said. Croatia, 1 One Russian diplomat is being expelled from the country. Czech Republic, 3 Czech Foreign Minister Martin Stropnicky tweeted that the country's foreign ministry called for three diplomats and their family members [to] leave the territory of the Czech Republic by April 1st 2018 at the latest. Denmark, 2 Today we informed the Russian ambassador, that we are expelling two Russian diplomats. It is a very extraordinary step, but the situation is also very extraordinary, Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said in a March 26 statement. Estonia, 1 The Twitter account for Estonias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country has chosen to expel one Russian diplomat. Finland, 1 Finland is expelling one diplomat. France, 4 In a March 26 statement, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that we have notified the Russian authorities of our decision to expel four Russian diplomats from French territory within one week. Germany, 4 The European nation said it would be expelling four Russians. To this day #Russia has shown no efforts to support investigations after the #Salisbury attack, the German Foreign Office tweeted. Hungary, 1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trades Deputy State Secretary Tamas Menczer told MTI in a statement that the country "is expelling a Russian diplomat, who also performs espionage activities." Italy, 2 Italy is kicking out two officials of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Rome, a March 26 statement read. Latvia, 1 One Russian diplomat is being expelled, plus one Russian representative of a Russian company is being blacklisted. Lithuania, 3 Three Russian diplomats are being expelled from the country. Macedonia, 1 Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that one diplomat was being expelled. Netherlands, 2 Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok tweeted that the country "decided to expel two Russian intelligence officers." Norway, 1 The use of a nerve agent in Salisbury is a very serious matter," Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide said in a March 26 statement. "This is the first time a chemical weapon has been used on European soil since World War II. Such an incident must have consequences. Norway stands together with the United Kingdom, allies, partners and neighbouring countries." Poland, 4 Four diplomats must leave the country by midnight April 3, according to Poland's foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz. Romania, 1 The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that it declared one Russian diplomat persona non grata. Spain, 1 From the outset, we have considered the nerve agent attack in Salisbury to be an extremely serious development that represents a significant threat to our collective security and to international law, Spains Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation tweeted. Sweden, 1 The Swedish government said in a March 26 release that we have today decided to expel a person from the staff of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm. "The Swedish Government has consistently expressed its full support for, and solidarity with, the United Kingdom in light of the attempted murders in Salisbury," it said. Ukraine, 13 Ukraine, which has its own conflicts with Moscow, was expelling 13 Russians. United Kingdom, 23 British Prime Minister Theresa May said March 12 that Russia is highly likely to be responsible for the poisoning. May had given Russia until midnight on March 13 to respond to the charges. When Moscow failed to respond, May expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the U.K. Russia later retaliated, ordering 23 British diplomats to be expelled on March 17. United States, 60 President Donald Trump ordered 60 of its diplomats out of the U.S. all of them spies, the White House said. The U.S. called it the largest expulsion of Russian spies in American history, and, deeming it a counterintelligence threat, also shuttered Russias consulate in Seattle. Fox News Kathleen Joyce, Katherine Lam, Travis Fedschun, Lucia I. Suarez Sang, Madeline Farber and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A German court has ruled that authorities are entitled to deport a Tunisian man considered a potentially dangerous Islamic extremist although they can't rule out him being sentenced to the death penalty at home. The man, who wasn't identified, was arrested after Tunisia sought his extradition, accusing him of involvement in the deadly 2015 attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis. In August, authorities in Hesse state ordered his deportation, citing the threat of potential terrorist activities in support of the Islamic State group. The Federal Administrative Court said Tuesday that Germany's Foreign Ministry couldn't rule out the man being given the death sentence, which Germany opposes, at home. But it said Tunisia stressed that a moratorium on imposing death sentences has been in place for years. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 The Latest on the dispute over the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. (all times local): 12:20 p.m. A top Russian diplomat says Moscow is preparing a "tough response" to Tuesday's announcement by the United States that it is expelling 60 Russian diplomats. The United States, European Union nations and some other countries announced Tuesday they would expel a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in critical condition in the hospital in the English city of Salisbury after being exposed to what British authorities say was a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent on March 4. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti news agency on Tuesday that Russia was disappointed by the U.S. announcement that it would expel 60 Russian diplomats and shut down a Russian consulate in Seattle. Ryabkov said the U.S. move "will be met with a tough response" but he did not elaborate. ___ 9:10 a.m. Australia has become the latest country to announce that it is expelling Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed "reckless and deliberate" conduct by Russia that harms global security and violates rules against the use of chemical weapons. He said in a statement Tuesday that the two diplomats targeted are undeclared intelligence officers and have been given seven days to leave Australia. Western nations have expelled more than 130 diplomats in recent days. The Russian Embassy in Canberra said the decision was regrettable and jeopardized the bilateral relationship. "It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly contrary to the norms of civilized bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against ... common sense." A mysterious and heavily guarded 21-car train that chugged into China's capital Monday -- bringing with it rumors that North Korean despot Kim Jong Un was aboard -- departed Tuesday just as suddenly as it arrived, and bound for destinations unknown. Kim was identified as the likely VIP passenger after North Korea watchers noted the green diesel with the yellow stripe down the side looked just like the trains that ferried the despot's late father to meetings in China and Russia -- and on which Kim Jong Il eventually died of a heart attack. "Our government is trying to thoroughly grasp the related situation, including whether the reports are true," a South Korean foreign ministry official said, according to Yonhap News Agency. "[But] whether Workers' Party of Korea Chairman Kim Jong-un is visiting China has not been verified." The train entered Beijings central train station Monday night with unusually heavy security and after other trains were heavily delayed so as not to interfere with the mystery train's arrival. On Tuesday, a slew of photos and videos showed a motorcade of black limousines waiting at the train station and Chinese soldiers on the platform, suggesting a high-level official was aboard. By the afternoon, a vehicle convoy led by a motorcycle escort headed to the station. Shortly afterward, the train left. RUMORS OF KIM JONG UNS VISIT TO CHINA SWIRL AS MYSTERIOUS TRAIN REPORTEDLY LEAVES BEIJING If Kim was a passenger, it would align with the behavior of his father, who was spotted on a similar train in 2011 heading to Beijing. He made about a dozen trips abroad, almost all to China and all by train because he loathed flying. Kim Jong Il had a penchant for a playboy lifestyle and is said to have decked the train out for lavish parties, during which he engaged in bouts of heavy drinking and sang karaoke. The train generally 90 carriages that contained bedrooms, conference rooms and a chamber equipped with satellite phones and flat-screen televisions -- had cases of Bordeaux and Beaujolais wine flown from Paris, Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian official who accompanied Kim Jong ll on a three-week trip to Moscow in 2001, said in an account published in 2002. ''Kim Jong Il can be called a gourmet, Pulikovsky wrote, adding that live lobster and pork barbecue were included in feasts. ''It was possible to order any dish of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French cuisine." The train cars are reportedly bulletproof, making them heavier than normal carriages and much slower when traveling, according to a 2009 report by Chosun Ilbo. The train travels an average speed of 37 miles per hour. Three separate trains operated at the same time when Kim Jong Il traveled. The first car was used for security checks, Kim rode in the second and the third carried his bodyguards and other personnel, according to the report. The North Korean leader traveled with heightened security after an explosion near the North Korea-China border in 2004 killed 160 people and injured 1,300 others, the South China Morning Post reported. The 2004 blast was rumored to be an assassination attempt on the despot. US HOLDS FIRM ON MILITARY DRILLS WITH SOUTH KOREA DESPITE OUTREACH WITH KIM JONG UN Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack in December 2011 aboard one of his six beloved trains, the South China Morning Post reported. On Monday, heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge on the Yalu River, marking the border between China and North Korea. There was also news of the train transiting several stations on the way from North Korea to Beijing. North Koreans entering China usually pass through the bridge, which is used in roughly 80 percent of travel between the two countries. The train would then have likely passed through the Chinese city of Dandong, which is at least a 14-hour journey by rail to Beijing and covers more than 680 miles, according to Reuters. A complete rail trip from Pyongyang to Beijing takes at least 25 hours. The cars pass through two stations in North Korea (not including Pyongyang) and seven stations in China (not including Beijing), according to travel guides. It isn't a surprise China and North Korean officials have not confirmed the visit. North Korean leaders trips usually arent immediately announced. Kim Jong Ils trip to China in 2003 wasnt announced until days later. Kim Jong Un has not visited a foreign country since he took power in 2011. The North Korean leader is expected to hold separate summits with South Korea in late April and the U.S. in May. Kims visit, if confirmed, would also mirror his fathers move, when the elder Kim visited then-President Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas that was held later that year, Reuters reported. Kim was seen in a 2015 video, posted by North Korea state media, aboard a similar train to the one spotted Monday seated at a table in a conference room. There were also rumors the trains werent carrying Kim at all, but instead were for his sister, Kim Yo Jong, who he also sent to South Korea last month for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. Three sources confirmed to Bloomberg, however, that the despot was the official who visited Beijing. The White House also could not confirm the reports. Within China, searches for the term North Korea were blocked Tuesday, while Kim Jong Un turned up results from several days prior on major social media platforms, including Sinas Weibo. Some nicknames were also blocked, such as "Kim the Third Fatty" (Jin San Pang in Chinese). A blocked Weibo post about Kims possible visit even showed a combination of three photos of a pig character in a fictional Chinese television series. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized Tuesday after suffering from a high fever and a cough, government officials said. Netanyahu, 68, was admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem to undergo tests, which indicated he has a minor viral infection of his upper respiratory tract, a spokesperson said. The prime minister suffered a throat infection two weeks ago, but "did not complete the time required in order to recover," spokesman David Baker told Reuters. "Therefore the symptoms have gotten worse." In a tweet, the prime minister said he's on his way home to rest. Netanyahu has been battling a number of corruption allegations in recent months, and police have recommended he be indicted on charges related to two cases. His wife and son were questioned Monday by police in a high-profile corruption investigation revolving around Bezeq, the Israeli telecom giant. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing. Fox News' Yonat Friling, Clemence Robineau, Stephanie Legrand and The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Italian father is desperately seeking information about his son, who disappeared without trace in Istanbul nearly two weeks ago. Thirty-three-year-old Alessandro Fiori, from Milan, flew into the Turkish city on March 12 and was last spotted on a CCTV camera on March 14 in Istanbul's busy Beyoglu district, where the Italian Consulate is located, his father says. His phone, wallet and other belongings were found in a hotel trash bin. His father, Eligio Fiori, told the AP on Tuesday that his son, a marketing manager, often traveled abroad. He last saw Alessandro two weeks ago at their family home. He flew to Istanbul the next day without telling anyone. Fiori said: "They (police) checked hospitals, they checked the morgues and there is no news there" A few months ago, a group of protesters decided to vent their frustration by screaming into the sky. Trying to encourage theologians to understand the fundamentals of economics before preaching about the subject sometimes feels just as productive. However, one of the secular media have recognized the efforts of one of the foremost Catholic exponents of the free market. Fr. Martin Rhonheimer, a professor of ethics and philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, shared his message as part of a profile in Expansion, possibly the most widely read business newspaper in Spain. The Church is not here to teach economics, he said, so pastors should be cautious when it comes to making pronouncements. But unfortunately, they are silent about issues for which they have genuine competence and speak out about issues that basically do not concern them. Worse yet, when they do so, they do so badly. This is a world of scarcity, while that of Jesus is the kingdom of Heaven, of grace and divine mercy, a world of abundance, whose laws are not valid here, said Fr. Rhonheimer, who spoke at Actons 2014 conference on Faith, State, and the Economy: perspectives from East and West at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Unfortunately, he told Expansion, theologians have the tendency to conflate the two kingdoms. The dividing line between primitive shamanism and the Judeo-Christian religious tradition is that the latter embraces the use of reason. While we believe in charismata and miracles, we understand that God has endowed humanity with free will and typically works His will through natural human interaction. That means that incentives matter. Economic interventionist policies that discourage industriousness and reward idleness lead to scarcity and unmet needs: The historical record is clear, writes Rhonheimer. Over the past two centuries, the capitalist economy [] has steadily improved the living conditions of all social levels, always and everywhere. On the contrary, all versions of state interventionism [have] deteriorated. Fr. Rhonheimers list of four perceptual biases that stop people from seeing the value of free markets alone makes the article worth reading. His overview of the ruptures within Catholic social teaching, as different emphases emerged between papal encyclicals, brings a nuanced insight often missing from the topic. Acton readers will also appreciate the articles reference to the School of Salamanca, which recently celebrated its 800th anniversary. At a time when churches preach that justice demands that employers pay workers a $15-an-hour minimum wage, the theologians of Salamanca came to radically different conclusions. Fr. Rhonheimer says, according to Luis de Molina, a just wage is: one stipulated freely by the employer and employee and which corresponds to the service provided, not with what the employee and his family need to survive. This would be the best thing, but it is not economically viable. You can pay more for charity, but not for justice. For more information on the School of Salamanca, you may enjoy reading Sourcebook in Late-Scholastic Monetary Theory: The Contributions of Martin de Azpilcueta, Luis de Molina, and Juan de Mariana. In addition, Alejandro Chafuen the Acton Institutes managing director, international has written an accessible introduction titled Faith and Liberty: The Economic Thought of the Late Scholastics. (The latter is out of print as of this writing but is sometimes available on Amazon). You can read the full profile of Fr. Martin Rhonheimer here (in Spanish). You may also enjoy this lecture, co-sponsored by the Acton Institute, about The Christian-anthropological foundations of a free market economy: (Photo credit: Public domain.) 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. MOBILE, Ala. - Freshly baked "Ram Rolls" with flavored butter choices and "Pop-up Restaurant Days" with culinary creations from Mobile's best chefs are just some of the options University of Mobile students will have through a new partnership between the university and MMI Dining Systems. The collaboration between the university and the Mississippi-based family-owned hospitality company brings expanded menu options to the university's dining hall and three specialty fast-food centers. It will also bring to campus food trucks, local and national restaurant brands, special "guest chef" nights with area chefs, extended hours and flexible meal plans. University of Mobile president Dr. Timothy L. Smith said the enhanced dining service is part of the university's commitment to providing a campus community that is welcoming. "The goal of our concierge model throughout the university is to keep the needs of our customer - the student - at the forefront. Providing the very best in dining services is an important part of serving our community," Smith said. Dr. Neal Ledbetter, vice president for student life, said the new menus include the variety and healthy options students have requested. A new student focus group will give input into dining operations, including menu options and special events. "Choice is important to our students, and we are excited about the many options our campus community will have as a result of our partnership with MMI," Ledbetter said. Susan Smith, director of business development for MMI, said, "We are thrilled that University of Mobile and their trustees have made the decision to partner with us. We believe our commitment to hospitality service will greatly enhance their complete campus experience and are certain that meal time in the dining venues will become a highlight of the students' day. We are excited to make improvements and look forward to serving the students, faculty, staff and guests for many years to come." MMI will rebrand the three fast-food restaurants, update the dining hall, and create a variety of build-your-own stations to give customers more choices. Gluten-free and clean-eating choices, take-out pizza, and "Ram Rolls" - fresh-baked rolls imprinted with the university's logo - will be on the menu. Staples always on the menu include hand-dipped Blue Bell Ice Cream, a salad bar color-coded to provide nutritional information, soup and baked potato bar and more. Service starts in May 2018. For more information about MMI Dining Systems, visit their website at www.mmidining.com. About University of Mobile: University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's and master's degree programs in over 40 areas of study. Founded in 1961, University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres. For more information about University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222. It is almost a year until the UK officially leaves the EU and many questions remain unanswered about how agriculture will be affected. Defra secretary Michael Gove has pledged to keep the 3bn of annual farm support at the same level until 2022. But rewarding farmers for taking care of the environment and capping payments for larger farmers is the direction of travel. A Defra consultation is under way on the impact of Brexit on farming and the environment and farmers are being urged to have their say. See also: Video farmers trade blows over Brexit impact There is still great uncertainty regarding the future of British agriculture outside of the EU. What will happen to trade, labour, subsidies and red tape? However, as an industry, the message is clear that change is coming and farmers are being advised to prepare now. With everything that you have heard so far, how do you feel your farm business will be affected by Brexit? Take part in our poll. Los Angeles Times Dubs Convicted Terrorists 'Political Prisoners' | Main | Ahed Tamimi's Time Served Lost in Haaretz Translation March 27, 2018 Wheres the Coverage? Thousands March Against Antisemitism in the U.K. On March 26, 2018, thousands of people in the United Kingdom took to the streets to protest antisemitism by the British Labour Party. Yet, several leading U.S. news outletsmany of which have professed concern with rising antisemitismfailed to fully cover the event. Britains Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews organized the protest. According to a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), approximately 2,000 people gathered outside the houses of Parliament in London,? to highlight their concern that the Labour Party and its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, are enabling anti-Semitism in the party.? As JTA noted, Corbyn has called Hezbollah and Hamasboth terrorist groups that are committed to Israels destructionfriends.? Several Labour Party officials, such as Ken Livingstone, a former mayor of London, have engaged in forms of Holocaust denial and minimization. Others have repeatedly propagated antisemitic tropes. A 2016 Labour-led inquiry tasked with investigating these charges was labeled by some, including several Labour Party members, a whitewash? and a sham.? More recently, the journalist David Collier revealed that several top Labour Party officials, as well as several journalists, belonged to a Facebook group that routinely posted antisemitic material ("BBC Reporter Revealed To Be A Member of Secret Anti-Israel Facebook Group," BBC Watch, March 7, 2018). Initially, Corbyn denied knowingly belonging to the group. However, it was later revealed that he had commented on several posts and was an active member. Several days before the March 26, 2018 protest, it was revealed that Corbyn had supported the creator of an antisemitic mural in 2012. In response, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Britains Jewish Leadership Council issued an open letter decrying antisemitism in the Labour Party and noting that Corbyn has a history of siding with antisemites.? Thousands of people protesting antisemitism by a major U.K. political party and its leaderpotentially the Prime Minister of a leading U.S. ally and world power is a newsworthy event that some have labeled a crisis.? But several major U.S. news outlets have failed to properly cover it. For example, the print editions of both The Washington Post and The New York Times declined to provide any original reporting on the demonstration against antisemitism in the Labour Party. Both papers have London bureausand thus, the staff and the resources to do sobut instead they merely chose to republish short wire service briefs from the Associated Press and Reuters. The AP brief published by The Post was a mere nine sentences. The print editions of other major media outlets, such as USA Today and The Baltimore Sun, entirely omitted any mention of the protests. All of these outlets have, in recent months, published editorials and Op-Eds highlighting rising antisemitism. However, as CAMERA noted in a March 16, 2018 Times of Israel Op-Ed (The Washington Posts Skewed Coverage of Antisemitism?), some in the press selectively cover antisemitism; often failing to fully cover it when it emanates from anywhere but the far right. In a Nov. 23 2017, commentary entitled How to Protect Against Fake Facts,? Washington Post opinion writer David Ignatius warned against media outlets becoming overly reliant on news services such as the Associated Press or Reuters.? Ignatius expressed concern about the press disseminating false and/or misleading information: We live in an information ecosystem,? he wrote. If it becomes polluted, all the creatures that depend on the ecosystems are at risk. We say that sunlight is the best disinfectant. But thats true only when the sun shines brightly.? But the media spotlight wasnt shining on the March 26, 2018 demonstration against antisemitism. Without fair and impartial press coverage, this toxic age-old hatred will only continue to spread. And history is clear: This puts everyonenot just the Jewish peopleat risk. Posted by SD at March 27, 2018 03:47 PM It looks like history is repeating itself. very disturbing and dangerous. Posted by: Therese Botwinik at March 29, 2018 11:16 AM The question is in contrast how are the covering the violent Hamas protest on Israel's border? The fact is liberals have decided that Israel must be vilified. The UN seeks to have Companies that do business with Israelis over the line exposed, the UNHRC wishes to impose penalties on nations with defense contracts with Israel. They are following a scripted anti Israel ideological end that allows anti-semitism which they may deem a harmless passe bigotry that is overly exaggerated, this is the rhetoric of Holocaust denial, the Ayatollah, Germany, Erdogan, Poland. They don;t deny the Holocaust occurred it was just the result of the way the Nazis waged war and the Jews suffered no worse and were not the object of its focus. the only way to debunk this false positive that is Holocaust denial is to affirm the facts, the Nazis principle intent was to annihilate the Jews, the 3 million Russians who died building the camps died to provide a site all Jews could be killed in, the Poles who got caught up another 3 million Poles would have us believe were as much the focus of the Nazis as were Jews. This denies the facts of antisemitism, that emancipation of Jews in Europe only happened in the last decade of the 19th Century, a sense of the inferiority and German Darwinists and nihilists ascribed less human attributes to them. It is only because of the wide spread prejudices of antisemitism other classes could be included but not with the same totally inhuman characteristics. Yes millions of peoples died the Nazis described as sub human but the hatred and rationalization that drove it was antisemitism. That was what the Ayatollah's of the world wish us to forget and ignore. Hence an antisemitism march is of no practical value because the liberal ideologues of the press corps already have succumbed to bigotry. Posted by: jeb at March 30, 2018 12:45 PM 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 News Island chamber criticizes land use regulations GALVESTON The citys land use rules for development are overreaching and overly complicated for entrepreneurs trying to start businesses on the island, a Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce subcommittee said in a recent letter to the city. In a letter to the citys planning commission and staff, John Rocky Sullivan recommended some edits to the land use document and the zoning map. Sullivan is an island businessman leading the chambers subcommittee reviewing the land use restrictions. The chambers primary complaint is existing land use regulations are so detailed and specific that they overly complicate the development process, he wrote. The comments stem from challenges raised about the document as a whole and not necessarily the recent proposals up for consideration by the city council next month. As a general commentary, it seems that the level of detail attempted in the LDR is where many of the mistakes are found and due to the fact that there is an infinite number of circumstantial scenarios it is almost impossible to accurately and effectively regulate, Sullivan said. The zoning map has many inaccuracies with properties listed under the wrong zone, Sullivan wrote. This begs the question: why do we need to have such a voluminous and inherently complicated document for development regulation? Sullivan said. The Galveston City Council is slated to vote next month on revisions to the land use document. The city in March 2015 approved the Galveston Land Development Regulations, a complete overhaul of a 1991 zoning and land use document. In the time since the 2015 approval, city planning staff has been working on revisions and proposed amendments to the document primarily to address administrative-type issues that have come up, Mayor Jim Yarbrough said. Those revisions went before the planning commission last year and to city council in October 2017. The city held public meetings on the changes through December 2017. The council had planned to vote on those changes, but pushed back the vote after a request from the chambers subcommittee for more time to review the changes. Meanwhile, city staff has been meeting weekly with the chambers committee on land development regulations. But the recent proposals put a renewed spotlight on the overall document and zoning map, with some parties revisiting the debate about that document. Conversations about the land use document as a whole will be a topic for discussion over the next nine to 12 months, Yarbrough said. In the process of looking at those administrative changes, Rocky in particular, and to a lesser-degree the chamber subcommittee, decided the base LDR approved in 2015 have some problems, at least from their perspective, Yarbrough said. If they want to review it, thats fine but thats not going to be done by a chamber subcommittee; its a city process, Yarbrough said. The city council will vote on the proposals where theres consensus next month and revisit the issues about the document as a whole after that vote, he said. Those issues will go through the process of public hearings, he said. The proposed revisions to be voted on next month include things such as redefining retaining walls, defining additional terms and fixing typos, according to planning documents. The other revisions vary in scope. One revision is a neighborhood services district, which would serve as a buffer zone between residential and commercial zones. The regulations require setbacks between businesses and residential properties. Another policy change is the addition of density standards for the West End. Excavation would also be regulated if the revised land use document is approved. Anyone excavating on the island would need a specific use permit, and would have to provide the city with detailed information about the project, including a full site plan, sand quality and cost analysis. Boat repair facilities have new limited-use standards, such as required screening enclosing outdoor boats visible from public rights of way. Boat sale or rental locations wouldnt be able to place outdoor displays or storage within 25 feet of a residential district boundary, according to the revisions. Recreational vehicle parks also would be regulated. Those would have to be placed 300 feet back from a residential property line. This week, the city council heard the staffs timeline for taking up the revisions. The planning department is reviewing the chambers recommendations, said Tim Tietjens, director of the planning department. The planning commission will next discuss the proposals on April 3 and April 17 before the document goes for a final review before the city council April 26, according to the city. During the April 3 meeting, the planning commission will vet the chamber concerns and compile a list of what staff and the chamber agree on and what they disagree on, Tietjens said. The items they can agree on will be before the council for a vote in April, he said. The areas where they disagree will be the next phase of review, Tietjens said. Those issues will likely be part of upcoming public meetings, he said. The things we cant work out and the things that werent part of the original scope will be the next phase, Tietjens said. A separate issue tangentially related to the land development regulations came up during the city council meeting last week with a Broadway business owner seeking permission from the city to build a gas station within 200 feet of homes, which would be a violation of the citys land development regulations. It highlights some of the friction, even among council members, about the land use regulations document and their application. Trong Van Ha, owner of the Shop-N-Drive on 54th Street and Broadway, requested a planned unit development, basically a permit to allow for construction of a gas station that deviates from the existing land use regulation, according to city documents. Van Ha recently renovated his Shop-N-Drive convenience store on Broadway and planned to add six gas pumps to turn the property into a full-function service station. In a 4-3 vote, the city council denied the planned unit development permit for the gas station, with the deciding members arguing it violated the current land use regulations and went against the direction for Broadway development an ad hoc committee is studying. I believe strongly in the original LDR that said 200 feet from residences, Councilman Mike Doherty said. I wouldnt want to live 200 feet across from a gas station. The city has hired consultants to create a vision for Broadway and should not create exceptions going against that vision, he said. All of a sudden, it becomes meaningless to have these ordinances, Doherty said. But Mayor pro tem Terrilyn Tarlton-Shannon, one of three members who supported granting the permit for the service station, said Broadway is a commercial zone and the business owner had taken expensive steps to improve the look of the building. He also had permission from neighbors for the gas station, she said. We have very few commercial corridors and just because some people dont want gas stations on Broadway should not dictate what happens citywide, Tarlton-Shannon said. The council has passed different planned unit developments and made exceptions for properties before, she said. This is not a chain, this is one of our own people trying to have a dream, she said. Were going through the LDR changes right now and making revisions to them because of the errors weve made. The vote followed the current land use regulation guidelines, Yarbrough said. If you start making exceptions, where do you stop? Yarbrough said. Public policy needs to be consistent, equitable and fair. If the city decides the 200-foot setback policy is not the right policy for the city, then those changes could be considered for the document, but through ordinance and not through making exceptions, Yarbrough said. If thats bad public policy, then lets change the public policy, Yarbrough said. But that needs to be balanced by the public good. Despite months of criticism lobbed at them in court hearings, legislative testimony and newspaper articles, members of Galveston County's Board of Pilot Commissioners said Thursday that the group has never received a formal complaint from the Port of Galveston about issues with the port pilots it oversees. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 72F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Thunder Thursday, the annual kickoff party for the Grand Prix rocked The Pike Outlets on the eve of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which runs from Friday to Sunday, Sept. 24 to 26. MOSS POINT, Miss. -- When Mayor Mario King addressed the community at Feb. 28 town hall, a question posed to the mayor by a community member inquired about a job fair potentially being held in the city. Moss Point's Community Development Department will host a job fair on Wednesday, Apr. 4, 2018 at Pelican Landing Conference Center. Before the actual fair begins, job-seekers can have their resume edited and mock interviews will be conducted to prepare them for actual interviews with various employers attending the fair. "From 8-9 we will have resume prep that will allow interested applicants have their resume's reviewed and edited," said Kourtni Frazier, Community Development Administrative Assistant. "We will have speakers from WIN Job Center and Mississippi Cares Core Program that will speak with interested applicants from 9-10. This is designed to help prep with on the spot interviews, resume preparation and pointers on professionalism," she said. We're excited to host the fair," King said. "Please do not miss out on this if you are looking for new opportunities to help with your resume." The following recruiters will be present at the fair: V.T. Halter Marine Inc. Ingalls Shipbuilding CARES of Mississippi Core Program Ms. Dept. of Employment Security- Win Job Center- Pascagoula, MS Rovira Realty Department of Human Services- TANF Moss Point School District Beau Rivage- MGM Resorts Chevron Pascagoula Refinery Grand Bay Convalescent Home Belk's Jackson County Moss Point Police Department Moss Point Fire Department Any additional questions can be posed to Frazier at 228-474-7401 or by email at . MOSS POINT, Miss. -- On Thursday, March 22, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force arrested 37-year-old Edward Corneilus Bridges, aka "Pooh," of Moss Point on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to police. Bridges was allegedly attempting to traffic methamphetamine. Police arrested Bridges after approximately 4.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 2 ounces of cocaine, 46 dosage units of ecstasy and a 7.62 caliber SKS semi-automatic rifle from Bridges' was seized from his residence on Ann Street in Moss Point. Bridges made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Robert H. Walker, United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on Friday, March 23, 2018 in Gulfport. Magistrate Judge Walker ordered Bridges to be held pending a Preliminary and Detention hearing set for 9 a.m. on March 28, 2018. If convicted, Bridges faces a sentence of 10 years to life in a federal penitentiary and a fine of up to $10 million. The South Mississippi Metropolitan Enforcement Team in Pascagoula, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Moss Point Police Department also assisted with the investigation. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- An Ocean Springs homeowner returned to his home Monday afternoon to find an unwelcome guest -- an unknown man had broken into the house. Ocean Springs police received the call around 2:30 p.m. Monday from the homeowner on Perryman Lane, off of Government Street near the eastern city limits, according to Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson. The homeowner told police he had arrived home to find the man in his house and confronted the suspect, who fled by jumping off a second story balcony and taking off on a white mountain-style bicycle. The suspect is described as a white male, 6-1 in height, about 175 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, a full, dark-colored beard and dark hair. Anyone with knowledge of the suspect's identity or whereabouts is asked to call the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. Gov.Obaseki Captured In An Unhappy Mood As He Plays Video Of Prison Official Assaulting Man In Edo clarajancita at 27-03-2018 11:16 AM (3 years ago) (f) The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki was captured in an unhappy mood while playing an horrific video for the Controller General of The Nigerian Prisons Mr. Jaafaru Ahmed. In the video, a public service volunteer was brutalised by a prison warder who violated traffic regulations. The governor said that Edo State Government will not condone any form of human rights abuse. The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki was captured in an unhappy mood while playing an horrific video for the Controller General of The Nigerian Prisons Mr. Jaafaru Ahmed. In the video, a public service volunteer was brutalised by a prison warder who violated traffic regulations. The governor said that Edo State Government will not condone any form of human rights abuse. However, the Governor has ordered that the staff be apprehended and justice must prevail. Earlier this month, an official of the state created Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) was brutalized and maltreated by an officer of Nigeria Prison Services in Edo State. According to reports, the PUWOV official contravened the Prison Warden who was picking passengers beside WEMA bank on Airport road, Benin City where parking and picking of passengers is prohibited. He was apprehended and to be taken to the office to answer to the offence, while he was expected to follow the instruction of the PUWOV official, he drove to the premises of the NPS at Sapele road where his colleagues and an army officer dealt with him mercilessly, compelling him to roll himself on the ground filled with mud water among other dehumanizing treatments. However, the Governor has ordered that the staff be apprehended and justice must prevail. Earlier this month, an official of the state created Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) was brutalized and maltreated by an officer of Nigeria Prison Services in Edo State.According to reports, the PUWOV official contravened the Prison Warden who was picking passengers beside WEMA bank on Airport road, Benin City where parking and picking of passengers is prohibited.He was apprehended and to be taken to the office to answer to the offence, while he was expected to follow the instruction of the PUWOV official, he drove to the premises of the NPS at Sapele road where his colleagues and an army officer dealt with him mercilessly, compelling him to roll himself on the ground filled with mud water among other dehumanizing treatments. Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 27-03-2018 11:16 AM (3 years ago) | Hero cypanyahucha at 27-03-2018 11:25 AM (3 years ago) (m) Seen Posted: at 27-03-2018 11:25 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Seen Reply kaposky at 27-03-2018 11:52 AM (3 years ago) (m) NIGERIA, A COUNTRY WHERE MAD ANIMALS FILLED UP THE SPACE Posted: at 27-03-2018 11:52 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac NIGERIA, A COUNTRY WHERE MAD ANIMALS FILLED UP THE SPACE Reply Mashbol at 27-03-2018 12:12 PM (3 years ago) (m) Lawless country Posted: at 27-03-2018 12:12 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Lawless country Reply fineboy77 at 27-03-2018 12:13 PM (3 years ago) (m) Still watching,but i think the Govnor is getting it right What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 27-03-2018 12:13 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Still watching,but i think the Govnor is getting it right Reply WhaleDog at 27-03-2018 12:45 PM (3 years ago) (m) Baboons in uniform Spare me Posted: at 27-03-2018 12:45 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Baboons in uniform Reply ruthie at 27-03-2018 01:06 PM (3 years ago) (f) Nigerians are used to this barbaric treatment ...where people in uniforms abuse their office Posted: at 27-03-2018 01:06 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Nigerians are used to this barbaric treatment ...where people in uniforms abuse their office Reply slimber at 27-03-2018 03:02 PM (3 years ago) (f) Hmmmmm okoo Posted: at 27-03-2018 03:02 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Hmmmmm okoo Reply nature7888 at 27-03-2018 05:40 PM (3 years ago) (m) Hmmmm. Sad Posted: at 27-03-2018 05:40 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Hmmmm. 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There are different ways to be successful,its doesnt just come and meet you in your bed our speciality is as follows... ...Performing sex on dream ...Financial problems ...Spiritual husband ...Job promotion ...Court cases ...Bad luck ...Diabetes ...Business development ...Stroke ...Bring back stolen properties ...Delaying of visa ...protection of properties and business ...Playing lottery ...Be- witched people problem ...Bring back lost lover ...Pregnant problems ...Woman with menstrual problem ...Body and chest pains ...Star reading ...Painful womb ...Infections ...Manpower ...Aliment of penis ...Epilepsy ...Sti and Std ...Low Sperm count...Fibroid ...Hypertension.t.c You don't have to look further,you don't have to wait until you are....informed,seek help form the elders.The use of herbs in supported in every holy book.God has shown us the importance of herbs,Even the bible said"And by the river upon the bank there of on their side grow all trees for meat and the leaf there of for medicine"-Ezekiel47v12 (1)Arobi ( back to sender )(2)Atude ( release from bondage ) (3) Agadagodo (Padlock ) (4) Aseta ( kill enemy ) (5)owo moto ( escape from car accident) (6)Atude Ewon ( release from prison ) (7)Awure Ola ( Good wealth) (8)Ero Asasi (9)Iferan ( love ) (10)isoye ( memory recall ) (11)Atosi ( STD ) (12)Awarida ( menstrual un-stop ) (13)Turari Eyonu (14)Isora ( body secure ) (15)Asiri Bibo (16)Oju didun ( eye pain ) (17)Afunje loju orun (18)warapa ( Epilepsy ) (19)Amubo oko (20)Amubo iyawo (21)Amubo ise (22)ogun abiku (23)Afose to daju (24)ise gbigba ( winning contract job ) (25)Idani lare Ejo (court winning Case) (26)Etutu awom Awon Agba (27)oye jije (wining of post) (28)Ropa rose ( stroke ) (29)Afose to daju (30)agbega lenu ise (post in work) (31)Airi omo bi. It shall be well with you...... contact us today for help and rest assured,free treatment also available....you will never regret your action and you will be glad you did.Location isn't a barrier,we ship and send herbal medication to anyWhere 09083088107 Posted: at 28-03-2018 04:55 PM (3 years ago) | Newbie CHIEF DOCTOR AWOTE ADIFALA TRADITIONAL HERBALIST AND NATIVE DOCTOR NO 10 ODENUSI STREET AGO IWOYE OGUN STATE Contact For any problem call this+2349083088107. Dont hide your sickness ` Some want you to be alive,but not all want you happy and successful.You have to find a solution to every spiritualor financial problems in your life by yourself, they wouldnt help you,some will take advantage of this whhile some will just overlook it. There are differentways to be successful,its doesnt just come and meet you in your bed our speciality is as follows... ...Performing sex on dream ...Financial problems...Spiritual husband ...Job promotion ...Court cases ...Bad luck ...Diabetes ...Business development ...Stroke ...Bring back stolen properties ...Delaying ofvisa ...protection of properties and business ...Playing lottery ...Be- witched people problem ...Bring back lost lover ...Pregnant problems ...Woman withmenstrual problem ...Body and chest pains ...Star reading ...Painful womb ...Infections ...Manpower ...Aliment of penis ...Epilepsy ...Sti and Std ...LowSperm count...Fibroid ...Hypertension.t.c You don't have to look further,you don't have to wait until you are....informed,seek help form the elders.The useof herbs in supported in every holy book.God has shown us the importance of herbs,Even the bible said"And by the river upon the bank there of on their sidegrow all trees for meat and the leaf there of for medicine"-Ezekiel47v12 (1)Arobi ( back to sender )(2)Atude ( release from bondage ) (3) Agadagodo (Padlock) (4) Aseta ( kill enemy ) (5)owo moto ( escape from car accident) (6)Atude Ewon ( release from prison ) (7)Awure Ola ( Good wealth) (8)Ero Asasi (9)Iferan (love ) (10)isoye ( memory recall ) (11)Atosi ( STD ) (12)Awarida ( menstrual un-stop ) (13)Turari Eyonu (14)Isora ( body secure ) (15)Asiri Bibo (16)Ojudidun ( eye pain ) (17)Afunje loju orun (18)warapa ( Epilepsy ) (19)Amubo oko (20)Amubo iyawo (21)Amubo ise (22)ogun abiku (23)Afose to daju (24)ise gbigba (winning contract job ) (25)Idani lare Ejo (court winning Case) (26)Etutu awom Awon Agba (27)oye jije (wining of post) (28)Ropa rose ( stroke ) (29)Afose todaju (30)agbega lenu ise (post in work) (31)Airi omo bi. 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His name is Godspower Osaigbovo Uhunmwangho from Benin and currently in custody of EFCC in connection with Impersonating Mike Ezuruonye, collecting large sums of Money from female fans of the actor. He has been alleged to use Mike's image and videos as he super imposed his own voice to deceive these women. His name is Godspower Osaigbovo Uhunmwangho from Benin and currently in custody of EFCC in connection with Impersonating Mike Ezuruonye, collecting large sums of Money from female fans of the actor. He has been alleged to use Mike's image and videos as he super imposed his own voice to deceive these women. Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 27-03-2018 01:50 PM (3 years ago) | Hero OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Police continue to search for the suspect who robbed an Ocean Springs convenience store at gunpoint Sunday night. Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson said around 9:05 p.m., a male suspect dressed in all black, including a black mask and black hoodie sweatshirt, entered the Chevron store at 1262 Ocean Springs Rd. and pointed a handgun at both the clerk and a male customer at the counter. The suspect moved around the counter to the register, where he ordered the clerk to open the register and he removed all the money, along with the clerk's personal firearm under the counter, before fleeing on foot. The suspect was described as a male about 6 feet in height, of thin build, and carrying a blue and black duffel bag. The K9 unit from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office was brought in to help search for the suspect, but thus far he has eluded law enforcement. Earlier that same night, police received a 911 call from the owner of the Travelodge motel in Ocean Springs advising of a suspect in a black hoodie, black pants, black mask and carrying a handgun was spotted on surveillance video in the lobby of the motel. Police arriving on the scene determined nothing had been taken or damaged, but investigators believe the suspect is the same one who robbed the Chevron store. On Tuesday morning, police units were reported searching for the suspect in a neighborhood off Government Street not far from the Broome's #2 store. Anyone with information on the possible whereabouts of this suspect is asked to contact the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. The marine environment is critical to Grenadas economy and closely linked to the islands income generating tourism sector. Grenadas tri-island ocean state is not just a hub of maritime activity, but also home to unique marine biodiversity Actress Cynthia Nixon on Monday blasted Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo as "Andrew the Bully," a "wannabe Republican" and a member of the "old boys club" ruling New York politics.The former "Sex and the City" star, holding her first capital city news conference since declaring her bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said Cuomo has failed to clean up corruption as promised. She accused him of worsening the inequities in school funding.And she said Cuomo should get an Oscar for playing a Democrat while tacitly supporting Republican control of the state Senate, which keeps progressive proposals blocked."It's all scripted. He deserves an Oscar for his performance," Nixon said, referring to state budget negotiations going on just blocks away. "In New York City, he puts on an entire Broadway show to parade around as a progressive Democrat leading the resistance. But in Albany, he is deftly handing power over to the party of Donald Trump."Cuomo's campaign didn't immediately comment. Previously, he has belittled her level of star status and has sought to counter her on education by noting that New York spends more per pupil than any other state does. He also has been increasingly critical of Trump on a host of issues.Nixon pilloried Cuomo's leadership style and contended that New Yorkers are "sick of being bullied.""We've all seen it. Andrew the Bully," she said. "He bullies other elected officials. He bullies anyone who criticizes him . . . It reminds me of the behavior we see from Donald Trump everyday."Nixon said the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up and "send a message loud and clear that you will not be bullied."Nixon was in Albany to meet with liberal education advocates just as elected officials try to finalize the state budget. She said she backed a proposal by the Democratic-led Assembly to boost education funding by $1.5 billion, compared with Cuomo's proposed $769 million. (Newsday reported Sunday that lawmakers were close to a deal to raise aid by $1 billion.) She backed the property-tax cap, but she said the state needed to move away from property taxes as the main funding mechanism for schools. Nixon also said she backed the Assembly's idea of raising taxes on those making $5 million or more annually, something Cuomo opposes.She bashed Cuomo on corruption, noting the governor's former top aide, Joseph Percoco, was recently convicted in a bribery scheme. But she declined to criticize New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a friend of hers, whose name has been dragged into a Nassau County corruption trial. Circuit Judge Rex Burlison rejected on Monday a bid by Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens for a trial by judge, not a jury, on Greitens' felony invasion of privacy case.Burlison also later denied defense motions to dismiss the case and to disqualify Ronald Sullivan, a Harvard University law professor hired by the St. Louis circuit attorney to help the prosecution. The judge gave no details in his order, and told a reporter he could not comment on a pending case.The judge's announcement on the jury issue came at the end of a hearing Monday to discuss recent filings by Greitens' defense team, the prosecution, news media and the alleged victim's ex-husband.The trial is set for May 14.Asked after the hearing about his reaction to a jury trial, defense lawyer Ed Dowd Jr. said, "I'm great with a trial by jury." He said he and other defense lawyers were veterans of many jury trials in St. Louis, saying that, "I think they'll be great."Dowd said the governor would not appeal Burlison's decision.The governor sought to waive his right to a jury trial because of "significant legal and evidentiary questions" that require "objectivity and analysis" that his attorneys argued would best be decided by a judge, as well as intense pretrial news coverage."The risks have been explained to him," said defense lawyer Jack Garvey. "The attention placed on this case is just huge."Greitens was indicted by a St. Louis grand jury Feb. 22 on a charge that he took a nude or semi-nude photo of his bound lover during a consensual sexual encounter at his Central West End home in 2015, before he became governor. He is accused of transmitting a compromising picture "in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer."The governor has been accused of threatening to release the photo if the woman ever mentioned his name; he has admitted the affair but has denied blackmailing her.At the hearing Monday, Greitens' attorneys said the indictment should be dismissed because First Assistant Robert Steele "flagrantly misled" the grand jury about Missouri's invasion of privacy law. The defense said Steele misstated the law when he instructed grand jurors that what Greitens did with the photo was "irrelevant."Transmission is a key element of the indictment because that makes the crime a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Missouri's invasion of privacy statute says a person commits felony invasion of privacy if he or she "disseminates or permits the dissemination" of a compromising photo "to another person." The indictment against Greitens cites a different part of the law that references transmitting such photos "in a manner that allows access to that image via computer" _ which could be invoked whenever a modern cellphone is involved.Defense lawyer Jim Martin said he wasn't accusing Steele of intentionally misleading jurors but said that what Steele had told them was wrong. Martin also argued that there was no evidence a photo existed or that it had been transmitted, pointing out that Greitens' lover told grand jurors that she never saw a camera or smartphone during the sexual encounter. Martin also said the woman's ex-husband testified that he never saw a picture but knew iPhones can transmit pictures. Martin also referred to deposition testimony last week by private investigator William Don Tisaby, who said he hadn't seen a photo or knew of evidence it had been transmitted.Robert Dierker, chief trial assistant for Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, told the court that "the defense continues to attack the underpinnings of the grand jury indictment," to lure the judge into ruling on the facts of the case. While calling the defense argument "eloquent and able," Dierker also said it was appropriate in a motion for judgment of acquittal during a trial but not for the dismissal of the indictment.Dierker said transmission of the alleged photo can be "circumstantially inferred from the use of the iPhone" because "devices know how to transmit to the Cloud.""I don't deny that there is no explicit evidence of transmission presented to the grand jury," Dierker said.Burlison also heard arguments from Greitens' attorney that Gardner's appointment of Sullivan, the Harvard professor hired as a special prosecutor, was illegal. Referring to Sullivan as "an outsider," Martin said it was "dangerous" to hire someone "with no connection to the city or state and who will not be held accountable as an elected official would."Sullivan, who wrote a motion Friday attempting to disqualify the Dowd Bennett law firm from the case, said the indictment alleged that Greitens' use of Confide, a secretive message-destroying texting application, was central to the invasion of privacy case."Mr. Sullivan made that up out of whole cloth," Martin said. "That's where we are prejudiced, when an outsider makes bold and unsupported false statements."Dierker responded: "Most of Mr. Martin's argument is beside the point."At the end of the hearing, Mark Sableman, an attorney for 15 media organizations, sought a conference with Burlison to discuss whether cameras would be allowed for the trial. Burlison told Sableman to first talk with prosecutors and Greitens' attorneys, saying he would have a "different look at it" if both sides consented to cameras.In a March 15 hearing, an attorney for Greitens' former lover and Dierker both said they would oppose cameras. Martin told the Post-Dispatch on Monday that the defense had not yet decided whether to oppose cameras. Election ballots in Virginia will include clear instructions beginning in November about how voters should mark their choices, according to new guidelines approved by the State Board of Elections Friday.The board's guidelines say ballots should specify that voters need to fill in the oval or box next to a candidate's name, or next to the line for a write-in, to cast their vote. The guidelines recommend using ovals.The instructions should also say that any other marks on a ballot might not be counted, the guidelines say. Optical scan machines can't register a vote when a candidate's name is circled or underlined, and may not always recognize marks such as a check or "x." Such marks aren't looked at unless there is a recount.In addition, the guidelines say instructions should inform voters that if they make a mistake on the ballot, they can ask election workers for a new ballot. Ballots are not counted by the optical scan machines when a voter tries to cancel a mistaken vote by crossing out a name, or writing a note about his or her actual choice.Chris Piper, recently named commissioner of the state Department of Elections, said new guidelines are meant to make ballots easier to read, mark and be counted."They mainly make them look prettier," he said.Work on the ballot guidelines project started before the November election, Piper said. An oddly marked ballot found during the recount of the race for the 94th House of Delegates race resulted in a tie. Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, was returned to office only after drawing a lot.The state board had not published ballot layout guidelines before.The new guidelines detail the order in which offices and referendum issues should be listed on a ballot, specify how offices should be described and recommend layouts in either two or three columns,The guidelines recommend the type used on ballots be at least 12 points, which is roughly 20 percent larger than the type in Daily Press newspaper stories.In addition, the guidelines also allow the use of candidates' nicknames as part of their ballot listings, as well as the use of initials instead of first and middle names. In some cases, candidates are better known in those ways.Separately, the board also approved new procedures to ensure quicker review of complaints about campaign material that does not properly disclose who authorized the advertisements, signs or mailers.During the meeting in Richmond, city and county voter registrars spoke out about problems they've been seeing with online registration applications filed through the Department of Motor Vehicles.The problems are marked in college communities, often targeted by voter-registration drives aimed at students. Many students prefer to vote where they go to school rather than in their parents' city or county.But when students renew their drivers' licenses, they tend to use their parents' addresses. When that information is forwarded to registrars, it can appear as if they've moved.That was the problem that kept at least two dozen Christopher Newport University students from voting at a Newport News precinct in the 2016 election. It emerged again last year, when several others were only able to cast provisional ballots. Those ballots were generally not counted when city Electoral Board's official review of vote totals found students were not registered in the city precinct where they thought they could vote.Norfolk General Registrar Stephanie Iles told the State Board of Elections that between the impact of students and Norfolk Naval Station sailors renewing licenses and also registering through third-party voter registration drives, she has seen some people change their information two or three times in the weeks before the registration deadline.It can also mean when students learn on Election Day that they aren't officially registered in Norfolk, they will cast a provisional ballot in the city and then, worried their vote might not be counted, will head home to their parents' hometown to vote there, Iles said. That raises the risk of a double vote, she said.Iles and other registrars said they're frustrated that DMV does not collect needed information about citizenship, mental-health status and whether a person has been convicted of a felony when forwarding voter registration to them. Registrars need to know that information to add someone to their voter rolls.Piper said staff at the state elections department have made sorting online registration gaps a top priority, as part of a review of all agency guidelines and regulations he has recently ordered. U.S. Sen. Ed Markey introduced a bill this month that would incentivize other states to adopt his state's gun laws, which advocates say have helpedmake Massachusetts the home of the lowest gun death rate in the country.In 2016, 3.4 people per 100,000 died of gun violence in Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . By comparison, in slightly less-populous Tennessee, the firearms death rate was nearly five times that , at 17.3 per 100,000.The legislation comes in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., shooting, which killed 17 students and teachers and fueled nationwide calls for gun control. This past weekend, more than a million Americans participated in "March for Our Lives" protests around the country.Markey's bill would allocate $20 million in Department of Justice grants each year for the next five years to states that adopt laws like those in Massachusetts.Most well-known is the state's ban on assault weapons, signed in 2004 by GOP Gov. Mitt Romney, who is currently running for U.S. Senate. The state also requires gun dealers to conduct background checks, mandates private sellers to verify that buyers have a valid gun license, bans mentally defective people from owning firearms, and requires weapons to be unloaded and locked away when not in use.Those laws are far from common, but six states and D.C. ban assault weapons, as well as threaten criminal penalties for storing guns improperly around children. Five states let families and police remove guns from people determined to be at risk of harming themselves or others, going even further than Massachusetts' "mentally defective" statute.Last year, Massachusetts became the first state to ban rapid-firing bump stocks after the Las Vegas shooting.At least 15 states are currently considering similar bans, and several others have tightened up restrictions already in place.But the state's gun policy touted most by Markey is one not often mentioned in debates on gun control at the national level. It gives police chiefs the authority to deny, suspend or revoke licenses for handguns and long guns.The involvement of police chiefs in the licensing process is key. We cant overstate that enough, Markey said at a press conference about his bill earlier this month.Gun policyexperts say this part of the law has been instrumental in keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people.There are lots of cases where the police will go to a house multiple times for domestic violence, but there will be no charges or restraining order or anything, says Jack McDevitt, who helped draft the state's gun laws as the former chair of the Massachusetts Committee to Reduce Gun Violence. That person is not federally prohibited, but the police know this is a dangerous person. So they could turn his license application down.That doesn't mean police are rejecting gun applications left and right. McDevitt says 97 percent of gun license applicants in the state receive their license, suggesting that police aren't being overly restrictive about who can own a gun.Still, gun rights groups have adamantly opposed the police-approval law in Massachusetts, arguing that it can result in law-abiding citizens losing their right to arm themselves.Federal courts, however, struck down a challenge to the state law that claimed it violated the Second Amendment.The law is a fairly unique one. Currently, only five other states and the District of Columbia have enacted a law allowing local law enforcement to approve or deny gun licenses -- California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey.The bill introduced by Markey, a Democrat, doesn't have great chances for passage. The Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to advance a bill that touts some of the strictest gun regulations in the country. The legislation will, however, bring light to Massachusetts' gun laws at a time when they are being debated in statehouses across the country.But while Massachusetts' gun laws have had Republican support, it remains to be seen if many of these policies will be politically feasible in more conservative states. Republican politicians in Massachusetts have historically been more open to gun regulations. Charlie Baker, for instance, was the first Republican governor to join the States for Gun Safety , a multistate coalition meant to reduce gun violence and enact stricter gun regulations after the Parkland shooting. He has also come out in favor of a national ban on assault weapons.Gun laws are not the only factor in Massachusetts low gun death rate. Gun ownership in the state, for instance, is low.And some states with even more restrictive gun laws -- like California -- have higher rates of gun death.But McDevitt says the numbers speak for themselves.Massachusetts went from being the third-safest state to the safest state after the 2014 law, he says. We believe other states could benefit from this." More than 20 months after the fatal police shooting of a black man outside a Baton Rouge mini-mart touched off protests nationwide over police treatment of African Americans, the Louisiana attorney general said Tuesday that he would not charge two white officers in the death.The decision from Atty. Gen. Jeff Landry's office brought strong condemnation from Alton Sterling's family and civil rights activists, and closed the possibility of criminal charges in one of the most prominent police shootings in recent years.Landry's announcement came close to 11 months after the U.S. Department of Justice similarly ruled out federal charges against the officers, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II.Violent protests in Baton Rouge after Sterling's death led to nearly 200 arrests. His killing and several other fatal police shootings -- along with retaliatory attacks on police in the summer of 2016 -- became a campaign issue in the presidential election.After meeting with Landry on Tuesday, Sterling's family members said they were angry but not surprised at the news."They're not going to bring charges on anybody. Why would they do that? This is white America," Veda Washington-Abusaleh, Sterling's aunt, told reporters after the meeting."The system failed us," said Sandra Sterling, another aunt. "He was not a monster .... This was a family man. A family man."Sterling, 37, was shot dead on July 5, 2016, after police responded to a 911 call reporting a man making a threat with a gun in front of the Triple S Food Mart. Sterling was known for selling CDs in the area. Bystander videos that went viral showed officers holding Sterling down and, at one point, yelling, "He's got a gun! Gun!" before gunshots are heard.Landry said Tuesday that his investigation found that the officers "attempted to make a lawful arrest of Alton Sterling based upon probable cause," and that the officers believed Sterling was armed as he resisted arrest.Witness and police accounts differed at the time on whether Sterling threatened officers and if he reached for a gun. In a report also released Tuesday, Landry's office said that Lake found a .38-caliber pistol in Sterling's right front pocket, and that Sterling was shot six times, each bullet from Salmoni's gun. The encounter lasted less than 90 seconds.Landry also said In the report that Sterling had drugs in his system. Landry's office said those drugs included opioids and cocaine."It is reasonable that Mr. Sterling was under the influence and that contributed to his noncompliance," Landry said.The findings from Landry's office were similar to those of the Department of Justice, which sought to determine if officers had violated Sterling's civil rights and whether the shooting was justified. It was the first investigation into a high-profile police shooting completed in the Trump administration under Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions."Given the totality of the circumstances -- that the officers had been fighting with Sterling and had attempted less-than-lethal methods of control; that they knew Sterling had a weapon; that Sterling had reportedly brandished a gun at another person; and that Sterling was much larger and stronger than either officer, the department cannot prove either that the shots were unconstitutional or that they were willful," the department said last year in a statement.At the time of that announcement, Sterling family attorney Chris Stewart said Department of Justice officials told the family that the investigation found that Salamoni pointed a gun at Sterling's head and said, "I'll kill you, bitch."Sterling family members said Tuesday that they would continue arguing their case through a wrongful death civil lawsuit filed last year against the two officers, the police department and the city of Baton Rouge. The suit says poor training and improper police practices left the officers ill-equipped to respond to the 911 call and that the shooting was part of a racist pattern of excessive use of force. The officers have been on paid leave since the shooting.Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has focused on the Sterling case, also said they were disappointed in decision."We continue to mourn the brutal murder of Alton Sterling," Patrisse Khan-Cullors, a cofounder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, said in a statement. "Black people continue to be betrayed by this country, a country that claims liberty and freedom for all, yet continues to allow for the murders of black people with impunity."The shooting was among a string of fatal incidents involving police in July 2016.The day after Sterling was shot, the police shooting in Minnesota of Philando Castile set off protests after his girlfriend streamed a live broadcast on Facebook of Castile bleeding to death in the front seat of his car. Castile, who was 32 and black, was pulled over by an officer outside St. Paul. Castile told the officer he had a weapon, which he was licensed to carry. The officer opened fire, he testified later, when he thought Castile was reaching for the gun.Last June, the officer who shot Castile, Jeronimo Yanez, who is Latino, was acquitted of all charges in the shooting, including second-degree murder.The day after Castile's shooting, five police officers in Dallas were fatally shot by an Army-trained sniper during a protest over police shootings. The 25-year-old shooter, Micah Johnson, was black. Police said he left a trail of evidence that he wanted to kill white officers in retaliation for police shootings of black men. Officers responding to the shooting killed Johnson.Ten days later, three officers were shot dead in Baton Rouge by 29-year-old Gavin Long. The former Marine, who was black, had a history of online ramblings in which he described violence as the solution to the oppression of black Americans. Long was also killed by responding police officers. The Orange County Sheriff's Department, whose leadership opposes the new California sanctuary law that limits cooperation with federal immigration officials, announced Monday that it is now providing public information on when inmates are released from custody.As of Monday, March 26, an existing "Who's in Jail" online database includes the date and time of inmates' release -- a move agency officials say will enhance communication with its law enforcement partners.The release date information applies to all inmates, not just those who are suspected of being in the country illegally. But the goal is to assist agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE."This is in response to SB-54 limiting our ability to communicate with federal authorities and our concern that criminals are being released to the street when there's another avenue to safeguard the community by handing them over (to ICE for potential deportation)," Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes said.Orange County officials did not confer with ICE before making the change, he said.ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley wrote in an email late Monday that she would not comment "beyond what the Sheriff has said."The new state law, dubbed the California Values Act, has recently seen a backlash from some Orange County communities. The City Council in Los Alamitos voted last week on an ordinance to exempt the city in northern Orange County from the state law.A few other Orange County cities are considering resolutions and other moves to voice their opposition to the law. The Yorba Linda City Council, for example, agreed to file an amicus brief to a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against California and immigration-related laws the federal government alleges are unconstitutional. And on Tuesday, March 27, the Orange County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a range of possible actions: from a resolution to pursuing litigation against the state.Annie Lai, co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at UC Irvine, said the sheriff's new policy is part of a movement in Orange County "to either undermine or get around the spirit of SB-54."The California Values Act already allows communication between local and federal agencies about release dates of those convicted of enumerated crimes who may be eligible for deportation, Lai noted."This change in policy is basically affecting everybody else who doesn't have a serious criminal history under SB-54," she said. Sheriff's deputies, however, will still not be able to assist in an actual transfer to ICE agents under state law.The release information, via a long list of names in alphabetical order, is now available for anyone to view at oscd.org. Description GIS 27 March 2018: The Council of Ministers Meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an opportunity to think and strategise together on how best and how fast to improve the lives of all our peoples. SADC has clear and common objectives towards regional economic integration and sustainable development. This statement was made yesterday in Pretoria, South Africa by the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Mrs L. N. Sisulu, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa during her welcome address at the opening of the SADC Council of Ministers Meeting. We should therefore continuously seek to unlock our regional potential and opportunities to effectively address the core issues of unemployment, underdevelopment, and poverty alleviation and contribute fully to the upliftment of the continent, she said. As a SADC family, we must continuously reflect on our progress. Our objectives in SADC seek to advance peace, stability and sustainable development in our region, she said. It is important that the political and security situation in the region remains stable, though there are some political and security challenges which the region must continue address, she pointed out. The Minister recalled that Common Agenda guided the SADC to develop economic blueprints such as the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, the Regional Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063, the Strategic Indicative Plan of the Organ and the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan. She further underlined that in the pursuit of a common future, there is a clear need for industrial development underpinned by a sound infrastructure. The Republic of South Africa, in its capacity as SADC Chair, is working towards ensuring the practical implementation of the Industrialisation Plan as adopted by the Extra-Ordinary Summit in March 2017. According to Mrs Sisulu, industrialisation remains a core pre-requisite for prosperity in the region and has to be achieved through a strong partnership with the private sector. It is important that SADC Members focus on the need to strengthen the regions capabilities both inside and outside of Government in order to advance regional industrialisation. SADC Governments should identify priority value chains and take steps to attract the private sector into these specific sectors, she said. For her part, the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax recalled that the main objective of this Council of Ministers meeting is to receive progress on the implementation of the 2017/18 Plan, and to consider the proposed Plan and Budget for 2018/19. She reported that tremendous progress has been made in a number of areas in our quest to regional integration. In line with the 37th SADC Summit theme of Partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value-chains, value chains in areas that were profiled in 2016/17, namely mining, pharmaceuticals and agro-processing sectors, were identified. The priority value chains identified in the following sub-sectors include: leather, soya, aquaculture, iron and steel, copper, cement and ARV manufacturing. In the coming financial year, detailed mapping and feasibility studies on each of these identified value chains will be undertaken, based on which bankable projects will be developed. The Executive Secretary said that during the year, drafts of the SADC Regional Mining Vision, and Protocol on Industry were prepared and consultations were held with relevant stakeholders. The Regional Mining Vision will optimise the benefits from the minerals extraction through extended mineral beneficiation, and the development of strong economic linkages between the mining sector and other economic sectors, especially manufacturing. The Protocol on Industry will provide for a supportive policy environment for the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy across sectors. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Ocean Springs superintendent Bonita Coleman sighed forlornly. "I don't know how much more we can impress upon gun owners they need to secure their weapons," Coleman said. "I just don't know." Coleman was speaking just a few hours after a 5-year-old was found with a loaded handgun in his/her backpack at Oak Park Elementary, located at the corner of Government Street and Holcomb Boulevard. Ocean Springs police were notified of the weapon just after 10 a.m. Coleman said the teacher was doing a backpack check -- performed each day primarily to ensure lunches and juices brought from home are properly stored -- when she discovered the loaded weapon. "When she reached in, she found the gun," Coleman said. "She called her principal and assistant principal and they in turn notified me and Jesse (Galloway, chief of the school police department)." School officials notified Ocean Springs police, who arrived to take possession of the weapon and contacted the child's parent or guardian, who came to the school. Oak Park parents were notified of the situation via an automated phone message. "I have to commend the teachers for following the protocols that are in place and their quick action," Coleman said, "but I hate that schools are being placed in this position because of the irresponsibility. And that's what it is -- irresponsibility. "Gun owners need to put their guns up. They need to lock them up. A lot of what we've seen in schools would be solved if people would just be responsible gun owners." Later Tuesday, Capt. Chuck Jackson of the Ocean Springs Police Department said no charges are being immediately filed against the child's guardian, who told investigators he/she placed the gun in the backpack over the weekend while running errands and forgot it was there. The child did not take the backpack to school Monday. The case will, however, be turned over to the Jackson County Grand Jury to determine if a charge of possession of a weapon on school property is in order. In the interim, Jackson said the OSPD will maintain possession of the weapon. Jackson also said late Tuesday that, due to what he called "extraordinary circumstances," all reports and evidence will be turned over to the Child Protective Services division of the Jackson County Youth Court. Description GIS 27 March, 2018: The The GS1 Mauritius Ltd, a subsidiary of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the SME Mauritius Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday in Port Louis on the Barcode Registration Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the presence of the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah. The signatories were the Chairperson of GS1, Mr Cedric Lagesse, and the Chief Executive Officer of SME Mauritius Ltd, Mr Raj Puddoo. The objectives of the scheme are to encourage micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to use GS1 barcodes to upgrade their products and gain easier market access; gain efficiency whilst enjoying lower costs through inventory management; enable exporting without modifications in the barcodes; traceability solutions and; international visibility. Some 85 MSMEs are expected to benefit from this scheme. On this occasion, Minister Bholah highlighted that SMEs have been identified as major role players in the economic growth and transformational development of Mauritius and it is very important to develop the capacity, knowledge and skills of local entrepreneurs. Governments aim, he underlined, is to not only get the products of SMEs on the Mauritian market but also to get them export-ready. The collaboration with GS1 for the barcode registration scheme, he stated, will inspire and support SMEs growth as well as empower them in doing business across borders. According to the Minister, the world is moving towards a full-fledged digital society , and it is recommended that SMEs incorporate technology in their business routine in order to achieve sustainable growth. The expansion of e-commerce and the evolution of global value chains, he underlined, is opening up new trading opportunities and one major step forward to facilitate trade and access to market for SMEs, is the use of barcodes. Barcodes, stated Mr Bholah, are one of the most innovative elements of business process automation which can help to track sales of products, categorise and centralise information, save time and increase efficiency. The barcode registration scheme consists mainly of 100% reimbursement on registration and training fees amounting to Rs 6 750 , which will be paid by SMEs for developing and using barcodes. To this regard, the Minister urged local entrepreneurs to take full advantage of this facility and upgrade their businesses. For his part, Mr Lagesse highlighted that the signing of the MoU between SME Mauritius Ltd and GS1 Mauritius Ltd bears testimony to the synergy that exists between Government and private institutions for setting up an inclusive trading system. He further said that it is undeniable thatbusinesses today are called upon to be innovative and that nurturing an innovative entrepreneurial culture within our country could be a game changer. GS1 Mauritius Ltd GS1 Mauritius Ltd is one of the 112 members of the GS1 Global, an international, non-profit organisation, best known for allocating unique GS1 barcodes worldwide. Since 1994, Mauritius is a member organisation of GS1 and is responsible to allocate GS1 identification numbers, mostly GS1 barcodes to trade operators in Mauritius. GS1 standards improve efficiency, safety, and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels. GS1 standards have been adopted by 1.5 million user companies with 6 billion transactions everyday in 25 sectors across the world. Data Definitions Many of the nations large urban centers have seen a slow, yet growing exodus of residents to more suburban areas in recent years. New county population estimates released by the Census Bureau on Thursday suggest this shift isn't slowing down.Migration out of densely populated areas has broadened, now spanning highly educated urban counties and more regions of the country. Some jurisdictions, such as New York Citys boroughs, are seeing larger than typical losses to other localities. Even big counties experiencing population growth arent adding quite as many residents as before.A review of the latest estimates finds that 125 large, predominately urban counties lost an aggregate net total of 377,000 residents from domestic migration last year, following declines of 225,000 in 2016 and 132,000 in 2015. Average migration rates similarly dropped for these counties, which we define as those containing the largest city in metro areas with populations exceeding a half million or any other city with more than 200,000 residents.Domestic migration rates continued to decline in four of New York Citys five boroughs last year. Los Angeles County, Calif., has similarly seen its net domestic migration rate dip further each year since 2012, with a net total of just under 92,000 residents leaving last year.One jurisdiction experiencing a particularly large uptick in outward migration was Miami-Dade County, Fla. Manny Armada, the countys chief of planning research, attributes part of that to rising home values. Affordability concerns have likely pushed some families to relocate to less expensive areas of the state, while others who bought homes during the depths of the recession wanted to cash in.Were basically witnessing the same pressures you see in all the cities across the country, Armada says.A further breakdown of the data suggests that several more educated jurisdictions were mostly spared from domestic migration losses until recently. Consider San Francisco County and Alameda County, Calif. Both highly educated counties have seen net domestic migration turn negative after years of gains. Last year, large urban counties where more than a third of adults hold at least a bachelors degree recorded an average net domestic migration of -17 per 1,000 residents -- a rate that had previously remained positive or flat.Localities in thriving regions of the South are mostly continuing to grow. But this, too, is slowly changing. Aggregate domestic migration for 49 Southern large, more urban counties was essentially flat in 2017 after years of growth. Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, was adding more residents than it lost until 2016; Census estimates suggest outmigration accelerated there last year.Major urban counties in the Northeastern U.S. continue to sustain the largest migration losses, followed by those in the Midwest. Those out West have held up better. Clark County, Nev., and Maricopa County, Ariz., to name a couple, have yet to experience any drop-off in migration.Perhaps the biggest determining factor in how these counties are doing is density. The nations most densely populated counties -- those with more than 1,000 residents per square mile -- have incurred steeper losses the past two years.It's the counties that tend to be more suburban that are experiencing upticks in migration after slowing during the recession. Five such counties in Florida recorded among the highest domestic migration rates last year: Brevard County, Lee County, Polk County, Sarasota County and Volusia County. El Paso County, Colo., and Spokane, Wash., are two other similarly situated jurisdictions where growth hasnt slowed down.If theres good news for some of the larger, more densely-populated counties, its that most continue to register gains in total population, albeit at a slower pace than before.This is mostly a result of steady migration flows from abroad. Immigration to Miami-Dade County remains strong -- more than offsetting the countys domestic migration losses. If it werent for international migration, many other urban counties and their cities would be experiencing overall population declines.County-level jurisdictions either containing the largest city within metro areas of populations exceeding 500,000, or those encompassing any city with a population over 200,000. Includes the independent cities of Baltimore, Chesapeake, Va.; Norfolk, Va.; Richmond, Va.; St. Louis and Virginia Beach, Va. In all, approximately 134 million Americans live in these 125 counties.Figures represent net rates per 1,000 population.Jurisdictions where more than one-third of adults age 25 and up hold at least a bachelors degree, per 2011-2016 Census American Community Survey estimates. A total of 55 large urban counties met this definition.States classified using Census Bureau definitions (TNS) City councilors alarmed by back-to-back storms -- will hold a special hearing today on the threat of coastal flooding, after seeing waterborne debris flow through Boston's harborside streets."We've had two 'once in a hundred year' storms in the past month," said Councilor Michelle Wu, the hearing's sponsor. "Throughout Boston this is going to an issue. There will be tremendous costs. How do we plan to pay for it? How do we plan to maintain that level of resiliency? What are the governing structures, are there laws that should be passed?"Wu first called the meeting after city waters rose 15 feet during the Jan. 5 nor'easter, sending garbage dumpsters floating down streets and stranding residents in their cars. Two more major storms hit Boston in the weeks that followed.The extreme weather generated debate over an idea for a four-mile, $20 billion harbor barrier wall with mechanical gates that would open and close, essentially building a dam against storm surges. A team of engineers, scientists and economists at University of Massachusetts Boston, including civil engineer Paul Kirshen, expect to release their research on the proposal in May.But aside from the astronomical price tag and potential regulatory nightmare that would come with the barrier, Kirshen said it's far from an ideal solution."If you build these offshore barriers, you put all your eggs in one basket," Kirshen said. "Say the gates don't open or close. Then you're in trouble."A representative of the mayor's office is expected to attend today's meeting. Just this month Mayor Martin J. Walsh's administration turned its attention to South Boston, which calls for more complicated solutions than other at-risk neighborhoods.Flooding is more manageable in East Boston and Charlestown, according to city environmental chief Austin Blackmon, because flood entryways are relatively narrow. South Boston, with its many beaches and channels, presents a bigger challenge."In South Boston, you've got more area that is vulnerable, that would really require more of a coastal solution," Blackmon told theClimate analyst Erika Spanger-Siegfried said in just 40 years, streets in Fort Point could flood at nor'easter levels every other week."It isn't a long-term risk anymore. It really has arrived," she said.In East Boston, developers are changing the way they build and renovate homes to prepare for the worst. Developer Marc Savatsky's latest construction project in Jeffries Point fell within a flood zone, forcing him to incorporate redesigns such as flood vents that would allow sea water to flow in and out of the area where a traditional home's basement would be.Savatsky said it's time for the city to put its money where its mouth is on flood preparation."A plan is great, but a budget is better, because a budget leads to action," he said.The city's 2018 budget allocated $573,000 to Climate Ready Boston projects, in addition to $400,000 in grants and other outside contributions.Blackmon said that financing future projects, especially large-scale solutions, will be a challenge. Walsh's administration has proposed protective measures for Charlestown and East Boston that would cost $62 million and $200 million, respectively.Blackmon said the scope of the flood issue may demand the creation of an entirely new government structure to address the issues at both a city and state level, but called the "cost of inaction" "far more expensive.""We have billions of dollars of assets already within the FEMA flood plain," Blackmon said. "The option of not doing anything has already passed by."___(c)2018 the Boston HeraldVisit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) If a tsunami slammed the Southern California coastline, would we be ready?California's Tsunami Preparedness Week, from Monday, March 26 through Friday, March 30, aims to make sure residents and visitors know what to do if a tsunami threatens or hits the coast. Some communities have been holding educational drills all month to prepare for such a scenario.Tsunamis are mammoth waves caused by underwater activity such as an earthquake. Coastal communities in Southern California started taking the threat seriously a little more than a decade ago, after a massive earthquake in 2004 off the coast of Indonesia triggered a tsunami that left at least 230,000 people dead.It was soon after that coastal towns here started developing plans to be better prepared in case such a disaster hit especially after a June 2005 tsunami warning caused mass confusion among residents who didn't know whether to go or stay.Among the local municipalities hosting events is Seal Beach, which is holding a Tsunami WalkOut exercise Wednesday, March 28. In Long Beach, a Tsunami Prepardness Walk was held March 17, with a fair that followed. Disaster Preparedness staff this month are visiting residences and businesses in the tsunami inundation, or flood zone, to hand out a preparedness guide designed to teach Long Beach residents how to survive a tsunami.Brad Alexander, public information officer for the California Governor's Office, said several tsunamis have hit the West Coast over the last five decades. The deadliest one was in the mid-1960s, when a tsunami hit Crescent City, killing 11 people. In that same harbor town in 2011, one man was swept out to sea and boats were damaged after a tsunami battered the coast. Santa Cruz also took a hit.One thing not to do when a tsunami hits? Don't go to the coast to see it and put yourself at risk, Alexander said."It's typically not a visual situation," he said. "You're not going to see a 500-foot wave, you're going to have the shoreline receding and minutes or hours later, potentially coming back as either king waves or tall waves. ... In a catastrophic situation, you'd have a high tsunami wave. Get to high ground and find shelter."California is one of the most prepared states when it comes to disasters, he said. "But there's always going to be more work."Here are some things to know about tsunamis to keep you safe:A tsunami watch means the danger level is not yet known and that people should stay alert for more information. An advisory means strong currents are likely and that individuals should stay away from the shore. And a warning means an inundating wave is possible and evacuation is suggested.Most Southern California coastal cities have siren systems that would alert residents to seek higher ground during a tsunami warning, as well as street signs and maps on their websites detailing evacuation routes from tsunami inundation areas.If a major earthquake originates in a quake-prone area such as Chile, Alaska or Japan, you may have a few hours to get to safety. But if a quake hits locally, you may only have 15 to 20 minutes.Move to high ground, meaning 100 feet above sea level or two miles inland. If you are on a boat, move to deep water of 600 feet or more. If undocked, you have 10 minutes to either get to shore or head to deeper water. Only head to deep water if your boat is equipped with water, food and shelter, according to the Orange County Emergency Operations Center.Have a family reunification plan so you know you will all be safe. Learn the recommended evacuation routes for the area you live in.Shaky ground, water receding unusually and a loud ocean roar could mean a tsunami is coming.Assemble a small evacuation kit with essential documents, medications, a flashlight, a portable National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio and batteries, water, snacks and warm clothes. Include a silver space blanket in the kit, which can be used to signal a location for air search teams. Keep your evacuation kit by the door so you can grab and go. Also, make reunification plans with your loved ones by deciding when and where to meet if you are separated. Discuss the plan with family, co-workers and neighbors.Go toto sign up for alerts.Sources: ready.gov/tsunamis, tsunamizone.org/california, SCNG archives___(c)2018 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)Visit The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) at www.ocregister.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission passed new rules to streamline and expedite the deployment of 5G networks around the country.According to commissioners, the leaner permitting process is a natural extension of the transition from large cell phone towers to smaller and smaller deployments, which do not need the same level of environmental review. Larger installations would still be subject to the present permitting process. The goal of the rule change is to expedite the deployment of 5G infrastructure, ensuring that the U.S. keeps its global technology edge. Many of the countrys Native American tribes, however, had vowed to fight the rule change, arguing that it puts their sacred sites at risk.Our outdated approach to [the National Environmental Policy Act] (NEPA) and [the National Historic Preservation Act] (NHPA)is costing Americans tens of millions of dollars per year and delaying the rollout of new services, said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.One provider spent over $23 million on NHPA review over the last two yearsmoney that could have been used to deploy 657 new cell sites to expand service or add capacity. In 2017, providers spent $36 million on NHPA and NEPA reviews, he continued.According to the FCC, the number of tribes charging upfront fees for telecommunications permits has increased dramatically. In 2012, the Commission knew of only 35 tribes charging fees. The number had grown to 56 by 2015 and is estimated to be around 108 today. In addition, tribes have increased the cost of permits and expanded the areas for which they seek notification. By 2017, the average project required that 15 tribes be notified, twice what the number had been a decade earlier.These permitting increases added significant costs to planned projects. Between 2011 and 2017, the average permitting costs for 5G installations increased from $2,000 to $11,450.Industry figures are pleased with the changes, which they say will remove a needless roadblock and boost expansion rates around the country.The NPA consultation process has been in operation for more than a decade, and it is clear that tribal consultation improperly and unnecessarily impedes wireless infrastructure siting, writes Jonathan Adelstein of the Wireless Infrastructure Association and Wade Lindsay for the Federalist Society Despite the extensive and expensive review process, few sites subjected to tribal review are found to be of religious or historical significance. Nevertheless, telecommunications companies looking to develop them were all charged weighty fees.Evidence presented to the FCC suggests that at least some Tribes view the Section 106 consultation process less as a means of protecting tribal cultural and religious resources and more as an additional source of revenue, Lindsay and Adelsein continue. Tribes routinely require wireless service providers and infrastructure developers to pay fees before the Tribe will respond to the TCNS notification and before any potential cultural or religious resources have been identified.Only 0.33 percent of tribal reviews of wireless infrastructure find that deployment would have a negative effect on historical or religious sites. Even so, the rule change is not without controversy, even among the FCC commissioners.We have long-standing duties to consult with tribes before implementing any regulation or policy that will significantly or uniquely affect tribal governments, their land or their resources. This responsibility is memorialized in the FCC policy statement on establishing a government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes, said FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, after the decision. But we do not honor it here.The FCC has stressed that they did consult with tribes prior to making the rule change. According to Carr, the FCC engaged in tribal consultations in nine states over a period of three years before announcing the rule change.As soon as the decision was announced, tribes began to consider possible response options. Although no official court challenges were filed on Thursday, tribal publications noted that various groups were consulting legal counsel about the possible success of a court challenge.Ironically, the tribes fight against the FCC rule change could worsen the pre-existing digital divide between reservation broadband access and the rest of the country. At present, tribal lands have some of the lowest connectivity rates in the country. According to a 2015 FCC report, 63 percent of residents living on tribal lands lacked broadband access, as opposed to 17 percent of the overall population. On rural tribal lands, upwards of 80 percent of residents lack access.When it comes to bringing the internet to Americas reservations, telecommunications companies have cited a prohibitive regulatory environment. The permits charged by the tribes raise installation costs, which are passed along to customers in the form of higher prices and fewer installations.The FCC rule change was an attempt to bring 5G internetand broadband in generalto more of the country. Lawsuits from Native American tribes could stymie its success, however, hurting the very people it was supposed to help. (TNS) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra joined counterparts from 33 other states in demanding Monday that Facebook explain how personal information from millions of people was used without their consent by a political consulting firm with ties to Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.The letter asks Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to detail when his company learned that data were being used by the firm Cambridge Analytica, how many Facebook users information was taken and what policies exist to make sure consumers give consent before their personal information is used by third parties.Facebook left millions of Californians personal information vulnerable, Becerra said in a statement, adding his office intends to make sure that consumers personal information is kept private and secure.The letter was signed by top attorneys in 34 states including New York, Illinois and New Jersey. It was also signed by attorneys general for Guam, American Samoa and the District of Columbia.The attorneys general wrote that they want a full accounting of what happened and that they are profoundly concerned by news reports that personal data from up to 50 million Facebook users might have been used by Cambridge Analytica to target political messaging during the last presidential campaign.Zuckerberg said last week that Facebook would take action to try to prevent other outside parties from exploiting user data.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is also investigating the matter.Becerra said the review by states is needed.My fellow attorneys general and I demand answers on behalf of all those whose trust and personal data has been compromised, he said. Bernie Ecclestone will be back in court next year as the bribery scandal returns. In 2014, the now former F1 supremo escaped jail over corruption charges after paying $100 million to the Munich court. Ecclestone, now 87, had been accused of paying $44 million to a German banker to ensure formula one was sold to his preferred buyer, CVC. But the matter is now returning to court, with London's High Court confirming reports that a trial date has been set for 1 October 2019. In 2014, a company called Bluewaters claimed it was the high bidder to buy F1 in 2005. But it said CVC secured the deal because of Ecclestone's alleged bribes to Gerhard Gribkowsky, who served jail time after receiving the $44m. In 2014, Bluewaters' case was dismissed by a New York judge, but now the case will be heard in London. "Our client is pleased that the judge has now set a date for the trial in London," said Bluewaters' lawyer Simon Bushell. (GMM) It's been nearly two months since Josh McDaniels reversed course and unexpectedly returned to the Patriots. On Monday, he gave his first interview addressing the decision. Speaking with Jim McBride of The Boston Globe, McDaniels explained that a Feb. 6 meeting with Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick was critical in his spurn the Colts at the last minute and remain in New England. "I wasn't 100 percent sure what the future was. I just hadn't had any clarity on that," McDaniels told The Globe. "So, where did I fit in? Were there any plans? I just didn't have much clarity on what my role was here moving forward...Once I heard from Robert and Bill on that Tuesday, it just gave me reason to pause and consider the whole situation." McDaniels was "given no guarantees about future positions, but did have his contract adjusted," McBride reported. Read The Globe's full interview with McDaniels here. Gunther Steiner says Haas will line up with the same set of mechanics next weekend in Bahrain. Although it looked like technical glitches, the American team's boss confirmed that it was simple finger trouble that meant Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean retired within minutes following bungled pitstops in Australia. "Why should we keep complaining?" Steiner told Blick newspaper. "Those responsible know they were to blame -- the wheel guns, the nuts and the hubs are the same as in 2017," he added. "No one will be fired. Maybe the pressure of the two most important pitstops since our entry in 2016 was simply too great. Now we have to work harder with the same crew. "The car is very good, which is why we can go with optimism to Bahrain and everywhere else," Steiner added. Grosjean confirmed: "The only consolation is that I've never had such a good car in formula one." (GMM) Robert Kubica is reluctant to comment on Williams' poor start to the 2018 season. There are already rumours that the Pole and reserve driver could eventually step in to replace either Lance Stroll or Sergey Sirotkin, should Williams' situation not improve. Lance Stroll criticised the team after Australia, and Russian Sirotkin qualified 19th in Melbourne. "It would not be entirely correct for me to say what I think, because it's not my role," Kubica told Eleven Sports. "But I think that Lance Stroll did a pretty good job. It was not easy, because he lost preparation for qualifying and when you lack experience, that is very important. "That is why Sergey Sirotkin faced such a difficult task," Kubica added. "After Barcelona, I said that to get into Q2 we need to be about two seconds from the leaders. In the end the deficit was about 2.2 seconds. "What will happen in the future is unknown," Kubica added, "but if we really look at the situation, it was difficult to expect something else at this point." (GMM) Alex Wurz has weighed into the debate about Mercedes' supposed engine "party mode". After Lewis Hamilton dominated qualifying in Melbourne, some said it was because his car features a "party mode" button that Mercedes' F1 customers and rivals do not have. That is despite the fact that, prior to the start of the 2018 season, the FIA clarified that engine suppliers must provide identical equipment to their customers. But former driver and now GPDA president Wurz says it's not quite that simple. "Mercedes has developed a system that allows them to go beyond the performance limits of their equipment," the Austrian told the ORF broadcaster. "The other manufacturers do not dare or have not developed such engine maps." Wurz said the special map will be used only rarely, for instance at the end of qualifying. It was apparently also deployed by Cosworth back in 2006. "Later, many Cosworth engineers changed to Mercedes, and I'm sure that played a major role in developing this sensational Mercedes turbo engine," he explained. (GMM) Niki Lauda has hit out at the FIA for being too hard on Daniel Ricciardo in Australia. Local hero Ricciardo was penalised three places on the grid, after falling foul of a complex new regulation requiring him to slow down during a red flag in practice. But Lauda, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman, told Austrian television ORF that the penalty was contrary to an earlier pledge by the FIA to be more lenient. "If the FIA and Charlie Whiting are already starting like this, then formula one is going back in the wrong direction," he said. "I would have given him a different penalty, and then he would have been in the front, where he belongs, and all the Australians would have enjoyed the race more," added Lauda. (GMM) In 2002, the United States exported only 3.3 million barrels of crude oil; by 2017, exports were 408 million barrels, according to figures from the US Department of Energy (DOE). In December 1975 the Energy Policy and Conservation Act banned most US crude oil exports in an effort to gain some control over supply as a reaction to spiking oil prices. Some exports continued after that date because the US Commerce Department could grant exceptions for some types of oil. In December 2015, Congress lifted the ban on crude oil exports resulting in the rapid rise thereafter. One suspect has surrendered to police after being involved in the burglary of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's house in Feburary. Eric Tyrrell, 28, turned himself in to Foxborough police Tuesday. He will be arraigned in Wrentham District Court Wednesday, and is being held on $10,000 cash bail. Police arrested Anthony Almeida, 31, in Randolph in connection with the burglary Friday. A third suspect, Shayne Denn, 26, remains at large. Denn is also wanted for his involvement in a crime spree last week, as he robbed a gas station, crashed a stolen truck, and drove a truck into the front of a business in Wilmington last Thursday. When Almeida was arrested, police said they recovered an Apple Watch, a Rolex watch and two rare coins from the 1800s. Guns belonging to Gronkowski's roommate, Robert Goon, have still not been recovered. Police say the three suspects broke into Gronkowski's home on February 4, when the Patriots tight end was away at the Super Bowl in Minnesota. According to a RingCentral report From Workplace Chaos to Zen: How App Overload Is Reshaping the Digital Workplace, when it comes to communications applications, workers today are using an average of four apps, with 20 percent of workers using six or more. This includes apps for phone calls, texts, web meetings, video conferencing, team messaging, and more. Sixty-nine percent of workers waste up to an hour each day navigating between myriad communications apps, amounting to a waste of 32 days per year. To counter this app fragmentation, 66 percent of workers want a single communications platform that will bring a sense of productivity to their workplace. However, the C-Suite is more likely to be content with their current suite of tools (44 percent), revealing a disconnect with the cultural shift to newer communications and collaboration solutions. Not surprisingly, the company which is a leader in UCaaS is evolving to solve the challenge facing companies and their workers who want easier ways to communicate. For example the companys RingCentral Meetings delivers integrated team messaging, online meetings, video conferencing, screen-sharing, and task management in a single solution to enable a full meeting experience. Available stand-alone, the solution can be easily upgraded to the full cloud communications capabilities of RingCentral Office. In an exclusive in-person interview, Jose Pastor (pictured above), Vice President Product Management said, The solution makes meetings more powerful and differentiated. He went on to explain customers are trying to figure out the cloud journey and as a result, some want to start with meetings. This solution seems like a natural way to attract and retain such customers. In addition the company has released RingCentral Contact Center with Glip integration. A good portion of support inquiries handled by contact center agents require some sort of assistance from experts in various parts of their organization, said Blair Pleasant (pictured), President & Principal Analyst for COMMfusion. By integrating the power of cloud-based unified communications, team messaging, and collaboration into the contact center, RingCentral enables businesses to better serve customer needs in a faster and more flexible way. In addition, there are included intelligent bots, automated KPI monitoring, smart alert distribution allowing managers to gain insight into operational issues, mobility support and team sync. Jose explained the smart bots can push reporting into Glip workstream communications so everyone can see what is happening. He concluded, the company now has on-ramps for meetings, and collaboration in addition to cloud PBX. In other words, UC, specifically, RingCentral UC is really eating the enterprise. Legal notices 1) The material on this blog has been created by W. Blake Gray, is protected under US copyright law and cannot be used without his permission. 2) To the FTC: In the course of my work, I accept free samples, meals and other considerations. I do not trade positive reviews or coverage for money or any financial considerations, unlike certain famous print publications which have for-profit wine clubs but, because they are not classified as "bloggers," are not required by the FTC to post a notice like this. Nobodys perfect, not even manuscripts. Since parchment is made from animal skins, the pages often have holes of varying sizes. Some of these may have been caused by an insect bite that expanded when the skin was stretched during parchment production. Other holes may have been created during other stages in the parchment-making process itself. Medieval scribes still often used this flawed parchment. Sheets of parchment were time-consuming and expensive to produce, so some scribes embraced the flaws they found, with creative results. Detail of a decorated flaw from the Tollemache Orosius, England (Winchester?), late 9th or early 10th century: Add MS 47967, f. 62v The creativity of the late 9th- or early 10th-century scribe of the Tollemache Orosius (Add MS 47967) came to the fore whenever they came across a hole in the parchment. In one instance the flaw was turned into a creature, perhaps a badger, a sheep or a mole. Verses about zodiac signs, where the o in capricornus is created by a flaw in the parchment, from a calendar, England, 1st half of the 11th century: Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 3r Detail of Aquarius drawn around a hole in parchment, from the other side of the page in the mid-11th century calendar, England (Canterbury?): Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 3v The 11th-century scribe and artist of the 'Julius Work Calendar' demonstrated not one but two solutions to dealing with a flaw in parchment. On one side of a page, the scribe used a round hole as a substitute for the o in capricOrnus. On the other side, the scribe or artist used the same hole to represent the negative space under Aquariuss arm as he pours a jug of water. Unfortunately, we cannot fully appreciate the artists and scribes ingenuity today, since this page was warped by the Cotton Fire. This means the proportions of the image and letters have shrunk, and the second c in capricornus is barely visible. Detail of a page from the Echternach Gospels, early 8th century: Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France, lat 9389, f. 17r Sometimes, scribes got so caught up in creatively decorating holes they forgot about the text they were supposed to be writing. Jo Story of the University of Leicester has pointed out that the scribe of the Echternach Gospels was so distracted by making the hole in the parchment into a bird that they missed out a whole clause! They had to go back and add it in the margin between the columns. Not all flaws were decorated although depending on how you hold the page, they can provide sneak peeks of other decoration; detail of a flaw in a 12th-century copy of Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Brittaniae: Add MS 15732, f. 26v (photo credit Jessica Pollard) Not all holes in manuscripts were decorated. Nevertheless, it is tempting to wish that sometimes there were more flaws in the parchment, just to see what kind of creative solutions the scribes would have come up with. Have a look through the British Librarys Digitised Manuscripts website and let us know if you have any other favourite examples of scribes or artists who made a virtue out of imperfection. Alison Hudson Follow us on Twitter @BLMedieval Pouring Mikkellers Beer Geek Parlor. Photo: Liz Clayman For the kind of beer lovers who freak out over Imperial Stouts and New Englandstyle IPAs, there arent many names bigger than Mikkeller. Over the last 12 years, founder Mikkel Borg Bjergso has established his Danish brand as a trendsetter (it was early to the gypsy-brewer scene) and, arguably, one of the worlds best brewers. Bjergso has made his name by taking aspects of modern craft beer (the big, sometimes weird flavors; limited-run creations) and pushing them to their least logical extremes. As a result, Mikkeller expanded from Denmark to Thailand, with breweries in Copenhagen, San Diego, and now New York. This past weekend, Mikkellers first East Coast outpost opened in Queens, at Citi Field, and to those people who love heft stouts and juicy IPAs its a very big deal. Heres why beer geeks in New York and beyond are so excited for this opening. 1. The new brewery will be a hub for Mikkellers restless innovation. Mikkeller produces a lot of different types of beer. The New York Times once reported that Mikkeller produced 124 different beers in 2013 alone, and today, the website RateBeer currently lists 1,062 different beers and barley wines in the brewerys profile. Even the most dedicated Mikkeller superfan would never be able to track down everything, but with the new brewery, that superfan at least has a destination where they can go and basically always find something new to try. 2. Mikkellers beers push craft beers big flavors to the extreme. One reason Mikkeller makes so many different beers is that the brewery is willing to try things nobody else will: Among Mikkellers many experiments are the so-called 1000 IBU; the Beer Geek series of flavored stouts like the Vanilla Raspberry Smoothie; and the Whenever Pilsner brewed with lime leaf, lemongrass, and ginger. Bjergso also goes all-in in collaborations (like with David Lynch) and small-batch beers, reportedly once purchasing $8,000 in truffles for a beer. (Not everything is so extreme, though. The Say Hey Sally, produced for the Mets, is a Czech-style pilsner.) Say Hey Sally, brewed for Citi Field. Photo: Liz Clayman 3. There will be plenty of new beers to try, always. The bars 60 taps guarantee that youll have something different to drink each time you go, and the list of drafts on the website suggests its trying to cover lots of grounds. Theres Hill Farmsteads Mary, a German-style pilsner; Mikkeller San Diegos Raspberry Blush (Berliner Weisse with raspberry and coffee); Thin Man Brewerys Curtis, a Belgian-style brown ale; and much more. 4. Bjergso may or may not have a long-standing feud with his identical twin brother (and fellow brewer). Part of the lore surrounding Mikkeller is the animosity between Mikkel and his identical twin brother, Jeppe, the man behind Evil Twin Brewing. The two are allegedly bitter rivals; the Times reported in 2014 that the two hadnt spoken for a year. Then last week, it published an entire article about the supposed rivalry and how their paths are colliding in Queens, where Evil Twin will also open a brewery. (As a bona fide fraternal twin myself, and Grubs resident expert on twin relations, Im a bit skeptical of what seems like, ultimately, clever marketing but it is a very good story that no doubt helps sell some beer.) 5. Oh, and the brewery is huge. The restaurant and brewery is 10,000 square feet, so there should actually be somewhere for you to sit. To ensure you wont stumble out totally sloshed, theres also food from Danish restaurateur Claus Meyers Great Northern Food Hall, Korean fried-chicken spot Unidentified Flying Chickens, meat man Pat LaFrieda, and local burger chainlet Whitmans. The other beer brewed for Citi Field is Henry Hops. Photo: Liz Clayman Picnic tables for drinkin suds and eatin burgers. Photo: Liz Clayman So many taps! Photo: Liz Clayman Teachers have long been told to praise students effort, rather than simply saying they are smart, as a way to encourage students to think of their intelligence as something that can grow over time. But teenagers can be a prickly, contrary bunch with a finely tuned skepticism for adults, and a new review of research in the journal Child Development suggests just praising the effort of middle and high school students to boost their growth mindset can have the opposite effect , with those adolescents praised becoming less likely to believe their work can improve their intelligence or skills. It seems to have this backfiring effect, said Jaime Amemiya, a University of Pittsburgh psychology researcher who co-wrote the article with psychology colleague Ming-Te Wang, University of Pittsburgh associate professor of psychology and education. Prior research has suggested educators can encourage students to have a growth mindset by praising students process rather than ability. Process includes students effort, but also the successful strategies they use. The strategies part is really important, because that gives kids information on what they did correctly and what they can keep improving. ... But it seems like the effort praise is what has been reaching parents and teachers the most and seems the most intuitive to do. David Yeager, an associate psychology professor and mindset researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, agreed. In his own national study of students learning mindsets , he said when teachers reported preferring to praise students effort alone, students werent particularly likely to think teachers had a growth mindset themselves. In fact, Yeager and Carol Dweck, the Stanford University researcher who first coined the term growth mindset, have come to consider a focus on effort praise alone to be a false growth mindset. Problematic Culture? Thats particularly a problem in middle and high school, when many students move to bigger schools with more academically tracked classrooms and social cliques. Students become aware of class rankings and schools are more likely to promote academic stars. Theres a shift in the environment at this time. Effort isnt seen in such a positive light as we get older, especially in the American culture, Amemiya said. We really admire people who are effortless achievers; they just get math or get science without having to work too hard. In forthcoming research, Yeager also found that older students are less likely to believe teachers who tell them they can make a difference in the world unless the teacher first builds trust with her students. When told to try harder, adolescents may read between the lines and wonder how come other people dont have to work so hard? At some level, we shouldnt be surprised if teenagers get offended by what adults say even when theyre not trying to be insulting, Yeager said. But its easy to forget that, with teachers, what goes unsaid can, many times, be louder than what was said explicitly. A Better Approach to Growth Mindset Mary Murphy, an associate psychology professor and mindset researcher at Indiana University, was not involved with the article but agreed with its findings, noting that students of all ages can lose trust in adults who praise them for effort without specifying what was effective about their effort. Murphy suggested educators can give adolescents a better foundation for a growth mindset by, among other things: Providing opportunities for students to reflect on their own learning. For example, instead of using assessments primarily for the teacher, let students assess themselves regularly and report back on how they have developed. Highlight mistakes in the everyday practice of learning. Tell students, I dont want to know what you found easy, I want to know what you got wrong because thats where the learning will be, Murphy said in an email. This naturally gets students to think about how much they are learning and developing, and will get them to think about what other strategies they could try. Use group work where peers discuss what they each struggled with and explore individual strengths of different students. The Knowledge Is Power Program, or KIPP, charter schools have been trying to teach growth mindset directly for more than a decade, and spokesman Steve Mancini said the group has changed its approach over time. Maybe 10 years ago it was simply praising hard work, but the reality has been a lot different, Mancini said. Educators can also leverage teenagers rapid social development to reinforce growth mindset, according to Leyla Bravo, a former KIPP teacher in Harlem who is founding a KIPP school in Miami. At KIPP Infinity [middle school in Harlem] we also capitalized on positive peer pressure so that the messages of you can were sent not only through the teachers but also through their peers, Bravo said in an email. For adolescents this is particularly key because they are doing so much learning from peers during adolescence. See Also: Haiti - Security : The mystery remains around the disappearance of Journalist Legagneur The National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH) is concerned about the silence of the police and judicial authorities following the worrying disappearance of journalist photojournalist Vladjimir Legagneur left on 14 March 2018 in reportage in Grand-Ravine, in the district of Martissant, the one of the areas where, in recent years, gang clashes have been particularly violent. The ANMH particularly addresses the Director General of the National Police of Haiti and the Government Commissioner of the jurisdiction of Port-au-Prince and ask them to make every effort to find Vladjimir Legagneur and reassure his family, his loved ones and his colleagues. In a note dated Saturday, March 24, Renan Hedouville Protector of the Citizen said he learned with dismay the news of the disappearance of the Journalist. While expressing its deep concern, he notes that the police and judicial authorities, including the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ-PNH), were seized of the case on 16 March and "that an investigation would be in progress". Renan Hedouville recommends to the police and judicial authorities "to intensify their efforts with professionalism to find, as soon as possible, Vladjimir Legagneur" Sunday, Limond Toussaint, the Minister of Culture of Communication expressed his solidarity with the family of Vladjimir Legagneur and the ANMH and wishes to inform that "[...] the police, and judicial authorities are hard at work , for in-depth investigations to establish the facts and thus shed light on the case ". It should be noted that this is the first official reaction of the Government in this case since the disappearance of our fellow journalist. For his part, Commissioner Frantz Lerebours, spokesman for the National Police of Haiti (PNH) said after a silence of 12 days "We have no trace or hint for him at the moment. In such cases, without a ransom demand, we fear a fatal outcome [...] "stating that several police units continued the search to establish the circumstances he concluded "The situation is very worrying but we can not presume of his death without having found his body." Friday, March 23, Emmanuel Colombie, head of the Latin America office of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressed his concern about the slow pace of the investigation "It is extremely worrying that, 10 days after his disappearance, the police were unable to bring no new element. " Recall that the failure to investigate cases of disappearance of other personalities is not uncommon in Haiti, include: the disappearance of Charlot Jacquelin, young activist and former professor at Cite Soleil (September 19, 1986), Felix Lamy , star host and co-owner of radio galaxy (December 10, 1991), Lovisnky Pierre-Antoine, former leader of the Foundation September 30 (August 12, 2007) and Joseph Francois Robert Marcello, former Coordinator of the National Commission of Procurement ( January 12, 2009)... HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre Linda C. Brown, whose name is etched in history as part of the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that declared racial segregation of the schools unconstitutional, has died at age 75. Browns youngest sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson, the founding president of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence, and Research, confirmed the death Monday and said the family would have no further comment, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Linda Brown walked about a mile each day in Topeka, Kan., crossing train tracks and bypassing the neighborhood white school, just to catch a bus the rest of the way to attend the all-black Monroe School, about two miles from her home. Her father, Oliver L. Brown, a railroad worker and minister, became the lead plaintiff among other African-Americans in Topeka in a lawsuit challenging separate but equal education in Kansas. That case was consolidated with others from Delaware, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, and Virginia before the U.S. Supreme Court, for argument in 1952, and under new Chief Justice Earl Warren, again in 1953, leading to the unanimous May 17, 1954, decision in Brown that declared racial segregation in schools to be a violation of the 14th Amendments equal-protection clause. (The District of Columbia case was decided under a companion ruling, Bolling v. Sharpe , that was based on the Fifth Amendments due-process clause.) We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of separate but equal has no place, Warren wrote for the court. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Warren prominently quoted a finding of the federal district court in Kansas, which had ruled that it was bound at the time by the Supreme Courts 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson that had upheld separate facilities for black train passengers but nonetheless issued a finding of fact that segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn, the Kansas court had declared in the case brought by Oliver Brown on behalf of his daughter Linda. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of Negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system. In what many scholars consider to be the authoritative book on the Brown cases, Simple Justice, author Richard Kluger writes that Oliver Brown took Linda one morning in 1950, when she was 7 years old and about to enter 3rd grade, on a walk several blocks to the Sumner School, an all-white school. Linda Brown had recounted to Kluger for the 1975 book that a school registration notice had been stuck on every door in the neighborhood in that summer of 1950, including the Browns. He sought to enroll Linda in the white school. As they climbed the front steps, there was tension in Oliver Brown that his daughter could detect, even at her age, Kluger wrote. They were directed to the principals office, and Linda waited outside the door for a few minutes while her father went in. He was upset when he came out, to judge by his tone of voice, and quite upset when he got home. With his daughter denied admission to Sumner School, Oliver Brown got in touch with the Topeka chapter of the NAACP, which had been gathering potential plaintiffs to challenge the segregation policy, just as the other challenges were forming elsewhere. On the witness stand in federal district court in Topeka, Kluger writes, Oliver Brown pulled himself together and got his story out. Linda had to leave home at 7:40 a.m. to get to school by nine, sometimes unable to reach a school bus stop where she still faced a lengthy ride. Linda Brown herself did not testify in the Kansas trial. The Topeka school board actually ended its segregation policy for its junior and senior high schools in 1953, before the Supreme Court decision. In 1979, Linda Brown, with her own children enrolled in Topekas public schools, joined other plaintiffs in an effort to reopen the historic desegregation case. That case went on for years as a federal appeals court called for further remedies to address lingering racial imbalances in student enrollment. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to disturb the appeals courts decision in 1993. In 2004, on the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision, President George W. Bush dedicated the reopening of the Monroe School as the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. The Brown Foundation had spearheaded the effort to preserve the building and secure the funding to turn the building into a museum about the Brown cases and the civil rights era. Fifty years ago today, nine judges announced that they had looked at the Constitution and saw no justification for the segregation and humiliation of an entire race, the president said on that day in Topeka. Here at the corner of 15th and Monroe, and at schools like it across America, that was a day of justiceand it was a long time coming. A few weeks earlier, on April 29, 2004, Linda Brown addressed the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York, recalling the day of the Supreme Courts decision. At 12:52 [p.m.] the announcement came, Brown said. The courts decision on ending segregation was unanimous. My mother was overwhelmed. On returning from school, I learned of the decision, which at that time only meant to me that my sisters wouldnt have to walk so far to school the next fall. That evening in our home was much rejoicing. I remember seeing tears of joy in the eyes of my father as he embraced us, repeating Thanks be to God. She recalled that integration of the elementary schools in Topeka went relatively smoothly. Neither I nor my family suffered the abuse or racial strife that marked integration in the latter 50s and early 60s in so many many parts of the country, she said. Of course, it would take many years for the promise of the Brown decision to be fulfilled, and many observers worry today about resegregation of American schools. Oliver Brown died in 1961 at age 42. Linda Brown said in the Chautauqua talk that she then inherited much of the attention surrounding the case. The Brown case might have been a little flame, she said. But it served to set off a mighty flame. Photo: Linda C. Brown, 9, is shown in this 1952 photo. Smith was a 3rd grader when her father joined with other plaintiffs in a class-action suit in 1951 in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., which led to the U.S. Supreme Courts 1954 landmark decision against school segregation. AP-File This story has been corrected to show that Linda Brown was 75. by Andrew Walden, Originally published January 22, 2015 At the moment colonized peoples won their freedom and with it the right to use knowledge to advance themselves metropolitans possessing the knowledge which had made the West prosperous and powerful suddenly began claiming Western knowledge was of no value. But that was the 1960s. Fifty years earlier, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole didnt suffer from that problem. Working to rehabilitate Hawaiians and make Hawaii ready for statehood, Kuhio focused his efforts on an American idea--homesteading. Disagreements over homesteading burst into the open with Kuhios October, 1911 appeal to Republican President Taft against the reappointment of Hawaii Territorial Governor Walter F. Frear. As Delegate to Congress, Kuhio was the highest elected official in the Territory--Governors were appointed by the President. In contrast to the leasehold assignments for Hawaiians-only which Kuhio would settle for a decade later in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the homestead associations he championed in his first decade of service were multi-ethnic groups seeking the fee-simple ownership of land promised in the Hawaii Organic Act, article 73. Kuhios complaint detailed strategies used by Frear to circumvent or corrupt homesteading of areas throughout the Territory, including: Thompson Settlement Association, Kaunamano Homesteads, Kau, Hawaii Aloha Aina Association, Wood Valley, Kau, Hawaii Kekupulau Settlement Association, South Hilo, Hawaii Hakalau, North Hilo, Hawaii Moaula, Pahala Plantation, Kau, Hawaii Kihei Homesteads, Kihei, Maui Hana Homesteads, Hana, Maui California and Lindsay Settlement Associations, Haiku, Maui (homesteads given to cronies of Frear) Makee Plantation, Kapaa, Kauai Omao Tract, Koloa, Kauai Pahoa Land, Waianae, Oahu Kalauao Homesteads, Aiea, Oahu Waiohinu water diversion away from traditional village by Hutchinson Planation, Waiohinu, Kau, Hawaii Waiakea Sugar Co leased lands not made available, Hilo, Hawaii Kekaha Sugar Co leased lands not made available, Kekaha, Kauai In his August, 1907 inaugural address, Governor Frear had asserted: the highest interests of these islands require them to be peopled as far as may be by small landed proprietors. It may yet, in the natural-course of events, prove to be to the advantage of the sugar planters to have their operations confined to central factories, and their lands, whether now held under lease or in fee, subdivided and sold to settlers. (p231-2)* But by 1911, none of the cane lands had been homesteaded. Kuhios 60 page complaint against Frear is reprinted in his biography, The Empty Throne by Lori Kamae. In it Kuhio rips Frear for: 1) His failure to administer the law in regard to the public lands in a manner calculated to bring about the creation of a class of citizen proprietors, holding moderate areas. 2) His administration of the public lands in the interest of the sugar planting corporations, and to the prejudice of large numbers of would-be homesteaderssome of local, and some of mainland residence. 3) His failure, through the policy above indicated, to assist in inaugurating in Hawaii the typical American features of citizen proprietorship, and the consequent Americanizing of the islands. 4) His failure to inaugurate or permit the adoption of measures looking to the regulation or curbing of the local transportation monopolies, in the interest of agricultural development along American lines. 5) His close affiliation with the corporate interests of the Islands, induced and existing largely through matrimonial and social ties, whereby his administration is conducted upon lines calculated to favor and promote the still further concentration of land, wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals, operating, in most instances, under corporate forms. (p230) Referring often to a contemporary series of three articles by Progressive writer Ray Stannard Baker, Kuhio points out that in the four years of Frears administration, the Governor had not allowed homesteading on any of the 34,000 acres of cane planted on leased public lands. Kuhio explains, considerable tracts of public land have been recently thrown open to homesteading but of a character utterly unfit for homesteading. In this manner the Governor has sought to make a showing in favor of the policy of small proprietors, though well knowing that he was offering the homesteader only the husk, while keeping the meat for the sugar corporations. (p233) Describing specific homesteading efforts stymied by Frear, Kuhio argues: it is (Frears) purpose, where he may be compelled to assign homesteads at all upon lands within or adjacent to plantations, they shall be so small in area as to insure the poverty of those who settle upon them, coupled with the necessity of the homesteaders to sell their surplus labor to the neighboring plantations. (p 253-4) This policy, if applied under the millions of cases arising under the Homestead Laws of the United States, would have paralyzed the settlement and civilization of the vast tracts of public land out of which so many thriving sovereign states have been created. (p270) In one of the articles cited by Kuhio, Baker describes an effort to build a sugar industry based on independent growers rather than plantation labor: A number of small Portuguese land owners had organized a cooperative mill, called the Hilo Portuguese Sugar Mill Company. Near at hand was one of the oldest and most powerful of the sugar plantations on the islandthe Hilo Sugar Company, owning 10,000 acres of land, a big mill and a fine fluming system. Mr Scott, the manager of this big plantation, offered flattering contracts to the new settlers, agreeing to purchase at a fixed price all sugar cane which the planters might grow. The temptation to the small planters was so strong that many of them signed contracts with Mr Scott, and the cooperative mill, nearly bankrupted, sold out to the big sugar interests. Competition thus destroyed, was never revived. But when they came to sell their first crops to the big planters, they found that they were paid, not on a basis of a fixed price per ton for all sugar cane, but for the sugar content of the sugar cane as declared by the chemist of the company. Baker, destined to be appointed to serve in the soon-to-be-elected Woodrow Wilson administration, complains bitterly about Asian immigration feeding the demand for labor, arguing: The importation of hordes of ignorant people have (sic) brought in all sorts of diseases which in this tropical climate spread like wildfire. Too much cheap, low-standard labor drives out high-standard laborand an overwhelming disenfranchised peasantry makes a democratic citizenship impossible. The system makes much sugar and large profits, but what sort of democratic citizenry does it make? Are men improved by it? Is there more justice, more liberty, more brotherhood? This was the moment in American history when the impetus of Progressivism began its decades-long shift from Republican to Democrat. Taft reappointed Frear over Kuhios objection, but soon both were swept away. Taft lost his reelection campaign to the first Progressive Democrat President Woodrow Wilson after Progressive Theodore Roosevelt split from the Republicans to run on the Bull Moose ticket. Wilson then replaced Frear with Hawaiis first Democrat Governor, Lucius Pinkham (1913 1918). Pinkham was followed by another Democrat Wilson appointee, Charles James McCarthy (1918-1921). According to his online biography: McCarthy believed Republicans were promoting immigration of Oriental laborers to manipulate Hawaiis demographics to their advantage and served their own business interests, McCarthy was ardently anti-Asian. He appointed Charles Rice and Alfred Castle to lobby in favor of the Hawaiian Rehabilitation Bill which became the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The anti-Asian tenor of the debate is borne out in the transcript of McCarthy and Kuhios 1920 HHCA testimony before Congress. Comparing plantations Southern and Hawaiian, Baker observed: the note of pessimism is struck most strongly be the element which has a selfish interest in keeping the Negro or the Oriental in his place, in making him work at low wages. The note of optimism on the other hand is struck by those who are in some way trying to serve or help: teachers and preachers especially, who are meeting the other races on terms not of business, but of friendly contact. In 1903 the Republican territorial legislature passed its first pro-Statehood resolution. In 1919, Delegate Kuhio presented the first Hawaii Statehood bill to Congress. One of the last notes of pessimism would be sounded in 1949 by Campbell Estate heiress Alice Kamokila Campbell who testified against Statehood before a US Senate committee: I say Russia could afford to sayand I should take a chance as one born here in Hawaiito have Russia say, All right, you Chinese and Japanese, you come and fight for us. We will give you the Territory of Hawaii. Should I take these chances of giving my land up and permitting Russia for one minute to do it? I dont want to have a Japanese judge tell me how to act in my own country, no more than you Americans over on the other side would want an Indian to overrule you, or a Negro. In 1957 the ILWUs pro-Statehood Honolulu Record, edited by Communist Party member Koji Ariyoshi, ran a three-part series on the Kuhio-Frear dispute. The final installment includes these observations: The series of two articles published by this weekly on Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole's complaint to the Secretary of Interior in 1911 against Gov. Walter F. Freardeclaring that the latter did not implement the homesteading program provided for by law because he was influenced by the sugar companies which used government land at low rental aroused keen interest, especially among old-timers. They say this is new information to them. By controlling key government officials, (Hawaiis sugar interests) have controlled the use of land. They are principally responsible for the high price of land in the islands. They monopolize landboth public and privateand have built up an artificially high demand for land by limiting it on the open market, consequently boosting land prices. Many unemployed former sugar workers could contribute to the Territory's productive income in the agricultural field if land were homesteaded, but the same old excuse is being used by the administrationnot enough water or no access roads to the potential farm areas. It is the old refrain for Big Five benefit. For decades the big interest-controlled territorial administrations have violated Section 73, paragraphs (M) and (N) of the Organic Act which specifically mandates, the Territory to survey annually agricultural and pastoral land for homesteading to satisfy demand. It's about time Congress looked into this matter. Two years later, Hawaii became a state. The 1959 Hawaii Admission Act lists five purposes for public lands including: the development of farm and home ownership on as widespread a basis as possible. The first elected Governor, Republican William Quinn, won on a platform promising "The Second Mahele" distribution of fee-simple land in many of the areas Kuhio had fought for 50 years earlier. Quinn's policy was altered by his successor, Democrat Jack Burns. The result is recorded in the 1990 book, Land and Power in Hawaii. Thirty-five years after Statehood, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs sued the State, claiming the 1993 Apology Resolution overrode the Admission Act thereby prohibiting a Waihee administration plan to build affordable housing on state-owned land near Lahaina and Kailua-Kona. Fourteen years later, in 2008, the State Supreme Court unanimously upheld OHAs position in the case. In 2009 the US Supreme Court unanimously slapped down the State Supreme Court ruling, explaining: the Apology Resolution would raise grave constitutional concerns if it purported to cloud Hawaiis title to its sovereign lands more than three decades after the States admission to the Union. We have emphasized that 'Congress cannot, after statehood, reserve or convey lands that have already been bestowed on a State.'('[T]he consequences of admission are instantaneous, and it ignores the uniquely sovereign character of that eventto suggest that subsequent events somehow can diminish what has already been bestowed'). The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is the effort to undo Kuhios legacy. ---30--- * All page numbers from The Empty Throne. On Amazon used copies start at $100. This counts as a suppressed bookjust as in 1957 when this information was also new to them. References: 200 Roosters Held in Arkansas Jail Evidence in Cockfighting Case What do you do when you have to keep hundreds of roosters as evidence of a crime? Put 'em in jail. That's what one Arkansas sheriff decided to do after arresting over a hundred people suspected of participating in cockfighting. Now a court will have to decide what to do with the jailbirds while neighbors put up with the noise. What Is Cockfighting? According to the ASPCA, cockfighting is "a blood sport in which two roosters specifically bred for aggression are placed beak to beak in a small ring and encouraged to fight to the death." The roosters are often outfitted with dagger-like accessories to inflict maximum injury on their opponents. Owners use a number of tactics to produce a winning bird, including practice fights and steroids. The barbaric practice often goes hand-in-hand with other crimes such as drugs, gambling, and gang activity, and it's illegal in every state. Elaborate Cockfighting Operation On March 17, authorities in De Queen, Arkansas raided a cockfight and arrested 137 people in attendance. Multiple agencies participated in the raid which was an effort to close down an elaborate cockfighting operation that changed location every weekend. Charges Against Those Arrested Charges against those arrested range from unlawful animal fighting, which is a felony, to misdemeanors. Some of those arrested were there as spectators. Meanwhile, the roosters are being cared for by inmates at the jail (none of whom have been charged with cockfighting-related crimes). If you've been arrested and accused of a crime, speak with an attorney today to protect your rights. Related Resources: Department Of Precrime: HAWSCT Considers Cultural "Property" In Public Land by Robert Thomas, InverseCondemnation, March 22, 2018 Remember the Tom Cruise/Steven Spielberg flick Minority Report? That's the one based on Philip K. Dick's short story in which the police force's PreCrime unit can presage that a citizen will to violate the law in the future, so they arrest him now even though he has committed no crime. That's the same vibe we get from the recent oral arguments in a case in which the Hawaii Supreme Court is being asked to resolve two fundamental questions in the latest case involving the Thirty Meter Telescope up on the top of the Big Island's Mauna Kea. First, whether someone can possess a cultural property interest in publicly-owned land. Flores, a native Hawaiian, asserted he had such an interest in the land on which the telescope is planned. Second, if so, whether the State land agency's consenting to the University of Hawaii's sublease of that land to the TMT puts Flores' interests in jeopardy, and thus the only way to protect that interest is for the agency to conduct an administrative trial, otherwise known as a "contested case," and not merely a public hearing in which all are invited. If the answers to both questions are yes, then the agency should have granted Flores' request for a contested case under the Administrative Procedures Act prior to consenting to the sublease, and its failure to do so means the sublease is void. We don't think there's much of a question on the first issue. The court has already decided in a series of cases that native Hawaiians can possess an interest in publicly-owned land, at least generally. The Hawaii Constitution says it , after all. We've questioned whether these type of property rights are truly property rights , but we can at least say with some confidence that they are entitlements ( New Property !) and public rights, even if they do not rise to the level of private property rights . But that alone does not solve the puzzle, because it doesn't address the second, harder question, the one that lies at the heart of the case: whether granting the TMT a sublease actually affected Flores' rights. The Hawaii Supreme Court has never made clear whether in order to be granted an administrative trial, a person need only show that their rights may be affected by the agency action, or whether those rights must actually be affected by the action. That's a critical difference, and one which the Justices focused on intently at last week's oral arguments. If the standard is "might be" affected as Flores argued, you can easily see how there will be almost no limit to these demands, because it isn't too difficult to imagine how nearly every agency action could conceivably affect someone's rights, especially when the court construes these rights as broadly as it does Hawaiian and environmental interests. If, however, the standard is "actually" affected, the scope of when agencies must hold contested cases will be significantly narrower. Another related issue is whether it is the claimant's burden to make a showing of how the agency action specifically will jeopardize her interests, or is it enough for the claimant to make the demand, at which point it becomes the agency's burden to demonstrate there's no possible way that its actions might affect those interests, something that the court hinted at in its last TMT decision ? And that's where our Minority Report vibe comes from. Because it appears to us that instead of showing how the sublease to the TMT has actually impacted his interests, at best Flores is arguing that -- despite the law and the sublease itself prohibiting the TMT from interfering -- it may do so in the future, so he should be provided with process now. PreCrime. With that background, stream the recording here, or download the mp3 file at the Judiciary website and listen. The Justices zeroed right in during the agency's a nd the University's opening arguments, spending a majority of the time quizzing both the Solicitor General and the UH's counsel whether the agency's consent to the sublease actually affected Flores' rights. No, they responded, it didn't, because the sublease itself recognizes that native Hawaiian rights and practices are not affected one way or the other, and therefore his interests were not in jeopardy. Moreover, his interests could not be affected, because even without such a provision, Hawaii law requires those interests remain the same upon a transfer: JUSTICE MCKENNA: Is the State arguing or conceding that such a provision [a provision in the sublease requiring the TMT to protect Hawaiian practices] would be required in order to protect native Hawaiian interests? MR. WADSWORTH: No, Your Honor. Under Pele Defense Fund, by law whatever right Mr. Flores has to access subleased land for cultural purposes remains the same ... this court has already protected native Hawaiian rights under Pele Defense Fund... Flores' brief was not much help, and it was noticeably light on this point, spending a lot of time arguing broadly that he has an interest in the subleased land (we don't think anyone really disputes that), then asserting the sublease affects that interest because it gives possession of the land to the TMT, and that it "would have the right to exclude those attempting to access the subleased premises." Br. at 18 (citing 25 Am. Jur. 2d Ejectment 6; Restatement (Second) of Torts 165, but notably lacking a record cite). That, we think, is going to be the crux of the case. And were this land anywhere but Hawaii, the brief might have a point. But this is the jurisdiction which holds that "western" notions of property such as the right to exclude don't necessarily apply to land. See Public Access Shoreline Hawaii v. Hawaii County Planning Comm'n, 79 Haw. 425, 903 P.2d 1246 (1995) (certain "western concepts" of property are "not universally applicable in Hawaii"). Under PASH and its progeny, every parcel of less than fully developed land is subject to a public easement for cultural practitioners. The only interest which the TMT got by way of the sublease was the right of possession and enjoyment of the land, both of which are by law subject to Flores' PASH interests, so he could not legally be excluded, and apparently has not been. All Flores could argue (again lacking a record cite) is that he "is likely to be excluded." Br. at 18. If TMT were to do so, that would obviously happen in the future. Flores hasn't actually been excluded and he cannot be excluded by law, so it appears very unlikely that TMT would exclude him. This latter point was picked up by Justice McKenna, when she emphasized that the law governs, even over contrary or silent lease terms: JUSTICE MCKENNA: I think what Justice Pollack is asking, which I think is the same question that I am asking is that would such a provision be required in order to not require a contested case hearing? ... Chief Justice Recktenwald probed about what, if anything, is actually different in the way the University used the land, and how the sublessee TMT will use it: THE CHIEF JUSTICE: But doesn't [the TMT] have the ability to exclude Mr. Flores and other practitioners from the property? And what if they choose to exercise that in a way that's different than they way in which the University has exercised it up until now? This point was picked up by Justice McKenna, when she emphasized that the law governs, even over contrary or silent lease terms: JUSTICE MCKENNA: I think what Justice Pollack is asking, which I think is the same question that I am asking is that would such a provision be required in order to not require a contested case hearing? ... The SG reemphasized that the TMT is prohibited by law from interfering with Flores' practices, but when asked directly by Justice Pollack whether "so wouldn't the answer to the Chief Justice's question be "no ... isn't that your position that they would not have the right to exclude native Hawaiian practitioners?," the SG responded that he could not agree because he couldn't really say whether subleasing the land will have an effect. However, he immediately backed away from that seemingly damaging concession, arguing that merely claiming to be impacted does not trigger a contested case, because there also "must be a risk of erroneous deprivation of that right," something he argued could not happen here. This latter point was picked up by Justice McKenna, when she reemphasized that the law governs, even if the lease was silent: JUSTICE MCKENNA: In fact, this court has repeatedly stated as we repeated [in the Gabriel case] that a contract is presumed to include all applicable statutes and settled law related to the subject matter. So therefore, the constitution would trump any lease provision, correct? MR. WADSWORTH: Yes, Your Honor. Flores' brief identified another property interest which he claimed entitled him to a contested case, which he wisely did not press during oral argument: that because the University has an interest in the subleased land, Flores is entitled to a contested case. We view this as a pretty silly argument, because whether you get a contested case depends on whether you possess property, not someone else. Of course the University has a property interest at stake, but that doesn't mean Flores needs a trial to protect his interest, whatever it might be. That's mixing mountain apples and Kona oranges , man. The agency's and the University's counsel bolstered their main point that by law the sublease could not have affected Flores' interests with the argument that the only agency action which could trigger a contested case was one in which "use" of the property was at stake. Changing use of the land, as opposed to the tenant, is where Flores' rights could be affected. Because the sublease does not permit the TMT to actually build the telescope, Flores' rights are not in jeopardy. This is related to their argument that Flores' rights were already being protected in the contested case in the parallel action involving the issuance of the Conservation District Use Permit. Thus, there's no need to repeat that process again: MR. WADSWORTH: The sublease consent won't affect Mr. Flores' right to exercise his cultural practices, and there's no risk he will be deprived of that right. At bottom, Mr. Flores' complaint is about the planned TMT observatory and its potential impact on his cultural practices. But those issues have been fully litigated and evaluated in a contested case hearing on the use permit in which Mr. Flores is also a party. In these circumstances, due process does not require another contested case hearing. The Justices wanted to know whether it would make a difference if there wasn't another parallel admin proceeding going on in which Flores could assert his interest in the land. For example: JUSTICE WILSON: You mentioned that there's already been a contested case hearing, and as a consequence, there's been an adjudication of whatever customary and traditional rights might apply with respect to Mr. Flores, correct? MR. WADSWORTH: That's correct, Your Honor. JUSTICE WILSON: Okay, so let's assume there hadn't been such a hearing. And that in fact what we had before us was the same set of facts except there hadn't been a hearing on the Conservation District Use Permit. Would your position be any different? Would you feel at that point that there'd be an argument for a contested case hearing? MR. WADSWORTH: Well it depends on application of the Sandy Beach* test, Your Honor. Under Sandy Beach and Maui Electric , this court weighs three factors in determining whether due process requires a contested case hearing.... Recall that in the earlier case, the Supreme Court whacked the same agency and voided its approval of the construction of the telescope -- not because it failed to hold a contested case, but because it only conducted the trial after it tentatively approved the project. See our post on that case " Carts Before Horses, And Pearls Before Swine: The Hawaii Supreme Court's Fractured Rationale For Invalidating The TMT Permit ." After this ruling, the agency on remand held a contested case in which Flores is a party. The agency and the University seemed to be arguing for a form of administrative res judicata, even though neither couched it that way. To us, that seems like a dead end because if Flores' rights are being impacted by two separate agency actions, why not two contested cases? The SG reiterated that Flores' rights won't change whether UH holds the land or whether it is the TMT: "Mr. Flores' right to exercise his native Hawaiian cultural practices will remain the same, both under Hawaii law and the express terms of the sublease. Regardless of whether UH or [TMT] has possession of the land." The answer here, we think, is more one of ripeness and record. There's no evidence we can see that the sublease, as written, actually and presently affects Flores' rights. It doesn't expressly prevent him from doing anything, it doesn't exclude him from the land, and indeed, it likely could not affect him because if it did, any such provision would be void. But might subleasing the land to the TMT somehow affect his rights? Of course. Certainly anything is possible. Our view is if that were to happen down the road, then Flores would likely have standing to challenge the lease in court in an original jurisdiction action. We're not going to hazard a guess about where the majority of the Justices end up. If the court denies Flores a contested case, it may do so (somewhat ironically) by reaffirming the power of PASH and similar cases which bolster Hawaiian rights. Or, we might be victims of a weakly drafted statute , which defines a "contested case" as "a proceeding in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of specific parties are required by law to be determined after an opportunity for agency hearing," and the Justices could focus on the "to be determined" language and conclude that a person demanding a contested case doesn't need to show they are presently impacted, because the contested case itself is how you make that determination. But that's a recipe for endless agency process -- death by a thousand days -- because it would lead (as it has done here) to claimants who wish to slow walk the process segmenting their claims and demanding separate trials every time the agency makes a decision. In the end, we go back to our Minority Report PreCrime analogy. When a claimant doesn't put into the record any evidence that a sublessee has limited his rights, where the law prohibits the sublessee from doing so, and where there's only an allegation by the person seeking a contested case that he "is likely to be excluded" from exercising his rights, the courts should presume that the agency is acting in accordance with the law, until shown otherwise. As Chief Justice Recktenwald asked: THE CHIEF JUSTICE: Could you come back to my question? What if ... does it rise to the level of a protected interest if Mr. Flores is concerned that the new ... sublessee may have a different policy -- or different attitude towards allowing him to practice his cultural practices on that land? In other words, we don't know what [the TMT's] policy is going to be, they may be more restrictive, they may be, say "well, you know that on certain days of the week he can only come on once a month?" Concern isn't enough. The fact that "we don't know what the TMT's policy is going to be" to us should resolve this case in the agency's and UH's favor; lacking more in the record, there need not have been a contested case here. When and if the TMT does something that actually interferes or threatens to interfere with Flores' practices on the land, he can always challenge that action on a ripe factual record in an original jurisdiction action. -------------------- *referring to Sandy Beach Defense Fund v. City Council , 733 P.2d 250 (Haw. 1989), a case under the Due Process Clause in which we were one of the counsel. Liberals, such as Sen. Brian Schatz, are proudly ignorant on guns by Philip Wegmann, Washington Examiner, March 26, 2018 The senior U.S. senator from Hawaii perfectly illustrates the reason why so many gun owners instinctively recoil from arguments for, and automatically dismiss advocates, of gun control. Sen. Brian Schatz wasnt just painfully ignorant recently, he was proudly ignorant about guns. The Democrat gave shout-outs to protesters marching on Washington over the weekend, tweeting the best signs. His favorite? Girls clothing is more regulated than guns in America. Except no, not at all. Picking up a pair of Lululemons does not require a background check and no one fills out a six-page form to double-check in real-time with the federal government whether they use illicit substances, have been convicted of a crime, or have served prison time. Stretchy yoga pants are not as regulated as so-called assault weapons. Schatz knows better, and Schatz even admitted as much when pushed on this point by National Review columnist Dan McLaughlin: Im just posting clever signs made by kids, he tweeted. Im not making a factual assertion. The only factual assertion that can be made from Schatzs statement is that he likes spreading clever lies. Aggravated high school students can get a pass for this bad behavior -- a sitting U.S. senator cannot. One of the more vocal Democrats on the issue, Schatz has emerged as a firebrand willing to burn down bridges to get gun control. Earlier in February, he declared the NRA, and by association their 5-million members, enemies of the state. I am normally interested in compromise, Schatz wrote . Not this time. I cannot imagine a bill that would make a difference that the NRA supports. We dont need to cut a deal with them, we need to beat them. Couple that loathing hostility with Schatzs own deliberate ignorance and you get gridlock. There wont be any productive conversations, let alone legislation. Liberals cant be surprised when they arent taken seriously by gun owners so long as senators like Schatz revel in disinformation. ---30--- Flashbacks: 2018: Brian Schatz Fear of An Anglo America 2013: Schatz Denounced by NASA Scientist, Another Embarrassment for Global Warming Activists 2013: Hawaii senator Brian Schatz involved in simulated sheep rape rituals Hawaii: Senate Committee to Hear Anti-Reciprocity Resolutions From NRA-ILA, March 26, 2018 On Tuesday, March 27th, the Hawaii state Senate Committee on Judiciary will be hearing Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 and Senate Resolution 7 requesting the Congressional Delegation of Hawaii to vote against any national reciprocity legislation. Companion resolutions HCR 37 and HR 29 previously passed the House Committee on Judiciary on March 21st. Please contact members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE SCR 9 and SR 29. Click the Take Action button below to contact committee members. Also, please consider submitting testimony to the committee through the Hawaii Legislature website . In order to submit testimony, you will need to create an account. For help creating an account and submitting testimony, click here. Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 and Senate Resolution 7 , introduced by Senator Stanley Chang (D-9), requests Congress to not enact S. 446, H.R. 38, or any concealed carry reciprocity legislation that would require the State of Hawaii to recognize the concealed carry standards of every other state. The fundamental Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not end at the state line. National Concealed Carry Reciprocity would ensure that law-abiding citizens do not forfeit their ability to protect themselves as they travel from state to state, and it would also ensure that anti-gun jurisdictions could not harass or persecute travelers for exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Again, please click the Take Action below to contact committee members to OPPOSE SCR 9 and SR 7. Please also submit testimony to the committee with the Hawaii Legislature website. Continue to check your inbox and www.NRAILA.org for the latest updates on issues impacting your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in Hawaii. Employee dies after Utah automotive equipment plant explosion One man was killed and several others wounded in an explosion at a factory in northern Utah early on March 26. According to a statement from Box Elder County Sheriff's Office, the explosion at the Autoliv Facilities plant in the town of Promontory seriously injured the employee, who later died in hospital. The sheriff's office said the casualty was in the mixing portion of the building alone at the time of the incident, and that others were injured, although those injuries are not life-threatening. An investigation, led by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is ongoing. In February 2015, an explosion at the same factory injured one worker and started a fire in a building. The worker, a 50-year-old man, was flown to a hospital with injuries to his head, including burns. The 2015 explosion occurred as two workers were removing a completed batch of the airbag materials from an incinerator and preparing to put in a second batch, police said at the time. News Release March 27, 2018 Contact information Minnesota sets goal of zero youth suicides Sixteen behavioral and health care organizations attend Zero Suicide Academy The Minnesota Department of Health is working with community partners in five regions of the state to reduce youth suicides, the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24. In 2016, 111 Minnesotans between ages 10 and 24 died of suicide. Minnesota has a higher rate than the U.S. average (10.2 per 100,000 versus 9.6 per 100,000) for this age group. By focusing on the goal of zero youth suicides, we want to highlight that these tragedies are preventable, said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. We believe that by working together with communities we can and must do more to help young people facing severe depression or other mental health crises. Communities are working with the MDH Community Partners Preventing Suicide Program to implement a comprehensive public health approach. One example of a comprehensive approach in behavioral health and health care is the Zero Suicide model. This model aims to improve outcomes for people at risk of suicide in health care systems, with a focus on safety and reducing errors. In addition, Minnesotas effort focuses on identifying and connecting youth who are at risk with services and building healthy communities that empower and support youth and families. The Community Partners Preventing Suicide program is working with 16 health and behavioral health care agencies across the state. As a first step, agencies participated in the Minnesota Zero Suicide Academy in February and an additional day in March for Minnesota Tribal Nations. The academy offered training for leaders from health and behavioral health care systems. Over the course of the next year, participants from the academy will work to implement the Zero Suicide model within their hospitals and behavioral health care clinics. The core components of the model include commitment from leadership, standardized screenings and risk assessment, care management plans, data collection, effective treatments and consistent patient follow up, particularly during care transitions. Agencies that participated in the academy included Avera Health, Cass Lake Indian Health Services, CentraCare Health, Hennepin County Medical Center, Hennepin County, Leech Lake Behavioral Health, Leech Lake Tribal Health, Lower Sioux Indian Community Health and Human Services, Northern Pines Mental Health Center, Northwestern Mental Health Center, Riverview Health Care, Sanford Behavioral Health-Bemidji, Western Mental Health Center, White Earth Mental Health, White Earth Tribal Health and White Earth Indian Health Services. The Minnesota Department of Health received a federal grant to invest $3.6 million in comprehensive suicide prevention for youth in the following regions: Northwestern region (Kittson, Marshall, Mahnomen, Norman, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake counties). Brainerd region (Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties). Hennepin County. Southwestern region (Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties). Great River Gichiziibi region (Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard and Itasca counties). Red Lake, Leech Lake, White Earth, Lower Sioux, Upper Sioux, Little Earth and U.S. Indian Health Services. As always, the health department reminds Minnesotans that if they are concerned about a loved one, they can call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. -MDH- Scott Smith MDH Communications 651-201-5806 scott.smith@state.mn.us The expulsion will be carried out simultaneously with the corresponding actions of other member states of the EU taken in response to a nerve agent attack that took place in the United Kingdom in early March. President Sauli Niinisto and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Police have announced their decision to expel one official with diplomatic status employed at the Russian Embassy in Helsinki. Well over a hundred people exposed to the military-grade nerve agent used in the attack against Sergei Skripal, an ex-Russian intelligence agent, and his daughter in Salisbury, the South of England, on 4 March. The attack was immediately condemned by both Finland and the rest of the EU. Finland immediately condemned the use of a chemical weapon in the attack and, together with other EU member states, gave its strong support to the UK. The attack in Salisbury poses a serious threat to the security of the whole of Europe, reads a press release issued yesterday by the Finnish government. The European Council reiterated its condemnation of the attack at its meeting on 2223 March, agreeing with the UKs assessment that it is highly likely that Russia is responsible for the attack. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Emmi Korhonen Lehtikuva International policy makers, coastguard, navies and shipping companies can now access comprehensive advice and guidance to making the worlds oceans safe from piracy and smuggling. Endorsed at its launch by the UN Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Oceans, a new maritime security toolkit aims to present a new model for capacity building and governance of our seas. More than 90 per cent of trade takes place by sea, with more than 10,000 tons of cargo transported by the world's oceans every year. Taking the Western Indian Ocean as a focus for the toolkit, researchers from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University outline how the risks of being attacked at sea, although diminished in recent years, can be mitigated. Report co-author Professor Tim Edmunds, from the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol, said: "While piracy has declined in recent years, other factors such as drug, weapons and people smuggling, illegal fishing and international conflicts are growing threats to the economy, safety and health of our oceans. "This new toolkit will help coast guards, fisheries, custom and boarder guards and environment agencies adopt a holistic view of maritime security and help build capacity to tackle this complex area. I'm delighted that the UN recognises that only together can maritime insecurity be fought and the prospects of our economy of the seas be fulfilled." Guidelines in the toolkit include: Making full use of data and intelligence from social media Negotiating external assistance Recognising that ocean security is a political activity Creating public awareness campaigns The toolkit is part of work by the SafeSeas Project, funded by the British Academy, to develop key guidelines and best practices for the coordination, programming and implementation of maritime security capacity building and maritime security sector reform. The project compares the ongoing efforts to restructure the maritime security sector in four countries: Djibouti, Kenya, Seychelles, and Somalia. Paper Mastering Maritime Security: Reflexive Capacity Building and the western Indian Ocean Experience by Professor Tim Edmunds and Professor Christian Bueger, presented to the international SafeSeas Symposium in Narobi on 2 March. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here *Cindy* 1) $10 Amazon Gift Card: Deb Gramie Burgess 2) The Cowboys: Dawn LeGros 3) Rescuing Her Heart: Cindy Klemm *Denise* Audio Codes for The Witness Tree: Marilyn Ridgway and Licha Hanley *Mary* 1) Audio code for The Damsel's Intent: Danielle Grandinetti Owen 2) Reader's Choice: Brenda Walters *Linda* 1) Gold Rush Bride Hannah: Lisa Turley and Jennifer Devon Hibdon 2) $5.00 Gift card to retailer of their choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Tami le Roux *Grand Prize*: Bonnie Yepsen Weinman *Blog Winners*: 1) Spies & Sweethearts: Sheila64 2) Bent Tree Bride: Roxanne Cruz 3) Rescuing Her Heart: Natalya Lakhno 4) The Debutante's Secret: Connie Porter Saunders GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Showcases sunken treasures, harvested from a farmers field. Nineteenth-century pioneers quipped that the big Western rivers were too thick to drink, too thin to plow. Boatmen knew that beneath these turbulent, muddy waters lay hidden dangers, chief among them submerged tree trunks and branches. Such snags claimed nearly 300 of the 400 steamboats lost along the Missouri River during the period. Among them was the 171-foot paddle-wheeler Arabia. On September 5, 1856, Arabia was steaming upriver between St. Louis and Council Bluffs, Iowa, with 130 passengers and crew when it struck a snag in Quindaro Bend, just shy of Parkville, Mo. Though the ship heeled violently and sank within minutes, only one life was lostan unfortunate mule tethered astern. Arabia was carrying 200 tons of food and supplies bound for budding frontier settlements, though whispered rumors also hinted at stashes of gold, whiskey and illegal guns. Fortune hunters mounted several salvage attempts between 1856 and 1897 but recovered only a few odd boxes of shoes and lumber. Shrouded in fine silt, the wreck lay undisturbed for the next 91 years, as the river bend shifted north a half mile. In 1987 the Hawley family, amateur historians and owners of an Independence-based refrigeration company, pinpointed the wreck 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield owned by retired magistrate Norman Sortor. (Sortors grandfather, Elisha, had bought the land from Wyandot Indians in the 1860s, a decade after Arabias sinking.) Sortor granted the Hawleys permission to unearth the wreck the following year, after the fall harvest. Five partners ultimately pooled nearly a million dollars in borrowed funds to excavate Arabia, using backhoes, bulldozers and a 100-ton crane. A cordon of industrial pumps kept the Missouri from inundating the site. Two weeks of digging exposed the spokes of a paddle wheel and the first relica small shoe, clearly stamped GOODYEAR on its black rubber sole. Deeper still lay boxes, barrels and crates packed with merchandise, a largely intact record of 19th-century pioneer life. The lack of oxygen and steady temperatures underground had preserved even the most fragile wood, rubber and wool items. The team readily spent an additional $1 million plus on a museum in Kansas City, Mo., to house its invaluable find. Visitors to the Arabia Steamboat Museum first encounter the preserved 6-ton stern of the ship, with visible draft marks and flecks of original white paint. Beyond is a full-size reproduction of Arabias main deck, flanked by its massive boilers, its steam engine and a working replica of one of its twin 28-foot paddle wheels, which laps rhythmically at a pool of water in the interior atrium. Nearby, the skeleton of the drowned muledubbed Lawrence in jestgrins morbidly from his sandy grave. Another display holds the walnut snag that doomed Arabia. Visitors can also peer into the on-site lab as preservationists work to restore the cargo, a process expected to stretch another 15 years. After viewing a brief video history of the ship and its recovery, visitors enter the heart of the museum, a gallery resembling a mid-century general store, stocked with all the necessities and luxuries. Shelves fairly groan with restored cookware and china, brass and porcelain knickknacks, rows of shoes and boots, and bottled preserves so fresh that the pickles retain their snapand their flavor, insist the Hawleys. The heyday of sewing is memorialized in rows of bright threads and yarn, needles and scissors, thimbles and tens of thousands of intricately patterned buttons. Cloth and finished clothing in a spectrum of colors belies the Victorian stereotype of drab blacks and browns. (While cottons didnt survive, their colors did, dyeing the mud that filled fabric boxes.) Other findsEnglish china, Chinese silk, South American tobacco and French perfume speak to a flourishing foreign trade. Bottles of the reproduced fragrance are available in the gift shop. The Arabia Steamboat Museum [www .1856.com] is at 400 Grand Boulevard in Kansas City. Tours are given every half hour, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closing at 5:30 p.m.) and Sundays noon to 3:30 p.m. (closing at 5 p.m.). Allot 90 minutes. Adult admission is $12.50. Call (816) 471-1856 for more information. Originally published in the August 2009 issue of Wild West. To subscribe, click here. He dodged bullets at Ingalls in 1893 and for decades afterward. Arkansas Tom Jonesreal name Roy Daughertymay have outlived his time, but he did not die a forgotten man. After detectives in Joplin, Missouri, finally gunned him down on August 16, 1924, some 5,000 people filed past his body at a local mortuary. While some were paying their respects, most, according to The Joplin News Herald, were merely curious to view a man known to be of the type of fearless desperadoes who robbed, plundered and killed in the early days of outlawry.They knew that few of his kind have survived. Born about 1870 in Missouri, Daugherty grew up in the southwest corner of the state, across the border from Arkansas, where he likely spent enough time to justify his colorful nickname. In the summer of 1893, he drifted west into Oklahoma Territory and hooked up with outlaw leader Bill Doolins Wild Bunch (not to be confused with Butch Cassidys Wyoming-based Wild Bunch). The gang considered the town of Ingalls their haven, but U.S. Marshal Evett Dumas Nix learned of the outlaws whereabouts and sent a 13-man posse in two covered wagons to arrest them. When the posse arrived in town on September 1, 1893, Bill Doolin, Bill Dalton, George Newcomb and three other gang members were loitering in a saloon while Daugherty rested in an upstairs room of a nearby hotel. As Deputy Marshal Dick Speed jumped from one of the wagons, he saw Newcomb emerge from the saloon. When a citizen identified the outlaw, the deputy opened fire, and an all-out gun battle erupted between the lawmen and the Wild Bunch, leaving Speed and 14-year-old bystander Del Simmons dead. As the gang ran from the saloon, mounted up and rode out of town, Daugherty provided cover from his upstairs window, mortally wounding Deputy Tom Hueston in the process. During the escape, Bill Dalton shot and killed Deputy Lafe Shadley, and when the gang fired a final barrage at the edge of town, a second bystander bit the dust. Trapped inside the hotel, Daugherty fired shot after shot at the deputies, who in return peppered his room with bullets that smashed bowls and splintered woodwork. When the gunman learned his partners had fled town, he fumed at the boys for deserting him. Nixs chief deputy, John Hale, soon arrived with reinforcements, and the posse promised Arkansas Tom its protection if he surrendered, which he ultimately did. Authorities held Daugherty in Stillwater, Oklahoma Territory, for the killings of Speed, Hueston and Simmons. In February 1894, they moved him to the federal jail at Guthrie, and in mid-May he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 50 years in prison. After Daugherty tried to break out of the Guthrie jail in June, officials transferred him to the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing. He returned to the outside world sooner than expected, thanks to Nix. About 1901 the former marshal had Daugherty released into his custody for a traveling Wild West show. On a tour of Missouri and other states, the prisoner appeared as Oklahomas Most Notorious Criminal. Daugherty was a traveling curiosity for only a short time before returning to Lansing for six more years. In 1907 he was transferred to the new Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester. Daugherty was granted parole in 1910, partly through the efforts of Nix again and legendary Deputy U.S. Marshals Bill Tilghman and Chris Madsen, who wanted Arkansas Tom for a movie they were making in Oklahoma. The trio of lawmen portrayed themselves in the film and gave Daugherty and outlaw Henry Starr bit parts. Released in 1915, Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws failed to spark a new career for the old Wild Bunch member. On December 13, 1916, Arkansas Tom returned to life as an outlaw, holding up the Farmers and Miners Bank of Oronogo, Mo., with cousin Albert Johnson. At one point during the robbery, Daugherty momentarily removed his mask, and witnesses later described him as standing about 5 feet, 6 inches and 150 pounds with a dark complexion and dark hair. A month later, on January 13, 1917, Daugherty and Johnson teamed up with Jessie Cutler and William Massee to rob the First National Bank of Fairview, Mo. A fifth member of the gang who sat out the robbery got angry because the others wouldnt share the spoils. So he went to the authorities and spilled the beans. Lawmen soon arrested Johnson, Cutler and Massee in Joplin. Johnson and Cutler in turn incriminated Daugherty. On February 19, two Joplin police detectives crossed the state line to Galena, Kan., to apprehend the notorious Arkansas Tom. When the detectives knocked on the door of the targeted house, Daugherty opened up, then made for a revolver on a table. But detective William Gibson, whom the outlaw knew, beat him. Im glad you got it, Billy, Daugherty reportedly remarked. If I had beat you to it, I would have had to kill you. Returned to Joplin, Daugherty admitted his participation in the recent bank robberies but steadfastly refused to identify his cronies or reveal where the stolen loot was stashed. The next days issue of The Joplin Globe referred to Daugherty as the baddest bad man and noted, Talking is one of the things Arkansas Tom does not believe in. Regardless, lawmen soon brought Johnson, Cutler, Massee and Daugherty to Newton County to answer charges related to the Fairview holdup. All four pleaded guilty. The judge sentenced Daugherty to eight years in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. His sidekicks received lesser sentences after Arkansas Tom reportedly sought leniency on their behalf. On March 12, Daugherty was sent up to the pen. In 1921, midway through his term, he was released on good behavior. Daughertys behavior on the inside may have earned him early release, but once outside he soon drifted back into crime. On November 26, 1923, Daugherty and three partners held up the Bank of Asbury in Asbury, Mo. Two of the men remained in the car while the other two entered the bank and secured $1,000. But as the robbers emerged, citizens alerted by a burglar alarm opened fire. The outlaws made it to the getaway car, but the townspeople piled into another car and gave chase, engaging in a running gun battle. The following day, The Joplin News Herald reported that the bank robbers fought their way to liberty, outwitting and outgeneraling their pursuers. Joplin motorcycle cop Clarence Allison tried to intercept the gang near Crestline, Kan., exchanging fire as they sped past him. When Allison gave chase, the robbers abandoned the car and took to the woods. Allison went after them and got the drop on three of the gang, but Daugherty managed to sneak up behind the officer. Pressing the barrel of his pistol against Allisons back, he told him to drop his gun. Their prisoner in tow, the outlaws then marched back to the road. Commandeering a passing motorists car, they forced Allison to drive them to Oklahoma before releasing him unharmed. Allison later identified Daugherty from photos in the rogue gallery taken seven years earlier following the Oronogo bank robbery. By mid-August 1924, authorities had chased down Daughertys three partners in the Asbury caper. On Saturday, August 16, Joplin Chief of Detectives William Gibson, the same man who had arrested Daugherty seven years earlier, got word the fugitive was staying in west Joplin. About 6:30 that evening, Gibson and Detective Len Van-Deventer hopped into a patrol car. The chief detective said later he was sure they were headed for a showdown, as they were after a man who had shot first in 18 fatal encounters. At the suspects address, Gibson covered the rear of the house, while Van-Deventer approached the front. Daugherty had seen the policemen arrive and stepped out the back door, practically into Gibsons arms. Both began firing. Daughertys first shot ripped through the officers straw hat, and his second went just wide before his pistol jammed. Meanwhile, Gibson got off four shots, wounding Daugherty, who turned and ducked back inside. In the front room, Van-Deventer dropped him with a single shot from his .44 revolver. Arkansas Tom pitched onto a nearby bed and died almost instantly. Hurlbut Undertaking collected Daughertys body and put it on display the following day. Onlookers were eager to get a glimpse at one of the last links to the lawless days of yesteryear. After all, other Doolin Gang members had long since met their demise, and the Wild West had become increasingly mild. Arkansas Tom, the crowds knew, belonged to a vanishing breed. Originally published in the August 2009 issue of Wild West. To subscribe, click here. The early spring of 1864 was cold and bleak in west Tennessee. For Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the 3,000 troopers he led from northern Mississippi that Marchmostly Tennesseans who were eager to re-enter their home statethe land seemed devoid of warmth or welcome. Two years of Union occupation, interspersed with Confederate raids and counterraids, had spawned a poisonous atmosphere of revenge and reprisal that seemed to have sickened the entire region. The whole of West Tennessee, Forrest reported angrily, is overrun by bands and squads of robbers, horse thieves and deserters, whose depredations and unlawful appropriations of private property are rapidly and effectually depleting the country. Forrest himself was a native Tennessean, born in 1821 in Bedford County. Although he was raised in the backwoods of northern Mississippi, he had made his fortune in Memphis, and he always considered Tennessee his home. Now he was back, and what he saw did not amuse him. The land was picked over and brown, with burned farmhouses and ruined barns dotting the horizon. Nor was Forrest much amused by the tales he heard from local residents while he was camped at Jackson, Tenn., en route to Kentucky on a horse-gathering mission. A regiment of renegade Tennesseans, he noted, led by Colonel Fielding Hurst of the 6th Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry, had been plundering throughout southwestern Tennessee, perpetrating wanton destruction of property and demandingand gettinga sum of $5,139.25 from the residents of Jackson in return for not burning the town to the ground. (The sum was exactly, to the penny, the amount of a legal judgment made against Hurst by Federal authorities in Memphis on behalf of a female resident of Jackson whose property had been destroyed by the colonels raiders.) Even worse than Hursts extortionate tactics was his treatment of several Forrest subordinates who had returned to their hometowns to recruit new soldiers for the Southern cause. Seven of these men had been murdered by Hursts forces in the past two months, including Lieutenant Willis Dodds, who had been killed less than two weeks earlier at his fathers home in Henderson County. Forrest reported that Dodds had been put to death by torture, noting that a witness, who had seen the young lieutenants body shortly after his death, found the victim most horribly mutilated, the face having been skinned, the nose cut off, the under jaw disjoined, the privates cut off, and the body otherwise barbarously lacerated and most wantonly injured. Jackson residents warned Forrest of another nest of outlaws currently holed up in an old abandoned Confederate fortification, Fort Pillow, overlooking the Mississippi River 40 miles north of Memphis. These Unionists, members of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry under the command of Major William F. Bradford, included many former Confederates who had joined forces with the occupying Federals. These homemade Yankees were hated by Forrests men, many of whose families reportedly had been victims of the turncoats threats, abuses and outright thievery. Bradford, an attorney who came from Forrests own home county of Bedford, was particularly loathed. Prior to receiving a commission in the Union Army, Bradford had led a band of pro-Northern guerrillas in raids against Confederate sympathizers in middle and west Tennessee. Under the pretense of scouring the country for arms and rebel soldiers, said Forrests first biographers, Bradford had traversed the surrounding country with detachments, robbing the people of their horses, mules, beef cattle, beds, plates, wearing apparel, money, and every possible movable article of value, besides venting upon the wives and daughters of Southern soldiers the most opprobrious and obscene epithets, with more than one extreme outrage upon the persons of these victims of their hate and lust. For the time being, Forrest could do nothing about the alleged atrocitieshe was under orders to remount and refit a new division of Kentucky cavalry in the Bluegrass Statebut he promised the people of Jackson that he would attend to the Federals at Fort Pillow in a day or two. In the meantime, he issued a proclamation labeling Hurst and his troopers outlaws and declaring that they were not entitled to be treated as prisoners of war falling into the hands of the forces of the Confederate states. Instead, they would be shot down summarily whenever and wherever they were encountered. That was partly bluster on Forrests part, designed to strike fear into the hearts of wavering Confederate supporters and would-be deserters, but Union authorities took the threat seriously enough to warn Hurst against allowing your men to straggle or pillageas a deviation from this rule may prove fatal to yourself and [your] command. In a less than buoyant state of mind, Forrest and his men rode north toward Kentucky in late March. Part of the column, 500 horsemen under the command of Colonel William L. Duckworth, was detached to capture Union City, a crossroads village in northwestern Tennessee. Duckworth carried out his assignment with flair, posing as Forrest and sending a strongly worded surrender demand to the Federal garrison commander, Colonel Issac Hawkins, who had already surrendered to Forrest once before. Now Hawkins demanded to see Forrest in person before capitulating. Duckworth, thinking quickly, responded (as Forrest) that I am not in the habit of meeting officers inferior to myself in rankbut I will send Col. Duckworth, who is your equal in rank, and who is authorized to arrange terms and conditions with you. The ruse worked and Hawkins, although holding a strong position, handed over himself and 500 other Union soldiers, as well as 300 horses and $60,000 in greenbacks that the garrison had recently received in pay. The Confederates joked afterward that they would be happy to parole Hawkins again in order to obtain more horses and equipment. A similar ploy was not so successful at Paducah, Ky., which Forrest besieged the next day. There the Union colonel in command, Stephen G. Hicks, withdrew his forces into Fort Anderson, along the Ohio River, west of town. After hours of intermittent sniping, Forrest sent Hicks his standard surrender demand: Having a force amply sufficient to carry your works and reduce the place, and in order to avoid the unnecessary effusion of blood, I demand the surrender of the fort and troops, with all public property. If you surrender, you shall be treated as prisoners of war; but if I have to storm your works, you may expect no quarter. Hicks, a Mexican War veteran, rejected the demand. He had a sizable force of between 700 and 1,000 men from the 16th Kentucky Cavalry, the 122nd Illinois Infantry and the 1st Kentucky Negro Artillery, as well as two nearby gunboats, Peosta and Paw-Paw, standing off in the Ohio River, ready to blast the attackers with grapeshot and canister if they came too near. Hicks was convinced he could hold out indefinitely. Forrest was not particularly interested in capturing the fort or its occupants, anyway; he merely wanted to pin them down while his own men made off with the large supply of Union stores, ammunition and horses in Paducah. But while Forrest was directing the seizure of materiel, one of his newly acquired Kentucky officers, Colonel A.P. Thompson, took it upon himself to attack the fort. Thompson, a native of Paducah, felt honor-bound to free his hometown of Northern aggressors. Against orders, he led an assault force of 400 men from the 3rd and 7th Kentucky cavalry in a wild rush toward the fort. The attack was easily beaten back, and Thompson himself was killedliterally blown apart by a shell from one of the gunboats. (A report in the Northern press later claimed that an ardent young African had fatally wounded Thompson with a musket ball to the forehead.) As soon as he heard of the abortive attack, Forrest angrily forbade any further assaults. Meanwhile, the raiders completed their mission inside Paducah while the Union gunboats indiscriminately shelled the town. Hicks directed the captain of one of the vessels to protect the fort and let the town go to hell. Later, Union Brig. Gen. Mason Brayman congratulated Hicks on his ruthless decision, noting with satisfaction that the town had been made a ruin, which Brayman said was only right since the rebel instincts of the residents had rendered it quite certain that the town would not have been occupied [by Forrest] without their consent. Forrest withdrew from Paducah before midnight on March 25, having gathered 400 horses and mules, 50 prisoners and a large supply of clothing, saddles and suppliesthe whole point of his mission. He could have held Paducah indefinitely, Forrest claimed, but he had found the town wracked by an outbreak of smallpox and so withdrew to avoid unnecessarily exposing his men to the disease. Back in Tennessee, Forrest was irritated by reports coming out of the North that labeled his Paducah raid a failure. The Louisville Journal, for one, charged that the Rebels had been gloriously drunk, and but little better than a mob. The newspaper said Forrests men had commenced an indiscriminate pillage of the houses and then had madeseveral desperate chargesupon the fort. The Federals met them with a withering fire, and in each onset the rebel columns were broken and driven back in confusion. This was bad enough, but the Chicago Tribune, a staunchly abolitionist paper, also reported that the Confederates hadskedaddled, after killing as many negroes as they could, which seems to have been their primary object in coming to Paducah. Even worse, in Southern eyes, was the newspapers provocative claim that Forrests men had been ignominiously beaten back by negro soldiers with clubbed muskets. The Confederates seethed at the bogus reporting. Now Forrest turned his attention to Fort Pillow, ordering Brig. Gen. James Chalmers to bring up the rest of the cavalry corps from Mississippi. The first order of business was dealing with the much-hated Colonel Hurst and his command. Colonel James J. Neely struck Hursts trail between Somerville and Bolivar, Tenn., on March 29 and, in Chalmers retelling, met the traitor Hurst at Bolivar, after a short conflict, in which we killed and captured 75 prisoners of the enemy, drove Hurst hatless into Memphis and captured all his wagons, ambulances [and] papers, as well as his mistresses, both black and white. As events at Fort Pillow would soon prove, Hurst had gotten off lightly with the mere loss of his hat and girlfriends. To check Federal forces in the area while he advanced on Fort Pillow, Forrest sent Colonel Abraham Buford back to Paducah to seize the remaining 140 government horses that Northern newspapers had inadvisably bragged about the Rebels missing. At the same time, he directed Neely to threaten Memphis and pin down the Union garrison there. The Confederate commander, meanwhile, headed west toward Fort Pillow in a driving rainstorm with the main body of troops. The fort, named after Confederate Brig. Gen. Gideon Pillow, had been constructed in 1861 on the east bank of the Mississippi River immediately below the intersection of the river with Coal (or Cold) Creek. The strongpoint had three lines of earthen entrenchments: a semicircular outer line of earthworks, a shorter second line of works atop a prominent hill and the fort itself, whose earthworks were 6 to 8 feet high and 4 to 6 feet across and were fronted by a 12-foot-wide, 6-foot-deep trench. The forts works extended in a 125-yard-wide semicircle, behind which the land rapidly fell away to the river. Deep ravines crisscrossed the landscape in front of the bastion, and four rows of barracks lay on the only open terrace of land, just to the southwest. The Confederates had abandoned Fort Pillow after the fall of Corinth, Miss., in May 1862, and Union forces had occupied it intermittently ever since. On the morning of April 12, 1864, the fort was garrisoned by approximately 580 soldiers from three separate units: the 13th Tennessee Cavalry, under Major Bradford, which had been quartering at Fort Pillow for the past two months while recruiting new members and allegedly terrorizing Confederate sympathizers in the vicinity; and two black artillery units, the 6th U.S. Heavy Artillery and the 2nd U.S. Light Artillery, manning six pieces of artillery that had only been at the fort for two weeks. Major Lionel F. Booth, a veteran of the Regular Army, was overall commander of the Union forces. Standing ready to render assistance from offshore was the Union gunboat New Era, under the direction of Captain James Marshall. Booth was either very confident or very careless. Although there had been numerous sightings of Forrest and his men in the area, the Union major airily reported that things were quiet for 30 or 40 miles around Fort Pillow. I think it perfectly safe, he assured Maj. Gen. Stephen Hurlburt in Memphis. Furthermore, Booth believed that he could hold the post against any force for forty-eight hours. Events would soon prove him wrong on both counts. On the afternoon of April 11, Forrest met with Chalmers at Brownsville, 38 miles east of Fort Pillow. Forrest wanted the former Mississippi lawyer to head for the fort as early as possible the next morning. Chalmers quickly complied, and at 6 a.m. the next day his two brigades, under Colonels Robert McCulloch and Tyree Bell, made contact with the Federal pickets outside the fort. The advance guard, led by Captain Frank J. Smith of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry, managed to creep around behind the pickets and send them flying. Only a handful of pickets escaped back to the fort with the unwelcome news that the Rebels had suddenly arrived in force. Forrest wasted no more time. He quickly signaled bugler Jacob Gaus to sound the charge, and retired to a hill 400 yards away to watch the assault. The buglers notes had scarcely drifted away before the Confederate sharpshooters opened another devastating fire on the forts parapets, making it impossible for the defenders to so much as raise their heads above the works. Meanwhile, other gray-clad troops sprang from their places of concealment in the ravines or behind the barracks huts, tore across the few remaining yards to the ditch surrounding the fort and bubbled into it like a swarm of angry hornets. Within seconds they were boosting one another onto the outer ledge below the forts wall. Lieutenant Leaming, who left behind the only official Union report of the battle, said the Confederates seemed to rise from out of the very earth. Almost unopposed, the Confederates leaped onto the top of the wall and began blazing away at the cowering Federals, many of whom reportedly were drunk from barrels of whiskey put out prior to the final assault. Tennessee officer DeWitt Clinton Fort, one of Forrests men, was in the forefront of the attack. As we charged over the ramparts, said Fort, the enemys garrison of mixed complexion retreated over the bluff down to the waters edge. Here was assembled one wild promiscuous mass rendered senseless and uncontrollable by the three causesfright, drunkenness, and desperation. The Union defenders, black and white, soon broke and ran for the open rear of the fort. One black artilleryman, Private John Kennedy of the 2nd U.S. Colored Light Artillery, heard Bradford shout, Boys, save your lives! Kennedy urged Bradford to let us fight yet, but the major, seeing the Confederate attackers pouring in from all directions, said despairingly, It is of no use anymore, and fled to the rear with the rest of his troops. Inside the fort was a mass of confusion. Some of the Federals threw down their weapons and attempted to surrender, some continued firing, others simply ran away, spilling over the bluffs brow and sliding down the vine-choked bank toward the river. Bradford and Marshall had worked out a prearranged signal for New Era to steam close to the bank at the first sign of trouble and give the Rebels canister. Instead, no doubt to Bradfords horrified consternation, Marshall swung the gunboat away from the shore. Meanwhile, Confederate marksmen stationed above and below the fort caught the retreating Federals at point-blank range and enfiladed the frantic fugitives. (Marshall later told a congressional committee that he had abandoned the plan because he was afraid the Confederates might hail in a steamboat from below, capture her, put on four or five hundred men, and come after me.) Pandemonium reigned. The wrathful Confederatesmost of whom had marched all night to the outskirts of the fort, run and sniped under enemy fire all morning, and then waited anxiously in the hot afternoon sun for the final assault to beginwere in no mood to be forgiving. To a man they believed that the Federals had been fools to refuse Forrests surrender demand. That refusal had cost them another 100 good men, dead or wounded. To their minds, the sight of black faces among the defenders was an added insult. The volatile mixture of racial animosity, long-simmering feuds with Tennessee Unionists, reports of atrocities committed against their own women and children, lingering embarrassment from the Paducah raid, physical exhaustion, battle excitement and fear for their own lives produced a brief but deadly spasm of vengefulness. In the swirling confusion inside the fort the situation rapidly degenerated. Before Forrest could mount up and ride into the fort to restore order, an unknown number of Union troops reportedly were shot down while attempting to surrender. Meanwhile, the forts American flag still flew above the ramparts, and Confederates below the bluff had no way of knowing what was going on inside the fort. As DeWitt Clinton Fort noted in his diary after the battle: The wildest confusion prevailed among those who had run down the bluff. Many of them had thrown down their arms while running and seemed desirous to surrender while many others had carried their guns with them and were loading and firing back up the bluff at us with a desperation which seemed worse than senseless. We could only stand there and fire until the last man of them was ready to surrender. Forrest himself, in a little-known postwar interview with fellow Confederate general Dabney H. Maury, supported Forts contention. When we got into the fort the white flag was shown at once, Forrest said in an article published in the Philadelphia Weekly Times. The negroes ran out down to the river; and although the [white] flag was flying, they kept on turning back and shooting at my men, who consequently continued to fire into them crowded on the brink of the river, and they killed a good many of them in spite of my efforts and those of their officers to stop them. But there was no deliberate intention nor effort to massacre the garrison as has been so generally reported by the Northern papers. Within half an hour the battle was over. Of the forts total garrison of 580 men, some 354 apparently were killed or wounded (final figures are still hotly disputed). Of these, a large number drowned while attempting to swim to the Union vessels that were steaming away without them. Another 226 were taken prisoner, including Bradford, who was shot and killed a few days later while attempting to escape. After the battle, a congressional committee chaired by radical Republican Senator Benjamin F. Wade of Ohio issued a highly charged report accusing Forrest and his men of an indiscriminate slaughter, sparing neither age nor sex, white or black, soldier or civilian. The fact that no women or children were killed at the fort, and only one civilian (who had taken up arms at the time of the attack), did not deter Wades committee, whose chief aim was not to determine the truth but to deliver a piece of wartime propaganda intended to incite the restive Northern public on the eve of Ulysses S. Grants long-awaited spring offensive. The report, virtually useless as an evidentiary document, did succeed in tarring Forrest and his men with the label of murderers, and the capture of Fort Pillow quickly became known as a massacre. It remains so identified today, an explosive and imprecise term that sheds much heatbut little lighton one of the murkiest and most controversial episodes of the Civil War. This article was written by Roy Morris, Jr. and originally appeared in Americas Civil War magazine. For more great articles be sure to subscribe to Americas Civil War magazine today! A Confederate soldier, his youthful face turned toward the viewer, lies behind a stone wall built between two boulders in Gettysburgs notorious Devils Den. His head rests on a knapsack, and his rumpled uniform coat makes it almost appear as if he is asleep under a blanket. But relics of war intrude on the scene so there is no mistaking he is a casualty of ferocious combat. A musket leans against the wall in the background, and an open cartridge box lies at his side. A cap is next to his head, where it landed after the soldier fell dead. Photographer Alexander Gardner took the arresting image on July 6, 1863, and when he published it for public consumption, he titled it Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter to convey that the soldier was a marksman who had been picking off Union soldiers on Little Round Top, seen in the distance, before a shell fragment fired by a Union cannon snuffed out his life. An overarching question about the image had long intrigued me: Just who was the unfortunate Confederate casualty? The desire to answer that set me on a research quest to find a name, and I am confident I have been successful. But first a bit of history on the image with one of the most intriguing Civil War photography backstories. Gardner and his assistant, Timothy OSullivan, actually staged that dramatic scene by moving the dead soldier, who was not a sharpshooter but a common foot soldier, from another location in Devils Den to the barricade to create a dramatic tableaux, complete with carefully dressed accessories that included the musket, accoutrements, and uniform items. Gardner and Sullivan took two plates of the Confederate at the wall, one of which was a stereoview. The fact that the corpse was photographed in two separate locations went unnoticed for nearly a century until Frederick Ray, an illustrator for Civil War Times, wrote the short article, The Case of the Rearranged Corpse in the October 1961 issue of this magazine. In 1975, photographic historian William Frassanito published his groundbreaking book on Gettysburg photographs titled Gettysburg: A Journey in Time. In his study of the sharpshooter photographs, Frassanito identified the body in its first location and estimated the body was moved 40 yards (later revised to 72 yards) to the stone barricade. And now, the story of the image continues, with the great possibility that the soldier in the image has been identified. Before that hypothesis is explained, a bit of background on Gardner and the battle situation at Devils Den will be helpful. When the war began, Gardner had been managing Mathew Bradys Washington, D.C., gallery. In September 1862, Brady assigned Gardner to take images of the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam. Those images of battlefield dead shocked the nation, but Brady got the fame, not Gardner. That prompted Gardner to leave Brady, and in the spring of 1863, he opened his own gallery in Washington with his brother James. He also took with him photographers OSullivan, James Gibson, William Pywell, David Knox, John Reekie, and W. Morris Smith. It is one of the Civil Wars most iconic, poignant photographs. Soon, Gardner and a few of his photographers were following the Army of the Potomac in June as it chased the Army of Northern Virginias movement toward the Potomac River. Gardners exact whereabouts in the days leading up to the battle are murky, but it is clear that Gardner arrived on the battlefield late on the afternoon of July 5, possibly after he had stopped in Emmitsburg, Md., on July 4 to check on the welfare of his son attending a boarding school there. And it is possible he may have sent the rest of his photographic team on to Gettysburg that day. Historians only have a general idea of the travels of Gardners team during their time at Gettysburg, but it is certain that during the morning to early afternoon on July 6, they were busy photographing scenes on the Trostle and Rose farms on the southern portion of the battlefield. A Union officer in the 17th Maine, Charles Mattocks, witnessed the photographers at work and wrote in his journal on July 6 that, Photographic artists have been busy in taking views upon the battlefield. Groups of the dead, graves, dead horses, and in fact almost everything forms the base of their operations. Then the photographers most likely made their way to the Devils Den area when they happened upon the fallen Confederate soldier in an open space on the west side of the rock formation, near what is now known as the Triangular Field. The youthful appearance and relatively good condition of the body may have piqued their interest enough to spend extra time on this particular soldier. They expended six exposures on him, including three stereoviews at various angles and a large format photograph at the downhill location. At the sharpshooters position Gardner took one stereo format photo and one large view version. It is unknown who came up with the notion to move the body, but perhaps Gardner was eager to make a name for himself and move out from under the shadow of Brady, his former mentor. Brady would also travel to Gettysburg, but he began taking images around July 15, after the bodies had been interred in their hasty graves. The public expected another death series from Brady, so he took some of his own artistic license. In several photographs, Brady had posed an assistant as a dead soldier. And even though those portrayals were rather unconvincing, and although Gardner had truly captured the horrors of the three-day battle, Bradys Gettysburg views again received most of the recognition. In August 1863, Bradys photographs appeared in Harpers Weekly, a nationally circulated newspaper, in the form of woodcuts. The next month, Gardner released his Incidents of the War catalog that contained all his Gettysburg views. But it was not until 1865, after the end of the conflict, that Gardners Gettysburg views appeared as woodcuts in Harpers Weekly. A montage of several of Gardners photos included the sharpshooter photographs, titled A Sharpshooters Last Sleep. The image of the dead Confederate at the barricade also appeared in Gardners Photographic Sketch Book of the Civil War that was published that same year, 1865. I knew it would be a daunting task to identify the dead soldier, and the probability that I would find the answer was extremely low, but I kept on through the twists and turns of my investigation. The results, it turned out, surpassed my expectations and were more than I could have hoped for. I first set out to investigate some notions that are still prevalent today. Shockingly, some people believe that the sharpshooter was a live person posing as a dead soldier, just as Brady had used his assistant for a few of his views. As is clear from the detail of the soldiers face, however, one eye remains slightly open, his face had swollen, and hands had shriveled up, all indications of the onset of decomposition. In September 1862, Brady assigned Gardner to take images of the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam. Those images of battlefield dead shocked the nation, but Brady got the fame, not Gardner. Perhaps Gardner was eager to make a name for himself and move out from Bradys shadow. I then looked into some of the identifications attributed to the soldier in the past and focused in on one intriguing possibility. In 1911, family members claimed that the soldier was Andrew Hoge, who died at the Battle of Gettysburg. His story appeared in Confederate Veteran magazine in 1925. The story of Hoges death seemed plausible and even contained a detail not known to the general public. Gardner had inexplicably mentioned a canteen in his rough draft of the narrative for the photograph even though there was no canteen visible in any of the six photographs (the detail never made it into the final draft of Gardners Sketch Book). But Hoges cousin was present when he died and wrote that he had closed his eyes and placed a canteen between his elbow and his body before he left him. After digging further, I found that an early photograph of Hoge shows a similar facial likeness to the sharpshooter. I can see why Hoges family members could have thought the soldier was their relative and why they would have rationalized him being in Devils Den. There is one glaring problem with this theory: Hoge and his cousin were both members of the 4th Virginia Infantry, and as Frassanito pointed out in another of his books, Early Photography at Gettysburg, that regiment was nowhere near Devils Den during or after the battle. I had to resume my search. In 2014, John Heiser, a historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, wrote a series of articles on the photo for the parks blog, From the Fields of Gettysburg. He surmised that the casualty was a Georgian because Brig. Gen. Henry L. Bennings 2nd, 5th, 17th, and 20th Georgia infantry occupied both locations throughout the day and into the evening of July 3 where the dead Confederate was photographed. Heavy skirmishing began in the Devils Den vicinity late in the afternoon on July 3, after the repulse of Picketts Charge. Emboldened Pennsylvania regiments of Colonel William McCandless brigade pushed toward the rock formation about 5:30 or 6 p.m., eager to take back ground lost by the Union on July 2. McCandless men began turning Bennings left flank, forcing the Confederate commander to withdraw his regiments from Devils Den to the west under heavy fire. Heiser was leaning toward the idea that the soldier was a member of the 15th Georgia because that regiment served as the brigades rear guard as their fellow Georgia regiments retreated toward the Emmitsburg Road, and I agreed with that. But, although the 15th lost more than 100 men at Gettysburg, I found only three reported as being killed in action on July 3. Two were mortally wounded and had been buried miles away from Devils Den. The remaining soldier was Everard Culver, who was just 19 years old when he was killed. Everard had four brothers in the regiment, and Edgeworth Bird, a member of the 15th, wrote home that they were very distressed that poor Evs body could not be recovered from the hands of the enemy for burial. Because of the age of Culver and that his body was left on the field, this possibility required further investigation. I could not find a photograph of Everard, but I managed to find one of his brother who bore little resemblance to the sharpshooter, and my suspicion that Everard was the soldier in the photograph began to diminish. Just who was the unfortunate Confederate casualty? My search of the 17th Georgias casualties yielded no candidates, and I turned my attention to the 2nd and 20th Georgia, but I could find no soldiers who were killed in action on that date. It was disheartening, and I feared that incomplete Confederate records may have stalled my investigation, but I continued my search and finally got the break I needed. I found the accounts of two soldiers from the 2nd Georgia Infantry: William Houghtons Two Boys in the Civil War and After and copies of John Bowdens papers in the Gettysburg battlefield library. Houghton, who served in Company G of the 2nd, had mentioned that when they received orders to withdraw, they formed up again about where Gardner may have taken his first image of the body. The other soldier, Bowden from the 2nds Company B, wrote that a soldier was killed crossing the danger point where the regiment was exposed to Union fire during their withdrawal. I finally found a soldier listed in Robert K. Krick and Chris L. Fergusons book, Gettysburgs Confederate Dead: An Honor Roll From Americas Greatest Battle, who was killed in action late in the afternoon or the early evening of July 3, when Bennings Brigade was driven from Devils Den. His name was John Rutherford Ash of Company A of the 2nd Georgia. Private Ash was only 25 years old when he died at Gettysburg, and his body was never recovered. Ash was born in 1837, and by searching the Find a Grave website, I found that a memorial stone, not a gravestone, had been erected for him in the Hebron Presbyterian Cemetery in Banks County, Ga., along with another one for his younger brother who was killed at Vicksburg in April 1863. The date of death on Johns stone is July 4, but it is reasonable to believe that the information about his death came from a comrade, and I recalled that John Bowden had mistaken the regiments withdrawal date as July 4 in his account. Ash and the dead soldier shared the same exact facial featuresthe likeness was haunting My good luck persisted when I found a crisp 1850s photograph of John Ash at the Georgia Department of Archives and History, and I stared at it on my computer screen in disbelief. Ash and the dead soldier at the barricade shared the same exact facial features, including their ears, nose, chin, lips, and eyebrows. The likeness was haunting. I also realized that if Ash was killed on July 3, it would help explain why his body was not as decomposed as others photographed by Gardner. It would be reasonable to believe that John Ash and the Devils Den casualty photographed by Gardner are one and the same, even if absolute proof may forever remain elusive. I am hopeful, however, that in the future, more information will come to light to help confirm the identification one way or the other. Gardners actions in staging the photograph on July 6, 1863, were morally wrong and unethical by our standards, but he clearly explained the intent of his photograph in his Sketch Book: Such a picture conveys a useful moral: It shows the blank horror and reality of war, in opposition to its pageantry. Here are the dreadful details! Let them aid in preventing such another calamity falling upon the nation. Scott Fink, an Army veteran who received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Iraq, frequently travels to Gettysburg from his home in Olney, Md. His forthcoming book, Photo History: Gettysburg, will delve into great detail about the sharpshooter image as well as other photographs. Bomber-turned-medevac pilot saved more than 5,000 lives. Dustoff. In 1963 that was the call sign for helicopter pilots who pioneered emergency medical evacuations during the Vietnam War. About 3,000 pilots and crewmen flew unarmed air ambulances, often into heavy fire, to medevac more than 100,000 severely wounded men, and 33 percent became casualties themselves. Michael Mike J. Novosel, a native of Etna, Pennsylvania, took a circuitous route to the cockpit of a UH-1H Huey medevac copter. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps (a predecessor to the U.S. Air Force) in February 1941 to become a pilot but was a quarter-inch shy of the 5-foot, 4-inch requirement for the aviation cadet program and found himself in a pay clerks job. In his 1999 Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator, Novosel recounted his effort to beat the height requirement. He had read that people are tallest in the morning before they stand and the body compresses, so on the day of the measurement Novosels buddies transported him to the medical facility on a makeshift stretcher. He still came up short, but a compassionate medical officer stretched his height on paper. After earning his wings in December 1942, Novosel became a B-24 pilot training aerial gunners in World War II. He placed a pillow behind him in the pilot seat so his feet could reach the rudder pedals. He later flew B-29s on four combat missions in the Pacific. During the Japanese surrender ceremony on Sept. 2, 1945, he was one of 500 pilots to fly in formation over Tokyo Bay. Novosel stayed on active duty when the U.S. Air Force was established in 1947 but switched to the Air Force Reserve in 1949. Back on active duty during the Korean War, he was assigned to the Air Command and Staff School. When the Vietnam War began, Novosel wanted a combat assignment, but the Air Force deemed the 41-year-old lieutenant colonel too old. However, he found an opportunity with an Army program that trained experienced pilots from the other services. By 1964 he was flying helicopters as an Army warrant officer and in January 1966 was sent to Vietnam for the first of two tours as a dustoff pilot. His second tour began in March 1969. He flew a total of 2,543 missions transporting more than 5,500 medical evacuees. On Oct. 2, 1969, a large enemy force pinned down South Vietnamese soldiers in Kien Tuong province in the Mekong Delta. The South Vietnamese suffered heavy casualties, and medevacs were called in. Novosel, in the 82nd Medical Detachment, flew his Huey in low-level circuits over the battlefield to locate casualties. Six times intense enemy fire forced him out of the area, but not for long. He performed 15 extractions, saving 29 soldiers. On one flight, Novosel hovered his helicopter backward into enemy fire to reach a wounded fighter and held his position while the man was pulled aboard. Novosel was wounded during the rescue. Two months later, a new pilot arriving in Vietnam requested assignment to the 82nd Medical Detachment. He was Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel Jr. A month before the father was to return home, the sons helicopter came under fire, and Novosel Jr. made an emergency landing. Novosel Sr., with wounded aboard his helicopter, dropped down to pick up his son and the grounded dustoff crew. One week later, Novosel Sr. and his helicopter were grounded. He recognized the pilot coming to the rescue himit was his son. Ill never hear the last of this, Novosel recalled saying. On June 15, 1971, President Richard Nixon presented the Medal of Honor to Novosel for his actions on Oct. 2, 1969. Novosel also received three Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars and 60 Air Medals. When he retired in 1985, Novosel was the last World War II pilot still on active duty. He died April 2, 2006, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Doug Sterner, an Army veteran who served two tours in Vietnam, is curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor, the largest database of U.S. military valor awards. Visitors to Philadelphias Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 saw evidence of growth and prosperity in the Western states and territoriesbut word of wild Indians and Custers demise blurred that pretty picture. Martha Ann Maxwell stood beside a fabricated Rocky Mountain populated by so many species of animals that one writer said it looked like Noahs ark had just discharged its freight. Do you go out into the wilds for your game? a bystander asked the Coloradan huntress and taxidermist. No, they come right into town to be shot, she replied with only a hint of a smile. The writer admitted to vague notions that in the Territories one might bag ones bear or stag out of window. Other gentlemen with vague notions also wondered how all these critters could have been shot and stuffed by a woman, even one from the untamed West. The exchanges took place inside the Kansas Building at Philadelphias Centennial International Exhibition, which garnered more than 8 million paid admissions between May 10 and November 10, 1876. But such exchanges were commonplace across the 284-acre grounds in Fairmount Park, at a time when Americans were full of misconceptions and prejudices about the West. For example, the impressions of an Indiana man who visited the Arkansas Building: I had an idea that the people of that State were hardly civilized, and that I was to meet a set of border ruffians. But the reception room was filled with a party of the most highly cultured people I had seen during the day. Still skeptical, the Hoosier lingered until he was satisfied they were the real indigenous inhabitants. Maxwell, an innovator of realistic wildlife dioramas, was one of many Western exhibitors seeking to introduce a New West to skeptics. Her work represented Colorado, as did silver- and gold-rich ore samples and a 15,700-pound block of coal that was 9 feet long, 5 feet wide and 5 feet thick. Colorado, which became the 38th state (the Centennial State) on August 1, 1876, occupied a wing of the Kansas Building. California and Nevada also shared a hall, while Arkansas, Iowa and Missouri each had its own pavilion. These seven Western states hoped to attract capital and lure immigrants, foreign and domestic, with displays of agricultural abundance and mineral wealth. The Western exhibitors had their work cut out for them. Half the population of the 100-year-old nation still lived no farther west than Cincinnati, and many of those considered Ohio, Illinois and Indiana the West. The territory beyond the Mississippi River remained largely a mystery, even though the transcontinental railroad had turned 7 years old on May 10, opening day at the exhibition. Perceptions of the West were influenced by immensely popular dime novels that featured such stereotypical characters as whooping redskins, back-shooting desperadoes and gun-blazing heroes. Western exhibitors sought to present a West less wild than portrayed in those colorful dime novels, yet still interesting and potentially rewarding. Shortly after the Fourth of July, less than two months into their grand plan, disturbing news reached the East: Hostile Indians in Montana Territory had wiped out the immediate command of Civil War hero George Armstrong Custer at the remote Little Bighorn River (see sidebar, P. 38). Easterners wondered, How tame and safe could it be out there in the territories if the savages are still massacring U.S. cavalrymen? Still the show went on in Philadelphia, the Western exhibitors clearly demonstrating the progress being made on the frontier. What happened to Custer at the Little Bighorn was an aberration; after all, most Indians were living peacefully on reservations and some had even taken up farming. It was only a matter of time, the exhibitors insisted, before the West was finally won and the onetime frontier would be as civilized as Philadelphia. In October 1872, the U.S. Centennial Commission called for state and territorial participation in the Philadelphia exhibition. Some officials viewed the event as an investment opportunity. Iowa Governor Cyrus C. Carpenter expected that money spent on securing a proper representation of Iowa in this Exhibition will be returned to the State increased at least fourfold. In January 1874, the states centennial commissioners asked rhetorically whether its exhibit space should be vacant or crowded with articles showing the immense agricultural and mineral wealth of the young giant of the West? In 1875 Arkansas Governor Augustus Hill Garland said money would be well invested in representing the state in Philadelphia; the legislature appropriated $15,000, to induce an influx of immigration and capital. In August of that year, the Kansas Board of Centennial Managers demonstrated similar verve, announcing: The pressing want of Kansas to-day is men and money. A vigorous immigration movement at the Centennial will secure both. The board proposed a pamphlet with maps and other information published in more languages than our own, to encourage immigration to Kansas. The potential boost was welcome. A recent financial panic had swept away land values in Kansas and halted immigration, leaving us our lands and our debts, the board wrote. On top of the panic came the devastation of the locust. Governor Thomas A. Osborn said the great disaster resulting from the grasshopper visitation was a calamity purely exceptional in its character and would have no lasting effect unless unwarranted prejudices [took] root in the minds of the general public. Officials saw the exhibition as an opportunity to neutralize such prejudices. The cattle shipping business was big in Wichita at the time, but soon the market would switch to Dodge City, and Wichita, like other former cattle towns, would change to an agricultural economy. Kansas officials realized that homegrown farmers, not Texas drovers, were the key to long-term growth. But the board of centennial managers feared that its states products, however superior in quality, might be swallowed up in the larger display of wealthier nations. It requested permission to construct a separate building. Similar requests followed from 23 other states. Opening ceremonies of what was officially termed the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine kicked off at 10:15 a.m. on May 10, 1876. An estimated crowd of 110,500 looked on as Bishop Matthew Simpson offered a prayer twice as long as the opening address by President Ulysses S. Grant. A newspaper reported crowds large enough to threaten dangers of death by compression. The 249 buildings included 15 structures set aside for nine foreign countries. At 1,880 feet long and 464 feet wide, the Main Exhibition Building covered 20.2 acres and was the largest building in the world at the time. Another architectural behemoth was Machinery Hall, at 1,402 feet long and 360 feet wide. Imagine all the machinery the world contains in motion at the same time, and add about five million more machines to that, wrote one humorist. Front and center was an enormous Corliss steam engine that powered virtually all of the exhibits at the centennial. Here Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray exhibited their electric telephones. Bell wrote to his fiancee: I really wish you could be here, May, to see the Exhibition. It is so prodigious and so wonderful that it absolutely staggers one to realize what the word Centennial Exhibition means. Just think of having the products of all nations condensed into a few acres of buildings. Outside the hall, visitors could climb up the Bartholdi Electric Light, a gigantic arm and torch for a statue to be erected in New York Harbor. Art and photography filled three buildings. The Navy sent the sailing ship USS Supply to Italy to bring European works to the exhibition. The official in charge of art at the exhibition calculated that hung side by side, the works would represent a swathe 9 feet high and 212 miles long. One hundred twenty-six of George Catlins Illustrations of Indian Life covered the entire side of a room. A writer noted, The corridors of approach are too cramped for good view of the pictures which line themeven if these were not thronged the better part of every day with a surging crowd. Painters Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran exhibited their Western landscapes to great acclaim. Bierstadts work received an award for eminence in landscape painting. Of his painting Western Kansas, one critic said it was fortunate that the world of strangers collected here on the Atlantic Seaboard should be able to travel on the magical broomstick of one of his colossal brushes into the heart of the Great West. In one of the exhibitions many guidebooks, James D. McCabe called Morans Hot Springs of the Yellowstone and Mountain of the Holy Cross two of the most superb pieces of mountain scenery in existence. The U.S. Government Building held exhibits from federal entities, including the Geological Surveys of the Territories, headed by Dr. F.V. Hayden and Major John Wesley Powell. Powells work built on his decade-long exploration of Western mountains and rivers. Photos, maps, charts and models detailed the two mens accomplishments. One diorama, according to J.S. Ingrams guidebook, represented a portion of an ancient cave ruin in the Rio de Chelly, Arizona, showing the settlement in its probable original state, and tiny men and women were to be seen at their daily work. Other models depicted the cliffs of southern Utah, the Grand Canyon and the newly created Yellowstone National Park. A large window at one end of the hall comprised beautiful photographs, on glass, of our wild, far Western scenery. The Atlantic Monthly wrote of these panels, We become conscious of a semi-mythical character which belongs to them, and a sort of preternatural influence which breathes from them. The same article played up a very curious and sinister display by the Census Office that compared regional rates of suicide and homicide, noting a rather larger proportion of the latter out West. While reviewing the charts, the writer overheard a young visitor say, My! Look at Texas! Another answered, Yes, they believe in killing in Texas. The Department of the Interiors Indian Office and the Smithsonian Institution collaborated on one of the buildings major attractions, what the Smithsonian called a very exhaustive exhibition of everything relating to the Indian tribes of the United States. The collection included cradleboards, mats, pouches, clothing, snowshoes, musical instruments, carvings, charms, tools and ornamentsartifacts collected by several gentlemen of much experience in ethnological researches, including Powell. To supplement the exhibit, the Interior Department asked Indian agents to collect items from their wards, a request in direct conflict with the agents task of assimilation, which discouraged any expression of native culture. One agent reported there was nothing of value in his entire tribe. Powell specifically warned collectors to steer clear of the Denver area, as Indians there were buying goods from white traders, then reselling them to centennial ethnologists and tourists. The assimilation policy was not the only reason traditional domestic items were scarce. The Smithsonian reported that in southern California the once-numerous tribes have long since been exterminated, and their history is only to be read from the articles buried in their graves. Spencer Fullerton Baird, assistant secretary of the Smithsonian and founding curator of the National Museum, hoped to bring an exhibition of living representatives of the principal Indian tribes to Philadelphia. Baird wanted them to bring their native clothing, implements, utensils, apparatus and dwellings, as opposed to the government-provided canvas tents in which many Indians lived. Baird also wanted the Indians to carry on their various occupations, such as weaving, dressing skins and making pottery and baskets. A 13-point selection checklist made it unlikely participants would be representative. Excluded were tribes who lived in more settled parts of the country, as their mixture with whites or negroes and their adoption of their manners and customs renders them less interesting as objects of ethnological display. Furthermore, participants had to be from influential families among the tribe, speak English, be the cleanest and finest looking and have a clean child, a dog and a pony. Baird asked Congress for money to show the American people and then visitors from abroad the general character of the American Indian and to impress the Indians with the powers and resources of the U.S. and of civilization generally. Government funding for the exhibition was already a contentious issue, and in the end the projected $115,000 expense put a stop to the dog-and-pony show. After the exhibition opened, Congress considered a resolution authorizing the secretary of the Interior to permit a delegation of Indians from the tribes west of the Mississippi River to visit the Centennial Exposition, at their own expense. Of course, no one expected the likes of Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse to voluntarily book passage to Philadelphia. The bill died quietly in committee. In the absence of official Indian representation at the exhibition, Baird substituted numerous life-size figures to show every variety of Indian costume and personal decoration. The rousing mannequinsat least one bearing a raised tomahawk and a belt of human scalpsreceived far more attention than the trove of artifacts. One magazine noted a very lifelike representation of Red Cloud, chief of the Oglala Sioux, dressed in full war costume, paint, feathers and all. Items in the broader collection ranged in size from, as McCabe put it, fiendish-looking little household goods to two totem posts from the Pacific Coast. Another guidebook touted a genuine Indian wigwam, made of smoked buffalo skins, which is about 16 feet in diameter. These large objects were starkly different from the Victorian representational art found elsewhere in the exhibition, and recorded perceptions of the collection often said less about Indians than about the visitors. A guidebook referred to the mannequins names, indicating their blood-thirsty dispositions. One observer said the totems in particular proved that the moral standard of the aborigines must have been of the lowest possible grade. Writer and critic William Dean Howells was intrigued by the photographs and models of ancient Indian towns in New Mexico, but wrote in The Atlantic Monthly, If the extermination of the red savages of the plains should take place soon enough to save this peaceful and industrious people whom they have harassed for hundreds of years, one could hardly regret the loss of any number of Apaches and Comanches. Howells went on to say in that same article, The red man, as he appears in effigy and photograph in this collection, is a hideous demon, whose malign traits can hardly inspire any emotion softer than abhorrence. Regardless, three months later, another writer in The Atlantic Monthly saw the figure of Red Cloud and noted: With the tragic fate of General Custer and his brave troops so fresh in mind, not many of us are inclined to sentimentalize over the Indian just now; yet there is matter for melancholy and remorse too in the position of things.It is false to say that the wrong is not of our day and doing. Baird expected that in another 100 years the Indians will have entirely ceased to present any distinctive characters and will be merged in the general population, and that the Smithsonian collection would be the only exposition of the past. Journalists couched the Indians prospects more cynically. One thought an Indian agent should be portrayed simultaneously swindling Indians and the government, adding, The working of the peace policy should be illustrated in the descent of a detachment of cavalry upon an aboriginal camp. The Smithsonians Government Building exhibit also featured a collection of mounted animals, including bears, bison, Rocky Mountain sheep and other native Western species. Its display of minerals included lead, iron and coal from Missouri; and gold, silver and copper from Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, California and Nevada. An open safe show cased Montana Territory gold, with nuggets like peas, sticking from the quartz rock, in the most tantalizing manner, said one guidebook. No mention was made of Sitting Bull and other prominent Little Bighorn victors still roaming that territory. Elsewhere on the exhibition grounds were various camps, including an encampment of about 300 Indiansan unofficial representation from 53 tribes. McCabe reported that these Indians were in the charge of George Anderson, a famous Texan guide and scout, and, similar to Bairds criteria, were selected for their perfection of form and physical development, or for their distinguished deeds; so that they constitute the very aristocracy of the Indian nation. The Indians made clothing, baskets, pottery and other goods to shed light on the original inhabitants of this country and their mode of life. Forest & Stream Publishing Company constructed a hunters camp in a ravine on the grounds, centering on a cabin furnished with all the paraphernalia a pushing and ingenious pioneer would need. Several practical hunters in buckskin were present, Ingram wrote. The Iowa Building resembled a two-story house and contained a reading room and offices of the states centennial commissioners. One writer, however, found the pleasant homey impression damped by a melancholy spectacle in the sitting-room: two huge wreaths, each composed of 750 flowers made of human hair, the result of eight months constant labor. The adjacent Missouri Building was similar and displayed mineral and wood samples from the state. (The James-Younger Gang, which was still going strong at the time, didnt warrant mention.) Arkansas occupied one of the larger buildings, a multi paned octagonal structure Ingram extolled as one of the coolest and most airy structures on the grounds. The structure similarly impressed exhibition judges, who cited it for striking and unique features in its construction. Exhibits included native grains, grasses and woods, cotton bales and 16-foot stalks of corn. California and Nevadas pavilion highlighted the agricultural and mineral products of both states. Nevada also hosted a second structure, the Nevada Quartz Mill, just south of Machinery Hall. Four Nevada mines shipped ore by rail directly to the exhibition grounds; at the mill, visitors could observe each step as the ore was crushed into powder and processed into silver. The largest state buildingand best, according to contemporary Philadelphia newspapersbelonged to Kansas, an X-shaped edifice with a central hall 80 feet across and 43 feet high. The fledgling state of Colorado occupied the west wing, while the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, which had promoted homegrown products at smaller exhibitions and offered Kansas land for sale, purchased space in the east wing. The north end centered on a 13-by-24-foot map of Kansas alongside 1,000 bottled samples of soil and grain, each labeled so a visitor could locate its origin on the map. Other exhibits boasted of boundless crops and timber. Ingram reported turnips and beets as long as a mans forearm and apples and pears weighing 2 pounds apiece. Several cabinets held ornithological and geological specimens, and another displayed Kansas silk and cocoons. Suspended from the ceiling was a representational Liberty Bell made from grains in the stalk, grasses, broomcorn and gourds. Buffalo heads hung from the walls, and sample tumbleweeds adorned the newspaper reading room. The states centennial managers said the tumbleweeds helped ornament and were of rare interest to Eastern people who had never seen such. The building closed temporarily during the summer harvest, but it reopened on September 14 with revised displays of new produce, highlighted by a 20-foot-tall replica of the U.S. Capitol dome covered in fruit. Colorados exhibit depicted the state largely in paintings and photographs. Despite the impressive panoramas and displays of the states mineral wealth, however, most visitors were drawn to Martha Maxwells mountain. The principal attraction, recalled one visitor was a collection of wild animals arranged on rocks, from the Buffalo, down to prairie dogs &call or nearly all the wild animals found in those states & all shot by a little woman, a Mrs. Maxwell who attended a photograph stand selling pictures of herself and animals. A magazine reported that the Rocky Mountain Huntress presented specimens of more than 300 animals she had killed, including three bears, a wolverine and a variety of deer, birds, rabbits and squirrels. Maxwell spared several prairie dogs and rattlesnakes to exhibit live. Ingram wrote that Maxwells natural scene was beyond all comparison one of the most effectively arranged displays of the whole Exhibition. One newspaper echoed that her work was surpassed in interest by nothing in the whole Exhibition. A magazine reporter wrote that as he left the building, he felt these new States planted at the feet and among the crags of the ancient hills are indeed a land of hope. Another critic wrote admiringly of Kansas effort, You seek in vain for any achievement that can for a moment compete with the wild country out yonder on the edge of the world, that was but last year devoured by the grasshoppers. A Boston Journal correspondent had doubted jubilant announcements of the Western states bounty until he visited the hall. Afterward, he wrote that the demonstrated riches make a man regret that he lives in the Middle or New England States to gaze on such a display.Such an exhibition will help us not a little to a far better knowledge of the Western character than we of the East have ever before possessed. The legislature never appropriated money to half so good an advantage as this, trumpeted one Topeka newspaper, adding that a sizable population increase would likely result. A land company employee was astonished at the effect this show of Kansas products has on Eastern people. He knew it could only be good for business. For two months before I left Topeka, he said, I dont think there was a day on which somebody didnt come into our office and say, I saw your show down at Philadelphia, and Im thinking of coming out here to settle. Exhibits beyond the Kansas Building also emphasized the agriculture-based Western economy. (In 1870 only one of every 11 U.S. factory workers was employed west of the Mississippi.) Agricultural Hall alone housed nearly nine acres of machinery and products. Californias exhibit included native woods, scenic photographs and a display case of California silkworms at work, which were fed on schedule to draw crowds. A 17-year-old visitor recorded in his journal a frequently mentioned highlight in guidebooks and accounts: Saw the mamouth [sic] grape vine from California, which is a monster indeed, it looked to be about 15 in. in diameter. A contemporary monthly agreed the mammoth grapevine from Santa Barbara was a great center of attraction. The allure of noisy machinery, blocks of coal, working worms and sprawling vines may be lost on most modern-day Americans, but people swarmed to Philadelphia for the centennial. And for months after the international exhibition closed on November 10, books, newspapers and magazines published reports and descriptions for those unable to attend in person. In the final installment of a six-part series on the international fair, The Atlantic Monthly said the exhibition diffused an incalculable amount of general information, geographical, historical and scientific, among millions of people.Six months of the Exhibition ought to have done the work of an ordinary life-time, by enlarging our views and uprooting our prejudices. Many of the prejudices, as well as misconceptions, to be overcome concerned the American West. The 1870s frontier offered more than gun smoke and flying arrows. Law and order and upright communities had gained ground, while economic growth and opportunities apparently knew no bounds. Custers Last Stand, on June 25, 1876, might have been as bloody and shocking as anything the popular dime novels could concoct, but by the time the Centennial International Exhibition closed in Philadelphia five months later, the U.S. Army was relentlessly pursuing the surviving hostiles, and it was becoming abundantly clear that this was now the Last Stand for the Plains Indians. Kevin L. Cook worked as a librarian for 14 years before settling in his native Oklahoma to write historical articles. Suggested for further reading: The Year of the Century: 1876, by Dee Brown; The Glorious Enterprise: The Centennial Exhibition of 1876, by John Maass; The Centennial Exposition, Described and Illustrated, by J.S. Ingram; and The Illustrated History of the Centennial Exhibition, by James Dabney McCabe. Originally published in the June 2009 issue of Wild West. To subscribe, click here. THE BROWN-SHIRTED STORMTROOPERS OF THE STURMABTEILUNGEN (SA) were one of the most visible and feared symbols of Nazism before and immediately after Adolf Hitlers ascension to power. While historians have rarely considered their significance beyond the early years of Hitlers rule, Daniel Siemen offers the first comprehensive account of the SA by following its stormtroopers from the streets of Munich to the German settlements of Eastern Europe. Siemens traces the stormtroopers early years in postWorld War I Bavaria, showing how violence was key to the SAs foundational myth even before its members first donned their infamous brown shirts in 1924. The SA relied on war veterans to shape the younger recruits who joined in search of the sense of power they gained from fighting and humiliating the Nazis political enemies. By April 1934 the SAs membership had swelled to four million, yet its power was threatened when Hitler began compromising with the German elite. The murderous 1934 purge of the SAs leadership, including Ernst Rohm, the most influential of its higher-ups, thus provided Hitler with the opportunity to subdue the stormtroopers and make amends with the old-guard military leaders who feared they would be replaced with a peoples militia of brownshirts. Siemens acknowledges that the Rohm purge seriously weakened the SA, but he departs from earlier histories by documenting how the next generation of stormtroopers, spurred on by virulent anti-Semitism, helped to Germanize the East, trained future soldiers for military service, served in the Wehrmacht with regular and elite divisions, and collaborated in the implementation of the Holocaust. The myth of the SAs post-1934 impotence stemmed from the effective defense adopted by its lawyers at the International Military Tribunal in 19451946, which found that the organization was not criminal. Siemens has corrected this fallacyand with it our understanding of the SAs significance to the Nazi movementin this book, which is, quite simply, the best history of Hitlers stormtroopers to date. BRIAN K. FELTMAN is the author of The Stigma of Surrender: German Prisoners, British Captors, and Manhood in the Great War and Beyond (University of North Carolina Press, 2015). This article appears in the Spring 2018 issue (Vol. 30, No. 3) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Reviews | Fear vs. Freedom Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings! Stuart staves off the yankees for five days to give Lee time to invade the north Trailside is produced in partnership with Civil War Trails Inc., which connects visitors to lesser-known sites and allows them to follow in the footsteps of the great campaigns. Civil War Trails has to date 1,552 sites across five states and produces more than a dozen maps. Visit civilwartrails.org and check in at your favorite sign #civilwartrails. After the Army of the Potomacs debacle at Fredericksburg, Va., in December 1862 and then the disastrous Mud March in January, new commander Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker resolved to keep the pressure on Robert E. Lees vaunted Army of Northern Virginia and to bring it out in the open to fight. To do so, he needed a cavalry corps he could count on for more than escort and messenger duty. [L]et your orders be fight, fight, fight, bearing in mind that time is as valuable asrebel carcasses, Hooker wrote on April 12, 1863, to his cavalry commander, Maj. Gen. George Stoneman, on the eve of an ambitious raid toward Richmond. Stonemans troopers did little real damage during the raid, however, and three weeks later the Army of Northern Virginia handed Hooker a humiliating defeat at Chancellorsville. The victory spurred Lee to attempt another invasion into the North, one that would of course be cut short at Gettysburg in early July. During the buildup to Gettysburg after Chancellorsville, Lee did his best to mask his intentions, even splitting his army. In an effort to trap the Confederates, Hooker used his cavalry, now under Brig. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, aggressively. The Battle of Brandy Station, Va., on June 9 indicated that even in defeat the Federal cavalry had finally become a force with which to be reckoned. Over the next three weeks, Pleasontons and Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuarts troopers parried with each other along the Ashbys Gap Turnpike, which traversed Loudoun, Fauquier, and Clarke counties in Virginia from below Aldie to the Blue Ridge Mountains. From June 17-21, the Battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville occurred here. Both sides would have their noses bloodied, but in the end Stuart had bought Lee enough time to make his fateful foray across the Potomac toward Pennsylvania, with Hooker left to chase. The Ashbys Gap Turnpike upon which the rival cavalry sparred in 1863 is known today as Route 50. A corridor of unspoiled pastoral beauty, 19th-century inns and homes, and fields lined with stone walls, it is well worth exploring in a single day or over several. Nancy Tappan Special thanks to Childs Burden and the Mosby Heritage Area Association for their help with this guide. Caleb Rector House 1461 Atoka Rd., Atoka, Va. The Caleb Rector House in Atoka, previously known as Rectors Crossroads, 4 miles west of Middleburg, was a frequent hideout of Colonel John Singleton Mosby and the present-day home of the Mosby Heritage Area Association. Days before the Aldie battle, Mosby organized his partisans here into the 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry. They still operated as guerrillas, melting into the civilian population when not out on raids. mosbyheritagearea.org/caleb-rector-house Goose Creek Bridge About 4 miles west of Middleburg is Lemmons Bottom Road, which leads north to a walking path that accesses Goose Creek Bridge. Here on June 21, Stuart established the strongest position the Confederate cavalry held during the battles. In a day that saw a series of grudging Rebel withdrawals between Middleburg and Upperville, the fight at Goose Creek was decisive. Stiff rear-guard resistance gave Stuart time to get his men across the bridge and place cannons and sharpshooters on the west bank. Union artillery and heroic infantrymen who stormed across the bridge forced Stuart to fall back to the outskirts of Upperville. War Horse Memorial On the Plains Road just south of Middleburg is the National Sporting Museum and Library. In the courtyard is a bronze statue of an exhausted and starving horse representing the 1.5 million horses and mules that died of wounds or privation during the Civil War. English sculptor Tessa Pullan cast the 3/4-size statue in 1997 to commemorate the gallantry and suffering of those faithful animals. Mount Defiance About 1.3 miles west of the Plains Road in Middleburg, Stuart made a stand here on June 19 after Colonel Mosby brought him captured documents revealing the size and location of Hookers army, and the imminent arrival of the Union 5th Corps. The information, which Mosby said was the open sesame to all of Hookers plans and secrets, persuaded Stuart that his mission must be to block the turnpike and shield the infantry. A charge up the pike by the 4th Pennsylvania captured Confederate cannons near the still-extant blacksmiths shop shown above. Trappe Road On June 21, Union Brig. Gen. John Buford and three cavalry brigades rode north from Middleburg in an attempt to turn the Confederates left flank. Kept in check by sharpshooters, Bufords men advanced cautiously via country byways until they neared Trappe Road, which intersected Ashbys Gap Turnpike west of Upperville. Bufords troopers charged across the fields there, hoping to cut off Confederate units and a wagon train scrambling to reach Ashbys Gap safely. The initial Union charge was blunted by Rebel artillery, leading to a mounted saber duel. The Confederates held on long enough for the wagons to reach safety and discourage pursuit. Snickersville Shootout After the Aldie action June 17, fighting shifted north of Ashbys Gap Turnpike to a stretch where the Snickersville Turnpike curves sharply. Here Virginia troopers ambushed the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry from behind the stone walls lining the thoroughfare. Left: On the north side of the road is a monument to the 1st Massachusetts, which suffered horrific casualties. Above: The view facing southeast from the 1st Massachusetts monument shows the fields through which the 4th New York futilely charged the Rebel positions. The tide turned when the 1st Maine galloped in from the north, flanking the Rebels and pushing them west. The Red Fox Inn & Tavern During fighting at Aldie, J.E.B. Stuart and his staff were ensconced five miles west at Beveridges Hotel in Middleburg. The bold dragoon was forced to skedaddle when troopers from the 1st Rhode Island entered the town from the south. An embarrassed Stuart reoccupied the town that night and the New Englanders retreated in confusion. The hostelry, now known as the Red Fox Inn & Tavern, offers luxurious rooms and seasonal menus, along with a lively pub. redfox.com Ahead of the release of their ninth studio album, which Hot Press will be streaming exclusively in April (watch this space) - here's the newest single from God Is An Astronaut, which came out on March 2. 'Epitaph' is the first single and the title track of God Is An Astronauts upcoming album - out on April 27th 2018 via Napalm Records. This opening single sets the tone for an album which deals with pain and loss, but doesn't give into it. Sparse piano motifs face off with energetic rhythms, while shimmering guitar coatings, and eruptions of dense fury breathe life into a journey of melancholic longing. Speaking about the song, the band said: "We wanted the video to capture the horror, overwhelming grief and the dark reality of an untimely death. The video features post-mortem photography as it directly reflects the subject matter. This song touches on everything from childhood innocence (vulnerability) to the moment you are given the shocking news, to the aftermath that faces a family over a tragic loss. Listen to 'Epitaph' below: Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Taking The Music Industry Monopoly Seriously As weakening antitrust laws and consolidation of businesses continue, virtually every corner of the music industry is now controlled by a choice few companies, whether its streaming or live music, writes Will Meyer. Here he explores why these monopolies must be taken seriously. ______________________________ Guest post by Will Meyer of CASH Music Everyone can agree, at this point, that most corners of the music industry are dominated by a small number of companies. Take streaming services, for example. Just a few years ago, business commentators praised the healthy competition that existed between services like Pandora, Rhapsody, Tidal, Google Play, Spotify and Apple Music. Today, however, that competition has essentially become a two-horse race between Apple Music and Spotify. The live music industry isnt all that different. Live Nation and AEG have an overwhelming grip on North American venues and festivals. (Live Nation owns House of Blues and Lollapalooza, while AEG just purchased Bowery Presents.) The same goes for labels. Three of them Sony, Universal and Warner control 80 percent of the market. Most of these companies are also vertically and horizontally integrated, meaning they own other companies that are relevant to their financial success. For example, Sony, Universal and Warner The Big Three are all partial owners in Spotify. Live Nation, meanwhile, owns Ticketmaster and has tentacles in venue sponsorship, artist management and promotion. Spotify is branching out into music journalism and playlist curation, as well. Because of integration, platforms are not neutral. Ticketmaster will boost Live Nation events. Spotify, as Liz Pelly pointed out here at Watt, features playlists owned and controlled by major labels. The list goes on. Of course, theres a phrase for all of this: Monopoly power. Antitrust laws give the federal government the ability to break up monopolies or at least reduce their power. In the 1980s, however, those laws were weakened (more on that later). But as the legitimacy of unprecedented market dominance of Facebook, Google and Amazon goes on trial in the court of public opinion, musicians and other cultural producers need to begin taking monopoly power seriously and maybe even do something about it. Why? Because we should have a say over who we work for and what the terms are. The first step is understanding the history of monopolies and the shifting ideas of who and what they threaten. Breaking up monopolies was a demand of the Populist Movement, led by indebted farmers, of the late 19th century. In those days, monopoly power was thought to be unfair to producers people who make stuff. The thinking was that in order to ensure political democracy, the government had to ensure fair competition for economic democracy. In other words, the economic power within the economy had to be distributed so producers could choose where they wanted to work. A musician, for example, should not have to choose between only Spotify or Apple Music whose terms and royalty rates are determined by The Big Three. The Populist Movement helped influence the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890, the first antitrust bill on the federal level. The Progressive Era, when politicians showed real appetite for reining in power, followed. President Theodore Roosevelt sued 45 companies under the Sherman Act. Not long after his presidency, more antitrust legislation was passed, expanding the scope of the governments ability to regulate business. Big companies, like Standard Oil, were broken up or forced to sell off parts of their businesses that gave them an unfair advantage. The Clayton Act of 1914, fought against price fixing and corrected for other anti-competitive practices examples today would be Ticketmaster promoting Live Nation events or Amazon hawking Alexas before other surveillance robots in their search results. By the late 1970s, though, antitrust laws originally aimed at protecting producers from monopoly power, pivoted to the protection of consumers. During Ronald Reagans presidency, the antitrust division of the justice department began focusing not on the consolidation of power, but on low prices, in essence clearing the path for the music industrys consolidation of power that further pits artists against shareholders. The industry has experienced big changes over the last few decades, of course. In the 1990s, independent record shops were gobbled up by chain stores. Then came pirating and online sales. Now we have streaming services. These changes all happened while six major record labels consolidated into The Big Three. Changes in technology often overpower political conditions in our perceptions of how the music industry and the larger economy, for that matter functions. Corporate monopoly power in the United States is contingent on the political climate it exists within. Be it the Progressive Era, Reagans 80s, or today. It is important to understand and use the framework of monopoly power in order to move beyond such bleak power relations. The consolidation in the music industry today is a threat to not only musicians and their ability to make a living, but to the principles of political and economic equality. Share on: Clarksburg School is hosting an information session this Thursday on the upcoming special town meeting vote. Clarksburg School Holding Information Meeting on Interstate District CLARKSBURG, Mass. An informational forum will be held on Thursday at Clarksburg School at 6:30 to answer questions about the upcoming vote on taking action toward a proposed merger with the Stamford, Vt., school district. The special town meeting is set for April 5 at the school. The school has mailed out a brochure explaining the reasons for exploring an interstate school district, including providing more educational opportunities, access to a full-day preschool and expanded space. The wording of the warrant will be the same as that tabled at December's special town meeting because of objections by the School Committee over the language. The article inferred that the vote would be to merge, while the subcommittees working on the proposal were seeking permission to enter into discussions that would allow state funds to be spent on a feasibility study. Superintendent of Schools Jonathan Lev explained at Thursday's School Committee meeting that the language is the same but a yes vote does not agree to a merger. "Voting 'yes' allows Stamford and Clarksburg to officially enter into discussion on creating an interstate agreement and begin a feasibility study," he said. "It does not mean that we necessarily agree to merge." The warrant stated the motion "would allow" the town to merge, Lev said. "I think that's the key wording and I know the wording came directly from the legislators and the home rule petition." Special Education Director Debra A Rosselli said the language has been discussed at the subcommittees. "That whole discrepancy, that misunderstanding, you know, was 'agreement' and what does that actually mean," she said. "What they explained on the Vermont side was that they were able to say 'discussion' but the template of the state of Massachusetts puts it into those terms." The $25,000 in funds earmarked last year by the late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi for a feasibility study cannot be accessed until after the town votes to move forward. Lev said the hope was that the Vermont Legislature would at least match that amount. The study would look at scenarios of how the district could operate, including governance, funding, and curriculum. Stamford is looking for an interstate option to Vermont's Act 46 that is pushing smaller schools to become part of unified districts that can streamline costs and governance. Stamford voters overwhelmingly rejected a scheme that would put it in a union with Readsboro and with Halifax some 25 miles away over mountain roads. The school district currently has 99 students total, including 11 Clarksburg children in preschool. "In addition to formalized collaboration, it is important to recognize the desire residents have to stay within the towns. Many residents grow up to settle between the two locations due to the strong family and emotional ties. The two towns embody the sense of a single community despite the invisible state line," states a proposal for an interstate district drawn up by Stamford. Both towns would vote on a final proposal formalizing an interstate agreement. The committee also got a brief update on the state of community-led renovations , which have not yet got off the ground. School officials and members of the renovation steering committee did a walk-through of the 60-year-old school building recently to get a better sense of what was needed. Voters rejected a $19 million renovation and addition to the aging school last year, which also mean the loss of some $11 million in state money toward the project. There is currently a $500,000 earmark in a $30 million Senate capital spending bill toward replacing the roof on the main building, but that is not guaranteed. The town is also trying to access its Green Communities grant toward replacing the outdated boilers. Both Lev and Erin Scott, a member of the volunteer committee, said they had heard the town had not yet been able to free up those Green Community funds. "We need to find out about that soon because we would like to work on that this summer," said Lev. The goal has been to get any interior work done when there are no children in the building to avoid class disruptions. Principal Tara Barnes said she also had Foster Goodrich, president of School Guard Glass, in the building to discuss safety options, something that had not risen to the top in prior discussions. Since then, several more shootings have occurred in schools, including the killing of 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the state of Florida. "It has to happen, it's not something I want to wait on because obviously, it's a priority that we are doing every step we can do to have a safe building," she said. Barnes said she and Goodrich had focused on the main entrance as a high priority. Built in the 1960s, the nearly all glass front admits visitors directly in the to lobby with access to both wings. The doors are now locked and visitors must signal the office to be let in but the area is no way hardened to prevent a determined person to enter. The idea is to create a vestibule with a window from the office to see who is being admitted. The glass would be hardened, but not bullet-proof. A second focus would be the back doors by the gym, which would have new glass or possibly be replaced. "I know boilers are important and they need to be fixed, too, but this also needs bumping up to a top priority," Barnes said. Lev said any safety work would probably have to be funded out of the school choice account. "I don't see the town giving us the money to do that," he said. In other business, Barnes reported that the last day of school will June 11 and eighth-grade graduation would be June 1. Clarksburg was able to make up five of the seven snow days this year through its pilot "blizzard bag" program. The "bags" were assignments aligned with the school's curriculums. The teachers put the bags together and were available via email during those days. "The teachers made five different bags. It was a lot of work," said Barnes, adding teachers were still tweaking the concept. "We're still collecting data on how well they worked." She hoped to get another parent survey done near the end of the school year. Barnes also updated on the use of student-led conferences in every grade to show parents how they are progressing. "It was a huge undertaking," she added, for the teachers to take on. "It's not easy to go outside your comfort zone and try something new. I'm really proud of them, I think they're proud of their students." Chairwoman Patricia Prenguber said she couldn't get over the amount of detail and organization that went into the presentations. Lev said they were very well organized even in kindergarten, where the youngsters had notebooks and examples of how they progressed over time. "They were very well prepared and did a very good job," he said. He felt that the students would be able to build a portfolio of their work they could take with them on graduation. The committee put off a vote on school choice slots until the next meeting. There were anticipated openings in kindergarten and the sixth-grade but a last-minute rush of registrations may have eliminated any kindergarten spots. It was felt the administration would have a better handle on kindergarten numbers by next month. Clarksburg Brochure on School District Merger by iBerkshires.com on Scribd Dr Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agencys Executive Director, met with Norways Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Paris today. A key issue discussed was the critical role Norway plays in global oil and gas security by keeping markets well supplied. Norway was the worlds largest contributor to new offshore oil and gas developments approved last year with projects committed worth nearly USD 20 billion. Along with gains from the United States, Brazil and Canada, the rising oil output from Norway will more than cover projected demand growth through 2020. Norway is also an environmental leader, said Dr Birol, who highlighted that the countrys electricity generation is almost entirely from renewable sources hydropower and that thanks to a carbon tax on the Norwegian continental shelf, the countrys oil and gas production emits 50% less carbon emissions than the global average. They also discussed efforts underway in Norway to deploy electric vehicles. In the recent Nordic EV Outlook 2018, the IEA found that 39 percent of vehicles sold in Norway in 2017 were electric cars, the highest share in the world. The government hopes that within seven years, Norwegians will no longer buy cars powered by fossil fuels. Norway serves as a global advocate for universal energy access. Dr Birol thanked Prime Minister Solberg for Norways co-chairing of the Ad-hoc Advisory Group on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. This group is providing technical assistance to the UN's High-level Review of SDG7 to be held in New York this July, a process in which IEA has been heavily involved. Netanyahu Rushed to the Hospital The Fellowship | March 27, 2018 Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital earlier today in Israel. Thankfully, it appears to be nothing serious at this time. According to his office, the prime minister came to the hospital because he suffered from a high fever and a cough. He finished the series of tests and will be released to his home tonight. The checkups attest to a minor infection in his upper airways. The doctors recommended that the prime minister rest and take medicine to treat his condition. His personal physician, Dr. Zvi Herman Berkowitz, said he suspected Netanyahu hadnt gotten the rest he needed to recover from his illness two weeks ago, and therefore, his symptoms had worsened. Lets all keep Prime Minister Netanyahu in our prayers for a speedy and full recovery. Several countries want to increase national security reviews of foreign buyers, and have set plans in motion to implement investment clearance reforms 1 Minute read Policymakers continue to weigh the benefits of traditional open investment frameworks against growing anxiety over increasing investment from China and other economic and strategic competitors in sectors considered critical. The EU is considering adopting a EU-wide investment screening mechanism for the first time, Australia recently tightened restrictions on certain foreign acquisitions, and Cfius continues to make headlines in the US. These developments reflect a profound shift in the historic wWstern commitment to the free flow of capital across national borders. Our article summarizes key recent events and related takeaways for dealmakers to consider. From Brussels to Canberra, policymakers continue to weigh the benefits of traditional open investment frameworks against growing anxiety over increasing investment from China and other economic and strategic competitors in sectors that are considered critical. The EU is considering adopting a region-wide investment screening mechanism for the first time. Australia, for its part, recently tightened restrictions on foreign acquisitions of agricultural land and electricity infrastructure. Likewise, in the US, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (Cfius) continues to make headlines. To date this year, at least four transactions involving Chinese parties have been frustrated and abandoned due to failure to achieve Cfius clearance. These developments are generally consistent with the heightened scrutiny of foreign direct investment that characterised the latter half of 2017. Nevertheless, they reflect a profound shift in the historic Western commitment to the free flow of capital across national borders. This profound change is evident in the broad political support for clearance reform. We summarise below several noteworthy developments to watch in global national security reviews and offer some related takeaways for cross-border dealmakers to consider. Meaningful international cooperation and information sharing among national security regulators in the US and its allies is on the horizon. As a result, parties to cross-border transactions will likely encounter increased regulatory headwinds, which may result in deal delays and uncertainty. Ongoing European Parliament discussion of the draft EU legislation have emphasised the critical importance of collecting data and exchanging information regarding inbound investment. Initially previewed in a speech by Jean-Claude Juncker in September 2017, the EU screening framework would not supplant investment review processes in individual member states, but would instead 'enhance cooperation on FDI screening between the [European] Commission and Member States, to increase legal certainty and transparency'. Public reports indicate that EU officials hope to reach agreement on the framework by the end of 2018. Parties should assume that, in a base-case scenario, public filings made in one jurisdiction will be seen and reviewed by all other relevant regulators In the United States, Cfius reform legislation introduced on November as the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (Firrma) would direct the US President to encourage other countries to adopt Cfius-like regimes to screen foreign investments for national security reasons. Firrma would similarly incentivise other countries to adopt investment screening mechanisms by enabling such countries to undergo less demanding Cfius reviews. The Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets underscored the Trump administration's strong support for cooperation with US allies in recent testimony before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission: '[I]t is essential to our national security that our allies maintain robust and effective national security review processes to vet foreign investments into their countries.' Notably, the Trump administration's openness to international coordination in national security reviews echoes longstanding US policy and political support for multilateral regulations in the export control space. Takeaway: Transaction parties must ensure consistency in what they disclose to regulators in different countries as well as in any press releases or public filings. Parties should assume that, in a base-case scenario, public filings made in one jurisdiction will be seen and reviewed by all other relevant regulators. National security regulators will continue to forcefully exercise their authorities to review transactions that fall within their jurisdictional ambit. Pre-transaction planning and transaction due diligence should include targeted inquiries regarding the target company's national security risk profile in any jurisdiction where a national security review could be required or advisable. In July 2017, presumably responding to growing anxiety over rapid increase in Chinese investment, Germany amended the Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation strengthening the German Ministry of Economics' (BMWi) authority to scrutinise acquisitions of German companies, with a focus on those operating in critical infrastructure sectors (eg energy, IT, transport or telecommunications). As of February 2018, about 30 transactions had reportedly been audited under the new regime. In late December 2017, the BMWi announced that it would investigate the acquisition of Cotesa, a manufacturer of parts for aircraft manufacturers, by a subsidiary of China Iron and Steel Research Institute Group, a state-owned enterprise. The deal is now on hold, pending the results of the BMWi's investigation. In the United States, Cfius' decision to intervene in Broadcom's $122 billion hostile bid for Qualcommwhich came just two days before Qualcomm's shareholder meeting to vote on the takeover proposalis emblematic of the vigorous approach that Cfius has generally adopted in the Trump administration. Following a voluntary filing submitted by Qualcomm and several weeks of public calls from certain members of Congress to investigate the transaction, CFIUS issued an interim order on March 4 2018, prohibiting Qualcomm from convening its annual shareholder meeting until Cfius had conducted its review. Days later, Cfius advised Broadcom that it would need to provide Cfius with advance notice of any steps taken to carry out Broadcom's plans to re-domicile in the United States. On March 12 2018, after Cfius notified Broadcom that it had failed to provide sufficient advance notice and additional information as requested, President Trump issued an executive order prohibiting the transaction from proceeding. Broadcom has since announced it was abandoning its bid for its US rival. While the Cfius process is still currently voluntary, a decision not to notify Cfius of a transaction in which it may be interested carries risk. The risk may be especially acute in transactions where the acquirer intends to take the target company public: an inquiry from Cfius during the lead-up to an initial public offering could have significant collateral market consequences for the acquirer. Takeaway: Acquirers should ensure that they understand how national security regulators would view their fitness as buyers of assets in the relevant country or countries. In the private equity context, this assessment often requires a more granular evaluation of evaluation of the regulatory DNA of the fund, manager or advisor, and any co-investors in play. Complex transaction structures elevate risk.Dealmakers involved in transactions with complex ownership chains should build into their timelines sufficient time for regulators to fully understand beneficial ownership of the acquiring party. In January 2018, the European Parliamentary Research Service released its report on an EU foreign direct investment screening framework. Among other things, the report highlighted concerns regarding acquisitions of companies with cutting-edge or dual use technologies and strategic infrastructure assets by foreign investors, including opaque state-owned enterprises. For example, participation by Russian investors frequently elevates deal risk, even if the target company does not operate in a sector that is considered sensitive Similarly, in the US, complex ownership chains frequently prompt Cfius requests for additional information about the ultimate beneficial ownership of the acquirerincluding, for private equity sponsors, information about minority ownership interests held by limited partners. Notably, these growing concerns about direct and indirect beneficial ownership are not restricted to the investment screening context; they dovetail with recent enhancements to customer due diligence (CDD) and other related requirements among EU, US and Canadian anti-money laundering and sanctions regulators. China remains in a 'category of one' for perceived national security risk, but it is not the exclusive source of national security risk. Evaluating an acquirer's national security profile often requires a bespoke evaluation taking into account all relevant factors as well as the policy and political context in the relevant jurisdictions. It is no secret that acquisitions involving Chinese investors have garnered significant political and media attention, particularly over the last 18 months. This trend holds true not only for transactions involving 100% buyouts of companies by Chinese parties, but also in transaction scenarios that contemplate minority investments with more limited governance rights that do not involve a corporate traditional change of control. For example, in November 2017, CEFC China Energy Co. abandoned a planned $100 million investment in US asset management firm Cowen, under which CEFC would have acquired a 19.9% stake in Cowen, after the investment failed to achieve Cfius clearance. However, this focus on China may well distract dealmakers from recognising latent risks in transactions without a nexus to China, certain of which have encountered similar regulatory turbulence. For example, participation by Russian investors frequently elevates deal risk, even if the target company does not operate in a sector that has traditionally been considered sensitive. The shifting Russia sanctions landscape in the US and Europe is likely to heighten risks around Russian investment in the near term. Similarly, Cfius frequently considers in its assessment of a foreign buyer's national security fitness the buyer's record of compliance with applicable economic sanctions and export controlsregardless of the buyer's country of origin. If enacted, Firrma would make this evaluation mandatory. According to the draft EU regulation, the Commission and the EU countries may take into account whether the foreign investor is controlled by a government of a third country, including through significant funding. This addresses the fact that EU member states are subject to EU state aid rules, whereas third countries are often only subject to WTO-level subsidy rules, which are subject to much looser scrutiny. Mario Mancuso, PC Partner Kirkland & Ellis (Washington DC) Anna Schwander Partner Kirkland & Ellis (Munich, Germany) Lucille Hague Associate Kirkland & Ellis (Washington DC) 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article Brazil recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of Law 12.529/2011 (Brazilian Antitrust Law), which established a pre-merger control system and aligned the Brazilian Antitrust Authority (Cade) with more mature jurisdictions. The Brazilian M&A market reacted accordingly, with a quick shift in the culture of allocating antitrust risks. Indeed, a pre-merger system makes room for negotiations with Cade in the process of seeking antitrust remedies. This could be a long and burdensome experience, and incentives for the parties to drop or consummate the deal may vary depending on the level of antitrust exposure and contractual enforcement. Therefore, the allocation of antitrust risk has become an important trend in Brazilian M&A agreements, with a particular focus on termination fees for strategic deals those where there is a high likelihood that the buyer will be unable to close as part of an antitrust decision/restriction. Such contractual provisions, also known as reverse break-up fees, which typically range from between four and six percent of the deal price, aim at incentivising the buyer to find and negotiate antitrust remedies to clear the transaction. It also financially compensates the seller, in cases where the transaction is rejected, since the target may experience pre-closing losses during the antitrust assessment. The recent recession in Brazil also boosted this trend, with many consolidation processes in different industries. Not surprisingly, Cade has blocked four transactions over the past 12 months: (i) the Ultrapar proposed acquisition of rival fuel distribution company Alesat; (ii) the purchase of meatpacker Mataboi by JBJ, (iii) the acquisition of education company Estacio by Kroton Educacional; and, more recently, (iv) Ultrapar's proposal to buy distributor Liquigas from Petrobras. Although the Ultraplar/Alesat transaction did not contemplate a termination fee, Petrobras required from Ultrapar, according to public information, a reverse break-up fee of BRL280 million ($86 million) in case of an antitrust rejection in the Liquigas deal. The fee represented 10% of the total purchase price, close to the one negotiated in the groundbreaking US AT&T/T-Mobile transaction. The imposition of such a high fee could be explained by the fact that Liquigas' sale was part of a competitive auction with many players disputing the asset. Although Ultrapar offered the highest purchase price, it was clearly the proposal bringing more antitrust exposure, as the leading player within the sector. After a fierce battle of almost one year with Cade, and despite offering divestures to avoid the payment of the fee, the authority rejected the transaction since it would increase the abuse of market power in the affected market also noting that potential remedies offered were insufficient to decrease concerns. Lesson to learn: reverse break-up fees are a good way both to ensure that the buyer is sure about the deal and financially to protect the seller in case of a rejection. An advance risk assessment, though, is key for the parties to better allocate risks arising from this type of provision. Ricardo Lara Gaillard Clovis Lores Victor Couto 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has issued a circular notifying issuers of securities which are listed for trading on the Cyprus Stock Exchange or any other regulated market of its priority issues for financial statements and annual reports for 2017. CySEC's priority issues are identical to those set out in the latest Public Statement on European Common Enforcement Priorities published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma). The Public Statement sets out the priorities jointly agreed by national supervisory authorities of the countries of the European Economic Area in relation to financial statements for the year 2017 regarding the implementation of international financial reporting standards (IFRS), with the objective of achieving consistency in the application of the IFRS in Europe. The common European priorities for 2017 adopted by CySEC are as follows: disclosure of the expected impact of the implementation of major new standards in the period of their initial application, particularly IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IFRS 15 Income from Contracts with Customers, and IFRS 16 Leases. recognition, measurement and disclosure of specific matters in relation to IFRS 3 Business and Business Combinations. issues arising from International Accounting Standard 7 Statements of Cash Flow. In addition, supervisory authorities will continue to monitor issues identified as priorities in earlier years, including presentation of financial performance and disclosure of any effects on the business of the British decision to leave the EU. The CySEC circular also draws attention to recent changes to the Companies Law to implement Directive 2014/95/EU, which introduced new disclosure requirements for large businesses and groups regarding non-financial information and information on diversity. The new requirements apply for the financial year 2017 and later years. CySEC recommends that issuers with securities admitted to trading on a regulated market and their auditors take due account of the issues and recommendations contained in the Esma Public Statement when compiling financial statements and annual reports for 2017, since CySEC will take the priorities into account in its assessments of these documents and will take appropriate action where deemed necessary. Elias Neocleous 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article The Philippine government is aggressively advancing the acceleration of infrastructure and development of industries that will yield robust growth across the Philippines. Infrastructure projects are among the top priorities of the government with public spending on infrastructure projects targeted to reach between PHP8 trillion and PHP9 trillion ($154 billion to $173 billion) between 2017 and 2022. The existing administration's effort to address the infrastructure gap is encapsulated in its 'Build, Build, Build' programme. Under this initiative, the government intends to build, among other things, roads, bridges, railways, urban mass transport, airports, and seaports nationwide. It is envisioned this will result in a more efficient movement of goods and people, an increase in the productive capacity of the economy, and sustained inclusive growth throughout the country. The government's continued focus on prioritising infrastructure development will allow the Philippines to continue in its position as the fastest growing economy in Asia. Together with the infusion of funds for infrastructure, foreigners have expressed strong interest in participating in the Philippine construction industry. The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) has introduced the quadruple A category (AAAA) licence, a new category of the regular licence, which is issued to contractors with more than 40% foreign equity. A 100% foreign-owned domestic construction corporation with at least PHP1 billion in paid-in equity is eligible to apply for an AAAA category licence. The PCAB also issues special licences to foreign contractors for government infrastructure projects: 1) that are foreign-financed or internationally funded with international bidding; 2) where the participation of foreign contractors is allowed under the terms of a bilateral agreement between the Philippine government and the foreign government or an international financing institution; or 3) that are implemented in accordance with Republic Act number 7718, or the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, as amended. Foreign contractors can also enter into joint ventures or consortiums with Filipino contractors in order to benefit from the knowledge of the local industry and to share and allocate risks. The PCAB issues special licences to joint ventures or consortiums for a single, specific project or undertaking. For property development projects, foreigners that wish to own land in the Philippines must do so in partnership with a Filipino or a qualified Philippine entity. Land ownership is restricted to Filipinos or corporations that are at least 60% Filipino-owned. Foreigners may generally lease private land for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years. If the foreigner is investing in the Philippines, it may lease private land for up to 75 years (50 years, renewable for another 25 years). This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Sylvette Y Tankiang Maria Concepcion P Simundac 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article An amendment to the act on employment services slated to enter into force on May 1 2018 will have a substantial impact on the employment of third country nationals. The amendment establishes simplified conditions for hiring third country nationals in selected professions where there is a documented shortage of qualified labour force in districts with an average registered unemployment rate of less than five percent. In these situations, when processing temporary residence permits for the employment purpose, the labour offices will not take into account whether a particular position can be occupied preferentially by a Slovak citizen. Moreover, these positions may be filled without the need to advertise the job before submitting the application for a temporary residence permit. The central labour office should publish on its website by June 30 2018 a list of occupations affected by the labour shortage in the districts where the average registered unemployment rate for 2017 was lower than five percent. However, the exception provided by the amendment will only apply to companies that have a workforce comprising a maximum of 30% third country nationals on the day of submitting the temporary employment residence permit application. An employer looking to hire a third country national must first announce the job vacancy (on the bulletin board at the labour office, through print media and on the internet). The amendment has reduced the time period of the announcement from the original 30 business days to 20 business days. The same time period of 20 business days applies to the announcement required for renewing a temporary employment residence permit. Employers that engage in illegal employment practices will not be permitted to hire third country nationals, as only those companies who have committed no violations of the ban on illegal employment for a period of two years before filing the application for the residence permit by the third country national will be eligible for the employment permit. The amendment also has a substantial impact on obtaining work permits and temporary employment residence permits for employees posted for more than 90 days by employers domiciled in third countries. The existing legislation provides for a specific application regime for this type of work permit, but that regime was omitted from the amendment. The existing provision has been retained whereby the labour office can grant a work permit upon a written application if a job opening cannot be filled by an applicant registered as a job seeker with the employment office. We are unable to say definitively whether this is just a formulation error or whether the lawmakers intended to retain the possibility of obtaining an employment permit for posted workers. We are inclined to believe the purpose was to repeal this regime because of its long-term abuse. Consequently, although in theory it will still be possible, in practice it will no longer be possible to obtain an employment permit and temporary residence permit in Slovakia for workers posted from third countries. If these posted workers wish to work in Slovakia, they will have to take up employment directly with an employer domiciled in Slovakia. A valid work permit issued to a third country national posted for work in Slovakia before May 1 2018 will remain valid for the entire term for which it was granted. The possibility of posting workers within the scope of an intra-corporate transfer will, of course, remain unchanged. Due to the frequent abuse of the concept of cross-border posting of workers from another EU member state, and in an attempt to prevent social dumping and enhance the protection of employees, the amendment imposes additional duties on employers that host posted workers. Until now the only duty of the receiving employer was to notify the competent labour office about the posted worker, their job position and term of posting. There will now also be a new duty to submit the following documents: (i) a document confirming accommodation for at least the expected duration of the posting in the case of a third country national not subject to the visa requirement, (ii) a copy of the A1 form as proof the third country national pays social contributions in the member state from which he/she was posted to work in Slovakia, and, (iii) a copy of a residence document issued in the member state where the third country national normally works if a residence permit is required by the laws of the country from which they were posted. Dalimir Jancovic Byung Sung Park 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article Imperial Valley News Center Hidden Medical Text Read for the First Time in a Thousand Years Stanford, California - An influential physician and a philosopher of early Western medicine, Galen of Pergamon was the doctor of emperors and gladiators. One of his many works, On the Mixtures and Powers of Simple Drugs, was an important pharmaceutical text that would help educate fellow Greek-Roman doctors. The text was translated during the 6th century into Syriac, a language that served as a bridge between Greek and Arabic and helped spread Galens ideas into the ancient Islamic world. But despite the physicians fame, the most complete surviving version of the translated manuscript was erased and written over with hymns in the 11th century a common practice at the time. These written-over documents are known as palimpsests. An international team of researchers is getting a clear look at the hidden text of the Syriac Galen Palimpsest with an X-ray study at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at the Department of Energys SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The early results reveal more of the original words in the underlying text, which runs perpendicular to the direction of the overlying text, enabling scholars to see more information from Galen. Our hope was that there would be enough traces of ink there so that we would be able to decipher even a word or two, says Uwe Bergmann, a distinguished staff scientist at the Stanford PULSE Institute at SLAC, who led the X-ray imaging project. The distinct writing that we can now see marks a tremendous success. Fresh Hints About Early Medicine For nearly a decade, a multidisciplinary team of scientists and scholars has tried to uncover and study Galens original text with advanced imaging and digital processing techniques. Each leaf of the manuscript provides clues about the state of medical knowledge at that particular time in the Middle East. If you want to understand medicine in the Middle East, you have to look at the translation and transmission of knowledge, says Peter E. Pormann, professor of classics and Graeco-Arabic studies at the University of Manchester. This is a huge chunk of history, and we hope this text will help us understand how they managed and treated disease historically in that part of the world. The section of the manuscript being examined at SLAC first appeared in Germany in the early 1900s, and ongoing research indicates it was originally from St. Catherines Monastery on the Sinai Peninsula. All the pages being scanned at SSRL will be converted to high-resolution digital images that will be added to those made freely available online by Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. A few leaves of the original Syriac manuscript had been removed and ended up at libraries around Africa, Europe and the United States, including those at Harvard University, Paris, the Sinai Peninsula and the Vatican. These were imaged at each location with specialized cameras, and each institution agreed to have their images added to the online data set. Our plan is to digitally reunite the book, says Michael Toth, president of R.B. Toth Associates, a private company specializing in cultural heritage research that has led the study of this palimpsest since 2009. This will provide public access to scholarship thats been hidden for centuries. Preservation and Experimental Challenges To recycle the limited material available for parchment, 11th-century scribes scrubbed and replaced the original text with layers of calcium, a rudimentary form of white-out, and then wrote a book of psalms on top of the original text. Earlier studies had revealed traces of the text beneath the hymns, but it was difficult to read the original translation of Galen both texts were written in similar ink and the underlying text had been well-scrubbed. Before starting the synchrotron work, the team feared that even with the powerful X-ray imaging techniques at SSRL, the text could still be illegible if the amount of iron in the remaining ink was too small or the ink was too smeared. Initial X-ray analysis of the inks in the bound book highlighted the difficulty of the task ahead, with only a faint response from the underlying text. Because of the delicate nature of the old manuscript, the Stanford University Libraries Preservation Department carefully prepared the pages for X-ray imaging. One of the most powerful parts of this type of analysis is that you dont have to interrupt the overlying text. You can see underneath the surface without any damage to the manuscript, says Kristen St. John, head of conservation services at Stanford University Libraries. You dont have to jeopardize one part of the document to learn about the other. The Stanford conservators separated the leaves of the ancient leather-bound book, and mounted each page in a custom mat. The mats then fit precisely into an aluminum frame mounted on a computer-controlled stage for scanning at the synchrotron. In order to safely image the manuscript here, we had to think of a special way to mount it, says Sam Webb, a staff scientist at SSRL. Usually, we just secure our samples with tape or screws. You cant exactly do that with a thousand-year-old manuscript. Applying New Technology To Reveal Missing History Prior to the manuscript arriving at Stanford and SLAC, the research team had attempted to see differences in the overlying and underlying inks with a technique called multispectral imaging. They illuminated the pages with visible, ultraviolet and infrared light to enhance different colors within the inks. While they could identify and read the underlying text on many pages, they still could not read it on others. This latest study applied an updated verson of a complementary imaging technique, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), that the team had developed earlier to decipher hidden mathematical theories in a copy of a work by Archimedes that had also been written over, with forged paintings added on top of the text of four pages. With the XRF technique, the synchrotron X-rays knock out electrons close to the nuclei of metal atoms, and these holes are filled with outer electrons resulting in characteristic X-ray fluorescence that can be picked up by a sensitive detector. These fluorescent X-rays can penetrate through layers of text and calcium, and the hidden Galen text and the newer religious text fluoresce in slightly different ways because their inks contain different combinations of metals such as iron, zinc, mercury and copper. Were also interested in the background composition of the parchment and the calcium that covers the original text, says Nicholas Edwards, a research associate at SSRL. That additional information may allow us to distinguish between the layers of the text. > Digitally Sifting Through Layers of Ink For the Galen document, a scan takes about 10 hours for each of the 26 pages. The experiment has collected vast amounts of nuanced data from the X-ray scans, and the researchers are now applying data processing tools, including machine learning, to pull out the information they seek. Hidden in all this data, theres information trying to get out, says William Sellers, an expert in data processing and the director of the University of Manchesters zoology department. And theres just too much data for humans alone to sift through. Sellers developed algorithms that train a computer to recognize different parts of the manuscript. The data mining results in colorized images of the layers of text and parchment that scholars and conservators can examine. As a conservator, this is an interesting opportunity to work with an entirely different array of analytical tools that we do not typically have access to in the day-to-day work of conservation, St. John says. It helps us learn whats possible in our field, as we better understand the materials we work with. Once the scans are complete, the team will continue to analyze the words of Galen in these new views of the timeworn document. SSRL is a DOE Office of Science user facility. The collaboration also includes researchers from Exeter University, Equipoise Imaging and University of Pennsylvania. Parts of this work were funded by the owner of the Syriac Galen Palimpsest. It also received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the University of Manchester Research Institute in the United Kingdom. Governor Brown Announces Appointments Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: Christie Bautista, 40, of Glendale, has been appointed special assistant for program review at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, where she has served as a senior environmental scientist since 2013 and as an environmental scientist from 2006 to 2013. Bautista was president of the American Society for Public Administration, Southern California Chapter from 2014 to 2016, fire and environmental specialist at the Glendale Fire Department from 2004 to 2006 and staff environmental consultant at Clayton Group Services from 2002 to 2004. She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Northridge. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $133,584. Bautista is a Democrat. Debbie Lumpkin, 46, of Los Angeles, has been appointed deputy inspector general for diversity and small business development in the Office of Audits and Investigations at the California Department of Transportation. Lumpkin has been founder and partner at Debbie E. Lumpkin Consulting LLC since 2013. She held several positions at Southern California Edison from 1994 to 2013, including principal manager of supplier diversity and contract management, senior manager of call center business operations, hardware and software asset senior manager of the transmission and distribution business unit and labor relations senior project manager. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $140,004. Lumpkin is a Democrat. Scientists launch global effort to find the next diabetes drug Los Angeles, California - USC researchers issue a call to scientists around the world to help them create the first comprehensive model of a cell that is central to diabetes, the pancreatic beta cell. USC researchers have launched a massive scientific effort to construct a detailed, virtual 3-D model of the pancreatic beta cell and its components a global project that aims to one day curb the worldwide rise of diabetes. Diabetes cases have more than tripled worldwide since 1980, from an estimated 100 million to more than 400 million people, according to the World Health Organization. More than 30 million Americans have the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. In a commentary published Thursday in the journal Cell, co-authors representing the new Pancreatic Beta Cell Consortium at USC announced what they described as a call to arms inviting scientists worldwide to join the cause and help model the cell at an atomic scale and whole-cell scale. The consortium was founded by researchers at the Bridge Institute at USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience. They ambitiously aim to complete the project in five years. Raymond Stevens, a USC chemist and structural biologist who is the lead author on the paper and a founder of the consortium, said he believes that completion of the whole-cell model is critical for developing the next therapies for diabetes. We are converging to solve a difficult problem to solve a structure at multiple scales, from the individual atoms, to the small molecules, to the macromolecule, to the cell, said Stevens said. The effort calls upon an array of experts in biology, chemistry, computational biology (modeling), engineering, mathematics and imaging. The group also includes artists and filmmakers. Stevens said he believes the nonscientists may provide a unique and useful perspective on interpretation of their research. The launch point for this convergent scientific effort, the Bridge Institute at USC Michelson Center, is fitting. The center comprises engineers and scientists from three schools at USC the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. They are working together to develop new treatments, diagnostics and devices to solve the greatest challenges of the 21st century, such as cancer and Alzheimers disease. The beta cell project marks the first major cross-disciplinary collaboration at the new Michelson Center, which officially opened at Michelson Hall last November. Collaborators in the consortium are from top-ranked institutions including Caltech, the University of California, San Francisco, The Scripps Research Institute and the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University. They are working together to develop new treatments, diagnostics and devices to solve diabetes, one of the greatest challenges of the modern era. The Bridge Institute at USC Michelson Center also has expanded its projects to draw from the perspectives and skills of artists and filmmakers at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Who can participate? The effort has been described as crowd-sourced science. Like the Human Genome Project, the beta cell project is open source, meaning the consortium is establishing an open data bank to which anyone can deposit research and data about the pancreatic beta cell. Multiple sets of data will be integrated to form the multiscale model of the cell and all of its components, from the tiniest individual atoms to the largest the nucleus. For quality control, consortium scientists will curate and vet all contributions. This is the ultimate modeling problem, said co-author Andrej Sali, a scientist and bioengineer at the University of California, San Francisco who, as a modeler, integrates data. The cell is a very big system. Its not like gas and its not like a crystal, but it maximizes complexity somewhere in between these two extremes, Sali said. Its also hierarchical: atoms, molecules, complexes, organelles and cells. It will have to be solved by an integrative approach that relies on multiple sources of information. Why model the pancreatic beta cell? The pancreatic beta cell was a leading candidate for what may be the first comprehensive whole-cell model in the world for a few reasons. First, it has been studied extensively, which means several data sets, images and other resources already exist. Second, the beta cell is a simple machine: input (glucose) equals output (insulin). This cell type has such huge medical implications, said Frank Alber, a co-author of the paper and professor of molecular and computational biology at the Bridge Institute at USC Michelson Center. You want to use a predictive, whole-cell model in drug design, and you want to see what effects that drug would have, not only on a protein pathway within the cell, but on the whole cell. Co-author Kate White is the director for the consortium, which so far involves an estimated 50 scientists, many from USC, and others from across California, the United States and China. In initial meetings, the consortium has been discussing the mysterious black boxes the unknown information about the cell. One of those black boxes is: What are all the components of the cell? We know this to some degree, but we dont know all of them, White said. We also need to understand which components of the cell are talking to which, how long those conversations last and how much variability there is from cell to cell. What does this mean for science? The challenge of understanding the pancreatic beta cell could be compared to getting to know an unfamiliar city. In a collaboration with the World Building Media lab at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and working with professors Alex McDowell and Todd Richmond, the consortium is trying to use world-building tools, similar to what was used to craft the film Minority Report, and portray the cell as a world. We are starting to understand who the citizens are, what the infrastructure looks like and how the governing hierarchy operates, said co-author Kyle McClary, a chemistry PhD candidate at the Dornsife College. We are trying to distill the cells fundamental properties into abstract representations that are more approachable. Co-author Jitin Singla, a PhD candidate in computational biology and bioinformatics at the Dornsife College, believes that the project will shed new light on understanding life itself. Efforts to understand the cell in its entirety are important for me to understand how we perceive life at its microscopic scale, Singla said. The further we move forward in this project, the more it excites me as it unfolds new dimensions, knowledge and intricacies of the cell and how all of this comes together to make one living cell. Stevens said a comprehensive model of the beta cell would have implications far beyond the pancreatic beta cell. We hope our project lays the foundation for people to be able to model neurons, stem cells and other types of cells, he said. Data-driven optimization to improve mobile healthcare in disadvantaged communities Washington, DC - The overall goal of this National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported project is to optimize and implement a data-based program to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of mobile health clinics. Led by health economist Rigoberto Delgado, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, a team of researchers wants to help Texas Children's Hospital and other providers target their limited resources where they can do the most good. The team is mining public domain data in new ways, using geospatial mapping science and predictive analytics to forecast areas of highest risk for outbreaks. The researchers want to figure out not only where to send the mobile health clinics, but ultimately, how to prevent illness outbreaks in the first place and reduce the number of emergency room visits. Delgado's colleague on the project, optimization expert Jiming Peng, of the University of Houston, is assisting with the modeling, algorithm design and analysis. "We're designing a way to predict the future demand for mobile clinic services in various communities, based on new modeling that uses many data sets from different sources," explains Peng. "And, a challenging issue is that all the optimization models developed in the project have binary variables with uncertain parameters and constraints due to the numerical errors in the process of data analysis, and the dynamic nature of the target population." But, the researchers have already identified communities with high demand for some specific mobile clinic services in Houston and made recommendations to their hospital partners. Ultimately, they hope to reduce healthcare costs and disparities by identifying policies and strategies to encourage comprehensive and collaborative programs of mobile health units in Texas and across the United States. The research in this episode was supported by NSF award #1637347, Increasing Healthcare Access to At-risk Populations: Research-based Policies for Mobile Health Clinics. Mysterious skeleton shows molecular complexity of bone diseases Stanford, California - The strange skeletal remains of a fetus discovered in Chile have turned up new insights into the genetics of some bone diseases, according to a new study from researchers at Stanford and UCSF. A bizarre human skeleton, once rumored to have extraterrestrial origins, has gotten a rather comprehensive genomic work-up, the results of which are now in, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine report. The findings stamp out any remaining questions about the specimens home planet its without a doubt human but more than that, the analysis answers questions about remains that have long been a genetic enigma. After five years of deep genomic analysis, Garry Nolan, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford, and Atul Butte, MD, PhD, director of the Institute for Computational Health Sciences at the University of California-San Francisco, have pinpointed the mutations responsible for the anomalous specimen. The researchers found mutations in not one but several genes known to govern bone development; whats more, some of these molecular oddities have never been described before. To me, it seems that when doctors perform analyses for patients and their families, were often searching for one cause one super-rare or unusual mutation that can explain the childs ailment. But in this case, were pretty confident that multiple things went wrong, said Butte. Its an indication, he said, that looking for a single mutation, or even mutations that are already known to cause a particular disease, can discourage researchers from looking for other potential genetic causes and, in turn, potential treatments for patients. Nolan, who holds the Rachford and Carlota Harris Professorship, and Butte, a former Stanford faculty member who now holds the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professorship at UCSF, are senior authors of the study, which was published online March 22 in Genome Research. Sanchita Bhattacharya, a bioinformatics researcher at UCSF, is the lead author. A human? A primate? An alien? The skeleton, nicknamed Ata, was discovered more than a decade ago in an abandoned town in the Atacama Desert of Chile. After trading hands and eventually finding a permanent home in Spain, the mummified specimen started to garner public attention. Standing just 6 inches tall about the length of a dollar bill with an angular, elongated skull and sunken, slanted eye sockets, the internet began to bubble with other-worldly hullabaloo and talk of ET. After sequencing Ata's genome, researchers found mutations in seven genes that separately or in combinations contribute to various bone deformities, facial malformations or skeletal dysplasia. Emery Smith I had heard about this specimen through a friend of mine, and I managed to get a picture of it, Nolan said. You cant look at this specimen and not think its interesting; its quite dramatic. So I told my friend, Look, whatever it is, if its got DNA, I can do the analysis. With the help of Ralph Lachman, MD, clinical professor of radiology at Stanford and an expert in a type of pediatric bone disease, Nolan set the record straight. Their analysis pointed to a decisive conclusion: This was the skeleton of a human female, likely a fetus, that had suffered severe genetic mutations. In addition, Nolan saw that Ata, though most likely a fetus, had the bone composition of a 6-year-old, an indication that she had a rare, bone-aging disorder. To understand the genetic underpinnings of Atas physicality, Nolan turned to Butte for help in genomic evaluation. He accepted the challenge, running a work-up so comprehensive it nearly rose to the level of patient care. Butte noted that some people might wonder about the point of such in-depth analyses. We thought this would be an interesting exercise in applying the tools that we have today to really see what we could find, he said. The phenotype, the symptoms and size of this girl were extremely unusual, and analyzing these kinds of really puzzling, old samples teaches us better how to analyze the DNA of kids today under current conditions. New insights through an old skeleton To understand the genetic drivers at play, Butte and Nolan extracted a small DNA sample from Atas ribs and sequenced the entire genome. The skeleton is approximately 40 years old, so its DNA is modern and still relatively intact. Moreover, data collected from whole-genome sequencing showed that Atas molecular composition aligned with that of a human genome. Nolan noted that 8 percent of the DNA was unmatchable with human DNA, but that was due to a degraded sample, not extraterrestrial biology. (Later, a more sophisticated analysis was able to match up to 98 percent of the DNA, according to Nolan.) The genomic results confirmed Atas Chilean descent and turned up a slew of mutations in seven genes that separately or in combinations contribute to various bone deformities, facial malformations or skeletal dysplasia, more commonly known as dwarfism. Some of these mutations, though found in genes already known to cause disease, had never before been associated with bone growth or developmental disorders. Knowing these new mutational variants could be useful, Nolan said, because they add to the repository of known mutations to look for in humans with these kinds of bone or physical disorders. For me, what really came of this study was the idea that we shouldnt stop investigating when we find one gene that might explain a symptom. It could be multiple things going wrong, and its worth getting a full explanation, especially as we head closer and closer to gene therapy, Butte said. We could presumably one day fix some of these disorders, and were going to want to make sure that if theres one mutation, we know that but if theres more than one, we know that too. Other Stanford authors of the study are graduate student Alexandra Sockell; senior research scientist Felice Bava, PhD; and Carlos Bustamante, PhD, professor of biomedical data science and of genetics. Researchers at UCSF, Roche Sequencing Solutions, National Autonomous University of Mexico and Ultra Intelligence Corporation also contributed to the work. Nolan is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Child Health Research Institute, Stanford ChEM-H and the Stanford Cancer Institute. The study was supported by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Childrens Health, UCSF endowment funds and the Human Frontier Science Program. Stanfords departments of Pediatrics, of Microbiology and Immunology and of Genetics also supported the work. Redflow recruits new skills for next phase of growth New Redflow CEO Tim HarrisAustralian battery company Redflow Limited (ASX: RFX) has named experienced technology executive Tim Harris as its new CEO to focus on the companys growth and commercialisation. Long-term Redflow executive Richard Aird returns to the role of Chief Operating Officer, a critical position that focuses his deep skills and experience with development of Redflows unique ZBM2 battery to ensure its successful production by the new factory in Thailand. Richard will continue his successful work in driving cost-downs, optimisations and quality improvements in the supply-chain and manufacturing process as the company prepares to ramp-up battery production during 2018. Since last years strategic review, Redflow has transferred its manufacturing operations from North America to Thailand, where it is now successfully producing battery stacks - the critical component of its zinc-bromine flow batteries - and is on track to produce full batteries by June this year. Tim Harris has extensive international business experience from the telecommunications sector - a key market for Redflow - where he was previously Chief Commercial Officer for Chorus in New Zealand and held senior leadership roles for BT Group in Singapore and the UK. More information about Tim is available at https://redflow.com/about-us/board-management/. Redflow Chairman Brett Johnson said the company was now focussed on growth. After a year of change, we are enormously grateful for Richards leadership to establish the new factory in Thailand, which is the foundation for our next phase of growth, he said. We have recruited Tim as CEO to allow Richard to focus on his operational strengths in scaling up production from Thailand to deliver fully tested quality batteries. Concurrently, Tim will work with myself and our technology evangelist Simon Hackett to identify and implement the optimal growth and commercialisation strategies for the company overall. For media assistance, call John Harris on +61 8 8431 4000 or email john@mpress.com.au. About Redflow www.redflow.com Redflows unique zinc-bromine flow batteries are designed for stationary energy storage applications ranging from its ZCell residential battery to its scalable ZBM2 batteries for industrial, commercial, telecommunications and grid-scale deployment. Redflow Limited, a publicly-listed company (ASX: RFX), produces high energy density batteries that are sold, installed and maintained by an international network of system integrators. Redflow batteries offer unique advantages including 100 per cent depth of discharge, tolerance of ambient temperatures as hot as 50 degrees Celsius and sustained energy storage of 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) throughout their operating life. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Indian American actor/comedian Aziz Ansari has largely avoided the spotlight ever since a 23-year-old woman claimed that she was pressured to perform sexual acts with him following a date in 2017. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Attorney Tejal Mehta. Attorney Mehta brings broad knowledge and experience to the District Court as both a prosecutor and defense attorney who has practiced civil as well as criminal law, said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. (LinkedIn photo) Dutch coatings company AkzoNobel has agreed to sell off its specialty chemicals business, leaving it focused on paint production. AkzoNobel will sell the unit to US private equity group Carlyle, and Singaporean investment fund GIC, at an estimated enterprise value of 10.1 billion ($12.5 billion).... March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The deal of the century is a farce. We suspected that, of course, but, upon his return from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in more detail why the long-anticipated plan of the administration of US President Donald Trump has no basis in reality. Netanyahu told his Cabinet that there are no concrete details to report on the US peace plan. One has to suspect that the plan was, all along, the US disavowal of the so-called peace process and the dropping of the honest peace broker act. In fact, that much has been achieved, especially with the US decision last December to accept Israels illegal annexation of occupied East Jerusalem and agreement to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Since then, Israel has initiated a clear strategy to annexing the West Bank. Its top officials are contending that the two-state solution is not even deserving of a conversation. We are done with that, said Israels education minister, in recent remarks to students in New York. They have a Palestinian state in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority (PA) of Mahmoud Abbas was, thus, left with the inviable position. It is lashing out left and right, convulsing like a wounded animal. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter It is hard to imagine that, at the moment, Abbas is orbiting within a grand strategy of any kind. Random statements, attacks on his Palestinian rivals, the Israelis and the Americans mostly for betraying him is all that seems to keep his name in the news. May God demolish his home, was one of the statements attributed to the Palestinian leader, in response to Trumps decision regarding Jerusalem. That was on 14 January. A few days ago, Abbas referred to David Friedman, the ardently right-wing and pro-Israel US ambassador to Israel, as son of a bitch. Friedman is an avid supporter of the illegal Jewish settlements, but name calling is not a promising sign of a constructive Palestinian strategy. Abbas feels beleaguered, disowned by Washington and a victim of an elaborate US-Israeli plot that has cost Palestinians precious time and much land, while leaving Abbas with nothing but an embarrassing political legacy. Abbas is not necessarily angry because the US has betrayed its role in the peace process. He is angry because he has, for years, perceived himself as a member in the American camp of moderates in the Middle East. Now, however, he matters not. The US government is notorious for betraying its allies. The US, now run by the most pro-Israel administration in years, has no role for Abbas to play. They renounced him, just like that, and carried on to imagine a solution in Palestine that only serves the interests of Israel. A recent meeting, chaired by leading pro-Israel officials in Washington, including Jared Kushner, was dubbed as a brainstorming session on how to solve the Gaza crisis. No Palestinian was involved in the conference. Since Abbas has hung all his hopes on Washington, he is left with no plan B. The Europeans neither have the will, desire, nor political clout to replace the US. They have often served as lackeys to US foreign policy, and it would not be easy, if at all possible, for any European government to replace the US as the new honest peace broker. Abbas popularity and that of his Authority among Palestinians is negligible. In fact, 70 per cent of Palestinians want him to step down immediately. That was according to a poll conducted last December. Yet, at 83 and suffering from ill health, Abbas is still holding on tightly to his chair. It may appear that, during this time of political uncertainty and isolation, it would be advantageous for Abbas to reach out to other Palestinian factions. However, the opposite is true. Abbas is accusing his main rival, Hamas, of an assassination attempt targeting PA Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah. After a promising agreement, signed in Cairo between Fatah Abbas party and Hamas, all hopes have been dashed once more. In a joint conference with visiting Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, in Ramallah, Abbas proclaimed: The Gaza Strip has been hijacked by Hamas. They must immediately hand over everything, first and foremost security, to the Palestinian national consensus government, he said. What national consensus government is Abbas referring to anyway? There have been no general elections since Hamas won the parliamentary majority in 2006. Abbas himself rules on an expired mandate. As of 9 January 2009, Abbas lost his democratic legitimacy. Oddly, it is the conflict between him and Hamas that is allowing both sides to impose themselves on the Palestinian public which is left disenchanted, practically leaderless and facing the brunt of occupation and apartheid on its own. Instead of mending fences with the Palestinian people, Abbas continues with his political one-man show, encouraged by his enablers in the PA, who are equally responsible for the havoc wreaked by the US and Israeli governments. Still, the Palestinian leadership (whether in the PA or the PLO) continues with its desperate attempts to resuscitate the peace process; lonely warriors in a political illusion that has been abandoned even by its own masters. For Abbas and the PA, participating in the US-led project was the last bridge they wished not to burn. Trumps decision to relocate his countrys embassy signaled that the last bridge was, indeed, up in flames, but Abbas is yet to be convinced of this obvious reality. From American and Israeli viewpoints, the peace process could be considered a success. It allowed the US to define the political agenda in the Middle East and for Israel to shape the physical reality of the Occupied Territories in any way it found suitable. The Palestinian leadership has emerged as the biggest loser. It first sat at the negotiation table to talk of borders, refugees, water, territories and Jerusalem, only to be left with nothing at the end. It has lost both credibility and legitimacy. The space in which it was permitted to negotiate withered year after year. Now, the Palestinian people must reflect on this current harsh reality, but also hope for a new beginning predicated on unity, the re-articulating of national priorities, and a new strategy. March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - A senior Iranian official says the United States has been put to shame by the fact that its national security advisor is on the payroll of a terrorist cult, alluding to the money paid by anti-Iran Mojahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) to John Bolton for delivering speeches at the terrorist groups gatherings. "For a so-called superpower country, it is shameful that its national security official is receiving a salary from a terrorist cult with a history of killing 17,000 innocent Iranian nationals," Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said. US President Donald Trump announced on March 22 that he is replacing his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, with John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations and a military intervention hawk. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Trump announced the replacement, making Bolton his third national security adviser since coming to office and continuing a shake-up that creates one of the most hawkish national security teams of any White House in recent history. In November 2016, US-based magazine Politico reported that the former US envoy was on the MKO's payroll and lobbied to erase the group from the State Departments list of terrorist groups during Hillary Clintons tenure as the top US diplomat. The report also underlined that in addition to longtime regime-change advocates in the US such as Bolton, who recently boasted before a MKO crowd in Paris that he had been engaged with them for a decade, the terror group signed up Republican and Democratic politicians en masse. The US State Department added the MKO to its list of foreign terrorist organizations in 1997 for the groups involvement in the killing of Americans in Iran in the 1970s and an attack on US soil in 1992. Shamkhani further said various US governments have always pursued a stance based on undermining and harming the Islamic Republic. He added that the current US president's "cult of personality" has led to a discrepancy between his anti-Iran measures and decisions and the complex attitude of his predecessors. The SNSC secretary said the US government is investing millions of dollars in anti-Iran strategies, such as acts of launching acts of military intervention, imposing economic sanctions, weakening the country's defense might and creating political and security crises. "However, these measures have not only failed to help them achieve their goals but laid the groundwork for improving Iran's strength and spiritual influence," Shamkhani pointed out. His remarks came after a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Saturday that the Islamic Republic should strengthen relations with Russia and China to counter tougher US policies expected after President Trump's appointment of Bolton as national security adviser. "The use of hardline elements against the Islamic Republic of Iran shows that the Americans seek to exert more pressure on Iran," Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi said. Bolton is also strongly opposed to the landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015. He also advocates a regime change in Iran. A February op-ed for The Wall Street Journal said Bolton "has been obsessed for many years with going to war against the Islamic Republic." - Among those most alarmed by President Donald Trumps selection of March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House Among those most alarmed by President Donald Trumps selection of John Bolton as his new national security adviser on Thursday were supporters of the Iran nuclear deal, the 2015 international agreement that curbed Irans nuclear program in exchange for a partial lifting of economic sanctions. Rob Malley, who coordinated Middle East policy in the Obama administration, observed that Boltons appointment, along with the nomination of Iran deal critic Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, seemed to signal that the agreement would most likely be dead and buried within months. Trita Parsi, leader of the National Iranian American Council wrote on Twitter: People, let this be very clear: The appointment of Bolton is essentially a declaration of war with Iran. With Pompeo and Bolton, Trump is assembling a WAR CABINET. Their alarm was understandable. Bolton, who made his name as a belligerent member of George W. Bushs State Department and a Fox News contributor, has not only demanded that the Trump administration withdraw from the nuclear deal, he also previously advocated bombing Iran instead. Bolton has spent the better part of a decade calling for the United States to help overthrow the theocratic government in Tehran and hand power to a cult-like group of Iranian exiles with no real support inside the country. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Withdrawing from the Iran #NuclearDeal should be a top @realDonaldTrump administration priority. John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) July 17, 2017 Just eight months ago, at a Paris gathering, Bolton told members of the Iranian exile group, known as the Mujahedeen Khalq, MEK, or Peoples Mujahedeen, that the Trump administration should embrace their goal of immediate regime change in Iran and recognize their group as a viable alternative. The outcome of the presidents policy review should be to determine that the Ayatollah Khomeinis 1979 revolution will not last until its 40th birthday, Bolton said. (The 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution will be on February 11, 2019.) The declared policy of the United States should be the overthrow of the mullahs regime in Tehran, Bolton added. The behavior and the objectives of the regime are not going to change and, therefore, the only solution is to change the regime itself. As the Iranian expatriate journalist Bahman Kalbasi noted, Bolton concluded his address to the exiles with a rousing promise: And thats why, before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran! #JohnBolton 8 months ago among MEK supporters tells them they will overthrow #Irans regime and celebrate in #Tehran with Bolton himself present, before 2019 pic.twitter.com/H7oaaU3faU Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) March 22, 2018 To understand how extraordinary it is that the man about to become the presidents most senior national security official made this promise to the MEK, it is important to know that, until recently, the Iranian dissidents had spent three decades trying to achieve their aims through violence, including terrorist attacks. After members of the MEK helped foment the 1979 revolution, in part by killing American civilians working in Tehran, the group then lost a bitter struggle for power to the Islamists led by the revolutions leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. With its leadership forced to flee Iran in 1981, the MEKs members set up a government-in-exile in France and established a military base in Iraq, where they were given arms and training by Saddam Hussein, as part of a strategy to destabilize the government in Tehran that he was at war with. In recent years, as The Intercept has reported, the MEK has poured millions of dollars into reinventing itself as a moderate political group ready to take power in Iran if Western-backed regime change ever takes place. To that end, it lobbied successfully to be removed from the State Departments list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2012. The Iranian exiles achieved this over the apparent opposition of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in part by paying a long list of former U.S. officials hefty speaking fees of between $10,000 to $50,000 for hymns of praise like the one Bolton delivered last July. But, according to Ariane Tabatabai, a Georgetown University scholar, the cult-like dissident group whose married members were reportedly forced to divorce and take a vow of lifelong celibacy has no viable chance of seizing power in Iran. If the current government is not Iranians first choice for a government, the MEK is not even their last and for good reason. The MEK supported Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War. The peoples discontent with the Iranian government at that time did not translate into their supporting an external enemy that was firing Scuds into Tehran, using chemical weapons and killing hundreds of thousands of Iranians, including many civilians. Today, the MEK is viewed negatively by most Iranians, who would prefer to maintain the status quo than rush to the arms of what they consider a corrupt, criminal cult. Despite such doubts that the MEKs political wing, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, is any more reliable than Ahmad Chalabis Iraqi National Congress proved to be, spending lavishly on paid endorsements has earned the group a bipartisan roster of Washington politicians willing to sign up as supporters. At a previous gala, in 2016, Bolton was joined in singing the groups praises by another former U.N. ambassador, Bill Richardson; a former attorney general, Michael Mukasey; the former State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley; the former Homeland Security adviser Frances Townsend; the former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.; and the former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. That Paris gala was hosted by Linda Chavez, a former Reagan administration official. At a similar event this January, the backdrop behind former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, as he praised MEK leader Maryam Rajavi, made the aim of the groups investment in American politicians clear. Unsurprisingly, leading figures from among the exile groups Washington followers have expressed delight over Boltons impending elevation to the White House .@AmbJohnBolton has the right vision and great understanding of the whole region especially the threat from the Iranian regime and the need for a #FreeIran. https://t.co/zlJocvDwgT Alireza Jafarzadeh (@A_Jafarzadeh) March 22, 2018 Congratulations to @AmbJohnBolton for the new post. Well deserved. https://t.co/TuXgvx9ApY Shirin Nariman (@ShirinNariman) March 22, 2018 At the groups celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Albania on Tuesday, Rajavi was joined on stage by Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City. Mr. Giuliani reiterated that unlike other countries in the region, there is an alternative to the ruling regime in Iran. Thus, its overthrow will lead to peace and tranquillity in a region that has been severely threatened by the clerical regime.#Iran#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/BFb5fWcFgs Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) March 20, 2018 Although the official announcement from the White House was not made until Thursday, Giuliani told the group, to loud applause, that Bolton is going to be President Trumps national security adviser. In case there was any doubt among the exiles that Bolton might not advise Trump to overthrow Irans government, Giuliani assured them that if anything, John Bolton has become more determined that there needs to be regime change in Iran, that the nuclear agreement needs to be burned, and that you need to be in charge of that country. Moments later, Giuliani led the crowd in chanting regime change. Despite the fact that Trump ran for office as a critic of the decision to invade Iraq, Bolton still refuses to call the preemptive attack a mistake. That position stunned even Fox Newss Tucker Carlson, during an interview two weeks ago. After Carlson pointed out that Bolton had called for regime change in Iraq, Libya, Iran, and Syria, and the first of those had been a disaster, Bolton disagreed, saying, I think your analysis is simple-minded, frankly. I think the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, that military action, was a resounding success, Bolton told Carlson. The chaos that followed in Iraq, he said, was caused by a poorly executed occupation that ended too soon. On the bright side, Bolton said, the mistakes the U.S. made in Iraq offered lessons about what to do after a regime is overthrown in the future. March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The other shoe dropped. On the heels of his cowardly fire-by-tweet dismissal of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump has dismissed National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and replaced him with John Bolton, the hard-line former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Uber-hawk Mike Pompeo is headed from the CIA to the State Department, and Gina Haspel, a CIA loyalist who ran a torture site for George W. Bush and authorized the destruction of videotapes documenting what the CIA was doing, has been picked to replace him. Just how scared should you be? There seem to be two general reactions to the latest upheaval in Trumps topsy-turvy. One interpretation is that this latest reshuffle amounts to Trump getting rid of the grown-ups who have been trying to manage the tweeter-in-chief for the past year and replacing them with advisors who see the world as he does and will let Trump be Trump. In this view, the new team will enable him instead of trying to rein him in, and hell become the Trump of 2016, who called U.S. foreign policy a complete and total disaster and promised America First. Trump himself has encouraged this view by suggesting that he is finally assembling the sort of team he has always wanted. (Which raises an obvious question: Who was the idiot who picked his first team? Or his second? Oh, right.) Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The second interpretation is more alarmist and basically tells you to start digging that backyard bomb shelter. In this view, the departures of Tillerson and McMaster and the arrivals of Bolton, Pompeo, and Haspel herald the ascendance of a hawkish contingent that will tear up the Iran deal, reinstate the torture regime, and eventually start a war with North Korea that goes way beyond a simple bloody nose. And with Bolton in the White House, Trump is going to be advised by a guy who never saw a war he didnt like (when observed from a safe distance, of course). Let me be clear: Boltons appointment is on par with most of Trumps personnel choices, which is to say that its likely to be a disaster. His views on foreign policy are crude and bellicose, and his track record as a policy advocate and pundit do not, to put it politely, inspire confidence. Nor does he seem to have learned a thing from his past mistakes. And where McMaster and Tillerson did what they could to limit the damage that Trump has done to Americas international reputation and critical alliance partnerships, Boltons particular skill as a diplomat seems to have been finding creative new ways to offend Americas friends. But Boltons arrival is hardly a return to the Trump that we saw in the 2016 campaign. Trump ran for president by attacking the entire foreign-policy establishment, suggesting that it was out of touch, unaccountable, and prone to get the United States into pointless wars. Since becoming president, however, Trump has increased defense spending, escalated in Afghanistan, given the Pentagon and certain headstrong U.S. allies the green light to use more force in more places (with disappointing results), and generally doubled down on the same overly militarized approach to foreign policy that had repeatedly failed under Bill Clinton, Bush, and, yes, even Barack Obama. Boltons appointment (along with Trumps other personnel shifts) is not a bold move toward America First if that term means a smarter and more restrained foreign policy that would reduce U.S. overseas burdens, improve the countrys strategic position, and actually make Americans safer and richer. Instead, whether Trump knows it or not, putting Bolton, Pompeo, and Haspel in key positions looks more like a return to Cheneyism, by which I mean a foreign policy that inflates threats, dismisses serious diplomacy, thinks allies are mostly a burden, is contemptuous of institutions, believes that the United States is so powerful that it can just issue ultimatums and expect others to cave, and believes that a lot of thorny foreign-policy problems can be solved by just blowing something up. Boy, that formula really worked well the last time the United States tried it, didnt it? No wonder a sophisticated foreign-policy expert like Trump wants to try it again. Thus, the real lesson of the Bolton appointment has less to do with Bolton himself and more about what it says about the U.S. foreign-policy establishment. Youre undoubtedly going to read a lot of heartfelt, knickers-in-a-twist commentaries in the next few weeks about the dangers of appointing a wild-eyed radical to such a sensitive position, but the plain fact is that Bolton is not really an outlier within the U.S. foreign-policy community. Its not like Trump just appointed Medea Benjamin (from the left) or Rand Paul (from the right) or even an experienced and knowledgeable contrarian such as Charles W. Freeman Jr. or Andrew Bacevich. Instead, he appointed someone with decidedly hawkish views but who is still within the acceptable consensus in Washington. Look at Boltons pedigree and career. Hes a graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School. He worked at Covington & Burling, a venerable D.C. law firm where former Secretary of State Dean Acheson also worked. He has been a senior fellow for years at the conservative but mainstream American Enterprise Institute. He writes frequently for obscure, wild-and-crazy, radical publications including, er the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and even Foreign Policy. Is this your idea of a fringe figure? True, Bolton was a vocal supporter of the Iraq War, but that hardly makes him a weirdo. As Im sure hed be the first to point out, a lot of other people drank that particular Kool-Aid, including Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, James Steinberg, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Susan Rice, Robert Gates, and a long, long list of other respectable figures. And dont forget that the other geniuses who dreamed up and sold that disaster people such as William Kristol, James Woolsey, Robert Kagan, Bret Stephens, Max Boot, Eliot Cohen, David Frum, Paul Wolfowitz, etc. are still respected figures in the foreign-policy establishment despite having never admitted they were wrong or expressed any public regret for launching a disastrous war in which hundreds of thousands of people died. Like Trump, Bolton seems particularly worried about Iran and North Korea, but so are most members of Congress and much of the think tank world in D.C., too. Indeed, there are plenty of people who strongly support the current nuclear deal but who also believe the United States should get tougher with Tehran. Nor is Bolton the only person in Washington who has proposed taking military action against North Korea. After all, it was Boltons predecessor, the now-departing McMaster, who kept making the case for the bloody nose approach. Bolton is also something of an Islamophobe and is deeply suspicious of international institutions, but that hardly makes him unique in U.S. foreign-policy circles either. He seems especially fond of using military force, but how many prominent foreign-policy intellectuals are openly opposed to it and willing to stand up and say so? Id say damn few, because nobody angling for a top job in Washington wants to be seen as soft. Remember how Democrats and Republicans alike applauded Trump when he authorized some strategically meaningless cruise missile strikes on Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria? That simple fact goes a long way toward explaining how the United States came to be waging wars of various sorts in a dozen or more countries, with no end in sight and with hardly anyone saying boo about it. Bolton is just a more outspoken member of the consensus here, too. Dont get me wrong: Im not trying to normalize this appointment or suggest that it shouldnt concern you. Rather, Im suggesting that if you are worried about Bolton, you should ask yourself the following question: What sort of political system allows someone with his views to serve in high office, where he helps talk the country into a disastrous war, never expresses a moments regret for his errors, continues to advocate for more of the same for the next decade, and then gets a second chance to make the same mistakes again? So by all means worry. But the real problem isnt Bolton its a system that permits people like him to screw up and move up again and again. Stephen M. Walt is the Robert and Renee Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University. By Paul Craig Roberts March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Among Western political leaders there is not an ounce of integrity or morality. The Western print and TV media is dishonest and corrupt beyond repair. Yet the Russian government persists in its fantasy of working with Russias Western partners. The only way Russia can work with crooks is to become a crook. Is that what the Russian government wants? Finian Cunningham notes the absurdity in the political and media uproar over Trump (belatedly) telephoning Putin to congratulate him on his reelection with 77 percent of the vote, a show of public approval that no Western political leader could possibly attain. The crazed US senator from Arizona called the person with the largest majority vote of our time a dictator. Yet a real blood-soaked dictator from Saudi Arabia is feted at the White House and fawned over by the president of the United States. The Western politicians and presstitutes are morally outraged over an alleged poisoning, unsupported by any evidence, of a former spy of no consequence on orders by the president of Russia himself. These kind of insane insults thrown at the leader of the worlds most powerful military nationand Russia is a nation, unlike the mongrel Western countriesraise the chances of nuclear Armageddon beyond the risks during the 20th centurys Cold War. The insane fools making these unsupported accusations show total disregard for all life on earth. Yet they regard themselves as the salt of the earth and as exceptional, indispensable people. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Think about the alleged poisoning of Skirpal by Russia. What can this be other than an orchestrated effort to demonize the president of Russia? How can the West be so outraged over the death of a former double-agent, that is, a deceptive person, and completely indifferent to the millions of peoples destroyed by the West in the 21st century alone. Where is the outrage among Western peoples over the massive deaths for which the West, acting through its Saudi agent, is responsible in Yemen? Where is the Western outrage among Western peoples over the deaths in Syria? The deaths in Libya, in Somalia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Afghanistan? Where is the outrage in the West over the constant Western interference in the internal affairs of other countries? How many times has Washington overthrown a democratically-elected government in Honduras and reinstalled a Washington puppet? The corruption in the West extends beyond politicians, presstitutes, and an insouciant public to experts. When the ridiculous Condi Rice, national security adviser to president George W. Bush, spoke of Saddam Husseins non-existent weapons of mass destruction sending up a nuclear cloud over an American city, experts did not laugh her out of court. The chance of any such event was precisely zero and every expert knew it, but the corrupt experts held their tongues. If they spoke the truth, they knew that they would not get on TV, would not get a government grant, would be out of the running for a government appointment. So they accepted the absurd lie designed to justify an American invasion that destroyed a country. This is the West. There is nothing but lies and indifference to the deaths of others. The only outrage is orchestrated and directed against a target: the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi, Iran, Assad, Russia and Putin, and against reformist leaders in Latin America. The targets for Western outrage are always those who act independently of Washington or who are no longer useful to Washingtons purposes. The quality of people in Western governments has collapsed to the very bottom of the barrel. The British actually have a person, Boris Johnson, as Foreign Secretary, who is so low-down that a former British ambassador has no compunction in calling him a categorical liar . The British lab Porton Down, contrary to Johnsons claim, has not identified the agent associated with the attack on Skirpal as a Russian novichok agent. Note also that if the British lab is able to identify a novichok agent, it also has the capability of producing it, a capability that many countries have as the formulas were published years ago in a book. That the novichok poisoning of Skirpal is an orchestration is obvious. The minute the event occured the story was ready. With no evidence in hand, the British government and presstitute media were screaming the Russians did it. Not content with that, Boris Johnson screamed Putin did it. In order to institutionalize fear and hatred of Russia into British consciousness, British school children are being taught that Putin is like Hitler Orchestrations this blatant demonstrate that Western governments have no respect for the intelligence of their peoples. That Western governments get away with these fantastic lies indicates that the governments are immune to accountability. Even if accountability were possible, there is no sign that Western peoples are capable of holding their governments accountable. As Washington drives the world to nuclear war, where are the protests? The only protest is brainwashed school children protesting the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment. Western democracy is a hoax. Consider Catalonia. The people voted for independence and were denounced for doing so by European politicians. The Spanish government invaded Catalonia alleging that the popular referendum, in which people expressed their opinion about their own future, was illegal. Catalonian leaders are in prison awaiting trial, except for Carles Puigdemont who escaped to Belgium. Now Germany has captured him on his return to Belgium from Finland where he lectured at the University of Hesinki and is holding him in jail for a Spanish government that bears more resembance to Francisco Franco than to democracy. The European Union itself is a conspiracy against democracy. The success of Western propaganda in creating non-existent virtues for itself is the greatest public relations success in history. March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Frankly, I am awed, amazed and even embarrassed. I was born in Switzerland, lived most of my life there, I also visited most of Europe, and I lived in the USA for over 20 years. Yet in my worst nightmares I could not have imagined the West sinking as low as it does now. I mean, yes, I know about the false flags, the corruption, the colonial wars, the NATO lies, the abject subservience of East Europeans, etc. I wrote about all that many times. But imperfect as they were, and that is putting it mildly, I remember Helmut Schmidt, Maggie Thatcher, Reagan, Mitterrand, even Chirac! And I remember what the Canard Enchaine used to be, or even the BBC. During the Cold War the West was hardly a knight in white shining armor, but still rule of law did matter, as did at least some degree of critical thinking. I am now deeply embarrassed for the West. And very, very afraid. All I see today is a submissive herd lead by true, bona fide, psychopaths (in a clinical sense of the word) And that is not the worst thing. The worst thing is the deafening silence, the way everybody just looks away, pretends like aint my business or, worse, actually takes all this grotesque spectacle seriously. What the fuck is wrong with you people?! Have you all been turned into zombies?! WAKE UP!!!!!!! Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Let me carefully measure my words here and tell you the blunt truth. Since the Neocon coup against Trump the West is now on exactly the same course as Nazi Germany was in, roughly, the mid 1930s. Oh sure, the ideology is different, the designated scapegoat also. But the mindset is *exactly* the same. Same causes produce the same effects. But this time around, there are weapons on both sides which make the Dresden Holocaust looks like a minor spark. So now we have this touching display of western solidarity not with UK or the British people, but with the City of London. Now aint that touching?! Let me ask you this: what has been the central feature of Britains policies towards Europe, oh, lets say since the Middle-Ages? Thats right: starting wars in Europe. And this time around you think its different? Does: the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior somehow not apply to the UK?! Let me also tell you this: when Napoleon and Hitler attacked Russia she was undergoing deep crises and was objectively weak (really! research it for yourself!). In both cases Russian society was deeply torn by internal contradictions and the time for attack as ideal. Not today. So I ask this simple question: do you really want to go to war against a fully united nuclear Russia? You think that this is hyperbole? Think again. The truth is that the situation today is infinitely worse than the Cuban missile crisis. First, during the Cuban missile crisis there were rational people on both side. Today there is NOT ONE SINGLE RATIONAL PERSON LEFT IN A POSITION OF POWER IN THE USA. Not ONE! Second, during the Cuban missile crisis all the new was reporting on was the crisis, the entire planet felt like we were standing at the edge of the abyss. Today nobody seems to be aware that we are about to go to war, possibly a thermonuclear war, where casualties will be counted in the hundreds of millions. All because of what? Because the people of the West have accepted, or dont even know, that they are ruled by an ugly gang of ignorant, arrogant psychopaths. At the very least this situation shows this: Representative democracy does not work. The rule of law only applies to the weak and poor. Western values have now been reduced to a sad joke. Capitalism needs war and a world hegemony to survive. The AngloZionist Empire is about to collapse, the only open question is how and at what cost. Right now they are expelling Russian diplomats en masse and they are feeling very strong and manly. Polish and Ukrainian politicians are undergoing a truly historical surge in courage and self-confidence! (hiding, as they do, behind Anglo firepower) The truth is that this is only the tip of a much bigger iceberg. In reality, crucial expert-level consultations, which are so vitally important between nuclear superpowers, have all but stopped a long time ago. We are down to top level telephone calls. That kind of stuff happens when two sides are about to go to war. For many months now Russia and NATO have made preparations for war in Europe. And Russia is ready. NATO sure aint! Oh, they have the numbers and they think they are strong. The truth is that these NATO midgets have no idea of what is about to hit them, when the Russians go to war these NATO statelets wont even understand what is happening to them. Very rapidly the real action will be left to the USA and Russia. Thus any conflict will go nuclear very fast. And, for the first time in history, the USA will be hit very, very hard, not only in Europe, the Middle-East or Asia, but also on the continental US. I was born in a Russian military family and I studied Russian and Soviet military affairs all my life. I can absolutely promise you this, please dont doubt it for one second: Russia will not back down and, if cornered, she will wipe out your entire civilization. The Russians really dont want war, they fear it (as they should!) and they will do everything to avoid it. But if attacked then expect a response of absolutely devastating violence. Dont take it from me, take it from Putin who clearly said so himself and who, at least on that issue, is supported by about 95% of the population. From the Eastern Crusades to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, enough is enough, and the Russians will not take one more western attack, especially not one backed by nuclear firepower. Again, please ponder Putins words very, very carefully: what need would we have a world if there is no Russia? All that for what? The USA and Russia have NO objective reasons to do anything but to collaborate (the Russians are absolutely baffled the fact the leaders of the USA seem to be completely oblivious to this simple fact). Okay, the City of London does have a lot of reasons to want Russia gone and silent. As Gavin Williamson, the little soy-boy in charge of UK defense, so elegantly put it, Russia should go away and shut up. Right. Let me tell you it aint happening! Britannia will be turned into a heap of radioactive ashes long before Russian goes away or shuts up. That is simply a fact. What baffles me is this: do American leaders really want to lose their country in behalf of a small nasty clique of arrogant British pompous asses who think that they still are an Empire? Did you even take a look at Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Gavin Williamson? Are you really ready to die in defense of the interest of these degenerates?! I dont get it and nobody in Russia does. Yeah, I know, all they did is expel some diplomats. And the Russians will do the same. So what? But thats missing the point! LOOK NOT WHERE WE ARE BUT WHERE WE ARE HEADING!! You can get 200,000 antigun (sigh, rolleyes) protesters in DC but NOBODY AT ALL ABOUT NUCLEAR WAR?! What is wrong with you people?! What happened to the West where I was born in in 1963? My God, is this really the end of it all? Am I the only one who sees this slow-motion train-wreck taking us all over the precipice? If you can, please give a reason to still hope. Right now I dont see many. The Saker PS: yes, I know. The rules of the blog prohibit CAPS as this is considered shouting. Okay, but this time around I AM TRYING TO SHOUT! So, for this one time only, feel free to use caps if you want. The world badly needs some shouting right now, even virtual shouting. The Essential Saker: from the trenches of the emerging multipolar world Free Download By Moon Of Alabama Within the new $700 billion defense budget the U.S. Congress allocated more money for missile defense: The Pentagon would spend an additional $1 billion on two of Lockheeds missile defense systems, bringing total appropriations for the Missile Defense Agency to $11.5 billion. Two incidents last night provide again that missile defense is a waste fo money. It hardly ever works. Strategic missile defense, which the U.S. builds to take down intercontinental missiles, will not protect against the new weapons Russia is now pursuing. The U.S. military acknowledges this. After Putin announced the new weapon systems the Trump administration raised the white flag and suddenly asked for new arms control talks. Last night the Yemeni army launched (vid) seven ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia. Three of those targeted the capital Riyadh, four were aimed ar military and infrastructure targets. In Riyadh the Saudi forces fired a a number of Patriot surface-to-air missiles and claimed that those successfully intercepted the Yemeni missiles. The Saudis Patriot Advanced Capabilities-2 system (PAC-2) are made by the U.S. company Raytheon which is also hiring former U.S. soldiers as 'Patriot Battery Systems Technician Field Engineers' to man and maintain the Saudi systems. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Earlier Saudi claims of successful intercepts turned out to be false. The small warheads of the Yemeni missiles separate from the larger missile body and are difficult to detect. The U.S. provided systems inevitably aims at the bigger empty missile body. This time various videos from Riyadh show that at least seven interceptors were fired against the three incoming missiles. At least two of the interceptors failed catastrophically. The other five seem to have simply self destructed at height. There is no sign of any real interception. One of the Patriot interceptors prematurely exploded during its boost phase. Its burning debris showered the ground with hot parts. Another Patriot interceptor made a u-turn and struck the ground some hundred meters away from onlookers: Inevitably some snarky comments followed: Jeffrey Lewis @ArmsControlWonk When your PAC2 gets radicalized and turns on you ... --- Haykal Bafana @BaFana3 Even #Saudi Patriot missiles know who the real enemy is: They boomerang back to earth and bomb Saudi Arabia. --- agitpapa @agitpapa How a real Patriot should function, killing the guys who did 9/11 instead of serving them. The other defense missiles seem to have self destructed at height presumably after they lost contact with the target. Each of these Patriot MIM-104C missiles costs some $2-3 million. The Saudis say that one man was killed and two were wounded in the Yemeni attack. It is more likely that these people were victims of the missile defense fire than of the attacking missiles. In another missile defense incident yesterday Israel fired at least some twenty of its U.S. paid Iron Dome interceptors against presumed missiles coming from the Gaza strip: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile shield intercepted a number of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Israeli media reported, after warning sirens sounded around the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory. Several videos show the missiles explode in a flash high up in the air. Such explosions are often interpreted as successful intercept but are usually just the programmed self-destruction which prevents that whole missile carcasses fall down on the people below. Indeed none of a missiles the Israeli army fired destroyed any targets as none were there: Multiple Code Red false alarms were blasted in the Hof Ashkelon and Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Councils and in the southern city of Sderot Sunday evening as the Iron Dome missile-defense mistook bullets from the Gaza Strip for a fusillade of rockets. The regional councils originally reported that the Iron Dome anti-missile system was said to have intercepted every rocket rocket. However, the IDF later confirmed that no salvo had been fired at Israel. No salvo was fired at territory in the State of Israel. The situation in the Gaza region is usual. The interceptions by the Iron Dome system were activated because of the firing of bullets from the strip. Nothing fell in Israeli territory. It is being checked whether mortars or rockets were even fired at all, the statement read. Before the IDF clarification, the regional councils instructed the southern residents to remain in sheltered rooms. Each Iron Dome missile costs at least $50,000. The IDF just spent $1,000,000 of U.S. taxpayer money because some 'oversensitive' system mistook random gun fire not aimed at Israel for incoming missiles. The U.S. strategic missile defense is against incoming long range missiles. The Patriot systems in Saudi Arabia are suposed to defend against medium range ballistic missiles. The Israeli Iron Dome systems should defend against short range missile attacks. All three systems are obviously incapable of fulfilling their task. All three demonstrate that missile defense is prohibitively costly. The cost of each missile defense interceptor is a multitude of the costs of the attacking missile. The number of interceptors is limited and the systems can be exhausted and overwhelmed by swarm attacks of cheap dummies followed by a real attack. Last year the Saudis were pushed by the Trump administration to buy the new Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system: The package that cleared Friday would include 44 THAAD launchers, 360 interceptors, 16 THAAD Fire Control and Communications Mobile Tactical Station Groups and seven AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars, along with associated support equipment and training. This new system is supposed to defend Saudi Arabia against Iranian ballistic missiles. But according to a South-Korean analysis the THAAD missile defense system has the same problem the Patriot system has. It can easily be deceived by cheap decoys and it tends to hit the incoming missile body while missing the separate warhead which simply continues its attack on the target. When the Saudi clown prince visited Washington last week The U.S. president made an embarrassing show (vid) out of such sales. The Saudis will have to pay some $15 billion for the basically useless THAAD system. "Thats peanuts to you," said Trump, but Saudi citizens may not agree with such banter. The clown prince was, apparently, not amused. But what can he do? If he stops buying useless U.S. weapons the borg in Washington will 'regime change' him in no time. Current missile defense is economically not viable. The limits of physics make it easy to overcome. But the systems still have their purpose. For U.S. politicians they are a salable way to move taxpayer money towards the owners of the defense industry. For the Israeli government they are a (U.S. paid) psychological tool to prevent its people from protesting against the consequences of Zionist land robbery. The Saudis see them as inevitable ransom payment in the U.S. extortion scheme of its 'allies'. Yesterday's public failures of missile defense endanger those purposes. If the general public comes to believe that missile defense can not work the whole scam falls apart. Any future sale should thus be conditioned on a promise to not ever use the acquired system. Vote Them Out! March for Our Lives Protesters Rally for Gun Control Reforms Watch March for Our Lives protesters in cities across the United States are rallying for stiffer gun control laws. Student survivors of the Florida shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School gave testimonials and calls to action in front of hundreds of thousands in Washington, D.C. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The views and opinions expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect those of Information Clearing House. ===== Join the Discussion It is not necessary for ICH readers to register before placing a comment. We ask that you treat others with respect. Take a moment to read the following - Comment Policy - What Or Who is Information Clearing House and Purpose and Intent of this website: It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. By Finian Cunningham - Since US President Donald Trump announced John Bolton as his new top national security advisor last week, the world has been reeling from multiple predictions of wars breaking out. March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House Since US President Donald Trump announced John Bolton as his new top national security advisor last week, the world has been reeling from multiple predictions of wars breaking out. The following is not meant to sound complacent, but the inclusion of arch war-hawk Bolton in Trumps inner circle may actually turn out to be a good thing. For it will hasten Americas reckless foreign policies and its decline as a world power. Admittedly, such an outlook is proffered against a very grim background. John Bolton has been described not so much as America First as Military First. He is credited as being the chief architect of the Iraq War under the GW Bush administration. He remains bumptiously unapologetic about promoting that war, which was based on lies and resulted in as many as one million deaths. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Bolton relishes in open contempt for the United Nations and international law, viewing both as hampering the United States from using military force whenever and wherever it wants, in pursuit of its geopolitical objectives. He has stridently called for US military attacks on North Korea and Iran, to instigate regime change. So, for mad hatter Bolton to have the ear of the president in matters of international security is indeed a cause for a foreboding apprehension. Especially given also that President Trump already seems riven with a confused foreign policy and a worrying impetuousness in dealing with the rest of the world. It says a lot whenever US media are rattled by the bellicose prospect of John Bolton guiding Trump on precarious issues. The return of John Bolton paves the way for more war, warned the Washington Post. The New York Times cautioned: The whole world should be concerned. Both news outlets had previously acted as cheerleaders for the overseas wars which Bolton promulgated when he was serving in the Bush State Department some 15 years ago. Evidently, the return of war-hawk Bolton to White House policy-making is just too much to bear. As already noted, Bolton is gung-ho for regime-change wars against North Korea and Iran. He is also hawkish towards China and what he views as the latters military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Bolton has accused Russia of an act of war by allegedly meddling in US politics. He also berated Trump last year for not being tougher towards President Vladimir Putin when the two leaders met at the G20 summit in Hamburg. Bolton claimed Putin blatantly lied to Trump when he assured him that Russia had not interfered in US elections. On any number of international tensions, the Trump administration is liable to take an even more aggressive turn with John Bolton in the wheelhouse of foreign policy. With more aggression, the odds are significantly shortened on the danger of an armed confrontation erupting. Nevertheless, there are also sound reasons why war will not break out. Far from portending a more dominant United States, the Trump administration is leading the presumptuous uni-power into greater international isolation. One reassurance: Russia and Chinas formidable military strength would give pause to even a warmonger like Bolton. This is especially true after President Putin earlier this month unveiled a new arsenal of hypersonic missiles that are invulnerable to American ballistic defense systems. Secondly, the world has changed dramatically from 15 years ago, when people like Bolton and other Neoconservatives in Washington and Europe pushed their agenda for wars and regime change. The Western public is in no mood for such warmongering, given the experience of lies and immense suffering. A case in point is Syria. In Boltons heyday, it might have been possible for Washington and its NATO allies to pull off a regime-change intervention by stealth. That is not likely today. Simply because the Western public has become much more informed and disdainful about their governments propaganda and murderous mendacity. Trumps foreign policy chaos, augmented by the unilateralism of Bolton (and the hawkish former CIA chief Mike Pompeo, nominated to become Secretary of State), will hasten the degeneration of American world power. Lets look at two imminent collision points. On Iran, the Trump administration is calling for a drastic renegotiation of the 2015 international nuclear accord or it will walk away from the deal. Bolton and Pompeo are zealous for ripping up the Iran accord. Therefore, they can be expected to hold sway over Trump following through on his threats to axe the deal in the next two months. In such a case, the Trump administration will set itself on a collision course with European allies who have invested much economic development in Iran. The Europeans are not going to sacrifice multi-billion-euro commitments in Iran just because of Trumps recklessness. Out of necessity, the main EU states like Germany and France will adopt a more challenging attitude towards Washingtons bullying. Walking away from the Iran deal may embolden Israel and Saudi Arabia to ramp up hostilities towards Tehran. Of course, such hostility will be fomented by Bolton and Pompeo. But Iran is no pushover. It also has the backing of Russia and China as military allies, which may serve as a guarantor against Washington and its clients pushing their war agenda towards Iran. North Korea is the other immediate collision point. The prospect of meaningful dialogue between Trump and Kim Jong-un tentatively set for May after Trumps surprise acceptance of an invitation to talk is not promising. With the appointment of Bolton as national security advisor and the nomination of Pompeo at the State Department (Congress still has to confirm the latter), it seems clear that any engagement with North Korea will be all about imposing an ultimatum for denuclearization. Bolton is openly disparaging towards North Korea. He rejects any proposal for a mutual settlement involving, for example, economic aid to Pyongyang. But, again, this precipitous unilateral American approach impelled by John Bolton as Trumps right-hand man will serve to alienate US power still further. China and Russia have both ruled out any American military option on North Korea. Trumps slapping of Chinas with severe export tariffs, and his administrations provocative undermining of the One China policy towards Taiwan, will ensure Beijing taking a tough line on any American aggression towards North Korea. The European Union and United Nations have also warned Washington that diplomacy is the only acceptable option to resolving the Korean conflict. So, too, has South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has consistently said that no war will be permitted on the Korean Peninsula. Trump and his war cabinet are certainly an ominous danger for conflict in several world regions. But the one abiding cause for sobriety is the military power of Russia and China, to act as the bucket of ice-cold water to reality-check any American delusions. That, however, will not stop Washington heading into its own oblivion from the combined chaos and hubris of Trump and his deluded aides. Washington is alienating and isolating itself from the world. John Bolton is a powerful catalyst to this process. March 26, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - A 65-year-old New York City cab driver from Queens, Nicanor Ochisor, hanged himself in his garage March 16, saying in a note he left behind that the ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft had made it impossible for him to make a living. It was the fourth suicide by a cab driver in New York in the last four months, including one Feb. 5 in which livery driver Douglas Schifter, 61, killed himself with a shotgun outside City Hall. Due to the huge numbers of cars available with desperate drivers trying to feed their families, wrote Schifter, they squeeze rates to below operating costs and force professionals like me out of business. They count their money and we are driven down into the streets we drive becoming homeless and hungry. I will not be a slave working for chump change. I would rather be dead. He said he had been working 100 to 120 hours a week for the past 14 years. Schifter and Ochisor were two of the millions of victims of the new economy. Corporate capitalism is establishing a neofeudal serfdom in numerous occupations, a condition in which there are no labor laws, no minimum wage, no benefits, no job security and no regulations. Desperate and impoverished workers, forced to endure 16-hour days, are viciously pitted against each other. Uber drivers make about $13.25 an hour. In cities like Detroit this falls to $8.77. Travis Kalanick, the former CEO of Uber and one of the founders, has a net worth of $4.8 billion. Logan Green, the CEO of Lyft, has a net worth of $300 million. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The corporate elites, which have seized control of ruling institutions including the government and destroyed labor unions, are re-establishing the inhumane labor conditions that characterized the 19th and early 20th centuries. When workers at General Motors carried out a 44-day sit-down strike in 1936, many were living in shacks that lacked heating and indoor plumbing; they could be laid off for weeks without compensation, had no medical or retirement benefits and often were fired without explanation. When they turned 40 their employment could be terminated. The average wage was about $900 a year at a time when the government determined that a family of four needed a minimum of $1,600 to live above the poverty line. The managers at General Motors relentlessly persecuted union organizers. The company spent $839,000 on detective work in 1934 to spy on union organizers and infiltrate union meetings. GM employed the white terrorist group the Black Legionthe police chief of Detroit was suspected of being a memberto threaten and physically assault labor activists and assassinate union leaders including George Marchuk and John Bielak, both shot to death. The reign of the all-powerful capitalist class has returned with a vengeance. The job conditions of working men and women, thrust backward, will not improve until they regain the militancy and rebuild the popular organizations that seized power from the capitalists. There are some 13,000 licensed cabs in New York City and 40,000 livery or town cars. The drivers should, as farmers did in 2015 with tractors in Paris, shut down the center of the city. And drivers in other cities should do the same. This is the only language our corporate masters understand. The ruling capitalists will be as vicious as they were in the past. Nothing enrages the rich more than having to part with a fraction of their obscene wealth. Consumed by greed, rendered numb to human suffering by a life of hedonism and extravagance, devoid of empathy, incapable of self-criticism or self-sacrifice, surrounded by sycophants and leeches who cater to their wishes, appetites and demands, able to use their wealth to ignore the law and destroy critics and opponents, they are among the most repugnant of the human species. Dont be fooled by the elites skillful public relations campaignswe are watching Mark Zuckerberg, whose net worth is $64.1 billion, mount a massive propaganda effort against charges that he and Facebook are focused on exploiting and selling our personal informationor by the fawning news celebrities on corporate media who act as courtiers and apologists for the oligarchs. These people are the enemy. Ochisor, a Romanian immigrant, owned a New York City taxi medallion. (Medallions were once coveted by cab drivers because having them allowed the drivers to own their own cabs or lease the cabs to other drivers.) Ochisor drove the night shift, lasting 10 to 12 hours. His wife drove the day shift. But after Uber and Lyft flooded the city with cars and underpaid drivers about three years ago, the couple could barely meet expenses. Ochisors home was about to go into foreclosure. His medallion, once worth $1.1 million, had plummeted in value to $180,000. The dramatic drop in the value of the medallion, which he had hoped to lease for $3,000 a month or sell to finance his retirement, wiped out his economic security. He faced financial ruin and poverty. And he was not alone. The corporate architects of the new economy have no intention of halting the assault. They intend to turn everyone into temp workers trapped in demeaning, low-paying, part-time, service-sector jobs without job security or benefits, a reality they plaster over by inventing hip terms like the gig economy. John McDonagh began driving a New York City cab 40 years ago. He, like most drivers, worked out of garages owned and operated by businesses. He was paid a percentage of what he earned each night. You could make a living [then], he told me. But everyone shared the burden. The garage shared it. The driver shared it. If you had a good night, the garage made money. If you had a bad night, you split it. Thats not the case anymore. Right now were leasing [cabs at the garages]. Leasing requires a driver to pay $120 a day for the car and $30 for the gas. The drivers begin a shift $150 in debt. Because of Uber, Lyft and other smartphone ride apps, drivers incomes have been cut by half in many cases. Cab drivers can finish their 12-hour shifts owing the garages money. Drivers are facing bankruptcies, foreclosures and evictions. Some are homeless. The TLC [New York City Transportation and Limousine Commission] wanted to limit yellow cab drivers to 12 hours a day, he said, referring to the distinctive yellow cabs that have medallions and can pick up passengers anywhere in the five boroughs. There was a protest. Yellow cab drivers were protesting that they have to work a 16-hour day in order to make a living. Its cut everything. Everybodys fighting for that extra fare. You would be at a light with two or three other yellow cabs. You saw someone up the street with luggage you would run the lights to get to them. Because that might be an airport job. Youre risking your own life, risking getting tickets, youre doing things you would never have done before. We dont have any health care, he said. Sitting for those 12 to 16 hours a day, you are getting diabetes. Theres no blood circulation. Youre putting on weight. And then theres that added stress youre not making any money. Uber and Lyft in 2016 had 370 active lobbyists in 44 states, dwarfing some of the largest business and technology companies, according to the National Employment Law Project. Together, Uber and Lyft lobbyists outnumbered Amazon, Microsoft, and Walmart combined. The two companies, like many lobbying firms, also hire former government regulators. The former head of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, for example, is now on the board of Uber. The companies have used their money and their lobbyists, most of whom are members of the Democratic Party, to free themselves from the regulations and oversight imposed on the taxi industry. The companies using ride-hail apps have flooded New York City with about 100,000 unregulated cars in the past two years. The yellow cab has to be a certain vehicle, said McDonagh. Its a Nissan. [Nissan won the bid to supply the citys cabs.] Every yellow cab has to charge a certain price. When that drop goes down, thats regulated by the city. They added on all these extra taxes, for the MTA and for the wheelchair [half of all yellow cabs are required to be wheelchair-accessible by 2020], a rush-hour tax. Uber comes in. No regulations at all. They could pick whatever type of car they want. Whatever color of car. They could change prices when its slow. They can lower the prices. When its busy they can do price surging. It can be two or three times. Whereas the yellow cab is just plowing along at the same rate at the same time. Going to Kennedy Airport from Manhattan is $52. No matter what the traffic is like, no matter how many hours it takes you to get there. Uber will jack up its prices two or three times. You might have to pay $100 to get to Kennedy Airport. While the yellow cab industry is almost regulated to death, Uber is coming in with new technology, figuring out different ways how [it is] going to make money. Its finished, with the yellow cabs. Life for Uber and Lyft drivers is as difficult. Uber and Lyft use bonuses to lure drivers into the business. Once the bonuses are gone, these drivers sink to the same economic desperation as those driving yellow cabs. Uber is leasing cars, McDonagh said. They have car dealerships that will sell. They advertise as, Listen, you can have bad credit. Come down to Uber. Well get you the money or loan to buy this car. And what they do is theyll take the money directly out of what youre making that day to pay for the loan. They cant lose. And if you go under, theyll sell the car back to the dealership and then redo it for the next immigrant driver. Theres a whole scam going on. As a yellow cab driver, you dont see the world vision, he said. But theres that famous term the race to the bottom. Youre working more and more hours for less and less wages. This is the new gig economy. Someone will use an Uber to go to an Airbnb and get on his phone to order something from Amazon to eat in his house. All those shops are now gone. From cashiers to cab drivers. I feel like Im a blacksmith or a typesetter at a newspaper business trying to explain to you what the yellow cab industry used to be. Were becoming obsolete. Guys are sleeping in the cab, McDonagh said. Theyll go out to Kennedy at 2 or 3 in the morning. They pull into the lot and go to sleep to catch [passengers off] the first flight thats coming in from California a couple of hours later. You have guys who wont go home for a couple of days. Theyll just stay out on the street. They roam the street to try to make money. Its dangerous for the passenger. The amount of accidents will be going up because drivers are drowsy. McDonagh said Uber and Lyft cars must be regulated. All cars should have meters to guarantee an adequate income for drivers. And drivers should have health care and benefits. None of this will happen, he warned, as long as we live under a system of government where our political elites are dependent on campaign contributions from corporations and those who should be regulating the industry look to these corporations for future employment. We have to limit the amount of cabs, particularly here in New York City, McDonagh said. If we did it in the yellow cab industry for 50 years, why cant we do it with Uber? Theyre adding 100 cars a week through the streets of New York. This is insane. When you call an Uber, the biggest complaint people have now is, The car is here too quick. Theyre there within two or three minutes. I cant even get dressed. Theyre rolling empty throughout the city, waiting for that hit. Horses in Central Park are regulated, he pointed out. Theres 150 of them. They make a great living there, the guys on the horse and buggies. Say Uber comes in and says, We want to bring in Uber horses. And we want to add 100,000. And lets see how the market will handle it. We know whats going to happen. No one will make money. Theyre all around Central Park. And now no one can go anywhere because there are now 100,000 horses in Central Park. It would be considered madness to do that. They wouldnt do it. Yet when it comes to the yellow cab industry, for 50 years all we could have was 13,000 cabs, and then within a year or two were going to add 100,000. Lets see how the market works on that! We know how the market works. They [the horses] work less hours [than cab drivers], he said. They dont work in hot and cold temperatures. If you believe in reincarnation, you should come back as a horse in Central Park. And they all live on the West Side of Manhattan. We live in basements in Brooklyn and Queens. We havent upped our status in life, thats for sure. Nigerian Comedian, Ayo Makun is proud of his wife Mabel after she bagged the Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2018 edition of the Nigerias Women Achievers Awards. He took to social media this morning to celebrate her over the win. He wrote; congratulations to @midas_interiors for winning the Nigeria Women Achievers Awards 2018! I am proud of you. Source 36NG A Nigerian lady who is a hair dealer has taken to Instagram to show off her new mansion just 2 weeks after giving birth to a new baby. The excited lady shared a video of the new mansion and also hinted her followers on how she started her business on a low key. According to her she went into business with jut N5,000 and just under 5 years, it has grown into a multi-million naira venture. The lady even mentioned that she started the business as a student where she was always spotted from locations to locations trying to convince people to buy her merchandise. Read her post below. I started my business with just 5,000 naira and in less than 5 years I have achieved so much from it. The struggle was real from selling from my hostel , persuading peeps to buy from me , opening my page on Instagram and started selling there , delivering by myself, stocking goods at home Of all things, acquiring this 5 bedroom mansion and a detached b/q in a perfect location in the city of Lagos makes me truly understand that consistent drop of water can make an ocean . The grass can only get greener for hard worker I always knew my hard work will pay real big coz whenever I see people do great things whether on Instagram or on the outside I always make their success my prayer point Broken crayons still colour My 2018 has just started and I havent even achieved anything , am coming for more , I believe many young ladies will achieve a lot this 2018 Because hard work pays Interior designers get in here come furnish this to my taste All bills on @mrstilll IT CAN ONLY BE GOD! House warming plus child dedication in a bit SOFT REMINDER: my market is selling like pure water Source Naijaparrot Punch The Ohanaeze Youth Council, the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-political body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has backed Danjumas self-defence call. Vanguard Nigeria has taken a further step to recover illegally acquired assets, including monies, taken to Switzerland. The Sun Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was absent at an All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caucus meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Thisday Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have quietly thrown their weight behind the move by the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buharis veto on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which is proposing, among others, to alter the sequence of elections in the country. Daily Times The Sarkin Fulani of Lagos State and Chairman, Association of Fulani Chiefs, South-west Nigeria, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bambado has frowned at the comments made by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd), saying Danjumas comments were aimed at inciting the populace to take up arms against fellow Nigerians. Guardian Danjumas statement, a call to anarchy, says APC, Yakassai The All Progressives Congress (APC) and an elder statesman, Malam Tanko Yakassai, yesterday deplored the call by the former Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen Theophilus Danjuma, on the citizenry to defend themselves against ethnic cleansers. AHEAD of the 2019 General Elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday apologized to Nigerians to overlook its past mistakes and begged for another chance at the coming polls. The Herald The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that, contrary to opinion, the partys national caucus meeting that held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday night did not discuss his removal. The army had come under attack after a statement by former Minister of Defence, TY Danjuma that the military is not neutral in the crises rocking many communities in Nigeria. The elder statesman said the military was colluding with those causing havoc in those communities, therefore, Nigerians should defend themselves. This statement was quickly debunked by the army saying Nigerians should be law abiding. However, Yesterday, the army via its official twitter handle posted some photos of some young people saying they were rallying support for the Military. Nigerians on Twitter found this highly political and bashed the army for the tweet. Reactions below: Nigerian youths rally support for the Militaryhttps://t.co/3xH3giVJmM pic.twitter.com/LjqjPFyby6 DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DefenceInfoNG) March 26, 2018 jjj Today they rally for you, tomorrow you shoot them, day after your herdsmen will raid their village, next your BokoHaram will kidnap them. The Army had better tell these kids the truth that they are on their own Mr. Fred (@FredAmakom) March 26, 2018 APC military wing. Shame on the Nigeria military under @MBuhari Shadrach Sule Lamido (@kingshadoo2016) March 26, 2018 Lol @MBuhari Army. See how @HQNigerianArmy have been reduced to a political tool. Where is the Eagle in the Army? That is fearless, Just, Without Sentiment, Cannot be manipulated, Bold, Non Partisan. My Nigerian Army is gone Good over Evil (@idkaay07) March 26, 2018 Would have been better if this dont come on your page. Its rude, shocking, insulting, degrading, debasing, counterproductive, to the stature and status of the Nigerian Army. The uniform has just been muddled in the murky and dirty water of Nigerian politics. It stinks. Lagos smart driver (@lagosuber) March 26, 2018 Is the Nigerian Army now a political group? Smh! What wont we see under this #Change govt. Where in lies the gallantry of the Army? #TooBlessed (@Nelly21417) March 27, 2018 This is why they dont want to tackle unemployment. Using our young ppl for staged rally. My faith in our military is totally destroyed! No integrity, no respect for our flag and our pledge. Shame Paul Smith Obasi (@montepaulsmith) March 26, 2018 Nigeria has almost 80 million youths, these paid 23 people dont count. Oshapranpran (@barnablastique) March 26, 2018 I sympathize with the youths of Nigeria, they are always used and dumped by the Elites. BULUS S PAM (@buluspam29) March 27, 2018 There are many reports that the presidency is in talk with Boko Haram to cease fire with a promise to grant them amnesty. President Muhammadu Buharis administration has repeatedly said it is willing to hold talks with the group. Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed made this knownin Lagos on Sunday, he said; This Administration remains committed to the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The security services have since been directed to put in place further measures around all schools vulnerable to attacks to ensure the safety of pupils/students and teachers and school workers. The President has also tasked all the security agencies to work to ensure that we do not witness any recurrence of these incidents. While the military efforts are necessarily ongoing, we are willing to continue engaging in a meaningful dialogue, which is not only about the release of hostages, but intended at a broader engagement on conflict mitigation, reduction of the violence, possibility of ceasefire, protection of civilians, and increased humanitarian access. Government is therefore willing to engage on measures which can lead to stopping the bloodshed and finding long-lasting solutions to the conflict. Boko Haram which has killed tens of thousands of people since 2009, may be ultimately granted amnesty good or bad idea??? Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Tboss has reacted to a post from her father, Engr. Idowu Vincent in which he stated that he doesnt want to have anything to do with her and her siblings. This came as part of a response to critics of his union to a 400 level student of Ambrose Ali University where he lectures. He wrote: Ordinarily, I really wouldnt like to make any comment here knowing how petty and unreasonable most Nigerians are. I am neither a politician, a business mogul nor money ritualist. I am just a humble, comfortable old man. There was never a time I bragged of my wealth. And I have been a devoted and honest civil servant all my life. So, are Nigerians celebrating wealth or honesty? I am proud that I served my country faithfully and with integrity. I never took one kobo bribe as a Civil Servant and as a lecturer I never took one Kobo for blocking. Those Nigerians jeering at my simplicity should cover their heads with shame. TBoss and her siblings have their lives and certainly without me. I never asked TBoss for one Kobo and I have never seen Wendy for over 13years though she visits Nigeria regularly in the past 10yrs from Romania. The last time I saw Tokunbor(TBoss) was in August 2016. Their mother left me on good grounds in 2006. Even God found out that it was not proper for man ( Adam) to live alone so He created Eve to be Adams companion. So, whats wrong in having a devoted and understanding companion as wife even at my old Not satisfied with moving on with his life, Tboss dad went ahead to place a curse saying woe unto any man that marries her and her siblings. When destiny smiles on someone, he forgets that there is life elsewhere. If I look like a roasted goat on my wedding day, thats cool but that writer will soon become a resident of a subcity where people with severed limbs, broken bones, amputations, stinking blind and lame reside. THIS IS A PROMISE. I live a humble, private life and did not intimate TBoss or any of her siblings of my plan to remarry in accordance with my tradition/custom. Furthermore, I did not make public or post anything about my marriage. I am starting a new beginning and clearing the slate of all the wrong decisions I made in my life. I just want to forget Tokunbor (TBoss) and her siblings and start life afresh for all its worth. If and wherever Tboss and any of her siblings gets married, it shall be without my blessings and woe unto the man or the woman who marries any of them. So shall it be by the power vested on me by God Almighty. Tboss has responded in a shade seen to be directed at her father after he placed a curse on any man that would marry her and her siblings. She shared the below message on Instagram shortly after her fathers message went viral, Source Kemifilani While we find it difficult to comprehend the reason Davido, Dammy Krane and a few others celebrated the return of Babalola Felami, aka, Sauce Kid, after spending two years in an American prison, one can pardon them. Also known as Sinzu, Sauce Kid was found guilty of grand theft and the stealing of $15,388 from unsuspecting victims. Though Sinzu is highly rated as a rapper in his days, the industry is not where he left it a few years ago. It has been 11 years since he gave up Yebariba, the song that announced his presence in the Nigerian music industry. While some people have left, new faces have emerged. The sound has changed in a way too. Artistes like Wizkid, Davido, Skales, Dbanj, Tiwa Savage and a host of others have embraced street music than never before. Sinzu is known for his American style of rapping. Is there still room for the swagger rapper in Nigeria? Or will he adapt to the in-thing? It will be interesting to see how he makes a comeback. Everyone is watching! Source 36ng Sponsored Shifts in market structure since the Global Financial Crisis have led to changes in the behavior of credit spreads which may provide opportunities for active managers. Seattle, Washington - March 27, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC:SING) ("the Company") announces the acquisition of ShieldSaver, which expands the Company's blockchain initiatives into the automotive industry in an exciting way. ShieldSaver is a technology company disrupting the automotive repair and maintenance industry. A trojan horse within the automotive industry, ShieldSaver has unique permissionsthrough contracts with multiple companiesto enter locations that are typically off limits, obtain critical vehicle data at those locations, and then make contact with vehicle owners regarding needed repairs on their cars. For instance, ShieldSaver is able to access vehicles parked in airport lots at Sacramento International Airport, Denver International and others; assess potential repair needs for those vehicles; and then leave information regarding the vehicle's issues, along with ShieldSaver company contact information, for the vehicle owners. This is something that, currently, no other company is able to do. In addition to this unique ability to solicit repair work where other companies cannot go, ShieldSaver's services will be further augmented by a blockchain solution currently being developed by SinglePoint. Because ShieldSaver is able to obtain physically verified vehicle data, the implementation of blockchain technology will allow the Company to keep an irrefutable record of issues and repairs for those vehicles and provide key insights and analytics into the histories of individual cars. This will help greatly enhance transparency within the automotive industry when it comes to vehicle history. As part of the acquisition of ShieldSaver, SinglePoint has grown its technology team with an additional five developers who are architecting the blockchain solution. ShieldSaver set out on a mission to provide an easier and more transparent experience in the consumer auto industry. Collecting data regarding needed repairs and work that has been done on a car provides a better experience for car buyers and sellers all around. Buyers will consequently have trust in a car's history, dealers can more easily assess market value, and banks will have confidence in that value. By providing a solution in which all parties, from mechanics to insurance agencies to dealers, can contribute to the history of a vehicle, ShieldSaver will be able to provide a solution secured by blockchain that is accessible and transparent. SinglePoint management predicts the ShieldSaver acquisition will provide an additional $1.25 million in revenue for 2018. The Company has set a total goal of $10 million for the year, which can be achieved through acquisitions and internal projects about to be launched. In addition to the ShieldSaver acquisition, SinglePoint is excited to announce that it will be expanding its blockchain development capabilities even further with plans to hire another team, which will be focused exclusively on designing and implementing the company's blockchain solutions in the cannabis, medical and automotive industries. A number of projects are currently in the design phase and will soon move to development. SinglePoint management plans to have the new team fully running by the beginning of May 2018, which will dramatically ramp up the launch of projects. Sign up to get the latest news from SinglePoint here: https://ir.singlepoint.com/email-alerts About SinglePoint, Inc. SinglePoint, Inc (SING) is a technology and investment company with a focus on acquiring companies that will benefit from the injection of growth capital and technology integration. The company portfolio includes mobile payments, ancillary cannabis services and blockchain solutions. Through acquisitions into horizontal markets, SinglePoint is building its portfolio by acquiring an interest in undervalued subsidiaries, thereby providing a rich, diversified holding base. Connect on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/SinglePointMobile https://twitter.com/_SinglePoint_ https://www.linkedin.com/company/singlepoint For more information visit: www.SinglePoint.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. Corporate Communications Contact: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York www.NetworkNewsWire.com 212.418.1217 Office Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com SOURCE: SinglePoint, Inc. Disclosure: SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: $SING) is featured on the 420 Cannabis Investor Ideas of 2017 at www.420cannabisinvestorideas.com SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) is a featured company on Investorideas.com View the profile on Investorideas.com Disclaimer: This directory is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities or products or services Investorideas.com charges a fee for placement. The directory is not an endorsement or recommendation but meant to be an investor resource/ due diligence tool. 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. SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) is a paid PR news and social media client on Investorideas.com for bitcoin and cannabis - starting April 6,2017 and renews quarterly and from time to time adds additional content ( averages 2-3 thousand ) and is also a paid featured company on the cannabis 420 Investor ideas directory www.420cannabisinvestorideas.com (one-time fee of one thousand) 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. Keynote speaker Gregory Petsko spoke at Iowa State's second annual Research Day on March 27th. Petsko spoke to the audience mainly about how the most educated people were more artistically driven than science driven, and colleges should encourage students to get the most rounded education they can. He mentions that the most famous science institutions sought out the most creative and imaginative people, no matter their pedigree. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Close 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 Malaysian Parliament [government website] proposed a bill [text, PDF] Monday meant to combat fake news, drawing sharp criticism from rights groups such as Amnesty International [advocacy website]. The Anti-Fake News Act 2018 defines fake news as any news, information, data and reports, which is or are wholly or partly false. A person who creates, publishes, facilitates or does not remove fake news could be imprisoned for up to 10 years. Amnesty says [press release] that the definition of fake news is vague and overly broad. The organization condemns the bill for its potential to be used to silence dissent and says it should be scrapped immediately. James Gomez, Amnestys Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said It is deeply disturbing that the Malaysian authorities are using the catch-all term fake news as an excuse to crack down on critics. The Bill combines the worst of the cheap propaganda coming from the West and the repressive laws and policies in the East. Freedom of speech on the Internet has been a subject of much legislation and litigation internationally. Last month Human Rights Watch condemned [JURIST report] a German law requiring social media platforms to immediately remove illegal content. In June the US Supreme Court ruled [JURIST report] that North Carolinas social media restrictions for sex offenders were unconstitutional. In April the Turkish government blocked [JURIST report] Wikipedia as a threat to national security. A Brazilian appeals court unanimously upheld the corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday. The ruling brings da Silva one step closer to being barred from running for Presidency and serving his sentence in prison. Da Silva was convicted [JURIST report] in July 2017 of corruption for making a deal [AP report] with a construction company in return for a beachfront apartment. In January, a group of federal magistrates upheld his conviction [JURIST report] and increased his sentence by two-and-a-half years. Under Brazilian law, the defendant must start serving his sentence once all motions related to the first appeal are exhausted. He is likely to appeal again as he still has one motion remaining under law. Additionally, da Silva has filed a preemptive habeus corpus petition [DW report] and he cannot be jailed until the Supreme Federal Tribunal [official website] rules on April 4. Many suspect that da Silva is attempting to start a prolonged legal battle that will allow him to campaign for the October election. Despite his conviction and six other corruption charges, da Silva is ahead in preliminary polls. The law states that he should be barred from running for office. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced [text, PDF] Monday that the 2020 census will include a question regarding citizenship status, a measure the Justice Department said will better aid enforcement of the Voting Rights Act [materials]. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has already filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] challenging the decision. Becerra argues the question would discourage non-citizens from participating in the census, which would disproportionately affect California over other states. Ross said in the memorandum that neither California, nor other stakeholders, provided evidence to show the citizenship question would deter people from participating in the census. Ross said lack of participation is independent from citizenship inquiry and adding the question will not incentivize nor deter those same people any more or less. He concluded saying: Other stakeholders referenced the political climate generally and fears that Census responses could be used for law enforcement purposes. But no one provided evidence that reinstating a citizenship question on the decennial census would materially decrease response rates among those who generally distrusted government and government information collection efforts, disliked the current administration, or feared law enforcement. Rather, stakeholders merely identified residents who made the decision not to participate regardless of whether the Census includes a citizenship question. The reinstatement of a citizenship question will not decrease the response rate of residents who already decided not to respond. The Office of Public Affairs announced [text] the decision and further justified the rationale, saying: On December 12, 2017, DOJ requested that the Census Bureau reinstate a citizenship question on the decennial census to provide census block level citizenship voting age population (CVAP) data that is not currently available from government surveys. DOJ and the courts use CVAP data for the enforcement of Section 2 of the VRA, which protects minority voting rights. The California lawsuit may potentially limit the wording and/or use of the citizenship question. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases Monday. In United States v. Sanchez-Gomez [SCOTUSblog materials] the Supreme Court is determining whether the Ninth Circuit had jurisdiction to hear a pre-trial challenge by defendants about a policy that forces defendants to wear shackles prior to the decision. The government argues [transcript, PDF] that the defendants challenge was interlocutory and not within the Ninth Circuits jurisdiction while the trial below was pending. The case also challenges the Ninth Circuits decision to hear the interlocutory challenge despite what the government says is the defendants acknowledgment that the challenge was moot. In China Agritech v. Resh [SCOTUSblog materials] the court must decide if the statute of limitations tolls in a class action suit. Resh is seeking [transcript, PDF] to keep a class action suit against China Agritech alive, despite filing his suit after the applicable statute of limitations, based on the American Pipe courts determination that the filing of a defective class action suit stops the clock. Here, two prior defective suits of which Resh was not a member were filed within the statute of limitations period. The Ninth Circuit allowed the suit to continue [opinion, PDF] despite the expiration of the limitations period based on the reasoning in American Pipe. (credit: Le Miridien Denver Downtown) Featuring 272 luxurious rooms Le Meridien Denver Downtown is an upscale, design-centric hotel with a hip vibe and original artwork which greets guests of the elevator on every floor. With six room configurations: skyline-view king; city-view king; deluxe king; classic king; deluxe queen and classic queen rooms, the French-inspired rooms have a cool-grey color palate with modern decor evident in its lighting fixtures and furniture. Just across the street from the Convention Center, the hotel is convenient to most of downtown and has an added selling point of having the highest open-air rooftop lounge in the Mile-High City, 54thirty Rooftop. (credit: Le Miridien Denver Downtown) Guests have complete access to the 54thirty rooftop experience which features a U-shaped bar, ample couches and seating and unparalleled views and stargazing at all times. The seasonal open April through September rooftop bar crafted cocktails and globally-inspired bites take center stage and elevates the vibes to a new level. Head up to watch the sunset and sip on a favorite like the Elevated Old Fashioned or stop by on a weekend evening for live music and great vibes. (credit: Le Miridien Denver Downtown) Along with the Le Meridien Hub and The Lobbyist Bar which brings locals and guests together over the brands signature eclairs, Illy coffee program and sparkling program, the hotel also has a full-service restaurant, Corinne. Chef Tobias Burkhalter serves simple, American comfort food with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. As evert Le Meridien hotel has a local culture program, guests staying at the hotel can take advantage of the hotels Unlock Denver program which features carefully curated community partners. Complimentary dining and drinks activities include tastings at the Laws Whiskey Hosue distillery; a glass or up to three tastings at the Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery; tasting at the Colorado Cider Company distillery and beer tasting at the Renegade Brewing Company. Complimentary tours included with every guests stay include the: Clyfford Still Museum; Leopold Brothers distillery and the Rocky Mountain Soda Company. Discounted passes can be had at the Denver Athletic Club and Trouts fly shop while guests can also explore Denver via bicycle on one of the hotels Le Meridien Priority Bicycles, with Gates Carbon drive belt drive bicycles. Last but certainly not least, ride in style and make use of the complimentary range Rover car service within downtown Denver. (credit: Le Miridien Denver Downtown) To give guests private and complete access to the 54thirty rooftop experience, the property has partnered with OutdoorsGeek to bring the Le Meridien hotel outside and offer a special glamping experience. Only offered in the summer, the package includes two round-trip tickets in and out Denver International Airport, exclusive use of the 2017 Range Rover Sport with driver and a two-day planned itinerary. Enjoy a welcome champagne toast at the Lobbyist bar upon check-in and be whisked away for a private half day guided fly-fishing excursion and gourmet catered picnic lunch. Upon your return to the hotel, take advantage of a custom curated art experience or the private mixology class at 54thirty, each catered to the guests preferences alongside your luxurious tent. Either before or after your private five-course paired dinner for two, sit by the fireplace and keep warm with two keepsake Pendleton Blankets, a smores kit, bottle of Dom Perignon and reflector Telescope set. On day two, enjoy breakfast served in-tent, a private yoga session at 54thirty from Corepower Yoga, a rooftop massage for two from Elixir Mind Body Massage and more before being whisked away back to Denver International Airport. The package can start at $15,000 and can be booked here, and will return for summer 2019. Discover a brand new hotel experience in Denver and book your upcoming stay here. A 4-year-old Texas boy is dead after he was attacked by his family's dog. Noah Trevino, 4, was pronounced dead after being airlifted to San Antonio's University Hospital. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office said the 4-year-old was in the backyard Sunday with the family dog when the "large mix breed" dog bit him on the neck. His uncle told police that he went outside and the family started CPR to resuscitate the child. The new 2018-19 Dalton Police Department Explorers discount cards will go on sale Tuesday morning at the Police Services Center at 9 a.m. Proceeds from sales of the cards, which cost $5 each, go to fund the DPDs Explorers Program. This years cards can be redeemed for discounts or other services at Outback Steakhouse, Zaxbys, Bobs Burgers, OCharleys, Panda Express, Schlotzskys, Brusters, Hamiltons, Los Reyes, Sport Clips, Baja Coop, Retro Bowl, Fuji, Las Palmas, Jersey Mikes, Dalton Vacuum, Fashion Cleaners, The Sweet Spot, Crescent City Tavern, The Chop Shop, Buckin Burrito, The Perfect Cup, Taylors Tire & Service and Love Empanadas. Explorer cards can be purchased at the Police Services Center, 301 Jones St., from the Records section in the front lobby between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning on Tuesday morning, while supplies last. The Dalton Police Explorers program allows young men and women to gain training and experience in the law enforcement field. The program also provides young people with opportunities for community involvement and development. Program activities include law enforcement training, organized recreational activities and competitive events. Officers David Saylors and Matias Castillo currently oversee the program. Explorers must be between 14- and 20-years-old, maintain at least a C average while remaining in school until graduation or obtaining a GED and must attend regular meetings, which include physical training. "The Dalton Police Department thanks all of the sponsors of the Explorer cards for their generous support of the program," officials said. ABC/Image Group LAPortgual. the Man will be honored with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Vanguard Award at the 35th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards, held April 23 in Los Angeles. The Vanguard Award is given to artists who are "shaping the future of American music." Previous winners include Arcade Fire, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Beck and The Killers. "Portugal. the Man have transformed their electrically charged psychedelic rock into a platform for their earnest take on the state of the world," says ASCAP President Paul Williams. He adds, "They have honed a sound that has achieved massive success without compromise, and it is our honor to bestow them with the ASCAP Vanguard Award, which recognizes their unique ability to keep pushing music forward." Additionally, Lana Del Rey will be honored with the ASCAP Global Impact Award. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. #2-ranked Dalton State got off to a hot start, blistering the field to the tune of an opening round (+12, 300) and the overall lead in the Phoenix Invitational at the 5,807-yard, Par-72 Old Hickory County Club in Old Hickory, Tn. on Monday. #9 William Carey (Miss.), (+21, 309), is in second. #24 Brenau (Ga.) and #17 Taylor (Ind.), (+34, 322), are tied for third, with #21 Cumberland (Tn.), (+38, 326), rounding out the Top-5. All-American Katie Dalton led the Lady Roadrunner charge, firing a (+2, 74) and shares the lead with Aleesha Smith of William Carey (Miss.). Knocking at their heels is All-American Isabel Rijos and sophomore Hannah Gasaway. They are tied for third with Hannah Sager of Faulkner (Ala.) at 3-over. Fresh off a Top-10 finish, All-American Tia Teiniketo is right outside the Top-5 in sixth after a round of (76). Fellow All-American Caroline Griffin rounded out the scoring for the Lady Birds, posting a round of (79) and sits alone in 16th. The Lady Roadrunners will attempt to bring another win home to Dalton when they compete Tuesday in the final round of the Phoenix Invitational. SALEM, Ore. The chief petitioners of an Oregon initiative to ban 'assault weapons' have turned in an initial batch of sponsorship signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State's office. If 1,000 or more of the signatures are verified as legitimate by the Elections Division, the attorney general will begin drafting the initiative's ballot title. The Elections Division will have until April 9 to verify those 1,000 signatures. According to an Elections employee, that process has not yet begun. Even if the initiative qualifies for a ballot title, it will still need 88,184 signatures in total to show up on ballots in November. According to the Elections Division, a ballot title is an impartial summary of a petition's content and effects, which is how the initiative would appear on Oregon ballots. Initially filed as 'Initiative 42' on March 19, the petition was withdrawn and re-filed on March 22 as 'Initiative 43.' The text of the document is substantially the same. After a line-by-line comparison, Initiative 43 fixes a small typo and adds an introduction ("Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon"). What the re-filed initiative does not address is what critics of the document rail againstthe broad and extensive manner in which it categorizes banned firearms. However, a closer read of the petition's text may allay some fears. The initiative addresses any weapons platform that can accommodate magazines of more than 10 rounds, forward pistol grips, muzzle brakes or flash suppressors, to name a few. If a rifle or pistol has a detachable magazine and any of these extra attachments, it becomes illegal. Detachable magazines are not banned outright, unless they exceed 10 rounds. This means that many gun owners can strip down or simplify their weapons and they will remain legal. Any firearm which has a "fixed magazine" or natural capacity to accept more than 10 rounds would be illegal, as they essentially contain a "high-capacity magazine." Semi-automatic shotguns will be illegal if they have both a forward pistol grip and a folding/telescoping stock, or if they can accept a detachable magazine. Examining the controversial AR-15 rifle in the light of this petition reveals that even this weapon would not be banned outright. Since rifles and pistols with detachable magazines remain legal as long as those magazines accept 10 rounds or less, an AR-15 would only be illegal if it also had a pistol gripwhich, admittedly, most versions do. What the initiative specifies is that rifles with a detachable magazine and a grip that places the fingers of the trigger hand directly below the trigger finger are banned. Language in the initiative that would imply exceptionsnamely, that individuals can register their weapons with State law enforcement after passing a criminal background check in order to keep their firearmsonly applies to a very slim portion of Oregon's population. Members of the military, law enforcement, licensed firearms dealers, or certain government agencies are the only individuals who qualify for this registration option. CLICK HERE for our previous story on Initiative 42, when it was first announced. SEE BELOW for the text of Initiative 43, as it stands today. ASHLAND, Ore. Over one hundred years ago, John and Mary Elizabeth McCall planted a southern magnolia tree in front of their Ashland mansion. The planting was meant to honor the passing of Elsie, their daughter, in 1890. Since then, that southern magnolia tree has come to dwarf the Italianate manor that became its host. On Friday, April 6, a ceremony will see the McCall magnolia inducted into the 2018 Class of Oregon Heritage Trees. The dedication begins at 1:00 p.m., followed by a reception featuring harpist Dayton Mason and the group Bustles and Bows, who dress in Victorian-period attire. As the name suggests, southern magnolias are native to the American Southfound in a swath from southern North Carolina to eastern Texas. Though the trees have been known to live over 100 years, the McCall magnolia is unusual in its longevity for the climate127 years in the shadow of the Cascades, in the temperate Pacific Northwest. "The McCall magnolia couldn't have been a better choice. It's an attractive, healthy tree, and is in such a prominent place for downtown visitors and locals to admire," said Nancy Appling, Oregon Heritage Tree Committee member and Ashland resident. "As with all of the program's heritage trees, this one has an important story to tell about the McCall family's numerous contributions to early Oregon history." John McCall was a military officer, politician and entrepreneurserving as a captain in the 1st Oregon Cavalry, then as a brigadier general of the Oregon State Militia, becoming a councilman and then mayor of Ashland, and founding the town's first local bank, woolen mill, and the Ashland Daily Tidings newspaper. Mary Elizabeth McCall was a suffragette and pioneer, who made the trip from Iowa to Ashland, pulled by an oxen team. "Lizzie" had an adopted daughter, Anna, in addition to her three children with JohnLydia, Elsie, and John Junior. The McCall houseonce host to such notable guests as William Jennings Bryan, President Rutherford B. Hayes, and General William Tecumseh Shermanhas been lovingly restored and maintained as a bed and breakfast. "This magnificent southern magnolia [is] beloved not only by this community of Ashland, but now also recognized in the State of Oregon . . . home of the most beautiful trees in the country," said Millis McLaughlin, owner of the McCall House Bed and Breakfast. FILE - In this May 16, 2012, file photo, the Facebook logo is displayed on a mobile device in Philadelphia. The news that Facebook's Android app has been collecting call and text histories is yet another black eye for the social media giant. The social network acknowledged on Sunday, March 25, 2018, that it began uploading call and text logs from phones running Google's Android system in 2015 - first via its Messenger app and later through an option in Facebook Lite, a stripped-down version of its main app. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) A man takes a copy of newspaper at a grocery shop in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Monday, March 26, 2018. Malaysia's government on Monday proposed new legislation to outlaw fake news with a 10-year jail term for offenders, in a move slammed by critics as a draconian bid to crack down on dissent ahead of a general election. Prime Minister Najib Razak has been dogged by a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal involving an indebted state fund, and rights activists fear the new law could be used to criminalize reports on government misconduct and critical opinions. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf) The March 27, 2018 photo shows rubber ducks after it was cut open for the photo in Nauen, Germany. Swiss researchers now say the cute, yellow bath-time friends harbor a dirty secret: Microbes swimming inside. The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology says researchers turned up Audense growths of bacteria and fungiAu on the insides of toys like rubber ducks and crocodiles.( AP Photo/Ferdinand Ostrop) Allison Suzanne Taylor, who is homeless, stands near her belongings on St. Paul Street in Kelowna in this file photo from 2017. An updated count of the city's homeless was conducted earlier this month. The MET will partner with their corporate sponsor, Mountain Shadows Stables, for an "adventure-filled Resurrection Sunday celebration" this Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at Mountain Shadows Stables, 310 Pine Acres Dr. in Flintstone. Immediately following church, The Met off Main will be hosting a party. There will be food, fun and festivities for children of all ages. "Egg hunts, moon bounces and horseback rides make this an event suitable for every childs dream," organizers said. "It is our desire to give back to the community and show the same love to others that Christ has shown to us." The event is free and open to the public. Register your child at www.metrolives.com. For more information, contact Kristina Christie at 423-320-8664. Bryan Railton, a representative with the International Union of Operating Engineers, speaks to the Labour Relations Code review panel in Kelowna Monday. The panel is travelling across B.C. this month getting input on the Labour Relations Code. The flag flies outside the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Canada in Ottawa on Monday, March 26, 2018. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada is expelling four Russian diplomats and will deny permission for three others to bolster Russian staff in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patty Hajdu speaks to reporters during a weekend meeting of the national caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 25, 2017. A group of G7 ministers handling how governments help workers caught in the churn of a rapidly changing labour market will sit down starting today to hammer out a path through the employment storm. Labour Minister Patty Hajdu says a key goal for the two-day meeting in Montreal will be to create an employment task force that will undertake research and craft recommendations on priority areas for the group of seven countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks to media at Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto on January 25, 2018. Ontario's Liberal government says it plans to offer free child care for thousands of preschoolers across the province starting in 2020, a promise that comes as it faces a looming spring election.Premier Kathleen Wynne, Finance Minister Charles Sousa and Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris unveiled the $2.2-billion dollar initiative on Tuesday at a school in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn A worker loads steel products onto a vehicle at a steel market in Fuyang in central China's Anhui province Friday, March 2, 2018. The government is taking further steps to crack down on companies that try to ship cheap foreign steel and aluminum through the Canadian market. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chinatopix Via AP Charlie Lagarde is shown in a Loto Quebec handout photo. Lagarde, a Quebec teen who bought a lottery ticket for the first time to celebrate her entry into adulthood, has walked away with $1,000 a week for the rest of her life. Lagarde won the grand prize in the Gagnant a Vie lottery. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Loto Quebec-Alex Canac-Marquis MANDATORY CREDIT Ahmedsadiq Hussein Elmmi is shown in this undated family handout photo. The parents of a five-year-old autistic boy who died after falling into a pond on his first full day of school are suing the Saskatoon school board and the city. Kindergarten student Ahmedsadiq Hussein Elmmi was found in a pond near Ecole Dundonald School on Sept. 11 after the morning recess. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO The Spring Plant Sale at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), an annual tradition in Rome, will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The sale will end at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and then Wednesday to Thursday, the sale will last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.The last day of the sale will be a half-day on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Purchases may be made with cash or check. The sale is a way for GNTC to contribute to the community that also gives Horticulture students real-world experience. This is one of the best teaching tools that the program has, said David Warren, director of Horticulture at GNTC. Students wait on customers, learn about all the plants so they can answer questions, and also raise all the crops. Items being sold include a large selection of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, blooming plants, and potted geraniums. The vegetables will include tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, eggplants, and more. Some of the plants were raised from cuttings, but pretty much all the edible plants such as peppers or tomatoes came from seeds, said Shannon Bryant of Lafayette. The sale will take place at the greenhouses located across from GNTCs Floyd County Campus, next to the Woodlee Building. All proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the Horticulture program at GNTC. This undated photo provided by Teresa Laughlin shows her mother, Delores Taylor. Taylor, who co-starred with her husband Tom Laughlin in his productions of the "Billy Jack" series of films, died Friday, March 23, 2018, in Southern California. She was 85. (Courtesy of Teresa Laughlin via AP) FILE - In this July 6, 2016 file photo, photos of Alton Sterling are taped to the wall at a makeshift memorial outside the Triple S convenience store in Baton Rouge, La. Sterling, was shot and killed outside the store where he was selling CDs by Baton Rouge police. On Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Louisiana's attorney general ruled out criminal charges against two white Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of Sterling. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Whistleblower Christopher Wylie who alleges that the campaign for Britain to leave the EU cheated in the referendum in 2016, speaking at a lawyers office to the media in London, Monday, March 26, 2018. Chris Wylie's claims center around the official Vote Leave campaign and its links to a group called BeLeave, which it helped fund. The links allegedly allowed the campaign to bypass spending rules.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) The Orange County board of supervisors gather during a meeting in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Orange County is considering two proposals to fight back against California's so-called sanctuary law for immigrants. The backlash to the state's effort to protect immigrants from stepped up deportations under the Trump administration comes a week after a small city voted to seek to exempt itself from the law. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin) Parking for consul vehicles is reserved outside One Union Square, the downtown Seattle building that houses the Russian consulate on the 25th floor, Monday, March 26, 2018, in Seattle. The United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats on Monday and the Trump administration ordered Russia's consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Moscow's alleged role in poisoning an ex-spy in Britain. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Eileen Davidson, right, widow of firefighter Michael Davidson arrives for the funeral of her husband at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Davidson died early Friday battling a fierce blaze on a movie set after getting separated from his fellow firefighters in the thick smoke. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Nature will be on display during the Tennessee Valley Authoritys annual spring wildflower walks at Norris Dam on Saturday, March 31, and Saturday, April 7. The guided walks will begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each Saturday at the River Bluff Small Wild Area located along the Clinch River west of Norris Dam. The walks are free and require no reservation. The annual wildflower walks are hosted by TVA in conjunction with Ijams Nature Center, Norris Dam State Park and the Friends of Norris Dam State Park. The trail is a moderately difficult, 3.4-mile loop and is known for a spectacular array of spring wildflowers, Yellow Trout Lilies, Celandine Poppies, Bloodroot, Spring Beauties and Toothwort. The hikes will be held rain or shine, and participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather. For additional information, contact Tim Pruitt, TVA Natural Resource Management, at 865 632-1324. To reach the TVA River Bluff Small Wild Area, take the Lake City exit (#128) off I-75 north of Knoxville. Follow U.S. Hwy. 441 past the Norris Dam State Park entrance on the left and continue approximately mile to Dabney Road on the right. Turn onto Dabney Road, bear to the left, and the Small Wild Area trailhead parking area is located approximately mile from U.S. 441. In this April 30, 1974, file photo, Linda Brown, right, and her two children pose for a photo in their home in Topeka, Kan. Brown, the Kansas girl at the center of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down racial segregation in schools, has died at age 76. Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka confirmed that Linda Brown died Sunday, March 25, 2018. (AP Photo, File) Rene Lima-Marin speaks with reporters after he was released from an immigration detention facility in Aurora, Colo. Monday, March 26, 2018. Lima-Marin walked out of an immigration detention center in suburban Denver on Monday after winning his deportation case. Lima-Marin was convicted of armed robbery in 2000 and sentenced to 98 years in prison but mistakenly paroled in 2008 in prison. After his release, Lima-Marin married, started a family and a got a job but was returned to prison after authorities discovered their mistake six years later. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) Blood Assurance, Be The Match and Hope City Church are partnering to encourage people in the community to donate blood, sign up with Be The Match, and to bring awareness to Sickle Cell Anemia at Hope City Churchs annual block party, Raise the Block. Raise the Block will take place this Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Hope City Church, 7 Tuxedo Ave in Chattanooga. Sickle Cell Anemia affects about one in twelve members of the African American community, which means many of our family and friends are fighting Sickle Cell Anemia daily, said Steve Allert, pastor at Hope City Church, Blood is the source of life regardless of race or ethnicity, and I hope the community will come together this Easter weekend in support of Blood Assurance, Be The Match and all people struggling with Sickle Cell Anemia. Raise the Block is a free event hosted by Hope City Church. The event includes the blood and marrow drive and will also have bounce houses, music, food and an Easter egg hunt for children ages three through seven. In the event of rain, the event will be held in the gym. All blood donors will receive a complimentary t-shirt and donors 18 years or older will be entered into a Blood Assurance drawing to win four tickets to Dollywood. To schedule an appointment for the blood drive, call 800-962-0628 or visit bloodassurance.org. To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids avoiding caffeine and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. Berikut beberapa tips bermain togel singapore.. Jika Anda adalah pemain lotre pertama yang menemukan trik untuk melakukan lotre di Singapura, berikut adalah beberapa trik paling populer. Karena ada bandar taruhan online, bermain game lotere jauh lebih berpengalaman. Taruhan taruhan online adalah layanan perjudian virtual. Bermain permainan togel melalui layanan taruhan online memiliki banyak fitur. Ini dimulai dengan mudah, nyaman, mudah, nyaman, dan nyaman. Jadi, pemain Indonesia sekarang bermain lotere secara online. Anda dapat mendengar suara bermain lotere dengan kontrak online. Yang harus Anda lakukan adalah mendaftar dan setoran Anda akan dimulai. Tentu saja, dalam proses yang sederhana dan mengganggu, Anda dapat langsung menggandakan dana Anda dalam taruhan lotere dengan taruhan online. Dengan sistem taruhan online. Kenyamanan berarti dalam hal ini, tetapi tidak ada hubungannya dengan kenyamanan. Meskipun demikian, gamer dapat melakukan hal-hal lain seperti lelucon untuk ditangani. Trik bertaruh Togel Singapura menggunakan teknik diversifikasi taruhan Tentunya, inilah impian setiap pemain lotere di dunia. Untuk menggunakan permainan lotere online ini, Anda harus mahir dalam lotere. Salah satu teknik yang dapat digunakan adalah penggunaan teknik diversifikasi taruhan. Diversifikasi taruhan berarti Anda telah terdaftar untuk berbagai jenis taruhan. Alasan menelepon adalah karena jenis perjudian ini memengaruhi peluang Anda untuk menang. Apakah ada peluang kehilangan semua modal Anda saat bermain lotere dengan bandar taruhan online? Trik lotere Singapura untuk menunda diversifikasi taruhan juga sangat sederhana. Misalnya, Anda sudah menjadi anggota taruhan online dan Anda memiliki saldo 100.000 di akun perjudian online Anda. Dengan modal yang Anda pegang, Anda bisa membaginya menjadi beberapa jenis taruhan. Pada musim gugur, dia bermain di pasar lotere Singapura. Musim gugur ini, permainan lotere online menawarkan satu atau dua suguhan steak besar. Misalnya, saya pernah mendengar taruhan dalam kategori umum, yang menempati urutan kedua di pasar lotere Singapura. Saya tidak mengelola semua ibu kota dalam 2d musim gugur ini. Karena ini adalah taruhan utama, Anda bisa kehilangan setengah dari jumlah taruhan Anda di Jenis Taruhan 2d Lotere Singapura. Bandar judi lotere online memungkinkan Anda untuk memasang taruhan yang sama pada jenis taruhan yang berbeda. Maksimalkan keuntungan Anda dengan memilih taruhan yang tepat Anda dapat mendengar tentang taruhan tertentu melalui Trik Lotere Singapura di atas. Bahkan jika Anda tidak beruntung, kemungkinan kehilangan semua modal Anda dijual. Jadi teknik ini bekerja dengan sangat baik saat bermain game online. Teknik ini juga harus digunakan oleh bandar taruhan online yang baik. Bahkan jika Anda bermain lotere online di Singapura, pastikan Anda mendapatkan layanan taruhan terbaik. Jangan tertipu oleh bandar judi lotere online atau bandar judi lotere online yang tidak memenuhi syarat. Ini termasuk dealer lotere online yang menawarkan hubungan dan kesepakatan terbaik. Tentunya hal tersebut menjamin kenyamanan dalam hal pelayanan yang terbaik. Anda pasti bisa melihat lebih banyak dan bermain dengan lebih tenang. Bagaimana Anda bisa lebih tertarik dengan pengangguran? Penawaran langsung dalam bentuk bonus atau diskon dari partisipasi dealer lotere online. Ketika datang ke taruhan online, berbagai hak alami telah muncul. Karena bonus adalah salah satu pengaturan publik saat bermain. Sebagian, topik diskon kurang menguntungkan. Semakin banyak diskon yang Anda perhatikan, semakin banyak prinsip yang ada daripada Anda. Anda dapat melakukan trik, bermain, bermain, dan berdagang lotere di Singapura. The city on Tuesday honored Jack Bennett for over 43 years of service in the sign office. He rose from en entry level position to director of the 30-person sign office. Former Mayor Ron Littlefield termed him one of the best employees city government has ever had. He noted that he put himself through school while still working. He was magna cum laude at Chattanooga State. Mr. Bennett said it was Mayor Littlefield who gave him his opportunity. He said, "He changed my life and he changed my family's life." Senator Lamar Alexander on Tuesday visited Stones River National Battlefield in Rutherford County, where he said he hopes "to pass this year a plan that would begin to eliminate the deferred maintenance backlog." He said, "I had a chance to visit today Stones River National Battlefield, one of the 417 national park sites in our country. And the story here is the same as it is in other places, like the Great Smokies and around our country -- a lot of deferred maintenance; there is about $11.6 billion overall in our country, and here it is about $5 million. Three hundred thousand of us visit here every year, and we would like to see our parking lots, buildings and roads in good shape. That is why Interior Secretary Zinke and I -- and a bipartisan group of senators -- hope to pass this year a plan that would begin to eliminate the deferred maintenance backlog." He toured the battlefield and met with Superintendent Brenda Pennington and park rangers who discussed the parks deferred maintenance projects. Senator Alexander introduced the National Park Restoration Act on March 7 with U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) Joe Manchin (D- W.Va.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Representatives Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.). The bipartisan legislation will use revenues from energy production on federal lands to help pay for the over $11 billion maintenance backlog in the National Park System. Representatives John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii), and Will Hurd (R-Texas) are also cosponsors of the House version of the legislation. The National Park Restoration Act: MASON CITY, Iowa - Becki Wetter can still describe every detail of the young man who came pounding on her door. It didn't seem to bother him that he was in full light. He was just trying to convince us he was in a scared panic mode and to make us open that door for him, but there was no way we were opening that door, Wetter said. Wetter explains nearly a week ago, she and her husband were sitting at their dining room table when a young man she describes in his late 20's came up to their back porch door pleading to be let in. He said he needed help. As soon as I recognized that he was not scared, I think we both went into survival mode, Wetter described. Instead of opening the door, they dialed 9-1-1. Next they grabbed the gun they keep around for situations like this and it was during all this chaos Wetter says she noticed another man lingering in the background with his hoodie up. In our neighborhoods we feel safe. This, to me, from all Ive heard and read about, was a new tactic ... a pity one to get into our house and there's a lot of kind, gentle people in town, older people like me who are normally very compassionate that would have let him in, Wetter said. Mason City Police believe this was an isolated incident and that there is no reason for the public to be concerned. CHARLES CITY, Iowa - A day after the 'March For Our Lives' rallies across the nation, Charles City hosted one on Sunday. That's because the weekend weather made them postpone. Nearly 50 people gathered near Central Park, with attendees holding signs that said "books not bullets" and "less guns, less violence." Terri Hay came with her daughter Alannah. "I don't want to be scared to send my daughter to school," Hay said. She said the mental health piece is at the top of her mind. "What can we do to help these kids that obviously they need help?" Hay asked. Susan Strong is the one who organized the local event, and said this nationwide movement is one that even hit communities like Charles City. Several speakers went up to the mic to voice their concerns. People in attendance also signed petitions to send to local lawmakers. The three petitions were for background checks, banning assault weapons, as well as high-capacity magazines. "We're not saying you don't have a right to a gun," Strong said. "It's just that you don't need Army weapons and that's exactly what they are." Across the street was a different kind of protest, with signs that read "guns don't kill, people do." "We want to keep our gun rights," Corey Putney said. "You know they're saying take weapons of war, an AR is not a weapon of war. An AR is just a semi-automatic rifle. It's not a fully automatic rife." Strong said they have every right to protest too. "I think they are thinking we want to ban all guns, and that's not at all what we want to do," Strong said. "So, you know, their thinking and our thinking I think are pretty close." The goal of safety seems to be the same. "I don't like how we're separated here," Hay said, "because aren't we all here for the same reason? It's just to protect the children and the country." Voter registration cards were also available at the rally, as another goal of this nationwide movement is to increase participation at the polls. FOREST CITY, Iowa Three people are facing felony charges after authorities searched an apartment on March 20. The Forest City Police Department says it executed a search warrant at 125 Cathedral Oaks Road #1 at around 7:18 pm. Authorities say multiple people were at the home and three were arrested. Chelsea Harp Chelsea Harp Zachary Monsen Zachary Monsen Brian Barthollomeu Matthias, 30 of Mason City, is accused of gathering where drugs are used, possession of marijuana, and child endangerment. Police say Matthias was found with marijuana, a marijuana pipe, and hypodermic needles commonly used for injecting methamphetamine. Chelsea Lynn Harp, 31 of Forest City, is charged with gathering where drugs are used, possession of methamphetamine, and child endangerment. Police say they found her with a blue pouch that contained a glass pipe typically used for smoking meth and a small black container of meth. The occupant of the apartment, Zachary Allen Monsen, 29, is also charged with gathering where drugs are used and child endangerment. Police say they found evidence of drug sales on Monsens cell phone and his two children, both under the age of three, were at the apartment when police arrived. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A Polk County man has been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend in the Des Moines suburb of Johnston. Television station KCCI reports that 39-year-old Abraham Roberts was sentenced Tuesday to the mandatory life term. Roberts was convicted in January of first-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Agnes Yarlee, who was found April 15 in her apartment. Prosecutors say Yarlee had been shot five times as she sat on a couch following an argument with Roberts. Defense lawyers didn't dispute that Roberts killed Yarlee but argued he'd "lost it" during an argument, then blacked out with no memory of the shooting. Roberts was arrested at the Canadian border the day after the shooting. MASON CITY, Iowa A man arrested last month on a felony drug charge is in trouble again. Michael Olson, 36, is facing charges for carrying weapons, unlawful prescription of prescription drugs and a felony controlled substance violation. Olson was arrested at 3 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of N. Adams Avenue. Authorities say Olson was in possession of a black metal expandable baton, six red capsules that he had no prescription for and marijuana. Olson has at least two convictions for possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. MASON CITY, Iowa Its prison for a man who deliberately hit someone with his car. Jacob Matthew Mills, 24, pleaded guilty to assault while using a dangerous weapon. Mason City police say Mills was driving down an alley in the 1300 block of North Federal Avenue on December 23, 2017, and ran into the victim, then hit the person again with the drivers side door. Police say the victim suffered several injuries, including loose teeth and a cut near his eye. Mills was scheduled to stand trial on April 10 for willful injury resulting in bodily injury but reached a plea deal instead. Hes been sentenced to up to two years in prison, with credit for time served. ROCHESTER, Minn.- The state of Minnesota is growing in population size, thats according to the latest U.S. Census estimates. However, the census figures shows that the growth is mainly coming from the Twin Cities. We spoke to a local moving company to see if the figures the census reports are true. Josh Hutchins works at Two Men and a Truck. He tells KIMT News 3 that he believes the latest estimate is true. Most of my business is people moving to Rochester or the Twin Cities. Its great for us because our business is reaping the benefit of a growing city. The U.S. Census reports that more people are migrating from rural areas to larger urban and suburban cities. Kelsey Miller is a nursing student at Winona State University Rochester. She said she moved from Saint Cloud to attend school. My friends still live there. There just wasn't the opportunity there that there is here in Rochester. I want to become a nurse...so working at Mayo is better than working at a smaller hospital. But, Miller said eventually she wants to move closer home to be with near her family. Once I get settled in my career and work at Mayo for a couple of years then I will...If I have a family. MASON CITY, Iowa - Residents are still digging out from last weekend's snow storm after more than a foot of wet, heavy snow fell on parts of the area. Charles City resident Phillip Harris came over to plow his friend's driveway. While he uses a snow blower to clear most of it to the sidewalk, he has to use a shovel to get down to the street. "All it does is packs right in front of the snow blower, in front of the rotor and it won't do anything. It will plug the shoot up," Harris says. And he has to use a flat sand shovel rather than a snow shovel. "They're good for fluffy snow, or scraping up to get down to concrete, but this heavy stuff is hard on your back. Because when you bite into them, there's a lot of weight there," Harris adds. In the southwest Hancock County town of Kanawha, the heavy amount of snow caused part of the roof at Stellar Manufacturing to cave in overnight on Sunday. According to Stellar Communications Manager Donna Popp-Bruesewitz, no one was inside at the time, and no machinery was damaged, though there may be some minimal impact to product. Mary Schreur lives just outside of Kanawha, and is worried about what the collapse means for the 70 employees that work at the facility. "That's our one main industry in town, so that's gonna affect a lot of people," Schreur says. According to Popp-Bruesewitz, their Kanawha facility was closed Monday morning, with all production being relocated to their Garner facility, and Kanawha employees are working in some capacity there. The company is providing shuttle service from the Kanawha fire station to Garner for those who are requesting it. The company has contractors on site assessing how to stabilize the building, and plans to implement temporary walls. The company anticipates to resume some manufacturing in Kanawha as soon as next week. Total cost of the damage is unknown at this time. WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration is ending a program that allows citizens of Liberia living in the U.S. to avoid deportation. But it's allowing a one-year "wind-down" period to ease their return. Liberians have been eligible for Deferred Enforcement Departure since 1999. The program allows them to live and work in the U.S. A memorandum issued by President Donald Trump Tuesday says conditions in Liberia have improved substantially and that the country has made "significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance." To provide an "orderly transition" and give Liberia's government time to "reintegrate" its returning citizens, beneficiaries will be given a 12-month window during which they're still allowed to live in the U.S. and work. The protections for all Liberian beneficiaries will now end March 31, 2019. Minnesotas two U.S. Senators issued the following statements on the Presidents decision: Tina Smith (DFL) - Minnesota is now home to one of the largest Liberian-American communities in the country, some 30,000 people strong. Its their home. And today's news that President Trump decided, effective March 31, 2019, to terminate Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberiathe program that allowed survivors of Liberias bloody civil war to stay in the U.S.is shameful. For the overwhelming majority of people this decision affects, there is nothing to go back to in Liberia. The U.S. is the only home many of them have ever really known. This decision will rip families apart. It goes against who we are as a nation. It means well lose employees, innovators, and community leaders that make Minnesotaand our countrya better place. Id been pressing this administration to extend DED for Liberians. Just last week, I met with Secretary Nielsen, who heads the Department of Homeland Security, to ask her to extend DED, and I followed up that meeting with a call to the White House to underscore just how important this is. And Ill continue to make the case and will press the administration to reverse this decision. Between now and March 31, 2019, my office will work with the affected communities in Minnesota and provide all the assistance we can. Amy Klobuchar (DFL) - Minnesota has one of the largest Liberian populations in the country and many of them have been in our state for decades serving as business owners, teachers, and healthcare workers. These are hard-working people who came to the U.S. legally, have remained here legally, and play a major role in Minnesotas economy, in particular helping to staff our hospitals and nursing homes. Ending their status (which dates back to President H.W. Bush) and deporting them is the wrong decision. We have a year before the status expires and during that time I will do everything to find a solution for these families. Options include passing legislation and getting the Administration to reverse its decision. ROCHESTER, Minn.- In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, students across the country protested for gun control on Saturday. KIMT caught up with two high school students after the march. Emily Kullot and Mallory Studer both say they will continue to fight for gun control. RELATED: More on the Parkland, Florida, story. It's amazing that young people in high school are able to say how they feel said Kullot. Although, Kullot and Studer are for gun control, they both say protesting isnt going to solve everything. We also need to look at other ways, too, because a lot of people arent going to want to give their guns away, said Studer And thats what a group of Minnesota DFL state senators want to do. After marches across the country this weekend, DFL senators revealed a plan that includes new legislation that will address school safety and gun safety measures. Today I revisit a subject that was prominent in the American conscious post-global economic crisis and brought to the forefront by the rare earth element and lithium bubbles from 2009 to 2011: The United States of America depends on imported supplies for most of its industrial metals, minerals, and materials demand. I spoke and wrote extensively about the US of As dearth of domestic production and dependence on risky, corrupt, unstable, and/or unfriendly sources in 2011 and 2012. Here are selected examples: (Mercenary Interview March 4, 2011; Mercenary Musing, August 6, 2012; Mercenary Video, June 9, 2012). Over the past 14 months, the Trump administration has rolled back government regulations, streamlined bureaucracies, cut taxes, and proposed major infrastructure buildouts and tariffs on imports of aluminum, steel, and Chinese goods. Combined with a stronger economy, booming stock markets, and higher commodity prices, it seems likely that mineral demand will increase in the short to midterm. So this is an opportune time to provide an update on our overwhelming reliance on foreign sources to meet domestic mineral demand. The United States Geological Survey publishes an annual compendium of mineral and material commodities and documents domestic production, imports, exports, apparent consumption, and official government stockpiles among other data (USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries). Lets start with a chart from the 2017 publication that shows US net import reliance for the 64 industrial metals, minerals, and materials with > 25% dependence: From the chart and footnote listings in the USGS document: The US imports 100% of 21 mineral commodities, 50% or more of 29, and more than 25% of another 14. The country imports less than 25% of apparent consumption for the following 17 materials: beryllium, cadmium, cement, industrial diamonds, gypsum, iron and steel, iron and steel slag, lime, magnesium metal, fixed nitrogen-ammonium, perlite, phosphate rock, construction sand and gravel, salt, crushed stone, sulfur, and talc. The US of A is a net exporter of 16 commodities: metallic abrasives, boron, clays, diatomite, gold, helium, iron and steel scrap, iron ore, kyanite, molybdenum, industrial sand and gravel, selenium, soda ash, titanium dioxide pigment, wollastonite, and zeolites. The 2017 United States net import reliance data for 97 minerals is summarized in the following table: Net Import Reliance 100% 21 75% - 99% 14 50% - 74% 15 25% - 49% 14 1% - 24% 17 Net Exporter 16 Americans should be concerned not only because of our dependence on other countries for the majority of essential industrial commodities but also because of some of the countries that we are most dependent on. Lets look at countries that are unfriendly, unstable, and/or corrupt and the number of materials for which we import a quarter or more (25%) of annual demand: China is our primary, secondary or tertiary source for 31 commodities, mainly specialty metals and industrial minerals with small markets. Russia is an important source for 12 commodities, including five major metals and one major agricultural mineral. South Africa is the largest supplier of six major metals and a significant supplier of two industrial minerals. Other countries with high geopolitical risk that supply one or more minerals include Bolivia, Gabon, Georgia, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, and Ukraine. The United States, despite being >25% dependent on foreign sources for 64 materials, holds strategic stockpiles of only 14. The National Defense Stockpile (NDS) is the government program designed to be Americas insurance policy for commodities in times of national emergency. Its primary mandate is to eliminate or reduce dangerous and costly dependence on foreign nations for strategic and critical mineral resources during disruption of supplies. Stockpiled materials must meet three distinct criteria: They must be essential for the common defense, whether for the military or industry. Materials must be insufficiently available in the United States. All materials must have the distinct capability of actually being stockpiled. Lets review the 100-year history of United States mineral stockpile policy to facilitate understanding of the present supply situation: During and after our entry into World War I, it became apparent that the United States was deficient in many strategic minerals. In 1917, the War Industries Board recommended that future materials problems should be anticipated and ameliorated in advance. In 1922, the Army and Navy Munitions Board was established by the War Department to plan for industrial mobilization and procurement of munitions and supplies. It established a list of 14 strategic minerals where supply was wholly or substantially dependent on foreign sources and an additional 15 critical minerals that were available to some degree from domestic sources. But there was no procurement of these 29 strategic minerals. In 1938-1939, two Congressional acts resulted in an authorization of $100 million for a stockpile of 42 strategic and critical raw materials. However at the beginning of World War II, only $54 million had been purchased. Americas strong industrial and manufacturing base was fully mobilized to support the war effort in 1942. Massive quantities of ferroalloys, manganese, tin, natural rubber, and other materials were imported and stockpiled. Of 15 materials in the stockpile, only three were produced domestically. The USGS and Bureau of Mines were tasked with exploring, developing, and producing domestic sources of and substitutes for critical minerals. These evaluations resulted in many new mineral discoveries and mines. Immediately after the war, Congress passed the Strategic and Critical Minerals Stockpiling Act of 1946. The act was designed to prevent a dangerous and costly dependence of the United States on foreign nations for supplies of these materials in times of national emergency. The Act funded a program to procure five years of supply based on estimated wartime consumption. It also encouraged development of domestic sources with government buying programs, credits, grants, and subsidies. By the beginning of the Korean War in 1952, stockpile objectives consisted of 75 commodities with a value of $8.9 billion. It grew to $10.4 billion in1956. Based on assumptions by military war planners of short nuclear wars versus longer-lived conventional wars, the program was reduced to three years supply in 1958, and 63 of 75 stockpiled materials were declared in excess. In 1962, the value of these materials was $7.7 billion with only $3.4 billion required under then current war scenarios. Due to worldwide base metal shortages, the government reduced the inventory by $1.6 billion by the end of 1965 via sales of antimony, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc to support domestic industries. Meanwhile, the strategic and critical list had grown to 89 materials. The stockpiling requirement was reduced to one year supply in 1970 to pay off federal budget deficits and then was changed back to a three-year goal by an Act of Congress in 1979. That act specifically prohibited using stockpile sales to reduce budget deficits. In the early 1980s, the world was in recession, the US metals mining industry was in decline, and the stockpile was maintained. Between 1984 and 1994, it was upgraded by replacing chromite and manganese ores with ferrochrome and ferromanganese alloys and paid for by disposal of excess materials. In 1988, management of the stockpile was transferred from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the Department of Defense (DOD). Concurrent with the collapse of communism in 1989 that culminated in dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, the DOD reevaluated its war scenarios and decided to modernize the stockpile. This decision led to a paradigm shift in the National Defense Stockpile. By 1992, the DOD was viewing foreign suppliers as more reliable, downsizing the military, requesting less budget money to maintain the stockpile, and lobbying to sell many stockpiled minerals to offset post-Cold War defense budget reductions. Congress approved sales of 26 minerals including cobalt, chromium, manganese, and platinum; i.e., four commodities where we were almost wholly dependent on imports from notoriously unstable countries in southern Africa and post-Soviet, crime-ridden Russia. During the Clinton and Bush Jr administrations from 1993 to 2005, most of the remaining stockpiles were sold off to fund military benefits, health care, and retirement, war monument programs, minting of commemorative silver coins, and the general treasury to the tune of $5.9 billion. In 1994, the National Defense Stockpile of 91 strategic minerals and materials contained only 55% of the three-year supply required by the 1979 act, with a total value of $8.9 billion versus the $16.1 billion earmarked. In 1997, the Defense Department once again planned for one-year wars thus enabling stockpile sales to continue unabated: In 1999, the earliest year for which annual reports are easily obtainable, the stockpile consisted of 40 minerals and materials with a market value of $3.5 billion. In 2001, the stockpile consisted of 33 minerals and materials with a market value of $2.5 billion. In 2006, the stockpile consisted of 22 minerals with a market value of $1.6 billion. In 2011, the stockpile consisted of 14 minerals with a market value of $1.4 billion. The end of fiscal year 2016 (September 30) is the latest posted annual report from the National Defense Stockpile Center documenting individual commodities and overall value of the stockpile. At that time, the strategic and critical stockpile contained 18 minerals and materials with a market value of less than $1.2 billion. Note that for my count of 18, I grouped various stockpiled materials for specific elements (e.g., three chromium products), columbium (Nb) metal and ferroniobium alloy, and the platinum group metals (Pt and various alloys). The 2016 stockpile list also shows surplus materials offered for sale: In fiscal year 2014, the National Defense Stockpile Center had outstanding orders to purchase Cd-Zn-Te substrate materials, ferroniobium alloy, Li-ion precursors, plastic explosives, and yttrium oxide. Those orders have now been filled except for Cd-Zn-Te substrate. In fiscal year 2018, the NDSC has orders to accumulate boron carbide, carbon fiber, europium, germanium, tantalum, tungsten-rhenium metal, and silicon carbide fiber. Now lets do a comparative analysis of the USGS chart and the 2016 NDSC table: The 2016 National Defense Stockpile holds 14 of the 64 mineral commodities that are on the USGS chart with >25% net import reliance; it holds one with <25% import dependence (Be); and one that was declared toxic by the EPA in 2001 (Hg), and discontinued as part of the USGS import reliance compilation. Note that I have eliminated Inconel (Ni-Cr-Nb-Mo superalloy) and plastic explosives in this discussion. The US government is selling two stockpiled metals for which we are significantly reliant on imports from unstable or unfriendly sources: chromium at 69%, sourced from South Africa, Russia, and Kazakhstan; and manganese at 100%, sourced from South Africa, Gabon, and Georgia, plus Australia. Of the 21 minerals for which we are 100% import dependent, five are held in the stockpile: niobium, manganese (selling), quartz crystals, tantalum, and yttrium. Of the 31 for which we are dependent on China as the first, second, or third largest supplier, seven are stockpiled: cobalt, germanium, lithium, quartz crystals, titanium, tungsten, and yttrium. Of the nine for which we are dependent on Russia as the first, second, or third largest source, three are stockpiled: chromium (selling), germanium, and niobium. Of the 10 for which we are strongly dependent on South Africa as a major source, there are stockpiles of four: chromium (selling), manganese (selling), platinum, and titanium. The import dependence of the United States of American for major and minor industrial mineral resources is alarming. Moreover, many essential minerals are sourced from countries with geopolitically risky, unfriendly, unreliable, unstable, and/or corrupt, fascist governments. These countries include China, Russia and its former Soviet satellites, those in southern Africa, and select countries in other parts of the Third World. The National Defense Stockpile is designed to ameliorate US vulnerability on foreign sources if geopolitical events disrupt or cut off access to strategic and critical minerals. That said, the stockpile is now geared for short duration wars imagined by Department of Defense gamers. It is apparent the DOD has little to no concern for industries that would not be involved directly or peripherally in an armed conflict. To illustrate these myopic military views, the NDS is currently selling two major steel-making alloys of which we are 100% import reliant on South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Russia in one instance (ferrochromium) and South Africa, Gabon, Georgia, plus Australia in the other (ferromanganese). That seems a recipe for disaster and in my opinion, our current situation is untenable. That said, I am hopeful that President Trumps rollback of onerous regulations, reduction of bloated bureaucracies, reinstatement of lands in the Western US to mineral entry, and streamlining of permitting and development processes will continue to lead to a stronger market economy and help revive domestic extractive mineral and energy industries as the coming bull market for commodities develops. Ciao for now, SEOUL (Reuters) - Events are happening quickly on the Korean peninsula with planned summits between North and South Korea and the United States, a presidential official in Seoul said on Tuesday, amid reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in China. Bloomberg, citing three unidentified sources, reported on Monday that Kim was in Beijing in what would be his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. The unconfirmed visit also comes ahead of a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely, while keeping all possibilities open, said the senior official in Seoul, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits, he said. The details of Kims visit, including its purpose and itinerary, were not yet known, Bloomberg reported. Japanese media reported earlier on Monday that a high-ranking Pyongyang official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing. The Blue House official said the South Korean government had been aware of related movements in North Korea, such as the train, for a few days but he could not confirm whether Kim or another high-ranking North Korean official was visiting China. Beijing is secretive and isolated North Koreas main ally, as well as its biggest trading partner. Kim is due to hold separate summits with South Korea in late April and the United States in May, including a potential meeting with Trump. The fact that the summits are being held has been beyond our expectations. Right now, the situation surrounding the Korean peninsula is moving very quickly and it would be inadvisable to think with prejudice, the Blue House official said. Kim Jong Uns father, Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. Kim Jong Il was considered at the time to have made the visit to reaffirm close ties with the Norths biggest ally. North Korea likely wants to confirm its relationship with China and believes it has some leverage with which it can ask for things from China, said Yoo Ho-yeol, Professor of North Korean studies at Korea University in Seoul. If North Korea speaks with the United States on its own it might feel it is at a disadvantage but, if it has China as an ally, Pyongyang may think it will be able to protect its interests and profits during the summits, Yoo said. Reporting by Christine Kim; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Paul Tait BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for dialogue on trade policy between the European Union and the United States in a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Trump last Thursday temporarily excluded the EU, the United States biggest trading partner, and six non-European countries from higher U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum. The chancellor called for a dialogue process between the European Union and the United States on trade policy, taking into account the rules-based international trade system, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement. Seibert said Merkel and Trump had also affirmed their solidarity with Britain following a nerve gas attack that targeted a former Russian double agent in England. Britain has blamed Russia for the attack, something Moscow denies. The United States, Germany and a number of other countries have followed Britain in expelling Russian diplomats over the attack. (Trump and Merkel) welcomed the coordinated action of European states and NATO allies as a strong signal of unity towards Russias behavior, Seibert said. Merkels relationship with Trump got off to a frosty start after his election. Before a phone conversation on March 1 to discuss the war in Syria and Russian nuclear arms, the two leaders had not spoken to each other in more than five months. However, the two leaders reaffirmed their wish for their governments to cooperate closely, Seibert said. During their phone call, the two leaders also discussed the situation in Syria and with North Korea. Ben Blanchard, Shu Zhang, Christine Kim BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was part of a secretive delegation that arrived in Beijing by train on Monday and left on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the matter and foreign media reports. The visit, which would be Kims first known journey abroad since he assumed power in 2011, was not announced by North Korea or China and has remained shrouded in mystery. South Koreas left-leaning Hankyoreh newspaper reported that Kim had traveled to Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon before leaving for a third location, which could be in China, on Tuesday. It did not cite specific sources. The conservative South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper, citing an unnamed senior intelligence official, said the delegation had included Kim, and that he had left to return to North Korea. Kim is due to hold separate summits with Chinas rivals, South Korea and the United States, and analysts say a visit to Beijing could be preparation for those. Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of secretive and isolated North Korea, but ties have been frayed by North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons and Chinas backing of tough U.N. sanctions in response. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman deflected a question on whether Kim, his sister or some other senior North Korean was visiting. At present I have no understanding of the situation you mention. If there is news we will release it, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular daily briefing. Diplomatic sources in Beijing said a senior North Korean official was in town, but they did not know exactly who. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said it kinda looked like Kim went to Beijing, but told reporters at the Pentagon, I dont know. A senior U.S. official who follows North Korea closely said the available evidence suggested Kim had gone to meet Xi, but stressed that has not been confirmed. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said China had not confirmed who had visited, but added, there certainly was a lot of fanfare ... a lot of protocol. We look forward to hearing about it and well leave it for the Chinese to announce who was visiting, she told a regular news briefing, adding that the United States was continuing with its plans for a summit with Kim by the end of May. A Reuters reporter saw a convoy leave Beijings Diaoyutai State Guest House, where senior foreign leaders often stay, and drive north on Tuesday morning. It was unclear where the convoy was headed. Later, a Reuters journalist saw what was believed to be the delegations train pulling out of a Beijing station. The group was reported to have arrived in China on Sunday after crossing from North Korea at the border city of Dandong. One source with ties to Chinas leadership said earlier it was possible the visitor was Kims younger sister, Kim Yo Jong. She visited South Korea during the Winter Olympics last month, paving the way for a summit between the two Koreas. The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was unlikely Kim Jong Un would have again sent his sister given the importance of a meeting with Xi, which would underscore Kims standing as a world leader. South Korean news agency Newsis reported that Kim Yo Jong and the Norths ceremonial leader, Kim Yong Nam, were visiting Beijing, citing an unidentified North Korea-related source in the Chinese capital. LOT OF LEVERAGE The U.S. official said Xi and Kim Jong Un had reason to meet in advance of Kims meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April and possibly U.S. President Donald Trump in May. Xi has met Trump, and in many respects learned how to deal with him better than some people here do, the official said. At the same time, despite the recent tensions, he needs to know what Kim has in mind for dealing with the South and the U.S., and he still has a lot of leverage with the North. A senior South Korean official said improving ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits. In Geneva, meanwhile, North and South Korean members of parliament shook hands and shared a toast to peace on Tuesday, a Reuters witness said, suggesting relations between their two countries are thawing. South Korean politician Young Chin shook hands with Ri Jong Hyok, director of North Koreas National Reunification Institute and deputy head of its Supreme Peoples Assembly, at the annual assembly in Geneva of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. While China, which remains North Koreas biggest trading partner in spite of recent sanctions, has not confirmed any North Korean visit, it has not totally censored speculation. Posts on Chinese social media have talked about the possibility that Kim Jong Un was in China, some citing family members in Dandong. The rail journey between Dandong and Beijing covers more than 1,100 km (680 miles). It takes at least 14 hours by ordinary service, according to Chinese railway timetables. Kim Jong Uns father, Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. That visit was seen at the time as reaffirmation of close ties with Beijing. North Korea likely wants to confirm its relationship with China and believes it has some leverage with which it can ask for things from China, said Yoo Ho-yeol, professor of North Korean studies at Seouls Korea University. If North Korea speaks with the United States on its own, it might feel it is at a disadvantage but, if it has China as an ally, Pyongyang may think it will be able to protect its interests and profits during the summits. Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Shu Zhang in BEIJING and Christine Kim in SEOUL; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang in SEOUL and John Walcott, Phil Stewart, David Brunnstrom and David Alexander in WASHINGTON; Editing by Gareth Jones and James Dalgleish NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maziar Hashemi, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Massachusetts, has been told by doctors that his best hope for surviving a rare form of blood cancer is a bone marrow transplant. President Donald Trumps travel ban could make that impossible. Bone marrow transplants require a close match between donor and recipient. A few months after his diagnosis last September, Hashemi, 60, learned that his brother in Iran, Kamiar Hashemi, was a rare 100-percent match. The only problem was Kamiars nationality. The latest travel ban, issued as a presidential proclamation and implemented on December 8 after months of legal wrangling, bars most travelers to the United States from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea, as well as certain government officials from Venezuela. Although the ban allows for case-by-case waivers to be granted, including for medical need, Kamiar Hashemi has so far been denied a visa. Attorneys who regularly deal with visa issues say the waiver process is opaque. Visa applicants arent allowed to apply for waivers; they are simply granted or not without explanation. U.S. officials wont say how they make their decisions or how long they generally take. A U.S. State Department official told Reuters that since the ban took effect, more than 375 waivers have been approved but he declined to say how many total visa applications have been filed from countries covered by the ban. He said he could not comment on the specifics of Hashemis case. Kamiar Hashemi began the visa application process soon after learning he was a match for his brother. In February, the 57-year-old small business owner traveled to Armenia to be interviewed at the U.S. embassy there, since there is no embassy in Iran. Later on the day of the interview, Kamiars brother back in Massachusetts checked the status of the application on the State Departments website. A pop-up window announced in bright blue letters: Refused. Waivers can later be granted to applicants initially refused for visas, according to the State Department, so Maziar Hashemi continued checking the website each day, but his brothers status hasnt changed. He hired an immigration lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, hoping she might smooth the way. TRANSPARENT AS MUD The Trump administration has said travel restrictions are needed to protect the United States from terrorism. Critics have challenged the latest ban, as they did previous versions, saying that it discriminates against Muslims. Six of the eight countries included in the current ban are majority Muslim. Under the current proclamation, waivers can be granted in cases where denying entry would cause undue hardship, when the individual is found not to be a threat and when their entry is in the national interest. The proclamation lists ten examples of situations in which an applicant might be eligible for a waiver. One reason mentioned is an applicants need for urgent medical care, something that comes close but doesnt exactly fit the Hashemis situation, since it isnt Kamiar Hashemi, himself, in urgent need. The State Department has declined to provide details of how waiver decisions are made beyond some general answers to frequently asked questions posted on its website. But a State Department letter obtained by Reuters earlier this month said there is no waiver form to be completed and that applicants who fall into the categories outlined in the proclamation must be considered for one. The process is as transparent as mud, said Hashemis attorney Khanbabai. There are no clear guidelines. Its difficult to figure out what the process is and who is actually doing the processing. Nevertheless, Khanbabai submitted a packet of information on the Hashemis behalf to the embassy on March 19, including a letter from Massachusetts General Hospital explaining that a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant is very rare and could provide the only viable treatment for Maziar Hashemis Myelodysplastic syndrome. Worried about the ticking clock, Kamiar Hashemi looked into traveling to India to have his bone marrow harvested there and rushed to the United States, but that option was also thwarted. A non-profit organization trying to facilitate the transfer, Be The Match, said it had to pull out after its legal team concluded that Kamiars bone marrow couldnt be exported to the United States because of U.S. sanctions on Iranian exports. Can you imagine that the cells of an Iranian needed in order to help a U.S. citizen are embargoed? said Maziar Hashemi, a civil engineer who has lived in the United States since the 1970s. It is just unfair, he said in a phone interview. I cannot wait much longer. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 76F. SW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Pellissippi State pledges entrepreneurship, economic growth expansion KNOXVILLE - Pellissippi State Community College has joined community colleges across the country this week in signing a formal pledge to increase its focus on entrepreneurship and its economic impact on the community. (L-R) Terrance Carter, Knoxville Area Urban League; Jim Biggs, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center; Anthony Wise, Pellissippi State; Cliff Claudill, Greater Score of Knoxville; Bruce Hayes, TSBDC; and Doug Minter, Knoxville Chamber, celebrate signing the entrepreneurship pledge. Photo courtesy of PS. Former crime scene cleaning crew member charged with theft By Jeaneane Payne Christopher Bianchi charged with Theft. Image courtesy of TBI A Georgia man has been charged with stealing money from a cleared crime scene in Tennessee. A Williamson County Grand Jury returned an indictment following an investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Christopher Bianchi (DOB 09/13/1986), of Cumming, Georgia, was charged with one count of Theft. At the request of 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper, on November 8, 2017, TBI Agents began investigating a report of theft that occurred at a residence on Iroquois Drive in Thompson Station. A homicide had occurred at that address in October 2017. A resident of that home returned after the scene was cleared and discovered that an envelope of money that had been in a bedroom was missing. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that Bianchi, who was a member of the clean-up crew brought in after the crime scene was cleared, was the person responsible for taking the money. Bianchi was arrested and booked into the Williamson County Jail on a $2,500 bond. A Georgia man has been charged with stealing money from a cleared crime scene in Tennessee. A Williamson County Grand Jury returned an indictment following an investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Christopher Bianchi (DOB 09/13/1986), of Cumming, Georgia, was charged with one count of Theft.At the request of 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper, on November 8, 2017, TBI Agents began investigating a report of theft that occurred at a residence on Iroquois Drive in Thompson Station. A homicide had occurred at that address in October 2017. A resident of that home returned after the scene was cleared and discovered that an envelope of money that had been in a bedroom was missing. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that Bianchi, who was a member of the clean-up crew brought in after the crime scene was cleared, was the person responsible for taking the money.Bianchi was arrested and booked into the Williamson County Jail on a $2,500 bond. Published March 27, 2018 By Yoon Ja-young Samyang Foods Chairman Chun In-jang According to Hyundai Motor Group, its chairman Chung Mong-koo is scheduled to resign from the board of the Hyundai Engineering and Construction at the general shareholders' meeting Thursday. The group explained that the chairman wants to concentrate on the automobile business. The group, however, has been facing pressure by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) that it should improve its corporate governance. Lee Hae-jin, founder of the country's top portal, Naver, also officially stepped down from its board in February. Speculation was that it had to do with the FTC designating Lee the effective owner of a large company. Once designated as such, a variety of antitrust regulations and duties could follow. Lee could not avoid the designation despite owning only a 4.3 percent stake. Harim Group Chairman Kim Hong-kuk Daelim Group Vice Chairman Lee Hae-wook, who is the third-generation scion of the family controlled group, also resigned from being the top executive at the shareholders' meeting last week. He had caused public anger last year for gross mistreatment of his chauffeurs. A number of Daelim executives and employees also made headlines recently for being bribed by suppliers. At the shareholders' meeting of SPC Samlip scheduled for Thursday, vice presidents Hur Jin-soo and Hur Hee-soo, who are children of group chairman Hur Young-in, are expected to resign as their reappointments are not included on the agenda. The operator of the country's top bakery franchisor Paris Baguette had been in conflict with the government for refusing to directly hire the 5,300 bakers working at the franchised shops. Daelim Group Vice Chairman Lee Hae-wook Local poultry giant Harim Group, which was the first target of the investigation by the FTC for unfair practices under the new administration, also had chairman Kim Hong-kuk resign from the board. The company was suspected of using illicit measures in handing over control of the group to the chairman's son. Samyang Foods Chairman Chun In-jang, who is being investigated by the prosecution for alleged embezzlement, recently resigned from being the CEO. Shinsegae Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin also has been away from the board for years. Market watchers say the series of resignations is because the current administration is not tolerating the wrongdoing of chaebol founders and members of owner families, who are trying to keep low key. Naver founder Lee Hae-jin Captured from Coinmarketcap By Oh Young-jin, Cho Se-yong Bitcoin bled 7 percent in the United States and dipped below $8,000 Tuesday (Korean time). The drop came a day before a ban on cryptocurrency advertising on Twitter. Bitcoin prices in Korea also fell. Facebook has already implemented the ban, while Google's ban will take effect in June. As of 2:29 a.m KST, Bitcoin was trading at $7,956, down $600 in a matter of hours. The figure marks less than half the currency's peak value of $17,375 in January. Owner chef Andre Chiang of Restaurant Andre speaks during the 50 Best Talks held at the Wynn Macau, Monday, organized as a pre-event leading up to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants annual awards. / Courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Finding identity is the task for Asian cuisine By Yun Suh-young MACAU -- "To go global is to go local," said Asian chefs who gathered in Macau to speak at the 50 Best Talks held Monday, a day before the announcement of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. Identity, sustainability and the next moves for Asia's gastronomic scene were topics discussed. Taiwanese chef Andre Chiang who won The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award -- Asia 2018 said identity was about "giving a space, a country, a city, a chef the right identity instead of duplicating the same thing." "You want to create something that fits the space, community and identity, and create conversation for the people who live there," said Chiang during his talk. Chiang is the owner/chef of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Andre in Singapore which closed on Feb. 14 after seven years. He plans to "return" his Michelin star and start a new life in Taiwan. The restaurant was ranked No. 2 on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list and No. 14 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants last year, the first in Singapore to make the list. "I moved to France when I was 13. I lived 10 years in Montpellier and I know everything about Montpellier. But I didn't know what to say when they asked about Taiwan. When I passed my 30th birthday, I decided to come back to Asia and to start with Singapore, which is the window to Asia. I always wanted to go back to Taiwan -- for which I've been preparing for the past few years. That's why I think identity is so important." The more local you are, the more global you go, he said. "When it comes to finding identity, it comes in different forms -- using local ingredients is the first thing we have to do. You need to think about what is an identity for a city or a country, what will be the behavior that builds. There are so many things we should start to think of," said Chiang. "I think that's the global movement. And I think it's about time more young Asian chefs worked toward this direction, not about a trend or how to be cool. In the past 10, 20 years, young chefs have gone overseas to learn techniques and these young chefs have started to come back to where they belong. I think it's the way to be." The next moves for restaurants are not about being a fine dining or top notch restaurant, he said. "The most successful restaurant is the restaurant that is needed, that is packed every day. So being a chef, we need to constantly think about how to create a dish or restaurant that is needed. I guess we have to evolve, and evolve as fast as we can as the palate evolves," he said. "I never feel I have to go back to what I created with Andre. I'm not saying we're physically exhausted. You want to deliver something better. We don't use the same vocabulary. We're creating new vocabulary every day. We need to think about what will be the new language for the next decade." Sustainability and localness While Chiang stressed identity, other speakers touched upon sustainability and localness. Richie Lin, one of the three co-founders of Mume alongside with Long Xiong and Kai Ward, said the reason they opened their first restaurant in Taipei was because of the local ingredients. "When I went to Taipei, there were 20 different vegetables I'd never seen or tasted before. I was like 'wow Taiwan has so much to offer,' so diverse. I thought I knew something with all the training I had, but actually I knew nothing. That moment, I realized Taiwan is very underrated and I've been thinking probably this is something we can do in Taiwan," said Lin. He is a Hong Kong native trained in Sydney and Copenhagen where he met his two partners Kai Ward in Australia and US chef Long Xiong at Noma in Copenhagen. "So I took more trips to Taipei, and did more research. The more I get into it, the more it surprises me, and the more I feel like I'm connected to this place. Opening a new restaurant allows you to continue to educate yourself and set yourself out of your comfort zone. That's part of the reason why I chose Taipei because it really sets you out of your comfort zone." Nearly all of their ingredients are locally supplied. "More than 90 percent are supplied from Taiwan -- all the vegetables and fruits are from Taiwan from very small farmers. If you're just using local ingredients, you come up with a big list of suppliers you have to deal with. The logistics of it is a big challenge because in most cases they only do one or two things so you end up with 50 to 80 suppliers," he said. Meanwhile Vijay Mudaliar, founder of the bar Native in Singapore, which made its debut last year and is already on both Asia's 50 Best Bars and The World's 50 Best Bars, said his bar is mindful about sustainability. "We forage in the wild finding things like star fruit, mini cucumbers, pink jasmines... It gives us a better idea of what we can use in the cocktails. This way we can connect with our environment and with the people who come to our bar," he said. "We're extending the idea of sustainability with mindful bartending. For instance we use leftover ground coffee from cafes nearby us, we don't use fresh citrus in our drinks but instead use vinegar because the biggest waste at bars is citrus, and we're powered by solar energy. We also don't use tissues, but instead use linen napkins." The White House said Monday it can't confirm reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is currently visiting Beijing. Japan's Kyodo news agency reported earlier that a high-ranking North Korean official appeared to have taken a train across the border, although it was unclear whether it was Kim. Bloomberg later cited three unnamed people as saying the visitor was indeed the North Korean leader. "We can't confirm those reports. We don't know if they're necessarily true," White House deputy spokesman Raj Shah said during a regular news briefing. Kim is not known to have left his country since he took power upon the death of his father and then leader, Kim Jong-il, in late 2011. A motorcade believed to be carrying a North Korean delegation makes its way along Beijing's main east-west thoroughfare, Changan Avenue, in Beijing, China, Tuesday. / Yonhap Kim-Xi summit bodes well for inter-Korea talks By Lee Min-hyung North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Chinese President Xi Jinping North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a two-day visit to Beijing that started Monday, according to intelligence sources Tuesday. This is the first time that Kim has taken an overseas trip and held a summit with a leader from another country since assuming power in 2011. Kim took a train for his Beijing visit, but no detailed travel arrangements have been confirmed so far. The sources said that Kim met with the Chinese president and high-ranking officials from the Communist Party of China on the Beijing visit. The South Korean and Chinese governments have not released any official statements on the rare trip by the North Korean leader. The visit comes at a critical time when the reclusive regime remains under growing diplomatic pressure amid heightened international sanctions imposed for the regime's continuous nuclear and missile threats. With China also joining the global drive, relations between Beijing and Pyongyang had reached a low ebb. The unexpected meeting between the two leaders also came a month before a planned inter-Korean summit. The North Korean leader has in recent months showed a strong willingness to improve ties with the South. On the back of the rare peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula, Kim also expanded the dialogue signal by offering to hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. By Oh Young-jin What was going on in Beijing? Was it North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit or a trial run for a possible Beijing summit for Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in May? "It must be Kim Jong-un or ," said a person who is familiar with how North Korea's leadership behaves, during an interview after reports about the North Korean dictator's visit to China Tuesday. The person who doesn't want to be identified said the North, however estranged in its relationship with China, wouldn't dare meet U.S. President Donald Trump without first meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Kim-Trump summit is slated for May, with the meeting between President Moon Jae-in and Kim set for late April. "If China stops its supplies completely for six months to one year, the North would find itself in a very tough spot so tough that its collapse can't be ruled out," he said. Reports say the North Korean leader arrived in Beijing on a special train and was then taken via motorcade. But no one China, the United States or South Korea has confirmed it, not to mention Pyongyang. The visit, if it was indeed by Kim Jong-un, would be his first as North Korean leader to China and his first encounter with the Chinese leader who has reportedly loathed the young dictator's uncontrollable pursuit of nuclear arms and long-range missiles. Whether it was Kim or one by his subordinates, the visit has the purpose of checking whether Beijing is suitable for the May summit, the source said. "Kim Jong-un would not feel comfortable in any venue except for Pyongyang," he said. "Considering Trump would come to Pyongyang only when he thinks he can get the outcome he wants, the Chinese capital would most likely be the place." At a Beijing summit, the likelihood is that Xi would be the host to Trump and Kim, making it a three-way summit. "For Seoul, it could prove a tall order to have a seat at the table," the source said. Tuesday's visit would also be to coordinate the position of Beijing and Pyongyang before the North Korean-U.S. summit, he believed. "The North doesn't want to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles, while the United States wants nothing less than to see the North's nuclear programs dismantled completely." As his logic goes, Beijing will play a role in mediating for a "freeze-for-freeze" formula to have the North stop its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, while the United States helps suspend international sanctions on the North, especially the last two by the United Nations. Trump got on board for the May talks, which he said would show the U.S. leader's determination to achieve the North's denuclearization. "The North must know about Trump's own expectations," the source said. But there are murky parts to the U.S. goal of a denuclearized North Korea. "Which comes first to tackle nuclear materials and facilities or nuclear weapons? If a choice is made to tackle the first, then the North can buy a couple of years," he said. A single mother holds her baby in silhouette in this 2012 file photo. / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-soo Raising a child alone is viewed negatively in Korean society. Despite this social perception, a growing number of single mothers are taking full care of their children. There are calls for the government to enforce greater responsibility on children's biological fathers, as equally as single mothers. There were 23,936 single mothers in 2016, according to Statistics Korea's latest data. Of them, 264 were in their teens. Given many single mothers are hesitant to come out and speak up, the data is likely incomplete. To curb social stigma against single moms and ease their economic troubles, an online petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website on Feb. 23 called for enacting measures to request child support from biological fathers. "Single mothers tend to struggle economically because they are mostly taking care of their children alone," said a petitioner, who wrote on the website using a Naver ID. "Unmarried biological fathers' inadequate financial support and indifference to childrearing put single moms at risk." More than 210,000 people have signed the petition, raising their voice _ single mothers should not take the burden alone to raise a child. The government has to give an official response to the petition as it has reached 200,000 signees. Under Korean law, single mothers can sue biological fathers for child support. However, the process is extremely difficult and complicated. To file a court order to get a father to pay child support, the mother needs information about the father's assets and monthly income. If the father is unemployed or a student, there is little chance for her to sue for child support. Even if mothers do succeed in winning child support, the amount tends to be not enough to raise a child. "I thought about giving up my child for adoption due to financial difficulties," a 20-year-old single mom said in another petition. "But I couldn't." There are other petitions that urge the government to enforce biological fathers to take on equal responsibility. Only 4.7 percent of 727 surveyed said they received child support from the fathers, according to the Korea Women's Development Institute. About 26 percent had asked the fathers for child support but could not get any financial aid. The petitioner who used her Naver identification also mentioned Denmark's law as an example, in which unwed biological fathers should take part in child support and provide about $550 (600,000 won) a month to single mothers. If the fathers cannot provide support, Denmark's regional government, or Kommune, should support the single mothers on behalf of their children's fathers. Should the fathers have incomes later on, the regional government will impose taxes on them. "I just want my child to enjoy the right to be happy," another petitioner said. "I'm willing to live in the shadows of society as long as I can give a better start to my child, both economically and socially." President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, at a hotel in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Sunday / Yonhap By Kim Rahn ABU DHABI Korean companies may sign contracts for energy development projects worth $25 billion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the government there is planning to give priority to Korea in such areas, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. The Middle Eastern country will also help Korea in its bid for a nuclear power plant project in Saudi Arabia. Ranking officials of the UAE made such propositions in an earlier meeting with President Moon Jae-in, following orders from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. "In the summit Sunday, the two leaders talked about economic cooperation in a broad sense," Kim said. "But right after the summit, the crown prince ordered his officials, including Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi Chairman Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, to come up with detailed ways of cooperation. As Moon went to meet the officials later, they talked about such offers." George Breen holds a sign asking for help searching for Marie Hwang. / Courtesy of Yongsan Legacy 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 If you've been in the alleys of Hannam-dong in Seoul in recent months, maybe you spotted a flyer showing a portrait of a woman that reads "Looking for My Love" in Korean, taped to a pole situated along an alley that once linked the back gate of the now demolished Hannam Village. The flyer, written and posted with a heavy heart, leaves a trace of the intimate memories, battered by memories of artillery shells and poor sanitary conditions, that one couple, then-U.S. Army service member George Breen and a woman he knew as Marie Hwang, shared between the summers of 1958 and 1959 in Hannam, east of modern-day Itaewon Station. Now an 83-year-old grandfather living in Florida, Breen still kindles fond memories of Marie, devoting considerable time and effort to searching for her since their last correspondence in 1964 as well as retracing the rustic Korea he learned to love during his tour of duty. Breen spent his days on work detail repairing military vehicle engines in shops operated by the 570th Ordnance Company (DAS), on the site that would become Niblo Barracks and later Hannam Village. At 5 p.m., Breen would walk out the back gate following a dirt trail that ran alongside the compound to go see Marie. The houses are long gone, but the roads remain much the same; Marie lived in an alley across Itaewon-no, behind where an Audi dealership stands today. "I remember how it did rain in Seoul," he said. "The hill leading from the 570th into the village was muddy and difficult to climb, but I never missed a day walking up that hill to see Marie." Following the path that once led to the village, Breen vividly recalls singing "Oh My Darling, Clementine" in the Koreanized verses Marie had taught him, arousing immediate laughter from Korean passersby. The villagers he met lived in improvised tin-roof huts with walls often riddled with wartime bullet holes, some of which were made from cardboard with mud piled around the base to keep out rainwater. But such hard living, according to Breen, didn't dampen their spirits. "Some families were so poor that the younger children wore no clothes during the warmer weather," Breen said. "Yet, through all this hardship, each time I would walk up the hill into the village, the children and adult civilians would have a smile for me. That's strong people." He recalls Marie lived with her younger brothers, having lost their parents in the war. He often brought canned foods and beer purchased on base, either for Marie's home necessities or to resell for a considerable profit on the local black market. Breen also savored the home-cooked meals Marie prepared, though off-duty service members were ordered not to eat anywhere other than the mess halls on base. He recalls a cold winter night at Marie's where he had to repair a charcoal heater that was leaking carbon monoxide into the room where they slept. "Marie and I both came close to dying that night," he said. "Heating with charcoal is a real no but that is all the Koreans could afford at that time." Events such as this did not, however, deter him from showing up in front of Marie's sliding front door almost every day, a routine that certainly had its muddy and gas-filled struggles. Breen recalls waking up next to her "first thing in the morning as she lay asleep," and says "giving her a soft kiss without waking her brings big tears." Shortly after putting on his work clothes and giving Marie a brief goodbye kiss, Breen would return to his post by 7 a.m. for morning chow. But in July 1959 Breen completed his tour and had to depart. One Sunday afternoon, they shared one last dance waiting for him to board a ship in Incheon. "Marie that day would be the most beautiful woman that I would ever see," he said. "Honest, true love shared between two young people torn apart!" Reimagining his footsteps that can be traced back from the 570th to Marie's, Breen added: "Surely my ghost was with you when you walked the same route I used." This image shows the front gate of Niblo Barracks in 1970 where George Breen served earlier. Marie Hwang lived on the hill behind the base. / Courtesy of Yongsan Legacy By John Redmond The Acoustic Neighbourhood Jamboree music session hosted by Jennifer Waescher will be staged at the Camarata Music Studio in Haebangchon, Seoul, Friday. "Celebrate the warmer weather and the beginnings of spring with us this month," organizers said. This monthly free music event offers performances by talented musicians with an atmosphere and songs not often heard at regular bar venues. "You'll see short sets from each artist, and a collection of different styles of music. You can drink wine and other beverages from the bar, and generally have your mind blown by some fantastic musical stylings," host Jennifer Waescher said. Waescher originally came to Seoul 10 years ago, giving up an acting career to teach English and experience travel and living abroad. Once here, she was inspired to pursue music and writing. Her first album "Beyond These Words" was released in 2013. This month's artists are Benjamin Pernick, Call Me Su, Zach Bardon, The Jeni Wai Band and Samia Mounts. "Each month we feature a few local musicians to play some selections of their work, some of which you may not always get to hear in the usual rowdy bar venues," Waescher said. The venue opens at 8:30 p.m. and the music starts at 9. For more information, search Facebook for the ANJ-Spring Session event page. By Lee Suh-yoon Seoul's plan to build a school for disabled students was disrupted on Monday by residents who oppose it in fear of negative effects on their property prices. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education hosted a briefing by Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon on the construction of the school in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, but it was brought to a halt by protesting residents. The opponents demanded that the new school be built in one of eight other districts in Seoul that have no such schools. The new school is aimed at easing overcrowded classes. "Don't lie. We never agreed to this plan," one resident shouted as the superintendent tried to allay opposition by presenting a plan for a new public library at the school. Some residents at the meeting in favor of the plan spoke out against fellow residents. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. Don't call yourself a Gangseo-gu resident," one resident shouted at another in a video footage SBS released. Parents of children with disabilities were also present. Some became tearful as the meeting broke down. The education office said it remains committed to opening the new school by September next year. No new special school for the disabled has been built in Seoul since 2002. President Moon Jae-in hugs a soldier during his visit to Korea's Akh unit dispatched in the United Arab Emirates, Tuesday. / Yonhap By Kim Rahn ABU DHABI President Moon Jae-in called Korea's Akh Unit dispatched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a symbol of defense cooperation between the two countries and a model of reciprocal relations. He visited the unit in the Sweihan region, Tuesday, the last day of his visit to the Middle Eastern country to boost the morale of the soldiers. First dispatched in January 2011, the unit supports training of the UAE's special warfare unit and holds joint exercises with it. It is also tasked with protecting Korean people here in the case of an emergency. Now 138 soldiers are stationed with the unit. "The Akh Unit is the pride of Korean armed forces and the symbol of cooperation between Korea and the UAE," Moon told the soldiers. "Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also highly evaluated your work, saying the unit is a foundation stone that has boosted the two countries' cooperation." By Park Si-soo South Korea's top court on Tuesday confirmed the conviction of three weekly magazine reporters who were accused of publishing an extramarital affair story involving a Korean civilian worker at United States Forces Korea (USFK). The Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling, fining them 3 million won ($2,800) each for defaming the worker. The court rejected the reporters' claim that their reporting was justifiable in light of people's right to know and the freedom of press. It said the disputed story dealt with a "sheer private affair" whose publication did nothing for public interest. The court said the story was published with personal details edited out, but not enough. By Choi Ha-young Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong sends a message to President Donald Trump, Monday, in hope of holding a U.S.-North Korea summit on Jeju Island. / Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Jeju Island Governor Won Hee-ryong proposed the island as the venue for the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in May, in a video message posted to Trump's Twitter page, Monday. The governor emphasized Jeju is an ideal venue for the summit because it has a long history of inter-Korean cooperation as well as turbulent ideological conflict during the Cold War era. Won also sent a letter with the same messages to Trump via the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the provincial government said in a press release. "Jeju Island, which was appointed an Island of World Peace in 2005, has served as a buffer zone for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," Won said in a letter to the president. "If the two leaders feel burdened to visit Washington or Pyongyang, Jeju could be a great option." A poster hung at a police station in Eunpyeong-gu, northwestern Seoul, Monday, reads "We are not hunting dogs or crazy dogs. We are police officers of Korea." Courtesy of Kang Sung-won By Park Ji-won A series of slanderous remarks made by the leader and the spokesman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) toward police have triggered angry reactions from officers. Many have protested online and offline since the LKP members called police "crazy dogs" and "hunting dogs" regarding an ongoing corruption investigation into a member of the conservative party. Even retired police officers joined in to protest against the LKP. One police station in Eunpyeong-gu, northwestern Seoul, had a poster hung on the building reading "We are not hunting dogs or crazy dogs. We are police officers of Korea." Numerous police officers uploaded pictures of themselves holding the same postcard to social media in protest of the LKP's move to tarnish their reputation. The Korean National Police Veterans Association also pledged to stand against the opposition party, saying they plan to release a statement urging party leader Hong Joon-pyo and spokesman Chang Je-won to resign as well as hold a street protest until their reputation is restored. The dispute began last week when the LKP spokesman said, "Police are hunting dogs with rabies," and "Crazy dogs need to be beaten." The remark was made as part of a response to the police searching the offices of an LKP party member. On March 22, Ulsan police searched the secretarial offices of Ulsan Mayor Kim Ki-hyun, who is expected to win re-election in a couple months. One of his aides is being investigated on suspicion of fraud in a construction project. Regarding the investigation, LKP senior spokesman Chang immediately denounced the police's move as politically motivated. The LKP, on the day of the raid, endorsed Mayor Kim to run for a second-term. LKP leader Hong Joon-pyo also said he is considering not supporting the police during discussions on the redistributing of investigative authority and power between them and the prosecution. The police have been asking the government to give them greater investigative powers. Regarding the criticism, Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency chief Hwang Woon-ha expressed regret over the comments while emphasizing the investigation was legitimate. Hwang also pointed out LKP members are pressuring the police in their investigation. He urged both sides to calm down over the matter. After Hwang spoke, LKP spokesman Kim Sung-tae also tried to ease tension with the police, saying Chang went too far, but clashes are likely to continue as more police officers continue their protests. "Some police officers say the police should take strong legal action against the party, and still many feel gravely insulted over the remarks," one officer said on condition of anonymity. By Kim Jae-heun Seoul displayed a contest-winning seasonal slogan about spring on the Seoul Metropolitan Library building Tuesday for people downtown to read and feel good about the newly arrived warm season. City Hall has been introducing new banners every three months to greet people passing by the library, a former City Hall building standing in front of the new City Hall building. The 12-day competition received 448 entries, of which four slogans were selected, including the winning entry by Jeong Min-woo. The slogan reads: "Pussy willows wag their tails in greeting. Spring has arrived." Pussy willow, in English referring to cats, is in Korean "buddle gangaji," literally "willow dog." Jeong compared the fuzzy flower cluster to a puppy wagging his tail, greeting a new season. "I wanted to express excitement about the approaching spring season. My slogan also contains hope for people by greeting the new season with warmth. People get excited in spring even if they don't have anything special going on. I hope everyone has a happy spring," Jeong said. Jeong said he has been entering slogans in the competition every season as he reads the winning slogans whenever he passes City Hall. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said they were impressed by how Jeong animalized the plant into a puppy. "A puppy is a good companion providing comfort and happiness. It is impressive how he compares the feeling of movement in spring to a puppy's wagging tail," a city official said. Jeong's slogan will be up in front of the library's main gate until the end of May. Seoul has been hanging banners with inspiring slogans since June 2013. The competition only accepts slogans less than 30 words created by citizens. City Hall will hold a new competition during May for slogans for the summer. Prosecutors may seek investigation over ex-first lady By Kim Jae-heun Prosecutors will try to question ex-President Lee Myung-bak again today at a detention center in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul. The prosecution said it sent a message to Lee's lawyers asking them to persuade him to cooperate. They failed to meet the ex-president Monday, after Lee refused to meet them. "Lee has the right to defend himself while under arrest. This is an important case and we want to have enough time for him to get advice from his lawyers before accepting the prosecution's request for questioning," an aide of Lee said. The former president submitted a letter to the prosecution through his lawyers stating that he would not accept further questioning as the investigation was unfair. Meanwhile, the prosecution said it has yet to determine whether to question Lee's wife, Kim Yoon-ok, on suspicions she was involved in her husband's bribery and embezzlement. The prosecutors have raised four allegations against Kim. Kim is said to have received 350 million won from former Woori Finance Holdings Chairman Lee Pal-seung, and clothes worth 12.3 million won between January 2007 and January 2008. She allegedly purchased luxury goods worth $100,000 with money she received from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) on behalf of her husband in 2011. The ex-president acknowledged he received money from the spy agency's secret fund, but said he used the money to fund operations against North Korea. Another allegation concerns the former first lady's involvement in embezzlement at DAS, an auto parts company Lee is suspected of owning. Kim reportedly spent 400 million won on a DAS corporate credit card over 10 years until Lee was elected president in December 2007. In addition, Kim allegedly received 32 million won in cash in a luxury brand bag from a Korean-American businesswoman. Lee denied all the allegations made against his wife. The prosecution said, however, that it will not question the former first lady yet as this could be seen as political revenge for the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, a lifelong friend of incumbent President Moon Jae-in. Roh committed suicide while waiting for a prosecution summons to answer bribery allegations. Prosecutors have already called the ex-president's son Lee Si-hyung and son-in-law Lee Sang-joo for questioning on their involvement in Lee's alleged embezzlement and bribery, respectively. If prosecutors decide to question Kim, they will send investigators to the ex-first lady's residence in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul, out of respect of her former post. A convoy was seen in Beijing on Monday (March 26) evening at around 22:20 local time heading from The Great Hall of People towards the direction of Diaoyutai State Guest House where high level some high level foreign visitors stay during visits to the city. Japanese media reported that a high-ranking North Korean official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing on Monday (March 26) though speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is currently visiting the Chinese capital has not been confirmed. A source with ties to the Chinese military told Reuters that it was "not possible to rule out the possibility" that Kim was visiting Beijing, but cautioned this was not confirmed. Kyodo, citing sources, reported that on Sunday (March 25), a special train that might have carried the official passed through the Chinese border city of Dandong, and Beijing railway bureau warned on its microblog, without giving a reason, of multiple train delays of up to two hours in the Beijing region. Police tightened security along Beijing's main east-west thoroughfare, Changan Avenue, mid-afternoon Monday, closing off the entrances to some of the buildings which face the road. By Jhoo Dong-chan Korea's small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are enjoying surging export performance with Vietnam. Highlighting the Southeast Asian country's economic development, the nation's top think tanks say Vietnam is expected to become Korea's second-largest export partner soon. According to the study released by the Korea Small Business Institute (KOSBI), Korean SMEs' exports to Vietnam reached $12.6 billion last year, up 33.4 percent from a year earlier. The Southeast Asian country was Korean SMEs' fourth-largest export partner in 2016, but became the second-largest with 11.7 percent of their total export volume last year following China with 22.5 percent. "Vietnam's population is more than 90 million, and is steadily enjoying a 6 percent economic growth every year," the study said. "The country's population will reach more than 100 million by the end of 2020. It will play a leading economic role in the Indochinese peninsula soon." Thanks to the SMEs' surging export volume, Korea's exports to Vietnam reached $47.8 billion, or 8.3 percent of the nation's total export volume, last year. The figure indicates the country was Korea's third-largest export partner after China and the United States last year. The nation's top think tank claims Vietnam will soon take over the U.S. in export volume. According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the nation's exports to Vietnam will reach $96.6 billion by 2020 to become Korea's second-largest export country. The KITA also noted Korea enjoyed a $31.5 billion trade surplus with Vietnam last year, nearly doubling the trade surplus with the U.S. worth $17.8 billion. "An increasing number of Vietnamese people are favoring Korean brands thanks to the Korean wave and major Korean firms' entry to the country. Korean firms, especially SMEs, should establish a foothold in major cities or special economic zones in Vietnam to expand their exports," said a KOSBI researcher. "The government should also provide various support linked with its official development assistance program to Vietnam." The study said, however, Vietnam often experienced labor disputes while its wage level is rapidly growing these days, calling for SMEs to take a cautious approach when seeking a cheap labor cost abroad. Proactive steps needed to avoid trade pressure Korea and the United States have concluded the renegotiation of their six-year-old free trade agreement (FTA) far swifter than expected. In amending the KORUS FTA, Seoul has agreed to open its auto market wider but managed to keep the agricultural market from opening further. The Korean side has staunchly maintained its position that the farm market was a "red line" it couldn't cross. On the other hand, the U.S. exempted Korea from the 25 percent tariffs on steel exports to America, but decided to slash the purchase of Korean products by 30 percent by setting a stricter import quota. Korean negotiators appear relieved _ not without reasons. "The agreement on the U.S. steel duty exemption and the KORUS FTA renegotiation removed uneasiness amid rising uncertainties in the global market due to the U.S. trade actions against China," Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said in a briefing in Seoul, Monday. Kim and his bargaining team deserve some compliments for "putting up a good defense" in the face of Washington's intensifying trade pressure. All the more so, given the Donald Trump administration's full-court offensive to slash U.S. trade deficits. Still, it is doubtful whether Seoul succeeded in ensuring what it had called a "balance of interests." In return for protecting the politically sensitive but economically less significant farming market, Korea seems to have conceded too much in automobiles and pharmaceuticals. Worse yet, the U.S. is likely to apply pressure on Korea again whenever it thinks it necessary to rectify its trade shortfalls. "Risks always exist in trade," Kim said. "They will persist while President Trump is in the White House." We can hardly agree more. What should Korea do now? We don't have many options. The model answers have always been there: Diversify export destinations away from the U.S. and China; and reduce the national economy's dependence on foreign shipments, while focusing more on boosting domestic demand. Other options are to sharpen the competitiveness of Korean industry, especially in services, and set up a ministerial-level trade-negotiating agency with far stronger authority and greater expertise. All these measures have proved to be far easier said than done. One of the new ways to deal with the unilateral U.S. trade pressure may be switching from defense to offense. For example, the Seoul government can join forces with similar "victims" of the U.S. trade offensive and fight together against Washington by sticking to international rules and norms. Active participation in multilateral free trade talks could be another way. Enjoying a trade surplus with the U.S. should be no reason to suffer unilateral attacks as long as Seoul plays by global standards. Former president should cooperate with investigation The jailed former President Lee Myung-bak, who served from 2008 to 2013, is refusing to answer prosecutors' questions on various charges, including bribery. Investigators planned to question him Monday at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, where the former president has been detained since March 22. But his lawyers said Lee decided not to attend, saying he did not trust the prosecution to conduct a fair investigation. The prosecution decided to postpone the session after failing to persuade Lee to cooperate. The prosecution had planned to question Lee on his involvement with the auto parts manufacturer DAS, which is at the center of many of the corruption and embezzlement allegations against him. He has continued to deny his ownership of the company. By refusing to cooperate with the prosecution's investigation, Lee is once again trying to portray himself as a victim of political retaliation. The businessman-turned-politician has insisted the prosecution's investigation is political revenge by the liberal Moon Jae-in administration for former President Roh Moo-hyun's death. Lee's attitude resembles that of former President Park Geun-hye, who also portrayed herself as a victim of political retaliation and refused to cooperate with the corruption investigation and trial proceedings. Although he is in jail, the former president remains politically active. In a Facebook post, he offered his condolences to the victims of the 2010 sinking of the frigate Cheonan, saying "I am sorry I cannot keep up my promise to visit the fallen sailors until the day we are unified." It is not appropriate for an ex-leader to engage in such activities while being detained. If he has any sense of responsibility as a former leader, he should prove his innocence by fully cooperating with investigators and deliver only an honest account of his past actions. Tirebank Chairman Kim Jung-kyu talks about his company's plan on the acquisition of Kumho Tire, during a press conference at the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tuesday. /Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Tire retailer Tirebank declared a bid to acquire Kumho Tire, Tuesday, compounding the conundrum for creditors looking to dispose of the cash-strapped tiremaker. Chairman Kim Jung-kyu, who heads Korea's largest tire retailer, told reporters he could not watch Kumho be taken over by China's Doublestar Tires. "We have decided to seek the acquisition of Kumho Tire, with a sense of duty to protect the pride of Koreans," the chairman said in a press conference at the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "The traditional manufacturer's downfall broke my heart. A Korean company should acquire Kumho Tire's factories in Korea at least." He vowed to develop Kumho Tire into the world's fifth-largest tiremaker, but maintained a cautious attitude toward a final decision on the acquisition, saying he will listen to the opinions of the public, creditors and the company's union. Industry officials have regarded Kim's proposal as a mere marketing strategy to promote Tirebank, considering the Daejeon-based company's size and financial ability. Established in 1991 as the nation's first company specializing in the retail tire business, the medium-size enterprise having 70 employees posted 372.9 billion won ($348 million) in sales and 66.4 billion won in operating profits in 2016. Doublestar agreed with Kumho Tire's creditors to pay 646.3 billion won for its acquisition of the tiremaker. The Chinese company has said it will invest the money in new Kumho Tire shares, which would allow it to become the largest shareholder with a stake of 45 percent. This would lower the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and other creditors' stake to 23.1 percent. Kumho Tire said no Korean firm including Tirebank has offered an investment. The KDB has dismissed Tirebank's proposal as an unrealistic one, saying Kumho Tire will be delisted or go into court receivership, unless its management and union reach an agreement on a self-rescue plan by March 30. Kim said his company can raise enough funds to buy Kumho Tire, through Tirebank's initial public offering. He also suggested the creditors lend money to his company as a security. "Several influential global companies, which are not based in China, proposed jointly acquiring Kumho Tire," he said. "The creditors decided to invest 200 billion won, in case of Tirebank's acquisition, and the amount is large enough to save Kumho Tire's factories in Korea." However, the KDB said it will not lend money to Tirebank secured by the company. Kumho Tire's union, which has opposed a foreign acquisition, welcomed Tirebank's announcement. It said two more Korean companies are considering acquiring Kumho Tire, but declined to reveal their names. In the meantime, Doublestar Chairman Chai Yongsen replied to a letter from Kumho Tire's non-union workers, who have supported the takeover. In the letter, Chai said he will guarantee Kumho Tire's independent management, job security and the right to collective bargaining. Former Korean Air executive Heather Cho /Yonhap By Kang Aa-young Heather Cho, who was at the center of the much-ridiculed Korean Air "nut rage" incident, is set to make a comeback to the carrier's top management. Cho, the eldest child of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, resigned as vice president in December 2015 after attacking flight attendants for not serving her nuts on a plate and forcing the plane she was on to return to the gate before takeoff. She was head of the airline's cabin service at the time of the incident. Cho apologized to the public and served three months in prison, giving up all management roles. Jose Filomeno dos Santos, the former president of the Angolan Sovereign Fund and son of former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is barred from leaving the country, VOA's Portuguese Service reports. The funds are said to have been sent to a bank in the United Kingdom in the last days of Jose Eduardo dos Santos' reign as president, before he was replaced by Joao Lourenco, who took office in September. Deputy Attorney General Luis Benza Zanga said the crime won't be pardoned because fraud isn't covered under the government's amnesty provisions. Since winning election in August, new leader Joao Lourenco has removed Jose Filomeno dos Santos from that post and fired dos Santos' daughter - said to be Africa's richest woman - as chair of the powerful state-owned oil company. Valter Filipe da Silva, former governor of the central bank, has also been charged with fraud in relation to the case, prosecutors said in comments transmitted by state radio. Dos Santos had been appointed the board chairperson of Angola's sovereign wealth fund while his father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, was president. British authorities that froze the $500 million in the United Kingdom due to suspicions over the transaction have said the money can now be returned to the oil-producing, southern African country. "A pardon will not work. this case will run to its final outcome", he said, according to the BBC. Investigators this month opened an inquiry into suspected misappropriation of funds during her time at the helm of Sonangol. She was replaced by Carlos Saturnino Oliveira, a man Dos Santos herself sacked in December 2016 as long-time president of Sonangol P&P. Union members of ELCA Korea and Chanel Korea hold placards in front of Lotte Department Store's main branch in downtown Seoul, Sunday. / Courtesy of the Korean Federation of Service Workers' Unions By Park Jae-hyuk Workers at ELCA Korea and Chanel Korea recently went on a temporary strike to protest their companies' policy of long working hours for low wages, according to the Korean Federation of Service Workers' Unions (KFSWU), Tuesday. More than 1,000 workers at the Korean units of Estee Lauder and Chanel stopped working at 50 department stores nationwide and walked out Sunday evening. The salesclerks selling luxury cosmetics at the department stores picketed outside the stores, chanting, "Shorter working hours without wage cuts, shorter working hours with more workers and no more working without shift work. It is unusual for Korean employees of the luxury brands to stage a walkout. They have continued to demand that local head offices improve their working conditions regarding the number of workers, working hours, labor intensity and wages, but management at the foreign luxury cosmetics firms have rejected their requests. Moreover, they put in substitute workers to cope with the walkout. A growing number of union members has therefore begun urging their leaders to call for an additional all-day strike. They also asked for support from non-union workers and employees of other cosmetics brands. While over 95 percent of union members at ELCA Korea and Chanel Korea supported the action, those at L'Oreal Korea and Bluebell Korea, a distributor of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Bally, did not participate, because their management and union had reached agreements. L'Oreal Korea and Bluebell Korea workers gave verbal support to ELCA Korea and Chanel Korea employees instead. "The recent strike shows the desperation of workers in the services industry," an official of the KFSWU said. "Although department stores look luxurious and fancy, salesclerks working there are suffering from intense work for low wages. This is the reality of the nation's cosmetics industry." It has been common knowledge that workers have suffered from poor conditions, because they already revealed their situation during a National Assembly Audit of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy last year. They criticized their companies for forcing them to work nearly 12 hours a day without regular days off. The unions of Chanel Korea and Bluebell Korea have also pointed out some of their colleagues have difficulties in pregnancy. Chanel Korea's female workers have also complained about their skimpy uniforms as well. In response to their complaints, Minister Paik Un-gyu said, "I feel sorry about this issue. I will figure out whether the ministry can solve the problem." Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Sunny. High 72F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Filipino culture still largely upholds a sprawling family that, despite size, keeps tightly knit but more and more kids are growing up in non-traditional family structures. In 2015, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated about three million household heads without a spouse two million of whom were female. The Federation of Solo Parents has a member base of 80,000. In a dominantly conservative country, the stigma is particularly hard on single mothers. In May last year, Majority Leader Senator Tito Sotto was hit for a supposed joke, calling then-Social Welfare Secretary and single mom Judy Taguiwalo "na-ano lang." Although he has since promised to give solo parents a helping hand, the laughter that followed his quip was telling of a larger problematic culture: society still expects women to bear the brunt of child-rearing, but cant take her seriously when she does it alone. We sit down with some single moms and talk about what it took to raise a child alone: a lot of strength, a stroke of luck, and then a few budgeting skills. Agnes Nieto began rearing Karl with the help of a friend. Starting with a 10,000 salary, she considered every independent purchase a milestone right from her first caldero. She now has a home. Photo by JL JAVIER Agnes Nieto, 53, and Karl, 24 Agnes Nieto was 30 years old when she had Karl. When his father said he wanted out of the picture, she did not bank on him. She was in labor for between 16 to 18 hours. Karl was a smart kid Nieto credits this to a lot of reading, among other brain games and she never talked down to him. She always assumed he was capable of understanding. She took him on a seminar that helped him understand their family set-up. Before that, Karl had seen a white dress in her closet and asked if it came from her wedding; she explained to him that she never married. She reached out to his father, who at the time already had his own family not for her, but for Karl, so [he] will not grow up thinking that [he came from] bamboo. Later, when she asked Karl how it went, he said, For as long as I know that I have a father, that's okay. I never grew up with him anyway, so I don't need a relationship with him. In her 30s, Nieto also made the bold decision to take a career shift into corporate. Since then, she switched jobs often Karl quipped she was "actually a millennial" and every job paid higher than the last. Ang pinaka-importante [with] being a single parent is being real, she said. Im not a teleserye. Tips for financial management Nieto's job when she first had Karl paid 10,000 a month. As she struggled and was supported by her friends, she set aside at least 2,000 for insurance. She made a habit out of it. When the Euro was standardized, the worth of her stocks went up. When Karl hit college, her insurance company called her up and told her that now that he came of age, she was entitled to a certain amount enough to support him through college. Save as if youve spent it already, says Nieto. "No matter how little [it] is, always leave some so when you need it, you know there is something there. Do not wait for an extra. There will never be one." Word of wisdom Don't fret over not being able to afford some things, says Nieto. Do not spend beyond your means ... First things first. But when it came to little milestones, she advises, celebrate. She cooked a good meal when she purchased her first caldero, and she lounged with Karl and their helper of 14 years when "Santa Claus" dropped off an air conditioner. She and Karl still text I love you to each other every day. Mai Padua, a liberal arts coordinator and De La Salle Zobel night school, lost her husband to lymphoma in 2016. You really have to know your rights and privileges. Not for yourself, but for your child, says Padua on how she's managed her finances while raising her child. Photo by JL JAVIER Mai Padua, 55, and Enzo, 16 Mai Padua lost her husband to cancer in 2016. Her son Enzo was diagnosed with moderate autism at two years old. He is now 16. They live with her sister, a polio survivor, and her own 21-year-old son. Padua said after losing her husband and having a good cry, she fell into a paradigm shift: This is not about me, she says. We take it one day at a time ... All of my energy, all of my goals are for his survival. Padua splits her budget between amortization for the house and groceries. Since Enzo is on a scholarship, her primary expenses for him are split between occupational therapy (500 a session), speech therapy (1,000 a session), and a yearly visit to a developmental pediatrician. Her next goal is to set up a business for him, so there will be a sustainable source of income even after she is gone. She is also considering getting a trustee to handle Enzos finances in the future. Apart from securing Enzo a scholarship, Padua is setting up safety nets for her sons future. She keeps a multi-level insurance plan. She teaches Enzo to save: he keeps a piggy bank at home, and this is reinforced by a school policy that any leftover money on Fridays is deposited in a bank across the road. Tips for managing finances You really have to know your rights and privileges. Not for yourself, but for your child, says Padua. Under the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000, single mothers are entitled to an extra seven days of leave on top of current benefits under. She advises single moms to also inquire with their local governments about other possible benefits. As a person with a disability, Enzo also gets a 20 percent discount in transportation and establishments like hotels and restaurants; he gets the same amount off for medicines and medical services, among other expenses as provided by Republic Act 10754. She also takes note of a Social Security System benefit: As Enzo will be her dependent indefinitely, he gets a subsidy from government when she retires. Word of Wisdom "Even as he grows old he will still be my dependent. Pero eventually, that will work to your advantage," says Padua. "As I've mentioned earlier, it's knowing the options and really looking at each option and [choose] what would work best for your child." Dont be hard on yourself, she adds. A common trait among the single mothers we interviewed was their no-nonsense, unapologetic openness about their situations. While Mikah Franco seems at first softspoken, she also says, "I learned to tell the truth... You don't owe anyone an explanation." Photo by JL JAVIER Mikah Franco, 24 and Sky, 3 Mikah Franco had Michael Gabriel, nicknamed "Sky," a year before she was set to graduate with a degree in theater arts. She took the next two years off, the latter juggling jobs one as a talent for party event specialists, and one as a music instructor before finishing college in 2017. Having Sky pushed her to quit her vices like drinking and smoking. She also suffered from insomnia, and was diagnosed with postpartum depression. As she carried Sky and later nursed him, she had to go off medication and she later found she did not need it anymore. "Before having him, I was really insecure. When I had him, it was so fulfilling that I finally dared to dream," she says. "Because his life is dependent on my life, I have to be the best that I can." Franco saves on rent as she lives with her grandmother, and opts to take Sky on walks to the park instead of malls. She also does not spend on milk. Breastfeeding really empowered me as a mom, says Franco, who is weaning Sky off breast milk this year. He is also not allowed processed food. Apart from tuition, her major expenses for Sky include occupational therapy twice a week and speech therapy once a week, each session costing 750. Franco is back to specializing in events, but she now faces a big break with the opportunity to work abroad and possibly set up a new life for her and Sky. Tips for managing finances Apart from investment plans, Franco keeps multiple bank accounts: one strictly for emergencies, which she can withdraw from but which she does not touch; one for school; and one for immediate expenses. She also maintains an insurance account for herself, and two separate ones for Sky one for school, and one for health. The latter was a gift from Franco's grandmother. Around 30 percent of her earnings go to insurance. Word of wisdom Franco says one can't control the stigma, but she learned to "trust God in everything." "I learned to really just tell the truth. You don't owe anybody any explanation, but I've gotten used to it," says Franco. "I don't focus so much on what other people say and just focus on what is necessary meaning, our relationship. [I let] go of things that I know won't get me to where I need to go." Although Franshey Abonita and her ex-husband had been sweethearts for many years, letting him go was a relief after the relationship turned abusive. Now raising her three kids on her own, she doesn't think of their family as broken but whole on their own. Photo by JL JAVIER Franshey Abonita, 39, Gavin, 12, Francesca, 9 and Francine, 7 Franshey Abonita left her husband four years ago, and brought her three kids with her. The relationship had become abusive, and she found herself relieved to be out of it; it was even easier raising three kids alone than before. "Andiyan yung lalagyan ng labels yung family mo 'broken family,' kung anu-ano. Right now, I don't see myself as broken," says Abonita. Abonita and the children moved in with her sister. She lost 20 pounds when she started a healthier lifestyle; with it, previous health problems with vertigo and menstrual cramps disappeared. As she passed Quezon City Hall one day, she also chanced upon a gathering of the Federation of Solo Parents, which has several chapters across the Philippines. The organization which holds events that provide solo parents with windows to legal aid, health, and jobs became a support group and testament to how she was not alone. Abonita worked at a pharmaceutical industry for 15 years, and is now in between jobs. However, she shares her disposition when it comes to finance is to believe there is always money it just hasn't arrived yet. Tips for managing finances Abonita keeps a life insurance plan that doubles as an investment plan. She also advises solo parents to add another stream of income; in her case, she sells organic rice coffee on the side. Anything out of the basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, and education is considered a luxury: movies, accessories, and dining out among them. They're still in the budget, she says, but in reduced proportions. "Pag simple lang ang buhay mo, simple lang din ang mga problema mo," she says. Word of wisdom Abonita confides that her younger self would never have agreed to an interview on the record. However, her motivations have since changed. "I want to be the person I needed when I was struggling," says Abonita. "I wanted someone to say to me, You're not alone." She adds that she no longer considers herself a victim, and is eager to make herself better. However, this doesn't mean hiding or shoving any hurt. "Dati kasi, binabaon ko lang siya. Right now, pag rinaramdaman ko siya, I acknowledge those negative feelings," she says. "If you see yourself as broken, as kulang " Abonita breaks off to say that society has a way of making solo parents feel unwelcome. "May stigma talaga ... When in fact, ikaw as a person, special ka na. You're enough. You don't have to do anything to complete you." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) The Supreme Court en banc voted in favor of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) in its two decades-old controversial labor case against the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP). In its ruling dated March 23 and released Monday, the SC affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals in 2006, validating the retrenchment of about 5,000 employees in 1998. They were retrenched to save costs, after PAL acquired liabilities worth P90 billion during the Asian financial crisis. It said the flag carrier used fair and reasonable criteria in selecting the employees to be retrenched pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. "We have considered as valid the retrenchment of the employee based on work efficiency, or poor performance; or the margins of contribution of the consultants to the income of the company; or absenteeism, or record of disciplinary action, or efficiency and work attitude; or when the employer exerted efforts to solicit the employees' participation in reviewing the criteria to be used in selecting the workers to be laid off," the Court said. The Court also said the retrenched employees signed valid quitclaims, or deeds for transferring titles. "The release and quitclaim signed by the affected employees substantially satisfied the aforestated requirements," the ruling stated. It added a quitclaim is invalid or contrary to public policy only "where there is clear proof that the waiver was wrangled from an unsuspecting or gullible person or where the terms of settlement are unconscionable on their face." The 2008 decision by an SC division ordered PAL to reinstate the removed employees after it deemed their quitclaims illegal because of the mistaken conclusion that the retrenchment had been unlawfully executed. This decision was affirmed with finality by a separate 2009 ruling. Both the 2008 and 2009 decisions were set aside by the Court's latest ruling. Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Benjamin Caguioa, Noel Tijam, Samuel Martires, and Alexander Gesmundo were the concurring votes, while Associate Justices Marvic Leonen and Andres Reyes dissented. Five other justices took no part in the decision, while Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is on an indefinite leave. The case made waves in 2011 as it was among the impeachment charges against then-Chief Justice Renato Corona. The court's "flip-flopping" decisions under Corona's watch was considered culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) President Rodrigo Duterte wants members of the country's most violent terror group to avail of government social aid, including housing and livelihood if they turn themselves in. According to Undersecretary Nabil Tan of the Officer of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), this was contained in a presidential directive Mr. Duterte issued during a cabinet meeting in Malacanang last March 19. "Ang inaano lang ni Presidente, if we are assisting those NPAs (New People's Army rebels) who are coming back, have come back to the folds of the law, it should not deprive other groups like the Abu Sayyaf," Tan explained. Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana and OPAPP Secretary Jesus Dureza both confirmed the President's order. "In fact in Jolo (last Monday), I was with him. He reiterated the same message," Dureza said. "Sabi nya, e puro naman yan lumalaban, at inaasikaso natin yung mga komunista. Bakit hindi yung mga Bangsamoro na lumalaban din?" "Nagbigay kayo ng libreng bahay doon sa mga NPA na pagbaba, libreng bahay din yung mga Abu Sayyaf na magbaba," Dureza quoted the President as saying. In a text message to CNN Philippines, Lorenzana said he agreed with the President. "His directive is that everything the NPA returnees receive the ASG will likewise get them," Lorenzana said. "This does not apply to those with warrants for crimes committed." Tan, a native of Sulu, a known lair of the Abu Sayyaf, believes the President's move is unprecedented but pointed out it will not "erase the criminal liabilities" of the Abu Sayyaf, nor "change the government's policy (against) negotiating with terrorists." The President, pitching for public support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Sulu on Monday, had consistently pushed for its inclusivity. Aside from the Moro rebel groups, the President also wants to bring lawless elements like the Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Figthers (BIFF) to the government's "peace table." He also expressed openness to working with the ASG. "Wala akong galit sa inyo. Wala akong galit sa Abu Sayyaf. I understand the situation...If there's a way that I can help you help me make it through the night sa presidency ko, magpasalamat talga ako kasi wala ako ibang hangarin kundi bigyan ng kapayapaan ang Moro sa Mindanao," Duterte said. [Translation: I'm not mad at you. I'm not mad at the Abu Sayyaf. I understand the situation...If there's a way that I can help you help me make it through the night in my presidency, I would be really thankful because I want nothing but peace for the Moro in Mindanao.] The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) implementing peace panels marked on Tuesday the fourth year since the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Peace advocates said there is reason to hope and celebrate, even if the BBL's future in congress remains unclear. "We're still lucky that the MILF and the govt are holding on to that ceasefire. But we realize really, that there are other threats in mindanao, especially with what happened in Marawi," Karen Tanada of the Third Party Monitoring Team said. The MILF assured it will stick it out with the peace agreement. It hopes the government will keep its end of the bargain. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) Concerns about potential fare surges, monopoly and data privacy hound Grab's acquisition of rival ride-sharing app Uber operations in the Philippines. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) vowed to shield Filipino commuters from possible fare surges arising from the deal. "Rest assured that LTFRB will strictly and continuously monitor the fare structure of Grab because they cannot do fare hikes on their own," said Aileen Lizada, LTFRB spokesperson and board member She added that they have consolidated hearings for proposed fare hikes by both ride-hailing firms on April 3, five days before the Uber app will no longer be of use in the country. In a statement, Grab Philippines said the rides will become more affordable because of the larger fleet of drivers on their platform. For his part, Laban Konsyumer head Vic Dimagiba said it's all about giving customers choices. Speaking to CNN Philippines Tuesday, Dimagiba said transport regulators should ensure that there will be competition among ride-sharing companies to keep fares and services affordable to passengers. Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the committee on economic affairs, called on the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to "keep a close eye on any possible anti-competitive practices that will take advantage of this situation." "We believe that this buyout is not favorable to the Filipino commuters as it would lessen choices for all of us. The PCC is now our last bastion for fair and reasonable conduct in the ride-sharing industry," he added. As of posting, Grab has notified PCC about the acquisition. Lizada quoted PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan as saying that PCC can only approve the deal if Uber has more than P2 billion worth of assets and finances, and if Grab, the acquiring party, has at least P5 billion worth of assets. The National Privacy Commission is also set to meet with representatives of Grab and Uber next week. Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said Grab Philippines has assured them "there will be no sharing of any user data between Uber and Grab." He said that Uber users and drivers will be required to register anew with Grab to allow them to use the Grab app. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) Passengers have begun flocking to transport terminals as the Holy Week break nears. With the holidays just around the corner, most trips at bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City are fully-booked until Maundy Thursday. Bus companies are advising travelers to book their tickets at least three days before their desired dates of departure. Buses to Bicol, the Visayas and Mindanao, where most of the air conditioned buses go, are already fully-booked. Most are them are full until Maundy Thursday, while some are booked until Black Saturday. Authorities expect a surge of passengers at Bus terminals on Wednesday. Travelers, however, can opt to ride non-air conditioned buses that sell tickets at a first come, first served basis. Security is also tight at the terminal, where security guards are joined by the police, and members of the army and coast guard. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde earlier said close to 12,000 policemen will be deployed in Metro Manila. They will be stationed mostly at bus terminals, major thoroughfares, and other areas of convergence to ensure peace and order during the Holy Week. Hundreds of members of the military will also augment the police forces. READ: Thousands of cops deployed in metro for Holy Week Travelers, meanwhile, are prohibited from bringing firearms, deadly weapons, sharp objects like knives and tools, and flammable materials. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks, prohibited drugs, livestock and animals like chicken, cocks, dogs, and cats, animal feeds, fresh seafood, agricultural products, large bulky or heavy cargo like machinery, automotive spare parts, motorcycles, bicycles, furniture, and appliances are also banned. The maximum allowable weight of hand-carried baggage is 10 kilos. Those who exceed are subject to additional charges. Refunds and rebooking transactions must also be done two hours before the trip's scheduled departure and is subject to a 20 percent service fee. Long taxi lines in airport terminal Meanwhile, travelers have complained of long lines at taxi bays in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3. As of Tuesday afternoon, the said lines could take as long as 30 minutes to one hour. Some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), meanwhile, have also criticized long lines at the Immigration counters. Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal said their crackdown on abusive taxi drivers continues. He encouraged passengers who have complaints to contact them. Immigration Spokesperson Ma. Antonette Magrobang, meanwhile, said a total of 112 immigration officers were deployed for three shifts at NAIA terminal 3. They will also deploy 58 more personnel in Manila airports starting Wednesday. Authorities said more than 640,000 thousand passengers have left and arrived in Manila airports since March 22. Despite the surge, airport police say today and the past days have been generally peaceful. CNN Philippines' Rex Remitio and Makoi Popioco contributed to this story. Milan, March 27 - Vincenzo Boccia, the president of Italian industrial employers' confederation Confindustria, on Tuesday called for the next Italian government to be responsible. "A compete, responsible government and premier are needed who will take the country's key problems to heart, resolve them in a clear time period with realism and intellectual honesty," Boccia said before parties start government-formation talks. "We are not worried (about the new government) but we call for responsibility". Rome, March 27 - Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio is "wrong" in insisting on becoming premier, anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader Matteo Salvini said Tuesday, adding that the centre right would remain "united as a team" in possible government-formation talks, which he said he hoped would last as little as a month. He saisd he would meet Di Maio next week in parliament. "If Di Maio says 'either me as premier or nothing' it isn't the right way to start (negotiations)," said Salvini, who emerged from the March 4 general election as one of the two relative winners along with Di Maio. "If Di Maio says either me or no one he's wrong, because as of today he is no one. You can't go into government saying either me or nothing, otherwise what discussion is there?". The League, Salvini said, had already "taken steps backwards" in order to left parliament start up, renouncing claims on Speakerships. "But we can't take steps backwards on steps backwards," he said. Salvini went on to say that "we must start again with a united centre right, it's a team". The League is allied with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party and the rightist nationalist Brothers of Italy (FdI) parties. Salvini stressed "if the M5S says 'out with FI', then it's arrivederci". He also said he hoped to have a government in place "within a month at the most". "I will do my all to make it happen," he said. Salvini added that certain 'vitalizi' parliamentary pensions are "immoral" and a "signal" needs to be sent by scrubbing them. He said that given national pension reform for Italian voters that is going to be "totally contribution-based", it was not possible to have MPs or Senators who "have been getting a pension of two or three million euros for some time after spending only as much as a year in parliament". He said "a good haircut" could also be given to parliamentary escorts, saying there were almost 600 in Italy compared to "no more than 40 in Germany and Britain". Cutting vitalizi and parliamentary perks in general has long been a rallying cry for the M5S. Salvini said he would meet Di Maio "on neutral ground" next week. "We'll see each other next week, on neutral ground, we'll meet either at the Lower House or at the Senate," Salvini told reporters while waiting to record RAI talk show Porta a Porta. He also said that, in the event of his becoming interior minister, he had "quite a few ideas" on what to do, referring to an anti-migrant crackdown and meeting Italian's fears on security and law and order. Earlier Alfonso Bonafede, a leading M5S lawmaker, said Di Maio must be the next premier for a new government to be formed, saying this was a deal breaker. "The government cannot be formed if Luigi Di Maio is not made premier," Bonafede told Radio24. "The vote of the citizens should be respected". The M5S is the biggest single party in the new parliament after winning around 32% of the vote in this month's inconclusive general election. But the centre right as a whole, led by by the League, is the biggest coalition with around 37% of the vote. An agreement between the M5S and the League is increasingly seen as the possible basis for a new government with the centre-left Democratic Party saying it will remain in the opposition after its poor electoral showing. On Monday Salvini appeared to pave the way for talks, saying that, while he was ready to be premier, he did not want to lead the government at all costs. He also made an opening over the M5S's flagship proposal to introduce a new benefit to ensure all Italian households have a minimum income. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has welcomed the opportunity for Sri Lanka to host the South Asian Speakers Summit on Achieving the SDGs from11 - 12 Jul 2018 in Colombo. The Speaker, who is presently in Geneva to participate in the 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at a meeting with the President of the IPU, Senator Hon. Gabriela Cuevas Barron from Mexico invited the President to attend this event as the guest of honour. The Sri Lanka delegation to the IPU Assembly comprised of the Minister of Law and Order R.M.Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Sriyani Wijewickrama, Members of Parliament E. Saravanapavan, Kanchana Wijesekera, and Secretary-General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake. Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ms. Dulmini Dahanayake, Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission were associated with the delegation. During the meeting with Madam Gabriela, the Speaker expressed his appreciation to the IPU for its efforts to encourage Parliaments to take a lead role in implementing the 2030 Agenda in achieving SDGs. The Speaker also informed that Sri Lanka was the first country to establish a Select Committee of Parliament to oversee the Government agenda in achieving the SDGs. The Speaker said it is important to share experiences among the countries in the region in implementation of the SDGs. Addressing the IPU General Debate under the theme Strengthening the global regime for migrants and refugees: the need for evidence-based policy solutions on 25 March 2018, the Speaker stressed the importance of strengthening global efforts to respond effectively to the growing global phenomenon of large movements of refugees and migrants. He emphasized the necessity for strong political will and a human rights approach to address the plethora of problems faced by the migrants and refugees. Referring to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, he expressed concerns on its ineffectiveness and inadequate ratifications. The Speaker identified human trafficking as one of the problems that Sri Lanka is facing. The Speaker and the cross party delegation also held a bilateral discussion with the delegation of Viet Nam. Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Viet Nam who led the delegation expressed their interest in increasing the trade volume between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam from 2M USD to 1B USD in the coming years. In this connection both delegations emphasized the importance of having bilateral corporation in the areas of IT, Digital Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Tourism, Aviation, Agriculture, Fisheries etc. The Speaker flagged the importance of the two Parliaments working towards enhancing parliamentary diplomacy. The parliamentary delegation of Viet Nam stated that they would be looking forward to welcoming the Speaker during his upcoming visit to Viet Nam in April 2018. The Speaker also invited Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to visit Sri Lanka again. Press Release Full Statement Delivered by Hon.Speaker Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva 27 March 2018 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) Vice President Leni Robredo says she's relieved the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) is ready for the vote recount. Speaking at an event in Cebu City Tuesday, Robredo said, "Ito, relief ito para sa amin. Matagal na naming hinihintay na magsimula na iyong recount, kasi ang pakiramdam nga namin, nagkakaroon lang ng pagkakataon na gamitin iyong isyung ito para i-muddle kung ano iyong katotohanan. Pero hindi ko puwedeng i-discuss iyong merits ng kaso kasi mayroon kaming gag order galing sa Supreme Court. Pero itong recount, matagal na nating inaasam na mag-umpisa na." [Translation: This is a relief for us. We've waited for the recount to happen for a long time, because we feel the issue is being used to muddle the truth. However, i cannot discuss the merits of the case because of the gag order from the Supreme Court. But we've want the recount to start for quite a while.] Tedious process The recount will happen two years after former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. brought his electoral protest to the Supreme Court. The tedious recount will happen inside a gymnasium in the Supreme Court compund in Manila. There will be 50 revision tables for 50 revision committees. But the PET adhoc committee said they can only set up 40 committees when the recount begins on April second. As it is, they need to hire 10 more revisors. Each committee is composed of a head revisor who is PET employee and one representative for each of the two candidates. Head revisors are carefully picked as the revision committees face a huge task which would be performed within a given time frame. They must process the results of over 5,000 clustered precincts from three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos: Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental. In places where there are less than 300 ballots, they must finish the recount in five and a half hours. For 300 to 699 ballots, they only have a little more than eight hours. And for more than 700 ballots, they're given 11 hours. Should there be objections or claims by either of the parties, the PET would have the last say. This is the first time ever that the PET will be doing a recount. Unfortunately, the counting is off-limits to media, and the tribunal would only issue announcements should the need arise. Jacqueline Woodson, who won a National Book Award for her memoir in verse Brown Girl Dreaming, won the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award on Tuesday. The award comes with a prize of $608,000. Publishers Weekly reports that Woodson is the 18th person or organization to win the prize, which is considered one of the most prestigious childrens literary awards in the world. The prize comes with a cash award of almost $608,000 and is funded by the Swedish government. The Lindgren Award, named after the Swedish creator of Pippi Longstocking, caps a list of many honors Woodson has won over her career. In addition to her National Book Award for Brown Girl Dreaming, the author has won the Coretta Scott King Award twice and a Newbery Honor four times. In January, the Library of Congress named Woodson the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature. Although Woodson has written two adult novels, Autobiography of a Family Photo and Another Brooklyn, a National Book Award finalist, most of her published work has been for middle-grade readers and young adults. Advertisement The chair of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award jury announces this years laureate, Amercan writer Jacqueline Woodson. (Anders Wiklund/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock ) Woodson becomes the fourth American author to win the Lindgren Award, after Maurice Sendak, Katherine Paterson and Meg Rosoff, an American-born writer who has lived in the United Kingdom for several years. The award was accompanied by a citation from the jury who selected Woodson, which reads, Jacqueline Woodson introduces us to resilient young people fighting to find a place where their lives can take root. In language as light as air, she tells stories of resounding richness and depth. Jacqueline Woodson captures a unique poetic note in a daily reality divided between sorrow and hope. Woodson celebrated her victory on Twitter, thanking the organizers of the award: This is awesome! This is HUGE! I'm awake now. And smiling! Thanks @AlmaAward https://t.co/61pmoKiHZi Jacqueline Woodson (@JackieWoodson) March 27, 2018 In October, the publisher Riverhead, a Penguin Random House imprint, announced it had signed Woodson to a two-book deal, which includes a novel and a work of nonfiction. Its not clear whether the novel will be intended for adults or for younger readers. After back-to-back, eight-hour shifts at a chiropractors office and a rehab center, Nirva arrived outside an elderly womans house just in time to help her up the front steps. Nirva took the womans arm as she hoisted herself up, one step at a time, taking breaks to ease the pain in her hip. At the top, they stopped for a hug. Hello, bella, Nirva said, using the word for beautiful in Italian. Hi, baby, replied Isolina Dicenso, the 96-year-old woman she has helped take care of for seven years. The women each bear accents from their homelands: Nirva, who asked that her full name be withheld, fled here from Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Dicenso moved here from Italy in 1949. Over the years, Nirva, 46, has helped her live independently, giving her showers, changing her clothes, washing her windows, taking her to her favorite parks and discount grocery stores. Advertisement Now Dicenso and other people living with disabilities, serious illness and the frailty of old age are bracing to lose caregivers like Nirva due to changes in federal immigration policy. Nirva is one of about 59,000 Haitians living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a humanitarian program that gave them permission to work and live here after the January 2010 earthquake devastated their country. Many work in healthcare, often in grueling, low-wage jobs as nursing assistants or home health aides. Now these workers days are numbered: The Trump administration decided to end TPS for Haitians, giving them until July 22, 2019, to leave the country or face deportation. In California, about 55,000 immigrants are protected by TPS, the vast majority from El Salvador. They are expected to lose their protection in September 2019. In Southern California, home to a large Central American immigrant population, senior care businesses could lose employees because of the change in status of some Salvadoran workers, said Elayne Carver, president of the California Assn. of Senior Care Homes. Carver, who owns a senior-care home in Orange County, said it is already difficult to find the right workers to care for seniors. The hours can be long including 12-hour shifts and the pay is usually minimum wage. Despite the low pay, the job of caring for others requires seasoned employees with experience under their belt, Carver said. Foreign-born workers often fit that bill, she said. In California, Carver added, caregivers tend to be Latino or Filipino. Nationwide, 1 million immigrants work in direct care as certified nursing assistants, personal care attendants or home health aides according to the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, a New York-based organization that studies the workforce. Immigrants make up one in four workers, said Robert Espinoza, PHIs vice president of policy. Turnover is high, he said, because the work is difficult and wages are low. The median wage for personal care attendants and home health aides is $10.66 per hour, and $12.78 per hour for CNAs. Workers often receive little training and leave when they find higher-paying jobs at retail counters or fast-food restaurants, he said. The country faces a severe shortage in home health aides. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day, an even more serious shortfall lies ahead, according to Paul Osterman, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan School of Management. He predicts a national shortfall of 151,000 direct-care workers by 2030, a gap that will grow to 355,000 by 2040. That shortage will escalate if immigrant workers lose work permits, or if other industries raise wages and lure away direct-care workers, he said. Advertisement Nursing homes in Massachusetts are already losing immigrant workers who have left the country in fear, in response to the White Houses public remarks and immigration proposals, said Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Assn., which represents 400 elder care facilities. Nationally, thousands of Haitians have fled the United States for Canada, some risking their lives trekking across the border through desolate prairies, after learning that TPS would likely end. What people dont seem to understand is that people from other countries really are the backbone of long-term care. Sister Jacquelyn McCarthy, CEO of Bethany Health Care Center Employers are fighting to hold on to their staff: Late last year, 32 Massachusetts healthcare providers and advocacy groups wrote to the Department of Homeland Security urging the acting secretary to extend TPS, protecting the states 4,724 Haitians with that special status. What people dont seem to understand is that people from other countries really are the backbone of long-term care, said Sister Jacquelyn McCarthy, CEO of Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham, Mass., which runs a nursing home with 170 patients. She has eight Haitian and Salvadoran workers with TPS, mostly certified nursing assistants. They show up reliably for 4:30 a.m. shifts and never call out sick, she said. Many of them have worked there for over five years. She said she already has six CNA vacancies and cant afford to lose more. Advertisement There arent people to replace them if they should all be deported, McCarthy said. Nirva works 70 hours a week taking care of elderly, sick and disabled patients. She started working as a CNA shortly after she arrived in Boston in March 2010 with her two sons. She chose this work because of her harrowing experience in the earthquake, which destroyed her home and killed hundreds of thousands, including her cousin and nephew. After the disaster, she walked 15 miles with her sister, a nurse, to a Red Cross medical station to try to help survivors. When she got there, she recounted, the guards wouldnt let her in because she wasnt a nurse. Nirva spent an entire day waiting for her sister in the hot sun, without food or water, unable to help. It was very frustrating, she said. So, when I came here I feel, peoples life is very important, she said. I have to be in the medical field, just to be able to help people. Advertisement The work of a CNA or home health aide which includes dressing and changing patients and lifting them out of bed was difficult, she found. At the beginning, it was very tough for me, Nirva said, especially when I have to clean their incontinence. Some of them, they have dementia, they are fighting. They insult you. You have to be very compassionate to do this job. A few months ago, Nirva was injured while tending to a 285-pound patient who was lying on her side. Nirva said she was holding the patient up with one hand while she washed her with the other hand. The patient fell back on her, twisting Nirvas wrist. Martha Arevalo, executive director of the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles, speaks at a news conference announcing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its TPS decision. In California, about 55,000 immigrants are protected by TPS, most from El Salvador. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press ) Advertisement Injury rates for nursing assistants were more than triple the national average in 2016, federal labor statistics show. Common causes were falling, overexertion while lifting or lowering, and enduring violent attacks. Its not clear how many direct-care workers rely on TPS, but PHI calculates there are 34,600 who are non-U.S. citizens from Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, for which TPS is also ending next year, and Honduras, whose TPS designation expires this July. In addition, another 11,000 come from countries affected by Trumps travel ban, primarily from Somalia and Iran, and about 69,800 are non-U.S. citizens from Mexico, PHIs Espinoza said. Even immigrants with secure legal status may be affected when family members are deported, he noted. Under Trump, non-criminal immigration arrests have doubled. The totality of the anti-immigrant climate threatens the stability of the workforce and the ability of older people and people with disabilities to access home healthcare, Espinoza said. Advertisement Asked about the impact on the U.S. labor force, a DHS official said that economic considerations are not legally permissible in TPS decisions. By law, TPS designation hinges instead on whether the foreign country faces adverse conditions, such as war or environmental disaster, that make it unsafe for nationals to return to, the official said. The biggest hit to the immigrant workforce that cares for older patients may come from another program family reunification, said Robyn Stone, senior vice president of research at LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit groups that care for the elderly. Trump is seeking to scrap the program, which he calls chain migration, in favor of a merit-based policy. Osterman, the MIT professor, said the sum of all of these immigration policy changes may have a serious impact. If demand for workers exceeds supply, he said, insurers may have to restrict the number of hours of care that people receive, and wages may rise, driving up costs. People arent going to be able to have quality care, he said. Theyre not going to be able to stay at home. Advertisement But since three-quarters of the nations direct-care workers are U.S. citizens, then these are clearly not jobs that Americans wont do, argued David Ray, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which supports more restrictive immigration policies. The United States has 6.7 million unemployed people, he noted. If the healthcare industry cant find anyone to replace workers who lose deportation protections granted under TPS and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs, he said, then it needs to take a hard look at its recruiting practices and compensation packages. There are clearly plenty of workers here in the U.S. already who are ready and willing to do the work. Angelina Di Pietro, Dicensos daughter and primary caretaker, disagreed. Theres not a lot of people in this country who would take care of the elderly, she said. Taking care of the elderly is a hard job. Nirva, pray to God they let you stay, said Dicenso, sitting back in her living room armchair after a long walk and ravioli lunch. What would I do without you? Advertisement Bailey is a correspondent for Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent publication of the Kaiser Family Foundation. mbailey@kff.org Dale Fountain is an intensely private man. He wont say where he works. One of his oldest friends cant say for sure where he lives. His sister knows he was once married, but she isnt in the loop these days they havent spoken in two years. He keeps to himself, said Chris Pulliam, who went to high school with Fountain in Los Angeles and now lives in Silver Spring, Md. Ive just got into the habit of not asking about things. Yet the elusive 42-year-old Silicon Valley tech worker has inserted himself into the forefront of Californias hottest healthcare debate: whether it should adopt a statewide single-payer healthcare system. His Facebook group, Enact Universal Healthcare for California, has more than 106,000 followers just one sign of the issues general appeal to many voters. Advertisement Fountain is the unlikely leader of a campaign to place an initiative on the states November ballot that would make it easier to fund a single-payer system one in which the state would set the rules and pay the medical claims for all California residents. Its a crusade that drove him to deliver a televised speech to lawmakers, clash with other single-payer advocates and endure a barrage of questions from a nosy reporter. With slumped shoulders and in a faded black button-down shirt, he recently argued his case before a legislative committee. Though often detailed and convincing, his testimony at times was cryptic and awkward. Heres a simple diagram; please dont stare at it too long, Fountain suggested as he flipped through slides. Afterward, he met with a reporter over a fruit cup and black coffee in the Capitol building. Id rather not [do this], he said of running the political campaign. But it needs to be done. After two interviews, he stopped answering the reporters questions and claimed she had urged him to break the law by asking him to bring copies of signed petitions to an interview. Since a single-payer bill, Senate Bill 562, stalled in the state Legislature last year, many Democrats have moved toward more incremental approaches to universal healthcare, such as expanding insurance to people who are in the country illegally. Supporters of single-payer health care march in Sacramento in April 2017. Senate Bill 562, which aims to remake the healthcare system by eliminating insurance companies and guaranteeing coverage for everyone, stalled in the state Legislature. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP ) Advertisement But Fountain wants more than baby steps. We got used to this nightmare scenario of healthcare that we couldnt afford, he said. Its not like that in most countries on this planet. Most countries take care of their citizens. Calling personal questions off-point and off-limits, Fountain describes himself just an average guy tired of hearing about people who cant afford health insurance or about outrageous medical bills. He started his Facebook group after the November 2016 election and is asking followers to help him collect about 585,000 signatures for the ballot initiative he co-wrote. Thats how many the California Health Care Roadblock Removal Act needs by April 23 to qualify for this falls ballot. Advertisement Fountain is not paying signature gatherers a strategy that experts say makes his prospects of success low. No measure has made it to the ballot without paid signatures in recent California history, said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at UC San Diego. The measure would not by itself fund a single-payer system. Instead, it would amend the state constitution to create a special fund for healthcare, and would exempt that fund from spending limits and from state budget rules that require a certain portion be spent on education. Thousands of people have given to his cause, Fountain said, adding that donations average $15. But he wouldnt divulge how much hes raised, nor would he say how many signatures his group has gathered. His groups Facebook page routes donors to a website run by ActBlue, a nonprofit fundraising platform for left-leaning candidates and causes. Its not clear from ActBlues campaign finance reports to the California secretary of state how much Fountains group has raised. Advertisement While trying to gather signatures, Fountain also has tried another tack: pressuring lawmakers to place the measure before voters, which requires a two-thirds vote in the state Senate and state Assembly. No lawmaker has publicly stepped forward to lead the cause. However, state Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), who chairs the Assembly Health Committee and a special committee on universal healthcare, agreed with Fountain that it makes sense to remove the constitutional barriers to funding universal healthcare. The cleanest way to do this is to take it to the voters, Wood said. Advertisement Reputable policy experts, including the Legislative Analysts Office and the California Budget and Policy Center, agree that single-payer would have the strongest legal footing if voters removed funding roadblocks. According to a California Senate analysis, taxpayers would have to cough up $200 billion a year to fund a single-payer system in addition to the public money already dedicated to healthcare programs. On the plus side, California residents would no longer pay for insurance premiums, copayments and other medical expenses. Raising that kind of money would be a tall order even if Fountains proposed initiative were approved. He is undeterred. Fountains sister, Rikka Fountain, 47, an attorney in Palmdale, speculated that her brothers passion for single-payer could be related to the death of their mother from breast cancer when Dale was a toddler. Advertisement We didnt have any nearby family to help out, Rikka said. Their mothers death showed how health problems can crop up and cause extreme difficulty for people, she said. Dale is very obstinate, and that is the kind of personality that you probably need to champion the single-payer cause, she added. Fountains old friend Pulliam describes Fountain as practical, with a dry sense of humor. He does things that need to be done, without anybody asking, he said. Its a very big deal for him to be doing something so public. Fountain insists his campaign to transform healthcare is not about him, but about the health of Californias 39 million residents. Advertisement We do this out of civic duty and wanting to help people, he said. Its a waste of time and money. He is literally irrelevant. Michael Lighty, public policy director, Calif. Nurses Assoc. Fountain apparently is able to afford health coverage for himself. He said he has a job working on computer systems at a tech company that he declines to name and has health insurance through Covered California, the state insurance exchange. He said he pays about the same amount as he would if he purchased coverage through his job. In true Sacramento fashion, Fountain has already earned himself a political enemy who would seem to be a natural ally: the powerful California Nurses Assn. Advertisement The union has made enacting single-payer its signature issue. According to Fountain, the union approached him last year to join efforts to pass the single-payer bill that already had been introduced in the Legislature. For a while, he helped run its social media campaign, he said, but stopped in part because of the unions aggressive tactics. The union flatly denies that he worked with them. He tried to pimp off our work, said the unions public policy director, Michael Lighty, adding that hes surprised lawmakers have given Fountain the time of day. The nurses say their bill is written in such a way as to bypass funding obstacles. Its a waste of time and money, Lighty said of Fountains effort. He is literally irrelevant. Advertisement Amid challenges from skeptics and sworn enemies, Fountain has acknowledged that his efforts may not be successful this time around. That doesnt faze him. If we do fail, he said, then we have that base already for the next session, and we continue to build. Bartolone is a correspondent for Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent publication of the Kaiser Family Foundation. pbartolone@kff.org Advertisement Twitter: @pbartolone Californias insurance commissioner erred in ordering State Farm to lower homeowners and renters insurance rates in California, a judge ruled Friday in a decision that sidestepped an unresolved question over the reach of Proposition 103 but still drew criticism from the initiatives author. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones in 2016 accused State Farm of excessively profiting from those insurance policies and ordered the Bloomington, Ill., company to not only lower rates an average of 7%, but also to cut them retroactively to mid-2015 and issue refunds to customers. State Farm sued over that order, arguing that Prop. 103, the landmark insurance-regulation law approved by California voters in 1988, does not give the commissioner the authority to order retroactive rate cuts. The company lowered its rates but has not paid the refunds Jones demanded, pending the outcome of the lawsuit. The decision handed down in the case Friday by San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal does not address the issue of retroactive cuts. Rather, Bacal said Jones erred in calling for a rate cut in the first place by incorrectly calculating the companys profits, siding with the insurer on that key point. Advertisement At issue is whether the companys insurance rates are reasonable given State Farms costs, claim payouts and investment returns. Under Prop. 103, the state Department of Insurance must approve insurance rates to make sure they are enough to allow companies to cover claims but not so high that they generate excessive profits. State Farm had argued that the department improperly included the higher-yielding investment returns of subsidiaries other than the State Farm unit that writes homeowners insurance policies in California when it determined the companys rates were too high. The California unit makes more conservative investments than other State Farm subsidiaries, so lumping the returns together creates the incorrect appearance of a more profitable investment portfolio that does not support the higher rates, Bacal wrote. Her order did not address whether State Farm will be able to raise its rates going forward. Jones said in a statement that he was disappointed by Bacals order. I believe strongly that our regulations are lawful under Proposition 103 and will continue to defend our regulations in order to protect consumers from State Farm gaming the system by charging rates that are excessive and unjustified, he said. Representatives for State Farm did not return calls for comment. Harvey Rosenfield, the author of Prop. 103 and founder of advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said he will probably ask Bacal to reconsider Fridays order and that any decision on the matter will probably be appealed. That could postpone any final determination on State Farms rates. He said that if Bacals order stands, it would make it easier for big insurance companies to make an end run around Prop. 103 and charge Californians more. He sees the case as part of a larger trend of insurance companies pushing to weaken the law. Advertisement All of State Farms decisions are directed by one company thats a national company, he said. This would open a huge loophole and allow every insurance company to manipulate their finances to demand excessive rates. But Rex Frazier, president of the trade group Personal Insurance Federation of California, said State Farms California homeowners business is truly separate from the rest of the companys business lines and that State Farm has good reason to structure its business that way. He said the company split off its homeowners business in the state after the Northridge earthquake, which saddled insurers with huge payouts and led to the creation of the public California Earthquake Authority. While the state-sponsored insurer underwrites the majority of earthquake insurance in California, it can still demand multimillion-dollar backstop payments from insurance companies in the event of a major earthquake. That created an uncontrollable risk that [State Farm] didnt want to subject their national capital to, Frazier said. Advertisement Though Bacals order looks like a win for State Farm, Frazier said that the company and other insurers would like to see a final judgment on the broader question about the boundaries of the commissioners authority under Prop. 103. In 2016, the department started sending letters to insurers saying it believed their rates were too high and that if they did not act to lower rates by a set date, the department may ultimately order them to cut rates retroactively to that date. Frazier said insurers are keen to know whether the department has the authority to make such a threat. Certainty is better than uncertainty, he said. In the meantime, I assume the department will continue to issue these communications to insurers. james.koren@latimes.com Advertisement Follow me: @jrkoren California enacted a law last year to prevent surprise medical bills resulting from patients inadvertently being seen by out-of-network healthcare providers. Thats a good thing. Yet the state apparently has no problem with an equally pernicious aspect of our medical system hospital and doctor bills that are simply impossible to understand. You know what Im talking about. Numerical codes instead of descriptions of treatments. Abbreviations that only a cryptologist can decipher. A lack of any plain-English explanation of why a charge is so high. Worse, the initial bill might include only the vaguest of hints as to what youre being charged for. Patients typically have to go to the trouble of requesting an itemized bill if theyd like to see actual details of their treatment. Advertisement You wouldnt stand for that in any other market, said Gerald Kominski, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. We have laws for transparency in real estate transactions, transparency in financial transactions. When it comes to healthcare, theres tremendous room for simplification. Ive been fuming about medical bills since a recent experience with UCLA Health, which sent me a bill for well, it was hard to say. All I could glean from the one-page form was that they wanted $194.40 for something involving a doctor Id never met, and my health insurer, in its tight-fisted wisdom, was ponying up only $5.60. I called the hospitals billing department and requested clarification. The service representative asked me the usual questions to make sure Im me, and then promptly refused to discuss the bill. I cant do that, she said, citing privacy reasons, even though it was my own bill I was calling about. I can send you an itemized bill, if you want. Could she at least explain the nature of the treatment, and why the bill includes the name of a doctor I dont know? No, she said. All I can do is make a request for an itemized bill. So I requested an itemized bill. It arrived a couple of weeks later. It too listed the mystery doctor as my attending physician, and helpfully said I was being billed for Rev. Code 0942 and Proc. Code 9427010800. Advertisement What are those? Not to worry, under Description, the itemized bill said I had undergone HB Diabetes Self-Managem, of which I had received a Qty. of 2. OK, Im not a total fool. I knew from my calendar that on the day in question I had gone to UCLA to receive training from a diabetes educator for my new insulin pump. I have Type 1 diabetes, which is the autoimmune kind, as opposed to Type 2, which is frequently the obesity kind. I didnt see a doctor that morning, so the presence of the mystery doctors name only added an element of confusion to the bill. I had to play the reporter card to reach someone at a high enough level to explain that he was the supervising physician on duty, so his name was attached. Advertisement Why that couldnt have been spelled out in a single sentence or footnote is just one of several patient-unfriendly questions that arise. Another is describing my visit as HB Diabetes Self-Managem (obviously short for self-management). Like it would have killed the hospital to say Insulin pump training, which has the dual merits of being clearer and shorter? Then the charge. My Qty. of 2 HB Diabetes Self-Managem (in fact, I underwent a single hourlong session) cost $200, of which I was responsible for all but my insurers $5.60 adjustment. What, the insurance company could spend thousands of dollars on my new pump but couldnt spring for a brief lesson on how to use it? The itemized bill didnt say. Advertisement The UCLA billing executive I spoke with explained that the reason I was on the hook for $194.40 was because I hadnt yet met my deductible for the year. Why didnt the itemized bill just say that? The billing pro couldnt say. She did, however, acknowledge that some people might see a partial payment by their insurer as an indication that this wasnt a deductible issue. (Why even a partial payment, after all, if your deductible isnt met?) Youre probably wondering by now whats required under state law. I contacted the California Department of Insurance, the Department of Managed Health Care, the Medical Board of California and the California Medical Assn., asking each to point me toward any relevant regulations and statutes. There arent any. Advertisement Seriously. There is nothing in state law that addresses the contents of medical bills, at least in terms of transparency and a patients right to understand what he or she is being billed for. Instead, we get numerical codes that might be valuable to automated systems but are useless to ordinary people. We get all those abbreviations and gobbledygook, but no straightforward explanations. We also get shafted. A study last year by medical billing specialist Medliminal Health Solutions found that 90% of hospital bills contain at least a minor error, resulting in up to $68 billion a year in unnecessary spending by patients and physicians. Advertisement So for patients who dont take the time to demand itemized bills and to then follow up with additional questions, chances are good youll end up paying too much for healthcare, or for treatment you may never have received. If California can pass a law protecting patients from surprise out-of-network charges, we can darn well pass one that tells hospitals, doctors and insurance companies their bills must be clear, concise and written in plain language, with simple explanations for all charges. Moreover, patients shouldnt have to ask for an itemized bill just send it out the first time. My initial bill from UCLA was on a single page. The itemized version also was on a single page. No additional trees had to die in the name of medical clarity. Itemized bills running more than three pages, say, could be limited to online-only. Advertisement A UCLA spokesman told me in a statement that the hospital recognizes that healthcare billing can be confusing, and we strive to simplify paperwork as much as possible. He said the codes and abbreviations of standard bills make it easier for patients to communicate with their insurers when needed, and that itemized bills are always available to patients upon request. Thats nowhere close to being good enough, and Im hoping that any state lawmaker who has read this far understands theres an opportunity here to do some good. Were not talking about an overhaul of the healthcare system. Just a requirement that medical bills be written for real people, not code-breakers. Advertisement It seems ludicrous that this even needs to be legislated. But if an industry consistently goes out of its way to keep customers in the dark, thats an industry in need of a little guidance. It goes without saying that the healthcare systems self-managem has failed. David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. An arm of Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn Technology Group has agreed to buy Los Angeles-based Belkin International Inc. in the latest move by Foxconns billionaire chief executive, Terry Gou, to expand into branded goods. FIT Hon Teng Ltd. will pay $866 million in cash for Belkin, a maker of Wi-Fi routers, mobile device chargers and keyboards, the company said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange Tuesday. The deal will give it access to strong research and development capacity, with Belkin owning more than 700 patents, it said. Belkin is a privately owned company with headquarters in Playa Vista. Gou, whose empire includes the main assembler of Apple Inc.s iPhones, is seeking to expand beyond contract production to capture more of the value chain in branded groups. In 2016 he led a deal for control of Japans Sharp Corp. and he is also investing in artificial intelligence and big data. Advertisement Belkin International is a world-recognized brand, with a wide range of offerings of consumer electronics products, services and solutions, FIT said in the filing. Belkin had sales of about $789 million in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, FIT said. Shares of FIT were unchanged at HK$4.05 in Hong Kong. Facebook is in talks with lawmakers about having its chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, testify before Congress about the social networks handling of user data. The company is in contact with all three congressional committees that have requested testimony from Zuckerberg: the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a Facebook spokesperson said. The company declined to confirm a CNN report Tuesday that Zuckerberg had made up his mind and agreed to testify about how personal information from 50 million unsuspecting Facebook users ended up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that worked on the Trump campaign. Zuckerberg will not appear before a British parliamentary committee on misinformation and social media, choosing instead to send one of his deputies, the company said Tuesday. Advertisement An appearance by the 33-year-old billionaire before Congress would signal the company is bowing to pressure at home amid arguably the most serious crisis in its 14-year history. The Federal Trade Commission confirmed Monday it was investigating the social media giant to determine whether it had violated a consent order to disclose uses of customers data. On the same day, 37 attorneys general, including California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, sent a letter to Facebook asking about the companys data policies and its role in the Cambridge Analytica controversy. Facebook is also facing a backlash from consumers, highlighted by the #deletefacebook hashtag. The company is now scrambling to win back trust from its more than 2 billion users worldwide. The scrutiny could amount to a national reckoning about the future of social media and its advertising-based business model that requires collecting evermore intrusive personal data to thrive. Congress is worried about the Pandoras box of social media, and they want to be seen doing something, said Betsy Sigman, a professor at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business. Their constituents are nervous about their privacy and the impact social media could have on their privacy and their kids privacy. By facing Congress, Zuckerberg can show Facebook is serious about privacy a gesture that could tamp down outrage, Sigman said. Facebook made almost $40 billion in advertising revenue in 2017, Sigman said. This revenue is made partly because they can target people they have collected data on. They want to keep doing this, obviously, but they also want to be seen as a concerned company. If Zuckerberg ultimately decides to testify, it will probably raise pressure on his counterparts Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to also agree to requests to appear before Congress. Advertisement Twitter declined to comment. Google did not respond to a request for comment. The three tech giants sent mostly attorneys to speak to Congress about Russian interference last year. If those hearings are a preview of whats in store, then the executives can expect a tough grilling should they choose to appear. Scorn is often the price of entry for executives conducting damage control on Capitol Hill. Television industry executives were humiliated in 2000 for calling the results of the presidential election too early, and United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz was eviscerated last year for his companys woeful customer relations record. Zuckerberg drew a strong rebuke Tuesday from Damian Collins, chair of the British parliamentary inquiry into fake news, for refusing to come testify. Advertisement It is absolutely astonishing that Mark Zuckerberg is not prepared to submit himself to questioning in front of a parliamentary hearing, given these are questions of fundamental importance and concern to his users, as well as to this inquiry, said Collins, according to the Guardian. Facebook said it would send either Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox to explain to parliament how Cambridge Analytica obtained unauthorized information. The data was derived from a quiz app developed by a University of Cambridge professor in 2013 that collected information from users who downloaded the game, as well as their friends. The professor violated Facebook rules by then selling that data to Cambridge Analytica, which used it to try to sway voters. Facebook did not inform the 50 million users their data had been compromised nor did it verify if Cambridge Analytica destroyed that data as promised. Facebook amended its rules in 2015 to reduce the amount of information it shared with app developers. Advertisement Facebook shares tumbled $7.84, or 4.9%, to $152.22 on Tuesday. That marks a 21% decline in value since its high Feb. 1. Some Wall Street analysts say the crisis represents a turning point for Facebook that could influence its long-term trajectory. We would characterize this as a defining period for Facebook, Zuckerberg, and [Wall Streets] ability to navigate through this hurricane-like storm with the companys business model still well intact, Daniel Ives, an analyst for GBH Insights, said in a note to clients Tuesday. UPDATES: Advertisement 3:35 p.m.: This article was entirely rewritten by a staff reporter and updated to include comment from Betsy Sigman, a professor at Georgetowns McDonough School of Business. This article was originally published at 10:55 a.m. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) Close to 12,000 policemen will be deployed in Metro Manila to ensure peace and order during the Holy Week. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde said most of the policemen will be stationed at bus terminals, major thoroughfares, and other areas of convergence. Hundreds of members of the military will also augment the police forces. Albayalde said while there is no imminent threat in Metro Manila, they will take extra precautions to prevent any untoward incidents from happening. Malacanang has also said that even if no specific threats have been monitored, they are not letting their guard down. "As we expect the heavy movement of people this coming Holy Week, we have been gearing up security and safety preparations," the Palace said on March 24. The Metro Manila Police will be monitoring communities to prevent cases of robbery or akyat-bahay incidents. Albayalde said they have recorded 20 cases of akyat-bahay in 2017, and 22 in 2016 during the Holy Week. Google could owe Oracle Corp. billions of dollars for using Oracle-owned Java programming code in its Android operating system on mobile devices, an appeals court said, as the years-long feud between the two software giants draws near a close. Googles use of Java shortcuts to develop Android went too far and was a violation of Oracles copyrights, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Tuesday. The case first filed in 2010 was remanded to a federal court in California to determine how much the Alphabet Inc. unit should pay. Oracle had been seeking $8.8 billion, though that number could grow. Google expressed disappointment and said its considering its next steps in the case. The dispute, which could have far-reaching implications for the entire software industry, has divided Silicon Valley for years between those who develop the code that makes software steps function and those who develop software programs and say their fair use of the code is an exception to copyright law. Its a momentous decision on the issue of fair use, lawyer Mark Schonfeld of Burns & Levinson in Boston, who has been following the case and isnt involved. It is very, very important for the software industry. I think its going to go to the Supreme Court because the Federal Circuit has made a very controversial decision. Advertisement Computer instructions At issue are pre-written directions known as application program interfaces, or APIs, which can work across different types of devices and provide the instructions for things like connecting to the internet or accessing certain types of files. By using the APIs, programmers dont have to write new code from scratch to implement every function in their software or change it for every type of device. The Federal Circuits opinion upholds fundamental principles of copyright law and makes clear that Google violated the law, Oracle General Counsel Dorian Daley said in a statement. This decision protects creators and consumers from the unlawful abuse of their rights. Google and its supporters contend that the ruling, if left to stand, would harm development of new software programs and lead to higher costs for consumers. We are disappointed the court reversed the jury finding that Java is open and free for everyone, Google said in a statement. This type of ruling will make apps and online services more expensive for users. Limited freedom Oracle said its APIs are freely available to those who want to build applications for computers and mobile devices, but draws the line at anyone who wants to use them for a competing platform or to embed them in an electronic device. The fact that Android is free of charge does not make Googles use of the Java API packages noncommercial, the three-judge Federal Circuit panel in Washington ruled, noting that Android had generated more than $42 billion in revenue from advertising. It also said Google had not made any alteration of the copyrighted material. The damages are likely to be hotly contested, with Oracle wanting more than the $8.8 billion it sought at the trial, and Google arguing the value is minimal, said lawyer Ping Hu, who heads the intellectual property group at Mirick OConnell in Boston. The ruling could mean more public information on how Google profits off an operating system that it offers for free. The decision is a major win for Oracle, but its not the end of the war, he said. Advertisement Rush to mobile Oracle claims Google was in such a rush in the mid-2000s to create an operating system for mobile devices that it used key parts of copyrighted Java technology without paying royalties. Google, which gets the bulk of its profit from selling advertisements connected to search results, faced an existential threat because its search wasnt optimized for mobile devices, according to Oracle. Google countered that Oracle was just jealous because it did what Oracle could not develop an operating system for mobile devices that was free and wildly popular. Google said it used a minuscule percentage of Oracles code, only enough to enable programmers to write applications for Android in the Java language. A federal jury in California agreed with Google in 2016, saying Googles actions were a fair use that was exempt from copyright law. Tuesdays Federal Circuit opinion reverses that verdict. There is nothing fair about taking a copyrighted work verbatim and using it for the same purpose and function as the original in a competing platform, the appeals court ruled. Advertisement Next steps Google is likely to ask that either the three-judge panel reconsider its decision, or have the issue go before all active judges of the court. The losing party could then ask the Supreme Court to take the case, which Google supporters are calling for. The Supreme Court had earlier declined to review a closely watched 2014 decision in which the Federal Circuit said the APIs were entitled to copyright protection. That ruling, along with Tuesdays decision, run[s] counter to decades of software industry practice, according to Meredith Rose, policy counsel at Public Knowledge. The group submitted legal arguments supporting Google. It could have devastating effects on the competitiveness, openness, and development of the technology industry, Rose said in a statement. This could lead to higher prices, fewer choices, and worse products for consumers. Java was created by Sun Microsystems Inc. in the 1990s, and some have accused Oracle of violating Suns pledge to ensure that Java is widely available. Oracle bought Sun in January 2010 for $7.4 billion and sued Google less than eight months later. Advertisement Part of Googles defense focused on the idea that Java was developed for desktop computers, while Android was created for phones and other mobile devices. Oracle sought to extend the case to desktops, where Android is now available, but the trial judge said he wanted to keep the case narrowly focused. The superb new Broadway production of Angels in America from London brought back my first encounter with the work at the Walter Kerr Theatre in 1993. I had traveled from New Haven to see the two-part play on a Saturday, all day, by myself. I was a grad student at the Yale School of Drama and felt completely justified in splurging on orchestra tickets for the afternoon and evening performances. I was considering writing about the much-talked-about play for a chapter of my dissertation, but that was really only a pretext. I needed Angels in America even though I wasnt sure I could handle the experience. AIDS was still more or less a death sentence in 1993. My uncle had died from the disease in 1987. I had seen older friends and acquaintances wither and vanish from the world. Chronological luck had kept me safe I hadnt known a time as an adult when AIDS wasnt a threat but life felt precarious. Advertisement The scene after the first intermission in Part One: Millennium Approaches immediately tested my resolve. I remember crouching in my seat as I considered making a furtive exit after Prior, his illness gaining ground, soils himself with blood while Louis, his overwhelmed lover, gasps, Oh help. Oh help. Oh God oh God oh God help me I cant I cant I cant. My own emotional reaction was completely physicalized: I couldnt breathe. Andrew Garfield as Prior, at the edge of the bed, and James McArdle as Louis in Angels in America. (Brinkhoff & Mogenburg ) Angels in America is crammed with laugh lines. They can seem a tad compulsive and the audiences hilarity can feel annoyingly disproportionate, but these wisecracks and rejoinders served a necessary psychological function when the play had its initial run during the plague years. Kushners generous comedy reminded us that tragedy, no matter how pervasive, is never the whole story. The lighter parts of us arent completely erased by darkness. It was this laughter that allowed me to hold on until the end of the play. Flash-forward to the Neil Simon Theatre, where the National Theatre production opened Sunday. I had seen Marianne Elliotts production in London last summer and was blown away by how Kushners masterwork spoke directly to the crisis were facing today in Donald Trumps America. In particular, the character of Roy Cohn, incarnated by Nathan Lane with insolent glee, seemed to channel the voice of the current political zeitgeist. I anticipated taking pleasure in Kushners angry prescience. I longed to bathe again in his fury at the ideologues and ideologies that have made such an unequal mess of our society. And I looked forward to the reassurance that I was on the right side of history and that everyone who didnt share my beliefs was on the wrong. But something else happened. I left knowing that were all in this together and that, justifiably furious as we may be, if we dont come together through love and forgiveness, were doomed. The polarizing tactics of the White House cannot be duplicated if they are to be defeated. Anger is a potent catalyst, but its not a final answer. The person sitting next to me at the theater helped me through her compassionate presence. I invited Rhea Cohen, the mother of a friend of mine, Adam Balzano, who died in 1993 at age 29. She was his primary caretaker, his stalwart ally and his heartbroken champion throughout his illness. Her grief led her to activism. She was a member of a group of mothers who banded together to advocate for their children and the children of other mothers battling AIDS. Death only deepened the bonds and determination of these women. Twenty-five years is a long time, but for a parent who loses a child, the reality of the loss is ever-present. Medical advances and civil rights victories were hastened by the pain of family members and friends. Society changed because aggrieved communities insisted that we come together and do better. The inspiring student-led March for Our Lives demonstrations Saturday was born of this same impulse. Advertisement Nathan Lane as Roy Cohn, left, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Belize in Angels in America. (Brinkhoff & Mogenburg ) Kushners generous comedy reminded us that tragedy, no matter how pervasive, is never the whole story. Kushners hopeful political conviction retains its urgency but seems even more persuasive than before. Kushner has revamped Part Two: Perestroika for the New York production, pruning and reconfiguring the sprawling text. These adjustments combined with Elliotts exquisitely balanced production helped me to better understand Priors comic struggle as he comes to terms with the burden and blessing that life has assigned him. Andrew Garfield may not get all the details of Priors character exactly right. The flamboyance can seem like borrowed clothes. But the roles spiritual outline is luminously rendered. Garfield offers himself, body and soul, as a vessel for Kushners vision. Advertisement James McArdle, his accent screwed on more tightly in New York than it was in London, has grown more convincing as Louis Ironson, Priors deserting lover. McArdle sensitively measures the gap between Louis political ideals and his personal actions. We understand him too well to abandon him. The characters intellectual self-righteousness and hypocrisy are imperfections that make him no more or less fallibly human than Joe Pitt (Lee Pace), the closeted, right-wing Mormon lawyer with whom he has an affair despite all the irreconcilable political differences. Lanes titanic portrayal of Cohn, a Broadway performance for the ages, voices the antagonistic, ruthless, predatory, exploitative side of our animal natures that no amount of progress has been able to tame. The reason this Roy Cohn seems so alive is not because his protege Donald Trump has put him back in the news. Its because his unadulterated qualities are always with us. Lane ferociously reminds us what we are up against. But my gratitude for this production of Angels was most acutely felt in two hospital scenes. The first involves Prior, who through the circular logic of playwriting, has been accompanied to the hospital by Hannah Pitt (a searing Susan Brown), Joes mother from Salt Lake City. He imagines how she must view him, a gay man dying of AIDS, but she rebukes him for his presumption: No you cant. Imagine. The things in my head. You dont make assumptions about me, mister; I wont make them about you. Susan Brown as Hannah Pitt. (Brinkhoff & Mogenburg ) Advertisement Hannah doesnt want to be reduced to a caricature any more than Prior does. When he exposes the cause of his shame, a body covered in Kaposis sarcoma lesions, this flinty woman reveals a wise heart: Its a cancer. Nothing more. Nothing more human than that. The other hospital scene revolves around Roy Cohns dead body. Belize (a trenchant Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), Roys no-nonsense nurse and Priors loving friend, calls Louis to the room to say kaddish over their collective enemy: He was a terrible person. He died a hard death. So maybe ... a queen can forgive her vanquished foe. It isnt easy, it doesnt count if its easy, its the hardest thing. Forgiveness. Which is maybe where love and justice finally meet. This sentiment, so vital at a time when weve become divided into armed camps, resonates in the fierce performance of Denise Gough, who as Harper, Joes Valium-zonked wife, slowly comes to grips with the reality that her marriage is a mistake not just for her but for her husband as well. Harpers own growth takes a leap when she can acknowledge Joes pain even as she is torn apart by her own. The final scene at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, where Prior, Louis, Belize and Hannah gather as a ragtag community, made me wish the moment could be required national viewing. Elliotts production earns the optimism that has troubled me in the past. Advertisement Tragedy isnt skirted, though suffering and death are held momentarily in abeyance. The lesson isnt that progress is inevitable, but that the possibility of making things better is always available to us when we accept that what unites us is greater than what divides us. The Great Work Begins, Prior concludes at the end of Kushners exhausting and exhilarating epic, a work that universalizes the Jewish concept of tikkun olam. No play can repair the world, but Angels in America offers us a timeless road map. The Great Work Begins: Prior (Andrew Garfield), with Louis (James McArdle), Hannah (Susan Brown) and Belize (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett). (Brinkhoff & Mogenburg ) charles.mcnulty@latimes.com Advertisement Follow me @charlesmcnulty ALSO Frozen on Broadway: Its no Tempest (or Lion King) Eager anticipation for Manville, Irons, Soft Power and more Advertisement Taylor Mac on gay history, Hamilton and his L.A. extravaganza The Pasadena Symphonys weekend program may have contained a musical puzzle and an Enigma, but the real question facing the orchestra, celebrating its 90th anniversary season, was whether there would be any fallout from the threatened musicians strike earlier this year. Apparently, all is well. With the strike averted, the Saturday afternoon concert (followed by an encore performance that night) at the Ambassador Auditorium appeared sold out. As Music Director David Lockington brilliantly led the ensemble in Alexander Millers Scherzo Crypto, Rachmaninoffs Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Elgars Enigma Variations, the orchestras spirits seemed high. Navigating every percussive hairpin turn in Millers colorfully propulsive Scherzo overture, Lockington and the orchestra seemed to revel in the mischievous score. As the conductor explained from the stage, the crypto part of Millers 2014 work involved a few passages where a puzzle the name of a musical instrument is hidden in the piece. A light at stage right went on to cue the audience each time a passage offered clues to the puzzles answer. David Lockington, music director of Pasadena Symphony, leads the orchesta Saturday at the Ambassador Auditorium. (Kay Kochenderfer ) Advertisement After that bracing piece, Lockington maintained a tight ensemble throughout Rachmaninoffs dazzling Rhapsody, with pianist Andrew von Oeyen the first-rate soloist. Von Oeyen, a 38-year-old Malibu native who now lives in Paris, made his American debut as a 16-year-old with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. But it was only last year that Von Oeyen landed a major recording contract. Unlike the skyrocketing early careers of pianists Yuja Wang and Daniil Trifonov, Von Oeyens path took longer. But after hearing his multihued account of Rachmaninoffs Rhapsody (24 variations in all) and his sparkling reading of Ravels Concerto in G on his debut disc for Warner Classics, Von Oeyens career seems ready to take off. Von Oeyen dashed off the knotty passages in the Rhapsody with elegance, crisply evoking Paganinis legendary left-hand pizzicato in Variation 19. He also showed touching moderation in the scores famously swooning tune in Variation 18. Nothing schmaltzy just the music, please. Lockingtons account wasnt the most somberly Russian youll hear, but the performance flowed, with the orchestra conveying its many moods with precision and clarity. After intermission Lockington, conducting from memory, delivered a stirring account of Elgars Enigma, 14 musical sketches celebrating and gently roasting family and friends, who are disguised in the score by initials and nicknames. Lockingtons affectionate, clear-textured, warmly autumnal performance kept Elgarian solemnity and bombast from becoming heavy. Especially moving was the restrained grandeur of Nimrod, the emotional core of the piece, and CAE, the lovely opening tribute to the composers wife. The final variation, EDU, came off as the composers swashbuckling self-parody, with the Pasadena brass getting a full workout. Oh, and what was the answer to Millers Crypto puzzle? For that, youll have to ask a devoted subscriber at the Pasadena Symphonys all-Beethoven season finale on May 5. Advertisement See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. ALSO I survived 24 hours of Taylor Mac A critics picks for classical concerts this spring Advertisement 15 ways to experience SoCals chamber music scene Roseanne Barr was in no mood to mince words. Just a few days after she had wrapped the ninth and final season of Roseanne, her sitcom about the blue-collar Conner family coping with harsh economic times, the lightning rod at the center of the show that revolutionized television when it debuted in 1988 assessed her impact on pop culture. I did more things than anybody had ever done on TV, she said on that day in 1997 as she sat in a West Los Angeles office. I broke through so many barriers that probably only I know what they are. And that is great. I moved the center to the left. I forced the networks to read demographics in ways that were women-friendly, which they had never done before. She also took stock of the TV landscape she was leaving behind. And she was not impressed. Advertisement When I watch other shows now, theres all these supermodels doing this self-deprecating humor about how they cant get laid, Barr said. Im happy to see that because I know therell be room for me to come back later on. And probably do the same thing I did and maybe even better. Caught up in the glow of being the linchpin for one of TVs most iconic shows, Barr at that moment had no clue how true her words particularity her thoughts about doing the same thing would turn out to be. Starting March 27, herstory is repeating itself. Twenty-one years after the series finale, a rebooted Roseanne arrives on ABC, complete with original cast members John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman and even the two actresses (Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke) who took turns playing daughter Becky. And the more things change particularly in the era of Trump the more things have stayed the same with the working-class Conners, who, like many Americans, are still struggling to make ends meet. Job problems and health insurance are taking a toll, along with new tensions stemming from life circumstances divorce, separation, grandchildren, more relatives jammed under one roof. As in the original series, the show mixes biting humor and sharp-edged one-liners with doses of warmth and unquestionable family love. At the core, of course, is Barr, the former stand-up comedian and self-described domestic goddess whose unique creative sensibility, acid-tipped wit and fierce, unpredictable personality swept through Hollywood and the cultural landscape like a volcanic force. The shows popularity often clashed with news of behind-the-scenes explosiveness. Barr battled and fired writers who fought against her tone and vision. Much of the uproar was also because of her tempestuous relationship with former spouse Tom Arnold, who was a producer, writer and actor on the series. I think about when the show was at its peak, Barr says, it was just a terrible time in my life. But this time around, instead of backstage dynamite, the production has been dominated by harmony and joy over bringing a new vitality to the old Roseanne. Advertisement At her production offices in El Segundo a few days before the premiere, Barr is quietly celebratory about putting a new spin on the most successful chapter of her diverse career. I always wanted to do a 10th season, she says. Im superstitious, and its my lucky number. And it was a blast when we got back together. We just laughed and laughed, cracking jokes. And it was easy. These characters have a lot of history. Were comfortable and know each other so well. The entertainer also has a more personal agenda. Im getting a second chance to clean up bad habits and trash left lying around, she says. I thought I would be able to clean up a lot of dirt that I left, that I would be a leader in a better way. That I would once again be the boss but be much more tempered and old and wise. Ive learned a lot of things about people and how to deal with them. I have life skills that I feel I was not great at before. I felt that this was karmic and also spiritual. Advertisement She realizes that viewers have been swamped with reboots Will & Grace, SWAT, American Idol, The X-Files and Twin Peaks, to name a few. But she feels that Roseanne has a mission beyond comfort food-nostalgia: The country needs it. The fun part of doing the sitcom before, Barr says, was when people would come up and say, My favorite line was this, or I loved it when you guys did this. People would talk about the show around the coffee machine. At this time when nobody is talking to nobody, this might be good. It would be good to get people talking to each other. I just want to start a conversation that should be happening. One element that already has a lot of people talking is that Roseanne Conner is a Trump supporter, reflecting the real-life views of the actress. That position has surprised a lot of Roseanne fans and is one of the topics tackled in the first episode of the new series. Roseannes feud with her sister, Hillary Clinton supporter Jackie (Metcalf), is illustrative of how many families were torn apart by the presidential election. Advertisement Theres been several moments when that has been brought up, Barr says. I try to keep a lid on my emotions on this. What I think is the way lots of things are never spoken of, and its scary. Its a deeply personal and cultural thing for me. I dont want to go into it, but I will someday. All I know is that theres a lot of hate. I call it hater-ism. But more than political differences, the major challenge for the new Roseanne is living up to the standards of the old Roseanne. We have a big legacy, executive producer Bruce Helford, who also worked on the original series, says by phone. And we didnt want the show to fall short of the standard we set up back in the day. Some family reunions are not so good, but this one was really great. Not only was it wonderful to get back together, but it was clear we had great perspective on what we had then and how important it was. Those stormy times are still vivid to Helford. Roseanne had a lot to prove. She was in an industry dominated by men and had to get her voice heard. She had to be loud. I also remember the pressure of being the number-one show. When you go from a stand-up comic doing well to being the number one face in America and the idol of millions, thats a lot of heavy stuff to deal with. Advertisement The new show appears to be in a heavy-free zone. Joining Barr in the writers room are top comedians Wanda Sykes and Norm Macdonald. Gilbert, who plays Darlene, says by phone that revisiting Roseanne started out as a surreal experience. When I left the first read-through, I thought I was on another planet. I couldnt get grounded in the reality of the whole thing. But within the first week or so, it felt so normal. We had spent so much time together in the past, and the chemistry was so strong. It quickly became what it was. The actress, also the co-host and creator of CBS daytime series The Talk, was the driving force behind getting the Conners back together. Nobody thought anyone else would do it, including me, Gilbert says. Everyone had their idea of who wouldnt want to do a reunion, and it stopped all of us for many years. Advertisement But when Goodman appeared on The Talk as a guest, the idea came up again and Goodman said he would be up for it. Once I knew John would do it, Gilbert says, I started asking everyone else. Barr says when talks escalated to reviving Roseanne as a regular series, I thought about it and thought about it some more and wondered if I was strong enough. Then I thought about working with John again, and hes my favorite actor. Then I thought about working with Laurie again shes my favorite actress. So I thought it would be fun. I told Sara she would have to do all the support work, and she said she would do it. In addition to reprising her role, Gilbert is an executive producer along with Barr and Helford. Barrs creative journey since the finale of Roseanne has included several misfires, including a talk show, a couple of reality series and a lifestyle cooking show. And she unsuccessfully ran for president. Attempts in the past few years to develop projects at NBC, including one with Goodman that would have featured her as the proprietor of a mobile home park, fizzled. Advertisement Now Barr has come full circle, touched by the realization of a do-over that feels so right. Going back into the writers room was really emotional for me, she says. It was sometimes overwhelming. I used to call my sister every night and say, This is the exact opposite of what it was before. I felt valued and respected. There was no fight. Everyone cared about the show more than anything else. It was like a dream come true. She adds, chuckling. Sometimes comics think you have to be suffering to be funny. This was on another level. Its easier to be funny when youre happy. greg.braxton@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter:@GeBraxton Whether you celebrate Easter for religious reasons, like to welcome the spring equinox or simply appreciate the Peeps and chocolate eggs, festivities are sure to include a celebratory meal. L.A.s restaurant scene is likely to provide what you seek, whether thats eating ham, eggs or lamb, a buffet or full-service dinner. Many restaurants around town are celebrating Easter with family-oriented holiday menus, special pricing and, in some cases, Easter activities for the children. What about Easter activities for the adults? There are plenty of restaurants offering bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys too. The following restaurants are listed in alphabetical order, with brunch buffet options at the bottom. 1 Pico is offering a $110-per-person prix fixe menu. Starters include bruschetta topped with sheeps milk ricotta and heirloom baby beets. Entrees include standouts like harissa lamb chops, seared Maine scallops and grilled quail. Dessert options include mascarpone cheesecake and cioccolato cremoso. The menu is available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 587-1717, www.shuttersonthebeach.com/dining/one-pico. Cafe Birdie will serve specials in addition to the regular menu for both brunch and dinner. Brunch specials include country ham biscuits with eggs; spring vegetable frittata; and hot cross buns. Dinner specials include lamb chops with polenta and kale; glazed ham with fingerling potatoes and horseradish mustard sauce; and a decadent coconut cake. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 5631 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park, (323) 739-6928, www.cafebirdiela.com. Cafe Pinot will offer an a la carte menu of small and large brunch dishes from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlights include smoked trout deviled eggs; chorizo and squid; cheddar biscuits and gravy; and steak and eggs. Prices range from $9 to $23. 700 West 5th St., Los Angeles, (213) 239-6500, www.patinagroup.com/cafe-pinot/menu#Easter+Brunch. Advertisement Catch is serving a prix fixe menu for $110 per person, available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Options include seared Chilean sea bass; lobster Benedict; tuna carpaccio; grass-fed filet mignon; and to satisfy that sweet tooth, hazelnut feuilletine; chocolate cheesecake Easter eggs and carrot cake. A childrens menu will be available until 4 p.m. that includes buttermilk chicken fingers; spaghetti Bolognese, salmon sticks and Margherita pizza. 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, (310) 581-5533, www.hotelcasadelmar.com/dining/catch. Craft will offer a $65-per-person, three-course brunch that starts with assorted pastries; farmers market fruit; ricotta and granola for the table. Second course dishes, served family-style, include duck pastrami with turnips and rye, as well as Dungeness crab with pea tendrils and burrata. Guests can select individual main courses that range from sweet, such as babka pudding with roasted Harrys strawberries and clotted cream, to savory, such as a rabbit pappardelle with green garlic and fava beans. Brunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 10100 Constellation Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 279-4180, craftlosangeles.com. Five Crowns will offer special three-course menus for brunch (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and dinner (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.). Both brunch and dinner prix fixe menus highlight starters such as lobster bisque with creme fraiche; and salad with bacon, toasted walnuts, Gruyere and herbs de Provence dressing. Brunch main courses feature crab Benedict with poached eggs, bearnaise and truffled potatoes. Dinner mains include seared salmon with leek soubise, zucchini, artichokes, dill and garlic chips. Dessert options include Meyer lemon beignets at brunch and creme brulee with Champagne berries at dinner. 3801 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, (949) 760-0331, lawrysonline.com/five-crowns. Gracias Madre is offering brunch specials such as cashew ricotta stuffed French toast with lemon curd, berries and rosemary; and grilled asparagus with olive, wine reduction, garlic breadcrumbs, and parsley in addition to its regular menu. Also available, an Easter-inspired cocktail: La aviacion with tequila blanco, violet, maraschino and lemon. Specials are available from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. 8905 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 978-2170, www.opentable.com/r/gracias-madre-west-hollywood?page=1. Kali is offering a special, a la carte brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Offerings include deviled Easter eggs ($6), burrata and tomato toast ($12), chicken and waffles ($16) and black barley risotto ($12/$20). 5722 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 871-4160, www.kalirestaurant.com/reservations. Kendalls Brasserie will offer a two-course, prix fixe menu for $25 per person. Menu items include avocado salad with haricot vert, shaved fennel and pepitas; quiche; and prosciutto Benedict. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 972-7322, www.patinagroup.com/kendalls-brasserie/menu#Easter+Brunch. Love & Salt is serving green eggs & lamb, featuring grilled lamb loin, fried farm eggs and salsa verde with rye toast ($24), alongside the restaurants regular weekend brunch menu, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, (310) 545-5252, www.loveandsaltla.com. Leatherbys Cafe Rouge at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is offering a three-course, prix fixe Easter brunch. Entree selections include Dungeness crab pasta; Colorado lamb sirloin; seared Scottish salmon and challah French toast with chicken apple sausage. Brunch is available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for $39 per adult, and $19 per child age 10 and under. 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 429-7640, www.patinagroup.com/leatherbys-cafe-rouge/menu#Easter+Menu. Advertisement Marsel at Terranea is offering an Easter brunch featuring favorites such as oatmeal frittata with egg whites, creme fraiche, and local preserves ($17); buttermilk fried chicken with kimchi and a green juice shooter ($27); buckwheat blueberry banana pancakes with Meyer lemon sea salt mascarpone and pistachios ($25); and Wagyu smoked brisket with poached eggs, hollandaise and grilled ciabatta ($30). 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (855) 441-2415, www.terranea.com/marsel. Nerano is offering special menu items that will be available at lunch and dinner, in addition to the regular menu. Antipasti specials include a salad of frisee, asparagus, fresh fava beans, tarragon, crispy guanciale and farm egg ($23). Primi selections include orecchiette pasta with lamb ragu, fiocchetti di burrata and mint ($34). Secondi choices include grilled California lamb chops with artichokes giudia and potato al forno vin cotto ($53) For dessert: homemade shell-shaped pastry filled with pastry cream, orange zest and almond pistachio gelato. Lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner is from 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. 9960 South Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 405-0155, www.neranobh.com/index.html. NoMads lobby restaurant will be serving brunch specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Offerings include a breakfast burrito with suckling pig, spinach and chile de arbol; and a Benedict with smoked salmon. 649 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, (213) 358-0000, www.thenomadhotel.com/los-angeles. Rays and Stark Bar is offering Easter specials in addition to the a la carte brunch menu, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlights include Rays eggs Benedict ($17); pancakes with dark chocolate ganache and brown butter hollandaise ($16); and an egg salad sandwich ($15). 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 857-6180, www.patinagroup.com/rays-and-stark-bar/menu#Easter+Menu. Advertisement Redbird will offer a two-course brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $48 per person ($19 for children age 10 and under). Among the first-course options are white asparagus with hollandaise, pea shoots, lardo, charred bread; burrata salad with greengage plums, chicories, hazelnuts, chocolate sourdough; and, Scotch egg with duck sausage, red frill mustard and roasted shallot vinaigrette. Second course options include spring pea ravioli with lobster, tarragon, tomato confit; rainbow trout with quinoa, spinach, hazelnuts, golden raisins; and, Basque baked eggs with short rib. 114 E. Second St., Los Angeles, (213) 788-1191, redbird.la. Saddle Peak Lodge will offer a three-course, prix fixe brunch that includes items such as roasted apple salad with chicory, blue cheese, watercress, candied pecans; and a roasted lamb sandwich with goat cheese, caramelized onions, sun dried tomato pesto, sweet pea butter, and sweet potato fries. Brunch is $68 for adults and $45 for children under 12. 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, (818) 222-3888, www.saddlepeaklodge.com. Spago is offering a three-course, prix fixe brunch menu for $145 per adult and $65 per child (under 12) from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Highlights include smoked trout mousse with Ossetra caviar and lemon herb blinis; roasted lamb rack, heirloom peewee potatoes, young onions and parsley gremolata; and roasted Ora king salmon, English peas, mushrooms, bacon and mushroom emulsion. 176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 385-0880, www.exploretock.com/spagobeverlyhills. Tavern will be offer Easter specials in addition to their a la carte brunch and dinner menus. Highlights include haricots verts and endive salad with red onion, soft cooked egg, mustard vinaigrette and pine nuts; and grilled rack of lamb with spiced carrot puree, salad of asparagus, fennel and pea shoots, green garlic creme fraiche and charmoula. Prices range from $10 to $36 for brunch (9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and $10 to $42 for dinner (5 p.m.to 9:30 p.m.). 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 806-6464, www.tavernla.com. Advertisement The Belvedere is offering a four-course, family-style brunch and dinner with free-flowing Champagne from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $138 per adult and $65 for children aged 12 and under. Highlights include English spring pea toast with creme fraiche, pea tendrils and radish; and Mediterranean seabass with shaved white asparagus and fiddlehead ferns. 9882 South Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 975-2736, beverlyhills.peninsula.com/en/fine-dining/the-belvedere. The Pikey will offer a la carte specials for brunch (10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and dinner (3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.) in addition to the full a la carte menu. Brunch specials include crab cake eggs Benedict ($18); and Old Bay-marinated shrimp and grits ($18). The brunch will include a complimentary bloody Mary or mimosa to guests 21 and over; bottomless bloody Marys and mimosas will be $15. Dinner specials include roast short ribs with roasted vegetables ($26); and apricot-glazed baked ham with Hasselback potatoes ($26). 7617 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 850-5400, thepikeyla.com/easter-sunday. Toscana is offering lamb specials for lunch and dinner in addition to the full a la carte menu. The appetizer is Colorado lamb carpaccio with Gorgonzola sauce and the main course is roasted lamb culotte with balsamic reduction, grilled radicchio and endive. The dessert special is cheesecake with whipped cream and berry sauce. Prices range from $14 to $82 for the a la carte specials. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner will be served from 5 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. 11633 San Vicente Blvd., #100, Brentwood, (310) 820-2448, www.toscanabrentwood.com. Water Grill is offering a special brunch menu both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (brunch served until 3 p.m.). Highlights include poached salmon rillettes; warm blueberry pancakes with lemon cream; crab Benedict; warm cinnamon rolls; and assorted signature cocktails. Prices vary per selection. 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (949) 208-7060, www.watergrill.com. Advertisement Brunch buffets Millennium Biltmore is offering a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $69 per person (50% off for children ages 5 to 11; free for children age 4 and under). Reservations are highly recommended. 506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 605-6166, www.millenniumhotels.com/en/los-angeles. Avec Nous at Viceroy LErmitage Beverly Hills is offering a three-course buffet that includes favorites such as ice shrimp ceviche and herb roasted lamb rack or seared halibut followed by macarons or lemon tartlets. The buffet is $68 per person and $58 per child under 12. 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, (310) 860-8660, www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com. Cast at the Viceroy Santa Monica will offer a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each guest will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne. The menu includes carving stations of roasted prime rib and cedar plank salmon and a seafood station with crab leg and shrimp cocktail in addition to omelet and pancake stations. The buffet is $75 for adults, $25 for kids age 5 to 12, and free for kids age 4 and younger. 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 260-7511, www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/santamonica/dining_and_nightlife/cast. Le Petit Paris will serve a brunch buffet for $69 per person ($35 for children under 10) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Selections will include oysters, roasted lamb, and chocolate-centric desserts along with a chocolate fountain and egg-shaped chocolate candies for the kids. Bottomless mimosas ($15) and bloody Marys ($18) will also be available. 418/420 South Spring St., Los Angeles, (213) 217-4445, www.lepetitparisla.com. Advertisement Terranea is offering a Champagne brunch in the PV Ballroom (Adults $105; children 5 to 10 $58; free for children under 5). Buffet offerings include an omelet and egg station, Hawaiian French toast, pasta and risotto station, carving station, salad bar, seafood station, charcuterie & cheese, kids buffet, dessert station and more. An egg hunt and other activities are included with admission. Seatings are available at 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (310) 265-2836, store.terranea.com/collections/special-events/products/easter. Circa 55 at the Beverly Hilton will offer a brunch buffet of specialty items from around the globe with standouts such as seafood paella, a carving and barbecue station, a seafood bar, sushi and pastries and seasonal sweets. The price is $81 for adults, $38 for children. Brunch hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 877-6055, www.beverlyhilton.com/explore/dining. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach will serve a brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $94 per adult, $74 for seniors age 65 and over, $34 for children age 6-12, and free for children age 5 and under. Unlimited Champagne, coffee, tea and juice are included. 21500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, (714) 845-4627, huntingtonbeach.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html. food@latimes.com Advertisement @latimesfood DesignLA presents the state of design in one of the worlds largest creative marketplaces with an eye to the future. The March edition includes features on: Frogtown, one of L.A.'s evolving creative communities, Kimptons glam new La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood; Gustavo Dudamel, the mercurial music director of the L.A. Phil; shoe designer George Esquivel, who embodies a new definition of success in todays fashion world; Tim Street-Porters new book revisiting the glory days of Palm Springs modernism; and the saga of bad-boy art dealer Patrick Painter. DesignLA will be published by the L.A. Times four times this year (in March, June, September and November) and delivered to seven-day Times subscribers. Just more than a week after tiny Los Alamitos voted to defy Californias law protecting immigrants in the country illegally, Orange County is poised to become a counterpoint against the states resistance to the Trump administrations policies. On Tuesday, Orange County supervisors may consider whether to take up a resolution to condemn and possibly take legal action against the states sanctuary laws. For the record: A previous version of this story cited incorrect information released by the Sheriffs Department. The Sheriffs Department initially reported that some of the 172 inmates in the country illegally released into the community had been convicted of certain charges. Some of those released had been charged, but not convicted. These state laws are preempted by federal law, Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson said. Our officers actually face penalties under state law if they so much as talk to federal agents for the wrong thing. Thats just unacceptable and its contrary to federal law. Nelson said hell broach in closed session whether to join a federal lawsuit against the state or launch its own litigation. Advertisement Activists in support and against the OCs move to consider an anti-sanctuary resolution to condemn the states sanctuary laws are out in force. OC Supes are likely to vote to take legal action against the states sanctuary laws #immigration @latimes pic.twitter.com/KnANyaMlvA Cindy Carcamo (@theCindyCarcamo) March 27, 2018 Protests are already underway against the anti-sanctuary resolution proposed today by OC Board of Supes. They are likely to vote to take legal action against the states sanctuary laws. #immigration @latimes pic.twitter.com/MDg3YhGD8C Cindy Carcamo (@theCindyCarcamo) March 27, 2018 Other cities in the county, including Yorba Linda, Buena Park, Huntington Beach and Mission Viejo, are also starting to take action to voice their grievances against the states sanctuary laws aimed at protecting immigrants from President Trumps immigration crackdown. On Monday, Texas and more than a dozen other states led by Republican governors got behind the Trump administration and filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit against Californias sanctuary laws. Nelson jumped aboard a resolution initially brought by Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel that would condemn the states sanctuary laws. She later added wording that would direct the county counsel to take legal action. We cannot allow this to happen in Orange County and we need to protect our families and our homes here in Orange County, she said. And that means bolstering our cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and stopping our county from becoming a sanctuary for criminal illegal immigrants. By Tuesday morning, some activists on both sides of the issue were at the Board of Supervisors chambers waiting for a vote to come up. Once a conservative and Republican stronghold, Orange County has undergone stark demographic shifts. In 2016, Hillary Clinton defeated Trump in the county, which a Democrat hadnt won in a presidential election since the Great Depression. Advertisement The issue of illegal immigration and sanctuary laws has been highly divisive in Orange County. Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, along with other California sheriffs, spoke out in opposition to the law, SB 54. On Monday, Hutchens made inmate release dates including for those in the country illegally public in response to the state law. We have an obligation to safeguard our community and we will use every tool available to help hold criminals accountable, said Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes. Our inability to relinquish these individuals to the custody of ICE causes them to be returned to the communities which they prey upon. From Jan. 1 to March 19, the agency released 172 inmates in the country illegally into the community because state law prohibited authorities from notifying ICE, said Carrie Braun, a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department. Advertisement Its unclear if any of those people some of whom have been charged with domestic violence, burglary and criminal threats, and convicted of driving under the influence have gone on to commit other crimes, said Raymond Grangoff, government relations manager of the agency. Orange County gave birth to Proposition 187, a ballot initiative approved by voters that sought to deny public services such as public schooling and healthcare to people in the country illegally; the measure was eventually struck down in the courts. And Costa Mesa passed anti-day laborer ordinances and became the epicenter of the anti-illegal immigration movement during the mid-2000s. Since then, however, much of the countys anti-illegal immigration fervor has eased after many of its cities experienced an influx of Latino and Asian immigrants. But the anti-sanctuary momentum gaining ground in Orange County shows that it remains a place with a very conservative core. Advertisement SB 54, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed after the Legislature passed it last year, prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal officials in many cases when immigrants potentially subject to deportation are about to be released from custody. The Trump administration went to federal court to invalidate the state laws, contending they blatantly obstruct federal immigration law and thus violate the Constitutions supremacy clause, which gives federal law precedence over state measures. That case is pending. Legal costs is one of the reasons Yorba Linda Mayor Gene Hernandez said the city has not done what Los Alamitos did. Instead, the city voted to send a supporting amicus brief to the federal lawsuit. The citys decision was prompted by a request from the national field director of Federation for American Immigration Reform, an anti-illegal immigration and immigration restrictionist group in Washington, D.C., known as FAIR. Advertisement A letter directed to Hernandez said that FAIRs legal team, the Immigration Reform Law Institute, had been working to support the federal government and that FAIR had been searching for California Cities and Counties who are interested in filing supporting Amicus Briefs in this lawsuit. Brian Lonergan, a spokesman for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, disputed the idea that it or FAIR had approached cities. Instead, he said, cities in the state had approached them. State Sen. Kevin de Leon, who wrote SB54, warned cities going against the sanctuary state laws. Pushing a racist and anti-immigrant agenda devoid of facts or supporting legal analysis is a pretty sad use of taxpayer resources, especially when it could result in crippling legal costs for cities that rush to join this dead-end effort, he said in a written statement. Advertisement Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian and the Associated Press contributed to this report. cindy.carcamo@latimes.com Follow Cindy Carcamo on Twitter @thecindycarcamo UPDATES: Advertisement 10:45 a.m.: This post was updated with activists gathering in Santa Ana. This post was originally posted at 5 p.m. March 26. The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to oppose a bill allowing residential buildings of four to eight stories on streets near public transit, despite objections from business leaders and groups that favor higher-density housing. The 13-0 vote makes L.A. the largest municipality in California to come out against Senate Bill 827, which would loosen or eliminate restrictions on height, density, parking and design for residential projects near bus and rail stops. Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents much of the Westside, called the bill pure insanity. And Councilman David Ryu, who wrote the resolution opposing the bill, said it would result in the widespread displacement of renters, generating a housing boom for a privileged few and eviction notices for everyone else. Los Angeles has a long and painful history of displacement in the name of progress, and of well-intended bills that uproot communities and destroy neighborhoods, Ryu said. SB 827 is one such bill. Advertisement Business leaders quickly denounced the councils decision, accusing city lawmakers of failing to take a statewide housing crisis seriously. Todays action is representative of why SB 827 is necessary: cities and counties left to their own devices are happy to uphold the status quo and obstruct new development, Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., said in a statement issued after the vote. SB 827 was written by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and billed as a way to fight climate change, reduce traffic congestion and address soaring rents and home prices. It allows for taller, denser buildings within a quarter-mile of stops where buses arrive every 15 minutes during rush hour. The bill also eases or overrides key planning rules on properties that sit within a half-mile of rail and subway stations, as well as stops where two higher-frequency bus routes intersect. Wiener says his bill offers a series of tenant protections, including 42 months of relocation payments to any family displaced from their apartments as part of an SB 827 project. Developers also would be prohibited from demolishing rent-controlled buildings unless the council passes a law explicitly allowing them to do so. Renters are already losing their homes, Wiener said, because cities are not producing enough homes. Our current approach to housing specifically, building very little housing is whats fueling displacement all over our state, he said after the vote. Those arguments have not reassured groups that represent renters and low-income families, who contend SB 827 would lead to rampant real estate speculation, with developers demolishing rent-controlled homes and replacing them with more expensive ones. One opponent called SB 827 a declaration of war against South L.A., which is crisscrossed with bus corridors and is almost entirely covered by the transit-rich areas identified in the bill. Advertisement Homeowner groups and preservationists also oppose SB 827, saying it would undermine protections for historic buildings and eviscerate planning rules for almost half the citys single-family neighborhoods. A Times analysis found that in L.A., about 190,000 parcels in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes are located in the bills transit-rich areas. Residences in those neighborhoods could eventually be replaced with buildings ranging from 45 to 85 feet tall, city officials say. The Times also determined that more than 86,000 rent-controlled buildings, or about 537,000 total units, are located in the transit areas identified by SB 827. What is unclear, however, is how many of those buildings are in locations that already allow high-density residential buildings. Advertisement In a preliminary analysis, city planners concluded that SB 827 would have disproportionate impacts on underserved communities and communities of color. Mayor Eric Garcetti, for his part, said the bill would effectively rezone much of the L.A. Basin, putting thousands of rent-stabilized housing units at risk of redevelopment. Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents coastal neighborhoods, said state legislators should focus instead on repealing the states restrictions on local rent control measures. They also should rework the Ellis Act, which allows landlords to replace their rental units with for-sale housing, he said. Bonin said L.A. also needs to do its part, by approving new anti-displacement measures and an inclusionary zoning ordinance, which would require developers to include a specific percentage of affordable units in their projects. In addition, L.A. needs to have a series of neighborhood-level conversations about where homes should be built, Bonin said. Lets be clear, he added. We need more housing. Advertisement david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser jon.schleuss@latimes.com Twitter: @gaufre Thirty-one guns from Comptons disbanded police department vanished from a city vault last year, and now federal authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Los Angeles field division announced the reward Tuesday. Officials said 23 Beretta .40-caliber pistols and eight Glock .40-caliber pistols had been stolen from an old city building at 600 N. Alameda St. between March 6 and Aug. 31, 2017. The city began storing about 200 weapons from the old Compton Police Department in a vault in that building after the department was dismantled and law enforcement responsibilities were contracted out to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department in 2000. When the Sheriffs Department conducted an inventory of the guns in March 2017, all the weapons were there. But when they returned in August to move the stockpile to another storage spot, the 31 handguns were missing. Advertisement An ATF spokeswoman said the guns are believed to be service weapons. Daryl Thomas, the resident agent in charge at the Long Beach field office, said the vault is in working order and there was no sign of damage to it. Comptons city manager did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The missing weapons is just one problem facing Compton City Hall. A state audit released this month found that Compton officials overpaid themselves, charged questionable trips on city-issued credit cards and failed to safeguard taxpayer money, resulting in one staffer stealing millions of dollars over several years. Comptons weak financial oversight and rampant overspending turned a general fund surplus of $22.4 million a decade ago into a deficit of $42.7 million just three years later, the audit found. Even after officials adopted a plan to repay the debt in 2014, the deficit increased by $6.4 million the next year. Fiscal mismanagement is not a new problem in Compton, where former Mayor Omar Bradley was convicted last year of misappropriating public funds. Current Mayor Aja Brown took office in 2013 on a good governance platform and vowed to bring financial stability to a municipality that had run through city managers. The investigation into the missing weapons is being conducted by ATF. Anyone with information about the missing firearms is urged to call (800) ATF-GUNS or the ATF Long Beach office at (818) 265-3760. UPDATES: Advertisement 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This article was originally published at 2:05 p.m. More than 30 people have applied to become Los Angeles next police chief, cementing the pool of candidates competing for one of the highest-profile jobs in law enforcement. As of Fridays deadline the end of a three-week application window the city had received 31 applications for the position, said Steve Soboroff, president of the Police Commission. Few of the candidates names have emerged, and the full list wont be released by the citys Personnel Department. But there is at least one surprising omission: Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala, considered a top contender, said Monday she did not apply. Soboroff declined to discuss the applicants in detail he wanted to protect the integrity of the search, he said. But he indicated his satisfaction with the group, saying it included highly, highly qualified candidates. Advertisement We are going to have a great next chief of police, he said. The search for Chief Charlie Becks replacement began in January, when he announced that he would retire from the Los Angeles Police Department this summer. Beck and others have expressed their desire to forgo the need for an interim chief, giving city officials roughly five months to hire his successor. Finding the citys next police chief will be one of the most closely watched decisions made by Mayor Eric Garcetti, who will make the final selection from a list of applicants narrowed down by his appointees on the Police Commission, the civilian panel that oversees the department. The City Council must then confirm the mayors choice. Police commissioners recently embarked on a citywide listening tour, soliciting input at community meetings, City Hall and in smaller, more private settings. During the public forums, many residents and elected officials emphasized the importance of hiring someone who is familiar with L.A.s diverse neighborhoods and can relate to the people who live there. It was also important, some said, for the next chief to understand the history of the citys still-evolving relationship with the police. The next head of the LAPD will have to confront some of the most intractable problems facing the city and policing overall, including ongoing concerns over how officers use force, a sharp rise in homelessness, allegations of racial profiling, a stubborn uptick in crime and friction with a White House angry at the citys sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with immigration agents. Police commissioners have said they hope to finish evaluating the candidates and offer Garcetti their top three suggestions in early June, a few weeks before Becks last day, June 27. The oversight panel recently brought in a national policing nonprofit, the Police Executive Research Forum, to assist with the process. The Washington group helped alert potential candidates to the opening and would be another sounding board as commissioners draft interview questions for applicants, Soboroff said. We want to make sure were not missing anything, he said. Advertisement Soboroff said he and Matt Johnson, the commissions vice president, will now review the applications and put together a list of candidates to be interviewed by all five commissioners. Speculation over who would succeed Beck intensified almost immediately after he announced his retirement. Some have urged city leaders to hire a female chief. Others have called for a Latino. Both would be firsts for the LAPD. From the start, Beck suggested that his successor should be an insider or someone who recently left the department. That possibility appears to have gained momentum, as some police commissioners have signaled a similar desire. The names of a few current and former high-ranking LAPD officials have circulated as potential contenders. The list includes Michel Moore, an assistant chief who was one of three finalists for the job in 2009; Sandy Jo MacArthur, a former LAPD assistant chief who retired in 2015 but is still a reserve officer; and Robert Arcos, a deputy chief who heads the LAPDs Central Bureau. Advertisement Moore, MacArthur and Arcos all confirmed Monday that they submitted applications, as did Deputy Chief Phil Tingirides, who oversees the departments South Bureau. Girmala, who many considered a front-runner for the job, declined to specify why she did not apply. Girmala attended most of the six community forums the Police Commission held last month. It was a very difficult decision because of the amount of respect I have for the men and women of the LAPD, especially those working the streets and doing the heavy lifting out there, she said. The full list of candidates may never be known. The citys Personnel Department does not publicly release the names of the candidates being considered. In 2009, then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revealed the names of the top-three candidates from among two dozen applicants at a news conference. Advertisement Beck ultimately got the job. To read this article in Spanish click here kate.mather@latimes.com @katemather Advertisement cindy.chang@latimes.com @cindychangLA Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) Local and international human rights groups called out Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for his claims they are being used by drug lords to fight the Duterte administration. International group Human Rights Watch said publicly linking human rights groups to drug lords is the government's "intimidation tactics" against them. "These allegations are more than just gratuitous slurs aimed at undermining the integrity of already beleaguered Philippine human rights activists pushing back against the Duterte government's systematic attack on rule of law and its instigation and incitement of possible crimes against humanity," the group said in a Tuesday statement. The Presidential spokesperson issued a statement Monday that the attacks against Duterte's war on drugs have been non-stop. "We therefore do not discount the possibility that some human rights groups have become unwitting tools of drug lords to hinder the strides made by the Administration," he said. Roque on Tuesday responded to HRW's statement. "(HRW) should therefore not feel alluded to, exaggerate and politicize the issue to get some media mileage and public attention." Roque added he is standing by his earlier statement that some non-governmental organizations have become tools of drug lords. Local rights group Karapatan, however, said Malacanang continues to "invent the most ludicrous of stories" and create the "wildest accusations." "Malacanang places the blame on human rights organizations for the Duterte administration's failure to curb the illegal drug problem and accuses them of smearing the country's reputation," their statement read. The local group added the Palace is either creating a scenario to justify the killing of activists or evading accountability from domestic and international rights laws. "Either way, whatever they're having in Malacanang will not be enough to numb them and enable their hallucinations in covering up the Duterte regime's crimes against the people," the statement read. Local and international groups have criticized Duterte's war against illegal drugs. While government data show more than 4,000 deaths in anti-illegal drug operations, human rights groups believe the number to be as high as 13,000. The Orange County Sheriffs Department on Monday made the release dates of jail inmates including those in the country illegally publicly available online, marking the latest local revolt against Californias so-called sanctuary laws. Undersheriff Don Barnes said the action is in response to the harms done to the community under Senate Bill 54, which became law on Jan 1. and restricts local law enforcements cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Barnes and Sheriff Sandra Hutchens vocally fought against it. For the record: A previous version of this story cited incorrect information released by the Sheriffs Department. The Sheriffs Department initially reported that some of the 172 inmates in the country illegally released into the community had been convicted of certain charges. Some of those released had been charged, but not convicted. We have an obligation to safeguard our community, and we will use every tool available to help hold criminals accountable, Barnes said Monday. Our inability to relinquish these individuals to the custody of (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) causes them to be returned to the communities which they prey upon. An ICE spokeswoman declined to comment on the change. Advertisement Several municipalities in Orange County are voicing objections to the states sanctuary movement, which has wide support among elected officials in left-leaning California. Leaders of tiny Los Alamitos voted last week to exempt the city from SB 54. SB 54 makes local law enforcements job more difficult and requires bureaucratic processes that could allow dangerous individuals to fall through the cracks of our justice system, Hutchens said in a statement. My department, however, remains committed to cooperating fully with federal authorities in all areas where I have discretion to remove serious criminals from our community. From Jan. 1 to March 19, the Sheriffs Department released 172 inmates in the country illegally into the community because state law prohibited them from notifying ICE, said Carrie Braun, a department spokeswoman. Its unclear if any of those people some of whom have been charged with domestic violence, burglary and criminal threats, and convicted of driving under the influence have gone on to commit other crimes, said Raymond Grangoff, government relations manager of the agency. ICE is going out and actively looking for them, Barnes said. It would be easier for everyone involved and safer for the community and law enforcement if they were relinquished to the custody of ICE rather than returned to the community. In that same time period, 168 other inmates with more serious convictions did meet the requirements and were turned over to immigration agents as the law allows. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek The grainy photo, taken from an elevators security camera, is the last image investigators have of the missing 25-year-old woman. It seemed innocuous enough: a couple, both wearing baseball caps, leaving her apartment in Hollywood. She had two bags with her, police said a sign she was going on a trip. But when her friends and family didnt hear from her, they grew worried and called police. This week, the month-long search for Adea Shabani, a model and aspiring actress, came to an apparent close when a body believed to be hers was found in a shallow grave 50 miles north of Sacramento. Advertisement Los Angeles police said Tuesday that they suspect foul play and that the man last seen with Shabani the man in the elevator was somehow involved. But the investigation is far from over. Because of the condition of the remains, investigators have not yet determined exactly how and when Shabani died, and are still waiting to confirm the body is indeed hers. And the man they tried to talk to throughout Shabanis disappearance Christopher Spotz, a 33-year-old man who police say had an intimate relationship with Shabani died last week after shooting himself during a police chase. On Tuesday, William Hayes, captain of the Los Angeles Police Departments elite Robbery-Homicide Division, called the case a rather complex investigation, saying it took investigators to Colorado as well as to two wildlife areas in Northern California in search of Shabani. Something happened and I believe it to be somewhat untoward, he said at a downtown Los Angeles news conference. But until I get more specifics out of the coroners exam I cant be definitive as to the cause and manner of death. For now, police are combing Spotzs truck for clues, along with a rental car he recently used in Colorado, Hayes said. Theyre also trying to determine whether anyone else might be involved in Shabanis disappearance or death, he added. Shabani, who would have turned 26 earlier this month, graduated from high school in Skopje, Macedonia, and attended college in Paris, according to her Facebook profile. She was a student at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Hollywood and was set to graduate in September, said Jayden Brant, a private investigator hired by her family. Shabani was last seen alive on the afternoon of Feb. 23, when she and Spotz left her Wilcox Avenue apartment together, Hayes said. Friends reported her missing two days later, launching the LAPDs investigation. Advertisement Later that week, Spotz made a statement through an attorney saying he and Shabani were driving to Northern California together when they argued near Santa Clarita, Hayes said. Spotz said he pulled off the freeway and let Shabani out of the car and hadnt seen her since. But the story didnt add up, Hayes said. Investigators werent able to verify Spotzs account, he said, prompting Robbery-Homicide detectives to take over the case. On March 1, detectives went to Northern California, where Spotzs father lived, to try and glean more information about where Spotz and Shabani might be. That same day, Hayes said, Spotz and another woman his fiancee drove to his familys home in Colorado. About a week later, detectives went to Colorado to try and talk to Spotz and look at his Toyota Tacoma the last vehicle in which Shabani was seen alive, Hayes said. Meanwhile, detectives and sheriffs volunteers fanned out across the Lake of the Woods wildlife area, looking for any sign of Shabani. Advertisement When police couldnt find Spotz or his truck, Hayes said, they alerted other law enforcement agencies that they were looking for the vehicle. San Bernardino sheriffs deputies spotted it on March 22, near the 10 and 15 freeways. Spotz fled, prompting a chase that stretched from Hesperia to Corona, where authorities say Spotz fatally shot himself along the 91 Freeway. Two days later, the LAPD sent a dive team back to the wildlife area to look for Shabani, Hayes said. Investigators also gleaned more information leading them to the Spenceville Wildlife Area in Nevada County. On Monday, police combing the banks of a creek found the shallow grave. Advertisement javier.panzar@latimes.com Twitter: @jpanzar kate.mather@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @katemather UPDATES: 7 p.m.: This article was edited for clarity. Advertisement 5:25 p.m.: This article was updated with further details and comments from an LAPD news conference. 3:40 p.m.: This article has been updated with details from an LAPD news conference. 11:35 a.m.: This article has been updated with comments from private investigator Jayden Brant. 10:50 a.m.: This article has been updated to confirm the connection between the search for Shabani and the Nevada County investigation. Advertisement This article was originally published at 9:45 a.m. Texas and more than a dozen other states led by Republican governors got behind the Trump administration on Monday in its lawsuit over Californias so-called sanctuary laws that protect people in the U.S. illegally. Californias laws are designed to interfere with or block federal immigration enforcement, and California does not have that authority, the states said in a court filing in the U.S. Department of Justices lawsuit against California. The filing in federal court in Sacramento supports the Justice Departments attempt to block the laws. An email to the California attorney generals office was not immediately returned. The Justice Department sued California in March over three state laws, including one that requires the state to review detention facilities where immigrants are held and another that limits the ability of state and local law enforcement officials to turn people over to immigration authorities. Advertisement Federal officials have said California officials have prevented them from removing dangerous people who are in the U.S. illegally. California officials have responded that their sanctuary policies increase public safety by promoting trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. The filing by Texas and the other states argues that Californias laws should be blocked on the same grounds that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2010 Arizona immigration law. The Arizona law required police, while enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of people suspected of being in the country illegally, made it a crime to harbor immigrants here illegally, and banned them from seeking work in public places. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the law in 2012. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said Arizona may have understandable frustrations with immigrants who are in the country illegally, but added that it cant pursue policies that undermine federal law. If Arizonas laws are overridden by federal law, then so are Californias, the court filing for Texas and the other states said. They cited a legal document signed by California in the fight over Arizonas law that said the removal of people in the country illegally was up to the federal government. With a new presidential administration, however, California has changed its tune, the states said. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and legal experts have argued that Californias laws are different from Arizonas. The states also said Californias laws could harm them by making it easier for immigrants who have committed crimes to go to other states. Advertisement The states joining Texas are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia. Louisianas governor, John Bel Edwards, is a Democrat. The Republican governors of Mississippi and Maine also joined the filing, though their states, which have Democrats as attorneys general, did not. More than 20 months after the fatal police shooting of a black man outside a Baton Rouge mini-mart touched off protests nationwide over police treatment of African Americans, the Louisiana attorney general said Tuesday that he would not charge two white officers in the death. The decision from Atty. Gen. Jeff Landrys office brought strong condemnation from Alton Sterlings family and civil rights activists, and closed the possibility of criminal charges in one of the most prominent police shootings in recent years. Landrys announcement came close to 11 months after the U.S. Department of Justice similarly ruled out federal charges against the officers, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II. Violent protests in Baton Rouge after Sterlings death led to nearly 200 arrests. His killing and several other fatal police shootings along with retaliatory attacks on police in the summer of 2016 became a campaign issue in the presidential election. Advertisement After meeting with Landry on Tuesday, Sterlings family members said they were angry but not surprised at the news. Theyre not going to bring charges on anybody. Why would they do that? This is white America, Veda Washington-Abusaleh, Sterlings aunt, told reporters after the meeting. Theyre not going to bring charges on anybody. Why would they do that? This is white America Veda Washington-Abusaleh The system failed us, said Sandra Sterling, another aunt. He was not a monster . This was a family man. A family man. Sterling, 37, was shot dead on July 5, 2016, after police responded to a 911 call reporting a man making a threat with a gun in front of the Triple S Food Mart. Sterling was known for selling CDs in the area. Bystander videos that went viral showed officers holding Sterling down and, at one point, yelling, Hes got a gun! Gun! before gunshots are heard. Landry said Tuesday that his investigation found that the officers attempted to make a lawful arrest of Alton Sterling based upon probable cause, and that the officers believed Sterling was armed as he resisted arrest. Witness and police accounts differed at the time on whether Sterling threatened officers and if he reached for a gun. In a report also released Tuesday, Landrys office said that Lake found a .38-caliber pistol in Sterlings right front pocket, and that Sterling was shot six times, each bullet from Salmonis gun. The encounter lasted less than 90 seconds. Landry also said In the report that Sterling had drugs in his system. Landrys office said those drugs included opioids and cocaine. Advertisement It is reasonable that Mr. Sterling was under the influence and that contributed to his noncompliance, Landry said. The findings from Landrys office were similar to those of the Department of Justice, which sought to determine if officers had violated Sterlings civil rights and whether the shooting was justified. It was the first investigation into a high-profile police shooting completed in the Trump administration under Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Given the totality of the circumstances that the officers had been fighting with Sterling and had attempted less-than-lethal methods of control; that they knew Sterling had a weapon; that Sterling had reportedly brandished a gun at another person; and that Sterling was much larger and stronger than either officer, the department cannot prove either that the shots were unconstitutional or that they were willful, the department said last year in a statement. At the time of that announcement, Sterling family attorney Chris Stewart said Department of Justice officials told the family that the investigation found that Salamoni pointed a gun at Sterlings head and said, Ill kill you, bitch. Advertisement Sterling family members said Tuesday that they would continue arguing their case through a wrongful death civil lawsuit filed last year against the two officers, the police department and the city of Baton Rouge. The suit says poor training and improper police practices left the officers ill-equipped to respond to the 911 call and that the shooting was part of a racist pattern of excessive use of force. The officers have been on paid leave since the shooting. Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has focused on the Sterling case, also said they were disappointed in decision. We continue to mourn the brutal murder of Alton Sterling, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, a cofounder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, said in a statement. Black people continue to be betrayed by this country, a country that claims liberty and freedom for all, yet continues to allow for the murders of black people with impunity. The shooting was among a string of fatal incidents involving police in July 2016. Advertisement The day after Sterling was shot, the police shooting in Minnesota of Philando Castile set off protests after his girlfriend streamed a live broadcast on Facebook of Castile bleeding to death in the front seat of his car. Castile, who was 32 and black, was pulled over by an officer outside St. Paul. Castile told the officer he had a weapon, which he was licensed to carry. The officer opened fire, he testified later, when he thought Castile was reaching for the gun. Last June, the officer who shot Castile, Jeronimo Yanez, who is Latino, was acquitted of all charges in the shooting, including second-degree murder. The day after Castiles shooting, five police officers in Dallas were fatally shot by an Army-trained sniper during a protest over police shootings. The 25-year-old shooter, Micah Johnson, was black. Police said he left a trail of evidence that he wanted to kill white officers in retaliation for police shootings of black men. Officers responding to the shooting killed Johnson. Ten days later, three officers were shot dead in Baton Rouge by 29-year-old Gavin Long. The former Marine, who was black, had a history of online ramblings in which he described violence as the solution to the oppression of black Americans. Long was also killed by responding police officers. Advertisement jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com Twitter: @jaweedkaleem UPDATES: 1:10 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting. Advertisement This article was originally published at 8:35 a.m. The footage looks unremarkable a balding man sitting slouched at a video poker machine. The same man walking in a hallway with luggage on a carrier. Riding in an elevator. Eating alone. Unremarkable except that the figure in the video was Stephen Paddock, the man who ultimately settled in on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and opened fire down below at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on the night of Oct. 1, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds of others. Released by MGM International Resorts, it was just one more glimpse into the largest mass shooting in modern American history. But hundreds of hours of 911 calls and body-camera footage from police during the rampage remain unreleased. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has fought the release of those items in court for months much as they fought the unsealing of search warrants related to Paddock after the shooting. State and federal judges ultimately ruled against the department and ordered hundreds of pages of search warrants be unsealed. Advertisement Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock in the Mandalay Bay hotel, followed by a bellhop. (Associated Press ) Last week, as MGM released its security camera footage and still images of Paddock, lawyers for Las Vegas police were arguing in court against the request of media outlets including the Los Angeles Times for police body-camera footage and 911 recordings made the night of the shooting. The tug of war has resulted in police asking for and being granted a new judge to hear the case after another judge ordered the release of the requested items. In the meantime, the material except for some edited video that was released days after the shooting remains off-limits to the media. Jackie Nichols, a lawyer for the police department, wrote in her brief last week that District Court Judge Richard Scottis March 2 ruling was clearly erroneous because the governments interest in non-disclosure significantly outweighs any interest the public has in access. The department, when ordered to comply with the public records requests, also cited a heavy toll on manpower and said reproducing the records would be a burdensome endeavor. According to the department, there is almost 750 hours of body-camera footage that would require review and the redaction of some items, a process that could take as long as six months to complete. There were also 2,000 calls related to the shooting, police said, and the department has only three analysts qualified to oversee redactions on 911 calls. The department also argued in briefs that the material is extremely graphic and it is against LVMPD policy to assign a single person to review. Police department lawyers estimate there are also 1,500 documents related to the shooting. According to the brief, the department said these documents will likely contain personal information that will require redaction. Like much of the other information requested, this will require employees to review and redact personal, identifiable information, requiring significant use of personnel. Police said the cost could approach $500,000 to provide copies of all the material a figure Scotti dismissed as unreasonable. Advertisement Barry Smith, executive director of the Nevada Press Assn., said it was hard to see how police could argue there wasnt compelling interest in the largest mass shooting in modern American history. Further, he said, there isnt an active investigation by Las Vegas police, given that Paddock killed himself in the hotel room. Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock in the casino at Mandalay Bay. (Associated Press ) That is really the only excuse for withholding any information or delaying its release an active investigation, Smith said. Even then, you should make some argument beyond that why the release of the information will hurt you and that isnt a line of thinking we get to see. In this case, there appears to be zero reason for withholding any public information. Justin Shiroff, one of the attorneys arguing for the release of court records and representing media clients including the Los Angeles Times argued Friday at a hearing before District Court Judge Stefaney Miley that there are items within police records that arent controversial, could be easily turned over and that releasing that material should start immediately. Advertisement MGM Resorts, in a statement, said it decided to release its security camera footage last week in the interest of providing greater context around Stephen Paddocks actions in the days leading up to October 1. As the security footage demonstrates, Stephen Paddock gave no indication of what he planned to do and his interactions with staff and overall behavior were all normal, MGM spokeswoman Debra DeShong wrote. MGM and Mandalay Bay could not reasonably foresee that a longtime guest with no known history of threats or violence and behaving in a manner that appeared outwardly normal would carry out such an inexplicably evil, violent and deadly act. Craig Eiland, an attorney representing several victims in the shooting, said the video footage provided valuable information that there werent enough security measures in place. There was no attempt to smuggle his assault weapons, because it wasnt necessary. He was open and obvious, Eiland said in an email. He knew that Mandalay Bay wasnt looking, therefore, they wouldnt find his 21 assault rifles or ammunition. No security system, no detection, no training. There are red flags throughout the video. Advertisement With the volume of mass shootings in recent years, its been a mixed bag in terms of how long it takes for police departments to release 911 calls of video footage. After the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., police were sued for the release of 911 calls, and it took a court order to make them public about five months after 49 people were killed in 2016. In Newtown, Conn., 911 calls were made public almost a year after the 2012 massacre that left 26 people dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In both cases, neither shooter survived though Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen, is currently standing trial on charges she aided her husband in the Pulse attack. Advertisement In Aurora, Colo., where James E. Holmes killed 12 people at a movie theater in 2012, the 911 calls were public in just more than a week. Holmes survived and stood trial. Last month, when 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., 911 calls and surveillance video were released about three weeks later, though an attorney representing the media said he was not convinced all the surveillance video had been released. The Parkland shooter was taken into custody and is awaiting trial. Interest in the information was high, and arguments for not releasing it came down to whether the material would present a danger to law enforcement by exposing tactics and techniques or assist in providing tools for how to improve responses to such tragedies. The next court hearing for the release of 911 calls and body-camera footage in Las Vegas is set for late April six months after the shooting. Advertisement david.montero@latimes.com Twitter: @davemontero A man suspected of sending homemade explosive devices to 11 government facilities in the Washington, D.C., area has been charged in the case. Thanh Cong Phan, 43, was arrested Monday evening at his home in Everett, Wash., by local and federal law enforcement agencies. He appeared Tuesday in a federal courtroom in Seattle, charged with one count of shipment of explosive materials. The criminal complaint alleges that he sent them through the U.S. mail on March 16 from Mill Creek, a Seattle suburb. Phans next scheduled court appointment is a detention hearing Friday afternoon. Several of the suspicious packages arrived Monday morning at government installations in and around the nations capital, including Ft. Lesley J. McNair, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Ft. Belvoir, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, FBI headquarters and CIA headquarters. Advertisement Each package contained what appeared to be a homemade device built from a glass vial or bottle, an explosive powder, a fuse and a small GPS unit, according to the complaint. The FBI said in a statement the packages were potential destructive devices. The National Defense University, located at Ft. McNair, was evacuated after a suspicious package arrived there around 8:30 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from Army spokesman Michael Howard. Attached to the packages were incoherent notes that resembled writings Phan had mailed in the past, authorities said. The packages contained typewritten letters with ramblings about neuropsychology, mind control and other subjects including terrorism, the complaint said. No injuries or explosions were reported. A motive for the incident has not been disclosed, though officials ruled out any connection to terrorism. The packages were recovered and taken to the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va. It is possible that further packages were mailed to additional mail processing facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, said a statement from the FBI, which is continuing its investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said Tuesday: Weve had nobody injured and all those packages and all the evidence is accessible and in the hands of the FBI right now. The suspicious packages arrived a week after Hafiz Kazi, an immigrant and longtime legal U.S. resident who lived in the Bay Area, drove a burning minivan with tanks of propane and cans of gasoline through the gates of Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif. He died in the van, and his motive remains a mystery. Advertisement The swiftness of Phans arrest stood in sharp contrast to the three-week hunt for a serial bomber who terrorized the Austin area for three weeks this month, killing two people and injuring five others. The suspect in that case, Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, killed himself with an explosive device March 21 as he evaded police in a car pursuit. michael.livingston@latimes.com @Livingston_LAT Advertisement UPDATES: 6:40 p.m.: This article was updated with the suspects name, the charge against him and additional details. This article was originally published at 9:55 a.m. President Trump signed the $1.3-trillion omnibus spending deal on Friday, averting another government shutdown. Written largely in secret and passed without any time to read its 2,232 pages, the bill violated pretty much everything the GOP had promised about reforming the process of legislating. But the sausage was even uglier than the sausage-making. For conservatives, with the exception of a large increase in defense spending, the bill is a hot mess. It raises discretionary spending 13%, advances almost no GOP domestic priorities and fulfills many Democratic ones. Theres a pittance for border security and some new fencing, but nothing for the presidents coveted big, beautiful wall. It was reportedly this fact that prompted Trump to tweet a veto threat on Friday morning, sending White House and Hill staffers scrambling. Then, in a shambolic press conference cum signing ceremony later that day, he grudgingly said hed sign what he called crazy legislation. But, he added, he would never sign another bill like this again. The key message of the day: Its not my fault! Advertisement So whose fault was it? Those back-stabbing blackguards of the Beltway. Total betrayal by the Senate and House leadership, said Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, one of Trumps most reliable unofficial spokeswomen. The president and the people who voted for him have been betrayed by Speaker Paul Ryan and Leader Mitch McConnell. And the people in Kentucky and Wisconsin need to make sure that these guys are defeated in the next election so this president can carry on the agenda that we elected him to do. Trump agreed to, lobbied for, and signed into law the budget framework for the legislation in February. Pirro went on: Folks, I want to be real clear: This is not on Donald Trump. This is on the leadership of the Republican Party, the very people this president should be able to count on. In truth, the president is surrounded by inept, incompetent warriors. And this bill is a reflection of just that. Its interesting when people who insist that Trump is the greatest negotiator in history and the most farsighted three-dimensional chess player since Commander Spock also insist that he got rolled. But that is the new party line, apparently, and it must be toed. The president was really sold a bill of goods here, Trump confidante Chris Ruddy told the Washington Post. Theres just one problem: Its a lie. Or to be more charitable, its untrue, even if those saying it believe it. A source who was involved in drafting the bill tells me that the White House was in the loop on the negotiations. Trumps legislative affairs director, Marc Short, signed off on the deal and seemed to be as surprised as anyone by the veto threat. The president was briefed on the major pieces all along. And lets not forget: Trump agreed to, lobbied for, and signed into law the budget framework for the legislation in February. Advertisement Why the lie? Undoubtedly for some people, its too hard to process the idea that the president deserves blame or is out of his depth. Many of the same people decrying all the wasteful spending in the bill havent noted that Trumps stated reason for threatening a veto was that it didnt spend more on a wall or include a fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. But cognitive dissonance is only part of the story. This stabbed-in-the-back narrative Dolchstoss in German is not merely a cynical excuse for letting Trump off the hook. It also lays essential groundwork for Trump to escape blame if the GOP loses the House in the 2018 midterms. Its worth recalling the political climate the week before the omnibus was released. Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb had just won a special election deep in Pennsylvanias Trump country, and the air was thick with predictions that the GOP would get crushed in November. Despite a booming economy, anti-Trump sentiment was fueling a Democratic wave. The Dolchstoss myth solves that problem. Amy Kremer, founder of the super PAC Women Vote Trump, and countless others have insisted that betrayal not Trump is why the GOP will lose in November. Advertisement Conservative discontent over the omnibus bill will surely make things harder for the GOP, and for the president. But the most important priority has been saved: The ability to say Trump is not to blame. jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: After reading the California section of the Los Angeles Times today I experienced an epiphany. Page B1 contained an article about the failure of California to provide homes for the homeless even though money had been allotted for that purpose, and page B2 contained an article quoting Gov. Jerry Brown eloquently defending the cost of his high-speed rail program. Obviously Browns plan is to reserve passage for the homeless on the trains out of the sight of any NIMBY liberals, paid for with travel vouchers drawn on the funds already allotted for the homeless. (Billions of dollars to help Californias homeless population are piling up and going unspent, March 25) When Brown criticized President Carter 30 years ago for advocating putting ballistic missiles on rails to protect them from Soviet attack little did we know that the rapid transit system for ballistic missiles would evolve into the high-speed rail system for the homeless. Sidney Tinberg, Ventura Advertisement .. To the editor: Re: Laguna Niguel Mayor Elaine Gennaweys callous comment that she was stunned that the County contemplated sheltering homeless people near where innocent children play, calling it, a public safety tragedy waiting to happen: Wake up, Ms. Gennawey. When did the homeless stop being the public, and since when did their safety become secondary to those who are fortunate enough to have permanent housing? The public safety tragedy is here, playing out daily in front of our eyes, and innocent children are living on the streets. Maybe if we allow our very blessed children to actually live close enough to witness their plight, they will grow up to live lives of compassionate action, and put to shame those whose consciences have fallen asleep. Sheila Gilmore, Irvine .. To the editor: Lili Graham, director of litigation for the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, thinks it would be better to let the homeless return to the Santa Ana River bed. Of course everyone in Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Laguna Niguel would approve. After all, as Ms. Graham notes, Someone in Laguna Niguel, Irvine, or Huntington Beach would never understand what some of these men and women go through. Maybe its time they do. Leslie Kato, Santa Ana .. Advertisement To the editor: Build it and they will come. The more you subsidize homelessness, the more homeless there will be. If the price of a valuable product is zero, the demand will be infinite. Youre only seeing the beginning. Whenever someone sets up a shelter on public property, they have privatized it for their own usage. The only way to limit the homeless problem is by requiring people to give something back for that privilege. Boris DeWiel, Prince George, Canada Follow the Opinion section on Twitter and Facebook. Gavin Newsom releases ad that highlights his push to allow same-sex couples to marry By Phil Willon A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom features Phyllis Lyon, who with her partner, Del Martin, received the first marriage license after Newsom vowed to allow same-sex couples to marry when he was mayor of San Francisco in 2004. The current lieutenant governors push for marriage equality thrust him into the national spotlight and he has emphasized that effort to portray himself as a bold, progressive leader. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print All Californians would be able to serve on state boards even people in the U.S. illegally under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date May 5 reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated and thus not independent expenditures when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians and potential voters on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes a Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) The government's top lawyer has criticized Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for dragging other justices' names in a bid to dismiss a petition to oust her. In his 64-page reply to Sereno's earlier comment, Solicitor General Jose Calida said the argument that other justices also failed to file all of their statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) is "absolutely of no relevance" to the quo warranto petition against her. A quo warranto is a legal proceeding where an individual's right to hold office is challenged. Calida in his petition wants the Supreme Court to void Sereno's appointment over her failure to file SALNs for 10 years before she applied for the Chief Justice post in 2012. "The fact remains that these other candidates were not appointed to the position of Chief Justice, respondent was," Calida said in a response submitted to the Supreme Court on Tuesday. He said Sereno must stick to the merits of her own defense and prove her integrity before the high court. In her March 20 comment on Calida's quo warranto petition, Sereno said the submission of all SALNs to the Judicial Bar and Council (JBC) was not an "absolute requirement" for those vying for chief justice. She said she was not the only candidate for the position who did not submit all asset declarations to the JBC. She specifically named fellow justices, Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, and retired Justices Arturo Brion and Roberto Abad as among those who failed to submit one or more SALNs. Calida noted that the JBC has since issued certifications that Carpio and De Castro "submitted all their SALNs." Sereno's camp in a statement maintained that when they applied for the chief justice post in 2012, Carpio could only submit three out of five SALNs as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel of then President Fidel Ramos from 1992-1996. De Castro, meanwhile, could only submit 15 out of 39 SALNs. The certification issued by the JBC on March 23 at Carpio's request showed it has records of Carpio's SALNs from 1992 to 1994 only, and from 2001-2011, the years Carpio was in public office. The JBC on Monday also said it has 15 of De Castro's SALNs on record, from 1997-2011. Carpio and De Castro, like Sereno, were deemed by the JBC to have "substantially complied" to the SALN requirement, said Josa Deinla, one of Sereno's spokespersons. Deinla added: "The fact that JBC waived its requirement of submission of all previous SALNs proves that "there is no basis for the quo warranto petition against CJ Sereno." Questioning Sereno's integrity Calida maintained that Sereno's integrity has been marred by issues on her SALNs, and reiterated his call for the Surpeme Court to remove her from office. "Viewed from any perspective, respondent lacks one of the indispensable qualification for the office of the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines. Her ouster from office should follow as a matter of course," Calida said. He stressed that the filing of SALNs is required of any public official under the Constitution and Republic Act no. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. "The SALN is not a mere formal requirement that respondent can just choose to lightly brush aside. It is demanded by no less than the 1987 Constitution," Calida said. He also alleged that Sereno committed "perjurious acts" in her SALNs, such as filing them late and putting wrong information. Sereno's camp has said the Chief Justice accurately declared all her income. The embattled chief justice who is also facing an impeachment case said she would present all her recovered SALNs before the Senate impeachment court. At least three groups, including minority lawmakers, have filed interventions before the Supreme Court seeking the dismissal of the petition to oust Sereno. The Trump administrations plan to ask everyone in America whether they are U.S. citizens as part of the 2020 census could cost California billions of dollars and a seat in Congress, state officials warn. Whether California and other big, urban states that face similar effects can do anything about it remains to be seen. They are rushing to court to challenge the administrations authority to tack onto the survey a question that hasnt been tested in decades. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra warned the addition of the question could translate into several million people not being counted. Legal scholars say California and its allies face a tough fight. The decision to add a single question on the census, which the administration announced late Monday night, may seem an obscure matter, but it could give the Trump administration another lever to shift power and federal resources away from blue states toward red ones, much as happened with the recent tax law changes that disproportionately favored voters in Republican regions. Advertisement The move was met with anger and protest from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups. Sen. Dianne Feinstein called it designed to depress participation in certain communities and an assault on the foundations of this country. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, whose department oversees the census, made the decision despite a warning from six former Census Bureau directors, who served Republicans and Democrats, that the citizenship question could undermine the credibility of the count and discourage participation. The census, which takes place every 10 years, hasnt asked every person living in America about citizenship since 1950. Thats in large part because of concern that asking the question would discourage not just noncitizens, but also their families from participating. The result of adding the question could be a significant undercount of the population in states with large numbers of immigrants, such as California. Most of those states have Democratic majorities. Although some Republican states, such as Texas, have large immigrant populations and could be hurt by an undercount, most majority-Republican states have relatively fewer immigrants than the rest of the nation. The main purpose of the $12.5-billion census effort is to get an accurate count of population for divvying up House seats among the states. The count also drives how the government distributes money from some of its biggest programs, such as Medicaid. The Constitution provides for an actual enumeration of population every 10 years and provides that Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state. That clause has been interpreted throughout U.S. history as referring to a states entire population, including both citizens and noncitizens, although some conservatives in recent years have challenged that. California filed its suit immediately. Advertisement The state of California, in particular, stands to lose if the citizenship question is included, said the complaint filed by Becerra late Monday in federal district court in San Francisco. Undercounting the sizable number of Californian noncitizens and their citizen relatives will imperil the States fair share of congressional seats and Electoral College electors and will cost the state billions of dollars in federal funding over the next decade. It is long settled that all persons residing in the United States citizens and noncitizens alike must be counted to fulfill the Constitutions actual Enumeration mandate, the complaint said. The states prospects for success could hinge not on the broad constitutional question, but on whether courts agree that the new question was added so haphazardly that it threatens to undermine the entire count, legal experts said. Advertisement It is unprecedented to include a major change in the census this close to when the forms are going to go out, said Nathaniel Persily, a Stanford law professor and census scholar. The question would not get the years of vetting that typically go into the survey, he said. This is a pretty radical change at a pretty late date, he added. Kenneth Prewitt, who ran the Census Bureau from 1998 to 2001 and now teaches at Columbia University, agreed. We have all kinds of agreements and law about pre-testing questions and submitting them for public comment, he said. This is just being added without all that. Advertisement Making the case that the question is fundamentally unconstitutional, by contrast, could be tough. UC Irvine law professor Rick Hasen said the state will be hard pressed to prove a citizenship question makes an accurate count of all people in the country impossible. Trumps Department of Justice had asked to have the citizenship question included, saying the information was critical to its enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The agency said the information was needed to get an accurate tally of the voting populations in regions where violations of the law were alleged. Democrats challenged that rationale. Asking the citizenship question on the census is not critical to enforcing the Voting Rights Act, former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. said in a statement. Make no mistake this decision is motivated purely by politics. Advertisement Ross wrote in a letter to his agency Monday that adding the question would enable the federal government to get more accurate data, which is of greater importance than any adverse effect that may result from people violating their legal duty to respond. He added that there was no definitive, empirical support for the belief that asking about citizenship would discourage people from responding to the census. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters inaccurately that the citizenship question had been part of every census since 1965 and only got removed in the last survey, during the Obama administration. While citizenship questions have been included in other Census Bureau surveys since 1950, they have not been in the full census. If the question does lead to an undercount, the effects could be profound. The census is used to allocate nearly $700 billion in federal money. As many as 16 states are positioned to either lose or gain a congressional seat, depending on the census results. California could lose even more than one seat if all the immigrants in the state illegally were to opt out of the census. Advertisement California has 53 seats in the House, the largest delegation of any state. But it is already at risk of losing one of them to states whose populations have grown faster over the last decade. The census results also factor into how political districts are drawn within California. The states population is already one of the most difficult to count, according to the Public Policy institute of California. About 75% of Californians belong to groups that the census historically has undercounted, including Latinos, African Americans and renters. As lawmakers battled over the Trump administration plan and lawsuits were filed, longtime stewards of the census were disheartened to see the count suddenly engulfed by so much partisanship. It has always been above that kind of polarization, said Prewitt. I worry the census will suffer long-term damage. Advertisement Times staff writers Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento and Sarah Wire in Los Angeles contributed to this report. To read this article in Spanish click here evan.halper@latimes.com Advertisement Follow me: @evanhalper UPDATES: 2:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction to the administrations decision and Californias lawsuit. This article as originally published at 7:55 a.m. 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 The FBIs race to hack into the cellphone of slain San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook was hindered by poor internal communication, but officials did not mislead Congress about their technological capabilities, according to an inspector generals report released Tuesday. After the December 2015 terror attack, the FBI waged a high-profile public fight to force Apple Inc. to unlock the iPhone, even going to court in a case that pitted national security against digital privacy. The watchdog report opens a window into the shadowy units inside the FBI that try to hack into computers, and the internal tensions between technicians engaged in national security investigations and those working on criminal cases. One official was unhappy after the bureau hired an outside technology company to help it unlock the phone, the report said, because that undercut the legal battle against Apple. Advertisement Why did you do that for? the report quotes the official as saying. More than two years after the struggle over Farooks phone, the FBI says the problem of encrypted devices is more difficult than ever. The method used to hack Farooks iPhone 5c which cost the FBI more than $1 million quit working as soon as Apple updated the phones. In 2017, the FBI was unable to access data on 7,775 devices seized in investigations, according to director Christopher Wray. This problem impacts our investigations across the board, Wray said in January at a speech at a cybersecurity conference, calling it an urgent public safety issue. On Dec. 2, 2015, Farook, a health department worker for San Bernardino County, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, attacked a holiday party for Farooks co-workers, killing 14 people and injuring many others. The couple was killed in a shootout with police. The FBI, trying to figure out whether anyone else was involved in the plot, thought that Farooks county government-issued cellphone might have the answer. In February, the bureau announced that its technicians were unable to get into the iPhone, which they feared had been set up with a security feature by Farook that would permanently destroy encrypted data after 10 unsuccessful login attempts. The bureau asked Apple to write software that would disarm that security feature, allowing agents to keep trying codes until one worked, but the company refused. Tim Cook, the companys CEO, said such a backdoor could compromise security for Apple customers. [T]he U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create, he said in a statement at the time. Advertisement The dispute ended up in federal court, as the government sought an order forcing Apple to comply. Then-FBI Director James B. Comey, in testimony to Congress on Feb. 9 and March 1, 2016, said the bureau was unable to get into the phone without Apples help. Amy Hess, then the FBIs executive assistant director in charge of the technology division, said the same thing in her testimony. But inside the bureau, even though top officials had ordered a full court press, not everybody was working on the problem, the inspector general found. The digital forensic experts at the bureaus Cryptographic and Electronic Analysis Unit had tried and failed to get into the phone. But the leader of another squad, the Remote Operations Unit, said he never learned about the issue until a staff meeting in February. He started contacting the units stable of hackers to see whether anybody had a solution. Advertisement That supervisor said he believed he wasnt asked for help sooner because the FBI had a line in the sand that blocked the units classified hacking techniques from being used in domestic criminal cases. He said this dividing line between criminal and national security became part of the culture in [the technology division] and inhibited communication, the report says. Other officials told the inspector general that no such line existed. As it happened, the report found, one of the bureaus hacking outfits had been working on cracking the iPhone for months and was close to a solution. The FBI called off the court fight on March 28, saying it no longer needed Apples help. Advertisement The FBI eventually found that Farooks phone had information only about work and revealed nothing about the plot. After the outside vendor surfaced, the cryptographic unit chief became frustrated that the case against Apple could no longer go forward, the report says. Hess said the bureau had viewed the Farook phone as the poster child case that could help it win the larger political struggle to access encrypted devices. The inspector generals inquiry began after Hess reported concerns about the internal conflicts and said she was worried that FBI staff had deliberately kept quiet about their capabilities and allowed Comey and her to give false testimony to Congress. That wasnt the case, the inspector general found, because the bureau hadnt figured out how to crack the phone at the time of those hearings. Through a spokesman, Hess, now special agent in charge of the FBIs Louisville office, declined to comment. Advertisement The FBI said it agreed with the recommendations in the report and said it is now setting up a new unit to consolidate resources and improve communication between people working on encryption issues. Communications problems also were addressed through a change in leadership of the units involved, the bureau said. To read this article in Spanish click here joseph.tanfani@latimes.com Twitter: @jtanfani Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is calling for the repeal of the 2nd Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The 97-year-old Stevens says in an essay on The New York Times website that repeal would weaken the National Rifle Assn.'s ability to block constructive gun control legislation. Stevens was on the losing end of a 2008 ruling in which the high court held that the 2nd Amendment gives individuals the right to own a gun for self-defense. He had previously called for changing the 2nd Amendment to permit gun control. Stevens says the decision in that case, District of Columbia v. Heller, has provided the N.R.A. with a propaganda weapon of immense power. Stevens retired from the court in 2010, after more than 35 years. A Pasadena man will spend more than 10 years behind bars for a series of bank robberies he committed last year in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, including a U.S. Bank in Burbank, federal authorities announced Monday. Shownee Shon Smith, dubbed the Dual Valley Bandit by law enforcement, will be required to pay $20,285 in restitution in addition to serving his 125-month prison sentence. From May to June, the U.S. attorneys office said Smith, 41, committed six robberies in Pasadena, South Pasadena, North Hollywood, Tarzana, Woodland Hills and Burbank. In each case, he would hand a bank employee a threatening note demanding cash. He was eventually arrested on June 10, immediately after attempting to rob a South Pasadena Wells Fargo at gunpoint. Authorities reportedly recovered a loaded shotgun and over $4,000 in cash. In a criminal complaint filed against Smith after his arrest, FBI special agent Catherine Moore said Smith had confessed to officers that he committed the robberies after finding himself in debt. He had lost his home and business, due to money problems, and his landlord was going to evict him, Moore said in the June 14 complaint. Smith also confessed that he unsuccessfully tried to rob several other banks in Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks and Encino. In the Burbank robbery, Moore said Smith got away with $700. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc One person suffered from smoke inhalation and a dog was rescued after a Burbank home caught fire early Saturday morning, authorities said. The Burbank Fire Department responded to a fire in the 2600 block of Chandler Boulevard around 3:15 a.m. Battalion Chief John Owings, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement the fire was in the homes kitchen area. Firefighters extinguished the flames within five minutes of arriving and rescued the homeowners dog, he said. There were no other injuries reported from the scene apart from the homeowners smoke inhalation. The fires cause is still under investigation. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc Costa Mesa City Council members will hold a special meeting Wednesday to discuss a concept an Orange County supervisor and a state senator unveiled last week for using part of the Fairview Developmental Center property in Costa Mesa as an emergency homeless shelter. The meeting will start at 5 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 W. 19th St. An official agenda had not been released as of late Monday afternoon. Though a concrete plan hasnt been announced, Supervisor Shawn Nelson and state Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) floated the idea Friday that the 114-acre, state-owned property at 2501 Harbor Blvd. is an intriguing shelter possibility because its centrally located and already has infrastructure that could be used to house and provide services to the homeless. If we can find a campus to address a significant need in this county that we can rally around, then this is one of those opportunities that we just dont want to let pass by, Moorlach said in an interview Friday. For weeks, county leaders have been grappling with how to house hundreds of homeless people who were recently evicted from encampments along the Santa Ana River. The move to clear those camps prompted homeless advocates to file a federal lawsuit. County supervisors approved a plan last week to eventually move former riverbed residents many of whom are currently staying in motels to temporary shelters in Huntington Beach, Irvine and Laguna Niguel. But leaders in Irvine and Laguna Niguel have voted to sue the county over the shelter plan, and Huntington Beach officials have pushed against the plan for a location there. Fairview Developmental Center opened in 1959 and currently provides services and housing to 133 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to the California Department of Developmental Services. Like similar facilities around the state, Fairview is scheduled to close as part of an effort to transition people out of institutional-style centers and into smaller accommodations that are more integrated into communities. The goal is to move Fairviews remaining residents to other living options by 2019, according to the state. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney Following a month-long delay, the latest medical marijuana business proposed for Costa Mesa cleared a major hurdle Monday when the Planning Commission awarded two necessary permits. The commission voted unanimously to grant conditional use permits for Se7enLeaf LLC to operate manufacturing and distribution facilities in two units, M101 and L3, totaling almost 6,700 square feet at 3505 Cadillac Ave. Se7enLeaf is the seventh business to win commission approval under Measure X a voter-approved initiative allowing firms that research, test, process and manufacture some medical marijuana products to open in a specified area north of South Coast Drive and west of Harbor Boulevard. When they first reviewed the permit applications last month, commissioners raised concerns with Se7enLeafs proposal to move cannabis products between the two locations on Cadillac, which are roughly 120 feet apart. On Monday, Se7enLeaf representatives gave a detailed presentation highlighting the security, safety and monitoring procedures they will use such as video surveillance and alarm and tracking systems to ensure no issues arise. Commissioners said the additional information helped alleviate their original concerns. Im comfortable enough and convinced enough that the transport between the buildings isnt a huge issue, said commission Vice Chairman Byron de Arakal. Well watch it closely, but I dont want to be unfair to these guys. Prior to opening, Se7enLeaf representatives still must obtain city fire prevention, finance and building safety approvals as well as finalize its medical marijuana business permits and business license. They also will need state approval. Pacific Shores denied permit In other business, commissioners unanimously denied a conditional use permit for Pacific Shores Recovery, which sought to continue operating a sober-living home with up to 46 residents at 200, 202, 204 and 206 Cabrillo St. Their reasoning was that Pacific Shores did not comply with the citys requirement that group homes, licensed alcohol and drug treatment facilities and sober-living homes which typically house recovering alcohol and drug addicts be at least 650 feet from one another in residential areas. There are at least three such facilities within that distance of the Pacific Shores site, according to city staff. The commissions decisions on the Pacific Shores and Se7enLeaf permits are final unless appealed to the City Council within seven days. Seabreeze development amendment delayed The bulk of the meeting was devoted to a proposal from residents in the Westside California Seabreeze tract to amend the developments master plan to give residents there the option of building third-floor additions and rooftop decks on their existing homes. Supporters in Seabreeze a cluster of 92 homes located at the western end of West 18th Street said the change would allow them to develop additional private outdoor open space, which is in short supply, and afford them the same ocean views their neighbors in the adjacent Sea House community enjoy. However, Sea House residents turned out in force and urged the commission to reject the proposal, saying additional building on top of the Seabreeze homes would invade their privacy, spoil their views and likely reduce their property values. After a lengthy discussion, the commission voted 3-2 with de Arakal and Commissioner Carla Navarro Woods opposed to continue the item to a future meeting, with the hope that the applicant will further refine the proposal to address the concerns. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney I frequently write about kids, and a lot of them have had a great deal to say to the rest of us lately. So I decided to listen. Last weekend I attended one of the March for Our Lives rallies to observe and ask questions. It was a cool, breezy day in Santa Ana, but the sky was a brilliant blue and the air felt fresh from the recent rains as thousands of marchers many carrying signs emblazoned with messages advocating for gun control descended on Centennial Regional Park. The event was one of hundreds held across the country that were organized to honor the victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting in February, as well as other victims of gun violence, and to call for increased gun regulations. I saw people of all ages and races. There were parents, grandparents, teachers and civil servants. Politicians mingled and some spoke to the crowd. Adults who had lost loved ones to gun violence choked through tears to tell their stories. But I was there to see the kids and hear what they had to say. I share a few takeaways from that experience. The first thought I was struck with is that I was witnessing a new generation of leaders. Not future leaders. They are, unmistakably, the leaders of today. You might not agree with their goals, but there is no escaping the conclusion that these young people have harnessed the energy of their peers and won the respect of their like-minded elders, all of whom seem quite comfortable taking their cues from the student leaders. In every visible way these kids were front and center. They organized and led the march and massed together at the front of the rally. This was their day, and they were completely in charge. As one young speaker said, Our generation will lead the way. Another captured the raw emotion of the crowd with his impassioned plea: I should not be afraid to go to school. My next observation was that, boy oh boy, these kids are articulate. In one speech after another, and in interviews with young participants, I was impressed by the students composure and clear-eyed statements of their feelings and objectives. They came armed with statistics and arguments that would stand out at any debate team competition. After rattling off a series of data points, one Northwood High School student who addressed the gathering delivered this reflection about the U.S. Constitution: The words well regulated are there for a reason. Another thing I noticed about the kids who were there to protest is that they appear to know exactly what they want. They are leaving no gray area, no reason to misunderstand their motives. They have offered point-by-point calls for gun control legislation, and seem to understand better than many adults how to employ effective methods of organizing, communicating, and generating support. They also seem to understand very well the power of the ballot box, as the message was repeated over and over that they will be mobilizing voters and will only back political candidates that will fight for their priorities. My final observation regarding the young people involved in this effort is that they arent going to give up. At the rally last weekend, I had the distinct impression that what we are witnessing isnt a momentary flare-up of painful feelings and improbable objectives. Again, whether you agree with these kids or not, theres no denying that they have started a movement built to endure and which cannot be ignored. At a very young age, they are behaving like seasoned veterans, ready to dig in for a long fight. They appeared unbowed and unafraid of the criticism that is coming at them. The signs in the crowd were particularly telling. Many adults offered slogan-style messages of the Books Not Bullets variety. The kids signs, however, were generally more visceral, more gut-punching in their impact, such as I Should Feel Lucky That I Get to Go to School, Not That I Get to Come Home, or Am I Next? A few were even pithy, like one frequently photographed sign that read Fix It Or We Stop Explaining Technology 2 U. History has taught us again and again that young people on a mission can change the world, whether the world is ready for them or not. From the Vietnam War protest movement to the campus-based divestment campaign against apartheid South Africa, students mobilizing in righteous anger have shown themselves to be a powerful force. We dismiss them at our own peril. PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach. A woman in her late 70s suffered several broken bones on Sunday when a large oak tree fell on top of her while she was out for a walk through a Glendale neighborhood, authorities said. The incident occurred around 12:20 p.m. in the 3900 block of El Lado Drive, according to Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department. He said the womans left hand and both her legs were broken as a result. For the record: An earlier version of this story had incorrect information about tree maintenance in the city. A nearby car was also damaged. Stephanie Ghyia, who lives across from the tree, said she and her family were coming home from church when they heard a large rushing sound. She said her husband, two sons and a neighbor tried to lift the tree off the woman, but it wouldnt budge. I then told my husband to go get a jack to lift the tree but it was so heavy that even that couldnt lift it, she said. Ghyia said she tried to make the woman feel comfortable before help arrived by giving her a pillow and blanket. Anita Shandi, a spokeswoman for the Glendale Fire Department, said firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and were able to free the woman from underneath the tree. She was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The incident left Ghyia worried about the other trees in her neighborhood. She said she hasnt seen any officials from the city or county come out and trim the trees in the six years shes lived in the neighborhood. Tom Lorenz, a spokesman for the city of Glendale, said an arborist will be hired by the city to find out the cause of the fall and study other open-space trees that are near residential areas. If its close enough to the sidewalk, were going to take a hard look at it, he said. But our main concern is for the health and well-being of the woman that was hit by the tree. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc (CNN) Fire exits were blocked and an alarm system was turned off in the Russian shopping center where 64 people died in a huge fire, officials said. Russia's Investigative Committee said four people have been detained after it had discovered "serious violations" in its inquiry into the blaze in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, which killed at least 64 people, many of them children. Of 25 bodies that have been formally identified, 13 were children, Russia's Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova told state news agency TASS Tuesday. Around 10 people are still missing after the blaze broke out on Sunday afternoon, when the mall was packed with shoppers and cinema goers. Ten others are in hospital, Vladimir Puchkov, the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations told journalists Monday. "It's just a horror ... it's hard to describe what happened today ... it was a normal day off," said eyewitness Anna Zarechneva on Instagram. She had gone to the cinema at the center with her family to watch the movie Pacific Rim. "Somewhere in the middle of the session the door opened and in the light coming from the hall there was a cry: "Fire! Fire!"," she wrote. Zarechneva described how she grabbed her son while the movie was still playing, her partner Dima following behind. "No-one turned on the light in the hall. No fire alarm to be heard. The crowd broke through one narrow door. The second exit for some reason was closed (and was there a second exit at all?), and the second part of the door was also closed. Having jumped out of the cinema, we saw dense black pungent smoke, which completely filled the children's playground and the 2nd cinema hall - they were completely invisible. There was already no air," she wrote. She said panic nearly broke out as people tried to make their way down the stairs to the screams and cries of children. "Adults fled pushing and crushing children. On the stairs, from time to time, the crowd also panicked, but the men quickly calmed everyone, shouting: "Do not panic! Calm down! We will all go down!". Someone slipped in a hurry and fell on the steps. But someone immediately helped him get back on his feet," she wrote. "Some man shouted that his children were in one of the cinemas. Dima found a hat laying around, put some water on it and tried to get to the hall. But the density of the smoke was so high that the cap simply did not help. "Do you have a gas mask? !!" - he began to ask the distraught guard. But he just spread his hands. The attempt to get to the children was just in vain." Preliminary investigations point to the fire having broken out in the cinema hall area of the four-story Winter Cherry shopping mall in the center of Kemerovo. Among those taken into custody was the technical director of the building's owner, the tenant of the premises where the fire is believed to have started, the head of the organization that was responsible for servicing the fire alarm and one of his employees, the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement. "Serious violations were allowed, both when the shopping center opened and after, during its operation. Fire exits in the shopping center were blocked. The investigation is checking the information regarding other violations," said Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee. Early images from the scene showed thick black smoke pouring from the shopping center, a former sweet factory, as firefighters continued to battle the flames after dark. As around 100 people were evacuated, others were trapped by the fire inside. Witnesses told Russian media they saw people jumping from the windows in desperate efforts to escape. The shopping mall, which has an overall area of 23,000 square meters, opened in 2013. It has a parking lot for 250 cars, shops, a bowling, a children's center, a cinema, and a petting zoo, according to the state news agency, Tass. Rescue workers say they have checked the first and second floors and are checking the third but have had difficultly making it to the fourth floor where the fire is believed to have started. "They can not make it through yet, as the temperature is high there," the first deputy head of the regional department of the Ministry of Emergencies, Evgeny Dedyukhin, told Tass. Sputnik, a state-funded news outlet, reported the head of the city's fire department Sergei Yakovlev as saying the blaze had spread via flammable thermal insulation, making it difficult to put out. It is not yet known how the inferno began. People were gathering at the scene Monday morning to lay flowers and toys, Sputnik reported. Russian officials say 20 psychologists are working with relatives of missing people. A number of world leaders send their condolences to Russia and President Vladimir Putin, including Pope Francis, who sent a telegram. "His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the fire which struck the Winter Cherry complex in Kemerovo, and he offers heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this tragedy," the Pope wrote. "Entrusting the deceased, especially the many children who lost their lives, to the merciful love of God Almighty, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers for all who mourn their loss. With the assurance of his spiritual closeness to the authorities and emergency personnel as they assist the injured and continue their search for the missing, Pope Francis invokes upon all the divine blessings of peace and consolation." German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote: "The people of Germany and I personally have heard about the appalling news regarding the serious fire disaster in Kemerovo which has claimed so many dead and injured people. "We mourn with you. Our thoughts are with the victims and their relatives.'' This story was first published on CNN.com, "Fire exits blocked in Russian shopping mall devastated by blaze." Residents may see and hear an increase in police activity over downtown Glendales airspace on Wednesday as officers will spend several hours training with the departments helicopter. The training will last from 8 a.m. to noon as the officers familiarize themselves on how to deploy from a helicopter. Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department, said the helicopter will travel to several helipads in the downtown area for the exercise. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc A woman suffered a broken nose after her car flipped upside down and crashed into a Glendale Taco Bell early Monday morning, according to police. The incident occurred around 12:20 a.m. when the womans car jumped a curb and collided into the entrance of the restaurant, located at 932 S. Central Ave., according to Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department. The woman was traveling northbound on Central Avenue when a car driving southbound came too close for comfort, he said. She swerved, lost control and ended up going into the Taco Bell parking lot, he said. There is no indication the woman was driving under the influence at the time, according to Suttles. She was eventually released from the scene. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc More than 1,500 Southern California Edison customers living in La Canada went without power for the better part of Thursday, after a tree downed power lines at a home on the 4700 block of Vineta Avenue during a two-day storm. Edison spokeswoman Susan Cox said the outage was initially reported at 4:43 p.m. and affected a total of 1,517 local customers. The incident was reported to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Cox said power was restored by 7:20 a.m. Friday. Additionally, another brief outage occurred Thursday shortly after 2 p.m., when a palm frond interfered with power lines on Burgoyne Lane, north of Baptiste Way. There were 44 customers affected, Cox said Monday. [Crews] had to clear a palm frond from the line. Power was restored to all 44 customers at 3:11 p.m. Another brief outage occurred Thursday when a palm frond interfered with power lines on Burgoyne Lane, north of Baptiste Way. (La Canada Valley Sun ) Meanwhile, about 1.04 inches of rain was recorded at La Canadas Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Thursday and Friday, accompanied by wind gusts up to 18 mph, according to Weather Underground reports. Despite the rainfall, Interim Public Works Director Jesus Armas said in an email interview the citys infrastructure held up pretty well. Wed worked with the county crews in advance of the rains to make sure inlets and other likely flooding locations were cleared of any debris, Armas said. We did experience water backing up on Laughlin Street, near Ocean View Boulevard, due to some debris in the inlet this was quickly cleared and the situation returned to normal. One downed telephone line on Flintridge Oaks Drive, off of Georgian Road, was reported to AT&T, but it was unclear whether service was affected, Armas said. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Frederick Fisher is something of an invisible man among L.A. architects: He creates buildings that are acclaimed by their users but have often gone unnoticed by the world at large. His houses, academic buildings and spaces for making and showing art are all about substance rather than show. Well-proportioned rooms, natural lighting and finely detailed materials enrich ones experience in a subliminal way. So subtle is the architecture, so elusive in the cameras eye, that the forty-year career of Fisher and his longtime partners, Joe Coriaty and David Ross, is less celebrated than it deserves to be. Thats likely to change in the next few years, for the 30-person office has four major Los Angeles projects in development. A glass wing will open up the Natural History Museum to Exposition Park and its new neighbor, the swoopy silver spaceship of the Lucas Museum. Close by, on the USC campus, the firm is rehousing the interdisciplinary Iovene Young Academy. A new production facility will enlarge the scope of the Center Theater Group downtown, and a state-of-the-art glass block will extend the Santa Monica City Hall. Fishers three-story glass addition to the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park will create a dramatic new entry and house educational areas, galleries and a theater. (Frederick Fisher and Partners ) In person Fisher is as quiet and thoughtful as his architecture, describing himself as a pragmatic Midwesterner, the son of a hospital architect with a stack of books on Frank Lloyd Wright. His mother shared her love of art, taking him to drawing classes and the Cleveland Art Institute. After studying art at Oberlin, he drove to L.A. and secured his Master of Architecture degree at UCLA in 1978. Inspired by a Frank Gehry lecture on the Ron Davis studio in Malibu, he applied for a job and was told they had no work. The next day, Gehry called back to say his marketing person had quit and he needed someone right away to fill in, Fisher recalls. It was a great way to learn, and I graduated to model-making and design. He had a habit of giving young people responsibility, having them work from a little sketch. Advertisement As he was leaving Gehrys office, he designed the Caplin house in Venice, which was loaded with every idea Id had in architecture school. His debut as an independent practice was a modest house-studio for ceramicist Elsa Rady, the first of a series of collaborations with artists. In the mid-1980s he won a competition to create MoMA P.S.1 in the New York borough of Queens, converting a public school into a versatile exhibition space. While Gehry claimed he had merely cleaned up a garage to create the Temporary Contemporary in downtown L.A., Fisher took a more aggressive approach in New York, stripping and tearing out walls to create rough, edgy spaces that would give artists total freedom. Gordon Matta-Clark had fun with a chain saw, and others have burrowed into the floor. Both galleries celebrate the excitement of creativity. For MoMa P.S.1 in Queens, New York, Fisher transformed a former school into a versatile exhibition space. (Michael Moran ) Adaptive re-use is a major part of the practice. A Santa Monica telephone company building was remodeled to house the Eli Broad collection, with beams and skylights replacing a forest of columns. A street-car depot was transformed into Bergamot Station, the most successful concentration of galleries in L.A. A Spanish-revival PacBell service facility in Harvard Heights became the Jane B. Eisner Middle School. The firm also turned a vintage guest house into the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica and gave new life to Sunnylands, the Annenbergs estate in Rancho Mirage. Im not seen as an architect who produces signature work, Fisher admits. Buildings should respond to their setting, so each one is different. Thats a problem when people come to our office expecting to find a design they can selectIll have one of thoseand we tell them we dont yet know what it should look like. The advantage of this approach is that Fishers buildings dont go out of fashion or outlive their usefulness. Private art galleries are often ephemeral, but L.A. Louver in Venice looks as fresh as when it was completed in 1994. A crisp cubist composition of stucco, steel and concrete block is carved away to provide a gated entry court and an enclosed terrace that evokes a James Turrell Sky Space. As in P.S.1, a diversity of spaces are available for the installation of artworks, and its a good place to catch up on the latest work of David Hockney. When the Huntington mansion was restored a decade ago, the board realized that they could build a new gallery to house the popular artworks for almost the same cost as putting them in storage. Fishers team rose to the challenge of extending the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, grafting the Erburu contemporary wing onto a neoclassical building and creating a seamless joinery within. They took inspiration from the skylit Dulwich Art Gallery near London, a pace-setting design two centuries old, which also provided a model for Richard Meiers Getty Museum. At the Huntington Library in Pasadena, Fisher expanded the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art by seamlessly adding a contemporary extension, the Lois and Robert Erburu Gallery. (John Edward Linden ) The new Huntington galleries open up to nature through steel-framed walls of glass, and the temporary installation of classic English paintings was a huge success. As collector Frances Brody observed, I dont think they should put the pictures back in the housethey look better here. In 2016 Fisher inserted another suite of galleries to house the Fielding Collection of early-American art and artifacts. Most recently the firm has reconfigured LACMAs Resnick Gallery to accommodate a wide diversity of exhibitions in a pinwheel plan of semi-enclosed spaces. That saves the expense and waste of putting up and tearing down drywall partitions for each show. Advertisement Watercolors provide Fisher with an escape from the rigors of architectural design as well as a sketchpad for future projects. They force me to slow down and lose control, because once youve applied brush to paper, you cant undo it. To me its about looking, and every form of representation distills the essence of what we see. The hands-on approach that has served Fisher so well feeds into the larger, more public projects he is currently designing. One of the glories of architecture is how big it is and how many things it touches, he observes. We want to demystify the experience of going to the Natural History Museum, especially for first-timers. Our design is all about transparency and connectivity, breaking down barriers between the activities within and those of a park that will host the Olympics for the third time in 2028. George Esquivel has quietly carved out a name for himself as the premier shoemaker in Los Angeles: His handcrafted shoes command prices starting at $495 for ready-made suede oxfords to upward of $19,000 for bespoke crocodile boots. Each year Esquivels small team of craftspeople produces 3,000 to 5,000 pairs of footwear for a client list that includes Emma Stone, LeBron James, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt and Bruno Mars and retailers such as Fred Segal and Barneys New York. The 47-year-old designer, who served a two-year stint as creative director for luxury luggage brand Tumi, also has a proclivity for collaboration: His label has teamed up with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, haute hat maker Nick Fouquet, The Beverly Hills Hotel and The Spare Room, the buzzy gaming lounge inside The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, for which he creates high-style bowling shoes. Esquivel operates out of a nondescript warehouse-style office complex in Buena Park. Yet behind the generic exterior is an atelier that sustains the old-world tradition of artisanal shoemaking, now a rare trade in the United States. Premium leather and exotic skins are sourced from Italy, France and Spain, and each shoe panel is individually hand-cut, skived (a thin shaving of the leather to facilitate smooth folds) and stitched on site; then lining, buckles, zippers or elastic are sewn in. Completed upper panels are scrupulously massaged onto a last (Too tight and it wont stretch, too loose and it will look sloppy, notes Esquivel) before a welt, soles and heels are built in from the bottom of the shoe. Specialty finisheshand-burnishing, hand-tooling or personalized patterns, names and dates that can be burned into the leather with a hot penadd another layer of character. Even the brands signature shoelaces are stitched by hand. Recycled corrugated cardboard shoe boxes have handles crafted from upcycled leather remnants, while shoe bags are sewn from unique deadstock fabrics. Bespoke Esquivel designs (starting at $4,500) involve lasts adjusted to exacting foot measurements with multiple prototypes, as well as particular colors, heel heights, toe shapes, finishes, extra padding to accommodate special needs and personalized details. A handmade metal shoe horn, encased in leather and stamped with a monogram, accompanies each order. The shoemaking process ranges from approximately six hours of manual labor for a womens mule (the simplest style and currently the number-one seller) to up to 30 hours for an elaborately burnished hand-tooled bespoke boot. Burnishing alone can take up to six hours, Esquivel notes, pointing to shelves filled with stacks of binders that contain hundreds of proprietary step-by-step recipes to achieve varied colors and effects. Advertisement Shoes from Esquivels collection (Christina House for the Times ) Seated in his office above the atelier and wearing a pair of richly burnished leather ankle boots stamped with his birth year and the initials of his wife and three children, Esquivel describes his timeless footwear as very Southern California, very craft. A few years ago, he developed a technique to literally sun tan leather by placing the hides outside under glass. It doesnt get more California than that. Well, besides the fact that he hardly ever makes mens shoes in black. Rather, there are varied shades of brown, burgundy, taupe, navy, green and gray. As a child, Esquivel says, my idea of perfection was a white pair of sneakers. Back then, he could not afford a single pair of presentable shoes. As his drug-addicted father moved in and out of jail, Esquivel attended 13 different schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade while living with his parents and four younger siblings in a string of Orange County hotel rooms. I would borrow my friends shoes and never give them back, he says. When youre close to homeless, your clothes dont fit right, so everyone makes fun of you. You can fake pants and a T-shirt, but you cant fake shoes. I envied the kids who had real Vans and Nikes. I walked a dog and mowed the lawn at a house across the street from one of the hotels to save nineteen dollars and bought my first pair of Converse Chuck Taylors. But my dad always had good shoes. He would take us to stores to cause a diversion so he could steal really nice clothes and shoes. He was a con man. At age 19, Esquivel kicked his father out of the house and began to hustle up odd jobs to provide for the family. On the side, he discovered an escape in the 90s punk-rock music scene and dressed the part in vintage clothing and shoes. During a weekend adventure in Baja, Esquivel happened upon a custom shoe shop and handed the owner a sketch hed made of his dream shoes: rockabilly-inspired spectators with pointed toes and decorative diamond cut-outs alongside the lacing. A few months later, he picked up the finished pair and, fueled by compliments, his footwear fixation began. Driving a delivery truck for a chain of linen stores, Esquivel began to stop at shoe-repair shops in search of a local shoemaker, but the quality was never up to his standards. Until one day in 1995, when retired shoemaker Emigdio Canales followed Esquivel to the parking lot after overhearing him demanding his money back and promised to make him the perfect pair of shoes. It turned out that Canales had once crafted leather boots for Evel Knievel. Soon the pair went into business, charging $225 to $400 for vintage-inspired cap-toe wingtips and oxfords in a variety of colors. Esquivel handed out cards and wrote down orders in composition notebooks. People would ask to come to the studio, and Id say, I dont have a studio, I only have a distribution center. That was my garage. The factory was Emigdios garage. All the shoes, made of scrap leather, would dry naturally out in the grass. We operated like a general store in the Midwest. Each shoe is hand-crafted from soles to heels to leather uppers in Buena Park by Esquivels artisans. (Christina House for the Times ) Two-and-a-half years and roughly 2,500 pairs of shoes and $750,000 later, Canales walked away from the business. But Esquivel pressed on, continuing to learn technique and craft from other master cobblers such as Oscar Navarro of Capri Shoes in Fullerton, who introduced him to refined leather suppliers and gave him his first machines and tools. Fifteen years ago, Esquivel opened his Buena Park atelier. What I didnt realize early on was that leather is painted to look perfect, says Esquivel of his childhood obsession with white sneakers. I used to drive my shoemakers away because I would say, Its not good enough. I didnt realize what perfection was until one guy said, Look, a beautiful shoe is not meant to be perfect. We are not perfect, so why would you expect that of a shoe? There is perfection in the flaws and in the way that we distress and burnish a shoe; each shoe and shoelace is different and unique just like we are. Every shoe-box handle and shoe bag is a different color because I want them to be special. You go to other cities and everybody looks the same, but people come to Southern California to be individuals. And thats what my brand is about. Advertisement Every Esquivel collection has a theme. For spring I was listening to a lot of Cuban music and the Buena Vista Social Club, because the theme is all about a couple getting shipwrecked on a desert island and the effects of that on their shoes, says Esquivel. There is leather suntanned with our trademark unisex floral pattern, gold that looks bronzy rather than bright, distressed hardware, and canvas tote bags with white-washed alligator trim and frayed edges. Its beautiful and sandy. I havent fully developed fall 2018 yet, but I plan to use velvets and leather that looks like velvet in monotones of deep bordeaux and navy. Its about texture. Tote bags, zip pouches and cross-body bags (as well as wallets and card holders) have long been part of Esquivels private bespoke business, but the brand is now widening distribution of utilitarian totes and pouches. Last November Esquivel designed a less labor-intensive limited-edition canvas Esquivel X Tote with leather handles to benefit Buena Park-based nonprofit Giving Children Hope (givingchildrenhope.org); each $149 purchase provided a local family living in poverty with food every weekend for a year. The initial fundraising goal was $5,000, yet over $50,000 worth of totes were sold. When your focus is to do something good, good always comes back, whether its tomorrow or next year or in ten years, says Esquivel, whose ongoing partnership with the charity brings his personal story full circle. To me, the X signifies a multiplier of food, of hope, of love. This exhibition is the first in a series of international touring shows that is meant to convey the Hermes heritage to the public, say Bruno Gaudichon, designer of the luxury brands Harnessing the Roots installation at Hermes Beverly Hills, which opens March 31 and runs through April 7. Hermes advertising poster (Design L.A. ) Founded by Thierry Hermes in 1837 as a harness-maker and saddler, Hermes evolved from a manufacturer of functional objects into an ultra-chic purveyor of leather goods, silk scarves, fine jewelry, watches and other fashion accoutrements. I wanted to show pieces from across different eras to allow visitors to see the internal connection that has always existed within Hermes pieces as well as the continuation of the houses historical legacy, says Gaudichon, who has curated exhibits on Marc Chagall, Edgar Degas and Camille Claudel. From left to right: A contemporary Attelage bracelet, a Filet dOr bracelet of rose gold and diamonds from the contemporary collection, the Hermes Apple Watch (Design L.A. ) Advertisement The items in the exhibition were drawn from three different sources: the Emile Hermes collection housed at the Hermes flagship on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore in Paris; the Hermes Conservatory of Creations; and Hermess contemporary fashion, lifestyle and accessories collections. Gaudichon worked with scenographer Laurence Fontaine to arrange the objects in a thematic narrative. The five themes are Brides de Gala; the Horse and Its Tack; the Saddle; Buckled Up; and Ties and Straps. These objects are complemented by a 1962 film in which Robert Dumas, heir and director of Hermes from 1951 to 1978, explains the art of saddle making. An early-twentieth-century Hermes Rocabar day rug inspired by an album of designs for saddlery and harnesses. (Design L.A. ) In exhibitions that reflect history and culture, people often fall for the trap of being caught in nostalgia, Gaudichon observes. While curating this exhibition, we chose not to arrange pieces in chronological order but rather to attempt to create a dialogue between pieces, letting the audience experience the connections on their own. Harnessing the Roots, Hermes Beverly Hills 434 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. March 31April 7; MondaySaturday, 10:00am to 6:00pm. The uproar over emotional support animals in aircraft cabins took wing again with the recent rejection of a peacock as a proper companion. But if a person needs that animal, whats the big deal? It becomes apparent after reading the regulations in the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Air Carrier Access Act governing such animals, and it becomes even more apparent with expert input. Heres what you need to consider as a traveler. There is no clear-cut answer, but it has less to do with your thoughts about animals and more to do with conflicting regulations. So to begin: --Theres an important difference between service animals and emotional support animals, said Sandra Barker, director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University and a professor of psychiatry at VCUs School of Medicine. Advertisement Emotional support animals are not required to be trained, which opens a lot of questions and concerns about public safety, she said. Recent incidents include a dog that bit its owners seatmate on a Delta flight and a child who was slightly injured by a dog during the boarding of a Southwest flight. This is not to say that all emotional support dogs or animals are badly behaved. Nor is it to say that all service animals are perfect, but they are trained to focus on their job, not on distractions. Service animals also are evaluated for temperament before they undergo training, Barker said. If something startles [a service animal], its OK to be startled, Barker said. But if a wheelchair falls over [and there is] a sign of aggression, that is a clear indicator [of] not being an appropriate candidate for the role. Owners of service animals also undergo training to enable them to make the most effective use of their animal, said Catherine Salmon, a psychology professor and faculty member in the human-animal studies program at the University of Redlands. --Regulations dont always agree. The Air Carrier Access Act, which says it prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel, does not differentiate between service animals and emotional support animals. Such an animal is one that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a person with a disability; or any animal that assists persons with disabilities by providing emotional support. Advertisement But the Americans With Disabilities Act, the 1990 law that describes itself as a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, recognizes only dogs and miniature horses (which were added later) as service animals and notes that animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Service animals, it goes on to say, are working animals, not pets. --The less exclusive Air Carrier Access Act may have unwittingly given rise to an increasing number of emotional support animals on airplanes. United, for instance, flew 77,000 of them in 2017, a 77% increase from the previous year, the Chicago Tribune quoted a United rep as saying. Advertisement A more lenient definition is not a bad thing unless... --The traveler who is flying with an emotional support animal is gaming the system. Does it happen? I dont have statistics to prove this because, really, whos going to say, Of course, Im cheating? Absent that, we can be sure that some people claim emotional support status for their animal because they worry about it flying in the belly of the plane. Some dont want to pay the fee to fly a pet in the cabin. (Emotional support animals usually fly for free.) And some just like their pet so much they dont want to be separated from the little darling. Advertisement Anyone can outfit their pet with an emotional support animal vest, as an ABC News piece showed, but that doesnt mean its true anymore than wearing a stethoscope around your neck makes you a doctor. With the flimsiest of evidence, ABC managed to get two dogs and a hedgehog onto flights, although the hedgehog was rejected on a first attempt. And so... --United and Delta have strengthened regulations governing emotional support animals. Advertisement As of March 1, United has changed its requirements for the animals. In addition to providing a letter from a licensed medical/mental health professional, customers will need to provide a veterinary health form documenting the health and vaccination records for the animal as well as confirming that the animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting. Deltas requirements are much the same. Both airlines ask that the paperwork be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. Where does this leave us? In a quandary. Barker and Salmon, interviewed separately, hold slightly different opinions. Both agree that animals can provide tremendous benefits to their owners, and studies support that. Barker, however, would recommend treating the underlying disorder rather than relying solely on an emotional support animal. She has been asked to write a letter as a health professional in support of the need for such an animal, and I have not felt comfortable doing so, she said, adding, I dont know the animals temperament or background. Advertisement Salmon is a bit more lenient about letting emotional support animals fly, but hopes that people who want their pet in flight will pay and put them under the seat. What do you think? Should regulations be toughened? How would you address this continuing conundrum? Write to us. Please include your name and city of residence. Have a travel question or dilemma? Write to travel@latimes.com. We regret we cannot respond to every inquiry. travel@latimes.com Advertisement @latimestravel Los Angeles Times staff photographer Rick Meyer used a Nikon 500 mm mirror lens for this image. When published the next morning the Los Angeles Times caption reported: HEAVY TRAFFIC Motorist who took a slightly wrong turn? Actually he has just topped a rise on Sepulveda Blvd. near L.A. Airport, and the plane is taxiing on an overpass in background. Foreshortening effect of telephoto lens accounts for the confusion. Later, Rick Meyer wrote about how he got this image: I was shooting south on Sepulveda Blvd. where the road goes under Runways 25 Left and 25 Right. Getting the photo was just a matter of having patience. Advertisement Photojournalism is more than the decisive moment. Often its waiting around for quite a bit of time for that decisive moment to happen. I needed the perfect combination of angle, car and plane. The plane was actually on a taxiway headed to takeoff location. I probably shot for 45 minutes. I was assigned to shoot wild art and this is what I came back with. This post was originally published on May 18, 2012. See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here Demonstrators angered by the detention of former leader Carles Puigdemont blocked highways across Catalonia and roads in central Barcelona on Tuesday, as the separatist politician remained in a German jail pending a decision on Spains extradition request. Transportation authorities in the northeastern Spanish region said a main motorway remained blocked in Figueres, near the border with France. Demonstrators also stopped traffic in another highway leading to the city of Lleida, and a national road between Tarragona and Valencia. Early protests that caused disruptions on several roads in central Barcelona, the main city in Catalonia, had cleared by mid-Tuesday morning. The prosperous region has been marred by largely peaceful protests for more than six months, since a bid for secession from Spain began in earnest. Advertisement The Catalan parliaments declaration of independence in late October following an ad-hoc referendum banned by the Spanish government received no international recognition and provoked a takeover of the regional government by Spanish authorities. Puigdemont was ousted and fled to Belgium. Last week, a Spanish Supreme Court judge charged the 55-year-old with rebellion and misuse of public funds. Spain then issued arrest warrants for six of the seven Catalan separatists who have fled the country. Puigdemont was detained Sunday, shortly after crossing into Germany from Denmark. People hold banners that reads in Catalan Freedom for the political prisoners in support of Catalonian politicians jailed on charges of sedition and condemning the arrest of Catalonias former president, Carles Puigdemont in Germany, during a protest in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, March 26, 2018. Five months after going on the run from Spanish authorities, Catalonias former president was detained in Germany on an international warrant by highway police after the ardent separatist crossed the border with Denmark. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (Emilio Morenatti / Associated Press) Defense lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, who visited the politician in the Neumuenster prison where hes awaiting a tribunals decision on whether to extradite him to Spain, said Puigdemont was in perfect shape, both physically and emotionally ready to fight the request. To see him with such determination has been a shot of euphoria, Alonso-Cuevillas said. Further decisions on Puigdemonts immediate future appear unlikely before Easter. A court in Schleswig will decide on formal pre-extradition custody and whether his extradition is admissible. Such cases are typically dealt with in writing, without a hearing, though one is possible. Germanys criminal code unlike Belgiums, where Spain had earlier sought Puigdemonts extradition includes an offense that appears to be comparable to rebellion, the main accusation against the Catalan politician. It calls for prison sentences for anyone who undertakes, by force or through threat of force to undermine the republics existence or change its constitutional order. Advertisement Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said Madrid is confident that Puigdemonts extradition will be granted because the case, he said, is not politically motivated. This is not just a Spanish issue, Mendez de Vigo told reporters at the end of a Spanish Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Flouting the rules of a [European Union] member state is also a crime in Germany. In a move celebrated by his supporters, the United Nations Human Rights Committee announced that it has registered a complaint by Puigdemont alleging that Spain has violated his political rights. A group of lawyers and human rights experts lodged the case in March, claiming that Spain has violated human, civil and political rights in its crackdown on Catalonias independence bid. The Spanish government has six months to respond. Australia, Ireland, NATO and Moldova on Tuesday joined the wave of nations and groups expelling Russian diplomats over the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. Russia denounced the actions as boorish and pledged to retaliate. The mass expulsions were a show of solidarity for Britain, which blames Russia for the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Moscow vehemently denies responsibility and has vowed a tough response to the expulsions. More than 20 countries on Monday announced that they were expelling a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States. On Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said his country was expelling two Russian diplomats whom he described as undeclared intelligence officers. They have been given seven days to leave Australia. Turnbull slammed Russia for reckless and deliberate conduct that he said harms global security and violates rules against the use of chemical weapons. Advertisement The Russian Embassy in Canberra said the decision was regrettable and jeopardized bilateral relationships. It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly contrary to the norms of civilized bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against ... common sense, it said. Ireland also announced it was ordering one Russian diplomat to leave. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney called the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter a shocking and abhorrent use of chemical weapons. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would expel seven staffers from the Russian mission and deny the pending accreditation requests of three other workers at the Russian mission. Stoltenberg said we will continue to work for meaningful dialogue with Russia, but added that the measures announced Tuesday should send a very clear message to Russia that it has costs. I actually think that Russia has underestimated the unity of NATO allies, he said. Moldova, the ex-Soviet nation whose pro-Western government is seeking closer ties with the West, on Tuesday also ordered three Russian diplomats to leave the former Soviet republic within seven days. The Skripals remain hospitalized in critical condition after they were found unconscious on March 4 in the English city of Salisbury, where the former spy lived. Britain says they were poisoned with a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent known as Novichok. Advertisement Moscow has dismissed the British accusations as baseless, saying that it fully destroyed its Soviet-era chemical arsenals last year. Russias foreign minister blamed the U.S. for blackmailing its allies to expel Russian diplomats. Speaking on a trip to Uzbekistan, Sergei Lavrov said the U.S. has applied colossal pressure, colossal blackmail, which have become Washingtons main instrument on the international arena. Lavrov warned that Moscow will retaliate for the expulsions, saying such boorishness cant be tolerated. Advertisement The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin would make the final decision on how to respond. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized Tuesday , apparently suffering from a high fever and severe cough. Netanyahu was hospitalized Tuesday at Jerusalems Hadassah Medical Center after his personal physician, Dr. Tzvi Berkowitz, concluded that he had not sufficiently recovered from an illness he had started battling two weeks ago. Berkowitz said the prime ministers condition had worsened. After performing a series of tests, physicians concluded the prime minister was suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection and will be allowed to recuperate at home. In mid-March, Netanyahu had been homebound, holding government meetings at his private residence. In a statement at that time, the prime ministers office said Netanyahu had contracted strep throat and that Berkowitz had prescribed medications and home rest. Advertisement Netanyahu, 68, has been under siege in several ongoing corruption investigations and both he and his wife have been questioned repeatedly by state prosecutors. The cases involve accusations of bribery and conspiring to manipulate news coverage. Israeli police have recommended that the prime minister be indicted, but prosecutors have yet to respond to that request. While beleaguered at home, Netanyahu was welcomed warmly earlier this month in a three-day visit to the U.S., where he appeared alongside President Trump. UPDATES: 2:22 p.m.: The article was updated with reports that Netanyahu will be allowed to go home. 12:55 p.m.: This article was updated to indicate that Netanyahu has been under siege in several ongoing corruption investigations. This article was originally published at 12:30 p.m. During last year's total solar eclipse (also known as the Great American Eclipse), Matt Francis captured a series of wide- and narrow-angle images that he later spent dozens of hours balancing and merging into a single image. Shortly after, he learned of a software program that allows you to add motion to an otherwise still photograph. Using the program, he was able to produce this animated image that simulates the movement of the Sun's corona during the total solar eclipse. // Matt Francis Guest blog by Matt Francis I was watching my friend Bob, wild-eyed and using dramatic arm-waving gestures, as he attempted to describe the indescribable a total solar eclipse. He told me that no matter what he said, our clumsy language could never paint a realistic picture of what its like to be in the path of solar totality. And boy, was he right. In the end, it wasnt his description (as good as it was) that convinced me to go to Australia with him to see a total solar eclipse. It was both his passion and the obvious way witnessing a previous total eclipse had changed him as a person. That was in 2012, and immediately afterword, I began planning my next opportunity to stand in the path of totality. On August 19, 2017, I arrived in Glenrock, Wyoming, and set up my equipment so that I could prepare for the main event. Over the next few days, family and friends arrived, drawing my attention away from my instruments and instead to celebration. I had the photographic goal of creating an image that would convey what I saw as accurately as possible. However, I went into the eclipse knowing full well that no matter how hard I worked, or how good my photos came out, they would be like Bobs passionate description: beautiful, inspirational, but in the end, nothing like being there. 3-inch Takahashi FS-78 refractor, Bisque MYT mount, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 1/60-, 1/30-, 1/15-, 1/8-, -, -, and 1-second exposures Sony a7R II, Sony 24-240mm telephoto lens set to 240mm, 2-second exposure The seven Canon images and one Sony image I captured were imported into Photoshop CC, rescaled, rotated, and processed to balance the color and lighting conditions as much as possible before merging. Once merged, I spent dozens of hours learning new techniques to blend these images together seamlessly to create a single, best representation of what I actually saw. This was a lesson in patience and perseverance, and it taught me not to give up (even though, at times, it looked hopeless). I wanted to capture the clear contrast of the shimmering white corona that extended for what seemed impossibly far into the indigo colored sky. I wanted to show just the amount of detail I remember seeing, and nothing more. The unbelievably hot pink limb prominences needed to be as obvious in my photo as they were to my eyes. After many long nights at the computer experimenting and learning, I finally created an image that I knew was as good as I could get. But then as I was relaxing by perusing one of my favorite photographers websites (Trey Ratcliff of stuckincustoms.com ), I noticed an article Trey had written about new software called Plotagraph and it seemed like this might help my image represent reality a bit more. After purchasing the software and learning how to use it (thanks to Treys tutorials), I was able to quickly transform a single image into a movie. By using masking techniques, defining anchor points of what shouldnt move, and applying directional arrows to what I wanted to move (and how much movement I wanted), I was able to create an image in motion. I personally think the movie is more dramatic than what I remember, but it is as close as I can come to showing those poor souls who missed the eclipse a tiny piece of what really happened. I hope you enjoy it! To view more work by Matt Francis, check out his SmugMug.com page. A drunk woman being taken to an area hospital for treatment attacked a paramedic trying to help her, Bethlehem police said. City police were called at about 2 a.m. Friday to the first block of West Fourth Street on Bethlehem's South Side. Officers said they found Andreia Vilares, of the 1000 block of Sparrow Way in Upper Macungie Township, intoxicated and on the ground. Bethlehem police, fire and EMS lifted the 22-year-old Vilares off the ground and placed her on a gurney, which was when Vilares began trying to kick and punch the city employees. Vialres' arms and legs were held down with gurney straps, but police said she slipped a leg out and kicked a paramedic twice in the legs. Vilares' gurney was loaded into the ambulance, when she freed an arm and hit the paramedic in the face and neck, police said. Vilares was allegedly resisting, and police said they handcuffed both hands to the gurney and shackled her legs to keep her from kicking. On the way to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, Vilares allegedly tried biting the paramedic and a police officer several times. Vilares is charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief, harassment, and public drunkenness. She was freed Friday after posting 10 percent of $25,000 bail. An attorney had not yet entered an appearance for Vilares as of Tuesday morning. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Lying under oath is a crime. But perjury is often difficult to prove, usually due to nuance in the language. Latoya H. Johnson, 29, of Wilson Borough. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Enter a quick-thinking Northampton County sheriff's department sergeant. Latoya Johnson, 29, of the 2300 block of Second Street in Wilson Borough, was sworn in Feb. 28 under the legal requirement to tell the truth in a custody case in Northampton County Court, authorities said. Judge Jennifer Sletvold noticed a man enter the courtroom with Johnson and asked who he was. The man said his name was Ron Green, court papers say. The judge asked Johnson who Haran Yarborough was, records show. Johnson previously made police reports regarding alleged assaults by Yarborough, court papers say. Yarborough, 42, of the same address, is currently facing charges of harassment and simple assault in county court tied to a Dec. 31 incident in the home, records show. He was initially charged with hitting Johnson and her 9-year-old son. Charges of simple assault and endangering the welfare of children were dismissed at the district court level, records show. His formal arraignment on the remaining charges is set for 1 p.m. May 10 in county court. Sletvold then asked Johnson where Yarborough was, records show. Johnson said she didn't know, possibly New Jersey, court papers say. Sletvold questioned Johnson about the last time she saw Yarborough and Johnson replied "January," court papers say. Johnson denied Yarborough lived with her and denied there was violence in the home, court papers say. The judge then asked Johnson who the man in court with her was, records show. Johnson responded it was a friend from New Jersey, court papers say. "Upon further questioning of Ms. Johnson by Judge Sletvold, Ms. Johnson again tells the judge she has not seen Yarborough and he has not called her and she does not know where he is," court papers say. During the questioning, sheriff's department Sgt. Pete Shaheen, a former journalist who was in the courtroom, "suspecting Ms. Johnson was not being truthful," requested a photo of Yarborough from the sheriff's department, court papers say. He received the picture in the courtroom and determined that the man who said he was Ron Green was really Haran Yarborough, court papers say. The photo was given to the judge. The judge again asked about the man sitting behind Johnson. Was it Yarborough, the judge asked. Johnson said yes. Sletvold "chastised" Johnson for "lying to my face all day," court papers say. Johnson apologized, records show. On Wednesday, charges of perjury and false swearing were filed against Johnson, records show. She was arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter III on Friday afternoon and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail with a 10 percent option, records show. A $1,500 bond was posted that night, records show. Johnson tentatively faces a preliminary hearing 9 a.m. April 6 in District Judge Daniel Corpora's South Side Easton courtroom. A listed phone number for Johnson wasn't immediately available and no attorney is listed in court papers. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Northampton County's district attorney announced he'll meet with the presidents of each of the colleges in his county to discuss how to curb alcohol abuse on their campuses. District Attorney John Morganelli said he'll host the summit meeting some time in May with the drug and alcohol division of the county department of human services and the presidents of Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Moravian College and Northampton Community College. "All four indicated to me that they are enthusiastic about this opportunity to meet and discuss the issue," Morganelli said. Morganelli said his office has investigated many alcohol-related crimes at each of the schools over the course of his more than 25 years as district attorney. He mentioned the death last fall of Lafayette student McCrae Williams. He died of a head injury most likely suffered due to an alcohol-related stumble, causing him to his his head on a hard bathroom floor. "Alcohol is one of the most common contributors to injury, death and criminal behavior among young people," Morganelli said. He said he's not looking for consensus among the college presidents. Rather, he wants them to pool their knowledge and "brainstorm" for ideas that could help everyone combat the problem more effectively. The summit will be closed-door, Morganelli said. Morganelli wants the summit to address at-risk or dependent student drinkers, the effect of alcohol abuse on the entire student body on a campus and the effect it has on the community surrounding the college. He believes, for instance, that interventions with first-year students during the first few weeks of school, student athletes and members of fraternities and sororities could go a long way toward curbing the problem. He thinks it might be a good idea to move Greek pledging to the second semester and to restrict it to students with a 2.5 GPA or higher. He believes a ban on hard alcohol as was recently adopted by Lehigh University fraternities could also help. Morganelli said some have given up searching for a long-term solution to what they believe is an unsolvable problem. But the district attorney believes civic leaders can make a difference if they work together. "Obviously college students will continue to drink. My purpose in having this summit is to avoid the kinds of tragedies we have seen on a daily basis across the United States and even here." Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. A 32-year-old Oregon man was carrying 116 pounds of marijuana and two vacuum-sealed jars of hash oil as he sped Monday morning in a red Nissan Altima on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Berks County, state police report. Jason Christopher Pennell. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Jason Christopher Pennell, of Ashland, was pulled over just after 9 a.m. in Caernarvon Township by a trooper from the SHIELD section, a specialized group trained to detect criminal activity during traffic stops, police said. Caernarvon is about 10 miles south of Reading. The trooper "made several observations which made me believe that he was involved in criminal activity," police said. Pennell denied a request to search the rental vehicle with Utah plates, police said. A K-9 was brought in and the dog indicated there were drugs in the car, police said. A probable cause search was then performed and several large duffel bags and a suitcase were found containing 116 vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, police said. Also recovered were two jars of hash oil, police said. Pennell was arraigned Monday night before District Judge Stuart D. Kennedy on charges of possession with intent to deliver drugs, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, records show. He was sent to Berks County Prison in lieu of $1 million bail, records show. Pennell's preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 3 p.m. April 10 in District Judge David E. Glass's courtroom. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Stock Market News Europe close: Stocks stage partial rebound 27-03-2018 15:53 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 Phoenix Equity acquires controlling stake in Capital Economics 27-03-2018 11:20 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 Stock Market News Strategic Minerals' survey identifies favourable conditions for nickel at Australian project 27-03-2018 11:31 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 UK employers worried about post-Brexit migration rules - govt advisors 27-03-2018 11:18 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 Asturias was the second community (behind the Balearic Islands) to accumulate the greatest amount of rain last weekend, and especially on Sunday, when it received more than 85 liters per square meter in Pilona, according to the records of the State Meteorological Agency. Nearly 70 were also counted in Amieva and Cabrales and about 55 in Aller. Between Saturday and Sunday, 74.8 liters per square meter fell in Oviedo, which was flooded. The amount is almost as much as what is usual throughout the month of March. This relationship occurred almost throughout Asturias, in view of the data from March 2017 . Hugo storm caused harm in Asturias. The socialist mayors of Parres and Villaviciosa, two of the councils most affected by the floods, urged yesterday those in charge of the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation (CHC) to take measures against the floods. Parres, where the storm caused several landslides and kept the users of the hospital in suspense due to a possible evacuation, the councilor Emilio Longo pointed out that "it is the thousandth time that the general administration, the only one with competences in this matter, is asked to execute a project so essential for the safety of Arriondas". One of the most critical moments occurred around eleven o'clock at night, when the Pilona River grew at a rate of 30 centimeters per hour flooding several garages in the area of the Arriondas school. The mayor of Villaviciosa, Alejandro Vega, yesterday sent a letter to the new Government Representative in Asturias, Mariano Marin, to ask for his support before of the General Directorate of Water of the Ministry of Agriculture, so that they carry out the study as well as the drafting of a project against flooding in the council. Vega requested an urgent meeting with members of the Confederation, who would have been sent a plenary agreement from December asking for works such as the reconstruction of a riprap next to the social housing of Les Colomines, reforms in El Puenton and frequent cleaning in the urban stretch of the Linares river. "We did not get an answer", he lamented. For its part, the PP of Villaviciosa criticized that since the arrival of Vega to the Mayor's office "the Linares River has not been cleaned again". It also added that in the recently approved budgets "not even one euro is contemplated for the maintenance of the riverbed in good condition". Marshall had a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but East Carolina scored 21 straight points in the final 7:31 to earn a 42-38 win over the Thundering Herd on Saturday night at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Download Image: Web The final talk of Lycoming Colleges Center for Energy and the Future (CEF) 2017-18 lecture series will bring two experts from the Energy Access Foundation (EAF) to campus to present Solar Technology In Developing Countries: Sustainable Energy for All. The talk, slated for Tuesday, April 10 at 7 p.m., will be held in the Jane Schultz room of the Wertz Student Center, and is free and open to the public. EAF works to accelerate access to sustainable energy in developing countries, alleviating energy poverty without destroying the environment, and giving people the opportunity to develop their human potential. EAF programs help assure that everyone can gain access to sustainable energy. Richard Hansen, executive director at EAF, and Williana Aquino, program manager at EAF, hope their talk will help the audience learn more about the advances of solar PV in developing countries and its contribution to the global transition to a sustainable energy system. Lycoming Colleges positioning near a gateway to the Marcellus Shale region puts students at a unique advantage to examine complex issues related to modern energy systems. The CEF seeks to engage the College community in the nations ongoing conversation about energy through its energy science and energy studies curriculum, student-faculty research, field experiences and internships. Hansen is a pioneer in the application of PV technology combined with micro-finance to increase access to electricity in developing countries. Starting in 1984, he led a non-profit program to introduce PV technology with micro-finance in the Dominican Republic. He then replicated this model in Honduras in 1989 under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy. This work led to significant replication globally. In 1993 Richard founded Soluz Inc. with a mission to assist the global transition to sustainable energy. In Honduras, Soluzs subsidiary, Soluz Honduras, supplies PV products and related micro-finance products. Through Soluz, Hansen has provided advisory services for major institutions including USAID, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and elsewhere. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., and a master's degree in business administration from Boston University. Aquino was born in the Puerto Plata area of Dominican Republic and lived in a PV-powered house until she was ten years old, when she immigrated to the Boston area. Quickly becoming bilingual and bi-cultural, she studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in environmental science. Later, Aquino worked as a home energy advisor, helping homeowners in Massachusetts, many of them emigrants from various countries, to reduce their energy consumption. This background has given her an excellent cross-cultural understanding of the energy-climate nexus and prepared her to manage EAF's international collaborations to advance energy access. Having Richard and Williana on campus to talk about the advances in solar PV is the perfect way to cap off this years successful CEF lecture series that touched on a variety of perspectives surrounding shale gas production, energy policy development and implementation, renewable energy development, and the worlds energy future, said Jonathan Williamson, CEF director and associate professor of political science. Its also a great send off for Lycoming students who will soon put learning into practice by traveling to the Dominican Republic in May to gain field experience with the implementation of solar solutions in remote areas of the country. The CEF speaker series is sponsored, in part, by the Atlantic Sunrise Community Grant program, established by Williams, a natural gas transmissions pipeline company committed to being a good community neighbor and environmental steward. "This EP has songs ive written 11 years ago, 5 years ago, 3 years ago & now. All these songs were written in break even times in my life. So i thought now would be a perfect time for them to be heard, along side 1 of the biggest times of my life. This isn't really an indication of whats to come next, but these songs are for now. Check them out & my new single "Thank You" out everywhere now. Thank you for all your support through this time. This is not my own nor is it for myself. This is for anyone & everyone who needs it." Check it out for yourself below: Oil has fed Dubais explosion into one of the most conspicuously wealthy cities in the world. Now, it says it wants to cut emissions but can it source enough water without fossil-fueled desalination? In just a few decades, Dubai has gone from sleepy fishing village to glittering metropolis, complete with some of the largest shopping malls in the world and indoor ski slopes. The boom has been fuelled by oil, first discovered in the United Arab Emirates in the late 1950s. But now, the emirates rulers are touting another dramatic transformation: From fossil fuel mecca to green-power paradise. Dubai says it is working toward covering 75 percent of its energy demand from clean sources by 2050. But the desert megacity doesnt just have to decarbonize its power and transport sector. Securing its water supply also consumes huge amounts of energy. Most of Dubais water comes from the sea. Extracting the salt from seawater to make it potable is costly, energy intensive and currently reliant on fossil fuels. The UAEs climate change minister, Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, says Dubai is already moving in the right direction. Traditional dhows hark back to the days before oil fuelled Dubais ascent to high-rise megacity We are testing renewable energy in desalination so were not only improving the efficiency of the existing technologies, were investing in the future, Al-Zeyoudi told DW. And that, he says, makes Dubai a pioneer of solutions that will be needed way beyond the emirates, as climate change puts pressure on water resources around the world. Decades ago the world was laughing at us in this region for drinking the seawater. But now its becoming the only solution to fight against droughts around the world, Al-Zeyoudi said. Dubai the green savior? Its apparent green awakening means Dubai is increasingly tying its humanitarian aid to climate change. At the 6th annual World Government Summit in February, al-Zeyoudi announced it was putting $10 million (8.1 million) toward climate resilience projects in the Caribbean, including $1 million for the island of Barbuda, which was recently ravaged by Hurricane Irma. Experts from around the world discuss key issues like climate change in Dubai At the summit, Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, placed the blame for Irma squarely on richer nations with high carbon emissions. The UAE is among the worlds biggest per-capita emitters of greenhouse gases. Now it has provided the small island nation with a loan to develop wind and solar power for water desalination. Its good that they are taking responsibility not only in terms of transitioning into green energy but also helping countries to reduce their carbon footprint, Browne told DW. From filtration to cloud-seeding At the sprawling Jebel Ali Water desalination plant, Yahya al-Zafin, a vice-president at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), bellows to be heard over the hiss of steam. This technology utilizes waste heat generated from our electric gas turbines which use fossil fuel, al-Zafin told DW. We started industrial water production in 1978 before that we were dependent on wells! The sea is our only source and we ensure that we use it wisely and with minimum impact on the environment. Conventional desalination relies heavily on energy from fossil fuels At peak consumption, DEWA can provide 470 million gallons of desalinated water per day. To do that, seawater is sucked through pipes into chambers where it is boiled, and the steam condensed, collected and treated an optimised process called multi-stage flash (MSF). The main alternative to MSF is reverse osmosis, where seawater is passed through membranes to remove impurities. Its more environmentally friendly but currently only around 5 percent of Dubais water is produced this way. The government aims to increase this to 41 percent by 2030. Solar power plants that could reap the benefits of the regions bountiful sun have until recently not been widespread, though work is currently underway on what could be the worlds biggest solar park, covering almost 50 square kilometres, when it opens in 2030. But other at times far-fetched solutions are also being posited, from towing icebergs from the Antarctic to building an artificial mountain to increase cloud production. Cloud-seeding technology dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere by plane to stimulate rainfall is already being carried out in the skies over Dubai. Solar energy like this plant in Abu Dhabi could help provide Dubais water without harmful emissions Time to act The process has its skeptics, among them UN Development Program chief Achim Steiner. When it comes to cloud seeding, I remain a little bit doubtful, Steiner told DW. Certainly there are examples where this can work. But I think the solution to humanitys resource dilemmas cannot be to somehow manage the planets life support systems like a chemical laboratory. Still, Steiner is cautiously optimistic that Dubai is taking real steps to make water-production less carbon-intensive. For the UAE desalination is not really a choice, its a matter of necessity, he says. But a key question remains: Do you build an economy on cheap oil and gas that can make it possible to produce endless amounts of water, or begin to invest in water efficiency? Many parts of the world today reuse water multiple times and I think Dubai has embraced this as a concept for the future. Rhett Larson, Associate Professor of Water Law at the University of Arizona, told DW that it is possible, though difficult, for a city to reduce its carbon footprint while still relying on desalination: First, the plant would have to effectively integrate renewable sources like photovoltaic solar energy. Second, it would be co-located with a power generation facility and wastewater treatment plant to lower costs associated with brine removal, he added. Third, the facility should include a system to recycle pressure from the waste stream to the production stream, he explained. Alongside these technical requirements, policies would have to be introduced relating to carbon offsets and water and energy pricing. The black gold city going green may sound unlikely. But a 2015 Massachusetts Institute for Technology study warned that soaring temperatures could make parts of the Persian Gulf uninhabitable as early as 2050. For its own sake, Dubai may not have much longer to help turn the tide. The latest issue of Revolution (French organ of the IMT) will be published in the wake of a social movement that could mark a turning point in the correlation of forces between our camp (the youth and workers) and the bosses, of which Macrons government is the executive body. A rail strike, starting from 3 April, will be the focal point of the struggle. But, both for us and for our enemies, the significance of this strike goes beyond the fate of the SNCF [Societe nationale des chemins de fer francais: Frances national state-owned railway company] and its employees. The railway workers are one of the most powerful and militant layers of our class. They occupy a key position within the apparatus of the productive forces: when not a single train is running, the entire economy can only move in slow motion. Because of this, but also because the railway workers have a great history of struggle, their mobilisation can play a decisive role in setting other sectors of the proletariat in motion. This is what happened, for example, during the big strike of December 1995. However, more so today than in 1995, all the layers of our class and the student youth have an interest in mobilising, as they are all under brutal attack by the Macron government. The French ruling class is determined to defeat the rail workers, to demoralise their whole class / Image: WEF It is for these same reasons that the French bourgeoisie is determined to defeat the railway workers. For the big bosses, privatising the SNCF and tearing down the position of its employees is of course an important economic goal. Enormous profits lie at the end of the tunnel for them, should they pull off this project of industrial and social ransacking. But for the capitalists and their government, the stakes are higher, more general, more political. Through attacking the railway workers, Macron wants to strike at the entire working class; he wants to weaken and demoralise them, in order to push through his programme of drastic counter-reforms on the double. Conversely, a victory for the rail workers would encourage all the other layers of the proletariat. It would put the government on the defensive and, at the very least, it would complicate the implementation of their reactionary programme. This strike is therefore not only a dispute between the employees and the management of the SNCF; it is the focus of a generalised struggle between the two fundamental classes of society. Therefore, it is clear that the government will not back down easily. They are keeping some fictitious concessions in store, to use as a tool to divide the movement. But they will hold onto them as a last resort, at least unless social mobilisation reaches a certain threshold. While its impossible for us to predict in advance what this threshold is, what is certain is that the government will back down if the struggle appears to have the potential to spread to all sectors of the economy. It was the fear of stirring up the masses in short, the fear of a new May 68 that made the Juppe government back down in December 1995. How we will win The strategy of a slowdown [two days of strike, three days of work and so on] spread across three months has raised many questions. Only the SUD Rail trade union has called for indefinite strike action starting on 3 April. The rail workers are divided on this question. Arguments in favour of a slowdown are widespread, including amongst rank-and-file union activists. This is understandable. But what is clear to us is that a slowdown cannot hold for three months, and that the government will not give in if faced with a movement of this kind. It will place all its bets on the industrial action running out of steam. Therefore, in order to win this struggle, the proposed slowdown must only be a short transitional phase on the way to indefinite strike action. The CGT is telling workers to go on strike starting from 3 April / Image: Flickr, Rafael Lopez All this will be discussed in the general meetings of the rail workers. If they feel that the correlation of forces is favourable to them, they will be more inclined to go on strike. But their decision wont depend solely on the balance of forces inside the SNCF, i.e. the sturdiness of a potential strike; it will also depend on the involvement or lack thereof of other layers of the proletariat in the movement. At the time of writing, the public service and transport unions that are part of the CGT [Confederation generale du travail, the biggest French trade union confederation] are calling on workers who collect, transport and treat rubbish to go on strike starting from 3 April. These workers, whose labour conditions are very difficult and dangerous, have their own demands, of course. But if they go on strike, their concrete mobilisation will have all the more strength and impact as it develops along the same lines as that of the rail workers. It goes without saying that these two strikes would mutually reinforce each other. The ideal situation would be for other trade union federations to organise a strike action movement starting on 3 April or, at least, on one of the days immediately following. We know very well that such mobilisations are not decided in the offices of trade union leaders. But at least, they should explain the necessity of such a movement to the workers and try to mobilise in this way which they dont do, for the most part. Despite this, the protests on 22 March showed the militancy of several layers of civil service employees, amongst others. The trade union leadership should take advantage of this momentum to mobilise. Instead, they are proposing a new day of action on 19 April, 16 days after the start of the rail workers strike. Even if this day of action has a massive turnout, it wont have any impact if it doesnt build on a rising wave of strikes in different sectors of the economy. If not, it will be too little, too late. The spectre of May 68 The rail workers strike opens a window of opportunity to the youth and the totality of the workers movement. But this window of opportunity is, by definition, limited in this case, to a few days, a few weeks at the most. The enemy being targeted is the reactionary Macron government. How far could this movement go, if it takes off? We cannot predict its limits in advance. Almost half a century ago, on 13 May 1968, a 24-hour general strike opened the door to the largest indefinite general strike in history: for several weeks, 9m workers went on strike and often occupied their workplaces. Embed from Getty Images The French bourgeoisie is still haunted by this revolutionary crisis. Incidentally, it is remarkable that its representatives, in government and elsewhere within the state apparatus, are still committing the same blunders (from their point of view) as they did 50 years ago. Let us not forget that it was police violence against students at the beginning of May 68 that pushed the leadership of the trade unions to organise a 24-hour general strike. And yet these last weeks have seen multiple cases of police violence, or violence by far-right thugs like in Montpellier. These instances of violence not only dont intimidate the youth, but in fact serve to radicalise them further and spread the movement wider, just like in 68. And all this comes from the governments side in an attempt to avoid a mobilisation of the youth like the one in May 68! Its enough to make one think of the tragic Greek hero, who fulfils his destiny through the very act of trying to avoid it. The month of April could be decisive. By declaring war on the rail workers, Macron has declared war on all the exploited and oppressed layers of the population. Everywhere, left-wing activists and trade unionists must assess this struggle and organise a massive response, even if it means ruffling the feathers of the inert and conservative trade union federation and confederation leaders like in May 68. A passenger who was bumped off a full flight has scored the maximum prize - a $10,000 travel voucher. A spokesman for United Airlines confirmed Friday that a passenger got the big voucher "per our company policy." He declined to name the person. In a series of tweets, Allison Preiss of Washington, D.C., described how she was rewarded after being asked to give up her seat on a Thursday flight. Don't Edit Preiss told The Associated Press she was waiting to board a flight from Dulles Airport outside Washington to Austin, Texas, for a bachelorette party. A broken seat meant the airline had one too many passengers. Agents announced in the gate area that the flight was oversold, and they offered $800 vouchers, then raised it to $1,000 in travel credit, Preiss said. "Since nobody volunteered, they then announced that the lowest-fare passenger would be pulled out of the boarding line," Preiss said. Don't Edit The agents raised the offer for volunteers one more time, to a $2,000 voucher, but when no one responded, Preiss was stopped from boarding the plane. In her tweets, Preiss said that a United employee offered her $2,000 in travel credit but she wanted cash. Then an agent offered a $10,000 voucher. 'They really do not want to give me cash. They just offered me $10,000 in travel credit. TEN THOUSAND," she tweeted. Don't Edit She took it. Along with two $10 meal vouchers. United drew the line, however, at letting Preiss into one of its airport lounges, she said. Preiss said she paid $163 for her one-way ticket, not counting taxes and fees. Asked what she will do with the voucher, Preiss, who manages communications for a liberal advocacy group, told the AP she hasn't decided yet but is considering a trip to Hawaii. United raised the amount airport employees could pay a bumped passenger to $10,000 last year after criticism over the violent dragging of a man off a full flight in Chicago. Some experts doubted that United or Delta, which raised its maximum compensation for bumping passengers to $9,950, would ever pay out the maximum. United did not immediately say if any other passengers have received a $10,000 voucher. Read her tweets below. Don't Edit .@united offering $1K in travel credit for an oversold flight. If nobody bites, they will kick off the lowest fare passenger by pulling them out of the boarding line. For a flight that THEY oversold. Unreal. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit I AM THE LOWEST FARE PASSENGER. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit They are kicking me off this flight. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit They cant board me on this plane because there is a broken seat. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit .@united tried to get me to sign a document that says I volunteered my seat on this plane when I was involuntarily denied boarding. Sketchy af. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit On the upside, I wasnt physically dragged off the plane and my dog wasnt killed on board, so Ive got that going for me...which is nice. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit They really do not want to give me cash. They just offered me $10,000 in travel credit. TEN THOUSAND. Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit This is how badly United didnt want to give me cash: pic.twitter.com/sI7vmbeB2Q Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit I also got two $10 meal vouchers. I am going to go INSANE at Pizza Hut Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit despite this, the airline held pretty firm on not giving me lounge access for the day \_()_/ https://t.co/jrLtFoV7nJ Allison M. Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit The posts drew reactions from others on Twitter. Don't Edit It is kind of sad when @united has set the level of their expected customer service at "We didn't assault a passenger or kill their pet so it was a success." Greg Jachts (@gjachts) March 23, 2018 Don't Edit Well, we think you and your bachelorette party have more than earned a pizza party. Say where and when. We are there. #NoOneOutPizzasTheHut Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) March 24, 2018 Don't Edit Im going to be flying United on a cross-country trip next month. Im low-key sort of half-hoping this happens to me Billy Ray Valentine (@DoctorThick) March 23, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Once, a @United flight attendant said something rude about me within earshot of my husband, and when I approached her about it, she threatened to kick me off the flight. I was pregnant. Dorie Turner Nolt (@dorieturnernolt) March 22, 2018 Andover Police arrested a high school student Monday night after he allegedly shared a threatening photo of assault rifles on social media warning others not to go to school on Tuesday. Around 7 p.m. Monday, Andover Police say they received messages from parents about a threatening photo shared on the Snapchat app. The photo, shared by Andover Police, showed multiple assault rifles with the text "Yes do not come school tomorrow." Following a police investigation, authorities arrived at the home of an Andover High School junior student, who was questioned and arrested. In a statement, police say they found no actual firearms in the student's home, and that the photo he allegedly shared was downloaded online. The student has been suspended from Andover High School "on an emergency basis," according to a statement by police, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan, Superintendent of Schools Sheldon Berman, and Andover High School Principal Philip Conrad. Extra officers were assigned to Andover High School on Tuesday "out of an abundance of caution," though police noted there was no present danger to the community. Over the last month, as gun control protests and news of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida attracted national attention, multiple Massachusetts school districts have reported threats made by students. In recent weeks, police in Holyoke, Springfield, Worcester, and West Boylston have arrested teenage students for threatening their schools and peers. Two people from Texas were arrested Saturday and held after Tewksbury police said they discovered the pair's hotel room packed with military-grade weapons, silencers, handguns, large-capacity magazines, ammunition and a bump stock. Police also found what they called "infernal devices," meaning either explosive or incendiary devices. Francho Bradley, 59, and Adrianne Jennings, 40, both from Frisco, Texas, were arraigned in Lowell District Court Monday. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said the two were ordered held without the right to bail pending a March 30 dangerousness hearing. Tewksbury police said they became aware of the couple when Bradley called police Saturday afternoon to report he thought someone had broken into his hotel room at the Tewskbury Marriot Residence Inn on Andover Street. He was not at the hotel at that time and was worried that he had left an unsecured firearm in the room. He said a surveillance camera he had set on the room door was not transmitting and he feared someone had entered the room. Officers investigated and found not only that firearm but saw a number of semi-automatic military-grade rifles along with numerous high-capacity magazines, authorities said. After a search warrant was secured for the room and the couple's vehicle, the weapons were seized. Bradley and Jennings were arrested and charged with eight counts of possession of a large capacity firearm, 19 counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device, three counts of possession of a silencer, eight counts of improper storage of a large-capacity firearm, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license and possession of a bump stock, a device designed to convert semi-automatic weapons to make them effectively fully automatic. The defendants also were charged with three counts of possession of an infernal device, defined by Massachusetts General Laws as either an explosive or an incendiary device. A biologist whose lab studies pollinating insects will share his insight on bees, butterflies, and the landscape at a Thursday evening talk in Huntington. Dr. Robert Gegear, a professor of biology and biotechnology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, will present his discoveries and ongoing research on pollinators native to Massachusetts. "Insect pollinators, especially the bumblebee and monarch butterfly, are an excellent model to study brain-behavior relationships within a larger ecological and evolutionary framework," Gegear's bio states. The Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee is sponsoring the event. The group says it is interested in preserving and enhancing the "pollinator-friendly" status of the riparian meadows along the east branch of the Westfield River. The March 29 presentation is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Stanton Hall, located at 24 Russell Rd. in Huntington. People with questions may call Meredyth Babcock at (413) 623-2070. Pittsfield police said the body of Dan Lewis, missing since Saturday, was found late Monday afternoon just over the town line in Hancock. The Berkshire County district attorney's office said police responded to the report of an unresponsive person in an area about a quarter-mile beyond a locked fence at the end of West Street. There they found Lewis' body just after 4 p.m. His death does not appear to be suspicious, investigators said. Lewis, who was believed to be suffering from dementia, was first reported missing Saturday evening after he disappeared from a home at Dalton and Plastics Avenue, police said. An extensive search was conducted Saturday night into Sunday, but was unsuccessful. Police said they believed Lewis may have been trying to get to Stephentown, New York, where he had lived previously. He may also have been headed for Hancock, where he grew up. Pittsfield police and Massachusetts State Police detectives attached to the DA's office are investigating. HAMPDEN -- The warrant for Wednesday's special town meeting in Hampden includes only a handful of articles, some of which involve the biggest issues facing this small town at the moment -- including whether to embrace or shun recreational marijuana and the revenue that comes with it. Voters will also decide whether to allow Hampden students to cross town lines to attend schools in Wilbraham. Passage of the school-related articles is necessary to fully execute the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District's five-year reorganization plan, which is currently the subject of a lawsuit that seeks to halt its implementation. A hearing on Hampden's lawsuit against the school district is scheduled for March 30 at the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse in Springfield. No action might be taken on the school-related articles, which were subject to last-minute legal discussions about their validity. However, the marijuana articles could spark some discussion Wednesday, when voters will consider whether to prohibit recreational pot facilities from operating in Hampden, including cultivation and retail businesses. One of the three pot-related articles calls for a moratorium on recreational weed. The temporary ban would be unnecessary if voters approve the other articles, including a zoning amendment that expressly and permanently outlaws the establishment of retail pot facilities in town. Rejecting retail pot means Hampden would also be rejecting potential revenues from the state's burgeoning recreational marijuana industry, including a 3 percent local levy. In November 2016, a majority of Massachusetts cities and towns passed a statewide ballot initiative legalizing recreational cannabis in the commonwealth. Hampden and Wilbraham were among the local communities to vote against legalization. Wilbraham has already taken legislative action to permanently prohibit retail marijuana facilities from opening within its borders, and now Hampden may follow suit. Meanwhile, the school district's phased reconfiguration plan calls for closing Hampden's middle school at the end of this school year and transferring students to Hampden's elementary school. Some Hampden students are expected to seek transfers to Wilbraham schools, so district officials are also preparing for that possibility. By 2022, the reorganization plan calls for closing at least one Wilbraham school and converting Minnechaug Regional High School into a 7-12 educational facility. The Hampden town meeting articles specifically call for amending the regional school agreement to allow Hampden students in grades 6-8 to be permanently assigned to schools in either Hampden or Wilbraham, "regardless of their town of residence." The flexibility is needed because of the chance of one or more district schools closing as a result of the reorganization plan, according to district officials. Hampden voters say they've already rejected this idea in the past. In October 2016, residents voted down a school district proposal to temporarily allow Hampden middle-schoolers to cross town lines to attend school in Wilbraham. Currently, the regional agreement ensures the right of Hampden students to be educated in their hometown until ninth grade, when they cross town lines to attend Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham. Another school article would shift the authority to approve student transfers from the School Committee to the superintendent, who would determine if a transfer is "prudent, can be accomplished, and is in the best interest of the student." Wednesday's special town meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Thornton W. Burgess Middle School, 85 Wilbraham Road, Hampden. This story elaborates on an article published at 7:54 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018: Safety, jobs, cost savings cited in Holyoke meeting on school transport changes HOLYOKE -- Mayor Alex B. Morse said Monday safety is the priority as he considers a proposal from school officials to change the contract for some transportation to vans from buses. Morse commented after a meeting drew over 100 bus drivers and other public school transportation workers and supporters who questioned school officials about safety, cost savings and jobs related to the proposal. "I'm gathering as much information as I can and I will weigh heavily on the recommendation of Dr. Zrike and his team," Morse said, referring to Stephen K. Zrike, the state-appointed receiver managing the Holyoke public schools. "I've met with bus drivers twice now, and I met earlier today with a representative from Van Pool. I think it's important we focus on the facts, and it's important we recognize that city leaders would never make a decision that put the safety of our students at risk," said Morse, who didn't attend the meeting. The decision is ultimately the mayor's because it involves executing a contract. Van Pool provides transportation for special needs students. The meeting of a board of City Council and School Committee members was held at Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St. The session included workers holding signs that read "UFCW Local 1459 Massachusetts Supports Holyoke School Bus Workers," "32 years working for the school buses...Will I have a job??" and "Parents you are your child's voice." UFCW refers to United Food and Commercial Workers. Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez said the board would refer the contents of the meeting to the City Council Finance Committee for more discussion. But it's unclear how that will play out in terms of timing and Morse's plan to make a decision. The change to vans from buses for some of the transportation will save $500,000 to $800,000 next year and $2.3 million to $3 million over three years. Anthony W. Soto, the schools chief finance and operations officer, gave that information in response to a question from Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan. Zrike said the City Council has emphasized the need to cut transportation costs. "We were told pretty directly to do that," he said. "We did what we were told to do....We did what we were asked to do to be good stewards." Cost shouldn't be the priority, workers and union officials said. "Some of these people have been driving 25, 30 years...," said Jeff Jones, staff representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1459. (see video above) "These people are members of the community, they send their students to these schools, they work in the community, they pay taxes in the community and they were not consulted in a democratic manner whatsoever," he said. Zrike has said drivers would have the chance to re-apply for jobs as they do whenever the school district changes contracts. Yadira Bermudez is a Holyoke parent whose special-needs daugther attends the public schools. She worries about her child's safety on a van, she said. "I really would like my child on a mini-bus. They're safer, there's more space and there's accommodations for their special needs," Bermudez said. Zrike has said the proposal would include monitors riding on the vans as they do on buses. Elizabeth Colon, parent of a special needs student, said the key is that the current monitors who know the children remain as monitors. "We need them because they know our child, OK? When they're having a bad day, when they're having a good day, they're there, so they know," Colon said. Regarding safety, Zrike said his understanding is vans are as safe as mini-buses. "So from the information that we've received and we've looked at, there are just as many arguments to make about vans being safer for kids, as well," Zrike said. Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi said that while it's true the City Council asked school officials to cut transportation spending, "I think we have to think about what the face of that savings is." The bus drivers and monitors are residents of the community who are making living-wage jobs. More time should be taken to consider the school transportation issue and let more people have a say, she said. "There are ways to save money. We haven't explored all options," Lisi said. The union also issued a press release before the meeting that said that the proposal to switch to vans could prompt "possibly over 150 layoffs" and that school buses are much safer to transport students than vans or other vehicles. The union criticized that the decision to switch to a provider of vans was done without a public hearing and without a public bidding process. Zrike responded with a press release that said that the public schools now use 37 mini-buses and six wheelchair buses, "not 150 as stated," and that all van drivers will receive training and be retrained annually. Also, special education transportation is exempt from the public bidding law and Northampton, Easthampton, South Hadley and Belchertown are among those that use vans for such transport, he said. UFCW President Daniel P. Clifford said during the meeting that just because special education transportation can be exempt from public bidding doesn't mean that step is the most beneficial one. "So why would you go and do a contract behind everybody's back and not go out to bid? The fairest way to get the best possible price is to cast as large a net as possible and see how many people are interested in bidding on the work," Clifford said. Statement from United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1459: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd Holyoke public schools response to statement from United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1459: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd SPRINGFIELD -- A 57-year-old man died Monday night after falling three stories from a State Street apartment, police said. The man fell at about 7 p.m. while trying to enter his apartment through a window of a building on the 400 block of State Street, and was rushed to a hospital, police spokesman Ryan Walsh said via Twitter. Just before midnight, Walsh said the man died. The 400 block of of State Street begins at High School of Commerce and ends at Walnut Street. This is a developing story that will be updated On Flight 4368 to Washington D.C., Jackie Barden pulled out a card-sized laminated photo of her youngest son from her purse. "That's my Daniel." A large smile reveals his missing front teeth. It's a school picture day photo; his last one. Daniel was one of 20 children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. He was seven years old. Jackie's husband, Mark, sat next to her in seat 7C. Mark is the co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, a national non-profit organization that aims to protect children from gun violence through prevention. "The law of averages and divides don't immunize us from this kind of thing happening to us again. I watch my kids--I watch them go to school every morning and hope they're going to come back," Mark said. Asleep in the row ahead of Mark and Jackie was their sixteen-year-old daughter, Natalie, and in the last row of the plane was their seventeen-year-old son, James. It was clear where the Barden family was headed. "March For Our Lives #ProtectOur Kids" was written in bold white letters on the front of their matching green t-shirts. On the back, "Sandy Hook Promise." News of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people in Parkland, Fla. impacted the Barden family deeply. Jackie had one word to describe it: devastating. Yet, the group of Parkland student survivors-turned-activists ignited a new sense of hope within Jackie and Mark. When the date for the March For Our Lives protest was set for March 24, they booked their flights to the nation's capital immediately. "I think they're the ones that are going to make a difference because their voices are so strong," Jackie said. "They don't have any agenda. It's not political for them." Mark added, "We're watching them advocate for their own future and build the world that they want to live in." Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Jackie and Mark were moved to take action in their grieving Newtown, Conn. community. The genesis of Sandy Hook Promise, where they both serve as board directors, was one month after the shooting took place. Since then, more than 2.5 million people have made the Sandy Hook Promise "to protect children from gun violence by encouraging and supporting solutions that create safer, healthier homes, schools and communities." Volunteer promise leaders are located in 49 states with over 5,100 volunteer promise leaders delivering free Know The Signs programs to schools, such as "Say Something" and "Start With Hello." Sandy Hook Promise avoids the politics of the gun issue in America, instead focusing on the mission Mark says all people can agree on: protecting children and making communities safer by "preventing gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide and accidental discharge." "We know we can train people to look for those warning signs and take action and prevent a tragedy from happening. That's where we found that we can make a sustainable difference that doesn't get us mired down in politics and the old argument of our rights versus freedom," said Mark. "Start with Hello" is a program inspired by Daniel's legacy of kindness that educates kids on being socially inclusive. Daniel's teachers saw the empathetic qualities within Daniel firsthand. "Every one of his teachers would tell us he noticed when kids were sitting alone. He would ask to be excused from an activity just so he could check in on somebody," said Mark. The impact of Daniel's legacy can be seen on a family-run Facebook page 'WWDD: What Would Daniel Do? In Memory of Daniel Barden, Sandy Hook Elem.' created by Mark's niece, Jackie Pickett and her daughter, Mariah. A small conversation was the inception of WWDD. After Daniel's death, Mariah was inspired to reach out to a boy at school who always sat alone. It was what her little cousin would do. She struck a conversation with him. Later that day, he came back to her and asked for her name again, saying how nice she was. When Jackie Pickett found out, she had the idea to spread the message of kindness that Daniel provoked within her daughter, recognizing the power of a small conversation. With over 51,000 likes, the Facebook page, which has also grown to a Twitter following, has touched lives from across the world. Photos and videos of Daniel honor his memory with a call to action of "reaching out to those who appear lonely, performing acts of kindness, having compassion, and by living each day to the fullest." "It's got followers and inspirational stories from people literally from all over the world, who are doing acts of kindness in Daniel's name, who have named their children after Daniel, who have just these incredible stories that continue to perpetuate based on this idea of simple kindness," Mark said. One commenter, Kelley Withey writes on a Feb 22 post, "Daniel your whisper of kindness is becoming a shout. Strong, brave teenage children are being the change they wish to see." Though the Parkland shooting left many angered at authorities for failing to take action after dozens of reports came through on Nikolas Cruz, WWDD takes the stance that "we must never stop doing our part!" The Bardens also agree that so many more people are aware and engaged in the conversation on guns in America now, as proved by the more than 800 "sibling" March For Our Lives protests across the nation. After landing in Washington D.C., the Bardens went to their hotel, where they were joined by other Sandy Hook families and Sandy Hook Promise leaders from across the United States, ahead of the March For Our Lives protest. Seeing the march come to fruition with more than 800,000 people in attendance was "overwhelming and beautiful" for Mark. The Bardens and those affected by Sandy Hook have a common bond with the Stoneman Douglas students and families, a bond born from the loss of loved ones. Listening to teen activists such as Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg and Cameron Kasky fight for universal background checks, comprehensive gun safety legislation and the ban on all assault weapons, brought Mark "absolute hope." "It's this mission that has become really who I am, more than just a part of me, but literally who I am." Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker suggested that the state senator arrested for drunk driving over the weekend could have taken a ride-hailing app like Lyft or Uber. Sen. Michael Brady, D-Brockton, was arrested in Weymouth, a suburb south of Boston, over the weekend. "One thing I would always say, and I think it applies to all of us, is that one of the things that's most important to everybody, everywhere, is we have lots of ride-sharing services and if one's available, people should take it," Baker told reporters at the State House. Baker, who was with Brady at an event inside Florian Hall on Monday night, said he did not have details of what happened over the weekend. The State House News Service reported Brady's arrest on Tuesday, and Brady's office put out a statement quickly afterwards confirming the Saturday morning arrest. "I want to apologize to the Weymouth Police, my constituents, my friends and colleagues in the Legislature for any embarrassment and distraction that this incident causes," Brady said in the statement. "I know that as a Senator, I am held to a higher standard, and I will abide by the advice of my counsel as this matter is adjudicated by our judiciary." SPRINGFIELD -- City Councilor Adam Gomez sharply criticized Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Tuesday for his "callous" comments about a sanctuary at South Congregational Church, with Gomez saying he is among many people starting to refer to Sarno as "Mayor Trump." In a prepared release, Gomez said that Sarno's comments about a Peruvian woman taking refuge at a new church sanctuary on Maple Street are being delivered "in a Trump-like fashion." Sarno has called for a review of the church, including inspections for any housing code violations. President Donald Trump wants a crackdown on immigrants who are in the country illegally, including deportations and the building of a wall along the southern border of the United States. Gomez said the mother who took refuge, who has been identified only as Gisella, has two children, has been in the country for 17 years, pays taxes and was gainfully employed. "(Sarno) uses federal law as a reason for his callous rhetoric, yet the council just spent two hours with his administration ironing out details for recreational marijuana establishments that run afoul of federal law," Gomez said. Sarno, through a spokeswoman, had no comment on Gomez's release. Gomez said Sarno's comparison of his Italian parents coming to the country as legal immigrants following immigration law shows he has "zero grasp on the immigration process today compared to many years ago." Sarno has called on his city departments to inspect the church property for housing code issues and to begin the process to remove the church's property tax-exempt status. Gomez said he is not surprised at the mayor's stance. "Instead of sending code enforcement into this church, maybe he should direct them to the hundreds of other dilapidated structures and unsafe housing caused by absentee landlords in our city," Gomez said. "Our City has more serious issues than to further separate families and hurt places of worship! I wish he attacked those issues with the same energy and vigor." A Massachusetts man who stabbed and beat a dog, known as "Puppy Doe", was sentenced to serve 8 to 10 years in prison Tuesday. Radoslaw Czerkawski, 37, formerly of Quincy, was found guilty by a jury on 12 counts of animal cruelty. He was sentenced in Norfolk Superior Court. Czerkawski will be on probation for two years following his release. "We felt that a substantial period of incarceration was warranted in light of the terrible nature of the abuse, the evidence that the abuse was ongoing for a significant period of time and the kind of injuries discovered in the investigation," Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said. "The evidence of injury in this case was shocking." Quincy residents found a female pit bull, whose name was Kiya, with a fractured skull, spine, ribs and other injuries at a playground in August 2013. The dog had to be euthanized because of her injuries. Investigators learned Czerkawski had her custody, and then located Czerkawski in Connecticut as he traveled away from Massachusetts. Czerkawski is already serving a state prison term for stealing from a grandmother. He blamed a group of youths seen in the area for the abuse. The Boston Herald said Czerkawski is an illegal immigrant from Poland. The district attorney's office said probation would not "delay any removal from the United States by federal authorities." Massachusetts state Sen. Michael Brady acknowledged that he was arrested on Route 18 in Weymouth over the weekend. The State House News Service reported on Tuesday that the senator, a Brockton Democrat, was charged with drunk driving. Brady's statement, sent out after the News Service story, is below. The News Service, an independent wire service covering politics and policy, reported that he was released Saturday morning and arraigned on Monday in Quincy District Court. He was charged with operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and marked lane violations. SPRINGFIELD -- The City Council approved a six-month moratorium on recreational marijuana facilities Monday night aimed at giving the city time to draft local regulations to govern the new businesses. The moratorium, passed by a 12-0 vote, prohibits retail sales and other types of marijuana facilities in Springfield until Sept. 30. That was shorter than the original proposal in January that called for a moratorium lasting up to a year. "I believe the moratorium is in place to make sure that we get it right the first time," said Councilor Adam Gomez, chairman of the council's Economic Development Committee. "We don't have a chance to get it right the second time. The residents of Springfield supported this (recreational marijuana)." The council wants to make sure that business owners and the economic development potential behind the cultivation and sale of marijuana comes and flourishes, he said. Council President Orlando Ramos said the debate needs to begin regarding the process of licensing local marijuana facilities and details such as where they should be allowed and restricted. In late January, the council's Economic Development Committee voted 3-0 to recommend a moratorium until no later than Sept. 30. The original proposal was for it to last until Dec. 31, or sooner if regulations were finalized sooner. Councilors agreed with the city Planning Board that a temporary moratorium is justified to give city planners sufficient time to draft and pass local regulations. Deputy Planning Director Philip Dromey said the Planning Department was waiting for regulations from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, which were finalized this month, to assist in drafting the local regulations. In addition, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission will be meet with Springfield and other communities to discuss model regulations for consideration by the council, Dromey said. Local regulations are intended to provide guidelines for the locations and manner of such marijuana facilities, hours of operation, the number of establishments and restrictions on cultivation, processing and manufacturing that is a public nuisance and signage and establishing civil penalties for violations. Planners said there was no intention to drag out the process. There are already plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Springfield on Cottage Street that also followed a moratorium and local regulations. Insa Inc., formerly Hampden Care Facility, is planning to open the medical marijuana facility this spring, as approved by the City Council. Voters in Massachusetts approved the sale of recreational marijuana by statewide ballot in November 2016, and Gov. Charlie Baker signed the law regulating the retail marijuana industry in July 2017. The regulation of marijuana establishments raises "novel and complex legal, planning, and public safety issues," the drafted moratorium states. "The City of Springfield needs time to study and consider the regulation of Marijuana Establishments and Marijuana Retailers in order to address such noval and complex issues and to address the potential impact of the State regulations on local zoning," the draft states. SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Tuesday ordered an inspection of the South Congregational Church for housing code violations after the church took in a a Peruvian woman facing deportation and her children. The mayor is also seeking to have the church stripped of its tax exempt status. "Please again pursue to the fullest extent of the law," Sarno said in an email to several city departments. "Thank you and God Bless." Sarno's reference to taxes regards the church being exempt from property taxes. Under state law, "houses of worship" are generally exempt from paying property taxes, but not for portions that are "appropriated for purposes other than religious worship or instruction." A woman the Springfield Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition has identified as "Gisella" took refuge at South Congregational Church on Monday, a day before she was scheduled to be deported to Peru. She is wearing a GPS angle bracelet monitored by federal immigration enforcement authorities. Sarno sharply criticized the church, saying Monday he was "disappointed that they would use and exploit this family for their own causes." Gisella, a Springfield resident, has lived in the United States for 17 years, and has been married an American citizen since 2005. She has not been able to resolve her effort for legal residency in the United States, according to the coalition. The church began offering space last June for individuals or families in fear of deportation. Gisella and her children are the first to take refuge there, but the children, ages 10 and 4, are American citizens and will come and go from the church sanctuary, including going to school. The coalition said it does not know how long Gisella will stay at the sanctuary, and that she is welcomed to stay until her legal challenges are overcome. She has no criminal record, organizers said. Rev. Tom Gerstenlauer, senior pastor at South Congregatioal, said Monday that there is no political motive in the sanctuary. "Our faith calls upon us to love our neighbor and welcome the stranger among us," Gerstenlauer said. "Our sense of vigilance is heightened during this most holy week on the Christian calendar.We must and we will persist in faith." Sarno's email was sent to top officials in city departments including Code Enforcement, Housing, Health, Fire, Law, and Assessors. "Now, I am not a cold-hearted person and do have compassion for the family in question, but there must be a clear path to American citizenship, whether it's this case in Springfield or in other parts of our country," Sarno said. "Being first generation, it's simply not fair to all those immigrants, including my parents, who played by the rules and followed the legal immigration path into America." The sanctuary coalition, overseen by the Pioneer Valley Project, announced plans for the sanctuary in June of 2017, and made preparations to house families. At that time, Sarno opposed the plans and instructed his departments to monitor the situation. "There are numerous building, housing,fire, public safety, health and sanitary codes that may arise based on the location they are planning for the proposed shelter," Sarno said in a release last June. "This is a change of use for a building not designed to be safely occupied as a housing shelter." Tara Parrish, director of the Pioneer Valley Project, said the preparations for the sanctuary are designed to make it suitable for the family to live there, sleep, eat, do laundry and other basic needs. In February, Parrish said dozens of volunteers were fully ready and trained to help those who would come to take sanctuary due to imminent danger of detainment or deportation. CHICOPEE - A Springfield woman was arrested for shoplifting after multiple bags of shrimp were discovered in her purse Monday, police said. Police were called to the Stop & Shop on 672 Memorial Drive by store security for a reported shoplifting at about 12:50 p.m. When he arrived, Officer Gerald Nelson was flagged down by an employee who pointed to a woman walking toward his cruiser, said Michael Wilk, police public information officer. He stopped her and escorted her back to the store with the security officer. When she opened her purse to get her identification, several bags of shrimp were found inside the large bag, he said. The security officer then accused the suspect of stealing more than $300 in food and other items but said she dropped some when confronted and fled, Wilk said. Angie Ruiz, 27, of 574 Main St., Springfield, was arrested and charged with larceny over $250. She was arraigned at Chicopee District Court later in the day. SPRINGFIELD -- Several state legislators met with city councilors this week to discuss priorities for state funds and special bills, saying their priorities for the coming year include fair local aid for Springfield and protecting regional bus transportation. The local legislators met with the City Council at City Hall, to discuss the fiscal 2019 state budget and special legislation, and how Springfield will be affected. State Sens. Jim Welch, D-West Springfield, and Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, along with some state representatives in attendance said a top priority is making sure that Springfield gets its fair share of local aid within Gov. Charlie Baker's proposed state budget. The state appears to be in "relatively good financial shape," Welch said. Lesser said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the financial outlook for the state, adding that local legislators work together to lobby for adequate local aid for Springfield and the region. "Our main job is to bring money, resources back to the district," said Rep. Jose Tosado, D-Springfield. "We work together to make sure Western Mass., and Springfield specifically, are not forgotten." That effort extends to ensuring Springfield and the area get sufficient Chapter 70 education funding, and additional funding this year for the cost of helping to educate children that have come to Springfield from the hurricane-ravaged conditions in Puerto Rico, legislators said. State Reps. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield,, and Tosado, said they are among legislators working with the Baker administration on supplemental funding to aid with the cost of taking on additional students. There is also added focus on early education, Tosado said. Councilor Jesse Lederman urged legislators to do everything possible to ensure adequate funding for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority for regional bus transportation. The bus system is vital for people and for the economy, and great concerns about proposals to reduce stops and increase fares, he said. Welch said regional bus transportation is "on all our minds." Gonzalez agreed, saying that when it comes to senior citizens, the disabled, and low income residents, "there's no worse time" to be proposing reductions in funding for transportation. Lesser said he will continue to lobby for high-speed train travel connecting Boston, Springfield, and for train travel to communities north of Springfield. Baker said recently that expanding passenger rail service between New Haven and Springfield is looking good, but expanding service from Boston to Springfield is far less certain. Gonzalez asked city councilors to consider coming to the statehouse to testify in favor of issues such as the improvements in train travel and other legislative issues. City Councilor Timothy Allen said he is very concerned that while the Massachusetts School Building Authority funds up to 80 percent of school construction in Springfield, the amount is capped at $333 per square foot, less than the actual amount estiamted at $500 per square foot. Gonzalez said that is among issues getting attenditon from legislators, including discussions with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and his finance team. Legislators also agreed with Councilor Kateri Walsh that funding for the arts and culture is a priority, and also has an impact on economic development. State Rep. Mike J. Finn, D-Springfield, said tourism and marketing are priorities and new funding mechanisms are being explored. As a nationwide discussion regarding firearms in schools continues, state education officials unanimously decided in Massachusetts Tuesday. The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted Tuesday to approve a resolution opposing arming teachers. Such a resolution was proposed by board member Ed Doherty. The resolution has no regulatory power but states the board's belief that arming teachers would make classrooms in Massachusetts less safe. Board members added Tuesday that teachers are hired for their expertise in education not their "skills as a security officer." "Personally, I stand with Ed and with the many other educators who believe that arming teachers is not the right answer," Jeff Wulfson, acting commissioner of elementary and secondary education, said in a memorandum released before the meeting. "Traditionally, the Board has declined to take positions on public policy decisions that are not directly within its purview. But this may be one of those rare moments where even a symbolic vote is important. Massachusetts leads the nation in so many aspects of elementary and secondary education, and I would be proud to have us play a leadership role on this important issue." State lawmakers passed an act in 2014 prohibiting anyone beyond law enforcement officers from carrying a firearm, loaded or unloaded, on school grounds without written authorization of the board or the local school resource officer. Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which took the lives of 17 people, a handful of lawmakers have proposed legislators to arm teachers. President Trump supported the position during a White House meeting last month, suggesting offering a bonus to teachers who bring their firearms to school. "You give them a little bit of a bonus, so practically for free, you have now made the school into a hardened target," Trump said during the meeting. A sheriff's deputy was at Stoneman Douglas at the time of the deadly school shooting but video footage shows he never entered the school to confront the shooter. He later resigned from his position. The idea of arming educators was popularized following the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Following the attack, which left 20 children and six school staff dead, CEO of the NRA Wayne LaPierre said, "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun." SPRINGFIELD -- Authorities, touching on the recent rash of unfounded threats against area schools, warned those who make them face potentially serious consequences. District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said Tuesday morning 16 threats have been made on social media against schools throughout Hampden County over the last two months. All of the threats were unfounded and most, if not all, were made by students. Eight were made against Springfield schools and the remainder were elsewhere in the county. Those who make threats, even juveniles who think it may be a fun thing to do, face the potential for arrest and incarceration, Gulluni said. "We are putting people in handcuffs and we are taking them out of schools," he said. "Don't do it, don't do it," said Mayor Domenic Sarno. "You will be found, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted." Of the 16 people who made the threats, eight were male and eight were female. They ranged in age from 12 to 17 and most, if not all, were arrested or will be summoned to court to face charges. Gulluni, Sarno and School Superintendent Daniel Warrick addressed school safety and other issues during a press conference at the Springfield Public Schools Central Office at 1550 Main St. Warwick, who said the district has faced "a tremendous disruption" over the last few weeks," thanked Gulluni, Sarno, city police and others for their support. "We really emphasize school safety in Springfield," Warwick said. "Over the last several years we have spent millions hardening the target." Gulluni said penalties for making such threats increase in severity given the level of disruption. They range from six months to two and a half years in jail to three to 20 years in state prison. Wearing a black blindfold, 9-year-old Cashley Rosario spun in a circle three times, stepping dizzily toward a poster of a donkey. Cashley stepped forward with her hands extended and was able to pin the tail just about perfectly on the rear of the donkey. Call it the luck of being the birthday girl. With balloons, a bright purple cake made from The Queen's Cups, a painting lesson and games, this party had all the traditional markings of a great birthday party. The basement C.C. Lowell Art Supply Store in Worcester was adorned with streamers and decorations in the colors of the rainbow as Cashley and a group of her family and friends gathered to celebrate. Cashley's birthday was extra special with the help of 14-year-old Simon Eber. Eber is the kid president of the Worcester chapter of Simon Says Give, a nonprofit that raises money with the goal of kids celebrating kids. Through its fundraising, Simon Says Give hosts birthday parties for children whose family cannot afford to throw one. The organization will also prepare a "birthday in a box" -- party goodies dropped off for a family -- and raises money to give out backpacks full of school supplies. "The idea of helping kids was something I wanted to do," Eber said. "The reason I started it is because I wanted to be the change I wanted to see." Each hosted birthday party starts with a balloon popping game, where guests tie a balloon to one ankle and try to stomp on and pop other guests' balloons while protecting their own. Cashley beamed as she got ready, a purple balloon secured to her right ankle. In between the chaos of balloon popping and cake, Cashley and her guests got a painting lesson from Giselle Rivera-Flores of The Learning Hub. Rivera-Flores taught the group how to create their own version of Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night." The group munched on popcorn while using various shades of blue and green to add movement to their painting. Simon Says Give launched in Minnesota in 2012 when then-7-year-old Mandi Simon wanted to start a way for kids to give back. There are also chapters in Illinois and South Dakota. Eber's father, Jim, met Mandi Simon's mother and brought the idea to lead a Worcester chapter to his son, coincidentally named Simon. Eber decided in 2017 that it was time to launch Simon Says Give in Worcester. "I've learned that some of the things that we take for granted aren't necessarily given to us because I was taking my birthday for granted," Eber said. "Once a year, I get cake and celebrated and gifts from my family, but I learned that kids don't necessarily get that experience, their families don't have the ability to celebrate them." The parties cost about $150 to put together. Though the C.C. Lowell space, The Queen's Cups cake and lesson from The Learning Hub are donated, supplies and gifts must be purchased. To qualify for a party, a child must be living below the poverty line. A family of four that makes less than $50,000 would qualify. Eber connected with Cashley through the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester. At Cashley's party Sunday, Eber played games with the birthday girl and her friends and handed out slices of cake. The kids licked the purple icing off their fingers, the only time during the party that the room was quiet. Cashley wiggled with excitement in a yellow chair as Eber put her presents down next to her. Each party comes with three gifts: A gift of need, a gift of learning and a gift of fun. Cashley received clothing, a make-your-own glow stick kit and a Barbie, respectively. Cashley's parents smiled through the party, taking part in the painting lesson and pin the tail on the donkey. The best part of her party? Simply put, a shy and smiling Cashley said "all of it." Eber, a freshman at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, has raised enough money to do 12 more birthdays this year. In addition to parties and birthday in a box, Eber also puts together backpacks replete with supplies, which are worth about $56 each. He has received grants this month from Digital Federal Credit Union and Cornerstone Bank that triggered a matching grant from Webster Five, which will allow Eber to provide more than 300 at-need middle school students at five Worcester schools with quality backpacks and supplies -- double what he did last year. Eber focuses on giving backpacks to middle schoolers because most programs target elementary school children. He hands the backpacks out in person and lets the children ask him questions about Simon Says Give. "We let the students pick their backpack color. We also know middle school is a time where hormones start to come up," he said. "It's really important to have the stuff you like, not just the stuff given to you." Eber is able to pull off these parties with the help of his father. "Simon intuitively figured out that everything he wanted to do he wanted to have a connection directly to the kids," Jim Eber said. "I'm touched is really what it is." Running Simon Says Give can be a lot of work on top of high school, but Eber wouldn't give up seeing the smile of a birthday boy or girl. "It's a great experience to know that you're really making an impact," Eber said. "I use the word special a lot when I describe it...it really warms you inside. It's like an indescribable feeling that you just get knowing you're doing the right thing and making someone else's life better." On Monday, the United States and its allies expelled scores of Russian diplomats. Moscow quickly vowed to respond in kind. Seems like old times, doesn't it? To be specific, it feels much like the way things were during the Cold War. Good. President Donald Trump has for far too long been treating Russian President Vladimir Putin with respect, with deference, even. That should never have been the case. The Russian president was a KGB honcho when the former Soviet Union and the United States were the world superpowers, constantly vying for supremacy. Putin, one can only assume from his actions, remembers those days fondly, and would like nothing more than to see his nation again viewed as on equal footing with ours. In that sense, the back-and-forth expulsions play into his hand. That said, they are the right thing -- as long as they represent only a first move, with many more likely to come. There is effectively no doubt that Moscow was behind the recent poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in a small city in England. They were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent. This, on foreign soil, in a normal community. In the land of our closest ally. Had such an atrocity been carried out by someone allied with Islamic State or al-Qaida, U.S. officials would have wasted no time in labeling it a terrorist attack. Because that's what it was. But Trump instead phoned Putin following the dictator's so-called re-election and offered his congratulations. Despite having been specifically warned, in all capital letters on the paper in front of him, not to do so. There is no way to know why, exactly, Trump treats Putin as he does. His love of strength and loathing of weakness certainly plays a part. But that surely cannot be the whole of the story. It seems obvious that Putin has something on Trump, something he can hold over the reality TV star's head. Putin calls the tune, and Trump dances. Which is why Monday's act felt so significant. The United States kicked out 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closure of a Russian consulate in Seattle that is located near a U.S. Naval station. The move will likely hinder Putin's spying efforts. If it seems to be working, we should follow Monday's expulsion with more ahead. And added economic sanctions. In a more perfect world, the Cold War would be a remnant of history. But in this very imperfect world in which we're living, with the murderous Putin trying to expand his reach, his power, his influence, we've got to act, and react, accordingly. Russia's interests are not our interests. Nor are Putin's. It's long past time for Trump to start acting as though he actually understands this. Monday's move was a decent step in the right direction. By Matt Murphy STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MARCH 27, 2018....Sen. Michael Brady of Brockton was arrested in Weymouth over the weekend for drunk driving while on his way home, according to his office and the Quincy District Court. Brady, a two-term senator, was on his way home in the early morning hours of Saturday when he was stopped by Weymouth police on Route 18 in South Weymouth and placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was released from custody later Saturday morning, and arraigned Monday in Quincy District Court on charges of operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and marked lanes violations. Brady's office confirmed the senator's arrest on Tuesday morning after inquiries were first made by the News Service on Monday. "I want to apologize to the Weymouth Police, my constituents, my friends and colleagues in the Legislature for any embarrassment and distraction that this incident causes. I know that as a Senator, I am held to a higher standard, and I will abide by the advice of my counsel as this matter is adjudicated by our judiciary. I am grateful for the fairness, integrity and transparency of that process," Brady said in a statement released to the News Service. He said he did not anticipate making any further public comment until the legal process is concluded. The Quincy District Court clerk's office said Brady, 55, was released after his arraignment on personal recognizance with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for April 13. The clerk's office said Brady pleaded not guilty. The Weymouth Police Department could not immediately provide the News Service with a copy of the arrest report. Brady served seven years in the House before winning a special Senate election in 2015. He is currently the co-chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue. Rapper and activist Killer Mike came under fire after an interview he did with the National Rifle Association ran the same day as the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence. Mike apologized on Twitter and blamed the NRA for posting the interview the day of the march. Allies point out he's always been a strong gun rights advocate. But critics say the NRA is a racist organization, and Mike's disparaging comments about gun violence protesters were unacceptable. Do you support Killer Mike? PERSPECTIVES Here's the interview in question. For many, the issue wasn't so much gun ownership as it was the fact that he did the interview with the NRA. I dont have a problem with what @KillerMike said, I have a problem with who he said it for.. #KillerMike #NRA The_Don_Te' (@Ddaniels1120) March 25, 2018 People were angry that Mike claimed, "In Wakanda, everyone has guns." He also criticized anti-bullying campaigns, and seemed to criticize the March For Our Lives protest by saying he'd forbid his children to participate in it: And trying to put the NRA in Wakanda??? That is the literal definition of the sunken place. Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 25, 2018 And for the record, we find guns quite primitive in #Wakanda. Everybody knows this, except you, apparently. pic.twitter.com/EgnBtKUBuv TChalla (@TChalla____) March 26, 2018 But the rapper argued on Twitter that talking to the NRA was not an endorsement of the NRA. He also apologized later to the March For Our Lives organizers and said that they protested "for a noble campaign." Joy I did an interview. Thats no more a co sign than me doing your show. That org used my words to Black America to inflame organizers of this worthy march but i aint their rep. Im just a black guy who is pro 2A & told others to be. Also it was a week Old. Love & Respect https://t.co/L4WNY7hRDn Killer Mike (@KillerMike) March 25, 2018 Others said Mike's activism and record of political advocacy speaks for itself, and that he shouldn't be pilloried for speaking his mind about gun rights. Liberals genuinely believe they have the right to control the thoughts of black people. Theyre attacking @KillerMike for no reason other than his strong belief in the 2nd Amendment and his right to defend himself and his family. SICKENING. CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) March 25, 2018 Critics say the NRA incites and profits from racism, and Killer Mike should never have gone near an organization so hostile to people of color. Yup. The NRA is a white supremacist org that regularly issues thinly veiled threats of violence at its political opponents. It fuels domestic terror movements in the US that kill minorities. https://t.co/LgC3oCKd91 Marcus H. Johnson (@marcushjohnson) March 24, 2018 The rapper clarified that he did not know the interview would be posted the same day as the rally, and gave props to the organizers. I hope this clears some stuff up. Love and Respect to all. Part 1 pic.twitter.com/pq977HEG7A Killer Mike (@KillerMike) March 25, 2018 He later apologized for disparaging the anti-gun activists. Some said people need to accept his apology and move on. Good 4 Killer Mike for apologizing growth is always good https://t.co/z9aOEAXY89 Marcus H. Johnson (@marcushjohnson) March 26, 2018 But activist Brittany Packnett said Killer Mike owes an apology to people of color. He absolutely owed the #MarchForOurLives students for allowing the NRA to use him as a tool against them. He apologized to the students, which Im glad about. But he didnt apologize to black people, who he also allowed to get played. This is a whole problem. Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 26, 2018 If you want to have a conversation about black gun owners, then do so with your own sizeable platform. Heck-do it in partnership w black gun orgs YOU helped start. Dont provide fodder to an org that clearly hates black people. Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 26, 2018 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens made his case for repealing the Second Amendment Tuesday, arguing that the gun lobby has used the constitutional right as a "propaganda weapon." Stevens, who left the bench in 2010 after becoming one of the longest serving justices in history, said in a New York Times op-ed that while the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida has sparked demonstrations and calls for tougher gun laws, activists "should seek more effective and lasting reform." "They should demand a repeal of the Second Amendment," he said, contending that the militia-related concerns which led to its initial adoption are a "relic of the 18th century." Stevens took specific issue with the Supreme Court's 2008 landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which overturned a limited view on the Second Amendment's reach and ruled that the amendment protects an individual's right to bear arms even for non-militia purposes -- a finding which he called "wrong and debatable." The former justice, who was among the decision's four dissenters, argued that the ruling gave the National Rifle Association "a propaganda weapon of immense power" and should be countered by more than just efforts to seek new firearms regulations. "Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the NRA's ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option," he wrote. Steven argued that it would move those behind the March for Our Lives movement and other activists "closer to their objective than any other possible reform" by eliminating the only legal rule that protects firearms sellers. "It would make our schoolchildren safer than they have been since 2008 and honor the memories of the many, indeed far too many, victims of recent gun violence," he added. Stevens' op-ed was published in the newspaper just days after students, activists and others took to the streets around the United States to bring attention to gun violence and call on lawmakers to take action to prevent future firearms-related deaths. President Gerald Ford, a Republican, nominated Stevens as a Supreme Court associate justice, and he joined the high court in December 1975. John Kingston, a Winchester businessman and Republican running for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, has launched a coalition of female supporters to help promote his 2018 bid, campaign officials announced Tuesday. The "Women for Kingston" coalition, which the campaign described as "a network of creative, energetic and compassionate women whose mission is to support John Kingston's candidacy for U.S. Senate," will be led by Jean Kingston -- the Republican's wife -- and Worcester County Register of Probate Stephanie Fattman. In addition to supporting Kingston's bid to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the coalition will also focus on "giving back" to communities across the state -- something which the GOP candidate sees as a "lifelong mission," according to his campaign. Fattman, the coalition's co-chairwoman, said she's "thrilled to be part of such a tremendous group of women who care so much about our community." "Both Women for Kingston and U.S. Senate Candidate John Kingston embody the true meaning of community service and giving back to our Commonwealth," she said in a statement. "I look forward to being part of such an extraordinary team that is so dedicated to helping others." Fellow co-chairwoman Jean Kingston added that the group wants "to honor his lifelong commitment of giving back and serving the communities around us." As its first project, "Women for Kingston" will hold a food drive at the Republican's Woburn campaign office, located at 331 Montvale Ave., from March 27 to April 6, officials announced. Non-perishable food items collected as part of the drive will be donated to the Woburn Council of Social Concern, campaign officials said. Aside from Kingston, other Republican candidates looking to unseat Warren in 2018 include: Beth Lindstrom, a former aide to Mitt Romney and manager of Scott Brown's 2010 Senate bid; State Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman; Allen Rodney Waters, of Mashpee, Darius Mitchell, of Lowell, and Heidi Wellman, of Braintree. Shiva Ayyadurai, an entrepreneur who filed to run as Republican, meanwhile, announced in November that he would cut ties with the GOP and run as an independent. Republicans from across the state will gather for their state party convention next month in Worcester, where they will endorse candidates for statewide and congressional offices. A state Senate committee is recommending that Massachusetts implement a state-level net neutrality policy, in response to the federal government rolling back federal net neutrality rules. The Senate report also recommends that Massachusetts do a better job ensuring consumers' privacy while using the internet. "We must fill in the gap left by the federal government in the areas of net neutrality and consumers' broadband privacy," said Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, chairwoman of the Senate Special Committee on Net Neutrality and Consumer Protection. Net neutrality is the concept that an internet service provider must treat all internet content the same -- and cannot block or slow down particular content or websites. The Federal Communication Commission adopted net neutrality rules in 2015 but overturned them in 2017, under the new chairman, Ajit Pai, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. A group of state attorneys general, including Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, are challenging the repeal. Congress and Trump also overturned 2016 rules related to internet privacy, which regulated how internet service providers can use customers' private information. The seven-member state Senate committee was formed to examine the implications of these decisions. The committee wrote in its report, "The Committee finds that the FCC repeal of net neutrality protections opens the door to network management practices that could harm consumer choice, technological innovation and the free flow of information on the internet." State-level net neutrality bills have been proposed in 27 states, including Massachusetts. Several bills have also been proposed in Massachusetts prohibiting internet service providers from disseminating customers' personal information. The committee is proposing legislation that would protect consumers from "blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization in the provision of internet service." It would create a registry for internet service providers and require the companies to be transparent about their network management policies. The bill would prohibit internet service providers "from collecting, using or disseminating consumers' personal data without their consent." Additional costs would be paid for by a fee paid by the internet service providers. Any action by the state is likely to bring up legal issues regarding whether federal law preempts state action. The committee wrote that it believes the proposed state legislation would withstand a legal challenge. Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, said in a statement that the proposed legislation "is the first step in ensuring that consumers maintain their rights and privacies." Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, the committee vice-chairman, said, "Effective internet access is essential for all of us, and we need to ensure that practices like throttling and blocking aren't used in Massachusetts to disrupt that access and compromise the fairness we should expect from service providers." The Senate committee will hold a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday at the Statehouse. The bill will need to pass the Senate and House and be signed by Gov. Charlie Baker before it becomes law. Attorney General Maura Healey is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the federal government after U.S. officials decided to add a question about citizenship to the U.S. census in 2020. Healey has the support of Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, who has accused the Trump administration of "sabotaging" the census. "This is nothing but a blatant attempt by the Trump Administration to frighten minority groups away from being counted and to sabotage the 2020 Census," Galvin said in a statement. Galvin called the citizenship question "completely irrelevant to the process" under the Constitutional requirement that every person living in the United States be counted. Galvin said Tuesday that he intends to talk to Healey about the possibility of bringing legal action. Healey has not been shy about bringing lawsuits against the federal government when she believes U.S. policy under President Donald Trump will harm Massachusetts. An aide to Healey said she already intended to join a multi-state lawsuit, led by the New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman. "The Census is supposed to count everyone," Healey said in a statement. "This is a blatant and illegal attempt by the Trump Administration to undermine that goal, which will result in an undercount of the population and threaten federal funding for our state and cities. We will sue to ensure a fair and accurate Census that counts the people of Massachusetts." The U.S. Department of Justice had requested that the U.S. Commerce Department add a question on citizenship to the 2020 census in order to get more accurate data on citizen voting age population so government can better detect violations of minority voting rights. But advocates for immigrants, and for states like Massachusetts with large immigrant populations, said immigrants would be less likely to fill out the census if they had to answer a question on citizenship. Advocates, including Galvin, argued that this was an attempt to undercount immigrant populations. Census data is used to decide things like allocation of federal funds and apportionment of congressional seats. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced his decision Monday in an eight-page memo. Ross wrote that he has decided to place a citizenship question on the census, while also asking the federal government to update its administrative records so the two can be matched. He said this would allow the government to get a large amount of self-reported data but also determine if non-citizens misreported themselves as citizens -- which happened around 30 percent of the time on a prior federal survey. Ross wrote that he did consider the possibility of a lower response rate. But, he concluded, "I find that the need for accurate citizenship data and the limited burden that the reinstatement of the citizenship question would impose outweigh fears about a potentially lower response rate." Ross wrote that he has seen limited evidence about whether the question would materially decrease response rates. The census, which takes place every 10 years, asked a question about citizenship until 1950. Since then, the question has only been included on the "long-form" survey, a survey that is sent to a smaller sample of people to collect demographic data on the population. This story was updated with comments from Healey. WILBRAHAM -- Local Republicans have already picked their slate of candidates for the annual town election May 19, and now it's the Democrats' turn to choose their slate. The Wilbraham Democratic Town Committee is holding a nominating caucus March 31 at the Police Department, 2780 Boston Road. Doors open at 10 a.m. and voting begins at 10:30 a.m. All registered Democrats in town may seek to be nominated for town office. Also, all registered Democrats and unenrolled voters may participate in the caucus. Meanwhile, here is the slate of GOP candidates chosen last week by the Wilbraham Republican Town Committee: Robert Russell James Jurgens for moderator; Lawrence LaBarbera for assessor; Dr. William J. Bontempi Lloyd Elliot for school board; Donald Bourcier for cemetery commissioner; James Dunbar for water commissioner; Raymond Burk for library trustee; D. John McCarthy for library trustee; and James Burke for Housing Authority; "The last three years, unfortunately, have been consumed with a handful of issues, the middle school issue being the most central," said Bontempi, who's looking forward to another three-year term on the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee, which he currently chairs. Board of Selectmen Chairman Robert W. Russell thanked fellow Republicans for nominating him for a third term on the three-member selectboard. "It's been the privilege of my life to be a selectman in this town that I grew up in," said Russell, "and I would very respectfully ask for one more time." Longtime Belgrade business Chalet Market of Montana and its owners Mark and Gwen Croghan have been honored by their Made in Montana peers as the 2018 Retailer of the Year. The Chalet Market first opened in 1976 by a group of local ranchers who were looking for a way to locally sell their meat. In 2012, the Croghans purchased the Chalet and continue to produce and sell their own Montana-made smoked meats. Their charming chalet-style store is just south of the I-90 interchange on the way to Big Sky and West Yellowstone. http://commerce.mt.gov/News/PressReleases/belgrade-business-wins-2018-retailer-of-the-year-at-the-made-in-montana-tradeshow Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine have tested a new weapon in the fight against Alzheimers. In mice tests, the team has demonstrated an antibody that can clear away the diseases characteristic build-up of proteins in the brain, which may lead to an early-stage treatment to prevent symptoms from occurring. Michael Irving https://newatlas.com/alzheimers-antibody-brain-plaques/53960/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=c7f1e5e507-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-c7f1e5e507-92465361 Air Mauritius wishes to inform the public that following the lifting of travel restrictions on the route, it is resuming domestic flights on Rodrigues as from 01 July 2020. Daily flights have been scheduled as follows: Departure Arrival Mauritius Rodrigues 11 h 30 13 h 00 Rodrigues Mauritius 14 h 00 15 h 40 Passengers are reminded that they are required to abide by measures imposed by the authorities and wear face masks for the flight. International commercial passenger flights will remain suspended until 31 August 2020. We will, however, continue the operation of repatriation flights and maintain our scheduled commercial cargo operations. The Air Mauritius call centre is open every day from 08H00 to 20H00 (Mauritian time) for customers who require additional information. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Le leader du Parti Travailliste a ete linvite dhonneur de la Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Federation le 1er Mars a Grand Bassin dans le cadre de la fete Mahashivaratree. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 184 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Nicolas Terraz, who has been recently appointed President of Exploration and Production and member of the executive committee of TotalEnergies, will participate in Africa Oil Week (www.AfricaOilWeek.com) in Dubai. He will deliver an opening address on Monday 8 November 2021 on TotalEnergies strategic position within the evolving African upstream landscape. TotalEnergies remains strongly committed to Africa, and we look forward to sharing and discussing our vision at Africa Oil Week in Dubai, says Terraz. Terraz will be accompanied by Henri-Max Ndong Nzue, TotalEnergies Senior Vice President for Africa, and Kevin McLachlan, the companys Senior Vice President of Exploration. Both will take to the stage to discuss current operating trends, and outline value-creation opportunities through high-impact portfolios and new entry prospects. This impressive line-up of speakers from TotalEnergies complements its high-profile involvement as one of Africa Oil Weeks leading sponsors. For many years, TotalEnergies has been a loyal partner of Africa Oil Week, considered as the major event of the oil industry on the African continent. Terraz joined TotalEnergies in 2001 and was Senior Vice President for Africa from 2019 until August 2021, before being promoted to his current position. The appointment of Ndong Nzue, who replaces Terraz as Senior Vice President for Africa, is significant, particularly in the African context. Until recently, Ndong Nzue was previously Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Americas at Total Marketing and Services, and also held the position of Managing Director of Total Gabon. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Le Premier Ministre a explique a la Chambre lors de la seance parlementaire du 17 Juin 2019 sur lutilisation du Special Reserve Fund de la Banque de Maurice comme lentends le chef de gouvernement et Grand Argemntier dans lexercice financier 2019-2020. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Soodesh Callichurn a repondu a Adil Ameer Meea concernant Betamax lors de la seance parlementaire du 13 juillet 2021 ainsi quune autre question sur COVID-19 Solidarity Fund que la STC a recolte sur la vente du diesel et de lessence B/650 The Honourable Third Member for Port Louis Maritime and Port Louis East (Mr Ameer Meea) To ask the Honourable Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection Whether, in regard to Betamax Ltd., he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the State Trading Corporation, information as to the costs incurred in relation to the Privy Council case, giving details thereof? Mr Speaker Sir, I wish to refer the Honourable Member to the reply I made to the Private Notice Question at our sitting of 17 June 2021 on the subject. On 15 June 2021, the State Trading Corporation (STC) received a legal claim for a sum of around Rs 5.68 Billion representing damages, legal and arbitration costs incurred before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and interests. However, this amount excludes the legal costs associated with the hearing of the review before the Supreme Court of Mauritius and the appeal before the Privy Council , which are not yet known. I am informed by the STC that payment to Betamax Ltd has been effected on 22 June 2021. The Honourable Third Member for Port Louis Maritime and Port Louis East (Mr Ameer Meea) To ask the Honourable Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection Whether, in regard to Mogas and Gas Oil, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the State Trading Corporation, information as to the total quantum of funds collected on the retail price thereof and contributed to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund in the price structure since November 2020 to date, indicating till when money will be collected on the retail price thereof and contributed to the said fund? Mr Speaker Sir, I am informed by the State Trading Corporation (STC) that the total quantum of funds collected on the retail price of Mogas and Gas Oil and contributed to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund since November 2020 to date is Rs 527,842,920 for both Mogas and Gas Oil. The item Contribution to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund of Rs 4.00 per litre was introduced in April 2020 in the price structure of Mogas and Gas Oil in order to meet expenses in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. This quantum was reduced to Rs 1.00 per litre in December 2020. Mr Speaker Sir, As regards the last part of the question, I wish to remind the Honourable Member that Mauritius is still COVID-19 affected and the question of till when the amount collected on this item will be contributed to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund remains a policy decision for Government to take at the appropriate time in the light of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Jonas Cullwick, a former General Manager of VBTC is now a Senior Journalist with the Daily Post. Contact: [email protected]. Cell # 678 5460922 Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Cross-posted at Social Europe. Thomas Carothers has recently written an article in Foreign Affairs, the prestigious elite journal published by the US-based Council on Foreign Relations. The article asks: is the US hypocritical for criticizing Russian election meddling? Given the place of publication, the unsurprising conclusion is that it is not. The problem is the US is a champion meddler. Consequently, the argument crumbles every time Carothers reaches for substance. At the end of the day, the defense reduces to the claim that we (the US) are good and they are evil, so that our meddling is a net good and theirs bad: the trends of US and Russian behavior are divergent, not convergent with Russia on the negative side of the divide. That is a moral superiority defense which is doubly flawed. First, the US can still be a hypocrite. Second, framing great power international relations in terms of moral superiority quickly promotes crusader thinking, which is a grave menace to all. Meddling Since The Cold War The first line of defense is that the US meddles less now than in the Cold war. But exactly the same can be said of the Russians. Moreover, since the US is far wealthier than Russia, its democracy manipulations now dwarf those of Russia measured in financial terms. On top of that, the recent history of US meddling is of an order of magnitude worse than that of Russia. In the Ukraine, which is a highly sensitive space on Russias border and historically part of the Motherland, the US helped promote a coup in 2014 three months before scheduled elections. Moreover, this intervention in the Ukraine came on top of 20 years of the US pushing NATO into former Soviet bloc countries. That has put US forces closer and closer to Russias borders, and violated the end of Cold War understanding that former Soviet bloc countries would remain outside NATO. Elsewhere, in 2016, following an illegal and unconstitutional coup in Honduras, the US supported the juntas consolidation of power. Going back to the previous decade, there was the internationally illegal invasion of Iraq and the promotion of a coup in Venezuela. And before that, in 1996 there was the mother of all interventions when the US intervened to influence Russias election in favor its preferred candidate, Boris Yeltsin. Carothers fesses up to that, but fessing up does not mean acquittal. In short, not only has there been a lot of US meddling since the end of the Cold War, it exceeds Russian meddling. The Democracy Promotion Charade The second line of defense is that the US is different because of its democracy promotion efforts, which are not matched by Russia. It is absolutely true Russia does not have such programs. But we must be careful to distinguish between rhetoric and reality. Forty years ago, the Soviet Union was dedicated to liberating the workers of the world, but no one except a Soviet apparatchik would have counseled taking this at face value. Similar skepticism is warranted regarding US democracy promotion. The US is for democracy promotion when it suits its interests, and against it when it does not. Strategically important undemocratic allies are given a free ride, while unfriendly undemocratic countries are subjected to subversive meddling in the name of democracy. Seen in that light, US democracy promotion is the twin of democracy meddling. Both are tactics serving US interests. The hollowness of the US commitment to democracy promotion is evidenced by how quickly it is dropped when real interests come in to play. That is forever etched in the record by the way the Tiananmen Square protests were conveniently forgotten when trade with China was at stake. Similarly, democracy concerns are always excluded from the room in dealings with Saudi Arabia. That is exactly how a great power with important interests is expected to behave. But it speaks to being done with the democracy promotion charade, which the US elite pumps up to gain rhetorical advantage in international relations and disingenuously enlist the support of common citizens. The US Is A Double Hypocrite Any honest assessment of US democracy would compel the admission that the real threats to it lie within the US. These threats include fake corporate-produced news, the political power of money and corporations, gerrymandering of congressional districts, voter suppression, built-in representational biases from the electoral college and Senate, and obstruction of change from the first-past-the post electoral system which blocks emergence of new political parties. Compared to those problems, Russias Facebook interventions are a small time side-show. Moreover, Russias actions are par for the course of international relations, as long practiced by both the US and itself. It is relatively easy to further secure the US voting system, and there is much that can readily be done to make US democracy more competitive and informed. But a high quality democracy is not the real goal. Instead, the US elites obsession with Russias election meddling is a circus aimed at distracting the public from domestic problems, and at increasing national security paranoia to justify more military spending and more domestic surveillance. Warning: Dont Be Conned By The Democracy Meddling Narrative How we got here, how to address authoritarian Russias encirclement fears, and how to restrain the US imperial impulse are huge questions. A good starting place is to strip away US hypocrisy regarding democracy meddling and democracy promotion. Doing so does not imply moral equivalence, but it has two huge benefits. First, it can help avoid getting locked into conflict on grounds of false principle. Second, it can help surface the real concerns and conflicts of interest that must be managed. All of this is especially important for Europe, where the damaging backwash of US actions are now so often felt. Share this: Email Google Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Twitter Print ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor's new zoning regulations for medical marijuana businesses took effect last month, and the city has seen a flurry of applications from cannabis entrepreneurs. That includes existing dispensaries seeking to become official under new city and state regulations, new ones looking to open, and at least one planning an expansion in the heart of downtown. A review of city records shows at least 25 dispensaries have sought approval to operate in Ann Arbor this year. Five of those already have gone through zoning approval and 20 others are pending. The city three months ago agreed to let 18 existing marijuana businesses continue to operate while they go through the new licensing process that's now playing out. The city's Planning Commission has the task of considering each dispensary's application and deciding, with city staff input, whether they qualify for special zoning approval to allow them to operate. They do not go to City Council for approval, though the council established the rules for them. One of those rules is that dispensaries must be spaced at least 600 feet apart to avoid clusters of them. In recent weeks, the Planning Commission has approved zoning for five dispensaries: Arbors Wellness at 321 E. Liberty St., Treecity Health Collective at 2730 Jackson Ave., Greenstone Society at 338 S. Ashley St., Stadium Ventures Inc. at 2460 W. Stadium Blvd., and Medicine Man of Ann Arbor Inc. at 2793 Plymouth Road. The commission postponed consideration of two other dispensaries -- Green Planet at 700 Tappan Ave. and Liv Wellness and Cafe at 603 E. William St. -- at its last meeting. Applications for many others are still pending and none have been denied yet, said Brett Lenart, the city's planning manager. Lenart notes once the zoning is approved, dispensaries still need building compliance approval, permit approval through the city clerk's office and license approval through the state. City records show the following 20 existing or proposed dispensaries in Ann Arbor are still seeking zoning approval right now: Peoples Choice Alternative Medicine, 2247 W. Liberty St. District Arbor 1, 3005 Packard Road District Arbor 3, 3720 Washtenaw Ave. Om of Medicine, 111 S. Main St. Scientific Method Holdings Inc., 202 Miller Ave. Scientific Method Holdings II Inc., 1115 Broadway St. CannArbor Inc., 2019 W. Stadium Blvd. Exclusive Brands LLC, 3820 Varsity Drive Exclusive Brands LLC, 1251 N. Main St. Michigan Natural Remedies, 1202 Packard St. Parkhurst Services, 3294 Winewood Ave. Liberty Gallery Inc., 702 S. Main St. The Rabbit Club, 450 S. Main St. Green Planet, 700 Tappan Ave. Liv Cafe N Wellness, 603 E. William St. Pure Roots LLC, 3430 Washtenaw Ave. TC MI Ann Arbor 2 LLC (TreeCity), 1958 S. Industrial Highway Huron View, 3152 Packard Arborside, 1818 Packard St. Bloom City Club, 423 Miller Ave. Lenart said there's no "District Arbor 2" on the list because that was one of six additional dispensary applications that were submitted but were within 600 feet of other dispensaries, so they're not allowed. The application submitted by Exclusive Brands LLC for 3820 Varsity Drive, doing business as the Exclusive PR Center, is for a growing/processing facility with a dispensary. Lenart said he believes about five growing or processing facilities have been approved. As for the dispensaries awaiting official approval, Lenart said the Planning Commission will be considering the applications over the coming months. Four are scheduled for the commission's April 3 meeting, and another three on April 17. The city of Ann Arbor website includes a link to this map showing some (though not all) of the city's approved marijuana dispensaries (shown as green stars), other medical marijuana business applicants (shown in blue), 600-foot required buffers between dispensaries (shown in yellow), 1,000-foot school buffer requirements (shown in red), and zones that allow dispensaries (shown in green). Dispensaries have submitted their safety and security plans, business plans, floor layouts, hours of operation, odor mitigation plans, lease agreements, landlord permissions and other information. Om of Medicine, which has been operating at 112 S. Main St. for several years, is seeking approval of a new dispensary location across the street at 111 S. Main St., where it plans to relocate. The plans submitted to the city last month indicated the company was investing $200,000 into building out its new and bigger space. Once complete, Om of Medicine intends to move from its 4,000-square-foot, third-floor space on the west side of Main Street to a 5,500-square-foot space with street-level presence on the east side of Main Street, occupying the first floor and basement level. "I'm excited about that. We'll get a lot more walk ins," said Mark Passerini, Om of Medicine co-founder. Passerini said the renovations are underway and the new space should be open by June. He said there's definitely high demand for medical marijuana in Ann Arbor and people travel from as far as the Upper Peninsula to come to Om of Medicine for medical marijuana. He said the dispensary currently serves about 80 to 90 patients per day. He said people, including older folks, like the professional setting, which is why they travel so far to come here. As the industry continues to grow and if recreational marijuana becomes legal in Michigan, Passerini said, Om of Medicine may further expand its new space to include the second floor in the future. But at the moment, while medical marijuana dispensaries are still in the process of becoming official in the eyes of the city and state, he said, "We're in this kind of limbo area, kind of purgatory." The proposals submitted to the city for dispensaries known as District Arbor 1 and District Arbor 3 both describe them as new medical marijuana companies led by businessman Jason Abro, who is identified as the operator of 43 Sprint stores and 10 MetroPCS stores. "The company was inspired by the personal experiences of the ownership group, witnessing first-hand the positive impact that medical marihuana can provide for suffering patients," the proposals state. "Jason is passionate about helping sick people with alternatives to live a better life," they continue, promising to provide a comfortable and secure environment with knowledgeable and passionate team members who care about improving the lives of patients. Laura Vaughn, who died in 1973, was born and raised in Ann Arbor and was known for her artwork. ANN ARBOR, MI - Jon Byrer never got the chance to meet his grandmother, but he feels like they've been close his entire life. The 40-year-old, born in Ann Arbor, has lived in Maine most of his life. He grew up loving art and was constantly reminded by his parents that his deceased grandmother, Laura Vaughn, shared the same passion. "They always told me that my grandma loved art just like I did and that we were very much alike," Byrer said. "We never met, but I've always felt a connection there." With the help of his wife, Byrer recently started a Facebook page to help get in contact with artists across the country to help find his grandmother's work. He is hopeful much of her work still resides in the Ann Arbor area, where she lived her entire life. "I feel confident that there must be people in Ann Arbor who have her work," he said. "I would love to see photos if they are willing to share since that is where she was based and sold the majority of her work." Please share! Hunt for Grandmas Art! This summer a young lady asked me what artist inspired me the most. Instead... Posted by Jon Byrer Art on Saturday, February 3, 2018 Byrer said his grandmother was a well-rounded artist, who did just a little bit of everything. From pottery, to making jewelry, to sculpting, and of course painting, Byrer was impressed when his parents showed him several pieces of her work which they found recently in their home. Byrer said Vaughn's work was ahead of its time for her era. She died in 1973. "She was definitely out there as an artist," he said. "She wasn't just making bowls and plates and stuff. She was ahead of her time and died before I ever got to meet her." While showing his own paintings at an art show in Jackson, Maine, last summer, Byrer was asked by a young girl where his inspiration came from. He thought for a moment, and gave the most obvious answer. "I thought back to this past summer to when I went home and saw all my grandmother's old stuff," he said. "There were little metal sculptures all over the place. Ceramic faces all over the walls. Made copper frames with pieces of wood in them. They told me all these stories about her art I never knew. "My real inspiration was my grandma." Byrer said Vaughn was a part of the Ann Arbor Potters Guild and would bury her pieces she was dissatisfied with in the backyard of her house on Hogback Road. She sold most of her artwork to dealers and collectors across the country, he said. Byrer has already heard from two distant relatives in Alaska and Florida who have pieces of her work and is hopeful more people will reach out once word gets around. Her name is labeled on most of her work, Byrer said, and her pieces are easily recognizable. Byrer is not looking to buy back her work, but merely have people send him photographs for his collection. "Ultimately, I want to make a photo book of her collected works and potentially get a show of her work together," he said. We've been talking about a big primary day coming up-- May 8-- and focussing on lively primaries in North Carolina and Indiana , where Democrats have an opportunity to elect valient progressives Dan Canon and Jenny Marshall. May 8th, though, is also primary day in Ohio. In theory, November should be a good opportunity for Democrats to win back some congressional seats in Ohio. There's a gubernatorial race and a Senate race. According to a new poll by SurveyUSA , Sherrod Brown is running way ahead of both GOP front-runners, multimillionaire right wing crackpots Mike Gibbons (who has written his campaign a $854,654 check) and Jim Renacci, also a multimillionaire and another freaky Trumpist. The survey shows Brown beating either one of them 52% to 38%. Those would be some good coattails to be rising for a congressional candidate, especially in suburban districts that have turned toxic for Republicans because of Trump's and Paul Ryan's disapproval numbers. The crowded gubernatorial field is coming down to a contest between Dennis Kucinich and Richard Cordray, who are tied at 21/21, the only candidates in double digits. (The likely GOP nominee, Mike DeWine, looks like he could beat either.) Favorable/unfavorable job ratings for current office-holders seem to be signaling the 2018 could be a good year for Democrats: Senator Sherrod Brown (D)- 55-27% Governor John Kasich (R)- retiring- 54/31% Homophobe Mike Pence (R)- 46/41% Senator Rob Portman (R)- 44/37% Senor Donald Trumpanzee (R)- 41/51% But are the Democrats fielding any credible candidates in Ohio's super-gerrymandered congressional districts? The DCCC has endorsed one candidate so far, Aftab Pureval, a county clerk in the first congressional district where the incumbent is Steve Chabot; it should be a top tier race, but it isn't. As of the December 31 FEC deadline Pureval hadn't raised any money. Shockingly, there isn't a serious challenger in OH-02 (Brad Wenstrump), OH-04 (Jim Jordan), OH-05 (Bob Latta), OH-06 (Bill Johnson), OH-08 (Warren Davidson), OH-12 (open-Tiberi ), or OH-16 (open-Renacci). There are 4 red districts were there are at least Democrats trying, although all would have to be rated as long shots, very long shots... even in a wave cycle: OH-15 (Steve Stivers)- Rick Neal OH-14 (David Joyce)- Betsy Rader OH-10 (Mike Turner)- Theresa Gasper OH-07 (Bob Gibbs)- Ken Harbaugh These 4 are at least raising some money to get their message out and make sure voters know there's a candidate challenging the incumbent. In fact, Harbaugh actually outraised Gibbs-- $690,227 to $455,200-- as of December 31. (Caveat: Gibbs has a campaign war chest with $1,298,289.) There's no reason that the Democrats should be fighting well-financed vigorous campaigns in OH-01 (Cincinnati, PVI R+5), OH-10 (Dayton, PVI R+4), OH-12 (northern Columbus metro, PVI R+7), OH-14 (Cleveland, Akron suburbs, PVI R+5), OH-15 (southern Columbus metro, R+7) and OH-16 (Cleveland, Akron, Canton suburbs, R+8). There's a special elections coming up for Tiberi's seat (OH-12) on August 7 (so it's just for 3 months) and the primary is May 8 for both the special and the general. There are 10 Republicans and 6 Democrats running. The Dems include Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, reactionary Franklin County Recorder Danny O'Connor and last cycle's congressional candidate Ed Albertson. None of the Democrats have raised enough money to finance a competitive campaigns though people have noted that OH-12 should be an easier climb for a Democrat than PA-18's special was last month. Remember in Pennsylvania, the PVI was R+11 and in OH-12 it's only R+7. In the Pennsylvania district Trump beat Hillary by 19 points. In the Ohio district it was just 11 points. Conor Lamb spent $3,031,838 on the race and the DCCC and allied groups spent another $1,919,746. By way of comparison, the OH-12 Democrat who had spent the most as of December 31 was John Russell-- $20,454. All this aside, Cook has changed the district's rating from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" and Sabato's Crystal Ball changed the race the same way-- from likely to lean. Although the Republicans have a 2-1 registration advantage, more than half the voters are independents and the independents will determine who wins. According to a report from CNBC on the race If a Democrat has a shot of winning the district, the candidate will likely need to win over highly educated independents and Republicans in Columbus' outskirts who disapprove of Trump. Having to go through a primary process could make that more difficult for a Democrat in Ohio than it was for Lamb, said Mark Weaver, a Republican strategist at the Columbus-based Communications Counsel. To win a primary election, candidates often have to go closer to their party's extremes. It can make them less appealing to general election voters. Republicans have argued Lamb had an easier path than other candidates will this year because he did not face a primary election. It allowed him to take moderate stances that would not have held up had he gone through a primary, they contend. "Most Democratic primaries won't produce a former Marine, former prosecutor, good-looking white guy who loves to shoot AR-15s and who says he's personally pro-life and wants to toss out Nancy Pelosi," said Weaver, who is working as a consultant for the GOP candidate Bacon and has worked with Balderson in the past. Of course, the primary election concerns go both ways. Weaver says the risk for Republicans in the district is nominating someone whose views skew too far to the right "who cannot win a general election." That may prove particularly important in Ohio's 12th District, where voters are more educated than the median congressional district. Highly educated voters generally tend to have more socially liberal views and take more time to research and understand the candidates. So why does this matter, other than hurting Democrats' chances to take back the House? Imagine if there were serious, active campaigns by Democrats in every congressional district, encouraging the Democratic base to get out and vote. Even if the candidates didn't win, they would be helping other candidates up and down the ticket-- Sherrod Brown, for example, or mayors, supervisors, etc. But, like we implied in the title, Ohio hasn't had a living, breathing Democratic Party in decades. YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - The shooting death of a Superior Township man last week may have been an act of self-defense, police say. Police continue to investigate the death of Ishmael D. Pugh, 28, who was fatally shot March 19 in the 6800 block of Maplelawn Drive in Ypsilanti Township, said Washtenaw County Sheriff's Sgt. H. Eugene Rush. Rush confirmed that though the investigation is ongoing, police believe the incident may have been an act of self-defense. The 44-year-old Ypsilanti Township man suspected in the shooting was released without charges. Details regarding the incident were not available, but early indications suggest an altercation took place during a "motorcycle transaction," police said. Police were called about 3:15 p.m. to a disturbance in the area of Maplelawn and, while deputies were en route, received several calls that the altercation had escalated and someone had been shot. The suspect called police as he fled the scene and arranged for officials to meet him, police previously said. At the time of his death, Pugh was on probation for a 2017 incident of unlawful use of a motor vehicle in Saginaw, Michigan Department of Corrections records show. The Saginaw News reports Pugh was accused of stealing a motorcycle while already on parole for vehicle theft. He previously spent time in prison and on probation for larceny, unlawfully driving away an automobile, uttering and publishing, and using false pretenses to defraud or cheat. BAY CITY, MI -- A Midland man who robbed a Bay County gas station with a needle still hanging from his arm said he planned to use the stolen cash to fund his fatal heroin overdose. A judge was not mollified by the young defendant's account, and opted to send him to prison. Alex W. Stevenson, 20, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill for sentencing on the afternoon of Monday, March 26. Stevenson in February pleaded no contest to armed robbery, the lone charge he faced. Before the judge imposed sentence, defense attorney Bruce K. Mannikko described Stevenson's case as one of the more tragic ones he's handled, saying a bad heroin habit led his client to holdup the Speedway station at 6303 Westside Saginaw Road in Frankenlust Township on the night of Dec. 5. "It was a terrible decision, a serious crime," Mannikko said, adding his client held a hand in his pocket and mimicked having a weapon during the robbery. Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Huber took issue with Mannikko's characterization, saying it wasn't fair to say Stevenson acted solely out of his addiction. "If that were the case, he had every opportunity to speak with probation or parole in Midland and avail himself of the services available there," Huber said, referencing the fact that Stevenson had earlier been granted Holmes Youthful Trainee Act status on some first-degree home invasion and uttering and publishing convictions. The act allows a judge to place a defendant between the ages of 17 and 24 in jail or on probation without a conviction. If the defendant successfully completes the terms of the judge's sentence, he or she avoids having a criminal record. "It seemed like they had offered him an olive branch," Huber continued. "Less than two years later, it seems he's throwing that olive branch in the garbage and escalating his behavior. This is an extreme escalation of violence and criminality that this young man has exhibited. This young man does not care about society, he doesn't care about the safety of the public, he doesn't care about right and wrong." Gill allowed Stevenson a chance to speak. "That night, I never said I had a gun," Stevenson said. "Not one time. I said I had something. I never said it was a gun. I wasn't trying to hurt nobody that night beside myself." He said he had a full-time job when he committed the robbery and he planned on buying enough heroin to overdose. "You are rationalizing, Mr. Stevenson," Gill told him. "What you did was very horrible. You don't take full responsibility. You wouldn't be making excuses. There is nothing mitigating about what you did. It's very serious." The judge added, however, that because of his age, he has hope that Stevenson can be rehabilitated. Gill ended up sentencing Stevenson to a prison term of seven to 10 years, with credit for 109 days already served. Footage shot by a surveillance camera in Speedway showed Stevenson holding his right hand in his jacket during the crime, which led to the clerk thinking he was concealing a gun, police reports state. The clerk handed over $101 in cash and Stevenson fled. The next day, after the images were circulated by the press and on social media, detectives received a tip identifying Stevenson as the robber. Police went to Stevenson's mother's home in Sanford to speak with her. She said her son had arrived home from work about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 5. Shortly thereafter, she caught him with a syringe and a tin of suspected heroin, a broken needle stuck in his left arm. They argued to the point that Stevenson told her he was not going back to jail and that the police would have to kill him. Stevenson left in a white Mercury sedan, his mom told police. Shown photos from the Speedway's cameras, Stevenson's mom identified her son as the culprit and said he may head to the Rose City area, where his uncle lived. She urged police to find her son before he hurt someone, court records show. After leaving his mom's house, Stevenson went to a BP station on M-20 in Midland County and pumped $38 in gas. He left without paying, though he provided the clerk with his first name and cellphone number, court records show. Michigan State Police troopers soon found and arrested Stevenson in Rose City. He still had the broken needle in his arm and was transported to McLaren Bay Region hospital for treatment, before being lodged in the Midland County Jail. On being read his Miranda rights by police, Stevenson confessed to the Speedway robbery. He said had bought heroin once on Dec. 4 after receiving a $397 paycheck from his job, then twice again on Dec. 5. He said he was high when he committed the robbery and didn't mean to hurt anyone. When police asked him if he deliberately concealed his right hand to make it seem as though he had a gun, he replied, "Not necessarily. I wanted (the clerk) to think I had something, but not a gun." Stevenson said that after the robbery, he thought he drove to Saginaw and spent the stolen cash on more heroin. "Stevenson stated that he was trying to kill himself by overdosing," police wrote in their reports, contained in court files. "Stevenson stated that he is not suicidal, but stated that if he did not wake up after taking a bunch of drugs, he was OK with (it)." BAY CITY, MI -- A Saginaw County woman admitted in court that she lied when claiming to have been raped by a stranger in the parking lot of Delta College. Mary T. Zolkowski, 21, on Tuesday, March 27, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran and pleaded guilty to one count of false report of a felony, the only charge she faced. The charge is punishable by up to four years' imprisonment and a $2,000 fine, though Sheeran has indicated he'll sentence her to probation and not impose incarceration on her initial sentence. Zolkowski said she committed her crime on Feb. 22. "I called Delta College and falsely reported the rape on their campus," Zolkowski told the judge. "My mother made the initial call and I took the phone and continued to report." Sheeran asked Zolkowski why her mom called the college in the first place. "She was concerned for me," Zolkowski replied. "Had you told her something that made her call?" the judge asked. "Yes, I told her I was raped," Zolkowski said. "I told them it happened in the back parking lot. I didn't say who by." "Did you ever name or accuse any individual?" "No." "Why did you do that?" the judge continued. "I was assaulted previously, not at Delta's campus," Zolkowski said. "And because I was ashamed of circumstances of that, when my mother called, I vented through Delta, which was very wrong of me. I should have been truthful from the very beginning, and I used Delta." Sheeran did not ask her to elaborate on the specifics of her claim to having been previously assaulted. Zolkowski's attorney, James F. Piazza, said his client has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, conditions for which she is receiving treatment. "She has been and will continue to be on psychotropic medication related to her illness," Piazza said. He added that she is engaged to be married and plans on going back to school. Case background When Zolkowski first spoke with police over the phone on the night of Feb. 22, she said that about 5:50 p.m. that day she had been walking to her vehicle on the campus at 1961 Delta Road in Frankenlust Township, fumbling with her keys, when a man grabbed her from behind. She said he grabbed her face and throat and proceeded to rape her, without wearing a condom. When it was over, the assailant jumped into the passenger seat of a vehicle and took off. Zolkowski could not provide a description of the vehicle, adding she "kind of blacked out," court records show. She only described her attacker as a black man. Police began a lengthy investigation, despite Zolkowski expressing unwillingness to participate or submit to a physical examination. During it, investigators learned a parolee with sexual assault convictions was on campus at the time of the alleged attack. He denied any knowledge of the incident and passed a polygraph test. At one point, Zolkowski told investigators she dropped her classes at Delta due to the attack, but police learned she had in fact dropped her classes prior to Feb. 22. After failing to turn up any evidence that the sexual assault had occurred, police again spoke with Zolkowski, who changed her story to say she had been raped by an acquaintance earlier on Feb. 22 at his Saginaw Township apartment. She did not want this man prosecuted, she told police. Police interviewed the man Zolkowski named as her assailant. He said he had been with Zolkowski on Feb. 22 and that they had engaged in consensual sexual intercourse. He provided investigators with text messages they had exchanged, in which Zolkowski claims to have been raped by a stranger at Walmart after they had separated. In another message, Zolkowski asks the man not to participate in the police investigation, court records show. Zolkowski is free on bond. Judge Sheeran is to sentence her at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 7. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is considering an investigation into the alleged discriminatory conduct of Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand based on a request from Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies. Dobies sent a two-page letter and 189 pages of media coverage to Agustin Arbulu, Michigan Department of Civil Rights director, on Monday, March 26, and said he spoke with him over the phone. At a three-hour Michigan Civil Rights Commission meeting Monday, Arbulu said his staff plans "to determine whether the jurisdiction standards are met" within the letter for a formal complaint to be opened. He expects a decision will be reached within 15 days. "Then the question would be ... if there's a harm there ... the sheriff could be charged based on discrimination," Arbulu said. "It's fairly early right now to say what really could be done. "Going into an investigation is not one with a determination that he did this or he didn't do that, but rather to do a very impartial delve into the request that's being made and see are they legitimate, are there damages, what are the injuries, how might we be able to address it." Arbulu said that could entail in-depth training or monetary damages, among other remedies. If the mayor's letter is determined to be a formal complaint, an investigator would be assigned and the investigation could take up to six months, Arbulu said. Attorney General Bill Schuette's office has refused to confirm whether it's conducting its own investigation into derogatory comments Rand made on publicly released recordings targeting women, blacks, the disabled, the LGBT community and other groups. "It is our department policy neither to affirm or deny an investigation by the Attorney General's Office," Assistant Attorney General Ron Robinson told the Civil Rights Commission Monday, March 26. The commission then voted to send a formal letter to the Attorney General's Office requesting a response as to whether a criminal investigation is underway. Bishop Ira Combs Jr. of the Greater Bible Way Temple in Jackson, who was appointed to the Civil Rights Commission by Gov. Rick Snyder and sworn in Monday, abstained from the vote. Combs said he is a friend of the sheriff. "There is a call by the (Jackson) County Commission for the governor to remove the sheriff," Combs said. "Some of us don't agree with that, we think that the work of the Department of Civil Rights would be much more beneficial and helpful in calming the attitudes and the fireworks that have erupted in that community. "He did sincerely apologize, but ... there are ... a whole host of tapes out there that are currently still in the custody of the detective and he's threatening to reveal even more salacious details of racism and statements of discrimination." Combs said it would be beneficial to conduct sensitivity hearings with the public and offer training to Jackson Sheriff's Department. "Jackson could use some improvement in all areas," Combs said. "I think (the sheriff) should help solve the problem. He should stay there, he apologized, he should work with the training, cooperate with the community to ... and bring people together to reconcile and help solve the problem." Combs says the sheriff still has enough support in the community to be an effective leader. "People need to stop trying to drive these people out like they're not a part of the community as well," Combs said, adding that he's confident the sheriff is not racist, despite allegations the sheriff called a former deputy a "dumb n-----" and referred to black suspects in a case as "f------ monkeys." "Anytime a public servant not only allows their office to be a haven to degrade and demean African Americans, women, Hispanics, the LGBT community and people with disabilities, but directly participates and encourages that behavior, it erodes the public trust," Dobies said in his letter to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. The Jackson City Council and Jackson County Board of Commissioners have both called on Rand to resign, which the sheriff says he has no plans of doing. The possible civil rights investigation comes after audio tapes were released by a lieutenant who is suing Jackson County and the sheriff in federal court. Audio tapes released by the lieutenant show that Rand referred to a female judge as a 'scatter-brained c---,' and that he'd like to make a pornographic film in which he kills a courthouse employee while having sex with her. The sheriff has acknowledged it is his voice on the tapes. Outside of a resignation, the only paths to removing Rand, an elected official, from office are gathering 13,606 signatures from registered county voters for a recall election or to have the governor remove him. Jackson County sent a letter to Gov. Rick Snyder asking he remove Rand. That letter was forwarded to the Attorney General's office for review, before it makes a recommendation to the governor. FLUSHING, MI -- A researcher who connected the corrosiveness of Flint water with lead contamination and Legionnaires' disease in the city isn't blaming the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or Director Nick Lyon for the problems. Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech professor who helped expose problems in Flint water, said Monday, March 26, that DHHS has earned his trust, and said officials at the state Department of Environmental Quality are primarily to blame for allowing the water emergency. Edwards' comments came in the 19th day of the preliminary examination of Nick Lyons, DHHS director, who is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office. The professor acknowledged his own problems dealing with DHHS, but maintained his position during sometimes sharp questioning from special prosecutor Todd Flood. Edwards is expected to be back on the witness stand Tuesday, March 27, in the preliminary examination for Dr. Eden Wells, the state's chief medical executive, who also faces potential involuntary manslaughter and other charges related to the water crisis. "After I started working with ... MDHHS, (it) was a good example of what government agencies (should do) ...," Edwards told Genesee District Judge David Goggins on Monday. "Dr. Wells was helping us (and I believe) these were trustworthy people. Maybe they made some mistakes in the past, (but) they worked hard to help us." Edwards was called to testify by attorneys for Lyon, potentially to blunt the affect of testimony for another professor -- Shawn McElmurry, who led research into the cause of Legionnaires' outbreaks in the Flint area during parts of 2014 and 2015. The outbreaks coincided with the city's use of the Flint River as its drinking water source. Edwards maintained the DEQ's failure to require treatment of the water to make it less corrosive to lead pipes and plumbing triggered elevated lead levels in water and created an atmosphere where Legionella bacteria could thrive. The professor said DEQ violated the Lead and Copper Rule, leaving Flint with the "devastating" consequences. "Was the DEQ hiding the lack of corrosion control from the public and other government agencies?" Britt Cobb, an attorney for Lyon asked Edwards. "Yes," he said. Edwards told Goggins he did his own, limited testing for Legionella bacteria in homes and large buildings and concluded that the effort to find a cause for the outbreaks should focus on large buildings, particularly hospitals. "I don't know why they were sampling so extensively where Legionella were not" present, Edwards said. McElmurry has testified Lyon and other DHHS officials resisted when he advocated for testing focused on home water filters and felt the director "did not want to find more Legionella" in Flint. The Wayne State professor led a research team -- Flint Area Community Health and Environment Partnership -- that contracted with the state to study the Legionnaires' outbreaks, but the group ended its contract with the state to continue working here at the close of 2017. Edwards said that like McElmurry, he had some difficulty working with DHHS during the water crisis, but ultimately received information he sought about blood lead levels. In one email he wrote to Dr. Mona Hannaa-Attisha of Hurley Medical Center, Edwards complained DHHS was abusing its power by delaying the release of information about a rise in the blood lead levels of Flint children. Hanna-Attisha is the peditrician who studied the level of lead in children's blood, concluding that the percentage of children with elevated lead doubled while the Flint River was used for drinking water. Lyon said in an email in advance of a news conference by Hanna-Attisha in September 2015, "I would like to make a strong statement with a demonstration of proof that the lead blood levels seen are not out of the ordinary and are attributable to seasonal fluctuations." Edwards said he could imagine himself making such a statement because DHHS had examined the same blood lead data and concluded the increase was not substaintial enough to make an obvious connection to the use of river water. The professor said other data that was collected about Flint water made the connection more probable, and DHHS eventually embraced Hanna-Attisha's study. "I read Mr. Lyon's email (as having been) completedly appropriate," Edwards said. "It's wrong to say there was a lie ... I characterized it (previously) as a missed opportunity. I stand by that today" PORT HURON, MI -- A man serving a life sentence for killing a man in Port Huron in 1986 is asking Gov. Rick Snyder to pardon him. Temujin Kensu was sentenced to life in prison the Nov. 5, 1986, slaying of Scott Macklem in a parking lot at St. Clair Community College. Temujin Kensu is shown in this photo from the Michigan Department of Corrections. A Burton native, Kensu, 54, was formerly known as Frederick Freeman. He has maintained his innocence and has been fighting to get his conviction and life sentence overturned. He is seeking the pardon based on claims of his innocence and the fact that he has a brain tumor. The pardon application was filed March 21 on Kensu's behalf by Lansing-based Dickinson Wright PLLC and Michigan Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School. "Mr. Freeman's case is a perfect example of a conviction that begs for clemency," according to the application. "Judges in both state and federal court have recognized significant flaws in his trial and the lack of evidence against him." Kensu's case has been featured on the television show "Investigation Discovery" and there also was a $50,000 reward for anyone with credible information that would lead to his exoneration. An appeals court judge in 2010 overturned the first-degree murder conviction, citing an ineffective lawyer and a prosecutor's misconduct, according to Proving Innocence, a Detroit-based non-profit group that has worked to secure his freedom. But the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction in 2015. Kensu has appealed his case to U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Kensu insists he was hundreds of miles away in the Upper Peninsula when Macklem was killed and that there was no evidence at the crime scene that connected him to the murder. Prosecutors say Kensu killed Macklem because he was jealous of Macklem dating an ex-girlfriend. The state and St. Clair County prosecutors say he is guilty. A witness said at the trial that he saw Kensu drive away from the crime scene. It was later found out that the witness was hypnotized and gave a wrong license plate. Kensu grew up in Burton but lived with his grandparents who lived on Milbourne Avenue in Flint and attended Southwestern and Northern high schools. MISSAUKEE COUNTY, MI - After five months of searching, police have found two bodies that they believe match the description of a missing northern Michigan couple. On Monday, March 26, Michigan State Police troopers and police dogs from the Gaylord, Cadillac and Houghton Lake post found the bodies, according to a Michigan State Police news release. Jeff Hurley, 34, of Prudenville, and Alexandria Foust, 19, of Cadillac, were last seen Nov. 7 in a vehicle in the Dead Stream Swamp area of Norwich Township, not far from Higgins Lake. Their vehicle was found stuck in mud and multiple personal belongings of the two were found, but there was no sign of the pair. After searching for the couple for four days and with the threat of inclement weather -- four inches of snow and extreme cold surged into the area Thursday, Nov. 9 ---police decided to suspend search efforts late Friday, Nov. 10. At that point, police said, the family was advised search efforts would be transitioned into a potential recovery mission. Police conducted numerous searches between Nov. 7 and March 26 in the 11,689-acre flooding area known as Dead Stream Swamp. Searches included volunteer operations, police dog teams and state police helicopter searches, police said. Weather was a factor in the search, police said, with ice and snow initially making searching difficult and later warmer weather allowing search teams to access new areas. Families were notified of the discovery of the two bodies and told police would confirm their identity as soon as possible, police said. The investigation is ongoing, and police said the family will be updated when the bodies are positively identified and the causes of death are determined. LANSING, MI -- The state's Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Commission are inviting Michigan hunters and residents to provide input on the response to a contagious illness that has spread through Michigan deer in recent years. The two organizations will host a series of public engagement meetings across Michigan to hear suggestions and comments from people interested in chronic wasting disease and its impact on the health of the state's deer herd, according to a DNR press release. Chronic wasting disease is a contagious and fatal central nervous system disease found in deer, elk and moose. It causes a spongy degeneration of the brain, resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and, ultimately, the animal's death. Since the DNR started testing deer for CWD, both the sample size and the number of CWD-positive deer has increased over the years. From April 14, 2015 to May 31, 2016, 5,385 deer were tested for CWD with seven CWD-positive results. As of March 13, 2018 the DNR has tested 30,706 deer total with 57 CWD-positive deer. High rates of the disease in a deer population could significantly affect the number of deer and could decrease the potential for older deer, especially more mature bucks. "Michigan's hunters have successfully partnered with the DNR for many decades on wildlife and conservation challenges and opportunities," DNR Director Keith Creagh said. "We know they care deeply about the long-term health and vitality of Michigan's wildlife, and right now the state's wild deer population faces no more serious issue than chronic wasting disease." The following are locations and times for the upcoming chronic wasting disease public engagement meetings: Bay City, April 10 Cadillac, April 11 Kalamazoo, April 12 Detroit, April 17 Rockford, April 18 DeWitt, April 19 Marquette, April 24 Iron Mountain, April 25 Gaylord, May 1 Newberry, May 2 Houghton, May 3 Vicki Pontz, Natural Resources Commission chairwoman, said both the commission and Department of Natural Resources are focused on achieving specific chronic wasting disease management objectives. Those include slowing the spread of the disease, achieving a low prevalence rate, preventing the disease from reaching new areas and maintaining Michigan's hunting traditions. At the meetings, DNR staff will provide an update and collect written ideas on how best to address the issue from attendees. Those unable to attend a meeting may participate in a web-based opportunity that will open April 10 at michigan.gov/cwd. Pontz said hunter and citizen involvement is critical in containing and ending chronic wasting disease. "We want to hear from our stakeholders," she said. "We are asking them to share their thoughtful opinions on any new hunting regulations they believe may be needed before the start of the 2018 deer hunting season." Since 2015, CWD-positive deer have been found in Clinton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent and Montcalm counties. CWD has not been found in the Upper Peninsula, but was discovered in Wisconsin approximately 40 miles from the western Upper Peninsula border. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans and there is no evidence chronic wasting disease presents any risk to humans, either through contact with an infected animal or from handling venison. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals. Meeting information, additional ways to provide input on CWD management, the latest testing numbers and more information are available at michigan.gov/cwd. UPDATE: Power was restored to all of the more than 7,000 Consumers Energy customers affected by the outage. KALAMAZOO, MI - Widespread power outages are reported at Western Michigan University. WMU has announced a two-hour delay, until 10 a.m., for the start of classes and business hours. Kalamazoo Public Schools cancelled classes at Northglade Elementary, King Westwood Elementary, and Hillside Middle School. The power went out around 1:50 am. Tuesday, March 27. Consumers Energy reported that about 7,600 customers remain without power. The power is estimated to be restored by 8 a.m., Consumers spokesman Brian Wheeler said. Wheeler said that a cross arm on a power pole broke, bringing down the electrical line. Crews are on the scene. They suspect that strong overnight winds damaged the power pole just north of Stadium Drive. WMU said in a statement: "Due to a Consumers Energy issue, the Western Michigan University campus has experienced a widespread electrical energy blackout ... ." Programming has also been interrupted at WMUK (102.1-FM, Western Michigan's public radio station. Sorry due to a power outage regular programming has been interrupted. Hope to be back soon. You can still make a pledge at https://t.co/RIoIDSDDjc. @WesternMichU Kalamazoo campus is closed until 10 this morning. WMUK 102.1 FM (@wmuk1021) March 27, 2018 CALHOUN COUNTY, MI - Police arrested a Harper Creek student who allegedly made an overnight threat on social media. Police have determined that it is safe for Harper Creek Community Schools children to attend classes Tuesday, March 27. Someone reported the student's social-media post. Police investigated the incident, and took the student to the Calhoun County Juvenile Home. "The Emmett Township Department of Public Safety has determined that all school business are safe to be open today," police said in a statement. INTERLOCHEN, MI - Derek Weller, an Interlochen Arts Academy double bass instructor, said what he remembers most about Draylen Mason is his "big, memorable smile." Mason, 17, was a victim in a series of package bombing attacks in Austin, Texas, that left him and one other person dead and four others badly wounded, including Mason's mother, according to the Associated Press. Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, filmed a cellphone confession to the three-week-long bombing spree hours before he detonated a bomb inside his car while he was inside, killing himself in the blast. When Weller first heard about the bombing that occurred on March 12, he thought it was horrible, but it did not resonate as he did not know who the victim was. Then Interlochen Arts Academy contacted him to tell him Mason, his former student, was among the victims. Mason, an Austin resident, had participated in the Interlochen High School Double Bass Institute, an intensive one-week program where instructors work extensively with students one-on-one at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Weller said he worked with Mason for many hours every day over the course of the week and gave Mason private lessons. Mason loved music and the bass, Weller said. Mason was very expressive when he played, Weller said. He was confident and a good bass player. Beautiful concert performance from Draylen Mason - the teenage victim of the Austin package bomb This is Draylen Mason on the bass. The brother was gifted. This performance is Vanhal Concerto mvt. 1. Dray was murdered by a package bomb in Austin, Texas on Monday. Posted by Shaun King on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 Mason was selected as one of the top 10 percent of participants, performing in a special honors recital at the end of the program. Weller said Mason performed a Bach piece on the bass that was originally written for the cello. "He was a great kid," Weller said. "He'll be very much missed in the bass community." Although most of the kids get along at Interlochen, Weller said Mason was a particularly affable young man. "He was full of life, full of energy," he said. "He got along with everyone, everyone liked him a lot." More than anything, Weller said, he remembers how expressive Mason was. And that smile, which can be seen in many photos of the teenager. "That's typical of Draylen," Weller said. "That big, warm smile." Marine Cpl. Brandon S. DeYoung, a 2015 Spring Lake High graduate, was recently awarded the (NAM) Navy and Marine Achievement Medal for meritorious service while formally stationed in Kaneohe, Hawaii and on tour in Japan. DeYoung is in his third year of enlistment. Air Force Airman Mitchell D. Vandlen, a 2016 Allendale High graduate, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Air Force Airman Diamond M. Kelly, a 2017 Kelloggsville High graduate, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Air Force National Guard Airman Joshua Camp, a 2017 West Michigan Aviation Academy graduate, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Air Force Airman Owen M. Schott, a 2017 West Ottawa High graduate, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Air Force Airman Nicholas A. Beauchamp, a 2015 Hastings High graduate, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Navy Fireman Braxton Bowley, a 2016 Three Rivers High graduate, is a hull maintenance technician serving aboard USS Boxer, based in San Diego, California. As a Navy hull maintenance technician, Bowley is responsible for being a plumber who does all of the welding and metal work for the ship. "I have learned to take responsibility for what you have done both good and bad," said Bowley. "Taking responsibility for all your actions will instill the pride and honor to make better decisions." The USS Boxer is an amphibious assault ship that resembles a small aircraft carrier. Approximately 3,000 sailors and Marines serve aboard the ship and their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. Air Force Airman Kyle S. Lefler, a 2010 home school program graduate from Plainwell, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Air Force Airman Hannah D. Kendziora, a 2017 Onsted Community High graduate, recently completed basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Puls, Jr., a 2002 Muskegon High graduate, was recently recognized as the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest Sailor of the Year. The award recognizes an enlisted sailor each year for his/her significant contributions to the command. Puls, who has served in the Navy for 15 years, is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operations of the Public Works Department Self-Help division at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. He is a carpenter and mason who also trains in a variety of combat readiness skills and leads six junior sailors in providing facility support for 80 different commands. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony C. White, a 2014 Sterling Heights Stevenson High graduate, recently received the Blue Jacket of the Year Award at U.S. Cyber Warfare Command. White has served for more than three years and is a cryptologic technician (collection) serving at Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group (NCWDG) located in Suitland, Maryland. As a cryptologic technician, White, operates state-of-the-art computer systems to conduct Information Operations; collect, analyze and exploit signals of interest to identify, control and safeguard access to classified material and information systems. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Maryam Thomas, a 2001 Detroit Southeastern High graduate, is an aviation ordnanceman working with the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center stationed aboard Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada. A Navy aviation ordnanceman is responsible for storing servicing, inspecting and handling all types of weapons and ammunition on Navy aircraft. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A new Grand Rapids Police Department policy guiding officer interactions with youth is now in effect after the final draft was presented to the city commission Tuesday, March 27. The policy, coupled with additional training, requires officers to consider the "most reasonable and least restrictive" options of interaction while maintaining public and officer safety, department policy and the rights of the youth while engaging juveniles. It instructs officers to prioritize the least-restrictive options when dealing with youth, according to Raynard Ross, a leading member of the public-safety task force and Grand Rapids Community College associate dean. "The policy language itself definitely indicates the goal above all else is to take the totality of circumstances into consideration before making the decision to cuff and whatnot," Ross said. "This is a first step, likely not the last step, but a step that codifies some expectations and clearly says to officers what the department and what the city expects of them as they go out and do their work." The youth interactions policy was born out of a Dec. 6 incident in which 11-year-old Honestie Hodges was handcuffed by police at gunpoint as she was leaving her Grand Rapids home with her mother and aunt. Police were searching for another of her relatives -- a 42-year-old woman -- who was a suspect in an attempted murder case. Soon after, residents voiced their concerns regarding how police interact with youth like Hodges. Many compared the incident to a March 24, 2017, case where five unarmed black youths were stopped at gunpoint by officers investigating a report of an armed youth leaving the scene of a fight in a small group. Grand Rapids city commissioners Joe Jones and Senita Lenear made a push for a new department policy -- the "Honestie policy" -- at a Dec. 19 meeting. "Over the last year it became evident that additional protective measures for the youth were needed regarding police interactions," said Deputy Chief Eric Payne. The policy "The Grand Rapids Police Department recognizes the impact of its involvement with youth," reads the policy's official purpose statement. "While youth are afforded the same constitutional protections as adults, the Grand Rapids Police Department acknowledges and appreciates the need for additional protective measures while encountering youth." The policy states that officers should take into consideration a list of factors, if available, when interacting with youth. Those include: Nature of the complaint or contact, including probability of possessing a weapon. Age, intelligence, mental capacity, and physical condition. Prior contacts/history with officers. Likelihood to comply with parental control. Cooperation and attitude of all parties and the likelihood of the offense being repeated. Likelihood that the youth can be successfully referred to a supporting social service agency. Much of this additional information would ideally be relayed to the officer from dispatchers, or collected by officers on scene, Payne said. Alternative actions to be taken by officers for youthful offenders, as listed in the policy, include: Warning, with no enforcement action taken Refer the youth and parent/guardian to a Diversion Program (i.e. The Bridge, HQ, etc.) Citation (Municipal Civil Infractions and Traffic Citations) Referral to family court in lieu of a custodial arrest Custodial arrest with lodging at Kent County Juvenile Detention The policy requires officers to inform a parent or guardian in the case of a youth being patted down, searched or handcuffed. The interaction must also be documented in the incident report. "When safe, under the totality of the circumstances, officers shall consider a youth's age, whether known or objectively apparent to a reasonable officer, when determining whether or not to apply handcuffs or restraints," reads a portion of the policy. "If, during a preliminary investigation or contact, it is determined that a youth is not a suspect, all efforts should be made to ensure the youth is not left unattended for the duration." Police Chief David Rahinsky said the policy would be distributed Tuesday. Additional training for youth interactions and crisis intervention has also begun and will continue department-wide. Feedback from the commission Third Ward Commissioner Senita Lenear asked presenters Tuesday to explain how the new policy would have affected how police interacted with Hodges during the Dec. 6 situation. Ross responded by detailing improvements to the department's simulation training, which now includes children. Officers are asked to dissect their decision-making process following the training. "I won't say this policy alone will be foolproof and that we will never have such an incident," Ross said. "I'm optimistic that we won't but I think it'd be unfair and borderline foolish to say its 100 percent preventable. But I think, with the guidelines here and training associated with it, it's highly unlikely we'd have a similar situation." Lenear was persistent in asking what concrete changes would come as a result of the policy. Ross agreed that the language was subjective, but said the policy provides stronger guidelines and streamlines an officer's options to help control the "human element." "I do believe the command staff in the room has a real commitment to changing how the department interacts with the public, and not changing it to where safety isn't priority No. 1, but changing it to when at all possible, the benefit of the doubt will be given to the public, particularly children," Ross said. Payne added that several groups vetted drafts of the policy and provided input, including Grand Rapids Area Pastors, West Michigan Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust, the Police Policy and Procedure Review Task Force, and the chief's IMPACT youth advisory council. The deputy chief said the department took input from IMPACT youth in adding that an officer should determine the "probability of the youth possessing a weapon" prior to engaging them. Public input was also taken into account at various community meetings. Lenear recommended that police department command staff come up with data sets of incidents with juveniles to be used as a baseline. She asked the chief to provide further data 6-12 months after training is concluded to measure the policy's effectiveness. Rahinsky agreed, and said the policy is only as good as the training, which will continue to be implemented moving forward. Second Ward Commissioner Joe Jones said the policy is part of a greater attempt to change a culture within the community, particularly with regards to how youth and historically marginalized communities are treated. He called the policy "something to build on." "What's critically important is that we continue to provide options around protocol," Jones said. "I get in some instances there's only one way to go, I get that, but I think with the very sensitive nature of incidents that have occurred, I think there needs to be several options that will give us the best outcomes and not outcomes that bring trauma for young people or those who have been historically marginalized." Here's a look at the department's youth interaction policy. 'Star Trek' actor Zach Quinto tried to boldly go undercover at a Starbucks on the campus of the University of Michigan. Didn't work. MLive first told you about Quinto's Ann Arbor visit last week. People spotted him on the same day actor Steve Carell was seen touring the campus with one of his kids. "The Late Late Show" host James Corden called Quinto out on his show last night because of a woman named Sophia who tweeted she spotted Quinto using a fake name. "I went into the coffee shop on a break to grab a coffee and I said Josh, and I'm sorry about it." Corden asked why he said Josh. "I don't know. Because when I'm by myself, I get a little nervous. Maybe people don't know me and I can go undercover. Clearly that's not always the case." Zachary Quinto thinks he can come into MY Starbucks, use the fake name Josh for his order, and not get recognized?? Girl check ur eyebrows Sophia (@sophritos) March 20, 2018 Quinto says he believes Sophia was a woman who was snickering at him. "She didn't introduce herself. I would have said hi to her. She has my number. She thinks I'm trying to be sleuthy. But I wasn't. I was just getting in and out." Quinto says he was in Ann Arbor for work. He didn't say what kind of work, but we believe he was there for the Ann Arbor Film Fest. Another person also took a picture of Josh, oops, Zach at the Starbucks. Everyone on campus is freaking out because Steve Carrell is touring with his daughter, but I just sat across from Zachary Quinto at Starbucks pic.twitter.com/bg2tE0564p Claire Stemper (@stempc17) March 20, 2018 PICS & REACTION TO STEVE CARELL ON THE UM CAMPUS EAST LANSING, MI - Former dean of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine William Strampel is expected to be arraigned on charges including criminal sexual conduct in East Lansing District Court on Tuesday afternoon. According to charges issued, Strampel, 70, faces one count of misconduct of a public official, a felony punishable by 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a high court misdemeanor punishable by two years and/or a $500 fine; and two counts of willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor punishable by one year and/or a $1,000 fine. Strampel oversaw Larry Nassar, the doctor MSU employed for nearly two decades as he molested women and children, often under the guise of medical treatment. Nassar is in prison for possession of child pornography charges and was sentenced on charges that he sexually assaulted multiple women. Strampel was arrested Monday and lodged in the Ingham County jail. The affidavit in support of the felony misconduct in office and criminal sexual conduct charges relies on testimony from four victims who say Strampel harrased them with actions such as: Requiring a female medical student to turn around in circles so he could observe her body; asked one female student what he had to teach her to be submissive and subordinate to men; and grabbed the buttocks of two female students. A Feb. 2 search warrant executed on a computer in Strampel's office found approximately 50 photos of bare vaginas, nude women, semi-nude women, sex toys and pornography, in addition to pornographic videos and a video of Nassar performing a "treatment" on a young patient, according to the affidavit. He violated MSU's Acceptable Use Policy, the affidavit alleges, and abused the authority of his public office to solicit, receive and possess pornography images of women who appear to be MSU students. It was Strampel who, after a 2014 Title IX complaint and police report lodged by Amanda Thomashow, sent an email putting Nassar back to work with a series of conditions, including having another person in the room when he was performing procedures in sensitive areas and using gloves. According to statements from Nassar's more direct supervisors in a March 2017 police report, Strampel did not make Nassar's colleagues aware of the conditions. After Strampel put Nassar back in place, 20 more women say they were molested by him. One count of the misdemeanor willful neglect of duty is related to Strampel allowing Nassar to return to work before the Title IX investigation was completed. The other count of misdemeanor willful neglect of duty is for "failing to enforce protocols upon Larry Nassar," according to the affidavit. Strampel is expected to be arraigned at a 2:30 p.m. hearing in East Lansing District Court. An investigator for the Attorney General's office, who is looking into sexual assault issues at MSU, is holding a press conference at noon. It is believed to be related to Strampel's arrest. LANSING, MI - It was a tip that led to the seizure of materials related to former Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean William Strampel, said Special Assistant Attorney General Bill Forsyth at a press event Tuesday. Strampel oversaw Larry Nassar, the doctor MSU employed for nearly two decades as he molested women and children, often under the guise of medical treatment. Nassar is in prison for possession of child pornography charges and was sentenced on charges that he sexually assaulted multiple women. William Strampel mug shot The first action Forsyth took in his investigation of the university was to request certain documents from MSU, including items, such as a calendar, computer, cell phone and documents belonging to Strampel. Then, a tip sped up the process. "Before Michigan State was able to respond... we received a credible tip with respect to Dean Strampel which we felt to be time-sensitive," Forsyth said. Because of that a search warrant was issued for those items, and seized by police, beginning the investigation. Evidence contained in the seized items led to Strampel's arrest, Forsyth said. Strampel is expected to be arraigned on four charges in the 54-B District Court on Tuesday afternoon: one count of misconduct of a public official, a felony punishable by 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a high court misdemeanor punishable by two years and/or a $500 fine two counts of willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor punishable by one year and/or a $1,000 fine. According to an affidavit in support of the complaint, Strampel's work computer contained approximately 50 photos of bare vaginas, nude women, semi-nude women, sex toys and pornography, in addition to pornographic videos and a video of Nassar performing a "treatment" on a young patient. Many of the photos appeared to be selfies of MSU students, according to the affidavit, and forensic examination showed someone had attempted to delete some of the photos. The affidavit in support of the felony misconduct in office and criminal sexual conduct charges relies on testimony from four victims who say Strampel harassed them with actions such as: requiring a female medical student to turn around in circles so he could observe her body; asked one female student what he had to teach her to be submissive and subordinate to men; and grabbed the buttocks of two female students. Forsyth did not take questions from media members gathered at the press event Tuesday, saying the investigation was ongoing. People with further tips are encouraged to submit information at mi.gov/msuinvestigation. JACKSON, MI - A longtime Jackson District Library tradition is changing seasons. The JDL's 31st annual Jackson Storyfest will take place from Oct. 17-19 this year. The event has traditionally been in May. The date was changed due to scheduling conflicts, JDL officials said in a release. Jackson Storyfest is designed to encourage literacy and writing skills through live storytelling performances. Last year, the four-day event featured 101 programs at 47 different Jackson County schools, as well as a number of performances open to the public. It is one of Michigan's largest events of its kind. Details regarding the 2018 Jackson Storyfest are still being organized, said Rhonda Farrell-Butler, JDL community engagement coordinator. "We've had many people calling to ask about Storyfest," Farrell-Butler said. "We are excited to see that the community is excited. We are happy to see Storyfest is something the Jackson community really supports." JDL will release the 2018 Storyfest schedule when it becomes finalized, Farrell-Butler said. Ena Humphries By Ena Humphries "Truly wonderful the mind of the child is," said Jedi Master Yoda in "Star Wars Episode ll: Attack of the Clones." Although Star Wars is just a fictional depiction of futuristic society, to me those words hold true. On March 24, the nation came together in Washington, D.C. at the March for Our Lives to stand with the survivors of the Parkland, Fla. school shooting, as well as countless other communities forever altered by senseless gun violence. I was fortunate enough to be there, and it is an experience that has altered my life. From Washington D.C. to Chicago, New York City to Los Angeles, Houston to Boston and even our own capital of Lansing, Americans rallied behind the youth of this nation in support of common-sense gun laws and the banning of assault weapons and high capacity magazines. There is strength in numbers, and that fact was proven over and over through the combined voice of the people. As a 17-year-old, labels are branded on you, using age to determine your amount of cultural and political awareness, as well as the legitimacy of your developed opinions. This dynamic collection of youth speakers, as well as supporting adults, ripped those labels off like a Band-Aid and left me damming up tears throughout the day. D'Angelo McDade and Alex King, 18 year olds from Chicago, addressed the crowd as, "family," as the entirety of spectators shared such a profound connection. Alongside McDade and King, Parkland survivors Sarah Chadwick, David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and 11-year-old Alexandria native Naomi Wilder spoke masterpieces. It was as if their words were physically moving the audience, and for myself, yanking at my tender heart strings. I was especially humbled and encouraged by Wilder's speech. If an 11-year-old girl can speak in front of an international audience to acknowledge the ignored stories of countless girls and women of color who have lost their lives to gun violence, we all can stand up and do something. In a sea of inspiration, the words of Chadwick stick out like a pealing bell on Sunday morning. "This is not a red versus blue issue. It's a morals issue." Morals of where you choose to place importance: dangerous weapons of mass destruction or the lives of the American youth and public? As stated in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Our country was built up from the foundation that life was an unalienable right. No amount of guns or NRA bribe money can amount to a single life lost to gun violence. The solution is simple. We need change. We need common sense gun laws; it is literally common sense. We need enforced background checks. We need mandatory waiting periods. We need a nationwide ban on military grade assault weapons and high capacity magazines. That change begins with you and your vote. You have the power to enable change. In the words of D'Angelo McDade, "If you don't stand for something, you fall for anything, and I stand for peace." - Ena Humphries is a 17-year-old Jackson High School junior. She attended the student-led March for Our Lives demonstration in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, March 24, and provided this guest column and photos. VICKSBURG, MI-- An explosion damaged rooms inside of a chemical laboratory, officials said. South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority responded to reports of an explosion at Bridge Organics, 311 W. Washington, at about 5:15 p.m. Monday, March 26. The "not major" explosion damaged three rooms inside of the factory, Chief Tracy McMillan said. McMillan said employees of Bridge Organics were working with chemicals at the time of the explosion. None of the people were injured, McMillan said. Firefighters worked to decontaminate the building, as the explosion released chemicals into the air, he said. There is no danger to the public, he said. The Kalamazoo County Hazardous Materials Unit arrived to the scene about two hours after the initial report came in. The unit was there to run "air monitoring" tests to determine the amount of chemicals in the air. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Nearly six months after Kalamazoo United brought together about 3,000 Christians to celebrate unity within the church, the organization is continuing their efforts toward unification during Holy Week. Bishop Paul J. Bradley of the Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo and Jeff Wenke, pastor of The Bridge Church in Portage, invite the public to come together for prayer from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28. The group will meet outside of Kalamazoo Christian High School, 2121 Stadium Drive, near a banner reading, "He is Risen." The time of prayer is meant to continue unification efforts between Christian Protestants and members of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as serve as a call to service and further dialogue during Holy Week, the time between Palm Sunday and Easter. The original event, a service inside the Wings Event Center, brought over 3,000 people together for an afternoon of worship last year. The organization also orchestrated further discussion inside of local churches following the October event. PORTAGE, MI -- A month after Pfizer Inc. finished expanding its global manufacturing operations, the pharmaceutical giant is moving forward with a $465 million investment in Portage. Pfizer is seeking an industrial facilities tax exemption from the city for a two-story, 400,000-square-foot modular sterile processing facility at 7171 Portage Road. It would be among the largest investments in the city's history, and part of recent improvements to Pfizer's Portage manufacturing campus. Shafer said the project "has to happen" to keep Portage competitive with other communities. "Pfizer has been here since 1948; it's one of the principal reasons that Portage exists with characteristics it does today," he said. "This level of investment fundamental ensures they will be here for the next 30 years. From our perspective, given other alternatives, (the tax abatement) is absolutely the best-case scenario." Mayor Patricia Randall and City Manager Larry Shaffer say the economic benefit is worth cutting Pfizer's property taxes in half for 12 years, but the City Council has yet to approve the abatement. Tuesday, the council will decide whether to schedule a public hearing for April 10 to consider the tax cut. According to Pfizer documents, the project will create 140 jobs within two years and 450 jobs within six years -- the average income of those positions totaling $93,333 with benefits. By 2024, Pfizer will be paying the new employees $42 million annually. Around half of the jobs are for semi-skilled operators, which will make $316,700 including salary and benefits. If the city decides to halve taxes on Pfizer's real property, a total of $11.53 million in revenue would be forgone by local units of government during the 12-year abatement: City of Portage -- $4.46 million Kalamazoo County -- $2.49 million KRESA -- $2.48 million Kalamazoo Valley Community College -- $1.08 million Portage District Library -- $581,644 The Kalamazoo County and Central County transportation authorities would lose $412,773 in total tax revenue. According to a Pfizer analysis, the finished project would bring $15.3 million in economic benefits to the Portage community. A total of $148 million in real property improvement would accompany $317 million of personal property investment. More than half of the total investment would be spent between 2020-21. Around 300 employee parking spaces at the site will be displaced, but there are other on-site parking accommodations to absorb the change. Pfizer officials anticipate no impact to traffic on Portage Road and Romence Road Parkway. Randall said company's continued investment in Portage is evidence of a repaired relationship between the city and Pfizer, a far cry from when the two battled over tax rates decades ago. Pfizer is among the city's largest employers and taxpayers. Shaffer said the expansion is a victory for Portage, which has been focused on attracting economic development. Pfizer Global Manufacturing in Portage makes active pharmaceutical ingredients for other Pfizer locations and other pharmaceutical makers. A variety of finished drug products are produced, in addition to sterile injectables. The planned manufacturing facility would house multiple self-contained modules that are separated from other manufacturing processes in the main production building. It will sit just west of a recently-completed 98,000-square-foot warehouse near the corner of Romence and Portage. Pfizer's mammoth manufacturing campus includes more than 120 buildings, with the north section focused on drug production. The Portage complex was established as the world's largest pharmaceutical manufacturing site in the 1940s as a part of The Upjohn Company. It remained so after Upjohn became part of Pharmacia Corp., and was acquired in 2003 by Pfizer. It remained the largest global pharmaceutical manufacturing operation, even as Pharmacia looked for opportunities elsewhere and Pfizer downsized some operations from 2003 to 2008. In 2016, the City Council created an industrial development district to accommodate the 98,000-square-foot warehouse expansion. The modular manufacturing facility was being planned at the time, so the district was expanded to encompass the future development. In its application for the tax exemption, Pfizer noted that Portage has steadily increased its Portage presence in recent years. The company has added more than 100 employees since 2014. The property is zoned I-2 for heavy industry. DECATUR, MI-- A threat of a school shooting has closed Decatur Schools Tuesday, March 27. A message saying someone was going to shoot up the school with Tuesday's date was left in a bathroom stall, Decatur Schools Superintendent Patrick Creagan said. Sgt. Tedd Rigg of the Decatur Police Department said they received notice of the threat Monday and are investigating the incident. No arrests had been made as of about 7 p.m. Monday, Rigg said. The Michigan State Police K9 Unit searched the schools and did not find any threat. The schools will be closed Tuesday, but school officials are hoping for them to reopen Wednesday, he said. SAGINAW, MI -- After more than 10 years in the making, supporters of bringing Delta College's satellite campus to downtown Saginaw will soon get to see the fruits of their labor. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the college's satellite campus on Monday, March 26. The event was attended by city and state officials, members of the Delta College community and citizens from the city of Saginaw. "It's been a long time coming," said Karen Lawrence-Webster, a longtime Delta trustee. Webster said the campus will be a great asset to the community and will give people another reason to come downtown. Delta's $12.7 million, 35,000-square-foot facility at 319 East Genesee, will be offering classes to students by fall 2019, according to school officials. Saginaw Mayor Dennis Browning said he hopes the campus strengthens the partnership with Saginaw Public Schools. "We are so grateful to all of the people in Saginaw and the whole region for all of the support we have been able to obtain for this center," President Jean Goodnow said. "We're very, very excited about it because we believe we will be able to serve even more of our students." The new facility will replace Delta's satellite campus at the Ricker Center in Buena Vista Township and could serve about 1,250 people. The project will be paid for by the state of Michigan, as well as Delta College's Plant Fund reserves. The Saginaw Center will include state-of-the-art technology, special-use training rooms and science labs to strengthen Delta's ability to deliver the highest caliber of college instruction and workforce training, according to a press release. "If we're going to build communities that are sustainable we have to invest in our people and in our land," said U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township. Spence Brothers will lead the construction of the project. GAYLORD, MI -- Three weeks after he was last seen alive, Robert J. Counterman Jr. was found more than 100 miles away, dead and stuffed into a trash bag on the side of a road. The man accused of killing him, 37-year-old Joseph R. Zoran, was arraigned Monday, March 26, on one count of open murder following his arrest days earlier. Though Counterman's body was found March 11 in a Gratiot County ditch not far from US-127, investigators believe Zoran killed Counterman in Otsego County, where he was arraigned. Zoran and Counterman were, at the very least, acquaintances, investigators say. The pair met in Detroit in mid-2016. Sometime after, Zoran moved into a camping trailer on Counterman's sister's property just outside of Gaylord, said Gratiot County Sheriff's Office Lt. Roy McCollum. Counterman lived with his sister. Investigators, after interviewing family and friends and putting together a timeline through receipts and purchases, met up with Zoran in the trailer on Friday, March 23, McCollum said. Possible evidence, such as blood on a wall, led Gratiot County Sheriff's Office investigators to hand the case over to their Otsego County counterparts, who then sought and executed a search warrant on the trailer, McCollum said. Zoran was arrested. Investigators haven't released a possible motive in the case, nor have they identified how Counterman was killed. Counterman and Zoran shared at least one thing in common: They both spent time in federal prison. Zoran was sentenced in November 2005 to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography and failing to appear at his previously scheduled sentencing, according to federal court records. At the time of his arrest, investigators found more than 150 pictures of naked children in the then-Minnesota resident's possession, court documents state. Counterman was sentenced in November 2003 to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to transportation of a stolen motor vehicle and stolen firearm across state lines, according to federal court records. According to the federal criminal complaint, Counterman and a co-defendant stole a mobile home and began traveling the country burglarizing homes and buildings and then selling the items to flea markets across the country. He was arrested in June 2003 in Marquette County. After his release from prison in early 2015, Counterman resided at a federal halfway house in Detroit. Court records for Zoran don't state whether he, too, was a resident there. A trash bag with a body inside Two rabbit hunters found Counterman's body stuffed inside a trash bag March 11 in a ditch on Warner Road about a half mile north of M-46, McCollum said. McCollum said the hunters thought the bag looked suspicious. Otsego County Undersheriff Matthew Muladore said Counterman's body was not dismembered. Counterman was identified through his fingerprints, and investigators later pieced together a timeline of the weeks before his death using financial transactions, McCollum said. The last time anyone reported seeing Counterman was Feb. 19, McCollum said. He made no financial transactions after that date, either. "There's a lot of unanswered questions," McCollum said. Warner Road is about six miles west of US-127, which connects in the north to I-75, which runs through Gaylord. Zoran's next court appearance is April 12 for a preliminary examination. His bond was denied. SAGINAW, MI -- A party store employee faces five years in prison on accusations he scratched off instant-win portions of lottery tickets and sold the losers to customers. Mark R. Fowler, a 47-year-old Saginaw resident, was recently arraigned on one count of forging or counterfeiting a lottery ticket, a five-year felony. Police were tipped off after a woman reported to the Michigan Lottery Commission on Jan. 2 that her roommate had purchased four "Bingo Twist" lottery tickets that appeared to have the instant-win section partially scratched, revealing whether it was a winner or loser, said Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser. Commission investigators went to Fowler's place of work, Circle 7 at 1611 Cooper Ave., and found four more partially-scratched Bingo Twists, Kaiser said. The manager said the scratches could've been from brushing up against other merchandise, but Fowler contacted investigators the following day, allegedly saying he scratched them and was going to buy them, win or lose, but just forgot to, Kaiser said. A Circle 7 employee said Fowler was fired sometime in January, shortly after the incident. Michigan Lottery Commission spokesperson Jeff Holyfield said partial-scratch scams rarely occur. Of the state's 11,000 licensed retailers, only about half a dozen complaints out of 1,500 each year prove bonafide, according to Holyfield. "A vast majority of folks are honest," Holyfield said. "If you do have a handful of folks who think they can outsmart the system, then the players will be there to notice." In addition to investigating complaints, the commission also recommends sanctions against businesses where lottery violations occur, Holyfield said. Those sanctions include probation, suspension and revocation of lottery licenses. "A key part of our mission is to ensure the integrity of our games," he said. Fowler was given a personal recognizance bond. His next court appearance is a preliminary examination on March 29. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that while flu season is winding down, a second strain that is more severe in younger children remains prevalent. In an update, the CDC says that reports of the influenza A virus are on the decline while reports of the influenza B virus were more prevalent. A spokesperson for the CDC told CNN that influenza B can be "just as severe" as influenza A, and that "we also know that influenza B tends to be more severe for younger children." As of its latest update, the CDC reports that flu-related child deaths are up to 133 for the 2017-2018 flu season. There were five pediatric deaths reported between March 10 and March 17 related to influenza B, and one related to influenza A. During this week, 2.7 percent of patients visiting a doctor's office complained of flu-like symptoms. Michigan, and most of the Midwest, is listed as having low to minimal flu activity as of the CDC's most recent update from the week ending on March 17. -- -- A little more than a month ago, the CDC along with the Food and Drug Administration reported that this year's flu vaccine had been 36 percent effective. While this number sounds low to some, both agencies reported that this level was "better than some might have predicted." In fact, this number was 19 percent higher than Canada's vaccine, and 26 percent higher than Austrailia's. At this time, the influenza A strain had accounted for 75 percent of all cases. "However, because of the severity of this season, there have been questions raised about how well this year's flu vaccine worked," the FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a news release. "Although the initial report of 36 percent overall efficacy for this year's vaccine in the United States that has been reported by our colleagues at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is better than some might have predicted, there is still clearly significant room for improvement. "Because influenza viruses can change their genetic make-up rapidly during the course of a single year, seasonal influenza vaccines are unlike most other preventative vaccines, in that the strains contained in the vaccine constantly need to be adjusted based on the viruses that are expected to be in circulation." After months of confusion on where and when China's 8.5-ton space station would fall back to Earth, it is finally expected to actually do so within the week according to the European Space Agency. The ESA posted an update on Tuesday, March 27 that the Tiangong-1 space station will plunge into Earth's atmosphere between Saturday morning and the morning of April 2. Reentry will take place anywhere between 43oN and 43oS," the ESA reports. "Areas above or below these latitudes can be excluded. "At no time will a precise time/location prediction from ESA be possible." It's important to note that the majority of Tiangong-1 is expected to burn up upon reentry into our atmosphere. Some chunks weighing as much as 220 pounds could hit the surface, but predicting where any could hit is next to impossible, according to Harvard University astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell. In the ESA graphic below, the areas in green are the highest-probable re-entry areas: -- Both the ESA and U.S.-funded Aerospace Corporation identify northern China, central Italy, northern Spain, the Middle East, New Zealand, Tasmania, South America, southern Africa and northern states in the U.S. as regions with higher chances. An Aerospace graphic shows that parts of southern Lower Michigan fall into the regions listed with the highest probability of Tiangong-1 debris landing. Even with a higher chance than other regions, the likelihood of a piece of debris hitting someone or something is very unlikely. The interest surrounding the free-falling doomed space station is the fact that scientists and researchers truly can't nail down when and where it will enter. The Guardian reports in a previous report that several space crafts or space stations have come crashing through the atmosphere to Earth without killing or injuring anyone in the past. TIME notes that Tiangong-1 is small when it comes to space stations, and that NASA made its own uncontrolled space station entry back into Earth in 1979 with its much larger 77-ton NASA SkyLab. Aerospace notes that between 10 to 40 percent of a spacecraft re-entering the Earth's atmosphere is expected to make it through. China's free-falling space station weighs in at a little less than 19,000 pounds. Tiangong-1, known as the "Heavenly Palace," originally launched in September 2011 and was viewed as a major step for the space agency in its quest to build a space station by 2020. NASA says that when it was active Tiangong-1 largely served as a demonstration of the "vital docking technology required for a future space station." [March 27, 2018] Infobip and Viber Enhance Market Presence in Philippines MANILA, Philippines, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping Enterprises reach its Client and Customer base with impactful Measures Global communications platform company Infobip strengthens its presence and market in Manilla offering Viber enterprise messaging campaigns for the region's businesses and organizations. By using Infobip's OMNI solution, businesses can choose the optimal communication channels for specific types of messages including SMS, number of chat app messages, email, voice, and in-app push messages. Any eCommerce or brick-and-mortar store can conveniently promote their offers to as many as 900 million users and prospective customers in 193 countries worldwide. Bank of the Philippine Islands is planning to utilize Viber and Infobip to enhance the customer experience for their cardholders. "We are very excited to begin working with Viber and Infobip. There is significant value to explore how we can utilize Viber as a new tool in reaching out to our clients, our BPI cardholders. Viber will serve as a relevant new channel for our bank where we can further our customer engagement," said Monica Vergara, Head of Marketing and Media Solutions at BPI Cards. 59 percent of the South East Asia's smartphone users have Viber installed. "Viber is all about bringing people together through personal connections, common passions, and interests and the Philippines is a key market for Viber. Using Infobip's OMNI solution creates a frictionless experience for both consumers and partners, and one where we see significant results especially in the e-commerce space," said Christina Constandache, VP Global Partnerships, Viber. The Infobip portal offers a user-friendly web interface helping any business to easily organize its messaging campaigns. The portal provides detailed, real-time campaign reports including message delivery confirmation allowing the company to effectively monitor the progress of the campaign. "The Philippines is an instrumental market for Infobip where our client base is evolving quickly. Viber's impressive presence in the region will, through our partnership and platform integration, enable any business superior, direct marketing outreach," said Silvio Kutic, CEO of Infobip. About Infobip Founded over a decade ago by two young developers, Infobip grew into an international business with offices on six continents offering proprietary, in-house developed messaging platform with the capacity to reach over six billion mobile devices connected to over 800 telecoms networks. Infobip innovates at the intersection of Internet and telecoms technologies, creating new ways and opportunities for businesses and their end users to interact over mobile devices. The company serves and partners with leading mobile operators, OTTs, banks, social networks, tech companies and aggregators. About Rakuten Viber At Rakuten Viber, we connect people. No matter who they are, or where they are from. Our global user base has access to a range of features like one-on-one chats, video calls, group messaging, and updates and discussions with their favorite brands and celebrities. We ensure our users have a secure and free environment to share their emotions. Join Viber today and enjoy the world's best communication experience. Contact: Tina Loncaric, Global Public Relations Director, Infobip, tina.loncaric@infobip.com Rakuten Viber media inquires: media@viber.com, +385-994666343 [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com/wimax's Homepage ] The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana. March 27, 2018 Arms Research "Watchdog Group" Lobbies For War On Yemen And Iran This Associated Press story has quite a slant. bigger Looking into the AP report we find that the "watchdog group" is actually a for-profit company with an anti-Iran agenda and paid by the United Arab Emirates. The UAE, together with Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Britain, is waging war on Yemen and sees Iran as an enemy: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Roadside bombs disguised as rocks in Yemen bear similarities to others used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and by insurgents in Iraq and Bahrain, suggesting at the least an Iranian influence in their manufacture, a watchdog group said on Monday. The report by Conflict Armament Research comes as the West and United Nations researchers accuse Iran of supplying arms to Yemens Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who have held the countrys capital since September 2014. ... What were hoping this does is make plausible deniability not very plausible, said Tim Michetti, head of regional operations for Conflict Armament Research. You cant really deny this anymore once the components these things are made with are traced to Iranian distributors. Michettis organization, an independent watchdog group that receives funding from the United Arab Emirates, Germany and the European Union to research weaponry recovered in Yemen, said it examined a fake rock bomb in January near Mokha, some 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of the capital, Sanaa. Conflict Armament Research is not an "independent watchdog group" but a dully established British for-profit company registered at the British government's Companies House under company number 07762809. The sole owner is James Bevan, a British national born in 1977. In 2002 James Bevan started to work for the well regarded Swiss NGO Small Arms Survey. He then worked for the UN and in other publicly financed arms research projects. His own company started to grow around 2015, right when the war on Yemen started. It runs some arms research under public grants but is also a for-profit consultancy. In the business year ending March 31 2017 the company had a turnover of 1.4 million from grant funded projects and 710,000 from consultancy projects. Seven people were working for the company including the owner, James Bevan. That year Bevan, besides his unknown salary as director, took out 177,593 in dividends. The CAR researcher Tim Michetti, quoted by AP, is also a co-author of the "Pushback - Exposing and countering Iran" report by the Atlantic Council. The United Arab Emirates is at the top of the Atlantic Council's Honor Roll of Contributors with more than $1,000,000 in yearly donations. The UAE is at war in Yemen and is regularly accusing Iran of supporting the Houthi resistance against the invaders. Yemen is under blockade and there is little evidence that any Iranian help reaches the Houthis. The actual CAR report is titled Radio controlled, Passive Infrared-inititiated IEDs - Irans latest technological contributions to the war in Yemen (pdf): This report presents comparative findings on explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) documented by Conflict Armament Research (CAR) in Yemen and similar devices documented by CAR field investigation teams elsewhere in the Middle East. The IEDs recovered in Yemen feature EFPs, which have been camouflaged to resemble natural rocks. These devices are armed by radio control (RC) and initiated using passive infrared (PIR) switches. They can be classed as radio-controlled IEDs (RCIEDs). Garage door openers and light-barrier triggers are obviously sophisticated high-tech that no Yemeni could use for bomb building without intensive Iranian help. (Not!) The easiest way to learn how to build improvised explosive devices with EFPs and various arming and triggering devices is to read declassified CIA manuals. I recommend to start with "Explosives For Sabotage" available at archive.org. bigger To find the inspiration for hiding stuff in 'rocks' made out of fiberglass and foam one can read British newspapers: Britain was behind a plot to spy on Russians with a device hidden in a fake plastic rock, a former key UK government official has admitted. ... A diplomatic row was sparked six years ago after Russian state television broadcast a film claiming British agents had hidden a sophisticated transmitter inside a fake rock left on a Moscow street. The CAR report shows some similarities between the trigger of an IEDs found in Yemen and another one allegedly found in Bahrain. But how does that lead back to Iran? Why not reasonably assume that various groups simply work from the same set of ideas and use the same manuals? The report never investigates that thesis. Instead we get this claptrap: The electronics kits used in the RCIEDs feature heatshrink wire coverings, which are manufactured by the Chinese company WOER. WOER-brand heatshrink wire covering is a constant feature of Iranian origin materiel recovered in Yemen and Bahrain, including RCIEDs, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and dual-use equipment suspected to be used in the production of rocket propellant. WOER is one of the bigger global producers of heatshrink wire coverings. According to its website it has 3,000 dealers and 40 official sales offices including in: Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Palestine, Qatar Some WOER products are available on Amazon. This brand is well known and so widely available in the Middle East that it is outright laughable to attribute WOER material to Iran. The report lists some similarities between IEDs found in Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and elsewhere. But the IED types it describes have also differences. Hizbullah is the only group using aiming devices in its IEDs. At a first glance the trigger electronics from Bahrain, pictured in the report, look similar to those in Yemen but they use slightly different components and wiring. By empathizing the similarities CAR makes it look as if the bombs come from the same source. It is more plausible that they were locally build from widely available materials by following the same manual or instruction set. A search in Arabic language forums will probably turn up an equivalent of the old CIA manual with blueprints for the such bombs and their trigger electronics. An earlier report by CAR about Maritime Interdiction of Weapon Supplies to Somalia and Yemen (pdf) was likewise slanted. It insinuated that Iran was smuggling arms to Yemen but did not analyze alternative explanations. It provided that some private dhows were smuggling small arms from maybe(!) Iran to Somalia. There is some murky evidence to support that conclusion. But the report then went on to claim that those weapons were transported further and shipped from Somalia to Yemen. No evidence was provided for that claim. There are several ongoing wars in Somalia. Many parties there will purchase any weapon they can get. The Houthi in Yemen though have all the small arms they need. They simply capture or buy from the large stashes the Saudis and the UAE provide to their own local proxy forces. But aside from all those details is it really newsworthy that a UAE lobbyist harps about some IEDs and AK machine guns used by the Yemeni people when Saudi Arabia and the UAE invade the country with heavily armed forces and for three long years bomb the s*** out of its starving people? The [Yemeni Data Project]s data shows the Saudi-led coalition carried out an average of 15 air raids* per day. A total of 16,749 air raids were recorded from 26 March 2015 to 25 March 2018. Nearly one third of all air raids (31%) targeted non-military sites. The vital Yemeni port of Hodeida is still not functioning: Fuel deliveries amounted to only 24 percent of Yemen's needs in February, while food met 51 percent, causing sharp price rises of both. "For whatever reason, the amount of food and fuel required to meet needs in Yemen is not coming in through Hodeida and it is likely there are some deliberate actions being taken to cause it," said van Meegen, [an adviser with the Norwegian Refugee Council.] "We can't say the blockade is in place. The de facto blockade is still in place." and people are starving because ships with aid can not be unloaded. I for one would not mind if Iran would provide the Yeminis with everything they need to shoot down the attacking Saudi bombers and to kick the invaders out of their country. Unfortunately Yemen is under a tight blockade and Iran seems unable to break it. To then point the fingers to Iran with little evidence and slanted reports, as the UAE paid CAR and other lobby shops do, has only one purpose: to widen the war and to prepare the peoples' minds for illegal aggression against yet another nation. --- h/t: Sam Tamiz Posted by b on March 27, 2018 at 19:10 UTC | Permalink Comments On March 24th, 2018, Dayton Ohio participated in a sibling march at Courthouse Square to support the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C. The march was created by, inspired by, and led by students who are rightfully scared of the rampant mass shootings across the country, particularly in public schools. They are demanding that their lives and safety become a priority. All the Dayton area students and teachers who spoke were powerful and passionate, rejecting the current governments proposed solutions and half measures. Arming teachers is a dangerous and unfunded idea, a heros tale that is based on fantasy and not fact. The lack of universal background checks and gun show loop hole is a crime. And reminding politicians who are bribed by the NRA that theyre time is up. They are now, or soon will be, of voting age. It was a powerful and moving display of solidarity that will not soon be forgotten. Organizers of the March For Our Lives are suggesting that all concerned citizens do three things: Register, Educate & Vote. Here are some ways to get started: Register to Vote here April 9th Deadline for voter registration for May 8 primary election (30 days before primary election). Oct. 9th Deadline for voter registration for Nov. 6 general election. Educate yourself about Candidates here Vote in upcoming Elections: May 8, 2018. Primary Election Day. Polls open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm November 6, 2018. Election Day. Polls are open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm Connect with March for Our Lives Dayton: You can also follow March for Our Lives Dayton on Twitter: @MarchForOurLivesDayton Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MarchForOurLivesDayton The National March for Our Lives website: https://marchforourlives.com/ We did not understand where the government deceived us - Arayik Harutyunyan (video) YSU Academic Secretary Menua Soghomonyan believes that the draft law "On Higher Education" is one step ahead of the current legislation. Today, at the meeting with the journalists he positively assessed the bill, but did not hide some complaints. "The complaints about the bill are mostly due to personal events. I also share some dissatisfaction, especially I do not think it's right to not allow people with retirement age to take part in the competitive selection of professors." Arayik Harutyunyan, a member of Yerevan Council of Elders, emphasized the importance of higher education institution's self-governance, emphasizing that it was adapted to Serzh Sargsyan. "Last year when we were discussing the draft law, we could really say that this was a step forward, and we did not understand where the government deceived us. But after Serzhe Sargsyan's speech, the law began to get distorted." According to Arayik Harutyunyan, on December 25, 2016, Serzh Sargsyan stated at Yerevan State University (YSU) that he was not going to leave his post at YSU, no matter what would happen, and the Justice Ministry proposed a change on December 25, in which a special status was given to YSU: the order of YSU Governing Council would be determined by the Government. "Formerly, a state official could not have a place in the councils of higher education institutions, so in order to allow Serzh Sargsyan such an opportunity, the Government has decided to make that change," said Arayik Harutyunyan. Samvel Khudoyan, head of the Chair of Applied Psychology at Pedagogical University, agrees with Arayik Harutyunyan. 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. It is possible that one day some of the superpowers will be interested in Armenia will be interesting for - Aragats Akhoyan (video) MP Aragats Akhoyan belives that in politics, there is nothing like centuries-old friends or centuries-old enemies. In his opinion, it is possible that one day some of the superpowers will be interested in our region and our country and become a "theater of clash" of interests. In response to the question of A1 +, he notes that he sees the danger from the West, and the danger from Russia is in the last place. He reminds the bitter historic past when Armenia was abolished, whereas England and Germany "closed eyes" for the reality. According to Mr. Akhoyan, in order to avoid repetition of the history, it is necessary to acquire allies in the region, which, by the present moment, our country implements with "soft" diplomacy. Speaking about the situation in the Middle East, Mr. Akhoyan expresses his anxiety about the local Armenians. "Without interfering with big politics, it is necessary to provide some assistance to the Armenian communities so that they understand that the Armenian nation exists and is interested in its future," he says. University of Central Florida students plan on building on the momentum from last weekends March for Our Lives event. UCF students continue momentum after 'March for Our Lives' Student reports wave of young people registering to vote PREVIOUS: March for Our Lives: UCF students prepare to rally for gun control The march was just the beginning. That was the things that got as many people involved and it gave them a foot in the door in the process, said Trevor Wild, UCFs Never Again organization president. Wild and fellow UCF students said they plan on doing whatever it takes to keep the gun reform conversation alive. Although organizing the march was a huge undertaking, they said that was just the beginning. As a Margery Stoneman Douglas High School grad and now an Orlando resident, Wild is all too familiar with the stories behind the Pulse Nightclub shooting. He said hes ready to hit social media with his fellow classmates and rally students behind local elections, saying thats the Never Again Movements next stop. Wild explained his team plans on hosting their own town hall discussion, inviting local politicians to come out and discuss their plans for local legislation coming up on April 7. We are making sure that while we have this momentum we are using (this platform) to really make a change, he said. Wild also mentioned seeing a wave of eligible young people register to vote at Saturdays march. Monday, Spectrum News 13 reached out to our local supervisor of election offices to see if over the weekend they did see a spike in registrations. We are waiting to hear back. Gov. Rick Scott reacts to marches Spectrum News 13 asked Governor Scott about the march while he was making a stop at Wekiwa Springs State Park Monday. The governor was there meeting with park ranger cadets and touting money hes built into this years and previous state budgets aimed at protecting Floridas natural resources. We live in a great country and in this country you can have a peaceful protest, said Governor Scott. You have your first amendment rights, and I think its always a positive thing when people are involved in the political process. As for calls by marchers for elected officials to pass tougher gun-control legislation, Scott said he believes the measures he signed into Florida law earlier in March will make Floridas schools safer. The new laws raise the minimum age for buying a gun from 18 to 21, keep guns away from anyone suffering from a mental health problem and they harden physical security at schools. The governor said he pushed for the legislation after meeting with family of the shooting victims in Parkland. Florida will expand workers compensation benefits so first responders can get coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder. Workers comp. expanded to first responders w/ PTSD Legislation will take effect Oct. 1 Advocacy efforts from families of first responders helped propel bill Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a bill that would allow firefighters, paramedics, and law-enforcement officers to get PTSD treatment even if they do not sustain a physical injury. The condition has traditionally been most acute among members of the military who have been exposed to combat but is increasingly afflicting police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters. Supporters of the legislation, which takes effect Oct. 1, have predicted that Florida's recent spate of mass shootings will lead to many more PTSD diagnoses in the coming months and years. "If we expect people to take care of us -- they'll never know us, not meet us, most likely -- we should be doing the same thing for them," Scott said after signing the bill at the Tampa Firefighter Museum. The legislation initially received pushback from some cities and counties concerned about the added costs of extending PTSD treatment benefits under workers' comp. An aggressive advocacy effort by family members of first responders who have struggled with the condition helped propel the bill to the finish line. "After his tragic death, I reflected on a conversation I had with our brother, Stevie, and how he felt let down when he came forward and said he could no longer go on calls anymore," said Megan Vila, whose brother, Steve LaDue, committed suicide after 30 years on the job at Tampa Fire Rescue. The legislation was also a top priority for Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. Patronis, who also serves as the state's fire marshal, toured the state and met with firefighters and talked to them about their experiences. He said the number of suicide attempts is higher among firefighters than the general population. Rep. Matt Willhite sponsored the bill. His fulltime job is serving as a captain at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Move over rose gold the next Minnie Mouse ears soon to take over Disney World are millennial pink. Millennial pink Minnie ears coming to Disney World Matching spirit jerseys will also be available Back in January, Disney released millennial pink Magic Bands. And now, its taking things a step further by offering more products in the trendy color. The sequined ears will be available at select stores beginning in April. They look similar to the rose gold version, which was extremely popular in 2017. In addition to the millennial pink ears, Disney will also be selling matching spirit jerseys. The jerseys feature the words Walt Disney World on the back in glittered lettering. Both items will also be available at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, according to Disney Style. CHECK OUT ATTRACTIONS INSIDER: Your all-in-one source for news, pictures and video from Floridas theme parks. Just go to our Attractions Insider page. Sign up to get breaking theme park news alerts and subscribe to our newsletter, Theme Park Roundup, delivered to your inbox or mobile phone. Universal Orlando has revealed more details about the rooftop bar at its new Aventura Hotel. Universal reveals name of Aventura Hotel's rooftop bar Bar 17 Bistro will be located on the 17th floor Menu will include nachos, sliders and cocktails The bar, called Bar 17 Bistro, will be located on the 17th floor. Opening in the evenings, the bar will be available to hotel guests, Universal Orlando guests and locals. There will be a dedicated elevator to take patrons directly to the rooftop. From there, bar-goers can take in views of Volcano Bay, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and the downtown Orlando skyline. Universal says Bar 17 Bistro will feature the same contemporary design used throughout the hotel. The menu will include an assortment of small plates such as nachos, sliders and salads, as well as cocktails. Aventura Hotel, which is scheduled to open in August, will be Universal Orlandos sixth on-site hotel. CHECK OUT ATTRACTIONS INSIDER: Your all-in-one source for news, pictures and video from Floridas theme parks. Just go to our Attractions Insider page. Sign up to get breaking theme park news alerts and subscribe to our newsletter, Theme Park Roundup, delivered to your inbox or mobile phone. Boycott will not solve the issue - Arman Gharibyan (video) Independent journalist Arman Gharibyan stated during a press conference that the ban on the work of journalists in the Yerevan Council of Elders' session contradicts the law on mass media, and they will apply to the Constitutional Court to solve the issues of the law. Yerevan Press Club President Boris Navasardyan sees two options for solving the problem: "Either we should address the president or the Constitutional Court." In response to a journalist's question whether the boycott can help achieve great results, the Yerevan Press Club president did not give a clear answer. "It is possible only when being united, but I do not think that all media will boycott the coverage of the sessions, some will definitely go." Arman Gharibyan added that the boycott would not solve the issue as a lot of money from the budget of the municipality is allocated to the official coverage, so the boycott would promote the work of the propaganda machine. UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Google Ad 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 Google Ad Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom 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 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. The votes are in! Get a recap of the 2021 Election. The votes are in! Get a recap of the 2021 Election. Subscribe now> Four children in roofless house (video) Aghasi Grigoryan, the father of the Grigoryan family living in the Arevatsag village of Lori province, earns only 36,000 drams salary. "I'm doing the garbage collection. What I should do with that 36,000 drams: should I buy flour, potatoes, or send the child to school?" The family is in extreme poverty. After the 1988 earthquake, they live in dormitories. The money is not enough to make something in the house, to do something, and I'm very upset that there is nothing at home, I get ashamed when someone comes in," said 21-year-old Karine, one of the children of the family. In these unfavorable conditions, Grigoryans raised four girls,: two sisters of Karine were already married, and the younger is still studying at school. The ceiling the house can collapse at any time if it the flow of rainfall will not be prevented. "I'm afraid that , maybe the roof falls on me when I sleep at night, and there's no place to move my bed," Karine says. World Vision Company has provided plates for repairing the roof, but Aghasi believes that they will not last long. Does Andrias Ghukasyan endanger Serzh Sargsyan's corrupt regime? (video) The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will soon investigate the case of Andrias Ghukasyan, a member of the New Armenia opposition movement, who was detained for nearly two years. The complaint of violation of Article 18 of the Convention, the abuse of state power against political opponents, was raised against Armenia. The court has asked to present information indicating the violation of the Convention's articles on the applicant. "They wanted a document, and the record of the trial, during which the judge said that he asked Andrias Ghukasyan whether he would continue his opposition activities if he was released, he also wrote a decision," Karen Mezhlumyan said to A1+, by adding that the applicant has already sent that recording and they are also considering the case for political motives. And today, the court continued the trial of Andrias Ghukasyan, accused of organizing mass disorders and attempts to join Sasna Tsrer group, on July 29, 2016. At the very beginning of the session, Andrias Ghukasyan's lawyer stated that the judge continues to hold procedural violations, restrict Andrias Ghukasyan's rights, reject the petitions, and therefore he again challenges. "Say something new, the same thing cannot be repeated 10 times," said Judge Vardan Grigoryan. Karen Mezhlumyan wanted to cite the example of an American professor to show how police violated human rights, but the judge interrupted him. "It would have been like a National Assembly that we could turn off your microphone." It was unclear for Andrias Ghukasyan why the judge refused to change his preventive measure by pointing out that being free, Adrias Ghukasyan could pose a serious threat to public life. "If you mentioned that I could endanger Serzh Sargsyan's corrupt regime, I would agree with you completely," said Andrias Ghukasyan By Doug Farquhar Since Kay Ivey took over as Alabama governor after Robert Bentley stepped down, the state hasnt had a lieutenant governor. The state Senate considered legislation that would limit lieutenant governor duties to only succeeding the governor if that office is vacated. Senate Bill 88 failed last week. It proposed to strip the office of its legislative role, which includes presiding over the state Senate. The bill sought to amend the state constitution eliminating the responsibilities of the lieutenant governor to preside over the Senate and vest the powers of the office with the president of the Senate. Members of the Senate would elect the Senate president and president pro tempore. The lieutenant governor would have no say. "The office of lieutenant governor is designed to preside over the Senate, and be elevated to office of governor if there's a vacancy, Ivey told AL.com. The lieutenant governor needs to be well-informed about what's going on in the Legislature. The office makes many appointments to boards and commissions." The office once had substantial powers. But over the years those powers have waned. "If you look at the nation as a whole, the role of lieutenant governor in Alabama had been a very strong role in government," added former Lieutenant Governor George McMillan, in office from 1979-83. "The state is better served to have a lieutenant governor who is elected independently, who presides over the Senate, who makes committee assignments and assigns legislation to the appropriate committees." Former Governor Don Siegelman was instrumental in curtailing the powers of the lieutenant governor, but since has had a change of heart. "I would like to see the powers revert back to the lieutenant governor," Siegelman said in the AL.com story. The bill would have made the office mostly ceremonial. Ivey found it alarming that there was an effort in the Senate to strip power even further from the lieutenant governor's office as it lays dormant. She would like the former powers taken from the office be fully reinstated. "None of those powers have been restored," Ivey said. "They've neutered the position as much as they could. They're trying to take away the power of the lieutenant governor." Even if the bill had passed the Senate, it still would have required the Iveys signature and been subject to a vote by the public. Doug Farquhar is NCSL's liaison to the Alabama Legislature and the program director for the Environmental Health Program. Email Doug Amit Agnihotri and Richa Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI:Giving a push for formation of an anti-BJP front, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met a series of leaders of the Opposition parties and even NDA ally Shiv Sena, to discuss the need for a probable alliance in 2019 to defeat the saffron party in the general elections. The TMC chiefs meeting list for Wednesday included some rebel BJP leaders and a galaxy of leaders from Opposition parties. Mamata, who has set the ball rolling for stitching up a non-BJP alliance, attacked the Centre for burdening people with demonetisation, GST and bank frauds and said it was time for the BJP government to pack up and go.Also giving a hint to the Congress to not try and become the nucleus of the anti-BJP front, she called for supporting the strongest regional parties in all states so that the saffron party can be defeated one-on-one during elections. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets NCP Chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi. (Photo | ANI Twitter) This government has lost all the credentials and their credibility has become zero. You just cannot allow them to be here and now people have to decide, she told reporters.It is not just Mamata. After pulling out of the government, TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that he would meet leaders of all political parties during his visit to the national capital on April 2-3. The meeting is likely to discuss future alliance against the BJP. On Tuesday, Mamata met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK leader Kanimozhi, RJD MP Misa Bharti, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, TDP MPs, TRS MP K Kavitha, BJP MP Anubhav Mohanty and his wife and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs.The West Bengal CM said that she also wanted to meet Sonia Gandhi but she was not well and left Parliament early. I am in touch with her (Sonia Gandhi) and ask about her health every day, she said, adding that sometimes she also speaks to Congress president Rahul Gandhi. ALSO READ: Mamata welcomes Mayawati stand on SP-BSP understanding West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in #Delhi. pic.twitter.com/vfofyHGgxZ ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also met Mamata. She also has an invitation from the party to attend an event on Wednesday.On Wednesday, she is expected to meet three BJP leaders Arun Shourie, Shatrughan Sinha and Yashwant Sinha.Mamata said she is also ready to meet SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati if they call a meeting in Lucknow. ALSO READ: At first port of call, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao gets West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee's endorsement for Federal Front There are also reports of her meeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah. The meetings also come at a time when Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani recently wrote to three leaders, saying Mamata is his selected heroine as the ruler of Indian democracy. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI:The ongoing Madhavpur Fair in Gujarat is more than a religious extravaganza this year. It is serving as a platform for New Delhi to reassert to Beijing that Indias Arunachal Pradesh connection is divine, dating back eons. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the folklore that the mythological Rukmini, wedded to Lord Krishna, was from Arunachal. Now, he has gone beyond the strategic link between the Northeast frontier state and the rest of India by turning it into a divine connection.The Madhavpur Fair, which started on Ram Navami, celebrates the Krishna-Rukmini wedding. On the face of it, the fair may appear to be an attempt to retrace the journey of the folklore towards cultural integration but by actively involving Arunachal in it, a message is being sent that the states connection with the mainland dates back to the time of Krishna. Legend has it that Krishna had heroically kidnapped Rukmini, who belonged to Arunachals Idu Mishmi tribe, and eloped with her on the day of her swayamvar to prevent an unwanted marriage. Krishna travelled to Madhavpur Ghed, the coastal village in Gujarat where the couple eventually wedded. The Madhav Rai temple in Porbandar has been long celebrating the divine marriage. Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, who also hails from Arunachal, are among dignitaries attending the four-day Madhavpur Fair. Over 200 artistes from Arunachal, besides Manipur, are taking part in the religious and cultural extravaganza. Yes, the fair is strategic. That much I can tell you. As for the divine connection, the Chief Minister will speak about it in his speech at the fair, a source in the Arunachal Chief Ministers Office told The New Indian Express, requesting anonymity.India has long been embroiled in a bitter border dispute with China. Beijing claims that Arunachal, which it calls south Tibet, is part of its territory. By Express News Service MUMBAI: In a bid to put an end on the controversy regarding the arrest of Shiv Pratishthan president Sambhaji Bhide in connection with the riots in Koregaon-Bhima on January 1, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday told the state legislature that there was no direct evidence against the Hindutva icon showing his involvement in the case. Fadnavis, however, maintained that the government will not spare any guilty in the riot case, as he replied to a debate on the law and order in the Legislative Assembly. The woman who had mentioned in her complaint that she saw Bhide pelting stone has cleared the air. She said she did not see Bhide. She had given the statement based on the talks among the people, Fadnavis told the house. Police have checked call data records of Bhide and prominent members of his organisations for last six months. It shows that neither Bhide nor the prominent workers had visited the spot. They did not even talk to the locals over phone in this period, Fadnavis said while elaborating on the efforts made by the state police. However, Fadnavis asserted that the investigation is not yet over. If it is found that anyone had instigated the violence remotely, even if he is from my family, will not be spared, he said. The CM called the attacks on Dalits in Koregaon-Bhima as a blot on the state. The attacks and subsequently the riots took place primarily because of misunderstanding between two groups, he told the house. A group had shouted slogans at a square in Koregaon-Bhima. Other group who was going to pay tribute to the war memorial thought they were shouting against them. It sparked the clashes, Fadnavis said. Fire men at a charred shop following the violence during celebrations of 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima- Koregaon, near Pune. (PTI file photo) He also denied the charge that the police were caught unaware of the situation and failed to control it. But, admitted that the police deployment at the parking site was not sufficient, which sort of gave a fee hand to rioters who torched vehicles parked there. Fadnavis also informed the House of his meeting with Bharip-Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar regarding Bhides arrest. He said Ambedkar has provided him the content of a Facebook page that might lead to some evidence against Bhide. We will investigate the contents in eight days, Fadnavis said. ALSO READ: Justice Loya death case: Supreme Court reserves verdict on pleas for probe into death Fadnavis also informed that the state has written a letter to the Union government regarding a ban on the right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha. The previous government had written to the Union government on January 13, 2011 demanding the ban. The Union government had rejected the demand. We have written a letter to the Union government on November 13, 2015, with new cases against Sanatan Sanstha, Fadnavis said. Meanwhile, Bharip Bahujan Maha Sangha (BBMS) President Adv Prakash Ambedkar too has gone back on his earlier statement that Bhide had actively incited the violence. The rioters at Bhima-Koregaon were chanting slogans in the name of Bhide. Hence it was our obvious guess that Bhide incited the riots, Ambedkar told a TV channel today. We have never said that Bhide had active participation in the riots. But, he certainly incited the violence. In our view our accusations are justified, Ambedkar said adding that the CM should have presented the evidence we had provided him yesterday before the state legislature. Al-Khalifa explained that Manama was mulling new legislation designed to introduce severe measures to deal with unprecedented chaos by disruptive social media accounts. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Bahrains Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa threatened to track down Bahraini activists who use social media to voice their opposition to the Manama regime. Al-Khalifa explained that Manama was mulling new legislation designed to introduce severe measures to deal with unprecedented chaos by disruptive social media accounts. We are not far from tracking down those behind this, and taking legal action against them, he said in a statement released on Sunday. Manama has already jailed countless activists in its clampdown on online dissident. One of the more high profile cases is that of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, who was sentenced to five years in prison for tweets criticizing the Saudi-led war in Yemen and exposing the use of torture in Bahrain. /257 By IANS BENGALURU: In an embarrassing goof-up in poll-bound Karnataka, BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday said the party's Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt government in the country. "Recently, a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition for the most corrupt government, then the Yeddyurappa government is number one," Shah told the media with Yeddyurappa sitting next to him. The former Chief Minister, who was rattled, leaned over to Shah in a bid to correct him. Another BJP leader nudged the party president to make him realize that he had made a blunder. Shah corrected himself, went on a damage control and said he meant that Congress government of Chief Minister "Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government". ALSO READ: BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya tweets Karnataka poll schedule 15 minutes before official announcement; Election Commission assures 'strict action' Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah immediately snatched the opportunity to point out that Amit Shah had spoken the truth and it (his error) was not a mistake. He has spoken the truth, it's not a mistake, he is right: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Amit Shah says' Yeddyurappa Govt should be awarded most corrupt award, later corrects himself' pic.twitter.com/qy74Br9xWP ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 Shah said the BJP government at the Centre had done a lot to develop Karnataka. "Siddaramaiah asks what has the Modi government done for Karnataka. I would like to remind that when there was the 13th Finance Commission during UPA regime, funds worth Rs 88,583 crore were allocated for the state of Karnataka. "But when the 14th finance commission was implemented after the BJP came to power at the Centre, funds for Karnataka were increased to Rs 2,19,506 crore." But by this time the damage was done. Congress leaders latched on to it and had a field day on social media networks. Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! "Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Government ever," Gandhi said, posting a clip of Shah's faux pas. Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever... True. pic.twitter.com/UYqGDZuKyR Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2018 Siddaramaiah also tweeted to Shah that the "#ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Thank you @AmitShah". "Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth - We all concur with you Amitji BSY-BJP is the most corrupt," tweeted Divya Spandana of the Karnataka unit of the Congress. Spandana posted an undated clip of Shah in which he is heard saying that "Yeddyurappa says the BJP doesn't help with the development of Karnataka". Yeddyurappa was the chief minister of the first BJP government in Karnataka from 2008. He was forced to step down in 2011 following corruption allegations by Karnataka's Lokayukta Santosh Hegde. But he was acquitted in 2016. The official welcoming ceremony will be held in hours by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at the presidential palace of the country. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - President of the Islamic Republic of Iran arrived in Ashgabat, the Republic of Turkmenistan on Tuesday at the official invitation of the President of Turkmenistan. The official welcoming ceremony will be held in hours by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at the presidential palace of the country. After the official welcoming ceremony, the two presidents will have a meeting and then attend the meeting of the high-ranking delegations of Iran and Turkmenistan. The two countries will also sign cooperation documents and the businesspeople of the private sectors will also have a meeting, discussing ways of deepening economic relations. Dr Rouhani is scheduled to make a visit to the grave of the Prophet's companions and other holy sites in Merv. He is also set to leave Turkmenistan for the Republic of Azerbaijan late on Wednesday at the official invitation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. /257 St. Patrick's Day in September with pirates?! It's happening Saturday Pipe bands and Free Men of the Sea, a pirate reenactment group, will rotate around Newport establishments Sept. 25 in first St. Patrick's Day party. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 78F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of light rain late. Low 49F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Beaver Dam, WI (53916) Today Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. Thunder possible. High 76F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Thunder possible. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. So bad has the financial and operational rot ravaging Air Zimbabwe become, that the flag carrier can now barely manage to ferry its domestic and international passengers who are increasingly enduring horrendous flight cancellations and reschedulings. And although Air Zims fleet supposedly comprises 10 active aircraft two Boeing 767s, three 737s, three MA60s and two Airbus A320s well-placed sources told the Daily News at the weekend that the debt-ridden national airline now only has three of these in the air, servicing both its domestic and regional routes. This comes as its creaky aircraft have also been banned from flying into Europe by the European Commission, for safety reasons. The sources who spoke to the Daily News said Air Zim was, in addition, also struggling to service and to fuel its few operating planes due to viability problems that were threatening its survival. This had triggered an outcry among passengers, who were more often than not being left stranded at local and regional airports due to the flag carriers long-standing budgetary and operational challenges. Things are very bad here. Flights are routinely being cancelled at short notice and crews are having difficult times trying to provide plausible answers to angry, stranded passengers. It is an understatement to say that there is total chaos at the moment. We are now often being forced to combine domestic flights, in an endeavour to try and ameliorate the situation, but this is not working. In some situations, we have even had flight captains coming down to do the boarding formalities, due to the chaotic operational environment and anger from irate passengers, one of the sources told the Daily News. Even Transport minister Joram Gumbo has painted a bleak picture of the national airlines fortunes, which he said was relying on government bailouts for what remains of its business. There is nothing to expect from that front unless we get money. For now, its a sinking company. For example, Air Zimbabwe asks government to purchase fuel for it on a daily basis and it cannot run on its own, Gumbo said. Another Air Zim insider said the problems stalking the national airline were huge and long in the making even resulting in the flag carrier not managing to cope on March 14 this year with the number of people who travelled to Victoria Falls from Harare for the CEO Round Table Indaba that was held at the resort town. Although the airline had deployed one of its Boeing 767-200 to mitigate the situation then, this had also at the same time created scheduling chaos for other passengers flying to other destinations, such as those who were going to Bulawayo. A day later, on March 15, passengers who were travelling to Bulawayo on the evening flight also had to endure seven hours at the Harare domestic terminal, as their plane had been rerouted to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. And on March 16, passengers travelling to Harare from Bulawayo were stranded for hours at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport because their plane could not take off without President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his entourage. Mnangagwa, who had attended the CEO Roundtable in Victoria Falls, had used alternative transport from the resort town to Bulawayo to hold several meetings and tour projects in the Matabeleland North Province. However, the president was said not to have been aware that passengers had been delayed to allow him to wind up his meetings and get on the flight. In the end, that plane had to make two round trips as some passengers could not find space in their booked flight. Similarly, passengers who were in Harare travelling to Bulawayo on the day also had to endure many hours waiting for the same plane. We are all stressed because we have to juggle between combining domestic flights and servicing the Johannesburg route. Things get even more complicated when VIPs such as the president are also travelling. As the Presidents Office pays for charters upfront, this means that we have to reschedule the routes and withdraw one of our better planes to ferry him. Surprisingly, the airlines marketing and planning manager, Runesu Kwaramba, is insisting that the situation at the airline is normal, and not unique to Air Zimbabwe. There is no serious problem, flights do delay. The other day, I was at the airport waiting for my relative and he was delayed by four hours . . . I think we are getting better, he said. Asks whether they would compensate passengers who would have been inconvenienced by the delays and last-minute cancellations, he was evasive. Compensation is not a blanket thing. It is not an automatic thing that whenever a flight is delayed everyone is called and gets compensation . . . it does not work like that. We look at case by case. We check to see the level of inconvenience caused and pay accordingly, Kwaramba told the Daily News. The national carrier has over the past three decades struggled to shake off claims of gross corruption and ineptitude, which has led to the dismissals of several of its boards and senior managers. The airline is said to be losing up to $3 million a month, in addition to being saddled with a $300 million declared debt. The extent of the rot devouring Air Zimbabwe was first exposed to the public in March last year when it was revealed that former president Robert Mugabe was resorting to hiring private jets for his many overseas travels, after it emerged that the poorly-performing national carrier had failed to service its planes. Meanwhile, Air Zimbabwe is among 181 airlines that are banned by the European Commission, which added it to its EU Air list of non-European airlines that do not meet international safety standards. Daily News Allies of former president Robert Mugabe have sent desperate distress calls to both sitting and former heads of state on the continent, on fears that the government may arrest the nonagenarian and his unhinged wife Grace over festering allegations that he engaged in myriad criminal activities while in power. This comes as Grace is already under serious police investigation after being implicated in the smuggling of the countrys ivory stocks, with sources within the justice system also telling the Daily News yesterday that there were several other ongoing probes targeting the former first lady who was accused of effecting a bedroom coup at State House in 2014. Among Mugabes remaining associates who fear that President Emmerson Mnangagwas government may be planning to arrest the increasingly disorientated 94-year-old and his wife are self-exiled former Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo one of the alleged kingpins of Zanu PFs vanquished Generation 40 (G40) faction as well as the fledgling new opposition party that has the backing of the nonagenarian, the National Patriotic Front (NPF). NPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire, confirmed yesterday that they had written to regional bloc Sadc, urging it to intervene and save Mugabe from alleged harassment. The harassment of Mugabe and his wife, especially the contrived ivory smuggling allegations, are clear moves by a desperate junta to tarnish the image of the two, after Mugabe came out in the open revealing that ED (Mnangagwa) and (Vice President Constantino) Chiwenga staged a coup on November 15, 2017 and that the current government is therefore illegitimate. The junta was also riled by the fact that Mugabe is prepared to support NPF if we fight for a return to constitutionalism and ensure that politics leads the gun, not the current situation where guns were used to illegally topple a democratically-elected government. It is common cause that Mugabe and his family were under house arrest in December 2017 when the purported ivory smuggling was done, so the soldiers that were holding the family hostage should tell us how their captives found time to involve themselves in the purported ivory trade, Mawarire charged. The well-placed sources who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the current investigations into various dealings of the Mugabe family had been going on for the past three months, with authorities apparently sitting on several hot dockets that did not portray the former first family in good light. But Mawarire claimed that the allegations were purely political harassment as a result of the first familys alleged links to our party. If Zimbabwe is open for business, it should be open to political business. Hence, people regardless of their past positions in government should be allowed freedom of association, choice and expression. These rights are fundamental to the freeness and fairness of the forthcoming election, and we hope ED goes beyond his mantra of a free election and acquaints himself with the Sadc guidelines and principles governing democratic elections in the region. These are very clear on what constitutes a free and fair election and we believe he should leave ... Mugabe and his family to freely participate in the next elections if they so wish, because it's their constitutional right to do so ... we have engaged regional powers to look into the matter of Mugabe, Mawarire added. In its letter sent to regional leaders, including former South African president Thabo Mbeki infamous for claiming a decade ago that there was no political crisis in Zimbabwe the NPF warned that if Sadc leaders choose to ignore Mugabes current situation, there could be serious consequences for both the country and the region. If you ignore this ... you will ignore the Constitution of Zimbabwe, history and your responsibilities and obligations as Sadc, and the consequences will be too ghastly for everyone concerned, in Zimbabwe and in Sadc and the African Union, reads part of the NPF letter. The curtain fell on Mugabe last year on November 21 when he resigned moments after Parliament had started damaging proceedings to impeach him. This followed a military intervention that was code-named Operation Restore Legacy, which saw the nonagenarian and his then influential wife being placed under house arrest. Several Cabinet ministers linked to the G40 faction which had coalesced around Grace were also targeted in the operation, which ended just before Christmas with the military only retreating back to their barracks after five weeks of executing the operation. The annihilated G40 with the visible help of Mugabe and Grace was, before the military intervention, locked in a bitter war with Mnangagwa and his supporters for control of both Zanu PF and the country. Moyo used micro blogging site, Twitter, at the weekend to also appeal to serving and former African leaders including Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Mbeki, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Olesugun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan to help Mugabe. HE P. Kagame; HE C. Ramaphosa; HE T. Mbeki; HE B. Mkapa; HE O. Obasanjo; HE Y. Museveni & HE K. Annan. Coup rulers in Zimbabwe are persecuting your brother, Mugabe. Please check on him! It's impossible for Zanu PF to win Zimbabwe's 2018 elections. Zanu PF is no more. What was Zanu PF was killed by the 15NovCoup and replaced by an unelectable Lacoste Junta. To remain in power, the Lacoste Junta will have to do another coup. Only EDiots think that would succeed, again, Moyo raged. Meanwhile, the former Higher Education minister, who is now living in self-imposed exile, is himself facing a slew of criminal allegations which include corruption, fraud, money laundering and criminal abuse of office charges, as well as claims that he irregularly benefited from Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) donations that involved the purchase of bicycles which he donated to his former Tsholotsho North constituency. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has said that the donations of the bicycles was not done above board. The anti-graft body further claims that Moyo, his then deputy Godfrey Gandawa, and Zimdef chief executive Frederick Mandizvidza, were at the centre of multiple corrupt and fraudulent activities running into hundreds of thousands of dollars. On his part, Moyo has said that he is not corrupt, since going on to work hard to discredit the current government, by repeatedly questioning the legitimacy of Mnangagwa and his new dispensation which has been warmly embraced by Sadc, the African Union and all key Western powers. Daily News Six criminals donning fake Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) uniforms recently robbed a businessman in Harare of $100 000. The criminals attacked the businessman at his Borrowdale house after getting inside information from his nephew. Three of the suspects have since appeared before a Harare magistrate charged with robbery. On February 23, a four-member gang including a 21-year-old woman wearing ZNA uniforms pounced on another businessman Mr Tawanda Zeze at his house in Belvedere, Harare. The gang vanished with over $21 000. One of the robbers, Mildred Makoto (21) of plot 86, Marwende Road, Snake Park, Harare, yesterday appeared before magistrate Ms Josephine Sande charged with robbery. Her alleged accomplices are still at large. She was remanded in custody to today for bail application. The prosecutor Ms Linda Gadzikwa alleged that on February 23 at around 8pm, Makoto and her accomplices hatched a plan to rob Mr Zeze. Two of the gang members wore a complete ZNA uniform and proceeded to Zezes house. When they arrived at the house, they allegedly identified themselves as soldiers before informing Mr Zeze that he was wanted at their barracks for questioning. They said it was in connection with the operations of his company, More than Conquerors Trust Organisation. It is the States case that they dragged him into his bedroom indicating that they wanted to conduct some searches. They allegedly ordered him to open his safe and out of fear, Mr Zeze complied. The gang, the court heard, stole $21 000 which was in the safe and three mobile phones. Herald President Mnangagwa is determined to transform the lives of Zimbabweans and the reforms he is implementing will see France advocating the complete removal of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, a French official has said. French Minister of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Mr Jean-Baptise Lemoyne yesterday said President Mnangagwa wanted change for the people of Zimbabwe and France was pleased with reforms being carried out. He made the remarks after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa who is here attending the 2018 Africa CEO Forum, a gathering which brings together over 1 600 investors and business leaders. We are very aware of the reforms that the new Government wants for Zimbabwe and we are advocating within the European Union (EU) the lifting of sanctions, he said. Herald A Mufakose woman was reportedly gang-raped by four men from her neighbourhood to fix her for accompanying her friend to file theft charges against one of the suspects. The four Paddy Mlambo, 23, Simbarashe Mlambo, 28, Kelvin Chiromudzimu, 22, and Elson Tariro Masawi, 25 appeared before Harare magistrate Josephine Sande facing rape charges. They were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court because they face a third schedule offence. Prosecutor Linda Gadzikwa alleged that sometime in March this year, the victim accompanied her friend to Marimba Police Station to file theft charges against Paddy. On her way back she met the gang and was pushed into their kombi before being burnt with a lit cigarette. The court heard that Paddy and his accomplices were bitter that the woman had assisted her friend file theft charges against him. They reportedly began assaulting her with clenched fists before proceeding to Mukonono Flats in Mufakose. Chiromudzimu, Masawi and Simbarashe then subdued the woman to allow Paddy to rape her. After Paddy had finished the act, his friends took turns to sexually assault the woman, one after the other. It was alleged that when the gang had finished raping the woman they allegedly went outside and locked her in the kombi for 30 minutes. After that, they reportedly drove for about 200m from Mukonono Flats and dropped the victim before speeding off. She walked back home and arrived around 3am before going to file a police report. Daily News Cavers Say They Made It to Bottom of the 'Well of Hell' (Newser) The Iowa man behind the biggest US lotto scam ever was a "very large" and "kind of lonesome" geek, according to his own brother, and he didn't set out to rig more than $24 million for the money: Eddie Tipton says he did it for the challenge. USA Today lays out Tipton's "untold story" in full, starting in 2005, when a co-worker at the Multi-State Lottery Association, where Tipton was a software programmer and head of IT security, uttered the sentence that changed everything. "Hey, did you put your secret numbers in there?," accountant Gene Schaller asked, tipping Tipton off that since he wrote the code for the lottery's numbers-generating software, there was nothing stopping him from placing code in there to get the numbers to go the way he wanted. And that's exactly what Tipton did, finagling the system so that he and his brother, Tommy, could win big time. story continues below The Tiptons were arrested in 2015 for fraud, per Time, and pleaded guilty to felony charges; Tommy got 75 days behind bars, while Eddie, now 54, is still serving up to 25 years in prison, with a chance for parole in three years or so, per his lawyers. But it's the story of what happened in between that first conversation with Schaller and his sentencing that's most intriguing, including how he was hired by the lottery system with a criminal background (he'd been involved with a warehouse theft and also in stealing software from Sears as a teen), how he'd actually tried to clue his employers in to the vulnerability of their software, and how the Tiptons' first big win was helped along by a search for Bigfoot. As for Schaller, the guy who first planted the seed in Tipton's head? He still works for the MSLA. More in USA Today, which also details the mistake that was Tipton's undoing. (Read more lottery stories.) (Newser) A Florida woman who's hoping to save a 100-year-old tree from being cut down held a wedding ceremony in which she pledged to honor and protect the imposing ficus. Karen Cooper wants to save the landmark Ft. Myers tree, whose 8,000-foot canopy graces a park near her home. Local authorities have approved a developer's request to have it removed out of fear it could topple and damage private property that adjoins the city-owned land. Cooper held the event in a bid to get people to show their support for preserving the tree. Per ABC News, Cooper's March 24 ceremony was complete with a wedding dress, walk down the aisle, maid of honor, and even a canine ring bearer. story continues below The "newlywed," who's lived in Ft. Myers nearly 40 years, says she wants to save the tree after so many others were destroyed in September's Hurricane Irma. Cooper told the News-Press the event was inspired by women in Mexico who she says marry trees to protest deforestation. "People get married at this park," Cooper quipped. "But I married the tree." A reported 80 or so people showed up for the ceremony, which included food and music and was capped off with a tree decorating ceremony. Meanwhile, the tree's life remains in the balance. A meeting to determine the ficus's fate is scheduled for Tuesday. (Read more trees stories.) (Newser) An 85-year-old Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust was murdered and her body burned in what Paris police are now investigating as a hate crime. Mireille Knoll was stabbed at least 11 times before her Paris apartment was set ablaze Friday, report the Local and the BBC. Two male suspects, aged 22 and 29, were arrested Monday and face possible charges of anti-Semitic murder, aggravated robbery, and destruction of property, reports the Times of Israel. On Facebook, Knoll's granddaughter describes one of the men as "a Muslim neighbor [Knoll] knew well." Knoll's son says she treated the man "like a son." Local media, however, report the man had threatened to set fire to Knoll's home following his release from prison for molesting the 12-year-old daughter of a woman who looked after Knoll. story continues below "We are really in shock," says Knoll's son, noting his mother had "no money" to tempt her alleged killers. Authorities initially said they were "not excluding any hypothesis" regarding the motive of the killing. But on Monday, the Paris prosecutor's office said anti-Semitism was likely to blame. "For the family, it's almost a certainty," French MP Meyer Habib said in a Facebook post after speaking with Knoll's relatives, per the Local. She noted Knoll escaped a roundup of 13,000 Jews in Paris in 1942almost all of whom would later die in Nazi death campsthanks to her mother's Brazilian passport, per the BBC. Many are now pointing out similarities in the case of 66-year-old Jewish woman Sarah Halimi, murdered in Paris last April. In February, the murder was ruled an anti-Semitic crime. (Read more anti-Semitism stories.) (Newser) Uber voluntarily pulled its self-driving cars from Arizona roads after a fatal accident earlier this month but whenor ifthey return will be up to the state. Gov. Doug Ducey ordered the suspension of the company's self-driving car test program Monday, accusing Uber of not putting public safety first, the Arizona Republic reports. "Improving public safety has always been the emphasis of Arizona's approach to autonomous vehicle testing, and my expectation is that public safety is also the top priority for all who operate this technology in the state of Arizona," but the March 18 accident in Tempe marks an "unquestionable failure to comply with this expectation," Ducey said in a letter to Uber. story continues below The accident killed a 49-year-old woman who was pushing a bike across a busy road outside a crosswalk at night. Ducey described a video of the incident as "disturbing and alarming," though it's not clear whether a human driver could have avoided hitting the woman. Aptiv, which supplied the standard collision-avoidance technology for the Volvo SUV involved, says Uber had disabled the technology in the vehicle, possibly as part of testing for its own program. "We don't want people to be confused or think it was a failure of the technology that we supply for Volvo, because thats not the case," spokesman Zach Peterson tells Bloomberg. (Read more Uber stories.) (Newser) Advocates say the change is simple common sensebut critics say it doesn't make a lot of sense to hold a census that won't accurately count the population. The Commerce Department has confirmed that the 2020 census will include a question about citizenship, a move that opponents warn will cause undocumented immigrants not to fill in the form, leading to a major undercount in states including Texas and California, NBC reports. The Commerce Department says the question is nothing new, noting that there was a question about citizenship on every decennial census from 1820 to 1950. The censuswhich is meant to count the entire population, citizens or notis used to determine federal funding levels and representation in Congress, among other things. story continues below "The President wants the 2020 United States Census to ask people whether or not they are citizens," the Trump campaign said in email to supporters last week, per CNN. "In another era, this would be COMMON SENSE... but 19 attorneys general said they will fight the President if he dares to ask people if they are citizens." The attorneys general in opposition include California's Xavier Becerra. In an op-ed at the San Francisco Chronicle, he writes that the move "would discourage noncitizens and their citizen family members from responding to the census, resulting in a less accurate population count." This would not only reduce funding for public services, it would violate the Constitution's requirement for an "actual enumeration" of the population, he writes. (Read more US Census stories.) (Newser) Speculation about a visit to Beijing by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or another high-level Pyongyang official was running high Tuesday amid talk of preparations for a meeting between the North's reclusive leader and President Trump. The arrival of a special train in Beijing and unusually heavy security at a guesthouse where prominent North Koreans have stayed in the past have fueled talk that Kim was making his first visit to China as the North's leader, the AP reports. Such a trip would be seen as a potential precursor to Kim's planned summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April and his anticipated meeting with Trump by May. Analysts, however, questioned whether Kim would make the visit to Beijing himself rather than send an envoy. story continues below While there has been no word of a meeting with Chinese leaders, China has been one of North Korea's most important allies even though relations have chilled recently because of Kim's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. On Monday, heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge on the Yalu River marking the border between China and North Korea before a train passed. Japanese broadcaster NTV reported that the green and yellow train appeared very similar to the one that Kim's father and predecessor as North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, took to Beijing in 2011. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, asked whether Kim or another North Korean official was visiting Beijing, said, "I know you're all very curious but I have no information on that." (These defectors crossed the Yalu River, then vanished.) (Newser) The student who fatally shot a female classmate last week at a Maryland high school died from a self-inflicted gunshot in a confrontation with a school resource officer who also fired his gun, police said Monday. The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that 17-year-old Austin Rollins fired a fatal shot to his head as he encountered sheriff's deputy Blaine Gaskill last Tuesday at Great Mills High School, reports the AP. Gaskill's shot struck Rollins' gun. Jaelynn Willey, 16, died two days later. According to the sheriff's office, Rollins entered the school about five minutes before he shot Willey in the head with his father's gun. The same bullet traveled into the leg of Desmond Barnes, 14, who had sought shelter in a classroom. Rollins then turned a corner and passed several classrooms before confronting Gaskill; both fired their weapons about 30 seconds later. story continues below In one of the 911 calls released, Barnes tells a dispatcher, "I was just shot in my school." A woman, possibly a teacher, tells the dispatcher that four students are in her classroom, one of them shot and bleeding. "We have him laying down," she said. "I'm afraid to transport him to safer place." A voice on the school's intercom system urges students to stay in their classrooms. "It'll be OK," the woman says. "It's OK ... They're coming. ... Don't worry." Barnes and the dispatcher talk again. The teen said he's been shot in the back of the thigh and that "it's burning." "Oh my knee hurts so bad," he said. "We're getting help to you, Desmond," the dispatcher replied. "Stay strong for me buddy." Emergency responders soon arrive. "Hi Desmond, we're putting a tourniquet on you, all right?" one of them tells him. "A tourniquet stops the bleeding." (Read more school shooting stories.) (Newser) Russia has yet to take retaliatory action against the US and other nations that are expelling diplomats accused of being intelligence officers, but it sounds like it won't be a long wait. Moscow has condemned the "confrontational policy" and again denied any role in what prompted itthe poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain. At the very least, Moscow is expected to begin expelling diplomats soon, and the BBC notes that Russia's embassy in the US is hinting via a tweeted survey that at least one American consulate in Russia might be shuttered as well. The Guardian expects Moscow to "respond harshly." Developments: Seattle hassle: The US closed the Russian consulate in downtown Seattle, and the Seattle Times talks to people who had shown up for passport renewals, including one woman who flew in from California, only to be turned away. "It's tense," says one woman. The story also has background on the reason cited for the closure: the consulate's proximity to the Kitsap naval base, home to eight nuclear subs. The Washington Post reports that the consulate is believed to have served as a "key outpost" for Russian intelligence, partly because it was so close to the base. story continues below Unprecedented: The coordinated response against Moscow "is unprecedented since the Cold War," writes Robin Wright at the New Yorker, and it "signals the potential for a deeper confrontation that could ripple across other global flashpoints where Western and Russian interests compete." However, she quotes one former US diplomat who points out that Putin "literally cannot afford another Cold War." The coordinated response against Moscow "is unprecedented since the Cold War," writes Robin Wright at the New Yorker, and it "signals the potential for a deeper confrontation that could ripple across other global flashpoints where Western and Russian interests compete." However, she quotes one former US diplomat who points out that Putin "literally cannot afford another Cold War." Russian complaint: That the penalties came on the same day as a horrific mall fire in Russia shows "emotional deafness," says Russia's ambassador to the US, per Russia Today. Anatoly Antonov also is skeptical that the spy poisoning is the full reason for the penalties. The scale of inflicted damage and the preceding information campaign speak of the fact that it had been planned beforehandsimply postponed for the right moment." That the penalties came on the same day as a horrific mall fire in Russia shows "emotional deafness," says Russia's ambassador to the US, per Russia Today. Anatoly Antonov also is skeptical that the spy poisoning is the full reason for the penalties. The scale of inflicted damage and the preceding information campaign speak of the fact that it had been planned beforehandsimply postponed for the right moment." Would if they could: New Zealand supports the international action against Moscow but isn't joining inbecause it can't find Russian operatives to deport, reports the Telegraph. "We have done a check," says Prime Minister Jacinda Arden. "We don't have Russian undeclared intelligence officers here. If we did, we would expel them." Australia weighs in: The nation not only announced it would expel two diplomats Monday, it warned that it might boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia, reports Reuters. Australia condemned the "shocking crime" of the poisoning, but the nation's Russian ambassador denied Moscow's link to that and said Australia was only hurting "professional career diplomats," per 9News. The nation not only announced it would expel two diplomats Monday, it warned that it might boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia, reports Reuters. Australia condemned the "shocking crime" of the poisoning, but the nation's Russian ambassador denied Moscow's link to that and said Australia was only hurting "professional career diplomats," per 9News. The nations on board: The US expulsion of 60 diplomats is by far the most of any nation, and the BBC counts them down: Ukraine (13); Canada (4); France (4); Germany (4); Poland (4); Czech Republic (3); Lithuania (3); Australia (2); Albania (2); Denmark (2); Netherlands (2); Italy (2); Spain (2); Estonia (1); Croatia (1); Finland (1); Hungary (1); Latvia (1); Romania (1); Sweden (1); Norway (1); and Macedonia (1). The US expulsion of 60 diplomats is by far the most of any nation, and the BBC counts them down: Ukraine (13); Canada (4); France (4); Germany (4); Poland (4); Czech Republic (3); Lithuania (3); Australia (2); Albania (2); Denmark (2); Netherlands (2); Italy (2); Spain (2); Estonia (1); Croatia (1); Finland (1); Hungary (1); Latvia (1); Romania (1); Sweden (1); Norway (1); and Macedonia (1). Not on board: Austria, Greece, and Portugal are among those who say they don't intend to deport any Russians. (Read more poisoning stories.) (Newser) Human rights groups shining a spotlight on mounting deaths in the Philippines' drug war now have the added chore of denying the government's claims they're involved. Following one of the bloodiest weeks in President Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown on drugs13 people were killed in a single night, per the Wall Street Journalpresidential spokesman Harry Roque on Monday said "some human rights groups have become unwitting tools of drug lords to hinder the strides made by the Administration," per CNN. The comment echoed Foreign Secretary Alan Cayetano previously accusing rights groups of "pushing an advocacy ... for politics, for business." Philippine officials later announced almost 124,000 people have been arrested for drug-related offenses and nearly 4,100 people have been killed in shootouts with police since June 2016. story continues below Human rights groups, which believe the government tally omits thousands of deaths, say accusations against them show a disregard for international outrage surrounding Duterte's regime, under investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said Roque's comment was "shockingly dangerous and shameful" and "aimed at undermining the integrity of [those] ... pushing back against the Duterte government's systematic attack on rule of law." Local rights group Karapatan added the president's office continues to "invent the most ludicrous of stories" and create the "wildest accusations." Duterte denies wrongdoing, however, and a national police spokesman tells Reuters that authorities are investigating Roque's claims. "We have no [proof] right now," the officer says. (Read more Philippines stories.) (Newser) More than 150 years ago, Canada invited chiefs from the indigenous Tsilhqot'in Nation to take part in peace talks. Instead, the five men were arrested upon arrival, tried hastily, and hanged. A sixth chief met the same fate the following year. On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally exonerated the chiefs and apologized, reports the Guardian. "As much as it is in our power to do so, we must right the wrongs of the past," he said. "We are truly sorry." The chiefs were executed in retaliation for the deaths of 14 white members of a government road-building crew who were ambushed while forging a path through Tsilhqot'in territory in 1864in the midst of a gold rushwithout the tribe's permission, explains the CBC. The Tsilhqot'in Nation saw the killings as a justifiable action in what came to be known as the Chilcotin War. story continues below "Our warriors defended our women, our children, our lands," says modern Chief Joe Alphonse. The road workers brought with them the threat of smallpox, which at the time was wiping out indigenous peoples in British Columbia, and some accounts allege the workers also sexually abused Tsilhqot'in women they took hostage. Still, the government viewed the ambush not as an act of war but of murder, notes the Washington Post. The chiefs evaded capture for months until they accepted a peace offering of tobacco and agreed to meet in what they thought would be talks to end the Chilcotin War. "We confirm without reservation that Chief Klatsassin, Chief Biyil, Chief Tilaghed, Chief Taqed, Chief Chayses, and Chief Ahan are fully exonerated of any crime or wrongdoing," said Trudeau. (Read more Justin Trudeau stories.) (Newser) Beware of furry fanatics if you plan to dress up this Easter. Ohio police say a 54-year-old woman got a hare, er, hair too excited about meeting the Easter Bunny at a Mansfield park on Saturday. While posing for a photograph, Ladonna Hughett made several lewd comments to the costume wearer, then hopped on a carousel, police tell News 5. She was booked at Richland County Jail on a charge of drunkenness after police arrived and found her unsteady, with slurred speech, per the Mansfield News Journal. In an unrelated incident, the Asbury Park Press reports a woman dressed in an Easter Bunny costume passed out at a mall in New Jersey on Monday. (Read more Easter bunny stories.) (Newser) Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is the latest prominent figure to applaud student protesters calling for action on gun control. But in an op-ed published Tuesday in the New York Times, he says they should raise their demands to includeconstitutional defenders, prepare yourselfa "repeal of the Second Amendment." Stevens frames his case from a legal perspective, arguing the 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller decision cementing an individual right to bear arms, to which he dissented, altered the original intent of the Amendment, which had lasted for more than 200 years. In 1939, for example, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that limits could be placed on gun ownership as long as those limits didn't interfere with "the preservation or efficiency of a 'well regulated militia,'" Stevens writes. story continues below That made sense since the Second Amendment was created out of a "concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of the separate states," says the Republican, who turns 98 next month. "Today that concern is a relic of the 18th century." But in helping change the Second Amendment's meaning through the 2008 decision, the National Rifle Association gained "a propaganda weapon of immense power," writes Stevens, who previously argued that the Second Amendment should be amended. "Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the NRA's ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option," he adds. His full piece is here. (Read more opinion stories.) (Newser) An alarm system turned off on a fertility clinic storage tank that had been malfunctioning for weeks led to a failure that likely ruined more than 4,000 eggs and embryos, double what the clinic first thought, it said Tuesday. The clinic run by University Hospitals in suburban Cleveland does not know who shut off the alarm or why it happened, according to a letter sent to its patients. The alarm should have alerted staff when the storage tank's temperature began to rise on the weekend of March 4 when no one was at the lab, the AP reports. "We don't know who turned off the remote alarm nor do we know how long it was off, but it appears to have been off for a period of time. We are still seeking those answers," the letter said. story continues below Couples who had stored their eggs and embryos at the clinic say they're devastated because they may not be able to have their own children. Some had been trying for years to get pregnant, suffered multiple miscarriages or undergone cancer treatments that destroyed their fertility. Mark DiCello, a Cleveland attorney who represents some of the patients, said he believes someone at the clinic turned off the alarm because "they were having problems and they made the decision they weren't going to deal with it." "That was a decision. That wasn't an oops," he said. He said his clients are furious. They believe the clinic had to know soon after the failure that the alarm had been turned off, but didn't say anything to the patients until now, DiCello said. University Hospitals said about 950 patients were affected and that it doubts any of the 4,000 embryos or eggs are still viable. (Read more fertility clinic stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. High 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Cloudy skies with a few snow showers later at night. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%. New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday conducted the last examination, Biology subject, for the Science stream students of class 12 across the countrywide. Biology has always been considered as an easy subject by the students, but the length of the question paper has bothered them forever. This time too, the question paper was termed as easy and scoring by the students as well as the teachers from various schools across the country. A government school teacher of Delhi said Someone told me that the paper has many tricky questions but when I saw the paper, I found it was an average paper. Only one question was bit difficult rest of the paper was good. Shruti Gupta, PGT Biology of Evergreen Public School, Vasundhra Enclave, Delhi, said, It is a balanced paper. Most of the questions are application based. Some more diagrams-based questions were expected. The students with thorough knowledge of the subject matter should be able to score well. Aarushi Gupta from the same school termed the paper unexpectedly easy and said, The paper was unexpectedly easy. All the questions were not direct but however easy. It was not a lengthy paper. Not only in the National capital, students from all over the world were content with the Biology question paper and expected higher marks. Shreyasi Roy Choudhary of Guru Teg Bahadur Academy, Tinsukia, Assam, said, My Biology paper today was indeed amazing. The paper was easy, not lengthy and great in content. I expect cent per cent marks. Students from GD Goenka Public School in Lucknow said that the paper was quite balanced. They added that questions from Section A and Section B were objective questions and a bit tricky, while Section C, Section D, and Section E had direct and to-the-point questions. Vaishnavi, a student of Holy Mission School of Patna, said, I am sure I will score above 60 out of 70 and if the board adapts lenient marking I will score above 65. I attempted all the questions and solved it before time. Also Read: CBSE brings new norm for Class X, Class XII evaluation process to ensure transparency Antara Mitra, the biology teacher in Notre Dame Academy, Patna, said, Short answer type questions carrying 2 marks each and the objective type question carrying one mark each were tricky. Only those students who would have done thorough study from the book could have solved it. Questions from sections like ecology and pollution were asked and were easy for the students. Anita Srivastava, a senior Biology teacher at Gangagurukulam School in Allahabad, said, The three questions of five marks each on double fertilisation in flowering plants, human reproduction and ecosystem with each of the three questions having an option were easy and well attempted by students. Eleven questions of three marks each on topics like evolution, genetics, biotechnology and diversity, etc were also scoring. The 70 marks paper was well balanced and all topics were covered adequately. The CBSE Boards 2018 had witnessed a total number of 11,86,306 students appear for class 12 examinations, while 16,38,428 students appeared for the class 10 examinations throughout the country. New Delhi: Shraddha Kapoor has rubbished the reports of her being a part of Salman Khan's upcoming movie Bharat. There have been reports that the young actress will be a part of the movie which will also have Priyanka Chopra in the key role. However, contrary to the reports, the Half Girlfriend actress has said that she is currently busy with three projects - Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Stree and Saho - and hasn't signed any other movie so far. "There are a couple of films that my name is being associated with when I havent even been approached. But the fact is that the only films I am working on are Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Stree and Saaho. My producers will announce if and when I sign another project. Till then please dont believe any speculations," Shraddha was quoted as saying. Talking about Bharat, the movie will chronicle Indias journey from 1947 till present. Helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the movie will feature Salman in five different avatars. It is also reported that the movie is an adaptation of Korean movie, Ode to My Father. Talking about the same, Ali told DNA, Since the story spans over a period of 70 years, there will be many historical references. It is essentially about a man who lives through several significant moments from Indias past to present. We are currently working on the films pre-production and details will be announced once we are in a position to talk about them. Reportedly, Bharat will be shot in the locales of Delhi Punjabi, Spain and Abu Dhabi. The movie is likely to hit the floors in June this year and is speculated to be Salman Khan's Eid release in 2019. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Congress was a client of Cambridge Analytica, a data analysis firm accused in the Facebook data privacy scandal, claimed Christopher Wylie the whistleblower who lifted the lid on political consultancy on Tuesday while deposing before the digital, culture, media and sport committee of the UK Parliament. The whistleblower claimed that Cambridge Analytica had worked on all kinds of projects in India. I believe Cambridge Analyticas client was Congress, but I know that theyve also done all kind of projects both regionally I dont remember a national project, I know regionally, said Wylie while responding to a question on CAs work in India by Labours Paul Fareely. I mean India is so big, one state could be as big as Britain. But they (CA) do have offices there, they have staff there. I believe I have some documentation on India which I can also provide to the committee, Wylie informed the British Parliamentary Committee. Wylie also informed the UK Parliament that he had joined the parent company Strategic Communications Ltd (SCL) before Cambridge Analytica was formed. IT expert Paul Olivier Dehaye, who gave evidence to the committee with Wylie, referred to the death of Wylies predecessor Romanian national Dan Muresan, who had allegedly worked in India for the Congress. There are stories that have started to come out of Wylies Romanian predecessors involvement in India, that when he died in Kenya, he was working for Congress, according to reports from India. Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Christopher Wylie has accepted before British Parliamentary committee that Cambridge Analytica worked for the Congress Party. This vindicates what we have been saying from day one. Rahul Gandhi has been trying to divert attention all these while, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted. The law minister demanded an apology from the Congress Party to the nation for "data theft" and "trying to manipulate voters". For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Minutes after Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded apology from Congress on Cambridge Analytica issue, partys spokesperson Randeep Surjewala demanded the BJP-led government to name the NRI businessman who allegedly worked with the UK firm to bring down the UPA government in 2014. Who was the NRI businessman who hired Cambridge Analytica in the run-up polls to manufacture false propaganda to bring down the UPA government in 2014, said Surjewala to reporters at a press conference. Further attacking the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader questioned, Why did the government not lodge a complaint against Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and its Indian partner in connection to the data theft issue. The BJP is trying to divert major issues and is engaged in blame game, Surjewala added. The BJP minister had demanded apology from the Congress, saying that the truth has been revealed. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert Indias election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica, Prasad told the reporters.. Referring to the Cambridge Analytica whistleblowers Christopher Wylies deposition, Prasad said, The firm worked for the Congress party. This vindicates what we have been saying from day one. Earlier in the day, Wylie deposing before the digital, culture, media and sport committee of the British Parliament had that Cambridge Analytica had worked on all kinds of projects in India and Congress was its client. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday re-tweeted a poll carried out by Congress which assessed her afailurea as a Foreign Minister over handling the case of the 39 missing Indians who were killed in Mosul in Iraq. However, the poll answers had a majority of aNoa than aYesa. About 76 per cent of people answered aNoa to the poll, while only 24 per cent people said aYesa. A total of 33,879 people had voted on the poll put up by Congress. The poll questioned, aDo you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajas biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaksa Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajas biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks a Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2018 On March 20, Swaraj announced in Rajya Sabha that the 39 Indians who were abducted by the Islamic State in 2014 were killed and their body was recovered from a mound in Iraqas Badush area. She added that the mortal remains of all the 39 recovered bodies had been sent to Baghdad for verification and will be later brought back to India. Since then, the Congress had been criticising Swaraj for misleading the families of the Indians killed by giving them false hopes. The party also decided to push a motion for breach of privilege. Congressa Shashi Tharoor questioned Swaraj saying aWhy did the Govt give false hope to the nation for three and a half years that the people were still alive? That was disappointing behaviour.a Sad news of the confirmation of the deaths of 39 Indians in Iraq. Thoughts & prayers are w/their families. But why did the Govt give false hope to the nation for three and a half years that the people were still alive? That was disappointing behaviour. a Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 20, 2018 Also Read| Why did government give false hopes: Congress on death of 39 Indians in Iraq Congress President Rahul Gandhi condoled the deaths of the 39 Indians and tweeted, aShocked to hear that 39 Indians who were in captivity since 2014, in Iraq, are now confirmed dead. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lived in hope, that their loved ones will return unharmed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you today.a Iam shocked to hear that 39 Indians who were in captivity since 2014, in Iraq, are now confirmed dead. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lived in hope, that their loved ones will return unharmed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you today. a Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 20, 2018 The victims, most of them who hailed from Punjab, were working on projects near Mosul at the time when the IS abducted them. A total of 40 people were abducted, one of whom ran away from the clutches by posing as a Bangladeshi Muslim. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is in Delhi to weave an anti-BJP alliance, on Tuesday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and other Opposition leaders and said that the BJP has "communalised" Hinduism. "BJP is the most communal party and its members have communalised the idea of Hinduism, the Trinamool Congress president told reporters in Delhi after the meeting. Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA, Mamata said that the government was in the process of winding up. Which government doesnt take up a no-confidence motion. The BJP is scared that many of its own MPs will not vote, she added. Mamata also informed the media that she was ready to meet all like-minded people, who are working to stop the BJP from coming to power in 2019. Also Read: Amit Shah goofs up in Karnataka, calls BJP's Yeddyurappa 'most corrupt CM' UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi is not well. Will meet her soon, she said, adding, she will be meeting Yashwant Singh, Arun Shourie and Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday. Speaking about the newfound bonafide between Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party, Mamata said that if they invite her for a meeting she will surely attend. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid the growing unity among Opposition parties against the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend a dinner hosted by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday. Banerjee, who reached Delhi on Monday for a four-day visit has taken an initiative to forge an alliance of Opposition parties to defeat the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Aimed at consolidating Opposition unity for the upcoming general elections, NCP chiefs dinner is seen as another attempt towards an anti-BJP alliance after last weeks gathering at UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhis residence. Mamata, who shares a healthy relationship with Sonia could not attend the dinner she hosted last week on March 14. But during the visit, she is also expected to meet the UPA chairperson on Wednesday. Also Read | Mayawati firm on BSP-SP alliance to crush BJP in 2019 Mamata has termed her meeting with Sonia as "strictly personal visit". However, it was not clear whether she will also meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Mamatas expected meeting with Sonia comes days after she met with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who is keen to form a federal front minus the BJP and the Congress. However, Pawar is more likely to support an alliance formed around Congress and Mamata too will not support any scheme that keeps the Grand Old Party out of it. In politics, situations sometimes allow everyone to come and work together. I have faith in democracy. It is best to work along with everyone, Mamata had said after meeting Rao. She has also thrown her weight behind the SP-BSP alliance and welcomed Mayawatis statement that her partys alliance with Akhilesh Yadv-led Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh will remain at least till 2019. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday denied reports of him meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and hosting a dinner for the Opposition leaders. aThere is no meeting, there is no dinner,a news agency ANI quoted Pawar as saying. Earlier, there were reports that the Mamata will attend a dinner hosted by the NCP chief in Delhi on TuesdayA evening. Banerjee, who reached Delhi on Monday for a four-day visit is also expected to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at his residence on Wednesday. There is no meeting, there is no dinner: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on question whether there will be a dinner meeting with West Bengal chief Minister Mamata Banerjee #Delhi pic.twitter.com/Sz6bQfTOJ7 a ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 The Bengal CM, who shares a healthy relationship with Sonia, termed the meeting "strictly personal visit". However, it was not clear whether she will also meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Mamataas expected meeting with Sonia comes days after she met with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who is keen to form a federal front minus the BJP and the Congress. However, Mamata is unlikely to support any scheme against the BJP that keeps the Congress out of it. aIn politics, situations sometimes allow everyone to come and work together. I have faith in democracy. It is best to work along with everyone,a Mamata had said after meeting Rao. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday passed the much-anticipated UP Control of Organised Crime Act (UP COCA) bill, thus clearing the way for turning it into an Act. With the passing of the UPCOCA bill, UP becomes the third state to have such a bill on organised crime after Maharashtra and Karnataka. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath re-introduced the bill in the upper house early in the day. The bill, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on December 21 last year, focuses to combat land mafia, mining mafia, and organise crimes across the state. The Upper House turned down the bill once on March 13 after the entire Opposition termed the bill and Act as draconian and staged a protest against it. The bill was returned to the Legislative Assembly on March 14, after which CM Adityanath re-introduced it on Tuesday. Even on Tuesday, the Opposition, including the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, and Congress, protested against the bill and staged a walkout. The bill was later passed by a voice vote in the Assembly. While addressing the Assembly, Adityanath said that a big state like UP needed a tough law against organised crime. He added that the UP Police were successful in controlling the rate of crime by seizing large quantities of arms, ammunition, narcotics, illicit liquor, and many other criminal things. The passed draft of the UPCOCA bill extends the period of filing charge sheets from 90 days to 180 days. The draft has also underlined that the state government will set up a special force and UPCOCA courts to hear the cases filed under the upcoming Act. Also Read: Yogi's UPCOC Bill falters in Upper House where SP has majority The draft also provides a minimum of three years capital punishment for those involved in organised crime. The draft Bill underlines a fine ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for organised crime offenders. The punishment for organised crime can also raise from 7 years to life imprisonment, depending on the nature of the crime. The Bill says that the UPCOCA Act can be put only after the recommendation of Commissioner or IG-rank officials, to prevent possible misuse of the upcoming law. Also, cases will only be filed under the recommendation of the committee of divisional commissioner and DIG range officer. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chinas prototype eight-tonne spacecraft Tiangong-1 is likely to crash on Earth this week or by the first week of April. The spacecraft has reportedly stopped sending any data signals and had entered its final stage on March 16, according to reports. While most of the spacecraft is likely to burn up before hitting the Earth, some parts of the Tiangong-1 are still said to hit the ground, which has raised the concern among the scientists. Experts, however, say that it is very rare that people get hit by a debris from the space. In 1997, a woman named Lottie Williams was hit on her shoulder by parts of what was believed to be the Delta II rocket, but she was uninjured. Another spacecraft, Skylab, also did not injure anyone at the time when it crashed, and its parts were later gathered. Tiangong-1 is the 50th largest spacecraft. The experts are yet unaware of the exact location where the Tiangong-1 might crash since the spacecraft is moving at a speed of 27,000 kilometers per hour. Meanwhile, the scientist predict that it might hit any vast part of Americas, Africa, Australia, and some regions of Asia and Europe. Also Read: NASAs Curiosity rover completes 2,000 Martian days on Red Planet, releases image Even the exact date of when the Tiangong-1 will hit the Earth is unknown. In case, the experts say, if the Tiangong-1 causes any damage to people, then China, which had launched the spacecraft, will be responsible for the compensation of the damage. This specific rule was laid down in the 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage caused by Space Objects or Space Liability Convention, and till date, only former Soviet Union was made to pay the liability in this kind of mutilation. Soviet Unions nuclear-powered satellite Cosmos 954 had poured nuclear waste over Canada in 1978, and Canada had sought a compensation of six million Canadian dollars. The Tiangong-1 is Chinas first space station and was launched seven years ago with an ambition to become a space superpower to overthrow the West and Russia. It was launched as unmanned, and in 2012 and 2013, two Chinese woman astronauts paid visit to the space station. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India will have a full roadmap for 5G technology by June, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said on Tuesday. Making the announcement at a COAI event in the capital, Sundararajan said 5G was important for India's massive "digitisation and digitalisation" progress. She said the government is working with all stakeholders to be a frontrunner in the area of 5G and by June a complete roadmap will be ready. "A high-level forum on 5G which includes global experts, industry experts, IITs, IISc, has already commenced work and done a fair amount of deliberation. By June, India will have full roadmap ready on this," she said addressing the event. The event organised by the non-profit Cellular Operators Association of India is deliberating on the vision, goals, and roadmap on 5G. It will also look at other areas of spectrum policy, regulatory regime, pilot programmes and the test bed, the official added. New Delhi: China on Monday reacted strongly to Indian envoy's remark on Doklam standoff, saying that the region belongs to them and India should have 'learnt lessons' from last year's stand-off. Indian envoy Gautam Bambawale blamed China for the face-off, saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the "status quo" in the disputed area. Reacting to India's ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's remarks that were published on Saturday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "Donglong (Doklam) belongs to China because we have historical conventions." "China's activities there are within our sovereign rights. There is no such thing as changing status quo," she said at a media briefing here."Last year thanks to our concerted efforts and our wisdom we properly resolved this issue. We hope the Indian side could learn some lessons from this and stick to the historical conventions and work with China to ensure the atmosphere in the border areas is conducive for the development of bilateral ties," she said. The 73-day standoff over China's attempt to build a road close to India's narrow Chicken Neck area connecting northeastern states ended in August last year after Chinese troops stopped the road construction at Doklam in Sikkim Section, though Beijing never officially acknowledged it. The area of the stand-off is also claimed by Bhutan. India's envoy in an interview to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post had blamed China for the stand-off in Doklam saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the "status quo" which it should not have. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The controversy generated by the decision of the National Executive Committee NEC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC to grant a one year tenure extension to its National Working Committee NWC may have been laid to rest as President Muhammadu Buhari has described the action of NEC as an infringement on not just the party constitution but the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.At the 5th NEC meeting of the party which is currently underway at its national secretariat in Abuja, the president said he took the decision based on advice from his Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.Details soon... Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, said, Tuesday, that the type of Bureaucracy in Nigeria, has made it remained in bondage.Okorochas statement was captured by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, when the Nigeria Army College of Logistics, led by General Richard Duru, visited him at the government House, Owerri.The governor also reasoned that a rule can be bent to archive ones target in the society.In the statement, Okorocha said: Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that one of the nations major problems is bureaucracy or protocol, stating that bureaucracy has killed most of the nations good initiatives and has kept the nation in perpetual bondage.Sometimes therefore if you need to succeed, you must bend the rule but dont break it to enable you achieve your goal. The trend has done a lot of harm to the system and has drawn the nation backward to a very large extent.Im told that you have been round the whole City to see for yourselves what Owerri looks like. And being in a School, Im sure you are here to further acquire knowledge and see how things are doneAnd how progress is made in a very given institution and if I had enough time, it could have been my pleasure to give a lecture as to what you must do in life to prove leadership in whatever form or in whatever place you find yourselves.In his remark, General Duru, said: We are in Imo state for research and we have also seen the exciting business potentials in the state, at various locations and will report back on the areas where it will benefit the military in Nigeria at large. The All Progressives Congress APC Tuesday in Abuja said it was not enough for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP to apologize for the damage it caused the nation for 16 years, saying the former ruling party must first confess all its sins and then make restitution.APC was reacting to news reports which quoted the PDP as apologizing to Nigerians for the partys indiscretions when it superintended the affairs of the country for 16 years.Spokesman of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi in a statement said the APC acknowledges the apologies by the Peoples Democracy Party PDP for the damage the party has wrought on the countrys democratic fabric during its 16-year rule.It, however, said, despite this belated grovelling apology, PDP will need to come clean, confess their sins and fully atone for it, before restitution is considered.As they say, to err is human but forgiveness is divine. We join PDP in praying to God to forgive them, but Nigerians are human who are still suffering from the years of PDPs misrule.Therefore, even if Nigerians are gracious enough to forgive, they will not forget in a hurry. The Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, again on Monday criticised the Federal Governments Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.Gates, in an interview with the CNN, said that the Federal Governments investment in education and health was not good enough.While it may be easier to be polite, its more important to face facts so that you can make progress, the philanthropist told a room of Nigerias government elite that included the President.In an exclusive television interview with the CNN, Gates said he spoke out to implore Nigerian politicians to focus on human capital and its large youth population.The current quality and quantity of investment in this young generation in health and education just isnt good enough. So, I was very direct, he told CNN.The philanthropist had at a special session of the National Economic Council, on Thursday, said Nigeria would do better with strong investments in health and education, rather than concentrate on physical infrastructure to the detriment of human capital development.He had said, Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth, with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad. One in three Nigerian children is chronically malnourished.In upper middle-income countries, the average life expectancy is 75 years. In lower middle-income countries, its 68; in low-income countries, its 62. In Nigeria, it is lower still, just 53 years.The Nigerian governments Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies investing in the people as one of three strategic objectives. But the execution priorities dont fully reflect peoples needs, prioritising physical capital over human capital. People without roads, ports and factories cant flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them cant sustain an economy.But the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, in an interview with State House correspondents after the NEC meeting, faulted the claim of Gates.He said the plan had enough provisions for education and health, adding that what was needed was for states to complement efforts of the Federal Government. A 12-year-old student was charged with juvenile delinquency for a social media post that said a school shooting was about to take place at Garfield Middle School, according to police. "The threatening post indicated a Garfield school shooting was going to occur on Monday and then indicated the post is a joke," police Commander Darren Sucorowski said in a statement. A school staff member who saw the post about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday notified police. Detectives determined the 12-year-old boy made the post. He was suspended from school, authorities said. Police, school security officers and Bergen County sheriff's deputies with a K-9 searched the school but did not find weapons or anything suspicious, Sucorowski said. "The (student) was charged with juvenile delinquency for acts which if they had been committed by an adult would constitute violations of false public alarms, terroristic threats and cyber harassment," Sucorowski said. The student is expected to appear before a Family Court judge in Bergen County Superior Court, Sucorowski said. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Michael Bennett turned himself into a state district judge in Houston on Monday on a felony charge of injury to the elderly stemming from an incident that took place following Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in 2017. Bennett posted a $10,000 bond and was released and permitted to travel to and from his home in Hawaii for all upcoming court proceedings in Houston. NJ Advance Media obtained Bennett's mugshot (above) that was taken upon his booking and processing with the Houston sheriff's department. He was released shortly after. Bennett allegedly injured Barbara Tatman, a 66-year-old paraplegic woman working at NRG Stadium during the 2017 Super Bowl, which was between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. Bennett was in the crowd that day supporting his brother, Martellus, then a tight end for the Patriots. The court imposed a no-contact order for Bennett with Tatman, the complainant, meaning Bennett is not permitted to contact her. Bennett was indicted by the Harris County (Texas) district attorney on Friday afternoon. Houston Police Department chief Art Acevedo held a press conference later that day where he declared Bennett to be "morally bankrupt." Monday, Rusty Hardin -- Bennett's Houston-based attorney - told attending media he believed Bennett to be not guilty. "When this is all over everyone will know Michael is not guilty," Hardin said. "He did not do this." Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zsr1090@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook. State lawmakers changed the rules five years ago to allow immigrants living in the country illegally to pay in-state tuition at New Jersey's colleges and universities. But, the state stopped short of giving the "Dreamers" any money to help pay for tuition. Gov. Chris Christie nixed legislation in 2013 that would have opened up the state's college financial aid program to unauthorized immigrants. With Republican Christie gone, the proposal to give financial aid to unauthorized immigrants is back in Trenton and is moving closer to becoming law. The financial aid bill, S-699, was approved by the Demorcrat-controlled state Senate in a 26-10 vote Monday. An identical bill still needs to be approved by the Democrat-controlled state Assembly before it could head to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk. Murphy, a Democrat, has expressed support for the idea. A companion bill, S-700, was also approved by the Senate on Monday. It would make the American-born children of unauthorized immigrants eligible for college financial aid in New Jersey. The ACLU was among the groups praising the Senate for advancing the legislation. "Today, the Senate sent a clear message that all of New Jersey's students should have access to financial aid, no matter their immigration status," said ACLU-NJ Senior Staff Attorney Farrin Anello. "Access to in-state tuition was an important first step, but without eligibility for financial aid, college simply is not attainable for most students." Here's how the program would work: Who would be eligible? The legislation allows students living in the country illegally to apply for college financial aid in New Jersey if they meet the following criteria: Attended a high school in New Jersey for three or more years. Graduated from high school or received a high school equivalency diploma in New Jersey. Enrolled at a public institution of higher education during the Fall 2013 semester or later. Filed paperwork with their college stating they have either applied to legalize their immigration status or will do so when and if the law changes. An amendment to the bill would also allow unauthorized immigrants attending the state's private colleges to apply for financial aid. How much money could unauthorized immigrants get for college? The legislation calls for the state Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to set up procedures and applications for unauthorized immigrants to apply for college financial aid. Immigrants living in the country illegally would be able to apply for the same state financial aid programs as legal residents, including Tuition Aid Grants, or TAG awards, for low-income students, according to the legislation. Though state financial aid is granted based on need, some students are able to get enough aid to cover most or their college tuition and fees. However, financial aid often does not cover books, transportation and other college costs. Rutgers, the state's largest university, currently charges the average in-state undergraduate $14,638 in annual tuition and fees on the New Brunswick campus. The bill goes up to $27,090 once room and board are added to the bill. The current maximum TAG award for Rutgers students is $9,656, though low-income students are often able to get other financial aid and scholarships to help make up the difference to cover their full tuition bills. Would unauthorized immigrants be able to apply for Pell Grants and other federal financial aid? No, the bill would only allow unauthorized immigrants to apply for college financial aid in New Jersey. Federal law still forbids immigrants living in the country illegally from applying for Pell Grants and federally-backed student loans. Could unauthorized immigrants get private scholarships and college financial aid? Yes, immigrants living in the country illegally are already eligible for many private scholarships. Some colleges, including Rutgers University, also grant scholarships to unauthorized immigrant students. How much would this cost New Jersey taxpayers? The state's Office of Legislative Services said it would be impossible to determine exactly how many unauthorized immigrants would apply for and qualify for state financial aid. But, the office estimated it would cost about $4.47 million in additional taxpayer money to cover financial aid awards for unauthorized immigrant students for one year. That is about a 1 percent increase in the current state budget for TAG awards. Researchers reached the estimate by taking the average TAG award for a student at a four-year college -- currently $7,451 per recipient -- and multiplying it by 600 students. A 2015 report estimated about 600 students unauthorized immigrants would qualify for in-state tuition at the state's four-year colleges. But the state analysts ackowledged they did not have enough information to estimate exactly what the change in the law might cost the state. "While the OLS does not have sufficient information to determine the amount of financial assistance for which students would become eligible, existing data suggest that the fiscal impact would be small relative to current appropriations," their report said. When would this start? The Senate legislation introduced by state senators Teresa Ruiz, Sandra B. Cunningham and Nellie Pou, all Democrats, calls for the financial aid program to be open to unauthorized immigrant students immediately for the current school year. Would applying for college financial aid expose Dreamers and their families to federal immigration authorities? The legislation forbides the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and the Secretary of Higher Education from requesting any information "about the citizenship or immigration status of the student or the student's parent or guardian" when they apply for financial aid. What has to happen next? The legislation was approved by the state Senate Monday. But, an identical bill still has to be approved by the Assembly, where some lawmakers oppose the idea of giving taxpayer-funded tuition assistance to immigrants living in the country illegally. If both the Assembly and Senate approve the legislation, it needs the governor's signature to become law. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. In a momentous vote for New Jersey's largest city -- and a nod to women everywhere -- the Newark City Council on Tuesday approved adding further protections to public workers who are victims of sexual harassment. The legislation, spearheaded by Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins, prohibits sexual harassment of city employees by other municipal workers, management, union representatives, volunteers or vendors for the city. It also creates an independent task force to investigate claims brought by Newark employees. The five-member panel will be appointed by the mayor and include a retired law enforcement officer who did not work in Newark, a clergy member, two members of the public who do not work for the city or its semi-autonomous agencies, and a member nominated by Rutgers University. "For anyone to say that this ordinance is coming forward because it's political season, that's a lie," said Chaneyfield Jenkins, who is challenging Mayor Ras Baraka for his seat in May's elections. "This is not a political ploy, this is not a political gimmick, this is a convergence of history and time." The #metoo movement has swept the country, with women coming forward revealing the men who have sexually abused and harassed them. It has taken Hollywood by storm and toppled lawmakers as well as leaders of prominent companies across the country. And now it's come to Newark. On Tuesday, women lauded the sexual harassment measure, with some telling their harrowing stories of being harassed, and even raped. "For so long we tell our women and our young girls, it doesn't happen here," said resident Natasha Levant, 42. "We were shunned, we were told we were liars, we were told it didn't happen, because we were scared of what we were going to face." "Enough is enough, the Me Too movement has come forward," Levant added. She asked women to stand with her and promised to stand with them. Loud applause exploded in council chambers as more than a dozen women stood. Janise Afolo, 63, grew emotional in the audience and was comforted by two women. She later told NJ Advance Media it made her remember a time "when no one was standing with me." Afolo said she wasn't planning on addressing the sexual harassment ordinance during public comment but decided to share her story of being raped when she was a sophomore in college. "I have never shared my story with anyone, not even my closest friends," she said. "This is personal, because I am a victim of a rape. My virginity was taken by a man I did not love." Thomas Ellis, 58, also approached the council to describe his experience being sexually abused between the ages of five and 16. "This is very personal for me," he said. "Men are sexually abused, men are sexually harassed. Women, you have the support of the men, but the men need to speak up." While the city already has a personnel policy forbidding sexual harassment, the ordinance bolsters enforcement, clearly prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace and any place where city-sponsored activities take place. It also allows city workers to report inappropriate behavior to the independent task force instead of going through the affirmative action officer, who is a city employee. The ordinance passed unanimously and was praised by the council. Mayor Ras Baraka has also expressed support for the measure. "Never again in the city of Newark will any employee feel neglected, abandoned or overlooked," Council President Mildred Crump said after the vote received cheers and applause from the crowd. Newark City Council approves sexual harassment ordinance that strengthens enforcement and creates independent task force to investigate claims @CityofNewarkNJ pic.twitter.com/1uSxI9W2CA Karen Yi (@karen_yi) March 27, 2018 The ordinance also requires annual training on sexual harassment for all employees and city council members. Any sexual harassment settlements will be subject to the Open Public Records Law. The task force will also have legal counsel and any recommendations by the panel will be sent to the director of personnel who will make any disciplinary decisions. "This ordinance is about protection," Chaneyfield Jenkins said. "The time was now." Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal By Terrence T. McDonald | The Jersey Journal Jersey City's long-delayed citywide property revaluation has homeowners either overjoyed at the prospect of big tax cuts come August, or bracing for massive tax increases. The story for Mayor Steve Fulop and the city's other politicians runs the gamut, from a big tax hike for Ward E Councilman James Solomon to a larger tax cut for Councilwoman-at-large Joyce Watterman. The assessments and tax changes all taken from data released by Appraisal Systems, the firm conducting the reval remain proposed until all appeals are done and the city, county and school budgets are adopted. You won't see one councilman on this list: Danny Rivera rents a home on Second Street. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal This is the city's first reval since 1988. As property values rose in the last three decades, especially in the city's upscale Downtown neighborhoods, the imbalance between how properties citywide were taxed became more pronounced and, state taxation officials say, unconstitutional. Republican state Sen. Michael Doherty claims a bit of credit for the state ordering Jersey City's current reval. Doherty said he went to then-Gov. Chris Christie in 2015 after seeing The Jersey Journal's report about Fulop's $845,000 Ogden Avenue home and its $8,000 tax bill. Similar houses in Doherty's home of Warren County would have tax bills three times as large, the senator said he told Christie. The following year, the Christie administration told Fulop to get the reval done. Fulop probably won't be sending Doherty any thank you notes: the mayor's assessment is rising from $104,000 to $889,700, and his tax bill from $8,112 to $14,413. A Fulop critic in 2017 filed a tax appeal asking the Hudson County Board of Taxation to hike the mayor's assessment. The board ruled against it. Fulop said he will not appeal his new assessment. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Jerramiah Healy, Fulop's predecessor, embarked on a reval in 2011 but soon asked for a year-long delay, which would have pushed the results until after his 2013 match-up with Fulop. After Fulop won, he halted that reval altogether. Healy's Ferry Street home will see its assessment rise from $102,000 to $542,000, and his taxes jump from $7,956 to $8,780. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal The city wasn't entirely to blame for stalling the reval. The county taxation board is supposed to order one when a municipality's ratio of true-to-assessed value is out of whack, but the board did not step in after Fulop delayed the reval for three years. County Executive Tom DeGise's New York Avenue home will see a tax cut, but not even enough to buy him an Amazon Prime membership. Its assessment will go from $160,000 to $765,600 and his taxes from $12,480 to $12,402. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Watterman recently moved from Society Hill to Seaview Avenue. Her new home's assessment will jump from $185,900 to $429,500. Her tax bill will drop more than half, from $14,500 to $6,958. Watterman told The Jersey Journal her expected tax cut does not make her question Fulop's decision to put off the reval until the state made him act. Taxpayers who believe they have spent years overpaying their taxes should be mad at Healy, not Fulop, she said. "They should have continued it, the previous administration," she said, referring to Healy's 2012 decision to delay the reval. "They are the ones who really should have kept it going." Don't Edit Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Neither the mayor nor any member of the council will see their tax bills go up by a larger amount than Solomon. The assessment on Solomon's Fourth Street home will swell from $58,300 to $689,300 and his taxes will go from $4,547 to $11,167, a $6,619 hike. Solomon represents most of Downtown Jersey City, home to many of the homeowners facing hefty tax increases (and those expecting dramatic cuts). A request for comment from Solomon was not returned. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Council President Rolando Lavarro's Culver Avenue home will see its assessment climb from $74,000 to $293,700. His taxes will decline from $5,772 to $4,758. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal The assessment on Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley's Van Nostrand Avenue home will go from $56,000 to $237,000, and her tax bill from $4,368 down to $3,839. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey's Broadman Parkway home will see its assessment rise from $120,100 to $389,100. Her tax bill will drop from $9,368 to $6,303, a $3,065 cut. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano, who has said his friends and neighbors may have to move out of Jersey City because of the reval, will see a big tax hike. His Magnolia Street home's assessment will rise from $109,100 to $869,400, and his tax bill will climb from $8,510 to $14,084. Boggiano told The Jersey Journal the city should never have conducted the reval. Reminded that state officials ordered the city to do so, Boggiano cited Frank Hague, the famously corrupt former mayor of Jersey City. "If Hague were around, he wouldn't have listened to the state," he said. Don't Edit Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Ward D Councilman Michael Yun lives in an apartment in a commercial building he owns on Central Avenue. The building's assessment is set to rise from $216,000 to $913,200 and his taxes will drop from $16,848 to $14,794. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal Ward F Councilman Jermaine Robinson rents an apartment at the Baker Building but owns the Randolph Avenue building home to his Light Rail Cafe. The assessment there will rise from $108,000 to $424,000 and its taxes will decrease from $8,424 to $6,869. Don't Edit Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- A 21-year-old Jersey City man serving a sentence for five drug convictions went missing from a Newark halfway house today, officials said. James Robinson was sentenced on all five offenses on Feb. 10, 2017 and is listed as having "escaped" from the halfway house on the New Jersey Department of Corrections website. Robinson was found guilty of possessing drugs within 1,000 feet of school property on Sept. 7, 2015 and on May 12, 2015. He was also found guilty of possessing drugs on Sept. 15, 2015, having drug paraphernalia on Feb. 10, 2017 and being under the influence of drugs on Oct. 29, 2014, corrections records indicate. His maximum release date is Jan. 4, 2020, but he is listed as becoming eligible for parole on April 9, 2019, corrections records say. Anyone with information on Robinson's whereabouts is asked to call the Department of Corrections Fugitive Unit at 800-523-3829. JERSEY CITY -- Forget shuffleboard and bocce ball -- this septuagenarian apparently gets his kicks a different way. A 75-year-old Kearny man has been charged with robbing scratch-off lottery tickets and cash at knifepoint from a town gas station on Saturday. Jose Pais, of Davis Avenue near Wilson Avenue, is charged with robbery and weapons offenses in connection to the incident on Schuyler Avenue near Duke Street, according to a criminal complaint. The gas station employee said Pais asked for scratch-offs and when he realized Pais could not pay for them, he removed them from the counter, the complaint states. He said Pais then took out a large knife with a wooden handle and ordered the employee to "Give me scratch-offs. Give me scratch-offs. Give me money," according to the court document, which adds that the worker handed over the cash and lottery items. The employee gave a description of the robber to authorities and Pais was quickly spotted on Hoyt Street near Davis Avenue. Officers recovered a large knife with a wooden handle from his back pocket, the complaint indicates. The gas station employee identified Pais as the robber, according to the court document. Pais made his first appearance on the charges Monday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. A statue of a naked Donald Trump is going on the auction block. Julien's Auction says the sculpture is the last statue remaining that was not vandalized or destroyed when it was displayed along with others in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Cleveland in the weeks before the Republican was elected president. The auction will take place on May 2 at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City. The auction house estimates the statue, which was created by the West Coast anarchist collective INDECLINE, will sell for $20,000 to $30,000. One of these "Naked Trump" statues appeared on a warehouse rooftop in Jersey City in September 2016, but was reported stolen five days later. A 40-year-old man who reported the theft on behalf of Mana Contemporary -- which owned the building near the Holland Tunnel -- said surveillance video showed a man climbing the fire escape to the building at about 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2016, police said. The suspect was described as being about 5-foot-10 with a tattoo on his upper arm. He spent nearly four hours lowering the statue along the east side of the building with a rope and tackle set, a police report indicated. The Jersey Journal's Caitlin Mota contributed to this report. UNION CITY -- Authorities have identified the woman stabbed to death inside an apartment building on Monday morning as a resident of Queens, New York. Giselle Bravo, 20, suffered multiple stab wounds to her upper body at about 5:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center an hour later, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced. Police were called to 3612 New York Ave. on reports of a stabbing and found 26-year-old Kevin Cortes inside holding a knife. Bravo was injured on the third floor, officials said. Cortes, who neighbors said lived in the apartment building, was taken into custody and was being evaluated at Palisades Medical Center. He's been charged with murder and weapons offenses for Bravo's death, Suarez said. It's unclear how the two knew each other or if Cortes has been released into the custody of police. Residents in the area said they did not know of any relationships Cortes had. Bravo's death is the first homicide in Union City this year and the fourth in Hudson County. The prosecutor's office is still investigation Bravo's death. Anyone with information is asked to call 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor's website. All information will be kept confidential. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. UNION CITY -- A city man has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of a Queens woman inside an apartment building yesterday morning, Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said. Giselle Bravo, 20, suffered multiple stab wounds to her upper body at about 5:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center an hour later, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced. Police were called to 3612 New York Ave. on reports of a stabbing and found 26-year-old Kevin Cortes inside holding a knife. Bravo was found injured on the third floor, officials said. Cortes, who neighbors said lived in the apartment building, was taken into custody and was being evaluated at Palisades Medical Center. He's been charged with murder and weapons offenses, Suarez said. It's unclear how the two knew each other or if Cortes has been released into the custody of police. Residents in the area said they did not know of any relationships Cortes had. Yesterday morning, neighbors reported hearing commotion at the time of the early morning stabbing. One woman reported seeing blood on the stairs inside the apartment building. "When I woke up at dawn I heard the girl scream, that's it," the woman who lives in the building said in Spanish. Hours after the stabbing, investigators were still on New York Avenue probing the woman's death. They could be seen removing evidence from the building near the intersection of New York Avenue and 37th Street. Blood stains were visible on the sidewalk. Bravo's death is the first homicide in Union City this year and fourth in Hudson County. The prosecutor's office is still investigation Bravo's death. Anyone with information is asked to call 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor's website. All information will be kept confidential. A West New York woman and a New York City man were arrested after their baby was taken to a hospital suffering from burns and fractures, officials said. Jamie L. Drewes, 33, of Palisade Avenue, and Brian M. Backerman, 35 of Queens, are charged with endangering the welfare of the baby by not seeking medical attention for the boy's injuries, according to a criminal complaint. Backerman made his first court appearance on the charges Thursday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. It's not clear when Drewes made her first appearance. The boy was 2 months old when the mother brought him to a New York City hospital in December suffering from second-degree burns to his lip, nose, left cheek and left chin. She said burns occurred in West New York when the boy was placed too close to a heater, the complaint says. Medical staff became concerned and contacted police. Further medical testing revealed that the baby had fractures to bones in his legs, left wrist and left arm -- injuries that were between 10 and 14 days old, according to the complaint. Both parents denied knowing of any trauma to the child and could not explain how the injuries occurred, the complaint states. After appearing in court, Backerman was released with conditions of supervision pending trial. The copy of the complaint obtained by The Jersey Journal contained numerous redactions. It does not say when either parent was arrested. By Rob Jennings | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Don't Edit Incoming The College of New Jersey President Kathryn Foster visits the campus in Ewing. Peter Murphy via TCNJ The College of New Jersey is getting a new leader for the first time in nearly two decades. New Jersey native Kathryn A. Foster has been chosen as the 16th president in the college's 163-year history. The TCNJ board of trustees unanimously approved a 3-year contract for Foster, starting at $340,000 annually, on Tuesday morning. Foster starts on July 1. She has been president of the University of Maine at Farmington since 2012. She is succeeding retiring TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein, the college's president since January 1999. Founded in 1855, TCNJ enrolls approximately 7,400 students including 6,790 undergraduates and 610 graduate students on a 289-acre campus in Ewing. "This opportunity has enormous pull factor for me, not only to come back to New Jersey," Foster said Monday. "The overarching job here is to continue the momentum of a school which has tremendous momentum," she said. Here is a look at the college's incoming president. Don't Edit A building on The College of New Jersey's Ewing campus. NJ Advance Media file photo 1. Her New Jersey roots Foster was raised in Verona and is a 1975 graduate of Verona High School. In 1993, she received a PhD in public and international affairs from Princeton University. Before moving to Maine in 2012, she held administrative roles during her 18 years at the State University of New York at Buffalo. It has been a while since she lived in New Jersey, but Foster said she feels "comfortable and at home" here. "I look forward to returning to a state that has meant so much to me over the years and where I still have family," Foster said. Don't Edit Incoming The College of New Jersey President Kathryn A. Foster visits the campus in Ewing. Peter Murphy via TCNJ 2. Academia was not her original plan Urban planning was Foster's first path. After graduating from Verona High School, Foster attended Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, where she received a bachelor's degree in geography and environmental engineering. She added a Master's Degree in 1981, in city and regional planning, from the University of California in Berkeley, and took a job in California analyzing the impact of boundary changes and other reorganizations on one county. Then, in 1983, she became a part-time lecturer at California Polytechnic State University and said she felt at home in the classroom. Don't Edit 3. She served in the Peace Corps Foster was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Swaziland (see above video), a country in Southern Africa that is smaller in size than New Jersey, from 1987 to 1989. "Certainly what it gave me was an appreciation for the world," Foster said. In Swaziland, Foster was assigned to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, where she trained local planners and helped computerize planning records. Perhaps more significantly, given Swaziland's patriarchal culture, was her assistance with the launch of a women's magazine. "My belief in the value of diversity and inclusion has deep roots. It was matured by my Peace Corps experience of being young, female and white in apartheid-era Swaziland, a black-African nation which revered elders and men," she said. Don't Edit Don't Edit The Pennsylvania State Capital in Harrisburg. NJ Advance Media file photo 4. She has visited 44 state capitals Foster has an unusual hobby methodically working her way toward visiting all 50 U.S. state capitals. She's made it so far to 44. "There is something fascinating about capital cities," Foster explained. What are the ones she is missing? Foster said she has yet to visit the capitals of Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana and Idaho. Don't Edit 5. Running 'just about every day' for 35 years Foster's current exercise routine consists of hiking and biking, but for a long time running was her fitness outlet. "I ran just about every day of my life for 35 years," said Foster, who fondly recalled running her first and only marathon in California on a course lined with redwood trees. In 2015, she welcomed one of the world's best-known runners Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first women's marathon in the Olympics in 1984 (shown above) to the University of Maine for the commencement address. "It was great to have her there," Foster said. Don't Edit Then-New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman (left) at the inauguration ceremony for R. Barbara Gitenstein in 1999. NJ Advance Media file photo 6. Following a trailblazer R. Barbara Gitenstein is TCNJ's 15th president, and the first woman to hold the job. Foster will be the second, which in some ways is as noteworthy as Gitenstein's hiring in 1999. "It doesn't always follow that a woman follows a woman in a presidency," Foster said. Don't Edit R. Barbara Gitenstein at the TCNJ commencement in 2015, NJ Advance Media file photo What the outgoing president is saying "I am thrilled by Kathryn Foster's selection," Gitenstein said in a statement released by the college. "She has the right experience to prepare her for this role, having served as a chief executive officer in a state environment in which she has dealt with a range of higher education challenges at a senior level. "She is an active listener and has a keen sense of our culture. She has the capacity to attend to that culture and learn from it." Don't Edit Incoming TCNJ President Kathryn A. Foster visits the campus in Ewing. Peter Murphy via TCNJ Foster's vision for TCNJ Foster said it is too early to get into specifics, but said her background would shape her approach. "I will bring to TCNJ an approach that involves taking a data-driven and clear-eyed assessment of current circumstances, making credible assumptions about the future, and imaginative envisioning to ensure our reach is at once bold, compelling and ambitious, yet achievable," she said. Don't Edit Don't Edit Here are some other stories about TCNJ -- TCNJ's largest-ever freshmen class moves in -- TCNJ starting new health and wellness center -- TCNJ building that honored segregationist renamed Trenton Hall -- TCNJ's Jack Wallace starring on U.S. National Sled Hockey Team Don't Edit ob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A Bayonne woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter in the stabbing death of an acquaintance who picked her up as she walked down a road in Woodbridge, authorities said Monday. Amarlis Calderon, 33, must serve at least 85 percent of her prison term before becoming eligible for parole in the killing of Pablo Caamano. Caamano, 34, also of Bayonne, was found dead on July 18, 2016. Investigators said Calderon was walking on Randolph Avenue in Woodbridge when Caamano drove by and stopped to pick her up in the early morning hours. Pablo Caamano of Bayonne was described by friends as generous and fair. Amarlis Calderon, an acquaintance, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in his stabbing death. "The couple knew each other," said Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey. Calderon got into the vehicle and they headed toward Exit 12 on the New Jersey Turnpike, "where they pulled to the side of the road," Carey said. State Police were alerted to a stabbing at 3:20 a.m. and responded to the scene along with members of the prosecutor's office, authorities said. Caamano was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:07 a.m., the prosecutor's office has said. Calderon, who was charged with murder, pleaded guilty on Jan. 18 to aggravated manslaughter, Carey said. She was sentenced on Friday. A motive has never been given as to why Calderon killed Caamano, a lifelong Bayonne resident who was described by friends as friendly, generous, outgoing and fair. Matt Hojnacki, who knew Caamano for 13 years, said Caamano was successful in running his own painting business, among other endeavors. "Pablo's the ultimate entrepreneur," he said a day after the crime. "He could take any situation and turn it into a positive one." Amarlis Calderon is escorted into a Middlesex County courtroom after being charged in the death of Pablo Caamano in July 2016. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. How about watching your senior class friends graduate and then you have two more days of school to go before you are done? Or what if you are a senior, participate in commencement and then are required to return to school for one final day? With unplanned closings because of foul weather likely over (fingers crossed), school districts are revising their calendars as they look ahead to the end of the school year. A look at several school district calendars across New Jersey show graduation for seniors and the last day of classes for underclassmen frequently fall on the same day, but that's not the case in Vineland Public Schools or Cherry Hill Seniors in Vineland will take part in their graduation ceremony on June 20 and then return for a half-day of school on June 21, said Gia Messore, spokeswoman for Vineland schools. Underclassmen at Vineland -- a 10,700-student, 16-school district -- will also be in class until June 21, fulfilling the state requirement of 180 days in class. Messore said after commencement, seniors will take part in Project Graduation. When they head back to school the next morning, they'll have a special senior breakfast and then go through the "end of the year routine." Seniors are required to sign in that day, Messore said. They close out accounts and return their textbooks. They'll also receive their "real" diplomas on their official last day. "It is a full 180 days for both (seniors) and the rest of the students in the district," Messore said. School officials throughout New Jersey have been scrambling to rearrange their calendars to compensate for the blizzard of snow days they've had to deal with over the past winter -- and spring. To receive state funding, public school districts must have 180 instructional days on their calendars for students. Cherry Hill had to make up four days because of weather this year by canceling some planned days off and tacking two days onto the end of the year. In the Cherry Hill Public School District, graduation is set for June 19, but underclassmen in grades K-11 will be in school until June 21, according to district public information officer Barbara Wilson. For seniors at Cherry Hill East and Cherry Hill West and Alternative high schools, that means exactly 180 school days, the state-mandated minimum. For those in grades K-11, it means two extra days in class, for a total of 182 days for the 2017-2018 school year. While some changes in the school calendar are weather-related, the longer year for underclassmen wasn't caused by unplanned closings. "Cherry Hill Public Schools' philosophy is that we go above and beyond minimum state requirements when planning our calendar two years in advance," said Wilson whose district has 19 schools and 11,000-plus students. "The more days students are in school, the more opportunities to learn." Meanwhile, discussions are still under way about the fate of 8th-grade graduation ceremonies for students in Cherry Hill's three middle schools which had originally been set for June 18, Wilson said. Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips More than 9,400 students at Hudson County Community College got the best news possible March 13 when Gov. Phil Murphy presented his 2019 state budget to the Legislature for the fiscal year starting in July. The students at the two-year institution would share in the "tuition-free" proposal. Murphy put a $50 million first year down payment; the cost would be completely absorbed by 2020. The proposal must be enacted by the Democratically-controlled Legislature. Approximately 225,000 two-year students in the state's community college system would share in the tuition plan. Currently, 80 percent of the community college students receive some financial aid. Established in 1974, the HCCC tuition cost is $2,430 per semester, plus book fees. The entire statewide system was created under Gov. Richard J. Hughes in the 1960s. Today, there are 19 such institutions. It looks like Murphy borrowed the tuition plan from Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, who floated this idea during the 2016 presidential campaign. In New Jersey, the cost would be more modest than a national program; Murphy projected, when fully operational, it would cost $200 million. Tuition free and debt-free students in New Jersey would be a significant development for two-year students. It also would enhance the reputation of county colleges. Joseph Albright's column appears every week in The Jersey Journal. By Cory Booker It is perhaps the most important economic policy-making and regulatory position many people have never heard of: the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Although there are 12 regional Fed presidents nationwide, the president of the New York Fed is first among equals. Together with the chairman of the Federal Reserve, the New York Fed president defines the conditions under which Americans borrow and lend; how they buy cars and houses, and manage their growing consumer debt; whether businesses will have demand for their products and services; and whether the pay of American workers will be sufficient for their families and their futures. She, or he -- although it has always been a "he" -- shapes the conditions of our prosperity as well as our poverty. New York Fed President William Dudley is stepping down this summer, and a search committee is in the process of identifying a successor. Part of that is finding an individual with a keen understanding of not just the financial sector, as critical as it is, but also the broader economy within which it operates: the manufacturing sector, the technology sector, the service sector and agriculture. Over the 100-plus year history of the New York Fed, each of its 10 presidents has worked at a bank or financial institution either immediately before or after his tenure. It was official neglect of misconduct in the financial sector that helped produce the 2008 crisis, so Americans should intuitively understand the importance of getting an honest and independent broker in this position. We should also insist that the New York Fed look for an individual who will bring new perspectives to the leadership of our economy. The New York Fed has never had a woman or a person of color at its helm, and the Federal Reserve Bank only just last year added its first black regional bank president. If we're serious about creating an inclusive and sustainable economy, no one should be left on the sidelines. Study after study shows that organizations and companies with diverse leadership perform better and are more innovative than entities with homogeneous leadership. Unfortunately, it isn't easy for Americans to weigh in on the selection. The position is neither elected by the public nor appointed or confirmed by elected officials. In making their decision, the members of New York Fed Board of Directors should seek the input of Americans in different parts of the country, in rural and urban areas, where they can hear from communities about their needs. The stakes couldn't be higher. The recovery from the 2008 financial crisis has been excruciatingly slow for too many middle-class families, as stock market gains have far outpaced increases in wages. Low-wage workers haven't seen a raise in real dollars in four decades, and close to half of all American workers are making less than $15 an hour. Although the recession hit the entire middle class hard, not all have recovered equally and at the same pace; today, black Americans are the only racial group making less today than they were in 2000. In my home state of New Jersey, black and Hispanic women have higher unemployment rates than before the Great Recession, and the unemployment rate for black men sits persistently at 9 percent. The choice of the next leader of the New York Fed is an opportunity to influence how all Americans will fare over the next decade. We can't let this opportunity go to waste. Cory Booker, a Democrat, is a U.S. senator from New Jersey. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. There is a classic short story titled "Rain" by the English writer W. Somerset Maugham. It is about a rectitudinous missionary on a South Pacific island who tries to convert an American prostitute. Instead he falls prey to her charms and then commits suicide in shock at his own failings. That leads the prostitute to offer this sentiment to a friend of the missionary: "You men! You filthy, dirty pigs! You're all the same, all of you. Pigs! Pigs!" Now that we've got that out of the way, can we go back to talking about governance? That's my reaction to the revelations of this Stormy Daniels character concerning her one-night stand long ago with President Trump. I'm willing to concede that Trump has not been a model of proper behavior in his relations with women over the years. But why is that news? Daniels' own testimony on "60 Minutes" the other evening alleges that she had a brief, consensual affair with Trump more than a decade ago that would be unknown to anyone else if she had kept it to herself. In the old days, there used to be an understanding among members of the media that politicians' personal lives were their own business. They only got into the news under extraordinary circumstances. A good example was the 1974 incident in which a powerful Arkansas Congressman named Wilbur Mills was stopped by the cops in D.C. for drunken driving and a stripper by the name of Fanne Foxe leapt from his car and jumped into the tidal basin. Now that was a story. As for these rather tawdry accusations from adult-film star Daniels and others, I can't see why they make it into print, at least in the serious journals. Unlike that preacher in the Maugham story, Trump never pretended to be of high moral character. In fact he made a point in his prior careers of flaunting his many relationships with blonde women with ample chests and meager wardrobes. The pattern was so consistent that when a brunette former Playmate came along to claim a relationship with him, The Donald should have gotten points for diversity. And that woman at least claimed to have had a long-term relationship with Trump. Daniels said that the next time she was alone with The Donald after that initial assignation, "he was watching Shark Week. He made me sit and watch an entire documentary about shark attacks." I don't know whether that sort of thing was covered in the non-disclosure agreement Daniels signed. But I think I'd pay to get her to keep it to herself. I also could have gone without hearing her describe spanking Trump with a magazine and then having sex with him even though she was not physically attracted to him. As for their newsworthiness, these events and other alleged encounters occurred almost a decade before Trump ran for office. He was in quite a different position back then, said one fixture on the Atlantic City scene who watched Trump in action during his days as a casino magnate. "He was a rich successful, powerful man surrounded by beautiful women," said Seth Grossman, a lawyer who served on the City Council in the late 1980s. "That's what Steve Wynn was about and that's what Trump was about." At that time, Trump was busy ditching his first wife for the eventual second wife with whom he was having an affair. So there wasn't a lot to cover up in his personal life. "In today's morality, Trump is being criticized for being the epitome of a successful casino executive by the standards of the day," said Grossman. Grossman opined that things weren't much different after Trump left A.C. and took a job hosting "The Apprentice." Daniels said that after Trump had sex with her he offered her a role on the show. The network executives didn't want a porn star as a contestant, however. But I suspect Trump's unerring instincts about the popular will were on target. That would have been a ratings bonanza. But it shows how little concern Trump had for his image in those days before he decided to enter politics. So do the many photos of him with his arm around women who later claimed to have had sex with him. In Trump's defense, though, he has faced temptations far beyond those the typical male faces. I have discussed this with several politicians of my acquaintance, on background of course. All offer some variant of the same thought: "There but for the grace of God go I." Now, that's the spirit. Keep it in mind as you assess the coverage of The Donald. ALSO - MORE MEDIA MANIA: I noted that on the MSN home page there was one of those polls asking "Do you believe Stormy Daniels' claims she had an affair with Donald Trump?" Most respondents agreed. But in fact Daniels never claimed she had "an affair" with Trump. She claimed she had sex with him once. That's a one-night stand, not an affair. And since it was by her own admission a consensual one-night stand, what is she complaining about? She's complaining that she couldn't cash in on it. The real problem for the mainstream media, of which I am a member but a dissenting one, was that this is a classic example of "checkbook journalism." We in the MSM consider it unethical to pay sources for stories. But InTouch magazine paid Daniels $15,000 for an interview that did not originally appear because of threats from Trump's lawyers but which is now available online. I may be the only journalist in the MSM who considers this entire enterprise to be ethically challenged. But once Daniels tried to cash in on that one-night stand, I think she lost all credibility. Not that it matters. Even if what she is saying is true, it is uninteresting. PLUS - FEC HAS ALREADY RULED THIS IS NOT A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION: I see a lot of amateur lawyers in the comments are arguing this represents a campaign-finance violation. Nope. That's already been litigated in the case of Democrat John Edwards. Edwards was accused of campaign-finance violations for channeling money to mistress Rielle Hunter. But the Federal Elections Commission ruled that was not a campaign contribution. I'm sure the liberal media will continue their jihad on this point with the hope Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller will take this up. But there's a double standard at work here. In the Edwards case, the story was broken by the National Enquirer. The mainstream media did everything in their power to avoid reporting on it for days on end. In fact, I was the first MSM journalist to point out that the news would be fatal to the Edwards campaign. In this case, the MSM have been all over this story and many are openly campaigning for Mueller to take up the case - even though it has nothing to do with alleged Russian interference in the election, which is his duty. But it would be better if they just covered the real news. The raging debate over gun violence and what to do about it often descends into a tug of war based more on emotions than facts. The trouble is there is a paucity of research on the topic to guide the debate over whether we are safer with more guns or fewer guns. You would think that the federal government would be a leader in promoting research into gun violence, much the way it backs research into other areas of public safety and health. But you would be wrong. Congress has made it hard to approve spending a nickel to study the ramification of guns in our society. That was made very clear with the Dickey amendment of 1996. Named after the late Rep. Jay Dickey, a Republican from Arkansas, the budget amendment barred the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from doing research to "advocate or promote gun control." It went so far as to strip the CDC of $2.6 million in funding it has set aside that year for gun-violence research. The fear here was that any research into gun violence would be biased and would result in more controls on gun ownership and that was something the powerful National Rifle Association wanted to stop dead in its tracks. Here it is 22 years later, and we have had too many episodes of mass shootings - The Parkland, Florida, massacre being just the latest assault to grip the country. Nationwide demonstrations have pushed some lawmakers in Washington to rethink the need for gun-violence research and there is a move afoot to undo the Dickey Amendment's stranglehold on such research. But the long reluctance of the federal government to find ways to protect us from being killed or maimed by guns has created a vacuum that some states have tried to fill. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy as joined his counterparts in New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico to find ways to counter gun violence. That includes funding and sharing information on gun research. Murphy is asking state lawmakers to approve $2 million to set up a Center on Gun Violence Research. In a similar vein, a group of New Jersey Democratic lawmakers has introduced a bill allocating $400,000 to "conduct a comprehensive firearms violence study" at Rutgers. Despite all the rhetoric of the current gun-control debate, there are a lot of facts we don't know about guns. According to David Hemenway, who studies gun violence and injury prevention at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, there are no national studies of who owns guns, how gun owners acquired their weapons, the theft of guns, the number of households with guns, the effects of gun-training programs, or the risk factors associated with gun violence. We need the cold facts if we are going to have an intelligent debate on gun violence. And we need the facts to create effective policy to stem the carnage caused by people using guns. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. It seems to be a bit of a case of "not in my backyard," but Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who supports the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey, doesn't want his city to become "New York City's drug dealer." Fulop hopes to get out ahead of legalization in the state so the city is not blindsided by the law. He hopes to initially have a citywide ban on recreational pot cultivation and sales, but then, with residents' input, limit the growing and sale to certain zones. In a recent Facebook post, Fulop said he wants "residents to control the entire process and we won't be caught flat footed by any changes to Trenton. We will be protected so that we chart our own course in Jersey City." So maybe a "not in my backyard (for now)." Councilwoman-at-large Joyce Watterman does not support legalizing recreational marijuana in the state, saying the drug will not help those who are "less fortunate." The City Council will hear Fulop's plan at this week's meeting. Other New Jersey towns and counties have already said no to legal weed. After California legalized recreational marijuana, San Francisco took it a step further with welcoming Amsterdam-like smoking lounges. Do you approve of marijuana dispensaries in your neighborhood? Vote in our informal and unscientific poll and let us know why in the comments section. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The state Legislature passed legislation Monday handing control of the pension fund for New Jersey's police and firefighters over to its members. But it's uncertain whether the governor will sign the bill as is. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has concerns over the Democrat-backed bill that would spin off police and firefighter pensions from the broader pension fund for state and local government workers, acting state Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio said following the votes. The legislation is pushed by police and fire labor leaders who say state management has jeopardized their members' retirement security by making insufficient financial contributions and choosing costly investment strategies. Over the past two decades, the fund has dwindled from fully funded to 65 percent funded. Unions say their members can do better. "We don't feel that the state did a good job," said Pat Colligan, president of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association. "We want to control our own destiny. It's our pensions." State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, a sponsor of the bill, has said that labor-run funds elsewhere have successfully outperformed public boards. Currently the fund is managed by the state Division of Pensions and Benefits while the State Investment Council directs the investments of its billions of dollars in assets. Under the bill (S5), a board of trustees comprised of active and retired officers and firefighters and state and local government representatives would gain control over how their retirement funds are invested and their levels of contributions and benefits. It could overrule an ongoing freeze on cost-of-living adjustments for retirees that Gov. Chris Christie and the state Legislature put in place to dramatically reduce the pension funds' liabilities. Under current law, COLAs can't be restored until a fund has assets to cover at least 80 percent of its liabilities and can prove it won't drop below 80 percent by dishing out that extra cash. Christie, a Republican, vetoed similar legislation last spring, saying it lacked adequate safeguards for taxpayers. While the state would be relinquishing management of the fund, state and local taxpayers would still have to pick up the tab if it goes south. Christie called it a "blank check for public workers." The state Senate passed the bill 34-2, while the state Assembly voted 67-2 with seven abstentions, sending it to the governor's desk, where its prospects are uncertain. Muoio said Monday that Murphy "has been supportive of the basic premise of this bill for a long time," but that there are concerns. Specifically, she said, all of the pension funds could incur penalties if forced to prematurely liquidate their hedge fund holdings. "The fact that we may have to liquidate them could end up costing all of the funds a significant amount of money, and we have a fiduciary duty to look after all of our pension funds," she said. Colligan said the unions understand that potential complication and have no problem waiting for those investments to mature. It's "good, responsible legislation," he said, and officials have a year to work out the kinks of implementing the hand off. "There's nothing that (the governor) should have concerns about, and we have 366 days to work on the administration of this bill," he said. Added Eddie Donnelly, president of the New Jersey State Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association: "We passed both houses almost unanimously, overwhelmingly, and it's on the governor's desk and we hope he's going to sign it." Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. New Jersey employers would be required to offer paid sick days to all of their workers under a bill the state Assembly approved Monday that would benefit more than one-third of the state's private-sector workforce. The bill (A1827) would allow workers to accrue one hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Time off may be used because of employee's or a family member's illness, to attend a school conference or meeting, or to recover from domestic violence. "Workers should not have to choose between caring for their health and keeping their paychecks or jobs," said Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt D-Camden, one of the sponsors. "Guaranteeing workers the ability to earn paid sick days would help ensure workers do not have to choose between their health and their economic security." There are 1.2 million workers in the state who do not get paid sick days. Thirteen municipalities have enacted their own ordinances, including Jersey City in 2013. Assemblyman Robert Auth, R-Bergen, discouraged his colleagues from advancing the bill. "Mom and pop businesses make up about 99.6 percent of the businesses in New Jersey," Auth said. "That's a major contribution. If small businesses and start-ups cannot afford the cost of labor the good intentions of this bill will be no help to our employees." The Assembly passed the measure 50-24 and one abstention. Earlier in the day, the Senate Labor Committee approved the same bill, abandoning a separate measure that would have repealed some local or county ordinances that were not as generous, Democratic Majority Office spokesman Richard McGrath said. New Jersey would join nine states and the District of Columbia if it enacts the sick pay law. Correction: An earlier version of the story said the Senate and Assembly were pursuing different sick pay legislation. The Senate Labor Committee instead passed the Assembly version of the bill, and did not record the changes until Tuesday. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. New Jersey is now on the brink of enacting the most sweeping equal pay legislation in America. A "historic" bill protecting women and minorities in the state from workplace discrimination passed both houses of the state Legislature on Monday, and Gov. Phil Murphy has already pledged to sign it into law. Women working full-time in America in 2015 earned just 80 cents for every dollar that men earned, and at this rate, women won't reach pay equality until 2059, according to a report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. With this legislation, New Jersey would have the most rigorous protections against pay discrimination, said state Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, D-Camden, one of the prime sponsors of the bill. "Women in every state and in nearly every occupation experience the gender pay gap," Lampitt said. "Though the gap is gradually closing, it's doing so far too slowly and many women still do not receive commensurate compensation for their work. Stricter measures to ensure parity in the workplace are clearly needed." The bill (S104) would make it illegal for an employer to offer lower pay and benefits to a worker protected by the state Law Against Discrimination, which includes "protected classes" such as women and minorities, compared to white men if they perform "substantially similar work." Employers who pay one person more than another would have to demonstrate how their experience and education sets them apart. Employers would be prohibited from cutting the wages of higher-paid staff in order to make salaries comparable, according to the bill. People who sue would be able to recoup three times as much as they were denied in compensation. The Senate voted 35-0 to pass the bill. The Assembly's vote was 74-2 ,, with Assemblymen Michael Patrick Carroll, and Assemblyman Jay Webber, both R-Morris, voting no. Before the Assembly vote, Carroll challenged Lampitt to explain how businesses would be able to keep track of salary information. "An employer has no idea what this means," Carroll said, adding the law was an invitation to sue. Carroll also angered Lampitt when he cracked a joke about who is part of the protected class covered by the bill. "Don't we all have a race, a creed? Don't some of us have sex?" Carroll said, eliciting some laughter. "This is an historic piece of legislation and I am offended," Lampitt replied. A handful of women lawmakers jumped to her defense. "This is something that has been coming for a long time," Assemblywoman Joann Downey, D-Monmouth, also a sponsor. "I am an attorney I know for a fact I have been discriminated against, and have not gotten paid as much as my male counterparts." Murphy has said he will sign the legislation as soon as it lands on his desk. His first official action as governor was to sign an executive order to support equal pay for women by barring managers in state government from asking job applicants about their previous salary. Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed the bill repeatedly, demanding changes in order for it to be signed into law. Christie said the bill oversimplifies wage comparisons between employees by dismissing differences in employees' respective work and working conditions. In his veto message two years ago, Christie wrote there is "no reason for our law to go beyond the Lilly Ledbetter Act," the federal equal pay legislation signed in 2009. Ledbetter was the plaintiff in the employment discrimination case Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. A veto override attempt failed before Christie departed. Before the vote on a proclamation celebrating Women's History Month, Lampitt said she has invited Lilly Ledbetter to come to Trenton when the bill is signed into law. The measure is called the "Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act," named after the longtime state senator who left her broadcasting job in 1994 after filing gender and age discrimination complaints with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. Allen retired from the Senate in January. "One of the most important aspects of equality for women is centered on the workplace, professional opportunities and equal pay," said state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, also a prime sponsor. "There continues to be a disparity with a wage gap and other inherent inequalities that need to be corrected. We won't have real equality until we have equal pay." Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. When police found Julio Matute's stabbed and beaten body, investigators said, it was so mangled that officers thought he had been shot with a shotgun. After almost four years on the run from law enforcement and after landing a spot on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, Walter Yovany-Gomez, an alleged MS-13 gang member accused of killing Matute in 2011, was arrested in Virginia in August. He was charged with murder in aid of racketeering -- an offense eligible for the death penalty under federal criminal law. But any jury that hears the case will not have to consider whether Gomez should be executed. That's because Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal prosecutors not to seek the death penalty against Gomez, 31, according to a letter sent last week by the prosecutors to U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark. Prosecutors did not elaborate on the Justice Department's reasoning for not seeking the death penalty. Decisions about whether to pursue the death penalty in federal cases rely on a committee of government attorneys who make a recommendation to the attorney general. Although the death penalty was abolished at the state level in 2007, it remains a possible sentence for certain crimes at the federal level. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey have sought the death penalty just twice before. Ultimately neither man was sentenced to death. William Baskerville, a drug dealer convicted of ordering the killing of an FBI informant, was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 after the jury could not agree on whether he deserved to be executed. A judge in Newark in December ruled Farad Roland, the leader of a Bloods-affiliated drug-trafficking gang in Newark, ineligible to face the death penalty because of an intellectual disability. He later pleaded guilty under an agreement that will see prosecutors recommend a sentence of 45 years in federal prison. Gomez was one of 14 men indicted by a federal jury in 2013 under following an investigation targeting MS-13's activities in Plainfield. All 13 of his co-defendants have been convicted. Records show Chesler in February granted a continuance in any further proceedings in Gomez's case until the end of May, at the earliest. In his order granting the continuance, Chesler noted the prosecution and the defense were in negotiations about a possible plea agreement. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips In what has now traditionally become "Tennessee Williams Month" in the New Orleans stage scene, Southern Rep Theatre doubles up on its annual offerings from the canon by highlighting two of the playwright's least performed pieces. Under the title "A Tennessee Williams Double Bill," the results are mixed but, in each instance, it becomes clear why the two plays are rarely staged. More a collection of character studies than fully realized works, each play is distinctly lesser Williams. First up is a drama that can't help itself from becoming an uncomfortable comedy. "And Tell Sad Stories of the Death of Queens" was written in the late 1950s and presents one of the gay writer's few explicit depictions of homosexual characters. It also was a piece that Williams did not want performed until after his death. What: It centers on Candy Delaney, a drag queen of exquisite tastes living in the French Quarter. He owns several properties and rents out his upstairs apartment to Alvin and Jerry, a pair of younger "bitchy queens" from Alabama. Having been recently abandoned by a longtime lover, Candy picks up a merchant seaman in a gay bar with the hopes of establishing a new relationship. Although the script sets the play around a Mardi Gras weekend in the 1940s, director Ricky Graham's production is a moment in amber from the 1960s or '70s, perhaps more open but nevertheless still early in the gay liberation movement. Long before RuPaul or Bianca del Rio would make drag artists a part of mainstream pop culture, in "Queens" figures like Candy remain largely objects of mockery and derision to the outside world around them, as well as, unfortunately, subject to acts of violence. Candy, played with convincing sympathy and self-loathing by Evan Spigelman, has created a safe haven in his French Quarter, Japonesque-styled home (exquisitely detailed in Derek Blanco's set). It is a setting for "Madama Butterfly" as orchestrated by Max Steiner, where heightened ideals of romance inevitably embrace grand tragedy. Spigelman plays it at that near operatic level to strong effect. When he slips into the bedroom to don his Candy persona, he does transform himself into a different character - one somewhere along the spectrum of tragic heroines longing for her younger, virile lover between Greta Garbo in "Camille" and Joan Crawford in "Humoresque." Garrett Prejean takes brutal command of the stage as Karl. As he spreads out, he becomes bigger than anything else in the room, so seemingly out of place in Candy's fastidious world. The results of this barbaric invasion are predictable. Christopher Jennings and Nathan Stevens are flat sitcom cartoons as the upstairs neighbors who come flitting in to Candy's aid. Director Graham captures well the tone of the time and draws out much of the play's humor without overlooking the pathos. Even as a piece particularly of its own time, in light of today's sensibilities and attitudes, it is gut-wrenching to watch how sad and desperate the lives of these characters are. While the macabre tragedy of it all ends in a comic moment, it is disturbing that during the play's violent culmination tittering laughter could be heard from the audience. It would be wholly unfashionable today to write such sadly abused characters. These queens, however, are not only part of gay history and subculture, but were the pioneers leading the way to the general acceptance in contemporary society. The evening's second offering, "The Two-Character Play," was reportedly described by Williams as his own favorite play, after "A Streetcar Named Desire." It is among his later, more experimental pieces, and one that he would revise twice, once under the name "Out Cry," before returning to the current title, which was published in 1975. It is structured as a play-within-a-play as two sibling actors, Felice and Clare, find themselves in an unknown theater before an unknown audience (perhaps an empty one), performing a work called "The Two-Character Play," which also features a pair of characters named Felice and Clare. As the first Felice and Clare reenact the story of their counterparts within the interior play, boundaries and lines are blurred and a growing insanity reigns as the brother and sister are trapped in the home where their parents died, perhaps in a murder-suicide, perhaps at the hands of either the brother or sister, or perhaps (for as much sense as the script makes) by Colonel Mustard in the library with the bloody candlestick! While there are flashes of brilliance to be found in the language (Williams at his worst can still put words together with an undying lyricism), director Austin Pendleton fails to bring any sense of coherence or vision to this work. In addition, playing the work on the same set as "And Tell Sad Stories of the Death of Queens" hinders its ability to let the audience get "lost in the play." The result of this existential attempt to imitate Beckett or Pirandello comes across primarily as an excruciating exercise in acting. There is a madness to the Method. It all leaves the two actors, Irene Glezos and Joseph Rodriguez over-emoting and screaming at each other through a relentless 90 minutes, that only feels as long as a Wagnerian opera. In the end, the audience is as traumatized as these two frustrating characters. For the rarity of the opportunity to see these plays, "A Tennessee Williams Double Bill" gets a guarded recommendation. However, unless you are a fervid Williams completist, or seeking an especially grueling penance for what's left of Lent, flee the theater after the first one-act. The Louisiana Pharmacy Board postponed awarding a permit for a medical marijuana pharmacy to operate in the metro New Orleans area during its meeting Tuesday (March 27) in Baton Rouge. Instead, the board took all of the applications, including two that are seeking to open dispensaries in Metairie, under advisement until April 17. The 17-member board, which state law mandated to oversee the permit process, has said it will issue operating permits to one pharmacy in each of the state's nine designated health care regions. A 10th permit will be issued as needed. The board was scheduled Tuesday to hear presentations from 12 companies that are seeking to dispense marijuana in Region 1, which includes New Orleans, as well as Region 2, 3 and 4. On Wednesday, the board is set to hear presentations from 14 companies seeking to operate in Regions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Louisiana law prohibits marijuana from being sold in any form that can be smoked. The forms sold at state-permitted pharmacies will include pills, topical creams and oils and can only be dispensed to patients with a doctor's recommendation form. The state-permitted pharmacies will dispense marijuana that will be produced and manufactured in various forms by vendors hired by Southern University and Louisiana State University, the only agricultural centers allowed by state law to grow the medicinal-grade marijuana. 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 Pharmacy Board Chairman Carl Aron said the three-week recess will allow members to review all of the applications and to form any questions they may have for company owners. Although a board's subcommittee has reviewed and ranked most of the applicants, this week was the first time the rest of the board received the information, Aron said. Five companies are competing for the medical marijuana operating permit for Region 1, which covers the New Orleans metro area, including Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes. The applicants for Region 1 and their proposed locations include: If your idea of a perfect day includes white sands, blue seas, and complimentary beach barbecues on a relatively quiet private island, Royal Caribbean International has you covered. At least, that's what Royal Caribbean Cruises has been offering passengers on its Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean cruises since the line debuted its tiny Bahamas island, CocoCay, three decades ago. Now, as the focal point of the brand's "Perfect Day" program, CocoCay is getting a $200 million renovation. The new-and-improved version of CocoCay will comprise 125 acres of "thrill and chill" attractions-including what will be one of the Caribbean's largest water parks. Dubbed "Perfect Day at CocoCay," it represents an effort to court millennials and new-to-cruise families. Included in the revamp: two massive water towers and 13 water slides, including Daredevil's Peak, which, at 135 feet above the sand, will become the tallest slide in North America when it's completed next spring. A 1,600-foot zip line will deposit guests into the water, while a helium balloon ride will take passengers up 450 feet in the air. All this takes place above the largest wave pool in the Caribbean. A freshwater pool, also the Caribbean's largest, has in-water loungers, a swim-up bar, and poolside cabanas. If all that sounds like the opposite of your perfect day, there are plenty of opportunities to escape the crowds -- two ships docking simultaneously at CocoCay can deposit as many as 10,000 travelers on the little island. Those looking to unplug should check out the island's new VIP zone, Coco Beach Club, where there will be Maldives-style over-water cabanas with private water slides that plunge into the sea. Each will be staffed by a cabin attendant who can fetch bottles of bubbly or a variety of snacks. This two-pronged "thrill and chill" concept is part of a strategy that followed extensive market research. "We talked to a lot of customers and guests about what really would be their perfect day in the Caribbean on vacation," says Michael Bayley, president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean. "We're intending on delivering literally the perfect day for you," he tells Bloomberg, acknowledging that this can mean radically different things to different people. One group that won't be satisfied? Culture hounds. CocoCay will ultimately be a completely manufactured experience. While 160 Bahamians will be hired to staff the island, integrating Bahamian traditions and meaningful interactions with locals simply aren't part of the equation. Royal Caribbean expects its $200 million investment to drive demand for sailings to the Bahamas. And the amped-up CocoCay will encourage consumers to shell out for a new array of amenities: Separate charges will apply for water slides, wave pool, balloon rides, zip line, and the Coco Beach Club. Bar tabs may also increase, thanks to the new swim-up bars. (The food, however, will remain free.) 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 Royal Caribbean sees the Perfect Day experience as having legs elsewhere in the Caribbean and beyond, including Asia and Australia. The company is already teasing announcements of new "purchase and lease deals" for other private islands that will form a "Perfect Day Island Collection." Each will have experiences that relate to the location, at least in the subtle way that CocoCay reflects a Caribbean day at the beach, Bayley says. His initiative is part of a broader trend: Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Corp. & Plc's Holland America Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. also own private islands in the Bahamas, and MSC Cruises plans to open its own Bahamian island next year. Across the board, passengers tend to rate these private retreats as some of their favorite ports of call. Not everyone is so enthusiastic. Some 55 miles from CocoCay in Nassau, Bahamas, environmental activist Heather Carey took to Facebook to criticize Royal Caribbean's plans. "Just another example of how the cruise ship industry does little to benefit us locally, and instead continues to make the visitor experience more insular to the cruise ship islands," she said. Among her main concerns was that the private island will funnel visitation and excursion revenues away from Nassau-which relies heavily on the cruise tourism economy. "We cannot give away any more of our beautiful Bahamas to these bottomless pits," she wrote. (Carey did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.) The redo of CocoCay is taking place in stages: The water park will open in spring 2019, and the rest of the project should be complete about six months later. At a press announcement earlier this month, Royal Caribbean also said it would spend $900 million over the next four years to modernize 10 ships with such features as virtual reality bungee jumping, laser tag, and tiki bars, including two ships that will focus on three- and four-day cruises around the Bahamas. And that doesn't include the Symphony of the Seas, a bigger and louder follow-up to the current "largest ship at sea," to debut this month. -- (c) 2018, Bloomberg. Written by Fran Golden. Disgraced ex-priest Dino Cinel, 76, was stabbed to death last month by his 18-year-old lover in Medellin, Colombia, according to reports from several international news outlets. The former Catholic Priest rattled New Orleans in 1991 when a fellow priest discovered a collection of child pornography and homemade videotapes Cinel had filmed of himself having sex with young men in the Uptown rectory he lived in until 1988. Cinel's homicide was confirmed by the chief of security of Medellin, Andres Felipe Tobon, who said that local authorities were unaware the former priest had been living in the northern Colombian city for the past five years and that he had been charged with possession of child pornography, according to Colombian news outlet El Tiempo. Local police told El Tiempo that the young man called emergency services after stabbing Cinel confessing to the crime. Police arrived at the home and found Cinel tied to his bed with a stab wound to his abdomen according to news reports. The young man had been threatening to commit suicide by jumping from the sixth floor of the apartment building where he had been living with Cinel. He told police that they had had an argument and had been in a relationship for about a year. While living in New Orleans, Cinel worked as a historian and was a faculty member at Tulane University. He was living at the rectory of St. Rita Catholic Church until late 1988 when his colleague discovered in his room a collection of child pornography and homemade videotapes of Cinel having sex with young men. 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 former priest had been vacationing in Italy at the time, when he was fired via a phone call from former Archbishop Phillip Hannan. It was call many at the time say amounted to a tip off to Cinel that authorities were after him, according to news reports from 1991. Meanwhile, District Attorney Harry Connick allowed the church to hold onto the videotapes for weeks to try and identify the young men in the videotapes. Connick decided that the case was too weak to prosecute. The case was brought out to light when one of Cinel's former lovers filed a civil suit alleging that he had been underage during a videotaped sexual encounter with the former priest. Around that time Connick conceded in an interview that a desire not to embarrass the church was "an absolute consideration on my mind" in declining initially to proceed with charges against Cinel. Cinel was eventually prosecuted for charges of commercial child pornography but he was acquitted when he convinced the court he had acquired the pornography before a 1986 law made it illegal to possess it. His priesthood was formally revoked in 2010. EAST LANSING, MI - Former dean of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine William Strampel is expected to be arraigned on charges including criminal sexual conduct in East Lansing District Court on Tuesday afternoon. According to charges issued, Strampel, 70, faces one count of misconduct of a public official, a felony punishable by 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a high court misdemeanor punishable by two years and/or a $500 fine; and two counts of willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor punishable by one year and/or a $1,000 fine. Strampel oversaw Larry Nassar, the doctor MSU employed for nearly two decades as he molested women and children, often under the guise of medical treatment. Nassar is in prison for possession of child pornography charges and was sentenced on charges that he sexually assaulted multiple women. Strampel was arrested Monday and lodged in the Ingham County jail. Larry Nassar's former Michigan State boss arrested The affidavit in support of the felony misconduct in office and criminal sexual conduct charges relies on testimony from four victims who say Strampel harrased them with actions such as: Requiring a female medical student to turn around in circles so he could observe her body; asked one female student what he had to teach her to be submissive and subordinate to men; and grabbed the buttocks of two female students. A Feb. 2 search warrant executed on a computer in Strampel's office found approximately 50 photos of bare vaginas, nude women, semi-nude women, sex toys and pornography, in addition to pornographic videos and a video of Nassar performing a "treatment" on a young patient, according to the affidavit. 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 He violated MSU's Acceptable Use Policy, the affidavit alleges, and abused the authority of his public office to solicit, receive and possess pornography images of women who appear to be MSU students. It was Strampel who, after a 2014 Title IX complaint and police report lodged by Amanda Thomashow, sent an email putting Nassar back to work with a series of conditions, including having another person in the room when he was performing procedures in sensitive areas and using gloves. According to statements from Nassar's more direct supervisors in a March 2017 police report, Strampel did not make Nassar's colleagues aware of the conditions. After Strampel put Nassar back in place, 20 more women say they were molested by him. One count of the misdemeanor willful neglect of duty is related to Strampel allowing Nassar to return to work before the Title IX investigation was completed. The other count of misdemeanor willful neglect of duty is for "failing to enforce protocols upon Larry Nassar," according to the affidavit. Strampel is expected to be arraigned at a 2:30 p.m. hearing in East Lansing District Court. An investigator for the Attorney General's office, who is looking into sexual assault issues at MSU, is holding a press conference at noon. It is believed to be related to Strampel's arrest. A man was convicted Monday night (March 26) of killing his ex-girlfriend's new lover in a Kenner apartment and then dismembering the body before dumping the remains into a nearby swamp, according to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's office. Viusqui J. Perez-Espinosa, 45, a Cuban national who was living in Kenner, was found guilty as charged of second-degree murder in the 2016 death of 27-year-old Ives Alexis Portales-Lara. The jury deliberated for about two-and-a-half hours before returning the verdicts, capping a six-day trial that involved more than 1,200 exhibits by the state, the DA's office said. Perez-Espinosa, who worked as a butcher in Honduras before he migrated to the U.S., was also found guilty of obstruction of justice. According to the DA's office, Perez-Espinosa tried to hide the murder by dismembering Portales-Lara's body and dumping the remains, packed into garbage bags, off the Interstate 10 bridge near the Reserve Canal. "I've never seen a case when a victim is cut into pieces and thrown away like trash," Assistant DA Richard Olivier, who prosecuted the case with assistant DA Kellie Rish, told jurors, according to the DA's office. According to authorities, Perez-Espinosa committed the Nov. 11, 2016 murder in a fit of jealousy over his ex-girlfriend's romantic relationship with Portales-Lara. The love triangle's parties -- the two men and their love interest -- were sharing an apartment in the 200 block of Baylor Street in Kenner when the killing occurred. Perez-Espinosa had been involved with the 53-year-old woman for about 18 months before the relationship ended in September 2016. At that point, he moved out to live with another woman, according to Kenner police. Perez-Espinosa then encouraged his friend and co-worker, Portales-Lara, to move in with the woman to help her cover the costs of rent, authorities said. Perez-Espinosa, who had worked as a fisherman and boat captain in Cuba, worked at a scaffolding company with Portales-Lara, a Honduran immigrant who moved to Kenner to be near his young daughter. Roughly two months later, Perez-Espinosa asked to move back in with his ex and Portales-Lara, who by then had begun "a secret romantic relationship," the DA's office said. With Portales-Lara's approval, the woman allowed Perez to move in with them on Nov. 8, 2016, three days before the murder. Perez-Espinosa, aware of rumors of the relationship, offered Portales-Lara money to move into his own apartment. Perez-Espinosa "pined for (the woman's) affections and wanted Portales out of the picture," the DA's office said in a Monday night release. The morning of the murder, Nov. 11, 2016, after Portales-Lara left for work, Perez-Espinosa allegedly sexually assaulted his ex-girlfriend in her bed. 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 Portales-Lara was last seen alive that evening, according to the DA's office. Relatives reported Portales-Lara missing on Nov. 13, 2016, after he failed to pick up his child for visitation. "He's never missed a visit," Kenner police spokesman Lt. Brian McGregor said in early 2017. Officers responding to the missing-person's report noticed blood on the floor of the apartment shared by the trio. Chemical tests later revealed blood on a wall, the ceiling and on furniture. Blood also was found in the trunk of Perez's car. DNA testing later matched the blood to Portales. In the meantime, police booked Perez-Espinosa with forcible rape based on his ex-girlfriend's allegations. He has not been indicted on that charge. Perez-Espinosa was booked with Portales-Lara's murder in January 2017, after body parts began surfacing in the Reserve Canal in St. John the Baptist Parish. On Dec. 29, 2016, a fisherman found a severed right arm. On Jan. 12, 2017, pipeline workers dredging the canal found the legs and torso. DNA analysis showed the body parts belonged to Portales-Lara. His head and left arm remain missing, the DA's office said Monday night. In his testimony Monday, Perez-Espinosa told jurors that Portales-Lara had attacked him with a knife, and during the ensuing struggle, Portales-Lara cut his own throat and died as a result. He said the body was too heavy for him to carry to the trunk of his car, he testified. During testimony, Perez-Espinosa refused to describe cutting up the body, the DA's office said. Perez-Espinosa is scheduled for sentencing April 26 before Jefferson Parish Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach. A conviction of second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in prison. NOLA.com|The Times-Picayune's Michelle Hunter and Littice Bacon-Blood contributed to this report. A woman accused of stabbing a man during an argument outside of an Algiers apartment Friday night (March 23) is also wanted in an armed robbery, according to the NOPD. Connie Collins, 42, is accused in the domestic aggravated battery, reported about 9:45 p.m. in the 1300 block of Flanders Street. According to the NOPD, the 61-year-old victim walked out of his apartment and was confronted by Collins. An argument began, and Collins took out a knife and stabbed the victim "multiple" times, police said. The NOPD did not indicate the extent of his injuries, but the victim was taken by EMS to a local hospital. In addition to the stabbing, Collins also is wanted in connection with an armed robbery that occurred last fall in Algiers. 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 In December, police identified Collins as a suspect in an armed robbery that took place Nov. 30 in the 3300 block of Lawrence Street. The victim told police that about 4:40 a.m., he was awakened by a loud banging on his front door, "at which time he was met by a known female." Collins then demanded the victim's money while holding a knife and a red brick in her hands, police said. According to Orleans Parish court records, Collins' prior convictions include a March 2012 guilty plea to an amended charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. She was sentenced to five years in prison, with credit for time served since her arrest in October 2011. In February 2009, she pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine and was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended, with two years of active probation. Her probation was later revoked after she stopped showing up for required community service, court records show. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Connie Collins is asked to call any NOPD 4th District detective at 504-658-6040 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 877-903-7867. U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise credited the Roman Catholic faith that Archbishop Rummel High School nurtured in him for saving his life after he was shot and critically wounded June 14. "There's no reason why I should be here except God truly did perform miracles," he told an assembly Monday (March 26) when the Metairie school honored him as its alumnus of the year. Scalise, Class of 1983 and veteran of the Raider wrestling team, has been a regular visitor to Rummel events since being elected to the Louisiana Legislature in 1995 and Congress in 2008. The Old Jefferson Republican is now the House majority whip, the No. 3 GOP position in the chamber. He was joined at Rummel by David Bailey, a Capitol police officer who regularly accompanies him. Bailey, too, was wounded in the gun battle when Scalise was shot last summer in Alexandria, Va. Donning a Rummel red blazer, Scalise said he remains a proponent of gun rights and does not oppose arming school teachers. "Luckily in my case, we had police officers there to confront the shooter, and it saved ... all of our lives," he told Fox 8 television. "In all of these mass shooting we've seen, there was nobody to confront the shooter." . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and Louisiana interests in Congress, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. Landan Moore decided in middle school that he wanted to attend the best college possible. Attaining the goal would be a stretch, the New Orleans teen knew. Some of his 10 siblings had started college, but none had finished. His dad, a single parent, wouldn't be able to afford tuition especially not to Xavier, Moore's dream school, a private historically black university that costs about $37,000 a year to attend. Still, Moore considered himself lucky. He lives in Louisiana, a state that, for the past three decades, has offered to pay in-state tuition for any student who earns a 2.5 GPA and an ACT score of 20. "That was my greatest motivation," Moore said. "If I worked harder, I could save money and build myself up." At George Washington Carver High School, a predominately black and low-income school in the city's Ninth Ward, Moore raised his hand every chance he got. He stayed late for tutoring sessions. He enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and did well enough that he'll likely graduate salutatorian in May. But the 18-year-old worries his hard work may come to nothing. As Louisiana faces a $1 billion budget shortfall, Gov. John Bel Edwards has proposed cutting the scholarship, formally called the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students or TOPS. TOPS is the oldest state merit scholarship in the nation. Today, nearly two dozen states have followed its lead and offer some form of free tuition. But since TOPS was created in 1989 as a program expressly meant to serve low-income students, it has ballooned in size. About a quarter of the state's 200,000 college students use the stipend each year. Some are low-income and historically marginalized students, like Moore, for whom the scholarship was originally intended. But now, the bulk of recipients are white and from wealthy families. TOPS has become unsustainable as it has expanded from just over 24,000 in 1998 to 52,000 recipients last year at a time when college tuition has increased. As Louisiana struggles to balance its budget in face of a nearly $1 billion shortfall, lawmakers face a stark choice: Shrink a program that once made the state a national model in education, or end it entirely. The resulting debate has produced multiple ideas from legislators to reduce the size of the scholarship, in three broad categories: Cut the size of the scholarship for all 52,000 recipients, which critics say would make the scholarships too small to be useful. Raise the scholarship's eligibility requirements to prioritize retaining the state's best-performing students, meaning even fewer low-income students from low-performing schools would qualify. Or re-focus the scholarship to target teenagers like Moore, who are trying to lift themselves out of poverty. Though a reduction would hurt low-income families the most, experts say any cut could hurt Louisiana. "This is a state that needs its brightest students to stay here over the long term so our economy grows, so that educational opportunities grow," said Vincent Rossmeier, the director of policy for Tulane University's Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives. "If you see TOPS cut, you are going to see a lot of students leave the state and a lot of students not be able to afford college, and both of those are not good outcomes for the state of Louisiana." It's possible to imagine what the scholarship's founder, oil magnate Patrick Taylor, would have chosen. Taylor had grown up "a penniless, scared, scrawny kid," but his life began to change when he earned a full-ride to study petroleum engineering at Louisiana State University. After college, Taylor started an oil company and eventually made the Forbes list of world's richest people. 'A college education for everyone' In 1988, already a multi-millionaire, Taylor visited Livingston Middle School, a school in east New Orleans that served low-income, black students. Many of the 183 Livingston Middle students who came to see Taylor speak at an assembly had failed a few grades. When Taylor asked how many planned to attend college, only a few students raised their hands. Some said their parents couldn't afford tuition. Others confessed they planned to drop out after the eighth grade. When he asked how many wanted to attend college, almost every hand went up. At the time, a third of Louisiana's adults were high school dropouts. Only 16 percent had earned a bachelor's degree or higher. Taylor wondered if removing the burden of tuition could transform those numbers. "A college education for everyone in the audience," Taylor announced at the assembly. Taylor told the preteens if they earned a B average, he would pay their tuition. To help them achieve that benchmark, he created a college preparatory program at the school. He brought in a naval commander to lead a summer program that was part boot-camp, part academic training. He bought back-to-school clothes for the children. More than half of the students who attended that assembly went on to college. Louisiana lawmakers decided to take over the payments and expand the program. Taylor had limited his donations to students whose parents earned $25,000 or less a year. In 1997, Louisiana lawmakers removed the income cap so that any academically qualified student could earn a free ride. Three decades later, Louisiana still has the second lowest rate of college graduates and the lowest rate of black graduates in the country. But the state has seen marked improvement: In 2012, the percent of adults in Louisiana with at least an associate's degree had doubled, to almost 30 percent. Lawmakers credit the scholarship for that jump. Officials also believe the scholarship has helped stem a brain drain from the state. TOPS remains so popular some Louisiana students say they bypassed offers from schools in other states. Grant Henry, a junior at Nicholls State in Thibodaux, considered Florida State and the University of Texas at Austin, both of which had "attractive" marketing programs. But Henry, who grew up in Shreveport and attended the gifted and talented program at Airline High, knew his family couldn't contribute much. He chose Nicholls because TOPS, coupled with a smaller grant the state awards to students from low-income families, covered most of his expenses. He has prospered there, he said. He helps run student orientation and publishes a weekly video report about Nicholls. "It's definitely been a blessing," he said. "It has meant achieving great things for me and my university." Trouble The trouble started in 2008 when Gov. Bobby Jindal took office and sliced the state's higher education budget in half. To offset the cuts, most colleges and universities raised their tuition some by as much as 140 percent. Because TOPS pays for a student's tuition, no matter the cost, the amount of state money needed to meet the scholarship's promise jumped as schools raised the price. 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 makeup of the recipients changed, too. As tuition went up, more upper- and middle-class families started taking advantage of the free money. The share of scholarship students from Louisiana's wealthiest families nearly doubled over the last decade. Last year, more than half of the scholarships went to children whose parents earned $70,000 or more annually. Fewer than 15 percent of students come from the low-income families Taylor originally targeted. A disproportionate number of recent recipients are white, too. Black students make up 44 percent of the state's elementary, middle and high school classes, but only 17 percent of the students who won the scholarship last year were black. Nearly 70 percent were white. As the scholarship became increasingly unequal, some lawmakers proposed fixes, but none gained traction. Former state senator Rick Gallot, a Democrat who now leads Grambling State University in North Louisiana, suggested an income cap of $1 million, for example. Only 11 lawmakers supported the idea. Last year, the governor announced yearly costs from the program had risen from roughly $50 million two decades ago to almost $300 million an untenable jump for a state in the middle of a financial meltdown. The state was $1 billion short of making ends meet last year, and Edwards projected a similar deficit for the upcoming budget cycle. While other states pay for tuition-aid programs with dedicated, stable funding, Louisiana pays for the bulk of its scholarship out of its general fund, the same large pot from which it pays for basic public services such as hospitals and public safety. The scholarship, Edwards announced, might have to go. Many ideas, but no solution Lawmakers pieced together ways to pay for the program last year, using money from temporary taxes to cover part of the scholarship, but they agreed to create a taskforce to analyze the program's deeper issues. Ten representatives and senators met this fall and winter to craft a better plan. Legislators listened to more than three dozen hours of testimony and debate, then came up with nine conflicting proposals. One representative suggested creating a dedicated pot of money for the scholarship. Another proposed cutting the stipends. Sen. Dan "Blade" Morrish, R-Jennings, proposed cutting the amount some students receive and giving more money to students who outperform their peers. The state's "brightest students," Morrish said in January, "are being regularly picked off by Baylor and the University of Alabama and others. I think this gives a little bit of ammunition to our [four-year universities] to say now we'll have a little bit more to offer our best and our brightest." Morrish, who served as the taskforce chairman, suggested awarding full tuition only to students who earn at least a 23 on the ACT. Students who score a 20 are "just average," Morrish said, and could work harder to meet the new benchmarks. Moore, the New Orleans high schooler set to graduate as salutatorian, wouldn't qualify if the ACT bar moved. Though Moore's 4.14 grade point average is in the state's highest echelon, he has struggled on the ACT. Related: To attract more blacks and Hispanics to STEM, universities must address racial issues on campus Moore scored a 17 out of 36 on his first attempt, three points below the scholarship's current cutoff. "That bummed me out highly," he said. But he doubled down on practice tests and tutoring sessions. Last semester, he pulled his ACT score up to a 21, the national average, but two points shy of the cut-off Morrish proposed. Sen. Gary Carter, a New Orleans Democrat who said at a task force hearing this past January that he would not have qualified for the program as a teen, countered that Louisiana's "best and brightest" students aren't necessarily those who score the highest on a test. "If you overcome some significant challenges and qualify for college, you are one of our best and our brightest," he said, "and I don't want to lose you just like I don't want to lose that kid that has a 36 on the ACT." Carter wants to give money to Louisiana's poorest students along with its best performing, which would cut middle achievers along with many middle-class students from the program. Lawmakers refused to rally behind any of the plans. Instead, the TOPS task force sent all nine proposals to the legislature to debate this spring. Now, unless lawmakers find $692 million in cuts to other services before June, Edwards has said he has no choice but to cut the scholarship to the bone. The state will continue to use dedicated funds from a tobacco settlement to give about $1,000 to each TOPS recipient, but that's not enough to motivate the best-performing students to stay, lawmakers say. It's not nearly enough to help Moore pay for Xavier University. After Edwards announced the cut, Moore met with his high school guidance counselor to come up with a backup plan. He picked a cheaper, less prestigious school to attend, but he still dreams of Xavier. He wants to accomplish all Taylor hoped the kids at Livingston Middle would. "I don't like settling for less," Moore said. "Why settle when you can keep growing? I want to build myself up and give back to the community. This is for my future. Not just mine, but everyone around me. There are people that not only want it but need it." -- By Casey Parks This story was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for their newsletter. *CORRECTION: This story initially reported that a 3.0 GPA is one of the minimum requirements for a TOPS award. The actual correct requirements are a 2.5 GPA in the TOPS Core Curriculum, Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance spokesman Gus Wales said Tuesday (March 27). Over the course of 14 months, 37 chemical releases were reported to the Coast Guard's National Response Center by facilities or individuals in St. James Parish, according to an analysis by environmental advocacy groups. The list of releases ranged from reports of chemical smells to a large quantity of a known carcinogen emitted from a plastics manufacturer. The analysis by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, H.E.L.P. Association, 350 New Orleans and L'eau est La Vie Camp concluded that accidental releases of chemicals into the air, water and soil were frequent in St. James Parish. A separate analysis by the Gulf Restoration Network concluded that the rate of releases was disproportionately high compared to the surrounding parishes. The environmental groups say that the planned Bayou Bridge Pipeline will increase the number of incidents in the parish. "We are bearing a burden of pollution that is already too great," said Pastor Harry Joseph of the H.E.L.P. Association of St. James. But the rate of chemical releases is not unusual for the parish, where the petrochemical industry has a large presence, said Gregory Langley, a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Though St. James is the second smallest parish in the state, its location between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and access to the Mississippi River has made it prime for industrial development. "Industry does have an impact," Langley said. "And we're here to monitor what they do." The department of environmental quality responded to most of the releases detailed in the analyses. Those that the agency did not respond to were likely too small to warrant sending staff, Langley said. The department has thus far not fined any of the companies for the incidents detailed in the analyses, including those that resulted in releases of toxic chemicals. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In February 2017, a bleed vent was left open at the American Styrenics plant near the town of Donaldsonville, according to a report with the National Response Center. About 265 pounds of benzene, a known carcinogen, were released into the air through the open vent. The state has not determined yet whether the company will be fined. Five months after that incident, the National Response Center received a call about a leak in the side of an Occidental Chemical Corporation storage tank near Convent. One thousand pounds of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, leaked from the tank, according to the response center report. The state did not pursue enforcement actions against the company. That decision was made, in part, because the lye did not leave the company site, Langley said. Six months earlier, the same company had an equipment failure that resulted in the release of chlorine into the air. It is difficult to know whether these events had an impact on public health or the environment, he said. In the case of oil spills, companies are required to remove the contaminates from the environment. In March 2017, a crude oil storage tank owned by Plains All American Pipeline leaked. The facility reported that 299 barrels, or 12,558 gallons, spilled into an overflow ditch. The bulk of the oil was sucked up with a vacuum truck, Langley said, and the impacted soil was removed. Sampling after the soil removal detected benzene at a level slightly above Environmental Protection Agency screening standards. As a result, more soil was removed. Additional sampling found no further issues, Langley said. But the department's oversight was of little assurance to Pastor Harry Joseph, with the H.E.L.P. Association. Joseph is concerned that the Bayou Bridge Pipeline, which will stretch from Lake Charles to St. James Parish, will only add to the amount of chemical releases in the parish. "Bayou Bridge will do nothing but harm us just like industry is already doing, and it's why we are calling on Governor Edwards to stop it," he said. With Kyle Duncan's polemical nomination to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans parked in the Senate, left-wing groups are steering a late effort to wreck his confirmation to the bench. In recent weeks, they've repeated ideological condemnations that he works against rights for women and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. But new support for the Baton Rouge-born Duncan comes from one of his courtroom adversaries, an LSU law professor who argued against Duncan's position in a Louisiana same-sex marriage case. In an opinion piece published Sunday (March 25) by The Hill, Paul Baier says Duncan is a "magnificent nominee ... who ought to be swiftly confirmed." Baier, who prevailed over Duncan in Robicheaux v. Caldwell, wrote: "I always appreciated and respected Kyle's advocacy for his client and his respect for the humanity of the same-sex couples who would be most affected by the case. While I disagreed with many of his arguments, often emphatically, I never found a trace of bias, bigotry or any disrespect towards the same-sex individuals in the case." Further, Baier praised Duncan's "compelling and brilliant" U.S. Supreme Court argument in Connick v. Thompson, in which Duncan asserted that Louisiana was not liable for putting a man on Death Row for 14 years merely because Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. failed to train a staffer to give helpful evidence to the defense. "The case is a difficult one, because the actions of one rogue prosecutor caused John Thompson, a father of two, to be wrongfully imprisoned," Baier wrote. "But Kyle put aside personal feelings to argue for the rule of law, and the Supreme Court agreed with him. ... His confirmation should be supported by all who value judges committed to fairness and scrupulous application of the law." Baier's embrace comes after Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice, attacked Duncan in The Nation as "anti-women" because he has argued against abortion and against forcing corporations to offer contraception in their employee health insurance coverage when the business objects on religious grounds. Transgender and LGBT advocates rallied outside the Supreme Court on March 6 against Duncan and another of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, Thomas Farr for the U.S. District Court in Raleigh, N.C. The next day, 65 members of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus signed a letter against Duncan's nomination. Another critic of Duncan is Nichole Maines, whose story of transitioning from male to female as a child in Maine was told in the New York Times bestseller "Becoming Nicole" by Amy Ellis Nutt. Maines wrote Thursday (March 22) in the Portland Press Herald that Duncan "has never treated transgender people fairly or with respect," that he "has promoted cruel and demeaning statements about transgender people and repeatedly worked to undermine basic human rights for people like me" and "resorted to filing misleading declarations based on junk science." These issues were aired during Duncan's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The panel voted 11-10 to recommend him on Jan. 18, but the Senate has not scheduled its confirmation vote. . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and Louisiana interests in Congress, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. Last year was a violent one in St. Tammany Parish, with a record number of homicides. Authorities say many of those killings stemmed from domestic violence. Now, in an effort to reduce the number of domestic violence and sexual assault cases, several St. Tammany Parish law enforcement agencies are meeting to coordinate their efforts and create a set of uniform procedures. The group, spearheaded by North Shore District Attorney Warren Montgomery, had its first meeting earlier this month and has scheduled another meeting April 19, Montgomery's office said in a news release. "We know domestic violence is not declining. It's increasing," Montgomery said. "It's not something that's going to decrease on its own. We're trying to get ahead of it." The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said earlier this year that nearly half of the 17 homicides in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish in 2017 were tied to domestic violence. The group will be called the "Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT),'' the news release said. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The approach is modeled after a similar effort in Ouachita Parish, where domestic violence homicides dropped 70 percent between 2010-2014, Montgomery's office said. Among those attending the first meeting at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center were Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz, Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker, Madisonville Police Chief Barney Tyrney, and representatives from the Pearl River Police Department and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the news release said. Representatives from Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Program, the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Ouachita Parish District Attorney's Office also were at that organization meeting. Montgomery, the District Attorney for St. Tammany and Washington parishes, said since he took office in 2015 the DA's office has reduced the number of domestic violence cases that are dismissed by 76 percent. "We've made significant strides in how this office responds and prosecutes domestic violence cases," said Collin Sims, who heads the DA's Criminal Division. "We want to build on the progress we've made and take the next step in combating this problem in our community." At the next meeting in April, response team members will begin developing a set of uniform procedures that all law enforcement agencies will follow for handling domestic violence cases throughout the parish. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and CEO and President of Mitsubishi Corporation Takehiko Kakiuchi. (Source: VNA) The leader made the suggestion at a reception for CEO and President of Mitsubishi Corporation Takehiko Kakiuchi in Hanoi on March 26th, during which he stressed that the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategy partnership has developed strongly, comprehensively and practically across fields, with high mutual political trust. Japan was a leading economic partner, the largest official development assistance (ODA) supplier, the fourth biggest trade partner and No. 1 investor of Vietnam in 2017, he said. The PM affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to economic cooperation with Japan, noting Japanese investors prestige in Vietnam as well as their contributions to the countrys socio-economic development. However, he said, Japans foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam makes up only 3% of its total FDI in Asia, and lower than its investment in a number of Southeast Asian nations. The Vietnamese Government has completed institutions and mechanisms to create more favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Japan, the PM emphasised. Applauding investment and business activities of Mitsubishi in Vietnam, he suggested the corporation heed manufacturing, automobile and food processing industries in the country. He used the occasion to call on Vietnamese and Japanese businesses to increase exchange and cooperation in order to utilise opportunities generated by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to which both Vietnam and Japan are members. In reply, Takehiko Kakiuchi applauded PM Phucs suggestions, saying they match his corporations investment strategy in Vietnam in the time to come. He said the great cooperation achievements between Vietnam and Japan have offered more opportunities for Japanese firms, including Mitsubishi, to intensify exchange, and expand cooperation and investment in Vietnam. He also called on PM Phuc and competent Vietnamese agencies to continue their support and create the best possible conditions for the corporation to invest and operate in the country./. Louisiana homebuilders are back at the Legislature on Tuesday (March 27) in hopes of tweaking a law that was designed to create more affordable housing and lower rents but may end up doing the opposite. At issue is something called mandatory inclusionary zoning, which requires developers to set aside a certain percentage of units in apartment and condo projects at below-market rates in exchange for being able to build with more density, more units on smaller lots. "Affordable housing" just means someone else is paying for it. Supporters of inclusionary zoning say it is the best way to promote economic and racial integration and, in New Orleans, to "keep the city affordable for the musicians, culture bearers, and hospitality workers" who often are acclaimed to be the true heart of the city but rarely get paid much for it. New Orleans was the first city in Louisiana to adopt inclusionary zoning. The program is attractive to government because it requires less direct public subsidy than traditional affordable housing programs and provides that Robin Hood vibe that advocacy groups like. Even proponents concede that developers will lose money on the affordable units, but they say the difference can be made up through the density bonuses and other parts of the project. That should raise the first red flag: Government telling private developers not just how to run their businesses but suggesting that a rigid system is somehow better equipped to produce profits in a volatile market than folks who are doing it for a living. Developers want to develop and homebuilders want to build, and they already face a tangle of regulations, neighborhood resistance and bureaucratic delays while juggling changing costs in labor, materials, insurance, overhead and delays. They aren't opposed to including below-market units in their developments or participating in other programs to build affordable housing -- that's what they do. But they want to be able to negotiate the details so that that project makes financial sense. Each development has different challenges and is being built with specific market events in play -- costs, interests rates, location, etc. Builders want to be able to make adjustments for those forces. To that end, Senate Bill 462 by Sen. Danny Martiny would alter the 2006 law by replacing the term "inclusionary zoning" with the phrase "voluntary economic incentive policies." That would allow developers and city officials to work out the details on each project so that both parties agree on what will produce the best housing at the best price. The proposal cleared the Senate Commerce Committee without objection and now moves to the full Senate. A similar bill passed the Senate last year, 29-9, but died in a House committee. Although opponents of the bill want to argue that inclusionary zoning is the only way to guarantee affordable housing, the law may actually work against those goals. If the numbers don't work on these mixed-use projects, builders will be forced to go elsewhere. Even the most altruistic developers who decide to eat losses on project after project will eventually lose capital and investors. Although inclusionary zoning has been around since the 1980s, it's hard to find definitive studies because factors can vary so greatly from market to market and according to the national economy. Most agree that inclusionary zoning works best in hot, urbanized markets where pressure on both land and housing prices are more intense. That certainly was the case in New Orleans in the building boom after Hurricane Katrina, but there are signs that is slowing. It also should be noted that inclusionary zoning is a form of rent control, which skews prices for everyone. The market rate units in these developments must be higher to pay for the cost of the below-market housing, putting pressure on surrounding rental units. The service sector middle class ends up getting squeezed out as they are no longer able to afford the market-priced units and are not eligible for the subsidized ones. So, inclusionary zoning just shifts the problem without solving it. And even when inclusionary zoning works -- at least in the short-term -- studies show that it is a slow way to build affordable housing. New Orleans needs more housing if it hopes to grow and attract new jobs and new residents, something that isn't happening now. It makes sense to loosen some of the restrictions and let the builders build. Tim Morris is an opinions columnist at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at tmorris@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter @tmorris504. The state will soon be pushing the locally elected officials of Powhatan out of the way to administer the finances of the northwest Louisiana village that in mid-July had only $105 in its general fund and is hiring a cop to drum up some money from The three-team race for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh officially came to an end Monday (March 26), according to multiple reports. The Los Angeles Rams and Suh agreed to terms on a one-year, $14 million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who was the first to report the transaction. Suh had previously visited with the Rams, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans before making his decision. While early Monday morning reports suggested Suh was still mulling options between the Saints and Titans, the Rams emerged as the favorite and sealed the deal. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Suh, a three-time first-team All-Pro selection, entered free agency after being released by the Miami Dolphins on March 14. Suh, 31, is regarded as one of the NFL's best interior defensive players. He has appeared in 126 career games and has totaled 427 tackles (287 solo), 51 1/2 sacks, an interception, 28 passes defensed, a safety and two fumble recoveries. He now joins a Rams' defensive line already consisting of Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers. Four people were injured, including two people with serious injuries, when a house collapsed late Monday afternoon (March 26) in Central City, according to the New Orleans Fire Department. One of those injured, a neighboring resident, has been displaced by the home's collapse. The home, at 2309 Washington Ave., was under renovation and "suffered a complete 'pancake' collapse," the fire department said. The call came in at 4:19 p.m. Three of those injured were contractors working on the home--two of them with injuries listed as serious: severe cuts, broken bones and symptoms consistent with concussions, the NOFD said. The third contractor received minor bruises and cuts but was also taken to a local hospital for further observation. All three injured contractors had escaped the home prior to the 4:26 p.m. arrival of the first of five NOFD companies. The fourth victim, the neighboring resident, suffered "what appeared to be minor bruises and abrasions" when the home fell onto the side of his home, the NOFD said. He has been ordered not to reenter his home until the property can be assessed for structural stability, officials said. Earlier Monday afternoon, the NOPD said three people suffered only minor injuries in the "structural collapse" of a home in the 2300 block of Washington Avenue. At least three people were inside of the building at the time of the collapse, police said. "No one is trapped, and none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening," an NOPD spokesman said. The fire department said firefighters searched the home to make sure no one was trapped. 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 However, Monday evening, the New Orleans Fire Department said four people were injured. New Orleans EMS also said in a Tweet that four people had been transported by paramedics. The reason for the discrepancy in numbers of those injured was not clear Monday evening. At the scene, Willie B. Jackson said he was watching TV when the home next door to his collapsed. "All I heard was 'boom boom boom,' and I jumped up. I opened the door, and all I saw was thick dust, you couldn't see through it," Jackson said. "It sounded like thunder, I didn't know what was happening." He said he then saw rescuers "digging" someone out from the rubble. He ultimately saw all three men rescued--at least one of the men looked like his arm was broken, he said. "It was hanging, like real bad," Jackson said. Jackson and other residents of the block said the collapsed house had been under construction for about two months. Jackson said no one lives in the home, which had been abandoned for years and was in the process of being gutted. As for his own home, Jackson said his apartment is fine, but his neighbor, who lives in the front apartment, received damage to his home. Monday evening, police were blocking traffic on Washington Avenue, starting at LaSalle Street. Entergy workers were also on the scene. In addition, the American Red Cross was called to the scene to help the resident displaced by the home's collapse. Staff Photographer David Grunfeld and Staff Writer Laura McKnight contributed to this report. At the reception During the reception, Chairman Phong said that Vietnam and Slovakia shared a long-term relationship. In terms of investment, there are currently 8 Slovakian projects in Vietnam with a capital of USD245 million, ranking 35among 122 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam has one project in Slovakia. According to Mr. Phong, there are 2 Slovakian projects in Ho Chi Minh city, and the two-way trade turnover reached USD20 million in 2017. He said that Ho Chi Minh was attracting investment from 96 countries and territories, and played an important role in technological, educational and training development. In 2017, the city led the country in foreign direct investment (FDI). At present, the citys development focuses on 4 key industrial sectors and 9 key service sectors, including sectors that are strengths of Slovakia, he said. It is now striving to become a leading financial, commercial, scientific and technological centre in Southeast Asia. In realization of the targets, apart from its internal strength, Ho Chi Minh city attaches great importance to attracting external resources, including FDI. Ho Chi Minh city wants to increase cooperation with Slovakia in trade, especially in textile and garment, agricultural products, seafood, processing and technological products, tertiary education and exchange of experience in building a smart city, Mr. Phong went on to say. For his part, Mr. Juraj Droba appreciated Vietnamese peoples friendliness, renewal and progress in its economic development. He added that in the economic area, Slovakia supported Vietnam by acting as a gateway to Europe. Emphasizing that Vietnam holds great potential in tourism development, he pledged to introduce Slovakian people to Vietnams attractive destinations, and encourage Slovakian companies to invest in Vietnams tourism./. At the ceremony (Source: VNA) The top legislator attended the ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands as part of her official visit to the country from March 26th-28th. Vietnam and the Netherlands have become a strategic partner of each other in major spheres like climate change response and water management, and food security and sustainable development, she said. Such cooperative achievements have been reaped not only for the past 45 years but more than 400 years since Dutch vessels anchored at Vietnams Hoi An port to trade rice and pepper, the NA Chairwoman stressed. Nowadays, the Netherlands is affirming its role as Vietnams leading European investment and trade partner, with famous businesses like Heineken, Damen, Unilever, Fiesland Campina and Philips, she said. The leader hailed contributions of the Dutch firms to Vietnams socio-economic development and integration, as well as cooperation between the two countries, for the sake of their people. The sectoral strategic partnership has created a premise for bilateral collaboration in all related areas like marine economy, infrastructure, agriculture, national defence and education, she said. Noting Vietnams reform efforts in all fields, NA Chairwoman Ngan said the country has received valuable support of the Netherland on the path, through various cooperation programmes. The leader expressed her belief that the bilateral relationship will continue to yield fruits, and that cultural and art exchange programmes, along with investment and trade promotion forums to be held in the two countries in 2018 will help bring the them closer to each other. Speaking at the ceremony, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, emphasised similarities shared by Vietnam and the Netherlands. She applauded cooperative achievements gained by the two countries over the past decade, especially in water management and climate change combat, with the most noteworthy being the Mekong Delta Plan 2013. The Netherlands wants to maintain the close cooperation with Vietnam towards a Mekong Delta of sustainability and prosperity, she said./. At the welcome ceremony (Source: VNA) A welcome ceremony was solemnly held in rituals for a head of State. Later, the Party chief headed to the southeastern outlying city of Choisy Le Roi in Val-de-Marne department, Ile-de-France administrative region. The city witnessed negotiations on the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam from May 1968 to March 1973. Choisy Le Roi has formed twinning relationship with Hanois Dong Da district since 1973 and assisted the district in building schools and medical stations. Party General Secretary Trong visited the square named Paris Agreement which was inaugurated in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th signing anniversary of Paris Agreement, and met French friends. In his speech, Governor of Choisy Le Roi city Didier Guillaume recalled that 45 years ago, the city launched a movement in support of Vietnam and its struggle against imperialists and the use of massive destruction weapons, which helped put an end to the inexcusable war. He said friendship with Vietnam proves the citys determination to maintain core values of humanity. French friends said though 45 years passed, they are still proud of making part of contributions to Vietnams war for justice in the past. Party chief Trong expressed his delight at visiting Choisy Le Roi city on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, the fifth anniversary of Vietnam - France strategic partnership and the 45th signing anniversary of Paris Agreement. He extended the most sincere thanks to French friends and lauded the citys administration for maintaining relic sites linked with Paris Agreement negotiations and signing, saying that they are ever-lasting symbols of Vietnam - France friendship. The same day, he met young Vietnamese intellectuals in France, who wished that they would make further contributions to the nation. Trong affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam always appreciate intelligentsia, consider overseas Vietnamese intellectuals an invaluable resource for the nation, and frequently issue suitable policies and mechanisms to further uphold their contributions to national development./. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cubas Central Committee and President of the Councils of State and Ministers Raul Castro Ruz during the latter's visit to Vietnam in 2012. (Source: VNA) The visit demonstrates the importance Vietnam attaches to enhancing its relations with the Latin-American region, as well as the countrys efforts to consolidate and advance its position. It also reflects solidarity and friendship between the Party, State and people of Vietnam and Cuban Party, State and people. This is the first high-level meeting between the two countries after the passing away of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz in 2016, and also the Vietnamese Party chiefs first visit to Latin-America following the 12th National Congress of the CPV the same year. The Vietnam-Cuba solidarity and fraternal relationship, which were fostered by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro, have developed across spheres, becoming a valuable asset and a source of great encouragement for the revolutionary cause of each country. Since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in December 1960, their solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation have been strengthened. Cuba took lead in movements supporting Vietnams past struggle for national liberation, freedom and reunification, as well as its present national construction. In 1973, Fidel Castro was the first and only foreign leader to visit Vietnams southern liberation area when the war was going on. The bilateral political ties have been reflected through the regular exchange of visits between the two countries Party, State and Government leaders. Apart from intensifying delegation exchange between agencies of the Parties, ministries, agencies and businesses, the two countries have regularly and effectively implemented cooperation mechanisms. Military affiliation remains a pillar and a model of the Vietnam - Cuba relationship. Cuba has attached great importance to sharing experience in reform with Vietnam, especially in political system building, macroeconomic management, finance-baking, and State-owned enterprise management and renovation. At the same time, the two countries have cooperated and supported each other at international organistions and multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations. Vietnam persistently backs Cubas request for the removal of the USs embargo against the country and commits to supporting the countrys bid for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-2023. Along with the political ties, Vietnam and Cuba have also paid heed to economic and trade bonds through a range of programmes and projects. In 2016, two-way trade reached USD235 million, which expanded to USD224.3 million in 2017. The two sides are striving to raise the bilateral trade to USD500 million by 2020. Vietnam mainly exports rice to Cuba, along with coal, chemicals, garments-textiles and computers, while importing pharmaceutical products. The Vietnamese Government always encourages and creates the best possible conditions for businesses of the two sides to expand cooperation in order to make the economic and trade ties on par with bilateral political relations as well as the special time-honoured friendship. The Cuban side has also called for Vietnamese investments in food production, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, industry, tourism, bio-technology, and other priority areas in the Mariel Special Economic Development Zone. Vietnam and Cuba still have substantial potential for cooperation. Vietnam has strength in agriculture, telecommunications, electronics, computer science, electricity, consumption goods, and construction and building materials. Meanwhile, Cuba has advantages in education, training, health care, bio-technology, pharmaceutical products and tourism./. Once in a while, you will receive a call or message from somebody who needs the services of a doctor or lawyer. Their issue might not be alarming. A first-time mother who needs an obstetrician or pediatrician they can trust. Somebody may be in search of a lawyer who isnt fake or a conman. Sometimes, you may also not know. For example, do you know the best divorce or intellectual property lawyer in town? Doctors at work. The author believes allowing them to advertise would help expose out the good and bad What about the best immunologist? And in most cases, by the time people make calls, they have tried many places and got nothing. For serious medical conditions, you can move from one so-called senior consultant to another searching for somebody who can be able to diagnose your condition or treat you. Sometimes you need a gynecologist but somebody recommends a pathologist. It is crazy to identifying good doctors and lawyers. And you will hardly find a doctor or lawyer who doesnt say they cant handle your problem. Doctors have actually been accused of failing to recommend patients to others until it is too late for somebody to survive. These days, every problem is called a bacterial infection! Some volunteer village health teams (VHTs) and health promoters go around calling themselves doctors especially in rural Uganda, prescribing drugs and administering them. If you want a nurse to look after you properly, you simply call them a doctor. It massages their egos. Because health in Uganda has become so lucrative, there is a clinic or pharmacy every few metres in Kampala. I am not sure of the numbers but probably Uganda has the highest number of pharmacies, drug shops and clinics per a capita in the whole world. And at every turn, there is some law firm doing all sorts of stuff whose employees including clerks and messengers go around calling themselves counsel, esquire, advocate, learned friend, LLB, and the like. One of the reasons for the proliferation of these law and medical firms is because there is some archaic law that forbids them from advertising. A good doctor and lawyer arent allowed to place adverts explaining to the public how good they are. So, that creates less competition. Open a shop and patients will show up. Open a law firm in some market, and people will be there. If they are allowed to advertise, some fake ones will close. People will have a choice of where to go without trying first, get a bad service and then go away. Those who want to seriously invest in healthcare would do so because advertising would enable them get more clients and cut the costs one needs to pay for some of these specialized treatments and diagnosis. Reliance only on word of mouth is good and can be effective but only for the established facilities. Advertising enables new entrants to compete with others and bring the cost of doing business down. Imagine if the telecoms didnt advertise. The cost of their services would remain high as they were in the 1990s. They wouldnt even bother to improve their offerings because competition would be limited. That is why a lot of senior doctors today still operate the way they used to do 20 years ago with very limited uptake of technology. They also know that you wouldnt easily identify another good doctor. Younger doctors struggle to establish themselves because they have limited ways of reaching their customers. Lawyers face similar challenges. Ironically, witchdoctors and fake prophets who promise miraculous healings are free to buy as much media airtime and space as they wish. There are many radio stations today that survive on advertising from people who promise all sorts of things including catching thieves, getting one a visa to America and or a lover of their dreams. Guys who sells drugs that enhance a womans bottom are freely advertised. Fake pastors and witches are very competitive today because they have been allowed to advertise. Those who fall short in their schemes lose their market share to the next guy. The same model could help make the health and law markets competitive. And unlike with fake prophets/pastors and witches, the professional doctors and lawyers would be good for the public. The cost of their services will come down and they will improve their trade, knowing that the public has alternatives. The writer is a media consultant and businessman. djjuuko@gmail.com At least 1,000 Kayunga residents showed up at weekend for a medical camp courtesy of China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE), the firm building the 183MW Isimba dam in the district. The residents were to receive treatment, according to CWE, as one of the ways to give back to the community the benefits for hosting the dam. The residents were treated for malaria, typhoid, and TB, among other ailments. At least 15 doctors from Beijing were flown in from Beijing by the company. Wang Yongtian, the team leader at CWE, said: We started Isimba project four years ago and were working together with the community. I surely hope all our people can join in to support for our good future. Residents of Kayunga receiving treatment from Chinese doctors Tom Sserwadda, the district chairperson, said the big number of people that turned up for the medical camp was a clear indication that the district was lacking basic medical services for the residents. He said also it could have been due to the fact their only hospital in the district was being renovated. Sserwadda said the Kayunga residents were spending a huge part of their income on out of pocket payments for health services at drug shops. Teo Kulabako, a resident in Kayunga, said the medical camp could not have come handy. She said they were that the services came free of charge. Isimba dam, together with 600MW Karuma dam, are the countrys headline projects that are expected to lower power tariffs when connected on the grid. Affordable power means more ordinary homes can afford which improves accessibility. In January, government announced Artelia EAU & Environment, a French firm, as a new supervisor for the works at the dam that is expected to be ready for commissioning later this year. The French firm took over from Indian firm Infratech PVT Limited whose contract expired in September 2017 and was not renewed on unsatisfactory work. We have had challenges in terms of poor supervision, poor workmanship, and quality assurance, said Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited boss Harrison Mutikanga told reporters in January. Isimba dam will cost taxpayers $567.7m (about Shs 2 trillion) to construct. amwesigwa@observer.ug MATChs competitive application process sought to identify agricultural technologies and new business models with the potential to reshape agriculture towards sustainable and inclusive growth in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS). 127 startups applied. A panel of agriculture and food industry experts as well as investors evaluated the applications and selected the finalists. Finalists will learn, share, and grow their businesses and technology with mentors, industry experts, and investors. They will attend a bootcamp to improve and refine their business models, and to build their networks. They will join 2018 GMS Leaders Summit on March 30th-31st and showcase their solutions and technologies. Additionally, they will be a part of the Future Food Asia Award event on May 23rd in Singapore. MATCh is the first accelerator for agritech startups in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. It is funded by the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and is co-organized by the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI), Future Food Asia, and the GMS Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP). When asked about the MATCh participants, Dominic Mellor, of the ADB who heads up the MBI, said "We are extremely impressed with the innovations from the MATCh participants. MBI and our partners will work with the selected innovators and entrepreneurs on transforming the agricultural industry in the Mekong Region into a leading supplier of safe and nutritious food for all. Source: Internet Through a number of MATCh applicants we found that the GMS region has embraced technology quite fast and had tweaked it to make it more applicable for their markets and customers. Global solutions providers are a bit more mature business; helping them develop in the GMS region will further accelerate the adoption of technology by providing role models local entrepreneurs can relate to. said Isabelle Decitre, founder and CEO of ID Capital, the company operating Future Food Asia. MATCh is a great platform for us to connect within the agritech ecosystem. We really share and learn a lot from other participants and mentors. I hope that MATCh will continue to support us to make a difference in the Mekong region. said Mr. Pham Duy Hung, CEO and Founder of PADCO. MATCh was launched at the sidelines of the Second GMS Agriculture Ministers Meeting in September 2017 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, said Pavit Ramachandran, Principal Environment Specialist, ADB. The meeting endorsed the GMS strategy for promoting safe and environment-friendly agriculture value chains and action plan for 2018-2022. MATCh is an important initiative as entrepreneurship and technology are key to enhancing the competitiveness of small producers and inclusiveness and sustainability of the supply chain. About the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) MBI The Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government jointly launched the MBI in 2015. MBI catalyzes private sector development in emerging Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets, focusing on Cambodia, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, and Viet Nam. The program aims to improve the business-enabling environment in these four emerging ASEAN markets with particular focus on business advocacy, alternative finance, and innovation. Alongside MATCh, MBI organizes innovation accelerator programs including Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST), the SMART City Innovation Challenge Vietnam, and the Fintech Challenge Vietnam. About the GMS Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP) CASP supports the GMS in attaining its goal of being a leading producer of safe food using climate-friendly agriculture practices. Now in its second phase since 2012, it is committed to increasing the subregions agricultural competitiveness through enhanced regional and global market integration and subregional connectivity. CASP is overseen by the agriculture ministries of the six GMS countries comprising the GMS Working Group on Agriculture, namely: Cambodia, the Peoples Republic of China (specifically, Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Co-financing is provided by the ADB, the Government of Sweden, the Nordic Development Fund, and the Water Financing Partnership Facility. About Future Food Asia Future Food Asia is the first of its kind platform to accelerate Agri-tech and Foodtech innovations in the Asia-Pacific region. In partnership with multinationals, government organizations, startups and research teams, it is building an integrated innovation network. Operated by Singapore-based VC investment & advisory firm ID Capital, Future Food Asia is looking for agile startups to innovate and disrupt the food value chain. The annual Future Food Asia Award ceremony rewards the winners of its annual competition and promotes open innovation in the region with the goal to catalyze and align an ecosystem to cope with the challenges of food./. Teachers at embattled Bridge International Academies have admitted that they don't own or prepare content they teach to their students. URN has visited at least five Bridge Schools in Kawempe, Wakiso and Nasana, interacting with the teachers and residents to assess the state of the schools that the ministry of Education says are operating without licences. A classroom session at one of Bridge Schools Academies Since 2014, Bridge has established at least 63 academies in Uganda, and in a recent interview, Bridge Academies country director, Morrison Rwakakamba, said that they would want to open as many as a thousand schools. Bridge academies opened a new technology savvy chapter in Uganda's education system; with teachers using tablet computers to conduct lessons. The teachers, however, admit that they don't know the source of the information that they teach. The teaching materials are loaded unto teachers' tablets who then download and deliver them to pupils. "We are told that there are people at Bridge Schools country offices who develop teaching lessons and upload them for us," a teacher told URN. "We are told that lessons are taught uniformly in all Bridge Schools across the country. If we are teaching primary five pupils science here between 2:00PM to 4:00PM, that is what other schools will be teaching." Another teacher said; "We are told some of the lessons we teach are developed by people outside Uganda. The only job we are required to do is to go in class and teach children what is given to us on computers." Some of the content, a teacher said, is hard to explain to pupils because the teachers are required to follow robotic instructions on how to explain content without deviation. What the teachers told URN correlates with the September 2016 study by Curtis Riep and Mark Machacek on the operation of Bridge Schools in Uganda. The study is titled; "Schooling the Poor Profitably: the innovations and deprivations of Bridge International Academies in Uganda." The study says instructional materials are pre-programmed and "centrally developed by Bridge at headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and Nairobi, Kenya, and sent electronically to each school site using web-enabled smartphones that transfer curriculum to tablet e-readers." The "teacher computers" as Bridge calls them are highly controlled by the computers. The scripted lessons given to Bridge teachers for instance involves step by step instructions explaining what teachers should do and say during any given moment of a class. For instance, the computer guides teachers on when to shout a word, when to write it on a blackboard, and when to call a pupil to write or even rub the word off the blackboard. A scripted Bridge Academies English lesson seen by URN on their tablets for instance reads; "the next word is 'maize.' Call on a pupil to come to the board and write 'maize.' If the pupil spells it well, give him/her cheers. If the pupil spells it incorrectly, call on another pupil to come up and correct the spelling. Rub the board." On its website, Bridge justifies that the use of teacher computers, containing world-class lesson plans based on national curriculums, brings a high quality education to some of the remotest parts of Africa. "By taking the stress out of planning lessons, our teachers are able to focus on the pupils, give time to those that are struggling and go round the classroom answering questions," they argue. By linking up community members with tablet computers containing scripted instruction, Bridge argues that "we are giving our pupils access to the types of teachers they would never be able to afford." Curtis Riep and Mark Machacek observed that since all aspects of instruction and pedagogy are controlled and automated through the use of teacher-computers, Bridge assumes it does not require professionally-trained or certified teachers. They said Bridge has established its own Bridge International Training Institutes where it provides three-week teacher-training programmes for new recruits. They further observed that about 80 percent of Bridge teachers are unqualified and the curriculum they teach is not approved by National Curriculum Development Centre. For over a week, the Bridge International Academies Uganda officials were not available to comment on this story. The director Education Standards at the ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, told URN that according to the teachers' professional code of conduct, every teacher is supposed to plan, prepare lessons and teach their content. "A teacher is supposed to prepare teaching content bearing in mind that children are different. A teacher has to take into account these individual differences. That is the expected international standard," she says. For instance, she says teachers teaching pupils in the same class in different areas or year after year must be cognisant that they are different learners. The preparation of teaching materials she says necessitates taking into account these differences. Indeed the teachers' professional code of conduct says a teacher shall "prepare relevant schemes of work, lesson notes teaching aids well in advance to ensure effective teaching and learning and set an adequate amount of written and practice exercises promptly for effective teaching and learning." East African education NGO, Uwezo country coordinator, Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo, told this reporter that Bridge should follow national guideline and curriculum. To discuss Bridge Schools' curriculum and teaching technology, education consultant Fagil Mande says it is like flogging a dead horse and overstepping the legs. "Haven't they been told to close? When we discuss that question is like we are leaving behind a bigger question. If they have been told to close that means something is wrong. Those could be part of the reasons why they have been told to close," Mande said. The ministry of Education permanent secretary, Alex Kakooza, told URN that school owners who defied the ministry's directive will be charged. "Unlike Uganda Revenue Authority, we don't have seals to lock buildings of schools and say you can't open until you have come back. Once, we serve you with the notice, we have already closed you," he said. Kakooza revealed that he has written to the permanent secretary Ministry of Local Government to charge owners who are operating closed schools. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn a case in which Red Pepper editors and directors were charged with libel, computer misuse and publication of content that is prejudicial to national security. The cases stem from a story published in The Red Pepper issue of November 20, 2017 indicating that President Yoweri Museveni was plotting to overthrow his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame. Red Pepper directors and editors in court earlier On trial were the founding directors of Pepper Publications, the company that owns Red Pepper; Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Patrick Mugumya, Johnson Musinguzi, Richard Tusiime and James Mujuni, and editors; Ben Byarabaha, Richard Kintu and Tumusiime Francis. They were jointly arrested on November 21, 2017, following a police raid of their offices in Namanve, along Jinja Road. They were arraigned before Buganda Road on November 27, 2017, remanded to Luzira prison after a week in detention at Nalufenya police station in Jinja and granted bail after a month in detention. Meanwhile, the company premises in Namanve were cordoned off until last month. Today, Buganda Road Court Magistrate Samuel Kagoda closed the case after Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) lawyer Abdul Salaam Waiswa told the court he received instructions from DPP on March 15 to withdraw the case. He told the court that the case withdrawal was influenced by an agreement entered between "the accused and the complaints." The accused met Museveni on January 23, 2018 who pardoned them and cautioned them against reckless reporting. The president also allowed them to resume publication of the Red Pepper and its sister products. The Red Pepper resumed publications on January 27. For the past two months, the state prosecutor and the defense lawyer have been telling the court that reconciliation talks are ongoing. Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has revoked licences of 23 radio stations accused of promoting and advertising witchcraft content that aid and abet electronic fraud. The radios whose licences have been revoked by the regulator include; Nile FM located in Arua, Kagadi Broadcasting Services FM, Emambya FM located in Kibale, Village Club California located in Kiryandongo, Radio Kitara found in Masindi, Pakwach FM, Tropical FM found in Mubende. Witchcraft artefacts Others radios on the list are; Apex FM, Jinja, Bamboo FM-Jinja, Ssebo FM-Kamuli, Eastern Voice FM-Jinja, Eye FM-Iganga, Victoria FM-Jinja, RFM-Iganga, Kira FM, HITS FM's two stations in Fort Portal and Mbarara, Greater African Radio, Mbarara, Dana FM-Bunyangabu, Gold FM-Kabarole, Metro FM in Kampala, Tiger FM and Dembe FM in Kampala. UCC spokesperson, Pamela Ankunda says the station owners have been informed of the decision. Until these radios show cause why they should be allowed to be on air, she said they will be switched off. Ankunda says these radios have been used by witchdoctors to defraud people by claiming that when people send them money, their problems can be sorted. She says UCC has been monitoring these radios for a while and that they have evidence. "We have recordings, it is not like we just woke up one day and said were going to revoke. We have recordings of these stations. We have teams that have been monitoring these stations," said Ankunda. The revocation comes after a warning issued by the regulator in February. UCC had warned that advertising and promoting witchcraft would trigger punishment. UCC last month summoned a number of radio stations including, Apex FM, Dembe FM, Star FM, Metro FM among others over the issue. The radio stations were told they had been carrying misleading promotions on their airwaves. "At the hearing, audio recordings of con-men or purported witchcraft practitioners were played and the broadcasters tasked to explain their contents which are deemed as aiding and abetting electronic fraud contrary to section 19 and 21 of the Computer Misuse Act, 2011," UCC said in a statement after summoning the radios. Simon McGee Simon McGee, former press secretary for UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, has joined the London offices of APCO Worldwide, where hes been named executive director in the agencys global solutions practice. McGee has served as a personal communications advisor to four cabinet ministers including Johnsons predecessor Philip Hammond, who now serves as Chancellor of the Exchequer and was media head for three government departments, including leading Her Majestys Diplomatic Services worldwide media operations, where he developed communications efforts around foreign and domestic policy initiatives and international crises. He was previously a parliamentary lobby correspondent as well as a reporter for The Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday and Yorkshire Post. As executive director, McGee will help lead the global solutions practice internationally, which advises clients though geopolitical issues, investment opportunities and crises. Hell work with practice chief Frank Lowenstein, former special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and senior advisor to former Secretary of State John Kerry, who joined the beltway PR and business strategy giant in December. Mark Lukasiewicz Mark Lukasiewicz, who left NBC News last year after a 17-year run, will become dean of Hofstra University's Lawrence Herbert School of Communication on July 1. At NBC, Lukasiewicz was executive-in-charge of the news group's transformation project, senior VP of news specials and the unit's first VP for digital media. He produced and planned coverage for Osama bin Laden's death, Pope Francis' visit to the US, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding and interviews with former presidents Obama and Bush II. Mark Lukasiewicz is an outstanding journalist and dynamic leader whose career has been defined by his ability to embrace technology and harness its power to tell some of the most important stories in the world, said Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz in a statement. Hofstra's search committee said Lukasiewicz got the job due to his "deep experience as a broadcast journalist, production executive and transformational newsroom leader known for his innovative methods of integrating digital media and traditional television platforms." Prior to NBC, Lukasiewicz spent 11 years with ABC News and began his career as a reporter/columnist with The Globe and Mail and later as a senior producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 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 A Portland-based attorney accused of firing several bullets into the Beaverton office of another lawyer also faces charges in Washington after police found evidence he was creating methamphetamine in the basement of his Vancouver home, court records show. During a Feb. 28 search of Erik Graeff's home in connection with the shooting investigation, Vancouver police found meth in a glass jar and notes about how to produce the drug, a probable cause affidavit said. Police also discovered boxes of pseudoephedrine, which can be used to create meth, in an upstairs closet, two guns and ammunition in another closet and glass cookware and heating plates in the basement. Videos on Graeff's computer showed someone trying to create a chemical compound often found in MDMA, the affidavit said. The videos appeared to have been recorded in Graeff's basement, the court papers said. Graeff, 43, is accused in Clark County of manufacturing meth and possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture meth. He is also accused in Washington County of unlawful use of a weapon and reckless endangering related to the Dec. 21 shooting at Scott S. Kang P.C. No one was injured in the shooting, but an employee working inside was nearly hit by the gunfire, Oregon court documents show. The shooting followed an argument between Graeff and another attorney who works at the law office, the documents said. The attorney was upset about Graeff's work on a case they teamed together on. Graeff disagreed he was at fault. "You know where I am tough guy," lawyer Terrence Hogan wrote to Graeff in an email, according to a search warrant affidavit. "If the traffic wasn't such [expletive], I'd be there today," Graeff replied. The Oregon State Bar said there are two active complaints against Graeff, one which is being investigated by the state bar's disciplinary counsel office and another which remains under review. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey Author Mohsin Hamid has been migrating his entire life. Born in Pakistan, he moved at age 3 with his family to California, where his father earned a doctorate at Stanford University. The family returned to Pakistan when Hamid was 9. He returned to America at 18 and stayed until he was 30, then moved to London, then to Pakistan. Hamid calls himself "so thoroughly a mongrelized, hybridized human being" that he can't help but take recent anti-migrant rhetoric personally. His latest novel, "Exit West," is "in a sense a response to that," he says. "Exit West" (Riverhead Books, 240 pages, $26), came out last year to immediate acclaim. It centers on a young couple, Nadia and Saeed, whose city is being decimated by war. They hear rumors of mysterious doors that serve as portals to safer places. When they finally go through one, they find themselves in London, and anything but welcome. "Exit West" was a finalist for the prestigious Man Booker Prize and National Book Critics Circle Awards. The New Yorker said it felt "instantly canonical." And it's Multnomah County Library's Everybody Reads 2018 title, making it the focus of community conversations and events throughout the year. As part of Everybody Reads, Hamid will visit Portland Thursday in an appearance arranged by the nonprofit Literary Arts. Hamid, who is on a national book tour, took time Monday to speak by phone from Pittsburgh. Here are highlights from the conversation. On Portland: Hamid recalled having "quite a wonderful experience" the last time he visited Portland and coming away feeling that he'd connected with numerous readers. He also mentioned the late Portland writer Ursula K. LeGuin. "She's somebody who I think attempted to imagine worlds, futures, alternatives, and had this sort of visionary perspective on where we might go. ... I do feel, coming to engage with her part of the world, that there's a very longstanding tradition of the writing I'm trying to do." On the conversations he hopes "Exit West" sparks: "The book is about transience. It's about the fact that in life everything changes and we lose everything in the course of our lives," Hamid said, adding that we're all migrants, through time if not through geography. He hopes people who read his book will realize that and bring that perspective to conversations about the kind of world they want to live in. On why he created those magical doors: Bending reality is "often useful if we want to get at the emotional truth of things," Hamid said. Also, his fictional portals made it possible for him to compress the next few centuries of migration into a few years. And, he added, the doors have a real-life counterpart in the smartphones so many of us carry. "Our consciousness is leaving the places where our bodies are and wandering all around the world instantaneously through these little black rectangles - what does that mean for humanity?" On migration: "What I try to do in this book was not only show the perspective of people who are moving ... but also show the perspective of some other people who are frightened of that happening," Hamid said. He called the latter a "completely natural human response," adding, "I don't think being afraid of migrants makes one into a racist or bigot or xenophobe." His hope, he said, is that instead of demonizing people who feel differently, "we can recognize that the fear of your city changing is the fear of feeling that you, too, are a refugee." He added that fear of migration isn't limited to the West. "It's in Pakistan, too, where people are saying that the Westernization of society is wrong," he said. It's a global phenomenon that he feels is important to address. Hamid added that he's been greatly shaped by his experiences in America. "One of the things I've valued very much was the belief that many people, immigrants, could come together and create a different future." So, he said, "to see America now doubt that and America now begin to turn away from that has been profoundly troubling for me. If America doesn't stand for people coming here, making a better life and making the country a better place, what does it stand for?" *** Mohsin Hamid, Everybody Reads 2018 When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5 Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway Tickets: Start at $15, literary-arts.org or 503-227-2583 A driver who crashed into an off-duty Tigard police officer in December told investigators he drank alcohol before getting behind the wheel, but blamed the crash on his narcolepsy, court records show. Darby McBride, 22, told Hillsboro police the morning of the Dec. 14 crash that he was diagnosed with the sleep disorder when he was 17 and is allowed to drive as long as he takes his medication and follows a treatment program, a search warrant affidavit said. He said he hadn't done either before the early-morning crash. He also said his narcolepsy, a medical condition that can cause bouts of overwhelming sleepiness, had gotten worse over the last few months. "I should not have been driving," McBride told an officer while at Tuality Hospital according to the affidavit. "This was poor judgement." McBride was booked into the Washington County Jail last Wednesday on suspicion of third-degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief and reckless driving. He is accused of rear-ending Matthew Barbee, 39, while the officer was stopped on the shoulder along U.S. 26 in Hillsboro awaiting roadside assistance, authorities said. Barbee, who has been with the Tigard Police Department for 11 years, was driving home from work when he encountered car trouble, police said. A witness saw McBride's rental 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe suddenly swerve right and plow into Barbee's 1997 Subaru Legacy around 1:25 a.m. near the Cornelius Pass exit, the affidavit said. He estimated McBride was driving about 45 mph. Another witness told police he saw Barbee unconscious in his car after the crash and saw McBride "wandering aimlessly" in an apparent daze, the affidavit said. The witness said McBride told him he has narcolepsy, the affidavit said. Barbee sustained a fractured vertebra in his neck, nerve damage, severe neck and head trauma and other injuries, the affidavit said. He displayed memory and speech issues at some point after the crash while speaking to detectives, according to the court records. A Tigard police spokesman said last week that it wasn't yet clear when Barbee is expected to return to duty as a patrol officer. The department initially claimed in a press release of the crash that McBride was intoxicated. McBride was not seriously injured in the crash. He was driving a rental car at the time because he had crashed his own car a few days earlier. He told investigators that he was driving from a Beaverton-area bar to his home in Banks when the crash occurred. He said he didn't see Barbee's stopped Subaru before hitting it, the affidavit said. He later told a doctor that he believed he was driving 65 to 70 mph before the crash. McBride claimed he had four alcoholic drinks in the hours before the crash. He estimated his intoxication level as a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, the affidavit said. One officer noted that McBride's eyes appeared glassy and his breath smelled of alcohol, the affidavit said. But he appeared to mostly pass field sobriety exams and two blood tests taken later at a hospital found no traces of alcohol in McBride's system, the documents say. A urine test did detect traces of marijuana, which McBride said he smoked hours earlier that night. He told investigators he smokes marijuana to help deal with his narcolepsy and sings along to music in order to stay awake while driving, the affidavit said. He said he was listening to Radiohead before he struck Barbee's car. McBride reiterated to detectives four days after the crash that he believed he fell asleep while driving and awoke "to a bunch of devastation," the affidavit said. He said that five years ago, he stopped taking his medication because it made him feel like he was in a "fog," the affidavit said. In addition to narcolepsy, he said he also has cataplexy, a condition that can cause sudden muscle paralysis. McBride's doctor confirmed his medical conditions to investigators, the affidavit said. The doctor's notes show she advised him in 2017 that alcohol can worsen his condition. The coworkers he was with before the crash told police they offered him a ride home and he refused, the affidavit said. McBride described the crash to investigators as "an eye opener," and said he planned to resume his medication. "I never foresaw this happening and I never wanted this for anybody and I'm sorry," he told police. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey Workers at a Burgerville in Southeast Portland said they plan to file for a federal union election, a move that could place employees of the fast-food franchise at the forefront of a national labor fight . Flanked by supporters, employees of the chain's Southeast 92nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard location made the announcement outside the company's Vancouver headquarters Monday. The group said the company had 48 hours to voluntarily recognize a 2-year-old union created by workers, which has pushed for a $5 hour raise. Should the company decline, workers will petition the National Labor Relations Board for a government-administered election to be held at their store sometime in April. "Burgerville respects the right of every employee to support or not support the organization of a union," Beth Brewer, a senior vice president for the company, said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "If there is enough support, we anticipate they will file a petition with the NLRB. Burgerville will abide by the NLRB's decision and guidance." Organizers believe they have the votes to win a union election, which would legally require Burgerville to negotiate with the store's workers. A victory would also make the store the first federally recognized fast-food workers union in the U.S., organizers said. The news comes amid growing national efforts to increase the minimum wage of fast-food workers to $15 an hour. It is also the latest salvo by Burgerville workers and labor activists, who are working independently of the national "Fight For 15" campaign, to compel the regional chain to increase wages and benefits for its employees. In April 2016, members of the Industrial Workers of the World better known as the Wobblies helped launch the Burgerville Workers Union. Emmett Schlenz, a campaign spokesman, said six of the company's 42 locations now have publicly active unions. Several of them in the Portland area held walkouts and a three-day strike in February. Activists and supporters also recently began a Burgerville boycott campaign that's garnered the backing of multiple labor unions as well as some progressive civic leaders and elected officials, including Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, according to the campaign's website. Known for its anti-capitalist leanings and focus on low-skilled laborers, the IWW has previously tried to organize workers at Starbucks and Jimmy John's locations throughout the country, with limited success. Burgerville, owned by Holland Inc., has about 1,500 employees in Oregon and southern Washington, the company said. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh skavanaugh@oregonian.com 503-294-7632 II @shanedkavanaugh LONDON -- Cambridge Analytica assigned dozens of non-U.S. citizens to provide campaign strategy and messaging advice to Republican candidates in 2014, according to three former workers for the data firm, even as an attorney warned executives to abide by U.S. laws limiting foreign involvement in elections. The effort was designed to present the newly created company, whose parent, SCL Group, was based in London, as "an American brand" that would appeal to U.S. political clients, according to former Cambridge Analytica research director Christopher Wylie. Wylie, who emerged this month as a whistleblower, provided The Washington Post with documents that describe a program across several U.S. states to win campaigns for Republicans using psychological profiling to reach voters with individually tailored messages. The documents include previously unreported details about the program, which was called "Project Ripon" for the Wisconsin town where the Republican Party was born in 1854. U.S. election regulations say foreign nationals must not "directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making process" of a political campaign, although they can play lesser roles. Those restrictions were explained in a 10-page memo prepared in July 2014 by a New York attorney, Laurence Levy, for the heads of Cambridge Analytica, including company President Rebekah Mercer, Vice President Steve Bannon and Chief Executive Alexander Nix. The memo said that foreign nationals could serve in minor roles -- for example as "functionaries" handling data -- but could not involve themselves in significant campaign decisions or provide high-level analysis or strategy. Cambridge Analytica and SCL Group were overwhelmingly staffed by non-U.S. citizens -- mainly Canadians, Britons and other Europeans -- at least 20 of whom fanned out across the United States in 2014 to work on congressional and legislative campaigns, the three former Cambridge workers said. Many of those employees and contractors were involved in helping to decide what voters to target with political messages and what messages to deliver to them, the former workers said. Their tasks ran the gamut of campaign work, including "managing media relations" as well as fundraising, planning events, and providing "communications strategy" and "talking points, speeches [and] debate prep," according to a document touting the firm's 2014 work. "It's dirty little secret was that there was no one American involved in it, that it was a de facto foreign agent, working on an American election," Wylie said. Two other former Cambridge Analytica workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear that they may have violated U.S. law in their campaign work, said concerns about the legality of Cambridge Analytica's work in the United States were a regular subject of employee conversations at the company, especially after the 2014 vote. The two former workers, who, like Wylie, were interviewed in London, said employees worried the company was giving its foreign employees potentially inaccurate immigration documents to provide upon entering the United States, showing that they were not there to work when they had arrived for the purpose of advising campaigns. "We knew that everything was not above board, but we weren't too concerned about it," said one of the former Cambridge Analytica workers, who spent several months in the United States working on Republican campaigns. "It was the Wild West. That's certainly how they carried on in 2014." Company officials did not respond to multiple queries from The Washington Post, nor did Bannon, Mercer or Nix. The former workers' claims represent the latest in a series of complications for Cambridge Analytica, which was founded in 2013 by the wealthy Mercer family and Bannon, the conservative strategist who was executive chairman of Breitbart News and later became a top adviser to President Donald Trump. The former workers' allegations center on the 2014 campaign, two years before Cambridge Analytica was hired by the presidential campaigns of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and, later, Trump. The prospect of new legal scrutiny for Bannon comes at a turbulent time for the conservative strategist. He left his job as a senior White House strategist in August and in January stepped down from Breitbart News after harsh quotations attributed to him about Trump and family members appeared in the Michael Wolff book "Fire and Fury." The Mercer family, long Bannon's financial patrons, also have distanced themselves from Bannon. Cambridge Analytica suspended Nix last week after a series of allegations about unethical practices at the company, including secretly recorded video that was broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 in which he talked about potentially using bribes and "honey pots" with sex workers to entrap political rivals. Controversy for Nix and the company had begun days earlier amid reports in Britain's Observer and the New York Times that Cambridge Analytica officials had collected data from tens of millions of Facebook profiles under allegedly false pretenses and also improperly shared it. Facebook on March 16 announced it had suspended the account of "SCL/Cambridge Analytica" and two people involved in the data collection, including Wylie. Cambridge Analytica, whose offices were raided over the weekend by British authorities, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing but did not reply to requests for comment from The Washington Post for this story. Last week, Cambridge Analytica's acting chief executive, Alexander Tayler, expressed regret over the firm's handling of the Facebook data. In a tweet, he said, "As anyone who is familiar with our staff and work can testify, we in no way resemble the politically-motivated and unethical company that some have sought to portray. Our staff are a talented, diverse and vibrant group of people." Project Ripon was described by Wylie and other workers as an ambitious effort in which Cambridge Analytica would advise American campaigns on how to use data to find "hidden Republicans." Ripon also was the name of an online campaign management tool designed for the effort and described in a company brochure produced in London that was subtitled, "WINNING BACK AMERICA." Wylie said this initiative resembled previous SCL Group efforts to shape the outcomes of elections on behalf of candidates in several other nations, including Kenya, Nigeria and India, often through affiliated companies run out of London. Company documents obtained by The Post show the U.S. program involved a staff of 41 employees and contractors, and spent $7.5 million between April and July 2014. The company aggressively courted political work beginning in 2014, signing on with numerous GOP candidates in what turned out to be a successful year for the party. That year, Cambridge Analytica documents show it advised a congressional candidate in Oregon, state legislative candidates in Colorado and, on behalf of the North Carolina Republican Party, the winning campaign for Sen. Thom Tillis. Tillis said that he expects all services provided to his campaign to be lawful and that it would be "deeply disturbing" if his campaign was misled by a vendor. Dallas Woodhouse, the North Carolina GOP's director, said that the party paid Cambridge Analytica $150,000 in 2014 for get-out-the-vote efforts and mail operations on behalf of Tillis and other GOP candidates but that he was not aware of any foreign workers involved with the effort. The party would not tolerate any unethical behavior by a vendor, he said. "No foreign workers worked for us," Woodhouse said. The company, which asserted that Republican candidates won most of the races it worked on in 2014, also advised candidates in Arkansas, New Hampshire and North Carolina through a super PAC controlled by former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, who was named last week by Trump to be national security adviser. A 2014 Cambridge Analytica post-election report describing its work in congressional and legislative races said that the company played a central role in the Oregon congressional race for Republican Arthur Robinson, a former chairman of the Oregon Republican Party. The report also indicated that it had played this role within the bounds of the law. Robinson lost the 2014 election against Democrat Peter DeFazio. "For the Art Robinson for Congress campaign, Cambridge Analytica SCL assumed a comprehensive set of responsibilities and effectively managed the campaign in its entirety, with strategic advice channeled through US nationals on the CA-SCL team," the document said. The plan, according to the document, was to focus on "rehabilitating Dr. Robinson's image with voters by presenting him as a sympathetic family man and serious scientist rather than as the extremely right-wing, unstable 'mad scientist' caricature created by the opposition over the previous two campaigns." Robinson, reached by The Post, said that his 2014 campaign hired the company, which provided useful services to his experienced campaign crew. He said he met Nix once and did not know about the nationalities of the other employees he encountered. "Cambridge was very helpful," he said, noting that the company and his team "melded and worked side by side." Robinson, 76, ran unsuccessfully for Oregon's 4th District seat in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. John Bolton's spokesman, Garrett Marquis, said that Bolton, not individuals at Cambridge Analytica, made all strategic decisions related to the super PAC's work. Marquis added that the contract with the company stated that Cambridge Analytica's use of data "was in compliance with applicable laws," that Bolton's group hasn't worked with the company since 2016, and that Bolton had been unaware of any alleged impropriety by Cambridge Analytica until recent news reports. The group no longer uses any of the data. Wylie, who left Cambridge Analytica at the end of 2014 because of rising uneasiness about its politics and the leadership of Nix, said in interviews with The Post that he was part of multiple conference calls in 2014 with Bannon and Nix, a Briton, in which strategic campaign matters were discussed. Wylie said these conversations also often featured discussions about the legal issues raised in the July 2014 Levy memo, which was made public in recent days by Wylie. The memo was previously reported by the Guardian, a British paper, and the New York Times. Levy did not respond to requests for comment. Cambridge Analytica had told the Times previously that "personnel in strategic roles were U.S. nationals or green card holders" and that Nix "never had any strategic or operational role" in election campaigns in the United States. Wylie declined to comment on whether he believed that he may have violated U.S. election law while working for Cambridge Analytica. The restrictions on foreigners working in U.S. elections are broad, election attorneys said, with the key distinctions centering on involvement in campaign decisions Levy wrote in his July 2014 memo, "Foreign Nationals may work in a U.S. political campaign, but may not play strategic roles including the giving of strategic advice to candidates, campaigns, political parties, or independent expenditure committees. On the other hand foreign nationals may act as functionaries that collect and process data, but the final analysis of said data should be conducted by U.S. citizens and conveyed to any U.S. client by such citizens." Brett Kappel, a campaign finance lawyer at Akerman LLP, said the accounts of Wylie and the other former Cambridge Analytica workers raises legal concerns. "If Mr. Wylie's allegations are true, the Justice Department could prosecute Cambridge Analytica and its managers for knowing and willful violations of the prohibition on foreign national contributions." Trevor Potter, a campaign finance attorney who advised the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said that "it is permissible for campaigns to hire foreigners" as long as they are involved in lower-level activity in a campaign. "It would be a problem for a U.S. super PAC -- or any other domestic political actor --- to have foreign nationals involved in running a political operation, including making decisions on strategy, targeting and expenditures for that political entity," he said. "If foreigners were involved in the senior levels of decision-making for a political organization, that would be a violation of federal law." Former Cambridge Analytica workers said there were few U.S. citizens among their ranks. Yet they routinely worked on U.S. campaigns, developing messages, creating campaign materials such as ads and videos, and helping the campaigns decide whom to target with those messages. "The nature of targeting is fundamentally influential to the direction of a campaign because you're deciding what messages go to whom and when," Wylie said. "There's no such thing as managing targeting in a non-influential way." Questions about the legality of Cambridge Analytica's actions crystallized in the immediate aftermath of the 2014 vote, during which Republican candidates -- including those helped by Cambridge Analytica -- made significant gains. In a video conference featuring Levy, the attorney brought up the restriction on foreigners working in U.S. campaigns, said a former Cambridge Analytica worker who heard the call and spoke on the condition of anonymity. For some company workers in the London office, it was the first indication of any potential violation of U.S. law, causing them unease at an otherwise celebratory moment. "It only percolated down to the ranks once it was too late," the former CA employee said. This former employee added, "CA didn't handle only data. They have decided targeting strategy. They helped decide messaging." The ranks of company campaign workers included a "small handful of U.S. citizens" but dozens of foreign workers. The former Cambridge Analytica workers did not provide information about what transpired in 2016, when the company did work for Cruz and Trump. Officials from those two presidential campaigns said Sunday that their organizations took pains to comply with the federal restrictions on foreigners in U.S. elections. Catherine Frazier, spokeswoman for the Cruz team, said that data scientists from other countries "reported to their American supervisors -- who then reported to our senior staff -- to ensure they were not part of the ultimate decision-making by the campaign." A Trump campaign official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak to the press, said the Cambridge team was managed by a U.S. citizen to ensure compliance. Nix, the chief executive, has portrayed his role as central to Trump's winning effort, though others involved in the campaign have expressed doubts about this. He told TechCrunch in 2016 that Cambridge Analytica, which federal records show was paid at least $6 million by the Trump campaign, was key to campaign decisions on data analytics, research, digital advertising, television spots and collecting donations: "Overnight [the contract] went from being originally just data, to end to end." Nix made similar claims in secretly recorded video released in recent days by Channel 4 in Britain, saying the company "did all the research, all the data, all the analytics, all the targeting, we ran all the digital campaign, the television campaign, and our data informed all the strategy." -- Craig Timberg and Tom Hamburger For the second year in a row, The KIDZ BOP Kids will bring their national concert tour to the place #BuiltForKids during KIDZ BOP Weekend, a music-filled event set for Nov. 10-12 at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Following the success of last year's "Best Time Ever" tour, which sold out multiple shows across the country, The KIDZ BOP Kids are hitting the road again in 2018.KIDZ BOP announced the launch of the all-new North American Tour, "KIDZ BOP Live 2018, kicking off June 1 in Toronto, with dates in more than 30 cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Boston.During the three-day KIDZ BOP Weekend, The KIDZ BOP Kids will perform two live concerts each day at LEGOLAND Floridas KIDZ BOP Stadium, an outdoor venue on the picturesque shore of Lake Eloise, followed by an exclusive meet-and-greet with the performers. All activities during KIDZ BOP Weekend, including the concerts and meet-and-greets*, are included with all forms of theme park admission. No extra ticket required!This spring, KIDZ BOP will debut an original musical collaboration with LEGOLAND, one that highlights all the awesomeness that awaits at the popular vacation destination. In 2016, LEGOLAND Florida Resort named KIDZ BOP its official music partner as part of a multi-year alliance that included the creation of a music video for The KIDZ BOP Kids performance of The Weekend Whip, the theme song of the long-running animated TV series, LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu."KIDZ BOP Live 2018" is the ultimate family concert experience, "sung by kids for kids." The KIDZ BOP Kids Billboard Magazine's No. 1 Kids' Artist for eight consecutive years (2010-2017) will headline the new show, performing some of today's biggest hit songs. Just in time for the new tour, three new talented young performers Olivia (12), Shane (13), and Indigo (11) are joining the existing group of KIDZ BOP Kids: Ahnya (13), Cooper (14), Freddy (14), Isaiah (11) and Julianna (13). Four KIDZ BOP Kids will take the stage for each performance.*Space is limited. First come, first served. ABC/Image Group LAChris Stapleton will return to headline the fourth annual Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Arts Festival on the outskirts of Nashville this fall. Last year, Stapleton made a surprise cameo during a performance by his pal Justin Timberlake, whos one of the events producers. Considering the fact that Chris collaborates with Justin on his latest single, Say Something, concertgoers will no doubt be hoping for the two to re-team. Lionel Richie and Jack White will also headline the festival, which takes place September 22 and 23 in Franklin, Tennessee. Other country acts on the bill include newcomers Caitlyn Smith and Jillian Jacqueline, as well as Tyminski, whos also a member of Alison Krauss and Union Station. Elle King, who scored a #1 hit with Dierks Bentley on "Different for Girls," will be there as well. Pre-sales have already begun, with passes becoming available to the general public on Friday. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Review: 'Isle Of Dogs' Sure Is A Wes Anderson Movie, All Right By Tori Preston | Film | March 27, 2018 | Look: If you like Wes Anderson movies, you will probably enjoy Isle of Dogs. And if you find his brand of deadpan humor, fussy and intricate frame compositions, and reliance on the same pool of actors less than charming, then this movie probably isnt for you. Of course, those two camps arent the ones who really need a review of this film anyway. The group that might be on the fence is the one filled with people who have enjoyed the occasional Anderson joint, but are concerned that maybe Anderson should be staying in his not-at-all Japanese lane, especially in todays cultural climate. Basically, did Wes Anderson manage to make an homage to Japanese cinema without it feeling like cultural appropriation? And the answer is: Maybe? But its complicated, and Im not the person who can judge that. According to IndieWire, Anderson developed the story, about dogs living in a garbage dump, with collaborators Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola. But we had also been talking about wanting to do something in Japan, about Japan, something related to our shared love of Japanese cinema, especially [Akira] Kurosawa. The story couldve taken place anywhere, but it came together when we realized it should take place in a fantasy version of Japan. Once they decided to weave in Japan as the setting, they brought actor Kunichi Nomura on-board as the fourth screenwriter to help them nail the atmosphere (Nomura also voices the villainous Mayor Kobayashi in the film). And to the films credit, effort is made to maintain a certain authenticity in the face of Andersons typically artificial style. The dogs all speak English, but the Japanese characters dont. Sometimes their dialogue is translated, via literal translator characters (the main one is voiced by Frances McDormand) or other in-context manipulations. And other times, as is typically the case with the little pilot named Atari, the Japanese dialogue is left untranslated. The audience, both in the theater and the dogs around the boy, are left to infer the meaning based on the facial expressions and other cues. Luckily, the stop-motion animation leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to evoking emotions. Eyes brim with tears. Teeth clench. There are so many subtle details, in the characters and in the surroundings, engaged in telling the story that I never once wanted subtitles. But perhaps because of the cultural complications at play, the story itself stays relatively simple: In the city of Megazaki, the cat-loving Mayor Kobayashi has banned all dogs to an offshore island of trash to protect the populace from a virulent dog-borne disease. The first dog sacrificed for the protection of the public is Spots (Liev Schreiber), the guard dog belonging to the Mayors orphaned ward, a young boy named Atari (Koyu Rankin). But the bond between the boy and the dog is strong, and after a few months, the child manages to steal a small plane and crash land on the island to search for his missing furry friend. He is rescued by a pack of dogs with lordly names: Rex (Edward Norton), King (Bob Balaban), Duke (Jeff Goldblum), and Boss (Bill Murray), all former beloved pets who are struggling to adjust to their new life as filthy scavengers in a desolate land. The fifth member of their pack is a stray named Chief (Bryan Cranston), a tough dog who doesnt believe in masters and also occasionally bites. He doesnt understand why the pack votes to help Atari, but he goes along with the group to help in the search. Their odyssey takes them through a landscape of litter and demolished factories, and they find help along the way from unlikely sources, including an Oracle (a pug voiced by Tilda Swinton) who gets her visions from peering at television sets. Meanwhile on the mainland, a scientist works to develop a cure for the illness plaguing the dogs so they can be returned to their owners (alongside his assistant, Yoko-ono voiced by Yoko Ono), while a group of teenage journalists and hackers, led by an earnest American exchange student named Tracy (Greta Gerwig), investigates whether the dog banishment is part of a larger, more sinister plot. The film is a technical marvel to behold, but the plot, though mostly enjoyable and emotionally satisfying, is ultimately unsurprising and a bit thin. I mean, do you love dogs? Then youll probably like Isle of Dogs. The movie works best if you can ignore the fact that it didnt need to be set in Japan. Anderson could have set it anywhere. But it speaks to the advancements in our cultural dialogue that I, personally, couldnt ignore it. I found myself questioning every choice and my reactions to them through the whole movie. The inclusion of Japanese cast members and other creative influences was reassuring, but Im not sure if it overcomes the obvious but why? of it all. I mean, are any haikus recited? Are there any scenes featuring kabuki performers? Oh, you betcha. But I dont have the perspective to police how successful this fantasy fictionalized allegorical Japan is, or if its offensive, or if maybe its both. All I can say is that the movie was, well, exactly what I expected. And I enjoyed it, because dammit I love stop-motion wizardry, and gossipy canine Jeff Goldblum, and deadpan humor. But I could have enjoyed all that without the cultural tourism, even if that tourism was performed with the utmost respect. As to whether the Kurosawa homage contributed something to the film, all I can say is that Im in the mood to go watch some actual Kurosawa now. And when Im in the mood to watch some Wes Anderson, this will be a solid option on the list. 'The House with a Clock in its Walls' Trailer With Cate Blanchett | Sean Penn's MeToo Poem Is Terrible Tori Preston is deputy editor of Pajiba. She rarely tweets here but she promises she reads all the submissions for the "Ask Pajiba (Almost) Anything" column at [email protected]. You can also listen to her weekly TV podcast, Podjiba Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, the founder and editor in chief of MuslimGirl, started National Muslim Women's Day last year to spotlight and celebrate Muslim women. Today marks the second annual Muslim Women's Day, and to celebrate, PAPER put together a list of a few of the many Muslim women and gender non-conforming artists we think you should be following. Check out these five badass artists, below. Dua Saleh Dua Saleh is a multimedia performance artist whose work explores the intersection of trauma, race, and gender. Videos of their poetry performances have racked up thousands of views on YouTube, which is hardly surprising given the rare, powerful vulnerability and poignancy of their words. They have written about the importance of highlighting black experiences within Muslim communities, sharing their relationship to clothing and Muslim identity surrounding Eid. They are also a musician. Their single "First Take," which was recorded in one take, layers their entrancing vocals over slick, moody production. They also landed a primary role in the web series Sweetness of Wild, which tells the stories of 7 different black people in Minneapolis. In everything they do, Dua Saleh defies genre and limitation. Yumna Al-Arashi London-based, Washington, DC-born photographer Yumna Al-Arashi began taking photos after 9/11, using the medium as a way to understand and reclaim her Muslim identity. Her project "Northern Yemen" captures Yemeni women wearing hijabs and posing in front of mountains, rock formations, and deserts in Yemen. They look strong and resolute, mirroring the grandeur of the landscape they are photographed in. Al-Arashi told Refinery29 that she hopes her work subverts the way veiled Muslim women are perceived in the West, saying, "I'm tired of the victimized image of a Muslim woman. I feel as though the way western media portrays us is just as oppressive to her as they believe the veil is to her life. We see a veiled woman and our brain has been trained to automatically think of pity, oppression, and have-nots. I want us to stop looking at Muslim women this way." Munira Yussuf Swedish-based visual artist and illustrator Munira Yussuf makes energetic, brightly-colored images that center black Muslim women. She draws women adorned in jewels, feeding babies, and celebrating their hair, many of her images draw inspiration from Nubian and Somalian royalty. Yussuf says she likes to pair ornate backgrounds "with equally vibrant portrayals of women and people of color." The warm oranges and inky blues found in her art create a space where joy and self-love reign supreme. Riya Hamid Multi-hyphenate Riya Hamid is a poet, artist, and model. Her poetry explores sex, immigration, class, and religion, stitching together poignant memories from her childhood as an immigrant from Bangladesh with contemporary reflections on friendship and romantic longing. And, her Instagram, where she's garnered a large following, features meticulously-styled outfits, abstract art, and pencil drawings of brown women hanging out in their rooms, scrolling through their phones, putting on lipstick, and celebrating birthdays at McDonald's. The ordinariness of these images is what makes them so moving; the women she depicts need not be superhuman to be worthy of representation. Jessy Moussallem Rising Lebanese filmmaker Jessy Moussallem gained mainstream attention last year for the stunning music video she made for Mashrou' Leila's "Roman." The video features brightly-dressed Muslim women dancing in abandoned concrete buildings. The lyrics encourage rebellion, and, when paired with the visuals, the work becomes a reflection on the limiting views the West has of Muslim women as oppressed and uniform. Countering that narrative, the video captures Muslim women in incredibly diverse clothing and self-presentation. The women portrayed are self-sufficient, unafraid, and unique. The video's description on YouTube indicates that the video purposely foregrounds women instead of the song's male musicians. It says, "The video purposefully attempts to revert the position of the (male) musicians as the heroes of the narrative, not only by subjecting them to the (female) gaze of the director, but also by representing them as individuals who (literally) take the backseat as the coalition moves forward." Photo via YouTube Throughout March and April, renowned Black trans performance artist Travis Alabanza is touring the United States. They're adored in London's local queer scene, and released in 2017 their debut poetry book Before I Step Outside, which became one of the year's top trans literary books. Following their New York show this past Friday with special guest ALOK, another esteemed gender non-conforming artist, the two have written each other letters about their rare, intimate friendship. Read, below, and catch Alabanza at one of their live U.S. shows (Click here for more information). Travis Alabanza to ALOK Dear Alok, I think this is the first photo I recall of us together touching so closely. Intentionally. Intertwined. Connected in hands, in flowers, in bloom, embrace, and I think about how maybe we were scared to touch before. Almost as if when two things with great power touch then maybe it will explode. Break each other down. Switch off. Stop working. I think after I realized I could exist, I realized soon after that the world tries to tell you that you must be individual. That you can only exist as one. That the freak, the outcast, the different, the non-conforming, the mixed up, the messed up, the dangerous is only that because there is no one else like them. I remember being told as a little kid that "there is no one else in the world like you, you are positively unique," and expected to feel calm after hearing that, but instead feeling terrified. Scared on how the world places you as one, on your own, fending and fighting for yourself and never thinking someone could think out loud the same way as you. When I see this photo I think of a friendship that reminds me there can be others like us. That a friendship can hold differences, things that are supposed to push us away, but also remind us that we are not as unique as we need to be. That I can see you in me. That you can see yourself in mine. The world will make us compete and battle to be the only one, to be the different thing, to individualize, but I see in these photos us saying we are not the same and we are. That I do not want to be on my own, that being on my own will not work, and that it is only together that we can be. In these photos I see the freak, the weirdo, the outcast, the awkward, the punished, the dangerous, the mixed up, the messed up: and then I see another other'd holding me in that. Saying you are allowed to be those things and I love you because of it, not despite it. That you are beautiful because of this, not instead of it. When i see these photos it reminds me i'm not alone, but more importantly, that I do not want to be. That being alone and strong and independent is not the end goal, and that our friendship is the journey and also our destination. ALOK to Travis Alabanza Dear Travis, You know how we have that joke that I'm like the TV disembodied white femme narration voice a la Sex in the City? Well when I met you for a drink that afternoon in London the narrator in me was like, "And in that moment Alok looked outside the window at the snow falling on the street and knew that their life would never be the same." *cut to the credits* Which is my way of saying that I didn't know I was possible until I met you. Every day your artistry, your style, your humor, your composite remind me that I am a "we." You know that loneliness well: of walking down the street and being the only, constructed by their stares and jokes. Now I can look at our photos and your poems our looks (!) and remind myself I am not alone. What a delight it is to be real! I can wear no makeup and dress and you still see me for me and for the first time in a long time I am able to just, "be." Travis, your art invites us to just be. Gives us permission to rest. Welcoming you to New York City this month by which I mean passive aggressively micro-managing your daily schedule, reminding you to take your multivitamins, and inviting you into my wardrobe (now that's sisterhood!) has been just what I needed. Which is my way of saying that I need you. That I could listen to you perform the same poem for the rest of my life and I would still think it was groundbreaking. Which is my way of saying: through our relationship I've been able to experience joy, euphoria, transcendence! Walking down the street with you in completely practical 5-inch heels just having everyone stare at us and not giving a hoot because we are together! I wish streets that celebrate you. I wish stages that embrace you. I wish a world that loves you as much as I do. And I won't stop fighting until it does. Photography: Eivind Hansen Beauty: Umber Ghauri As a child growing up in Long Island, Lynn Yaeger didn't know what she wanted to be when she grew up, but she knew that if she just got her fashion look down everything else would fall into place. Decades later, Yaeger, a contributing editor at Vogue, as well as a fixture on street style reports from Paris to Shanghai, is not only one of the most successful and highly-recognized writers in the fashion business, she's also managed the impressive feat of regularly influencing the fashion world she reports on. Yaeger's signature style features voluminous crinolines peeking out over Repetto lace up flats, large amounts of tulle, a generous dose of sequins and an overall sprinkling of baby ballerina flapper both in terms of visuals and mood. It's all topped off with a kewpie doll beauty look of bee-stung lips, rouged cheeks and a henna'd bob. She's a lifelong devotee of antique jewelry and when even at her most casual she's festooned with rings and pins, always with a fascinating historical background for each piece. This Baby pin is a Victorian ornament for, that's right, a baby. That ring is actually a piece of mourning jewelry which spells out the intials of the dearly departed in human hair. An example of the sum of the sartorial parts not being greater than the whole, the finished look is equal parts Russian princess, silent film femme fatale and cartoon clotheshorse. Karen Elson on Italian Vogue 1997 (Photography: Steven Meisel) "I remember seeing her around in the late '90s at fashion shows and events," supermodel Karen Elson says. "I remember being fascinated by her look because I kinda copied it!" Is there some sort of special bond between milky complexioned redheads? "Lynn and Grace Coddington I clearly admire and have a special kinship with. I admire Lynn on so many levels. It's hard to remain an individual in fashion [like she does] when fashion literally changes constantly." Elson feels Yaeger's influence hasn't been only personal, but also professional. "I think my first Italian Vogue cover (February '97 by Steven Meisel) definitely paid homage to her and many of my first shoots during that time had blatant Lynn references." She continues, "I love Lynn's commitment to her style. It's self-expression at it's truest." "I love Lynn's commitment to her style. It's self-expression at its finest." Designer Marc Jacobs, whose shows are usually the blockbuster events of New York Fashion Week, is also a devotee of Yaeger. In fact, his Fall 2012 show, which I refer to as his Dr. Seuss Disco Pilgrim show, was inspired by Yaeger and other women of her style. The show featured an ethereal backdrop by artist Rachel Feinstein and a soundtrack comprised entirely of different version of the haunting Who Will Buy, from the soundtrack of the Broadway musical Oliver! creating a sweet, fairy-tale setting for the clothes. Oversized fur hats, chunky knit wraps, full skirts, shoes with giant crystal buckles, oversized handbags. The mood and silhouettes screamed Yaeger. "Lynn is a fashion person, a smart woman, a great writer and a great presence in our world, our bubble." Jacobs says. "At the point [of designing the Fall 2012 collection], I had discovered this website of street style of women who had eccentric flamboyant style. So I started to think about women that I've known in the fashion world like Louise Doktor. Lynn was and still is such a huge presence. She has a continuous presence like Anna Piaggi [the late, legendary Italian Vogue editor who was a poster child for avant-garde fashion and died in 2012]. In doing a collection, I always try to find multiple muses. There are usually some from fiction or from film, and then there's the real life ones which make what we show somehow credible. Like if you can prove in your mind that this person would wear these things, then it's not just fashion but they have the possibility of being clothes." "Lynn [Yaeger] is really an important representation of that desire, want and love for fashion, and she uses clothes and fashion to express herself." Jacobs explains that he needs women like Yaeger to do what he does. "I need to have that belief that this isn't just for show," he says, "that there are people out there who really love fashion, not just as something to look at, but as a form of self-expression and something that tugs at their heart that isn't about need and isn't about practically, but about want, desire and self-expression. That is what I need to feel good about doing another season or another show. So yes, Lynn is really an important representation of that desire, want and love for fashion, and she uses clothes and fashion to express herself." Marc Jacobs Fall 2012 Meanwhile across the pond in London, a city which Yaeger loves for its sartorial history, the Portobello Road market and its antique stores, a new generation of designers like Simone Rocha and Molly Goddard also feel the magic of Yaeger. Rocha remembers, "Since I was a teenager, she was floating around in my mind. I remember seeing photographs of her in lots of Comme des Garcons." Rocha has since become the winner of the Designer of the Year Award at the British Fashion Awards, as well as a friend and favorite of Yaeger. "I love Lynn in my clothes. She's so inspiring in how she wears my pieces, very naturally integrated into her own way of dressing. I particularly like it when she wears lots of different pieces at the same time like a skirt with another three dresses and a collar." In addition to serving as muse and inspirtation, Yaeger's influence is sometimes more literal and less abstract. Simon Doonan, Creative Ambassador for Barneys has been a friend and neighbor of Yaeger's for decades. Doonan recalls an episode with Yaeger involving the French luxury handbag company Goyard, which at the time was not sold anywhere in the United States. Yaeger, always shopping wherever her travel take her and endlessly searching for the unique, unusual and old-school, had fallen in love with Goyard in Paris, one of her most regular destinations. "The first time I ever heard the word Goyard, it was issuing forth from Lynn's bee-stung lips." Doonan says. "She was an early adopter. Lynn's embrace of Goyard helped give the brand an unconventional flava." Not long after Yaeger began carrying her monogrammed Goyard bag, Barneys opened an exclusive Goyard boutique in their Madison Avenue store. " There is a force-field around Lynn which screams 'fashion authority,'" he says. "Lynn's uncompromisingly avant-garde approach to style makes her a total raging standout. She is the Anna Piaggi of the 21st century. Lynn has joined that pantheon of women: Marchesa Casati, Daphne Guinness, Siouxsie Sioux, Nancy Cunard, Little Edie, who will always be sited for their fashion inspiration." As one of her closest friends, I can attest that Yaeger's commitment to her look is 24/7 and 365. There are no casual Fridays, although she has been known to work a beach look of an oversized Margiela smock with a vintage scarf tied doo-rag style and a pair of espadrilles from a tiny shop she found in Provence. Fans and fashion fiends approach her every time we're out together, telling Yaeger they love her work or they've never seen anything like her (or sometimes even confusing her for other legendary fashion icons like Isabella Blow and Dame Vivienne Westwood). As Marc Jacobs said, inspirational women like Lynn Yaeger are what keep the fashion fantasy alive, and a little fantasy is needed now more than ever. Illustration by Duhrivative / Photos Courtesy of Getty After Louis Vuitton x Supreme hit the streets, it was hard to imagine another collaboration with the streetwear brand that would feel as groundbreaking, for better or for worse. Now, though, Supreme has upped the ante with a forthcoming line featuring the iconic photographs of Nan Goldin. Related | Adventuring Hypebeasts Can Now Buy a Supreme Kayak Goldin spent the 1970s and '80s capturing scenes of LGBTQ nightlife and the gritty, pre-gentrified world of downtown NYC. All that grit has since been transformed into nostalgic glamour, and Supreme's decision to put Goldin's photographs on its latest collection capitalizes just that. The brand has worked with artists before including David Lynch, Takashi Murakami and Damien Hirst. Still, Goldin's photos show an intimate look into LGBTQ life and youth that feels like a particularly stark contrast to Supreme's fratty hype beast vibe ("street" wear or not). "I did this for the kids," Goldin told Vogue UK. "I'm looking forward to seeing teenagers skating on my images and wearing them. To my mind, people have become so conservative, especially the millennialsit's like the 1960s never happenedso I like the idea of them being exposed to my real world." The collaboration drops March 29, so if you want to get your hands on a t-shirt or skateboard with Goldin's imagery, you should probably start lining up like, now. Images via Supreme Model Winnie Harlow called out London newspaper the Evening Standard for labeling her a "Canadian vitiligo sufferer" in a caption below one of her Instagrams they reprinted. Harlow has vitiligo, a condition that causes skin to lose pigmentation, and has built a successful modeling career as a striking figure in a sea of sameness. In her post, Harlow said despite headlines suggesting otherwise, she's far from suffering. "I'm sick of every headline ending in 'vitiligo sufferer' or 'suffers from vitiligo.' Do you see me suffering? The only thing I'm suffering from are your headlines and the closed minds of humans who have one beauty standard locked into their minds when there are multiple standards of beauty!" The photo in question is from a recent trip to Dubai Harlow took in which she frolicked on the beach, went clubbing and played with exotic baby animals. Suffering where? A difficulty I encounter time and time again when teaching Buddhism or talking about it with friends is the myth of Buddhist pacifism and the idea that Buddhists arent engaged in politics or worldly matters. As a scholar of comparative religious ethics looking largely at texts written by elite groups and individuals I see the side of Buddhism which is, to an extent, other-worldly (to use Webers category). However, as a scholar of Buddhism as it is lived in the world, with a focus on Buddhism in the West / 20th Century global Buddhism, I cannot deny that Buddhists have had a wide array of very this-worldly interests and activities. Reading and speaking with scholars of Buddhism in different times and places, I have no doubt that Buddhists have always had this-worldly interests. However, this is not the alluring part of Buddhism to most in the West; instead the interest is the soteriology, the goal of an other-worldly nirvana (or at least a meditative reprieve from the chaos of 20th-21st century society). For most of us in the modernized world (myself included most of the time), Buddhism isnt composed of Buddhists, but of ideas and practices that can be discussed, debated, understood, and practiced. However, it is important to never lose sight of those Buddhists who have carried on the ideas and practices we cherish. Some of those Buddhists were also violent, some have been sexual predators, some Communists, some capitalist entrepreneurs, some monks, some laypeople, and so on. So Amar Diwakars recent article in the New Republic is important reading. The article is essentially a review of Eugene Fords book, Cold War Monks: Buddhism and Americas Secret Strategy in Southeast Asia. As Diwakar writes: Buddhism and statecraft have long been joined at the hip. The religion supplied the symbols of kingship in courts, capitals, and urban centers from Burma (now Myanmar) to Siam (Thailand) to Laos, as monastic orders and ruling elites forged intimate ties. Following the seventeenth century, European imperialism disrupted the symbiosis of religion and state in places where colonial regimes were installed. By the early half of the twentieth century, anti-colonial movements saw monks participate in dissent, laying the foundations for the clergy to enter secular affairs. While the book looks primarily at the use of Buddhism (and Buddhists) to attack Communism and kill Communists in the 20th century, Diwakar astutely points to the late 20th/early 21st century pivot from Communism as enemy of the day to Islam, writing that This ideological shift just so happens to coincide with the U.S.s war on terror, which has been operationalized to justify the bloody reprisals in Thailand and the pogroms in Myanmar. And the monks are front and center of it all. Just as right-wing Buddhists attacked Communism as the great evil then, we see Islam pointed at as existential threat to Buddhism today. Then, in Thailand: Kittivudho Bhikkhu in an interview in late June 1976, [] argued that while all killing involved some demerit for Buddhists, killing communists in protecting nation, religion and monarchy was killing bestial types rather than humans and he stated that Buddhists must do it [kill communists]. [read more] Now, in Burma (Myanmar): Wirathu has also pushed a ban against interfaith marriage, claiming that the Buddhist majority is diluted by such marriages and reeling off one anecdote after another of forced conversions of Buddhist women to Islam. Many critics here and abroad say Wirathus sermons are racist rants against Muslims who he has likened to mad dogs and cannibals [read more] To be fair, of course, there are monastics on the other side in each country and each conflict. Bhikkhu Subhuti, an American-born monk in Myanmar today wrote 3 years ago of his work to bring Buddhist and Muslim communities together there. And many worked to engage in a politically active middle-way. The well known Thai monk Bhikkhu Buddhadasa pushed a form of what he called Dharmic socialism. As Santikaro writes, The term Dhammic Socialism was coined by Ajahn Buddhadasa in the late 1960s in response to the growing political polarization in Southeast Asia. And in Sri Lanka earlier this month many monks came out to denounce the spread of anti-Muslim violence there. Lastly, the Dalai Lama (not discussed here because he is outside the geographic scope of the book), who lost his country to communist invasion, has been a strong advocate of talks across economic ideological divides as well as interfaith understanding and dialogue. The important thing is not to malign Buddhism as Communism long has been and Islam is so much today but to see the religion, in its people at least, as they truly are: diverse in their political activities, economic ideologies, and other this-worldly interests. Support independent coverage of Buddhism by joining a community of fellow learners/practitioners at Patreon. Like American Buddhist Perspectives on facebook. Some more from The Manuscript: However, in the interest of historical accuracy I must say that the Islamic fundamentalist response to the dominance of the West is not the only response that the Islamic world has offered. And it is only comparatively recently that it has become the most obvious one. In the early days of the Modern Period, it was thought that things simply needed to be adjusted somewhat. Islamic peoples and nations had been world leaders in the past, and they would be so again, if only a few changes could be made. The Ottoman sultan, for example, began to bring in military advisers from the Westespecially from Prussiato make some changes in the organization of military technology. What he did not reckon with, however, was the fact that Western technology and techniques were really inseparable from Western ideas. Like the leaders of mainland China today, he sought engineering and technological prowess, but ended up getting notions of democracy and human rights as well. (And this was, at least partially, from Prussians! It just goes to show how bad things were in the Ottoman empire.) He did not like this but found it virtually impossible to stop. The coming of the printing press, which arrived relatively late in the Near East, helped to spread these new ideas, and it looked for a time as if the Arab world and other nations of Islamic background would go through the same evolution that the nations of Europe and North America had gone through. There would be resistance, but ultimately something like parliamentary democracy or a constitutional republic would emerge. After all, Islam is not by nature opposed to such ideas. The history of the rightly-guided caliphs contains plenty of mention of such things as advisory assemblies and the like. It would have been wonderful if such an outcome had evolved. But it did not, and part of the blame, at least, must be placed upon the nations of western Europe. The freshly organized political parties of the Near East, armed with their newspapers, promised a new prosperity and flourishing for the Near East if only democratic ideals and notions of human rights could be adopted. The region simply had to catch up with what had made Europe great. They also promised that, when they had shown that they too were capable of enlightened rule and stability under law, they would be able to persuade the French and the English and the other colonial powers to leave. But the colonial powers did not leave. They overstayed their welcome. Indeed, the French, in particular, stiffened their efforts to obliterate local patriotism. I said above that it hardly mattered whether the French or the English remained in Egypt. But this was not entirely true. The French tended to be far rougher in colonization. The British basically wanted to maintain the Suez Canal as a pathway to India, but French colonists, with their so-called civilizing mission (mission civilisatrice) actually sought to make Algeria part of France. They banned the teaching of Arabic in schools, making the absurd claim that it was too primitive a language to meet the demands of modern life and technology. Iranian Environmentalists Remain Detained Months After Arrests While Families Seek Answers 03/27/18 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran At Least 13 Environmentalists Have Been Detained in Iran Since January 2018 Seven environmentalists who were arrested in Tehran nearly two months ago remain in detention with no or extremely limited access to legal counsel while their families are being kept in the dark about any charges against them. The detainees-Sam Rajabi, Niloufar Bayani, Morad Tahbaz (also holds American citizenship), Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Taher Ghadirian, Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani-are former and current staff members of the Persian Heritage Wildlife Foundation (PHWF). Its managing director, Iranian-Canadian sociologist Kavous Seyed-Emami, died in Evin Prison after he was arrested along with his PHWF colleagues in January 2018. A source told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on March 21 that all but one of the detainees have been denied visits by family members since their arrests on January 24. The woman who was allowed one visit was only permitted to wave to her parents. "Niloufar Bayani's mother and father, who were called to [Evin] Prison to see their daughter, saw her for just a moment from a distance," said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. "Niloufar waved to them and left." "The detainees have only been permitted to make phone calls from time to time and only briefly talk about how they are," added the source. "The authorities are not giving any answers to the families who have no one to turn to." CHRI has also learned that six other environmentalists arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been detained in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas since late February 2018: Morteza Arianejad, Hassan Ragh, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, Alireza Farhadzadeh and Aref and Hassan Zare (brothers). Farhadzadeh, a documentary filmmaker best known for his film, "Rooz-e Yooz" (The Day of the Cheetah), has not been heard from since his arrest. "Alireza's situation is more worrisome than the others because there has been no news of him since his arrest," a source with knowledge about the cases told CHRI. "He has not made even one phone call." The source also pointed out that members of Iran's Parliament (MPs) who had expressed interest in the cases after Seyed-Emami's death in Evin Prison on February 9 have since made conflicting statements to the detainees' families. "The detainees' relatives went to the office of MP Mohammad Aref two weeks ago. After hearing their statements, Aref only said that he would look into the matter," said the source, who requested anonymity for security purposes. "[MP] Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh said they will get out of prison soon. [MP] Mohammad Kazemi told the families, 'These people are spies; you just don't know it,'" added the source. Judicial authorities have extended the detention order for the seven detainees in Tehran until March 25. The detainees, who were arrested on January 24 and 25 by the IRGC, have been accused of spying on Iran's missile sites under the guise of environmental preservation activities. No evidence has been presented to support these allegations. Seyed-Emami was 63 when he died in Evin Prison on February 9. The authorities claim he committed suicide but no autopsy report has been issued almost two months after his death. Calls by his family and UN officials for an independent investigation have gone unheeded in Iran. Seyed-Emami's two sons, Ramin and Mehran, left Iran for Canada on March 8, but their mother, Maryman Mombeini, was banned from boarding the plane with them. The entire family holds Iranian and Canadian citizenship but Iran does not recognize dual nationality. The Canadian government has demanded that Iran give Mombeini "the freedom to return home" as well as demanded "answers" from Iran on the "circumstances surrounding the death and detention of Seyed-Emami." Iran's President Rouhani in Turkmenistan to boost ties 03/27/18 Source: Press TV Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has arrived in Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat, on a state visit meant to enhance bilateral ties. President Rouhani was officially welcomed by his Turkmen counterpart, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, upon arrival in Ashgabat on Tuesday. Presidents Rouhani and Berdimuhamedow have held a meeting at the presidential office to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues. High-level delegates from the two sides have signed 13 memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the presence of the two countries' presidents. President Rouhani is on the first leg of a two-day tour that will also take him to Azerbaijan. photos by Ahmad Jalalian, Islamic Republic News Agency End Of Hope For Trump's Middle East Policy 03/27/18 By Robert E. Hunter (Source: LobeLog) This past week could go down as the worst for the US role in the world since the misbegotten 2003 invasion of Iraq, whose tragic consequences still bedevil us. In both cases, the damage has been almost entirely self-inflicted, the result of abysmal judgment at the top of the US government, plus the failure of other institutions-Congress, the media-to do their proper jobs. The Trump administration kicked off round two of a trade war with China. Concerns escalated about the role of Russia in US elections and possible links to President Donald Trump. The president sustained attacks on his efforts to deescalate tensions with Moscow. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson departed from Washington, which he called a "very mean-spirited town." Most dramatically, Trump this week chose John Bolton to be National Security Advisor. Bolton was, briefly, a couldn't-get-confirmed-by-the-Senate ambassador to the United Nations. This puts in place at the top of the government the most rigid ideologue ever to hold that position, a consistent advocate of the hardest of hard-right positions (especially in the Middle East), and a promoter of war in various parts of the world. This appointment is not just an insult to the entire US national security profession. It also reduces the number of people in government who can save the president from blundering into one or more disasters with consequences potentially rivaling those in Iraq. But even White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly and Secretary of Defense General Jim Mattis share Bolton's view of Iran as the key source of instability in the Middle East. Also, Senate willing, the Iran-as-Devil school will soon be strengthened by the current head of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, Trump's nominee to replace Tillerson at the State Department. Pompeo, yet another military man in the Trump cabinet, has publicly opposed the Iran nuclear deal that cut off Teheran's path to the bomb and has consistently advocated hard-line positions elsewhere in the world. These changes to the national security team mean that it's now impossible for the United States to disentangle itself, even partially, from the mess in the Middle East, however much that could be in our national interest. Indeed, it looks as though the Trump administration will be expanding the mess. Trump has to decide by May 12 whether to recertify that Iran is in compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal, as all US allies are pleading with him to do (it is in compliance, by all objective and non-US accounts). Bolton and Pompeo will be pushing him to pull out of the agreement. And the person representing the United States in Geneva talks with allies who are desperate to deflect Trump from destroying the Iran nuclear deal is a junior official with no senior-level experience in foreign affairs and whom no one believes speaks authoritatively for the U.S. president. This changing of the guard from a hawkish to a superhawkish direction was compounded this week by the U.S. visit of the Saudi Arabian crown prince and effective ruler, Mohammad bin Salman (MbS). He came bearing major gifts in the form of hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of arms purchases from the United States, promises of a massive investment relationship, and of course flattery for Trump himself. MbS has also wooed those who want to believe that Saudi Arabia is no longer the leading sponsor of terrorism throughout the Islamic world and beyond (which it continues to be) and that it's prepared to cozy up to Israel, given that both see Iran as enemy number one and care naught for the Palestinian people. However, some of Israel's friends in the US are beginning to fear that counting on the friendship and support of Saudi Arabia can be a fool's bargain. Thus this week, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a strong supporter of Israel, expressed doubts about nuclear cooperation agreements with countries-meaning Saudi Arabia-that don't "contain restrictions on the enrichment and reprocessing necessary for a nuclear weapon." And The Washington Post, an accurate mirror of Israeli opinion, reported that "...even in Jerusalem, [Bolton's] return stirred some concern....Israel is likely to be at the sharp-end of any conflict with Iran, something Bolton has repeatedly floated." Until Mattis intervened personally on Capitol Hill, the Senate was prepared to pass legislation to stop US military aid to Saudi Arabia in its thinly disguised ("when in doubt, blame Iran") aggression in Yemen. According to key United Nations agencies, "The conflict in Yemen has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, a crisis which has engulfed the entire country." Given what is happening in Syria and elsewhere in the region, that is saying something! As part of his pushback against a possible congressional cutoff of US support for the Saudi war effort, Mattis publicly challenged the visiting Saudi crown prince to "accelerate the peace process in Yemen." Meanwhile, however, US support for Saudi military actions continues. Does all this mean war with Iran? Trump most likely would like to stop short of a direct military attack as opposed to all other forms of pressure he can muster. Even MbS and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, champion fire-breather on the subject, probably don't want to go as far as a major conflict with Iran because their countries, too, would suffer. But in the Middle East, things have a habit of getting out of hand. Certainly, even without another war, the United States is moving further away from any attempt to reconcile divergent interests in the region in favor of abetting others as they throw more gasoline onto the fires. About the Author Robert E. Hunter served as US ambassador to NATO (1993-98) and on the National Security Council staff throughout the Carter administration, first as Director of West European Affairs and then as Director of Middle East Affairs. In the last-named role, he was the White House representative at the Autonomy Talks for the West Bank and Gaza and developer of the Carter Doctrine for the Persian Gulf. He was Senior Advisor to the RAND Corporation from 1998 to 2011, and Director of the Center for Transatlantic Security Studies at the National Defense University, 2011-2012. He served on the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board and is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy. Legal adviser to uniBank Dr Dominic Ayine has said the indigenous bank has not yet taken any decision to challenge its takeover by the Bank of Ghana, contrary to reports to that effect by Reuters. I have no instruction from uniBank asking me to go for arbitration, the lawmaker told Accra-based Starr FM. No decision has been taken by uniBank to head for arbitration on this matter, Dr Ayine stressed on Friday, 23 March. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Dr Ayine had told them that the recently-deposed management of uniBank intended going for arbitration over the central banks takeover. We intend to go for arbitration, Reuters quoted Dr Ayine as saying. The central bank took over uniBank for the following reasons: a) Persistently maintained a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) below zero (currently negative 24%), making it technically insolvent. This contravenes section 29 of Act 930 which requires a minimum CAR of 10% to be maintained at all times. b) Persistently suffered liquidity shortfalls and consistently breached its cash reserve requirement. As a result, UniBank has relied extensively on liquidity support (over GHS2.2 billion) from the Bank of Ghana over the past two years to meet its recurring liabilities. Among other things, a key shareholder of the bank managed to obtain liquidity support from the Bank of Ghana using third party banks as its agents. The Bank of Ghanas exposure to the bank was therefore underestimated by nearly GHS 400 million, as this amount was not reflected in its books. c) Conducted its credit administration in a manner that has jeopardized the interests of depositors and the financial sector as a whole. d) Failed to comply with a directive of the Bank of Ghana dated 26th October, 2017 under section 105 of Act 930, prohibiting the bank from granting new loans and incurring new capital expenditures. e) Failed to comply with several other regulatory requirements, including: Lending to a number of borrowers in excess of its regulatory lending limit (single obligor limit) under section 62 of the Banks and SDIs Act, 2016 (Act 930); Borrowing from the inter-bank market without the written approval of the Bank of Ghana when its CAR was less than the prescribed ten percent (10%), in breach of section 66(1) of Act 930. Outsourcing a number of services such as those of tellers, receptionists, and security, to affiliate companies without the prior approval by the Bank of Ghana, contrary to section 60 (12) of Act 930. Refusing to cooperate with the Bank of Ghana in the performance of its supervisory responsibilities, including deliberately concealing some liabilities from its balance sheet, and failing to submit documents and records for supervisory inspection. Poor corporate governance and risk management practices which rendered the bank vulnerable to macroeconomic shocks. Generally conducting its affairs in a manner detrimental to the interests of depositors and the financial system as a whole. In spite of the Ministry of Finance recently agreeing to absorb a significant amount of the debts of Government contractors owed to the bank to the tune of Gh428,817,961 (backed by Interim Payment Certificates issued to contractors), the bank has not been able to address its capital deficiency, which has continued to deteriorate. Also, the bank engaged in significant transactions with its parent company and affiliate companies including connected lending and other related party transactions without sufficient controls as required by law. Allowing the continuation of UniBanks activities in their current form would be detrimental to the interests of depositors and the banking system as a whole. Several attempts by the Bank of Ghana to work together with management and shareholders of the bank to address the capital deficiency and liquidity challenges have failed to achieve the desired outcome, making the continuous reliance on Bank of Ghana for liquidity support unsustainable. More recently, the banks announcement of a purported pledge of ADB Bank shares in its favour by its shareholders to secure commitments for recapitalization, were deemed by the Bank of Ghana to be null and void as no prior approval had been obtained from the Bank of Ghana as required by Act 930 for acquiring significant shares in a bank or exercising other forms of control by virtue of any transaction. In any event, a request by the Bank of Ghana to the bank to submit copies of the Deed of Pledge and underlying transactional documents were not heeded by uniBank, its shareholders, directors, or management. Furthermore, there are additional regulatory hurdles outside the control of the Bank of Ghana required to be cleared by uniBank before potentially realizing any value, if at all, from the said transaction, making it incapable of addressing the immediate capital and liquidity needs of the bank. According to the central bank, it took the action in exercise of its powers under Sections 107 and 108 of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930) effective today, 20th March 2018, and appointed KPMG as Official Administrator for uniBank. Section 107 of Act 930 empowers the Bank of Ghana to appoint an Official Administrator to take official control of a bank when its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) has fallen below 50% of the required minimum of 10% (i.e. below 5%). Under section 108 of Act 930, the Official Administrator is authorised to exercise a variety of powers to rehabilitate and return the bank to regulatory compliance within a period of six months, at the end of which the bank will be returned to private ownership and management. BoG said its appointment of the official administrator is "aimed at saving uniBank from imminent collapse". "It will prevent potential losses to depositors and other creditors, and ensure that the financial condition of the bank does not create further risks for the entire financial system". The central bank said: "KPMG as Official Administrator will assume control of the bank and all its branches and carry out the responsibilities of the shareholders, directors, and key management personnel of uniBank with effect from today. In line with its powers under Act 930, KPMG will ascertain the state of the banks assets and liabilities, and exercise a variety of powers under Act 930 to rehabilitate and return the bank to regulatory compliance and viability within a period of six months, at the end of which the bank will be returned to private ownership and management. "During the period of official administration of uniBank, the bank will remain open for business under the management and control of KPMG overseen by the Bank of Ghana, and is not being closed and liquidated. "uniBanks problems are part of the legacy issues in the financial sector attributed to weak economic growth and poor corporate governance and risk management practices. "It will be recalled that UniBank was one of nine banks identified after the asset quality review exercise undertaken in 2016, to be significantly undercapitalised with a CAR of 4.75%. As part of efforts to recapitalise the bank, it submitted capital restoration plans to the Bank of Ghana which it implemented to build up its capital to 7.7% in August 2017. Subsequent reviews of uniBanks books by Bank of Ghanas supervision teams showed that the bank had not reported the state of its loan book accurately. "Consequently by October 2017, its CAR was estimated at negative 12.5 %, making it technically insolvent. By December 2017, its CAR had dropped further to negative 24%. "The bank has failed to submit its monthly returns to the Bank of Ghana for January and February 2018, and as a result Bank of Ghana has no evidence to suggest that its CAR has been restored to the regulatory minimum of 10%. "Efforts made by Bank of Ghanas supervisory teams who have visited the banks head office several times this month to obtain current information on the banks financial health, proved futile as the banks management failed to cooperate with the Bank of Ghana staff on site," the central bank said. Source: classfmonline.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 Investigations conducted by Today have revealed that the Accra metropolis is gradually being overtaken by refuse, signaling a looming outbreak of communicable diseases in the capital. Today observed during a visit at some markets in Accra that dump sites in major locations and major market places had not been cleared, leaving piles of rubbish, which were attracting flies. Places like Kaneshie market, Agbogbloshie, Tudu, Accra Central, and Lapaz lorry station were all overflowing with rubbish as at the time Today visited last Sunday [March 25, 2018]. The saddest part of this was that traders at the afore-mentioned market places were seen going about their normal businesses close to rubbish, as they looked helpless. It was an eyesore at the Kaneshie market, which used to be clean as there was heaps of refuse scattered around the whole market. Roads, which led to the market, were full of refuse, making it difficult for drivers and commuters to use the roads. Speaking to Today in an interview many of the market women put the blame on the doorstep of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). They explained that the surrounding communities have no dumping sites. According to them, city authorities had also failed to provide them with refuse containers, hence their resolve to dump the refuse in the market. The traders were also disappointed that the city authorities had ignored their pleas to get the issue addressed. They therefore appealed to government to expedite action on the problem before the rains start. It will be recalled that two years ago, the country recorded its highest cholera cases as a result of poor waste management. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Situational Report on Cholera Outbreak in Ghana indicated that the country recorded some 591 confirmed cholera cases with five deaths between January and May last year. The report mentioned that the cases were recorded in 29 districts across eight regions over the period. The only regions spared were Northern and Upper East. It disclosed that last years cases were a spillover from the massive cholera outbreak, which saw a gargantuan 28,975 cases with 243 deaths, the largest the country has ever experienced in one year. Greater Accra Region which was mentioned as the epicentre of the outbreak last two years led last year again with 264 cases and four deaths by the close of 21st week of the year, followed closely by Eastern Region with 200 confirmed cases but no deaths. Source: today 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 race is between the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) Samura Kamara and the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Partys (SLPP) Julius Maada Bio. Maada Bio won the first round of voting which took place on March 7 but could not garner the required 55% to secure a straight victory. The March 7 process had sixteen contenders on the ballot paper. But according to the constitution, only the two leading candidates go into a runoff in case there is no first-round winner. The runoff is the last leg of general elections that saw the West African country elect lawmakers and local councillors. The process has been scored as largely free and fair despite concerns about intimidation and tribe-linked violence. Winner of the vote between Maada Bio a former military Head of State and Samura Kamara the immediate past Foreign Affairs Minister, will take over from outgoing Ernest Bai Koroma who was ineligible to run after two successive mandates. Sierra Leones presidential runoff vote has been postponed to Saturday, March 31 by the Supreme Court, the elections body announced late Monday (March 26) in an official statement. Lawyers for the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) approached the apex court for the extension hours after the High Court lifted its injunction on the process. 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 At a time when drug abuse is a national health issue, Nigeria may soon relax its law against planting and consumption of cannabis, with declaration that the United Nations ((UN) has approved usage of the drug for medical purposes. The position of UN on the usage and abuse of drug was declared by Project Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Nigeria, Harsheth Kaur Virk, in her presentation at a one day Public hearing on the need to check rising menace of Pharmaceutical drugs abuse among youth in Nigeria organised by the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Health. According to her, Cannabis is a miracle drug allowed for medical purposes by the United Nations, but not for recreational purposes. She said: Nigeria as a sovereign Nation has its stringent laws against it but international conventions of the UN have approved it for medical purposes based on outcome of researches conducted to that effect by globally recognized institutes. According to her, aside cannabis, recreational users of other addictive drugs by UN recommendation, should not be criminalised, but rehabilitated, adding, The Drugs and Crime office of the UN sees addictive drugs users as people who are sick, in need of treatment, care and rehabilitation. The UN official however pointed out that the global body was against drug trafficking. She charged Nigerias security agencies to be proactive in their anti-drug trafficking campaign and not reactive. Source: Linda Ikejis blog 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 attention of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has been drawn to a false news report, written by mynewsonline.com Ashanti regional correspondent, Kwabena Danso Dapaah, with the caption Spokesperson for Kumasi Mayor Fined for Defrauding Business. The reporter of the hoax story was unprofessional as he did a lazy piece of work by describing Mr. Frank Duodu, the main character in the story, as the spokesperson of the Kumasi Mayor, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, without taking time to verify from the KMA before the publication. It must be put on record that Mr. Frank Duodu is not the spokesperson of the Kumasi Mayor as the reporter, who clearly has a diabolical agenda to dent the hard-won image of Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, wrongly captured in his story, which was also published by ghanaweb.com. For the records, Mr. Frank Duodu is the current Kumasi Metro Director of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and not the spokesperson for the Kumasi Mayor as the reporter claimed. The Assembly is therefore demanding an immediate retraction and apology from Kwabena Danso-Dapaah and mynewsonline.com, where the misleading report was published, to help clean the dent that the false report had obviously done to the positive image of the Kumasi Mayor. The Assembly would like to strongly state that since assumption of office, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, has never engaged anybody as his spokesperson. The Public Relations Officer to the Assembly, Godwin Okumah Nyame, is the one who speaks for the Assembly. The office of the Kumasi Mayor is therefore disassociating itself from the false publication, carried by mynewsonline.com. The public is also urged to treat the news report with the contempt that it deserves since the reporter clearly ignored the ethics of the journalism profession. 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 Peacefmonline.com can confirm that Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has been picked up by the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, a couple of minutes ago. This was after he was heard in a shocking audio which went viral last night inciting civilians to launch a coup detat against the Akufo-Addo government. According to Peacefmonline sources, more than a dozen armed men in pickups and a V8 vehicle, besieged the premises of the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra at about 1:25pm to effect the arrest of the NDC capo. Koku, it is understood, was at the Press centre together with other NDC Executives and several other opposition leaders belonging to the Progressive Forces, to hold a news conference to condemn the government for signing a security cooperation deal with the United States of America. He was said to have refused to sit in the police pick-up and was thus escorted on foot to the CID headquarters a few metres away from the press centre. He was accompanied by the NDC General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah and National Chairman Kofi Portuphy. Watch video below: had earlier reported of plans by the security agencies to raid the residence of Mr. Anyidoho today, Tuesday, March 26 to cause his arrest over the comments some have described as irresponsible, wherein he warned of a civil insurrection, stating emphatically that a possible civilian coup would be staged to unseat the Akufo-Addo government .It was not known what the action will be, but it is widely speculated that it might be in the form of a "friendly invite" by the BNI for "questioning".The vociferous NDC kingpin had predicted President Nana Akufo-Addo, will be overthrown just like his father and the late K.A Busia, because of the controversial military pact deal between Ghana and the United States.According to him, there will be series of activities to unsettle the current administration with a planned nationwide demonstration to be undertaken on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 against President Akufo-Addo and his government."There will be a civil revolt. There will be a civilian coup detat. There will be a social revolution. We [NDC] are starting it on Wednesday. The movement is starting on Wednesday. Nana Addo will have headaches, sleepless nights, and severe running stomach. He will suffer severe diarrhea. He said he wants to be president, he would wish he hadn't harboured the desireWhen his attention was drawn to the graveness of his comments and asked by HappyFM's Kwame Afrifa Mensah whether he meant there will be a 'coup detat in Ghana', the Deputy General Secretary, who acknowledged his comments are serious, responded: as for me I have said it [translated], history has an interesting way of repeating itself...on the 13th of January 1972, a certain Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, led a movement that removed the progress party from power. Busia was the Prime Minister; Akufo-Addos father was the Ceremonial President. Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that, history has an interesting way of repeating itself." Koku Anyidoho furiously stated. 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 Member of Parliament for Assin Central Hon. Kennedy Agyapong has cautioned the NDC Deputy General Secretary, Mr Koku Anyidoho to behave and stop talking nonsense about national issues. Mr Anyidoho who threatened a civilian coup detat against the ruling NPP Government for allowing the US Forces free entry in and out of the country was called to shut up by Kennedy Agyapong otherwise he will face his wrath. Your threats wont do anything so shut up Koku. Ghana is a very nice country and we dont need insane people to make useless comments. Koku should stop making unnecessary comments about this US military issue. If you misbehave, I will be forced to deflate your stomach so that you can make sense when talking on national issues. I will discipline you if you continue that nonsense and I will take action and you will know that I am indeed mad he said. Meanwhile, Anyidoho has been arrested for those comments. Source: ghanacelebrities.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 Government has stated it will take appropriate measures within law, to protect the security of the country following the treasonable comments made by the deputy general secretary of the National Democratic Congress. The NDC firebrand, Koku Anyidoho, suggested in a radio interview Monday, March 26 that there would be civil revolt and civilian coup detat in the country from Wednesday, March 28. His comment, which has since gone viral, has widely been condemned by some Ghanaians. Plain-clothed officers later Tuesday afternoon picked up Anyidoho at the Accra International Press Centre where he and others were addressing journalists. He is currently being interrogated at the Police CID headquarters in Accra. General secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu has since stated Anyidohos comments do not reflect the position of the party. Speaking TV3s Midday Live, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the comments only remains the opinion of Anyidoho and do not in any way represent that of the party which lost power in the 2016 general elections. NDCs dissociation not enough Government issued a statement later to state it is not enough for the National Democratic Congress to distance itself from the treasonable comments without condemning same. Information Minister Dr. Mustapha Hamid who signed and issued the satatement said the government is concerned that the NDC does not condemn the treasonable comments of Anyidoho. We find the NDCs reluctance to condemn Anyodoh as particularly disturbing, he said. The statement said the coup, which Anyidoho said, would begin Wednesday coincides with a demonstration which has received NDCs endorsement. It is therefore important that the NDC demonstrates its commitment to democratic governance by showing that the Wednesday demonstration is not a smoke screen for fomenting insurrection as Anyidoho claims, the statement said. Government has thus called on the NDC to show commitment by unreservedly condemning what it described as treasonable comments by Anyidoho. It assured that appropriate steps would be taken within the law, to protect the security of the state. Government assures the citizens, that it will take appropriate steps within the bounds of law, to protect the security of the state, it concluded. Source: 3news.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 Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho will spend the night in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for comments government has described as treasonable. Peacefmonline sources say Mr Anyidoho will not be released after investigators slapped a charge of treason against him. "Arrest" & Refusal To Sit In Police Vehicle Koku Anyidoho was arrested in a rather dramatic fashion during the day, when an explosive audio which captured him making seditious comments and inciting civilians to launch a coup detat against the Akufo-Addo government, went viral. A dozen armed men in pickups and a V8 vehicle, besieged the premises of the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra at about 1:25pm Tuesday afternoon to effect the arrest of the NDC capo. He refused to sit in the police pick-up and was escorted on foot to the CID headquarters, a few metres away from the press centre, accompanied by the NDC General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah and National Chairman Kofi Portuphy. Koku, it is understood, was at the Press centre together with other NDC Executives and several other opposition leaders belonging to the Progressive Forces, to hold a news conference to condemn the government for ratifying a security cooperation deal with the United States of America. Undisclosed Location Reliable sources hinted to Peacefmonline that "The Bull", as the NDC firebrand is affectionately called, has been moved to an undisclosed location. Police Brutality Or Crowd Obstinacy? Moments after his "arrest" and prior to his being charged, Peacefmonline.com understands that the Police were compelled to fire rubber bullets to disperse the agitated crowd gathered at the Police Headquarters in solidarity with Mr. Anyidoho. The crowd were said to have resisted pleas by the Police officers to vacate the premises. Photos below: Weapons Search Earlier, police personnel stormed the house of the beleaguered NDC Deputy Chief Scribe; ostensibly on a fishing expedition. The search follows his arrest by CID officers According to monitored radio reports, the officers moved into his house at Oyarifa near Adenta to search whether he has some hidden weapons in his home. The police officers were accompanied by Lawyer Kojoga Adawadu, a known NDC activist. It is unclear if any offensive weapons were retrieved during the said search. 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 Stormy Daniels is coming to Pennsylvania. The adult film star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, will be performing at multiple strip clubs in the Keystone State in 2018. Daniels has become a household name since going public about an alleged sexual encounter she had with President Donald Trump in 2006, ten years before he became president. In Pennsylvania, she'll be performing at Blush in Pittsburgh on May 2 and 3 and at Club Risque locations in Philadelphia and Bristol on Nov. 8, 9 and 10. The stops are part of Daniels latest tour, which has consistently been adding performances as the scandal involving Trump has unfolded. Daniels gave an in-depth interview with Anderson Cooper on "60 Minutes" on March 25. Daniels detailed the alleged encounter with Trump and recounted being threatened, years later, by a stranger in a parking lot as a result. 22.1 million people watched the interview, according to CNBC. On March 26, Daniels filed a lawsuit for defamation against Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen. Cohen has admitted to personally paying her $130,000 to stay silent on the 2006 incident. However, Cohen has denied that Daniels had sex with Trump. That denial is defamatory statement, according to Daniels' attorney. Daniels' appearances at Blush will be May 2 and 3. Blush is located at 135 9th St. in Pittsburgh. Daniels will be performing at Club Risque Northeast (5921 Tacony St., Wissinoming, Philadelphia) at 10 p.m. on Nov. 8. She'll be at Club Risque Philadelphia (1700 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., South Philadelphia) at 10 p.m. and midnight on Nov. 9. Her final Club Risque performance will be at the Bristol location (3025 Veteran Highway, Bristol) at 10 p.m. and midnight on Nov. 10. Want more stories about Philly? Click here for all our coverage of the City of Brotherly Love. If Pittsburgh is more your jam, click here for all our coverage of Steel City. BALTIMORE -- Austin Wyatt Rollins, the 17-year-old who opened fire on classmates at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland last week, injuring one and killing another, died from shooting himself in the head, officials investigating the case said Monday. According to details released by the St. Mary's County sheriff's office, Rollins parked his car at 7:50 a.m. and walked through the school's main entrance two minutes later. At 7:57 a.m., he approached classmate Jaelynn Willey, 16, and shot her once in the head with his father's Glock 9-mm pistol. That bullet also struck 14-year-old Desmond Barnes in the leg. After firing the handgun, Rollins kept walking through the school, where he was confronted by school resource officer Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill just after 8 a.m. Their weapons went off simultaneously 31 seconds later, with Rollins shooting himself in the head and Gaskill shooting Rollins in the hand, officials said. The shot Rollins fired was fatal, according to the sheriff's office. Gaskill was not injured. Rollins died later that morning at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata. Willey, who had a relationship with Rollins that had ended recently, suffered injuries that proved fatal after she was taken off life support late Thursday. Her funeral is planned for Friday. The sheriff's report answered a question that had lingered about how Rollins died -- whether he had taken his own life or Gaskill had fired a fatal shot. In addition to the report, the sheriff's office released 911 audio tapes related to the incident, calls that were made beginning at 7:58 a.m. The tapes include a call to dispatchers from Barnes, who had taken shelter in a classroom after being struck in the leg. "I was just shot in my school," Barnes tells the 911 dispatcher during a nearly 15-minute recording. "I was just shot at my school." In the background of the call, the voice of the school principal comes over the intercom telling students and teachers to go into lockdown. A woman takes over the 911 call, telling the dispatcher she has Barnes lying down. She tells the dispatcher that she's afraid to transport the boy to a safer place, but that he is in pain. "You'll be OK, you'll be OK," the woman whispers gently. The dispatcher tells Barnes to stay calm, and that help is on the way. "Stay strong with me, buddy," he urges. "Yes, sir," the 14-year-old responds. Audio from another 911 call is from a woman who tells a dispatcher she is hiding behind her desk in a classroom in the art hallway, near the site of the shooting. Eleven other students are with her, she says. "There's a girl outside my door bleeding on the ground," the woman tells the dispatcher, saying it appeared that the blood was coming from the girl's head. "I have no idea if she's breathing," the woman says. In another 911 call, a girl urges the dispatcher to send help to Great Mills. "There's been a shooting here. Please come now," the girl says. The dispatcher asks what the problem is. "There's a school shooting. Please ... ," the girl answers. "Where? Where?" asks the dispatcher. The reply: "Here at Great Mills High School." The dispatcher is told that the girl and her classmates are locked in the classroom and that a teacher is with them. "OK, how old are you, ma'am?" the dispatcher asks, and the girl answers: "I'm 17." More than 100 Great Mills students, alumni and staff joined the March for Our Lives in Washington on Saturday, many carrying signs in honor of Willey. Online fundraising campaigns have raised more than $92,000 for Willey's family and more than $23,000 for Barnes. The shooting remains under investigation. The sheriff's office has not yet said how Rollins gained access to his father's gun, which was legally owned. The office also has said Rollins made no public social media threats before the shooting, but officials said they would take a close look at his accounts. Classes are set to resume at Great Mills on April 2, after spring break this week. A public service honoring Willey has been scheduled for Friday morning at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department in Hollywood. There also will be a visitation and a prayer service there Thursday afternoon, according to a funeral announcement from Brinsfield Funeral Homes and Crematory. Willey was the second oldest of nine children, and has been remembered by family and friends as an active swimmer and dedicated student who loved the beach and helped take care of her siblings. A liquor license transfer for a Turkey Hill store was denied by Lebanon City Council Monday night, according to a report in the Lebanon Daily News. Turkey Hill wants to transfer a liquor license for beer and wine sales previously owned by a Jonestown business to its store at 12th and Maple streets. Council voted 5-0 to deny the transfer, following concerns about the ability of employees' to monitor alcohol consumption, congestion, traffic, parking, crosswalks, lighting and more that were raised at a public hearing on the transfer Feb. 22, said the report. Turkey Hill representatives said they responded to the concerns, and said the company has a 100 percent carding policy. Sales of single beers would be limited to two per person. They also said they are going to upgrade lighting, and will help with a crosswalk upgrade. Turkey Hill said Weis, one of its competitors, was allowed to sell alcohol. If the transfer is approved, the company will still need land development, zoning and Liquor Control Board approval. HARRISBURG - They sifted through surveillance footage, talked to witnesses, and released photos of persons of interest from a weekend shooting at a bar. All the pieces of the puzzle came together today, and Harrisburg police have named, and are now looking for, a suspect in the shooting death of a 20-year-old. Jawan Washington, 20, was shot and killed this weekend in Harrisburg. That suspect's name is Charles Williams, 42, of Harrisburg. "We recommend that he come to the police station, or contact us to make arrangements for his surrender," Harrisburg Police Capt. Gabe Olivera said at a press conference today. Around 1:51 a.m. Saturday, police received multiple calls of shots fired in the area of Double D's bar in the 500 block of S. 19th St. There were a lot of people around at that time, leading to a chaotic situation as customers ran for cover when the shots went off, Olivera said. Responding officers found Jawan Washington, 20, who had been shot multiple times, lying in the parking lot. Through the investigation, Olivera said police identified Williams as the shooter. "He is being sought after right now," Olivera said. "He is being charged with murder." Live: Harrisburg PD gives update on weekend homicide. Posted by PennLive.com on Monday, March 26, 2018 There was no information available as to what led to the shooting or if Williams and Washington were acquainted. Many of these specifics are still part of the investigation, Olivera said. Anyone with information on Williams' whereabouts should contact the police or submit a tip through Crime Watch. Though police had previously issued photos of "persons of interest" and a vehicle, those did not lead to charges, but they did help connect investigators to Williams, Olivera said. Surveillance video at Double D's was also critical in leading to the identification of Williams as a suspect, he said. Double D's had been identified by city officials as a nuisance bar in the past, but Olivera said that is a separate issue that police will be looking into. "We don't want to cloud this investigation with that investigation," Olivera said. "This takes priority. It is a homicide. But we will be addressing that in the near future." Harrisburg's ability to close what it considers to be nuisance bars through pulling municipal business licenses was halted by a Commonwealth Court ruling last year. The court ruling states municipalities do not have the power to use this option to close an establishment licensed by the Liquor Control Board. This particular bar, Double D's, was the sight of multiple shootings and police involving fights, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and drug activity. BELLEFONTE--The defense attorney for a former Penn State fraternity brother on Monday suggested Timothy Piazza may have suffered an injury to his spleen more than three days before he fell down 15 feet of stairs inside the Beta Theta Pi house. A forensic pathologist testified Friday that Piazza's tumble down the stairs Feb. 2, 2017, during a booze-fueled pledge party shattered Piazza's spleen and broke the back of his skull across the entire base. No one called for medical help for nearly 12 hours. But Frank Fina, attorney for Brendan Young, the former president of the house, introduced material Monday designed to cast doubts on when Piazza's spleen was injured. Normally defense attorneys would not have "discovery" material provided by the prosecution at this point in the criminal proceedings. But because this case has dragged on for nearly a year, prosecutors already have started sharing evidence with defense attorneys, including the results of searches on Piazza's phone and computer. Fina said Piazza on Jan. 29 searched online for "pain in lower left abdomen" to find an article on what could cause such pain. A second article searched by Piazza concerned "left lower quadrant pain," that referenced severe pain, Fina said. The next day, someone in Piazza's family sent a message asking: "How's the pain? Did you drink the stuff? Did it help?" Piazza responded a few hours later and apologized for not seeing the message sooner. "I'm still in pain," Piazza wrote. "It helped a bit." The relative replied: "maybe you need a second dose." "Yea," Piazza said. "I'll try it." Under cross examination by Fina, State College Police David Scicchitano said he was not aware of the online searches or that Piazza had abdominal pain days before the bid acceptance night. But Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Zarallo said the articles searched by Piazza did not concern spleen injuries, but rather irritable bowel syndrome. Fina shot back that Piazza's searches weren't for constipation, but for lower left abdominal pain, where the spleen is. Thomas Kline, attorney for Piazza's parents, later provided more clarification and said Piazza took prescription Cymbalta for leg pain and that constipation was a known adverse side-effect. Kline said Piazza had long been aware of this and his text messages to his relative indicate that he was taking something like Pepto Bismol to try to resolve it. "Does any among us believe that Tim Piazza had a previous lacerated spleen that had been bleeding for four days, that happened to rupture absent the fall, which of course was the result of him becoming intoxicated, which was the result of the pressure to drink massive amounts of alcohol in a very short period of time," Kline said. "So that rabbit hole takes them nowhere." On the stand, Fina asked Scicchitano if he was aware of any injuries Piazza may have suffered prior to the bid acceptance night party Feb. 2, 2017. That's the night where Piazza was knocked unconscious from a fall down the basement stairs after drinking 18 drinks in 82 minutes. Scicchitano said he investigated a situation where Piazza fell down at the Beta house during a prior rush event, ripping a hole in his pants and hurting his knee. After Fina established that Scicchitano didn't have any prior knowledge of the prior "abdominal pain," searches, Fina noted that police then weren't able to "investigate how bad it was or the cause." Fina's line of questioning appeared designed to break any causal link between his client's actions as president of the fraternity and Piazza's mortal injuries. Under state law, the prosecutor needs to establish that Young and four other defendants facing involuntary manslaughter "acted recklessly" and that their actions were a "direct cause" of Piazza's death. Fina also sought to establish that fraternity brothers didn't realize the extent of Piazza's injuries and merely thought Piazza was intoxicated and "needed to sleep it off." Fina's client left the house about 30 minutes after the fall and said Fina said other fraternity members spent more time with Piazza and knew more about his condition but they didn't call for medical help. Fina also asked a series of questions designed to get to the heart of the case against his client: whether any new evidence had been presented that would show Brendan Young: directed or required Piazza to drink? knew about Piazza's bruise on his left abdomen? knew Piazza was left alone on an upstairs couch after 3 a.m.? knew Piazza fell multiple times after 3 a.m.? Scicchitano answer no to every question. Steven Trialonas, attorney for the former pledge master Daniel Casey, then started his cross examination of Scicchitano where he said the alcohol-chugging obstacle course known as the "gauntlet" wasn't invented by his client. "It had been going on for years," Trialonas said. "It wasn't his idea." Trialonas also pointed out a text message from his client sent to Young that Casey's pledge class "loved" the gauntlet when they went through it. Trialonas played a recorded police interview with fraternity member Greg Rizzo who said he didn't want to drink vodka at the vodka station when he went through the gauntlet as a pledge, so he didn't. That was an effort by Trialonas to establish the drinking as voluntary. Earlier in the day, the prosecution played about two hours of video clips from the pledge party attended by Piazza designed to show Piazza didn't fetch a single drink on his own. Instead, prosecutors said fraternity brothers handed him beer cans, wine bags and vodka bottles to chug on demand. Trialonas also played a portion of the police interview with Rizzo where Rizzo said Young (as his pledge master) didn't force him to drink and instead taught him about Beta history and that Casey also acted as a champion for his pledge class, protecting them from other fraternity brothers. "That's your victim?" Trialonas asked Scicchitano, because Young and Casey both face charges related to hazing Rizzo. "These are your perpetrators?" Trialonas ended the day by announcing that Piazza had been invited to 32 rush events within 12 days and that he agreed to attend 18 of them knowing they would be centered around alcohol. The judge then chimed in to ask if Trialonas knew how many Piazza actually attended and Trialonas said he didn't know. "I'm not sure what the suggestion is," Zarallo said of the entire line of questions about other rush parties. Judge Sinclair then asked to end the day and reconvene Tuesday morning, since it was past 5:30 p.m. and security was prepared to close the courthouse. Trialonas will get back into his cross examination of the police detective Tuesday and then nine other defense attorneys representing the other defendants will have the opportunity. The defendants face charges ranging from alcohol violations to hazing to involuntary manslaughter. Sinclair set aside six days for the proceedings, at the end of which he will rule which charges refiled by the attorney general's office will go forward to trial. The attorney general's office has not yet announced how it plans to proceed with 14 other former fraternity brothers who face a range of other charges filed last November by a former prosecutor. Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers. There's nothing like a little nationwide television exposure to focus legislative attention on an issue. Just about a week or so after Pennsylvania made national headlines with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny a Republican-backed challenge to the state's Congressional maps, Capitol-dwellers find themselves in the grips of a bout of reform fever. On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf, surrounded by Democratic allies in the state Senate, put his support behind a buffet-style menu of reforms that are supposed to make elections freer (redistricting reform, campaign finance reform) and fairer (same-day voter registration, expanded absentee balloting opportunities). Republican critics in the state Senate, as you might expect, pounced, calling out Wolf for a bit of election year grandstanding before the TV cameras as he shifts his re-election campaign into full gear. Wolf "knows full well the Senate State Government Committee is having a hearing tomorrow focused on redistricting reform. He has not asked to testify or participate in that process. This illustrates that he has no interest in getting his hands dirty, he just wants to stand at the podium and pontificate," Senate GOP spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher told PennLive's Charlie Thompson. So, about that hearing today ... High-profile public hearings, especially those on politically potent issues, generally serve one of two purposes in this town. Sometimes, they're an attempt to actually tackle an issue; to take a series of difficult proposals, and do the legislative heavy-lifting that actually results in them becoming law at some point or another. More often, and this is a sad fact, they're dog-and-pony shows, held in the full glare of the television cameras, that allow lawmakers TO BE SEEN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. And, then, when that duty is dispensed, the underlying bills are tucked back on a shelf to gather dust, or used to prop up a table in some office somewhere. It's also important to note that half the 50-member Senate, along with the whole of the 203-member House, is up for re-election this year as well. So there's an inevitable patina of politics on today's proceedings, even with the not-unjustifiable shot over Wolf's bow. Among the proposals that the Senate State Government Committee will take up today is a bill, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, that would take redistricting out of the hands of the Legislature and turn it over to an independent commission. Boscola's bill, along with a companion piece of legislation in the House, has long been the Holy Grail of reformers. It's been talked about for years, but has never actually made it a vote. So the fact that this bill is getting a public hearing today is something approximating a victory for reformers. But it's what happens afterward that matters. It's whether the bill can pass the crucial math test of 102 + 26 + 1 that will turn it from mere proposal into law. For that to happen, for a bill to make it onto Wolf's desk, Republican leaders in the House and Senate will have to put actual muscle behind it. They've long been resistant to this very reform, so it's entirely reasonable to be skeptical. State Sen. Mike Folmer, the Lebanon County Republican who chairs the State Government Committee, has positioned himself as a reform-minded guy. He's one of the architects of the state's medical marijuana law, just for instance. Here's what Folmer had to say about redistricting reform in a Jan. 31 posting to his official website: "Redistricting reform has long been a goal of mine," he wrote, as he took the state Supreme Court to task for its rewrite of the congressional map. He continued: "I am perplexed by comments from some advocates. Most surprising were two board members from the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters who told me they had not read the bill they support. They could not explain how it would work. They couldn't express why it's better than other bills under consideration. "Other advocates surprised me when they declared voters could not be trusted to select delegates to a proposed citizens' redistricting commission. They argued "party bosses" would take over. They seem to have forgotten I was opposed by the party establishment. "I have yet to meet someone who will address my biggest concern with proposed plans to change redistricting: if a revamped commission would be unable to draw new maps, lines would be drawn by a 'special master.' How does having one - unelected - person drawing maps constitute "reform?'" Some of those questions could be answered during today's session in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building. And while this will be an important discussion, what's more important is what happens beyond today. If redistricting reform "has long been a goal," for Folmer, a genuinely good guy, these bills will survive the day and pass an important math test. Listen to the talk today. But watch for the action. The rest of the day's news starts now. Here's one of the ways that Republicans are going after U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., this campaign season: Republicans are still running against Hillary. NRSC launches digital ad highlighting @SenBobCasey support for Clinton. Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) March 26, 2018 Pa's Congressional delegation was mostly silent during this weekend's student rallies in Washington D.C., Pa., and elsewhere, The Post-Gazette reports. Lt. Gov. Mike Stack wasn't there, but he was a top topic of conversation among the Democratic candidates for second banana. Here's our rundown. $800 million later, lawmakers want to know what happened to that pricey State Police radio system, PennLive's Jan Murphy reports. The Inquirer looks at opportunities for Dems in the suburbs now that U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello has decided to retire when his term ends. Here's our take on the same question. Good news, Pittsburgh! There's a Storm(y) on the way to your town. Here's a perfectly lovely #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day: New bike lanes are coming to Fairmount Park and West Philly, WHYY-FM reports. State attorneys general, including Pa's Josh Shapiro, are looking for answers on Facebook's privacy safeguards, WITF-FM reports. The Stroudsburg Area School Board has voted down an NRA grant for the school rifle team, calling it 'dirty money,' The Morning Call reports. The Census has gotten a budget boost - even as the Trump administration tries to monkey with the questions. Politico looks at how Trump favored Texas over Puerto Rico for disaster relief. Classy. U.S. Rep. Steve King's Facebook page mocks Parkland survivors. What Goes On. 10:30 a.m, Main Rotunda: Rally for gender diversity and SR255 11:30 a.m., Main Rotunda: Rally for SB942, which allows parole eligibility for life sentences 11:30 a.m., East Rotunda: "Troubled Waters" event. Pretty sure this includes neither Simon nor Garfunkel. What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition). 8 a.m.: Breakfast for Sen. Wayne Fontana 8 a.m.: Breakfast for Sen. Randy Vulakovich 8 a.m.: Breakfast for Sen. John Sabatina 12 p.m.: Luncheon for Sen. Kim Ward Ride the circuit, and give at the max, and you'll be out a mere $8,000 today. WolfWatch Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today. You Say It's Your Birthday Dept. Best wishes go out this morning to PennLive's David Wenner and to Dan Hayward of Novak Strategic Adivsors in Harrisburg. Congrats, gents. Enjoy the day. Heavy Rotation. Here's an old fave from R.E.M. to get your morning moving And now you're up to date. By Pat Toomey It's been 45 years since the last American combat troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. From the firing of the first shots in November of 1955 until far too recently, Vietnam-era veterans, who served bravely, often did not get the respect and appreciation they deserved. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. (PennLive file) Sadly, many veterans, upon returning home, were greeted with contempt and scorn from some of their fellow citizens. This disgraceful treatment is a blot on our history, but thankfully, our country has sought to right this wrong. One seemingly small yet significant expression of our gratitude has been setting aside March 29 as a federal day to nationally recognize the service of Vietnam veterans. For this official event, we can thank Harold Redding. Harold is a native of York, Pa., and an Army veteran who served our nation in Vietnam. For Harold, the culmination of his Army service did not end his service to our nation. Today, Harold serves as a strong and vocal supporter for Vietnam veterans. One issue in particular had been near to Harold's heart: to permanently designate March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day in federal law. While each president since Richard Nixon had issued annual proclamations designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, it had never been codified in federal law. To Harold, this was unacceptable. Upon hearing Harold's idea, my colleague, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and I introduced a bipartisan bill, the National Vietnam Veterans Recognition Act. Once our bill moved through Congress, it was quickly signed by President Trump. We thereby permanently designated March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This overdue recognition would not have been possible had it not been for the tireless efforts of Harold Redding. It is my hope that this law will play a significant part in honoring the service, bravery, and sacrifice of our Vietnam veterans. One year later, I continue my ongoing efforts to pay tribute to our nation's heroes with events all across Pennsylvania to formally recognize our Vietnam veterans. It is with great honor that I serve as a Department of Defense Commemorative Partner. This program is designed for federal, state and local communities, veterans' organizations, and other nongovernmental organizations to assist a grateful nation in thanking and honoring our Vietnam Veterans and their families. While it is a tragedy that so many of our Vietnam veterans did not get the welcome home they earned and deserved, I am glad we were able to recognize their service and tremendous sacrifices with this law and by providing a formal thank you. It is America's veterans and their families who keenly understand the meaning of the word sacrifice. For some of them, sacrifice has meant living with serious injuries. For all of them, it meant missing holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and the small but irreplaceable memories that come with normal everyday life. This Vietnam War Veterans Day, we should remind ourselves, our friends, and our families that the veterans from years gone by, and those in uniform today, have risked and are risking their lives for us and our way of life. We must honor our heroes, like Harold Redding and others, who continue to serve their nation and fellow servicemen, even after their tours of duty conclude. For it is the sacrifice of those who served that preserves our freedom and liberty today. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, is the junior United States Senator from Pennsylvania. He writes from Washington, D.C. Twelve years have passed since the last time Pennsylvania raised the price of fishing licenses and that alone could provide sufficient reason for state lawmakers to consider a fee increase. But that issue has gotten lost in some muddy waters that include some distrust of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's executive director John Arway, the healthy reserve funds the commission has built up, and a plan that Arway concocted that lawmakers took as a threat if they didn't go along with raising the $21 cost of a fishing license. A hearing on Tuesday of the House Game and Fisheries Committee that became testy at times touched on all those issues but did little to advance the Senate-passed bill that would have allowed fishing licenses to be raised by around $6.25 to $6.50 in the first year and 3 percent annually over the next four years. In fact, committee Chairman Keith Gillespie, R-York County, said based on the information that came out at the hearing about the $101 million that is sitting in the commission's reserve funds, he believes an audit of the commission is in order before lawmakers will even consider voting to support an increase of a fishing license fee. For those who haven't been paying attention to this fishing fee flap, the following may help you get up to speed. Q: Where does the money from fishing licenses go? A: It goes strictly into funds that the fish and boat commission control. The commission operates on a self-sufficient basis without any supplemental funding from the state budget. The amount the commission needs to operate annually is currently about $56 million. About 71 percent of that goes to cover personnel costs with the rest going into support various programs with just two of them being operating fish hatcheries and fish stocking. Q: Why do we spend money on raising fish and then stocking streams and rivers with them instead of letting nature run its course? A: There are two reasons, according to Arway. One is to create recreation closer to where people are. "We figure we can help nature and make it more convenient for anglers by putting fish closer to them that they wouldn't have a chance to catch if we didn't stock," he said. The other has to do with economic benefits. "We can create economic growth in local communities just with our opening day of trout season," he said. "A lot of people migrate to places they don't see the rest of the year and they spend money at grocery stores and hotels so it's a big business." How big? According to the latest estimates available, Arway said the 2.1 million Pennsylvania anglers contribute to $3.9 billion to the state's economy. Q: Why is a fishing license fee needed? A: The commission is now in a position where its expenses exceed the revenues coming in by $6.2 million. Despite cutting the commission's staff from a high of 432 employees to 366, the commission is looking at having to dip into its uncommitted reserves to cover operating costs. Without additional revenue, Arway said the uncommitted reserves will be depleted in five years. Q: Faced with that fiscal reality, what did the commission do? A: Arway said the commission's board directed him in September to reduce operating costs by $2 million if the General Assembly didn't approve a fishing license fee. Based on the direction, Arway put forth the idea of reducing the number of trout to be stocked in 2019 by 220,000 and cut stocking of trout in waterways in districts of lawmakers opposed to increasing the license fee. Arway told the House committee that panel of lawmakers that decision was "my decision and my decision alone" and was "taken off the table that very day they were proposed." Instead, he said it was decided to defer any decision about which streams and lakes will or will not be stocked until July 1 to wait and see if the Legislature approved the fishing license fee. He apologized several times over "for the creation and delivery of that message" that incensed lawmakers. Q: How do we know it incensed lawmakers? A: In a week's time - lightning speed for a legislative body, Senate Bill 935 was introduced and passed by the state Senate limiting the term of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission executive director to eight years. The House Game and Fisheries Committee approved the bill earlier this month and it now is before the full House for consideration. By the way, Arway just celebrated his eight-year anniversary this month as executive director but has a total of 38 years with the commission. Q: Did that come up at Tuesday's hearing? A: It did. Rep. Bryan Barbin, D-Cambria County, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said Arway had lied to him about who was responsible for the fish stocking cut locations, blaming it on staff. "You tell people that count on you to give us a straight answer as to how things are done and you're not completely accurate or you don't tell the truth," Barbin said. "Unfortunately, you have lost my trust. That's why I voted against you. If saying he hadn't done that, you wouldn't have Senate Bill 935. ... You are not the person who should be at the helm." Arway responded to what he saw as an attack on his integrity and said he never lied about who was responsible for proposing the stocking cut locations. "I am a bigger man than that," he said, suggesting Barbin had misheard or misinterpreted what he had said about it. Q: What else had House committee members upset? A: The size of the reserves that the commission has built up. According to Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Northampton, the commission has an investment pool of almost $120 million with $51 million of that uncommitted and can be spent at the commission's discretion. The rest of the reserves is committed for future contractual obligations. Emrick said for the commission to be asking for $2 million in operating cuts "when you can easily tap that from your reserve fund is inexcusable and I think people need to know how much the fish and boat commission is sitting on." He said he can't go back to his district and explain to anglers that he supported raising the fishing license fee when the commission is holding that much of public funds in reserve. "It would be completely irresponsible," Emrick said. Arway said the reserves are the commission's rainy day funds and it is raining now for the commission. If the Legislature doesn't approve an increase in license fees, he said those uncommitted reserves will be depleted in five years. He said the commission has $110 million in deferred infrastructure projects and if directed to do so, the reserves could take care of half of that to-do list but then the commission would be left with no money to take care of the rest. "It's inconceivable to me that we're being criticized for saving money and not spending money, more money," he said. Q: Did Arway find any support among the committee members? A: Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming County, called for making the commission truly independent and allow it to make its own decisions about what the price of a fishing or boat license should be. Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams County, said he likes Arway because he is a fighter and he loves his passion for angling and boating. He accepts Arway's apology, saying he himself has said things he regretted. He also expressed a willingness to do whatever he can to rectify what "brought us to this situation that we have today ... so we can move forward to help the fish and boat commission." Q: Given all that, will anglers who turn out for the start of trout season in a couple of weeks have to pay more for a fishing license? A: No, that much is certain. But whether that changes next year remains to be seen. Pennsylvania has its new Congressional maps, thanks to a ferocious and politically-tinged court battle. Now, the question is, can people on the different sides of that fight come together on a better way to draw them up, and district maps for the state House and Senate, in the future? That conversation started Tuesday with the Senate State Government Committee holding a long-awaited hearing on a set of reform bills that would move the process from the legislature and governor - aka politicians - to some form of citizens commission. Supporters of reforms argue the current process has proven too prone to partisan gerrymandering that stunts political competition and voter interest, and can contribute to policy gridlock both in Washington and Harrisburg. The clock is ticking. Because of the multi-step process to amend the state Constitution, any bill covering the state legislature would need to be passed before the legislature's summer break in order to effect change by the 2021 redraw. That's a tall order for an issue that does not have the unqualified support of legislative leadership. On the other hand, there are three months to try to iron something out. The lead proposal is a bill by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton County, that creates an 11-member redistricting commission to handle the post-census realignment of Congressional, state Senate and state House districts. Boscola's idea is a commission of 11 members - four from each of the state's two largest political parties and three independents or minor party members - chosen through two random selection processes. Applicants must have voted in two of the last three statewide elections, and be longstanding members of their respective party. But in order to ensure their independence, they or their immediate family members could not have held public office or worked for members of Congress, the General Assembly or political parties in any capacity for the past five years. The Department of State would pick 40 semi-finalists for each of the three groups, from whom legislative leaders would be able to strike up to two names from each group. Final commission members would then be selected from a second random draw from the remaining names, with algorithms set to control for racial and geographic diversity. Once seated, the commission would have the task of drawing maps for all three types of legislative districts, passing preliminary plans and, after public hearings, passing final plans by Aug. 15 of, in this case, 2021. As for the maps themselves, the commission would be barred from considering addresses of incumbents, political affiliations of voters or past election results in setting the lines. Passage would require a super-majority of seven votes, with at least one vote coming from each of the sub-groups. Boscola's bill sparked a lively discussion, with reformers who are leading the charge for change almost daring lawmakers to get this done this spring, but senators raising objections on several fronts. State Government Committee Chairman Mike Folmer, a Republican from Lebanon County, said one top concern of his is a provision that would send the maps to the state Supreme Court if the commission can't agree. That means, Folmer said, that one expert gets to draw the lines. He also voiced discomfort with the random selection process, though supporters said that, to them, is central to the bill. "The 'who' is at the heart of the question," said Carol Kuniholm, chair of Fair Districts PA. "No other major democracy allows legislators a role in drawing their own district lines." Kuniholm went further, noting Pennsylvania is in a position now where partisan politics is so deeply-ingrained in the culture that, and even in groups like the judiciary and college professors, "it's become incredibly clear: No one trusts anyone to be non-partisan. "So we have to have another way to get there, and that's why the randomized selection." Other Republicans raised concerns, too. Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne County, noted sometimes irregular district shapes reflect communities of interest most precisely, like the rural and suburban areas she represents seeking an independent voice separate from the larger city of Wilkes-Barre. Sen. Rich Alloway, R-Franklin County, said he believes that generally speaking it is still the best candidates with the best messages who wil elections in Pennsylvania. That brought this sharp and sharply self-aware response from Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia and the ranking Democrat on the committee, who argued too many districts have been built to be politically "safe" under the current system. "We don't understand that we are killing this democracy that we all wrap ourselves around in when we run for election. "I come from one of those districts where if I go to sleep for four years and wake up, I get re-elected," Williams said. "It's not about good candidates." Folmer - elected to the Senate in 2006 as a reformer and a 'no' vote on the state's infamous 2011 Congressional map - said afterward he believes the Boscola bill needs work, but he vowed a sincere effort on the issue this spring. Any redistricting reform may face an even steeper climb in the state House, where State Government Chairman Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler County, has thus far shown little public interest in the redistricting issue. Still, the political calculus is different at the state Capitol this year, and that could give this issue some forward momentum: * Given the recent battle over the Congressional districts, lawmakers know the state Supreme Court is willing to intervene and it is expected to have largely the same makeup in 2021. * There is a large, well-organized grassroots effort on the issue that could become a potent political weapon in this year's elections. "We're telling people, this is an election issue," Kuniholm said Tuesday. "And all the other things - no matter what single issue is important to us - if we don't have a responsive legislature, it doesn't matter." There is one back-up plan discussed Tuesday that could move to center stage even if Boscola's Constitutional amendment drive falters. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County, has proposed a plan that would take the task of Congressional redistricting solely, from the legislature and governor and entrust it to a citizen's commission. Costa's plan, which would not require a Constitutional amendment, could be enacted at any time through 2020 and still be operative for the 2021 redistricting, he said. New lines for the state House and Senate would continue to be established the current Legislative Reapportionment Commission, consisting of the four caucus leaders and a fifth, neutral member. Boscola stressed she's not firmly wedded to any one proposal. "But let's start somewhere," she stressed Tuesday. "We need this." The exterior of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating station is pictured on Monday Nov. 29, 2010, in Lepreau, N.B. New Brunswick's Crown-owned utility has reached a settlement with insurers who underwrote an all-risk policy for refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station, which took three years longer than planned and cost a billion dollars more than budgeted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Kevin Bissett FILE - In this June 18, 2016 file photo, U.S. actress Olivia de Havilland poses during an interview in Paris. A California appeals court has thrown out a lawsuit by 101-year-old actress Olivia de Havilland against the creators of the FX Networks show AuFeud: Betty and Joan.Au De Havilland claims that she should have been compensated and asked permission for the use of her likeness on the show. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) A picture of Carlos Puidgemont is fixed in front of the entrance building of a prison in Neumuenster, northern Germany, Tuesday, March 27, 2018 where Carles Puigdemont, the fugitive ex-leader of Catalonia and ardent separatist, is believed to be held after he was arrested Sunday by German police on an international warrant as he tried to enter the country from Denmark. (Frank Molter/dpa via AP) FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2012, file photo, a line of people living in the U.S. without legal permission wait outside the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles. California is suing the Trump administration over its decision to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 U.S. Census. In announcing the lawsuit Tuesday, March 27, 2018, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra says adding such a question is a reckless decision that would violate the U.S. Constitution and cause a population undercount. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) Pirates play to win against Blackcats Perryville football has had a flair for the dramatic this season. This past week was no different as they held on late for a 21-14 victory over Fredericktown on Friday at Pirate Stadium. Perryville St. Vincent keeps foot on the gas in victory St. Vincent made quick work of Herculaneum in week four. The Indians got off to a quick start and kept it rolling as they dispatched of the Blackcats 49-0 on Friday at Herculaneum High School. That Goldfields gold mining company in Guyana insists local content footprint has met requirements By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 03 27 2018 Canadian-owned Guyana Goldfields Inc./Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) is insisting that it has fulfilled its part of the agreement with the people of Guyana, even surpassing projections of its footprint in Guyana. Officials of the Region Seven mining company were being grilled by media workers on Sunday during a tour to the area. Aurora, as it is known locally, started commercial operations in January 2015, with over 95 percent of the 500-plus staffers locals. Administrative Manager, Peter Benny insisted that local content is very evident with several staffers shadowing expats who number just under 40. The visit would come at a time when the company, which is traded on the stock market and is the largest mine in Guyana, is preparing to start underground mining in Guyana, the first time it will be done here. AGM would be heartened, as there are over 2.2 million ounces in the area where the underground mining is being planned. Preparatory workers are underway with local experienced mining company, Japarts, handed a major project to strip and haul the hard rock from the Rory's Knoll pit which is over 250 feet below sea level. Rory's Knoll is where the mother lode was found and where almost US$600M would be sunk into. The operation is a huge one by any accounts. Since the start of operations, AGM has become the biggest single contributor to the declaration pie of the country's gold production. With five years left in open pit mining at Rory's Knoll, AGM's Deputy General Manager, Vic Rozon, said that the company's current estimated operating life, based on what was found, would be around 2033. In the meantime, the company is busy exploring its concessions. HOME AWAY FROM HOME With regards to its impact, according to Camp Coordinator, Troy Semple, over 1,770 meals are being prepared daily (four meals daily) for the 528 staffers on site. That is over 53,000 meals being prepared per month. There are 170 self-contained sleeping quarters for staffers, including hot and cold showers and air-conditioning. In addition, there is a games room, with even a PS4 console, along with a full gym and bar. Last year, the company purchased a Twin Otter aircraft, flying staff in and out every four weeks. Locally, the company is purchasing over $60M monthly in food, with training provided to 16 suppliers on how to handle food safely. Questioned about the need to release contractors who were fetching fuel, chemicals, food and other materials from its Buck Hall, Essequibo River location, Benny explained that the company last year acquired some equipment and was in the process of reviewing of plans. It asked the contractors to stand down. Japarts still had equipment on site and the company, which had a proven track record, was offered the contract to prepare the pit for underground mining. There is another major phase that is expected to start later this year. Japarts is reportedly being asked to partner with Morrison Trucking Services and Machinery Rentals, a company located in the Kaylees Gas Station, Land of Canaan. That company was one told to stand down last year. The company had denied it was owned by embattled cash-smuggling pilot, Khamraj Lall. With regards to Benny, its agreement with the Government on local content, was to ensure that it purchase as much as possible locally. This is being done with even local beef, once imported, now being purchased from local supermarkets like Bonny's and Rossignol. The company has also been contributing to the Linden Technical Institute, the Government Technical Institute, and even the University of Guyana, building capacity in technical areas. MACORP has also benefited from significant businesses with several of the 100-plus pieces of equipment purchased there. According to Benny, with airports being used and transportation, the spin-offs of transportation and other spending have been contributing to nearby communities and to the hospitality sector. There is simply no other hotel that produces the amount of food that Aurora does, the official boasted. LOCAL CONTENT Questioned with respect to whether the agreement forces AGM to buy locally, the officials said it speaks of workers. However, not buying local would see imported items being taxed. With regard to checks to ensure what gold is being declared is correct, Benny disclosed that officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission visit monthly, with reports mandated to the Gold Board and other bodies. GGMC, the Labour Ministry and other audit officials from overseas have also been checking on environment, health and safety issues and other records to ensure compliance. When it is time to ship, GGMC through the Guyana Gold Board, and the Guyana Revenue Authority, would verify, stamp, tag and accompany it Benny made it clear that tight systems exist, including access to the storage vault to ensure that there are no breaches and no questions. There are also cameras monitoring every aspect of the operations. R ozon said that gold pouring is being recorded and handled manually and witnessed by multiple persons. The company has also been looking after its staffers with bonus schemes, funeral expenses for family members and even bursaries. In fact, when it comes to local content, over US$250M is being spent annually for supplies, with US$300M in salaries paid to workers. Asked if the company has honoured its commitment, the Administrative Manager insisted that his company has done more. In fact, AGM was not even thinking of expansion when it started two years ago. Yet, it is now moving rapidly to underground mining. In addition to local suppliers, there are roads being maintained with eight percent royalty paid on every ounce found. In addition, the company says it has managed to comply with environmental requirements, with wild animals living near the mine site without any disruptions. The environmental footprint is even smaller than what was agreed to. Admitting that the company does face labour issues at times, Benny said they are handled. The company has no issues with any unions coming into the operations, he emphasised. He also said that in terms of benefits and pay, AGM remains the most competitive of all miners in Guyana. The local content question would be pertinent, as there is huge debate over what Guyana is getting from ExxonMobil which has discovered oil in massive quantities offshore Guyana. The weak agreement has raised troubling questions about Guyana's take on foreign direct investments here. Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 03 27 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 Guyana has fails to negotiate signing bonuses with oil companies Even the ExxonMobil money is just a legal fund- Ram By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 03 27 2018 Guyana has not been able to secure signing bonuses on any of Petroleum Sharing Agreements (PSA) that the governments signed with oil companies, except for ExxonMobil. Guyana has standing PSAs with several oil companies including Ratio Energy Limited, CGX Energy Inc, Eco- Atlantic and Tullow Oil. The only signing bonus received so far is from ExxonMobil and critics say that the US$18M received under that name is chicken feed to the money given to other countries. Even further, Attorney at Law Christopher Ram is saying that the US$18M is not even a signing bonus. The ExxonMobil money is not a signing bonus it is a legal fund; they have admitted that themselves. So in truth, Guyana has not received any signing bonus from any of the companies. Yesterday, Ram told Kaieteur News that he believes the reason Guyana missed out on signing bonuses is that the persons who may have negotiated the contracts at various times were not aware of all the elements that go into the fiscal regime of a petroleum contract. He said, Lots of contracts also have a production bonus; so on first production, the companies pay a bonus as well. There are also cases where countries get discovery bonuses. Just one year after Guyana surreptitiously accepted US$18M from ExxonMobil as a signing bonus, the same company handed Brazil a US$700M bonus. This reality raised many questions in the minds of cynics who worry that Guyana is going down a very bad road, one from which the nation might not be able to recover. In the oil industry, signature bonuses are given to countries after the completion of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with an oil company. In many cases, the PSC prescribes the quantum of the bonus or how it is supposed to be paid. For example, the Nigerian PSC contains signature and production bonuses. This bonus is a fixed fee which is paid by the oil company to the Nigerian government at different stages of the project. Signature bonuses are paid immediately after the completion of negotiations and signing of the PSC while production bonuses are paid when the production from a specific contract area reaches a particular threshold. The signing bonus has nothing to do with whether a country is going for first oil or if it has been producing oil for ages, it is all about the negotiation. Of course, negotiations are made based on strengths and weaknesses. Without a doubt, the fact that ExxonMobil has already estimated over one billion barrels of oil in the Liza field alone is a major strength of Guyana. Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 03 27 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 Chevron's Venezuela operations operating normally -Senior executive By Reuters NEW ORLEANS Petroleumworld 03 26 2018 Chevron Corp's Venezuela oilfields continue to operate normally, a senior executive at the U.S. company said on Monday, even as concerns mount about the OPEC member's production due to a host of challenges. Chevron operates in Venezuela, home to the world's largest oil reserves, as part of its 30 percent stake in the Petropiar joint venture with PDVSA, the Venezuelan state-controlled oil company. Even as Exxon Mobil Corp and other companies in recent years have left the country, Chevron has stayed and has consistently said its operations there are fine. The upstream operations are still functioning and our focus is on safe operations and protecting people, Jay Johnson, Chevron's head of upstream operations, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Scotia Howard Weil energy conference in New Orleans. Johnson declined to comment when asked if Chevron has been asked by PDVSA - or expects to be asked - to divert crude from export to PDVSA refineries. Reuters reported last fall that PDVSA asked the Petropiar joint venture with Chevron to turn over as much as 45 percent of the oil it planned to export in November with no immediate reimbursement. Venezuela's overall oil production fell to a 28-year low last year amidst insufficient investments, payment delays to suppliers, U.S. sanctions and a talent brain drain. Separately, Johnson said the recent U.S. tax overhaul has not had a major impact on the company, the world's third-largest publicly traded oil producer, as it already uses much of its cash generated overseas on foreign operations. On balance, though, a lower tax rate is better for us and does make the U.S. more competitive, said Johnson. When asked his views on renewable energy, Johnson said he supports all forms of energy, including solar and wind. He added he has a solar array built onto the roof of his California home. It only takes a day or two without power for people to realize how important energy is to our lives, said Johnson, who joined Chevron 37 years ago and has been in his current role since 2015. Real estate developer Noah Ostroff is being sued by a neighbor in the new Lombard Estates on 18th and Lombard Streets. The couple claims raw sewage backed up in the basement and plumbing system. Read more In 2013, Drew and Nicole Morris bought their dream home: a $1.7 million newly constructed house at 18th and Lombard Streets. They were especially happy because the developer, Noah Ostroff, was to be living down the street as a neighbor. Now, they're suing Ostroff; his father, Harvey Ostroff; Coldwell Banker real estate agency; construction partner Michael Murray's Murray Development; and others. Raw sewage, they say, was leaking into their basement, and the builders and developers refused to fix it. The Morrises, both lawyers, bought 1821 Lombard in the Lombard Estates, in part because it was near work. They also wanted to send their children to local schools. Noah Ostroff and his father work as real estate brokers in Philadelphia. Lombard Estates is one of their many newly built developments in Center City. Noah Ostroff himself lives at 1901 Lombard, and Murray lives at 1915 Lombard, near the Morris family. But after moving into their new home, the Morris family alleges in their lawsuit, the plumbing system specifically, the pipes removing waste from the property was "replete with defects that caused sewage and waste to back up into the home and overflow." In the spring of 2014, the sewage pump leaked on the basement floor, and the basement shower drain and toilet backed up with sewage. In 2016 and 2017, the pipes experienced "multiple" sewage backups, including up the kitchen sink, according to the suit. In a response filed in January, Ostroff and his lawyer, David Garcia Villareal, denied that the couple's lawsuit contained any legitimate claims. "If plaintiffs are entitled to any damages, which is specifically denied," the court filing said, those are the responsibility of other third parties over which it said Ostroff had no control. Ostroff's court filing also said Murray Development, Landmark Architectural Design, Heisco Mechanical Contractors, and Coldwell Banker may be liable, as well. They have also denied the couple's claims. The Morris home still reeks, the couple say. Drew and Nicole Morris hired a plumber, Mark McCormick, to inspect the home's pipe system. McCormick found that the main sanitary pipe was pitched backward, toward the house, instead of toward the street sewer, according to the lawsuit. Drew Morris said suing "was our last resort after four years of trying to get our builder to resolve our issues. We are both attorneys. We are painfully aware of the financial and emotional costs of litigation, and we tried everything we could to avoid it, but in the end, we had no other choice. Who wants to live with sewage flowing into their basement? We just want our house fixed." According to the suit, Noah Ostroff said the plumbing system failed as a result of a sink disposal system that was too small, but after replacing it, the couple said that did nothing to alleviate the waste backup. After the initial problems, the roof also leaked and the house experienced other water infiltration issues, according to the lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas last year. The Morrises are suing for damages and the cost of repairs. They are represented by Horn Williamson. In a twist that's become more common in Philadelphia, the case highlights what can happen when real estate agents market and sell homes in their own newly constructed developments. The suit cites a "conflict of interest" on the part of Ostroff, who at the time was affiliated with the Coldwell Banker real estate agency, which "should have known of the conflict of interest to Noah Ostroff's dual role as developer of the home and professional real estate agent." Ostroff and his father long worked as real estate agents but in the latest boom began also building and selling high-end townhouses for suburban-type buyers who wanted wider homes than the typical Philly rowhouse and who wanted to live squarely in Center City. In 2014, Noah Ostroff left Coldwell Banker and moved to another real estate agency, Keller Williams. (Noah Ostroff is pictured below in one of his Twitter posts, on the right.) With partners such as Murray, the Ostroffs in recent years completed Lombard Estates and Rittenhouse Estates, townhouses bigger and wider than typical for Philadelphia at 18th and 19th Streets along Lombard. Through their company, Center City Development, they repeated the model with the development of Walnut Estates at Walnut and 22nd Streets. Most of the units fetched $1 million or more in a hot market. David Garcia of Garcia Associates, who represents Harvey Ostroff and Lombard Estates, declined to comment on the case, referring to the court filings. Noah Ostroff wasn't available to comment. Rooms at the planned Pod Philly micro-hotel will be about 170 square feet. The ones at the chains Washington outpost (pictured here) are even smaller. Read more For Philadelphia hotels, small might be the next big thing. Crews are scheduled to begin work this spring near the southeast corner of 19th and Ludlow Streets in Center City on an outpost of the Pod Hotels chain, part of a growing hospitality genre known as micro-hotels. They're defined by tiny rooms, trendy design flourishes, and lively on-site restaurants and bars. When the 11-story Pod Philly property has its opening, anticipated in September 2019, its 252 guest rooms, including bathroom, will average 170 square feet smaller than two 2018 Toyota Corollas parked side by side. By contrast, guest rooms in an average, full-service city-center hotel average 350 square feet, according to commercial real estate firm JLL. "The room is a comfortable bed; it's a big TV; it's a high-design bath," said Conrad Cafritz, whose Washington-based Cafritz Interests is parent to Modus Hotels, one of Pod Philly's developers. "It's everything you want or need in a room and nothing you don't need, which is extra space." The microhotel concept was born abroad in such cities as London, Paris, and Tokyo, where demand for overnight stays is high and space for building new hotels is scarce. The trend picked up steam domestically in New York and San Francisco, providing visitors some relief from otherwise stratospheric guest room rates. The format has begun spreading beyond those high-priced climes as budget-conscious travelers empowered by Google Maps directions, Yelp restaurant reviews, and TripAdvisor attraction guides spend more time exploring destinations and less in their hotel rooms, said Steve Michels, managing director of global hospitality for commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield in New York. Developers, meanwhile, are embracing micro-hotels because they can wring more profit from their properties in an age of rising land and construction costs, according to Lauro Ferroni, global head of research for JLL's hotels and hospitality group in Chicago. "You can generate more revenue on a lesser amount of square footage, and that can bolster the attractiveness of the investment," he said. Prominent brands specializing in micro- hotels include the Amsterdam-based citizenM chain, which has a New York hotel in addition to ones in London, Paris, and Taipei, and Yotel, a subsidiary of Yo! Co. in London, which calls its guest rooms "cabins" and operates hotels in Singapore, New York, and Boston. Getting in on the act, too, are U.S. companies such as Marriott International Inc. of Bethesda, Md., which has opened micro-hotels under its Moxy Hotels brand in cities including New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Denver. Hilton Hotels & Resorts, based in McLean, Va., is said to be working on a new brand with guest rooms that are even smaller than the roughly 250-square-foot units at its Tru by Hilton chain. While no statistics are available on the growth of micro-hotels, Michels said their increasing prevalence can be seen in New York, where according to his analysis of data from hospitality-market-tracker STR about a fifth of the 11,500 guest rooms under construction fit the classification. "Five or six years ago, that number was basically zero," he said. Pod Philly will be Pod's sixth hotel, following locations in Washington's Chinatown and in New York City, where the brand started with the conversion of the aged, already tiny-roomed Pickwick Arms in Midtown Manhattan into the Pod 51 Hotel. That property is now as well-known among locals for its rooftop bar scene as it is among visitors for its small, relatively affordable rooms. At Pod DC, which is also operated by Modus (the New York properties are under separate management), rooms average 150 square feet, leaving barely enough space to shimmy around the queen-sized beds that fill most of the space. Storage is largely limited to what can fit in under-the-bed nooks or hung from wall hooks mounted beneath the rooms' 50-inch televisions. At the ground-floor lobby a mini food and beverage district in its own right, with a coffee shop, a late-night diner, and steps leading down to a basement bar specializing in whiskeys Eduardo Spargoli, a 25-year-old tourist visiting Washington recently from Sao Paulo, Brazil, said he didn't mind the tight space. "I just want a place to sleep and take my shower, and that's it," he said. "That's all I need." Lydia Smyth, a 56-year-old representative for the Wisconsin Medical Society in town for meetings on health care, said she chose a micro-hotel because of the low room rates, spending $89 a night compared with the $330 paid by some colleagues staying at the Grand Hyatt Washington. "I'm a business traveler, so any money I spend on a hotel is money I can't spend on marketing," she said. Modus, which also operates the Windsor Suites hotel on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, said rates at Pod Philly would typically run about 20 percent less than market averages. The hotel will rise at a 12,000-square-foot site of a former parking lot owned by Philadelphia-based Parkway Corp., which is partnering on the project. The hotel's ground floor will be given over to a restaurant and a coffee shop, which are to be operated by Greg Root and Nick Kennedy, the team behind Fishtown's Root and Suraya restaurants. The pair's Defined Hospitality group also will run the hotel's rooftop bar, which is to feature a retractable canopy. Part of the restaurateurs' job will be creating an ambience that can draw travelers in a market where standard-sized rooms are already relatively affordable. Average nightly room rates in Philadelphia ran $130 in 2017, compared with $229 in San Francisco and $255 in New York, Cushman & Wakefield's Michels said, citing STR data. Philadelphia rates could soften further, too, as the city's growing number of hotels compete for guests. More than 2,300 new guest rooms are forecast to have been delivered over the three-year period ending with the close of 2019, an increase of about 21 percent over the roughly 11,200 available during 2016, according to calculations based on data from CBRE Hotels, a division of the real estate firm CBRE Group. Cafritz said he's "sensitive to the competition" but expects Pod Philly to thrive. "There will be the value proposition, and it's brand new, and the full concept of it is new," he said. "We think we're going to do very well." Ann Teddy Thomas (left), the executive director of the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, with cancer patient Mateo Bonacquisti and his mother, Ilse. Read more At the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, Ann "Teddy" Thomas smiles and sits down on the rug next to Mateo Bonacquisti. He's barely a year old, has been diagnosed with cancer, and is going to have surgery to save his sight. She's the president and executive director of the 25-bedroom house in Camden where Mateo and his Detroit-area family are staying. Thomas helped get the house started in the early 1980s and has been synonymous with it ever since. But at the moment, she's playing a toy xylophone with Mateo. "At the Ronald House," she says, "we do whatever we can do that makes life less stressful for the families." Mateo's mother, Ilse, tells me matter-of-factly that "there was no saving the right eye, so it was removed" at a Detroit hospital. "But now there's a tumor growing in his left eye," she explains. That's why Ilse and her husband, Mike, a maintenance worker in a steel plant, drove to Camden from Michigan so their son could undergo potentially sight-saving surgery at Wills Eye. Being able to staying at Ronald McDonald, Mike says, has been "amazing." The house will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Oct. 4. Which also is Thomas' birthday. "It just happened that way," says the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native, her Southern twang intact despite her decades in the mid-Atlantic and Northeasterm United States. "I get to have a very large birthday party every year." In 1982, Thomas was living in Cherry Hill and raising three children when her neighbor Milton H. Donaldson a pediatric hematologic oncologist and also an Alabama native asked if she'd volunteer to help launch a Ronald McDonald House in Camden. The following year, she was running the place. Which is no surprise to anyone who's seen her in action, as I have on a couple of occasions over the years. "I was 35 when the house opened," Thomas recalls. "I rarely tell people my age, because I would hate for them to think I should be walking out the door. I don't intend to walk out the door." She's too busy, for one thing. The house, like the 365 others worldwide, must raise the money for its budget. For Camden, it means $1.6 million each year, although the goal of local McDonald's owners is to contribute up to 10 percent of the budget from donation boxes at their restaurants. The house has a full-time and part-time staff of 21 and relies upon what she describes as "700 very devoted volunteers" to serve about 700 families annually. Often, the families have a child being treated for cancer, although some of the kids have other serious illnesses or injuries. The families are referred by one of four regional medical institutions: Cooper University Hospital, Wills Eye, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "We're full 365 nights a year," says Thomas. "We had to turn away 200 referrals last year, once as many as 15 in one day. That's the hardest thing." The first Camden house, a 10-room renovated Victorian landmark on Benson Street, has long since been replaced by a spacious, three-story brick edifice on Martin Luther King Boulevard near Broadway in downtown Camden. The number of rooms has been increased over the years, and renovations now underway include construction of a second kitchen. This will accommodate families who prepare food for themselves as well as the volunteers who arrive daily to make dinner. Although the children do not receive medical treatment at the house, in recent years they have tended to spend much more time there. "Thirty-five years ago, you rarely saw the children. They were all in the hospital," Thomas recalls. "But as medicine has evolved, and outpatient [treatment] has become more prevalent, we find that almost 80 percent of the children stay here with us and go back and forth to the hospital during the day." Two mornings a week, Pat Trautner, a volunteer who lives in Clarksboro, Gloucester County, drives the kids and their families to medical treatment "and wherever they need to go." He started doing so after he retired as a union pipefitter with Local 322 in Winslow Township. "I enjoy meeting the kids, and the parents. They're so resilient," Trautner says. "Their kids are sick, they're worried and they're far away from home. They appreciate the house more than you can imagine." Thomas describes the house as "the world's best informal support group. The parents take incredible care of each other. At dinner, it's everybody sharing tears, hopes and dreams." "We have something called the good news bell that can be rung at dinner. Maybe a child's fever went down, maybe a surgery went well, maybe someone gets to go home." That looks to be the case for the Bonacquistis. Mateo had his eye surgery at Wills last Thursday, and on Monday, Mike told me that "from the information we have, the eye should be OK." "We should be heading back to Michigan today and returning in six weeks for a follow-up." Says Thomas: "That's great news. We always tell our families that as sorry as we are to see them leave, we are happy when they can go home. Because home is where they belong." In Kensington, this much is clear: No other neighborhood in Philadelphia has seen more overdose deaths, or more visible suffering amid a city opioid epidemic that claimed an estimated 1,200 lives in 2017. Along with neighboring Fairhill, it occupies less than 2 percent of Philadelphia's land area, but 18 percent of all city overdoses occurred in that small space, according to an Inquirer analysis of city data. On Tuesday night, when city health officials arrive in the neighborhood for a community meeting on the epidemic, they'll come armed with dire statistics and information on the city's 18-point plan to fight the crisis. But they won't have an answer to the question that's roiled the neighborhood since the plan was announced in January: Will Kensington host the first safe-injection site in the city, and possibly the nation? A place where people can use drugs under medical supervision and learn about addiction treatment is the most controversial proposal in the city's plan, spurring furious residents into shouting matches with city officials at a similar meeting in Fox Chase last week. But in Kensington, long considered the most logical location for a site, the meeting will likely prove even more contentious. Along with Fairhill, it has long borne the brunt of the current addiction crisis, and bears the scars of past drug wars. Fueling residents' rage: They have yet to hear specifics about a safe injection site, and that is making the sales pitch even tougher. "It's really hard to have a conversation because you are consistently saying to people, 'I don't know,' " said Jose Benitez, the director of Prevention Point, which sits on Kensington Avenue and is the city's only needle exchange. In the last year, after the city and Conrail blocked access to a gulch alongside train tracks, four heroin encampments have sprawled under the train bridges on Lehigh Avenue. More than 200 people live there now, sleeping and using heroin in tents and makeshift structures and sometimes openly, on the sidewalk. Some Kensington residents say they welcome a safe injection site or anything that would stop people from injecting drugs outside where children can see them. Others have worried an injection site would enable drug use and force their community to shoulder yet another burden of the opioid epidemic. Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez on Monday repeated her vow that a site would never open in her district, which includes part of Kensington. All told, at least 287 people fatally overdosed last year across the neighborhoods she represents. She faults city officials for coming to Kensington only after they decided to allow a safe injection site in the city. "They made a decision, and now they're coming back to talk to the community," she said. "People look at this as an additional burden." Philadelphia Drug Overdose Deaths in 2017 Part of Tuesday's meeting, city officials and advocates say, will simply be about dispelling rumors, including the false belief that safe injection sites distribute heroin. Charito Morales, a registered nurse who treats people in addiction under the bridges, hears the rumors and wants them cleared up. She's ambivalent about a safe-injection site, but said she'd been disappointed in the city's efforts so far. "Nobody has educated this community to understand what is a safe injection clinic," she said. Benitez, who will be a panelist at Tuesday night's meeting, said there's time yet to make the case for a safe injection site. "This is the first round of the conversation," he said. "There's a way for the city, for us, to make this argument so people understand. We have to set this up as very much a medical intervention." That's largely the purpose of Tuesday night's meeting, said Alicia Taylor, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Human Services. "We're hoping to arm them with all the information that we have as far as our strategy and what can be done and what we're doing," she said. "We also want to give residents a chance to ask questions, and give their input." Tuesday night's meeting on the opioid crisis will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 2830 N. American St. The Earth Day Kids, a group from West Philadelphia, perform at the citys March for Our Lives rally to call out gun violence. Read more The traumatizing effect of gun violence on children of color was a central theme at Philadelphia's March for Our Lives. Now, the challenge is making sure those voices stay prominent in the national conversation about gun control. It's a steep task when gun violence in urban communities of color is often ignored, overlooked, or dismissed with a shrug of, "What can you do?", as if it's just accepted as the norm. But Romaine Wright, a black consultant who helped three student leaders organize Philly's march, is hopeful. Both black and white students want to be safe when they walk out the door, she said. "It's a shared message: That we are all standing here against gun violence," Wright said. The difference, she said, is "the suburban students want to come home from school, and the inner city kids actually want to make it to school." The Valentine's Day shooting in Parkland, Fla., that killed 17 people was at a high school in a largely white and wealthy suburb, but has stirred calls to stop ignoring children of color, who have long tried to bring attention to violence in their communities. "I want the same thing that those kids want," said Jordyn Williams, 15, when she spoke to classmates earlier this month at Philadelphia's Parkway Center City Middle College. "I'm not saying that those kids' lives didn't matter. I'm saying they aren't the ones being treated like nothing." At Mastery Charter School-Shoemaker in Philadelphia, Kaiyah Taylor bluntly pointed out, "We have a lot of dying in our community, and no one is paying attention." Students of color are more exposed to shootings than white students, a recent analysis by The Washington Post found, yet their stories often go unheard. As the story explained: These incidents rarely make the news. In part, that's because far fewer people are injured, but it's also, experts say, because of the outside world's perception of kids who grow up in high-crime neighborhoods. "Often, we have this notion that, 'Oh, they're used to it' and that's BS," said Steven Berkowitz, director of the Penn Center for Youth and Family Trauma Response and Recovery. "They're not used to it." Some of the Parkland survivors, such as David Hogg, have sought to bring race to the forefront of the national conversation on guns. Hogg told Axios that the media's biggest mistake in covering Parkland was "not giving black students a voice. My school is about 25 percent black, but the way we're covered doesn't reflect that." At March for Our Lives in Washington D.C., 11-year-old Naomi Wadler captivated the crowd when she described how gun violence victims are treated differently based on race. "I am here today to acknowledge and represent the African American girls whose stories don't make the front page of every national newspaper, whose stories don't lead on the evening news," Wadler said in her speech, which went viral. "I represent the African American women who are victims of gun violence, who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of potential." At Philly's march, Wright said organizers made it a priority to ensure people of color were involved in both the speeches and promotion of the event. The student organizers are still planning their next steps, Wright said, but the goal is to continue bridging the geographic gap between suburban and urban students. "There's a lot of different groups that are targeting gun violence in different ways, but they're all saying the same thing," she said. "So collaboration with all those organizations to share a message is powerful." Hogg, in his speech at March for Our Lives in Washington, said the goal is to make gun control a central issue in every election. Whether the movement can have that lasting impact remains to be seen. As USA Today reported: It won't be easy to blaze the trail. Experts and leaders of past movements say it's going to be an uphill battle to translate the #NeverAgain movement into significant changes. A lot will revolve around local efforts, keeping pressure on lawmakers and having a clear message moving forward. The Washington Post also broke down what Congress has done but also what it probably won't do on guns. In a growing room at Compassionate Sciences Alternative treatment center, the new marijuana dispensary and grow site in Bellmawr, Alec Mog and colleagues trim marijuana plants, a week before it opens, becoming the second in South Jersey, in 2015. Read more Gov. Murphy greatly expanded New Jersey's medical marijuana program Tuesday, opening the door to tens of thousands of new patients and allowing the five dispensaries spread across the state to add satellite retail centers and cultivation facilities. The governor added to the list of ailments that qualify for a cannabis prescription. He also cleared the way for any doctor in the state to prescribe cannabis, ending a system in which only those physicians who registered and thus, joined a publicly available list of providers could do so. He said some doctors had been reluctant to participate in the program because they viewed joining the list as a stigma. He is also calling for legislation to double the amount that patients could purchase in a month, to 4 ounces. Patients enrolled in the state's eight-year-old medical marijuana program were quick to praise the governor's announcement and said it was long overdue after years of inaction by Gov. Chris Christie, who imposed strict regulations and promised to veto any expansion of the program. "The days of making patients jump through hoops are coming to an end," Murphy said at a packed news conference during which he listed a host of changes to the program. Chronic pain, anxiety, migraines, and Tourette's syndrome are being added to the dozen ailments that previously could be treated with cannabis. Currently, there are about 18,000 patients enrolled in the program and about 500 doctors. Murphy said that in Michigan, a state with a population similar to New Jersey's, there were about 220,000 patients. "We will have a medical marijuana program that at long last meets the needs of patients," he said. "Medical marijuana has saved my life," said Aubrey Conway, a patient with spasticity who spoke before Murphy unveiled his proposals. "This will save hundreds if not thousands of others." Robert Kane, a marijuana patient from Ocean View, Cape May County, said he was happy that the governor increased the list of qualified ailments. He said that last year he petitioned the state Health Department to add chronic pain and anxiety to the list and provided research showing it had helped people suffering from these ailments. The previous list included terminal cancer, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Christie had opposed expansion of the strictly regulated program and said he viewed marijuana as a gateway drug that could lead to addiction. Murphy said research has proven that marijuana is safe and effective for some ailments. However, he said the Health Department did not recommend adding opiate addiction disorder, as an advisory committee had recommended last year. Murphy said that he would allow the five existing dispensaries and a sixth that is expected to open in the next few months to file applications to create satellite facilities around the state so patients don't have to travel as far. The $200 program registration fee will be slashed to $100, while veterans and senior citizens would qualify for a $20 reduced fee, along with those who receive public assistance. When asked what he would do to help make marijuana more affordable, since its cost now averages about $400 a month, the governor said he would recommend that for-profit dispensaries be allowed to open in the state. Currently the dispensaries are required to be nonprofit. The changes come as state legislators weigh legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Several bills that would do so are pending and the governor has said he supports the move. But Murphy said he wanted to address changes to the medical marijuana program first, saying this was "a life and death" matter in many instances. Mike and Janet Honig, who attended the news conference, said their 7-year-old son, Jake, used cannabis in the last three months of his life after being diagnosed with brain cancer. "It made a tremendous difference when he was on it," said Mike Honig, 35, of Howell. "Before that, Jake was on morphine, OxyContin, Zofran, Zantac," and other drugs that just made him sicker, Honig said. Honig said he was pleased that the changes will open the program up to more people who are suffering, and said he applauded Murphy's proposal to allow patients to purchase 4 ounces of cannabis per month twice the current allowance. "When you are nearing the end of life, you need more," he said. Sherman Labovitz and his wife, Pauline, at one of the many protests they attended together. Read more At 1 a.m. July 30, 1953, a World War II veteran was awakened by the FBI pounding on the door of his Strawberry Mansion rowhouse. That night he was one of nine Philadelphians arrested and charged under the Smith Act with plotting the violent overthrow of the government. The Red Scare had arrived in Philadelphia. The U.S. Army Air Force vet, Sherman Labovitz, 29, and the others were Communists, and their sensational 71-day trial electrified the city. Labovitz died last week at 93. He became a Communist, he wrote in his 1997 memoir, Being Red in Philadelphia, because of the Communist Party's stated opposition to fascism, capitalism, and racism. It promised economic justice for workers. "He found the argument of Marx pretty compelling when he was a young man," says his son Marc, 70, who lives in Philadelphia and runs bridge tournaments around the country. Labovitz believed in the Communist promise of better wages and working conditions, decent housing, health insurance, and the end of Jim Crow and anti-Semitism. Many leftists believed that promise, shared that dream. Labovitz disparaged Winston Churchill's March 1946 "Iron Curtain" speech for sparking anti-Communist hysteria. There is some truth in that, and it led to witch hunts by Sen. Joe McCarthy that harmed many innocent Americans. The Scare was excessive, but there were Soviet spies in America from the 1920s through the Soviet Union's collapse. Labovitz wrote that in 1956 the Communist Party of the Soviet Union revealed the crimes of the Stalin era, including a tidal wave of incarceration, mass executions, and pervasive anti-Semitism. He and his wife, Pauline, quit the party the next year, but continued their devotion to left-wing causes throughout their lives. She died last year. I can relate to Labovitz's story. Eighteen years before his arrest, my own father was charged with calling for the violent overthrow of the government. That was a lie, as my father was a Socialist and pacifist, but the U.S. had the late-Depression and prewar jitters. With Labovitz, it was the postwar Red Scare. "Dad said he looked toward the Soviet Union as a model, and then a number of reports came out of the Soviet Union," said his younger son, Gary, 65, a musician who makes his home in Toronto. "He was a humanitarian," said Marc. Both sons are left of center but not as "politically energized" as their parents, said Marc. The same is true of me. In the trial of the Philadelphia Nine, the attorneys used the same tactic as the one used by my father's young lawyer, Arthur Goldberg, who later became a U.S. Supreme Court justice. The defense was based on the First Amendment the right to free speech. Local lawyers, at first reluctant to take on toxic clients, were recruited by Bernard G. Segal, the chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, who demanded that the accused get the representation to which they were entitled, no matter how odious their political ideas. Goldberg got my father off, but the Bar Association All-Stars lost their case. Labovitz was sentenced to two years but never served a day of it. While the case was on appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that membership in the Communist Party was not a violation of the Smith Act. The Philadelphia Nine were set free, perhaps to ponder that such a judicial outcome would not have happened in the Soviet Union. With his life handed back to him, Labovitz returned to school and earned a doctorate. He taught at Temple University for three years before being hired in 1972 as a professor of social work at what is now Stockton University in New Jersey. He was a founding member of the Afro-American studies program there and, naturally, was a leader of the teachers' union. He remained at Stockton until his retirement in 1994, when the former Communist became the school's first professor emeritus. He felt he was lucky, he said in a 1997 Inquirer interview. He avoided prison, he said, but many others did not, and "not one of them was any more guilty than I was." Leonard Hicks, 37, pleaded guilty Monday in New Jersey Superior Court to being responsible for the 2015 overdose death of a 26-year-old man who bought heroin laced with fentanyl from him. Read more A 37-year-old Sicklerville man has admitted responsibility for the 2015 overdose death of a man who bought heroin laced with fentanyl from him, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced Tuesday. Leonard Hicks pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree strict liability for drug-induced death in exchange for a 10-year sentence in New Jersey state prison. Officials said he must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Hicks sold heroin to a 26-year-old man, who was found dead in his apartment on Nov. 29, 2015, by Evesham Township police officers performing a wellness check at the request of a friend. Coffina did not identify the overdose victim. Investigators found that Hicks delivered heroin to the man's apartment and was paid $200. Burlington County Medical Examiner Ian Hood said that heroin and fentanyl caused the man's death. Hicks, who was free on $200,000 bail, was scheduled to be sentenced on July 20 before Superior Court Judge Terrence R. Cook. Philadelphia City Councilman David Oh is shown as he was recuperating at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia after he was stabbed near his home May 31, 2017, in an attempted robbery. With him are his wife, Heesun; their son, Daniel, and daughter, Sarah. Read more Shawn Yarbray, a Southwest Philadelphia man charged with stabbing City Councilman David Oh last May 31, was confronted with a major decision in court Monday: begin selecting a jury within minutes, or wait a month or so to give his attorney time to shore up evidence that points to another man as the councilman's attacker. Yarbray, his voice filling with emotion and having spent the last 10 months in jail unable to pay bail, told Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas Street that despite reservations, he wanted to stand trial immediately. "I just want to get it over with," said Yarbray, who turned 25 on Saturday. Opening arguments by prosecution and defense attorneys now are scheduled for Tuesday morning. Despite Oh's having "positively" identified Yarbray as his attacker in a police photo lineup days after the assault and at a court hearing last year, Yarbray and his court-appointed attorney, Samuel C. Stretton, contend that Oh is mistaken and that Yarbray is a victim himself of mistaken identity. Stretton sought unsuccessfully during a hearing Monday to be allowed to tell the jury that Jarvas Kline Meekins, 24, of Hollywood, Fla., is the man who actually stabbed Oh, 58. The councilman had just exited his car and was walking with shopping bags when he was attacked just after 9:40 p.m. in front of his home in the 5800 block of Thomas Avenue in Cobbs Creek. Stretton argued that Meekins, who lived about two blocks from Oh last May, implicated himself in a handful of bigoted emails he sent to Dwayne Chung, an Asian American police officer in Hollywood, a week after the attack on Oh, who is also Asian American. In one June 6 email, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer and Daily News, Meekins wrote to Chung: "Like how we got Philly councilman David Oh poked up, you and you're career is next gool boy." In response, on June 6, the Hollywood Police Department issued a confidential, law-enforcement-only alert featuring Meekins' photo, last known address in that city, and details about the allegations against him. The alert stated that Meekins is a military veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, that he is known to make threats to shoot law enforcement, and that he frequents all areas of East Hollywood. He was arrested a day later. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office provided Stretton with information on Meekins on Feb. 21. Meekins has indicated he is willing to plead guilty in federal court to sending the emails, Stretton said. Judge Thomas Street, however rebuffed Stretton's request to tell the jury about Meekins, saying he lacked corroboration that the emails were sent by him until he pleads guilty. Stretton said he believes he can win Yarbray's freedom even without being able to tell the jury about Meekins. "I believe I can win this case without it because all they have is [Oh's] identification, and that is a very weak form of testimony without corroboration," he said in an interview. The District Attorney's Office remained unconcerned about the validity of its case. "After speaking with Councilman Oh, I'm very confident that we have the right person," Assistant District Attorney Lori Edelman-Orem said in an interview after Monday's hearing. Oh said Friday that he is certain Yarbray is the man who tried to rob him and stabbed him in the chest. The night of the attack, he gave police a description of the attacker, and he picked Yarbray's photo from a photo array the next day, and identified him in court during a preliminary hearing in July. "It's one thing to identify a photograph. It's another thing to identify a person face to face, which I did," Oh said. "I'm very certain. Let's put it this way, I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that it's him. I have no interest in identifying the wrong person," he said. "I have no personal animosity toward the person. And there is no reason to identify the wrong person. That would be a terrible thing to do. If I was not sure, I would say, 'I'm not sure.'" A passenger train derails in North Philly. Many are dead. Many more are injured. And blame is placed on the train's engineer, who is criminally charged with causing the disaster. Those gut-wrenching facts are etched into Philadelphia's history. Now, they are also plot points in Philadelphia personal injury lawyer William L. Myers Jr.'s novel, An Engineered Injustice, which he loosely based on the crash of Amtrak Train 188 in the city's Port Richmond section. Less than three years after the May 12, 2015, crash that killed eight people and injured more than 150, Myers, of Wayne, based his second novel on the deadly disaster. But is it too soon? "It is a fresh event, it still resonates with me, and it still upsets me that this happened, but at the same time and for the same reason, it's also timely," he said. "I just remember vividly what a war scene that looked like, It was like hell happened all of a sudden." Myers, 59, a Lancaster native who obtained his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, has been an attorney since 1983 and has a practice on the 1500 block of Market Street. He's been writing for as long as he can recall, but about six years ago he sat down to write "a commercially viable novel." "I had written novels before, and I'd show them to my wife and she'd say, 'Bill, this is terrible,'" he said. "I said, 'OK, I'm going to prove to you I can actually write a novel." So he did. His first published novel, A Criminal Defense, was the sixth-best-selling Kindle eBook on Amazon in 2017. The story, also set in Philadelphia, is about a young reporter, the businessman accused of her murder, and the lawyer who defends him. Myers, who practices civil law, said he likes to write about criminal law, where "the stakes are higher and there might be some danger involved." One of Myers' niche practices is representing railroad workers and those injured in train crashes, and his brother is an Amtrak track man. The night of the derailment, Myers who isn't representing anyone involved in lawsuits related to the crash was on the phone with two engineers who had done the same run hours before, just to try to figure out what might have happened. "One of the things that really struck me was how fast a rush to judgment there was against that engineer in that accident," he said. "I started a book about a major train crash based on that crash and a couple others around the nation that looked like from the outset the engineer had to have screwed up, it had to have been his fault, but then as the story unfolds and the layers of the onion become unwrapped, you learn it likely wasn't the engineer's fault." When it comes to Brandon Bostian, 34, the actual engineer of Train 188, the verdict is still out. The train was traveling at 106 mph, more than double the speed limit, when it hit the Frankford Curve and derailed, but the National Transportation Safety Board found that Bostian did not have drugs or alcohol in his system and may have been distracted by reports of rocks being thrown at other trains. Bostian was initially charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter, more than 200 counts of reckless endangerment and a single count of causing a catastrophe, but a Municipal Court judge threw those charges out in September, believing a hearing showed the crash was an accident, not a crime. But the state Attorney General's Office appealed the ruling and in February a Common Pleas Court judge reinstated all the charges against Bostian. He remains free on bail. As for Myers, he doesn't see himself retiring from law, even if his books are being shopped around for a possible television series by an agency in California. "I love being in court. I love representing my clients," he said. "When you walk someone through the legal process and fight with them and you win with them, that's a feeling that you can't duplicate just by writing books." Carol Kuniholm, co-founder and chair of Fair Districts PA, stands in hereExton kitchen with a display she uses in meetings to show how voting districts have been gerrymandered. Read more HARRISBURG When the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the state's last congressional map, it blasted away heavily gerrymandered districts and replaced them with more balanced ones for this year's election. But larger questions about whether and how to reform the redistricting process in the long term were left to the legislature. "We haven't succeeded in further removing what got us in trouble in the first place, which is partisan self-interest," said David Thornburgh, head of the Committee of Seventy. The Philadelphia-based good-government group is part of a coalition advocating for fairer maps. "We may have better maps but we haven't fixed the process." On Tuesday, a group of state senators and, separately, two state representatives renewed discussions about proposals to have an independent citizen commission, rather than lawmakers, set the state's congressional and legislative district boundaries. Advocates had been pressing for change, but the conversation was on hold during legal battles over congressional districts. "I would have had three hearings already, but the lawsuit got in the way," said State Sen. Mike Folmer (R., Lebanon), chairman of the chamber's state government committee. "We probably would have had a product already done." Folmer said he had postponed the hearing earlier this year after consulting with lawyers, in part to avoid having testimony tip the outcome of the case. Now, if they want to pass something in time for the next redrawing in 2021, legislators find themselves facing a tight deadline. "That's going to be the challenge," Folmer said. His committee spent four hours Tuesday hearing testimony about four Senate bills that would seek to create an independent commission to draw the congressional or legislative district lines or both. Under the current process, the legislature passes bills with the new congressional lines every 10 years, after the census is taken and seats in the House are shifted to account for changes in population. (Pennsylvania is again on track to lose a seat in the 2021 reapportionment.) Lines for Pennsylvania's state legislative districts 50 Senate seats and 203 House seats are drawn by a committee of legislative leaders, plus an additional member. Three of the four Senate bills would create commissions to draw both sets of lines, while the fourth would only create a commission to redraw congressional lines (which would require a less cumbersome process to become law). Some would give political leaders a role in the selection of commissioners raising questions about how independent the commission would truly be while others would seek to select people from random pools. The number of commissioners would range from five to 11. Sen. Lisa Boscola (D., Lehigh), whose bill has been a primary focus in part because it has support from a Republican colleague, said at the hearing that she wasn't married to any particular aspect of her proposal but believes in the importance of having an outside commission decide the lines. Without it, she said, state legislative leaders can pressure their colleagues to vote certain ways by threatening to draw them out of their districts. She said it happened to her once when she was serving in the state House, so she ran for the Senate instead. Some Republicans said that they were tired of hearing excuses about districts making it impossible for Democrats and others to succeed, arguing instead that elections hinge on the quality of the candidates. Many of them also asked three of the bills' prime sponsors who are Democrats whether they think independent commissioners could vote as a bloc to push an agenda, or whether the commissioners would understand difficult concepts legislators themselves sometimes struggle with. Boscola at one point compared it to serving on a jury. "I just have a lot of faith in their ability to do this. They're not the same people we are," she said, prompting an outpouring of applause from redistricting advocates in the audience. In the end, it seems unlikely that any of the bills would pass in their current form. Folmer said after the meeting that he expected members would meet to discuss the pros and cons of various aspects of them. Even if one version of one of those bills passed the full Senate, which has a Republican majority, it would need to pass through the GOP-led state House and, likely, its state government committee. Similar bills have been languishing without a vote in that committee. Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R., Butler) did not respond to a message left with his office Tuesday afternoon. If a bill were to pass both chambers, there could be another logistical hurdle. Three of the four bills before the Senate committee and some in the House committee would require an amendment to the state constitution. Amendments have to pass through the legislature in identical form in two consecutive sessions and then be approved by voters. Senators present at Tuesday's meeting suspect that means that, in order for changes to be made in time for the next redrawing, a bill would have to pass both chambers for the first time by July 6. That's within one week of the state's budget deadline which legislators don't always make. Democrats think there is momentum for change coming from the recent court cases, but it's unclear how many Republicans will ultimately get on board. Michael Li, a redistricting expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, said he suspects the state courts' recent decision to step into the process could inspire Republicans to settle for an independent commission, since they don't know who will control things when the lines are next redrawn. "They don't know who's going to be in charge, so they should design a system that is fair if they are in the majority and fair if they are in the minority," Li said. "Those sorts of moments don't exist often, but they do at this moment." But others are more skeptical. "It's not clear whether there is enough momentum for reform to overcome the enormous obstacles it faces," Temple University political scientist Michael G. Hagen said. He said he would be surprised if the reform bills moved through the legislature in time. Carol Kuniholm, co-founder and chair of advocacy group Fair Districts PA, said it would be a travesty if legislative leaders refused to schedule a vote on any of the reform bills, given their public support and the number of lawmakers who have signed onto them. "Any party that allows its leaders to say, 'We are not interested in hearing a bill that people support,' they are making a strong statement to the public," she said. Thornburgh, the head of Committee of 70, agreed that hope remains. "This was a steep climb from the get-go. So the odds have never been in our favor," he said. "But sometimes you have to stay on mission unless and until it becomes clear that mission's no longer attainable." Crowds of people hold signs on Pennsylvania Avenue at the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Washington. Read more For several hours on Saturday, cynicism was banned from the streets of what on many days seems to be the most cynical city in the world. Throngs estimated to number up to 800,000 gathered in Washington because a group of determined, organized, eloquent and extremely shrewd high school students asked them to come, and because too many Americans have been killed by guns. Suddenly, hope-mongers were stalking the nation's capital. They believed, against so much past evidence, that the National Rifle Association could be routed. The crowd seemed to expect it would require an election to usher in the reforms they seek. "Vote them out!" was one of the day's dominant chants. All along the march route, clipboard-wielding volunteers sought to entice the faithful to register so they could cast ballots to achieve that end. Cameron Kasky, one of the heroes of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mobilization, drew raucous cheers when he began his speech with the words, "Welcome to the revolution." He was not imagining the storming of the Bastille or the revolt in Petrograd. His promise was peaceable and refreshingly practical. "The voters are coming," he declared. Cynicism, of course, was quickly restored to its normal place in the nation's discourse. Tired complaints were hauled out to discount the March for Our Lives visionaries who hit the pavements in locales across red and blue America on Saturday. Big demonstrations were nice but meant little. The NRA had crushed opponents before and would do so again. Teens and twentysomethings lacked the discipline to stay with what would inevitably be a long fight. Republican politicians wouldn't break an alliance with the gun lobby that has served them so well. But there are tough-minded reasons to believe that the cynics are wrong, even if the fight ahead will be as hard as they say. To begin with, Saturday's marches achieved something that has never been accomplished before. Guns have long been a voting issue for those who insist that any and every restriction on firearms is a danger to freedom. These marches finally established guns as a voting issue for those who (as the signs carried by demonstrators declared in various ways) place the desire to save innocent lives ahead of preserving unlimited access to weapons. The Stoneman Douglas activists, including their able debaters and theater students, understood that their task was to alter the terms of the nation's quarrel over guns and to take on the NRA's shibboleths, right down to the basics. "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." So goes the old NRA slogan. "Actually, guns do kill people," read a placard at the D.C. march. And the new revolutionaries have been making the essential argument: that our current approach to firearms undercuts the rights of the unarmed far more than any restriction would ever impinge on the rights of gun owners. The NRA imagines a nation of universal gun-toting, an idea brilliantly mocked by Alex Wind, a student speaker who asked: "Are they going to arm the person wearing the Mickey Mouse costume at Disney?" The unmistakably political character of this movement is another change. No phony bipartisanship. No pretending that everyone approaches this issue with good will. Thus the importance of "Vote them out." Thus the imperative of casting the NRA as the adversary and all who welcome its money and support as complicit. And the short-term agenda is very clear, as is the price of resisting it. Here is Kasky: "The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons, the people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines, the people demand universal background checks. Stand for us or beware." Finally, this march established the gun safety alliance as multiracial and intersectional, reaching far beyond its traditional base among suburban white liberals. Few voices echoing from the platform were more powerful than 11-year-old Naomi Wadler's. She declared that young African American women who were victims of gun violence would no longer be seen as "simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of potential." In 1960, the nation's attention was captured by young civil rights activists who sat in to integrate lunch counters in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is not romanticizing the young to say that at times in our history, only those not beaten down by the defeats of the past could find the courage and the strategic initiative to win old fights in new ways. On a crisp and beautiful spring day we witnessed a new dawn in the struggle to end gun violence. E.J. Dionne writes about politics in a twice-weekly column for the Washington Post. @EJDionne. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Oct. 3, 2017. A panel of federal judges has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the new congressional map imposed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. (Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto/Sipa USA/TNS) Read more The "March for Our Lives" brought together young people from across the country and Pennsylvania to demand safer schools and stronger gun safety laws. Their passion and activism took many forms in a historic show of solidarity, and they have inspired millions to join them in their mission. We can't ignore their calls for sensible gun laws that adults in power have failed to enact despite wide public support. And politicians shouldn't force top-down changes for school safety, like putting guns in classrooms, without listening to the voices of students, parents, teachers, and school officials. For these students, the images of Columbine, Parkland, Newtown, and many other school shootings represent the terrifying threat they worry about and live with each day. I hope these students continue to speak out and make their voices heard. I am listening and I join the students in urging Congress and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to take action on gun-safety legislation. In Pennsylvania, the Assembly should pass bills to keep guns from domestic abusers and ensure that everyone must have a background check before purchasing a gun. At the federal level, Congress must act to ban of weapons of war, like AR-15s. But this moment also calls on leaders to do more to make sure schools are safe. On the day after students across Pennsylvania staged peaceful protests for safer schools and gun laws, I announced the creation of a School Safety Task Force with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale that will listen directly to local education organizations, law enforcement, community members, school officials, teachers, parents, and, most important, students. The task force will hold regional meetings across the commonwealth over the next few weeks to hear directly from Pennsylvanians. By working together and listening, we can make sure that our schools are a safe place for children to learn and find solutions that will improve school safety, security, and preparedness. Since the tragedy at Columbine shocked our nation, schools have changed how they examine security to keep kids safer. Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania State Police, other law enforcement, and many others are already working to address the issue. They have made great progress, but we must do more to provide a safe learning environment. These are difficult issues and the answers will not be easy, but working together we can make our schools safer. I am pleased that several of the state's leading experts have agreed to serve as vice chairs on the task force. To further support the work of the task force, I have appointed several members of my administration to provide support. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to school safety. The needs and concerns can vary among communities. That is why as the task force holds six regional meetings, local students and other representatives will be invited to give their perspectives of that needs of that community. We must also address the needs of students to measure what additional funding or support is necessary for physical and mental health programs to help students, or to improve information sharing among schools, law enforcement and social programs to prevent shootings. Just as important, we must give students, teachers and others a voice to report suspicious activity by examining new or existing ways for people to report this activity to law enforcement. As the task force prepares to hear directly from Pennsylvanians, I invite students, parents, educators, law enforcement and everyone else to share their thoughts about how to make our schools safer. ( https://www.governor.pa.gov/school-safety-feedback/) Your feedback will help us make our schools safer today and for future generations. Seniors in high school today were born right around Columbine. Throughout their lives, they have lived with mass shooting drills, enhanced security and the risk threats. The students are telling us demanding from us that we do more to keep them and their schools safe. We are listening and, together with the students, we will find real solutions. Tom Wolf is governor of Pennsylvania. @GovernorTomWolf | The second group of talks in the session focused on the science done by some of the instruments that the Apollo 17 astronauts set up on the lunar surface. Dr. Renee Weber of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center presented on thermal moonquakes: small tremors that occur near the lunar surface most often at sunrise or sunset (remember that lunar sunrise and sunset occur once a month, as seen by us on Earth!). Dr. Robert Grimm of the Southwest Research Institute focused on the Apollo 17 Surface Electrical Properties (SEP) experiment, and how modern computational methods have been able to improve the analysis of the original SEP data that was limited by scarce analysis and reporting. Dr. Seiichi Nagihara from Texas Tech Univeristy and Dr. Matt Seigler of the Planetary Science Institute each had a talk on the Apollo heat flow experiments. The Apollo 17 heat flow instruments were the second set of such instruments on the Moon; the first set was installed during the Apollo 15 mission. The differing location of the two sets of instruments showcases some large-scale differences in the Moon's heat flow: the Apollo 15 measured heat flow value was 30 percent larger than the Apollo 17 value, most likely due to Apollo 15 being in a region with more heat-producing elements in the lunar crust. Finally, the last two talks in the session were focused on the public engagement with the Apollo 17 data and how this data can be used in the future for both scientific and public purposes. Ben Feist of Jacobs Technology Inc. focused on a project to collect of all the Apollo 17 data (photos, transcripts, videos, audio, everything!) on one site. Because Apollo 17 is the one of the best-recorded sets of geologic field experiments, it will serve as an example for future missions to the Moon and to Mars. This focus on the Apollo 17 mission means that its data must be intelligently stored and easily accessible. This is accomplished by a common temporal thread between all items and an intuitive user interface. Check out apollo17.org to see for yourself how they have organized all of the mission data! And lastly, Michayal Mathew, an undergraduate in the department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, showcased his development of a virtual reality (VR) environment simulating the Apollo 17 landing site. The VR environment, impressive in its scope and its detail, was a product of his summer internship at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The VR simulation of the Taurus-Littrow Valley represents an intuitive and natural way to present the data that was collected by the mission. Mathew emphasized that VR is an indispensable tool for engagement with scientific data sets, not only for scientists but also for those of us who may never get the chance to be an astronaut and walk on another planetary body. For further information on the Taurus-Littrow Valley session at LPSC, click here for a link to the schedule with links to individual abstracts. For information on the rest of the LPSC session, click here for the complete program. Editor's note: Here's a video of a panel discussion with Schmitt that happened after the session! Coloplast is a leader within Medical Technology and a truly professional and global company with over 12.000 employees around the globe. We are ambitious and successful; we are innovative, and we grow - all in the pursuit of our mission of making life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs. The job Overall, you will be responsible for growi... From tours to premieres to full-length classics, this is an exciting week in ballet. Weve rounded up programs by Tulsa Ballet, BalletNext, National Ballet of Canada, Pennsylvania Ballet, Charlotte Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet, as well as an evening of dance and music curated by Damian Woetzel and featuring some of ballets biggest stars, to give you a sense of whats happening on ballet stages this week. Tulsa Ballet This Oklahoma-based company is heading east for a five-day run at The Joyce Theater in New York City, opening March 6. Their first time at the Joyce in 9 years, the company is bringing a world premiere by resident choreographer Ma Cong as well as works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Helen Pickett. Check out a preview below. BalletNext Former American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Michele Wiless company BalletNext returns to New York Live Arts on March 6 after a year-long hiatus as Wiles welcomed the birth of her first child. The program features four new works choreographed by Wiles (one co-choreographed by and performed with deaf dancer Bailey Anne Vincent). The company has been posting lots of behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage on Instagram, as well as glamorous shots by dance photographer Nisian Hughes. DEMO by Damian Woetzel: Now On March 7 Damian Woetzel presents an evening of recent dance commissions at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Ballet stars Sara Mearns and Patricia Delgado will perform alongside a number of modern dance artists; Mearns will dance Alexei Ratmanskys solo Fandago and Delgado will perform in two works by postmodern choreographer Pam Tanowitz. Catch a glimpse of Mearns fiery solo in the video below (skip to 2:27). National Ballet of Canada From March 8-18, National Ballet of Canada presents the classic Sleeping Beauty. Their version was choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev in 1966 and was first performed by NBoC in 1972. Need a quick refresher on the story? The company put together this fun animated synopsis. Pennsylvania Ballet Pennsylvania Ballet is following the story ballet trend this week with the company premiere of Marius Petipas Swan Lake, running from March 8-18 at the Academy of Music. While the company has performed shortened or re-imagined versions in the past, this is their first time presenting the full-length original, re-staged by artistic director Angel Corella. Check out those turns! Charlotte Ballet On March 9 Charlotte Ballet is presenting the American premiere of The Most Incredible Thing, the fairytale pop ballet choreographed by Javier de Frutos to music by the Pet Shop Boys. Running through March 18 in Charlottes Knight Theater, this retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fable is sure to thrill audiences. Check out the compilation of rehearsal footage below, or this full length video of the production performed in London in 2011. The Joffrey Ballet This is certainly the season for Romeo and Juliet, and The Joffrey Ballet is no exception. On March 9 the Chicago-based company is bringing their production, choreographed by Krzysztof Pastor, to The Music Centers Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The following day theyll also open their production of Orpheus and Eurydice, directed and choreographed by John Neumeier, in collaboration with the L.A. Opera. Theyll be in L.A. through March 25. Black Lives Matter, an activist group that wants to defund the Chicago Police Department, and a coalition of other anti-police community groups have won a seat at the table as the city of Chicago and the state attorney general's office hash out a consent decree that would guide police reforms. The agreement comes on the heels of three lawsuits filed last year against the city, urging Mayor Rahm Emanuel to allow a federal judge to oversee an overhaul of the Police Department in the wake of an Obama administration U.S. Department of Justice report that slammed the department for excessive force. The community groups, a coalition of legal firms and the ACLU of Illinois all plaintiffs in the pending federal lawsuits hailed the 10-page agreement, filed in federal court, as a major step in the fight for federal oversight of the Police Department. Under the agreement, the community groups can provide input as the city and the attorney generals office continue to negotiate the terms of the consent decree. And once the decree is in place, they can object if it is inadequate or push for enforcement if they believe the Police Department has failed to follow through on its commitments, the Chicago Tribune reports. Austin Wyatt Rollins, the 17-year-old who opened fire on classmates at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland last week, injuring one and killing another, died by shooting himself in the head, officials investigating the case said Monday. According to details released by the St. Mary's County sheriff's office, Rollins parked his car at 7:50 a.m. and walked through the school's main entrance two minutes later, reports the Baltimore Sun. At 7:57 a.m., he approached classmate Jaelynn Willey, 16, and shot her once in the head with his father's Glock 9-millimeter gun. That bullet also struck 14-year-old Desmond Barnes in the leg. After firing the gun, Rollins kept walking through the school, where he was confronted by school resource officer Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill just after 8 a.m. Their weapons went off simultaneously 31 seconds later, with Rollins shooting himself in the head and Gaskill shooting Rollins in the hand, officials said. The shot Rollins fired was fatal, according to the sheriff's office. The Commerce Department has announced that the 2020 census will ask about peoples citizenship status. The Justice Department had requested the reinstatement of this question. The question obviously should be asked. Any country, especially one in which immigration is hotly debated, ought to have a good idea of how many citizens and how many non-citizens make up its population. The census should be used to get at this question. Its true that some non-citizens who are here illegally and who otherwise would participate in the census probably wont participate in one that asks this question. Theres no way of knowing how large this effect will be. We do know that, with the citizenship question, we will get accurate data as to how many citizens live in the U.S. Thats something we should know. The Washington Posts report on the Commerce Departments decision, written by Aaron Blake, devotes two paragraphs to the facts and then proceeds to the question that typically drives the Posts reporting: Is this good for Democrats? It isnt. Indeed, Blake goes so far as to assert that it carries potentially major political ramifications most notably for Republicans ability to gerrymander Democrats into the minority for years to come. The best Blake can do to support this wild claim is to quote some demographer who speculates that the Census decision will help Republicans pick up several legislative seats in such states as Texas, California, Florida, and New York. Why the U.S. should hide the ball on citizenship to avoid the potential effect that Democrats will lose some seats in Congress a matter of inches, Blake eventually concedes is unclear. Blake also fails to consider that the current system probably confers extra seats on Democrats due to illegal immigration, i.e., lawlessness. As Rep. Warren Davidson tweeted: Apportionment for Congressional seats and electoral votes should be based on citizens, not on residents. Otherwise citizens are underrepresented For example, California gets roughly three extra members of Congress based on estimates of illegal residents. It didnt take California long to try to preserve this unfair advantage. It has already challenged the Commerce Departments decision in federal court. Expect left-wing judges on the federal bench to find in Californias favor and order that the question be ditched. Hope that the Supreme Court will then allow the Census Department to make its reasonable and useful inquiry. Linda Brown was the young girl who gave her name to the four cases consolidated for consideration in Brown V. Board of Education, the 1954 Supreme Court case that effectively invalidated the regime of public school segregation. She died on Sunday at the age of 75 or 76. Neil Genzlingers New York Times obituary (illustrated with good photographs) is here. Genzlinger deals inadequately with the Brown case. In its ruling, he writes, the Supreme Court threw out the prevailing separate but equal doctrine, which had allowed racial segregation in the schools as long as students of all races were afforded equal facilities. The separate but equal doctrine had been announced by the Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Genzlinger implies that the Brown case killed it. Would that it were so, but its not. The Court ruled that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal, but left the separate but equal doctrine undisturbed. This is an important point and deserves care in the telling. The principle of equal treatment without regard to race had in fact been advocated by Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP in the rationale of colorblindness (It is [our] thesis[that] the Fourteenth Amendment prevents states from according differential treatment to American children on the basis of their color or racethat the Constitution is colorblind is our dedicated belief). This is the argument the NAACP expressly urged in the Brown case. The Court, however, failed to adopt it. Andrew Kull provides a history of the Supreme Courts treatment of the principle in The Color-Blind Constitution (originally published in 1992). Kull devotes two chapters to the separate but equal doctrine set forth in the holding of Plessy. The Plessy case represents the bygone era of Jim Crow that Linda Brown helped to transform, yet at the outset of his discussion of the case Professor Kull makes this astounding observation: The majority opinion in Plessy makes a comfortable target, and it is routinely vilified. But in its broad holding, as opposed to its particular application, Plessy has never been overruled, even by implication. On the contrary, it announced what has remained ever since the stated view of a majority of the Supreme Court as to the constitutionality of laws that classify by race. The principle of equal treatment without regard to race was adopted as the law of the land in the great civil rights legislation of 1964 and 1965, or so we foolishly thought at the time. It may even have been the law for a minute or two. Then the federal government began building the whole edifice of affirmative action and racial preferences that we live with today and that has been addressed by the Supreme Court in a number of important cases. Certainly insofar as higher education is concerned, the affirmative action regime and the treatment of students based on the color of their skin are entrenched more deeply than ever under the shibboleth of diversity. One of the lessons of Kulls great book is that the Court wants to retain for the judiciary the discretion and authority to approve varieties of racial discrimination. Linda Brown and her case to the contrary notwithstanding, the ideal of the colorblind Constitution remains permanently on the horizon. Donald Trump is to the Obama era as Jimmy Carter was to the Nixon era. His presidency could not exist without it. Whereas Obama preserved the outward forms of the presidency as head of state, he broke the forms in substance as head of government. By contrast, Trump breaks the outward forms as head of state while working to restore the substance as head of government. Beyond Obama, however, last nights Stormy Daniels interview on 60 Minutes reminded me how important the Clinton presidency was to making Trump possible. Trump would not be president were it not for the presidency of Bill Clinton and the faithful service that Hillary Clinton rendered to its preservation. Hillary was a terrible candidate in her own right, of course, but consider how Bill and Hillary paved the way for Trump every bit as much as Barack Obama did. The Stormy affair is ancient history. Unlike Clintons more notable escapades, at least it was consensual and at least it didnt take place in the Oval Office. Yet the media 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper, and the rest of the Democrats mainstream media adjunct that agitated in support of Clintons preservation are working overtime to make the Stormy affair a current political scandal that might take Trump down. I should think that the electorate must already have discounted Trumps marital bona fides rather heavily when it bought Trump. The grab them by the pussy tape almost proved fatal to Trumps candidacy. By any conventional standard, he should have been a goner. Trump survived the release of the tape in incredibly Trumpian fashion. Indeed, Trump revealed his skill as a candidate exploiting a Clintonian weakness when he assembled female former victims of Bill Clinton for a news conference and sought to seat them in his VIP box at the debate with Hillary Clinton in St. Louis. His position was that history must be told and a single standard applied. At a fateful moment of his candidacy, Trump theatrically called Clinton out. It was outrageous. Putting the character of the Clinton presidency on display in this way, Trump flaunted the truth that CBS et al. had sought to suppress in the Clinton era, or the truth from which they had done averted their eyes. Through the drawn-out Lewinksy matter and related impeachment drama, Bill Clinton has done at least as much as any other American to desensitize us. And he did so with the invaluable assistance of the Missus all along the way. Paul Cassell is a law professor and former federal district court judge. Richard Fowles is an economics professor. Both teach at the University of Utah. Cassell and Fowles have studied the spike of homicides in Chicago in 2016. Through multiple regression analysis and other tools, they conclude that an ACLU consent decree triggered a sharp reduction in stop and frisks by the Chicago Police Department, which in turn caused homicides to spike. In other words, what Chicago police officers call the ACLU effect is real. That effect was more homicides and shootings. Cassell explains: Our article proceeds in several steps. It begins by describing in general terms what is quite accurately called a spike in homicides in Chicago in 2016. A 58% year-to-year change [from 480 killed in 2015 to 754 killed the next year] in Americas Second City is staggering, suggesting something changed dramatically to initiate the increase. We next attempt to pinpoint the time when things changed in Chicagowhat might be called the inflection or break point in the data series. We begin by seasonally adjusting Chicago homicide and shooting data, which show significant seasonal fluctuation from cold weather months to warm weather months. Once the data are seasonally adjusted, a change or break in the data series can be statistically detected around November 2015. We next explore the possibility that, as been suggested by a number of observers, a reduction in stop and frisks by the Chicago Police Department that began at the very end of 2015 was responsible for the homicide spike starting immediately thereafter. Good reasons exist for believing that the decline in stop and frisks caused the spike. Simple visual observation of the data suggests a cause-and-effect change. . . . November 2015 [is] the break point in the homicide data. This is precisely when stop and frisks declined in Chicago. . . . Detailed regression analysis of the homicide (and related shooting) data strongly supports what visual observation suggests. Using monthly data from 2012 through 2016, we are able to control for such factors as temperature, homicides in other parts of Illinois, 9-1-1 calls (as a measure of police-citizen cooperation), and arrests for various types of crimes. Even controlling for these factors, our equations indicate that the steep decline in stop and frisks was strongly linked, at high levels of statistical significance, to the sharp increase in homicides (and other shooting crimes) in 2016. Cassell and Fowles then searched for other possible factors that might be responsible for the Chicago homicide spike. None fit the data as well as the decline in stop and frisks. Cassell and Fowles quantified the costs of the decline in stop and frisks in human and financial terms. They found that, because of fewer stop and frisks in 2016, a conservative estimate is that approximately 236 additional homicides and 1115 additional shootings occurred during that year. A reasonable estimate of the social costs associated with these additional homicides and shootings is about $1,500,000,000. And these costs are heavily concentrated in Chicagos African-American and Hispanic communities. What caused this deadly reduction in stop and frisks? In the final portion of their analysis, Cassell and Fowles show that it was the ACLU consent decree. This shouldnt be controversial. The ACLU took credit for the reduction at the time. Cassell and Fowles conclude by situating their findings within a larger body of developing empirical literature supporting the conclusion that restrictions on law enforcement investigations has real-world consequences by reducing police effectiveness. In Chicago, these consequences appear to be tragic, indeed. Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: GLOBAL BUYER (PROCUREMENT SOURCING EXECUTIVE) wygaso z dniem 2018-04-05 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Philip Morris International Service Center Europe Sp. z o.o. Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia ogoszenia to: oferta zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa usunieta z serwisu praca.egospodarka.pl zleceniodawca zakonczy proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc pracownikow zleceniodawca zmodyfikowa tresc zlecenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem WWW dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych niewasciwy adres url ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Produkcja / Przemys, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Produkcja / Przemys Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku GLOBAL BUYER (PROCUREMENT SOURCING EXECUTIVE), zajrzyj tutaj: Praca GLOBAL BUYER (PROCUREMENT SOURCING EXECUTIVE) Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Krakow, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Krakow Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne ogoszenia, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: The Formula One Group Teams will present to teams and manufacturers its refined 2021 regulation framework and vision of the future at a special meeting next week in Bahrain. The blueprint is expected to outline the sport's future engine format as well as potential cost-cutting measures. Last year, F1 sporting manager Ross Brawn tabled a draft proposal regarding the sport's future power unit which called for a less sophisticated and expensive engine, stripped of part of its MGU-H component, and the use of standardized part. The provisional plan was met with skepticism on the part of Mercedes and Renault, and outright opposition from Ferrari, with chairman Sergio Marchionne threatening to pull the manufacturer out of F1 should ever the proposal come to pass in its initial form. Since last October, Brawn has held lengthy discussions with teams and manufacturers, gathering feedback to elaborate the second proposal which shall be divulged in Bahrain. The general consensus favours in principle a reduction in costs, and less sophisticated technology, although it's uncertain if teams will agree on how the targets can be achieved. "I was told well get the details in Bahrain" said Red Bulls Dr. Helmut Marko. "Well wait and see what is coming. Lets see, but I cant see the MGU-H staying. We agree and were sure that there has to be a change on the technical regulations, and also on the cost side. "It has to be reduced. In whatever way, it doesnt matter, but it has to be reduced. Look at our neighbours [Force India]. No team is earning money, its not a solid and healthy business model." Teams have been pressing Liberty Media to clarify its vision and the sport's path to the future, whether it be on the regulation or commercial front. Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley, who has been critical of F1's lack of action, says a clear definition of the sport's engine rules is expected. "The key thing is theyve now got to start delivering a bit," he told Motorsport.com. "Weve had this nice build-up, weve now got to get it over the hump. "Its going to be an important year for them. Its important to get the engine regs clearly established in 2018, because the manufacturers are going to need that lead time to be able to look at it. "I think you could wait until 2019 to be able to confirm the chassis regs and anything else, because that again youve got a year or so to implement it. "And that leaves you at least a year or more to discuss the commercial side of it." Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter BOSTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- New evidence from fetal brain scans has shown that a mother's stress during pregnancy can change the neural connectivity in the brain of her unborn child, potentially affecting the baby's brain functions. Moriah Thomason, an assistant professor of Wayne State University, presented this new finding on Monday at the 25th meeting for the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Boston. Research in newborns and older children to understand prenatal influences has been confounded by the postnatal environment, Thomason explained. But recent advancements in fetal imaging allowed researchers to gain insight into a critical time period in brain development never previously accessible. Using fetal resting-state FMRI or functional magnetic resonance imaging, they examined functional connectivity in 47 human fetuses scanned between the 30th and 37th week of gestation. Conducting in-utero brain scans are challenging because of the always wriggling babies. Thomason's team recruited the participating mothers from a low-resource and high-stress urban setting, with many reporting high-levels of depression, anxiety, worry, and stress. They found that mothers reporting high stress had fetuses with a reduced efficiency in how their neural functional systems are organized. It is the first time, imaging has shown a direct influence of maternal stress on fetal brain development, independent of influences of the postnatal environment. "The major thrill is that we have demonstrated what has long been theorized, but not yet observed in a human, which is that the stress of a mother during her pregnancy is reflected in connectional properties of her child's developing brain," Thomason said. The researchers found that the cerebellum played a central role in the observed effects, suggesting it may be especially vulnerable to the effects of prenatal or early life stress. The cerebellum has the highest density of glucocorticoid receptors, which are involved in stress responses, than any other place in the brain. [ Editor: WPY ] BENGALURU, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 7EDGE, a firm that enables digital transformation, recently expanded its global business footprint by launching its growth marketing and people-based marketing solutions in the UK. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/650252/7EDGE_Logo.jpg ) Talking about the company's global expansion plans, Mr. Ashu Kajekar, CEO, 7EDGE said, "With the success of our offerings in the Indian market, we are now expanding our focus on entering the global markets. Our success and past market experience also makes us confident in expanding our global business footprint." 7EDGE's current bouquet of offerings include digital marketing and technology solutions. Growth7 and People7 are the company's digital marketing solutions, which have already found widespread implementation across different sectors in the Indian market. Growth7 is a strategic growth marketing solution which helps businesses achieve better sales results and growth. Unlike traditional digital marketing that takes a siloed approach towards an organization's marketing funnel, Growth7 focuses on the complete customer lifecycle from the moment strangers become the organization's website visitors till they become their customers and brand promoters. By taking a holistic look at the organization's marketing and sales funnel and using one single cohesive methodology, it leads to a higher sales performance and a greater ROI for the business. People7, the company's people-based marketing solution targets real people instead of device/cookie targeting or sitelist targeting by using identity resolution technology. With this solution, marketers can connect to actual corporate decision makers and deliver a cohesive customer experience by targeting the right users at the right time, with the right message, across multiple devices and channels. It leverages account-based marketing coupled with intent and functional targeting for driving personalized campaigns for the target accounts. About 7EDGE We are a strategic consulting firm that enables the digital transformation of brands and businesses to achieve successful business outcomes. We believe in an Internet First philosophy and deliver strategic business solutions in the space of Brand and Marketing Strategy, Digital Strategy, Growth & Innovation Strategy, Marketing Technology, Advertising Technology, Web and Mobility, DevOps, Cloud, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and IoT. Our ability to strategize, solve, and scale drives enterprises, start-ups, and entrepreneurs across various geographies in a range of industries. Media Contact: Prasant Roy [email protected] +91-7022222227 Growth Strategist 7EDGE SOURCE 7EDGE The 2018 edition of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list includes Bangkok newcomer Paste (No.31), headed by Bongkoch 'Bee' Satongun, who is also named elit Vodka Asia's Best Female Chef 2018. Japan Den (No.2) earns the title of The Best Restaurant in Japan while La Cime in Osaka debuts at No.17, earning the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles. Acclaimed Japanese chef Yoshihiro Narisawa is this year's recipient of the peer-voted Chefs' Choice Award, sponsored by Estrella Damm. L'Effervescence (No.20) in Tokyo won the inaugural Sustainable Restaurant Award in Asia, presented to the restaurant with the highest environmental rating, as determined by audit partner the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Singapore Singapore claims seven entries on the 2018 list with Odette (No.5) named The Best Restaurant in Singapore. Greater China Amber (No.7) in Hong Kong is named The Best Restaurant in Greater China for a third successive year. Hong Kong's The Chairman (No.22) and Mume in Taipei (No.18) tie for the Highest Climber Award with both restaurants rising 25 places. Nicolas Lambert of Caprice, Hong Kong is the 2018 recipient of the Asia's Best Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Valrhona. Macao is represented by Jade Dragon (No.35) while Mainland China counts Shanghai restaurants Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (No.8) and Fu He Hui (No.30). Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet is also the 2018 recipient of The Art of Hospitality Award. Regional Mingles (No.11) in Seoul retains The Best Restaurant in South Korea title. Locavore (No.21) keeps The Best Restaurant in Indonesia honour while Indian Accent is awarded The Best Restaurant in India for the fourth time. Other country and region winners include Raw (No.15), winning The Best Restaurant in Taiwan title for a second year, and Ministry of Crab in Colombo (No.25) named The Best Restaurant in Sri Lanka. Toyo Eatery in Manila earns the Miele One To Watch Award while chef Andre Chiang is this year's recipient of The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award. How Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled The list is created from the votes of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia. For the 2018 edition, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants is once again working with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner. To see more details on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants voting process, visit http://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/our-manifesto.html Online Media Centre Website: http://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/media-centre/ For press enquiries, please contact CatchOn & Company in Hong Kong Suzanne Lai Tel: +852-2566-8988 Email: [email protected] Notes to Editors: William Reed Business Media Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed Business Media, which also publishes The World's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002, and Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, launched in September 2013. William Reed Business Media is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the list. Host Destination: Macao Macao is a small and magical destination luring millions of visitors each year drawn by the city's singular heritage, its state-of-the-art integrated resorts, the rich calendar of events and, of course, its gastronomy. A centerpiece of the array of gastronomic experiences available in the city is Macanese cuisine that, just like Macao, results from a fusion of east and west cultures blended through the centuries. Main Sponsor: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being. Other Partners: Wynn Resorts Macau -- Official Venue Partner Miele -- Premium Partner, Official Kitchen Appliance Partner , Presenting Partner of #50BestTalks and sponsor of the 'Miele One To Watch Award' elit Vodka -- Official Premium Vodka Partner and sponsor of the 'elit Vodka Asia's Best Female Chef Award' Diners Club International -- Official Credit Card Partner and sponsor of the 'Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award' Estrella Damm -- Official Beer Partner and sponsor of the 'Chefs' Choice Award' Valrhona -- Official Chocolate Partner and sponsor of the 'Asia's Best Pastry Chef Award' Lavazza -- Official Coffee Partner Douro Boys -- Official Wine Partner Champagne Delamotte -- Official Champagne Partner Frontier Tojo -- Official Sake Partner Gin Mare -- Official Gin Partner Seedlip -- Official Premium Non-Alcoholic Spirit Partner Cinco Jotas -- Official Iberico Ham Partner Calia -- Official Specialty Grocer Partner Aspire Lifestyles -- Official Concierge Partner and sponsor of the 'Highest New Entry Award' Taipa Village -- Official Cultural Partner Sustainable Restaurant Association -- Sustainability Audit Partner Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180319/2083099-1LOGO Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180327/2083099-1 SOURCE William Reed Business Media 3rd Industry 4.0 Conference, Tech Talk, Medical Plastics Connect, CMF Inspiration for Design x Innovation SHANGHAI, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Development of plastics and rubber technologies has roared ahead like a tiger in current years. CHINAPLAS, as a leading trade fair, offers a technology-oriented platform for those sectors globally. Not only will 4,000 distinguished exhibitors showcase their advanced products and services at CHINAPLAS 2018, show organizer Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. will also hold several exciting concurrent events. These will include "3rd Industry 4.0 Conference", "Tech Talk", "Medical Plastics Connect" and "CMF Inspiration for Design x Innovation". Experts from all over the world will gather in Shanghai this April to assess market trends and highlight innovative technologies. 3rd Industry 4.0 Conference Industry 4.0 solutions facilitate business transformation. CHINAPLAS started organizing a conference on this topic two years ago and received enthusiastic feedback. With continuing, full support from VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, the "3rd Industry 4.0 Conference" will take place at CHINAPLAS 2018. Participants can expect plenty of industry 4.0 factory case studies and in-depth application discussions. Participants will be inspired by the best proven German practices, to help them stride into Industry 4.0 era. At present, Arburg, EREMA, KUKA, KraussMaffei, RWTH Aachen University, Wittmann Battenfeld and other well-known enterprises have confirmed their presence as guest speakers. Tech Talk The organizer introduced "Tech Talk" last year to enrich the technology content of CHINAPLAS, creating a platform for international exhibitors to launch their state-of-the-art products. "Tech Talk" will shed light on a wide range of topics, including: Smart Manufacturing: automation/robotics, micro-injection molding, digitalization and 3D printing etc. Innovative Materials: lightweighting, micro-foaming, multi-functionality, anti-UV, anti-bacterial materials, etc. Green Solutions: biodegradable materials, low VOCs, energy saving, and recycling etc. Medical Plastics Connect CHINAPLAS has taken an active role in promoting the application of medical plastics technology in medical devices, consumables and drug packaging for three consecutive years. "Medical Plastics Connect" is an array of activities to comprehensively present cutting-edge and practical medical plastics solutions to visitors, through open forums, guidebook, pop-up kiosk and guided tour. International experts will be invited to share their valuable knowledge on hot topics such as sterilization-resistant materials, composite materials for pharmaceutical packaging, medical TPU and PEEK resins, precision tubing solutions, cleanroom injection molding technology etc. CMF Inspiration for Design x Innovation Product design is increasingly grabbing people's attention. Color, Material and Finish(CMF) is vital for product design, and directly influences users' product experiences. Good CMF design reinforces a positive product image and is essential in building a successful brand. CHINAPLAS is responding to market needs by launching "CMF Inspiration for Design x Innovation". The event consists of a "CMF Inspiration Wall" and a "CMF Design Forum". Global leading plastics technology suppliers and CMF masters will talk about product innovations and latest market trends. CHINAPLAS 2018 will be run from April 24 - 27, 2018 in Shanghai, China. For more information and pre-registration, visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com. Contact: Stella Yuen +852-2516-3316 [email protected] Related Links http://www.ChinaplasOnline.com SOURCE Adsale Exhibition Services Limited E-commerce is set to recast pricing strategies, supply chain and product mix supporting the opportunity for growth SANTA CLARA, California, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Visionary Science Team at Frost & Sullivan reveals in their analysis North American Workwear and Uniforms Market, Forecast to 2021 that e-commerce is emerging as a viable and profitable channel for workwear and uniform manufacturers that have seen their rental channel come under pressure in recent years. This is likely to disrupt the supply chain significantly, as manufacturers have to rethink their inventory management strategies. Industry feedback suggests that inventory management is critical for ensuring manufacturers have the right amount of stock at hand to meet orders in a timely and efficient manner. For more information on Frost & Sullivan's analysis click here: http://frost.ly/2a7 According to Frost & Sullivan, manufacturers have to realign their product portfolio to suit the preferences of millennials. "Manufacturers will benefit from tailoring their product portfolios to suit the end-user preferences of millennials that are looking for garments that combine fashion and function." Additionally, those manufacturers that can successfully leverage e-commerce are likely to benefit going forward as the outlook for the rental channel appears sub-optimal. End users are looking for value addition in their garments such as moisture-wicking fabrics, stain-resistance and anti-microbial properties. Manufacturers that are able to bring to the market smart workwear are also likely to see their products gain acceptance among a niche end-user group that favors technologically advanced products. Stable regional dynamics are likely to characterize the forecast period. NAFTA renegotiations, however, are likely to weigh in on some manufacturers as they carefully evaluate investment opportunities. "The uniforms and workwear market is poised for growth as manufacturers realign their product mix to suit the needs of a largely millennial workforce. Additionally, the emergence of e-commerce as a reliable sales channel is likely to shift pricing and sourcing strategies," stated Frost & Sullivan. The analysis reveals the following growth opportunities: The millennial workforce offers significant opportunities for growth to manufacturers. This end-user base is looking for fashionable workwear garments that have a strong aesthetic element. E-commerce is set to become a viable channel as millennial workers prefer to shop online, which is likely to give a boost to online sales. The North American workwear and uniforms market is predicted to grow at 1.9% reaching $11.17 billion by 2021. by 2021. The Trump administration is expected to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States , which should put the brakes on the decline in blue workwear sales. Manufacturers have the opportunity to reach out to an end-user base with waning interest by bringing to the market blue workwear that is visually appealing. North American Workwear and Uniforms Market, Forecast to 2021 is part of Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Science Growth Partnership Services. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion North American Workwear and Uniforms Market, Forecast to 2021 K1C9-39 Contact: Jaylon Brinkley Corporate Communications North America P: +1 (210) 247-2481 E: [email protected] Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan According to a new market research report " In Vitro Diagnostic/IVD Market by Product (Instruments, Reagents), Technology (Immunoassay, Clinical Chemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Hematology, Urinalysis), Application (Diabetes, Oncology, Cardiology, Nephrology) - Forecast to 2023 " , published by MarketsandMarkets, the report studies the global In Vitro Diagnostics Market from the forecast period of 2018 to 2023. The market is projected to reach USD 87.93 Billion by 2023 from USD 68.12 Billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 5.2%. Factors such as increasing burden of chronic diseases (majorly due to the rising geriatric population), rising prevalence of infectious diseases, rising demand for early disease diagnosis using specialized tests, growing awareness on personalized medicine, increasing adoption of fully-automated instruments and automation in laboratories, and increasing adoption of point-of-care testing are driving the market growth. Moreover, the introduction of a new range of condition-specific markers and tests, with advances in genomics and proteomics, is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for market players during the forecast period. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 283 market data Tables and 63 Figures spread through 405 Pages and in-depth TOC on "In Vitro Diagnostic/IVD Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ivd-in-vitro-diagnostics-market-703.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report Based on application, the infectious diseases segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Based on applications, the IVD Market is segmented into diabetes, infectious diseases, oncology, cardiology, nephrology, autoimmune diseases, drug testing/pharmacogenomics, HIV/AIDS, and other applications (neurological tests, endocrine tests, blood analysis tests, pregnancy tests, and general clinical applications). The infectious diseases segment accounted for the largest share of the IVD applications market in 2017. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the rising prevalence of infectious diseases as well as multi-drug-resistant infectious diseases across the globe and the growing need for effective diagnostic tools for these diseases. Based on technology, the immunochemistry/immunoassays segment is expected to dominate the market in 2018 Based on technology, the In Vitro Diagnostics Market is broadly divided into immunochemistry/immunoassay, clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, hematology, microbiology, coagulation & hemostasis, urinalysis, and other technologies (patient self-testing, point-of-care testing, lateral flow assays, and tissue processing). The immunochemistry/immunoassay segment is expected to dominate the market in 2018. The growing preference for these technologies in clinical diagnostics over conventional methods and the ability of immunoassay/immunochemistry technologies to offer faster results with high sensitivity and accuracy are some of the factors contributing to the growth of this market segment. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=703 Based on end user, point-of-care testing is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Based on end user, the market is segmented into laboratories (large/reference laboratories, medium-sized laboratories, and small laboratories), hospitals, academic institutes, point-of-care testing, patient self-testing, and other end users. The point-of-care testing segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rising prevalence of infectious diseases in developing countries and increasing incidence of cardiac diseases and diabetes are the major factors driving the demand for POC tests. The growing use of POC devices within hospitals and clinical settings, especially in remote and rural areas, is also fueling the demand for POC tests and thereby contributing to the growth of the IVD Market. North America is expected to dominate the In Vitro Diagnostics Market in 2018. Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2018, North America is expected to dominate the market followed by Europe. The market in North America is primarily driven by the adoption of fully automated instruments, availability of government funds, growing use of molecular diagnostics in genetic disorders and cancer screening, and the presence of key players in the US. The prominent players in the global In Vitro Diagnostics Market include Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Danaher Corporation (US), Abbott Laboratories (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Johnson & Johnson (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories (US), Sysmex Corporation (Japan), bioMerieux (France), DiaSorin (Italy), Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (US), Agilent Technologies (US), and QIAGEN (Germany). Know more about the In Vitro Diagnostic/IVD Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ivd-in-vitro-diagnostics-market-703.html 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] Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Cloud computing, big data analytics, mobility and network connectivity trigger key growth opportunities, finds Frost & Sullivan BOGOTA, Colombia, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Colombian Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sector is experiencing a boom in cloud adoption, evolution of data to intelligence, increased availability of different types of connectivity, and improved productivity. Frost & Sullivan forecasts the market to generate revenues of $523.7 million by 2022, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.8%. Smart cities and the healthcare sector will expand more rapidly during this period. "The automotive industry is forecast to spend the most on the IoT over the next 2 years since commercial vehicle telematics represented the bulk of machine-to-machine (M2M) connections in the Colombian market," explained Gina Sanchez, Information and Communication Services Senior Consultant at Frost & Sullivan. Colombian Industrial Internet of Things Market, Forecast to 2022 report reveals drivers, trends, and external challenges for hardware, software, connectivity, services, and primary verticals such as automotive, utilities, agriculture and manufacturing. Company case studies on Manuelita and Azlogica, as well as a Smart City case study on Bogota, are also provided. For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/2ci Four ways to leverage growth opportunities in the Colombian IIoT sector: Vendors should help organizations manage the complexities of connecting to a seemingly unlimited number of devices and effectively integrate Internet of Things (IoT) data with data from other sources, such as internal data stores; Telecommunication providers should consider embedding SIM cards in devices, using sensors in strategic industries, and investing in core-enabling technologies, ecosystem partnerships, and acquisitions; Communications service providers should leverage their core competencies to capture horizontal opportunities arising from IoT (e.g., integration, managed services and security, cloud computing and storage, and retail and enterprise channels); and Vendors should cover data access issues to encourage companies to craft an IoT strategy if they don't already have one. Because IoT buyers generate the data, it is important that they have access to it. "Security, data protection and privacy remain key concerns in terms of embedding ubiquitous sensing and communication technology into machines and everyday objects, and are likely to slow adoption and initial IoT deployment," noted Sanchez. "The challenge of integrating all components to achieve interoperability and provide access to data also must be addressed when adopting IoT solutions." Colombian Industrial Internet of Things Market, Forecast to 2022 is part of Frost & Sullivan's Information and Communication Technologies Growth Partnership Service program. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion Colombian Industrial Internet of Things Market, Forecast to 2022 K208_63 Contact: Francesca Valente Corporate Communications Latin America P: +54 11 4777 5300 E: [email protected] http://www.frost.com Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 64 market data Tables and 36 Figures spread through 120 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Intelligent Pigging Market - Global Forecast to 2023" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/intelligent-pigging-market-253211433.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The key factors driving the growth of the intelligent pigging market is government mandates and regulations for pipeline inspections, benefits of intelligent pigging solutions, and concern over the safety of pipelines and energy infrastructure. Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) technology is expected to hold largest market size during 2018-2023 Intelligent pigging based on smart MFL technology is more preferred as it can be used in both liquid and gas pipelines and does not require any liquid couplant, like ultrasonic pigging. MFL pigs can detect and measure metal loss or corrosion and cracks and weld defects even in thin-walled pipelines, while ultrasonic pigs fail to identify and measure thin-walled pipelines accurately. Market for metal loss/corrosion detection application is expected to grow at highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023 Pipe corrosion can damage the quality of the substance that is carried, and it can result in stained fixtures and potential odors; hence, intelligent pigging will be in demand for the detection of pipeline corrosion. Thus, with more risks associated with corrosion of metals, its detection application is expected to grow during the forecast period. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=253211433 North America is expected to hold largest market size, in terms of value, owing to huge pipeline infrastructure North America has some major players from the oil & gas industry and prominent users of inline inspection services for intelligent pigging. Natural gas and petroleum are the 2 biggest sources of energy in the US. North America is investing significantly in oil and gas pipeline projects to fulfill the growing demand for oil and gas. Baker Hughes (US), ROSEN Group (Germany), T.D. Williamson (US), Onstream Pipeline Inspection (Canada), NDT Global (Ireland), Enduro Pipeline Services (US), Intertek Group (UK), Dacon Inspection Services (Thailand), LIN SCAN (UAE), and Applus (Spain) are some major companies in this market. Know more about the Intelligent Pigging Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/intelligent-pigging-market-253211433.html 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 with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets "The Leaf Patient Monitoring Solution is a specialized healthcare tool that helps improve patient outcomes through minimizing immobility-related complications," said Patrick Riley, Principal Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. The core technology of the Leaf Patient Monitoring System is the Integrated Positioning Index (IPI), an algorithm designed as an objective measure of the qualityas opposed to just the quantityof patient mobility. The IPI accurately measures patient turn frequency, turn magnitude, and tissue reperfusion time, which helps mitigate the risk of pressure injuries and optimizes the therapeutic benefits of the system. The Leaf Patient Monitoring System also uses a point-of-care sensor that provides caregivers with instantly accessible and local data, and it can provide monitoring in areas without wireless transmission. The Leaf Patient Monitoring System offers actionable, real-time clinical data that optimizes workflows, resources and helps nursing staff prioritize high-risk patients. Chief nursing officers can leverage multi-tiered daily and monthly reports to determine whether a facility is reaching its patient mobility goals. The system is also cost effective because it requires no capital equipment or infrastructure investment, as Leaf supplies the required server, tablets, and monitoring supplies. For patients, the clinical benefits of the Leaf Patient Monitoring System have been validated through clinical trials. A clinical trial conducted at Stanford University and recently published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies showed that patients protected by the Leaf Patient Monitoring System were 73% less likely to develop a pressure injury. As earlier reported in Nursing Open, a peer-reviewed journal, additional clinical research has demonstrated improved in-bed mobility levels from a baseline of 64% without Leaf to 98% with Leaf. Leaf anticipates continued growth acceleration in upcoming years due to contracts currently in place. Furthermore, in 2017, the company secured a strategic investment and distribution agreement with Smith & Nephewa billion-dollar medical technology firmto enable new growth opportunities domestically and internationally, particularly in Japan and the European market. "The Leaf Patient Monitoring System's clinical efficacy, versatility, and proven client value clearly demonstrate why Leaf Healthcare earns the 2018 Frost & Sullivan Technology Leadership Award in the global patient mobility monitoring market," said Riley. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Leadership Award to the company that demonstrates uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies that deliver significant customer value. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Leaf Healthcare Leaf Healthcare creates wireless patient mobility monitoring solutions for health care providers who are seeking more efficient and cost-effective ways to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes. Its patient monitoring system wirelessly monitors patient position and movement and uses that data to automate and document mobility protocols for patients. To learn more, visit www.leafhealthcare.com About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Samantha Park P: 210.348.1001 F: 210.348.1003 E: [email protected] Mark Smith P: 925-621-1827 F: 925-621-1801 E: [email protected] Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Photo taken on March 26, 2018 shows the gate of Embassy of Russia in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle in response to the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain earlier this month. (Xinhua/Yang Chenglin) WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle in response to the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain earlier this month. The Russian officials were asked to leave the United States within seven days, senior U.S. officials said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The United States takes this action with NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia's use of military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom," said the officials. Sergei Skripal, 66, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in Salisbury earlier this month. They remain in critical condition after exposure to a nerve agent, which, according to the British authorities, could have originated from Russia. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident and insisted on participating in direct investigation into the case. 3 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] According to the new research report "Small Satellite Services Market by Platform (CubeSat, Nanosatellite, Microsatellite, Minisatellite), Vertical (Government & Military, Non-Profit Organizations, Commercial), Application (Remote Sensing, Communication), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022" , published by MarketsandMarkets , the market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 14.88 Billion in 2017 to USD 53.22 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 29.03% during the forecast period. Key factors, such as increasing demand for earth observation and satellite broadband services, and satellite miniaturization technology are expected to fuel the growth of the small satellite services market. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 83 market data Tables and 46 Figures spread through 160 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Small Satellite Services Market - Global Forecast to 2022" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/small-satellite-service-market-150469603.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report Based on platform, the minisatellite (101-500kg) segment is expected to lead the small satellite services market during the forecast period Based on platform, the minisatellite (101-500 kg) segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the small satellite services market in 2017 due to the increasing demand for services, such as remote sensing, disaster management, military intelligence, telecommunications, and other academic services globally. Based on vertical, the commercial segment is projected to lead the small satellite services market during the forecast period Based on vertical, the commercial segment is projected to lead the small satellite services market during the forecast period. Small satellites have computational and communication capabilities, along with competencies in making decisions about the time the particular data is required to be sent. Ask for PDF Brochure : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=150469603 North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the small satellite services market in 2017 North America is estimated to lead the small satellite services market in 2017. Increasing interest in small satellites due to their low cost, advanced mechanics, and ease of assembly and launch has led to a rise in venture capital-backed funding for small satellites in the region and is thus leading to the increasing scope for satellite services. The small satellite services market in the North American region is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singapore), Eutelsat Communications S.A. (France), EchoStar Corporation (US), Inmarsat plc (UK), and Viasat, Inc. (US), among others, are the major players in the small satellite services market. Know more about the Small Satellite Services Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/small-satellite-service-market-150469603.html 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://mnmblog.org/market-research/aerospace-defence Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 110 market data Tables and 46 Figures spread through 153 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Train Lighting Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/train-lighting-market-85572173.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The Train Lighting Market is projected to grow due to the increasing demand for comfort and luxury features inside the rolling stock, government mandates for train lighting, and increase in different railway projects for metro train, high-speed train, and refurbished train. LED technology is estimated to have the fastest growth in Train Lighting Market LED technology is projected to grow at the fastest growth rate during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. Railway associations around the globe are installing LED lights in trains, owing to its energy saving and environmental friendly benefits. Also, LEDs are vastly used in rolling stock such as metros, DMU, EMU, and light rail. Due to the increase in demand for these rolling stock and with the increase in interior lighting applications, the market for LED lights is projected to increase. With increase in projects for high-speed trains and upcoming projects such as hyperloop are estimated as some factors influencing the future LED demand. Ask for PDF Brochure @https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=85572173 Cabin lighting is projected to have the largest demand in Train Lighting applications The cabin lights segment is projected to be the largest segment of the Train Lighting Market, by application. Cabin lights provide balanced illumination in the driver cabin and help avoid glare on the windscreen and LCD screens of the computers. Hence, the demand for these lights is directly proportional to the demand for locomotives in different countries. Infrastructure development and government mandates for lighting units would drive the Asia Oceania Train Lighting Market The Asia Oceania region comprises of emerging economies such as China and India along with developed nations such as Japan. The rail networks of China and India are among the biggest rail networks in the world. China has 250,000 km of track length, and India has 100,000 km of track length. Japan has a track length of 27,268 km. Generally, passenger trains are the mainly used mode of transportation in India, China, and South Korea; whereas, high-speed rail and metro train are the most preferred modes of transportation in Japan. Hence, owing to the increase in usage of different types of rolling stock the lighting requirement differs, which has propelled the market growth in this region. The key companies profiled in the study are Toshiba (Japan), General Electric (US), Hitachi (Japan), Koito (Japan), Federal-Mogul (US), Osram (Germany), Grupo Antolin (Spain), Draxlmaier (Germany), and Teknoware (Finland). Know more about the Train Lighting Market https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/train-lighting-market-85572173.html 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://mnmblog.org/market-research/automotive-transportation Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitaly Pruss, President of TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, reports that the meeting between the official delegation from the City of Kharkiv, Ukraine and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and John Huvane, CEO of Giuliani Security & Safety, was a success. The City of Kharkiv was represented by First Vice Mayor Igor Terekhov. During the meeting Mr. Terekhov expressed gratitude to Mr. Giuliani from Kharkiv's Mayor Gennadiy Kernes for assisting in organization of the visit of Kharkiv representatives, with the aim being to study the setup and experience of the Offices for Public Security and Offices for Emergency Management in the states of New York and New Jersey. The parties also discussed the areas of future cooperation with the goal of establishing and operating a new Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv. During the meeting Mr. Giuliani emphasized that the creation of an Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv is an important step for implementing the previously relayed recommendations for improved Kharkiv security system development. (Presetned by Mr. Giuliani during his visit to Kharkiv in November 2017.) "The establishment of the single Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv and the prompt interaction of all necessary agencies of the city will increase the overall level of security, and will also provide an opportunity for prompt response to emergencies," Giuliani said. "And thus," adds Mr. Pruss, "the city will become safer and more attractive to investors." A separate topic in the meeting was devoted to discussing software development issues related to the United States Centers for Emergency Response. Moving forward, Giuliani Security & Safety will provide expert assistance in creating an Office for Emergency Management in Kharkiv. TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, a New York-based business development company which facilitated introduction between the City of Kharkiv and Giuliani Security & Safety, is going to be involved in future cooperation with potential partners and investors as well. For more information on TriGlobal Strategic Ventures, please visit http://tgsv.net/. Related Links http://www.tgsv.net SOURCE TriGlobal Strategic Ventures KOCHI, India, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UST Global, a leading digital technology services company, today inaugurated its Innovation Garage by Infinity Labs[TM] in Vismaya building, Infopark, Kochi. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/540539/UST_Global_Logo.jpg ) The inauguration ceremony included digital launch of the lab by special guest Yan Chummar and address by the company's leadership and innovation teams. Along with the official inauguration, there was an innovation assets expo, by the Infinity Labs[TM] team and UST Global's project teams, where some of the latest and greatest innovations of the company were showcased. The Infinity Labs[TM] are a core ingredient of UST Global's Innovation-as-a-Service offering. It creates a confluence of Digital Technologies, Human Centered Design, Artificial Intelligence, the company's ecosystem of partners and cutting-edge R&D from the academia. The Infinity Labs[TM ] provide a platform for UST Global employees to get exposed to cutting-edge technologies, get access to world-class R&D institutions and disruptive startups from around the world. The labs also has an experience center where clients can get an immersive experience of UST Global's capabilities and services. At the Innovation Garage by Infinity Labs[TM], the company plans to employ techniques like Hackathons, Innovation Gyms, problem sensing frameworks, pre-fabricated components and rapid prototyping to churn out solutions at incredible speed. Commenting on the launch, Sunil Balakrishnan, Global Head for Development Center Operations, UST Global, said, "Innovation is at the core of what we do at UST Global. Our innovation center Infinity Labs[TM] is our gateway to ground-breaking innovations for our Global 1,000 customers. We are excited to have our very own Innovation Garage in Kochi that will not only enable meaningful digital innovation by our employees, but also open doors for the academia to come and explore technologies and platforms to build solutions." About UST Global: UST Global is a leading digital technology company that provides advanced computing and digital services to large private and public enterprises around the world. Driven by a larger purpose of Transforming Lives and the philosophy of 'fewer clients, more attention', we bring in the entrepreneurial spirit that seeks the fastest path to value in today's digital economy. Our innovative technology services and pioneering social programs make us unique. UST Global is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California and operates in 25 countries. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies in Banking and Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance, Retail, High Technology, Manufacturing, Shipping, and Telecom. UST Global believes in building long-lasting, strategic business relationships through agile and client-centric global engagement models that combines local experts & resources with cost, scale, and quality advantages of global operations. For more information, please visit: http://www.ust-global.com Media Contact: Divya Singh [email protected] +91-8552944004 UST Global SOURCE UST Global NEW DELHI and GHAZIABAD, India, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As IMT Ghaziabad Celebrates the Culmination of the I'M The Change Initiative IMT Ghaziabad (IMTG), India's premier management school with a distinct focus on grooming Leadership through Innovation, Execution and Social Responsibility, celebrated the 2nd I'M The Change Day: Recognition & Closing Ceremony of SSR 2.0, on March 22, 2018. The event marked the conclusion of the 2nd edition of IMTG's award-winning Experiential Learning Course - Sustainability and Social Responsibility (SSR) under the aegis of the I'M The Change initiative wherein 540 odd full time 2-year PGDM students of IMTG working in groups have delivered 91 field-based social projects across Delhi-NCR in collaboration with 16 NGO partners. The mega event had five segments entitled as - Pradarshan, Pratiyogita, Vartalaap, Samman and Manyata. Of the top three teams, two were in the area of women empowerment and the third on teaching Life Skills through games and play. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161003/414849LOGO ) Setting the tone of the event, Pradashan captured the dedication and hard work poured into the live social projects which have been executed, as part of the SSR course. A total of 24 projects were showcased for Pradarshan and Pratiyogita segments in categories like Education, Women Empowerment, Waste Management, Child Sexual Abuse and Soft Skills Training. Some projects also contributed to government initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India); DDU-GKY, etc. Pratiyogita, the competition based around the shortlisted projects comprised a distinguished panel of judges for the event, namely, Mr. Shikhar Jain, Principal Counsellor, CII-ITC, Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development; Ms. Vikas Goswami, Head, Sustainability Good and Green, Godrej Industries Ltd.; Mr. Arindam Ghosh, Vice President and Head of Strategy, IL & FS Education and Technology Services; Ms. Ratna Anjan Jena, Statistical Adviser, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India; Mr. Pradeep B. Nair, Regional Director, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ford Foundation; and, Mr. Sachin Adsare, Director, Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST), going through each of the projects to adjudge the top 3 teams. The Jury members shared their thoughts and views on the course and Social Responsibility in general, as part of Vartalaap. They commended the dedication and passion demonstrated by the students, with Mr. Pradeep B. Nair commenting, "Being an MBA graduate myself, it is great to see the time and effort being invested by students into this initiative. For those interested, this field holds many career opportunities." While, Ms. Ratna Anjen Jena speaking on the issue of Women Empowerment noted: "Women empowerment can only be done through Economic, Social and Political Empowerment." This was followed by the Guest of Honor, Mr. Kamal Singh, Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact Network, India, sharing his views on the experiential learning course SSR and how it would help in fostering the culture of Social Responsibility in the B-school environment. In his address, Mr. Kamal Singh commented, "The ultimate goal of sustainability is to touch the lives of all people right from the bottom of the pyramid to the top." Mr. Singh then joined Prof. Kasturi Das, Faculty-in-Charge, SSR, IMTG, in felicitation of the NGO partners of the SSR course. Along with the distribution of certificates to the students' groups who worked with them, the day-long event concluded with the I'M The Change Trophies being awarded to 'Top 3' teams from the Pratiyogita segment, namely, 'Advay', 'Goodwill Ambassadors' and 'Parivartan'. Team 'IMTheGreen' team received the 'Special Jury Award'. Working with an NGO, team 'Advay' (Shubham Sachdeva; Utkarsh Verma; Yashika Gogia; Vismita Rustagi; Yash Sayla and Tanuj Gupta) endeavoured to generate sustainable livelihood for a women's Self Help Group (SHG) in Dasna, Hapur. Team 'Goodwill Ambassadors' (R Ashok Kumar; Aakash; Sarthak K Tripathy; Sonali Mangla, Richa Jain and Aayushi Jain) worked with another women's SHG in Dasna in partnership with an NGO to develop a source of livelihood for the women, by introducing two environmentally sustainable products - organic 'Sindoor' and organic 'Gulaal'. Team 'Parivartan' (Jivesh Kapoor, Aditya Gupta, Manu Singh, Aayush Vats, Pranshu Singh and Shivangi Gupta) reached out to underprivileged kids in a government school in Ghaziabad to teach them Life Skills Education through games and play. 'IMTheGreen' team (Saijal Poddar, Himanshu Choudhary, Rahul Agarwal, Arpi Prakash, Tanmay Goel and Swati Pandey) received the 'Special Jury Award'. The team conducted a primary-survey based comprehensive action research project towards filling the gap of availability of socio-economic data on Jahangirpuri area in North-West Delhi. The 'I'M the Change' initiative has time and again brought laurels to IMT Ghaziabad, helping the institute bag the Gold Award at the 'IMC Award for Excellence in Management Education 2017' held at IIM Lucknow as well as earning accolades at the United Nations' 2017 Global Forum for Responsible Management Education, which was held in conjunction with the UN Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in New York City, USA. The most recent of these achievements was IMT Ghaziabad's selection by the United Nations' Principles of Responsible Management (PRME), as a 'PRME Champion', the distinction being announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, 2018. The event was hosted by the Community Outreach & Social Projects (COSP) Committee, the nodal committee wherein students are actively involved in coordination of the I'M The Change Initiative under the guidance of the Faculty-in-Charge Prof. Kasturi Das. About IMT Ghaziabad Established in 1980, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (IMTG) is India's premier AACSB accredited management school with a distinct focus on grooming Leadership through Innovation, Execution and Social Responsibility. An autonomous, not-for-profit institute, offering highly sought-after postgraduate programmes over the past more than three-and-a-half decades, IMTG currently offers four AICTE approved programmes - Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) Full Time, PGDM Executive, PGDM Part Time, and PGDM Dual Country Programme (DCP). While the first three programmes are offered at the IMTG campus in Ghaziabad, Delhi NCR, India, the PGDM DCP is offered in collaboration with IMT Dubai campus. The Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) is the latest addition to the list which leads to PGDM Part Time. IMTG has been consistently ranked among the top management institutes of the country for its Leadership, Faculty, Research, Student Selection Process, Curriculum, Pedagogy, Industry Interface, Internationalism, Placements, and Infrastructure. Today, IMTG is the proud alma mater of more than 300 C-suite executives and thousands of professionals serving in leadership positions in the best-known organisations in India and the world, in key business functions of sales, operations, human resources, consulting, information technology, marketing, and finance among others. More at http://www.imt.edu. Media Contact Sumana Khan Manager-Corporate Communications Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad +91-9510081255 [email protected] SOURCE Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (IMTG) Friday, April 13 2:00 6:00 PM (Focus on Professionals- CEU's) Saturday 9:00 AM 1:00 PM (Focus on Families and Caregivers) Campbell Community Center BURLINGAME, California, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a medical practice providing house calls for challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families, will be hosting a conference for families and elder care professionals on overcoming the challenges of dementia. Geriatricians will speak on the controversial topics of medication use and misuse, treating pain and addressing caregiving from a professional and personal perspective. A neuropsychologist will address distinguishing early dementia (and risk for financial abuse) from just eccentric or irritable behavior. A lawyer will discuss needed legal planning, and pitfalls. Several more eldercare professionals will be speaking on challenging transitions, and family issues. The conference will be held on two half days: Friday, April 13 from 2:00 6:00 PM and Saturday April 14 from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM at the Campbell Community Center, Orchard City Banquet Hall, 1 Campbell Avenue, Campbell CA. The fee is $25 for general admissions and $45 for CEU units for selected professionals: Nurses, RCFE Administrators, Nursing Home Administrators, CNA/HHA, and Geriatric Care Managers. All are welcome for both days! Discount if you register for both days $10.00 off for non-CEU, $20.00 off for CEU professionals. Discount for groups of Five or More: Save $10.00 per person per day. Registration is required. All press will be provided food, coffee and free admission as guests. Please connect with us at elderconsult.com to register. Break snacks and conference materials will be provided. Free parking. Resource Fair with 30 trusted elder care businesses and services will be held at the same time offering help and services to families. ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine founder Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, will be the keynote speaker at the conference both days and will discuss 'Medication Challenges' and 'Pain Effects in Dementia.' Other speakers include: Michelle Dhanak, MD "Intro to Dementia," Dr. Elizabeth Sutherland, PhD "When Odd Behavior Indicates Dementia," Barbara Small, Esq., "Personal Planning and Pitfalls," Stephanie Howard, "Best Care Practices," Tami Anastasia, MA, "Caregiver Challenges and Strategies," and Ann Kositsky, GNP "Engaging Activities." ElderConsult is a geriatric medical practice, founded by Elizabeth Landsverk, MD in 2006 and based in Burlingame, CA. Dr. Landsverk is a triple board-certified Geriatrician, Internist and Palliative care physician, with extensive experience in addressing complex medical and psychosocial issues in older individuals. She has particular expertise working with patients with dementia and agitation. She has found that outcomes for her elders with very challenging behaviors often require treatment that is not the standard care. We use no benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, sleeping pills), we do use narcotics for serious bone on bone arthritis or spinal arthritis or for serious behavioral issues causing dangerous behavior or severe distress. Also, we do use antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers, not for sedation, but for improved quality of life. One patient had frontal brain surgery that left him irritable and paranoid, his wife left him and all but 1 of his 6 children are estranged. He started on the above classes medication and was more pleasant, alert and engaged within a few days. It takes a village to care for our elders, and we appreciate your role in informing and educating. According to Dr. Landsverk, "ElderConsult's Mission is to 'Make Life Worth Living' and we practice this every day with every patient and family. Hosting this educational conference is in line with our goals to provide helpful and practical solutions to the many problems encountered with dementia care." Elizabeth Landsverk, MD, is founder of ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a house calls practice in the San Francisco Bay Area that addresses the challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families. Dr. Landsverk is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and palliative care and is an adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University Medical School. http://www.elderconsult.com Contact: Irene Dockins, CSA, Director of Training and Education 650-357-8834 X4 Related Links elderconsult.com SOURCE ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine MANILA, Philippines, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping Enterprises reach its Client and Customer base with impactful Measures Global communications platform company Infobip strengthens its presence and market in Manilla offering Viber enterprise messaging campaigns for the region's businesses and organizations. By using Infobip's OMNI solution, businesses can choose the optimal communication channels for specific types of messages including SMS, number of chat app messages, email, voice, and in-app push messages. Any eCommerce or brick-and-mortar store can conveniently promote their offers to as many as 900 million users and prospective customers in 193 countries worldwide. Bank of the Philippine Islands is planning to utilize Viber and Infobip to enhance the customer experience for their cardholders. "We are very excited to begin working with Viber and Infobip. There is significant value to explore how we can utilize Viber as a new tool in reaching out to our clients, our BPI cardholders. Viber will serve as a relevant new channel for our bank where we can further our customer engagement," said Monica Vergara, Head of Marketing and Media Solutions at BPI Cards. 59 percent of the South East Asia's smartphone users have Viber installed. "Viber is all about bringing people together through personal connections, common passions, and interests and the Philippines is a key market for Viber. Using Infobip's OMNI solution creates a frictionless experience for both consumers and partners, and one where we see significant results especially in the e-commerce space," said Christina Constandache, VP Global Partnerships, Viber. The Infobip portal offers a user-friendly web interface helping any business to easily organize its messaging campaigns. The portal provides detailed, real-time campaign reports including message delivery confirmation allowing the company to effectively monitor the progress of the campaign. "The Philippines is an instrumental market for Infobip where our client base is evolving quickly. Viber's impressive presence in the region will, through our partnership and platform integration, enable any business superior, direct marketing outreach," said Silvio Kutic, CEO of Infobip. About Infobip Founded over a decade ago by two young developers, Infobip grew into an international business with offices on six continents offering proprietary, in-house developed messaging platform with the capacity to reach over six billion mobile devices connected to over 800 telecoms networks. Infobip innovates at the intersection of Internet and telecoms technologies, creating new ways and opportunities for businesses and their end users to interact over mobile devices. The company serves and partners with leading mobile operators, OTTs, banks, social networks, tech companies and aggregators. About Rakuten Viber At Rakuten Viber, we connect people. No matter who they are, or where they are from. Our global user base has access to a range of features like one-on-one chats, video calls, group messaging, and updates and discussions with their favorite brands and celebrities. We ensure our users have a secure and free environment to share their emotions. Join Viber today and enjoy the world's best communication experience. Contact: Tina Loncaric, Global Public Relations Director, Infobip, tina.loncaric@infobip.com Rakuten Viber media inquires: media@viber.com, +385-994666343 SOURCE Infobip The Act! Premium Plus solution offers SMBs an unmatched ability to tailor their CRM to meet the unique needs of their business, market, and industry. This is achieved through the all-new Custom Tables Manager and Industry Templates features, which allow companies to bring complex data sets, unique business processes, and specialized industry practices together in Act! to better manage their business. "We are so excited to introduce the all-new Act! Premium Plus to round out the Act! portfolio," said H. John Oechsle, CEO of Swiftpage. "As small and mid-sized businesses increasingly need to capture more detailed, sophisticated customer data, today's CRM solutions are limited by an inability to fit complex data sets into their rigid tools. Act! Premium Plus unlocks the full potential of their CRM, allowing users to input and reference much more detailed customer data, resulting in a flexible CRM experience that meets the needs of their specific business and industry." Swiftpage also announced the release of the latest version of its cloud-enabled CRM platform, including a next generation Microsoft Outlook integration that supports Office 365 and Exchange for additional convenience, flexibility, access options, and control. Swiftpage continues to extend the capabilities of the purpose-built applications attached to the Premium Platform, in particular new versions of Act! Insight and Act! Companion. The Act! Insight feature set is enhanced to provide the user with additional capabilities to extract and analyze data across the business, making it easier to measure business and team performance. Act! Companion, Act's customized mobile experience, was extended for the field sales user, to provide the ability to manage their sales pipeline from anywhere. Swiftpage also launched a new Ultimate support plan option. Time is arguably a small business's most precious resource and the Act! Ultimate support plan gives customers priority access to phone support with knowledgeable North American-based advisors, as well as a new technical support mobile app, enhanced digital self-service experience, and much more. Find a complete list of updates here. Social Media and Website Links About the Act! Portfolio Act! has been a pioneer and an innovator in the CRM space for over 30 years, acquiring six million users in over 100 countries. The award winning solution helps businesses build lasting relationships, fuel business growth, and make informed decisions. Because every business runs differently, users have the freedom to tailor an Act! experience to fit their needs for an adaptable, everywhere, connected workspace. 2018 Swiftpage ACT! LLC. All rights reserved. Swiftpage, Act!, and the Swiftpage product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Swiftpage ACT! LLC, or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Press Contacts North America Mallory Bowers Swiftpage (720) 490-4332 mbowers@swiftpage.com Dave Feistel LF|PR (949) 502-6200 x 224 davidf@lfpr.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659120/Swiftpage_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659121/Act_Premium_Plus.jpg Related Links http://www.swiftpage.com SOURCE Swiftpage The successful disposal represents a 541 per cent gain over the acquisition cost and an internal rate of return of 20 per cent MACAU, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate fund manager, Sniper Capital Limited is pleased to announce the successful divestment of Senado Square, a 70,000 square foot retail development project in Macau. The divestment price was in excess of the asset's latest valuation and is a major milestone in Sniper Capital's strategy of maximising value and outcomes for its investors. The site, located within the prime UNESCO-listed heritage district of downtown Macau, was sold to a local developer for HK$800 million (c. US$102 million) by Sniper Capital's London-listed Macau Property Opportunities Fund. The sale price represents a circa 14 per cent premium to the property's valuation and a gain of 541 per cent over the acquisition cost of HK$124.8 million (US$15.9 million) in 2007. This translates to a return on investment of 469 per cent and an internal rate of return of 20 per cent. The sale of Senado Square exemplifies Sniper Capital's commitment to maximise portfolio exit values and return cash to shareholders of Macau Property Opportunities Fund. Sniper Capital Principal Mr Tom Ashworth said, "The sale of Senado Square at a significant premium to valuation adds to Sniper Capital's strong track record of successful divestments and asset stewardship. It is an excellent example of our ability to stay the course and add value to assets to achieve a great outcome for our investors." The Fund's remaining properties all command prime positions, including its flagship residential asset The Waterside, a premium luxury en-bloc tower located in Macau's preeminent development, One Central Residences. "We remain confident in the appeal these properties hold to investors seeking value opportunities in one of Asia's most compelling and attractively positioned property markets," added Mr Ashworth. Sniper Capital Principal Mr Martin Tacon said, "We were an early entrant into Macau and have been investing and developing in this market since 2004 when the international casino operators first opened their doors. Our first-mover advantage and local presence have enabled us to secure some of the best property assets in Macau and deliver tremendous value for our investors. "Today, the Sniper Capital Group manages and advises on a diverse range of real estate assets worth over US$600 million across Asia, the UK and Southern Europe. We apply our thematic investment philosophy across all our target markets, identifying unique and undervalued opportunities, where we can deliver attractive returns to our investors. "Our experience and success in Macau and southern China have given us the team and platform to continue to identify emerging trends and themes across a wide range of property markets. We are currently working on some excellent opportunities to strategically deploy capital and add value to real estate assets." Further Information Sniper Capital launched Macau Property Opportunities Fund in 2006 the first and only Macau property fund listed on the London Stock Exchange. Since then Macau, the only legal gaming jurisdiction on Chinese soil, has rapidly transformed into the world's largest gaming market with gross gaming revenues in 2017 growing by circa 19 per cent to US$33.2 billion. Driven by China's rapidly emerging middle class population, this number is expected to exceed US$60 billion by 2022. Today, Sniper Capital manages four Macau-focused funds three of which are dedicated to sustainable heritage projects in the historically rich vicinity of Taipa Village. Over the past decade, Sniper Capital has made over 20 acquisitions in Macau, generating IRR's of 20 per cent and above for its investors. About Sniper Capital (www.snipercapital.com) Founded in 2004, Sniper Capital Limited is a property investment manager focused on investment, development and redevelopment opportunities in niche and undervalued markets. With a particular focus on and presence in Macau, Sniper Capital has also been involved in real estate activity in other parts of Asia, the UK and Southern Europe. Over the last decade, Sniper Capital has demonstrated a proven capacity to successfully manage complex projects through all cycles and over the long term, adding value to its real estate projects and generating strong returns for investors through careful management, an on-the-ground presence and a focus on maximising shareholder value. Today, Sniper Capital manages a range of funds with combined assets of over US$600 million, including its flagship LSE-listed Macau Property Opportunities Fund (LSE: MPO). Sniper Capital also manages the unlisted Sniper Macau Heritage Properties I, II and III, which have delivered good returns for their investors. About Senado Square Senado Square project is a retail redevelopment project with a freehold tenure, located in Macau's prime UNESCO-listed shopping precinct. Once completed, the project has the potential to offer c.70,000 square feet of modern retail and F&B space. About Macau Property Opportunities Fund Macau Property Opportunities Fund Limited is a closed-end investment company registered in Guernsey. Listed on the London Stock Exchange's main market, it is also a constituent stock of the FTSE All-Share and FTSE SmallCap indices. Launched in 2006, the Company targets strategic property investment and development opportunities in Macau and mainland China's western Pearl River Delta. Its current portfolio comprises mainly well-positioned residential property assets. The Fund is managed by Sniper Capital, an Asia-based property investment manager with an established track record in fund management and investment advisory. Related Links http://www.snipercapital.com SOURCE Sniper Capital Limited BASEL, Switzerland, March 25 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition focusing on China's Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) kicked off Saturday in the northern Swiss city of Basel, highlighting some of the magnificent achievements of China's aerospace industry. As part of the ongoing Baselworld 2018 Show, the exhibition was presented jointly by China's Chang'E Aerospace Technology (Beijing) LLC and TAG Heuer, the avant-garde Swiss watchmaker, strategic partner and official timekeeper of CLEP. "We feel honored to take this opportunity to demonstrate the achievements of CLEP, which is of great significance to the development of China's aerospace industry," Xu Xingli, general manager of Chang'E Aerospace Technology (Beijing) LLC, said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Since the year 2004, when the CLEP officially started, Xu said, China has made significant progress in the exploration of the moon. "In 2007, China's first lunar probe Chang'e-1 was successfully launched. Chang'e-1 is the first lunar probe to transmit back the most complete 3-D map of the lunar surface, marking the milestone of China becoming one of the countries with outer space exploration capability," he said. "Since the second phase of the CLEP being approved and initiated in 2008, Chang'e-2 and Chang'e-3 lunar probes were successfully launched and they fully completed their missions," he added. According to Xu, China's important progress in the past decade also includes sending CE-2 lunar probe directly into the Earth-moon transfer orbit in 2010, the soft landing and patrol survey on an extraterrestrial celestial body by CE-3 in 2013, and the successful landing of the return and re-entry test spacecraft in the scheduled area in 2014. "CLEP represents the painstaking efforts of everyone involved for over a decade. In the next step, China plans to implement the Chang'e-4 lunar mission this year, and this will be the first-ever soft landing and roving survey on the far side of the moon," Zuo Wei, deputy chief designer of CLEP Ground Application System, said on the same occasion. According to the scientist, the biggest challenge for CE-4 mission is that humans on the Earth cannot communicate directly with the farside of the moon. To solve this problem, she said, China plans to launch a relay satellite in May 2018 to enable communication between the Earth and the farside of the moon. The Chinese scientist also revealed that the CE-5 will be launched in 2019 and it will be the first in the world to use unmanned lunar orbital rendezvous and docking mode to achieve lunar surface sampling return. In a tribute to China's lunar exploration achievements and illustrate the dreams of humankind for the moon, TAG Heue unveiled Saturday two special CLEP edition watches. [ Editor: WPY ] Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has dismissed two members of the National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER), Viktoria Morozova and Vadym Taratun. According to decrees No. 80 and No. 81, which were signed by the head of state on March 23, 2018, Morozova and Taratun were dismissed due to the expiration of the three-month membership term for which they were appointed in late December 2017. Thus, the commission again lost the quorum for holding meetings. The NCER should consist of seven members, including the head of the regulator. Ministry for IDPs attracted about UAH 3 bln for its projects over two years - Chernysh The Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine has attracted about UAH 3 billion from international partners over the past two years for the implementation of its projects, and the state has financed not more than 1% of this amount, the head of the ministry, Vadym Chernysh, has said. "The ministry has attracted about UAH 3 billion over the past two years for the implementation of projects. For example, two large-scale projects are now being implemented with USAID, that is, with the United States Government, for a total of $87 million. In general, these are projects involving a wide range of our international partners, non-governmental and governmental organizations, including UN agencies and others," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, the majority of projects are concentrated in five regions with a large number of internally displaced persons or communities affected by the armed conflict. However, a number of projects are spreading throughout the country. "I am convinced that if international partners did not implement these projects with us, they would not be realized in the country at all," the minister said. At the same time, Chernysh added that even this amount of funding was not sufficient. "Last year, UAH 17 million was allocated from the budget to meet these needs, and we have attracted about UAH 3 billion over the past two years. It turns out that the budget finances not more than 1%," he said. He added that with the assistance of the ministry, last year humanitarian aid was delivered to residents of eastern Ukraine for almost $2 million from the governments of Switzerland, Belarus, and Lithuania. The ministry and the World Bank also selected ten projects in eight cities and two merged territorial communities to support IDPs in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Pervomaisk, Kupiansk, Kryvy Rih, Berdiansk and other cities for $59 million. In addition, the U.S. government provided $52 million and the German government $5 million to implement international technical assistance projects. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New Delhi, March 21 : The average daily ridership of Delhi Metro has fallen by 8.2 per cent while that of buses has increased, according to a report tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday. Metro fares were increased twice in 2017 despite strong opposition from the Delhi government. Speaking in the House on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia blamed the fall in Metro ridership on the fare hike. "Now, Metro (DMRC) and people who want to travel in Metro are suffering," he said. The average daily ridership of Metro has come down to 25.7 lakh in 2017-18 (till December) compared to 28 lakh in 2016-17, according to Status report of Outcome Budget 2017-18. The Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the Central and Delhi governments. The average daily ridership of DTC and cluster buses has increased to 41.9 lakh in 2017-18 (till December) against a target of 40 lakh, according to the report. Chandigarh, March 22 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday promised adequate compensation for the families of those abducted and killed by the Islamic State in Iraq's Mosul. He also reiterated his demand for the central government to also recompense them since the tragedy had occurred overseas. The Chief Minister, on compassionate grounds, also ordered immediate release of Rs 20,000 as monthly pension to each of the bereaved families for February and March this year, waiving off the condition of quarterly payouts. The Deputy Commissioners have been asked to disburse the pension amount immediately, he said. Dismissing as false the allegation made by Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia that the families of the victims had not been paid compensation for the past six months, the Chief Minister said payment had been made till January 31. With the release of the next two months' pension, the payment was now completely up to date, he added. Talking to reporters at the Assembly here, he clarified that the government had been paying the monthly pension to 24 families, of which it so far had information. Earlier, the Chief Minister informed the House that as per the information received from the Ministry of External Affairs there are 27 victims from Punjab, of whom 11 hailed from Majha region and 11 from Doaba. The remaining were from other parts of the state. Intervening in a discussion on Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira's calling attention to extend adequate financial assistance to the next of kin of the bereaved families, the Chief Minister told the House that all criteria for compensation is such matters would be duly followed by his government. He said his government would not indulge in any politics or arguments with the Centre on grant of compensation but stressed that it was the Central government's responsibility to also provide financial assistance since the killings took place outside the country. New Delhi, March 22 : After his son's name cropped up in connection with the controversial British firm Cambridge Analytica (CA), JD-U secretary general K.C. Tyagi on Thursday said his son's company has only "professional links" with the CA and that the government can investigate the links. The London-based elections consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica, which engages in data mining and analysis for electoral processes, has been accused of harvesting and using the Facebook data of millions of users. Concerns are being raised over the possibility of such data being used to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. Amrish Tyagi's firm Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) is the India partner of CA and lists the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) among its clients. "The JD-U has no links with my son Amrish Tyagi's firm or with Cambridge Analytica. Neither CA's directors have ever met (JD-U President) Nitish Kumar nor Nitish Kumar ever met CA's bosses," Tyagi said. He said that the JD-U "being a socialist party does not go into tactics like data mining, etc", though he admitted that Amrish oversaw the party's social media campaign during the last Bihar Assembly elections. "Although there have been no complaints or information of data breach in India, I would request the government of India and particularly my friend Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, to investigate if any data breach or misuse happened in the country as well. Also, I would like them to probe the links between my son's firm and CA," he said. He said that Amrish campaigned for President Donald Trump for over a month in the United States. "Although as a socialist he did not like this, as a professional he (Amrish) is free to make his work decisions. He is a grown up man of 40," Tyagi said. Ranchi, March 22 : A Maoist commander carrying a Rs 25 lakh reward was arrested along with his wife in Jharkhand on Thursday while they were undergoing medical procedure to have a child, police said. Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ratan Chouthe said that Prabhakar Tudu alias Rajesh Tudu alias Santhal alias Harish was arrested with his wife Mogli Murmu from an IVF centre in Dhanbad city. Both were childless and were undergoing treatment. Tudu was one of the top Maoists who had established the Maoist movement in the Saranda jungles of Jharkhand. He was wanted for 22 incidents and had been associated with the Maoist movement for the past 25 years. The Odisha government had also declared an award of Rs 10 lakh on his arrest. Also, another leader of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), Deo Kumar Singh alias Arvindji, 53, has reportedly died of heart attack, police sources said. Arvindji was wanted in nine states. Suffering from diabetes, he is said to have succumbed to a heart attack this week, the sources said. But the police have not found his body. Lucknow, March 26 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday indicated that her party might align with Samajwadi Party (SP) in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections after the one-time bitter rivals helped defeat the BJP in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur parliamentary bypolls. According the official sources, the four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister told party legislators that such an alliance was necessary to "rout the common and bigger adversary, the Bharatiya Janata Party". She also warned party members not to get carried away by the propaganda unleashed by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "Whatever negative is being said by the BJP is nothing but its fear of our coming together so stand guard," Mayawati said. A close aide told IANS that she has also tried to ease fears that following the defeat of her party candidate in the Rajya Sabha biennial polls, the SP-BSP bonhomie will end. Mayawati noted that that alliance was not for personal or party gains but for the larger goal of vanquishing the "evil and cruel Modi sarkar". She also slammed the BJP's recent attempts to reach out to the Dalits, terming it as hogwash, aimed at confusing the support base of the BSP. Both the SP and BSP have been trying to cement the historic differences that has existed for the past 23 years. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has been thanking Mayawati after the Gorakhpur-Phulpur wins. Cairo, March 26 : Voting was underway in Egypt for the country's presidential election on Monday with incumbent President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi expected be returned by a landslide. Polls opened at 9 a.m., on the first of three days of voting, reports Xinhua news agency. Sisi casted his vote in Cairo, according to local media reports. Egypt has over 59 million eligible voters out of the country's 104 million population. Last week, the country wrapped up the voting process of Egyptian expatriates in 124 countries across the world. There are some 13,706 polling stations schools nationwide, with about 18,000 judges overseeing the voting process that is also being monitored by at least 53 local organisations and nine international ones. Sisi's sole rival in the race is little-known politician Moussa Mostafa Moussa, Chairman of liberal Ghad Party, after a couple of possible strong challengers have either withdrawn or disqualified for violations. Sisi has been in power since 2013, when he led the military's overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi following mass protests against his rule. He then won a landslide in the 2014 presidential election. The result will be announced on April 2, according to the National Election Authority. Dubai, March 26 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday strongly condemned the "Iranian-made missile attacks" on Saudi Arabia carried out by the Houthi militias. The Houthi missile attack was aimed at "terrorising civilians and damaging infrastructure in the kingdom through attacks," the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement. It said these repeated attacks by the Houthi militias confirm "the need to stand firm against these hostile acts and call on the international community to do its duty to stop and prevent these acts in order to ensure the stability of the region". The statement reiterated the position of the UAE on the side of the "brothers" in the kingdom, stressing that the security of Saudi Arabia was an integral part of national security and security of the region. Yemeni Houthi rebels fired several long-range ballistic missiles into Saudi territory on Sunday midnight, said a statement posted on the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency. Saudi forces said they shot down seven missiles launched from Yemen. According to Turki al-Malki, the spokesperson for the Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition, three of the missiles were fired at Riyadh and one Egyptian civilian was killed when fragments landed in a suburb. Al-Malki blamed Iran for the attack in which two other Egyptians were also injured. One missile was fired towards Khamis Mushait in the province of Asir, another towards Najran and the other two at Jizan. Several loud explosions were heard in Riyadh. The attack was not the first time that Houthis fired missiles towards Riyadh. The UAE is part of a Saudi-led military coalition which has been fighting the Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015. Canberra, March 27 : Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday announced that the country will expel two Russian diplomats as part of a global action against Moscow over an alleged nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy living in the UK. Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, issued a joint statement saying that two Russian "diplomats" had been identified as undeclared intelligence officers and would be ordered to leave Australia within seven days, reports the Guardian. Australia joins more than 20 western countries including the UK and the US in expelling more than 100 Russian diplomats alleged to be spies in the wake of the use of a chemical weapon in the attempted murder of a former Russian intelligence official, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury on March 4. It is the largest coordinated diplomatic blow to Russian intelligence networks in the west since the Cold War. "This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack - the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community," the joint statement said. "It takes into account advice from the UK government that the substance used on 4 March was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. "We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law." Opposition Labor party leader, Bill Shorten, said he supported the decision, the Guardian reported. Australia's move comes a day after US President Donald Trump's administration expelled 60 Russian diplomats accusing them of being "intelligence agents" and also shut down the consulate in Seattle. British Prime Minister Theresa May has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats, among other measures, after saying the Russian state was to blame for the poison attack which left Skripal and his daughter in a critical condition. The Kremlin has denied any involvement. Beijing, March 27 : China on Tuesday kept mum on a possible visit by North Korea's Kim Jong-un to Beijing, where a mysterious diplomatic convoy was seen moving, giving rise to much speculation among international media. "I am not aware of any information at present. If we have some information, we will release it in due course," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference. Although Hua did not confirm if North Korean leader had made his first visit to China since assuming power six years ago, he did say the two countries were "traditional friends" and still had "normal exchanges" despite recent sanctions by Beijing on Pyongyang in line with several resolutions of the UN Security Council, reports Efe news agency. Reports of the visit come ahead of the proposed summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April and a possible meeting between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump in May. The Chinese spokesperson stressed that Beijing's aim was to "continue to play a positive and constructive role in the denuclearisation (of the Korean peninsula) and maintaining peace and stability". Earlier on Tuesday, the South Korean government said it does not know if Kim had visited Beijing. The possible presence of Kim Jong-un would be along the lines of the trips to Beijing by his father, Kim Jong-il, who used to come in a special train, amid heavy security deployments at key points in the Chinese capital, and complete silence by the authorities of both countries until the North Korean leader had returned to his country. In Diaoyutai, the residential area where foreign leaders normally stay, a large retinue with over two dozen police officials on motorcycles and several other vehicles was seen leaving the complex. The convoy was later seen at the Beijing railway station, from where trains towards the northeast (in North Korea's direction) depart and around which much movement and security was detected. The main vehicle of the convoy was a large limousine, typical of a German manufacturer, while foreign leaders visiting Beijing (with the exception of Americans) normally use Chinese Hongqi-brand vehicles provided by China's government. Around the North Korean embassy, at the northern entrance of the popular Temple of the Sun Park, any person with a camera was immediately surrounded by police officials, who asked them to identify themselves and leave the area. On the other hand, the iconic Tiananmen Square, where many state buildings are located, was open as usual to tourists after remaining closed on Monday for several hours amid tight security. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has responded to the initiative voiced by Polish historian and journalist Ziemowit Szczerek and proposed discussing the possible introduction of the Latin alphabet in Ukraine simultaneously with the Cyrillic alphabet. "Today we talked with representatives of the Central European countries about the fate of the region and Ukraine's role in the Central European community. The parties included journalists, writers, and former politicians. The discussion was deep and necessary. In a friendly conversation historian and journalist from Poland Ziemowit Szczerek asked why Ukraine cannot introduce the Latin alphabet simultaneously with the Cyrillic alphabet," Klimkin wrote on his Facebook page on Monday, March 26. At the same time, Klimkin stressed the need to work on "what unites, rather than splits us." "On the other hand, why not discuss this issue? What is your opinion about this? I expect interesting comments," the minister said. Patna, March 27 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday announced scholarships for students of government-affiliated madrassas. He also pledged to appoint Urdu teachers in all high schools. "Students of government-affiliated madrassas will be provided scholarships," Nitish Kumar said at a function here to mark Urdu Day. He said the government would strengthen madrassa infrastructure in the state. He also expressed regrets for not learning Urdu during his student days. "It is my desire that all should learn and study Urdu. Both Hindi and Urdu are Hindustani languages. The government will work for the promotion of Urdu. "It is wrong to associate Urdu with a particular community," he added. Srinagar, March 27 : The negative impression about Jammu and Kashmir needs to be changed so that tourism regains its old glory in the state, Tourism Minister Mufti Tassaduq Hussain said on Tuesday. Addressing the media after inaugurating the 64th convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the Minister said tourism had to grow in Kashmir simultaneously with an awareness on environment and ecology. "We have been polluting our rivers and lakes. This trend has to be reversed immediately so that environmental awareness keeps pace with the development of the tourist industry in Kashmir," Hussain said. He said Jammu and Kashmir needed TAAI more than they "they need us". "It is great to have TAAI delegates here. They organize things very efficiently. I hope we do well with them this year," he said. Asked about the development of tourist spots along the borders, he said tourism should grow along the borders. "Tourism should prosper everywhere irrespective of the area." He said Kashmir was safe for tourists and other people and there was no need to worry about this. He said a TAAI convention is what the government of Jammu and Kashmir initiated to help undo the negative perception being created by some about the tourism scenario here. The last TAAI convention was held in 1988 which coincided with the inauguration of the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. Tourism Director Mehmood Shah said because of the shortage of 5-star accommodation in Kashmir, only 600 of the TAAI's 5,000 members were attending the present convention. "We have delegates from all over the country and outside. There are delegates from the United Kingdom, Taipei, Nepal, Turkey and the UAE." New Delhi, March 27 : The government has refused Google's proposal to launch its "Street View" service in India, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said on Tuesday. Ahir told the Lok Sabha that Google had submitted a proposal on Street View for the government's permission in July 2015, which allows users to explore places around the world through 360-degree panoramic street level imagery and view public areas. "The government did not agree to the proposal," the Minister said. Ahir was replying to a written question asked by Balasubramaniam Senguttuvan, a member from Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Panaji, March 27 : Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday slammed Maharashtra Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, who has threatened to shut down the coastal state for a day demanding a rollback of the decision of the Manohar Parrikar-led government to charge outstation patients treated at public hospitals. "Nitesh Rane said that he will close Goa for a day. Is it his hotel in Calangute? Just because he has bought the property, does it mean he has bought all of Goa? It doesn't work like that. That is not the way to say things," Vishwajit Rane told reporters here. Nitesh Rane, whose family runs a starred hotel in the beach village of Calangute, is an MLA from the Kankavli constituency in Maharashtra. He has warned of an agitation if the Goa government does not roll back its decision to charge a fee from outstation patients due to overcrowding of the state's health facilities. "I am the health minister of Goa. I have to look after the interest of the Goan population. Nitesh Rane can say what he wants. It is not his domain to advise me or the government of Goa. There is a BJP government in the state of Goa and in Maharashtra. I am confident that both governments will be able to resolve the issue. "At no point of time, we have said that poor people will not be treated. The issue is being politicised on the border (Maharashtra-Goa). I have asked for an appointment with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to sort out the issue," Vishwajit Rane said, adding that he would be meeting Fadnavis on Wednesday. "We are open to an MoU with the government of Maharashtra, so that the interest of our people can be protected and the load on the hospitals can be decreased," Rane said, adding that nearly 35 per cent of the patients at the state government-run hospitals were from outside Goa. The Goa government started charging nominal fees for health services in state government-run hospitals from January. Lucknow, March 27 : After failing to get a Legislative Council nod earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday re-introduced the proposed state law against organised crime in the Assembly, which later passed it. Introducing the Bill on Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (UPCOCA), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who also holds the home portfolio, told the house that his government was committed to ensure the rule of law and the safety and security of the state's 22 crore people. He said it was essential to weed out organised crime and anti-national elements from the state. "Anybody who tries to disrupt peace, engage in terror and anti-national activities will be dealt with a stern hand and this bill is a major way ahead in this direction," Adityanath said. The bill, which was passed by the Vidhan Sabha or Assembly on December 23 last, hit rough weather when it was introduced on March 13 in the council (Vidhan Parishad), where the ruling BJP does not enjoy a majority. The proposed legislation, drafted on the lines of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, has been resisted by the opposition as "draconian". The opposition parties have expressed apprehensions that the proposed law might be used to armtwist minorities and political opponents. Even as the Vidhan Sabha passed the bill yet again without any amendments on Tuesday, the state government has the numbers stacked against it in the upper house. In the 100-member Legislative Council, the Bharatiya Janata Party has 13 members, Samajwadi Party 61, Bahujan Samaj Party nine, Congress two, Rashtriya Lok Dal one and other parties 12. Two seats are vacant. While the Chief Minister sought the bill's passage to face security challenges, Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chowdhary said his Samajwadi Party will continue to oppose the proposed law as it was a "diversionary tactic" to gloss over the BJP government's failures over the past year. Contesting Adityanath's claims on improved law and order, the former Minister said crime had increased under the Chief Minister's watch by 20.37 per cent. He claimed that the bill, once it becomes law, will be used against innocents to armtwist them into submission. Bengaluru, March 27 : In an embarrassing goof-up in poll-bound Karnataka, BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday said the party's Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt government in the country. "Recently, a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition for the most corrupt government, then the Yeddyurappa government is number one," Shah told the media with Yeddyurappa sitting next to him. The former Chief Minister, who was rattled, leaned over to Shah in a bid to correct him. Another BJP leader nudged the party President to make him realize that he had made a blunder. Shah corrected himself, went on a damage control and said he meant that Congress government of Chief Minister "Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government". Shah said the BJP government at the Centre had done a lot to develop Karnataka. "Siddaramaiah asks what has the Modi government done for Karnataka. I would like to remind that when there was the 13th Finance Commission during UPA regime, funds worth Rs 88,583 core were allocated for the state of Karnataka. "But when the 14th finance commission was implemented after the BJP came to power at the Centre, funds for Karnataka were increased to Rs 2,19,506 crore." But by this time the damage was done. Congress leaders latched on to it and had a field day on social media networks. Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! "Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Government ever," Gandhi said, posting a clip of Shah's faux pas. Siddaramaiah also tweeted to Shah that the "#ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Thank you @AmitShah". "Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth - We all concur with you Amitji BSY-BJP is the most corrupt," tweeted Divya Spandana of the Karnataka unit of the Congress. Spandana posted an undated clip of Shah in which he is heard saying that "Yeddyurappa says the BJP doesn't help with the development of Karnataka". Yeddyurappa was the chief minister of the first BJP government in Karnataka from 2008. He was forced to step down in 2011 following corruption allegations by Karnataka's Lokayukta Santosh Hegde. But he was acquitted in 2016. Tehran, March 27 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday left Tehran for Turkmenistan for talks on bilateral and regional issues. Rouhani's visit came at the official invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Before heading for Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat, the Iranian President said that his country "attaches importance to the promotion of its ties with the neighbouring countries", Xinhua news agency reported. During the two-day visit, Rouhani will hold talks with Berdimuhamedow while the two countries' high-ranking delegations would hold meetings. Iran and Turkmenistan will also sign cooperation documents in the presence of the two leaders. On Wednesday, Rouhani will head for Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to hold talks with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Tehran and Baku are scheduled to sign several cooperation agreements after which the two Presidents will attend a joint press conference. An economic meeting would be held on Thursday to discuss the strengthening of cooperation among the two countries' state-run sectors and economic agents. Manila, March 27 : The Philippines government has indirectly threatened rights groups by linking them with drug lords in the country, NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday. HRW was responding to a comment by Philippines Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who on Monday said that "some human rights groups have become unwitting tools of drug lords to hinder the strides of the (Rodrigo Duterte) administration", Efe news agency reported. In its report, HRW's Deputy Director of Asia Division Phelim Kine said Roque's claims were "more than just gratuitous slurs aimed at undermining the integrity of Philippines human rights activists pushing back against the Duterte government's attack on rule of law and its instigation and incitement of possible crimes against humanity". The association of rights groups with drug lords stood out as a "sinister veiled threat in a country in which the government-compiled 'watch lists' of suspected drug users and drug dealers had been linked to many of the 'drug war's' thousands of victims", HRW said. The Duterte government's intimidation tactics were misguided attempts to avoid probes by the UN and the International Criminal Court (ICC) into accountability for his administration's war on drugs, the NGO added. The Philippines government's criticism of NGOs came as the ICC in early February announced its intention to launch a preliminary examination into killings that occurred amid the war on drugs. On March 14, the Philippines President responded in turn by withdrawing the government's ratification of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC. Despite Duterte's popularity among most Filipinos, his brutal campaign against people linked to the drug trade is divisive and controversial. According to Philippines government agencies, over 4,000 "drug personalities" have died in some 85,000 anti-drug operations since July 1, 2016, when Duterte assumed office. However, HRW puts the campaign's death toll much higher -- at more than 13,000 -- which includes killings by police officers and vigilante groups. Kolkata, March 27 : Amid a fast increasing import of garments made of Chinese fabrics from Bangladesh, the Indian textiles industry is seeking "tweaking of South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) rules of origin" to make use of yarn and fabrics of Indian origin mandatory for exporting apparel to India, an official said on Tuesday. According to the official, India allowed duty free import of readymade garments from Bangladesh under SAFTA in 2006 and this facility was limited to eight million pieces. However, in 2010, this quantitative restriction was lifted. "Bangladesh imports Chinese fabrics and converts them into garments using its cheap labour. It exports these garments to India without the need for paying any import duties. "Since import of made-in-China fabrics is meant for export, Bangladesh imposes no import duties on them. This is actually facilitating backdoor entry of Chinese textiles into India," Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI India) Chairman Sanjay K. Jain told IANS. He also said the duty-free facility given to Bangladesh on grounds of it being a Least Developed Countries (LDC) was actually benefiting China's textile exports. Indian domestic garment manufacturers have to pay a 20 per cent import duty if they use the same Chinese fabric, he added. According to CITI India, India's garment imports from Bangladesh increased from $106.72 million during April-December period of 2016 to $124.14 million in the corresponding period of 2017. "We have demanded tweaking of SAFTA rules of origin to make the use of yarn and fabrics of Indian origin mandatory for allowing duty-free quota-free market. "This is expected to prevent China from taking undue advantage of a facility that is meant for LDCs," Jain said on the sidelines of a seminar on "Recent Trends on Eco-Friendly Textiles & Sustainable Fashion" organised by the J.D. Birla Institute. This measure is also expected to give a fillip to India's export of yarn and fabrics to Bangladesh and other LDCs which at present are being supplied by China, he said. "India has now extended this duty-free quota-free facility to all 49 LDCs on a non-reciprocal basis and again without any sourcing restrictions. So, it is expected that in the coming future, we may have more Bangladesh-type situation," Jain said. Citing the international practices of imposing sourcing restrictions, he said the US imposed sourcing restriction under NAFTA for accepting duty free import of garments from Mexico and other NAFTA members. "India itself has accepted sourcing restrictions imposed by Japan that hurt its apparel exports to Japan under India-Japan CEPA," he added. In the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime, the industry has been under severe stress with increasing imports of garments from Bangladesh and other countries. "In the pre-GST scenario, import of garments from Bangladesh and other countries were attracting a CVD (Countervailing Duty) of 12.5 per cent and education cess of 3 per cent. "However, post-GST, the same has been removed, hence there is no cost for import of garments from Bangladesh and for other countries," Jain said. New Delhi, March 27 : The government may not be able to submit its action plan on the demands on fair crop remuneration, Lokpal appointment and electoral reforms on Tuesday as decided due to the prolonged discussion on the issue, social activist Anna Hazare said. Hazare, who is on indefinite hunger strike since Friday, told reporters that the action plan may be submitted on Wednesday. "A minister had met me yesterday (Monday) and had said he would be back tomorrow (Tuesday). However, I have been told by the government that the discussion on our demands was still underway at the PMO (Prime Minister's Office). They need more time. If it takes more time, the government will come to us tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said. Hazare had asked the government to provide with details of how the execution would happen along with timeline. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has left for Delhi to take part in the discussion, he added. Hazare said he had lost 5.5 kg on the fifth day of his fast and was exhausted. On Monday, Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan had met Hazare and reportedly assured him that the Modi government was ready to accept the demands. Hazare has been pressing for setting up a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states to probe corruption cases, bring in new electoral reforms and implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee report to address the agrarian crisis in the country. The crowd at the Ramlila Maidan had grown thinner on Monday. However, it witnessed considerable increase on Tuesday with over 3,000 people participated in the agitation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those killed in a fire at the Zimnyaya Vizhnya shopping mall in Kemerovo. "I express my condolences to the families and friends of those killed as a result of the terrible fire in Kemerovo," Klimkin wrote on his Twitter page on March 26. The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall in Kemerovo broke out on March 25. According to the latest figures, 64 people were killed in the accident, 53 sought medical assistance, and 13 people injured in the fire stay in hospitals. New Delhi, March 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday initiated efforts to forge a common front against the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections meeting leaders including NCP chief Sharad Pawar and BJP's ally Shiv Sena in a bid to ensure one-to-one contest against the ruling alliance throughout the country. Banerjee, who has had a long innings in the Lok Sabha, visited Parliament house and also met leaders of other parties including Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha and Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti. MPs from Biju Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and DMK also met Banerjee. The Trinamool chief said she wanted to meet UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi but was told that she was not well. She appeared to have no plans to meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi with whom, she said, she was in touch through sms and over phone. Interestingly, Banerjee is meeting BJP rebels Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie on Wednesday. Talking to reporters, she pitched for Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party coming together in Uttar Pradesh and favoured the strongest party in each state taking the lead in taking on the BJP. "We want to work together. We do not want anyone should be isolated. Everyone should work together. The party that is strong, it should do it (take the lead). If Mayawatiji and Akhilesh are strong in UP, they should work together. We should help them," she said. Referring to parties like the DMK, TDP and TRS led by Telangana Chief Minister Rao, Lalu Prasad's RJD in Bihar and Naveen Patnaik in Odisha, she said each party has to be helped to get together against BJP. "We should find such a mechanism that it is one is to one (fight)," she said and added that Pawar was also of the same opinion. Asked about her meeting with Shiv Sena MPs, she said "no party is more communal than the BJP in the country". "They (Shiv Sena) talk of Hindutva but do not indulge in violence. They (BJP) do Hindutva carrying pistol. They bring bad name to Hindutva," she said. Banerjee described Tuesday's meetings as informal and said she would be meeting some others on Wednesday. "Informal meeting has been done. All parties came and we discussed. There are some other parties also tomorrow we will talk. Tomorrow, I will meet Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie. They will be coming to my house. That meeting has also been fixed for tomorrow," she said. On Sonia Gandhi, Banerjee said she sent party MP Dinesh Trivedi to Congress office but was told that Gandhi had already left Parliament house. "Soniaji is not well. I think let her recover first. I have already sent people there to inquire about her health. I keep in touch every day, I have no problems," she said. Asked whether she will meet Rahul Gandhi, Banerjee said: "I have already said about Sonia... Rahul also SMSs and we talk. There is no problem." On Assembly polls in Karantaka, she suggested that the Congress should not treat like-minded parties like it did in Tripura. She favoured Congress and Janata Dal-Secular coming together. "It depends what relationship you have. We offered to fight the Tripura polls together with Congress. It is their prerogative what they do. They have not done. We want that yhr Congress should have good relations with H.D Deve Gowda in Karnataka. Why should relation break? "Deve Gowdaji was Prime Minister and supported by Congress also. He is a good man. There should be adjustment. But I cannot tell the Congress. But if you ask my opinion, as a lay man, I will say that. I will tell you for better interest." She said the media will also highlight opposition parties coming together. She said a message has gone to the country that the Modi government "has lost all credibility" after demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax and bank frauds. Banerjee also referred to her seniority as a political leader, saying she had been a MP seven times and has served as a union minister. "I know the country very well. I have visited all the states," she said, adding that states have their own identity and compulsions. She said people's data was being stolen and said she will raise the issue strongly. She also accused the government of insisting on Aadhar linkage even after Supreme Court order extending the March 31 deadline. Referring to media owners, she said the coverage of politics was one-sided. "You should understand democracy is for both the sides." NCP leader Praful Patel later told reporters that Banerjee and Pawar discussed the present and future political situation in view of state polls and the Lok Sabha elections. "There is of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach would be taken. But certainly Mamtaji and Sharad Pawarji discussed was that there should be opposition unity to the maximum possible," he said. New Delhi, March 27 : Dubbing the upcoming 2019 General Elections as one that is going to be "interesting", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met leaders from Opposition parties, as well as government ally Shiv Sena to discuss the political situation. Banerjee, who is in the national capital, visited Parliament on Tuesday where she met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. She also met Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP K. Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. MPs from Biju Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and DMK also met Banerjee. who is also the Trinamool Congress chief, in the Parliament House. "When political people meet, of course, they will discuss politics, there is nothing to hide in that. The Lok Sabha election of 2019 will certainly be very interesting," Banerjee told reporters later. She also dubbed the ruling BJP as the "most communal party". When asked about Shiv Sena, which also supports Hindutva, she said: "No one is more communal than BJP. They talk about Hindutva, but these people (BJP), they propagate Hindutva with a pistol, they malign Hindutva". Banerjee also called for all parties opposed to the BJP to come together in the 2019 General Elections. "All should work together. Wherever the parties are strong, they should work with each other, like Mayawati (BSP) and Akhilesh (Yadav of SP) in Uttar Pradesh," she said. Banerjee however could not meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, as she was not well. "Sonia ji is not well... I wanted to ask her about her health..." she said, indicating that she meet the Congress leader if her health permits. She also said she would meet more MPs on Wednesday, including veteran BJP leaders like Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha who have been vocally opposing moves like demonetisation. The meetings come at a time when opposition parties as well as former government ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), have come together to move a no confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. Banerjee is seen as a key player in a possible grouping of non-BJP political parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. New York, March 27 : Confirming a long-held belief that stress during pregnancy is bad for the unborn kid, a new study has found that remaining stress-free during this period helps the brain development of the baby. A mother's stress during pregnancy changes neural connectivity in the brain of her unborn child, according to the study presented at a meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Boston, Massachusetts. "We have demonstrated what has long been theorised, but not yet observed in a human, which is that the stress of a mother during her pregnancy is reflected in connectional properties of her child's developing brain," said one of the researchers Moriah Thomason of Wayne State University in the US. Research in newborns and older children to understand prenatal influences has been confounded by the postnatal environment, Thomason explained. But recent advancements in foetal imaging allowed the researchers to gain insight into a critical time period in brain development never previously accessible. Using foetal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they examined functional connectivity in 47 human foetuses scanned between the 30th and 37th week of gestation. The researchers recruited the participating mothers from a low-resource and high-stress urban setting, with many reporting high-levels of depression, anxiety, worry and stress. They found that mothers reporting high stress had foetuses with a reduced efficiency in how their neural functional systems are organised. The data suggests that the brain does not develop in a sequence from the simplest systems to more complex high-order systems, but perhaps instead first develops the areas that will be most critical in bridging across systems. The researchers found that the cerebellum played a central role in the observed effects, suggesting it may be especially vulnerable to the effects of prenatal or early life stress. Kolkata, March 27 : The National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) Kolkata bench on Tuesday said that the committee of creditors (CoC) of insolvent Binani Cement may take up the application filed by its parent company, Binani Industries, for an out of tribunal settlement. During the hearing, the bench observed that "the CoC could take this up for appropriate consideration at their liberty". The matter would be heard further on April 2. The counsel, representing CoC, said the offer was excellent and but it could not be settled, out of the tribunal, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, when the insolvency proceeding has been started. According to him, only the Supreme Court has the power to consider it. However, Binani Industries counsel argued that the bench has the inherent power to consider it. Meanwhile, Resolution Professional, Vijaykumar V Iyer, has submitted the resolution plan of Dalmia Bharat-controlled Rajputana Properties before the NCLT as the "highest bidder" to take over the debt-laden company. The counsel appearing for Dalmia Bharat questioned Binani's logic. Binani Industries had submitted the application before the tribunal seeking termination of insolvency proceedings against its cement manufacturing subsidiary and the company's counsel said it could pay all its creditors within two weeks. The move came after the company concluded a commercial understanding with Aditya Birla Group firm UltraTech Cement to sell its entire 98.43 per cent stake in its cement manufacturing subsidiary at a consideration of Rs 7,266 crore. Chennai, March 27 : A fringe Christian group on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Padma Vibhushan music maestro Illayaraja for what it said was "hurting the community's sentiments" with his comments on Jesus Christ's resurrection. At an event organised by Google in the US, Illayaraja had sung a few lines from his song on Ramana Maharishi and said that the true resurrection happened only in respect of the seer. "There is no other seer in the world who was like Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi." He said that there was a belief about the resurrection of Christ. "Whenever I find time, I watch documentaries on YouTube that say that the resurrection of Christ did not happen at all... It is not known whether the resurrection of Christ happened or not. But true resurrection happened in the case of Ramana Maharishi," Illayaraja said. On Monday, a group of persons were prevented by police from holding protest outside Illayaraja's residence here. Mumbai, March 27 : Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP on Tuesday announced the signing of a purchase and sale agreement with Sundance Energy Inc to divest its interest in certain assets in the western portion of its Eagle Ford shale position, subject to certain customary adjustments and closing terms and conditions. According to the subsidiary of both Reliance Holding USA Inc. and Mumbai-headquartered Reliance Industries Ltd, the 'purchase and sale' agreement with Sundance Energy Inc was to divest its interest in certain acreage, producing wells and related assets for an approximate consideration of $100 million. "This transaction is in conjunction with sales made by Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc and Newpek LLC, the other working interest owners in the Joint Development with Reliance," the company said in a statement. "The Assets being sold are located in Atascosa, La Salle, Live Oak and McMullen Counties, Texas and were not part of near term development plan of the Joint Development. Reliance continues to retain its interest in the remaining Eagle Ford assets that are core to its development priorities." As per the statement, the sale is expected to close in "1QFY19 and is subject to customary closing conditions". "Sundance Energy Inc doesn't belong to the promoter group and the transaction does not fall within related party transactions," the statement added. New Delhi, March 27 : Jammu and Kashmir government provides security cover to separatists in the state and the Central government has nothing to do with it, Parliament was told on Tuesday. "As reported by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, it provides security cover (to separatists) based on security categorization as decided by the State Security Review Coordination Committee (SSRCC)," Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told the Lok Sabha in a written reply in response to an question of Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajendra Agrawal. "Security categorization is reviewed periodically by the SSRCC," he said, stressing that the Central government has nothing to do with it as it is a state subject. Data presented last month in Jammu and Kashmir assembly reveals that Rs 10.88 crore was spent on the security of separatist leaders, including moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and former chairpersons Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulana Abbas Ansari and others. A sum of Rs 10.36 crore was spent on the salary of the policemen guarding and protecting the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders, while Rs 49.7 lakh has been spent on the fuel for the vehicles used for escorting the separatist leaders. According to data, Rs 19.51 lakh was provided on the salary of the guards/escort of Mirwaiz in 2017-18. Besides, Rs 77.37 lakh was spent on the guard's salary in the current fiscal. Since 2008-09, Rs 1.27 crore has been spent on the salary of the guards and escort personnel of Mirwaiz. Similarly, Rs 5.06 crore was spent on the guards' salary of Mirwaiz since last 10 years. Security of former Hurriyat chairman Bhat has cost the state exchequer Rs 2.3 crore in the last 10 years. Similarly, Moulana Abbas's security has cost state Rs 3 crore since 2008-09. State government was also providing security to Mirwaiz's media secretary Shahid ul Islam till he was arrested by National Investigation Agency in the terror funding case. His security has now been withdrawn. Now the state is providing the security to only 10 separatist leaders, mostly from the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference. Hardline Hurriyat leaders do not enjoy any security cover. New Delhi, March 27 : The fall in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in February is a temporary phase and the upcoming 'E-way' bill is expected to give a boost to the indirect tax revenues, economy watchers said on Tuesday. According to the Finance Ministry on Tuesday, the total revenue received under GST for February 2018 up to March 26 has been Rs 85,174 crore from January's Rs 86,318 crore. "It will take more time in stabilisation of GST regime before economy starts realising benefits of GST. Reform measures announced in last GST council meeting of introduction of E-way bill are likely to plug in leakages and improve collections," Devendra Kumar Pant, Chief Economist, India Ratings and Research told IANS. M.S. Mani, Partner, Deloitte India said that GST collections appear to be entering the "stabilisation phase", although the expected revenue garnering appears to be taking more time. "It would be logical to assume that significant amount of transition credits availed would now have been utilised, hence the collections would now progressively improve," Mani said adding that the fall in revenue collection would lead to several anti-evasion measures, and "over and above the imminent e-way bill launch on 1st April". Abhishek Jain, Tax Partner, EY India said: "The next big hope for the government would be introduction of E-way bills with effect from April 1, which may provide a boost to GST collections." Aditi Nayar, Principal Economist at ICRA said: "While the aggregate GST collection has recorded a sequential dip..., the daily average GST inflows adjusted for the fewer number of days in February relative to January, recorded a healthy uptick in the just-concluded month, which is an encouraging sign." Abhishek A Rastogi, Partner, Khaitan and Co said : "There are still few days left in the month of March and that the assessees are also facing the burden of direct tax payments in the form of advance tax and TDS. The situations of late GST payments cannot be ruled out." "The collections are expected to increase in March 2018 after composition dealers will be filing their quarterly returns," he added. Shillong, March 27 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said the government would soon constitute a Group of Ministers (GoMs) to study the National Green Tribunal ban on coal mining in the state. Sangma announced the decision to constitute the group during a meeting with the State Coordination Committee of Coal Owners and Mine Dealers Forum to study the current status of the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya and the way forward. Sangma said that GoMs comprising Mining and Geology, Law, Environment and Home would be constituted to look into the whole issue. "We will understand the issue and take feedback of all stakeholders and prepare a master plan as to how it can be taken forward. The issue of coal is a priority of our Government. We are going to look at environmental concerns as we take forward our discussion with the centre as well as with other concerned authorities", Sangma said. State Coordination Committee of Coal Owners and Mine Dealers Forum Chairman Sony L. Khyriem termed the meeting with the Chief Minister as "positive". "He (Sangma) has assured the Forum to sincerely look into the matter on which he will initiate action at the government level to ascertain official views," Khyriem told IANS. The National Green Tribunal had ordered an interim ban on "rat-hole" coal mining in Meghalaya from April 17, 2014, after the All Dimasa Students' Union and the Dima Hasao District Committee filed an application before the tribunal alleging that the water of the Kopili river was turning acidic due to coal mining in the Jaintia Hills. New Delhi, March 27 : The government has refused Google's proposal to launch its "Street View" service in India, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said on Tuesday. Ahir informed the Lok Sabha that Google had submitted a proposal on Street View for the government's permission in July 2015, which allows users to explore places around the world through 360-degree panoramic street level imagery and view public areas. "The government did not agree to the proposal," the Minister said. Ahir was replying to a written question asked by Balasubramaniam Senguttuvan, a member from Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Internet giant Google launched its Street View service in Bengaluru in 2011 to collect street-level imagery but was soon asked by local authorities to stop the service citing security reasons. Revived again in 2015, Google tied up with the Archaeological Survey of India to bring 31 historical monuments and sites online and offer panoramic views to the consumer. Since then it has been in talks with the Centre to see how the service can be launched in compliance with local regulations. Google Street View is present in more than 82 countries around the world, which have benefited from it in terms of tourism and other aspects. Introduced in 2007 in the US, Street View uses bikes and cars fitted with cameras to collect 360-degree images which the user is then able to see in a panoramic view with street-level 3D imagery. The reform process in Ukraine has reached a critical juncture. A year and a half after the introduction of dedicated local reform support teams in the state administration to support reform delivery, the programme has now reached a point where it can move into the next phase. EBRD official website informs. Ukraines Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, Oleksandr Saienko, told donor governments in London today: We have made good progress and now it is time to secure and expand our gains. In phase 2 of the programme we want to focus our efforts on priorities such as privatisations, effective corporate governance of state-owned enterprises, public administration reform and improvement of the business climate. We also want to widen the scope of the programme by introducing support teams to new ministries and agencies focused on other priority reforms for 2018. These teams are not only critical for the delivery of our reform priorities but they are also the talent that will form the backbone of a modern, professional and effective civil service. To support Ukraines systematic and wide-ranging reform efforts, the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account , the EBRD and the EU led the establishment of reform support teams in 2016. Taskforces initially worked at the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food. After a successful pilot phase, further teams were established at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services and the State Road Agency. Around 150 people are now embedded in these state institutions, dedicated to providing the design and implementation of sectoral reform priorities as well as the transformation of the state apparatus. A new law on civil service which came into force in 2016 has laid the foundations for a new administration. In 2017 alone, 367 new reform staff positions were announced and 77 professionals were hired (139 at the end of January 2018) and in phase 2 the plan is to attract 1,800 new civil servants. The teams working in the administration are part of the wider Ukraine reforms architecture in support of #MakeReformsHappen in the country. The framework also includes a National Reforms Council, a Reforms Delivery Office under the Cabinet of Ministers and a Strategic Advisory Group for Support of Ukrainian Reforms led by Ivan Miklos, the former Deputy Prime Minister for Economy of the Slovak Republic. In close cooperation and coordination, steps have been taken to move forward in critical areas such as pension reform, health care reform, education reform, land market reform, privatisation and state-owned enterprises reform. EBRD President, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, said: The focus must continue to be on reform and implementing reform. We welcome the systematic and gradual approach taken by the relevant institutions and the care that has been attached to communicating and demonstrating the benefits of an efficient, transparent and accountable state administration. This is one of the preconditions for Ukraine to come into its own and start fulfilling its vast potential. The elements of the reform architecture are financed by the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account, established by the EBRD in November 2014 to support Ukraines efforts to reform its economy, improve its business climate and return to a path of sustainable growth. Contributors to the fund are Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the Netherlands , Poland , Sweden , Switzerland , the United Kingdom , the United States of America and the EU, the largest donor. EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, added: The Association Agreement brings the EU and Ukraine closer and opens up the potential for ever stronger cooperation. To reap the full benefit of the Agreement, Ukraine needs to adopt many, often difficult reforms. We remain committed to helping Ukraine build stronger governance, a stronger economy and a stronger society. Public administration must be inclusive, transparent, scrupulously honest and accountable, and it must deliver quality services to all Ukrainian citizens. Ukraines future and the success of its reform process depend on dedicated Ukrainians working with enthusiasm and engagement for their country's future. We are helping them to build a stronger Ukraine. Gandhinagar, March 27 : The Congress on Tuesday announced the appointment of four-time party MLA Amit Chavda as the new President of its Gujarat unit in place of Bharatsinh Solanki. Amit Chavda is presently a legislator from Anklav in Anand district of central Gujarat and an active Congress worker since 1992. After a buzz over the submission of resignation by Solanki to All India Congress Committee President Rahul Gandhi last week, the former's office had dubbed it as a 'rumour'. Chavda, 42, holds a diploma in chemical engineering and was first elected as a legislator in 2004 in a by-election from Borsad in central Gujarat. He has retained his Anklav seat since 2007 after the reconstitution of his constituency. Chavda, like Solanki, hails from a family of Congressmen. His father Ishwarbhai Chavda was a five-time Member of Parliament of the Congress. Ishwarbhai is also the maternal grandfather of Solanki. Chavda is said to enjoy a good rapport with the AICC President and was made a member of the 84th plenary of the Congress held in New Delhi. His appointment is seen as a calculated move by the grand old party, which not only wants to strike a caste balance but also garner the crucial support of the youth ahead of the parliamentary polls in 2019. The appointment of young leader Paresh Dhanani, a Patidar, as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly is also seen as a part of this move. With the appointment of an OBC as the Gujarat unit chief, the Congress appears to be reaching out to two of the biggest vote banks in the state. Congress national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil, former GPCC chief Arjun Modhvadia and Patel leader Siddharth Patel were also contenders for the party post. "What could have turned the tide for Chavda is that the other three big names failed to retain their Assembly seats more than once, while Chavda has been a consistent winner. Moreover, he is soft-spoken and known for his go-getting attitude," a senior Congress leader said. On the other hand, detractors of the Congress said that since Chavda is related to Solanki, the latter could continue to influence party affairs in the state through the back door. Mumbai, March 27 : A day after prominent Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "shielding" Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that there was "no evidence" to prove Bhide's involvement in the January 1 caste riots in Bhima-Koregaon. Fadnavis said although an offence has been registered against Bhide, alias Guruji, who heads the Shri Shiv Pratishthan, based on a complaint by a woman, there is no evidence to prove that he had "instigated" the riots that day. "Based on the complaint by the woman, police had registered a case against Bhide Guruji. The complainant's statement was recorded in camera before a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. She told the magistrate that she had not seen Bhide Guruji taking part or instigating the riots. She had named him as an accused based on speculation that was on in the locality," Fadnavis told the assembly during a discussion on the law and order situation in the state. He added that during investigations, it was revealed that the GPS locations of Bhide's mobile phone and 8-10 of his associates proved they were not in the vicinity of the Bhima-Koregaon area of Pune when the riots broke out. "However, the state government has not closed the investigations against Bhide Guruji and his associates. I assure that the government will initiate stern action against all those found guilty in the matter," Fadnavis said. Detailing the circumstances leading to the riots, he said tension erupted between the two communities after an objectionable billboard was put in the village. After this cases were lodged against some people under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, but were withdrawn after the leaders of both communities met and sorted out their differences. Despite adequate precautions by the police to ensure the prevention of any untoward incidents on January 1, trouble erupted in a local parking lot where some misreants indulged in violence, he added. Since the rioting, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) President Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Architect of Indian Constitution B. R. Ambedkar, and others have accused Hindutva elements of having instigated the riots and sought their arrest. On Monday, (March 26), the BBM and other parties organized a massive procession in Mumbai demanding the arrest of Bhide within the next one week, failing which they would intensify the agitation. Ambedkar charged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of not arresting Bhide as "he enjoys the backing of Modi, and it is a well known fact that Modi considers Bhide as his Guru." "We are not interested in fighting with Modi. However, if action is not initiated against Bhide by Maharashtra government, then we know how to deal with it at the appropriate time,a he warned, giving time of eight days to the state government. Hitting back, Bhide on March 19 blamed Ambedkar and others like Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani, JNU leader Umar Khalid and retired Bombay High Court judge Justice B. G. Kolse-Patil for the Bhima-Koregaon incidents, for inciting people to violence at their public meeting in Pune on December 31. In retaliation, Bhide's supporting groups have planned processions all over Maharashtra including Mumbai on Wednesday (March 28) to oppose the campaign against him by Dalit groups. Ottawa, March 27 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump have discussed the current expulsion of Russian diplomats and the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) during a phone call, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday. In their conversation on Monday, the two leaders discussed measures taken by Canada and the US to support Britain, their common ally, against Russia in response to the "egregious nerve agent attack in Salisbury", Xinhua news agency cited a statement as saying. Trudeau also underscored his country's commitment to conclude a modern, mutually beneficial Nafta as soon as possible and mentioned the "strong measures" Canada was taking to address unfair trade in steel and aluminium. On the diplomats' expulsion, Moscow vowed to retaliate in kind after 25 Western nations decided to expel Russian diplomats over the country's alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter by using a chemical weapon on March 4 in Britain. The Russian government fiercely denied any role in the case. New Delhi, March 27 : The announcement of the Karnataka elections doesn't bar the central government from implementing the Supreme Court judgement on the issue of constitution of the Cauvery River Management Board for which the deadline set by the apex court expires in a couple of days. "Whatever the direction of the court and compliance thereof, the commission and the model code of conduct don't come in the way," Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat told media. He was replying to a question on whether the Centre can constitute the board now that the election has been announced and the model of conduct comes into force with immediate effect. Meanwhile, senior Tamil Nadu government officials on Tuesday held discussions with a senior Supreme Court counsel over the course to be adopted by the state in the matter of the constitution of the Cauvery River Water Management Board. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Principal Secretary and PWD Secretary met senior counsel Shekhar Naphde, who had appeared in the Supreme Court in the matter, here and discussed the options before the state. Sources said it was agreed that the state would wait for the Centre to take the steps for the formation of the Board till the deadline set by the Supreme Court for the purpose and then consider filing a contempt petition against the Centre, in case it failed to do so. Already reports have it that the Centre was considering constituting a 9-member panel of officials for supervising the waters flow in the Cauvery river to ensure allocation of waters according to the Supreme Court judgement. Brussels, March 27 : NATO became the latest entity to dismiss Russian diplomats over Moscow's alleged role in a nerve agent attack against a former double agent in Salisbury, as the trans-Atlantic organization announced on Tuesday that seven officials would have their accreditation withdrawn. At a press conference in Brussels, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the suspected nerve agent attack that left Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia fighting for their lives was the first of its kind on NATO territory, adding that 25 NATO allies and partners had expelled a total of 140 Russian diplomats in response. "NATO is unified in taking further steps. I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation requests for three others," the Norwegian politician was cited as saying by Efe news. He said it sent a clear message to Russia that there were consequences to its reckless behaviour. Moscow has vehemently denied deploying a suspected Novichok chemical against ex-spy Skripal and his daughter, but leaders of Western nations were united in their criticism of Russia for what they denounced as a "flagrant breach of international law". Chemical weapons experts were currently carrying out an analysis of the agent. Lucknow, March 27 : Power employees across Uttar Pradesh struck work on Tuesday to protest against the state government's decision to privatize electricity in Varanasi, Lucknow, Meerut, Gorakhpur and Moradabad. Unions of the power employees also warned the state government that after this token one-day strike, they will be forced to go for a longer agitation in case there was no immediate roll back on the decision. The strike called by the Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti saw engineers and employees abstaining from work throughout the day. A spokesman of the association said that normal work will resume from Wednesday but on April 9, all power men, engineers will go on a three day strike. Protests and demonstrations would be held at all district headquarters and project offices during this three-day protest, it was announced. Irate power employees accused the state government of playing in the hands of the corporates and of not doing enough to mitigate the problems. "There have been no recruitment for the last one year and despite the constraints. we have worked hard to ensure hassle-free electricity supply," a spokesman said. Association General Secretary Ashok Kumar said that be it revenue collection or plugging in line losses, the government power officials and employees have been working very hard to improve the situation. "Despite this, if the state government wants to privatize these two sections, we will not let this happen," he said. The power employees also said that other than directly affecting them, privatization will also punch in a hole in common man's budget as the power tariff would also witness a steep hike. Employee associations have also warned the state government against any punitive action against them like arresting them and said this if this happened, it would be responsible any further escalation of matters. Protests were witnessed outside the gates of the Pipri, Panki, Obra, Aanpara, Harduaganj and Parischa power plants and Power Department offices at Lucknow, Mirzapur, Faizabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, Saharanpur, Jhansi, Banda, Allahabad, Agra, Kanpur, Aligarh, Bareily and Moradabad. New Delhi, March 27 : The Congress on Tuesday appointed former Maharashtra Minister Nitin Raut as Chairman of the Party's SC Department in place of K. Raju. Raju, a former bureaucrat, was appointed chairman of the SC Department in 2013. He had also worked in the National Advisory Council (NAC) during the UPA government. The party also appointed Tamradhwaj Sahu, MP, as Chairman of party's OBC Department in place of K.C. Lenka. Bhubaneswar, March 27 : The Odisha government on Tuesday signed an MoU with the Vedanta Group to set up a 500 bedded medical college and hospital in Kalahandi district. A total of Rs 350 crore will be spent on the project, said state Health Minister Pratap Jena, adding that while Vedanta will spend Rs 100 crore to develop infrastructure, the state government will provide the remaining amount for the medical college and hospital. The medical college will have intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats, he added. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was also present on the occasion, said the medical college and hospital will benefit the people in Kalahandi and other parts of western Odisha. Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the medical college at Bhangabari in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters town of Kalahandi, in November 2016. New Delhi, March 27 : India on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to help rebuild a "stable, inclusive and economically vibrant" Afghanistan and boost connectivity initiatives with the war-ravaged nation. "India stands committed to any process which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights," Minster of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar said while addressing the "Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan: Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity" in the Uzbekistan capital. "We must all conform to internationally recognised red-lines," Akbar said in the speech, a copy of which was released by the Ministry of External Affairs here. "I also wish to reiterate India's willingness and keenness to engage Afghanistan bilaterally and multilaterally, in cooperation with likeminded countries and international organisations." Referring to India's role as a leading development aid partner of Afghanistan, Akbar said that New Delhi "has worked with principle and commitment to serve the Afghan people through capacity building, gender emancipation, human resource development, infrastructure development, connectivity, trade and investment" and its commitment for developmental assistance stands at $3 billion. "Last year we embarked upon the New Development Partnership, which will support 116 'High Impact Community Development Projects' in Afghanistan according to the priorities of the Afghan government. They include large scale projects such as drinking water for Kabul city and low-cost housing for returning Afghan refugees." Akbar said that India's other key priority is helping Afghanistan in building "robust, reliable and year-round connectivity, improving trade and investment relations of Afghanistan with prominent markets in the region and beyond". "We strongly believe that lack of connectivity directly impacts the economic, security and political situation in Afghanistan. "A well-connected Afghanistan can hope to become economically vibrant, prosperous and politically stable. It will be able to engage the energies of its youth, and attract back lost talent from an Afghan diaspora." In this connection, he referred to the Chabahar port in Iran that was inaugurated in December last year. India, Iran and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in 2016 to jointly develop the Chabahar port, opening a new strategic transit route between the three nations and other Central Asian nations, bypassing Pakistan. "The Indian grant aid of 170,000 tonnes wheat supplies to Afghanistan is currently transiting through Chabahar," Akbar said. "The India-Afghanistan air freight corridor, established in June 2017, is another important achievement," he said, adding that there are now cargo flights between Kabul, Kandahar, New Delhi and Mumbai. "Thus far, over 110 flights have carried over 2,000 tonnes of exports from Afghanistan to India worth over tens of millions of dollars." At the same time, Akbar said that "terrorism and connectivity do not go together" in an obvious reference to Pakistan's support to terrorism. "Conflict born of extreme radicalism can be contagious, it is in our combined interest to eliminate it, so that Afghanistan and its neighbours can pursue the objectives of peace and prosperity for their people," he said. "Prosperity is impossible without peace and the greatest contemporary threat to peace is terrorism." Stressing "peace and reconciliation are difficult objectives in an atmosphere of terror and violence", Akbar said: "We support strong action to pursue those who still choose the path of terrorism, aided by those who manipulate funds from an illicit narcotics trade to finance terror against innocent people." Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev organised the two-day Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan that started on Monday. Iran, Russia and the US were among the countries that participated in the conference. New Delhi, March 27 : The Congress party on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government, saying its uncertain foreign policy and continuous "denials and doublespeak on the Chinese misadventure in Doklam" are harming India's strategic interests. The party also sought a reply from Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the backdrop of the Chinese military reportedly moving closer to the "Chicken's Neck" -- the Siliguri corridor that connects India's north-eastern states with the rest of the country -- through Doklam by building a new road. It said India was increasingly facing Chinese moves to intrude into the Chicken's Neck, but the "clueless Modi government has been caught napping". "Modi may have forgotten his false bravado of '56-inch chest' and 'Laal Aankh' (red eye), but for four years, the people of India are waiting for his 'tackle China plan'," said Congress leader R.P.N Singh. "The Chinese foreign ministry's statement yesterday (Monday) in the backdrop of an interview of the Indian envoy in China and the Chinese military's recent actions in Doklam and Uttarakhand warrant a serious response from the Modi government. "Neither the PM nor the Defence Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman), Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) or the External Affairs Minister (Sushma Swaraj), have come up with a proper reply on the situation," he added. The Congress party claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was so consumed in managing headlines for domestic expansion that it had conveniently forgotten and ignored the media reports highlighting the Chinese military's road building preparations south of Doklam plateau that could provide China easy access to the Siliguri corridor. "On August 28, 2017, the EAM (External Affairs Minister) in a statement said that both India and China had agreed on 'expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the faceoff site at Doklam' and it 'is on-going'. "But a Chinese foreign ministry statement had then said that 'its armed forces shall continue to patrol the Doklam area'," recalled Singh. The party citing recent media reports noted that on March 10, three Chinese military helicopters violated the Indian air space at Barahoti in Uttarakhand. "The helicopters ventured 18 km inside the Indian air space close to the ITBP posts and hovered for at least five minutes before returning. This is fourth such intrusion in this area over the last one month. Why have such intrusions become a routine affair?" he said. The party further sought to know: "Has he (Modi) failed to secure India's strategic interests as also the interests of a time-tested ally Bhutan? Is India losing its influence in Bhutan to China?" The Congress party would always press for a disengagement at Doklam among India, China and Bhutan through diplomatic means to the satisfaction of all sides, Singh added. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston The Moscow City Court started considering merits of the espionage case of Ukrainian citizen Roman Sushchenko on Tuesday. "Sushchenko pleaded not guilty after the bill of indictment was read out," lawyer Mark Feygin told Interfax. The court meets in private because some materials in the proceeding are classified, he said. Sushchenko is accused of spying. He is facing up to 20 years in prison. On October 3, 2016, it was reported that Sushchenko had been detained "while conducting espionage" in Moscow. According to Russian intelligence agencies, Sushchenko is a career officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry with the rank of colonel. Sushchenko is charged with espionage (article 276 of the criminal code), which he denies. Feygin said his client was charged with several instances of espionage. The FSB believes that Sushchenko was collecting information about the conflict in Donbas. The lawyer said that Sushchenko, who lived in France for six years as the Paris correspondent of the news agency Ukrinform, repeatedly visited Russia. He was in Russia for personal reasons; a meeting with his family, when he was detained. Kyiv described Sushchenko's detention as a provocation and said that the espionage accusations were false. New Delhi, March 27 : The Election Commission on Tuesday formed a six-member panel to probe the leakage of poll dates for Karnataka assembly polls and submit a report within seven days. "The Commission immediately directed that the matter be probed and necessary and effective action be taken. Accordingly, the Commission has constituted a committee of senior officers of the Election Commission to investigate the matter and give its report within seven days," the EC said in a press release. "The committee would also suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future," it added. Earlier in the day, BJP IT chief Amit Malviya and Karnataka Congress social media in-charge Srivatsa tweeted declaring the dates for election in Karnataka, though half incorrect, even before the EC announced the dates. Both later clarified that their source of information was a television news channel that based its report the poll dates on a source. Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, accompanied by fellow BJP leaders Bhupender Yadav and Anil Bulani and others, met the Election Commission to explain their position and how their IT chief Malviya went by the television channel as the source of his tweet. Though the reports in tweets mentioned the polling date as May 12 and the counting date as May 18, the ECI declared the actual schedule of Karnataka assembly polls with voting date as May 12 but the counting date as May 15. Among the probe panel's five terms of reference, the EC wants it to "Enquire from the media regarding the source of information pertaining to schedule of General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka, 2018 before its official announcement and the manner in which it was obtained". The second term wants the committee to find out the source of information from Congress leader Srivatsa. However, the office order has no mention of BJP IT chief Amit Malviya as part of the probe. Further, the ECI wants to know the source for a Kannada channel "allegedly owned by a @BJP4india MP tweeted by Poulomi Saha" and if there was any lapses at the EC. The committee will also recommend how to prevent any chances of such eventuality in future. The EC informed that the committee, which was immediately set up, has already sought information from the media organisations and individuals concerned. Bengaluru, March 27 : The ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Tuesday welcomed the single-phase Assembly polls on May 12, while regional party Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) termed it a setback. "The JD-S had requested the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the polls in two or three phases, as we are a regional party with limited number of campaign leaders. "It is very difficult for us as a regional party. Single-phase polls is a setback for us," JD-S state spokesman Ramesh Babu told IANS here. Single-phase polling for the 15th 225-member Assembly will be held on May 12 and the votes counted on May 15, the EC announced on Tuesday. BJP President Amit Shah, who is on a two-day tour in central Karnataka, expressed confidence over a poll victory. "The BJP welcomes the poll announcement. We are confident that we will form the next government in Karnataka under the leadership of (BJP state President) B.S. Yeddyurappa," Shah told the media in Davanagere, about 260km northwest from here in Davanagere district. Congress state unit chief G. Parameshwara said the party was election-ready. "The Congress welcomes the EC's (poll) announcement... we are election ready," tweeted Parameshwara. The JD-S spokesman ruled out any pre-poll tie-up of the party with the BJP or the Congress. "The JD-S is very clear in the matter (over alliance with other parties) that it wants to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and Congress," Babu said. "Both parties are two sides of the same coin, not caring about the people and farmers of Karnataka," he said. In the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated, there are currently 122 members from the ruling Congress, 43 from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 30 from the Janata Dal-Secular, eight Independents, 14 vacant seats, with a few others from regional parties. Of the 224 Assembly constituencies, 36 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes. A total of 4.96 crore electors have been registered in the southern state with the poll panel so far. New Delhi, March 27 : Nationalist Congress Party leader D.P. Tripathi said on Tuesday that that some opposition parties have started putting signatures on a draft proposal for moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. "Some opposition parties have started putting their signatures on the draft proposal," he said. The NCP and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have put their signatures. Opposition parties including the Congress and Trinamool Congress have been deliberating over bringing an impeachment motion against the CJI in the Rajya Sabha. There has been an opinion among some opposition parties that key issues raised by the four seniormost judges concerning the functioning of Supreme Court have not been addressed. The four senior-most judges had complained about arbitrary allocation of cases in the Supreme Court at a press conference in January. Following their unprecedented press conference, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury had said that the party was contemplating an impeachment motion with other opposition parties against the CJI. Davangere (Karnataka), March 28 : Dubbing the Karnataka government's notification of religious minority status to the Lingayat community an election stunt, BJP's national President Amit Shah on Tuesday said appeasement polices were the culture of the Congress. "Appeasement policies, which are the country's biggest enemies are the culture of the Congress, as evident from the religious minority status the ruling party in Karnataka had given to Lingayts ahead of the state assembly election," Shah told reporters here, about 260km from Bengaluru. Recalling that the then UPA government had rejected the state government's proposal to recognise Lingayats as a separate religious community, Shah dared the Congress to explain why the decision was made only before the assembly election and not during its five-year rule in the southern state. "The minority status to the Lingayats is only an election stunt enacted by the ruling Congress to appease the community's voters," asserted Shah on the second day of his two-day visit to the poll-bound southern state. The state's welfare department on March 23 notified the minority religion status to Lingayat followers of the 12th century social reformer Basava amid protests by the Veerashaiva Lingayats who were ignored. Lingayats, who worship Hindu god Shiva as their deity, and Veerashaiva Lingayats constitute the largest community (17 per cent) in the state. Recalling what a retired Supreme Court judge from the state had told him recently that the Siddaramaiah government was the most corrupt, the party chief said how many could afford to wear a Rs 40 lakh wrist watch as the state's chief minister did, indicating the high level of corruption. Shah's reference to the expensive watch of Siddaramaiah was made in the context of the state assembly election on May 12, as announced by the poll panel earlier in the day. Sparking a war of words, Siddaramaiah admitted a year ago to have received an expensive Swiss-made Hubolt watch from an Indian in the Gulf region. "How many people can afford to wear a watch worth Rs 40 lakh? Siddaramaiah is the leader who wears a watch worth Rs 40 lakh," alleged Shah. Ruling out pre-poll alliance with any political party, including regional party Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) for the assembly poll, Shah said the BJP would contest in all the 224 assembly segments, including 36 for SCs and 15 for STs. "We are not allaying with any party for the ensuing assembly election. The JD-S will contest by itself and we will contest by ourselves," added Shah. Welcoming the single-phase one-day polling for the assembly election on May 12, Shah claimed that his party was confident of winning and forming the next government in the state under B.S. Yeddyurappa's leadership. The BJP had declared Yeddyaurappa as its chief ministerial candidate for the assembly poll, while the ruling Congress high command decided to contest under the party's collective leadership. Washington, March 28 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke with leaders of France and Germany on the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Earlier on Monday, he also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to coordinate stances on the issue. The White House said Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. The three nations on Monday announced to expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning attack of former Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter in Britain's southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4. In his call with Macron, Trump and the French top leader expressed support for the West's "strong response" to the Russia-related incident, including the expulsion of a large number of Russian intelligence officers on both sides of the Atlantic. In the call, Trump also stressed the need to intensify cooperation with Turkey with respect to shared strategic challenges in Syria. In a separate call with Merkel, Trump reaffirmed with her the cooperative relationship between the two countries. Both leaders praised the joint announcements from North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies, EU member states and other countries to expel "undeclared Russian intelligence officers" in solidarity with Britain and in response to Russia's alleged use of chemical weapons, said the White House. Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Earlier on Monday, Trump spoke with Trudeau to affirm the solidarity of both countries with the UK and discuss the joint expulsions of Russian intelligence officers in response to Russia's alleged use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the United Kingdom's soil. The White House said in a separate statement that Russia's behavior "is the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world." On Monday, at least 137 Russian diplomats were ordered out by 24 governments, including 60 Russians from the US. William Courtney, adjunct senior fellow of RAND Corporation, said that West-Russia relations will become more strained, but the West is willing to run this risk. In his protest, Russia Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that Moscow will give adequate response with regard to each case in the coming days. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said later that the West's expulsion of its diplomats is an unfriendly step, and vowed to react accordingly. Zagoria Law attorney Brooks Neely announces settlement in tractor trailer wreck case Zagoria Law, an Atlanta-based law firm specializing in personal injury cases, today announced the settlement of $202,500 in a tractor trailer wreck case, Naghise v. Lee, Landair Transport, Inc., et al (Civil Action File No.: 1:17-cv-04149-MHC). The case was pending in the United States District Court Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. Court documents allege that Zagoria client Charles Naghise was traveling eastbound on Douglas Hills Road in the left turn lane to GA 8. At the same time, Defendant William Lee was traveling southbound on GA 8 in a Landair Transport, Inc. freight truck. According to the police report, as Lee approached the intersection of Douglas Hills Road and GA 8 at an alleged excessive speed, he attempted a right-hand turn onto Douglas Hills Road but was unable to complete the turn successfully because he was traveling too fast for conditions. Lees truck turned onto its side and skidded through the rear of the trailer being pulled by Naghise. The force of the crash caused Naghises knees to collide with the underside of the steering column in his truck, causing meniscus tears in both knees which had to be surgically repaired. Big rig crashes are far too commonplace in Georgia. Neely said. This collision and Mr. Naghises considerable injuries were entirely preventable and never should have happened. We are pleased that we were able to assist Mr. Naghise in achieving a favorable outcome to his case. Follow Zagoria Law: LinkedIn About Zagoria Law Zagoria Law is an Atlanta-based personal injury law firm dedicated to providing unyielding representation to its clients. Founder David Zagoria has more than 20 years of experience as a prosecutor and trial attorney litigating injury cases in State and Federal Courts throughout Georgia. Honored as a Georgia Super Lawyer, Zagorias focus on personal injury cases, specifically dog bites and serious injury-premises liability cases, ensures unparalleled service and dedication from the very beginning of clients cases until the end. For more information, please visit http://www.lawzagoria.com. Ion is also teaming up with local contractors in order to assist sellers in becoming sell-ready and buyers to achieve the true purchase power of living in their dream home. Ion Real Estate, whose Denver headquarters is a one-of-a-kind office in close proximity to Coors Field, recently opened a new office in Colorado Springs, located at 1722 Brookwood Drive. The new office will serve the entire Colorado Front Range, going into Pueblo. We expanded into Colorado Springs, where I was born and raised, to change the dynamic and bring the community together to prepare for a market that Denver has been seeing for about 4-5 years, said Tanya Ty Hutchins, manager of Ion Real Estate Colorado Springs. I want to give the Springs a breath of fresh air, and show the city how hardworking, honest agents really get it done, added Jim Cavoto, owner of Ion Real Estate. Ion Real Estate specializes in relocation, which is extremely beneficial in Colorado Springs as it has a substantially large military community. It will be offering video showings for military personnel that find out they will be relocating to the area, whether at Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, or Air Force Academy. We are about giving back in hopes of adding to the true value of Colorado Springs, concluded Hutchins. Ion is also teaming up with local contractors in order to assist sellers in becoming sell-ready and buyers to achieve the true purchase power of living in their dream home. About Ion Real Estate Ion Real Estate has been serving the Colorado real estate market since 2000. Ty Hutchins has been working with Ion Real Estate since 2014 and Ion Real Estate works with both buyers and sellers. For more information, please call 719-418-3954 or visit http://www.IonRealEstateSoCo.com. 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. Israel Gods Timepiece: The Vision Of 1, 7 And The Star Of David: a thought-provoking book about Gods commands, revealed symbols, and various biblical and current events that point to salvation in Jesus Christ and the Messiahs soon return. Israel Gods Timepiece: The Vision Of 1, 7 And The Star Of David is the creation of published author, Christine Thomas, a hardworking and devoted mother of four children and a professional cosmetologist and entrepreneur. Christine shares, Nowadays, the name of Christ has been taken out of our judicial systems, our religious system, our schools system, and many other systems in our country. The Satanists, the atheists, the agnostics, the homosexual agenda along with the New Agers and many others, are infiltrating our society and are vowing to fight for their rights and beliefs from the court system to our school systems, to our congress, to every area of our society. In Europe and the Middle East, there is an ethnic cleansing of Christianity taking place across the nations. Vladimir Putin, president of Russian, has signed into law a measure punishing any kind of religious evangelism outside of churches (Stoyan Zaimov) on July 12, 2016. This move blocks the sharing of faith in any place that is not a government-sanctioned house of worship. ISIS is making sure that the name of Christ is not mentioned in areas where they have captured by killing all the Christians. Saudi Arabia and many of the Middle Eastern countries are also persecuting Christians. This persecution of Christians is also happening in America as well and the Western world. Disaster is surely spreading from nation to nation, and a mighty storm is really rising on the horizon. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Christine Thomass new book is a revealing work that focuses on Gods chosen people and nearing Second Coming of Jesus Christ, encouraging those who are lost in every country to be saved as Gods salvation will set humanity free from the bondage of sin. It is Thomass desire that people will turn to God and find hope in him as forms of sin and violence are prevalent nowadays. View a synopsis of Israel Gods Timepiece: The Vision Of 1, 7 And The Star Of David on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Israel Gods Timepiece: The Vision Of 1, 7 And The Star Of David at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Israel Gods Timepiece: The Vision Of 1, 7 And The Star Of David, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Dave is a deep thinker and likes to look at challenges and creative assignments from every angle. Benchworks is pleased to announce that Dave Cimorosi has been promoted to the position of creative director. In this new position, he will be responsible for leading a team of creatives and collaborating on strategic initiatives while continuing to provide artistic direction and conceptual development for ongoing client work. From his start as art director, Cimorosi has infused client work with fresh ideas and pushed to elevate the quality of all work produced in the creative department. Recognizing his abilities, Benchworks has sought to give Cimorosi opportunities to take on increasing responsibilities and supported him along his career path, including in his previous position as associate creative director. He underscored his creative abilities last year when he led Benchworks initiative to strengthen creative. Benchworks wanted to build its services in support of our growing list of clients and increasing scope of work. Understanding that creative can act as a powerful engine within the marketing ecosystem, Cimorosi has been instrumental in the strategic expansion of our roster of talented art directors. Benchworks President Melissa Johnston said, Dave is a deep thinker and likes to look at challenges and creative assignments from every angle. From the very beginning, he pushed to improve the creative that Benchworks produced because he truly took pride in not only what he was working on but what the agency was creating overall. Its no surprise to me that Dave has become a strong creative leader at Benchworks. I look forward to working closely with him on the strategic direction of our creative team. Benchworks, a full-service marketing agency headquartered in Chestertown, Maryland, was founded in 1991. The company provides strategy, design, production, and implementation of complete marketing, branding, and commercialization services. Clients include a wide variety of companies in the pharmaceutical, beverage, manufacturing, and education industries in North America and Europe. Additional Benchworks divisions include: Safe Chain Solutions, a third-party logistics provider and distributor of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies; and Agency LRB, a sister agency for managing competing accounts. For additional information, please visit http://www.benchworks.com or call 800-536-4670. The Christie Experiential Network (CEN), leaders in creating immersive and engaging experiential Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) solutions, is pleased to announce that Executive Vice President and founder Kevin Romano will be participating at Digital Signage Expo 2018 on Tuesday March 27 at 4:05pm as part of a panel discussion on Insights into Trends, Issues, Challenges and Opportunities Throughout the World. The panel will discuss the latest DOOH industry trends, as well as key technology and industry recommendations to enhance business operations. Panelists will address growth metrics for the digital signage and DOOH media industry, the drivers and inhibitors of industry growth and how mobile technology will impact the digital signage industry. Im looking forward to a thought-provoking discussion about the changing landscape of digital signage at the Digital Out-of-Home Strategy Summit, says Romano. Given the caliber of panelists participating, its going to be a lively discussion around global industry trends and challenges. CEN is at the forefront of bringing dynamic and interactive ad-based displays to cinema lobbies and Im excited to share the current and future opportunities that we see for this market. Christie partner Logic Supply will be on the show floor in booth No. 2924. Logic Supply provides highly reliable computer hardware for CEN digital signage solutions. Were proud of the fact that CEN continues to turn to Logic Supply for computer hardware to support their innovative digital media projects, said Logic Supply Visual Communications Specialist Robert Suffoletta. Our systems offer the reliability, connectivity and ease of installation that allows CEN to focus their attention on creating immersive and engaging DOOH solutions. I have great respect for Kevin and I look forward to gaining his perspective on where he sees the industry heading. North American debut of LED digital signage solutions Attendees to DSE 2018 will see the latest digital signage solutions on the Christie booth, No. 1933, including Christie Velvet CorePlus Series 1.4mm and Christie Velvet Apex 0.9mm and 1.2mm LED displays. Making its North American debut at DSE, CorePlus video walls deliver unparalleled design flexibility for a value-priced LED solution. Ranging in pixel pitches from 1.2 to 4.0 millimeters, the single architecture scales more easily to popular resolutions including 4K, is fully customizable with remote and on-board options, and can be both installed and serviced from either the front or back. Attendees to DSE will see CorePlus 1.4mm in a 6x3 configuration on the Christie booth. Also debuting in North America is Christie Velvet Apex 0.9mm LED, which delivers lifelike colors and brightness. Introduced in December 2017, the new offering allows for scalability in popular resolutions in a smaller square meter area as well as reducing optimum and minimum viewing distances. The Apex Series offers a proprietary solution of high quality components that work as a system to provide the highest visual experience, maximize display time, and ensure complete peace of mind, unmatched by other LED displays. LCD solutions on the booth include FHD553-XE extreme-narrow bezel 55-inch panel in a 2x2 configuration, a Christie FHQ981-L 98-inch UHD LCD panel, and Christie Access Series UHD551-L 55-inch LCD panels. Christie Terra processing power Powering the on-booth displays will be Christie Terra - an expanding line-up of transmitters, receivers and control hardware and software, Christie Terra solutions enable the design and integration of SDVoE-compliant systems that are simple, flexible, highly scalable and affordable. Built on standardized SDVoE technology, Christie Terra solutions support video formats up to 4K at 60Hz and provide unprecedented performance capabilities transporting and processing of uncompressed, zero-frame latency, artifact-free video over affordable 10G Ethernet components. About Christie Experiential Networks The Christie Experiential Network draws upon Christies more than 85 years of experience in the exhibition industry to create the first fully-integrated, dynamic and immersive digital out-of-home network that connects brands and Hollywood studios with todays sophisticated consumers. CEN provides a dynamic platform for advertisers to increase their reach and engage consumers by delivering content through their versatile Ayuda content management system to brilliant digital and experiential displays. Theatre operators benefit from Christies well established national network of service technicians and 24/7 Operations Center to insure all systems is running smoothly. Christie manages all aspects of the network including sales, content creation, interactive programming, deployment, nationwide monitoring, and maintenance. http://christienetworks.com 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. India views the expansion of military-technical cooperation with Ukraine as part of its defense strategy and regards Kyiv's planned transfer of the defense industry complex to NATO standards as a factor increasing the reliability of Ukrainian defense products, Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Mr. Manoj Kumar Bharti has said. During a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday, in response to a question from the agency, whether Kyiv's policy of transferring defense production to NATO standards could become a catalyst for the expansion of the bilateral Ukrainian-Indian military-technical cooperation in the current diversification of the Indian defense market, the Indian diplomat said: "I am confident that this [the transition of the Ukrainian defense sector to NATO-standards] will strengthen the quality standards of Ukrainian defense products and add understanding [to Indian customers] that the defense sector of Ukraine is reliable." Bharti said that the development of bilateral military-technical cooperation with Ukraine is part of the defense strategy of the government of India. "If we talk about cooperation in the procurement of Ukrainian arms and components, this will in any case be taken into account in India's defense budget," he said. The Indian diplomat also ruled out the possibility of influencing India's defense budget in the medium term of a new undeclared world arms race, saying that Delhi had "already taken care of everything," and the arms race, he said, "will not affect India's defense budget." The Indian diplomat confirmed that the defense market of India is one of the most dynamically developing in the world. According to him, a large-scale program of rearmament of the Indian Armed Forces is provided through the generally accepted procedure of open international tenders. "And the complex of Ukrainian defense industry is very well aware of the procedure for applying to participate in these international tenders," he said. India is one of the long-standing and promising partners of Ukraine in the military-technical cooperation: more than 20-year military-technical cooperation in the field of military shipbuilding binds the parties. In 2009 the parties concluded one of the largest contracts in the field of bilateral military-technical cooperation worth about $400 million for the repair and modernization of An-32 of Indian Air Force. The experience of cooperation includes, among other things, partnership in the field of modernization of combat aviation, as well as armored vehicles. Ukraine and India signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of military-technical cooperation in December 2010. Earlier, the Indian side also confirmed its interest in the development of military-technical cooperation with Ukraine in the field of repair and extension of the Indian Air Force's helicopter technology resource, the transfer of technology, the development of production of military products in India with the assistance of Ukrainian enterprises, and joint scientific development. By 2019, Ukraine aims to multiply the volume of military-technical cooperation with India, bringing its volume to $500 million per year. Young professionals at our last event Attracting like-minded people in fun environment with a drink responsible message. Miami Under 40 is going to Wynwood. MU40's first ever event taking place at Racket Wynwood on Wednesday, April 11th at 7pm-10pm. This is yet another great opportunity to connect with successful young professionals in a fun and engaging environment. Wynwood is unrivaled when it comes to its unique spaces teeming with impressive art. Wynwood has grown into Miamis trendy art scene, serving as a popular destination for all especially during the monthly artwalks, when restaurants, bars, art studios and galleries are popping with music and drinks. Miami Under 40 has its finger on the pulse of whats makes millenium community move. Take a look around at the new splashy Wynwoods bar called Racket all while connecting with other young professionals. Staying in trend and getting to know like-minded people gives the perfect chance to extend professional network. When there is nothing to do Wednesday evening, come to Wynwood. MU40's April Mix & Mingle event provides networking opportunities to connect with a diverse group who all share a love for a good cocktail and music. Visit the website, at http://www.miaunder40.com to reserve and secure spot. With a few surprises up event's sleeve, guests dont want to miss this opportunity to connect. Racket features two rooms with different environments made with materials like zinc and black rolled steel, live wood, mirrored glass, and neon lights. The atrium area is decorated with couches and has a more laid-back vibe, while the main room has more of the party atmosphere Miami is known for with an industrial ceiling, skylights, and plenty of music. Miami Under 40 is focused on bringing networking back to real life. Join us where young professionals connect. Best Cities for Sun Seekers, Photo credit: Jason Briscoe We wanted to give people a sense of the places that provide sun- and heat-deprived Spring Break travelers with a consistent bounty of fun in the sun," says Resonance President and CEO Chris Fair. Resonance Consultancy, leading global advisors in real estate, tourism, and economic development for countries, cities and communities, is pleased to announce the 2018 Worlds Best Cities for Sun Seekers, a ranking of the 10 best-performing cities across the categories of Air Quality, Sunshine, Parks and Outdoor Activities. The firms Worlds Best Cities ranking is the most comprehensive city ranking on the planet, based on an entirely original methodology that uses the opinions of the people who matter most: visitors and residents. The worlds best cities for sun seekers is a subset of Resonance Consultancys 2018 global city ranking. Resonance Consultancys Worlds Best Cities ranking analyzes and compares 23 factors in six key categories using a combination of core statistics and online ratings and reviewsfrom TripAdvisor reviews, Facebook check-ins, Google searches and Google Trends. This helps cities understand their strengths and weaknesses through the lens of the people who visit and live in each city. March, and the Spring Break season in general, is one of the busiest travel times of the year, says Resonance President and CEO Chris Fair. We wanted to give people a sense of the places that provide sun- and heat-deprived Spring Break travelers with a consistent bounty of fun in the sun. Afterall, we create place-branding strategies, tourism and economic development plans and trend reports for city, tourism and economic development organizations every day, and part of that is using our data to quantify ways people can enjoy great places. A COMPREHENSIVE RANKING OF THE WORLDS BEST CITIES FOR SUN SEEKERS Where to go if you want all-but-guaranteed great weather and even greater outdoors. We explored the number of quality parks and outdoor destinations, air quality index scores and hours of sunshine to determine the best cities in the world for sun seekers, just in time for Spring Break! 1. San Diego The citys lauded perch on the extreme, sunny, Pacific-kissed bottom left of the country has long attracted surfers, adventurers and the outdoorsy types for a reason. 2. Las Vegas Sin City has almost 300 days of annual sunshine. Its recent placemaking and embrace of the outdoors is finally building on its natural bounty. 3. Dubai The shopping capital of the Middle East is building out as much as up, with food trucks, zoos and newly opened beaches. 4. Tucson Some of the freshest urban air on the planet meets Mother Natures Stairmaster by way of the surrounding mountains and, increasingly, new parks and bike lanes. 5. Miami Miamis alchemy of immigrant hustle and hedonism has always coaxed frozen northerners. A new sense of pride and city building means Miami keep surprising new and returning visitors. 6. Barcelona Yes, theres the unrivaled architecture. But the devotion to aesthetics also flows into new investments in outdoor monuments, parks and waterfront projects. 7. San Francisco Hallowed perches, life-affirming Californian vistas and even free whale watching from the Golden Gate Bridge. In Everybodys Favorite City, going indoors means risking missing something epic. 8. Los Angeles The raw ingredients were always there. Finally, The City of Angels is taking ownership of its parks, trails and promenades. And of course nowhere else rewards renting a convertible like L.A. 9. Cape Town Cable cars, wild beaches and imposing summits as backdrops for it all make this mythical African city a pilgrimage for the planets sun-worshipping sophisticates. 10. Sydney With one of the worlds best-ranked park systems, and seemingly as many beaches as smiling locals, this diverse cityfresh water, oceans, hills and lush cornersdemands more hydration and sunscreen than you ever thought possible. ABOUT RESONANCE CONSULTANCY As leading advisors in real estate, tourism, and economic development for three decades, Resonance combines business strategy and marketing creativity to shape the future of communities, cities and countries. Across the fields of place development strategy, place marketing, placemaking and place branding, Resonance partners with developers, planners, architects, DMOs, economic development agencies and others to make places more livable, enjoyable and economically sustainable. The team has completed more than 100 visioning, strategy, planning, policy and branding projects for destinations and developers in more than 70 countries. To learn more about Resonance and their services, please visit http://www.ResonanceCo.com and @ResonanceCo. ABOUT BESTCITIES.ORG Best Cities is the home of Resonance Consultancys exclusive ranking of the worlds top urban destinations. Best Cities rankings are underpinned by the most credible source of city performancethe true opinions and rankings based on the experiences of visitors and residents alike. Our rankings exclusive methodology quantifies and benchmarks the relative quality of place, reputation and competitive identity for global cities across multiple factors using core statistics and online ratings and reviews. The Best Cities Finder lets users discover their ideal cities based on interests and priorities. The weekly newsletter keeps users up to date on the places that matter to them. Follow us @BestCitiesOrg and #BestCities. GET YOUR FREE 2018 WORLDS BEST CITIES REPORT. The free 2018 Worlds Best Cities Report is available at ResonanceCo.com/BestCities2018. All 100 cities are profiled at BestCities.org, including a city finder that surfaces cities based on user preferencesfrom parks to nightlifeusing Resonance Consultancys proprietary data. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS, PLEASE CONTACT: SARA FAHY Vice President, Strategy & Communications Resonance Consultancy +1-949-887-4476 sfahy(at)resonanceco.com TEKLYNX General Manager Doug Niemeyer Im honored to be a 2018 Pro to Know because it reflects TEKLYNX commitment to providing industry-leading barcode and RFID labeling solutions to ensure our customers operate more efficiently in todays complex supply chain environment. Doug Niemeyer, TEKLYNX GM TEKLYNX International, the worlds leading barcode and RFID labeling software developer and solutions provider, today announced TEKLYNX Americas General Manager Doug Niemeyer has been named a 2018 Pro to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. The Pros to Know Awards recognize supply chain executives who are leading initiatives to help prepare their companies supply chains for the significant challenges of todays business climate. Im honored to be named a Supply & Demand Chain Executive 2018 Pro to Know, says TEKLYNX GM Doug Niemeyer. This recognition reflects TEKLYNX continued commitment to providing industry-leading barcode and RFID labeling solutions and customer support to ensure our customers operate more efficiently amidst an increasingly complex supply chain environment. More than 300 entries were received for the 2018 awards. This years Pros to Know winners include individuals from software firms and service providers, consultancies or academia, who helped their supply chain clients, or the supply chain community at large, prepare to meet the many challenges todays businesses face. We commend this years recipients for their achievements in supply chain and for paving the way for the next generation of exceptional supply chain leaders. This years recipients embody the commitment to transformative supply chain tools and processes, earning these individuals a rightful place in this years Pros to Know listing, says John Yuva, editor of Supply & Demand Chain Executive. TEKLYNX is the only barcode labeling solution provider to offer subscription licensing allowing companies to start using TEKLYNX for a low cost of entry while offering a portfolio of tiered solutions that are designed to grow with companies over time. To view a full list of Supply & Demand Chain Executives 2018 Pros to Know winners click here and to learn more about TEKLYNX barcode labeling software solutions visit teklynx.com. About TEKLYNX International TEKLYNX International is the worlds leading barcode and RFID labeling software developer and solutions provider. An industry innovator for over 30 years, TEKLYNX helps companies operate smoothly and efficiently by implementing labeling solutions that streamline operations while staying ahead of industry-specific compliance and emerging regulations. TEKLYNX is world-renowned for its customer service; offering flexible purchase options, unparalleled service and support, and a comprehensive product offering that grows with companies over time. With operations in the United States, Europe, Japan, Latin America, China and Singapore, more than 630,000 companies in over 120 countries look to TEKLYNX integrated software solutions for their standard of success. Learn more by visiting teklynx.com, LinkedIn, Twitter @Teklynx, and Facebook.com/TEKLYNXInternational or call 888-629-4444. About Supply & Demand Chain Executive Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. Visit us on the web at http://www.SDCExec.com. liverpool property Property investment is hot all over the world right now, although there are a number of reasons enticing investors to explore the UKs iconic northern city of Liverpool for a unique, affordable and profitable buy to let investment opportunity. Population Growth and Growing Student Numbers: Liverpools population has risen steadily, increasing by 30,000 in the last 18 years. However, growth is far more rapid when focusing on city centre residents in particular. At approximately 29,060 people, this figure is almost double that of recorded statistics in 2006. But what are the reasons behind this surge in city centre population? Its central location in the country with brilliant transport links makes it a well situated living destination for professionals needing to commute to various offices around the UK and maintain connectivity with other regions. Additionally, its an ideal base for student study being only a few hours drive from most parts of the country. A massive number of inhabitants in the centre of Liverpool are under 30, hinting at the high student presence in this prime education zone. With a total of three universities home to a rich variety of specialised colleges, the Liverpool postcode is an attractive destination for undergraduate and postgraduate study. There is a wide range of high-quality student accommodation available with new developments being constructed all of the time. Students fall in love with the city so much during their time on the course, that they look for permanent residence in Liverpool once they have graduated. The thriving economic success of the city centre attracts young professionals from other areas across the UK. There has been a high influx of a young demographic who have relocated from London to Liverpool due to increased cost of living in the capital. When hunting down affordable residential and student accommodation, Liverpool offers cheaper alternatives without forfeiting space and quality. Trends also indicate a growing immigrant community within the city as economic triumph has generated healthy employment prospects, ideal for those seeking a new life in the UK and opportunities to make more money. A City under Regeneration: Billions of pounds worth of investment has been thrown at Liverpool in former years, with the development of 960 million shopping centre Liverpool 1 kickstarting the regeneration in 2008. The Baltic Triangle is one of the best places to live in Liverpools city centre since an injection of cash has increased attraction for businesses, residents and students alike. Its trendy and creative with a hipster vibe that reflects the investment worth over 190 million. The Knowledge Quarter is valued at 1 billion and is home to the Georgian Quarter and newly coined Fabric District which pays homage to the textile industry once founded there. Its also a zone comprised of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and scientific institutes such as the Liverpool Science Park and Bio-Innovation Hub. North Liverpools 150 million Project Jennifer is another example of a successful scheme in the Anfield area, with plans for renovation in other locations such as Chinatown and RopeWalks which will see the entire pedestrianisation of Bold Street. Liverpool Lime Street platforms are also due to be refurbished, improving transport services for all. Other Liverpool investments include the 350 million L2 Superport and the Albert Dock with its eclectic range of bars and restaurants blending with the Tate Modern and Echo Arena. However, the northern docklands zone is set to be transformed further with plans to build Liverpool Waters, a 5.6 billion revival of the waterfront. The Liverpool Waters masterplan encompasses the creation of five luxury living districts, 315,000 square metres of unique commercial space plus extensive leisure facilities. Culture: Heavy regeneration in the area is not the only reason so many are pulled into the perks of city centre life. The streets of Liverpool are steeped in heritage and culture from the musical legends of the Beatles originating from the world-famous Cavern Club to the acclaimed selection of art galleries hosting some of the globes most renowned exhibitions. Its also home to theatres such as the Empire, Philharmonic Hall and Echo Arena and has the most museums outside of London including the World, Maritime and Slavery museums. The busy streets are bursting with vivacious bars, restaurants and shops which are populated by friendly and fashionable faces. The biggest plus points charming investors into the Liverpool area are the people themselves with their characteristic scouse warmth and determination that is so widely recognised across the country and the world. Property Prices on the Rise: Competitive property prices mean that masses of individuals are finding residence in Liverpool in place of more costly regions down south. This incentive is similar for investors, as they are able to take advantage of affordable buy to let property in the short term, whilst reaping the benefits of rising prices in the future serving to assure capital appreciation in years to come. Strong Rental Yields for Investor Liverpool was voted the best UK location for buy to let rental yields in 2017 and looks just as promising for the present year. A combination of property affordability and high average net rental yields of 8% encourage investors to choose Liverpool when searching for their next venture in buy to let property. Overseas Investors: For many investors searching for international property, Liverpool is globally recognised as a hotspot for growth. A lower-priced alternative to the UK capital with higher assured rental yields makes Liverpool property investment seem like an exciting and lucrative opportunity. With a profound shipping history and an expansive trading port, Liverpools population has become increasingly diverse. Home to the oldest African community in the UK and the oldest Chinese community in Europe, Liverpools links with foreign communities continue to go from strength to strength and thus also inspire foreign investors to look for property there. Furthermore, a large majority of students move to the UK from regions abroad like China and the Middle East during periods of study. This is inciting overseas investors in the form of foreign student parents looking to purchase accommodation for their children. With their pride and joy setting up a life thousands of miles away, investors are keen to locate safe student living quarters in a reputable area with all the latest facilities. What does it mean for Liverpool in the Future? With the population predicted to increase by 90,000 people by 2030, tenant demand in Liverpool is predicted to reach all-time highs. The numerous projects completed, underway and planned for the future, including the 5.6 billion Liverpool Waters scheme, will open up the property market to investors like never before. Why invest in Liverpool? On top of superb rental returns in show stopping new developments, the quality of life and vibrant culture are both winning elements backing Liverpool investments Buzz Franchise Brands, parent company of Mosquito Joe, Pool Scouts and Home Clean Heroes, is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Vice President of Marketing Angela Zerda Paules to Chief Marketing Officer. In her new role, Paules will help grow Buzz Franchise Brands marketing department by adding key hires to the team, overseeing marketing operations across all brands and leading the marketing strategy and vision to drive franchise and sales growth. Were proud of the culture weve developed at Buzz Franchise Brands and Angela has played a key role in cultivating that through her dedication to the success of our franchisees and our employees and her relentless passion for the brand, said CEO of Buzz Franchise Brands Kevin Wilson. Angela has become an irreplaceable part of our family and were thrilled to see what she is able to accomplish in this new role. Paules started her career with Buzz Franchise Brands in 2012, joining as the Director of Marketing for Mosquito Joe when there were just five employees on staff. Now, with 50 corporate employees and more than 240 franchised territories across two brands, she is excited to continue growing her career while making Mosquito Joe, Home Clean Heroes and Pool Scouts household names in home maintenance. Im extremely excited about the challenges ahead of me in this role and look forward to ensuring our marketing remains a top-notch aspect of our business, said Paules. My experience has been really diversified over the past five years with Buzz Franchise Brands; from the rebranding and franchising of Mosquito Joe, to the launch of the Pool Scouts and Home Clean Heroes brands, to the development of our marketing department. I think the variety in my work, and the evolution from running a one-person marketing department focused on one brand to a 20-person marketing department supporting three brands, has prepared me well for the position. Paules is a University of Texas at Austin graduate, earning her B.S. in communications and business. After graduating, she joined advertising agency GSD&M, part of the Omnicom Group, working in media planning. She later returned to her alma mater as a Marketing Manager for the McCombs School of Business, working on the marketing initiatives for the Texas MBA program portfolio. In 2006, she exercised her entrepreneurial spirit by opening the Irie Bean Coffee Bar in Austin. I hope to bring a forward-thinking approach to this role to keep us on the forefront of the marketing industry, ready to adapt to the inevitable changes that continued advances in technology will bring, said Paules. I am extremely proud and thankful to work with a great group of professionals and am eager to continue making our department better for our Buzz Franchise Brands colleagues, franchisees and customers. BUZZ FRANCHISE BRANDS Founded in 2012, Buzz Franchise Brands is a fast-growing multi-brand franchising company that builds companies that get people talking. With a primary focus on providing quality services to the home, Buzz Franchise Brands includes leading mosquito control company Mosquito Joe and pool cleaning service provider Pool Scouts, as well as newly launched house cleaning company Home Clean Heroes. In four years, Buzz Franchise Brands has grown from an office of five people to fifty, from one company truck to over 500, and from one corporate location to over 240 franchise locations open across 34 states, with another 50 under development. For more information, visit https://www.buzzfranchisebrands.com/. River City Bank welcomes experienced finance leader and strategist Kerry Gordon as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Kerry brings a unique perspective to the board, and were eager to draw upon his expertise in business strategy to help establish and pursue short- and long-term goals that are ambitious, attainable and appropriately challenging," said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. River City Bank announces Kerry Gordon as the newest member appointed to its Board of Directors. Gordon brings more than 40 years of experience in public accounting, gaining his initial experience as a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrandnow PricewaterhouseCoopersand later served as a controller for a hospital and financial investment firm. For 24 years, he served as President of Gordon, Odom & Davis, Inc., and led the firm to rank among the top local CPA firms in Sacramento prior to merging with Moss Adams LLP in 2002. Immediately prior to joining the River City Bank board, Gordon retired as the Regional Managing Partner of the California Central Valley office of Moss Adams LLP. As a growing business with an expanding portfolio of clients, its important to ensure that our Board of Directors is composed of dedicated individuals who will influence strategy and maintain the historic momentum weve seen over the past several years, said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. Kerry brings a unique perspective to the board, and were eager to draw upon his expertise in business strategy to help establish and pursue short- and long-term goals that are ambitious, attainable and appropriately challenging. TWEET THIS: @RiverCityBank welcomes experienced public accountant Kerry Gordon as the newest member on its #BoardofDirectors. #SacramentoBusiness We are pleased to welcome Kerry Gordon to the Board of Directors, said Shawn Devlin, Chairman of the Board, River City Bank. With several decades of executive leadership experience and community service to draw from, Kerry brings a deep knowledge of the passions and logistical imperatives that drive business decisions and will perfectly complement our client-centered philosophy and process. Gordon received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from California State University Sacramento and a Master of Business Administration in Taxation from Golden Gate University. He maintains membership in several professional organizations in Sacramento and has previously served in leadership or board member roles with U.S. Bank, The American Heart Association, The Hospital Financial Management Association, Leukemia Society and the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. Board of Directors, River City Bank Shawn L. Devlin, Chairman of the Board, River City Bank; Stephen A. Fleming, President, River City Bank; Michael J. Newell, President, CC&B Holdings, Director of Business Development, HP Hood LLC.; Frederick J. Durst, 5th generation Yolo County Farmer/Rancher; Steve Pleau, President, Future Automotive Group; Ryan Gilbert, Managing Director of Propel Venture Partners and Chairman of Better Finance; Lon Burford, Founding Partner, Genovese, Burford & Brothers; Elaine Lintecum, CFO, The McClatchy Company; Kerry Gordon, retired, Regional Managing Partner, Moss Adams LLP About River City Bank Named one of Sacramento Business Journals 50 Fastest Growing Companies, River City Bank is the Sacramento regions premier business bank with assets over $2.0 billion. River City Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking services, including loans, deposits and cash management tools to the business, consumer and commercial real estate sectors. With tailored, executive-level service and a Five Star Superior financial rating from the nations leading independent bank-rating firm, Bauer Financial, River City Bank redefines the banking experience and every touch point that surrounds it. River City Bank is the largest, independent, locally-owned bank in the Sacramento region with an office in the San Francisco Bay Area and a presence in Southern California. For additional information, please visit http://www.rivercitybank.com or call (916) 567-2600. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. The SLOG was the 1st Place winner of the concept design phase of the Modular Logistics Vehicle Challenge This is about improving the lives of those who serve in the Marines by bringing customized solutions that improve day-to-day duty experience, said John B. Rogers, Jr., chairman and CEO of LM Industries, Inc. The U.S. military has long been exploring the idea of innovation and today the U.S. Marines Corps and San Francisco-based, co-creation platform Launch Forth announced a partnership to co-create products through design challenges that meet a wide range of logistical missions. The first of several challenges are now live and focus on the design of modular logistics vehicles that serve a multitude of operations as well as an unmanned cargo delivery system to improve the operations and well-being of servicemen and women. The challenges will rely on innovative solutions designed and delivered by Marines, for Marines. At the helm of the projects is former Marine, John B. Rogers, Jr., chairman and CEO of LM Industries, Inc., the parent company of Launch Forth and Local Motors. Local Motors is well known for its breakthrough products, including the worlds first co-created production vehicle, the Rally Fighter, the worlds first 3D-printed car, the Strati, and, most recently, a low speed, self-driving shuttle called Olli, powered by IBM Watson technology. Launch Forth is the latest offering from LM Industries, Inc., one of the worlds most innovative companies and pioneer in the open-innovation and advanced manufacturing space. Since its inception in 2007, Local Motors was among the first companies to work with the military on co-creating military vehicles and now that LM Industries, Inc. has created Launch Forth, Rogers is again prioritizing this initiative. This is about improving the lives of those who serve in the Marines by bringing customized solutions that improve day-to-day duty experience, said Rogers. In the aftermath of WWII, our country rightsized equipment development to count on industry in a way that made sense at the time. Bu, it came at a cost of disengaging our Marines with the equipment they most needed. Today, we use the power of the internet and digital manufacturing to change that paradigm and engage our Marines with equipment solutions that are faster to the fight and more on target when they get there. This effort is ultimately intended to save lives and increase effectiveness. The Modular Logistics Vehicle (MLV) project will result in the design of a new modular vehicle system that meets a range of logistical missions. Through concept and technical design, challenge participants will work to design a new vehicle that allows for modular adjustments to improve the Marine experience and their corresponding operations. Use cases could range from personal movement, mechanical repair, construction and administrative support. The project comprises two parts: concept design, which recently closed for submissions, and technical design, which closed March 25. The Marine Corps will choose the winning design on April 23, followed by proof of concept and prototyping stages. Seven winners will receive a total of $10,000 in prizes for the design challenge, and eight winners will receive more than $40,000 in prizes for the technical challenge. Similarly, the Unmanned Cargo Delivery project focuses on improving the safety and efficiency of moving cargo for Marines across areas all over the world. Delivering supplies on the battlefield can be one of the most routine activities a Marine does. A small unmanned cargo delivery system will save lives and could operate on land, air, sea, underwater or even underground. It will be critical to quickly deliver small packages that can seamlessly transit these diverse terrains. The project is now open to post brainstorms. The first design challenge will open on March 26th, 2018. Seven winners will receive a total of $10,000 in prizes. The Marine Corps has a great history of co-creation, but in a very analog sense. Even going back to WWI and WWII, many of our most impactful capabilities were born from teams of diverse Marines, engineers and business innovators, all continuously experimenting with each other to come up with great solutions, said Capt. Chris Woods. When we saw what we could do with Launch Forth and their methodology, we knew there was incredible opportunity to bring ourselves into the digital era and also to create new partnerships among a global crowd of innovators. We're excited about the potential that Launch Forth offers for the Marine Corps - the ability to expose imaginative new solutions to help us accomplish globally deployed missions. Launch Forth has a proven track record of developing these types of solutions with many other partners, and we think this demonstrates the effectiveness of their team and approach. In 2011, Rogers Phoenix-based company Local Motors built FLYPmode from scratch in less than four months and unveiled it to President Obama before delivering it to the militarys mad-science division in Virginia. The company also worked with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), The U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) and launched ArmyCoCreate.com, which was an experimental website designed to let soldiers, designers and engineers collaborate on identifying solider requirements and designing prototypes to address them. We're excited to see some new concepts for how we can tackle some of the age-old problems that the Marine Corps has been faced with, said Wood. We want to take those concepts and build them into usable solutions that we can rapidly adopt across our entire Corps. If this proves effective, we'd like to be doing this with more and more challenging problems. The U.S. Marine Corp challenges are run on San Francisco-based Launch Forth, an enterprise-level product design platform powered by a robust co-creation community of 185,000 designers, engineers and solvers. Using open innovation to accelerate the product development process, Launch Forth allows people everywhere the opportunity to collaborate with minds from around the world, team up to work together to solve perplexing issues, compete for prizes by submitting their own ideas, models and solutions while also building their professional reputation. For more information about the Modular Logistics Vehicle and Unmanned Cargo Delivery projects, visit LaunchForth.io. About Launch Forth Launch Forth is a SaaS (software as a service) platform for product design powered by a robust community of designers, engineers and solvers. As the latest offering from LM Industries, Inc., Launch Forth harnesses the speed and potential of crowdsourcing and co-creation to bring breakthrough products to market quickly with a shared community of innovators from around the globe who collaborate on ideas, solve problems and create solutions for challenges both large and small. This community powered platform pairs design thinking with open innovation and accelerates the product development process for well-respected global giants like HP Inc., Local Motors, General Electric Co. and Airbus. Learn more at LaunchForth.io. This gives people who currently have DACA hope, and the possibility to continue to be protected by the program. My office will offer assistance to anyone in the DACA program to ensure they know their rights and how to complete the renewal process. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an Obama-era immigration policy that allows individuals who entered the country as minors, aka Deamers, and had either entered or remained in the country illegally, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for a work permit. Recently, and for the second time, a federal judge has barred the Trump administration from ending the Obama-era DACA program. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in New York ruled that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had erred in concluding that DACA is unconstitutional. Based on its review of the record before it, the court concludes that Trump officials have not offered legally adequate reasons for ending the DACA program. The judge also ordered that DACA recipients should be able to renew their protected status. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice indicated that the Trump administration would fight back legally against the injunction. The Trump administration appealed before the Supreme Court to remove the injunction put in place by the district courts, but the Supreme Court ruled against the administration, keeping in place the injunction, and allowing the case to move forward in the lower courts. Immigration attorney Carlos E. Sandoval is urging all immigrants who currently have DACA to apply to renew their status now. This gives people who currently have DACA hope, and the possibility to continue to be protected by the program, said Sandoval, founder of Carlos E. Sandoval, P.A. My office will offer assistance to anyone in the DACA program to ensure they know their rights and how to complete the renewal process. Anyone who was applying to renew their DACA, and it was denied by USCIS based on the Trump decision, can file again for DACA. The Department of Homeland Security must continue to accept renewal applications from the approximately 700,000 young people who are currently enrolled in the program. About Carlos E. Sandoval, Attorney at Law Carlos E. Sandoval is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association and the Broward County Bar Association. Carlos, who speaks fluent English and Spanish, is licensed to practice law by the Florida Supreme Court and the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida. He focuses his practice in all areas of immigration, naturalization and removal. For more information or a consultation, call (954) 306-6921, or visit http://www.carlosesandoval.com. The law office is located at 450 N. Park Road, Suite 803, Hollywood, FL 33021. 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. Tuscano Agency is a great example of an insurance wholesaler leaning in to supporting digital relationship-building tools that drive agency revenue and success. TrustedChoice.com, an insurtech company that develops digital solutions for the independent insurance channel, today announced regional wholesaler Tuscano Agency joined its digital marketing platform. Tuscanos participation enhances visibility to 20,000 Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big "I") members looking to place business generated by TrustedChoice.coms Advantage referral program. What began as a one-person business on Bill Tuscanos Greensburg, Penn. front porch in 1970 today has today grown into a large, regional commercial lines wholesaler spread across 21 states. Offering market access for multiple lines of Property & Casualty business to commercial agents, with an additional specialty for Trucking business, Tuscano attributes their growth to putting customer relationships first and providing direct access to experienced underwriters and highly rated specialty insurance market products. Weve built our company by building lasting relationships and investing in technology, said Jeremy George, sales team leader at Tuscano. Teaming up with TrustedChoice.com to advance our support for retail agents with digital tools that drive business opportunities while also driving market visibility for our brand is in our sweet spot. Were excited to begin forging new relationships with TrustedChoice.com agents through digital technology. TrustedChoice.com has perfected the art of ranking for key insurance search terms online, with 6,000-plus insurance content pages leading millions of insurance buyers to TrustedChoice.com and creating 10 million impressions a month. The websites Appetite Engine is smart, placing a carriers brand in front of the right prospect and agent at the right buying momentall tailored to the carrier and agents appetite. Were very pleased to be partnering with Tuscano Agency to provide resources that add new digital channels to grow their commercial visibility and business with our agent network, said Vincent Savarese, senior vice president of carrier relationships at TrustedChoice.com. Tuscano is a great example of an insurance wholesaler leaning forward to keep agents educated in digital marketing strategies and offering access to relationship-building tools that drive their revenue and success. About Tuscano Tuscano Agency has provided insurance solutions to retail producers looking to place their brokerage business since 1970. Today, Tuscano operates in 21 states spanning the northeast, mid-Atlantic, southeast and midwest. The company offers brokerage products through both admitted and non-admitted carriers and uses its experience and expertise to search the marketplace for the insurance options insurance buyers seek. About TrustedChoice.com TrustedChoice.com partners with independent insurance agencies and insurance carriers to connect insurance buyers with the right local insurance agent. Our digital platform pairs insurance consumers with participating local independent insurance agents and carriers through a proprietary search engine optimization strategy that drives organic traffic and boosts online digital lead referrals. As the leading digital referral platform, our solutions have created 13 million agency impressions and 150,000 online relationships in the independent insurance channel since 2013. Peter Hestad, President and CEO of Tool King, Inc. We at Tool King are incredibly honored to be recognized for our commitment to the Wheeling Community. We are grateful to call Wheeling home. Tool King, Inc. has been distinguished as Manufacturer of the Year by the Wheeling/ Prospect Heights Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry. A relatively new award to the Wheeling community, Tool King has been recognized for their commitment to and involvement in the Wheeling community and its economic development. Tool King, is a ISO 9001:2015 certified specialty niche metal service center in Wheeling, Illinois and has been a family-focused enterprise for decades. They remain very active within the Wheeling community and continue to make a positive impact on the Wheeling economy. Tool King has set a precedent for their local engagement. Only one manufacturer per year is given this award. Tool King was founded by Bjorn & Peter Hestad and has served Wheeling since 1976. Tool King has consistently embraced the evolution of its brand, products and services as the economy and industry changes. Its current President and CEO, Peter Hestad, continues to uphold these values as Tool King is delighted to receive this award: We at Tool King are incredibly honored to be recognized for our commitment to the Wheeling Community. We are grateful to call Wheeling home. Hestad represents a strong commitment to the Wheeling community. Consistently attending local community and development events, he hopes to continue to give back. On May 8th, for example, Tool King will be present at a job fair organized by the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce and Wheeling High School. Tool King offers an excellent employment prospect for non-college-bound students, and this event is a way to inform those students about Tool King and its industry, among others. "Peter and Tool King are committed to Wheeling. Not all students go the college route, and Tool King offers a great employment opportunity. They're constantly giving back to our community. Providing jobs is a great way to do that," says Neena Pottoore, Executive Director of the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce. This tradition of excellence and community values is only further pronounced by Tool King's creativity and commitment to a positive and safe work environment. Tool King has consistently offered productivity enhancements to their employees and Peter Hestad has taken an active role in representing the company at community events. Tool King has not only shown commitment to community, but loyalty to their own team and an ability to adapt and evolve with industry and technology. Today, Tool King's distribution includes narrow width slit coils, specialty-edged and ribbon or oscillate wound coils. Developing prominence in their industry, they supply manufacturers with narrow width flat rolled carbon, pre-tempered spring steels, stainless steel, copper-based alloys and aluminum. Tool King has a growing enterprise that serves diverse industries both domestically and internationally. Tool King serves customers throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe and even the Middle East, and include industries from electronics to appliances to medical, automotive, lighting, utensils and much more. They have long-established themselves as a family-focused enterprise, and Tool King has taken an active role in the economic development of the Wheeling area, making this award well-deserved and received. KYIV. March 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) - India hopes that Ukraine will adopt Ayurveda as alternative medicine, Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Manoj Kumar Bharti has said. "This year we added one more goal in relationship between Ukraine and India - cooperation in the field of Ayurveda, in the field of Ayurvedic practices and Ayurvedic medicine," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday. According to him, a delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will arrive in Ukraine in April to inform the government of the need to develop a policy for the adoption of Ayurveda as alternative medicine. In addition, as part of this initiative, the ambassador noted the need to resolve the issue of importing Ayurvedic products into Ukraine as medical products, rather than biologically active additives. There are currently 12 manufacturers of Ayurvedic products in India that meet the standards of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). According to Manoj Kumar Bharti, Ayurvedic medicine will help reduce the cost of treatment in Ukraine. "The result of the popularization of Ayurveda in Ukraine will be saving on treatment. People will receive good Ayurvedic medical treatment for a very reasonable cost," he said. "At the same time, the government of Ukraine, in particular, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, should be aware of the need to teach Ayurveda in medical universities and universities of alternative medicine so that Ayurvedic practitioners are also brought up in Ukraine," he said. In addition, the ambassador stressed that Ayurvedic medicine is recognized by several European countries, as well as by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an alternative to traditional medicine. "Speaking about Europe, I'm not talking about the rest of the world and about Asia. Hungary, Switzerland and Germany also officially adopted Ayurveda as alternative medicine," he said. As reported, India intends to support the development and promotion of traditional Indian medicine around the world. 3D Rendering of Solar Power Plant The Sahara Conservation Fund, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to conserving wildlife, including endangered species of the Sahara desert, in partnership with The Wildlife Conservation Networks Solar Project, dedicated to providing solar energy to conservation projects around the world, today announces the completion of the first solar powered field laboratory custom engineered to restore and repopulate the North African Ostrich, Struthio camelus camelus, in the wild. The lab will be shipped to Niger in April 2018. Before the lab is disassembled for shipping, the developers will host a lab demonstration at 12:00 p.m., Friday, March 30 in Novato, California (101 Landing Court, Novato, CA, 94945). Press and media are invited to attend the event followed by a reception. Nigeriens who have been caring for the last five breeding pairs of North African Ostriches reached out to us about how we could help, said John Newby, Sahara Conservation Fund Director. The survival of the North African red-necked ostrich depends upon this project. The resources needed to implement our three-pronged plan including protection, captive breeding and reintroduction depend upon reliable power and water to cool the laboratory in the Sahara Desert. By converting four shipping containers into a sustainable camp, the architects and engineers for the North African Ostrich Recovery Project created a hatchery, incubation lab, office, and solar power plant equipped to operate sustainably with only minimal water from a well one mile away. The sustainable lab is designed to stay cool in temperatures up to 130 degrees and withstand 60 mile-per-hour winds and the threat of lightning. The challenge was engineering a research lab that would be 40 years future-proof because we knew once the containers shipped, there was no way to redesign them in Niger. We had to think more like NASA scientists and less like architects and contractors, said Stephen Gold, Head of the Wildlife Conservation Networks Solar Project. The lab features 32 KW of solar energy and has 144 KWH of usable battery storage for an incubator, hatchers, VSAT communications system, BACnet, lightning, water pumping, water heater, as well as a refrigerator and freezer. The entire system as well as two high resolution cameras will be controlled remotely by program technicians in San Francisco. Because of the extreme temperatures, all of the containers are air conditioned. Almost every component was custom-made, fitted, built and tested in California. Though this specific lab is custom-designed to meet the unique needs of the North African Ostrich Recovery Project, the sustainable labs follow a plug-and-play model that could have far reaching applications for the conservation community. Weve already had interest from scientists whose main challenge in the field is a lack of infrastructure. Researchers can rethink how they do fieldwork when they have reliable power sources and onsite water its a real game changer when you can have your lab with you in a remote location, said Dr. Thomas Rabeil, Sahara Conservation Fund Science Committee Co-Chair. To RSVP for the lab tour, please email Henry Cundill: rhcundill@gmail.com. To learn more about the Niger Ostrich Recovery Project or donate please visit: http://www.wildnet.org/solar. About Wildlife Conservation Network Wildlife Conservation Network protects endangered species and preserves their natural habitats by supporting entrepreneurial conservationists who pursue innovative strategies for people and wildlife to co-exist and thrive. For more information, visit wildnet.org. About Sahara Conservation Fund The Sahara Conservation Fund is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and sustainable use of the landscapes and critical habitats needed for its survival, including endangered species of the Sahara desert, Sahel grasslands and highest mountain ranges in Africa. The Sahara is home to some of the most resourceful people on earth and the Sahara Conservation Fund believes, above all, in dialog and partnership with the people that use the land and its resources. For more information, visit http://www.saharaconservation.org. IRONSCALES management team is motivated, and the technology that it has developed is already showing promise, which is the perfect criteria for the program. IRONSCALES, the world's first automated phishing prevention, detection and response platform, today announced that it has been selected to participate in Microsoft's ScaleUp Program in Tel Aviv, which was previously known as the Microsoft Accelerator. As one of ten companies chosen out of many applicants, IRONSCALES will benefit from the ScaleUp program's access to sales, marketing and technical support. This mentorship will also include a co-selling program with Microsoft's existing salesforce. Notable security alumni of the Microsoft ScaleUp program include Siemplify, SCADAfence and Veridium, among more than 50 others. "IRONSCALES management team is motivated, and the technology that it has developed is already showing promise, which is the perfect criteria for the program," said Inge Lammertink, Microsoft ScaleUp Tel Aviv's program marketing manager. "Our goal is to help IRONSCALES mature and build on its previous success as it prepares for the next phase of its development by providing the tools, resources, connections, knowledge and expertise needed to achieve rapid scale." IRONSCALES' technology seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Office365 environments for those customers looking to bolster their anti-phishing and email security. The platform was specifically built to automatically prevent, detect and respond to sophisticated spear-phishing attacks that can now easily evade secure email gateways and other legacy email security tools. IRONSCALES combines micro-learning phishing simulation and awareness training (IronSchool), with advanced mailbox-level anomaly detection (IronSights), automated phishing forensics & incident response (IronTraps) and real-time automated actionable intelligence sharing (Federation) technologies. By providing protection at every stage of an email phishing attack, IRONSCALES' customers reduce the time from email phishing attack discovery to enterprise-wide remediation from days, weeks or months to just seconds, with little to no security team "Having one of the world's largest and most prestigious technology companies recognize us as innovative and enterprise-ready, and so worthy of inclusion in its program, is a huge endorsement for both the management team but also the technology we've developed," said IRONSCALES founder and CEO Eyal Benishti. Microsoft ScaleUp helps start-ups grow across the globe with an intensive Microsoft-led program in eight global offices in Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin, London, Seattle, Shanghai, Sydney, and Tel Aviv. It is designed to accelerate growth with a streamlined path into the Microsoft Partner Network. After the four-month program ends, IRONSCALES will be part of Microsoft's Global Alumni community of founders, a powerful resource, that will allow it to actively network and create business opportunities and partnerships around the world. Added Eyal: "This relationship will introduce IRONSCALES to Microsoft's select sellers and mentors whose expertise and support will help shape our go-to-market strategy and support our team as we realise our dreams to scale up both the technology we've created but also our endeavour to deliver robust phishing solutions to users' mailboxes, where it will have the biggest impact in preventing attacks being deployed." To find out more about IRONSCALES, and its advanced phishing threat protection platform, visit http://www.ironscales.com About IRONSCALES IRONSCALES is the leader in anti-email phishing technologies. Using a multi-layered and automated approach starting at the mail-box level to prevent, detect and respond to today's sophisticated email phishing attacks, IRONSCALES expedites the time from phishing attack discovery to enterprise-wide remediation from months to seconds, by significantly reducing the workload on incident responders. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, IRONSCALES was founded by a team of security researchers, IT and penetration testing experts, as well as specialists in the field of effective interactive training, in response to the phishing epidemic that today costs companies millions of dollars annually. It was incubated at the 8200 EISP, the top program for cyber security ventures, founded by alumni of the Israel Defense Forces' elite Intelligence Technology unit. MessageGears Virtually everyone we have ever spoken with has raved about the people and technology at MessageGears. MessageGears has received top honors from industry analysts and clients, who say its email marketing technology is revolutionary and it enables them to create experiences they were not able to execute on other systems. In the Relevancy Ring ESP Buyers Guide 2018 Enterprise Edition, MessageGears received nine client satisfaction awards featuring six gold awards and three silver. Along with MessageGears, the list included Adobe Campaign, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Cheetah Digital, Epsilon Agility Harmony and Zeta Global. The Relevancy Group gave MessageGears six Gold Client Satisfaction Awards in the categories of product innovation, infrastructure/stability, account management, technical services, integration and technical and customer support. MessageGears also received three Silver Client Satisfaction Awards in the categories of campaign execution, deliverability tools and overall value. The guide is published annually by market research and advisory firm The Relevancy Group. The six Enterprise Email Service Providers (ESP), which The Relevancy Group described as all industry leaders, were evaluated on customer satisfaction, product functionality, service capabilities, innovation and breadth. One excerpt stated: Customers who choose the MessageGears solution tend to run sophisticated, highly personalized, data-driven programs at scale. Virtually everyone we have ever spoken with has raved about the people and technology at MessageGears." MessageGears also scored higher than any other ESP under the Technology Satisfaction ring the authors called MessageGears a developer-driven organization that is well suited to assist enterprises in solving difficult problems. They also highlighted the benefits of MessageGears unique hybrid model, specifically as it relates to unprecedented data access that makes it an ideal solution for travel, financial, retail and marketing automation industries. This year, customers echoed previous sentiments about the solutions uniqueness, again referring to it as revolutionary technology that enables them to create highly personalized and valuable customer experiences that they were not able to execute on other systems. The Relevancy Group states that MessageGears is ideal for enterprise marketers that do not want to move or outsource data to an ESP...MessageGears hybrid email marketing solution is the answer for clients with massive amounts of ever-changing data and/or concerned with data security. This is the fourth year MessageGears has been ranked by The Relevancy Group and honored with client satisfaction awards. The company received seven awards in 2017, seven awards in 2016 and three awards in 2015. Because our focus is always on client satisfaction, its especially gratifying to see such high marks from our clients in this report, MessageGears CEO Roger Barnette said. Thats really where the rubber meets the road in any tech business like ours how well do you help others succeed? As long as were doing well there, we feel like were on the right track. The authors surveyed 401 email marketers, documented ESP demos related to key themes, reviewed vendor questionnaires, and conducted one-on-one interviews with key respondents. For more details on the methodology of the report, visit http://www.relevancygroup.com/shop/the-relevancy-ring-esp-buyers-guide-2017-1. About MessageGears MessageGears is the only email service provider that enables the worlds top brands to send dynamic, high-volume marketing messages with speed and precision by providing a platform that overcomes the inherent limitations of marketing cloud email systems. MessageGears works almost exclusively with large business-to-consumer (B2C) companies, including Expedia, Orbitz Worldwide, Chick-fil-A, AmTrust, and Ebates. Founded in 2010, MessageGears is based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, please visit http://www.messagegears.com. HEALTHsuite Mercato CMS is the largest payer of opioid prescriptions and the overall spend on opioids represents a large portion of the overall budget. Payers need to be proactive in addressing this problem. RAM Technologies, Inc., the perennial leader in the development of enterprise software for healthcare payers, is pleased to announce the availability of a new report as part of the Sharing Knowledge to Improve Healthcare Administration (SKIHA) program. This month, members of the SKIHA program (free registration) are granted complimentary access to the RAM report, How Payers are Using Data and Evidence-Based Practices to Address the Opioid Crisis. Opioid abuse is a complex issue that requires a wide range of strategies to address. Payers have a unique role to play, specifically when it comes to ensuring that Medicare Advantage and Medicaid beneficiaries are able to receive the evidence-based treatments they need, while at the same time minimizing their risk of abuse or addiction. This article outlines the best practices that have been utilized by payers across the nation, and their impact on curbing opioid overuse and abuse. The opioid epidemic is affecting the entire nation, said Christopher P. Minton, Executive Vice President of RAM Technologies, Inc. This is not only a health concern but also a financial one. CMS is the largest payer of opioid prescriptions and the overall spend on opioids represents a large portion of the overall budget. Payers need to be proactive in addressing this problem. Fortunately there have been successes, and adopting these unique practices has the potential to provide health plans, and CMS, with significant savings. To read the entire report (How Payers are Using Data and Evidence-Based Practices to Address the Opioid Crisis) CLICK HERE. About the Program The SKIHA program (Sharing Knowledge to Improve Healthcare Administration) is an open platform that shares industry analysis and research to help the payer community prepare for the future. Each and every month the SKIHA program makes available special content that provides unique insight and in-depth industry knowledge to those in the position to enact real change. This free-flow exchange of ideas provides the information health plans need to improve operations, increase productivity and reduce costs. About RAM Technologies, Inc. RAM Technologies is the leading provider of enterprise claims processing software and claims adjudication software for health plans. For over 37 years RAM Technologies has led the way in the creation of Medicaid software solutions, Medicare software solutions and software for dual eligible processing (the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative). RAM Technologies has been recognized on Inc. Magazines List of Fastest Growing Private Companies and the Philadelphia Business Journals List of Top Software Developers for their advancements in the creation of comprehensive claims management software for Medicare and Medicaid administration. To learn more about RAM Technologies healthcare claims processing and managed care software solutions call (877) 654-8810 or visit ramtechinc.com. ASI and Higher Logic partnership ASI and Higher Logic are committed to driving up membership and accelerating engagement for associations and nonprofits Higher Logic today announced a partnership with Advanced Solutions International (ASI). Under terms of the agreement, ASI will provide customers with Higher Logic for iMIS, a version of its flagship online community platform fully integrated with the iMIS 20 Engagement Management System (EMS). Going beyond basic integration, the agreement includes seamless, two-way connectivity using Higher Logic Activity Sync. This unique synchronization will deliver actionable business intelligence to inform overall membership engagement strategy, while also providing association members with a more streamlined user experience. ASI and Higher Logic are committed to driving up membership and accelerating engagement for associations and nonprofits, and todays agreement furthers that mission, said Higher Logic CEO Rob Wenger. Communities have become the central engagement point of member-to-member and member-to-association interaction. Capturing and leveraging that data in an easy and pre-configured way makes this a simple decision for any successful association. Independent research from Lehman Associates, The Annual Lehman Reports Association Technology Study, found more than half of surveyed associations with a community platform use Higher Logic. Higher Logic gives customers, members, and prospects one secure location to interact, engage, and build value. With unique modules for volunteer, mentor, and events management, the platform also includes Activity Sync for automating how organizations connect activities within the community to other tools such as association or customer relationship management systems (AMS/CRM). The exclusive integration with ASI will enable seamless two-way synchronization of data. For example, in addition to writing community activity back to iMIS, members working in the Higher Logic community will be able to update their contact information, which is sent to iMIS, and receive member notifications based on iMIS data. To provide clients with the ability to tie Higher Logic and iMIS centralized data into actionable insights, Higher Logic for iMIS will include dashboards and interaction data for member scoring, segmentation, and journey mapping. The unique integration of Higher Logic and iMIS is a powerful step forward in our continuing journey to provide our clients with easier and faster access to the information they need to make better business decisions, said ASI Chairman and CEO Bob Alves. We look forward to continuing to work with Higher Logic to ensure our clients and their members achieve great things through this best of breed partnership. We are certain this combination is the most powerful solution for member engagement and management available. About ASI Advanced Solutions International (ASI) is a recognized global, industry thought leader that focuses on helping associations and non-profits increase operational and financial performance through the use of best practices, proven solutions, and ongoing client advisement. Since 1991, ASI has served nearly 4,000 clients and millions of users worldwide, both directly and indirectly through a network of over 100 partners, and currently maintains corporate offices in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. About Higher Logic Higher Logic is an industry leader in cloud-based engagement platforms. Our data-driven approach gives organizations an expanded suite of engagement capabilities, including online communities and marketing automation. From the initial web visit to renewal and ongoing engagement, we help you track and manage interactions along each stage of the digital customer experience. Organizations worldwide use Higher Logic to bring people all together, by giving their community a home where they can interact, share ideas, answer questions, and stay connected. Everything we do - the tools and features in our software, our services, partnerships, best practices - drives our ultimate goal of making your organization successful. Pictured from left to right: Kyle Jachim, Social Work Intern; Katherine Schaible, MSW, LSW, Program Coordinator; Jill Kaplan, MSW, LCSW, Program Director; and Amy Sutton, CEO Social Workers are at the heart of Cancer Support Community CNJ. These exceptional professionals enable us to deliver on the promise of our mission. In early March, there was a foot of snow outside, and most Northern New Jersey companies had shut down to keep their employees safe and off the roads. Cancer Support Community Central NJ (CSCCNJ) was no different, but the implications of the decision were. A support group for friends and family members of cancer patients was scheduled to meet at the CSCCNJ headquarters in Bedminster, and for many of the participants, the time together is important to their emotional wellbeing. So, Program Director Jill Kaplan, MSW, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker, made sure that the groups participants would not be hampered by the falling snow. Through video conferencing technology, Kaplan and the participants were able to connect both literally and figuratively despite the snowstorm. With three significant snow storms affecting NJ in quick succession, travel and access to support groups continued to be affected throughout the month. Thankfully, Ms. Kaplan was able to utilize the video conferencing technology to facilitate two additional groups, allowing participants to attend their scheduled support groups even when the roads were impassible. By using this technology, the inability to meet in person didnt stop the group from getting together and maintaining that essential connection. This group meets twice a month and our participants would have missed the entire month of March without it, says Kaplan, Psychosocial support is a lifeline for them. Support groups at CSCCNJ are unique; all sessions are offered at no charge and are facilitated by licensed mental health professionals. Individuals affected by cancer can also access individual counseling; education and nutrition workshops; health & wellness classes; activities that build social connections; and special programming offered every month. Social workers are available to assist individuals in navigating the cancer journey and connect them to vital resources within CSCCNJ and within the community, all of which can reduce the burden of the disease. All programs are available not only to cancer patients, but to their caregivers and loved ones as well, for as long as support is needed, at no charge. Social Workers are at the heart of Cancer Support Community CNJ. These exceptional professionals enable us to deliver on the promise of our mission. Every day, they are working to help reduce the burden of cancer on patients, caregivers and family members so that individuals can live fully in the face of the disease, says Amy Sutton, CEO of CSCCNJ, Their dedication to supporting all people affected by cancer in the community is unmatched. In New Jersey, 1,000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer every week. As Kaplan proved, the team at CSCCNJ provides support wherever and whenever it is needed, even beyond the confines of the Bedminster campus. Another innovative initiative is the organizations School Based Support Groups. With 25% of all cancer patients raising children under the age of 19, CSCCNJs social work team realizes the importance of working with school districts. Katherine Schaible, MSW, LSW, Program Coordinator at CSCCNJ, travels to local high schools to provide support groups for teens affected by cancer. And both Schaible and Kaplan make themselves available to school communities as a resource to address the impact cancer can have on the family. This may include educational programs which provide parents with tools to help them explain cancer to their children and guide them through the journey as well as supporting the professional educators with the knowledge of how cancer may influence the behavior of the child in their classroom. Additionally, the social workers at CSCCNJ are committed to mentoring the next generation in the field by preparing interns for the unique challenges of oncology social work. By giving social work interns field experience and exposing them to this unique setting that extends across the continuum from newly diagnosed patients through bereaved, says Kaplan, they can develop their skills and actively practice what they are learning in the classroom. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), every day, 650,000 social workers act as advocates, champions and leaders making society a better place to live. This years theme for National Professional Social Work month is Social Workers: Leaders. Advocates. Champions. NASW introduced National Professional Social Work Month for the first time in March 1963. The original purpose was to encourage public support and interest in social work as a profession. Today, CSCCNJ celebrates the licensed mental health professionals who facilitate the vital programs offered for all those affected by cancer. CSCCNJ celebrates social workers like Kaplan and Schaible, as well as all of the social workers affiliated with the organization, and the important role they play in the ongoing assessment of participants psychosocial needs, in addition to providing the support and/or appropriate resources to the community as needed. Thanks to social workers like Kaplan and Schaible, CSCCNJ can provide vital services to those in need so that no one faces cancer alone. Our programs are backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes social and emotional support, says Sutton, and social workers are essential in delivering the best care. ## About Cancer Support Community Central New Jersey: Cancer Support Community Central New Jersey (CSCCNJ) is a registered 501c(3) and an independently licensed affiliate of Cancer Support Community, an international non-profit organization. As experts in oncology mental health, the organization provides support, education, and hope to all people with cancer and their loved ones, so that no one faces cancer alone. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes social and emotional support, CSCCNJ creates a supportive community to help individuals live with, through and beyond cancer. At no cost to patients, family members and caregivers, the organization delivers essential programs and services including individual and group support, educational workshops, nutrition and healthy cooking education, classes to enhance health and wellness and social activities for the entire family. For more information please visit their website at cancersupportcnj.org or call (908) 658-5400. Scriptel Corporation Mental health and addiction concerns are top of mind. Were doing our part to help people gain access to much-needed care quickly and easily. NatCon18 is more than a Behavioral Health summit. It is a meeting place for advocates who want to be heard on Capitol Hill. Scriptel Corporation is joining the Natl. Council for Behavioral Health for its 2018 summit April 23-25, 2018, just outside of D.C. Scriptel supports a goal of helping those who work in Behavioral Health Be Heard, as they voice the collective concerns of the millions of Americans currently living with mental illness and/or struggling with addiction. We serve a number of Behavioral Health customers, explains Steve Sedaker, Dir. of Strategic Marketing for Scriptel. In recent years, theres been a decided shift in the national conversationwith a goal of meeting everyones healthcare needs equally. Mental health and addiction concerns are top of mind. Were doing our part to help people gain access to much-needed care quickly and easily. The voices of patients, clinicians, administrators, and executives all factor in and were listening. Through the Natl. Council Conference, or NatCon18, NCBH and its partnerswhich include Scriptelaim to bring participants in this three-day summit the BEST: Behavioral Health Conference Program Half- & Full-Day Preparatory Universities Grass-Roots Advocacy Hill Day Visits (April 25) Industry-Wide Recognition & Awards of Excellence NatCon has been recognized as a premier conference on Behavioral Health and is a platform designed to energize, inspire, and accelerate information sharing among key players in the clinical care, practice management, and health IT products sectors. Scriptel electronic signature solutions streamline the patient registration process, simplify electronic health records (EHR) management, and encourage best practices via application of cutting-edge paperless technology in diverse, dynamic clinical settings. Scriptels no-scratch, glass surface signature capture pads include the ScripTouch Slimline and Desktop LCDs, as well as ScripTouch Compact LCD electronic signature pads. Companion products like ScripTouch Sign and Save handwriting recognition software and the new mSign v2.0 digitizing app expand those hardware capabilities. Dont be shy, urges Randa Gallagher, Customer Relations & ISV Manager. Request a demonstration. This end-user driven event serves everyone from Behavioral Health care and addiction treatment providers to physicians and insurers. Thats exciting, for me, because I enjoy showing others how well our products work. I can sense their relief, as they realize all we offer them (and their consumers)rather than think theyre limited to one option or end result. See for yourself why Scriptel is an eSignature technology giant. Theres no one size fits all here. We offer modern-interface solutions at a range of price points, starting below the competition. Roughly 5,000 attendees are expected at NatCon18; industry leaders looking to thrive, by putting health care innovations to the test and improving their practices bottom lines. If youre concerned about integration, suggests Gallagher, ask me. Our existing APIs work well with a wide range of Behavioral Health applications. If youre doing a refresh at a clinic, give Scriptel the chance to get you up and running in no time. In return? Youll get a free trial, service like no other, and knowledgeable support. The NCBH encourages Be Heard attendees and exhibitors to be active, counted, supported, and informed innovators of whole-person wellness. Sedaker and Gallagher will be there, sharing Scriptels perspectives on the future of patient care, digital workflow, Health Information Management (HIM), and more. NatCon18 runs Mon., April 23, through Wed., April 25, at Gaylord Natl. Resort & Convention Center at 2017 Waterfront St., in National Harbor, MD (20745). Details and registration are available at NatCon18.TheNationalCouncil.org. Get a hint of what Scriptel has to offer. Begin with a Free Trial at Scriptel.com. Or call the companys Sales Team, at (877) 848-6824, for more information. ### SCRIPTEL CORPORATION leads the way by advancing rugged, reliable eSignature and signature capture technology. Our Citrix Ready, plug-and-play hardware and software solutions make easy work of document signing, electronic recordkeeping and practice management in Dental, Healthcare, Retail, Tax Prep and other dynamic environments. Scriptel (est. 1982) has a history of leading through innovation, bringing the first peripheral to mimic superior pen input on an LCD screen to market. Today we produce and provide unmatched support for a full suite of ScripTouch signature pad and workflow products, including EasyScript, ProScript and mSign. Scriptel is based in Columbus, Ohio, and has deployed more than 3 Million products worldwide. Which of our hardware and software solutions best suit your needs? Find out! Request a 30-Day, Risk-Free Trial at Scriptel.com. Copyright 2018. Scriptel, ScripTouch, Assist, EasyScript, mSign, OmniScript, ProScript, StaticCap, and Sign and Save, along with their associated logos, are the property of Scriptel Corporation. I am so enamored by the response we have received from this years Constructech Vision Awards. Constructech congratulates the construction industry for its vision for innovation. This year saw the greatest number of entries by construction companies for the Constructech Vision Awards entries, with a keen focus on innovation, safety, and improving business. I am so enamored by the response we have received from this years Constructech Vision Awards, says Peggy Smedley, editorial director, Constructech magazine, and president, Specialty Publishing Media. Construction companies recognize that now is the time, and they are ready to share their stories with the world. This year Constructech also has more industry analysts and professors participating as judges for all of the entries from around the country. These experts scrutinize each entry, looking for quantifiable results that demonstrate how construction companies are using technologies to achieve real benefits within residential, commercial, and heavy highway. This year Constructech received entries from the smallest subcontracting companies to some of the largest GCs and builders nationally, and even globally. The Constructech Vision Awards will be announced at a dinner following the Constructech Technology Day conference, which will be held in Chicago, Ill., this mid-August. The winners will also be published in the Winter issue of Constructech magazine. With the success of this program, Constructech also recently introduced the first annual Constructech Best Team of the Year Awards that demonstrate construction companies are leveraging the skills required for craft positions alongside of the emergence of technology to help solve the construction workforce shortage. There are four different categories to submit in including: Best Team by Region Award, Educational Program Award, Individual Ideas Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Companies can submit for the awards online. About Constructech magazine and Constructech TV: Constructech magazine is where construction and technology converge. The publication influences construction professionals to unleash the business value of technology. constructech.com. Constructech TV is an educational video show that helps contractors and builders recognize how to leverage emerging solutions at the jobsite, within smart cities, and in the office. constructech.tv Attendees at ISA International Sign Expo 2018 ISA International Sign Expo is the only industry event connecting sign and print companies with vendors who can help them capitalize on the expansion in the industry." Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO ISA International Sign Expo 2018 closes with attendance at 20,387making it the largest ISA Sign Expo in Orlando and one of the largest in ISA Sign Expo history. The trade show floor was the largest-ever footprint for the event. Significant weather issues throughout the country affected air travel, but attendees found a way to get here anyway, said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. And they came in a mood to buy. Exhibitors reported that sales were outstanding. This reinforces that ISA International Sign Expo is the only industry event connecting sign and print companies with vendors who can help them capitalize on the expansions in the sign, graphics and visual communications industry. The show continues to grow and expand. The previous record for Orlando attendance was set in 2016, and this year, it nearly eclipsed the 2017 attendance in Las Vegas. ISA International Sign Expo alternates between Orlando and Las Vegas, with the West Coast show typically slightly larger. At 221,000 square feet, the trade show floor was the largest footprint in ISA International Sign Expo history. Nearly 600 exhibitors were in attendance, many offering tremendous specials and introducing new products. ISA International Sign Expo annually brings together the breadth of the sign, graphics and visual communications industry, ranging from neon and LEDs to print and soft signage. Throughout the event, attendees learned more about products, innovations and ideas to help them expand and grow their businesses. Highlights from 2018 include: Three popular Game Changers events, in which attendees were inspired by stories of leadership skills and generational changes. Two new pre-conference boot camps, designed to help sales professionals grow in selling wide format projects produced by Idealliance, and an executive leadership seminar produced by Florida State University. Both were well attended and well received. The always-popular Networking Reception for National and Custom Sign Companies, which connects local sign companies with nationals who need subcontractors regionally, was packed. More networking opportunities helped attendees make that one powerful connection. The ISA Elite program brought in a new class of 36; dozens of alumni returned to the event. More influencers, including designers, researchers and planners, were onsite through related programs. ISAs Planning for Sign Code Success was held at ISA Sign Expo 2018 for the first time. The Sign Research Foundation hosted its second co-located National Sign Research & Education Conference (NSREC) onsite. The Experiential Design Program (XDP) offered high-level interaction with clients/end users, sign fabricators and sign material suppliers. ISA will mark its 75th anniversary as an association at International Sign Expo 2019, April 24-27, 2019, with the trade show floor open April 25-27 in Las Vegas. Registration will open this fall at http://www.signexpo.org. About ISA The International Sign Association (ISA) strives to be the leader in shaping and developing the sign, graphics and visual communications community worldwide. About ISA International Sign Expo ISA International Sign Expo is the on-premise sign, graphics and visual communication industrys largest expo. Held each spring, the event features the latest products that showcase the breadth of the sign and visual communications industry along with education and networking events. The event has been named to the Trade Show News Networks List of Top 250 Trade Shows and ranked in the Top 100 Largest Events by Trade Show Executive three consecutive years. Learn more at http://www.signexpo.org. "As we reflect on the past 40 years of business, I can confidently say the continued success of our business is due to our exceptional staff and assessors, Lonnie Spires, A2LA President and CEO. A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) is proud to announce that 2018 marks its 40th year as an association assessing and accrediting conformity assessment bodies (CABs). Originally known as AALA, but changed to A2LA in 1987, A2LA was established in July 1978, following overwhelming demand in the market for a multi-discipline, private sector accreditation system in the United States. Since its creation, A2LA has established itself as the largest multi-discipline accreditation organization in the United States and one of the largest in the world. A2LAs brand is known worldwide for quality and customer service in the conformity assessment arena. Efforts to coordinate accreditation began in earnest in 1970. Laboratories were being forced into assessment by more and more accreditation systems - some claimed they were accredited or assessed by over 100 organizations per year. It was very difficult to design a management system in a laboratory that met these different requirements, some of which were conflicting. Although I have only been serving as A2LA CEO for a little over a year, I have been aware of A2LA and involved with them as an executive manager of A2LA-accredited laboratories for close to 20 years. As we reflect on the past 40 years of business, I can confidently say the continued success of our business is due to our exceptional staff and assessors, said Lonnie Spires, A2LA President and CEO. A2LA will celebrate its 40th anniversary with events throughout the year, corresponding with various industry tradeshows and conferences. Visit http://www.A2LA.org/events for more details on events sponsored or organized by A2LA. About A2LA A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation body, offering internationally-recognized accreditation services and training to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certifiers. Trade between Ukraine and India in 2017 grew by 18.8%, reaching $2.8 billion, Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Mr. Kumar Bharti Manoj said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday. "Here two important moments should be pointed out. India became the fifth country in the volume of the export from Ukraine abroad. In addition, India is the second country with which Ukraine has the surplus in trade. Only Ukraine and Egypt have bigger surplus in trade - $1.75 billion, while between Ukraine and India it is $1.65 billion," he said. The ambassador said that these indicators fuel confidence that the growth of trade turnover in 2018-2019 could be 20% and 25%, respectively. Commenting on trade relations between the countries, he said that India was the first country in terms of export of Ukrainian sunflower oil. Last year India exported $2 billion worth of oil. In addition, in 2017, for the first time, a lot of beans were exported from Ukraine to India. "Another very important factor is that the largest share of the total number of foreign students in Ukraine last year was made up of Indian students, a figure we reached for the first time in 15 years," the Indian diplomat said. So, according to him, today more than 10,800 Indian students are studying in Ukraine, which is 80% more than in 2015. "I am pleased to say that in almost two years we have increased the number of Indian students from 6,000 to almost 11,000. Taking into account the fact that each Indian student spends about $5,000 a year for education, living and personal expenses, Ukraine already earns $55 million only through the provision of education to Indian students," he said. The ambassador said that India plans to increase the number of its citizens studying in Ukrainian universities to 40,000 in the coming years, which in turn will give Ukraine about $200 million a year. He also said that the inclusion of India in the list of countries, which citizens receive the Ukrainian visa upon their arrival to the airport, had a positive impact on the tourist flow. The number of Indian citizens, who visited Ukraine last year, increased more than 50%, to 29,400 people. The ambassador said that one of the leading sectors where Ukraine could expect investment from India is pharmaceutical production. President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (IPMA) Dr. Ramanan Unni Parambath Menon pointed out the growth of the pharmaceutical market in Ukraine in 2017 and positive changes in the regulatory field in this sphere. "We see positive steps from regulators, in particular, changes are made to regulations and resolutions, among which there are a lot of democratic norms," he said. Head of the Representative Office of Dia Pharma Limited Ukraine Mr. Pandian Thamarai said that at the present, preparations made in India occupy in kind 3% of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market, in money terms 4.5%. "There is a great potential for Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers," he said. At the same time, representative of EuroLifeCare Sanjeev Bhagat said that for the growth of the volume of Indian medicines on the Ukrainian market, transparent legal regulations, as well as transitional periods in implementing changes, are required to enable manufacturers to properly prepare for the new standards. The IPMA (the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association) brings together Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing companies that meet high international standards, including US FDA (the United States), UK MHRA (Britain), MCC (South Africa), TGA (Australia), WHO GMP (WHO), GMP (Ukraine), which have representative offices in Ukraine. SDI Presence Formerly NexLevel with CEO David Gupta IT managed services provider SDI (SDI Presence LLC) announces that it has completed the acquisition of NexLevel Information Technology, Inc. (NexLevel), a West Coast IT management consultancy. The acquisition reinforces SDIs local delivery capability throughout California while deepening its IT consulting expertise. The Nexlevel teams reputation for delivering professional services in the government and utility marketplace is stellar, states SDI Presence CEO David A. Gupta. We look forward to working with our new colleagues to offer our clients additional solutions in cybersecurity, cloud technology, and analytics. Founded in 1999 by long-time technology leaders Terry Hackelman and Frank Otto, NexLevels portfolio of clients includes utilities and 120 state, county, and local government agencies along the West Coast. The firm clients include California Highway Patrol, California Correctional Healthcare Services, City of San Diego, City of Sacramento, and numerous other City, County, and municipal utilities throughout West Region. The entire NexLevel team looks forward to continuing to serve our clients with the same commitment to customer success that our West Coast clients have trusted for the past 20 years, states Senior Vice President Frank Otto. The NexLevel business has been integrated into the SDI Presence organization and will now operate under the SDI Presence brand name. The SDI Presence brand builds on the firms strong commitment to being present for its clients, partners, and community, a value that has always been the hallmark of the business. About SDI (SDI Presence LLC) SDI Presence LLC is an IT managed services provider (MSP) that leverages its strong team presence to provide industry-leading IT services while advancing our clients to a secure digital enterprise. With a 20-year corporate resume, SDI delivers strategic managed services, IT consulting and hybrid infrastructure solutions using its proven ITIL-based SDIPathTM methodology. SDI is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), with a portfolio of clients that includes some of the nations largest airports, utilities, commercial real estate portfolios, and government agencies. SDI delivers a deep technical presence through a local delivery model to achieve customer confidence and success. Visit us at http://www.sdipresence.com and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram. Ventura Law Logo I am extremely happy to start this new chapter in my life and to continue to advocate for the rights of our community. Born and raised in Brazil, Ms. Moura began studying English at an early age and became a certified English teacher due to her love of mentoring others. She found a natural attraction to the law after witnessing those close to her struggle to find competent legal help in her community. She formally began her legal career at the Universidade de Itauna in Brazil where she received her law degree becoming the first of her generation to graduate college. Ms. Moura migrated to the United States in 2003, desiring to experience the American legal system, and began volunteering at Ventura Law shortly thereafter. She was repeatedly promoted within the Firm over the eleven years that followed until eventually becoming a senior Paralegal in the Firms personal injury department. Throughout that time, she passionately helped thousands of clients resolve complex legal issues, many of whom spoke English as a second language. She even acted as the primary liaison for numerous Clients referred to the Firm through its partnership with the Brazilian Consulate in Hartford. In 2013, Ms. Moura enrolled in the University of Connecticut School of Law to pursue her L.L.M. degree an advanced law degree which would qualify her for the practice of law in the United States. I am extremely happy to start this new chapter in my life and to continue to advocate for the rights of our community. Please Join Ventura Law in congratulating Adma Moura for reaching this monumental achievement in her journey to become a dedicated member of the legal Community. She now joins a long line of Ventura Law Attorneys who are immigrant or first-generation citizens, and further exemplifies the Firms commitment to serving clients who need an advocate who proudly speaks their language. About Ventura Law - Ventura Law has been providing clients with compassionate legal service since 1957. With four offices in Connecticut and one in New York City, it is a full-service practice which focuses on serving clients who have been injured in motor vehicle and workplace accidents, workplace accidents, or as a result of defective drugs or medical devices. It also represents clients in real estate, criminal, and immigration matters. For more information about Ventura Law, please visit http://www.venturalaw.com or call the firm at 203.800.8000. Media Contact: Gaspare J. Marturano Phone: 1-203.800-8000 ext. 101 Email: gaspare(at)venturalaw.com Web: http://www.venturalaw.com "This bill (Hemp Farming Act of 2018) will finally legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of Controlled Substances." -U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell GenCanna President Steve Bevan met with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, and leaders from Kentuckys hemp industry on Monday for a dialogue about the future of industrial hemp. The roundtable discussed how farmers, producers/processors, and legislators can continue to support the growth of this industry in the Commonwealth and provide new opportunities for Kentuckys farm families. Following the meeting, Leader McConnell announced a strong and fundamental support for removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, a benchmark moment for the growing hemp economy and a hopeful bellwether of future national legislation. "Hemp has played a foundational role in Kentucky's agriculture heritage, and I believe that it can be an important part of our future," Leader McConnell said during the press conference. Leader McConnell pointed to a future where hemp is a thriving agricultural product, saying, I believe were ready to take the next step, and build upon the success weve seen with Kentuckys Hemp Pilot Program. So I will be introducing, when I go back to the Senate a week from Monday, a bipartisan bill in the Senate to continue to support this important Kentucky industry. It will be the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. Leader McConnell continued his clear and compelling support saying, This bill (Hemp Farming Act of 2018) will finally legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of Controlled Substances. Leader McConnell also spoke to the lineage of tobacco farming in Kentucky, and to the opportunity for companies like GenCanna whos farming partners are current or previous tobacco farmers to help transition that legacy to hemp, saying, We all are so optimistic that industrial hemp can become, sometime in the future, what burley tobacco was in Kentuckys past. GenCannas production facility at the Hemp Research Campus in Winchester, Kentucky a re-purposed former tobacco research facility demonstrates this clear linkage of hemps future to Kentuckys tobacco past. This followed days after Leader McConnell successfully passed the 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill which again included language that specifically approves the interstate and international transportation of hemp and hemp-derived products. Leader McConnell is the number one champion of the hemp industry, said GenCanna CEO Matty Mangone Miranda, With his support we have been able to create nearly 100 jobs and have invested tens of millions of dollars into Kentucky's people and economy. We are grateful that Leader McConnell continues to pave the legislative way for regulatory structure and law enforcement comfort for our mainstream agricultural industry. Four years after GenCanna was Kentuckys first CBD specific Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program participant, we are ecstatic with Leader McConnell's continued leadership for hemp. Kentucky leads the nation thanks to these efforts, said GenCanna President Steve Bevan, As a company, GenCanna is extremely proud of our local job creation and $40M in economic impact over the last 4 years. With Leader McConnells stewardship, Kentucky will continue to be a global superpower when it comes to hemp, and GenCanna will be there every step of the way. Deregulation means positive economic impact for American farmers especially in Kentucky, which has been a champion for industrial hemp. "Here in Kentucky, we have built the best Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program in the country and have established a model for how other states can do the same with buy-in from growers, processors, and law enforcement," Commissioner Quarles said, "I want to thank Leader McConnell for introducing this legislation which allows us to harness the economic viability of this crop and presents the best opportunity to put hemp on a path to commercialization." GenCanna is proud to continue working with tremendous leaders to innovate and drive positive change in the hemp industry, and remains clear in the position that hemp, and the products derived from hemp, are food. ABOUT GENCANNA GLOBAL, INC. GenCanna Global, Inc. is a vertically integrated industrial hemp cultivator and processor located in Winchester, Kentucky. GenCanna strives to leverage resources at its Hemp Research Campus to educate and enroll the local community and farming partners. In collaboration with state universities and local agencies, GenCanna will continue develop and deploy novel cultivation techniques that enables Kentucky to be leader the industrial hemp industry (learn more at https://gencanna.com/agriculture/). GenCanna sustainably grows premium hemp cultivars on fertile Kentucky family farms, and crop processes the harvest for sustainable feedstock. Consistent extraction methods and innovative processing technologies ensure the process exceeds all regulatory standards for the FDA registered and inspected food production facilities (learn more at https://gencanna.com/compliance/). The GenCanna Production Platform assures standardized, repeatable quality from farm to finished product. More information about GenCanna Global, Inc. may be found at http://www.GenCanna.com. Im excited to offer Rezum because its a minimally-invasive option. It relieves the need for medication and the recovery is much smoother than TURP surgery. Ogden Clinic announced today that Dr. Robert Wayment received recognition as a Rezum Center of Excellence for his expertise in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate. Dr. Wayment surpassed the milestone of treating 100 patients with the Rezum System, providing improved quality of life for men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH. The Rezum System is a revolutionary, safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option for men suffering from BPH that does not require general anesthesia and provides an alternative to a lifetime of taking BPH medications. Dr. Wayment, a board-certified urologist, offers Rezum as an in-office BPH treatment option at Ogden Clinic in Ogden, Utah, and is dedicated to bringing his patients new BPH therapies that preserve sexual function and offer a rapid return to normal activities. BPH is one of the top 10 most common and costly conditions affecting 14 million American men aged 50 or older, with nearly one million new diagnoses each year. BPH causes significant quality of life issues including lack of sleep, anxiety, challenges with sexual function and limits to daily activities. In the past, men have had two options with BPH: either take medication to manage the symptoms or have an invasive surgery called TURP, says Dr. Wayment. Im excited to offer Rezum because its a minimally-invasive option. It relieves the need for medication and the recovery is much smoother than TURP surgery. Developed by NxThera, Rezum is performed in a physician office or outpatient setting. Rezum uses the natural thermal energy stored in water vapor, or steam, to treat the enlarged and obstructive prostate tissue that causes BPH symptoms such as frequency, urgency, irregular flow, weak stream, straining and getting up at night to urinate. The water vapor is delivered into the targeted prostate tissue and when the vapor contacts the tissue it condenses, releasing the stored thermal energy, causing the obstructive prostate tissue cells to die. In the weeks following a Rezum procedure, the bodys natural healing response eliminates the treated tissue, shrinking the prostate. As the extra tissue is removed, the urethra opens back up, reducing BPH symptoms and improving the patients quality of life. Studies have shown that the Rezum treatment provides durable symptom relief and allows men to retain sexual function unlike surgical BPH treatments, which typically have higher incidences of long-term sexual side effects. To date, more than 22,000 men have been effectively treated with the Rezum System across the U.S. and Europe. I was getting up too many times in the night and my wife asked me to visit Dr. Wayment. He had removed a kidney stone for her in the past, says Peter Zolich, a Rezum patient. Im very happy with the resultthis new treatment completely relieved my symptoms and the recovery was pretty fast. Our goal is to transform the lives of BPH patients across the country with the Rezum System, said Bob Paulson, president and CEO of NxThera. With Dr. Wayments expertise and advanced training with Rezum, patients suffering from BPH in the Ogden area now have a minimally invasive, lasting and cost-effective alternative for the treatment of BPH so they can get back to enjoying a better quality of life. Highlights of the Rezum therapy include: Performed in the physician office; patients can return home immediately. Does not require general anesthesia. Relieves symptoms safely and effectively. Is an alternative to BPH medications, eliminating the need for long-term BPH medication use. Provides noticeable symptom improvement within two weeks. Preserves erectile and urinary functions. Allows patients to return to regular activities within a few days. Considered medically necessary by Medicare and reimbursed by many private insurance payers. Patients interested in a consultation with Dr. Wayment should call 801-475-3160 and request to schedule a Rezum consult. For more information about Ogden Clinic, visit http://www.ogdenclinic.com. For more information about the Rezum System, visit http://www.Rezum.com or call 888-319-9691. About Ogden Clinic Since 1950, Ogden Clinic has been meeting the healthcare needs of Northern Utah families. Once a single location in Ogden, Ogden Clinic now serves Northern Utah with 16 locations. They have over 20 medical specialties including urology and accept nearly all insurance plans. Learn more at ogdenclinic.com. About NxThera and the Rezum System NxThera pioneered its Convective Water Vapor Energy (WAVE) platform technology to treat a variety of endourological conditions, beginning with BPH. The company is conducting advanced development and clinical research to potentially expand application of its technology to include the targeted treatment of cancerous prostate, kidney and bladder tissue as well as OAB. NxTheras FDA-cleared Rezum System is indicated to treat symptoms of BPH using thermal energy that is convectively delivered to obstructive prostate tissue in targeted, precise treatments, with minimal discomfort. Three-year clinical data demonstrates sustained improvements in LUTS, urine flow, quality of life, and preservation of sexual function. Founded in 2008, NxThera is located in Maple Grove, Minn. For more information, visit http://www.rezum.com. LogicBay FundingStack We're pleased to have issued LogicBay this notice of effectiveness," North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said, "This should give small business people across our State a solid pathway where they can now see themselves participating in crowdfunding ... The NC PACES Act was signed into law on July 28, 2016 and became effective April 1, 2017, making it possible for startups and small business owners to raise up to $2,000,000 through equity crowdfunding. While the new regulations were put into place to foster the growth of North Carolina businesses through North Carolina investors, there has been very little adoption since the NC PACES Act took effect due in part to a lack of access to the crowdfunding portal technology required to crowdfund under the new laws. However, on February 21, 2018 the North Carolina Department of Secretary of State, Securities Division, issued LogicBay Corporation a notice of effectiveness of registration pursuant to 18 NCAC 06A .2035. LogicBay, therefore, using its integrated technology stack (FundingStack), becomes the States first authorized intrastate funding portal. "We're pleased to have issued LogicBay this notice of effectiveness," North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said, "This should give small business people across our State a solid pathway where they can now see themselves participating in crowdfunding as a way to grow their companies and build our economy." While access to the technology is another step toward helping the new crowdfunding laws foster the growth of North Carolina businesses, LogicBay and its exclusive services partner, Cardinal Crowdfund Solutions, also based in Wilmington, NC, have developed a turnkey approach to leveraging the technology through a comprehensive suite of services designed to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for business owners that would otherwise handle the entire process themselves using multiple service providers. The partnership has launched a website, INVESTinNC.com, that provides a variety of resources on crowdfunding through the NC PACES Act and will soon provide a directory of NC-based businesses seeking equity crowdfunding support from qualified investors. Having been a startup once ourselves and going through several challenging rounds of traditional funding over the years, weve walked quite a few miles in the shoes of entrepreneurs looking for a better way to grow, says John Panaccione, Founder and CEO of LogicBay, Crowdfunding within the rules of the NC PACES Act offers that possibility. Startups and small businesses can join the disruptive new way to raise money that is growing nationwide. Were elated that we can help North Carolina businesses take advantage of the great program that the State has enabled for all of us. About LogicBay Corporation: Founded in 2003, LogicBay delivers technology-enabled channel management solutions designed to meet the needs of various industries. With its FundingStack configuration, it enters a new way to support small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital in North Carolina using proven technology. Through the companys strategic partnership with Cardinal Crowdfund Solutions and the launch of the informational website, INVESTinNC.com, LogicBays technology will serve as the foundation for a new, full-cycle funding solution. Detechtion Technologies, the global leading Industrial IoT and Mobility solution provider in the oil and gas industry, will be speaking this week at the 8th Annual Cost-Effective Produced Water Management conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Britt Spencer, a Director in Detechtions Professional Services organization, was invited to speak on how oil & gas producers are using Mobility solutions to improve the effectiveness and cost efficiency of produced-water management in the Marcellus Shale. A case study will be offered to show how a Mobility solution was used to automate electronic water management run tickets. Electronic water management run tickets are just the beginning. Water management in Detechtions Fieldlink Mobility product provides date, time and geo-stamping on all hauling activities to ensure complete accountability for arrival, departure, load and unload events. Source and destination information is captured as incurred including such things as vehicle check-in, custody signatures, and integrated phone functionality. In addition, the Fieldlink based, water-management solution also provides scheduling and dispatching, fully integrating with accounting and invoicing systems, to manage the process from start to finish. The solution also includes an automatic pricing module and streamlined invoice approval process between the producer and water hauler. The new electronic process now generates approved invoices for payment in 2-3 days compared to the several weeks it used to take, resulting in more accurate, auditable data for the producer and more timely payment (and reduced DSO) for the water hauler. Water management is a great example of how Fieldlink, the leading field automation & mobility platform for upstream oil & gas, can drive efficiencies in the oilfield, advises Eric Neason, Senior Vice President of Products & Services at Detechtion. But its just one of many applications our customers have successfully deployed to automate their production operations including site construction, pumper duties, chemical management, preventative maintenance, and health, safety & environment. About Detechtion Technologies Detechtion Technologies is the market leading Industrial IoT and mobile application provider enabling the digital oilfield. Through its Enalysis, Enbase and Fieldlink product lines, Detechtion offers solutions for chemical injection, compression, and other production operations. Using Detechtions Monitor, Protect, Control, Optimize paradigm customers are able to automate assets with a single hardware device. Over 100 customers and thousands of users depend on Detechtion Technologies to monitor and manage over 10,000 assets worldwide. Rigaku HyPix-6000HE Hybrid Photon Counting (HPC) detector Rigaku Corporation is pleased to announce its attendance at the British Crystallographic Association Spring Meeting (BCA 2018), Monday, March 26 to Thursday, March 29, 2018 at the University of Warwick, in Coventry, England. The meeting addresses current and future developments in single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and features a diverse range of talks, posters, workshops and exhibitions. Information about the current portfolio of macromolecular and small molecule crystallography instrumentation from Rigaku Oxford Diffraction is being presented at Booth Number 1. A scientific poster entitled The HyPix-6000HE detector No photon left behind will be presented at the meeting. Over the last decade photon counting detectors have become the preferred standard in crystallographic experiments where optimum data quality is an essential requirement. The Rigaku HyPix6000HE detector is a new hybrid photon counting (HPC) x-ray detector designed by Rigaku and available in the Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy line of single crystal X-ray diffractometers for chemical crystallography. In addition to direct X-ray photon counting, single pixel point spread function and extremely low noise, the HyPix-6000HE HPC detector offers a small pixel size of 100 microns, enabling better resolution of reflections for long unit cells as well as improved reflection profile analysis. About Rigaku Oxford Diffraction (ROD) ROD was formed as the global single crystal business unit of Rigaku Corporation after the acquisition of the former Oxford Diffraction organization from Agilent Technologies in 2015. ROD is a leader in the field of single crystal analysis, both in the field of chemical crystallography as well as well as macromolecular crystallography. Formed in 1951, Rigaku Corporation is a leading analytical instrumentation company based out of Tokyo, Japan. For further information, contact: Michael Nelson Global Marketing Coordinator Rigaku Corporation michael.nelson(at)rigaku(dot)com Bibliotech, a leading provider of digital content, and Willo Labs, a leading digital delivery platform, recently partnered to give students frictionless access to education content by removing the hurdles of integrating with multiple delivery solutions. Were thrilled to scale digital delivery through our partnership with Willo Labs, said Roberto Torreggiani, VP of Sales at Bibliotech. The concept of Inclusive Access, or providing access to educational content on the first day of class, has become a buzz term in the higher education industry, but the problem with digital delivery is much larger than Inclusive Access alone can solve. Through our partnership with Willo, we will not only be able to provide students with content from top publishers on an easy-to-use, fully accessible platform, but we can do so through a single integration with the university. Having one integration greatly reduces the 6-18 month integration lag time currently seen at the university level; allowing the university to scale digital adoptions quickly. Bibliotech and Willo Labs will deploy their digital delivery solution for courses launching in fall 2018 across North America. The partnership will connect all of Bibliotechs digital learning products to all Learning Management Systems (LMS) through a single integration. Students receive access to content from their LMS, or their campus bookstore. Students will not need access codes and will not need to register multiple products. There is a lot of friction associated with learning and accessing content through multiple connection points, Torreggiani continued. With Bibliotech and Willo Labs, its a single integration that still provides all the valuable tracking and usage data universities need to make decisions to improve student outcomes. According to a recent PIRG study, 65% of students are not able to afford all of their required texts. 94% of students that are not purchasing required texts are worried that not having their material will negatively impact their classroom performance. Universities are turning to digital as a way to bring down the cost of textbooks, while still offering an enriching learning experience. With our Bibliotech partnership, were excited to bring to universities what is the first truly complete, scalable solution for both ebooks and courseware, said Kate McKain, President and Co-founder of Willo Labs. With our combined technologies, schools can plug, play, grow and manage their digital footprint without any of the surprise challenges on total automation, scaling and reporting. And for students, we are finally bringing a consumer-grade experience to digital learning. Todays learners get registered for Instagram with one touch. Together, Willo and Bibliotech are enabling schools to bring that same instant access experience to digital learning materials, with real-time data to report the impact. The Bibliotech platform is the first of its kind on the market today, said David Sherwood, CEO of Bibliotech. We provide publishers with the opportunity to choose business models to suit their content and strategy. This enables us to offer students and universities flexible and affordable options for course materials, and partnering with Willo Labs allows us to bring an even more seamless experience to students. Once a student enters the platform, they can access their course content on any device via a browser or our application, even offline and have the ability to engage with features designed for all students, including our proprietary search and recommendation engine and built-in text-to-speech. Bibliotech works directly with leading educational publishers to digitize their content and education products. The company already has partnerships with top universities in the United Kingdom, and with Willo Labs relationships with leading universities in the United States, they will together be able to expand student access to an affordable, seamless, and integrated learning experience. About Bibliotech: Bibliotech is a London-based startup spun out of University of Oxford Innovation Fund and VC funded by Oxford Sciences Innovation. The Bibliotech platform delivers affordable, instant access to a constantly expanding selection of books at any time, on any device. The companys groundbreaking search engine returns definitions, diagrams and examples, enabling students to learn and answer assessment questions faster than ever before. Find more information about how Bibliotech is shaping the future of education at https://bibliotech.com About Willo Labs: Willo Labs is an Indianapolis, IN-based startup founded by LMS integration technology experts. Our platform is the first and only technology available that connects all digital course materials for an institution - ebooks and courseware - to any LMS through just one single integration. We fully automate student digital access per the campus custom business rules and policies. Willos streamlined management tool provides real-time data for any model, whether its Opt-out, Opt-in and/or a transaction via your campus store POS or eCommerce systems. To learn more, visit us at http://www.willolabs.com/ or say hello by emailing us at: info@willolabs.com CRN Tech Elite 250 We are continually growing and improving our services to provide the best client experience in the marketplace. We are dedicated to outstanding service for our clients, our partners and our community. Loffler Companies is pleased to announce that it has been named to the 2018 Tech Elite 250 list by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company. This annual list honors an exclusive group of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology suppliers, scaled to their company size. To compile the annual list, The Channel Companys research group and CRN editors work together to identify the most customer-beneficial technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Companies who have obtained these elite designations which enable solution providers to deliver premium products, services and customer supportare then selected from a pool of online applicants. Lofflers security, Cloud and managed service offerings have undergone significant growth and cultivation to become robust, world-class options, while their security operations center (SOC) offering and IT security assessments is flourishing as well. The IT Consulting and CIO services are a differentiator in the managed services space, as demand for strategic IT planning has become essential. Being named to CRNs Tech Elite 250 list is no small feat, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. These companies have distinguished themselves with multiple, top-level IT certifications, specializations and partner program designations from the industrys most prestigious technology providers. Their pursuit of deep expertise and broader skill sets in a wide range of technologies and IT practices demonstrates an impressive commitment to elevating their businessesand to providing the best possible customer experience. We are extremely pleased to be named to the 2018 Tech Elite 250 Solution Providers list, said James Loffler, Vice President of the IT Solutions Group at Loffler Companies. We are continually growing and improving our services to provide the best client experience in the marketplace. We are dedicated to outstanding service for our clients, our partners and our community. Founded by Jim Loffler in 1986, Loffler Companies is nationally recognized as a leader in office technology and managed services. Loffler is among the top office solutions dealers in the US for service and support, with almost 500 employees working every day to exceed the expectations of their clients, partners and the community. Loffler has earned recognition for seven consecutive years as a Star Tribune Top Workplace, four successive years as a Minnesota Business magazine 100 Best Workplaces in Minnesota and for the past two years as a Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis-St Paul Business Journal. In addition, for ten consecutive years Loffler Companies has earned the Inc. 5000 award as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Loffler is proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and many other worthy organizations that help the communities in which the Loffler team lives and works. Loffler Companies provides integrated office technology and services partnered with leading brands such as NEC, Mitel/ShoreTel, Microsoft, Aruba, Canon, Konica Minolta, Xerox, HP, Lexmark. Its offerings include multifunctional copiers and printers, managed print services, unified communications, IT solutions, software and workflow technology consulting, and on-site management of copy centers and mail rooms. For more information about Loffler Companies, call 952-925-6800 or email information@loffler.com or visit us online at http://www.loffler.com. Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN, and online at http://www.crn.com/techelite250 . To find a home with this feature you must browse through every listing and find what level each bedroom is on. Imagine having to search Zillow for over an hour a day. REALTOR Julius Dickens recently created a website so parents or anyone else can custom-search for homes and not have to browse through every listing in Chicago. This could be useful to anyone whos expecting a child or has children, said Dickens, a residential specialist. The aptly named search, https://www.oasischicago.com/Search/Find-Home-With-Three-Bedrooms-On-Same-Floor, enables one to specifically find a home with three bedrooms on the same floor. One of the most challenging scenarios is the buyer with two or more kids, especially kids of different genders. This buyer wants to live in Chicago, desires a limited number of areas where there are A-rated schools and needs three bedrooms on the same level, as they need to sleep somewhat close to their young children. None of the popular websites allow someone to search this way, noted Dickens. To find a home with this feature you must browse through every listing and find what level each bedroom is on. Imagine having to search Zillow for over an hour a day. Keep in mind that low inventory means that another buyer could see the needle in the haystack before someone else and have it under contract before they even see it in person. I made this search to pull these properties so that you can know instantly whats available. The search also updates every 15 minutes so that you are sure to have the advantage of being first to know, added Dickens. Buyers can choose to be updated via email immediately or once a day, three days, five days, or seven days. As a parent, I know that this is something that can be extremely helpful, concluded Dickens. About Julius Dickens, Oasis Chicago Real Estate Julius Dickens works with both buyers and sellers. He is a residential specialist and a 2009-2010, 2013 Top Producer, awarded by the Chicago Association of Realtors. For more information, please call (312) 451-8894, or visit http://www.oasischicago.com. 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. The top position belongs to Vinamilk, followed by Nestle, Viettel, Vietcombank, and Coca Cola. Vietjet jumped two places to 70th position on the overall rankings and stood in the second position for the tourism-airline category. The survey was based on a number of criteria, including salary, bonuses, welfare, professional development, culture and values, leadership, work-life balance, and company reputation. The budget carrier has also been honoured as one of the top 50 Vietnamese recruiters in 2017 thanks to much more attractive recruitment policies. After more than six years of operation, Vietjet has attracted high-quality staff from more than 40 countries and territories around the world, who have made continuous contributions to the development of Vietnams aviation industry. Vietjet has made air travel become a popular means of transport in Vietnam and has been awarded with many domestic and international accolades for its modern and well-furbished fleet and friendly services. Operation Homefront Choosing just one individual to recognize is an extraordinarily difficult task, but Kim can take great pride in knowing she has been selected to represent such an incredibly talented staff." -- Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit serving Americas military families, recently named its San Antonio-based human resources manager as Employee of the Year. Kimberly Robinson received the award, announced during the organizations 2018 Leadership Conference held in San Antonio. I am thrilled to announce Kim Robinson for our highest annual honor, our Employee of the Year, said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. As always, choosing just one individual to recognize is an extraordinarily difficult task, but Kim can take great pride in knowing she has been selected to represent such an incredibly talented staff. On behalf of all who have had the opportunity to work with her, I want to thank her for her unwavering commitment to the Operation Homefront team and the military families we seek to serve. The Operation Homefront Employee of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding employee each year whose service demonstrates the organizations four Core Values: Do Whats Right, Respect Others, Perform with Excellence, and Gratitude. Operation Homefronts Core Values serve as fundamental principles that govern the organizations behavior and guide its decision making. Robinson has played an integral role in the successful creation of an in-house human resources department. She took over payroll structuring the process and creating checklists and an auditing system. She managed open benefits enrollment for 2017 and 2018; streamlined the recruitment, new hire onboarding, and offboarding processes; and significantly improved communication and coordination efforts with leadership. Operation Homefront serves military families across the country, with headquarters in San Antonio, Texas and Arlington, Virginia and employs a staff of 160 along with more than 6,000 volunteers at 23 locations. About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive not simply struggle to get by in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves Americas military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales speaks at the FHU Dickson scholarship fundraiser. Every day, every moment and every decision is really special, and its because the most powerful person in the world is there making decisions, affecting the lives of over 300 million Americans every day" Former United States Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales spoke at the American Values Forum in the Performance Hall of the Renaissance Center in Dickson on Thursday, March 1, 2018. The event was designed to raise scholarship funds for students finishing their college degrees at Freed-Hardeman University/Dickson. FHU President David Shannon and Dr. Bob Spencer, director of nursing at Freed-Hardeman University/Dickson, conducted the evening in question and answer format. Gonzales was appointed by President George W. Bush as the first ever Hispanic attorney general. He also served as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court and as general counsel to Bush while he was governor of Texas. Currently, he is the dean and Doyle Rogers Distinguished Professor of the College of Law at Belmont University. Gonzales said he grew up without hot running water. While his family often struggled financially, he said his father taught him how to always show up and work hard, and his mother heavily influenced his love for education. After high school, Gonzales joined the U.S. Air Force and later graduated from Rice University. Then, he received his law degree from Harvard Law School. From my perspective, if I had not gone into the Air Force, I probably wouldnt have gone to college, Gonzales said. So for me and for poor children in this country, often times the military is a way out. You learn a trade, you see the world and because of the G.I. Bill, you are given the opportunity to go to school. So for me, it really represented freedom. When asked about his favorite memory while working for the President of the United States, Gonzales said every moment spent in the White House was special. If you are an American citizen and you get to go work every day in the White House, it just does not get any better than that, Gonzales said. Every day, every moment and every decision is really special, and its because the most powerful person in the world is there making decisions, affecting the lives of over 300 million Americans every day I could go on and on about special moments and special stories, but just showing up to work every day in the White House was a very special privilege as an American citizen. While his time spent in the White House was dearly cherished, that does not mean it was without challenges. Gonzales was the White House Counsel during the tragedy of 9/11. He recalled being on the porch of the White House with Karen Hughes, the communications director at the time, waiting for President Bush to return from Florida. I was very curious to see his face, Gonzales said. When he got off the helicopter, Karen and I greeted him, and he just looked past us. Several of us went into a small room and joined the President, and we began talking about what all of us experienced that day. He made the decision that we were at war. What normally were 10 to 12 hour days at the White House became 15 to 16 hour days. In the closing question, Spencer asked Gonzales how his faith has guided him through all aspects of his life. Gonzales emphasized the importance of every decision he made in the White House and how he could not have done it all without a relationship with God. In the end, its so much bigger than yourself, Gonzales said. I do not think you can be an effective, successful President of this country if you dont believe in God and if you dont believe in prayer. I fundamentally believe thats true because the decisions are so big and so hard, and if you dont have that, I just dont know how you would make those decisions and sleep at night. FHU/Dickson is the only baccalaureate educational institution in Dickson County. It provides junior and senior level classes for transfer students and graduate degrees for those who have already completed baccalaureate degrees. Bachelors degrees are available in elementary education, business management, accounting, psychology, social work and nursing. Additional information may be found at https://www.fhu.edu/dickson. Its no secret that financial penalties for hospital-acquired infections or other injuries occurring within healthcare facilities can have disastrous consequences on a hospitals bottom line. But some healthcare systems face these repercussions as a result of simple coding errors, not actual injuries to patients. This year (2018), 751 hospitals are facing Medicare payment cuts from the federal government.(1) However, at least one hospital claims that medical coding errorsnot actual patient injuriesare to blame for these penalties.(2) To lower risk as much as possible, healthcare systems should utilize risk-based auditing software solutions such as those offered by Fi-Med Management. All hospitals facing disciplinary action stand to lose a significant amount of money from Medicare reimbursements over the next year. The federal government has announced a 1% cut to Medicare payments for each individual patients stay at the 751 facilities.(1) Hospitals on the list also face reductions in the amount of Medicare funds allocated for teaching medical residents and caring for low-income individuals.(1) A full 425 of the hospitals penalized in 2018 were also fined in 2017.(1) Representatives from one hospital, Southern Maine Health Care, claim that employee coding errors are to blame for the financial penalties levied against the hospital this year. As a result of these coding errors, a medical condition was incorrectly added to the health records of several patients.(2) Adrian Velasquez, president, CEO and co-founder of Fi-Med, says, This should be a huge wake-up call for healthcare systems around the country. Its hard to understate the huge impact these financial penalties will have on the 751 hospitals, including those whose errors actually resulted from medical coding mistakes. Healthcare systems cant let something as simple as a coding error result in the loss of large amounts of revenue. Risk-based auditing software, such as REVEAL/md, identifies compliance risks early so that corrective action can be taken before audits occur. Utilizing this type of solution is key to helping hospitals avoid costly mistakes. About Fi-Med (http://www.fimed.com) Since 1993, Fi-Med has been working alongside healthcare providers and networks to maximize revenue and reduce riskfrom catching billing errors to providing high-level safeguards against compliance risk. Fi-Med is a healthcare technology company helping to disrupt the status quo of the increasing burden of government compliance for hospitals and hospital systems. As a leader in the healthcare support and management industry, Fi-Med provides billing, receivables management, credentialing, lockbox, and other financial management and reporting services to physicians, labs and medical centers nationwide. Its strong reputation for maximizing revenue and reducing risk for hundreds of hospitals, labs, private physicians and healthcare networks is the result of the technology tools that it has created: a 360-degree understanding of healthcare compliance, chronic care management, and revenue cycle management. REVEAL/md is Fi-Meds keystone product, empowering healthcare providers compliance departments to proactively manage physician part B audits of documentation and coding. For more information, visit http://www.fimed.com. About Adrian Velasquez, President, CEO and Co-founder Armed with an extraordinarily successful career in the business of healthcare, Adrian E. Velasquez has successfully blazed new trails, taken risks and defied the odds, and in 1993, he partnered with Christine Krause and formed Fi-Med Management, Inc. Their mission: to bring business acumen and compliance expertise to healthcare providers throughout the United States. Prior to his work at Fi-Med, Adrian worked with healthcare providers across the country, mastering all areas of business function and management for medical organizations of all sizes. His previous experience as a system administrator and healthcare consulting from New York to California formed the foundation that he harnesses today for Fi-Med clients. Among his accolades, Adrian won the Small Business Person of the Year Award in 2007 for the state of Wisconsin and represented Wisconsin on the national stage. Fi-Med has been working alongside healthcare providers and networks to maximize revenue and reduce riskfrom catching billing errors to providing high-level safeguards against compliance risk. Fi-Med has grown exponentially over the last 24 years, becoming trusted experts in the fields of financial healthcare management, compliance and risk assessment, and chronic care management. Sources: 1. Medicare Penalizes Group of 751 Hospitals for Patient Injuries. Kaiser Health News. 2. Maine hospital attributes Medicare penalty to employee coding errors. Beckers Hospital CFO Report. Because our clients rely on us to serve as their IT department, our staff is essentially their staff, so keeping our employees happy is crucial for us as well as the companies we serve. Stratosphere Networks has been named a finalist for the 2018 Best Places to Work in Chicago List. Since 2008, Crain's Chicago Business has set out to find the local businesses that have excelled in creating quality workplaces for employees. This year, Crains partnered with Best Companies Group to survey Chicago employees about everything from their workplace to benefits to company culture. This survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the 100 best companies to work for in Chicago. The full Best Places to Work in Chicago rankingplus two lists that spotlight the employers who rank especially high among women and baby boomerswill be announced at an event on April 12 and featured in the April 16 issue of Crains. It will also be available online at http://www.chicagobusiness.com. Were happy to hear were among the finalists Crains is considering for inclusion on the 2018 Best Places to Work in Chicago list, said Kevin Rubin, president and COO of Stratosphere Networks. Because our clients rely on us to serve as their IT department, our staff is essentially their staff, so keeping our employees happy is crucial for us as well as the companies we serve. Stratosphere Networks is a multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. The companys fully staffed network operations center (NOC) provides full support and maintenance services. Stratosphere offers its employees a wide range of benefits, including flexible work arrangements, payment for training and certification programs, and more. The company was included in Crains Best Places to Work in 2015, 2016, and 2017. To be considered for participation, companies had to: Be a publicly or privately held business Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business, or government entity Have a facility in the Chicago area (including the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake in Illinois, Lake in Indiana, McHenry and Will) Have a minimum of 25 full-time or part-time employees working in Chicago Have been in business a minimum of one year Determining the Best Places to Work in Chicago involved a two-step process. The first step consisted of evaluating each participating companys workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees with respect to their workplace. This part was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the best companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, and also analyzed the data and used its expertise to determine the final ranking. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Chicago program, visit http://www.bestplacestoworkCHI.com. About Stratosphere Networks Stratosphere Networks is a Chicago-based multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to meet and exceed always-changing, diverse business needs. Since 2003, Stratosphere Networks has grown exponentially and continues to provide best-in-class and cost-effective solutions to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. Visit http://www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information. For more information contact: Lori Leonardo 847-440-8608 LoriL@stratospherenetworks.com Many Senior Living facilities are coming to us to get meaningful reports out of their system without a great deal of cumbersome work. We help them restructure their accounts to have a more effective reporting solution. Intellitec Solutions announced today they have expanded their client base, with the recent implementation of Microsoft Dynamics GP for a long term care facility in Maine. Already recognized as a leading provide in the industry, they are now supporting senior living communities in 21 states. This further growth was fueled by the firms success in working with clients who recognize the need to work consulting groups familiar with how they operate. Intellitec Solutions offers ERP solutions for senior living communities who want seamless accounting, clinical and business management without compromising any of the financial power they need. Instead of limiting capabilities with an all-in-one package, Intellitec Solutions empowers their clients with robust systems that enable technology, data and people to efficiently work together. By integrating Microsoft Dynamics GP and Intacct with leading independent clinical systems, Intellitec offers a financial management package that meets the needs of the long term care industry. Rick Sommer, president of Intellitec Solutions, credits this latest expansion on Intellitecs success in helping LTC organizations handle their advanced reporting requirements Many Senior Living facilities are coming to us to get meaningful reports out of their system without a great deal of cumbersome work. We help them restructure their accounts to have a more effective reporting solution. As these organizations grow, they are able to have more control. Many long term care facilities and senior living communities use independent systems to manage clinical, accounting, documents, HR, and payroll. Intellitec Solutions has configured Microsoft Dynamics GP and Intacct to give financial management along with the ability to integrate data with the clinical and third-party systems the long term care industry needs. This in turn has created the national presence they now have. About Intellitec Solutions As a leading provider of General Ledger/ERP accounting software, Intellitec delivers in-house Long Term/Post-Acute Care expertise for over 450 locations across the United States. The 30-year-old company is certified in Microsoft Dynamics GP and Intacct and has optimized these solutions for the Long Term/Post-Acute Care Industry. In addition, they have developed automated integrations with clinical management packages to share financial and non-financial data. For more information or to schedule a demo, please visit http://www.intellitecsolutions.com or call 866-504-4357. # # # All company and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Bruce Paddock, Las Vegas Shooter's younger brother speaks to the Hidden Truth Show. He did what he did over hookers and coke. It was all about him.....him and his guns. Past News Releases RSS Bruce Paddock sat down for his first ever recorded interview about his brother Stephen Paddock, the alleged Las Vegas shooter. The interview was conducted by Jim Breslo, host of Hidden Truth: Las Vegas Shooter (http://www.hiddentruthshow.com), a podcast by RealKast media (http://www.realkast.com) which has as its mission to determine the who, what, and why of the Las Vegas Shooting. In his first ever recorded interview, Bruce Paddock breaks down as he talks for the first time about why he thinks his brother did it, the sickness which he believes both he and his brother suffered from, where he was when he learned, and his eight-hour interview with the FBI. He also emotionally relates how, at the age of 19, his mother told him and Stephen for the first time that his father, a bank robber on the FBIs most wanted list, was actually alive, not dead as she had always told them. He also relays his deep sorrow for the victims and their families and talks about his guilty feelings for not being able to stop his brother. Incredibly, he also speculates that this was not the first time his brother brought weapons into the Mandalay Bay hotel. In the clip provided (https://youtu.be/cilkkTmfQf0) he talks about when he first learned of the shooting. A clean version of this and additional clips are available upon request (subject to the terms below). The first half of the interview can be heard now on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and other podcast players and at http://www.hiddentruthshow.com/las-vegas-shooter/episodes/. In addition, Jim Breslo is available for interviews regarding how he landed the interview despite the fact that Paddock is facing a felony charge for possession of child pornography, and what it was like to spend almost two hours with the brother. Clips may only be used subject to the terms stated below. ABOUT Hidden Truth: Las Vegas Shooter The Show is a weekly podcast hosted by former civil rights attorney Jim Breslo which dives deeply into the largest mass shooting in American history to discover the truth. It has been months since terror struck the Vegas strip, yet we still do not know who did it, how, or why. Hidden Truth: Las Vegas Shooter seeks the answers. For more information go to http://www.hiddentruthshow.com, also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ABOUT RealKast RealKast is a new media company based in Encino, CA specializing in podcast series production and distribution. For more information go to http://www.realkast.com CONTACT INFO: Christine Baroumand info(at)realkast.com 310-849-7478 *************************************** TERMS RealKast, LLC (Licensor) owns the entire right, title and interest in the common law and statutory domestic and foreign copyrights, renewals and extensions of copyright relating to the audio and video production currently entitled Hidden Truth: Las Vegas Shooter podcast (the Interview). Licensor hereby grants to you (Licensee), without representations or warranties of any kind, a non-exclusive and non-transferable license to use a portion of the Interview (the Clip) in a news or other public affairs program (the Production), but only for the purposes and in the manner specified herein. This license is conditioned upon Licensees agreement to and compliance with the following terms and conditions: 1. Licensee must provide Licensor visible and legible on-screen credit as follows: Courtesy of the Hidden Truth: Las Vegas Shooter podcast for the entire duration the Clip is visible in any form (still or in motion). Such credit shall be exhibited or displayed no less favorably than to any other supplier of clips to Licensee. If the Clip is used in conjunction with additional newly recorded audio, that audio must report that the interview was conducted by Jim Breslo, host of Hidden Truth: Las Vegas Shooter podcast. 2. Licensee represents and warrants that its use of the Clip will not affect Licensor's continued and separate copyright ownership of the Clip or the Interview and that Licensors copyright ownership will not merge with the Production in which the Clip is used nor deprive the Licensor of its copyright ownership. 3. Licensee shall indemnify Licensor, and its parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and all officers, directors, shareholders, agents, employees, representatives and associates thereof, and save and hold each and all of them harmless of and from any and all loss, cost, damage, liability and expense, including attorneys' fees, with respect to any claim whatsoever arising from Licensee's use of the Clip. By using Clip, Licensee hereby agrees to the foregoing terms and conditions. ### OrthoPediatrics Foundation for Education & Research The OrthoPediatrics Foundation for Education & Research received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS as a public charity in the state of Indiana on March 7, 2018. The organization, which licenses its name from OrthoPediatrics, Corp., was founded to provide funding and support for pediatric orthopaedic education and research. With support of the Company, as well as private donors, the foundation will sponsor various educational events throughout the US and abroad. It will also fund educational grants, fellowships and clinical research in the field. Dr. Peter F. Armstrong will lead the Foundation along with a Board of Directors comprised of renowned pediatric orthopaedic surgeon educators, including: Ben Alman, MD (Vice President), Distinguished James R. Urbaniak Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University. Todd Milbrandt, MD (Secretary-Treasurer), Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Don Bae, MD, Co-director of the Harvard Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship, Site Director for the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, and Chair of the annual International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium. Jon Davids, MD, Assistant Chief of Orthopedics and Medical Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California. Richard Kruse, DO, MBA, Division Chief of the Orthopedic Trauma Service at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. David Podeszwa, MD, Co-Director of the Center of Excellence for Limb Lengthening and Reconstructions at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Todd Ritzman, MD, Director of Education of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Akron Children's Hospital, Surgeon Director of The Austen Bioskills Lab at Akron Children's Hospital Jon Schoenecker, MD, PhD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Bryan Tompkins, MD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Shriners Hospitals for Children - Spokane in Washington. Dr. Armstrong stated, Our vision is to be a world leader in pediatric orthopaedic education by using the latest in educational methodology and evaluation. Our efforts will be designed to complement, not compete, with the excellent education offered by organizations like POSNA, IPOS, and EPOS. Learn more about the Foundation, our Board of Directors and upcoming events by visiting http://www.OP-Foundation.org. MoneyTrac Technology, Inc. (MTRAC, the Company) is pleased to announce that its partners, Integrated Compliance Solutions, LLC (ICS) and Crypto Value Management Systems (CVMS) have formed a strategic partnership to provide compliance and blockchain financial services to the cannabis industry. MTRAC already has agreements in place with both of these companies and expects this new relationship to bring a great deal of resources and collaboration among all three companies. ICS, a leader in the cannabis banking space, has partnered with CVMS (ICCE.EXCHANGE) and their compliance blockchain ICCE (In-State Crypto Commodity Exchange). The ICCE exchange enhances the ICS CRB banking solutions suite by managing strong compliance and security around the monitoring of incoming and outgoing payments, an important element of the FINCEN guidelines for banking. The agreement between ICS and CVMS really solidifies our network of service offerings and allows MTRAC to work in full collaboration with two companies that have very unique service offerings, said MTRAC CEO Vanessa Luna. The integration of blockchain, crypto and compliance allows MTRAC to provide a full-service solution to its large and growing network of cannabis businesses in California. Said ICS CEO, Christopher Johnson: We were looking for over a year for the most advanced, safe, and secure blockchain to complement our service offering. We found it. The ICCE Cannabis Exchange allows us to support the CRB clients and provide an unmatched level of compliance and reporting back to the bank. This solution also reduces workload from the bank optimizing the entire solution set for financial institutions. About MoneyTrac Technology MoneyTrac Technology, Inc. (MTRAC) is a New Age Technology Holding Company offering a full-service solution for alternative banking and electronic financial marketplace with technology offerings including Payment Platform, Blockchain, Crypto-Commodity Exchange, Compliance, POS, E-Wallet, Mobile Application and Digital Payment Solutions for businesses and companies in various high-costs of banking industries. MTRAC offers additional suites of services ranging from business development, sales and marketing, to digital and print advertisement. We are One Network disrupting the status quo. It is MTRACS creative vision to create a The New Age of Currency by bringing innovative technology solutions to various industries and providing the means for Banking the Unbankable About Integrated Compliance Solutions ICS is the industry leader in compliance software and innovative, cost effective merchant payment solutions. Their experience in financial services and payments technology allows them to apply the heightened federal requirements to preferred providers that meet strict requirements. The result: a competitive, complete, and stable set of services that complement the merchants goals. As a Seed to Bank compliance partner, ICS has simply been used by more banks, for longer, and more CRB businesses than any one of their competitors in the space. Their services are proven and well respected in the industry. About Crypto Value Management System Crypto Value Management System, LLCs (CVMS) mission is to present a new kind of blockchain, that leverages the power of compliance, to provide a fast, safe, and secure method of payment to the MRE space. CVMS through its unique compliant approach to blockchain has earned the approval from multiple banking partners in the MRE space that provide the critical on boarding and off boarding of funds. This model will provide a strong B2B exchange that will reduce violent crime, illegal money, and other illicit activities. Unique features of CVMS over competitors are: 1. CVMS is a commodity, not a currency, so Money Transmitter Licensing and Money Service Business licensing do not apply. The commodity is backed by the cash deposit on a dollar for dollar basis, so there is not fluctuation in the value like Bitcoin. Another key strength is that each customer is fully vetted for Know Your Customer requirements, rather than being anonymous like Bitcoin, so the potential for money laundering or being used for illicit activity is mitigated. CVMS solves a couple of really problems in the marijuana space. First, CVMS solves the need for state taxing authorities and utility providers to be paid electronically, rather than have duffle bags full of cash show up at their facilities that they are not equipped to handle and poses a significant security risk. Second, a key area of focus from bank regulators is tracking that inventory sold in stores was legally obtained. In a cash economy, it is difficult to track the purchases and validate that inventory did not move across state lines. With all participants in the CVMS ecosystem being fully vetted for KYC, CVMS helps banks track that inventory was legally obtained. Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer: This press 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. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. 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, uncertainty 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 the forward-looking statements in this press release. This press release should be considered in light of all filings of the Company that are contained in the Edgar Archives of the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. Public Relations and Media Contact: Global Payout http://www.GlobalPayout.com 619.795.5810 Office Information(at)GlobalPayout(dot)com M-Files Corporation, the intelligent information management company, today announced the availability of a connector to QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise for its industry-leading intelligent information management solution. Using the new open architecture in M-Files 2018 and the new Intelligent Metadata Layer (IML), seidr, a member of the growing ecosystem of M-Files partners, developed the QuickBooks connector to deliver a dramatically more efficient way for business users to work with documents and other information critical for financial and accounting processes. Over 2.2 million users of QuickBooks Online globally and more than 120,000 QuickBooks ProAdvisors deliver services using the QuickBooks accounting software, especially prevalent in small to mid-size businesses. Along with standard financial transactions and records, a variety of documents are stored in QuickBooks, including invoices, receipts, quotes, etc. Traditionally, they are attached to individual transactions and not easily accessible for all business users, especially from outside of QuickBooks. By delivering access to content and data stored in QuickBooks through M-Files, QuickBooks users can access important business documents in a way that is most relevant for them by vendor, date range, office/location, customer, product, or essentially any other context important to the business. QuickBooks data is retrieved and presented alongside other business data and content, empowering the user with all corporate information, not just one isolated data silo. In our work with businesses that use QuickBooks, we realized that documents and other content are siloed, locked up in a single transaction, and not accessible across the organization, said Matthew Skinner, President at seidr. We quickly saw that M-Files and the new Intelligent Metadata Layer with M-Files 2018 provided a unique and incredibly powerful way to eliminate this challenge. Not only is it now possible to directly access any document in QuickBooks independent of transaction, attached documents can be accessed and managed from M-Files. The connectors for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Enterprise join a growing roster of business systems accessible via M-Files 2018, including network file shares, Microsoft SharePoint, Box, Dropbox, OpenText, Documentum, eDocs, iManage, Laserfiche, IBM FileNet and many others. The result is an incredibly powerful, single source of truth for business information based on the context in which it is needed, regardless of where its stored. Businesses struggle to effectively manage their ever-growing stores of content and data, with users spending excessive amounts of time searching for the right versions of documents if they can even locate them in the first place, said Mika Javanainen, VP of product management at M-Files. By adding QuickBooks to growing list of systems supported with M-Files 2018, organizations can immediately gain access to their financial and accounting documents and other information without disrupting existing processes, and in essentially any business context in which it is needed. To learn more about M-Files 2018 and the Intelligent Metadata Layer, please visit the following page: A Visionary Approach to Information Management About M-Files Corporation M-Files provides a next generation intelligent information management platform that improves business performance by helping people find and use information more effectively. Unlike traditional enterprise content management (ECM) systems or content services platforms, M-Files unifies systems, data and content across the organization without disturbing existing systems and processes or requiring data migration. With the Intelligent Metadata Layer, M-Files breaks down silos by delivering an in-context experience for accessing and leveraging information that resides in any system and repository, including network folders, SharePoint, file sharing services, ECM systems, CRM, ERP and other business systems and repositories. Thousands of organizations in over 100 countries use M-Files for managing their business information and processes, including NBC Universal, Rovio and SAS. For more information, visit https://www.m-files.com/. About seidr seidr is a global, US-based, software solutions product and services firm comprised of industry experts who focus on helping clients achieve their process improvement goals and initiatives. Organizations with a desire to simplify content, streamline processes, and integrate systems partner with the seidr team to help guide them through the rigors of actualization and implementation of software solution options. seidr's solutions process helps deliver clients on-time solutions that meet or exceed their cost justification criteria. For more information, visit https://seidr.com. M-Files is a registered trademark of M-Files Corporation. All other registered trademarks belong to their respective owners. >>> NA Chairwoman begins official visit to Netherlands >>> NA Chairwoman attends ceremony marking Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties The top legislator made the call during her reception for the leaders of the NVCC on March 26 (Vietnamese time), as part of her ongoing official visit to the Netherlands. She spoke highly of the NVCCs efforts in helping Dutch companies to seek and promote business opportunities in Vietnam, affirming that as a legislative body, the Vietnamese NA pledges to create a favourable, transparent, and fair legal environment for foreign enterprises as a whole, and Dutch firms in particular, in their ambition to do long-term business in the country. The NVCC leaders briefed NA Chairwoman Ngan on the agencys organisation and operation, stating that its primary goal is to help to accelerate trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands. They spoke of their great appreciation for Vietnams investment climate, while voicing their belief in Vietnams huge economic development potential as well as in the investment opportunities offered by the Vietnamese economy to Dutch investors. NVCC President Erik Mattyssen thanked the Vietnamese NA leader for her strong commitments concerning the establishment of a solid, transparent, and equal legal framework for all investors, pledging the NVCCs utmost efforts to connect the businesses of the two countries. Ignite Visibility LLC unveils Social Media Marketing: The Movie, an in-depth look at the power of social media and the players that brought it to the forefront of digital marketing. It comes on the heels of the successful SEO: The Movie, which explored the history of SEO - how it started, how it evolved, and where it is today. But Social Media Marketing: The Movie takes a different spin on the story of social media. Rather than digging into the past, the movie focuses on industry insight and real strategies businesses can use to find success in the space. Featuring interviews with major players like Michael Stelzner, Jay Baer, Brenda Ster, Mari Smith, Sue Zimmerman, Joel Comm, Viveka von Rosen, Leslie Samuel, and Amy Landino, the film will take viewers on a tour of the top social media sites - including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest - and teach them some of the major ins and outs of social media marketing. The film is aimed at those who are new to the social space, and viewers can expect to walk away with a better handle on how to set a strategy and see it through to success. Along the way, theyll learn about the unique qualities of each platform, how to use them, and how to measure success. The 45-minute film is being debuted on the Ignite Visibility website (ignitevisiblity.com/social-media-marketing-movie/) now (March 27 at 11:00am), with a later release on YouTube and Amazon. Watch the official trailer for Social Media Marketing: The Movie at https://ignitevisibility.com/social-media-marketing-movie/. 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. With an ever-growing fleet of capable, cost-effective fighter aircraft, we are dedicated to providing a viable solution with immediate availability. Draken International, the largest commercial provider of tactical aircraft services, has expanded its already extensive operations in support of the United States Air Force. Draken maintains a sizeable presence at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, executing daily flight schedules of 18-24 commercial Adversary Air (ADAIR) missions in support of training requirements for the USAF Weapons School, Operational Test missions, as well as Red Flag exercises. Under the authority of the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, Draken now offers additional adversary sorties to Luke AFB assets when Weapons School requirements permit, without having to deploy additional aircraft and personnel. Draken has also expanded its area of responsibility to the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR), providing direct support mission to the operational F-35As out the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah. Over the past several months, Draken has flown 300+ sorties dedicated to contesting Americas 5th Generation fleet of warfighters from Luke and Hill. In addition to Luke, Hill and Nellis, Draken has also completed numerous successful deployments to Holloman AFB, Edwards AFB, MCAS Yuma, MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS Miramar, and NAS Patuxent River. The demand for Drakens radar-equipped fighters continues to increase, triggering a surge of requests from AETC, USAFE, and ACC combat units alike. With modernized Cheetah and F-1Ms in the process of being delivered, Drakens capacity will continue to grow, providing a direct influence over combat readiness training, which ultimately saves taxpayer money and mitigates the impact caused by the pilot shortage. Drakens CEO, Jared Isaacman stated, The ADAIR demand throughout our military services continues to challenge the DoD. With an ever-growing fleet of capable, cost-effective fighter aircraft, we are dedicated to providing a viable solution with immediate availability. Our experience over the last two years integrating with Nellis operations has been invaluable. We will leverage this knowledge and continue to enhance our capabilities to provide realistic, threat representative ADAIR for the USAF and Joint partners alike. The experience weve gained supporting Nellis, Luke, and now Hill has allowed us the ability to showcase our commitment to this mission for years to come. About Draken International Based in Lakeland, Florida, Draken International has set a new standard in tactical flight support. With over 100 fighter aircraft, the company operates the largest privately-owned fleet of ex-military aircraft in the world. Draken aircraft are unique in their ability to replicate capabilities often found on modern 4th generation fighter jets, but at considerably lower cost. Draken aircraft are used in various types of military training objectives around the globe to include support for the U.S Air Force, U.S Navy, U.S Marine Corps and other International partners. Draken services represent tremendous cost savings over the use of traditional military fighter assets. For additional information, visit http://www.drakenintl.com. GetMyBoat, the worlds largest boat rental and water experience marketplace, announced today they had secured up to $10MM in funding led by Yanmar and including other investors. Yanmar is a privately held, multibillion dollar multinational company headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The Yanmar investment includes a strategic partnership between GetMyBoat and Yanmar Group company Yanmar Marine International, a tier one provider of marine engines. GetMyBoat is by far the worlds leading marketplace for boat rentals and water experiences, said Shiori Nagata, President Yanmar Marine International. As part of our search for the strongest and most innovative, technologically advanced platform, GetMyBoat was clearly our partner of choice. GetMyBoat is led by a successful serial entrepreneur with a proven track record and has the most listings and customers across the globe. Yanmar and GetMyBoat are perfect partners to facilitate allowing more people to experience the water and to explore the future of the global recreational marine industry. GetMyBoat was launched in 2013 and prior to today, had never raised outside capital. The Yanmar investment is the Companys first strategic investment. We are thrilled to welcome aboard Yanmar, stated GetMyBoat CEO and cofounder Sascha Mornell. Yanmar is a multibillion dollar global Company and a strong brand name in the recreational marine industry. We are grateful that such a Company recognized the market leadership of GetMyBoat and is investing in our mutual future and accelerating our growth. As part of the strategic partnership between GetMyBoat and Yanmar, Ms. Nagata will join the Board of Directors of GetMyBoat. The investment will be used to further strengthen GetMyBoats dominant leadership position in the United States, accelerate growth in both Europe and Asia, as well as grow both the platform and product. About GetMyBoat GetMyBoat is the worlds largest boat and watercraft rental marketplace with over 108,000 listings in 184 countries and over 9,300 locations. The Company brings all types of water experiences to renters, anywhere in the world. For more information: http://www.getmyboat.com. About Yanmar Yanmar, headquartered in Osaka (Japan), is a privately held multibillion multinational company. Founded in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. Moving on, with industrial diesel engines as the cornerstone of the enterprise, Yanmar has continued to expand its product range, services and expertise to deliver total solutions as an industrial equipment manufacturer. As a provider of small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine engines, machine tools and components, Yanmars global business operation span seven domains. On land, at sea and in the city, Yanmars mission of providing sustainable solutions focused on the challenges customers face, in food production and harnessing power, thereby enriching peoples lives for all our tomorrows, stands testament to Yanmars determination to provide us with A Sustainable Future. More information: http://www.yanmar.com. About Yanmar Marine International Yanmar Marine International is a toptier provider of sailboat & small craft engines, powerboat engines, lightduty commercial engines, propulsion & maneuvering systems and spare parts. Yanmar Marine International is part of Yanmars Recreational Marine Business Unit, that also includes the Yanmar Group companies VETUS, Mastry Engine Center and Flexofold. VETUS is a global provider of marine engines, generators and technical equipment for recreational marine craft and small commercial vessels. Mastry Engine Center is a provider of engineering, service repower and parts covering a wide range of marine engine, powertrain and equipment applications. Flexofold is a manufacturer of superior lowdrag folding (shaft drive and saildrive) propellers for sailboats and multihull yachts. More information: http://www.yanmarmarine.com. Urjanet, the global leader in utility data aggregation, announced today that it has launched the industrys first automated utility interval data service in response to growing demand for cost-effective energy and water saving solutions. The Data-as-a-Service solution, now offered through the Urjanet Utility Data Platform, boasts the most comprehensive coverage in the industry, connecting organizations to detailed interval data from more than 70 utility providers globally. Urjanet Utility Interval Data enables organizations to easily obtain and analyze granular energy and water usage data without costly hardware installation or smart meter upgrades. Energy and facilities managers can identify areas to optimize and save on energy and water costs based on detailed electric, natural gas and water usage tracked and recorded in five to sixty minute intervals. Traditional methods of accessing interval data -- such as submetering, third party sharing, and manual download -- are costly, time-consuming, and offer limited coverage. Urjanet Utility Interval Data requires no hardware installation, is fully automated to deliver interval data as soon as the utility provider makes it available, and offers the most coverage in the industry. Because the solution is 100 percent cloud-based, implementation is easy and customers can quickly begin receiving detailed utility interval data to highlight operational inefficiencies. Todays announcement is another milestone for Urjanet, demonstrating our commitment to innovative utility data solutions that enable our customers to manage their energy costs and consumption in a cost-efficient and timely manner, said Sanjoy Malik, CEO of Urjanet. Urjanet Utility Interval Data enables organizations to easily utilize interval data to identify and manage events or operations that are causing high demand or high rate charges, ultimately reducing their cost of operation. The addition of granular, detailed usage data enables energy and facilities managers to derive new insights and identify more areas to optimize and save on consumption. By combining utility bill data and interval data, users have access to timely, relevant, and detailed data on energy and water consumption. The additional insights that organizations can glean from Urjanet Utility Interval Data are essential for virtually all energy management and operational efficiency efforts, said Vladi Shunturov, president and CTO of Lucid. Getting data directly from utilities is anything but simple or easy. Urjanet removes the complexity of utility data access to power energy management and sustainability software solutions, enabling our customers to have a clear picture of their key resource consumption - ultimately saving our customers time and money. While interval meter data from traditional sources like sub meters can be costly and difficult to acquire, Urjanet Utility Interval Data provides a cost effective, streamlined process to get the right data for each end user. Urjanet Interval Data provides: -A deeper understanding of usage and consumption costs -A better way to strategically plan energy initiatives -A more budget-friendly investment over traditional methods To learn more about Urjanet Utility Interval Data, click here. About Urjanet: Urjanet, the global leader in utility data aggregation, simplifies how organizations access and use utility data, enabling them to focus on their business. Our technology collects, processes, and delivers data from over 4,000 electric, natural gas, water, waste, telecom, and cable utilities worldwide. The data we provide can be configured and integrated into any application to support an organizations exact utility data needs. For more information, visit http://www.urjanet.com. ### Our aim is to educate, facilitate, and raise the profile of water supply contingency planning and stimulate awareness of water as a critical business continuity theme. Past News Releases RSS The CIR Business Continuity Awards recognises companies and individuals that stand out in the areas of business continuity, security, resilience and risk including Water Direct and its unique WaterTight Water Supply Contingency Planning service. Water Directs submission highlighted the companys strides in promoting and facilitating best practice in water contingency planning for UK businesses and organisations. Since the opening of the UK water market in 2017, Water Direct has forged emergency supply partnerships with 90% of the UKs newly-formed water retailers. The importance of water contingency planning was highlighted during this months extreme weather conditions, which resulted in Water Direct assisting water suppliers with the delivery of more than 11 million litres of emergency water to UK homes and businesses in less than one week. Were delighted to have been shortlisted for the CIR Awards, commented Water Directs Sven Parris. Highlighting the critical nature of water supply to UK businesses that is so often overlooked in continuity planning is at the heart of what we do. Its timely that we have just seen such extreme conditions, which are a reminder of the importance of effective planning. To put it in context, in just one week leading up to March ninth, Water Direct delivered and pumped more than 20% of the amount of emergency water we would usually supply in a whole year. We can never predict what might happen, but we can, and should be prepared when it does. Our aim is to educate, facilitate, and raise the profile of water supply contingency planning and stimulate awareness of water as a critical business continuity theme. The winners of the 2018 CIR Business Continuity Awards will be announced at a black-tie ceremony taking place at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on Thursday, 7 June 2018. Editors notes: With nationwide coverage and 24/7 service, Water Direct provides planned and emergency temporary water wherever and whenever its needed. Water Directs services range from supporting utility companies experiencing an interruption due to a burst main or contamination to building sites in need of water for welfare or site processes or private individuals in need of a swimming pool fill. The company has been running for 22 years. In 2017 alone they delivered over 50 million litres of water to their customers. Water Direct was one of the first UK businesses to achieve ISO 22301:2012 by developing contingency planning for water loss. http://www.water-direct.co.uk Nutrients for the mind Some supplements may help improve one or two brain functions, such as memory and focus. Qualia Original Stack from Neurohacker Collective is designed to provide complete support for the physiological systems that determine your cognition and emotion capacities.* Qualia is made with more than 40 premium brain nutrients including Cognizin Citicoline and comes in a two-step stacked nootropic, or brain-enhancing, package. One dose is taken during a morning fast stage; the second is ingested with an afternoon meal. This whole-system approach addresses the chemical and electrical pathways that drive our brains.* When designing Qualia, our aim was to create a product that could create meaningful increases in all the major types of cognitive function while simultaneously increasing mood, emotional resilience and empathy." said James Schmachtenberger, Neurohacker Collective President & Co-founder. "This was a very hard set of design constraints but we're quite happy with the result.* Qualia Original Stack leverages ingredients such as nootropic compounds, choline donors, neuro-vitamins and minerals, and adaptogen extracts. Amino acids, in the form of Cognizin Citicoline, round out the formula. Cognizin is a patented form of citicoline, a naturally occurring nutrient produced by the brain. Citicoline is critical for healthy brain function and is proven to increase alertness, as well as boost energy. Clinical studies show Cognizin provides vital nutrients that help the brain stimulate electronic impulses, maintain healthy neurons and protect them from free radicals.* In 2017, Neurohacker Collective began selling Qualia on Amazon US and Amazon Canada. The product is available in 63 countries via the collectives website: https://neurohacker.com/. For more information about Qualia Original Stack, visit https://neurohacker.com/qualia-original-stack. About Neurohacker Collective Neurohacker Collective is focused on making groundbreaking products for wellness and publishing the best biohacking content from the most effective minds in the world. Their pilot product, Qualia, is a nootropic stack based on a unique whole-systems approach designed to promote increased focus, energy, and mental clarity. For more information, visit https://neurohacker.com/. About Cognizin Cognizin Citicoline, manufactured by Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd., is a clinically studied and patented form of Citicoline, a natural substance found in every cell of the body and especially vital to brain health.* Citicoline is a potent brain-health nutrient. A proprietary form of citicoline, Cognizin has been clinically studied to support mental energy, focus, attention, and recall. Cognizin is manufactured through a patented fermentation process to yield high quality and high purity. Cognizin is also highly stable, GRAS, ultra-pure and allergen-free. For more information on Cognizin, visit Cognizin.com. About Kyowa Hakko USA Kyowa Hakko USA is the North & South American office for Kyowa Hakko Bio Co. Ltd., an international health ingredients manufacturer and world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food products. Kyowa is the maker of branded ingredients including Cognizin Citicoline, Lumistor L-Hydroxyproline, Pantesin Pantethine, Setria Glutathione, as well as Sustamine L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine. For more information visit Kyowa-USA.com. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Introducing Web Forms from Freshsales We integrated Web Forms into our site and it immediately improved our lead generation. Now each lead appears immediately in Freshsales and we can start working with it right away! said Erik Endress, CEO at GetShare911. If you have a form on your website make it a Web Form! Freshworks, the leading provider of cloud-based business software, today announced the launch of Free Web Forms for Freshsalestheir successful CRM product launched in 2016. With the advent of inbound marketing, websites are no longer limited to being mere informational portals, theyre a gateway to building long-lasting relationships. There are many aspects of your website that contribute to the overall user experience. And a web form is one of the best ways to get input from website visitors. From contact forms to subscription forms, each one is an opportunity for visitors to reach out and hand you their information. This fact, however, is often ignored by many businesses, said Srivatsan Venkatesan, Head of Product, Freshsales. For any business, finding hot leads are like mining gold, and website signups are your best source of such signups. Imagine that your website is like a hallway. You wouldn't want to keep such leads waiting in the hallway, you would want them to walk up to you through the door. How would you that? Thats where Web Forms come in. Web Forms from Freshsales allows you to create, and customize forms according to your business and brand requirements and then embed them within your website or emails to capture high-intent leads. Details filled into these forms are automatically captured in your Freshsales CRM, all without a single line of code. These Web Forms are of two types: Classic Forms: Use classic forms if you are starting from scratch. Classic Forms allows you to build, customize, and embed a form on your website. Smart Forms: Use Smart Forms if you already have a form on your website. With Smart Forms, you can automatically receive form data in your Freshsales CRM. Freshsales CRM has garnered a loyal user base of over 10,000 customers since launch by virtue of its powerful yet user-friendly features, simple and highly intuitive UI, and its ability to scale with growing sales teams. Features like AI-based lead scoring, built-in phone and email, visual sales pipeline, activity capture and powerful reporting have helped businesses scale and optimize their sales processes. In 2017, the product also added powerful features such as Intelligent Workflows and Sales campaigns. Freshsales CRM is also ranked as one of the top CRMs for Small Business by G2 Crowd. We integrated Web Forms into our site and it immediately improved our lead generation. Now each lead appears immediately in Freshsales and we can start working with it right away! said Erik Endress, CEO at GetShare911. If you have a form on your website make it a Web Form! Availability Web Forms in Freshsales is available immediately, and new users can sign up for a free, 30-day trial to evaluate the software. Sales Campaigns is available across all plans. About Freshsales Freshsales is an intuitive, easy-to-use CRM for sales teams of all sizes. Freshsales CRM has a loyal user base of over 10,000 customers from 50+ countries. Features like AI-based lead scoring, built-in phone and email, visual sales pipeline, activity capture, workflows automations, and powerful reporting have helped businesses of all sizes scale and optimize their sales processes. About Freshworks Freshworks Inc. is the parent company behind the suite of products which includes Freshdesk, Freshservice, Freshsales, Freshcaller, Freshteam, Freshchat, and Freshmarketer. The companys suite of products is designed to work tightly together to increase collaboration and help teams better connect and communicate with their customers and co-workers. Founded in October 2010, Freshworks Inc. is backed by Accel, Tiger Global Management, CapitalG, and Sequoia Capital India. Freshworks has its HQ in San Bruno, California and global offices in India, UK, Australia, and Germany. The company's cloud-based suite of SaaS products is widely used by over 130,000 customers around the world including Honda, Bridgestone, Hugo Boss, University of Pennsylvania, Toshiba and Cisco. Im delighted to help Scottish Renewables be a beacon not just in Scotland but across the world in new techniques, but also new behaviours and methodologies, so that we all deliver a sustainable future Leveraging his vast experience in renewable heating and the use of industrial air and water source heatpumps for district heating and industrial processes, Dave will argue for the increased adoption of renewable heating in homes and business all across Scotland. He is looking forward to working alongside his fellow board members with the common goal of increasing renewable energy production and consumption in the country and consolidating Scotlands position at the forefront of the clean energy movement. Our climate challenge is better and better understood. So too is where we need to get to, practically no fossil fuel use and without air quality penalties, remarked Dave upon his appointment. What is not so well understood is how society needs to behave differently, and this is why Im delighted to help Scottish Renewables be a beacon not just in Scotland but across the world in new techniques, but also new behaviors and methodologies, so that we all deliver a sustainable future. Dave will join an experienced team of specialists from all over the country, as Scottish Renewables unveiled a new look to their line-up. Chairwoman Patricia Hawthorn will be replaced by Rob Forrest, CEO of renewable energy developer GreenPower, who previously served the body as its first ever Chief Executive from 1999 to 2004. David Cameron, the Head of Scottish Policy at energy giants EDF Energy, will assume the role of vice-chairman, while five other board members were also announced at the same time as Daves appointment. Together, the team will provide a plethora of knowledge and experience in the industry to optimise Scottish renewable energy policy and make informed contributions to decisions regarding the energy issues of tomorrow. The full line-up of Scottish Renewables now looks like this: Rob Forrest, GreenPower (Chair) David Cameron, EDF (Vice Chair) Colin Anderson, Banks Group Sue Barr, Open Hydro George Baxter, SSE Patricia Hawthorn, Shepherd and Wedderburn Professor Andy Kerr, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation Andrew Lyle, Locogen Lindsay McQuade, ScottishPower Renewables Euan McVicar, Green Investment Group Adam Morrison, EDP Renewables Simon Peltenberg, Ansa Energy Nicola Percival, Innogy Renewables UK Jeremy Sainsbury, Natural Power Dave Pearson, Star Renewable Energy As a representative body, its important that our board reflects all renewable energy technologies, commented Claire Mack, current Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables. Im delighted to say that the new board does just that, which puts us in a strong position as renewable energy continues to mature and take its place at the heart of our energy system. Daves appointment underlines Star Renewable Energys commitment to growing the Scottish renewable energy sector. The company was originally established to devote specialist attention to the increasing importance that low carbon technology plays in Star Refrigerations operations and concentrates on the use of industrial air and water sourced heatpumps to provide clean, reliable and affordable heating and hot water to homes and business across the world. Download our eBook Its a guide for really embracing the unique way Italians think about dining and wine from a family who lives it every day. Candoni De Zan, a renowned family of wines out of the Veneto region in Italy, announces the release of its first eBook, Our Familys Guide to Pairing Authentic Italian Wine and Food. The eBook features excusive family recipes, Italian menu suggestions, wine pairings, and more. The eBook isnt just about teaching people how to cook Italian food, explains Barbara Candoni De Zan, Marketing Vice President at Candoni. Its a guide for really embracing the unique way Italians think about dining and wine from a family who lives it every day! The eBook features over a dozen authentic Italian recipes including Bruschetta, Sea Bass Baked in Salt, Fig Cake, and many others. It also offers menu suggestions for various events such as A Family Feast or A Romantic Meal. Hungry readers are treated to wine pairing suggestions for every dish as well as a plethora of additional information on the varietals common to Italys Veneto region. It was important to us to really share our familys story, explains Barbara Candoni De Zan. We really want people to feel like theyre in the kitchen cooking with us, having a glass of Elviana Rose while we chop vegetables together. The eBook is available for download now on the wine familys website at https://www.candonidezanwines.com/join-us/. In addition to a download of Our Familys Guide to Pairing Authentic Italian Wine and Food, wine fans will also receive Candoni De Zans monthly newsletter which features interesting pieces on wine, food, and more. For us, our customers really do feel like family, says Candoni De Zan. We put our hearts and souls into this wine, and were just happy to help our extended wine family live la bella vita! Candoni De Zan Wines is based in Veneto, Italy with national United States distribution. Specializing in traditional Italian wines, Candoni De Zan produces wine under the labels of Candoni, Carletto, and Polvaro Tenuta. To download the Guide to Pairing Authentic Italian Wine and Food or to find out where you can buy Candoni De Zan wines in your area, please visit http://www.CandoniDeZanWines.com/join-us/ When utilized by an education professional that possesses a deep knowledge of pedagogy, academic content and standards, and experience and judgment, the information the data provide becomes essential in personalizing a students education, thus aiding in achieving a better outcome for that student. WHAT: No-cost webinar for K-12 educators PRESENTER: Kerry Gallagher, Director of K-12 Education for ConnectSafely.org WHEN: Wednesday, April 11 at 1 PM ET REGISTER: http://bit.ly/2Gf6KXS Today, educators are collecting more student data than ever before. Information like academic performance, attendance trends, behavioral history, and the personal history of each student is readily available. When utilized by an education professional that possesses a deep knowledge of pedagogy, academic content and standards, and experience and judgment, the information the data provide becomes essential in personalizing a students education, thus aiding in achieving a better outcome for that student. However, any collection of personal information, especially that of children, brings up significant concerns around student privacy, and rightfully so. But where does one successfully merge the importance of data and student privacy? On Wednesday, April 11 at 1 PM ET, join Kerry Gallagher, an expert in K-12 digital learning and the effective and safe use of technology in the classroom for an engaging and informative live discussion on the topic of data informed learning and student data privacy issues. Kerry will engage the audience with hands-on learning around FERPA, a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, offering useful information and resources for teachers. She will also discuss ways data can help inform teaching and learning, and strategies for teachers who are looking to improve their data literacy skills. In addition to her full-time role as Digital Learning Specialist at St. Johns Prep in Danvers, Mass., Kerry currently serves as Director of K-12 Education for ConnectSafely.org. She was best known for her paperless collaborative classroom model, and has helped schools create student-driven technology integration programs. Kerry is a 2015 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. Kerrys blog, Start With a Question, was named among EdTech K-12s 50 Must Read Blogs for 2016. There is no cost to join the webinar, but registration is required. For more information go to: http://bit.ly/2Gf6KXS Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc has been appointed as Vietnams new ambassador to the US, and Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy is the new ambassador and head of Vietnams permanent representative mission to the UN in New York. Ta Van Thong has been appointed as the new ambassador to New Zealand, along with the Republic of Fiji, and the Independent State of Samoa. Pham Vinh Quang is the new ambassador to Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The new ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique, and the Republic of Madagascar, the Republic of Seychelles, and the Republic of Mauritius is Le Huy Hoang. The new ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Iraq is Nguyen Manh Hien. Following the hand-over ceremony, President Tran Dai Quang held a meeting with the newly-accredited ambassadors. Pointing to difficulties and challenges facing Vietnam, the leader asked the ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative offices overseas to flexibly apply late President Ho Chi Minhs diplomatic thoughts and pay attention to reforming working methods in order to serve the countrys sustainable development, and maintain national defence and security. He also stressed the need to effectively implement resolutions and directives on external relations and international integration of the Party and State. The leader asked the diplomats to utilise the support of international friends for Vietnams construction and defence, and focus on research and analysis of the situation to propose solutions for the Party and State in order to deepen the countrys external relations. It is necessary to persistently pursue peaceful measures in line with international law and the code of conduct in the region, and promote the peace loving nature of the Vietnamese people, while preparing plans to resolutely protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and other interests of Vietnam at sea. The President also highlighted the diplomats role in economic diplomacy, urging them to boost the efficiency of signed new-generation free trade agreements as well as seeking measures to diversify and expand export markets for Vietnamese goods and attract high-quality foreign investment. The ambassadors were also asked to promote Vietnams initiatives at multilateral mechanisms and forums, especially in the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given the fact that Vietnam is running for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and is about to assume the post of ASEAN Chair in 2020. Another regular task of the diplomats is to deal with issues related to overseas Vietnamese communities, he said, stressing that the OVs form an integral part of the nation. This group of trainers is an all-star cast, and you and your teams will benefit greatly from any course taken at the summit.-- Richard Greenberg, President, ISSA Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Chapter of the Information Systems Security Information (ISSA-LA) is pleased to offer business leaders, information security professionals, and students located in the Greater LA and Southern California with a collection of 1-day and 2-day training sessions during its Tenth Annual Information Security Summit [#SummitX] being held the first week in May, 2018. The 5 hand-selected training sessions are scheduled to take place on May 2nd and May 3rdthe first two days of the three-day Summit. Our class topics we selected with the students in mind, said David Wettenstein, ISSA Los Angeles educational director. The trainers are all subject matter experts in the industry with a proven track record for keeping their students attention for the entire day while sharing in-depth knowledge derived from their hands-on experience in the field. 2-Day Security Training (May 2 & 3: 8am 4pm) Embedded Security and Reverse Engineering 101 with Aaron Guzman 2-Day Security Training (May 2 & 3: 8am 4pm) The OWASP (ASVS) Application Security Verification Standard 3.1 with Jim Manico 1-Day Security Training (May 3: 8am 4pm) So You Want to Run a Secure Service on AWS? with William Bengston and Nag Medida 1-Day Security Training (May 2: 8am 4pm) Essential Defensive Strategies with Kevin Cardwell 1-Day Security Training (May 3: 8am 4pm) Using Cyberops Deception to Protect the Network with Kevin Cardwell About the Trainers Kevin Cardwell, from Elite Security and Forensics, served as the leader of a 5-person DoD Red Team that achieved a 100% success rate at compromising systems and networks for six straight years. He has conducted over 500 security assessments across the globe. His expertise is in finding weaknesses and determining ways clients can mitigate or limit the impact of these weaknesses. Aaron Guzman, Manager, Gotham Digital Science, is a Principal Security Consultant from the Los Angeles area with expertise in web app security, mobile app security, and embedded security. Mr. Guzman has spoken at several world-wide conferences which include: DEF CON, AppSec EU, AppSec USA, HackFest, Security Fest, HackMiami, 44Con, AusCERT as well as several regional BSides events. Furthermore, Aaron is a Chapter leader for the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Los Angeles, Cloud Security Alliance SoCal (CSA SoCal), a Technical Editor, and currently writing an IoT Pentesting Cookbook for Packt Publishing. He has contributed to many IoT security guidance publications from CSA, OWASP, Prpl, and several others. Aaron leads the OWASP Embedded Application Security project; providing practical guidance to address the most common firmware security bugs to the embedded and IoT community. Jim Manico is the founder of Manicode Security where he trains software developers on secure coding and security engineering. He is also the founder of Brakeman Security, Inc. and is an investor/advisor for Signal Sciences. Jim is also a frequent speaker on secure software practices, is a member of the JavaOne rock-star speaker community and is the author of Iron-Clad Java: Building Secure Web Applications from McGraw-Hill and Oracle Press. Jim also volunteers for the OWASP foundation where he helps build application security standards and other documentation. Will Bengtson is senior security engineer at Netflix focused on security operations and tooling. Prior to Netflix, Bengtson led security at a healthcare data analytics startup, consulted across various industries in the private sector, and spent many years in the Department of Defense. Bengtson is on the BSidesSF and Bay Area OWASP leadership team. Bengtson contributes to numerous open source projects and has spoken on topics of security across the world. Nag Medida is a Senior Security Engineer at Netflix working in the SecOps team, where he loves to spend his time on AWS, building tools and automating stuff with a passion for cloud security. Nags expertise lies in security automation for the cloud in the big data world, penetration testing, and security research. IoT incidents continue to rise, yet most information security teams lack the expertise to properly enforce controls around IoT technology, said Aaron Guzman, Manager, Gotham Digital Science. My class will enlighten security professionals on how IoT incidents are introduced into devices by performing hands-on exercises of real-world exploits IoT botnets currently use as well as techniques defensive teams can do to secure their IoT environment. The training sessions precede the full Summit which is being headlined by 2 keynote speakers and has over 30 sessions led by speakers such as Ira Winkler, Robert Hansen, Mark Weatherford, Chenxi Wang, Jim Manico, Georgia Weidman, Malcolm Harkins, Shannon Lietz, Jeff Bardin, Chris Eng, Jennifer Sunshine Steffens, Kevin Cardwell, Tammy Moskites, Gunter Ollman, Jerry Sto.Tomas, Mike Villegas, and Alex Wood. The training and speakers at ISSA-LAs Summits are some the most respected in the field of Cyber Security, said Kevin Cardwell from Elite Security and Forensics. At Summit X, youll get to not only attend in-depth training and hear great presentations; youll also have great networking opportunities with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Training prices are as follows: $425 for the 1-day sessions $800 for the 2-day sessions Note: Both of Kevin Cardwells single-day classes may be purchased for $800. Note: All training classes include complimentary admission to attend ISSA-LA Summit X on Friday, May 4th. Its like getting a 3rd day of training for free! Whats that cant make the training? No problem. Attendance to Summit X is available on its own. The regular Summit X 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 a discounted price of only $95 which expires at midnight on Sunday the 8th of April! Win a FREE Ticket to Summit X Every Week We're excited to announce that now through the opening of Summit X, we'll be picking a winner every week among people who follow us on our social media accounts. It's simple: Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/issalosangeles/ and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ISSA4LA/ Share, like our posts and tag your friends Watch the feed to see if you've won! The drawing will be done at random during the week! For more information about the ISSA-LA Summit X and for registration details, please visit https://summit.issala.org/. 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! Heilind Electronics will be exhibiting at this years Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. Heilind Electronics, a leading global distributor of electronic components, announces it will be showcasing a variety of products next month at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) the worlds largest event for energy professionals in the oil and gas industry. Heilind will be featuring a full line of harsh environment connectors, sensors, identification products and wire management devices from leading manufacturers like Bulgin, Molex, Panduit and TE Connectivity. As an active distributor to the oil and gas industries, we are excited to be returning to OTC this year, said David Goforth, North American Director of Supplier Relations, Heilind Electronics. Were proud to be showcasing a diverse and technologically advanced selection of ruggedized products with features like hermetic sealing and extreme temperature resistance. Engineers will be able to view sample products and discuss applications and solutions with our team. Heilind Electronics prides itself on catering to customers of all sizes, from startups to large multinational OEMs. Heilind representatives with be available at booth #5314 for the duration of the show, which will be held from April 30 through May 3 at NRG Park in Houston. About Heilind Electronics Heilind Electronics, Inc. (http://www.heilind.com) is one of the world's leading distributors of connectors, relays, sensors, switches, thermal management and circuit protection products, terminal blocks, wire and cable, wiring accessories and insulation and identification products. Founded in 1974, Heilind has locations throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. Follow Heilind on Facebook at facebook.com/Heilind and on Twitter at twitter.com/Heilind. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 8:24 am The Jefferson County Board of Health voted unanimously March 15 to send a letter to state and federal legislators urging lawmakers to take action to reduce gun violence. Board member Kate Dean said she would draft the letter, which could be delivered during the March for Our Lives event, which was set for March 24 in Washington, D.C. Gun violence has always a public health issue. Its been recognized as such for a very long time, said Dr. Thomas Locke, health officer for Jefferson County Public Health. We all know that the United States is fundamentally different from every other developed country in the world in terms of its gun violence. We cant even put our numbers on the same charts as other countries because the order of magnitude is so different, he said, adding that gun violence does have many features of an epidemic and a contagious aspect. Locke said gun violence was treated as a public health issue for years until the U.S. Congress passed the Dickey Amendment in 1996, which restricted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from studying gun violence. Its not to say other public health agencies have not done [gun violence studies of their own], but as a national policy we have neglected this sort of vital tool, Locke said. That issue is being reconsidered in light of a series of school shootings, other mass violence events. The weekly and the yearly toll of gun violence deaths in the United States is extraordinary, Locke said, citing a report that found The scale of [gun violence] dwarfs all the casualties in world wars that the United States has been in. Its huge. And now its getting much-deserved urgent attention, led, I think very appropriately, by students. Locke said the American Public Health Association (APHA) stated that gun violence was preventable, but that the problem was that the actions necessary to prevent it were not being taken. RED FLAG LEGISLATION Locke said red flag legislation could offer a legal way, through the court process, to remove weapons from the home of a person believed to be a threat to themselves or others, any time you add a gun to a situation to increase the risk of a lethal outcome, Locke said. A 1993 CDC study indicated that just having a gun in the household no matter what the reason increased your risk of dying dying by suicide, dying by accidental discharge of weapon, dying in the process of trying to protect yourself from someone invading your house. All of the things you thought it was going to protect you from, in fact your risk of dying in those is increased. That [CDC report] caused an extreme backlash that resulted in essentially a prohibition of research, Locke said. Complicating matters, Locke said, was that even if we never sold another gun in the United States starting today, we would still have 300 million guns in this country. Thats the reality that we deal with. Finding solutions to the problem of gun violence would require action at the school level, at the state level and at the national level, Locke said. The County Board of Health should be concerned, he said, because gun violence was a preventable source of mortality. The authority of a local board of health is extraordinarily broad: Literally, take all action necessary. How that sort of crosses the boundaries or jurisdictions of other authorities, thats always up to the courts, Locke said. Locke said it would be more practical to address solutions to gun violence at the state or federal level, instead of at the local level. Dean said she could ask state and federal representatives in government to consider changes to reduce gun violence, and that she would draft letters to deliver to those representatives. I think its ironic that we are struggling to find monies for mental health, anxiety for our kids in school and then listening to the kids and what theyre anxious about is their very lives their own safety, said board member Kathleen Kler. Report: Gun violence is preventable Gun violence in the U.S. is a major public health problem and a leading cause of premature death, according to an American Public Health Association (APHA) report that was included in information presented to the Jefferson County Board of Health March 15. The APHA report states that 80 percent of all firearms deaths in about two dozen high-income countries, including Australia, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, occur in the United States. APHA states that 87 percent of all children ages 0-14 killed by firearms in that group of nations are American children killed in the U.S. Each year, 33,000 people in the U.S. die as a result of gun violence and almost 85,000 more suffer nonfatal gun injuries. APHA states guns are a weapon of choice for mass homicides and suicide and that firearms account for half of all suicide deaths. Gun violence cost the U.S. $229 billion in 2015, or an average of $700 per gun, according to the document. The societal costs of firearm assault injury include work loss, medical/mental health care, emergency transportation, police/criminal justice activities, insurance claims processing, employer costs and decreased quality of life, the report states. To reduce gun violence, APHA recommends a comprehensive public health approach that includes researching gun violence; requiring criminal background checks for all firearms purchases, including those sold at guns shows and on the internet; reinstating a ban on assault weapons; providing anti-bullying resources to schools; and using gun safety technology, such as trigger locks and safes. US-Mexico relations under President Donald Trump have been characterized by disruption, but Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, has reportedly been working diligently to mend the frays. Kushner has lobbied Trump to stop insisting Mexico pay for the border wall he promised as part of his campaign, according to The New York Times. His efforts have apparently been successful so far, as Trump did not mention Mexico when complaining the most recent spending bill he signed did not include funding for the wall. Kushner has also been working behind the scenes to preserve the relationship between the two countries. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen and Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray signed several agreements this week one aimed at promoting cooperation to stop illegal merchandise from crossing the border, one to implement joint inspection programs along the frontier, and one to promote agricultural trade. Nielsen said around 20 more were being worked on, and White House officials told The Times that several US federal agencies would announce agreements in the coming weeks. Those deals are reportedly the result of the personal diplomacy spearheaded by Kushner with Videgaray, who is close to Pena Nieto and has become Kushner's closest interlocutor. "It's true Jared has been a positive influence," Geronimo Gutierrez, Mexico's ambassador to the US, told The Times. "Our dialogue is not limited to the White House. However, if we didnt have that dialogue with Mr. Kushner, the relationship would be much worse off." Kushner and Videgaray developed a relationship during the transition, and after a contentious phone conversation between Trump and Pena Nieto, both leaders agreed Kushner and Videgaray should put a positive spin on the exchange. Kushner's assumption of the US-Mexico portfolio, which he managed in addition to initiatives in the Middle East and with China, raised ire in the State Department, where former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson felt his responsibilities were being usurped. "Jared and Videgaray pretty much run Mexico policy," a US official told The New Yorker in late 2017. In early March, Kushner was dispatched to Mexico City after a meeting between Trump and Pena Nieto was scrapped because of another tense phone call. That trip came just a few weeks after Kushner was stripped of his top-secret security clearance, and again aggravated the State Department, as the US ambassador to Mexico, Roberta Jacobson, was excluded. (At the time, Mexican officials criticized Kushner as weakened after losing his clearance and Videgaray for his focus on dealing with Kushner.) Kimberly Breier, a State Department official recently nominated to be assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, was present, however. Aides told The Times that Kushner wanted a more intimate meeting and noted that Jacobson plans to retire in May. The US and Mexico have long cooperated on security issues and worked together on border issues. Kushner, who still faces scrutiny for his business dealings but has reportedly said he's not going anywhere, may eek out near-term successes. However, Trump's reliance on him and Pena Nieto's reliance on Videgaray augurs poorly for the future, both Guajardo and Weeks said. "Not only is it a problem for you, as a counterpart to the United States, but for your successor as well, because whatever the case, Mexico will have a new government come December 1, and it is this current administration's responsibility to ensure that there is a good transition," Guajardo told Business Insider. "When you have done everything through your personal connections with Jared Kushner, well it doesn't necessarily provide for an institutional transition of power, since the incoming administration may not have that personal relationship with Kushner." President Donald Trump has remained in contact with Rob Porter, his embattled former staff secretary, and has mused about bringing him back to the White House, according to a report from The New York Times published on Monday. The newspaper cited three people familiar with Trump's thinking who said the president had spoken to Porter more frequently in recent weeks while his administration was engulfed by mounting scandals and record turnover. Trump reportedly said he missed "the staff structure Mr. Porter helped build and implement," The Times' Maggie Haberman wrote. Porter was forced out of the West Wing in February, following allegations that he abused his two ex-wives. The women are: Colbie Holderness, who shared a picture of a black eye she says she received from Porter, and Jennifer Willoughby, who said she lived in "constant terror" during her marriage to Porter. The meetings are part of the largest multilateral diplomatic events to be held in Vietnam in 2018. The PM made the request during a meeting in Hanoi on March 26, saying that the successful organisation of the GMS-6 and CLV-10 will improve Vietnams political prestige, role, and position in the international arena and build on the success of the APEC Year 2017. He asked ministries, agencies, and localities to fully uphold responsibilities and well prepare for reception, logistics, agenda, and security at the events. The Foreign Ministry was assigned to coordinate the efforts. In order to ensure the security and safety of thousands of delegates and reporters, the Ministry of Public Security will partner with the ministries of National Defence and Public Health in the work, with attention given to counter-terrorism. The municipal Peoples Committee was asked to keep the environment clean before, during, and after the meetings. Themed Leveraging 25 years of cooperation, Building an integrated, sustainable and prosperous GMS, the GMS-6 will mark the 25th founding anniversary of GMS cooperation and define the cooperation orientations for building a region of prosperity, integration, and sustainable development. According to the Foreign Ministry, more than 2,000 delegates together with 200 businesses, corporations, international organisations, development partners, and the media are expected to attend the event. Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc said it is the first time that Vietnam has initiated a business forum within the GMS-6 framework with a view to increasing dialogues between States and businesses and forging links between regional and global enterprises. The GMS comprises Cambodia, China (Yunnan and Guangxi provinces), Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 1992, the six countries entered into a programme of sub-regional economic cooperation, designed to enhance economic relations among the countries, as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Priority fields include infrastructure development, energy, telecommunications, tourism, trade-investment, human resources, and the environment. Meanwhile, the CLV Development Triangle Area was established in 1999, covering Vietnams Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong provinces; Laos Sekong, Attapeu, and Saravan provinces; and Cambodias Stung Treng, Rattanak Kiri, and Mondul Kiri provinces. In 2009, the three countries agreed to add Vietnams Binh Phuoc province, Cambodias Kratie province, and Laos Champasak province to the area. Its cooperation focuses on the fields of security, external affairs, transport, industry, agriculture, trade, investment, and environmental protection. Dr Effah Kaufmann was awarded at the 2018 Golden Torch Award for International Academic Leadership at the 44th Annual National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Conference on Saturday, March 24 in Pittsburgh, USA. In a statement signed by the Director of Programs, NSBE Ghana Billy James Dega, said the award is given to a leader and a strong supporter of NSBE international who demonstrates excellence in support of academics on an international level and exhibits a commitment to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. Responding after the announcement was made Dr Kaufmann said I feel incredibly honoured. It is also gratifying to know that the activities in which I have been involved are appreciated and beneficial to so many people. I am grateful for the opportunity to make an impact. This award signifies international recognition of my work. As I go round Ghana interacting with students at different levels and their teachers, I will showcase the award as confirmation that it is possible for our people to also be beacons of excellence, brightening their own corner, but the light they generate can transcend far beyond their imaginations. It is an encouragement to strive for excellence wherever one finds himself or herself. Dr Elsie Kaufmann Dr Kaufmann, whose work is being recognized by the National Society of Black Engineers worldwide, is the first female recipient of the International Leadership Award. However, this is not the first time a Ghanaian has received recognition from the worldwide fraternity of engineers. READ ALSO: Meet the Holy Child student who topped WASSCE 2017 In 2013, Prof. Samuel Yeboah Mensah, the then Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, was adjudged the first male African recipient of the distinguished Academic Excellence Leadership Award for his massive contribution to science especially in the area of engineering by the National Society of Black Engineers at the 39th Convention in Indiana. In 2014, Ing. Prof. Innocent Kofi Ampadu; Immediate past Provost, College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is the 2nd African to receive that same award. Dr Elsie Effah Kaufmann is a Senior Lecturer and founding Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) and a PhD in Bioengineering, all from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. After her graduate studies, Dr Kaufmann received her postdoctoral training at Rutgers University before joining the University of Ghana in 2001. Dr Kaufmann's teaching and research focus on Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials and Application of Biomedical Engineering concepts to the solution of problems in the Ghanaian context. She was the recipient of the University of Ghanas Best Teacher Award for the Sciences in 2009. She is also keenly interested in Science education at all levels and has been the Host/ Quiz Mistress of the Ghana National Science & Mathematics Quiz TV Program since 2006. Dr Effah Kaufmann is the 2017 Impact Africa Summit Laureate for Education in Ghana. The award recognizes her exceptional and continuous contribution to science education in Ghana and for being a role model and inspiration to many young girls. The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was founded in 1975. It is arguably the largest student-run organizations in the world, with core activities centred on improving the recruitment and retention of Black and other minority engineers, in both academia and industry. Ghana was the first among other African countries to establish an NSBE chapter in August 1998 and has provided opportunities for personal and professional success of its members and since then remains unmatched by any other organization to date. He was addressing some head teachers in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. He called on head teachers to protect the female students from sexual abuse and also take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents from occurring. READ ALSO: Dr Elsie Effah Kaufmann honoured by National Society of Black Engineers He asked the school heads to put themselves in the shoes of the parents of girls who are sexually abused. Dr Opoku Prempeh said he would not take it lightly if anybody abuses his daughter. We are all heads if these young girls were our daughters how would we feel? Anybody without an uncaring feeling will suffer the consequences thereof. If you have your daughter in the school and notice that virtually somebody is breaching the relationship; I know some people here who will take up guns, if it happens to my daughter I will take up a gun. Somebodys daughter is equally your daughter. As head of schools, you act in place of parents. Things that we do that affect girl child education irritate me in a very different way. We cannot let our young girls be subjects to such inhumane treatment. We cannot allow that to continue. Im going to hold every regional director responsible. If such things happen in your schools act appropriately, he warned. READ ALSO: Here are all the schools that have qualified for 2018 NSMQ His comments follow the reports of sexual abuse against young girls in secondary schools across the country by their teachers. More than 10 girls at the Ejisuman Senior High School in the Ashanti region have admitted to being sexually abused by their teachers. The teenagers made the admission to a committee probing rising sexual abuses in the school. However, Dr Opoku Prempeh said recent abuses against girls in schools across the country have brought shame to the Ghana Education Service. She said that male teachers who have sexual encounters with female students will be dealt with accordingly. Both actors have refused to comment on the subject when questioned, however, in a latest interview, Kwaku Manu has opened up on the matter. The actor has accused Lilwin over sabotaging his acting career due to greed, selfishness and personal glory. Speaking on the Celebrity Ride show with Zionfelix, Kwaku Manu said Lilwin has spoken ill of him to Kumawood producers which has led to him no longer getting roles in movies. He said Lilwin vehemently told some producers that he will not work with him (Kwaku Manu) on any set. Kwaku Manu in his account stressed that the decision by producers to sideline him on the request of his one-time friend, Lilwin has heavily affected his career. According to him, it got to a point where he was so popular yet he was not getting roles to feature in due to the backbiting attitude of Lilwin. It got a point my name was everywhere but I didnt have a dime in my account because I was not being giving roles by movie producers. All is because of my own colleagues, including Lilwin, Kwaku Manu said. Cassper, who is in town for a media tour, told Starr FM on Monday, March 26, that "He [Sarkodie] is an amazing artiste and thats why I like him." Touching on the African music scene, the "Doc Shebeleza" hitmaker stated that the major challenge facing the industry is the seeming desire for validation from foreign artistes. The thing is we always kind of seek validation from America. For instance we made Wizkid and Drakes song big but the thing is Wizkid has always been big by himself. He further challenged Africans to show love to artistes from other African countries who perform in their countries. The study involved researchers at University College Londons School of Management and the University of Maryland in the US carrying out four separate experiments in four different offices, according to the Daily Mail. They found that when men were hiring other men to work with them, their decision was negatively affected by the attractiveness of the candidate and the type of job. Women's perceived hotness, shockingly, did not prevent them from being desirable additions to the boardroom. READ ALSO: 5 reasons why you should be happy right now "Managers are affected by stereotypes and make hiring decisions to serve their own self-interests so organizations may not get the most competent candidates," said professor Sun Young Lee, lead researcher at the University of Maryland. "With more companies involving employees in recruitment processes, this important point needs attention. Awareness that hiring is affected by potential work relationships and stereotyping tendencies can help organizations improve their selection processes." It's not just managers wanting to improve their own chances of hooking up at the holiday party by eliminating the competition. READ ALSO:Male contraceptive that blocks sperm from leaving the penis being developed Stereotyping, a real, serious, and potentially unavoidable problem that negatively affects other demographics besides highly attractive men, also comes into play. And if you think you can escape the phenomenon by hopping off the corporate ladder, think again. According to Accra-based Citi FM, the deal has been renegotiated to ensure that there is value for money. The new terms of the extended deal are not public knowledge yet. However, the company announced that it will move from using Heavy Fuel Oil [HFO] to natural gas when it moves the vessel from Tema to Takoradi. The Karpower deal with the independent power producer was contracted by the then erstwhile Mahama government. This was to help address the nations power crisis at the time. When the Mahama administration signed the deal, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in opposition at the time criticised the party in power. They argued that the deal was too expensive and there was no value for money. After the President Akufo-Addo was sworn into office, the African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), called on the government to renegotiate the deal. READ ALSO: EOCO summons directors of UT and Capital banks The Karpowership from Turkey has the capacity to supply 470 megawatts (MW) of power to Ghana. Before they won election 2016, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, then running mate to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said the deal made no sense for government to secure the power barge as an emergency solution to the power crisis, explaining that the deal did not give the country value for money. The presentation was facilitated by Mr. Enrico Biasutti of the Italian Embassy, Accra and sponsored by Futuro Per Tutti (Future for All), an Italian based NGO and supported in Ghana by Dr. Nii Armaa Ollennu, Vice President of Italian Business Association of Ghana (IBAG) and doubles as Chairman of La Villa Boutique Hotel and Olma Suites, Accra and Mr. Enrico Desimone, President of the Italian Business Association of Ghana (IBAG) and Chairman of Desimone Construction, Tema. The items donated were 48 beds with 30 allocated to the Axim Government Hospital whiles eighteen (18) donated to fourteen (14) health and CHIP compounds within the Nzema East Municipality, covering the Lower and Upper Axim Traditional Councils, Nsein Traditional Area, Ajomoro Traditional Area and Gwira Traditional Area respectively. Other medical equipment include disposable gloves, X-ray Viewer machine and a baby court to the maternity ward. The consignment also include educational teaching and learning materials, clothes, toys and kids shoes, which is scheduled to be distributed to some selected nursery and basic schools within the municipality by the office of the Nkosuohene. READ MORE: Lower Axim Nkosuohene supports 150 women with sustainable livelihood Presenting the equipment in a mini durbar held at the hospital premises last Saturday, the Nkosuohene (Development Chief) Nana Osei Nkwantabisa in his speech expressed appreciation to the donors for supporting the health needs of his area. He also appeal to other donor partners to come to the health needs of the hospital especially the theater which is currently under renovation by the traditional council as a result of the 2017 annual Kundum festival celebration which sought to raise GH 50,000 as seed capital for the exercise. My office and the traditional council have over the past months are in touch with management to ensure that the theatre is given a befitting facelift which have not seen any major works for over five decades and urge all to as a matter of urgency come to our aide to enable complete the exercise, and may I further thank those who supported me to achieve this worthy course especially Futuro Per Tutti, Mr. Enrico Biasutti of the Italian Embassy, Awulae Attibrukusu lll, and Dr. Nii Armah Ollennu my long time friend. On his part, the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Area, Awulae Attibrukusu lll urged management and staff of the hospital to take good care of the equipment and lauded the Nkosuohene for his visionary initiatives towards changing the lives of the people within and outside his jurisdiction. He commended the donors for their selfless dedication towards giving to the society and called on all to emulate the gesture by the Italian community. Receiving the equipment on behalf of the hospital and other health centres, the administrator of Axim Government Hospital, Mr. Domie Godswill thanked the donors and Nana Osei Nkwantabisa, Nkosuohene of Lower Axim Traditional Area for their kind gesture to the hospital. He expressed worry over some challenges bedeviled by the hospital, which he stressed as the delay in payment of NHIS claims, poor infrastructure, absence of X-ray machine, disorganized OPD system, the deplorable state of hospital Theatre called on the public to come to the aid of the hospital. Mr. Enrico Biasutti of the Italian Embassy, Accra and country representative of Futuro Per Tutti (Future for All), the facilitator of the equipment highlighted that the exercise was eminent since it is focus on complementing the challenges faced by the hospital. He added that the gesture was necessitated when he first visited the chiefs and people to celebrated the 2017 annual Kundum festival, hence the facilitation of the equipment and promised of his continuous collaboration towards assisting Axim and its environs through the partnership with the office of the Lower Axim Nkosuohene (Development Chief) to herald the developmental agenda of the area. Dr. Nii Armaa Ollennu, Vice president of Italian Business Association (IBAG) and Chairman of La Villa Boutique Hotel in Accra assured the chiefs and people of Axim of his continuous support through the collaboration with the Nkosuohene (Development Chief). He pledged a donation GH 20,000 towards the renovation of the hospital Theatre project on behalf of his partner Federico Barbisotti of La Villa Boutique Hotel as their social corporate responsibility as well as $ 2,000 to support other activities especially building the fence wall project to safeguard the lives and properties of the hospital which is currently under construction by the Nkosuohene (Development chief). According to the man of God, Christian men are boring in relationships which has caused problems for women in marriages advising them to desist from such attitude. Preaching to his congregation on Palm Sunday, March 25 at Action Chapel International, he said "Some of the problems in the church with Christian women and their husbands is the fact that a lot of Christian men are not romantic. A lot of Christian men, you are very boring." He has charged the women to respect and adore their husbands. "If you don't respect him, don't marry him", Archbishop Duncan-Williams stressed, warning: "Because if you marry him, it won't work". "You can quote all the scriptures in this world and say the two shall be one, it will not work". "The need of every man", Archbishop Duncan-Williams added. He has also charged the men to stick to particular ways of doing things in the bedroom with their wives. "One way all the time; same place all the time, always bedroom, always you turn the light off," he noted. He stressed that marriage is not about prayer meetings, Bible studies and spirituality admonishing the men to be responsible over them. "Your wife cooks every day. You don't take her [out] to lunch, you don't take her to dinner, you're always doing Bible studies and prayer meetings. Marriage is not prayer meetings, marriage is not Bible studies. Marriage is not spirituality. Marriage requires some things; you have to do some things. Christian brothers wake up," he said. He said some workers at seat of government are the reason why he abandoned to go to the house of God. He added that the workers engage in doing bad things all in the name of God. "The reason I dont go to church is that some workers at flagstaff house are just hypocrites. You see this Reverend who used to be a deputy transport officer at the Flagstaff house, he did bad things," Kennedy Agyapong said. He has revealed that a reverend who worked at the Flagstaff House for just three months, dubiously acquired a government vehicle through a change of name. Speaking on Accra-based Oman FM, the maverick politician said "The word is reverend. He was changing ownerships of cars all over; check the documents. He worked for only three months. When he is arrested I will get more information. "But my brother when you look, it is because of people like this thats why I dont go to church." He, however, described nowadays men of God as "fake" and duping Ghanaians for money. Nana Addo also promised to establish one dam in every village in the northern part of the country to boost agriculture through a well planed irrigation policy. He also promised to create another region from the Western Region. The party's flagship programme, the free SHS policy among others. Some of his promises were however, met with questions of feasibility and criticism from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the party largely accusing him pandering for apathy. Other key promises made by the NPP government since assuming office include 'One Village One Dam', and the rolling out of processes for the issuance of the new National Identification Cards. A section of Ghanaians has been trolling the administration of Nana Addo for making a lot of promises, with a number of people on social media tagging the President and the Vice as 'King Promise.' The Ministry for Special Development Initiatives has disclosed that the $275 million to be disbursed to all constituencies across the country is ready. The sector, Minister Hawa Koomson, explained that 70 percent of the $1 million dollars for each constituency, will be spent on governments priority projects such as the One district-one factory, one village one dam, warehouses for planting for food and jobs among others. However as at the end of 2017 only one person the President, had received the National ID Card. An NPP party will also encourage individuals and private sector involvement in the bamboo business through the provision of subsidised planting materials. To help rehabilitate degraded lands, the party estimates that it will cultivate bamboo plants on 30,000 hectares of degraded areas within and outside forest reserves for reforestation and plantation development. The VFF leaded affirmed that Vietnam has always appreciated and gives top priority to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. VFF President Man also expressed his delight at the development of the bilateral relations, particularly the successful organisation of the commemorative activities in 2017, contributing to educating younger generations of the two countries about the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples. In particular, the cooperation between the VFF and LFNC has proved effective through the exchanges of delegations, training courses and the signing of cooperation agreements. In the near future, the VFF and LFNC will continue to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation among the Vietnamese and Lao fronts and a joint communique by the VFF and LFNC on the outcomes of the international conference on building a Vietnam-Laos border of peace for mutual development in the 2017-2020 period. The VFF leader also asked the LFNC and Lao localities to assist Vietnam in finding and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese martyrs who laid down their lives in Laos during the wartime. LFNC vice Chairwoman Nhotkeomany Suphanuvong expressed her belief that her visit to Vietnam would help to foster the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two fronts and nations. He contends that, Nana Addo stands to be overthrown like his father, Edward Akufo-Addo and Kofi Abrefa Busia. Koku said this in relation to the controversial US-Ghana military deal that was ratified by parliament last week. "On the 13th of January 1972, a certain Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, led a movement that removed the progress party from power. Busia was the Prime Minister; Akufo-Addos father was the Ceremonial President. Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that, history has an interesting way of repeating itself", he said. READ ALSO: Here are 5 scandals that have rocked the NPP government Ghana signed a military pact with the US that grants them unhindered access to military establishments in Ghana. The deal also grants the US tax waivers on every military equipment they bring into the country. Koku threatened uncomfortability if Nana Addo doesn't rescind the agreement. The controversial defense corporation deal between Ghana and the United States was approved last Friday despite serious complaints by many Ghanaians. The Majority pushed through with the agreement in a one-sided Parliament following the Minoritys decision to boycott proceedings. Several Ghanaians have protested to the US building a military base in Ghana, especially with most of the clauses in the deal giving the US military what has been described as unreal rights. The Minority in Parliament has also been on the neck of government, labeling the agreement as a sale of Ghanas sovereignty to the US. However, a member of the NDC has decided to take matter a bit further by filing an application at the Supreme Court against government for ratifying the controversial Ghana-US military agreement. The Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser opposition NDC, Brogya Genfi, is seeking 10 reliefs from the Supreme Court, including a declaration that the agreement was null and void as the terms and conditions in the agreement to him was not in Ghanas interest. Koku is on record to have said he will lead the fight for a civil coup against Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP led government for signing the controversial US military deal. He said, "Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that history has a very interesting way of repeating itself." But Kennedy Agyapong said such threats won't inure to the peace of Ghana and warned Koku to stop. Ken said, "If you misbehave, I will be forced to deflate your stomach so that you can make sense when talking on national issues. I will discipline you if you continue that nonsense and I will take action and you will know that I am indeed mad. According to him, they are traitors and has an agenda to ruin the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. "They are traitors, unpatriotic and enemies of progress," he said. His comments come at the back of the controversial agreement with the United States of America for a defence cooperation arrangement, that will allow them to have a camp in Ghana for its military forces. Alex Opoku Mensah who doubles as a communicator of the party said the NDC MPs were against the implementation of the policies and programs introduced by the government which will inure to the benefit of Ghanaians. Speaking on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, he said "The NDC were against Free SHS, restoration of teacher nursing training allowances and many more." "They were even against National Health Insurance Scheme introduced by former President Kufuor", he added. NDC MPs walk out The Minority walked out of a meeting to consider an agreement with the United States of America for a defence cooperation arrangement. He was sent to Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Morocco among others, before coming coming to Ghana in 2013. Mr Robert Jackson revealed how he felt about leaving Ghana in a farewell luncheon held to honour him by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana (AMCHAM). "It is bittersweet to be here today to participate in a "farewell luncheon." I always welcome the opportunity to engage with the American business community, but it is sad that its already time to start thinking about saying goodbye to Ghana," he said. "While travel, scheduling conflicts, and the imminent departure of many of my team led us to convene this 'farewell" event in March, just know that "I am not leaving yet!," he added. He also reminded the gathering that he still had up to July to enjoy the Ghana air. Ambassador Robert Jackson will be remembered by many Ghanaians for homosexuality comments and the controversy over the Ghana-US defence agreement than for his numerous role helping improve literacy, health, and growing Ghana-America business relations. Robert P. Jackson was sworn in as Ambassador to Ghana on November 30, 2015. READ ALSO: US backtracks on legalisation of homosexuality in Ghana Saudi forces on Sunday intercepted seven missiles fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels into Saudi Arabia, killing one person and wounding two others. Guterres "strongly condemns the launch late yesterday of a series of missiles claimed by the Huthis toward cities in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, as he does consistently with all attacks against civilians," said a UN statement. He called for "restraint amid mounting tensions and stresses that military escalation is not the solution." The UN chief is due to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at UN headquarters on Tuesday to discuss Yemen. The United Nations is making a fresh push for talks after Iran sent signals that it would be willing to help turn up the pressure on the Huthis to take part in negotiations, UN diplomats said. New UN envoy Martin Griffiths was in the rebel-held capital Sanaa this week for talks on kick-starting the political process, following a first round of meetings in Riyadh. About 10,000 Yemenis have been killed and 53,000 wounded since the coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015. On Sunday, the Huthis fired three missiles at Riyadh and four others at the southern cities of Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran. The Saudi-led coalition said the attacks all targeted populated areas. According to a statement posted on AFC's website, the entry of Malawi is a progression of the Corporations existing investment footprint in the country and an expansion strategy into Southern Africa, and continued alignment of its country membership. AFC had previously acted as Joint Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) and Lender for a US$60 million commodity trade finance facility to Meridian Consolidated Investments Ltd (Malawi), the integrated agricultural commodities trading group to finance Meridians fertilizer importation and sale in four Southern African countries. Malawi, which signed its letter of adherence on 8th March 2018, becomes AFCs 18th member state. Other member states include Benin, Cape Verde; Chad; Cote dIvoire; Djibouti; Gabon; the Gambia; Ghana; Guinea-Bissau; Guinea-Conakry; Kenya; Liberia; Nigeria; Rwanda; Uganda; Sierra Leone and Zambia. Cumulatively, the Corporation has to date invested US$4.5 billion in projects across 28 African countries, and in a wide range of sectors including power, telecommunications, transport and logistics, natural resources, and heavy industries. Andrew Alli, CEO of AFC, commented on the announcement said: We are delighted to welcome Malawi as a member country of the Corporation. Malawi has a rich pipeline of bankable investments in the infrastructure space, and we are looking forward to exploring these opportunities. We are confident our unique business offering across project advisory, project development and financing in our 5-specialist sectors will go a long way towards closing the infrastructure gap in the country. Dr Goodall Gondwe, Malawis Minister of Finance, in his reaction said: Malawi has an abundance of infrastructure projects with huge financial and social potential that will create benefits for all stakeholders, and close the countrys infrastructure gap. We are, therefore, honoured to join AFC, and become a member state of the Corporation. We look forward to further engaging with AFCs management to support the delivery of critical projects across Malawi. This quote perfectly describes this ineffective habit and tells us exactly why we need to stop it. Here is how. Remain calm- A great way to deal with a scary situation that is causing you to worry is to remain calm. Avoid feeling overwhelmed by your worries by remaining calm. Take a deep breath instead and do what Psalm 46:10 says, Be still, and know that I am God. Pray - Praying is always a better alternative to worrying. Why? Its because you know you are taking your issues to someone greater than you who offers peace. Rick Warren explains better. In his words, The more you pray, the less youll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. Youll feel more patient and less pressured. Don't be afraid to ask for help Taking your worries to your Heavenly Father does not mean you cant talk to someone. As Christians, we are instructed to help others. Galatians 6:2 tells us Carry each others burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. This also means we have others to rely on when we need their help. Turn to Gods words The Bible has a great way of reminding us of Gods promises, which in turns sustains our faith and drowns our issues. Faced with His words, our worries/problems tend to look really small. Ralph Waldo Emerson puts perfectly, Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up." Bible verses to combat your worries Here are a few scriptures that will help you overcome your worrying habit. We dont have to be anxious when we can freely talk with God about our needs. Philippians 4:6. Not only will God give us peace, but He will also strengthen us. Isaiah 41:10. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10. The two weeks of this exam served us with some memorable highlights that gave the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB more kudos than knocks. However, the exam has officially ended, but over 100,000 candidates are yet to know their fate as JAMB deliberately withheld their result for 'further screening'. Granted, organising a two-week long exam for over 1.6 million candidates is a great task no one can deny. JAMB got some ovations for conducting a hitch-free nationwide examination in the last few weeks, but that does not take away the fact that the 2018 UTME came with its own challenges. So, while JAMB is still screening the results of 111,981 candidates, let's take a look at the most memorable moments in the just concluded matriculation examination. 1. The banned items Almost every examination in Nigeria is fraught with cases of malpractices. Organizers of the matriculation exam clearly understand how far students can go to smuggle in 'expo' into exam halls and is why JAMB banned the use of 16 items during the exam. From writing materials to devices and gadgets, JAMB banned anything any candidate could use to perpetuate malpractice including jewellery. 2. The mock exam JAMB's initiative to organise a mock exam for the candidates on Monday, February 26, 2018, before writing the 2018 UTME earned the exam body resounding accolades from the candidates who sat for the exam. Some of the candidates praised JAMB for conducting a pilot exam for them because it gave them an insight into how the 2018 exam would be. 211,000 sat for the mock exam. ALSO READ: 3. The 2018 UTME The 2018 UTME started on a positive note as the first batch of candidates who wrote their exam on Friday, March 9, 2018, praised JAMB for conducting the exam under a conducive atmosphere. Apart from logistic issues on the part of JAMB and inability of some candidates to use computers, the first day of the 2018 UTME was largely free of issues. 4. Cases of Malpractices As the exam entered day two, cases of malpractices began to surface despite JAMB's effort to discourage it. On Saturday, March 10, two identical twins were arrested at the University of Maiduguri centre in Borno state. While condemning what he called a shameful act, JAMB Registrar, Oloyede advised parents to dissociate themselves from malpractices. The twin brothers reportedly tricked JAMB officials as one stood outside the hall while the other sat for the exam in place of his brother. 5. The purported best candidates emerged Two days to the end of the exam, Aliyu Muhammad Sani Kaugama, a young boy from Jigawa state emerged as the best candidate with 311 total score in the exam. Kaugama was celebrated on Facebook by a governor's aide who called the attention of Jigawa state government to give the boy scholarship. 6. Other best candidates emerged Kaugama was still being celebrated when another candidate, Ibukun Oduntan, a student of Corona Secondary School emerged with a higher score. Oduntan scored 344 in the exam but at the final release of all result, another candidate's UTME score eclipsed the purported best candidates. On Wednesday, March 21, Ajibola Oluwatosin Olumayowa, a student of Taidob Secondary School, Abeokuta emerged overall best candidate in the 2018 UTME. Ajibola scored 349 in the exam. 7. The long wait for UTME results The need to wait for three days after the end of the exam converted the optimism and enthusiam with which some candidates sat for the exam into anxiety and disappointment. And he is all about people living fake lives in his latest post which he shared on Monday evening, March 26, 2018. ALSO READ: IK Osakioduwa meets Idris Elba The TV personality took to his Twitter page to address those pretending to be who they aren't or living fake lives on social media. Of course, he made it hilarious which is really his style. See the thread below: IK Osakioduwa: 3 reasons why we love him Ikponmwosa 'IK' Osakioduwa is a very popular media personality in Nigeria. He started off as an OAP on Rhythm FM before moving on to being a TV presenter. The 35 year old radio and television on air personality is a presenter on M-Nets Studio 53, and is best known as the official presenter of Big Brother Africa. The University of Lagos graduate of economics graduate currently runs the Morning Drive with co-host Anita Omaliicha and Dance Party with IK on Rhythm FM. Due to the nature of IK's profession he gets to travel the world and see great places, sharing his best photo moments (which include his wife and kids) with his almost 18,000 Instagram followers. Here are 3 more reasons we love the charming, ever smiling and Mai Atafo styled celebrity presenter. He made the remarks at his reception for Khammeung Phongthady, Chairman of the Presidential Office of Laos, who is on working visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Chairman of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung, in Hanoi on March 27. President Quang spoke highly of the cooperation between the two offices, noting that visit exchanges are significant to maintaining and bolstering the special relations between the two offices. He spoke highly of the achievements made by Lao people and expressed his belief that they will continue reaping more immense attainments to successfully build their country of peace, independence, democracy, and prosperity. The President said he was glad to see developments in the Vietnam-Laos relations, citing the successful Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 and the fruitful organization of the annual meeting of the two Political Bureaus and the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in Vientiane in February 2018. He said he believes that built on the productive outcomes of the 2017 Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year, 2018 will be favourable for the countries to reinforce their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation towards new heights. Vietnam always gives the top priority to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, he stated. He asked the two sides to make greater effort to deepen their political ties, boost the efficiency of the exchange of visits at all levels, continue launching communications campaigns on bilateral ties targeting young generations, and increase and diversify the sharing of experience between sectors and localities. The two countries need to speed up the implementation of reached agreements, he said, asking the two offices to do more to bolster the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Khammeung Phongthady expressed his hope that following the visit, the relations between the two offices will be tightened. He thanked the President for his evaluations of Lao peoples achievements, saying these achievements had important contributions by Vietnam. He expected that during the visit he would learn experience from Vietnamese officials to improve consulting services for Lao leaders. The minister who spoke during a church service submitted that a line should be drawn between marriages and Christianity. He believes the religion has been used to promote a dull relationship. One of Williams' expections when it concerns Christian men include inviting their wives to meal dates as opposed to making them cook all the time. Some of the problems in the church with Christian women and their husbands is the fact that a lot of Christian men are not romantic. A lot of Christian men are very boring. One way, all the time; same place, all the time always bedroom, always you turn the light off. Your wife cooks every day. You dont take her out to lunch, you don't take her to dinner, youre always doing Bible studies and prayer meetings. Marriage is not prayer meetings and Bible studies. Marriage is not spirituality. Marriage requires some things; you have to do some things. Christian brothers, wake up," the clergyman expressed during a sermon. Social media users agree with Williams' statement The comments offered by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams have received encouragement from Instagram users. Many agreed with the minister's opinion concerning the responsibility of a man when it concerns making things more exciting in the bedroom. Some of the comments also addressed women who were urged to ensure they maintain their looks even after birth. Its mother confirmed the report during a visit to a cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Usman, on Friday, March 23, 2018. Local media also disclosed that the child also had in its hands Muslim prayer beads also known as Tesbih. Usman considers the birth of the newborn as an evidence of the magnificence of Allah. This is nothing in the sight of Allah. It is for the ungrateful disbelievers of the Prophet (SAW) to further show them that the Messenger of Allah is true," the spiritual leader mentioned. Social media users have however downplayed the sensitivity in the mysterious event with comments expressing doubt. The idea of a baby born with a Quran didn't seem so much exciting to them. ALSO READ: Mystery trees with inscription of Allah cause excitement Slovak woman urinates on Quran, vows to attack Muslims A Slovak woman has released a video gone viral where she was seen urinating on the Quran and threatening to deal with any Muslim that crosses her path. She made the clip in a forest where she was seen crouching beside the national flag of Slovekia. Her declaration of war against people of the Islamic faith revealed her in the act of pouring petrol on the holy book and subsequently set fire on it. The dark haired woman openly announced her lack of regard for any criminal implication of her action when she stated: I do not care about the criminal complaints. It will not stop me. I have a message for everybody, including the police nobody will stop me." She employed a disturbing word, parasites', which she used to describe all Muslims. Her resolve was made quite clear. She wants to hunt them down regardless of their age, status or gender. ALSO READ: White man spits on Muslim student on Hijab in London bus The woman's reaction is the latest of a series of Islam phobic agenda against Muslims worldwide. According to the reports, three suspects were also arrested on suspicions of illicit drug trafficking, during the operation. The large cache of Indian hemp packaged in 509 parcels, was concealed in a J5 bus. Drug traffickers have in recent times, become more and more ingenious in concealing their merchandise. 88 coconut packs, 42 book packs of Cannabis seized by Customs Officials of the Nigerian Customs Service, (NCS) Ogun State Area Command, reportedly seized 88 coconut packs and 42 compressed book packs in which Cannabis was hidden. According to Instablog9ja, the drugs were intercepted in Ihunbon-Oke-Odan creek along Idiroko-Benin Republic border. The reports reveal that the exhibits were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. The rapid response squad has also intercepted four bales of second clothing/shoes used to conceal the hard drugs. 5 reasons why young Nigerians are turning to illicit drugs While Lagosians struggle to understand why drug-addled zombies are walking down the city's streets at night, Abuja is getting covered in a carpet of drug sachets and codeine packs. At first look, it's hard to see why intoxication has become such a priority. There have been few abrupt changes in the Nigerian youth experience since, say the 1990s. But therein lies the answer, in the fact that the reasons why Nigerian youth are abusing drugs emerged as slow burners instead of instant challenges. Here are some of them: (1) Social Acceptance: Sociologists will tell you that humans were made to live in groups and socialize. We begin to show these trait from a very young age when we are taught in group and gravitate towards forming cliques of friends. When we reach adolescence however, the urge to fit into groups or tand out becomes stronger at a period where we begin to form our identities. Sadly, many young people struggle to fit in off the strength of their person alone. To earn their place in the crowd, they often resort to the same vices as the in-crowd, usually involving drug use. In other cases, young people also resort to drug use in a bid to deal with the consequences of not fitting in with the crowd. Rebellion is common among young people and drug use is one of its most telling characteristics. Either way, the implications can be disabling in the long term. (2) Depression and Mental Health: I've written numerous times on the Nigerian attitude to mental health and how Depression is not a Nigerian disease. The sad implication of this disposition is that there is little or no help for the millions of young Nigerians who walk the country with mental health problems, especially depression. In a country where the youth have little to claim as their inheritance and a lack of employment and career options is a defining element of society, many young people are disillusioned with the state of things and the gloomy reality that when its all said and done, there may be nothing left for them. Distraught and depressed, an entire generation is turning to the euphoria of drug use. In the North, where young emn in the millions wake and sleep in a society that holds little promise for them, drug abuse has reachd epic proportions. Around the country, young people are turning to drugs as a ource of escape. Experts warn that this is a very slippery slope and with each incidence of use, it often takes a higher dose than the lat time to reach the same level of intoxication. (3) Access and Availability Considering the severity of Nigeria's drug problem, it is somewhat disturbing that drugs are so easy to get. Take prescription drugs for example; the term prescription refers to the fact that a doctor or medical practitioner often has to write a note stating the variety of the drug and the quantity needed and endoring the ame before the drug can be sold to an individual. It is no surprise that in Nigeria, that term is very unfamiliar. Pharmacies dot streets across the country and they offer a wide array of drugs for the right price. Our infamously porous borders have allowed such medication come in unencumbered, as is the case, internally, with marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other similar substances. The result is that, anywhere you go across the country, drugs are available if you know your way around. It goes without saying that this increases the potential for abuse, it is easy to misuse something when you can find it everywhere. (4) Economic Uncertainty: Once upon a time, Nigeria was the place to be as a young man or woman with some form of education. Multinationals got the pick of the litter and high-performing students were assured of good jobs in Lagos and other cities like Port Harcourt and Kano. Even the uneducated could earn a living at some of these companies or at local firms where hardwork was readily rewarded with opportunity. The 1970s and 1980s seem such a distant time now. Today, unemployment is at record levels. Young graduates struggle to get jobs. Any sign of a vacancy or job opportunity is swarmed by applicants as evidenced by the fiasco experienced during the Nigerian Immigration Service's recruitment exercise in 2016. With such non-existent prospects and the state of the nation's economy looking more dismal with each passing day, young Nigerians are turning to drugs to ecap a harsh reality. (5) Experimentation & Pop culture Influence Pop culture is so called because it is an amalgam of trends and elements in fashion, arts, movies, television and music that have achieved mass appeal and become popular. In today's pop culture, drug use is hard to avoid. Moreso in music, the world's biggest pop stars randomly discuss their prolific drug use in their songs, along with music videos where marijuana smoke floats in the air and artistes talk about popping prescription pills to deal with the pain. Recently, Nigerian rapper Olamide was criticised for endorsing drug use in his hit single "Science Student". The rapper has since denied the claims. Whether his intentions for releasing the song were genuine or not, young Nigerians are imbibing these influences. It was a scary encounter for Erukakpome who shared a Facebook post about his experience on Monday, March 26, 2018. The snake reportedly laid in the toilet sink for two hours since discovering it with the help of a lamp. The narrator had to rely on support offered by local vigilantes who shot the animal dead with a gun. Photos of the dead reptile was shared by the user. "God's Miracles never end and they are marvellous in our eyes. "God saved me from a dangerous horrible looking cobra yesterday night in my toilet Seat(WC) here in Abraka delta state. "It was around 7.34pm when wanted to use the toilet (pee) I decided to use my touch light to view the sink before action, I saw a black stuff below the water in the toilet seat and I was trying to identify what it could be because I used the toilet some hours ago. "Lo and behold it was a horrible looking cobra. I called the care taker of the hostel where I live, he came and confirmed it. "The snake is so big that we couldn't devised another good means to kill it than the use of Gun\uD83D\uDD2B. "For more than 2hrs the snake was there until we called the attention of the vigilante group and finally it was killed with the aid of a gun," Luke Erukakpome stated in his post. The near-whisker save is similar to the experience of a boy who was swallowed by a snake while on-board a vehicle. Jesus saves little boy swallowed by Keke Napep passenger turned python The name of Jesus Christ has delivered a little boy from a Keke Napep (motorcycle) passenger who turned into a python in broad daylight. Apostle Paul Umoru of the Toplife Ministries International, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, in a Facebook post. The attack which occurred after church service three days before the announcement left fang bruises on the back of the youth. The clergyman in a comment mentioned that the mother of the victim who was travelling home with four children handed one to a stranger in order to sit comfortably in the vehicle. The unknown fellow soon changed into a serpent during the course of the journey and began swallowing the child. ALSO READ: Jesus saves little boy swallowed by Keke Napep passenger turned python Her fervency as a Christian saw her mutter in between fear the name of "Jesus". According to the reports, the suspect has now been charged to court on charges bordering on child abuse and human cruelty. The 35-year-old was reportedly accused of subjecting the child to cruel punishment at Ngara estate in Nairobi on March 14, 2018. During the trial proceedings, the court heard that Ngumbos employer had CCTV cameras installed to monitor the house. However, she received the biggest shock of her life when she saw Ngumbo's maltreatment of the baby. Police records revealed that Ngumbo was seen feeding the baby with vomit, kicking and pinching her. Her employer reportedly confronted her before later reporting the case to the police. In her defence, Ngumbo pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that she has three children to take care of. The matter was later adjourned until April 4. Housemaid chops off mistress' baby's hand in anger In a far worse yet similar act of cruelty, a housemaid in Malawi was arrested for she allegedly chopping off the right hand of her boss' new born baby after the man of the house got her pregnant and denied responsibility. The unwholesome act, as reported by Face of Malawi, an online portal in that country, happened in Chiradzulu, a district in the Southern Region of Malawi. According to report, the master of the house had been sleeping with the maid whose name was withheld, and when she became pregnant and informed him, he blatantly denied responsibility and to take vengeance on him, she gruesomely cut off the hand of his new born baby. The maid was arrested after the mother reported the incident to the police where she allegedly confessed and gave reasons for carrying out such a brutal revenge on the innocent child. According to the reports, the 22-year-old student reportedly slit his girlfriend's throat for refusing to terminate the pregnancy she had for him. Premium Times reports that Ismail and the deceased 22-year-old had been dating for over eight years with hopes of getting married. He disclosed that they had attempted to abort the pregnancy at three months but after the attempt failed, Salamatu refused to undergo the process for the second time two months later. During his confession, the suspect said that he decided to kill Salamatu for her refusal. At about 9 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2018, Ismail took Salamatu on a motorcycle to the outskirts of town and used a jackknife to slit her throat. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace. Married man murders pregnant girlfriend, buries her in shallow grave In a similar occurrence, a 39-year-old man, Chamberlin Ojoko, from Ezeakam Eziudo community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, landed himself in very serious trouble after he procured a concoction for his pregnant girlfriend, Chinonye Ella, 25, in the guise of aborting the baby. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old died after ingesting the concoction. Panicking, Ojoko dug a shallow grave and buried her. After committing the atrocious crime, Ojoko reportedly sneaked back to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to his wife and children, not knowing that the hands of the law would soon catch up with him. According to reports, Ojoko had gotten the lady pregnant and not wanting to take responsibilities, he procured the herbal concoction, took her to an uncompleted building where he gave her the drink which caused a fatal adverse reaction, resulting in her death. He then went back home, got a shovel and dug a shallow grave behind the building and buried the corpse before escaping back to his base. However, he was undone by a young girl who saw what he had done and promptly reported to the owner of the building who reported the matter to the police. Ojoko's elder brother, Pastor Sopuruchi was later arrested and led the detectives to Ojoko's base in Port Harcourt, where he was arrested. The State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu, while parading the suspect, said Ojoko met the lady in a bus in December last year and after they struck up a relationship, Ojoko would travel regularly to Owerri, where he would lodge with the lady in a hotel and have fun till she became pregnant and informed him of it. ALSO READ:Boyfriend arrested for killing pregnant girlfriend Ojoko himself also confessed to his crime: On July 20, 2015, I took my girlfriend to an uncompleted building around 6:30pm. My girlfriend took the herbal medicine, but later she started writhing in pain. Then she died. I ran to my house and took a shovel; I carried her body to the side of the building. I dug the ground and buried her in a shallow grave. The thief, captured in a video, was seen glued to a bare ground while a group of men gave him a pummeling. He seemed helpless in the hands of the mob who gave him hits on different parts of his body. Loud chatters heard at the scene reflected a mood of anger over the alleged theft but some social media users felt the violent reaction was a step too much. On Instagram, ensuring that the spinal cord of the man stays intact seemed the main concern. ALSO READ: Woman who stole mobile phone at wedding party stripped naked Crippled thief strikes again at book launch A man popularly known as the Crippled Thief has struck again at a book launch where he reportedly made away with an iPhone and Samsung phones. This happened on Saturday, March 10, 2018, where gadgets belonging to a musical act who performed at the event were stolen. Lola Shoneyin, the director of the annual Ake Book Festival, confirmed the incident in a help-seeking tweet aimed at arresting the stylish robber who was thought to have been apprehended on Thursday, November 23, 2017, at an activity organized by The Waterbrook Church, Victoria Island. The police have already been notified about the development according to Shoneyin whose attention is set on how to get back the stolen items. A tweet posted by the art lover on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 contained a video that portrayed the thief in the act. "Do you know this man? "Watch the man in blue jeans and light green shirt. No one knows who he is. He turned up at our book launch on Saturday and stole the performer's phones. An Iphone & Samsung. "We've notified the police but we want the phones back. Pls DM me if you have info," Shoneyin expressed in a post. Corps Commander, Ayinla Adeyinka, led an operation that ensured the arrest of two 'juju' men Kazeem Absdulsalam, 54, and Adamu Hussein, 36. The pair and their associates are reportedly responsible for defrauding a complainant, Abdulrahman Mumini, of the sum of N5 million. This is for the of getting more money according to local media. Riches received through rituals has become a common practice in Nigeria where individuals consider family members an option in their quest for luxury. Wealth seeker uses sister's son for money rituals A Yahoo boy has been apprehended for using his nephew for money rituals. The wealth seeker was caught in the act in Ikoyi, Lagos, according to a Facebook user. In a picture, Tunde Owolabi, also known as 'Money Talks', was captured in handcuffs as he crouched beside the corpse of a little boy reportedly 7 years old. The image was provided in a post shared by Odueko Olumide John who expressed shock concerning the incident. A grave-looking Owolabi had a look of intent as he tilted his neck sideways as if paying attention to a more serious reality. "What a wicked world. Luck ran out of another Yahoo big boy named Tunde Owolabi ( aka Money Talks) caught using his elder sister's 7-year-old son for money rituals in Ikoyi, Lagos State," writes John. ALSO READ: Lady regrets dating Yahoo boy who eats bread and excreta for money rituals It is becoming rampant, occurrences that have seen impatient money lovers use their family members for wealth rituals. A Senior Magistrates Court in Kano State, Nigeria, submitted the verdict on Monday, March 26, 2018. The convict was arraigned on a three-count charge of impersonation, cheating and defamation of character. His request for leniency following a plea of guilt failed to earn the sympathy of Senior Magistrate, Hassan Ahmad, but the court offered him an opportunity to pay a fine of N30,000, as an option. Bello also demanded N1.4 million from one Barka Sani, N150,000 from Sadiq Saflan, N50,000 from Sadiq Sani, N50,000 from Aisha Ahmad, N50,000 from Surajo Zakari and N150,000 from Yahaya, totalling N1.85 million," says police prosecutor, Inspector Haziel Ledapwa while addressing a court. Sultan Bello was arrested after months of investigation According to reports, months of intense investigation ensured the arrest of suspect who is now helping law enforcement agents for facts finding. The phoney profile which he utilized successfully to deceive members of the public has been set to private mode following recent development. The frenzy associated with social media has opened up room for atrocities such as impersonation often explored to grow fake accounts either for the love of controversy or for social media marketing. In July 2017, the National Council on Information (NCI) recommended the creation of a council to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria. This submission was made at an NCI-organized meeting on Hate Speeches, Fake News and National Unity held in Jos, Plateau State. Nigerias politicians do not enjoy the best reputation among their people. Decades of misrule, corruption and power struggles have created a hyper-rich elite and left the masses neglected, in a country where more than half of the population lives on less than a dollar a day and the gap between the rich and the poor is one of the widest in the world. Desperate for answers, the people have found hope in faith and in pastors who oversee congregations of millions of followers. Some of these pastors are internationally renowned, with branches of their ministries in countries around the world. ALSO READ: Pastor Adeyemi and Tunde Bakare are the only two Nigerian pastors who agree that tithing has expired Others are new generational ministers, who are delivering this message in a social media age to an audience more in tune with the world than ever before. Regardless of the variety, these churches sell one thing that politicians seem so eager to drain Nigerians of; hope. One of such churches is the Elevation Church. Selling Hope Speaking with the BBC, its General Overseer, Godman Akinlabi says, The real undertone of the economy of the church is, how do we distribute hope, wholesale and retail. The success of this approach is there to see. Across Nigeria, churches are nearly everywhere with a small population of residents. Some of these are mega-structures; others are average-sized edifices and others, yet, make-shift buildings with only a few members. The influence of Nigerian Christianity and its pastors took root in the 70s when a chain of events meant power was exchanged at intervals by cabals of military officers and the quality of living dropped immensely. The Pentecostal movement in Nigeria started in the 70s and it was a time when Nigeria really needed help. So the Pentecostal movement moved into schools, universities, colleges, high schools through the Scripture Union and many other movements that came then, Akinlabi says to the BBC. The brutal, suffocating Abacha years, between 1993 and 1998, raised the stakes higher. As the quality of life worsened and freedom became a myth, more Nigerians turned to God, and the churches for hope and a permanent solution to the dictatorship. By the last years of his rule, Abachas death was the subject of much prayer and supplication. Given the terrible state of the country under Abacha, it is not surprising that during that time, Nigerians found God in a major way, says Jide Olanrewaju, in his definitive documentary on the history of Nigeria. Even more significant is the disenchantment of the populace with the socioeconomic situation, says an excerpt from Nigeria During the Abacha Years (19931998), a journal by KunleAmuwo, Daniel C. Bach and YannLebeau. , the seeming duplicity or complacency of the clergy of the two established religions have created a process of popular religious revivalism. Christian Pentecostals and Muslim fundamentalist and reformist groups have proliferated, it reads. Save Nigeria and other spiritual stories Tele-evangelism, an astute use of media channels and rapid growth plans spurred the growth of the churches into the phenomenon that they are now. Nigerias pastors are some of the most influential people in the country. Pastors, like the RCCGs E.A Adeboye, are adored by millions across thousands of church branches in Nigeria and across countries in Africa, Europe, North America and Asia. What they offer is a panacea for their lack of opportunity; an important glimmer of hope amidst the suffering in Africas largest economy. The extent of their reach is not lost on the political class, either. Politicians, looking to leverage their influence, often visit pastors for their blessings and support ahead of elections. The extent of their following and the loyalty that they enjoy is somewhat ironic, considering the fact that Nigerias pastors are also some of the wealthiest people in the country. According to Forbes, of the 10 Wealthiest Pastors in the world, 5 are Nigerian. The personal wealth that these ministers amass is in stark contrast to the hope and faithful expectation that they peddle. Already, there are movements, like #FreeTheSheeple, Freezes online activist platform, which aim to highlight the discrepancies in the activities and tenets preached by these ministers. These movements draw attention to the gulf in the pastors personal wealth and the millions of poor who are the core of their congregations. Nigerian pastors do have questions to answer, and it is an obvious truth that a collective effort to correct social ills, improve general ethics and address the nations poor leadership would do a lot more good than chasing hope in Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday services. President of the MEDEF Pierre Gattaz expressed his honour to welcome the Party chief and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, saying their presence at the meeting demonstrates the importance of the Vietnam-France relations. He said the visit to France by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong took place when the two countries are celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership. The signing and enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will make significant contributions to intensifying the economic and trade links between Vietnam and the EU and France in particular, he added. Pierre Gattaz said many French businesses participating in the event have signed a lot of big contracts with Vietnamese partners. He said Vietnam is on the path to become a tiger of Asia with sustainable economic development thanks to the governments policy of extensive and intensive international integration as well as endeavours to reform the institutional system to make Vietnam a more attractive market to French companies, he added. At present, more than 200 French businesses are active in Vietnam. The remarkable economic growth and the bigger number of middle class population in the Southeast Asian country have opened up enormous cooperation opportunities for overseas investors, including those from France, he said. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said France has always been the pioneer among western countries in boosting relations with Vietnam over the past 45 years. The bilateral political ties and cooperation and exchanges in all fields have been growing well. Vietnam and France became strategic partners five years ago. Many French firms have been operating effectively in Vietnam, he said. However, the level of economic, trade and investment cooperation is still a far cry from the two countries sound political ties, their positions and potentials, he said, stating that this visit aims to seek measures to step up the bilateral collaboration in these fields. He noted that after 30 years of reform, Vietnam has emerged as a potential market with nearly 100 million people and the golden population structure. The countrys annual economic growth was estimated at over seven percent over the past 30 years. The national trade value hit US$425 billion in 2017. Vietnam is forging ahead with administrative reform and improving the business environment. As a result, the country moved up five places in competitiveness index and 14 places in the business environment in 2017 according to the rankings of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The macro economy remained stable while the gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 6.81 percent. The foreign currency reserves and the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) made a record high, the Party chief said. Vietnam is also a highly open economy and a member of many bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Southeast Asian country is finalising the free trade deal with the EU, he added. He underlined the huge cooperation potential between Vietnamese and French firms, adding that Vietnam is accelerating modernisation and industrialisation as well as restructuring the economy and changing its growth model towards focusing on quality and sustainability. Vietnam gives priority to and encourages the development of hi-tech industries, green technology, clean energy, biological and organic agriculture, digital economy, e-government, health care, culture, and education, he said. Vietnam is keen to beef up cooperation with French companies and hopes they will expand collaboration with Vietnam in the coming time, the Party leader said. Vietnam welcomes and highly values investment projects of foreign businesses, including French ones, which accord with the Southeast Asian countrys development orientations and investment attraction policies. Vietnamese authorities from central to local levels will create the best conditions and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in general and French businesses in particular, he affirmed. Speaking at the meeting, representatives of major businesses of France thanked the Vietnamese Government for supporting them to carry out investment and businesses projects. They said they hope to improve and expand investment cooperation with many new projects in Vietnam. French investors shared the view that Vietnam has posted stable economic growth and made efforts to improve the investment and business climate, thus opening up numerous opportunities for long-term partnership. They said businesses of France want to do business effectively, contribute to local economic development and bring practical benefits to Vietnamese people. At the meeting, representatives of the Vietnamese Government and French businesses talked concrete issues to seek effective cooperation solutions in each field. At the headquarters of the Movement of the Enterprises of France, General Secretary Trong witnessed the exchange of some cooperation documents between the two countries businesses. Vietnamese airline Vietjet and French group Safran CFM signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on comprehensive cooperation in providing engines and technical and maintenance services worth US$6.5 billion for Vietjet airplanes. Other cooperation documents included a contract between Vietjet and Gecas France on buying six A321 neo airplanes worth US$800 million on hire-purchase, an MoU between FPT and Airbus on building capacity and consulting staff and developing the Skywise data platform of Airbus, an MoU between FPT and Geopost on helping to modernise the IT system and improving the operation efficiency of Geopost, and a cooperation agreement between T&T Group and Bouygues on rehabilitating Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi. The private equity said in a statement released via GlobeNewswire on Monday said that termination of the deal came as a result of threat messages the company received from a 'well connected' politician since an initial announcement of the deal broke out last week. "The said individual was very well informed about our dealings with Unity Bank such that he knew the audit group Milost had hired to carry out the final due diligence. He told Milost to tell the board of Unity Bank that the audit firm had instructed Milost that Unity Bank was a bad investment, failing which he would unleash the media on Milost using among other things accusations that would cause the government to send Milost packing. These threatening emails were shared with the CEO of Unity Bank and the then . "Following these emails, negative articles by started appearing accusing Milost of operating a pump and dump operation. At that point Milost realised that the original threats had begun to materialise, because, after that first Business Day article on its alleged pump and dump, another email was received confirming that its the work of the blackmailer, Milost said. The company said it is filing a $500 million lawsuit against Business Day Nigeria and the journalists before the end of the week for repeated 'unprofessional conduct'. Although Unity Bank Plc had released a statement last week saying there is "No Investment of $1 billion yet and we have not reached any agreement with Milost Global Inc. to warrant such speculation," but Kim Freeman, Managing Partner & CEO of Milost, in the statement maintained that his team and the commercial bank officials have had series of meetings on the investment deal. According to the statement, on August 7, 2017, Milost Global received a request for a call with the CEO and CFO of Unity Bank Plc, adding that on the call, Unity Bank expressed its interest in working with Milost Global as its funding partner for its growth plans in Nigeria. Freeman explained further: Following the call, a desk top due diligence was conducted by Milost to its satisfaction. On September 4, 2017, a $1billion financing term sheet was fully executed by both Milost and Unity Bank. The facility, a combo of equity and debt, was provided on the exciting understanding that Unity Bank would delist on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and move its listing to the USA. The signed term sheet was approved by the board of Unity Bank. On Monday, October 23, 2017, at 11:05 EST, Milost Global Inc. was visited by , the CEO of Unity Bank Plc, at its New York Offices. The meeting was scheduled for 11:00 am EST and it went ahead as planned. The meeting was attended by Milost Global Inc. analysts and the Chairman, Mr Egerton Forster. At the meeting, she explained the need for capital funding at the bank and also their expansion plans. It was then agreed that Milost Global Inc. would start further due diligence on Unity Bank. It is normal practise for all the publicly quoted companies which we fund to notify the market regulator on signature of the commitment letter since it has material effect to the stock; however, Unity Bank did not. Milost assumed that this did not happen because Unity had agreed to move its listing to the USA. He said Milost will continue to do business in Nigeria despite any negative publicity and this will ultimately benefit Nigeria and Africa. Milost Global Inc. has analysed all its facts on the table and decided to terminate the Unity Bank transaction and the termination letter was sent to the bank this morning. In January 2018, Milost Global in conjunction with Isilo Capital Partners (African subsidiary) acquired the entire stake in Primewaterview Holdings Nigeria Limited, at $1 billion. This was disclosed in a situation report released on Sunday, March 25, 2018, where the agency revealed that it has received a total of 1613 suspected cases since January 1, 2018. Since the onset of the 2018 outbreak, 95 people have died in positive-confirmed cases, while 30 others have also died despite being negative, with 9 probable cases still pending. The Case Fatality Rate in confirmed and probable cases is 24.1%. The report read, "In the reporting Week 12 (March 19-25, 2018) eighteen new confirmed cases were recorded from ten States - Edo (5), Ondo (2), Bauchi (1), Ebonyi (2), Taraba (3),Plateau (1), Kogi (1), Osun (1) FCT (1)and Gombe(1) with six new deaths in confirmed cases from Edo (1), Taraba (2), Ebonyi (1), Plateau (1) and Gombe (1) "From 1st January to 25th March 2018, a total of 1613 suspected cases. Of these, 394 confirmed positive, 9 are probable, 1198 are negative (not a case) and 12 are awaiting laboratory results (pending). "Since the onset of the 2018 outbreak, there have been 134 deaths: 95 in positive-confirmed cases, 9 in probable cases and 30 in negative cases. Case Fatality Rate in confirmed cases is 24.1%. "19 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 56 Local Government Areas (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe, Ekiti and Kaduna). Seven states have exited the active phase of the outbreak while 12 States remain active. "In the reporting week 12, no new healthcare worker was affected. Seventeen health care workers have been affected since the onset of the outbreak in six states - Ebonyi (9), Nasarawa (1), Kogi (2), Benue (1), Ondo (1) and Edo (3) with four deaths in Ebonyi (3) and Kogi (1). "81% of all confirmed cases are from Edo (42%) Ondo (23%) and Ebonyi (16%) states. 27 cases are currently under treatment in treatment centres across nine states - Edo (9), Ondo (5), Ebonyi (5), Bauchi (2), Taraba (3), Plateau (1), Osun (1) and Kogi (1). "A total of 4005 contacts have been identified from 19 states. Of these 763 (19.0%) are currently being followed up, 3235 (80.8%) have completed 21 days follow up while 7 (0.2%) were lost follow up. 23 (36%) of the 64 symptomatic contacts have tested positive from 3 states (Edo-12, Ondo - 7, Ebonyi - 3 and Kogi - 1)." NCDC response to the outbreak The NCDC report indicated that, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), it has scaled up response at national and state levels. Its exactly what the doctor recommended for Africas sleeping giant. Speaking at the expanded National Economic Council (NEC) meeting which held in Aso Rock on Thursday, March 22, 2018, Gates told his audience led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, that by focusing on physical infrastructure at the expense of its people, Nigeria is doing it wrong. 'The Nigerian people' The most important choice you make is to maximize your greatest resource, the Nigerian people, Gates began with a characteristic wry smile. Nigeria will thrive when every Nigerian is able to thrive. If you invest the health, education and opportunities the human capital we are talking about then they will lay the foundation for sustained prosperity. If you dont, however, then it is very important to recognize that there will be sharp limit on how much the country can grow. I urge you to apply this thinking to all your investments in your people. The Nigeria governments Plan identifies investing in our people as one of the three strategic objectives but the execution priorities dont fully reflect peoples needs. People without roads, ports and factories cant flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them cant sustain an economy, Bill Gates added without flinching. Truer words have never been spoken. Double down In a chat with CNN, Gates doubled down on his criticisms of Nigeria. As a partner in Nigeria, I am saying the current plan is inadequate. Nigeria has all these young people and the current quality and quantity of investment in these young generations; in health and education just isnt good enough. So, I was very direct, he said. If they can get health and education right, they will be an engine of growth not just for themselves but for all of Africa. What Gates is saying is simple: Nigeria will only achieve its potential when its people achieve their individual potentials because a nation is only as prosperous as its people. And Gates loves Nigeria. You can feel it. He has been doing humanitarian work in Nigeria for as long as anyone can remember. He has traversed rural Nigeria to see things for himself. He has interacted with locals and villagers, he has dined with Nigerias wealthy and powerful. As an outsider looking in, Gates knows that if Nigeria works, Africa works. This, for Gates, is tough love. Nothing new There is nothing Gates has said in the last couple of days that ordinary Nigerians like you and I havent been saying since we were born. But sometimes you need an 'Oyinbo' (white man) to make it sink. Nigeria badly needs a reset. The nations human resource has been taking a beating since independence. Some teachers cant even pass a Primary 4 test to save their lives and our universities are among the worst in the world. Our healthcare is so non-existent, Buhari and his family now fly abroad at the slightest hint of an ailment. Nigeria has been on a steady decline since soldiers and politicians took knives to the table to share the national cake amongst themselves. For far too long, we have allowed our human capital to deteriorate and rot. The effect is that across Nigeria, we now have political leaders bereft of values because they werent taught any better in schools. There is no civics, no discernible action plan from government. Just nothing. Nigeria has failed the world. And the world has every right to feel disappointed. And like everyone else with a brain, Gates can see the untapped potential when he looks at Nigeria. No praise-singing Bill Gates could have chosen to sing our praises like most foreign dignitaries and investors do when they come visiting. He could have belted those hackneyed lines of Africa and Nigeria being the next frontier for business and development. He could have told us that our natural resource is guarantee that we will never be poor. He could have told Buhari that the man is on point with his economic recovery and growth plan. He could have worn our traditional attire, danced for show, touted our Jollof rice as the best on the continent and smiled for the cameras until he departs our shoreswith only praises on his lips. Instead, Gates has been speaking truth to power from Abuja to Lagos. He has been saying the things others wont dare say when they dine with Nigerias rich and powerful. He has been speaking truth to power right inside the corridors of power. And hes been saying it without giving a damn. Its refreshing candor from abroad. He said his team is now reviving critical sectors that could create jobs, which according to him have been neglected for decades by past governments. The President stated this while inaugurating the National Food Security Council at the presidential villa, Abuja. "Nigeria's journey in the last three years has been a very turbulent one. The country's need for critical job-creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results", he said. Buhari said the council will enhance the various social investment and agricultural programmes put in place by his administration to achieve their full potential. He added, "We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry. "We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact our food production ambitions such as; population growth, ubanisation, industrialisation, rural infrastructure development and climate change." Buhari's achievements Giving more credit to his administration, the President said numerous programmes that would transform the lives of "millions of Nigerians" have been introduced. He said: "We introduced the national social investment programmes targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth. We launched agricultural programmes focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country. "We commenced the long-term pollution remediation projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. "We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC countries. "We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government. "We established the agro rangers unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigeria's agricultural sector across the country." ALSO READ: Buhari signs MoU with Switzerland on return of illegally-acquired assets Buhari, however, acknowledged that "the journey is long", noting that it is the council's duty to ensure that the positive impacts of these programmes are "sustained, improved and expanded." More than ever, the current administration, which critics have described as a failure, is making strategic moves to salvage the country's weak economy, presumably in order to convince Nigerians to give it a second chance in 2019. He said that the development was especially so as some party members who were not comfortable with the decision had already taken the party to court. According to the president, if the tenure of the partys executive can be legally faulted, it means that any nomination and primary elections conducted can also be faulted. He said that with the decision, some party members were already feeling that they had been deprived the right to aspire to executive positions. Some other party members are now of the opinion that internal democracy is not at play within the party, he added. The partys NEC, at its meeting of Feb. 26, extended the tenure of the John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and other executive committees of the party across all levels in the country by one year, starting from June. While the partys National Chairman, Odigie-Oyegun, said the decision was in good faith, some members, who were not comfortable with it, have taken the party to court over the issue. I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issue of the tenure of our national and state executive officers. I have taken time to view and seek advice on the resolution and what I find is that it contravenes the partys Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari said. According to him, article 17, sub-section 1of the APC Constitution limits the tenure of elected officers to four years which is renewable once by another election. The president that section 223 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, also prescribed periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years. He explained that article 31 of the partys Constitution provided that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post, at least one month before the election. In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh elections once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. A care taker committee cannot remedy the situation and cannot validly act in place of elected officers. Furthermore, I think if we deviate from our Constitution, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. I am therefore of the firm belief that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national Constitution rather than put the APC at a grave risk. Fortunately, we have already approved a time-table for congresses and elections. I think this should be allowed to go, Buhari said. He advised that all efforts should be geared toward making the congress a success, adding, however, that his thought did not preclude the party members from further discussing the matter. The president, therefore, tasked members at the meeting to feel free to discuss the issue with facts to reflect on. All well and good, I dont feel too strongly about it; the only thing I feel too strongly about is that we should not allow our party to be vulnerable to and susceptible to the opposition. They can delay or divide us further within the party when they quote appropriate portion of the partys Constitution and of the country. I took time to listen to my legal advisers, constitutionally given to me in terms of Ministry of Justice. Our decision is contrary to both party and constitutional provisions, he advised. Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, said that the status quo remained. Danjuma on Saturday, March 24, 2018, asked Nigerians to defend themselves against killers. The former minister of defence also said that the security apparatus in Nigeria has been compromised. According to him, the Nigerian armed forces are no longer neutral. Speaking on Danjumas comment, the former militants leader said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Tinubu needs to speak up. Dokubo also said Im so happy with Danjumas comment. Few weeks ago, I talked about some of our political elites including Danjuma and he has roared, there is an earthquake, everywhere is unsettled. We have to appreciate some of this people that have conquered their fears. He spoke the mind of those who are too afraid to speak. This is a challenge to people like Tinubu. How long will you be quiet and eat this sh*t. Tinubu stand up and fight for your people if you claim you are a leader. I dont think Awolowo would have accepted this if he was alive. The worst of Yoruba leaders would not have accepted what you are taking by putting the race to riddle and shame. Danjuma, you have spoken our mind and we are going to respond in the most equal proportion. If those people, herdsmen, think they can kill why wont others kill them. They are not from our land but they are killing us, kill them back. Igbo group supports Danjuma The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), in a statement signed by its President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro also praised the former General for his comments. Isiguzoro urged youths in the South-Eastern region to resist any form of Islamisation. The OYC leader threatened that any armed herdsman found in the South-East will be severely dealt with. President Muhammadu Buhari had pulled out of the signing of the continental free trade agreement on March 21, 2018, saying that he needed more time for consultations back home. On Tuesday, March 27, President Buhari presided over a meeting where widened consultations on the agreement were made with industry groups from agriculture, eCommerce, manufacturing, and many others. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as government agencies like the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations and the Nigeria Custom Services made contributions during the meeting. After the consultation meeting, Enelamah said, "We're going to work collaboratively for the good of Nigeria. We're all Team Nigeria and all playing to win. This work must continue." Nigeria, South Africa object to CFTA 44 African presidents agreed to form a $3 trillion continental free-trade zone encompassing 1.2 billion people when they signed the agreement last week, with South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, also pulling out with Buhari. The Governor made this disclosure while receiving the delegation, International Press Institute (IPI), World Congress Committee led by Former Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dr Tonnie Iredia at the government house, Ilorin on Monday. Alhaji Ahmed noted that the media goes beyond information dissemination. He said the media is a strong instrument for effective change in attitude, values and perception. Agenda setting Governor Ahmed therefore expressed support for constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press and freedom of speech. He said a free media ensures that citizens are well informed while stimulating lively debate about government programswhich can then serve as valuable feedback for governance. Governor Ahmed urged the media and the IPI to strengthen its surveillance, agenda-setting and information functions especially at this critical time in the countrys history. According to a report by The Punch, herdsmen attacked a group of seven boys in the Agatu area of Olegobiudu and killed two of them, with one later found beheaded. A native said, "The children, whose ages were between 10 and 15 years, had as usual gone to the stream in the community when they were attacked by herdsmen. "Some of the children rushed home to tell the people of the invasion by the herdsmen and by the time we got to the stream, the herdsmen had fled but we met the lifeless bodies of the kids. The head of one of them was cut off." Herdsmen were also reported to have attacked and killed another two residents of Tse Samaka in Guma LGA during the weekend. The state's Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the killings during a meeting with the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Monday, March 26. He said, "We had an incident just yesterday (Sunday); two persons were killed in Agatu but we have responded swiftly to douse tension, we are working closely with other security agencies to ensure the crisis does not escalate. Also, some bandits have killed two persons in the Guma area on Sunday which makes us to reinforce in the area." He also revealed that one herdsman was reported killed at Lower Benue, a suburb of Makurdi, on Saturday, March 24. Benue's herdsmen crisis Benue has been troubled by violent killings this year as a spate of attacks by suspected cattle herders have led to the death of over 100 victims. At least 24 people were killed during a recent attack carried out on March 5 by herdsmen in Omusu Edimoga, a village in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state. The EFCC Chairman,Ibrahim Maguhas often given different figures of cash and assets recovered, mostly from public officials, to prove his agency's unprecedented success in the fight against corruption. In November 2017, Magu had claimed that the agency recovered about N739 billion within two years and in February 2018 he said as much as N500 billion was recovered in 2017 alone. But in a letter dated February 9 and addressed to Magu, Adeosun asked for an explanation on why the figures computed by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation did not correspond with the EFCC boss' claims about recovered loot in the media. She said her ministry was only able to account for N91.3 billion recovered loot by the EFCC since May 2015. In the letter, Adeosun said the total amount calculated by the Office of the Accountant-General, which is a department under the ministry of finance, is N91,383,370,501.73. According to an updated table of the recoveries attached to the letter, the amount included assets under final and interim forfeitures and funds recovered in foreign currencies. ALSO READ: All the times presidency has fought senate over Magu The letter, which was first made on March 20 by TheDetail, an online publication, reads: "This is to notify you of the records of cash asset recoveries in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from May 2015 date based on information available to the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (attached). "It has, however, come to the attention of the Ministry of Finance, the use of recovery figures in news media reports by the EFCC that do not reconcile with the records of the ministry. You are therefore requested to clarify where these cash recoveries have been deposited and provide accompanying evidence." EFCC responds Reacting to Adeosun's letter on Monday, March 26, the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said it was "nothing unusual". "There is nothing unusual about anyone asking for clarification on any matter least of all assets recovery and management which are not the simplest aspects of investigation," Uwujaren told Premium Times. "The Commission is not adverse to clarifying any issue(s) that will assist better understanding of the portfolio of assets recovered by the Commission. Indeed, it is fully engaged with other vehicles within the administration, the Presidential Audit Committee on Recovered Assets and Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery, dedicated to addressing all issues pertaining to recovered assets", he added. According to the online publication, the agency's spokesman, however, did not respond to the question about whether Magu was standing by his public statements that as much as N739 billion had been recovered within two years. Adeosun had also on Sunday played down the debate her letter generated, saying it was routine action taken to safeguard controls of recovered funds The documents were signed in the presence of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is on an official visit to France, French National Assembly (NA) President Francois de Rugy, and other senior officials. The signing of the two documents opens up new cooperation opportunities for Vietnam and France in space technology and intellectual property, while contributing to the two countries socio-economic development. The LoI, signed between Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology and Frances Airbus Defence and Space, maps out measures to boost the bilateral cooperation, exchange information, and share experience in earth observation, as well as drafting the organisation of science and technology events scheduled in 2018 and 2019. Meanwhile, under the MoU, Vietnams Intellectual Property Department and Frances National Industrial Property Institute will accelerate their cooperation and information exchanges on industrial property; geographical indication protection, intellectual property commercialisation, technology transfer, and human resource training, among others. Edgal made the announcement at a news conference in Lagos to update the public on security plans for the Presidents visit. He said that President Buhari would be in Lagos on a two-day official visit on Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30. The police commissioner said that President Buhari would be attending a colloquium marking the 66th Birthday of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at Victoria Island, and also be at the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project in Epe. Edgal said the president would also tour the Eko Atlantic City and inaugurate the Ikeja Bus Terminal, among other engagements. The temporary road closure and diversions would be within Ikeja, Maryland, Agege Motor Road, Victoria Island and Ikoyi axis. Security engagements are in top gear, as we are working with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). We have done threat assessment and engaged all stakeholders such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers and commercial bike riders. We are appealing that they abide by our agreement at the meeting. This is to ensure that Mr Presidents visit to Lagos is smooth, safe and hitch-free, he said. The commissioner expressed deep regret for any inconveniences, saying the listed roads to be closed to traffic would be reopened immediately after the Presidents motorcade passes. He advised motorists, commercial bus operators and commercial motorcycle riders to observe road diversions or use alternative routes. Speaking at plenary on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Melaye wondered why the Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood would leave Abuja for Lokoja to parade two suspects allegedly linked to him. The Police had threatened to declare Melaye wanted should he fail to appear in a court in Kogi state defend the criminal charges bothering on against him. The Police also accused Melaye of fleeing Nigeria, a move targetted at evading being served court summons. Melaye who denied receipt of court summons pledged to keep fighting even if he dies. His words: The media has been awashed that I flee this country, that I am not in Nigeria and I would not return until there is change of government but here am I physically, flesh and blood. I start by saying that, I have not received any criminal summon from any court within the territorial area of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I also want to say that Mr. President, I have not received any arraignment notice from any court. I also read in the media where addressed a conference to say that he has not been served by any court in Nigeria. My house is known, my office is known, and there was no attempt to even sever me any court summon in any of my known addresses. That is to start with. Despite the fact that I have not been served, an arraignment has been arraignment has been carried out according to the press briefing by Moshood. No statement has been taken from me. So I do not know what investigation was conducted, before the report generated and have been arraigned according to newspaper and social media report but physically as Dino Melaye, I have not received any summon from any court. I am appalled that by the time I was attacked April 14, 2017, the police arrested a gang of 6 people and they were parades by the same Jimoh Moshood and he said they have made confessional statements, guns and ammunition were recovered from them and were paraded, in fact the vehicle they used in coming to attack for my attempted assassination was also recovered and all these were exhibit and laid before Kogi state judiciary. These criminals have even been arraigned in court and their testimonies have been accepted as exhibits in court. Yet, one of those declared wanted by the police in my assassination attempt, is the one saying that on airport road in December, I gave him three AK 47 and N430, 000 inside my car. But as I speak to you, they failed in their myopic ignorance to state a date and time. I want to understand how an arraignment can be done with a criminal's confession with no date or no time. Because if you give me a date and time, I would be able to account for where I was on that date and time. You would know that the corpse they buried, they left the legs outside. I am also appalled, why would the Force PRO of the Force Headquarters leave Abuja to go to Lokoja to parade criminals while the state command has their PPRO even when Evans, the notorious kidnapper in the history of Federal Republic of Nigeria, was arrested, he was paraded by Lagos command and the PPRO of Lagos State addressed the media. Since last week, they have made me so important, they have made me a national subject that Force PRO assessed two press conferences on Dino Melaye alone. They refused to have press conference on Dapchi girls, Boko Haram and the killings going on in the North and the riverine area of the country but they address press conference on an innocent man twice in one week and even declaring that if I am not in court, I would be declared wanted for a matter that has already been taking to court, he added. In his contribution, Bauchi lawmaker, Senator Isa Misau questioned the trial of his colleague, Melaye, in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital. Misau expressed concerns of a possible breakdown of law and order in Kogi state should Melaye be tried in Lokoja. The lawmaker called on the Police to hands off the matter and allow the law of the land to prevail. "For the past one year we are aware of what is happening in Kogi, if we allow this tension whereby even the security situation is bad and then you allow them to take someone who has problem with the state government and where their supporters are there? There will be problem. I think we are not doing good and risking the life of our colleague," Misau said. "Apart from that of the police are making statements that the weapons that was given on airport road, there are issues of jurisdiction, the issue should be separated, the people that committed atrocities in Kogi they can be tried in Kogi. We are calling for fairness, justice. This matter should be treated in Abuja where everyone will be seen. "If they say they didn't see him to serve him (court processes), Dino Melaye is a public figure, his house is in Maitama and his office. They even say that if Dino Melaye does not appear in court tomorrow they will declare him wanted. If the matter is already in court it is left for the judge to decide what to do. Once the matter is in court police have removed their hands," Misau advised. Mohammed also asked the PDP to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude. the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologize, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit, the minister said. PDP apologises to Nigerians Mohammed made the statementafter the PDP tendered an apology to Nigerians for not living up to expectations in the 16 years preceding 2015. The party also promised to save Nigerians from the President Buharis clutch. PDPs reaction In its reaction to the minister of informations comment, the PDP said that Buharis campaign was sponsored with stolen money. According to the partys spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan,It is, to say the least, despicable that the APC and its Federal Government, in their arrogance, would always try to play the saint when they were elected with stolen fund and have continued to reek with filth and sleaze. Nigerians are aware that prior to the 2015 election, President Buhari had informed that he was insolvent. He however took Nigerians by surprise as he enjoyed one of the most expensive presidential campaigns in the history of our nation, while turning a blind eye to reports of massive looting of funds from APC controlled states. Indeed, if there is any party that should refund looted funds, it is the APC, which directly used stolen money to scheme in the election of President Buhari in 2015, while known culpable persons now sit comfortably around the Presidential table, still superintending over the looting of our common patrimony. This is the APC, whose government, has been rated by international bodies including the Transparency International (TI) which latest report shows that corruption and sleaze had escalated under its watch. This is the same government where ministers and officials indicted for corruption and looting of public funds, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which is directly under the purview of Mr. President, are shielded and condoned. Even presently, Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communication, has been accused of owing his aides N13m; that he has no fewer than 12 houses across the nation; bought a N93m printing press; bought 25 luxury cars for his personal use, among others. ALSO READ: Yet, nothing has been heard from either the dysfunctional APC or its incompetent federal government. While the repositioned PDP maintain its unpretentious stance towards Nigerians, we charge the Minister of Information to direct his demand to the Presidency and the APC as Nigerians are expecting them to refund the stolen funds they used to scheme themselves into office in 2015, he added. NAN reports that listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating foods contaminated with the listeria monocytogenes bacterium. The disease primarily affects adults, persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.A person suffering from listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhoea or gastro-intestinal symptoms. The NAQS boss issued the warning against the backdrop of the recent UN alert that Nigeria and five other countries stood the risk of experiencing an outbreak of the disease. Isegbe said that the UN listed Nigeria because we travel a lot; and also because of our population and human activities. As a nation, we should be careful of whatever we eat; if there are cases of any disease in other countries, it is our duty to avoid importation of any items from such countries. It is also our duty to sensitise the citizens to the need to avoid such products because the packaging and storage of infected products can still contaminate other products. It is better to avoid imported products and eat our local products because most of the imported products are not healthy, he said. Isegbe, however, noted that it was difficult to stop outbreak of diseases because diseases could occur due to breaches or uncontrolled habits, as people often travelled from one place to another. No one can domicile human beings and prevent them from travelling and as they travel, they eat and carry food items along the way. And those items can be sources of infection and contamination from one country to another. We urge Nigerians who travel to South Africa or other countries not to bring any food items; they should also be careful of what they eat outside of the country so that they would not get infected. Nigeria as a country does not allow importation of meat and some other items; the service does not give anyone permits to import meat or any meat products but illegal importation into the country is our major challenge, he said. Besides, Isegbe noted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had set up a ministerial committee on illegal importation and smuggling, chaired by the Minister of State, adding that the committee had held several meetings to curb the aberration. We have gone to most of the big supermarkets and retail shops to verify our suspicions; we, however, found out that they do not import poultry and fish products but they only feed their stock with Nigerian products. Our major concern is smuggling through the land borders, which the Federal Government is seriously kicking against and most of the items coming from neighbouring countries are banned in Nigeria. If there are no buyers, those selling imported products will run out of the business; if nobody is buying, they will not restock. As a citizen of this country, we have responsibility to prevent such products from coming in and as a nation; we ought to discourage citizens from patronising such products. If there is less importation, there is no way animal and food items such as like beef, sausage and fruits contaminated with listeria can flood our markets, he added. Isegbe commended the Nigerian Customs Service for supporting NAQS in efforts to accomplish its mandate, saying: Its not easy for NAQS to cover all the perimeters of our land but we have complimentary services from the Customs Service. Danjuma had earlier urged Nigerians to resort to self-defence in the face of unending killings across the country. He also accused the military of complicity in the killings, especially in Taraba, where he said that the herdsmen were being aided in killing innocent citizens. The Senates decision followed a Point-of-Order raised by Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) at plenary on Tuesday. Yusuf pointed out that Danjuma raised fundamental issues that should be debated and investigated by the Senate. But while considering Yusufs submission, the matter turned controversial when it was put to voice vote by the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki. There was initial confusion as to where the voting favoured, but Saraki ruled in favour of the ayes. The Project Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Nigeria, Harsheth Kaur Virk, on Monday, March 26, said marijuana is a miracle drug allowed for medical reasons by the global body, adding that it is not for recreational purposes. Virk stated this in her presentation at a one day Public hearing on the need to check rising menace of Pharmaceutical drugs abuse among youth in Nigeria organised by the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Health. She said, "Nigeria as a sovereign Nation has its stringent laws against it but international conventions of the UN have approved it for medical purposes based on outcome of researches conducted to that effect by globally recognized institutes." The UN also recommends that aside marijuana, recreational users of other addictive drugs should not be criminalised, but rehabilitated, Virk noted. "The Drugs and Crime office of the UN sees addictive drugs users as people who are sick, in need of treatment, care and rehabilitation", she added. ALSO READ: Lagos' Rapid Response Squad is giving out free marijuana Although marijuana is illegal in Nigeria, the country is a major source of West African-grown marijuana, and ranked world's eight highest consumer of the drug. Earlier, Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan had called for an adjournment of plenary to all APC Senators attend the partys National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. Seconding the motion, Senator Akpabio asked his APC colleagues to go and continue their confusion. His words: Following the motion moved by the senate leader, the APC will be having a NEC meeting today and therefore there should be need for us to suspend all items on the order paper in other to enable them attend the NEC meeting. Mr President I take the privilege of seconding this motion to say that even though we have the quorum, the quorum of the senate is about 37 and we in the PDP we can continue proceedings. To my colleagues I give them the opportunity to attend their NEC meeting. I hereby second the motion to allow you continue the confusion in your NEC meeting today, Akpabio said. In a swift reaction, Senator Lawan described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a part loser. The PDP is a part loser. Mr President in this chamber we cooperated, we supported them, you have no alternative but to support us, he declared. Atiku officially flagged of his presidential campaign at the banquet hall of the Rivers State Governor's Office, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 The event was chaired by Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike and had in attendance former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Governor of Enugu State and one-time national Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo. Other attendees were Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi; Senator Lee Ledogo Maeba; former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Michael Aondoakaa; among other PDP chieftains. New Nigeria Daily Trust reports that Atiku reiterated his commitment toward the creation of a new Nigeria devoid of favouritism, segregation and ethnicity at his presidential campaign flag off. Atiku added that Nigeria on his watch will be built on industrialization and economic revolution. Atiku dumped the APC on November 24, 2017. On December 3, 2017, Atiku predictably announced his return to the PDP. Atiku who has a history of switching political camps, has never hidden his desire to become Nigerias number one citizen someday. He first set up a presidential campaign in 1993 on the platform of the SDP, but didn't make it out of the primaries. 'Dying party' Atiku called the APC a dying party when he dumped them. A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party. The future belongs to young people. Tinubu said this in a statement released by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, in Lagos. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on Tuesday advised the party to dump the elongation of the tenure of National and State Executive Officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He told the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja on Tuesday that he had sought advice on the elongation, and had come to the conclusion that it was unconstitutional. Recall that the APC, at its NEC meeting on Feb. 27, had decided to extend the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year. In his reaction, Tinubu said: President Buharis action saves the party from serious legal turmoil. If the elongations were deemed illegal, then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of our candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality. Such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria. Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy. While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path. According to him, the President has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality. His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit. His action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway, he said. Tinubu said it was time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organise the needed congresses according to the existing timetables. After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold. Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria. Olumekun said over 21,991 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were distributed during the first quarter of the CVR exercise in 2018. The REC added that 27, 103 transfer cases were attended to and 43, 116 cards were replaced in the state since the exercise started in 2017. Olumekun, who expressed satisfaction with the exercise in the state, urged all eligible voters who had yet to register, to use this opportunity by visiting any of the 55 CVR centers in the state. Those who have registered before but just moved to Lagos State need not register again. All they need to do is to visit the registration centers close to their places of abode, where they will be given a form to fill and have their PVC transferred to a polling unit in Lagos State. The same process applied to those resident in Lagos, who have registered before and moved to other parts of the state, he said. The REC, who said there was improvement in the collection of the yet-to-be-claimed PVCs in the state, advised others to come out and collect theirs. He, however, urged new registrants in the first quarter of the exercise in 2018 to make effective use of the period set aside for claims and objections from March 26 to March 30. According to him, the period allows the news registrants to check for the correctness of their details, before their PVCs are printed. He said that the second quarter of the CVR exercise would commence on April 3. Olumekun also urged all stakeholders to join hands with the commission in educating and sensitising the people on the need to participate in the ongoing CVR exercise, to afford them the opportunity to vote in the 2019 General Elections. The sensitisation, mobilisation and education is not the business of INEC alone. It is also the business of every interest group to ensure that people come out and perform their civic responsibilities, he added. People place toys and flowers at a makeshift memorial for the victims of a shopping mall fire in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, Russia March 26, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to express condolences over a massive shopping mall fire that killed at least 56 people in Russia's south central city of Kemerovo. In the message, Xi said he was shocked at the news of the fire, which caused huge casualties and property losses. On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and also in his own name, Xi deeply mourned those killed in the fire and showed sympathy to the bereaved families and those injured. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev to express condolences over the fire. The fire, which started Sunday afternoon at a four-story shopping center, was put out near Monday noon, but rescue efforts are still going on, with dozens of people still missing, including many children. The luncheon was organised by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri- Erewa to mark the first Black History Month in Nigeria. My advice to Nigeria is this., I know that a lot of Nigerians feel a little displeasure with President Buhari moving too slow on some of his reforms. I will counsel Nigerians to say give this man the time he needs to do the job that he is doing. He is one of the most legitimate leaders that the continent has produced. And he would if you all just stick to him I assure you he is going to make Nigeria a better place, he said. He said that though it was not easy to say as a visitor but Nigerian would benefit if they supported him to complete his work According to him, I know for instance what your citizens will say to me, he will identify the corruption but wont do anything, he says until investigation is done. But that is the proper way to do that. You know fortunately he is an honest man but if he would say traditional just decide in his mind what is corrupt and not corrupt and just taking action without a process what will happen with the next guy that comes who might not be as honest as he is. So you need a process. So it is not about the person or personality but it is about the fact. So I will just counsel Nigerians, I know, I am a visitor it is really not my business but be careful before you vote this man out of office, he said. The Most oldest person in the Luther family, Dr Naomi King, earlier called on Nigerians to rise up to their responsibility and vote for the candidate of their choice I want you to take the responsibility and vote when the time comes for the candidate of your choice because you have a voice and your vote is your voice. Remember that if you love God, you love your neighbour and have in mind what the almighty God has done He will give you the desire of your heart, she said. Also speaking, Dabiri- Erewa , said the Luther family was in Nigeria to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King jnr As they celebrate the 50 anniversary in Nigeria which is the first of its kind, we want Africans in the diaspora and Africa to work together for the development of the continent. So it is a major step forward, it is our desire to work with our sisters and brothers of African descent to move the continent forward, she said Dabiri-Erewa said that their coming to celebrate in Nigeria showed their belief in the country and the leadership quality in Nigeria The president told members of the committee during the party's meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, that it had to overturn the decision to extend Oyegun's tenure by one year because it could cause division within the party. During his address, he said he has reviewed the decision and discovered that it is a violation of the party's constitution and the country's constitution. He advised the party to conduct fresh elections according to its constitutional provisions and urged members to contribute to its success. He said, "I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issue of the tenure of our National and State Executive Officers. "As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year. "This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC Meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court. "On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advise on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "While APC Constitution, Article 17(1) & 13.2(B), limits tenure of elected officers to 4 years, renewable once by election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), S223, also prescribes periodic elections for party Excos at regular intervals, which must not exceed 4 years. "Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election. "In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh elections, once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. A Caretaker Committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers. "Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions,we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means that any nominations & primary elections that they may conduct,can also be faulted. "This is not to talk of divisions that would arise, and is already arising within the party, when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or that internal democracy is not at play within the party. "I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk. "Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success." The party was sacked from the center by the APC in 2015. It would be the first time PDP would be relinquishing its hold on power at the center since 1999. The APC would go on to take control of 24 States as the PDP licked its wounds and plunged into an internal crisis that lasted two years. Rescue Nigeria The PDP held a town hall event tagged 'Nation Building:Resetting The Agenda' in Abuja on Monday, March 26, 2018, as it seeks to claw its way back into voter reckoning. Party Chairman Uche Secondus said at the event that the APC has been running Nigeria badly and the PDP is ready to rescue a failing nation. The PDP was in power for 16 years and as expected, we made mistakes. We are sorry for our mistakes and when we return, we shall make this country better. We have experience, no other party has it. The PDP has embarked on a rescue mission and together we will salvage this nation back from the grip of the incompetent All Progressives Congress (APC), Secondus said. He added that; "Many will expectedly doubt our moral competence and compass to reset this agenda. Since it is said that charity begins at home, I am the very first to admit that our our party the People's Democratic Party of Nigeria made many mistakes consequently we were roundly sanctioned by Nigerians occasioning our loss at the polls in 2015. "Let me seize this opportunity to apologise to Nigerians unequivocally for the several shortcomings of our party in the near and far past. It was all part of an evolution process without which there can be no maturity. In the words of May Sarton occasions such as this "gives one a chance to look backward and forward; to reset oneself." According to the Chairman, days of imposition in the party are now over. Secondus added that the APC has left Nigeria in debt to the tune of N11trillion in only three years. "We learnt that while in 16 years PDP government was able to borrow N6trillion and had some projects commissioned for it, in just less than three years, APC regime has borrowed N11trillion and has not commissioned a single project", Secondus declared. The party Chairman also accused the governing APC of waging a selective anti-corruption war. Recession The party Chairman devoted most of his speech to tagging the APC a monumental failure which plunged the country into a recession. The Rescue Nigeria event was attended by PDP chieftains like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Bode George, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, young party faithful and a host of other party bigwigs. The event was moderated by young people and most of the panelists were younger Nigerians. Peter Obi and former Katsina Governor Shema asked the new PDP leadership to present an alternative agenda before Nigerians. Obi also said Nigeria isnt out of recession as the APC has claimed. Its the rise in the price of oil that is out of recession. The non-oil sector is still in recession, the former Anambra Governor said. The PDP made it clear during the event that it is ready to hand over the party's future to women and the young. The PDP was in power for 16 years and as expected, we made mistakes. We are sorry for our mistakes and when we return, we shall make this country better. We have experience, no other party has it, Secondus said during an event that was called 'Resetting Nigeria'. He added that; "Many will expectedly doubt our moral competence and compass to reset this agenda. Since it is said that charity begins at home, I am the very first to admit that our party the People's Democratic Party of Nigeria made many mistakes; "Let me seize this opportunity to apologise to Nigerians unequivocally for the several shortcomings of our party in the near and far past. It was all part of an evolution process without which there can be no maturity. In the words of occasions such as this gives one a chance to look backward and forward; to reset oneself." First time This is the first time PDP has formally apologized to Nigerians since it was sacked from the center in 2015 by a resurgent opposition. After it lost Abuja, the PDP carried on as though it was unjustifiably toppled from the throne. The party first said the presidential vote was rigged, then blamed its then Chairman Adamu Muazu for selling out to the APC, before suggesting that it didnt steal Nigeria dry like everyone has been parroting. Then at a time when it should have been forging itself into a formidable opposition platform that would keep the governing party on its toes, the PDP became a confused house that embarked on a war with itself over its leadership and self destructed. And then it went to sleep. It was only last year that PDP held an elective convention which gave birth to its currentNational Working Committee (NWC)--a year before the nations general elections! You can't just go to sleep, wake up from your slumber when you like and say you should be given another chance just because there's another election season in the horizon. You've got to earn it. The PDP didnt just fail Nigeria as a governing party, it failed as an opposition. Forgiveness ain't cheap To be forgiven, the PDP has to do more than organize town hall events with fancy themes. The party has to show Nigerians what its policies are on education, infrastructure provision, healthcare, security, economy and ceding power to the youth. And it has to show how these policies are an alternative to what the APC is offering. I followed the PDP Rescue Nigeria event all Monday and what struck me was that the party still hasnt accepted that Nigeria was looted dry on its watch. No mea culpa will be complete without that admission. PDP still holds the jaundiced view that all its members being caught with their hands deep in the treasury, are victims of a witch-hunt. There is still a long way to go before the PDP can be forgiven by Nigerians. It has a chance, however. If the party proves all it has said this week and encourages young people to pick up forms for political offices at cheap prices, it may well have begun the journey towards being forgiven. If the party proves during its next primary elections that imposition of candidates is no longer its second name and that the party is not just the property of moneybags, then it could be forgiven. If the PDP can prove that it really abhors corruption and begins to publicly call out its members who looted the treasury for 16 years, then Nigerians may begin to view the party differently. The PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus had apologized to Nigerians for the mistakes of the party leading to its defeat during the 2015 general elections. But, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, challenged the PDP to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude. ''The PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world, the minister said. Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologize, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit, Mohammed announced. The minister noted that despite the paucity of funds, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has invested heavily in infrastructure and social investment programmes. ''Even with the paucity of funds, this administration has spent an unprecedented amount of money on infrastructural development and Social Investment Programme, among others. Returning looted funds will provide more money for these programmes and make life more meaningful for Nigerians. There is no better apology than that. ''If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. PDP, press the reset button. Stop sabotaging the work of this administration, which is packing the mess you left behind, through your reckless statements and unfounded allegations. Play responsible opposition politics. Put Nigeria's interest over and above partisan interest. Temper your desperation to return to power. Spend quality time in the purgatory and you will be forgiven,'' he said. President Buhari had withheld assent to the bill seeking to amend the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the sequence of elections. The National Assembly vowed to override President Buharis veto on the bill. And it did. The House of Representatives reintroduced the electoral bill last week. At the Senate, Bauchi-South lawmaker, Senator Sulieman Nazif reintroduced the bill at today's plenary. Plot against Buhari? Lawmakers loyal to President Buhari had described the bill as a plotagainst Nigerias leader and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Some lawmakers had staged a walk-out of plenary to express the displeasure over the quick passage of the bill by their colleagues. APC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi said this in a statement made available to on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. The PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus had apologized to Nigerians for the mistakes of the party leading to its defeat during the 2015 general elections. The All Progressives Congress (APC) acknowledges the apologies by the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) for the damage the party has wrought on the country's democratic fabric during its sixteen-year rule, he said. However, despite this belated grovelling apology, PDP will need to come clean, confess to their sins and fully atone for it, before restitution is considered. As they say, to err is human but forgiveness is divine. We join PDP in praying to God to forgive them, but Nigerians are human who are still suffering from the years of PDP's misrule. Even if Nigerians are gracious enough to forgive, they will not forget in a hurry, Abdullahi added. Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, was detained by the Turkish authorities in October 2016 and then remanded in custody. He is charged in the indictment with carrying out activities on behalf of the group led by preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says masterminded the failed coup in 2016, and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Both are banned by Turkey as terror groups. Brunson faces two separate terms of 15 years and 20 years in prison on the charges, which will come to court on April 16 in Izmir, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. However the charges appear lighter than those outlined in the original indictment published on March 13, where Brunson was accused of being a member of Gulen's group and risked life imprisonment if convicted. Gulen, who is based in the US state of Pennsylvania and who Turkey wants to see extradited to face trial, denies the charges of masterminding the failed coup. The Brunson case has become one of several sticking points in relations between Turkey and its NATO ally. The matter has been raised by US President Donald Trump in talks with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan had in September 2017 controversially suggested that the United States could exchange Gulen for Brunson, a suggestion that was brushed off by Washington. "They say 'give us the pastor'. You have a preacher (Gulen) there. Give him to us, and we will try (Brunson) and give him back," Erdogan said then. Evangelical pastor Brunson was initially detained along with his wife Norine although she was released in December 2016. The indictment, issued some one-and-a-half years after Brunson was first detained, highlights the severity of the case. Already, land decay caused by unsustainable farming, mining, pollution, and city expansion is undermining the well-being of some 3.2 billion people -- 40 percent of the global population, they said in the first comprehensive assessment of land health. The condition of land is "critical," said the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). "We've converted large amounts of our forests, we've converted large amounts of our grasslands, we've lost 87 percent of our wetlands... we've really changed our land surface in the last several hundred years," IPBES chairman Robert Watson said of the findings. "The message is: land degradation, loss of productivity of those soils and those vegetations will force people to move. It will be no longer viable to live on those lands," he told AFP. "Between now and 2050, we estimate the number could be 50 (million) to some 700 million people." The lowest number is a best-case-scenario projection, said Watson. It assumes "we're actually starting to be much more sustainable, we've really tried hard to have sustainable agricultural practices, sustainable forestry, we've tried to minimize climate change." The upper end of the range is based on a "business-as-usual" approach. The main drivers of land degradation, said the report, were "high-consumption lifestyles" in rich countries, and rising demand for products in developing ones, fueled by income and population growth. Last frontier The problem of land decay does not only impact the people who live on it, the assessment underlined. It threatens food security for all Earth's citizens, as well as access to clean water and breathable air regulated by the soil and the plants that grow on it. Yet less than a quarter of land has managed to escape "substantial impacts" of human activity -- primarily because it is found in inhospitable parts of the world. And even this small repository is projected to shrink to less than 10 percent in just 30 years' time. "People are pushing into those frontiers," said Bob Scholes of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, a co-author of the paper. "One of the consequences of global warming is that we are moving agriculture into areas" such as the icy, subarctic Boreal region, he told AFP. "Tropical rainforests historically have had low human populations because it's hard to get in there -- we are now building roads into them, we are putting agriculture into them," Scholes said. "In the extreme desert areas we are finding deep aquifers, and we're pumping up, unsustainably, ancient water resources to irrigate." By 2014, more than 1.5 billion hectares of natural ecosystems had been converted to croplands, said the analysis. Crop and grazing lands now cover more than a third of the Earth's land surface. This means not only a loss of soil, but also populations of wild plants and animals, and forests that suck up planet-warming carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. The IPBES assessment took 100 volunteer experts from around the globe three years to compile, analyzing all the available scientific data. The end product covers the entirety of Earth's land, as well as the lakes and rivers it supports. Tenth of GDP The analysis estimated that land degradation cost the equivalent of 10 percent of global economic output in 2010. Degraded land yields less, and polluted water has to be purified at high cost. "If we did not have land degradation across the world our economy would be 10 percent stronger," Watson elaborated. "This is a major economic issue for the world." The report identified land degradation as a major contributor to climate change. Deforestation alone contributes to about 10 percent of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. And by releasing carbon once locked in the soil, land decay was responsible for global emissions of up to 4.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year between 2000 and 2009. In 30 years from now, an estimated four billion people -- about 40 percent of the projected population by then -- will live in "dryland" areas, arid and semi-arid places with low agriculture productivity, said the report. Today, the number is just over three billion. "Implementing the right actions to combat land degradation can transform the lives of millions of people across the planet, but this will become more difficult and more costly the longer we take to act," concluded Watson. The land report, which cost about $1 million (810,000 euros) to prepare, is meant to inform government policy-making. According to a report by Moscow-based daily newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets, the former deputy of the State Duma died in the Russian capital, Moscow, after he felt weakness and pain in the chest area. He was reportedly rushed to a city hospital in the early hours of Monday before he died in the morning. The report read, "The emergency team has failed to save his life. He died this morning." Mavrodi's MMM In 2007, a Moscow court found Mavrodi guilty of defrauding 10,000 investors out of $4.3 million, and sentenced him to four and a half years in a penal colony and also fined him $390. Starting from 2011, Mavrodi launched a series of MMM schemes which he described as a pyramid where people interact with each other and give each other money. According to him, his aim was to destroy the current financial system, which he considers unfair. While the scheme promised participants astronomical returns on their 'investments' MMM is known for always crashing and leaving its participants high and dry. After first freezing the operation and denying payouts in 2012, Mavrodi launched the scheme in several countries including India, China, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday launched a new website to boost its military modernization. "The ultimate goal of the website is to contribute to the country's drive of building a strong army," said Zhang Youxia, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Zhang said the platform is an information, innovation and service platform that would help help China to create a strong army, and aid service personnel. "He has said we will never surrender and that is his message to the Catalan people and also that they have the right to express their willingness for independence and a republic in Catalonia," attorney Gonzalo Boye said after visiting Puigdemont in jail following his arrest Sunday on a European warrant. Boye said Puigdemont wanted to "pass the message" to the Catalan people that "he will continue fighting and this is going to be a long fight but it will be a fight that he will" win. A court in the German town of Neumuenster ordered Puigdemont to remain in custody pending possible extradition to Spain. His arrest came five months after he went on the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with sedition and rebellion in the wake of Catalonia's failed independence bid in October. A ruling on extradition based on a European arrest warrant must normally be made within 60 days. The talks, the first between Putin and the Qatari leader for two years, were focussed on "boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields... and on the situation in Syria," the Kremlin said in a statement. More than 2,500 Syrian rebels and civilians prepared to leave Eastern Ghouta on Monday after the largest exodus yet from the opposition enclave, as talks stalled over the final pocket of resistance. Russia has been militarily involved in support of the forces of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's regime since 2015. Last June Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates broke off diplomatic ties with Qatar which they accuse of supporting radical Islamists. To counter its regional isolation, Qatar has sought to deepen trade, military and technological ties with the broader international community. "We count on our Russian friends, with whom we have a cooperative relationship, knowing that Russia plays a significant role in the problems of the Arab world," the emir said at the start of the talks with Putin. "Even though we have solid ties and mutual trust, we must go further to reinforce our relations in all areas," he added. France's interior ministry compiles something known as the "S file" (the "S" stands for security) which contains anyone suspected of being a radical, including potentially dangerous leftist and far-right activists. There is also a separate list, the File for the Prevention of Terrorist Radicalisation (FSPRT), for people judged to be terror threats. Radouane Lakdim, the gunman involved in last Friday's shooting spree in the southern French towns of Carcassonne and Trebes, was listed in the S File in May 2014 and the FSPRT in September 2015. How many are flagged as a threat? A total of 19,745 were listed in the FSPRT as of February 20. The file includes people who represent varying degrees of threat, from someone who is reported by his boss for not shaking hands with women to a minor who has recently converted to Islam. But there are more serious cases of people in contact with members of the Islamic State (IS) group, or others who have left for or wanted to travel to areas controlled by IS in Iraq or Syria. Once listed, a person will remain on the list for five years but might not be actively monitored. The file also contains records of potential links between suspects. It updates gradually, as cases are reported by the security services or via calls to the toll-free tipline that launched in April 2014 Who is on it? Most suspects are from four regions in France: the region around Paris known as the Ile-de-France, the area around Lyon known as Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes in the east, the southern Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrenees region and the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur in the southeast. People from most socio-professional categories appear in the files, but the majority are young men from the suburbs around French cities where low-income immigrant communities, many from Muslim countries, are concentrated. The problem for French security services is that most of the attackers in France over the previous four years had not been flagged by the security services. "You have to remember that this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Jean-Charles Brisard, president of the Center for Terrorism Analysis (CAT). "Since 2014, 60 percent of the attacks in France were carried out by people who weren't in the file. The files are good, but even they don't show the full scale of homegrown threats." How are suspects tracked? French security services manage the list of suspected extremists. Individuals on it are ranked by descending threat level. The names at the high end of the spectrum are put under closer surveillance and brought in for questioning at the slightest suggestion they might be considering action. But security experts have warned for years that France does not have the resources needed to put all of its suspected jihadists under round-the-clock surveillance. Following one suspect full-time can take around 20 police officers, experts say. Investigators therefore depend on phone or internet interceptions to keep track of the highest risks. Five weeks earlier, a gunmans attack at a high school in Parkland, Florida, had left 17 dead. Soon afterward, I wrote a column challenging the business world to effectively set new rules for the sales of guns in America, given Washingtons intransigence. Other companies soon acted BlackRock and Dicks Sporting Goods, among them but Citis decision has the potential to serve as a template for others in the finance industry. Citi said it would require retailers to place restrictions on the sale of guns to anyone younger than 21, to stop selling bump stocks and high-capacity magazines and to perform background checks. Otherwise, it would not do business with them. Corbat, a gun owner who said the decision had not been made lightly, found the response to the banks move instructive. I would say from our employees, it has been overwhelmingly to virtually unanimously positive, he told me. I would say lots of positives from customers and clients. And then, as you know, the gun lobby is a strong lobby. Ive gotten my share of people who staunchly disagree with us interfering in what they believe to be a constitutional right. And that wasnt unexpected, and we certainly respect that opinion. He added that he had expected to hear from customers who planned to take their Citi card and put it in a drawer or cut it up and that Citi had received such responses. But ultimately the positives have significantly outweighed the negatives, he said. For every negative note, he said, he has gotten many more saying that Im moving everything I have to Citi as a response to this.' Investors applauded, too. The board of the California State Teachers Retirement System, a huge pension fund, issued a statement saying Citigroup was modeling best practices and demonstrating actionable steps that others can take. In the weeks since the Parkland shootings, Ive had conversations with dozens of chief executives and other leaders from a variety of industries, many reaching out directly about the internal debates they have had. Virtually all the major banks, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America among them, have created formal or informal working groups to consider the issue, as have the big credit card companies, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express. (Perhaps the bank thats least receptive to addressing the issue of guns is Wells Fargo, which has said it should be approached through the political and legislative process. Wells Fargo is the largest financier in the nation of the gun industry and is the main bank for the National Rifle Association, according to Bloomberg.) With the exception of Citi, most financial institutions are still grappling with how to properly carry out a plan that is both enforceable and does not encroach on the rights of its customers. While Citis decision is significant, Corbat acknowledged that it was intended to be balanced and he purposely didnt want it to be too broad. This isnt an easy thing to simply take a stance on, he said, because of various privacy laws and rights. There is an important nuance here, he said. We didnt tell our hundred and sixty million card holders in the world how they can use their cards. Its their money. But what we did say in terms of the people that Citi is going to do business with, the ones that were going to finance and that were going to, in essence, put our brands together on that there needs to be something that makes sense for us and for both sides. He said the bank had purposely left some of its policy ambiguous so it could accommodate potential exceptions for example, to the 21-year-old age limit. My inbox lit up with people saying: Dear Sir, Ive served in the military. Our country gave me a firearm when I was 18, and it was fine for me to go use that in the defense of our country,' Corbat said. We didnt use the word prohibit, he added. We used the word restriction. And we think that part of this should evolve. So if a person had military training or youve had hunter safety training, Corbat said, he could see an allowance for those individuals, though how that would be administered remains unclear. The focus on raising the age of gun buyers to 21 is not random: Individuals ages 18 to 20 commit homicides using guns at a rate four times higher than the rate for those over 21, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, using FBI and census data. While other institutions seem to be waiting to find the perfect solution, Corbat said, he decided he needed to act. Theres things you can do today, and there are those things that maybe we have the ability around technology or other things to do in the future, he said. Here are two new ideas that the financial community might want to consider. Ive shared these ideas with many of the biggest financial institutions, and the feedback, with some exceptions, has been quite positive. One of the biggest complaints that banks and credit card processors have is that it is very difficult for them to know what products a merchant is selling. Banks do not get access to the specifics of each purchase. The only information they get is a Merchant Category Code, known as an MCC. Oddly enough, a gun dealer and Modells share the same MCC: sporting goods. So a bank or processor has no idea if youre buying a gun or sneakers. If the credit card companies and banks agreed, they could come up with a series of subcodes that would identify retailers that sold guns under a best practices policy like the policy Citigroup proposed or the one Walmart and Dicks follow and the ones that dont. It would add transparency to the process, and it would give banks that issue credit cards the opportunity to decide which retailers they wanted to associate with. This solution is hardly a panacea. Retailers could try to game it, and it would require some enforcement. But much of that could be accomplished through crowdsourced feedback from customers. The addition of a new level of detail to the MCC might add pressure on gun retailers to voluntarily follow the best practices route. The second technological solution is deceptively simple, but it could change the way guns are sold at gun shows, where in some states background checks are not required. Many of the sales at gun shows are done through services like Venmo and Square both of which refuse to knowingly process the firearm sales under their terms of service. Given that gun shows are public events with specific addresses and times, payment services could use GPS coordinates to electronically geo-fence the event so their services limit transactions to users over 21 or require additional information for sales to be processed from that location. In the world of banking, there is an abbreviation that is considered sacrosanct: KYC, or Know Your Customer. It seems only reasonable for the financial industry, especially when it comes to guns, to do more to know its customer. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Conditt was living in Pflugerville, the suburb north of Austin where he grew up. He shared a house there with two other men in their 20s. Both were initially detained by officials, questioned and then released. Investigators have continued to question one of the housemates, who is now a person of interest in the case, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told Fox News on Monday. McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a former federal prosecutor, said all seven of Conditts explosive devices were built at the Pflugerville house. He did construct these bombs in the home, McCaul said. We know that much. They had to bring a robot in to dismantle and take out bomb-making materials. And the question is, did the roommate know that he was making these bombs at the time, for the last month, when all these bombings were still taking place? Officials have not released the names of either housemate, and McCaul did not specify which one was the person of interest. One was detained for hours before being released; the other was held longer, for one or two nights. Neither has been named as a suspect in the case. McCaul said he did not know what, if anything, the housemate of interest had told police about his knowledge of Conditts activities. The interim chief of the Austin police, Brian Manley, had previously declined to say whether the roommates were persons of interest. Thats part of the ongoing investigation, he said Saturday. I know there are individuals, witnesses that we are speaking to. Whether there will be charges at some point in the future has yet to be determined. Law enforcement officials have said they found evidence of Conditts potential future targets, a mix of addresses and other locations that appeared to have no common thread to link them. Investigators were continuing Monday to sort through his computer hard drives and other evidence. Before Conditt died, a federal criminal complaint was filed against him, charging him with unlawful possession and transfer of a destructive device, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A federal magistrate judge in Austin sealed an affidavit by investigators that would be expected to summarize their reasons for charging Conditt. It was unclear when that affidavit would be unsealed. Investigators have said that Conditt used his cellphone to record a video while he was in his vehicle after a confrontation with the police in Round Rock, a suburb near Pflugerville. Shorty after making the video, he detonated one of his bombs inside the vehicle, killing himself. The cellphone survived the explosion. McCaul, whose district includes parts of Austin and Pflugerville, apparently has seen the video. He described it on Fox News as a visually dark 25-minute confession. He said, I wish I was sorry, but Im not,' McCaul said. He refers to himself as a psychopath. Ive been a sociopath all my life. And then even more chilling at the end, he says that maybe I should just blow myself up at a McDonalds and end the whole thing. Thats where he was headed. Officials said Conditt placed four fairly sophisticated homemade bombs in Austin, hidden in packages left on doorsteps or, in one case, placed with a tripwire along a sidewalk, concealed with a children-at-play sign. In total, one of the worst serial bombers in America in decades killed two men; wounded four other people, including a 75-year-old woman; and terrified residents in the Austin and San Antonio regions. During the height of the bombings, Austin police responded to 420 suspicious-package calls in one 24-hour period, all of them turning out to be false alarms. Hundreds of local, state and federal agents and officers were hunting the serial bomber for days. The state deployed a Pilatus high-altitude surveillance airplane that is more often used for border security and is equipped with a thermal imaging system. Conditt was tracked to a hotel parking lot in Round Rock, and when he drove away in his red Nissan Pathfinder, the police followed him and confronted him; the chase ended in a ditch off Interstate 35, where one Austin SWAT officer fired his weapon and Conditt set off his bomb. A justice of the peace in Williamson County, Dain Johnson, said Monday that Conditt died by his own hand. There is no final report yet, but the cause of death is suicide, Johnson said. He had multiple shrapnel injuries from the bomb. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Just before the first class period started, Austin Wyatt Rollins pulled out his fathers handgun in a hallway and fired one shot. It struck his former girlfriend, Jaelynn Willey, in the head and the other student, Desmond Barnes, in the leg. Moments later, Rollins, 17, was dead in another part of the school. But before Monday, it was not clear whether the gunman had killed himself or whether the resource officer, Deputy Blaine Gaskill, fatally shot him. The St. Marys County Sheriffs Office said its investigation had found that Rollins fired one shot at Willey, 16, and then one more into his head at the same time Gaskill fired his weapon. Gaskills shot missed Rollins but struck his handgun, the Sheriffs Office said. In its initial report after the shooting, the Sheriffs Office said Gaskill and Rollins had exchanged gunfire. Amid the national debate over gun control and school shootings, Gaskill was heralded for his swift response and hailed as an example of how officers on campus can quickly end shootings. In the wake of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, politicians including President Donald Trump have called for arming teachers and placing additional officers on campuses. Some have criticized those ideas. After the Maryland shooting, Willey was taken to University of Maryland Prince Georges Hospital Center. Her parents said she was taken off life support Thursday after she had been declared brain dead. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Ties between Washington and Seoul had become strained over disagreements about trade, including Trumps steel tariffs, and threatened to further complicate the already fraught discussions with North Korea. The finalization of a trade agreement with South Korea would hand Trump a victory in his America First approach to trade, in which he has threatened to take tough trade action unless other countries agree to concessions, including a reduction in the gap between what they export to the United States and what America exports to their shores. The blanket steel and aluminum tariffs announced by the White House this month are the most recent example of that blunt approach, with the White House using exemptions and revisions as a carrot to avoid the tariff stick. I think the strategy has worked, quite frankly, Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, told Fox News in an interview on Sunday. We announced the tariff. We said we were going to proceed. But, again, we said wed simultaneously negotiate. The South Korean government announced the deal on Monday. In a statement, the South Korean Trade Ministry said it had agreed to adhere to a quota of 2.68 million tons of steel exports to the United States a year, which it said was roughly equivalent to 70 percent of its annual average sent to the U.S. from 2015 to 2017. It also agreed to lower trade barriers to vehicles imported from the United States. In return, the Trade Ministry said, South Korea would be exempt from the steel tariffs. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Employment and Labour Relations Court Justice Onesmus Mutua further stopped the government from implementing Kinyuas circular that was sent to Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries in all ministries. Last week, activist Okiya Omtatah moved to court challenging government decision to remove the age limit of all parastatals chiefs. Kinyua issued the directive that CEOs of public bodies will not be subjected to both the mandatory retirement age of 60 years and further said they can also serve for more than six years. ALSO READ: ODM reveals next MP to be removed from powerful position Mandatory retirement scrapping On February 27, Mr Kinyua issued a notice, which on its implementation, would have exempted all CEOs of public agencies from the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. He further changed the maximum tenure of the parastatal bosses from six to 10 years. The circular issued by Kinyua and copied to the Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General and the Principal Secretaries indicates that the terms of service for CEOs are contractual and renewable based on performance and business requirements. Kinyuas notice also had directed that that the CEOs would not be subjected to the general public service policy on mandatory retirement at 60 or 65 years or limit as to the number of terms served. Speaking when he appeared on Power Breakfast show in the company of Muranga senator Irungu Kangata and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, Mr Sifuna said that the lawmaker [Wamalwa] has been tumbling on Opposition MPs in the house, a move that has angered several of them. He has equally faulted Mr Wamalwa of lack of humility at the critical position, a move which has brought about disquiet, even as the Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula faced the same axe, a fortnight ago. ALSO READ: Update on Miguna Miguna situation at JKIA The Bungoma Senator and Ford Kenya party leader was axed as Senate Minority leader, and his position taken up by Siayas James Orengo, after 19 Senators unanimously voted to dethrone him. People who occupy leadership positions in the House need to understand that they lead people. You dont go tumbling on people and expect ODM will spare you. I can tell you my brother Wamalwa, you will not even hold that position beyond this week, Mr Sifuna told a silent Wamalwa on TV. Nasa summit decision Unmoved Wamalwa, however, revealed that his closeness to Mr Odinga saw him campaign for him in 2017, and as a show of gratitude, the National Super Alliance summit, led by Mr Odinga, crowned him the Deputy Minority leadership position in the National Assembly. On Monday, the Kiminini MP accused ODM party of disrespecting Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula, despite being a co-principal in the National Super Alliance. ALSO READ: Miguna announces next move after JKIA night drama If ODM do not want to respect Wetangula as a co-principal, then even me, I'm ready to give my seat. I'm ready to let go the seat if the marriage is not working, Mr Wamalwa told KTN News on Monday. He added: We cant have a leadership of NASA coalition where everybody is coming from the Lake. Currently, both minority leadership positions in both the Senate and the National Assembly are occupied by James Orengo (Siaya) and John Mbadi (Suba South). Both are ODM lawmakers. Mr Sifuna, however, took issue with the persistent and regular communication between Raila Odinga, accusing Wamalwa of dragging Mr Odinga into issues meant for parliament, yet he is not party to. I want to assure you as the ODM Secretary General; Hon Raila Odinga is not a party to the parliament. He is a foreigner to parliament. So dont think that youll run to Hon Odinga for you to survive. Instead talk to your MPs to save you, he said. On Sunday, Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula in a press conference in Bungoma said he was no longer interested in the seat. He indicated he will skip the planned retreat. The Kiminini MP, equally, lauded Mr Wetang'ula for his move. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday defended its policy on banning the imports of solid waste after a U.S. official expressed concerns that the ban could cause a fundamental disruption in global supply chains for scrap materials. "The concerns are neither reasonable nor have any legal basis," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing in response to a U.S. representative's remark at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Council for Trade in Goods last Friday. According to reports, at the meeting the U.S. official said that China's import restrictions on recycled commodities had caused a fundamental disruption in the global supply chains for scrap materials,directing them away from productive reuse and towards disposal. "It's very hypocritical of the U.S. to say China is breaching its WTO duty," Hua said. She pointed out that if the United States thought it legitimate to restrict exports of high-tech and high-value-added products, then China's ban on foreign waste imports should not be illegal. "Restricting and banning the imports of solid waste is an important measure China has taken to implement the new development concept, improve environmental quality and safeguard people's health," Hua said. Hua said that according to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, every country has the right to ban the entry of foreign hazardous waste and other sorts of waste. "We hope that the U.S. can reduce and manage hazardous waste and other waste of its own and take up more duties and obligations." Geng said. A battalion of police officers forced Mr Miguna into the flight in a bid to deport him to Dubai. Police officer attempted to forcefully eject the Canadian-based lawyer from the country after failing to show his Canadian passport. According to Immigration officers, Miguna was an undocumented visitor hence could not be allowed into the country, Speaking at the scene Siaya Senator James Orengo said that Miguna was dragged away by over 40 an uniformed officers. "He is on an Emirates flight, and the reason they are giving is that he is undocumented," he said. Journalist Jeff Koinange who was on the flight divulged that Miguna was standing at the plane's door and restricting it from flying. From videos taken by Koinange, Miguna's suit appeared torn following the fight he had with the police officers. After a long standoff the plane closed its door without Miguna onboard. Miguna has now sued the State seeking unrestricted entry following the long standoff with security officials over his visa. According to his lawyer John Khaminwa, Miguna wants the court to block his deportation. Miguna's lawyer Nelson Havi had earlier in the day announced that his client had been detained inside a toilet at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Havi stated that GSU officers deployed at the Airport denied Miguna access to legal counsel. Police had earlier cut off access to terminal two in the morning where Dr Miguna is locked with only Siaya Senator James Orengo has been granted access to see Miguna. Read Also: Part of JKIA shutdown The impasse continued Tuesday morning after Miguna's lawyer Cliff Ombeta said his client will not fill the citizenship forms issued by the Immigration department. Acting Director of Immigration Services Joseph Munywoki said Miguna Miguna was asked to present his documents to facilitate his entry, but he became uncontrollable only giving his National Identity card. Read Also: Miguna Miguna refuses to fill citizenship forms Enjoy The Fall Season Autumn officially starts Wednesday, September 22. We always feel a little tinge of regret saying goodbye to glorious summer, but a lot of that is... Letters to the Editor Help After Ida Devastation Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sent the following letter to the Queens Gazette: This past week has been a very difficult one for... QUIZ: Guess the Road Songs We can't wait to get back on the road again! Play this quiz and see if how many you can get right! Apple growers in U.S. Washington state worried about impact of U.S.-China tariff row SAN FRANCISCO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Apple growers in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific are worried about the possible negative impact of a China-U.S. trade dispute after U.S. President Donald Trump announced high tariffs on Chinese imports worth billions of U.S. dollars, a local radio reported Sunday. As China threatened to slap retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports in response to Trump's announcement Thursday, the most worrying group is Washington state's apple farmers, Washington-based KUOW Radio said. China has been one of Washington's biggest customers among 60 countries around the world that import a third of the crops grown in the state, it said. According to statistics by the Washington Apple Commission, China was the sixth largest international apple market for the state between 2013-2016. Todd Fryhover, the commission's president, told the radio that Washington apple growers fret about the prospect of China imposing tariffs in response to U.S. unilateral trade pressure. "Free trade is something that we all push and look forward to. But we're gonna be cautious and wait ... and see what happens," he said. According to data released in 2015 by the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, Washington is the top state in the United States in terms of the output of apples, cherries, concord grapes and other crops. China is the largest foreign destination market of Washington state's farm products, the data shows. Washington, which is among the most trade dependent states in the United States, counts China as its largest trading partner for both imports and exports. Last year, the state exported more than 18 billion dollars in goods to China, with airplanes and wheat among the top exports, according to U.S. trade data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. INDUSTRY: A business combination agreement for the proposed merger of Siemens Mobility division with Alstom was signed by the two companies on March 23. AUSTRALIA: The first of 24 eight-car Waratah Series 2 double-deck suburban electric multiple-units has been delivered to Sydney. The new fleet is expected to be in service by early 2019. Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko pleads not guilty to espionage RIA Novosti, Kirill Kallinikov 13:34 27/03/2018 MOSCOW, March 27 (RAPSI) - Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko pleaded not guilty to espionage during a hearing in the Moscow City Court on Tuesday, his attorney Mark Feygin told RAPSI. Trial of Sushchenko will continue on March 28, the lawyer said. In November 2017, Feygin wrote on his Twitter account that investigation into Sushchenko had been completed. According to Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian citizen has "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, the FSB officials claimed earlier. Charges were brought against Sushchenko in October 2016. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko had been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinforms personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, Sushchenko arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival. Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him "a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation. Vnukovo ex-deputy customs chief receives suspended sentence for abuse of office RIA Novosti 15:59 27/03/2018 MOSCOW, March 27 (RAPSI) - Former deputy chief of the Vnukovo airports customs Roman Kurzenkov has received a 2-year suspended sentence for abuse of office that led to considerable damage to social and state interests, the Investigative Committee has reported. A court found that in January-March 2016 Kurzenkov knowing about existence of an unlawful route for transportation of goods from Turkey let passengers arriving from Istanbul pass through the green channel customs passage of Vnukovo without declaring any goods of note. These passengers carried in their luggage commercial goods prohibited for import to Russia, evaluated at a price as high as 8 million rubles (nearly $139,900). Kurzenkov admitted his guilt in full. Two businessmen found guilty of smuggling military engine to Vietnam flickr.com/Derek Law 18:00 27/03/2018 MOSCOW, March 27 (RAPSI) The Kirovsky District Court of St. Petersburg has sentenced businessmen Konstantin Kondratenko and Yevgeny Tkachenko to 3 years in prison for smuggling military equipment into Vietnam, the United press service of St. Petersburg courts has told RAPSI. The court found the defendants guilty of smuggling military equipment by a group of people on preliminary conspiracy. According to the case documents, Tkachenko, experienced with repairs of naval equipment, decided to sell maritime diesel engine officially classified as military-grade and transfer it from Russia to Vietnam. Investigators noted that Tkachenko got help from head manager of St. Petersburg Logistics company Kondratenko, who had experience with customs workings. Together the defendants, acting on behalf of a science firm, forged documents stating that the engine is civilian-grade and received a permission to transfer it. In June 2017, a cargo with the military equipment was found during police operation in a shipping port. Bill extending disciplinary sanctions against judges reaches State Duma RIA Novosti, Igor Zarembo 11:59 27/03/2018 MOSCOW, March 27 (RAPSI) Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill extending disciplinary sanctions against judges to the State Duma on Tuesday, according to the database of the parliaments lower house. The bill envisages introducing such punishment as reduction of judges in qualification category for serious disciplinary offense. This disciplinary penalty would allow qualification board of judges to take disciplinary actions against judges more accurately and differentiate liability for committed violations depending on the situation. Amendments are proposed to the laws On the Status of Judges in the Russian Federation and On Bodies of the Judiciary in the Russian Federation. They are aimed at the shift in the role of court chairmen in judge appointment and improvement of the order of judges disciplinary responsibility, an explanatory note to the bill reads. Property details: The land is located in Quail Hollow, one block from Lake Holiday and Quail Hollow Lake. The acreage consist of two lots being combinedinto one large lot. Measuring 105.01 x 107.7 All beautiful trees and neighbor hood. There is a POA of $ 150.00 per year, all taxes are up to date. You are only five minutes from downtown Crossville for Shopping, Hospital, Medical services, Churches an etc. I have an Agent that can show the property, and will handle all the closing at my cost for there services. He... Price: $ 25,500 Seller State of Residence: Tennessee State/Province: Tennessee City: Crossville2 Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Residential Location: 385**, Crossville, Tennessee You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Residential Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Photo taken on March 26, 2018 shows the gate of Embassy of Russia in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle in response to the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain earlier this month. (Xinhua/Yang Chenglin) The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday that Russia "strongly protests" diplomats expulsion by the United States and 14 European countries over an ex-spy case, vowing to retaliate. "We consider this step as unfriendly and not corresponding to the goal and wish to establish the causes and search for the perpetrators of the (ex-spy poisoning) incident on March 4," the ministry said in a statement. It said the British authorities took a "prejudiced, biased and hypocritical stance." It denied Russia's involvement in the incident. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle in response to the ex-spy poisoning case, senior U.S. officials said Monday. On the same day, European Council President Donald Tusk announced that a total of 14 member states of the European Union have also decided to expel Russian diplomats. They accused Moscow of launching a chemical attack against a Russian ex-spy in Britain earlier this month. Sergei Skripal, 66, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in Salisbury on March 4. They remain in critical condition after exposure to a nerve agent, which, according to the British authorities, could have originated from Russia. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident and insisted on participating in direct investigation into the case. "Britain's allies also have no objective and exhaustive data, but they blindly follow the principle of Euro-Atlantic unity at the expense of common sense, standards of civilized interstate dialogue and international law principles," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow regrets the moves of the Western countries and will analyze the situation and propose response measures to President Vladimir Putin to make a final decision. On March 14, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced a series of measures against Russia following the poisoning incident, including the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats. In retaliation, Moscow expelled an equal number of British diplomats and closed a British consular mission. Photo taken on March 26, 2018 shows the Russian national flag at Embassy of Russia in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle in response to the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain earlier this month. (Xinhua/Yang Chenglin) , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Joanna Krupa is engaged to her businessman beau. ADVERTISEMENT The 38-year-old model and television personality's rep confirmed as much to E! News after Krupa posted a photo of her engagement ring Sunday on Instagram. Krupa showed off her diamond sparkler in a picture of herself holding boyfriend Douglas Nunes' hand. The couple's three dogs can be seen in the background. "Just another weekend in the Krupa-Nunes household," Krupa captioned the snapshot, adding a heart and dog emoji. News of Krupa's engagement comes seven months after the star finalized her divorce from Romain Zago. Krupa filed for divorce from Zago in July after initially splitting from the club owner in May after four years of marriage. "[Joanna and Romain] remain friends and desire the best for each other," a lawyer for the pair told E! News in July. Krupa is known for starring in Seasons 2 and 3 of "The Real Housewives of Miami." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! She also competed on "Dancing with the Stars," and serves as a host and judge on "Poland's Next Top Model." Roma Downey thanked God and fans for their support on Instagram after her 20-year-old stepson Cameron Burnett whom she shares with husband Mark Burnett, returned home from the hospital. ADVERTISEMENT Cameron is the reality TV producer's son from a previous marriage. Cameron's hospitalization comes four years after he underwent brain surgery in 2014. "Thanking God for answered prayers for our family and to everyone out there who prayed with us this week THANK YOU," the "Touched by an Angel" actress said on Monday alongside an image of a quote that read, "When you fall to you knees and ask God for help - don't forget to fall back to your knees and say thank you when he answers." "We are so grateful ! We are joyfully saying prayers of thanksgiving #answeredprayers #thankyougod #gratefulheart #gratitude #joy #relief #prayer #countingourblessings," she continued. The family confirmed to People magazine in a statement that Cameron was back home. "Our family is so thankful for all the prayers over the last few days. We are relieved to have Cameron back home with us and we are so incredibly grateful for the amazing care he received at UCLA," they said. Downey first asked for prayers for Cameron on Friday stating on Instagram, "Dear friends, I need your prayers please for someone I love who is ill tonight. Thank you." No other details concerning Cameron's condition was released. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Burnett's credits include "Survivor," "The Apprentice, and "The Voice." China reminds U.S. of rules rather than power in global trade A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the United States should know that in the 21st century, global trade requires rules rather than power. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing, when commenting on U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's remarks that recent U.S. trade moves meant the "era of economic surrender is over." Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying holds a daily press briefing in Beijing, March 26, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn] Instead of saying the "era of economic surrender is over," it is better for the U.S. side to say that the U.S. economic intimidation and hegemony should be eliminated, Hua said. She said that China has always complied with WTO rules and maintained a multilateral trading system with the WTO as its core and rules as the basis. It has always advocated that in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, disputes including economic and trade friction should be settled through consultation. Hua said that both China and the United States had been negotiating on economic and trade issues. And China has the confidence and ability to safeguard its legitimate interests under any circumstances. "China hopes that the United States will make rational and cautious decisions and choices," she said. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to 60 billion U.S. dollars of imports from China and restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States. "China is willing to have consultations with the U.S. side guided by the principle of mutual respect and benefit," Hua said, noting that the the door to dialogue and consultation between the two sides has always been open. China's Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said on Monday that the economic and trade relations between China and the United States were essentially mutually beneficial and brought a lot of tangible benefits to the two peoples. "We don't want to have a trade war, but we are never afraid of it," Zheng said, noting that China was fully determined and prepared to deal with such a situation to safeguard the national interest. Zheng expressed his hope that the U.S. side would calm down and find a solution. Over-expansion, bad management, and multiple allegations irreparably taint Malvinder and Shivinder Singh What do you get when two brothers, third-generation scions of a business house with a solid reputation, exit their stake in their flagship company for $2.4 billion? Such inheritors who leverage cash, industry know-how and pedigree to step bravely into the future would be the ideal answer. However, the sad reality is that Malvinder and Shivinder Singh have all but destroyed the very legacy that their grandfather Bhai Mohan Singh and father Parvinder built and stood for as the brothers find their capital evaporating, a result of their bad investments and misplaced strategies amid a flurry of lawsuits and allegations. Just recently, the Delhi high court ordered attachment of all moveable property disclosed in an affidavit by Singh brothers and others in relation to the Rs 3,500-crore (Rs 35-billion) arbitration case by Daiichi Sankyo, Japan. After the Singapore arbitration court had asked Singh brothers to compensate Daiichi for withholding vital information at the time of sale, the Japanese firm had approached the Delhi high court to collect dues, which was challenged by the brothers. However, the Delhi court has upheld the arbitration order and attached their properties. The Singh duo is also being accused and sued by private equity Siguler Guff & Company on allegations of having siphoned funds from Religare; finally, auditors Deloitte waved red flags at them for over Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) in unsecured advances fronted to vendors and an inter-corporate group deposit given to a promoter-related company. Back in 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration had come down hard on the generic drug giant Ranbaxy Laboratories. The agency announced a ban on imports from the companys manufacturing plant in Toansa, Punjab. It was the fourth Ranbaxy factory to be barred by the agency since 2008 where it found numerous infractions that included laboratories in significant disrepair, and overwriting of data until acceptable results were achieved. It is not that the brothers did not try to build new businesses. After their stake sale in 2008, they set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) RHC Financial Services in Mauritius to allow them to buy overseas assets with ease. In the meantime, Fortis India growth was more substantial, going from one location in 2001 to 66 hospitals by 2011, which included 10 hospitals it bought from rival Wockhardt. The tell-tale signs should have been evident when the company spent a sizeable chunk of change - $650 million - to buy one-fourth stake in Parkway Hospitals of Singapore. Fuelled by cash from selling inherited shares, the brothers were biting off more than they could chew, despite being strait-laced in every other way. One former employee who interacted with both of them and declined to be named said that neither was a profligate spender nor a party animal, which could have caused them to let business spiral. In fact, they had no vice, they did not smoke or drink, and were vegetarian, he adds. On the contrary, Malvinder, a regular at the World Economic Forum in Davos spoke about Indias pioneering role in health care and partnered Bollywood actor Salman Khans Being Human Foundation to subsidise surgeries for children. Then in 2015, Fortis Healthcares co-founder Shivinder said he would move on to serve full-time at the spiritual retreat Radha Soami Satsang Beas to pay heed to an inner calling. He was just 40 years old at the time. A management expert says there are two ways to succeed with international acquisitions: Find strategic fits to the core business or if it is a diversification, buy and then rebuild culture from the ground up or allow what remains to thrive. It is not clear if any of that was thought through clearly when expanding and the business establishment was noticing. One executive search professional, who declined to be named, said, it was difficult to get notable independent directors on board because they all saw what was happening. She goes on to add that in 2009, million-dollar salaries were being thrown at chief executive officers by the company. Another former financial executive at Fortis, who declined to be named, said, Malvinder was the big-picture guy looking at deals and buyouts, while Shivinder was in charge of day-to-day operations. When pressed for answers as to what really went wrong at the core of it, the executive said it was Religare Enterprises, the duos financial services foray, which was the undoing of the group. They paid salaries of over Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) a year to many mid-level employees and the whole approach was a little overboard, he adds. In 2009, Religare even gave 30 German luxury cars to top employees as retention bonuses, according to public reports. All of the spendings was, however, coming at a cost. By 2011, debt on the publicly traded Fortis had crossed Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion), and debt-to-equity, which a year ago was at 0.3, spiked 2.2 times. The cause? The buying of promoter stakes in SRL Diagnostics for Rs 960 crore (Rs 9.6 billion) and the collective debt of Fortis International at Rs 3,270 crore (Rs 32.7 billion). Realising they had taken on more responsibility than they could handle, the brothers aggressively started paring their holdings. First up was the profitable Australian subsidiary Dental Corporation that was sold to Bupa Healthcare for Rs 1,550 crore (Rs 15.5 billion). That was followed by getting rid of the Singapore-listed Religare Health Trust for Rs 2,200 crore (Rs 22 billion), followed by hiving off Rs 370 crore (Rs 3.7 billion) worth of equity in SRL Diagnostics. All these measures helped the company bring down debt to a reasonable Rs 2,300 crore (Rs 23 billion) and debt-equity to about 0.6 times. More than 98 per cent of the promoters holdings in Fortis is pledged, and would eventually get sold to a new investor. The companys inconsistent model of growth and an absence of consistent leadership, coupled with its current spate of lawsuits and alleged malpractice, means that restoring a reputation the Singh family built over the generations may be the hardest thing to pull off. The good news is this. The brothers are here in India to defend their position, explain their actions and perhaps justify their stand, if ever there was one. Photograph: PTI Photo India on track to be third largest consumer economy by 2025. Viveat Susan Pinto and Arnab Dutta report. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Nikhil Desai is a 30-year-old working professional and lives in Dadar, a central locality in Mumbai, with his parents. He has recently done up his home, installing the latest electronic appliances for the convenience of his parents. He has also ensured his mother, a homemaker, does not have to make routine trips to the neighbourhood grocery store. Digital-savvy, Desai uses his latest iPhone to order groceries online and has even taught his mother how to do it on her Xiaomi phone. Desai's story is that of myriad youths across the country. As India gets younger -- over a third of the country's population is below 35 -- consumption has also risen. The uptick has been most pronounced in the last one decade, say experts, coinciding with the rise of social media, technology and smartphones. India is already the second largest smartphone market in the world after China. It shipped over 40 million smartphones in the July-September period of calendar year 2017. India is also counted among the largest fast moving consumer goods and durable markets in the world, worth Rs 2.5 trillion and Rs 700 billion, respectively. It is no surprise then that most big, small and medium-sized consumer goods companies -- from durables to mobile phones, food, beverages, personal care and household items -- have made a beeline for India in the last one decade. A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group says India could become the third largest consumer economy by 2025, from sixth now, touching $4 trillion. India will be trailing only the US and China by 2025, says BCG, driven by growing affluence, changing consumer lifestyles and behaviour. Deven Choksey, managing director, KR Choksey Investment Managers, who has tracked the consumer sector closely, says India's consumer economy has been largely driven by the increase in per capita income, which has grown from Rs 29,524 in 2006-2007 to Rs 103,219 in 2016-2017. Estimates are the 2017-2018 financial year will see India's PCI at Rs 111,782, a year-on-year growth of 8.3 per cent, according to the Central Statistics Office. The increase in PCI, says Choksey, has pushed up people's propensity to consume in the last one decade, fueling the growth of a number of categories from staples to discretionary. "The last few years have seen central and state governments devote more attention to building infrastructure, improving road, rail and air connectivity as well as increasing focus on housing and providing electricity to people," says Choksey. "Greater attention has also been given to the rural areas, with welfare schemes and better price to key agricultural crops," he adds. What does this mean for companies then? As Sunil Duggal, chief executive officer, Dabur India, says an economy on the growth path always spells good news for consumer-facing businesses. Between 2006-2007 and 2016-2017, for instance, the compounded annual growth rate for the top 25 FMCG and durable companies in terms of net sales was 13 per cent, operating profit was 14.27 per cent, and net profit was 13.5 per cent. The next decade could see the compounded annual growth rate in terms of net sales and net profit cross the 13 per cent mark as companies increasingly focus on volume growth and rein in excessive advertising and sales promotion expenditure. While the last 10 years were also marked by drought (in 2014 and 2015), demonetisation (in November 2016) and rural distress (triggered due to drought, unseasonal rains, and cash crunch), experts say the economy is slowly but steadily coming out of this. Both the US-based Fitch Ratings and the World Bank have pegged India's GDP growth for 2017-2018 at 6.5 to 6.7 per cent, and for 2018-2019 at 7.3 per cent. This will accelerate to 7.5 per cent by 2019-2020, Fitch Ratings and the World Bank said. There are also benefits that will accrue due to the introduction of the goods and services tax in July 2017, Duggal says, which will be visible in the coming quarters. The biggest, he explains, is the rationalisation of tax rates, which will improve sales growth, since most consumer goods have been put in the 18 per cent and 12 per cent tax slabs, lower than the pre-GST tax rate of 23-24 per cent. Besides, the move to formalise the economy and improve back-end functions such as warehousing and logistics, will reduce competitive intensity and lower distribution expenditure. "Between 2002 and 2007, the FMCG market was marked by intense competition between rivals and multinational players such as Hindustan Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Colgate, who were all looking to consolidate their position in the marketplace," says G Chokkalingam, founder and managing director, Equinomics Research & Advisory. "The period from 2008 onwards, however, has seen the emergence of Indian FMCG players such as Dabur, Marico, Emami and Godrej Consumer, which grew on the back of acquisitions," he adds. "The last three to four years, in particular, have been more about the rise of Ayurvedic giants such as Patanjali," Chokkalingam points out, "as people attempted to go back to their roots and adopt a healthy way of living." The Ayurvedic trend is expected to strengthen, with most personal care companies devoting more investment and energy on the segment as consumers demand chemical-free products. As far durables and electronic companies are concerned, the thrust now is on increasing local manufacturing rather than assembling. This comes as the government tighten the screws, slapping higher import duties on components, parts and fully and partly built product units. Axiostat is a clinically-endorsed bandage to stop excessive blood loss. Shameen Alauddin reports on the need to make it commonly available. Indian soldiers muster at their base camp after returning from training at Siachen glacier. representational photograph: Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters. During the surgical strike in 2016 along the Line of Control, bleeding control product Axiostat was used to sustain the life of an Indian soldier until a helicopter transferred him to a medical facility, claims Leo Mavely, founder and chief executive officer of Axio Biosolutions. Founded in 2008, Bengaluru-based Axiostat is a clinically-endorsed bandage to stop excessive blood loss. It recently raised $7.4-million in Series-B funding from Ratan Tata-backed UC-RNT Fund and existing investors Accel Partners and IDG. Soon after, it received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its products in the United States. The start-up also has a CE (Conformite Europeenne)-approved mark to sell in Europe. Concept The main component of the product is chitosan, extracted by treating the chitin shells of shrimp and other crustaceans. Negative-charged blood components react with positive-charged Axiostat, forming a sticky substance that clots the blood. Once the patient receives medical attention, the product can be removed by applying water. It absorbs the water to become a gel-like substance that can be peeled off. In an emergency situation, the first 60 minutes is termed the 'golden hour'. It is within this time when it is critical that the victim has access to basic medical attention. In India, victims usually lack access to such care. Of the top 10 common causes of death in India in 2016, road accidents, which often cause excessive bleeding, ranked eighth. These claimed 254,000 lives in 2016, up 22 per cent from 2005, according to the Global Burden of Disease Report, issued last September. Heart disease stood first. Self-harm, which can cause bleeding, ranked 10th after 230,000 died in 2016, up 5 per cent from 2005, according to the report. Axiostat can marginally fill these gaps if it expands into retail segments and sells its products directly to consumers. And, the company says its goal is to grab a place in everyone's first-aid kit. Opportunity "Uncontrollable bleeding is the major reason for deaths," says Mavely. "Whether in battlefields where 50 per cent of soldiers die due to uncontrollable bleeding and about 30 per cent of these deaths can be prevented, or road accident victims, where 40 per cent of deaths are due to bleeding out." "Ambulances in India lack first-aid equipment and the skills required to start treatment before a patient reaches a hospital. Axiostat comes right at the interventional stage, to stop bleeding within two-three minutes of usage. In an accident, the dressing can give the victim ample time to reach the hospital for further treatment," he says. The start-up currently caters to only four segments -- military, emergency, cardiovascular and dental. The Indian military earlier used to import haemostats from the US but later switched to them, claims the firm. It faces competition from global giants, the biggest being Johnson and Johnson. Revenue The price of each product varies depending on the segment it is being used in. While the dental variant costs 75, the military variant comes at 3,000-5,000. Even after a decade of being in the healthcare industry and close to four years of launching its flagship product, Axio Biosolutions is yet to achieve break-even. It says it expects to do so in 18 to 24 months. Beside the defence forces in India, the start-up has shipped around 350,000 units to 12 countries -- the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kenya, South Africa, Romania, Indonesia, Qatar and Oman. It also supplies to medical institutions, such as AIIMS, Manipal, Apollo, Breach Candy and Fortis. Road ahead Mavely estimates the global haemostatic market at $3 billion and the Indian one at $400-500 million. "We hope to be a 1-billion company by 2020, as we are registering 300 per cent year-on-year growth," Mavely says. The start-up that manufactures the product in Ahmedabad recently increased its annual capacity to around 800,000 units. "In the past few years, we have seen the company transform into a global player," says Avinash Raghava from Accel, one of Axio's investment partners. The start-up plans to use the fund to build its footprint in Europe and America, and for new products in the advanced wound care segment. 'The military officers at China's National People's Congress reflect Xi Jinping's preference for elevating politically reliable, younger, officers with good professional qualifications,' says former RA&W officer and China expert Jayadeva Ranade. IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects People's Liberation Army troops at the PLA's Hong Kong garrison, June 30, 2017. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters There are some interesting sidelights in the selection of deputies representing the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) at the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), the first session of which was held in Beijing from March 5 to 20, 2018. Interesting is that despite the downsizing of the PLA by 300,000 personnel and the 'civilianisation' of a number of academics who had PLA ranks, the number of deputies has actually increased and at 269 is one more than in the last NPC. The ratio of PLA deputies is one deputy for every 8,528 persons in the PLA in contrast to one deputy for every 435,511 civilians. The PLA and the PAPF, which was brought under the Central Military Commission with effect from January 1, 2018, together sent 269 deputies of which 5 were from the PAPF. Chinese media reports indicated that the Chinese Communist party's central committee carefully vetted the selection of deputies and that political reliability was the 'key' criteria. The deputies representing the PLA/PAPF at this NPC reflect Chinese President Xi Jinping's preference for elevating politically reliable, younger, officers with good professional qualifications, experience of war or military operations other than war (MOOTW) and varied experience. The average age of the PLA/PAP deputies is 50.4 years, or 2.7 years less than at the previous NPC. There are 21 deputies of ethnic minority backgrounds with two each from the Tibetan and Uyghur ethnic minorities. An analysis of the composition of the PLA/PAPF deputies reveals that the deputies represent 23 organisations of the Chinese armed forces with the departments directly under the CMC accounting for 37 deputies. Anticipatedly the PLA Army (PLAA) has the maximum representation with 38 deputies. This is followed by the PLA Navy (PLAN) with 18; PLA Air Force (PLAAF) with 16; PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) with 13; and the secretive PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) with 3. Three serving PLA theatre commanders are among the Deputies to the NPC. These are: PLAA General Zhao Zongqi, commander of the PLA western theatre command; PLAN Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai, commander of the PLA southern theatre command; General Wang Jiaocheng, former commander of the PLA southern theatre command; and General Liu Yuejun, commander of the PLA eastern theatre command. Two political commissars of theatre commands are among the deputies namely, PLAA Lieutenant General Wu Shezhou, political commissar of the western theatre command, and Lieutenant General Fan Xiaojun, political commissar of the PLA northern theatre command. PLAAF Lieutenant General Yi Xiaoguang -- who was appointed Commander of the crucial Central Theatre Command in October 2017, becoming the first PLAAF officer to be appointed a PLA theatre commander -- is not among the NPC deputies. Yi Xiaoguang is, however, a member of the more important 19th central committee. The emphasis on technical qualifications is noticeable with 85 deputies -- or 31.6% of the total number -- possessing professional technical backgrounds. This is an increase of 2.5% over the representation at the previous NPC. The number confirms the emphasis being given by China's leadership to defence R&D and S&T and indigenous production of advanced weapons systems, warships, aircraft etc. Noticeable also is the qualitative improvement in the educational and professional levels of the deputies with 148 of them having education qualifications at the research level. 90 deputies have received merit awards of PLA second class and above, and all have been described as 'outstanding in their areas of Chinese military'. Interesting is the inclusion of Liu Wei, political commissar of the PAP garrison at Chongqing, among the deputies to the NPC. It is indicative of the PAP's importance in matters relating to domestic and political security. Chen Miner, Politburo member and recently appointed party secretary of the centrally administered Chongqing municipality, said on the sidelines of the NPC session on March 6, 2018, that investigating former Politburo members Bo Xilai and Sun Zhengcai had removed 'major political hidden dangers for the party' and that 'both are the source of the pollution of the political ecology, and they massively harmed Chongqing's officials.' 'Everyone has heard that the evil legacy of Bo Xilai's thinking has yet to be purged, so we must purge it together with the pernicious influence of Sun Zhengcai,' Chen Miner added. General Wang Nin, a close associate of Xi Jinping and commander of the PAPF, had written in the Central Party School paper Study Times in October 2017 pointing to the PAP's task of ensuring national security, social stability and preventing unharmonious behavior in society'. Jayadeva Ranade -- former additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India -- is President, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy. 'To selectively look at the operation of certain laws -- in a manner that ignores the realities of caste and gender injustice in India -- and conclude that they are being particularly misused, is plain wrong,' says Aakar Patel. IMAGE: Dalits block a highway in Mumbai during a bandh to protest the violence at an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. Photograph: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Our Supreme Court's campaign against the 'misuse' of special laws continues. A few days ago, a two-judge bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit issued new directions to prevent what they say is the 'rampant misuse' of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. What these directions are actually likely to do is gut a law crucial to protecting Dalit and Adivasi rights. On the face of it, much of the judgment aims to uphold the fair trial rights of criminal suspects. The Court rightly observes that wrongful arrests and detention violate the Constitutional Right to Personal Liberty. It defends the principles of due process and presumption of innocence, which are too often casually ignored in the Indian criminal justice system. But then the judgement makes some odd leaps of logic. Quoting some high court judgments and statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (which we'll return to), the Court concludes that the Atrocities Act may have become 'a charter for exploitation or oppression', 'an instrument to blackmail or to wreak personal vengeance' and a law which is 'perpetuating casteism'. It goes on to issue several directions, including one potentially destructive one: That the police mandatorily conduct a 'preliminary inquiry' into any complaint of caste-based discrimination or violence before registering a First Information Report. This isn't the first time that the two judges of the Supreme Court have raised questions about the abuse of protective laws. Last July, the same bench issued directions to prevent the 'misuse' of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (the 'anti-dowry' law). They wanted states to set up 'family welfare' committees to vet complaints of dowry harassment before suspects could be arrested -- (a direction which thankfully a larger bench of the Supreme Court later suggested would be revisited). Think for a minute about the kinds of laws most frequently accused of being misused: The anti-sexual harassment law (meant to protect women at work); the anti-dowry law (meant to protect married women); the anti-caste atrocities law (meant to protect Dalits and Adivasis). It isn't a coincidence that laws enacted to protect the rights of people in vulnerable situations are those most often accused of misuse. Two questions arise about the judgments in both cases. One, is there any truth to the charge that these laws are more prone to misuse than others? And two, are the measures suggested the best ones to deal with fair trial concerns? On the first, let's look at the statistics put forward by the Court in the judgment. It states that according to NCRB data for 2015: '5,347 cases were found to be false cases out of the SC cases and 912 were found to be false cases out of ST cases.' Dalit rights organisations have found that police personnel from dominant castes are often reluctant to register crimes against Dalits, and quick to dismiss them as false. But let's for a moment run with these figures, which are from the NCRB 2016 'Crimes in India' report. This report also states that the total number of SC and ST cases reported or pending investigation was 56,299 and 9,096, respectively. Which essentially means that about 10%, or one in ten cases were found to be false. Which also means that nine in ten were not. Hardly a case of 'rampant misuse'. Compare these figures to other crimes. The corresponding number for 'false' cases of kidnapping or abduction is 9%. The police also claimed that 12% of all forgery cases were false. Ever seen anyone demand a rollback of the kidnapping or forgery laws? The judgment also states: 'In the year 2015, out of 15,638 cases decided by the courts, 11,024 cases resulted in acquittal or discharge, 495 cases were withdrawn and 4,119 cases resulted in conviction.' Conviction rate figures are also frequently cited by opponents of Section 498A as 'evidence' of its misuse. The judgment seems to suggest that the fact that 'only' 26% of cases under the Atrocities Act end in convictions is reason enough to assume the law is being abused. Ignore for a minute the everyday delays in investigations and trials, the reports of harassment and intimidation of victims and witnesses, and the systemic barriers to justice for Dalits and Adivasis -- all of which affect conviction rates. Even if one were to use these rates as a standard to measure 'misuse', the conviction rates for cheating, extortion, and arson according to the latest NCRB data are 20%, 19% and 16%, respectively. I'm yet to see anyone claim that these laws are misused. The point is not that Section 498A or the Atrocities Act are incapable of being misused. Every law can be, and is, abused. But to selectively look at the operation of certain laws -- in a manner that ignores the realities of caste and gender injustice in India -- and conclude that they are being particularly misused, is plain wrong. The second issue is whether the directions issued by the Court are the right way to address fair trial concerns. India lacks a victim or witness protection programme, so people in vulnerable situations who complain about caste or gender violence are often likely to face harassment and intimidation from suspects. In addition, the police often try to avoid registering FIRs. In this light, introducing a 'family welfare committee' to vet complaints, or insisting that the police conduct a 'preliminary inquiry' before registering an FIR, adds another hurdle to accessing justice. To take just one example, last year, nearly a hundred Adivasi villagers in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, tried to file FIRs under the Atrocities Act against what they said was the forced dispossession of their land through threats, intimidation and misinformation by agents acting on behalf of private companies. The SC and ST police station in Raigarh accepted the complaints at first, but then used the ruse of a 'preliminary inquiry' to delay the investigation. Some weeks later, they flatly refused to register FIRs. Indian law already has safeguards against the risk of false cases. Anyone who falsely charges a person with an offence with the intention of causing injury can face imprisonment for up to seven years. Giving false evidence and fabricating evidence are also criminal offences. These provisions, if properly enforced by the police and the judiciary, could effectively deter false complaints. What we don't need are more judgements which blunt protective laws and obstruct the rights that Parliament has recognised. Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own. Chinas stealth fifth-generation fighters J-20 are ready for combat at any time, said Yang Wei, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and chief designer of the aircraft. A J-20 stealth fighter is seen at a 2016 air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. (Photo/China Daily) The fifth-generation fighter jet was officially commissioned into China's air force last September, significantly improving the countrys air combat capability. According to Yang, the fighter jet has been well accepted by the pilots, and they all expressed their liking for the aircraft. After coming into service, the J-20 has shown its high performance in stability, stealth capability and fire control. Yang noted that the aircraft will be serialized in the future, which conforms to scientific laws and meets the demand of the country. He said that J-20 is a flagship aircraft of Chinas air force, and is on par with the fifth-generation fighter jets from both the US and Russia. He hopes that the fighter jet can fulfill its mission when the country needs it. Yang also disclosed that the next-generation fighter jet will be highly mechanized, informationized and intelligentized. After developing a series of major weapons such as J-20, large military transport aircraft Y-20, as well as fighter aircraft J-15 and J-16, China has established a research and development system for digital aircraft, Yang said. Now China is in exploration of new technical paths, hoping to establish its own standards, he added. 'I am only asking about his travel bills and expenditure.' Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd) has been filing right to information applications on how much Prime Minister Narendra D Modi has spent on his foreign visits these last four years. In response to his latest RTI application, Air India refused to disclose the expenditure incurred on the prime minister's flights. In a mail to Commodore Batra, Air India wrote: 'Records pertaining to PM's flight have certain information which may have security implications and are, hence, exempted from disclosure under clause (g) of Section 8(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.' 'As such, Air India is advised not to disclose information relating to PM's flight to such RTI queries.' "I am only asking about the bills and expenditure," Commodore Batra, below, who served the Indian Navy from 1967 till 2002 when he retired, tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf. You have consistently tried to find out how much Prime Minister Modi spent on each of his visits abroad by filing RTI pleas. Do you see any change in the government's attitude to your latest RTI application? When Prime Minister Modi travels, he travels on public money. When the prime minister, President and vice president travel abroad on Air India planes and do not pay money, then you can see the loss that it has to bear. The amount is huge and that too in crores. And the government is bailing out Air India with tax-payers' money. On one hand the Government of India blames Air India for bad accounting practice, but when it comes to their own doings, they do not clear its bill for whatever reasons. Two years ago the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) found out that the government owe Rs 513.27 crore (Rs 5.13 billion) to Air India. Last year, on March 31, 2017, the amount of Rs 451.7 crore (Rs 4.517 billion) was still pending from the government. So Rs 451.7 crore was not paid by the prime minister's office to Air India till March 31, 2017? No. The Government of India owed Air India that much money on VVIP visits which includes those of the President, vice president and prime minister. In addition, the MEA (ministry of external affairs) also has to bear the cost of State guests when they come to India. This (amount) also includes when Air India is used during disasters in the country. But the larger bill amount is from the above three VIPs. Now the President's expenditure is budgetary and it comes under the ministry of defence. The vice president ('s bills) comes under the ministry of external affairs and the prime minister's expenditure is put under the ministry of home affairs. My concern is: Why is this payment delayed to a public sector company which is run on tax-payers' money? How many bills has the PMO not cleared to Air India? You can see that on the PMO Web site (external link). The PMO took six months for payment of Japan and Sri Lanka travel bills after they were received, but cleared the last five bills received on February 28 within 23 days. Different government departments are involved in settling these bills. It must be a huge task to clear the PM's Air India bills. I am only saying: Why are these things taking time in the digital age? The delay must be cut down at every level. Is Air India legally permitted to not tell you the cost of the PM's flights? In one order, the CIC (Central Information Commission) said the travels of the prime minister are confidential and cannot be disclosed because of national security reasons. I completely agree with that. But there is a difference between travelling arrangement and travelling funds. If the prime minister is travelling from Parliament to his office there can be one car or two cars as a security measure, I understand that as I am a defence personnel. I am only asking about the bills and expenditure. Why are you bothered about the PM's visits abroad? He is our prime minister and whatever he does is good for the nation, but then it tumbles down (to), why is he not transparent? The PM is the CEO of the country and all his bills the Government of India owes Air India should be addressed. I have no issues with him, but his bills have been pending for the last six months and not cleared. If the prime minister follows (payment rules), then the whole State will follow. A former employee of Cambridge Analytica turned whistleblower said on Tuesday that the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress party during his evidence before a UK parliamentary committee investigating the issue of fake news. Christopher Wylie deposed before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee amid an escalating row around alleged Facebook data breaches linked with the controversial UK-based company, which has also been linked with alleged attempts to influence elections in India. When you look at Facebooks biggest market, India is the top in terms of numbers of users. Obviously, thats a country which is rife with political discord and opportunities for destabilisation, said Labour MP Paul Farrelly, member of the parliamentary committee, during his questioning. They (Cambridge Analytica) worked extensively in India. They have an office in India, Wylie responded. I believe their client was Congress, but I know that they have done all kinds of projects. I dont remember a national project but I know regionally. Indias so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff there, the 28-year-old added, on being probed further. He offered to provide the committee documentation on India, which was welcomed by Farrelly, who said India was a country that did not need any added tensions. During his evidence, Wylie also said that his predecessor, Dan Muresan, Head of Elections at SCL Group, had also been working in India before he died in Kenya under mysterious circumstances. He claimed to have heard stories that Muresan, a Romanian national, may have been poisoned in a hotel room while in the African country. Paul-Olivier Dehaye, co-founder of PersonalData.IO, a service that helps individuals regain control over their personal data, also giving evidence to the committee, added that he had heard reports that Muresan was being paid by an Indian billionaire who wanted Congress to lose elections. So he was pretending to work for one party but actually paid underhand by someone else, said Dehaye. He added that it would be for Indian and Kenyan journalists to get together to investigate the matter further. At the start of Tuesdays session, it emerged that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has declined to appear before the committee amid an ongoing row over data breaches linked to the social media company. A summons letter had been sent to Zuckerberg by Damian Collins, the chair of DCMS. In a response to Collins, Facebooks head of public policy, Rebecca Stimson, said the company would be putting forward its chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, or its chief product officer, Chris Cox. Facebook fully recognises the level of public and Parliamentary interest in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position to answer your questions, Stimson said. As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the Committee, she said, adding that both men likely to step in report directly to Zuckerberg and are among the longest-serving senior representatives in Facebooks 15-year history. The DCMS, which is currently hearing oral evidence as part of its inquiry, is likely to hear from one of the Facebook executives after the Parliaments Easter recess, which ends on April 16. We will seek to clarify from Facebook whether he (Zuckerberg) is available to give evidence or not, because that wasnt clear from our correspondence. If he is available to give evidence then we would be happy to do that either in person or by video link, if that would be more convenient for him, Collins said in a statement. Wylie has accused his former employer, Cambridge Analytica, of gathering the details of 50 million users on Facebook through a personality quiz in 2014. He alleges that because 270,000 people took the quiz, the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks. Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver material in favour of Donald Trump during the 2016 US presidential elections. He also criticised Cambridge Analytica for running campaigns in struggling democracies, which he called an example of what modern-day colonialism looks like. You have a wealthy company from a developed nation going into an economy or democracy thats still struggling to get its feet on the ground and taking advantage of that to profit from that, he told MPs. Cambridge Analytica denies any of the data acquired was used as part of the services it provided to the Trump campaign. As the controversy continues to escalate, Zuckerberg took out full-page advertisements in several UK and US Sunday newspapers to apologise. This was a breach of trust, and I am sorry, the back-page ads said. In an undercover report last week, Cambridge Analytica executives had been caught boasting that they, along with parent company Strategic Communications Laboratories, had worked in more than 200 elections around the world, including India, Nigeria, Kenya, the Czech Republic and Argentina. The recordings were made during a series of meetings at London hotels between November 2017 and January 2018. Cong has had no truck with Cambridge Analytica: Surjewala The Congress has had no truck with Cambridge Analytica, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asserted on Tuesday and accused Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad of lying to divert the agenda after he cited a whistleblowers deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the opposition party. Surjewala used the statement of an Indian citizen, who was a partner in OBI, the Indian arm of Cambridge Analytica, that the controversial firm was hired by an NRI using undisclosed funds to bring down the Congress government, and asked whether Prasad believed more in a foreign citizen than an Indian. He also dared the law minister to answer questions posed at him and whether he would lodge a case against Facebook, OBI and Cambridge Analytica for the truth to come out. The Congress has had no truck with Cambridge Analytica ever or have we ever hired its services. But BJP needs to answer, who was this NRI business person who hired Cambridge Analytica in the run-up to 2014 polls to manufacture false surveys, to ask leading questions and to bring down the Congress government? he asked. Surjewala said the law minister and the Modi government refuse to answer these questions and they only want to divert the agenda. The Congress leader said they had challenged them to lodge an FIR against Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, their partner firm in India, but asked, Why has the law minister not done so. Why is he perpetually lying. Lies, lies and lies is the only way forward for the Modi government, he alleged, saying there is a no confidence motion pending consideration, which the Modi government is desperately trying to avoid. It is preposterous to even assume that a company that was being used by an NRI businessman from undisclosed funds to bring down and spread canards against the Congress UPA government in 2014, would be used by the Congress party, he said. Surjewala said Prasad did not deny when a categorical question was asked whether or not he knows that an NRI business person was used to hatch a conspiracy against the Congress in 2014 elections and he did not deny. He alleged that privacy is being infringed on a daily basis, yet the law minister continues to lie. We want to show him the mirror of truth and ask him that the same whistleblower that he continues to quote, who does not know whether or not a political party used Cambridge Analytica, he said. Image: Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Wylie. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has decided to testify before the United States Congress after repeated calls to speak over data privacy. The 33-year-old CEO has come to terms with the fact that he will have to testify before the Congress within a matter of weeks, and Facebook is currently planning the strategy for his testimony, CNN News cited sources from the social media platform as saying on Tuesday. This comes after immense pressure on Zuckerberg from lawmakers, the media and the public after the Facebook founder last week apologised for data breach and said the platform had made mistakes. Sources believe Zuckerbergs willingness to testify will also put pressure on Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to do the same. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has officially invited all three CEOs to a hearing on data privacy on April 10. Zuckerberg earlier in the day turned down a request from British lawmakers to answer questions on the social networks privacy practices and said he would send two deputies instead. The forthcoming Capitol Hill drama is the culmination of the tech backlash that went mainstream last year. Facebook has been facing trust issues from the public after it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data firm with ties to US President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign, reportedly accessed information from about 50 million users without their knowledge. Facebook now faces a Herculean effort to restore public trust in its commitment to privacy and data protection, sources told CNN. The scandal also highlights a problem that is built into the companys DNA: its business is data exploitation. Facebook makes money by harvesting user data and sharing it with app developers and advertisers. Preventing those buyers from passing that data to third parties with ulterior motives may ultimately be impossible. Image: Facebook has been facing trust issues after it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data firm with ties to US President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign, reportedly accessed information from about 50 million users without their knowledge. Photograph: Stephen Lam/Reuters West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of some regional parties as well as National Democratic Alliance partner Shiv Sena to explore a federal front option to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha polls, mooting a one-to-one fight in all the states. According to a senior NCP leader, who did not want to be identified, Banerjee at the same time favoured a front without involving the Congress. The Trinamool Congress supremo sought to rally the regional parties against the NDA even as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who mooted a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in national politics, said the alternative being proposed by him would be a peoples front of India. Coming down heavily on the NDA-led Centre, Banerjee said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroots level and that it was time for the BJP to pack up and go. She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the BJP. Banerjee, who is in Delhi for three days, had an hour-long meeting with Pawar and other NCP leaders at his office in Parliament. Pawar had earlier in the day denied that a meeting over dinner with opposition parties was scheduled tonight. There is no meeting, there is no dinner, Pawar had said in response to a question whether there will be a dinner meeting with the West Bengal chief minister. Banerjee, who also met leaders from other opposition parties like the Telugu Desam Party, which recently walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal, National Conference and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, once again emphasised that the need of the hour is have a state-wise strategy to defeat the BJP. She met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut along with other Sena members of Parliament triggering speculation in political circles. The Sena, though a part of the ruling NDA, has been critical of Maharashtra and central governments. All opposition parties should work together. It should be a one-to-one fight against the BJP. All opposition parties should help the strongest one in the state against the BJP, Banerjee told reporters. On the issue of opposition unity, Banerjee hailed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh and said that all opposition parties should come together to help the alliance. If Akhilesh and Mayawati call a meeting in Lucknow, we will all go. We should help the parties where they are strong, she said. Raut denied that Shiv Sena was joining any front, but said that the Shiv Sena and Banerjee have a very warm relationship and there were certain things which Banerjee wanted to convey to Uddhav Thackeray. Banerjee later said that she respects Shiv Sena. At least it does not do politics with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP, Banerjee said. The chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie on Wednesday. Though Banerjee is said to be favouring a Front without the Congress, she did say she was in touch with its president Rahul Gandhi. TMC leaders said she is planning to meet Sonia Gandhi. Replying to a query, Banerjee said she has been exchanging messages with Rahul Gandhi. According to a senior NCP leader, Banerjee favoured forming a federal front to defeat the BJP without involving the Congress. She said that a non-Congress federal front should be formed to take on the BJP in the assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections. She feels that if the Congress becomes a part of the opposition front, then many parties like the BJD, TDP would not join the alliance. But she urged the NCP leader to also speak to other opposition parties to know their views, the leader, who did not want to be identified, said. Later NCP leader Praful Patel, while briefing the media on the meeting, said that both the leaders agreed that there should be maximum unity among opposition parties to take on the BJP. The situation will evolve in the coming months for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. There are of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach should be taken. But certainly what the leaders discussed was that opposition unity should be maximum possible as has been witnessed today in Uttar Pradesh where the BSP and the SP have started working together and therefore it is important that political differences among opposition should be resolved, Patel told reporters. Image: West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Benerjee with NCP chief Sharad Pawar after a meeting at Parliament house in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo The second leg of the budget session is virtually heading towards a complete washout. The second leg of the budget session of Parliament seemed to be heading for a washout as both the Houses failed to transact any business on the 16th straight day on Tuesday due to adjournments forced by noisy protests by some parties. The Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day about 20 minutes after it had assembled, also saw a unique protest by opposition parties, whose members remained seated for over 30 minutes even after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called it a day and left the House. The second part of this session has 22 sittings and is scheduled to conclude on April 6. Six more sittings are slated. The Lok Sabha again failed to take up notices for no-confidence motion against the government after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the House was not in order and adjourned proceedings, amid noisy protests over various issues. In a novel way to convey that they have enough numbers to initiate the no-confidence motion, members of the Congress, Left and some other parties displayed blue-coloured placards, each with a circled number -- from 1 to 80 -- along with the words For no-confidence. At least 50 members need to support a no-confidence notice for the House to accept it and start a debate. When the Lower House met at noon after the first adjournment, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members trooped into the Well shouting slogans and demanding immediate constitution of the Cauvery river management board. Many other Opposition members were seen demanding that the notices for no-confidence motion be taken up. Mahajan told the House that she has received notices for no-confidence motion from members of various parties and added that she was duty-bound to take them up. However, she decided not to take up the notices saying the House was not in order. Unless the House is in order, I will not be in a position to take up notices, Mahajan said and requested the protesting members to return to their seats. Members from the Congress, the Left, the Telugu Desam Party and some other parties stood up holding the blue placards, apparently to show her that there were 80 members supporting the no-confidence motion. Amid the din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government was ready for any discussion and sought to blame the Congress for the proceedings not moving ahead. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge blamed the government for the impasse, saying it does not want discussion on the issue and asserted We are ready for discussion. He later claimed that the at least 80 MPs were supporting the motion. AIADMK and Congress members also got into heated exchanges even after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day, apparently over remarks by Congress MP K C Venugopal that the Tamil Nadu party was match fixing with the BJP in not allowing the House to function and taking up the no-confidence motion. The Rajya Sabha too witnessed similar scenes and could not bid farewell to 40 retiring MPs on Tuesday or transact any business for the 16th day in a row as the Chairman adjourned the House for the day after AIADMK MPs came into the Well protesting over the Cauvery issue. After laying of the listed papers, Naidu said the House should bid farewell to retiring MPs, listen to their experiences and thanking them for their contributions. However, AIADMK members continued to raise slogans from the Well and were soon joined by the TDP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present in the House. We dont have the courtesy even for retiring members, Naidu remarked as he asked protesting members to go back to their seats. As his appeal went unheeded, Naidu asked both Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley: Are we so helpless? To this, Azad said the House should function, while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affair Vijay Goel appealed to the protesting MPs to let the House function. As the AIADMK and the TDP did not relent, Naidu adjourned the House for 15 minutes and asked leaders of different political parties to meet him in his chamber. When the House reassembled, he again appealed for order. This is a very important occasion...40 members are retiring. We want to give them farewell, Naidu said, asking members to give the farewell in a peaceful and dignified manner. As the ruling party from Tamil Nadu continued protest, Naidu warned that there were two options. One is to name the protesting members and take action against them, or adjourn the House and deprive the retiring members from sharing their experiences. Maitreyan sought the prime ministers intervention on their demand for immediate setting up of the Cauvery river water management board. As the AIADMK did not yield to his requests, an angry Naidu abruptly adjourned the House for the day, taking opposition members by surprise. After the adjournment of the House for the day, Azad was heard urging members to remain seated. Most of the opposition members, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remained seated till noon, almost 30 minutes after the Chairman had called it a day. Members from treasury benches too remained in the House for quite some time. The prime minister left soon after the adjournment. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley was seen holding discussion with several opposition members, including Azad. The opposition members were apparently unhappy with the adjournment. Countries saying no to trade and openness will fail, said Apple CEO Tim Cook, calling for China and the U.S to embrace openness, trade and diversity and believing that the pie gets larger if relevant sides work together. Different from being a major maker of international trade rules, the U.S. has become an obvious breaker of them, experts and entrepreneurs from home and abroad said at a forum, warning the U.S. to stop the unreasonable decision and bring China-US economic and trade ties back to normal. On March 22, US President Donald Trump incited a trade war by signing a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China and restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States. The memorandum is based on the so-called Section 301 investigation into so-called Chinese intellectual property theft launched by the Trump administration in August 2017. The investigation, based on U.S. domestic laws, went against the international trade rules, said Wang Yiming, deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council. Wang said the logic behind the U.S. trade moves was rough and outdated, and the results of the investigation were not objective. The measures taken by the Trump Administration were disappointing, said Nicholas Stern, professor of the London School of Economics and Political Science and president of the Royal Economic Society. The US has adopted a very inappropriate way to address the U.S-China trade deficit, which does not come from the U.Ss foreign trade with a specific country, it comes from the imbalance between its own fiscal revenue and expenditure, the professor pointed out. Zhu Min, head of the National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University said that once a trade war starts, the cost, price and flow of commodities will all change. The U.S. was a major maker of international trade rules, but what it is doing is obviously sabotaging the rules, Zhu added. On March 23, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that it planned to impose tariffs on $3 billion worth of American-produced goods. According to Zhu, China's response once again called for rational and careful decisions by the U.S. China and the U.S. are economically interrelated, and a longer period of dialogue is needed to solve their dispute, said Charles-Edouard Bouee, CEO of international consulting firm Roland Berger, who added that China has expressed its clear stance that this is not a unilateral dialogue and the U.S. should also be engaged in this. An important cause of the trade imbalance is the fact that U.S. goods are less competitive in the Chinese market, said Long Guoqiang, deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council. "Solutions to the U.S-China trade deficit do not come from cutting exports from China, but from U.S. enterprises making their products more competitive," he pointed out. Lawrence Summers, a Harvard economics professor said a trade war will never help to achieve win-win results. Former World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy said that instead of trade protectionism, negotiation and cooperation is the only way to solve trade frictions. Iraq: New Guidelines Silence Media Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 3 July 2014 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraq: New Guidelines Silence Media, 3 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ab9f7a64.html [accessed 24 September 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 3 July 2014 Iraq: New Guidelines Silence Media Emergency Decree Also Puts Pressure on Critical Reporting (Baghdad) - Iraq's new media guidelines are so vague as to be wide open to abuse. The guidelines unjustifiably restrict freedom of the press, including by requiring pro-governmental coverage. The government-run Communications and Media Commission (CMC) issued the "mandatory" guidelines on June 18, 2014, to regulate media "during the war on terror." The guidelines demand that media avoid making information about insurgent forces public and requires them to report on government forces only in favorable terms. Article 1 forbids media from broadcasting or publishing material that "may be interpreted as being against the security forces" and instead insists that they "focus on the security achievements of the armed forces, by repetition throughout the day." This includes "praising the heroic acts of security personnel." "The Iraqi government's new guidelines seem to force the media to stop reporting and become a government public relations appendage," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director. "These guidelines are a clear attempt to prevent critical coverage of important events and silence debate as the country goes through this intense security and political crisis." Staff with independent Iraqi media outlets have told Human Rights Watch of pressure, including threats of license revocation, from the media commission and government officials because of their critical reporting. Iraq declared a state of emergency on June 10. But under international law, even during a state of emergency, the government may restrict freedom of expression only to the extent strictly necessary for the exigencies of the situation. On no account can even a genuine emergency justify the authorities requiring pro-government coverage. Some Iraqi media outlets are known for their sectarian polemics, including some that incite violence, but these latest restrictions go well beyond what international law allows in times of emergency, unjustifiably shielding the government and security forces from criticism and accountability, Human Rights Watch said. They are also apparently being applied arbitrarily, as no pro-government channels have been targeted with warnings or closures. Broadcasting a statement from an armed group or an interview with one of its members is forbidden, article 5 says. "Do not seek a 'scoop' at the expense of your country," the guidelines warn. Article 9 requires media to "spread enthusiasm and a fighting spirit against terror." This means routinely broadcasting "patriotic anthems and teeming crowds and the heroic deeds of our security forces." The state of emergency that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki decreed on June 16 authorizes the government to restrict the media. Article 8, paragraph 11 of the emergency declaration requires all media to submit all material for review prior to publishing or broadcast, though Human Rights Watch has not been able to determine whether this requirement is being enforced. Paragraph 13 of the emergency decree allows officials to monitor "emails and all electronic and wired and wireless communications." The extent to which the government is monitoring journalists' and others' communications is unknown, but Iraqi journalists have told Human Rights Watch that they routinely do not speak about sensitive matters on the phone or online. On May 26, during government clashes with Sunni armed groups in Anbar province, the Media Commission director, Dr. Safaa al-Din Rabia, sent a letter to all media threatening outlets that "support terrorists groups through media by publishing the operations of these groups." Those who fail to respect the rules "will be held accountable," Rabia warned, but did not elaborate. On June 21, the commission sent a letter to a media outlet that has reported critically about the government and did not want to be named for fear of retribution. "Because your broadcast programming is threatening national security, we warn you to be more careful," the letter said. "If this kind of broadcasting is repeated your license will be revoked." On June 24, Egypt's broadcast regulator said it barred two privately owned Iraqi television stations based in Cairo, Al-Baghdadiyya and Al-Rafidain, from Egypt's main satellite system, Nilesat, after the Egyptian officials received complaints from Baghdad about the stations' content. Ziad al-Ajili, executive director at the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory (JFO), told Human Rights Watch that Al-Rafidain is known for its virulent pro-Sunni programming, and was "always inciting violence inside Iraq." Al-Baghdadiyya, though, frequently broadcasts investigative reporting critical of the government, and is not known to have called for violence, he said. A few weeks earlier, Jordanian police closed Al-Abbasiyya TV in Amman, which has opposed Maliki, Reporters Without Borders reported. The head of Egypt's broadcast regulator said in a statement to international media that authorities had taken Al-Baghdadiyya and Al-Rafidain off Nilesat because the stations had violated their contracts "regarding their content." The Iraqi government has frequently targeted Al-Baghdadiyya. Al-Ajili said that Al-Baghdadiyya's messaging was balanced, calling for peace, unity, and fighting corruption, but was frequently targeted for its critical reporting. Authorities closed the station in December 2012, citing unspecified broadcast rules and an alleged failure to pay broadcast fees. The government earlier closed the station in 2010 for several months after it broadcast the demands of gunmen who had attacked a church in Baghdad and killed 58 people. The Media Commission said broadcasting those demands "amounts to incitement to violence." An Al-Baghdadiyya staff member told Human Rights Watch that about 16 police officers came to the station's Baghdad office around June 20, beat two guards so badly that they required hospitalization, and confiscated some of the station's equipment. "We tried to reach out to various ministries and the CMC to solve the matter, but they refuse to even meet with us," the staff member said. The Iraqi government has also taken steps to close some news and social media websites, and in some places has tried to block the Internet completely. The state-owned Telecommunications and Post Company blocked some social media platforms on June 13, including Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and YouTube. Al-Ahram news agency reported that the ban was lifted on June 30 but some websites remain blocked in some areas. Residents of Tikrit and Mosul told Human Rights Watch that they still have little to no Internet access. The government has taken no known action against media outlets that support the government or pro-government Shi'a militias, such as Al-Itijah TV, operated by the Kita'ib Hezbollah militia, and Al-Ahd TV, operated by the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haqq militia. The state-run television station Al-Iraqiyya frequently broadcasts confessions of what it calls captured terrorists, apparently before they have appeared before a judge. The UN Human Rights Committee has stated that the media should avoid news coverage undermining the presumption of innocence. International media are not immune and are also being targeted. On June 12, the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya TV said the Iraqi government had threatened to close its Baghdad bureau and ban correspondents of Al-Arabiya and its sister station, Al Hadath, from reporting in the country. "Maliki wants to punish Al-Arabiya as he did when he closed a large number of newspapers and television stations during the past few years only because those media outlets criticized his policies," said Al-Arabiya's general manager, Abd al-Rahman al-Rashed. On June 19, on state-run Al-Iraqiyya TV, an official from the Oil Ministry threatened international wire services for publishing what he claimed was misinformation about fighting at the oil refinery in Beiji. Human Rights Watch has documented how in the past the government has arrested and prosecuted journalists who reported on government corruption or abuse. "The Iraqi government is cracking down on critical media at a time when facts and debate are required," Stork said. "Shutting stations on spurious charges without due process while letting pro-government media incite violence and break the law reveals the double-standard." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch (File photo) Five years into Chinas introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative, the concept has become a buzzword among international business players, who all set eyes on opportunities brought by the worldwide development plan. As Chinas first annual high-level international conference right after the two sessions, the 2018 China Development Forum that ended Monday specifically set up sessions on Belt and Road Initiative to meet needs of the foreign business community. Foreign companies used to take a wait-and-see attitude toward the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China, but the more they understood it, the more they saw opportunities, noted Lu Mai, Secretary General of China Development Research Foundation and organizer of the forum. As one of the most active players, German powerhouse Siemens on March 22 launched a Belt and Road office in Beijing to boost international cooperation. We are one of the earliest companies to partner with Chinese enterprises to explore the overseas market. We can play an indispensable role of driving forward global collaboration, and co-creating values for the benefits of China as well as the countries along the Belt and Road where Siemens has an unrivaled presence and knowledge of local markets, Cedrik Neike, a member of the Managing Board of Siemens, told Peoples Daily Online. By 2017, Siemens had worked with over 100 Chinese Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) in more than 100 markets worldwide. Another key player under the initiative, Switzerland-based power grids manufacturing giant ABB Group has participated in EPC led by Chinese companies in over 70 countries and regions, offering consulting, manufacturing, and engineering services to more than 400 Chinese companies in 2016 as they headed overseas. Volvo Group is also working closely with Chinese EPC partners to engage in regional infrastructure programs, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and China-Mongolia railway projects. In an interview with Peoples Daily Online, Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo Group, contributed the rapid development of China to effective and innovative solutions from society, which can be demonstrated through the example of Belt and Road Initiative. In addition to basic infrastructure construction, Lundstedt also stressed that technological exchange and cooperation are also critical under the initiative. Meanwhile, other companies and institutes are looking at a softer aspect of the Belt and Road Initiative. WeWork, leader of co-working space industry, seeks to tap into the global development plan as it connects cities and countries around the world including Singapore, India, and Israel, where the companys operations are in full feather, according to Adam Neumann, co-founder and CEO of WeWork. As more and more Chinese companies eye the overseas market, the company has set its eyes on helping them connect with local resources in foreign countries, while bringing foreign companies along and beyond the route back into the Chinese market, Neumann added. Jonathan Pershing, Program Director of Environment at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, pointed out that China, which itself is committed to cutting emissions, has played an increasingly important role in green investment along the Belt and Road, which he praised for helping the world realize the goal of cutting carbon emissions. Raleigh, NC -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/27/2018 --When it comes to air conditioning maintenance, the most obvious question that strikes in mind is if it is required every Spring. The answer is in the affirmative as the system plays a vital role during Summer when the sun is up above dazzling brightly, making it very difficult for all to combat the scorching heat and high temperature. The system at the top of the condition is sure to assist people in executing respective roles comfortably. Given its importance in day to day life, it is essential for every homeowner and business owner to have the system tested regularly. At Bolton Construction Services, one can have the right team of professionals who are competent experts at handling air conditioning repairs in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina with personalized care and devotion. 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Whether it is a new construction process or installation or servicing, Bolton Construction & Service will do everything for one. To know more about residential air conditioning service in Cary and Raleigh, North Carolina, visit http://www.boltonservice.com/. About Bolton Construction & Service Bolton Construction & Service is one of oldest and renowned family owned businesses offering ac service, heating and cooling solutions, and plumbing services in Cary. Glendale, NY -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/27/2018 --With 40 years of extensive experience in the private and commercial sector in the insurance industry, Hughes Insurance was developed to provide high-performance insurance solution to consumers according to their specific circumstances and needs. It is a known fact that getting car insurance in Howard Beach and Middle Village, New York is a time-consuming process involving one going to various vehicle insurance companies to gather information. 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Instead, they cater to different types of clients no matter what kind of insurance policy they need. The company has a team of professional insurance consultants that welcome the customer, listen to their needs, and come up with a personalized solution. They will help the clients wade through the various options and provide reliable solutions that protect one while offering the best possible rates. To know more about other types of insurance in Maspeth and Middle Village, New York, visit http://www.hughesassocinsur.com/auto-insurance/. About Hughes Associates, Inc. Hughes Associates, Inc., is an independent insurance agency that offers a wide range of insurance policies under a single roof. They offer home insurance, life insurance, auto insurance, commercial insurance and more. Berwyn, PA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/27/2018 --Ozone Wireless, Barbados' first 4G LTE- only telecommunications provider, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Prepay Nation to distribute the Ozone prepaid mobile airtime globally. "It is now much easier for members of the Barbados Diaspora to top-up the phone of a friend or relative back home" said Colin Benjamin, Director of Online Channels at Prepay Nation, a Pennsylvania based company with many years of experience in the airtime remittance industry. "Furthermore, Barbadians traveling abroad can now add credit to their phones from virtually any retailer that currently sells mobile top-up in North America, Europe and elsewhere. In addition, they have the option of directly recharging online via ozone.etopuponline.com, an e-commerce website that is powered by Prepay Nation. We are extremely pleased to be the International Mobile Recharge Provider for Ozone Wireless." "This partnership with Prepay Nation is just one more step we are taking to ensure that we are improving the overall experience that our customers, and their well-wishers by extension, have with Ozone. Convenience is very important for today's consumer and we are committed to delivering this to all of our valued customers", said Erma Clarke, Ozone Wireless, Head of Product Management. "In 2018 we will therefore be further expanding our payment and recharge channels to ensure that our customers have more time to enjoy the things that matter most to them." About Prepay Nation Prepay Nation is a growth company in the business of distributing international top-ups using its proprietary software platform, the prepaid mobile ecosystem and an extensive set of retail, online and mobile channels. With over 220 mobile operator partnerships in 95 countries and diverse distribution channel spanning over 175,000 locations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Middle East, Prepay Nation provides a valuable service to expatriates who financially support their loved ones back home. Prepay Nation's unique business model, scalable multi-currency processing platform, and global interconnectivity with mobile operators and other digital service providers provides instantaneous and no-fee transactions for consumers and a significant revenue opportunity for distributors. To read more visit http://www.prepaynation.com. For more information contact: Lucas Brasil lbrasil@prepaynation.com About Ozone Wireless Inc. Ozone Wireless Inc. is a licensed mobile telecommunications company headquartered in the Caribbean, on the island of Barbados. Founded in 2011, the Ozone team has built Barbados' first 4G LTE-only network to create a distinctive, alternative mobile experience, beyond the imagination of customers and financial success for business partners. They make life easier for customers by helping them get the most out of their mobile devices, offering outstanding value from the services they provide through their retail stores, distribution channels, Ozone apps and website. To read more visit http://www.ozonewireless.com. For more information contact: Dianne Squires dianne.squires@ozonewireless.com MOSCOW, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Criminal negligence and slovenliness are among the causes for the tragedy of Kemerovo shopping mall, said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting during his visit Kemerovo on Tuesday. "What is happening here -- this was not a combat situation, not an unexpected methane outburst in a mine. People came to rest, children. We talk about demographics and lose so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, because of slovenliness," Putin said. A fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the shopping mall in Kemerovo city in southwestern Siberia, killing 64 people, including many children. It is one of the deadliest fires in Russia in recent years. Putin also instructed head of Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin to give legal assessment of the actions of all officials who let the deadly Kemerovo shopping mall fire happen. "It is necessary to give legal assessment of the actions of each official. You can not get a certificate without money, but you can sign anything for money," Putin said. He also offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, starting the meeting with a moment of silence. The Russian Investigative Committee has opened several criminal cases into the incident, including into the deaths through negligence and fire safety violations. The tragedy has already launched a series of checks into compliance with fire safety regulations across the country. Eight facts both Chinese and US citizens should know about trade war The trade war between China and the US has been a hot topic in recent days, and stock markets of many countries even crashed because of the dispute. However, whats behind the trade war? How will China respond? Here are eight facts that both Chinese and Americans should know. 1. The trade war was started by the US. US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China and restrictions on Chinese investment in the US on Mar. 22. The trade war has erupted as a result of the violations of international rules on the behalf of the Trump administration, and it was forced upon China. There might be multiple reasons behind the trade war, but one thing is clear that China has no other option. Compromising will never bring peace. 2. China has confidence and is fully prepared. Through the responses by Chinas Foreign Ministry, embassies, and Ministry of Commerce, it is easy to see that the country is well prepared for the trade war diplomatically and economically, even politically and militarily. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said during a regular press conference on March 23, 2018 that China will fight to the end. It is not at all talk, it is supported by Chinas true capability. The Ministry of Commerce announced on the same day that it was considering higher tariffs for imported US products worth about $3 billion, and the country is currently planning to increase tariffs on a wider range of imports from the US including aircrafts and computer chips. 3. Whats behind the trade war is a fear the US has regarding the rise of China. The intention of the US is clear: to contain the rising of China, which conforms to its mentality as an established power. Chinas nonmilitary approach to handle relations with major countries is a rational choice, and also an unavoidable process for a developing country. China should brace itself for this process. 4. To urge its allies to escalate pressure on China is merely a case of wishful thinking on the US side. In order to seek for help from its allies, Trump on March 22 granted tariff exemptions on steel and aluminum to Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), and South Korea until May 1, 2018 as discussions continue. However, German newspaper Die Welt warned that if the EU compromises this time, Trump might become more irrational and even aim at the EU in the future. Most countries in the world lack strategic confidence in the US, yet at the same time they are maintaining good trade relations with China. They will never be puppets of the US for the maximization of their national interests. 5. The trade war is not only unfairly aimed at China, it also violates global trade rules. On Mar. 8, Trump signed a tariff order to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum but offered relief to some U.S. allies including Mexico and Canada. This action is a violation of the international trade rules, which will bring damages to its own image and reputation. 6. The trade war will only hurt others without necessarily benefiting the US itself. According to US media, the trade war will increase the living cost of US consumers and cause negative impacts on major enterprises. The countermeasures to be taken by China will further worsen the situation, especially in the fields of manufacturing, employment, and imports and exports. Australian scholars predict that the GDP of the US will drop by 5.2 percent if countermeasures are taken by every country, leading to a loss of $933.2 billion. 7. Starting the trade war, the US goes against the whole world. If Trump insists on starting the trade war, the whole international society will suffer a loss from it. Research by the Brookings Institution indicated that if the US increases tariffs by 10 percent, the GDP of most economies will drop between 1 and 4.5 percent. The research further pointed out that a 40-percent increase in the tariffs would trigger a global economic crisis. 8. The victory belongs to China. China will take targeted measures to counter the unilateral move of the US and safeguard its interests through legal approaches. Large trade war will hurt both the Chinese and the US economies, but it also spurs China to transform its economy in a better direction. China has nothing to be afraid of. As long as the Chinese are united, the victory will belong to China. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Austria said Monday that it would not follow a number of other EU countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, stressing its neutrality. "We stand behind the decision to recall the EU ambassador, but we will not take any national measures," Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said in a joint statement. "Indeed, we want to keep the channels of communication to Russia open," they added. "Austria is a neutral country and sees itself as a bridge-builder between East and West." Fourteen European Union countries are to expel a total of 30 Russian diplomats in a coordinated international response to Moscow over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury, according to an AFP tally. Germany, France and Poland led the way with four expulsions each and EU President Donald Tusk warned that more diplomats could be thrown out in the coming days. Austria is a member of the European Union but is officially neutral and is not part of the NATO military alliance. The right-wing Kurz visited Russia in late February and his coalition partners, the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), have a "cooperation pact" with President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. Slovakia, while condemning the Skripal poisoning, also said it was not throwing out Russian diplomats at present but will summon the Russian ambassador "without delay". "The development of the situation, as well as Russia's response to the calls addressed to it by the EU countries -- including Slovakia -- will influence the next steps that we are prepared to consider in this case," the Slovakian foreign ministry said. Short link: Egypt's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Nasser Hamdy, visited the Shomiasy hospital in the city to check on the state of three Egyptians who were injured after a number of ballistic missiles were fired at Riyadh by Houthis in Yemen on Sunday. On Sunday Saudi air defence forces shot down seven ballistic missiles fired at the capital of Riyadh, as well as other southern cities of Saudi Arabia; however, the debris of the missiles killed an Egyptian national and injured three others, two of whom are his relatives. The ambassador was accompanied by a number of Egyptian officials in Riyadh, including the consul and the defence attache, a foreign ministry statement added. Egyptian authorities are paying to transfer the body of Abdel Motaleb Ahmed Hussein, the man who was killed, to Egypt, the ministry added. The three men injured, Mohamed Ahmed Hussein, Shehab Mahmoud Hussein and Tareq Abo Taleb Mohamed, are stable and one will be released from hospital soon, the statement said. Hussein is the first person to be killed on Saudi soil by military action since the Saudi-led coalition started their military operations in Yemen in 2015, Reuters reported. The Saudi military says the Houthi militants have fired dozens of missiles into Saudi Arabia since last year, all of which were intercepted. Ten thousand people have been killed during the war in Yemen, two million people have been displaced, and one million people have had cholera, Reuters reported. Short link: Egypts National Elections Authority (NEA) has said that the second day of the presidential elections is running smoothly on Tuesday across the country, where millions of Egyptians are expected to pick the nations president for the next four years. Incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is expected to defeat his lesser-known rival, the head of the Ghad Party Moussa Mostafa Moussa. If El-Sisi wins, he will serve his second and final four-year term as president, according to the constitution. Ahram Online visited a polling station in Maadi, Cairo, where people blasted patriotic songs to encourage the public to vote. The women-only polling station, which had no queues, is guarded by army officers and soldiers wearing black balaclavas and taking photographs with voters. All the voters who spoke to Ahram Online said they are voting for President El-Sisi. "I don't go out often, but I can see in the media that [El-Sisi] is developing the country and inaugurating new projects," said Mona Taha, a 58-year-old housewife who cast her ballot for El-Sisi. Nada Al-Sebaey, a 62-year-old retired banker, said that El-Sisi is "the right man in the right place. He has saved the country from chaos; these four years have been full of achievements." Egypt's Ministry of Health announced that a voter died on Sunday at a polling station in Cairo. The ministry said in a statement on Monday that the 45-year-old woman suffered from hypotension and passed away at a polling station at Huda Shaarawy school in Helwan, Cairo. The ministry said that 104 voters fell ill at polling stations, adding that 20 received medical aid at the stations and the rest were taken to hospital for treatment. On Saturday, Minister of Health Emad Radi said that the ministry would be deploying 2,400 ambulances to major polling stations during the elections. The elections will conclude on Wednesday, and the official results will be announced on 2 April. Short link: Egypt's National Elections Authority (NEA) maintains its legal right to impose fines on those who abstain from voting in the ongoing presidential elections, NEA spokesperson Mahmoud El-Sherif said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Since the 2011 revolution, the Egyptian government has said repeatedly during several elections that it would impose a fine of EGP 500 on citizens who do not vote. However, the fine has not been implemented so far. El-Sherif said that all polling stations opened on time on the second day of the presidential elections, with the exception of two stations in Alexandria and Saloum. The spokesman added that the electoral process has gone smoothly, and that the NEA has not received any complaints. El-Sherif also said that a one-hour break from voting was cancelled on Tuesday after the NEA received complaints that the break, which was set for 3 to 4pm, was not convenient given citizens work hours. The 2018 presidential elections, which started on Monday, will conclude on Wednesday, and the official results will be announced on 2 April. Incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is expected to defeat his lesser-known rival, the head of the Ghad Party Moussa Mostafa Moussa. If El-Sisi wins, he will serve his second and final four-year term as president, according to the constitution. Short link: Egyptian citizens headed to polling stations across the country on Tuesday for the second day of voting in Egypt's 2018 presidential elections.Voting is due to run from 9am to 9pm in 13,706 polling stations in all 26 governorates, with the process due to end after a third day on Wednesday.Two candidates are running in the elections; incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Ghad Party leader Moussa Mostafa Moussa. The winner will serve as Egypt's leader for the next four years.The Egyptian National Elections Authority (NEA) said that initial indications suggeted high turnout on Monday, and it hopes for similar turnout on the two remaining days. The authority said it expected the process to be just as orderly as on Monday.The highest voter participation was registered in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Qalioubiya, Assiut and Aswan, the NEA said, as well as in Alexandria, which witnessed a terrorist car-bombing on Saturday targetting the governorate's security director. Two policemen died in the attack, but the security director emerged unscathed.The NEA also reported high turnout in North Sinai, where Egypt's security forces have been continuing their Operation Sinai 2018 counter-terrorism effort. The high turnout indicates that the security problems have not affected the election process, the NEA said.Fifty-four local and nine international NGOs have been authorized by the NEA to monitor the elections."No complaints have been received regarding the elections, either by judges or by voters, on the first day of elections," the NEA said on Monday.The election process is being supervised at polling stations by 18,000 judges, with tens of thousands of army and police personnel deployed to secure polling stations.On Monday, a number of state officials and public figures cast their ballots in the elections, including Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Coptic Pope Tawadros II, and Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar. The two contenders in the election, El-Sisi and Moussa, were also among the first to vote on Monday. Around 59 million Egyptians are registered as eligible to vote on the NEA's database, officials have said. The largest concentrations of voters are located in Cairo, with 7.5 million voters, followed by Giza with 5.2 million, Sharqiya with 4 million, Alexandria with 3.8 million and the Nile Delta governorate of Beheira with 3.7 million voters. The results are scheduled to be announced on 2 April, unless there is a run-off, which would take place on 24-26 April. In the 2014 presidential elections, in which El-Sisi won 96 percent of the vote and beat leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, 24.5 million out of 54 million voters took part, or 47 percent. Short link: Egypt's foreign ministry has issued a statement strongly condemning the ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia on Sunday, expressing solidarity with the government and people of the kingdom and supporting whatever action it takes to preserve its security. In a statement on Monday, the ministry also offered its condolences to the family of an Egyptian citizen who was killed by falling shrapnel in the Saudi capital Riyadh as air-defence forces responded to a number of missiles fired from Yemeni territory. Egyptian authorities are paying for the body of Abdel Motaleb Ahmed Hussein to be transferred to Egypt, the ministry said. Egypt's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Nasser Hamdy, visited the Shomiasy Hospital in Riyadh on Sunday to check on the condition of two other Egyptians who were injured in the incident. Saudi forces intercepted seven missiles fired from Yemen on Sunday on the eve of the third anniversary of the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen. They say the missiles were fire by Houthi fighters in Yemen who are locked in a years-long conflict with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi military said that Houthi militants have fired dozens of missiles into Saudi Arabia since last year, all of which were intercepted. Ten thousand people have been killed during the war in Yemen since Saudi Arabia's intervention in the country, with two million Yemenis displaced, and one million people suffering from cholera, Reuters reported. Short link: NINE more jobs have been axed by troubled electronics firm Maplin at its Rotherham base. The firm, which entered administration last month, has now cut 17 jobs at its depot at Brookfield Way, Manvers. The company also announced 66 redundancies at its London HQ, bringing the total cut to 129. Administrators from PwC said they had been working with Maplin, its employees and suppliers but it had not been possible to secure a buyer for the business Toby Underwood, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: It is with real regret that we have made this decision. We are grateful for the support of the employees during this difficult period and we will make every effort to help the affected staff, working with the Maplin HR team over the coming days. Mr Underwood said the administrators continue to review the position of Maplin stores and would provide further updates in due course. Last week, the company said it had no plans to close individual stores, despite the Parkgate Shopping branch being plastered with Closing Down signs. The Assay Chamber of Russia held a regular meeting of the Public Expert Council on the topic: "Vital issues regarding the turnover of synthetic analogues of precious stones in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)". The event was held on March 20, 2018 in the conference hall of ALROSA. The meeting was attended by 87 participants the representatives of the State Duma, Council of Federation, Ministry of Finance of Russia, Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Federal Customs Service and Federal Tax Service of Russia, Federal Financial Monitoring Service, law enforcement agencies, industry and public organizations, jewelry companies and media. Alexander Markin, Head of the Assay Chamber of Russia and Chairman of the Public Expert Council, acting as the moderator of this meeting, in his opening remarks said: "The topic of today's round table is due first of all to the fact that currently we are focusing most of our efforts and attention on regulating the turnover of precious metals, so these are protected much better than precious stones. We have convened here experts in the field of synthetic analogues of precious stones, who will say, if there is room for synthetics in the jewelry industry, what the role of the State in controlling synthetic analogues is and how to exercise this control. Another important part of this topic on which we work together with our colleagues from the EAEU is the creation of a common market for precious stones turnover, the problems of which are well known to us." Vadim Serov, Executive Director of the Association of Jewelers of the Eurasian Economic Union, told about the current situation and prospects for joint regulation of the precious stones turnover in the EAEU, noting that, unlike metals protected by hallmarks, precious stones are not protected at all and by and large are not controlled within the EAEU states. Diamonds account for about 90% in the sales of jewelry with precious stones. The rest is divided between sapphires, emeralds and rubies. The average product sold on the Russian market contains a diamond insert of up to 3 mm in diameter and weighing 0.2 carats. These stones in the wholesale market are priced at about $ 500 per carat, with a downward trend. According to expert estimates, the total volume of the precious stones market in Russia is about 50 billion rubles or 1.8 million carats. The highest peak in imports of precious stones to the Russian Federation was registered in 2013. That was followed by a decrease in 2015 and a catastrophic drop in imports by 90%. The import statistics for colored precious stones almost repeat the trend of diamonds. Industry experts attribute this to the accession of the Republic of Armenia to the EAEU in January 2015. Vadim Serov said: "We are pro-actively engaged in collecting all possible data on the turnover of precious stones in the EAEU. Unfortunately, we have to state that the majority of countries have no legal documentation and metrics on import/export and turnover of precious stones. Moreover, there are no unified regulatory norms and full-fledged general statistics on the EAEU." This brought about a situation, when, according to conservative estimates of market stakeholders, gemological laboratories and certification centers, at least 20% of precious stones in jewelry goods are not genuine, in other words, fakes, since in this context we are talking not only about lab grown diamonds, but also about any fake passed off as a natural stone. Moreover, there is an upward trend in the share of counterfeit goods in the Russian market. Thus, the shadow market of precious stones is growing giving a possibility to avoid taxes and duties, undermine consumer confidence, expand opportunities for unfair competition and create obstacles for the development of the diamond manufacturing industry in Russia. Taking into account the current situation, the participants of the meeting formulated a list of issues that require to be addressed as soon as possible. In particular, there is a need in establishing unified principles of control over the circulation of precious stones in all states belonging to the EAEU, unified standards for their classification and evaluation and a single database on import and export of precious stones in the territory of the EAEU. The responsibility for solving these issues lies with Eurasian Economic Commission. The state bodies of the Russian Federation need to develop and implement a system of separate control over synthetic and natural diamonds, introduce state control over the importation of synthetic and other precious stones to the territory of the Russian Federation, equip assay inspectorates with devices to verify the authenticity of inserts in jewelry in order to carry out full-fledged and prompt control on-site. Some of the participants of the meeting proposed to transfer the powers of control over the turnover of precious stones in the market from the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) to the Assay Chamber of Russia. To tighten control measures against violations, there were also suggestions to drastically increase the penalties for concealing or misleading information about precious stones set in jewelry pieces and to increase the number of inspections in retail. The position of the Ministry of Finance of Russia was expressed by Alexey Moiseev, Deputy Finance Minister, who said: "The situation calls for decisive measures to separate natural diamonds from synthetics. For Russia, the country which is the largest producer of natural diamonds, it is now a chance to regain the precious stones markets, which we were losing step by step in recent years. It is necessary to follow the path of marking and trace the movement of natural stones. We will certainly introduce traceability, this is the main thing that we need to do for the market, and this should be accompanied by marking stones." The producers of synthetic diamonds taking part in the meeting (TISNUM and Nevsky Diamond) told about the methods used to synthesize diamonds. These are the method of high pressure and high temperature (HTHP) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The first one makes it possible to obtain ultraclean diamonds used in exceptionally high technologies - the creation of modern nuclear installations or accelerators of extremely high power. According to experts, diamonds produced for these purposes are hundreds of times cleaner and better than natural diamonds. The producers of synthetic diamonds noted that the growing production of their goods will in no way compete with natural stones in jewelry production. Vladimir Blank, CEO of TISNUM said: "Synthetics will never replace nature. But at the same time, we must understand that no one can stop the development of high technologies today, because the diamond itself creates completely new opportunities in creating new technology." Thus, the growing demand for synthetic diamonds in optics, quantum electronics, medicine and other industries shifts the priorities of synthetics producers to the high-tech market, where it is expected that demand will reach 150 million carats by 2050, while the need for synthetic diamond jewelry in the same period can reach only 55 million carats. The producers of natural diamonds have a different forecast. Presumably, by 2030 the share of the synthetic diamond market may amount to 15% of the world's diamond output of gem-quality diamonds, which creates new challenges for producers of natural diamonds. To date, cooperation on synthetic diamonds with foreign partners in international markets is hampered by the absence in most jurisdictions of terminology and definitions that meet international standards; a common understanding of the terms "rough diamond / polished diamond" and "synthetic rough diamond / synthetic polished diamond," as well as a single standard of objective evaluation of devices for the detection of synthetic diamonds. In this regard, ALROSA has developed a number of proposals. In particular, it is proposed to work with the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) and the World Jewellery Confederation (Confederation Internationale de Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfevrerie des diamants, perles et pierres, CIBJO) to develop an initiative to adopt a joint EU directive on the normative delineation of the concepts "rough diamond / polished diamond" and "synthetic rough diamond / synthetic polished diamond," at the EU level with the aim of creating all-European rules and regulations based on ISO standards. In addition, within the framework of interaction with industry organizations of India and China, ALROSA intends to promote the need to introduce changes in the national industry regulation in order to clearly define the meaning of the concept of "precious stone" and withdraw synthetic rough diamonds / synthetic polished diamonds from this category. Within the frames of the Kimberley Process work is going on to include unified commodity codes for synthetic diamonds into the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Systems at the level of the World Customs Organization. This work should result in the adoption of universal (6-digit) codes for synthetics at the level of this organization by 2022. Within the Russian Federation, ALROSA stands for the creation of a national standard based on ISO 18323: 2015 standard and the Diamond Terminology Guidelines 2018 (a reference document for the diamond and jewelry industry) as a key element in the delineation of markets for natural stones and synthetics. At the level of the EAEU, ALROSA is also ready to support this work, in particular to introduce changes in the commodity nomenclature of the EAEU including special sub-items for unprocessed and processed synthetic diamonds, as well as to study the possibility of adopting a single standard for the classification of precious stones in the EAEU. The company demonstrated to the participants of the meeting its own ALROSA Diamond Inspector to identify natural diamonds, which is on par with the worlds best international diamond detection devices by its characteristics and can compete with them both on the Russian market and in the EAEU countries. In general, in the opinion of the participants of the meeting held by the Public Expert Council of the Assay Chamber of Russia, the discussion was very useful and showed that the problem really exists, and it needs to be solved jointly. Taking into account the importance of the issue under consideration, it was decided to summarize the proposals for further expert discussion and development of recommendations. The final resolution will be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation for consideration. Elena Koren for Rough&Polished Eli Avidar, CEO of Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) has announced that he will be stepping down from the position and intends to become a member of Israel's parliament. Avidar, aged 53, who had also served as the CEO of the Israel Diamond Institute, told the IDE's board of directors that he did not intend to extend his contract with the bourse, as per media reports. Avidar, who was appointed as CEO of the Israeli exchange in January 2016 said: "I thank the Chairman and the Board for their trust in me, but as I intend to enter politics, I announced that I will not be extending the contract that was offered to me. My role at the bourse was challenging and satisfying for me, but since my decision has been made to go into politics I cannot continue in it since it requires all of my time and effort, hence my decision." Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished A female worker at De Beer's Venetia diamond mine in Limpopo, South Africa crushed to death after she fell onto a conveyer belt, a police spokesperson has said. Mining Weekly quoted Brigadier Motjafela Mojapelo as saying that the incident happened last Sunday. ''The conveyer belt ultimately dragged her into a stone scrubber where her body was found trapped between the rocks with multiple wounds, he said. A case of culpable homicide has since been opened.'' Venetia Mine was set to shift from open pit mining in 2023 to steady-state underground production in 2026. De Beers had initially noted that underground operations would begin production in 2021, yielding approximately 96 million carats during the life of the mine. The project, which commenced in 2013, forms part of a $2 billion investment by De Beers into Venetia and would expand the life of the mine by at least 20 years from 2023 until 2045. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished In 2017, the company provided jobs to almost 4,000 people, including 3,500 residents of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Matryona Skryabina, Chairman of Profalmaz, a diamond industry trade union told in an interview to the Yakutia 24 TV Channel on Monday. As it was noted by Scryabina, the management of ALROSA and the government of Yakutia entered into an agreement, where the actions of the parties in the field of employment are specified in minutest details. "Over the past year, the company employed about 4,000 people, of whom more than 3,500 people are residents of Yakutia. For the past three years, Profalmaz has been paying close attention to promoting the worker professions," she said. The head of Profalmaz also told about what the trade union is doing to improve its efficiency. Thus, for example, the trade union is practicing contracts with retail shops where trade union members receive discounts on goods from 2% to 20%. In addition, any member of the trade union can take a legal advice free of charge. Also, Profalmaz regularly holds professional skill contests, the winners of which receive valuable prizes. Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow The McKenzie County Ambulance Service employs 8 licensed paramedics, and has a volunteer staff of 18 Emergency Medical Technicians and 10 drivers that provide emergency health care and advanced life support for the people of Watford City and some of the surrounding area. In recent years, the Service has been operating on a budget deficit, with only 51% of billed services being paid by consumers or insurance. To balance the budget, Jim Johnsrud, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Squad leader, is seeking to establish a tax district. According to Johnsrud, Weve worked off of oil impact grants for a few years, and thats whats been keeping us above water. Those are going away, and if you arent collecting the money at home thats available to you, you wont be eligible for some of the state grant funds. In essence, Johnsrud explains, you have to do your homework. The state of North Dakota sets aside grant funds for emergency services, but local funds available must be utilized before state grants will be issued, and Johnsrud explains that those grant funds are not as widely available as before. Currently, the Service receives some financial support from the Watford City and McKenzie County general fund, and seeks to replace some of this through the tax district. The creation of the tax district provides a more sustainable source of funding for the service than relying on donations and City and County funds. The Service would be eligible for up to 10 mils through the tax district, but only plans to ask for between 2 and 3 mils, which amounts to about $4.50 per mil per $100,000 in property value. The objective, Johnsrud says, is simply to balance the budget and remain eligible for state grants. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the Service can continue to provide life-saving emergency care to local residents. The proposed tax district will be included on the ballot in the upcoming June 12th election. The Port of New Orleans has given its blessing, and more, for a plan to redevelop a defunct city shipyard into an intermodal terminal. A new joint venture has acquired the former Avondale shipyard, a 206-acre site that under Northrup Grumman Corp. constructed its last ship for the Navy in 2013 and was once the largest private employer in Louisiana. No terms were disclosed. Six Class I railroads serve the Port, which is actively looking to expand its rail service after acquiring the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad from the city earlier this year. Since the opening of an expanded Panama Canal, the Gulf Coast hub is looking to grow container traffic that has lagged behind oil, gas and other commodity shipments. Union Pacific operates Avondale Yard just south of the shipyard. The venture, HRE New Orleans, includes shipping agent T. Parker Host of Norfolk, Va., and Hilco Global, an Illinois-based financial services firm that helped develop the Tradepoint Atlantic logistics park and multimodal hub on the site of the closed Bethlehem Steel mill near Baltimore. Hilco in August executed a purchase-and-sale agreement with Huntington Ingalls Industries for the former shipyard, situated on the West Bank, which has more than 7,900 feet of deepwater riverfront access. The site is now under contract to HRE. The Port of New Orleans Dock Board on March 22 passed a resolution supporting Avondales redevelopment. The two sides also have reached general consensus on how a private terminal would operate within the ports jurisdiction, such as adopting the ports tariff structure, to avoid the privately-owned terminal underpricing the ports cargo business. For a site as large and complex as the former Avondale shipyard, theres a confluence of many factors necessary to get it back into commerce, Mike Sherman, a New Orleans attorney who is representing the joint venture, told The Advocate. Developers are expected to go before Jefferson Parish officials in the coming weeks. Our hope is that well see workers on site before the end of the year, he said. (Agencia CMA Latam) - Argentina is back to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for exports to the United States after the approval of the American Congress and the signing of U.S. President Donald Trump of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The legislation includes the renewal of the GSP until 2020. Also, it provides for the reimbursement of the duties charged from January 1 until the date of reinstatement. From now on, a list of products from regional economies will be able to enter the North American market with a zero tariff. "The GSP consists of the granting of duty preferences by developed countries to certain products exported from developing countries, which receive preferential treatment and significant tariff reductions," said the Argentinean Ministry of Production. The United States granted a zero tariff to 538 Argentinean agricultural products until 2012 under the GSP. The main products covered were wines, confectionery without cocoa, meat, olive oil, cheeses, peanuts, and strawberries. 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. A number of international organisations that are observing the voting in Egypt's 2018 presidential elections have said the process is going smoothly, two days into the three-day vote. "Voters cast their ballots in a very peaceful and organised environment on the first and second day of elections," said Abdallah Diop, the head of the 40-strong African Union observers mission, praising the security presence around polling stations and the organisation among voters. The observers are deployed to 12 governorates across the country to monitor both the voting and the vote count on Wednesday night. "No violations or complaints were registered by the AU observers' team," he added. Hope Kingere, the head of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) observers' team, told Ahram Online that the organisation had not registered any violations or received any complaints on the first day of elections, which took place on Monday. COMESA, an African regional grouping of which Egypt is a member, is one of nine international bodies monitoring the vote. It has deployed a team of 32 people to different governorates to monitor the vote. "The organisation indicated an increasing turnout in the elections by the hour and will release its final report on Thursday," Kingere said. Around 59 million registered Egyptian voters started polling in Egypt's presidential elections on Monday to decide between incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Ghad Party head Moussa Mostafa Moussa to serve as the country's leader for the upcoming four-year term. Polls close at 9pm on Wednesday. Fifty-four local and nine international NGOs were authorised by the National Elections Authority to monitor the elections, as well as 18,000 judges disbursed at more than 13,000 polling stations across the country. Eissa Goufa, a representative of the Sahara and Sahel intergovernmental organisation, another entity monitoring the elections, told Ahram Online that the organisation has disbursed a team of 19 observers in Cairo, Sharqiya, Menoufiya, Alexandria and Ismailia governorates, and didnt register any complaints or violations on Sunday and or Monday. "The organisation interviewed judges and voters at polling stations, where all praised organisation, security, and the smoothness of the voting process in general," Eissa added. The NEA announced on Tuesday it has cancelled a one-hour break at all polling stations across the state, from 3pm to 4pm, due to complaints from state employees for not being able to vote as the break coincided with the end of their work hours. On Monday, the NEA said that initial indications showed high voter turnout on the first day of Egypt's 2018 presidential elections, with the highest participation registered in Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Qalioubiya, Assiut and Aswan. The authority also said the voting in North Sinai, where Egypt's security forces have been taking part in the counter-terrorism initiative Operation Sinai 2018, saw a high turnout, indicating that the security situation did not affect the process. Alexandria governor Mohamed Sultan said on Tuesday the governorate had seen a high turn out on the first hours of the second day of elections as well. "Our elections observation room indicated a high turnout at almost all polling stations in the governorate," he said. With 3.8 million voters, Alexandria forms one of the largest voting areas, after Giza, Cairo, Sharqiya and Beheira governorates. In Helwan in Greater Cairo on Tuesday, a mass rally circled through working class El-Tebien neighbourhood calling for citizens to vote in the elections, while polling stations in Zamelek in central Cairo and in Rod El-Farrag district to the west of the Nile saw a considerable turnout, especially from women, according to Al-Ahram Arabic website. The results are scheduled to be announced on or before 2 April, unless there is a run-off, which would take place on 24-26 April. In the 2014 presidential elections, in which El-Sisi won 96 percent of the vote and beat leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, 24.5 million out of 54 million voters took part, or 47 percent. Short link: McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) announced, for 2018, the company now projects adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $4.85 to $4.95. This is an increase from the previous guidance of $4.80 to $4.90 and reflects a reduction of the expected adjusted effective tax rate to approximately 23% for fiscal 2018. The updated guidance projects 14% to 16% growth from adjusted earnings per share of $4.26 in 2017 and includes an estimated one percentage point favorable impact from currency. In 2018, the company expects to grow sales 13% to 15% compared to 2017, including two percentage points favorable impact from currency rates. This is an increase from previous guidance of 12% to 14% which included only a one percentage point favorable impact from currency rates. The company has plans to achieve at least $100 million of cost savings and intends to use these savings to improve margins, fund an increase in brand marketing, and as a further offset to increased material costs. For fiscal 2018, the company projects another year of strong cash flow, with plans to return a significant portion to shareholders through dividends and to pay down debt. For first-quarter, adjusted earnings per share was $1.00 compared to $0.76 in the year-ago period. The company said the increase was driven primarily by higher adjusted operating income and a lower adjusted income tax rate as a result of the U.S. Tax Act and favorable discrete items, including the exercise of stock options during the quarter, which were partially offset by higher interest expense and shares outstanding. The increase also includes the favorable impact of foreign currency rates. McCormick reported a 19% sales increase in the first quarter from the year-ago period, including a 4% favorable impact from currency. In constant currency, the company grew sales 15%. Lawrence E. Kurzius, Chairman, President and CEO, stated: "Both our consumer and flavor solutions segments contributed to our constant currency sales growth of 15%. Our consumer segment grew across each region led by incremental sales from the acquisition of RB Foods in addition to strong growth in our Asia/Pacific region, led by China. Similarly, our flavor solutions grew across each region through incremental sales from acquisitions, increased sales of our flavors and branded foodservice in the Americas region as well as greater demand from quick service restaurants in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia/Pacific regions. Across both of our segments, we are pleased with the Frank's RedHot and French's performance which is in line with our plans." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Glencore Plc (GLCNF.PK,GLNCY.PK,GLEN.L) is considering a bid for the Optimum coal operations in South Africa, which it sold in 2015 to a company part-owned by the politically connected Gupta family, Bloomberg reported citing two people familiar with the matter. Optimum supplies fuel to state power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. and became a lightning rod issue for critics of the Gupta family members and their friendship with former president Jacob Zuma. Glencore is interested in reacquiring the mine and the government has indicated it wouldn't oppose the deal, the report said. Optimum, which is undergoing -rescue proceedings, the local equivalent of bankruptcy protection, is among businesses linked to the Guptas that are struggling as banks refuse to work with them. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Litecoin, the fifth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization on CoinMarketCap, tumbled on the news that payment processor LitePay has ceased all operations. The San Francisco-based LitePay was launched in the middle of February as a merchant payment processor accepting Litecoin. Litecoin rallied mid-February on the LitePay news. The incident prompted Litecoin creator Charles Lee, who goes by the Twitter handle SatoshiLite, to apologize to the cryptocurrency community. Litecoin fell nearly 10 percent on Monday after the news broke to as low as $139.42. As of 9.44 am ET on Tuesday, the cryptocurrency was down 7.1 percent at $142.01 on Coinbase. The Litecoin Foundation, a non-profit created to promote Litecoin, announced that it was informed by LitePay CEO Kenneth Asare "a couple of days ago" that he "has ceased all operations and is preparing to sell the company." On Twitter, Lee said, "Like everyone else, we got too excited about something that was too good to be true and we optimistically overlooked many of the warning signs." "I am sorry for having hyped up this company and vow to do better due diligence in the future," he added. The payment processing platform supporting Litecoin was expected to go live on February 26. However, LitePay said in a Twitter post on February 27 that account registration was ongoing. In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session on March 16, Asare said 6,500 merchants applied and LitePay was going through the due diligence process with just under 2,000. The AMA raised several doubts in the Litecoin community regarding the working of LitePay, with several members raising the issue of lack of transparency. The Litecoin Foundation said Asare had asked extra funds to continue operation around the time of the Reddit AMA. However, the foundation refused any further funding to Asare "as he was unable to provide a satisfactory picture of where the money had been spent and refused to go into exact details about the company and show objective evidence to back up his statements." "Litecoin was doing perfectly fine before the promise of LitePay and will continue to do so," the foundation added. Regulators in the US have been warning investors of scams related to cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings. The crackdown unearthed several scams over the past few months. Social media networks and instant messaging services such as Google and Twitter are also on guard and they have banned cryptocurrency-related advertisements on their platforms. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News In a move that could impact Congressional representation and federal funding, the Commerce Department announced Monday that a question on citizenship status will be reinstated to the 2020 census questionnaire. The Commerce Department claimed adding the citizenship question will help enforce the Voting Rights Act, although critics have argued the decision is politically motivated. Data collected in the census is used to determine how congressional districts are drawn, funding for federal programs and other matters. Critics contend the addition of the citizenship question would dissuade undocumented immigrants from responding to the census, which counts the entire population and not just citizens. The Commerce Department said Secretary Wilbur Ross's decision to reinstate the question follows a request by the Justice Department. Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts, the Commerce Department said. The decision by the Commerce Department drew swift condemnation from opponents, including California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Becerra filed a lawsuit challenging the move, saying, "Including the question is not just a bad idea it is illegal." In an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Becerra and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla accused President Donald Trump's administration of attempting to hijack the census for political purposes. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Volkswagen AG's (VKW.L,VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) fiscal affairs in Luxembourg are under scrutiny from the European Union watchdogs, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the matter. The European Commission's competition unit is looking into whether the carmaker, mired in a separate scandal over diesel emissions, may have benefited from an unfair tax deal from the Grand Duchy, the report said. The preliminary query is part of a wider crackdown on sweetheart tax deals that's snared some of the world's biggest companies. While VW could potentially face an order to pay millions of euros in back taxes, it's also possible the regulator could find no wrongdoing and close the dossier. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Bombardier Inc., Canada's largest aerospace company, seems to be on right track by winning several multi-million dollar contracts just couple of months after a U.S. trade agency rejected allegations that the Canadian company was receiving unfair state subsidies. Montreal, Canada-based Bombardier, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of airplanes, trains and public transport. Founded in 1942, Bombardier operates through its two divisions - Bombardier Aerospace and Bombardier Transportation. On Tuesday, the company received an order from London for five additional Bombardier Aventra trains for services on the city's Elizabeth line, which increases the total order to 70 trains. The additional contract is valued at about 73 million pounds or $104 million. Bombardier Transportation also received a $262 million contract from Singapore's Land Transport Authority to renew the ageing Bukit Panjang LRT system in four years. The contract's scope covers the supply of 19 new Bombardier Innovia APM 300 automated people mover cars, the retrofitting of 13 existing Bombardier Innovia APM 100 cars, as well as delivering a signaling system upgrade for 14 stops on the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line. Bombardier Transportation has also signed a five-year extension to its current contract with the Maryland Transit Administration to provide operations and maintenance services for the Brunswick and Camden Lines of the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail System. The contract extension is valued at about $288 million. Meanwhile, Sweden's Vastra Gotaland transport authority Vasttrafik has selected Bombardier Transportation to supply 40 electric multiple-units for regional passenger services, worth about $460 million. Last week, Bombardier also received a contract from the City of Phoenix for an extension to the PHX Sky Train automated people mover (APM) system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The contract is valued at about $305 million. Bombardier's shares had recently pulled back after the company announced a plan to sell new shares in an effort to strengthen its balance sheet. All-in-all, however, its been a good 2018. The stock ran up 30% through March as Bombardier ultimately won its trade dispute with U.S. plane rival Boeing. Boeing had raised allegations against Bombardier that the company's C-Series, which was sold to US airline Delta at low prices, was made possible by unfair subsidies from the British and Canadian governments. The US Commercial department threatened to impose around 300% tariffs on Bombardier's C-Series aircraft. However, the US International Trade Commission rejected the complaint. The ITC ruled that Bombardier's C- Series jets ordered by Delta did not compete with any of Boeing's planes and the sale did not come at Delta's expense. Bombardier had invested heavily in the C-Series even upto the brink of bankruptcy, the threat of 300% tariffs would have been nail into its coffin. However, the ITC rescued the company by overturning the imposed duties and ruling that "Boeing lost no sales or revenues." Bombardier is currently in the middle of a five-year turnaround plan. Chief Executive Alain Bellemare said, in an earnings release, "As Bombardier approaches the midpoint of its turnaround plan, we are focused on unlocking the value of our past investments and restructuring actions to drive growth and create sustainable value for our shareholders, customers and employees." "We enter 2018 fully committed to achieving the goals we established in 2015, and our strong performance last year clearly demonstrates that we are on the right path," he added. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Egypt's Meteorological Authority issued a warning on Tuesday that a dust storm would hit the country on Wednesday. According to the authority's statement, the weather will be unstable on Wednesday and a southeasterly wind will reach the level of dust storm in many parts of the country. The authority also warned that navigation may be disrupted in the Red and Mediterranean Seas, as well as in the Gulf of Suez. The authority also added that there could be rain in various parts in Egypt. The temperature will reach a high of 35 degrees and a low of 21 in Cairo and the Nile Delta. In Alexandria, the temperature will be a more moderate 27 degrees at high and 14 degrees at low. In North Sinai, the temperature will reach a high of 30 degrees and a low of 15, whereas in Upper Egypt, a high of 40 and a low of 24 is forecast. Wednesday is the last day in which Egyptians can cast their votes nationwide in the three-day presidential elections. Polling stations open their doors at 9am and close at 9pm. Short link: Ethiopia's ruling coalition voted in Abiye Ahmed as new prime minister on Tuesday following the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn last month, the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said. The state-run channel said the 180-member council of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) chose Abiye to succeed Hailemariam as the chairperson of the coalition, meaning he automatically became premier. "In today's session, the council held a vote and elected Abiye Ahmed as chairperson," said the presenter from the state-run EBC in the announcement. He did not give any further details. Abiye, who hails from the Oromo ethnic group, will take over the embattled government of Africa's second most populous nation. The ruling coalition has struggled to contain persistent and violent unrest since 2015, the biggest challenge to its hold on power since 1991. Anti-government protests began in 2015 over land rights before broadening into demonstrations over political and human rights. The government has twice imposed emergency rule, most recently last month after Hailemariam's resignation, to contain unrest mainly in Oromiya province, the country's most populous region. Amid the violence, security forces have killed hundreds of people, rights groups say. Short link: Turkey's military killed 11 Kurdish militants in its southern Hatay province bordering Syria overnight, the governor's office said on Tuesday, and the army said two of its soldiers were killed in a blast in Syria's Afrin region. Backed by air support, Turkish security forces opened fire and killed the militants after spotting them in Hatay's Arsuz district, near the Mediterranean Sea, the governor's office said in a statement. It said the military seized the bodies of six of militants, along with M-16 rifles, a rocket launcher and ammunition. The group was believed to be behind several attacks in the province last year, it said. Turkey has fought an insurgency with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants since 1984 and more than 40,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which is largely focused in Turkey's southeast, hundreds of kilometres (miles) east of Hatay. In January, Turkey's army and its Syrian rebel allies began a military offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria's Afrin, bordering Hatay, and gained full control of the region at the weekend, according to a military source. Separately, the Turkish Armed Forces said two Turkish soldiers died as a result of an improvised explosive device blast during search operations in Afrin region on Monday. Turkey regards the YPG as terrorists and an extension of the outlawed PKK. The European Union and United States designate the PKK a terrorist group but the YPG is a U.S. partner in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. Short link: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reached Delhi where she is expected to meet several opposition leaders including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to discuss ways to take on Narendra Modi government inside and outside the parliament. Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress chief, is also expected to meet UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. During her meeting with Pawar, Banerjee is expected to discuss the current political situation. Pawar had convened a meeting of opposition parties in January this year. There have been suggestions that the opposition parties should put up common candidates against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. There also have been efforts to form a third front of parties that want to be equi-distant from both BJP and Congress. The Trinamool leader is expected to visit Parliament House Tuesday and meet "her old colleagues, party MPs and leaders of other political parties", a senior Trinamool leader said. She is expected to meet Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday. Banerjee is seen as a key player in the possible grouping of non-BJP political parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is keen on a third front, had met Banerjee earlier this month. "I have been told the details will be given by tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. We will read it and then think about it (calling off the fast). Until there is a concrete action, I will not stop my fast." The meeting with Hazare was positive and the deadlock would be broken soon, Mahajan told reporters. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is expected to meet Hazare on Tuesday. If the government accepts the demands but went back on its promises later, he would be back at Ramlila Maidan again, Hazare added. Hazare has been pressing for setting up a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states to probe corruption cases, bring in new electoral reforms and implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee report to address the agrarian crisis in the country. Meanwhile, as his hunger strike entered fourth day on Monday, the crowd grew thinner with roughly only 2,000 people in the afternoon. Farmers constituted the major share of the crowd, who had largely come from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab. According to a personal doctor of Hazare, the anti-corruption crusader lost 4.2 kg weight and his blood pressure was little high on Monday. "In last four days, Anna ji has lost 4.2 kgs and his BP was 150/100. Although there is nothing serious, he is too tired," said Dhananjay Pote, who had come from Ralegan Siddhi with Hazare. Some 7,000 people departed eastern Ghouta for Syrian rebel territory near the Turkish border on Tuesday under a deal arranged by Russia to surrender the enclave to the Syrian government, Russian state media and a war monitor said. Rebels have been gradually leaving Ghouta since Thursday, accepting safe passage for themselves and their families to Idlib in northwestern Syria after they were defeated in a fierce assault by the Russian-backed Syrian military. It marks the biggest setback for the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad since insurgents were driven from eastern Aleppo in 2016, underscoring his unassailable military position in the seven-year-long conflict. A convoy of at least 100 buses left eastern Ghouta at around 3 a.m. (0000 GMT) carrying rebel fighters, their families and other civilians who had been holed up in a pocket centred around the towns of Arbin, Ain Tarma and Zamalka. The majority were rebel fighters and their families, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Russian news agency TASS said almost 6,800 rebels and their families were moved from eastern Ghouta to Idlib, bringing the total number of rebels transported out of the area to 13,190 in the last three days. Syrian state TV said the army freed 28 people who had been held captive by militants in Arbin. The Observatory said their release was part of the deal agreed by rebels. The Syrian military split eastern Ghouta into three separate zones during its assault that began on Feb. 18 and has killed more than 1,600 people, according to the Observatory. The pocket being evacuated at present was controlled by the Failaq al-Rahman group. The last remaining area in Ghouta controlled by rebels is the town of Douma where tens of thousands of civilians are sheltering. Douma is held by Jaish al-Islam, which is in talks with Russia but has publicly rejected the idea of moving to the northwest, calling this "forced displacement" that amounts to a policy of "demographic change" by the Syrian government. Syrian state TV said buses had begun entering the Failaq al-Rahman-held zone on Tuesday to evacuate more people to Idlib. In addition to their foothold in the northwest, anti-Assad rebels still hold a chunk of territory at the frontier with Jordan and Israel, and small enclaves near Damascus, Homs and Hama. Short link: Power tussle between Lt. Governor (LG) Anil Baijal and the Delhi's AAP government intensified on Monday, with Speaker Ram Niwas Goel stating that the LG has said he cannot accept any questions in the assembly on reserved subjects, like land, law and order, and services, among others. "Secretariat has also received copies of letters from some departments such as Services, Vigilance, and Land and Building refusing to attend meetings with the ministers concerned," the Speaker said in the assembly. However, Goel stressed that legislation on reserved subjects and seeking replies on matters of public interest are two different issues and hence he ruled that "officers are duty-bound to provide replies to all questions which are admitted (by the assembly)". The Lt. Governor had sent a letter to the Law Department of Delhi government stating that the Speaker cannot accept any questions in the Assembly on reserved subjects, after he took an opinion from the Legal Affairs Department of Central government. " Delhi Assembly is not subordinate to any central government 'babu'," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in the House as both members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members said that all questions raised by the assembly should be answered. The issue came up in the Assembly after Sisodia said that "no answer has been received till now" on a question regarding details of foreign trips of officials. He said the question was sent by the Finance Department to the General Administration Department and it was later forwarded to the Services Department, which is a reserved subject. AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said that officers have to be called to the House to get the answer and added that the Lt. Governor was protecting the officers with the Central government's support. Last week, an assembly question by AAP MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripati on foreign trips of AAP ministers was also not answered. Referring to this, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said that along with details of officers' foreign trips, ministers' trips should be made available. Gupta also said that the assembly should get answers to all questions and added that the matter was above politics. Meanwhile, AAP MLA Alka Lamba said the Lt. Governor should take back the letter as it weakens democracy. The South Korean government on Tuesday said that it does not know if North Korea's Kim Jong-un was visiting Beijing. A South Korean presidential office spokesperson said that the government was closely monitoring the situation, studying all possibilities and communicating closely with the countries involved, reports Efe news. On Monday, a Japanese TV channel showed images of an armoured train similar to the ones used by the North Korean leaders to reach Beijing's main station. In Beijing, where the government has not yet made any comments, a heavy security presence has been observed around the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where Kim might be staying. Access to the Tiananmen Square has been restricted, which is common protocol when there is a state meeting with a foreign president in the Great Hall of the People. The North Korean media also did not report on the supposed visit. The development comes ahead of the proposed summit between Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April, and a possible meeting between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump in May. The meeting in April would be the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years while the one in May would be the first ever summit between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president. Member of Parliament, Faumuina Wayne Fong, has questioned why the Urban West Constituency was created only to be removed again. The M.P. made it clear he welcomes the realigning of boundaries between constituencies. However, he is appealing to the Government to ensure that once the proposed amendments are approved in the Electoral Constituencies Bill 2018, that there shouldnt be any more variations to the electoral boundaries. He raised his concerns in Parliament. The Bill will remove the Urban seats so that the constituency Faumuina represents ceases to exist. The other seat is currently held by the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Papalii Niko Lee Hang. Its something Faumuina is very much aware of. Today (Monday), Mr. Speaker while I stand before you all, I stand without a constituency, he said. I am thankful to the Prime Minister that while they have removed my constituency, I am still here." This constituency should have never been created in the first place." Looking back, the creation of Urban West Constituency was in affect seven months after the amendments were approved in Parliament back in March 2016." I questioned why the Urban West and Urban East Constituencies were created in the first place Faumuina then told a story about a king who was looking for a qualified bachelor to marry his daughter. There was a waterfall which was filled with crocodiles and the proposal was if any man could cross the river, he would marry the kings daughter. Faumuina referenced himself as the Vaigaga kid who was pushed into the waterfall when he was not prepared, but I made it to the other side." The king told me, Faumuina take my daughters hand in marriage, but I told the King I do not want the marriage proposal." However I know who pushed me into the waterfall." This story clearly depicts how I got into Parliament. My question is who proposed to add Urban West only to be removed again?" Nonetheless, I swam across the waterfall with crocodiles in it and now the changes have been made again. Faumuina also echoed the explanation given by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi that the electoral boundaries do not have a bearing on Samoas culture and traditional boundaries, and that these are only voting districts, nothing more. Outside of Parliament, Faumuina told the Samoa Observer earlier that the law was created at the time to cater for the needs of certain individuals who are not here anymore. So again the law has to change. My question is why was it passed in the first place? According to Faumuina, in July 2016, the law passed and the general election took place in March. It took only nine months then this law was implemented and now they are changing it again." And like what the Prime Minister said, this specific law was one of the potholes the Government is trying to fix, he said. It hasnt been two years since the Bill was passed and now they are changing it again." Again like what the Prime Minister had said, the changes of this measure is a like a brand new road, no matter how new it is, once it rains, it will leave holes in it, just like this law it has holes in it." The truth is this Bill should have been passed in the first place, said Faumuina. The Bill has been approved in second reading and has been tabled with Parliament Committee. The Bill proposes a raft of changes to the electoral laws including increasing the number of electoral constituencies from 50 to 51, the removal of urban seats and redefining of voting boundaries based on geographical location. This means Leauvaa and Salamumu will no longer vote in Savaii. They will instead be allocated to different constituencies in Upolu. Seung-bae Yeo is the new Ambassador of Korea to Samoa. He presented his credentials to the Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II yesterday. Samoa and the Republic of Korea began diplomatic relations in 1972. Relations between our two countries reached new heights last year thanks to high level visits, he said. These included the Samoan Prime Ministers participation in the third Korea-Pacic Islands Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Seoul and the visit to Samoa by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea on the occasion of the post forum dialogue in September last year. Korea wishes to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest. In particular, as we have overcome poverty and became a full-fledged donor country, Korea hopes to share our experiences and knowledge to improve the resilience and economic self-reliance of Samoa. Our provision of official development assistance in the form of medical equipment for hospitals to improve the health of your citizens illustrates our commitment. His Highness Tuimalealiifano welcomed Mr. Yeo. Samoa supports the Republic of Koreas commitment to the peaceful resolution of the U.N. Security Council decisions on the situation in the North Korean peninsula. The nuclear threat posed is a high security concern for the region and Samoa. Samoa is playing its role in meeting its commitments in the implementation of the U.N. resolutions on sanctions on North Korea. Last year in September, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea attended the 48th Pacic Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Samoa, which reects the commitment of the Republic of Korea to its membership as a Forum Dialogue partner. This high level engagement was reaffirmed by Korea when hosting the triennial Korea-Pacic Island Foreign Ministers Meeting in December 2017, at which it accepted the Blue Pacic one continent identity for the region towards a common foreign policy on specic issues of priority for the Pacic. I wish you the very best in your tenure as the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Samoa and I am condent that your ofce will continue to advocate for the warm relations that our two countries enjoy and in promoting areas for further cooperation between our Governments. Mr. Yeo graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Seoul National University in Korea in 1990 and a Masters in Arts in International Politics from the University of Virginia in 1998. Also in 1990, Mr. Yeo passed the High Diplomatic Service Examination and began his diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ten years later in the Foreign Ministry, he began his posting as the First Secretary at the Embassy in the United States of America (2000), and in 2003 assigned to the Embassy in the Republic of Senegal. He returned to Korea as the Chief of the Nuclear Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (M.O.F.A.T.) in 2005, a Director of the North Korean Nuclear Affairs Division 11 in 2006 and later that year he became the Secondment to the Ofce of the President. Later he was assigned to many of the following diplomatic posts: Counsellor at the Embassy in the Peoples Republic of China (2007), Counsellor at the Embassy in the Kingdom of Norway (Jan 2011), Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Aug 2011). In 2012, he returned to the Republic of Korea to become the Advisor at the Office of the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Yeo was later assigned as the Deputy Director General for the office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at M.O.F.A.T. in 2012, then becoming the Senior Director of the National Security Council Secretariat in 2014. Prior to his assignment to Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to New Zealand and Pacic Region, he was the appointed Director General for North American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2016. Mr. Yeo received a Service Merit Medal in December 2012. It is said that love comes to those who wait. This rings true for Sara Vasa and Norman Faafetai who finally tied the knot after six years of courtship last Saturday. The couple exchanged vows in front of God, family and friends at the Congregational Christian Church at Sili, Savaii. Bride, Sara, is the daughter of Faamatuainu Fiu Vasa Ato and Tupou Fiu Fatu from the villages of Sili and Lufilufi. She works at the Samoa National Provident Fund at Savaii as a Senior Accounts and Administration Officer. Norman is the son of Rev. Faafetai Tilo and Fiaapia Lufia of Samata-Uta and Falevao. He is a teacher at Samoa Primary School, Maugafiafia Vailele Uta. The couple thanked God, families and friends for their support. We thank God for bringing us together. We are confident and we look forward to the challenges of married life. Everything has really tested our faith, patience, trust and most importantly our love for each other. We believe that not all marriages may be successful, but you have to make it successful and thats what we intend to do, Sara said. We are now planning to keep on working to support our families and the church. It all depends on opportunities that God has in store for us. We wish our love to last forever and that we may grow in love all the days of our lives. The reception was held at the Methodist Hall at Salelologa, Apita o Pisaga, where about 300 people gathered to celebrate the beginning of a new journey of Mr. and Mrs. Faafetai. NATO has expelled seven diplomats from Russia's mission to the alliance and blocked the appointment of three others over the nerve agent attack in Britain this month, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said he had also cut the maximum size of the Russian mission to 20 people from 30, in the latest move by the alliance to reduce what was once one of the biggest national delegations at NATO. "It sends a very clear message to Russia that it has costs," Stoltenberg said of the March 4 attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter, which the West blames on Moscow although the Kremlin denies this. Governments across Europe, the United States and beyond announced plans on Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack. Stoltenberg said that three Russian diplomats seeking to come to Brussels have been denied accreditation, taking the reduction at the mission to 10, However, Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, stressed that the alliance would still seek regular talks with Moscow via the NATO-Russia Council, a special forum that groups NATO envoys and Moscow's ambassador to the alliance. The Russian mission is in the same compound as NATO headquarters in Brussels but Russian diplomats faced sharp limits to their access after Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. They mostly work now from Russian diplomatic premises in central Brussels. In protest at the Crimean annexation, NATO decided to curtail access to the headquarters for all Russian accredited NATO diplomats barring the Russian ambassador, the deputy head of mission and two support staff. NATO is awaiting a new Russian ambassador following the departure of Alexander Grushko, who was appointed deputy Russian foreign minister for European relations in January. Following the end of the Cold War, NATO sought closer ties with Russia and included Russian personnel in its campaign in the Balkans in the 1990s. But since Crimea, NATO has suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia, although it maintains political dialogue and has tried to restart military channels of communication, mainly to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. Short link: Luke White, from Australia, found the right place to spend his long holidays. He decided to come to Samoa to relax and see some new places. He arrived on 12 February and will stay in Samoa until 16 April. The young man lives with a host family in Apia. It is his second time to the islands. He spent his first trip with some of his Australian friends for two weeks. I just loved it so much I had to come back, he shared with Dear Tourist. I love the people the culture and the churches. It is such a good ambience and atmosphere. According to Luke, his church community in Australia helped him find a host family in Samoa. Living with locals is so much nicer than living in a resort for him. You hear and learn so much more about the culture than in a resort. It is an authentic travel to really learn something about the country you visit. You are able to see what is going on behind the walls of the houses and the busy places. I absolutely love to stay with the family, he said. He has also learned the importance of religion in Samoa by attending church every Sunday with his host family. The churches here are beautiful and there are so many of them. I absolutely love that, he said. Dear Tourist met him at the Savalalo market. He plans to do more shopping and buy some souvenirs for his relatives. But he is not only interested in shopping, he wants to go around the island to visit places he did not see the first time he came. I just want to go and have a look around to see what is going on, he mentioned. It is already his second visit to Samoa and he is sure of returning to this beautiful destination. ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson, a west suburban mother of two young girls, takes her family to McDonalds semiregularly because its an indulgence they all enjoy. But shes put those trips on hold for now. Knott-Dawson plans to launch an online petition this week in coordination with the nonprofit Compassion in World Farming to urge McDonalds to switch to different breeds of chickens that would have an improved quality of life. The campaign also encourages McDonalds to give the birds more space. I care about basic dignity for these animals. Its just not right, said Knott-Dawson, 39. In total, eight animal welfare charities, including groups like the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are turning up the pressure on McDonalds, a national effort that offers a glimpse into the larger debate about how chickens are farmed in the U.S., and the role that major food chains play in shaping that debate. Advertisement Americans eat more chicken 92 pounds per person in 2017 than anyone else in the world, according to the National Chicken Council, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group that represents the largest poultry suppliers in the country. But the chicken meat they consume comes from birds that are heavier, and sped to market much faster, than in previous decades. Chickens in the U.S. that are raised for their meat, known as broilers, grow to an average market weight of more than 6 pounds, more than twice as large as in 1955, and the entire process takes place in 23 fewer days. Animal rights advocates are pushing back against the trend, citing academic studies that show todays chickens are grown so fast that they have trouble walking because their legs wont support the weight, in addition to other related health problems. They also say todays chickens are crowded into spaces that are too small. Some food companies are paying heed. In recent years, more than 80 food businesses, including Burger King, Subway, Aramark and Kraft Heinz, have committed to improving the welfare of chickens and giving the birds more space by 2024, changes that drive up the price of chicken. But the long-term success of the movement hinges on what McDonalds, which used 490 million pounds of chicken in 2014 alone, decides to do. Executives at the Oak Brook-based fast-food chain say theyre not ready to commit to changing chicken breeds or increasing the amount of room chickens have without further scientific study. Were not going to do that haphazardly or because someones knocking on our door asking us to do that. These are industry-changing decisions and we dont take them lightly, said Marion Gross, McDonalds senior vice president of supply chain management for North America. Animal welfare groups say that McDonalds, by not lending its global presence and buying power to the movement, is halting progress and making it hard to encourage meaningful change in the poultry industry. I recognize that its going to be a challenge. But its not acceptable to say that its too hard, so were going to keep treating animals cruelly, said Leah Garces, U.S. executive director for Compassion in World Farming. The costs of change The National Chicken Council says its committed to improving chicken welfare, but warns of increased costs and environmental impacts if the industry shifts toward slower-growing chickens. Advertisement McDonalds bets that better chicken can keep growth run going If one-third of the broiler chicken producers in the U.S. switched to slower-growing breeds, about 1.5 billion more chickens would be needed annually to produce the same amount of meat, according to a study released by the trade group last year. Birds that live longer would require more feed and water. It has been well-documented that a 100 percent shift to slower-growing breeds and decreased stocking density would have negative trade-offs for the environment and increased prices for chicken, without the assurance of better welfare outcomes for the birds, Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, said in an email. Kenneth Koelkebeck, a poultry expert at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, doesnt think faster-growing birds automatically represent a step back in animal welfare. Koelkebeck believes the commitments McDonalds has made to chicken welfare are, on the whole, positive for the industry and for the birds. Advertisement It all boils down to the management of the birds. Yes, theyre growing at a fast rate, but they can be managed, Koelkebeck said. But some chicken suppliers, such as Perdue Farms and Wayne Farms, are already preparing to meet the increased demand for alternative breeds. Perdues Bruce Stewart-Brown believes better animal welfare also means better quality meat, a view not held universally in the poultry industry. McDonalds has already taken steps to elevate its chicken sandwiches and nuggets, which were long seen as a serviceable if uninspiring part of the menu. The chain has vowed to stop serving poultry with antibiotics, and it removed artificial preservatives from McNuggets. It (Mark Duncan / AP) Advertisement But there is a cost to shifting the focus away from maximum efficiency and productivity, said Stewart-Brown, Perdues senior vice president of food safety, quality and live operations. Increasing the amount of space for each bird will require more chicken houses and the industry will have to pay farmers more per pound, because theyll produce less out of each house, he said. We will have those products in the marketplace and people can vote. Companies can vote, Stewart-Brown said. It will grow as consumer demand prefers. All eyes on McDonalds In October, McDonalds announced a chicken welfare policy that made no specific commitments to change the breeds it uses. The fast food giant, however, committed to taking other steps, including requiring enhanced chicken houses with perches; requiring the chickens it uses to be slaughtered using a gas-stunning method considered more humane; and establishing third-party audits of supplier farms. Advertisement McDonalds also plans to work with its supply chain partners, which include companies like Tyson and Cargill, to study alternative breeds of chickens that might produce better welfare outcomes and fewer health problems, Gross said. The companys study also will examine how much space each bird is allotted and associated costs with making major changes. More recently, McDonalds also announced it was convening a global chicken advisory council with industry and academic experts. Temple Grandin, a well-known advocate for the humane treatment of animals, voiced her support when McDonalds announced its policy and will serve on the companys chicken council. Grandin has partnered with McDonalds on various animal welfare issues since the 1990s and acknowledged shes paid by McDonalds for her work with the company. Grandin said she believes in the companys intentions to improve welfare. Advertisement McDonalds to roll out fresh beef burgers nationwide this spring All Im going to say about McDonalds (chicken welfare policy) is that its a very good first step and Rome wasnt built in a day, said Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Animal welfare groups are not satisfied with McDonalds commitments so far. Agreeing to study something is the hallmark of doing nothing, said David Coman-Hidy, executive director of The Humane League. Study needs to be paired with a meaningful commitment. Advertisement Studies have found that many fast-growing broiler chickens have difficulty walking because their legs and joints cant support the rapid weight gain. One 2008 study assessed the walking ability of 51,000 broiler chickens and found that more than 27 percent showed poor mobility. The animal welfare groups are calling on McDonalds and other companies to transition by 2024 to breeds of birds approved by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an animal welfare charity based in the United Kingdom, or the Global Animal Partnership, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit launched but no longer directly funded by Whole Foods Market. The groups also are asking for more space per bird than described in tnational guidelines established by the National Chicken Council. Other animal welfare groups calling on McDonalds to take bolder steps regarding chicken welfare include Animal Equality, Compassion Over Killing, Mercy for Animals and World Animal Protection. Advertisement Though united in this cause, the groups operate differently. Some like The Humane League and Mercy for Animals are more grass-roots groups known for in-your-face tactics. Others, like Compassion in World Farming and the Humane Society of the United States, work with corporations in boardrooms to influence policy and effect change. In recent years, McDonalds has worked hand-in-hand with some of those groups in crafting animal welfare policies, such as when committing to ending the use of gestation crates for pigs in the U.S. and sourcing eggs only from cage-free hens in the U.S. and Canada. But the company has shifted toward developing global policies a vexing development for animal welfare charities hoping to see swifter change in the U.S. poultry industry. This has been such a disappointing process because we have previously made such historic announcements together, said Josh Balk, vice president of farm animal protection for the Humane Society. Advertisement gtrotter@chicagotribune.com Twitter @GregTrotterTrib The Chula Vista Fire Department has a new, easy-to-maneuver truck to help fight fires in the Otay Ranch area. The truck, also known as a tiller, allows a firefighter at the back to steer the rear wheels, enabling the vehicle to make sharper turns. The best feature of this truck is its turning capabilities, fire Chief Jim Geering said. The tractor-drawn tiller truck can successfully maneuver through the tightest turns in all of our pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods throughout Otay Ranch, ensuring better access and response. The first of its kind for the Fire Department, the 2017 Pierce Manufacturing truck replaces a 24-year-old truck at a fire station on Santa Venetia Street near Otay Ranch High School. Advertisement At almost 58 feet long and 37 tons, the truck includes battery-operated extrication tools known as jaws of life and a 100-foot-long ladder capable of extending the length of seven stories. Geering said the truck has safety features such as improved braking capabilities, reflective strips and LED lighting. He said it also meets emissions standards, making it safer for the environment and firefighters. The fully outfitted truck, with fire radios and other communication equipment, cost about $1.4 million. It was purchased with funds from Measure P, a 10-year, half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2016. The city intends to use Measure P funds for infrastructure needs, including upgrades to equipment, vehicles and facilities used by the police and fire departments. In June, Chula Vista residents will vote on a measure that would enact another half-cent sales tax increase, this time to generate funds to hire more than 20 police officers, 40 civilian employees and 30 fire personnel. Public safety and city officials have said the additional staff is needed to improve the fire and police departments response times, among other reasons. According to a 2016 city report, the Fire Department failed in the previous five years to meet its response-time standard, which calls for firefighters and medics to respond to calls for service within seven minutes at least 80 percent of the time. The Fire Departments nine stations respond to about 19,000 calls a year across the city. Advertisement The new fire truck at station 7 was used for the first time earlier this month. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez The curtain is rising on new leadership at Broadway/San Diego, which has announced that Vanessa Y. Davis is now general manager of the local touring-show presenter. Davis succeeds Joe Kobryner, who joined Broadway/San Diego in 1996 and is retiring. While Davis takes on the job of general manager effective immediately, Kobryner will continue in his role as a vice president of Nederlander, Broadway/San Diegos corporate parent, until his departure July 13. Davis, who has been with the company since 1998, previously directed its Presidents Club, group sales and patron services. Before joining Broadway/San Diego, she was a fundraising supervisor for Gordon & Schwenkmeyer. Advertisement Besides her work with Broadway/San Diego, Davis also has served on the board of Executive Women International (including a stint as president of the San Diego chapter), and has been a member of the National Broadway Leagues Group Sales Committee for the past six years. In the companys statement announcing the move, Davis said: It will be a privilege to serve as general manager in our vibrant San Diego arts community, and I look forward to leading the incredibly talented team at Broadway/San Diego into the next chapter. Nick Scandalios, executive vice president of the Nederlander Organization, said of Davis: I have been impressed by Vanessas work in all capacities over the years, and nothing makes me happier than to promote her to our executive team. And Kobryner said he is thrilled that (Davis) will succeed me in overseeing the important San Diego market. Over the years, she has demonstrated a tremendous ability to learn and excel at everything in which she is involved. Broadway/San Diego books about 10 touring shows a year into the Civic Theatre and (occasionally) the Balboa Theatre downtown. The company, which is presenting the musical Love Never Dies this week, announced its 2018-19 season in January. Advertisement jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @jimhebert The Marine Corps has identified the recruit who died Sunday morning after experiencing an apparent heart attack. Pvt. Patrick Armando Vega, 21, of Ventura, was pronounced dead at 11:43 a.m. on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest that morning at Naval Medical Center San Diego, according to an official Marine Corps statement released Tuesday. A Marine drill instructor at the boot camp in San Diego treated the recruit with CPR around midnight Friday before base military police and emergency medical personnel took over. First responders then transported him to an off-base hospital early Saturday, where he initially was listed in critical condition. On Tuesday, the Marines said that the drill instructor found Vega unresponsive in bed. On Saturday, officials had indicated he was being monitored due to ongoing physical health issues before the incident. Advertisement Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Pvt. Vega during this difficult time, said Brig. Gen. William Jurney, the commander of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, in a written statement to the Union-Tribune. Jurney has directed his staff to initiate a preliminary probe into Vegas death. Officials at Naval Medical Center San Diego often nicknamed Balboa Hospital are conducting a separate review. According to Marine spokesman Capt. Matthew W. Finnerty, Vega had been assigned to the depots Physical Conditioning Platoon and was not participating in a specific phase of training when he died. The special platoon helps to develop a recruits strength and stamina so that he can graduate boot camp and become a Marine. We will not be identifying the drill instructor who first responded to the incident, but his immediate actions helped give Pvt. Vega the best chance possible, said Finnerty. More than 17,000 men recruited west of the Mississippi River train annually at MCRD San Diego. The newest arrived last week and were assigned to Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. Theyre slated to graduate on June 15. Advertisement Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com San Diego County is poised to massively overhaul its strategy on treating drug and alcohol abuse with a new program that will expand treatment options, open more recovery beds and better connect patients to a vast network of services to address everything from homelessness to mental health to medical needs. The new program means the county will have access to more federal dollars to tackle the opioid crisis that is claiming tens of thousands of lives annually and destroying the lives of countless others. We need to take big, bold steps, county Supervisor Greg Cox said at a news conference announcing the change Monday. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for adults under 50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing approximately 64,000 people nationwide in 2016. In San Diego County, 544 people died from drug overdoses that year. Advertisement The county has long offered drug and alcohol treatment services to low-income residents and people who are court-ordered to complete rehabilitation programs, often to resolve criminal charges or legal family disputes. As the most recent drug epidemic worsened, California decided the system could be improved. In 2015 the state was the first to take advantage of a federal waiver that allows states to create their own substance abuse treatment programs using federal money. Californias program, called the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, brings participating service providers and public agencies together under one umbrella for better coordination and oversight, using best-practices recommendations of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The state program is then offered to counties to be managed at the local level, where needs can be tailored to fit specific regions and communities. More than 40 of the states 58 counties have opted in so far, said Alfredo Aguirre, director of county Behavioral Health Services. By opting in, San Diego County is expected to expand total funding for substance abuse treatment from $54.6 million to $179.6 million annually, authorities said. That amount includes $76.5 million in additional federal Medi-Cal funding and a $103.1 million commitment by the county to increase its spending to fill in gaps. If the county declined to participate, then it would still get about $3 million in regular Medi-Cal funding but lose out on the windfall of extra millions, county officials said. The county Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the new system Tuesday, although it wont go into effect until July 1. Even then, it will take years to fully implement and build out, said Aguirre. Supervisor Ron Roberts on Monday called it a game-changing investment, one he hopes will carry over to help treat other complex societal issues, from homelessness to crime to mental health. Advertisement Officials say the new program focuses on individualized treatment plans rather than a one-size-fits-all approach for people who cant afford expensive private rehab programs. Each new patient whether they come on their own or are referred by the court system will undergo a medical assessment in an effort to treat the whole person rather than just the addiction. Each patient will be assigned a case manager who will follow the patient through treatment and transitions, as well as link him or her to other support services to treat underlying issues and take care of needs like housing, transportation to medical appointments, and employment. While one patient might need residential rehabilitation, another might benefit more from medication-assisted treatment administered by a family physician and outpatient counseling, Aguirre said. Expanded access to medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a key part of the program. It is a strategy that is being pushed both federally and at the state level as a tool to help curb long-term cravings as well as help patients withdraw from opioid use. The most common drugs used to treat addiction are methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol, each with their own pros and cons. Advertisement Its an aspect of the new program that has been somewhat controversial in San Diego County, where publicly-funded treatment providers have traditionally followed abstinence-based, 12-step style methods and not accepted MAT patients into their programs. Under the new program, patients being treated with methadone or other medication cant be turned away. The criminal justice system will also be participating, with the District Attorneys Office adding a mental health/drug coordinator who will look for alternatives to custody in criminal cases where appropriate to aid in recovery, said District Attorney Summer Stephan. For the service providers who contract with the county including residential and outpatient facilities and sober living homes the new program means more oversight, technical support, assistance and training. Getting buy-in from San Diegos treatment community has been slow but many are getting on board. Advertisement Jeanne McAlister, who founded McAlister Institute, one of the countys leading longtime treatment providers, was one of the initial skeptics. Extremely resistant was how she put it. But after attending training on the new system, she has come to see how the increased collaboration and expansion of services will benefit the patients. And there is no shortage of them. I always wanted to be out of business and have no more addicts come to the door, she said of her 40 years helping treat substance abuse users. But its gotten worse. Advertisement kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Eurozone authorities will make a fresh 5.7 billion euro cash injection to Greece on Wednesday, putting Athens further down the road to leaving its painful bailout programme later this year. The new tranche agreed by the EU's bailout fund on Tuesday is the latest from Greece's third financial rescue package since 2010, when its debt crisis brought the European single currency close to collapse. A final sum of one billion euros will be held back until Greece makes final reforms, and will be not be paid out until May at the earliest, the European Stability Fund said in a statement. Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno, who heads the Eurogroup of finance ministers from the 19-country eurozone, welcomed the latest payout. "A chunk of the funds will be pumped into the Greek economy and will help Greece build up its cash buffer. That's good news," Centeno tweeted. European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said it was "another positive signal for strengthening the confidence in Greece's economy" as it prepares to end its bailout. "Moving closer to the end of programme, Greece's interest is to show that it has reached the point of no return," Dombrovskis said. An overall tranche of 6.7 billion euros -- Wednesday's payment plus the one billion to come -- was formally agreed by the Eurogroup in January. But the ministers delayed final approval of the funds at their meeting on February 19, calling on Greece to begin implementing electronic bidding for property seized from overdue debtors. The payout marks the formal closure of the third review by Greece's creditors under the current bailout programme. The current programme, which was worth a total of 86 billion euros and agreed in 2015, runs until August this year, after which the southern European nation hopes to fully return to market financing and get back on its own two feet. Greece earlier this month launched talks on what measures it should adopt before quitting the bailout programme, with a deal being targeted for a June summit. Search Keywords: Short link: Thousands of angry and distraught Russians rallied Tuesday in a Siberian city to demand a full probe into a shopping mall fire that killed at least 64 people, many of them children. President Vladimir Putin, who also visited the city, blamed the deaths on a criminal negligence, sloppiness, as he laid flowers in tribute to the victims. He did not address the rally. The blaze engulfed the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo on Sunday, the first weekend of the school recess, trapping dozens of parents and children inside. Eyewitnesses reported that fire alarms were silent and many doors were locked. Some of the victims were children who died in a locked movie theater. The angry residents rallied outside the regional government building in Kemerovo for hours, with many of the protesters taking the stage to accuse the authorities of hiding the real scale of the disaster. Advertisement One protester, Igor Vostrikov, addressed deputy governor Sergei Tsivilyov, saying that families of the victims think the death toll is much higher than stated because the entire movie theater burnt down. Were not calling for blood, he said at the rally. The children are dead, you cant give them back. We need justice. When the deputy governor dismissed the protesters call as a PR stunt, Vostrikov said he has lost his wife, sister and three daughters, aged 2, 5 and 7, in the fire. They died because they were locked in a movie theater, Vostrikov said in an interview on the Dozhd television station. They were calling from there, asking for help: Were locked in, were suffocating. No one helped because when the blaze broke out, everyone ran away. The impromptu protest underscored the residents frustration with the official response to the tragedy: the local governor has not visited the site of the fire or met with the relatives, and Putin has not announced a period of national mourning. Putin flew to Kemerovo earlier on Tuesday and visited the makeshift memorial to the victims outside the shopping mall. The footage released by his press office showed the president laying flowers on a deserted plaza with his security detail guarding the perimeter. How could this possibly happen? Whats the reason? Putin said at a meeting with the task force dealing with the fire, according to comments distributed by his press office. Kemerovo Governor Aman Tuleyev, meeting Putin, blamed the opposition and local busybodies for fomenting the protests, and claimed that families of the victims were not at the rally. Advertisement Russian state television on Tuesday showed footage from inside the charred movie theater where the roof entirely collapsed. Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said 58 bodies have been recovered and that the rescue workers are still searching for six more. Investigators said emergency exits were blocked and a security guard turned off the public announcement system when he received a call about the blaze. Alexander Bastrykin, chief of the Investigative Committee, told Putin on Tuesday that the fire alarm had not been operational for two weeks and that the security guard was detained but they still had no reasonable explanation for his actions. Advertisement Kemerovos mayor asked the rally to nominate its representatives to visit the morgue to check for themselves that the authorities were not hiding the truth about the deaths. A dozen protesters did so, and had a word in the lobby with Putin, who asked the protesters not to doubt that authorities will conduct a transparent probe. Those who need to answer for that, everyone will, Putin told the residents when pressed to fire Gov. Tuleyev. Another deputy governor, Vladimir Chernov, addressed the rally in the center of Kemerovo and rejected the unconfirmed reports of hundreds of deaths as rumors and said he was ready to resign if people want him to. Resign, resign! the crowd chanted to him. Advertisement The rally entered its sixth hour late afternoon local time, and the protesters were not leaving. The exodus of Syrian rebels and civilians from the eastern suburbs of Damascus continued on Tuesday for the sixth straight day in what is shaping up to be one of the largest organized population transfers in the countrys seven-year-long civil war. The population moves, condemned by the United Nations as forced transfers of people, are the result of a Russia-negotiated evacuation deal between Syrian rebels and the government amid a relentless offensive by President Bashar Assads forces. More than 13,000 fighters, their family members, and other civilians have been bused out of a second pocket of the besieged eastern Ghouta region, Syrian state media said Tuesday. The SANA news agency said 6,749 people, among them 1,620 fighters, were bused out of the towns of Arbeen, Ein Terma, Zamalka, and Jobar late on Monday. They followed 6,416 people who departed in the two previous days. Advertisement Last week, 7,000 people were bused out of a separate pocket of eastern Ghouta. They were taken to the rebel-held Idlib province in northwest Syria, where more than 1 million others have taken refuge from the violence that has engulfed the country. Living conditions in the camps there are abysmal, the U.N. and aid agencies say, and the province is exposed to regular Syrian government, Russian, and occasionally American airstrikes targeting markets, schools, hospitals, and bases for militants and al-Qaida-linked groups. Al-Manar TV, which belongs to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, said tens of thousands more are still expected to leave eastern Ghouta for the north. Hezbollah has fought alongside Assads forces throughout the civil war. The evacuations are part of an arrangement that has rebels surrendering the suburbs to the government after years of siege, and five weeks of particularly intensive bombardment. Rebel fighters and civilians who want to leave are then being bused to rebel-held territory in northern Syria. Talks about evacuating a third and final pocket of the eastern Ghotua region, which would encompass Douma, the regions largest town, were deadlocked over arrangements for a prisoner release, according to al-Manar TV. The Syrian government wants the Army of Islam, which controls Douma, to release its captives. The Army of Islam is negotiating with Russia, a chief Assad ally, but not the government. Late Monday, rebels released 28 prisoners to the government. However, tens if not hundreds of thousands languish in the Assad governments abominable prisons. The government has refused to negotiate any mass prisoner release despite pressure from the U.N. Advertisement According to a 2017 report from the Amnesty International, Syrian authorities executed between 5,000 and 13,000 prisoners between 2011 and 2015. The U.S. State Department, citing satellite photos, said the same year that authorities had built a crematorium to hide the scope of the killings. In other developments, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem arrived in Oman on Monday in a rare trip by a Syrian official to the Gulf Arab countries. He will be meeting with several high-level Omani officials, said the Oman News Agency. Associated Press writer Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. A boy was stabbed twice in a San Marcos fight on Monday that investigators suspect was gang related, a sheriffs sergeant said. Someone called 911 to report an assault with a deadly weapon near Richmar Avenue and Marcos Street about 3:30 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found a juvenile with two stab wounds to his upper body. He was rushed to a hospital and is expected to be OK. Investigators believe the boy was injured in an altercation with two other male juveniles. Deputies, with help from a sheriffs helicopter, looked for the two assailants, but they werent found. A description of the boys was not immediately available. Advertisement The incident is being investigated by detectives with the street narcotics and gangs division. Anyone with information about the fight was asked to call the Sheriffs Department at (858) 565-5200. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com A man was hit with a skateboard and stabbed in the arm in a downtown San Diego fight on Monday night. The victim was walking with a group of people near 13th Street and Island Avenue about 7:35 p.m. when something he said sparked sudden backlash, police said. One of the men in the group grabbed the victims skateboard and hit him with it, and another man pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed the victim in the bicep, said San Diego police Officer John Buttle. The injured man was taken to a hospital with a wound that wasnt considered life-threatening. Advertisement The two attackers fled the area. The knife-weilding assailant was described as Latino, about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a normal build. He had a pony tail and was last seen wearing black clothing. The man who snatched the skateboard was described as black, in his 40s and about 6 feet 4 inches tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black and blue shirt and khaki pants. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com A thief jumped the counter at a Pacific Beach pharmacy, snatched medication from a shelf then showed a gun to a worker who confronted him early Tuesday, a San Diego police officer said. About 12:45 a.m., a man in his mid 20s wearing an orange-and-gray hoodie vaulted the counter of a CVS store on Garnet Avenue, Officer John Buttle said. After pocketing medication Buttle did not specify what kind and showing the employee a gun, the thief left. Police patrolling Kate Sessions Park, less than a mile from the drug store, spotted people in a vehicle, and tried to talk to them. Advertisement A man bolted from the vehicle into the park and got away. But police were able to detain two others in the vehicle where officers also found an item from the pharmacy, Buttle said. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT County Board of Supervisors candidate Bonnie Dumanis has given $15,000 to a community safety fund over the past three years and is offering receipts from the charitable donations as evidence that she has unloaded any tainted money from a federal campaign-finance case. Dumanis received significant support from associates of the defendants in a federal case that centered on tycoon Jose Susumo Azano Matsura, who was not supposed to give money in U.S. elections because he was a foreign national. As news of the prosecution broke in early 2014, Dumanis immediately returned $1,400 that was given to her re-election campaign as district attorney. U-T Watchdog then identified $13,250 given to her unsuccessful 2012 mayoral campaign in 27 contributions from associates and relatives of three central figures in the Azano case and asked her about those funds. Advertisement At first, Dumanis said the mayoral campaign committee was closed and therefore she couldnt return the funds as she had with her active DA account. Even giving it from my own money and I dont have that kind of money to give back would probably not be within the rules of ethics, Dumanis said. She later said she would give the money to charity, something focusing on crime victims. And then she said she would reopen her mayoral campaign, deposit the tainted money into it and disburse the funds to the city treasury. We would like to do it in as expeditious a manner as possible, her campaign spokeswoman, Jen Tierney, said in May 2014. We would like to do it when all cases are closed, so we can reopen the (mayoral) committee, make the payment to the city and immediately close the committee again. That did not happen. Jason Roe, political consultant for Dumaniss current campaign for county supervisor said its not necessary. Seems like a lot of hassle for the same outcome, Roe said in an email. Dumanis always said she wanted to wait until the legal process concluded in the Azano case. Advertisement So when the final defendant was sentenced in February former San Diego police detective Ernie Encinas was sentenced to probation the U-T began asking Dumaniss campaign whether she would be disgorging the tainted funds. Emails on Feb. 23, 26 and March 5 garnered no response. On March 12, the campaign replied with receipts for two $5,000 donations. She gave $10k to the Safe Communities Fund through the San Diego Foundation, Roe said. She did do it. The receipts showed the donations were made on Dec. 30, 2015 and Dec. 30, 2016. The Watchdog on March 16 asked how the campaign came up with the $10,000 figure, given the original $13,250 that was identified. Advertisement Roe replied on March 19, saying, Here is another receipt for $5k more bringing total to $15k. That contribution was dated Dec. 30, 2017. Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause, a government watchdog group, questioned the payments. Most campaigns, to avoid the appearance of corruption, will disgorge immediately, she said. Something about the timing is questionable. (Once) its clear the source is of foreign origin, there is an ethical obligation for the candidate to return (the money). Advertisement Campaign expenditures must be reported under state law. However, as long as the candidate was unaware donations were illegal, San Diego Municipal Code says they are not obligated to disgorge them, said Stacey Fulhorst, executive director of the San Diego Ethics Commission. Although the citys campaign laws do have disgorgement requirements, they do not require city committees to reopen if they learn that one or more contributions accepted while the committee was open/active were unlawful, Fulhorst said. At the time Dumanis was planning to reopen her campaign committee, contribute the funds and disburse them from there, one reason cited was transparency campaign funds are subject to rigorous public reporting requirements. Dumanis decision to donate the funds personally makes them more difficult to track and verify. Advertisement She also qualified for a $15,000 tax deduction and possibly saved thousands in income tax obligations. Money given to political campaigns is not deductible, but contributions to charities are. Yes, it is a tax deduction, she said Wednesday. She later added that she will take that deduction when she files her income taxes, and stressed that she was under no obligation to give any money to charity. Citing donor privacy, the San Diego Foundation would not provide documentation to independently confirm the donations. Dumanis was not the only local politician embroiled in the Azano scandal. The Mexican tycoon, who had a house in Coronado, was convicted of spending some $600,000 on local campaigns with an agenda for turning downtown San Diego into Miami West. Advertisement Congressman Juan Vargas, state Sen. Ben Hueso and Assemblywoman Shirley Weber also received campaign funds from individuals associated with Azano, who was sentenced to three years in prison last year. Vargas returned $4,500 in January 2014. Hueso also was quick to return funds to the tune of $1,750. Webers campaign said the assemblywoman did not feel returning her $500 donation to someone involved in a crime was the best way to disgorge the funds. We thought about it a little bit and returning the money didnt seem sufficient, said Joe Kocurek, a spokesperson for Webers campaign. We donated it to a non-profit, which seemed a better option. Campaign filings show a $500 donation to Black Storytellers of San Diego in May 2014. The money originally came from one of the defendants, lobbyist Marco Polo Cortes, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, making a campaign contribution in the name of another and obstruction of a federal agent. Advertisement Staff writer Joshua Stewart contributed to this report. Background Contact the reporter at andrew.dyer@sduniontribune.com. U-T TV Watchdog: Dumanis donations and political scandal Advertisement UPDATES: March 28, 2018, 3:18 p.m.: This article was updated with a quote from Dumanis. This article was originally published March 27, 2018. Four of the six leading candidates for governor debated in San Diego on Sunday, showcasing with their varied responses and their actual presence the value to voters of together answering a range of questions from independent journalists. The candidates drew sharp distinctions on everything from school gun violence and sexual harassment in the state Capitol to distrust in law enforcement after last weeks fatal police shooting in Sacramento. They showed differences in both style and substance. Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, proudly owned that he was the only one on stage who voted for President Donald Trump and was brash and unforgiving about his conservative bona fides in deep blue California. Republican businessman John Cox remained on his outsiders message throughout the forum, railing against cronyism and corruption but displaying more sense than hes shown in a pair of absurd ballot measure initiatives he has sponsored, to divide the state legislature into 12,000 districts and to require legislators wear logos of their donors at special appearances as race car drivers do. Democratic former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin highlighted education bona fides that went over well in a roomful of social studies teachers whose organization hosted the forum. And Democratic former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa preached fiscal prudence while calling attention to his experience and relative centrism. Criticism? Eastin and Villaraigosa seemed too ready at times especially with education and an overbudget and underfunded bullet train project to throw money at problems to fix them. And Allen and Cox relied too much on general talking points about massive government waste that must be cut across state government while refusing to give Gov. Jerry Brown credit for being the frugal adult in a state full of lawmakers with pet programs. Asked to describe Brown in one word, Allen said failure, Cox said panderer, Eastin said creative and Villaraigosa said prudent. Asked to describe Trump in one word, Allen said incredible, Cox said businessman, Eastin said unhinged and Villaraigosa said divider. Their words say as much about the candidates as the subjects. Visit sdut.us/govforum for the full video and debate transcripts. Advertisement The two missing candidates on Sunday were Democrats Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang. Newsom declined The San Diego Union-Tribunes invitation in January, saying there were too many debates and he was too busy. Chiang accepted only to withdraw 10 days before the forum, citing an unspecified scheduling conflict. Voters will decide whether it was a mistake for them to skip the only media-sponsored gubernatorial forum in the states second-largest city and the nations fifth-largest county, which co-sponsor 10News streamed live in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fresno and which had 75,000 views in 24 hours. Thats a lot of votes left on the table at a time when people are focusing on the governors race far more now, and Chiangs name didnt come up. Newsoms name came up several times, dismissively. Once, Allen wrote Newsoms name on a placard and left it on an empty lectern when Villaraigosa briefly shared Eastins. In an otherwise illuminating debate, that was an ugly look for Allen and Newsom. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Advertisement Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Tariffs would hurt those Trump vowed to help From tax cuts to regulatory rollbacks, President Trump has stood up for small businesses throughout his presidency. Not only did the Trump administration eliminate more job-killing regulations in his first year than any previous administration, but the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has helped job creators reward employees and expand operations. Im one of them, using my tax savings to hire more workers and buy new equipment. As President Trump and congressional Republicans negotiate import tariffs, they should continue to keep small businesses in mind. High tariffs on aluminum and steel increase costs for small businesses like mine, reducing purchasing capacity and making it difficult to stay afloat. These cost increases are eventually passed on to job-seekers, who see fewer career opportunities, and consumers, who see higher prices. Lawmakers should stick to free-market policies and keep helping job creators help others. Carlos Ruiz Advertisement Owner, HT Metals Tucson, Arizona Spending bill was a list of broken promises With the signing of the Schumer/Pelosi Omnibus bill, President Trump just sealed his 2020 loss (or probable impeachment). A $1.3 trillion, 22,000-page monstrosity that nobody read? Beefing up the military is fine, but not at the expense of the wall the No. 1 reason he was elected. Continued funding of Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities and Chuck Schumers tunnel? Specifically prohibiting training for armed guards for schools? A pay raise for Congress? Who knows what else is in that travesty. Trump truly will never do this again because he will be impeached, with no support from the 63 million who voted for him to drain the swamp. He has just become a part of. Burt Smith Oceanside Advertisement Trump not keeping the promises he made President Trump talks tough, he says he could even beat up Joe Biden. But Congress, in particular, is discovering that the President talks a mean game, but doesnt really follow through. Recently we saw tough talk on steel and aluminum tariffs, but then Trump grants waivers to just about every country that exports steel to us. It made for a great photo op at the time though. Then he threatens to veto the new spending bill, even as his budget director is telling the press that the bill will be signed. And of course he signed it. Trump looks for a great sound bite and photo op for each daily news cycle, his substitute for actual leadership. Dont forget to tune in tomorrow, folks! Larry Chisesi Advertisement La Mesa Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Four of the leading California gubernatorial candidates Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, Republican business John Cox, and Democrats former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa debated in San Diego on Sunday at a forum co-hosted by The San Diego Union-Tribune and ABC 10 News. The U-T has transcribed the answers. Here is what the candidates said about immigration when asked to answer in 45 seconds. Its no secret that the Trump administration and current California leadership seem to be at odds [on immigration]. How far should California push back against the Trump administration on immigration and at what cost? What do you see as the risk to such an adversarial relationship and do you think the president would go so far as to withhold tax dollars or resources from California if that is the stance that we choose to take. Allen: So Im actually the only candidate in the race for governor that voted for and supported and even wrote op-eds in favor of our Republican nominee for president Donald J. Trump. Trump has the exact right idea, which is enforce the rule of law in the U.S. and the Constitution of the United States. Its very clear that immigration is the sole province of the federal government. As your next governor of the state of California, I will ensure that federal immigration law is enforced. Last year in the Legislature I introduced legislation to de-fund every sanctuary jurisdiction in California. This year I will introduce legislation to reverse the illegal sanctuary state. And as your next governor, in the first 100 days, I will ensure that the sanctuary state is reversed. By the way, go online to jointravisallen.com and sign the petition to have your city opt out of the illegal sanctuary state as Los Alamitos in my district just did. Its illegal, it endangers Californians and we wont have it in California. Cox: Border security shouldnt be controversial, nor should it be controversial for law enforcement authorities to work together. But Ive got to tell you this is classic politician speak because what theyre doing is distracting you. Theyre creating all this war with Washington, D.C., so that you dont notice the horrendous cost of living in this state, the lack of opportunity in this state, the trillion dollar unfunded pension debt theyve created. Theyve created conditions in this state that are making it impossible for the working class and the middle class to live. And then they throw these sanctuary state things at us, they appoint undocumented immigrants to state posts just to stick a finger in the eye of people and to distract us from the messes the politicians are creating. Lets get solutions to problems. Thats what Im about. Eastin: For many years I taught political science and I watched with great interest as Republicans all over the South waved the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution in our face as an excuse to discriminate against people of color. They said a law that is not given to the federal government nor denied to the states should be the property of the states and the people. It is so ironic that a thug like (Attorney General) Jeff Sessions, who defended such horrible color discrimination in his area, should be allowed to stand up and say we ought to follow the Constitution. Immigrants are the most entrepreneurial, risk-taking and also are who is in this audience today. Dont look now, youre all descended from immigrants. So, in fact, I support our sanctuary state status and I support the sanctuary cities and I stand with our immigrants as law-abiding neighbors and friends. Matt Hall, Union-Tribune Editorial and Opinion Director: So what would the risk be to that adversarial relationship and are you worried about the withholding of tax dollars? Eastin: I think that for the same reason that Jeff Sessions and the other segregationists went to court against the federal government when they thought their rights were being infringed on, we should be prepared to do that in this state. And I think that both of the major candidates for attorney general are with me on this, that we will stand up for the people of California and for our federal money. You should also know that, in fact, we are a donor to the federal government. We only get 80 cents back on every dollar we send, so for him to threaten us with taking money away, it just is embarrassing. Its not America. Its not the America I know and love and its something weve been working to change for a long time. States right have a place in the Constitution and we should use them to protect our neighbors. Villaraigosa: I think its pretty clear that we have a broken immigration system. Both the right and the left agree on that and so they need to come together. The feds need to fix this broken immigration system. But until they do, we have 11 million people in this state who are working the vast majority of them theyre going to school, theyre opening up businesses, theyre buying homes, theyre participating and contributing to our economy. California is the epicenter of that group of people. [The] California Values Act didnt start in Sacramento, it actually started in L.A. and it started in 1979 with a very conservative police chief. His name was Daryl Gates. He did it not because he was pro-immigration or against it. He did it because it was pro-public safety. He believed that you need to engender trust in your community among immigrants to make that theyre cooperating with the police department. Hall: Are you worried about the risk? Villaraigosa: Sure. Were all worried that theyre going to move ahead to take away our money but I agree with Delaine. Theres a thing called the Tenth Amendment and were going to use it. And were going to go into the courts and stand up for the proposition that this is our tax dollars. By the way, were a donor state. We give more than we get back from the federal government. They ought to be giving us more, not less, and legislators and congressional members on both sides of the aisle ought to be fighting for that. Yes were worried, but were going to court. Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang did not attend the debate, which was sponsored by the California Council for the Social Studies. Newsom declined an invitation two months ago. Chiang accepted but withdrew 10 days before the event, citing an unspecified scheduling conflict. We sought out statements from Newsom and Chiang on immigration. Heres what we found. Chiang has this posted on his website: California has long paved the way for the national battle for immigrant rights. This state was built on the backs of immigrants, and its why I refuse to turn my back on them. I supported our states sanctuary bill, and will fight to defend it as governor. I support our immigrant communities and am firmly against Attorney General Sessions politically motivated lawsuit. California refuses to be a cog in Donald Trumps deportation machine, and we will not tolerate these attacks on our communities. This isnt just a stand against the administration, this is a statement of values. I value Californias immigrant communities and continue to proudly stand with them. Newsom has this posted on his website: The 2020 U.S. Census will include a question about citizenship for the first time in decades. The Department of Commerce announced its decision on Monday night. The move has long been feared by leaders in California and other states with large immigrant populations who may not want to participate if they are not authorized to be in the U.S. or have family members who are not. Commerce Secretary Willbur Ross says the question will help to enforce the Voting Rights Act and protect minority voting rights. I find that the need for accurate citizenship data and the limited burden that the reinstatement of the citizenship question would impose outweigh fears about a potentially lower response rate, Ross wrote in a memo about the decision. California officials are already suing. They say the move puts the state at risk of losing federal funding if its population is undercounted. New York officials are also suing. Clearly this affects every corner of America. Heres what you should know. What should I know about the census? It is mandated by the Constitution and takes place every 10 years. The information collected in the census is used to determine the number of seats each states gets in the House of Representatives and to allocate federal funds based on formulas using population. It was last taken in 2010 and will be taken again in 2020. The decennial census hasnt asked all respondents whether they are citizens since 1960, but did so in 1950 and before. The official census day is set for April 1, 2020. Why is this such a big deal? This is a highly political issue this year. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for example, previously sent a letter to Ross asking him to add the question. Two New York Democrats, Rep. Jose Serrano and Rep. Grace Meng, also sent a letter to Ross, urging him to leave the question off. Now that the decision is here, Republicans and Democrats are reacting with outrage or applause. Cruz is praising the decision, of course. California officials have had concerns for months that this could happen, especially because of its immigrant population and that one of its 53 seats in the House could be at risk. Perhaps because of the writing on the wall, Gov. Jerry Browns 2018 budget includes $40.3 million to make sure the census count goes well. How is California reacting? California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra wrote a joint op-ed in The San Francisco Chronicle saying California faces the risk of losing its fair share of federal funding for its people and its taxpayers. The Trump administration is threatening to derail the integrity of the census by seeking to add a question relating to citizenship to the 2020 census questionnaire, they wrote. Innocuous at first blush, its effect would be truly insidious. It would discourage noncitizens and their citizen family members from responding to the census, resulting in a less accurate population count. Heres Becerra showing the documents from his court filing to fight the Commerce Departments decision. Californias two senators, both Democrats, are also rallying against the Trump administrations decision as are many other Democrats in office. The issue quickly became a topic of discussion on social media, where people took political sides. Californias lawsuit got both criticism and praise. Want to weigh in on this issue? We want to know your opinion on whether citizenship should be a question on the census. Tweet to @sdutideas or comment below. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin The beautiful dark-skinned girl with wide eyes smiles widely. Her trademark scarf in hues of green, yellow and orange cascades around her hair and shoulders. Saleema needs no introduction. Her story has always captivated listeners, as it did during a screening of a small documentary in a workshop on social norms, held by the UNICEF and Rain Barrel Research Center in Amman, Jordan. The film opened with the words of a different Sudanese girl as she narrated her experience of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM), her encounter with the midwife, and how her grandmother encouraged the procedure. In our village, every girl must be circumcised so she can get married, the grandmother said. Its our tradition. Performed on both Muslim and Christian girls, FGM is very common in Egypt and Sudan, and also in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia - though it is very rare elsewhere in the Arab world. But Saleema's story, which began in 2008 as an initiative by the Sudanese society, has brought hope to efforts to stop FGM. In Sudan, former efforts to stop FGM where either tackled by civic society, individual research efforts or scattered media coverage. All of them were top down, talking primarily about health hazards, or distinguishing the practice from religion and calling for stricter laws against the practice. The Saleema Initiative grew out of the recognition of the importance of language in addressing the issue of FGM and changing mindsets. It tackled FGM without talking explicitly about it ,but rather introducing a brighter alternative. Ahram Online discussed the initiative with Dr. Samira Amin, one of the founders. Amin spent almost two decades working with UNICEF Sudan, gaining vast experience from work with government, international and national NGOs, agencies and civil society organisations. It all starts with the right words Amin explained how selecting the right words have always been critical in addressing social issues. In the colloquial language in Sudan, people have always chosen to describe FGM as 'tahoor,' which means pure. Needless to say how this represented a challenge, as Sudanese culture accordingly associated the act of FGM with a much respected value: purity," she explained. In addition to that, the colloquial word that described women and girls who did not undergo FGM was 'ghalfaa,' which has a very negative meaning of impurity and obscenity, Samira added. So the idea was to present the new initiative by carefully choosing a name: Saleema. "Saleema is a picture of a girl that is uncut, and her name in Arabic means: pure, complete, unharmed and intact, all of which conform to the highly cherished values of preserving the purity of a girl," Samira continued. "The success of Saleema was based on many factors, most importantly is the fact that her name created a paradigm shift in terms of acknowledging purity of the girl without contradicting the core values of the community. It emerged from the community itself without being imposed," she said. The idea was to provide communities with a "toolkit," including various communication activities and materials to encourage rethinking about FGM. We said that 'God created the girl Saleema, so let her grow Saleema,' so the same values were preserved, but were linked with the Saleema tools, Samira explained. These tools would come to play a powerful role in the initiative's efforts. They came in two forms: multimedia materials broadcast on TV and radio, and small print materials with training activities aimed directly at the communities. A starting point The initiative's success in part stemmed from the discontinuation of the use of criticism and pointing out the harmful effects of FGM. "Instead, we heard people, let them talk and express their troubles, then we went ahead to present the picture of Saleema, portraying her as a joyful, happy and successful alternative. This clicked with the community on the spot," Samira said. "The whole idea was not to create a sudden improvement in the situation at once, but rather to create a discussion, and prompt minds to question and argue. This eventually created change," she explained. "It was enough with the gruesome pictures in campaigns, enough with blood; it was time to talk about an appealing alternative, for listeners. We lent an ear, heard their anguish and stories unfold, before we talked about a Saleema." "A new, consistent mass media -- appealing to a wide audience -- was created, avoiding top-down talk, as well as polarised debates. Saleema became a household name, and that was when success began." According to UNICEF, a survey in 2014 showed that now more than 50 percent of Sudanese women believe the practice should be discontinued amid growing awareness about its health dangers. According to the World Health Organization, more than 200 million girls and women have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In Egypt, the procedure was banned in 2008, but a UNICEF study in 2016 showed that 87 percent of women between the ages of 15 to 49 in Egypt have been subjected to the procedure, which is still viewed as a method to promote chastity. In the same year, Egypt's House of Representatives approved a cabinet bill amending the law criminalising FGM, and declaring the practice a felony, as well as imposing stricter punishments for those convicted of performing the procedure. Although FGM by its very nature leads to deformity, Egyptian law does not consider the act in itself as leading to "permanent deformity." Samira is optimistic regarding the future. Egypt and Sudan have always been intertwined, their history and roots are linked together and I am sure that both countries endeavours to put an end to FGM will pay off and succeed at the end." "The success of Saleema stems from the fact that the name became a household name in Sudanese society. The beginning of the change was when debate began, and discussions were spurred," she said. "Saleema was a starting point, and now younger generations must finish what we started, she concluded. Short link: PACIFIC has teamed up with Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Party Naked and RMD Group to bring you a chance to win a special package for Brody Jenners April 7 DJ set at the Sunburn Pool Lounge. To register for the contest, fill out the form at the bottom of this page. The winner will be contacted via email. One lucky winner will receive entrance for 10 to the event, a VIP table with a $1,000 tab for bottles and food, and an overnight stay in a King Suite at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. A winner will be announced on Thursday, April 5. Brody Jenner the hunky son of former Olympian and reality personality Caitlyn Jenner who broke hearts on The Hills before joining his stepfamily on the reality juggernaut Keeping Up with the Kardashians, has traded in his days of (un)reality for turntables. Brodys public debut came via his 2005 show, The Princes of Malibu, which featured him and his older brother, Brandon (plus childhood pal Spencer Pratt) along with mom Linda Thompson and her then-husband, David Foster. Brody continued his reality run as both Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavalleris beau on The Hills, Bromance (a competition wherein the winner was crowned Brodys bestie) and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, alongside his former stepsiblings the Kardashians, and half-sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Now, Brody has parlayed his reality fame into a gig as a touring DJ, with a Vegas residency at Drais nightclub under his belt, as well as a social media following above 4 million. And, while Brodys been romantically linked to stars like Nicole Richie and Avril Lavigne, he was taken off the dating market when he proposed to longtime girlfriend and lifestyle blogger Kaitlynn Carter in 2016. (We look forward to hearing about Kaitlynn Jenner and Caitlyn Jenners Thanksgiving dinner sometime soon.) On April 7, Brody will spin live, above the city, at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diegos Saturday day-club experience, Sunburn Pool Lounge. Fun facts Brodys mom, Linda Thompson, once dated Elvis Presley. Brody and models Gigi and Bella Hadid all, at one time, called composer David Foster their stepdad. Brodys real name is Sam Brody Jenner. Brody didnt attend stepsister Kim Kardashians marriage to Kanye West in 2014. Since his father divorced Kris Jenner in 2014, it has been rumored that Brody has not maintained a relationship with the Kardashian family. Keep up Instagram: @BrodyJenner Twitter: @BrodyJenner Facebook: @BrodyJenner Snapchat: @thenextjenneration *Please note that, by entering this contest, you are opting to receive PACIFIC newsletters and other promotional materials. The contest closes at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 5. Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Lorne Hammer Jones, who was convicted in a smuggling conspiracy, will be spending much less time in prison. On July 11, U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff signed off on an amended prison term, reducing the original sentence of 7 years to 2 years. Her order cited a rule that allows a reduction when a defendant provides substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person. The reduced sentence could partly explain mysterious workings in his case that have pushed back the date he was supposed to surrender for prison, which was originally set for May. A new surrender date had been set for Aug. 22, although Jones decided to get it over with. He told San Diego CityBeat on Wednesday, before he surrendered at Herlong prison, that he was tired of fighting. Court records dont provide any additional details about the delay or the apparent assistance. When questioned over the past few months, the U.S. Attorneys Office and Jones defense lawyer have said they cant discuss it. Jones, who worked at the U.S.-Mexico border crossings in San Diego, was convicted in December of conspiracy and attempted marijuana importation and acquitted of bribery charges. He was accused of waving through undocumented immigrants and drug loads of up to five tons over a period of several years, working in concert with his then-wife and her smuggling organization. He has adamantly denied his involvement in the scheme. At Jones' sentencing, the judge heavily criticized the prosecution of the case, calling many of the government witnesses Pinocchios for their unbelievable testimony. She urged the U.S. Attorneys Office to re-examine how the case was tried. 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 Stars and critics from the world over have gathered in Hi-Brough, Nebraska for the municipalitys first annual international film festival. The exclusive week-long event has opened its screenings and discussions only to world-renowned film professionals as well as the towns 571 residents. The amateur critics have weighed in on this years selections. White Is the Luckiest Color (Turkmenistan) Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today Ashgabat Tourist Center and TurkmenOil collaborated to produce this glowing documentary of Turkmen president and protector, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The former vice president who was thrice elected by 97 percent of his constituents loves the lucky color white, and you will too if you want to travel to Turkmenistan. President Berdimuhamedovs skeptics have criticized his decision to ban dark-colored automobiles in the capital City of White Marble, but this state-sponsored documentary dives into the undeniable power of light colors to bring about wealth and prosperity to the Turkmen people. With stunning, cinematic views of the Kopet Dag mountains and the 65-foot-tall golden statue of President Berdimuhamedov, White Is the Luckiest Color will compel you to book a flight to Ashgabat and drive the whitest car you can find around the marble city, as long as you arent a woman. Hattie Wood (stay-at-home mom): I had no idea that Turkmenistans president invented natural gas extraction, dentistry, and the internet. Maybe we should think about implementing a color-based car ban here. An Orchid Is Not an Ending (France) The Chevrolet household is turned upside down when the enigmatic stranger Jean-Baptiste arrives at their countryside goat farm. Prolonged scenes of silent family breakfasts are interrupted by passionate drama in this sharp contender for the festivals coveted Palme dCorn. Intimate portrayals of lovemaking abound in An Orchid Is Not an Ending as the mysterious traveler beds each member of the Chevrolet family without uttering a single mot. In dazzling hi-definition, the films iconic final scene statically observes the rural French family sharing a brunch of baguette, fromage, and Chenin Blanc for a harrowing 47 minutes even longer than the (rumored to be real) depictions of intercourse. Donna Claiborne (agricultural contractor): What happened to the goats? They have to be milked every day. These people supposedly run a dairy farm, but you dont once see them milking their does. Dale Johnson (semi-truck operator): It was good. Mighty Jurij (Slovenia) Born from the tremendously popular comic book series, Mighty Jurij is the first animated adaptation of Slovenias favorite badger superhero. Of course, the comic reached its height of popularity in 1976, so younger audiences might be puzzled at Jurijs glaring communist overtones. In this feature-length film that Ljubljana Magazine called a startlingly graphic depiction of revolt that leaves little to the imagination in the way of global politics, Jurij contends with a monocle-sporting dragon trying to return its hoard of gold to the people of the kingdom and convince workers to settle for a sort of market socialism. Jennifer Meier (convenience store cashier): The movie was cute, but now my daughter is begging me to buy her a plush toy of Jurijs sidekick, Proletariat Pigeon. Love Like Ice (Sweden) Youve never seen virtual reality like this before! claimed one critic after experiencing the world premiere of this devastating Scandinavian eco-romance. Audiences are besieged with three and a half hours of immersion into the stark world of Lukas, the films 87-year-old protagonist, as he ambles the Swedish tundra in desperate yet arbitrary search of something he lost long ago. Something mysterious and immaterial. Something he can never find, despite the omnipresence of a bodiless female voice that whispers to Lukas (and the audience) nihilistic suggestions of suicide. Jeannie Fritz (accountant): The voice represents God, I think. Or maybe Satan. The virtual reality helmet gave me a headache. Beau Clyde (local business owner): Hes on an island. Thats the twist at the end. Too Rich to Fail (United States) Pop sensation Katy Perry makes her directorial debut in this zany, will-they-wont-they comedy about an on-again, off-again, on-again wedding between two middle-aged executive types played by Neve Campbell and up-and-coming actor Kirk Cameron. Shes a bigwig financial consultant, hes a straight-talking COO at the biggest marketing firm in town. The only problem? Theyre entirely incompatible romantically. Leon Walsh (electrician): I preferred the Swedish movie to this one, and thats saying something. Read Jeff Browns High Art at Pikes Peak from 1968. Plus, overnight stays feature two full days in cities such as Cape Town, Auckland and Buenos Aires. Queen Mary 2 will operate Cunards sole world voyage in 2020, a classic east-west route to Australia and Asia, including the Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and southern Africa. The cruise can be taken as a round-trip from New York (113 nights) or Southampton (99 nights). Shorter voyage options range from one to three weeks and can be combined in many ways. The beginning of the voyage is routed via the Mediterranean and Suez Canal to the Arabian Gulf and across the Indian Ocean, entering Asia via the Malacca Straits. From there Queen Mary 2 will head north via Vietnam to Hong Kong before steaming south to Australia. The final leg of the voyage is the return to Southampon from Australia, routed via South Africa. The voyage includes more overnight stays than in any of the ocean liners world voyages in the past 10 years. Other Queen Mary 2 deployment in 2020 features grand voyages and regions of the world, 35 voyage combinations ranging from seven to 113 nights and overnight stays at Haifa, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, and a double overnight at Cape Town. In December 2019 and the first half of 2020, Queen Elizabeth will offer a series of round-trips from international ports with richer, more regionally-focused itineraries. In between these deployments will be grand voyages. Queen Elizabeth will operate six round-trips from Melbourne and two from Sydney covering South Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand as well as a new itinerary that features Papua New Guinea with maiden calls at Conflict Island and Kiriwina. The ship will offer multiple sailings in Japan, making five maiden calls to ports there in 2020. Queen Elizabeth will stay overnight at Cape Town, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, and provide scenic cruising in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, as well as Alaska's Hubbard Glacier and the Inside Passage. Queen Victoria, meanwhile, will operate a series of European departures in November and December 2019, followed by a winter escape round-trip experience to South America. The ship will stay longer in ports such as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, and overnight at Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Callao. Scenic cruising will include the Amazon River, the Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn, the Chilean Fjords and the Panama Canal. Those booking Queen Mary 2's world voyage from New York or Southampton (departing Jan. 3 and Jan. 10 respectively) or Queen Victoria's South America Voyage from Hamburg, Southampton or Fort Lauderdale (departing Jan 2, 10 and 21 respectively) will receive benefits including the services of a world voyage concierge and use of a private lounge, a commemorative gift, cocktail parties, shoreside gala dinner/cocktail party and daily gratuities. Full world-cruise bookings made by Nov. 30, 2018, will be entitled to a reduced deposit, on-board credit of up to $3,000 per stateroom, captains wine reception (in ocean-view, balcony and Grill suites), an alternative dining credit (in ocean-view, balcony and Grill suites), ground transfers (in ocean-view and balcony) and upgraded private transfers (in Grill suites) plus laundry service (in ocean-view, balcony and Grill suites). China US West Coast spot rates slipped to below $1,000 per feu for the week ending 23 March for the first time since June 2016. Based on the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) China US West Coast spot rates were $945 per feu last week, while China US East Coast rates were $1,933 per feu. Crucial Perspectives warned in a report that US trade tariffs would put pressure on China North America spot rates in the near term. Crucial Perspectives analyst Corrine Png said this, does not bode well for the upcoming transpacific contracting season. If spot freight rates continue to slide, the carriers are likely to be compelled to sign lower container freight rates for their annual contracts that typically run from 1 May. Putting further pressure on the recovering container sector the analyst has trimmed its 2018 container volume demand growth forecast to 4.2% down from 5.2% last year. Importantly this means that supply growth will outstrip demand growth this year. This will fall short of the container shipping industrys capacity expansion this year; we forecast global container shipping net capacity to grow 5.1% year-on-year in 2018 after taking into account vessel scrapping and delivery slippage, Png said. SHIs Smart Ship Solution aims to improve vessel efficiencies using real time data from hull and equipment sensors in collaboration with land-based technical and fleet managers. However, real time data transfer between ship and shore facilities, to enable automated operations, presents a growing cybersecurity challenge for the marine and offshore industries. SHI Smart Ship Solution was successfully tested and evaluated for compliance with the ABS Cybersecurity Guide, said Paul Walters, director of the Global ABS CyberSafety programme. As a global leader in marine cybersecurity, ABS is pleased to be working with SHI to ensure the next generation of vessels is better equipped to address the increased level of cyber risk they will certainly face, he added. Gaining the ABS Certificate of CyberSafety Compliance is an important first step to apply the Smart Ship Solution in the marine and offshore industries. said SHI Ship and Offshore Performance Research Centre vp Lee Dong-Yeon. Through the ABS/SHI Joint Development Project, SHI is proud to acquire the world's first ship system ABS Certificate of CyberSafety Compliance. ABS continues to lead the marine and offshore industries in cybersecurity guidance and will work with SHI on next generation cybersecurity technology for smart ships focused on both the ships onboard architecture and its onshore fleet management cybersecurity architecture going forward. JV Welcomes IRR for Free Tuition Law; Says Ball in the Court of the Students SENATOR JV Ejercito on Tuesday welcomed the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the law that grants free tuition fee entitlement to deserving students in government tertiary schools. Ejercito, one of the principal authors of Republic Act 10931, or the "Universal Access to Quality Education Act," at the same time challenged the youth to consistently comply with the requirements if they want to avail the benefits of the law until they graduate. CHED issued last Monday the IRR, seven months after President Duterte signed the law in August last year and two months before the start of the incoming school year 2018-2019. "Finally, the long wait is over and the freshmen and old students of State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) can avail of the free tuition education this coming school year. Huli man daw at magaling, naihabol din," he said in a statement. "My fervent wish to have at least one graduate in every family is about to be realized," he added. The law grants free tuition, miscellaneous, and other fees, to qualified enrollees for college degrees in SUCs and LUCs as well as students of technical-vocational schools. Subsidies can also be availed by students in private tertiary schools. "The ball is now in the court of the students. We really worked hard to give them this law. They should not waste this chance of making their lives and their families' better in the future," Ejercito said. Press Release March 27, 2018 GORDON BARES MODUS OPERANDI IN P8.7-B GENSAN ROAD RIGHT OF WAY SCAM As the Senate probe into the alleged P8.7 billion road right-of-way (RROW) "scam" in General Santos City continued, Senator Richard J. Gordon identified the members of the syndicate and exposed their modus operandi. Gordon chairs the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations or the Blue Ribbon Committee which is conducting an inquiry together with the Senate Committee on Public Works, chaired by Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao. At the latter's request, Gordon and the Blue Ribbon went to GenSan to preside the hearing last March 23, 2018. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III also attended. During the hearing, Gordon tore the case wide open, exposing things such as the modus operandi, identifying the members of the syndicate, and getting a clearer picture of how the syndicate pulled the scam off. "We are happy with the way the investigation is progressing. The Blue Ribbon Committee, at the request of Sen. Pacquiao, went to GenSan, the Senate President was there too because it was important enough, to investigate a long, simpering racket involving right of way payments and a long, long racket of fake titles being issued right under our noses," he said. Like a lawyer cross-examining witnesses, Gordon unrelentingly questioned resource persons and witnesses, alike, until they could provide the points he was after. At one point, he was even frying the City Assessor because he could not ascertain whether or not they had a tax mapping of the city. Government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Commission on Audit were listening avidly and taking notes of the admissions concerning the payment for RROW claims that were already made. "We were able to pinpoint with accuracy who are the people involved like the people with SPA (Special Power of Attorney) who admitted under cross examination that they are the ones being used to fleece the government and act as conduit for the money. The BIR was there listening. All these money flying around and the BIR said they were taking notes. COA was there. The BIR and the COA can now go after these people," the Blue Ribbon chairman said. Press Release March 27, 2018 KWF Unveils 1st Language Marker in Cordillera The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, and the Ifugao State University (IFSU) today unveiled the Language Monument or Bantayog-Wika for the Tuwali language in Lamut, Ifugao. The Bantayog-Wika for Tuwali is the first in the Cordillera Region and the second language monument erected in the country next to Antique, where the first language marker for Kinaray-a was inaugurated earlier this month. Installation artist Luis 'Junyee' Yee, Jr. designed and created the language marker. Tuwali is one of the widely spoken languages found mostly in the municipalities of Kiangan, Hingyon, Hungduan and some parts of Lamut, Asipilo, Lagawe and Banaue in the Province of Ifugao where the world-famous Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras is located, and whose "Hudhud" chant is considered a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in the UNESCO list of 2001. "Our country is undeniably rich in culture and traditions. In Ifugao alone, the world-famous rice terraces and the world-acclaimed 'Hudhud' chant are testimonies of the Ifugao's industrious traits, creativity and rich heritage. I hope that through these symbolic language markers, we will always be reminded to stay rooted in our own culture and traditions, and continue to preserve our cultural heritage as it gives us identity as a people and as a nation," Legarda said. Bantayog-Wika is a nationwide project of KWF in partnership with Senator Loren Legarda. It seeks to identify areas where languages originated. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda ensured funding for the installation of language markers for the 131 languages in the country. She also supported funding for the ethnographic studies of Philippine languages. "We need to comprehensively document all active, endangered, and dying languages of our ethno-linguistic groups in the country and we should promote the continued use of such languages. To complement the Language Markers Project of KWF, the Department of Tourism and the local government units (LGUs) can provide language tours to include discussions on how the language started and was embraced by the community in order to widen the perspective of the youth, students, and tourists when visiting various tourist sites in the country," said Legarda. The KWF has already been in coordination with other LGUs for the implementation and installation of the language markers in their respective sites. This year, it aims to install 22 language markers across the country. (Please find attached message of Senator Loren Legarda read by a representative.) Koko says casino builders should consult host community Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Tuesday said that casinos should be built only after hearing the sentiments of the host community, as expressed through a resolution of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan of the host local government unit (LGU). Pimentel made the statement in response to the growing opposition to the plan to build a $500-million casino in the island of Boracay. "Let us adopt the spirit of Federalism - let the people take part in the decision if a casino should be built in their locality", said Pimentel. The Senate President said that casinos bring advantages and disadvantages to a community, and those affected must have a voice in the decision-making process. Pimentel said, "Federalism is about empowering the people by involving them in the decision-making process. Even if the shift to Federalism has not happened yet, there is no legal impediment to adopting the principle of consultation." Federalism is one of the core tenets of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), the country's ruling party of which Pimentel is the President and President Rodrigo Duterte is Chairman. For LGUs which might play host to casinos, Pimentel said, "I urge the councils of LGUs - let your people be heard. Consult them, pass a resolution reflecting their concerns, and present the result to PAGCOR and would-be investors." Elizabeth Kidd says shes terrified of being bored. Keeping her mind active is just one of the reasons the retired art curator has joined an SFU study tour to southern Spain in May. Organized by SFUs Graduate Liberal Studies Program (GLS) and SFU Continuing Studies Liberal Arts and 55+ Program, the tour will guide more than 40 students from both programs on a journey through Spains unusual Islamic past. Before retiring in 2008, Kidd took more than two dozen courses through the 55+ Program, feeding her passion for history, community cultural development and art. She also completed the GLS program last fall, earning a second masters degree to add to the MA she received in the 1970s. As soon as I retired, I was hungry to do and learn something new. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to undertake next, but in the end, Ive taken on a lot of stuff, Kidd laughs. Aside from pursuing botanical painting and creative writing, volunteering and teaching part-time, shes an avid traveler who has regularly visited Italy in recent years. Im used to travelling, she says, but this study tour offers new experiences and sets of ideas. Doing it within a learning context, with all the books were reading, it will be so much richer. The tour will focus on an enlightened period in medieval history when Muslims, Christians and Jews lived harmoniously together in Spain, in sharp contrast to todays ongoing religious conflicts. To prepare, Kidd and her fellow travelers have been assigned readings on Islamic history and culture before meeting regularly to discuss the material. For Kidd, the readings have opened up a world she knew little about. My education was very Eurocentric in a way, she says. Learning about Islam and its beginnings is filling in a huge blank in my knowledge. The study tour will take the group to Andalusia, the original home of the Muslims in Spain, and to visit historic sites like the famed Moorish palace of Alhambra. Unlike the graduate students on the tour, Kidd and her fellow GLS alumni, along with the 55+ Program students, will have no essays to worry about, and the offered seminars will be optional. I just get to enjoy myself without any pressure to produce, she says. Im looking forward to sitting outside in the evening and sipping sherry and eating tapas after a day of visiting. Still, shes given herself her own assignment: documenting her experiences in an illustrated travel blog. Ill never know what will happen until I get there, she says. Then, the more I record and write about it the more I will remember it in the future. OMFG. "A new state law directs Indiana doctors and hospitals to investigate every time a woman seeks treatment for a physical or psychological condition whether she previously had an abortion that is in any way connected to the ailment." https://t.co/yhAAFmmzDW Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 27, 2018 A new state law directs Indiana doctors and hospitals to investigate every time a woman seeks treatment for a physical or psychological condition whether she previously had an abortion that is in any way connected to the ailment. If so, the care provider is obligated starting July 1 to submit a detailed "abortion complications" report to the State Department of Health, or risk being charged with a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, for each instance of noncompliance. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who routinely describes himself as "pro-life," approved Senate Enrolled Act 340 with little fanfare Sunday afternoon prior to departing on a three-day Canadian trade mission. He said similar reporting requirements already are in place in 27 states and exist solely to gather information about abortion complications, without restricting access to the procedure. Indiana's new law, however, employs a broad definition of abortion complication that ranges from an immediate physical injury due to a surgical abortion to psychological or emotional pain, including anxiety and sleeplessness, that arises possibly years or decades after having an abortion. Under the statute, doctors who identify an abortion complication must then report to the state: the patient's age, race, and county of residence; the type, date, and location of the abortion; a list of each complication and treatment; the date of every visit to every doctor relating to the complication; and any abortion drugs used by the patient and how they were procured. There is a reason Lab : As I've said many times before, if you want to know what garbage policies are coming down the conservative pipeline, look no further than Indiana, where Hoosiers are used as guinea pigs by the American Legislative Exchange Council, aka ALEC, which has a massive influence in the state , to test out the latest and greatest in Republican governance theory.The Republican takeover in Indiana has been extraordinary. And people who sneer at Hoosiers from outside the state (where I grew up and lived most of my life) to simply vote out the Republicans, who are the majority, or to vote in better Democrats, don't understand what the population is facing there.Like everywhere else: Gerrymandering and voter suppression and dark money and ratfucking. But also the cutting edge in authoritarian consolidation of power. See: Mike Pence and Glenda Ritz And it's not like Indiana doesn't have decent Democrats in state office. To the contrary : In 2011, Hoosier Demsto deny the Indiana House of Representatives the required quorum needed to pass a union-busing "right-to-work" bill. They were in hiding out of state for nearly six weeks, only returning once the Republican majority agreed to take the bill off the table and after having held out while Republicans fined them and suspended their pay.It's also important to understand that the Republican-held legislature routinely acts in contravention of the majority of the people in the state. Just one of many examples was 2014's same-sex marriage ban , which was proposed despite the fact that Indianahad a state law restricting same-sex marriage; despite the fact that legislators were acting in flagrant disregard of the will of the people , who by a clear majority did not want such an amendment added to their state constitution; and despite the fact that, instead, a majority of Hoosiers wanted the existing ban repealed All of this is backdrop to the latest bit of heinous fuckery passed into law in Indiana, so you can understand what progressives are up against in the state:Not only does the law require healthcare providers to launch an abortion inquiry, but it further requires healthcare providers to report "abortion complications" to the state:This is utterly despicable. It needs national attention. I hope people will amplify what is happening, as the ACLU considers whether to mount (yet another) challenge to (yet another) heinous anti-choice law passed in Indiana.And I hope that as people do amplify it, they convey the reality of what Hoosiers are facing in their state, instead of making shitty jokes about Republican voters getting what they deserve or casually admonishing progressives to move, which isn't always possible and which shouldn't be a requirement, anyway. No one should have to abandon their home to be safe from autocratic abuses of power.Tell this story. And tell it in a way in which you align yourself with Hoosier resistance, not in a way in which you stand outside their struggle and shame them for being victimized by the same party that threatens us all, in every corner of this country. Airways New Zealand, which runs the national air traffic control system, says drones may be invading controlled airspace around airports at a rate of one a week. Drones are typically too small to be spotted by current air traffic control technology and recent citings have included by pilots of an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland from Japan last Sunday afternoon, who reported a drone came within five metres of the 777-200 aircraft during its descent into Auckland. Airways chief executive Graeme Sumner says the body is to begin a trial of drone detection technology. "Drone detection technology is still in its infancy globally but Airways has been actively looking for solutions and we plan to begin trialling a new system within the next three months," Sumner said in a statement. Airways's airshare.co.nz website allows drone operators to request flight clearances from air traffic control. Since it began four years ago, the number of drone flights logged with the system has jumped to 600 a week from 30, with 7,000 registered users. Air NZ said Sunday's near-miss was the second this month after flights were halted at Auckland International Airport for 30 minutes on March 6 after a drone sighting in controlled airspace. Air New Zealand's chief operations and integrity standards officer Captain David Morgan called on the government to protect the travelling public from the rising risk posed by unregulated drones. On Sunday, the pilots weren't able to take evasive action because they were committed to the descent. There was a concern the drone could have been sucked into one of the jet engines, he said. (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. 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Related News: Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Placement Upsized Following Strong Demand 24th September 2021 Morning Report 23rd September 2021 Morning Report Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Dual Lists on ASX; Announces Capital Raise to Accelerate Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Updates Guidance South Port New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPN) 2021 Annual Report 22nd September 2021 Morning Report Kathmandu Holdings Limited (NZX: KMD) FY21 Annual Results Announcement Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Update on Demerger and Office Fund 21st September 2021 Morning Report ANZ Bank New Zealand's chief investment officer Graham Ansell will step down at the end of April, to be replaced temporarily by Paul Huxford. Ansell has worked at ANZ for 22 years, formerly as the company's general manager of investment management, and has been in the CIO role for five years. ANZ has begun a search for a new CIO including both internal and external candidates, it said. "After five years as chief investment officer this is a natural time for him to be thinking about his next opportunity," said ANZ managing director of wealth Craig Mullholland. "I wish him every success in the future." Huxford will join ANZ next month "enabling him to work with Mr Ansell on a smooth handover", the bank said. Huxford was JP Morgan's managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa Equities Research for seven years until January 2015, having previously been a director at Macquarie Group, and has most recently been working as an independent advisor, according to his LinkedIn. The bank's shares recently traded at $28.80, down 0.9 percent today and 15 percent lower than this time a year ago. (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: Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Placement Upsized Following Strong Demand 24th September 2021 Morning Report 23rd September 2021 Morning Report Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Dual Lists on ASX; Announces Capital Raise to Accelerate Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Updates Guidance South Port New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPN) 2021 Annual Report 22nd September 2021 Morning Report Kathmandu Holdings Limited (NZX: KMD) FY21 Annual Results Announcement Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Update on Demerger and Office Fund 21st September 2021 Morning Report New Zealand farmer confidence picked up in the first quarter of the year following two consecutive declines as farmers' fears about the policies of the Labour-led government stabilised. Farmers expecting the rural economy to improve lifted to a net 15 percent from a net 13 percent in the the previous Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey. Those that see it improving fell to 27 percent from 29 percent while those seeing poorer times ahead dropped to 12 percent from 16 percent. The survey shows farmer sentiment has stabilised after concerns about government intervention and policies had driven confidence significantly lower in the previous two quarters. The latest results showed worries about government policies and intervention while still a concern were now weighing less on the minds of the nations farmers, Rabobank said. "Of the farmers who are expecting the agricultural economy to worsen this survey, government policy and intervention was nominated as a reason by 42 percent, compared with 80 percent in the previous quarter, Rabobank New Zealand general manager for country banking Hayley Gourley said in a statement. Other factors causing concern were falling commodity prices, cited by 31 percent, and drought, cited by 11 percent. For those New Zealand farmers with an optimistic view of the year ahead, commodity prices remained the primary driver of positive sentiment, although they were less upbeat than in the past. Among the 27 percent of farmers expecting the agricultural economy to improve, the survey found a notable decline in the percentage citing commodity prices as reason for their optimism, with this figure dropping to 42 percent from 66 percent previously, Gourley said. Instead, this survey found an increased percentage of farmers who were buoyed by market-focused factors including improved conditions in overseas markets/economies, increasing demand and improved marketing of agri products for their positive view on the year ahead. This highlights a cautious optimism among farmers about how the economies of New Zealands key trading partners are performing, and how our agricultural products are positioned to take advantage of expected increases in demand. Horticulturalists recorded the largest lift in confidence in the quarter, with net confidence rising to 34 percent from 16 percent, fulled by positive developments in key horticultural commodities. Driven by increased demand from consumers, Zespri have recently proposed additional kiwifruit licenses and this is supporting confidence among growers in this sector," Gourley said. "Weve also seen increasing demand in both domestic and export markets for avocado, while in the pip fruit industry the harvest is underway and is looking good." In contrast, net confidence among dairy farmers has fallen to 11 percent from 18 percent, marking the lowest level in the sector since mid-2016. Net confidence among sheep and beef farmers remained steady at 11 percent. While commodity pricing remains strong for dairy, beef and sheep meat products, the comparatively lower confidence among dairy and sheep and beef farmers suggests that these groups have greater concerns than horticulturalists over how macro-economic factors such as government legislation and the trade outlook will impact the overall agricultural economy," Gourley said. Farmers across all sectors were more bullish about expectations for the performance of their own businesses in the coming 12 months, with 41 percent expecting their business performance to improve, up from 37 percent previously, and only 5 percent expecting performance to worsen, down from 9 percent. Horticulturalists were again the most optimistic about their own business performance, with a net reading of 46 percent, up from 31 percent. Sheep and beef farmer optimism lifted to a net 37 percent from 28 percent, while dairy farmer optimism advanced to a net 33 percent from 30 percent. Just 5 percent of farmers expected their own farm business performance to worsen in the coming year, matching the lowest level of individual business pessimism recorded since the survey began in 2003.. This record low level of pessimism about their own business outlook is a reflection of the sustained strong performance of commodity prices across almost all sectors and the relatively stable operational costs which continue to support on-farm profitability and strengthen the long-term viability of farming business across New Zealand, Gourley said. Farmers investment intentions rebounded this quarter after dropping in the previous two surveys, with 29 percent now expecting to invest more in stock, plant and land in the coming 12 months, up from 26 percent, and only 5 percent planning to invest less, down from 8 percent. Horticulturalists had the strongest investment intentions of all farmers, with dairy farmers holding the weakest. The survey was run by TNS which polled about 450 farmers. (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: Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Placement Upsized Following Strong Demand 24th September 2021 Morning Report 23rd September 2021 Morning Report Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Dual Lists on ASX; Announces Capital Raise to Accelerate Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Updates Guidance South Port New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPN) 2021 Annual Report 22nd September 2021 Morning Report Kathmandu Holdings Limited (NZX: KMD) FY21 Annual Results Announcement Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Update on Demerger and Office Fund 21st September 2021 Morning Report While New Zealand's government said a transition away from fossil fuels will take several decades, concern about the immediate future is running high in the sector given investment already sunk into exploration. Earlier on Tuesday, Minister of Energy Megan Woods told an annual oil and gas conference the government is committed to "a long-term transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy" and underscored no existing oil and gas production permits would be affected, with some forecast to continue production until 2046. Her speech came after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week announced the government is considering discontinuing the previous government's annual Block Offer programme, which invites bids for new onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. Today Woods said a decision whether to make the block offer was "weeks away." However, different participants at the oil and gas conference were more concerned about whether they would face challenges moving from existing exploration permits to production if they were to strike oil or gas. New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals petroleum national manager Josh Adams also told the audience that existing rights will remain. However, when asked if an existing exploration permit guarantees the right to apply for a mining permit if a discovery is made he said: "that is a really good question and in terms of the uncertainty that you guys are going through at the moment, I fully understand that." He did not answer the question but said part of his role is helping the ministers understand the pros and cons of their proposals. Gabriel Selischi, senior OMV vice president for Australasia, said the question was fundamental. "If we invest in exploration and have a find and we have difficulty converting it to a development, that is something is I will have difficulty explaining" to management, he said. OMV recently spent $578 million to buy Shell New Zealand's remaining assets and will own 93.75 percent of the Maui field and 74 percent of Pohokura, assuming competition, overseas investor, and New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals approvals are granted. The deal also includes the Great South Basin venture, which includes a drilling commitment currently estimated to be US$50 million. Selischi said that any transition away from fossil fuels needs to have a business case and must be done in cooperation and consultation with the industry. Selischi noted that the oil and gas industry already faces challenges in New Zealand due to global competition for capital, its size and the availability of resources like drilling rigs. In order to invest the industry asks for stable and predictable conditions over a number of years and clear regulations regarding approvals and verifications. If the current situation means "we go into an environment in which we have more delays, we will also be in quite big trouble," he said. He also called for rational dialogue based on scientific evaluation and fair treatment by all stakeholders. Selischi said OMV is "quite sensitive about its image." There was a heavy police presence outside the conference centre as around 200 protestors blocked entrances, chanted, beat drums and banged on the side of the building and doors. "We want to be judged in a fair way - so what is happening outside is quite a concern for us," he said. New Zealand Oil and Gas chief executive Andrew Jefferies said in the last year his company had faced a crossroad when it had two competing takeover offers, one that would have led to the divestment of assets and one that did lead to investment in New Zealand's unique opportunities. OG Oil & Gas offered 78 cents per share to secure a controlling stake in the New Zealand firm, trumping a rival bid by Zeta Resources, saying it wanted to preserve NZOG's exploration opportunities, especially the Barque prospect off the Canterbury coast. The offer was declared unconditional in January. "New Zealand also stands at a crossroad," he said. "Investment in our industry growth or divestment?" He underscored that "stopping exploration in New Zealand will not reduce the global carbon emissions." According to Jefferies, if the country doesn't invest in ethically produced, low carbon gas in New Zealand "then the world will use more energy-intensive fuel", and New Zealand will import more petroleum from overseas and "some from places with regimes where the rule of law and human rights are not on the agenda," he said. "Why would New Zealand pay for that in preference to our own fuels and our own values?" (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: Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Placement Upsized Following Strong Demand 24th September 2021 Morning Report 23rd September 2021 Morning Report Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Dual Lists on ASX; Announces Capital Raise to Accelerate Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Updates Guidance South Port New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPN) 2021 Annual Report 22nd September 2021 Morning Report Kathmandu Holdings Limited (NZX: KMD) FY21 Annual Results Announcement Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Update on Demerger and Office Fund 21st September 2021 Morning Report Actor Aryas Enga Veetu Mappillai has been getting negative publicity in the media. A case was recently filed against Colors Tamil TV Channel, Arya and Sangeetha, as the show degrades women. When they tried to shoot at the residence of a contestant in Kumbakonam, women welfare association protested against the Enga Veettu Mappilai team. Now, reports are emerging out that people of Sri Lanka also protested against the unit. Sources say that the team got permission to shoot outside the library but they went inside and started filming for the show. Tourists and people of Jaffna protested against the team for creating a nuisance. The show is not said to be doing great as expected by the TV channel and we hope these controversies help them in achieving the desired result. The Chief Election Commissioner announced the dates of the Karnataka Assembly Polls on Tuesday morning but the BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya announced the dates on his Twitter handle at 11:08am, a fair while before the Election Commissioner did. : Chief election commissioner OP Rawat said on Tuesday the poll panel would investigate how the dates for Karnataka election were leaked before the official announcement of the election schedule. In his tweet, Malviya said that the elections would be held on May 12, and the counting would be held on May 18. He, however, got the date of the counting wrong. This was not missed by mediapersons who had gathered for the briefing, and questioned Rawat regarding the same. It was not just Malviya, but Kananda TV channels too had flashed the dates. In response, CEC Rawat said, Certain things may have leaked for which Election Commission will take appropriate action. It will be investigated. Be assured that actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken, he said. BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018 Amit Malviya soon deleted his tweet after the ECs announcement, when it was clear that he had got one of the dates wrong. Prior to this, Malviya was called out by many social media users. He, however, blamed it on Times Now, who he claims, flashed it earlier. CEC says will take action against leaked info on polling dates and results. Even before EC announced the dates , Cong and BJP leaders put it up on their social media accounts. All Kannada channels carried it too. Nagarjun Dwarakanath (@nagarjund) March 27, 2018 Karnataka Congress social media in-charge also announced poll dates much before EC did. Incidentally, both BJPs Amit Malviya & he tweeted at the same time, got polling date right but results date wrong. pic.twitter.com/vV8C6jZhW6 March 27, 2018 The Karnataka Assembly Elections will be held on May 12, and the counting will be held on May 15. The Election Commission also clarified that the Model Code of Conduct, which kicked in once the dates was announced, would not interfere with the formation of the Cauvery Management Board. According to the the pre-poll survey, conducted by Gurugram-based C fore, the Congress is expected to win 126 seats with a 46% vote share. The BJP is expected to win 70 seats whereas the JD(S) will get a paltry 27 seats. The Election Commission announced that voting to elect a new Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 12 and results will be declared on May 15 : As the Karnataka Assembly elections draw closer, the incumbent Congress has a clear edge over the other parties in the State, said a pre-poll survey by C-Fore, which has also predicted a better outing for Opposition BJP. No incumbent has retained power in elections since 1985, and if the Congress is able to do so, it will be creating history of sorts. The survey says the Congress will get 126 seats, four more than its tally in the 2013 elections, and foresaw the BJP getting 70 seats, 30 more than its score in the previous polls. The JD(S) will suffer the most; the party will see a 13-seat drop and a negative swing of 4 per cent because of the exodus of its Muslim and Dalit votes to the Congress. This is the second C-Fore survey in eight months. The earlier survey predicted similar results. The survey was conducted between March 1 and March 25 in which 22,357 voters from 154 Assembly constituencies covering all the districts were administered a structured questionnaire. The survey gave Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a thumbs-up, in that 45% of respondents preferred him over BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa (26%) and JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy (13%) for the top post. When contacted, C fore chief executive Premchand Palety said the survey was "independent" and was not commissioned by the Congress. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Toys R Us liquidation sales began last week, with items at Staten Island's New Springville store seeing markdowns between 5 percent and 30 percent. But as the iconic toy retailer begins the process of closing all of its U.S. locations, many consumers are wondering how to get the best deals. Here are answers to some key questions. Will the discounts grow as time goes on? It is expected that the discounts in Toys R Us locations will continue, resulting in items with drastic markdowns. "Sources within the company have said they [the discounts] could grow to as much as 80 percent off in the coming weeks," said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, a comparison shopping website. Is it better to hit the store now? It depends on the item. According to Ramhold, if you're looking to purchase a popular toy -- such as Star Wars merchandise or Barbie -- then you should head to the store now, as the deals are unlikely to improve drastically and the items may not stay in stock. "The biggest problem from the start with the Toys R Us sale is going to be selection. Not only have most stores likely not received new inventory recently, but many vendors cut ties with them weeks and even months ago," she explained. But if a lesser-known item is on your wish list, it may be worth it to wait the sale out for a bit to see if the discounts become more significant. Should consumers comparison shop? It's always a good idea to shop around. "If you're in the market for a particular item, do your research before heading to the store. There's a chance that Amazon, Target, or Walmart could already have it on sale," said Ramhold. "And since these stores aren't marking the prices up first to compensate for a liquidation sale, you could save even more by shopping them over Toys R Us." And keep in mind, under a liquidation sale you may not be able to return an item even if it is defective. "If you buy something that does turn out to be defective," said Ramhold, "you'll likely end up dealing straight with the manufacturer. There's no guarantee that'll be a smooth ride, so just be aware of the possibility." What about gift cards? If you have any Toys R Us gift cards, be sure to use them soon -- they are only good until April 21. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Mariners Harbor man likely faces deportation after admitting on Tuesday he sexually molested a 12-year-old girl last year. Jose Zuniga-Diaz pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to first-degree sexual abuse. Zuniga-Diaz admitted he touched the girl's private area between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7, 2017. The defendant and victim knew each other, prosecutors said in court. Zuniga-Diaz, then 35, was arrested on Feb. 8 of last year. According to an indictment, the defendant subjected the victim to sexual contact, including intercourse, on multiple occasions in his home between Feb. 1, 2016 and Feb. 7, 2017. He was indicted on charges of rape, course of sexual conduct against a child, sexual abuse and child endangerment. A first-degree rape charge was levied against Zuniga-Diaz because it is unlawful in New York for a person 18 years of age or older to have intercourse with another person under the age of 13. Assistant District Attorney Melissa O'Leary told the court the sexual-abuse plea is appropriate for several reasons. She said the victim and her family have since moved south, and the plea spares the girl the ordeal of returning to Staten Island to testify at trial against Zuniga-Diaz. In addition, there's no medical corroboration of the incidents, and the girl's family doesn't oppose the plea agreement, said O'Leary. Lastly, Zuniga-Diaz, who is not a U.S. citizen, likely faces deportation on finishing his prison sentence. In exchange for his plea, the defendant will be sentenced on April 11 to three years behind bars and five years' post-release supervision. A short, stocky man garbed in a tan sweatshirt and sweatpants, the defendant responded "Yes" and "No" through a Spanish interpreter to Justice Stephen J. Rooney's questions. He made no independent statement. Attorney Peter Kapitonov represents the defendant. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The honor their service in the Vietnam War, city and Staten Island officials cited more than 100 veterans at the Excelsior Grand in New Dorp on Tuesday during a "Welcome Home" breakfast. Staten Island Borough President James Oddo and Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon began hosting the annual event in 2017 to honor Staten Islanders who served in the U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam War. "We hope you know that we honor and acknowledge your service and respect you," said Oddo. "Welcome home." Later adding, "Moments like this give this job meaning to me." In addition to Oddo and McMahon, speakers included Loree Sutton of the city's Department of Veterans Services and Shannon Daly, a graduate of Staten Island's Veterans' Court who attended the event with his son, Aidan. Following the officials' remarks, veterans lined up around the room as their names were called to receive lapel pins. Earlier in the ceremony, Dennis and Mary McLoone, former commanders for the Richmond County American Legion, presented a "white table ceremony" to honor prisoners of war and soldiers who went missing in action (POW/MIA). The tradition is to prepare a separate table that is already set -- complete with silverware, a rose, a lit candle, a white table cloth, and a tilted chair -- but never occupied. Dennis and Mary McCloone present the White Table Ceremony to honor our POW/MIA pic.twitter.com/SCFAgO5Qjt Staten Island USA (@StatenIslUSA) March 27, 2018 Brian "Q" Quinn, part of the comedy group The Tenderloins and stars of truTV's "Impractical Jokers," emceed the event. Quinn heard about the event and contacted Borough Hall to offer his help. The phrase is bandied about so indiscriminately that it's been largely stripped of its import. However, the New York state Parole Board's decision to release serial cop-killer Herman Bell from prison really does shock the conscience in the most literal sense. Bell was a member of the Black Liberation Army, a racist, terrorist organization that from 1970 to 1976 was responsible for more than 70 acts of violence, including the murders of 13 police officers. On May 21, 1971, Bell and two accomplices lured New York City Police Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini to a Harlem housing project on a fake 911 call for the sole purpose of executing them. Jones, who was shot in the head, died instantly. Piagentini, on the other hand, a young husband and father of two, appears to have been manically tortured, sustaining 22 gunshot wounds while pleading for his life. Bell, as vicious a thug who's ever walked the face of this Earth, consummated the execution with the officer's own gun. Following his capture in New Orleans two years later, Bell defiantly proclaimed himself a political prisoner of the United States, the country against which he and his organization of morons had declared war. At the time, New York had neither a death penalty nor even life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. So, following his conviction in 1975 -- the evidence of his guilt was overwhelming -- Bell was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of from 25 years to life, the maximum permissible under law. For decades, he kept up the political-prisoner baloney, which, of course, elevated him to martyr status among the degenerates who shared his racist, treasonous agenda. The pretense allowed him to continue functioning as a soldier of that cause while behind bars. Part and parcel of doing precisely that was a baseless 1989 federal court proceeding in which Bell, seeking a new trial, insisted he had been the innocent victim of a covert FBI campaign against America's black leaders. Meanwhile, taxpayers of the country he despised were providing him with three nutritious meals a day, television, movies, library privileges, exercise periods, family visits, free lawyers, free college and postgraduate education, and lessons on the musical instrument of his choice. By 2012, however, Bell realized that continued lies meant continued denials of parole, and, so, he finally admitted to having murdered the two police officers. While it took 37 years for him to come clean, it took the parole board only six to reward his "honesty" with the freedom every prisoner craves. The decision cited Bell's "maturation," as evidenced by what had now morphed into a claim of remorse for the murders. Deeming him a low risk to reoffend, the board was apparently impressed that he had earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree while incarcerated, and also learned to play the flute. Conversely, it was of little to no consequence to the board that, in 2009, Bell had pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the killing of yet another police officer, in San Francisco in 1971. Since he was serving a presumptively lifetime term in New York, he was placed on probation for that crime. "This was a premeditated killing of a police officer," he declared, and "That should be life in prison, period. Just nothing else to discuss." Actually, there is something else to discuss. Bell deserved to be executed long ago. While death-penalty opponents step up their efforts to have it abolished, this despicable killer is the poster boy for why it must remain a viable sentencing option. Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole isn't justice; it's a mockery of justice -- and of slain victims' lives. If Bell had received such a sentence, he'd still be screaming from the rafters about being a political prisoner of racist America. And taxpayers would still be footing the bill, probably for his doctoral program and saxophone lessons. Between 1608 and 1972, only Virginia employed the death penalty more often than New York. Today, however, demographic changes and a succession of Democratic governors have led to the abolition of capital punishment in New York. So would-be murderers in the Empire State can kill as many police officers, or anybody else they want, and get no worse than a lifetime of solicitous care at taxpayer expense. Fortunately, the sheer lunacy of Bell's parole has attracted national attention. It thus provides potent ammunition for the true justice-seekers, people who understand that the premeditated taking of a human life requires the forfeiture of one's own in return. Email Daniel Leddy at column@danielleddylaw.com. Follow him on Twitter @LegalHotShots. China Southern Airlines profit boosted by domestic growth, yuan Shanghai, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 China Southern Airlines, Asia's largest carrier, said net profit jumped 18 percent last year thanks to an increased focus on profitable domestic routes and a stronger Chinese currency. Net profit hit 5.96 billion yuan ($950 million) on an 11 percent increase in revenue to 127 billion yuan, the Guangzhou-based airline said in a filing late Monday to the Hong Kong stock exchange, where it is listed. Sales from domestic routes, which make up three-quarters of the company's passenger revenue, grew 10.3 percent as China continued to post solid economic growth, the company said. International revenue increased 9.14 percent as the world economy picks up strength. "In 2017, (against) the background of the global economic recovery, China civil aviation's international and domestic markets witnessed rapid growth," the filing said. The stronger yuan -- which rose more than six percent against the greenback in 2017 -- also helped by making it less expensive for the carrier to repay dollar-denominated debt incurred via aircraft purchases. Shares in the firm initially jumped early Tuesday but by late morning was down at HK$8.72, though its Shanghai-listed stock was up 0.10 percent to 10.06 yuan. The country's top three government-controlled airlines -- including flag-carrier Air China and Shanghai-based China Eastern -- have renewed their focus on the booming domestic market after previously expanding overseas routes. China is now the world's second-largest aviation market, and increasing demand for air travel among the growing middle class is expected to push it past the United States as the top market in the years ahead. China Southern doubled its domestic passenger flight capacity growth to eight percent in 2017, while almost halving the pace of international expansion to 14 percent. Last year, American Airlines, the world largest carrier by scheduled passengers, bought $200 million worth of China Southern stock, the first step in a planned "long-term relationship" between the two. The purchase gave American 8.83 percent of China Southern's Hong Kong-listed shares. The tie-up will allow American to tap into China's rapidly growing market, while boosting China Southern's ambitions of raising its global profile, including in the United States. Air China and China Eastern are expected to release their earnings later in the week. China's big banks escape profit doldrums Shanghai, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 Two of China's big state-owned banks said Tuesday their profits rebounded in 2017 after a pair of moribund years thanks to an accelerating domestic economy, and analysts expect further gains as a government credit clampdown favours big lenders. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world's biggest lender in terms of total assets, said full-year profit grew 2.8 percent to 286.05 billion yuan ($45 billion). Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) said its net income grew 4.9 percent to 182.97 billion yuan. Their earnings were reported in filings to the Hong Kong stock exchange, where both have shares listed. The remaining half of the "Big Four" Chinese banks -- Bank of China and China Construction Bank -- are expected to also release positive earnings news later in the week. China's economy grew a forecast-beating 6.9 percent in 2017, picking up steam for the first time since 2010. Analysts said the big banks also are benefiting from the Chinese government's campaign to clean up bad loans and risky lending in its often chaotic and murky financial system. The crackdown is seen as hitting smaller lenders and wealth management companies hardest, driving them to seek loans from the established banks in order to clean up their balance sheets. China's banking regulator is also believed to have recently lowered bad-loan provisions for banks, according to a Bloomberg News report, which frees up more cash for lending. "China's banks have shaken off the doldrums," Richard Cao, a Shenzhen-based analyst at Guotai Junan Securities Co, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying. "Their earnings growth will accelerate for the next two to three years." The big banks' profit growth was largely flat in the preceding two years as concerns grew over rising bad loans. But both ICBC and ABC reported lower non-performing loans (NPLs) for 2017. ICBC's ratio of NPLs shrank to 1.55 percent as of end-December 2017, compared to 1.62 percent the previous year. ABC's ratio dropped to 1.81 over the same period, from 2.37 a year earlier. ICBC, which is dual-listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai, reported its earnings after markets closed on Tuesday. ABC announced before trading began and its Hong Kong-listed shares closed 2.73 percent higher at HK$4.52, while its Shanghai shares gained 0.52 percent to end at 3.84 yuan. dma/amz CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK ICBC France's Bollore seeks damages over Benin rail project Abidjan, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 French transport giant Bollore said Tuesday it would seek compensation for work already carried out on a major rail infrastructure project after Benin asked it to withdraw "amicably" in favour of China. Patrice Talon, president of the small West African country, said both the French conglomerate and its local rival Petrolin would be "compensated fairly", without elaborating. Philippe Labonne, deputy CEO of Bollore Transport and Logistics, said the firm should be compensated notably for the some 140 kilometres (85 miles) of rail it has already laid down. "We are a little disappointed not to complete" the project, he said, speaking to AFP on the sidelines of a business forum in the Ivorian business hub Abidjan. The project dates to 2008, when Benin and Niger invited bids for the construction and management of a 740-kilometre (462-mile) railway linking their respective capitals Cotonou and Niamey. The project was first awarded to Petrolin, a company owned by Beninese businessman Samuel Dossou, but was handed over in 2013 to the Bollore group through Benirail, a company representing a public-private partnership. However last October, a Benin judge ruled that Petrolin should have had the contract and dismissed Bollore. Then last week Talon asked Bollore and Petrolin to "withdraw amicably" from the project. "A private investor cannot finance the railway we want alone," Talon told the French business magazine Challenges, describing Bollore's offer as "lower-end". "China has the necessary financial means" to support work estimated to cost around $4 billion (3.3 billion euros), Talon said. "China has demonstrated its technical know-how" to build infrastructure in Africa, added the president, who rarely speaks to the media. After years in court and months of negotiations, the project remains at a standstill, hampering growth in the country of 10 million inhabitants whose economy depends on distribution of goods from its port. China is deeply invested in Africa, regularly offering low-interest loans and gifts to individual nations and doing $149.2 billion (120.3 billion euros) in trade with the continent in 2016. ck/gd/ach By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree This is craziness. The FBI had a decade-long confidential informant relationship with the father of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, prosecutors admitted Saturday, 12 days into the trial of his wife. The undercover relationship with the father, Seddique Mateen, continued even though the bureau was tipped off in 2012 that its informant was himself raising money to plan a terrorist attack on the government of Pakistan. The father's status also played a role in the FBI's decision not to seek prosecution of Omar in 2013 after they investigated him for violent threats, attorneys for the shooter's wife said. If Omar had gone to prison in that case, the infamous Pulse shooting might have been avoided. Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured 68 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando in June 2016. PHILIPSBURG:--- DFS is working relentlessly to unite all Dominicans residing on St. Maarten/St. Martin, the motto of DFS is working with each other to create opportunities where members will prosper and bringing the communities together, stated Mr. Clayton Felix, President of DFS. The foundation organizes events that benefits St. Maarten/St. Martin, Dominicans residing on St. Maarten/St. Martin and the Commonwealth of Dominica. Past events that were organized by DFS is a fundraising event for the high schools on the island that were damaged by Hurricane Irma and pillaged by looters, a Hurricane Relief Drive in aid of the Commonwealth of Dominica which was ravished by Hurricane Maria and the celebration of Dominica 39th Independence on St. Maarten. Topics that will be discussed during the upcoming meeting are: owning your home; insurance coverage; registering in Dominica Social Security program and procedures for the renewal of the Dominica passport. The general meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 29th, 7:30pm at the University of St. Martin room 202. All Dominicans are invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. Persons interested in joining DFS may contact President Clayton Felix at +1721-5276801 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . PHILIPSBURG:--- On February 16th, 2017 a male suspect was arrested at the Princess Juliana International Airport by the Police Alpha Team and Immigration officers while traveling on a false Polish passport. The identity of the suspect was investigated and it was established that his true identity is L.M.R. L.M.R. appeared to be on Interpols red notice wanted person list, as a suspect involved in a large fraud scheme committed in Florida U.S.A. in the period of 2006 through 2012. The suspect in question was detained on Sint Maarten during the judicial extradition process, which resulted in him being handed over to the US Marshalls on PJIA on Monday afternoon. KPSM Press Release Cincinnatis local startup scene has grown tremendously in recent years. Composed partially of new endeavors in the life science and biotech fields, business is booming, and its due in part to partnerships and funding from CincyTech. CincyTech serves as one of the most active sources of seed funding in the Midwest and has helped entrepreneurs evolve. It has played an instrumental role in the development of 40 active portfolio companies and the creation of 1,049 jobs. One such company is Eccrine Systems, Inc., which was launched by Professor Jason Heikenfeld, who serves as vice president for commercialization of the University of Cincinnatis Office of Innovation, in addition to director of its Novel Device Laboratory. Eccrine Systems develops sweatronics, or wearable technology capable of measuring sweat noninvasively to garner valuable data key when it comes to knowledge needed for advancements in fields pertaining to medicine, industry, and sport. At UC, I knew our sweat biosensing was a startup not a license play but I was struggling envisioning the right business model, Heikenfeld says. That all changed within the first 15 minutes of my meeting with Robert Beech who was at that time a CincyTech entrepreneur-in-residence, and who went on to co-found the company with me in 2013. Eccrine Systems grew out of the UC Accelerator a partnership consisting of UC, CincyTech, and the state of Ohio, which helps seed new startup opportunities. Heikenfeld says he is fortunate to have so many powerful regional partners, as its what enabled Eccrine Systems to go from an original concept of monitoring the physiological status of Air Force personnel during missions to the development of an accurate and first-of-its-kind device that biosamples and measure sweat. We hope to partner even more frequently and deeply with the region as well, as we launch this year our new physical UC Accelerator for startups in the 1819 Innovation Hub, Heikenfeld says. You can absolutely bet biotech will be one of our major foci. Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Commentary By Jagdeesh Mann, Special to The Post During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the Russian government disseminated false stories that exacerbated division in the American electorate. This malware like campaign was extremely effective because of the high concentration of news consumption on Facebook and Twitter and because the supposed AI filters, the sentries on these mega platforms, were powerless to stop the incoming tides of misinformation. The ongoing Russian collusion investigation is providing a trailer into a potentially dystopic future for the media industry. But this problem of kompromat corrupting our news cycle is not confined only to the new brave world of digitized media. If the recent six-week pile-on of two-dimensional "Khalistan terror" coverage across Canada is to teach us anything, it is that legacy media and traditional newsrooms are also vulnerable to false allegations getting past the checkpoints and that once inside our highly concentrated media industry, these can spread rapidly with devastating effect. While in the U.S., the public has been reading about how clandestine agencies like the IRA (Internet Research Agency) planted stories on Facebook about how Hillary Clinton worships Satan, hates puppies, or other such nonsense, Canadians over the past six weeks have been exposed to fevered coverage in their mainstream news outlets, about how there is a "revival of Khalistan terror", or how Canadian Sikhs are engaged in "blood hatreds", orand my favouritehow Sikh martyrs, like ISIS jihadis, "are promised a place in paradise". (The reporter on this piece was unclear, however, how many virgins Sikh shaheeds get to bed.) While the recent Canadian coverage of the Sikh separatist storyline does not cross into Infowars X-filestype territory, it is also not without its problems. The most glaring being that the main premise underlying the coverage is just not true: violent Khalistani terror activity is not making a comeback. There is no reunion tour. And almost nobody, save a sliver-thin fringe of this communitys truthers, and wayward-minded, still wax on about armed struggle, selectively overlooking the misery it wrought in the 1980s. And for the thousands of Sikh devotees who attend Dasmesh Darbar temple in Surrey on a weekly basis, their indifference to posters of Talwinder Parmar, erected at the edge of the parking lot, reflect their indifference to temple politics. It does not make them violent extremists. Are there Sikhs in Canada (and other countries) who sympathize with the idea of a separate homeland? Yes, there are (and yes this is comparable to the romantic notion of an independent country many Quebeckers carry in their hearts). Are they within their rights to do so and express their beliefs in a nonviolent way? Yes they are. And are there extremists holed up in Canadas anodyne suburbs like Surrey, Malton, or Calgary Northeast, apparently plotting attacks and raising funds for terror attacks? Umm, well no. It has been 33 years since Khalistan terrorists targeted Air India Flight 182, and it has been over two decades since there has been any credible reports of terror activity in India linked to the creation of an independent Sikh homeland carved out of Punjab, India. While this blitzkrieg of Khalistan content was not part of a malevolent conspiracy to recast one of Canadas religious communities from being perceived as a fully integrated model minority into a suspicious group of violent extremists, that has inevitably been the outcome. It has also badly damaged, in political terms, Canadas first nonwhite and Sikh leader of a federal party, Jagmeet Singh, though some of his wounds were clearly self-inflicted. For some of the commentators pushing the separatist narrative, this was likely one of the motivating factors, or at least an added bonus since the storyline was at first intended to smear the Liberal Trudeau government. So then how do Canadian Sikhs explain to their neighbors and coworkers the reasons behind all this radicalized coverage? The taint of suspicion from the 1980s has returned. As someone who has some years of experience in the media industry, I view the hysteria as partly being the consequence of the manner by which legacy media cover ethnic communities and also in how, some three decades since Air India, that is still the defining narrative through which Sikhs in Canada are reported on. This storyline intensified in fury thanks to a couple of key developments that kept it on the front pages, but it was also aided by a pliant Canadian media that often seemed uninterested in digging a little deeper, or was callous about omitting details that would have significantly muffled its impact. The highly concentrated structure of Canada's media industry had a significant role to play, including amplifying the coverage exponentially once this story got into the system. Most cigarettes tossed on the side of a highway do not lead to blazing forest firesit takes certain conditions to make that happen. This narrative was fuelled with the oxygen it needed to keep escalating each step along the way. The spark that ignited this Canadian media storm came from India. The Indian government was again alleging that Canada was soft on its "Sikh separatists". This claim was made in 2012 when then prime minister Stephen Harper visited India. And it was made again recently in February when Justin Trudeau visited the subcontinent. Only now, Indian media were all jumping on this separatist claim and churning out story after story on the return of the Khalistan terror threat. But there was also another twist this time: not only were their Sikh separatists in Canada, Indias BJP government alleged, but, and more critically, there were Sikh separatists in the Trudeau cabinet. The Indian government was referring to Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, and Navdeep Bains, the minister of innovation, science and economic development. The chief minister of the state of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, leveled the same allegation against Sajjan last year when he visited India, refusing to meet the decorated Canadian soldier because he is a "Khalistani". Sajjan, Bains, and none of Trudeaus other ministers of Sikh background have ever made statements in support of an independent Sikh homeland. Those allegations were false. It turns out the one voice of sanity in this story was the former prime minister, Harper, who managed to avoid being engulfed into the trap of controversy. In 2012, Harper responded to the Indian governments allegations by stating there is a clear distinction between participating in a terror activity and believing in self-determination. And that was the end of it. This subtle but critical point has been repeatedly trampled on by the news reports in these past weeks. Instead Canadian mainstream media has ran with the official version according to the Indian government, letting through unfiltered the statements being reported in Indian media about how a new real threat of Khalistani terror has emerged. According to Indian media, this threat has arisen due to support from Sikh temples patronized by unwitting "liberal white politicians", like Trudeau. Canadian newsrooms, meanwhile, have generally glossed over the Indian governments own shoddy record of making spurious terror allegations against its critics, these ranging from Bollywood actors to political opponents. As National Observer writer Sandy Garossino explains, accusing its critics of being terrorist sympathizers is the trishula of choice for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This dubious record, which is easily searchable online, should have been included in the initial reporting on the Indian governments claims. When Indias Modi government issued a similar allegation of radicalization among British Sikhs in 2015, the claim was refuted by the UK Centre for Research on Evidence and Security Threats (CREST). The BJP government is as "alt-right" as it gets for a political party. It governs Indiaa country in which Khalistan is just one of a number of hanging-by-a-thread secessionist movementsby encouraging violence against its own minorities, including turning a blind eye toward gautankwadterrorism in the name of the holy cow. Yes there is such a thing. In the past, this sort of hackneyed and politically motivated allegation would have flamed out of the news on its own, as it did in 2012. But this time it didnt. Canadas highly concentrated media industry, filled with hollowed-out and nondiverse newsrooms, aided in this "story" building up a powerful indraft. In late 1998, when the publisher of a Punjabi language newspaper, Tara Singh Hayer, was shot and killed in Surrey, B.C., the Vancouver Sun and Province employed packed newsrooms of approximately 200 journalists. Despite Vancouvers diversity, and that Air India was still an active storyline, not a single reporter in those Canwest (now Postmedia) newsrooms could read Punjabi. (There are about 250,000 Punjabi-speaking residents in the Lower Mainland today). So I was called in for the translation job and figuring two heads are better than one, I hunted down the office cleaner on a hunch he would be a Punjabi immigrant. The two of us worked over Hayers writing that afternoon to meet the tight 2 p.m. deadline. For me, fresh out of university at the time, the scenario that the only person in the largest newsrooms in Vancouver who could read Punjabi was the janitor seemed absurd. Yet nearly two decades later not much has changed. There is still a glaring shortage of reporters with language skills in mainstream newsrooms, all despite the rapidly changing demographics of Canadas urban centres. When it comes to mainstream media, diversity has not been its strength. To be clear, diversity does not refer to outward appearance so that a newsroom looks, representative of our population, the way a political cabinet may. It refers to the ability to communicate in another language such as Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog, and others such that a reporter can penetrate the cultural shell of diverse communities and take an active part in their conversations and read their media. And no this does not require the reporter to actually be from the community they are covering. This chronic dearth of language dexterity has given rise to a special type of reporter, perhaps unique only to Canada: the "ethno-beat" journalist, for lack of a better term. And despite their lack of language skills, they become the "experts" on their assigned communities. This practice began in the 1980s, after the Air India bombing. At the time, there was little coverage on the Indian community. That was no longer tenable after 329 people, many of them Canadians, were killed in the terror attack. To report on this critical and painful story was no easy assignment for the journalists who first added it their beats. Those on the reporting frontlines did so, at times, at their own risk and were understandably personally affected by what they experienced. But once these reporters became embedded into these beats, they tended to stay on themthe learning curve for an outsider trying to report on another ethnicity is sharp, and again new reporters would still often lack the language skills. The result of these ongoing legacy assignments is not totally unexpected and consistent with the major criticism leveled against the reporting"it feels like we are suddenly back in the 1980s." Even though the Air India trial ended in 2005, it has continued to live on because it has become the lens through which these reporters still relate to "their communities". This stagnation in ethno-reporting by mainstream media is one of the reasons why, in Vancouver at least, the circulations of the major dailies has stagnated since the late '90s, despite the steady growth in population in the region since that time. New immigrants and readers in ethnic communities have tuned out in droves and found alternatives elsewhere in their own ethnic print publications and new multicultural radio and broadcast stations. Where multicultural media, including print, has grown in readership, mainstream has atrophied. Not that "size" is an accurate measure of readership, but the weekend Sun and Province edition combined together, on even their best ad days, will still be half the weight and thickness of either a Sing Tao or Ming Pao newspaper, the leading Chinese dailies in the Lower Mainland. The optics are telling. So when the Vancouver Sun's "Sikh community ethno-reporter" broke the story of a "Khalistani terrorist", Jaspal Atwal, attending a Canadian diplomatic event on the recent Liberal government trip to India, it entered the news cycle stamped with her seal of credibility. It was quickly followed by a similar story by the CBC's "Sikh community ethno-reporter". This provided a green light for other Canadian reporters to repackage the story, cut in a small edit here or there, and then submit it for repeated publication along their media chains. For deadline-pressed journalists, such low-hanging fruit is too tempting not to pick and for Canadas tight-margined media conglomerates, such low-cost copy is also too tempting not to use. After all, Atwal seemed like the smoking gun. Here was a real living breathing terrorist. Here was the proof that the Trudeau government was in league with Khalistanis. Every Canadian news outlet ran with the story, making it seem that Sikh terrorism was a thriving enterprise across Canada. What had been a marginal roadside brushfire about "Sikh separatists" in Canada now became a raging forest fire. There was little consideration given to the question of how Atwal, a man who was convicted of trying to kill an Indian official in B.C. in 1986, was given permission to enter India. As it turned outand was reported much later once the storm had moved onAtwal had visited the country on multiple occasions over the past decade and was considered reformed and welcome in his Indian homeland. As Atwal would stress, or at least his lawyer would at his unconventional news conference back on Canadian soil, he had reconciled with India and regretted his past. But the real irony is that in 2006, the Vancouver South riding office of then Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh assisted Atwal in obtaining a visa to travel to India by passing his file along to another Liberal MP, Don Bell in North Vancouver. At the time, Atwal was a resident of Surrey and not living in Dosanjhs riding of Vancouver South. Dosanjh has been the most cited and vocal critic of the Trudeau governments infiltration by supposed Sikh separatists and of Atwals presence at this Canadian diplomatic event in Mumbai in February. "What is India to make of it and what are Canadians to make of it? I just have no words," Dosanjh told CTV News when news broke of Atwal attending the Liberal government hosted function. The fact that Atwal had disavowed Khalistan, travelled multiple times to India, was considered reformed by the Indian government, and that it was the office of then MP Ujjal Dosanjh that provided assistance in helping him get his first visa back to India in 2006 were facts that were all omitted from the coverage. Atwal was also charged but acquitted in the brutal assault of Dosanjh in 1985 which left him with 84 stitches. It raises questions why Dosanjhs office would assist the man who was accused of beating Dosanjh with a metal pipe to get a visa to go back to a country against which Atwal had committed a terrorist attack. The inclusion of these facts would have certainly muddied the story and dampened the impact of the angle that media ran with: Khalistani terrorist dines with the Trudeaus. These overlooked facts would have also undermined the constant stream of criticism coming from Dosanjh. For decades, Ujjal Dosanjh (as he appears on the cover of his memoir, Journey After Midnight) has been the mainstream media's go-to Sikh for comments on the community. Just as there is a lack of language diversity in Canadian newsrooms and a limited number of "ethno-specialist" reporters, so is there a lack of diversity in the sources they regularly cite in their stories. Dosanjh is an ex-politician with a very complex background. Yet he is the go-to contact for all of the "ethno-beat" journalists and all other Canadian reporters who report on any storyline with a Sikh angle. Dosanjhs commentsor those from others within his circle of influencehave informed the majority of stories written over these past six weeks in Canada, allowing the former Liberal cabinet minister to remotely drive his narrative that the Liberal Trudeau government is infiltrated by "Sikh separatists". It is rare to witness such public Liberal-on-Liberal criticism. But then again using the Khalistani slur against political opponents has never been confined to just India. It is regularly used by politicians of South Asian background here in Canada to undermine or dismiss their opponents. This flippant usage of the term "Sikh separatist" or "Khalistani" (absent the second implied word "terrorist") is a key reason why the Khalistan narrative lives on, even when the actual militants and the militancy movement died off two decades ago. In Trudeaus government, the World Sikh Organization, a group that once did advocate for the Khalistan state, forms the inner circle around the PM, at the exclusion of other Sikh political factions, including the one backed by Dosanjh. In 2014, the Liberal nomination for Vancouver South was shut down when "star candidate" Sajjan was parachuted in by Trudeau. The acrimony from the Trudeau betrayal against allowing open elections in that riding lingers to this day. While Dosanjh, as B.C.s former premier and a political insider, does have insight and a perspective to offer, it is unbalanced and even lazy journalism to resort to him as the default commentator on all things Sikh related. But then again so is excluding any Sikh voices from the TV and radio panel discussions that covered this issue over these past weeks. In a #DearWhitePeople type of moment, younger Canadian Sikhs have generated a new hashtag in response to their collective frustration of having to listen to "experts" whitesplain the Khalistan controversy to them. #AskCanadianSikhs is a much-needed and long-overdue call-to-action from a younger generation that is tired of being spoken about in the third person while they are clearly visible in the room and able to speak for themselves. It is the voice of this younger generation that has been sorely missed these past weeks. Where in a once thriving media industry these younger Sikh Canadians who, having grown up in this country, would have become the junior reporters and new blood in newsrooms, today they are marginalized because newsrooms are shrinking. But even in the years after the death of Tara Singh Hayer in the late '90s when newsrooms were still growing, the benefits of diversifying a news team were never really appreciated, and hence acted upon, by mainstream outlets. Had #AskCanadianSikhs been given a voice sooner into this narrative, it would have become apparent that supporting self-determination is not a radical act of terroran idea that mainstream outlets are finally starting to articulate. This younger generation would have been able to explain the shift in the Khalistan narrative and how it pivoted away from violence to redefine itself as a human rights movement. That pivot would have helped explain how the image Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale poster can take on new layers of meaning as a symbol of resistance, much like the iconic image of Che Guevara. NDP leader Jagmeet Singhs presence at rallies and Sikh community workshops, where he spoke on human rights issues and justice on behalf of the thousands of those killed in the October 1984 Delhi mass killings, would not have been viewed with such suspicion. And critically, these younger second- and third-generation Sikhs may have also acted as voices of reason to push for Singh to make an unequivocal statement sooner about the pain invoked by the lionization of Talwinder Parmar posters. Yes, being held to account for the actions of other Sikhs from 30 years ago is still an unfair double standard given that other Canadian politicians, like Andrew Scheer, are not asked to condemn the discriminatory beliefs of fellow Catholics or his association with white supremacists. But being the leader of the NDP requires that Singh speak for all Canadians, not just Sikhs. And perhaps having more balanced coverage on this issue would have deterred the Conservative party, and its misguided Calgary MP Deepak Oberoi, from reverting back into the barbaric-practices snitch line mindset when they temporarily introduced and then backed away from a bill in Parliament that divisively singled out a nonexistent Sikh terror movement. But then again, that last one may be hoping too much. Because of the current atrophic state of newsrooms, all of this subtlety and subtext was marginalized in the Khalistan coverage. This flattened shallow reporting alienates diverse communities, who are fast becoming the new mainstream, and it comes at considerable cost to all Canadian news consumers. It also tears at our countrys social fabric, inviting suspicion, and fragmenting communities. Take a tour through Twitters #khalistan or #jagmeetsingh threads to read the extreme opinions from overseas trolls as well as from local Canadians. Where there has been balance and depth in the coverage of this issue, it has come from smaller independent media outlets like the Georgia Straight, National Observer, Canadaland, and iPolitics. They have either been ahead of the curve and or opening space to reporters actively involved in the Sikh community. The opinions of those reporters and commentators have diverged from the mainstream for the most part. That a dead issue like Khalistan terror became transmogrified into a six-week media stormone that could return in a few weeks time when Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhisuggests that as a country we could be better served by reversing the trend of media convergence. The current and inescapable decline of legacy media offers such an opportunity. Coverage of diverse communities can alas be liberated from the opinion of a small number of ethno-reporters who, in holding all the levers of media power, can drive a narrative in any direction of their choosing, or as according to the agendas of a small number of sources they have selected to work with. One emerging vision of a new media industry that counters this convergence trend and that has found appeal among grassroots media activists, is to create an "independent digital public interest journalism sector". David Beers, the founder of the Tyee online publication, has even put forward a plan by which the Canadian government could assist smaller and more locally focused digital media enterprises fill the vacuum left behind by emptying newsrooms. Given the lessons to be learned from this recent Khalistan narrative, creating an ecosystem of independent media operations may be the best option going forward to improve the quality and depth of reporting on diverse communities. Such a media structure would probably still not filter out the army of digital trolls operated by foreign governments like Indias BJP and stop them from spreading propaganda in our social media feeds. But by giving Canadians access to more media choices and more in-depth coverage that provides access to the subtext we seek in online forums, we may manage to reduce some of our exposure to such meddling trolls and online bullies. And this new media environment could also finally neutralize the perception that hard-hitting journalism is synonymous with hard-hating, an opinion that has persisted for too long in this countrys Sikh community. Jagdeesh Mann is a media professional and journalist based in Vancouver. Follow on Twitter @JagdeeshMann This article was first published in The Georgia Straight. Arizona puts brakes on Uber self-driving car tests San Francisco, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 The governor of Arizona on Monday put the brakes on Uber's self-driving car program in that state, citing "disturbing and alarming" dashcam footage from a fatal crash in that state. Arizona governor Doug Ducey sent Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi a letter saying he has directed transportation department officials to suspend Uber's ability to test or operate self-driving vehicles on public roads. "I found the video to be disturbing and alarming, and it raises many questions about the ability of Uber to continue testing in Arizona," Ducey said in the letter, a copy of which was posted online. Uber put a temporary halt to its self-driving car program in the US after the March 18 accident that resulted in the death of pedestrian. "We proactively suspended self-driving operations in all cities immediately following the tragic incident last week," an Uber spokesperson told AFP. "We continue to help investigators in any way we can, and we'll keep a dialogue open with the governor's office going forward." Dashcam footage of the first fatal self-driving car crash involving a pedestrian shows the Uber vehicle operator appearing to be distracted, then gasping in horror seconds before the impact. The driver can be seen looking down at something for nearly five seconds before finally gazing up the instant before the car hit a woman in the city of Tempe. Police there released the footage, along with dashcam video of the road in the final seconds before the pedestrian, who was walking with a bicycle, is struck on a poorly lit highway. The car was in autonomous mode. Police chief Sylvia Moir told the San Francisco Chronicle last week that, while the investigation continued, "it appears that the Uber would likely not be at fault," mainly because the pedestrian was not using a crosswalk. "It's very clear it would have been difficult to avoid this collision in any kind of mode based on how she came from the shadows right into the roadway," Moir told the Chronicle. The crash has raised concerns about whether lives are put at risk by allowing companies to use public roads as testing ground for self-driving vehicle technology. Meanwhile, advocates of autonomous cars contend they have the potential to make roads safer by avoiding mistakes made by human drivers. Arizona and California have been particularly encouraging, hoping that companies developing autonomous technology in those states will create local jobs and facilities devoted to a promising new industry. Oracle's big-money case against Google gets new life San Francisco, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 An appeals court on Tuesday gave Oracle another shot at wringing billions of dollars from Google in a keenly watched legal battle over the use of freely available Java software code. A federal appellate court revived Oracle's case, ruling that the application programming interface (API) code at issue is protected by copyright law and sending the case back to the original judge to figure out how much Google owes the business software titan. A trial two years ago ended with a jury deciding that Google did not unfairly use Java code, saving the internet giant from a possible multibillion-dollar verdict. The appellate court on Tuesday disagreed, saying the software is entitled to copyright protection. Oracle, a major business software and cloud firm, sought billions in damages from Google over the search engine company's use of Java programming language in its Android smartphone operating system. But Google and its allies argued that extending copyright protection to bits of code, called application programming interfaces, or APIs, would threaten innovation. The case was closely watched by the tech industry because of its implications for software innovation and copyright law. Google, at the time, said that its victory at trial was "a win for the Android ecosystem; for the Java programming community and for software developers who rely on open and free programming languages to build innovative consumer products." Oracle, which obtained Java when it acquired Sun Microsystems in 2009, had been seeking some $9 billion in damages. Dorian Daley, Oracle's general counsel, welcomed the latest decision, saying it "upholds fundamental principles of copyright law and makes clear that Google violated the law." She added in a statement, "This decision protects creators and consumers from the unlawful abuse of their rights." - 'Devastating effects' - The case dates back to 2012, and Google prevailed at an initial trial. Oracle appealed, and an appellate panel ruled in 2014 that the lower court had erred, sending the case between the two Silicon Valley titans back for a new trial at which Google again triumphed. Silicon Valley watched the case closely, since weaving open source code into software programs is commonplace and often eliminates a need to reinvent commands considered fundamental. APIs are seen as snippets of code that simply direct one program to another, almost the way a restaurant menu points diners to meal options. Public Knowledge policy counsel Meredith Rose lambasted the appellate court, saying it has erred in ruling twice against Google in this case. "Taken together, these decisions -- which run counter to decades of software industry practice -- could have devastating effects on the competitiveness, openness, and development of the technology industry," the nonprofit public interest group counsel said in a release. 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Privacy Statement Argentines visit graves of loved ones killed in Falklands War Buenos Aires, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 Relatives of 90 Argentine soldiers killed in the Falklands War of 1982 paid tribute to them at their graves for the first time Monday, after the previously nameless remains were identified last year. Parents, siblings and other relatives traveled overnight Sunday to the South Atlantic islands and returned the same day under a diplomatic accord with Britain. The graves of the 90 soldiers were identified last year by the International Committee of the Red Cross via DNA testing on the remains. They were among 121 who, since the war, had been interred in graves labeled "no name." Altogether, there are 237 graves at the hilltop burial grounds known among Falkland Islanders as "the Argentine cemetery," with 31 sets of remains still not identified. Monday was an emotional day for those who are now able to stand by the grave they know to be holding the remains of their kin. "Now I know where he is. I could talk to him. I feel him close," said Dalal Massad, mother of Daniel Massad, who died on June 11, 1982 in one of the fiercest battles of the short but costly war. Argentina suffered 649 fatalities in the 74-day war, and Britain 255. "Nothing is going to change history. Nothing is going to change the loss that each of you suffered," Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie told the travelers before they set out Sunday night. "But in some way, looking at a plaque with their first and last name has a different value." The war began when troops dispatched by then Argentine dictator Leopoldo Galtieri occupied the archipelago. A British expeditionary force was sent to the Falklands, known by the Spanish-speaking world as the Malvinas, and took them back. Britain refuses to negotiate the status of the islands, as demanded by Argentina, arguing that the nearly 3,000 people living on the islands voted in a referendum in 2013 to remain part of Britain. Iran Guards deny supplying missiles to Yemen rebels Tehran, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday rejected claims that the country is supplying weapons to Yemeni rebels after they fired several missiles into Saudi Arabia. "The aim of such claims by Saudi Arabia is to divert public opinion from the atrocities (they) are committing in Yemen," said Yadollah Javani, a political officer for the Revolutionary Guards, according to the conservative Tasnim news agency. He was responding to accusations by Saudi Arabia that Iran had supplied the seven missiles fired into its territory on Sunday by Huthi rebels in Yemen. "The Saudis have committed large-scale atrocities and attacked the oppressed nation of Yemen during the last two and three years with the help of Americans, the Zionists and some regional reactionary states," said Javani. "Therefore... they raise claims including accusing Iran of sending weapons to the nation of Yemen." He said it was impossible to send weapons to Yemen due to the blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition, which has been engaged in an aerial bombing campaign against the Huthis since 2015. "The reality is that the nation of Yemen is standing up to Saudi aggression and has managed to build defence tools by relying on its own capabilities, including missile power, and this is the very thing Saudi Arabia never imagined," said Javani. NATO to announce 'measures' over UK poisoning: statement Brussels, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will on Tuesday unveil "measures" in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, the alliance said, as international pressure mounts on Moscow. NATO has warned that the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter must have "consequences" and Stoltenberg will hold a news conference in Brussels at 3:30 pm (1330 GMT) to make an announcement on "further decisions", the alliance said in a brief statement. Governments of 24 countries around the world have expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats over the poisoning of the Skripals, an unprecedented international response to the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II. Britain hailed the mass expulsions as a "turning point" for the West's attitude to a "reckless" Russia, but Moscow denies responsiblity for the poisoning and has vowed to carry out tit-for-tat measures of its own. Relations between NATO and Russia were already at a low ebb over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and its role in the Ukraine and Syria conflicts. Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent identified by Britain as the Soviet-made "Novichok" in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer imprisoned by Moscow for passing on information about Russian agents in various European countries, came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap. NATO expels seven Russian diplomats over UK spy poisoning Brussels, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the alliance was expelling seven Russian diplomats to show that Moscow faces "costs and consequences" over a nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain. Stoltenberg announced the maximum size of the Russian mission to NATO would also be slashed by a third, from 30 to 20, as part of international measures to punish Russia over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. "I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff of the Russian mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others," Stoltenberg told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour," the former Norwegian prime minister added. The moves pile yet more pressure on Moscow after two dozen countries around the world united in mass expulsions of Russian diplomats over the attempted assassination of Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain has said the Skripals were poisoned with the Soviet-developed nerve agent "Novichok", though Russia has denied involvement. Stoltenberg said Russia had "underestimated the unity of NATO allies", adding that the mass expulsions would have a material impact on Russian operations. "The practical implication is that Russia will have a reduced capability to do intelligence work in NATO countries and in those countries they are expelled from," Stoltenberg said. But Stoltenberg, who said earlier this month he did not want a new Cold War with Moscow, said the alliance planned to continue its "dual-track approach of strong defence and openness to dialogue" with Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday accused Washington of applying "colossal pressure" to achieve the massive, coordinated international response to the poisoning. A number of countries including the United States said the Russian diplomats they were throwing out were actually undeclared spies. Relations between NATO and Russia were already at a low ebb over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and its role in the Ukraine and Syria conflicts. US defense chief Mattis says 'no reservations' about Bolton Washington, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday he had "no reservations" about working with John Bolton, the controversial hawk named by President Donald Trump to be his new national security advisor. "Last time I checked he's an American. I can work with an American," Mattis told reporters. The retired Marine general said he had never met Bolton before, but expected to get together with him soon at the Pentagon. A former US ambassador to the United Nations and Fox News contributor, Bolton is known for his vehement opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and defense of a US first strike against North Korea. Mattis has stressed diplomacy in dealing with both countries, and has argued against scrapping the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Asked whether he could work with Bolton, Mattis said he had "no reservations, no concerns at all." "I hope that there's some different world views, that's the normal thing you want unless you want group think," he said. US says clash averted with Russian mercenaries in Syria Washington, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 US forces in Syria narrowly averted another clash with Russian mercenaries like one last month that left more than 100 opposing fighters dead, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday. Mattis told reporters that "Russian elements" moved across a deconfliction line into an area on the eastern side of the Euphrates river where the sides had previously agreed they could operate, he said. But he said they came "too close" to positions of US soldiers in the area. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joe Dunford, contacted his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, about the incursion. "And those elements fell back so we have also drawn off slightly to maintain the deconfliction between the elements there," he said. "So it seems that this time, it was resolved through the deconfliction communication line," he added. Mattis did not give a precise date for the incident, but on Thursday the Pentagon issued a brief statement noting that Dunford and Gerasimov had held talks on Syria and other matters of mutual interest. According to a US official, the Russian mercenaries have been moving into an area near Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria. It was when they began digging firing positions that the US troops deployed in the area along side their Syrian Democratic Force allies became concerned, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The incident comes less than two months after an attack in the same area on the headquarters of the SDF, an alliance of US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters. US soldiers were in the building and alerted the US-led coalition, which responded with an air strike that killed 100 to 200 fighters, including numerous Russians. Evoking that attack, Mattis noted that it was led by "Russian mercenaries." It was the first time that he directly accused Russia of involvement. Arrest over suspicious packages sent to US military bases, CIA Washington, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 A 43-year-old man has been arrested after around a dozen packages containing potentially explosive material were posted to military and intelligence facilities around the US capital, the FBI said Tuesday. Thanh Cong Phan, who lives near the northwestern city of Seattle, was taken into custody after the FBI "determined that the packages contained potential destructive devices and appeared to be sent by the same individual," an FBI statement said. The agency said that multiple packages had been received at facilities on Monday in and around Washington, including the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters at Langley and the Fort Belvoir and Fort McNair military bases. The suspect was due to appear in federal court in Washington state later Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis confirmed that no one had been injured by any of the material in the packages, which were intercepted by the FBI. However, the FBI warned that more packages could have been sent and were still awaiting processing, urging caution. Former Supreme Court justice backs repealing Second Amendment Washington, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2018 A former justice of the US Supreme Court -- guardian of the country's Constitution -- appealed on Tuesday for the repeal of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. John Paul Stevens made the call in an op-ed in The New York Times three days after the "March for Our Lives," nationwide protests that were the largest in support of gun control for nearly two decades. "Rarely in my lifetime have I seen the type of civic engagement school children and their supporters demonstrated in Washington and other major cities throughout the country this past Saturday," wrote the former high court judge, now aged 97. Stephens, who was nominated to the Supreme Court by Republican president Gerald Ford in 1975, said the protests "reveal the broad public support for legislation to minimize the risk of mass killings of school children and others." But he said activists, who are calling for a ban on assault rifles and raising the legal age to buy a firearm to 21, should go further in their demands. "They should demand a repeal of the Second Amendment," he said. The powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) lobby group dismissed such a "radical idea." In a statement on Tuesday it said its members, "along with the majority of the American people and the Supreme Court, believe in the Second Amendment right to self-protection and we will unapologetically continue to fight to protect this fundamental freedom." The amendment states that "a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." "Today that concern is a relic of the 18th century," when states worried that a standing national army could be used against them, Stevens said. In 2008, the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to possess firearms for self-defense in the home, in the landmark case "District of Columbia v. Heller." It ruled a ban on handguns and laws on storage requirements for rifles and shotguns violated this. A decade on, Stevens remains convinced that decision was "wrong and certainly was debatable," and that it has handed the NRA "a propaganda weapon of immense power." 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. Germany and the Puigdemont Case 'Politicians Need To Stay Out of This' Following Carles Puigdemont's arrest on Sunday, Germany has landed smack in the middle of the Catalan independence battle. Politicians here say it's up to the judiciary to decide whether to extradite the former president of Catalonia, but the issue is nonetheless politically charged. As a Sri Lankan born American, I saw the potential in this program to build links between two countries. People at Braeside Camp develop leadership while serving kids who are from foster and families that are disadvantaged by Udara Soysa ( March 27, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Several Sri Lankans from different ages and walks of life over the last decade were selected for a leadership program at Braeside Camp working with underprivileged youth in Orange County, NY. This program continues to build a bridge between Sri Lanka and the United States. The program offers an opportunity for Sri Lankans to work with underprivileged youth in New York for 8 weeks prior their return to Sri Lanka. Gavin Britto, a Sri Lankan born American citizen was among very first people who participated in this program from summer of 2010. "As a Sri Lankan born American, I saw the potential in this program to build links between two countries. People at Braeside Camp develop leadership while serving kids who are from foster and families that are disadvantaged," according to Britto. Braeside Camp exists in a beautiful and peaceful setting (an oasis in the heart of Middletown NY) Our campus is complete with tall trees, rolling hills and a creek that wraps around the perimeter, all creating the perfect backdrop to the endless fun and frivolity that takes place here in the summer. The program has been in existence since approximately 1897 and began as a place for children to come and recover and convalesce from tuberculosis here in the great outdoors. After tragically losing its founders to the disease, the camp turned over to a, not for profit in the mid-1930s. At that time it became dedicated to providing an authentic, enriching and educational overnight camp experience for kids in the Orange County NY area. While the camp serves many children, it is dedicated especially to those that could not otherwise afford such an experience and has existed as such ever since. "Braeside Camp leadership program really changed the way I looked at the world," according to Yudesh Gunaratne. A former head prefect at Nalanda College, Yudesh participated in the leadership program in summer of 2016. " I grew more as an individual through the program," he said. Meanwhile, Chathuranga Thoradeniya, a former Airforce officer and a leadership trainer from Sri Lanka who participated in this program said that the exchange program will continue to foster dialogue between youth from Sri Lanka and the United States. "Key in developing international understanding is private initiatives bridging cultural gaps," he added. Kaneel Maddumage, an attorney at law who participated in the program in 2016 said he is participating in the program again in 2017. "I am very thankful for the good people at the American embassy for facilitating this connection, especially with visa complications," he added. "We really appreciate the support given by Sally Sternal at the embassy to make our experience a reality," according to Ayesha Sheara, a law student who is participating in the program this year. "Well, its tough being in a foreign country and working with youth who are totally different than me and I don't think I will ever consider such program if not for Braeside," she added. "I just finished my law degree exams and I have 2 months before I start Law College, so during this time I wanted to develop my leadership skills so I decided to participate in this program," according to Keshini De Hoedt who is also attending the program this year. "It's tough being away from home but I am really loving it so far," she added. Meanwhile, some youth from Braeside Camp visited Sri Lanka and served underprivileged youth in Sri Lanka through several volunteer programs. Ricky Climes, a native of Orange Country made several trips to Sri Lanka in 2012/2014 and served youth in areas as far as Hingurukaduwa in Buttala, Sri Lanka. " I loved my experience at Braeside and through Braeside connections, I visited Sri Lanka few times -- I loved it," Chandler Owes, a New Yorker, who visited Sri Lanka in 2016 served as a volunteer to teach English with Horizon Lanka foundation in Anuradhapura. " For me this connection meant everything - I plan again to return to Sri Lanka this year as well," he said. "Braeside prides itself on creating a culture of caring and nurturance where youth can feel safe and comfortable with one another," says Craig Altmann, a social worker from Orange County who adds that the cross-cultural element at Braeside is key for its long-term success. So far nearly dozens of Sri Lankans have participated in the program while four Americans have visited Sri Lanka to volunteer as a result of the connections from the program. More information about Braeside Camp can be found at www.braesidecamp.org. ( The writer is an Attorney-at Law ) TO VIEW MORE NEWS STORY, PLEASE CLICK ON NEWS TAB ON MAIN MENU BAR Nokia Board of Directors resolved to convene the Annual General Meeting 2018, dividend of EUR 0.19 per share proposed for 2017 Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release March 27, 2018 at 9:30 (CET +1) Nokia Board of Directors resolved to convene the Annual General Meeting 2018, dividend of EUR 0.19 per share proposed for 2017 Espoo, Finland - Nokia announced today that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has resolved to convene the Annual General Meeting on May 30, 2018. The notice of the Annual General Meeting and the complete proposals by the Board and its committees to the Annual General Meeting are scheduled to be available on Nokia's website on or about March 28, 2018. The Board and its committees will submit the following proposals to the Annual General Meeting: Proposal to pay a dividend of EUR 0.19 per share for 2017; Proposals on the Board composition; Proposals on the Board remuneration; Proposal to authorize the Board to repurchase the company's shares; Proposal to authorize the Board to issue shares; and Proposals on the re-election of the auditor and the auditor's remuneration. Proposal on the payment of dividend As announced earlier, the Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that a dividend of EUR 0.19 per share be paid for the financial year 2017. The ex-dividend date would be on May 31, 2018. The dividend record date would be on June 1, 2018 and the dividend is expected be paid on or about June 13, 2018. The actual dividend pay date outside Finland will be determined by the practices of the intermediary banks transferring the dividend payments. Proposal on the Board composition Jean C. Monty has informed that he will no longer be available to serve on the Nokia Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting. The Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the number of Board members be ten (10) and that the following current Board members be re-elected as members of the Nokia Board of Directors for a term ending at the close of the Annual General Meeting 2019: Bruce Brown, Jeanette Horan, Louis R. Hughes, Edward Kozel, Elizabeth Nelson, Olivier Piou, Risto Siilasmaa, Carla Smits-Nusteling and Kari Stadigh. In addition, the Committee proposes that Sari Baldauf, who is a non-executive director, be elected as a member of the Board of Directors for the same term. Additional information on the Board candidates will be available in the Committee proposal which will be published simultaneously with the notice to the Annual General Meeting. The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee will further propose at the assembly meeting of the new Board taking place after the Annual General Meeting on May 30, 2018 that Risto Siilasmaa be elected as the Chair of the Board and Olivier Piou as the Vice Chair of the Board, subject to their election to the Board of Directors. Proposal on the Board remuneration, Board plans to establish a Technology Committee following the Annual General Meeting With regard to the Board remuneration, the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee proposes that the annual fee payable to the Board members elected at the same meeting for a term ending at the Annual General Meeting in 2019 remains on the following levels: EUR 440 000 for the Chair of the Board, EUR 185 000 for the Vice Chair of the Board and EUR 160 000 for each Board member, EUR 30 000 each for the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Chair of the Personnel Committee as an additional annual fee and EUR 15 000 for each member of the Audit Committee as an additional annual fee. In addition, the Board has informed the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee that it is planning to establish a Technology Committee following the Annual General Meeting. Accordingly, the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee proposes to the Annual General Meeting that EUR 20 000 is payable to the Chair of the Technology Committee as an additional annual fee subject to the Board establishing the Committee. The fee is payable from the establishment of the Committee until the close of the Annual General Meeting in 2019. The Committee also proposes that a meeting fee for Board and Committee meetings be paid to all the other Board members, except the Chair of the Board, based on travel required between the Board member's home location and the location of a meeting. The meeting fee would be paid for a maximum of seven meetings per term and remain on the following levels: EUR 5 000 per meeting requiring intercontinental travel and EUR 2 000 per meeting requiring continental travel. Furthermore, the Committee also proposes that members of the Board of Directors shall be compensated for travel and accommodation expenses as well as other costs directly related to Board and Committee work. Further, the Committee proposes that in line with Nokia's Corporate Governance Guidelines approximately 40 per cent of the annual fee be paid in Nokia shares either purchased from the market or alternatively by using treasury shares held by the company. The directors shall retain until the end of their directorship such number of shares that corresponds to the number of shares they have received as Board remuneration during their first three years of service in the Board (the net amount received after deducting those shares needed to offset any costs relating to the acquisition of the shares, including taxes). The proposed meeting fee, travel and accommodation expenses as well as other costs directly related to Board and Committee work would be paid in cash. Proposal to authorize the Board to repurchase company's shares The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to repurchase a maximum of 550 million Nokia shares by using funds in the unrestricted equity. The proposed amount represents less than 10 per cent of the total number of Nokia shares. The shares may be repurchased in order to optimize the capital structure of the Company and are expected to be cancelled. In addition, shares may be repurchased in order to meet obligations arising from debt financial instruments that are exchangeable into equity instruments, to settle equity-based incentive plans for employees of Nokia or of its associated companies, or to be transferred for other purposes such as financing or carrying out acquisitions. The shares may be repurchased either through a tender offer made to all the shareholders on equal terms or in another proportion than that of the shares held by current shareholders (directed repurchase). The authorization would be effective until November 30, 2019 and terminate the authorization granted by the Annual General Meeting on May 23, 2017. Proposal to authorize the Board to issue shares The Board also proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to issue a maximum of 550 million shares through issuance of shares or special rights entitling to shares in one or more issues. The proposed amount represents less than 10 per cent of the total number of Nokia shares. The Board proposes that it may issue either new shares or treasury shares held by the company. In addition, the Board proposes the authorization to be used to develop the company's capital structure, diversify the shareholder base, finance or carry out acquisitions or other arrangements, to settle the company's equity-based incentive plans or for other purposes resolved by the Board. The proposed authorization includes the right for the Board to resolve on all the terms and conditions of the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares, including issuance in deviation from shareholders' pre-emptive rights. The authorization would be effective until November 30, 2019 and terminate the authorization granted by the Annual General Meeting on May 23, 2017. The proposed authorization would not terminate the authorization granted to the Board by the Extraordinary General Meeting on December 2, 2015. Proposals on re-election of the auditor and the auditor's remuneration The Board's Audit Committee proposes to the Annual General Meeting that PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy be re-elected as the company's auditor, and that the auditor be reimbursed based on the invoice and in compliance with the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee. 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. www.nokia.com Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Minna Aila, Vice President, Corporate Affairs FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS It should be noted that Nokia and its businesses are exposed to various risks and uncertainties and certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding: A) our ability to integrate acquired businesses into our operations and achieve the targeted business plans and benefits, including targeted benefits, synergies, cost savings and efficiencies; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to our strategies and growth management; C) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses; D) expectations, plans or benefits related to changes in organizational and operational structure; E) expectations regarding market developments, general economic conditions and structural changes; F) expectations and targets regarding financial performance, results, opeRating expenses, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, cost savings and competitiveness, as well as results of operations including targeted synergies and those related to market share, prices, net sales, income and margins; G) expectations, plans or benefits related to any future collaboration or to business collaboration agreements or patent license agreements or arbitration awards, including income to be received under any collaboration or partnership, agreement or award; H) timing of the deliveries of our products and services; I) expectations and targets regarding collaboration and partnering arrangements, joint ventures or the creation of joint ventures, and the related administrative, legal, regulatory and other conditions, as well as our expected customer reach; J) outcome of pending and threatened litigation, arbitration, disputes, regulatory proceedings or investigations by authorities; K) expectations regarding restructurings, investments, capital structure optimization efforts, uses of proceeds from transactions, acquisitions and divestments and our ability to achieve the financial and operational targets set in connection with any such restructurings, investments, capital structure optimization efforts, divestments and acquisitions; and L) statements preceded by or including "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "foresee", "sees", "target", "estimate", "designed", "aim", "plans", "intends", "focus", "continue", "project", "should", "is to", "will" or similar expressions. These statements are based on management's best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Because they involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from the results that we currently expect. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: 1) our strategy is subject to various risks and uncertainties and we may be unable to successfully implement our strategic plans, sustain or improve the operational and financial performance of our business groups, correctly identify or successfully pursue business opportunities or otherwise grow our business; 2) general economic and market conditions and other developments in the economies where we operate; 3) uncertainty related to the amount of dividends and equity return we are able to distribute to shareholders for each financial period, as well as the risk factors specified on pages 71 to 89 of our 2017 annual report on Form 20-F published on March 22, 2018 under "Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors" and in our other filings or documents furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proven to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required. This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: NOKIA via Globenewswire 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. ANKARA - The presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran will meet in a trilateral summit on Syria in Istanbul early next month. The meeting, scheduled for April 4, comes after the capture by Turkish-led forces of a Kurdish stronghold in northern Syria and amid Turkish threats to extend the massive operation further east. The summit will be hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will be the second such meeting following the previous one last November in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. The talks will be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani as the three leaders seek to salvage their efforts to end the seven-year Syrian conflict. As part of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana sponsored by Ankara, Moscow and Teheran, the three countries' foreign ministers met on Friday and discussed preparations for next month's summit, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The three countries have worked together despite their different positions. While Iran and Russia have provided military support to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has repeatedly called for his ousting and supported rebel groups. Experts believe that the mere fact regional actors are gathering should be considered in a positive light. Kerim Has, a lecturer at Moscow State University and a specialist on foreign relations and Russia, said that "such a message despite the Afrin operation would be important for the three (regional) players". He was referring to the offensive launched by Ankara against Kurdish fighters in the northern Syrian enclave of Afrin, which was captured last week. Erdogan has vowed to expand the offensive to other Kurdish-held regions further east, sparking fears of a possible clash with US troops deployed in the area. As part of the Astana process, Turkey, Iran and Russia have set out to create four so-called de-escalation zones in Idlib, the greater Damascus area, the southern region of Daraa and the city of Homs. But intense bombardment in recent weeks in eastern Ghouta, a rebel enclave near Damascus, designated in May 2017 as a "de-escalation zone", has left hundreds of civilians dead, according to independent sources, and led to thousands of people being evacuated from the area. "The deplorable situation in eastern Ghouta will be on the table" in Istanbul, said a Turkish diplomatic source on condition of anonymity. Some analysts said that by giving a green light to Turkish airplanes to use the space it controls over Syria, Russia has meddled in the Turkish-US dispute to weaken the NATO alliance. "The green light given to Operation Olive Branch shows that even though they are reluctant, Russia and Iran prefer Turkey, who would transfer in the end the control of Afrin to government forces rather to an independently maneuvering YPG (the acronym for the Kurdish People's Protection Units), who would be unpredictable," said Has. SYRACUSE, NY - The former president of the ESM Little League was arraigned tonight on felony charges in connection with the theft of $12,000 from the little league, according to the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office. Steven P. Borkowski, 48, of East Syracuse, was arraigned in Syracuse's Central Arraignment Court on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and third-degree grand larceny, according to the DA's office. Borkowski entered a not guilty plea to the charges, and was released on his own recognizance. Borkowski, who had been president of the little league organization, was asked to step down in January after the league discovered money missing, league officials said. After Borkowski agreed to repay the league $12,000, he was initially not charged after Little League officials told police they didn't want to pursue criminal prosecution if Borkowski paid the money back. Manlius police said they closed the case because the victim - the Little League - were happy accepting the civil settlement. Melanie Carden, Onondaga County senior district attorney, said it's not up to the victim (in this case ESM Little League) to decide whether or not to pursue the case once a police report has been filed, Carden said. The DA's office talks with the victim and law enforcement, but the ultimate decision lies with her office. The DA's office decided to prosecute, and Carden said Borkowski turned himself in to town of Manlius police this afternoon. The thefts of the little league group's money started in October 2017, according to the 24-page police report obtained by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Manlius police began investigating the missing money in late January when notified by league officials, and a detailed police investigation followed. William Sullivan, Borkowski's lawyer, and Borkowski did not respond to messages left for them last week. A Central New York man spent weeks trying to build a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl, prosecutors said. Steven D. Hathaway used the Internet to ask the person he believed was a child to send him nude photographs, federal prosecutors said in a news release. He even bought an iPhone for the girl and dropped it off near her Western New York home so she could send him photos, prosecutors said. But when Hathaway tried to meet up with the girl, he discovered the person he'd been messaging was an undercover investigator -- not a child, prosecutors said. Hathaway, 41, of DeRuyter, Madison County, was arrested Friday by the New York State Police and the Department of Homeland Security. He was charged in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Hathaway is being held without bail pending a detention hearing, prosecutors said. SENECA FALLS, N.Y. -- An ad placed in a Craigslist's casual encounters section last month snagged investigators' attention. The ad was called "Young Woman Needed," investigators said, and targeted the Ithaca area. The man who posted the ad asked anyone who was interested to reply with the world "sugar," investigators said. The New York State Police suspected the poster was interested in children, not adults. And so, posing as a 12-year-old girl named Madi, investigators said the trooper reached out to Steven D. Hathaway -- the Madison County man police said was behind the ad. An investigator with the Department of Homeland Security described the conversation in a criminal complaint filed against Hathaway in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. "Yea I'm cool with what evs," the trooper posing as Madi wrote. "I live in Seneca Falls. Like r u cool with me being younger than u??" That didn't stop Hathaway from talking to Madi, investigators said. Hathaway spent several weeks trying to coax the person he thought was a child to send him nude photographs, investigators said. After a month of conversations, he drove over 60 miles from his Madison County home to meet "Madi" at a Burger King in Seneca Falls, investigators said. Instead of meeting Madi, investigators said Hathaway encountered police. Hathaway, 41, of DeRuyter, was arrested Friday by state police and the DHS. He was charged with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The conversation between the undercover trooper and Hathaway started with the Craigslist ad, investigators said. It started with emoji-filled compliments, according to the criminal complaint, and gradually turned sexually explicit. After "Madi" shared two photos of herself clothed, Hathaway asked for a "naughty one," investigators said. When Madi explained she was afraid her grandma would catch her, investigators said the defendant offered to buy her a cellphone. Hathaway bought an iPhone and left it hidden for "Madi" in a snow-covered bag outside Tractor Supply in Seneca Falls, investigators said. When officers found the package on March 13, the new iPhone was tucked into a white plastic bag with a Pokemon card. "Madi" told Hathaway she found the phone, investigators said. Hathaway then instructed her to download Kik, an app that allows users to send messages anonymously, investigators said. The conversation moved to Kik, investigators said. Hathaway wrote graphic messages, investigators said, and tried to get Madi to act sexually. Hathaway asked "Madi" if she would be home alone Friday night -- telling her he wanted to see her in person, investigators said. The trooper posing as the child agreed to meet Hathaway at Burger King, asking if he would buy her fries, investigators said. "We can just chill and eat fries!!!" Hathaway agreed, according to investigators. "I just want to talk today that's all is that ok?" Hathaway was arrested late Friday afternoon at Burger King. He had a Beanie Baby and a unopened box of condoms, investigators said. Jason Wheeler (left) holds tickets a Syracuse police officer gave him after his car was rear-ended on an I-81 off-ramp. The cars stopped a block away, near South State Street and McClure Avenue. Wheeler said he planned to drive to a hospital to be evaluated after the crash. Update: Syracuse police say the driver of the Eldorado was issued a ticket charging her with following too closely. The driver of the Neon also was issued a ticket for a "license issue," police Lt. Dave Brown said in an email on Tuesday. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Three people were on their way to the hospital Monday evening after one car crashed into the back of another car on the Interstate 81 South off-ramp at Exit 17 in Syracuse, according to uninjured passengers. Amada Perry, of Syracuse, was driving a red 1998 Cadillac Eldorado at 5:43 p.m. when she struck the back of a yellow 2003 Dodge Neon on the off-ramp, according to her son who asked not to be named. "They stopped fast and we went into the back of them," he said. Jason Wheeler, 42, of Syracuse, said he was driving the Neon. Wheeler said he thought the driver of the Eldorado was speeding. "She just slammed into me," Wheeler said. Items from the back of the Neon pushed into the back seat, where Wheeler's 9-year-old daughter was sitting, he said. After the crash, both cars continued onto McClure Avenue, about a block from the off-ramp during rush hour traffic. A Syracuse police officer who responded referred all comments to the police department's traffic division public information officer. The police spokesman could not be reached for comment. The officer handed Wheeler two pieces of paper, stating they were tickets. Neither the officer nor Wheeler would say why he was ticketed. It was not clear if Perry was issued any tickets. American Medical Response (AMR) transported one person to a Syracuse hospital, according to Onondaga County 911. Perry's son said his 7-year-old sister, a back seat passenger in the Eldorado, was taken to the hospital after the crash. The girl, also named Amada, complained that her stomach hurt in the area where her seat belt was during the crash, according to her brother. Wheeler said he and his 9-year-old daughter were also going to the hospital. They refused an ambulance and said they planned to drive themselves. The officer on scene said he would note that in the police report. "Everything is starting to hurt," he said, as he stood on the sidewalk at South State Street and McClure Avenue. "My back, my side." Police cleared the scene after about an hour. Other motorists exiting I-81 South at Exit 17 continued to drive over debris that scattered onto the off-ramp after the crash. FULTON, N.Y. -- The owners of Shameless Trucking and Shameless Towing and Recovering in Fulton are accused of fraud, according to New York State Police. Amy Stoutenger, 48, and Ralph A. Stoutenger III, 49, of Fulton, failed to pay about $319,013 in Workers' Compensation Insurance, state police said. The Stoutengers were charged with second-degree insurance fraud, first-degree offer to file false instrument, fraudulent insurance practices and offering a false statement, all felonies, state police said. The arrests are the result of an New York State Insurance Fund investigation into Shameless Trucking, LLC, and Shameless Towing and Recovery, LLC, from 2014 to 2017. The evidence against the Stoutengers consists of audits conducted by the NYS Insurance Fund, banking records and multiple employees who were paid in cash or by check during the aforementioned time period. The Stoutengers was arraigned in the Fulton City Court and released on their own recognizance. They are scheduled to appear in court on May 24. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say a 24-year-old man was shot in the thigh Monday night on the city's Near West Side. The city's ShotSpotter alerted police of the shooting at 10:26 p.m. in the parking lot of Syracuse Upstate Market, at 124 Merriman Ave., according to Onondaga County 911. ShotSpotter is a series of sensors that can pinpoint the exact location of a gunshot and relay the coordinates to nearby police. No one called 911 to report the shooting, dispatchers said. "An officer (who) was driving toward the call observed a vehicle leaving the area, heading toward Upstate University Hospital," city police spokesman Sgt. Richard Helterline said. "That officer followed the vehicle to the hospital, while other officers responded to the scene." At the hospital, officers met with the 24-year-old who had been shot in his left thigh, Helterline said in a news release. The injury does not appear to life threatening, police said. The victim told police he was in the 100 block of Merriman Avenue when he was shot, Helterline said in the release. Officers canvassed the scene and collected evidence after the shooting. They also looked at video surveillance as they tried to piece together what happened, officials said. Police described the suspect as a male wearing a light colored shirt with a dark colored coat over it. Syracuse police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call them at (315) 442-5222 or submit a tip using the "SPD Tips" app. UTICA, NY- A 31-year-old Utica man was killed when he jumped from the roof of a 16-story bank building in downtown Utica this morning, Utica police said. Several witnesses reported seeing the man jump from the Adirondack Bank building at 185 Genesee St. in Utica, police said. The bank building has offices on the upper floors. Police said the man went up to the top floor of the building and then broke a window to reach around and open a locked door leading to the roof. Police said the man's death is being investigated as a probable suicide. The person's name was not released, police said. PARKLAND, Fla. -- An Oswego County woman was arrested this weekend after police in Florida accused her of helping steal items from a memorial for the Parkland shooting victims, according to news reports. Kara M. O'Neil, of Fulton, and Michael Shawn Kennedy, of Hollywood, Fla., are accused of stealing teddy bears, plaques, pinwheels and other items from a fence near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The alleged theft happened around 10 p.m. Sunday, The New York Post reported. Witnesses told police they saw O'Neil and Kennedy steal items from the memorial, which was set up along the school grounds shortly after the massacre. On Feb. 14, former student Nikolas Cruz walked into the school and fired at students with an AR-15 assault rifle. When he was done, 17 people were killed and 15 others were injured. O'Neil, 40, and Kennedy, 37, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of removing or disfiguring a tomb or a monument, a felony, according to the Sun-Sentinel. They were sent to the Broward County Jail. Jail records show O'Neil remains in jail on $1,000 bail. Kennedy also was sent to jail on $1,000 bond. He previously served time in prison after he was convicted of delivering Oxycontin, burglary and assault on a police officer, Broward County prosecutor Eric Linder told the Sun-Sentinel. At a court hearing Monday, an unemployed Kennedy told a Broward County judge: "I feel the charging document has insufficient facia elements ... it is neither a tomb nor a monument," according to the Sun-Sentinel. The judge looked up the state statute and disagreed with Kennedy, saying the law also protected a memorial for the dead or burial artifacts, the Sun-Sentinel reported. BALDWINSVILLE, NY - Michelle Bartholomew Green said her son, Eric, always told her she was a "helicopter mom," overprotective and checking in on him too frequently. When Eric didn't answer his mom's phone calls or texts one Saturday in November 2013 during his freshman year at Alfred State College, she called the dorm and asked the RA on duty to check on her son. Her son texted her after that, conveying his annoyance with her, and so she backed off for several days. Nearly a week later, Eric, was found dead in a park near the college. The 18-year-old had killed himself. Green, who at the time was a professor of health information management at Alfred State College, said she - along with many others - missed the signs that her son might be suicidal. "Eric was at risk,'' she said. "He fell through the cracks in college, and his friends and professors didn't recognize all the signs that he was in trouble." Several years later, she said she read an article about Paige Bird - a Baker High School student in Baldwinsville who had killed herself in 2016. "It was a wake-up call for me,'' Green said. "I started thinking 'What is my purpose?' I'm doing the best I can. But I realized I need to help these kids. I need to make sure they don't just focus on academics, but work on the whole person. Green, who has moved to Baldwinsville after retiring, recently gave the Baldwinsville school district $10,000 to help pay for mental health training for staff. In addition to teachers, her hope is the training extends to all staff, including bus drivers, librarians, cafeteria workers and more. "These are the ones on the front line who may recognize signs of trouble,'' she said. Baldwinsville School Superintendent Matthew McDonald said the district has emphasized mental health education for several years, and this money will help bring in more speakers and more professional development. Green has been asked to work with the district's Mental Health Committee to work on mental health education programs, he said. "Mental health is the key piece,'' McDonald said, especially when it comes to helping to prevent school shootings. "You can harden the buildings and hire more school resource officers, but without the mental health piece, it's not enough.'' McDonald said it's unusual for someone whose children never attended Baldwinsville schools to donate money. Eric Green, left, and his mother, Michelle Bartholomew Green. Eric Green committed suicide in 2013, and his mother gave Baldwinsville schools $10,000 to use for mental health education programs. Eric Green attended a small high school in Alfred in Allegany County, graduating with a class of about 30 students. It was a positive experience for him, his mom said. A "serious, solemn" child who didn't like injustice and loved to play board games, Eric went to live with his grandparents in 2009 after his mom and dad separated. He visited his mom on weekends, often bringing over his friends. During his senior year of high school, his grandfather - who he had become extremely close with - became seriously ill and died in the summer of 2013, his mom said. Eric was devastated, his mom said, and she learned around that time her son smoked marijuana and drank on occasion. He went to college that fall, and Green said she never knew he was using harder drugs like cocaine and LSD. He majored in information technology, but told his mom he didn't like his classes - he liked English instead. He starting skipping classes - another thing Green said she didn't know. "Nobody told me,'' she said. "I was a professor there, and no one told me anything." In retrospect, Green said she wishes she'd had her son sign a student privacy waiver, which would have permitted the school to contact her about him. "He hid everything from me, and I never learned until after his death that he was using drugs,'' she said. Green learned from Eric's friends after this death that he had tried heroin for the first time on a weekend in November 2013. It made him ill, they later told her, and he told his friends "he was never going to make anything of himself, and he shouldn't even be here." Green wishes his friends would have reported that to someone in authority - and she hopes mental health education will help stress that. "When someone talks about feeling worthless, you need to take it seriously,'' she said. A few days after he made those comments to his friends, he was reported missing on a Wednesday in November. Green said she put money in his bank account hoping he'd withdraw it, but he never did. His family passed out flyers with no success. A couple days later, police officers knocked on Green's front door. She didn't want to let them in - she said she knew what their visit must mean. "They kept saying how sorry they were,'' she recalled, her voice breaking. "Then they told me they'd found him in the park, and he had died. "I didn't know that much pain could come out of me,'' she said. "It all became a blur, and I went into a state of shock." In the months following Eric's death, his mother moved in with her brother in Clay, and then built a home in Baldwinsville. She retired from her position at Alfred State College - she said it was too painful there to stay - and began teaching online for Mohawk Valley Community College. Green said she realizes life will never be the same - she will never see her son get married or have grandchildren. "People don't realize how hard it is to get out of bed on a lot of days,'' she said. Green said she hopes mental health education can be embedded into education today to help others like Eric. "You need to be able to recognize when someone is in trouble,'' she said. . WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Mark Warner warned Monday night that Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election may have permanently undermined the faith Americans have in civil discourse and democracy. Warner, D-Va., the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, used a speech at a Syracuse University dinner here to blame President Donald Trump for failing to address the Russian threat. "I would argue that this effort is suffering, in part, because of lack of leadership at the top," Warner said. "The truth is that President Trump should stop actively delegitimizing American journalism and actively address, head on, this real threat posed by Russian media - the actual fake news." Warner is the top Democrat on the Senate committee investigating Trump and his campaign's possible collusion with the Russians in the 2016 campaign. The panel has examined a Russian effort to manipulate social media platforms and spread false information during the campaign. "What the Russians did was far more insidious than just a propaganda effort to sway an election," Warner said. "They undermined, maybe permanently...our faith in civil discourse and in the democratic process." The two-term senator made his remarks in the keynote speech at the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting, a journalism award sponsored by SU's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. A series of prominent political figures have given the keynote address at the annual event, including Ohio Gov. John Kasich last year, Barack Obama in 2016, Hillary Clinton in 2015 and Joe Biden in 2014. Kasich and Obama warned in the previous speeches about threats against journalism and American democracy, but Warner offered perhaps the most severe assessment. Warner said that after months of investigating on the Senate Intelligence Committee, he realized "that if a hostile intelligence organization had to develop an ideal vehicle for information warfare from scratch, they may very well have built the kind of social media ecosystem that we all live in" "This proliferation of misinformation is beyond what I think most policy makers and most of you in this room fully realize," Warner said. "The national security threat that it poses targets the very heart of our democracy and our society." Warner said he has no easy answers to the problem, but he said it's clear the leaders of Facebook, Twitter, Google and other American tech companies will have to "step up" and work with Congress. He criticized the CEOs of those companies for being slow to respond, saying he's "flabbergasted to see that some of the CEOs of these companies seem to be happy to answer to their shareholders, but not be willing to come out and address the American public." After Warner's speech, the 2018 Toner Prize was awarded to a team of reporters from The Washington Post for their coverage of the Alabama Senate race and uncovering a pattern of sexual misconduct by candidate Roy Moore. The wining Washington Post team includes reporters Stephanie McCrummen, Beth Reinhard and Shawn Boburg; researcher Alice Crites; senior video producer Tom LeGro; and video reporter Dalton Bennett. The $5,000 Toner Prize honors the life and work of Robin Toner, a 1976 SU graduate who became the first woman to serve as national political correspondent for The New York Times. After Toner died of cancer in 2008, her friends and classmates from SU established the Robin Toner Program in Political Reporting at SU's Newhouse School and the annual prize. Two reporters from The Arizona Republic, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Rob O'Dell, received honorable mention for an investigative project on school vouchers. The Newhouse School and Robin Toner Program also recognized The New York Times and The Washington Post for their coverage of Russia's attempt to interfere in the U.S. electoral process. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 NYPD(NEW YORK) -- A brick and prayer may not be enough. A would-be burglar made the sign of the cross twice before bashing his way into a high-end Brooklyn clothing store using a large block Thursday night, according to police and surveillance video. The NYPD said the suspect broke into Ziani Fine Italian Clothing in Brooklyn. In the surveillance video released by police, the man can be seen approaching the building, where he takes off his hat, looks up and appears to pray. The suspect begins with the sign of the cross, can be seen moving his lips, and concludes with the sign of the cross, the video shows. Seconds later, as he tries not to slip, the man picks up a brick and throws it into the window twice before gaining entry, the video shows. Once inside, the individual removed approximately 18 articles of clothing and then fled the scene on foot, NYPD posted in a statement. Police are still searching for the suspect. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Polices that support the Made in China 2025 strategy are applicable to all kinds of businesses, and domestic and foreign-funded enterprises are treated equally, said Miao Wei, minister of industry and information technology, on Monday. "We will never export backward production capacity to other countries and regions when implementing the Belt and Road Initiative," Miao said at the 2018 China Development Forum. According to Miao, significant steps have already been taken to promote cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies as well as universities when upgrading the country's sprawling manufacturing sector. For instance, a joint lab was established between China's National Power Battery Innovation Center and the Canadian University of Western Ontario to do research on cutting-edge battery technologies for electric cars, Miao added. TYRE, NY -- The 13-month-old del Lago Resort & Casino in the Finger Lakes, which is struggling to earn the money it forecast, now may look to New York taxpayers for a bailout. It's another sign of trouble for the crowded Upstate casino market, which some believe is already oversaturated. Del Lago is one of four new casinos to open in Upstate New York in the past 15 months. All are failing to earn as much revenue as they promised in their state license applications, but del Lago may be in the worst shape. Its credit rating has also been downgraded, with investor service Moody's giving it a negative outlook and warning that it may not be able to pay its debts. "I think we need some help at this point, and what the future holds, time will tell," del Lago's principal owner, Rochester developer Thomas Wilmot, told a Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reporter in Albany today. Wilmot said the situation isn't dire, the Democrat & Chronicle reported. "We're paying the bills," he said. "Long term, it isn't going to be sustainable without some help." The newspaper reported that Wilmot, who was visiting the state Capitol as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers work on a new budget, did not specify what the "help" might be. Other gambling venues in the state, such as the Vernon Downs racino in Oneida County and Finger Lakes Racetrack near Rochester, have won concessions on taxes from the state due to gaming competition. Del Lago pays a 37 percent tax on its slot machine earnings and 10 percent on table game earnings. The money goes to state education/property tax relief, and some goes to its host town (Tyre) and county (Seneca). In a statement released this afternoon, a public relations manager for del Lago referenced what it called the "unfair" competition posed by the three Seneca Nation-owned casinos operating in western New York. The Senecas stopped making payments to the state and local government last year, arguing that requirement had expired. "As it starts its second year, del Lago faces a blatantly unfair competitive disadvantage," said Steven A. Greenberg of Greenberg Public Relations. "When del Lago sought and won its casino license, it was done based on circumstances that have now significantly changed. The Seneca Nation stopped making payments to both New York State and to the local governments last year. What are they doing with that newfound windfall? Using more than $50 million to provide additional promotions and incentives - particularly in the Rochester area - to lure customers from del Lago. And it's working. Del Lago can compete on an even playing field but not one that's tipped so heavily toward the Senecas. All del Lago is looking for is a fair, competitive marketplace. Unfortunately, the Senecas have upset that applecart and now del Lago is seeking to level the playing field. Our first year has proven how valuable del Lago is to the Finger Lakes region. We want to continue to expand and bring even more tourism and economic development to Seneca County and the surrounding counties." The Finger Lakes Times, meanwhile, reported today that Jeff Babinski, who has been de Lago's general manager since it opened, is leaving that job at the end of this month. Del Lago had predicted earnings of $250 million by the end of its first year. It only reached about $150 million. That's a bigger shortfall than those suffered by Tioga Downs, which opened in the Southern Tier in December 2016, and Rivers Casino & Resort, which opened in Schenectady in February 2017, the same month as de Lago. The fourth new casino, Resorts World Catskills near Monticello, is also falling short in its first months of operation. The $440 million del Lago resort has 1,956 slot machines and 99 gaming tables, a 205-room hotel and spa, a 2,400-seat event center called The Vine and several dining options, including Portico, a high-end steakhouse developed with celebrity chef Fabio Viviani. In addition to the four new "Vegas-style" casinos, Upstate New York is home to seven harness track/slot venues known as racinos, plus seven casinos operated by the Seneca, Oneida and Mohawk Indian nations. Don Cazentre writes about Upstate NY casinos 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. Few high school students need to make a life or death decision about their health. For Jacob Monday, a sophomore at Shenendehowa High School, he chose to discontinue his cancer treatment when he found out it had spread to his lungs. For the past 17 months, Jacob has been undergoing treatment for a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. He had surgery to replace part of his knee and femur, and he also endured brutal rounds chemotherapy. The treatments seemed to be working until a checkup in January found the cancer had spread to his lungs. Jacob and his family were told that the cancer had moved into his cells and will come back, according to the Times Union. Look for Jacobs story tonight on channel 13 @5:00 & 6, and channel 6 news @5:30! #shen4monday Posted by Jacob's Wishes on Monday, March 26, 2018 Jacob decided to pass on the latest treatment because he didn't want to spend his time feeling sick. He would rather make the most of his time left spending it with family and friends. So, Jacob and his mom Barbara Williams made a bucket list of things he wanted to accomplish before he passes. Items on the list include meeting someone famous like Chris Pratt or Jeff Dunham, skydiving indoors, swimming with sea turtles, and visiting his brother Shane in Michigan. Jacob's teachers and classmates at Shen are raising money to help his wishes come true. They've launched a GoFundMe page that has raised $18,529 of a $15,000 goal as of Tuesday morning. They have also held fundraisers in school and have launched a Twitter campaign #ShenForMonday. The Make a Wish Foundation is also planning a trip for Jacob to Orlando in May. In return, students at Jacob's school will be raising money for that organization, selling stars in the schools. According to WNYT, Jacob's mother says without chemo, he has about one to two years to live. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The 97-year-old Stevens says in an essay on The New York Times website that repeal would weaken the National Rifle Association's ability to "block constructive gun control legislation." Stevens was on the losing end of a 2008 ruling in which the high court held that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own a gun for self-defense. He had previously called for changing the Second Amendment to permit gun control. Stevens says the decision in that case, District of Columbia v. Heller, "has provided the N.R.A. with a propaganda weapon of immense power." Stevens retired from the court in 2010, after more than 35 years. Linda Brown only wanted to go to the Sumner School. But she was black, and the Topeka, Kansas, elementary school four blocks from her home was entirely white. "I didn't comprehend color of skin," she said later. "I only knew that I wanted to go to Sumner." Brown, a third-grader who simply wanted to avoid a long walk and bus ride and join her white friends in class, went on to become the symbolic center of Brown v. Board of Education, the transformational 1954 Supreme Court decision that bore her father's name and helped overturn racial segregation in the United States. Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel in Topeka said Brown, who used the name Linda Brown Thompson, died March 25 at 75. Additional details were not immediately available. The Topeka Capital-Journal, which confirmed the death with her sister Cheryl Brown Henderson, reported that she was 76. The most famous Supreme Court case in American history bore Brown Thompson's last name almost by chance. Topeka, a city that was less than 10 percent black at the time of the case, had integrated high schools and had begun integrating its middle schools. Her father - the Rev. Oliver Brown, an assistant minister at St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal Church - was just one of 13 plaintiffs who sought to ensure the city fully integrated the rest of its schools. He was recruited by the NAACP, which had organized four other class-action lawsuits challenging high school segregation in South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. According to the Brown Foundation, which promotes the history of the case, Oliver Brown was named the lead plaintiff "as a legal strategy to have a man at the head of the roster." Packaged together, the suits were successfully argued by an NAACP legal team led by Thurgood Marshall, who later served as a Supreme Court justice. The court unanimously ruled on May 17, 1954 that school segregation violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. "Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect," the court said in its ruling, which overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine that had stood since the 1896 case of Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision paved the way for a gradual and sometimes violent integration of schools and other public facilities, although many schools in the South - and even in Brown Thompson's home town - were not fully integrated for years. "I feel that after 30 years, looking back on Brown v. the Board of Education, it has made an impact in all facets of life for minorities throughout the land," Brown said in a 1985 interview for "Eyes on the Prize," a PBS documentary series on the civil rights movement. "I really think of it in terms of what it has done for our young people, in taking away that feeling of second-class citizenship." At the time of the decision, Brown Thompson said she was just happy she could legally attend Sumner - a school that still tried to bar her admission on the day the Supreme Court ruled in her favor. She later attended an integrated middle school, where she was sometimes hounded by journalists who tracked her grades (she reportedly never earned "less than a B" on her year-end report card), and an integrated high school in Springfield, Missouri. It was only there, she told the New York Times as a senior in 1961, that she began to realize the significance of the court decision. "Last year in American history class we were talking about segregation and the Supreme Court decisions," she said, "and I thought, 'Gee, some day I might be in history books!' " Linda Carol Brown was born Feb. 20, 1943, according to the funeral home. (Some sources say she was born in 1942.) Raised in Topeka, she said she grew up playing with children of all races and didn't think twice about attending whites-only Sumner. The family received a registration form for the school in 1952, apparently by mistake. The school's refusal to accept her led her father to meet with the NAACP. He "felt that it was wrong for his child to have to go so far a distance to receive a quality education," Brown said in "Eyes on the Prize." She moved to Springfield as a teenager and her father became paster of a church in the city. Years later, she returned to Topeka and took on the civil rights mantle of her father, who died in 1961. Brown Thompson was part of a group of Topeka parents who, in 1979, joined with the American Civil Liberties Union to successfully argue for the reopening of the Brown case. The parents argued that because of housing patterns in Topeka, racially segregated schools remained in the city, in violation of the 1954 ruling. "We feel disheartened that 40 years later we're still talking about desegregation," Brown Thompson told The Washington Post in 1994. "But the struggle has to continue." That same year, the district adopted a desegregation plan that closed eight elementary schools and opened several new elementary and magnet schools. A marriage to Charles D. Smith ended in divorce, and Brown later married Leonard Buckner. A complete list of survivors was not immediately available. Brown Thompson worked as a teacher with the Head Start early childhood program and was a program associate at the Brown Foundation, according to the organization's website. She sometimes said that she had little memory of the court case that changed her life, as well as the lives of millions of African Americans across the country. She told the Times in 1961 that she couldn't remember if she went to court at any point during the case, and that even in Topeka her peers were incredulous that she had played a significant role in history. When photographers swarmed her classroom after the decision, on the first day of school in September 1954, she said her classmates thought it "was very funny" they were taking pictures of her. In fact, she said, "they didn't believe me." Celebrity deaths 2018 120 Gallery: Celebrity deaths 2018 (c) 2018, The Washington Post. Harrison Smith and Ellie Silverman wrote this story. Syracuse native Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor, will serve as a visiting professor at George Mason University, the school said Monday. His guest lectures at the Schar School of Policy and Government will focus primarily on "how workers can succeed in the increasingly global economy," according to a statement from the school. McAuliffe will make $60,000 a year, the standard for such Schar School positions, and is expected to donate his salary to charity, said Damian Cristodero, a George Mason spokesman. McAuliffe starts his post immediately at the public institution in Northern Virginia, Cristodero said. "I'm thrilled to join the Schar School and Mason community," McAuliffe said in the statement. "I've long admired the students and faculty here and am excited to work with them to explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for families living and working in the new American economy." McAuliffe will also offer his commentary on policy issues, the university said, and is expected to lead a series of policy forums, which will be open to the public. "The ability to attract Gov. McAuliffe as a distinguished visiting professor exemplifies why the Schar School is one of the leading policy and government schools in the nation," Mason President Angel Cabrera said in the statement. "Mason students, faculty and researchers will benefit greatly from his experiences and insights across a broad spectrum of topics and issues." In addition to his stint as Virginia's governor, McAuliffe previously was chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, Democratic National Committee chairman and co-chairman of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign. He has been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in 2020. "We look forward to the many contributions that Gov. McAuliffe will make to the classroom, public forums, and commentary on the state of public affairs in the U.S. and abroad," Mark J. Rozell, dean of the Schar School, said in the statement. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump frequently said Mexico would pay for a wall along the southern border as he sought the presidency in 2016. Now, he is privately pushing the U.S. military to fund construction of his signature project. Trump, who told advisers he was spurned in a large spending bill last week when lawmakers only appropriated $1.6 billion for the border wall, has begun suggesting the Pentagon could fund the sprawling construction, citing a "national security" risk. After floating the notion to several advisers last week, he told Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that the military should pay for the wall in a meeting last Wednesday in the White House residence, according to three people familiar with the meeting. Ryan offered little reaction to the notion, these people said, but senior Capitol Hill officials later said it was an unlikely prospect. The individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk freely about private discussions. In another such interaction with senior aides last week, Trump noted that the Department of Defense was getting so much money as part of the $1.3 trillion spending package that the Pentagon could surely afford the border wall, two White House officials said. The Pentagon received about $700 billion as part of the spending package, which Trump repeatedly lauded as "historic." Meanwhile, the bill not only included a relative pittance of $1.6 billion for some fencing and levees on the border, compared to the $25 billion Trump was seeking, but it included strict restrictions on how the money can be spent. A White House spokesman declined to comment. "Build WALL through M!" Trump recently wrote on Twitter. Two advisers said that "M" stood for military. It would be unlikely for the military to fund the wall, according to White House and Defense Department officials. The president has suggested to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis that the department could fund the construction instead of the Department of Homeland Security, two Trump advisers said. The Pentagon has plenty of money, but reprogramming it for a wall would require votes in Congress that the president doesn't seem to have. Taking money from the current 2018 budget for the wall would require an act of Congress, said a senior Pentagon official. To find the money in the 2019 defense budget Trump would have to submit a budget amendment that would still require 60 votes in the Senate, the official said. Democrats in Congress would likely chafe at military spending going to the construction of a border wall, and military officials may also blanch at the possibility, White House advisers said. "First Mexico was supposed to pay for it, then U.S. taxpayers, and now our men and women in uniform? This would be a blatant misuse of military funds and tied up in court for years. Secretary Mattis ought not bother and instead use the money to help our troops, rather than advance the president's political fantasies," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement to The Washington Post. Trump has grown frustrated watching constant TV criticism of the spending deal he signed last week and is determined to find a new way to fund the wall, several advisers said, privately grousing that his political supporters could become disenchanted without progress. After a recent trip to see prototypes of the wall in California, Trump has grown more animated by the issue, advisers said. Trump's comments raising the possibility of using Pentagon funds to build the wall came after the collapse of negotiations with Democrats to secure $25 billion in long-term wall funding in exchange for protections for young immigrants at risk for deportation due to Trump's cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The White House offered three years of protections for DACA recipients, according to multiple congressional aides, but Democrats demanded protections for a larger group, including those who never applied for or are ineligible for DACA. The negotiations fell apart before the $1.3 trillion spending bill was drafted and passed last week. The urgency to strike a deal reflected the growing sense that the spending bill represented the last chance for the Trump administration to secure substantial wall funding, at least in his first term. Top Republicans believe it is all but certain that Democrats will gain House seats in November's midterm elections - and perhaps take the majority - greatly enhancing their bargaining position in future spending negotiations. Only $641 million is earmarked for new primary fencing in areas that currently have no barriers, and the money can be spent only on "operationally effective designs" that were already deployed as of last May. That means the new prototype designs the Trump administration is exploring cannot be built. File photo: A flight instructor is ready to take off. By Li Mingwei By Zhang Gugu and Wang Zhijia HARBIN, March 27 (ChinaMil) -- The PLA Air Force Harbin Flight Academy recently conducted the stall and spin recovery training with their JL-8 fighter trainer airplanes. This was the first such training on the JL-8 fighter trainer airplane since it was deployed to the PLA Air Force's flight academies over two decades ago. "The stall and spin recovery is a special stall resulting in autorotation about the vertical axis and a shallow, rotating, downward path," according to flight instructor Fei Hongliang. Fei Hongliang added that the stall and spin recovery not only leads to a drastic drop in the maneuverability of the aircraft, but also seriously jeopardizes flight safety, thus it is also known as the "death trap". There have been a few serious stall and spin flight accidents in the regular training of the PLA Air Force. Wang Zhiming, professor at the PLA Air Force Command College, said: "30-odd years ago, the PLA Air Force organized a special training program to prevent stall and spin in response to frequent relevant stall and spin accidents in flight training among aviation troops and academies." Wang added that the purpose of the stall and spin recovery training on the JL-8 fighter trainer airplanes is to lay a solid foundation for pilot cadets at the basic flight training stage to prevent stall and spin accidents, strengthen their capability to handle special conditions, and temper their mental qualities. It is said that the PLA Air Force will first spread the general training of stall and spin recovery for the flight instructors at all flight academies across the country. And after that, the stall and spin recovery training will be carried out among all pilot cadets. Redistricting proposal places Tama County outside Rep. Hinsons district New maps could lead to a remaking of the political landscape in Iowa Tama County included. What is now a quadrant of four U.S. ... Peacekeepers assigned to the 5th Chinese peacekeeping guard detachment to Mali shake hands with peacekeepers assigned to the Bangladesh peacekeeping infantry battalion during the sentry posts handover ceremony at the Super Camp of the MINUSMA Sector East on March 20, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/ Han Lijian) GAO, MALI, March 27 (ChinaMil) -- The 5th Chinese peacekeeping guard detachment to Mali officially took over three sentry posts at the Super Camp of Sector East of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) from the Bangladesh peacekeeping infantry battalion and the Cambodian peacekeeping explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) company on Mar 20, local time. The detachment started to perform security and defense task at the Super Camp of Sector East from the very day, providing 24-hour protection for MINUSMA working staff, installations and peacekeeping forces in the Super Camp from possible attacks. This new task for the detachment came after the completion of its defense duty at Camp E of Sector East. Since its deployment to the mission area in May 2017, the 5th Chinese peacekeeping guard detachment has handled more than 10 emergencies. MINUSMA Force Commander Lieutenant General Jean-Paul Deconinck spoke highly of the Chinese peacekeepers, saying that Chinese peacekeepers have demonstrated excellent professional qualities, high morale and strict discipline, and always appear at the mission frontline when they are needed the most and complete tasks entrusted by the MINUSMA with high standard. Peacekeepers assigned to the 5th Chinese peacekeeping guard detachment to Mali shake hands with peacekeepers assigned to the Cambodian peacekeeping explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) company during the handover ceremony of the three sentry posts at the Super Camp of the MINUSMA Sector East on March 20, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/ Han Lijian) Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took out full-page newspaper ads to issue an apology for the data privacy scandal that has enveloped the social network. The apology, which was published in several major newspapers around the world, is the latest attempt of Zuckerberg and the social network to stem the #DeleteFacebook movement. However, the apology also mentioned something that should scare Facebook users. Facebook CEO Apologizes For Data Scandal Zuckerberg opened the apology advertisement with a statement that succinctly encapsulates how tech companies should treat the issue of data privacy. "We have a responsibility to protect your information. If we can't, we don't deserve it," the ad starts with bigger letters, before diving into the rest of Zuckerberg's apology. The advertisement goes on to refer to "a quiz app built by a university researcher" as the one that was responsible for leaking information of millions of Facebook users. "This was a breach of trust, and I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time. We're now taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again," Zuckerberg wrote. Among the initiatives that the social network has started is limiting the amount and kinds of data that Facebook apps are able to retrieve. Facebook will also remind users which apps they have given access to their information to let them turn off permissions. Facebook Still Unsafe, Apparently Zuckerberg, however, continued with the advertisement by saying something that had an ominous tone. "We're also investigating every single app that had access to large amounts of data before we fixed this. We expect there are others." That is a scary statement, as it is a reversal of what Facebook previously said that it did not know if there are other cases similar to what happened with Cambridge Analytica. The social network is saying that there are other apps that were able to access significant amounts of data, but the eye-opening part is that it does not yet know all of them. This means that there may be many other instances of the data breach, but Facebook is unaware. Will You Join The #DeleteFacebook Movement? The apology, which was published in the likes of The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times in the United States, and in The Sunday Times, Sunday Mirror, and The Observer in the United Kingdom, might not be enough. The #DeleteFacebook movement is gaining steam on social media, with Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk even going as far as deleting the Facebook pages of his companies. Will you be the latest one to get rid of your account on the social network? 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. One of the biggest questions regarding space is whether we are alone in the expanding universe. So far, despite being able to make it out into space, nobody has been able to find evidence of alien life. Astronomer Jill Tarter predicted that Earth will be able to find alien life by the end of the century. There still hasn't been any evidence of alien life discovered yet. By The End Of The Century Jill Tarter is known for her work with SETI Institute, which stands for search for extraterrestrial intelligence. On Saturday, March 24, Tarter spoke at the Florida Institute of Technology's Cross-Cultural Management Summit in Orlando as the closing speaker. Tarter stated that she believes humans will find life beyond Earth by the end of this century. She believes that it will be right here in Earth's solar system. Tarter adds that scientists will be able to find biomarkers on planets and moons. There are signs that there is or may have been life in some places at some points. Tarter refers to the search for extraterrestrial life as an ancient question that scientists have been trying to answer for a very long time. She referred to the fact that there are more planets than stars in the Milky Way, thanks to the research done by the Kepler space telescope. A Cosmic Perspective Tarter's address is called A Cosmic Perspective: Searching For Aliens, Finding Ourselves. She is going to be delivering 75 speeches regarding the search for alien life in order to fundraise upgrades for the Allen Telescope Array. Scientists have been able to find new planets through the galaxy by using it to look for life in 20,000 nearby stars. Those upgrades will allow the Allen Telescope Array to have better receivers that are more sensitive than the ones found at the moment. Currently, work is done on half of the feeds, according to Tarter after her speech. Tarter added that the SETI Institute will be installing the first prototypes of the Laser SETI at the Lick Observatory near San Jose, California. Laser SETI is a project to install specialized cameras throughout the world to search for laser flashes from deep space. She added that the goal is to build a series of 96 cameras that are placed in 12 sites around the globe. They will be able to work in optical and infrared, the cameras will be looking up at the skies at all times. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google search data shows that most users on the web use mobile devices instead of computers. The company confirms that mobile-first indexing goes live soon. After a long testing period, the search company notes that search results will soon change based on its new process. Sources pointed out that the developers conducted trials back in November 2016. Industry experts agree that desktop usage is not expected to die out anytime soon. However, a significant amount of people opt to access the internet via smartphones and other portable devices. What Does It Mean For Users? The changes implemented are noticeably aimed to give users the best possible experience when they are online. It means that once someone performs a search, websites that are ideally configured for mobile devices will come up first in the results. Unlike desktop versions of the pages, which sometimes do not display properly on smartphones or tablets, the developer ensures that the relevant results are optimized for portable devices. However, in some cases in which the only appropriate link is for a desktop version, the new algorithm will still suggest the most significant content instead. Making The Move Some webmasters reveal that Google started its campaign to move some pages to its mobile-first indexing system last year. The company likewise elaborates that it does not mean users will see two search results for the same website. Instead, it will prioritize the mobile-friendly version over its regular desktop build during searches. The firm assures everyone that the changes will not affect content ranking directly, but pages configured properly to support mobile devices will be prioritized in results generated from searches done on portable platforms. "Mobile-first indexing is about how we gather content, not about how content is ranked. Content gathered by mobile-first indexing has no ranking advantage over mobile content that's not yet gathered this way or desktop content. Moreover, if you only have a desktop, you will continue to be represented in our index," wrote Google. Shifting To Mobile Google's decision to go with its mobile-first indexing might immediately seem daunting for webmasters. Yet, it could be a great way to tell web developers to take advantage of the most popular platform used by users. The detailed road map as to when the new system will completely take effect is yet to be listed by the company. The move to mobile-friendly content was showcased by the search firm when it upgraded its platform to encourage travel. Last month, the developers made some changes that supposedly make it easier for users to make travel arrangements on portable devices. Useful and relevant tabs are now available for hotel and flight reservations. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk, the visionary founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has set his sights on colonizing Mars, and his plan to do so has been revealed. Mars has become the target of a new age space race, with both NASA and the European Space Agency coming up with missions for the Red Planet. President Vladimir Putin has even said that Russia will beat the United States to Mars. How Elon Musk Will Colonize Mars In September 2017, Musk presented his plans for Mars colonization at the International Astronautical Congress in Australia. The presentation has now been published on the New Space, which has allowed the article to be accessed for free. Titled "Making Life Multi-Planetary," the presentation detailed Musk's plans for the Big Falcon Rocket, which will be developed by SpaceX. The BFR, which will be used to send around 100 people to Mars at a time, has been updated to decrease its size and possibly also its price compared to the original design. The new BFR combines a rocket booster and a ship into a single system that may replace SpaceX's rockets, the Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9, and its Dragon spacecraft. The new design will also be applying the resources that SpaceX is already using for the Falcon Heavy, Falcon 9, and Dragon. Musk hopes to acquire the necessary funding to pay for the Mars colonization project by allowing the BFR to be used for other applications, including resupplying the International Space Station and cleaning up space junk. It could even be used for super-fast commercial international flights, as it will travel through space. The BFR will first be sent into Earth's orbit, where it will be refueled before starting the journey to Mars. Musk, however, noted that one of the most important parts of colonizing the Red Planet is being able to make propellants on Mars, which he believes is possible due to the presence of carbon dioxide and water. The propellant will then refuel the BFR to send it back to Earth, with the rocket needing no booster as Mars has a weaker force of gravity. Musk's Mars Colonization Timeline Musk previously said that the BFR will be ready to travel to Mars by 2019. However, in the published paper, the timeline to send the first cargo missions to the Red Planet is pegged for 2022. Musk is then looking to send a pair of cargo missions and crew missions to Mars by 2024 to search for water and construct the plant for manufacturing the propellant that will provide the fuel for the trip back to Earth. Musk thinks that a self-sustaining Martian city inhabited by a million people may possibly be established with a few decades. The SpaceX CEO will start off with one ship and then will add multiple ships over time before building that city and terraforming Mars for humans. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA has no interest to purchase SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rockets, despite questions of affordability surrounding its Space Launch System. SpaceX made history in February, when it successfully launched the Falcon Heavy, its massive and heavy lift-launch vehicle, and then retrieved two of its rockets back to Earth. According to some estimates, what NASA spends each year for Space Launch System development costs is equivalent to 17 to 27 Falcon Heavy rockets, but NASA doesn't plan on going to SpaceX for its rockets. NASA Not Keen On Buying Falcon Heavy Rockets During a committee meeting of NASA's advisory council, Bill Gerstenmaier, the space agency's human spaceflight chief, finally addressed the issue. Instead of discussing the low-cost Falcon Heavy, he highlighted the vehicle's payload capacity. Essentially, the Falcon Heavy can't carry as much as the Space Launch System will be able to. As Gerstenmaier explained, SpaceX's massive lift-launch vehicle has a small payload capacity to trans-lunar injection ratio, or the amount of mass a rocket is able to hold en route to the moon. The Space Launch System will be able to carry 70 metric tons in low-Earth orbit and 26 metric tons to the Moon. The Falcon Heavy can only do 63.8 and 16 metric tons, respectively. Will NASA even need that extra space? Well, yes, said Gerstenmaier: "I think it's still going to be large-volume, monolithic pieces that are going to require an SLS kind of capability to get them out into space." The only problem with Gerstenmaier's statement is that NASA doesn't currently have any "large-volume, monolithic pieces" that requires only the Space Launch System and not any other space launch vehicle. In fact, NASA is still in the stage of soliciting designs for its Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway plans in the 2020s, a small space station to fly around the moon. In theory, components for this space station could be designed in a way that would fit inside the Falcon Heavy's payload. This could potentially save NASA billions of dollars, which could be allocated to other aspects of space exploration. NASA Might Still Use Falcon Heavy Rockets He did note that NASA might still purchase Falcon Heavy rockets for use in certain situations. Not just the Falcon Heavy either but also launch systems by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and United Launch Alliance. "[F]or routine servicing and bringing cargo, maybe bringing smaller crew vehicles other than Orion, then Falcon Heavy can play a role." Overall, though, NASA and SpaceX have a good relationship, and the space agency says there's nothing to worry about since both the Space Launch System and Falcon Heavy will be used, but for different purposes. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. North Korean authorities are reportedly cracking down on DVDs of South Korean TV dramas and radios that can tune into South Korean broadcasts to stem the Korean pop culture wave that has belatedly hit the North. A source familiar with North Korean affairs on Wednesday said some 10 episodes of a 30-episode South Korean drama series are normally copied on a DVD in China and smuggled into North Korea. And these spread quickly among North Koreans via the black market. Many North Korean border guards or security officers charged with cracking down on the practice can apparently be bribed to close an eye. A South Korean intelligence official said, "Especially, North Korea developed its own DVD player in 2006 with a view to developing its own IT industry, this ironically provided momentum for the spread of South Korean soap operas." Radio also played a role in the late arrival of the Korean Wave. North Koreans must report their radios to regional security offices and have them permanently soldered to receive only state channels. But a flood of smuggled radios from China is allowing an increasing number of North Koreans to listen clandestinely to South Korean broadcasts. South Korean broadcasts can be received with satellite antennas south of Pyongyang. A South Korean intelligence officer said some senior North Korean officials watch the 9 o'clock news on South Korean TVs in the evening and even watch the morning news from the South before going to work. In Brussels, European Council president Donald Tusk said a total of 14 members of the EU were participating in the collective reprisal. He said further action could be taken in the coming days. Lithuania said it is expelling three Russian diplomats and banning 44 other Russian officials from entering the country. Latvia said it was ejecting one Russian diplomat. France said it is also expelling four Russian diplomats. Poland's foreign minister said four Russian diplomats in the country have been expelled. The Netherlands expelled two Russian diplomats; Estonia ordered out the Russian defense attache; the Czech Republic announced it was expelling three Russian embassy staff. The coordinated expulsions -- unprecedented since the Cold War -- drew instant condemnation from the Kremlin, which warned it would respond in kind and order like-for-like expulsions. The first expulsions announced were in Washington, with the Trump administration ordering 60 Russian diplomats to leave, closely followed by Germany, which gave four their marching orders. Many European Union countries joined the U.S. Monday in expelling dozens of Russian diplomats in a coordinated retaliation for the March 4 nerve-agent poisoning in Britain of a former Russian spy, which the British government blames on Russia and has accused the Kremlin of having approved. British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We welcome today's actions by our allies, which clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to shoulder in sending the strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law." She described move as the biggest expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. And British foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted: "Today's extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever & will help defend our shared security. Russia cannot break international rules with impunity." Tony Brenton, a former British envoy to Moscow, said he thought the expulsions would have shocked Moscow, arguing the Kremlin appeared to have calculated that British would get rhetorical support from allies but not much more. By the evening in Moscow more than 100 Russian diplomats had received their marching orders. On Facebook, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova launched a rhetorical preemptive strike to the expulsions, disdainfully describing Western states as behaving "like loyal subjects" eager to do the bidding of London. Kremlin officials said Putin would decide how to respond but that it would be "symmetrical." Vladimir Dzhabarov, deputy chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, told state-run RIA news agency that Putin would respond by ordering out at least 60 staff from U.S. diplomatic missions in Russia. Privately, some Russian officials admitted they were surprised by the scale of the action, complaining the British hadn't yet proved the Kremlin was involved in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a Russian spy who had been recruited by Britain's MI6, and his daughter. After the British won unexpected strong diplomatic support last week at a meeting of EU leaders, who agreed with the British position that Russia was "highly likely" to have been behind the nerve-agent poisoning, the odds of collective reprisal increased. Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the wake of the poisoning, and Russia responded by ejecting the same number of British diplomats. Eager to shield their relations with Russia, several other countries, including Austria, Greece and Italy, indicated their reluctance to participate in collective retaliation. Splits within the EU's own bureaucracy was on show last week when EU council president, Donald Tusk, withheld congratulations to Vladimir Putin on his re-election as Russian president, while European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker sent Putin a note of congratulations. As the explosions unfolded, Britain's defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, said Western backing of Britain was "itself a defeat for President Putin." Speaking while visiting British soldiers stationed in Estonia, he said: "The worlds patience is rather wearing thin with President Putin and his actions, and the fact that right across the NATO alliance, right across the European Union, nations have stood up in support of the United Kingdom. I actually think that is the very best response that we could have." The Russian government hit back, saying Britain's accusations over the nerve-agent attack on the former spy "border on banditry." In January 2017, Putin ordered the expulsion of 755 U.S. diplomats after Congress passed legislation increasing sanctions against Russia for its annexation of the Crimea, and for interfering in the U.S. election. Russia's embassy in the U.S. capital Sunday tried to stave off U.S. action, urging the White House not to believe what is said was British propaganda about the Skripal poisoning. Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont appeared in a German court Monday after he was arrested in compliance with an international arrest warrant issued by Spain over his region's campaign for independence. German lawyers said that the court's decision on whether to extradite Puigdemont to Spain could take days. Puigdemont spent the night in jail after he was arrested by German police Sunday while crossing the border from Denmark. More than 6,900 people have purchased Air Seoul's annual pass, the low-cost carrier said on Monday. Air Seoul, a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines, started selling the pass last week. It allows holders to travel to up to seven cities in Japan for a year. Air Seoul initially offered a discount of W100,000 to the first 1,000 customers purchasing the pass, but decided to expand the offer due to massive demand. Accordingly, some 6,900 customers who bought the pass by last weekend were eligible for the offer. Three types of passes are available depending on the number of cities to be visited. The prices are W299,000 for three cities, W399,000 for five and W499,000 for seven (US$1=W1,079). But there are restrictions. Holders cannot fly out on Fridays or Saturdays, seats can be booked only if the flight is not fully booked, and fuel surcharge and airport tax have to be paid separately. "Despite several restrictions, the pass was selling like hot cakes, as many people frequently make overseas trips these days," an industry insider speculated. North Korean authorities have mobilized security forces and state media to prevent the spread of foreign cultural content ahead of a concert by scores of South Korean performers. One source said state security and police are clamping down on radio reception, foreign movies, storage devices and Chinese-made mobile phones along the border with China. Already a score of people were arrested in Onsong and Hoeryong in North Hamgyong Province in the two weeks since the crackdown started, the source added. Authorities are using cutting-edge eavesdropping equipment to ferret out people who make phone calls to the outside world. Baton Rouge police Chief Murphy Paul plans to hold closed disciplinary hearings this week with the two officers involved in the July 2016 killing of Alton Sterling, and his office will release long-awaited footage of the incident after a public announcement of his determination about whether to discipline the officers. Paul said he wants to conclude the disciplinary process by Friday. The police chiefs announcement Tuesday came after state Attorney General Jeff Landry said his office would not file state criminal charges against the two officers, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II. Paul said he has not reviewed the attorney generals report yet and that it will be added to the evidence the Baton Rouge Police Department uses in its administrative proceedings to determine whether Salamoni and Lake violated BRPD policy. +9 Officers in Alton Sterling case won't be charged, Louisiana AG Jeff Landry says Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry on Tuesday declined any criminal charges against the two white Baton Rouge police officers involved in Salamoni's attorney, John McLindon, said Tuesday he believes "the decision has already been made" that the city's police chief will fire his client "no matter what." McLindon also said it is "grossly unfair" that Paul plans to hold a hearing less than a week after the end of a criminal investigation of Sterling's death. "It has really put us in a bind," McLindon said. "We'd like to bring an expert witness with us to show that neither one of these officers violated policies. We'll have to scramble ... but we don't really have a choice." Lake's attorney, Kyle Kershaw, also said the department is "rushing things." He said it would make more sense for the chief to give himself more time to review all the new evidence they received Tuesday. Kershaw said if Lake is fired, it would stem from "external influences," not because of the policing tactics the officer employed. "I cannot see a reason why he would be terminated," Kershaw said. Both McLindon and Kershaw vowed to appeal if their clients are fired. Two use-of-force experts hired by the U.S. Justice Department criticized the actions taken by Salamoni and Lake in the 2016 fatal shooting, though both concluded the shooting was justified under the circumstances, according to a report released by Landry's office Tuesday. Last May, the Justice Department announced prosecutors would not pursue federal civil rights charges against the officers. Kenneth Sanders, one of the experts, said Salamonis actions in particular raised policy issues. He focused on an initial interaction between Salamoni and Sterling, saying the officer pointed a gun to Sterlings head and threatened him using profane language. Sanders said those two things warranted discipline, according to the review of the incident. Charles Key Sr., the other use-of-force expert the justice department consulted, said the overall tactics Salamoni and Lake used during their encounter with Sterling were poor. He said the officers should have engaged Sterling from a farther away position of cover rather than up-close. The report noted that if the "matter was declined for prosecution and Salamoni and Lake were his officers, (Key) would review the tactical problems with the officers." +3 Alton Sterling decision: Read AG's full statement, report on choice not to charge officers More than 20 months Alton Sterling was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the two officers invol Asked about what potential policy violations could be identified Tuesday, Paul said he would not discuss any evidence related to the investigation until it concludes. Paul also did not answer whether he had seen the body-camera footage and other video recordings from the encounter. While cellphone videos of the shooting almost immediately went viral in 2016, activists have long called on police to release other video of the incident. Paul said the materials his office will release include the body camera footage, car camera footage, the 911 phone call and surveillance video from the convenience store where Sterling was shot in the parking lot. East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said Tuesday that she had not yet seen those tapes. During his joint news conference Tuesday with the mayor, Paul emphasized the need for BRPD to follow its routine process in its dealings with the police officers, while still saying he wanted to wrap up the case this week. 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 police officers are entitled to due process under the constitution and under the law enforcement bill of rights, Paul said. The officers have to be properly notified and have an opportunity to be heard prior to any discipline being administered. +2 Letter released: Broome implores police chief to fire officer who fatally shot Alton Sterling Baton Rouge police on Friday afternoon released the letter that Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome sent to Chief Carl Dabadie Thursday, whic Pauls predecessor, former BRPD Chief Carl Dabadie, also emphasized due process in May after Broome called for the firing of Salamoni and disciplining of Lake. Broome inherited Dabadie as her police chief, and the two had a rocky relationship for months, in part because Dabadie said he would not hold disciplinary hearings with the officers until the criminal investigations were complete. After Dabadie retired and Broome picked Paul as the police chief late last year, the new BRPD leader followed in Dabadies footsteps and continued to wait until the criminal investigation was finished until holding a disciplinary hearing with the officers. Jill Craft, a Baton Rouge attorney who has represented numerous police officers in the past, said she was confident BRPD finished the agency's own investigation into Salamoni and Lake a long time ago. She said it sounded like BRPD was waiting just to hold the disciplinary hearings. Craft said police officers often argue about the integrity of the process for discipline and that Broomes past public call to discipline the officers opens the door for those types of arguments. If I were involved in the situation, it would cause me grave concerns, Craft said. Although the mayor is not supposed to be involved in the disciplinary process, the mayor does have some role with appointment of (municipal fire and police civil service) board members and the chief. It concerns me any time theres influence one way or another. When asked about her call for firing Salamoni on Tuesday, Broome said she would not waver on her previous statement. Like several community members, Broome met with U.S. Justice Department officials last year after they announced they wouldn't proceed with a federal case against the officers. Those officials revealed very concerning details about the officers behavior when Sterling was killed, she said. +3 Police chief to mayor: Firing officer in Sterling shooting would be 'improper' Responding to Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome's call to fire the officer who killed Alton Sterling, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie I have supreme confidence that Chief Paul will go through his process expeditiously, swiftly, that he will be thorough and that we will finally have closure, Broome said Tuesday. She emphasized the steps her administration had instituted aimed at improving the BRPD, including use-of-force policy changes and fully funding the body cameras program. Paul said he will not tell the public when the disciplinary hearings are scheduled and that they will be closed to the public. He said those in attendance will include himself, the three deputy BRPD chiefs, the police officers, their legal counsel and union representatives. Paul described the hearings as a chance for the police officers to tell their side of the story. If the police officers appeal whatever discipline Paul imposes on them, the appeal could be heard in a proceeding before the Baton Rouge Civil Service Board. Those hearings are open to the public. Under local civil service rules, the officers would have 15 days to appeal any discipline, which can include unpaid suspension, reduction in pay, demotion or firing. After receiving that request for an appeal hearing, the board votes at its next monthly meeting whether to accept the request and schedule a hearing. Both officers have been on paid leave since the shooting. Salamoni has been paid more than $70,200 and Lake has been paid more than $66,300 since then, according to payroll documents The Advocate obtained through a public records request. Editor's note: This story was changed after publication to correct the number of days officers have to appeal discipline. Advocate staff writers Lea Skene and Jim Mustian contributed to this report. Two use of force experts hired by the U.S. Justice Department criticized the actions taken by Baton Rouge police officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake in the 2016 fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, even though both experts concluded the shooting had been reasonable under the circumstances. Those findings were incorporated in an investigative report released Tuesday by Attorney General Jeff Landry, who announced that neither Salamoni nor Lake will face criminal charges in Sterling's death. Can't see video below? Click here. Landry's office did not release any video or audio recording of Sterling's death, but his office published a 34-page report that offered new details about both the state and federal investigations of Sterling's death. While the officers will not be charged in Sterling's death, their actions could amount to policy violations. Police Chief Murphy Paul said Tuesday that the Police Department will hold a disciplinary hearing this week that will not be open to the public. Landry's report incorporated the opinions of two use of force experts, Kenneth Sanders and Charles Key, who both determined the fatal shooting had been justified given Sterling's movements, possession of a firearm and refusal to follow verbal commands outside the Triple S convenience store on North Foster Drive. The officers removed a loaded .38-caliber handgun from Sterling's right pocket following the shooting. But the experts were troubled by some of the tactics the officers used in confronting Sterling, including the profanity Salamoni used throughout the deadly encounter. +9 Officers in Alton Sterling case won't be charged, Louisiana AG Jeff Landry says Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry on Tuesday declined any criminal charges against the two white Baton Rouge police officers involved in Sanders found that Salamoni "pointing his service weapon at Sterling's head and using profane language was a policy issue," adding the officer "should have been disciplined but it was not a 4th or 8th Amendment issue." Key, meanwhile, said the officers "created tactical problems which may have escalated the situation as opposed to deescalating the situation." 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 "Tactically, the language the officers used may have exacerbated the situation more than if they had drawn their firearms and had given Sterling commands for a position of cover," Landry's report says. +3 Alton Sterling decision: Read AG's full statement, report on choice not to charge officers More than 20 months Alton Sterling was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the two officers invol Landry's report also included witness statements and a section titled "Sterling's history with law enforcement," which details a May 2009 incident that Landry said "mirrors" his fatal shooting "in all but the outcome." In that incident, a police officer responded to a complaint that Sterling had pointed a handgun at two people in a vehicle earlier in the evening. The officer, Timothy Daigre, then went to the Scotlandville Grocery Store on Rosenwald Street, where Sterling had been selling "contraband CDs," the report says. The officer asked Sterling if he had any weapons and began to frisk him. The report says Sterling disregarded the officer's instructions, "spun around" and tried to flee from Daigre, who grabbed Sterling by the shirt and pushed him to the ground. A black 9 mm handgun fell from Stering's waistband during the struggle. Sterling eventually was taken into custody and booked on aggravated assault and drug and weapons counts. Like the 2016 incident in which Sterling was fatally shot, the report says, the 2009 arrest "reflects Sterling's failure to submit to a lawful arrest while he was armed with a dangerous weapon." The East Baton Rouge Parish coroner on Tuesday also released Sterling's final autopsy report, which showed Stering, at the time of his death, had traces of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine in his system, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.029. Landry, in his press conference, said he believe those illicit substances had contributed to Sterling's "non-compliance" with Lake and Salamoni. "Considering the expert opinion of two independent use of force experts, an exhaustive investigation of thousands of pages of material and the law and the jurisprudence of the State of Louisiana, we have concluded that the officers in question acted as reasonable officers under existing law and were justified in their use of force," Landry's report said. The attorney general added that it would "a violation of our mandate to uphold the law and Constitution" if prosecutors had brought the matter to a grand jury. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry on Tuesday declined any criminal charges against the two white Baton Rouge police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, in July 2016 outside a convenience store. Landry said that after a "thorough and exhaustive review of the facts," his office "cannot proceed with the prosecution of either Officer (Howie) Lake or Officer (Blane) Salamoni." "During that encounter, Mr. Sterling continued to resist the officers' efforts," Landry said at a news conference after meeting with members of the Sterling family. "The officers used verbal commands of varying degrees and tried to control Mr. Sterling with several nonlethal techniques. The Sterling family and their attorneys said they were disappointed but not surprised by the decision, resolving to push forward with their lawsuit against the city and calling on voters to hold politicians accountable at the voting booth. Yes, the system has failed us. Yes, we are disappointed, said Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of Sterlings oldest son. But as a family were going to stay strong and were going to keep each other prayed up. +12 Alton Sterling family attorney on decision to decline charges: 'This was a political decision' The Sterling family and their attorneys said they were disappointed, but not surprised, that the attorney general declined to bring charges ag Landrys decision concluded his office's almost 10-month review of the incident, which followed the U.S. Department of Justice's May announcement that prosecutors would not bring federal civil rights charges against the officers. Federal authorities were quickly called in to investigate the shooting, as nightly protests erupted after cellphone videos of the incident went viral. The case also prompted an ongoing discussion about the Baton Rouge Police Department's relationship with the city's black communities. It was the beginning of a hard summer in Baton Rouge, followed weeks later with the ambush killing of three law enforcement officers. A month later, many officers in Baton Rouge lost their homes in the August flood, as did many in the neighborhoods they patrol. Not long after midnight on July 5, 2016, Lake and Salamoni had responded to a call about a man selling CDs outside the Triple S Food Mart brandishing a gun at another man, who called 911 to report the incident. Their brief encounter with Sterling ended with him being shot six times. When announcing their decision against charges last May, federal prosecutors said they could not prove a civil rights violation beyond a reasonable doubt. But they also called the videos of Sterling's shooting "disturbing" and referred to his death as a "tragedy." They described the entire encounter more in private meetings with Sterling's family and some community members. In those meetings, Salamoni was described as putting his gun near Sterlings head and yelling a profanity-filled threat to shoot him. Those sources said Salamonis actions, which came almost immediately after his arrival on the scene, were described as escalating the encounter. Multiple sources whove viewed video and other evidence in the case confirmed that description in interviews with The Advocate. But in his report, Landry described Salamonis approach and actions as being at least momentarily effective and didnt criticize that aspect of the incident. Landrys report said Salamoni initially assisted Lake who arrived before him in trying to get control of Sterlings arms, as they had been told he was carrying a gun. When the officers failed to control Sterling, the reports narrative about the events said Salamoni drew his firearm, but doesnt say where he pointed it. However, the report did note that the officer told Sterling, Dont f****** move or Ill shoot you in your f****** head. Landrys report described this stern command as temporarily working, as Sterling is then directed to a vehicle. During this time, Landry in his news conference said Salamoni held his weapon "trained on Mr. Sterling at arms length." But the officers failed to take Sterling into custody and Lake eventually attempted to stun him with a stun gun. Salamoni later tackled Sterling and wrestled with him on the ground. In describing the incident, Landry said both officers worked together to try to control Sterling's two arms. Landry said Sterling "actively resists." At that point, Landry said Salamoni drew his weapon and said, 'If you move I swear to God,' and then Salamoni "can be heard excitedly saying, 'he's got a gun.'" Like federal authorities who emphasized that they could not say whether Sterling was reaching for a gun when he was on the ground, Landry noted that "during this portion of the struggle, Mr. Sterling was positioned in a manner that concealed the lower right half of his body, and, more particularly, his right front pocket." He also said that the incident "took place very quickly and involved two officers who had good reason to believe that Mr. Sterling was armed with a firearm." Landry said Salamoni can be heard saying, 'He's going for the gun,' and the officer then fired three shots into Sterling's chest. Landry said Sterling then "quickly sits up and rolls to his left away from officer Salamoni," which Landry said created an angle for the officers where Sterling's right side appeared to be concealed. As Sterling tries to get up, Salamoni fires three more shots into Sterling's back. Landry's report refers to Sterling's "very extensive history with the Baton Rouge Police Department," including a May 2009 arrest that Landry said "mirrors" the shooting in front of the Triple S "in all but the outcome." Landry referred to the autopsy that found Sterling had a blood alcohol level of 0.029 and traces of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death as a contribution to his noncompliance. The report concluded that Salamoni and Lake properly used various verbal and nonlethal actions to subdue Sterling before Salamoni had to resort to a justified use of lethal force. "I know the Sterling family is hurting," Landry said during his news conference. "I know they may not agree with this decision. I am ever-mindful that a mother who prematurely loses a son or a child who loses a father experiences a pain that no one should have to endure." 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 L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for the Sterling family, objected to the inclusion of Sterlings toxicology report and criminal history in the attorney general's report, arguing that those factors had nothing to do with the night Sterling was fatally shot. Stewart also said the family would have liked to see the case go before a grand jury, calling Landrys report biased. He said Landry should have re-interviewed all witnesses and looked for other expert opinions on the case. Landry said his office had conducted an "exhaustive" re-investigation of the case, including contacting several witnesses of the Sterling shooting. But in many cases, the report shows that witnesses said they had nothing to add beyond what they already had told Baton Rouge police and the FBI. One witness would not even tell the agents where she lived and declined to be interviewed as part of the state investigation. His report cites two use-of-force experts originally consulted by the U.S. Department of Justice. The experts said they concluded the shooting of Sterling was justified, saying Salamoni who fired his weapon six times had a reasonable fear that Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket. +12 Alton Sterling shooting report: Experts fault officers' approach, but deem shooting reasonable Two use of force experts hired by the U.S. Justice Department criticized the actions taken by Baton Rouge police officers Blane Salamoni and H David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Miami, said he found Landry's decision not to prosecute the officers to be reasonable, "when you look at the entire picture." While video of the shooting ignited several nights of protests in 2016, that evidence, Weinstein said, "offered only a snippet of the circumstances." But Weinstein also agreed with Prem Burns, a longtime former prosecutor in Baton Rouge, that Landry misstated, in his investigative report, the threshold for presenting a criminal matter to a grand jury. Landry said he could not bring the Sterling case to a grand jury because he lacked "sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction." Burns said Landry appears to have confused that standard with what is required in Louisiana for a grand jury to indict a criminal defendant. Many controversial police shootings around the country have been brought to grand juries in recent years, including the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Jonathan Ferrell, a former college football player, in Charlotte, North Carolina. While the secrecy of grand juries has been criticized, Burns said it's common practice and well within a prosecutor's discretion to bring police shootings to a grand jury, an additional layer of review that she said "would have lent credibility and transparency" to Landry's decision. "He misunderstood the whole process," Burns said of the attorney general. "You a want a fair cross section of the community to make a decision in a case like this. This is too controversial of a case and too close a call." Landry said in a text message Tuesday that he stands by his "decision and report." Landry did not release any video or audio of the incident, and a spokeswoman said they would not comment on why he did not do so. Landry also declined to take any questions after the news conference. While multiple cellphone videos were released soon after the incident, 911 recordings and store surveillance footage have yet to be widely distributed beyond investigators, although city officials have said they will release the materials after finishing an internal affairs investigation. Landry was clear that his office did not try to determine whether Lake or Salamoni followed BRPD policy or procedures or if certain tactics or language were "more appropriate than others," he said. That decision now lands with newly appointed Baton Rouge police Chief Murphy Paul, who said he will decide by the end of the week on any potential discipline of the officers, which can include termination, suspension or no action. Many in the Baton Rouge community including East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and the Sterling family lawyers have called for the officers to be fired. Police Department leaders have said any internal discipline could only come at the close of all criminal investigations. +4 BRPD: Alton Sterling video, audio to be released; attorney expects officer to be fired Baton Rouge police Chief Murphy Paul plans to hold closed disciplinary hearings this week with the two officers involved in the July 2016 kill Attorneys for Salamoni and Lake both said they were not surprised by the attorney general's decision, but welcomed it. "The decision, it's expected, (but) we are relieved that it's over with," Salamoni's lawyer, John McLindon, said. He said having two separate governmental agency investigations come to the same conclusions "speaks volumes. "We would have preferred that they happened sooner, but there was a thorough investigation by both departments," said Kyle Kershaw, Lake's attorney. "I don't believe (Lake) did anything wrong, he followed correct police procedures." McLindon also called the fact that Sterling was on multiple drugs during the encounter "crucial." "That explains a lot," McLindon said. "Why he wouldn't comply with the officers' requests, why the Tasers wouldn't work. ... This is a man with a gun who's high on multiple drugs, that's a very dangerous situation." But Stewart, the attorney for the Sterling family, said that Landry made a political decision in declining charges. It takes courage to fight for justice. And we didnt see that in this situation, Stewart said after Landrys announcement. We were disappointed that theyre not seeking justice. From left, Kimberly Pierson, mother, Na'Quincy Pierson, son, and Paula Pierson, grandmother, arrive for the meeting with Attorney General Jeff Landry Tuesday March 27, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. 9 AM Family and 10 AM Attorney General Jeff Landry press conference with his office's findings regarding potential state criminal charges against Baton Rouge Police Dept. officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, who were involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, in July 2016 outside a convenience store. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to bring federal civil rights charges against the two white police officers last May. No Cabinet member opposed the amendment, and only a couple of sentences were revised for clarity. Other areas of the amendment include lowering the voting age to 18. The amendment was tabled by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon because Moon was in the UAE. It took the Cabinet just 40 minutes to pass the amendment. Presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk spent three days last week explaining the details to the public and answered questions. President Moon Jae-in initiated a constitutional amendment on Monday that would shorten the term of Korean presidents and make them re-electable. The speedy passage of the proposal drew accusations of rubber-stamp politics from those who feel it does not nearly go far enough in devolving presidents' quasi-regal powers. The Korean Constitutional Law Association's head Koh Moon-hyun said, "Cho's three days of announcements aimed to listen to the opinions of the public, but nothing changed until the Cabinet passed the proposal. This is a clear case of dereliction of duty." Moon said during his visit to the UAE that he "gains nothing" from the revision since it will not make him personally re-electable, and added that he is exercising his right to table the amendment in order to keep his campaign promise to voters. The amendment stands no chance of passing the National Assembly since it requires a two-thirds majority, which the ruling party's slim margin cannot cover. All opposition parties are against. The aim is rather to stimulate debate and shake parliament from its torpor on the much-needed overhaul of the current presidential system. The Baton Rouge Police chief's decision about disciplinary action for the two white officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling remains pending, adding another day to the more than 20 months the men have been on paid leave accruing together more than $130,000 in compensation from the city-parish government for no work. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul said he plans to decide by Friday whether to discipline the officers involved in the shooting. He will conduct disciplinary hearings for the officers, which are held with him and his deputy chiefs. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced Tuesday he would not pursue any state criminal charges against the officers, concluding his office's more than 10-month review of the case. Landry's decision followed the U.S. Department of Justice's May announcement where federal attorneys declined to bring federal civil rights charges against the officers, ending 10 months of investigating. +4 BRPD: Alton Sterling video, audio to be released; attorney expects officer to be fired Baton Rouge police Chief Murphy Paul plans to hold closed disciplinary hearings this week with the two officers involved in the July 2016 kill Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, the two officers who have been on paid administrative leave since the July 2016 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, received two annual raises during the last year and eight months they have not been working for the police department but continue to get paid, according to payroll documents obtained by The Advocate through a public records request. Salamoni has been paid more than $70,200 and Lake has been paid more than $66,300 while Baton Rouge Police Department leadership continue to postpone a disciplinary decision about the officers. Department leaders have said it is their policy to wait to conclude an internal affairs investigation until the criminal probes are over. Can't see video below? Click here. East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome last May called on now-retired Police Chief Carl Dabadie to take disciplinary action on the officers. In a letter last May, Broome asked Dabadie to fire Salamoni, a plea that echoed many community activists. +2 Letter released: Broome implores police chief to fire officer who fatally shot Alton Sterling Baton Rouge police on Friday afternoon released the letter that Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome sent to Chief Carl Dabadie Thursday, whic While both Salamoni and Lake responded on July 5, 2016 to an anonymous call about a black man threatening someone with a gun outside a convenience store on North Foster Drive, Salamoni was the officer who fired that shots at Sterling, killing him. The encounter from when Lake first arrived followed shortly after by Salamoni, to the final shot fired at Sterling by Salamoni lasted less than 90 seconds. The deadly interaction was caught on cell phone video by two witnesses and quickly went viral through social media. Nightly protests followed, as did later discussions about BRPD's larger relationship with the black community. The incident was also caught on other video, such as surveillance tapes and body camera audio, which have not yet been made public, but were part of the federal probe. Salamoni and Lake have each been compensated for 40-hour work weeks since their placement on administrative leave, both receiving an hourly rate as well as an educational and special response team stipend, payroll records indicate. Can't see video below? Click here. 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 Salamoni was paid $42,631 in 2017, records show. That included biweekly stipends of $76 for holding a bachelor's degree and $92 for being trained for the Special Response Team, Baton Rouge Police's SWAT team. Lake was paid $40,251 in 2017, records show. His income also included biweekly stipends of $92 for being trained for the Special Response Team, Baton Rouge Police's SWAT team, and $28 for holding an associate's degree. They both received a more than 50 cent increase on their hourly rates at the start of 2017 and 2018, records show, which comes out to about a 2.7 percent salary raise each year. Salamoni started out with a higher hourly rate than Lake in 2016. Kyle Kershaw, the attorney for Lake, said they would have preferred the decisions from the federal and state agencies came sooner, but protocol for use of force incidents which included paid administrative leave has been followed. "That's just standard department procedure in cases like this," Kershaw said. "(Salamoni and Lake) did not delay the investigation in any way, shape or form. They immediately gave statement to internal affairs and criminal detectives." Salamoni's lawyer, John McLindon, said while his client has been paid his base salary, he was unable to work extra duty shifts when companies and neighborhood watches contract BRPD officers as security, something officers often work to help pad their paychecks. "It's been very tough," McLindon said. "At times we got very frustrated with the delays." But, McLindon said, in the end it was worth it to have two separate governmental agencies independently investigate the shooting and come to the same conclusion. He said the two thorough investigations "speaks volumes." During his time on paid leave, Salamoni was working to administer extra duty police shifts at Whitney Bank, a move then-interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam called a "loophole" in the policy and which was first revealed in a report by WBRZ-TV. Dunnam said the department updated their policy in September to prohibit officers on administrative leave not only working from extra duty, but also from acting as the administrator, or scheduler, for a private entity hiring BRPD officers. +2 Baton Rouge leaders call for transparency after report finds 'loophole' for BRPD officers on leave Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks joined a growing number of local leaders Wednesday calling for the Baton Rouge Police Department to provide mo While officers have to report some information about extra duty assignments, like new contracts or how many hours they work, pay information is between the officers and the company, Dunnam has said. It is not public record. Officers administering the extra duty, like Salamoni was, are sometimes paid, but not always. Dunnam said he did not know if Salamoni was paid, and the Whitney Bank contract is not clear if his role would have been compensated. McLindon said Tuesday he did not know if Salamoni was ever paid for administering extra duty work. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission WASHINGTON Comments by a Nevada congressman on Monday touched off the latest round of speculation that Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan might hang up his gavel and retire, with Louisiana's Steve Scalise a possible successor. Monday's speculation came after U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, said in an interview on "Nevada Newsmakers" that he'd been hearing chatter Ryan could leave his post this spring. "The rumor mill is Paul Ryan is getting ready to resign in the next 30 to 60 days and that Steve Scalise will be the new speaker," Amodei said. The latest suggestion of a leadership change on Capitol Hill prompted a denial from Ryan's office and a statement from a Scalise spokeswoman, who said the Jefferson Parish Republican and House majority whip is "proud to serve alongside" Ryan and "fully supports him to remain speaker." "The speaker is not resigning," a Ryan spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, told The Associated Press. Talk of Ryan's possible retirement has swirled around Capitol Hill for months, though few have suggested Ryan would depart before the end of the year. Ryan, 48, has called reports of his potential retirement "rank speculation." But the former Republican vice-presidential candidate also hasn't committed to running for re-election this fall, telling several media outlets over the past three months that he hasn't yet discussed the possibility of running for another term in Congress with his wife. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The deadline for congressional candidates in Ryan's home state of Wisconsin is June 1. Scalise, the House's No. 3 Republican, is widely seen as a potential candidate to lead House Republicans should Ryan leave. But Scalise's office tamped down on the speculation Monday. "Whip Scalise is proud to serve alongside Speaker Ryan, and fully supports him to remain speaker," Lauren Fine, a Scalise spokeswoman, said in a statement. "Our whole leadership team is focused on working with President Trump to deliver more conservative wins for the country, and also ensuring we keep the majority so we can continue implementing President Trump's agenda that is getting our economy back on track." The current No. 2 Republican in the House, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, is above Scalise on the leadership ladder. But McCarthy, a Californian, was passed over for the speaker's post in 2015 after then-Speaker John Boehner resigned. McCarthy ran for speaker at the time but couldn't collect the 218 votes a majority of House members to win the post, prompting Ryan, then the chairman House Appropriations Committee, to step forward. Steve Scalise meets with survivors of Florida school shooting, shares own shooting attack story WASHINGTON A group of students and alumni from the Florida high school reeling from a mass shooting earlier this month visited House Majorit A bid to let voters in East Baton Rouge and four other parishes enact their own gas tax narrowly failed Tuesday in a Louisiana House committee. The proposal, House Bill 178, would let voters statewide decide whether to lift the prohibition against local governments implementing their own gasoline tax, on top of the state and federal levies. Parishes that would then earn that right are East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, Iberville and West Baton Rouge. All five are near daily hot spots for traffic tieups, especially around the newest Mississippi River Bridge. But the House Ways and Means Committee rejected the plan, with seven members in favor and eight opposed. Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development, said while roads and bridges need money he is "deathly afraid" that the plan could derail future efforts to address transportation needs statewide. The concern, Wilson said, is that voters in urban areas would lose interest in statewide solutions if their local needs were addressed. "My biggest concern is what does this do for the future of the state of Louisiana?" Wilson said. The legislation faced major hurdles, even it had won committee approval. It requires the support of two-thirds of the House and Senate, and a majority of voters statewide, to take effect. After that, local governments would have to compile their own plans, and submit them to voters, to enact a new gas tax. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Motorists pay 38.4 cents per gallon, including 20 cents in state charges. Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, who was allied with Wilson last year in a push for a 17-cent hike in the state gas tax, said his bill is another way to tackle road and bridge needs. 'Irresponsible' for Louisiana to ignore road, bridge needs, sponsor of unsuccessful gas tax hike says The sponsor of a failed bill to raise Louisiana's gasoline tax said Monday the state should consider other options to improve roads and bridge "The most important thing about this bill is it gives people an opportunity to vote," Carter said. He said any effort to ease transportation problems statewide is three or four years off because of political and other concerns. "I am not sure we can pass what we attempted to try to do last year in a timely fashion to solve the problem," Carter said. Carter's 2017 bid to boost the gas tax died without a vote on the House or Senate floors. Each penny of the state gas tax raises about $30 million per year. Wilson noted that local efforts to enact a gas tax would likely generate a fraction of $30 million yearly, and would make more sense as a financing mechanism to finish projects, not launch them. Backers of the bill included GNO Inc., Louisiana Municipal Association and the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. Opponents included representatives of big trucks the Louisiana Motor Transit Association. Toxic haze from China is worsening amid Chinese plans to build hundreds of more garbage incinerators along the east coast, where the deathly fine dust particles will be safely carried abroad by the wind, possibly to Korea. Korea has been blanketed by toxic haze since last weekend, which is forecast to continue. The eastern coastal region of China has a massive concentration of factories and coal-fired power plants, and Beijing is building or authorizing waste incinerators in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, which are close to Korea. According to data submitted to the Environment Ministry by Ajou University professor Kim Soon-tae, China's waste incineration volume soared from 80 million tons in 2005 to 180 million tons in 2015. Bulletproof backpacks would be allowed in Louisiana public schools under a bill that breezed through a Senate committee Monday. The measure, Senate Bill 178, next faces action in the full Senate. Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, sponsor of the bill, conceded that offering such a proposal comes with mixed emotions. "Gosh, I get it," Walsworth said. "Do we want to do this? No. I don't think any one of us wants to say our kids are in danger. In Florida, that was supposedly the safest neighborhood, probably in all of Florida and most of the United States," he said, a reference to the Valentine's Day killing of 17 students at a high school in Parkland, Fla. "That didn't help those 17 kids," Walworth said of the area's reputation for being a safe place. "It does at least give our children some kind of protection," he said of the bill. "Our kids need to know there is some way to protect themselves." Current state law bans wearing body armor on school property. The bill would allow students to wear backpacks on school grounds or a school bus that have bullet-resistant metal or other material for protection against guns. Walsworth said the backpacks cost from $50 to $300 and more. The measure cleared the Senate Judiciary C Committee without objection. The lone opponent who testified was Dadrius Lanus, who said he is an educator and attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish. "It makes no sense for students and it makes no sense for teachers," Lanus said of the bill. "It absolutely makes no sense." Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, a member of the committee, echoed Walsworth's view that school shootings have forced an unpleasant discussion. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "What a horrible state of affairs we find ourselves in today," Carter said. Said Walsworth, "This is the society we have." The bill is one of series of public school safety measures awaiting action in the Legislature, including several that would allow teachers to carry concealed handguns on school grounds. The Rundown: Edwards addresses hot-button session issues and more news in La. politics Today in The Rundown: Gov. John Bel Edwards weighs in on some hot-button session issues; lawmakers take up a mixed bag of issues from feral pi Gov. John Bel Edwards said last week he is opposed to that approach. Later the same committee narrowly rejected a bill also touted as a school safety measure. The proposal, Senate Bill 406, would allow public school principals to hire a retired teacher or parent who is a military veteran, active duty military personnel or reservist to provide security at the school. Those hired would also have to have a concealed handgun permit. Sen. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, emphasized that his plan is permissive, not mandatory, and that some schools would take advantage of the option. "What we are doing is not working," Riser said efforts to protect schools. "To sit here and do nothing is not the answer." Opponents said Riser's plan would likely cause other problems, and make children uneasy to know there are weapons at their school. "This is more reactive than proactive," said Lanus, who also opposed Riser's bill. Voting to shelve the bill were Sens. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, Yvonne Colomb, D-Baton Rouge and Fred Mills, R-Parks. Voting against the motion were Sens. Dan Claitor, chairman of the committee, Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan and Bodi White, R-Central. Norman Henderson, of New Orleans, gives instructions Tuesday, March 27, 2018, to the crowd readying to march on the State Capitol to voice their opposition to legislation that would roll back some key provisions in the criminal justice revamp approved last year. Louisiana would review every one of the state's occupational licensing requirements and determine whether changes are needed under legislation that is advancing at the State Capitol with bipartisan support. "We're at a point now, where I believe it's necessary to determine whether we are over-regulating and whether we are providing the best environment we can to attract and retain businesses," Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine, said during a committee hearing on the effort to roll back the number of occupations that require government-issued licenses in Louisiana. "We're trying to promote a business-friendly environment." House Bill 562, sponsored by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, would put into state law that the ability to pursue lawful occupation is a fundamental right and the state will defer to the least restrictive regulation available while maintaining consumer safety. Under Emerson's proposal, each body that oversees licensing would be subject to detailed review in the coming year to justify licensing requirements. It now heads to the full House for consideration after passing without objection in the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday. It's the third licensing-rollback bill that the House Commerce Committee has advanced to the House floor for consideration. The panel overwhelmingly advanced two measures that specifically aim to deregulate hair braiding on Monday. Opponents of the effort say that licensing in the state helps ensure consumer safety and satisfaction. House considers efforts to roll back licensing requirements for some occupations in Louisiana An effort to roll back the number of occupations that require government-issued licenses in Louisiana is getting a boost in the State House th The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Steve Young, director of the state Board of Cosmetology, also said in the hearing that he believes that the state already has discretion to modify licensing requirements without forcing boards and agencies to do extra work. "It is piling on," he said. "You have enough under the state law now." The effort is among Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' priorities for the regular session that started this month a move that aligns the Democratic governor with more conservative interest groups with which he's often at odds. One of Edwards' top aides spoke in favor of Emerson's bill Tuesday. "This is about de-regulation," said Erin Monroe Wesley, a special counsel in the governor's office. Wesley said that the governor's office would support amendments to the bill to have the review staffed in house, without additional cost to taxpayers. Artur Davis, a former congressman from Alabama who testified as a representative of the Institute for Justice has appeared at the Capitol the past two days to advocate in support of Emerson's bills. He said Tuesday that Louisiana hasn't given a thorough review of licensing, with a mind on the current economy and jobs. "We're trying to empower the Legislature to set a new standard," he said. "We don't have a lot of bipartisanship in this world today, I'm glad there is an element of bipartisanship here." IJ released a report last fall that showed Louisiana and Washington license more lower-income occupations it analyzed than any other state 77 of 102. Edwards has frequently noted that Louisiana is the only state in that report to require licensing of florists. An effort to raise the age of retirement and include a 401(k)-style component to the pension plan for many newly hired rank-and-file state workers took its first step Monday when a state Senate panel backed the legislation. This is a bill that I believe is a good policy for the state of Louisiana, said Sen. Barrow Peacock, chairman of the Senate Retirement Committee and sponsor of the measure. Though 25 pages of sweeping technical language, Senate Bill 14 essentially would require employees hired after Jan. 1, 2020, to contribute 4 percent of their income to their pensions. The other 4 percent contributed by employees would go into a defined contribution, which is similar to a 401(k) in that the workers can invest those monies as they like. Currently, workers contribute 8 percent of their pay into a pension plan. Called defined benefits, retired state workers receive a check, based on their earnings and years worked, each month for the rest of their lives. Some have long advocated that the state should move to a 401(k)-type plan to save the state money. This hybrid plan would mean that pensions would be smaller but that could be made up with the investment component, supporters say. Also, 65 years old would become the new age to receive full benefits, rather than 62. SB14 would cover new employees in Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System. LASERS has about 39,000 active employees and about 48,000 retirees. Cindy Rougeou, LASERS executive director, said it would take about 30 years to phase in and have all the state employees on the hybrid plan. Calling the hybrid a pension for a new generation, Rougeou said it would address the problem of so many workers leaving state employ. They would be allowed to take their contributions, along with any earnings, to new jobs in the private sector. Additionally, cost-of-living adjustments would be paid automatically every other year under the new plan. Currently COLAs are paid from whatever is left from investment earnings after LASERS pays its obligations. Legislators must approve the COLAs. Under the hybrid plan, cost of living adjustments would be funded from the contributions to the plan and COLAs would be automatic every other year. Steven Procopio, PARs policy director, said the legislation is better for taxpayers, better for short term employees and better for long-term employees. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Were fixing the COLA system with this bill, Procopio said. I struggle to see how any one can be opposed to this. AFL-CIO president Louis Reine countered that opposition is pretty visible. I represent the people who this is going to affect," Reine said. We're looking at an instrument that provides a lower benefit at a higher cost and raises the retirement age. Gee, wonder why were against it? He pointed to the list of supporters and opponents. The labor organizations representing teachers and fire fighters all came out against the hybrid plan. Their pensions are not included in the legislation, but they could be made to adopt the concept in the future. The Retired State Employees Association support the hybrid plan for a public retirement system. Most proponents are from the private business community represented by lobbying groups, such as the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce. Robert Scott, of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, testified in favor of the legislation, which is rare for PAR. The Baton Rouge-based government policy research group tends to limits its legislative testimony to providing information on issues. Scott said the hybrid includes many of the changes PAR has recommended over the years. He points out the Pew Charitable Trusts and other groups that watch retirement issues similarly give a thumbs up to the idea. Because the COLAs are paid up front, Scott said the hybrid plan has less risk of adding to the shortfall in the amount of money available now to cover retiree benefits in the future. The legislation, which the Senate Retirement Committee advanced on a 4-1 vote, now must be reviewed by another panel because it would cost about $9.86 million to implement over the next five years. If SB14 clears the Senate Finance committee, the measure would need the approval of two-thirds of the full Senate before heading to the Louisiana House. Voting for the measure was Peacock and Sens. Norby Chabert, R-Houma; Gerald Long, R-Natchitoches; and Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton. Sen. Ed Price, D-Gonzales, voted against SB14. In the most recent battle to change the way Louisiana cares for its elderly, nursing home owners were pitted against advocacy groups like the AARP, asking the state to increase opportunities for senior citizens to receive care in their own homes. On Tuesday, the nursing homes won. With a 6-2 vote, the Senate Health and Welfare committee rejected legislation aimed at giving more people access to home-health services, in lieu of being sent to a nursing home to live. Today, many members chose to ignore the tens of thousands of older adults in their districts who want to live at home, while offering no alternative or plan to help them, said AARP of Louisiana lobbyist Andrew Muhl. It was disappointing, but we always knew this would be an uphill fight. The Louisiana Nursing Home Association, representing 250 nursing homes in the state, spoke against the measure, saying it would result in a reduction in the quality of care. The measure's sponsor, Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, called Senate Bill 357 one of the most important pieces of legislation lawmakers would deal with this session because it addresses the needs of Louisiana's aging population and attempts to mitigate the skyrocketing Medicaid costs required to care for their needs. The elderly and disabled Medicaid population makes up the majority of the states Medicaid costs, which in large part is paid out to nursing homes. SB357 attempted to move the Medicaid population in nursing homes under a managed care model, which means the state hires private insurance companies to make decisions about whether people should be cared for in nursing homes or at their own home with supports and staffing. Home- and community-based care is both less expensive and overwhelmingly preferred by elderly people, AARP surveys claim. The home-based providers equip elderly or disabled people with medical support in their own home. They also provide staff who help clean, cook, dress and run errands for those in need of daily assistance. Theres 28,000 people on a waiting list for these home-based services. "What this does is give people a critical life choice that has been denied to them in the past," Appel said. "Either stay at home or go to a nursing home." Louisianas nursing homes are among the worst in the nation, according to national rankings. Louisiana also spends less on home- and community-based services than most other states. At the same time, nursing homes have unique financial protections that ensure regular rate increases, while other Medicaid providers have been cut year after year. Several senators, including committee Chairman Sen. Fred Mills who owns an interest in a Breaux Bridge nursing home raised concerns that managed care was too risky and unreliable a method for the state to take on for its seniors, despite the fact that the vast majority of Louisiana's Medicaid population is already under managed care. Mills raised concerns that managed care would result in an increase in medical claims being denied by insurance companies. Appel dismissed the concerns about managed care as political misdirection. We have a huge managed care system in place in Louisiana for 1.3 million people. Those are just talking points, Appel said. We have ample evidence of the success of the managed care model in Louisiana. Proponents of the bill said it would be at a minimum revenue neutral but most likely generate savings for the state over the next few years, in large part because the state charges managed care companies a 5.5 percent tax that could generate about $100 million a year. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up State Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, was incredulous about the claim. He said if the goal is to give home- and community-based services to thousands of people on the waiting list, then the state would have to incur additional costs to serve a new population. He said he'd prefer to improve access to home- and community-based services with more direct funding. Luneau also said he was concerned about diminishing care for the elderly. He noted that people in nursing homes are within walking distance of people who can assist them 24 hours a day. But with home-health providers, they would only receive help a few hours a day. Hugh Eley, a retired 30-year administrator for Louisiana Department of Health, told Luneau that many people in nursing homes and who are on waiting lists for services can get by with a few hours of help per day. Those who cant, would still be allowed to go to nursing homes. The Senate hearing was packed with nursing home leaders, including several former lawmakers who have ties to the industry or were major beneficiaries of nursing home campaign donations, like former Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, former state Rep. Sherri Buffington who often carried legislation on behalf of nursing homes and former state Sen. Joe McPherson, who previously chaired the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Rep. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville, who is a nursing home administrator, also sat in on the hearing, watching from the back of the room. This is emotional to me. Its disturbing to me, McPherson told the committee. I dont want to have to deal with insurance companies. Theres definitely a need for more home- and community-based services, but this is not the vehicle. On Wednesday, the House Health and Welfare Committee is scheduled to take up a similar bill sponsored by Prairieville Rep. Tony Bacala. Bacala said he was unsure if hed pursue the bill because even if he got it passed in the House, it would likely die the same death of Appels bill once it made it to the Senate. That committee will hear at least two other bills opposed by nursing homes one that would change the way nursing homes are paid by the state and another that would allow surveillance devices in rooms to monitor care. Appel said he was disappointed by the failure of his bill, but he thinks his peers are delaying an inevitability. I dont think theres any possibility this wont go into effect in the next couple years in some form, he said. The number of people becoming eligible for these types of services are growing astronomically, and the model of jamming people into an institution is just going to get more and more expensive. Were not going to have a choice. Those voting in favor of Appel's bill were Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, and Sen. Ed Price, D-Gonzales. Voting against SB357 were Sens. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette; Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge; Norby Chabert, R-Houma; Yvonne Colomb, D-Baton Rouge; Dale Erdey, R-Livingston; and Luneau. +8 Special report: Lawmakers, politicians vote to enrich La. nursing homes, instead of saving money Year after year, Louisiana lawmakers gather in Baton Rouge and grouse about the unpalatable choices they face: Cut state services, raise taxes or do some of both. +5 Special report: Labeled 'a good-ol' boy system,' politicians in no rush to reform unpopular nursing homes A team of government experts and industry stakeholders spent more than two years painstakingly crafting a plan that would have reduced Louisianas expensive and unpopular reliance on nursing homes to house the states most helpless residents. That proud evangelical Michael Gerson, writing in the Atlantic Magazine, avers it was a mistake to pit creationism against evolution, thus dis In a 2018 photo, Pat MaGee (left), formerly serving as the head of the criminal division for the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, after being tapped for the role by Attorney General Jeff Landry. An overwhelming number of Americans support a Washington-Pyongyang summit scheduled for May but do not believe North Korea will give up its nuclear arms, according to a Fox News poll published last Friday. The poll was conducted among 1,014 adults on March 18-21. Sixty-three percent of respondents approve of U.S. President Donald Trump meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, compared to a mere 30 percent who disapprove. Far more Republican Party supporters (84 percent) than Democratic Party supporters (44 percent) approve of the summit. Some 42 percent believe Trump will get the better deal, compared to 26 percent who said Kim will. Some 19 percent said neither will get a better deal. But 76 percent believe that North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons, summit or no summit. Forty-nine percent disapprove of Trump's overall handling of the North Korea problem, compared to 41 percent who approve. Meanwhile, Trump still enjoys support among a substantial proportion of Americans, with a 45 percent approval rating compared to 52 percent who disapprove of his erratic performance. The approval rating was a little up from 43 percent in a similar poll a month ago but well within the margin of error. From left, Andricka Williams, attorney Mike Adams and attorney Brandon DeCuir arrive for the meeting with Attorney General Jeff Landry Tuesday March 27, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. 9 AM Family and 10 AM Attorney General Jeff Landry press conference with his office's findings regarding potential state criminal charges against Baton Rouge Police Dept. officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, who were involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, in July 2016 outside a convenience store. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to bring federal civil rights charges against the two white police officers last May. New Orleans Regional Transit Authority board member Al Herrera asked an RTA contractor last year to do business with his private Kenner industrial supply firm a request that came two months after the RTA extended the contractors contract. Such arrangements are banned under state law, the state Ethics Board said in December, after the contractor, Dana Pecoraro of Laurel Outdoor Advertising, informed the board of Herreras request. The request was made in August. The RTA had approved a contract extension for Laurel in June. However, Herrera said he had no intention of trying to benefit from the board's action or arrange a quid pro quo. He said he didnt know that any deal he struck with Laurel would be illegal, and that he has since informed his staff not to solicit Laurels business. I knew that she contracted with the RTA (for signs on buses and transit shelters), but her billboards do not, Herrera said, as he explained that he was seeking work related to local billboards. So I thought it would be OK. However, Pecoraro said her company has never handled billboards. Herrera, a Kenner businessman, is one of three members of the RTA board who are named by the Jefferson Parish president; the other five are appointed by the New Orleans mayor. Herrera also chairs the boards Finance Committee, the group tasked with reviewing the RTAs finances and contracts it enters into with vendors, such as Laurel. The committee approved Laurels contract extension with the public agency before it was ratified by the full board. Laurel is responsible for the advertising that appears on the RTAs buses, streetcars and shelters, an arrangement that generates roughly $900,000 in annual revenue for it and the RTA. It must also handle the maintenance on some shelters. Herreras firms, IPS Corp. and Best Bolt & Nut Supply of Kenner, sell fasteners, cutting tools, concrete products and other industrial supplies. Pecoraro said she was contacted by Herrera in August about the possibility of his firm supplying her company with some items. She said she immediately told him she believed such a contract wouldnt be permitted, given his position on the RTA board. She reached out to the RTA's general counsel, Sundiata Haley, for clarification, and Haley advised her that the arrangement would be illegal. She also contacted the state Ethics Board, which said in December that such an agreement would run afoul of the law. 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 board concluded ... that ... the Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit Laurel Outdoor Advertising from compensating Al Herrera, or any company in which he exercises control for services it performs, the opinion said. Laurel has never been solicited by any other past or present RTA commissioner, Pecoraro said. However, Herrera said he wasnt aware then that his proposal to Laurel would break any laws. He initially said that his sales team alone made the request of Laurel and that, as company CEO, he doesnt get involved in the particulars of day-to-day operations. However, he later said that he contacted Pecoraro personally when his sales team informed him that it had reached out to her in an attempt to provide supplies for the work he said she did on billboards. The Ethics Board's opinion says that Herreras staff contacted Pecoraros firm. They used to do the outdoor billboards, and thats what my sales team contacted them about, he said. Pecoraro said in an email that her firm has never managed any billboards. Herrera said he has since informed his staff that it would be improper for them to contact firms that do business with the RTA. And Pecoraro said that, once Haley advised him against it, Herrera didnt contact her again. Asked whether RTA commissioners undergo any sort of ethics training after they are appointed, board Chairwoman Sharonda Williams said it's up to individual members to be aware of relevant ethics laws. "Commissioners are expected to familiarize themselves with the Code of Governmental Ethics, and RTAs legal counsel provides guidance on ethics issues that arise, Williams said. A spokesman for Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni did not respond to a request for comment on Herreras actions. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi... Kathmandu, March 27 The Nepal Stock Exchange index on Tuesday registered an increment of 39.16 points. The sensitive index that measures performance of Group A companies also went up by 8.09 points to close at 257.74 points. Approximately 1.51 million shares of 116 companies were traded at Rs 506.1 million. Trade group witnessed a dip, while other companies climbed. Trade group tanked 3.13 points. Banking sector rose 33.27 points, hotels 126.26 points, development banks 41.7 points and hydropower 61.77 points. Likewise, finances climbed 2.43 points, insurance companies 293.86 points, production sector 14.76 points, micro finance group 65.5 points and others 3.88 points. This comes as the index fell for six continuous trading days to as low as 1,168. Market observers say that investors hoped that the government would address the concerns of the market in a white paper it is preparing to present soon. However, Finance Minister Yubraj Khatiwada, who has not been received well by the market, hinted that he was not going to address the markets issues in his white paper. This was the major reason for the decline. However, investor confidence grew midway through trading on Tuesday as reports suggested that Khatiwada may address the issue in his white paper. Home Just In Nepal PM to brief Kathmandu-based diplomats on his govts foreign policy Kathmandu, March 27 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is briefing ambassadors and chiefs of international diplomatic missions as well as representatives of bilateral development agencies based in Kathmandu about his governments foreign policy. The envoys have been called to attend a meeting at the Prime Ministers residence in Baluwatar at noon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already informed the diplomats about the meeting, according to PMs press coordinator Chetan Adhikari. It has been learned that the PM will ask the missions to expand development cooperation to Nepal as the new government will maintain political stability in the country. Political and diplomatic analysts have kept their eyes on the meeting as it follows the governments recent resentment against the report of European Unions election observation mission. Home Just In Olis briefing to diplomatic corps: Only Nepalis have right to decide on political, constitutional issues Kathmandu, March 27 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has told the diplomatic community in Nepal that the sovereign power of the state lies with the Nepali people and only they can decide on constitutional and political issues affecting them. The Prime Minister, who organised a luncheon for representatives of the diplomatic community in Kathmandu, said that Nepals prolonged trasition was over and that his governments focus is now on inclusive growth, stability and prosperity. Nepal has undergone a transformation of historic proportions in the past one decade. The impact of transformation has not only confined to political sphere but also has been felt across all spheres of national life. The transformation has been monumental in our political and constitutional history, said the Prime Minister. I must say that this was a culmination of our successful, long and arduous struggles and Nepals unique and home-grown peace process. The constitution has institutionalised the federal democratic republican system of governance, embodying the political gains achieved over the years through successive peoples struggles and revolutions. He said that his government would not tolerate any attempts to undermine peace and stability. There might be some attempts from different quarters to disrupt our social harmony and cohesion under various pretexts. There might be some elements who believe in perpetuity of conflict and discord in our society. We do not want to see our people exploited under any ulterior agenda, the Prime Minister said. He also told the diplomats that his government would not agree to provide blanket amnesty to people responsible for gross abuse of human rights during the conflict. Icons of Whisky winners revealed Whisky Magazine has announced the global winners of its 2018 Icons of Whisky Awards, following the regional stage of voting. The awards were presented as part of the Whisky Magazine Awards held at London's Waldorf Hotel on 22 March 2018. Distiller of the Year, sponsored by Glencairn Crystal Ian Macleod Distillers Brand Innovator of the Year, sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions Glenfiddich Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Christie's Jameson Distillery Bow St. Craft Distiller of the Year, sponsored by Wade Ceramics The Cotswolds Distillery Master Distiller / Blender of the Year, sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik Andy Watts Distell Distillery Manager of the Year, sponsored by Broxburn Properties Victoria MacRae-Samuels Maker's Mark American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by Procurus Adam Harris Beam Suntory Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by Procurus Ger Garland Irish Distillers Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, sponsore by McLaren Packaging Martin Markvardsen Highland Park World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year Dave Worthington That Boutique-y Whisky Company Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year Sharon Deane Hellyers Road Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Amrut Distilleries Royal Mile Whiskies Drinkmonger Single Outlet Retailer of the Year Gordon & MacPhail Online Retailer of the Year Master of Malt Travel Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions The Loop Dublin Airport Supermarket of the Year Waitrose 23 March 2018 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor Franchise Finance Here to help you... Franchise Finance is one of the franchise industrys leading independent finance professionals, recommended by all of the UK bfa-affiliated banks and has a 95 per cent success rate in raising finance. Franchise Finance directors Stuart Walsh and Chris Roberts have many years of experience in dealing with lending underwriters and their expertise in arranging bank and leasing finance has helped many franchise owners get into business. This is further complemented by a range of finance training courses, such as Understanding Business Finance & Accounts. Stuart Walsh says: We take our clients through a simple structured process, taking into account start-up costs and the working capital they require in order to sustain their business through its early stages. Chris Roberts adds: We understand how banks and finance companies make their lending decisions and what they need to see in the business plan. Its our job to make it easy for them to say YES and thats exactly what we do. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 08:20 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbb2304 4 Editorial #Editorial,Facebook,data-breach,political-crisis,politics,election,2019-presidential-election Free For years, the story of Facebook has been like the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Mr. Hyde of Facebook claims that it has the most effective marketing tool that businesses can use to reach potential customers, a tool that has proven to be so effective that it has decimated traditional media, which has long relied on ad revenue. The Dr. Jekyll side of the social media giant, however, claims that it only has limited influence on how things happen in real life, let alone on the result of an election. Soon after the election of Donald Trump as United States president in 2016, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg rejected the notion that fake news on the social media platform influenced the outcome of the US election, describing it as a pretty crazy idea. But since more evidence of alleged Russian-meddling in the US election came to light, it has become more difficult for the social media giant to back up its claim of innocence. In its own testimony to the US Senate, the company said Russia-backed content reached as many as 126 million people on Facebook. The social media company also believed that 120 Russia-backed pages created 80,000 posts that were received by 29 million Americans directly. As if the disclosure was not damning enough, a new scandal involving data firm Cambridge Analytica (CA) and its related company Strategic Communications Laboratories shows that something more sinister had taken place. In 2016, CA harvested data of 50 million Facebook users with the full knowledge of the social media platform,which did nothing when the data was improperly used to swing the vote in favor of Trump. (CA has also reportedly been involved in an attempt to influence the outcome of Nigerias presidential election, which pitted then incumbent Goodluck Jonathan against Muhammad Buhari). The scandal proved to be the biggest threat Facebook has faced so far. The companys stock prices plummeted and Zuckerberg lost at least US$10 billion in one week. The US and United Kingdom governments have launched an inquiry to probe the security breach, while Facebook users have boycotted the social media firm by launching the #DeleteFacebook movement. Against all these challenges, Facebook will likely prevail. The company executives will likely cooperate in inquiries launched on both sides of the Atlantic. Zuckerberg himself said he would testify in a legislative inquiry and this could likely quiet down all the clamoring. The #DeleteFacebook campaign will likely be short-lived as users find it hard not to share photos of their wedding and birthdays. Even after users delete their accounts, Facebook would still keep their data and could benefit from it. And just like in the US and Nigerian presidential elections or the Brexit campaign, Facebook will continue to play a key role in influencing voters. And if Facebook continues to do business as usual, it could once again be abused by anyone wanting to influence an election, including Indonesias 2019 presidential election. There must be a concerted effort to demand transparency and accountability from Facebook. Italian architect Alessandro Colombo pulls a postcard out of his pocket whenever people ask him what his most iconic work is. The totally recyclable postcard is made from cardboard and contains a pellet of dehydrated peat in which a seed is embedded. One only has to add water to give life to a plant. It is very cheap but with a very important message that is the life on earth, Colombo, who is also the Italian ambassador of design to Indonesia, said recently at the Italian Cultural Institute in Jakarta. The postcard is a result of a project called Earth: Instruction for Use, which won the Mayor of Osaka City Prize back in 1990, only a few years after Colombo graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan. It was the start of a fruitful career during which Colombo worked on numerous projects in the fields of architecture and design. Alessandro Colombo (JP/Frans Snackers) In the postcard, one can feel the influence of Marco Zanuso, who was Colombos university professor and served as his mentor. Colombo agrees with his vision of trying to find solutions that are in between technology, art and architecture. In that respect he feels that a collaboration between Italy and Indonesia can be very fruitful in trying to combat problems that both countries are now facing, even though the countries themselves are very different. One of these is pollution, especially in places that are very popular with tourists places like Milan and Venice share similarities with Bali and Lombok. One of the problems is the garbage. We have seen it in Venice or here in Bali. Garbage is a problem. But people are producing garbage, when? When they are getting around the city without scope, without an idea, Colombo said. He argues that the destruction of the landscape occurs when people have nothing to do, and lack a certain respect for their environment. For a solution to this problem, Colombo argues for an old Latin concept, Otium. The term refers to leisure time that you can relax and enjoy, but during which you remain mentally active. One of the means to achieve this is by keeping people engaged when they are visiting a tourist destination. A recyclable postcard designed by Alessandro Colombo (terrapostcard.com/File) He gives the example of an installation he designed during a large exposition in Milan, which saw thousands of people visit the city. In the installation, people could stand and watch a birds-eye view of the city on screens all around them. Colombo said that because of diversions like this, the city suffered very little damage. However, Colombo does admit this is a long-term process because it requires a culture change that needs the support of not only the government but all levels of society. You cant oblige people to do something. You need to teach people how to manage their life in the city. Colombo himself hopes to be engaged with a project in Indonesia in the near future. He is very interested in the people and how they go about their daily lives. How people move, talk, is related, is something different. I think they have their own way, They are always smiling, all is going smooth it seems to me. Also the traffic, it is very bad but it is going smooth. Nobody is angry. However, for now Colombo returns to Milan where his next appointment is the Salone Del Mobile in April. If the seed for a project in Indonesia was not planted during his first visit, he could always send a postcard to sort that out. *** Frans Snackers is an intern at The Jakarta Post Taman Safari Indonesia director Jansen Manangsang showed a disturbing video clip on his mobile phone that captured a foreign visitor giving food to an elephant, which then picked it up with its prehensile trunk and ate it. The visitor then produced a red banknote that looked like a Rp 100,000 bill and offered it to the animal. The pachyderm used its trunk to take the money, but this time, passed it on to the mahout on its back, who kept the money for himself. The domesticated, well-trained elephant certainly deserved a round of applause for its ability to distinguish the edible from the inedible. Its human rider, however, wasnt able to differentiate between the permissible and the forbidden. If the mahouts basic salary was last years West Java monthly minimum wage of Rp 1,420,642, a Rp 100,000 banknote would account for 7 percent of his wages. Should the money be considered additional income he is rightfully entitled to outside of his salary? Should he return the money to PT Taman Safari Indonesia CMB, the company that employs him, because he wouldnt have received the money if he hadnt been in the companys employ? The visitor had put him in a sticky situation. This was not the first time a visitor fed an elephant money, which might inspire other visitors to imitate the behavior. Christian Joshua Pale of Animals Hope Shelter posted video clips showing similar incidents on Instagram, which was covered by online media. The clips show, among others, a young Indonesian woman handing a banknote from the backseat of a car to an elephant strolling along between cars. She exclaimed excitedly that the elephants trunk touched her hand when it took the money. Conversations heard in the clip suggested the money was a Rp 2,000 bill a far cry from the foreign visitors suspected Rp 100,000. Whatever the amount, however, their behavior reduces the elephant, and its keeper, to mendicancy. The parks official response was that no employee was allowed to demand or accept tips from visitors. Understandably, if tips were allowed, chances are that the parks employees might be tempted to get as many tips as possible from visitors. The mahout has been sanctioned, Jansen explained on the last day of the visit with Environment and Forestry Ministry officials. He was pondering the propriety of equipping mahouts with a donation box for collecting money from visitors. That would be wonderful, wouldnt it? The money could be used for, say, promoting the welfare of Sumatran elephants in the Way Kambas Elephant Conservation Center, he said. Jansen, however, added that careful deliberations would be needed to weigh the benefits of such an idea. Jansens purpose for showing the video clip was to highlight the delicate situation that might arise from such incidents, especially given todays information ecosystem fueled by social media. This manmade ecosystem was rife with misleading, polarizing and manipulated information that is often accepted at face value without critically questioning the logic behind them, nor checking and rechecking their accuracy. Apparently, the foreign visitor was amusing himself by offering money to the elephant to see what would happen. Yet, by doing so, he might have inadvertently made the mahout think that he was using the elephant to give a tip. Which may lead foreigners to think Indonesians are prone to bribery and corruption, Jansen expressed his fear. Indonesia ranks 90th on Transparency Internationals 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index, so the footage wont be doing any favors for the countrys image. Ride-hailing firm Grab will try to offer positions to all Uber staff in the region, a spokesman for the Singapore-based firm said. This comes after Grab announced yesterday that it had acquired its American rival's operations in South-east Asia for an undisclosed amount, following several months of speculation. As part of the deal, Uber will take a 27.5 per cent stake in Grab, while Uber's chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi will join Grab's board. Videos circulating on social mediayesterday showed staff in Uber's Mapletree Anson office vacating the premises. Uber staff The Straits Times spoke to said that at 10am, hundreds of them were told to pack up their belongings and leave by 12.30pm. "We were just told to leave and wait for updates," said one staff member, who did not wish to be identified. Staff were also told that they were "free to look for other jobs", adding to concern and confusion that jobs might be lost. They were also not told if they were being offered any compensation. Read also: Uber pulls out of Southeast Asia, selling operation to Grab In a statement to the media, Grab said Uber employees were being placed on paid leave. "We understand it has been an emotional and trying day for Uber's employees in South-east Asia. On the part of Grab, we are committed to try and find everyone a home at Grab," the spokesman said. She added that the firm will be talking to more than 500 Uber employees here to see "how they would fit into Grab". In a video statement posted on social network LinkedIn, Grab's regional head of people operations, Ms Ong Chin Yin, said Grab's co-founders will hold a townhall meeting for all Uber employees in the region this afternoon. National Trades Union Congress assistant director-general Ang Hin Kee said attempts to contact Uber and Lion City Rental went unanswered. Human resources staff should have been tasked with engaging the staff on the move, he said, adding that drivers should also have had dedicated personnel to explain the situation to them. "For causing unnecessary anxiety to drivers and staff, management should be held accountable," said the Ang Mo Kio GRC MP. Following Singapore-based Grab's acquisition of Uber's operations in Southeast Asia, users in Indonesia will be able to order Uber services through the Grab mobile application starting April 9. Uber announced that it would combine its operations with Grab in an email sent out to its users in the region, including Indonesia. "What this means for you: We will be transitioning our services over to the Grab platform by April 8, 2018, so all requests after that date should be made from the Grab app," the email read, adding that the Uber app could still be used in over 80 countries around the world. Ride-hailing and logistics service company Grab announced on Monday that it had acquired Uber's Southeast Asian operations, effectively taking over the US-based firm's activities in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. Read also: Grab to offer positions to Uber staff Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an email to employees, which was shared on the firm's blog, that Uber would receive a 27.5 percent stake in the combined company. "Around 500 colleagues across the region will transition to Grab, and over the coming weeks we will help our customers move to Grab's apps," Khosrowshahi said in the email. Uber arrived in Southeast Asia in 2013, landing first in Singapore, where it also established its regional headquarters. Within a year, Uber arrived in Indonesia to offer ride-hailing services for motorcycle taxis and car services UberPool, UberXL and UberBlack. All Uber services will merge with Grab, reported kompas.com. Additionally, the new Uber Eats food delivery service in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will also merge with GrabFood, a Grab food delivery service that is also available in Indonesia and Thailand. (liz/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Frans Snackers (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27 2018 Italian architect Alessandro Colombo pulls a postcard out of his pocket whenever people ask him what his most iconic work is. The totally recyclable postcard is made from cardboard and contains a pellet of dehydrated peat in which a seed is embedded. One only has to add water to give life to a plant. It is very cheap but with a very important message that is the life on earth, Colombo, who is also the Italian ambassador of design to Indonesia, said recently at the Italian Cultural Institute in Jakarta. The postcard is a result of a project called Earth: Instruction for Use, which won the Mayor of Osaka City Prize back in 1990, only a few years after Colombo graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan. It wa... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 15:17 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbc6819 1 City Tanah-Abang,road-closure,Home-Ministry,Ombudsman Free Anies Baswedan could be facing dismissal as Jakarta governor if he did not implement the Ombudsman's recommendations on the closure of Jl. Jatibaru Raya in the Tanah Abang business district of Central Jakarta, a Home Ministry official has said. The Ombudsman team announced on Monday that the governor, along with the Jakarta Small and Medium Enterprises Agency, had been found to be incompetent and unlawful in their December 2017 policy to close Jl. Jatibaru Raya to accommodate street vendors. The team has urged the administration to evaluate the spatial planning of Tanah Abang in connection with the policy while reopening Jl. Jatibaru Raya and relocating the street vendors along the road. If the governor refuses to implement the recommendations, he can be accused of administrative violations for failing to follow up on public complaints over the local policy, Home Ministry director general of regional autonomy Sumarsono said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com. Sumarsono added that sanctions for administrative violations were stipulated in Government Regulation No.12/2017 on guidance and supervision of local administration. The sanctions could be in the form of a written warning or withholding funding for up to three months, with dismissal as the heaviest sanction. The Home Ministry will review and assess the level of the violation, said Sumarsono. The ministry will send a written warning to the regional head in the first stage, proceeding to a second written warning if no response was forthcoming. After that, the regional head can be [temporarily] dismissed for three months if he does not implement the recommendation. The final sanction is a permanent dismissal, Sumarsono said. The Ombudsman said the Jakarta administration had committed four acts of maladministration in closing the road: incompetence, deviation from procedure, neglect of legal obligations and unlawful action. It has set a maximum 60 days for the administration to follow up on its recommendations, which should involve all related institutions in their execution. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Theresia Sufa (The Jakarta Post) Bogor, West Java Tue, March 27, 2018 23:01 1276 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbd738f 1 City bogor,Bogor-Police,counterfeit-money,counterfeit,fake-money Free Personnel from the Bogor Police arrested on Tuesday three people suspected of buying counterfeit money and confiscated Rp 6 billion (US$420,000) worth of fake banknotes in a raid on early Tuesday morning. Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Ulung Sampurna Jaya said the suspects were arrested in a rented house belonging to Sony Rahayu in Kampung Parung Banteng, Katulampa subdistrict, Bogor, West Java. The three suspects, identified only as CDR, YRN and MAR, were arrested for possessing the Rp 6 billion worth of counterfeit banknotes they reportedly kept in a suitcase. Ulung said the three suspects had distributed counterfeit money in Greater Jakarta, in which one original banknote could be exchanged with three fake banknotes. Last week, the suspects managed to sell Rp 250 million worth of counterfeit money, Ulung told journalists at a press conference at the Bogor Police headquarters on Tuesday. Following their success, the value of the counterfeit banknotes that would be sold was increased to Rp 6 billion, he went on. The police are investigating the case further. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua Tue, March 27, 2018 22:22 1276 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbd5f4d 1 National Australian,Australian-citizen,drug-abuse,drug-addicts,DenpasarDistrictCourt,denpasar,drug-related-crimes,bali,NgurahRaiAirport,Ngurah-Rai-International-Airport Free Denpasar District Court in Bali ruled on Tuesday that Australian citizen Joshua James Baker, 32, was guilty of abusing drugs; hence, he must undergo a drug rehabilitation program. The sentence was far lighter than the one-year imprisonment sought by prosecutors. In the verdict, presiding judge I Wayan Kawisada ordered Baker to undergo a 10-month rehabilitation program; however, the detention period during his legal process would also be calculated. After considering the testimony of witnesses, evidence and the defendants statement, the panel of judges agrees with prosecutors that the defendant is guilty of violating Article 127 of Law No.35/2009 on Narcotics and Article 62 of Law No.5/1997 on Psychotropics, said Kawisada. However, the judge added, the panel was of an opinion that the defendant was a drug abuse victim. He had been influenced by his environment, which was problematic. He also has psychiatric problems, said Kawisada. Joshua James Baker, 32, proceeds to the Denpasar District Court on March 27. The court ordered him to undergo a drug rehabilitation program because of his drug addiction. (JP/Ni Komang Erviani) Kawisada said there was no evidence that he had been involved in a drug syndicate. There are statements from doctors revealing that the defendant has used drugs since he was 11 years old, the judge said. Several psychiatrists heard during Bakers trial stated that the defendant suffered from drug addiction and mental disorders, he added. Baker decided he would not file an appeal. Prosecutor Assri Susantina said the prosecution team would consider whether they would appeal. Baker was arrested in October 2017 by I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport customs and excise personnel upon his arrival from Bangkok. He was in possession of 28.02 grams of tobacco mixed with marijuana and 37 diazepam pills. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Minahasa Tue, March 27 2018 Palmijaya shows five identification cards belonging to his friends back in South Kalimantan. He points out something interesting in the cards in his hands. The religion spaces in some cards are left blank, while others are filled with one of the six official religions acknowledged by the state. This would indicate that the holders either dont have a religion or that they are followers of one of the recognized official religions. But one thing is for sure, all of them are adherents of Kaharingan, Palmijaya, who is head of the South Kalimantan branch of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) told The Jakarta Post in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, recently. Kaharingan is an ancient belief of many Dayak tribespeople, and which existed for hundreds of years before the mainstream religions arrived. There are more than 100,000 Kaharingan f... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27 2018 Indonesia has called on ASEAN member countries to develop a unified position in negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). ASEAN needs to have only one voice when negotiating with the partner countries in RCEP, the Trade Ministrys international trade negotiation director general, Iman Pambagyo, said in a statement on Monday. Iman chaired the Indonesian delegation in the second Senior Economic Officials Meeting for the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting from March 21 to 24 in Nusa Dua, Bali. Iman stressed the importance of ASEAN member countries to discuss certain issues internally, before taking the issues to the RCEP forum. During the meeting in Bali, ASEAN member country representatives also discussed the results of the fourth RCEP ministerial meeting. During the RCEP Summit in Manila in November 2017, heads of ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) North Charleston, South Carolina Tue, March 27, 2018 09:05 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbb6588 1 Business #AviationIndustry,#airlines,#SingaporeAirlines,#Boeing,#singapore Free The first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner will take off on Monday evening (Eastern Standard Time) from Boeing's facility in South Carolina on its delivery flight to Singapore. The new aircraft, the first of 49 of Boeing's latest "Dash 10" Dreamliner version, will fly via Osaka, Japan, to arrive on Wednesday in Singapore. Singapore Airlines will be the first carrier to operate the newest member of the Dreamliner family, with the aircraft scheduled to enter commercial service in May. "It will be an important element in our overall growth strategy, enabling us to expand our network and strengthen our operations, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said at a ceremony on Sunday to mark the handover at Boeing's North Charleston facility, where the Dash 10 aircraft are manufactured. The delivery of the first Boeing 787-10, Goh said, reflected the airline's commitment "to operate a modern fleet" amid more intense competition among players in the aviation industry. The 787-10 has the ability to fly long distances while offering 25 percent better fuel efficiency, more seats and a larger cargo capacity compared to its predecessor, the Boeing 787-9. "The 787-10 will extend the Dreamliner effect that we are seeing across commercial aviation, as the 787's superior passenger experience and unmatched fuel efficiency helps airlines open new routes and achieve significant fuel savings and emission reduction," said Kevin McAllister, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Singapore Airlines will use its new Dreamliner on routes of up to eight hours, with Perth in Australia and Osaka set to become the first two destinations starting May. Prior to these services, the Dash 10 aircraft will be operated on select flights to Bangkok, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for crew training. The 787-10s will feature Singapore Airlines' new regional cabin configurations with 337 seats in two classes, with 36 in business class and the remainder in economy class. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Washington, United States Tue, March 27, 2018 17:30 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbcc260 2 World US,Indonesia,James-Mattis,defense Free Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi held a meeting with US Defense Secretary James Mattis at the Pentagon on Thursday to discuss what the US Department of Defense described as "areas of mutual interest to their nations." I believe our two nations have an opportunity -- perhaps even a once-in-a-generation opportunity -- for cooperation on shared economic, diplomatic and security concerns, Mattis said at a ceremony welcoming Retno. Mattis added that it is important for the two nations to work together and to share responsibility for regional security in a critical crossroads of global trade. In a statement released by the US Defense Department, Mattis also appreciated Indonesia's support for reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. We welcome your initiative to host a trilateral meeting of Afghan, Pakistani and Indonesian religious leaders," he said. Mattis held a closed-door meeting with Retno LP Marsudi in January when the former held his one-week trip to Asia. He also met with President Joko 'Jokowi" Widodo and Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 11:28 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbbd877 4 Business plastic,excise-tax,May Free The government plans to introduce an excise on plastic in May to reduce the use of the material. The Finance Ministrys customs and excise director general, Heru Pambudi, said in Jakarta on Monday that a draft of a government regulation was being discussed by the relevant government agencies. An interministerial committee tasked with drafting the regulation is working now, Heru said, as reported by kompas.com, adding that the committee was coordinating with House of Representatives Commission XI, which oversees financial affairs. In addition to the plastic excise, the government also plans to impose duties on several other products, including sweetened beverages and gas emissions. But we are now focusing on the excise on plastic. More and more people care about the environment and health issues, Heru said, adding that the Finance Ministry was targeting Rp 500 billion (US$35 million) in additional revenue from the new excise duties in the state budget. Although the amount is insignificant compared to the Rp 148 trillion total revenue target from excise duties, Heru said, the policy was expected to reduce the use of plastic, which had caused serious environmental problems. Previously, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said 80 percent of plastic waste ended up in the ocean, carried through waterways. Indonesia has been named the biggest marine plastic polluter in the world after China, a country with a much larger population. An estimated 1.3 million tons of plastic waste is accumulated daily across the archipelago. Last week, workers lifted more than 100 tons of plastic waste from the Jakarta bay. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 12:41 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbbf9ed 4 Business ArcandraTahar,oil-reserve,technology,oil-exploration Free Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar has said that Indonesia needs to intensify exploration for new oil fields, because the countrys proven oil reserves will only support about 12 years of exploitation. He explained that Indonesia had 3.3 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, while estimated production was 800,000 barrels per day. It could be a bit longer, because our production will decline. Next year, our oil production will decline to 700,000 bpd, Arcandra said in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by kontan.co.id. He stressed that the development of new technology to pump more oil from existing fields and to discover new oil reserves were the only ways for Indonesia to prolong its oil production. Arcandra explained that the existing technology would only allow for lifting between 40 and 50 percent of the oil reserves. There is no technology that can lift more. As long as our citizens cannot find new technology, we cannot produce more oil than that. Arcandra said Indonesias proven oil reserves were only 0.2 percent of the global proven oil reserves, while Indonesias reserve replacement ratio (RRR) was only 50 percent, meaning the finding of new oil reserves was only half of the oil being lifted. Meanwhile, in our neighboring countries, the RRR reaches up to 100 percent, he added. Arcandra said Indonesias gas reserves were much better, for they could still be exploited for 25 to 50 years. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Tue, March 27 2018 A Bali resident has been arrested at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 2 kilograms of cocaine from overseas into the resort island. Personnel of the Customs and Excise Office arrested I Nyoman Arnaya, 47, a Qatar Airways passenger, as he arrived at the airport on March 23 from Doha, Qatar. The personnel became suspicious after scanning Arnayas luggage during a security check at the airports arrivals terminal. Officers found four packs of cocaine hidden inside cardboard in four folded shirts, head of Bali and West Nusa Tenggara Customs and Excise office Syarif Hidayat said in a press conference on Monday. The officers also found 39 smaller packs of cocaine hidden inside small spaces in 39 foot files. The total weight of the cocaine was 2 kg and worth Rp 5 billion (US$364,000), Syarif said. Further invest... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 17:50 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbcd11b 1 City vehicles-taxes,digitalized Free Jakarta authorities have collaborated to accommodate cashless transactions for vehicle tax payments, an executive has said. The collaboration between city-owned lender Bank DKI, the Jakarta administration, as well as the Jakarta Police would improve public services and make it easier to pay the vehicle ownership tax (PKB) and vehicle ownership transfer fees, while also supporting the government plan on Non-Cash National Movement. This collaboration modernizes transactions supported by Bank DKI, Bank DKI president director Kresno Sediarsi said on Monday as quoted by tribunnews.com. Kresno said to pay the PKB using the cashless service, taxpayers need to register their vehicles through an e-form at the Vehicle Document Registration Center for verification. After that, the transaction should be completed via Bank DKI ATM machines or via the app JakOne Mobile Bank DKI. He added that the bank had prepared the Bank DKI ATM Combo card for broker service companies that deal with vehicle documents. Kresno said through the digitalization plan, Bank DKI could also serve the authorities in receiving non-tax state revenue and the obligatory donation for road traffic accidents, as well as the aggregator of fund collection from the payment in the Jakarta area. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 18:20 1276 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbcdcbf 1 Business pharmaceutical-industry,exhibition,convention,Southeast-Asia Free Lawmakers, professional associations and pharmaceutical industry players came together in Jakarta at the Convention on Pharmaceutical Ingredients Southeast Asia (CPhI SEA) 2018 from March 27 to 29. They are expected to get together; interact and exchange ideas on improving the pharmaceutical industry, said exhibition organizing agency PT UBM Pameran Niaga Indonesia president director Christopher Eve in Jakarta on Tuesday. He said the organizers expect 5,000 visitors to attend the event. Through this event, pharmaceutical industry players can showcase their technological innovations, trade ideas and collaborate with each other, Eve said. Meanwhile, Health Ministry pharmaceutical and health equipment director general Maura Linda Sitanggang expressed hope that the event would boost investment in the pharmaceutical industry. Since this event allows people to interact with each other, I think it is possible for people to trade ideas and information regarding resources and technology, she told reporters after speaking at the opening ceremony of the event. The three-day event was held at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran and attended by 260 participants from Romania, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Austria and Ireland. The event features a conference, start-up forum, innovation gallery, technology updates and business matching program. (dpk/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 13:59 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbc2d1c 1 City #expats,document,forgery,jakarta,police Free Indian national Kirtipal Singh Raheja, the former director of PT IP, has been detained by the Jakarta Police for allegedly falsifying documents to extend his tenancy at a South Jakarta luxury apartment. The apartment was initially part of Raheja's benefits as a director at PT IP. He was replaced by his successor on Sept. 6, 2017, but he reportedly refused to move out of the apartment, kompas.com reported on Tuesday. That was when he allegedly created the forged documents so that he wouldnt be evicted from the apartment, Jakarta Police general crimes head Comr. Zaky A. Nasution was quoted as saying, noting that the apartment cost US$3,500 (Rp 48 million) in monthly rent. As the company kept trying to force him to leave the apartment, Raheja sent them several allegedly falsified documents to claim that he was the legal occupant. Weve arrested four suspects, because Raheja apparently didnt work alone, Zaky added. Along with the arrest, the police also confiscated several items as evidence, including the forged documents, the deed to the apartment, documents identifying the apartments original owner and receipts for services from a notary public. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua Tue, March 27, 2018 22:45 1276 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbd672a 1 National Jayapura-Police,Jayapura,Papua,marijuana,Papua-New-Guinea,drugs,Drugs-trafficking,Skouw-Wutung Free The Jayapura Police have stepped up measures to fight the distribution of marijuana in the city by strengthening security checks at all of its entrance points at the border with Papua New Guinea. In a two-day security patrol, police officers confiscated 6.2 kilograms of dried marijuana and arrested four suspects. The operation was jointly held by the Jayapura Police and the Army Strategic Reserves Commands 501 Para Raider Infantry Battalion. Marijuana distribution in Jayapura city has been getting worse and all of the drugs have been smuggled from Papua New Guinea. Thats why we are stepping up security patrols at all entrances, in ports and the Papua New Guinea border in Skouw Wutung, Jayapura Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Gustaf Urbinas said on Tuesday. The police arrested the four suspects in different places. One of the suspects, identified only as EL, 31, a Papua New Guinea citizen, was arrested at the Skouw Wutung market on Saturday, during which the police found 500 grams of dried marijuana in his bag. Another suspect, identified only as AF, 19, was arrested on Holtekamp Beach on Monday. He was apprehended on a speedboat with 4 kilograms of dried marijuana. Meanwhile, two other suspects identified only as MW, 42, and KM, 21, were arrested at Jayapura Port on Monday with a total of 1.5 kg of marijuana. They were arrested during a security check on passengers who would board vessels departing for Biak, Manokwari, Sorong and other ports in the central and eastern parts of Indonesia. They planned to distribute the marijuana in Sorong, said Gustaf. (ebf) TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 13:09 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbc160a 4 Business railink,airport-train,routes,extension,Bekasi,transportation-ministry Free The government is considering a request from PT Railink, the company that runs the Jakarta airport train, to have the service extended to Bekasi in West Java. Currently, the railway trips from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport end at Sudirman Baru Station. The Transportation Ministrys railway traffic director, Zulmafendi, said in Bogor, West Java, on Monday that the government needed to study the request, because the route extension would affect many things, including scheduled departures and arrivals. The extension is possible. We can arrange it, but we have to view it comprehensively, because there was a problem with signaling. We plan to start discussing the request next week, said Zulmafendi, as reported by kompas.com. Based on the existing plan, the airport train will eventually run from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Manggarai Station in South Jakarta. Currently, the journey ends at Sudirman Baru Station, as construction at Manggarai Station is still ongoing. PT Railink, a subsidiary of state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), currently operates only one train with six cars and stops at four stations -- Sudirman Baru, Duri, Batu Ceper and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The fare for a single trip is Rp 70,000 (US$4.9). (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 15:31 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbc68dc 1 City Pasar-Rumput-Rusunawa,incident,suspect Free The South Jakarta Police have named a worker at the Pasar Rumput low-cost apartment (Rusunawa) construction site a suspect of a fatal incident at the project site that resulted in the death of a middle-aged woman named Tarminah. South Jakarta police chief Sr. Comr. Indra Jafar said the worker was named a suspect due to his negligence in carrying out his duty. The suspect, however, has yet to be detained as the police are still carrying out further investigation of the case. He has not been detained, but he is charged under the Criminal Code (KUHP) on negligence resulting in death, Indra said, as quoted by tribunnews.com. He added that 13 witnesses had been investigated by the police. Article 359 of the KUHP carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison. Tarminah, 54, was killed on March 18 as she was struck in the head by an iron bar that fell from the unfinished apartment building. (vny) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 11:04 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbbab84 1 Politics Prabowo-Subianto,rachmawati-soekarnoputri,2019-presidential-election,2019-elections,Gerindra-Party,presidential-candidate,running-mate,vice-president Free Gerindra Party deputy chairperson Rachmawati Soekarnoputri has confirmed that its chairman, Prabowo Subianto, would run again for the Indonesian presidency in 2019. Insya Allah [God willing], Pak Prabowo will run [for president]. Just wait and see, said Rachmawati on Monday evening as quoted by kompas.com, after a meeting at Prabowos private residence on Jl. Kertanegara, South Jakarta. Rachmawati, daughter of Indonesias first president Soekarno, said Prabowo would declare his candidacy soon. She added that the party was holding internal discussions on indentifying the right person to accompany Prabowo as his running mate. Rachmawati declined to provide details on individuals who were being considered as Prabowos running mate. If [Prabowo] wants to join the election, then there must be a running mate. But the name of this person is still a secret, she said, adding that the vice presidential candidate must be able to understand and work together with Prabowo. It doesnt matter whether they have a military or civilian background. The most important thing is that they are capable and can work together [with Prabowo], said Rachmawati. (hol/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 14:25 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbc4710 1 City online-application,ojek-service,protest,jakarta,low-tariff Free Thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers protested on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to demand that the government help them get higher pay from the ride-hailing services they work with. The drivers conveyed disappointment over what they call low fares paid by customers, which translates into low income for them. We want the companies to increase the fares, which have been inhumane lately, Adi, one of the protesters, told kompas.com. The drivers, who reportedly did not only come from the Jakarta area but also from Tangerang, Bekasi and Bogor, were rallying from Jl. MH Thamrin to the Presidential Palace. The rally caused traffic congestion on Jl. MH Thamrin. The Jakarta Police diverted traffic in the area because of the protest. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said thousands of personnel had been deployed to secure the protest. Argo added that representatives of the drivers would be allowed to convey their aspirations to the Presidential Palace. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fachrul Sidiq (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 21:49 1276 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbd430b 1 City Thamrin,bombings,witness,trial Free Denying prosecutors' allegations that his terror attack on a North Sumatra Police checkpoint post was inspired by the radical teachings of cleric Aman Abdurrahman, Syawaluddin Pakpahan testified in the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday that he learned about radicalism from websites and messaging service Telegram. Syawaluddin, who along with another perpetrator attacked the post in June last year to steal weapons for future attacks, said he had learned about becoming a militant long before he knew Aman, the defendant in the 2016 Thamrin suicide bombings case. He claimed he had never met Aman and only knew about him from the internet. "I learn about [being a militant] from news websites. I never learn from clerics," said Syawaluddin, who admitted that he could not read the Quran. He said he followed the latest developments in Syria, a war-stricken country, where terrorist group Islamic State (IS) was established, from instant messaging app Telegram. He said he knew of Aman's writings from a channel on the platform. He went to war-stricken Syria alone in 2013 and stayed there for six months before being returned to Indonesia by government officials. He admitted, however, that what the convicted terrorist Aman spread did not contravene his perception about democracy, which he believed was against Islam and Muslims, and the country should get rid of the concept. "I once partook in a democratic election and cast my vote. But not anymore. I also no longer salute the Indonesian flag," Syawaluddin said. Aman, who is also known as a supporter of IS, is serving a sentence at Nusa Kambangan maximum-security prison in Central Java for his role in some terror acts in Indonesia. He was indicted for having incited people to commit several terror attacks, including on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta on Jan. 14, 2016, which killed eight people including civilians. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Tue, March 27, 2018 20:55 1276 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbd3491 2 National saracen,hoax,fake-news Free Prosecutors at the Pekanbaru District Court in Riau have demanded that the panel of judges sentence Jasriadi, 32, the leader of Saracen, a network accused of spreading hate speech through social media, to two years in prison for allegedly hacking some social media accounts. The sentence sought by the prosecutors was lighter than that of Saracen administrator Abdullah Harsono, for whom they demanded four years in prison. The court sentenced Abdullah to two years and eight months in prison in January. Prosecutor Sukatmini asked the panel of judges, led by presiding judge Asep Koswara, to declare Jasriadi guilty. The team of prosecutors had accused him of violating multiple articles in the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. The defendant illegally accessed a Facebook account owned by Sri Rahayu Ningsih, the Saracen coordinator of West Java province. Therefore we ask the panel of judges to sentence him to two years in prison and order him to remain detained, Sukatmini said in the hearing. Sri Rahayu was arrested in August for allegedly spreading fake news and hate speech about President Joko Jokowi Widodo. When the account was being investigated by the police, Jasriadi hacked it and used it to continue spreading fake news and hate speech. He also allegedly hacked another Facebook account belonging to a person named Suarni. Responding to the sentence demands, Jasriadi said he would present his defense statement in the next hearing. The panel of judges adjourned the court until next week. (hol/rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, March 28 2018 Lawmakers, professional associations and pharmaceutical industry players came together in Jakarta at the Convention on Pharmaceutical Ingredients Southeast Asia (CPhI SEA) 2018 from March 27 to 29. They are expected to get together; interact and exchange ideas on improving the pharmaceutical industry, said exhibition organizing agency PT UBM Pameran Niaga Indonesia president director Christopher Eve in Jakarta on Tuesday. He said the organizers expect 5,000 visitors to attend the event. Through this event, pharmaceutical industry players can showcase their technological innovations, trade ideas and collaborate with each other, Eve said. Meanwhile, Health Ministry pharmaceutical and health equipment director general Maura Linda Sitanggang expressed hope that the event would boost investment in the pharmaceutical industry. Since this ... National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is set to start flying from Denpasar, Bali, to Mumbai, India, starting April 23. The new route is expected to provide more options for travelers going to and from Mumbai and ease access for Indian tourists to Indonesia. The airline currently offers a Jakarta-Mumbai service that was launched in 2016. Garuda Indonesia cargo director Sigit Muhartono said in a statement that the new service was part of the company's effort to expand its international network, especially in South Asia, following the growth of Indian tourists to Indonesia at 28.8 percent last year. Read also: Garuda maintains status as five-star airline "This new route also aims to make India our new target market, after China, as well as support the government's program to attract 20 million tourists by 2019. India, as you know, is the country with the second-biggest population in the world and it is currently one of the largest contributors of foreign visitors to Bali," Sigit added. The flight from Denpasar to Mumbai will be available two times per week every Monday and Thursday. Starting in May, it is expected to increase to three times per week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The GA-814 flight will depart from Denpasar at 3:40 p.m. local time and arrive in Mumbai at 8:25 p.m. Meanwhile, the GA-815 flight will take off from Mumbai at 9:50 p.m. and land in Denpasar the next day at 7:55 a.m. Both flights will use the A330-200 aircraft, which can accommodate 36 economy and 186 business class seats With the addition of the route, the carrier will provide services to Mumbai six times per week via Jakarta and Denpasar. (kes) Malaysia Airlines will reportedly move its operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, starting April 9. The airport's executive general manager, M. Suriawan Wakan, told tempo.co on Tuesday that passengers are advised to check their flight's departure terminal and gate on their ticket as well as information on the signage and display screens. "We have prepared all the necessary facilities for the passengers' convenience," he added. Read also: International flights to move to Soekarno-Hatta Terminal 3 by May Terminal 3 has been projected to become the biggest transit airport in Southeast Asia. "The presence of Malaysia Airlines in Terminal 3 can increase competitiveness and airline branding in the aviation industry," said Suriawan. Among the digital-based facilities featured in Terminal 3 are e-parking, a crowd management system, free Wi-Fi, self check-in (currently in progress), digital banners, body scanners, automated immigration, a trolley management system and restrooms equipped with e-surveys. Since early last year, state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II has gradually moved international airlines that are members of Skyteam, an airline alliance comprising 20 carriers worldwide, from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3. Those that have already operated from Terminal 3 are Garuda Indonesia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Korean Airlines, Xiamen Air, China Airlines, China Southern, AirAsia and Korean Air. (kes) Blue Bird taxis will begin promoting the "Wonderful Indonesia" national tourism campaign following its signing a cooperation agreement with the Tourism Ministry. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, who attended Monday's signing event in Jakarta, said that taxi companies were very important to tourism, as they communicated directly with tourists and often provided first impressions of the country to foreign visitors. Read also: Traveloka enlists Blue Bird taxi services "After BlueBird becomes the official partner of Visit Indonesia, we are hoping that the drivers will act as [tourism] service ambassadors for passengers," Arief said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com. PT Blue Bird director Andre Djokosoetono said the company's 20,000-strong taxi fleet across 18 cities and 10,000 Big Bird buses would be coordinated to promote Indonesian tourism. He added that training for drivers and the "Wonderful Indonesia" logo would be applied to taxis in Jakarta first, and then in the 17 other cities of its operations. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, March 27, 2018 08:28 1277 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cbb2c4b 4 News India,Education,bilateral-relations,#education,scholarship,scholarship-program Free Several dozens of Indian alumni in Indonesia gathered together with Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Pradeep K. Rawat at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in South Jakarta to celebrate the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day on Sunday. As part of the celebrations for ITEC Day, which is also known as Indian Alumni Day, Ambassador Rawat unveiled a new Facebook page dedicated to the Indian Alumni Association on Sunday. It connects all the alumni across the archipelago. India, a maritime neighbor and strategic partner of Indonesia, has been offering more than 150 scholarships to Indonesian students every year to study in Indian universities. More than 150 scholarships are specially allocated to Indonesia each year. The scholarships are fully funded and also cover the living allowance and other necessary stipend apart from the return air fare, the Indian Embassys education officer Makrand Shukla said on Sunday at the In- dian Alumni Day celebrations in Jakarta. So far, according to Shukla, more than 1,300 Indonesians, mostly students, government officials and military personnel, had benefited from these scholarships to acquire knowledge and technical skills. The Indonesian Air Forces Col. Candra Wijaya, who recently studied at Indias National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi, shared his experiences in India. I received special treatment at NDC for two reasons. Firstly I am from Indonesia and secondly my name is like an Indian name. The quality of education is very high, Col. Candra said at the gathering There was also a panel discussion on Academic Opportunities in India. Eminent educationist Ravi Makhija, prominent Indian mentor in Indonesia Amol Titus, Super Teacher Institute founder Yoli Hemdi and several others shared their views about the Indian education system and opportunities in India. India is currently undergoing a digital transformation in order to meet the new challenges brought by the so called fourth industrial revolution. India has already become a super power in information and communications technology. According to Shukla, who is also the director of Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Center in Jakarta, the purpose of holding the Annual ITEC Day celebration was to create a network amongst the Indonesian alumni and recognize their contributions to deepening the friendship between India and Indonesia. 'Plastic' has become a dirty word in society. From the images on Blue Planet II to Theresa May's 25-year plan to eliminate all avoidable plastics, we know it's a pressing issue we have to tackle if we want to save our planet. The 5p bag tax in supermarkets has resulted in 9 billion fewer bags being used, and will soon be extended to smaller shops too. Meanwhile, Iceland is making a commitment to reduce plastic in their own-branded produce this year. So what can we do to help? There are lots of small, everyday changes you can make to reduce your use of one-use plastics, which will prevent so much waste ending up in a landfill or the oceans. As an added bonus, many of them will cost you little or even save you money, and might just improve your health too. Here are our top tips to reduce your use of plastics and thus, in a small way, help to save the planet. 1. Buy a reusable water bottle Bottled water is one of the most ridiculous expenses into which we, a country with some of the cleanest water in Europe, have bought. In the UK in 2014, we drank over 2 billion litres of bottled water, meanwhile, there is no evidence to suggest that it is any better for us than the water out of the tap. Indeed, if youre somebody who reuses their empty water bottles, you may even be putting your health at risk. Some evidence suggests that reusing single-use bottles opens the door to ingesting bacteria which hides in the microscopic tears and cracks in the plastic. They were just not designed for such use. Far better to buy a specifically designed reusable water bottle, made from either BPA-free plastic or steel. You can buy cheap ones almost anywhere, or pick up a brand-name bottle for as little as 7 from shops such as TK Maxx. There are dozens of styles and designs to choose from, all of which will be longer-lasting and better-looking than your cracked Evian bottle. 2. Make your own lunch in reusable boxes It is very convenient to pop into a high-street sandwich shop and pick up your lunch, but have you ever considered how much waste is generated by your meal-deal, both physical and financial? Whilst I wouldnt say that stopping your sandwich habit will get you onto the property market any quicker, it is true that the average person could save over 2,000 a year by going old-school and packing their own lunch. Buying a reusable lunch-box also means that you can have more than just a sandwich and crisps for lunch each day. If your box is microwavable, that gives you even more options and will help you use up the leftovers from last nights dinner as well. Check out Instagram to see how inventive and creative people are using #bentobox. A solution which can save you money, looks great on social media and make you feel virtuous. Whats not to like? Head to your local Co-op to pick up ingredients for your #mealprep and get 10% off with NUS extra. 3. Swap to loose-leaf or plastic-free tea bags I know, its awful! Even our tea bags have plastic in them. Apparently, the majority of the 55 billion bags used in the UK each year are made using acrylic polymer emulsions and polypropylene, meaning they simply wont decompose. So youve got two options if you really want to help. Loose-leaf or plastic-free bags. My preference is always for loose-leaf tea: it gives a better flavour and theres something very calming about brewing tea the old-fashioned way. You can, of course, use a teapot, but if theres only you, try a tea-infuser. Its basically a cage that you fill with your tea and dangle into your cup as you would a tea bag. It is a little messier and more time-consuming than bags, but it is worth it. If you feel you simply cant make the switch, there are teabags available which dont use plastic. Pukka Teas are made from organic products and have no plastic in the teabag itself, although it does come in a plastic sachet. Teapigs are also made from fully natural ingredients. These are, however, a little on the pricey side. Pro tip: try buying in bulk from Amazon. Its amazing how much cheaper this can make your cup of tea! 4. Buy a reusable, non-plastic bag The 5p bag tax may have reduced the number of single-use bags we are acquiring, but what happens to the minimally more expensive bags-for-life? We may only be paying out once, but they must go somewhere when we ditch them. Try buying a genuinely reusable tote bag made from cotton or similar materials instead. There are so many available now in a variety of colours, sizes and styles, with a slogan or image to match your character. They also seem to be given away on a regular basis in shopping centres to promote businesses, so you might be able to help without it costing you a penny! Keep one or two shoved in your bag for any spontaneous shopping trips. You may even want to invest in a cool bag for your shop to help keep any chilled or frozen produce from thawing. Give it the odd spray with some disinfectant and it will be good to go for years. Co-op sells a large bag that can also be used to drag your laundry to the washing machine for 1, so that'd be a good place to start. 5. Stop using drinking straws Two billion plastic drinking straws are used in the UK every year, all of which end up in a landfill as they are incredibly difficult to recycle. Following the success of the 5p bag tax, campaigns to ditch the straws have been growing in number, including the Evening Standards Last Straw campaign, which has had some success with leading restaurateurs in the capital. Straws are likely the most wasteful use of plastic of all if you really consider it. The majority of us have no need for them (of course, we know that some people do really need them). For lots of us though, plastic drinking straws are a habit we simply need to break. So, next time youre in a pub, bar or club, skip the plastic drinking straw if you're able and feel a bit better about yourself. Students get 10% off at Co-op with an NUS extra card Sir Lenny Henry is the latest is a long line of stars to call upon the government to improve funding for the arts in schools. Speaking at the launch of Lets Play, a National Theatre initiative to get more schoolkids into drama, Sir Lenny urged the drama industry to be more bullish in its bid to show just what the arts can do. Hes not wrong. As funding cuts have hit schools hard, subjects like drama, music, dance and art are the first to have been squeezed. The government has also introduced new school performance measures called Attainment and Progress 8, which privilege English, maths, the sciences and humanities over and above the arts. From the schools viewpoint, with limited funding and pressure to score highly in these new measures, it makes sense to decrease time spent in music in favour of maths. They need to invest in the high-value subjects. The issue is: who decides what the high-value subjects are? Amanda Spielman of Ofsted, the regulatory body for schools, believes that academic subjects are the best way to higher-level study. The plethora of STEM programmes designed to get students into science, technology, engineering or maths would have us believe the same, whilst such a stigma seems to continue even into university, where medics and physicists traditionally mock those of us with creative writing degrees. Yet there are other ways of measuring value. Economically speaking, the arts sector is incredibly lucrative for the UK. A report commissioned by the Arts Council showed that the industry grew by 10.4% in 2014-15, whilst the UK economy as a whole grew only 2.2%. At a time when the UK is planning its exit from the European Union and each day brings news of yet another high street collapse, an industry which created 363,000 jobs in 2015 alone is not one to be overlooked. The worth of the arts just keeps increasing. The UK TV and film industry is growing faster than its EU counterparts, cinema takings are up and thirty of the Oscar nominees this year were from Britain. Watched any Netflix shows recently? The Crown is an Anglo-American production with a high-profile British cast. Black Mirror is an all-British affair. This is big stuff. The argument goes that arts subjects are desirable additions to somebodys education: the icing on the cake. The priority is for children to be able to read, write, do sums and know some facts. Whilst PE has a useful impact upon childrens health and in a country where one-fifth of 11-year-olds are classed as obese, thats pretty important drama, music and dance are all things which can be pursued in their spare time. Its nice to have, but not essential. Which is all well and good, but all this does is reinforce the inequalities already present in society. The Equality Trust reports that the UK has a surprisingly high level of inequality compared to other developed nations. The haves have an awful lot more than the have-nots. One in four children are deemed to be living in poverty, and the impact upon their health, education and future prospects has been well-documented. Whilst this government claims to be improving life for the poorest, their access to art and cultural education is being restricted. When its a choice between heating the house and extra-curricular drama lessons, Im pretty certain which most parents will opt for. By forcing schools to choose between academic and arts-based subjects, those with the fewest options in society have had a few more taken from them. The arts industry has historically been dominated by those from upper-class backgrounds. Of the twenty-six British actors and actresses nominated for an Oscar since 2000, 46% of them attended an independent school. Across the country, only 5% of students receive a private education. Reducing entitlement to the arts in school will only make it an even more elitist industry. Besides anything else, school is about discovering your niche and skills. For some people, school is a breeze. For others, its a struggle, and their chance to shine comes on the stage or through their artwork. So many schools claim that their mission is to invest in every child and enable them to achieve their full potential. Denying them the chance to tread the boards, play an instrument or pick up a paintbrush closes down pathways and resigns some children to believing that they are simply doomed to fail. Imagine a school with no artwork on the walls, no dance shows or school plays or Christmas concerts. For many of us, these are the things we remember, long after the tedium of science lessons or misery of maths homework. Imagine if school was just classroom after classroom, followed by exam after exam. Thats the reality in schools where the arts is being slowly squeezed to death. Drama and art wont provide careers for everybody. Music doesnt save lives like science does, and dance wont find the remedy for global warming. But what the arts do brilliantly is enrich our lives, from the film we watch on a lazy Sunday to the gig we attend on a Friday night. We cant put a price on these cultural products and nor should we have to. Sir Lenny Henry is right. Time to stand up. Time to make a fuss. Time to save the arts before time runs out. Image credits: Lenny Henry, Red Nose Day 2005 by tormentor4555 Students work in cell biology lab in Peckham Hall by NazWeb Eddie Redmayne at Fantastic Beasts Japanese premiere by Dick Thomas Johnson All sourced via Wikicommons The fairytale surrounds of Estonian capital Tallinn, for one week a year, becomes the European centre for new, underground music from across the globe. Between the 2nd and 8th April, the multi-venue festival takes over the Old Town and surrounding area for new acts from across the world. TMW is known for uncovering acts that often miss the UK music radar and revels in highlighting the Estonian underground as well as music from countries like Russia and the rest of Eastern Europe. With a complete disregard for genre, TMW is more about creating trends rather than following them. A quick look over the hundreds of acts performing will give you alt-pop, indie-rock, synth-pop, metal, hip hop and dark techno. One of the best events on offer is Cryptomarket which over two gigs plays host to the UKs Suzi Wu, Slovenian noise quartet Lynch, Estonian producer, and activist Maria Minerva and indefinable Russian group Mirror Lips - to name a few. These events are also showcasing three acts who are soon to head to UK shores. Tallinn local boy Mart Avi has been described as a new form of pop artist for his strange and combustible pop compositions that mould genre into his own ideas of what music should be. His commanding voice sounds like a Estonian Bowie. He is also performing at Liverpool Sound City. The Great Escape will see sets from Russian post-punk maverick Kate NV and disco punk Wet Red, who combine synth pop and post punk in a manner that could only come from the former Soviet bloc. And its not just music that TMW is all over. The Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center is curating a programme of contemporary art in gallery spaces including a photography from Andres Teiss and an international group exhibit curated by Margot Samel. Alongside all this the TMW Creative Impact Conference will explore creativity in relationship to a range of topics, issues and problems with a wide range of expert speakers and thinkers. Expect in-depth thought and discussion around the theme of New Economy Future of Music, Better Cities, Design Thinking. Tallinn Music Week isnt just about presenting the best of now but the best ideas for the future. If you are looking to combine a trip to one of Europes most unique destinations with the best in new music and culture, Tallinn Music Week is the right event for you. The result? An emotional exploratory dance piece called, which delves deep into public opinion surrounding the political situation dividing the nation: Brexit. The collaborators, Artistic Director Sharon Watson and Professor Stephen Coleman who lectures on political communication were introduced through the Universitys Cultural Institute.Working with dance students from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, Coleman used the interviews conducted with Leave and Remain voters to create a piece that "explores public opinion surrounding the divisive political situation." Coleman explained that the Brexit debate is driven by passion, he was interested in exploring what moves them Im interested in how politics is experienced and felt by people, often in ways that cannot be simply put into words. "Choreographers and dancers are experts at interpreting how and why people move. Its a way of exploring a different dimension of political communication one that can help us to understand raw feelings that are too easily neglected in our political discourse. Speaking about the piece, choreographer Watson hopes that "people find a way of connecting with it because its a story that resonates and will be with us for a very long time. Excerpts from some of the interviews have been woven into a soundscape created by Christella Litras. The piece will be premiered this week in a new series of performances at NSCDs Student Showcase Our first impressions of Chicago were far from positive. Half of our group had arrived from sunny Boston, and the other half from dazzling New York City, so Chicago had a lot to live up to. Our first sight of the city was from the train we took from the airport. We passed only faded beige buildings, set against the backdrop of a mottled grey sky, obscuring the magnificent skyline which we would come to know in the following days. By the time we had arrived at our accommodation, we all viewed Chicago as a drab industrial city, devoid of people and the bustling activity which characterises most North American cities. The next morning we woke up determined to keep an open mind about this famous metropolis. As we wandered closer and closer into the city, under criss-crossing railroad tracks, alongside the glittering river, and in the shadows of gleaming skyscrapers, our positivity was rewarded. Chicago is a wonderland of culture and commerce, home to one of the most famous art galleries in the world, the headquarters of several enormous North American companies and of course, everyones favourite, the bean sculpture. Oh, and it is a paradise for food and music lovers. You cannot leave Chicago until you have sampled one of their famous deep-dish pizzas and listened to some jazz. Here are the top places to visit on a weekend trip to Chicago: Cloudgate Nicknamed the bean by locals and tourists alike, this mirror sculpture provides a unique, and distorted view of the Chicago skyline and the clouds above. Check out your wavy appearance and take some insta-worthy pictures at this famous Chicago landmark. Take the time to meander through the surrounding Millennium Park, an oasis of calm in the middle of a busy city. The Art Institute of Chicago Make sure to dedicate a whole afternoon (or entire day) to this enormous gallery. From contemporary, multi-media exhibits examining the most pressing global concerns of the day, to classic masterpieces, The Art Institute will please everyone. Make sure to check out the current medieval and renaissance exhibition which showcases magnificent pieces of armour, arranged as if in mid-battle. Broadway Get dolled up and catch a Broadway performance at one of the many theatres across Chicago. Hamilton is currently showing, so snatch up those tickets fast! Chicago Riverwalk Wander along this pathway in the early hours of the evening to catch the sunset colours reflecting off the water. This romantic and relaxing experience is remarkably quiet since the path exists at a lower level than the main city streets. Jazz Despite knowing little about jazz, a night at The Jazz Showcase transformed me into a fan. Not only were the performers charismatic and unbelievably talented, the venue itself is cosy and steeped in history this place has been a home for jazz music since 1947. The Jazz Showcase also organises events for under 21s so everyone can enjoy this authentic Chicago experience. Pizza! Recommended by locals, Pequods is THE destination for deep-dish pizza. Queues at this popular restaurant can get long so make sure to book in advance. Settle in, grab a beer and relax the wait for pizza can be long but once you take your first bite, it will all be worth it! Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page In a letter sent to families in the school district, Lincoln Park school Supt. Terry Dangerfield said a threat found Monday at Lincoln Park High School had no merit. The letter, which was distributed Monday read in part: Today, there was a message written on a female bathroom stall that suggested there would be a shooting at LPHS tomorrow (Tuesday). The Lincoln Park Public Schools take these situations very seriously. Immediately, school administration began working with the Lincoln Park police department. Dangerfield said the threat was fully vetted. After an investigation, the Lincoln Park Police and school administration have found no credibility to the message or its suggested threat, his letter reads. As a result, all schools in the Lincoln Park Public Schools will be in session as scheduled. We have asked the Lincoln Park police department to increase their presence in and around the school tomorrow to dispel any concerns you or your student may have. PHOTOS: Students throughout Downriver participate in National Student Walkout Threats have been popping up at schools across the region for the past six weeks after a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida left 17 dead and more injured. It is frustrating that a person or group of people feel the need to write these types of messages, Dangerfield said. I strongly encourage you to discuss with your children the importance of not participating in these types of jokes. They are not funny and the resulting time, energy and distraction they cause will not be tolerated. Any person caught participating in these types of activities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. SEE ALSO: Ecorse student arrested after posting threat on Instagram It's all connected Source: Production Underway on Marvel Studios' 'Captain Marvel' Captain Marvel, not to be confused with DC's Shazam! movie, has finally officially started production. Since it's now official, we are treated to more official information. As mentioned previous, the movie will do much of its production in California, mostly Los Angeles and Fresno, but will also shoot in Louisiana. With the production PR also brings another short description of the movie. We knew the Skrulls would be involved, and also there would be Kree since they are the origin of Captain Marvel, so now we have mention of a war: Based on the Marvel comic character first appearing in 1968, the story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, "Captain Marvel" is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The press release also confirms the casting previously announced such as Brie Larson (of course), Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, and Gemma Chan. As rumored, Lashana Lynch was also added to the class, replacing DeWanda Wise. There are also a few names not previously announced that should sound very familiar to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: The film stars Academy Award winner Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Algenis Perez Soto, Rune Temte, McKenna Grace, with Clark Gregg, and Jude Law. Lee Pace and Djimon Hounsou appeared in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie as Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Persuer respectively. Clark Gregg debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the first Avengers movie as Agent Phil Coulson, and has since made his home on the small screen in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Yep, it's all connected. Captain Marvel takes off March 8, 2019. Brie Larson gets hands-on help from Brigadier General Jeannie Leavitt, 57th Wing Commander, on a recent trip to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to research her character. One of the important pillars of President Weahs Pro-poor Governance platform is agriculture development. And those of us whose parents were traditional subsistent farmers, and still have most family members engaged in this noble activity for their livelihood - at the same time preserving their ancestral villages and land for the future generations must honestly applaud and encourage the President and his government. This is my proposal herein- and not that of an agriculture expect. It is crafted from the experience gained from a patriotic, family engagement ( www.kedo-liberia.org) to assist my people and help rebuild our devastated village after the installation of our democratic government in 2006. In Brief: One Major Source Of Poverty And Urban Migration Anyone viewing the images of Liberia up to the 1930s would observed that for almost a century Liberia was 100% rural, undeveloped and surviving meanly on subsistent farming producing enough country rice, cassava, eddoes, yam, bitter- balls, pepper, eggplant, etc to feed all its people on both sides of the aisles - settlers and indigenous population. Notwithstanding, the main source of revenue for the central government was the abominable hot tax extorted from the indigenous population. Then came the arrival of the new plantation and iron ore economy during the same period (Firestone plantation, LMC et al). For the massive laborers needed, the indigenous population was again sacrificed, forcing most of them to abandon their staple food farming tradition and become the miserable wage laborers. To compensate and contain the revolt, the wage included few cups of the American pot-boiled rice which later became known in the Liberian parlance as pussava and few cents to buy the soup. Further, as the rent from the concessions filled the state coffers, the government finally abandoned the controversial hut tax. But the damage to our national psyche was already consummated. The crops such as rubber, cocoa and coffee in demand and commercialized by the colonial powers -became known as the cash crops; leaving our traditional products without any monetary value. So our new settler bureaucrats and government officials, who yesterday survived on traditional subsistent farming, begun acquiring large tracts of farmland from the indigenous population to establish big private rubber farms, instead of rice, cassava, eddoes or vegetables. Their recruitment methods and wages (if any) were no better than Firestones. With state power, they also became powerful landlords, incorporating entire villages into their fiefdoms, and villagers becoming their de facto subjects to maintain their vast plantation domains. In short, from this point on urbanization begun to grow, leaving behind more than 80% of the population in the rural areas to fetch for themselves - no genuine agriculture policy to develop the enormous rural economic potential; no schools for villagers to send the children; no proper healthcare facilities; no road network, etc. In essence, the subsistent farmers were never considered as making any meaningful contribution to the national economy. The result, after 170 years of independence rural farming activities are still being practiced through the rudimentary traditional farming methods as they were long before 1847. Or to put it more bluntly, over 80% of our population has been totally stagnant, deprived of development both mental and infrastructure for almost 200 years. Isnt it a shame and a real national tragedy? Should we be surprised then that after 170 years of nationhood over 80% of our population is still illiterate? And this is not the only disastrous consequence. The villages are being fast depleted and impoverished because the youths migrate massively to the urban areas to seek better opportunities, but turned out to become the most jobless youths, homeless, illiterate, pehn-pehn drivers, drug pushers, delinquents, etc a vicious circle of extreme poverty that eats up the fabrics and the core values of our nation; and thus a permanent threat to our national peace and stability. Agriculture Cooperatives To Save Our Rural Subsistent Farmers, Reduce Poverty, Urban Migration, And Feed Liberia? Logically, since our rural subsistent farmers are more than 170 years behind in agriculture development, education and everything else, you can not start them off with 21st-century tractors and plowing machines. That would be a lost case in advance and waste of needed fund. And second, these rural subsistent farmers have survived more than 170 years on farming: thus in effect, they are the real professional farmers that must be targeted first and foremost in the government agriculture program before the urban proletariat which has lost touch with the tough rural life. Additionally, I think it would take us a very long time to equip our entire country with the adequate farm-to-market road network. And also with the acute shortage of fund, let realism guide our planning efforts. In consideration of the above, I propose a model of National Agriculture Cooperatives. It is an institutionalized NGO quick impact concept, less costly for a start, but great results when properly implemented for continuity. Imagine, our partners are today financing Agriculture Cooperatives in Liberia; were we in the 1970s, it certainly would be branded a dangerous communist idea of state farms. Well, the time has changed. So what I am suggesting here is a well-organized state pre-financing scheme directly to the individual subsistent farmers, but organized as groups in their villages and localities throughout the country. The government will provide seeds and simple, practical agriculture tools (power saws, cutlasses, hoes, rain outfits, etc); carry out training, rigorous supervision, and controls; collect the crops after harvest and be the sale agent; create centralized agro-industrial processing facilities to transform, conserve and add value to produce. Each group of community farmers will contribute a fraction of their earnings to the group account; and this money will serve to take care of the general community needs maintaining schools, healthcare services, purchase farming tools, set up micro-finance, etc. I have the fervent conviction and optimism that a genuine economic empowerment of our subsistent farmers through what they master the most will have a triple effect: boost their purchasing power and the national economy, keep the youths from urban migration and attract the others to return to their villages and towns to help sustain a vibrant rural development. Organizational Mechanisms First and foremost, there must be a competent, robust and committed Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to pilot the program. And second, I suggest an organizational structure at 4 levels: Village, District, County and National. Village level There must be established a Farmers Union which, with its officers shall watch over the affairs of its members; serves as a liaison between the MOA and District leadership; supervise the maintenance of the farming tools; that group saving is properly managed and the rest. District level This is where the first group of state actors for monitoring, purchasing, and commercialization, conservation, transformation, etc are stationed (MOA, LPMC, and MOI). The District must also have a Farmers Union that will include all the Districts village farmers unions. The District should establish a general market day among the villages for the villagers to assemble and sell their surplus produce. County-level - The county headquarter is the big administrative and commercial center. It should be the main seat of the state actors (MOA, LPMC and MOI, and as such should have the major agro-industrial processing facilities rice mill and cassava processing depending on what is most productive in the county. National level This is the nerve center where major produce transformation and commercialization should take place. As the seat of government, the Ministries of Agriculture, Interior and Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC) need to work closely together here and coordinate their roles. LPMC must expand its activities from the cash crop to include the collection and commercialization of all the produce of the subsistent farmers. Well, there must also be a national Farmers Union; and the importance of these unions is to keep the Liberians aware that their rural subsistence farmers are in the forefront of the economy and national development. Agro-Industrial Processing Facilities As a starter, each county, District and village groupings should have some sort of state agro-industrial processing facilities ( rice mill, cassava processing, and others) to transform and add value to produce. Such facilities could be managed by the LPMC or MOA. In any event, for these facilities to get a regular supply of produce both MOA and LPMC must set up easily accessible collect and sale points in every farming sector. Though there is no farm-to-market road network, most harvest period is during the dry season when most villages and towns should be accessible. Well, for the opponents of state intervention, the farmers in capitalist Europe are generously state-subsidized. So why not Liberia? Besides, these folks also have agriculture cooperatives which permit farmers not to go around individually to look for a market for their wheat, corn, and others. We must stop being naive; once our traditional agriculture sector is producing efficiently and managed effectively, private investors will definitely come in. Agriculture Training Institutes There should be an Agriculture Training Institute in each county. Or should there be a college in each county, agriculture should be integrated into its curriculum? And the government should provide scholarships on stringent conditions, that during the vacations and after graduation, the recipients should return to their villages to assist their parents with farming activities. Agriculture Statistics or Data The governments agriculture program will not be effective unless it is implemented with valid statistics on hand. For example: What is the population of subsistent farmers per county, district, village and up to the national level? What crops are cultivated the most and where, etc? What is the volume of the various crops production per annum? Liberians need valid statistical data to better plan the development of the country or else we will always fail. And this does need millions of dollars or any partner financial support. We can do it ourselves at a very little cost if only we empower our Ministries and Agencies to do their jobs properly. I, therefore, suggest that the MOA should publish an annual Agriculture Journal to give a regular picture of the agriculture sector; productions and earnings of our rural subsistent farmers and their difficulties, etc. Land rights And Boundaries Officially Demarcated The Land Commission must establish a special Rural Land Code to protect the land rights of the traditional farmers. The villagers know (or at least in my village) the exact area's families have habitually cultivated and quarters in the town. Our people must be given official Land Certificates to protect them from national and international land usurpers. And second, I appeal to the government to do an official boundary demarcation between our villages to avoid a future land conflict or war in Liberia. Luckily, most of our villagers know to the village boundaries. Again, I do not think this is necessarily a question of money, but simply the genuine will to properly organize our country for prosperity and protect the undeniable rights of all our people. Lastly, in this very public manner, and as I have also done in 2006 (see: www.theperspective.org/article/0217200602.html Liberian Criminal Justice System: In Retrospect and Reforms) I propose my voluntary service, advice and experience to the government on this subject matter, and including my proper career area as a security professional. It is only a small patriotic gesture. While Liberia might have experienced growth over the last decade, the country has been swamped by huge economic challenges especially since the twin shock (Iron ore and rubber prices reduction) coupled with the post-Ebola epidemic. In this article, we strive to explore the challenges for achieving sustainable pro-poor growth and poverty reduction in Liberia against the backdrop of an increasing disillusion with Liberias performance in these regards in recent years. A review of our economy, though indicative of past successes, still highlights an excessive belief that macroeconomic stabilization and investment in human development more or less automatically would translate into pro-poor growth something that has diverted attention from the need to think through the challenges of achieving sustained pro-poor growth. In order for us to break such a trend, we must strive not to only present the many trends of stagnation in poverty reduction but to redirect our focus to the following: Diversifying of our economy through the development of the manufacturing and service-oriented sectors Increasing our focus on the issue of population growth. Developing a rapid and long-term sustainable program that focuses on the intensification of the agrarian sector of our country. Liberias economic development and poverty reduction efforts since the end of the civil carnage has in many ways been noteworthy. Though not significantly, we have witnessed some improvements regarding economic sustainability with resources being channeled to capital investments across major parts of the country (i.e. the growth corridor, the Mount Coffee hydro, referral hospitals and communal roads among others). Despite these, Liberia is still in a very early development stage both in terms of demography and the economy. With the many attractions in the urban areas, the demographic transition seems to be tilted towards urbanized areas thereby leaving fertile rural land rich for agricultural activities in a state of abandonment. Our modern non-farm sector is in its state of infancy while urbanization remains very low. Moreover, even with what seems to be a liberalization of trade and commerce, Liberia has a fairly closed economy when measured against actual trade flows. Export makes up 23.5% (2015) of our GDP (USD 2.3 billion/World Bank / Exports as % of GDP) while our economy remains heavily reliant on imports (USD 1.3 billion, 2016 estimate CIA World Factbook). Import commodities include fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs etc. covering imports from Singapore 28.7%, China 16%, South Korea 15.3%, Japan 10.3%, Philippines 6.6% (CIA World Factbook, 2015). Real GDP growth 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 8.2% 12.7% 6% 5.1% 6.1% 7.4% 8.3% 2013 2014 2015* 2016* 2017* 8.7% 0.7% 0% 2% 4% *Estimate (IMF World Economic Outlook, 2016). Urban population as % of total population 1960 1980 2000 2016 19% 35% 44% 50% *Estimate (World Bank Urban Population). In spite of our country-specific feature (seaport), which gives us a natural advantage when compared to Uganda for example, which is land-locked and has to endure huge tariff through high transport costs on both exports and imports, our international competitiveness is weak. Liberia ranks 131 out of 138 countries on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) according to World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness ranking. Additionally, Liberia still struggles with the issue of a dual currency regime (US$ and L$) while the only monetary tool intervention available by the Central Bank is to periodically auction US$ with the hope of stabilizing the economy-something which is not a long-term sustainable strategy. To date, what seems to be an impressive economic development and poverty reduction efforts, which involves the establishment of anti-graft institutions, the introduction of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and the Agenda for Transformation (AfT), has to date been based on discrete events; favorable circumstances (International goodwill), reforms across government and periodic events (sudden fall in the exchange rates). While these appear to have yielded some form of one-face bonuses, these cannot be expected to drive our long-term future growth even though they are essential preconditions. Of late, our most outstanding discrete events have been the peaceful transfer of power dividend we enjoy after almost 74 years and a significant increase in foreign aid. The rubber and iron ore boom in the last few years contributed significantly to a marked but was short-lived boost due to the fall in demand from China and other steel importing nations. Total population 1990 2000 2010* 2016* 2021* N/A 3.065 million 3.778 million 4.399 million 4.944 million *Estimate (IMF World Economic Outlook, 2016) While peace and stability have a particularly large positive impact on economic growth, a very low economic activity and coupled with the additional cost of doing business due to huge energy cost, it has affected greatly our macroeconomic stability. Even with all of the reforms that have been reaped, growth has slowed down due to decline in international markets and economic instability. Lest we forget, these trends are expected to continue at such a declining rate of growth even up to present and beyond (See World Bank and IMF report on declining Iron ore and Rubber prices). Unless our rate on investments increases, high rates of sustained economic growth will be difficult to achieve. We must increase our investments in capital projects (roads, bridges etc.), the manufacturing, service oriented and agrarian sectors and the provision of cheap and affordable energy supply. While the importance of exports for growth is undeniable, sustainable growth also needs to be built on increasing and stable domestic demand, and a development and deepening of domestic production linkages (effective supply chain). To secure sustainable high rates of economic growth in the years to come, Liberia needs a viable private sector that increases the productive capacity in the economy continuously through competitive pressure and responds with higher investments rates. To achieve this, it will require an environment centered on peace and tranquility, a liberalized economy and macroeconomic stability, which are pre-conditions and serves as an engine for a more productive real economy. Moreover, the extent to which economic growth has to be pro-poor has also been determined by the specific interventions made by the government and the relevant stakeholders as well as external factors. Favorable iron ore and rubber prices favorably affected the poverty-based during the boom. Many small farm startups began with higher dividend to farmers. Of late, what we have witnessed is a somewhat reduction in poverty despite our unfavorable changes in terms-of-trade which has partly been driven by increased support from donors in areas of health and education. Finally, Liberia cannot expect continued increases in pro-poor changes and or donor support (Presidents Weah recent trip to Paris and Nigeria are classic examples) in terms-of-trade so long poverty reduction mechanisms arent sustained and based primarily on redistributive factors. For pro-poor growth to become sustainable it must be based on growth in which the poor are given opportunities as economic actors, i.e. economic development that creates productive employment opportunities for the poor, productivity gains in agriculture (both with regard to labor and land) and economic diversification (development of the non-farm sectors). This calls for a focus on employment and employability and labor productivity while focusing on human resources and the need to create conditions that are conducive to unleashing the creative and productive forces that are needed and inherently necessary with particular emphasis on the poor as a starting point. This when achieved, will lead to an enhanced employment and huge returns on labor and strengthening the productive resources and capacity of the individual people, in general Liberians and in particular, the poor. This will open up opportunities for all and all our people to make full use of the productive resources at hand and as a main avenue for reducing income poverty and achieving pro-poor growth. Stephen Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a Master Degree (MBA, Highest Honors) in Finance. A postgraduate Leadership Certificate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and has a Master in Public Policy from the Penn State University. He has over 15 years of experience in finance, governmental administration/policy, special programs business development, account management, process improvement, and team leadership. He can be contacted at stepkirsten@live.com. NA Chairwoman's activities in Netherlands Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan arrived at Schiphol International Airport, Amsterdam, on March 26 morning (local time), beginning her three-day official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives Khadija Arib. Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan at the airport. The Vietnamese top legislator was welcomed at the airport by General Secretary of the Dutch House of Representatives Frans Van Dijk and Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa, among others. As the first visit of a Vietnamese NA leader to the country, the trip aims to consolidate friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with the Netherlands amid the celebration of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations (April 9). It will mark a new milestone in friendship and cooperation between the two Parliaments. The two sides will exchange information and experience in each country's parliamentary activities and areas of interest; promote cooperation in multi-lateral parliamentary forums to which the two parliaments are members, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the Asia- Europe Parliamentary Partnership. Over the past 45 years, the Vietnam Netherlands relations have grown fruitfully in all fields and been further deepened. Mutual understanding and trust have been strengthened via high-level visits and cooperation mechanisms. Top legislator meets Vietnamese community in the Netherlands National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets Vietnamese community in the Netherlands. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has lauded the contributions of the 20,000-strong Vietnamese community in the Netherlands, especially the Vietnamese Association in The Hague, to promoting Vietnams image to the world and social movements at home. Meeting officials of the Vietnamese community and officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in the European country on March 26, the top legislator noted that the association has worked with the Vietnamese Embassy to organise Vietnamese classes in the country since late 2017, promoting national culture and traditions. She affirmed the Party and States policy of considering overseas Vietnamese communities an inseparable part of the nation, noting that many policies have been designed to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese people abroad to return home and seek business opportunities, especially in science and technology. A revised Law on Technology Transfer has been issued, aiming to encourage more technology transfer to Vietnam, she noted. She also praised the efforts of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands in implementing tasks assigned by the Party and State, pledging that the NA will create optimal conditions for the embassy to operate efficiently. She expressed delight at the sound friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands over the past 45 years, as well as strengthened bilateral political trust. Links in climate change response, water management, sustainable agriculture and food security have been fruitful, she added. The Netherlands has become the largest export market of Vietnam in the EU. Two-way trade in 2017 exceeded 7.7 billion USD, while the Netherlands ranks 11th out of 126 foreign investors in Vietnam with total investment of 8.17 billion USD. NA Chairwoman pledges favourable condition for Dutch investors NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan at the reception for NVCC delegation The Vietnamese National Assembly will create a favourable, transparent and equal legal environment for foreign investors in general and those from the Netherlands in particular to do business in Vietnam. NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the pledge at a reception for leaders of the Netherlands-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) in The Hague on March 26 during her ongoing official visit to the country. The legislation leader said her visit to the country aims to deepen ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands and between the two parliaments. She hailed the NVCCs role in helping Dutch enterprises explore and invest in Vietnams market, believing that with its experience and knowledge of Vietnam, as well as its close-knit ties with the Dutch Government, the EU, the Embassy and other organisations of Vietnam in the country, the NVCC will provide more support for local enterprises to do business in Vietnam. She hoped that the NVCC would continue serving as a bridge connecting Dutch investors with Vietnam. For his part, NVCC President Erik Mattyssen briefed Ngan on the organisations structure and operation, saying it was established in 1995 after a Dutch business delegation visited Vietnam to explore the countrys investment environment. The NVCC aims to promote investment and trade between the two countries, Mattyssen said, adding that all NVCCC management board members are leaders of enterprises and groups that are operating successfully in Vietnam. He lauded Vietnams investment environment, expressing his belief in the countrys huge potential for economic development as well as investment opportunities for Dutch enterprises. More and more enterprises from the Netherlands invest in Vietnam nowadays, he said, affirming that this shows the increasingly effective cooperation between the two nations enterprises. He extended thanks to the Vietnamese top legislator for her commitment to a favourable, transparent and equal legal environment to foreign investors, pledging that the NVCC will do its utmost to connect the two countries firms. Currently, Vietnam and the Netherlands are important trade and investment partners, with the latter Vietnams biggest export market in the EU. In 2017, two-way trade between the two countries exceeded 7.77 billion USD. The Netherlands ranked 11 out of 126 nations and territories investing in Vietnam, with 305 projects worth nearly 8.2 billion USD. Vietnam treasures relations with Netherlands NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Queen of the Netherlands Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. Vietnam attaches great importance to relations and cooperation with the Netherlands, seeing it as an example of significant and effective relations between Vietnam and an European country. National Aseembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the statement while meeting with Queen of the Netherlands Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on March 26. Ngan recalled Queen Maximas visit to Vietnam in May 2017 in capacity as the United Nations Secretary Generals Special Envoy on Comprehensive Finance for Development, during which the Queen shared with Vietnamese authorities information and experience on financial markets in the context of Vietnam developing the field. Vietnam still needs to make more efforts and hopes to continue to receive the attention and support of the international community, Ngan said, expressing her wish that the Queen, as the representative of the Netherlands and the UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy on Comprehensive Finance for Development, would help mobilise financial and technical resources from the UN and other international organisations to held Vietnam implement comprehensive financial efficiency. Queen Maxima lauded Vietnams efforts in developing the national strategy on inclusive growth to promote full access to financial services, enhance its economic position and develop the country. The Queen urged the Vietnamese Government to approve a national strategy on comprehensive finance and establish a coordination committee for the strategy. Along with that, Vietnam should implement a telecommunications correspondent network for payment functions, she said. The Dutch Queen also proposed Vietnam pay more attention to training human resources and spend resources to implement this strategy. She said she would discuss with the World Bank to devise policies to help Vietnam implement this strategy effectively. NA Chairwoman receives Rotterdam intl ports Director Vietnamese delegates (R) meet with representatives from the Port of Rotterdam International National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has suggested stronger cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands in seaport development during a reception for Director of the Port of Rotterdam International (PORint) Rene Van Der Plas in The Hague on March 26 (local time). During the meeting, the Vietnamese top legislator affirmed her ongoing official visit to the Netherlands aims to promote and further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations in general and their parliaments in particular. She also highlighted the fruitful bilateral relations across fields over the last 45 years, ceaselessly reinforced political trust. The two countries are now important economic and trade partners of each other. Vietnam needs to learn from PORints experience in optimising the production and business process, and distributing goods globally, in close connection with the science and technology revolution in the transport and IT sectors, she stressed. In his response, Rene Van Der Plas briefed NA Chairwoman Ngan on PORint, one of the largest in Europe and the world, saying that it is a modern operation and management model, especially in creating added value processes, providing warehouses and distributing goods. The port has worked as a trans-shipment port for about 460 million tonnes of goods, ranking eighth among the largest ports in the world, he noted. PORint has attracted investment from many global leading enterprises, he said, adding that it is also connected to industrial parks, and has great potential for reaching production and consumption markets. The top Vietnamese legislator asked PORint to support Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese localities in planning, building and managing port infrastructure; maritime training; logistics service; flood tide and urban flood prevention. While hailing the Dutch Governmentfunded International Business Programme on cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherland in sea, port and inland waterways, she expressed her belief that the programme will contribute to creating a smooth transport corridor in the multi-mode transport connection system in Vietnams Mekong Delta region and Ho Chi Minh City. VN wants to learn from Netherlands delta development: NA chief National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Hermen Borst, Dutch Director of the Staff of the Delta Programme Commissioner Vietnam wishes to learn from the Netherlands experience in planning strategies and mobilising finance to sustainably develop its Mekong Delta, said National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Ngan made the remark while meeting Hermen Borst, Director of the Staff of the Delta Programme Commissioner, in The Hague on March 26, as part of her official trip to the European country. Underscoring her visits aim of strengthening ties with the Netherlands and its parliament, the top legislator said Vietnam Netherlands relations have undergone 45 years of fruitful development across fields, with increasing political trust. The two countries signed strategic partnership arrangements on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management in 2010 and on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in 2014, she noted, saying these are effective cooperation models capitalising on the Netherlands strengths and contributing to sustainable growth in Vietnam. For his part, Hermen Borst said he took part in a conference on sustainable development of Mekong Delta in response to climate change held in Vietnams Can Tho city last year. He said he was impressed with the speech made by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the conference and with the local Governments issuance of Resolution 120/NQ-CP on the matter in 2017. Both Vietnam and the Netherlands are affected by climate change, the official noted, informing the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman of his countrys experience in the field, particularly its promulgation of the Delta Act and Delta Programme. The Delta Act constitutes the legal basis for the Delta Fund, which can be used to finance the projects of the Delta Programme. The Delta Commissioner is leading the Delta Programme, which includes research to identify the climate challenges and potential solutions, and submission of recommendations to the parliament for suitable financing. With such experience, the Netherlands wants to stand side by side with Vietnam in adapting to climate change and protecting water resources, he affirmed. Expressing her delight at the Dutch officials sharing, Ngan said it would be valuable knowledge for Vietnam along its path to sustainably develop the Mekong Delta. NA Chairwoman attends ceremony marking Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties At the ceremony Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan highlighted the continuous development of the Vietnam-Netherlands cooperation in all areas over the past 45 years while addressing a ceremony in The Hague on March 26. The top legislator attended the ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands as part of her official visit to the country from March 26-28. Vietnam and the Netherlands have become a strategic partner of each other in major spheres like climate change response and water management, and food security and sustainable development, she said. Such cooperative achievements have been reaped not only for the past 45 years but more than 400 years since Dutch vessels anchored at Vietnams Hoi An port to trade rice and pepper, the NA Chairwoman stressed. Nowadays, the Netherlands is affirming its role as Vietnams leading European investment and trade partner, with famous businesses like Heineken, Damen, Unilever, Fiesland Campina and Philips, she said. The leader hailed contributions of the Dutch firms to Vietnams socio-economic development and integration, as well as cooperation between the two countries, for the sake of their people. The sectoral strategic partnership has created a premise for bilateral collaboration in all related areas like marine economy, infrastructure, agriculture, national defence and education, she said. Noting Vietnams reform efforts in all fields, NA Chairwoman Ngan said the country has received valuable support of the Netherland on the path, through various cooperation programmes. The leader expressed her belief that the bilateral relationship will continue to yield fruits, and that cultural and art exchange programmes, along with investment and trade promotion forums to be held in the two countries in 2018 will help bring the them closer to each other. Speaking at the ceremony, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, emphasised similarities shared by Vietnam and the Netherlands. She applauded cooperative achievements gained by the two countries over the past decade, especially in water management and climate change combat, with the most noteworthy being the Mekong Delta Plan 2013. The Netherlands wants to maintain the close cooperation with Vietnam towards a Mekong Delta of sustainability and prosperity, she said. Farmers can drive change or be driven by it Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:45 am The public is invited to a second Community Open House to learn about WSU Vancouver's Master Plan. The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 27 in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 129. Parking is available at meters and in the Blue Daily Pay lot for $3; $1.50 after 5 p.m. The open house will review summarized community comments given at the first meeting. An introduction of Master Plan principles will be presented, along with Master Plan concept alternatives. Anyone interested in commenting who cannot attend the open house may visit events.vancouver.wsu.edu/master-plan-public-comment-form to review the plan and leave feedback. WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver, east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. WSU Vancouver Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 5:00 am Last Friday morning community leaders and Columbia Credit Union officials gathered at 1013 Southwest Scotton Way in Battle Ground the corner of Scotton Way and state Route 503 for the ceremonial wall raising of the Scotton Landing branch which is slated to open sometime this summer. Informational flyers being handed out at the event read, Battle Ground is growing and so are we! at the top and President and CEO Steve Kenny offered a similar resolve. This community is going to continue to grow and we feel its reached its capacity to serve all these people, he said of expanding beyond the Fred Meyer location theyve held for 15 years. Battle Ground officially surpassed 20,000 citizens for the first time last year and this particular corner of the city is a good representation of its rapid growth. Across the street rests a collection of relatively new branch restaurants and the Battle Ground Walmart Supercenter and just southwest of it is the sprawling, and only a few years old, Alder Pointe Apartments. Kenny said they chose that corner because of its easy access and visibility. Unlike the Fred Meyer location, Scotton Landing will offer a three-lane drive through, which Kenny said will prove popular in a more rural area where most people drive to their bank. Additional services that will be offered include 24/7 drive-up ATM and night deposit box, and safety deposit boxes. At 3,900 square feet, Scotton Landing is almost four times the size of their Fred Meyer branch. Among other things, credit union staff said it will allow for easier private conversations with members. It will employ around 10 staff members. The Fred Meyer branch currently serves over 7,000 Battle Ground residents. Crossing state line Columbia Credit Union, which first launched in 1952, also opened its first Oregon branch earlier this year, the Buckman branch, located at SE 10th and Belmont in Portland. This gives the credit union a total of 13 branches 12 of which are in Clark County making up more than 91,000 members. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:53 am U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, might be in for a tough race if a recent poll from a Democratic political research firm is any indication as far below half of those polled said they would vote again for the incumbent Congresswoman. A release from the campaign of Democrat Carolyn Long, a challenger to Herrera Beutlers seat as the Third Congressional District of Washington Representative, was released last week and provided summary of the results of a survey conducted by Lake Research Partners, a political strategy firm that has helped numerous Congressional Democrats in the past. The highlight was a question on whether would-be voters would cast their ballots for Herrera Beutler, with only 38 percent polled saying they would vote for the Republican again. The poll took place over the period of March 8-12 and featured about 400 respondents, according to the release, with close to a 5 percent margin of error. Although fewer than half said they would vote for Herrera Beutler, only 20 percent of respondents said they would vote to replace her with another 22 percent saying they would consider it. Nineteen percent of respondents did not know what they would do. Lake Research Partners provided further insights though a spokesman from Longs campaign said the full data would not be released as it is proprietary. Herrera Beutlers job performance was at 39 percent among those polled, and only 27 percent approved of Republicans work in Congress. Im excited that the poll shows what weve been seeing at more than a dozen in-person town halls before 1,100 constituents across the district, Long said. People dont see the incumbent fighting for them, they only see Washington, D.C. giving tax breaks to the super wealthy while trying to take away peoples healthcare. Ive been polling voters in swing districts for a long time, so trust me when I say that this is a winnable race and weve got the best chance with Carolyn Long, Lake Research Partners President Celinda Lake stated in the release. Carolyns background about growing up in a rural community, working her way through college as a department manager at Safeway, attending graduate school and becoming a professor at WSU Vancouver for more than 22 years; its a story that voters can get behind. Long has been a professor at WSU-Vancouver, the release stated, teaching classes in American institutions, public law, American public policy and public civility. She is one of three Democratic challengers to Beutler alongside businessman and lawyer David McDevitt and Iraq War veteran Dorothy Gasque, and will compete against them and Herrera Beutler in the top-two primary Aug. 7, with the winners moving to the Nov. 6 election. As a pollster, Lake Research Partners has a slight lean to Democratic biases at about a half a percentage point according to fivethirtyeight.com, a statistical analysis website strongly associated with politics. Overall the pollster has a B+ rating by the site and had called races correctly 83 percent of the time. The release also noted a slew of Longs endorsements including former representatives Brian Baird and Don Bonker of Washingtons Third Congressional District, National Womens Political Caucus, the Clark County Democratic Women, Laborers International Union of North America Local 335, NW Carpenters Local 146, and Washington & Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:55 am Those at Woodland Middle School taking part in national demonstrations calling attention to gun violence were hit with disciplinary action, though according to school staff they had warning. Woodland Middle School students taking part in demonstrations March 14,in remembrance of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida. the month before, received lunch detentions as a result of their actions. Following the student-led demonstrations multiple individuals contacted The Reflector regarding the action, prompting an explanation from the district. According to district spokesman Eric Jacobson, the students had fair warning they would be reprimanded. On Tuesday, March 13, Woodland Middle Schools administrative team informed the teaching staff that any students who left classrooms for more than 15 minutes should be marked with unexcused absences as the National Walk Out was not a school-sanctioned event, Jacobson wrote in an email, adding that no staff authorized the walkout. Jacobson added that administrators spoke with students who left their classrooms, and all students who participated in the walkout received an unexcused absence for the class period. All students receiving the unexcused absence received one lunch detention, which Jacobson wrote was the schools lowest-level disciplinary action and was not something that would adversely affect students grades. Regardless of explanation, parents of students hit with the detention arent happy with the action. One parent who wished to remain anonymous said that students at the middle school were not old enough to fully understand the reasoning behind the demonstration, with their own child in tears at the end of the day following the event explaining what had happened. I dont think its fair, the parent said. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:34 am Woodland officials are looking at city parks in 2018 as the city council heard proposals both for an off-leash dog area and a pocket park on city-owned land during their regular meeting March 19. The council voted 6-0 to send both a proposal for a park on a parcel on South Pekin Road owned by the city, as well as funding requests for about $40,000 for park development in three areas to both the city parks advisory board and its public works committee with further review. Councilor Susan Humbyrd was absent. The South Pekin Road property was eyed by the Woodland Chamber of Commerces recently-formed strategic development committee for a pocket park on the one-third acre parcel. Woodland Chamber of Commerce President Erica Rodman explained that when the committee was looking at projects they could do almost immediately the parcel stood out as it is currently not in use by the city, with city crews only maintaining the parcel by mowing. The goal of the committee was to have the city dedicate the property as a park, with the committee providing volunteer labor and raising funds to install features they wanted including benches facing Horseshoe Lake and plantings that would attract birds and were drought-resistant to help entertain guests and cut down on maintenance. When complete, it would be the city maintaining the property, Rodman said, adding that it would still be city property throughout the process. We would just like the creative license to go in and to be able to install elements to a park, Rodman said, adding the committee knew they had the manpower to get the installation complete. Rodman said initially should the city approve the agreement then she would bring it back to the chamber board for them to execute the plan she said, though Councilor Janice Graham had concern over the development not being first brought up in the chamber before going to the city. This is the first Ive heard about it, Graham, a chamber board member, remarked. Public Works Director Tracy Coleman voiced concerns regarding additional maintenance her department would have to undertake with the new park. She brought up the retirement of one park maintenance staff and the loss of summer workers as not making the project feasible for 2018. This is an absolutely wonderful idea and I would love to see this move forward, Coleman said, but we probably, without additional dollars to bring a full-time staff on board, (cannot) do something elaborate as far as plantings go. Coleman did acknowledge the steps taken by the committee to cut down on maintenance, mentioning specifically drought-resistant plants, saying she wanted to run it by her own department staff to see its true feasibility. As long as it is what (Rodman) states, I am all for it, Coleman remarked. The pocket park was referred to committees alongside a funding request to use more than $40,000 of the citys park impact fees to funding projects at three spots around the city, one of which would be an off-leash dog run, as referred to in staff documents, right off of Exit 21. Coleman presented the plan for the park would require about $14,300 for the improvements needed. It would be situated southwest of a former park-and-ride location currently owned by Washington State Department of Transportation. Coleman said she wanted to get the development open for discussion and not action at the meeting as later in the week the parks board would convene for the first time of the year and the issue with WSDOTs ownership of the former park-and-ride had yet to be resolved. Coleman said she would be asking WSDOT to deed their parcel and give right-of-way to the city at little to no cost due to it having no infrastructure to support development. The area where the dog run would be located had been maintained for years by city staff mowing it, which would be the only maintenance need for the park once completed. Another property owner in the area of the park, the diking district, was all for it on utilizing property they own for a dog run, she added. Coleman talked some of the specifics, including five-foot fences that would be spaced in such a way that should an animal jump a fence there would be a buffer between the run and an existing WSDOT-owned fence to give time to recover the animal. Also featured would be double-gated entry common at dog parks and signage stipulating rules and liabilities with similar wording to parks in Moses Lake and Castle Rock. With the possibility of work on the Interstate 5 interchange, Councilor Benjamin Fredricks asked about construction improvements on Exit 21 affecting the park. Coleman said that the only area needed by WSDOT in the event of improvements would be a portion of the parking area, an area that wouldnt be allowed for vehicle parking anyway. Other projects that would be funded by park impact fees included improvements at Horseshoe Lake Park and the rehabilitation and reopening of Goerig Park which has been closed for years. In total, the $40,000 is only part of $58,000 in park impact fees that have to be used this year or they will be gone, Coleman said, which caused her to look at any way she can to use funds without purchasing land, leading to the request. Though none of the funding requests or the pocket park were approved by council, instead going to committees for their recommendation, Fredricks alongside fellow Councilor Dave Plaza both pushed for some sort of public participation, be it an open house or some other outreach, in order to get residents opinions. I think what is missing here is the public process, Fredricks remarked. Coleman said a large part of that outreach would be education, explaining that park impact fees can only be used for a specific set of projects. Still, Fredricks wanted to make sure what the people were getting was actually what they wanted. Maybe there are a lot of folks asking for a dog park and thats what they want to see I have nothing that tells me that, other than a few people that have said a dog park would be great, Fredricks said. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:56 am The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an omnibus spending bill that includes funding for several issues relative to Southwest Washington, according to U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground. From strong resources to confront the opioid epidemic harming communities across Southwest Washington, to fishery disaster relief on our coasts, to money for roads and infrastructure, this bill reflects the hard work we did all last year on the Appropriations Committee, Herrera Beutler said in a press release. Im also pleased we passed a fire borrowing fix so the Forest Service can be freed from having to raid its forest management budget to combat the devastating wildfires weve seen recently. The spending bill includes two years of funding for the Secure Rural Schools Act which would help schools in formerly timber-dependent counties, a wildfire borrowing fix to establish an emergency fund for fighting wildfires, $1 billion for mental health programs, $20 million for fishery disasters and $4 billion to fight the opioid epidemic. The bill also includes $2 billion for school safety, a 2.4 percent pay raise for the military, $81.5 billion to the Veterans Administration for medical care, $21 billion for infrastructure, funding for the National Instant Criminal Background System, $5 million for postpartum depression screening, $30 million for suicide prevention and $1.7 billion for border security. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:56 am In a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, pleaded for greater sensitivity to the economic implications of protecting endangered species such as the marbled murrelet. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation requires rural counties, such as Pacific and Wahkiakum, to keep extra state trust land in holdings protected from harvest in order to preserve habitat for imperilled wildlife such as the marbled murrelet. In her letter, Herrera Beutler argues that those types of limitations on backwoods industry put rural counties at a disadvantage both economically and academically. In the letter, Herrera Beutler wrote: The decision by the agency to jeopardize the economic foundation of Pacific and Wahkiakum counties while essentially ignoring the Puget Sound with all of its wealth and influence and that regions impact on the species begs the question: are the agencys decisions regarding the Murrelet based on science, or politics? Herrera Beutler noted in the letter to Zinke that 583,000 acres of state trust land had previously been set aside to protect the threatened avian species, but the new Habitat Conservation Plan takes another 37,000 acres of timberlands off the chopping block. She says that those cuts will cause hardships with local schools, and other essential services. The congresswoman went on to criticize the math being used by the USFWS, pointing out that 91 percent of the known Murrlets are located in Alaska and less than two percent of the species population ranges south of Canada. Herrera Beutler asserted that of those birds in the southern extreme of the range ninety nine percent reside in the heavily populated Puget Sound area. In her letter she stated that, comparing the small fraction of the Murrelet population in Southwest Washington to the large swaths of land that would be locked away, reveals the tragic absurdity of this plan. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:36 am Editors note: To protect the identity of the adolescent subject, she is referred to as Jane and her father is referred to as John throughout this story. In late October of last year John and his wife dropped their daughter Jane and her friend off at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland for Kumoricon, an event for anime and manga fans. The Battle Ground parents watched the two girls until they entered the building before leaving. This was the first time theyd let her venture out on her own but she was with a friend and it was at a public venue with thousands of other people around. But unbeknownst to John and his wife, their daughter had alternative motives. Jane had been in secret contact with Christopher Brandon Petty, a 32-year-old man from Bowling Green, Kentucky, for over a year and this event is where they finally planned to meet up face-to-face. Jane ditched her friend once inside the Portland Convention Center and met up with Petty who flew in from Kentucky for their rendezvous. They left and went to a hotel room he had booked nearby where they had sex they did the same thing on the second day. Afterwards, Petty had emergency contraceptive pills for Jane to take. When asked by her mother and the friend she was at the convention with why they couldn't reach her over text during the periods of time she was with Petty, Jane said she had encountered and spent time with a high school friend. No one thought otherwise until about a week after the event when John and his wife discovered photos of Jane and Petty in the hotel room together the parents periodically went through their daughters phone to check in on her activities. It took a week before the parents could identify the man in photos as Petty. After they did, John said he befriended him and soon after they spoke over a video chat. During their conversation, Petty admitted to everything except having sex with Jane. John was recording the video chat and turned it over to the FBI. However, this wasnt Johns first interaction with Petty. John first found out about his daughters relationship with the older man when she was 14. The two had told him that Petty was 25, but John said to stop all contact with his daughter all the same. I told him youre too old move on, John told The Reflector last week. Leave my daughter alone. During their checks of their daughters phone following the first incident, they didnt see any further contact with Petty and thought he was gone for good. Jane had just become more careful and was using more alternative methods of communications: Google Hangout, Instagram direct message, and PiratePad (although there is no evidence that Jane used it, officals later told John that WhatsApp is one of the most popular forms of communication for online predators). At first, Janes story was consistent with Pettys. But during a three-hour conversation with an FBI childrens counselor, Jane said they had had sex on each day of the convention. According to a report from the Bowling Green Daily News, Petty is now facing federal charges including the possession, production, receipt, and distribution of child pornography and enticement of a minor. He was arrested on Nov. 20 on state charges for using electronic communications to find a minor for sexual activity, but these charges have since been dropped to allow the federal case to move forward. John said theyve been able to work through it by staying positive and keeping life in perspective. The way we dealt with it is, we realized it could be a lot worse, he said. She could have gotten murdered or seriously, seriously injured. Jane has become withdrawn over the last few months and her parents plan to soon enroll her in therapy. She really believed this guy was her boyfriend, John said. She fell in love with this guy because he was manipulating her. John is sharing their cautionary tale in hopes that other parents with children his daughters age will recognize some warning signs that he now realized they missed. One sign John wants parents to look for is excessive data usage. During Janes involvement with Petty she was using around 15 gigabytes of data a month, racking up spendy bills. Anytime John questioned it, she told him she didnt know why it was happening. John suggests a straightforward approach that he admits kids will hate but says is the only way to keep online predators away. Id recommend that parents dont let their kids have smartphones, he said. Theres so much out there that they can be exposed to. Youre letting these bad people in and theres no way around it. John also hopes large events that admit youths will put more time and effort into preventing predators from using them as a tool. There should have been no reason why a guy can walk in there and take a kid out of there, he said. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:43 am The Clark County Council talked accomplishments and future plans during a State of the County address at the Clark County Fairgrounds March 20. The address was hosted at the Fairgrounds in celebration of 150 years of the Clark County Fair. Council Chair Marc Boldt led the address, talking about the countys challenges regarding land and funding liabilities. With the exceptions of fast-growing Ridgefield and La Center, Clark County doesnt have much land for housing, Boldt said. He mentioned that an ongoing court battle the county is in regarding the creation of a Rural Industrial Land Bank could further constrain growth opportunities should the court rule against the countys request. Boldt also spoke about legal defense, highlighting its impact on the county budget. In 2017 Clark County taxpayers spent $6 million in legal defense costs. Apart from costs, Boldt also touched on the countys decision to join in on a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers for the harm it has done the county. He also commented on the countys juvenile court, and the help that it does for the county. Through good relationships with adults, we seek to re-dedicate the kids lives, and it has helped greatly, Boldt said. Councilor Jeanne Stewart spoke about Clark County being the key location on the West Coast as far as she was concerned, mentioning their efforts in protecting the airshed, aquifers, and making sustainable land-use decisions to keep up a high quality of life. Stewart listed three points as paramount for this year: Developing a strong, committed advocacy with regard to potential tolling on the interstates, acceleration of work on the 179th Street and Interstate 5 interchange to make an effective, sustainable interchange to open up the corridor and to look at a third crossing over the Columbia River. Keeping the county safe, budgeting for the future Councilor Julie Olson focused on public safety as well as development, speaking first about the Clark County Sheriffs Office. The office was the first west of the Mississippi to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, and the only sheriffs office in the state accredited by the group, Olson said, maintaining the accreditation for more than three decades. The sheriffs office does face challenges, with Olson mentioning the county jail in particular. The jail was outdated, Olson said, being built in the 1980s, when the county population was roughly half of what it is today. In order to work toward the possibility of a new jail Olson noted that on the same day of the address the council approved the establishment of a Blue Ribbon Commission regarding jail developments featuring 24 members of varying official capacity across the county. They would be tasked with assessing the size, scope and timing of a jail replacement. Public safety was not just the purview of the sheriffs office, as Olson noted one of the countys pushes was expanding its sidewalks and trails to keep pedestrians safe. Most sidewalks are built by developers, Olson explained, with only about half of a mile built by the county annually. In order to step up the installation this year the county approved an additional $1 million of Real-Estate Excise Tax funds for sidewalk projects. Trails were another focus of the county, as Olson said they had a plan of 217 miles of trails with 46.5 miles already built. One of the biggest projects to undertake was the Lewis and Clark Greenway Trail, 50 miles of continuous trail planned from north of Ridgefield to Washougal. Olson also touched on the growing development going on in the county. Between 2015 to 2017 single-family permits rose 37 percent, commercial applications by 39 percent and land use by 57 percent, she explained. In an effort to help meet demand she mentioned a shift to online permitting that has been popular, accounting for 88 percent of all permits started in the countys new system between June 2016 and February 2017. Looking forward the county recently received results of an efficiency audit for its permit center, Olson said, something they will be implementing in the near future to work toward smoother processes. For this year the county would be undertaking a new type of budgeting for the 2019-2020 biennium, Olson said. Previously the county used incremental, baseline budgeting, but will shift to program-based budgeting with departments identifying programs and associated costs for the process this year. Olson said the new type of budgeting would create visibility in what the county does, who benefits and what it will cost. Protecting the vulnerable Councilor John Blom had a focus on programs benefiting vulnerable populations in Clark County. He talked specifically about a Mental Health Triage Center the county has planned in order to help those undergoing a mental health crisis. The need for accessible, affordable mental health treatment is continuing to grow, Blom said, explaining that many who need help end up in jail or in an ambulance, a situation that hurts the person needing help, the person who would actually benefit from jail/the hospital, and ultimately the taxpayer whose money pays for those tied-up resources. Its an expensive way to not fix the problem, Blom remarked. The center would provide more apt resources for those undergoing a mental health crisis to get the services they need like intervention, counseling, peer support, medication management and referral services Last year Community Services learned the state dedicated more than $600,000 for the establishment of the center to be located on Lower River Road near the work-release center, Blom said. Blom also touched on another vulnerable community, those experiencing homelessness. He said through the countys Community Services Department from November 2016 to November 2017, they had assisted more than 6,500 people with things like financial support, emergency hotel vouchers, a day center as well as temporary or permanent supportive housing. For this year Community Services had a budget for homelessness of $7.5 million, nearly $1 million more than the previous year, Blom added, highlighting the countys focus on the issue. I believe that how we deal with homelessness is a measure of who we are as a community, Blom remarked. Another push for affordable housing Blom mentioned was expanding the development code to allow for accessory dwelling units, living units attached to an existing structure and cottage housing, a planning scheme involving several small, detached single-family units around a common area. Blom also talked about seniors, mentioning that by 2030 one in four county residents would be 60 or older. He talked about the work of the countys Commission on Aging, adding that there would be an aging-in-place summit later in the month with a goal to bring community leaders together to work toward helping county residents to age independently and with dignity. Growing right, fighting tolls Councilor Eileen Quiring spoke about developments that would help the county grow in its economy and livability, while also mentioning the looming possibility of tolling on the Columbia River thoroughfares. Late last year the county awarded a $922,000 contract to construct the Otto Brown Neighborhood Park in the Heritage neighborhood, named after a skilled carpenter in Clark County noted for constructing a bicycle almost entirely out of wood. Parks were one way the county has worked to make itself more livable Quiring said, adding that creating a regulatory environment that encourages economic development, not hampering it was also important for healthy growth. Quiring also brought up the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, a 33-mile short-line rail cutting across the county that has been the subject of a change in state law in 2017. That change will allow for development along the line that requires use of rail for its operations, with the county identifying a 1.5-mile stretch in Brush Prairie as where it would like to see the development. (This development) is essential to foster our more-rural parts of the county so often left behind in economic development opportunities, Quiring said. In the current process she said it was the countys goal to make sensible and functional regulations, adding the council was keenly aware of the concerns of residents on safety and effects on neighborhoods. The public will have many opportunities to weigh in to these development regulations, Quiring said, noting that an advisory committee on rail-dependent uses had recently been formed. Were running out of land for economic development in the county, and this is turning away businesses that otherwise would consider locating or growing here, Quiring said, adding that rail-dependent uses was a way to resolve economic development issues in the county. Apart from land, the countys economy also relied on dependable transportation for success, Quiring explained, which can be an issue when congestion is concerned. Her own particular concern was the possibility of tolling interstates 5 and 205 on the Oregon side. She serves on a 25-member committee looking at those tolls, one of only three representatives from Washington. My concern, both as a resident of Clark County and as a member of this committee is that Southwest Washington residents should not need to bear the burden of improving transportation in a state where we dont live, but many of our residents work and pay taxes, Quiring said. If the goal of value pricing is to ease congestion, there would only be improvement if motorists have optional routes or can modify travel time outside of tolled hours, Quiring said, something that Washington commuters did not have an option to do. My goal of the value pricing committee is to be a voice of reason and to protect the interests of Clark County residents, Quiring remarked. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:58 am Last summer, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that, with a bit of help from their State Patrol partners in Oregon, they had cracked an unprecedented poaching ring operating primarily out of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Southwest Washington. The charges alleged that more than 100 game animals were poached by the group, with many of the carcasses simply left to rot. Hound dogs were often illegally deployed by the poachers in order to tree bears and big cats, and the alleged ringleader, Eddy Dills, is believed to have used his status as campground host for the U.S. Forest Service to help perpetuate the wildlife crimes. One suspect even admitted to WDFW police that the body of a poached black bear had been stuffed inside a culvert on a logging road in order to expediently hide the evidence and get back to poaching. While the accused seemed to be hellbent on racking up as many kills as possible within the vast expanses of Washingtons forestlands during their multiple-year poaching spree, authorities have had much less luck hunting down justice within the confines of the court of law thus far. Since the first round of recommended charges were issued back in August of last year, just one conviction has been attained. That conviction was confirmed on Nov. 2 when Bryan Tretiak, of Morton, pleaded guilty to second-degree illegal hunting of big game in Skamania County. That conviction relates to the illegal take of a black bear with the use of hounds south of Randle back in August 2015. For his crime, Tretiak was slapped with 14 days of community service and a $500 fine. Additionally, the court has stipulated that he is not allowed to own hunting dogs for two years. According to Skamania County Prosecutor Adam Kick, his office decided to drop a number of the original criminal charges against Tretiak and accept the guilty plea after a more thorough review of the extensive case files. We realized later on that he really wasnt a major player. I mean he committed some crimes without a doubt, but it looked like initially that he was, quote-unquote, part of the gang, But when we looked closer at the report, which there is a lot of stuff going on there, it turned out that he was only present for one of the events, Kick said. With these guys, some of them have bad histories and two of the four are definitely involved with multiple events over time. It really was a crime spree in their case. Those four accused poachers that Kick referenced include the father and son duo of Eddy and Joseph Dills, along with William Billy Haynes, and Erik Martin, all of Cowlitz County. Those individuals are accused of the largest volume of poaching crimes as well as the most heinous acts. Many of those acts were captured on cellphone cameras and discovered by police during their investigation. Jury trial dates for those four men were supposed to begin in December but a wave of motions filed by defense attorneys on behalf of the accused have managed to push all four court dates back to June 11. According to Kick, the exhaustive use of suppression hearings and other court procedures is to be expected in felonious cases of this magnitude. We talked about how they are probably going to be making motions to attempt to suppress any statements or evidence found in their phones, said Kick. Also, the more potential there is for punishment, then the defendants really try to spend more time parsing the evidence and going over things out of court as long they can. With cases with any kind of level of complexity, its actually very rare for people to resolve or go to trial very quickly. Kick added that while progress has been slow to develop recently, he is confident that the trials will in fact get underway sometime this summer. Sometimes these things take close to a year to resolve. We dont have a ton of control over that. I mean, we can object to continuances, but for the most part the judge is going to allow the defendants to take the time they need and review the evidence, Kick said. We havent reached that part yet, but I can imagine that we have pushed them back far enough now that I would find it unlikely that they would be pushed back much farther than that. Kick added that although the four defendants are represented by separate lawyers, attempts are being made to keep their court dates bunched together in the event that the individuals are called to testify as witnesses in each others cases. WDFW Police Captain Jeff Wickersham agreed with Kick that the glacial pace of the poaching cases is not out of the ordinary. Obviously with any case of this magnitude people are going to be looking at those types of hearings for the client to make sure that everything was done correctly, Wickersham told The Reflectors sister paper, The Chronicle. At this point the cases are moving through the courts as we would expect. Wickersham added that while the defendants may be angling to have the mountain of incriminating evidence recovered from their cellphones tossed out of court, he is certain that those text messages, call logs, GPS tracking maps, graphic videos and photos will all be found to be admissible. We are very confident in that, said Wickersham. The original information came from search warrants on the Oregon side, and just to double down we got search warrants of our own when we got back to Washington. Wickersham proffered another guess as to why the wheels of justice seemed to bog down over winter. I think some people are looking at other avenues to end these and not have to be in front of a jury, said Wickersham. That comment echoed a statement made by other members of the WDFW police, who have noted that authorities are still actively attempting to leverage the suspects for additional information regarding additional poaching activity in the region. One source within the WDFW noted that, Some of them have come through for us, but not all of them. Felony cases still awaiting an outcome in Skamania County include Eddy and Joseph Dills, Erik Martin, William Haynes and Kyle Manley. Those cases were charged in Skamania County because of where the bulk of the infractions are believed to have occurred within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. (WDFW) tried to figure out where the acts or events occurred and thats where they tried the crimes, explained Kick. Misdemeanors must have occured in the county they are tried in. With felony crimes, technically the entire state of Washington has jurisdiction, but we still generally try to file them, because of the venue rules, in the county that they occurred in. Three additional felony cases have come out of the WDFW investigation. Those three defendants have been charged in Lewis County Superior Court based on the suspected location of their alleged illegal activity. Those defendants are Aaron Hanson, Aaron Hendricks and David McLeskey, of the Woodland area, who were charged with first-degree animal cruelty, unlawful hunting of black bear, cougar, bobcat or lynx with dogs, and second-degree unlawful hunting of wild animals back in December. According to Brad Meagher, senior deputy prosecutor for Lewis County, there are no plea deals in the works for those suspected poachers, and a trial date has been set for July 23. Dating back to the first time that WDFW acknowledged their ongoing poaching investigation late last summer, the agency has promised that additional suspects would eventually be added to area court dockets. While at least four suspects have been added to the rolls since the first batch of recommended charges were released, the actual lineup of poachers has thus far failed to match that early hype from law enforcement. Down in Skamania County, Kick says he is still anticipating another related poaching case or two to find its way to his office. I can only say that early on when I spoke to Captain Wickersham he indicated that the investigation was ongoing and they had a lot more and that there was some urgency in charging those cases here because so much time had passed that we might risk missing the statute of limitations if we did not charge them quickly, said Kick. In an ideal world I think they would have sent it all to us at one time. On March 19 Wickersham was more reserved about the likelihood for additional poaching charges to emerge from the case evidence in possession of the WDFW. As far as others that havent been charged there are still a few that are being investigated and then charges will be referred, said Wickersham. The ones that we are looking at now are kind of the offshoots. Theres not additional information coming out thats anywhere close to the scope and depth that we have so far. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:52 am A bill modernizing the states approach to building internet infrastructure has Gov. Jay Inslees signature as the legislation was signed into law last week. Substitute House Bill 2664 was formerly passed into law March 22 during a signing ceremony at the Capitol, allowing for port districts in the state to develop fiber optics infrastructure. What ports can now build are so-called dark fiber networks as internet service providers (ISPs) would come in and light the network providing the systems needed for a fully-functioning connection to the internet, at speeds far above and beyond that of older types of transmission lines. Gaining access to broadband is one of, if not the most, crucial economic development tools that rural areas and small towns in the state need, Inslee was quoted in a release from the Port of Ridgefield following the signing. Under this bill the authority to acquire and operate telecommunications facilities for district use and to provide wholesale telecommunications services within and outside districts is extended to all ports. The bills primary sponsor was Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, with supporting sponsorship from Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, and Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver. The bill passed both houses unanimously. Now that the bill has passed, the Port of Ridgefields own plan for a 42-mile, $2.5 million dark fiber loop can move forward. Limited broadband service here has left our community at a competitive disadvantage relative to retaining and attracting business, and it has hampered our educational institutions in delivering current, quality content, Port of Ridgefield Vice President of Innovation Nelson Holmberg stated in the release. Thats why weve been pushing hard to get a change to that law, and were excited our efforts have paid off. Prior to the bills passing only ports in rural areas could develop the infrastructure as a way for the port to provide the capital investment that for-profit ISPs would not be likely to undertake themselves, the release stated. This meant that ports in small communities near a major metropolitan area couldnt develop the infrastructure. A study by the port in 2017 showed a need for the infrastructure through; private companies werent able to give a timeframe regarding when they could put in that needed development. Thats why the port commission stepped in with a broad vision of an opportunity to provide needed infrastructure to the community for economic growth, Holmberg stated. We have been running in that direction ever since. Holmberg has been working with other ports in the state along with the Washington Public Ports Association to get the support of legislators and private ISPs in order to get the law passed. It was critical to us to help everyone understand we dont want to be the ones delivering service, Holmberg stated. We have no intention of being in competition with service providers, were just going to build the bones of the system so any provider can then use our fiber to offer the service. Port of Ridgefield CEO Brent Grening stated in the release that broadband access was the last piece of infrastructure needed for growth to explode in the Discovery Corridor, a region from La Center to Hazel Dell along Interstate 5 identified for its potential as a development hub. Gaining access to broadband capacity has become a necessity, especially with the rapid expansion of emerging technologies, Grening stated. We have all the other pieces of important community infrastructure in place here roads, improved junction, great schools, expanded water and sewer capacity this is the last piece necessary to ensure our community keeps up, and has the infrastructure for a 21st century economy. Grening also took time to thank Holmberg, who took a position of leadership among the ports in getting the legislation passed. The port has existing capital to fund the $2.5 million project that is already designed, according to the release, with additional funding for subsequent developments including federal funds and revenue earned from leasing the infrastructure to ISPs. There will not be an increase in the port tax to do this project, nor is the port requesting an appropriation from the states capital budget, Holmberg stated. This money is coming from larger pots of money designated for exactly this kind of project. Holmberg thanked both the Port of Whitman County and the Port of Skagit as instrumental in helping to get the legislation passed, adding that partner ports in Vancouver, Camas-Washougal, Woodland and Chehalis also helped in the effort. The bill had strong support among Southwest Washington legislators, with Holmberg thanking senators Ann Rivers, R-La Center, Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, and Reps. Liz Pike, R-Camas, Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, along with Reps. Vick, Stonier and Wylie. Their leadership on getting this legislation through both chambers, and all of the challenges, was essential, Holmberg stated. We would not be here today if not for these determined leaders. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 4:14 am The worlds diplomats, those elegantly-dressed agents of international statecraft, have a monumental load of business on their plates right now. South Korean national security personnel have been visiting Pyongyang, Guatemalas President Jimmy Morales has directed his countrys ambassadorial staff to shift from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and (perhaps most foreboding for the Western world) Italy has just conferred an electoral victors crown on a bunch of immigrant-despising right-wingers. Do these various moves portend peace or war, stability or instability? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about our globes prospects as they stand today? Korea has often been described as the most dangerous place in the world, and certainly its ideological and socioeconomic divisions are enough to induce a sense of despair in anyone who craves pacifistic conditions. North Koreas current ruler, Kim Jong-Un, has been disparaged by U.S. President Donald Trump as Little Rocket Man. Yet South Koreas President Moon Jae-In, who were told has dedicated himself to absolutely short-circuiting the prospect of another Korean War, sent a delegation of his national security advisers north to meet with Kim Jong-Un. Moon represents an important sector of South Korean opinion, which is almost kneejerk in its pacifism. So for the time being, anyway, the dangerous Korean peninsula has calmed down. The U.S., which backstops South Korea, will just have to go along with Mr. Moons mildness. Guatemala, in a favor to the ideologically conservative Israeli government that has in the past (and may still be) arming and advising its police and military, will soon be transacting diplomatic business with the Jewish state from Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv. Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales is a born-again evangelical, as well as a staunch conservative, which naturally means that he feels an affinity with Benjamin Netanyahus rightwing Israeli government. To the extent that the Guatemalans act to mollify the fiercely reactionary forces now in control of Israeli affairs, and keep them in a mental state of at least partial relaxation, one can say that Guatemala is aiding the cause of global diplomatic relaxation. This is all to the good. The more mentally relaxed the Israeli government is, the fewer the bombs that will be falling in various places in the Middle East. Coincidentally, this means more orders for Israeli armaments from places like Guatemala. A straightforward business transaction across the hemispheres it will be. On to Italy always dangerous Italy. The recent election there has resulted in an advancement for rightwing and anti-immigrant political forces, though no advancement for Italian stability or Italian sanity. All we can hope for, it seems, is that the forces of decency win out over the forces of lunacy. There are no assurances on this score. Job Title: Senior Protection Assistant Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Position No.: UNOPS 20 Vacancy Notice: 014/2018 Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: Protection Officer 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 Senior Protection Assistant mainly 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 Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. He/she contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Protection Assistant 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: Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. Provide counselling on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment. Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy. Contribute to a country-level education plan for persons of concern as part of the protection strategy. Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. Assist in identifying durable solutions for persons of concern in 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. Provide support in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics for the protection unit / section. Actively contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities. 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 supporting participatory, rights and community based approaches. Support is provided to identify and report protection incidents. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Senior Protection Assistant job opportunity should have completed secondary school. Additional training courses in protection related issues. At least four years of experience Fluency in English and working knowledge of another relevant UN language or local language Good computer skills. Completed Protection Learning Programme. 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: 28th March 2018 New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has asked the NYC Department of Transportation to perform a feasibility study in the hope of erecting a bridge between 18th and 19th Avenues on 51st Street. This bridge would alleviate the current traffic congestion, which will increase dramatically as the result of a new development being built directly off 50th Street (between 19th Avenue and Dahill). 51st Street dead-ends between 18th and 19th Avenuesthis has always created a bottleneck of traffic, Hikind explained in a letter to Polly Trottenberg, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. The new development will effectively quadruple local traffic once people move in. A bridge would make all the difference, allowing traffic to flow much more easily from Boro Park to Flatbush. Addressing the traffic congestion in this part of my district would be an enormous benefit to all of our residents. Hikind and his community liaison Chesky Klein recently met with residents from the area to discuss the viability of a bridge. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) During Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, Ben-Gurion International Airport was compelled to shut, halt flights for periods of time during which rocket fire from Gaza threatened incoming and outgoing flights. The nations leaders realized this was an untenable situation and another airport was essential. There has only been one recognized international airport during the history of the State of Israel, but now the Ramon Eilat International Airport will join, i24 News reports. They expect one million travelers by 2025. The airport is named after Israels first astronaut Ilan Ramon, and his son Assaf, who died serving as a pilot in the Israel Air Force. The site of the new airport is Timna Park, some 18 kilometers north from Eilat. The airport will primarily serve travelers heading to Eilat, which saw 200,000 national travelers last year and that number is expected to double. Regarding security concerns that the airport could become a target, with border fences visible, officials explain there is a fence of 14km around the entire airport and measures are being taken to provide security. i24 concludes that persons behind the project feel the first commercial planes may land as early as this year. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israels Minister of Finance, Moshe Kahlon and Dep. Minister of Health, Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, signed a ground-breaking $350 million dollar agreement with Professor Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer) on Monday, to transform Israels largest medical facility into a City of Health. Today is not only a day of celebration, it is a historic moment, said Professor Kreiss at the festive signing ceremony, which took place at Sheba. We are celebrating Shebas 70th anniversary along with the State of Israel. During these 70 years, we have built an empire in every sense of the word. We have been the flagship of the health system in Israel and have also played a significant role in research, whether in times of peace, national emergencies and war. Now it is our turn to take this flagship enterprise into the next decade, to peer into the future and create the vision that will define the health system in Israel and make an impression on a national and international level, not just in patient care, but also in advanced technology, research and innovation that will foment the future of medicine in Israel. He added, We cant accomplish our goals in the same way as before-one more bed, one more doctor, one more department and one more building. We dont need simple, cosmetic changes. We need a revolutiona transformation. We are happy to take upon ourselves a true revolution in the health system and place the cornerstone on the future of medicine. The vision of the City of Health is predicated on not just treating a sick patient but rather dealing with a complete diagnostic sequence based on individual personalized care, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The City of Health will encompass state-of-the-art rehabilitation, general, childrens, cancer/malignant disease and geriatric hospitals a first-class health prevention center, advanced research laboratories, as well as hi-tech biomed, pharma and innovation centers that will house dozens of start-ups focusing on everything from new medical treatments to digital/tele-medicine, as well as a top-notch academic research center for medical professionals and scientists. In addition, several new housing facilities will be built for Shebas growing number of medical interns and other staff members. All of this would only be just a dream if the State of Israel didnt believe in our ability to make this dream become a reality. Id like to thank both the Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Health for believing in us. I promise, we wont disappoint you! Minister of Finance Kahlon related, Mr. Kreiss, your vision of what this hospital should become provides you with the ability to make Sheba one of the best hospitals not just in Israel and the Mideast, but also on an international global scale. What particularly has impressed me with Sheba is that you dont need to be a millionaire to receive high-quality care, particularly in a public hospital. This City of Health pilot will undoubtedly be the model for the rest of Israels health care system. Dep. Minister Litzman claimed, Today, truly is an historic moment. There is a real opportunity to push forward into the future of medicine and Im happy, the Ministry of Health is doing this program with Sheba. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israels defense minister has thanked the United States for including a record-breaking $705 million to aid the countrys missile defense in the spending bill passed last week. Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that the aid will be used for the development of Israels multi-layered system, which is designed to shoot down short-range rockets from Gaza and Lebanon and counter long-range threats like that posed by Iran. The U.S. provides $3.1 billion in military aid to Israel each year under a 10-year security arrangement. The $705 million is a separate allocation, and is up from the $600 million provided for missile defense last year. U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill on Friday that provides billions in new funding for the military and national security. (AP) Checking in: Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman New York today hosts the Saudi-US CEO Forum, which will be attended by self-assured JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon and Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I'm told His Highness, 32, and his bulging entourage have descended en masse upon The Plaza, resulting in all guests being booted over to another hotel. One wails: 'Even a couple getting married there last weekend were then told they couldn't stay any more.' The Plaza's owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, 63, whom the Crown Prince recently detained for 83 days during an anti-corruption drive. Apropos Dimon, his mammoth 19.9million pay packet this year includes a 34,000 payment for 'residential and related security'. Could that be his bodyguard's salary? Dimon, 62, previously advertised on Linkedin for an 'Executive Protection Specialist'. Qualifications required: Ten years' experience in law enforcement plus defensive and reactive skills. Bargain Booze owner Conviviality suspended trading in it shares after revealing a 30million tax bill. Its dividend has been cancelled, hapless 966,000-a-year chief executive Diana Hunter, 50, has gone. To cap it all, it's in danger of going bust after issuing its third profit warning in a month. Yet it was nominated for Speciality Retailer of the Year at last week's Retail Week awards. Eh? Richard Caring's opulently refurbished members' club, Annabel's in Mayfair, is quite the high-roller's playground. Both former M&S chief Lord Rose, 69, and his rakish successor Marc Bolland, 58, dined there on Friday night. As did moneybags ex-Credit Suisse boss Russell Chambers, 56. Unlikeliest sighting thus far: Nobby hedge funder Crispin Odey, 59, with one of the Candy brothers. What could they be plotting? Google's tedious peddling of its cuddly image continues. It plans to install gender neutral lavatories in its 1billion King's Cross offices, which a company source tells Financial News is part of the firm's overall commitment to 'expanding gender neutral facilities'. Pity Google and its tricksy accountants can't show greater commitment to expanding its tax bill. Stock market investment can seem scary and complicated, particularly if you have only ever used ordinary savings accounts at banks and building societies. But if you're saving for more than five years, for example for retirement, you'll be missing out on huge returns by keeping your money in cash. Need convincing? If you had put 15,000 into the average savings account a decade ago, your money would have grown to just 15,478 a return of 3.2 per cent in total. If you had invested the same amount into the FTSE All Share index, you would have almost doubled your money to 29,713, according to calculations by investing firm Fidelity. If you had put 15,000 into the average savings account a decade ago, it would have grown to 15,478. The same amount put into the FTSE All Share index would have grown to 29,713 So today, Money Mail's must-read Spring Clean Your Finances series will show you how to master the stock market. THE SECRET STRATEGY Most inexperienced investors have three big fears: what if a sudden stock market crash destroys my nest egg? Which shares should I pick? When should I buy and sell? Do not panic. You can beat all these potential pitfalls with a simple trick. It's used by all the pros and if you follow the rules, you'll not go far wrong. The secret is this: invest regularly in a range of funds managed by a stock-picker with proven expertise and ignore the ups and downs in the market. Here we explain the method in three simple steps. STEP 1 Work out how much you have in savings, what you can afford to put aside and how long you're investing for. If you don't feel you can invest the money for at least five years or can't face the prospect of being left with less than you started with investing isn't for you. You'll find heaps of information about less risky savings accounts on the following pages. The funds you must dump now Tinkering too much with your investments is never a good idea. The experts say you are likely to do more harm than good by chopping and changing your fund selections every year. But keep an eye out for serial under-performers and be ruthless when the time comes. Investment website Bestinvest publishes an annual list of dog funds that are failing to keep up with their rivals. The largest fund on its list this year is Aberdeen Asia Pacific Equity, which controls nearly 1.3 billion of savings and has grown by 5.5 per cent over the past year. The UK-focused funds in its report include Aberdeen UK Equity, which has lost 1.52 per cent of its value over the past year, and Aberdeen UK Equity Income, which is down 6.4 per cent in that time. Among the worst-ranked global funds were Templeton Growth, down 0.52 per cent in a year, which has returned 2.53 per cent over the past 12 months. Generally speaking, experts say you should give fund managers at least three years to prove their mettle against their rivals, as all professional stock-pickers are prone to temporary dips in form. STEP 2 Next, set up a direct debit for the same amount each month going into a fund supermarket. Companies such as Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell and Bestinvest let you set up regular investment plans from as little as 25 a month.Each month your money is spread across your chosen funds. Drip-feeding your investments is better than bunging in a lump-sum every now and then, as it minimises the chance of you making a bad decision. Trying to time the market is almost always a mistake. Fidelity estimates someone who invested 1,000 in the FTSE All Share 30 years ago but missed the ten top-performing days because of bad investment decisions would now have 7,215. But if you had just left your money in the stock market the entire time it would have grown to 13,491. Having a regular plan means you still invest money when the market falls, so you buy more shares when they are cheap and fewer when they are more expensive, which boosts returns long-term. Tax free allowance to be cut from April 6 From April 6 the amount you can earn tax-free from share dividends will be cut from 5,000 to 2,000. Any income above that will be taxed at 7.5 per cent for basic-rate payers and 32.5 per cent and 38.1 per cent, respectively, for higher- and additional-rate payers. You can avoid the tax by investing up to 20,000 through a stocks and shares Isa, where the income and returns you make are tax-free. STEP 3 Now you need to work out which funds will receive your hard-earned cash. Spread your investment across funds which specialise in different countries and assets. The benefit of this strategy is that if one fund takes a hit, the performance of the others should compensate for it. It may not always seem like it, but markets typically go up around three-quarters of the time, so if you have money in different markets across the world they are not likely to rise and fall in tandem. For investors who don't like the idea of swings in the value of their savings, Adrian Lowcock, of advisers Architas, tips the Fidelity Moneybuilder Dividend fund. It invests in giant UK companies such as HSBC, drugs maker GlaxoSmithKline and insurer Legal & General, and has turned 10,000 into 10,620 in three years. You also get an income of 3.5 per cent a year. Laith Khalaf, of advisers Hargreaves Lansdown, likes the Trojan Income fund, which has turned 10,000 into 11,720 in three years and pays 4.1 per cent income. Among its largest investments are Lloyds Bank, BP and Vodafone. For more adventurous savers, Mr Lowcock likes Chelverton UK Equity Income, which focuses on faster-growing smaller companies such as convenience store group McColl's. The fund has turned 10,000 into 12,900 in three years and pays out 4.1 per cent. A high-performing global fund is Lindsell Train Global Equity. It invests in companies in the U.S., UK and Japan including consumer brands such as games giant Nintendo, drinks firm PepsiCo and Toblerone maker Mondelez. The fund manager, Nick Train, famously likes to buy and hold the companies he invests in for many years. It can be years before he invests in a new stock. The fund has turned 10,000 into 16,750 in three years. Another top performer is Fundsmith Equity, run by Terry Smith. The fund seeks out household names which have strong track records but have the potential to keep growing. Top investments include Paypal and Microsoft and the fund has turned 10,000 into 17,250 in three years. Savers looking to supercharge their investment returns could consider emerging markets. Developing economies offer bumper returns, but with the risk of big falls. Typically, you need to invest your cash for ten years. Mr Lowcock likes the Hermes Emerging Markets fund, which has investments in China, Russia and Taiwan. The fund has turned 10,000 into 16,500 in three years by backing South Korean electronics giant Samsung and Tencent owner of Chinese social media app WeChat, which has a valuation of $500 billion. Doorstep lender Provident Financial is reportedly facing legal action by shareholder Aberdeen Standard Investments. The investment firm is accusing 'the Provvy' of not having informed it straight away of a regulatory investigation into its Vanquis Bank credit card business. Aberdeen Standard Investments, which has a stake of about 3 per cent in Provident, is said to be seeking compensation for losses suffered as a result of what sees as an undue delay in disclosing details of the investigation. The legal complaint from Aberdeen Standard was sent in January, according to a report by The Times. Probe: Provident revealed its Vanquis Bank was being investigated in August last year Provident revealed that Vanquis Bank was being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the mis-selling of a credit card add-on product in August last year. On the same day, the firm suspended dividends after forecasting losses of 80million to 120million and announced the resignation of boss Peter Crook. The catastrophic update sent Provident shares plunging by 70 per cent to 511p. The companys share price has not really recovered much since and today was down 1.2 per cent at 670p. The FCA's investigation revealed that some Vanquis Bank customers were mis-sold a product which let them pause repayments on debt if they were ill or went away. The division, which targets the poorest borrowers, did not clearly explain they would continue racking up swingeing interest during pauses. The FCA 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 and fined the company 2million. It also ordered it to pay 168.8million back to 1.2million customers who were charged for using the repayment option plan (ROP) from 1 April 2014. Purplebricks yesterday warned that revenues for the year will be lower than hoped as a German media group bought a 125million stake in the online estate agent. Shares tumbled 10 per cent, or 31.4p, to 280p after it said turnover was likely to be 5 per cent short of the 98million expected in the City for the year ending April 30. The warning came as it agreed a deal with Axel Springer that will see the Germans receive shares worth 11.5 per cent of the company. It means the German firm will become the fourth biggest shareholder after fund manager Neil Woodford, chief executive Michael Bruce, who owns 13.7 per cent of the company, and Old Mutual. Shares in online estate agency Purplebricks tumbled 10%, or 31.4p, to 280p after it said turnover was likely to be 5% short of the 98m expected in the City for the year ending April 30 Purplebricks, which charges fixed fees instead of the traditional percentage of the sale price, plans to use the cash to boost its technology and to grab more share of the American market. Axel Springer is worth an estimated 6.1billion and is the owner of the German national newspapers Die Welt and Bild. Bruce said yesterday: 'The strategic partnership with Axel Springer is ground breaking and will propel Purplebricks further towards our strategic goals and global ambition. 'We now have the platform, funding and, through Axel Springer's experience, as well as the appointment of four new leading non-executive directors, the expertise to achieve our vision.' The online agent's shares have fallen more than 41 per cent in the past two months as analysts have questioned its sales figures. Stock Watch - Instem A contract win sent shares in science IT company Instem soaring yesterday. The AIM-listed business said that a top five pre-clinical research organisation has signed a contract extension to use its Send platform, which allows a more efficient review of information. The contract is worth more than 350,000. Twenty-five firms wanted to sign up to the platform in the two months to February 28. Shares rocketed 19.4 per cent, or 36.5p, to 225p. Last month, Anthony Codling at Jefferies claimed just half the homes listed in November 2016 were sold within ten months. The firm claimed the real figure was closer to 88 per cent. The FTSE 100 ended the day down 0.48 per cent, or 33.25 points, at 6888.69, while the FTSE 250 was off 0.69 per cent, or 132.39 points, at 19187.09. An 88million deal to buy record management firm TNT Business Solutions boosted Restore's shares. Restore, the AIM-listed business relocation and document management specialists, plans to fund 51.5million of the deal by placing 10.1m of new shares with institutional investors. The rest will be funded by Restore's debt facilities at its banks. The deal to buy TNT, which is owned by US courier service Fed Ex Corporation and employs 250 staff, should complete by May. Restore's shares spiked by 7.4 per cent or 35p to 507p. Antibody manufacturer Bioventix increased its interim dividend by 20 per cent to 25p a share. In its six-month results for the period ending December 31, the biomedicine firm reported a 36 per cent increase in profits and a 13 per cent increase in revenue. Shares jumped 19.2 per cent, or 395p, to 2450p. A decent set of results pushed up the share price of market research agency You Gov. Revenue was up 10 per cent in the six months ending January 31, while pre-tax profits shot up 78 per cent. Broker Numis has given the firm an 'add' rating and says You Gov's interim results were 'very strong'. Shares yesterday hopped 4.1 per cent, or 15p, to 380p. Shares in miner Bushveld Minerals dived after it tapped investors for extra cash. The AIM-listed producer of the metal vanadium raised around $22.2million (15.7million) to increase production and pay off its debts. Shares dived 6.3 per cent, or 0.82p, to 12.3p. On the small cap index, embattled High Street retailers Carpetright and Mothercare were crying for mercy after yet another fall in their share prices. Carpetright was down 6 per cent, or 2.4p, to 37.5p while Mothercare was down 2.9 per cent, or 0.5p, to 17p. It means they are down 78.3 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, since the start of the year. Only last week, Carpetright said it was looking to close stores as part of a turnaround plan. Marks & Spencer has announced a major overhaul of its clothing operations Marks & Spencer has announced a major overhaul of its clothing operations which includes getting rid of a style director brought in to revitalise its floundering fashion ranges. Belinda Earl is standing down as the High Street stalwart steps up the fight to revive its fortunes. Womenswear and lingerie chief Queralt Ferrer is also leaving, along with menswear boss Michael Kerr, who has been at M&S for 35 years, having started his career on the shop floor. The shake-up under chairman Archie Norman and chief executive Steve Rowe continues their efforts to tackle the retailers sluggish performance. Less than a week ago, M&S announced an overhaul of its food arm, which will see Stuart Machin, a protege of Normans, take over as managing director. That followed the recruitment of former McDonalds and Halfords executive Jill McDonald as managing director of clothing and homeware last year. Analysts said a further shake-up of the management team was inevitable following a disappointing Christmas that saw clothing sales fall again. Russ Mould, investment director at broker AJ Bell, said: Archie Norman, Steve Rowe and Jill McDonald are not in a position to leave things as they are, and they were never likely to do so. Marks & Spencer, which was founded in 1884, has fallen out of favour with shoppers in recent years as it struggles to keep up with changing fashion tastes. Dwindling sales has seen it tumble toward the lower rungs of the FTSE 100. Last year it was leapfrogged in market value by online-only retailer Asos. Unveiling plans to merge its womenswear and kidswear divisions, M&S yesterday said it wanted to attract more families to its stores. IN: Jill Stanton, a former Next and Nike executive, joins as director of womenswear and kidswear OUT: Belinda Earl, 56, formerly at Jaeger, has been shunted aside having joined M&S in 2012 OUT: Queralt Ferrer, 44, is leaving her job as the stores womenswear and lingerie design director Clothing veteran Jill Stanton, who started out as a buyer for M&S in the 1980s before working in senior positions for Next, Nike and Old Navy, will take over as director of womenswear and kidswear in July. M&S also named Wes Taylor, who has spent much of his career at Sir Philip Greens Arcadia, where he was managing director at Burton for 11 years, as its new menswear director. He will start in May. McDonald said last night: We must become more relevant to more people, offering the right products at the right prices to appeal to our core customers and attract new ones. Jill and Wes are highly impressive retailers with strong track records of success at other high-profile brands, and will bring this invaluable experience to M&S. We now have the right leadership team in place to get on and deliver change. M&S said Earl, a former boss of Debenhams and Jaeger who joined M&S in 2012, is stepping away from her commercial role as style director. The married mother of two, who was made an OBE in 2017 for services to retail, will, however, stay on as an adviser and sit on the board of M&S Archive essentially a museum of the retailers old clothing, reports and photographs. Heading out the door is Ferrer, a former executive at Zara-owner Inditex, after two-and-a- half years at M&S. She is returning to Amsterdam to be with her family. M&S said last night that Kerr has decided to leave after 35 years to pursue other career opportunities. Shares in the retailer yesterday dropped 0.8 per cent, or 2.1p, to 266.3p. Drivers of keyless Ford Fiestas are being targeted by thieves as part of a hi-tech crime spree. Police say crooks hack into the cars with electronic devices such as relay boxes which are widely available to buy on Amazon and eBay. Although all models of keyless cars have been stolen including luxury BMWs and Range Rovers owners of Britain's most popular vehicle have been among the hardest hit. Cleveland Police said they have had 90 reports of keyless cars being stolen since December and half of them were Fiestas, the country's best-selling motor for the past decade. Drivers of keyless Ford Fiestas are being targeted by thieves as part of a hi-tech crime spree Since 2008, when the keyless technology first became available, more than a million Fiestas have been sold to Britons. Overall, more than 4.5million Fiestas have been sold since 1976. Cleveland Police said each of the cars was stolen using a device that bypasses security systems without thieves needing to steal keys or smash a window. Instead, they use transmitting devices known as 'relay boxes' to extend the signal from the car's keyless fob, which is usually inside the owner's home and use this signal to unlock and start the car. Crooks use transmitting devices known as 'relay boxes' to extend the signal from the car's keyless fob In November, footage emerged of thieves in Solihull, West Midlands using a relay box to steal a Mercedes van and driving off without keys. The devices are available online for around 260. Criminals also use 'signal blocking' gadgets to prevent drivers with keyless fobs locking vehicles in car parks. Vehicle thefts in England and Wales have soared by almost a third in just three years, after years of decline. The latest figures were released by 40 police forces following Freedom of Information requests by the RAC. They reveal 85,688 vehicles were stolen in 2016, up 30 per cent from 65,783 in 2013. Police in Warwickshire reported the largest rise, up 189 per cent between 2013 and 2016. Suggested precautions against keyless car theft include buying an old-fashioned steering wheel lock, keeping keys well away from doors and windows in a metal tin which can block the relay boxes from working and asking dealers for security software updates. A Ford spokesman said: 'Fords are sold with competitive levels of standard security equipment.' An eBay spokesman said the firm had 'not been advised of any restrictions on the sale of this kind of device'. PIGGS PEAK Nearly two years after being acquitted on charges related to dagga dealing, Constable Busta Vilakati remains suspended but on full pay. Busta who refers to himself as Sergeant Vilakati has been on suspension since 2013 following his arrest alongside another police officer. According to Busta, his suspension letter states that he would be suspended until finalisation of the matter which referred to his arrest for allegedly dealing in dagga. Since his acquittal in 2016, Bustas suspension has not be lifted. His recent joy during a visit by the National Commission of Police Isaac Magagula was shortlived as during the time, he was allowed to wear a police uniform. This took place in July 2017 when Magagula paid a visit to local police officers. At the same time, he was seen at the police station mingling with police officers but was later advised to stay away as he was still under suspension. Busta admitted at the time that he was under the impression that he had been reinstated but soon after the commissioners departure, he was advised to stay at home as he was still under suspension. He is now wondering why he has not been reinstated into the force as he was acquitted for the matter which resulted in his suspension. Busta is also on full pay with allowance according to information obtained by the publication. In the past five years, Busta has been paid about E600 000 despite staying at home. This figure is calculated from monthly gross income since his suspension. During his suspension, Bustas name also showed up among police officers who were promoted. His name was recorded as promoted from constable to sergeant. For this reason, Busta refers to himself as a sergeant. I am a sergeant, he bragged yesterday when sought for comment. When he arrived to collect his badge at the head office in Mbabane at the time, he was advised that the promotion was not intended for him but a certain female police officer. At the time of the said promotion in 2013, the then communications officer Wendy Hleta said a typo resulted in Bustas force number appearing on the list of promoted officers. Assistant Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer said Busta Vilakatis matter is still pending. Vilakati, though admitting that Busta was acquitted, she said there was an appeal on his matter. She said it was for this reason that he was not reinstated to continue with his duties as normal. Vilakati said as a norm, when there was an appeal, the status of the suspension would remain. She further revealed that Busta had another case which were pending before court. Vilakati was referring to an assault matter in which Busta was accused of allegedly assaulting a female police officer who had enquired about a female companion he was walking with. The matter is pending before Magistrate Simangele Mbatha who is expected to give judgement on the matter. MBABANE Its yet another victory for the SANU student who was previously denied a scholarship over the phone. SANU is an acronym for the Southern Africa Nazarene University. Judge Nkululeko Hlophe ruled in favour of Nompumelelo Tsabedze after she approached the court where she was seeking an order clarifying and enforcing its previous order that she should be awarded a scholarship. Judge Hlophe ordered the Minister of Labour and Social Security Winnie Magagula and the Scholarship Board, to comply with the order of the court issued on August 22, 2017. The court ordered the respondents (minister of Labour and Social Security and the Scholarship Board) to forthwith grant or award Tsabedze a comprehensive scholarship to cater for the balance of the remaining period in her academic pursuit of a Degree in Nursing and Midwifery. He also ordered the respondents to pay costs of the proceedings jointly and severally one paying the other to be absolved. It seems to me that people like the applicant (Tsabedze) who try to pull all stops to better themselves in the evident manner she had done, deserve to be assisted and not frustrated, said Judge Hlophe. The judge said he was sure the amount of money Tsabedze was requesting as an educational loan was not too much when viewed from the remaining number of years in her academic pursuit. The genesis of the matter was that Tsabedze approached the court after she was allegedly called by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Magagula, and declined her scholarship over the phone. The minister is reported to have told Tsabedze that: You dont qualify for a scholarship because you did not submit the scholarship form within five years of completing your OLevel. This comes after Tsabedze forwarded an application asking to be considered for a government scholarship. Tsabedze now wants the court to compel the minister and the Scholarship Board to comply with Priority Areas for Pre- Service Tertiary Education Agreement Order (PTET) as read with the Study Loan and Scholarship Agreement Order of 1977. The aggrieved and desperate student was represented by Leo Ndvuna Dlamini. Background Giving a background of the matter, Tsabedze stated that on or about 2009, she did her Form V and passed her examination and she qualified to be admitted to a university or tertiary level. She pointed out that after completing her O Level education, she started making applications for admission to university/college from 2010 until 2015 when she was eventually admitted for a degree programme attainable at SANU. Tsabedze submitted that on admission, she forwarded her application to the Scholarship Board to consider her scholarship on March 2015. She mentioned that the Scholarship Board under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, however, refused to accept her scholarship form to date. According to Tsabedze, a year later (2016), she tried her luck but the same office refused to take her scholarship form. She stated that in August 2015 she started her degree studies and passed the first year. MBABANE The court should find that I was mistakenly and not fraudulently released from Barberton Maximum Prison. This was the submission of murder suspect Sipho Shongwe. Shongwe, who stands charged with the murder of prominent businessman Victor Gamedze, is adamant that he did not have a hand in the crafting of his alleged fraudulent warrant of liberation. His submission comes after the court ordered his attorney and that of the State to make written submissions in respect of the issue pertaining to his erroneous/fraudulent release by authorities at the Barberton Maximum Prison on March 25, 2008. On Thursday, Judge Sipho Nkosi is expected to make a ruling as to whether Shongwes release from prison was through fraudulent means or not. Judge Nkosi previously made it clear that in the event he finds that Shongwe was fraudulently released, he would not be admitted to bail and that would be the close of the bail hearing. In his written submission, Shongwe argued that the Crown bears the onus on a balance of probabilities that his release from Barberton Maximum Prison was fraudulent. The cardinal rule of evidence, namely he who alleges must prove; is applicable to the issue under discussion. Accordingly, the respondent (Crown) bears the onus, submitted Shongwe. He told the court that it was impossible for him to prove the authenticity of the liberation warrant and the court order. According to Shongwe, this was so because he was currently detained in Swaziland; with his legal team they have no access to any of the aforementioned documents. The documents include the warrant of liberation, the court order and other documents and records in the possession of the High Court in Pretoria or the Correctional Services in Pretoria and Barberton,. espectively. He pointed out that these were documents peculiarly with the knowledge and in the possession of the Crown. The court has correctly ruled that this issue, pertaining to the applicants (Shongwe) erroneous/mistaken/fraudulent release should be properly ventilated, submitted the murder suspect. Shongwe also went on to punch holes in the affidavit filed by the Deputy Director of Baberton Maximum Prison, Noah Seshason Nkosi. In his affidavit, Noah stated that: The only document available is the applicants (Shongwe) admission detail, which shows that he was released fraudulently. Shongwe argued that in Noahs affidavit, there was no basis that was advanced to substantiate the aforementioned allegations. Perusal of the document, clearly shows that no possible basis exist on which Judge Nkosi could find that my release was fraudulent, he argued. He also pointed out that Noah further mentioned that in terms of their records, he was supposed to remain in detention until 2021 before he was eligible to be considered for parole. Shongwe argued that Noah only became involved in the matter on February 1, 2018. MBABANE - The issue of universal partnership has once again come to the fore. This time around, a businesswoman who claims to have been in a universal partnership with the late Nqaba Mhlakayifani Dlamini, is alleged to be refusing to vacate a house which she claimed she procured together with Nqaba during his lifetime. A universal partnership is an express or tacit agreement between two parties, who choose to live together in a permanent relationship without marrying. They share the same responsibilities and obligations of a married couple, including their present and future assets. The businesswoman, Nondumiso Magongo approached the High Court where she was seeking an order declaring that she entered into and concluded a universal partnership with the late Nqaba during his lifetime. She was further praying for an order declaring that she was entitled to a reasonable provision out of the estate of the late Nqaba. Magongo alleged that during the year 2011, she met Nqaba and he proposed love to her. She claimed that she accepted Nqabas proposal. We thereafter started and maintained an intimate love relationship which persisted until Nqaba met his death in a motor vehicle accident in February 2017. I was with him when his met his death, submitted the businesswoman. According to Magongo, during the course of their relationship, in particular in the year 2012, Nqaba promised to marry her and he requested her hand in marriage. Again, Magongo claimed to have agreed to the proposal. He advised thathe was already married in accordance with Swazi Law and Custom. As a result, he advised me that he would marry me in accordance with Swazi Law and Custom as we could not legally conduct a civil rites marriage. I also agreed to be his second wife, alleged Magongo. According to Magongo, early the year 2013, Nqaba moved her from the flat she was renting to a bigger and a better flat at Sidvwashini next to Qobonga Shopping Complex. She went on to allege that Nqaba rented the flat for her usage and he treated her as his wife and took care of her welfare and other responsibilities as could be expected of a man of his stature. In turn I accepted him as my husband/husband-to-be and he was basically the man of the house and I took the role of a wife and served him as such, she argued. Magongo claimed that she did this until the day he met his death. She highlighted that at the time she met Nqaba, she was operating a Beauty Parlour business, albeit on a small scale and earned a living through it. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia heightened a day after a senior Serb politician was arrested and expelled in northern Kosovo, with Russia wading into the dispute and the European Union trying to avert further friction Tuesday. Kosovo Serbs set up a roadblock in the divided town of Mitrovica to monitor access into Serb-dominated territory, and Serb politicians walked away from Kosovo\s government and threatened to form their own local administrations throughout Kosovo where minority Serbs live. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was making an urgent trip to Belgrade for talks with Serbia\s president in a bid to prevent a full-blown crisis from erupting. Mogherini earlier had called for restraint from both sides. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a strongly-worded statement, accusing the EU and the U.S. of wanting "to crudely suppress" attempts by Kosovo Serbs to "safeguard their legitimate interests." "It is nakedly clear that the Kosovars (Kosovo Albanians) follow the advice of their U.S. and European patrons, who trample international law and act on the basis of arbitrariness," said the statement carried by Tass news agency. While Russia supports Serbia\s claims over its former province, the U.S. and most Western states have recognized Kosovo\s independence a decade ago. Russia has been trying to expand its influence in the Balkans mainly through its traditional Slavic ally Serbia. The developments came a day after Marko Djuric, the head of the Serbian government office for Kosovo, was briefly detained in the divided town of Mitrovica because he entered the country without Kosovo\s official approval. Kosovo police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Serb protesters in Mitrovica on Monday. Djuric said he was beaten while in detention and that his arrest was aimed at humiliating Serbs in Kosovo and as a rehearsal for a possible attempt by Kosovo police to take over northern Kosovo. "By dragging me on the ground like a dog, pulling me by my tie, they wanted to humiliate me thinking they can humiliate the Serbian people," Djuric told a news conference Tuesday. But Kosovo President Hashim Thaci denounced the incident as a provocation by Serbia. "Monday\s events are contrary to the commitment of dialogue and building sustainable peace in Kosovo," he said in a statement on Tuesday. Politicians representing Kosovo\s Serb minority met with Serbia\s president, Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, saying they would no longer support Kosovo\s government. This could trigger a government crisis if the Serb ministers aren\t quickly replaced by Kosovo Albanians. Goran Rakic, who heads the Serbian List in Kosovo\s parliament, said that Serbs would on their own form an association of Serb-dominated municipalities in Kosovo, which was envisaged in a European Union-mediated deal in 2013 but was never carried out by Kosovo authorities. "This is not a one-sided move. This is a forced move," Rakic said. "We waited for five years for them to give us what is ours. We will form only what they signed up to, what was guaranteed five years ago." The move could further fuel friction between Serbia and Kosovo, which declared independence against Belgrade\s wishes in 2008. In 1999, NATO intervened to stop a bloody Serb crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists. On Tuesday, Kosovo Serbs blocked the main road leading from northern Kosovo to the capital, Pristina, by parking a bulldozer and a flatbed truck across it. Djuric, whose hands were bandaged, appeared at the news conference with Kosovo Serb officials after talks with Vucic. He said that Kosovo police officers "took selfies with me and pulled me down to my knees, with a gun pushed against my body." He accused unidentified Western countries of directly or indirectly supporting Kosovo\s actions. Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said in Pristina on Tuesday that "yesterday\s actions weren\t directed against Serb citizens in Kosovo, but against those who broke the law." "It is not good to make limitless testing of anyone\s decision," Haradinaj said. "It would be good to return to the negotiating table and discuss the issues together." SOURCE: AP Russians vented their anger at the authorities on Tuesday over a huge mall fire that killed at least 64 people, including 41 children, many of whom were trapped in the inferno by locked doors. President Vladimir Putin flew to the Siberian city of Kemerovo two days after the tragedy and laid roses at a makeshift memorial as critics questioned his response to one of the deadliest fires in Russia over the past century. Hundreds of residents meanwhile packed Kemerovo\s central square, calling for the resignation of the region\s veteran governor and questioning the official death toll. In Moscow, around 2,000 people gathered on Pushkin Square in mourning on Tuesday evening, leaving flowers, lighting candles in the shape of the word "Kemerovo" and letting off white balloons. Russia\s main opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife left a bunch of red carnations. Some protesters in Moscow shouted slogans calling for the sacking of Kemerovo\s region and for "Russia without Putin." Protester Yekaterina Nekrasnova, a 29-year-old photographer, said: "My friend in Kemerovo has lost two children and her husband is in intensive care." She blamed the fire on "negligence and greed." In Saint Petersburg, Russia\s second largest city, hundreds gathered on the central Marsovo Polye square, many carrying flowers. "All these children were killed by corruption and lawlessness. These ruling powers killed them," said 26-year-old Varvara Mikhailova. Investigators said relatives had reported a total of 67 people missing, while the official toll has been given as 64. After a huge outpouring of grief and anger on social media, the Kremlin announced a nationwide day of mourning for Wednesday for victims of the fire, which ripped through the busy shopping centre on Sunday afternoon. "My family is no more," Igor Vostrikov who lost his wife, sister and three children aged two, five and seven years said on VKontakte, Russia\s version of Facebook. "The ruling regime in my country is to blame for it." Investigators said the victims were burned alive or suffocated because emergency exits were locked, notably in a cinema where children watched cartoons. A criminal probe has been opened and five people have been arrested over the blaze. Multiple safety rules were violated, the fire alarm system had not worked since last week and staff did not follow correct emergency procedures, officials said. \We are dying. I love you\ Putin, who was re-elected for a fourth term in polls earlier this month, visited a memorial of toys, flowers and balloons near the gutted mall\s facade, telling officials he felt "like wailing" over the number of victims. "What is happening here? These are not armed hostilities. This is not an unexpected release of methane in a mine. People, children came to relax," Putin said. "We are talking about demographics but are losing so many people. Because of what? Because of some criminal negligence, slovenliness," Putin said. Russian newspapers ran heart-wrenching accounts of children\s last minute calls to their parents and relatives. "Tell my mom that I loved her," one woman quoted her niece as saying in comments in the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. Vostrikov, who lost his family in the blaze, said he had spoken to his wife in her final moments. "We have been locked inside the movie theatre. We are suffocating, we are dying. I love you," he said she had told him. Speaking in videotaped comments, he claimed the number of victims was much higher than reported. Many others also questioned the official death toll but officials said the figures were final, urging Russians not to trust unconfirmed reports on social media. The head of Russia\s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, said ticket collectors and other staff fled the scene, leaving movie-goers locked inside. "Those workers who were supposed to be in charge of safety, organising evacuation, they were the first to flee," he told Putin. Bastrykin also told Putin that a teacher had left a whole class of children alone in a games room while she shopped. \Gas chambers\ Temperatures during the blaze reached 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit) and some of the bodies were so badly burned they would need to be identified through DNA testing, officials said. Meeting with a group of grieving locals, Putin said some 100 investigators were working at the scene. A young man told Putin he was outraged that the doors were locked at the mall, effectively turning the premises into "gas chambers". Putin promised a "transparent" investigation but declined to fire Aman Tuleyev, who has been governor of the Kemerovo region for the past 21 years. Tuleyev apologised to Putin over the rally, calling its organisers troublemakers. The Russian leader also visited victims at a hospital including Ivan Zavarzin, 18, who survived the fire after jumping from the top floor. SOURCE: AFP [March 27, 2018] MariaDB Bolsters Analytics Capabilities Through MammothDB Acquisition MENLO PARK, Calif. and HELSINKI, Finland, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MariaDB Corporation, the company behind the fastest growing open source database, today announced that it has acquired enterprise analytics database company MammothDB for an undisclosed sum. Through the acquisition, MariaDB expands its European presence with a new office in Sofia, Bulgaria, and grows its global engineering and consulting talent to further strengthen its modern analytics solution, MariaDB AX, and advance its larger Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) strategy. Tweet this: #MariaDB acquires @MammothDB, adding deep #analytics expertise and growing its global presence with new office in Bulgaria. http://ow.ly/BEWp30j5Emq The MammothDB team joins MariaDB at a critical point in our growth, bringing with them an impressive track record of delivering big data solutions, said Michael Howard, CEO of MariaDB Corporation. Over the past year, weve seen a major increase in demand for MariaDB AX as organizations seek to fill an open source analytics gap left by proprietary offerings such as Oracle and Teradata. The addition of MammothDBs deep analytics expertise will be invaluable to helping MariaDB meet this growing need and continue to innovate our analytic products. MariaDB AX, first released in 2017, provides modern analytics and data warehousing that scales with existing commodity harware on premises or across any public, private or hybrid cloud platform, unrestricted from cloud vendor lock-in. Expanding beyond the highly successful transactional solution MariaDB TX, MariaDB AX enables high-performance analytics with distributed storage and parallel processing, transforming data across every facet of business into meaningful and actionable results. With the addition of MammothDBs deep bench of engineering talent, MariaDB will continue enhancing the MariaDB AX offering while providing optimized implementations for its analytic customers across every industry. We see great synergy between our mission and MariaDBs goal of delivering innovative, enterprise-grade database solutions at a fraction of the cost of other options in the market, said Steve Keil, former CEO of MammothDB. MammothDB was founded to help organizations that were tired of using 80 percent of their IT budget on licensing and hardware costs from companies like Oracle and Teradata. Were thrilled to join forces with MariaDB to continue furthering that goal and to help bring even more powerful analytic offerings to the global open source community. The acquisition comes on the heels of MariaDBs recent momentum, including an investment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Alibaba Group totaling $54 million, and a massive global user conference with keynotes from customers Development Bank of Singapore (DBS Bank) and ServiceNow. With the new office in Sofia, Bulgaria, MariaDB will be able to continue expanding its European presence, accelerate product delivery and better support its growing global community. Additional Resources EIB supports MariaDB with financing for accelerated growth Blog: MariaDB AX for Analytics: Out With The Old, In With The New MariaDB AX Datasheet Visit mariadb.com Follow @mariadb on Twitter Read MariaDBs blog About MariaDB Corporation MariaDB Corporation is the company behind MariaDB, the fastest growing open source database. MariaDB, with a strong history of community innovation and enterprise adoption, provides the most functionally complete open source database. MariaDB powers applications at companies including Google, Wikipedia, Tencent, Verizon, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, Telefonica, Huatai Securities and more. MariaDB solutions are engineered to run on any infrastructure bare metal servers, virtual machines, containers, public and private clouds and is available in all leading Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, and is the default database in openSUSE, Manjaro, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) / CentOS / Fedora, Arch Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise and Debian, with a reach of more than 60 million developers worldwide. * MammothDB, now part of MariaDB Corporation, included investment from Empower Capital. This investment was made possible with the assistance of the Operational Programme Development of the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy 2007-2013, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. Media Contact Iris Whitney iris.whitney@mariadb.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] ONO, the First Blockchain-based Social Network in China, Officially Announces Running for EOS Super Nodes BEIJING, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, DAPP ONO, the first blockchain-based social network of China, has simultaneously issued the big news on founder and CEO Xu Ke' s micro-blog and ONO's official micro-blog, claiming that ONO will formally participate in the bid for EOS 21 global super nodes. Upon the release of this news, the discussion on the EOS super nodes in the blockchain field was triggered instantly. A few days ago, screenshots of conversations in the Telegram between Brendan Blumerkan, CEO of EOS, and Xu Ke, ONO's founder and CEO, sprouted on the Internet. Brendan Blumerkan received a white paper on the ONO project and praised ONO without reservation. As the world's first DAPP to land on EOS, ONO may become the most powerful contender for EOS super nodes. ONO is the largest free, decentralized social network in te world. Based on blockchain technology, ONO is committed to creating an attention value ecosystem that features freedom, equality, social co-governance, and diversity. In the ONO community, users have the highest value. ONO respects each and every user and values their honest opinion. ONO provides democracy, equality, freedom and diversity never seen before in a centralized platform. The user will no longer be defined as a mere product that benefits the platform, but as a product that gains revenue directly through the production of content. Xu Ke, the founder and CEO of ONO, is a serial entrepreneur and an advanced placement student who graduated from London College in the United Kingdom at the age of 19 and returned to China in 2014 to join the blockchain business. As part of the first batch of blockchain entrepreneurs in China, she was prescient enough to complete the acquisition of the senior blockchain technology team of Silicon Valley led by Jeff Ma at the end of 2017, becoming a pioneer in the establishment of a cross-border blockchain technology team in China. It is expected that efforts will be made to promote the popularization and development of blockchain technologies and applications. This time, with Xu's announcement to run for the EOS super nodes, ONO is expected to have the power to contribute to the popularization and development of blockchain technology and its application areas. www.ono.chat SOURCE ONO [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] WISeKey and Japanese Toppan Printing Team Up to Securely Connect Inert Objects to the Internet WISeKey and Japanese Toppan Printing Team Up to Securely Connect Inert Objects to the Internet WISeKey's VaultIC NFC security module combined with Toppan's smart tag technology provides objects with secure data processing capability for authentication and customer engagement Geneva, Switzerland, March 27, 2018: WISeKey International Holding Ltd (WIHN.SW) ("WISeKey"), a Swiss based cybersecurity and IoT company, and Toppan Printing Co., Ltd ("Toppan"), the global printing company involved in the security business for more than a century, today announced that they are collaborating to provide the industry with versatile smart tags that allow any object to securely authenticate and communicate online. In 2017, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Trademark Association (INTA) commissioned Frontier Economics to write a report about The Economic Impacts of Counterfeiting and Piracy. The report estimated that the value of the international trade in counterfeit and pirated products will grow from US$461 billion in 2013, or as much as 2.5% of all international trade, to US$991 billion in 2022. It also estimated that the total scale of domestic production and consumption of counterfeit and pirated products will grow from US$249 - US$456 billion in 2013 to US$524 - US$959 billion in 2022. Although already dramatic, these estimates do not take into consideration other wider economic and social costs such as loss of jobs, Foreign Direct Investment, and fiscal revenue. Aiming to decrease these figures, this collaboration will combine WISeKey's expertise in Internet of Things (IoT) security with Toppan's deep roots in secure printing and anti-counterfeiting. WISeKey Semiconductors inherits more than 25 years' experience delivering secure semiconductors that protect sensitive data for governments and private corporations. Among other applications, WISeKey's chips are widely used by global telecommunication manufacturers and healthcare organizations as well as Visa/MasterCard bank cards. The same certified technology is now available in WISeKey's VaultIC lightweight hardware security modules. VaultIC chips provide a powerful anti-counterfeiting tool by enabling cryptographic security to identify any item online using contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) with an Android or Apple iOS based smartphone. Toppan provides a complete suite of security printing technologies through the company's century-long leadership in printing passports, identity cards, banknotes and other secure documens. More recently Toppan has extended the use of these technologies for anti-counterfeiting protection of branded goods. Similar to the way NFC secure elements are embedded in e-passport covers, Toppan also designs specific tags for a robust integration in any packaging such as wine or spirit bottles, cosmetics and perfume boxes and luxury goods. This is a natural complement to WISeKey's expertise. "Counterfeit goods often lead to bad user experience in addition to dramatic loss of revenue for companies and significant socio-economic costs for economies," said Olivier Debelleix, Director of Brand Protection & Wearable Security Business Unit for WISeKey. "WISeKey's technology brings anti-counterfeiting labelling into the Internet age. Our collaboration with Toppan leverages our respective strengths in new geographic markets and applications." "The durability and counterfeit-resistance of Toppan's security printing solutions are trusted all over the world," said Tomoji Isaka, Sales Manager for Toppan Europe. "WISeKey's VaultIC cryptographic module will further increase the security levels we provide our customers to protect their assets." 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. About TOPPAN Printing: Toppan Printing is one of the world's leading integrated printing companies. Since its founding in 1900, Toppan has expanded its operations significantly while driving the evolution of printing technologies and combining them with marketing, IT, creative capabilities and diverse processing techniques to enable a wide range of solutions in fields that extend beyond conventional printing, such as marketing, content, secure solutions, packaging, decor materials, and electronics. Toppan employs more than 45,000 people globally and recorded sales of over \1.4 trillion in the year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, visit http://www.toppan.co.jp/english/. 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 ] [March 27, 2018] UST Global Launches Innovation Garage by Infinity Labs Today in Kochi KOCHI, India, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UST Global, a leading digital technology services company, today inaugurated its Innovation Garage by Infinity Labs[TM] in Vismaya building, Infopark, Kochi. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/540539/UST_Global_Logo.jpg ) The inauguration ceremony included digital launch of the lab by special guest Yan Chummar and address by the company's leadership and innovation teams. Along with the official inauguration, there was an innovation assets expo, by the Infinity Labs[TM] team and UST Global's project teams, where some of the latest and greatest innovations of the company were showcased. The Infinity Labs[TM] are a core ingredient of UST Global's Innovation-as-a-Service offering. It creates a confluence of Digital Technologies, Human Centered Design, Artificial Intelligence, the company's ecosystem of partners and cutting-edge R&D from the academia. The Infinity Labs[TM ] provide a platform for UST Global employees to get exposed to cutting-edge technologies, get access toworld-class R&D institutions and disruptive startups from around the world. The labs also has an experience center where clients can get an immersive experience of UST Global's capabilities and services. At the Innovation Garage by Infinity Labs[TM], the company plans to employ techniques like Hackathons, Innovation Gyms, problem sensing frameworks, pre-fabricated components and rapid prototyping to churn out solutions at incredible speed. Commenting on the launch, Sunil Balakrishnan, Global Head for Development Center Operations, UST Global, said, "Innovation is at the core of what we do at UST Global. Our innovation center Infinity Labs[TM] is our gateway to ground-breaking innovations for our Global 1,000 customers. We are excited to have our very own Innovation Garage in Kochi that will not only enable meaningful digital innovation by our employees, but also open doors for the academia to come and explore technologies and platforms to build solutions." About UST Global: UST Global is a leading digital technology company that provides advanced computing and digital services to large private and public enterprises around the world. Driven by a larger purpose of Transforming Lives and the philosophy of 'fewer clients, more attention', we bring in the entrepreneurial spirit that seeks the fastest path to value in today's digital economy. Our innovative technology services and pioneering social programs make us unique. UST Global is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California and operates in 25 countries. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies in Banking and Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance, Retail, High Technology, Manufacturing, Shipping, and Telecom. UST Global believes in building long-lasting, strategic business relationships through agile and client-centric global engagement models that combines local experts & resources with cost, scale, and quality advantages of global operations. For more information, please visit: http://www.ust-global.com Media Contact: Divya Singh Divya.Singh@ust-global.com +91-8552944004 UST Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Industrial IoT Business to Strike Over US$ 520 Million by 2022 in Colombia, says Frost & Sullivan BOGOTA, Colombia, March 27, 2018 /CNW/ -- The Colombian Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sector is experiencing a boom in cloud adoption, evolution of data to intelligence, increased availability of different types of connectivity, and improved productivity. Frost & Sullivan forecasts the market to generate revenues of $523.7 million by 2022, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.8%. Smart cities and the healthcare sector will expand more rapidly during this period. "The automotive industry is forecast to spend the most on the IoT over the next 2 years since commercial vehicle telematics represented the bulk of machine-to-machine (M2M) connections in the Colombian market," explained Gina Sanchez, Information and Communication Services Senior Consultant at Frost & Sullivan. Colombian Industrial Internet of Things Market, Forecast to 2022 report reveals drivers, trends, and external challenges for hardware, software, connectivity, services, and primary verticals such as automotive, utilities, agriculture and manufacturing. Company case studies on Manuelita and Azlogica, as well as a Smart City case study on Bogota, are also provided. For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/2ci Four ways to leverage growth opportunities in the Colombian IIoT sector: endors should help organizations manage the complexities of connecting to a seemingly unlimited number of devices and effectively integrate Internet of Things (IoT) data with data from other sources, such as internal data stores; Telecommunication providers should consider embedding SIM cards in devices, using sensors in strategic industries, and investing in core-enabling technologies, ecosystem partnerships, and acquisitions; Communications service providers should leverage their core competencies to capture horizontal opportunities arising from IoT (e.g., integration, managed services and security, cloud computing and storage, and retail and enterprise channels); and Vendors should cover data access issues to encourage companies to craft an IoT strategy if they don't already have one. Because IoT buyers generate the data, it is important that they have access to it. Security, data protection and privacy remain key concerns in terms of embedding ubiquitous sensing and communication technology into machines and everyday objects, and are likely to slow adoption and initial IoT deployment," noted Sanchez. "The challenge of integrating all components to achieve interoperability and provide access to data also must be addressed when adopting IoT solutions." Colombian Industrial Internet of Things Market, Forecast to 2022 is part of Frost & Sullivan's Information and Communication Technologies Growth Partnership Service program. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion Colombian Industrial Internet of Things Market, Forecast to 2022 K208_63 Contact: Francesca Valente Corporate Communications Latin America P: +54 11 4777 5300 E: francesca.valente@frost.com http://www.frost.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industrial-iot-business-to-strike-over-us-520-million-by-2022-in-colombia-says-frost--sullivan-300619595.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Saint Jean Carbon Signs Non-Binding Agreement to Acquire the Montpellier Graphite Mining Claims OAKVILLE, Ontario, March 27, 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 March 20th, 2018, has entered into an arms length non-binding term sheet with Gratomic Inc. to acquire the Montpellier mining claims, located in the graphite rich south western Quebec region. The mining claims add more property to the growing list of claims the Company has in the region. Terms of the transaction, the Company will issue 4,000,000 shares upon closing and pay a 1.75% Net Operational Operating Cost Royalty (NOOCR) for ten years if production has commenced on the subject claims. The transaction is subject to TSX Venture approval. Paul Ogilvie, CEO, commented: Our goal to hold what we believe to be the best graphite properties, for quality, grade and proximity to customers, continues to grow. We look forward to starting a drill program as soon as possible, with the plans to complete a technical report written in accordance with NI43-101. We have been working with a few tons of material from Montpellier through our mill, and we are encouraged by what seems be similar milling attributes as with our other properties. History of Montpellier Graphite Deposits One zone of graphite mineralization was discovered by a prospector during the Spring of 1981, on a hill north of the Lavergne Lake, in Hartwell Township, at some 4 km east of the village of Montpellier, Quebec. A diamond drilling program started in 1984 with a portable Winkie Drill (7 holes) and 29 drill holes totalling 1 340 m were collared (Range V, Lot 1 of Hartwell Township). This work was carried out by 131317 Canada inc. In 2016, the QP visited that part of the property and verified the location of the 1984 drill sites. Casings have been removed, but the drill sites are still visible. Two grab samples were taken on outcrops located at proximity of the original zone of graphite mineralization. Results obtained are respectively 1.34 % Cg and 1.68% Cg. Samples were assayed by ALS Minerals Ltd. in Val dOr, Quebec. This sample was weighted, crushed using method CRU-31 (70%, < 2mm) split and pulverized at 85% passing < 75m. Analytical procedures were C-IR06 and ME-MS41 Ultra Trace Aqua Regia ICP-MS. The C-IR06 consists of determination of Graphite by multistage furnace treatment to remove organic carbon and infrared detection on LECO. The QP has reviewed and verified this historic information and considers it relevant and suitable for public disclosure. One metallurgical test was made during the Summer of 1984 by the same company in the Metalor laboratory in Saint Foy, Quebec, which returned an average grade of 11% Cg. One concentrate of 75% Cg was obtained after floatation with a recovery of 94.3%. Flakes of 86.% C were obtained on the + 48 mesh screen and 59.3% of the fraction of the concentrate was recovered in the - 48 mesh pan. All this technical information is obtained from the Quebec Governments SIGEOM data bank. The QP has reviewed this historic information and considers it relevant and suitable for public disclosure, however the QP has not verified this information. During the same period, an outcrop containing graphite mineralization was discovered at some distance to the south, in Ripon Township, at some 30m north of Lavergne Lake. On May 16, 1989, Graphite Montpellier Inc., a private company, was incorporated and exploration work immediately started. The work consisted of line cutting, IP survey, trenching and diamond drilling. Phase I of the drilling program comprised 17 drill holes for a total length of 1150.32 m (3,774 feet). Holes R89-01 to R89-17 mostly delineated Zone A. Following this Phase I, the line cutting was extended to the west in order to better cover Zone A. In addition the IP survey was also extended tocover Zone B to the north and eastern part of Zone A. In July and August 1989, the second drilling program was executed. Nineteen holes (R89-18 @ R89-48) were bored for a total length of 1579.17 m (5,181 feet) on Zones A and B. The mineralization of Zones A and B has three main forms: 1- Thin and rich horizons (5-25%) in the biotite paragneiss; 2- Rich graphitic Zone (10-25%) at the contact paragneiss -calcosilicated marbles; 3- Disseminated graphite (1-8%) in the marbles. The two first occurrences are always contiguous, while the thin horizons in the paragneiss are sometimes found at several metres above the rich graphite zone. Based on those results, the consultants (SAGAX Geophysique inc. from Montreal, Quebec, GM 53475, 1989) for Graphite Montpellier inc., reported a historical estimate of 10 million tonnes averaging 3.50% Cg. This information has been taken from the following website: https://www.mern.gouv.qc.ca (Energie et Ressources naturelles Quebec) and from the consultants report (GM54375, 1989) made available to the Company by the actual land owner. During Summer 2017, the QP has verified and recorded with a handheld GPS, the location of numerous 1989 drill casings. Flake graphite was present in most of the drill holes. In 2017, one grab sample taken by the QP at the same location where the 1989 bulk sample was taken. This sample returned 20.9 % Cg. It was assayed by ALS Minerals ltd., a certified laboratory in Val dOr, Quebec. This sample was weighted, crushed using method CRU-31 (70%, < 2mm) split and pulverized at 85% passing < 75m. Analytical procedures were C-IR06 and ME-MS41 Ultra Trace Aqua Regia ICP-MS. The C-IR06 consists of determination of graphite by multistage furnace treatment to remove organic carbon and infrared detection on LECO. (Note: The Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource or reserve. The historical reserves were calculated by block models using different cut-off grades, and a specific gravity of 2.70. The Company believes that the historic estimate is relevant to an appraisal of the merits of the property and forms a reliable basis upon which to develop future exploration programs. The Company will need to conduct further exploration which will include drill testing the project, and there is no guarantee that the results obtained will reflect the historical estimate). In 2003, M.F. Taner, P.Geo., submitted four representative samples of quartzite taken above the graphitic gneiss, north of the Lavergne Lake. Assay results obtained from ALS Chemex of Val dOr, Quebec, gave SiO2 values varying from 90.94% to 95.86%. Iron content is lower than 1% and Al2O3 varied from 0.90% to 3.09 % (biotite and plagioclases). The geologist concluded that the quartzite may have some industrial uses (abrasive, filler, etc.) as well as for construction and infrastructures. Its position as a roof over the graphite mineralization has not only protected the graphite, but will be the first rock to be extracted and sold before reaching the graphitic layers (GM 66138, 2003). The QP has been able to verify the information and he believes that the results are relevant. In 2017, the QP took two grab samples of quartzite at the same location 2003 samples. Results obtained from the same laboratory are respectively 92.5 % and 95.24% SiO2. The QP has reviewed and verified this historic information and considers it relevant and suitable for public disclosure. On December 13th, 2013, CKR Carbon Corporation Ltd. (now Gratomic Inc.) announced the acquisition of the Graphite Montpellier property. This mining property covers the northern graphite zone located in Hartwell Township and a large part of the Graphite Montpellier Inc.s mineralized zones located in Ripon Township. In 2016, CKR covered its claims by a helicopterborne Mag and TDEM survey. The known graphite mineralized zones are conductive and show their extents. One strong conductive anomaly located west of Zone A has never been drill tested. Some surface samplings made in 2016 and 2017, confirmed the presence of large flakes of graphite and the previous grades. Report of the helicopterborne survey was obtained from Gratomic and the interpretation of the anomalies is made by Saint Jean Carbons QP. The Company received a copy of the full geophysical report and the accompanied technical data. 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. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Leading Chinese Coworking Space MyDreamPlus Secures $50 million for Rapid Expansion BEIJING, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MyDreamPlus, a leading brand of coworking spaces, officially announced its series B funding, having raised $50 million in capital from Ocean Link, Giant Group, and Joy Capital. The company's continuous success with fund-raising in less than a year is evidence of their strong momentum for growth. In 2017, the company expanded beyond Beijing and took over nearly 20,000 square meters of space in core business areas in Chengdu. In the past two-plus years, MyDreamPlus has gone from a rapid initiation in Beijing to becoming the undisputed leader of the coworking space industry in Beijing and Chengdu with a total operational space of 100,000 square meters; while keeping healthy profits at all locations. With the help from this round of funding, MyDreamPlus is accelerating its expansion in the core business areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. In this March alone, the company signed more than 100,000 square meters of added space in core areas of the four cities. In 2018, this pace is set to continue with a 10-fold increase over 2017. The biggest asset of MyDreamPlus lies in its "OaaS (Office as a Service)" system, which incorporates three pillars of development - an independently developed sart office system, a highly standardized and efficient spatial design and implementation system and refined operational products that are continuously improved through big data analytics. The combination of which makes it the only one among its peers that regards and designs office spaces as a service. This has not only enabled an incredible 180% growth in area-effectiveness but has also allowed for reduced marginal costs amid rapid expansion. According to Tony Jiang, founding partner of Ocean Link -- one of the investors leading this round of funding; "Coworking spaces are a sector with a bright future, but also fierce competition. That's why we did substantial product investigations and data analysis to look for the long-runner in this area. Our conclusion is that, either from the perspective of style, originality, comfort, and standardization of the product or that of single-location returns, MyDreamPlus is the best. The accelerated development of MyDreamPlus this year has validated our judgement." So far, MyDreamPlus has served over 500 tenant companies and tens of thousands of workers, including China Culture Group, Yidao Yongche, HighTeam, COFCO, DiDi Chuxing, Toutiao, AirAsia, Plateno Group, and Tencent, just to name a few. MyDreamPlus continues to attract companies like these and more through continued product innovations. For example, the launch of the credit-based membership product in 2017, which scored an extraordinary performance in just one year by attracting established companies such as Lenovo, Yonyou, Meituan, and Boon Edam to join. According to statistics, the overall industry has grown 30% over the past two years, and is expected to account for 30% of the general commercial office market, making it a hundred-billion yuan sector by 2030. MyDreamPlus was founded in May, 2015, by Mengfei Wen, Wenlei Li and Xiaolu Wang. Its core team is made up of professionals with strong tech, space design and internet backgrounds. On the key to keeping fast development and gaining investment from leading VCs and PEs, the three founders agreed that "Any professional with a deep understanding of the business will know that it is easy to copy an eye-pleasing space, but what is really difficult is to create a real difference, and to embark on a road of sustainable and profitable expansion. We believe that, based on our smart office system and standardized space products, we have full confidence to stay in the lead, with the aim of becoming a standard-shaping force in the sector." View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-chinese-coworking-space-mydreamplus-secures-50-million-for-rapid-expansion-300620142.html SOURCE MyDreamPlus [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] New Research Reveals Majority of Recruiters Ready for GDPR; Concerns Remain About Sourcing and Hiring Under New Guidelines SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While nearly three quarters of organizations feel confident in their ability to achieve General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance for their recruiting efforts by the May 25th deadline, most still harbor concerns about how the new regulations will impact their hiring process, according to new research from Lever, the recruiting software for more than 1,500 leading companies around the world. Lever surveyed 500 professionals across the EU and US directly involved in preparing their organizations for GDPR compliance for recruiting. According to the survey results, 70 percent of respondents believe they will be prepared for GDPR compliant recruiting by May 25th, but preparation doesnt come overnight, or in a silo. Nearly a third of respondents say they are investing significant time and resources into becoming GDPR compliant and 73 percent are working with external or internal legal counsel to prepare. Despite this high level of preparedness, 61 percent of respondents are concerned about the impact of GDPR on their recruiting and hiring processes, including how they source potential candidates. Respondents were also either very concerned or extremely concerned about adhering to specific requirements included in the regulations, such as: Maintaining full records of recruiting processing activities (52 percent) Determining when to get consent from candidates (50 percent) Determining how long to store a candidates personal data before deleting it or obtaining consent (47 percent) Selecting software vendors who will enter into GDPR compliant contracts and meet data security requirements (46 percent) Regardless of these concerns, the overwhelming majority (90 percent) of respondents who are already engaged in sourcing will continue to do so under GDPR. The GDPR deadline is quickly approachig, but few are discussing the potential impact these regulations will have on how organizations source, recruit and hire their talent, said Mike Walsh, Director of Product Marketing of Lever. We hope this research serves as a catalyst within organizations to begin discussing in detail how they will move forward with sourcing candidates under GDPR and the lengths they will go to protect candidate data. At Lever, we have spent significant time working on these issues on behalf of our clients and hope to continue to serve as a resource for recruiters worldwide. Levers research also revealed some organizations are unsure how to adhere to regulations related to candidate data. According to the GDPR, organizations must identify their own lawful basis for processing personal candidate data. For recruiting, the most common lawful bases are consent and legitimate interest, but it can be a grey area for many recruiters. For example, respondents are split regarding when to collect consent from candidates. Only 40 percent of respondents will collect consent to contact for jobs they did not apply to, 37 percent will collect consent in order to email candidates they source and 25.5 percent will collect consent when they plan to keep data from candidates who were in their ATS before May 25th, 2018. Another grey area the survey addressed was determining how long to store candidate data. While GDPR requires companies to only keep personal data for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed, the data showed great variation in how organizations are interpreting this obligation. Some companies will delete candidate data as soon as the job they were tied to closes (23 percent), while others plan to retain candidate data for a year or more (23 percent). The full research report can be downloaded at this link. Methodology From March 2 - 8, 2018, Lever surveyed 500 professionals across the EU and US who are directly involved in preparing their organizations for GDPR compliance for recruiting. About Lever Built from the conviction that recruiting is the responsibility of everyone at the company, Levers applicant tracking and sourcing technology draws the entire team together to source, nurture, interview, and hire top talent through effortless collaboration. Lever has been intentionally designed with integrated ATS and CRM functionality, and features a modern interface that helps employers develop stronger candidate relationships in fewer clicks. Lever was founded in 2012 in San Francisco. The company has raised more than $73 million in funding from Adams Street Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, Y Combinator, Redpoint Ventures, and Correlation Ventures among others. Lever supports the hiring needs of over 1,500 companies around the globe including the teams at Netflix, Hot Topic, KPMG New Zealand, and Cirque du Soleil. With an overall gender ratio of 50:50, Lever is also fiercely committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit https://www.lever.co. MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Cohen Traeger Communications acohen@traegercommunications.com 303-522-0783 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] New Amulet Hotkey CoreStation Solutions Simplify Windows Migration and Enhance Compute Performance Bring powerful NVIDIA Data Center GPUs to Dell PowerEdge FX blade servers NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Unique architecture: combines Intel Xeon Scalable processors and NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs with the efficiency of blades, and the cost benefits of rack-based systems, to handle today's evolving workloads. combines Intel Xeon Scalable processors and NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs with the efficiency of blades, and the cost benefits of rack-based systems, to handle today's evolving workloads. Market leading density: drives efficiency and performance with up to 128 GPU accelerated virtual desktops across four dual-socket servers in only 2U of rack space. drives efficiency and performance with up to 128 GPU accelerated virtual desktops across four dual-socket servers in only 2U of rack space. Powerful performance: to handle graphics and GPU accelerated compute for virtual workstation, high-performance computing, big data analytics, machine learning and deep learning. NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /CNW/ - Amulet Hotkey Inc., a leader in design, manufacturing and system integration for remote physical and virtual workstation solutions, today announced a significant addition to the CoreStation blade family based on the Dell EMC PowerEdge FX architecture. For the first time, powerful NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs can be used in the industry leading Dell EMC PowerEdge FX architecture. The Amulet Hotkey CoreStation VFC640 GPU accelerated blade server uses a unique PCIe expansion module and GPU card developed in collaboration with Dell EMC and NVIDIA product engineering teams. Two Amulet Hotkey DXF-EXP-V modules support up to eight NVIDIA Tesla P6 GPUs in the FX2 server chassis, while maintaining the benefits of the FC640 blades and FX2 architecture. The result is a powerful and agile platform that can handle a broad range of workloads. "The Amulet Hotkey CoreStation VFC640 expands upon the market leadingblade workstation portfolio designed to meet the graphics and compute performance needs of professionals while driving customers' IT transformations," said Andrew Jackson, president, Amulet Hotkey Inc. "Our unique solution enables up to eight powerful GPUs, with up to four dual-socket servers in a PowerEdge FX2s chassis. Delivering this capability in an industry standard 2U rackmount form factor demonstrates our commitment to use innovative design and manufacturing to meet enterprise IT needs for a truly flexible and scalable computing architecture." "NVIDIA Tesla data center GPUs and NVIDIA virtual GPU software dramatically increase the graphics and compute performance of blade servers to handle evolving workflows with AI, photorealism and unlimited mobility," said Bob Pette, vice president, professional visualization, NVIDIA. "Customers working with large datasets, complex models or graphics-intensive productivity applications found in Windows 10 can leverage the benefits of high-density blades integrating multiple Tesla GPUs, NVIDIA virtualization software, Dell EMC OEM Solutions and Amulet Hotkey technology." "With the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, customers are looking for enhanced compute solutions that optimize these workloads," said Ron Pugh, vice President and general manager for the Americas, Dell EMC OEM Solutions. "We are excited to work with Amulet Hotkey to develop game changing solutions for our customers that accelerate IT transformation. CoreStation VFC640 features and benefits: For Virtual Blade Workstations For Windows 10 Virtual Desktops Availability The CoreStation VFC640 will be available in May 2018. Click here to submit a request to participate in the CoreStation VFC640 Early Access Program. For more information visit www.amulethotkey.com. About Amulet Hotkey Copyright 2018 Amulet Hotkey Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Amulet Hotkey and CoreStation are trademarks of Amulet Hotkey Ltd., and are registered in the United Kingdom, United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners. Lakeside Software, Inc. "Elevating User Experience Through GPU Acceleration: A Windows 10 versus Windows 7 Analysis." Lakeside Software White Paper. 2017 SOURCE Amulet Hotkey Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Jeff Slapp Joins 365 Data Centers as Vice President, Cloud Services & Support to Lead Company's Virtual Services Team NORWALK, Conn., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 365 Data Centers, a leading provider of data center solutions for carrier, content and enterprise customers in ten strategic edge markets, announced that Jeff Slapp has joined the company as Vice President, Cloud Services & Support. In this role, he will lead the delivery, reliability and expansion of 365 Data Centers' recently added cloud and virtual managed services product offerings. For the last two decades, Slapp has been on the forefront of technology, specializing in server and storage virtualization, high-performance and high-availability design and software-defined enterprise architectures. Jeff also has an extensive software development background with specific emphasis on user-interface design, third-party integration and system automation. Prior to joining 365 Data Centers, Jeff served in virtual systems engineering and sales engineering leadership roles at Iron Mountain, Citrix Systems, Host.net and DataCore Software, and has also owned and operated a cloud and managed services business. Bob DeSantis, Chief Executive Officer of 365 Data Centers, said "Jeff Slapp wll accelerate the advancement of our DRaaS, BackUp and Cloud compute and storage service offerings, and the roll out of these services into all of our markets by working directly with our sales team and existing and prospective 365 customers. Our commitment to each of our virtual service customers is to deliver an on-premise experience consistent with our 'Technology Humanized' approach to service delivery. We are pleased to add Jeff's expertise to our organization during this period of growth as we continue to transform 365 Data Centers into a nationally-recognized hybrid data center services provider." "The competitive landscape is very different today," said Slapp. "Technology-focused businesses must adapt with an agility never experienced before in the industry to keep their edge in the marketplace. Feature-rich, software-driven architectures combined with world-class network and support services enable businesses to meet this challenge. This is precisely what 365 Data Centers delivers to its customers every day." About 365 Data Centers: 365 Data Centers is a leading provider of hybrid data center solutions in ten strategic edge markets. With data centers in Boca Raton, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, New York and Tampa, the company has in place a total of 195,000 square feet, 13 MW of power, and a redundant, low latency, nationwide fiber network, including direct connectivity to the NAP of the Americas, to serve customers. Our robust, carrier neutral ecosystem and secure, reliable edge Colocation, Network, IP, DRaaS, BackUp, Cloud compute and storage, and Business Continuity services help organizations reduce costs, drive innovation and improve their customer experience. 365 Data Centers supports mission-critical application infrastructure by providing industry leading SLA protections and adhering to industry standards such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, VISA, SSAE 16, SOC 2, and ISAE 3402. 365 Data Centers' corporate office is located in Norwalk, Connecticut. Visit www.365datacenters.com for more information. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jeff-slapp-joins-365-data-centers-as-vice-president-cloud-services--support-to-lead-companys-virtual-services-team-300620198.html SOURCE 365 Data Centers [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Virginia Technology Industry Recorded Modest Employment Gains in 2017, Boosted Contribution to State's Economy RICHMOND, Va., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Employment in Virginia's technology industry expanded by an estimated 1,460 jobs in 2017 and the industry contributed $53.9 billion to the commonwealth's economy, according to Cyberstates 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation's tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world's leading technology industry association. With 425,300 workers, Virginia ranks 6th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.1 This accounts for 9.9 percent of the state's total workforce. The average tech industry wage in Virginia is $114,770, compared to the state's average private sector annual wage of $55,730. The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 12.8 percent ($57.3 billion) of the overall economy in Virginia, which is home to some 21,410 tech business establishments. Virginia's Cyberstates Innovation Score places the stat 7th, down from 6th last year. This ranking is based on a state-by-state per capita analysis of new tech patents awarded, tech startups and new tech business establishments. Virginia saw a 19.8 percent jump from 2016 to 2017 in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. While these positions accounted for a small percentage of total tech job postings, it's an indicator of where organizations are headed with the technology investments. The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the category of IT services and custom software services (+ 2.3 percent). Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA's analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://cyberstates.org/ 1 Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers. 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 technology professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the global 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. Contact: Steven Ostrowski CompTIA sostrowski@comptia.org 630-678-8468 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virginia-technology-industry-recorded-modest-employment-gains-in-2017-boosted-contribution-to-states-economy-300620330.html SOURCE CompTIA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] New Jersey Technology Industry Added 1,800 Jobs in 2017, Boosted Contribution to State's Economy TRENTON, N.J., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Employment in New Jersey's technology industry expanded by an estimated 1,800 jobs in 2017 and the industry contributed $48 billion to the state's economy, according to Cyberstates 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation's tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world's leading technology industry association. With 337,900 workers, New Jersey ranks 13th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.1 This accounts for 7.8 percent of the state's total workforce. The average tech industry wage in New Jersey is $122,830. That's 93 percent higher than the state's average private sector annual wage of $63,600, and 4th highest in the country. The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 9.5 percent ($52 billion) of the overall state economy. New Jersey is home to nearly 16,000 tech business establishments. New Jersey's Cyberstates Innovatin Score places the state 11th, down from 5th last year. This ranking is based on a state-by-state per capita analysis of new tech patents awarded, tech startups and new tech business establishments. New Jersey saw a 71.1 percent jump from 2016 to 2017 in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. While these positions accounted for a small percentage of total tech job postings, it's an indicator of where organizations are headed with the technology investments. The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of packaged software (+ 5.2 percent) and IT services and custom software services (+ 2.1 percent) Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA's analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://www.cyberstates.org/ 1 Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers. 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 technology professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the global 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. Contact: Preston Grisham CompTIA pgrisham@comptia.org 202-682-4458 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-jersey-technology-industry-added-1800-jobs-in-2017-boosted-contribution-to-states-economy-300620356.html SOURCE CompTIA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Washington Technology Industry Added 7,100 Jobs in 2017, Boosted Contribution to State's Economy SEATTLE, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Employment in Washington's technology industry grew by an estimated 7,100 jobs in 2017 and the industry contributed $68.4 billion to the state's economy, according to Cyberstates 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation's tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world's leading technology industry association. With 363,500 workers, Washington ranks 11th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.1 The Washington tech workforce makes up 9.9 percent of the state's total workforce. The average tech industry wage in Washington is $141,650, compared to the state's average private sector annual wage of $60,240. The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 17.4 percent ($75.2 billion) of the overall economy in Washington, which is home to more than 14,000 tech business establishments. Washington's Cyberstates Innovation Score slipped to 10th this year down from 3rd a year ago. This ranking is based on a state-by-state per capita analysis of new tech patents awarded, tech startups and new tech business establishments. Washington saw a 16.6 percent increase from 2016 to 2017 in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. While these positions accounted for only about 10 percent of total tech job postings, they are an indicator of where organizations are headed with the technology investments. The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of telecommunications and Internet services (+ 6.5 percent); IT services and custom software services (+ 5 percent); and packaged software (+ 2.9 percent). Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA's analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://cyberstates.org/ 1 Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers. About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $1.5 trillion U.S. 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. Contact: Preston Grisham CompTIA pgrisham@comptia.org 202-682-4458 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/washington-technology-industry-added-7100-jobs-in-2017-boosted-contribution-to-states-economy-300620446.html SOURCE CompTIA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Buildout and RealConnex Announce Partnership to Accelerate Sales for Commercial Real Estate Brokers NEW YORK, March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RealConnex and Buildout are pleased to announce a partnership which will enable Buildout's clients to syndicate their listings to RealConnex's fast-growing community of 130,000 members. As part of this arrangement, Buildout's participating brokers will receive access to the entire suite of RealConnex networking, credibility, profile, influence and prospecting tools and its vast resource of over 500,000 investors, lenders, service providers and the entire ecosystem of real estate professionals. This partnership with Buildout is just the latest initiative made by RealConnex to collaborate with best-in-class, real-estate-focused organizations, leveraging its technology to be a business accelerator for the industry. Other recent partnerships include The Inland real estate group, the Miami Association of Realtors and merchant banking boutique Silver Portal Capital. "It is with great pleasure that I announce the partnership between Buildout and RealConnex," said Roy Abrams, CEO of RealConnex. "As we continue to aggregate more real estate professionals than anywhere else, this partnership with Buildout represents an important step toward achieving that goal by providing the ability for Buildout brokers and their listings to pass through to the RealConnex ecosystem, helping both client bases accelerate their networking within the industry. It also extends Buildout's distribution channels for ther listings and provides their brokers access to an entire professional ecosystem in one place. "This partnership between two big brands has the potential to fuel amazing growth and success opportunities for both partners." About Buildout Buildout is the leading end-to-end solution for marketing commercial real estate listings, helping over 1,000 brokerages efficiently run their marketing. Since launching in 2010, Buildout has revolutionized the entire listing process for brokerages around the country. Buildout's marketing tool allows brokerages to produce beautiful, brand-consistent marketing instantly, saving time by eliminating tedious tasks enabling them to focus on what is most important: closing more deals and growing their business. Buildout excels in their ability to automate the document creation process by allowing users to create attractive, brand-compliant documents with a few simple clicks. Streamlining the property listing process by partnering with listing sites allows companies to instantly post listings across the nation. For more information on Buildout, please visit https://buildout.com. About RealConnex RealConnex is the world's first accelerator connecting real estate professionals to capital, investments, services and each other. It provides all the tools a professional needs to network, build profile, credibility and influence; tools to buy, sell and lease, prospect and connect to opportunities. It's professional real estate in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. Sometimes referred to as LinkedIn meets Match.com for professional real estate, the company was founded in 2013 by Roy Abrams, a 25-year veteran of the real estate and technology industries. To sign up and participate in the real estate industry's most comprehensive networking and business development platform, click visit RealConnex. Press Contact: Sarah Berman 212.450.7300 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/buildout-and-realconnex-announce-partnership-to-accelerate-sales-for-commercial-real-estate-brokers-300620325.html SOURCE RealConnex [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] HP Introduces World's Most Powerful Workstation for Machine Learning Development News Highlights: New optimized machine learning performance configurations for HP Z8 and HP Z4 Workstations include the NVIDIA Quadro GV100, with 32 GB HBM2 memory and Tensor Cores to accelerate AI. Latest offerings provide developers the tools needed to bring machine learning solutions, including facial identification, fraud analysis and predictive analytics, to market sooner with higher quality. Local processing at the edge of the network with advanced HP Z Workstations gives developers more control, better performance and added security. HP Machine Learning solutions now available as part of companys Device as a Service (DaaS) offering. PALO ALTO, Calif., March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HP today unveiled a set of industry-leading machine learning (ML) solutions, including the HP Z8, the worlds most powerful workstation for ML development1. HP Z Workstations, with new NVIDIA technology, are ideal for local processing at the edge of the network giving developers more control, better performance and added security over cloud-based solutions. The use of workstations for machine learning development is the gateway to automating workflows in areas such as facial identification, sentiment analysis, fraud detection and predictive analytics. Were on the cusp of a new era of innovation powered by machine learning technology that enables customers to analyze, predict and problem solve in ways never thought possible. Artificial intelligence will transform workflows and empower end users to make smarter decisions, more quickly, than ever before, said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, HP Z Workstations, HP Inc. HPs latest solutions provide ground-breaking performance and scalability, offering the most powerful and comprehensive ML edge computing solution. Products like the HP Z8, the most powerful workstation for ML development, coupled with the new NVIDIA Quadro GV100, the HP ML Developer Portal and our expanded services offerings will undoubtedly fast-track the adoption of machine learning. As machine learning algorithms advance and data sets grow, the platform of choice for ML development is local processing at the edge of the network. A powerful workstation can be more cost effective than the cloud for creating complex models with mountains of data. In addition, machine learning at the edge gives ML developers more control, better performance and added security, leading to faster results. Prior to this generation of HPZ Desktop Workstations, limited power budgets prevented users from packing their machines with enough high-performance storage such as HP Z Turbo Drive, memory, graphics, and processing to train the model with significant amounts of data to achieve high confidence levels. In order to bring all that power to bear most efficiently on solution creation, the HP ML Developers Portal now provides state-of-the-art tools, such as HP curated software stacks, as well as support for NVIDIA GPU Cloud. The time-to-market, local control, economic value, superior power and security of HP Z Workstations are proving strong value propositions for all developers. The power of ML edge computing solutions is being leveraged by companies across industries, from geosciences to gaming. For more than 80 years, CGG, a leader in cutting-edge geoscience, has been imaging the Earths subsurface to help clients locate natural resources. CGG processes terabytes of seismic data to help their clients find where to drill by uncovering key geological features like faults in the bedrock. CGG is using AI to develop breakthrough solutions for Geoscience, said Steve Dominguez, team lead Seismic Interpretation Software, CGG. Our terabyte-sized data sets choke many systems, but our HP Z Workstation platform for Machine Learning at the Edge can handle these extreme workloads. This enables CGG to create our models faster and at lower cost than cloud or other options. In addition to enhancing productivity in commercial industries, machine learning is also impacting creative professionals, enabling them to offer uniquely enhanced experiences to their customers. Mobalytics is all about using AI-based machine learning to help gamers understand their performance and provide them with personalized advice on how they can improve their gaming skills, said Bogdan Suchyk, CEO and Co-Founder of Mobalytics. Besides partnering with HPs OMEN team based on a common vision to help gamers get better, we have also started to deploy HPs ML solution to be more efficient. The security features of HP Z Workstations, the world's most secure desktop workstations2, is another plus for developers who demand the protection of IP and private data. Users can protect against the evolving malware threats with self-healing, hardware-enforced, and manageable security solutions. Finally, HP is extending its Device as a Service (DaaS) offering to ML solutions. HP DaaS is a modern, multi-OS service model that simplifies how commercial organizations equip users with the right hardware, support and lifecycle services to get the job done improving end-user productivity, IT efficiency and cost predictability.* About HP HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com. Footnotes: Based on workstations as of February 18, 2018 and power based on processor, graphics, memory, and power supply Based on HPs unique and comprehensive security capabilities at no additional cost among desktop workstation vendors as of September 25, 2017 on HP Desktop Workstations with 7th Gen and higher Intel Processors. * HP DaaS plan components may vary by region or by Authorized HP DaaS Service Partner. Please contact your local HP Representative or Authorized DaaS Partner for specific details in your location. HP services are governed by the applicable HP terms and conditions of service provided or indicated to Customer at the time of purchase. Customer may have additional statutory rights according to applicable local laws, and such rights are not in any way affected by the HP terms and conditions of service or the HP Limited Warranty provided with your HP Product. www.hp.com/go/newsroom Jim Christensen, HP +1 408 309-0186 Jim.Christensen@hp.com Copyright 2017 HP Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 27, 2018] Castro & Co. Files $247 Million Federal Defamation Lawsuit Against Moodys Gartner A year-long investigation has revealed that an attorney living in Spokane, Washington, is allegedly responsible for orchestrating and executing an unprovoked two-year campaign of harassment, slander, and defamation against John Anthony Castro, J.D., LL.M.; a well-respected, thoroughly published, and internationally recognized International Tax Attorney in Washington, DC. Newly acquired documents indisputably confirm that Roy Andrew Berg of Spokane, Washington, orchestrated the filing of allegedly false and fraudulent complaints in Florida, Washington DC, and Texas. The Attorneys General of those jurisdictions have been notified and may be launching a criminal inquiry. In response, Castro & Co. has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Roy Andrew Berg and his employer, Canadian-based law firm of Moodys Gartner (News - Alert) , for over $200 million in damages, which can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2DZRWay. Background Dr. Castro is licensed with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As an enrolled agent and federal tax practitioner, Dr. Castro is authorized to practice federal and international tax law in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the 68 countries with which the U.S. has a tax treaty; however, his practice is limited to the practice of tax law since he is operating as a federal practitioner. In accordance with the United States Supreme Court's decision in Sperry v. Florida, 373 U.S. 379 (1963), individual state bars do not have jurisdiction over federal practitioners; click here https://bit.ly/2pLxkOQ. This was recently confirmed by the Texas Supreme Court in the case In Re Andrew Silver, No. 16-0682 (Tex. 2018); click here: https://bit.ly/2DXZXgf. In the Silver case, the Texas Supreme Court also held that the federal common law attorney-client privilege applies to communications between federal practitioners and clients even if that federal practitioner is not licensed with the state bar. This is also confirmed on the Florida Supreme Court's own website: click here: https://bit.ly/2GbfdMw (PDF Page 5, Section 11). Other attorneys have chosen the traditional state licensing route, such as Joshua Scott Milam, J.D., LL.M., who heads the Dallas office for Castro & Co.; click here: https://bit.ly/2Gho7Ea. This even became a question for former Harvard law professor and current United States Senator Elizabeth Warren during her senatorial campaign; click here: https://bit.ly/2IY1EOd. The alleged two-year campaign of harassment began on March 3, 2016. Castro & Co. received a letter from the Florida Bar at their Orlando office indicating that an individual had filed a complaint against Dr. Castro for allegedly engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. But it didn't stop there. In November of 2016, Roy Berg filed a similar fraudulent complaint with the DC Bar, and, in March 2017, Roy Berg also filed a fraudulent complaint with the Texas Bar. Knowingly filing a false complaint with a governmental agency is a criminal offense in Florida, DC, and Texas for which an individual may be criminally prosecuted. It didn't stop there. In September 2017, Roy Berg allegedly sent an anonymous defamatory email to several clients of Castro & Co. falsely accusing Dr. Castro of criminal activity. Finally, in March 2018, Roy Berg directly contacted a corporate client of Castro & Co. to again defame Dr. Castro; except this time he used his business email account with Moodys Gartner, the Canadian law firm Roy Berg is employed by. Having dealt with enough for over 2 years, Dr. Castro, armed with newly acquired documents from the Florida Bar verifying the original complainant as Roy Andrew Berg and receiving copies of the emails and other documents Roy Andrew Berg had sent to corporate clients as well the DC and Texas Bars, Dr. Castro filed a federal lawsuit for defamation and tortious interference against Roy Andrew Berg and his employer, Moodys Gartner, for $247 million. This is a developing story with more to come. Castro & Co. is a Washington DC-headquartered law firm specializing exclusively in international tax and estate planning. The firm is managed by John Anthony Castro, J.D., LL.M. Dr. Castro is a graduate of and earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation with a Certificate in International Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. Dr. Castro earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from the University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque; one of the top law schools in the U.S. Dr. Castro has been published in the Nevada Law Journal, Tax Analysts, the International Bar Association's Tax Journal in the United Kingdom, and the SMSF Adviser in Australia. Dr. Castro is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authoritative sources on matters of international tax law with offices in Washington, DC, Miami, Orlando, and Dallas. If you need any additional information, please call Castro & Co. during regular business hours at 202-792-6600. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180327006396/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Kansas City Police Department says the teen they were searching for after a Sunday night homicide at an area Italian restaurant has been located. Police were asking for help to find 17-year-old Saul Lozano. Authorities said they were concerned for Lozano's safety after the overnight homicide off of N Oak Trafficway. Pit bull bites USPS mail carrier, is shot by police KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri Police officer shot a pit bull Friday afternoon after the dog bit a U.S.P.S. mail carrier. Officers and Animal Control responded around 4:30 p.m. Friday to the 1500 block of NE 79th Street on the call. Local canine death always upsets news watchers but this report makes it's clear that this was a bad doggie and anas. . . Read more: TKC TIPSTERS SHARE THIS EPIC NEWS BLAST FEATURING UMKC DISPUTING CLAIMS FROM AN ALLEGED "WHISTLEBLOWER" & REPORTING FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR!!! A Message from the Interim Chancellor Not so long ago, the Kansas City Star attacked the city college and the only real result of their writing was that one of their tipsters was fired for it.To wit . . .but earned front page coverage from the newspaper as if they were covering Watergate . . . Mostly it was coverage that was ignored by most readers who don't really think about college beyond sports.And so, as the story flopped among the denizens of the local news scene . . . Here's UMKC sharing their side of the story. . .March 26, 2018Dear colleagues,As a true believer in the ability of higher education to transform our community and our world, I hold dear our mission of learning, discovery, research and service. As a faculty member myself, I understand that the faculty are the intellectual core of the university and play a foundational role in serving our mission. Therefore, I strongly value the principles of academic freedom and tenure that support the work of our faculty.At UMKC and in the UM System, we have a well-defined procedure under which faculty hold colleagues accountable. The process very rarely leads to termination. In fact, only once in the last 10 years has that happened at UMKC.Im writing to you today because Dr. Richard Arend, the faculty member from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management who was dismissed for cause from UMKC, persists in claiming to media that he was terminated by the university in retaliation for being a whistleblower, despite clear evidence to the contrary.As a tenured faculty member, Dr. Arend was protected from being fired through any unilateral action by the UMKC administration or UM System administration. In accordance with the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri, he was afforded an extensive opportunity for a hearing before other faculty members.The facts are that a 10-person committee of his tenured faculty peers at UMKC determined that Dr. Arend failed to meet important standards enforced by faculty. Those failures were unrelated to the activity he claims prompted his dismissal. After six exhaustive days of hearings, in which Dr. Arend was accompanied by legal counsel and permitted to introduce evidence and question witnesses, that committee voted unanimously that he be dismissed for cause.In their report, the committee cited Dr. Arends demonstrated substantial lack of fitness in the professional capacity as a teacher and researcher at the University. The faculty committee found that Dr. Arend engaged in academic misconduct relating to research; and that he committed acts of intimidation, threats, coercion, and/or harassment directed against students, faculty and staff. The UMKC Chancellor acted in accordance with the faculty committees wishes and terminated his appointment. Dr. Arend later appealed the unanimous decision by his faculty peers first to UM System President and finally to the Board of Curators. In both appeals, he had additional opportunities to make his case. At each stage, the decision made by the faculty committee was upheld.Under normal circumstances, we would not choose to make this kind of detail public. However, Dr. Arend has called the integrity of the university into question. We believe we have no choice but to set the record straight. Members of our university community, the Missouri taxpayers who help fund our operations, and the organizations and institutions that hire and enroll our graduates deserve no less.Below you will find a detailed timeline of the events leading up to Dr. Arends dismissal with links to official documents detailing the charges against him and the committees decisions on those charges. These documents offer a transparent look into the process and reasons for Dr. Arends dismissal.Let me be clear. Dr. Arend did bring genuine problems and issues to the medias attention. However, any claim that his dismissal was retaliation for that exposure is demonstrably false by the actual evidence.Among our campus values are Respect, Integrity and Accountability. We value the discoveries that our faculty make every day. Your work betters the lives of every citizen of our state and the nation. Thats why it is our duty to respect tenure, and why faculty take on the responsibility to uphold the standards of tenure through self-enforcement. It also is our duty to ensure that every faculty, staff member and student feels valued and respected. Our actions in this matter have upheld these values and responsibilities.Respectfully,Barbara A. Bichelmeyer, Ph.DInterim Chancellor and ProvostProfessor of ManagementTimeline 2015: After receiving reports from two faculty grievance panels and a letter from the Vice Chancellor for Research about Dr. Arends misconduct, UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton appointed Provost Barbara A. Bichelmeyer to investigate whether dismissal for cause charges should be brought against Dr. Arend. Jan. 23, 2016: Provost Bichelmeyer presented the charges against Dr. Arend to the UMKC Campus Committee on Tenure, comprised of 10 tenured faculty members from across the university. April 21, 2016: The faculty Committee initiated the hearing for Dr. Arend. The hearing extended for six days during which each party had the opportunity to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Both sides presented evidence; Dr. Bichelmeyer presented more than 20 exhibits; Dr. Arend presented more than 70 exhibits. Dr. Arend was present for all hearing sessions and was accompanied by legal counsel. April 23, 2016: Based on incidents occurring during the hearing, the charges against Dr. Arend were amended to include two additional charges. June 14, 2016: The faculty Committee unanimously found that adequate cause for dismissal of Dr. Arend, as based on the sustained counts, is directly and substantially related to his demonstrated substantial lack of fitness in the professional capacity as a teacher and researcher at the University. July 22, 2016: Chancellor Leo E. Morton upheld the faculty Committees findings and Dr. Arends employment was terminated for cause. Sept. 26, 2016: following Dr. Arends appeal, University of Missouri System Interim President Michael Middleton upheld the faculty Committees findings and the termination of Dr. Arends employment for cause. Dec. 8, 2016: Dr. Arend presented his final appeal to the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri System. He also submitted a 37-page written argument to the Curators. Dec. 19, 2016: the Board of Curators upheld the faculty Committees findings and the termination of Dr. Arends employment for cause.############# The Library, in collaboration with KCPT-Kansas City PBS and KSHB-41 Action News, examines the indelible episode and its aftermath in a two-pronged event marking its 50th anniversary. First is the premiere screening of the new documentary short '68: The Kansas City Race Riots, Then and Now, co-produced by KSHB and KCPT. Then, a panel discussion featuring Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, Mayor Sly James, and former city council member and longtime community activist Alvin Brooks addresses the lessons learned from the violent chapter of history, from the role of policing to the value of protest. Joining Cleaver and Brooks on the panel: Clarence Gibson, the last Kansas City police officer at the time of the unrest who remains on the force; Linda Spence, a Central High School student in 1968; and Southeast Missouri State University historian Joel Rhodes, who has extensively researched the episode. KCPTs Nick Haines moderates. "In 1968, WHB Radio in Kansas City was one of America's leading top 40 radio stations. In the early 2000s, I came in contact with Bud Carter, who had been WHB's News Director in the late 1960s. He gave me a tape recording that he had made while working at the station consisting of a radio station composite of the station's news coverage of the 1968 Kansas City riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The composite was made for the station's sales department so they could demonstrate to potential advertising clients the quality of WHB's news coverage of breaking stories that the WHB News department was known for at the time. I have simply taken that composite, wrapped some old WHB jingles around it and added pictures I found through the Kansas City Public Library's awesome website . . ." Tonight the local civic set offers. . .Now, the movie will be rebroadcast later but we are students of history on this blog and there is news coverage available online featuring the scenes of the event.Description:For our blog community, what should out is the change in language and tone from present day terminology describing an "uprising" to reporters at the scene who were far less thoughtful in the words they used to describe the chaotic scene.You decide . . . "I THINK AFTER THIS, the trial,the state of Kansas should order Schlitterbahn to leave the state. Not just tear down the slide. But bulldoze the entire water park you and your greedy family built." A bold statement from a Kansas City PR/Marketing legend and a glimpse at the future (or lack thereof) for an embattled waterpark . . .Money line:Developing . . . Weekly Standard: Hawley Ties McCaskill to Hillary Clinton in New Ads The most unpopular Democratic Party lady in modern history continues to damage her colleagues as Midterm Election Season 2018 moves closer.Better than the Conservative echo chamber, these MSM news items offer perspective on a very real threat to the Missouri Senate incumbent from her own party.Read more:Developing . . . The temple was dedicated to Apollo by the Phigalians, who believed the god had protected them from plague and invasion Greek newspaper Kathimerini reports in a recent article that in a photograph from 1985, Maria Arabatzoglou poses along with her fellow students from the tour guide school at the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, in the Peloponnese. The impressive temple in Arcadias ancient Bassae, constructed between 420 and 400 BC, was among the schools hottest exam topics, combining three architectural orders in one monument with many demanding constructional requirements for the era. According to ancient traveler Pausanias, its conclusion was the work of Iktinos, the architect of the Parthenon, who had to come up with architectural solutions worthy of the famous Athenian monument, says Arabatzoglou as we ascend the winding road from Andritsaina, a nearby mountain village. Since her time at university, Arabatzoglou has walked up this difficult road many times, leading Greek and foreign visitors to the temple. The first thing they see, as we do, is the protective installation that has sheltered the monument since 1987 to halt its deterioration from exposure to the elements. They understand that it was added to protect the monument for as long as work is being done, but the first thing they ask me is when it will be removed. And I jokingly respond, Its just been added, she says. A worn-out Greek Culture Ministry sign showing the monuments restoration stages welcomes us, along with a rusty electrical panel. Touch panels that never functioned are covered with black plastic, and a no-smoking sign completes the initial impression. As we move toward the perimeter of the colonnade, we see the temporary shelter is torn at various points, with pieces hanging from the roof, which is patched up in places. Natural wear and tear The roof, a lightning protection system and an earthquake-resistant scaffold specifically designed for the temple were deemed immediate rescue actions to protect the monument and were designed by architect Iakovos Rigos. The damage to the roof is not unexpected, considering it has exceeded its expected life by 15 years, as Rigos explains in our telephone conversation. Archaeologists who have worked at the monument have been calling for a replacement of the covering for years. A tender that took place a few years ago was canceled and the funds earmarked for its replacement were lost. The monument, which after Pausanias is next mentioned by travelers of the 18th and 19th century, is located at an altitude of 1,130 meters on Mount Kotylion, and is sometimes on the receiving end of extreme weather. Rainwater, snow and frost, the territorial peculiarities, as well as the detachment of metal and lead elements in the 19th century, which constituted the adhesive material of certain architectural segments, contributed to the deterioration of the monument, built mostly with limestone. Arabatzoglou presents the problematic sections of the temple that are visible to the naked eye, such as the deviations of the columns, the capitals that have acquired a greenish color from damp, the sunken floor, the fractures on the steps and the height difference at the base of the temple compared to its west side. There are also some static problems at the sections where no restoration work has been done, according to the head of Ilias Ephorate of Antiquities, Erofili-Iris Kolia, who added nevertheless that there are no risks of collapse. One glance at the restored northern part of the monument where the main entrance of the temple is located shows the need to continue restoration work without stop. So far, most of the restoration has been funded by European Union programs. After the passive maintenance of the 1980s (roof, scaffold, lightning protection), restoration studies were approved by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) in the mid-1990s, dividing the project into two major parts: the restoration of the peristasis and the cella (inner chamber of the temple). Work on the peristasis, that is, the perimeter colonnade, was broken up into smaller projects, first being the northern part. Work and funding Work on the northern part of the temple started in early 2000 with the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) for Greece and was completed with the 2007-13 National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF). Those who are acquainted with and keep a close eye on the endeavor closely speak of a mammoth project of discreet scientific work that is taking place for the first time in Greece, since, apart from the visibly restored sections of the temple (columns, capitals), archaeologists have had to work on the foundation, restoring hundreds of fragmented stones. The know-how gained may shorten the time required for work on the next phases of the project if the necessary funds are committed. To secure the money required for the work, the Culture Ministry is again targeting European Union funds. The new NSRF provides for the financing of projects for monuments under UNESCO protection and, as noted by the head of the Ephorate of Antiquities in Ilia, work is being done to have the temple included in the new program. The Temple of Apollo Epicurius was the first Greek monument to be included in the UNESCO list in 1986. While the monument is directly under the jurisdiction of the Culture Ministry, in several countries abroad the UNESCO National Committees play a much more active role in the management and use of listed monuments. Officials of UNESCOs Greek Committee expressed concern to Kathimerini about the apparent lack of interest in the utilization of the monument, considering that 2018 is European Year of Cultural Heritage. The temple combines some peculiarities that make up its uniqueness. Its northern orientation contrasts with the usual eastern orientation of ancient Greek temples, while architecturally it combines the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. Its chief decorative element is the inner marble Ionic frieze, which is currently at the British Museum. The restoration video playing on a monotonous loop inside the temple is the sole reminder of the work that stopped three years ago. All sides have expressed an intent to utilize the monument the state and private initiatives such as the International Friends Association of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius. The temple was dedicated to Apollo by the Phigalians, who believed the god had protected them from plague and invasion. Sometimes a divine intervention seems necessary, Sakis Ioannidis notes at the end of Kathimerini article... 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 Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Carole Raddato License: CC-BY-SA Source: ekathimerini.com The community of Mochos gives foreign visitors the opportunity to live an unforgettable experience of Cretan traditions and hospitality The great Cretan landscape offers a colorful palette of opportunities for those looking to relax and enjoy authentic experiences. Other than stunning beaches and cities rich in culture, Crete is also home to delicious and unspoiled inland villages. One of them is Mochos, and it will let you escape from the coastal crowds and mass tourism while enjoying a unique atmosphere, discovering another of the many authentic faces of the island. Mochos is one of the four most significant settlements of the municipality of Malia, in the prefecture of Heraklion. The village can be reached departing from Stalida, and going up through a series of hairpin turns that lead to the main square of the village. Along this nine-kilometer long road, magnificent sights alternate between the blue sea of Crete and the imposing mountains. Once past the village square, the road continues to the Lassithi plateau. The village Traditional houses from the 16th century dot the picturesque alleys of Mochos. Courtyards are filled with flowers while the hospitality of the villagers is legendary. Old Byzantine icons decorate the several churches of the town. The main one located in the central square is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and to Agia Paraskevi. This temple is home to an iconostasis of the Virgin which dates back to 1820. Here it is also possible to admire a small icon made of copper together with different wall paintings. A visit around the square presents visitors with the hard task of electing a taverna among the many in town. In summer, they arrange their little tables on the streets, under big trees and colorful lights. Locals mingle with visitors to enjoy tables full of inexpensive and delicious local specialties. One of the many famous shops in town is known for selling local herbs and spices. As a matter of fact, being that Mochos is located among olive groves and grapevines, the majority of the residents are farmers. The history This typical mountain settlement goes back to the second Byzantine period and had Stalida (or Stalis) as its harbor town. A survey from 2001 counted less than 1000 inhabitants permanently living in the community. Mochos is a village which already existed back in the 8th century. According to different research, its first inhabitants would have probably been monks. Ancient records demonstrate that the village was called Mogho in the Middle Ages and back in 1583 only 451 people lived there. Apparently not much has changed from those times. Celebrations in Mochos It is a good idea to pay a visit to Mochos on August 15, when major Greek celebration honoring the Virgin is taking place. The village welcomes visitors from all over Crete who seek to enjoy good Cretan music and dancing, as well as some of the local wine and food. The celebrations usually continue into the early hours of the next day. During the summer season, the village also hosts a traditional Cretan night, usually every Wednesday, in which local dishes, wine, dance, and music are available in every taverna. This way, the community of Mochos gives foreign visitors the opportunity to live an unforgettable experience of Cretan traditions and hospitality. Cretan nights also count with the presence of professional dancers dressed in the traditional costumes of the island. Mochos hosts one of the remaining traditional carnivals, held one week before the actual carnival day. The village square is filled with people dancing and singing. Drinks are free and a legacy carnival soup is made in massive cauldrons. As usual in Mochos, the feast does not finish before 5 or 6 am. Source: greekreporter 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 Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: C messier License: CC-BY-SA The Egyptian envoy to Greece Farid Monib sent a clear message that the relations between Greece and Egypt are of deep and historical importance and at this moment are witnessing the best level of cooperation and coordination in an interview with Athens-Macedonian News Agency in the midst of the presidential elections procedure in Egypt. Farid Monib underlined the two countries' stability role in an unstable region and characterized the Greek-Egyptian relations strategic and historic. He also expresses his certainty that the discovery of the energy deposits will further strengthen the bilateral relations and in parallel he focuses on the arising benefits for both countries by the deepening of the economic cooperation between Greece and Egypt. On the occasion of Greece's Independence Day celebrated on March 25, he congratulated the Greek people for the day and sent a message of gratitude and support from the people of Egypt. Depicting the picture of the Egyptians visiting or living in Greece including himself, he said that they feel like home "The support of the Greeks to us is clear in all the sectors not only in politics but in the economy, the culture and the society. In this context he expressed the certainty that the people of Greece and Egypt will overcome the economic crisis. 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 Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Fitzcarmalan License: CC-BY-SA On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sir Suma Chakrabarti. Mr. Tsipras announced, on Monday, that 740 million euros will be channeled during 2018 to the Local Self-Government, with resources from the EBRD and the Public Investment Program. Through the Special Programs for the Support of Local Self-Government Organizations, FiloDimos I and FiloDimos II, the government seeks to actively support the developmental dimension of the Local Self-Government, directly improving the citizens quality of life, tweeted the Greek Premier, continuing, 740 million euros in total, from the EBRD and the Public Investment Program, will be used in 2018 to finance projects, procurements and services of the municipalities. 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: int.ert.gr Bahrain-based Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) has revealed that it exceeded all its production targets for 2017, including the highest daily production of urea (2,055 metric tonnes). The company also set a new monthly production record for methanol (62,300 metric tonnes). This resulted in the total production of urea, ammonia and methanol reaching 1,604,725 metric tonnes, an increase of 1.4 per cent over the previous year, said a statement. A total of 1,204,486 metric tonnes of the company's products were shipped on board 71 vessels throughout the year and these fetched the best prices from world markets, it said. The announcements were made by GPICs board of directors during its recent annual general meeting held at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain. Bahrains Minister of Oil, Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, representing the Bahrain side, presided over the meeting. The Kuwaiti side was represented by Petrochemical Industries Companys finance manager Talal Issa Al Sultan; while the Saudi side was represented by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation director, venture management and joint ventures affairs, Ahmed Bin Saleh Al Duraian. The general assembly approved the board of directors' report on GPIC's work for 2017 and the report of the auditor. The shareholders expressed satisfaction and appreciation at the companys financial position and its achievements at the local, regional and global levels. GPIC board of directors chairman Ahmed Al Sharyan said that the company continued its achievements in the last year with the combined efforts of all, which resulted in reduced spending and increased production, in spite of the challenges faced by the petrochemical industry. Dr Al Sharyan praised the close cooperation and coordination with the marketers of its products the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation and the Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait. He said this had a major impact on the smooth flow of the companys exports. GPIC president Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery said that the company achieved a new record of more than 27 million hours without a lost time accident, thus maintaining a clean slate since May 2002. He said the Carbon Dioxide Recovery Unit would continue to operate and help GPIC reduce emissions, while maintaining environmental safety according to the Government of Bahrain standards and in coordination with the Supreme Council for the Environment. Dr Jawahery said that the company has maintained efficiency of its preventive maintenance systems, which ensures necessary operational efficiency for all units. -TradeArabia News Service Viva Bahrain has launched Viva Cash, a groundbreaking new application offering consumers the very latest secure and convenient digital mobile wallet for everyday payments. The announcement, led by Viva Bahrains CEO Ulaiyan Al Wetaid was made at an exclusive event attended by Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed; Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Governor Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Sadad Chairman Shaikh Ali Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, and Viva management. Al Wetaid said: With Bahrain leading the digital transformation in the region, and establishing itself on the global map as a regional Fintech hub, we at Viva Bahrain have made bringing Bahrains digital vision to reality a priority. And today, in keeping with our promise to support Bahrains digital future, we are excited to launch our latest mobile payment solution, Viva Cash, in collaboration with Sadad Bahrain, the kingdoms FinTech leader, licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain. Now available for free on the Apple Store and Google Play Store, users of Viva Cash can enjoy shopping and dining at over 800 merchants across Bahrain and access an international remittance service embedded within the application that guarantees fast, safe and easy money transfers. Zero remittance fees are offered for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Philippines for a limited time. Making it all the more convenient and easy to use, users of Viva Cash can deposit money into their account either by securely transferring money from an existing debit card through the application, or by topping up with cash at any of Sadads 750 machines around Bahrain. To celebrate the launch of Viva Cash, every deposit made by customers will be matched with 10 per cent more from Viva for a limited period, giving users the chance to earn up to BD3 extra credit in their account. Powered by Viva and its strategic partner Sadad, Viva Cash is a major new initiative that breaks boundaries between telecom services providers, payments services providers and financial institutions and aims to bring the country one step closer to a cashless society, the statement said. TradeArabia News Service Broker-Dealer Profits Skyrocket 42% in 2017: NYS Comptroller Cha ching! Twenty-seventeen was a very good year for the sell-side, traders and their wallets. Securities industry profits rose dramatically in 2017 for the second consecutive year and the average bonus paid to financial industry employees in New York City jumped 17 percent to reach $184,220 according to an estimate released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. "When Wall Street does well, the city and state benefit from higher tax revenues," DiNapoli said. "The large increase in profitability over the past two years demonstrates that the industry can prosper with the regulations and consumer protections adopted after the financial crisis. It is too soon to tell how increased volatility in the financial markets might impact profits in 2018." Pretax profits for the broker/dealer operations of New York Stock Exchange member firms (the traditional measure of securities industry profits) skyrocketed 42 percent in 2017 after increasing by 21 percent in 2016. Profits totaled $24.5 billion in 2017, the highest level since 2010, driven by higher revenue. After adding jobs for three consecutive years, employment in New York City's securities industry dipped slightly in 2017, averaging 176,900 jobs. Despite recent gains, employment in the securities industry in the city is still 6 percent smaller than before the financial crisis in 2007, while the rest of the private sector in the city has grown by 23 percent. Although smaller, the industry remains a key component of the city's economy. The industry accounted for less than 5 percent of the private sector jobs in the city in 2016, but it generated more than one-fifth of all private sector wages paid in the city. DiNapoli estimates that nearly 1 in 10 jobs in the city are either directly or indirectly associated with the securities industry. DiNapoli's office releases an annual estimate of bonuses paid to securities industry employees who work in New York City during the traditional bonus season. Bonuses paid by firms to their employees located outside of New York City (whether in domestic or international locations) are not included. The Comptroller's estimate is based on personal income tax trends and includes cash bonuses for the current year and bonuses deferred from prior years that have been cashed in. The estimate does not include stock options or other forms of deferred compensation for which taxes have not been withheld. 1 2 next For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: #stocks-summary Seoul stocks down for 2nd day amid virus woes, Evergrande uncertainties South Korean stocks slumped for a second straight session Friday after the country's daily COVID-19 cases hit a record high, erasing gains from easing fears over China Evergrande G... #murder Man indicted for killing two women while under surveillance The prosecution on Friday indicted a 56-year-old man on charges of killing two women while he was under a location monitoring program for sexual offenses. The suspect named Kang... Luxo Italia, as one of the best high-end experiences designer in Italy, has been cordially invited to participate in the new book launch of the prestigious Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club (RREC). (TRAVPR.COM) ITALY - March 27th, 2018 - Luxo Italia, as one of the best high-end experience designer in Italyl, has been cordially invited to participate in the new book launch of the prestigious Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club (RREC). Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club (RREC) is delighted to have launched a new publication entitled The Pursuit of Excellence at Goodwood House. Produced by leading London publisher St Jamess House and written by an editorial team of experts, aficionados and tastemakers, the beautifully designed, 432-page hardback publication spotlights Rolls-Royce motor cars past and present, and delves into the stories and personalities that make the marque the best car in the world. In keeping with the launchs refined setting, a collection of Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars were on display at the Goodwood House event. In addition, to resonate with the books theme of luxury, a carefully curated selection of high-end brands were present, enabling guests to immerse themselves in a world of luxurious tastes, products and experiences. Richard Freed, CEO of St Jamess House, said: What better way to launch this wonderful book than with a celebration of the finer things in life? It was truly an event to remember. The launch event took place on 23 March between 5pm and 11pm at Goodwood House in West Sussex. ### laxmi@tribune.com NEW DELHI: Mahindra & Mahindra on Tuesday said it will form a joint venture with Sri Lankas Ideal Motors to assemble vehicles in the island nation. The company will hold 35% of the share capital in the JV, with the remaining proposed to be held by Ideal or any of its affiliates, M&M said. The new company will be formed for the purpose of assembly of vehicles in Sri Lanka and M&Ms investment will not be more than 25 crore Sri Lankan rupees, subject to RBI approvals. The company, however, did not elaborate what type of vehicles would be assembled through the new JV. The company has a range of utility vehicles and SUV besides being a major player in tractor segment. PTI Manjit S Kang Manjit S Kang Former VC, PAU, Ludhiana, Adjunct Professor, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA Dr Norman Ernest Borlaug was born on March 25, 1914 in Cresco, a farming town in Iowa, USA. India, especially Punjab, has a special bond with him the bond of Green Revolution. He is thought of as the Father of Green Revolution that began in Punjab in the late 1960s. Dr Borlaug worked in the Rockefeller Foundation's (now known as CIMMYT) wheat breeding programme in Mexico. In 1962, Dr MS Swaminathan requested the Director of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) to invite Dr Borlaug to India. Dr Borlaug, along with Dr Robert Glenn Anderson, visited India in 1963. They brought with them 100 kg seed of each of four red-grain, dwarf strains of wheat developed in Mexico and distributed those seeds to the IARI, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (PAU), UP Agricultural University, Pant Nagar, and other agricultural institutes in Pune, Kanpur and Indore. While the Mexican varieties yielded much higher than those grown then in India, the red colour of these varieties was not to the liking of the Indian consumer. What PAU scientists achieved was phenomenal. PAU scientists developed new varieties via selection from the high-yielding Mexican varieties. They also hybridised the Mexican varieties with local varieties and developed new high-yielding varieties that also had the acceptable amber-coloured grain. Dr DS Athwal was, at that time, the leader of the wheat-breeding programme at PAU. The first variety, 'Kalyan', named after Dr Athwal's village Kalyanpur, was a direct selection from the Mexican wheat. Dr Borlaug would visit PAU often to check on the status of the new wheat varieties and would get very excited to see the excellent progress that the PAU scientists were making. Dr Borlaug praised PAU's wheat research programme. In 1996, he wrote to the then Head of Wheat Section at PAU, Dr GS Nanda, "The breeding program is diverse and dynamic and, undoubtedly, will continue to produce varieties which will be highly productive, disease-resistant and of good quality. I was also very much impressed by the agronomic research and plant pathology work, which is an integral part of the wheat research programme at your Institute." He further wrote, "When I left Ludhiana for New Delhi, we traveled by train and I was immensely pleased to see the extensive fields of beautiful wheat, as far as the eye could reach, over virtually all parts of southern Punjab and also equally good into northern Haryana. When I began to collaborate with Indian scientists in 1963, I never imagined that I would live to see such fantastic change in yield and production of wheat which I have been privileged to see on this occasion. Congratulations!" In his 2006 book titled 'The Man Who Fed the World: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug and His Battle to End World Hunger', Leon F Hesser writes in the preface, "A comparable program using Borlaug's seeds and associated technology in India where starvation had turned to famine in parts of the country in the mid-1960s, resulted in a 'wheat revolution' that, together with similar efforts for rice, brought the country to self-sufficiency in wheat in 1972 and in all cereals by 1974." In India, wheat production rose from 12.3 million tons in 1965 to 20.1 million tons in 1970. Honours for Dr Borlaug Recognising his contributions to Punjab, PAU bestowed upon Dr Borlaug, before any other university did, an honorary degree of Doctor of Science in 1969. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1970. Jimmy Carter, former US President, sums up Dr Borlaug's contributions, "My good friend Norman Borlaug has accomplished more than any one individual in history in the battle to end world hunger." Mr Carter further wrote, "Norman Borlaug's scientific achievements have saved hundreds of millions of lives and earned him the distinction as one of the 100 most influential individuals of the 20th century." In 2006, India conferred upon Dr Borlaug 'Padma Vibhushan', the second highest civilian honour. In 2007, the US Congress awarded him 'Congressional Gold Medal', the highest honour for a civilian. The Nobelprize.org describes him as, "An eclectic, pragmatic, goal-oriented scientist, he accepts and discards methods or results in a constant search for more fruitful and effective ones, while at the same time avoiding the pursuit of what he calls 'academic butterflies'." Dr Borlaug mentored many scientists around the world and envisioned a world without hunger. In 2007, at the American Society of Agronomy meetings in New Orleans, Louisiana, he exhorted the scientists to "think more boldly and humanely about the Third World and to see what each of you can do to help." He spent almost his entire career helping developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Knowing that there was no 'Nobel Prize for Agriculture' per se, he was instrumental in establishing, in 1986, the 'World Food Prize' to recognise individuals who have improved the quality, quantity, or availability of food around the world. The very first World Food Prize was awarded, in 1987, to none other than Dr MS Swaminathan. Other Indian scientists who have since received the World Food Prize are Dr Verghese Kurien (1989), Dr Gurdev S. Khush (1996), Dr BR Barwale (1998), Dr Surinder K. Vasal (2000), Dr Modadugu Gupta (2005), and Dr Sanjay Rajaram (2014). Let farmers get benefits of biotech Dr Borlaug's had expressed apprehensions about farmers not being allowed to reap the benefits of biotechnology. He stated, "The majority of agricultural scientists including myself anticipate great benefits from biotechnology in the coming decades to help meet our future needs for food and fiber. Indeed, the commercial adoption by farmers of transgenic crops has been one of the most rapid cases of technology diffusion in the history of agriculture. The more pertinent question today is whether farmers and ranchers will be permitted to use this new technology? While the affluent nations can certainly afford to adopt ultra-low-risk positions and pay more for food produced by the so-called "organic" methods, the one billion chronically undernourished people of the low income, food-deficit nations cannot." The best tribute scientists and policymakers can pay to Dr Borlaug is by continuing his legacy. Both scientists and policymakers will need to use "out-of-the-box" thinking to meet the tremendous challenges facing agriculture. While population will increase by 40 per cent, food demand will almost double by 2050. Dr Borlaug recognised the importance of water in the future Dr Borlaug was a visionary scientist. He recognised water as being important in the future. He wrote, "In order to expand food production for a growing world population within the parameters of likely water availability, the inevitable conclusion is that humankind in the 21st century will need to bring about a "Blue Revolution" to complement the "Green Revolution" of the 20th century. In the new Blue Revolution, water-use productivity must be wedded to land-use productivity." Actually, the Government of India has followed this advice by promoting the slogan "More crop per drop." ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM It is never propitious for an all-consuming battle to begin with the questioning of the neutral umpires integrity. However, while blowing the whistle for the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Election Commission (EC) was compelled to probe allegations of leakage of election dates. The questions over ECs uprightness have been raised when the contest will be hard-edged, unremitting and unapologetic: the BJP will expect a win to impart fresh wind in its sails while the Congress seeks to check that momentum; Deve Gowda, meanwhile, will fight for political relevance in a surprising alliance with BSP. In a bitter contest such as this, the EC is aware it had to invest tremendous institutional capital to dispel misconceptions about EVMs generated during the intemperate heat of political campaigns. In an era of quick judgments, the EC has to develop a thick skin. Even members of the present dispensation had summoned the religious affinity of a Chief Election Commissioner to cast aspersions about his objectivity. The EC as an institution has retained its credentials of incorruptibility but it cannot afford a blemish on its institutional reputation after its explanation about the delay in announcing the Gujarat poll dates left many unsatisfied. Its opinion disqualifying 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs also did not smell good, especially after the Delhi High Court pulled up the quasi-judicial body for denial of natural justice by not giving the legislators a hearing. In a situation where all contending sides will go for broke, it is the ECs inherent responsibility to perform in a manner that is not seen as being accommodative to any one side. That will bring the usual brickbats in its wake but the bigger reward will be the vindication of Indias democratic project. Just like the political parties are viewing the Karnataka elections as setting the template for the 2019 elections, the EC needs to once again summon public faith in the inviolability of its integrity. It would be reassuring if it expands the VVPAT vote-count and also put greater vigour in tempering the proclivity of contestants to test the limits of acceptable public contestations. editorial@tribune.com Shiv Kumar Sharma Tribune News Service Yamunanagar, March 27 The check posts set up in the district to check overloading of vehicles have been rendered useless as operators are using alternative routes to avoid penalty. The district administration had established 14 check posts in Yamunanagar district. The check posts at Kalesar and Kalanaur became operational on December 23, 2017, while the remaining 12 posts were made functional on January 3. Sources say most of the check posts have been set up established at wrong locations, allowing operators to transport boulders, sand, stone dust and other construction material through alternate routes. The administration has set up three check posts at Dhanaura, Mugalwali and Sultanpur villages, but a few overloaded vehicles pass through these posts. Most of the vehicle operators reportedly use Nagli via Salempur Kohi, Khanuwala, Bilaspur route and Nagli via Mohideenpur, Taharpur, Ledi, Bilaspur route to avoid checking, but there are no check posts on these routes. Similarly, overloaded vehicles from Tajewala and Khizrabad area ply on the Khizrabad-Ledi-Bilaspur route to avoid checking. There are three check posts on the Yamunanagar-Garibirbal-Karnal road at Jathlana, Gumthala and Rao villages. But, there are alternative routes as well. Sources said operators were using Khukhani link road to reach Radaur and Indri towns. Similarly, overloaded vehicles plied on Model Town-Bareri-Radaur road to skip the check posts at Gumthala and Jathlana villages. Sources said instead of passing through Mukarampur check post, overloaded vehicles used an alternative route along the western bank of the Yamuna to enter UP through Kalanaur. Locals allege the problem was rampant due to connivance between regional transportation, police, mining and other department officials. Sources said a 6-tyre truck could carry only 9 tonnes of goods. Similarly, a 10-tyre truck was permitted to carry 15 tonnes of goods, a 12-tyre truck could carry 21 tonnes of goods, a 14-tyre truck was permitted to carry 24 tonnes, an 18-tyre truck was permitted to carry 28 tonnes and a 22-tyre truck was allowed to carry 35 tonnes of goods. However, most of the vehicles transport goods in excess of the permissible limit, thereby violating the Motor Vehicles Act. Overloaded trucks cause fatal accidents, but also damages roads, said Satpal Kaushik, a Congress leader. 72 vehicle fined Rs 31.32 lakh Yamunanagar: A team led by Jagadhri SDM Bharat Bhushan Kaushik on Tuesday challaned 72 vehicles for overloading and imposed a fine of Rs 31.32 lakh for violating rules. The drive was reportedly ordered by Deputy Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bhavikatti after receiving complaints about overloaded vehicles plying in connivance with officials of regional transport office (RTA), Yamunanagar. The team conducted checking drive on Kanalsi road and Behrampur and Mukarampur check posts during which more than 100 truck drivers reportedly abandoned their vehicles and fled. Around 94 vehicles were checked during the drive, of which 72 were found overloaded. DC Vijay Kumar Bhavikatti said the drive to check overloading would continue. TNS ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Dipender Manta Tribune News Service Kullu, March 27 Expectant mothers in Kullu district and tribal district of Lahaul Spiti are facing a lot of difficulties to avail medical facilities for safe delivery and regular checkup at the regional hospital in Kullu. The hospital lacks regular gynaecologist to serve the patients since September 2017. However, to provide relief to the residents of both districts, the hospital authorities have hired two gynaecologists under the National Health Mission (NHM), who visit the hospital premises on a call for delivery cases. The people of Kullu and Lahaul Spiti said the state government was a mute spectator over the deteriorating health services in both districts, where no gynecologists were available. The regional hospital cater to the health services not only for the residents of Kullu district, but neighbouring districts like Chamba, Lahaul Spiti and a few parts of Mandi district. A majority of patients are referred to Kullu from the tribal district of Lahaul Spiti, the Pangi region of Chamba district and Bali Chowki area of Mandi district. Seema, a native of Kullu district, said expectant mothers of poor families were suffering a lot as they could not afford to avail healthcare in private hospitals. She said the district hospital did not have regular gynaecologist for the past six months. A few days ago, an expectant mother died after delivering a still born baby in Kullu district hospital. The issue raised several questions over the safe delivery mission of the state government. The people of the district are urging the state government to depute doctors at the regional hospital with immediate effect where a number of posts are lying vacant for the past many months. When contacted Sushil Chander Sharma, Chief Medical Officer, Kullu, said, The two gynaecologists posted in Kullu have gone for higher studies since September 2017. Thereafter, on the approval of the state government, we have hired two gynaecologists under the NHM to provide medical care to expectant mothers. He said the hospital authorities were trying their best to provide better medical healthcare to the people. He said in February, 39 Caesarean, 44 complicated and 288 normal deliveries were conducted in the hospital. He also ruled out any negligence on the part of the medical team in the death of the expectant mother a few days back. Sunder Singh Thakur, Kullu MLA, raised the issue in Vidhan Sabha. He also threatened to lead a massive protest against the state government in the coming days if it failed to meet the demand of the people. I had taken up the matter in the Vidhan Sabha and I was assured that doctors will be deployed at the regional hospital in Kullu, he said. editorial@tribune.com Shyam Sood Rajouri, March 27 After inputs of the presence of a group of militants in a forest near Jogi Nala, a few kilometres from Sunderbani town, a joint search operation was launched by the Army, local police and paramilitary forces late Monday night. Sources said two persons, reportedly in fatigues, approached a family (name withheld) about 9 pm and demanded food for themselves and their four colleagues, claiming that they belonged to the BSF and were doing night training in a nearby forest. The food was given by the family, but it later informed Sunderbani SHO Tilak Raj, who intimated the Army about the incident, a source said, adding that by the time the search team arrived, the suspects had managed to slip away. It is being investigated whether the two persons were security forces personnel from a local unit or militants, said a cop. editorial@tribune.com Samaan Lateef Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 27 The first day of the four-day visit of New Delhis special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma on Tuesday witnessed protests as well as sharp criticism from the Congress. Soon after Sharma landed at the Srinagar airport, he went directly to north Kashmirs Bandipora district to meet various delegations, comprising mostly political workers. Ahead of Sharmas visit, the meeting venue was rocked by protests in which two employees of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) were injured. The district administration had kept the meeting venue at the NHPC office. The police personnel deployed in the NHPC office for the security of Sharma didnt allow the corporation employees to go inside. The police restrictions irked the employees, who fought with the security forces to force their entry. The employees were later joined by locals, who resorted to anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. Officials said two persons were injured in the police action. The situation was peaceful when Sharma reached the venue around 1 pm. Officials said Sharma met 17 delegations, which comprised mostly mainstream political activists. Like other trade bodies, the Traders Federation of Bandipora refused to meet Sharma, saying they had no mandate to talk on political issues and advised him to talk to the separatist leadership. Local Congress legislator Usman Majid said Sharmas visit to Kashmir was a futile and meaningless exercise. The government interlocutor has to seek political opinion on the Kashmir issue but he (Sharma) is discussing local civil issues like drains, lanes and health centres, Majid said. Usman said the appointment of Sharma was an alternative governing process initiated by the Central government as the PDP-BJP government had failed on all fronts. After taking up the assignment of being the Centres special representative, Sharma is on the seventh visit to Kashmir in the past five months. In his previous visits, he met mainstream leaders and students but has not been able to meet separatist leaders. Separatists term his appointment as a time-buying tactic adopted by New Delhi under pressure from international community. Protests rock meeting venue Ahead of Sharmas visit, the meeting venue was rocked by protests in which two NHPC employees were injured. The district administration had kept the meeting venue at the NHPC office. The police restrictions irked the employees, who fought with the security forces to force their entry. The employees were later joined by locals, who resorted to anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Futile exercise: Congress Local Congress legislator Usman Majid said interlocutor Dineshwar Sharmas visit to Kashmir was a futile and meaningless exercise. The government interlocutor has to seek political opinion on the Kashmir issue but he (Sharma) is discussing local civil issues like drains, lanes and health centres, Majid said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 Stalemate continued to persist on the Jammu University campus on Tuesday after the administration decided not to revoke the suspension of five students following the adamant behaviour of protesters, who announced to carry on their stir till the removal of Dean Students Welfare (DSW). Most of classes on the campus went off peacefully. However, a section of students held a demonstration outside the Vice Chancellor secretariat. They demanded a written order on the revocation of the suspension of students and the removal of DSW. However, the university has decided to constitute a high-level committee to negotiate with the nominated representatives of the protesting students to find an amicable solution to the situation. JU VC Prof RD Sharma said: The students were planning to gherao the selection panel, who had come to conduct interviews for the four posts on the campus. We did not allow them to succeed in their plans and the interviews were conducted peacefully, he said. The protesters are forcing other students to boycott their classes for their petty interests, which is not acceptable to anyone. Let them nominate their representatives for talks with the panel, he added. shalender@tribune.com Ashoka University in partnership with The Haryana Government recently announced call for applications for Third Batch of Haryanas Chief Ministers Good Governance Associates Programme. In this programme 22 high-caliber young leaders will work across different government schemes and departments in the state to improve transparency and efficiency. Over 1933 applications were received last year for up to 25 seats from leading institutions in Haryana, New Delhi, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Candidates can apply online on WWW.CMGGA.IN by April 15, 2018. There is no fee for application. Admissions will be based on rigorous selection process consisting of online application, telephonic interviews and a final round of multiple in-person interviews. amansharma@tribunemail.com Ravi S. Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 26 The Left parties -- CPI(M) and RSP -- on Monday submitted notices of no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. K Karunakaran and Mohammad Salim of the CPI (M) and NK Premachandran of the RSP have separately written letters to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan expressing intention to move the motion against the government. By notifying the Lok Sabha, the Left parties signalled a joint strategy of the Opposition to put pressure on Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who had not taken up taken up the notices of TDP and YSR Congress last week, on ground that the House was not in order. She had adjourned the House. The TDP and YSR Congress had moved the notices against the government in protest against it for not granting special status to the state of Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act. The rule is that the House has to be in order to take up the notice of no-confidence motion. The Chair has to ascertain of the requisite support of members to it present in the House. Mahajan's decision to adjourn the House had not gone down well with the Left parties. CPI (M) had publicly questioned it and alleged partisan role on the part of the Speaker. Subsequently, the Left parties decided to individually serve notice for no-confidence motion by not allowing it any escape route from facing the Opposition on a range of issues. The CPI chief Sudhakar Reddy said that although his party has not move notice, it will support any no-confidence motion taken up by the House. The CPI (M) has identified four broad issues to grill the government. They include (1) economic distress, including farmer and labour distress, unemployment and banking scam; and (2) attack on democratic rights, including lathi-charge on students, attack on minorities, SCs and STs. Premachandran said as per the rule, the Speaker will test the validity of each of the notices on the basis of requisite support of members to it in the House. In case there is more than one notice in the frame, the Speaker will go by lottery system to pick any one of them to be allowed for discussion and voting on it as per division of votes. amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, March 27 India and Pakistan will hold a two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission here from Thursday to discuss various issues under the Indus Waters Treaty, sources said on Tuesday. This will be the 114th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), which should meet at least once a year as per the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), they said. India's Indus water commissioner PK Saxena, technical experts and a representative of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will be part of the Indian delegation for the annual meeting. Pakistan's six-member delegation will be led by Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah. The meeting will take place in the backdrop of the continuing tension between the two countries over a host of issues, including the alleged harassment of diplomats. The meeting will be held on March 29 and March 30, a government source told PTI. According to the sources, the issues relating to India's Ratle, Pakul Dul and Lower Kalnai projects, located in Jammu and Kashmir, may come up for discussion during the meeting. Pakistan contends that Ratle (850 MW), Pakal Dul (1,000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) projects -- located in the Chenab basin -- were violating the IWT, signed in 1960. But India is very clear that designs of the projects are in accordance with the treaty, a sources said. The sources said the issues concerning the 340 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project, located on river Jhelum's tributary in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, may not figure during the meeting since the project has already been commissioned. The PIC had last met in March 2017 in Islamabad. The meeting of the PIC is held alternately in India and Pakistan every year. The IWT covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The treaty specifies that waters from the three western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- are reserved for Pakistan, while waters from eastern rivers -- Ravi, Sutlej and Beas -- are for reserved for India. - PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 27 The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second day without the House according the customary farewell niceties to the 40 retiring Members on account of disruption to the proceedings caused by AIADMK benches on the Cauvery issue. Chairman of Rajya Sabha Venkaiah Naidus repeated appeals and persuasions to the members to take their seats and allow order in the House were ignored. Naidus caution that he was left with two options: to name the members and initiate action against them, or to adjourn the House, had no effect on the AIADMK. They demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must give a statement on the floor of the House on the Cauvery issue. Before adjourning the House he said the occasion was solemn and dignity should be accorded to the retiring members in allowing them to give their farewell speeches recounting their experiences. Even while Naidu cautioned that he would be forced to adjourn the House, Congress and other Opposition members said they wanted the House to function. When Naidu sought opinion of the Leader of the Opposition and Congress member Ghulam Nabi Azad, the latter said it was the Chairs call. Azad also expressed unhappiness at the disruption. After the House was adjourned, and Naidu had left, the Congress members, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and others remained seated for more than half an hour. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel and other Ministers also stayed put. The treasury and opposition benches were spotted engaged in informal discussions in small groups. Jaitley walked to the seat of Azad and was seen in discussion with a group of Congress members. Earlier, the House was adjourned for 15 minutes amidst protest by AIADMK, and TDP on special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Naidu adjourned the House and asked leaders of political parties to meet him in his chamber to determine smooth proceedings. But soon after the House reconvened, the AIADMK were on their legs at their seats pressing hard on the Cauvery issue. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 27 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will head to Japan for a three-day visit on Wednesday. She will co-chair the ninth Indo-Japan Strategic Dialogue along with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono in Tokyo. The two sides will review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest, said the Ministry of External Affairs in a release. India and Japan have been closely working in areas of maritime security, the revived Quadrilateral dialogue (including Australia and the US), civil nuclear cooperation, infrastructure, manufacturing, clean air technology, and railways. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rails are to be built with Japans collaboration along the lines of the super-speed Japanese Shinkansens. Today, Japan is one of the largest investors in India with $4.7 billion FDI in 2016-2017, almost double of $2.6 billion in 2014. India is an obvious, essential, and the most reliable partner for Japan to work with, in coping with the challenges that the world faces today. Japan places India at the centre of its Indo-Pacific strategy, Japanese envoy Kenji Hiramitsu said during the National Day Celebrations in December last. Ahead of the Strategic Dialogue on March 29, the first meeting of the Steering Committee for Japanese Language Education was held in New Delhi on Monday. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. gspannu7@gmail.com Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 27 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has conveyed to BJP president Amit Shah that it is the moral duty of both the parties to protect each others interests and strengthen the NDA alliance. A delegation of SAD led by its president Sukhbir Badal and consisting of MPs met Shah recently and raised issues concerning the party. The party impressed upon him that it has always stood by the BJP and the NDA firmly. It also spurred the BJP to ensure that the SAD do not cut a sorry figure and is put to defensive among its support base. Party MP Naresh Gujral, who was part of the delegation, said they requested for immediate revision of the law to provide for refund of GST collected on inputs for langar at gurdwaras. During the about 40-minute meeting, attention of Shah was drawn to the Congress government in Punjab having already decided to provide concession in the state. Shah was receptive to the issues raised by the SAD, Gujaral said. During the discussion, the party further said that religious institutions of all faiths, including Hindus, should be given similar benefits of exemption from GST. Also, SAD demanded computation of MSP on agriculture produce as per C2 formula. It said the feedback from farmers is that they are not satisfied with governments announcement of fixation of MSP on the basis of Swaminathan recommendation. There has to be holistic approach by taking into account all kinds of cost inputs, including of labour of family members, rent of land, among others while calculating the MSP to ensure that farmers get 50 per cent profit over and above the total costs. It also underlined the need for speedy investigation and trial of cases related to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots to bring closure to the cases. It stressed that even after decades the victims have not got justice. Another SAD MP said Shah was enthusiastic on both parties working in strong coordination for better electoral results in future. rajivbhatia82@gmail.com New Delhi, March 27 The Central Government will come out with a Rs 350 commemorative coin to mark 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and last Sikh Guru. "The Rs 350 coin shall be coined at the Mint for issue under the authority of the Central Government to commemorate the occasion of 350th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji," said the finance ministry in a notification. The coin with standard weight of 35 gram will have 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper and 5 per cent each of nickel and zinc. The obverse will bear the rupee symbol and denominational value '350' in international numerals below the Lion Capitol. The reverse side will bear the picture of Takht Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib in the centre. The years '1666' and '2016' in international numerals will be on the left and right periphery of the coin. - PTI editorial@tribune.com Dehradun, March 27 State High Court on Tuesday issued bailable warrant against Secretary, Urban Development, for failing to appear before the court. The hearing came up before the senior Judges Rajiv Sharma and LokPal Singh. Secretary, Urban Development, Nitesh Jha, and District Magistrate of Pithoragarh C Ravi Shankar were to appear before the court in connection with the petition filed by Hem Chan, a resident of Pithoragarh. In his plea Hem Chand had appealed against the inclusion of Bhati village and seven other villages in Berinag nagar panchayat. The people of these villages had also opposed the inclusion of their upgraded villages in nagar palika. In earlier judgment, the HC had cancelled the notifications and government orders regarding the new delimitation of urban local bodies carried by the BJP government and had asked the government to start the process anew. TNS editorial@tribune.com Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service Dehradun, March 27 Water man of India and Stockholm Water Prize winner Dr Rajendra Singh on Tuesday called upon forest officers to equally honour both man and nature. Dr Singh was addressing the Indian Forest Service (IFS) probationers at Hari Singh Auditorium in Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy here. You must honour both man and nature as this will help you conserve nature and earn a reciprocal respect from the people as well, Rajendra Singh said. He also advised them to follow the slogan Jal Jungle Jameen as he said it would keep them attached to the grassroots. He mentioned his efforts for revival of natural bodies inhis home state of Rajasthan. He spoke of Tarun Bharat Sangh, an organisation headed by him, which played a key role in the revival of traditional water sources in the water-parched Rajasthan. He said community participation was necessary for success of any work. Citing an example of Maharashtra, Dr Rajendra Singh said inhabitants of some parts of Maharashtra had to migrate when they faced drought-like situation due to lack of monsoon rains for some years. Thus, many villages in Maharashtra became desolate. We took into confidence locals and created as many as 11,800 johads, a traditional water body that gets water through water harvesting and helped restore the greenery, Rajendra Singh, who is also Ramon Magsaysay Award winter for community leadership, pointed out. Not only agriculture was revived but daily domestic water needs were also fulfilled, he said. rchopra@tribunemail.com Melbourne, March 27 The Australian government will expel two Russian officials over the use of nerve agent allegedly by Moscow against a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. The officials will be directed to depart Australia within a week. In doing so, Australia joins the UK, the US, 14 European Union member states, and other allies who on Monday expelled a number of Russian diplomats in a coordinated response. The two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by Australia for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna Conventions, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in an official statement on Tuesday. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, both remain critically ill in hospital in Britain. Bishop said Australias decision reflected the shocking nature of the attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community. It takes into account advice from the UK Government that the substance used on March 4 was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law, she said. Moscow has denied these allegations. The attack was part of a pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state that constitutes a growing threat to international security, global non-proliferation rules against the use of chemical weapons, the rights of other sovereign nations and the international rules-based order that underpins them, said Bishop. She said Australia had had strong sanctions in place since 2014 in response to Russias threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We also continue to support international efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the downing of MH17, and we have called out unacceptable Russian action in cyberspace, said Bishop. In the same way, we will vigorously back the UKs full investigation of the nerve agent attack, she said. The minister stressed Australias commitment with its allies and partners to deter Russias actions where they are a threat to international security. This is why the Government is overhauling offences for espionage, secrecy and treason, and for the first time establishing powerful new foreign interference offences in legislation currently before the Parliament, she said. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Washington, March 27 Linda Brown, who was at the centre of the landmark 1950s court battle leading to the desegregation of US public schools, has died at age 75. The US Supreme Court ruling on the Brown vs Board of Education case in 1954 was a key moment in the movement to end widespread discriminatory practices against black people in the United States -- but discrimination, racism and racial tensions still plague the country more than 60 years later. "Linda Brown Thompson 75, of Topeka (Kansas), passed away on March 25, 2018 at Lexington Park Nursing & Post Acute Centre," according to an obituary provided by her sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson. She is survived by a son and a daughter as well as other relatives, it said. Brown "is one of that special band of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy -- racial segregation in public schools," Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People's Legal Defence and Educational Fund, said in a statement. "She stands as an example of how ordinary schoolchildren took centre stage in transforming this country," she said. "It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country." The NAACP spearheaded the legal battle against school segregation in the US, an effort that involved Brown and many other students and their parents from several states and the US capital. In the early 1950s, Oliver Brown sought to enroll his daughter in an all-white school near the family's home in Topeka, but was told she had to go to an all-black school that was farther away. Instead, he turned to the courts for justice, as did others. Cases from Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina and Virginia as well as the capital, Washington, were ultimately combined when they were appealed to the US Supreme Court, becoming the ground-breaking Oliver Brown vs Board of Education. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregation was unconstitutional. But segregation was far from over despite the court ruling, and integration was bitterly opposed by some whites. President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed American soldiers after the Arkansas governor sought to block African-American students from being integrated into an all-white high school in the state's capital Little Rock in 1957. Though segregation was illegal in schools after the Brown vs Board ruling, it nonetheless continued because of opposition from racists, as well as due to the prevalence of separate black and white neighbourhoods, which led to de facto segregation in local schools. Busing students from their home neighborhoods to schools in other areas was begun to address the situation, but that move was still being contested more than 20 years after Brown vs Board. Schools were not the only segregated areas in the US: there were also separate restaurants, bathrooms and water fountains for blacks and whites in parts of the country -- something protesters held sit-ins to oppose as part of the civil rights movement. Even now, racial tensions continue to plague America -- where black people have faced hundreds of years of discrimination and slavery -- and African-Americans still make up a disproportionate percentage of the country's incarcerated and poor. Brown, who was just a girl when the court case unfolded, became a school teacher later in life, taught piano lessons and worked with the Brown Foundation, an organisation that seeks to promote the legacy of the case, according to its website. She also "travelled the country with other family members lecturing about the history of this significant civil rights milestone," the obituary provided by her sister said. Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer paid tribute to her in a Twitter post yesterday. "Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world," Colyer wrote. And the American Civil Liberties Union rights group hailed the impact of the court case. - AFP rajivbhatia82@gmail.com Dubai, March 27 Bahrain has jailed nine Shiites, including a minor and a relative of a prominent London-based activist, on charges of throwing petrol bombs at police, a judicial source and activists said on Tuesday. The kingdom's Sunni rulers have cracked down heavily on all displays of dissent ever since they bloodily suppressed mass protests led by the Shiite majority in 2011 for a constitutional minority with an elected prime minister. The court sentenced eight defendants to seven years in prison on Monday after convicting them of attacking a police patrol with Molotov cocktails in the southern village of Aley, the judicial source said. The ninth, a minor, was sentenced to three years. The court transcript did not give the names of any of the defendants. But the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy named one of them as Sayed Nizar Alwadaei, 19, a relative of its London-based head of advocacy, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. Sayed Ahmed said lawyers had confirmed to him that his young relative, who is already serving a three-year jail sentence on the charge of planting a fake bomb, was among those convicted. Sayed Nizar's mother, Hajer Mansoor Hassan, was also jailed for three years in the fake bomb case, which has drawn heavy criticism from international human rights groups who have questioned whether it had any basis. Hassan ended her second hunger strike in prison this week. Amnesty International has called the jail sentences "a reprisal" for the work of Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. Washington has criticised Bahrain's crackdown and called for moves towards dialogue with the Shiite-led opposition. But the tiny island kingdom just across the Gulf from Iran is a strategic ally and provides the home base of the US Fifth Fleet. Bahrain says it is the victim of a campaign of violence orchestrated by Shiite Iran and aimed at overthrowing its constitutional government. AFP. uttara@tribuneindia.com Brussels, March 27 NATO has expelled seven diplomats from Russia's mission to the alliance and blocked the appointment of three others over the nerve agent attack in Britain this month, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said he had also cut the maximum size of the Russian mission to 20 people from 30, in the latest move by the alliance to reduce what was once one of the biggest national delegations at NATO. "It sends a very clear message to Russia that it has costs," Stoltenberg said of the March 4 attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter, which the West blames on Moscow although the Kremlin denies this. Governments across Europe, the United States and beyond announced plans on Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack. Stoltenberg said that three Russian diplomats seeking to come to Brussels have been denied accreditation, taking the reduction at the mission to 10, However, Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, stressed that the alliance would still seek regular talks with Moscow via the NATO-Russia Council, a special forum that groups NATO envoys and Moscow's ambassador to the alliance. The Russian mission is in the same compound as NATO headquarters in Brussels but Russian diplomats faced sharp limits to their access after Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. They mostly work now from Russian diplomatic premises in central Brussels. In protest at the Crimean annexation, NATO decided to curtail access to the headquarters for all Russian accredited NATO diplomats barring the Russian ambassador, the deputy head of mission and two support staff. NATO is awaiting a new Russian ambassador following the departure of Alexander Grushko, who was appointed deputy Russian foreign minister for European relations in January. Following the end of the Cold War, NATO sought closer ties with Russia and included Russian personnel in its campaign in the Balkans in the 1990s. But since Crimea, NATO has suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia, although it maintains political dialogue and has tried to restart military channels of communication, mainly to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. Reuters uttara@tribuneindia.com Bucharest, March 27 Orange snow has fallen in parts of eastern Europe after a rare meeting of Siberia and the Sahara. Meteorologists say the snow from Siberia collided with dust-filled wind from the Sahara desert in Africa. The orange snow has been spotted on mountains in Russia's Sochi region, farther east in Georgia's Adzharia region and at Romania's Danube port of Galati. Some skiers have posted photos on social media joking that they were on Mars, not a mountain. Romanian meteorologist Mia Mirabela Stamate says a wind carrying sand particles from the Sahara met with a massive snowfall on Friday. She predicts that the orange-hued snow will move eastward. AP FMCSA administrator Raymond Martinez said that the agency would be open to ideas from others on how to improve highway safety. Photo: David Cullen ORLANDO, FLORIDA Greeted warmly as he stepped up to the podium to address the 80th annual convention of the Truckload Carriers Association on March 26, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Raymond Martinez opened his remarks in kind, saying right off the bat that safety is our priority, but we [at FMCSA] do not have a monopoly on that. He explained that the agency hes helmed for just shy of a month needs to remain open to ideas other may have on how to improve highway safety. Martinez said he wants to drive down fatalities involving large trucks, which rose 5.4% in 2016. But, he said, Im not sure we are going to get answers from people who work in our [FMCSA] building. We need some answers from you. If we can reach our safety goals through guidance, and not additional rulemaking, we will take that path, he added. Martinez said listening to what trucking advocates have to say on safety rules will only become more critical now. The challenge is that as the economy improves, more miles will be run and with that the possibility of more crashes. But we can drive those incidences down. We have work to do, he continued, stating that it is a fact that large trucks and buses are disproportionately involved in crashes. Martinez said he has been charged by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao with reviewing existing regulations to see what may not be working or needs updating. I believe the electronic logging device rule is an improvement [for complying with] hours of service, Martinez stated. But there is some worth in looking at hours of service to improve how that rule works. He stressed that the process must start with an honest conversation between FMCSA and stakeholders on what works and what does not in the current HOS rule. Noting that the so-called soft enforcement period for the ELD rule ends on April 1, Martinez was happy to report that compliance rates [for the ELD mandate] continue to improve weekly and have hit a rate as high as 96%. Martinez reiterated that FMSCA has promised to soon publish final guidance for the ELD rule regarding both the 150 air-mile exemption and use of personal conveyance. He noted that the agency is also readying final rules on setting minimum entry-level driver training requirements and building a national clearinghouse of alcohol and drug use violation data. The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda in Turkmenistan held a briefing on the preliminary results of elections of members of the Mejlis conducted on March 25 this year. According to Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan Gulmyrad Myradov, out of 3 291 312 voters 3 017 801 people cast their ballots, totaling 91.69% of voters. Early voting was conducted from 15 to 24 March 2018 for those voters who were unable to vote at their place of residence on the day of elections. They amounted to 3 percent of voters. In total, 2,604 polling stations operated in the country, including 39 polling stations at the diplomatic missions and consulates of Turkmenistan abroad. Counting of votes continues given the late arrival of data from some polling stations at the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Turkmenistan abroad due to the time zone difference. The final results of voting will be summed up and announced in the near future. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 It was just an ordinary day for Liuba and her son Misha in Mariinka, a town devastated by the conflict in eastern Ukraine. They were used to the rattle of machine guns as they prepared breakfast. So when they fell silent, 10-year-old Misha ran to his grandmothers house nearby. Then a shell exploded without warning, Liuba recalls. Suddenly, I couldnt see him any more. But I heard this sound and someone screaming mama. The first thing she remembers seeing was blood pouring from his head, where fragments from the shell had lodged. With the nearest hospital 30 kilometres away and hostilities in Mariinka intensifying, Liuba knew there was little hope of an ambulance. Fortunately, a relative from a nearby town was able to drive them there and Misha survived. Now Liuba says gunfire still scares her but silence frightens her more. Misha holds a piece of shrapnel that was removed from his head. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova Liuba sits with her friend and neighbour Natalia. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova A piece of shrapnel that was removed from Misha's head. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova People wait to cross Mariinka checkpoint. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova Liuba and Misha are among more than 600,000 people caught inside the conflict zone. Once they would have walked along a path to meet the school bus each morning. Now that the path has turned to mud, Liuba pushes her son on a bicycle, past military dugouts, so he can arrive there clean. Shelling and landmines have turned thousands of lives upside down, making it difficult to collect benefits, food and medicine, or find jobs. Travelling across the line of contact is also difficult. In February 2018 alone, there were more than 1 million crossings as people met family members or used local services. Sasha and his wife Yulia from Donetsk often cross the Mariinka checkpoint to help out his elderly parents in Ukrainian-held Adviika. A journey that once took half an hour by bus can now take a whole day. Seven months pregnant in freezing winter temperatures, Yulia is grateful for heated tents provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, where she can rest. We held off leaving for as long as we could. The childhood sweethearts can hardly believe how much their lives have changed. I was very happy after we got married, says Sasha, stroking his wife's arm. Adviika was very beautiful and I was so near to my family. We held off leaving for as long as we could. But then the fighting came to our area and the vibrations shook through our bodies. The train station was packed. Suddenly, war was a real thing and it could happen to you. Yulia adds: Before, we would say we wish you happiness and peace, but it was just a saying. Now we see the huge value in those words to have peace, to live with your families. Sasha and Yulia are looking forward to parenthood but worry about how they will travel once the baby arrives. Many people spend hours queuing at checkpoints, with limited access to basic services such as drinking water, latrines, shelters and medical care. Its tense, says Yulia. Everyone wants to cross as soon as they can. There are many people who try to push through the lines. Sasha and Yulia near Mariinka checkpoint, on their way to see family. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova Sasha and Yulia wait in a heated tent at Mariinka checkpoint. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova Yulia and Sasha wait on a minibus near the Mariinka checkpoint. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova A man boards a bus with two children at Mariinka checkpoint. UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova "The worst thing is when they hit your house and it shakes. UNHCR is concerned about the restrictions on freedom of movement experienced by civilians. George Okoth-Obbo, assistant high commissioner for operations who was reviewing UNHCR activities in Ukraine, witnessed for himself people queueing for hours in freezing temperatures to pass through a checkpoint. Easing the frequency with which people have to travel, and the trying conditions they experience, are among the most urgent challenges in this situation, he said. See also: Pensioners caught up in Ukraine conflict struggle to survive Liuba still lives with the trauma of how close her son came to losing his life. Since his ordeal, their house has been shelled four times and young Misha dreams of moving away. I dont like living here because theres shooting and I have no friends, he says. I am the only boy on the street. The worst thing is when they hit your house and it shakes. When it happened, I wished it had happened to me and not him, says Liuba, closing her eyes. It made him grow up so quickly. UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo visits Maiorsk checkpoint. UNHCR/Hugo Reichenberger KYIV, Ukraine, 27 March, 2018 Concluding a week-long visit to Ukraine, where four years of conflict have displaced an estimated 1.5 million people, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo has called for enhanced actions to address the plight of conflict-affected persons and to secure their rights, including access to pensions and freedom of movement. The Assistant High Commissioner met with a number of refugees in the capital of Kyiv, noting their experiences and challenges, as well as with UNHCRs NGO partners that support them. In a meeting with Ukraines Vice Minister of Internal Affairs, Ms. Tetiana Kovalchuk, Mr. Okoth-Obbo shared UNHCRs concerns over the low recognition rate for asylum-seekers. He also urged the authorities to facilitate access for UNHCR and its partners to asylum-seekers in international transit zones at airports to provide legal assistance. It is of concern to UNHCR that some asylum-seekers, especially Syrians, are not allowed to lodge asylum claims at airports, said Mr. Okoth-Obbo. Allowed access to them, UNHCR will be able to support the asylum-seekers in their applications, while also extending the necessary cooperation to the State Migration Service. Mr. Okoth-Obbo later traveled to eastern Ukraine where he observed UNHCRs activities on the ground and met with people in need of humanitarian assistance. His first stop was at a school in Bogorodishna near Sviatohirsk, which is providing education to both local and internally displaced children. Afterwards, he met with a group of internally displaced people (IDPs) of different ages at a community center run by UNHCR partner Slavic Heart. The group highlighted the difficulties they face in accessing their pensions, the risk of being unable to pay for and losing their accommodation at the centers at which they are staying, poor living conditions at the centers and their hopes of being able to exercise voting rights in local elections. Since the conflict started in 2014, people living in non-government controlled areas (NGCA) must travel to and register as IDPs in government controlled areas to undergo regular verification procedures in order to be able to receive their pensions. This travel involves passing back and forth through one of five checkpoints available at the contact line, a particularly trying experience for the elderly and people living with disabilities. After witnessing the long queues in the extreme cold and snow at Maiorsk checkpoint, Mr. Okoth-Obbo was clearly moved. These people are traumatized twice, he said. Firstly, by the experience of the ongoing conflict and, secondly, by the complex requirements and procedures which make it very difficult for people to receive their legitimate pensions and social security payments or even be at risk of losing them. In other meetings with government officials, including the Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs, Mr. Vadym Chernysh, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sergiy Kyslytsya, and the Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Ms. Liudmyla Denysova, Mr. Okoth-Obbo acknowledged that, with support from UNHCR and its partners, the Government of Ukraine has improved conditions and the processing of civilians at the crossing points. At the same time, he urged for more to be done. Mr. Okoth-Obbo was accompanied by Ms. Pascale Moreau, Director of Regional Bureau for Europe, and Mr. Pablo Mateu, UNHCRs Representative in Ukraine. For more information on this topic, please contact: UNHCR Ukraine: +38 044 288 9710, [email protected] New HD video footage from eastern Ukraine, including scenes from conflict-damaged contact line villages and an exit/entry checkpoint, is available for download from UNHCRs content platform Refugees Media (http://media.unhcr.org). The B-roll can be downloaded directly here: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/03f2xkhy66jxx055618300by68461y1k European Qualifications Passport for Refugees: integration through education and employment Strasbourg/Athens, 27.03.2018 - Since the beginning of what is often referred to as the refugee crisis in Europe, the recognition of refugees qualifications has become one of the main tools to integrate them into European societies. Following a successful pilot project in 2017, which was supported by UNHCR in Greece, the Council of Europe is launching a new phase (2018-2020) of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees: a capacity-building project aiming at assessing refugees education level, work experience and language proficiency of refugees in absence of full documentation thanks to a tested methodology. The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees describes the qualifications in a format that should facilitate the use of the assessment both within and beyond the refugees host country. Therefore, if refugees move to another country in Europe their qualifications do not need to be assessed again. The launch event will take place at the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs in Athens on March 28th. With new partners involved, new refugee groups assessed and an increased use of online interviews, this project can really have an impact on the way current and future refugee crises are met in host societies stressed Sjur Bergan, Head of the Education Department of the Council of Europe. This new phase is supported by UNHCR and involves the original partners from Greece, Italy, Norway and United Kingdom, widening the scope to new actors participating from Armenia, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands. UNHCR will continue identifying refugees from Greece whose qualifications shall be assessed as well as to promote the European Qualifications Passport. The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is a credible assessment that could be used by higher education institutions, employers and other integration stakeholders to facilitate and accelerate its holders integration into the host community, said Roland-Francois Weil, UNHCR Representative to the European Institutions in Strasbourg. The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is of use to public authorities, institutions such as Universities and to employers to better assess refugees skills and help refugees access the job market or to be admitted to further studies in the host country. Background A study published in 2016 showed that some 70% of States Parties to the Lisbon Recognition Convention have taken few or no measures to implement the Article VII of the Convention that refers to the recognition of qualifications held by refugees that cannot be fully documented. Recommendation on the Recognition of Refugees Qualifications under the Lisbon Recognition Convention and Explanatory Memorandum adopted on 14 November 2017 in Strasbourg More information Project webpage: https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/recognition-of-refugees-qualifications Documentary webpage (long and short versions): https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/documentary-on-project-european-qualifications-passport-for-refugees Contact : Giuseppe Zaffuto, Council of Europe Spokesperson/Press officer, Tel. +33 3 90 21 56 04 Celine Schmitt, Senior Public Information Officer/Spokesperson, UNHCR Representation in France, Tel: +33 (0) 1 44 43 48 55 ; Mob: +33 (0) 6 23 16 11 78 27 March 2018, Ankara The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Union (EU), and the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) are working together to increase access to quality higher education opportunities for Syrian youth in Turkey. The establishment of university preparation programmes will enable Syrian students to acquire the Turkish language skills needed to study in Turkish universities. With the funding received from the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, UNHCR is collaborating with YTB for the implementation of two projects: Supporting the national institutions in Turkey to mitigate the impact of Syrian refugee crisis and Increasing access to higher education for Syrian refugees in Turkey. The two projects aim to increase the number of Syrian students who are able to enroll and succeed in higher education programmes in Turkey. Thanks to these two projects, in the academic year of 2017-2018, over 4,200 Syrian high school graduates will have the opportunity to complete an intensive nine-month Turkish language programme that will enable students to reach the levels of Turkish proficiency required for enrolment in Turkish universities. The Turkish government has generously waived academic tuition fees for Syrian refugees, and through these programmes the Syrian youth will have completed the first step towards entering university by being able to speak, read and write in Turkish. UNHCR Representative in Turkey, Katharina Lumpp, underlines the importance these projects: These two projects are good examples of effective collaboration and responsibility sharing between the Turkish institutions, UNHCR and the EU. The combined efforts will contribute to ensuring that Syrian youth are able to realize their dreams of going to university and will later be able to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live as skilled professionals. Mehmet Kose, President of YTB, underlining the importance of such collaborations, stated that such long-term projects targeting the Syrian youth, will also contribute to world peace. Kose noted It is possible that the civil war in Syria has caused damage to the countrys infrastructure that will take long time to repair. However a more important point is to ensure that the Syrian youth who are displaced are enabled to make the most of their time in the host country, while also thinking about the future of their country. We know examples where in countries where such humanitarian crisis occurs, due to what they have experienced, the youth may be described as lost generations. However with the conscious support of the international community, education opportunities provided to Syrian youth in the host communities they live in, will prevent them from being lost generations. On the contrary, this will allow them to become the founding generations who will be the future of Syria. It is certain that education is of the main pillars of regional and global peace in our day. Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, Ambassador Christian Berger, said on the occasion that Education is a key in our support to refugees in Turkey. Turkeys decision on the waiving of the academic tuition fees for Syrian refugees has allowed us to implement such projects together with our partner UNHCR and Turkish institutions such as YTB. We believe enabling young peoples access to education will give them a better chance to build their future. Hosting the largest number of refugees in the world, Turkey is providing protection to more than 3.5 million registered Syrian refugees. Partnerships such as this represent an important example of the strong cooperation among relevant stakeholders as education is considered fundamental in the refugee response, to be supported by long-term planning and reliable funding. For media queries, please contact: Selin Unal, UNHCR Turkey Spokesperson E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 90.530.2827862 Mehmet Nedim Aslan, YTB, Cultural and Social Relations Division E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 90.312.2184000 Title Note verbale dated 26 March 2018 from the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations (Vienna) addressed to the Secretary-General March 27 2018 Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has approved the development of 20 affordable homes in Balmaha by Rural Stirling Housing Association, helping to meet demand for accommodation in the area among local workers.Consisting of 12 houses and eight flats the project will be made available to rent and shared equity ownership with two additional plots reserved for self-builders.Designed by John Gilbert Architects the scheme falls under a five-year park plan through to 2023, a key consideration for which is the provision of a wider range of housing options to arrest population decline.Petra Biberbach, chair of the parks planning & access committee, said: Housing is a key issue in the national park, which is one of the most expensive places in Scotland to buy a home. This combined with the ageing population of the area, means it is increasingly difficult for younger, working age people and families to live in the park. That has a knock-on effect for the sustainability of communities.Whilst some trees in the area will have to be removed to allow the development to go ahead, the trees earmarked for removal have been identified as young and not considered ancient woodland. The mature oak trees which are the most valuable feature of the woodland will remain and further planting of native species at the site is planned.Margaret Vass, chair of Rural Stirling Housing Association added: This development will help to support the local economy and stem the depopulation of Balmaha due to the high number of second and holiday homes pricing local residents out of the housing market."The 12 month build will move on-site in Martch 2019. March 27 2018 Whitbread is to continue aggressive expansion of its Premier Inn brand with proposals for a 96-bedroom hotel and restaurant at the junction of Townhead Street and the A723 on the edge of Hamilton town centre.This will entail demolition of the traditional sandstone Hamilton Town Hotel for a five-storey contemporary build behind a feature frame frontage and white render above a ground floor glazed plinth.Outlining the chosen appearance the architects wrote: A dark grey aluminium clad box slides behind the whiterender skin on the Townhead Street elevation bringing depth and visual interest to this facade.As the render skin turns to face the A723, the white frame holds more dark grey cladding panels and curtain walling. A monopitch roof increases the height of the elevation fronting the A723 to heighten the presence of the building.LMA are currently working on the delivery of an extension to the Premier Inn at Glasgows Pacific Quay (March 27, 2018) -- Vice Provost for International Initiatives at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Rene Zenteno today announced he is stepping down from his administrative duties to return to his position as professor in the Department of Demography effective March 31. I am grateful to Dr. Zenteno for his dedicated service as our chief international officer and for his accomplishments in raising UTSAs profile internationally, said Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mauli Agrawal. Under his leadership, UTSA has made terrific strides in increasing our international education and research collaborations, particularly in Latin America, and in increasing the number of UTSA students who are engaging in study abroad opportunities. As vice provost, Zenteno oversaw the Office of International Programs, the Office of ESL Services, the East Asia Institute and the Confucius Institute. Lisa Montoya has been named interim vice provost of international initiatives effective April 1. Montoya currently serves as associate dean for professional development and international business programs in the College of Business, as well as associate professor in practice in the Department of Management. She previously served as the colleges associate dean for undergraduate programs. She joined UTSA in 2005. To facilitate the transition in the Office of International Initiatives, Zenteno has been appointed as a special advisor to the provost for the period of April 1Aug. 31, 2018. In this capacity, he will advise the provost on best strategies to increase academic partnerships in Mexico and Latin American countries, based on his extensive experience in these regions. Zenteno also oversaw ConTex, a joint initiative between the UT System and Mexico's National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) based at UTSA. Guadalupe Carmona-Dominguez, associate professor of interdisciplinary learning and teaching in the College of Education and Human Development, has been named as the new executive director of ConTex. In this role, which will report to the Office of the President, she will facilitate ConTexs efforts to enhance ties with Mexico, which include providing educational opportunities for Mexican Ph.D. students at UT institutions, arranging exchanges for postdoctoral and faculty fellows and developing collaborative research projects. A native of Mexico, Carmona-Dominguez has been at UTSA since 2013. Zenteno joined the UTSA faculty in 2013 and has served in the vice provost position since 2014. He formerly was undersecretary of population, migration and religious affairs in the Ministry of the Interior in Mexico and executive director of the Center for U.S.Mexico Studies at the University of California, San Diego. (March 27, 2018) Future Roadrunners will see what life is all about when they visit The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) for UTSA Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 at the UTSA Main Campus. On UTSA Day, the entire campus transforms into a giant open house for prospective and admitted students and their families to explore and experience. >> Watch a video about the UTSA Day experience. UTSA Day is a unique opportunity to visit us the way you want according to your own interests and goals, said Beverly Woodson Day, UTSA director of admissions. Its one of the best ways to see UTSA firsthand and prepare for your college journey before it begins. UTSA Day highlights: UW Associate Professor Shim Helps English Language Learners Flourish UW College of Education Associate Professor Jenna Shim University of Wyoming College of Education Associate Professor Jenna Shim has devoted her time, passion and focus to help ensure that the growing population of English language learners in Wyoming will receive proper education and care from their future educators. Shim and her family moved from South Korea to the United States when she was 11. As an English language learner (ELL) herself, Shim recounts the struggles of not having the support she needed within the education systems. This sparked her passion and ensured that ELLs in Wyoming have the support that she did not receive. When I was learning English as a middle school student, they did not have any special accommodation for English language learners, and there werent any English as a second language (ESL)-trained teachers, Shim says. Not understanding the language or being able to speak it well made me feel inadequate and incompetent. So much of my energy was spent in trying to learn the language that my learning in other subject areas in school was severely hindered. Shim adds, My personal experience of being an ELL myself encourages me to be an advocate and hope that ELLs in the current education system in Wyoming have better support systems and teachers who are well-trained to work more productively with ELLs. After gaining her degree from State University of New York, she moved to Wyoming and has been at UW for nine years. Shim is the ESL program coordinator in the UW College of Education, but she also works with educators statewide. She is committed to supporting pre-service teachers and in-service teachers to promote academic and social success of ELLs. Shim has worked with Dixie Brackman, Sandra Hogan and Dea Kobbe, ELL teachers from Albany County School District 1, on a research project that focuses on improving the learning experience of ELLs by enhancing the collaboration of ESL/ELL specialists and main classroom teachers. In a letter to College of Education Dean Ray Reutzel, the three Albany County ELL teachers praised Shim for her collaboration. Not only is Dr. Shim influencing the English as a second language landscape through her classes at UW, she has affected the entire state of Wyoming through her outreach projects, most notably the state ESL conferences, which have moved the ESL dialogue from the academy out into the state's classrooms, they wrote. Traveling around the state, Shim has offered trainings, given workshops and participated in research projects that allow current educators to change the way they teach their ELLs. The three ELL teachers continued to express their admiration for Shims support in their letter: Throughout this research process, Dr. Shim has pushed us into new areas of teaching practice and supporting our ELLs. Without a doubt, we are better teachers because of Dr. Shims commitment to practitioner growth, inquiry and informed practice. Shim also is one of the organizers of the annual Wyoming English as a Second Language Conference. The event allows educators from Wyoming and beyond to attend, free of charge, and learn more about teaching ELLs. The conference aims to provide ESL teachers, administrators, current teachers, and pre-service and graduate students who are involved in teaching English as a second language with the skills needed to teach their ELL students. The conference is presented by the College of Education, John P. Ellbogen Foundation, UWs Literacy Research Center and Clinic, UW Excellence in Higher Education Endowment for Mathematics Teaching and Teton County School District 1. This years conference, April 20-21 in Jackson, will include keynote speakers Claude Goldenberg, the Nomellini and Olivier Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University; and Susan B. Neuman, professor of childhood and literacy education at New York University. UW President Laurie Nichols will kick off the conference. Several UW College of Education faculty members will give featured presentations. As a pre-conference feature, attendees have the option to tour an ESL and dual language immersion classroom in the Teton County School District Friday, April 20. The conference will consist of breakout sessions Saturday, April 21, that will be led by several College of Education Ph.D. students, as well as educators from schools and community colleges across the state. These breakout sessions allow attendees to gain information and strategies to support ELLs in their classroom. While Shim works statewide to improve ESL teaching strategies, she also educates current UW students through her ESL graduate certificate program. This endorsement program is 15 credits and allows students to become qualified in teaching ELLs. ELLs have become one of the fastest-growing populations, and there is a drastic gap between their learning outcomes and those of non-ELLs. Through Shims program, future educators are exposed to current research, teaching strategies, methodology and suggested activities to increase comprehensibility, engage interaction and increase higher-order thinking skills among ELLs. With the tools Shim provides her students, they help close the achievement gap between ELLs and non-ELLs. The ESL program takes the theory we learn in other education courses to the next level and integrates it with useful methods and approaches to teaching, says College of Education student William Heili. This harmonious blend provides an excellent basis for future teachers to approach the workforce with a sense of mission to serve ELLs. This program has really developed my knowledge about how to teach ELLs, which helps my teaching of mainstream students, as well, adds student Alli Barker. I know that when I complete this program and work in a classroom one day, I will be equipped with the necessary tools to allow all of my students to succeed. Shims service to future and current educators has influenced many within the education system in Wyoming. I hope that, when my students work with their students, they also will recognize that their students come to their class with different life circumstances, experiences and knowledge, which need to be respected and drawn upon when teaching and learning, Shim says. If you are an ESL/ELL educator who would like to attend the third annual Wyoming ESL Conference, you can register at www.uwyo.edu/education/lrcc/conferences%20and%20events/esl-dsi-conference/. Syrian refugees arrive in Rome and are welcomed by members of the SantiEgidio community A group of Syrian refugees from the devastated city of Homs were welcomed to Italy on Tuesday morning by members of the Sant'Egdio community thanks to the ecumenical 'humanitarian corridor' project. By Linda Bordoni Welcome and Peace were the words with which a group of children and adolescents and their families from the war-torn city of Homs in Syria were greeted on Tuesday morning as they arrived in Rome. They were also offered a Palm Sunday olive branch and an Italian language tuition book by members of the SantEgidio Community who met them at the airport. The refugees travelled safely to Italy thanks to the humanitarian corridor project carried out and funded by SantEgidio in collaboration with the Federation of Evangelical, Waldensian and Methodist Churches. Support of Pope Francis Pope Francis has welcomed the initiative describing it as a concrete sign of commitment to peace and life that helps people fleeing war and violence. Speaking after the Angelus on 6 March 2016 he said "As a concrete sign of commitment to peace and life, I want to mention and express admiration for humanitarian corridors in favour of refugees, launched recently in Italy. This pilot project, which combines solidarity and security, allows one to help people fleeing war and violence, as the hundred refugees who have already been transferred to Italy, including sick children, disabled people, war widows with children, and the elderly. I also welcome this initiative because it is an ecumenical one, supported by the Community of SantEgidio, the Italian Federation of Evangelical Churches, and the Waldensian and Methodist churches". Since February 2016 over 1000 refugees have arrived in Italy through a humanitarian corridor. Aims of project The aim of the project is to avoid journeys on the boats in the Mediterranean, which have already caused innumerable deaths; to avoid human trafficking by preventing exploitation by human traffickers who do business at the cost of those who flee from wars, persecution or hunger ; to grant people in "vulnerable conditions"(victims of persecution, torture and violence, as well as families with children, elderly people, sick people, persons with disabilities) legal entry on Italian territory with humanitarian visas and the possibility to apply for asylum. Organizers point out that it is a safe solution for all, because visa issuing procedures require all the necessary checks by Italian authorities. Once in Italy, the refugees are hosted in houses and communities and taught Italian. The children are enrolled in school and the adults are assisted in searching for work. Memorandum of Understanding The Humanitarian Corridors are the result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the faith-based groups involved and by the Italian Government that issues humanitarian visas with limited territorial validity meaning they are valid only for Italy. Once the refugees arrive in the country legally and safely, they can apply for asylum. In his Easter message, Cardinal Charles Bo urged his countrymen to remove the stones of hatred, injustice and ethnic conflict that have entrapped millions in despair and hopelessness. Myanmars prominent Catholic Church leader is calling on his countrymen to remove the stones of hatred, injustice and ethnic conflict that have trapped millions of men and women in the grave of despair and hopelessness and rise again to the future of hope, peace and prosperity. Easter is about removing the stones in our personal lives and the society where we live, Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon is stressing in his message for Easter 2018. Quoting amply from Pope Francis during his November 2017 visit to Myanmar, the 69-year old cardinal is encouraging his fellow citizens to sentiments such as compassion, tolerance, reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and respect for the dignity and rights of each member of society. We celebrate life today in this Easter! Come let us together join the march to roll out the stones that have entrapped our people in man-made graves, Cardinal Bo is appealing. In this task of building a nation of peace based on justice, the cardinal is assuring the commitment of the Catholic Church. Please find below the full text of Cardinal Bos Easter message 2018: From Death To Life - Building A Nation of Hope and Peace Easter 2018 Message By Cardinal Charles Maung Bo Dear My brothers and sisters of this great Nation, With great joy and hope I wish each one of you, Easters best blessings. Easter celebrates the Christian event of Jesus rising from darkness of death into dawn of hope through resurrection. Easter is a day of Hope. Christ took on the fossilized beliefs of the Pharisees and the suffocating oppression of the Roman Power. Religious elites and political elites dreaded his message of love. Humanitys struggle has been always been dithering between death and life. He was condemned to death and killed like a street criminal because he fought death and evil. Darkness seemed to have engulfed his small band of disciples who chose to flee from the scene. Hope of a new world seemed to have been strangled on the cross. It was the longest night of despair. But Resurrection turned that all despair into a celebration of hope. Christianity was born on that morning with the message of love and hope. The simple fishermen were empowered through the Spirit to start a new worldwide wave of love that culminated in establishing the Christian Church. Christ rose from the dead on the third day as he promised. Human history changed that day. Hope is the secret of that wonder. We celebrate that hope that heals and empowers us. ` And our country needs huge amounts of hope. This country awaits the miracle of Hope. On the day of resurrection the disciples and women went to the grave but found the stones were removed from where Christ was buried. Easter is about removing the stones in our personal lives and the society where we live. There are many stones of despair need to be removed from the graves of hopelessness in our hearts and in our nation Let the Easters wonder, touch every human soul in this country. As the Bible exhorts us : Let us choose life, not death. The great event of Resurrection has three significant steps : The suffering of the innocent lamb of God : Jesus, the Hope of Holy Saturday and the grave stone removed and Jesus rising again in triumph over powers of darkness. Yes Myanmar too has gone through these stages : Suffering of the millions of our country men and women in the past, at present our people are living in the Hope of the holy Saturday hoping that this country will leave its addiction to wound, as Pope said in the Mass here, leave its known and hidden wounds of the past. To do that, this nation has come out of the man made graves - roll down the stones that block our peoples blessings. The first stone to be moved from grave is the stone of hatred. This nations spiritual heritage was built on the great virtue of Compassion Karuna. But hate speech has been used by a small fringe in this country to kill brother by brother. Christ preached You have heard that eye for an eye and tooth for tooth, but I say pray for your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Pope Francis has advocated for tolerance among the religions when he met the religious leaders in Myanmar. In the Public Mass, he exhorted the Christians not to repay vengeance with vengeance but with reconciliation. Catholic community, according to the Pope must be witnessing to Christs death and resurrection. We are in urgent need of heeding to the advice of the Holy Father sUnderstanding that this country had suffered long the pope has said during the Mass in Yangon : I know that many in Myanmar bear the wounds of violence, wounds both visible and invisible," The temptation is to respond to these injuries with a worldly wisdom. We think that healing can come from anger and revenge. Yet the way of revenge is not the way of Jesus. Jesus' way is radically different. When hatred and rejection led him to his passion and death, he responded with forgiveness and compassion. The second stone to me removed is the stone of injustice. When there is no Justice there is no Peace. No country can enforce peace on its population. Peace flowers forth when planted on justice. Christ life was spent on upholding the justice of the marginalized. His dream of Kingdom God, that brought to attention of rulers and the rich, the plight of poor and the oppressed led him to Cross. But his death was the grain of wheat that fell into the ground, and gave the hundredfold in the form of the church that continues to be concerned about Justice. Pope Francis has constantly brought the two eyes of justice economic justice and environmental justice as two eyes of humanity. But Millions are buried in the grave of economic injustice in this country, thousands are buried as modern slaves in unsafe migration to nearby countries. Resources have become the deep grave for our ethnic brothers and sisters. Looting has buried thousands in conflict and displacement. The third grave is ethnic conflict : The stone we need to remove is conflict. We appeal to the government and the ethnic groups, let us move away from the grave of conflict. We have had six decades war. Conflict has buried us all the countries in South East Asia who were poorer than us are now economic powers today. But we remain one of the poorest nation on the earth. Conflict has eaten the core of Myanmar peoples dignity. Peace is the only way forward : Addressing the diplomats and the parliamentarians Pope pleaded with all : "The future of Myanmar must be peace, a peace based on respect for the dignity and rights of each member of society, respect for each ethnic group and its identity, respect for the rule of law, and respect for a democratic order that enables each individual and every group none excluded to offer its legitimate contribution to the common good. Conflict has mutilated this country. Nearly 3 million of our youth are out, a million are displaced, a million have fled the country as refugees. This was once a golden land blessed with great wealth. Our wounds are self inflicted wounds. Refusing to accept the multicultural nature of this country has brought ethnic conflicts. Pope challenges all religious people in this country to heal the wounds. In his encounter with the monks, Pope praised the spiritual wisdom of this country and urged May that wisdom continue to inspire every effort to foster patience and understanding and to heal the wounds of conflict that, through the years, have divided people of different cultures, ethnicities and religious convictions. To Catholic Church Easter message is clear : Church is an instrument of peace and work with all stakeholders in working for a nation of peace built on Justice. The Pope has left a strong task to the Catholic Church. In his exhortation to the Catholic Bishops the Pope said: The Gospel we preach is above all a message of healing, reconciliation and peace. Through the blood of Christs cross, God has reconciled the world to himself, and has sent us to be messengers of that healing grace. Here in Myanmar, that message has a particular resonance, as this country works to overcome deeply-rooted divisions and to build national unity. Church works mostly with the ethnic communities who are themselves victims of decades of war and displacement. We accompany all people in their way of their cross and their unending Lent. Christ continue to be suffering, carrying his Cross in our ethnic brothers and Sisters. Following the mandate of the Pope, Church in Myanmar undertakes the sacred pilgrimage of peace, participating in peace conferences, supporting Pang Long Peace Conferences. Church will use its local and international influence to work towards a durable peace based on Justice. War and displacement, enforced poverty are some of the graves in which our people are buried alive. Rolling down the stones that cover these man made graves and blow life into our brothers and sisters living in the valley of death is the prophetic mission of the church today in Myanmar. The joys and sorrows of the people of this world are the joys and sorrows of the Church of Christ. We are animated by the triumph of the Cross which did not in a inglorious death and disappearance of Jesus but the Jesus of resurrection who won over the death. We celebrate life today in this Easter! Come let us together join the march to roll out the stones that have entrapped our people in man made graves. Let Peace break forth in the dawn. Let My Country be raised from hopelessness into Peace and prosperity and become the Golden Land once again. Happy Easter ! Cardinal Charles Maung Bo., DD, SDB A youth leader from Malawi, Tamandani Mervis Kamuyanja, has praised Pope Francis and organizers of the Pre-Synodal meeting for taking time to listen to their views. By Fr. Paul Samasumo For Tamandani Mervis Kamuyanja of Malawi, meeting Pope Francis in Rome and being listened to by him was extremely important. Throughout the week-long Pre-Synodal meeting, with animators and among colleagues, she felt she could express herself without fear of being judged. In his opening remarks, the Pope was like, you know what, I want you [the youth] to express your views freely. I want you to be open; say it out, do not be afraid. So I think this was one of the most important things that made the [Pre- Synodal preparatory meeting for young people] a success, the youth leader from Malawi said. If the Pope can hear us, we [young people in Africa] should not be afraid. We should be able to express our views freely, she said. National YCW Coordinator Tamandani is a young agricultural extension worker employed by the Government of Malawi. She is also a student of Agriculture at Malawis Mzuzu University. I am proud to be an extension worker. I work with farmers. I interpret agricultural policies to them and give [farmers] agricultural advice on livestock, crops and all that, Tamandani explained. She is the current National Volunteer Coordinator for Young Christian Workers (YCW) in Malawi. Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment The purpose of the Pre-Synodal meeting, held in in Rome on 19-24 March, was to provide the opportunity for young people to produce a document that expresses their views. The documents recommendations will be presented to Bishops expected for the Synod meeting in the Vatican, during the month of October 2018. The Bishops are scheduled to deliberate over the theme: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. Young people of Africa seek practical solutions Tamandani was one of the 300 young people from around the world who took part in the just-ended Pre-Synodal meeting. Speaking to Vatican News, Tamandani said her experience in Rome had shown her that by and large, the challenges of young people were the same the world over. We are affected by the same kind of challenges, she said. She added, however, that most of the challenges faced by young people of Africa require practical and concrete solutions. She cited the problem of unemployment on the continent. Tamandani says that the Church can play a significant role by creating tertiary institutions that impart skills training. She thinks the Church could also come up with programmes and initiatives such as the provision of farm inputs to attract young persons into farming for a livelihood. Young women can do more than just sweep and decorate Asked about specific challenges young women of Africa face in the Church, Tamandani was quick to say Africas young women want to do more than just sweep, mop, and decorate the parish Church. I think that needs to stopIt's not just our role to sweep the Church and mop no! While appreciating what the Church is doing, Tamandani believes that more can still be done to put to better use, the skills and talents of young women. Her vision of the Church of tomorrow? I visualise a Church where young people will be leaders; where young people can express their views without being judged, and yes, a Church where young people can share the gospel with others regardless of where they come from. We dream of a better Church!, Tamandani said. Pope Francis met Italian police who maintain law and order in and around St. Peters Square, and during his visits in Rome and Italy. By Robin Gomes Pope Francis on Monday thanked the Italian police who maintain law and order in and around the Vaticans St. Peters Square, and during his visits in Rome and Italy, saying their work is a precious collaboration in the pastoral ministry of the Bishop of Rome. The Pope and his collaborators know they can count on your cooperation during the pastoral visits to the parishes and civil and ecclesial institutions of Rome, as well as on the occasion of pastoral visits to Italy, Pope Francis told officials, staff and police of what is known as the Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican. Participation in Churchs mission The Pope thanked them for their careful and efficient surveillance, which, he said, helps pilgrims coming from all parts of the world to visit the tomb of St. Peter and live this important experience of faith peacefully. He reminded them that their contact with events of considerable religious and cultural importance, and with priests, religious and laity who collaborate in the universal mission of the Successor of Peter, certainly offers their work further reasons for commitment and dedication. This special condition of their duty, he said, permits them to reinforce their professional dedication by drawing from the perennial truth of the Gospel. This way, they witness to the human and spiritual values of Christianity and help contribute also to the mission of the Church. Dialogue, culture, faith The Pope noted that not just Christians but also representatives of various religions, heads of state and important ecclesial and civil authorities come to meet the Pontiff and his collaborators. The work of the Inspectorate for Public Security, he said, ensures that these encounters of dialogue and witness to culture and faith in the Vatican are carried out in a climate of serenity and order. The Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican was established in 1929 with the Lateran Pacts, to ensure security and law enforcement in St. Peter's Square and the entrance area of the Vatican Museums. The Inspectorate also provides for the Pope's security when he leaves Vatican City. One frigid day in February 1975, Marcia Bricker Halperin , a budding street photographer, was shooting storefront windows on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. With her fingers practically frozen to her Pentax, she slipped into a Dubrows Cafeteria to defrost.I took a ticket from the man at the door and found myself looking out at a tableau of amazing faces between the coffee urns and steam tables teeming with choices and the muraled walls under high ceilings with modernist, space-age lighting. - Marcia Bricker HalperinHalperin discovered that Dubrow's, along with a few other cafeterias and automats in the city, was a unique and vanishing social institution, as well as a fertile ground for conversation and photography.Self-service cafeterias like Dubrow's offered cheap coffee and ready-made meals. Customers would grab trays, pick items as they proceeded down a counter, then look around to see where their friends were sitting.There's a theory about communities called "Third Places." After your home and your workplace comes the need for some social institution. The Irish had bars, the Italians had social clubs, but Jews had cafeterias in New York. - Marcia Bricker HalperinAs Halperin hung around the cafeterias with her camera, she became a noted regular, giving away portrait prints to subjects and receiving invitations to join people at their tables.In these cafeterias, she found not only a refuge from the cold but the warmth of community.(via Mashable Ao Dai festival 2018 attracts more than 100,000 visitors The festival, the fifth of its kind in the country, has provided tourists and residents with meaningful and interesting activities and given a deeper insight into the beauty of Ao Dai (traditional long dress). The highlight of the event was an Ao Dai mass performance in Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street which was joined by 3,000 people of different ages, and an Ao Dai fashion show with the participation of many top designers and representatives from travel companies. Meanwhile, a forum and talk show on the inspiration of Ao Dai and a Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange were also held during the event that closed on March 26. The one-month event, organized by HCM City Department of Tourism and HCM City Womens Union, has attracted more than 100,000 visitors. On the occasion, the organising board also presented Ao Dai to more than 6,000 factory workers working and living in the city. A number of Russia diplomats have been expelled from European countries, including Latvia; here, a police officer guards outside the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow AFP/Yuri KADOBNOV Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the pair were "undeclared intelligence officers" and had seven days to leave. "This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community," he said. Turnbull said the decision followed advice from London that the substance used in the Mar 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. He called it part of "a pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state that constitutes a growing threat to international security". "Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation," he added. "We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law." Canberra's response followed Washington ordering 60 Russians out of the country. Canada, Ukraine, Albania and most European Union states matched the move with smaller-scale expulsions, after Britain urged allies to respond to the poisoning. Russia has denied it was behind the attempted assassination, which left Skripal and his daughter gravely ill in perhaps the first nerve agent attack in Europe since World War II. Policemen arrived at Eximbank s branch yesterday's afternoon At the end of the afternoon session on March 26, EIB declined to VND14,100, the lowest price sincethe announcement of losing VND245 billion ($10.8 million) from the savings books of client Chu Thi Binh. With more than 1.23 billion shares listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX), the capitalisation of Eximbank was reduced by an estimated VND800 billion ($35.2 million) to VND17.42 trillion ($767.4 million). Also yesterday afternoon, the investigation agency under the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) has arrived at Eximbanks branch on Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City to arrest two female officers named Ho Thi Thuy and Nguyen Thi Thi. After two hours of working at this branch, they have taken many relevant documents for investigation. Thuy and Thi are suspected of being involved in the case of Le Nguyen Hung (former deputy director of the branch) who is charged of appropriating property through swindling. However, MoPS has yet to announce an official statement on this case. The officer of Eximbank s branch being arrested Earlier, at the end of February, MoPS issued an international arrest warrant on Le Nguyen Hung on the charge of falsifying dossiers, withdrawing, and appropriating hundreds of billions of dong at Eximbank's branch in Ho Chi Minh City. It was issued after investigating the case of Chu Thi Binh who lost VND245 billion ($10.8 million) of her deposits in Eximbank, while she still held the savings books. According to the initial investigation, in 2007, Binh deposited her substantial savings at Eximbank and became a VIP customer. Le Nguyen Hung, who was deputy director at that time, directly dealt with her. He and some staff usually visited Binh's home to pay her due interest. However, Hung allegedly forged fake dossiers to withdraw money from Binh's saving accounts. He had taken away a large amount of money during a longer time period and left the country. When Binh checked the balance of her savings accounts at the end of 2017, she found she had lost more than VND245 billion ($10.8 million). When this case was announced publicly, the stock of Eximbank declined sharply for two consecutive sessions, reducing the capitalisation of the bank by VND1.05 trillion ($46.26 million) at the end of February. Con Dao beach is listed in top 10 eco-friendly beaches in Southeast Asia With the likes of the popular coastal cities of Danang, Nha Trang and Mui Ne now packed with tourists, Dat Tham beach is different, as its located in the protected Con Dao National Park, which has allowed it to become one of the few undeveloped stretches of sand left in Vietnam, The Independent wrote. As a part of the national park, Dat Tham Beach is often not accessible to tourists due to the high risk of forest fires. Getting there requires some effort, with visitors clocking-in at the park office before beginning a four-mile hike to the beach. The hike takes you through a dense section of the park and you may catch a glimpse of some of its rare animals, such as giant squirrels and the bow-fingered gecko. Once you reach the shore, you are met with a beautiful (and most likely completely secluded) crescent-shaped bay. Isolated from the mainland, Con Dao is a group of 16 islands. The largest is known as Con Son. Con Dao served as a prison island for political prisoners during the French colonial era, when it was known as Poulo Condore, and in later years the Saigon regime imprisoned its opponents in the infamous cells known as the tiger cages. The old prison buildings are still standing and are open to the public, as is a small museum tracing the islands history. Today, what was hell on earth for prisoners has turned into heaven on earth for tourists. Beautiful beaches, hidden lagoons, coral reefs and scenic bays are also to be found and the islands remain partially covered by tropical forests, with very few tourists. In addition to hiking, diving and exploring deserted coastal roads there are excellent wildlife-watching opportunities, Lonely Planet once wrote. Hollywood superstars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had a memorial vacation here with their kids a few years ago. Con Dao also made the list of the 20 most mysterious islands on Earth by the US site Travel + Leisure, while CNN named it one of 12 paradise islands in Asia and the US weekly-magazine Time included it on a list of the 13 visit-worthy places around the world where travelers will be surprised by the blueness of the water. Other beaches on the Independents list are Gili Air, on the Gili Islands in Indonesia; Ngapali Beach in Myanmar; Sunset Beach in Thailand; the beaches of Isla de Gigantes in the Philippines; Juara Beach in Malaysia; Bottle Beach in Thailand; the beaches of Kepayang Island in Indonesia; Bacuit Bay in the Philippines; and Lalaji Bay on Long Island in the Andamans. The Ministry of Public Security has set up an interdisciplinary inspection team to supervise foreigners compliance with the regulations on their entry, exit, and residence in central Danang City. - VNA/VNS Photo zing.vn The move was made after many foreigners were reported to illegally work as tour guides in Danang City, affecting the tourism sector, security and order in the city. Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Luu, chief inspector of the ministry, said that Major General Nguyen Huu Tiep, deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Public Security, would lead the team. The team is comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and Danang inspectors. Luu said that during the 45-day inspection, the team would tighten supervision on the implementation of the law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in the city, boost education efforts on those laws and strengthen enforcement. Luu has asked leaders of the units to coordinate well with the inspection team, including preparing reports, dossiers and relevant documents and appointing staff to work with the team. He has also asked the inspection team to ensure their job would not cause any harm to the operation of the concerned agencies and units. Shortcomings, difficulties and obstacles in enforcement would be detected, so that the relevant authorities would propose to amend, supplement or promulgate new regulations on the entry, exit and residence of foreigners, he added. Ho Ky Minh, deputy chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, said that the committee has required all relevant agencies and units to prepare reports and complete dossiers and documents for the inspection. Early this month, the citys Peoples Committee had asked local police to enhance the management of travel and tourist guides, especially co-ordinate with the districts authorities to review the list of foreigners using long-term tourist visas or multiple-entry visas to work with Vietnamese enterprises in Ngu Hanh Son, Son Tra and Hai Chau districts. Last September, the citys government and tourism authority received a petition, which claimed that many Chinese tour guides were working illegally in the city. The petition, with 130-140 signatures, also argued that these tour guides distorted Vietnamese history and culture while serving tourists. Figures from the citys Department of Tourism showed that the department imposed a total fine of VN763.7 million (US$33,680) on 93 violating cases. These cases involved a Taiwanese, two Chinese and eight Koreans. The city currently has 623 Chinese-speaking tour guides licensed by the Department of Tourism. The Dior products revoked in Vietnamese market. The Dior Sourcil Poudre Cayron a Sourcils Mine Poudre Power Eyebrow Pencils with colours 093 black, 593 brown, and 453 sand, which were granted certificates of cosmetic product announcement by the Ministry of Healths Drug Adminstration on April 10, 2014, was one of the three recalled products since it contains propylparaben in amounts exceeding norms based on ASEAN regulations. The two perfumes that were recalled are Dior Homme Sport Very Cool Spray Fresh eau de toilette and Dior JAdore Lor Essence de Parfum, which were granted certificates of cosmetic product announcement on January 3, 2018. The perfume products were withdrawn because the formula noted on their labels differed from those submitted to the administration. The three products are imported and sold by L-Beauty Vetnam Company, based in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The company was asked to stop selling the products and inform its dealers about the revocation of their certificates by April 25. The Drug Administration has sent letters to health departments nationwide to inforrm them of the repossesion orders. HCMCs Health Department is in charge of supervising the products withdrawal. Heineken Vietnam inaugurates the clean water project in Kon Tum province This has raised the total number of clean water stations for communities under Heineken Vietnams "One minute less for a million smile" programme to 22. Heineken Vietnam (the brewer of diverse beer brands like Heineken, Tiger, Larue, Strongbow, Affligem, Desperados, and Bivina) in collaboration with the Vietnam Youth Federation recently inaugurated and launched a water purifier system in Vinh Thanh district in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. This is one of the clean water initiatives under the "One minute less for million smiles" programme sponsored by Heineken Vietnam, which aims to raise public awareness about saving and protecting water resources. It also supports the local communities in rural areas where people have difficult access to clean water due to the impact of climate change and pollution. Far away from Can Tho city, only 30 per cent of the Vinh Thanh district residents demand for clean water is met, according to the Centre for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation of Can Tho City. Locals are completely dependent on untreated water from rivers and lakes for daily usage. Therefore, this clean water project will help more than 300 local residents to access clean water. Also, Heineken Vietnam continued collaborating with Vietnam Youth Federation to inaugurate and hand over another clean water construction to more than 600 local residents in Dak Choong ward, Dak Glei district, in Kon Tum province on March 21. We have been waiting for this clean water source. Thanks to this water pipeline, we can access clean water, and use it with confidence in our daily lives, instead of using water from streams and lakes, said Y Ma from Be Re commune, representing local residents in Dak Glei district. "Protecting water sources and supporting local communities are two key focuses of our sustainability strategy to Brew a better Vietnam. Via the One minute less for million smiles programme, we have been promoting water saving and providing clean water for the community at risk for many years, said Matt Wilson, Corporate Affairs director of Heineken Vietnam. Through the programme, we are happy that the community has fully supported Heineken Vietnam's activities by participating in doing one million good actions to raise awareness about protecting water sources and to paint 100 manholes to deliver a message against littering, as well as prevent water and environment pollution in Ho Chi Minh City. With this support, we believe that Heineken Vietnams journey to protect water in our sustainability strategy to "Brew a better Vietnam" will create a positive impact and show results soon," he added. For many years, Heineken Vietnam has been an industry pioneer in embedding sustainability in its business development strategy. Through its sustainability agenda named "Brewing a better Vietnam," the company has reduced carbon emissions by 58 per cent and reduced water consumption by 44 per cent since 2010. Today, four out of six Heineken Vietnam breweries operate totally from renewable energy, including biomass or biogas. In addition, A-class wastewater treatment systems are installed in Heineken Vietnam's breweries to make sure that all wastewater is treated in a close-knit process before it is discharged back into the environment. In 2017, the company was named among the most sustainable companies in Vietnam by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which represents the Vietnamese business community. The visa exemption policy for citizens of five European countries will expire in the next three months. Whether and when it might be renewed are still open questions, creating a headache for tourists and Vietnamese businesses that serve them. - Photo dantri.com.vn To address the dramatic decrease of international tourists to Viet Nam in 2015, the Government granted citizens of the United Kingdom, Republic of France, Federal Republic of Germany, Kingdom of Spain and Republic of Italy a visa exemption for stays of less than 15 days, regardless of passport type and travel purpose from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. After one year of piloting the visa exemption, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to renew the policy for one year, till June 30, 2017. He made the decision on June 30, 2016 and it came into effect the next day. Similarly, in 2017 when the Government renewed the policy again, it did so only 24 days before the expiration date on June 6, 2017. Therefore, theres good reason to expect it will be renewed againbut little reason to think it will happen in time for visitors and guides to plan for it with ease. Nguyen Thien Phuc, an inbound tour operator, said that announcing visa policies too close to the enforcement dates puts both tourism enterprises and tourists at risk. Companies commonly build up tour programmes six months to one year prior. They cannot promote tour packages if the visa is not fixed. Phuc told Thanh nien (Young people) newspaper that his foreign partners usually complained about the late announcement of Vietnamese visa policies as tourists usually register for tours four to five months before the departure dates. If Viet Nam suddenly stops the visa exemption policy, a tourist will have to apply for visas in rush when the departure date approaching fast, he said. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2017 published by the World Economic Forum ranks Viet Nam in 34th place in terms of natural resources, 30th place in cultural resources and business travel, 37th place in human resources and labour market out of 136 economies across the world. However, in terms of international openness, the country scored low, at the 73rd place. In comparison to other countries in the region, Viet Nams visa policies are not as competitive and attractive, with the visa exemption offered only for citizens of 23 countries and territories. That figure is 165 in the Philippines, 164 in Malaysia and 160 in Singapore. Indonesia, aiming to welcome 20 million foreign tourists by 2019, has opened the visa exemption policy for citizens of 169 countries and territories. The visa-exempt stay duration is only 15 days, quicker than the typical trip of an international tourist to Viet Nam. Moreover, citizens of countries enjoying Viet Nams one-way visa exemption to Viet Nam have to bear a passport which must be valid for at least six months and at least 30 days from the departure date from Viet Nam. Nguyen Quoc Ky, head of Vietravel Company Managing Board, said that these shortcomings obstruct the influx of tourists to Viet Nam. From 2011 to 2017, Japan welcomed 19 million international tourists but the number in Viet Nam was only 12.9 million. Thailand, meanwhile, expects to receive 35 million international tourists in 2018. The widening gap means we are stepping backward, said Ky. Mitsubishi Corporation has ambition to expand its operation in Vietnam This was announced by Takehiko Kakiuchi, chairman cum general director of Mitsubishi Corporation, at the meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 26. At the meeting, the prime minister proposed Mitsubishi to invest in the above sectors and Takehiko Kakiuchi agreed, saying that expansion in these directions would be suitable with the firms long-term development plan in Vietnam. Besides, Mitsubishi also eyes the manufacturing sector and the automobile industry in Vietnam. Signing the MoU is an important initiative demonstrating Mitsubishi Motors' strong commitment to accelerating the adoption of sustainable automotive technologies across rapidly developing markets such as Vietnam. In the latest movement, in a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation on January 15, 2018, Kozo Shiraji, Mitsubishi Motors' executive vice president talked about the plan to invest $250 million to build a second automobile assembly facility in the country to expand production. The facility is expected to come into operation in 2020. On the same day of the meeting with the DPM, Mitsubishi Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnamese government under which they plan to explore the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. Accordingly, Mitsubishi Motors will work with Vietnam Industry Agency (VIA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to conduct a joint study of efficient EV usage and the public policy programmes and incentives that could support the accelerated adoption of sustainable automotive technology. An Outlander PHEV, Mitsubishi Motors' market-leading plug-in hybrid EV, and one unit of quick battery charger have been delivered to VIA-MoIT as part of the agreement. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kozo Shiraji said, "Signing the MoU is an important initiative demonstrating Mitsubishi Motors' strong commitment to accelerating the adoption of sustainable automotive technologies across rapidly developing markets such as Vietnam. Mitsubishi Motors Vietnam, which is the distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Vietnam, was established in 1994 by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Trading Company, Malaysias Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Berhad, and Vietnams Transport Investment Co-operation and Import and Export JSC, as one of the first automobile joint ventures in this market. The joint venture is headquartered in the southern province of Binh Duongs Di An town and stated on its website that it has investment capital of over VND365.4 billion ($16.38 million) and a factory with an annual capacity of 5,000 vehicles. As new and disruptive technology drives change and enables the ASEAN marketplace, Maybank Kim Eng Group believes that Vietnams tech startups will attract big-name investors from the region, mostly from within the ASEAN and China. New technology in Vietnam, similar to ASEAN markets, is still in the early stages of development. The next decade will be the period of exponential growth for tech companies, propelling the boom of related industries such as logistics, said John Chong, CEO of Maybank Kim Eng Group, during the Invest ASEAN 2018 conference in Singapore today. According to the group, investors are excited about this growth potential and they are now shifting to the ASEAN from China and India. Chong told VIR that overseas investors pay strong attention to the region, particularly Vietnam, despite rising protectionist policies from developed markets such as the US. "From what we have seen, investors are driven by the fast growth rates of ASEAN countries, which average 5 to 6 per cent per year, the young population, and high penetration of Internet connection," he said. The capital for these deals mostly came from China and the ASEAN. Recent examples in Vietnam include JD.coms investment in e-commerce firm Tiki in January and Central Groups buyout of Zalora Vietnam in 2016. This is a very exciting time for the ASEAN as the young population is energetic and is becoming increasingly tech-savvy. We are studying at least twelve Vietnamese startups in fintech, consumer finance, and e-commerce to decide which one to invest in. Statistics from Maybank Kim Eng show that funding to ASEAN tech startups has surged in the last two years. In the first eight months of 2017, disclosed equity funding for the startups was around $6.5 billion, double the $3.1 billion of 2016 despite the lower number of deals. Major deals in the region are Alibabas $4-billion investment into Lazada; Tencent, Temasek, and Google pouring $1.2 billion into Indonesian ride-hailing app Go-jek or JD.com putting $500 million into Thai fintech startup Tokopedia. This is a very exciting time for the ASEAN as the young population is energetic and is becoming increasingly tech-savvy. We are studying at least twelve Vietnamese startups in fintech, consumer finance, and e-commerce to decide which one to invest in, said Justin Hall, partner at Golden Gates Ventures. Golden Gates currently has three investments in Vietnam: Appota, Lozi.vn, and Wifi Chua. Google and Temasek estimate that the Internet economy in the ASEAN will reach $200 billion in 2025, a six-fold growth every year. In particular, the e-commerce sector will take up at least $5 billion, presenting fresh opportunities for investors and startups. Invest ASEAN is an annual conference held by Maybank Kim Eng Group in Singapore since 2013. This year, the event attracted 900 delegates from 132 funds around the globe, with the total amount of $16.3 trillion of assets under management. About 57 leading corporates from the region also joined to meet with investors, including five firms from Vietnam. Major topics at this years event include artificial intelligence, venture capital, and global macroeconomics updates. VinaCapital and Maybank Kim Eng host Corporate Day in London VinaCapital and Maybank Kim Eng Securities co-organised Vietnam Corporate Day in London on March 7-8, introducing top listed firms in Vietnam to 100 institutional investors ... Maybank Kim Eng believes ASEAN has momentum Maybank Kim Eng, ASEANs leading investment bank, said at its Invest ASEAN Singapore conference on March 24 that it believes in the regions current growth ... The test centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will offer the Pearson Test of English Academic, recognised by leading universities worldwide The opening ceremonies will take place on March 27 for the Ho Chi Minh City test centre and March 29 for Hanois centre. David Barnett, managing director of Pearson Asia Pacific, said, The opening of these two new test centres, in partnership with EMG Education, demonstrates Pearsons commitment to providing greater choice and access to English language testing for students in Vietnam. We are very pleased to be working alongside EMG and feel confident in the benefits this partnership will bring to Vietnamese learners. Pearson is proud to support the aspirations of Vietnamese students, he added. Pearson and EMG open new test centres in Vietnam With a focus on fair, impartial marks and typically offering results within five business days, PTE Academic scores are now accepted as evidence of English language proficiency by thousands of academic programmes around the world. These include all universities in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland; 95 per cent of UK universities; most Canadian universities; and a growing number of institutions in the USA, including Harvard Business School and Yale. PTE Academic is also accepted for all visa categories by the Department of Home Affairs in Australia as well as by New Zealand immigration. Nguyen Phuong Lan, CEO and vice chairwoman of EMG Education, said, EMG Education is very pleased to work alongside such a reputable partner as Pearson to bring further benefits to Vietnamese learners. EMG Education is a leading education organisation in Vietnam. Our primary objective is to create opportunities for young Vietnamese learners to achieve internationally-recognised qualifications and succeed on a global stage. In 2017, EMG Education officially became a strategic partner of Pearson Education, by which we hope to provide Vietnamese students with further access to world-leading qualifications, such as PTE Academic, she added. Pearson is the worlds leading education company with 35,000 employees in more than 70 countries, working to help people of all ages make measurable progress in their lives through learning. US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin speak last July during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo: AFP/Mikhail Klimentiev) On the face of it, the latest iteration of Washington's endless "reset" of relations with Moscow is in serious trouble. Having wooed Putin for the better part of two years, the 71-year-old US president on Monday expelled 60 alleged Russian spies. True to Trump's embrace of superlatives, that was the largest single expulsion of Russians or Soviet intelligence officers on record, according to one senior official. Trump also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle - within snooping distance of a US submarine base and a plant run by aircraft-maker Boeing, one of the president's favored companies. Trump's aides, aware that Americans think he and Putin are too cozy, stressed the expulsions were the president's decision. It was "a decision that he was involved in from the beginning and that he personally made after several meetings," said a senior administration official. Trump "was briefed on the ongoing preparations throughout the weekend," he added. The expulsion announcement was accompanied by an out-of-character warning that Russia has to change if Trump's stated aim of better ties are to come true. Better relations "can only happen with a change in the Russian government's behavior," the White House said. It seemed like, as with US presidents past, the scales may be falling from Trump's eyes when it comes to the former KGB officer who now runs Russia. George W Bush declared at the beginning of his presidency that he was able to look Putin in the eye and "get a sense of his soul," but later came to publicly acknowledge a misreading of the Russian leader. Barack Obama's aides admit it took him one failed "reset" and a series of confrontations, including over Russia's annexation of Crimea, to realise that Putin's interests and the interests of Russia were often not the same. Those claiming a similar shift in Trump's stance can now point to Monday's expulsions and US sanctions earlier this month against Russians for election meddling and cyber attacks. But for the last 14 months in office, Trump has sent one message to Russia and his administration has sent quite another. "NOT DONE WITH SANCTIONS" While officials have fumed at Russia's "malicious contempt" for others' sovereignty, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has toured the world reassuring jittery allies, Trump has sung from his own script. His remarks - both public and private - have been markedly more conciliatory toward Putin. The Kremlin will notice that Monday's warning that better ties are at risk came, symbolically, from press secretary Sarah Sanders, not Trump himself. Even before he entered the White House, Trump had aggressively defended his engagement with Russia. Brushing aside invasions and bombings and meddling, he has argued that the route to solving issues from Ukraine to Syria to arms control to terrorism runs through Moscow. In December, he marveled that cooperation between the CIA and Russian agencies had prevented a "major terrorist attack" in Saint Petersburg. He went on to stun critics by suggesting a joint cybercenter with the Kremlin, despite Russians being charged by special counsel Robert Mueller over their alleged interference in the 2016 election which Trump won. "I believe that President Putin really feels - and he feels strongly - that he did not meddle in our election," Trump said during a trip to Vietnam last November. Trump and Putin have met at least twice and the US leader's comments towards his counterpart have been effusive, speaking of good "chemistry" and a relationship of peers. Last week, Trump aides warned him: "DO NOT CONGRATULATE," but he did so anyway in a phone call to Putin after his re-election as Russian president. In response to Trump's expulsions, Moscow has already promised tit-for-tat measures. An escalation seems inevitable. "Washington probably is not done with sanctions against Russia over other issues," said Alex Brideau, a consultant with Eurasia Group, "but pressure will remain on President Donald Trump's administration to respond further" to cyber breaches and other issues. That will only create more domestic headwinds for Trump's effort to improve ties. But Trump - never eager to admit failure - may see this latest crisis as more evidence of the costs in butting heads with Moscow. Who would bet that president and his administration will now get on the same page? Going digital across Southeast Asia This service is developed by VietinBank and UK-based fintech company Opportunity Network (ON). What differentiates it from other e-commerce platforms is that VietinBanks Customer Connectivity is built up based on an efficient algorithm to enhance the pool of opportunities available for global cooperation and link the demand of each member in a simple, easy, and effective manner. Each customer or member of the network is properly introduced and selected by reputable financial institutions based on certain criteria, such as business scale and credit rating. As a result, each member will be able to access a network that connects requests and reliable business opportunities. VietinBank goes far to connect businesses globally The innovation is practical for Vietnamese SMEs whose customer network is said to be rather limited and the businesses themselves are spending big money and human resources to find partners and investors. With Customer Connectivity, businesses can look for multiple opportunities for growth, including market expansion and business marketing. What is more, they can also seek for strategic investors, technologies, and human resources, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) opportunities, joint venture partners, even machinery and equipment improvements. SMEs can then expand their business operations beyond borders, facilitate cross-border trade cooperation, as well as maximise the use of assets, capitalisation, and develop their business. Given the cooperation with ON, VietinBank has now become the first bank in Southeast Asia to introduce its customers a new means of connection through the use of digital technology. With some 50 per cent of the banks customers being SMEs, VietinBank will be in the lead of the pack in making the most of advanced technologies and innovation to help corporate customers fulfill their business goals and reach further internationally. VietinBank goes far to connect businesses globally Let customers take the lead It is simple to sign up for the service, as qualified businesses will receive an invitation from VietinBank to join. Businesses can then fill out the registration form to become members and get themselves ready to access a whole new world of opportunities. VietinBank desires to create as many new and innovative services as possible, to actually meet the business needs in every stage of growth. At the same time, we give effective solutions to our customers in a bid to integrate into the digital age one step at a time, supporting them in making the right decisions in business and everyday life. It is a rather secure programme as each opportunity is listed anonymously to ensure the customers privacy. Information on the partners selected will only be shared with the banks customer upon the approval of the partners themselves. VietinBank will accompany the customers along the process or the deal, providing financial solutions and recommending appropriate products and services. Tran Cong Quynh Lan, deputy general director of VietinBank, said, VietinBank is always on the move. We provide financial solutions with deep knowledge and unique ideas, and we bring outstanding value and experience to our customers. The value that our Customer Connectivity offers the corporate segment, particularly the SME ones, is indeed very attractive. Through the collaboration with a fintech firm, VietinBank desires to create as many new and innovative services as possible, to actually meet the business needs in every stage of growth. At the same time, we give effective solutions to our customers in a bid to integrate into the digital age one step at a time, supporting them in making the right decisions in business and everyday life, said Lan. Quang Trach 2 thermal power plant The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has issued a document to collect opinions from authorities about the proposal of Hanoi General Export Import JSC (Gelexim) to establish Geleximco-HUI, a joint venture between Geleximco and Hong Kong United Co., Ltd. (HUI), to implement the $2 billion thermal power plants namely Quynh Lap 1 and Quang Trach 2 from Vinacomin and EVN, respectively. The two projects will be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) form. Notably, Geleximco proposed permitting the joint venture to hold a 75 per cent stake in Quynh Lap 1, leaving the remaining 25 per cent with the existing investor. Meanwhile, the joint venture is looking to acquire the entire 100 per cent stake of Quang Trach 2 from EVN. The two projects' total investment capital is in the billion-dollar range, however, Gelexim stated that 80 per cent of the investment capital comes from loans from Chinese banks, while equity is just 20 per cent. Geleximco affirmed that the joint venture can arrange capital without guarantee from the government and it can start the construction as it has yet to collect enough capital. Vinacomin disagreed with Geleximco's proposal to hold a 75 per cent stake in the joint venture. Geleximco affirmed that the joint venture can arrange capital without guarantee from the Vietnamese government and it can start the construction as it has yet to collect enough capital. Vinacomin added that in May 2017, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Geleximco-KAIDI and KOSPO from South Korea to co-operate to develop Quynh Lap 1 project. According to the arrangement, Vinacomin will hold at least 36 per cent, while KAIDI and KOSPO will hold the rest. However, during the negotiation process, Geleximco and KAIDI affirmed that they will hold 34 per cent each and will not co-operate with any other investors. As a result, the parties suspended the negotiations due to failing to reach a compromise. Regarding EVN, which was assigned to develop the Quang Trach 2 project, EVN stated that there are no regulations permitting the investor to invest in power projects under the PPP model. Besides, it will take Geleximco and its partner a long time to complete the establishment of the joint venture, which may cause long delays in project development. EVN said it can arrange capital in terms of loans from Vietcombank and VietinBank. There have been some awkward starts to many an encounter on First Dates Ireland but tonight sees two daters have the ice broken very quickly. Veterinary nurse Sarah (26) from Galway meets with Kilkenny primary school teacher Paul (29) and things are off to a great start when Sarah shares her love for Paul's home country. However Paul soon has her in absolute stitches over his way of pronouncing the word 'quays'. As Barman Ethan reassures, "She's not laughing at you, she's laughing with you." Catch First Dates Ireland tonight on 9.30pm. Ive worked at home and in full-time positions for most of my career. Looking back, it seems a little strange now. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine Id spend the bulk of my work life tapping away at my computer in the comfort and confines of my own home. But, I must say, its been a great life. It allowed me to see my child off to school every morning, and to be there to greet her most afternoons. I can throw in a load of laundry or prep for dinner when I need to get up and stretch. And Im getting better about leaving the house to get some exercise and sunlight. It makes me more productive and less stressed during my work time. And it makes me happier and less isolated, especially if a friend joins me. Taking the time to leave the house even for just 15 minutes to stretch and exercise is my No. 1 recommendation for anyone who is, or is considering, working from home. Here are a few other suggestions from a veteran telecommuter. Obviously, one of the first things telecommuters need to do is make sure they have the equipment and connectivity to get the job done. The fact that so many of us now have our own laptops and smartphones means we have a great head start. I also invested in a large computer screen so I can easily see multiple documents and applications. And, at my last few jobs, my employers have provided me with an IP phone. So it looks like Im working from headquarters on the East Coast while Im warm and dry out here in Arizona. My phone provides me with all the same features and functionalities, including three-digit access to fellow employees, as people at headquarters. Companies and individual telecommuters can acquire IP and SIP phones from suppliers like Phone.com. The company offers a range of phones from such brands as Cisco, Polycom, and Yealink (News - Alert) . Before you set up your phone and computer, look around your living space to find the best area for your work. I once set up my desk in my bedroom, right next to my bed. As a result, I was in that room pretty much around the clock, which was not ideal. So, I relocated to a different room for a little more variety; much better. One more point. Its easy to become isolated when working from home. And its up to you (and me) to avoid that. As I mentioned before, getting out and getting your blood pumping really helps. But, its also important to keep yourself in the loop with your remote coworkers. I recommend checking in with your supervisor every week or so, if it doesnt already happen organically. Its also nice to interface with key coworkers and top management from time to time to offer help and share ideas. Edited by Mandi Nowitz Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. The articles on Voltaire Network may be freely reproduced provided the source is cited, their integrity is respected and they are not used for commercial purposes (license CC BY-NC-ND). Source: Statement From the White House Press Secretary on the Expulsion of Russian Intelligence Officers, Voltaire Network, 26 March 2018, www.voltairenet.org/article200361.html Chloe (left) and Halle (right). Photo: Getty Images The story of the Bailey sisters, Chloe x Halle, famously goes like this: The two posted Beyonce covers on YouTube when they were preteens that showcased the vocal ability of people twice their age; eventually impressed the queen herself enough to become the first signees to Beyonces label; sat beside their new boss and other faces of the Beyonce generation on that now-iconic porch in the Lemonade film; the rest is history. Throughout their meteoric rise, the two teens have also gotten good at multitasking. On Freeforms Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish, they play track-star twins, but in reality, theyre nearly two years apart (Halle, 18 as of today and Chloe, 19). The pair also ran the show on their own debut album, The Kids Are Alright, self-producing and writing the entirety of the sophisticated, genre-melting collection of songs about youth handled with adult perspective. Vulture talked to Chloe x Halle on the albums release day about controlling their own narrative, Grown-ish, having Beyonce as a mentor, and why their generation is in good hands. In your short film for the album, you have Moonlights Ashton Sanders playing a literal swagged-out angel, which is casting perfection. Tell me everything. Chloe: Yes! It was so magical how that short film came together. It flows so well. We love Ashton. I remember we met him in person at this Teen Vogue shoot we were doing together and we exchanged numbers. We were also following each other on social media, and that was about that. We knew we needed a really cool leading guy in our film, and we texted him saying wed love for him to be a part of it. He said yes immediately; it happened that fast. He did such an incredible job. The film was directed by the wonderful Cara Stricker and Kwasi Fordjour, and it represents how pressure makes diamonds. No matter what you go through, you will be alright. I was struck by how hands-on you both were with this album, especially for a debut. Chloe, you produced almost all of it and you each wrote or co-wrote all of the songs. Was creative autonomy crucial to you? Halle: Oh yes. Our parents always taught us from a young age that we can do anything we put our minds to and not to be afraid to dive in to do something that may not be considered things for little girls to be doing. My sister is so inspiring to me when she produces. And we write all of our songs from our living room. Its fun for us. We also feel like this generation is on this wave of learning how to do things on our own and learning how to stand up for ourselves. Its a big thing for us. Was there any pushback, people telling you it would be better to let other people control your work rather than do it yourselves? Halle: There has been underestimation at the front door, and thats bound to be there since our appearance is these small, young girls. Most people just expect you to go in and write a Disney song. Its fun for us to prove ourselves. Once we put our foot in the door and shove it open, its exciting for us to see peoples reaction. They realize that we can do this. Chloe: I feel very fortunate because were given this incredible platform with Beyonce and [her label] Parkwood, but were still able to use our voices and tell the story that we want to tell and create the music we want to create. Beyonce has always encouraged us to trust our intuition. Im so grateful because some artists are not able to do that, but we are and it means the world to us. The longer Ive lived with the album title, the less it reads like a personal affirmation and more a public declaration: Its not that the kids will be alright, they already are. Were seeing that now with the Parkland teens mobilizing to fight for policy change. I think adults sometimes worry theyve failed your generation. Is that what inspired the album? Chloe: That means so much to us that you took that from this record. Thats exactly what its about. My sister and I always try to look at the bright side of things, no matter how crazy the world gets. Adults might think theyve failed us, but they didnt. They just prepared us to be even stronger. Were gonna be alright. Im so proud to be part of this generation because were not afraid to raise our voices, be heard, and say whats right and wrong. This album is about learning to trust ourselves and our voices. Theres a line on this album that fake woke hashtagging that reminded me of a conversation I had with Willow Smith. Your generation, especially its celebrity faces (the Willows, the Yara Shahidis, the Rowan Blanchards), have been branded with wokeness. Is the term starting to lose its meaning for you all? Halle: Most young people are already woke, or whatever that word is supposed to mean maybe its not being afraid to speak out. Its telling our truth that we care about. Chloe: Woke is less about the word and more about the actions you put behind it. Whether its speaking your mind through your art or getting with another group of kids to start change. Im just happy because kids arent just hashtagging, theyre actually doing things. March for Our Lives puts words into action. Its an exciting thing to see how [the word] may have ignited this fire within us. Do you remember what Beyonce said when she heard your album for the first time? Chloe: She said she loved it! And Im just so happy because if I know Beyonce loved it, then thats the only stamp of approval I need, except for my parents and little brother. It even made my heart warm when she said she loved the short film. We like making her proud. What has she meant to both of you on a personal level? Halle: Watching her over the years, Ive seen how grateful and gracious she is. She also really knows her self-worth and power and, as young person, thats personally been really inspiring. I look to her and can say, If she can feel like shes worthy and beautiful, then I can too. Chloe: For me, Lemonade broke so many barriers. It instilled confidence in so many women, even older women. I still love it. From the music to the visuals, shes a genius. There was a recent episode of Grown-ish about the frustrations of dating as black women that centered on your characters. I wondered how much of their experience was your own. Chloe: I remember we went in for the table read and read the script and just thought, Wow, this is speaking the truth. It meant so much to us that our characters were able to portray this reality. But as important as it is, we got to play it somewhat lighthearted so that people whove never been exposed to this can understand it in a digestible way, but still really get the gist of it. I love Grown-ish because were able to talk about the topics that arent normally talked about in mainstream media. That episode let women of all colors know that you dont need validation from anyone else except yourself and thats okay. Was the depth of the subject matter what attracted you to be on the show? Halle: Grown-ish actually came about really naturally and organic. We always hang out with our friend Yara, and the shows executive producer, Kenya Barris, saw us onstage at the BET Awards accepting for Beyonce. He said that was when the light went off in his head for us to be on the show. We entered the whole project with open arms and no expectations. It ended up being beautiful and it never feels like work. You both are college age, but youre not having the traditional college experience outside the show. Would you ever enroll full time? Halle: Yes! Im in my senior year of high school right now and I graduate in June, so of course, thats always something I would love to do. I cant wait to be done with this high-school venture and go soon into the college venture. What would you study? Chloe: Definitely business and finance. Halle: Same. I also want to dive into music theory and advance myself more as a musician. This album exists in the same world as Willows, SZAs, and Solanges albums in that it presents young black women as multidimensional, complicated beings. It also speaks the language of our minds. Where were your heads at when you wrote it? Halle: During the making of this album, we were just documenting our truest feelings, almost like a diary. We put our most sensitive feelings into these words. Im 17 now and Ive been thinking a lot about whats gonna happen when I turn 18. [Ed. Note: Halle turns 18 today. Happy Birthday!] Will anything really change? What will my adult life be like? Ive been discovering myself as a young girl and venturing through this with my sister. So Ive been writing down all those feelings that you have as a young girl turning into a young woman, the insecurities and learning how to love the highs of your life as well as the lows. Ive been learning to accept that everything I have going on now is for a reason and that Ill end up in the perfect place. It was all of those emotions put into one for this album. I love that I can have this album out when Im 17 and then, in the future, when Im 30, I can listen to these songs and remember exactly who I was at this age. This interview has been edited and condensed. When Sean Penn rolled up to the Late Show, he had some grim truths to share. Penn is largely over the whole acting thing he says he doesnt play well with others and has moved on to writing novels, like his book Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff. Does he feel, after two Academy Awards, that hes outgrown it, Stephen Colbert asks. The girl I fell in love with was going into a movie theater in the dark with strangers, and seeing something that might last forever, Penn said. And now theres so much content. I cant keep track of it, and nothing seems special. Phew. (But, like, same.) The two then go on a somewhat curious Netflix rabbit hole (is Penn suggesting Netflix pay settlements to put out so many hours of original programming?). Whatever, man. Take a long drag of your own cig and sit with us in the content-heavy truth. Brian Tyree Henry and Chris Evans in Lobby Hero, at the Hayes. Photo: Joan Marcus Is there anything more timeless than the lobby of an average doorman building? Its a scuffed, eclectic oasis of permanence in a city that never sleeps though its doormen sometimes do, dreaming their own big dreams. Jeff is the principal dreamer in Kenneth Lonergans Lobby Hero, a substantial and mostly satisfying revival of which opens today, featuring the gloriously awkward Michael Cera as the titular doorman (sorry, security officer). But the soul of this production, Heros Broadway debut 17 years after it first ran off Broadway, belongs to Jeffs self-help-peddling African-American captain and would-be mentor, William, infused by Brian Tyree Henry (of FXs Atlanta) with a rawness and flow that completely recenters the morality play. Lonergans story and dialogue are as evergreen as his lobby evocatively rendered by David Rockwell as a slightly seedy Art Deco cube rotating through a street-lit night (in contrast to its home, the freshly renovated Hayes Theater). Jeff and William confide warily in each other the former about his abject failure to live up to his Navy-hero father, the latter about the strict moral code that saved him from the streets. A visit from two cops, philanderer Bill (Chris Evans doing his cocky best) and his wide-eyed female partner Dawn (Brit ingenue Bel Powley) gets complicated when it emerges that Williams brother is a murder suspect, Dawn just maimed a drunk, and Bill is an asshole. Secrets are shared and betrayed, liars unmasked, ambitions born and shattered all in one oversized vestibule. So much has changed since the debut of Lonergans third legit drama. The World Trade Center towers fell a week after the show closed at the John Houseman Theater, itself demolished in 2005. Lonergan went from hot young playwright to struggling filmmaker (Margaret) to esteemed director and Oscar-winning screenwriter (Manchester by the Sea). And the twin preoccupations of Lobby Hero, toxic masculinity and a broken justice system, have breached the surface of mass consciousness in the wake of twin electoral surprises the first black president followed by the most toxic white male you could think of. The play seems to have spent the last 17 years waiting for the right cast, and this time it gets halfway there. Lonergans first slacker muse, Mark Ruffalo, starred in the premiere of This Is Our Youth, his first and fiercest play, and was scheduled to perform in the first Lobby Hero until he backed out a missed opportunity for all but especially for the work, which critics damned with faint praise about its unfulfilled promise. (People keep telling Jeff, too, that hes got a lot of potential.) Lonergan writes with warmth, wit and spontaneity, but Lobby Hero is one of his more schematic pieces, a complex machine of mixed motivations and triangulated outcomes. Unlike the best of Mamet or Pinter, it cant get by on clever delivery; its naturalism requires transcendent acting. Cera, who starred in a 2014 Broadway revival of This Is Our Youth, has settled confidently into the groove of un-confidence where most of Lonergans heroes dwell, a stoner borderland where extreme torpor meets unstoppable blather. Fists shooting into baggy pockets, torso canted stiffly forward as though braced against the stiff headwinds of fate, Cera looks profoundly uncomfortable, which makes him a perfect fit. Always asking the wrong questions, which turn out to be the right questions, Jeff plays catalyst to everyone but himself. Sometimes I feel like I was worn out the minute I was born, he says, and we believe it. The people with the real badges turn out to be more cartoonish than the guards an irony that, even if intended by Lonergan, is overblown by Evans and Powley, who seem to be in a different play. Obvious financial incentives aside, the logic behind plopping Evans, the erstwhile Captain America, into this particular Broadway debut is evident from one of his first lines. His uniform as snug on him as Jeffs is bunched and baggy, his mustache and flattop a masterpiece of butch, Bill humblebrags about the precinct boys making him a T-shirt to celebrate his last commendation: My head on a picture of Superman underneath it says Super Bill. You could see how Trip Cullman who directs with great timing and efficiency might have intended to play the audience the same way Bill, the alleged supercop, plays his female partner. Dawn, whom Powley gives a Minnie Mousefrom-da-Bronx squawk you could probably hear next door over the belting of Frozen, sees Bill as an Ubermensch of protection and service. Never mind that he is married, has already seduced Dawn, and is visiting Jeffs building to see a prostitute. Eventually the scales are meant to fall from her eyes and ours as she turns to Jeff, who is allergic to groups of men screaming and impressing each other with what a bunch of morons they are. The problem is that Evans trips over his own studious character work. Contrary to expectations, or perhaps because of them, Broadways Hollywood ringers tend to work too hard on technique. Evans proves to be a master caricaturist head swiveling and thrusting like the cock of his beat, a police wagons worth of bullshit rationalizations jammed into his six-pack. Later on, he turns out to be maybe not the worst human being in the world. But there is no superman veneer to start with. When Dawn squawks, I gotta be the worst judge of character in the history of the fuckin Earth, Jeff doesnt contradict her, and neither would you. Bills bullshit is so transparent birds would fly straight into it. Its also possible that Bills brand of masculinity has become overexposed. Jeffs beta-male dilemma can one be confident without becoming a total scumbag was endlessly explored by the likes of Neil LaBute, until #MeToo changed the conversation (and took LaBute with it). So it might be more than Brian Tyree Henrys superb portrayal of William that turns Lobby Hero mostly into the story of his own interesting dilemma a phrase he delivers, by the way, with layers of sarcasm, rage, and anguish you could spend days unpeeling. William must choose between corroborating his brothers false alibi and sticking to his principles while his flesh and blood falls prey to a grossly flawed court system. Henry originated the role of the General in The Book of Mormon and knows his way around a stage, but he starts the play off a little low, as if addressing Atlantas cable audience instead of a theater. Yet even at the cost of a couple of swallowed lines, his moral exhaustion feels disconcertingly natural among the lobbys potted plants and the police officers potted accents. And as Lonergans web of dilemmas grows more interesting, Henrys performance blossoms, riding an arc of injustice that seems to bend permanently away from a security guard with big plans and the wrong color of skin. Its powerful to watch him simmer and boil and wither, while Cera plays his downtrodden but still privileged foil. The rest of the show: Its got a lot of potential. Lobby Hero is the first production at the restored Hayes Theater (formerly known as the Helen Hayes Theatre). UnREAL Gestalt Season 3 Episode 5 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: Lifetime Rachel and her mother Olive have a fraught relationship. Were already quite confident in connecting the trauma behind Rachels dysfunctions and her tendency to self-destruct with what happened to her as a kid. Olives insistence that they not discuss what happened to Rachel is practically abuse in itself, not to mention the cruel calculus that she likely covered it up for fear of ruining her psychiatry career. But after Rachel learns that her father Asa did know that he knew enough to go beat up her abuser, but never mention this to his daughter that news sends her over the deep end. Rachel calls her mother and demands to speak to her father. But Asa doesnt answer his cell phone because, according to Rachel, hes hopped up on the mind-numbing drugs that Olive once prescribed to her. You know you keeped him drugged up, mom. Olive, in response, appears to delusionally believe that everything shes ever done was meant to protect her family. Chets still trying for that Emmy, and hes also apparently impotent. Moving on. Meanwhile, Quinn is still trying to protect Rachel by pushing Dr. Simon away. Or is she trying to protect herself? Shes way worse than when she started talking to you, she tells him. But thats often how recovery (and most things, unfortunately) happen. You gotta get worse before you can get better. But a better Rachel is no good for Everlasting, Quinn has apparently decided. Later, the well-meaning doctor will go to Jeremy (ha!) and ask about Rachel. Jeremy tells him that Rachels a liar: Its the Rachel Vortex. Many a man has been sucked in by that tiny, dark force. Sure, the doctor is kind of obsessed with her, but thats his job. Plus, I can imagine that youre a mental-health professional, a person like Rachel has to be one of your more fascinating cases. Now that Serena knows that her former-favorite suitor, August, was banging Quinn behind closed doors, shes been flat-out ignoring him. But for some reason, he still wants to be with her, or at least be on the show two things I dont quite understand, to be honest! so he threatens to file for sexual harassment. Against Quinn. If I get outed in any way, then I out you, he says. Quinn immediately runs to Rachel, her personal emotional hit man: We have to destroy August make sure that no one believes a word that comes out of his mouth. This guy doesnt know who he was messing with. Now that weve seen whats happening behind the scenes, its time to check in on whats happening on Everlasting as the men quickly dwindle. A moment I didnt mention last week, but appears to be building up to something scandalous, is a kiss shared (off camera!) between Serena and that British hunk, Jasper. Yes, hes the one who apparently made the big money bet that hed be the first to sleep with her. With no one outing said bet, it seems like hes closer than ever to winning (her heart, and also money). They do some sort of wilderness challenge, hosted by a suspiciously attractive ranger, which Owen wins. (Lets be real, Owen is the one shes gonna end up with, right?) But she picks Jasper, who came in last. (Its because of that kiss!) Later, the cast and crew will come across August and the ranger in a tussle, with August looking like the aggressor. I have no idea! She just jumped me, hell cry. I have no reason to believe a word that comes out of your mouth, Serena replies. Rachel, what did you do? (She set him up. Duh.) Quinn and Jay are off to pitch Gary and his fellow TV execs on their new dance show, World of Dance or whatever, but it appears that Gary isnt quite receptive. In fact, hes not gonna let them pitch at all today, and Quinn isnt having that. If Gary cant hear their pitch, then Everlasting will not continue production: There is some shit I will not eat. Period. She calls Rachel and tells them to shut it down. Cut the cameras, bring the cast home. Do it. Pull the plug. When Gary finds out, he calls Madison and asks her for a list: Who is loyal to Quinn? Hes coming to fire her entire team. This is war. With Everlasting shut down, Rachel heads home to talk to her dad to confront him about the abuse. Turns out, though, Asa has been hopped up on lithium for years, a powerful sedative that his wife prescribes to numb him out. They assure each other that they are not at fault for their pasts he for his inaction to Rachels abuse and Rachel for that abuse and she takes him with her. Back on set, Dr. Simon meets Asa, who appears to be staying in Rachels makeshift grip truck apartment with her. Perhaps she didnt think this escape all the way through? She asks Dr. Simon to keep an eye on her dad, and he learns just how messed up things really are. Withdrawing from lithium is no joke, he later tells Rachel. Shes been here, done that with her own drug-dependence issues, but this is someone elses life shes dealing with. Quinn convinces Madison to side with her, not Gary, even getting her to share the big bosss email password to facilitate some primo blackmail negotiating. When Gary shows up to fire them all, she presents her case: I know youve been hiding Everlastings international profits, stealing $18 million from me and Chet to cover your own ass on losses on your other pathetic shows. Its all in his emails. In exchange, shell get Passport to Dance (oh, right, thats the name!) fully made and four shows in active development by the end of the year. Is that worth $18 million? Maybe. The power trip alone appears to be. (Her power trip certainly turns on Chet, who comes to her with a rare boner and confesses his love. Nope, sorry. You chose easy, she says.) While all this is happening, Serena has Jasper sneak into her room for some sexy alone time. August, in a last-ditch attempt for some points, tells Serena about the bet. Later, on camera at the cutting ceremony, she goes rogue: From this moment forward, the only rules are the rules Im making. Shes freaked out. Whos lying to her? (Literally everyone.) She decides to cut no one, saving August and giving him the opportunity to out Quinn. Unfortunately, Jasper is outed and he didnt even win his bet. If you recall, Serena slept with the jockey on night one. So whats the big reveal here? This Dr. Simon guy has eyes on the inside. Specifically, the inside of Rachels grip-truck apartment and hes watching her every move. Will he help her out? Or have her committed? Vanderpump Rules SUR Going South Season 6 Episode 16 Editors Rating 1 star * Previous Next Photo: Bravo There is a lot of strange and questionable behavior on Vanderpump Rules, a Russian plot to poison the minds of people with too many vowels in their first names, but nothing is as strange or as questionable as what we learned in this episode. Lala Kent, a grown woman in her 20s, has a bottle every night before going to bed. We all have strange nighttime rituals. I have to watch at least one episode of Voltron: Legendary Defender before I can even think about turning in, but even that infantile behavior pales in comparison to Lala, who actually suckles on a bottle like a human infant. We see her putting honey and warm milk in her bubbie (which should not be confused with Bubba, Tom and Katies pet name for each other) and then she explains to Scheana how she administers this treat. She lies on her back, with one of her favorite shows on the television, and props the bottle up on her blanket while she lies back and literally milks on the teat of her bottle. She looks like someone buried in the sand trying to get a sip of the orange Slice that is perched just three centimeters too far from her lips. Lala explains that she is on a low dose of her anxiety medication and she finds this behavior soothing. Im sorry, but this is taking self care and self soothing a step too far. Im all for whatever you need to get yourself through the day, as long as that does not include literally infantilizing oneself. There are plenty of other things that could make her feel good snuggling a stuffed animal, eating kale chips, breathing exercises, brushing her hair and counting each and every stroke that do not include falling backward on the evolutionary ladder. However, I will admit that Lalas baby bottle is one of the best bits of an otherwise extremely boring episode. I think it was so lackluster because all of the fights we saw on this Mexican vacation were handled quickly and maturely. God, if the Pump Rules cast starts growing up then the rest of us are doomed. Just like Lala, Kristen has a lot of anxiety, especially when shes traveling. Stassi tells us that she, Kristen, and Katie took a trip earlier that spring to Copenhagen and Kristen freaked out by throwing a fit and making everyone around her miserable. Now shes doing it again in their hotel room in Mexico, ranting at Stassi and filling the room up with smoke. It gets so bad that Stassi shows up at Katie and Toms room at 4:30 in the morning and crashes in their queen bed for the night, just like she showed up at their honeymoon. If there was ever going to be a third person from this cast in Tom and Katies relationship, I would not have bet on Stassi. What I find suspect about this whole thing is that there is no footage of the freak out. A camera crew watches Tom and Katie get pizza stains all over their bedspread, but there isnt anyone covering Kristen cussing out Stassi and potentially burning down a hotel room? I find this horrendously suspect. The next day, the fight continues when Kristen says that she understands shes a difficult travel companion, but Stassi is at fault too. I call bullshit on all of this. Maybe her freak out wasnt as bad as Stassi made it out to be we would know for sure if there were actual footage of it but Kristen getting wasted and treating Stassi shabbily sounds like a one-way problem to me. I am also someone who struggles with acute anxiety while traveling and I average at least one full-fledged panic attack every time I leave the confines of the city. But I know this about myself and I have the medication to get me through a weekend away. Its a high enough dosage that it would work even if my friends forced me to go to literal hell. Im sorry, I didnt mean literal hell, I meant a water park that consists of a lake filled to the brim with drunk idiots where they force you to accentuate all of your bodys trouble spots by shoving you into a life vest that doesnt fit properly. Or, you know, literal hell. What Im trying to say is that Kristen should just rely on Xanax and no one would have a problem. While doing their hair and makeup, Stassi and Kristen decide not to fight anymore and thats it. Its all over. The same thing goes for the brewing fight between Jax and Scheana. It starts out with some small rumblings, but then James tells Jax that Scheana was trying to set Brittany up with Adam, the hot new bartender at SUR. Shockingly, Jax doesnt flip out. He also doesnt flip out on Brittany when he asks her about it. She tells him that Scheana just invited them all out and let her know he had a crush on her, but she wasnt going to do anything about it because she doesnt care. The most shocking of all is that, later in the night when theyre all drunk and at the club, Jax still doesnt freak out while talking to Scheana. I mean, this is clearly a case of Scheana being an asshole for no particular reason. Wait, there is a reason. This all comes back to when Jax told everyone that Rob told him that he hasnt said I love you to Scheana. Scheana couches this as a rumor, but we all know its true because we literally saw Rob tell it to him on television. Also, we have all seen the way that Rob treats Scheana. Its not unlike the way someone leaving a highway rest stop treats an Auntie Annes pretzel wrapper stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Finally, she admits that she wanted Brittany to realize that other guys out there like her, too. All of the women on this show, from Stassi and Lala to Lisa and Kristen, have told Brittany she should break up with Jax. That is just advice. However, Scheana is the only one underhanded and slimy enough to actually try to undermine their relationship. Thats scummier than the bottom of the pond where Lisas swans live at Villa Rosa. Even with all of these fights, this episode was boring. Not even looking at Schwartzs burgeoning dad bod could get me excited. Neither could everyone posing with dirty parrots all over their body at the water park, a visit to another restaurant named SUR down south, or even talk about DJ James Kennedy being beaten up and bullied as a youngster. I did almost get worked up noticing that every single person on this trip is constantly drinking booze out of a bottle. What does the cast have against cups? Is it that no one trusts them with actual glasses and they all hate plastic so they just drink right out of the bottle? Or have they all been hanging out with Lala and her stupid baby bottle too much? Okay, there was one thing that got a bit of a rise out of me: the wooden penis flute that the cast found at one of the vendors in the market in Playa del Carmen. I would book a ticket right this minute to go buy that damn flute and then come home and whistle on it all day like Im a GIF of Lauren Bacall. Tom Schwartz really got down on that flute, putting it up to his lips and squatting close to the ground while playing a little ditty. Tom Sandoval looked on and walked over to Schwartz in the group and said, Ive seen you take a lot more than that! Schwartz handed his flute over to Sandoval and said, This isnt the first time this trip Ive given you my dick. Sandoval looked around to make sure that Katie and Ariana were up ahead. When he saw the coast was clear, he slipped his hand in Schwartzs back pocket. Just wait until tonight, Sandoval whispered. Were gonna lube this bad boy up and see if you can make it whistle with something other than your lips. He handed the flute back to Schwartz, who started to pull it away, but Sandoval kept a firm grasp on it, feeling every inch and crevice of Schwartzs dick, the little nicks, the veins, the smooth ridge before the bulbous head, before finally giving them both the satisfaction of releasing it into the steamy Mexico night. The coordinated expulsion of over 100 suspected Russian intelligence officers -- from countries across the European Union, NATO and beyond -- in response to the attempted assassination of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4, is a remarkable diplomatic coup for Britain. It represents not only the largest American expulsion in more than 30 years, but also the largest collective expulsion in intelligence history. While the UK might have expected its closest allies to follow its lead, it could not have imagined that non-NATO members, like Norway, non-EU members, like Albania, and countries with strong ties to Russia, such as Hungary, would also take part. Given President Donald Trump's refusal to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, America's mass expulsion also comes as a pleasant surprise. The UK's success in building this broad coalition is down to a number of factors. One is the nature of the provocation, which, as the European Union pointed out in its statement, represents the first use of chemical weapons on European soil since the Second World War. Russia's own role in enabling and then concealing its Syrian ally's own deployment of chemical weapons over the past several years, thus breaking down the norm against their use, will have been high in the minds of Western leaders. The strong response is also a testament to the work of British investigators, who have been able to present compelling evidence to persuade even their most skeptical partners. And while the UK has invited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the case, bolstering its credibility, Russia has responded with an astonishing array of blanket denials, conspiracy theories and attempts to blame countries as diverse as Sweden and the Czech Republic. But the UK also got lucky. It was able to marshal this response not just because of the horror of chemical weapons or its investigating prowess, but also because Russia has tested the West's patience to breaking point. Germany, announcing its expulsion, cited not only the Skripal attack, but also what it said was a Russian intrusion into the German government's secure data network. Australia cited a "pattern of recklessness and aggression," including the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine and interference in Western elections. Estonia, which expelled Russia's defense attach-, noted in the annual report of its intelligence service last year that the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden, among others, had noticed an "increased intensity of Russian intelligence operations." Skripal, then, was the straw that broke the camel's back. Despite four years of European sanctions -- imposed after the illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine in 2014 -- Russia's aggressive behavior has driven the country further into isolation, right across the West. Unwinding this state of affairs -- lifting sanctions, rejoining the G7 and rebuilding ties with Europe -- will take years. Russia's isolation is extraordinary, but it is not absolute. While the extent of support for the UK was unprecedented, the holdouts are also notable. Portugal, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia and Luxembourg have all refused to expel diplomats. This will raise some concerns over Russia's ability to split the European Union by peeling away individual states. Austria's far-right Freedom Party, which controls the interior and defense ministries, has formal ties to Putin's United Russia party. Bulgaria, where Russian investment makes up a fifth of gross domestic product, is due to host Putin later this year. Cyprus is a hub of Russian money laundering, and three years ago signed a deal to allow the Russian Navy use of its ports. As the EU considers how to defend itself against Russian hybrid warfare, it will have to think carefully about how to handle these dissenting members, who represent chinks in the bloc's armor. Finally, will this make a difference? The purpose of expulsions is twofold: One is to send a message of deterrence, demonstrating that flagrant attacks will not go unpunished and that the Russian state will pay a price. The second, no less important, is to make it tangibly harder for Russia to use its intelligence services to penetrate, subvert and intimidate Western nations. This is not just about curbing old-fashioned espionage, but a broader challenge. As one former senior British intelligence official has pointed out writing anonymously for the Royal United Services Institute, where I am a fellow, spies working out of embassies can provide support for operations such as assassinations, as evidenced by Qatar's arrest of a Russian GRU (military intelligence) officer in 2004 after a car bomb attack on a Chechen separatist. Moreover, coordinated expulsions -- rather than those from one country alone -- are especially valuable, because intelligence agencies often operate on a third-country basis. A Russian spy will find it easier to target and recruit a British national in Cyprus or Malta, where local security services are weaker and more indulgent of Russian activity, than in London. But with more than 20 countries taking part in expulsions, Russian capabilities have been hit across the board, making it harder for Moscow to compensate for losses in any one capital. It will also be hard for Russia to replenish its rezindentury -- intelligence stations -- because Western partners are likely to share information on suspected Russian intelligence officers more widely than before. This is the worst week for Russia's intelligence service in decades, and marks the further collapse of Moscow's relationship with the West. The question is whether this blow nudges Russia into a more cautious approach to its adversaries, or whether a re-elected, isolated Putin now lashes out with even less restraint. No charges will be filed against two Baton Rouge police officers in the 2016 shooting death of Alton Sterling, after an investigation determined that the shooting was justified, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said Tuesday. Police shootings: Trials, convictions are rare for officers "We have concluded that the officers in question acted as reasonable officers under existing law and were justified in their use of force," Landry's written report on the investigation reads. But his decision is not the last chapter of the case, as the police department plans to hold hearings on whether to discipline the officers, and says it intends to release four videos that have yet to be made public. Landry's announcement in Baton Rouge -- coming 10 months after federal prosecutors determined they wouldn't file civil rights charges against the officers -- was made moments after he told Sterling's relatives of the decision. Members of Sterling's family were visibly upset. Sterling's aunt Veda Washington wiped tears as she left his office. "They're not going to bring charges on anybody. Why would they do that? This is white America," Washington said. Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed by one of two white police officers who confronted him outside a convenience store in July 2016. Cell phone video showed Sterling pinned to the ground by the officers before he was shot; police said Sterling was shot because he was reaching for a gun. Outrage over Sterling's death led to renewed Black Lives Matter protests across the nation. Landry said his conclusion drew on the federal investigation -- including two use-of-force experts who told the Justice Department that the shooting was reasonable -- as well as his department's own interviews of eyewitnesses. The officers, he said, tried to make a lawful arrest, tried Tasering and other nonlethal techniques to subdue Sterling when he didn't comply with commands, and made "well-founded and reasonable" attempts to control Sterling's hands until the moment one officer claims he saw Sterling try to reach a gun. Beneath the Skin: A CNN investigation Attorneys for Sterling's family slammed what they called a biased decision -- and urged the public to hold Landry accountable by voting him out of office. "It takes courage ... to fight for justice; we didn't see that in this situation," family attorney Chris Stewart said. "But that's fine, because ... we know what the repercussion is: Getting you out of office." More videos, and a decision on the officers' future, are coming Repercussions still could come for Officers Blane Salamoni, who shot Sterling, and Officer Howie Lake II. Sterling's five children filed a wrongful death lawsuit last summer. And the Baton Rouge Police Department will hold disciplinary hearings by Friday to determine whether the officers' behavior was in line with department policy, Chief Murphy Paul said. After the hearings, Paul said, police will release four additional videos: two body camera recordings; one from a store surveillance camera; and one from the dashboard camera in a patrol car. The woman who raised Sterling, Sandra Sterling, predicted that the videos will spark more public outrage. "When you see those other ... videos of Blane Salamoni killing Alton Sterling, you'll cry again," Sandra Sterling said. "And when you cry again, you'll be telling the Sterling family, 'I'm sorry.'" Sterling was shot on the ground Sterling was known as the "CD man," who sold CDs and DVDs outside the convenience store where he was shot, according to local media. The killing gripped the nation in part because two publicly released bystander videos, each less than a minute long, captured Sterling's part of the struggle with the two officers. The officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun. The call was from a homeless man who said that after he approached Sterling for money, Sterling showed him the weapon. According to the state report released Tuesday, Sterling refused to heed the officers' commands to put his hands on the hood of a car, and each officer reached for and tried to control Sterling's arms. When Sterling spun around and pulled his right arm away from Salamoni, Salamoni drew his gun and said, "Don't f****** move, or I'll shoot you in your f****** head," the report says. The Justice Department last spring said that Salamoni at this point put a gun to Sterling's head. Sterling then complied, but eventually resisted Lake's attempts to gain control of his hands, Landry's report reads. Lake twice used a Taser on Sterling, with little to no effect. Salamoni eventually holstered his gun, tackled Sterling to the ground and tried to control Sterling's right arm, and Lake knelt and tried to control Sterling's left arm, the state report says. "If you move, I swear to God," Salamoni tells Sterling, according to the report. At one point, the cell phone videos show, someone shouts, "He's got a gun!" In one video, an officer draws something from his waistband and points it at Sterling. Landry wrote at this moment Sterling was positioned in way that concealed his right front pocket. The officers continue to try to control his hands. "He's going for the gun," Salamoni yells, according to the state report. The state report says Salamoni first shot Sterling three times in the chest, and then rolled off him. Sterling sits up. As Lake yelled at Sterling to get on the ground, Sterling rolled away from Salamoni, who fired three more shots, this time into Sterling's back. Sterling's hands and right side are concealed from Salamoni's view, Landry said. Lake removed a loaded .38-caliber handgun from Sterling's right front pocket, the report says. Attorney general: Drugs may have contributed In May 2017, federal prosecutors found there wasn't enough evidence to warrant civil rights charges against Salamoni and Lake. The feds cited use-of-force experts who determined the officers' actions were reasonable under the circumstances -- including that the two used several less-than-lethal techniques before using force, and that Sterling struggled with the officers and failed to follow orders. The Justice Department also said that evidence couldn't prove or disprove Salamoni's assertion that Sterling was reaching for a gun. Study: Black men nearly three times as likely to die from police use of force Landry said that Sterling had illicit drugs in his system. "Considering this, it is reasonable that Mr. Sterling was under the influence, and that contributed to his noncompliance," Landry said. Stewart, the Sterling family attorney, said that every action was "initiated by the officers." He also said Salamoni's threat to shoot Sterling in the head was illegal. "That is not the behavior that any officer should have," Stewart said. "In our opinion, that is criminal." A whistleblower who worked at a Woolworths-owned pub has described how staff meetings were held to discuss how to encourage a grieving woman nicknamed Queen Bee by management to put her inheritance into poker machines after the loss of her parents. The woman had previously worked in a professional job, but began to gamble heavily while on workers compensation after the death of her parents, the staff members said. The allegation is one of several made by two staff members who worked at different pubs owned by Woolworths pub subsidiary, ALH. We basically had a staff meeting straight out saying When she comes in, day or night or whatever, just treat her like Queen Bee. Like she will get this, that, free drinks, free food. They kept her there. If the music was not to her liking, in the gaming room, bang bang bang. We would go there and change the music back to hers, one of the woman told a staff member of the anti-pokies campaigner and MP Andrew Wilkie in video-recorded interviews. Anything she said, complained about, or wanted, she got. It was always to her liking, always. And even if she was wrong, she was right. Beyond business, states governments are also looking to take greater control of their emission levels. Dr Schott said as emissions targets rise in individual states, so will their reliability needs which will require more investment in electricity generation that is dispatchable, or can be ready to go with the push of a button. She also dismissed reports of states' butting heads with the federal government over the splitting of emission targets, which could potentially force some states to bear a greater proportion of the NEM-wide target than others. Currently some states, such as Victoria and the ACT, have a higher emissions reduction target than others. "Well, actually all the states are doing a fair amount of lifting in this area and I dont get a sense at the Council of Australian Governments that theres any anxiety about someone doing more than somebody else," Dr Schott said. She dismissed suggestions the federal government could institute a single NEM-based target replacing individual states commitments. Reliability Dr Schott said the key aspect of the National Energy Guarantee was keeping the lights on. "We can introduce this in a suck it and see it sort of way, as not all the jurisdictions are going to be caught by the same reliability obligations for their retailers and others wont be as caught by their emissions obligations either," Dr Schott told Fairfax Media. "So we can introduce this in a gradual way, have trials and see how it goes and if it doesnt go too well, we can tweak it on the way." Federal Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said the NEG is about aiding this ongoing transition. "The National Energy Guarantee will deliver a more affordable and reliable energy system as we transition to a lower emissions future. Under the guarantee, households would be $300 a year better off when compared to Labors plan," Mr Frydenberg told Fairfax Media. The NEG aims to address the issue of keeping the lights on while rolling back power prices. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Not all states will have reliability issues, with Dr Schott pointing to Queensland and Tasmania as two regions bucking the instability trend due to the abundance of gas power in Queensland and hydro in Tasmania. "So if youre a retailer in that space you dont really have to worry about it, but if youre a retailer in South Australia, or perhaps later in Victoria or New South Wales, you might need to," she said. Dr Schott said one of the biggest barriers to ensuring the NEG has flexibility is knowing what it wants to achieve. "The biggest hurdle is always specifying clearly what the problem is, if you ask the right question thats the first step to finding it out." "It sounds a bit silly but if someone says, Were really worried about supply, does that mean capacity generally or just this sort of fast response capacity? "The main question that weve been making sure that were very clear that were addressing has been around reliability issues and what do we mean, and this often strays into security which is about keeping the system stable ... we do have a problem with that, but we have to fix reliability and make sure that the mechanisms for security are meshing in and emissions sit with the reliability." Loading The energy guarantee is already seeing its first trial as a potential mechanism to encourage investment in new energy generation, even ahead of it being implemented. The Australian Energy Market Operator warned that if AGL does not follow through on its plan to replace the energy lost when it closes the Liddell coal-fired power plant, then there is the potential for mass blackouts in NSW. However, AEMO believes that the NEG if it passes can act to provide an impetus for others in the market to build their own generation, without the need to rely on AGL. AGL Energy is proceeding with plans to replace its Liddell power station with other energy sources including pumped hydro, dismissing a report that a Chinese textile group offered to buy the ailing power plant. The nation's biggest energy company said it had not had any approach from Shandong Ruyi, the owner of the giant Cubbie Station cotton farm. A News Corp newspaper reported the Chinese firm had contacted the Prime Minister's office in December, indicating an interest in buying the Hunter Valley power plant that AGL plans to close in 2022. AGL Energy's Liddell power plant, with Lake Liddell in the foreground, and the company's Bayswater power plant behind. Credit:Simone De Peak "We remain committed to our NSW Generation Plan as the most economic way to fully replace the Liddell plant, as reviewed and confirmed by [the Australian Energy Market Operator]," an AGL spokesman said. The next question is which fund? They are much of a muchness at the big end. Whatever multi-billion dollar fund you are already in will probably do, as long as it is big and has good website functionality. The big funds are all vehicles to access the same average returns from all the markets (a balanced fund) or equities alone (an equities fund). Thats the major difference between funds. Any major super fund will be balanced and is absolutely fine. Whether it is an industry fund or not, your results will be very similar. While some industry funds look good because they are not for profit, they still take off their costs, which means you are still paying for their office rent, staff, water coolers and BMWs. Thanks to technology, most major super funds and industry funds now offer you the ability to do some mild stock market timing through the back end of their website. This is about as much market timing as any of you need. Clicking between the cash or aggressive option and occasionally back to cash on your funds website is all you need to do. If youre lucky you will only have to press cash once a decade, but you should (1) know the website where your superannuation fund account is available (2) know your password to log in (3) know how to navigate to the page that allows you to click on one of the traditional asset allocations: cash, conservative, balanced or aggressive. Id simply switch between cash and aggressive because the ones in the middle are just a mix of the two and are more there for compliance and marketing purposes. The downside of leaving your super in one of the major funds is that there is very little in the way of active management going on. In fact, laughably, they are now leaving the asset allocation, the management of which used to be the main value-add of a very large superannuation fund manager, up to you! In the end the average super fund investor will be invested in thousands of equities and all the asset classes, and that dooms you to a very boring annual return that will be below the equity market in a good year and above it in a bad year. It will not grow rapidly, and it will not transform you financially. It will simply park the money somewhere you cant touch it and where it will be at the whim of the financial market averages. That is a good thing most of the time because it means you arent gambling with it, losing it, or wasting any time managing it. Only occasionally will it be a bad idea. When a market crash comes along, or a global financial crisis, or any of those other so-called once-in-a-lifetime events that actually happen every 10 years. Thats when you need to open that website and hit cash. 6. When to hit "cash There is no scientific way to call the market. I would simply go by your guts. If you start getting worried about whatever is going on in the world or the markets, getting disturbed about headlines like market has biggest drop in two years, press cash in the back end of your superannuation funds website. Its no big deal. You can always press buy again the next day. The main game is to try and avoid a seismic time-wasting market drop. They happen every decade or so and in 1987 it took 10 years to get back to the same level, and we are now 10 years after the GFC at the moment and have yet to recover the peak of 2007. Sometimes you simply have to sell the market or lose 10 years. So keep a weather eye on the headlines and read a bit more if they are talking about trouble in stock market. If youre lucky you may only need to make a decision once a decade. Marcus Padley is the author of the daily stock market newsletter Marcus Today. marcustoday.com.au The vexed question of who can access social media and other digital accounts after a person's death will be the subject of a comprehensive review in NSW, as Attorney-General Mark Speakman flags an overhaul of a broad sweep of laws including wills and estates and privacy law. Social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, along with a range of other digital accounts, are likely to outlive their owners but laws governing access to the accounts after death or incapacitation are unworkably complex. In an Australian first, the NSW government has commissioned a review of laws governing access to social media and digital accounts after death or incapacitation. Credit:Michael Mucci In an Australian first, Mr Speakman has asked the NSW Law Reform Commission to review existing laws, including a comparison with developments in the US and Canada, and make recommendations for reform. Mr Speakman said "an unprecedented amount of work and socialising" now occurred online but "few of us consider what happens to our digital assets once were gone or are no longer able to make decisions". He says the company does its due diligence. We have given ourselves a bit of a buffer. We've taken into consideration the volatility of the market and how frequent the actual exchange goes up and down," he says. We are very selective also with the clients that we offer this to. We do have a limit as to how much we can actually accept in cryptocurrency and that way it mitigates the risk of losing too much money. He says Impress!ve has also made educated decisions around which cryptocurrency coins it accepts. Tadros says there's a huge community in the cryptocurrency world. I feel that this would open up a lot of doors to us. A lot of businesses, especially in the SME sector, cant or don't have available funds for marketing services. So what it allows them to do is still get the marketing services utilising another form of payment. Which in turn obviously increases their leads, their revenue, and their sales. Caleb Yeoh is the founder of TravelbyBit. Travel agency embraces crypto Brisbane-based start-up TravelbyBit has its hands full with cryptocurrency deals. You can book your holidays overseas through us and pay by cryptocurrency. We attract international visitors to Australia who want to pay in cryptocurrency. And we direct them to businesses and hotels and travel providers who take payment in cryptocurrency, co-founder Caleb Yeoh says. On top of that, we are also a payment provider. Businesses who want to take payment in cryptocurrency come to find us. We provide a payment gateway that allows users to pay in cryptocurrency and then we give the businesses the option to keep the cryptocurrency or change to Australian dollars. Yeoh estimates that over $3 million worth of cryptocurrency payments are made each week in Australia. TravelbyBit charges a set-up fee for its payment service. Its $100 onwards, depending on the size of the business. Yeoh says the company started in September, but our turnover is about $70,000 already. We are going through a fundraising round to scale up our operations. Of that amount, he says, 70 per cent has been in cryptocurrencies. He says the companys system is facilitated by blockchain-enabled payments. We currently take payments in bitcoin, dash, ethereum and litecoin, and we are looking at integrating with XEM payments, which is enabled by the NEM blockchain. XEM is fast and can go up to 4000 transactions per second. Thats why we are looking to integrate with them. TravelbyBit has more than 70 active merchants. We have 40 in the pipeline. We have an average of three merchants requesting to sign up every day to join our network. Yeohs agency recently partnered with Brisbane Airport to make it the worlds first digital currency airport. Most retail shops at the airport will soon be able to take payment in cryptocurrency. International travellers could come and pay with bitcoin, dash, litecoin or ethereum without the hassle of exchange rates. You can buy your duty-free goods, have a beer or a coffee and pay in cryptocurrency. Steve Agi is the founder of #burgerlove. For the love of burger Crypto is just another form of payment for #burgerlove, a Melbourne fast food chain that hopes to expand to the rest of the country. We spoke to the Blockchain Centre in Melbourne which runs the NEM system and they helped us to create a platform that would allow customers to make everyday purchases using cryptocurrency, says Steve Agi, the founder of #burgerlove. It's no different to paying by eftpos or by cash. XEM, which is part of the NEM platform, is its major currency. But we also accept bitcoin, litecoin, dash, nano. #burgerlove even has a dedicated crypto menu, Agi says. We have the NEMBurger, the Bitcoin Burger, they are named specifically for the crypto audience. They can also buy any burger off the menu with crypto. For a business like his, currency fluctuations are not a huge risk, Agi says. At the moment, it's not very big because we only get a very small percentage of customers buying burgers with crypto. If crypto were to be say 50 per cent of our business, it would become a very risky venture if we didn't have safeties in place to ensure that we were able to work through the fluctuations. Agi says there are a lot of benefits to using crypto. I think the main one is that the fees are a lot lower or non-existent really compared to banking fees. Last financial year, #burgerlove had three stores and turnover is about $5 million. Agi says the company started accepting cryptos in late 2017. Currently approximately 1 per cent to 2 per cent of sales are in cryptocurrency. H&R Block's Mark Chapman. What are the tax implications for SMEs? Mark Chapman, director of tax communications, H&R Block says: If the client receives cryptocurrencies for goods or services provided as part of a business, they will need to record the value of the cryptocurrency in Australian dollars as part of ordinary income. Where the client carries on a business and purchases business items (including trading stock) using cryptocurrency, the client is entitled to a deduction based on the arms length value of the item acquired. Chapman says there may also be capital gains tax consequences where a client disposes of cryptocurrency as part of carrying on a business. For any business that is taking cryptocurrencies as a method of either getting cash in for sales or using it to pay for purchases, the tax obligations are essentially the same as with any other business, he says. Essentially, all the basic obligations any small business has will also apply to a business that accepts cryptocurrencies or deals with cryptocurrencies either in its sales or its purchases or both, he says. Chapman says small businesses going down this road need to be vigilant about record-keeping. But back to that business of it being "free". It seems that we've forgotten that nothing in life is actually, in fact, free. We plaster our baby pics and preferences all over Facebook, and joyously slurp up those of our "friends". It's hardly a surprise that Facebook wants something in return. And if that something is the fascinating, multifaceted sets of information gleanable from the stuff we (in bulk) post, then it's hardly so shocking if that stuff gets used in ways we might not have foreseen. And for those who have got themselves all worked up by this, remember: you don't have to be on Facebook at all. In truth, I can't help but think that the real problem here is less to do with the tech industry's seemingly callous regard for privacy, and more to do with the psychology (read: outsize egos) of some of its players. Just look around: these guys - certainly the ones involved in scandals like this - are brainy, arrogant men many of whom, armed with physics degrees, see themselves as the new masters of the universe. My experience recently encountering some of them on dating apps confirms this. Just the words "works at Google" on a Tinder profile, for instance, signals that your date - short, unappealing, uncharming though he may be - will assume he's God's gift to women. No wonder that, with their six- or seven-figure salaries, free in-house massage therapists, Pilates classes and sushi bars on tap, these men really do begin to think they're idols, not the slightly smelly, mannerless geeks many of them actually are. So I'm just about OK with Facebook taking my data and doing interesting things with it, and I still believe that the biggest and best tech firms have good things to offer the world. But as my experience suggests, the industry's main problem is not data sets, it's the fanning of outsized egos. Loading On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission announced it was investigating Facebook for its privacy practices. Throughout the mounting crisis, Zuckerberg's response has been a study in contradictions. He crisscrossed the country, even as his company back home came under increasing fire. He preaches transparency, but flinches at questioning and craves privacy. He is undeniably brilliant, but stubborn in his reluctance to acknowledge the extent of Facebook's problems. Even his critics say he is uniquely capable of righting the ship. But at 33, is he prepared to do all it will take? "If he fails to do it, it may take a while but eventually people are going to rebel," said Roger McNamee, an early Facebook investor and adviser who has become one of the company's most pointed critics. "I thought Facebook was a force for good in the world for a really long time," McNamee said. "I think it's really hard to make that case today." A history of self correcting Days after Trump's election, Zuckerberg was pressed on the possibility that foreign agents had used his social network to divide voters. "The idea that fake news on Facebook ... influenced the election in any way, I think, is a pretty crazy idea," the CEO told the audience at a California technology conference. "I think all of us were shocked to learn how wrong he was," said David Kirkpatrick, the author of a 2010 book about Facebook who questioned Zuckerberg that day. "You can certainly say that he was culpable, in that he was naive and inattentive to what was happening in his system. But I don't think he was lying." Loading Zuckerberg walked back the remark soon after, continuing a years-long routine of self-correction. But errors that reflect his stubbornness, those who know him say, are tempered by an eagerness to learn from mistakes and a deep sense of reflection. Donald Graham, the former chairman of the Washington Post, recalled that when he met Zuckerberg in 2005, outsiders still weren't sure what to make of Facebook. "I would ask him a question and he would pause long enough - 15 seconds, 20 seconds - that I would think 'Did I insult him? Did he not hear me?"' said Graham, who went on to serve on the company's board from 2008 to 2015. "Since I am from Washington, I'm not used to people thinking before they are answering a question. ... But Mark, then as now, was thinking about the right answer." Zuckerberg's boyish appearance, even today, is a reminder of just how young he was when he created what would become the world's biggest social network, back in his dorm room at Harvard. "I didn't know anything about building a company or global internet service," he wrote in January. "Over the years I've made almost every mistake you can imagine." Naomi Gleit, Facebook's longest-serving employee after the CEO, said Zuckerberg - who declined an interview request from The Associated Press - has been talking about making the world a better place since he was 21. But his view of that world and his place in it "seemed almost like a gravity, a burden of responsibility," she said. That seriousness coincides with a sense of certainty. Gleit recalled Zuckerberg's steadfast attachment to a Facebook message service similar to email, even as more people began using phones to send text messages. But co-workers eventually swayed the CEO, who she described as a "learn-it-all." That change-of-mind informed Facebook's 2014 purchase of the WhatsApp messaging service for $US19 billion ($24.5 billion). "I think he would even say now that he was initially wrong," Gleit said. With Zuckerberg, "its experiment, learn, experiment, learn," said LinkedIn co- founder Reid Hoffman, who has known him since 2004. Hoffman said that is evident in Zuckerberg's enthusiasm for software, which can be overwritten to fix problems. That facility, he said, makes Zuckerberg the equal of executives with far more experience. But in the process of learning, Zuckerberg's inexperience has sometimes played out in public view. A very public life In 2010, Zuckerberg announced on Oprah Winfrey's television show that he would donate $US100 million to schools in Newark, New Jersey. Critics labeled it an attempt to polish his image, just as the biopic "The Social Network" was being released. Still, there was little questioning his generosity. The problem was that Zuckerberg - who knew little about education - made the gift with few specifics outlining how it should be spent. Loading "He was just a very young, naive, inexperienced guy who was brilliant at technology and computers and the internet, but just really didn't know much about how the world worked," said Dale Russakoff, author of "The Prize," a book chronicling how the money went to high-priced consultants, with minimal effort by leaders to build community support. By the end of the process, Zuckerberg had developed a clearer understanding of how to get things done. He and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, have since chartered their own foundation and structured it to take on mammoth goals, like a $US3 billion investment to cure, prevent or manage all diseases. He has pledged to donate 99 percent of his Facebook stock to philanthropy. "Zuck's maturation has occurred in front of the public," said Kirkpatrick, author of "The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company that Is Connecting the World." "But he also still lives with the consequences of the decisions he made when he was less mature." At Facebook, Zuckerberg has grown increasingly bold in using huge sums of money to pursue corporate goals, which includes purchasing competitors - or companies that could grow into competitors. Facebook's $US1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 - then unprofitable and little-known - came as a shock to Wall Street. Two years later came the multibillion-dollar deal to buy WhatsApp, a company that remains unprofitable but has given Facebook a prime portal into developing countries and other regions outside the US In 2014, soon after Facebook bought a virtual reality firm called Oculus, Zuckerberg found himself being grilled in a lawsuit brought by a competitor who accused an Oculus executive of stealing trade secrets. Under questioning, he talked about the pressure he exerted to make the Oculus deal happen, and his vision of growing it so fast "that we can get every developer and studio in the world building just for Oculus before any big competitor exists." Last year, in a bid to free up his fortune for philanthropy, Zuckerberg pushed board members to restructure Facebook's stock, allowing him to sell off part of his stake while maintaining control. That prompted a suit by a group of shareholders who argued that the move would benefit only Zuckerberg while diluting the value of other investors' stakes. Days before Zuckerberg was scheduled to testify as part of the suit, the company dropped the plan. The gambit hints at the complexity of being Zuckerberg, who advocates for transparency and the interests of the community but whose individual interests don't always align. The paradox is self-inflicted, the trade-off for creating a venture premised on users' willingness to share details of their lives. That requires Zuckerberg, who has 105 million Facebook "friends," to reveal far more about himself than would be expected of any other CEO, whether its photos of him and Chan baking sweets for the Jewish holiday of Purim or dressing their daughters for the Chinese New Year. Yet he fiercely guards his privacy. When calls went out last year for Zuckerberg to testify before a Senate committee, the company sent its lawyer. And when he and Chan bought 700 acres on the Hawaiian island of Kauai last year, they quietly filed lawsuits against hundreds of Hawaiians - withdrawn after protests - that would have cut off locals' access to the land by negating their interest in small ancestral tracts within the estate's boundaries. "Intellectually, he believes in transparency," Kirkpatrick said. "But emotionally, it's very difficult for him." The Zuckerberg image Facebook works hard to present Zuckerberg as someone deeply interested in the ordinary people whose lives are at the heart of its business. Stops on last year's US tour, never announced, were set up by facilitators who revealed details to only a select few. But many of the visits were covered by the media and documented in professional-quality photos on Zuckerberg's Facebook page soon after he'd departed. Ostensibly, the idea was for Zuckerberg to learn. But in their brief interactions, many people were just as interested in finding a way to connect with him. In Hazard, Kentucky, educator Paul Green became custodian of the small town's biggest secret. A staffer from Zuckerberg's foundation, peppering Green with questions about the region's educational cooperative, finally admitted it was because the CEO himself wanted to visit. Green's reward for keeping it quiet was seeing the wide-eyed grins when Zuckerberg pulled up and greeted local high schoolers studying robotics and programming. Walking through science demonstrations, Zuckerberg spent more time trading tech tales with the teenagers than quizzing the teachers. "He just lit up with those kids," Green said. "The way he talked with them about some of the things he did when he was in school and his passion for technology, it really was cool." When Zuckerberg toured an oil rig near Williston, North Dakota, last July, "from the minute he got out of the car to the minute he got back in the car, he was nothing but questions," said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, which arranged the visit. "I had Bakken shale, limestone, dolomite, and he was able to hold them in his hand, along with a bottle of crude oil. And I remember him asking, 'How do you get that oil out of that rock?"' geologist Kathleen Neset said. In Dayton, Ohio, Zuckerberg met with officials, caregivers and families battling drug addiction. Lori Erion, the founder of the group Families of Addicts, said she told him what it was like to learn her daughter, April, had shot up heroin in their own home. "It seemed to get him really emotional," Erion said, recalling how Zuckerberg stood up suddenly and told the group he needed a few minutes to steady himself. When he returned, he asked what makes an addict stay clean and how families got their loved ones into treatment. "We didn't ever talk about Facebook at all," Erion said, "which is really interesting because Facebook is really the main way of us getting information out. He really was just like a regular person." Controversies piling up As Zuckerberg connected with Americans face-to-face, controversy over Facebook continued to spiral. Shortly before the election, McNamee sent a letter to Zuckerberg and Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, warning that Facebook was being manipulated in ways its creators never intended. It wasn't just about the US election: A consulting firm had collected data on people interested in the Black Lives Matter movement and sold it to police departments, and critics had detected a well-organized, clandestine campaign supporting Brexit. All this pointed to a deep problem with Facebook - that it was simply not equipped or not willing to prevent the misuse of its platform. McNamee said he has been disappointed in the incremental changes announced since. Facebook has adopted this "libertarian philosophy that says 'we are not responsible for anything downstream, we are allowed to disrupt media, we are allowed to addict our users and we are not responsible for any of the consequences of any of that,"' he said. Zuckerberg could change that. But McNamee said it is not enough to hire thousands of workers to weed through fake and abusive posts if those posts keep getting through. And tweaking Facebook's newsfeed so users see more posts from families and friends does not address his certainty that the algorithms underlying Facebook make it dangerously addictive. "You cannot cure addiction by doing more of the thing that got you addicted in the first place, which is what Zuck recommends," McNamee wrote in an email. Critics say Facebook continues to ignore the possibility of the social network being used for dark purposes, but Zuckerberg's supporters counter that he is unfairly blamed for problems he could not have foreseen. Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder, credits Zuckerberg with leading Facebook through a shift in mindset, making changes that will nudge users into a more positive virtual environment - without completely shutting out inflammatory content. "Facebook basically is saying we enable people based on the way they behave. That's a very democratic argument. If people want to live in filter bubbles, who are we to say 'Don't live in filter bubbles,' even though we don't want them to?" Hoffman said. But Kirkpatrick argued that Zuckerberg's and Sandberg's surety that Facebook has a positive impact on society has blinded them to parallel realities. The company can't be fixed, Kirkpatrick said, until Zuckerberg comes to terms with existential threats to the way the social network does business - its potential to negatively affect democracy and the way it hooks in users. "There's no question in my mind that Mark Zuckerberg is an ethical and responsible human being who wants to do the right thing," he said. "However, I do not think he has yet grasped the gravity with which his service is being perceived to be a socially harmful force all around the world. And I also don't think he realizes the extent to which that really is true." McNamee, recalling Zuckerberg as a 22-year-old visionary, said the CEO must be willing to rethink long-held assumptions. But that does not mean he has to abandon building his global community. A $250 million plan by Melbourne City Council to redevelop the Queen Victoria Market is in disarray, after the states heritage authority rejected a key element of the proposal. The council has spent more than $15 million planning its revamp. Credit:Eddie Jim The council wants to temporarily remove the markets 140-year-old sheds and, while they are being restored, dig three levels of underground parking and service areas for traders. Heritage Victoria told the council on Tuesday it could not proceed with this plan. The decision comes despite the council having spent more than $15 million planning the revamp of the Melbourne landmark, which attracts 10 million visitors annually. Naturalist David Attenborough has used his TV series Blue Planet II, now showing in Australia, to feature the role West Australian tiger sharks play in the fight against climate change. It has been 16 years since Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet and now the sequel, filmed over four years in 39 countries using cutting-edge technology in some cases being tested on the spot was hailed Britain's top-rating show in 2017. Producers, along with local crew members, spent weeks filming in Shark Bay, WA, for the Green Seas episode that alone took 664 hours of diving. The episode now aired and still available online reveals a hidden side of WA, a vast prairie of seagrass where tiger sharks and green turtles play a ceaseless game of cat-and-mouse. The mayor of Kalgoorlie Boulder has urged the community to respectfully move on following the release of the man charged with the death of teenager Elijah Doughty. The 56-year-old father-of-six, who remains unnamed due to a suppression order, was originally sentenced to a three-year term of imprisonment for one count of dangerous driving in July last year. Elijah Doughty died after being hit by a ute. Credit:Facebook/@Elijah Doughty He was convicted over the death of 14-year-old Elijah Doughty, who was killed after he was run over by the man while he was driving on a bush track in Boulder, reportedly because of a stolen motorcycle. Elijah's grieving family and the local community were initially outraged the man was charged with manslaughter and not murder, and his death sparked explosive riot scenes in the main street of Kalgoorlie as racial tensions erupted between members of the Aboriginal community and local police. Russia is always a tricky issue for the EU, given its critical role as an energy supplier to the Continent, as well as the divided opinion among leaders on how confrontational, or not, the bloc should be with Putin. Investigators in protective suits work near the scene of the poisoning in Salisbury, England. Credit:AP But the March 4 poisoning in Salisbury, England, of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia crossed a line. British authorities say they were exposed to the nerve agent Novichok, marking the first use of a chemical agent on European soil since before World War II. The brazen nature of the act was too much for European officials to ignore. "This is an intelligence operation carried out with intelligence capacity with weaponised, weapons-grade chemical agents," one senior European official said. "It has taken matters to an entirely different level." Alluding to Russia's earlier aggressions in Ukraine, the senior official added: "Russia keeps violating international law in Crimea and Ukraine and unwritten rules on non-intervention, and now there is the use of nerve agents in Britain." Loading In Britain, May had already expelled 23 Russian diplomats earlier this month, while members of her Cabinet spoke in increasingly strident tones against Putin. Her remarks last Thursday night seemed to stiffen the spines of other European leaders. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were prominent supporters of May's call for action, having planned tactics with Britain before the dinner. The French had provided the British with technical assistance on analysing the poisoning case and come to the same conclusion. And when the Franco-German couple agree, others tend to fall into line, even if grumpily. The decision was finalised Monday morning, as EU ambassadors met in Brussels to describe what each country was prepared to do. A statement was prepared for Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, at a meeting in Bulgaria, and the result was extraordinary 16 EU countries had agreed to expel one or more Russian diplomats, and others, like Ireland, were considering joining in. Europeans have gotten used to the fact that between one-third and one-half of all the Russians at Western embassies, the EU and NATO are working in intelligence, the official said. But Russia has now made that impossible to ignore. There was satisfaction in Brussels over the outcome, with even Hungary, which has warm relations with Putin, agreeing to expel a Russian diplomat. Greece and Cyprus, with close ties to Moscow, were unwilling to do so without a smoking gun, and some small countries, like Malta, did not want to lose all representation in Moscow and risk breaking relations entirely. Austria was disappointing to some, refusing to expel anyone now that the far-right Freedom Party controls the Interior Ministry. Bulgaria, which is currently holding the bloc's rotating presidency, begged off, citing the need for neutrality, though its ties to Moscow are clear. "We all back Britain's position," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said on Friday. "While there is high likelihood, but no evidence, we cannot decide on the matter." The Czech Republic, which expelled three Russians, was a particularly interesting case, because the messaging was divided, even as Russian media outlets had suggested that the nerve agent could have come through there. A man walks past the Russian embassy in Prague, Czech Republic. The country is expelling three staffers from the embassy. Credit:AP "If our ally is in a serious situation and asks for help, we should come forward," Acting Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday. "Russia has crossed all limits when it declared that the poisonous substance Novichok might have come from the Czech Republic," he added. "It is a complete lie and we strongly deny it." But the country's more pro-Russian President, Milos Zeman, opposed the expulsions. In a statement, he called on the country's intelligence services to examine if Novichok was ever made or stored in the country even though government officials have denied it. The Italian reaction troubled some, given the negotiations going on for a new government after the strong showing of populist parties in the recent election. Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League party, is an ally of Putin and criticised the expulsions. "To boycott Russia, renew the sanctions and expel its diplomats doesn't resolve problems, it aggravates them," he wrote on Monday after Italy announced it would expel two Russian diplomats. "Dialogue is better. I want a government that works for a future of peace, growth and security. Am I asking too much?" In Brussels, some officials said the coordinated expulsions proved that European solidarity can transcend even Britain's decision to leave the EU, known as Brexit, or the acrimonious negotiations over that decision. Others disagreed, yet Monday's expulsions were clearly a win for May. In her statement to the House of Commons on Monday, she said she had argued to European colleagues "that there should be a reappraisal of how our collective efforts can best tackle the challenge that Russia poses following President Putin's re-election." She singled out France and Germany, adding: "In my discussions with President Macron and Chancellor Merkel, as well as other leaders, we agreed on the importance of sending a strong European message in response to Russia's actions not just out of solidarity with the UK but recognising the threat posed to the national security of all EU countries." A National Workshop on the Harmonized System and Tariff management was held in Valparaiso, Chile, from 19 to 23 March 2018. The Workshop was organized jointly by the WCO and the Customs Administration of Chile and was facilitated by experts from both the WCO Secretariat and the Customs Administration of Spain. It was attended by 30 officials from all 14 regions of Chile and the Headquarters that work on tariff classification related areas, including chemists that work in the Customs laboratory of Chile. The Workshops main focus was to secure uniformity in the interpretation and application of the HS Nomenclature 2017 and on the improvement of the current classification work model. Furthermore, the Workshop offered an opportunity to discuss the WCO tools and instruments to assist users of the HS in order to modernize their tariff classification work and related infrastructure. Some possible amendments to the HS that should enter into force in 2022 and have already been approved by the Harmonized System Committee were presented and explained to the participants. The participants worked in groups and presented the results of the practical application of the Diagnostic Tool on Tariff Classification, Valuation and Origin Work and Related Infrastructure, including an action plan with proposals and solutions related to the modernization of classification work. There was also a guided visit to the Customs Laboratory, in Valparaiso. The Director General of Chile Customs, Mr. Claudio Sepulveda, highlighted the importance of HS classification as one of the pillars of Customs and recognized the need of imparting the necessary knowledge to the officials that work in this area. He thanked the WCO for working together with Chilean Customs in order to strengthen this important technical area. The Workshop provided an excellent opportunity for networking and exchange of views on a wide range of topics on tariff classification and management of tariff and statistical nomenclatures and was highly appreciated by those who attended it. More than 150 Customs delegates participated in the 37th Session of the WCO Enforcement Committee (EC) which took place in Brussels from 19 to 23 March 2018 under the theme Customs enforcement: securing trade and travel. This years theme for the Committee reflects the increasingly important role played by the international Customs community in addressing cross-border security challenges while safeguarding the interests of legitimate traders and travellers. It also fits in very well with the WCOs general theme for 2018, "A secure business environment for economic development", with many initiatives and related projects presented to the Committee throughout all the sessions contributing to creating such an environment. Other WCO partner organizations joined the discussions, including representatives from the CITES Secretariat, Europol, Frontex, the International Criminal Court, INTERPOL, the United Nations Counter Terrorism Committee, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Mr. John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), who was invited to deliver a keynote address during the opening session of the meeting, emphasized the importance of Customs role in tackling illicit wildlife trade and praised the strong partnership that the CITES Secretariat and the WCO had managed to build over the years. He also highlighted the fact that both Organizations were committed to balancing controls with facilitation, before noting the progress made to date and reflected particularly by the decline in levels of elephant poaching globally from 2012 to 2016 coupled with a rise in the number of ivory seizures made by Customs administrations worldwide. The Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, Mr. Ricardo Trevino Chapa, also took the floor. He thanked the Secretary-General of CITES for his leadership and partnership approach, which had been of great value in the fight against wildlife crime, before stressing the important role played by the EC in directing Customs enforcement activities towards effective mitigation of emerging risks. He underscored the need to continue fostering partnerships with other relevant government agencies at all levels, so as to ensure joint and effective responses. The Agenda of the meeting was divided into eight sessions covering topics addressed as part of the main WCO Enforcement Programmes, namely Drugs and Precursors; Environment; Intelligence and Risk Management; IPR, Health and Safety; Revenue; Security and Trafficking of Cultural Objects. During each session, an interactive panel discussion on a topic of pressing interest was held. For the topic on securing travel, for example, several experts took part in a panel on Airports in the 21st Century to discuss existing best practices and identify challenges faced. During another panel on Customs investigations, the various existing investigative processes were presented together with some of the key elements for conducting this activity, such as cooperation mechanisms and partnerships, efficient evidence collection, well-established legal frameworks and regulations and an intelligence-led approach. Turning to the elections for the EC Chair and Vice-Chair, many delegates supported the current duo comprising the Delegates of Australia and India, praising them for the efficient way in which the Committee was conducted and structured as well as for the quality of the deliberations. As a result, both the current Chair, Ms. Abigail Bradshaw from the Australian Border Force, and the current Vice-Chair, Mr. Debi Dash from the Central Board of Excise and Customs of India, were re-elected to their respective positions. It was announced that the 38th Session of the Enforcement Committee would take place in spring 2019. Under the auspices of the WCOs WACAM Project, funded by Sweden, a capacity building mission was held from 19 to 21 February 2018 at the headquarters of the Liberia Revenue Authority in Monrovia. This involved the WCO providing the Revenue Authority with tailored expertise to enable it to continue the process of modernizing its human resource management (HRM). With the support of the WACAM Project, the Liberia Revenue Authority has already been successful in developing all the tools needed for a competency-based approach (benchmarks for jobs, competency framework, competency dictionary and job descriptions for all posts) and has carried out a competency assessment on a pilot site. In the course of this mission, the Liberia Revenue Authority drew up the first draft of its human resource (HR) strategy for the coming years and was also able to review its training strategy. These strategic documents, in conjunction with all the competency-based approach tools, should enable the Liberia Revenue Authority to maximize the performance of its staff and thus contribute to achieving the organizations goals. For more information about this activity and about the WCOs WACAM Project, please contact WCO-Sweden Programme Director Richard Chopra (Richard.Chopra@wcoomd.org). A significant percentage of the worlds violence could be prevented by ending the War on Drugs. by Brian Saady This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article. While accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said: The manner in which this war against drugs is being waged is equally or perhaps even more harmful than all the wars the world is fighting today, combined. The death toll from the drug war is much less than the actual warfare throughout the world. However, his sentiment is quite appropriate because a significant percentage of the worlds violence could be prevented with a flick of a pen by ending the War on Drugs. Cartels and Violence Imagine if we could essentially eliminate the black market for drug trafficking in Chicago, which has the highest number of gang members and homicides. Its estimated that up to 80 percent of the citys murders are gang-related. And one of the main causes of this violence is connected to controlling turf for drug sales. Gang violence isnt as rampant throughout the U.S., but the National Gang Center estimated that 13 percent of the murders in the U.S. are gang-related. That falls in line with a similar report by Narco News that concluded that 1,100 drug war-related murders occur each year in the U.S. Keep in mind, that figure is fairly conservative due to the lack of full transparency with crime statistics. The cartels conduct warfare in a brazen manner that is essentially indistinguishable from terrorist groups. The U.S. represents the largest market in the world for illegal drugs. Currently, there is a well-documented opioid crisis but the U.S. also consumes more cocaine than all of Europeand by a wide margin. All told, the U.S. illegal drug black market represents a $100 billion annual industry. Although there is a serious black market violence problem in the U.S., it pales in comparison to the countries that are source and transshipment points of illegal drugs. For example, there were over 29,000 murders in Mexico last year with roughly 3350 percent being related to the drug war. Thats not factoring the 30,000 missing persons who are presumed to be dead. The cartels conduct warfare in a brazen manner that is essentially indistinguishable from terrorist groups. Their conduct is so brutal, they have been known to hang rival gang members from bridges or publicly put bounties on corrupt government officials. Narco money has enabled these organized crime groups to operate with impunity. The latest example of this corruption involves the leader of the Los Rojos cartel financing the campaigns of 11 mayoral candidates in exchange for political protection. Bear in mind, this isnt a matter of simple greed. If these officials dont take the bribes, theyll likely be killed. After all, over 100 mayors have been murdered in Mexico since 2006. All in all, narco money has corrupted every segment of the government necessary to protect their organizations. (My free e-book, Americas Drug War is Devastating Mexico, gives much more detail of organized crimes reign in Mexico.) As a matter of fact, Los Zetas have even corrupted the highest levels of government in neighboring countries. The Ex-Vice President and former Minister of Interior have each been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes of $250,000 and $1.5 million, respectively. The Los Zetas cartel is responsible for the worst massacre in Guatemala since the civil war. In 2011, cartel members beheaded 27 innocent farmworkers in search of a ranch owner who the cartel suspected of stealing a drug shipment. Its clear that the War on Drugs is one of the leading factors to the high violence. Due largely to the War on Drugs, the four countries immediately south of Mexico (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador) are listed within the top six highest murder rates in the world. Furthermore, nine out of the top ten are in Latin America or the Caribbean. Likewise, 43 of the 50 cities with the highest murder rates are in Latin America or the Caribbean. Four of the remaining cities are in the continental U.S., i.e. Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans, and St. Louis. Only three cities are not in this hemisphere (South Africa). Obviously, there are a variety of factors that contribute to violence, notably extreme poverty. One city on the list (San Juan, Puerto Rico) has had fairly low crime in recent years, but Hurricane Maria brought about much instability to the island. Otherwise, its clear that the War on Drugs is one of the leading factors to the high violence. Mexico had 12 cities in the top 50, which was the second highest number behind Brazil. Its important to note, Brazil isnt a major source of drug production. However, it has historically been the second largest consumer market for cocaine and it is the leading transshipment point of illegal drugs into Europe, Africa, and Asia. This is evident in the fact that 17 Brazilian cities are in the top 50 global homicide rates. Fourteen of those cities are located along the Atlantic Coast, which is prime real estate for drug trafficking. This violence isnt a result of a soft on crime approach; the Brazilian government takes the term War on Drugs literally. Like Mexico, the military, along with the police, conduct law enforcement operations and the results are predictable. The Brazilian police kill an average of six people each day. Remarkably, the police are responsible for roughly one out of five murders in Rio de Janeiro, with few being held accountable. The police, in many cases, are acting in self-defense. However, the Brazilian government has essentially provided the police with impunity for extrajudicial murder and they operate in a brazen manner. In this video, for example, the police performed a drive-by shooting of two unarmed teenagers. It should also be noted that several of the gangs conduct open warfare against the police. The most gruesome example occurred in Sao Paulo in May of 2006. Over the course of a week, more than 150 people were killed after Brazils most powerful gang, PCC, launched a wave of attacks against multiple police stations. The police responded by rounding up suspected gang members and executing them in kind. Narco-Terrorism As you read more about the PCC and other criminal organizations, you are likely to come across the term narco-terrorism. This term was coined in 1982 by the President of Peru, Fernando Belaunde Terry. Peru was and continues to be one of the top cocaine producers in the world. The Peruvian communist terrorist group, Shining Path, has been largely funded by taxing cocaine traffickers. Those profits have helped them kill approximately 11,000 civilians. Fortunately, the Shining Paths membership numbers have drastically dwindled and the organization is substantially less active. The line dividing organized crime from terrorism is increasingly blurry. Cocaine money also played a major role in the 52-year Colombian civil war that resulted in 220,000 deaths and over seven million domestic refugees. Thankfully, the communist terrorist group, FARC, came to a peace agreement in 2016. This group was responsible for numerous bombings, kidnappings, and thousands of murders. Most of their members have agreed to lay down their arms. However, an estimated 1,200 dissidents have refused to leave the criminal underworld. Likewise, another communist rebel group and officially designated terrorist group, ELN, has been in on-and-off peace negotiations. However, their group has walked away from the table, each time due to the tremendous profits from cocaine. Similarly, Colombias former right-wing paramilitary terrorist group, AUC, officially disbanded in 2006, but the majority of these men simply splintered into various organized crime groups. The Colombian and U.S. governments havent designated these groups as terrorists because they seem to be more driven by greed than ideology. However, the tactics by Colombias crime groups are indisputably terrorizing. These neo-paramilitary organized crime groups, known as BACRIMs, exert totalitarian control in their territory. They indiscriminately murder leftist activists, journalists, and human rights workers. In some cases, they impose a 9 P.M. curfew and invisible borders that are enforced with the death penalty. Thats in addition to their brand of social cleansing, i.e. murdering homeless, drug addicts, LGTBQ, etc. This leads to a concept mentioned in academia, the crime-terrorism nexus. In other words, the line dividing organized crime from terrorism is increasingly blurry. Also, many terrorist organizations fund their activities from crime. Various nations were listed earlier by the highest homicide rates. However, those studies dont include countries at war. With that in mind, its no secret that both sides of the Afghanistan War are funded with opium profits. The Taliban are grossing an estimated $400 million annually from drugs. For many years, the Taliban simply taxed drug traffickers in their territory, but credible reports suggest that theyve expanded into production. Of the 64 foreign terrorist organizations designated by the U.S. State Department, twenty-three profit from illegal drugs to some degree. Albeit, drug money is generally a small portion of the budget for most terrorist organizations and it is usually derived from taxing drug traffickers rather than direct participation. North Africa has become a major drug transshipment point for South American cocaine headed to Europe and Asia. Heroin from Asian countries is also often smuggled through this region. As a result, the Somali-based, Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group, al Shabaab and the West-Africa based Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) profit from this underground market. Boko Haram not only taxes traffickers, but the group has expanded their role in this racket. Furthermore, ISIS has taxed shipments of Moroccan hashish destined for Europe by way of Libya. On the other hand, there are terror groups, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (UMI), that are directly responsible for smuggling large quantities of illegal drugs, which comprises a large portion of their funding. The U.S. Government's Role The DEA has launched a series of high-profile cases that have resulted in major headlines, instead of actual narco-terrorists being captured. These links between terrorism and drug trafficking, ironically, have boosted the DEA in a self-serving manner. In 2006, Congress amended the PATRIOT Act with a statute regarding drug trafficking that directly or indirectly benefits a foreign terrorist organization. As a result, the DEAs international jurisdiction and budget expanded tremendously. However, the agency has launched a series of high-profile cases that have resulted in major headlines, instead of actual narco-terrorists being captured. Case in point, three West Africans were indicted in 2009 from an undercover sting operation involving DEA informants who posed as members of the FARC. The informants repeatedly told the traffickers that they wanted to do business with Al Qaeda. Hence, these men simply pretended to have links with a terrorist group to seal the deal. Nonetheless, this aspect of the case hasnt been widely reported and this case was a major PR win for the DEA. On the other hand, the DEA had built a long-running and credible investigation, Project Cassandra, against Hezbollah. Their group is widely known as being sponsored by the Iranian government. However, Hezbollah also has generated millions of dollars by smuggling several tons of South American cocaine. The group has business ties with the Colombian FARC and the Brazilian PCC. Several high-level members of Hezbollah were implicated in Project Cassandra. However, an impressive report by Politico revealed that the Obama administration suppressed this investigation to help finalize the nuclear deal with Iran. One of the open secrets of the War on Drugs is that the U.S. government, among other nations, has given support to drug trafficking for geopolitical purposes. In this case, the U.S. used the drug war as a bargaining tool with an adversary. However, the U.S. governments complicity with drug trafficking has generally benefited its allies. Thats the case in the Afghanistan War and it was certainly the case during the Vietnam War. Likewise, drug money helped U.S. interests in dirty wars, such as the Contras in Nicaragua or the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Furthermore, several narco-linked, right-wing dictators in Latin America, including Manuel Noriega, have benefitted from strong U.S. support. All in all, there are many forms of violence resulting from the War on Drugs. Nonetheless, our politicians have been unwilling to address the root cause. As a result, government bureaucrats have pointed to this violence to justify larger budgets for the drug war. However, with multiple decades of this failed policy behind us, we should realize that the demand for illegal drugs will never decrease in a substantial manner. Hence, continuing down this path will continue to enable the violent tactics of low-level criminals, mafia organizations, terrorists, dictators, and empire-driven governments. Brian Saady is a freelance writer who focuses on a number of human rights and criminal justices issues. Hes also the author of four books, including a three-book series, Rackets, which is about the legalization of drugs and gambling, and the decriminalization of prostitution. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 27, 2018 | 12:07 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY In an effort to combat the states opioid epidemic, Attorney General Andy Beshear and CVS Health teamed up today to launch new safe medication disposal programs in Kentucky. Beshear joined CVS Healths Thomas M. Moriarty, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, State Representative George Brown Jr., Police Chief Lawrence Weathers and Sharon Tankersley with Voices of Hope to urge Kentuckians to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of unused prescription drugs at a CVS Pharmacy. In-store disposal units, now in nine 24-hour CVS Pharmacy locations allow Kentuckians to properly dispose of dangerous opioids and help reduce the nearly 80 percent of heroin users who begin their addiction with prescription drugs. Two of the new units are located at CVS Pharmacy stores in Lexington, and in seven stores in Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Georgetown, Louisville and Paducah. In total, CVS Health will install units in 750 CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. CVS Health also offers a community donation program, which invites local law enforcement to apply to receive a drug collection unit for their community. In western Kentucky, the company has donated units in Madisonville and Murray. Beshear's office recently launched the states first initiative to allow Kentuckians to safely dispose of opioid medications at home. Beshears Kentucky Opioid Disposal Program has the potential to dispose of more than 2.2 million unused opioids. The pilot program includes McCracken County. Beshears Office of Senior Protection is also working with the faith-based community to distribute the pouches at senior events. Fiscal Court Reinstates Deputy Jailer Knight Advertisement By Mike Cooper Mar. 27, 2018 | PADUCAH, KY By Mike Cooper Mar. 27, 2018 | 12:29 AM | PADUCAH, KY The McCracken County Fiscal Court voted unanimously to reinstate deputy jailer David Knight, who had been fired by jailer Tonya Ray earlier this month. Judge Leeper indicated that Knight's termination was found to not be consistent with Kentucky Revised Statutes because Knight is protected under the Kentucky Whistleblower's Act, but he commented that he doesn't expect any negatives from this action. Knight and Ray are both running for Jailer in the May 22 Primary. The termination came after Knight consulted the County Attorney's office about a possible misuse of force, specifically the use of a TASER on an inmate on Feb. 16. Documents show the Jailer fired Knight for insubordination because he went outside the chain of command after being told by superiors that the use of force was proper. Knight will be reinstated to his previous position at his previous rate of pay, in addition to back wages and full reinstatement of any and all fringe benefits and seniority rights. A representative from the jail addressed the court and reported that they have consulted with KACO, (the Kentucky Association of Counties), and are not prepared at this time to discuss the issue. The court also was presented with the preliminary new budget for the jail. They took no action on it at this time, due to other state and local factors that could affect it. The reason for the presentation Tuesday, according to Judge Leeper, is that Kentucky law requires that the preliminary budget be presented by April 1st, and Tuesday was the last meeting before the deadline. Commissioner Bill Bartleman stated that, contrary to popular belief, the jail is not a money maker and has to have funding out of the general fund for approximately 3.5 million dollars on this particular budget year. Ro Morse gave a presentation to the court on the historical marker restoration program. She pointed out that there are 83 historical markers in the Paducah area that have been made official by the Kentucky Historical Society, and this program helps to preserve them. Judge Executive Bob Leeper presented Morse with the Refuser Award for her outstanding work with this project. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 26, 2018 | 04:01 PM | PADUCAH, KY Three congressmen were in Paducah Monday to discuss the infrastructure on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and heard from maritime industry officials who asked why bills have not been passed to help them with one party controlling all three branches of government.U.S. Representatives James Comer of Kentucky, David Kustoff of Tennessee, and Jason Smith of Missouri gathered at Seaman Church Institute.Several Paducah members of the river industry took part in the panel discussion that began with each congressman delivering a brief opening statement about the government and waterways. The congressmen just listened as one member of the river industry said he felt like the river industry had a target on its back. He said that he felt it was unfair because more than just the barge companies benefited from the lock and dam system. Another member of the river industry said because you can't charge voters money to use the waterways, it makes sense for the federal government to get involved in the infrastructure.The congressmen did not respond to the comment directly, but Rep David Kustoff did respond in relation to timing. He said he felt that the time for a big infrastructure bill to pass is narrowing."I think we all realize that there's a window for these projects do get done if they are to get done this year." Kustoff said, adding that he was not speaking on behalf of anyone other than himself. Kustoff said Speaker of the House Paul Ryan indicated that infrastructure reform would likely come in small bills."I think if it can be done that's probably more likely," he said.Congressman James Comer of Kentucky agreed, saying that the average person on the street might think the plan is simple. Then they often wonder why more big bills are not passed when one party has control of the house, senate and presidency.Comer explained, "In the Senate, it takes 60 votes to pass anything." Comer said with 51 republicans and 49 democrats in the house it can be difficult not to get what he called a "party line vote."Another concern the river industry workers mentioned was that current administration does not understand the business, but the congressmen said that simply isn't true.Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri said, "I can tell you, personally I have spoken to the president about the importance of the inland water ways, and that is why it was important that the president appoint an assistant secretary that understands the inland waterways," referring to Artie James of Missouri.Smith said James has lived on the rivers for 30 years, and President Trump knew he needed someone in the administration that knew the water. Smith said the position is the highest a president can appoint in the Army Corps of Engineers.No specific smaller bills were mentioned in the forum. The congressman just listened as concerns were voiced. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 27, 2018 | 06:39 AM | CARLISLE COUNTY Five people face methamphetamine charges in Carlisle County. The Carlisle County Sheriff's Department executed multiple search warrants at the Garland Manor Apartments in Bardwell early Tuesday morning. Due to many citizen complaints of alleged drug trafficking, the sheriff's department began a surveillance operation in December 2017. Two search warrants were issued and executed Tuesday by 12 officers from five different law enforcement agencies. During the search, police recovered quantities of methamphetamine, prescription drugs and various amounts of drug paraphernalia. Five people, Brandy Lawrence and Leslie Mcintyre, both of Bardwell, Brandon Phillips, of Arlington, Brian Hall, of Kevil and Blake Reamer, of Tennessee, were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. All five were lodged in the Ballard County Detention Center. According to the sheriff's office, the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible. Man Faces Charges Related to Forged Checks Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 26, 2018 | BENTON, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 26, 2018 | 01:54 PM | BENTON, KY A Marshall County man has been arrested on theft charges after a check forgery investigation. According to the Benton Police Department, officers were told on March 17 that a man used a check to pay for items at Walmart in Benton, then went back to make more purchases. When the cashier asked for identification, the two suspects left the store, leaving the merchandise. The next day, police spoke to the 82-year-old man whose name was on the checks, and he had not given anyone permission to use them. Police learned that their suspects had been staying with a neighbor of the victim, and that one of them, 30-year-old Michael J. Miller, was in the neighborhood and asking for rides. Police went to the area, and when Miller saw them, he reportedly fled on foot, but was caught a short distance away. Miller was charged with theft by unlawful taking under $500, fleeing or evading on foot, and on warrants for failure to appear in Marshall and Carlisle Counties. He was taken to Marshall County Detention Center. By Rep. Will Coursey (D) Mar. 26, 2018 | 12:38 PM | SYMSONIA, KY The General Assemblys top priority this legislative session adopting a two-year budget to run state government entered its final stages late last week, when House and Senate leaders sat down Friday morning to begin looking for common ground that both chambers could support.While there are a lot of similarities between the two spending plans, there are still some considerable differences.The starkest is tied to the other dominant issue of this legislative session: our public retirement systems. The Houses and the governors budgets would give all of these systems what is called the actuarially required contribution, or ARC. This is the amount they need each year to bring down their liabilities over the next three decades, and it maintains the promise legislators made following 2013 reforms.The Senate, however, chose a much different approach. Over the next two fiscal years, its budget would reduce the Kentucky Teachers Retirement Systems ARC by about $1 billion thats billion with a B and shift much of that money to the retirement systems used by state employees and Kentucky State Police. This would be on top of their ARCs.Senate leaders say this is necessary because the latter two systems have lower funding levels, but many understandably see it as retribution, since teachers have been leading the charge against Senate Bill 1, the proposed retirement reforms that would affect their profession most.I want to take a moment to praise those teachers, other public workers and their retirees for their welcome and consistent presence at the Capitol, in our communities and online. They have personified democracy in action, and are to be commended for staying informed and making their views known. I am committed to making sure none of their retirement systems or their individual pensions are penalized.In another major difference with the Senates budget, the Houses does much more for education. It sets aside $150 million extra in per-pupil funding, pays for health insurance payments weve traditionally covered for school employees and their retirees and does not establish permanent funding for charter schools at the expense of public education. The House budget also protects family resource and youth services centers and our postsecondary schools from the 6.25 percent cuts that most state agencies will have to weather.Those cuts will follow more than a dozen others over the past decade and further underscore the need for the General Assembly and governor to finally address tax reform. Ideally, our tax system should be broad-based, aligned with our economy and applied so that any exemption -- such as tax incentives to create jobs are beneficial and remain that way.For now, and assuming a compromise is reached, the House and Senate will vote on the budget either on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Governor Bevin will then have about a dozen days to decide whether to sign the three branch budgets into law or veto all or some of them. This is the only set of bills in which he can veto specific language while maintaining the rest.Legislators are scheduled to return in mid-April for two days to decide what action, if any, to take on vetoes he might issue. Once that work is done, the budget will take effect on July 1st.As that process plays out, the General Assembly moved several other high-profile bills forward last week, some of which are positive while others give me concern.One that is certainly needed will increase death benefits for state and local government workers killed in the line of duty. This measure is now in the Senate, but if approved there, loved ones of those killed will receive 75 percent, instead of 25 percent, of that employees benefits. This primarily concerns first responders, but others doing dangerous jobs are covered as well.The House also voted last week to make it possible for overdose victims to be detained at a medical facility after being revived. Legislators heard stories about victims relapsing in the same day, so our goal is not just to save lives, but to help addicts move toward recovery.To counter that epidemic, the Attorney General has filed several high-profile lawsuits in recent months against pharmaceutical companies that have flooded Kentucky with pain medicine. Unfortunately, a bill set to become law will make that tougher, because it will limit that offices ability to contract with law firms that have the size and expertise to take on these cases and are only paid if a settlement is reached. They will be less inclined to help the state, though, because of this new arbitrary ceiling on what they can earn.Other bills on track to become law would set new and needed limits on marriage involving teens 17 and younger and close a loophole that now requires some domestic-violence victims to pay for their spouses legal fees in a divorce if the spouse is in jail. Another bill likely to become law will unfortunately open another loophole that will make it easier for businesses to profit during states of emergency called by the governor.Were just a few weeks away from knowing the final outcome of these and other bills. As we wait to see what occurs, please continue letting me know your thoughts and concerns, both now and throughout the year. My address is Room 424D, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601, or you can send me an email at Will.Coursey@lrc.ky.gov.Our toll-free message line is 800-372-7181, and if you have a hearing impairment, it is 800-896-0305.There is also a lot of information on the General Assemblys website: www.lrc.ky.gov. If you are on Twitter, our caucus account is @KYHouseDems. We are on Facebook and Instagram as well. Beshear deploys National Guard to more hospitals as cases appear to level off Some college students head to Cancun for spring break to experience the raucous atmosphere of one of Mexicos most popular party destinations.Others volunteer to bring solar energy to needy communities on the Navajo Nation.Earlier this month, 11 Fort Lewis College students installed 32 solar panels on the Ojo Encino Chapter House, the main community-gathering place for the chapter, about two hours south of Durango off U.S. Highway 550.It was a very meaningful trip, bringing together sociology and engineering students in a way to benefit regional needs, said Rebecca Clausen, professor of sociology.The idea for the project began last fall when Tim Willink, tribal programs manager for GRID Alternatives, gave a speech at FLC about the companys goals to bring solar to Native American communities in need.Willink said earlier this week the companys National Tribal Solar Program has helped more than 40 communities receive solar energy while at the same time provide tribal members and students with real-life experience.In general, the vast majority of tribes out there are looking to solar as a potential strategy for energy development, he said. They are excited about the opportunity to learn how it works and how to develop energy plans.Willink went to the Ojo Encino to build a relationship, wanting to make sure the project had buy-in from the community.Ojo Encino is a small chapter, which is similar to a township, with a dispersed population of about 700 people in the southeastern corner of the Navajo Nation, about 25 miles west of Cuba, New Mexico.As is the case with most communities within the Navajo Nation, jobs are hard to come by and poverty can be high. Many people in the chapter have to travel 120 miles to Albuquerque for work, said chapter manager Gloria Chiquito.So the prospect of introducing solar energy, which is cheap and renewable, is a welcomed one. This particular project focused on the chapter house.Were excited to see the billing on this solar set up and comparing with previous bills, Chiquito said.For FLC, the project blended students from a variety of majors to take into consideration the cultural, political, land and resource issues involved with a project like this, said Laurie Williams, a physics and engineering professor.When we talk about energy, its not just a technical problem and we cant approach it with one lens, she said. This project hits all those points so uniquely, and thats why it was so perfect for FLC.Denyce White, an environmental studies major, immediately took to the idea of the project after hearing Willink speak in the fall. She said there was a lot of interest in doing projects locally for communities in need.A lot of students who are Native American ... dont want to travel to different countries, she said. Why not do projects here locally on the reservation?James Sumpter, a junior in engineering who grew up on the Navajo Nation, said the project shows Navajos dont have to leave behind their culture to further themselves as people.Growing up, you always talk about getting an education and coming back and giving to our people, he said. Since college, Ive really thought about how to do that, and then this opportunity came up.From March 5 to March 8, students helped install the solar panels at the Ojo Encino Chapter House. GRID contributed more than $20,000 for equipment and labor. FLC pledged $5,000 to the project through the dean of Arts and Sciences, Jesse Peters. The only other costs were groceries, which were covered by the Engineering Department, Clausen said.In-kind contributions were from the Ojo Encino Chapter House for letting us stay for free in their building, use their kitchen, wood stove, and prepare a special meal for us on the last day, she said.Willink said the solar panels are expected to reduce the chapter houses energy bill by 75 to 80 percent annually. With more than 300 days of sunshine on the Navajo Nation, it makes sense to use solar energy.Its a clean, renewable form of energy that has savings that stays in the community, he said.White said members of the Ojo Encino chapter were receptive to the new form of energy. She said its ingrained in Navajo teachings to practice mindfulness in the environment you live in.Theres a responsibility to care for the world we live in, to be good stewards of the land, she said. And were living in a time where we need to try to work with those things to move forward.Williams said she is hoping to offer the Solar Spring Break program annually to benefit the Navajo Nation.Everyone came home with ideas and goals met, thoughts of the future, she said. What better educational experience could you have?Ojo Encinos Chiquito said she hopes bringing solar to the chapter house is just the first step in developing more affordable forms of energy. Many people there live off Medicaid or a fixed income any little bit helps.We have elderly out there struggling with light bills, some get lights shut off. Maybe this way it would help their costs, and thats what Im hoping to see, she said. Its a whole new ball game with the solar. By: Paige Cline The hills are still green for the most part, but a little[Read More] Fundraisers A virtual event to support the league's mission of addressing food insecurity in the community. Get moving at least 1.5 miles per day for the entire month of October, in doing so you will travel virtually roughly the distance across Sangamon county.45 miles just not enough for you? For intense runners and walkers, we challenge you to go out and back through the corn, over the Sangamon river, and past the Capitol for 90 miles of challenge.REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 22ND TO RECEIVE SWAG! 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. Recreating our ancestral past Wits in the champions league of archaeology hosted the first African Conference on Experimental Archaeology. Bill Schindler gave a demonstration of experimental archaeology when he screened an episode of National Geographics The Great Human Race at the Wits Club as part of the first African Conference on Experimental Archaeology (ACE). About 60 delegates from around the world watched as Schindler, dressed in skins, darted a boar in the Caucasus Mountains with an atlatl and ate its fat to keep warm what he described as an attempt to recreate our ancestral past, namely the Ice Age 40 000 years ago. Schindler co-starred in the TV series with survival expert Cat Bigney but he is the public face of experimental archaeology in more ways than one. Associate Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at Washington College in Maryland in the US, he is also chairman of EXARC, an organisation representing about 300 members from 40 countries who are involved in archaeological open-air museums, experimental archaeology, ancient technology or interpretation (such as museum education). EXARC organised ACE together with Dr Silje Evjenth Bentsen, a Claude Leon Foundation Fellow at Wits. Schindler says the response from other academics to the TV series has been very positive because it reached people. Although one ACE delegate questioned the choice to feature Bigney in a dress, albeit it of skin; another delegate, Sarah Paris, a PhD student from Cambridge University, said she welcomed such popularising of experimental archaeology. In his keynote address, Professor Innocent Pikirayi of the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Pretoria, defined experimental archaeology as attempts to generate and test hypotheses, usually by replicating or approximating the feasibility of ancient cultures performing various tasks. His own on-going experiments are about documenting water resources at the architectural site of Great Zimbabwe, to work out how it might have shaped the function of the medieval city. The research involves women carrying water uphill in traditional clay pots but has been affected by unexpected heavy rains which has hindered access. Pikirayi said that experimenting with prehistoric buildings (architecture) is common at sites such as Stonehenge in the UK but almost unheard of in Africa. Dr Molapo Qhobela, CEO of the National Research Foundation, spoke of the importance of experimental archaeology in SA today. Can there be any other place, or any other time in our human history where testing the validity of assumptions about ancient humanity can be more important? It is widely accepted that there can be no single past that is knowable and acceptable to all. Taking snapshots of the past through different lenses can give many different interpretations. When these snapshots are taken out of their original contexts and put into glass museum cases by experts with a particular world view, for instance, audiences are intentionally or unintentionally lead down a particular path of interpretation. The other keynote speaker, Lyn Wadley, an A-rated scientist and Honorary Professor of Archaeology at Wits, spoke of the pigeon feast she experienced with two of her post-doctoral fellows, Dr Aurore Val and Dr Paloma de la Pena. They had found a disproportionate number of pigeons and dove bones, particularly in the early layers of the archaeological site of Sibudu Cave, 40km north of Durban. Val had conducted an experiment to determine: were the bones present because the birds had roosted and died there, or did they exist for anthropogenic reasons, that is, had people eaten them? She accessed 16 pigeons which they gutted. Keeping the feathers on some of the birds, they wrapped those in strelitzia leaves and roasted among coals. The others were grilled. All were eaten with their fingers to emulate how they might have been eaten. We didnt really enjoy the ones with the feathers very much, said Wadley to much amusement from the delegates, and so we compromised a bit, she said, pointing to a picture of Val adding olive oil and rosemary to those being grilled. Yes, we ate all 16 of them, she said. It took two days. They tasted really disgusting exclaimed Val, but they proved from perforations left on the soft bones from tearing them apart, and from tooth marks, that people living at Sibudu during the Middle Stone Age had eaten the birds. The experiment was published in the Journal of Human Evolution in 2016, with Val as the first author. Co-organiser Bentsen said she had initiated ACE because people at international conferences often spoke of the need for it. Senior lecturer Dr Christine Sievers, pointed out that archaeology at Wits ranked 38th in the world in the 2018 QS university subject rankings. Its a hub, said Bentsen. You really feel like you are working in the champions league when you work at Wits. ACE was sponsored by the French Institute of SA (IFAS-Recherche); the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST); BRUKER; the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences at Wits; with support from the NRF-SARChi Chair of Modern Origins, Professor Christopher Henshilwood. Gov. Nathan Deal called former Gov. Zell Miller one of Georgia's favorite sons and a statesmen on Friday after the news broke that his predecessor had died. Deal was one of several officials around the state who offered condolences to Miller's family on Friday. The two-term former governor, who had previously served in the state legislature and later served as a U.S. senator, died after being treated for Parkinson's Disease. He was 86. "Zell's legacy is unequaled and his accomplishments in public service are innumerable," Deal said. "Without question, our state and our people are better off because of him. But the mark Zell made in his private life - as a dutiful son, a loving husband, and a proud father and grandfather - are the ones of which I'm sure he was most proud. "I was honored to serve with him in the Senate and have cherished his counsel for decades. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones, of which he had many. May God bless him and keep him." While Miller is most remembered as a former governor and U.S. senator, his career in public service goes back long before he held either of those offices. It began in 1959 when he became the mayor of Young Harris, an office he held for one year before he was elected to a seat in the Georgia Senate. In 1975, he became Georgia's lieutenant governor and he held that post until he was elected governor in 1990. After his time in the governor's mansion ended, he was appointed in 2000 to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell, who had died in office. His grandson, Bryan Miller, announced the former governor's passing in a statement from the Miller Institute Foundation. "My grandfather passed away peacefully surrounded by his family," the younger Miller said. "The people of Georgia have lost one of our state's finest public servants. As his grandson, I learned more from Zell Miller both professionally and personally than from anyone else I have encountered. "He was more than my grandfather. He was my dear friend and mentor. I cherish all the time we spent together. I will never forget the lessons he taught me, his witty sense of humor, or his contagious smile. Our family will miss him terribly." One of the things Miller's time as governor will likely be most remembered for is the creation of the state lottery that he championed as a way to raise money for education in the state. The Georgia Lottery was established in 1993 and has raised $19.3 billion for the state's Pre-K program and HOPE Scholarship program, among the education programs supported by the lottery, over the last 25 years, according to the Georgia Lottery Corporation. The agency mourned Miller's passing Friday while pointing to the students who have benefited from the lottery-funded education programs as his legacy. "On behalf of the Georgia Lottery Corporation board, employees, and most importantly, Georgia's students, we are grateful for Governor Miller's foresight and leadership," Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin said in a statement. "Thanks to him more than 3 million students have benefited from HOPE and Pre-K." Longtime colleagues of Miller also praised his efforts in public office. U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., called Miller a great friend and said "Georgia has lost its finest public servant." The two men ran against each other for governor in 1990 in a contest that Miller won as a Democrat. Six years later, Miller appointed Isakson to lead the state Board of Education, which was in turmoil at the time, in an effort to get it turned around. Isakson later ran for Miller's seat in the U.S. Senate in 2004 when Miller decided to retire from public office. From 2000 to 2004, both men had served in Georgia's congressional delegation - Miller as a senator and Isakson as a U.S. representative. "I do not know of anyone who impacted the lives of Georgians more than Zell," Isakson said in a statement. "His Marine Corps values of patriotism and loyalty guided his career in service to his state and his country. Zell and Shirley will always be Georgia's first family. I treasure their friendship. Dianne and I hold the Miller family in our prayers." Other state officials and members of congress weighed in to offer their praise of Miller's career in public service. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who is running for governor himself this year, said Miller will be remembered as "the Governor who gave Georgia Hope" and called the former governor and senator "a true statesman who helped build the foundation that allowed our state to prosper." "Through his passion for education, love for the people of our state, and dedication to giving Georgians the same opportunities that led a boy from a small mountain town to become one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century, Governor Miller leaves a legacy that will always be honored and celebrated," Cagle said. "All of Georgia's families and communities will feel the benefits of Governor Miller's dedicated service for generations to come, and he will continue to set an example for what public service should be about." Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller said he knew Miller through his father-in-law, who was a close friend of the former governor. He praised Miller's character and influence on the state, calling him a legend in the state. "Governor Miller truly had a positive impact on everyone he met and his impact on their lives will never be forgotten," Miller said in a statement. "He is an example of someone whose kingdom and legacy is not measured by what he had, but by what he did and the legacy he left behind. "His commitment to this state and its citizens is truly commendable and will never be forgotten. He will have a lasting impact on Georgia through his message of honesty, decency, integrity and public service." Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., praised Miller for his "principled leadership and service to our state and our country" in a statement. "His public service and commitment to serving the people of Georgia remains unparalleled," Hice said. "He was a trailblazer and role model for many who would follow in his footsteps. It is with great sadness and respect that I extend my deepest condolences to the Miller family, especially his wife, Shirley, his children and grandchildren, and his many friends. "I hope it is a comfort to his family and friends that so many people share their tremendous loss and are praying for them in this difficult time." Washington apples and cherries are caught in the trade fight between the United States and China. Beijing threatened last week to impose a 15% tariff on American fruit to retaliate against President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum. The Chinese trade penalty would especially punish Washington State, which ships more apples and cherries to China than any other part of the country. "We're free traders," said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, a nonprofit group that promotes the industry. "Any disruption to that has a negative economic impact to our growers." Gala, Red Delicious and Granny Smith make up 90% of the apples that Washington growers ship to China. The other 10% are more exotic varieties, including new types that the growers are testing. "We get high dollar values for our products," Fryhover said. Related: China may target American cherries, pistachios and sparkling wine Last year, Washington growers sent nearly 1.8 million 40-pound boxes of apples to mainland China and another million to Hong Kong, according to data from the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. The shipments raked in $45 million to $50 million, and supported 1,260 jobs in the state. China is an enticing market for American producers, explained Desmond O'Rourke, a retired professor of agricultural economics at Washington State University and an expert on the global fruit market. China has 1.4 billion people and a growing middle class able to spend on imported American food. "The growth potential is what attracts everybody to China," he said. Washington growers are vulnerable to protectionist policies because a third of apples grown in the state are sold overseas. Chinese tariffs on apples would raise costs for Washington suppliers - and could force them to hike prices for Chinese consumers to protect their profit margins. Related: What happens when the world's two biggest economies turn on each other That could make their apples less competitive for Chinese retail buyers and consumers than apples shipped there from Chile, France, New Zealand and Australia. China is also the world's largest apple producer, and its crop could become more appealing overnight. For Americans, that means apple prices could fall. Washington growers may decide to sell more apples in the United States instead of shipping them to China, O'Rourke predicted. O'Rourke said the harvest this September and October and competition from rivals will determine how much the tariffs will sting for Washington's growers. Jim Bair, president of the US Apple Association, a national trade group, said last week that Chinese tariffs were the "latest chapter in a long and sad story where US apple growers get hurt in a fight we didn't start and in which we have no interest." In 2015, the US Department of Agriculture reached an agreement with Chinese officials to fully open China to American producers after years of barriers on different apple varieties. Before 2015, growers could only export Golden Delicious and Red Delicious apples to China. Then-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said at the time that the agreement would "result in high quality, fresh US apple varieties available for consumers in China and a significant boost in sales for American apple producers." But O'Rourke said the Chinese appetite for Washington apples has failed to live up to producers' high expectations. China is a huge market, but only 5% of Washington apples go there. Mexico and Canada are the biggest importers. Despite possible tariffs and sluggish growth, O'Rourke expects growers to continue selling in China. Restrictions "wouldn't be a death blow," he said. The state's cherry growers may face a greater threat from higher taxes in China. China is the largest importer of Washington's Bing and Rainier cherries. The country brought in nearly 3 million 20-pound boxes last year, and another 300,000 boxes were shipped to Hong Kong. Those cherries sold for an estimated $127 million, according to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. Cherries are a profitable business for both Washington growers and wholesale retailers in China. The online market for them is also growing. "There's a lot of excitement," said Mark Powers, president of Northwest Horticultural Council, a growers' trade group in Yakima, Washington. "They love our cherries." Powers said it was difficult to predict the impact of the tariffs, but "either the price to the consumer goes up or the return to the producer goes down." He hopes the United States and China would reach a solution before peak season begins in June. While Washington's apple producers can redirect sales from China to other major markets, the state's 1,400 cherry growers depend on the Chinese market. And the country relies on American cherries because China's growing capacity is less developed than its apple industry. "We can't just easily switch markets from China," Powers said. "There is no other market that can take that kind of volume." Oneida County is providing a free book to every newborn baby in the county with the help of revenue collected by the Oneida Nation settlement agreement. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced Tuesday that a total of $47,500 is being allocated to local library initiatives, including $25,000 for the Books for Babies initiative. The county is joining forces with county libraries to help children fall in love with reading very early in life. And if you're given a book at an early age, and as your parents read to you, it is about education, its about the importance of literacy in our community, but it's also about going places that you've never been and exploring new horizons, Picente said. Oneida County leaders announced the new initiative Tuesday morning at Jervis Public Library in Rome. The free book being given to local newborns is the childhood staple On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman. A total of $15,000 will also be used to increase the eBook and digital audiobook collections at libraries within Oneida County. The digital copies will be able to be access on computer tablets and eBook readers. The remaining $7,500 will go toward purchasing books that will be used and distributed to local youth as part of various summer reading programs. A new executive director has been appointed for the Adirondack Rail Preservation Society, three months after the former executive director resigned from the position. Jack Roberson has been appointed the new executive director of the Adirondack Rail Preservation Society, which operates the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. The former executive director, Bethan Maher, resigned from the position in December to take on a new position with the American Heritage Railways in Washington State. Roberson has an extensive background working with railroads as he formerly served as general manager of the Machu-Picchu Andean Railway, general manager of the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, president and CEO of the Central Andean Railway, and general manager of Southern Peru Copper Corporation. I am excited to join a team that has revitalized an important economic asset in central upstate New York, Roberson said in a news release. The ARPS and the Adirondack Scenic Railroad are major contributors to and supporters of the tourism and recreation sector from the Mohawk Valley into the Olympic Region of the Adirondacks. My family and I are looking forward to working with the Board, staff and hundreds of volunteers to grow this operation to become a magnet attraction in the northeast United States. The ARPS also announced that Paul Titterton and Vince Sperrazza have been elected to serve as directors of the ARPS. Titterton currently serves as vice president and chief commercial officer of the North American Rail for GATX Corporation, and Sperrazza is a retired science teacher and former teachers union president. ALBANY The Sex and the City star challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary in the gubernatorial race is hitting the campaign trail. Actress-turned-candidate Cynthia Nixon joined educators speaking out about school funding in Albany on Monday. In her speech about inequities in education spending, Nixon called out the White House but also took swipes at the two-term governors state budget proposal. She also blasted Cuomo as a bully and faulted his effort to combat government corruption. "In 2018 New Yorkers know that if we arent going to tolerate the gutting of our schools by Betsy DeVos or the reckless greed and corruption in the White House, we certainly are not going to tolerate it in our own backyard," Nixon said. Nixon announced last week that she will challenge Cuomo in the September primary election. The owner of the white, Greek Revival building on Utica's Varick Street demolished the building Monday morning. "There is no permit that was issued on this by the building department so that's a violation. It's an illegal demolition," says Bob Heins, Scenic and Historic Preservation Commission Chairman. "We were emphatic. Do not demolish the building. Fence it off. Make is safe. Come in and talk to us, tell us what you want to do," said Heins, of a meeting last week with building owner, Steven Mancuso. Mancuso had a condemnation letter from the city regarding the building. But Heins said the owner also had a letter outlining the steps and permissions required before demolition. Heins says he's sad over the loss and the needlessness of it. "Well, it was built in 1940. 1840s. So it basically wipes that history out," said Heins. "This is the first time i've seen the pile of rubble. That didn't have to happen." A spokesperson in Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri's office says the corporation counsel is reviewing the situation and that the chief building inspector will be issuing citations in the near future and that codes violations will include fines. A judge will determine civil remedies, meaning the case is headed to court. Newschannel 2 reached out to the building owner, but did not hear back. ROME Approximately 30 jobs are expected to be created at the UAS Test Site in Rome thanks to an agreement between Thales Group and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In separate press releases, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Claudia Tenney announced Tuesday that Thales, a global leader in air traffic management solutions, has reached a formal agreement with NASA for a Space Act Agreement to support national and regional efforts to establish UAS traffic management in the U.S. Under the agreement, Thales will collaborate with NASA at the UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport for research, development, testing and evaluation of low-altitude airspace control of UAS that operate at or below 400 feet. Attracting global companies like Thales to the Mohawk Valley was exactly what we envisioned when we sought and secured the FAA Test Site in Rome, Schumer said in a news release. NUAIR, Griffiss Airport and their private partners like Thales are national leaders in helping the federal government safely and efficiently integrate UAS into the national airspace. This agreement with help the Test Site continue its important work and keep the Mohawk Valley at the forefront of the emerging UAS industry. Its been a privilege to partner with NASA and Thales to secure a contract that will bring high-tech jobs here to the Mohawk Valley," said Tenney. "Thales presence in our area will further secure our standing as a vital player in developing defense technology and unmanned aerial capabilities. The Mohawk Valley has the talent and workforce ready to fill these positions. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Thales and NASA as they continue to innovate and lead in defense technology. Utica, N.Y. - The Utica City Budget is now complete, five days before it was due, and taxpayers will see a 5.41% property tax increase starting with their next tax bill in April. Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri came up with his version of the 2018-2019 budget on February 20th. The Utica Common Council then had a month to come up with their version, and the council voted on their version last Tuesday night. The council's version came with 21 amendments to the mayor's budget. Palmieri accepted 20 of those amendments. The only one he didn't accept was the council's decision to use an additional $300,000 of the city's fund balance to keep the tax levy down, so he vetoed that amendment last Thursday. Palmieri then called for a special meeting to address his decision to veto that amendment with members of the Common Council, since the council could override that veto with a two-thirds majority vote. That special meeting was originally scheduled for Friday, but was moved to Monday by Common Council President Michael Galime. Galime said because of scheduling conflicts among a number of council members, the meeting was moved to Monday at noon so that more council members could attend. On Monday, only 6 of the 9 council members attended the meeting and five out of those six who voted during that meeting whether to override the mayor's veto, did vote to indeed override the mayor's veto, the only council member to vote not to override the mayor's veto was 5th Ward Councilman Bill Phillips. Phillips refused to talk to News Channel 2 after the vote to tell us why he voted the way he did. Palmieri says he stands by his decision to veto the amendment because he says using the $300,000 from the fund balance would have been detrimental to the city as far as the city's credit rating, "We worked very hard to build up our fund balance to be upgraded by all three of the rating agencies and one of the main things that Ive said is the use of the fund balance will have a negative impact on the city of Utica." Common Council President Michael Galime says if the council would have overridden the mayor's veto, the council could have looked into ways to come up with that $300,00 from other places in the budget in order to not negatively impact the city's credit rating, "There were actual budget lines that were considerably overfunded in the councils opinion. That's where that money would have come from." If the council were to have overridden the mayor's veto, and that $300,000 was used from the city's fund balance, the tax levy would have been 4.41% instead of 5.41%. CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) Kendra Wilson, 28, is charged with one count of animal cruelty. Wilson is still allowed to care for her other horses but the woman who reported it hopes that changes. News 18 first talked to Tiffany Gibbs in early February when she reported Wilson's alleged cruelty. "I couldn't even imagine one of these guys looking like that," said Gibbs. She was talking about her own horses. She owns three horses, so she knows what they need to survive. She said that's why she was shocked to see Wilson's horses in such poor condition. "They had no hay, no grain, no water, they were tied to trees in the front yard," said Gibbs. Gibbs was hoping the Carroll County Sheriff's Office would take Kendra Wilson's animals but court documents show that isn't the case. "So, the only one she is being charged for is the one that died?" she asked as she read the court documents. Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said because of due process, Wilson gets to keep her animals for the time being. The Indiana Board of Animal Health gave her a strict care plan. Leazenby said they're making sure she follows it but Gibbs wishes they could do more. "She's not learning anything," said Gibbs. "You know, they're just putting the horses at risk further by allowing them to stay on that property or allowing her to have any part in their care." Testing showed the dead horse's bone marrow fat was 0.29 percent. The normal range is 63-99 percent. "How long would it take to emaciate a horse that badly?" asked Gibbs. We didn't get the chance to get that answer because Wilson declined to comment Monday. Wilson told deputies the horse died because it had its leg caught in the fence and couldn't get up. But the officer reported no sign of injuries on the horse's legs other than the tissue tearing from the chains, according to the documents. Wilson's initial hearing is May 10. If she is convicted or pleads guilty, it would be up to the court whether she gets to care for horses again. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) The Young Democratic Socialists of America is a student program on Purdue University's campus. The group helps students know what to do in certain legal situations. Monday's event focused on topics including leasing agreements and peaceful protests. The group passed out packets with legal advice from Purdue, along with a card on constitutional rights. Remingtin Nickle is a group member. She said simply working with students provides a unique opportunity. "It also gives us a unique opportunity," said Nickle. "They're still young, so we're still learning things and they can carry what they learn here on through their lives." Monday's event was part of a series. Tuesday's discussion will help teach students how to deal with law enforcement. That will take place at 7 p.m. in the Physics Building, Room 223. 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 Shikoku decides to retire Ikata 2 27 March 2018 Share Unit 2 of the Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime prefecture is to be decommissioned, Shikoku Electric Power Company announced today. It becomes the ninth operable Japanese reactor to be declared for decommissioning since the Fukushima Daiichi accident. The three-unit Ikata plant (Image: Shikoku) The utility said its board of directors made the decision at a meeting today not to restart Ikata 2. Shikoku said the cost and scale of modifications required to upgrade the 40-year-old unit to meet the country's revised safety standards made it uneconomical to restart the reactor. Ikata 2 is a 538 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR) that began operating in March 1988. It was taken offline in January 2012 for periodic inspections. Shikoku president Hayato Saeki said he has informed the governor of Ehime prefecture and the mayor of Ikata city of the board's decision. The company decided in March 2016 to decommission unit 1 of the Ikata plant, also a 538 MWe PWR, which began commercial operation in September 1977. That unit had been taken offline in September 2011 for periodic inspections. Upgrades costing more than JPY170 billion (USD1.6 billion) would have been needed at the unit in order for it to operate beyond 40 years. Saeki said, "In the future, we will steadily proceed with various procedures following the closure of unit 2 and will strive for decommissioning in conjunction with unit 1, with the highest priority for ensuring safety." Ikata 3 had been idle since being taken offline for a periodic inspection in April 2011. It was given approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority to resume operation in April 2016. Shikoku began the process to restart the 846 MWe PWR on 12 August and the unit was declared back in commercial operation on 7 September 2016. However, in December 2017, a Japanese high court ordered the suspension of the unit's operation. The injunction is effective until the end of September 2018. "With regard to unit 3, which will be the remaining operating unit, we will continue to ensure safety," Saeki said. In mid-March 2015, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy revised the accounting provisions in the Electricity Business Act, whereby electric power companies can now calculate decommissioning costs in instalments of up to ten years, instead of one-time as previously. This enhanced cost recovery provision was to encourage the decommissioning of older and smaller units. The formulation of that system prompted the announcement that five of Japan's smaller operable nuclear power reactors would be decommissioned. These included Kansai Electric Power Company's Mihama units 1 and 2; unit 1 of Japan Atomic Power Company's Tsuruga plant, as well as Kyushu Electric Power Company's Genkai 1 and Chugoku Electric Power Company's Shimane 1. In December 2017, Kansai announced that it would not seek permission to restart units 1 and 2 of its Ohi nuclear power plant in Japan's Fukui Prefecture. The two 1175 MWe pressurised water reactors became the first reactors with capacities over 1000 MWe to be decommissioned following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011. Last December, the government also formally announced its decision to decommission the idled Monju prototype fast breeder reactor. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics A good Samaritan was severely beaten after being accused of stealing a mans penis and money. 28-year-old cab driver Banagana Mustapha of Nigeria and his 5 friends were arrested and charged with three-counts of raising a false alarm and conduct likely to cause breach of peace. Mustapha and his friends Isah Hassan, 35, Kori Kambo, 35, Alhaji Mustapha, 40, Bulu Umar, 18, and Ismaila Babagana, 32, were arraigned before the Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly beating up Mickey Dauwo, who is a cook from Cotonou, the Republic of Benin. According to police, the trouble started after Mustapha needed change for a passenger. Dauwo was walking outside when Mustapha asked him if he had two N50 ($.14) notes in exchange for one N100 ($.28) note. The cook agreed and handed over the two N50 notes and took the N100 note. However, as soon as the cook walked away, Mustapha began screaming that he was a thief. Mustapha called his friends and told them that Dauwo stole his money and his penis. They arrived and attacked Dauwo. A police officer who witnessed the fight came to Dauwos aid. During his investigation, the officer determined that Mustapha had his penis and that the victim did not steal any money. That is when Mustapha and his friends were arrested. A police sergeant is facing suspending after failing a random drug test, according to police in New York. The New York Police Department (NYPD) suspended 43-year-old Tracy Gittens, a police sergeant, for 30 days after a strand of her hair tested positive for marijuana. Gittens was a member of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios security detail when she tested positive for marijuana use. Gittens now faces a permanent suspension from the NYPD. Gittens defended herself, saying that the strand of hair that was tested did not belong to her. She explained that on the day of the random test, she was wearing human hair extensions and that was tested. Gittens said that only her hair extensions showed signs of marijuana use but her own her tested negative. She went to a private lab and got additional testing. Gittens claimed that those tests showed that she never used marijuana. During her tribunal, Gittens affirmed that she does not use marijuana. However, prosecutors blasted her defense, saying that a DNA test showed that the hair was from Gittens and not hair extensions. After being confronted with the evidence, Gittens changed her story and claimed that she may have accidentally used marijuana. A man has lost his right to live in the United States despite serving in the military. Miguel Perez from Chicago, Illinois, came to the United States from Mexico when he was 8-years-old. He was a legal resident and was waiting to become a legal citizen. However, his request for citizenship was denied and he was taken to the border, where he was handed over to Mexican officials. Perez has been placed in the custody of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officials for 14 months before he was deported. Perez fought the deportation as he was told that serving in the military automatically entitles him to get citizenship in the United States. According to his pastor, Perez suffered PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) when he got back from his tours in Afghanistan and then turned to alcohol and drugs. He also sold drugs as a way to support himself. Perez pleaded guilty to delivering cocaine to an undercover officer and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. In prison, he got a degree and became a teachers aide. He wanted to stay in the country but a judge denied his appeal. The arrest of former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont in Germany is a major step toward the development of a police state in Europe. The Europe-wide police-state structures, which emerged under the pretext of combatting terrorism and cracking down on refugees, are now being deployed against political opponents. Puigdemonts arrest was conducted based on a European arrest warrant. These warrants were introduced in 2004 to simplify the extradition process between EU member states following the elimination of internal border controls. They were allegedly aimed at combatting terrorism, gangs, people trafficking, the drugs trade, and other serious criminal offences. Ever since, the police, intelligence services and judiciaries in the EU member states have intensified their cooperation. Puigdemonts arrest was planned by Spanish intelligence, which had been following him across Europe with 10 to 12 agents. It was done in close consultation with Germanys Federal Criminal Police Office, which received information from Spanish intelligence about Puigdemonts car and route ahead of time and organized the arrest. The charges against Puigdemont are as hypocritical as they are fraudulent. His crime consists of nothing more than advancing the demandwhich has a long political historyfor the separation of Catalonia from Spain. He has neither called for nor threatened violence to achieve this goal. The Catalan separatists have relied on peaceful and democratic means: elections, parliamentary motions, and demonstrations. The German state accepts the claim of the right-wing regime in Madrid that the advocacy of separatism is a crime. But in the case of Yugoslavia, Germany ruthlessly pursued the breakup of that state in the 1990s, with catastrophic results. As always, the policies of the German ruling class are determined by its geopolitical and economic interests. Puigdemont and 24 other Catalan politicians face charges of rebellion, which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The corresponding paragraph in Germanys Criminal Code, which could potentially serve as the basis for Puigdemonts extradition, punishes high treason against the federation with a sentence of between 10 years and life imprisonment. Both criminal offences presuppose the use of violence, and Spanish judge Pablo Llarena resorted to completely specious arguments to claim the Catalonian leader was guilty of violent activities. He accused Puigdemont, absurdly, of accepting that there was a risk of violence during protests against raids on Catalan ministries by Spanish security forces. The German government, which never tires of denouncing Russia, Turkey, and other countries for arbitrary judicial proceedings, is backing the legal farce of Puigdemonts extradition. German government spokesman Stefan Seibert stated that the arrest was carried out on the basis of German law and the regulations related to the European arrest warrant. Spain is a democratic, constitutional state, he claimed. A German law professor rushed to Seiberts defence. Martin Heger, who is chair of the department of European criminal law at Berlins Humboldt University, told Spiegel Online, In principle, the legal situation is straightforward: When a European arrest warrant is presented, it will be carried out, so long as the prerequisites for it have been fulfilled ... So it is clear: Germany has to extradite Puigdemont. Puigdemont is a pro-capitalist bourgeois politician, whose Catalan European Democratic Party (PDECat) is a member of the liberal parliamentary group in the European Parliament. When a pro-capitalist, democratically-elected politician is pursued in the EU for high treason, it is not hard to imagine how the leaders of mass protests or a general strike calling capitalist rule into question would be treated. This is the more fundamental reason for the erection of a European police state, and the close collaboration between Berlin and Madrid. The goal is to intimidate and smother all forms of opposition, resistance and protest. Europe is on the brink of bitter class battles. Social relations are at the breaking point. Hardly any European country has a stable government. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy leads a minority government that confronts mass social protests. Hundreds of thousands of retirees took to the streets last Saturday alone. On the same day, France was shaken by widespread protests against President Emmanuel Macrons labour market reforms. In Germany, the new instalment of the Grand Coalition, which came to power only after a six-month crisis, no longer has a majority in the polls. In the UK, tens of thousands of university lecturers are engaged in a bitter contract dispute. And the US is in the midst of a strike wave by teachers throughout the country, while millions of students took to the streets last week to protest the violence that dominates American society. Europes rulers are responding to this growth of social and political opposition by moving ever more openly toward authoritarian and dictatorial forms of rule. The crackdown on political opposition takes perhaps its most direct form in the drive toward Internet censorship, which is being driven by a series of laws throughout Europe and its member states making technology companies criminally liable for the posting of violent and extremist content on their services. While the EU is increasingly breaking apart, its member governments cooperate ever more closely on the issue of building a police state. Last Friday, Germanys Interior Minister, Horst Seehofer pledged to strengthen police-state measures in his first speech to parliament since taking office. At the European level, we must do all we can to integrate the various databases so that our intelligence agencies can act to achieve their goals more swiftly, he said. The arrest of Puigdemont two days later shows what Seehofer meant by this. The cooperation between Berlin and Madrid in the Puigdemont case recalls the darkest period in European history. German authorities have arrested a Catalan prime minister once before, in 1940. Hitlers secret police, the Gestapo, detained Lluis Companys, who fled into French exile in 1936 after General Franco, with German support, crushed the Spanish revolution and established his bloody dictatorship. They extradited Companys to Madrid, where he was tortured, sentenced to death and executed. The International Committee of the Fourth International and the World Socialist Web Site condemn Puigdemonts arrest and demand his immediate release. His targeting by the German authorities is a warning. The only way to prevent the establishment of a police state, and a relapse into militarism and war, is through the development of a socialist movement to unite the European and international working class in the struggle against social inequality, dictatorship and war. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Canada York University strike begins fourth week About 3,000 contract-teachers and research and teaching assistants, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903, are continuing their strike at York University in north Toronto. The strikers are demanding substantial pay increases, as most currently receive poverty wages, and in addition want enhanced job security. Contract faculty are frequently employed on a semester-to-semester basis, meaning they have to reapply for their posts every few months. About half of all classes at the university have been cancelled, with attendance at those classes that still continue reduced by as much as 50 percent. The university has refused to cancel classes despite calls from student and faculty representatives and an occupation of the institutions Senate chamber by student supporters of the strike. Last Tuesday, union and university negotiators returned briefly to the bargaining table. Local 3903 Chairman Devin Lefebvre told reporters that his team had withdrawn several union demands in order to move negotiations forward. However, the employers bargaining team abruptly terminated further discussions, stating that while a number of issues were settled, they remain far apart on wages and on the number of conversions of contract faculty to full-time positions and funding for graduate students. Subsequently, the union filed three unfair labour practices complaints alleging that the university has sent misleading statements to students and even built a web site with a union web address that directs students to a page controlled by the university. Since the strike began, CUPEwhether at the local, regional, or national levelhas remained silent on the threat of government intervention and the Wynne Liberal governments role in imposing austerity, casting the struggle in the most narrow collective bargaining terms. Yet, only last November, the Ontario government imposed back-to-work legislation on 12,000 college teachers. Latin America Buenos Aires transit workers protest over jobs and unpaid wages On March 22, transit workers at three bus lines mobilized, blocked traffic, and rallied at the Labor Ministry, and contingent rail employees rallied at the commuter stations and maintenance facilities. The employees of bus lines 112, 165 and 243 belong to a private company. The protest strike was triggered by unpaid wages and by the disrepair of the company equipment, whose assets are being stripped. Out of the 140 buses owned by the firm, less than half are in working order. The workers, who walked out on March 15, are demanding that the government seize the company from its present owners and re-capitalize it. On the contingent, employees of the C15 rail line carried out a day of struggle to protest layoffs by the company in the form of so-called vacation days. On Friday, at the Moron and Villa Luro train station, many passengers joined the rally in support of the contingent employees, 150 of whom had been informed, in phone calls the previous Friday, not to show up for work for periods of between one and three weeks. Protest against Mexican government inaction on missing students The disappearance of three film students in the town of Tonala, Javier Salomon, 25, Daniel Diaz, 20, and Marco Avalos, 20, filming for a school project, triggered a march by 4,000 University of Guadalajara students and workers on March 24. It appears that government agents picked up the three students as they repaired their car by the side of the road. Also disappeared was Cesar Ulixes Arellano, 18, a University of Guadalajara medical student, who was last seen boarding a bus on Monday March 19. The aim of the protest, which coincided with mass protest marches in the US against shooting violence, was to denounce the indifference of state and federal authorities to the hundreds of students that are disappeared each year. Many students were dressed in white and carried signs saying, It is dangerous to be a student and Am I next? In less than three days, six students were disappeared in Jalisco State, and two were later found. Student protesters pointed out that it took State of Jalisco authorities a crucial 48 hours to announce its intention to investigate the incident. Many fear that, as is often the case, the entire matter will have been forgotten after Easter week. Chile: protest by Haitian berry workers over unpaid wages More than 120 contingent immigrant blueberry workers protested in the Chilean capital of Santiago over wages owed to them by the Austral Berry Company, which grows and processes blueberries for export to the United States and Europe. The workers, most of them from Haiti, where hired at the beginning of this year (the end of summer, in the Southern Hemisphere) for the berry harvest, which lasts about three months. The company showed its total indifference to the plight of these impoverished workers. A spokesperson of Austral Berry justified the companys actions, explaining that on payday, last Wednesday, the company had run out of funds and had been able to pay only a portion of its agricultural workers. All others, she said, would have to wait until the end of April. The United States Northern Illinois University faculty and staff protest over contract Faculty and staff at Northern Illinois University are carrying out weekly protests over stalled talks on a collective bargaining agreement. The members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees have been without a contract for two years. About 1,000 employees are in the bargaining unit, including 600 operational staff. The workers say a 3 percent raise passed by the Board of Trustees is inadequate, saying they want periodic raises. However, the board has held up implementation of the 3 percent increase pending the conclusion of bargaining. Abuse of immigrant workers exposed at large Kansas ranch A report by the Associated Press has exposed severe exploitation of immigrant workers at a large ranch in the region of Syracuse, Kansas. Workers called conditions at the Fullmer Cattle Company ranch like slavery. One of the workers, Esteban Cornejo, a Mexican immigrant, worked at the ranch for eight months putting in 15-hour days, six days a week at $10 an hour. His pre-tax income was $1,828.34. Fullmer deducted $1,300 from his pay to repay the company for the cost of smuggling him into the country, or what management termed a cash advance repayment. As a result, Cornejo received a little over $200 during that pay period, or what amounted to $1 an hour. The company, which supplies cows to 18 dairies across four states, boasts that it has lower labor costs. In 1998, a raid on the owners ranch in Chino, California, uncovered what was described as economic slavery. The United States, European Union countries, Canada and Ukraine expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats on Monday in response to Russia's alleged use of a nerve agent to poison a former Russian spy living in the United Kingdom. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats the US identified as intelligence agents and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, the most forceful action Trump has taken against Russia to date. Of those being expelled, 48 of the alleged intelligence agents work at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 are posted at the United Nations in New York, senior administration officials said. Russia and the United Kingdom have been embroiled in a bitter diplomatic fight since Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, 33-year-old Yulia Skripal, were poisoned in the English cathedral city of Salisbury on March 4. British Prime Minister Theresa May called the broad move "the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history." "We have no disagreement with the Russian people who have achieved so much through their country's great history. But President Putin's regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values," she said Monday. "The United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and NATO to face down these threats." During a debate in the UK parliament on national security and Russia, May gave new details on the Skripal case. "While Public Health England have made clear that the risk to public health is low and this remains the case, we assess that more than 130 people in Salisbury could have been potentially exposed to this nerve agent," she said, adding that more than 50 people were assessed in hospital. "Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain critically ill in hospital. Sadly, late last week doctors indicated their condition is unlikely to change in the near future and they may never recover fully. This shows the utterly barbaric nature of this act and the dangers that hundreds of innocent citizens in Salisbury could have faced." Trump takes action Trump took the action after the US joined the United Kingdom in accusing Russia of attempting earlier this month to murder a former Russian double agent and his daughter using a nerve agent in the town of Salisbury, England. The action comes just 11 days after the Trump administration leveled the first sanctions against Russia for its interference in the 2016 US presidential election. "The United States takes this action in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "Today's actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia's ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America's national security. With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences," she said. "The United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government's behavior." Sanders also added that the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle was tied to the consulate's "proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing." A senior administration official declined to say whether the US believes Russian agents were spying on US submarine bases. The consulate closure and the expulsion of dozens of diplomats came on the heels of the UK's expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats. Fourteen European Union member states, Canada and Ukraine also moved on Monday to expel Russian diplomats. Global response Ukraine expelled 13 Russian diplomats over the incident. Canada, Germany, France and Poland each expelled four Russian diplomats. Italy, Estonia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania and Finland also expelled between one and three diplomats each. "Additional measures, including further expulsions ... are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks," European Council President Donald Tusk said Monday, speaking in Bulgaria. He said the European Council agreed with the UK "that it is highly likely the Russian Federation is responsible" for the poisoning. "We remain critical of the actions of the Russian government," Tusk added. Senior Trump administration officials said the actions were being taken not only as a direct response to that attack, but also to rebuke Russia's "steady drumbeat of destabilizing actions." The actions came less than a week after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his reelection. Trump did not raise the nerve agent attack during the call, and senior administration officials said the two leaders have not spoken since. But a senior administration official said the United States' retaliatory action was "absolutely" Trump's decision, saying it was "something he was involved in from the beginning and that he personally made after several meetings with his team last week." The expulsion still leaves dozens of Russian intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover in the US. A senior administration official said the US estimates more than 100 Russian intelligence officers are currently in the US. Russia said earlier on Monday it planned to retaliate against the US if its diplomats were expelled, with a Kremlin spokesman saying "the principle of reciprocity will be enforced" before the US announced its plans to expel Russians. The move comes about 15 months after the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The Russian government has threatened retaliation over one of the largest mass expulsions of its diplomats in history, after more than 20 countries backed action by the United Kingdom over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury. According to Russian state media Tass, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the government "deeply regretted" the US's decision to expel to their diplomats, and would analyze the situation before submitting a proposal for retaliatory action to Russian President Vladimir Putin to approve. "We already stated and reconfirm that Russia has never had any relation to this (poisoning). We will be guided by the principle of reciprocity as before," Peskov said. The United States announced Monday it would be expelling 60 Russian diplomats and closing the consulate in Seattle, President Donald Trump's toughest diplomatic move against Moscow since he took office in 2017. When the Obama administration expelled 35 diplomats over Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the Russian government told the United States to cut its diplomatic staff inside Russia by 755. Peskov told Tass the Foreign Ministry would submit possible retaliatory measures to President Vladimir Putin for consideration, saying any final decision would lie with the Russian leader. In response to the latest expulsion of diplomats, Russia's United Nations representative Vasily Nebenzia accused the United States of "abusing its rights and obligations" as the host of the UN General Assembly, according to Tass. Nebenzia said the expulsion of diplomats by the United States would hamper Moscow's efforts at the international body. "Of course this is a blow to our mission, but I think we'll mobilize," Nebenzia told Tass. May: Mass expulsion historic Canada, Ukraine and member states of the European Union joined the United States in expelling more than 100 Russian diplomats on Monday. British Prime Minister Theresa May called the worldwide backlash the "the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history." "We have no disagreement with the Russian people who have achieved so much through their country's great history. But President Putin's regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values," she said Monday. The United Kingdom and Russia have been locked in a diplomatic fight since May's government accused Moscow of organizing the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in the UK city of Salisbury. Skripal and his daughter Yulia were both exposed to a potentially deadly nerve agent, according to British authorities, and remain in a critical condition in hospital. "We assess that more than 130 people in Salisbury could have been potentially exposed to this nerve agent," May said on Monday, adding the Skripals may never fully recover from the attack. Russia has repeatedly and strongly denied it was involved in the Salisbury attack and has even suggested the United Kingdom itself could have been behind the poisoning. US protests Russia's 'destabilizing actions' As of Tuesday morning, 13 Russian diplomats were expelled from Ukraine, while Canada, Germany, France and Poland each expelled four. More than a dozen other countries, including Australia, Italy and the Netherlands, have each expelled between one and three Russian diplomats or intelligence officers. European Council President Donald Trusk wouldn't rule out on Monday the possibility of further expulsions of diplomats in the days to come. New Zealand said it would also expel Russian spies -- if it had any. "While other countries have announced they are expelling undeclared Russian intelligence agents, officials have advised there are no individuals here in New Zealand who fit this profile," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a statement Tuesday. "If there were, we would have already taken action." The European Council has joined the United Kingdom and the United States in saying the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter was almost certainly the work of the Russian government. Senior Trump administration officials told CNN the decision to expel the diplomats wasn't just taken in response to the attack, but also in protest to Russia's "steady drumbeat of destabilizing actions." The mass expulsion comes less than a week after US President Trump called Putin to congratulate him on his re-election as President of Russia, against the recommendations of his advisers. Other nations decline to expel Russians A handful of EU countries suggested they wouldn't be following suit and expelling Russian diplomats, among them Austria and Portugal. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted that while he stood behind the European Council's decision to recall the EU ambassador from Moscow, Austria wanted to be "bridge-builders between East and West and keep communication channels to Russia open." Similarly, Portugal expressed its "solidarity with the United Kingdom" over the Salisbury attack, though stopped short of expelling Russian diplomats in a statement. Turkey also said it would not be taking action, with Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdag telling reporters in Ankara on Monday: "There is a positive and good relation between Turkey and Russia." China, a key ally of Russia, has urged countries to "abandon a Cold War mentality." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Tuesday that "relevant countries" should "avoid taking any actions that would aggravate the conflict." North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is believed to have wrapped up an unprecedented whirlwind trip to the Chinese capital, ahead of a planned summit with his South Korean counterpart and a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump. An official with deep knowledge of North Korea told CNN Tuesday there was a "strong possibility" that Kim was in Beijing after speculation began swirling late Monday about the arrival of a high-level North Korean official. The rumors started after images were shared online of what appeared to be a train that belongs to North Korea's ruling Kim family arriving in Beijing, and intensified as security officials closed roads outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where North Korean leaders have previously stayed. Analysts said the visit was likely aimed at shoring up Pyongyang's relationship with China, its traditional ally and economic benefactor, after a diplomatic thaw that took many observers by surprise earlier this year. If Kim did make the journey from Pyongyang to the Chinese capital, it would be the first time the young leader has left his home country since taking power after his father's death in 2011. When asked Tuesday if the North Korean leader was in Beijing, Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, said she had "no idea." A CNN team saw a motorcade arriving at Beijing Station on Tuesday afternoon and Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that the distinctive green, armored train had left the Chinese capital, presumably bound for Pyongyang. Surprise visit The unannounced visit followed a flurry of diplomacy that saw North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang last month. The thawing of relations soon led to the bombshell announcements that Kim would meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April, and that Trump had accepted an offer to meet Kim. South Korean officials who visited Pyongyang as part of diplomatic preparations earlier this month had implored Kim to meet with Trump, the source close to North Korea told CNN Tuesday. Kim verbally agreed, but didn't think it would be publicized or happen so soon. He was even more surprised that the United States and South Korea made a big announcement regarding a meeting between the two leaders, the source said. Trump said that the unprecedented meeting with Kim would take place by May , although a spokesman said Monday that the White House was "looking forward to a potential summit some months in advance." Ties with China North Korea's relations with China, a traditional ally, have been strained since Kim purged several top-ranking officials close to Beijing, including his uncle, Jang Song Thaek. Tensions were heightened in 2017 after a string of missile tests, which rankled China's leaders and resulted in multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions targeting North Korea's ability to bring in cash. Experts have noted that while China has publicly lauded peaceful efforts to resolve tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it may have feared being relegated to the sidelines in developments that could shake up regional geopolitics. Tong Zhao, a North Korea expert at the Carnegie Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in Beijing, said the visit may have been geared toward enlisting China's support ahead of Kim's proposed summit with Trump, and as a back-up plan should diplomatic talks fail. "North Korea wants to have some insurance against this upcoming summit meeting with President Trump ... the meeting is very important but also very risky," he said. "If the meeting fails, the US could declare that diplomacy has failed and shift to a more coercive approach or even a military strike." China has a mutual defense treaty with North Korea under which both parties pledge to "immediately render military and other assistance by all means at its disposal" in the event of war or foreign attack, though some analysts have called into question whether Beijing would honor it. In the absence of official confirmation of Kim's visit to Beijing, analysts speculated that another high-ranking official could have made the trip. "I think we are left either with the possibility of it being Kim Jong Un or Kim Yo Jong," Michael Madden, an expert in North Korean leadership said earlier Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong is Kim's sister and the head of the Korean Workers' Party's Propaganda and Agitation department. Kim Yo Jong last left North Korea to attend the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February, when she twice shook hands with South Korea's Moon, and passed him a personal invitation to visit Pyongyang. The approach led to plans for a summit between Moon and Kim. "Numerous other senior officials could and would have taken a private plane, possibly departing without any fanfare in Pyongyang and arranging to establish an unobtrusive arrival with the Chinese authorities," Madden said. Both Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, the current leader's father and grandfather respectively, traveled by heavily armored train when they visited their allies in China and Russia. The South Korean government also said it couldn't confirm whether the North Korean leader was in Beijing. If he was, Moon's administration said it would be positive sign that shows ties between Pyongyang and Beijing are improving, a senior official with the Blue House -- South Korea's equivalent of the White House -- told reporters. Raj Shah, a spokesman for the White House, said he could not confirm the reports of Kim visiting Beijing when asked about them Monday. "We don't know if they're necessarily true," he said. Calling the situation in Syria's Eastern Ghouta "a travesty," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley admonished the Russian government Tuesday for "deception, hypocrisy and brutality" on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad. "I would ask my Security Council colleagues to consider whether we are wrong when we point to Russian and Iranian forces working alongside Assad as being responsible for this slaughter," said Haley, who further accused the Russian government of exploiting UN ceasefire negotiations to help Assad advance his campaign against opposition forces. "Russia cynically negotiated a ceasefire it instantly defied," she said. But Haley -- known for delivering blistering remarks at the council, particularly against Russia -- reserved some of her strongest admonitions for her UN colleagues, who she reprimanded for not holding Russia and Syria accountable with a tougher ceasefire agreement and stronger condemnations of Assad and his allies. "This is a travesty," said Haley. "This should be a day of shame for every member of this council, and it should be a lesson about what happens when we focus on fleeting displays of unity, instead of on what's right. " "History will not be kind when it judges the effectiveness of this council in relieving the suffering of the Syrian people," she noted. The Security Council met Tuesday to consider the effectiveness of previous resolutions concerning Syria. "The last few months have been some of the worst yet for many civilians inside Syria," the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock reported to the council before Haley spoke, outlining the dire humanitarian situation in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, one of the last significant rebel-held areas in the country. The Syrian regime has conducted a sweeping campaign to flush rebel fighters from key parts of the country, including Eastern Ghouta, with the backing of their powerful ally Russia and its warplanes. Last month, the Security Council adopted a ceasefire resolution to allow for the delivery of emergency aid and the evacuation of the wounded from some of Syria's hardest-hit areas, including Eastern Ghouta. 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. But the Russian delegation kept trying to water it down to delay implementation, the diplomats said. The resolution that was ultimately adopted provided little detail on when the 30-day ceasefire was meant to begin, how it would be enforced or even whether all the parties concerned were aware of it. In the weeks since the resolution was adopted, the UN estimates that over 1,700 people have been killed and thousands more have been injured in military operations in Eastern Ghouta. Last week, hundreds of rebels evacuated the city after striking a deal for safe passage with the Syrian regime. "Siege, starve, and surrender," said Haley. "This is the awful, unceasing rhythm of the Syrian war." In his remarks, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya insisted Russia was the only council member taking steps to advance the ceasefire, and had provided for to the voluntary evacuations of civilians from Eastern Ghouta. He further called on the United Nations to help rebuild areas he said were "liberated from terrorists" by the Syrian regime. A former professional clown wants to join the circus in Washington. Steve Lough, who has worked for Ringling Bros. circus, is running for the Democratic nomination in South Carolina's 5th Congressional District. And he's leaning into his past profession. His campaign website is registered under the domain clownforcongress.com, which includes a photo of him in clown makeup and videos of him juggling, asking South Carolinians to get out and vote in the June primary. His campaign signage features the "o" in his name as a red clown nose. His campaign slogan -- "Aim High! Vote Lough!" -- is a play on the phonetics of his name, which is pronounced like "low." Lough is one of three Democrats candidates vying to face off against Republican incumbent Rep. Ralph Norman, who was a former real estate developer before he was elected to Congress. He won last year's special election to replace former Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who left the House to serve as the director of the office of management and budget. Norman eked out a 51%-48% victory against Democrat Archie Parnell, a former Goldman-Sachs managing director and ex-tax attorney for ExxonMobil, in a district that Trump won by 18 percentage points in 2016. Despite last year's competitive race for the seat, experts currently believe Norman will likely win reelection in November. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently added the race to its list of battlefield districts, hoping a presumed strong year for them will flip this seat held by Republicans since 2011. The other Democrats in the current primary field include Parnell and Mark Ali, a former undocumented immigrant, according to his Facebook page. Lough also has Ivy League chops; he graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in anthropology before attending Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Clown College and later joining a troupe. Lough, a first-time candidate, says he's against arming teachers in schools, supports an assault weapons ban, wants a single payer health care system, and believes Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients should be naturalized citizens, according to his campaign website. Lough says on his website that horror of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, is what motivated to him to consider a run for public office, and he touted his experience in the circus as a prerequisite. "Living on the train, touring America by rail, and working with performers, both human and animal, from all different parts of the world was the best education of all!" he writes on his campaign page. "When you sweat beside a person and laugh with them, wherever they are from, whatever the color of their skin, whatever God they worship, you learn to love all of humanity. Those values, love, mutual respect, and a common goal of working together to put on The Greatest Show On Earth, are what Steve hopes to bring to the Congress of the greatest country on earth!" A representative for Lough's campaign did not respond to an interview request from CNN. MOOREVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - A weekend house fire in Mooreville leaves a family without its beloved pets. The fire happened Saturday night at a home on Schoolhouse Road in Mooreville. Two dogs, one cat and a duck all died in the blaze. No humans were inside the house at the time of the fire. The homeowner, Wendy Kilgore, said she learned of the fire via Facebook while waiting for her dad to have emergency surgery at the hospital. Kilgore is thankful her family of four was not home. Kilgore's 7-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter would have been asleep in their room, which was badly damaged by the fire. Mooreville Fire Chief Ron Witte believes a space heater in the bathroom may have sparked the blaze. However, the fire remains under investigation. Wendy Kilgore said many people in the community have reached out to find out how they can help. You can donate to the Kilgore family by clicking the link below. https://www.youcaring.com/wendykilgore-1145217 JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Lawmakers are approving a slight increase in Mississippi's K-12 education budget, although most of additional money won't go to the main formula that funds public schools. The House and Senate on Monday approved House Bill 1592, sending it to Gov. Phil Bryant for his approval or veto. The measure provides $2.2 billion in state money for school spending in the budget year beginning July 1. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program, as the public school funding formula is called, will get a slight increase to pay higher health insurance costs for teachers. Lawmakers will expand spending on a program that pays for 4 year olds to attend preschool, allowing expansion to more communities. The state will spend more on teacher bonuses for schools that perform well in the state's rating system. Tupelo Partly Cloudy 52 Hi: 79 Lo: 51 Feels Like: 52 More Weather Columbus Partly Cloudy 51 Hi: 79 Lo: 50 Feels Like: 51 More Weather Oxford Partly Cloudy 48 Hi: 76 Lo: 47 Feels Like: 48 More Weather Starkville Partly Cloudy 51 Hi: 78 Lo: 51 Feels Like: 51 More Weather Fall has started off exactly as you would have anticipated and it looks like we should have a number of dry days still ahead, but this isnt a permanent switch, because heat is pegged to return. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Mississippi lawmakers on Monday approved most remaining parts of the state budget for the year beginning July 1, and negotiators filed a proposal to keep the Medicaid program alive and running. Medicaid is government health insurance program for the needy and is paid by federal and state money. It covers about 1 in 4 Mississippi residents. The program comes up for a thorough legislative review every few years, including this one. Hospital administrators have been lobbying lawmakers to let hospitals get a piece of Medicaid's managed care program that is now run by other companies. Senate Medicaid Committee Chairman Brice Wiggins, a Republican from Pascagoula, said negotiators rejected that idea. The Medicaid plan is in Senate Bill 2836 , which governs who gets paid for providing health care and how. The plan includes provisions designed to give a financial boost to rural hospitals. It also gives Medicaid administrators more flexibility, within federal laws and regulations, to determine how many physicians' visits are allowed, and it allows flexibility for reimbursement for certain drugs, implantable drug system devices and medical supplies. Mississippi would spend more than $900 million in state dollars on Medicaid in the coming year. Because Mississippi is poor, the federal government provides about $3 for every $1 from the state. Other parts of the budget went to Gov. Phil Bryant for his approval or veto, including the state's K-12 education budget. House Bill 1592 provides $2.2 billion in state money for school spending in the budget year beginning July 1. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program, as the public school funding formula is called, will get a slight increase to pay higher health insurance costs for teachers. Lawmakers will spend another $2.5 million on a program that pays for 4-year-olds to attend preschool, allowing expansion beyond the current 14 communities that the program serves. Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, an Oxford Republican, told senators that should allow the state to serve another thousand children, bringing the total served to 3,000. The state will spend more on teacher bonuses for schools that get As and Bs in the state's rating system or go up a grade. Tollison said that shows more schools are performing well. Education is the largest part of the $6.1 billion budget that legislators are pushing through in the closing days of the 2018 regular session. Lawmakers continued talks The Legislature also voted Sunday for the state to borrow more than $250 million, including: $82.3 million for university projects; $50 million to replace local bridges; $45 million for improvements at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula; $36 million for state agency buildings; $25 million for community colleges. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Putting gun control at the top of his to-do list, Democratic Florida Gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine said Tuesday he'll push a ban on assault weapons, including a ballot referendum, if necessary, should he be elected governor. Speaking to the Capital City Tiger Bay Club, Levine rattled off a list of accomplishments he says he achieved during eight years as mayor of Miami Beach, including addressing climate change, cleaning up the city's police department, and passing the state's only minimum-wage ordinance which was later struck down by the courts. When asked what his priorities would be if elected Florida's next governor, Levine said a ban on assault weapons would be at the top of his list. If the Republican-controlled Legislature won't approve the ban, Levine says he would back an initiative to put the prohibition on the 2020 ballot. "I'm going to make sure that we have a referendum. That referendum is going to say, number one, do you want to ban assault rifles in Florida?" said Levine. "And, number two, if we can't get Tallahassee to do what we need them to do, would you like the local governments in Florida to have the right and ability to regulate their own gun safety policy? I believe Floridians will say absolutely yes." Levine is in a hotly contested primary against Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Graham, and Orlando entrepreneur Chris King to capture the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed Governor Rick Scott, who can't seek re-election due to term limits. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The alcohol ban is officially lifted at Florida State University. It was put in place after fraternity pledge Andrew Coffey died last November. After nearly five months of restrictions and discussions, both FSU leaders and students are optimistic change is taking place. "How do we change our culture to make it a healthier one?" asked Amy Hecht, FSU's Vice President of Student Affairs. This is a question FSU leaders and students have been asking themselves for months. After Coffey died last fall, FSU leaders realized serious changes had to be made. "Our students, we know [they] are coming to universities and they're coming to Florida State having witnessed hazing, been hazed or been the hazer," said Hecht. "We know these unhealthy behaviors aren't always starting at the university. That's part of making sure the students understand the expectation." Hecht says FSU is hiring more staff to work directly with students. The university is also requiring student organization members and leaders go through special 'risk management' training. University officials say it was important to lift the ban so the young adults at FSU learn how to consume alcohol responsibly. "Alcohol in itself is not bad, it's the abuse of alcohol," said Hecht. "Our new policies and procedures include third-party vendors checking identification, ensuring that there are transportation protocols in place, helping them understand what the signs are of alcohol poisoning." Students are also optimistic this will be a positive change for FSU. "I think that the ban was good for Greek life because it gave them a moment to stop and reflect on some of the negative culture that I know has been brewing around those kind of organizations," said FSU senior Aaron Kudja. "It's a very heavy binge drinking culture. I think the ban has been good for them to learn, reform it and have it be less about binge drinking and have it be more about coming together as a community," Kudja continued. Organizations are still required to let the university know about all fundraisers, social events, and sisterhood or brotherhood events. On top of that, chapters will be required to register events online if alcohol will be served. ORLANDO, Fla. (WTXL) - A federal judge in Central Florida rejected a defense argument for a mistrial for the widow of the Pulse nightclub shooter. Lawyers for Noor Salman said prosecutors did not disclose key evidence, including that Omar Mateen's father was a confidential FBI informant. The judge announced the decision, saying Salman's case wasn't harmed because the government never called Mateen's father as a witness. Over the weekend, prosecutors revealed to the defense that Mateen's father had been an FBI informant for 11-years before the attack. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The lawyer representing the family of the Florida State pledge who died from alcohol poisoning at an off-campus frat party is responding to FSU's decision to lift it's ban on alcohol. David Bianchi, who's representing Andrew Coffey's family, thinks that the decision to lift the alcohol ban on campus was made too soon. He says criminal charges for the nine Pi Kappa Phi members involved in Coffey's death haven't even been resolved yet. "Andrew died only a short time ago," said Bianchi. "So yes, frankly, it's too soon to lift the alcohol ban." He also says that the majority of individuals that belong to these organizations are under 21 anyways so lifting the ban only impacts a fraction of the student population. When asked about the workshops that recognized student organizations and Greek organizations will be required to take if the decide they want to have alcohol at events, Bianchi called the policy, 'window dressing." TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida State University has lifted its ban on alcohol for all recognized student organizations. However, according to the vice president for student affairs Dr. Amy Hecht, recognized student organizations must complete risk management training before being allowed to host events with alcohol. The ban, which was self-imposed by the university for five months, was officially lifted Monday with the expectation that organization leaders will review the FSU Alcohol Policy and complete the required trainings. Fraternities and sororities in good standing with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) that have completed risk management training offered by OFSL, will also be permitted to host social events with alcohol. However, chapters will be required to continue providing notices of all events to OFSL, including social events, philanthropies, sisterhood/brotherhood events, etc. In addition to providing notices for all events, chapters will be required to register events with alcohol here. "The Student Activities Center staff will continue to offer training and advising, and will continue supporting all student organizations to prevent dangerous and unsafe conduct and behaviors," Hecht wrote in the letter to recognized student organizations' presidents and advisors. "The university also will continue to engage students as we strive for a safer, healthier community for all." WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - After a year-long investigation, a Wakulla County mobile home salesman has been arrested, accused of scamming an elderly, blind man out of $20,000. The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office says that they received a complaint about James Bennett, the owner and operator of Bennett Better Built Homes, back in March 2017. The complaint alleged that on March 10, a 68-year-old man who is legally blind and needs assistance with daily activities, applied for financing to purchase a $59,000 manufactured home from Bennett. The man made a $20,000 down payment to Bennett and intended to finance the rest. According to the complaint, Bennett led the man to believe that he would receive documents detailing the transaction the next day, and that they would be explained to him since he was legally blind. However, the man never got the documents he signed and nothing was explained to him. On March 13, the 68-year-old finally got documents detailing the purchase price of the home, which included $11,221 in closing costs in addition to sales tax, title fees, etc. In total, the price had gone from $59,000 to $75,042, something the man had not agreed to. The man then contacted Bennett, telling him that he didn't agree to the increased price, wanted to cancel the sale, and wanted a refund. Bennett reportedly told the man that he would return the down payment on March 17, 2017. But the man never got it. In May 2017, WCSO detectives contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a squad that specializes in financial investigations. Through further investigation, FDLE was able to corroborate the complaint with solid evidence. By refusing to return the man's money, investigators determined that Bennett knowingly and intentionally deprived him of $20,000. On March 16, 2018, the findings were brought to the State Attorney's Office in Crawfordville and a warrant for Bennett's arrest was issued three days after. On Tuesday, Bennett was arrested and charged with exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult. He was booked into the Wakulla County Jail. According to the Better Business Bureau, Bennett Better Built Homes was established in 2010. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Sen. Bill Montford said he won't run to try to become Tallahassee Mayor Bill Montford. Montford (D-Tallahassee) told WTXL ABC 27 Tuesday that his current position allows him to "do a lot of good." "It was indeed an honor and very humbling to be asked to run for Mayor of Tallahassee," Montford said in a statement sent to WTXL ABC 27. "While it was wonderful to consider, I took some time to to think about the opportunity. My position within the Senate allows my to do a lot of good for the people of North FL." In the Senate, he is chair of Commerce and Tourism committee and vice chair of the Communications, Energy and Public Utilities committee. "Tallahassee is a great city, and I wish anyone who runs for Mayor the best of luck however my time is better spent serving the constituents of the 11 counties I preside over," said Montford. "I am honored to have served eight years in the Senate, and my leadership position will continue to help me better serve those constituents." A former Leon County Commissioner, Montford was once the superintendent of the Leon County Schools, where he began working as a math teacher in 1969. He later served as an assistant principal and a principal. Mayor Andrew Gillum, in his first term as mayor, is campaigning to become the next Florida governor. Tallahassee City Commissioner Gil Ziffer pulled out of the mayoral race in January. Two men are in the race to become mayor: Erik David, a veteran who calls himself a "social democrat," and Joe West, a Vietnam veteran. Montford, who has served in the Senate since 2010, will reach his term limit in 2020. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Mixing art, fundraising and a cold brew ... Capital City residents went to Proof Brewing Company Monday night for the 4th Annual Arts and Drafts Fundraiser benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Bend. Unique artwork was on display by area artists for people to bid on. The beers were all paired with food provided by local restaurants. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Many members of the Tallahassee community came out on Saturday for the 'March For Our Lives' rally outside the Florida Capitol. WTXL ABC 27 spoke to the FSU student who organized the local gun violence protest. Matthew Harris, the freshman who helped make the local rally possible, says plans are underway for an FSU chapter of Students Demand Action. He says, classrooms are places for learning, not places to worry about gunfire. That's exactly why the group wants to start a new campaign for students to get involved and demand gun control reform. Harris says, this cause hits close to home for him. He graduated from Stoneman Douglas High School last year and his sister was in class at Stoneman during the shooting. "After the shooting, I really felt a responsibility to do something and take a leadership role in the movement," said Harris. "So I decided to plan a Facebook event just kind of out of pure emotion and grief and everything else, that grew to about 2,800 people." The rally even attracted people from nearby cities who wanted to join in on the protest. Harris says, it was encouraging to see the Tallahassee community stand in solidarity. He says the group of students leading the local movement are hoping to create change with a new FSU chapter of Students Demand Action. RIVERTON A bill the Wyoming Legislature approved this year saved Fremont County School District 2 in Dubois from a more than 3 percent reduction in funding. RIVERTON A bill the Wyoming Legislature approved this year saved Fremont County School District 2 in Dubois from a more than 3 percent reduction in funding. The district still will suffer the largest cut in the state, however: The Legislative Services Office says FCSD 2 is the only district set to face a reduction of more than 1 percent next year. House Bill 140 - school finance amendments... Candidacy opens up House Dist. 28 race THERMOPOLIS - State Representative Nathan Winters, R-Thermopolis, announced his candidacy Monday for Wyoming State Auditor. "I am running for Wyoming State Auditor because I can bring vision and a plan for action to the auditor's office that will help Wyoming taxpayers while keeping government small and close to the people," said Winters. "The auditor's office should promote transparency and go... WORLAND Worland parent Sarah Lungren, speaking on behalf of herself and her husband Clint, read a letter to the Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees requesting that they consider arming at least one staff member at each school. In the letter to the Worland school board, the Lungrens state, In light of the recent school shootings in Florida and Maryland we are extremely... TOKYO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's transport ministry on Monday asked a local district court to fine Nissan Motor Co. for not adhering to warnings given to the automaker to refrain from using uncertified staff to conduct vehicle inspections. In September last year, following both internal and external probes, Nissan was ordered to fix its substandard operations after it came to light that the malpractice was still taking place three weeks after the ministry issued the order. According to sources with knowledge of the matter, at the automaker's plant in Tochigi Prefecture, 107 final vehicle inspections were carried out after Nissan was ordered to correct its business practices. The relevant fine here, thus, could reach 32.1 million yen (305,592 U.S. dollars) as under Japanese law, Nissan can be fined up to 300,000 yen (2,859 U.S. dollars) for each car affected by the uncertified vehicle checks. While the ministry itself has not brought charges against Nissan, the Yokohama District Court will now decide whether the fines are applicable to the automaker for knowingly using staff who had yet to be certified to conduct final vehicle checks. Nissan was forced to halt shipments and production at all six of its assembly plants in October last year after it was revealed that uncertified inspections were still occurring even after the scandal first came to light in September. The final inspections conducted on vehicles by unqualified personnel at Nissan also led to the automaker issuing a domestic recall of some 1.2 million cars sold in Japan over the past three years. The transport ministry thereafter began conducting inspections at Nissan's plants as it stepped up measures to ensure the embattled automaker's practice of using uncertified staff to carry out safety checks would be curbed and preventative measures put in place. Such measures included Nissan carrying out final inspections on vehicles in areas that were not connected to other inspection lines and external probes being carried out on a weekly basis. But even after the transport ministry's intervention, it was revealed in November that Nissan may have given inaccurate information to the ministry, leading to Keiichi Ishii, minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, blasting the automaker for routinely using unqualified staff for final vehicle inspections which had undermined ministry-standard procedures for certified technicians. According to an internal investigation at Nissan, it was revealed that improper final inspections on vehicles had become an inherent practice at the Yokohama-based automaker and dates back as far as 20 years. Nissan had routinely not been following standardized procedures and protocols for final inspections that are required by Japan's transport ministry to be conducted on all vehicles sold in Japan, the investigation revealed. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa conceded that the automaker's training system for certifying vehicle inspection staff had not changed for 20 years with final inspections routinely conducted by uncertified technicians. Ishii maintained at the time that such negligence of compliance has been undermining the nation's regulatory system. He said that the government has since stepped up its overseeing of a number of manufacturers here, including Kobe Steel, itself mired in a data standard fabrication scandal. The transport ministry has said however that it has found no cases of improper inspections conducted by Japanese automakers, other than those already revealed at Nissan and Subaru Corp., based on reports submitted by 24 makers at the ministry's request. Subaru Corp. in late October announced it would move to recall around 255,000 after it was revealed that final vehicle inspections had also been carried out by uncertified staff. The recall was applicable to the firm's entire range of 12 models that have been sold over the past three years, the Tokyo-based automaker said. The results of an internal probe were reported to the transport ministry after it was revealed that uncertified staff had also been carrying out inspections at two of Subaru's plants in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. The probe disclosed that the malpractice had been going on for around 30 years at the automaker, underscoring growing aspersions about inherently lax corporate governance and shop floor oversights and malpractice at some of Japan's bellwether manufacturers. Saikawa in talks with Ishii on Monday was told both verbally and in writing that Nissan would continue to be under government surveillance for the foreseeable future. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 01:44:00|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov (Front) attends an UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East at the UN headquarters in New York, March 26, 2018. The UN Secretariat has received the U.S. decision to expel 12 diplomats of the Russian mission to the world body, said a UN spokesman on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN Secretariat has received the U.S. decision to expel 12 diplomats of the Russian mission to the world body, said a UN spokesman on Monday. "I can confirm that the United States mission to the United Nations informed the Secretariat of its decision to take action under Section 13 (b) of the UN-U.S. Headquarters Agreement with respect to certain members of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations. This action may require those members to leave the country (of the United States)," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told a daily press briefing. "Given the sensitivity of the matter, which is ongoing, we will not comment further at this stage other than to confirm that the secretary-general will closely follow this matter and engage, as appropriate, with the governments concerned," said Haq. Washington has announced the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats -- 48 from Washington and 12 from the Russian UN mission in New York, as well as the closure of the Russian Consulate-General in Seattle. The U.S. action is said to show solidarity with its ally Britain, which claimed that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning of a former Russian spy on March 4 in Britain with a military-grade nerve agent. Russia has denied involvement in the case. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 02:19:11|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Calligrapher Yuan Qiming works on Chinese calligraphy at Acropolis museum in Athens, Greece, March 23, 2018. Two artists from the Shanghai Museum initiated visitors to the Acropolis Museum in Athens into the traditional Chinese arts of calligraphy and painting. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Alexia Vlachou ATHENS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Two artists from the Shanghai Museum initiated visitors to the Acropolis Museum in Athens into the traditional Chinese arts of calligraphy and painting. Calligrapher and exhibition designer and associate curator Yuan Qiming and painter and assistant curator of painting and calligraphy Dr. Yan Xiaojun worked before visitors, as if they were in their own private studios. The Athens Acropolis Museum hosted a four-day workshop from March 22-25 in the context of a memorandum of cooperation signed between the two museums and the 2017 Greece-China Year of Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation in Creative Industries. "I think visitors are very interested in the Chinese techniques of calligraphy and painting," President of the Acropolis Museum Prof. Dimitris Pantermalis told Xinhua. In the framework of cooperation between the two museums, two treasures from Shanghai Museum are on display at the Acropolis Museum for an exhibition which will last until April 30. The two masterpieces are the bronze pan of Zi Zhong Jiang which dates back to the 7th century B.C. (Early Spring and Autumn Period), and the hand scroll painting "Travelling along the Clear River" created by artist Wu Hong in the 17th century (the Qing dynasty). "We have brought to the Acropolis museum two pieces of exhibits that is a bronze pan and a hand scroll of Chinese painting that represent the ancient Chinese art. We are going to paint a landscape and I will show you the calligraphy of Chinese in ancient times, the clerical script of Chinese," Yuan said. He presented major script types of Chinese calligraphy, one of the trademarks of Chinese culture. "I am surprised when I am writing, some of the visitors know so much about Chinese culture and they can tell what I am writing. It is amazing," he said. For his part, Dr. Yan improvised in his painting with free hand skill and ink-wash just as the literati painters did, with various subjects such as colored landscape and flowers. "I have performed similar paintings just like we have here exhibited on display in the museum. I depicted yesterday a landscape of China and I will paint another landscape in north China. They have similarities, but you can see the differences between the landscapes from the north and south. I used special techniques to depict different kind of rocks in the landscape," Dr. Yan explained. Chinese painting is an art, which has a deep-rooted tradition and a unique style, employing a "dots and lines" structure and the writing brush, ink stick, silk and Xuan paper as the main tools. In the spirit of exchange, two exquisite objects from the Acropolis Museum are being exhibited at the Shanghai museum up until April 8. The two antiquities loaned are a marble statue of a Kore (520-510 BC), one of the most beautiful and well-preserved sculptures of the Acropolis, which retains traces of its archaic colors, and a red-figure basin lid with a Dionysian scene (350-325 BC). "We have sent to Shanghai two masterpieces from the Acropolis Museum and we sent also two conservators to present there the way the ancient Greeks worked with marble, how they made sculptures. This was realized with great success," Pantermalis said. "In the future we prepare a major exhibition with a special theme with some very personal objects of the Emperor Qianlong. They are now in the Forbidden City and we will present these pieces in the fall this year in the Acropolis Museum," he said. LISBON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The National Statistics Institute (INE) unexpectedly included the Portuguese state's 3.9 billion euros recapitalization of Caixa Geral de Depositos (CGD) bank in 2017 deficit figures published on Monday. Without the recapitalization, Portugal registered a deficit of 0.9 percent of GDP in 2017, a record low. But with it, the deficit came in at 3 percent, a jump up from the 2 percent recorded in 2016 and a trigger level for the launch of European Union (EU) Excessive Deficit Procedures. Mario Centeno, Portugal's finance minister, criticized the methodology used by the INE, as stipulated by Eurostat, the European Union's umbrella statistical association. "Eurostat advocates recording the recapitalization of CGD in the deficit and that's wrong," Centeno told a press conference in Lisbon. "It goes against the decision reached by the European Commission, against European treaties and it does not properly reflect that this was an investment in CGD made by its shareholder, the Portuguese state." Centeno is essentially arguing that the 3.9 billion euros paid out in early 2017 should count as shareholder investment and not state aid. But the INE is sticking to its own criteria and says it will submit an Excessive Deficit Procedure notification to Eurostat by the end of next month. According to EU rules, any member state running up a deficit of 3 percent or more is subjected to monitoring. Portugal last exited the Excessive Deficit Procedure program in May 2017. (1 euro = 1.24 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 02:34:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangdong Province, an innovation powerhouse, has pledged to support more fundamental and applied research to cultivate more innovation-oriented companies and attract more professionals. At a provincial sci-tech innovation conference held Monday, Guangdong said that it aimed to become a comprehensive national science center, and it would accelerate construction of four provincial laboratories, and planned to build more. The southern province was ranked first in China in terms of regional innovation capability in 2017. It is home to the most national high-tech companies, 33,000, nearly 40 percent of which were set up last year. It also has the most high-tech incubators in the country, with Shenzhen an impressive example. However, the province believes that it needs to beef up fundamental and applied research, optimize research structure and resources, upgrade the growth of innovative companies and attract more top professionals. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 02:49:21|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close GENEVA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government's latest tariff plan on imports from China contradicts its commitments that such a decision be based only on the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), said China's top envoy at the WTO on Monday. Speaking here at the WTO goods council meeting, Zhang Xiangchen, the Chinese ambassador to the WTO, said that what the United States had done contradicts its commitments made at the WTO more than a decade ago. Zhang noted in his speech that the United States had "explicitly, officially, repeatedly and unconditionally confirmed" that it would base a "Section 301" decision only on adopted DSB findings. "Section 301" is a measure under the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 that allows the president to take all appropriate action, including retaliation, if an investigation finds foreign trade practices burden or restrict U.S. commerce or are unreasonable or discriminatory. "According to the WTO rulings and the U.S. commitment, the U.S. shall by no means determine unilaterally based on a 301 investigation that other members have violated the WTO rules," Zhang said during a meeting of WTO's Council on Trade in Goods. Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to 60 billion U.S. dollars of imports from China and restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States. The memorandum is based on a Section 301 investigation, launched by the Trump administration in August 2017, into alleged Chinese intellectual property and technology transfer practices. Accusing the United States of "setting a very bad precedent by bluntly breaching its commitment made to the world", Zhang called on WTO members to "jointly prevent the resurrection of 301 investigations and lock this beast back into the cage of the WTO rules". He also reiterated that China is fully prepared to react to the conclusions and measures of Section 301 by the U.S., and would firmly take the WTO rules and other necessary ways to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 03:14:25|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN agency dealing with trade and development said Monday it has teamed up in Hangzhou with the Alibaba Group in a special 11-day course to empower over five years 1,000 e-commerce entrepreneurs from developing countries. Thirty-seven e-commerce entrepreneurs from Asia have enrolled at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Alibaba Business School's eFounders Initiative at the Alibaba campus in Hangzhou, UNCTAD said in a statement. The 11-day course is part of a commitment by Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of the Alibaba Group and an UNCTAD special adviser. "We want to reach out to youth and include them in the work we do for inclusive and sustainable economic growth," Arlette Verploegh, coordinator for the eFounders Initiative at UNCTAD, said. She noted that the initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide for young entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their potential. "It is part of a set of smart partnerships UNCTAD is creating to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," said Verploegh. The launch of the first program for Asian entrepreneurs comes after the success of the inaugural class for 24 African participants last November. Following a rigorous selection process, the final candidates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will study e-commerce innovations from China and around the world and become eFounders Fellows. It aims for the young entrepreneurs to become catalysts in their home countries for the digital transformation of their economies. All the participants are founders of start-up companies in e-commerce, big data, logistics, financial technology, payment solutions and tourism. "We are excited to extend this fellowship to entrepreneurs from Asia for the very first time as part of our commitment to empower digital champions and communities around the world," said Brian A. Wong, Vice President of Alibaba Group, who heads the Global Initiatives program. Under the 2030 SDG agenda, the initiative is aligned with the call to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital economy, and to help bridge the digital divide faced by businesses in emerging markets. The program was first announced in 2017 by Jack Ma in his capacity as the UNCTAD Special Adviser for Young Entrepreneurs and Small Business when he, together with Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, visited Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 03:19:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Electricity consumed in Switzerland is ever greener and cleaner, with more than 62 percent of electric power from renewable sources and nuclear down to 17 percent, according to a latest report by the Federal Office of Energy on Monday. The report, which refers to statistics in 2016, gathers each year the sources used by electricity providers in Switzerland. As expected, hydropower, accounting for 56 percent, is the biggest source of electricity, marking an increase of 2.5 percentage points on the previous year. Other renewables, including solar, wind, biomass and small-scale hydropower, made up 5.9 percent, a one-point increase on 2015. Together that means just over three-fifths of electricity provided in the country in 2016 came from renewable sources, due in part to the slight decline in the use of nuclear from 20.7 to 17 percent. Another 20 percent comes from unverified sources. The Federal Office of Energy explains that energy used by high-consuming businesses is often bought on the European market and is not traced within Switzerland. Much of it may be fossil fuel burning. Overall the figures tie in closely with the government's Energy Strategy 2050, a sweeping plan endorsed by voters last year that aims to completely phase out nuclear by the mid-point of the century, as well as to promote renewable sources and reduce consumption. The Federal Office of Energy also noted that the electricity consumption figures should not be confused with those for overall energy produced. Due to reasons of import and export, overall about 59 percent of the production total is hydropower, 33 percent remains nuclear, five percent other renewable, and three percent fossil fuels. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 03:34:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close SANAA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of Yemeni Shiite Houthi rebel supporters held a mass rally at the heart of the capital Sanaa on Monday to mark the third anniversary of the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war. The rally is a show of force hours after the rebel group fired a barrage of long-range ballistic missiles toward the Saudi capital Riyadh. On the stage of the Alsabeen Square, tens of Houthis dressing in Yemeni traditional robes and ceremonial curved daggers, called Jambiya, and wielding guns and rifles, performed a popular dance for the crowds, as powerful speakers blasted out war song and enthusiastic poems. The crowds, carried the country's national flags and held portraits of the rebel chief Abdul-Malik a-Houthi, chanted the famous Houthi slogan "Death to U.S., Death to Israel." Head of the Houthi political council Saleh al-Sammad delivered a speech to the crowds, vowing "to step up missile attacks on Saudi Arabia unless it stops war on the country." "We will witness more successful advance of our Rocketry Forces' capabilities," he said. "If they (Saudi-led coalition) want peace, we are with peace, as we have told them before," he said, adding "if air strikes continue, we will have the right to defend ourselves by all available means." On Sunday midnight, the Houthi rebels fired several long-range ballistic missiles toward four Saudi international airports. The missiles targeted King Khaled International Airport north of the Saudi capital Riyadh, Abha International Airport in the Saudi southwestern province of Asir, the International Airport of the southern Saudi province of Jizan, and the regional airport of the Saudi southeastern province of Najran. "The move came in response to an order from leader of the revolution, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi," the Houthi group said in a statement carried by the group-controlled Saba news agency. Saudi Arabia said its air defense forces shot down three missiles over the capital Riyadh shortly before Sunday midnight. It said an Egyptian resident was killed and two other Egyptians were wounded when debris fell on a house in Riyadh. The Sunday midnight attacks were the latest in a series of attacks claimed by the Yemeni Houthi group against the Saudi airports. The Houthi rebels have seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa, since late 2014, and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile in the Saudi capital Riyadh. On March 26, 2015, Saudi Arabia led a military coalition of Arab forces, backed by the United States, to intervene in Yemen's conflict to back the government of exiled President Hadi. The coalition has launched thousands of airstrikes on the Iran-aligned Shiite Houthis, in attempts to roll back rebel gains and reinstate Hadi in the capital Sanaa. Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Saudi cities, with most of them intercepted by Saudi air defense forces. The war has so far killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and pushed the Arab country to the brink of mass famine. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 04:39:38|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A Brazilian appeals court rejected on Monday an appeal by former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, against his sentence to over 12 years in prison passed down in January for corruption. The decision was taken on Monday by the same three judges of the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4) who first sentenced Lula to 9.5 years in prison for corruption and money laundering, before then lengthening the sentence. In its ruling, the TRF-4 gave 12 days for Lula's defense team to present any further appeals concerning its ruling, including any inconsistencies and irregularities. Once all avenues in the TRF-4 are expired, Lula can take his case to the Supreme Court. According to the TRF-4, Lula could be taken into custody as soon as his legal options in this same court are over. However, the Supreme Court ruled last week that the ex-president would remain free until it rules on a plea of habeas corpus filed by his defense. The Supreme Court is set to analyze the plea on April 4. Lula is accused of having been gifted a luxury apartment on the coast of Sao Paulo by the construction giant, OAS, in favor of contracts with the state-owned oil company, Petrobras. Despite this sentence for corruption, Lula is leading every poll tracking preferred candidates for the upcoming October presidential election, which he will be barred from running if arrested. The former president is facing five other separate legal cases, all linked to corruption within Petrobras. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The White House continued on Monday to lash out at Russia over an alleged ex-spy's poisoning attack in Britain, saying Russia's behavior was "brazen and reckless." However, adding the United States wanted to talk with Russia over the issues of mutual concern. Citing the U.S. expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said the U.S. action is a response to Russia's reported use of a military-grade chemical weapon on Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter in London earlier in March. Shah said that "the poisoning in the U.K. that has led to today's announcement was a very brazen action. It was a reckless action. It endangered not just two individuals who were poisoned, but many civilians -- many innocent civilians. And this is not the type of conduct that the United States or our allies can accept." The U.S. effort was later joined by 14 EU member states, Ukraine and Canada. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday it was nonsense to think that Moscow would have poisoned the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Russia also vowed on Monday to retaliate after U.S., Europe expel its diplomats. Shah admitted that this was a coordinated effort. "The president spoke with many foreign leaders, our European allies and others, and encouraged them to join the United States in this -- in this announcement. " However, he said that Trump "still remains open to working with the Russians on areas of mutual concern: counterterrorism, for example, and others." The U.S. relationship with Russia is up to the Russian government, he said. "We want to have a cooperative relationship. The president wants to work with Russia ... the president will continue diplomacy was Russia and with Putin." As for Russia' threatening to take retaliations earlier on Monday, Shah said "the ball's in their court with respect to how they want to respond." Trump last week told the media that he and Putin might meet in the near future. When asked about the meeting, Shah did not rule out its possibility despite Monday's expulsion either. "The ball's in their court. They -- it is up to them on whether we're going to have a fruitful and constructive relationship, or an adversarial relationship," he said. UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was shocked by remarks attributed to the Myanmar army chief regarding the Rohingya, Guterres' deputy spokesman said Monday. "The secretary-general is shocked at reports today of remarks attributed to Myanmar Senior General U Min Aung Hlaing," said Farhan Haq in a statement. At a gathering in northern Kachin state, Min Aung Hlaing reportedly referred to the Rohingya as "Bengalis" and said they "do not have the characteristics or culture in common with the ethnicities of Myanmar." The UN chief urged all leaders in Myanmar to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred and to promote communal harmony, said the UN statement. "Such leadership is critically needed to advance institutional measures to combat discrimination and implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission." The secretary-general reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of the violence and the responsibility of the Myanmar government to provide security and assistance to those in need, said the statement. Meanwhile, it is critical that conditions are put in place to ensure that the Rohingya are able to return home voluntarily, in safety and in dignity, it added. Rebel Rohingya militia launched deadly attacks against security forces in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State on Aug. 25, 2017, allegedly triggering retaliation by Myanmar vigilantes and government troops. Some 688,000 Rohingya refugees had crossed into neighboring Bangladesh by February 2018. CANBERRA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Australia's peak infrastructure body has urged the country's eastern states to support a 30 billion Australian dollars (23.3 billion U.S. dollars) inland rail line project from Melbourne to Brisbane to cater for growing industry demands. Infrastructure Australia (IA) claimed on Tuesday the current rail connection along the eastern seaboard was inadequate for the requirements of industry, and a new, high-speed link needed to be built as a "high-priority initiative." IA said that the state governments of Queensland, New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria should construct the 1,700 km freight line between Melbourne and Brisbane, via inland NSW, to meet the future demand for freight transport. The rail line was a high priority because the combined population of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane was projected to exceed 30 million by 2075. IA published on Tuesday its latest list of major infrastructure projects and chair Julieanne Alroe, said in a media release: "This is a challenge we can't afford to manage passively -- we must plan for growth." The net cost of protecting and acquiring the corridor would be 23.3 billion U.S. dollars, according to IA's modelling in 2017. The independent body predicted that freight between the state capital cities would grow from roughly 4.9 million tons in 2016 to approximately 13 million tons, or 1.1 million containers, by 2050. It suggested that in 10 to 15 years, the proposed new trains would eventually be able to carry up to 485 containers each. "The future demand for efficient, high-capacity transport services between major centers on the east coast will likely exceed the capacity of existing and planned rail, road and aviation services," IA stated in publishing its priority list. IA also identified other priority initiatives, such as the reconstruction of Adelaide's suburban tram network, which was proposed by the former South Australian Labor government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 09:55:23|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 28 civilians were set free on Monday night from rebels' captivity in the capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta, state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. This is the second batch of people released from the rebel-held enclave, just two days after eight people were released from the rebels' custody in Arbeen, a town in Eastern Ghouta. The rebel-held people were brought in ambulances to the government-controlled Panorama on the outskirts of Arbeen. SANA revealed the names of the newly-released people from Arbeen, as part of a deal reached on Friday between the rebels and the Syrian army, which demands a total of 3,500 residents be released from the rebel-held Douma district in Eastern Ghouta area. The agreement, which was mediated by the Russians, will also see the evacuation of 7,000 rebels and their family members from areas in the central part of Eastern Ghouta. SANA added that work is ongoing for the release of more people. Meanwhile, SANA said the third batch of rebels is preparing to leave Eastern Ghouta through Arbeen toward rebel-held areas in northern Syria after thousands evacuated in the past two days. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Monday that national security advisors of the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met at the White House Friday to discuss joint efforts to counter the "Iranian regime's malign influence and provocative behavior." The White House said in a statement that security officials of the three nations talked about issues of strategic importance to the three countries. It added that senior officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, the Treasury and the intelligence community participated in the meeting. The leaders agreed to meet trilaterally on a regular basis to develop and implement joint frameworks to mitigate threats to regional security and to bring greater peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East, it added. "Additionally, the National Security Advisor of Afghanistan joined a session focused on discussing ways the United States, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates can partner with Afghanistan to support the Afghan government and set conditions for an enduring peace settlement," said the White House. Also on Friday, the United States sanctioned an Iranian entity and 10 individuals over "malicious cyber-enabled activities," saying the hackers worked at the behest of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the U.S. measures were "illegal and provocative," proving the U.S. inherent hostility against Tehran. It also condemned Saudi Arabia's allegations that Iran "is the source of terror and extremism," saying that Saudi Arabia itself was the "essential source and cause of terrorism and extremism." NEW YORK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. decision to expel Russian diplomats is a "very unfortunate and very unfriendly move," Russian Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Vassily Nebenzia said Monday. The 60 Russian diplomats to be expelled include 12 members of Nebenzia's delegation to the UN. "It is very unfortunate and very unfriendly move. We were informed that 12 diplomats from the Russian mission to the UN are expelled from here and they have to leave by April 2," Nebenzia told reporters before a luncheon of the Security Council with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Both Nebenzia and U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley were present. Nebenzia said the 12 diplomats are leaving the United States. He refused to name the diplomats. "We don't name those diplomats. We safeguard their privacy," he said. Earlier on Monday, Haley said her country has begun the process of "expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission to the United Nations who have abused their privilege of residence in the United States." "After a review, we have determined that the 12 intelligence operatives engaged in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security. Our actions are consistent with the United Nations Headquarters Agreement," said Haley in a press statement. Asked whether the U.S. decision is in accordance with the UN-U.S. agreement on the UN Headquarters in New York, Nebenzia said: "I don't think so." The U.S. expulsion is said to show solidarity with its ally Britain, which claims that Moscow is responsible for the poisoning of a former Russian spy on March 4 in Britain with a military-grade nerve agent. Russia has denied involvement in the case. Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan (R) shake hands with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu on March 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Naijie) NEW DELHI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China and India pledged on Monday to further enhance their trade and economic cooperation so as to build a new international economic order and safeguard the interests of developing countries. Addressing the 11th meeting of China-India Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology, Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said the trade volume between China and India reached a record high of 84.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up 20.3 percent from the previous year. China has remained as India's largest trading partner, he added. Bilateral investment has also seen a steady increase, the minister said. The accumulated investment in India by Chinese enterprises amounted to over 8 billion U.S. dollars while India's investment in China rose an average of 18.5 percent annually over the past three years. "Both countries have closely cooperated and supported each other in the multilateral trading system and regional economic cooperation, and contributed greatly to the joint building of a new international economic order and safeguarding of the interests of developing countries," Zhong said. The Chinese minister put forward a seven-point proposal to further develop the China-India trade and economic cooperation. First, connecting development strategies. China is willing to join hands with India in dovetailing the Belt and Road Initiative with India's 15-year Vision Plan, "Make in India" and Digital India programs. Second, welcoming India's participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in November in Shanghai. China hopes India could increase its exports to China by taking part in the CIIE. Third, enhancing bilateral trade and investment. China proposes establishing a trade facilitation joint working group and upgrading the joint working group on industrial parks to investment cooperation. Fourth, strengthening communication in trade remedies. China is expected to hold the 4th meeting of trade remedy cooperation mechanism as soon as possible and mulls specific measures to properly settle trade disputes. Fifth, improving the business environment for Chinese products. China hopes the Indian authorities to earnestly protest the rights and safety of Chinese enterprises as well as its properties and staff. Sixth, conducting cooperation on human resources. China is willing to expand cooperation in the development of human resources. Seventh, boosting multilateral and regional economic cooperation. China is ready to jointly send a positive signal together with India in safeguarding and supporting the multilateral trading system. China also hopes for an early signing of the high-quality and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu expressed willingness to jointly implement the consensus reached by leaders of both countries, and connect the development strategies of both sides and share the development experiences. He said India will learn from China's experiences in setting up special economic zones and push forward the cooperation in industrial park projects. India welcomes Chinese businesses to increase investment and boost their market share in India, said the Indian minister. Prabhu said India supports the multilateral trading system and wishes to strengthen communication and coordination with China within the frameworks such as the World Trade Organization and RCEP, in a bid to maintain and boost the development of regional and global trade. Earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry jointly made promotions on the upcoming CIIE. During Zhong's tour in India, businesses of both countries signed 101 trade agreements, with a total contract value of 2.368 billion U.S. dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 11:45:41|Editor: Liu Video Player Close Flowers and dolls are placed outside the doors of the Kemerovo region representative office in Moscow to mourn the victims of the fire at a shopping mall in Kemerovo, in Moscow, Russia, on March 26, 2018. At least 64 people were killed in a fire in Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall in south central Russia's Kemerovo city on Sunday. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn) MOSCOW, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 64 people have been confirmed dead in a major fire that broke out at a four-storey shopping mall in Kemerovo city in southwestern Siberia on Sunday, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Monday. The fire, which erupted on Sunday afternoon, was reported to have been put out by Monday morning after burning for a whole night. Yet video footage showed smoke still rising from the building in the afternoon. The conflagration, one of the deadliest tragedies in the country in recent years, was believed to have started on the shopping mall's fourth floor, which housed a cinema and children's play area, according to Russian Emergency Services Ministry. Totally, 25 victims have been identified, including 13 children aged 4-13, said Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova. Witnesses told local media that many children who were watching kids' movies in the mall's cinema were killed. Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov said he expected 64 to be "the final figure of deaths." However, the exact number of the missing is still unknown. Previous reports said 64 people were missing, including 41 children. Rescuers are struggling to reach the upper floors because the roof of the four-story building collapsed. A total of 663 people took part in the search and rescue operation, the Emergency Situations Ministry said, adding that their work has been complicated by strong gas contamination, high temperatures and dense smoke. A total of 51 people were provided medical treatment following the incident, according to Sputnik. Thirteen people were hospitalized, including an 11-year-old boy who remained in a grave condition, the Investigative Committee said in a previous statement. The boy jumped out of a window from the fourth floor and suffered severe injuries, according to Skvortsova. The boy's parents lost their lives in the blaze, Skvortsova said. The Winter Cherry shopping center, a business complex with a cinema, an indoor skating rink and a petting zoo, is usually packed with people on Sunday afternoon. So far, five people have been detained and interrogated, including the head of the management company servicing the building and the tenants of the premises where the fire possibly started, the Investigative Committee said. The investigators were checking information that emergency exits of the shopping mall were blocked when the fire broke out. It also remains undecided whether to detain a guard of the building, who allegedly disabled the warning system of the building. The Prosecutor General's Office of Russia instructed regional prosecutors to conduct inspections of compliance with fire safety regulations in every shopping complex in Russian regions. As yet, what caused the deadly blaze remains undetermined. Several criminal cases were instituted on causing deaths by negligence and violation of fire safety requirements, according to the Russian Investigative Committee. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended "deep condolences" to the families and friends of the victims on Sunday and ordered related authorities to provide all necessary help. Kemerovo Regional Governor Aman Tuleyev has signed an order declaring mourning in the region from Tuesday to Thursday. (Shi Hao in Moscow also contributed to the report.) Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 12:35:50|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 9,231 officials were punished for breaches of party rules in the first two months of the year. The figure was gathered from 31 provincial divisions, 139 central Party and state departments, 97 state-owned enterprises, and 15 financial institutions supervised by the central government, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, an economic and semi-military organization stationed in Xinjiang, said a press release on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC adopted an eight-point rules on Party and government conducts in December 2012 to improve working practices. Last year, more than 71,000 officials were punished for such violations. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Remington Outdoor Company, the oldest and largest gunmaker in the United States, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. The company's board of directors said the decision was made after considering the company's financial and operational condition. "Directors have determined that...it is desirable and in the best interests of the Company and its respective creditors, equity holders, employees, and other parties-in-interest that the Company file or cause to be filed a voluntary petition for relief under the provisions of chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code")," according to the board's statement on March 20. Remington plans to reduce its total debt of over 950 million U.S. dollars and to confirm its bankruptcy plan by May 3. The bankruptcy court would hold hearings starting Tuesday. The court filing happened one day after the nationwide March for Our Lives rally against gun violence in honor of the 17 students and faculty members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Remington was sued by families of victims of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting which happened in December 2012. Along with other manufacturers, the company was accused of manufacturing and marketing the AR-15 style rifle used by the perpetrator to kill twenty children and six adults. SYDNEY, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Marine scientists are currently developing a new weapon to protect Australia's picturesque Great Barrier Reef from coral bleaching, and so far early laboratory tests have shown extremely promising results. "We have an ongoing, roving brief with all the country's leading science institutions to consider out of the box techniques, tools and ideas that could give our reef a fighting chance in the face of challenges like climate change," Great Barrier Reef Foundation, managing director Anna Marsden told Xinhua on Tuesday. "The 'sun shield' is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair and completely biodegradable, containing the same ingredient corals use to make their hard skeletons -- calcium carbonate." "Essentially what it would do is protect the inhabitants under the water by cutting out a lot of the UV light and reducing the water temperature, acting almost like a big umbrella." Designed to sit on the surface of the water, rather than directly on the corals, researchers believe the material could sit in place for around two to three days during periods of extreme heat. While very unconventional, the ultra thin film has proven to reduce UV light by up to 30 percent and been shown to have no adverse effect on marine life. Although it would not be possible to use the film across the entire Great Barrier Reef, Marsden said, "it's something that would be very localised, very focused and it would be something you would do ahead of or during a coral bleaching event." "How it would work in the future is, through modeling scientists would predict hot days coming and they would be able to look at key reefs that are either a high-value from a tourism perspective or highly productive as a habitat," she explained. "They would then be able to go out on boats and put this solution over the water and it would hang there over an important part of the reef." Scientists will now look to conduct more testing on a larger scale to see how the surface material dissipates. The next phase will aim to take the "sun shield" into the ocean to study how it behaves. "Potentially it could go around the world to help protect coral reefs in hot summer periods," Marsden said. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Monday denied that U.S. President Donald Trump had an affair with an adult film actress. Stormy Daniels, a U.S. adult film star, detailed her alleged affair with Trump over a decade ago, in an interview with a CBS program aired on Sunday. At Monday's press briefing, White House spokesman Raj Shah said that Trump doesn't believe that any of the claims "that Ms. Daniels made last night in the interview are accurate." "The president has strongly, clearly and has consistently denied" allegations of sexual liaison, Shah said. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, said that she had sex with Trump in July 2006, which was consensual, and they stayed in touch after that, but did not have sex again. Trump married Melania Trump in 2005. Daniels, 39, said that she was threatened in 2011 over the affair after agreeing to speak to a U.S. celebrity gossip magazine. She also said she had accepted 130,000 U.S. dollars in "hush money" from Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, shortly before the 2016 election. Daniels is suing to void a non-disclosure agreement that she signed for the payment because it was not signed by Trump himself. She also amended her lawsuit on Monday to include Cohen as a defendant, accusing him of defamation. Trump has not spoken publicly about the allegations. But he tweeted early Monday: "So much Fake News. Never been more voluminous or more inaccurate. But through it all, our country is doing great!" WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks opened its first store in a U.S. national park, despite facing over 25,000 signatures against it online so far. As part of the remodeled base camp eatery at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, Starbucks opened its store in the Yosemite National Park, California, the first of this kind in a national park. On change.org, where people cast their vote for a change, the petition of "Stop Starbucks in Yosemite" has drawn 25,407 signatures so far. "Multinational corporations have no place in our National Parks," Concerned Citizen, who started the petition, wrote. "The Park will lose its essence, making it hardly distinguishable from a chaotic and bustling commercial city," Concerned Citizen added. However, Starbucks called it a "hidden gem" in the Yosemite National Park in a news release, touting the company's "commitment to pioneering green building." That petition to halt its opening died a quiet death on March 16, when the coffee giant began operating in the national park. Yosemite National Park is a U.S national park lying in west California. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, lakes, and biological diversity, attracting about 4 million visitors annually. A migratory bird flies over Shenzhen Bay, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 9, 2017. (Xinhua photo/Mao Siqian) SHENZHEN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- In a mangrove nature reserve on the coast of Shenzhen, one of China's most modern and vibrant megacities, about 100,000 migratory birds are enjoying their last moments of leisure before departing for their long flight to Australia. The birds, including egrets, gulls and geese, bask in the sun on the beach or hover over the sea, surrounded by 300 hectares of swamp in downtown Shenzhen, a city previously best known for its massed ranks of technology companies. The number of bird species recorded in Shenzhen has grown from 280 in 2000 to 366 last year, according to the city birding association. The trend is the direct result of conservation and protection of the birds during the past 20 years. Black-winged Stilts forage at Shenzhen Bay, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 9, 2017. (Xinhua photo/Mao Siqian) On the frontline of reform and opening up, waters around Shenzhen were severely polluted as manufacturing grew in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Uncontrolled discharge of liquid and solid waste into the sea depleted fish and shrimp stocks, and ruined vegetation of the reserve. Numbers of migratory birds dwindled. The reserve's location, at the heart of the commercial zone, also caught the predatory eyes of real estate developers. "If the reserve had been fallen victim to commercial developers, we would have had nothing to save for future generations," said Li Ming of the the city forestry department. Shenzhen has contained its chaotic urban sprawl by drawing red lines and improving environmental protection, Li said. Migratory birds forage at Shenzhen Bay, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 9, 2017. (Xinhua photo/Mao Siqian) During the past 20 years, the city has restored over 200,000 square meters of lakes and planted nearly 40,000 square meters of mangroves. A group of Shenzhen police protect the birds that stay in Shenzhen from October to March each year. Since 1990, the police contingent has planted about 300,000 mangroves trees, more than 90 percent of which survived. They have also rescued more than 1,800 birds, many of which were injured in storms and gales brought by typhoons. In 2017 alone, the team rescued more than 200 migratory birds and have deterred illegal fishing, according to Liu Changlong with the border police. "We are friends of the birds. Sometimes you can see tired little birds getting a free ride on the roof of our cruiser," Liu said. Migratory birds forage at Shenzhen Bay, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 9, 2017. (Xinhua photo/Mao Siqian) Shenzhen's residents also enjoy the company of the birds, with more people joining birdwatching groups every year. "Some cities have their iconic parks, for example Central Park in New York and the Olympic Park in Beijing. We're working to make the mangrove reserve ours," Li said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 14:46:13|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Afghan security force members take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, March 26, 2018. A Taliban commander Mullah Nawab has been killed during a clash with security forces in the northern Jawzjan province, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Mohammad Jan Aria) SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban commander Mullah Nawab has been killed during a clash with security forces in the northern Jawzjan province, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi said Tuesday. "A group of Taliban rebels under notorious commander Mullah Nawab attacked a water tanker of police on a road leading to provincial capital Shiberghan on Sunday evening, triggering a gun battle during which Mullah Nawab was killed and his body has been identified," Khashi told Xinhua. Mullah Nawab, according to the official, was infamous in attacking government interests and his physical elimination could be a major setback to the Taliban insurgents in Jawzjan and adjoining provinces. Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 15:16:16|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers near the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall to mourn the victims of the fire in Kemerovo, Russia, on March 27, 2018. Criminal negligence and slovenliness are among the causes for the tragedy of Kemerovo shopping mall, said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting during his visit Kemerovo on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Sputnik) MOSCOW, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Criminal negligence and slovenliness are among the causes for the tragedy of Kemerovo shopping mall, said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting during his visit Kemerovo on Tuesday. "What is happening here -- this was not a combat situation, not an unexpected methane outburst in a mine. People came to rest, children. We talk about demographics and lose so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, because of slovenliness," Putin said. A fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the shopping mall in Kemerovo city in southwestern Siberia, killing 64 people, including many children. It is one of the deadliest fires in Russia in recent years. Putin also instructed head of Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin to give legal assessment of the actions of all officials who let the deadly Kemerovo shopping mall fire happen. "It is necessary to give legal assessment of the actions of each official. You can not get a certificate without money, but you can sign anything for money," Putin said. He also offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, starting the meeting with a moment of silence. The Russian Investigative Committee has opened several criminal cases into the incident, including into the deaths through negligence and fire safety violations. The tragedy has already launched a series of checks into compliance with fire safety regulations across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 15:26:18|Editor: pengying Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A Brazilian federal court on Monday rejected an appeal made by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lawyers, upholding his conviction for corruption and money laundering. The three judges at the lower appeals court in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre unanimously rejected Lula's appeal against his conviction and sentencing, leaving him ineligible to run in the presidential campaign in October, the official Agencia Brasil reported. Lula was found guilty of corruption and money laundering in the first trial in late 2017 and was sentenced to prison for nine and a half years. On Jan. 24, the aforementioned appeals court rejected a motion to overturn his conviction for money laundering and accepting bribes. The court also extended his initial nine-year sentence to more than 12 years. According to Brazilian law, after being found guilty by the appeals court, the former president can already be arrested and start serving his sentence before all appeals are made. However, since the Supreme Federal Court has accepted a habeas corpus request filed by his defense team last week, Lula will remain free at least until the request is analyzed on April 4. If Lula is arrested, he will be unable to run in the general elections. The former president has the lead in the polls, but without him, the situation would change dramatically, considering none of the other candidates has a large advantage. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 15:31:20|Editor: pengying Video Player Close TRIPOLI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Niger's Ambassador to Libya Hussein Melloul has denied presence of any Nigerien opposition fighters on Libyan territory. The ambassador made his remarks on Monday during a meeting with Abdurrahman Swehli, the head of the Libyan Higher Council of State, in the Libyan capital Tripoli. They discussed the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, including the security situation on the Libya-Niger border and illegal immigration, according to the media office of the council. "The Ambassador of Niger denied presence of any armed opposition groups of his country on Libyan soil, stressing Niger's respect for the sovereignty and independence of Libya and its full support to the Libyan authorities to restore security and stability in the country," the office said in a statement. Swehli highlighted the necessity of enhancing the joint cooperation on security and illegal immigration. Since last week, the air force of the Libyan eastern-based army has been targeting a number of African armed groups in southern Libya, after the army's deadline for African migrants to leave. The city of Sabha, located some 800 km southwest of Libyan capital Tripoli, has recently been witnessing violent clashes between rival tribes that killed and injured dozens of civilians and forced hundreds of families to flee their homes. People from Chad, Niger and Sudan have been accused of involvement in the conflicts in Sabha. Hamed Al-Khiali, head of the Municipal Council of Sabha, said last month that the local airport was occupied by "an armed group that has nothing to do with Libya," carrying flags of other African countries. Recently in Tripoli, the UN-backed government announced measures to support its forces in Sabha to fight the so-called "mercenaries." Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 15:31:20|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Mongolia and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have signed an intergovernmental agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. The agreement was signed on Monday at the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government by S. Erdene, consulate- general of Mongolia to Hong Kong, and Lee Ka-Chiu, secretary for security of Hong Kong. Within the framework of the agreement, the law enforcement agencies of the two sides will cooperate in criminal matters, including criminal investigation, trial and prosecution. WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Europe have rarely showed unity on global hot-button issues ranging from Iran nuclear deal to the White House's promised tariffs on aluminum and steel, but not this time when the United States joined Britain's allies in Europe and across the world in expelling Russian diplomat in response to a nerve agent attack. At least 137 Russian intelligence personnel were ordered out by 24 government, including 60 Russians from the United States, in a diplomatic confrontation exacerbated by the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain. A new blow to U.S.-Russia ties, the unprecedented teamed up action across the Atlantic, however, exposes to a certain extent a deep rift between Washington and its European allies, analysts say. DEEP-SEATED MISTRUST U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, to retaliate for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter in London earlier in March. Senior U.S. officials said that the expelled Russians "are intelligence officers being cloaked by diplomatic positions" in the United States and are considered to be aggressive collection personnel. Monday's actions, later joined by 14 EU members, Ukraine and Canada, were not merely a response to the poison attack, said the officials. "It's also part of a broader set of actions that the Russians have taken for quite some time internationally: a steady drumbeat of destabilizing any aggressive actions." Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua that the number of Russian agents has been viewed with growing concern in the United States and allied countries. The U.S. moves "are far more than symbolic as they are an attempt to hinder Russian intelligence gathering in these countries," he said. Experts said that underneath the moves were the West's deep-seated mistrust with Moscow, which was further escalated by Russia's reported intervention in the 2016 U.S. elections and the spy poisoning incident. The Trump administration has been under pressure from inside the country and the West. The mid-term elections urge Trump to "play tough" against Moscow, and Western allies have been disheartened by the U.S. reluctance to attack directly at Moscow over the poisoning attack, as required by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization treaties, they added. DIVISION BETWEEN U.S., EUROPE A disagreement remain between the United States and Europe over how to address the "sunset" clauses of the Iran nuclear accord, key restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program which is set to expire in about a decade. Washington urges making nuclear limits on Iran permanent, while the Europeans argue that the demand would mean renegotiation of the deal itself. Since January, the United States has spearheaded talks with France, Germany and Britain over it major concerns about the nuclear deal. Washington wants its European allies to agree on further measures against Iran in return for keeping a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran alive, U.S. officials have said. To keep Washington in the deal, the United States and Europe must come to an agreement, said Brian Hook, the State Department official who led the U.S. delegation for closed-doors meetings between the U.S., Iran, Russia and other major nations in Vienna In the wake of Trump's announcement to impose a 25-percent tariff on steel imports and 10-percent on aluminum imports amid global opposition, the European Union (EU) planned "a whole arsenal" of counter-measures. Europe "wants to avoid escalation" but "must keep the multilateral framework" because "protectionism is never the answer: protectionism is nationalism, nationalism is war and the war only makes losers," European Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told a French television news channel earlier this month. DIPLOMATIC TIT-FOR-TAT TO CONTINUE Although the Trump administration has left room for talks and cooperation with Moscow by saying that the president still remains open to working with the Russians in areas of mutual concern, for example, counterterrorism, experts said current West-Russia diplomatic collision is expected to continue. Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that there is no guarantee that Russia will change its course. Senior U.S. officials, while announcing the expulsion decision on Monday, said the United States supports Britain's decision not to provide samples of the nerve agent to Russia, despite Moscow's repeated calls for co-investigation. "The U.K. has accepted an offer from OPCW, the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, to assist in the investigation. Sharing samples with Russia would not provide further clarification on the origin of the agent used in the attack," they said. With Russia's pledge to take "mirror-like" retaliation for the West's expulsion of its diplomats, and the U.S. warning of further response, the Washington-Moscow ties are expected to remain chilly. William Courtney, adjunct senior fellow of Rand Corporation, said that West-Russia relations will become more strained, but the West is willing to run this risk. "It wishes to raise the cost to Russia of persistent misbehavior," he said, "Channels for Western dialogue with Russia may exist, but are of little value unless progress can be made on key issues. What will influence them is whether Russia takes actions to address Western concerns." (Matthew Rusling from Washington contributed to the story) BANGKOK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A video of four divers playing cards for money under sea in southern Thailand could probably swamp the divers with prosecution, local media Tuesday reported. The video, named "card school", went viral on social media since early March, in which many coins are clearly visible near four people who are playing games under the sea in Krabi, one of Thailand's famous island destination. Anurak Parinyasathitakun, a Krabi water police said the video might be filmed abroad, adding that if it was filmed in Thailand, the four divers could face prosecution. The case is under investigation. Gambling, including playing cards and casinos are illegal in Thailand, a Buhddhism dominated country where people consider gambling one of four vices which lead to ruin. PHNOM PENH, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen reiterated Tuesday there would be no talks with exiled former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and other convicted opposition politicians over political issues. "I would like to announce that first, there will be no talks with the traitors; second, there will be no pardons or prison term reductions for these traitors," he said in a speech during a university graduation ceremony here. The prime minister also reiterated that the national election would still be held on schedule on July 29, 2018, despite no participation from the opposition. Hun Sen's remarks came a day after Rainsy called for talks with him over the current political dispute. Rainsy, president of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), has been living in self-imposed exile in France since November 2015 to avoid an at least eight-year-prison sentence for defamation and incitement cases. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 16:42:45|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim addresses the ruling Justice and Development Party's lawmakers at parliament in Ankara, Turkey, March 27, 2018. Turkey assured Iraq that it would not carry out any cross-border military operation in Iraq without permission from the Iraqi government, said the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office Tuesday. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya) BAGHDAD, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey assured Iraq that it would not carry out any cross-border military operation in Iraq without permission from the Iraqi government, said the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi received a phone call from his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim late on Monday, during which the latter pledged that Ankara "would not carry out any operations (in northern Iraq) without the consent of the Iraqi government," said Abadi's office in a statement. Yildirim also denied any agreement between Iraq and Turkey about cross-border operations in northern Iraq, according to the statement. Turkey respects Iraq's sovereignty and will not take any action that would violate Iraq's territory, the Turkish prime minister added. For his part, Abadi confirmed that the Iraqi forces have fully controlled the Iraqi territory, including the border areas with Turkey, and are preventing any foreign militants from crossing the border line. The phone call came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday announced the beginning of operations to clear the mountainous area of Iraqi Kurdistan region and Sinjar, some 70 km west of Mosul, of militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), banned as a terror group by Ankara. Turkish forces frequently carry out anti-terror operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardment targeting the positions of the PKK militants, especially on the Qandil mountainous region, the group's main base. PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- STX France, a shipbuilding company of the French branch of STX Europe, has delivered the world's biggest cruiseliner, the Symphony of the Seas, to U.S. Royal Caribbean International, local media reported. The ship, which weighs 228,081 tons and measures 362 meters long by 66 meters wide and 70 meters high, can hold some 6,800 passengers and 2,000 crew members. By gross tonnage, the cruiseliner is only a little bigger than its sister ship, the Harmony of the Seas, which STX France delivered to Royal Caribbean in 2016. "The Symphony of the Seas is the biggest liner in the world by less than one percent," President of STX France Laurent Castaing told a handover ceremony in the western French port of Saint-Nazaire on Friday. The Symphony started its maiden voyage on Saturday morning, heading toward the U.S. port of Miami by way of the Mediterranean. File photo. Smoking is a common sight among Turkish women as they use smoking as a way to relax and seek more "freedom" in a male-dominated society. (Xinhua) ISTANBUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- As soon as she took her seat in a coffeehouse in central Istanbul on a recent afternoon, Zerrin Ertek lit up one. She seemed very confident while taking puffs on the cigarette. Smoking is a common sight among women in Istanbul and many other parts of Turkey, where 41 percent of men and 13 percent of women smoke. Ertek, 40, became an addict 10 years ago when she was filing for divorce. In an ill-advised practice, she started smoking as a way to make her voice heard. "Because back then I had so much to say, but no one was listening to me," she told Xinhua. Ertek recollected that when she gently told her husband that she wanted a divorce, she was ignored. Neither her parents and friends listened to her. "Smoking gave me some kind of courage," Ertek said. "When I lit up one, I was thinking of myself shouting loudly and saying 'Hey listen to me! I am here and I have something to say'." However, later she realized that what she felt about smoking was nothing but a pure illusion. It took her two years to get divorced. Beware of the harmful effects of smoking, Ertek has reduced smoking to one cigarette only with coffee now. Like Ertek, many other Turkish women make a wrong choice when they try to find a way to relax in the male dominant society. This perhaps explains why there are so many women smoking in Turkey. Melehat Uygun, a lady who works as a cleaner, said smoking is a good way to relax, arguing that it creates "a free zone for women" in their lives. "When men feel stressed, they can go out at night, have a drink, go to one of the traditional Turkish coffeehouses which are mostly reserved for them or do whatever they want to do," she explained. "But women, especially those in the slums, can only get relaxed by smoking." "It gives me a relaxation, a sense of freedom, taking my stress out," she said, while lighting up one cigarette on the Taksim Square in central Istanbul. In fact, smoking is prohibited in all indoor workplaces, public areas and on public transport in Turkey. But it seems that these anti-smoking measures have failed to contain smoking, which has become a social and health hazard. The smoking rate in Turkey now has climbed to 30 percent, up from 24 percent in 2015, with the number of daily smokers growing to 17 million from 15 million, found a report released earlier this year. A more worrisome phenomenon is that it was found out that the smoking rate has been rising quickly among those aged between 13 to 15 and girls. Betul Baykal Dinc, a family consultant and sociologist, explained that many Turkish women smoke with a view to securing their places in a patriarchal and male-dominated society. "Until recently smoking was almost only confined to men in society," she told Xinhua. "But now, more and more women are smoking as they regard it as a convenient way to show they are equal or even superior to men." Dinc noted that women living in slums and rural areas are more likely to smoke than those living a better life. "Their lack of self-confidence is higher than others and they are trying to make up that low esteem by smoking," she said. Alev Zorlu, an employee of a design company, said that socializing can easily lead one to acquire the unhealthy habit of smoking. "You light up one with a friend, second one with another friend, and then with a coffee, and then with a drink, and it goes on and on," Zorlu said. "No matter what started your smoking, you suddenly realize that you quickly become an addict," she said. Many young people in Turkey also resort to smoking as a way to gain more personal freedom from their parents, said Oguz Kilinc, a professor with Dokuz Eylul University's Faculty of Medicine and a member of Turkish Thoracic Society Tobacco Control Working Group. "But they do not realize that they voluntarily become slaves to the tobacco industry by smoking or using electronic cigarettes, tobacco products or shisha," Kilinc warned in a recent interview with local media. To deal with the hazard of smoking, Kilinc proposed the Turkish government adopt a series of new anti-smoking measures, including using plain tobacco packaging, prohibiting use of additives and reducing tobacco product varieties, to discourage smoking among Turks. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 17:18:19|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close TEHRAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday left Tehran for Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat for talks on bilateral and regional issues. Rouhani's visit comes at the official invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. The Islamic republic attaches importance to the promotion of its ties with the neighboring countries, Rouhani told reporters before heading for Ashgabat on Tuesday. During the two-day visit, Rouhani will hold talks with Berdimuhamedow while the two countries' high-ranking delegations would hold meetings. Iran and Turkmenistan will also sign cooperation documents in the presence of the two leaders. On Wednesday, Rouhani will head for Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to hold talks with his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. Tehran and Baku are scheduled to sign several cooperation agreements after which the two presidents will attend a joint press conference. An economic meeting would be held on Thursday to discuss the strengthening of cooperation among the two countries' state-run sectors and economic agents. Iran enjoys high-level of cooperation with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and there is still potential for further development of the all-out ties with the two neighbors, said Rouhani. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 17:38:22|Editor: pengying Video Player Close A Syrian soldier flashes a victory sign as a bus of evacuated rebels moves out of the gathering point on the outskirts of Arbeen town in the capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta area, Syria, March 26, 2018. Over 13,000 rebels and their families have evacuated the central towns in Syrian capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta countryside in the past three day. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) DAMASCUS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Over 13,000 rebels and their families have evacuated the central towns in Syrian capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta countryside in the past three day. The rebels and civilians have left in three batches, with the latest one leaving after midnight Tuesday. A total of 6,749 people, including 1,620 rebels, left the areas of Jobar, Zamalka, Arbeen, and Ayn Tarma on Tuesday, the state news agency SANA reported. In the previous two batches, on last Saturday and Sunday respectively, a total of 6,416 people, including rebels and their families, evacuated the same areas and moved to the rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. Efforts are ongoing to facilitate the evacuation of more rebels, who will leave Eastern Ghouta through a crossing in the town of Arbeen and reach the government-controlled area on the outskirts of Arbeen before going to Idlib. The aforementioned areas have been under the control of the Failaq al-Rahman rebel group, which agreed last Friday to negotiate over its evacuation from Eastern Ghouta. The deal, brokered by the Russians, also demanded for the release of the kidnapped people from the rebels' custody. On Tuesday night, 28 people were freed and reached the government-controlled area, a day after eight people were released from the same area. The evacuation agreement has been implemented smoothly, and it came right after a similar deal was reached and implemented in Harasta city in Eastern Ghouta, where rebels and their families had left before it became under the control of the government. After the full evacuation of the Failaq al-Rahman rebels, only the Douma district in Eastern Ghouta would still be controlled by the rebels. There have been reports that the rebels in the Douma district were also discussing with the Russians to reach a settlement there. SANA said that the militants of the Islam Army, the major rebel group in control of Douma, are ready to lay down their weapons and withdraw from that area. Eastern Ghouta, a 105-square-km agricultural region consisting of several towns and farmlands, poses the last threat to the capital due to its proximity to the government-controlled neighborhoods east of Damascus. Four major rebel groups have positioned inside Eastern Ghouta, namely the Islam Army, Failaq al-Rahman, Ahrar al-Sham, and the Levant Liberation Committee, known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front. The UN humanitarian agencies have sounded an alarm about the worsening humanitarian situation for 400,000 people living in that region. Activists said around 1,000 people have been killed since late last month by the heavy bombardment and military conflicts between rebels and government troops in Eastern Ghouta. As the Syrian army steadily advanced in Eastern Ghouta recently, an estimated 120,000 civilians have fled the region for the government-controlled areas. COLOMBO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has called for stronger maritime and air links with Bangladesh to boost bilateral trade and investments between the two nations, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement here Tuesday. The ministry said that while the ports of Hambantota and Colombo were of vital importance to the maritime industry due to their strategic locations in the Indian Ocean, there could now be strong linkages between these ports and the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh in order to facilitate shipping, tourism and investments. In addition, the ministry said more frequent direct air links between Colombo and Dhaka too shall strengthen economic cooperation, investment promotion, tourism and people-to-people contacts. "Expansion of air-links would bring more opportunities to entrepreneurs and investors of the two countries too," Commerce and Industry Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said. "As neighbouring members of the Bay of Bengal region, both countries have many commonalities. Our common cultural affinities and historical links have immensely nourished our modern day inter-state relations," Bathiudeen added. The minister said that in recent years, Sri Lanka's bilateral trade with Bangladesh had seen a surge. In 2017, apparels, plastics, and petroleum products were Sri Lanka's leading exports to Bangladesh. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 18:10:11|Editor: pengying Video Player Close BAQUBA, Iraq, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including two senior local officials, were shot dead in overnight attacks by gunmen in two villages in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, a local official said Tuesday. Unidentified gunmen broke into the house of the administrative chief of a village near the town of Jalawlaa, some 150 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and shot dead the official and his son before fleeing the scene, Yaqoub Mulla-Ali, mayor of Jalawlaa, told Xinhua. Shortly after the attack, another group of armed men broke into the house of the administrative chief of another village in northeast of Jalawlaa and shot him dead, Ali said. Iraqi security forces have launched investigations into the attacks to identify the attackers, Ali added. Tensions have been running high in Diyala amid the military operations against insurgent groups, mainly the extremist Islamic State (IS) group. During the past few months, dozens of IS militants fled their former bases in the predominately Sunni Arab provinces of Diyala, Salahudin, Hawijah area in west of Kirkuk, after the Iraqi forces carried out major anti-IS offensives to drive out the militants from these areas. On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the group. However, some remnants of IS militants still hide in urban areas or the deserts and rugged areas, looking for chances to launch terror attacks against Iraqi security forces and civilians. ULAN BATOR, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The government of Mongolia has decided to ban horse races across the country until June 1, amid outcry over a recent serious accident involving children in horse racing, the government's press office said in a statement on Tuesday. The decision was made to protect children jockeys. The rights of children jockeys have become sensitive after nine children, aged 10-13, were injured during a recent horse race organized without permission. The country has earlier prohibited children under 12 from participating in all horse races held in winter and early spring. Official statistics show that over 1,500 children jockeys were injured during training and races in the last five years. Many children became disabled for life, and more than 10 lost their lives during races. MANILA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), an extremist group in the southern Philippines, continues to hold 10 hostages, including a Dutchman and three Indonesians, a Philippine Army general said on Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of the military's Joint Task Force, said that the hostages also include six Filipinos. He said there is an estimated 300 to 400 Abu Sayyaf terrorists operating in the Western Mindanao region, especially in Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi provinces in the Sulu Archipelago. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has directed government forces to "sustain" its offensive to defeat the ASG, which is notorious for conducting bombings, shootings, beheadings, assassinations and kidnappings, according to Sobejana. He said Duterte gave the order during a visit in Patikul town in Sulu on Monday. During Duterte's visit, the military presented 76 Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to the government. The former ASG fighters reportedly turned in 700 firearms. "As of now, our operational tempo is okay. We just have to sustain it," said Sobejana, adding that the end of the Abu Sayyaf is imminent. "Actually, it's (Abu Sayyaf) nearing its end," Sobejana said, adding that the military's priority is to rescue the kidnapped victims so that the operations won't be restricted. "At present, our operations are calculated because of the presence of the kidnapped victims. The freedom of the kidnapped victims is our priority," Sobejana said. Authorities said the ASG wants to establish an Islamic State in the Philippines, and ultimately, an Islamic caliphate across Southeast Asia. The ASG helped the Maute Group in attacking Marawi City in May last year that claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people. The fighting that lasted five months ruined the Philippines' only Islamic city. BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Catalan ex-governor, Carles Puigdemont, will remain in police custody until a decision is reached by the German judicial authorities over his extradition to Spain, an administrative court in Northern Germany ruled on Monday night. The administrative court in Neumuenster, an urban municipality in the middle of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, justified the detention of the separatist leader by arguing that he posed a "flight risk." The 55-year-old Puigdemont who is being held at the prison in Neumuenster, lived in exile in Brussels after fleeing Spain five months ago and thus had a "significant incentive" to return to Belgium, a court statement read. According to the chief public prosecution office of Schleswig-Holstein, a German state where Puigdemont was arrested when crossing the German-Danish border on Sunday, it was unlikely that a decision on his extradition could be reached before Easter. Spain has recently issued a raft of European arrest warrants against individuals who are accused of illegally declaring Catalonian independence in the culmination of a still ongoing constitutional crisis over the status of the autonomous province. More than 50,000 demonstrators subsequently clashed with Spanish police in Barcelona, demanding that Berlin release Puigdemont and refuse to extradite him. At least 90 individuals have been injured, including 20 security officers who fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the angry protesting crowds. German media initially reported that Puigdemont was considering applying for political asylum in Germany, a claim denied by his attorney on Monday. The German Interior Ministry has told the press that it was informed by Spanish police authorities of the Catalan ex-governor's plans to travel through Germany and had no choice other than arrest Puigdemont due to the European arrest warrant. The Higher Regional Court of Schleswig Holstein is now tasked with reaching a verdict on whether to comply with the Spanish extradition request. Katarina Barley, the newly-installed justice minister, has refused to provide any political comment and instead merely referred to the adherence of legal protocol. "The first steps are purely judicial ones and we will have to wait until they are completed," Barley told German public broadcaster ARD. Steffen Seibert, the official spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said it was the federal government's view that the conflict between Madrid and Barcelona has to be solved "within the framework of the Spanish legal and constitutional order" and that Berlin had already assisted the Spanish government towards this end during the past months. Puigdemont was arrested upon entry into Germany from Denmark on Sunday, and he was on his way to Brussels. He has been a fugitive since Catalonia's failed bid to become independent from Spain last October. The Spanish Supreme Court on Friday issued fresh arrest warrants against Puigdemont and some other individuals behind the independence bid. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 18:40:24|Editor: ZD Video Player Close DOHA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Qatar has rejected the accusation by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of its fighter jets intercepting two UAE's civilian aircraft, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported Tuesday. Qatar Civil Aviation Authority dismissed in a statement the UAE's claim as "an attempt to cover the multiple breaches of Qatari airspace" by the Gulf states, the QNA report said. Bahrain continued to violate the Qatari airspace, despite notifications by Qatar, according to the statement. On Monday, the UAE's civil aviation authority issued a statement accusing two Qatari fighter jets of dangerously approaching two UAE civilian aircraft while they were in Bahraini airspace. Since a blockade imposed on Qatar by the four Arab countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt in last June, a number of air violations have reportedly taken place between Qatar, and the UAE or Bahrain. The two sides have traded barbs over such air violations. The quartet has severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, citing its support for extremism and interference in their internal affairs. But Qatar has vehemently denied these claims. KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan army personnel found 38 improvised bombs and landmines within the last 24 hours, the country's Defense Ministry said Tuesday. "The Afghan National Army (ANA) engineering teams recovered 38 rounds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines since early Monday. And they safely destroyed the explosives across Afghanistan," the ministry said in a statement. Taliban militants and Islamic State fighters have been using IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines for targeting security forces, but the lethal home-made weapons also inflict casualties on civilians. On March 17, one child was killed and 16 children wounded after an IED exploded near a local religious school in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost. The national army remains committed to securing communities and works diligently to provide security for Afghans across the country, the ministry said. KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan media on Tuesday hailed the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan as an opportunity for bolstering peace efforts and national reconciliation process in the militancy-battered country. The conference offered an opportunity to find ways and means for stabilizing peace in the war-battered country, the newspaper Daily Etilaatroz said in its editorial on Tuesday. Terming extremism as a threat to the region, the paper warned, "The presence of extremist groups in Afghanistan, if go unchecked, would destabilize the whole region including central Asian countries." Another newspaper, the Daily Afghanistan-e-Ma also appreciated Tashkent for hosting the international conference on Afghanistan, saying that it is an important step towards bolstering the peace process in the war-torn country. "Afghanistan and central Asian states have common interests and therefore peace and stability in central Asian countries is linked to the durable peace in Afghanistan," the paper said. Afghan television channels in their reports and comments also described the Tashkent conference on Afghanistan as significant in strengthening the peace process in the country. BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Deutsche Bank wants to replace its chief executive officer (CEO) John Cryan two years before his current contract expires, the newspaper "Times" reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the relationship between Cryan and board chairman Paul Achleitner has "broken down" due to Deutsche Bank's poor financial performance in recent years. Cryan assumed the post of CEO in 2015, vowing to reform the investment bank with an ambitious corporate restructuring program until the end of his contract in 2020. Deutsche Bank is Germany's largest financial institute measured by the size of its balance sheet and employees 43,000 employees in the country. The bank has been rocked by a series of international scandals since the 2007/08 financial crisis surrounding diverse allegations of fraud which have harmed its reputation and profitability. In March it was revealed that Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank had suffered annual losses of 735 million euros (916 million U.S. dollars) in 2017, taking the total figure of cumulative annual loses since 2015 to 9 billion euros. Cryan more than doubled bonus payments to staff during the same period, however, prompting widespread outrage in German media. Citing a company insider, "Times" reported that Achleitner was prompted by the recent development to approach Goldman Sachs deputy chairman Richard Gnodde and offer him Cryan's job. Gnodde reportedly declined, leaving Unicredit CEO Jean Pierre Mustier and Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters as potential alternative candidates. Deutsche Bank has so far refused to provide any comment on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 19:20:34|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Representatives from Chinese DJI company show Inspire 1 quadcopter during the preview media show of The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 4, 2015. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) By Xinhua writers Zhang Zhengfu, Lu Yun and Cheng Jing BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A "huge" trade deficit with China is reportedly behind the U.S. administration's plan to slap tariffs on up to 60 billion U.S. dollars of Chinese imports and restrict Chinese investment. But data sometimes lies, and could shield the bigger picture. TWISTED DATA What the United States claims to be a "record trade deficit" with China is an inflated figure. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the trade deficit with China ran to a record 375 billion U.S. dollars last year, while China's customs data showed the country's surplus with the United States stood at 1.87 trillion yuan (about 298 billion U.S. dollars). The gap resulted mainly from differences in statistical approaches, such as whether or not to include transit trade in the calculations, according to Zhang Monan, researcher with China Center for International Economic Exchanges. Such discrepancies have inflated the U.S. calculation of its trade deficit with China by about 20 percent every year, according to Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan. The United States is home to many multinational companies that have a global supply chain, but the current total value statistical method has distorted reality, analysts said. An iPhone, for example, uses components made in different countries around the world and is only assembled and manufactured in China, but the calculation of trade statistics attributed most of the value to China. "In this case, China is taking the blame for others," Zhang said. She added that most of the profits actually went to U.S. companies but the value of the products was reflected in Chinese exports, resulting in inaccurate statistics. What's more, when talking about the deficit with China, the United States always played down trade of services, according to Tu Xinquan, professor at the University of International Business and Economics. Data from China's Ministry of Commerce showed that the country has a service trade deficit with the United States, and the gap has been widening. Official data showed China's service trade deficit totaled 255.4 billion U.S. dollars last year, with the United States as a major contributor. From 2006 to 2016, China's service trade deficit with the United States increased by more than 30 times. MADE-IN-U.S. DEFICIT Statistical differences aside, the fact that the United States is not only running a trade deficit with China, but many other countries means the root cause of the imbalance is the U.S. economic structure, which features low savings and high consumption. In the past decades, U.S. businesses transferred their manufacturing bases to countries with cheap labor and low costs, which helped drive up their profits and benefited consumers. In a world whose prosperity has been built on the free flow of trade and investment, price-sensitive consumers largely decided the directions of trade, either for exports or imports. "China has been a major market where the United States enjoyed its fastest export growth, and an important cause of the trade imbalance is the fact that many U.S. goods are less competitive in the Chinese market," said Long Guoqiang, deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council. Solutions to the U.S.-China trade deficit do not come from cutting imports from China, but from U.S. enterprises making their products more competitive, he said. Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens AG, held the same view. "I believe people should not confuse the lack of competitiveness with unfair trade. If companies lack competitiveness, they need to invest in innovation and people development in order to catch up," he told reporters at the China Development Forum in Beijing. As China has repeatedly stressed, the trade imbalance between the two countries is mainly a result of different economic structures, industrial competitiveness, and international division of labor, and China has never sought a trade surplus as the flow of trade is determined by the market. Another factor that has often been overlooked is that U.S. control of high-tech exports to China contributed a lot to trade deficit with China, Minister Zhong said earlier this month, quoting one U.S. research report which estimated a 35-percent fall in trade deficit with China if the United States relaxed export restrictions. UNWAVERING IN OPENING UP When handling economic ties with other countries, a trade surplus is not what China seeks. Faced with setbacks in economic globalization and free trade, China has continued to be unwavering in opening up its economy. Take the opening up of the service sector for example. Even though China holds a big service trade deficit with the United States, it has been taking big steps to further open the sector, and more measures are in the pipeline. Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said on Sunday that China will widen market access in finance, telecom, heath care, education, and elderly care for foreign investors, and will ease restrictions on foreign holdings in financial businesses including banks, brokerages, and funds. "We will unveil timetables and roadmaps to open up sectors including finance, new energy vehicles, and gas stations," Wang said while addressing the China Development Forum in Beijing. "We have as always supported free, fair trade," he said. China has opened 120 industries related to service trade for foreign investors, surpassing the goal of 100 industries set when China joined the World Trade Organization nearly two decades ago. In free trade zones, the government has fully liberalized many sectors closely watched by foreign investors, including credit ratings, accounting, e-commerce, power batteries, and railway traffic equipment, Wang said. China has also cut red tape in foreign investment with many approval procedures simplified or scrapped, and more favorable policies can be expected, according to the vice minister. Enditem (Xinhua reporters Yu Jiaxin, Fang Dong, Zhang Yiyi, Wu Yue, Wen Xin and Han Jie also contributed to the story) Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 19:35:38|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson called on countries concerned to avoid taking actions that could escalate tensions, after the United States joined Britain in expelling Russian diplomats. "Relevant countries should abide by the international laws as well as norms of international relations, and avoid taking actions that could escalate tensions," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday at a daily press briefing. Over 135 Russian diplomats have been expelled by at least 22 countries in wake of the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter in London earlier in March. "China is opposed to the use of chemical weapons. Meanwhile, we also believe that the poisoning incident should be addressed properly through dialogue between Britain and Russia based on finding out the truth," Hua said. She called on all countries to abandon the cold-war mentality, stop the policies of confrontation, and work jointly to safeguard peace and stability of the world. LILONGWE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Malawi government has put up cost-cutting measures in its Public Service to help save funds being wasted through over expenditure. In a circular released Monday signed by the country's Chief Secretary to the Government, Lloyd Muhara, the expenditure control measures, and fleet management measures, follow evident over expenditure by controlling officers in the country's public service as per disclosed in the 2017/2018 Mid Year Budget Review. "The 2017/18 Mid Year Budget Review has given all indications that the country is facing financial challenges. Government has noted that some Controlling Officers are not exercising expenditure controls, and as a result, there is increased expenditure," reads part of the statement. The communication has since instituted, as part of expenditure control measures, restriction of Business Class air travel to the country's Speaker of the National Assembly, the National Chief Justice, and The Chief Secretary to the Government. Within the Public Sector but outside the Civil Service only the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi is allowed business class air travel. Meanwhile, the statement has stressed that implementation of all the measures is with immediate effect. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 19:40:39|Editor: ZD Video Player Close People wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Cairo, Egypt, on March 27, 2018. Polls opened Tuesday for the second day of Egypt's presidential election, in which incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is expected to score a landslide victory. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Polls opened Tuesday for the second day of Egypt's presidential election, in which incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is expected to score a landslide victory. Polling stations in Egypt's 27 provinces opened at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) Tuesday for voters to cast their ballots. The first day of voting on Monday went smoothly despite fears about possible disruption by terror attacks. Sisi's sole rival in the presidential race is little-known politician Moussa Mostafa Moussa, chairman of liberal Ghad Party, after a couple of possible strong challengers have either withdrawn or been disqualified for violations. The election result will be announced on April 2, according to Egypt's election authority. Egypt has over 59 million eligible voters out of the country's 104 million population. A week ago, the country wrapped up the voting process for Egyptian expatriates living overseas. There are some 13,706 polling stations set up in schools nationwide, that is monitored by 53 local organizations and nine international ones, besides more than 680 foreign reporters. Up to 17,000 judges are overseeing the election, assisted by 95,000 election officials inside the polling stations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 19:50:43|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- German automotive supplies manufacturer Webasto is benefiting from a growing Chinese demand for cars with sunroofs, the company told press on Monday. "Around one third of Webasto's revenue -- around one billion out of 3.5 billion euros (4.34 billion U.S. dollars) last year -- are now recorded in China," Webasto chief executive officer (CEO) Holger Engelmann said. The Munich-based automotive supplier produces sunroofs for major car makers including Volkswagen, Volvo and Ferrari. While around every third vehicle in the world had some form of sliding or panoramic roof, the percentage in China is 40 percent. "The Chinese love large car roofs which can be opened. Demand keeps growing in general and additionally we are profiting from a shift in consumer taste from smaller to larger sunroofs," Engelmann explained. As a consequence, Webasto is scheduled to open its 10th Chinese factory in Guangzhou in south China on Wednesday and will begin constructing its 11th one shortly thereafter. Last year, the company produced 6.2 million roofs for German, South Korean, Japanese and American car makers in China. Webasto already employs 3,000 staff in China, including 200 engineers working in research and development in Shanghai, compared to 3,800 employees stationed in Germany. Engelmann pointed out that the large head count in China was important in order to be close to local customers. He noted, however, that the bulk of the company's innovation work was still undertaken in Germany. Unlike other foreign car makers which are legally obliged to form joint ventures with local partners in China to gain access to its manufacturing infrastructure and domestic market, Webasto is the sole proprietor of its automotive supplies factories in the country. According to Engelmann, there were no obstacles whatsoever faced by the company in opening new plants, and the process was easier and faster than in Europe or the United States. Having mainly focused on the production of sliding and panoramic roofs, heating and cooling systems, and convertible roofs so far, Webasto announced its intentions to venture into battery production for electric vehicles in the future. The CEO emphasized that Webasto had the necessary expertise in industrial process management that would enable it to assist car makers that do not want to develop their own batteries for the New Energy Vehicle (NEV). MADRID, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Catalan regional police force (Mossos d'Esquadra) have arrested Maria Tana Varela Otero, the woman most wanted by the European Police Office (Europol), local press reported. Varela, 44, who is from the region of Galicia in the northwest of Spain, was detained in Villanova I la Geltru, a coastal town 30 kilometers from Barcelona, on Monday, the reports said She was the only woman and the only Spanish national to appear on the list of Europol's list of the 70 most wanted criminals. She was arrested in the house where she had been living on her own for a considerable amount of time and the Spanish media reported that at first she had tried to confuse investigators before finally "lowering her head and accepting she had been identified." Police had been looking for her after she was able to escape in 2011 after being condemned for drug trafficking following her original arrest in 2006 during an anti-drugs operation. Varela had originally trained as a lawyer in Galicia, which is known as one of the doorways into Europe for drugs smuggled through Spain from Latin America. But she came to know the drug smuggler David Perez Lago and when he was arrested, she took over the running of his gang until being forced to go on the run. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 20:20:48|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close TAIYUAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Forest police in north China's Shanxi Province said on Tuesday that they have arrested a suspect for illegal hunting and trading of wild animals. The police seized more than 200 wild animals from the suspect, including a Eurasian eagle owl, which is a second-class national protected animal. Earlier this month, police found the suspect, surnamed Cheng, trading wild animals online. The suspect confessed he hunted wild animals in the province's Yushe County and Shouyang County and traded them online. The case is under further investigation. KIGALI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- African economies need to transition to knowledge-based ones to sustain rapid economic development and growth, African leaders said here on Tuesday. "It is common sense that there is no development if there is no science and technology. We want to base our economies on science and technology in order to have knowledge-based economies in Africa," said Macky Sall, president of Senegal, at a presidential panel of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF). He said major advanced economies across the globe are knowledge-based, and have demonstrated that investing in technology, research and innovation lead to sustained growth and positive social and economic outcomes. Rwanda hosts the March 26-28 NEF, which focuses on highlighting the contributions of Africa's scientists and innovators to the global scientific community. Rwandan president Paul Kagame emphasized that a knowledge-based economy is the foundation of creativity and innovation which feeds into wealth creation and prosperity for all. "In Africa we need to invest more in science and technology education for our young people to be able to invent and innovate. Knowledge-based economy is in line with the Africa we want," he said. Africa needs to understand the role science and technology have played in shaping the future and prosperity of developed economies, said Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, South African minister of science and technology. "If we want to reach a certain level of excellence, we need a very solid quality base of the education system that will propel Africa into knowledge-based continent," she added. In June 2014, the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) adopted a Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024). The strategy banks on science, technology and innovation as enablers for achieving continental development goals and is part of a long-ranging plan to accelerate Africa's shift to an innovation-led, knowledge-based economy, according to the AU. This year's NEF has brought together about 1,600 participants, including scientists, researchers, students, and government officials. Launched in 2013, the NEF is an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in partnership with Robert Bosch Stiftung, a German charity institution, which serves as a platform to connect science, society and policy in Africa and the rest of the world. NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has revealed a series of activities that will culminate in its holding the first ever Kenya Tourism Festival in September to coincide with the holding of World Tourism Day, state officials said on Tuesday. Najib Balala, cabinet secretary for tourism and wildlife said the Festival will run for one week starting from Sept. 27. He also announced that the festival will be an annual event. "This festival provides us an opportunity to market ourselves. We do not want to be complacent and say that we are resilient," said Balala when he addressed industry officials organizing the festival in Nairobi. "Our tourism numbers grew by 9.8 percent last year despite the difficult challenges that faced the country. This should only make us increase our marketing drive to reach our full potential," he said. Balala said Kenya plans to attract 1.8 million visitors this year. Tourist numbers increased from 1.34 million in 2016 to 1.47 million in 2017, ministry data shows. "The increase in the number is because of the resilience and confidence the visitors have showed on Kenya because of our increased investment in security," said Balala. Balala said Kenya's tourism grew stronger in 2017 as a destination brand following positive visibility and endorsement it received through global accolades such as the World Travel Awards' declaration of Kenya as the world's best safari destination. "This was achieved despite a busy electioneering season that threatened to slow down tourism activities," he said. This year's theme is Tourism and Digital Transformation. "This is why we have hired a digital marketing consultant to lead us to intensive digital marketing campaigns across the world," said Balala, urging all the stakeholders to make full use of the digital opportunity to attract more tourists. "Our key goal about this event is to make people and the government to think more about tourism," the minister added. One of the activities to be highlighted during the festival is the elevation of bead making industry mainly done by women from counties that have tourism facilities. "We shall be assisting these women to design these beads to the international standards. We have already opened a new office at Bomas of Kenya where their coordination will be done," Balala said. Tourism contributes about 10 percent of the total value generated by Kenya economy every year and is one of the leading employers, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 20:50:52|Editor: pengying Video Player Close SOFIA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria would ask the European Union (EU) for 2.1 billion U.S. dollars to improve road safety infrastructure, the country's Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Nikolay Nankov said here on Tuesday. The money would be spent during the 2020-2030 period, Nankov said while addressing the International Conference on Road Safety, which was held under the patronage of his ministry under the aegis of the country's presidency of the Council of the EU. Since 2007, Bulgaria has invested nearly 420 million dollars to improve the road safety infrastructure including in the locations with high concentration of road accidents, the minister said. However, approximately 8,000 km of national roads and 12,000 km of municipal roads needed urgent comprehensive rehabilitation, Nankov said. Bulgaria ranks first in road accident deaths in the EU per million inhabitants. In 2016, the number of road accident deaths in the Balkan country was 99, while the average in the EU was 50. GENEVA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss-based international pharmaceutical company Novartis announced Tuesday that it will divest from its stake in consumer health care joint unit JV, selling it to Britain's GlaxoSmithKline for 13 billion U.S. dollars. In a statement from its Basel headquarters, Novartis said that stripping its 36.5 percent stake in its consumer healthcare joint venture will enable it to further focus on the development and growth of its core businesses including bolt-on acquisitions. Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, said, "While our consumer healthcare joint venture with GSK is progressing well, the time is right for Novartis to divest a non-core asset at an attractive price." The joint venture was formed in 2015 as part of Novartis' portfolio transformation. This comprised a three-part inter-conditional transaction with GSK, including the combination of the Novartis Over-the-Counter (OTC) business with the GSK consumer healthcare business into the existing JV. The consumer healthcare JV investment is accounted for in Novartis' financial reporting using the equity method of accounting, whereby the company's share of the net income is reported as income from associated companies. Novartis said GSK has agreed to pay cash for Novartis' stake in the consumer healthcare joint venture. The transaction is subject to GSK shareholder approval. Novartis provides healthcare solutions and in 2017, the group achieved net sales of 49.1 billion U.S. dollars, while research and development amounted to some 9 billion U.S. dollars. The company said its group companies employ approximately 122,000 full-time-equivalent associates and it sells its products in some 155 countries around the world. ROME, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Italy's anti-terrorism authority arrested an Egyptian national on Tuesday on suspicion of being a member of the so-called Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, police announced. The suspect has Italian citizenship and is charged with spreading IS propaganda aggravated by use of the internet, according to the Interior Ministry. "An Egyptian citizen... has been arrested for participation in and propaganda on behalf of the terrorist association known as IS," Italian state police tweeted. The man named by law enforcement as 59-year-old Mostafa Omar Abdel Rahman Mohy is married to a 79-year-old Italian woman. He lives in the southern city of Foggia where he runs an Islamic center called Al Dawa, which has been under surveillance for months. In July 2017, police arrested another suspected IS member who also attended the Al Dawa center, Chechen national Eli Bombataliev, for criminal association with intent to commit acts of terrorism, police said. On Tuesday, authorities raided the Al Dawa center and froze bank accounts totalling 370,000 euros (around 460,000 U.S. dollars), as well as assets that are "out of proportion with the declared income of the couple", according to finance police. "The anti-terrorism operation carried out today in Foggia, southern Italy, marks an important moment for Italy's counter-terrorism," analysts from the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) said in a statement. "As the investigation showed, Egyptian national Abdel Rahman Mohy -- a key figure inside Al Dawa -- sought to proselytize children, making use of IS propaganda materials during lessons he held inside the mosque. Children were taught to loathe 'disbelievers', and some of them were encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to (IS leader) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," the think tank wrote. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 21:00:54|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close CHENGDU, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Silicon Valley and southwest China's Chengdu City will set up a technology finance center in Chengdu, local authorities said Tuesday. A signing ceremony for the project was held in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, on Tuesday. Management consulting company Himgroup Holding, Inc., Silicon Valley City Group (Mountain View, Menlo Park and Dublin) and Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee signed the memorandum. A total of 30 million U.S. dollars will be invested to build the Chengdu-Silicon Valley Technology Finance Center, which is scheduled to start operations this year. The new center will strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, information technology, medicine and technological finance between Chengdu and Silicon Valley, as well as incorporate innovative international resources. The center will provide services covering technology transformation, financial services and free trade. The center is expected to enhance exchanges between Chengdu and Silicon Valley in terms of capital and talent, and promote the globalization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the two places. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 21:15:59|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close WINDHOEK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob on Tuesday left for China for a seven-day state visit. In an interview with Xinhua in Windhoek, Geingob said that China had witnessed spectacular growth over the past four decades with average GDP growth at around 10 percent and lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, which was nothing short of a miracle. Today, Geingob said, China, as the second largest economy, has nodes of excellence in several industries, including ICT, manufacturing and industrial equipment, with several companies having operations spanning the entire globe. Geingob said Namibia was ready to work with China in various fields to advance development and friendship between the two countries. Geingob said he was glad that Namibia would participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative. "We believe that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation provides more focused synergies between China and Africa," Geingob said, adding that China's role in peace and security through the UN Security Council was commendable. Geingob also said China's developmental role through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and other minilateral fora such as the BRICS attests to its emergence as a key player now and in the future. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 21:16:00|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close LONDON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A strategic collaboration between the University of Cambridge and the Chinese city of Nanjing was launched Tuesday to research technologies to support 21st century "smart" cities. The university's Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Toope signed an agreement to formalize a strategic partnership with the Nanjing city government, according to a statement issued by the British university. It has paved the way for the creation of the Cambridge University-Nanjing Center of Technology and Innovation. This will entail the establishment of a joint research center and the sharing of revenue derived from the commercialization of intellectual property. The University of Cambridge described the joint agreement as their first overseas enterprise at this scale. Funded by Nanjing city for five years in the first instance, the project will have its own dedicated building in Nanjing's Jiangbei New Area, a pilot urban development based on high levels of technological innovation. At the heart of the new center's activities will be research into technologies that support a modern 21st city with integrated IT, health care and building management. Innovations emerging from the center will enable the development of "smart" cities in which sensors, applied at the individual level and all the way through to the level of large infrastructure, will enable sustainable lifestyles. As well as supporting health and wellbeing in new cities, the new center will help deliver efficient energy use through its academic and entrepreneurial activities. The agreement will fund positions in Nanjing, both academic and management, and will allow Cambridge-based academics to engage with specific, long-term projects in the Chinese city. It will also support the establishment of a professorship, based in Cambridge, with responsibility as the center's academic director. The project has been driven by the Department of Engineering, at Cambridge. Speaking in Beijing, Toope said: "This is only the most recent example of our collaboration with Chinese partners, but it is by far the most ambitious to date, according to the statement. "We see it as an essential part of Cambridge's contribution to society to tackle some of the great world problems. But we cannot do this on our own. We can only accomplish great things by working together, which is what we will be doing with Nanjing." HANOI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Police of Vietnam's northern Dien Bien province on Tuesday arrested three people and confiscated 135 cakes of heroin and 500,000 pills of lab-made drugs, the biggest amount of synthetic drug seized in the country so far, the provincial police said. The police arrested two people from Dien Bien and one foreigner, but did not reveal the identities of the detainees. According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 21:21:04|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close By Xinhua writers Zhang Zhengfu, Lu Yun and Cheng Jing BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A "huge" trade deficit with China is reportedly behind the U.S. administration's plan to slap tariffs on up to 60 billion U.S. dollars of Chinese imports and restrict Chinese investment. But data sometimes lies, and could shield the bigger picture. TWISTED DATA What the United States claims to be a "record trade deficit" with China is an inflated figure. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the trade deficit with China ran to a record 375 billion U.S. dollars last year, while China's customs data showed the country's surplus with the United States stood at 1.87 trillion yuan (about 298 billion U.S. dollars). The gap resulted mainly from differences in statistical approaches, such as whether or not to include transit trade in the calculations, according to Zhang Monan, researcher with China Center for International Economic Exchanges. Such discrepancies have inflated the U.S. calculation of its trade deficit with China by about 20 percent every year, according to Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan. The United States is home to many multinational companies that have a global supply chain, but the current total value statistical method has distorted reality, analysts said. An iPhone, for example, uses components made in different countries around the world and is only assembled and manufactured in China, but the calculation of trade statistics attributed most of the value to China. "In this case, China is taking the blame for others," Zhang said. She added that most of the profits actually went to U.S. companies but the value of the products was reflected in Chinese exports, resulting in inaccurate statistics. What's more, when talking about the deficit with China, the United States always played down trade of services, according to Tu Xinquan, professor at the University of International Business and Economics. Data from China's Ministry of Commerce showed that the country has a service trade deficit with the United States, and the gap has been widening. Official data showed China's service trade deficit totaled 255.4 billion U.S. dollars last year, with the United States as a major contributor. From 2006 to 2016, China's service trade deficit with the United States increased by more than 30 times. MADE-IN-U.S. DEFICIT Statistical differences aside, the fact that the United States is not only running a trade deficit with China, but many other countries means the root cause of the imbalance is the U.S. economic structure, which features low savings and high consumption. In the past decades, U.S. businesses transferred their manufacturing bases to countries with cheap labor and low costs, which helped drive up their profits and benefited consumers. In a world whose prosperity has been built on the free flow of trade and investment, price-sensitive consumers largely decided the directions of trade, either for exports or imports. "China has been a major market where the United States enjoyed its fastest export growth, and an important cause of the trade imbalance is the fact that many U.S. goods are less competitive in the Chinese market," said Long Guoqiang, deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council. Solutions to the U.S.-China trade deficit do not come from cutting imports from China, but from U.S. enterprises making their products more competitive, he said. Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens AG, held the same view. "I believe people should not confuse the lack of competitiveness with unfair trade. If companies lack competitiveness, they need to invest in innovation and people development in order to catch up," he told reporters at the China Development Forum in Beijing. As China has repeatedly stressed, the trade imbalance between the two countries is mainly a result of different economic structures, industrial competitiveness, and international division of labor, and China has never sought a trade surplus as the flow of trade is determined by the market. Another factor that has often been overlooked is that U.S. control of high-tech exports to China contributed a lot to trade deficit with China, Minister Zhong said earlier this month, quoting one U.S. research report which estimated a 35-percent fall in trade deficit with China if the United States relaxed export restrictions. UNWAVERING IN OPENING UP When handling economic ties with other countries, a trade surplus is not what China seeks. Faced with setbacks in economic globalization and free trade, China has continued to be unwavering in opening up its economy. Take the opening up of the service sector for example. Even though China holds a big service trade deficit with the United States, it has been taking big steps to further open the sector, and more measures are in the pipeline. Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said on Sunday that China will widen market access in finance, telecom, heath care, education, and elderly care for foreign investors, and will ease restrictions on foreign holdings in financial businesses including banks, brokerages, and funds. "We will unveil timetables and roadmaps to open up sectors including finance, new energy vehicles, and gas stations," Wang said while addressing the China Development Forum in Beijing. "We have as always supported free, fair trade," he said. China has opened 120 industries related to service trade for foreign investors, surpassing the goal of 100 industries set when China joined the World Trade Organization nearly two decades ago. In free trade zones, the government has fully liberalized many sectors closely watched by foreign investors, including credit ratings, accounting, e-commerce, power batteries, and railway traffic equipment, Wang said. China has also cut red tape in foreign investment with many approval procedures simplified or scrapped, and more favorable policies can be expected, according to the vice minister. (Xinhua reporters Yu Jiaxin, Fang Dong, Zhang Yiyi, Wu Yue, Wen Xin and Han Jie also contributed to the story) KIEV, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and the European Union (EU) will strengthen their cooperation in the industrial sector, the Ukrainian state press service said on Tuesday. The agreement was reached at a meeting here between Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and visiting European Commissioner in charge of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elzbieta Bienkowska. Groysman said Ukraine is gradually improving its infrastructure and creating a favorable business environment to produce more high value-added products, which could be exported to the EU. "The potential of our industrial sector offers ample prospects. We are working to remove the barriers to development and gain new impulses for moving forward in all sectors," Groysman said. Bienkowska said the EU is ready to assist Ukraine to tap its potential in industrial development. "We are talking about making Ukraine part of our common industrial strategy. We are not just talking about support, but also about details and specific features of our industrial dialogue," Bienkowska said. In 2017, the industrial sector was the largest contributor to Ukraine's economy, accounting for 21.4 percent of the gross domestic product. Industrial output rose 0.4 percent last year after a 2.8-percent increase in 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 21:31:08|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Experts spoke highly of The Comprehensive History of Tibet, a book-set compiled by the China Tibetology Research Center, at a seminar on Tuesday. Since its release in October 2015, the book has played a significant role in popularizing historical knowledge of Tibet, as well as in promoting traditional Tibetan culture, according to the seminar attendees. The experts said that the books also helped improve national pride, cultivated a sense of community of the Chinese nation, and served the stability and development of Tibet. With eight volumes and more than 8.5 million Chinese characters, the collection is the first work introducing the comprehensive history of Tibet in a systematic way, and is regarded as having important academic value and social meaning. "It includes the history of Tibet within the frame of Chinese history, and looks into Tibet's history with the communication between Chinese ethnic groups improving, which is good for understanding the integrity and internal connections of the history of the Chinese nation," said An Qiyi, Party chief of the research center. "It is a window through which people around the world can get to see the real Tibet." The seminar was attended by over 70 experts and scholars from institutes including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, some of whom took part in the research and compilation of the book. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 21:46:10|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) shakes hands with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Suma Chakrabarti during their meeting in Athens, Greece, on March 27, 2018. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will further support Greece's economic recovery efforts during 2018 and in coming years, the Greek government said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will further support Greece's economic recovery efforts during 2018 and in coming years, the Greek government said on Tuesday. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti to discuss Greece's return to growth in the context of its debt crisis and the bank's contribution to accelerate development via investment. Chakrabarti expressed confidence that EBRD would continue holding a significant role in this bid, with Greece ready to exit the official bailout this summer. EBRD will invest 600 million euros (743 million U.S. dollars) in various projects in Greece during 2018 and will extend its mandate to 2025, focusing in more sectors of the Greek economy, according to an official press release. Since 2015, the bank has financed dozens of projects in the private sector across Greece totaling 2.5 billion euros. ATHENS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Greek police recovered a Hellenistic-era marble statue of great archaeological value from antiquities smugglers, it was announced on Tuesday in Athens. The statue which is believed is representing Hygeia, the goddess of health in ancient Greek archaeology, was among other ancient objects found in the possession of three Greeks who were arrested in the city of Sparta in southern Greece, Greek police spokeswoman Ioanna Rotziokou told a press briefing. The statue dating back to the 1st-3rd century BC was 55 centimeters high and would be sold in Greece or abroad for a significant sum, authorities said, according to an e-mailed press release. Greek police as well as public order ministry and culture ministry officials stressed that the recovery of the antiquities is a great success in Greece's battle against antiquities smuggling rings. OTTAWA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump have discussed the current expulsion of Russian diplomats and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during a phone call, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said Tuesday. In the conversation Monday, the two discussed measures taken by Canada and the United States to support Britain, their common ally, against Russia in response to the "egregious nerve agent attack in Salisbury", the statement read. Trudeau also underscored Canada's commitment to conclude a modern, mutually beneficial NAFTA as soon as possible and mentioned the "strong measures" Canada is taking to address unfair trade in steel and aluminum. On the diplomats' expulsion, Russia has vowed to retaliate in kind after more than 20 Western nations decided to expel Russian diplomats over Moscow's alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter by using a chemical weapon early this month in Britain. The Russian government fiercely denied any role in the case. Namibian President Hage Geingob addresses the 72nd session of United Nations General Assembly on the second day of the general debate at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Rui) WINDHOEK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob on Tuesday left for China for a seven-day state visit. Geingob will arrive on the heels of Cameroon President Paul Biya, who visited China last week, and precede Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's scheduled China visit from April 2 to 6. In an interview with Xinhua in Windhoek, Geingob said that China had witnessed spectacular growth over the past four decades with average GDP growth at around 10 percent and lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, which was nothing short of a miracle. Today, Geingob said, China, as the second largest economy, has nodes of excellence in several industries, including ICT, manufacturing and industrial equipment, with several companies having operations spanning the entire globe. Geingob said Namibia was ready to work with China in various fields to advance development and friendship between the two countries. Geingob said he was glad that Namibia would participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative. "We believe that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation provides more focused synergies between China and Africa," Geingob said, adding that China's role in peace and security through the UN Security Council was commendable. Geingob also said China's developmental role through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and other minilateral fora such as the BRICS attests to its emergence as a key player now and in the future. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 22:16:18|Editor: pengying Video Player Close ANKARA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A leaders meeting between European Union and Turkey in Bulgaria's Varna on Monday has not yielded concrete outcome to overcome bilateral problems, but served for keeping dialogue between Ankara and Brussels, local experts commented. "The meeting has not yielded concrete outcome towards resolving the existing problems. But it was an important step to lay grounds for keeping dialogue and overcoming problems in order to use full potential of relations," according to Guven Ozalp, daily Hurriyet correspondent for Brussels. "The meeting, at which two sides conveyed their positions and expectations, has not provided a concrete progress but confirmed hope for the future," Ozalp said. EU and Turkey leaders met in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort with participation of Bulgarian Prime Minister and chairman of the EU, Boyko Borissov, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The EU and Turkey failed to reach any "concrete solutions or compromises" in talks in Varna, EU President Tusk said after the meeting. "If you are asking me if we achieved some solutions or compromises, my answer is no," Tusk said speaking at a joint press conference. "What can I say is that I raised all our concerns. As you know, it was a long list including the rule of law and press freedom in Turkey, and Turkey's bilateral relations with member states, also the situation in Syria," he said. "We reconfirm our readiness to keep up the dialogue and consultations and to work together to overcome current difficulties with a view to unleashing the potential of our partnership," Tusk stated. He stressed importance for Turkey's good bilateral relations with EU member states and said the EU "stands united behind the Republic of Cyprus regarding its right to explore and exploit its natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone." He was referring to a drillship that was prevented in February by Turkish warships ostensibly on sea maneuvers from proceeding to a drilling target between the southeastern shores of Cyprus and Lebanon. Turkish President Erdogan stressed that the equal involvement of Turkish Cypriots in decision-making on natural resources around the island is in accordance with international law. "We hope that we have left a difficult period in Turkey-EU relations behind," Turkish president said noting that it would be a "grave mistake for Europe, which claims to be a global force, to push Turkey out of its expansion policy." "I hope that we together have taken the first step of restoring confidence between the EU and us [Turkey] today, but it is not enough to say that we took this step, it has to be taken in concrete terms," Erdogan stated. Juncker, for his part, vowed to be a "guarantor" of the continuation of Turkey-EU negotiations. He also praised success of a Turkey-EU refugee agreement saying it has showed "visible results." Relations between Turkey and EU, including some member states such as Germany and Netherlands, have worsened after the Erdogan's crackdown following a failed coup attempt in 2016. EU leaders in Varna also raised concerns about Turkey's ongoing military operations against Syrian Kurdish militia in northern Syria. In Varna meeting, the EU officials' perspective was an open indicator that the bloc does not want to discard Turkey from Europe because of its own interests, while once again presenting "home works for Ankara to meet requirements of Copenhagen criteria" in fundamental rights, and wants Ankara to "remain as a western country," Uluc Ozulker, Turkey's former ambassador to the EU said. The gathering met Turkey's expectations, because although Ankara is not optimistic for resuming accession negotiations with the EU at the moment, at least it wants to keep dialogue with Brussels and the leaders meeting in Varna served in this aim, according to Cagri Erhan, President of the Altinbas University said. Recalling that some European countries want to end accession talks or initiate to introduce alternative partnership models to Turkey, Ankara wants to avert breakage and aims to perpetuate dialogue with the EU, he said. This dialogue will bring a "positive environment" for trade relations between Turkey and EU and to financial markets, he noted. GENEVA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Divers often find old shoes in lakes, but during excavations at a lake near Zurich, they recently found a shoe dating back to the Stone Age of around 3300 to 2800 BC, Swiss media reported Tuesday. The shoe was found almost fully preserved in the Greifensee lake at Maur, the Swiss news agency SDA-ATS reported. It said that less than 10 of these rare specimens have been found in Europe to date. The Stone Age lake dwellings sites on the shores of lakes in the Zurich area are known as some of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. The shoe dates back 5,000 years to the so-called "Horgen" culture, according to the Zurich cantonal building authorities who released a statement on Tuesday. The shoe is a "prime example of the ingenious manufacturing of Neolithic clothing," says the statement. It is made out of bast, a material made from certain types of tree bark that is rarely used today. The recovery and subsequent conservation of the fragile find was lengthy and complicated, say the building authorities. The pristine appearance of the shoe was highly unusual, however. "It's a miracle that a textile object so ancient remained unaffected by natural decomposition and could be preserved in such good condition," the statement said. PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that building an educational system on the basis of "benevolence" and "self-fulfillment" would help to address "the root-cause" of terrorism. "Whenever our country is struck in its heart, some people tend to want to tear it up by treating only the symptoms," Macron told a gathering at a conference on kindergarten in Paris. "Tackling a part of the root cause...is in and through school," he added. In response to critics who denounced his inefficient security policy to prevent terror assaults, the French president proposed to build "a school of benevolence and self-fulfillment," that he said would help to create "a generation...which will no longer have to yield to the death drives that were fascinating to some because they did not build their own future." "I do not mean that the school must carry and correct all the injustices, trauma, or excesses, but there is a lot it can do in this field," he said. France has been a target of militant violence since it joined the fight against Islamist fighters in the Sahel region, Iraq and Syria. On Friday, a young man who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) killed three people and wounded 15 others in a hostage-taking incident in southern France. During the three-day conference, Macron stressed that via education "we build the society that we have to make and we want to see." In this context, he decided to make schooling mandatory as of the age of three instead of six, so that "kindergarten will be a foundational moment in our school career." "The three years of kindergarten are those in which affection is created. We want to build a school of benevolence where the cognitive and emotional complement each other," he said. NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Africa Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) treaty for ratification. The Cabinet which was chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta urged the private sector to take full advantage of the business opportunities presented by the AfCFTA deal which was inked in Rwnada last week to extend Kenya's foothold into all the 54 African nations. "It is a great opportunity to export goods and services to the region and the continent," the Cabinet said in a statement issued after the meeting. The Bill for ratifying the treaty, which was signed in Kigali on March 21 by 44 African nations, will be presented to Parliament within the next few days following its approval by Cabinet in its first sitting. The treaty will come into effect after it is ratified by 22 countries and Kenyatta said Kenya will be one of the first countries that will adopt the agreement. According to the Africa Union, AfCFTA aims to establish a single liberalized market that will spur industrialization, infrastructural development, economic diversification and trade across the continent that is home to some 1.2 billion people. The pact also seeks to promote industrial development through diversification, regional value chain development, agricultural development and food security. When fully implemented, the treaty is expected to enable residents of all member countries to enjoy the convenience of a single passport and currency. The trade deal also binds all State parties to eight objectives including the progressive elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods. The signatory State parties are also expected to progressively liberalize trade in services. Under the agreement, African countries will establish a mechanism for the settlement of disputes concerning their rights and obligations. According to the statement, the Cabinet also approved for ratification the tripartite free trade agreement bringing together the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC). KIEV, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian officials and ordinary people have mourned the victims of a deadly blaze in a Russian mall, local media reported on Tuesday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, First Vice Speaker Iryna Gerashchenko, and many other lawmakers have expressed their condolences while citizens placed flowers, candles and toys outside the Russian embassy in Kiev and Russian Consulate General in Odessa and Kharkov cities. The fire, one of the deadliest in Russia in recent years, gutted the Winter Cherry shopping mall in downtown Kemerovo, Siberia, Sunday afternoon, killing 64 people, including children. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 22:51:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Despite the rift between the United States and Europe, their united response to the spy poisoning row by expelling Russian diplomats reflects their anxiety amid a profoundly changing international landscape.` The collective response by the West came after Sergei Skripal, formerly a Russian intelligence officer convicted in Russia for spying for Britain, and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain accused the Kremlin of masterminding the attempted murder by using Novichok, a Soviet-era, military-grade nerve agent. On March 15, the United States, Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement condemning Russia on the incident. Last week, the European Union (EU) said it was recalling its ambassador to Russia. At least 24 nations, including the United States and 17 EU members, have said they would expel Russian diplomats. The show of unity comes despite there being different voices within Europe. Greece, Hungary, Austria and some others are opposing worsening the confrontation with Russia and advocating resolving differences through dialogue and diplomatic solutions. Feng Zhongping, vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Britain has played an important role in creating a united Western front against Russia. Britain is a special partner of the United States. It also holds a similar position vis-a-vis the rest of Europe and can exert influence over other European countries, Feng said. Though the United States and Europe disagree on many issues, such as climate change, European defense, free trade and the Iran nuclear accord, there are advocates of transatlantic ties on both sides. Feng said European countries have realized the importance of maintaining the alliance with Washington despite the differences. The pro-European force in the United States also advocates paying attention to its European allies. The U.S. National Security Strategy released in December, which reiterates the importance of maintaining the U.S.-European alliance and lists cooperative goals in politics, economy and military security, is an example. Moreover, the United States and Europe are concerned at the changing international situation and the decrease of Western power in general. They have recognized the need to enhance comprehensive cooperation and coordination to jointly safeguard the international order and West-backed rules. However, the Russian perspective on the united front is that it has been triggered by the recent presidential election in Russia, which President Vladimir Putin won by a landslide. Alexei Chepa, deputy head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, said since the Western countries did not see the polls dividing Russian society as they had expected, they decided to tarnish Russia's image by accusing it of the poisoning, an accusation that Moscow denies. Also, Washington's echoing the European move to expel Russian diplomats is partly due to the Trump administration being under pressure at home. The mid-term elections are a pressure to be tough with Moscow. So the united front against Russia, perceived as the common "rival" or "enemy", doesn't necessarily mean the honeymoon will continue or extend to other areas. The changing international configuration will mean some differences will continue. With emerging markets and developing countries playing a bigger role in the global arena, the era of Western countries jointly playing the leading role has ended. With the evolving of multilateralism, the development of U.S.-Europe ties will face uncertainties. NICOSIA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday that Turkey's hard stance indicates its aim at controlling the eastern Mediterranean natural gas and its transfer to Europe through its territory. Anastasiades was commenting on the outcome of a meeting in Varna, Bulgaria, on Monday, between European Union officials and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. EU Council President Donald Tusk said talks with Erdogan offered no answers to a long list of concerns, including Turkey's intervention in Cypriot exclusive economic zone to prevent natural gas drilling. In remarks to journalists after the meeting, Erdogan insisted on a demand that Turkish Cypriots should take part on an equal footing with Greek Cypriots in energy planning and exploitation. Anastasiades told an oil and gas forum in Nicosia that the interests of Turkish Cypriots have been safeguarded by an agreement in the negotiations for a Cyprus solution which stipulates gas benefits will be distributed among the Cypriot communities in an equitable way. Turkish Cypriots, who make up about 20 percent of the one million population of Cyprus, pulled out of the government and set up their own break-away state in the region of Cyprus Turkey occupied in 1974, in reaction to a coup engineered by the military rulers of Greece. Their so-called state is recognized only by Turkey Turkish Cypriots recently backed down from the agreement on how natural gas proceeds will be shared after a Cyprus solution, demanding that they must also have a say on who will be licensed to explore for natural gas and on how it will be exploited. "Turkish Cypriots rights are fully safeguarded and Turkey's claims that it aims at their protections is just an excuse to gain control over the gas or become a hub for the distribution of energy to Europe," Anastasiades said. Government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said that Cyprus is fully satisfied with messages passed by the EU officials to Erdogan on the right of Cyprus to explore and exploit natural gas discovered in its exclusive economic zone. "It remains to be seen whether these messages have been received or not by Turkey," Anastasiades said. He again said that he is ready to resume negotiations at any time with Turkish Cypriots and Turkey for an agreement reunifying Cyprus, provided that Turkey abstains from violating Cypriot sovereignty. Cypriot political analysts said they believe that at the Varna meeting Erdogan maintained a tough policy line, but at the same time he held back from a head-on collision, having in mind Turkey's bid to enhance its custom union with the European Union and ultimately join it as a full member. Beyond the resumption of accession negotiations and the opening of new chapters, Erdogan also asked for the abolition of visas for Turkish citizens and the release of accession funds. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 23:11:38|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Egypt received three ancient mummy parts that had been smuggled to the United States since 1927, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Egyptian consulate in New York city has received the three mummy parts today to return them later to Egypt," said Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, director general of the Department of Recovered Antiquities at the Ministry of Antiquities. The three parts are the head and two hands of an ancient mummy that had been stolen from the Valley of Kings of Upper Egypt's monument-rich Luxor city and smuggled abroad since 1927. The official explained that the three parts had recently been displayed for sale at an auction in Manhattan of New York city when the U.S. concerned authorities stopped the sale and seized them. Abdel-Gawad said in a previous TV interview that the Department of Recovered Antiquities retrieved last June 46 smuggled mummy parts. Also on Tuesday, the staff of the University of Sydney's Nicholson Museum in Australia were shocked to find a 2,500-year-old Egyptian mummy inside a coffin that was thought to be empty. The United States, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, is currently hosting two exhibitions of ancient Egyptian artifacts. One is on world-famous ancient King Tutankhamun or King Tut at the California Science Center in Los Angeles and another on Egypt's underwater recovered artifacts held at Saint Louis Art Museum in Missouri under the theme of "Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds." Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, poses for pictures at the end of her striptease show in Gossip Gentleman club in Long Island, New York, U.S., Feb. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS) WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Monday denied that U.S. President Donald Trump had an affair with an adult film actress. Stormy Daniels, a U.S. adult film star, detailed her alleged affair with Trump over a decade ago, in an interview with a CBS program aired on Sunday. At Monday's press briefing, White House spokesman Raj Shah said that Trump doesn't believe that any of the claims "that Ms. Daniels made last night in the interview are accurate." "The president has strongly, clearly and has consistently denied" allegations of sexual liaison, Shah said. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, said that she had sex with Trump in July 2006, which was consensual, and they stayed in touch after that, but did not have sex again. Trump married Melania Trump in 2005. U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and First Lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) Daniels, 39, said that she was threatened in 2011 over the affair after agreeing to speak to a U.S. celebrity gossip magazine. She also said she had accepted 130,000 U.S. dollars in "hush money" from Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, shortly before the 2016 election. Daniels is suing to void a non-disclosure agreement that she signed for the payment because it was not signed by Trump himself. She also amended her lawsuit on Monday to include Cohen as a defendant, accusing him of defamation. Trump's tweet on March 26, 2018. Trump has not spoken publicly about the allegations. But he tweeted early Monday: "So much Fake News. Never been more voluminous or more inaccurate. But through it all, our country is doing great!" PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Former French parliamentary candidate Stephane Poussier was given a one-year suspended sentence on Tuesday after he posted a tweet on his Twitter account allegedly welcomed the death of a gendarme killed last week in a terrorist attack. Placed in police custody on Sunday, the left-wing politician appeared earlier in the day before the criminal court in Lisieux, northwestern France, on charges of justifying acts of terrorism. Poussier was arrested on Sunday after he posted two tweets welcoming the death of an officer in last week's assault in southern France. "Whenever a policeman is shot...I think of my friend Remi Fraisse," Poussier wrote, referring to a Green activist killed by a stun grenade fired by police during a 2014 protest over a dam. "And this time it was a colonel, great! Additionally, it means one less Macron voter," he added. On Friday, a gendarme was fatally injured after he voluntarily swapped himself for a hostage during an Islamist terrorist attack on a supermarket in the southern French city of Trebes. Two other people were killed and 15 others were wounded in the assault claimed by the Islamic State (IS). Poussier was a member of the hard-left France Unbowed party before being expelled due to his tweets. LUSAKA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Tuesday called for the dismissal of an impeachment motion filed by the country's main opposition party meant to remove President Edgar Lungu. Last week, the United Party for National Development filed a notice of motion to impeach Lungu, citing violation of various constitutional provisions, after garnering signatures of two-thirds of members of parliament. Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said the grounds presented in the motion do not warrant conditions for impeachment and were an abuse of democratic institutions. "We as government have a right to give our position that we think that people should not waste the people's time by bringing frivolous issues to parliament because the citizens want their members of parliament to do the things they are sent to do," Dora Siliya, chief government spokesperson, told a press briefing. "Democracy demands responsibility and not abuse," she said. Siliya said the allegations contained in the notice of motion do not amount to any impeachable offense recognized in any system of government and do not fall within the scope of impeachable offenses nor meet the test of substantiality. She said the impeachment motion was an attempt by the opposition party to continuously refuse to acknowledge Lungu's win in the 2016 general elections and an attempt to continue abuse of the judiciary and legislative procedures. Impeachment is a very grave step to the nation and it has to be predicated on conduct that threatens the very existence of the state, she added. The notice of motion of impeachment was not only misconceived but also meant to abuse procedures of parliament, Siliya said. Parliament is expected to hear the motion on Wednesday, March 28. Lungu's office has already dismissed the impeachment motion, saying he was not bothered by the move. Some opposition parties aligned to the ruling party are expected to present a petition to Speaker of Parliament Patrick Matibini to dismiss the impeachment motion. CAPE TOWN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The National Assembly on Tuesday approved the Political Party Funding Bill aimed at strengthening the country's constitutional democracy and improving transparency, accountability and fairness in political party funding. The approval is the culmination of extensive public consultation, involving written submissions and public hearings, Parliament Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said. The Bill proposes, among others, regulating and making transparent private donations to political parties represented in Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures. In June 2017, the National Assembly resolved to establish a multi-party ad hoc committee to inquire into and make recommendations by November 30, 2017 on introduction of amending legislation on political party funding, if required. The Bill is expected to address concerns about over-reliance by political parties on private donations as well as the secrecy that clouds political party financing. It will now go to the National Council of Provinces for consideration. BELGRADE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Serbian List, a political party representing Serbian population in Kosovo, decided on Tuesday to leave Kosovo institutions due to Monday's violent operation of Kosovo Police special forces in the northern part of the province. The decision came after the special units of Kosovo police on Monday detained the director of the Kosovo office in the Serbian government, Marko Djuric, for alleged illegal entry into Kosovo earlier that day. "We are witnesses after yesterday's not only brutal, but terrorist attack on unarmed Serbian people in Mitrovica and representatives of the Serbian government. We as the legitimate representatives of the Serbian people on Kosovo and Metohija cannot remain silent," said Goran Rakic, president of the Serbian List. Djuric was detained in Mitrovica North as he was in a meeting with local Serbs on Monday afternoon. Shock bombs and tear gas were used in the operation to disperse citizens who had gathered around the building in which the meeting was taking place. After the detention, Djuric was transferred to Pristina by a specialized operational unit of Kosovo police, and then deported to the administrative border where Serbian police took him over. "We will be united, and will not be afraid, we will defend our homes and no ROSU (special Kosovo police) forces nor international community nor EULEX (EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo) will scare us away from this territory," he stressed. However, representatives of Serbia List entered the Kosovo institutions after last elections won by current Kosovo prime minister Ramush Haradinaj, and became a part of the ruling coalition. Besides the decision to leave the government, Rakic also said that Serbian List would discuss unilateral establishment of the Association of Serbian Municipalities that was envisaged by the Brussels dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but never realized in practice due to obstructions coming from Pristina. He also invited Serbs in Kosovo not to be part of the so-called Kosovo Army whose formation was announced by Kosovo officials and supported by the United States. Kosovo is a southern province of Serbia, which unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. VALLETTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Malta legalized prescription of medicinal cannabis products by general practitioners on Monday. The new law means that patients will be able to access non-smoking forms of medicine at pharmacies with a doctor's prescription after a control card has been approved by the country's Superintendent of Public Health. Patients with the following three conditions are eligible to be prescribed with medicinal cannabis: chronic pain, spasticity in multiple sclerosis and side effects of chemotherapy. Malta's parliament started to debate on the new medicinal cannabis law at the beginning of the year. The laws were relaxed in 2015, through legal amendments which allowed cannabis to be prescribed by specialists, under very strict conditions. That meant cannabis remained difficult to access by most patients. In addition to the legalization of prescription of medicinal cannabis, the Mediterranean island country is also in the process of regulating the manufacture of medicinal cannabis products, with five companies having already been issued licences. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-27 23:56:51|Editor: yan Video Player Close AMMAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Jordan said on Tuesday it was taking burdens beyond its capacity as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis, the state-run Petra news agency reported. The remarks were made by Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ayman Safadi during a phone call with UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. Safadi emphasized that the international community must shoulder its full responsibility towards Syrian refugees. He added that Jordan continues to carry out its humanitarian duties towards 1.3 million Syrian refugees in the kingdom. Jordan, he said, will continue to do whatever possible to address the needs of Syrian refugees. The minister added that at the same time, Jordan will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and security from the repercussions of any developments in the Syrian crisis. During the call, Safadi underlined the need to maintain the de-escalation zone in southern Syria, as an accomplishment that prevents further deepening of the Syrian people's suffering and a step towards a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis. He said the solution should preserve the unity and cohesion of Syria and be accepted by the Syrian people on the basis of the 2254 Security Council resolution. The de-escalation zone was created in the southwestern parts of Syria last year following a tripartite deal between Jordan, Russia and the United States. Safadi and de Mistura discussed the political and field developments in Syria, especially the humanitarian catastrophe in Ghouta, which both officials emphasized the need to stop it immediately. The foreign minister also reiterated the kingdom's support for the Geneva process as a framework for reaching a political solution to the crisis. WINDHOEK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibia needs China to transform its economy through value addition, diversification and creation of new industries. President Hage Geingob said this in Windhoek before he left for a seven-day visit to China on Tuesday. Geingob said Namibia has tremendous opportunities for Chinese companies to access the broader African market. Geingob said that some major projects in the transport and logistics sectors, for instance, had been awarded to Chinese companies. "But we would like to see more direct investment by Chinese companies to assist in expanding the productive capacity of our economy instead of participating as contractors," Geingob said. Geingob said Namibia, like China, has significantly reduced poverty since 1993 but the income gap remains high. To improve Namibia's situation, Geingob said his administration has come up with the Harambee Prosperity Plan that seeks to eradicate poverty, improve old-age pension, and strengthen school enrolment, among others. MINSK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Foreign Ministry of Belarus Tuesday said the statement by the European Union (EU) about the "disproportionate" reaction of Belarusian authorities to unauthorized rallies was biased. Dmitry Mironchik, spokesperson for ministry, said all the authorized events held in Belarus on March 25 to mark the 100th anniversary of the republic were properly organized and held without any untoward incident. "Given the events that have been taking place in the EU member states, the statement that the authorities' response to unauthorized rallies was disproportionate can be viewed at the very least as biased," Mironchik said. On Tuesday, President Alexander Lukashenko told Interior Minister Igor Shunevich that any unauthorized action should be immediately stopped. Earlier, the European External Action Service had said that the Belarusian authorities' reaction to the 100th anniversary celebrations was disproportionate because they allowed a festive event but banned a rally. NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Tuesday kicked off a meeting aimed at drafting new public service guidelines to replace old regulations put in place in 2005 which aim to transform the service into a more effective sector. The stakeholder validation workshop, which was attended by heads of state corporations and public universities, sought views on proposed regulations whose ultimate goal is to transform the public service into an operational sector to catalyze attainment of Kenya's national development goals. "The new regulations will give effect to new systems, which once gazetted, will complete the process of aligning the legal and operational framework in accordance with the Constitution," said Peter Nkuraiyia, acting chairperson of the Public Service Commission in his opening remarks. "The workshop provides an opportunity to bring expertise and make recommendations that will help to deliver a document to guide the commission and all public institutions in the management of human resource not only in the civil service, but also state corporations for many years to come," he added. According to experts, public sector faces challenges that are still largely characterized with poor service delivery which is more processed-based than it is result oriented, where a poor understanding of the fundamental principle of serving rather than dictating to citizens is still in the mindset. Nkuraiya said the commission will endeavor to promote a public service that is driven by ethics and standards and which accommodates national diversity, adding that they have already initiated numerous reform measures with the ultimate goal of transforming the entire sector into a dynamic, value-driven, professional, transparent, dependable, and effective service. Alice Otwala, the Public Service Commission CEO, said the journey to deliver new regulations cannot be complete without the active participation of state corporations, considering that they are a key stakeholder just as the mainstream civil service. "After our last forum in February, it emerged that state corporations needed a forum to ventilate and interrogate the proposals a little further considering that they will be subject to the regulations once they are gazette," the CEO noted. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 00:22:01|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with a U.S. Congress delegation led by U.S. senator Steve Daines in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday called on the U.S. Congress to play a constructive role and work with China to maintain the political and public opinion foundations for China-U.S. relations. Li made the remarks while meeting with a U.S. congress delegation, led by U.S. senator Steve Daines. Li said China-U.S. ties had gone through a tortuous journey since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and had been moving forward. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump met and communicated several times, and reached important consensus on bilateral ties and cooperation, he said. "The two economies are highly complementary to each other and their cooperation has been continuously expanding," Li said, adding that friction and differences were inevitable. "Some age-old trade issues cannot be settled overnight," the Chinese premier added. "To launch a trade war could never solve problems, and runs counter to the fundamental principles of trade." "China will work towards a solution through dialogue and consultation, and is also fully prepared with counter measures," Li said. He called on the U.S. side to meet China halfway, which will help to maintain multilateral trade rules and is good for both countries and the whole world. Steve Daines and senators Charles Grassley, Ron Johnson, David Perdue and Ben Sasse called U.S.-China ties one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, adding that there was no reason for both countries to have conflict. They said the U.S. Congress was ready to help resolve bilateral trade friction in a mutually beneficial way. Later in the day, Wang Chen, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) presided over talks between the NPC and the delegation, and both sides exchanged views on parliamentary exchanges and other issues. CAPE TOWN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday voiced support for the Political Party Funding Bill approved by the National Assembly. The ANC in Parliament "is elated about the adoption of the Political Party Funding Bill by the National Assembly today," said Nonceba Mhlauli, ANC spokesperson in Parliament. The Bill is designed to strengthen the country's constitutional democracy and improve transparency, accountability and fairness in political party funding. The Bill proposes, among others, regulating and making transparent private donations to political parties represented in Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures. The Bill also limits the amount individuals or entities can donate to any one political party to 15 million rand (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars) in a calendar year. "In safeguarding our hard-fought sovereignty, this Bill outlaws all donations from foreign governments and their agencies," Mhlauli said. Furthermore, political parties are explicitly prohibited from accepting donations from any organ of state, state-owned entities, government departments or from the proceeds of crime in order to prevent corruption and state capture, said Mhlauli. The Bill will now go to the National Council of Provinces, the Upper House of Parliament, for consideration. The Bill will replace the Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act of 1997 and its regulations, seen as inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid as it does not allow for disclosure of private funding information. Mhlauli said that the ANC champions the introduction of a comprehensive system of public funding of political parties in the different spheres of government and civil society organizations. "This should include putting in place an effective regulatory architecture for private funding of political parties and civil society groups to enhance accountability and transparency to the citizenry," said the spokesperson. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 00:27:04|Editor: yan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army captured on Tuesday three Gazans who have entered the Israeli territory with knives and grenades. Footprints were discovered in Israeli territory adjacent to the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. After searching the area, the troops apprehended three suspects armed with knives and grenades, said the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The three suspects crossed the Gaza security fence and traveled approximately 20 km into Israeli territory, and the tools that were used to cut through the fence were also recovered, said the army. The IDF said that the infiltration could have had dangerous consequences. Circumstances related to the incident are being reviewed, and the incident has ended and normal routine has been restored, said the Israeli army. Palestinians from the Gaza Strip regularly try to cross into Israel. They were spotted and captured by soldiers who monitor security cameras, the Israeli media reported. A statement issued by the police said that the three were being questioned and police bomb disposal experts were at the scene. The police also said that the police heightened security in the south after suspicions of an infiltration into Israel from the Gaza Strip. It was the second infiltration by Gazans within the recent week. On Saturday, the security fence was damaged by four Palestinians and they attempted to arson an engineering vehicle, said the Israeli army. In response to the incident, Israeli fighter jets struck a target in a military compound belonging to the Hamas in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Saturday night. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 00:42:10|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Liu He said Tuesday that China would accelerate regulatory adjustments in banking and insurance sectors to step up integrated oversight of financial institutions. "To win the battle against financial risks is a priority of the country's current financial work," Liu said during an inspection trip to major supervisors, including the central bank and the newly-formed banking and insurance regulator. "The financial stability and development committee under the State Council will strengthen its role of overall coordination," Liu said. "China will improve financial support for the real economy, maintain a prudent, neutral monetary policy, ensure reasonable, stable liquidity, and push for healthy development of the capital markets." Clashes break out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers after a protest against the expanding of Jewish settlements in Kufr Qadoom village near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Oct. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Nidal Eshtayeh) UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A UN official said Monday that Israel's illegal settlement expansion and related activities continue further threatening the viability of the two-state solution and eroding the prospects for peace in the Middle East. The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, said that while Resolution 2334 calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and to fully respect all its legal obligations in this regard, no such steps were taken during the reporting period. Clashes break out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers after a protest against the expanding of Jewish settlements in Kufr Qadoom village near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Oct. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Nidal Eshtayeh) Briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, and in particular the implementation of Resolution 2334, Mladenov warned that violence and incitement continue to fuel hatred, division, distrust and fear. "Continuing terror attacks on Israelis and the attempt on the life of the Palestinian Prime Minister illustrate the growing risk of destabilization and the empowerment of radicals and extremists," he said. The use of force by Israel must be calibrated, he noted. Relatives of Palestinian farmer Mohamed Abu Jame'a mourn over his body during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis, on March 4, 2018. Palestinian farmer Mohamed Abu Jame'a was killed by Israeli troops' gunfire when he approached his farm close to the borderline area between southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis and Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar) Mladenov said he remains "greatly concerned by the state of our collective efforts to advance peace." Long-held international consensus positions on final status issues, including on Jerusalem and refugees, and United Nations principles must remain the guiding framework of a negotiated process towards the ultimate goal of a two-state solution, he said, adding that any deviation from these principles would be dangerous. Security Council Resolution 2334 was adopted on Dec. 23, 2016. It concerns the Israeli settlements in "Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem." The resolution passed in a 14-0 vote by members of the Security Council. Four members with Security Council veto power, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, voted for the resolution, but the United States abstained. The resolution states that Israel's settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law and has "no legal validity." It demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 00:47:12|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Wu Haitao (L, front) votes in favor of a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted Resolution 2408 extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until March 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted Resolution 2408 extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until March 31, 2019. The Security Council underscores the importance of UNSOM's support to the government-led inclusive political process, including the provision of UN good offices functions to support the Federal Government of Somalia's peace and reconciliation process, according to the resolution, which was drafted by the United Kingdom. It reaffirms its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia, and underscores the importance of working to prevent destabilizing effects of regional crises and disputes from spilling over into Somalia, It also commends the role of UNSOM in supporting peace and reconciliation, conflict resolution, the state formation process, the electoral process, the National Security Architecture implementation, a realistic conditions-based transition plan with clear target dates. UNSOM was established on June 3, 2013 by Security Council Resolution 2102, following a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations in support of the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia. The current mandate of UNSOM is valid until March 31, 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 00:52:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close ANKARA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish and Russian presidents on Tuesday discussed an upcoming trilateral summit on Syria issues over phone, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin also discussed bilateral relations, the agency reported, citing anonymous Turkish presidential sources. They also affirmed the determination to further develop bilateral ties, according to the sources. Erdogan also offered condolences to Putin over a fire at a shopping mall in Siberia that killed at least 64 people, including 41 children. The presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran are set to meet in Turkey on April 4, to discuss the current situation in Syria and potential steps in the region. On Sunday, Turkey announced that Syria's Afrin region had been taken under "full control" as part of ongoing military operation, which aims to clear the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The German National Railway Company (Deutsche Bahn) has already been experiencing strong demand for its new Berlin-Munich link, the company told press on Tuesday. Around 1.2 million customers were recorded within the first 100 days of opening the high-speed connection between the two major urban centers in the southeast and the northeast of the country. As a consequence, demand had more than doubled for the route compared to the same period last year when the high-speed service (officially under four hours) was not yet available. Deutsche Bahn is currently using six daily ICE-Sprinter trains on the route (leaving Berlin and Munich respectively at 6 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m.) and plans to add another four daily connections from December onwards. Overall, ICE sprinter trains in Germany have an occupancy rate of 70 percent on average, showcasing the popularity of the high-speed connections among business and regular passengers in Germany. Speaking to press on Tuesday, Deutsche Bank further highlighted that the punctuality ratio of the new Munich-Berlin was now above the national average of 80.4 percent. Initially, the railway company had experienced logistical difficulties at the start of the route, leading to criticism that the advertised travel time of under four hours was inaccurate. HOUSTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States is projected to become the third-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in the world by 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Tuesday. As U.S. export capacity continues to increase, its exports of LNG will surpass Malaysia, and remain only behind Australia and Qatar two years later. U.S. exports of LNG reached 1.94 billion cubic feet per day in 2017, up from 0.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2016. As LNG exports increased, shipments went to more destinations. U.S. LNG exports in 2017, all of which originated from Louisiana's Sabine Pass liquefaction terminal, reached 25 countries. About 53 percent of U.S. LNG exports in 2017 were shipped to three countries: Mexico, South Korea, and China. Mexico received the largest amount of U.S. LNG exports, at 20 percent of the 2017 total. Exports to China made up 15 percent of total U.S. LNG exports, less than the exports to South Korea at 18 percent. These exports were sold mostly on a spot basis, with volumes in October, November, and December increasing as record-high LNG demand prompted China to seek additional LNG on the global spot market to supplement contracted volumes. After countries in Asia and North America (Mexico), countries in Europe collectively accounted for the third-largest share of U.S. LNG exports. LNG imports by several European countries increased in 2017, driven by increased demand primarily from the power generation sector. The increase in LNG exports over the past two years is the result of the continuing expansion of U.S. LNG export capacity. Two LNG projects-Sabine Pass in Louisiana and Cove Point in Maryland-have come online since 2016. Four more projects are scheduled to come online in the next two years in states of Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 01:12:25|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Photo taken on March 27, 2018 shows the United Nations Security Council voting on a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the UN stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for another year, at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for another year, till March 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for another year, till March 31, 2019. Resolution 2409 maintains the troops levels of the mission at 16,215 military personnel, 660 military observers and staff officers, 391 police personnel, and 1,050 personnel of formed police units. It decides that the strategic priorities of the mission, known by its French acronym as Monusco, are to protect civilians and to support the implementation of the Dec. 31, 2016 agreement and the electoral process. The political agreement on Dec. 31, 2016 allowed President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001, to stay on after his term of office expired, on the condition that elections would be held within 2017. But elections were delayed on the grounds of logistics. On Nov. 5, 2017, the country's electoral commission published an electoral calendar for the combined presidential, legislative and provincial elections for Dec. 23, 2018. It decides that Monusco should provide technical assistance and logistical support for the electoral process, and monitor, report, and follow up on human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Resolution 2409 authorizes Monusco to neutralize armed groups through its Intervention Brigade, whose mandate was also renewed for another year by the resolution. It demands that all parties allow and facilitate the full, safe, immediate and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel, equipment and supplies and the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need, in particular to internally displaced persons, throughout the country. The resolution calls on all UN member states to generously donate funds to ensure that UN humanitarian agencies and other international organizations are fully funded and able to address the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, survivors of sexual violence, and other vulnerable communities. Weak governance and the existence of many active armed groups have led to widespread rape and sexual violence, massive human rights violations, and extreme poverty. The Security Council said Thursday that the humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels in some parts of the DRC. The number of internally displaced persons has more than doubled in the last year to reach 4.49 million. In addition there are 540,000 refugees within the country, as well as more than 714,000 refugees from the DRC in neighboring countries as a result of ongoing hostilities. At least 13.1 million Congolese are in need of humanitarian assistance, including more than 7.7 million severely food insecure people, according to UN figures. PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday spoke over phone with his American counterpart Donald Trump about international crises including war in Syria, poisoning of Russian ex-spy in England and Washington's new imported steel and aluminum tariffs, Macron's office said. Macron and Trump reiterated that the fight against the Islamic State's insurgents in Syria remained "their top priority," pledging that "nothing would divert the efforts of the international coalition and its allies," to uproot terrorism. Speaking about the poisoning of former Russian intelligence agent in England with a "military-grade nerve agent", they hailed the world main powers' coordinated move to expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain. Condemning the use of chemical arms, they stressed that "such a threat to collective security and international law could not remain unanswered." Despite the denial by Russia of any involvement in the poisoning incident in Britain, more than 20 Western countries have announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Over the telephone conversation, Macron also told Trump that the "EU's steel and aluminum exports did not pose a threat to U.S. national security, and as such they should not be undermined by additional customs duties. " He underlined the need to strengthen the rules of international trade to ensure fair competition. BRUSSELS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday evening reached the provisional agreement for monitoring and reporting the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from and fuel consumption data from new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). The European Commission also expressed its welcome to this first-ever EU legislation focusing on the CO2 emissions from these vehicles in a statement on Tuesday. The new regulations are part of the EU's Strategy on low-emission mobility and Communication on delivering on low-emission mobility and can help contribute to the bloc's climate objectives under the Paris Agreement. According to the European Environment Agency, in 2015, road transport was responsible for almost 73 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Among these emissions, 18.8 percent were from HDVs. According to the regulations, member states will monitor and report registration data concerning all new HDVs, and vehicle manufacturers will monitor and report information related to CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. Apart from that, the Commission will make reported data publicly available, set up a system of administrative fines in case of vehicle manufacturers not reporting the data or reporting falsified data, and establish a system for monitoring and reporting the results of future on-road tests for the verification of the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of HDVs. The provisional agreement will now be presented to EU ambassadors for approval, according to the Council. Once approved, the text will be submitted to the Parliament for a vote and then to the Council for final adoption. Following approval, it will be published in the Official Journal and enter into force 20 days later. NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is planning a series of legal and regulatory reforms in order attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), a government official said on Tuesday. Moses Ikiara, the Managing Director of Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), told Xinhua in Nairobi that there are several bureaucratic challenges that investors face that slow down the flow of capital into Kenya. "So in the next few months, we are planning amendments in some laws in order to reduce the time required by investors to establish their operations," Ikiara said on the sidelines of a seminar showcasing the Belt and Road trade and investment opportunities which was jointly organized the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to Ikiara, the government is keen to attract more FDI which results in job creation as well as transfer of new technology into the country. The official noted that through digitization of government services, the ease of doing business in the country has greatly improved. "However, a number of hurdles still persist that are hindering the flow of capital into the country," said Ikiara. Ikiara said land issues were biggest challenges facing investors in the country, noting that land tenure system has led to disputes over land ownership which has made a number of projects to stall. He said reforms in the business environment are essential due to the huge interest amongst foreign investors in Kenya. NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is planning a series of legal and regulatory reforms to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), a government official said on Tuesday. Moses Ikiara, managing director of Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), told Xinhua in Nairobi that there are several bureaucratic challenges that investors face that slow down the flow of capital into Kenya. "So in the next few months, we are planning amendments in some laws in order to reduce the time required by investors to establish their operations," Ikiara said on the sidelines of a seminar showcasing Belt and Road trade and investment opportunities. The event was jointly organized the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to Ikiara, the government is keen to attract more FDI, which results in job creation as well as transfer of new technology into the country. The official noted that through digitization of government services, the ease of doing business in the country has greatly improved. "However, a number of hurdles still persist that are hindering the flow of capital into the country," said Ikiara. Land issues were the biggest challenges facing investors in the country, Ikiara said, noting that the land tenure system has led to disputes over ownership, which has made a number of projects to stall. He said reforms in improving the business environment are essential due to huge interest among foreign investors in Kenya. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 01:47:44|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Sun Chunlan (L), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attends the inauguration ceremony of the National Health Commission in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2018. Sun also attended a symposium of the National Health Commission on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday officially inaugurated the National Health Commission, as part of a massive institutional reshuffle. Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the inauguration ceremony. While addressing a symposium held Tuesday, Sun called on health institutions to strengthen the work to offer "comprehensive, lifecycle health services to the Chinese people." "The establishment of the commission reflects a change of concept of the country's health-related work," said Sun, noting that the commission must focus on improving the overall health conditions of the Chinese people, instead of illness treatment, through enhancing disease prevention and health education. Sun also called for more efforts on healthy lifestyles and deepening medical and healthcare reform. DIRE DAWA, Ethiopia, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Young Ethiopian professionals taking part in a knowledge transfer program with their Chinese counterparts are aspiring to become the pioneer rail transport masters of the East African nation. Some 600 young Ethiopians, presently receiving robust theoretical and practical training from Chinese experts, are taking steps towards managing the Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, which began its commercial operations in January this year. Saliha Muhammed, who is a mechanical engineering graduate, is one of the aspiring Ethiopian youth that are currently participating in the program alongside Chinese professionals. As she envisaged to become a rail captain in the near future with the help of both technical and practical training, Saliha said she is "so glad to have this opportunity." "We have received various training that last for 45 days and during the training they showed us every single thing," Saliha said, adding: "It's a good thing that after 2 years we will be the first Ethiopians to take this opportunity, because it's a new chance." Saliha also praised Chinese professionals for their support in theoretical training and practical demonstrations, saying that "we are very grateful for the knowledge transfer". The 600 Ethiopians are destined to manage the 756 km-long railway that connects landlocked Ethiopia to its neighboring Red Sea nation of Djibouti. Mekdes Solomon, who is a train attendant for the railway's passenger service operations, is another Ethiopian who is currently managing the safety of passengers aboard the train, which travels from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to Djibouti via Ethiopia's second city Dire Dawa, some 446 km east of the capital. According to Solomon, since rail transportation is a new experience to the two East African countries' people, the role of train attendants is vital for the railway's passengers. "As we are currently serving passengers' needs, we always encounter new things," Solomon said, adding that "the importance of Chinese colleagues is very critical when it comes to dealing with new experiences." Built by two Chinese companies, namely the China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, the railway is currently managed by a consortium of Chinese companies which will also cascade the management and operations of the electrified railway over the next six years. The recently established Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Rail Transport company, among other things, manages the knowledge transfer endeavor in a bid to familiarize locals with railway technology. Company officials told Xinhua that the knowledge transfer scheme is so far successful. Wang Tao, Human Resource Department Head at the company, said that the 600 local professionals are currently receiving robust technical and practical training in every sector that are related to the normal functioning of the rail system. Wang, who affirmed the target to entirely manage the railway operations by locals within six years, said the transition to locals can not be done overnight as the railway and its system are state-of-the-art technologies that require effective technical and practical knowledge. According to Wang, the knowledge transfer procedures vary and will last from a minimum of one year to a maximum of 6 years depending on the nature of each task. Li Chenwei, a Chinese attendant at the Lebu railway station at the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is one of the Chinese experts currently mentoring locals concerning the various forms of services that are provided inside railway stations. "I am happy that local professionals are taking their lessons very fast," said Li, as he looks certain to hand over his post as a station attendant to locals within the coming two years. Ethiopia had a railway system for much of the 20th century connecting the capital Addis Ababa to the Djibouti port, the century-old railway line was closed due to various challenges, eventually forcing the capital city to depend on truck service as of 2004. The new Addis Ababa-Djibouti standard gauge railway, which commenced its commercial operations for both passenger and freight operations in January this year, presently services as the major link to Ethiopia's long-serving Djibouti port. Because the technology is a new to Ethiopians, knowledge transfer is equally given due emphasis so as to ensure the sustainability of the railway system. by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou ATHENS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The sky in many parts of Greece in the past few days has turned orange as waves of Sahara desert dust clouds have been sweeping through the country. The phenomenon does not pose significant risks to public health, but Greeks should get used to it as it will become more frequent in the future, experts told Xinhua in Athens on Tuesday. The natural phenomenon occurs for centuries in springtime and September as strong southern winds transfer sand from the Sahara to Europe all the way to Sweden some times, Nikos Michalopoulos, director of the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development of the National Observatory of Athens and Chemistry Professor at the University of Crete, explained. What has changed this March is that Greek citizens pay more attention as the concentrations of dust are quite high. Last week the Athens Observatory recorded a 15 year record high in the city of Herakleion on Crete island, where the concentration of particulate matter pollution levels were 10 times of normal levels which the EU has set at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This week the level at Crete had dropped to about 200 micrograms per cubic meter and about 50 was recorded on Tuesday in Athens, but meteorologists warn that the circle is far from over. "Maybe lately we put more emphasis, because now we take measurements, something that we did not use to do in the past," Michalopoulos noted. At the University of Crete the database started about 15 years ago. Asked whether the natural phenomenon is affected by climate change, the Greek scientist noted that it was very early to reach conclusions. Experts need many years of research before answering this question. "What we can say with certainty is that in the last five years we recorded a minor increase in the frequency of southern winds," he said. "It is not clear whether climate change is a factor which could explain the increased frequency of such phenomena," the expert added. "What we can say for sure is that climate change, given that models predict desertification in this region, will bring more dust which will be added to the dust clouds coming from northern Africa. Therefore in the future we will face higher concentrations of particles in the atmosphere than those we record today," he explained. For the time being Michalopoulos suggests Greeks to be prepared for more dust this spring and take precautions if they have health issues. "We must await more such phenomena until at least mid May," he said. "It is wise when the measurements are showing more than 50 micrograms concentrations, and problems start for people - in particular those belonging to high risk groups, such as young children and patients suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory issues- then they should limit their exposure to the dust," he said. Pulmonologist- Intensivist Panagiotis Bechrakis, Director of the Institute of Public Health of the American College in Greece, also suggested calm for the natural phenomenon which so far does not have significant impact on Greeks. "The positive fact is that this cloud dust is not in particularly toxic. In case we faced similar concentrations of smog caused by human activities for so long, then the situation would be tragic," he explained. People who do not have chronic health issues have nothing to worry about. Those with breathing problems are advised to stay indoors, use masks or a handkerchief to filter the larger particles of dust in the atmosphere and seek medical aid in case of discomfort. "Undoubtedly every irritation that lasts for long has cumulatively consequences. However the rule so far is that these dust clouds come and go for a few hours or a couple of days. We do not have to deal with a permanent problem, therefore I do not see any reason why we should be alarmed that we may have chronic issues from this phenomenon," the Greek expert said. A picture taken on February 14, 2018 shows the "Screaming Mummy" known scientifically as "the unknown man E" on display at theEgyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square. (AFP Photo) CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Egypt received three ancient mummy parts that had been smuggled to the United States since 1927, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Egyptian consulate in New York city has received the three mummy parts today to return them later to Egypt," said Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, director general of the Department of Recovered Antiquities at the Ministry of Antiquities. The three parts are the head and two hands of an ancient mummy that had been stolen from the Valley of Kings of Upper Egypt's monument-rich Luxor city and smuggled abroad since 1927. The official explained that the three parts had recently been displayed for sale at an auction in Manhattan of New York city when the U.S. concerned authorities stopped the sale and seized them. Abdel-Gawad said in a previous TV interview that the Department of Recovered Antiquities retrieved last June 46 smuggled mummy parts. Also on Tuesday, the staff of the University of Sydney's Nicholson Museum in Australia were shocked to find a 2,500-year-old Egyptian mummy inside a coffin that was thought to be empty. The United States, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, is currently hosting two exhibitions of ancient Egyptian artifacts. One is on world-famous ancient King Tutankhamun or King Tut at the California Science Center in Los Angeles and another on Egypt's underwater recovered artifacts held at Saint Louis Art Museum in Missouri under the theme of "Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds." Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 03:23:08|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces on Tuesday seized 1,000 landmines during an operation to clear Islamic State (IS) militants in the southwestern part of the oil-rich Kirkuk province, a military statement said. Acting on intelligence reports, the government-backed Hashd Shaabi fighters cleared a cluster of villages around the town of al-Ryadh, about 55 km southwest of the city Kirkuk, and found a cache of ammunition and weapons, including 1,000 landmines, the statement said. The Hashd Shaabi forces carried out another operation in the desert area in west of the city of Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, and seized a car bomb-making site and hideouts for IS militants, the Hashd Shaabi said in a separate statement. During the past few months, dozens of IS militants fled their former urban strongholds in Mosul, Salahudin province and Hawijah area in the west of Kirkuk after the Iraqi forces cleared these areas during major anti-IS offensives. However, remnants of IS militants resorted to hideouts in rugged areas near the rivers of Tigris and Zab, as well as Himreen mountainous areas to continue their almost daily attacks against civilians and Iraqi forces. On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the extremist group. However, small groups and individuals of IS militants regrouped in the rugged areas and are carrying out attacks against the security forces and civilians despite operations from time to time to hunt them down. SKOPJE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov Tuesday called in a press statement the government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat a hasty move. The president's statement came one day after the government decided to expel a Russian diplomat in the wake of the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter on the British soil, which Britain suspected Russia was behind despite Russia's denial. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev confirmed Tuesday the information given earlier by Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov regarding the decision on expelling a Russian diplomat was based on documented evidence and made in compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and national laws. "All diplomats in Macedonia, across the globe are aware that they should respect the Vienna Convention and the national laws of the countries they are accredited to," Zaev said. But President Ivanov said Macedonia should be restrained from hasty steps in foreign policy in a bid to prevent possible damages to Macedonia's strategic objectives. "Taking into consideration that the decisions to expel Russian diplomats have not been harmonized among all EU member-states, the move by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hurried," the President's Office said on Tuesday. Despite the expulsion decision, Prime Minister Zaev told a press conference that the decision should not disrupt the relations with Moscow. The Russian embassy to Skopje, however, reacted by saying that it viewed the expulsion as a provocation and an unprecedented act in the Russian-Macedonian relations. The decision sparked controversy in Macedonia. Lawmakers of the largest opposition party VMRO-DPMNE considered the government's decision as dangerous. Some political experts here also voiced their objection against the decision, saying it was a hasty one, which could have consequences. KHARTOUM, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Tuesday stressed importance of continued and constructive negotiation and dialogue between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia to reach satisfactory solutions regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Tuesday received a U.S. delegation, headed by Eric Stromayer, the Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of African Affairs, who is currently visiting Sudan to get acquainted with viewpoints regarding the GERD. According to a statement by Sudan's Foreign Ministry Tuesday, Ghandour stressed importance of continuing the constructive negotiation and dialogue and working to narrow the viewpoints prior to reaching "positive and satisfactory results for all parties." He further stressed the importance of the tripartite meeting for the foreign and irrigation ministers as well as the chiefs of intelligence and security of the three countries, scheduled to be held in Khartoum in the coming April. The talks between the three countries on the GERD have witnessed stalemate after they failed to reach agreement on a technical report prepared by a French consultancy firm about the dam. In late December 2017, Egypt proposed for the Ethiopian side to involve the World Bank as a neutral party in the activities of the tripartite technical committee, but Ethiopia refused the Egyptian proposal. Egypt fears that the construction of the dam would affect its share in the Nile water, while Ethiopia reiterated that the dam is likely to make a shift in its wealth, namely in the field of electricity. The GERD, extending on an area of 1,800 square km, is scheduled to be completed in three years at a cost of 4.7 billion U.S. dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 04:08:14|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok holds up a photo of a Syrian girl as he addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, March 27, 2018. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said Tuesday that the last few months have been some of the worst for Syrian civilians as a result of ongoing violence. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said Tuesday that the last few months have been some of the worst for Syrian civilians as a result of ongoing violence. In the besieged rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta in the outskirts of Damascus, more than 1,700 people have been reportedly killed since Feb. 24, the day of adoption of Security Council Resolution 2401, which demands an immediate cease-fire across Syria, Lowcock told the Security Council in a briefing. Attacks on critical civilian infrastructure like medical facilities continue to be reported. There have been at least 28 reported attacks on health facilities since mid-February and more than 70 verified incidents since the beginning of this year, said Lowcock via video teleconference in Geneva. In Damascus city, at least 78 people were reportedly killed and 230 others injured by shells fired from Eastern Ghouta in recent weeks. They include reports of at least 35 people killed and scores wounded on March 20 when a market in Jaramana, a southeastern suburb of the city, was struck by a rocket, said Lowcock. Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced across the country in recent weeks, he said. Nearly 52,000 civilians from Eastern Ghouta are currently being hosted in eight collective shelters in rural Damascus. Most of the collective shelters do not have the capacity or infrastructure to accommodate such large numbers of people, he said. In northwest Syria, an estimated 183,500 people have been displaced by hostilities in Afrin district in Aleppo governorate in recent weeks. The majority, some 140,000 people, have fled to Tal Refaat. This massive influx of internally displaced persons is putting a strain on host communities, which are already overwhelmed. In Idlib governorate, the situation remains catastrophic, with almost 400,000 people displaced since mid-December. Local capacity to assist is overstretched. Thousands of additional people are now coming there from Eastern Ghouta, with no sites or shelters available for the vast majority of them, said Lowcock. There are reports of an increase in violence in Idlib in recent days, he said. On March 20, airstrikes hit a shelter for internally displaced persons in the outskirts of Haas village in southern rural Idlib governorate, killing at least 10 people and injuring 15 others, he quoted local sources as saying. On the following day, airstrikes on Kafr Battikh village in the same area reportedly killed scores more. The next day, the central market in Harim town was hit by an airstrike, reportedly killing 35 people, including many women and children. Airstrikes also resumed in southern Syria on March 12, with attacks being reported in and around Daraa City on the border with Jordan. There have not been airstrikes in these areas since an agreement was reached last year on the creation of a de-escalation zone for parts of the south of the country. This therefore appears to be a major unwelcomed development, said Lowcock. The Syrian civil war has entered its eighth year. MAPUTO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Three Mozambicans were recently repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they had joined a group of terrorists at a price of 500 U.S. dollars per month. According to the spokesman of Police of the Republic of Mozambique, Inacio Dina, speaking on Tuesday in the usual weekly briefing, Congo's Defense Forces destroyed the base where the rebels were staying and captured the survivors. The spokesman explained that these Mozambicans left for Congo in August last year and after the bombing they were imprisoned in that country for three months. BERLIN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday called for talks on trade policy between the European Union and the United States in a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. "The Chancellor called for a dialogue between the European Union and the United States of America on trade policy, taking into account the rules-based international trade system," German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement. The United States has excluded the EU and six other countries from higher U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum. The two leaders reaffirmed the desire for continued close cooperation between the two governments, according to Seibert. In light of Salisbury's nerve gas incident, Merkel and Trump underscored their solidarity with Britain, according to Seibert's statement. RABAT, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 4.2 billion U.S. dollars will be allocated by the United Kingdom to support British companies wishing to export their products to or set up plants in Morocco, Morocco's official MAP news agency reported on Tuesday. This announcement was made by representative of the UK Department for International Trade in Morocco, Jason Ivory, at the Moroccan-British forum on trade and investment in London, the report pointed out. The allocation of such large sum by UK Export Finance, a government agency dedicated to promoting British exports, testifies to the confidence placed in Morocco by UK financial authorities, Ivory said. He also called on companies to seize this financial windfall and the business opportunities offered in Morocco, noting that economic operators who want to trade or export to the kingdom will receive the necessary support from his department. UK Prime Minister Trade Envoy to Morocco, Andrew Murrison, stressed that the UK's decision sends a strong signal to the business community and reflects the willingness of British officials to intensify trade and strengthen economic cooperation with Morocco, he said. The Moroccan Minister for Finance and Economy, Mohamed Boussaid, has led a delegation of senior governmental and business officials to London for the UK-Morocco Trade & Investment Forum 2018. This forum aims to showcase the huge opportunities that Morocco has both within the country and wider afield as a gateway to the region. Children wait to be transferred to a safe shelter from the Hamouriyeh area in Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, Syria, on March 17, 2018. As many as 30,000 civilians evacuated from rebel-held areas in the Syrian capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta area on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said Tuesday that the last few months have been some of the worst for Syrian civilians as a result of ongoing violence. In the besieged rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta in the outskirts of Damascus, more than 1,700 people have been reportedly killed since Feb. 24, the day of adoption of Security Council Resolution 2401, which demands an immediate cease-fire across Syria, Lowcock told the Security Council in a briefing. Attacks on critical civilian infrastructure like medical facilities continue to be reported. There have been at least 28 reported attacks on health facilities since mid-February and more than 70 verified incidents since the beginning of this year, said Lowcock via video teleconference in Geneva. In Damascus city, at least 78 people were reportedly killed and 230 others injured by shells fired from Eastern Ghouta in recent weeks. They include reports of at least 35 people killed and scores wounded on March 20 when a market in Jaramana, a southeastern suburb of the city, was struck by a rocket, said Lowcock. A Syrian tank passes a wall painted with the rebels' flag in the town of Saqba in the capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta after the army liberated it on March 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced across the country in recent weeks, he said. Nearly 52,000 civilians from Eastern Ghouta are currently being hosted in eight collective shelters in rural Damascus. Most of the collective shelters do not have the capacity or infrastructure to accommodate such large numbers of people, he said. In northwest Syria, an estimated 183,500 people have been displaced by hostilities in Afrin district in Aleppo governorate in recent weeks. The majority, some 140,000 people, have fled to Tal Refaat. This massive influx of internally displaced persons is putting a strain on host communities, which are already overwhelmed. In Idlib governorate, the situation remains catastrophic, with almost 400,000 people displaced since mid-December. Local capacity to assist is overstretched. Thousands of additional people are now coming there from Eastern Ghouta, with no sites or shelters available for the vast majority of them, said Lowcock. A Syrian child evacuated from Eastern Ghouta eats a pita-bread sandwich while sitting next to belongings after arriving with others in the village of Qalaat al-Madiq, some 45 kilometres northwest of the central city of Hama, on March 27, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP) There are reports of an increase in violence in Idlib in recent days, he said. On March 20, airstrikes hit a shelter for internally displaced persons in the outskirts of Haas village in southern rural Idlib governorate, killing at least 10 people and injuring 15 others, he quoted local sources as saying. On the following day, airstrikes on Kafr Battikh village in the same area reportedly killed scores more. The next day, the central market in Harim town was hit by an airstrike, reportedly killing 35 people, including many women and children. Syrians leave Hamouriyeh area in Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, Syria, on March 17, 2018. As many as 30,000 civilians evacuated from rebel-held areas in the Syrian capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta area on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) Airstrikes also resumed in southern Syria on March 12, with attacks being reported in and around Daraa City on the border with Jordan. There have not been airstrikes in these areas since an agreement was reached last year on the creation of a de-escalation zone for parts of the south of the country. This therefore appears to be a major unwelcomed development, said Lowcock. The Syrian civil war has entered its eighth year. TUNIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia and Pakistan are preparing a list of products that will benefit from preferential tariffs both for import and export, said Riadh Essid, the Director of the Department Asia at the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday. This list could "boost bilateral trade" and "trigger the start of a new phase of our economic cooperation," said Essid on the sidelines of Tunisian-Pakistan Mixed Economic Forum, inaugurated in Tunis. In February 2018, the two countries signed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding on cooperation in agriculture, judiciary and small and medium-sized enterprises. Although trade exchange between Tunisia and Pakistan does not exceed 35 million dollars in 2017 which was below expectations, they could touch a bunch of high value-added sectors including information and communication technologies, agribusiness mainly olive oil in addition to tourism, said Khaled Sallami, Executive Council of Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA). According to Khaled, Tunisia is strong in its strategic geographical position as an access point for African and European markets. Pakistan's Ambassador to Tunisia Sem Zaheer Pervaiz Khan hoped that Pakistani investors could take advantage of Tunisia's position to market their products on African markets. In 2017, Tunisian exports account for almost 38 percent of GDP, according to Ikbal Khaldi, the representative of the Center for Export Promotion of Tunisia (Cepex). Ikbal said this North African country has about 6,600 exporting companies and no less than 5,900 export-oriented products. As for trade exchanges with Asia, they represent only 2.7 percent of all Tunisian exports, according to the Cepex representative. KARIBA, ZIMBABWE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean energy minister Simon Khaya Moyo on Tuesday lauded China for funding the expansion of Kariba South hydro power station by 300 megawatts. Speaking to Xinhua in Kariba ahead of the commissioning of the expansion project by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday, the minister said the additional power will help reduce the country's power import bill. "We are very excited by the work which has been done by our colleagues, Sinohyro and their counterparts here. We are really thrilled in the sense that as you know we still import power from Eskom of South Africa and Hydro Cabbora Basa from Mozambique and when we see such development it gives us strength and makes us certain that our import bill is going to be reduced tremendously," the minister said. China's hydro power engineering and construction firm, Sinohydro carried out the expansion of the Kariba power plant by adding two 150 MW units from 2014 at a cost of 535 million U.S. dollars. The first unit was completed and started feeding into the national grid in December 2017 while the test run for the second unit was completed two weeks ago. The expansion project has lifted installed capacity for the plant from 750MW to 1,050 MW, making it the largest power plant in Zimbabwe after overtaking Hwange thermal power station whose installed capacity is 900 MW. Zimbabwe requires 1,400 MW but has been producing about 900MW, covering the shortfall through imports. It imports 300 MW from Eskom and 50 MW from Mozambique. Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe wants China to continue assisting it in developing its power generation capacity to meet anticipated increased demand as more investors flock to the country after the coming in of a new government led by Mnangagwa. "We have got other projects naturally across the country which we think should be speeded up. Because of the new dispensation we know that a number of investors are coming into the country, some of them are coming to re-open closed businesses and industries are going to be re-opening and we are quite confident that with more power available, there will be huge economic development. "We are therefore encouraging our colleagues from China to continue with this good spirit they have demonstrated to us. We want to see this friendship solidified," the minister said. He said the country was proud to be commissioning the power development project which has far reaching implications for the lives of Zimbabweans. BELGRADE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said here Tuesday that violent event such as the one on Monday in Kosovo must not repeat. Mogherini made her remarks after an urgent meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. According to a statement released by the Serbian president's cabinet, Mogherini and Vucic talked about latest developments and the future of the dialogue on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. "What happened yesterday must not repeat. The EU expects the preservation of peace along with wise and reserved approach," Mogherini said, according to the statement. Vucic agreed with Mogherini, saying that "new ways are needed" so that Belgrade and Pristina could continue with their work on solving problems within the EU-mediated Brussels dialogue. "President Vucic and the EU high representative Mogherini agreed that it is in the national and state interest of Serbia to maintain stability, peace and progress on the way to EU membership," it said. Kosovo is a southern province of Serbia, which unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. On Monday, special units of Kosovo police detained the director of the Kosovo office in the Serbian government, Marko Djuric, for alleged illegal entry into Kosovo. Djuric was detained in Mitrovica North as he was in a meeting with local Serbs. Several people were injured in the operation, during which Kosovo police allegedly used shock bombs, tear gas and beaten gathered people. Nenad Rikalo, minister of agriculture in the government of Kosovo, was taken to intensive care due to more severe injuries of abdomen and breastbone. Several hours after the incident, Vucic called the event "a brutal provocation, an act of insanity and the heaviest criminal act that the authorities in Pristina have undertaken in the province of Kosovo and Metohija". Meanwhile, Serbian List, a political party representing Serbian population in Kosovo ruling coalition, decided on Tuesday to leave Kosovo institutions. MEXICO CITY, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Mexican exports increased 12.3 percent in February year on year to reach 35.21 billion U.S. dollars, boosted by manufacturing and oil exports to the United States, the government's statistics bureau Inegi said Tuesday. In a report, Inegi also praised the fact that imports rose 11.7 percent year on year to reach 34.148 billion dollars. This provided Mexico with a trade surplus of 1.062 billion dollars, after two straight months of trade deficit. According to the data, manufacturing exports grew 10.5 percent, and oil exports saw a year-on-year growth of 36.6 percent, which largely drove this expansion. This year has seen robust Mexican exports, with a combined growth of 12.4 percent for the first two months, while imports grew by 12.9 percent. Mexican trade is largely dependent on the United States, its main partner in NAFTA, the free-trade agreement which has been the lynchpin of North American trade since 1994 and is being renegotiated. The financial group Banorte issued a statement to its clients on Tuesday, saying the dynamism in manufacturing exports was likely to continue, given good economic growth prospects in the United States. It said Mexican trade had been helped by a relatively weak peso, due to uncertainty surrounding NAFTA talks and the upcoming presidential election in July. Mexico, Latin America's second largest economy after Brazil, saw 2 percent of economic growth in 2017, down from 2.9 percent in 2016. Mexico's central bank has predicted that GDP will expand between 2 and 3 percent in 2018. ADDIS ABABA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) on Tuesday elected Abiy Ahmed as its new chairperson effectively making him the next Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Ahmed, chairman of Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO) which rules over Ethiopia's largest and most populous regional state of Oromia, will replace the outgoing Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Desalegn had already resigned from his EPRDF chairperson position earlier in the day. Desalegn comes from another EPRDF coalition member party, the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement and has been leading Ethiopia after the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in August 2012. The confirmation of Abiy Ahmed as the new chairperson of EPRDF and soon to be new PM ends more than a month of political uncertainty ever since Hailemariam Desalegn offered his resignation on February 15. EPRDF and allied parties control all 547 seats in Ethiopian parliament, so Ahmed's appointment as next Ethiopian Prime Minister is expected to be a foregone conclusion. In recent months, internal political wrangling among four coalition partners of EPRDF, including Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, Amhara National Democratic Movement, South Ethiopia People's Democratic Movement and Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), has cast fears about the stability of the nation of about 100 million people. Ethiopia is also reeling from persistent deadly protests since 2016 especially in the two most populous regional states of Amhara and Oromia over alleged political and economic marginalization. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 05:18:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close ANKARA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey received no sign at the latest Turkey-EU summit in Bulgaria's Varna that the bloc will display "a fair attitude' toward Ankara, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday. Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party meeting in the parliament, Yildirim said "at the summit we could not see any signal that the EU's approach to us will be based on fair ground." Turkey will maintain its perspective for full membership of the EU, however, the efforts should continue in a way that "suits the interests of both sides," Yildirim was quoted by Hurriyet Daily News as saying. "We cannot allow the EU to wear Turkey out," Yildirim said, adding that Turkey has fulfilled its obligations to the EU. The prime minister also slammed that EU sees Turkey's fight against terror organizations as an obstacle for bilateral relations, referring to EU's criticism on Ankara's crackdown in the wake of the coup attempt July, 2016. Yildirim's remarks came one day after Turkey-EU summit held on Monday in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort with participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, European Council President Donald Tusk and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The EU and Turkey failed to reach any "concrete solutions or compromises" in talks in Varna, EU President Tusk said after the meeting. EU leaders in Varna also expressed concerns about Turkey's ongoing military operations against Syrian Kurdish militia in northern Syria. Not even sure if I entirely agree with this piece, but I do feel that some libertarians are more sympathetic to government to do their bidding than they care to admit.Whenever there is some draconian policy or debt spending initiative from Trump, there are members on this forum that call themselves libertarians, and rush to defend him. Gubmint spending and clamping down on civil rights is the opposite of the libertarian philosophy.Why Internet Libertarians are becoming FascistsIf you grew up in middle-class white America in the 21st century, chances are you know some Internet Libertarians. The type, usually a somewhat socially maladjusted young man, who spends a lot of time playing video games and on youtube. For most of their life theyre apolitical, or maybe have a vague sympathy for Ron Paul. Or maybe they have a cynical view of politics from watching South Park. One day they stumble onto a Sargon of Assad or Stephen Molyneux video, and it speaks to them. Hell, maybe you are one, or were one. But over the past few years, youve probably noticed that these people drifted in another direction, away from atheism and libertarianism and towards open fascism.At first, this seems completely improbable. If you take them at their word, these people stand for individual liberty, and freedom above all else. Wouldnt fascism be the polar opposite of that belief? How does a classic liberal end up defending Nazis? How does a self-proclaimed rational skeptic end up promoting disproven racist eugenics?Part 1 Private PowerThe proliferation of the political compass has something to do with this line of thought. It obscures the potential difficulties of political choices, and makes it seem like one axis the authority vs. anarchy one is the be all end all of political ideas of freedom. The very words free market, combined with the allure of the political compass, draws people towards that bottom right square. Who wouldnt want to be pro-freedom? Its got sex appeal.The libertarian worldview then, is one where individual rights exist only in a technical sense. The actual ability that person has to exercise their rights depends entirely on their economic standing. The libertarian world is one of hierarchy of righteous hierarchy. These people are not classic liberals but corporate nietzcheans.Part 2 When The Market FailsBut what happens when the promises of the market fail? What happens when certain minority groups are still way behind? What happens when the wage gap lingers even as decades pass? What happens when an entire generation of their peers loses faith in the free market?Instead of losing faith in the market, the internet libertarians lose faith in their peers. And women. And minorities.Look at the latest controversy if you actually read that google employees memo, he basically claims that the lack of women in tech is due to essentialist differences in biology between the sexes. The market could not possibly have failed the market is pure, it does not see race or gender. Ideas of oppression, which might suggest fixes that go against the libertarian ethos of nonintervention in the market, must be wrong.This is when the rational mind goes fully irrational. They turn to conspiracies, or flirt with them, to explain the way the world is. Remember, it cant be the market. So all those bad things that happen, they cant possibly be symptoms of capitalism, they must be caused by sinister forces behind the scenes. Drawing direct cause and effect relationships between current events and capitalism can't be allowed, so instead they depart on conspiratorial "flight of ideas".Part 3 - ReactionBut to really push them over the edge, to the violent embrace of the far right, it takes a little bit more.The current pushing them down the lazy river of hate is reaction. Literal reaction. Reactions to videos of SJWs. Reaction to the growing left. Reaction to day after day of this being blasted into their brain for hours and hours by social media and youtube personalities that cater to their young male anger. This is what primes them to accept the arguments about degeneracy, and eventually accept the notion that certain groups must be removed from society. It starts as a joke, as a video they watch for a laugh. Maybe they enjoy punching down, maybe it feels transgressive, maybe they like the memes. Day after day they watch these videos, videos specifically cherrypicked and curated to make them feel the most disgusted and insulted and outraged.And slowly but surely, the hate grows, like a tumor. Whatever happens in their life, whatever personal anxieties and pent-up frustrations they have, whatever feelings of alienation, it only fuels the process. Stuck in a filter bubble of youtube and social media suggestions, theyre carried further and further down into the online underworld of far-right extremism. OUAGADOUGOU, March 27 (Xinhua) -- About 5,000 people fled their homes in the northern Soum province of Burkina Faso as of January this year, following the increase in armed violence, humanitarian source said on Tuesday in the capital Ouagadougou. "Following the increasing number of acts of armed violence in the Soum province, over 800 households, about 5,000 people, had to leave their homes as of January, for more southerly localities", a release from the International committee of Red Cross (ICRC) said. The ICRC made this public after providing food vouchers to the displaced people in the violence-torn Soum province where it said "livelihood and access to health care are badly affected". "These displaced households have received vouchers to be exchanged for foods in local businesses", Idrissa Savadogo of ICRC, who took part in the assistance operation, said. "Maintaining access to healthcare, with the Burkina Red-Cross and in partnership with local authorities, is also at the heart of our priorities", Christian Munezero, the head of ICRC mission in Burkina Faso said. "What we are most afraid of now is the lean season between June and August. Drought and insecurity may hit these communities", he added. Northern Burkina Faso is among the poorest regions of the country and it has seen frequent terrorist attacks since 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 05:38:39|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Fatima AbdulKarim RAMALLAH, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian strategists warned Tuesday that the Israeli-U.S. alliance is working "to denounce the legitimacy of the two-state solution" by defining it in a new way, which cannot be accepted by Palestinians. The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR) issued Tuesday its annual strategic report in review of the Israeli socio-political, economic and security scene in 2017 and in anticipation of 2018. The report revealed a number of dark sides for the Israeli-U.S. alliance after the inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States in the beginning of 2017. The report is meant to present to decision makers a general analysis of the key events that impacted Israel throughout the year, most importantly being the conforming U.S. foreign policy towards the region with the Israeli ruling far right politics. The report identifies three key developments that impacted the Israeli scene: the inauguration of Trump as president, the retraction of the so called Islamic State, and the internal corruption cases the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was found involved in. Commenting on Trump's position towards the Palestinians, the report said "in spite of the obscurity that initially engulfed Trump's approach towards the Palestinian file, such obscurity faded away in less than a year of his inauguration, unveiling his bias as well as his administration's identification with the Israeli policies. The report also mentioned that on Dec. 6 2017, Trump announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and issued instructions to the Department of State to start preparations to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This position was faced with total Palestinian rejection who said makes the current U.S. administration disqualified from mediating the peace process, but have failed to take the issue out of its hands, despite calls by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to hold an international peace conference mid 2018 to form an international multilateral peace mechanism. Birzeit University Political Science instructor Ali Jarbawi warned that this Israeli-U.S. alliance is working "to denounce the legitimacy of the two-state solution" by defining it in a new way, which cannot be accepted by Palestinians. Jarbawi stressed that both the United States and Israel no longer view the Palestinian-Israeli cause as the main source of tensions in the Middle East region, but are focusing on Iran instead. Taking that into account, he said "Palestinians must focus on the international legitimacy dimension to the two-state solution, because it is no longer common knowledge that it is based on 1967 borders." MADAR's report said that the power of the right wing is consolidating in Israel, despite the corruption cases Netanayhu is involved in. It explains that "structural changes and the transformations within the elite in Israel has shown a rise in absorption of segments that were outside the scope of Zionism like the Haredi Jews (ultra orthodox), who now represent the largest settler group being 30 percent of the population. In addition, Mizrahi Jews (oriental Jews) support of the right wing has shifted from being protest driven into ideologically motivated and separate from root causes." According to an annual survey by sociologist Sameh Samouha cited in the report, "compared to 50 percent of the persons who define themselves as Ashkinazi (European Jews), 85 percent of those who identify themselves as Mizrahi, want the right to rule Israel." "The survey shows that only 13 percent of Jews view themselves as moderate leftists and 4 percent as left wingers," it added. Thus, the report concludes early on that "any change in leadership in Israel, even if it's a government not lead by the Likud, would not necessarily mean that Israel would witness a change in positions towards the occupation of settlements. Ramallah based Israeli affairs researcher Ahmad Aghawani said it is not a surprise that the Israeli society is moving towards the right, but what is important is that this means that the principle of "eliminating of the other (Palestinians) is anchored and will continue," which eventually means that the two-state solution no longer exists. Director of MADAR Center Honaida Ghanem told Xinhua that despite this gloomy situation, there is still a chance for Palestinians to translate their rhetoric into action and implementing their threats to go to International courts and support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, because "this would really worry Israel." "The United States has presented the Palestinians with a historic opportunity to say we don't want you with us, because it has always been biased towards Israel," said Ghanem, without expecting a change in the Israel-U.S. bond or within the Israeli society to help it overcome the current political impasse. PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- France and Vietnam aimed to deepen economic and defense cooperation, as leaders of the two nations met here on Tuesday. Several French companies including Air France, EDF and Bouygues, signed agreements with Vietnamese companies, as Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was visiting France. French President Emmanuel Macron said his country currently accounts for only one percent of Vietnam's international trade. "I hope that we can continue the work that has been started in recent years in agri-food and energy projects and sustainable cities," Macron said. MOSCOW, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Strategic Missile Force has begun large-scale command-and-staff exercises in the Urals, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. More than 3,000 troops and about 300 units of equipment will be involved in the drills in Sverdlovsk region to improve combat readiness and capability, the ministry said in a press release. Transport and combat helicopters as well as drones will be used to search and strike simulated enemies. Supersonic interceptor MiG-31 and reconnaissance aircraft An-30 will also be mobilized. The strategic missile drills are being held amid escalated tensions between Russia and Western countries over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 06:13:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close ANKARA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish culinary culture is renowned as one of the world's best and is considered to be one of the three main cuisines of the world because of the variety of its recipes and flavors. Recently the country's sweetest pride and joy, the baklava, made it to Guinness world records. The world's largest baklava, a traditional pastry desert, was served at an exclusive gastronomy summit in the Turkish capital Ankara. A 515 kilograms baklava was prepared by a team of baklava masters from around Turkey and was baked on a single tray in a special oven as part of a fair visited by tens of thousands of people in capital Ankara. A Guinness official present through a live broadcast at the scene confirmed the record, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Baklava, whose origin is disputed between Turkey and Greece, is prepared with fresh pistachios or walnuts and a glistening honey glaze on top of the puffed pastry. Mehmet Kanbur, the CEO of MADO, one of the largest ice cream chains in the country, which sponsored the record attempt, said that the baklava has been made after three months of preparation work. He said they sought to promote baklava internationally and that the dessert weighed two times heavier than the previous record holder. With around 11,800 slices, the record-breaking baklava was baked in a tray that is 2.5 meters in width and 7.5 meters in length. For five hours, 18 chefs worked making the dessert, using 150 kilograms of butter and 80 kilograms of walnuts. Made of 35 or more layers of thin dough brushed with butter and sugar syrup, the dessert, with numerous shapes, sizes and flavors, is wildly popular both in Turkey and around the world. Baklava is traditionally consumed on special days, from religious festivals to celebrations. Turks eat an average of 4.4 kilos of baklava per year, according to an association of baklava chefs. "This a healthy treat, of course one should not abuse of it but the ingredients used in the baklava are all healthy ones. I think that the consumption can go up," said pastry chief and baklava maker Senol Hanci to Xinhua. He explained in a proud manner, insisting that he is from the southeastern province of Gaziantep, famous for its pistachios and thus the baklava but also a vast range of culinary treats, such as kebabs, this baklava master indicated that making it "is a whole different business." "When we want to become chefs, we are taught at a young age how to make baklava. And when we are able to make it in a proper fashion, only then we are recognized as a master," he noted. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmus, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the event in Ankara, said that Turkey has tremendous potential and knowledge on food culture and can attract more tourists thanks to its rich cuisine. He emphasized that the more Turkish cuisine is known internationally, the more chance Turkey has to attract tourists to the country who wish to learn more about the country's food and drinks. "We need to bring this into the world tourism and make it a major source of interest for the world tourism," Kurtulmus pointed out, adding that Turkey would host 38 millions tourist in 2018. According to study, gastronomy tourists spend 50 percent more than regular tourists. And to make things work on a government level, a culinary tourism desk has been recently set within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the first time to promote this kind of tourism. After experiencing a difficult time in 2016 due to terrorist attacks and internal and international political turmoil with countries such as Russia and Germany, who massively choose Turkey as a leisure destination, the tourism sector has seen a revival in 2017 and awaits a promising 2018 season. While the "sun-sea-beach" trio is ever-so popular, Turkey intends to diversify opportunities, focusing on health, gastronomy and spa tourism, offering a variety of themes, especially for far eastern visitors who have different center of interest. A Global Gastroeconomy Summit will be held in Istanbul, Turkey's economic heartland, on Thursday and participants are due to seek answers to the question whether gastronomy could offer to be a key to development and growth in a country. With a very rich culture and traditions in food, Turkey is also promoting its natural products such as olive oil. The Turkish baklava has been granted European Union protected status by the European Commission along with the Malatya region apricot and the Turkish dried fig from the Aydin region. "There are other Turkish products who are waiting to be granted the protected designation of origin (PDO) as to be among the list of protected artisanal foods," said a European diplomat to Xinhua. He noted that the diversity of the products offered have undergone a wide international recognition. DUBLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Several opposition parties in Ireland on Tuesday criticized the government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat over an alleged nerve toxin attack in Britain earlier this month, local media RTE reported. Mary Lou MacDonald, leader of the country's third largest political party Sinn Fein, said that the government's decision was based on information from a foreign security service. "In essence Taoiseach (prime minister in Irish), you are asking us to trust Boris Johnson (Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), and I dare say that this may not be the wisest course of action," she said. She accused the Irish Prime Minister of attempting to dismantle Ireland's neutrality. Mary Lou's view was partially echoed by the Labor Party leader Brendan Howlin who said that Ireland is a long-standing, non-aligned and neutral country and that it should protect this. Howlin said, "We have never expelled diplomats in solidarity with somebody else, unless Ireland or Irish citizens were directly affected." He believed that the expulsion of a Russian diplomat in Ireland is sending a wrong signal. Boyd Barret, a parliamentarian of the lower house from Solidarity-People Before Profit, described the decision as "a very stupid and dangerous move" by the government which fundamentally undermines the country's neutrality. He added that the government's expulsion statement "provided absolutely no evidence of as to an independent assessment by the Irish Government as to who carried out this atrocity and the Taoiseach said last week Ireland did not have the means to carry out such an assessment." Fianna Fail, the country's second largest political party, has voiced support for the government's decision. A foreign affairs spokesman of the party said that "We believe this action is appropriate and proportionate and it sends a clear message that no country is above international law." The Irish government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat was announced after a cabinet meeting was held here on Tuesday morning to review a security assessment report about the activities of the Russian diplomats in Ireland. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that the decision for the expulsion was an act of solidarity with Britain. ZAGREB, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Croatia's Defense Council on Tuesday accepted an Israeli offer for the purchase of upgraded used F-16 combat aircraft that will replace its aging MiG-21 fighter jets. The Croatian government announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday night, after a lengthy meeting with a team of experts of the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces General Staff. Last year, Croatia received four bids for the new fighter jets: American F-16 Bloc 70/72 from Lockheed Martin, Greek F-16 Block 30, Israeli second-hand F-16 Barak and Swedish new models JAS 39 Gripen. The value of the deal of 12 used F-16 C/D Barak is estimated at over three billion kuna (420 million U.S. dollars), paid in ten annual installments. According to defense experts, it may well be that the F-16 fighter aircraft being offered by Israel have been upgraded with cutting-edge technological systems, with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) being the upgrade contractor. The Israeli F-16s can also be equipped with advanced Israeli weapon systems including the Python air-to-air missile produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. After the Council's recommendation, the Croatian government must make an official decision and sign a contract with the bidder. Under the plan, the first fighters are to be delivered to the Croatian Air Force by late 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-28 06:28:53|Editor: yan Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait signed two loan agreements with Bangladesh and Djibouti, about 78 million U.S. dollars, for financing development projects in the two countries, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) said Tuesday. The project in Bangladesh estimated at 15 million Kuwaiti dinars (about 51 million dollars) aims to contribute to the enhancement of social and economic development through improving facilities in 53 areas, KFAED said in a statement. It includes execution works required to the urban infrastructure development containing the establishment of bridges, roads, umbrellas on roads and others, it said, expecting that the scheme is expected to end by 2021. Concerning the deal with Djibouti, the project seeks to set up a power plant to meet demands for electricity in order to lessen power cuts and importing of fuel and electricity, the statement said. The plan also includes the digging of 10 wells for producing vapors and power plants empowered by thermal power. Founded in Dec. 1961, the KFAED is the Kuwait's agency for the provision and administration of financial and technical assistance to developing countries. ZAGREB, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said on Tuesday that her invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin was still on the table, even though Croatia decided to expel a Russian diplomat, Croatian news agency HINA reported. "It is very important to nurture economic and overall relations with the Russian Federation, as the European Union too has such a two-track approach, insisting on respect for international law as well as on the continuation of talks, as disputes can only be solved through dialogue, not conflict," she said. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was among the first foreign leaders who congratulated Putin on his election victory. During a phone call on March 22, she invited Putin to visit Croatia. She emphasized on Tuesday that Croatia and Russia should continue talking because there are many important topics ahead of them. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Monday announced that Croatia will declare one Russian diplomat "persona non grata". It will be done as a political message of solidarity with Britain over the spy poisoning incident. Croatian opposition parties, however, slammed the government decision to expel a Russian diplomat. They argue that the decision is harmful to Croatian interests, especially at the time when the agreement with Russian creditors on Agrokor is being finalized. Russian Sberbank is the largest creditor of Agrokor, the biggest Croatian private firm that is in debt crisis. I'm Glad my stomach is empty because this puke makes me want to hurl-he should have been left to rot in the darkest corners of Mexico's worst prisons Quebec man tortured in Mexican prison wants answers from federal government A troubled past Broken promises Torture sessions Click Here if you can stomach reading the rest of this scumbag's whining Regent Boily sits in his kitchen at his home near Montreal, where he has been living since he was released from a Mexican prison. Daylight streams in from a large window.This is "his favourite spot," after spending more than 10 years locked away.That incarceration left its mark on the 74-year-old. Though still quick-witted, his gestures are marked by nervousness."If I go to a restaurant, I have to sit with my back against the wall, because I have to see who's around me. I'm afraid of being assaulted," the ex-convict said, his hands clenched."I have nightmares where I drown or there are rats eating me from the inside."Those nightmares have shaken Boily from his sleep ever since he was first tortured in a Mexican prison on Aug. 17, 2007. He described how guards dunked his head under water about 10 times in a row."The barrel was full of water. There was a bag of potato chips and a dead rat floating on the surface, and I could see little bugs swimming around," Boily said."I could feel things coming into my mouth. It was the worst moment of anxiety that a human being can experience. Each time I went under, I was sure I was going to die I was spitting, vomiting. They kept dunking my head back into my vomit."Boily, originally from Hull, Que., accepts that he has made mistakes in his life. Grave mistakes.The first was in 1998. At the time, he was living in Mexico and had agreed to transport some 580 kilograms (about 1,300 pounds) of marijuana in his motorhome.Boily was caught, arrested, convicted of drug trafficking, sentenced to 14 years and thrown in jail. He escaped in 1999: while he was on an escorted trip outside the prison for an eye exam, accomplices freed him from a car.Quebec man extradited to Mexico despite torture fearsDuring the escape, a prison guard was killed. Boily says he only learned of the guard's death later from the TV news.Boily fled to the Outaouais region of Quebec, where he lived uneventfully for six years.In 2005, justice caught up with him. He was arrested at his home in La Peche, Que., north of Gatineau. Nicknamed the "fugitive of La Peche," Boily was wanted by Mexican authorities who called for his extradition.At the time, Boily was ready to serve a sentence for the crimes, but feared returning to Mexico, where he was tortured by police after his initial arrest in 1998.From 2005 to 2007, he remained in custody at the Hull prison, while his lawyers, Michel Swanston and Christian Deslauriers, exhausted all possible avenues to prevent his extradition to Mexico."Back then, we went on Yahoo a search engine we typed 'torture' and 'Mexico,' and there were over a million hits that came back," Deslauriers told Radio-Canada in an interview.Canadian and international law prohibits Canada from deporting anyone to a country where there is a serious risk they may be tortured.But in 2007, the Harper government convinced Canadian courts that this risk had been ruled out in Boily's case. Rob Nicholson, who was then justice minister, obtained diplomatic assurances from the Mexican government that it would respect Boily's rights.An eight-page document lists the guarantees provided by the Mexican constitution.The Harper government promised that a monitoring mechanism would be put in place by the Canadian Embassy in Mexico to ensure that Boily's rights were respected once he was back on Mexican soil."All of that was just smoke and mirrors," Swanston said in an interview with Radio-Canada. "Through an access to information request, we learned that no monitoring whatsoever was ever put in place."Emails from Canadian officials at the time show that Boily's extradition took them by surprise.On Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, officials with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa and the Canadian Embassy in Mexico circulated a newspaper article."I see from the media that it may be imminent that Mr. Boily will be extradited back to Mexico," an email said. It also said officials didn't even have a copy of the diplomatic assurances made by Mexico.Another surprise came the following day Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007 when embassy staff learned that Boily would be extradited to the Zacatecas prison, the same one from which he had escaped."I am concerned that reprisals are possible considering that a guard was killed during that escape," a Canadian bureaucrat in Mexico wrote. She notes that even "in Canada, we would avoid placing an inmate in that kind of situation."According to another message, the Consul General of Canada in Mexico, Robin Dubeau, tried to reach Mexican authorities to ask for Boily be sent to another prison.But his efforts were quickly halted by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa.One internal document dated Aug. 16, 2007, reads: "Following internal consultations, we suggest that we not intervene at this time, given the guarantees provided by Mexican authorities and accepted by the Canadian government."On Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, Boily was extradited to a prison in Zacatecas, a state of Mexico.That same night, Boily said, guards brought him to a deserted corner of the prison and he was tortured."I looked at the water and said, 'No, not that.' I fought back," he recalls. That's when guards forcefully plunged his head into the barrel. "The need to breathe out, not being able to breathe causes intolerable pain."Boily said he was also choked using a plastic bag."The plastic bag, that's to make you lose consciousness. I was afraid of dying, but there were times where I wish I had died," he said. "It's hard to know that you'll lose consciousness. They squeeze a plastic bag around your neck. You can see the condensation from your breath. At some point, you can't see anything."He regained consciousness when his head was again plunged into the filthy water.These suffocations with water and the plastic bag left their mark, Boily said."After choking like that, I had problems with my balance. I had memory problems. I even have moments of absentmindedness were I lose all contact with reality," he said.These abuses were repeated during his first days in prison.Boily was also beaten, violently pushed around from one guard to another. They also injected hot sauce up his nose."My mouth was swollen. I could only eat liquid meals and drinks, until things cleared up," he recalls."I was quietly told that I had to suffer for the death of the guard who was killed during my escape in 1999," Boily said. "I deserved time in prison for what I did. I admit it. That's not a problem. But why torture someone?"Just as Boily was returned to prison in Mexico, former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper was hosting the presidents of Mexico and the United States for a summit in Montebello, Que., on Aug. 20 and 21, 2007."We sacrificed him for the sake of our international relations with Mexico. That's how I interpret the government's actions," said Swanston, one of Boily's lawyers.Staff at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico only visited Boily on Aug. 22, 2007, five days after he was first imprisoned.A report of that meeting, prepared at the time by the embassy, described the same torture and mistreatment that Boily described. According to that same report, embassy staff met with the prison director on the same day to express their concerns about the safety of a Canadian citizen.Boily's mistreatment at the hands of his guards came to an end after that visit.Dubeau, who was Canada's consul general to Mexico when Boily was extradited in 2007, confirmed five years later in court that despite the Harper government's commitments, no specific mechanism was put in place to monitor Boily's case.He also said that at the time of Boily's arrival in Mexico, embassy staff has not received a copy of the diplomatic assurances provided by the Mexican government.Boily said the terror of his first nights back in the prison will never leave him."At night, I was sitting in my bed, looking at the hallway thinking, 'Maybe they'll come. Maybe they won't. Oh my God they're opening the doors. Are they coming for me?' I was delirious." ABCNews.com(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- California has joined the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark, the unarmed black man who was killed by Sacramento police March 18, the state attorney general's office said Tuesday. Attorney General Xavier Becerra will oversee an independent part of the Sacramento Police Department investigation, he said at a news conference that included Police Chief Daniel Hahn, Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert. Community leaders and pastors were also present. The police department will continue to be transparent and continue to openly share information that we can regarding this investigation, Hahn said at the news conference. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and neither the Becerra nor Hahn gave any indication of how long they expect it to be. The police department has not officially released the names of the officers involved in the shooting because of death threats theyve received, Hahn said. According to Sacramento Police Department bodycam footage, Clark, 22, was unarmed. He had been holding an iPhone. When officers encountered Clark, according to the footage, they believed he was holding a "toolbar." The officers said Clark motioned toward them, as one can be heard yelling, "Show me your hands ... gun, gun, gun." The officers then combined to fire 20 shots. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] Ironwood The completion of laying the pipe for the 16-inch water transmission line to the city wellfields in Ironwood Township was celebrated by the Ironwood City Commission on Monday. The pipes are in. A big milestone has been met, said Paul Anderson, of Coleman Engineering, of Ironwood, the citys engineering firm for the Ruotsala Construction project. Anderson said pressure testing will be conducted in the next week for the phase 4 city infrastructure project. The tests will determine if the project can advance to the final approval stage. Work on the second transmission line to the wells in the township will resume in the city around the end of April, when the frost will hopefully be out of the ground. This has been a number one city priority for many, many years, said city manager Scott Erickson. He said the line will continue to provide water for years after were all gone. Paving of the related city streets will begin around mid-June and should be completed by Aug. 1, Anderson said. Commissioner Joe Cayer Jr. was pleased to hear that news, so the affected residents wont have to go through the entire summer and fall months with torn-up streets. Commissioners approved a $426,063 partial pay package for the water portion of the utility project and $2,900 for the sewer portion. The water project continued through the winter, while there was only minor sewer engineering work during that period. Cemetery debate In other business Monday, city commissioners tabled awarding bids for two cemetery lawnmowers for $7,250 apiece. Erickson said the plan is to mow the cemetery internally, using three summer part-time workers, rather than have a private firm do the job. Saari Lawn Services, of Montreal, Wis., had submitted a bid of $76,000 for three years to mow the lawn, but Erickson said the city is now considering the new direction with the part-timers, which was met with a lukewarm response from the commission. Erickson said the summer helpers will be hired regardless of whether or not the city will mow the cemetery grass. He said continuous mowing would mean no more shaggy periods between the approximate five times the cemetery lawn is cut every year. Kathy Saari said her company has 16 lawnmowers and more people available than the city plans to devote to the mowing process, however. Erickson said the cost to the city with the new plan would be a wash for the first three years, but then the city would save money. Commissioner Rick Semo said he would like to see a detailed estimate of cost savings. Cayer suggested the city seek re-bids on the mowers. Kim Corcoran said she is worried that part-timers may not be able to do a better job than the private firm and wondered if the city department of public works crew would end up doing much of the mowing. Jim Mildren said hed like to revisit the issue and Erickson said hell come back with more detailed figures. Mayor Annette Burchell had an excused absence. Erickson noted under a private contract, it costs about $4,200 every time Riverside Cemetery is mowed. Commissioners and city officials agreed the condition of the cemetery grounds is very important to both the citizens of Ironwood and all who have family members buried there. Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a judge sentenced Supranom Addy Klos to 6.5 years in prison for stealing from a 94-year-old vulnerable adult with dementia. Klos gambled away more than $300,000 in 4 months which was most of the victims life savings. The judge ordered Klos repay the more than $300,000 taken from the victim. Klos will also be placed on 3 years probation after she is released from prison. We must do everything we can to protect our seniors from these heartless and devastating crimes, said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. "Klos preyed on the trust and vulnerability of the victim and she will be held accountable for her actions. Klos was the victims hair stylist and cultivated a friendship with the victim and her husband more than 20 years ago. The victims husband died in 2011 and eventually Klos was given power of attorney. In 2014, Klos began unlawfully using the power of attorney to rapidly deplete the victims account. In addition to gambling, the victims savings were used to buy Klos a new car and dental implants. The bank notified law enforcement after large amounts of money were being transferred out of the victims savings account. In December 2017, Klos was found guilty of 1 count of Fraudulent Schemes, 3 counts of Theft, 1 count of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, and 1 count of Unlawful Use of Power of Attorney. A court-appointed guardian is assisting the victim to ensure the victims safety and well-being. Assistant Attorney General Doug Clark in our Tucson Criminal Division prosecuted this case. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona Support for Prop 301: Dr. Camille Casteel, Chandler Unified School District Superintendent "Im very encouraged by Governor @dougducey & Arizona Legislatures bipartisan efforts to renew Prop. 301 funding and avoid the impending financial cliff for schools." Dr. Paul Tighe, Saddle Mountain Unified School District Superintendent "Today the Legislature passed SB1390 and sent it to the Governor. This essentially renews Proposition 301 for another 20 years, protecting nearly $6,000 per teacher per year in compensation for AZ teachers!" Dr. Perry Berry, Queen Creek Unified School District Superintendent "A big win for AZ public schools came today when the Legislature and Gov Ducey @dougducey passed the extension of Prop 301 for another 20 years! Thank you Rep Coleman @douglas_coleman, Sen McGee @KateMcGeeAZ and ALL the leaders who made this happen..a step in the right direction!" Dr. Sally Downey, East Valley Institute of Technology Superintendent "Thank you #Arizona Legislature and Gov @dougducey for your efforts to renew Prop 301! #AZ #azleg" Dr. Kristi Sandvik, Buckeye Elementary School District Superintendent "Thank you to Doug Coleman and Kate Brophy McGee for hard work on addressing the funding cliff on prop 301!" Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas I am excited that the Legislature agreed to extend Prop 301 sooner rather than later in order to avoid the looming fiscal cliff, Superintendent Douglas said. Since schools throughout the state rely so heavily on Prop 301 revenues, the funding is essentially baked into their respective budgets. Now that this extension has been passed, I am committed more than ever to increasing teacher salaries and finding new revenue streams for education as quickly as possible. Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce "Thank you, Governor, for your continued leadership and support of education. We appreciate your steadfast commitment to ensuring our students are top priority! Thank you for making #Arizona stronger. #Prop301" Arizona Technology Council Thank you @douglas_coleman, @kateMcgeeAZ, + @dougducey for your leadership in protecting the future of Arizonas children and helping to pass #Prop301! A For Arizona "Bravo to #Arizona lawmakers & Governor @dougducey for taking swift bipartisan action today to secure on-going resources for our public schools! By passing an extension of #Prop301, they have provided greater certainty for K-12 funding & set the stage for the future." President Eileen Klein, President, Arizona Board of Regents The Arizona Legislatures passage of Prop. 301 today signals good news for education in Arizona, ensuring dedicated revenues for public education and the teachers who prepare students for college and career. Prop. 301 also provides critical funding for technology and research initiatives at Arizonas public universities. In 2017, TRIF revenues yielded a nearly four-to-one investment on dollars received from the state, leading to improvements in healthcare; solutions for water, environmental and energy challenges; advancements in national security systems; and workforce development. We applaud our Legislature for ensuring the renewal of Prop. 301, the bipartisan collaboration and the leadership of Gov. Ducey, Sen. Brophy McGee and Rep. Coleman. With the renewal of these funds, Arizona educational institutions from K-12 to our public universities are able to continue utilizing these critical dollars for the continued success of our students and our state. Arizona School Administrators "Thanks AZ legislators for passing SB1390 & HB2158 renewing Prop 301 $ for teachers. @AzSBA @dougducey @KateMcGeeAZ" Helios Education Foundation "Renewing Prop. 301 is an important first step - thank you @KateMcGeeAZ, @douglas_coleman, @dougducey, @AZHouseDems, @AZHouseGOP, @AZSenateDems, @AZSenateGOP - and all the amazing public school advocates." Latest News Stanford, California - Last week the first fatality involving a self-driving Uber car was reported in Tempe, Arizona. As new autonomous technologies develop, offering us self-driving cars, trains, buses, and drone deliveries, what are the legal issues? And what regulation is needed? In the discussion that follows, Stanford Law School Professor Robert Rabin answers some of these questions. What does the law say about responsibility for the tragic event in Tempe, Arizona, that left a woman dead after she was hit by an Uber car that was in autonomous mode? Who should be held responsible? Early reports indicate that the autonomous vehicle (AV) struck a woman walking with her bicycle in the late evening, and that the AV was moving at about 40 MPH without slowing down. More detailed information on the facts would be needed to fully assess responsibility. But this much can be said generally: Under conventional tort law principles, if the safety driver failed to exercise reasonable care in avoiding the accident, Uber would be responsible for the drivers negligence. If the automated features of the AV failed to note the presence of the victim, the manufacturer of the vehicle, as well as Uber, could be held responsible under product liability principles. If the victim was walking in the roadway and her presence was obscured by darkness at the late hour, she might be found partially at fault. At the extreme, if her conduct made the accident unavoidable, she might be fully responsiblebut this seems unlikely. We are at the beginning of this new autonomous technology. Are regulators moving too quickly with this technologyallowing testing on real streets before safety concerns have been addressed? The states vary considerably in regulatory oversight of AVs. Arizona has been among the most lenient in opening roadways to AV operation without establishing a strict testing protocol. Could Arizonaor any statebe held at least partially liable in this kind of accident because of its minimal regulation? It is possible that a state might be held partially responsible, but it really depends on the terms under which the traditional state immunity from tort responsibility has been lifted. Are there any federal regulations for this new technologyor is it all state driven? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the federal agency with responsibility for motor vehicle safety. The agency has yet to establish detailed regulatory standards for AVs, which could conceivably preempt the current state patchwork; or, NHTSA might simply provide some baseline framework and leave the states relatively free to take their own approaches. Is the federal government brought in to investigate crashes? Yes, the National Safety Transportation Board has authority to investigate auto accidents, and it has already indicated it will be involved in developing a report on this accident. Robert L. Rabin, A. Calder Mackay Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, is an expert on torts and legislative compensation schemes with extensive knowledge of the history and institutional dynamics of accident law. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - After working one dead end job to the next, Bobby Alvarado knew it was time for a change. While flipping through an Arizona Western College course catalog brought home by his wife, he decided to enroll in some classes and pursue a career doing something he enjoyed welding. Now, 15 years later, hes made his way back to AWC as a first-year Professor of Welding. Being able to give back to the community is something that I pride myself on, said Alvarado. Being able to pass on my skills and knowledge to students at the same college I attended, I couldnt think of a better place to work. Alvarado received an Associate in Applied Sciences degree from AWC and transferred to Northern Arizona University Yuma Branch Campus through the STEM Pipeline Grant where he earned a bachelors degree in Industrial Technology Management. After graduation he worked in the welding industry for 13 years before switching gears and using his expertise to teach the craft to others. The thing I enjoy most about welding is that its an art, said Alvarado. Taking one or more metals and fusing them together and fabricating things, I found that to be amazing. Looking forward, he has big aspirations for the welding program and its future. This year, welding club students have worked after class and on weekends to build 14 fire pits as a fundraiser for the program. Funds from the fire pit sales will be used for travel, competition fees, and supply costs for an upcoming national SkillsUSA competition. While the fire pits are no longer for sale, as the students are currently preparing for SkillsUSA, theyll continue the fundraiser again in the fall. Those interested in purchasing a fire pit next semester should contact AWC Welding Laboratory Technician Pedro Ordaz, who is also the welding club advisor, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at (928) 344-7563 for more information. SEMNE DE INTREBARE Spitalul Judetean, lasat fara un nou aparat de radioterapie Cea mai mare unitate spitaliceasca din judet ar fi urmat sa primeasca un al doilea aparat pentru radioterapie, dupa primul care a venit la spital pe vremea cand manager al Judeteanului era ec. Sorina Pintea. Numai ca se pare ca [citeste mai departe] Mumbai: Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan has teamed up with Guy Ratchanont Suprakob for an India-Thai joint production. Based on Gautama Buddha, the film will have actors from India and Thailand. Kishan, who is one of the biggest names in the film industry had visited Thailand recently and that's when he met Suprakob. The two had a lengthy chat and in the end, decided to do a film together. Details about the film will be announced soon. In a column for a Hindi newspaper, Ravi had written that the Indian and Thai cultures are very similar. Suprakob recently visited Indian after being invited by Kishan. According to bhojpurixp.com, Suprakob is thrilled about the film. He reportedly said that he has watched a number of Hindi films dubbed in Thai and hence he was keen to do a film in Hindi and Thai languages. During a press conference, the duo spoke to the media and announced the Indo-Thai production. Suprakob was welcomed by Kishan with much warmth and love. A tilak was put on his forehead and he was greeted with a garland. A woman in Vaishali district of Bihar has sought divorce from her husband because he failed to curb noise pollution around his residence. According to Prabhat Khabar, the woman has made the appeal for divorce after approaching National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The woman, Sneha Singh, reportedly has problems with loud speakers used for religious purposes around her residence. A resident of road number 3 in Hajipur, Sneha has alleged that miscreants intentionally play loud music in the name of religion to disturb people in vicinity. She has repeatedly made attempts to move the administration to act in this regard, but no action has been initiated so far. Apart from district administration, Sneha has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar seeking their intervention. Failing to get any response, the woman has now demanded divorce from her husband, Rakesh Singh. Sneha and Rakesh tied the knot four years ago in a love marriage. Rakesh, who is physically challenged, has in the past been an international badminton player. Demanding a divorce, Sneha has said that she cannot think of spending her life with a man who cannot give her the security needed. Rakesh, on the other hand, has blamed the administration for its apathy. He says that he is not in a position to mess with his neighbours. Attempts are being made by family members to pacify Sneha. They say that they have even complained to the police regarding the issue. They further alleged that some miscreants even pelted stones at their residence but no help was offered by police department. PATNA: Suno, babu, baat samjho (Listen, kid, try to understand). These were the words of the usually quiet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasads son and leader of Opposition in legislative assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. A visibly angry Nitish sought to pass on these words of wisdom to Tejashwi during the ongoing Bihar Assembly on Monday. It all began when state Energy Minister Bijendra Yadav was presenting the government's response on the budgetary demand of the home department. In the midst of Yadav's reply, Tejashwi suddenly intervened, seeking Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary's permission to share a crucial information with the house. Tejashwi, the former Bihar deputy chief minister, said that members of a minority community were being attacked in Aurangabad in the last few hours. As members of the Opposition continued interrupting the house proceedings, Nitish lost his cool. And then came the words. Suno, babu, baat samjho. "If you (Tejashwi) try to give vent to rumours through the House, it vitiates the atmosphere...Please don't do such things," Kumar said. "If there is any local issue and you want to make it a state-level one through the House, then it will be construed that you are willing to whip up passions... We all should try to maintain peace and amity," the chief minister said. Nitish went on to say Tejashwi has a long politic career in front of him and should be willing to learn. Why didn't the senior RJD leader did not teach the basics, Nitish asked RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who sat next to him. "We all, including the DGP and the Home Secretary, are talking to the people concerned. Senior officials have been rushed to the spot to keep things under control", he said, adding "No one will be spared". Bihar's Aurangabad town witnessed clashes between members of two communities during Ram Navami celebrations. People indulged in heavy stone-pelting and arson, which left several persons injured and nearly a dozen shops gutted yesterday while a Ram Navami procession was being taken out. Prohibitory orders were later clamped in the town. "We have clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC. The situation in the town is tense but under control," said Aurangabad District Magistrate Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal. With PTI inputs By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. You can find out more by clicking this link New Delhi: A New Delhi-bound train on Tuesday ended up at the wrong station in the Capital, prompting the Railways to suspend an employee and launch an inquiry. Passenger train 64464 from Panipat was due to arrive at the New Delhi station at 7.30 am. Instead, it took a different course and reached the Old Delhi Railway Station at 7.50 am. "On realising the mistake, the train was immediately sent back to the New Delhi station," a Northern Railway statement said. "The Log (panel) operator has been suspended and an inquiry has been initiated to find and fix responsibility of other erring staff," the statement added, PTI reported. The Railways attributed the incident to a "miscommunication by the log operator". A Northern Railways spokesperson said the staffer mistook the train, which was running late, for another passenger train which was headed for the Old Delhi Railway Station from Sonipat. Earlier, in November 2017, a train engine had travelled for about 13 kilometres, without a pilot, from Wadi station in Maharashtra before it was brought to a halt by a staff member. The railway staff who had stopped the train, had chased it on a motorbike for several kilometres. He had jumped on the engine and stopped it. By then, the engine had run for about 13 kilometres. After the Chennai-Mumbai train had arrived at Wadi junction in Kalaburagi district, its electric engine was swapped for a diesel one. The diesel engine was attached to the Mumbai train which continued its journey to Solapur. In the meantime, due to what was described as a slip-up, the disengaged electric engine had started moving on its own after the loco pilot stepped out. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: Amid concerns over the safety of minors and women in the national capital, the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking amendments to existing laws to make stalking a non-bailable offence and to award the death penalty to those convicted of raping minors. The resolution was moved by Aam Aadmi Party member Alka Lamba. Citing cases of murders of women by their stalkers, Lamba stressed on the urgency to bring an amendment to the section 354 D of the Indian Penal Code. Lamba had demanded that the government make stalking a non-bailable offence in an anti-stalking bill. The resolution, backed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, demanded that the Delhi government present a Bill asking the Centre to amend the law. Delhi Assembly resolution demands death penalty for rapists of minor victims under 12 years of age. Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) March 27, 2018 Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain told the House that the government would present the Bill seeking amendments. "The government will table the Bill. It will be sent to the Centre once it is passed by the Delhi Assembly," Jain said. "We will soon bring a bill to make amendments in the IPC and also in the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure)," he said. The minister also expressed hope that the Centre would not object to it. ''I am sure the Centre will pass it,'' he added. "The law should be amended to make stalking a non-bailable offence. The law should also be amended to make juvenile rape punishable with the death penalty," the resolution stated. The resolution in Delhi Assembly was passed days after Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan passed a bill to give death penalty to child rapists. Resolution on strict laws to curb victims of stalking and minor rape victims adopted by the House. pic.twitter.com/i83JtM7dH4 Delhi Assembly (@DelhiAssembly) March 27, 2018 The bill for giving either a death penalty or life imprisonment to those convicted of raping girls below 12 years of age was recently cleared by the Haryana State Assembly following the adoption of the same by state assemblies in MP and Rajasthan. On March 9, Rajasthan became the second state after Madhya Pradesh to pass a bill providing for a death penalty to those convicted of raping girls of 12 years and below. The state assembly passed the Bill seeking to amend the Indian Penal Code with the insertion of new provision by voice vote. Hyderabad: A 17-year-old girl was allegedly set on fire by her male friend following an altercation at her residence in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Te accused boy was also injured in the incident. According to ANI, the girl suffered severe burns due to the incident after which she was immediately rushed to the Osmania General Hospital. 17-year-old girl allegedly set ablaze by a male friend at her residence in #Hyderabad. Victim admitted to Osmania General Hospital with 70% burn injuries, accused also injured. Case registered, investigation underway pic.twitter.com/0xR1ra9WJy ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 The girl suffered 70 percent burns and her condition is said to be serious, the police said. In her complaint, the victim said that the boy was known to her. Narrating the whole incident, the girl said they had an argument at her residence and, in a fit of rage, the boy set her ablaze by pouring kerosene on her. Both are minors, police said, adding, a case of attempt to murder has been registered. (With ANI inputs) NEW DELHI: Defending Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell chief Amit Malviya, who sparked a controversy by tweeting the dates for the Karnataka Assembly Elections even before the Election Commission, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that tweet is based on a TV channel's source. The Union Minister for Minority Affairs said that Malviya's tweet had no intention to undermine the stature of the EC. "Amit Malviya's tweet was based on a TV channel's source. It had no intention to undermine the stature of EC," Naqvi told ANI after meeting the EC officials. Pointing out that a Karnataka Congress leader had also tweeted the same thing, the BJP leader, however, mentioned that Malviya should not have tweeted it. "A Karnataka Congress leader had also tweeted the same thing. We agree that he (Malviya) shouldn't have tweeted it," he added. Earlier today, a delegation led by Naqvi met the EC officials in connection with the incident. Even before the Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat announced the election dates, Malviya tweeted that the polling will be held on May 12 and the results would be declared on May 18. When asked how Malviya announced the voting and counting dates even before the EC made the official announcement, Rawat termed it as a serious issue and assured that action would be taken if the body finds any wrongdoing. While the polling date coincided with what Malviya tweeted, the date for counting of votes was different. Instead of March 18, the EC declared it as March 15. But Malviya deleted the tweet a few minutes following the controversy. Here are the official dates announced by the Election Commission: Notification: April 17, 2018 Last date of nomination - April 24, 2018 Date of scrutiny of nomination - April 26, 2018 Last date of withdrawal - April 27, 2018 Date of poll - May 12 Date of counting of votes - May 15 The election for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 12, 2018 and counting of votes will take place on 15 May, 2018. The last state elections were held in the first week of May in 2013. While the Congress is aiming to retain the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is putting all its might to get the state into its kitty. If BJP manages to form its government in Karnataka, it will be in power on its own or in an alliance in 22 states. Currently, Punjab and Karnataka are two big states apart from Mizoram which are ruled by the Congress. NEW DELHI: The Congress has been holding Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj responsible for the death of 39 Indians in Iraq by terrorist outfit Islamic State. The party even moved a privilege motion against the minister claiming that she "misled" Parliament over the issue. Keeping up the attack, the Congress on March 25 ran a poll on Twitter asking whether Sushma Swaraj is responsible for the deaths. While Congress would have hoped the answers are against Swaraj, what it would not have expected was that she would retweet the question herself from her own handle. The results of the poll turned out to be hugely in Swaraj's favour. Twenty four per cent people voted yes and held Swaraj responsible, a massive seventy-four per cent polled against the accusation. Several people, in turn, accused Congress of using the name of the dead people for politics. Using dead for votes___ Navaneeth K (@navaneethkz) March 26, 2018 Congress to dead bodies bhi search na Karti. So stop playing cards on our dead bodies pls Sameer Sidhu (@SidhuSidhu8) March 27, 2018 Guys just stop embarrassing yourselves @INCIndia Every poll you conduct gives you the same result over and over again That Congress suffers from a trust deficit and a leadership deficit and must leave behind Gandhis and Divide and Rule policy if you want to survive beyond 2020_ Dr Sankalp (@DrSankalp2) March 26, 2018 As per the motion moved by the Congress, Swaraj, along with her colleague Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh (retd), "deliberately misled" the families of the 39 Indians killed in Mosul, on the floor of Parliament and outside. Between June 2014 and March 2018, the minister continued to state as a matter of fact that the individuals were not only alive but that the government was undertaking steps for their release, it read. As many as 40 Indians were abducted by ISIS in June 2015 from Mosul in Iraq but one of them escaped by posing as a Muslim from Bangladesh, Swaraj had said in Rajya Sabha. The remaining 39 Indians were taken to Badoosh and killed. She had also revealed that the government had over the course of the crisis received information from different heads of states on three separate occasions that said the 39 Indians had not been killed. She added that search operations led to a mound in Badoosh where locals said some bodies were buried and deep penetration radars were used to establish that the mound was a mass grave. Indian authorities requested their Iraqi counterparts to exhume the bodies which will now be brought back to India. A day after pointing to a massive security breach on the official mobile app of the Congress party, French hacker Elliot Alderson has now targeted the app of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a series of tweets, he has alleged that the app sends the IP address of users to US-based website api.narendramodi.in without their consent. Explaining the modus operandi, the hacker has also alleged that PM Modis Android app violates norms of European regulation as well as Google Play. According to the hacker, if you install the @narendramodi's #Android #application on your phone, you are giving a lot of device information to @narendramodi without your consent. Here's series of his tweets: "1/ In this request, the @narendramodi's #Android #application sends silently and without the user's consent, his IP address and a unique identifier of his phone. This personal data is sent to the website http://api.narendramodi.in which is located in the US." "2/ As the application is available in Europe, it must comply with the European regulation called #GDPR. Since an IP address is considered as a personal data, the user must give his consent and must be able to opt out from this data collection." "3/ The @narendramodi's #Android #application does not meet these requirements and so is breaking this European regulation." "4/ Moreover, not asking the user consent is a clear violation of the Google Play developer distribution agreement" "5/ The unique phone identifier send by the @narendramodi's #Android #application is composed of multiple device specific information: board, brand, name of the instruction set, name of the industrial design, manufacturer, model, name of the product" "6/ So if you install the @narendramodi's #Android #application on your phone, you are giving a lot of device information to @narendramodi without your consent". 1/ In this request, the @narendramodi's #Android #application sends silently and without the user's consent, his IP address and a unique identifier of his phone. This personal data is sent to the website https://t.co/XTWhe9kc5T which is located in the US. pic.twitter.com/18Ie8JAuXM Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018 2/ As the application is available in Europe, it must comply with the European regulation called #GDPR. Since an IP address is considered as a personal data, the user must give his consent and must be able to opt out from this data collection. pic.twitter.com/yoJBQsCSMh Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018 3/ The @narendramodi's #Android #application does not meet these requirements and so is breaking this European regulation. Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018 4/ Moreover, not asking the user consent is a clear violation of the Google Play developer distribution agreement https://t.co/o9tmeWioKI pic.twitter.com/CFKQW2T0aY Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018 5/ The unique phone identifier send by the @narendramodi's #Android #application is composed of multiple device specific information: board, brand, name of the instruction set, name of the industrial design, manufacturer, model, name of the product pic.twitter.com/kO33eeFjGN Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018 6/ So if you install the @narendramodi's #Android #application on your phone, you are giving a lot of device information to @narendramodi without your consent Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018 Tweeting about the INC app on Monday, the French hacker had alleged that when one applies for membership of the party through the official Congress app on Google PlayStore, personal data are send encoded through a HTTP request to the party's membership page online. The anonymous hacker then claims that the personal data has no encryption which makes decoding it relatively simple. The most damning of his allegations was that the IP address of the Congress' membership page points to a server located in Singapore. Alderson had clarified he had no political agenda in putting his investigations in public domain. Meanwhile, the Congress party removed its app from Google Play Store. This even led to a political war of words between the BJP and the Congress as the former's IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted, Rahul Gandhi gave a call to #DeleteNaMoApp, but Congress deleted its own App from the App store after they were called out. What is the Congress party hiding? Entering damage control mode, Divya Spandana, Congress' Social Media and Digital Communications head, said, Clarification: We dont drive membership through the app, its done through our website http:// www.inc.in Servers for these are based in Mumbai. As you may have noticed, the link on the app is broken. A confidential Home Ministry report, accessed by Zee News, has revealed that the number of Rohingya migrants in 24 Parganas region of West Bengal has surged from 29 to over 100. The report also has the mention of several groups that have been helping Rohingya Muslim to infiltrate into Indian territory from Bangladesh. Revelations have also been made about some Islamic groups that have been raising funds to get houses made for these migrants in areas of West Bengal. Information accessed by Zee News reveal that as many as 40 such groups have been identified that are collecting funds from across the country for the settlement of migrant Rohingyas. According to the report, attempts are being made to settle down more than 40,000 Rohingya Muslims. These groups have also convinced residents in West Bengal area to donate their land for the settlement of these migrants. Secret meetings were also conducted by the groups in different parts of the country during past few days. In September last year, the Centre told the Supreme Court that Rohingyas posed a serious threat to national security with links to terror outfits, including the Islamic State. The Centres affidavit, filed in the apex court registry said, "Many of the Rohingyas figure in the suspected sinister designs of ISI/ISIS and other extremists groups who want to achieve their ulterior motives in India including that of flaring up communal and sectarian violence in sensitive areas of the country." Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday targeted the Narendra Modi government over the standoff with China over Doklam. Referring to a poll conducted by him on Twitter, the Congress chief said that thousands took part in it and voted on how PM Modi would deal with any future Doklam-like situation with China. Taking a jibe at PM Modi, the Gandhi scion tweeted, Last week thousands took my Twitter poll. 63% felt Modi Ji would use hugplomacy, blame RM and cry in public to deal with the Doklam issue! For Indias sake, I hope you were wrong and our 56 inch strongman has a plan. In a poll on Twitter on March 21 on Twitter, Rahul had said, In Doklam, its China season again. How will Modi ji react this time? The options given by him were Hugplomacy, Blame RM, Cry in public, All of the above. As of Tuesday, 63 per cent respondents voted for All of the above while 14 per cent went for Hugplomacy option. Seven per cent of the respondents went for Blame RM while 16 per cent voted for Cry in public option. This comes amid a war of words between India and China. While India has warned Beijing against any attempt to change the present state of affairs on the plateau, China has asserted that Doklam is a Chinese territory and the question of changing the status quo does not arise. "Regarding the border issue, China is committed to maintaining peace, stability and tranquillity there and Donglang (Doklam) belongs to China as we have historical conventions. So China`s activity there is within its sovereign rights. There is no such thing as changing the status quo," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday. In an interview to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post earlier, Indian envoy Gautam Bambawale had said that any attempt to change the status quo in Doklam would lead to another stand-off. The ambassador, however, had added that both the nations were well within their rights for an Army build up behind the point of the face-off and the status quo in Doklam remained in place. Bambawale had also stressed the need to demarcate the 3,448-km-long disputed border, which is the root cause of friction between India and China. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Sunday that India was "alert and ready" to deal with any "unforeseen situation" in Doklam. She had also said that the government is constantly working towards modernisation of forces. "We are alert and ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working towards the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity," she had told reporters in Dehradun on the sidelines of a function. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is jailed after conviction in fodder scam cases, has been given permission to go to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment. The court granted the permission to the RJD leader after the recommendations of medical board. He is currently undergoing treatment at Ranchi's Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). However, the nature of his ailment is not confirmed. On Saturday, Lalu was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined Rs 60 lakh in connection with the fourth fodder scam case. CBI judge Shiv Pal Singh awarded two sentences of seven years and fine of Rs 30 lakh each in the two cases to the former Bihar chief minister. Judge Shiv Pal Singh had held him and 18 others guilty and acquitted 12 accused in the fourth case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka treasury between December 1995 and January 1996. There were a total of 47 accused in the fourth fodder scam, fourteen of whom had died during the course of the trial, while two had turned approvers. Lalu has already been convicted in three other cases of the scam which took place when he was the chief minister of Bihar. He has been in Birsa Munda jail at Ranchi since December 23, 2017, after being convicted in the second case pertaining to illegal withdrawal of money from Deogarh treasury. He was convicted on September 30, 2013 in the Chaibasa case pertaining to illegal withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore in the 1990s. He was awarded five years prison term in the case following which he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha and barred from contesting elections for six years after completion of jail term. In the second case, Lalu was convicted in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar Treasury in the 1990s. He was awarded 3.5 years sentence in the case on December 23, 2017. In another Chaibasa case of Rs 37.62 crore fraud, Lalu got five years prison term on January 24, 2018, while Mishra was acquitted in two fodder cases while being convicted in two cases. The fifth case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139 crore from the Doranda treasury in Ranchi is pending with the court. New Delhi: In further boost to the talks of forming an anti-BJP front, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met leaders from Shiv Sena an NDA ally - as well as MPs from several opposition parties including NCP and TRS led by K Chandrashekhar in the national capital. She was also due to meet ailing former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, however, she could not meet the latter as is still recovering from her illness. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Mamata said, ''Yes, Sonia Ji is unwell right now and recovering. I will meet her once she is fine.'' She also talked about her plans to meet sidelined BJP leaders - Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha, and Arun Shourie and expressed her readiness in meeting the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) central leadership if she is invited for talks. ''Tomorrow, I will meet Shatrughan Sinha Ji, Yashwant Sinha Ji, and Arun Shourie Ji. Will certainly go and meet them (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) if they call us for a meeting to Lucknow,'' Mamata said. Yes, Sonia ji is unwell right now and recovering, will meet her once she is fine.Tomorrow will meet Shatrughan Sinha ji,Yashwant Sinha ji, and Arun Shourie ji. Will certainly go if they(Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav) call us for a meeting to Lucknow: WB CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/IV6YdNvAKx ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 She also attacked the Narendra Modi government at the Centre during her press briefing and said that the NDA regime has lost its credibility due to its faulty decision of implementing the GST and noteban. ''By introducing GST and Demonetisation, this government has lost all its credibility. There is no privacy, democratic rights for people. With money, the government is misusing technology for their gains,'' the West Bengal Chief Minister said. ''Issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and it was time for the BJP to pack up and go,'' the TMC chief said. Reacting on the leaked election dates of Karnataka Assembly polls, Banerjee said all institutions were becoming BJP institutions as the saffron party was "using and misusing" multiple agencies. Attacking BJP over its Hindutva politics, the TMC chief said that ''there is no bigger communal party in the country than the BJP. They bring disrespect to the meaning of Hindutva.'' She, however, asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the saffron party. The TMC chief earlier met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at the Parliament. "When political people meet then, of course, they will discuss politics, there is nothing to hide in that. The Lok Sabha election of 2019 will certainly be very interesting," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. The firebrand TMC leader also met Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP K Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. During her meeting with the Opposition leaders, Mamata discussed the current political situation. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is keen on a third front, had met Banerjee earlier this month. The Trinamool Congress chief is also expected to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the days to come. Mamata's meeting with estranged BJP allies - Shiv Sena and TDP - and TRS and NCP MPs comes at a time when the Opposition parties have together to press for a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha. Notably, BJP's embittered ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has already announced to break the alliance before the general elections 2019. Banerjee a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led disposition at the Centre - is seen as a key player in a possible grouping of non-BJP political parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. Former Congress and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is at the forefront of the efforts to form an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in order to topple the Narendra Modi juggernaut. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Tuesday raised the issue of farmers suicide during a press conference in Davangere in poll-bound Karnataka. Blaming the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for the woes of farmers, Shah said that more farmers die when Congress is in power, and the numbers come down when the government in a state is that of the BJP. Farmers in Karnataka are facing trouble today and are compelled to commit suicide because of the apathy of the Congress government in the state, said Shah. He further claimed that while the opposition parties spread reports of farmers committing suicide across the country, the fact remains that there is decline in number of farmers suicide in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan where the BJP has been in power for long. According to the BJP chief, there has been a decline of 30 per cent in cases of farmers suicide in Maharashtra. Shah added that in BJP-ruled states, more farmers have died because of reasons other than farming and agriculture. Lashing out at the Karnataka Chief Minister, Shah said, Siddaramaiah is sleeping. He assured that a BJP government, led by former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, in the state will ensure that the farmers get their due and are not compelled to take the extreme step. This came shortly after the Election Commission announced the dates of Assembly elections in Karnataka. While the polling for the 224-member Assembly will be held on May 12, the counting of votes will happen on May 15. While the Congress is aiming to retain power in Karnataka, the BJP is putting in all its might to get the state into its kitty. If BJP manages to win Karnataka Assembly elections, the party will be in power on its own or in an alliance in 22 states. Currently, Punjab and Karnataka are two big states apart from Mizoram which are ruled by the Congress. HYDERABAD: Days after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Congress submitted no-confidence notice against the Modi government at the Centre, now CPI-M followed the suit. The Left party became the fourth to issue notice against the BJP-led central government in the Lok Sabha. As Parliament logjam continues, the leader of the Left party in Lok Sabha, P Karunakaran, submitted the notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat and urged Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to include it in the revised list of business for Tuesday. "Under rule 198(b) of chapter XVII of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha, I hereby give notice to move the motion of no-confidence in the council of ministers in the House on March 27, 2018. I request you to kindly include the motion in the revised list of business," the notice says. According to the Left MPs, the notice is part of an opposition strategy to step up pressure on the NDA government in the Lok Sabha. On Friday, the Congress had become the third political party to move a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha, following the TDP and YSR Congress. Both the parties from Andhra Pradesh had moved no-confidence motions against the government recently for the latters failure to honour the 'promise' of granting special category status to the southern state and seeking a special financial package for it. (With inputs from PTI ) JAIPUR: Tableau of the Rajasthan murderer, who is accused of killing a Muslim labourer from West Bengal, were taken out in Jodhpur on the occasion of Ram Navami. The tableau were taken out to honour the killer, reported news agency ANI. Identified as Shambhulal Regar, a resident of Rajasthan, hacked the labourer to death and set his body on fire in Rajsamand last year. The brutal incident was recorded on camera and widely circulated on social media. Rajasthan: Tableau taken out in Jodhpur on #RamNavami to honour murderer, who hacked a man to death & set the body on fire in Rajsamand last year. The killer, Shambhu Lal, had also recorded the act on video & uploaded it on social media, in December. pic.twitter.com/ApbH7SsCkJ ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018 Regar, 36, has been in jail since in December 2017 after he allegedly burnt a 45-year-old man, Mohammad Afrazul, to death in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan in a suspected case of 'love jihad'. In a major security breach, Regar had recorded and uploaded two videos from inside the Jodhpur Central jail. In the videos, which surfaced in February this year, Regar is seen repeating his rant against 'jihadis'. Wearing a hoodie and well-equipped with earphones, he appears to be reading from a long hate-filled script smartly and confidently in the videos. In the seven-minute long video, he urges Hindus to stand united and bring 'Ram Rajya' in India. Regar is seen saying that he could not tolerate threats to Hindu women from jihadi forces and hence came forward to help one of them. (Reporting by Rakesh Trivedi) New Delhi: Terror organisations like Ansarullah Bangla Team are always on the lookout to carry out a strike against India. These terror groups have been known to use fake Indian identity cards for nefarious designs. As per Zee Media sources, illegal Bangladeshis and those associated with ABT group are planning to change their locations using fake identity cards even as the Maharashtra ATS has already warned about the group planning to conspire against India. The investigating agencies recently arrested five people allegedly having links to terror groups from Pune, Mahad and Ambarnath. Fake identity cards were found on them. Following this, Maharashtra ATS undertook a major crackdown on illegal Bangladeshis living across the country. More than two dozen people are said to have been arrested in the past two weeks. An investigation by Zee Media's special investigation team has revealed that there are many areas in Mumbai from where fake identity cards can be procured. An ID card can be made for a mere Rs two hundred. One can travel anywhere by train and flight using these. How the investigation was carried out: Zee Media team reached Mumbai's Malwani area, from where some illegal Bangladeshis were arrested recently, to investigate how easily a fake identity card could be made. They met an agent there who gave them a confirmed ticket of sleeper class on a Mumbai-Delhi train for Rs 1000. The ticket for Sampark Kranti Express from Bandra terminus to Hazrat Nizamuddin had been booked in the name of one Rajesh Kumar. The timing of the booking (using a special software) was - 1 minute and 57 seconds - within just 117 seconds after tatkal bookings began. The team reached the office of the agent again in the evening on the same day and told him that Rajesh Kumar could not travel due to some reason and needed to stay in Mumbai. However, the Zee team asked the agent whether it was possible to send another person on the same ticket. The agent said that he could make a fake identity card for Rs 200. He assured that a fake Aadhaar card of Zee Media team member Krishna Singh could be made in the name of Rajesh Kumar. And as promised, the team was delivered a fake Aadhaar card in the name of Rajesh Kumar. The agent duly returned Krishna Singh's card after the process was done. Both the cards had the same number, photo, date of birth and address. Only the name was different on both the cards. The agent warned the team to use the fake card only to travel till Delhi and destroy it on reaching the destination. The investigation has clearly exposed that getting an Indian identity card is extremely easy and a major security threat. NEW DELHI: The Central government on Tuesday told Lok Sabha that there is no proposal to scrap Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir gave the statement while replying to a written question from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ashwini Kumar. "There is currently no such proposal under consideration of the government," Ahir said. Kumar had asked whether the government was committed to scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution. He had also asked about the present status of Article 370 and the procedure for scrapping it. Ahir denied in his one-line reply. While scrapping Article 370 was part of the BJP's political manifesto, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with which the saffron party is in an alliance, has been remained silent on the demand. Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gaurav Gogoi also questioned the government over the comment of Centre's interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Ahir said Sharma had recently visited border areas in view of recent ceasefire violations and suggested some measures for the local population, which included shifting residents and constructing bunkers. Ahir said the government was keen to bring peace in the state and was ready to hold dialogue with all sections of society who shun the path of violence. He also added that the government has continuously encouraged policies to bring youth to the mainstream. These include providing employment opportunities to wean them away from terrorism. Sharma had recently said that he was 'pained' by the cycle of violence in the Valley but hopeful of a peaceful summer this year as many people, especially the youth, had assured him of working as peace ambassadors in the state. "Athough I am pained by repeated cycle of violence in Kashmir, I am quite hopeful of a peaceful summer this year. I have full faith in people of Jammu and Kashmir particularly the youth," he had said. NEW DELHI: The schedule for Karnataka Assembly elections could be declared on Tuesday. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce it at around 11 am. The term of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly will end on May 28. With the date of Karnataka polls nearing, the political battle on the ground between leading parties has heated up. Incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is eyeing a second term in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is currently in power in 20 states, is trying to expand its saffron wing in the 21st state. The party's chief ministerial candidate is BS Yeddyurappa. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is the third party in the fray. In 2013, the Congress had won secured 122 seats. The Model Code of Conduct will kick in as soon as the EC declares the election schedule. Both the Congress and the BJP have launched high-pitched political campaigns in the state. BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have been making multiple trips to the state. New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the full schedule of assembly elections to elect a new government in Karnataka. As per the announcement by the poll panel, the assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 12 and results will be declared on May 15. The EC announcement has set the stage for one of the most prestigious battles between the ruling Congress and the BJP. "It will be a single phase election," Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat told reporters here. Here is all that you need to Know about 2018 Karnataka Assembly Polls:- Term of Present Assembly The term of the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka is normally due to expire on 28.05.2018. Assembly Constituencies The total number of assembly constituencies in Karnataka are (224) out of which (36) are reserved for SCs and (15) for STs. No of Electors The total number of electors as per draft electoral rolls in Karnataka are 4,90,06,901 and 4,96,82,357 as per final electoral rolls Photo Electoral Rolls Photo Electoral Rolls will be used during this General Election and photo percentage in Photo Electoral Rolls of this State is 99.47% Polling Stations Voting will be held at 56,696 polling stations across the state which is 9% more than the number (52,034) in 2013. Date for Filing Nomination The date of notification is April 17 and the last date to file nominations is April 24. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 25 and the last day for withdrawal is April 27. Voter Guide In this election, a Voter Guide (in Kannada / English) shall be handed to every household ahead of the elections, giving information about the date and time of polls, contact details of the BLOs, important websites, helpline numbers, documents required for identification at the polling station besides other important information including the Dos and Donts for voters at the polling station. This Voter Guide Brochure will be distributed along with the Photo Voter Slips by the BLOs. Date of Polling The polling will take place on May 12. Counting of Votes Counting of votes will be held three days later on May 15. VVPAT machines, apart from EVMs, will be deployed in Karnataka for the polls. The 224-member Assembly expires on May 28 in the state where the Congress is currently in power, with 122 seats against the BJP's 43. Karnataka is one of the eight states where polls were scheduled this year. Elections to three northeastern states were held last month. New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday constituted a committee of senior officials to look into the alleged leak of the schedule of upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka even before it was announced by the poll watchdog. The committee has been asked to submit its report within a week. The committee has also been directed to suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future. In a statement, the poll watchdog referred to a tweet by BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya in which he had put out the election date minutes before CEC OP Rawat actually announced the schedule at a press conference. Malviya tweeted that polls would be held on May 12 and counting will take place on May 18. While he was correct about the date of polling, he got the counting date wrong which will actually take place on May 15. "The Commission immediately directed that the matter be probed and necessary and effective action be taken. Accordingly, Commission has constituted a committee of senior officers of Election Commission to investigate the matter and give its report within seven days,'' a statement from the Election Commission said. "The Committee would also suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future. The Committee set up by the Commission has already sought information from the concerned media organisations and individuals,'' the statement read further. It said Malviya, in another tweet, had attributed a news channel as his source. In his press conference to announce the poll schedule, Rawat had described the leak as a "very serious" issue that merited a probe and "stringent action". He said people can conjecture but noted that as information has been "leaked", the Election Commission will probe the matter and take "stringent action" both "legally and administratively". The alleged leak of election dates had snowballed into a major political storm with political parties, including Congress and CPI, demanding strict action against those responsible for it. Hitting out at the BJP, Congress dubbed the saffron party as "Super Election Commission", taking strong objection to its IT cell chief tweeting the date of the Karnataka Assembly election before the Election Commission had announced it. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala also said the Election Commission's credibility was at test and asked if there would be any action against the ruling party and its chief Amit Shah. "BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announced poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. The credibility of the EC is at test,'' he said. "Will EC now issue a notice to BJP president, Amit Shah and register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking EC's confidential information," Surjewala asked on Twitter. Meanwhile, the CPI also took strong exception to the BJP's IT cell chief tweeting the date of the Karnataka Assembly elections even before the Election Commission announced it, saying the poll panel should answer how he got to know about it. "It is a huge embarrassment for the Election Commission. The EC should answer how he got to know about the date. How can such a thing happen and the BJP announces the date when only the EC has the mandate to conduct free and fair polls," party National Secretary D Raja said. "I hope that our democracy is not so weak, otherwise the BJP will start announcing the election results also," he said. Observing that "many questions are being raised" about the EC, he said questions were raised when polls to Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, slated around the same time, were announced separately. "The courts also indicted the poll panel on the issue of disqualification of the 20 Aam Aadmi Party members (on grounds of holding office-of-profit)," Raja added. TRIVANDRUM: A former radio jockey named Rajesh was hacked to death by unidentified assailants at his studio in Madavoor in Trivandrum late on Monday night. One other person has also been injured in the incident. Rajesh had reportedly returned with a friend from a stage programme when they were attacked. They were keeping their equipment back in the studio when the attack took place. The attackers came in a red Maruti Swift car and had sharp weapons on them. Soon after the attack, the locals alerted the police. Rajesh and his friend were rushed to the hospital. While Rajesh succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, his friend is undergoing treatment. An investigation is underway into the murder. Rajesh has been associated with Red FM as an RJ for several years. He also worked in Doha at the Voice of Kerala FM station. He recently returned from Doha and joined a mimicry troupe. BHOPAL: A day after a journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday ordered for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. On Monday, 35-year-old investigative journalist Sandeep Sharma who was probing possible links between the sand mafia and police officials was run over by a dumper in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind. Sharma, a journalist with a national news channel, was on a motorcycle when a dumpster behind him suddenly veered to the left - crushing Sharma instantly. Video footage of the incident raises suspicion that Sharma may, in fact, have been murdered as the manner in which the dumpster swayed appears suspicious. Following the incident, Madhya Pradesh police arrested the man who was allegedly driving the truck that ran over and killed him. The driver has been identified as Ranvir Singh, and police have said he does not possess a licence to drive heavy vehicles. The state police had announced that a Special Investigative Team (SIT) was being set up to investigate Sharma's death. The whole incident had been captured on a security camera in the vicinity. The video clip from the security footage was shared on social media and led to doubts that he may have been murdered. Adding to speculations of foul play is the fact that the journalist had previously complained to the police of threats to his life. He had at the time said the threats were because of the investigations he was carrying out for his reportage. Now, an SIT has been formed to look into the tragic incident. Local media reports say the incident took place close to a police station, and that cops reached the spot almost immediately. They said the area was cordoned off after the incident. Sharma had been rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The issue had also attracted criticism from Congress leader Jytoiraditya Scindia, who on Monday had demanded a CBI inquiry into Sharma's death. New Delhi: Xiaomi launched the most anticipated Mi MIX 2S in China on Tuesday. The Mi MIX 2S comes with 5.99-inch screen full HD+ (21601080 pixels) resolution and bezel-less display. It will house a Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 SoC. The phone will also have face recognition and face unlock. The phone will have a AI-based dual-camera setup. Featuring a near bezel-less design this eye-catching phone has a curved ceramic design with a 7-series curved aluminum frame. Among other features the phone has wireless charging, face unlock, ARCore and multi function NFC. The phone has 12 megapixel wide angle camera with 12 MP telephoto 4 axis optical image stabilisation. The phone's AI dual camera detects 206 scenes across 25 categories and 6 customizable parametres. Under the hood, the phone runs Android 8.0 Oreo with Xiaomis MIUI on top. The phone comes in two variants one with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage and the other with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The one with the lower storage and memory has been priced at RMB 3299 (approximately Rs 33,000) and the higher variant comes at RMB 3,999 (approximately Rs 40,000). After tasting success in emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia and expanding into western Europe, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is all set to enter the US market as early as this year, reports have said. Xiaomi has grown exponentially in India, which recently overtook the US to become the world's second largest smartphone market after China. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Xiaomi shared the top slot with South Korea's Samsung in India, with a market share of 23.5 per cent, in the third quarter of 2017. Xiaomi already sells a number of products in the US, including its Android TV set-top box, Mi TV, at Walmart locations around the country, The Verge reported on Monday. But its success in the US smartphone market will ultimately depend on carriers and it will also need to navigate potential concerns from US intelligence officials, the reports said. Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is in Hyderabad to shoot for South superstar Chiranjeevi's Telugu film, "Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy", based on the life of freedom fighter from Rayalaseema, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. The 75-year-old actor, who has a guest appearance in the movie, took to his blog to make the announcement. He also shared a look test in which he can be seen sporting a long grey hair and beard. "Dear friend Chiranjeevi, that majestic super star and icon from the world of Andhra and Telugu cinema, requests for a guest appearance in his magnum opus, on a most valiant period character that he portrays, and I agree... "So am off to begin its shoot in Hyderabad... In a few hours... The first look tests of which seem to be somewhat, thus... These are not the final, but close," Bachchan wrote. The veteran actor added that he is getting such roles as he is in the winter of his life. "... To bring in a character, attempt to put me in situations that resemble the above... Cannot really deny their choice... The days of yore are over... I mean they could never be reborn as this for example." Bachchan will next be seen in "102 Not Out" playing father to his 75-year-old son, portrayed by Rishi Kapoor. He also stars in "Thugs of Hindostan". A scientist from Canada has named a newly discovered species of moth after US President Donald Trump. And we are not sure if he was honouring Trump or trolling him, and there's two reasons for it. One, the spider is described as having yellowish-white scales and 'comparatively small' genitalia. Two, it was discovered in Mexico, south of Trump's proposed wall. The moth's scientific name is Neopalpa Donaldtrumpi. Vazrick Nazari, the scientist who discovered it says he named it so because of the yellowish-white scales on top of its head reminded him of the US president. However, in his formal paper submission, he says he named it after the brash New York billionaire to raise awareness. Either way, it's not clear if the decision to name it after Trump is a major troll or a bid to honour. The moth, Neopalpa Donaldtrumpi, was proposed as a different species under the Neopalpa genus. There is only one other moth in the genus so far - Neopalpa neonata. The paper Nazari submitted said the Donaldtrumpi has "genitalia comparatively smaller than for N. neonata". Nazari said the discovery of the species underlined the lack of interest in the study of smaller fauna in North America and the need to conserve fragile habitats. As a coastal area the Baja California state of Mexico where Donaldtrumpi was discovered would be threatened by climate change, which Donald Trump denies. "By naming this species after the 45th President of the United States, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," he said in his 2017 submission seeking formal recognition of Donaldtrumpi as a separate species of moth. Trump has claimed Trump steaks were the best. He has said his Trump real estate is the best. Will he endorse the Donaldtrumpi, the Trump moth, as the best moth ever? Let's wait and watch Twitter. Beijing: China's first experimental space lab is expected to come crashing back to Earth between March 31 and April 4. Space authorities said that the space lab should burn up in the atmosphere. Tiangong-1 has officially stopped sending data and entered its final phase of life on March 16, a statement issued on Monday by the China Manned Space Engineering Office said. The Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, is orbiting at an average height of about 216.2 kms, the announcement noted, but did not disclose any re-entry location. A Chinese aerospace expert told state-run 'Global Times' said it is impossible to name the exact re-entry location at this stage. The approximate re-entry location cannot be decided until the last two hours before it starts to fall based on international precedents, he said. According to Beijing Aerospace Control Centre and other agency estimates, the space lab will likely enter the atmosphere between March 31 and April 4. The China Manned Space website will supply daily updates. The Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace 1 was launched into orbit in 2011 to carry out docking and orbit experiments as part of Chinas ambitious space program, which aims to place a permanent station in orbit by 2023. The heavenly vehicle successfully docked with the Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spacecraft and undertook a series of experiments. The lab completed its main missions following Shenzhou-10's return in June 2013. During its extended flight, Tiangong-1 conducted experiments in space technology, space-earth remote sensing and space environment exploration, the office said. China plans to finalise its space station to rival Mir, the Russian space station currently in orbit by 2022. (With PTI inputs) Washington: Indian-born NASA astronaut Sunita Williams holds the records for most spacewalk time by a woman with 50 hours and 40 minutes outside the International Space Station (ISS). She was the second American astronaut of Indian heritage to go into space after Kalpana Chawla. The astronaut is now helping privately-held companies like Space X and Boeing in developing their new spacecraft systems, which will eventually provide round-trip crew transportation services to the ISS. After completing two missions to the orbiting laboratory, Sunita William is continuing her career in space on Earth as a member of NASA's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap), npr.org reported on Sunday. In 2015, NASA announced Sunita as one of the four astronauts who have been selected by NASA for commercial space flights that will return American launches to US soil and further open up low-Earth orbit transportation to the private sector. Since the discontinuation of NASA's Space Shuttle programme in 2011, US astronauts have had to rely on Russian shuttles to get into orbit. The goal of the commercial crew programme is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station from the US through a public-private approach. NASA, Boeing and SpaceX have significant testing underway, which will ultimately lead to test missions when the systems are ready and meet safety requirements. Boeing's Starliner will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 and SpaceX's Crew Dragon will launch on the company's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A, according to NASA. After completion of each company's uncrewed and crewed flight tests, NASA will review the flight data to verify the systems meet the requirements for certification. Upon NASA certification, the companies are each slated to fly six crew missions to the ISS beginning in 2019 and continuing through 2024, NASA said in January this year. Williams, 52, has spent 50 hours and 40 minutes outside the ISS and part of her new job is to verify that the companies' spacecraft can launch, manoeuvre in orbit and dock to stationary spacecraft like the ISS, according to the npr.org report. "This is really different from my old job, you know," Williams was quoted as saying. "She is currently assigned to the cadre of astronauts training to fly the initial test flights for America's first commercially built spacecraft the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Dragon," according to the biography of the astronaut at the NASA website. Williams was launched to the space station on December, 2006 with STS-116, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, where she served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 14 and 15. She was born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, US to Indian American neuroanatomist Deepak Pandya and Slovene American Ursuline Bonnie Pandya. (With IANS inputs) Washington: To enhance understanding of Earth's ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, snow cover and permafrost, NASA will launch two new satellite missions and conduct an array of field research in 2018, the US space agency said on Tuesday. These missions come at a time when decades of observations from the ground, air and space have revealed signs of change in these frozen regions of our planet, called the "cryosphere." Ongoing changes with the cryosphere, while often occurring in remote regions, have impacts on people all around the world -- sea level rise affects coastlines globally, more than a billion people rely on water from snowpack, and the diminishing sea ice that covers the Arctic Ocean plays a significant role in Earth's climate and weather patterns. This spring, NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences are scheduled to launch the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, twin satellites that will continue the original GRACE mission's legacy of tracking fluctuations in Earth's gravity field in order to detect changes in mass, including the mass of ice sheets and aquifers. And in autumn, NASA is scheduled to launch the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), which will use a highly advanced laser instrument to measure the changing elevation of ice around the world, providing a view of the height of Earth's ice with greater detail than previously possible. Together the two missions will make critical, complementary measurements of Earth's glaciers and ice sheets, NASA said. Both missions will also make other key observations. For instance, GRACE-FO will measure groundwater reserves and deep ocean currents and ICESat-2 will measure sea ice thickness and vegetation height. NASA research shows that permafrost -- permanently frozen ground in the Arctic that contains heat-trapping gases such as methane and carbon dioxide -- is thawing at faster rates now than scientists have observed before. New Delhi: In a setback for global internet giant Google, the government on Tuesday rejected its proposal to launch its "Street View" service in India. This was announced by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in the Lok Sabha. Ahir informed the Lok Sabha that Google had submitted a proposal on Street View seeking the government's permission in July 2015, which allows users to explore places around the world through 360-degree panoramic street-level imagery and view public areas. "The government did not agree to the proposal," the Minister said. The minister said this while replying to a written question asked by Balasubramaniam Senguttuvan, a member from Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Though Ahir did not give a specific reason for the decision, Reuters quoted sources as saying that the Defence Ministry had raised security concerns over the Google project. Internet giant Google launched its Street View service in Bengaluru in 2011 to collect street-level imagery but was soon asked by local authorities to stop the service citing security reasons. Revived again in 2015, Google tied up with the Archaeological Survey of India to bring 31 historical monuments and sites online and offer panoramic views to the consumer. Since then it has been in talks with the Centre to see how the service can be launched in compliance with local regulations. Google Street View is present in more than 82 countries around the world, which have benefited from it in terms of tourism and other aspects. Introduced in 2007 in the US, Street View uses bikes and cars fitted with cameras to collect 360-degree images which the user is then able to see in a panoramic view with street-level 3D imagery. Raniganj: Heavy police force was deployed on Tuesday in the Raniganj area of West Bengal, a day after clashes broke out between two groups over a Ram Navami procession. Peace has been restored with additional police forces patrolling the Bardhaman West district area, District Magistrate Shashanka Shetty said. "We have received reports that one person was killed in Monday's incident. Senior police officers who are camping here in the aftermath of the violence are monitoring the situation very closely," he added, as per PTI. Meanwhile, Union minister Babul Supriyo on Tuesday alleged that police inaction was the reason behind the violence in Raniganj and demanded immediate deployment of central forces in the area. Supriyo said he had called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and requested him to look into the matter. "The violence in Raniganj took place because of police inaction in the area. Had the police acted earlier, the violence could have been averted. The police acted on behalf of their political masters and allowed the goons to have a free run in the area," the MP from Asansol told reporters in Kolkata. Families that had to flee their residences due to Riot like situations in RANIGUNJ, Asansol BJP karyakartas trying assist and stand by themThese are the true pictures of Asansol/Ranigunj where Deployment of Adequate Police as claimed by Govt of WB is a complete hogwash pic.twitter.com/ItuiADPqo3 Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 27, 2018 Appraised Honble Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi ji abt the on-ongoing situation in Ranigunj yesterday/today & now in Asansol I wud request residents of Asansol 2 plz send me videos of the incidents on 89676 67287Hide ur faces&send info abt exact placesDO NOT POST ON FB Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 27, 2018 Spoke 2 Shri. @rajnathsingh ji twice in the last hour&though I wudnt disclose what exactly we spoke abt cuz I do not wish 2 name the WB Govt officials who blatantly LIED 2 him abt the grave ground situation in Asansol, I AM doing my Constitutional duty 2 the bestest of my ability Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 27, 2018 A BJP delegation on Tuesday met West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi and complained about the clash in Raniganj on Monday. Supriyo said the state government should initiate action to deploy central forces in Raniganj to control the situation as the locals did not have faith in the police administration. On the other hand, State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak said that the situation had been largely brought under control by the police. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: A day after her arrival in the national capital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will on Tuesday meet several Opposition leaders including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss ways to take on the Narendra Modi-led government inside and outside Parliament. The Trinamool Congress chief is also expected to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. During her meeting with Pawar, Banerjee is expected to discuss the current political situation. Pawar had convened a meeting of opposition parties in January this year. There have been suggestions that the opposition parties should put up common candidates against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. There also have been efforts to form a third front of parties that want to be equidistant from both BJP and Congress. The veteran Trinamool leader is expected to visit Parliament House and meet "her old colleagues, party MPs and leaders of other political parties", a senior Trinamool leader had said on Monday. "Delhi is a part of India and I visit the capital whenever Parliament is in session. Tomorrow there will be a meeting in the central hall, then we will talk," Mamata had said on arrival. Banerjee is seen as a key player in the possible grouping of non-BJP political parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is keen on a third front, had met Banerjee earlier this month. Here's a tentative schedule of Mamata Banerjee's trip to Delhi: March 27, morning: Mamata will go to Parliament and meet leaders at the Central Hall March 27, evening: She will go to Sharad Pawar's residence for a meeting of opposition parties March 28: The Chief Minister will meet Sonia Gandhi at her residence Mamata, however, has maintained that her trip to Delhi is strictly a personal visit as she is concerned about Sonia's health. Reports suggest that she is also expected to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi. (With inputs from IANS) WASHINGTON: In the wake of alleged misuse of user data on Facebook, a powerful Congressional committee on Tuesday summoned the CEOs of the top three social media platforms - Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Indian-American Sunder Pichai of Google and Jack Dorsey of Twitter for a hearing on data privacy. The hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee has been scheduled for April 10. In a statement issued by the Committee, the Chairman Chuck Grassley said that Zuckerberg has been invited to discuss the company's past and future policies regarding the protection and monitoring of consumer data. The hearing will broadly cover privacy standards for the collection, retention and dissemination of consumer data for commercial use. "It will also examine how such data may be misused or improperly transferred and what steps companies like Facebook can take to better protect personal information of users and ensure more transparency in the process," the media statement said. Grassley also invited Pichai and Dorsey to discuss the future of data privacy in the social media industry and how to develop "rules of the road" that encourage companies to develop tailored approaches to privacy that satisfy consumer expectations while maintaining incentives for innovation. Senator Mark Warner also sought answers from these social media companies on data protection. "I celebrate the success of Facebook, Google & Twitter; but with their power comes responsibility that they must acknowledge. This isn't a Russia problem. If we value civic discourse and fair elections, they have to step up and answer to more than their shareholders," he said. Senator Ed Markey said Facebook's failure to protect millions of Americans' private information in the Cambridge Analytica breach shows "why we cannot rely on corporations" to police themselves. "We need laws that prevent corporations from abusing Americans privacy rights," said Markey. Meanwhile, online news publication 'Intercept' reported that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses backend Facebook data to locate and track immigrants that it is working to round up. Congressman Bobby L Rush has introduced a legislation that would require the FTC to issue regulations requiring companies like Facebook that own or possess data containing personal information to establish specified security policies and procedures to treat and protect such information. Last week, India had also warned Zuckerberg against 'data theft' and said that he can be summoned if needed. "Mr Mark Zuckerberg you better note the observation of the IT Minister of India. We welcome the FB profile in India, but if any data theft of Indians is done through the collusion of FB system, it shall not be tolerated. We have got stringent power in the IT Act, we shall use it, including summoning you in India," Union IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said. Prasad had added that the Indian government fully supports freedom of press, speech and expression and is all for free exchange of ideas on social media. Any attempt by social media sites, including Facebook, to influence India's electoral process through undesirable means will, however, not be tolerated, he had told reporters outside Parliament. "Let me make it very, very clear. We fully support freedom of press, speech and expression; we fully support free exchange of ideas on social media. But any attempt, covert or overt, by social media, including Facebook, of trying to influence India's electoral process through undesirable means will neither be appreciated nor be tolerated," he had said. "If need be, stringent action will be taken," Prasad had added. He had also said that his government is looking at the issue as a matter of national security. The warning to Facebook came even as a political slugfest continues between the ruling BJP and the Congress over allegations that the opposition party has engaged the services of British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This also comes in context of the heat that Facebook is facing globally after Cambridge Analytica was accused of harvesting data of up to 50 million users without permission, and using the data to help politicians, including US President Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and British lawmakers have launched separate proves into the potential breach of user confidentiality by Facebook. (With inputs from PTI) Read original article at 112.ua The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, with which the management of the Boryspil and Lviv airports in the presence of President Petro Poroshenko has signed contracts on the commencement of flights, will receive an 80% discount for two airport fees in Boryspil in the first year of work. This is a charge for takeoff / landing, which is $ 10.5 per 1 ton of maximum take-off mass, and a passenger charge is $ 13 per passenger. It was the issue of discounts for port charges in Boryspil that was the main stumbling block in the negotiations with Ryanair. As the participants in the talks say, if the matter had not been resolved, the agreement with the airline would not have been signed up to now. Without a guaranteed opportunity to fly from Boryspil Ryanair would not have enter Ukrainian market. At the first stage of the Kyiv airport, it plans to carry out 10 flights, whereas from Lviv - twice less. About the fact that Ryanair will be given a discount of 80% for two port fees, 112.ua found out in an exclusive commentary by the director for the development of the Boryspil airport Maxym Voloshyn. According to him, in order to stimulate airlines that perform regular flights, the management of the airport has the right to apply a discount of up to 80% on airport taxes. This is stipulated by the order of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure No. 337 of 2011. At the same time, the airport hasnt provided discounts for a long time. "It was difficult to develop a model that would suit all carriers," Voloshyn said. In January 2017, Boryspil drafted a program that offered discounts on new routes. "Ryanair did not like it for a number of parameters, and other carriers also had questions to ask: what to do if we increase frequencies on existing routes? It turns out that we bring additional passengers to the airport, but we cannot count on a discount", said Voloshyn. Boryspil proposed a different approach, which market participants approved. It involves the provision of discounts for the increase in passenger traffic. Since February 1, a discount of 80% on two port fees was received by airlines, which significantly increased passenger traffic compared with 2017. The program is designed for 4 years and assumes that if in the first year of its operation the air carrier provides an increase of 100 thousand passengers, then a discount of 80% will be retained for it also for the next year. If this increase was not ensured, then the discount from 80% is reduced to 60%. In subsequent years, if the airline has no growth or it was insignificant, the discount can be reduced to 40% and 20%, explained Voloshyn to 112.ua. "On one hand, we agreed to the Ryanair proposals because, in principle, if there is growth that it promises to provide, we got the conditions that we wanted. On the other hand, we insured ourselves against giving a low price or big discounts in any case, we give them only on the condition of ensuring growth," said the director of business development of the airport, stressing that Ryanair will immediately receive a discount (the airline plans the first flights since October). The base of growth indicators is fixed for 2017, but at that time the airline did not conduct flights. Therefore, the entire volume of its new passengers will be considered the volume of growth. Note that according to the State Aviation Service of Ukraine in 2017, 32 domestic companies performed 93 thousand commercial flights, which is 17% more than in 2016. Passenger transportation was performed by 18 Ukrainian airlines. The number of passengers carried by them increased by 27.5% - to 10.555 million people. And 93% of them fell on the five largest airlines, namely, Ukraine's International Airlines (UIA), Wind Rose, Azure Air Ukraine, Atlasjet Ukraine, and Bravo. The Wind Rose airline has achieved growth of passenger traffic by 2.5 times compared to 2016, Atlasjet Ukraine has increased passenger transportation by 73.8%, "Bravo" - by 49.9%, "Azur Air Ukraine" by 17.2% and "International airlines of Ukraine" - by 16.5%. UIA clarified that 6.93 million people were transported. Thus, the increase was 1.136 million people, which is quite enough to receive a discount. In the current situation, the UIA has the biggest profit, because it will not only receive a significant discount. Also, the Aerohandling Company will receive the right to service Ryanair aircraft. Now it also serves a part of the UIA aircraft, said 112.ua the director of the consulting company Friendly Avia Support Olexander Lanetsky. He also believes that the airline will be able to maintain the growth rate, allowing to keep the same level of discounts in the years to come: "As you know, the airline replaces the fleet with less capacious aircraft by larger vessels." In 2017, the company introduced five Boeing 737- 800 NG with a capacity of 186 seats in a two-cabin layout and completed the operation of three Boeing 737 classic aircraft with 106 seats." Volodymyr Shulmeister, former First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, agrees with this statement: "If we are talking about UIA carrying 50% of all passengers at Boryspil airport, they will certainly not lose profit after the introduction of the new system. For them, an increase of 100 thousand passengers is quite achievable. This is only a few percents of the volume of traffic that they are already carrying out. " According to Shulmeister, Wizz Air will also win (if it enters Boryspil) as well as QATAR airways, which has planned similar growth. "In general, I think most airlines operating at the airport will be able to take advantage of this discount, which will hurt companies that do not have the ability to increase the fleet and open new directions," said the former first deputy minister of the infrastructure of Ukraine. "All the airlines will benefit from the new system of discounts, which will also increase the volume of transportation, through the operation of more capacious aircraft," agrees Lanetsky. He noted that this year Boryspil expects a total increase in traffic volumes + 20%, this is about 2 million people. "If this forecast is justified, in principle, bonuses from the new system of discounts will go if not to all airlines, then certainly to the majority" assured the director of the Friendly Avia Support consulting company. With all this, it's not a fact that airfares will be much cheaper, experts say. "There are several big articles in the ticket price - in particular, the price of fuel, leasing payments for planes, a salary fund and somewhere in the fifth or even sixth place - airport fees. This is not the most significant article," Schulmeister says. With the current $ 13 port fee, taking into account the discount, the company will save about $ 10. If the ticket was worth $ 200, now it can cost $ 190. Is this a significant discount?" says Schulmeister. If we talk about Ukrainian airlines, they could get a much more significant price-maneuvering field if the authorities took measures to reduce the price of aviation fuel, Schulmeister says: "Now we have a limited number of suppliers that do not allow the price to drop significantly. Its better than it was three years ago, when Krebo took almost monopoly positions, and we once made a lot of efforts to get new suppliers of jet fuel into the market. Note that, according to airlines, the average price of aviation fuel in Ukraine in 2017 was 666 dollars per ton, while in the EU - 586 dollars. On the other hand, if you multiply these $ 10 discounts for 7 million passengers transported by UIA, you will get a very good amount of $ 70 million savings for the carrier, which it can, if necessary, use for price competition with the low-coster. For the low-costers themselves, this is also a very important point of their business, which they are defending. And the most important question is how this business model with the distribution of discounts will affect the airport's revenues. In 2017, Boryspil earned about 4 billion UAH (150 million dollars). This year, passenger traffic is expected to grow by 20% - to 12 million people. At the same time, if in 2019 the largest airlines get their discounts on port charges, the state-owned company Boryspil Airport will lose tens of millions of dollars in revenue. "I do not exclude the possibility that Boryspil airport might suffer as a result of the deterioration of financial performance, because Boryspil has credit obligations that should be serviced, in particular, to the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation for the amount of 19.09 billion Japanese yen (3.64 billion UAH), which were allocated for the construction of Terminal D. In addition, the airport has current obligations that must be closed, on the other hand, I have known Pavlo Ryabikin for a long time and I believe that he would not have agreed to a new scheme if he had not been sure that the economic feasibility for the airport is preserved," says Schulmeister. However, given the pressure that was put on the airport after the failure of the first talks with the Irish, it is possible that the current concessions were dictated by political will. Whether the financial losses of the state budget will be blocked by the growth of passenger traffic and tourists, who are expected in Ukraine in connection with the arrival of Ryanair - this question is very rhetorical. It is more likely that the image project "Ryanair in Ukraine" will cost much money for our state. Read original article at 112.ua Open source In early March, the law "On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine on Establishing and Maintaining the National Bank Credit Registry and Improving Credit Risk Management Processes of Banks" came into force. This law was adopted on February 6 by the Verkhovna Rada with a minimum number of votes - 226. On March 1, the document was signed by President Poroshenko. For the actual functioning of the register, the National Bank has already developed a draft law, which regulates its operation. It should be noted that the introduction of the National Bank credit registry, given the significant number of problem portfolios, was one of the requirements of the IMF, which Ukraine assumed when signing the memorandum in 2015. In the credit register, banks and the Fund for Guaranteeing Deposits of Individuals (if the bank was found insolvent) will transfer information on loans with debts exceeding 100 minimum wages (372.3 thousand UAH). And the National Bank, respectively, will provide such information to banks upon request. The provisions of the law will be put into effect gradually. Since April 1, banks are obliged to transfer information about transactions subject to the law. In six months (from the beginning of August, but not later than December 31, 2018), the law on information to be submitted to the credit registry should come into force, and from January 1, 2019 - the provision on the use of information from the credit registry to assess credit risk. According to Olena Kolodyazhna, director of the department of retail risks of FUIB bank, the shortcomings of the law include the extremely short deadlines indicated in it, under which it is difficult to ensure the development and testing of the specified functionality. Who needs this law? Adoption of the law is a positive change because at the moment information on debtors is contained in the registers of certain specialized companies. "The practice of maintaining a single register is present in the western societies and is absolutely justified regarding the work experience. This registry makes it possible to reduce the time spent searching for data and administration," says Orest Korenovsky, executive director of credit analysis and restructuring at Kredobank PJSC. With the proper implementation and application of the credit registry, both banks and regulators can gain some benefits. For the banks, it will give an access to a reliable and complete source of information for managing credit risk. "Now the bank, when deciding whether to issue a loan or not, can check the credit registry whether the potential borrower has debts on other loans. For a larger account, the NBU credit registry is a point of exchange of information on debtors between different banks," said Bogdan Shabarovsky, lawyer of the Juscutum association. Olena Kolodyazhna sees benefits for the regulator in obtaining expanded primary information (which it could only familiarize with during on-site audits), modeling capabilities, tracking trends, concentrations, and the ability to reduce the frequency of on-site inspections. That is, the NBU will receive more operational information on the banking system and specific business groups. In addition, the Law is designed to resolve a number of issues that are not worked out by the NBU. "Its particularly related to the partial excess of the requested information, which affects the inefficient use of resources within banks to prepare for the launch of the data transfer process, as well as the issue of the transfer of data from the NBU to banks and its use," Olena Kolodyazhna explains. However, according to Sophia Kykish, lawyer of the legal group "Poberezhnyuk and Partners", with the introduction of the credit registry, private credit bureaus do not stop their work, which leads to a certain legal uncertainty, because these databases may contain various information regarding the debtor or his obligations. It is obvious that in the work of credit bureaus something will seriously change. Earlier in Ukraine there were several bureaus that collected information about debtors, but banks were not required to work with any of them and none of these organizations had information about all borrowers of all banks. The creation of a centralized register of "bad" loans threatens the existence of the bureaus as such, but they have the opportunity to continue to make a competitive product. What will be changed? As for positive innovations, they can be related to a relatively simple procedure for obtaining information from the register, which will be provided to banks in real time on a no-cost basis, the systematization of all necessary data in one information base and the real possibility of a financial institution to reduce risks in the provision of loans. This law will affect the parties in different ways, but even in the "hardest" version, it will not carry cardinal changes compared to the situation before the adoption of the document. For bona fide borrowers, the law will not change anything: if a legal or natural person pays a loan on a regular basis, it will not appear in the NBU credit registry. According to Olena Kolodyazhna, for the debtors - individuals, as well as for banks working with individuals on unsecured loans, this innovation will not directly change anything. In Ukraine, we have efficiently functioning bureau of credit histories, information from which is widely used by banks and microfinance companies when issuing loans and when assessing credit risks. At the same time, entering the personal data of the borrowers in the credit register in accordance with the practice of the ECHR can be qualified as interference in human rights, which must be necessary and proportional to the goals. "Given this, after the law enters into force, the treatment of debtors entered in the credit registry with relevant lawsuits to national and international courts cannot be ruled out," Sophia Kykish emphasizes. The limitation on the amount of debt in 372.3 thousand UAH has already narrowed the circle of those who will be included in the credit registry. Individuals often take loans from different banks for much smaller amounts and they are not returned, so these debtors will not be noted in the credit register. However, data on their violations of payment discipline has long been in the credit bureaus, which is already limiting their ability to receive new loans. A more significant impact from the introduction of the credit registry can be expected in the framework of lending to legal entities and issuing collateral loans to individuals. Obviously, this law will certainly complicate for the current debtors the possibility of attracting new bank loans, since the register will allow banks to see which borrowers had previously had problems with debt repayment. "Those who have a large debt (more than UAH 372,3 thousand) will find it more difficult to receive new loans. In a situation where such debt was allowed by the company, the credit registry will contain information not only about this company but also about the related persons, as well as owners of more than 10% stake in the company," explains Bohdan Shabarovsky. Banks will inform customers on the transfer of information to the register, and they will be able to access information about themselves in the register and demand changes in case of disagreement with its content. "In case of disagreement with the data, the borrower has the right to apply to the National Bank with a request, which will be processed within 21 working days. Thus, the errors of the banks in providing information, given the lengthy consideration of the application, may, for example, be the reason for refusing to receive an important loan in another bank, which, of course, will create obstacles in the business activity of enterprises lasting almost one month," adds Sophia Kykish. The main goal of the registry is to reduce the number of problem loans in banks and improve the payment discipline of borrowers. There's a lot of work in this area. As of March 1, 2018, the portfolio of problem loans with regard to the total amount of loans issued was 56.6% (UAH 639 billion). Experts are sure that this goal is quite achievable. "If banks conscientiously provide information to the credit registry and use it in good faith when making a decision to grant a loan, then the volume of problem loans should significantly decrease," says Bohdan Shabarovsky. In general, as Orest Korenovsky points out, the strengthening of control over information and its quality and accessibility should ultimately lead to an improvement in the payment discipline of clients who rely on the use of credit. "However, it is necessary to establish an appropriate level of protection of the personal data of borrowers, to prevent unauthorized access of third parties to the register and to improve the procedure for introducing changes to the register, as well as establishing the banks' responsibility for untimely or unreliable information entry," concludes Sophia Kykish. Open source Since Tuesday morning, Russian militants have been ignoring the ceasefire in Donbas, offered by the Minsk talks group. 13 attacks on Ukrainian positions were observed during this period, press centre of the counter-terrorism operation HQ said. None of the Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action. 82 mm mines hit Ukrainian emplacements in Novoluhanske (Luhansk region); the enemy used RPGs, heavy machineguns and small arms to attack Ukrainian positions near Opytne, Novotroitske, Lebedynske, Pavlopol and Hranitne (Donetsk region). The UNESCO report states gross violations by the occupation authorities, especially in the field of protection of cultural heritage, in particular about "restoration work" in the territory of the Khan Palace in Bakhchysarai The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declares a deterioration of the situation with the protection of cultural heritage in the annexed Crimea. This was stated by the press service of Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The UNESCO Secretariat published the report of the Director General of the organization in response to the decision of the UNESCO Executive Board Monitoring of the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine), which says about the deterioration of the situation in the territory of temporarily occupied by Russia Crimea in UNESCO's fields of competence," it was reported. The report is based on the information, provided by the UNESCO Secretariat, Ukrainian Side and UNESCOs institutional partners: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Representative on Freedom of the Media Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Council on Monuments and Sites and Amnesty International. The UNESCO report states gross violations by the occupation authorities, especially in the field of protection of cultural heritage, in particular about "restoration work" in the territory of the Khan Palace in Bakhchysarai. The report will be considered at the 204th session of the Executive Committee of UNESCO that will take place on April 4-1, 2018 in Paris. As it was previously reported, the Prosecutor's Office of Crimea said that the occupation authorities illegally nationalized 4 thousand objects of Ukrainian property. The damage to Ukraine from the annexation of the Crimea amounted to more than 68 billion dollars. Related video: Read original article at 112.ua Batsman: The Batsman show is on air. Good evening, Mr. Nalyvaichenko. About two years ago, on March 22, 2016, a Russian court sentenced Nadiya Savchenko to 22 years in a Russian prison. And on March 22, 2018, the Ukrainian Parliament gave permission for her detention in a Ukrainian prison. Then Savchenko was liberated from the Russian prison with the help of Ukraine. Who will help her now? Nalyvaichenko: Both the decision of the Russian court and the abduction of the Ukrainian citizen Nadiya Savchenko were absolutely illegal acts within the framework of the aggressive war against Ukraine. Therefore, we fought and gave two detained Russian military for her. That is, the whole Ukraine united to ensure that, among other things, the Ukrainian Nadiya Savchenko to be returned from the Russian bunker. And we won. But what happens today? The first and most important thing is the legal position. In Ukraine, there must be a law, and by law the evidence in court. The involved figurants should be in the court. The investigation there provides evidence, the defendant must present his arguments there or answer the questions of the investigation. I ask the key question - where is the law in this matter? I saw everything, like all citizens of Ukraine - the frightened Poroshenko, inadequate comments of the Prosecutor General. I see how common people are afraid in general of the situation when they are intimidated by grenade launchers, mortars, and grenades. But as a professional, I clearly know what needs to be done in accordance with the law. The special services should not shoot the video - they had to stop even during the first deliveries of weapons of the so-called military, who were involved in collusion, to arrest them and to withdraw weapons. The most important thing in the work of law enforcement bodies and the president, among other things, is the security of citizens. And when the information sounds that the weapons are being delivered from temporarily occupied territory, they are delivered from the occupier - this is a crime. And so I am convinced that there should be an open court, evidence must be submitted. And most importantly - where are the other figurants? Name at least the organizer from the Russian side whoever he is. As we did, when a terrorist attack against a Malaysian Boeing in July 2014 was investigated within 24 hours. We also within a day named the commander-in-chief, and where that "Buk" came from, and the Russian military crew. But returning to the case of Nadiya Savchenko, the law must act, evidence must be presented and those involved in this case should be in the court. Why is the Ukrainian government afraid to go further? If there are organizers - detain them, they should not be just stripped of their immunity. The second is the admissibility of evidence in this case. Not a provocation, but clear, documented, in accordance with the Ukrainian law. - This video, which Lutsenko showed in the parliament, is not evidence in court? - If it is made public, if it is received, when immunity from a people's deputy has not yet been removed, then the admissibility of these proofs is zero. But the most important thing is that now an open court is held and all the defendants appeared - it's time for everyone to respond. Those who pretended that they are involved in this transaction, and then allegedly informed prosecutors or special services - they also have to answer, because at some stage they were figurants of this case. The law must act. - You saw this video, probably, like the whole country. What struck you the most? - I was amazed only by one thing. That in fact there is a provocation, and on both sides. And most importantly - what does this prove, apart from the conversation, absolutely unjust, and on the one hand, and on the other? Does this prove that both violate the law? So both should go to the court. - And what is the role of Zakharchenko in all this, do you think? - His role is only one - he is a collaborator, an accomplice in aggressive crimes, an aggressive war against Ukraine. And this particular episode, if he is there, does not in any way cancel his main guilt: he will be responsible for war crimes against Ukrainians and against Ukraine - for illegal shootings, mass mockeries and torture of Ukrainian citizens, whom they grabbed and still held in hostage, for many other crimes. This component, if there is a documented Zakharchenkos presence, should be transferred to the first case, where he is the main suspect, - war crimes against his own state. There must be a law, not speculation from all sides. For this, there is a clearly defined procedure for special services, for investigators in the legislation of Ukraine. Why are you showing a movie, if there is still no trial and immunity is not removed? There must be a legal course of action - in the interests of the protection and security of a citizen. And there cannot be other interests. There can be no agent's interests: defended citizens of Ukraine - this is the criterion for successful work. They provoked, told tales, shot a video - these are absolute tracing papers from the methods of work of the KGB and the FSB. What does this give for the security of a particular citizen who is watching us now? - Some say that this Savchenko's show was created in order to bring down Tymoshenko's rating, which is growing. Others say that it is a multi-step strategy, when the ultimate goal is to introduce martial law and to postpone or cancel these elections. What do you think this is all about? - I think - and this is my main position - this is all in order to divert people's attention from really terrible corruption and the collapse of the system of national security and economy. In fact, almost everything that is so important for the life of a common citizen. To divert attention from politicians responsible for squandering and plundering the country. - You said that you gave the Americans a lot of information: you were in America and met there with many powerful people. What is the reaction, and what is being said? - Two days in Washington - I worked in the Senate and the House of Representatives. I met with people who make serious decisions there, know the situation in Ukraine and deal with it, especially with those Republicans and Democrats who support us in the fight against Russian aggression. These are the people to whom I provided evidence in 2015 and which, among other things, are behind the decision to give Ukraine weapons at last. For example, the deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, a serious congressman Rooney. There was a long talk, and the most important part, which concerned Ukraine, was connected with the fight against corruption. I asked him to keep this evidence, which was transferred, about the offshore, the billions stolen by current officials from Ukraine and conduct an investigation. Because the government will be changed for a year in Ukraine, and this time we are determined that no one should run away to Russia with money like Yanukovych and his entourage have stolen from Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Austria and other countries. The only thing I asked for - and received full assurance and full support - is that this time the evidence will not be lost. And not only evidence, but real offshore campaigns, real accounts and real beneficiaries that stand behind these accounts. The second request was that the political position of the new Trump administration should still be a direct requirement for the Ukrainian president: Ukraine must join all civilized countries that have enacted legislation that prohibits the use of off-shores where it is forbidden to hide the ultimate owner of offshore companies. It is time for the international community to help citizens of Ukraine. Poor state and the withdrawal of money in offshore these are the main problems and the internal enemies of every citizen. And the support from the House of Representatives is complete and peremptory. In the Senate there were other meetings - there was a more serious conversation with the leaders of the committees that are responsible for security. In particular, with Senator Richard Burr, we talked about a serious content plan, how it is possible and necessary to continue the real and meaningful integration of Ukraine into NATO. Full support from the American side was obtained - Ukrainian national security and the protection of our territory and our citizens directly depend on a truly step-by-step joining of the collective security system. - Did you go to America to be supported as a presidential candidate? Have you agreed? - I spoke and stressed - we need the support of the entire state in the fight against Russia's aggression and in the fight against corruption. Nothing else really interests me, or those real, sincere friends of our country, and not only in America. On the way, returning, I met some European leaders. The Chancellor of Austria is a young modern politician who always defended Ukraine's interests in the OSCE, always listened, at least to what I could say. And with him I had a serious conversation. And serious support, and most importantly - a vision of how to proceed, how to live further in Ukraine. How to get out of the situation when internal corruption eats up our opportunities, and the external aggressor is still in our territory. How we can and should have a real plan, and not some Minsk agreements. - Today, a very important event happened in the Netherlands. Tell us about it. - Indeed, in the Netherlands, the Ministry of Justice submitted a bill to the parliament to open and create a special court in The Hague to punish all those involved and guilty of the crime of committing a terrorist attack in the Ukrainian sky in July 2014. When the Malaysian Boeing was shot down by the Russian military crew and 298 people were killed. For me, this is of particular importance. In particular, at the conference in New York I spoke to the whole world including about this crime. From Australian television to the New York media, all this has been shown. I believe that this is a very serious decision of the Dutch government, and I hope that the Dutch parliament will adopt this bill, and finally a special tribunal will be created to investigate and punish Russian military terrorists who shot down an innocent Malaysian passenger plane in our skies. But I was convinced and is still convinced that there must be a court in Ukraine too. And in the Ukrainian court it's time to name all involved. We, too, must punish all those responsible for this terrorist attack. - Your plan is: 200 billion USD compensation from Russia, returning of Crimea, withdrawal of military and equipment from Donbas, and the war will end. But with whom should this be discussed and how can the Russian government be compelled to do this? Now, what would you do? - I discussed this last week in the Congress and in the US Senate with people who are really making decisions. I gave them a clear vision of how to support us so that we could protect our territory. The first and most important thing is to continue to help the Ukrainian army with defensive weapons, training, and communication facilities. With all, which simultaneously increases our security, and brings the level of standards closer to NATO. - But this will not stop Putin, this will not force him to pay 200 billion. - There must be a rigid position of the Ukrainian authorities, daily position. It's not just figures, it's not just playing them on the show - with this you have to defend every name, every person, every Ukrainian family legally. The third block is humanitarian. The Red Cross is already working, but this is not enough. Ukrainian humanitarian organizations and other international organizations should be included in order to return Ukrainian power both in the liberated territories and temporarily occupied by such activities. To show citizens under occupation that we, unlike the aggressor, do not want a war, a death, but a normal life. - And now who is engaged in humanitarian activities in the occupied territories? - As far as I know, only the Red Cross - from international organizations. -And from private ones? - The provisional administrations of the occupied territories in every way prevent others to do this, but now I cannot have all the information. - At the last press conference, Petro Poroshenko said a very unexpected thing. He voiced the fact that he did not introduce Victor Medvedchuk to the Minsk negotiating group on prisoners, and you did it. - This was the decision of President Poroshenko. He instructed me to introduce Viktor Medvedchuk into a group that was supposed to facilitate the release of the hostages. It was exactly his assignment, just like my execution. - Why did he say that it was your idea? - I do not know why. I sworn testimony about this episode under oath. Today I can say that if the Ukrainian investigation is interested in the real role of Victor Medvedchuk and other people whom President Poroshenko attracted to work with the Russian side, then they can and should ask him directly. - Media say you recently met with Mikheil Saakashvili. Is it true? And what did you discuss? - True. We met one day, in Amsterdam. We discussed how serious the situation is now, after illegal actions to deprive him of his citizenship, after the illegal actions of Poroshenko's private security, when it has thrown him away from the country, under the guise of so-called readmission, and what we will do next. - When will he return? - I think not right now. We'll see. The political situation, I am sure, will develop very rapidly. - I am very grateful to you. - Thank you. Belgian government is responsible for the accreditation of the diplomats of NATO headquarters and EU governing institutions Today, on March 27, the government of Belgium plans to discuss the possible measures against Russia due to the Skripal case during the session. Didier Reynders, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium claimed this as Ukrinform reported. The federal government will discuss the possible measures in the second half of the day, he announced. Exactly Belgium as the country where the governing institutions of the European Union, NATO headquarters is authorized to recall the permission for the stay of the Russian diplomats accredited in these organizations. Earlier the US, Canada and 18 EU countries reported on the expulsion of the Russian diplomats. Ukraine also joined the sanctions and claimed about the expulsion of 13 diplomats. The Russian company has no intentions to resume gas supplies to Ukraine, which the court ruled earlier Open source Russia's energy monopolist Gazprom refused to abide by the decision of Stockholm arbitrary court. Naftogaz-Ukraine company reported this after the last week's meeting with Gazprom's representative. 'Gazprom made it extremely clear that it's not going to resume gas supplies to Ukraine, which the court ruled earlier, in December 2017. Gazprom also refused to pay 2.6 billion U.S. dollars, which was also foreseen by the court's decision in February, in the transit contract case', the press service of the Ukrainian company reported. Gazprom's delegation offered the Ukrainian side to either submit amendments to the gas deal or to break it. Naftogaz considers such actions a violation and disrespect for the decision made by Stockholm arbitrary court. Naftogaz refuses to accept Gazprom's offers. The Russian company's denial to obey the decision of the international arbitrary questions Gazprom's reliability as European gas industry's partner', the message said, quoting Naftogaz's Chief Commercial Officer Yuriy Vitrenko. The sides agreed to hold the next round of negotiations in April. Ukrainian citizens will be able to complete the visa procedure by using the e-service on the website of the Royal Police of Sultanate of Oman Open source Oman has simplified the visa regime with Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service reported that on Thursday. 'Ukrainians who plan to visit Oman may process a digital visa under the simplified procedure, using the e-service on the website of the Royal Police of Sultanate of Oman', the press department said. A traveler needs to fill in the form, upload his/her image and the copy of the foreign passport, and then pay the visa fee with a credit card. When entering the territory of Oman, the traveler must also have a confirmed hotel booking and the return ticket. The first forum of Ukraine, Belarus regions will take place in Gomel in 2018 Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine and Aleksandr Lukashenko, the President of Belarus held the phone conversation and discussed the economic and cultural cooperation of the countries as the press service of the Ukrainian president reported. The parties discussed the agenda of bilateral relations, in particular, preparations for the holding of the First Forum of the Regions of Ukraine and Belarus that will take place this autumn in Gomel. The Presidents called for the intensification of economic cooperation between the businessmen of both countries, the message said. They also discussed the holding of the Days of Culture of Ukraine in Belarus this year. As we reported Poroshenko and Lukashenko already held the phone talk on February 27. The citizens are the same 23 Russian officials expelled from the UK due to the poisoned spy case Open source Ukraine's state security service, the SBU, banned 23 Russian citizens from entering this country; they are the same diplomats who had been ousted from the United Kingdom because of the high-profile case of Sergei Skripal. This was mentioned in the message of the SBU's press service. 'The SBU banned entrance for those twenty-three Russian citizens, connected to Russian special services and expelled from Great Britain due to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter,' the message reads. SBU head Vasyl Hrytsak added that 'the actions of these people are an insolent mockery over one of the key functions of any diplomatic office, defined by the 1961 Vienna Convention, which is encouraging friendly relations between countries'. According to him, Russian spies have been using diplomats' disguise to resort to cynical provocations, which aim to undermine the basics of international stability and security. Ex-colonel of Russias Main Intelligence Agency, Sergey Skripal and his daughter, poisoned in the center of Salisbury town in the evening of March 4, are still struggling for life in the intensive care unit of the local hospital. The British special services suppose that Skripals was poisoned by his ex-colleague Andrey Lugovoy, who acted on orders from Moscow. Later, Theresa May, British Prime Minister, stated that Russia was highly likely to be involved in Skripals case. Later, Britain had officially confirmed the use of Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury. Due to this, British representative accused Russia of violating of UN Charter and Chemical Weapons Convention at the UN Security Council session. He can be imprisoned for seven years The security guard of the shopping mall in Kemerovo where the fire took place was detained today. Svetlana Petrenko, the representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia claimed this as RIA News reported. It is reported that the detained turned off the alert system after the signal of the fire outbreak. Also, four people were detained beside the security guard as Petrenko specified. The investigators already questioned a technical director of the company-owner, vendors of the place where, preliminary, the epicenter of the fire was and the worker and executive official of the organization that served the fire alarm, she said. Aleksey Sinitsyn, the criminal lawyer said that the detained security guard can be incriminated the violation of the fire safety requirements. This crime falls within the category of most serious and the article provides the penalty in the form of the imprisonment up to seven years. As it was reported earlier, the shopping mall caught fire in the Russian city of Kemerovo on March 25. According to the last data, 64 people died. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reported that there were no Ukrainians among the victims of the tragedy. The film reveals the story of Cherkasy minesweeper, the only of thirteen Ukrainian Navy vessels that hoisted the Ukrainian flag during the capture of the peninsula by Russia in March 2014 The first trailer of Ukrainian war drama about Cherkasy minesweeper appeared on Youtube. The film is apparently the first motion picture about the Ukrainian Navy. The movie is directed by Tymur Yashchenko. The film is based on the real events. It tells the story of the only of thirteen Ukrainian Navy vessels that hoisted the Ukrainian flag during the capture of the peninsula by Russia in March 2014 - after the rest of them were captured by Russian servicemen. On March 20, when Russian ground troops already captured Crimea, the-then commander of the 5th Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy, who sided with Russians, ordered the Ukrainian vessels to moor to the coast. Five ships, including Cherkasy minesweeper, gathered in the middle of Donuzlav lake to avoid capture. The ship remained the last of the five vessels waving the Ukrainian flag after the rest were stormed and captured. On late March 25, Cherkasy was captured, too. Open source All the shopping malls and other public places of the Ukrainian capital will be checked for the correspondence to the fire security rules. This was reported by the deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration Petro Panteleev with the reference to Mayors instruction. The check is aimed at prevention of such tragedies as one that happened in Russian Kemerovo, as the administration noted. I draw attention of the owners of the shopping malls and other places with a lot of people to the necessity to ensure reliable operation of the firefighting systems, Panteleev said. To organize joint checks, the Panteleev Kyiv administration has turned to the Emergency Service. Until the end of this year in Ukraine, there is a moratorium on regular checks of business by the state bodies in Ukraine. At the same time, extraordinary checks are allowed in some situations, including in emergency cases. As it was reported earlier, the shopping mall caught fire in the Russian city of Kemerovo on March 25. In one of the cinema halls in the mall the bodies of four children were found. According to the report, children were poisoned with products of burning. Seven more children are listed as suffered from the fire. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the fire appeared on the fourth floor, where a cinema and children's playgrounds are located. A hundred visitors and employees of the complex were evacuated from the shopping center. According to preliminary data, as a result of the fire, 4 people died and 26 were injured. The mass media reported that Kholodnytsky can be detained in the near time Yury Lutsenko, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine confirmed the holding of the investigative actions toward Nazar Kholodnytsky, the Head of Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). Really, in accordance with the legislation, the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine along with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau held the investigative actions that also concerned SAP Head Kholodnytsky. The investigative actions continue. In the result of the particular questionings, expert studies, I can report on whether the signs of the crimes spotted by the wire that was established in the cabinet of the SAP Head were found, he said. Later Ukrainian news reported citing the sources in the Prosecutor Generals Office that Nazar Kholodnytsky can be detained and arrested in the near time. It is not specified within which criminal proceeding the detention can take place but it is emphasized that it can take place in the near time. As we reported the SAP found a wire in the cabinet of Nazar Kholodnytsky. It was noted that the NABU and Prosecutor General's Office held the audition. At the same time, Artem Sytnyk, the Head of NABU belied this information. On March 22, Kholodnytsky confirmed that the wire was found in his cabinet. He noted that he does not know who is an owner of the device found on March 6 and waits for the response from the law enforcement bodies. Open source The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine investigates the possible involvement of Viktor Medvedchuk in the activity of Volodymyr Ruban and Nadia Savchenko. Yury Lutsenko, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported this. The involvement of Mr. Medvedchuk in the activity of Ruban and Savchenko is possible. We study their possible contacts. I cannot tell anything more but it is serious intentions, he said. Lutsenko added that also, the investigation has questions to the activity of Ukrainian Choice. We have the questions to the activity of Ukrainian Choice as the center of anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Literally in two weeks before the detention of Ruban and Savchenko, the SBU, the Military Prosecutors Office and Prosecutors Office of Crimea liquidated a few anti-Ukrainian nests that organized the subversive activity in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv and Kyiv and Mykolaiv region for money and on plans of Moscow. The issue is not about the military- subversive activity but about political subversion, anti-Ukrainian, separatist, federalist activity. It, of course, stirs the interest to the center of such actions. According to a lot of data, the Ukrainian Choice Party headed by Mr. Medvedchuk can be such center, the prosecutor general note. Earlier Petro Poroshenko claimed that Viktor Medvedchuk was the effective channel of the communication in the issue of the release of the hostages. According to the president, the former head of the SBU offered the candidature of Medvedchuk to the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group of Ukraine. Ruban was detained on March 8 at the Ukrainian checkpoint at the demarcation line of Donbas Conflict zone. It is stated that Ruban is suspected in the illegal handling of arms, preparation of a crime and terrorist action. Later the Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv arrested Volodymyr Ruban, the Leader of Center of POW Release 'Officer Corps' for 60 days without a right to the bail. On March 12, Yury Lutsenko, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine claimed that Savchenko was called for a questioning on March 13 on the case against Volodymyr Ruban. Later the spokeswoman of Savchenko reported that Savchenko did not get any notice or invitation for the questioning in the SBU and will pay the official visit to the PACE. Volodymyr Ariev, the Chairman of Ukrainian delegation in the PACE noted that she was absent on the session of the assembly. The notice for the questioning in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) of the MP Nadiya Savchenko was passed over to the Apparatus of the Verkhovna Rada. On March 15, Lutsenko claimed during his speech at the parliament that Savchenko personally planned, recruited and ordered how to hold the terrorist attack in the Verkhovna Rada, destroying two lodges, governmental and post, by the combat grenades, bringing down the dome of the Verkhovna Rada by the mortar launchers and killing the survived with the assault rifles. Also, it was reported that non-affiliated MP Nadia Savchenko and Volodymyr Ruban, the Head of 'Officer Corps' planned to attack the cortege of the President of Ukraine with the large caliber sniper rifle. On March 22, the Ukrainian parliament lifted the immunity of Nadiya Savchenko. She was detained right after this in the building of the Verkhovna Rada. Later Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko signed the notice of suspicion of Savchenko under charges with preparing a terrorist act and the attempt of coup d'etat. As we reported Shevchenkivsky Court of Kyiv decided on the preventive measures for Savchenko, which is custody for two months until May 20, 2018, without a right for a bail. Besides, the Court decided that the detention on March 22 was illegal. The same day the MP went on the hunger strike. She also emphasized that she is not going to escape from Ukraine. Also, the advocates of Nadia Savchenko appealed against the decision of Shevchenkivsky Kyiv Court on her arrest. The noted that the judge allowed procedural irregularities during the issuance of the judgment and the decision on the arrest can be treated as ungrounded. The Appeal Court of Kyiv will consider a claim on the detention of MP Nadia Savchenko on March 29. Earlier the court chose the restrictive measure for Savchenko in the form of the detention without a right for the bail The case of MP Nadia Savchenko, suspected in the planning of the coup detat in Ukraine and the terrorist attack in the government quarter, will be passed to the court in two-three months as Yury Lutsenko, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported. The prosecutor tells to finish the investigative actions in two, maximum three months and pass the case for the familiarization and then to begin the proper trial, he said. As we reported Shevchenkivsky Court of Kyiv decided on the preventive measures for Savchenko, which is custody for two months until May 20, 2018, without a right for a bail. Besides, the Court decided that the detention on March 22 was illegal. The same day the MP went on the hunger strike. She also emphasized that she is not going to escape from Ukraine. Also, the advocates of Nadia Savchenko appealed against the decision of Shevchenkivsky Kyiv Court on her arrest. The noted that the judge allowed procedural irregularities during the issuance of the judgment and the decision on the arrest can be treated as ungrounded. The Appeal Court of Kyiv will consider a claim on the detention of MP Nadia Savchenko on March 29. On March 15, Lutsenko claimed during his speech at the parliament that Savchenko personally planned, recruited and ordered how to hold the terrorist attack in the Verkhovna Rada, destroying two lodges, governmental and post, by the combat grenades, bringing down the dome of the Verkhovna Rada by the mortar launchers and killing the survived with the assault rifles. Also, it was reported that non-affiliated MP Nadia Savchenko and Volodymyr Ruban, the Head of 'Officer Corps' planned to attack the cortege of the President of Ukraine with the large caliber sniper rifle. There were no Ukrainians among those killed during the fire in Russia's Kemerovo, according to preliminary data. This was stated by the representative of Department of Consular Service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Vasyl Kyrylych, Interfax-Ukraine reports. "The Consul in Novosibirsk is checking whether there could be citizens of Ukraine among the dead or injured as a result of the fire in Kemerovo. According to the latest information from the representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Kemerovo region, there are no Ukrainians among the dead or injured, "he said. As it was reported earlier, the shopping mall caught fire in the Russian city of Kemerovo on March 25. In one of the cinema halls in the mall the bodies of four children were found. According to the report, children were poisoned with products of burning. Seven more children are listed as suffered from the fire. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the fire appeared on the fourth floor, where a cinema and children's playgrounds are located. A hundred visitors and employees of the complex were evacuated from the shopping center. According to preliminary data, as a result of the fire, 4 people died and 26 were injured. Related video: Yuh Shioh The Light Behind the Sun Matthew Finley Fragile March 9April 13 Gallery Reception: Saturday, March 31, 68 pm Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present The Light Behind the Sun, an exhibition of paintings by Yuh-Shioh. Inspired by personal visions and concepts from ancient civilizations, Yuh-Shioh creates ethereal compositions that are both deliberate and impulsive. Her interest in Shamanism and the spiritual realm leads Yuh-Shioh to paint atmospheric landscapes that are summoned from her experiences with nature. She uses large Sumi and Hake brushes to apply diluted acrylic paint to stretched raw canvas. Her confident shapes are painted with intention, while watery edges bleed spontaneously into the natural raw canvas surface. Yuh-Shioh earned a BA in painting at Harvard University and an MFA in painting from Hunter College in New York City. She also attended Skowhegan School for Painting and Sculpture in Maine. In 2013 she was the Artist-in-Residence at the Chinati Foundation, Marfa, Texas. Her work is in the permanent collections of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley. Yuh-Shioh currently lives and works in Mount Shasta, California. In the project room the gallery presents Fragile, a selection of tintype photographs by Los Angelesbased artist Matthew Finley. This series of conceptual portraits explores ideas of introversion in contemporary society. Matthew Finleys work has been published in Fraction Magazine, Shots Magazine, and the journal Plates to Pixels. He won the Juror Award in the Visual Armistice 10th Annual Juried Showcase. Images for this exhibition can be found on our website www.levygallery.com. High-resolution images are available on request. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @levygallery #yuhshioh #thelightbehindthesun #matthewfinley #fragile Dates: March 9April 13, 2018 Gallery Reception: Saturday, March 31, 68 pm Gallery Hours: TuesdaySaturday, 11 am4 pm Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com Gallery Reception: Saturday, March 31, 68 pm 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!) Some of us are thoroughly in touch with our own emotions. Some of us clearly struggle through emotions daily. For Sallie Scheufler 's MFA thesis, she created A Good Cry. Through a series of performative videos and sculptural installations, Sallie brings her knowledge and discovery of the human struggle to life for people of all ages to explore and enjoy. CFA Downtown hosts this beautiful and moving exhibit, which opened on March 12 , and concludes on March 23 , running from 11am to 6pm . Whether wearing a bleeding heart on your sleeve or bottling it all up until the breaking point hits, this display of sadness, euphoria and the gamut of human feels, offers a chance to see exactly what this accomplished artist wants to convey about the nature of tears and crying behavior. This installation is free to the public. (Mayo Lua de Frenchie) Performative videos and sculptural installations, the exhibition questions and scrutinizes the the nature of crying behavior. A GOOD CRY is inspired by, and made of tears. Through a series of performative videos and sculptural installations, the exhibition questions and scrutinizes the the nature of crying behavior. A GOOD CRY is Sallie Scheufler's MFA Thesis Show!! ---------- Sallie Scheufler currently resides in Albuquerque, where she is pursuing her MFA in Photography from the University of New Mexico. Raised in the Sonoran Desert, she received her BFA from Arizona State University in 2012. Scheufler is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily with image-based media. She has exhibited work in galleries like the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, Eye Lounge in Phoenix, 516 ARTS in Albuquerque, and the University of New Mexico Art Museum. Scheufler's practice is concerned with how humans communicate, the performance of gender, intimacy, her knowledge of her own body, the informative coming-of-age years, the complexities of unhealthy and healthy relationships, the questioning and formation of identity, growing old, the scientific and cultural ignorance of female sexuality. A GOOD CRY is inspired by, and made of tears. Through a series of performative videos and sculptural installations, the exhibition questions and scrutinizes the the nature of crying behavior. A GOOD CRY is Sallie Scheufler's MFA Thesis Show!! ---------- Sallie Scheufler currently resides in Albuquerque, where she is pursuing her MFA in Photography from the University of New Mexico. Raised in the Sonoran Desert, she received her BFA from Arizona State University in 2012. Scheufler is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily with image-based media. She has exhibited work in galleries like the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, Eye Lounge in Phoenix, 516 ARTS in Albuquerque, and the University of New Mexico Art Museum. Scheufler's practice is concerned with how humans communicate, the performance of gender, intimacy, her knowledge of her own body, the informative coming-of-age years, the complexities of unhealthy and healthy relationships, the questioning and formation of identity, growing old, the scientific and cultural ignorance of female sexuality. Affordable dining tables, coffee tables and benches made from rescued New Mexico woods plus jewelry and mezuzahs from found branches, made by Hershel Mutka Weiss. Runs through 4/9. Opening Reception and Sale Affordable dining tables, coffee tables and benches made from rescued New Mexico woods plus jewelry and mezuzahs from found branches. Made by long time Albuquerque Furnituremaker Hershel Mutka Weiss. The tables and benches are made from land being cleared to create firebreaks near Weed, New Mexico. Planks sawn three inches thick were the starting point for this new furniture. The work is a departure for Weiss, who is known for his finely crafted work. The tables are made with simple and direct joinery and retain their natural edges and in some cases the bark as well. Weiss also experimented with bark inlay in several pieces, creating a combination of rustic and refined. Also shown in this exhibit Weiss's first in six years are his first attempts at jewelry, made from found branches, as well as the Jewish ritual objects known as mezuzahs, carved from found branches as well. Addis Ababa Africa should focus more on building internal solutions to its problems rather than depend on international partners to solve its challenges. This was the dominant message at the end of the two-day meeting on the Talanoa Dialogue: African Climate Talks II (ACT!-II) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants at the talks on the theme; "Market policy versus market mechanisms in the implementation of the Paris Agreement", called for African initiatives to address the continent's climate problems. They advocated for holistic African approaches to help the region in its climate change mitigation, adaptation and in addressing its exposure and vulnerability to constantly increasing climate impacts. Mr. James Murombedzi, Officer in Charge of Africa Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), underscored that Africa continues to have the least capacity for Climate Information Services (CIS), a concern that the Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa (WISER) programme is addressing. "WISER seeks to demonstrate the socio-economic benefits (SEB) of investing in CIS. Apart from investing in CIS, we should also build the capacity of decision makers to be able to analyse and integrate CIS in policy," Mr. Murombedzi said. He added that WISER was also supporting development of climate research for development (CR4D) for CIS to be fully integrated in policy making. Mr. Linus Mofor of the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) spoke about the African Climate Resilient Investment Facility (AFRI-RES). He revealed that findings by the programme indicated a huge deficit in infrastructure on the continent, a big barrier to growth and development. "Infrastructure is an enabler and catalyst for industrialisation, trade and regional integration. It should be done in a way that addresses potential threats from climate change. Africa should seize the opportunity to do it right and lead," Mr. Mofor said. He further noted that Africa needs hundreds of billions of dollars to invest in infrastructure, and that it's imperative to climate proof the investments. Mr. Godwell Nhamo of University of South Africa called on African countries to work together and address the financing deficit, instead of relying on foreign donors. "Let Africa engage, among its nations, to mainstream climate change in their budgets and focus on adaptation. We can address this locally but not by roving the world and asking for money from donors," said Mr. Nhamo. Mr. David Lessole of the University of Botswana noted that political leadership was crucial to guide the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI), the Talanoa Dialogue and beyond. "We should focus on outcomes - livelihoods, sustainability, vulnerability, human security - instead of the traditional sectors like health and agriculture," said Mr. Lessole. He called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to review its rules on funding mechanism to make it easy for countries to get money on time for their projects instead of what he said was its cumbersome regime of accessing money. "We need to nominate a commissioner to the African Union dedicated to climate change. A commissioner who will head our initiative to develop a climate change implementation mechanism," Lessole said. Ms. Pauline Dube of the University of Botswana pointed out that policymakers need to link the continent's social systems-local, regional and international for resource mobilisation to have a greater impact on climate change. "Relying on others is creating inequalities even at the village level. Anthropecene is characterised by dominance of people over others. We have been the victims of this but even those who created it are suffering. Let us have our own solutions," she said. Mr. Joseph Matowanyika of Chinhoyi University, Zimbabwe emphasised the integration of African indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) into national plans to address climate change. "Our forefathers had unique ways of addressing natural disasters. This knowledge is available. All the ancient games have hidden wisdom that can solve the problems we are facing now. Our fathers knew crop rotation, grain storage among other gems. Let's harness and use this knowledge," Mr. Matowanyika said. Mr. Laban Ogallo, University of Nairobi, urged for the use of historical data which is available to solve climate problems. "The future is now. Indigenous knowledge is vital and we should make use of it together with right technologies to predict the future," he said. Mr. Buruhani Nyenzi, a consultant from Tanzania called for meteorologists to be involved in the negotiations to provide good climate information. "Combine adaptation and CIS for good results and advocacy on how to apply this knowledge at the grassroots," Mr. Nyenzi said. On his part, Mr. Amos Makarau, formerly of Zimbabwe Meteorological Services called for the integration of IKS in early warning systems in in-country networks to increase observation and fill gaps in spatial coverage. He stressed the need to regulate issuance of climate information to protect producers and users. Mr. Emmanuel Marfo, a Ghanaian Member of Parliament, noted that; "We need to understand how politics play out in international negotiations. Parliament is key in integrating CIS in budgets because they make legislations. Legislators should thus be involved in all issues related to climate change." Youth representatives at the meeting advocated for their greater inclusion in decision making forums. "Expose the youth to challenges of policy making now so that they can know how better to find solutions rather than just be observers as the region suffers," said Chinma George from Nigeria. Barbara Nakangu from Makerere University, Uganda, urged the youth to join politics and be part of decision and policy making. On the globes' continued warming, Mr. Webster Whande of CDKN, South Africa, said the continent should develop tools to assess its collective progress of achieving the 1.5 degrees centigrade. Mr. Robert Mbeche of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya, added that various agreements under UNFCCC and other agreements have not slowed down carbon emissions and temperatures were rising towards 3 degrees centigrade. Mr. John Maesela of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, called on all African countries to join and support the Africa adaptation initiative, which focuses on loss and damage, strengthening policy and institutional frameworks and promoting grassroots implementation. He added that the initiative is striving for concrete results for extreme events like droughts and floods and strengthening national implementing agencies for adaptation. For continued development of solutions for the continent, Mr. James Kinyangi of the AfDB urged African countries to engage with the bank. The more than 170 participants in attendance recommended that engineers, climate resilience experts and disaster risk managers should work together to save the continent from losing money on infrastructure such as roads, bridges that are being washed away by floods yearly. French Ambassador for the Arctic and Antarctic Poles, Segolene Royal, supports the promotion of Russian-French scientific cooperation, including in Arctic exploration, she said during a meeting with students from St. Petersburg State University on Saturday night. I regard the promotion of Russian-French cooperation in this region and of the establishment of an Arctic center in St. Petersburg as my main task as the Ambassador for the Arctic and Antarctic Poles, Royal said. She added that scientific cooperation between the two countries had been ongoing for several hundred years. And I wish for this cooperation not to fade but to become stronger, because the issue of climatic change and environment is getting more important and interesting, Royal said. The ambassador also noted that about 400 specialists in France are researching the poles and are actively cooperating with Russia. She added that the further promotion of scientific cooperation and development of scientific diplomacy would bring the two peoples closer together. Cooperation in meteorology and communications development were the main topics of a Senior Arctic Officials' meeting on March 22-23 in Levi, Finland. The meeting brought representatives from eight circumpolar states together, experts from the council's six working groups, representatives of the World Meteorological Organization and over 30 observer states. The event's press release says that during briefings, experts offered specific proposals based on the agenda. Delegates also continued work on the Arctic Council's strategic plan. Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials Council Aleksi Harkonen said that during the meeting, participants admitted the need to cooperate in meteorology and communications development. They also focused on the UN strategy, 17 Goals to Transform Our World, and other documents related to international scientific cooperation. The week's events in Levi included an opportunity for the council's observers to speak with the working groups about their activities. The next meeting of Senior Arctic Officials will take place in Rovaniemi, Finland, in the fall. YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. It is compelling, causes unexplainable feelings, touches to the very depth of the soul: this is how artists and cultural figures of Argentina characterize duduk when they hear the sound of the ancient Armenian instrument. These are the assessments that were being presented to musician Gagik Gasparyan when many years ago he was trying to present Armenian duduk in South America. Gagik Gasparyan was young when he appeared in Argentina. He received his musician education in Armenia, with focus on traditional Armenian instruments. Any man who relocates to another country meets certain difficulties, especially is he is young and doesnt have anyone in that country. Argentina is no Russia, where the language and culture are familiar. Everything is new here, the language, the environment, traditions, laws, Gagik Gasparyan, member of the Union of Musicians of Argentina told ARMENPRESS. He had great desire from the very first day to be engaged in music in Argentina, but there was a need to work another job to make living. I couldnt take on music from the very beginning, because people dont know you, your performance is unknown to them, and few know about Armenia and Armenian music. It took me years to find my place step by step. I began studying their culture and music. I had to find an approach in order for duduk to be perceived, he said. Gasparyan began playing Argentine melodies on the duduk. Shortly thereafter people began showing interest toward the instrument. Gasparyan was also widely presenting Armenian culture and music in the meantime. Duduk began to be accepted in other South American countries as well. Gasparyan produced a CD with his performances of famous songs. The CD was widely praised and featured on radio and films. After a brief period he began getting offers to cooperate with various musicians. By cooperating with the, in addition to Latin music I present also Armenian, in order for them to play our music, he said, adding that after hearing the duduk many people share their emotions saying they were deeply touched. It is so emotional that they began to call it magico, which means magical, he said. Speaking about the preservation of Armenian identity in South America among the Diaspora, the musician said he believes the best way to unite Armenians and strengthen the connection with Armenia is culture. We are thinking what event to organize to help Armenia. We plan to organize concerts and provide the proceeds to border villages, he said. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau discussed the issue of expelling Russian diplomats over the Skripal case, the White House said. Trump and Trudeau confirmed their solidarity with the UK and discussed the expulsion of Russian spies in response the use of military grade chemical weapons in the territory of the UK by Russia, the White House said. Earlier 16 European countries, as well as the US, Canada, Norway, Ukraine and several others expelled Russian diplomats over the nerve agent attack which the West alleges Russia was behind. On 4 March 2018, Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter Yulia, visiting him from Moscow, were poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England. As of 13 March 2018, they remain critically ill at Salisbury District Hospital. The poisoning is being investigated by British authorities as attempted murder. The United Kingdom believes it is "highly likely" that the Russian government was behind the attack. Russia denies any involvement. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kemerovo on March 27 to pay tribute to the memory of the shopping mall fire victims, TASS reports. Putin laid a bouquet of roses to the spontaneous memorial near the building, where people bring flowers, stuffed toys and photographs of the victims. Putin and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to Siberian Federal District Sergei Menyailo inspected the facade of the burnt down building. The fire broke out on the top floor of the four-storey Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall on March 25, engulfing an area of some 1,500 square meters. According to the most recent data, a total of 64 people were killed in the fire, 60 injured were treated in hospitals, 15 of them were hospitalized and 40 received outpatient care. The bodies of 25 victims have already been identified. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. 39th US President Jimmy Carter has slammed Donald Trumps pick of John Bolton to lead the National Security Council. The effects of the move, which has sparked a lot of criticism, could be disastrous, Jimmy Carter said, RT reports. The 93-year-old former President has echoed the concerns of Democratic lawmakers that have been sounding the alarm over Trumps decision to sack Gen. HR McMaster from his national security adviser post and replace him with the former US envoy to the UN. Bolton, known for beating the drums of war against North Korea and Iran, and pushing for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, is set to formally take office on April 9, ahead of Trump's planned talks with Kim Jong-un. Carter, who last year volunteered to travel to North Korea on behalf of the Trump administration together with McMaster, said that Boltons appointment is the worst mistake [Trump] made, speaking to CBS This Morning on Monday. "I have been concerned at some of the things he's decided. I think his last choice for national security adviser was very ill-advised, the veteran Democrat, who served as the US President from 1977 to 1981, said. In an interview with USA Today, Carter did not mince his words, calling Boltons promotion a disaster for our country, noting that the new national security adviser has been a long-time advocate of war with North Korea, a preemptive strike on Iran and was one of the driving forces behind the Iraq invasion, which was based on flawed intelligence. Former Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has recently revealed that Bolton, when he was a US envoy to the UN, tried to convince him that Israel must launch an attack on Iran, advice that Mofaz was reluctant to heed. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Justice minister Davit Harutyunyan on March 26 held a meeting with newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Armenia Shombi Sharp, the ministry told Armenpress. Minister Harutyunyan highly appreciated the current level of cooperation between the justice ministry and the UN Office in Armenia and expressed confidence that Mr. Sharp will contribute to effective implementation of the UN programs in Armenia. Shombi Sharp thanked the minister for the meeting and assessed the mutual cooperation with the ministry staff as excellent. During the meeting the officials discussed issues relating to deepening the mutual partnership in a number of directions, touched upon the 2017-2019 action plan deriving from the Human Rights Protection national strategy, as well as the opportunities to implement joint programs in the field of e-justice. At the end of the meeting the justice minister and the UN Resident Coordinator reaffirmed their readiness to develop the cooperation in the aforementioned spheres. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. The deadly inferno in a shopping mall in Kemerovo, Russia, continues to be under global attention. Russian media say the death toll according to latest information is 64. 14 have been hospitalized, including three children, and 53 are being treated under outpatient care. Some sources reported that 16 people were missing. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, visiting the scene, called the tragedy a criminal negligence. "What is happening here - this was not a combat situation, not an unexpected methane outburst in a mine. People came to rest, children. We talk about demographics and lose so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence and carelessness," Putin said. He also offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, starting the meeting with a moment of silence. Putin instructed Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin to give a legal assessment of the actions of officials in office at the time of the fire in the shopping mall. "It is necessary to give a legal assessment of the actions of every official. You cannot get any certificates without money, but with money everything can be signed," Putin said as reported by TASS. Bastrykin, in turn, said that the Investigative Committee seized a large number of documents that are currently being studied as part of the criminal case investigation. The building of the confectionery factory, built in 1968, was remodeled in 2013 into a shopping center, probably with irregularities, he noted. Kemerovo residents began a large scale protest outside the city administration in the morning of March 27, demanding the resignation of the local authorities. The protesters insists that the official figures on the deaths and injured is false. The fire alarm in the Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall remained out of service since March 19, Russian Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin said at a meeting on dealing with the fire aftermath chaired by President Vladimir Putin. "Fire alarm was out of service since March 19, and nobody was tackling the issue," Bastrykin said. He added that one of the shopping malls security guards had failed to promptly turn the voice alert system on. "We cant provide a reasonable explanation, he just seems to be untrained," the Investigative Committee chief said. DNA examination of the bodies might take up to two weeks, Bastrykin said. "37 victims require genetic examination, it will take up to two weeks," he said. The fire started on the top floor of the four-storey Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall on March 25, engulfing an area of some 1,500 square meters. According to the most recent data, a total of 64 people were killed in the fire, 60 injured were treated in hospitals, 15 of them were hospitalized and 40 received outpatient care. The bodies of 25 victims have already been identified, including 13 children. On March 26, Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan extended condolences to President of Russia Vladimir Putin on the tragedy. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenias minister of emergency situations Davit Tonoyan departed for Doha at the invitation of Vladimir Kuvshinov, Secretary-General of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO), to take part in the 23rd session of the ICDO General Assembly on March 27-28, the ministry told Armenpress. The event is being held under the auspices of Qatars Prime Minister and Minister of Interior His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The session is attended by high-ranking officials of emergency situations and civil defense structures from 21 countries. The meeting aims at summing up the works carried out by the ICDO so far, discussing the existing issues and outlining the future steps. For the ICDO member countries this is a platform to exchange ideas and useful experience on improving the civil defense mechanism. Armenia joined the ICDO in 1994, and the emergency situations ministry cooperates with the organization with different formats. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Eric Edelman, former US Ambassador to Turkey, proposed to close one of the Turkish consulates in the US, Diken reports. Edelman said this can serve as a message to Ankara which uses tough diplomacy against the US by arresting the employees of the US diplomatic representations. By using media outlets owned by his relatives and friends President Erdogan regularly provokes hostility against the United States, the former Ambassador said during a discussion at the Brookings Institution. Eric Edelman stated that the US authorities quite often just closed their eyes on issues such as the violations of human rights and rule of law in Turkey, which, according to him, has been a great mistake. Edelman said if the US closes, for instance, one of the Turkish consulates in Los Angeles, this will be a message addressed to Ankara. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin held an unplanned meeting with members of a civic action group in the city of Kemerovo on Tuesday, pledging that all those responsible for the Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall fire would be punished, TASS reported. The president told the meetings participants, which particularly included family members of the fire victims, that there would be a thorough investigation into the incident and those responsible would be punished, regardless of their status. "A 100-member investigative group is working here, headed by the Investigative Committee chief. Rest assured, all those responsible will be punished," Putin said. The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in Kemerovo erupted on March 25 on the top floor of the four-story building. According to the latest information, the fire has claimed the lives of 64 people, including 41 children. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. The session of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was held in Geneva on March 26 which was also attended by chief of staff-Secretary General of the Armenian Parliament Ara Saghatelyan, the Parliament told Armenpress. During the ASGP session the Armenian Parliaments membership to the structure was approved. In his remarks Ara Saghatelyan thanked for approving Armenias membership and introduced the activity of the staff of the Armenian Parliament, in particular, stating that Armenia completely transitions to a parliamentary system of governance and additional functions and responsibility are transferred to the Parliament. The membership to the Association is on the right time. We are convinced that we will have the support of our partners, will be able to examine and apply their leading experience, especially on issues of strengthening parliamentary control mechanisms and establishing and developing contemporary analytical service, Ara Saghatelyan said. He noted that Armenia is ready to share its own positive experience, starting from complete introduction of digital document circulation technologies up to tools to ensure transparency and public engagement in legislative process. Saghatelyan said in this complicated and contradictory region democracy is a main potential for the Republic of Armenia. Over the past decade large-scale reforms have been made in Armenia, flawless parliamentary elections have been held, and soon the country will transition to a parliamentary system. On this development path the political and expert support of our partners, who understand our principles and share our national priorities, is very important for us, the Secretary General of the Parliament said. PACE Secretary General Wojciech Sawicki said the ASGP is the oldest structure in the world and is a place where people responsible for the activity of the staff meet here, assist the parliamentarians, can meet with their colleagues, make an exchange of experience and cooperate. He welcomed Armenias membership to the Association. ASGP President Philippe Schwab in his remarks touched upon his visit to Armenia stating that it was pleasure for him to be in the Armenian Parliament, meet with chief of staff-Secretary General Ara Saghatelyan. He attached importance to the fact that Ara Saghatelyan is a member of the Associations Board. Its pleasure that Armenia became a member of the Association. This is a great step for development of inter-parliamentary cooperation, Philippe Schwab said. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenias minister of foreign affairs Edward Nalbandian held a meeting on March 27 with Luxembourgs minister of foreign and European affairs Jean Asselborn in Yerevan. The meeting began one-on-one, followed by expanded format negotiations with the participation of delegations. At the meeting, FM Nalbandian welcomed his Luxembourgish counterpart and stressed that in addition to numerous meetings on the sidelines of international conferences the visit to Armenia is a good opportunity to continue discussions over a wide circle of issues of the bilateral agenda and issues of mutual interest concerning international and regional matters. The Armenian FM thanked FM Asselborn for the valuable contribution of Luxembourg in the prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity, highly praising the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Luxembourg in 2015, as well as the continuous support of international efforts aimed at prevention. FM Nalbandian also thanked for Luxembourgs support for the Armenia-initiated resolution on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of adopting the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide last week in the UN Human Rights Council. Minister Jean Asselborn thanked for the invitation and warm reception and reassured that Luxembourg is interested in developing comprehensive partnership with Armenia. The Armenian FM spoke positively about the opening of Luxembourgs Honorary Consulate in Armenia and expressed hope that it will be the first step in ensuring Luxembourgs permanent presence. The sides addressed the development of bilateral commercial ties, exchanged ideas over the opportunity of holding an Armenian-Luxembourgish business forum, which will be a good occasion for discovering investment sectors, encouraging mutually beneficial cooperation and establishing contacts between private sector representatives. The agenda of the meeting included issues related to the expansion of the legal-contractual field, holding regular consultations between the foreign ministries and strengthening of partnership in the international arena namely the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe. Both sides emphasized the importance of partnership on the sidelines of the International Organization of La Francophonie. In this context, the Armenian FM thanked his Luxembourgish counterpart for unconditional and principled support for the initiative of holding the 17th summit of La Francophonie in Yerevan, Armenia. The sides comprehensively discussed the upcoming summit, due in October, as well as preparation works for the La Francophonie FM conference, the permanent council and other events. The participation of business circles from Luxembourg in the Francophone Economic Forum due October 10 in Yerevan was highlighted. The Armenia-EU cooperation was also discussed, as well as the opportunities of CEPA. The FMs discussed the activities of parliamentary friendship groups and interparliamentary ties. The Armenian FM presented the joint efforts of Armenia and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries for the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At the end of the meeting the FMs delivered a joint press conference. Luxembourgs minister of foreign and European affairs Jean Asselborn also delivered a lecture in the Diplomatic School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Later today the Armenian and Luxembourgish FMs will attend the inauguration of the Honorary Consulate of Luxembourg in Armenia. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Perhaps, Azerbaijan is unable to really return to the constructive field and there is a need to return it to that field, Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian said during a joint press conference with Luxembourgs minister of foreign and European affairs Jean Asselborn, in response to the question what Aliyev is talking about when he says after the presidential election the talks on the Karabakh conflict enter new, more active stage based on the creative ideas of the Co-Chairs, Armenpress reports. Baku said its necessary to hold comprehensive, substantive or logical negotiations, it seems that up to now these negotiations were neither comprehensive nor logical: in this case why that countrys president was taking part in more than two dozen high-level meetings if they were not comprehensive and logical? And now by successfully completing that comprehensive and logical negotiations stage, they passed to a new stage which must be based on some creative proposals by the Co-Chairs. What creativity the talk is about? Maybe its about the creativity that derives from Azerbaijans not so healthy imagination, and that creativity reached to the point that they say that the 2800-year-old capital Yerevan or Armenias other regions are historical Azerbaijani lands: or the creativity that they always threat to use force, in other words, maybe they found such a new trick in order to explain why they refuse from the Co-Chairs proposals, the five principles proposed by the presidents of the Co-Chair countries, the proposals that are developed as a whole, the Armenian FM noted. Nalbandian said he waits for these proposals to become acceptable and creative by Azerbaijan. Maybe they think that these proposals were not creative, but were simple, this means that they allowed themselves to assess which proposals are creative. The most important at this stage is that they should refuse from these linguistic exercises that are far from reality, return to the constructive field and first of all implement the agreements reached during the meetings, their obligations and respect them, the FM said, adding that in terms of the implementation of the agreements Azerbaijan continues acting with a policy typical to it, in other words, it refuses to implement them. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. 41 from the overall 64 fatalities at the shopping mall inferno in Russias Kemerovo are children. The families of the victims are still shocked over the terrifying tragedy which shook Russia. Komsomolskaya Pravda, a Russian newspaper, reported how Yevgenya Hovhannisyan, an Armenian woman, spoke to her niece Vika Pochankina for the last time as the horror unfolded in the shopping mall. Vika is among the 41 children who died in the fire. The aunt of the girl said Vika called her from inside the cinema of the shopping center which was ablaze at that moment to say goodbye. Tell mom that I loved her, the girl said. What were these sufferings for our angel, you deserved a bright and happy life.But this horror crossed destiny, Hovhannisyan said. The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in Kemerovo erupted on March 25 on the top floor of the four-story building. According to the latest information, the fire has claimed the lives of 64 people, including 41 children. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has refused the UK Parliament's request to be questioned by MPs over data abuse, The Independent reports. Zuckerberg will send one of his senior deputies instead. Damian Collins who leads the digital, culture, media and sport select committee had directly requested Mark Zuckerberg to appear for questioning. Facebook didn't say why the Zuckerberg himself could not appear. Zuckerberg has been criticized for his failure to speak publicly about the allegations of data abuse made in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. He didn't address the controversy at all for a number of days, and eventually did so with a statement on his site that itself drew criticism from users. "Facebook fully recognises the level of public and Parliamentary interest in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position to answer your questions," Facebook said in a letter to Collins. "As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence to the Committee." English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Exports of 16.3 million USD and investments of 46.8 million USD will be implemented with the support of the Development Foundation of Armenia: the board of trustees of the Development Foundation of Armenia headed by the Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan set the targets of 2018. The new name and corporate style of the Foundation was also approved: from now on the Development Foundation of Armenia will function under the new name Business Armenia, the DFA told Armenpress. This year, Select Armenia comprehensive e-platform will be created with the support of the Asian Development Bank, which will present Armenias investment opportunities and full export potential in its Invest Armenia and Made in Armenia sections. In 2018, the DFA will introduce the Customer Relationship Management system that will enhance the effectiveness of DFA aftercare services for beneficiary companies. Moreover, the DFA Aftercare team will run a Hot Line, enabling faster response to the problems faced by investors and exporters. The eRegulations tool of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will be installed within the frames of a grant program with a budget of 394 000 USD: the tool will be used to classify and publish detailed information on Armenia's investment processes that will allow to identify the impediments to their implementation. The Fundraising team successfully completed financial negotiations to introduce the given platform and systems. The board of trustees of Business Armenia also approved the results of 2017. With the support of the Development Foundation of Armenia, in the past year, 75 Armenian companies attended 11 international exhibitions, established new business ties, as well as signed export contracts with a record total value of 5 billion 391 million AMD. This result is twice more than last years indicator, and as a result of each dram spent, the Foundation attracted more than 23 drams. Another 317 million AMD transactions were concluded as a result of 12 business forums organized with the support of the DFA. Throughout the year, the memorandums of 15.5 million USD investments were signed and reinvestments of 3 million USD were made in Armenia through the efforts of the DFA. In 2017, the Development Foundation of Armenia underwent structural reforms: The Tourism component was subtracted from the scope of DFA work, turning it into a predominantly business-oriented structure. The member companies of the newly established Business Support Club will provide consulting services with no charge or at lower rates to producers and investors for a period from 2 months to termless. Dozens of companies have already taken advantages of logistic, legal, accounting, tax and business consulting services, and one new company with a foreign capital was registered. The DFA Aftercare team developed the database of 300 FDI companies, identified and solved 10 problems faced by the business community. The DFA hosted 19 business missions and carried out 3 outreach missions to Lebanon, Great Britain, and the USA. The Foundation received business delegations from Iran, Lithuania, India, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, Russia, France. The DFA has created a network of representatives and today, through its 35 official representatives in 25 countries of the world, Business Armenia speaks with Businesses about Armenia in 16 languages. YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Many citizens of Armenia laid flowers and toys outside the Russian Embassy in Yerevan for the memory of the victims of the shopping mall fire in the Russian city of Kemerovo, reports Armenpress. The flowers were laid outside the Embassy with the following note: Kemerovo, we are with you. The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in Kemerovo erupted on March 25 on the top floor of the four-story building. According to the latest information, the fire has claimed the lives of 64 people, including 41 children. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kemerovo to pay tribute to the memory of the fire victims. Putin said criminal negligence and carelessness are among the causes of the fire and tasked the respective structures to give a legal assessment to the incident. Putin also visited the injured people. Armenias President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Parliament sent condolence letters to their counterparts on this tragedy. Photos by Eduard Sepetchyan English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Michael Forbes, the newly appointed Ambassador of Ireland to Armenia (residence in Sofia), presented his credentials to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on March 27, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The President congratulated the Ambassador on assuming his post and wished success in conducting a diplomatic mission in Armenia, expressing hope that Ambassador Forbes will spare no efforts to boost the Armenian-Irish political dialogue, expand the cooperation aimed at fully revealing the existing potential in the bilateral relations. In terms of development of relations between Armenia and Ireland, President Sargsyan attached importance to the high-level mutual visits, intensification of inter-parliamentary ties and improvement of legal framework. The President emphasized that the two countries successfully cooperate in international structures and added that this mutual partnership should continue and further intensify. Ambassador Michael Forbes thanked the President for the reception and said the directions as stated by the President aimed at developing the cooperation are among his activity priorities, and his mission goal is to promote the bilateral relations and boost the political dialogue in order to be able to discuss issues of bilateral interest in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust. He also praised Armenias and Irelands productive cooperation in international structures, such as the OSCE, UN, and noted that in addition to a number of fields, the Armenian-Irish inter-parliamentary ties, the cooperation within the EU can successfully develop taking into account Armenias partnership agreement signed recently with the EU. Photo by Felix Arustamyan English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ambassador to Poland Edgar Ghazaryan on March 26 met with foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress. During the meeting a wide range of issues relating to the Armenian-Polish bilateral political, commercial and cultural ties were discussed. Both sides attached importance to the development of cooperation and dialogue through the organization of high-level mutual visits. The officials also touched upon the Armenia-EU mutual partnership and its prospects. As for the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Ghazaryan presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries aimed at creating respective conditions for moving forward the peaceful settlement process. The officials also exchanged views on the Armenian community of Poland, the important role of Armenians in the history of Poland, as well as the key events held during 2017 on the sidelines of the 650th anniversary of formation of the Armenian community in Poland. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally ordered to organize protests in Germany in connection with the adoption of the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution by the Bundestag in June 2016, Ahval news agency reported, the German Der Spiegel said. A phone call recorded by the German Police reveals how Erdogan calls ruling Justice and Development Partys lawmaker Metin Kulunk on June 1 (day before the adoption of the Bundestag resolution), who was in Berlin at that time and was engaged in organization of protests. Der Spiegel published the transcript of one of the phone calls recorded by the Police of the German state of Hesse which allows to suppose that Erdogan was personally heading the protests. The Hesse Police record how Erdogan calls Kulunk on June 1, 2016 at 23:30. How are you Mr. President?, Kulunk asked, and then reported about the protests against the resolution that was being debated in Berlin. I wait for your orders, the MP said. In response Erdogan said he will contact Kulunk later and wished him good night. According to Der Spiegel, the content of the phone conversation shocked the Hesse Police who revealed how Ankara attaches such a great importance to the Armenian Genocide resolution and the protests against its adoption, that even that countrys president is interested in this matter. Der Spiegel writes that at the moment investigation is underway to find out Kulunks links with Turkeys secret services after the reports in 2017 according to which the MP provided funds to the Osmanen Germania Turkish-German nationalist group. According to the reports, the funds were used for purchasing ammunition against the Kurdish groups. The German Bundestag adopted the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution on June 2, 2016 which is entitled "Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916". Only one MP voted against the adoption, and one abstained. Speakers were unanimously stressing the need of facing the past, also for contributing the reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. The Bundestag voiced the crime of the Ottoman Turkey, and stressed this step is neither an accusation nor a claim, but a tribute to the memory of the victims. After the adoption of the resolution nearly 1000 Turks launched protests in Berlin. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. The visit of the minister of Luxembourg to Armenia is a good chance to continue discussions over a wide circle of bilateral agenda issues and international and regional issues of mutual interest, Armenias minister of foreign affairs Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press conference with Luxembourgs Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn in Yerevan. Today, the President of [Armenia] will receive the foreign minister of Luxembourg. As part of the visit, Mr. Asselborn will also meet with the President-elect, and deliver a lecture in the Diplomatic School of the ministry of foreign affairs. We will be present with the FM of Luxembourg at the inauguration of the office of the Honorary Consulate of Luxembourg in Armenia. This, I hope, will be our first step in the direction of ensuring Luxembourgs permanent presence in our country, Edward Nalbandian said, adding that the meeting with the minister addressed the development of bilateral ties. In this context, the Armenian FM attached importance to Luxembourgs great experience in the banking, financial and insurance sectors and mentioned that the organization of business forums will be important for boosting bilateral commercial relations. Issues related to the expansion of the legal-contractual field, holding regular consultations between the foreign ministries, strengthening partnership in the international arena namely within the framework of UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe were in the agenda of our meeting. Both sides also underscored the importance of partnership within the framework of the International Organization of La Francophonie. In this context I would like to thank Luxembourg and personally Mr. Asselborn for unconditional and principled support for the initiative of organizing the 17th La Francophonie summit in Armenia, which it also displayed during the previous summit in Antananarivo. Naturally we touched upon the preparation work of the summit. Let me say that today we will also have a chance to continue our talks during a luncheon and in the evening. Naturally we discussed issues related to the Armenia-EU cooperation with the foreign minister of Luxembourg, a founding member of the European Union, we addressed the opportunities which the Comprehensive and Expanded Partnership Agreement enables, Nalbandian said, adding that the Luxembourg FM was also briefed on the joint efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries for the exclusively peaceful solution of the NK conflict. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. The opening ceremony of the Consulate of Luxembourg in Yerevan was held on March 27, reports Armenpress. The Consulate will become an important center for cooperation of the two countries in Armenia. The opening of the Consulate has been carried out by Luxembourgs minister of foreign and European affairs Jean Asselborn and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian. Luxembourgs honorary consul is Suren Zohrabyan. The opening ceremony was attended by Armenian MP, head of Armenia-Luxembourg parliamentary friendship group Karine Achemyan. Our mission is very clear: we will try to further develop the ties between Armenia and Luxembourg in different spheres banking, business, youth exchange programs, and for this purpose the Chamber of Commerce of Luxembourg and Armenia is being created. You know Europeans are not so much aware of Armenia: the picture is different by TV, internet, but when they visit Armenia, they are surprised. Luxembourg is the heart of Europe, and there is a great potential to develop cooperation with this country in the field of tourism, the consul said, adding that Armenia can propose Luxembourg what it proposes to the other countries. He informed that Luxembourg is one of the countries in the world with the highest GDP, Russia is the third country making the greatest investments in Luxembourg. Thanks God, the agreement between Armenia and the European Union was signed which will also contribute to bringing investments, Suren Zohrabyan said. Luxembourgs FM Jean Asselborn said he returned to Armenia with a great pleasure. Armenia is a country that is important for the European countries and for Luxembourg as well, he said, adding that he had a meeting with Armenias top leadership during which issues relating to the bilateral cooperation were discussed. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Directorate of Training and Technical Education (DTTE) to create skilled workforce in the country. The DTTE is Delhi governments nodal body for providing technical manpower. Honda and DTTE will now collaborate to provide industry specific job oriented education to students of two Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Delhi at Jaffarpur and Nand Nagri. On completion of training, the company will also provide recruitment opportunities to candidates at Honda 2Wheelers India dealerships. Checkout the recently launched 2018 Honda CBR 250R in India! Speaking on MoU signing with DTTE, Mr. Prabhu Nagraj, Vice President Customer Service, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, Indian automotive industrys contribution to GDP is set to almost double by 2026. Industry needs to contribute in generating skilled manpower to realize this growth. With Hondas MoU with DTTE, students can now have more industry relevant skills and increase their employability chances. Contributing to further boost the industry, Honda 2Wheelers will be collaborating with more ITIs in India in the next financial year. Under the MoU, Honda 2Wheelers India will provide units of Indias largest selling two-wheeler, Activa and CB Shine, Indias bestselling 125cc motorcycle. Additionally, Honda is investing fully functional service workshops with tools in the two ITIs. The benefit of this MoU is to empower youth with industry relevant infrastructure and quality skills. Since 2016, Honda is actively working to support education of students on an industry focused curriculum. Honda has so far trained more than 3,000 technicians across India at its 5 existing Honda Technical Centres of Excellence. These centres are located in Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Bangalore and Karnal. CYBERSPACEThe day after her 60 Minutes interview in which she discussed details of her sexual encounter with Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels and her attorney, Michael Avenatti, filed a new complaint accusing Trumps personal attorney Michael Cohen of defamation, according to a report by the Washington Post. Also on Monday, Avenatti revealed an email sent on February 22 from Cohen to Daniels prior attorney Keith Davidson. In that email, Cohen instructed Avenatti not to share any details of the case with any other lawyerwhich Avenatti says was an attempt to keep him off of Daniels legal team. In the interview, Daniels recounted an incident in 2006 in which she days she had sexual intercourse with Trump, an incident whichthough Trump himself has neither publicly confirmed or deniedhas been denied by Trumps White House spokespersons. "The president strongly, clearly and consistently has denied these underlying claims, and the only person who has been inconsistent is the one making the claims," spokesperson Raj Shah said on Monday. However, even the spokespersons denials have been phrased only in general terms, and not directed at the specific details of any of Danielss allegations. But by denying that the affair ever too place, Cohen has defamed Daniels, according to Mondays court filings. Also, while Daniels original lawsuit claimed that the non-disclosure agreement she signed with Cohen regarding the affair, in exchange for a $130,000 hush money payment, is not valid because Trump himself failed to sign the deal, the new fling adds additional reasons for invalidating the contract. The new filing claims that the $130,000 payment made by Cohen to Daniels was explicitly intended to influence the 2016 presidential election and therefore is not an enforceable contract. The payment was made less than two weeks prior to the election. Trump and Cohen have filed a counter-claim saying that the case with Daniels should be decided in private arbitration rather than in court. But the new Daniels filing argues that to keep the case private would in effect be censoring an issue if public policy by suppressing speech on a matter of enormous public concern. To defend against the defamation claim, Cohen would need to present definitive proof that the Daniels-Trump affair never took place. TACOMA, Wash.Charges leveled by a Washington woman against porn icon Ron Jeremy of sexually assaulting her during a September 2017 appearance at Castle Megastore have been dismissed by the Tacoma City Attorney's Office, TMZ reports. As detailed in a story by DailyBeast.com contributor and former adult performer Aurora Snow, accuser Kristin Brodie was working as a "Rock Girl" for local radio station KISW at the time of the alleged assault, and claims Jeremy forcibly touched her crotch and licked her nipple, among other physical trangressions, before a crowd of onlookers while he was signing autographs at the store alongside fellow adult performers Lily LaBeau and Allie Haze. According to TMZ, local police interviewed a number of witnesses from the encounter and reviewed surveillance videos before submitting their report to the city attorney's office, which declined to pursue it, rendering the case closed. Photo of Ron Jeremy from the 2017 AVN House Party by Jeff Koga. A new initiative that transforms coffee shops into adult education centres by night is rolling out in Scotland. As part of the PopUp College project, students can attend Costa Coffee shops after closing to attend a range of night classes. Subjects include video editing and an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) qualification. The initiative partners colleges and independent learning providers with cafe sites such as Costa and Krispy Kreme who open their stores especially for adult learners after hours. Additionally, students can purchase coffee and cake during their class. From next week, City of Glasgow College will take bookings for an English language course at a Costa cafe in St Enoch shopping centre, priced at around 80 for six weeks. Although the colleges manage the process including the teaching staff and programme selection a small fee is paid to PopUp itself to cover marketing and organisation costs. The initiative has already proved popular in England, where over 30 sites have been launched over the last year. Created by former teacher Jason Elsom as a response to government cutbacks in the adult learning budget, the PopUp Colleges aim to provide a convivial and easily accessible learning space for adults looking to pick up new skills. Its about really making people feel relaxed, not sitting in rows of seats in a classroom, like you often find in a classroom environment, said Elsom in an interview with weekly educational publication Tes. Costa initially approached Elsom to help develop its charitable foundation which aims to extend education opportunities wherein he suggested the firm offer space in its shops for classes. Additionally, PopUp College has longer-term plans to bring its set-up to rural communities targeting adult learners who are distant from further education options. We can access probably several thousands or tens of thousands of people who live in rural communities, who first of all wouldnt necessarily consider going to college, but secondly perhaps wouldnt do the half hour each way drive to go to a college, continued Elsom. If the Glasgow offering proves popular, other courses could be set to follow. Grilled cheese subscription business Cheese Posties has launched an express service that allows consumers to send one-off boxes to family and friends. Called Cheese Posties Express, consumers can choose from a selection of 10 flavours to send through the post, which represents a cut down version of its 30-plus menu options. Until now, consumers have only been able to get Cheese Posties via a subscription service, which allowed them to receive a postie every week, fortnight or monthly. Using Cheese Posties Express, for 5.49, recipients will get all the ingredients required, including bread, cheese, butter and any other flavours and fillings required to make the sandwich, as well as a reusable Teflon bag to toast it in. Flavours available via the express service include the Hawaiian, featuring mozzarella, bacon bits and pineapple jam; the Bloody Mary with Red Leicester, tomato sauce and hot sauce; as well as the Chilli Con Queso Monterey Jack, cream cheese and chilli pickle. Weve had a lot of requests, since launching our subscription service, for the opportunity to send individual posties direct to friends, loved ones and even clients, Cheese Posties founding director Dave Rotheroe told British Baker. Until now, it has proven complicated logistically as a small and agile business. However, our recent growth has allowed us to expand. Cheaper than sending almost all other similar gifts, Cheese Posties Express will be a simple and cost-effective way of saying thanks, congratulations or hey, wed like to do business with you. Were really excited about the possibilities it opens up for us and our customers. Rotheroe added that more menu options would be included in the future, as well as seasonal specials and brand partnerships. A vegan option is also in the pipeline. Heres the full list of flavours available via the express service: 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 ideals. RALEIGH Republicans Bob Steinburg and Owen Etheridge will compete in the May 8 primary for the North Carolina House District 1 seat currently held by nine-term Democrat Bill Owens, who isn't seeking re-election this year.The winner of the primary will face Democrat Bill Luton, a member of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Board of Education since 2008, in the general election.House District 1 favors Democrats in voter registration: more than 45 percent, or 25,851, of the district's 57,202 voters are registered Democrats. But many of those voters opt to support Republicans. GOP presidential candidate John McCain carried the district in 2008 easily, and so did incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in 2010.District 1 includes the coastal counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Tyrell.Etheridge, a Shawboro farmer and former Democrat currently serving his fourth 4-year term on the Currituck County Board of Commissioners, told Carolina Journal that he has "always believed in a conservative, limited government role in citizens' lives.""The more government is involved in our lives, the more our way of life, freedoms, and liberties are restricted and stifled, thus the cause for many of the issues we are facing today," Etheridge said. "Government has got to come to its senses and realize it can't be all things to all people, get back to the basics, and live within its means. I cannot believe that the founders ever intended or envisioned the government we have today."He said that, if elected, he would introduce a program he calls "Accessinate," intended to take a top-to-bottom look at all state government programs, regulations, and taxes to determine their effectiveness and efficiency.Etheridge also says that he supports finding new ways to finance transportation and reforming the state public education system. "I don't mean just throw money at it," said Etheridge. "It needs a top-to-bottom review to ensure the educational product we deliver can truly be classified as world class."Etheridge believes economic growth, diversity of economic growth, and job creation are the most important issues facing House District 1. "We must get ... unnecessary state government regulations and taxes off the throat of small business so they can succeed and grow," he said. (A majority of the region's jobs are in retail, construction, and education, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.)During his time on the board, Currituck County commissioners balanced 16 budgets, all without a tax increase (and three years with a decrease), while building three new schools, renovating five, and building a new judicial center, public health department, and other county facilities, according to Etheridge.Steinburg, a retired businessman who lives in Edenton, served three terms as the chairman of the Chowan County Republican Party and three terms as president of the 14-county Albemarle Pamlico Republican County. In 2010, he won his party's nomination for N.C. House District 2, and garnered 45 percent of the general election vote.Until 2010, Steinburg wrote "A Conservative's Viewpoint," a newspaper column that ran in The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City, the Currituck Independent, the Chowan Herald, and the Roanoke Beacon.Steinburg cites unemployment and underemployment as the two most important issues facing District 1. "The lack of decent-paying jobs in our region is creating ever expanding pockets of poverty," Steinburg said. "Exorbitant utility rates and incredulous coastal insurance premiums are placing an unfair burden on the populace while hampering efforts to attract new business."Steinburg believes his lack of political experience gives him an advantage in the race. "Too much government 'experience' by too many career politicians has led to too much government," he said. "Doing what is right for the people you represent does not require many years of government experience, but rather the willingness to do one's best with the skills and experience God has bestowed upon you."While the legislature has made "great strides over the last 16 months to get our fiscal house in order," Steinburg said that state legislators need to rein in spending -- not with draconian cuts, but by more efficiently managing tax revenue.Steinburg added that, if elected, he would fight to reduce the size and scope of government spending and taxes."We cannot continue, as government has done for too long, encumbering current and future generations of our citizens with mountains of debt due to fiscal irresponsibility," Steinburg said. "To do so is not only inexcusably reckless, but immoral."Both candidates told CJ that they support the proposed constitutional amendment barring the state from recognizing any union other than marriage between a man and a woman. This resource is no longer available This resource is no longer available. Return to previous page. Apple doesn't give a shit about your child's education. But then, neither does any other tech company: they only care about what they can sell to schools and parents. This likely isn't news to anyone reading this, but I feel like it needs to be said. This morning Apple held an education-centric event at a high school in Chicago. They released a new iPad. With the exception of a processor bump and the fact that it supports Apple Pencil, it's very much like the last iteration of the iPad. They're selling it for $329 or, if you're a student or educator, it can be had for $299. Need an Apple Pencil? That'll be an additional $99. Let me reframe this for you: One of the most lucrative companies in the world thinks it's a grand gesture to knock $30 off the price of their hardware for anyone involved in book learnin'. But, if they want to make full use of the iPad's capabilities, it'll cost them another $99 to do so. This, at a time when when parents are running crowdsourcing campaigns for classroom supplies and to keep schools heated during the cold months of the year. The real reason that they've shaved a sliver of fat off their pricing is because they're getting bled to death in the education sector by companies churning out less expensive Chrome OS hardware. Google's Chrome OS might not be able to boast the wide assortment of quality apps that an iOS device does, but the operating system doesn't need high-end specs to run on. Cheaper hardware makes for more compelling shopping for schools to buy hardware on a tight budget. It's possible to fill a classroom with Chrome OS devices for a fraction of what it'd cost to get up and running with Apple slabs. Hell, you can even throw an iteration of Chrome OS on to old PC hardware and breath new life into an aging school computer lab. This scares the shit out of Apple's money people. As they see it, other companies are drinking their milkshake. But they just can't bring themselves to allow a dip in their bottom line that'd be low enough to make the cost of adopting their hardware accessible to school boards or families who don't have the privilege of being able to afford premium computing hardware. It's a shame: Apple and the software developers who choose to work on their platforms make wonderful educational software. As many children have grown up with tapping and swiping away at their parent's smartphones and tablets, using it in the classroom would be second nature. By the time this post goes live, Apple's education event will have been over for some time. The Internet will likely be full of lauding stories from tech outlets about how much Apple is re-investing in education. But I don't feel it's the case. I've been using Apple computers for close to 20 years and I've reported on the company's products for a number of major outlets for close to a decade: Apple doesn't care about educating kids. They care about maintaining Scrooge McDuck-levels of cash in their coffers just like any other business. Don't buy into the hype. Image via pixabay After close to a decade of preparation, University of Victoria is preparing a law program that will incorporate the laws, customs and traditions of indigenous cultures from around Canada with a traditional legal education. It's an important step towards reconciliation between Canada's mainstream and the native communities in our country that the government has marginalized and brutalized up until very recent times. This isn't the University of Victoria's first indigenous law rodeo, either. According to the Globe and Mail, the institution ran a law school in Canada's far north between 2001 and 2005. The school, called Akitsiraq, featured heavily on Inuit law and tradition. This inclusion of the laws and customs of Canada's indigenous people in a law school's curriculum is a big deal. Canada's white establishment (of which I include myself in) is used to seeing its legal show ran on a framework of laws and traditions that feature heavily on our British colonial legacy. Currently, Canadian lawyers are only trained to interpret and operate within this framework. By throwing the laws and views of Canada's indigenous nations into the mix, a new, truly Canadian legal system could form one that gives all of the nation's citizens a fair shake. From the Globe and Mail: Up to 25 students are expected to begin in September, pending approval of the program by B.C.'s Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. Tuition and fees will be just under $11,000 a year, the same as at the school's common-law program. The first-year curriculum includes courses in constitutional, criminal and property law. In their third and fourth years, students will spend a full term in Indigenous communities, studying a particular legal order and working on law-related projects. While the university is doing the work to ensure that the next crop of Canadian lawyers will be ready, there's no guarantee that the Canadian government will do anything to further the inclusion of the laws of Canada's First Nations into its legal system. But a first step is definitely better than no steps at all. Image via pxhere As a child in 1942, Mireille Knoll escaped the capture of Jews by police in occupied France during The Velodrome d'Hiver roundup. The majority of those arrested during the roundup were sent to Auschwitz, where they were killed. Her evasion of France's Nazi puppet police force during the second world war allowed her to survive the horrors of the Holocaust, unlike so many of her neighbors and relations. But she couldn't escape racism. Her time on earth came to an end this past week after she was stabbed 11 times and left to die in her burning apartment, in Paris, France. She was 85 years old. According to the The Washington Post, Knoll's murder has French journalists and Jewish advocacy groups concerned that, given the area and brutality in which her life was ended, there could be reasonable grounds for the murder to be considered a hate crime. As in North America, Anti-Semitic hate crimes have been on the rise in France. In the past year, bigots and fascists who were once too afraid to show their hate in public have made their way into the mainstream, emboldened by the politics of our times. From the Washington Post: Jewish advocacy groups were quick to put the case within the context of rising anti-Semitism in France and to point out the similarities to another high-profile case being investigated as anti-Semitic: the April 2017 killing of Sarah Halimi, a 66-year-old Orthodox Jewish physician and kindergarten teacher who was beaten in her apartment and then thrown out a window. Authorities suspect a Muslim neighbor. "This was the same Paris arrondissement, several streets apart," said Noemie Halioua, a French journalist with Actualite Juive and the author of a new book on the Halimi case. "And both victims were elderly women who lived alone and who had both previously complained of threats." Given that both women were Jewish, living in the same neighborhood and were dispatched under similar circumstances, calling it a hate crime seems like a safe gamble to make. For their part, over the past couple of days French authorities have moved from entertaining the idea that Knoll's murder could have been a hate crime, to investigating it as an anti-Semitic attack. Cases such as the murders of Halimi and Knoll are why it's important to ensure that racism is never normalized. Acceptance of hate speech has a way of leading to hate crimes. Bigotry should never be tolerated. Image via pixabay The Aral Sea is one of the worst human-authored environmental disasters in history. It used to be the world's fourth-largest freshwater lake, until the Soviet Union in the 1960s diverted its two main river-sources for cotton production. In three decades the sea shrank to barely 10% of its former size, splitting into two much-smaller bodies, the North and South Aral seas. That's terrible on its own, but the shrinking water produced a huge spike in salinity which killed off nearly all the fish. The Aral Sea used to support a thriving fishing industry, but that evaporated with the water, destroying the lives of untold people in the USSR. (And stranding ships, as in the photo above.) In recent years, though, the story became more positive as intelligent engineering and planning has helped to mend things somewhat. As National Geographic reports But Kazakhstan's North Aral Sea has seen a happier outcome, thanks to a nearly $86 million project financed in large part by the World Bank. Along with repairs to existing dikes around the basin to prevent spillage, an eight-mile dam was constructed just south of the Syr Darya River. Completed in the summer of 2005, this dam, named Kokaral, surpassed all expectations. It led to an 11-foot increase in water levels after just seven monthsa goal that scientists initially expected would take three years. This turnaround in the North Aral Sea's fate has meant that the fish stocks have returned to its waters, injecting new life into the local communities. Just as government policies had doomed the Aral Sea, careful planning and research helped revive at least part of it. Kristopher White, a researcher and professor of Almaty's KIMEP University who has studied the economic impacts of the Aral Sea's desiccation, explained that while the sea will never return to its former size, the 18 percent increase in mass of the North Aral Sea is a testament to how political will and scientific research can benefit the environment. "Anthropogenic ecological damage can be reversed by human intervention," said White. Given the manifold ecological messes we've created, I'll take any good news I can get about amelioration! (CC-licensed photo via Martijn Munneke) Since 2016, when an FBI agent first used a dead suspect's finger to unlock his phone, police forces across the USA have made a routine practice of unlocking phones using suspects and victims' dead fingers, saving big on buying cyberwar tools like Cellebrite's $1500-$3000 unlocker, or Grayshift's $30k/year Graykey. There's precedent for this on both sides of the law. When car-makers started rolling out fingerprint locks for their ignition systems, carjackers started cutting off their victims' fingers. The next step in this arms race is likely cops using dead peoples' faces to unlock phones. And it's entirely legal for police to use the technique, even if there might be some ethical quandaries to consider. Marina Medvin, owner of Medvin Law, said that once a person is deceased, they no longer have a privacy interest in their dead body. That means they no longer have standing in court to assert privacy rights. Relatives or other interested parties have little chance of stopping cops using fingerprints or other body parts to access smartphones too. "Once you share information with someone, you lose control over how that information is protected and used. You cannot assert your privacy rights when your friend's phone is searched and the police see the messages that you sent to your friend. Same goes for sharing information with the deceased after you released information to the deceased, you have lost control of privacy," Medvin added. Police know it too. "We do not need a search warrant to get into a victim's phone, unless it's shared owned," said Ohio police homicide detective Robert Cutshall, who worked on the Artan case. In previous cases detailed by Forbes police have required warrants to use the fingerprints of the living on their iPhones. Yes, Cops Are Now Opening iPhones With Dead People's Fingerprints [Thomas Fox-Brewster/Forbes] (via /.) (Image: hairyeggg, CC-BY-SA) Mark Zuckerberg has responded to the summons from the Mother of All Parliaments to explain the way that Cambridge Analytica was able to plunder his company's databanks: he's told them to go fuck themselves. Instead, Zuckerberg whose company has substantial onshore assets in the UK, turning over nearly 1B/year, and paying only 5.1m in taxes will send some flunkies to receive a ritual drubbing from MPs while he sits upon his throne wrought from the kompromat of the world's billions, counting his riches. (Image: Maurice, CC-BY) Surprise! Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry declined to criminally charge the two white Baton Rouge police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, in July 2016 outside a convenience store, according to Sterling's family. Veda Washington-Abusaleh, Sterling's aunt, confirmed that Landry will announce Tuesday he will not charge the officers. The family met with Landry at his office ahead of a 10 a.m. news conference to announce his decision. Landry's holding a press conference right now; the thrust of his excuses are as follows: because Sterling was resisting arrest, the cop experienced subjective fear, and someone said there might be a gun, it was ok to "incapacitate Mr. Sterling" by shooting him in the back while pinned on the ground. (Video later proved that Sterling didn't reach for the concealed gun he owned) Key facts: If they're afraid, they can kill you. If you resist arrest, they can kill you. If someone says there's a gun, they can kill you. Guns are for whites. News / National by Staff reporter A state-sanctioned investigation into a massive ivory and rhino horn trafficking scandal that prejudiced the foreign currency-starved nation of millions of United State dollars has sucked in former first lady Grace Mugabe.Environment, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri sensationally claimed Grace would occasionally ivory raid the country's ivory stockpile kept at the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).The raids, according to Muchinguri-Kashiri, worsened when the Environment component of the ministry was assigned to former minister Edgar Mbwembwe, weeks before the fall of Grace's husband, Robert Mugabe. News / National by Staff reporter At least 16 inmates escaped the hang man's noose when their death penalties were commuted to life after President Mnangagwa pardoned thousands of prisoners across the country in a bid to decongest prisons.There were 101 inmates on death row countrywide.Speaking at Harare Central Prison where 173 inmates were being released Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Banda said some inmates who had served over 10 years and were on death row had their sentences reduced to life.Those who benefited were juveniles, prisoners sentenced to 36 months and those over the age of 60 years. News / National by Stephen Jakes A political commentator Pedzisai Ruhanya has warned the opposition parties to blend their rallies with streets campaign in order to win voters from ward level to national level."Upon my arrival in Zimbabwe and being on the ground (as the activists often say) and 24 of observation it appears this far the opposition is organising and mobilising through big rallies while ZANU-PF combines public rallies with cell, party structures, street, community and ward structures based on the new ward based voting system,|" He said."The opposition need to blend rallies with street by street, ward by ward, village by village, community to community using committed volunteers. The Zaka villager thinks that ZANU-PF uses the cell based methods for subtle and personalised fear using soldiers and war vets beyond the scrutiny of observes, the media and the world."He said its a methodological and stratagem game that the opposition should effectively counter to liberate electorate from ZANU-PF intimidation and control through harvest of fear.MDC Alliance has since started rallies across the country in which they are propping up MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa as their presidential candidate. News / National by Patson Dzamara On March 9, 2015, my brother Itai Dzamara was abducted by unknown men while getting a shave in Glen View 7.A report was made to the police on that particular day. Surprisingly, the police was reluctant to take action regarding the abduction until we took them to the high court where they were ordered to investigate the abduction and to search for Itai. Their absurd and of course indecorous excuse was that Itai's abduction had political implications and there was nothing they could do.In compliance with the court order, an investigation team was set up. It comprised of representatives from all security arms, our lawyers and myself representing the Dzamara family. This team was headed by the then CID head, Assistant Commissioner Makedenge.The purported investigations did not yield anything. It was just a mere facade meant to placate us and to conform to the court order. Constantly, I registered my displeasure over the investigations because the security agencies persistently prevaricated and equivocated. It was a smoke screen.I was shocked yesterday to learn about the statement by ZRP asking for help to find Itai Dzamara 3 years after his abduction. It is over a year since the last time there was an engagement between us and ZRP.How they are trying to trivialise this matter in order to present a reformed face is not only repugnant, its preposterous. It's not only nonsensical but diabolic for the people who abducted my brother to be asking Zimbabweans to assist them with answers.From the onset, I never minced my words regarding who abducted Itai. That satanic act was executed by the military intelligence under the oversight of ZANU-PF. Not only that, up until now, these are the same people who have egregiously stonewalled me (us) every time I (we) tried to engage them about this issue.We tried to engage Mugabe and his government to no avail. From the time Mnangagwa snatched power from Mugabe, I wrote him two letters seeking for a platform to engage. Not once did I get a response.In fact, for me to be alive its God's grace. They even tried to kill me for merely demanding answers about what they did to my brother.Desperate to win the hearts of Zimbabweans as we stare at a potentially explosive election, 3 years down the line they are pretending to be concerned about Itai Dzamara. That's an unamusing joke and they are merely exposing how morbid they are.We are not going to be fooled, neither are we going to fold our arms until this matter is resolved. They must bring back Itai to us, dead or alive.On behalf of my family, I thank everyone who stood with us during the past 3 years. At the same time, I wish to state the undeniable fact that no one is affected by Itai's abduction and missing more than us, his family. We want answers and closure more than anyone.As such, when we assume certain positions, in most cases based on what we would have gotten to know, that must be respected. We have no intention whatsoever of impeding any process which will lead to Itai being brought back to us in any form. Until Itai is brought back to us, dead or alive, all stones will be turned.Mnangagwa and his government must stop playing to the gallery and engaging in cheap politicking. They must engage us in good faith for this matter to be resolved. For as long as this matter and many other similar cases are not resolved, they must kiss goodbye any hope of winning an election they may be entertaining. Zimbabweans are not fools and they will judge them harshly through the ballot box.To date, over 5000 Zimbabweans have been abducted on political grounds since 1980. The reason why Itai's issue didn't die down is because I (we) fought hard. If ZANU-PF thinks they can play politics using this matter they haven't seen anything yet. We are prepared to fight even with our Iives for justice to prevail.This issue must be resolved expeditiously.Bring Back Itai Dzamara #BBID News / National by Simbarashe Sithole A 26-year-old Mbire polygamist was arrested on Sunday for possessing an elephant tusk and a fake wooden ivory.James Shereni from Humbasha village under Chief Chitsungo in Mbire was trapped and arrested by members of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife who purported as buyers.Quizzed on why he committed a serious crime with a mandatory sentence of no less than nine years, Shereni said his family is too big since he has three wives and six children hence he tried poaching as it gives huge sums of money if you succeed.Meanwhile, cases of poaching are on the increase in Mbire despite serious raids by the responsible authorities. News / National by Simbarashe Sithole The District Schools Inspector (DSI) Mazowe District has been hauled to Guruve magistrate court on three counts of fraud with his two accountants.The public prosecutor Albert Mazhindu told the court that the DSI Godfrey Chari (55) together with two accountants Maxwel Chigede and Oscar Machipisa allegedly duped the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education undisclosed cash from the period of February 2015 to 26 May 2016.The trio were stationed at Mbire Ministry of Education District offices when the alleged crime was committed.Chigede has since resigned from the Ministry and Machipisa is on suspension pending finalisation of the case.Speaking to Bulawayo24.com Chari tried to exonerate himself from the crime saying he just approved payments without much checking."I was also misinformed on the payments l approved l did not know that the accountants defraud the Ministry so we wait for the courts to finalise," said Chari.Apparently the case came to light when Chari was transferred from Mbire to Mazowe and was replaced by Michael Mubatapasango who informed the province on the documents of Mbire. News / National by Stephen Jakes The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has completed and released a report on a complaint against Zanu PF raised by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ).The union filed a complaint in July 2017 raising allegations that Zanu PF was abusing school properties and children forcing them to attend rallies.ARTUZ said it will share more details on the report soon. News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the current crop of political leaders in Africa now need to shift focus from political nationalism to economic nationalism and the integration of economies in order to develop their respective countries.President Mnangagwa and his Ivorian counterpart President Alassane Quattara held bilateral talks at the Presidential Palace today.The closed-door meeting took close to an hour.President Mnangagwa said he hesitated to accept the invitation to attend the Africa CEO Forum but it has turned out to be a very valuable learning curve which has afforded the Zimbabwean delegation to interact with leaders from business, industry and commerce.African countries owe their independence to the wave of political nationalism advanced by Africa's founding fathers but now focus should shift to economic nationalism.Ivorian president Mr Quattara who gave his address in French thanked President Mnangagwa for accepting the invitation and the enthusiasm that he is showing to transform the lives of Zimbabweans in particular and Africans in general.He also commended the Zimbabwean leader for according the former president Mugabe the honour that he deserves as a founding father.The world is watching with a keen interest developments in Zimbabwe as the country prepares for elections slated for July this year, and the political reforms being implemented by President Mnangagwa's administration are commendable said Mr Quattara.President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Retired Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Special Advisor to the President Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Senegal Trudy Stevenson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba and some senior government officials.The Ivorian president also had members of his government in attendance.President Mnangagwa is also scheduled to participate in a presidential panel which will mark the closing of the forum.The panel to be held under the title, "When Leaders Make History" will have President Mnangagwa and former president of Nigeria Mr Olusegun Obasanjo.The President will also hold an interactive meeting with members of the Zimbabwean diaspora living in Cote d'Ivoire. News / National by Prosperity Mzila Little by little, Nelson Chamisa is exhibiting traits of a dictator, he is imposing conditions on the MDC-T party and its members, making unilateral decisions and going back on his word, one too many times.If this is left to continue, Chamisa will soon turn the MDC-T into his own chase board where he will be calling the shots without counsel from other MDC-T leaders. He has reneged on all the window dressing promises he made to the party's National Council. Despite his promises to uphold the late Morgan Tsvangirai's party principles, his true colours are slowly emerging.MDC-T Members of Parliament are up in arms against Chamisa for causing disharmony in the party by going against his initial word that he will give a blank cheque to the sitting MDC-T Members of Parliament (MP). Chamisa has sent out a circular to both aspiring and sitting MPs advising them of the new criteria for one to be considered for the primary elections. Sitting MPs are required to submit detailed copies of their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a non-refundable fee of US$1000, whilst non-Members of Parliament are required to submit their CV and US$100.The MPs are flabbergasted by Chamisa's actions with most of them claiming to expose his double standards. The MPs are angry that Chamisa is backtracking on his initial promise which he gave while trying to gunner support to grab power from Thokozani Khupe. The issue is that Chamisa is trying to pave way for his friends from the Alliance in MDC-T strongholds and the US$1000 is a prohibitive amount meant to eliminate some MPs if they fail to pay. Word has it that he is aware of some MPs that will not be able to afford the amount and as such, will be eliminated from the pool of candidates, hence creating constituencies for his 'friends'.However, MDC-T Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, James Gumbi has declared that he will choose candidates of his choice and Chamisa will not be able to stop him. Gumbi claims that he is responsible for influencing Tsvangirai to appoint Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri to vice presidency. He credits himself because of the part he played and has declared Chamisa powerless against his decisions. One wonders what skeletons Gumbi has discovered in Chamisa's cupboard.It should also be noted that Chamisa has backtracked on every promise he has made, a poor attribute for a leader. This makes him a liability to the party and to the people. It would appear Chamisa has become a dictator in the making and that is a very scary and frightening thought indeed. Imagine a leader that changes his principles overnight, such a leader is bound to change the Constitution to ensure that he stays in power for more than the stipulated two terms. If the MDC-T/Alliance is not careful, soon they will be staring straight in the face of a dictator. Opinion / Columnist It is worrisome that the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) recently claimed that it was concerned with the 'unusual' higher numbers of registered voters in alleged Zanu-PF's stronghold.ZESN has been known for decampaigning the ruling Government and its programmes that have anything to do with elections. Its argument that there are unusually increased numbers of voters who registered in Zanu-PF strongholds does not hold water. ZESN is bent on damaging the credibility of the electoral process and is attempting to create a wrong impression that a plan to rig the forthcoming elections is in the offing.The report that ZESN got from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) depicts that most people who registered to vote are from the rural areas and high density suburbs such as Harare South and Epworth. Quoted in the NewsDay of 27 March 2018, ZESN said, "Of concern to Zesn are the higher numbers of registered voters in Goromonzi South with 65 539, Epworth 63 961, Dangamvura-Chikanga 58 000 and Harare South 60 270 constituencies...."Honestly, there is no harm for such increased numbers of registered voters in those areas. If Zanu-PF managed to mobilise its members to go and register to vote, what stopped other political parties to do the same in areas that they believe are their strongholds. It is the duty of political party leaders, the civil society and ZEC to intensify voter education and persuading members of different political parties to register to vote. In that vein, ZESN should not complain about the increased numbers of voters in some areas against other places.From the look of things, ZESN seems to be campaigning on behalf of the opposition, MDC-T. That Non-Governmental Organisation is fighting hard from the corner of MDC-T at the expense of other opposition political parties. ZESN's mandate of attempting to portray Zanu-PF as a deceitful party that is not transparent is being exposed through such unreasonable claims.Likewise, ZESN once released a press statement raising concerns over the introduction of proof of residence requirements for voter registration by ZEC saying the move was stringent and it excluded a significant number of voters.ZESN's efforts to taint the image of Zanu-PF could signify how that NGO is singing for its supper. When it's election period, uncouth NGOs try by all means to pursue their nefarious agendas. It is known that most NGOs operating in the country are clandestinely spearheading regime change, hence they want to be seen doing something by their donors. No wonder why most NGOs have a propensity of sending a wrong picture about the Government to the outside world. The world is made to wrongly believe that the ruling Government is wicked through such biased reports.If statistics from ZEC say Zanu-PF strongholds recorded highest number of registered voters, it should then explain the reason why the ruling party has always been winning elections in the past years. It is imperative for all political parties to realize and appreciate that what really matters is the number of registered voters and not the high number of crowds that attend rallies. Nevertheless, it is saddening that most politicians lack political foresight. Many a time, political party leaders blame each other for rigging elections in the event that one party loses.Therefore, ZESN should just wake up and start smelling the coffee. The revolutionary party should continue persuading its members to register to vote before the closing date. On the other hand, if ZESN is supporting MDC-T, it should encourage its members to register as voters rather than tainting images of other political parties. The presidential memorandum signed by Donald Trump on March 22 targeted over $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. The threat of a trade war shook markets and resulted in a global rout that lasted until the end of last week. U.S. indexes rebounded on March 26, but the threat of retaliatory measures from China remains. Reports indicate that China is mulling 15% tariffs on U.S. wine and other products, and a 25% tariff on pork products and recycled aluminum. The tariffs would open up markets to European and possibly Canadian producers going forward. Today well look at two Canadian companies that could move into the massive Chinese market as trade tensions heat up. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSX:MFI) is a Mississauga-based producer of food products. Maple Leaf stock has dropped 13.3% in 2018 as of close on March 26. Shares are down 2.8% year over year. The stock also offers a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, thereby representing a 1.4% dividend yield. In 2017, China consumed approximately 74 million tonnes of pork, beef, and poultry. Over half of that is pork consumption, demand for which has flattened somewhat in recent years, but remains very high. Like its counterparts in Europe and North America, China has pushed for more nutritional balance that advocates for a reduction in fat, salt, and sugar consumption. However, analysts expect pork demand to increase into the 2020s. Maple Leaf posted total sales of $3.52 billion in 2017, which represented a 5.7% increase from 2016. Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to $381.1 million. Growth in the U.S. and its plant protein segment was actually offset by lower numbers in its pork processing. If tariffs are implemented, we will see intense competition from European producers, but Maple Leaf could find an opening for more growth in the worlds largest pork market. Andrew Peller Ltd. Andrew Peller Ltd. (TSX:ADW.A) is a Grimsby-based producer, bottler, and marketer of wine and wine-related products. Andrew Peller stock has climbed 17.8% in 2018 thus far and has soared 66% year over year. Wine has become the most preferred alcoholic beverage among millennials, now the largest demographic in the United States and Canada. Story continues Wine consumption trends also show great promise in China. According to Vinexpo, one of the largest exhibitions for wine and spirit professionals, the wine market size in China is expected to reach $23 billion in sales revenue by 2021. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%. Just as in North America, this trend has been powered by the changing consumer habits of younger demographics, who have turned away from spirits and hard liquor. If these growth projections are accurate, China will grow to be the second-largest wine consumer in the world behind the U.S. In its fiscal 2018 third-quarter results, Andrew Peller saw adjusted EBITDA jump 27.5% year over year and sales rise 10.1% from the prior year. California wine makers have pleaded with U.S. officials to resolve the dispute or else risk weakening producers south of the border. If the tariffs are implemented, Andrew Peller could take advantage. More reading Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. As British Columbia grapples with the opioid overdose crisis, doctors working on the front lines are welcoming a move by Ottawa to ease the restrictions on two types of treatment options: methadone and prescription heroin. The federal government is easing restrictions around who can prescribe pharmaceutical heroin, or diacetylmorphine, and how. It also plans to remove a requirement for doctors to seek an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances act to be able to prescribe and administer methadone. "We want a broad variety of treatments, because it does need to be tailored to the individual. So anything that can make these treatments more readily available is good news." said Dr. Patricia Daly. chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health. "Some of the concern within the recent opioid crisis is that there may be physicians not willing to offer treatment, because they didn't have that particular exemption, so this is one less hurdle to get them on one form of treatment," said Daly. B.C. has been at the forefront of Canada's opioid crisis. More than 1,420 people died of illicit-drug overdoses in B.C. in 2017. Fentanyl caused more than 80 per cent of suspected deaths last year. 'It can save lives' There are several treatment options available to those seeking help to manage an addiction to opioids. Daly said doctors' first line of treatment is typically oral medications such as suboxone or methadone. Both are forms of substitution therapy. Diacetylmorphine or medical grade heroin is generally used to treat patients who have not had success with substitution therapy. The only clinic in Canada to offer patients injectable diacetylmorphine is Vancouver's Crosstown Clinic. "There's a small number of folks who will not be retained or attracted into care with anything but an injectable option and that needs to include diacetylmorphine ," said Scott MacDonald, lead physician at the Crosstown Clinic. Story continues "The vast majority of people who are dying are long term opioid users. We need more options. For that small number of folks, it can really change their lives and save lives." Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor also announced Monday $18 million to fund substance abuse and addictions projects and research programs. The projects will explore drug checking in supervised consumption sites to ensure drugs being consumed on site are not tainted, opioid use in pain management and how opioid-related treatment can better address the needs of women. GOP Congressmans Campaign Attacked Emma Gonzalez for Her 'Communist' Clothing at March for Our Lives The Facebook page for a Republican congressman's campaign attacked Emma Gonzalez, a Cuban-American Parkland survivor who has become a poster child for the gun control movement, for wearing a Cuban flag patch on her jacket at Saturday's March for Our Lives demonstration. Representative Steve King of Iowa mocked the 18-year-old for the patch on Sunday, one day after hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C., and worldwide, to protest gun violence. "This is how you look when you claim Cuban heritage yet don't speak Spanish and ignore the fact that your ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp after removing all weapons from its citizens, hence their right to self defense, the @KingforCongress Facebook page wrote in a post that included a photo of Gonzalez on stage on Saturday, her eyes closed and a tear running down her cheek. Gonzalez, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, has emerged as one of the most recognizable faces advocating for gun control after a gunman killed 17 people there in February. Trending: Ohio Republican Candice Keller Blasts Parkland Gun Control Activists As Dorito-Eating Video Gamers The post quickly gained the attention of other mass shooting survivors, like Brandon J. Wolf, who was at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, when a gunman armed with a high-powered military-style rifle, attacked. The Stoneman Douglas shooter also used a military-style weapon. "Are you SERIOUSLY mocking a school shooting survivor for her ethnicity?!" Wolf wrote. "Do you losers have NOTHING else to do anymore? Have you lost the will to govern? Do you need a safe space from these teenagers?" The page responded to Wolf's comment, doubling down. "Pointing out the irony of someone wearing the flag of a communist country while simultaneously calling for gun control isn't 'picking' on anyone. It's calling attention to the truth, but we understand that lefties find that offensive," the post read. Story continues Don't miss: Stormy Daniels '60 Minutes' Interview Nets Higher Ratings Than Trumps Newsweek's calls to King's office went unanswered Monday morning. Gonzalez's father immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1968, according to Univision. She has not publicly shied away from much since the shooting, including her heritage. In an essay published in Harper's Bazaar, Gonzalez wrote: "Im 18 years old, Cuban and bisexual. Im so indecisive that I cant pick a favorite color, and Im allergic to 12 things. I draw, paint, crochet, sew, embroideranything productive I can do with my hands while watching Netflix. "But none of this matters anymore," she said. "What matters is that the majority of American people have become complacent in a senseless injustice that occurs all around them." Most popular: Coffin Birth: Medieval Grave Found With Remains of Baby 'Born' After Mother's Burial King wasn't the first to go after Gonzalez. A GIF posted Friday that originally showed the teen tearing a shooting target bull's-eye in half was doctored to appear that she was tearing up the U.S. Constitution. King has long been a controversial figure and an immigration hard-liner. Last April, he tweeted a photo of a beer and toasted a border patrol for deporting a DACA recipient, part of the group known as the Dreamers. The day before the Parkland shooting, The Des Moines Register published an editorial calling on Iowan Republicans to vote King out in the 2018 primary. "He makes outlandish statements that seem intended to generate controversy, knowing they will provide him with a larger platform from which he can spew even more of his incendiary observations," the paper stated. "Given Kings longstanding record as one of the least effective members of Congress, the GOP should have no difficulty finding a more thoughtful and qualified individual to represent the people of Iowas 4th District." The King campaign's Facebook page promised the Republican wasn't going anywhere soon. "Congressman King will win re-election in a landslide," read the post, which included a smiley-face emoji. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek (Reuters) - Husky Energy Inc is facing a number of provincial and federal charges related to a July 2016 pipeline leak that spilled oil into a river in Western Canada, the country's environmental ministry said on Monday. Environment and Climate Change Canada said it had laid a total of nine charges over the 1,570-barrel leak from Husky's Saskatchewan Gathering System pipeline, which forced a number of cities in the province of Saskatchewan to temporarily stop drawing drinking water from the North Saskatchewan River. The Western Canadian province laid a tenth charge, saying Husky did "unlawfully permit the discharge of a substance to the environment that caused an adverse effect." The charges follow a 19-month joint federal-provincial investigation. The maximum fine under Saskatchewan's environmental rules is C$1 million ($778,938), with the federal laws allowing for fines ranging from C$15,000 to C$1 million. Husky is expected to appear in a Saskatchewan court on Thursday. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ($1 = 1.2838 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver, editing by G Crosse) North Korea blasted the U.S. over a recent report showing it to be by far the world's largest arms exporter, potentially fueling new tensions as supreme leader Kim Jong Un prepares to meet President Donald Trump. A commentary published Monday by official ruling Korean Workers' Party Central Committee newspaper Rodong Sinmun highlighted the findings of a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute study earlier this month. Already leading the world in weapons sales, the U.S. reportedly increased its exports by 25 percent between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 periods, accounting for 34 percent of the world's sales. Related: U.S. War With North Korea and Iran More Likely With John Bolton Running National Security Trending: 'Batman: The Enemy Within' Episode 5 Review: A Tale of Two Jokers "More than 70 years have passed since the end of the world war and scores of years elapsed since the end of the Cold War. But, the danger of war is increasing and another cold war is imminent rather than peace on this planet," the commentary read, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. "It is due to the U.S., the top class war merchant that spawns war and massacre in different parts of the world through large-scale arms sale, going against the desire of mankind for peace and stability," the commentary continued. "The warmonger is not in a position to talk about peace." GettyImages-929484894 JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images For once, peace was exactly what was being discussed on the restive Korean Peninsula, where the Cold War was still very much alive. North Korea and U.S.-backed South Korea have never formally ended a war that killed well over 1 million Koreans and tens of thousands of Chinese and U.S. troops in the early 1950s. After a year of breakthroughs for his nuclear and missile programs, Kim surprised the world this year with diplomatic moves that included sending his own sister across the border, meeting with high-level South Korean officials and, most recently, reportedly agreeing to meet Trump face-to-face. Story continues Don't miss: How Stormy Daniels is Winning the Battle with Donald Trump Trump said he would meet the North Korean ruler by May, making him the first sitting U.S. president to ever do so. While Pyongyang and its tightly controlled media outlets have so far kept silent over the upcoming summit, a KCNA article alluded to a "sign of change" in relations with Washington. Officially, notwithstanding, North Korea continued to defend its nuclear weapons as necessary for defending against a potential U.S. attack and has pointed to U.S. involvement in the Middle East as an example. The recent SIPRI report found that more than half of U.S. arms sales were in the Middle East, where Washington has had a hand in a number of major conflicts. By law and longstanding policy, the United States exports defense equipment when they contribute to the ability of our partners to defend themselves against threats and regional security. Partners buy these arms to meet legitimate defense needs, and because American companies make the best equipment on the planet," a State Department spokesperson told Newsweek in an email statement responding to the SIPRI report. Over the years, North Korea has closely followed the examples of Iraq and Libya, whose leaderships abandoned nuclear weapons only to be later attacked by the U.S. and its allies. Most popular: China Says U.S. Wants World For Itself And That's Why It Can't Accept Beijing's Role in Africa Echoing a suggestion he previously made in 2004, prospective National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested last week in an interview with Radio Free Asia that in dealing with North Korea, the U.S. should follow the same model by which late Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi agreed to give up nuclear weapons in exchange for better relations with the West. Like Iraqi President Saddam Hussein eight years prior, Qaddafi was detained and killed after being forced out of power in 2011. That same year, Kim succeeded his late father. All three generations of North Korea's Kim dynasty have been deeply critical of U.S. foreign policy, and in his seven years in power the youngest Kim has witnessed the fall of a number of authoritarian governments, even as the heads of neighboring Russia and China consolidated control over their own countries. GettyImages-51088326 Chung Sung-jun/Getty Images Bolton's support for U.S. wars in the Middle East and preemptive airstrikes against North Korea and Iran have raised concerns over Trump's intentions in choosing him ahead of two important nuclear-related events in May: the meeting with Kim and a deadline for renegotiating the Iran deal. Widely seen as more hawkish than outgoing security chief H.R. McMaster, Bolton was the second hard-liner to be appointed in a recent White House shuffle. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly found out via Trump's Twitter that he was out of a job earlier this month and was to be replaced by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who has also advocated for a more aggressive stance on North Korea and Iran. Tillerson's ouster came after mounting criticism from both major political parties and seemingly conflicting positions coming out of the White House and the State Department. When asked whether Pyongyang's recent statements could have an effect on the upcoming meeting between Trump and Kim, a State Department spokesperson declined to speculate in an email statement sent to Newsweek. "I dont have anything for you on this," the spokesperson said. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek St. John's woman says military failed to help her after sexual assault A St. John's woman says the military mishandled her case after she reported she had been sexually assaulted by two of her fellow reservists in 2012. Courtney Dunne, 22, says she reported the alleged assaults, but the military said it didn't have jurisdiction and instead charged her with underage drinking. Dunne says the assaults happened less than two weeks after she signed up for the army reserves. "I was 16 years old and I was raped in the military by two guys at the same time," said Dunne. She has spoken about it publicly before, the first time as a Miss Newfoundland and Labrador contestant in 2015. But at that time she was still a reservist and didn't speak about the military's role in her story. Sought help from padre Dunne says the assaults happened Canada Day weekend at a hotel in St. John's, where she and other reservists were attending a party in one of the rooms. She says that while she was assaulted, a knife was left in the room in plain sight. She says her assailants showered her afterward she believes they did that to try to remove evidence and then left her alone in the room. Dunne says she turned to someone she thought she could trust and filed a written report to a padre or chaplain, with the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service. "I came forward to a padre in the military and he got the ball rolling, but the military handled the situation completely inappropriately," said Dunne. Dunne says it was the padre who arranged for her to seek medical help and have a rape kit done. 'I didn't sleep' She didn't expect what happened next. Dunne says after she filed a written report, the military charged her with underage drinking. "Because I had been given an order [under the Code of Service Discipline] not to drink underage, I was charged with disobeying a lawful command by a superior officer. I had to pay a fine. I was the one who got charged and, as far as I know, the other people of that night did not," said Dunne. Story continues She was fined $300 for underaged drinking. She says what happened next made things worse. "After I reported that I was assaulted, one of the guys [I accused] was on my course, and he slept across the hall from me, not even 10 feet away from my bed, for two weeks after it happened until I was medically released from the course. Terrifying. I didn't sleep," said Dunne. Outside military jurisdiction A spokesperson for the Department of National Defence confirmed by email to CBC News that a complaint was made by Dunne in 2012 but said it was a matter for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. "The incident is alleged to have taken place off military property and while the individuals (complainant and subject) were off-duty. As such, the RNC had jurisdiction," DND spokesperson Jessica Lamirande. Lamirande said there is no contradiction in sanctioning Dunne for underage drinking while saying local police had jurisdiction over her assault allegations. "While Canadian Armed Forces members are subject to the Criminal Code of Canada, they are also subject to the Code of Service Discipline, which is uniquely military in nature," Lamirande wrote. "So while local police may be able to charge someone under the Criminal Code for a criminal offence, the military can also charge someone under the Code of Service Discipline for something that is not criminal in nature, such as going against a restriction specified by chain of command." Lamirande said the RNC had received Dunne's complaint and conducted an investigation. Dunne says the RNC's investigation is ongoing, but the RNC told CBC News it can't confirm or deny whether it's investigating. They said discussing any details of Dunne's case with the media would breach her privacy. Four more years Dunne served with the military reserves for four years where she was training to become a weapons technician, but during that training, she says she was frequently harassed and verbally abused. "I stopped coming forward with what was happening because I started being labelled. The first time I came forward I was 16 years old and I had only been in the military for 10 days and from that day forward I was known as the girl who cried rape," she said. While Dunne was still in the reserves in 2015, the Canadian Forces acknowledged it had received many complaints of sexual abuse in the military and launched an investigation it called Operation Honour. Dunne said that within the ranks there were many people who thought Operation Honour was a joke. "Right off the bat it had its own name: 'Operation Hop on Her.'" she said. "We were in a briefing and they were like: 'Well, this doesn't really happen. Girls aren't actually being assaulted as much as is claimed.' I had to walk away because I was so angry," said Dunne. In 2016, following a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, Dunne was discharged for medical reasons. She said it was heartbreaking because it spelled the end of her dream of joining the regular forces and serving overseas. "I have major depressive disorder now and I've actually tried to kill myself," said Dunne. But she says she's still fighting. "I'm here as an advocate so people will understand that even someone who they think is very strong, there are times when they feel weak. It's a roller-coaster." She's at the College of the North Atlantic, studying to become a rehabilitation assistant and says she'll continue to speak out and try to raise awareness about the importance of consent. "I need to get it into kids' minds and not just kids; teenagers, everybody what consent is. If you say, 'No, don't touch me,' no one has the right to touch you." Makerspaces Sierra College Uses Grant Funds to Expand Ties to Community Makerspaces Sierra College is putting a $350,000 grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to use through relationships with three community makerspaces. The grant was awarded last year as part of the California Community Colleges Maker Initiative, a program comprising 25 community colleges in the state which aims to prepare students for STEM and STEAM careers by building makerspaces, embedding making into the curriculum and through internships with local employers. At Sierra, the funding supports full-time personnel who are developing partnerships with Hacker Labs, Truckee Roundhouse and Curious Forge, makerspaces near three of the college's campuses. "Integrating makerspaces into education is the most exciting thing to happen in my educational career," said Kim Bateman, dean of the Tahoe-Truckee Campus of Sierra College, in a prepared statement. "Students learn so much from experimentation and collaboration. For example, art students in our two-dimensional design course are discussing design in the classroom, going upstairs to the Sierra College computer lab to layout original projects in Illustrator, and then taking their digital files over to the Truckee Roundhouse to program their work to be executed on the laser cutter. It's the perfect bridge between theory and real world applications." The grant provided funding for faculty professional development for digital and technical skills, along with learning how to integrate making and entrepreneurship into their curriculum, but students have been getting in on instructing as well. "Naima Pagano, Sierra College fashion student, came to Hacker Lab seeking access to the industrial sewing machines," said Steve Hunter, Sierra Makerspaces faculty maker-in-residence, in a prepared statemment "She soon created her own business repurposing old garments into new creations. Then, Naima took her maker experience to Curious Forge, started teaching textile arts, became the manager of the Forge's textile space and now has a paid position as the Program Developer for Curious Forge." Current and former students are also serving as makerspace instructors in other areas, such as 3D printing and Arduino programming. The college will also launch new internships soon, with a plan to place 30 students in positions with local employers in the spring. "The CCC Maker grant offers funding for 20 hours of internship experience and we are currently seeking business interested in interviewing interns," said Dominic Felipe Gutierrez, director of Sierra Makerspaces, in a prepared statement. "We held the first student training in January to certify students in 'ready to work' skills. Aleda Vaughn, Sierra College Welding faculty member, delivered New World of Work (NWOW) Modules on Communication, Analysis/Solution Mindset and Entrepreneurial Mindset." For more information, visit cccmaker.com. The Jewish wise man Maimonides said, "Each and every Jew should strive to become as great as Moses." (Maimonides, Laws of Teshuva 5:2). Christians are instructed to grow each day to be more like Jesus! (Ephesians chapter 4, verse 15) Rabbi Noah Weinberg wrote: Here's the real secret of success: Regardless of our mortal limitations, our potential for greatness is unlimited when we have the power of the Almighty behind us. Do we seek to do mighty things? Do we see our full God-given potential? The Jews have always had a 'God-code.' They trace their faith, their future and their destiny in systematic study of the Torah. They seek their identity, goals and dreams in the promises of God. The word Torah means 'teaching.' They believe it to be the wisdom of heaven revealed and shared with the world. This God-code has been handed down from Jewish father to son for more than 40 generations. The unbroken link of reading, teaching and instructing has brought success in secular, social, civil and spiritual life from generation to generation. The Israelites were given a covenant and they embraced it despite the problems, the challenges, the setbacks and the enemies. The Covenant While Abraham (then called "Abram") was living in Ur of the Chaldeans, God appeared to him in a vision instructing him to leave home and move to the land of Canaan. At age 75, Abraham followed this vision. During his journey, God appeared to him several times, revealing His divine purpose for Abraham and his future heirs. God told Abraham that: he would become a "great nation" (Gen. 12:2) he would be a "father of many nations" (17:4) nations and kings would come out of him (see 17:6) in his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed (see 22:18). I believe a study by Christians of the continued prosperity and success of Israel and the Jewish people will be a great guide for us to succeed in the face of the persecution now aimed so vehemently at us. Richard Booker is an author who's significant work is published through The Sounds of the Trumpet, Institute of Hebraic Christian studies. He called for Christians to return to our Roots. He wrote: "We are living at a time when the Lord is calling both Jews and Christians back to their biblical roots. "The biblical root of Christianity grew from an everlasting covenant God made with Abraham. Christians become part of that covenant through faith in Jesus (Yeshua). The more we can learn about our Hebraic / Jewish roots, the more blessed we will be in our Christian lives." Chutzpah Maybe in this hour we must learn to understand a famous Jewish word 'chutzpah!'Yiddish dictionary: "Chutzpah (pronounced huuts-pah) is a Yiddish word that is used by Jews and non-Jews alike to describe someone who is particularly audacious or has a lot of "guts." I like what Dr Brad Young wrote about chutzpah: "The word chutzpah is difficult to define in a single word. It means headstrong persistence, brazen impudence, unyielding tenacity, bold determination or what in current English terms might be referred to as raw nerve." Do we Christians have chutzpah where our faith is concerned? Do we stand with Paul saying 'I am not ashamed of the Gospel?" Dr Brad Young in his book 'Jesus, the Jewish Theologian' wrote: 'Jesus viewed the Kingdom of heaven as an active force in the world, a force energized by God's power.' Jesus responded when he saw people making faith-filled choices. He 'saw' their faith and healed the paralytic (Mark chapter 2 verse 5). He again observed their faith in Luke chapter 5 verse 20 and said to them 'my friends, your sins have been forgiven." Right now the world needs to 'see' our faith. We are not meant to live quietly and unobtrusively as Christians. Some good old-fashioned chutzpah will put our faith on display. We do not need to be doing spectacular things. People observe when we say thanks. They notice when we give someone our spot at the supermarket checkout. How much? How much chutzpah do you have? In many places Christians seem to be the secret agents in society. Instead we are called to be the city on the hill, observed by everyone. Jesus said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." (Matthew chapter 11verse12) "Take it by force' means 'they seize it for themselves.' Dr Brad Young points out a deeper understanding of what Jesus said. He argued that the translation 'the kingdom of heaven suffers violence' the phrase should say 'the kingdom of heaven breaks forth.' In the King James Bible the Hebrew word 'biazo' is translated 'suffers violence.' But the NIV translates the same word as 'forcefully advancing.' The reason for the difference is simple. The KJV is a passive translation but the NIV is active. Dr Young said: "Moreover, the Hebrew background of this saying of Jesus actually denotes an action of breaking out with strong force." My question to the Church today is this Are we being lulled into something other than an active faith? In fact, have we been trapped into passivity and even surrendered to the fallen world standards in which we live? In an absorbing study Young said of Christians who respond to the Lord 'they actively pursue the divine purposes in life with all their strength." ARE WE LIVING IN THE DAYS OF NOAH OR THE DAYS OF ELIJAH? Both! Rejoice in the power and the anointing provided for you as overcomers in the world today. Be aware of the events taking place around you and at all times be ready to make a stand for the Gospel. In these amazing days we should all be those who 'pray without ceasing.' And rejoice for the day of the Lord, is at hand. Ron Ross is a Middle East consultant for United Christian Broadcasters (Vision FM). Previously he was radio news editor for Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem, Israel. His career started at WINTV (Email: ronandyvonne@mac.com) Ron Ross' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/ron-ross.html In February, I spent two weeks in Cambodia and paid a three-day visit to Angkor Wat during my stay there. The philosophy behind this temple shares many similarities with my belief in Jesus Christ. Seek and be found Before entering the temple, the main buildings of this architectural group, you need to walk through a 350 meters ramp way. During this time, you could look around and enjoy the temple from a distance. This is pretty much like the stage when people first heard about Jesus Christ. One feels His grace and sees Him from far, but only when he comes closer can he makes acquaintance with God. I was given chances to see God from far before following Jesus Christ. I learned several Bible stories at university, but I appreciated them as literature only; I discovered a Bible in the drawer of overseas hotels, but I think of it as western cultural presence; I visited churches during my travel, but it was out of curiosity. I missed above opportunities to know God more until I finally determined to read His words, to go to Church on Sunday and to pray to Him. By doing so, I experience the presence of God and my understanding towards Him becomes deeper and deeper. Drawn by loving-kindness The end of the ramp way connects a long corridor that faces all directions. There are exquisite frescoes in each sides of the corridor, which are fascinating and make you linger on them for a long time. After establishing a closer relationship with God, you will find His love is as splendid as the frescoes. More importantly, our Lord loves us with an everlasting love and draws us with loving-kindness. I have been a follower of Jesus Christ for one year till now. Every time when I recalled my journey towards Him, I couldnt help thinking the love that I have been freely given. That happened even before I converted to Jesus. I still remembered how unmindful and impatient I was when my Christian friend preached gospel to me two years ago. However, thanks to Gods unfailing love and my friends patience, I was touched again and again by Gods words through my friends testimonies and humility. Eventually, Im a Christian now, which is all done by Gods grace! Be a forceful man After appreciating all the beautiful frescos, you need to climb an extremely steep stairway to reach the highest tower of the temple. The original step can fit only one foot. There is a risk of falling down if youre not prudent enough. This is like the way to the kingdom of heaven too! Christians do need to fight their way to our heavenly destination. For Jesus has said that small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7, versus 14) As time is passing by, Im getting uneasy with my Christian life. I feel time flies but I havent done things that a Christian is supposed to. Last Sunday, I was asked three questions by my pastor. Do you know who Jesus is? Do you know why Jesus comes? Do you put God in the centre of your life? I pondered upon those questions and found that I do not have a firm answer to any one of them. Suddenly, I realised that being a Christian is never about enjoying blessings and expecting a comfortable life. Instead, it's always about Instead, it's always about continuing the process of knowing and loving God. Its about rising up for the good fight, running the race that God wants us to, and keeping our faith towards Him! As God has put in Matthew 11 versus 12 the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. I pray that God would guard my heart and equip me as a warrior who forces her way towards Him. Cheng Xingyi (known as Cindy) was born and brought up in central China. Cindy enjoys travelling and reading history books. Cindy is inspired by talking with local people when travelling abroad experiencing different parts of the world, as well as herself. Cheng Xingyi's previous articles may be found at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/cindy-cheng.html Dr. Gaby Kafie, owner and founder of Kafie 1901 Cigars, has authored a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb in regards to nicotine levels in cigars. The letter is a response to the recent Advanced Notice of Public Rule Making (ANPRM) in terms of maximum nicotine levels. In the ANPRM, the FDA specifically asks for examples and proof on whether premium cigars should be exempt or treated differently from other tobacco products such as cigarettes. Kafies goal was to educate and provide concrete examples of why cigars are a poor delivery method of nicotine and thus non-addictive. We have shared his letter verbatim. (Letter Verbatim from Dr. Kafie, re-printed with permission) RE: Premium Cigars are a poor nicotine delivery method, and thus are non-addictive Dear Dr. Gottlieb, My name is Dr. Gaby Kafie, I am a retired physician (with a clear and active U.S. medical license from the State of Florida) and owner of a premium boutique cigar factory in Danli, Honduras. I am writing you this letter to urge you to reconsider FDA regulations on premium cigars. I believe personally and professionally that premium cigars should be exempt from FDA regulations/oversight. For over 5 years I have enjoyed producing premium cigars along with my entire team in Honduras. Premium cigars are not only a passion of mine, but also our family business. Our business employs over 90 people in Honduras, and impacts nearly 650+ brick and mortar tobacconists (retailers) here in the United States. These tobacconists depend on our products in order to operate their own family businesses. The FDA and its current over-reaching regulations on premium cigars have put our livelihood at risk. We are deeply concerned about our future, as well as the future of the premium cigar industry. Premium cigars are enjoyed only by adults. They are sold in large part only in licensed brick and mortar cigar shops. These establishments are not frequented by young, or underaged people. Its a select adult clientele that visit these businesses. Recently I have taken a deep interest in premium cigars as a delivery method for nicotine. As a Premedical Student I excelled in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biology, and while in Medical School I studied pharmacology and human physiology as part of our core medical studies. My opinions are measured and thorough and have the full support of the attached literature. It is known throughout the premium cigar industry (cigar factories) that our tobacco products do not cause addiction. Addiction is directly related to nicotine levels absorbed in the process of smoking. Unlike cigarettes, the tobacco used in premium cigars is fermented for long durations of time (6 18 months or longer). The fermentation process is done to specifically remove ammonia from the tobacco. This removal of ammonia from the tobacco reduces nicotine absorption by cigars connoisseurs. I have always had certain beliefs about premium cigars, tobacco, ammonia, and nicotine absorption and efficacy in humans. I have always known that premium cigars are a poor nicotine delivery method to humans. The attached abstracts clearly discusses the chemistry behind nicotine and ammonia levels in tobacco products. The tobacco used in cigars is fermented (always), the purpose of this fermentation process (an exothermic reaction) and aging is to eliminate as much ammonia as possible from the tobacco, in order to bring out the natural appealing flavors of the tobacco. Tobacco fermentation in essence reduces the pH of the tobacco from an alkaline state (pH 9.4) to a more neutral pH (pH 7) or lower. The resulting standard low level of ammonia in premium cigar tobacco results in non-volatile nicotine salts which are not absorbed by the human body. Furthermore, since premium cigar smoke is not intended to be inhaled, absorption of nicotine is even lower. On the other spectrum, cigarette companies purposely process their tobacco quickly (without fermenting it in order to preserve the ammonia), and even add more ammonia to cigarette tobacco to convert the nicotine salts to a more volatile free base that is more readily absorbed in the airways. A cigarette is designed to be the ideal nicotine delivery method, in an effort to cause addiction. Ultimately, I repeat premium cigar smoke is not inhaled, whereas cigarette smoke is. I know you understand the dangers of cigarette smoking and it is for this reason that you stated the following The overwhelming amount of death and disease attributable to tobacco is caused by addiction to cigarettes the only legal consumer product that, when used as intended, will kill half of all long-term users, said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. I always tell people premium cigars are non-addictive, because the chemistry of the tobacco proves it to be non-addictive. Premium cigars are enjoyed by adults as a hobby, on occasion, socially or privately as a form of relaxation and meditation. The paragraph below was taken from the attached abstract. To the contrary, the cigarette industry does the following (in order to create addiction) Annually, about five million kilos of ammonia are used in the manufacture of US cigarettes, an amount that corresponds to 10 mg of ammonia per cigarette produced [ID (Johnson, 1989) ]. In addition to ammonia various ammonia salts and urea are commonly used as tobacco additives in the cigarette manufacture (usually max. 5% w/ w) serving as a source of ammonia. (Food and Chemical Toxicology Volume 44, Issue 5, May 2006 pages 678-688 RE: Section 3.3) Its time we stop and look at the premium cigar industry and the role it plays in tobacco addiction and nicotine delivery. Understanding the fermentation process which is characteristic of the premium cigar industry will help you realize that premium cigars are a poor nicotine delivery method. I am in agreement with the FDA that cigarette smoking causes addiction, in large part because cigarettes are designed to be the ideal nicotine delivery instrument. I have gone ahead and attached the scientific journals that were referenced to write this piece. I hope you will take the time to review the materials. Thank you for your time to read my short letter. I ask you once again to please reconsider the FDAs stance on premium cigars. Family businesses across America will be devastated due to these over-reaching regulations, mine being one of them. Urge the FDA to reconsider exempting premium cigars from tobacco regulations. Such regulations will put us out of business. Premium cigars are not the problem, it just so happens that because the word tobacco is in play, we have gotten caught up in the whole FDA regulation of tobacco products. One must clearly take the time to understand the process of how premium cigars are made in order to realize that they are not a threat to people who enjoy them. I hope that this letter will help clarify my point, that premium cigars are a poor nicotine delivery method, and thus non habit forming. Kind regards, Dr. Gaby Kafie President/CEO Kafie Trading Company, LLC Reference: Food and Chemical Toxicology Volume 44, Issue 5: Significance of ammonium compounds on nicotine exposure to cigarette smokers Reference: Nicotine Chemistry, Metabolism, Kinetics and Biomarkers MONDAY, March 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- There's another study that finds that taking the epilepsy drug valproate while pregnant may take an intellectual toll on offspring. Children whose mothers took the anti-seizure medication during pregnancy appear to get lower scores on school tests, the new study finds. The U.K. researchers pointed to prior studies with similar results, and they recommend that women with epilepsy "should be informed of this risk, and alternative treatment regimens should be discussed before their pregnancy with a physician that specializes in epilepsy." One specialist in the United States said that many women with epilepsy do have options for seizure control during a pregnancy. "The most important message is that the data of this study -- similar to other published data -- indicates that women taking a single seizure medication that is not valproate -- in this case either lamotrigine or carbamazepine -- have children that develop intellectually as well as mothers who are not taking a seizure medication," said Dr. Fred Lado. He's Queens and Long Island regional director for epilepsy at Northwell Health in New York. The new study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, but Lado noted that other studies have already shown "that valproate is associated with significant birth defects in up to 10 percent of women with epilepsy." The new research was led by Arron Lacey of Swansea University in Swansea, Wales. His team tracked math, language and science test scores for 440 Welsh children, aged 7 years, whose mothers were diagnosed with epilepsy before pregnancy. Some of the mothers took no drugs for their epilepsy, while others took at least one drug (carbamazepine, lamotrigine or valproate), or a combination of drugs. The test scores of children whose mothers who took no drugs or took either carbamazepine or lamotrigine during pregnancy were similar to children of mothers who did not have epilepsy, the findings showed. However, children whose mothers took valproate during pregnancy scored 10.5 percent to nearly 13 percent lower on tests than kids in the comparison group. In addition, children whose mothers who took a combination of epilepsy drugs scored 19 to 22 percent lower. But while the researchers noted the potential dangers to children's mental status, they also noted "that some epilepsies are difficult to treat without these treatment regimens." Lado agreed, adding the new data puts some women with epilepsy who require anti-seizure meds in a bind. "It is important to also remember that having seizures during a pregnancy -- particularly convulsive seizures -- is also not good for the developing fetus, and certainly not good for the mother," Lado said. One other expert agreed. "The greatest danger to the health of pregnant epileptic mothers and their fetuses is the risk of uncontrolled seizures," said Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Antiepileptic drugs are crucial in controlling seizures and promoting health for both mother and fetus." Overall, Lado said, the take-home message for women is to "seek out the care of epilepsy specialists prior to becoming pregnant so that their seizure medication regimen can be optimized to minimize risks to pregnancy and maximize good outcomes." The study was published online March 26 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. More information The Epilepsy Foundation has more on epilepsy and pregnancy. TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- The human body is full of surprises. The latest: A newly identified "organ" that might affect major diseases. Using updated technology, U.S. scientists report they've discovered a "highway of moving fluid." Layers of the body long believed to be dense, connective tissues are actually interconnected, fluid-filled compartments, the scientists report in a new study. "This finding has potential to drive dramatic advances in medicine," said study co-senior author Dr. Neil Theise, a pathology professor at NYU Langone Health in New York City. "The direct sampling of interstitial fluid may become a powerful diagnostic tool," Theise added in an NYU news release. This discovery, his team said, could also lead to new ways to treat a wide range of health issues, including cancer and age-related conditions. The newfound network lies below the skin's surface and between muscles, lining the digestive tract, lungs and urinary systems, and surrounding arteries and veins, the researchers said. They suspect the fluid-filled spaces may act like shock absorbers that prevent the tearing of tissue in organs, muscles and vessels as they move during normal functioning. The network drains into the lymphatic system, and may explain why cancer that gets into this "highway" is much more likely to spread through the body, the researchers said. The cells that reside in this network may also play a role in many other body processes, from skin aging to the stiffening of limbs and the progression of inflammatory diseases, according to the report. The U.S. National Institutes of Health funded the study. According to the authors, it's the first study to recognize the interstitium as an organ in its own right, and one of the largest of the body. So, how did these fluid-filled spaces go undetected for so long? Until now, the medical field was dependent on fixed tissue on microscope slides. The tissue is prepared by treating it with chemicals, slicing it thinly and dying it to highlight important features. However, the fixing process causes fluid loss and collapse of the previously fluid-filled compartments, the researchers explained. The tissue then appeared solid. The recent discovery was made using a newer technology called probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy, which provides a microscopic view of living tissues instead of fixed ones. The report is published in the March 27 issue of Scientific Reports. More information The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on anatomy. TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Overuse of antibiotics is one of the main causes of the dangerous health threats posed by antibiotic resistance -- when the drugs are no longer effective against the diseases they were designed to fight. Yet new research finds that antibiotic use by people rose 39 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2015, adding to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, scientists say. Their analysis of data from 76 countries found large increases in antibiotic use in low- and middle-income countries, and a slight decrease in high-income countries. The study was published March 26 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A major factor in rising rates of antibiotic resistance is inappropriate use of the drugs. For example, prescribing them for colds, which are caused by a virus and -- unlike bacteria -- are immune to antibiotics. But while reduction in overall and inappropriate use of antibiotics is important, increased access to the drugs in lower-income countries is also necessary to combat their high rates of infectious diseases, according to the researchers. "Finding workable solutions is essential, and we now have key data needed to inform those solutions," said study co-author Eili Klein, a researcher at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP). "Now, more than ever, we need effective interventions, including stewardship, public education, and curbing overuse of last-resort antibiotics," Klein said in a journal news release. It's been more than a year since the United Nations General Assembly recognized the global threat of antibiotic resistance, but there has been little action since then, noted study co-author and CDDEP Director Ramanan Laxminarayan. "We must act decisively and we must act now, in a comprehensive manner, to preserve antibiotic effectiveness," Laxminarayan said in the news release. "That includes solutions that reduce consumption, such as vaccines or infrastructure improvements, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. New drugs can do little to solve the resistance problem if these drugs are then used inappropriately, once they are introduced," he said. The study was done by researchers from the CDDEP, Princeton University, ETH Zurich and the University of Antwerp in Belgium. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on antibiotic resistance. TUESDAY, March 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have smaller-than-normal brain regions that are crucial in controlling behavior, researchers have found. Along with conducting MRI brain scans, the researchers assessed the thinking skills and behavior of 90 children, ages 4 and 5. The investigators found that those children with ADHD had significantly reduced volume in multiple regions of the cerebral cortex, including the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes. Brain regions with the greatest ADHD-related reductions in volume included those critical for thinking, behavioral control and predictability of behavioral symptoms, the findings showed. "These findings confirm what parents have known for a while -- even in very young children, ADHD is a real biological condition with pronounced physical and cognitive manifestations," study author E. Mark Mahone, a research scientist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, in Baltimore, said in an institute news release. Prior studies on brain development in children with ADHD have focused on school-aged youngsters, even though ADHD symptoms often appear early in the preschool years, the study team noted. By identifying children with ADHD closer to the time symptoms begin, this study improves understanding of the brain mechanisms associated with the onset of the condition, Mahone's group said. One ADHD specialist agreed that the study sheds new light on the condition. The study suggests "that there are indeed underlying anatomical differences in brain structure in young children with ADHD," said Dr. Andrew Adesman. He directs developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. Adesman stressed, however, that based solely on this study, parents shouldn't ask for CT or MRI scans on their children. "This study will need to be replicated," he said. "Not only will future researchers need to look at whether these findings are similarly found in children with ADHD and other psychiatric conditions, but also whether there are gender differences, as well." Mahone's team said they plan to follow a group of preschoolers into adolescence in an attempt to identify early biological signs that can help predict which children are most at risk for developing ADHD. "Our hope is that by following these children from early on in life, we will be able to determine which early brain and behavioral signs are most associated with later difficulties. Or even better, which aspects of early development can predict better outcome and recovery from the condition," Mahone explained. "By understanding the brains of children who grow into the disorder -- as well as those who grow out of it -- we can begin to implement targeted, preventative interventions in young children with the goal of reducing adverse outcomes or even reversing the course of this condition," he said. Dr. Saidi Clemente is chief of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. She agreed that the current research is in its early stages, but "perhaps further studies could lead to supporting diagnostic tests." Clemente added that she would "also like to see studies comparing children with ADHD with children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. This is a common diagnoses combination and often challenging to treat." The findings were published March 26 in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. More information The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on ADHD. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Nairobi, March 27, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on authorities in Kenya to immediately investigate the assault of journalists by police at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi yesterday. According to media reports and journalists who spoke with CPJ, police officers attacked reporters covering an opposition politicians return to the country, causing injuries to at least two journalists. Authorities in Kenya cannot resolve their political disputes by beating up journalists, said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal from New York. Kenyan authorities must urgently investigate this attack and put an end to any assaults on the press by security personnel, including police forces. Journalists from several media houses had stationed themselves at the airport Monday afternoon to report on the standoff between opposition politician Miguna Miguna and immigration officials who disputed his right to enter the country, according to media reports. Shortly before midnight, officers began to verbally and physically harass journalists reporting outside an international arrivals terminal while ordering them to leave, according to media reports and video footage. Two journalists, Stephen Letoo, a political reporter with the privately owned Citizen TV network, and Robert Gichira, a cameraman with the privately owned Nation TV channel, told CPJ that they were beaten by police. Letoo, who said he was beaten, pushed, and kicked by an unknown number of officers, told CPJ that he momentarily lost consciousness and suffered injuries to his abdomen and limbs. He said he was treated at an airport hospital and discharged after two hours. Letoo told CPJ that two Citizen TV cameramen were also slapped by police officers at the scene. Gichira told CPJ that he suffered minor injuries to his arms and legs in the attack. A third journalist, broadcast reporter Sophia Wanuna of the privately owned Kenya Television Network (KTN), told CPJ that she narrowly avoided being hit by a baton-wielding police officer while she was reporting live because her cameraman intervened and stopped the officer. Gichira and Wanuna also told CPJ that the officers damaged their camera equipment. Dennis Itumbi, who heads digital communication for the office of the president in Kenya, said in a Facebook post yesterday that police had done well. Itumbi suggested that journalists had defied police orders and were filming in unauthorized areas. Reached by CPJ for comment today, Itumbi said that he did not have the complete story about whether journalists were beaten at the airport and directed anyone hurt during the incident to file a formal complaint. Police spokesperson Charles Owino declined to provide comment to CPJ, and Inspector General Joseph Boinnet of Kenyas National Police Service did not respond to two phone calls and a text message seeking comment this evening. Ministry of Interior spokesperson Mwenda Njoka told CPJ that the journalists had been in a restricted area of the airport. Reports by Citizen TV and The Star daily newspaper indicated that authorities today continued to deny press access to Miguna, who was still detained at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Press conditions in Kenya have deteriorated drastically in recent months. CPJ documented harassment of and attacks on journalists by security personnel and politicians during the elections in 2017, and in February authorities shut down four television channels in connection with their coverage of an opposition event in Nairobi. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, March 27, 2018 The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for the immediate release of three members of a reporting team from the daily El Comercio newspaper, who were kidnapped yesterday morning in northern Ecuador near the Colombian border. A reporter, a photojournalist, and their driver were kidnapped early yesterday morning while reporting in the San Lorenzo canton in the northern Esmeraldas province, which borders southern Colombia, according to news reports and Ecuadoran officials. In a press conference this morning, Ecuadoran Interior Minister Cesar Navas said the government had been in contact with the kidnappers and believed the three El Comercio employees were unharmed and being held across the border in Colombia, but did not offer any other details, citing the ongoing investigation. El Comercio did not identify the crew by name. We are concerned for the safety of the El Comercio journalists and their driver, and urge Ecuadoran and Colombian authorities to act swiftly to ensure their safe and immediate release, said Natalie Southwick, CPJs Central and South America research associate. Armed actors based in Colombia should recognize the civilian status of journalists, regardless of which side of the border they are on. Reporters covering the conflict in Colombias border regions have long been victims of aggression from various armed groups. In June 2017, two Dutch reporters were briefly abducted by the ELN rebel group while reporting near the Colombian-Venezuelan border. The SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System) platform has expanded its GPI (Global Payment Innovation) Tracker system to help banks track their global transactions at all times and keep full vigil on payments activity. Key Facts From November 2018, GPI Tracker system i.e. unique end-to-end transaction reference will be included in all payment instructions carried between all 11,000 customers on SWIFT at all times, across more than 200 countries and territories. The expansion of GPI Tracker will cover all payment instructions sent across the network and give them full visibility over all their payments activity. It will significantly extend transparency and drive more banks to join service to make GPI the new normal in cross-border payments SWFIT GPI SWFIT GPI was launched in May 2017 to help banks to track their global transactions at all times, keeping full vigil on payments activity. It covers all payment instructions sent across network, enabling GPI banks to track all their SWIFT payment instructions at all times, and giving them full visibility over all their payments activity. It accounts for 10% of cross border payment traffic on SWIFT network and has enabled more than hundred billion dollars to be transferred across world rapidly and securely every day. Benefits It improves customer experience by increasing speed, transparency and automatically provides status updates to all GPI banks involved in any GPI payment chain. It allows banks to confirm when payment has been completed. It facilitates more accurate reconciliation of payments and invoices, optimises liquidity with improved cash forecasts and reduces exposure to Foreign exchange risk, with same-day processing of funds in beneficiaries time zones. SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System) platform SWIFT is global financial messaging service that enables financial institutions worldwide to send and receive information about financial transactions in secure, standardized and reliable environment. It is used to transmit messages relating to cross border financial transactions. It was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in La Hulpe, Belgium. It is a cooperative society under Belgian law owned by its member financial institutions with offices around the world. Globally over 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries use services of SWIFT. SWIFT does not facilitate funds transfer, rather, it sends payment orders, that must be settled by correspondent accounts that institutions have with each other. On receiving this message through SWIFT, banks abroad, mostly branches of domestic banks abroad provide funds to the company. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) signed Host Country Agreement in New Delhi. The agreement gives ISA juridical personality an power to contract, acquire and dispose off movable and immovable properties and also to institute and defend legal proceedings. Key Facts Under this agreement, ISA will enjoy such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities that are necessary for ISAs Headquarter to independently discharge its function and programmes. It will derive its status, privileges and immunities as per Article 10 of Framework Agreement. International Solar Alliance (ISA) ISA is initiative jointly launched by India and France in November 2015 at Paris on side lines of COP21 UN Climate Change Conference. Its Framework Agreement came into force in December 2017. It celebrated its founding day on 11th March, 2018. It is headquartered at campus of Natioanl Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram, Harayana, making it first international intergovernmental treaty based organization to be headquartered in India. Objectives of ISA Undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology Mobilize more than US $1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy Pave way for future technologies adapted to needs of solar rich 121 countries lying fully or partially between Tropic of Cancer and Capricon. ISA presently has 4 ongoing programmes NASA has partnered with private space launching company SpaceX to launch Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to search for exoplanets using the transit method. TESS is designed to carry out first spaceborne all-sky transiting exoplanet survey. It is equipped with four wide-angle telescopes and associated charge-coupled device (CCD) detectors. It is planned to be launched in April 2018 on board of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) The primary mission objective of TESS is to survey brightest stars near Earth for transiting exoplanets over two-year period. It will use array of wide-field cameras to perform all-sky survey. It will create catalog of thousands of exoplanet candidates using transit photometry method. It will provide prime targets for further characterization by James Webb Space Telescope, as well as other large ground-based and space-based telescopes of the future. With TESS, it will be possible to study mass, size, density and orbit of large cohort of small planets, including sample of rocky worlds in habitable zones (goldilocks zone) of their host stars. This will reveal whether planets are rocky (like Earth), gas or jovian giants (like Jupiter) or something even more unusual. Andhra Pradesh: Fishermen get nets, bicycles on subsidy March 27,2018 | Source: The Hans India Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council Reddy Subrahmanyam called upon the eligible fishers to avail the subsidy and get employment. He participated as chief guest and distributed subsidised fishing nets to the fishermen at Kothapeta on Sunday. The event was organised by the fisheries department. Speaking on this occasion, Subrahmanyam said that the government had distributed bicycles and fishing nets to the fishermen. He informed that they had given 90 percent subsidy on bicycles and fishing nets worth Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 6.34 lakh respectively to 47 beneficiaries. ZPTC member Dharanala Rama Krishna, MPTC member Reddy Mohan and fisheries officials V Krishna Rao and Gopala Rao participated. Tamil Nadu: Worm collection stokes fishers ire by Deepa H. Ramakrishnan March 27,2018 | Source: The Hindu Fishermen of Ennore, local residents and activists are worried about the collection of polychaetes (worms) from the Ennore creek and nearby backwaters for use in shrimp farms as live feed. They say the local authorities, including the district administration and the Forest Department, have not taken note of their innumerable complaints. D. Joseph, a fisherman of Nettukuppam in Ennore, said the collection of worms was leading to a massive reduction in fish catch in the Ennore Creek and in the sea. These people are digging the ground and disturbing the habitat of the worms. We used to catch a few worms to use as bait for the the Kezhanga fish from October to December, he said. The fishermen panchayats of hamlets, including Nettukuppam, Mugadhwarakuppam, Thalangkuppam, Kattukuppam and Sivanpadaiveedu, have barred people from collecting worms. If the administration does not stop this, we will have to stage protests and fight against the offenders ourselves. They even collect the worms at night using lights, said Kalaiselvan, a fisherman. Ennore resident A. Bhagath Singh, a research scholar in anthropology, said people from other places were being brought to the creek and Pulicat to collect the worms. Sharp rise Not many locals are involved in the collection. Like construction labourers, people are brought to work on the river. Easily, around 200 persons collect the worms on a daily basis from our waterbodies, he said, adding that while the practice started a couple of years ago, the numbers had risen alarmingly in the recent months. Along the southern stretches of the Buckingham Canal near Alambara and Kadapakkam too, the worms are being collected for use in hatcheries along the ECR, added Mr. Singh. Tamil Nadu Fisheries University Vice-Chancellor S. Felix said since the worms collected from brackish water and lagoons were mainly meant to be feed for larval fish, the collection would affect the eco-system and the livelihood of the fishermen. Live feed is the best feed for shrimp brood stock. And at Rs.1,500 a kilo, it is cheaper than the imported ones. There is also a scare that the imported stuff has some infection, he said. The university has begun creating awareness among Pulicat fishermen about the need to protect the worms. Fisheries Secretary K. Gopal said the department would get in touch with the respective district administrations and ask them to become more proactive since the livelihood of fishermen was at stake. A study will be undertaken to understand the impact and the remedial measures, he added. Sri Lanka: New Zealand's support for investment in Sri Lanka's fisheries sector March 27,2018 | Source: Colombo Page High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka Joanna Kempker has said that she will encourage New Zealand investors to invest in Sri Lankan fisheries projects. The High Commissioner has given this assurance during a discussion with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera at the Minister's official residence recently. During the discussion, a number of bilateral issues of mutual interest to Sri Lanka and New Zealand were discussed. New Zealand has been a pioneer in creating a management system for the sustainable development of marine fisheries industry and the High Commissioner pledged to share New Zealand's experience with Sri Lanka for a sustainable fishing industry in the country. Accordingly, steps will be taken to provide training on fishery management to the fisheries officials and stakeholders. Already a project for fish products development based in the Mannar region in the Northern Province is being carried out with the assistance of New Zealand. The investors of the project have expressed willingness to further invest in the fisheries sector. Expressing his views, the Minister said that there are many new trends in the fisheries sector in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the new national fisheries policy proposed will create a strong background for investing in the fisheries sector in the country, he added. The Supreme Court has rejected former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's case review petition against his blasphemy conviction, an official with the court has said. Three judges Artidjo Alkostar, Salman Luthan and Margiatmo rejected the former Jakarta governor's challenge against his conviction, which sentenced him to two years in prison. "The appeal has been rejected," court's spokesperson Suhadi told The Jakarta Post on Monday. More than nine months after being convicted of blasphemy, Ahok officially challenged his conviction through a case review petition to the court. Ahok's lawyer and sister, Fify Lety Indra, said she believed the North Jakarta District Court had made a mistake in declaring Ahok guilty of blasphemy. She said the guilty verdict against Buni Yani, a communications lecturer found guilty of tampering with video footage of a speech given by Ahok that was used as evidence to lodge the blasphemy allegations against the former Jakarta governor, was the basis for the case review request. "The legal argument for our petition is that the judges [at the district level] made a mistake in their verdict [on Ahok], particularly in relation to Buni Yani's verdict." she said after the preliminary hearing. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde The state of Alabama has agreed to not set any more execution dates for an inmate who survived his February execution attempt after officials couldn't start his IV before midnight. According to a press release from Hamm's lawyer Bernard Harcourt, he and lawyers from the Alabama Attorney General's Office entered into a confidential settlement agreement Monday that resolves all pending litigation in both federal and state courts regarding Doyle Lee Hamm's execution. The settlement will end efforts to set another execution date, the press release stated. Harcourt said the settlement "comes after lengthy, fruitful discussions" with the AG's Office. "I cannot discuss the terms of the agreement, but I will say that Doyle, his family, and his legal team are extremely relieved," Harcourt said. Take a deep breath and read that last sentence again, this time aloud. Then come back to the 21st century. - DPN Editor] The Feb. 22 execution date came after months of legal battles revolving around whether Hamm's veins were able to handle the IV required for the lethal drugs. Harcourt argued that Hamm's veins had become nearly impossible to access after years of intravenous drug use and Hamm's diagnosis, and treatment, of lymphatic cancer. The AG's Office argued Hamm's cancer is in remission and there was no reason he shouldn't be executed after spending 30 years on death row. [- DPN Editor] Hamm's scheduled execution was on Feb. 22 at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Hamm, 61, was set to die at 6 p.m., but Alabama Department of Corrections officials did not begin preparing him for the execution until approximately 9 p.m., after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a temporary stay. At approximately 11:30 p.m., ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn announced the state wouldn't be executing Hamm that night because medical personnel would not be able to prepare him for the procedure by midnight when the death warrant expired. Dunn did not specify what exactly the problem was and what medical personnel had been doing for more than two hours between when the stay was lifted and when medical personnel advised officials on the situation. Court records filed the next day stated the execution team couldn't find a vein to insert the catheter needed for the lethal drugs. Filings by Harcourt in the following days said staff tried to use Hamm's peripheral veins on his lower extremities, as a previous court order directed them to, but they couldn't find a vein on either leg or either ankle. After those attempts failed, medical personnel moved on to try a central venous line in Hamm's right groin--where, days earlier, an independent doctor who evaluated Hamm said there were abnormal lymph nodes. The settlement discussions began after that execution attempt. Harcourt previously said Hamm was traumatized by the incident, but Tuesday called said the settlement "rewarding." Hamm has been on death row for over 30 years, after he was convicted in the 1987 murder of Patrick Cunningham. Cunningham was shot in the head while working the overnight shift at Anderson's Motel in Cullman. Assistant Attorney Generals Thomas Govan Jr. and Beth Jackson Hughes prosecuted the case. Harcourt was assisted by several law students from Columbia on his legal team. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Rosendo Rodriguez is set to die for killing a Lubbock prostitute and tossing her body in a dumpster in a suitcase. His final appeals claim the medical examiner's testimony that she was sexually assaulted before her death could be invalid. The man dubbed Lubbock's "suitcase killer" is set for execution Tuesday evening, 1 day after his 38th birthday. Rosendo Rodriguez was sentenced to death in the 2005 murder and sexual assault of Summer Baldwin, a newly pregnant prostitute, according to court records. Baldwin's body was found folded inside a suitcase at the city's landfill. Rodriguez was also implicated in the 2004 murder of 16-year-old Joanna Rogers, whose body was also found in a suitcase in the landfill after Baldwin was discovered. He still has a final appeal pending in the U.S. Supreme Court questioning the credibility of the medical examiner's testimony and arguing that Baldwin wasn't sexually assaulted, but if it is rejected, Rodriguez will become the 4th person executed in Texas this year and the 7th in the nation. Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney Matt Powell told the Texas Tribune Monday that he finds no joy in the execution but that Rodriguez is a man who deserves the ultimate punishment. "Who sticks a human being in a suitcase and throws them out with the trash?" Powell questioned. "This was a guy that, left unchecked, was going to hurt somebody else again and was going to continue to terrorize women." At the time of Baldwin's death, Rodriguez was in Lubbock training for the U.S. Marines, according to court opinions. He was tied to the murder after investigators found the suitcase she was in had been purchased with Rodriguez's debit card. Further investigation found Baldwin's blood and a tag for the suitcase in his hotel room. Rodriguez told police the 2 had consensual sex but that when he fought with her over her drug use afterward, she lunged at him with knives and he put her in a chokehold, accidentally killing her. But the medical examiner, Sridhar Natarajan, said Baldwin's body showed injuries consistent with sexual assault, upping the charges and making the murder case eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors offered to accept a life sentence instead of the death penalty if Rodriguez also confessed to the murder of Rogers the year before and helped authorities find her body, according to court documents. He was already connected to her disappearance before Baldwin's murder based on internet chats and phone records. Rodriguez confessed to Rogers' murder and told investigators he had also put her body in a dumpster in a suitcase. She was eventually found in the same landfill as Baldwin. But before the court appearance to finalize the plea deal, Rodriguez backed out, claiming he couldn't understand anything he was being told by his attorney. Though they couldn't use the Rogers confession, Lubbock County prosecutors decided to seek the death penalty in Baldwin's case. He was found guilty of capital murder and, during his punishment trial, though attorneys presented evidence of an abusive, alcoholic father and his family portrayed Rodriguez as a prior Texas Tech student who could have become president, ex-girlfriends and other women said he raped or assaulted them. The jury chose death. But Rodriguez's lawyers haven't given up on his life. His final appeals lay in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court justices. The filing argues that a recent lawsuit calls into question the credibility of the medical examiner's testimony that defined the Baldwin case as sexual assault - which is what made the case a death penalty case. (Prosecutors at trial also argued Rodriguez's case could be death-penalty eligible because Baldwin was pregnant, but the argument was pushed aside in appeals because there was no indication Rodriguez knew she was pregnant.) Last year, Natarajan and Lubbock County paid $230,000 in settling a wrongful termination lawsuit after a former employee claimed she was fired for speaking out on the medical examiner's habit of leaving the office and delegating autopsies to unqualified staff and then signing off on them. Rodriguez's lawyer, Seth Kretzer, said the lawsuit and settlement raise suspicion of Natarajan's testimony in Baldwin's case and should be evaluated in federal court. "At the minimum, we should be allowed to take the good doctor's deposition and find out if he actually did the autopsy or not," Kretzer said, adding that he'll fight for his client until the last hour of the last day of his life. Natarajan, who still serves as the county's chief medical examiner, did not return phone calls Monday. But Powell said the appeal is nonsense, adding that he was there while Natarajan performed Baldwin's autopsy. "I have no trouble with his lawyers exhausting every avenue that they can, but there's no question that the right guy got the punishment, and he got the punishment he deserved," he said. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Man who stuffed Lubbock woman's body into luggage set to die An employee at the Lubbock city landfill spotted a brand-new piece of luggage amid the mountain of trash, opened the suitcase and discovered the beaten naked body of a 29-year-old woman stuffed inside. Detectives used a barcode label sewn to the luggage to establish it was purchased a day earlier at a Walmart. Debit card records and store surveillance video identified the buyer as Rosendo Rodriguez III, a Marine reservist from San Antonio who'd been in Lubbock for training that included martial arts combat. Today, a day after his 38th birthday, Rodriguez is set for execution for the 2005 slaying of Summer Baldwin. She was 10 weeks pregnant. Court records show Rodriguez was linked to at least five other sexual assaults and confessed to the slaying of a 16-year-old girl who had been missing for more than a year. Joanna Rogers' mummified remains were found, like Baldwin's, inside a suitcase at the city garbage dump. Rodriguez became known as Lubbock's "suitcase killer." Lubbock County District Attorney Matt Powell, who prosecuted Rodriguez, described him Monday as "very cold-blooded and very calculated." "What kind of person does that, just throws them out like the morning trash?" Powell said. Rodriguez would be the fourth Texas inmate executed this year and the seventh nationally. Attorneys for Rodriguez appealed Monday to the U.S. Supreme Court as their "last hope" after lower courts rejected appeals that focused on the medical examiner who testified about Baldwin's autopsy at his trial. Rodriguez's lawyers said the coroner recently settled a whistleblower lawsuit, previously unknown to them, that alleged he delegated some duties to unqualified underlings. The lawsuit "bears directly on the credibility and admissibility of the medical examiner's testimony in this case," attorney Seth Kretzer said. Assistant Texas Attorney General Tomee Heining said Rodriguez's appeals were "nothing more than a last-ditch effort" that were improper, untimely and meritless. The settlement involving a dismissed former employee, who didn't start work until five years after Rodriguez went to trial, included a statement that there was no reason to question the scientific validity of findings or opinions made by the medical examiner's office. Court records show the medical examiner personally conducted Baldwin's autopsy. Rodriguez was arrested at his parents' home in San Antonio days after Baldwin's body was discovered. Court records describe Baldwin, the mother of four, as a prostitute. She'd served jail time in Lubbock for a drug conviction. Three weeks after his arrest, Rodriguez gave Lubbock police a statement saying he killed Baldwin in self-defense when she pulled a knife on him after the two had consensual sex on Sept. 12, 2005, at a hotel room. Testimony at his 2008 trial showed she had about 50 blunt force wounds and may have been alive when she was folded into the suitcase and tossed into a trash bin. The contents of the bin subsequently wound up at the city dump. Defense attorneys suggested a trash compactor could have killed her. Jurors who convicted him of capital murder heard during the trial's punishment phase from five women, including his high school girlfriend, who testified he raped them. Jurors also heard about his confession to killing Rogers, the 16-year-old Lubbock girl who evidence showed he initially met in an online chat room. Prosecutors decided to seek the death penalty after Rodriguez scuttled a deal where he'd plead guilty to killing Baldwin and the teenager in exchange for a life prison term. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde The Associated Press, Michael Graczyk, March 27, 2018 Ukraine slides to 12th place in WSA's rating in Feb In January-February 2018, Ukraine increased steel production by 4.9%, to 4 million tonnes y-o-y. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter One of the major operations based in Ireland is that of Rosneft International Finance. A number of major Russian companies that are subject to the sanctions introduced following Russia's assault on Ukraine in 2014 have connections with Ireland due to the role it plays in the global funds industry. The fund operations remain legal despite European Union and U.S. sanctions, although their ability to provide services to their Russia counterparts may have been hit by the introduction of sanctions, The Irish Times said. Some of the Russian companies concerned are very close to the Kremlin and the Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Irish companies tend to have few if any employees despite the enormous transactions they are involved with, and usually pay very little in tax. However, they contribute to the Irish economy by way of the fees paid for the provision of professional services. A recent study from Trinity College Dublin estimated that 125 Russian-linked companies have raised EUR 103 billion through Irish funds operations since 2007. One of the major operations based in Ireland is that of Rosneft International Finance. Based in the East Point Business Park, Dublin 3, it is a subsidiary of the massive Rosneft oil company, which is itself the subject of the EU and U.S. sanctions. Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin is considered one of Putin's closest allies and is on the U.S. sanctions list. Rosneft's assets include assets that used to belong to Yukos, the since broken-up oil and gas conglomerate whose former owner, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was at one stage Russia's richest oligarch. He fell foul of Putin's regime and was jailed for a number of years before being released after lobbying by the German government. Loan-note programme Rosneft's Irish arm initiated a $10 billion loan-note programme in December 2012 but only $3 billion of that has since been issued as loans. The latest accounts for the company state that the events in Ukraine continue to have a negative impact on the Russian economy, but the sanctions imposed on the company's parent have not had an impact on its ability to service its debts to the company. The company is administered by Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland), and makes use of AIB and the Bank of Ireland, Arthur Cox solicitors and auditing firm EY. The latest accounts show the company spent $21,059 on administration fees and $20,503 on audit fees in 2016. An Irish subsidiary of Rosneft International Finance called Trumpet Ltd, with a registered office on Bride Street, Dublin 8, is involved in oil trading and had a turnover in 2015 of $1.93 billion, according to its latest accounts. It had no employees, produced a profit of $6.2 million and paid tax of $1.5 million. Another Irish company, VEB Finance, with an address at Park Lane, Dublin 1, is associated with a sanctions-hit Russian bank which is said to be used by the Russian government for politically important projects abroad. Vnesheconombank (VEB), which translates as Bank of Foreign Economic Activity, has featured in U.S. coverage of links between the Kremlin and U.S. president Donald Trump. Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner met VEB's chairman in New York in December 2016, after the presidential election but prior to Trump's inauguration. Read alsoNBU prolongs sanctions against Russian banks' subsidiaries in Ukraine Last year, it was reported that the Russian bank was linked to money invested in the Trump International Hotel in Toronto, Canada, by a Russian Canadian developer, Alexander Shhnaider, who was a partner in the development. The VEB chairman, Sergey Gorkov, who is a graduate of Russia's secret-service academy, was appointed to his position by Putin. State-owned Russian banking giant Sberbank, which is also the subject of EU and U.S. sanctions, has an Irish subsidiary, SB Leasing Ireland Ltd, with an address at Grant's Row, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The company is involved in the purchase and leasing of aircraft, using funds borrowed from Sberbank. Fitch re-states 3.2% economic growth in Ukraine in 2018 The recovery of economic activity is likely to be gradual, driven by domestic demand. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Double standards: How Russia tries to oust Ukraine from international defense business Ukraine has to do everything in its power not to be squeezed by Russian companies out of the market for the repair and modernization of Soviet-era military aircraft. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter In an effort to limit resources that fuel the civil war in South Sudan, the United States Department of Commerce has imposed licensing requirements on 15 of the countrys oil-linked entities whose revenues have contributed to the ongoing crisis in South Sudan. This means that all exports, re-exports, and transfers to these entities of any items originating in the United States, will now require an export license. According to the World Bank, with oil revenue accounting for almost all of its exports and around 60 percent of its gross domestic product, South Sudan is the worlds most oil-dependent country. Through this action, the United States hopes to increase pressure to end the countrys five-year-old civil war and the resulting humanitarian crisis. In December 2013, less than 18 months after it declared its independence from Sudan, a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar spiraled into civil war. The continued fighting has cost the lives of tens of thousands of people, and led to a devastated economy, human rights abuses, hunger, and malnutrition. One third of the population has been displaced by the violence, nearly two million internally and more than two million who have fled to neighboring countries. The 15 entities include South Sudans Ministries of Mining and Petroleum and state oil firm Nile Petroleum. Also included are Dar Petroleum Operating Company, oil distributor Nyakek and Sons, Greater Pioneer Operating Company, Juba Petrotech Technical Services, and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company. The listed entities are a source of substantial revenue for the Government of South Sudan, said State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauret.Unfortunately, the South Sudanese Government, and corrupt official actors, use this revenue to purchase weapons and fund irregular militias that undermine the peace, security, and stability of South Sudan rather than support the welfare and current emergency food needs of the South Sudanese people. The Government of South Sudan can do better, said Heather Nauert.As the largest donor of aid to South Sudan, the United States is proud to uphold humanitarian values and deliver vital assistance. The Government of South Sudan must not squander that generosity and should take concrete steps to provide for the vast needs of the South Sudanese people. (Reuters) Iran's Revolutionary Guards denied on Tuesday Saudi accusations that Tehran has provided the Houthi movement in Yemen with ballistic capabilities, a day after a Houthi missile hit the Saudi capital, Riyadh. "Everyone knows that all routes to send arms to Yemen are blocked," political deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Crops (IRGC), Brigadier General Yadollah Javani was quoted as saying by tasnim news agency. "Yemenis have reached the capability to produce their own defensive weapons including missiles; an achievement that has been inconceivable to Saudis," he said. The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi movement said on Monday that ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia were a serious escalation and threat to regional and international security. Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki told a news conference in Riyadh that Sunday's missile attacks on the Saudi capital were a clear violation of international law and accused the Houthis of smuggling weapons from Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran. A prominent Iranian lawyer has temporarily ended his hunger strike from behind bars at the request of his colleagues, who believed his health was in danger. Abdolfattah Soltani, who has been in prison since September 10, 2011, went on hunger strike March 21, but began taking food again March 26 at the request of thousands of attorneys and civil society activist who believed the fast threatened the 64 year olds life. Soltani announced he would suspend his hunger strike until April 10 to allow parliament and lawyers unions time to research his case and reinstate his rights in a tension-free atmosphere. In a March 25 letter addressed to the Islamic Republics judiciary, members of parliament, and the chairmen of Iranian Bar Association and lawyers unions, 3,600 lawyers and civil rights activists called for implementing all tools needed for Soltanis release. In the same letter the signatories asked Soltani to suspend his hunger strike until April 10. Soltani began his hunger strike to protest what he says is the Intelligence Ministrys interference in judicial proceedings against political prisoners. He carried out his strike in the prison where he is incarcerated in the city of Borazjan. While thieves enjoy their basic human rights behind bars, political prisoners are controlled and persecuted by the Intelligence Ministrys agents, said Soltani. Earlier, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, who is in contact with Soltani, said the person investigating Soltanis case is an Intelligence Ministry official called Mahmoudi. According to Ms. Ebadi, Mahmoudi was in charge of her own interrogation while she was in jail, as well as that of another prominent human rights defender, Ms. Nargess Mohammadi. Soltani, who co-founded the Defenders Of Human Rights Center along with his colleagues Shirin Ebadi, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, Mohammad Seifzadeh, and Mohammad Sharif, served as the attorney defending the family of Iranian-Canadian photo journalist Zahra Kazemi, who is widely believed to have been tortured and murdered in July 2003 in Tehrans notorious Evin Prison. The Center was declared defunct by the Islamic Republics authorities and its founders were arrested. Soltani was arrested again on political charges in 2005 and 2009. In 2012 he was charged with using the law to facilitate crimes, founding a human rights organization, and acting against national security. He was sentenced to eighteen (subsequently commuted to ten) years in prison and banned from practicing law for an additional 20 years. In an interview with New York-based Center For Human Rights In Iran (CHRI), Soltanis daughter, Maedeh, says her father should have been freed already. According to Ms. Soltani, President Hassan Rouhani and his Ministry of Intelligence are directly responsible for keeping her father behind bars. Mr. Rouhani has said some slogans in defense of citizens rights, but that has made no difference in the Intelligence Ministrys decisions or else my father, who happens to be a defender of citizens rights and freedoms, would not be sitting in prison, she said. I believe the Intelligence Ministry is still being run by the same gang who took away my fathers freedom. The Islamic Republic, along with China, Syria, Turkey, and Vietnam, held its position as one of the five largest prisons for journalists in the world as of the end of the last Iranian year ending March 21, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) told Radio Farda. Speaking to Radio Fardas Mahtab Vahidi Rad, RSF Iran Desk Head Reza Moeinei said Iran ranked 165 out of 180 countries listed according to how dangerous they are for journalists, with 180 being the most dangerous. Iran has been among the 15 most dangerous countries for journalists since Reporters Without Borders (RSF) initiated the rankings more than twenty years ago, evaluating countries on the basis of their degree of safety for media staff. Looking back at Irans media record in the last Iranian calendar year, Moeinei pointed out that the Islamic Republic has officially admitted to the detention of 28 journalists during that period. Several of them were given prison sentences and the rest await their trials. We have repeatedly insisted that these detentions have taken place arbitrarily and even against the Islamic Republics own constitution, Moeinei noted, adding, In most cases, journalists are detained clandestinely and placed behind bars in unknown and unidentified locations, deprived of their basic rights. For nearly forty years, Moeinei says, Iran has suppressed freedom of information, hoping to convert journalists into mouthpieces for the regime or at least rein them in. Meanwhile, according to Moeinei and RSF records, the Islamic Republic has recently expanded its censorship regime beyond its borders by threatening and pressuring foreign media outlets. In February RSF reported that foreign news agencies staff in Iran are closely monitored and harassed. In the report RSF cited a former Tehran-based AFP reporter as saying, The regime exercises its control by placing journalists within the agency who can tell the authorities what's going on there, or by threatening the foreign journalists who don't accept the censor's rules. There have been several cases of journalists who have even been accused of indecent behavior and have been threatened with imprisonment. BBC Persian, Radio Farda, VOA and other foreign based Persian broadcasters are banned from having a bureau in Iran, and their employees abroad are always under pressure from the Islamic Republics different security entities, said Moeinei. The problem with the Islamic Republics authorities is their security approach toward journalism and media. They do not recognize independent journalism and want to eliminate it. They want all reporters at the governments command, he said. Since RSF began tracking abuses in Iran in 1997, at least 350 media outlets have been closed, more than 800 journalists and citizen-journalists have been detained and interrogated, and around 500 of them have been given prison sentences ranging three months to 19 years. All have been denied their rights. Millions of Internet pages of freely and independently reported news and information have been censored, said Moeinei. President Hassan Rouhani and his administration, notes Moeinei, Have done nothing so far for the free flow of information in Iran. Rouhanis performance concerning free and independent journalism in Iran is sharply in contrast with his promises during his two presidential campaigns, Moeinei asserts, adding, Referring to the independence of the judiciary and presenting it as responsible for detaining journalists is an unacceptable excuse repeated by Rouhani and his Ministers. Pointing to the fact that the Islamic Republics President has the authority to supervise the implementation of its constitution, Moeinei insists, Rouhani has never stepped in to defend Iranian journalists who were unfairly tried and sentenced. On the contrary, Moeinei says most of the pressure on Iranian journalists is exerted by departments, offices, and entities under Rouhanis direct control. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Luxembourg and the entire European Union support the initiatives of the OSCE Minsk Group o-hairs on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Luxembourgs Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said at a press conference following a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, the Armenian media reported. He added that the day will come when the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be found within the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship format. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has a special phobia related to substantive talks over the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Spokesman of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend March 27. He was commenting on Nalbandians speech at a press conference March 27. "Apparently, Nalbandian is seriously worried about holding substantive negotiations on a specific basis," Hajiyev said. That is because Armenia deliberately pursues policy of negotiating for the sake of negotiations and their imitation, he noted. Armenia pursues a filthy goal of preserving the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and protracting the negotiations. Instead of putting an end to aggression, which is the fundamental basis of the conflict, and withdrawing troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, the military and political leadership of Armenia deliberately tries to direct attention to technical and secondary issues. Creation of Armenia as a state on the lands of Azerbaijan is a historical fact, Hajiyev said. We would advise the military and political leadership of Armenia to look at the population census held by the Russian Empire in Yerevan alone at the beginning of the 19th century. Still living with myths and sick fantasies about the greater Armenia, the Armenian leadership, suffering from an inferiority complex and using various legends, deceives the Armenian people, puts forward territorial claims to neighboring states and pursues an occupation policy. In order to ensure sustainable peace and security in the region, the Armenian leadership must recognize the responsibility for the acts committed against the Azerbaijani state and the Azerbaijani people, observe the commitments undertaken under the UN Charter, norms and principles of international law, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw the occupational troops from the occupied territories as required by the UN Security Council resolutions, Hajiyev added. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Md. Abdul Hamid. On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I congratulate you and your people on the occasion of the public holiday of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Independence Day, President Aliyev said in his letter. On this remarkable day, I extend my best regards to you and wish the friendly people of Bangladesh peace and prosperity, the president added. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Deputy Co-Chairman of the Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijani Parliament, member of the State Duma, Hajimet Safaraliyev will head a mission of observers from the State Duma of the Russian Federation to the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan. "A mission of observers from the State Duma of the Russian Federation, consisting of about 10 people, will arrive in Azerbaijan on April 9 to observe the presidential election," Safaraliyev told Moscow-Baku. Safaraliyev reminded that he is tasked to observe the presidential election in Azerbaijan not for the first time. "Azerbaijan is one of the most advanced republics of the post-Soviet area. Last time the presidential election in Azerbaijan was organized perfectly, everything was transparent, democratic and within the framework of international law," Safaraliyev said. He expressed confidence that the upcoming election in Azerbaijan will also be held at the highest level. Eight candidates were registered to participate in the presidential election in Azerbaijan, scheduled for April 11. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The opening ceremony of the Bona Dea International Hospital has been held in Nizami district, Baku. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony. The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the hospital. Chief Executive Officer of Bona Dea International Hospital Faig Aliyev and Chief Physician Musa Abbasov informed the president and first lady about the new hospital. The hospital is one of a few of healthcare centers in the world that meets up-to-date standards and is provided with advanced medical and technical equipment. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the conditions created in the hospital and met with its staff. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The aggressor country Armenia is trying to avoid international responsibility for its crimes, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev said March 27. Hajiyev noted that as part of the military aggression and the occupation policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan, a policy of vandalism destruction, looting, appropriation, changing of the belonging and the assignment of material, cultural and religious monuments is systematically carried out in the occupied territories. He stressed that the policy of destroying the material and cultural heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people in the territories occupied by Armenia and the territory of present-day Armenia, which is the historical Azerbaijani land, is vandalism not only against the Azerbaijani people, but against the entire human civilization. The cases of destruction and looting of material and cultural monuments belonging to the Azerbaijani people in the occupied Azerbaijani territories have been established with precision. Armenia barbarously destroyed material and cultural resources 1,891 units, including 738 historical monuments, 28 museums, where more than 83,500 exhibits were stored, four galleries, 14 memorial complexes and 1,107 cultural institutions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Hajiyev said. These are a mosque complex in the Jabrayil district dating back to the 17th century, the Yukhari and Ashagi Govhar Agha mosques dating back to the 18th century and the Mosque with a clock in Shusha, and the mosque in Agdam, dating back to the 19th century, is not only plundered, but also desecrated since cattle are kept there. Meanwhile, such archaeological monuments as Vagif Mausoleum, Natavans house, Karavansaray in Shusha were plundered and destroyed, the spokesperson added. Architectural features were changed and historical Albanian Christian churches located in the occupied Khojaly, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts of Azerbaijan are presented as Armenian churches. Albanian Christian churches of Ganjasar and Khudavang dating back to the Middle Ages, in Kalbajar district, also among them. Illegal archaeological excavations have been conducted in the Azykh Cave and around Aghdam district since 2003, Hajiyev said. He said that the same situation is with the cultural heritage of Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories. The Demirbulag Mosque in Yerevan was wiped out, the Blue Mosque was reconstructed to distort its origin. The Haji Novruzali Bey Mosque, built in the second half of the 18th century, Sardar Palace or Khans Palace were also destroyed. The Sardar Mosque in Yerevan also suffered a systematic destruction and was completely destroyed in 2014, the spokesman said. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has prepared and already submitted to UNESCO, UN, the Council of Europe, the OIC, ISESCO and other international organizations reports "about destruction of historical and cultural heritage belonging to the Islamic religion in Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenia and "the destruction of historical and cultural heritage in Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenia, Hajiyev noted. As a result of these activities, the OIC regularly adopts resolutions condemning the destruction and desecration of the historical and cultural heritage and temples belonging to the Islamic religion in Azerbaijans occupied territories, he added. The latest resolutions were adopted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 at a meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Cote d'Ivoire, Hajiyev noted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism repeatedly raised the issue on organization of assessment missions on the current situation related to material and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Armenia, which is aware of the responsibility it incurs for vandalism committed against the material and cultural heritage, hinders this in every possible way, the spokesperson added. During the meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and UNESCO Secretary General Audrey Azoulay at the headquarters of the organization in January 2018, he once again raised the issue of sending UNESCOs assessment mission to the occupied territories. The acts of Armenia are a gross violation of the obligations undertaken by this country under the Hague Convention and the Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Illegal actions against cultural property and cultural heritage during armed conflicts are considered war crimes in international criminal law. Armenia as a state bears direct international legal responsibility for vandalism against material and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to allocate funds for the construction of a road in Barda District. Under the presidential order, seven million manats are allocated from the state budget for the construction of Mughanli-Korpusindiran road, which links nine settlements with a total population of 13,000 people. Details added (first version posted on 12:32) Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The aggressor country Armenia is trying to avoid international responsibility for its crimes, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev said March 27. Hajiyev noted that as part of the military aggression and the occupation policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan, a policy of vandalism destruction, looting, appropriation, changing of the belonging and the assignment of material, cultural and religious monuments is systematically carried out in the occupied territories. He stressed that the policy of destroying the material and cultural heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people in the territories occupied by Armenia and the territory of present-day Armenia, which is the historical Azerbaijani land, is vandalism not only against the Azerbaijani people, but against the entire human civilization. The cases of destruction and looting of material and cultural monuments belonging to the Azerbaijani people in the occupied Azerbaijani territories have been established with precision. Armenia barbarously destroyed material and cultural resources 1,891 units, including 738 historical monuments, 28 museums, where more than 83,500 exhibits were stored, four galleries, 14 memorial complexes and 1,107 cultural institutions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Hajiyev said. These are a mosque complex in the Jabrayil district dating back to the 17th century, the Yukhari and Ashagi Govhar Agha mosques dating back to the 18th century and the Mosque with a clock in Shusha, and the mosque in Agdam, dating back to the 19th century, is not only plundered, but also desecrated since cattle are kept there. Meanwhile, such archaeological monuments as Vagif Mausoleum, Natavans house, Karavansaray in Shusha were plundered and destroyed, the spokesperson added. Architectural features were changed and historical Albanian Christian churches located in the occupied Khojaly, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts of Azerbaijan are presented as Armenian churches. The Albanian Christian churches of Ganjasar and Khudavang dating back to the Middle Ages, in Kalbajar district, also among them. Illegal archaeological excavations have been conducted in the Azykh Cave and around Aghdam district since 2003, Hajiyev said. He noted that the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories also shares the same destiny. The Demirbulag Mosque in Yerevan was wiped out, the Blue Mosque was reconstructed to distort its origin. The Haji Novruzali Bey Mosque, built in the second half of the 18th century, Sardar Palace or Khans Palace were also destroyed. The Sardar Mosque in Yerevan also suffered a systematic destruction and was completely destroyed in 2014, the spokesman said. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has prepared and already submitted to UNESCO, UN, the Council of Europe, the OIC, ISESCO and other international organizations reports "about destruction of historical and cultural heritage belonging to the Islamic religion in Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenia and "the destruction of historical and cultural heritage in Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenia, Hajiyev noted. As a result of these activities, the OIC regularly adopts resolutions condemning the destruction and desecration of the historical and cultural heritage and temples belonging to the Islamic religion in Azerbaijans occupied territories, he added. The latest resolutions were adopted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 at a meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Cote d'Ivoire, Hajiyev noted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism repeatedly raised the issue on organization of assessment missions on the current situation related to material and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Armenia, which is aware of the responsibility it incurs for vandalism committed against the material and cultural heritage, hinders this in every possible way, the spokesperson added. 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. Details added (first version posted on 12:32) Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The aggressor country Armenia is trying to avoid international responsibility for its crimes, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev said March 27. Hajiyev noted that as part of the military aggression and the occupation policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan, a policy of vandalism destruction, looting, appropriation, changing of the belonging and the assignment of material, cultural and religious monuments is systematically carried out in the occupied territories. He stressed that the policy of destroying the material and cultural heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people in the territories occupied by Armenia and the territory of present-day Armenia, which is the historical Azerbaijani land, is vandalism not only against the Azerbaijani people, but against the entire human civilization. The cases of destruction and looting of material and cultural monuments belonging to the Azerbaijani people in the occupied Azerbaijani territories have been established with precision. Armenia barbarously destroyed material and cultural resources 1,891 units, including 738 historical monuments, 28 museums, where more than 83,500 exhibits were stored, four galleries, 14 memorial complexes and 1,107 cultural institutions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Hajiyev said. These are a mosque complex in the Jabrayil district dating back to the 17th century, the Yukhari and Ashagi Govhar Agha mosques dating back to the 18th century and the Mosque with a clock in Shusha, and the mosque in Agdam, dating back to the 19th century, is not only plundered, but also desecrated since cattle are kept there. Meanwhile, such archaeological monuments as Vagif Mausoleum, Natavans house, Karavansaray in Shusha were plundered and destroyed, the spokesperson added. Architectural features were changed and historical Albanian Christian churches located in the occupied Khojaly, Kalbajar, Lachin and Khojavand districts of Azerbaijan are presented as Armenian churches. Albanian Christian churches of Ganjasar and Khudavang dating back to the Middle Ages, in Kalbajar district, also among them. Illegal archaeological excavations have been conducted in the Azykh Cave and around Aghdam district since 2003, Hajiyev said. He said that the same situation is with the cultural heritage of Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories. The Demirbulag Mosque in Yerevan was wiped out, the Blue Mosque was reconstructed to distort its origin. The Haji Novruzali Bey Mosque, built in the second half of the 18th century, Sardar Palace or Khans Palace were also destroyed. The Sardar Mosque in Yerevan also suffered a systematic destruction and was completely destroyed in 2014, the spokesman said. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has prepared and already submitted to UNESCO, UN, the Council of Europe, the OIC, ISESCO and other international organizations reports "about destruction of historical and cultural heritage belonging to the Islamic religion in Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenia and "the destruction of historical and cultural heritage in Azerbaijan's territories occupied by Armenia, Hajiyev noted. As a result of these activities, the OIC regularly adopts resolutions condemning the destruction and desecration of the historical and cultural heritage and temples belonging to the Islamic religion in Azerbaijans occupied territories, he added. The latest resolutions were adopted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 at a meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Cote d'Ivoire, Hajiyev noted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism repeatedly raised the issue on organization of assessment missions on the current situation related to material and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Armenia, which is aware of the responsibility it incurs for vandalism committed against the material and cultural heritage, hinders this in every possible way, the spokesperson added. During the meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and UNESCO Secretary General Audrey Azoulay at the headquarters of the organization in January 2018, he once again raised the issue of sending UNESCOs assessment mission to the occupied territories. The acts of Armenia are a gross violation of the obligations undertaken by this country under the Hague Convention and the Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Illegal actions against cultural property and cultural heritage during armed conflicts are considered war crimes in international criminal law. Armenia as a state bears direct international legal responsibility for vandalism against material and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The time will come when health tourism appears in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with personnel of the Bona Dea International Hospital in Baku on March 27. I cordially greet and congratulate you," said President Aliyev addressing the hospital's personnel. "Today, a beautiful clinic is opening in Baku. This is a remarkable, significant event. The clinic leaves an excellent impression; both exterior and interior design are at the highest level, said the president. The most modern equipment is installed here. I am sure citizens will be provided with high-quality medical services, he noted. The Azerbaijani president said that getting acquainted with the clinic, he saw much work has been done there. The work is organized at the highest level. The clinic has been created with the support of foreign specialists. I am sure the doctors and medical personnel working here will provide high-quality services to patients. As I was informed, more than 800 jobs have been created here. Excellent conditions have been created for doctors and medical personnel here, President Aliyev emphasized. The head of state added that the opening of the clinic is an indicator of the overall development of the country. Such excellent medical institutions appear only in rapidly developing countries," noted the president, saying he believes the clinic will be one of the most advanced, or, perhaps, the first most advanced clinic not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the region. "I hope the day will come when tourists also visit Azerbaijan for medical services. In other words, these opportunities are provided by the conditions created in this clinic. Azerbaijani citizens will be provided with high-quality medical services here. I am sure these opportunities will also be used by visitors coming to our country, the Azerbaijani president said. He reminded that over the past years, more than 600 medical institutions have been built and repaired in Azerbaijan. We have been able to significantly strengthen the material and technical base of the healthcare system. New hospitals will be built in six cities this year only. Thus, the best medical conditions are created in every city of Azerbaijan. Naturally, the creation of more than 600 hospitals and medical institutions requires a lot of money. The Azerbaijani state allocates these funds, the head of state noted. President Aliyev also said the improvement of the healthcare system is a priority issue. Health is an important issue for every society, every state. Thanks to the work carried out in recent years, the life expectancy of people is growing, and this is an excellent indicator. Any disease can be diagnosed and treated today in Azerbaijan. In other words, diagnostic examination, treatment all this is provided in a comprehensive manner. I would like to highlight one more issue. Free medical examination has been conducted by the Azerbaijani state for several years. Five million Azerbaijani citizens use this service annually. This issue was solved at my initiative several years ago. Currently, next medical examination is underway, the president stressed. The head of state noted that great work is underway in Azerbaijan to develop healthcare, which is the main direction of the social sphere. Hospitals are being built, the equipment meets the most modern standards, the level of medical services is rising, said the president. Foreign specialists will also take part in healthcare activity in this clinic. I was informed that highly professional specialists from Europe and other countries will permanently work here. President Aliyev said he believes this is the best medical center not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the region. Probably, time will come when we witness the establishment of medical tourism in Azerbaijan. The number of tourists visiting our country is growing from year to year, said the head of state, expressing hope that tourists will come to Azerbaijan for medical purposes as well. I am very glad there is a very important unity of activity of foreign and local specialists in this clinic. I also think that one of the most important areas of the clinic's activities will be training of local medical personnel. I believe combining treatment, diagnosis and training will make this clinic unique. I think, undoubtedly, the active participation of guests from other countries and high-level specialists will attract more patients, said President Aliyev. President Aliyev went on to add that when getting acquainted with the clinic he said it is necessary to inform the Azerbaijani population that currently there is a world-class medical center in Baku with modern equipment and high-quality medical services. All types of treatment and the most complex operations will be carried out here and this will serve the interests of Azerbaijani people. The creation of such a large clinic also reflects the rapid development of the country. We pay great attention to the social sphere, in particular the healthcare sphere. Over the last years, we have managed to construct and completely reconstruct hundreds of new hospitals and medical centers. But this clinic is definitely a unique medical center, said President Aliyev. The head of state noted that acquaintance with the clinic made a very deep impression on him. I think everything here was shown to me. I would like to congratulate you on this achievement. I wish you success. I wish success to our international and local team. I am sure that those coming here for treatment will return home healthy. I thank you and congratulate you, the head of state concluded. Details added (first version posted on 17:44) Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The time will come when health tourism appears in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with personnel of the Bona Dea International Hospital in Baku on March 27. I cordially greet and congratulate you," said President Aliyev addressing the hospital's personnel. "Today, a beautiful clinic is opening in Baku. This is a remarkable, significant event. The clinic leaves an excellent impression; both exterior and interior design are at the highest level, said the president. The most modern equipment is installed here. I am sure citizens will be provided with high-quality medical services, he noted. The Azerbaijani president said that getting acquainted with the clinic, he saw much work has been done there. The work is organized at the highest level. The clinic has been created with the support of foreign specialists. I am sure the doctors and medical personnel working here will provide high-quality services to patients. As I was informed, more than 800 jobs have been created here. Excellent conditions have been created for doctors and medical personnel here, President Aliyev emphasized. The head of state added that the opening of the clinic is an indicator of the overall development of the country. Such excellent medical institutions appear only in rapidly developing countries," noted the president, saying he believes the clinic will be one of the most advanced, or, perhaps, the first most advanced clinic not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the region. "I hope the day will come when tourists also visit Azerbaijan for medical services. In other words, these opportunities are provided by the conditions created in this clinic. Azerbaijani citizens will be provided with high-quality medical services here. I am sure these opportunities will also be used by visitors coming to our country, the Azerbaijani president said. Details added (first version posted on 17:44) Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The time will come when health tourism appears in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with personnel of the Bona Dea International Hospital in Baku on March 27. I cordially greet and congratulate you," said President Aliyev addressing the hospital's personnel. "Today, a beautiful clinic is opening in Baku. This is a remarkable, significant event. The clinic leaves an excellent impression; both exterior and interior design are at the highest level, said the president. The most modern equipment is installed here. I am sure citizens will be provided with high-quality medical services, he noted. The Azerbaijani president said that getting acquainted with the clinic, he saw much work has been done there. The work is organized at the highest level. The clinic has been created with the support of foreign specialists. I am sure the doctors and medical personnel working here will provide high-quality services to patients. As I was informed, more than 800 jobs have been created here. Excellent conditions have been created for doctors and medical personnel here, President Aliyev emphasized. The head of state added that the opening of the clinic is an indicator of the overall development of the country. Such excellent medical institutions appear only in rapidly developing countries," noted the president, saying he believes the clinic will be one of the most advanced, or, perhaps, the first most advanced clinic not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the region. "I hope the day will come when tourists also visit Azerbaijan for medical services. In other words, these opportunities are provided by the conditions created in this clinic. Azerbaijani citizens will be provided with high-quality medical services here. I am sure these opportunities will also be used by visitors coming to our country, the Azerbaijani president said. He reminded that over the past years, more than 600 medical institutions have been built and repaired in Azerbaijan. We have been able to significantly strengthen the material and technical base of the healthcare system. New hospitals will be built in six cities this year only. Thus, the best medical conditions are created in every city of Azerbaijan. Naturally, the creation of more than 600 hospitals and medical institutions requires a lot of money. The Azerbaijani state allocates these funds, the head of state noted. President Aliyev also said the improvement of the healthcare system is a priority issue. Health is an important issue for every society, every state. Thanks to the work carried out in recent years, the life expectancy of people is growing, and this is an excellent indicator. Any disease can be diagnosed and treated today in Azerbaijan. In other words, diagnostic examination, treatment all this is provided in a comprehensive manner. I would like to highlight one more issue. Free medical examination has been conducted by the Azerbaijani state for several years. Five million Azerbaijani citizens use this service annually. This issue was solved at my initiative several years ago. Currently, next medical examination is underway, the president stressed. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Azerbaijan's Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has today met with the US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta on the occasion of completion of his diplomatic mission in the country. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the prospects for development of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, the military-political situation in the region, the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other issues of mutual interest. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted the resolution on "Promotion and protection of human rights and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals", jointly proposed by Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Fiji, Canada, Luxembourg, Portugal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Thailand and Uruguay at the 37th session of the Council in Geneva on March 23, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said March 27. Sixty-nine countries have joined the resolution as co-authors. The main aim of the resolution is to emphasize the relation between promotion and protection of human rights and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to create a platform for the UN member countries to use positive experience in this field. In this regard, according to the resolution, it is planned to organize annual meetings of the UN member states in Geneva in 2018 and 2019. Reports on results of these meetings prepared by the UN High Commissioner are planned to be submitted to the Human Rights Council and at the annual political forum on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The adoption of the resolution thanks to the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and the above-mentioned countries at the UN Human Rights Council is a clear proof to the growth of Azerbaijan's prestige at the international level, as well as its recognition as a country with rich experience in ensuring the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the national level and protecting human rights, according to the ministry. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has received US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta upon the termination of his diplomatic tenure, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry told Trend. Cekuta noted that he spared no efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the US during his tenure. Mammadyarov thanked Cekuta for his contribution to the development of relations between the two countries and wished him every success in his future endeavors. At the meeting, the sides reviewed the prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the energy, economy, trade, counter-terrorism, humanitarian and other spheres. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 28 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: In the next few years, Azerbaijan will solve the export diversification issue in order to switch from the economy that receives more revenues from the oil and gas industry to economy oriented to non-primary sectors, Alexander Karavaev, Russian political expert, Deputy Director of the Centre for Study of former Soviet Union territory of the Information and Analytical Centre of the Moscow State University told Trend. The expert believes that the country will primarily witness development in three areas such as agro-industry, logistics and transport communications, as well as supporting small and medium-sized businesses. "The development of transport communications will also include completion of the planned and modernization of existing routes in the paradigm of turning Azerbaijan into a transport hub, when cargo will be transshipped across the country in different directions." According to Karavaev, support to small and medium-sized businesses is a very important line of development, since export capacity is built at this level. "It is difficult to enter international markets through some large companies involved in heavy industry. Azerbaijan is particularly known with two areas: oil and agro-industry. But even in these two areas it is possible to achieve quite great success if we put their development on the right track," - the expert believes. According to the Russian political expert, further reforms are expected in the sphere of governance and economy as a whole. The formats of ministries are changing, new agencies are emerging, structures are merging, he said, noting that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies can serve as an example. Two large ministries were united in order to concentrate efforts on creating a system that allows products to be exported to electronic trading platforms," Karavaev said. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The State Committee of Fishing Industry of Turkmenistan invites interested parties to establish joint cage farms in inland waters of the country and in the Caspian Sea. All the interested parties are invited to send their proposals to: 132, Archabil Ave., Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Bids will be accepted until late 2018. For additional information please call: (+99312) 39-02-04, 39-02-05, 39-02-06, 39-02-28 (fax). Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: China plans to increase the volume of imports of products from Kazakhstan, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Hanhui said at a press conference, Kazakh media outlets reported. The ambassador stressed that the list of increasingly imported Kazakh products, includes metals, oil and gas. The diplomat added that China plans to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan not only in the mentioned spheres, but also in other sectors, adding that the Chinese government decided to intensify cooperation with neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan at the session of the National People's Congress. "Kazakhstan is our strategic partner, a friendly neighbor and a reliable sincere friend. Our relations have developed over several millennia, and we will work in the same way in the political, economic and humanitarian fields. I think that we have a growing number of common interests," Zhang Hanhui said. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: The cost of gold, silver and platinum increased in Azerbaijan on March 27, while the cost of palladium decreased, according to the data published by the countrys Central Bank. The cost of gold increased by 71.7 manats to 2301.562 manats per troy ounce in Azerbaijan compared to the price on March 19. The cost of silver increased by 0.78 manats to 28.4505 manats per ounce, the cost of platinum - by 24.6 manats to 1629.9685 manats and the cost of palladium decreased by 24.8455 manats in the country. Precious metals March 27, 2018 March 19, 2018 Gold XAU 2301.562 2229.856 Silver XAG 28.4505 27.6662 Platinum XPT 1629.9685 1605.361 Palladium XPD 1663.263 1688.1085 The exchange rate of manat in relation to precious metals was not set in Azerbaijan on March 20-26 as those days were non-working on the occasion of Novruz holiday. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Astana was included in the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) rating, along with such financial centers as London, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, Kazakh media outlets reported. Inclusion of Astana in the rating of global financial centers was mainly facilitated by the full-scale operation of the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) since January 2018. The official presentation of the 23rd edition of GFCI was held in the Chinese city of Qingdao. Previously, Astana was included in the list of associate candidates for inclusion in the GFCI main rating, with demand on an obligatory criterion of recognition and appreciation of the AIFC by the international financial community. According to the GFCI rating, Astana entered the top 10 financial centers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, ahead of Budapest, St. Petersburg, Almaty, Baku and other centers in the region. The Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) is a ranking of the competitiveness of financial centers based on over 29,000 financial centers assessments from an online questionnaire together with over 100 indices from organizations such as the World Bank , the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The first index was published in March 2007. It has been jointly published twice per year by Z/Yen Group in London and the China Development Institute in Shenzhen since 2015, and is widely quoted as a source for ranking financial centers. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Anvar Mammadov- Trend: Azerbaijan has an opportunity to significantly increase the cotton yield, the former agriculture minister of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Rajab Orujov, told Trend on March 27. Today, Azerbaijan, using modern technologies and improving the agro-technical base, can significantly increase the cotton yield in short period of time. "In general, the yield can be increased in two ways - extensive -via expanding the sowing area,- and intensive. Today, Azerbaijan has a potential to increase the yield on all types of agricultural products that present in the country's crop rotation. It should be emphasized that today the cotton yield is at a rather low level in Azerbaijan. The soil and climatic conditions of Azerbaijan allow to receive about 40 centners of a crop per hectare, but in 2017 the yield was 15.2 centners," he said. Orujov said that to achieve the goal of 40 centners per hectare, a number of important steps must be taken. First of all, according to him, it is necessary to change the attitude to the land fund, since the main cotton areas of the country are located in the Kura-Araz lowland, whose lands are highly exposed to salinization and where ground waters lie close to the surface. Meanwhile, each region needs an individual approach. After solving these problems, one can think about increasing the yield. Furthermore, it is necessary to regulate the nutrient regime of the soil and to clean the drainage systems of economic and republican importance, which will allow to remove groundwater from the surface. The active temperature in the regions, where cotton production is developed is quite high, which is also favorable for obtaining a high volume of high quality harvest," Orujov said. The ex-minister also pointed to the use of all types of fertilizers in full as an important step. "Today macroelements are mainly used in Azerbaijan in the process of soil fertilization. These are mainly nitrogen, and phosphorus has recently been used. It is also necessary to use potassium, as well as microfertilizers during the fertilization process, as well as to strengthen pest control and use high-quality pesticides. The import of new varieties is important. The varieties supplied from Turkey are not adapted to the climatic conditions of Azerbaijan. The harvest does not have time to ripen before the rainy season, so there are difficulties in harvesting. Therefore, it is necessary to import varieties adapted to the climatic conditions of Azerbaijan," the ex-minister said. Orujov further added that cotton is a strategic product in the crop rotation of Azerbaijan, as it prevents re-salinity of the soil and creates an incentive for the development of other agricultural products. "Developing cotton growing, we also increase the production potential of other types of agricultural products," Orujov said. According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, 207,160 tons of cotton were harvested in Azerbaijan in 2017, which is 2.3 times higher than in 2016. The acreage of cotton last year was 136,410 hectares (an increase of 2.7 times). Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Ilkin Shafiyev Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Azerbaijan will open up new opportunities for expanding economic ties between the two countries and developing bilateral investment cooperation, Chairman of the Center for Azerbaijan's Economic and Social Development, expert Vugar Bayramov told Trend on March 27. "Presently, one of the main tasks is to expand bilateral trade, which still not meets the interests of the parties. Today, Iran is a major investor in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan's economy, particularly, in the field of pharmaceuticals, automobile industry, where certain projects are being realized," Bayramov said, adding that Iranian companies are also interested in cooperation in the banking sector and in the service sector. The expert further noted importance of the implementation of the North-South railway project, which is designed to unite Northern Europe with South-East Asia. "The implementation of the North-South project positively affects the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran and their position in the region. This project contributes to the development of bilateral economic cooperation and increase in the volume of cargo transportation, which will lead to an increase in the transit revenues of both countries," Bayramov said. Another priority area of the bilateral cooperation, according to the expert, is energy. "Today, Iran's accession to the Southern Gas Corridor project is being discussed, and joint development of oil fields in the Caspian Sea is on the agenda," Bayramov said. Rouhani will arrive in Azerbaijan with a two-day official visit on March 28. A number of documents on cooperation are expected to be signed during the visit. The Iranian president will also take part in the opening of an automobile plant in the Neftchala Industrial Zone and the Astara-Astara railway. In 2017, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $257 million, which is 16 percent more than in 2016. In January-February 2018, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to about $43 million. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Turkmenistan for a two-day official visit, the Turkmenistan State News Agency reports. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during talks with his Iranian counterpart in Ashgabat noted that the two countries are active participants of negotiations to determine the legal status of the Caspian Sea. A legal framework has been formed to regulate the activities of coastal states, new forms and mechanisms of multilateral cooperation are being created in such spheres as security, emergency situations, trade and economic cooperation, transport and communications, ecology, according to the report. Construction of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport is nearing completion, the report noted. This will allow us in the future to build up communication with the Iranian ports of Anzali and Neka and to greatly increase the international multi-modal transportation through the port of Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf, the Turkmen president said. Berdimuhamedov also spoke about the need to step up the activity of the intergovernmental commission for cooperation in energy, transport, communication, machine-building industry, light industry, agriculture and processing sectors. Earlier it was reported that a solemn opening ceremony of a new international port will be held in the Caspian city of Turkmenbashi in early May. The port is designed to ensure a higher level of trade and economic cooperation between Asian and European countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) is negotiating supply of Liquefied Natural Gas from State Oil Company of Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) after the two countries signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) last year. "A Price Negotiating Committee (PNC) has been constituted with approval of Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet to discuss LNG pricing issues between PLL and SOCAR," official sources told Pakistani media. Following the agreement, they said Pakistan had nominated Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSOCL), Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL), Pakistan LNG Terminal Limited (PLTL), Oil and Gas Development Company Limited(OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) for negotiating sale and purchase agreement for petroleum products, LNG supply and establishment of LNG terminals. Azerbaijani side nominated the SOCAR for the purpose. The sources said draft of sale and purchase agreement for petroleum products had been prepared by PSO and negotiations in this regard were expected to start with SOCAR shortly. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Nar has implemented a significant social project on the eve of Novruz holiday. Known for keeping matters of national importance in the constant spotlight, Nar, together with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has organized a visit to one of the military bases, located at the frontline, to meet with soldiers of the Azerbaijani Army. During the visit, the operator had a special surprise for soldiers who serve at the military base. With the initiative and organizational support of Nar, more than 100 parents from various regions of Azerbaijan were able to visit the base, located at the front zone, in which their sons were at the military service. This holiday surprise, organized together with the Ministry of Defense, has allowed the parents to celebrate Novruz holiday with their children, who serve at the close proximity of the frontline. Head of public relations department of Azerfon LLC Aziz Akhundov, who also participated in this trip, has indicated that promotion of national traditions and values such as patriotism is one of the main missions of Nar. Azerbaijani soldiers are our source of reliance and our pride. Our moral duty is to be with our soldiers on the eve of Novruz. We are congratulating our brave soldiers, who defend our homeland, and wish them to fulfill this glorious duty successfully, and safely return to their families soon, said Aziz Akhundov. The event was accompanied by a concert program, and the soldiers received special presents from Nar, including more than 200 books. The event was organized just before the 100 years anniversary of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, and during the Novruz holiday which resembles our nations rich traditions. The aim was to bring joy and express our deepest respect to the brave soldiers of Azerbaijan, who are in defense of Fatherland. Azerfon LLC (Nar) started its operations on March 21, 2007, and within a short period 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkeys National Railway Company has announced a tender for construction of two bridges in the countrys western Izmir province. The tender will be held at 10:00 (UTC +3) on April 18. Bids are accepted at: Ataturk Caddesi, 121/A, Alsancak Konak/Izmir. Local and foreign companies, excluding consortiums, can take part in the tender. The tender winner must complete the construction within 120 days. Phone: (+90 232) 464 31 31 Fax: (+90 232) 464 77 98 Participation fee is 200 Turkish liras excluding VAT. (1 USD = 3.9814 TRY on March 27) Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey expects the number of tourists visiting the country to be over 30 million in 2018, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, Turkish media reported on March 27. Yildirim said that the tourism sector will be profitable in Turkey in 2018. "Turkey has an important tourist potential in the region," Yildirim said. According to the Turkish Institute of Statistics (TUIK), Turkey's revenues from the tourism sector grew by 18.9 percent in 2017 compared to 2016, and amounted to $26.283 billion. Reportedly, 77.4 percent of the total income falls on the share of foreign tourists and 22.6 percent - Turkish citizens living abroad. By late 2017, 32.4 million tourists visited Turkey, which is by 27.84 percent more than in 2016. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Kyrgyz Finance Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev met with Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wencai Zhang, Kabar reported. The press service of the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that during the meeting the sides discussed issues of cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and ADB, in particular, the implementation of projects on irrigation and water supply. The Minister of Finance greeting the ADB delegation on behalf of the Ministry of Finance thanked the bank's management for the assistance and support for socio-economic reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic. "The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic began to develop a draft long-term development strategy until 2040. In the coming days, we will discuss this document at a meeting of the National Council for Sustainable Development. The priority areas for the Kyrgyz Republic are the development of information and communication technologies, the issues of providing clean drinking water and improving irrigation networks," Kasymaliev said. The Minister of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic suggested to the ADB management to take into account these priority directions in the course of developing a new Partnership Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic and ADB. Kasymaliev also asked to consider the possibility of approving the ADB portfolio for the Kyrgyz Republic for the period 2018-2022, if possible, more grant funds. In turn, ADB Vice President Wencai Zhang noted that ADB's cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic has been fruitful for 24 years and at the moment ADB is preparing a draft Strategy for the development of partnership until 2030. "Under the new Strategy, ADB will continue to cooperate with the Central Asian region, including the Kyrgyz Republic on poverty reduction, the expansion of public-private partnership projects, and will continue to work on joint projects taking into account new priority areas," he said. Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Erlan Abdyldaev met in Tashkent with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federico Mogherini, Kabar with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. During the meeting, the sides discussed topical issues of the bilateral agenda, organization of high level mutual visits, as well as negotiations on a new agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the EU. Mogherini in the context of the March 15 meeting of the Central Asian leaders in Astana, noted the positive dynamics of development of cooperation in the region. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Kyrgyzstan Mevlut Cavusoglu and Erlan Abdyldaev discussed prospects for expansion of bilateral cooperation during the meeting within the international conference on Afghanistan entitled "Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity," held in Tashkent, the Foreign Minister of Turkey tweeted. Chavushoglu stressed that Turkey pays special attention to the development of bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan, as well as with other Turkic-speaking countries. The sides also concluded agreements on intensification of interstate political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, through mutual visits of interdepartmental delegations and the regular meetings of the joint Kyrgyz-Turkish commission on trade and economic cooperation. The international conference on Afghanistan started in Tashkent on March 27. The list of participants of the conference includes Central Asian foreign ministers, UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Magerini, as well as Deputy Secretary of State of the US for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon. Special representatives of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, special adviser to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, special envoy of the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, NATO delegations, Collective Security Treaty Organization, representatives from France and the United Arab Emirates also participate in the conference. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: The government of Tajikistan officially denied the alleged transport of Taliban terrorists weapons through its territory. "The baseless statement by General John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, in an exclusive interview with the BBC about alleged supplies of arms through the border of Tajikistan to the Taliban terrorist groups is deeply regrettable," the Tajik Foreign Ministry said in a message. The ministry also stressed that Tajikistan had never recognized the legitimacy of the Taliban and, as an advocate of seeking a speedy peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, never provided its territory to third countries to carry out such actions, contrary to the fundamental approaches and the principled position of the country in matters of peace and security. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Intensification of terrorist activities in the north of Afghanistan causes serious concern for Dushanbe, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirodzhiddin Aslov said at the international conference on Afghanistan, held in Tashkent, Tajik media outlets reported. "The activation of terrorist groups in northern regions of Afghanistan, especially in the territories bordering Tajikistan, as well as the participation of a certain number of citizens of the post-Soviet republics in terrorist organizations in Afghanistan cause our serious concern," Aslov said. An international conference on Afghanistan entitled "Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity" started in Tashkent on March 27. The list of participants of the conference includes Central Asian foreign ministers, UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Magerini, as well as Deputy Secretary of State of the US for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon. Special representatives of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, special adviser to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, special envoy of the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, NATO delegations, Collective Security Treaty Organization, representatives from France and the United Arab Emirates also participate in the conference. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 Trend: Tajikistan is an important player in solving water problems at the regional level, said President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in his article titled Water for Sustainable Development, published in UN Chronicle. Water plays a crucial role in the development of mankind. From time immemorial people have settled near water, which has always been a source of life and well-being. Humanity has praised and glorified it as a sacred resource for thousands of years. Today, due to rapid population growth, economic development and other challenges that impact the natural resources, the value of water has increased dramatically. In my statement at the First Asia-Pacific Water Summit in 2007, I noted that ...the world development trends suggest that the cost of water might exceed the cost of oil, gas, coal and other natural resources essential for the sustainable future of each country and region. Numerous studies conducted over the past 10 years proved, with facts and figures, the accuracy of that statement and encouraged the international community to focus on addressing water issues. As an essential resource for sustainable development, water has been included in numerous documents and strategies for development at the regional, national and global levels. As a result, various aspects of water issues were incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Such an accomplishment was made possible thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of various stakeholders. I am pleased and proud that my country, the Republic of Tajikistan, has made and continues to make a substantial contribution to this process. From 2000 to 2016, at the initiative of Tajikistan, the United Nations General Assembly adopted seven resolutions on water. Among them are International Year of Freshwater (2003);1 International Decade for Action, Water for Life, 2005-2015;2 International Year of Water Cooperation, 2013;3 and International Decade for Action, Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028;4 which deserve special attention. Throughout this period, Tajikistan has repeatedly provided a platform for discussing global water issues. We continue pursuing this course by actively promoting water issues identified in the 2030 Agenda. As a member of the High-level Panel on Water, Tajikistan, in cooperation with other panel members, has proposed a number of initiatives and is advancing them by demonstrating political leadership and commitment. The recently published outcome document of the Panel calls for further mobilization of efforts of all stakeholders, especially political leaders, in the adoption and implementation of measures aimed at ensuring the sustainable use and management of water resources. The Friends of Water group, established at the initiative of Tajikistan in 2010, currently comprises 51 United Nations Member States, making a significant contribution to the ongoing discussion of water-related issues, as well as to the adoption of relevant decisions within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly. Tajikistan has also been an important player in solving water problems at the regional level. About 60 per cent of water resources of the rivers in Central Asia (the Aral Sea basin) are formed in Tajikistan, and our country generously shares this vital resource with our neighbours. Tajikistan is a co-founder of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and its two commissions, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) and the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), which provide platforms for discussing urgent transboundary water issues in the region. In Central Asia, where the water source mainly originates from within the territories of the two upstream countriesKyrgyzstan and Tajikistanand the lions share of this water is used by the downstream countriesKazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistanintergovernmental water cooperation is the key not only for addressing water problems and issues of social and economic development, but also for ensuring peace, stability and security. Water cooperation acquires even more significance today against the backdrop of the ever-increasing impact on the region of challenges such as climate change and population growth. For instance, in Central Asia in the 1960s per capita water supply was equal to 8.4 thousand m3 per year, while today it has experienced a fourfold decrease, accounting for up to 2.1 thousand m3 per year. This amount exceeds the global indicators by almost eight times. Meanwhile, the population growth rate in the region, at more than 2 per cent per year, is among the highest in the world, and freshwater resources are steadily depleting. According to experts, the Central Asian glaciers, which are the main source of water for the rivers in the region, have been diminishing on average by 0.6 to 0.8 per cent per year in terms of glacial area, and by 0.1 per cent per year in terms of ice volume. The current situation demands that urgent measures be undertaken to adapt to the dramatic effects of climate change and to promote the sustainable management of water resources in the region. This can be achieved only through the coordinated actions of all countries involved in constructive regional cooperation, with due consideration to their respective interests, the improvement of the institutional and legal framework, and a significant increase in investment in infrastructure. The introduction of integrated water resources management (IWRM) at both the regional and national levels is an essential component of this process. Tajikistan has already begun reforming its water sector, taking into account the basic principles of IWRM, including the introduction of basin water resources management. To this end, in 2015, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan adopted the Water Sector Reform Programme for the period of 2016-2025. It is aimed at improving the legal framework and institutional mechanisms, developing infrastructure and creating a relevant base of implementation tools, including database and information systems, scientific and research works, capacity development and other water management tools. In Tajikistan, where over 95 per cent of electricity is generated by hydroelectric power stations, water and energy are closely interrelated. Development of agriculture is also primarily based on the use of water resources, since more than 80 per cent of agricultural products are produced through irrigation. It is also important to note the negative impact of climate change that causes water-related disasters such as floods and mudflows. Providing the population with access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation remains the top priority for the water sector. This issue is especially urgent in rural areas, where over 70 per cent of the countrys population lives. Accordingly, water, among other key issues, is given priority in the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the Period up to 2030. To systematize all water-related goals and objectives of sustainable development, the country is currently drafting its 2030 National Water Strategy. A new draft of the Water Code of the Republic of Tajikistan that accounts for current trends and requirements has been introduced and is currently under consideration. The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is given priority in these documents. Numerous studies and analyses of the impact of global challenges such as climate change, population growth and urbanization have been done. It is clear that these challenges will affect global demand for fresh water. By 2030 it will increase by 50 per cent, creating a 40 per cent deficit in available freshwater resources. According to various institutions and experts, over 844 million people in the world still do not have access to safe drinking water, 1.8 billion people drink water from sources contaminated by faeces, and 2.4 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation. It is projected that by 2050, 2.3 billion more people will be living in regions with increased stress on water resources. A significant impact of climate change is manifested in the form of water-related natural disasters. Between 2000 and 2016, due to floods and landslides, over 107,000 people died. According to preliminary estimates, by 2050, the value of assets that will be subject to risk because of floods, may amount to $45 trillion. One of the serious consequences of such phenomena is the destruction and disabling of various infrastructure of the national economy. There are many other problems and challenges that exacerbate the current situation and undermine our efforts to achieve the SDGs. These trends will persist in the coming decades and humanity needs to take all necessary measures to address them. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, and the Paris Agreement have already laid a solid foundation for further advancement of water issues at various levels. However, political will, mobilization of efforts of all stakeholders and adequate approaches and tools are required for their successful implementation. In our view, a number of issues must be taken into consideration before further steps are made in this direction. 1. Financing. The financial and economic crises of recent years continue to negatively affect the efforts of Member States to ensure adequate financing for the water sector. In this regard, support of initiatives aimed at improving financing for the water sector, including the use of existing global investment funds, such as the Green Climate Fund, is essential and timely. This is especially relevant for developing countries. It is estimated that an investment of $15 to $30 billion in improving water management in developing countries could yield an immediate economic gain of up to $60 billion. In this context, increased funding for the water sector from the state budget acquires special significance. It should also be noted that despite a steady increase in the share of official development assistance (ODA) in the water sector, the total amount allocated for ODA remains unchanged and has not exceeded 5 per cent since 2005. 2. Investment and infrastructure. Modernization of existing infrastructure and the building of a new one, as well as the integration of new technologies, will undoubtedly play a key role in ensuring reliable regulation and effective use of water resources, therefore making a significant contribution to improved water security. For example, the construction of large and medium-sized reservoirs and hydropower plants allows for a reliable regulation of run-off during climate variability, generates inexpensive and environmentally sound electricity, protects territories and population from mudflows and floods, assists in mitigating the effects of drought and significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. A properly designed infrastructure project can help resolve an entire range of problems. The private sector can play an important role in this process by creating public-private partnerships and other mechanisms. 3. The transition to green growth and the nexus approach. As a renewable source of energy, water significantly contributes to ensuring green growth, which presupposes that the economy will gradually refuse to use non-renewable sources of energy. Today, hydropower accounts for about 20 per cent of the worlds electricity production. Meanwhile, available resources and opportunities can allow to significantly increase this number. An integrated approach is necessary for addressing the issues of population growth, such as an increase in food and electricity production, and meeting other needs. For this reason, the transition to integrated water resources management and the application of the nexus approach are essential to achieving these goals. 4. Involvement of all stakeholders. The establishment of a multilateral partnership mechanism involving all stakeholders in the discussion of water-related issues will ensure balanced decisions, with due consideration to everyones interests. Women can play a vital role in this process. 5. Transboundary cooperation issues. The development of water diplomacy is a key tool for resolving intergovernmental water-related issues. A total of 145 countries are located in international river basins, and the well-being of their populations depends on the availability of well-established water cooperation. Lack of such cooperation poses serious risks and costs, leaving many problems unresolved, which has a negative impact on the economic and social situations in countries that share common river basins. The outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), The future we want, identified improved water resources management as the basis for achieving sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development included an SDG dedicated to water. As a logical continuation of these ideas, the Republic of Tajikistan made a proposal to declare the period from 2018 to 2028 as the International Decade for Action, Water for Sustainable Development, which was unanimously supported by all United Nations Member States. The Decade will provide an important platform for political dialogue and the exchange of information and experience, becoming an important tool for promoting the achievement of internationally agreed goals and targets related to water resources, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda. We are confident that the international community will take advantage of the opportunities provided by the new International Decade for Action and address water-related issues at all levels, including the achievement of the water-related goals and objectives of sustainable development. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Voting at the parliamentary election was held in Turkmenistan on March 25, with 284 candidates running for 125 seats, the Central Commission on Elections and Referenda in Turkmenistan said. Election was held in conditions of multi-party system, as well as universal, equal, direct, secret, free electoral right on an alternative basis, Gulmurad Muradov, chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Turkmenistan, said at a briefing. Election of members of local government and self-government bodies of Turkmenistan also took place on March 25. A total of 91.69 percent of voters all over Turkmenistan cast their ballots at the parliamentary election, as well as at the election of members of local government and self-government bodies. A total of 2,604 polling stations were established for voting at the election, including 39 polling stations established at diplomatic missions and consulates of Turkmenistan abroad. A total of 168 candidates were nominated from the political parties of Turkmenistan, while 116 candidates were nominated from citizen groups. International observers from the UN, the CIS, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the SCO, the US, Austria, the UAE, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, China and other countries came to monitor the election. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The parliamentary election in Turkmenistan on March 25 were held in accordance with international norms and there were no serious violations, Sergei Lebedev, head of the CIS observer mission, chairman of the executive committee of the CIS, said at a briefing in Ashgabat. He said that the parliamentary election in Turkmenistan, where 284 candidates were running for 125 seats, were held on a multi-party basis and were open, free and competitive. No essential shortcomings that could have affected the election results, distort them or prevent citizens from exercising their right to free expression of will, were found, said Lebedev. It was earlier reported that the task of the CIS observer mission is to evaluate the election campaign for compliance with national legislation and assist in holding free and democratic election. According to the Turkmen constitution, the parliament passes laws, makes changes and amendments to the Basic Law, approves the state budget, solves the issues concerning nationwide referendums and appoints MPs, members of the representative bodies. Moreover, the parliament ratifies and denounces international treaties, solves the issues of changing the state border and the administrative-territorial division of the country. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Ashgabat will host today the talks between the presidents of Turkmenistan and Iran, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hassan Rouhani, the Turkmen government said in a message. The two presidents intend to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, flesh out the key areas of cooperation. The Turkmen-Iranian business forum, timed to coincide with this high-level meeting, will also contribute to further intensification of contacts between the state and private structures of the two countries, the Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news agency said. According to the agency, the proximity of the two states positions on a number of issues of regional and international policy determined the productive cooperation of Turkmenistan and Iran within the framework of international structures. Iran supported the resolutions adopted at the initiative of Turkmenistan by the UN General Assembly on the safe and secure transit of energy resources, as well as on international cooperation in the development of transport and communication systems. Significant progress has been achieved on the harmonization of the draft Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which is planned to be signed at the next summit of heads of the Caspian states. Confirming their desire for an early solution of this issue, the neighboring countries invariably advocate the Caspian Sea to be a sea of peace, good-neighborliness and effective international cooperation. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has issued an official statement on its website following monitoring of the parliamentary election in Turkmenistan March 25, 2018. The mission worked under the invitation of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of Turkmenistan (Central Election Commission) and the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The SCO observer mission monitored the preparation and conduct of the parliamentary election in Turkmenistan March 20-26, 2018. The mission considers invitation of the international observers as the desire of the Turkmen leadership to ensure maximum openness, transparency and democracy of the election, the statement said. Fifteen observers - representatives of the legislative, executive and electoral bodies of the SCO member states, as well as officials of the SCO Secretariat, were accredited in the mission. The mission notes that the alternativeness of the election was conditioned by the nomination of candidates from three parties - the Democratic Party, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Agrarian Party, as well as from groups of citizens, which allowed voters to nominate the best-trained candidates to the Turkmen Parliament. A total of 125 MPs were to be elected in Turkmenistan. As many as 125 district election commissions and 2,604 precinct election commissions were formed, including 39 election commissions at diplomatic missions abroad. A total of 3,289,979 voters were registered. The mission states that the Turkmen parliamentary election took place in accordance with the requirements of the electoral legislation of Turkmenistan and the international commitments undertaken by the state. No violations that put under question the elections legitimacy were noted by the mission. The mission recognizes the election as transparent, free, credible and democratic, the statement said. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistan is always ready to host talks between the government of Afghanistan and Taliban movement, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. Sharing the common responsibility for the future of Afghanistan and based on the traditionally friendly relations between Uzbek and Afghan nations, we are ready to create all the necessary conditions and host direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban movement at any stage of the peace process, the Uzbek president said addressing the opening of the international conference on Afghanistan. The head of state noted that security of Afghanistan is equal to security of Uzbekistan. We cant allow terrorist organizations to turn Afghanistan into their shelter, Mirziyoyev noted. He said that a roadmap on international communitys assistance to the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan has to be adopted. High-level international conference on Afghanistan Peace Process, Cooperation in the Sphere of Security and Regional Interaction is being held in Tashkent on March 2627, 2018. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: The peace process in Afghanistan is closely connected with efforts aimed at struggle against financing of the international terrorism, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on March 27. We believe in importance for the external powers to unconditionally support the Afghan government in its intent to get rid of bases of the foreign terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, to prevent financial and technical support of the terrorism without distinction, the president said, addressing the opening of the international conference on Afghanistan in Tashkent. He added that the terrorism and extremism turned into really an unprecedented threat for the global security and development. The president noted that the international community shouldn't repeat the past mistakes and has to remember about the common security. We obviously have to realize we struggle not simply for the future of Afghanistan, but for our common security, for the world without terrorism, violence, Shavkat Mirziyoyev underlined. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: EU is ready to partly remove sanctions from Taliban movement, so Talibs could participate in Afghanistan peace talks, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said on March 27. Addressing the international peace conference on Afghanistan in Tashkent, Mogherini noted that participants of the meeting have gathered to support Afghanistan peace process. Taliban must make a decision and demonstrate courage, use the opportunity and arrange peace. We want to express EUs commitment to this process, Mogherini underlined. According to her, the situation in Afghanistan has already become better, but the changes must go on and become irreversible. She said the conflict can be overcome and the EU supports cooperation. What can we do? From diplomatic point of view, we can show assistance by removing certain individuals from sanction lists. We could also work with persons, who laid down weapons, to support their families, so they could find their place in society, Mogherini added. She also noted that the peace process in Afghanistan belongs only to Afghans and the warring sides have to choose the way of dialogue. Have courage to begin the peace talks. We and our partners will support you in this dialogue, Mogherini said. Earlier, the meeting between the Central Asian foreign ministers and High Representative of the European Union Federica Mogherini was held in Tashkent within the international conference on Afghanistan. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Participants of the international conference on the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan The peace process, cooperation in the security sphere and regional cooperation in Tashkent adopted the final declaration on March 27. The declaration emphasizes that a political settlement with the Taliban is the best way to end the violence in Afghanistan. There is also a need for direct peace negotiations between the government and moderate Taliban representatives without preconditions. We call on the Taliban to recognize their share of responsibility for the establishment of peace and security in Afghanistan to put an end to the suffering of the people and formally declare their readiness to enter into peace talks with the Afghan government, the declaration read. Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani urged the United States and Russia not to turn his country into a place for confrontation. We would like to urge these two friendly countries to work jointly with the Afghan government. We want to see that Afghanistan is a place for cooperation, not confrontation. This is what we want and we really appreciate the desire to establish peace, Rabbani said. The forum was attended by the Foreign Ministers of the Central Asian countries, UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto, Head of the EU's Foreign Policy Service Federica Mogherini, US Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Special representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan from the UK, Germany, and Italy, special advisor of Japans Foreign Ministry, special envoy of Qatars Foreign Ministry, high delegations from NATO, CSTO, France and the United Arab Emirates participated in the conference. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Gazenfer Hamidov Trend: Iran exported $10,796 million worth of services during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year (March 20, 2017-Feb. 20, 2018). Irans services exports registered a rise by 3.5 percent compared to the same period of the preceding year, according to the latest data released by the countrys Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade. Irans revenues via services exports amounted to $1,939.8 million in the 11th Iranian calendar month The Islamic Republic puts technical and engineering services, tourism and transit sectors in service sector exports. Irans technical and engineering services exports stood at $750 million in the 11-month period, registering a fall by 3.1 percent. Tourism sector revenues stood at $7,229 million, registering a fall by 1.1 percent year-on-year. The countrys revenues from transit increased by 19.9 percent to $2,817 million in the 11-month period. The railway transit registered highest growth year-on-year by 44.9 percent and stood at $129 million. The countrys revenues from road transit stood at $2,170 million (a 19.8 percent increase), followed by air transportation ($362 million, an 8.9 percent increase) and marine transit ($156 million, a 33.9 percent fall). Iran plans to increase the value of the services provided to other countries to $30 billion by 2021. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that he plans to ink a document on cooperation with Baku regarding the oil and gas fields of the Caspian Sea during his upcoming visit on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at Tehrans Mehrabad airport, the president called for deepening ties with the neighboring countries. Rouhani left Tehran for Ashgabat Turkmenistan, this morning, at the first step of his regional tour which will later take him to Azerbaijan. Earlier in March, Iran and Azerbaijan discussed the terms of a draft agreement on cooperation in developing some oil blocks located in the Caspian Sea. In an interview with Trend, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir Hossein Zamaninia described the possible agreement on energy cooperation as "a turning point in ties between Iran and Azerbaijan". Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Gazenfer Hamidov Trend: While Iran's industry ministry has earlier announced that the countyr's mineral exports increased by 60 percent, Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) put the figure at 18 percent. Iran exported 25 million tons of minerals, worth $1.449 billion during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year (March 20, 2017-Feb. 20, 2018), the TPOI said in its latest monthly report. The mineral sector exports registered a rise by 18 percent in terms of value and a fall by 7 percent in terms of volume, year-on-year, according to TPOI. Meanwhile the industry ministrys report says that Iran exported $1.937 billion worth of mineral products during the 11-month period, registering a 60.3 percent increase year-on-year. However, the volume of the exports (26.021 million tons) was 0.7 percent less compared to the 11-month period of the preceding year, according to the ministry. Mineral sector exports isn't the only field, where the two official bodies have published contradictory figures. The TPOI put the agriculture sector exports at 3.814 million tons, $3.546 billion, 10 and 4 percent less in terms of volume and value respectively, year-on-year. In industry ministry report agricultural products stood at 3.802 million tons, 7.3 percent less in comparison to the 11-month period of the preceding year. The value of Irans agricultural exports accounted to $2.973 billion or 3.8 percent less, year on year, according to the ministry data. Iran exported 15.796 million tons of gas condensate, worth $6.33 billion in the 11-month period, which, compared to the same period last year, indicates a 7.4 percent decrease in volume and 5.4 percent in value. The Islamic Republic also exported $421 million worth of hand-made carpets and handicrafts in the 11-month period, 19 percent more year-on-year, according to TPOI. Meanwhile according to the industry ministry data, Iran exported $406 million worth of hand-made carpets and handicrafts in the period (17.2 percent increase). The industry sector products maintained their largest share among Irans non-oil exports during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year. The country exported $15.7 billion worth of industrial products during the period, 21 percent more year-on-year. The Islamic Republic exported 37.85 million tons of industrial products, indicating a rise by 23 percent compared to the same period of the preceding year. The petrochemical products ranked second among Irans non-oil exports in the period. During the 11-month period, the value of Irans petrochemical exports decreased by 4.02 percent to $14.222 billion. Meanwhile the volume of petrochemical exports registered a fall by 6.4 percent to 35.448 million tons in the same span of time, according to the TPOI. In the 11-month period, Irans total non-oil exports, which include gas condensate and natural gas as well, stood at $41.69 billion, which indicates a 5 percent rise. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Gazenfer Hamidov Trend: The Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkmenistan signed 13 MoU and documents on cooperation on March 27 during the visit of President Hassan Rouhani to Ashgabat. The two sides signed documents for cooperation in various sectors including culture and youth affairs, science, trade, industry, agriculture and exchange of electronic customs information as well as aviation on the sidelines of the meeting between Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Rouhani, the official website of Irans president reported. A memorandum of understanding also was signed between the standard Organization on certification of the two countries. A joint statement also issued. President Rouhani arrived in Ashgabat this morning as first step of his regional tour which will later take him to Azerbaijan. During the two-day visit, Rouhani will hold meetings with senior Turkmen officials and he will later visit the city of Merv, while the representatives of the private sectors of the two countries will meet to discuss the expansion of cooperation. Tehran, Iran, March 27 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad Trend: Nowadays, Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan enjoy ample opportunities for widening economic relations, an Iranian expert told Trend. Economics Professor at Esfahan University, Komeil Tayebi, believes that high level of diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries offers a promising prospect for expansion of economic ties. The important point is that Azerbaijan is a member of the ECO, and this membership makes the expansion of ties much easier as there is a general agreement between the parties to the international organization, he said. Nowadays, in the international economy, regional partners appear as a necessary and useful factor. A regional market is a requirement for any economy to expand through increasing the volume of demand and supply. Iran and Azerbaijan, nowadays, are capable of doing this together. Another important issue between the two countries is the issue of comparative advantage that today is between the two sides. The two countries today have some advantages and disadvantages in some services and goods, and this has enabled them to benefit from the goods and services that each party has in this ability, and this is the comparative advantage of the two economies. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is expected to arrive in Baku on Wednesday, where the sides would finalize several documents on cooperation. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: President Hassan Rouhani says that Iranian companies will contribute to construction of a new power transmission line from the Iranian city of Sarakhs to the Turkmen city of Merv. Addressing a ceremony in Ashgabat for inking several documents on cooperation on Tuesday, Rouhani said the decision is aimed at increasing the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries, IRNA news agency reported. We are determined to employ all existing capacities for expansion of cooperation, Rouhani stated. Saying that Iranian constructors will cooperate in building two roads in Turkmenistan, he added that the sides during a meeting on Tuesday discussed cooperation on gas swap and the Caspian Sea. Rouhani also said the sides have discussed the issue of exports of Iranian buses to Turkmenistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkmenistan signed 13 MoUs and documents on cooperation on March 27 during the visit of President Hassan Rouhani to Ashgabat. President Rouhani arrived in Ashgabat this morning at the first leg of his regional tour, which will later take him to Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan is the 14th largest market for the Islamic Republic as Iran exported worth of $383 million of goods to the Central Asian country over the first 11 months of the last fiscal year (March 20, 2017-March 21, 2018). Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Gazenfer Hamidov Trend: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has left Tehran for Ashghabat Turkmenistan, on March 27 morning, as first step of his regional tour which will later take him to Azerbaijan. President Rouhani told reporters at Tehran airport that strengthening ties with neighbours are among the main policies of his government. Discussing bilateral, regional and international issues are among the main topics of discussion, the state-run IRINN TV reported. Multiple agreements are expected to be signed during the trip. During the two-day visit, Hassan Rouhani will meet his Turkmen counterpart and he will later visit the city of Merv, while the representatives of the private sectors of the two countries will meet to discuss the expansion of cooperation. Rouhani is also scheduled to fly to Baku on March 28 to hold talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Bilateral meetings of the delegations as well as signing various memorandums of understanding are among Rouhanis visit plans. In the meantime, Iran and Azerbaijan will ink a document on cooperation regarding the oil and gas fields of the Caspian Sea. On March 29 an event to discuss the ways for deepening economic cooperation between the two countries will be held. Senior Iranian officials including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh are accompanying President Rouhani to the two neighbouring countries. The Iranian president will return Tehran on March 29. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: Azerbaijan currently plays a significant role in regional developments and the country is performing as a link between the regional countries, Shuaib Bahman, senior expert at Eurasia Affairs, told Trend. In the meantime, the geopolitical significance of Azerbaijan in the Caucasus can contribute to its economic situation, he added. Talking about relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, the expert said that the initiative of the two countries to expand economic ties would eventually leave a tremendous impact on the economic situation in both countries and eventually the ordinary people. He noted that the bilateral ties between Iran and Azerbaijan over the recent years have considerably grown in both economy and diplomacy. Further, Shuaib Bahman noted that the International North-South Transport Corridor project plays an important role in deepening ties between the two countries in the current situation. The corridor appears to create unique opportunities for both countries once it is fully operational. This corridor will facilitate carrying cargos of these countries and in the meantime, it would bring benefits to the two countries income from the transit of goods. The full operation of the corridor would lead to a breakthrough in the economic cooperation, added the expert. The North-South transport corridor is designed to connect northern Europe with India and South-East Asia. The route will also connect the railways of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. At an initial stage, six million tons of cargo are planned to be transported through the corridor per year and 15-20 million tons of cargo in future. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Azer Ahmadbayli Trend: Middle East reminds of a large nuclear plant, where an ongoing controlled chain reaction splits uranium atoms, releasing more and more neutrons and generating more and more heat. The process is controlled by special protection system. However, if, by some reason, the mass of the fissile matter goes beyond the critical point, the reaction becomes uncontrolled, accompanied by release of a huge amount of energy and destruction. Continuous accumulation of arms in the region gradually heats up the political environment, indicating that diplomatic means make way for sword law and deterrence. What is this if not a clear sign of an impending war? I'd be happy to be wrong. Countries, mature in advanced arms technologies, dont disdain to impregnate the Middle East with deadly types of weaponry, making money for development and production of the next generation technologies. Figuratively speaking, production of the latest type of IPhone or electric car is directly or indirectly dependent on loss of lives in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Quite a favorable relation. On the other side, the regions countries are on a one way street to nowhere, unable to stop buying weaponry under the pretext of protecting themselves from aggressive neighbors or fighting terrorism. Also, what about nuclear weapons? Oh, no, selling nuclear technologies is taboo, as those crazy people can get out of hand threatening prosperity of the civilized world. According to Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), since the beginning of 2018 the US State Department has approved nine major arms sales to the Middle East states: To Saudi Arabia - sale of TOW 2B (BGM-71F-Series) missiles for an estimated cost of $670 million; sale of a Royal Saudi Land Forces Ordnance Corps Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II Case for an estimated cost of $300 million; sale of equipment and services for the continuation of the Maintenance Support Services (MSS) contract that supports the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command for an estimated cost of $106.8 million; sale of continuation of missile system support services for an estimated cost of $500 million; To the United Arab Emirates - sale of three hundred (300) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missiles, forty (40) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), thirty (30) AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical guidance units, fifteen (15) AIM-9X-2 CATM guidance units, containers, spares, support equipment and missile support for an estimated cost of $270.4 million; To Qatar - sale of equipment and support to upgrade the Qatari Emiri Air Forces (QEAF) Air Operation Center (AOC) for an estimated cost of $197 million; To Kuwait - sale of King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for an estimated cost of $259 million; sale of fast patrol boats for an estimated cost of $100 million; To Oman - sale of items and services to support an incremental Operational Flight Profile (OFP) software upgrade for F-16 subsystems, as well as Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and secure communications equipment for Mode 5 operations for an estimated cost of $62 million. Other producers of advanced military hardware try to keep pace with the US. Iraq has recently expressed interest in purchasing Russias advanced S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems. Moscows ambassador to Iraq, Maksim Maksimov, said that Russia is ready to sell the Iraqis S-400s if a suitable request for the systems is made. He noted that large amounts of military equipment including MI-35M and MI-28N helicopters, SU-25 fighters and anti-tank Kornet-TI has already been sent to Iraq to help defeat the IS (Islamic State Terrorist organization). Iraq, which ordered 73 T-90 main battle tanks from Russia last year, has taken delivery of the first batch of 36. Russian Ministry of Defense is preparing to sign military cooperation agreement with Lebanon, entailing, among other things, access of Russian warships and military aircraft to Lebanese ports and military airfields, military exercises, training of Lebanese army staff, etc. Russia has given Egypt a license to assemble 400 T-90S\SK battle tanks locally. Egypt will begin assembling first T-90S battle tanks from 2019 after receiving the needed technology from the Russian Uralvagonzavod company, the manufacturer of the tank. Qatar has signed an agreement with Turkey to establish a naval base. The agreement came during the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2018. Turkey will also export six armed, unmanned aerial vehicles to Qatars armed forces. Qatar has reportedly spent $800 million on various defense wares during DIMDEX. Britain is considering establishing a permanent military presence in Kuwait at the request of its government, which was revealed by Michael Davenport, British Ambassador to Kuwait, during his interview with Forces Network. He said the Kuwaiti government has expressed interest in such a presence, but stressed it would not be a "major" deployment. All those contracts, agreements and physical supplies took place within only last two months of this year in addition to multibillion contracts concluded last year. There are also a number of smaller deals which I omit. Do the regions states really need such heaps of deadly mechanisms? Are they ready to recognize their inability to see eye to eye with each other? If yes, the region risks turning into second Fukushima. Almost a year ago, visa-free travel regulations for Georgian citizens traveling to the European Union (EU) went into force, Agenda reports. Welcoming the special anniversary at a government session this morning, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said this is one of the countrys greatest achievements. Kvirikashvili said this historic decision would not have been possible without the consistent steps made by the government of Georgia, but it has also depended on the European choice of the Georgian people. "This is why we are all so proud today. Georgia has made it possible for its citizens to freely travel across the EU/Schengen Zone. This is not only a visa-free travel opportunity, but it is also a huge political step from the EU and our partners towards Georgia and an expression of trust, Kvirikashvili said. Thanking everyone who has contributed to the visa liberalization process, PM Kvirikashvili said the government of Georgia is taking responsible steps to avoid any violations of the visa-free regulations. The regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians entered into effect on March 28, 2017. Georgian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to the EUs Schengen Zone for a period of 90 days within any 180-day period for purposes other than working. Earlier this month the government of Georgia announced changes to the law that will introduce tougher sanctions against Georgian citizens violating the Georgia-EU visa-free travel agreement. To help Georgian citizens calculate their days in the Schengen Zone and avoid the violation of the terms of legal stay, an application called Schengen/EU App has also been created. Georgia and Israel are discussing the possibility of establishing joint information technology (IT) ventures, Agenda reports. Georgias Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili spoke with representatives of Israeli companies yesterday during his official visit to Israel about economic trends in Georgia, ongoing and scheduled reforms as well as the business and investment climate in the country. "We offered Israeli companies to establish ventures in Georgia and benefit from the advantages that...Free Trade Agreements provide for companies producing in our country, said Kumsishvili. The Georgian minister also emphasised that an innovative ecosystem is being establishing in Georgia and said "we need to share Israels experience in this field since it is the leading innovative country in the world supporting innovations itself. "Cooperation in this field will be very interesting since youth will be offered specialised educational courses. Several joint IT ventures will also be established, Kumsishvili added. Cyber-security was also one of the topics of conversation. Tunisair is counting on new African routes to drive passenger growth as it prepares for increased competition for flights to and from Europe under an Open Skies agreement with the EU, Al Arabia reports. The Tunisian state-owned airline will launch two new routes by the end of this year, to Sudan and Cameroon, the company told Reuters. That will bring the number of its African routes to 10, after it began flights to Guinea and Benin last year. New paths to growth could be vital for the survival of loss-making Tunisair, the national flag carrier and one of the North African countrys biggest employers. Some 7,000 people departed eastern Ghouta for Syrian rebel territory near the Turkish border on Tuesday under a deal arranged by Russia to surrender the enclave to the Syrian government, Russian state media and a war monitor said, Reuters reported Rebels have been gradually leaving Ghouta since Thursday, accepting safe passage for themselves and their families to Idlib in northwestern Syria after they were defeated in a fierce assault by the Russian-backed Syrian military. It marks the biggest setback for the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad since insurgents were driven from eastern Aleppo in 2016, underscoring his unassailable military position in the seven-year-long conflict. A convoy of at least 100 buses left eastern Ghouta at around 3 a.m. (0000 GMT) carrying rebel fighters, their families and other civilians who had been holed up in a pocket centered around the towns of Arbin, Ain Tarma and Zamalka. The majority were rebel fighters and their families, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Russian news agency TASS said almost 6,800 rebels and their families were moved from eastern Ghouta to Idlib, bringing the total number of rebels transported out of the area to 13,190 in the last three days. Vancouver, WA, March 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Source: Pulse Larsen Antennas March 26th, 2018 Vancouver, WA March 26th, 2018 - Pulse Larsen Antennas, a business unit of Pulse Electronics, Inc., is celebrating his 2 years launch of its HTC ceramic antenna platform. Ideally displayed in a compact business card form factor, fourteen of the most popular HTC antenna types and their associated clearance areas are exhibited. PulseLArsen is one of the last global antenna company manufacturing its own ceramic antenna product line, from compound powder to automatic precision laser tuning, testing and packaging. This successful kit helps worldwide engineers to quickly select, which is the best antenna for their needs on the fly and the associated space needed to fully embed the antenna in their product and makes it the perfect tool for the IOT World. says Olivier Robin, General Manager of the Business Unit. The popular W3010 can accommodate all GNSS frequency bands (GPS, BEIDOU, GALILEO, GNSS), and the W3009 or W3011 show a simple solution to get GPS signal. The W3008, W3008G show different 2.4GHz solutions. The W3000 can be tuned at various frequencies like ISM, WIFI or GPS. The W3013 is ideal for ISM868 band. The W3006 will help getting a better signal strength on your dual band wifi antenna system. The W3047a is a dual band 850/1900MHz antenna solution. PulseLarsen also offers HTC ceramic patches 13x13, 18x18 and 25x25 passive (W3213, W3099, W3207, W3216, W3223, W324, W3225) or active (GPSGB1315, GPSGB1330, GPSGB2515, GPSGB2530). Engineers can now download in one click, all associated files for each embedded antenna product from this link: http://pulselarsenantennas.com/online-tools/ . Each ZIP file contains the step file, the PCB layout and the datasheet of the chosen product. Engineers can ask for technical support by dialing the +1.800.ANTENNA or send a request on each continent at antennas.us@pulseelectronics.com, antennas.eu@pulseelectronics.com, antennas.as@pulseelectronics.com to receive our selection tool guide selector for your given application. Buyers can find the products on our Stock check page from our loyal distributors: https://www.pulseelectronics.com/stock_check About Pulse Electronics Pulse Electronics is a leading provider of electronic components that help customers build the next great product by providing the needed technical solutions. Pulse Electronics, including the Larsen brand of antennas, has a long operating history (celebrating 70 years) of innovation in antennas, power and signal magnetics, as well as the ability to ramp quickly into high-quality, high-volume production. The Company serves the wireless and wireline communications, power management, military/aerospace, and automotive industries. Pulse Electronics is a participating member of the IEEE, SFF, OIF, HDBaseT Alliance, CommNexus, NFC Forum, MoCA, and IWPC. Visit the Pulse Electronics website at www.pulseelectronics.com. Copyright 2018 Pulse Electronics Corporation. All rights reserved. All brand names and trademarks are properties of their respective holders. Contact: Olivier Robin, Wireless Infrastructure Division +1-858-943-8008 orobin@pulseelectronics.com Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0e3600e-293a-44a3-9969-392ca344f9d5 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65d8fba5-fb73-4f08-a806-e2b1d0d63f65 Two Qatari fighter jets flew dangerously close to two civilian aircraft from the United Arab Emirates while they were in Bahraini airspace on Monday, UAE state news agency WAM quoted its civil aviation authority as saying. WAM said the General Civil Aviation Authority had condemned the provocative action, which it said followed two similar incidents that had been reported by the UAE to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations aviation agency. Qatar denied the claim in a statement by its civil aviation authority. The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, imposed travel, diplomatic and trade sanctions on Qatar last June, accusing it of supporting Islamist extremists. Bahrains civil aviation authority confirmed the incident took place, saying two Qatari fighter jets flew under a UAE Airbus A320 en route from the emirate of Fujairah to Rome, forcing the UAE aircraft to fly at a higher altitude. Bahrain said this was the second such incident to take place on the same day. The airline involved was not specified. The Bahraini agency said in a statement carried by state news agency BNA that the Qatari jets entered airspace managed by Bahrain without prior authorization, and that the necessary measures had been taken to file a complaint with the ICAO. Saudi King Salman confirmed, on Tuesday, that Saudi Arabia will respond firmly to any attempts aimed at its security, Al Arabiya reports. Saudi Arabia affirmed after blocking seven missiles launched towards its territory Sunday night that the Houthi militias' violations expose Iran's continued interference and destructive role. King Salman expressed his thanks and appreciation to the leaders of the brotherly countries for their condemnation of the missile attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias which were launched towards the Kingdom on Sunday night. The Saudi Civil Defense stated that an Egyptian resident was killed and the two others wounded in Riyadh, following the fall of Houthi missiles flying shrapnel. The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels fired three missiles at Riyadh and four others at the southern cities of Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran, with the coalition saying they all targeted populated areas. OPEC is seeking a long-term deal to cooperate on oil output controls with Russia and other non-OPEC producers, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Al Arabiya reports. We are working to shift from a year-to-year agreement to a 10-20 year agreement, the crown prince told Reuters in an interview in New York. We have agreement on the big picture, but not yet on the detail. Saudi Arabia recruited Russia and other producers to collaborate on oil supply curbs in 2017 after oil prices crashed and the Saudi oil minister said last week Riyadh hoped to extend that deal into 2019. The crown prince said a flotation of 5 pct of state Saudi oil company Aramco could take place at the end of 2018 or early 2019, depending on market conditions. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said earlier that the agreement between producers from within and outside OPEC had helped absorb two-thirds of the surplus reserves from the market and praised Saudi Arabia's role in restoring energy markets. Al-Falih stressed in an interview with Al Arabiya on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos late last year on the importance of ongoing cooperation with Russia. Trade turnover between Georgia and Israel is strong and steady, but the partnership can intensify and reach $1 billion over the course of the next five years, announces Georgias Ministry of Economy, Agenda reports. Developing trade and economic relations was one of the main topics of discussion at todays meeting between Georgias Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili and the Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel, Eli Cohen. Trade turnover between the counties increased by 31 percent in 2017 compared to 2016, while export increased by 28 percent during the same period. Juice, beer, wine, mineral water and nuts are Georgias main export products to Israel. Israel is one of the first states which invested impressively in Georgias economy. As of today 271 Israeli companies have been operating in Georgia, the total sum of the investments of which reaches $124 million. At the meeting Kumsishvili and Cohen agreed to deepen cooperation in various fields of economy. The ministers found several sectors interesting for future cooperation such as maritime transport, logistics, advanced technology and tourism. As for tourism, the number of Israeli tourists visiting Georgia increased by 26 percent in 2017 compared to 2016. Israel is the seventh country on the list of countries from where the largest number of travellers came to Georgia in 2017. Brazil's Finance Minister, Henrique Meirelles, will step down from the government next week and join the ranks of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, senior government officials said on Monday, accordin to Xinhua. The news of Meirelles' move was broken by the government's chief of staff, Eliseu Padilha. Meirelles' quit from the post opens the possibility that he will run in the Oct. 7 presidential election, or be on the ticket as vice president. Meirelles is currently a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which has said it will support him in the election. Moreover, the minister of political affairs, Carlos Marun, also told the press that "the natural candidate is President (Michel) Temer but if he does not want it or can't run, Minister Meirelles' candidacy would be very welcome." Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles plans to be a presidential candidate, he has to resign from the government post by April 7. Meirelles' fame has been rising in Brazil as he is credited with turning around the country's economy after two years of severe recession. He also has a measure of cross-party appeal as he was governor of the central bank during the left-wing government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The news of his exit spurred worries on Brazilian markets, which dropped earlier Monday before bouncing back amid indications that trade tensions between the United States and China might be alleviating. While Meirelles denied for a long time he had any intention of running, he has since last year admitted he was thinking about the possibility. Current polls find Lula leading preferred candidates for the October election, but he is facing a 12-year prison sentence for corruption that could bar him from running. Bangladesh is not expecting much help from foreign donors as it forges ahead with plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya refugees to an uninhabited island, an undertaking that does not yet have a timeline, a state minister said in an interview, Reuters reports. The minister of state for foreign affairs, Mohammed Shahriar Alam, told Reuters on Friday that Bangladesh was paying the entire roughly $280 million to build homes and fortify the muddy island in the Bay of Bengal from cyclones, and that it was mulling a formal request for international funds. No refugees who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar would be moved there against their will, he added. Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims crossed the border from Myanmars Rakhine state since August, and are in cramped camps at Coxs Bazar. Because a repatriation deal between the neighboring countries has been delayed, Bangladesh aims to prepare new homes on the nearby island, called Bhasan Char, before the onset of seasonal monsoon rains that could come in late April. We dont have a timeline because its a lot of money, Alam said at Bangladeshs United Nations office in New York. We are so far building it with our own finances. I am not very hopeful about how much funds the international community will be able to raise. A suspect who was barricaded in a garage after a police officer was shot in northeast Calgary is dead, police say, CBC reports. Details were sparse, with police only saying the suspect was "located deceased." There are no other suspects in the shooting at this time. Sources told CBC News that the shooting inflicted multiple wounds, but the officer was in stable condition as of 1 p.m. MT. Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin was seen entering Foothills Medical Centre early in the afternoon. The suspect was barricaded in a garage on the 100 block of Abingdon Way N.E. in the suburban neighbourhood of Abbeydale. The garage caught fire as the standoff played out. Achieving a stable peace in Afghanistan is only possible by launching a constructive dialogue between the countrys government and the Taliban movement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday, TASS reports. "It is obvious that it is impossible to resolve the conflict by force, no matter what strategies on that score are adopted in foreign capitals. The military solution ideas are divorced from historical experience and todays realities," he said at the high-level international conference on security in Afghanistan titled "Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Cooperation" in Tashkent. "It is only possible to achieve real peace and stability by launching a constructive dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban movement." The situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating due to the growing activities of the Taliban and the Islamic State terror group, he went on. "The situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate," Lavrov said. "Since there is no intra-Afghan political process, the Taliban movement fully or partially controls about half of the countrys territory and continues to conduct military activities and acts of sabotage. The growing presence of the so-called Islamic State, particularly in Afghanistans northern provinces, causes special concern," the Russian top diplomat added. Moscow will give an adequate response to the decision by Washington and a number of Western countries to expel Russian diplomats, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Tuesday, TASS reports. "An adequate response will be given to all steps of the United States and the European Union, which we see," Zakharova said. "This refers to the expulsion of Russian diplomats and the closure of the consulate-general [in Seattle]." The UK has not provided any information on the case of former Russian military intelligence Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia poisoned in Salisbury, Zakharova said. "We demand that the UK provide all available information on this case," the diplomat said. "To date, Russia has received zero information on what happened." "Perhaps, this data is not being made public, because it includes nothing but political slogans," Zakharova noted. With Russia in Israel's backyard, Jerusalem must do what is in its interest not what is in the interests of others regarding whether it should join other western countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the recent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday, The Jerusalem Post reported. Asked by The Jerusalem Post at a briefing sponsored by The Israel Project whether he thought Israel should join a long list of other western countries and expel Russian diplomats, Gallant said that Israel is not seen by the Russians as an enemy for a number of reasons. First of all because we share some ideas and interests, said Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet who will speak at The Jerusalem Posts conference in New York on April 29. Secondly, because there are more than a million immigrants who have come from Russia to Israel, and the Russian administration views them as citizens, or old citizens, or veterans of of Russia. And thirdly, we have to remember what are the proportions and what are the distances. For Israel, Gallant said, Russia is now in its backyard. And while Israel should behave as part of the Western world, it should also be proud that we can negotiate, talk and live side-by-side with the Russians." This is what we are doing, he continued, adding that so far Israel have maneuvered carefully and well in very complicated situation where the Russians are here. Gallant said that the issue of expelling Russian diplomats has not been discussed by the security cabinet. The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, would not comment on whether Israel does intend to take actions against Russian diplomats in solidarity with the British, or whether it has been asked to do so. In addition to Britain, another 23 countries have expelled some Russian diplomats, with the US expelling 60 diplomats on Monday. Of the 23 countries, 16 of them are EU countries. In addition to the US, the other non-EU countries to take this move are Canada, Ukraine Albania, Norway, Australia and Macedonia. Among the EU countries who have, like Israel, not taken a similar move are Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Portugal Slovenia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Austria, Greece, Malta and Slovakia. There are currently 28 EU countries. Last week Britain let Israel know that it was not pleased with the statement Jerusalem issued condemning the poison attack but which did not explicitly mention Russia. A statement put out by the British embassy said that Britain expects strong statements of support from all our close partners, Israel included. Moscow, on the other hand, praised Israel for not being drawn into what it said was a hysterical anti-Russian campaign following the poisoning. TORONTO, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. (TSXV:LEXI) (LEXI or the Company) is pleased to announce positive results from its initial geophysical surveys on each of the first three concessions studied in the northern section of its holdings in the Antofalla Salar. Interpreted brine horizons were detected throughout the entire 80 km2 area of these concessions, inferring the possibility that lithium-bearing brine exists beneath the properties in the northern area of the Antofalla Salar. The survey results received to date indicate that conductive horizons have been detected from just below surface to as much as 400 meters in depth. LEXIs Director of Exploration, Miles Rideout, noted, Having conducted or supervised the acquisition of thousands of kilometers of TEM soundings in brine environments over the last thirty years, Im pleased to report that the initial geophysical results exceeded our expectations. The highly conductive units encountered correlate with known brine aquifers and these data allow us to follow these target zones under areas of thick cover. LEXIs CEO, Steven Howard, responded, We knew our locations were sound and thought wed see good results. There are published assay results from drilling in the same basin just 3 km south of these properties and Argentinas largest lithium producer is just 30 km to the east, but these first survey results were better than anticipated. Interpreting such an extensive volume of potential subsurface lithium brines in this first step of our exploration program is significant. With over 200,000 hectares to survey, seeing data like this come from the first 8,000 hectares weve tested is great news. Howard added, In parallel, LEXI is preparing environmental and drill permit documents to start drilling later this year and our recently announced financing arrangements should fund drilling in our northern Antofalla properties, moving us closer to our first resource estimate. LEXI continues to position itself by leveraging our core values to deliver excellence in our teamwork, property and capital management, and shareholder value. To date, LEXI has completed 44 line-kilometers (line-km) of TEM surveys over 8 survey lines. At least 100 line-km of additional TEM surveys (12 survey lines over 14 LEXI concessions) are planned over the next 2-3 months in the northern portion of the Antofalla Salar. Brine is highly conductive, TEM surveys detect variations in subsurface conductivity a primary method for imaging aquifers. Over other methods, TEM provides greater speed of data acquisition, great depth potential, and better resolution. Although resistivity values from TEM surveys cannot confirm the presence or grade of lithium, the survey results to date have identified highly conductive zones consistent with similar lithium-bearing brine aquifers known to exist in the region. The data processed from 5 of the first 8 lines reveals outcropping volcanic units correlated to electrical resistivities of 100 Ohm-m and low-lying areas within the salar correlated to less than 1 Ohm-m, the latter depicting an upper limit of extremely conductivity occurring at a constant elevation, a characteristic commonly observed over unconfined aquifers. Of the 5 lines processed to date by Quantec Geoscience, all appear to portray extensive zones of conductive brines, detected at depths of a few meters below surface to as much as 400m below surface. Based on comparative results with similar sedimentary salar strata where lithium-bearing brines are hosted, these data indicate a likely-continuous, buried horizon of high conductivity in this part of the Antofalla basin complex. LEXIs team will utilize these results to target test well locations. With such compelling geophysical results, plans for LEXIs drilling campaign will move forward to test for chemistry, lithology, porosity, pump rates, and other hydrogeological factors. About Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. is an exploration company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of lithium brine assets in Argentina. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and has offices in Dallas, Texas and Catamarca, Argentina. The common shares of the Company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:LEXI) and the Frankfurt Exchange (FR:LO9). The Companys portfolio of prospective lithium brine concessions in the Argentina Province of Catamarca (heart of the lithium triangle) includes 90,244 hectares in and around the Antofalla Salar and a first right of refusal to acquire another 148,839 hectares, of which 110,380 hectares are located in the Antofalla Salar complex and 38,459 hectares are in the Pipanaco Salar approx. 50 km due west of Catamarca city. The Antofalla Salar complex hosts one of the largest basins in the region over 130 km long and up to 20 km across. On September 12, 2016, Albemarle Corporation, the worlds largest producer of lithium, announced its acquisition of exclusive exploration and acquisition rights to a claim block located in the center section of this salar. In March 2017, Albemarle published its belief that the Antofalla Salar is the third largest lithium deposit in the world. With rights to over 200,000 hectares of prospective lithium properties located just west of FMCs producing properties and offset north and south of Albemarles properties, the Company believes that its claim package holds the potential to deliver impressive values to its shareholders as the properties are developed. For more information about Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc., please visit www.lithiumenergi.com or view the Companys filings at www.SEDAR.com. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Caitlin Jeffs, P.Geo., a consultant of the Company, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Hobbs ________________________ Chris Hobbs, Chief Financial Officer and Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. Tel: 416 276-6689 Fax: 888 909-1033 Email: chris.hobbs@lithiumenergi.com www.lithiumenergi.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. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: receipt of all necessary stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents in respect of any offering, the absence of material changes with respect to the Company and its businesses; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure its shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: During the operation against drug traffickers in Turkeys eastern Van province, 100 kilograms of heroin have been confiscated, the provincial police department said in a message March 27. The confiscated heroin consignment was transported to Turkey from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "There are also detainees who planned to transport heroin to the EU countries," the message said. In January-February 2018, 3,722 kilograms of heroin have been confiscated, the Turkish Interior Ministry said earlier. During the reporting period, 16,802 kilograms of psychotropic substances and 202 kilograms of Bonzai drugs were confiscated in Turkey. During the reporting period, 3,823 people, including foreigners, were detained within the fight against drug traffickers. 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, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Qatar and Turkey held joint military exercises, Qatars Defense Ministry said in a message. According to the message, the two countries joint military exercises dabbed Lions Den took place from March 14 to 22. In 2017, Turkey adopted a Law on ratification of the agreement between Turkey and Qatar on deployment of a Turkish military contingent in Qatar. The military agreement between Qatar and Turkey came into force on June 9, 2017. The corresponding document was signed in Ankara on Nov.10, 2016. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Two Turkish servicemen were killed as a result of an explosion in Syrias Afrin city, the Turkish General Staff said in a message March 27. According to the message, the incident occurred on March 26. Other details of the incident have not been reported. Turkeys Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army liberated Afrin city from terrorists of Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) on March 18. 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, March 26 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Twenty-three terrorists have recently been killed as part of operations against militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization in Turkey, the Turkish Interior Ministry said in a message March 27. The message says that 11 PKK members were eliminated only in the southern province of Hatay. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey may get S-400 air missile defense systems from Russia ahead of schedule, said Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli, Turkish media reported March 27. Canikli also noted that Turkey and Russia do not have any problems hindering the purchase of the S-400 systems. Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim noted that the talks between Ankara and Washington regarding the purchase of Patriot air defense systems could not be considered as an alternative to the acquisition of Russia's S-400 systems. The negotiations between Turkey and Russia on the purchase of the S-400 systems were revealed in November 2016. Turkey will become the first NATO member state to receive the S-400 systems from Russia. The number of systems to be delivered was not officially specified. Earlier, Russian presidential aide for military-technical cooperation Vladimir Kozhin said the contract to deliver S-400 systems to Turkey would begin to be implemented at the beginning of 2020. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey does not need the EU, the Turkish media reported March 27 citing leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) of Turkey, Devlet Bahceli. Turkey is not a country that will act under the dictation of the EU, Bahceli noted. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will not allow the forces, which intend to prevent Turkey from gaining full membership in the EU, to act. Turkey intends to obtain full EU membership, he said adding that double standards are used against Turkey in the issue of accession to the EU, which is not acceptable for Ankara. An association agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed in 1963. Ankara filed an application for membership in the EU in 1987, but accession negotiations were launched in 2005. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: A terrorist, a member of the PKK terror group, with a $150,000 bounty on his head was killed in Turkey, Turkish media reported referring to military sources on March 27. The terrorist was killed during the operation of the Turkish Armed Forces in the Tunceli province in the east of the country, according to the media. Previously, it was reported that Turkeys armed forces killed one of the most dangerous terrorists of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - Songul Coskun in Syrias Afrin district. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. -- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Turkish Armed Forces liberated the Syrian city of Tel-Rifat from terrorists and established full control over it, Turkish media reported referring to military sources on March 27. Reportedly, about 10,000 fighters of the Free Syrian Army took part in the military operations in the Tel Rifat district. Earlier today it was reported that the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army launched an attack on the Syrian city of Tel Rifat. Turkeys Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army liberated Afrin city from terrorists of Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) on March 18. On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. On Aug. 24, 2016, Turkish Armed Forces, with the support of the Syrian opposition, launched the Euphrates Shield Operation against the IS militants and liberated the city of Jarabulus as well as the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria. -- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey hopes that the EU will become the hearth of genuine democracy, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, Turkish media reported on March 27. Cavusoglu noted that, unfortunately, a number of EU countries have several problems in relations with Turkey. "The EU uses double standards in relation to Turkey, but this does not mean that all EU countries do not want to see Turkey within the Union," Cavusoglu said. Previously, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Turkey does not need the EU, nevertheless, the European Union must make a final decision on Ankara's membership in this structure as soon as possible. According to Yildirim, Islamophobia has grown strongly in recent years in the EU and this could lead Europe to a serious crisis. An association agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed in 1963. Ankara filed an application for membership in the EU in 1987, but accession negotiations were launched in 2005. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Oil exports from Iraq's Kirkuk via Turkey could resume at "any moment," the head of Iraq's State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) chief said Tuesday, Daily Sabah reports. The SOMO chief noted that the Kurdistan region debt issue is obstructing the resumption of the oil exports via Turkey. Back in February, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that Iraq was discussing with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Turkey about the resumption of oil exports from Kirkuk to Turkey's Ceyhan port through the KRG-controlled pipeline, adding that oil exports from Kirkuk to Turkey would resume soon. There are five oil wells in the oil-rich Kirkuk region, two of which are controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). Unidentified attackers on several occasions blew up the strategic Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline in Iraq's northern Kirkuk province. Iraq is the second-largest crude oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after Saudi Arabia, and holds the world's fifth-largest proven crude oil reserves after Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Iran, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). English Swedish Finnish Viking Line Abp NOTICE TO GENERAL MEETING 27.3.2018, 8.30 AM Invitation to the Annual General Meeting The shareholders in Viking Line Abp are invited to the Annual General Meeting, which will be held at 12.00 noon on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at the Alandica Kultur & Kongress auditorium, Strandgatan 33, Mariehamn, Aland, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting and the distribution of voting tickets will begin at 11.00 a.m. A. The items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will deal with the following items of business: 1. Opening of the Meeting 2. Calling the Meeting to order 3. Election of persons to confirm the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes 4. Recording the legality of the Meeting 5. Recording of attendance at the Meeting and adoption of the voting list 6. Presentation of the financial statements, the Report of the Directors and the Auditors' Report for the financial year January 1December 31, 2017 7. Adoption of the financial statements and consolidated financial statements 8. Discharge of the Company's Board of Directors and President and CEO from liability for the financial year 9. Resolution on the distribution of the earnings shown in the balance sheet and on the payment of the dividend - The Board of Directors of Viking Line Abp proposes that a dividend of 0.20 per share be paid for the financial year January 1December 31, 2017. The Board further proposes that the record date for dividend payment be Friday, April 20, 2018 and that the payment date be Friday, April 27, 2018. 10. Resolution on the number of Auditors and Deputy Auditors - The Board of Directors proposes that the Company set the number of Auditors for the financial year 2018 at two and that one Deputy Auditor be appointed. 11. Resolution on the fees payable to the members of the Board of Directors and the Auditors - The Board of Directors proposes that the fees payable to the members of the Board of Directors remain unchanged as follows: Annual fee, Chairman of the Board 28,000 euros Annual fee, other regular Board members 22,000 euros Annual fee, deputy members of the Board 5,000 euros In addition, a fee of 1,000 euros per meeting is proposed. The Board also proposed that the auditors' fees be paid as invoiced. 12. Election of members of the Board of Directors - The Board proposes the re-election of the incumbent Board members and deputy members. If the Meeting approves the proposal, the Board of Directors would have the following composition: Ben Lundqvist, Chairman; Nils-Erik Eklund, Erik Gronberg, Agneta Karlsson, Dick Lundqvist, Lars G Nordstrom and Peter Wiklof, members; and Ulrica Danielsson, Stefan Lundqvist and Johnny Rosenholm, deputy members. 13. Election of Auditors The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Ylva Eriksson, Authorized Public Accountant (CGR) and Petter Lindeman, Authorized Public Accountant (CGR) be re-elected as auditors for 2018 and that that the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy, Authorized Public Accountants, be re-elected as deputy auditor. 14. Closing of the Meeting B. Annual General Meeting documents The proposals of the Board of Directors that refer to the above list of agenda items and this notice of invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be available on Viking Line Abp's website at www.vikingline.com. The Annual Report of Viking Line Abp, which includes the Company's financial statements, the Report of the Directors and the Auditors' Report, is available on the above-mentioned website. The Board's proposals and the financial statements will also be available at the Annual General Meeting. Copies of the financial statements will also be sent to shareholders, and other documents and a copy of this notice of invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the Meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website at the latest from April 27, 2018 onward. C. Instructions for participants in the Annual General Meeting 1. Right to participate and registration Each shareholder who has been registered no later than Friday, April 6, 2018 (the record date of the Meeting) in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder whose shares are registered in his/her personal Finnish book-entry account is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company. A shareholder who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting must register for the Meeting no later than 12.00 noon on Monday, April 16, 2018. Registration for the Annual General Meeting can be made: a) by e-mail to bolagsstamma@vikingline.com b) by telephone to +358 18 277 27 c) or in writing to Viking Line Abp, Pb 166, AX-22101 Mariehamn, Aland, Finland. When registering for the Meeting, the shareholder shall state his/her name and personal identification number, as well as the name of any assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of this proxy representative. The personal data that shareholders provide to Viking Line Abp will be used only for purposes connected to the Annual General Meeting and for the processing of related registrations. A shareholder who is present at the Annual General Meeting is entitled to ask questions regarding the items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting, pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act. 2. Proxy representatives and proxy documents A shareholder may participate in the Annual General Meeting and exercise his/her rights through a proxy representative. The shareholder's proxy representative shall present a dated proxy document (power of attorney) or, in some other reliable manner, demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder. 3. Holders of nominee registered shares A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay from the custodian of his/her assets the necessary instructions regarding registration of the shareholder in the shareholders' register, the issuance of proxy documents and registration for the Annual General Meeting. The account management organization of the custodian will register a holder of nominee registered shares who wants to participate in the Annual General Meeting in the temporary shareholders' register of the Company no later than 10.00 a.m. on April 13, 2018. 4. Other instructions and information On the date of this notice, March 27, 2018, the total number of shares in Viking Line Abp is 10,800,000 shares and the total number of votes in Viking Line Abp is 10,800,000. Mariehamn, March 27, 2018 VIKING LINE ABP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jan Hanses President and CEO The text above is a translation of the Swedish official invitation to the Annual General Meeting. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have discussed the situation in Syria during a phone conversation, Turkish media reported March 27. The parties also discussed the development of bilateral relations and regional issues. The previous phone conversation between the two presidents took place on Feb. 8, during which the parties discussed the Operation Olive Branch. Turkeys Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army liberated Afrin city from PYD/YPG terrorists on March 18. 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, Mar. 27 Trend: United States expressed condolences to the families of those killed as a result of a fire in a shopping center in Kemerovo, said in the statement of the head of the press service of the State Department Heather Nauert. "We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy in Kemerovo. In this sad time our thoughts are with the people of Russia", she said. Israeli applicants with a valid visa can now renew it online and send the passport in the mail without attending the consulate for a personal interview, Globes reports. The US Embassy in Israel announced that it was easing the entry visa requirements for Israelis. Under the new regulations, Israelis who are renewing a valid tourist visa or whose visa expired during the past 12 months will not need to present themselves for a personal interview with an official at the US Consulate. Applicants can request a visa renewal online and if their application is accepted they can send their passport to the consulate by mail or take it personally for the visa to be stamped on. The US Embassy said, "The interview waiver program allows many Israelis renewing their visas to do so without attending a personal interview at the Embassy. The Embassy wishes to stress that visa applicants are responsible for the details entered on the form requesting a visa, whether or not it was a third party that filled in the application. Applicants must ensure that travel agents complete the request properly and select the appropriate type of service." The interview waiver program will not apply to Israelis who were 14 or under when receiving their previous tourist visa. The new regulations stop well short of putting Israel on the visa waiver program enjoyed by 38 selected countries, mainly in Europe but also including Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The visa waiver program allows citizens of those countries to visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa. The US Department of Defense has not seen any evidence that Iraq is actually going to buy S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia, Operation Inherent Resolve Deputy Commander of Air, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command Brig. Gen. Andrew Croft told reporters, Sputnik International reports. "I've only seen that in the open press," Croft said on Tuesday. "It's a very expensive complicated system, but I've seen no evidence that that is actually going to happen." Croft also said the Iraqi authorities have not consulted with the United States about the purchase of the Russian air defense system. In February, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari told Sputnik that Iraq was negotiating the purchase of S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, but possible US sanctions could be an obstacle to that. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that the United States had informed governments around the world, including the Iraqi government, of possible consequences under the US Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). KYODO NEWS - Mar 27, 2018 - 21:39 | All, Japan Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force underwent its biggest organizational shake-up Tuesday, in the midst of a challenging security environment, with its command streamlined for flexible operations nationwide and the creation of amphibious forces tasked with defending remote islands. The launch of the Ground Component Command to provide unified command over regional armies and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Japan's version of the U.S. Marines, came as Tokyo seeks to beef up its defenses against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and China's maritime assertiveness. "We are expecting more situations in which the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces have to work together to rapidly respond at a nationwide level against ballistic missile launches, attacks on islands and major disasters," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said at a press conference, emphasizing the role of the Ground Component Command on such occasions. A senior GSDF member said earlier that establishing a central command headquarters was a "deep desire" of the organization, which was established as part of the Self-Defense Forces in 1954. Unlike the air and maritime services, the GSDF had no central headquarters to control its units, which belong to five regional armies, each operating under commanding generals. Therefore, orders had to be issued to each regional army to mobilize its divisions and brigades. The GSDF's command structure remained decentralized amid bitter memories of the Imperial Japanese Army's intervention in politics and its role in wartime military aggression, some political experts say. But a tougher security environment surrounding Japan has pushed the government to launch the Ground Component Command under its medium-term defense buildup plan approved in 2013. Onodera asserted that civilian control over the military will be properly maintained "based on prewar lessons." Headquartered at the GSDF's Asaka base that straddles Tokyo and Saitama prefectures, the Ground Component Command will play the role of coordinator not only with other SDF units but also with the U.S. military. The GSDF's first full-scale amphibious operations unit -- the other highlight of the reorganization -- was launched with around 2,100 members mainly drawn from the Western Army's infantry regiment stationed at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture. The GSDF amphibious brigade would be tasked with retaking Japanese islands, stretching southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan, if they are illegally occupied. The isles include the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu. Chinese government vessels have repeatedly entered Japanese waters around the islands, creating tension. But the amphibious brigade still appears to be a fledgling unit, with the government yet to secure a permanent base for the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft that will play a key role in the transportation of troops. The government plans to deploy 17 newly acquired U.S.-made V-22 Ospreys at Saga airport in southwestern Japan, with their delivery to Japan expected from around the fall. But the government has not won local consent and is not in a position to push through the plan following a GSDF helicopter crash in Saga Prefecture in February. A government source said Tuesday that it is considering tentatively placing the Ospreys at a GSDF base in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, southeast of Tokyo. But uncertainties remain over the plan. Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe reacted negatively, saying at a press conference, "It doesn't make sense to pick Kisarazu when Saga airport won't do." But he also admitted that "it is the role of municipalities to cooperate with defense policy." The central government hoped to find a site closer to Camp Ainoura to temporarily deploy the Ospreys, but it is leaning to the view that there is no alternative to Camp Kisarazu that also functions as a regular maintenance service site for Ospreys, currently those belonging to the U.S. military in Japan, according to the source. The Ground Component Command is headed by Lt. Gen. Shigeru Kobayashi, who formerly led the GSDF's Central Readiness Force, and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade is led by Maj. Gen. Shinichi Aoki, former deputy chief of staff of the Western Army. PC George booked for making derogatory remarks against minister Veena George The former MLA is accused of insulting the modesty of a woman while a case has also been registered against TP Nandakumar, who published an interview carrying the derogatory remarks. SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysdig, Inc. , the container intelligence company, today announced new dates for its Container Troubleshooting Workshop series. Containers are a relatively new technology that allow development organizations to move more quickly, deploy software more efficiently, and operate at scale. However, the complexity of containers has the potential to raise challenges in operations. The Sysdig workshops are designed to help DevOps and developers build the robust skills needed to properly secure and troubleshoot their container and Kubernetes environments. Attendees of the workshops will get hands-on and use-case-driven training. Workshop topics will explore container visibility and troubleshooting, analyzing performance and bottlenecks, debugging Kubernetes, implementing container security, and forensics. According to a past attendee, the Sysdig Container Troubleshooting Workshop was described as one of the (if not the) best workshops I had lately! 2018 Sysdig Container Troubleshooting Workshop Dates March 29 SportsEngine in Minneapolis, MN April 10 Federal Workshop in Alexandria, VA May 1 KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU in Copenhagen, Denmark May 23 Container Camp in Melbourne, Australia Week of June 11 DockerCon NA in San Francisco, CA Week of September 13 DevSecCon in Boston, MA Week of October 18 DevSecCon in London, UK Week of December 3 DockerCon EU in Barcelona, Spain Some of the workshops are scheduled as part of upcoming industry events, including Container Camp, DockerCon, and DevSecCon, and are free to attendees. The Sysdig hosted workshop in Minneapolis is independent from any other industry event and is free to sign up, as is registration for the Federal Workshop. An additional ticket must be purchased for the Sysdig Container Troubleshooting Workshop hosted during KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU. Follow Sysdig on Twitter for more information on workshop topics and how to register for the Sysdig Container Troubleshooting Workshop as the events get closer. Open Source Container Security and Monitoring Since 2013 and the release of its open source technologies, Sysdig has been a leader in delivering security, monitoring, and forensics in a container and microservices-friendly architecture. Sysdig is full of driven, passionate, technical problem-solvers who want to help companies realize the full potential of their new container platforms through both powerful open source technology, as well as knowledge and best practices. The Sysdig Container Toolkit is all open source and includes Sysdig and Sysdig Falco. Sysdig analyzes containers in real time for troubleshooting or captures container activity for later forensics and incident reporting. Sysdig Falco, a container runtime security tool, enables companies to monitor container security in production without instrumenting or modifying them in any way. The Container Troubleshooting Workshops allow companies to learn directly from the Sysdig team and improve their approach to monitoring, securing, and troubleshooting their environment. About Sysdig Sysdig (Twitter: @sysdig) is the container intelligence company. We have created the only unified platform to deliver security, monitoring, and troubleshooting in a microservices-friendly architecture. Our open source technologies have attracted a community of over a million developers, administrators and other IT professionals looking for deep visibility into systems and containers. Our container intelligence platform monitors and secures millions of containers across hundreds of enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies and web-scale properties. Learn more at www.sysdig.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/786ea04a-9450-4c85-b092-4eed6baee167 Encryption How a terrorist's iPhone became the 'poster child' for the FBI's encryption challenge Since 2014, the FBI has been pushing technology companies and policymakers to come up with a way to market secure smartphones and communications applications that also allow for the lawful access via warrant to encrypted communications. In 2015, the case of the San Bernardino massacre and the locked iPhone 5 of perpetrator Syed Rizwan Farook presented the FBI with a fast-moving case of an inaccessible device that might contain actionable threat information. The FBI pressed Apple in court to obtain the ability to get access to the locked phone, while pursuing its own hacks with vendors. Now a Justice Department oversight report released March 27, 2018, found that just weeks after then-FBI Director James Comey testified to Congress in 2016 that the bureau had no way to access the iPhone of San Bernardino shooter, FBI technical analysts were in conversations with vendors who communicated that an alternative method of accessing the device was close at hand. The inspector general's report details how the Remote Operations Unit within the bureaus Operational Technology Division (OTD) had ongoing discussions with a vendor in February 2016 who claimed to be 90 percent of the way towards completing a method to unlock iPhones. According to the unit chief, ROU was not initially involved in the bureaus efforts to unlock Farook's iPhone, nor was it asked to assist the group that was assigned to the task until a Feb. 11, 2016, meeting that set in motion the outreach to security vendors for an alternative solution. The OIG ultimately found that because the first successful demonstration of this technique took place at or around March 20, 2016, Comey was not lying when he testified to Congress on February 9 and March 1 that the FBI was not aware of other methods to access the shooters phone. However, the revelation raises questions around whether the bureau had exhausted all of its options and why it has continued to press lawmakers and tech companies since then for broader access to locked and encrypted devices and applications. Then-Executive Assistant Director of the FBI Amy Hess, who initially referred the matter to the Inspector Generals Office, told investigators that at a certain point "she became concerned that she was not getting a straight answer to the question whether OTD had any way of getting into the phone." She also told investigators that the head of the office responsible for finding a way to access the phone, the Cryptographic and Electronic Analysis Unit, "did not seem to want to find a technical solution, and that perhaps he knew of a solution but remained silent in order to pursue his own agenda of obtaining a favorable court ruling against Apple." "According to EAD Hess," the report states, "the problem with the Farook iPhone encryption was the 'poster child' case for the Going Dark challenge." Although the FBI eventually unlocked Farook's phone with the help of a vendor, it cost the bureau approximately $1 million, according to some reports. The watchdog report notes that a subsequent OIG investigation did not find evidence that anyone intentionally withheld information or misled bureau leaders, but that CEAU did not pursue all avenues in the search for a solution and did not canvass vendors the way other units did. Inexpensive phone hacks Since then, the FBI's options for accessing locked devices have only expanded. A new product from Grayshift promises to unlock iPhones for as little as $50 per device. The device, called Graykey, has already attracted the attention of at least three federal agencies, and at that price point could be an option for virtually any federal, state or local law enforcement agency. Motherboard reported on March 24 that the State Department issued a purchase order for GrayKey on March 6 for $15,000. According to the cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes, the Grayshift's $15,000 offering allows a customer to unlock up to 300 phones. There is also a $30,000 option that does not cap the number of unlockings. Public records also show that the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI are also looking into GrayKey and similar iOS hacking tools. On March 8, both agencies issued separate requests for quotations looking for technology similar to GreyKeys forensic workstation. The FBI's Electronic Device Analysis Unit determined the GreyKey forensic software meets the agency's Computer Analysis Response Team's mandatory requirements to "provide adequate capability against an ever-growing spectrum of mobile devices." Since not all mobile devices use the same type of encryption, the FBI wrote in its justification of GreyKey that the company makes "several products" to "ensure mission success." The interest in GrayKey comes as federal officials are again calling for tech firms to build in ways for law enforcement to access encrypted mobile devices. Earlier this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray called his agency's inability to access the content of 7,800 devices during the 2017 fiscal year "a major public safety issue" that affected investigations. According to the New York Times, the administration "circulated a memo last month among security and economic agencies outlining ways to think about solving the problem." Also last month, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released a framework on when it makes sense to break encryption methods in an effort to force policymakers to consider security risks and unforeseen consequences as the result of breaking the encryption. While the framework had input from a variety of academic institutions and company officials from Microsoft, Google and Intel, it doesnt make up for the relatively little information that exists in case law when it comes to unlocking cellphones, said Nate Cardozo, senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Service providers are required to let law enforcement know about the capabilities of their devices under the Secured Communications Act," Cardozo said. "Service providers also have the ability to voluntarily share information if there is a situation with a ticking time bomb like a kidnapping, but it is the Wild West when it comes to case law for unlocking phones." The annual general meeting of Hexagon Composites ASA will be held on Thursday 19 April 2018 at 12:30 (CEST), at the Company's office in Korsegata 4B, Aalesund, Norway. The board of directors has proposed to the annual general meeting a dividend of NOK 0.30 per share. Please see the attached notice for annual general meeting. A complete version of the notice including the 2017 annual report is also available on www.hexagon.no. For more information: David Bandele, CFO, Hexagon Composites ASA Telephone: +47 920 91 483 | david.bandele@hexagon.no Solveig D Saether, Communication Manager, Hexagon Composites ASA Telephone: +47 906 34 977 | solveig.saether@hexagon.no PRAGUE, March 27 (Reuters) - The Czech Defence Ministry will launch a tender for tracked infantry fighting vehicles worth 53 billion crowns ($2.58 billion) around the middle of this year, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. "The winner should be known at the end of 2018 or by mid-2019 at the latest," spokeswoman Jana Zechmeisterova said, adding that the vehicles would be delivered from 2020 to 2024. The tender may involve General Dynamics' ASCOD vehicle, BAE Systems' CV 90, and Rheinmetall's Lynx or Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), Czech media reported. General Dynamics has already delivered 107 Pandur armed personnel carriers (APC) to the Czech army. The contract for around 210 vehicles could be the Czech Republic's largest single military buy as the NATO member country struggles to meet the alliance's goal to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. NATO's 2017 annual report showed Estonia, Greece, Poland and Britain met the 2 percent goal, the same group as in 2016, although alliance officials say Latvia, Lithuania and Romania will join them in 2018. NATO has 29 member states in total. ($1 = 20.5650 Czech crowns) (Reporting by Robert Muller; editing by Jason Neely) In recent years, growing healthcare cognizance has led to continuous technological innovation in the dental equipment space. With time, it has emerged as the most favored sector for medical device investors looking for consistent and attractive returns. Let's delve deeper. Over the last 10 years, the dental supplies market has been faring better than the S&P 500 index. The market has gained 119.8% eclipsing the broader market's 101.4%. Per a Allied Market Research report, the global dental implants and prosthetics market is expected to catapult to a value of $12,743 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2017 to 2023. And if we go by the estimates of the American Dental Association (published in Grand View Research), every year 5 million implants are carried out in the United States indicating huge market potential. In todays fast paced times, implants are preferred over conventional removable dentures owing to comfort and convenience. Factors Driving Demand for Dental Treatment High Demand Among Children and Teenagers: Per a Markets and Markets report, children and teenagers are expected to dominate the global orthodontic market in the coming years. A high number of patients with malocclusions and jaw disorders are likely to drive the demand. Also, rising need for fixed braces among children and teenagers will act as a major demand propeller. Notably, orthodontic treatments are more effective and successful in childhood or teenage. One of the noteworthy developments in this niche space is the launch of Align Technologys clear Aligner solution for teen Class II correction the Invisalign Technology Teen with mandibular advancement in certain markets of Canada, EMEA and APAC in 2017. Cosmetic Needs: Growing awareness esthetic needs has also been a major growth catalyst for the dental prosthetic market. Per Markets and Markets, global cosmetic dentistry is expected to make $22,362.4 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2015-2020. Moreover, an increase in disposable income gives rise to higher demand for cosmetic dental surgeries. Story continues Rise in Geriatric Population: An aging population has also been a significant contributor. Higher incidence of calcium deficiency in older people leads to teeth loss. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial research, more than 24% of adults aged above 74 years have lost all teeth. People on medication for chronic and metabolic disorders also reach an edentulous state. Other Factors: Poor lifestyle choices and unhygienic dental care lead to higher demand for dental procedures. Increased dental diseases are another factor. Also, dental injuries caused by road accidents lead to higher demand for dental implants and prosthetics. Technological Advancement Shapes Dental Implant Market The global dental implant and prosthetic market is gradually shifting from conventional to a technologically-advanced one. Laser dentistry is much in demand among dental patients because of its painless procedurefor extraction of teeth, orthodontics and periodontal decay. Per Markets and Markets, the dental lasers market is expected to scale to a value of $224.7 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 5.2% during 2015 to 2020. Dental 3D printing is a process of creating three dimensional solid dental models such as implants, surgical guides, braces, dentures, crowns and bridges, etc. Notably, 3D printing is gaining popularity as it allows dentists to carry out procedures with more precision and efficiency, saving patients from excess trauma. Going by a report by Transparency Market Research, the global dental 3D printing market is expected to see a 16.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2025, reaching a worth of $3,427.1 million. 3 Stocks in Focus We have selected three companies, which we believe are well poised to provide impressive long-term returns given the encouraging growth prospects of the global dental implants and prosthetics market. Align Technology, Inc. ALGN has a long-term earnings growth rate of 29.2%. The current-quarter estimate revision trend for the stock has been encouraging with seven estimates moving upward, compared with one downward movement in the past two months. Resultantly, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share rose around 2% to $4.52. The companys five-year historical growth rate is favorable at 25.5% compared with the industrys 6.2% and the S&P 500s 2.8%. The company's share price movement over the past year has been encouraging. The company yielded almost 129.6%, better than the industry's 5.1%. Align Technology recently signed an agreement with Glidewell Dental to distribute the iTero Element intraoral scanning system with the latest glidewell.io In-Office Solution in North America. Henry Schein, Inc. HSIC has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.9%. The companys historical five-year earnings growth rate of 10% compares favorably with the S&P 500s 2.8% and industrys 6.2%. Over the past month, shares of Henry Schein have outperformed the industry it belongs to. The stock has lost 0.9% compared with the industrys fall of 5.1%. Estimate revisions for the current year have been solid with nine estimates north, compared to three moving south over the past two months. Resultantly, the consensus estimate for earnings climbed around 3.3% to $4.08. Riding on the strength in the full range of the DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. XRAY line, the company has been gaining from solid uptake of products by key dental equipment manufacturers like A-dec, Midmark and 3Shape. Furthermore, management believes that the company is well-positioned to gain from the wave of digitalization. Danaher Corporation DHR has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.9%. Estimate revisions for the current year have been solid with nine estimates moving up, compared to no movement in the opposite direction over the past two months. Resultantly, the consensus estimate for earnings rose around 1.2% to $4.38. The companys five-year historical growth rate of 5.1% is higher than 2.8% of both the industry and the S&P 500. Shares of the company have rallied 14.3% in the past year, outperforming the industrys decline of 13.9%. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Danaher Corporation (DHR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. (XRAY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Gold futures soared to their highest level since February 16 on Monday after the U.S. Dollar plunged to a five-week low. Traders primarily ignored the surge in higher risk assets, instead choosing to react to the news that the United States would expel 60 Russian diplomats. June Comex Gold futures finished the session at $1359.40, up $3.70 or +0.27%. Daily June Comex Gold Daily Swing Chart Analysis The main trend is up according to the daily swing chart. The strong momentum into the close suggests investors may make a run at the February 16 top at $1369.60, followed by the January 25, or high of the year at $1375.50. The main range is $1375.50 to $1309.30. Its retracement zone at $1350.20 to $1342.40 is new support. Trading above this zone is also giving gold a strong upside bias. Daily Swing Chart Forecast Based on the strong close at $1359.40, Im looking for the upside momentum to continue into $1369.60 to $1375.50. A break back under $1350.20 will indicate a shift in investor sentiment to down. A move through $1342.40 will signal that the market is making a correction of the current rally. However, it will not indicate the trend is getting ready to turn lower. The market is now up four days from its last main bottom which means it has three more sessions to go before it is in the window of time for a closing price reversal or short-term top. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: The Office of Government Ethics has revealed that attorneys at the White House are examining whether loans to the company owned by Jared Kushners family violated federal ethics regulations or criminal law. Kushner Companies is a real estate company that Jared Kushner ran before Donald Trump, his father-in-law, became president. The company received loans of $184 million from Apollo Global Management and $325 million from Citigroup since Kushner has been serving in a senior role at the White House. While Kusnher resigned as CEO of the real estate firm when he joined the administration, he still owns a portion of the business, including stakes in the entities that received the loans. Shortly before the loans in question were made, Kushner met several times with Joshua Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, and once, in the White House, with Michael Corbat, CEO of Citigroup. The New York Times reported that Kushners meetings with Harris involved discussions of a possible White House role. Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Kushner, told The Wall Street Journal that when the loans were first reported the White House concluded there were no issues. He also emphasized that Kushner no longer works for Kushner Companies and that the loans had nothing to do with him or his meetings with Corbat and Harris. The Office of Government Ethics is an independent body tasked with preventing conflicts of interest among government employees. David J. Apol, the acting director of the agency, revealed the White House was looking into the loans in a letter to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) after she raised the question of whether the loans were an issue on March 1. MONTREAL, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Mining Group Ltd. ("Imperial") (TSX VENTURE:IPG) is pleased to announce, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, that Ms. Siri Genik has been appointed to Imperials Board of Directors. We are delighted that Siri Genik has agreed to join our Board of Directors, said Peter Cashin, Imperials President & Chief Executive Officer. Siris extensive background in strategic planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement and governance with some of the mining industrys largest corporations will be valuable in guiding us forward. It is Siris experience with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder negotiations that will be particularly valuable as community engagement becomes a more critical component of our exploration and development work. Siri has spent over 25 years working on major capital projects around the world. She has also worked in Canada and the Arctic. Working at the level of project development and project delivery, Siri brings to the table on-the-ground experience in the integration of international workforce, local communities and indigenous communities, aligning governments, industry and civil society. Siri has consistently worked with the Board Room and the Project Delivery teams, bridging gaps and creating vision through strategic leadership. Siri is a lawyer, member of the Bar of Quebec, as well as a qualified mediator. She is fluent in English, French and Spanish. Siri is a Canadian and her family is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was born in Bogota, Colombia, and grew up in South America, Africa, France, Spain and the UK. During her career she has worked throughout the Americas, Asia, Australasia, as well as Canada and the Arctic. In addition, Imperial is privileged to acknowledge that Siri was recently selected to be a contributor to the CIM Distinguished Lecturer Program for the 2018-19 season. Individuals for this program are selected based on their accomplishments in scientific, technical, management or educational activities related to the minerals industry to speak at CIM Branch and Student Chapters meetings across the country. Imperials Board of Directors now consists of five directors, of whom four are independent under applicable securities law. Imperial also announces that it has granted 150,000 stock options to Ms. Genik. Pursuant to the terms of Imperials stock option plan, each option grants the holder of such option the right to purchase a common share of Imperial at a price of $0.115 per share no later than March 26th, 2023. ABOUT IMPERIAL MINING GROUP LTD. Imperial is a new Canadian mineral exploration and development company focussed on the advancement of its copper-zinc, gold and technology metals properties in Quebec. Imperial is publicly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange as IPG and is led by an experienced team of mineral exploration and development professionals with a strong track record of mineral deposit discovery in numerous metal commodities. For further information please contact: Peter J. Cashin President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 (514) 360-0571 Email: info@imperialmgp.com URL: www.imperialmgp.com This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the Companys operations or to its business environment. Such statements are based on the Companys operations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, but are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or control. Several factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors include those set forth in the corporate filings. Although any such forward-looking statements are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot guarantee that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, for any reason. We also do not commit in any way to guarantee that we will continue reporting on items or issues that arise. Investors are cautioned that this press release contains quoted historical exploration results. These are derived from filed assessment reports and compiled from governmental databases. The Company and a QP have not independently verified and make no representations as to the accuracy of historical exploration results: these results should not be relied upon. Selected highlight results may not be indicative of average grades. 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. The flags of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are seen on a lectern before a joint news conference on the closing of the seventh round of NAFTA talks in Mexico City, Mexico March 5, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido MEXICO CITY/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are opening a window of opportunity that might allow the United States, Mexico and Canada to reach a basic deal in the coming weeks, a Mexican private sector business leader said on Monday. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on March 5 that negotiators had a matter of weeks to reach an agreement "in principle," and last week industry sources said the U.S. team had withdrawn one of its most contentious demands. The head of Canada's Unifor union, Jerry Dias, and others said that Washington had dropped its insistence that all autos made in NAFTA countries have 50 percent U.S. content. Moises Kalach, head of the international negotiating arm of the CCE business lobby, which represents the Mexican private sector at the talks, said that news had fuelled hopes that a deal on NAFTA might be attainable. "There are positive signs that there is the will, and that the window of opportunity we were looking at, is happening," he told Reuters by telephone. Kalach said the United States had yet to put forward a revised proposal for autos, and that it remained to be seen whether U.S. negotiators would drop other "toxic" demands. However, if negotiators could conclude around eight NAFTA chapters that were close to completion, it would make it easier to focus on the sticking points, he added. "It gets that off the table. And if there really is the will to get an agreement in principle on the other issues, it'll be in the coming weeks," he said. "One needs to be prepared for that." Major differences of opinion remain on NAFTA, and Mexican officials have for months been looking forward to close sections of the revamped accord that are still unresolved. Among those bones of contention are Washington's desire to limit access to its agricultural markets, to impose a so-called sunset clause that could automatically kill NAFTA after five years and proposed changes to dispute-resolution mechanisms. Story continues Dias of Unifor, a critic of NAFTA who has close ties to Ottawa's negotiators, said he was sceptical about a deal in principle being agreed with so many issues outstanding. "I heard the United States was looking for an agreement in principle to work out the details later," he told Reuters. "What I understand is that it got no traction because I had spoken to the Canadian team and we almost had a chuckle over it." Neither the Canadian nor the Mexican government had any immediate comment. U.S. President Donald Trump says NAFTA has boosted Mexican manufacturing at the expense of U.S. workers, and he has vowed to dump the accord if it is not reworked to his liking. (Reporting by Dave Graham in Mexico City and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Sandra Maler) Critics of President Trump worry that he doesnt listen to anybody any more. Moderate advisers such as Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster and Rex Tillerson are gone, replaced by nationalist hard-liners more likely to tell Trump what he wants to hear than what might be good policy. But Trump still has one master: the stock market, which he regards as a barometer measuring how hes doing as president. He views the stock market as the ultimate arbiter of his policies, Greg Valliere of Horizon Investments tells Yahoo Finance. He believes that his tax cuts and regulatory reform are a big reason for last years explosive rally. Trump has tweeted about the stock market at least 47 times since being elected, often taking credit for handsome gains. But he hasnt tweeted on the stock market since Feb. 7, when he complained that stocks should be going up, not down. His silence of late makes sense: stocks have been volatile and are slightly negative for the yearin part because of Trump himself. Stocks sold off on the two occasions so far this year when Trump announced new tariffsthe steel and aluminum tariffs he announced March 8, and a broader set of tariffs against Chinese imports announced March 22. And guess what: In the aftermath of those selloffs, Trump modified his policies, perhaps in response to the poor marks the stock market gave to the protectionism he promised as a candidate. Trump has significantly dialed back the steel and aluminum tariffs, issuing exemptions for many countries that leave just one-third of imported steel and 45% of imported aluminum subject to the new tariffs. They now only apply to imports from Russia, China and a handful of other Asian countries. Spooked investors The S&P 500 stock index fell 5% in the two days following the announcement of new tariffs on $50 to $60 billion worth of imports from China. Then came news that American and Chinese negotiators were engaged in fresh talks to tamp down trade tensions and avoid a trade war. Voila! Stocks rebounded, recovering some of the losses caused when Trump first announced the China tariffs. Story continues Markets still seem cautious about Trumps protectionist leanings. Of all Trumps economic policies, tariffs, protectionism and the risk of trade wars spook investors and economists the most. Trump famously said earlier this month that trade wars are good, and easy to win. The markets are schooling him otherwise. China has already announced one set of retaliatory tariffs on American imports, as a proportionate response to the impact Trumps steel and aluminum tariffs are likely to have on Chinese imports to the United States. China has not yet responded to the China-only tariffs Trump announced on March 22. But most trade experts expect that to happen within a few weeks, probably after the Trump administration specifies which Chinese imports will bear the new tariffs. Assuming the China retaliation is proportionate, market reaction could be severe, since the new China tariffs cover at least 17 times as much trade with China as the steel and aluminum tariffs do. One question markets are wrestling with now is what will Trump do if theres no deal on trade with China, and retaliatory measures ensue? I think an ugly, persistent selloff would prompt Trump to change his policies, or at least consider changing, Valliere says. The market is that important to him. Despite a bumpy start, most forecasters still expect stocks to end higher this year, thanks to strong economic fundamentals and the stimulative effect of the tax cuts. Still, were late in a long bull market, and Trump seems destined to face this quandary: Sometimes theres nothing a president can do to stem a stock market correction or bear market, which occurs as naturally as the earth orbits the sun. If Trump gets accustomed to goosing stocks with policy announcements, it might even make a selloff worse if he tries to stop a slide and the whole world discovers he no longer has a hand on the rudder. But for now, the market seems willing to let Trump believe he can guide it up, or down. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn Photo credit: Jose A. Penas/SINC From Popular Mechanics Another star buzzed the solar system 70,000 years ago and may have sent comets hurtling our way. It is possible our ancestors saw the star in the sky way back then. A new study also ID'ed eight objects that could have come from beyond our solar system. About 70,000 years ago, around the time our ancestors were just beginning to leave Africa, a small red dwarf star passed remarkably close to the solar system. Scholz's star came within a light-year of the sun, the closest such encounter we know of. Today, Scholz's star sits about 20 light-years away, its stellar flyby a distant memory. But we are still seeing the influence of its visit. Back in 2015, researchers led by Eric Mamajek, professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Rochester, studied the galactic orbits of Scholz's star and our sun. They discovered that Scholz's star and its brown dwarf binary companion probably wandered close to our solar system. At the time, the scientists concluded that Scholz's star did not disturb the orbits of any objects in the solar system in any notable way when it passed by. However, a new study in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society suggests this stellar flyby did in fact nudge comets from the Oort cloud, the ring of icy objects far beyond the planets that marks the edge of the solar system. These comets are now close enough to study in more detail, and while looking for them, the scientists also found eight objects that could be from outside the solar system entirely. Comets From a 70,000-Year-Old Star Flyby Photo credit: NASA/Michael Osadciw/University of Rochester/Illustration-T.Reyes The Oort cloud is a swarm of cometary bodies believed to be between 5,000 and 100,000 AU from the sun. Occasionally, these objects fall toward the sun, and some gain enough velocity to reach so-called hyperbolic orbits. These trajectories will take them eventually out of the solar system-unless they are influenced by another gravitational encounter with a giant planet, for example. Story continues The new study, conducted by researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Cambridge, analyzed the positions and velocities of 339 hyperbolic objects in the solar system. Normally, you'd expect the distribution of these objects across the sky to be more or less even. However, a group of them seem to be coming from the same radiant, or point of origin in the sky, and that area aligns with theencounter with Scholz's star. And any objects that might have been pushed by Scholz's star 70,000 years ago would only now be approaching the inner solar system. "Out of those 339 [objects], 36 appear projected towards the relevant region in the constellation of Gemini (about 11 percent)," lead author Carlos de la Fuente Marcos of Complutense University of Madrid told Popular Mechanics in an email. "These are the ones that we suggest may have had an origin in the flyby with Scholz's star." Photo credit: Michael Osadciw/University of Rochester The researchers also found the suspect comets are traveling at a velocity around 1 km/s, or 2,200 mph, which could point to an "impulsive interaction" such as a stellar encounter. "Some of them were sent outwards and away from the solar system... some others were sent inwards and reached the inner solar system," Marcos says. "Out of those sent inwards, a fraction passed close enough to the Earth to be detected by ongoing surveys. Most of the 36 objects pointed out above may fall into this category, the others may be chance alignments." The study identifies an exciting connection between these comets and the estimated location of the Scholz's star flyby, but to truly confirm that the hyperbolic objects were pushed by that star in prehistoric times, additional modelling of both the comets and the star will be needed. But analyzing the 339 hyperbolic objects turned up another tantalizing find-possible interstellar objects. New Interstellar Suspects Photo credit: E. Kolmhofer, H. Raab; Johannes-Kepler-Observatory, Linz, Austria In addition to the comets that could have been hurled in by Scholz's star, the study found eight objects that could be new interstellar candidates. The only confirmed object from outside the solar system to visit our neighborhood of planets is 'Oumuamua, an elongated asteroid that made a close pass to Earth in October 2017. These additional eight objects are icy hyperbolic bodies with a velocity of 1.5 km/s or more, suggesting they could be interstellar comets. "Statistically speaking, their paths are probably interstellar as their inbound velocities were significantly higher than those of the bulk of the other hyperbolic comets [2 to 30 times higher]," says Marcos. "As far as we can tell, the eight candidates to being interstellar interlopers have been singled out in our work for the first time." It's unlikely that all eight of these objects have interstellar origins, as some may have formed in the solar system and accelerated during encounters with large objects. "I do think that the 1.5 km/s they used as a cut-off is probably a bit low, so I suspect that some of the eight candidates they identify are not true interstellar objects," says Alan Jackson, a postdoc researcher at the Centre for Planetary Sciences at the University of Toronto who recently published a study that suggests 'Oumuamua likely came from a binary star system. "The two that they identify as their best candidates, C/2008 J4 (McNaught) and C/2012 S1 (ISON), are I think fairly robust." If any of these objects are confirmed as interstellar interlopers, it would provide an icy comet from beyond the solar system to study alongside the rocky asteroid 'Oumuamua, which turned out to be an object unlike anything astronomers had ever seen. Most astronomers believe interstellar objects fly through the solar system regularly, and our telescope survey projects are advancing toward the point of finding them much more frequently. Red Star in the Ancient Sky When the red dwarf star and its brown dwarf companion flew by the outer reaches of the solar system, it is possible that humanity's ancestors saw the star in the sky. Scholz's star was almost certainly not visible generally, but red dwarfs can periodically flare up due to magnetic activity and grow many times brighter than their standard magnitude. The dimmest stars humans can see with the naked eye have an apparent magnitude (intrinsic magnitude modified by distance) of about 6 (lower numbers are brighter). If Scholz's star was on the farther end of estimates, it would have had an apparent magnitude of about 11, and closer in an apparent magnitude of perhaps 7.9. Even at the greater distances, "those flares could be visible to human eyes without optical aids," says Marcos. (However, Marcos stresses that whether or not the star was visible to human ancestors is not discussed in the paper.) It is tempting to imagine that prehistoric humans looked up one night to catch a glimpse of Scholz's star flaring up in the sky. Perhaps they considered it a sign of a bountiful hunt, or an omen of doom. Seventy thousand years later, equipped with all the advantages of modern science, we may have found new evidence of Scholz's visit to the solar system, sending the most distant comets of the Oort cloud in for a closer look. You Might Also Like BEIJING (Reuters) - Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday China and the United States should maintain negotiations and he reiterated pledges to ease access for American businesses, as China scrambles to avert a trade war. Li told a conference that included global chief executives that China would treat foreign and domestic firms equally, would not force foreign firms to transfer technology and would strengthen intellectual property rights, repeating promises that have failed to placate Washington. The United States asked China in a letter last week to cut a tariff on U.S. autos, buy more U.S.-made semiconductors and give U.S. firms greater access to the Chinese financial sector, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing unidentified sources. Alarm over a possible trade war between the world's two largest economies has chilled financial markets as investors anticipated dire consequences should trade barriers go up due to President Donald Trump's bid to cut the U.S. deficit with China. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer listed steps they want China to take in a letter to Liu He, a newly appointed vice premier who oversees China's economy, the Journal said, quoting sources with knowledge of the matter. The newspaper reported that Mnuchin was considering a visit to Beijing to pursue negotiations. Despite a steady stream of fierce rhetoric from Chinese state media lambasting the United States for being a "bully" and warning of retaliation, Chinese and U.S. officials are busy negotiating behind the scenes. "With regard to trade imbalances, China and the United States should adopt a pragmatic and rational attitude, promote balancing through expansion of trade, and stick to negotiations to resolve differences and friction," Li told the conference in Beijing, state radio reported. China has offered to buy more U.S. semiconductors by diverting some purchases from South Korea and Taiwan, the Financial Times reported, citing people briefed on the negotiations. China imported $2.6 billion of semiconductors from the United States last year. Chinese officials are also working to finalise rules by May - instead of the end of June - to allow foreign financial groups to take majority stakes in Chinese securities firms, the Financial Times said. "I anticipate that for political reason it would be logical for China to respond, because countries do," Blackstone Group Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman told Reuters on Monday on the sidelines of the Beijing conference at which Li spoke, the China Development Forum. "That's why I view this more as a skirmish, and I think the interests of both countries are served by resolving some of these matters." Fears of a trade war mounted this month after Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, and then on Thursday specifically targeted China by announcing plans for tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods. On Friday, China responded to the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium by declaring plans to levy additional duties on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports. The list of targeted goods contained no mention of soybeans or aircraft, China's two biggest U.S. import items. China could also inflict pain on U.S. multinationals that rely on China for a substantial - and growing - portion of their total revenues, said Alex Wolf, senior emerging markets economist at Aberdeen Standard Investments. "This could put U.S. companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Starbucks, GM, Nike, etc in the firing line," Wolf said in a note. China can increase the regulatory burden on U.S companies through new inspections and rules; ban travel; stop providing export licenses of key intermediate goods; raise the tax burden on U.S. multinationals in China; or block U.S. companies from the government procurement market, he said. FLOUTED RULES Trump unveiled the planned tariffs targeting Chinese goods after a U.S. inquiry found China guilty of intellectual property theft and unfair trade, by forcing U.S. investors to turn over key technologies to Chinese firms. On Saturday, Liu told Mnuchin in a telephone call the U.S. inquiry violated international trade rules and China would defend its interests, the official Xinhua news agency reported. A U.S. Treasury spokesman confirmed the call, but declined to comment on the content of any letter or on a possible visit by Mnuchin to Beijing. "Secretary Mnuchin called Liu He to congratulate him on the official announcement of his new role," the spokesman told Reuters. "They also discussed the trade deficit between our two countries and committed to continuing the dialogue to find a mutually agreeable way to reduce it." The Trump administration has demanded that China immediately cut its $375 billion trade surplus with the United States by $100 billion. "The U.S. has been wielding sticks worldwide over the past year. Washington needs to be taught a real lesson and such a lesson can only be taught by China, the world's second-largest economy," China's Global Times newspaper said in an editorial. The widely read tabloid is run by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, although its stance does not necessarily mirror government policy. Privately, Liu and Mnuchin exchanged letters in the past week on further opening China's financial services sector and cutting Chinese tariffs on imported cars, according to the Financial Times. China has a 25 percent tariff on U.S. cars and has talked recently of lowering it. China's imports of U.S. motor vehicles totalled $10.6 billion in 2017, about 8 percent of the country's overall U.S. imports by value, according to U.S. government data. On the reported offer to increase U.S. semiconductor imports, it is unclear how U.S. chips would replace South Korean and Taiwanese chips, since there is minimal overlap between U.S. chips and those of the two Asian producers. China is heavily dependent on foreign semiconductors, one of its biggest import categories by value. That said, the U.S. accounted for just 1 percent of China's total semiconductor imports last year by value, according to Reuters calculations based on Chinese customs data. (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by David Lawder in Washington and Matthew Miller, Ben Blanchard, Elias Glenn and Stella Qiu in Beijing; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Kim Coghill) In the U.S., 9-to-5 is considered to be the average workday, but a new survey from employees around the world reveals that Americans actually work a bit more. After analyzing commuting time, working hours and breaks, Printerland, an office supply company, found that US workers typically clock in around 8:15 a.m., and head home at around 5:30 p.m. If you throw in commuting time, the day starts at about 7:30 a.m. and ends a little after 6:00pm. While U.S. work days are longer than expected, theyre far shorter compared to other countries. Nigerians have the longest work day in the world, starting at 4:30 a.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m. Why so long? The average worker has a three-hour commute, each way, due to terrible road and traffic conditions. The one bright spot in all of this is that the Nigerian government recently said it plans to increase the minimum wage this year. Japanese workers also routinely get home around 9:30 p.m., after a 7:30 a.m commuting start. One reason is that workers are expected to show up early and work overtime without earning extra pay. Another reason: happy hour. In Japanese culture, its considered rude to turn down a drink offer, so many people oblige, even if theyd rather be at home. The same goes in Korea, where after-work meals and the commute home can keep people out until 10:30 p.m. Work days around the world. Check out the full results here. Give me a break Nothing makes the workday go faster like a nice long lunch break. In the U.S., most workers take a 30-minute lunch break, but some dont even do that. A 2015 survey from the employment agency Right Management found that nearly 30% of American workers said they actually work through their break and eat lunch at their desks. That trend doesnt fly in the rest of the world. Take Italy, where many workers take a two-hour lunch break. And they arent heating up a Lean Cuisine in the office microwave: many workers actually take time to go home and have a meal with their families. Other countries that take at least a two-hour lunch break include Saudi Arabia, Peru and China. Story continues In Spain, workers are also known to take two or three hours for lunch, mainly in the summer when its too hot to work. A lot of businesses even shut down in the middle of the day so that people can take a siesta. That said, Spains employment minister proposed a plan at the end of 2016 that would shorten breaks and end the work day at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. The region of Catalonia proposed the same plan in 2017. Working hard, hardly working There are also a handful of countries that have mastered the art of squeezing a full workday into the least amount of hours possible. According to Printland, the average working day in Finland lasts from about 8 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. the shortest on the list and is punctuated by a 30-minute lunch and two short 15-minute breaks. This work-life balance probably contributes to why Finland is consistently recognized as one of the happiest countries in the world. In addition to fewer hours worked per week, the gender pay gap is small, and the annual median salary is $31,947 compared to $27,317.06 in France. Finland is also known for its generous parental leave. Canada has a shorter work day as well, with the average employee clocking in at 8 a.m. and punching out at 3:30 p.m. There were rumors in 2016 that the country would move to a six-hour work day, but the needle hasnt moved in that direction just yet. Brittany is reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @bjonescooper. Credit card debt has now reached pre-recession levels The craziest things people have tried to expense at work As medical costs overwhelm, more people turn to crowdfunding sites for help Americans spend over $3,600 a year just to work How you can save [caption id="attachment_12858" align="alignnone" width="620"] President Donald Trump President Donald Trump[/caption] If its true that President Donald Trump is in the midst of a legal thicket, its equally true that Washington is crawling with lawyers whose egos have never spotted a challenge too large. And yet Trump faces a situation that might have seemed absurd just a couple of years ago: A sitting U.S. president seemingly struggling to find enough lawyers to represent him. (Trump, for his part, calls the notion "Fake News".) In the span of just a few days, John Dowd, the top lawyer representing Trump in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation, dropped off the Trump team, Gibson, Dunn & Crutchers Theodore Olson publicly rejected an invitation to join it, and Joseph diGenova and his wife Victoria Toensing cited conflicts to upend earlier reports that they had already signed on. Even White House counsel Donald McGahn is reportedly feeling homesick for his former law firm, Jones Day. The tumultuous week comes after earlier reports cited unconsummated talks to hire Brendan Sullivan of Williams & Connolly, Robert Giuffra Jr. of Sullivan & Cromwell, A.B. Culvahouse of O'Melveny & Myers, and Reid Weingarten of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. In interviews, white-collar defense lawyers said they aren't surprised if many would-be presidential defenders are skittish. "Obviously, given the constant shuffle of attorneys in and out of the president's legal team, one would be reticent to focus a significant portion of your practice on representing the president, only to find yourself on the sidelines a short time later because the president saw someone he liked better on Fox News," said Barry Boss, Cozen O'Connor's criminal defense and internal investigations practice co-chair, in an email. "There is also definitely a stigma to being linked to this president," added Boss, who leads Cozen's D.C. office. "[A]ny attorney is going to consider whether a connection to this case will result in other clients not wanting to hire him or her in the future, especially if the representation of the president is going to be short-lived." One leading white-collar criminal defense attorney in the city said there would be a "revolt" at the lawyer's firm if it decided to lend its services to Trump against the special counsel. "You won't catch me doing it for all the money in the world," the lawyer said, pointing to the content and frequency of the president's tweets. Olson, who was U.S. solicitor general under George W. Bush, rebuffed the president in just a day last week, after he was reportedly also courted last year. In a television interview on Monday, he said the personnel changes surrounding Trump were "beyond normal." "This is turmoil, it's chaos, it's confusion," Olson told MSNBC. "It's not good for anything." Still, some suggested the idea that Trump is toxic is being overplayed. One white-collar lawyer said many colleagues would still relish the opportunity to represent a sitting presidentthough the same attorney requested anonymity, citing a potential backlash from clients for expressing that view. Cozen O'Connor's Boss pointed out what Trump himself had noted in a tweetthat any lawyers now joining the team would need to play catch-up with existing counseladding that a new addition could be beholden to the strategic decisions that have already been made. That "would not be a reason to decline a representation, but it definitely makes it much less attractive," Boss said. Then there's the issue of conflicts. The scope of Mueller's probe means that many Washington lawyers have already been retained by special counsel-related clients of their own. In the case of the diGenova firm, Toensing also represents Mark Corallo, a former Trump legal team spokesman, and former Trump campaign co-chair Sam Clovis, which looks to have helped scuttle the couple's chances of representing the president. But Barry Pollack, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's D.C.-based attorney who is representing an unnamed client in the Mueller probe, noted some conflicts can be waived if the clients are willing. "Any expansive investigation with an unknown number of targets and scores of witnesses presents lawyers with challenges navigating potential conflicts," Pollack said. "Even where a conflict exists, it may not necessarily preclude the lawyers representation of more than one client." Corallo reportedly signed a waiver to allow his attorneys to represent Trump, but it remains unclear what other conflicts may have existed, or what position Mueller may have taken on the matter. FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Majedie Asset Management Limited (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree LONMIN PLC (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 26 March 2018 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" Yes SIBANYE GOLD LTD 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: ORD USD0.0001 Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 23,309,819 8.24 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 23,309,819 8.24 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit ORD USD0.0001 Sale 8,941 59.3029 (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 27 March 2018 Contact name: Matthew Hambly Telephone number: 0207 618 3900 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. English Latvian Riga, 2018-03-27 15:08 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, 27th March, the Meeting of Shareholders of Sadales tikls AS elected new Members of the Management Board of the company who will start working on the 3rd April, the term of office is set to 5 years. Sandis Jansons was appointed as the Chairman of the Management Board of Sadales tikls AS, Janis Kirkovalds was elected as the Member of the Management Board, Baiba Priedite, Inga Abolina and Raimonds Skrebs, the current Members of the Management Board, will continue their work. Sandis Jansons was selected for employment in the Management Board of Sadales tikls AS in the result of a public open selection competition, he was appointed to the position of the Chairman of the Management Board by the Meeting of Shareholders. Sandis Jansons has completed education of business management at the University of Latvia and has obtained the EMBA degree at Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. During the last 10 years he has worked for Rigas Dzirnavnieks AS (LANTMANNEN) as the Director General and Member of the Management Board; SBE Latvija SIA (LANTMANNEN) as the Member of the Management Board; Magnum medical SIA as the Chief Executive Officer and LM Center SIA being its owner. Janis Kirkovalds was also selected in the result of a public open selection competition. Janis Kirkovalds has completed education at Riga Technical University, he has the Bachelor Degree in power engineering and the qualification of the Power Engineer in the speciality of power supply. J.Kirkovalds has valuable work experience in Latvenergo Group where he has worked since 1994. The work experience during the last ten years is related to the position of the Member of the Management Board of Augstsprieguma tikls AS, followed by positions of the Member of the Management Board and Director of Development at Latvijas elektriskie tikli AS by securing successful implementation of strategic transmission investment projects. Sadales tikls AS is a subsidiary of Latvenergo AS, which maintains and develops Latvian power network, ensuring supply of electricity to more than one million customer facilities, covering 99% of the territory of Latvia. Janis Irbe Group Treasurer Phone: +371 67 728 239 E-mail: investor.relations@latvenergo.lv www.latvenergo.lv About Latvenergo Latvenergo Group is the largest pan-Baltic power supply utility operating in electricity and thermal energy generation and trade, natural gas trade, electricity distribution services and lease of transmission system assets. Latvenergo AS has been acknowledged as the most valuable company in Latvia for several times. International credit rating agency Moodys has assigned Latvenergo AS an investment-grade credit rating of Baa2/stable. Latvenergo Group is comprised of the parent company Latvenergo AS (generation and trade of electricity and thermal energy, trade of natural gas) and seven subsidiaries - Latvijas elektriskie tikli AS (lease of transmission system assets), Sadales tikls AS (electricity distribution), Elektrum Eesti OU (trade of electricity and natural gas in Estonia), Elektrum Lietuva UAB (trade of electricity and natural gas in Lithuania), Energijas publiskais tirgotajs AS (administration of mandatory electricity procurement process) and Liepajas energija SIA (generation and trade of thermal energy in Liepaja, electricity generation). All shares of Latvenergo AS are owned by the state and held by the Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia. Emmen, Switzerland, March 27, 2018 At the Annual General Meeting of ALSO Holding AG (SIX: ALSN), held in Lucerne, Switzerland on March 27, 2018, the shareholders approved the Annual Report 2017 and granted the Board of Directors and Group Management discharge for their activities. They also approved the compensation report for fiscal year 2017 in a non-binding advisory vote. The shareholders approved the proposed appropriation of profit and distribution to receive CHF 2.75 per registered share from the capital contribution reserves (previous year CHF 2.25). The retained profit of CHF 279.0 million is being carried forward to the new account. The distribution from capital contribution reserves will be paid out from April 4, 2018 and is not subject to Swiss withholding tax or income tax for individuals resident in Switzerland who hold their shares as private assets. The shareholders also approved for fiscal year 2018 the maximum amount of compensation for members of the Board of Directors. They also approved the maximum amount of fixed and variable compensation for members of Group Management for the same period. The General Meeting reelected the former members of the Board of Directors, Peter Athanas, Walter P. J. Droege, Karl Hofstetter, Rudolf Marty, Frank Tanski, Ernest-W. Droege and Gustavo Moller-Hergt. The shareholders approved the reelection of Gustavo Moller-Hergt as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Peter Athanas, Walter P. J. Droege, and Frank Tanski were again elected members of the Compensation Committee, and Dr. iur. Adrian von Segesser, Attorney at Law and Notary Public, Lucerne, Switzerland, was appointed Independent Proxy. The term of office for all individuals runs until closure of the next annual general meeting. Moreover, the shareholders elected PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Lucerne, Switzerland, as statutory auditor of the company for fiscal year 2018. Contact person: Brunswick Group GmbH Simon Hertwig Tel.: +49 89 80 99 025 25 ALSO Holding AG (Emmen/Switzerland) brings providers and buyers of the ICT industry together. The company offers services at all levels of the ICT value chain from a single source. In the European B2B marketplace, ALSO bundles logistics services, financial services, supply services, solution services, digital services, and IT services together into individual service packages. ALSO's portfolio contains more than 250 000 articles from some 525 vendors. The Group has 4 058 employees throughout Europe. In fiscal year 2017 (closing on December 31), the company generated net sales of 8.9 billion euros. The majority shareholder of ALSO Holding AG is the Droege Group, Dusseldorf, Germany. Further information is available at (Emmen/Switzerland) brings providers and buyers of the ICT industry together. The company offers services at all levels of the ICT value chain from a single source. In the European B2B marketplace, ALSO bundles logistics services, financial services, supply services, solution services, digital services, and IT services together into individual service packages. ALSO's portfolio contains more than 250 000 articles from some 525 vendors. The Group has 4 058 employees throughout Europe. In fiscal year 2017 (closing on December 31), the company generated net sales of 8.9 billion euros. The majority shareholder of ALSO Holding AG is the Droege Group, Dusseldorf, Germany. Further information is available at http://www.also.com Droege Group Droege Group (founded in 1988) is an independent advisory and investment company under full family ownership. The company acts as a specialist for tailor-made transformation programs aiming to enhance corporate value. Droege Group combines its corporate family-run structure and capital strength into a family-equity business model. The group carries out direct investments with its own equity in corporate spin-offs and medium-sized companies in "special situations". With the guiding principle "execution - following the rules of art", the group is a pioneer in execution-oriented corporate development. Droege Group follows a focused investment strategy based on current megatrends (knowledge, connectivity, prevention, demography, specialization, future work, shopping 4.0). Enthusiasm for quality, innovation and speed determines the company's actions. In recent years Droege Group has successfully positioned itself in domestic and international markets and operates in 30 countries. More information: https://www.droege-group.com Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the ALSO management. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements made here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation, and performance of our Group. The Group accepts no responsibility for updating these forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments. AmoyV wrote: Time taken: 9:08 mins 1. It can be inferred that the "ownership gap" (see highlighted text) would be narrowed if which of the following were to occur? A. Minority entrepreneurs received a percentage of government contracts equal to that received by nonminority entrepreneurs. Nothing like that B. Middle- and high-income minority entrepreneurs gave more assistance to their low-income counterparts in the business community. Help is to be given by the govt not only to low-income people but also to middle and high income people in some cases C. Minority entrepreneurs hired a percentage of minority employees equal to the percentage of minority residents in their own communities. Question is to increase % of self-employed. Not the % of employed D. The percentage of self-employed minority persons rose to more than ten percent of all self-employed persons. This increases the % of self-employed and decreases the gap E. Seventeen percent of all persons employed in small businesses were self-employed. We are concerned about minorities here not the total population. 2. According to the passage, in 1970 funding to minority entrepreneurs focused primarily on which of the following? A. Alleviating chronic unemployment in urban areas We are concerned about self-employment and not total employment B. Narrowing the ownership gap Yes C. Assisting minority-owned businesses with growth potential This was a thing of the past and subsequently was adopted again in the future. But is not part of our time frame in question. D. Awarding subcontracts to businesses that encouraged community development No mention of community development E. Targeting the most economically disadvantaged minority-owned businesses Take out the "most" and this could be the right answer. 3. Which of the following best describes the function of the second paragraph in the passage as a whole? A. It narrows the scope of the topic introduced in the first paragraph. It gives a part of the history of enactment of the assistance B. It presents an example of the type of change discussed in the first paragraph. It is an example of the many changes that the execution of the law went through C. It cites the most striking instance of historical change in a particular government policy. Yes. It is the first of the many historical changes D. It explains the rationale for the creation of the government agency whose operations are discussed in the first paragraph. Doesnt do that E. It presents the results of policies adopted by the federal government. Doesnt do that 4. The passage mentions which of the following as a basic consideration in administering minority-business funding programs? A. Coming up with funding for the programs It is govt funded. No problem mentioned in the passage reagrading funding B. Encouraging government agencies to assist middle and high-income minority entrepreneurs No problem with this mentioned C. Recognizing the profit potential of small service businesses in urban communities Nothing in the passage to support this D. Determining who should be the recipients of the funding There were a lot of times the policy changed and each time the policy changed, it changed wrt who would receive the funding. E. Determining which entrepreneurs are likely to succeed Nothing to support this in the passage 5. The primary purpose of the passage is to A. discuss historical changes in a government policy Yes. It does that B. describe the role of Congress in regulating the work of the SBA Nope. The Congress is not even mentioned after the 1st paragraph, where it passed the policy. C. contrast types of funding sources used by minority businesses Here only 1 type of funding ie govt funding is discussed. No mention or contrasting different funding D. correct a misconception about minority entrepreneurship Passage shows the ways a policy was enacted. There is nothing in the passage to support this option E. advocate an alternative approach to funding minority entrepreneurs There is no mention of any other funding in the passage and hence govt funding may not be the "alternative approach of funding minority entrepreneurs" 3rd question OA is B not C Medical Device Regulatory Specialists to Support FDA Activities BURBANK, CA, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imaging3, Inc. (OTCQB: IGNG) (OTCQB: IGNGD), a development stage company introducing disruptive technologies in the medical imaging industry, is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Experien Group, a Silicon Valley-based medical device consulting firm. Experien Group will provide regulatory strategy and execution in the companys efforts to secure marketing authorization from FDA for the Dominion SmartScan. Enlisting the assistance of Experien Group reflects our commitment to this critical step towards commercialization. Michael, Darlene and the rest of Experien Groups team are seasoned veterans of medical device regulatory efforts, said CEO John Hollister. Experien Group ( http://experiengroup.com/ ), founded by Michael J. Billig and Darlene Crockett-Billig, is a regulatory consultancy with offices in San Jose and San Diego, California. They provide a full range of Regulatory, Quality and Clinical consulting services to medical device companies of all sizes. Experien Groups senior team has more than 250 years of collective experience and will serve as a new extension of Imaging3s organization, setting their regulatory strategy, compiling documentation, leading interactions with FDA and executing to major milestones, such as the filing and review of their 510(k) pre-market notification. Experien Group remains deeply committed to helping commercialize paradigm-changing devices that improve patient care and peoples lives. After speaking with John, it became clear to our firm that Imaging3 has an incredibly innovative technology and a crucial renewed commitment to taking a prudent, thoughtful and transparent approach with FDA, said CEO Michael Billig. About Imaging3 Inc. Imaging3, Inc., founded in 1993, has developed a patented medical imaging technology, called the Dominion SmartScan, that produces 3D x-ray images, effectively in real time. The SmartScan technology has the potential to allow healthcare professionals to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures more quickly and accurately, which may result in higher throughput for the clinicians and fewer safety risks for patients. Imaging3s technology exposes patients to less harmful radiation than current equivalent imaging technologies such as CT scans. The company believes this will allow scans to be used in many settings where scanning is currently limited by concerns about radiation exposure. The technology also notably allows for reasonably convenient portability, easier installation and use-readiness, and a significantly reduced cost burden suitable for novel settings and for healthcare systems across varied global settings. Imaging3 plans to submit a 510(k) application to FDA during 2018 to gain marketing authorization for initial applications for the SmartScan technology. Visit the companys website at http://www.imaging3.com for detailed information about the companys technology. Safe Harbor Statement Imaging3 cautions you that any statement included in this press release that is not a description of historical facts is a forward-looking statement. Many of these forward-looking statements contain the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may" "intend," "expect" and similar expressions. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in Imaging3s business, including, without limitation: the company may not ever obtain FDA clearance or approval for any of its devices; the company may not be able to secure the funds necessary to support its product development plans; and the company may not ever achieve the market success to sustain a profitable business. In addition, there are risks and uncertainties related to economic recession or terrorist actions, competition from much larger imaging companies, technological obsolescence, unexpected costs and delays, potential product liability claims, and many other factors. More detailed information about Imaging3 and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Such documents may be read free of charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov . You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Imaging3 undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. AUSTIN, TEXAS and SAN JOSE, CA, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BOXX Technologies, the leading innovator of high-performance computer workstations, rendering systems, and servers, today announced that the new APEXX W3, featuring an Intel Xeon W processor, four dual slot NVIDIA GPUs, and other innovative features designed to accelerate high performance computing applications, will debut at BOXX booth #403 at NVIDIAs GPU Technology Conference (GTC). The APEXX W3 will be joined by other new BOXX products including the GX8-P server, the APEXX P5 workstation, and a GoBOXX SLM VR mobile workstation. Held through March 29 in San Jose, GTC is the premier AI and deep learning event, providing attendees with training, insights, and direct access to experts from NVIDIA and other leading organizations. GTC attendees expect to see tomorrows technology solving todays most demanding challenges, said Shoaib Mohammad, BOXX VP of Marketing and Business Development. So BOXX is taking the lead with deep learning servers that allow organizations to scale out, as well as solutions like the APEXX W3 which brings deep learning and GPU-accelerated rendering to your deskside. Available with an Intel Xeon W CPU (up to 18 cores) in a compact chassis, the remarkably quiet APEXX W3 is ideal for data scientists, enabling deep learning development at the users deskside. Capable of supporting up to four NVIDIA Quadro GV100 graphics cards, the workstation helps users rapidly iterate and test code prior to large-scale DL deployments while also being ideal for GPU-accelerated rendering. At GTC, APEXX W3 will demonstrate V-Ray rendering with NVIDIA OptiX AI-accelerated denoiser technology. Driven by NVIDIA Volta GPU architecture, the Quadro GV100 is the most powerful graphics card ever created for PC workstations, said Bob Pette, Vice President, Professional Visualization, NVIDIA. By integrating it into the new APEXX W3, BOXX has once again demonstrated their commitment to enabling the most advanced, professional GPU capability for complex deep learning and rendering workflows. The APEXX W3 is joined by the new GX8-P deep learning server featuring a single AMD EPYC processor with up to 32 high performance cores. Along with its outstanding capabilities, when compared to dual processor platforms, GX8-P is also a much more cost effective deep learning solution. The powerful server is available with up to eight, full-size NVIDIA Quadro or Tesla GPUS, or AMD Radeon Pro or Radeon Instinct graphics cards for rapid training of deep neural networks. In addition to the APEXX W3 and GX8-P, the BOXX booth will also include the APEXX P5, a workstation ideal for deskside, deep learning development, as well as a variety of professional visualization applications. With support for up to four, dual-slot NVIDIA graphics cards featuring the latest Volta architecture and Tensor Cores, the P5 is the worlds most advanced workstation for GPU-centric workflows. The BOXX system also includes a single AMD EPYC processor with up to 32 high performance CPU cores. The BOXX GTC lineup is rounded out by the GoBOXX SLM VR featuring a new NVIDIA Quadro P4000 GPU. The worlds thinnest, lightest VR-ready mobile workstation, GoBOXX SLM VR allows users to create stunning, seamless VR experiences. For further information and pricing on the APEXX W3, GX8-P, APEXX P5, and GoBOXX SLM VR, contact a BOXX sales consultant in the US at 1-877-877-2699. Learn more about BOXX systems, finance options, and how to contact worldwide resellers, by visiting www.boxx.com. For dedicated, multi-GPU, cloud-based deep learning solutions, contact the BOXX-owned Cirrascale Cloud Services at (888) 942-3800 or visit http://www.cirrascale.cloud . About BOXX Technologies BOXX is the leading innovator of high-performance computer workstations, rendering systems, and servers for engineering, product design, architecture, visual effects, animation, deep learning, and more. For 22 years, BOXX has combined record-setting performance, speed, and reliability with unparalleled industry knowledge to become the trusted choice of creative professionals worldwide. For more information, visit www.boxx.com . ### Attachment: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f6c5faf-735c-4969-9ad6-cc448814052c As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ GREENVILLE, S.C., March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bob Jones University President Steve Pettit today announced that, beginning with the fall 2018 semester, BJU students will have opportunity to apply for enrollment in Air Force or Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Earlier this month, BJU entered a crosstown partnership agreement with Air Force ROTC Detachment 770 hosted by Clemson University, making that ROTC program available to qualified BJU students. BJU joins Southern Wesleyan University, Tri-County Technical College and Anderson University, becoming the fourth crosstown partner in Clemsons program. The cadre and cadets of Detachment 770 look forward to welcoming BJU students to our Cadet Wing this fall, said Col. Keith Balts, Detachment Commander. Our crosstown and host school cadets provide a diversified approach to the program and leadership opportunities as they pursue a commission in the U.S. Air Force. On March 22, BJU entered a similar agreement by which BJU students may enroll in Army ROTC hosted by Furman University. BJU joins North Greenville University as the second crosstown partner in Furman Universitys Paladin Battalion. The Paladin Battalion is excited for the opportunity to include students from Bob Jones University into our program, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ryan Forshee. We educate, train and inspire leaders of character to fulfill a lifetime of service both in the Army and in their communities. The values of character and service are consistent with the BJU vision, and I am confident that this partnership will prove valuable for BJU, their students, the Paladin Battalion and the United States Army. Providing the ROTC experience for BJU students has been a goal of mine since becoming president, said Pettit. These crosstown agreements provide our students a variety of options for military service, including military leadership as commissioned officers and active reserves, and they will gain superb leadership experience that aligns with our emphasis on leadership development. We are grateful to both Clemson University and Furman University for including BJU in their crosstown partnerships. Im also thankful for the encouragement and assistance that Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, along with Congressmen Trey Gowdy and Jeff Duncan, provided during the process. BJU has seen a growing interest in ROTC. In the last five years, well over 200 prospective students and their parents have inquired about ROTC, and this academic year nearly 100 current students have talked with Air Force and Army recruiters on campus. Current and prospective students apply directly to the Air Force and Army for admission into ROTC programs. To facilitate this process, BJU has established an on-campus ROTC office where Air Force and Army recruiters meet with individual students and assist them through the application process. BJU has also designated retired U.S. Navy Commander Al Carper as campus ROTC advisor. A current faculty member in BJUs School of Business, Carper received a direct commission into the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1989 and in 2003 was mobilized into active duty for two years during Operation Enduring Freedom. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Bob Jones University provides an outstanding regionally accredited Christian liberal arts education purposely designed to inspire a lifelong pursuit of learning, loving and leading. BJU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in religion, education, fine arts and communication, arts and science, and business. BJU has nearly 3,000 students from nearly every state and more than 40 countries. We are committed to the truth of Scripture and to pursuing excellence in all we do. ###Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ec0fdd7f-fa2f-4dcf-9372-d5373fd1f138 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6e41784-1fd3-4bc8-8a64-c41609143f2e A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d0dd82c-5e40-4989-8415-a817092d5be3 English French MONTREAL, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Office of the Syndic of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec has reached a settlement with a group of engineers previously employed by Genivar Inc. who, between 1998 and 2010, received a refund from their employer as compensation for a political contribution. In its inquiries, the Office of the Syndic found that neither the professional competence nor the diligence of the engineers concerned were at issue. However, according to the Office of the Syndic, these engineers participation in a political party funding process involving a contribution from their employer constitutes an act derogatory to the honour and dignity of the profession that must be brought to the publics attention and penalized in order to maintain the transparency required in political contributions. As set out in section 123.6 of the Professional Code, the conciliations will be added to the files of the engineers concerned and are confidential. In response to inquiry requests and as part of its own inquiries, between 2011 and 2016, the OIQs Office of the Syndic opened a series of inquiries on political contributions made by engineers and ex-engineers from Genivar Inc. These inquiries were concluded with a settlement in a context where the issue of political contributions was strongly criticized by both the media and the Chief Electoral Officer, thereby resulting in greater awareness of the importance of respecting the principles set out in the Election Act. The main task of the Office of the Syndic is to make sure that OIQ members uphold the provisions of the Code of Ethics of Engineers, the Engineers Act and all regulations adopted under the Professional Code. As a reminder, disciplinary law does not seek to punish professionals, but rather correct deviant conduct. When the Office of the Syndic is reassured that the public is protected after conducting an inquiry on one of its members and that the possibility of an ethical offence has been removed, its role is not necessarily to lodge a complaint with the Disciplinary Council. In some cases, it may settle cases through conciliation or a formal commitment by the engineer concerned to change his or her professional practices. About the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec Founded in 1920, the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec has a membership of some 63,000 engineering professionals in all fields, except forest engineering. The OIQ strives to be a reference for professionalism and excellence in engineering as well as a unifying organization. Its mission is to protect the public by acting to ensure that engineers serve society with professionalism, compliance and integrity in the public interest. For more information, go to www.oiq.qc.ca. For a quick update on OIQ news, join our virtual communities: Source: Aline Vandermeer Communications Advisor Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec Tel.: 514 845-6141 or 1 800 461-6141, extension 3253 New York, Mar 27 (JEN): Three years after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen war, and hours after reports that Houthi rebels fired missiles at cities in Saudi Arabia, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said military escalation is not the solution and urged restraint on all sides. The UN has also dispatched an envoy to meet with warring parties in its quest to facilitate a negotiated political settlement to the crisis, which has left an estimated 22.2 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The Special Envoy [Martin Griffiths] is in Sanaa this week to meet with various Yemeni parties, Farhan Haq, UN Deputy Spokesperson, told reporters at the world bodys New York Headquarters. The Former Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who had been brokering talks between the parties since 2015, stepped down last month. The Secretary-General emphasizes that a negotiated political settlement through inclusive intra-Yemeni dialogue is the only way to end the conflict and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, Mr. Haq added. On 26 March 2015, a coalition of countries led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to secure the return of the Government to Sanaa, which had been seized by Houthi militias and allied units of the armed forces when the conflict initially erupted in 2014. Three years on, the fighting is raging and the ensuing humanitarian crisis has only deepened in a country that was already one of the regions poorest. On Sunday, missiles were fired toward Saudi Arabia. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch late yesterday of a series of missiles claimed by the Houthis toward cities in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, as he does consistently with all attacks against civilians, said Mr. Haq. Calling for restraint amid mounting tensions, the UN chief stressed that military escalation is not the solution, the spokesperson added. Also on Monday, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) reported that three years of war has killed thousands of children and seriously injured thousands more. In 2017 alone, weve seen children continue to be killed and seriously injured at a rate of a minimum of five children every single day, said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, upon returning from a field visit to Yemen to assess the impact that the brutal war and decades of chronic underdevelopment is having on 11 million Yemeni boys and girls. In 2017, we have seen outbreaks of deadly cholera and deadly diphtheria. Many hundreds of children have been killed as a result of that as well, he added. Yemen was once called Arabia Felix happy Arabia but there is not much happiness there today. Happiness will only come back to Yemen, if we invest in children, stop the brutal war and invest in education, he said.He also said that UNICEF has been able to verify that 2,500 schools today that are no longer serving for educational purposes. They were destroyed by the war or being used for military purposes, or for hosting displaced people. Since the uprisings in Yemen broke out in early 2011, the UN has been engaged in helping Yemenis to find a peaceful solution. Kabul, Mar 27 (IBNS): Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped a doctor in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul, media reports said on Tuesday. According to local media reports, the doctor was associated with Ibn-i-Sina Hospital in the capital city. The kidnapped doctor has been identified as Dr. Asadullah Zarabi. Dr. Asadullah Zarabi, a cardiologist, was kidnapped last night at around 8:40pm, the Kabul police chief told Pajhwok Afghan News. Brig. Gen. Dawood Amin told the Afghanistan news agency Dr. Asadullah, 54, was abducted on his way home from the hospital. He said two people have been detained so far. He confirmed that investigation into the matter is still going on. Image: Wikimedia Commons Kathmandu, Mar 27 (IBNS): In a shocking incident, a minor girl was forcefully fed with cow dung by her neighbour in Nepal's Banke district, media reports said on Tuesday. The six-year-old was treated in such a manner by her neighbour as she reportedly broke down the water pump in the neighbour's house. Police have arrested one person in connection with the incident. The arrested person was identified as Gita Pariyar. "Police arrested Gita Pariyar, 50, of Kohalpur-4 for forcefully feeding the girl with cow dung," Kathmandu Post reported. DSP Yagya Prasad Bhattarai told the Nepali newspaper the girl was playing on the foreyard of Pariyars house when the incident happened on Monday evening. Police said a case will be filed against Pariyar. Montreal, Mar 27 (IBNS): The Montreal police are searching the suspects behind the shooting in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grace, which took place on Tuesday morning. The police said they had arrived the spot after receiving several 911 calls near the interjection of Hampton Avenue and Upper Lachine Road. When the police had arrived at the spot, they found only a vehicle with its doors opened. However, the victim was few blocks away on Hampton Avenue and Upper Lachine Road. Police are searching the suspects. Following the incident, the Hampton Avenue and Upper Lachine Road were closed in the morning. March 27 (UPI) The Pro-Iranian regime lobby has gone into overdrive since the White House announced that John Bolton would take over from Gen. H.R. McMaster as Americas national security adviser on April 9. There are almost daily articles in the press claiming that Bolton, a former ambassador to the U.N. under President George W. Bush, is an ultra-hawkish warmonger who will not hesitate to attack Iran. The media frenzy has certainly helped to shine a light on the source of these hysterical claims; none other than the ayatollahs, the turbaned tyrants who have oppressed the Iranian people for the past four decades. To call Bolton a warmonger is a pure deception, given that the Middle East is ravaged by conflicts, largely due to Irans aggressive policy of Shiite expansionism. It would be more accurate to label Bolton as a realist, because he has recognized that the Wests policy of engagement with the ayatollahs failed to prevent war and in fact, by emboldening the Iranian regime, provoked further conflict. It must surely be clear to even the most prejudiced observer that if, during the past 40 years, there had been a regular, popular and democratically representative government in Iran, the sectarian genocide and subjugation of neighboring Iraq would never have happened, nor would Bashar al-Assad have been able to survive more than a year after the uprising in Syria. The catastrophically foolish invasion of Iraq by Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, followed by Barack Obamas naive policy of pulling out all U.S. military forces, left that country completely at the mercy of Iran. The mullahs support for the brutal Shiia militias in Iraq and their genocidal campaign against Iraqs Sunni population, opened the floodgates for the Islamic State. Similarly, Irans support for Assad provided a foothold for the Russians to intervene in Syria, dragging that bloody conflict into its seventh brutal year, causing half a million deaths and the biggest migration crisis to hit Europe since the Second World War. Obamas weak policy in Syria, such as disregarding even his own declared red lines on the use of chemical weapons in 2013, helped Assad to stay in power and also helped IS to get stronger with all its deadly consequences. After the Iran nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions, which released $150 billion of frozen assets, far from investing in its own people, the mullah-led regime used the money to redouble its spending on exporting terror through their Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and Quds Force, both of which are listed terrorist organizations in the West and are involved in almost every conflict in the Middle East. As well as Assad in Syria and the brutal Shiia militias in Iraq, Iran bankrolls and supplies the Houthi rebels in Yemen and the terrorist Hezbollah in Lebanon Bolton has identified Irans Islamic Republic as the source of terror in the Middle East and worldwide. This is why he has been willing to stick his head above the parapet and show his open support for the main Iranian democratic opposition movement the Peoples Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK). Ambassador Bolton has addressed mass MEK rallies in Paris, which always attract over 100,000 ex-pat Iranians. He has advocated regime change in Tehran as the only way to restore peace and social justice to the 80 million Iranian citizens and to end conflict across the Middle East. He recognizes that years of appeasement under Obama did not prevent conflict in the zone; it encouraged it. Iran is the most repressive country in the Middle East. It executes more people, per capita, than any other country in the world. Ninety percent of all executions throughout the Middle East take place in Iran, often in public. The regime tightly controls the media and education. It is a misogynistic, male-dominated society, with vast conscript forces that serve as a further indoctrination and control mechanism. Irans military forces now total 523,000, including 125,000 IRGC the regimes Gestapo, whose hard-line commanders answer directly to Ali Khamenei the despotic supreme leader and not to the civil government. The recent uprisings in over 140 cities throughout Iran show that the people are sick to death with this theocratic dictatorship. They long for freedom, justice, democracy and the rule of law, but the IRGC and its cohorts have met their protests with the usual brutal crackdown. Around 8,000 mostly young protesters, many of them women, have been arrested. At least 14 have been tortured to death. These are atrocious crimes that Europe has chosen to ignore. The U.S. administrations backing for the January nationwide uprising in Iran was warmly welcomed by millions of Iranians who feel that they are no longer isolated in their demand for change. They know that they now have American support. It is time the U.K. government and the EU did likewise. Their cringing placation of the mullahs has been a disgrace. They have chosen to put trade and commerce ahead of human rights. Any expansion of political and economic relations with Iran must be conditional upon a clear progress on human rights, womens rights and a halt to executions. Human rights and womens rights in Iran cannot be compromised or marginalized on the pretext of political considerations, trade or the nuclear deal. Winston Churchill once said: You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war. His words have a sad resonance in the Middle East where Western impotence has encouraged the regime to expand its jihadist revolution across Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced in their attempt to achieve Iranian hegemony and create a Shiite Islamic caliphate. Bolton has been advocating a firm policy with Tehran for the past two decades. He was always against a Neville Chamberlain-like approach and he should now be supported in his efforts to adopt a resolute policy with Iran to prevent more wars and bloodshed in the region. Chamberlains policy encouraged Hitler to go to war. Obamas Iran policy encouraged the regime to export its terrorism and meddling in the region. There is only one way to stop the current wars and conflicts in the region: adopting a firm line with the Iranian regime and supporting the popular uprising for a democratic change in Iran. Struan Stevenson, coordinator of Campaign for Iran Change, was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliaments Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14) and chairman of Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and is also president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association. The ship ran aground on rocks in January, after attempting to enter a harbour during bad weather. Iran initially tried to downplay the incident, but it soon became clear that the wreck was unsalvageable, leaving Iran with only one large surface warship in its entire fleet. They had a plan to build seven, but production on the third has halted due to budget problems, leaving the Iranian Navy using mostly small coastal missile boats, small locally built submarines and speedboats manned by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While Iran does have five frigates and a yacht in its fleet, these are incredibly old and need refitting to serve as a modern warship, but this is unattainable because of the budget problems. These budget problems have also lead to strikes by Iranian workers who are not getting paid for work that they have completed on the naval ships. This is evidence that Iran is much weaker than it likes to make out when it threatens the other nations of the Middle East with destruction. Yes, Iran may introduce weapons that it has made itself, but for the most part, these are little more than propaganda tools. Due to international sanctions, Iran has found it hard to get their hands on the necessary equipment, so the weapons are of poor quality and hardly able to cover the distances or inflict the damage that Iran claims they can. Of course, at various points over the past 40 years, international sanctions have been eased and suspended most recently during the 2015 nuclear deal but often Iran does not use this to strengthen its navy or any other branch of the military. Instead, they strengthen their terrorist proxies, like the Yemeni Houthis and the Lebanese Hezbollah, in order to create chaos in the world without getting their hands dirty. Thus, they supply the Houthis with missiles to fire at Saudi Arabia and claim that they had nothing to do with it. They also used it to strengthen the IRGC, which is why there were so many attacks on US ships in the Middle East by the IRGC up until 2017. This is why the US needs to enforce wide-ranging and targeted sanctions against Iran and why the US should pull out of the flawed nuclear deal. Iran is not using the money or the access to equipment to reinforce its armed forces, as is the right of any sovereign nation, but funding terrorism, regional expansionism, and the Supreme Leaders private militia. American officials said Monday that President Donald Trump "doesn't believe any of the accusations" made by Stormy Daniels. The maker of sex films says she was threatened when she tried to tell her story that she had had sex with Trump. She spoke about her story Sunday night on the CBS television news program 60 Minutes. Stormy Daniels met Trump in 2006 in the state of Nevada. She said they had sex one time and continued to be in contact with one another for more than a year. Trump married his current wife Melania in 2005. Daniels says she accepted money in exchange for her silence about the relationship because she feared for her familys safety. Lawyers for the president have denied reports of the relationship. Daniels told 60 Minutes she was threatened in a car parking area in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2011. She said she had her baby daughter with her at the time. The reported threat took place after Daniels had agreed to tell her story to the magazine In Touch Weekly in exchange for $15,000. She told 60 Minutes, "A guy walked up on me and said to me, Leave Trump alone. Forget the story,'" she said. "And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, 'That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom.' The In Touch story did not appear in print in 2011. Two former employees of the magazine told 60 Minutes that the story was not published because Trump lawyer Michael Cohen threatened to sue the publication. The story was published earlier this year. Ten days before the 2016 presidential election, Daniels accepted $130,000 from Cohen to stay quiet. The payment was part of a non-disclosure agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported on the payment earlier this year. At the time, Daniels publicly denied having a sexual relationship with Trump. But on 60 Minutes, Daniels said that denial was a lie that she had been bullied into making by her former lawyer and business adviser. "They made it sound like I had no choice," she said. She told 60 Minutes, "The exact sentence used was, They can make your life hell in many different ways.'" She said she did not know who could make her life hell, but that she believed "it to be Michael Cohen." Cohen has denied threatening Daniels, and refused a request to appear on 60 Minutes. But he admitted he paid Daniels. He said he used his own money. In a statement last month, Cohen said, Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction Late Sunday, a lawyer representing Cohen released a letter demanding a retraction and an apology from Daniels. The letter said Cohen had absolutely "nothing whatsoever" to do with someone threatening her and that he "does not even believe that any such person exists." Last week, businesswoman and former model Karen McDougal also appeared on television to tell of her reported relationship with Trump. McDougal said she was sexually involved with Trump for 10 months beginning in 2006. She has taken legal action to withdraw from a non-disclosure agreement she signed before the 2016 election. She was paid $150,000 as part of the agreement. On March 6, Stormy Daniels took similar legal action against the president. Her lawyer argued that Trump never signed the agreement that orders Daniels to keep quiet about their reported relationship. Trumps representatives say he did not have a relationship with either woman and that he had no knowledge of any payments to them. Im Caty Weaver. Smita Nordwall reported this story for VOA News. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story park - v. to leave a car, truck, motorcycle, etc., in a particular place lean - v. to bend or move from a straight position shame - n. something that is regretted non-disclosure agreement - a contract by which one or more parties agree not to publicly share or spread information that they have shared with each other bully - v. to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force hell - n. a very difficult or unpleasant situation or experience transaction - n. a business deal : an occurrence in which goods, services, or money are passed from one person, account, etc., to another retraction - n. a statement saying that something you said or wrote at an earlier time is not true or correct Khatol Mohammadzai was active in the Afghan army for more than 30 years. She earned many awards and made nearly 600 parachute jumps from an airplane. In addition, Mohammadzai has trained hundreds of Ministry of Defense members. But it took the U.S.-led military coalitions defeat of the Taliban in 2001 to make it possible for Mohammadzai to become a general. She is the first woman in Afghanistan to reach the rank of general. For years, the Afghan National Army has been considered a mans army. Khatol said, When I move around the city with my uniform, people show great affectionI have motivated many young people to join the army. People from the provinces say they love me and my professions. In Afghanistan, joining the military is not an easy choice for women. They face opposition from families and male co-workers. Reports say they are denied promotions, training and security. But the 103 female cadets at the Marshal Fahim Military Academy in Kabul want to change the military culture. Gulalay is an army cadet. She said she is working for the security of her country. She said, My goal from the beginning is to promote myself to the level of General Khatol or even higher than her. Women and men train separately at the academy. However, Afghan officers say their programs are similar. Both receive physical education, weapons and medical care training. Cadet Sima Amiri says that she is one of the few women who had her fathers support to join the army. She said, My message to the families is to encourage their daughters and help them in their decision to join the National army. Khatol has urged for the expansion of service for women. She said, It was my education and hard work that enabled me to raise the Aghan flag in the world. I request my heroic brothers and sons to strive for education of their daughters. The Ministry of Defense says 1,700 women serve in the Afghan Army, about 1 percent of the total. I'm Susan Shand. Jill Craig reported this story for VOA News. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story parachute n. a piece of equipment usually made of cloth that is fastened to people or things and that allows them to fall slowly and land safely after they have jumped or been dropped from an aircraft uniform n. a special kind of clothing that is worn by all the members of a group or organization promotion n. the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization cadet n. a student at a military school preparing to become an officer encourage v. to make someone more determined, hopeful, or confident strive v. to try very hard to do or achieve something Michael Carroll served 18 months in Iraq for the United States Army. After coming home in 2004, doctors found that he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mental health experts say the disorder develops in some people who have experienced a shocking or dangerous event. Such persons may feel frightened even when they are not in danger. They also can suffer from depression for months or even years after the event. Michael Carroll left the army after receiving an honorable discharge. He described the change to civilian life as difficult, and that he was quick to express anger. Carroll told VOA Anything could trigger me, sounds to smells to seeing trash on the side of the road." The unwanted waste made him remember explosive devices used against coalition soldiers in the Iraq war. Over the next few years, he received the usual treatment for PTSD, which included medication and meetings with mental health experts. He said this did him more harm than good. In 2009, while being treated at the Spokane Veterans Center, Carroll heard about an outdoor recreational retreat for military veterans like him. The retreat was organized and financed by a group of Spokane Valley firefighters. Carroll said this was where he experienced his first sweat lodge. "It blew my mind. And it saved my life. Healing with ancient traditions Since ancient times, Native American and Alaskan Natives have shown great respect to warriors. The native people have developed prayers, ceremonies and traditions to honor returning soldiers and ease their way back into the community. One of the most common is a traditional steam bath, known as a "sweat." This tradition is believed to have started with the Plains Indians. It is now practiced, in different forms, by many American tribes. The U.S. Veterans Administration has recognized the value of sweats to Native service members. Since the 1990s, the government has permitted tribes to hold sweats at several VA medical centers across the country. Now, non-Native veterans have started the tradition. Darrin Coldiron is a Spokane firefighter and president of Veterans Community Response (VCR), an all-volunteer group that holds several gatherings a year. Coldiron told VOA that he learned about the importance of native traditions in college. He said "I learned that in so many societies, when you send a warrior off, there's a ceremony, and you bring them home with ceremony." Craig Falcon, a member of the Blackfeet tribe who leads ceremonies at VCR retreats, explained how the sweat has been used in his culture to help warriors returning to civilian life. "You come back from war with things attached to you," he said. "And some of those things may not be good. They could be memories. Or it could be somebody you killed, and that person attaches himself to you and comes home with you. Ceremonies help wash those things off, send them back to where they came from and get you back to who you are." Roger Vielle, another member of the Blackfeet tribe, has served on VCR's board as spiritual adviser since 2009. At first, he was not sure how non-Natives would like the sweat. Vielle said, "Some of the stories they share afterward and some of the things that have happened to them during the sweat are like 'He struggled to find words. They say something happens there. They've gotten in touch with something.' And I tell them, I'm not the one doing it... You did the work, you did the prayers." VCR retreats are financed entirely by donations and cost the participants nothing. The reason: no true tribal healer would ever charge money for a ceremony. Private traditions Michael Carroll said he was unsure, and even a little frightened, of his first sweat. But he added that after you go inside the sweat center, and the music begins, the experience was good. "Then you pray, and you begin to feel the toxins pour out of your body, he said. And a lot of time, there's a sense of another presence, something besides you and the other people gathered there." Vielle and Falcon were unwilling to share too many details about the ceremonies, which are important to their culture. Falcon added that some non-natives are taking traditional ceremonies and the tribal way of life and trying to sell the experience to others. He said some veterans come out of sweats wanting to build centers outside their own homes. "I tell them, I can't stop you if you want to go and build one. But it won't be done in the right way,''' Falcon said. "And once I tell them that, they are very respectful and say, I'll build a sauna instead.'" Im Phil Dierking. Cecily Hilleary reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you heard of other forms of treatment for people suffering from PTSD? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story attach - v. to associate or connect one thing with another board - n. a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization participant - n. a person who is involved in an activity or event practice - v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it retreat - n. a place that is quiet and private toxin - n. a poisonous substance and especially one that is produced by a living thing trash - n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown away trigger - n. a lever on a gun that you pull to fire the gun sauna - n. a special heated room in which people sit or lie down in order to get hot and sweat Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bermuda Land Development Company Limited (BLDC) invites local and international developers to submit their qualifications for consideration regarding two exciting infrastructure projects in Bermuda - a national Energy Generation Facility and an international Cargo Plant. Formed in 1996, BLDC is a private company which oversees the development of land and buildings previously occupied by US and Canadian military forces. Francis Mussenden, CEO notes, Our mandate is to evaluate and support redevelopment options that strengthen the social and economic fabric of Bermuda, and we are seeking innovative, world-class partners to design, build and operate infrastructure projects that will benefit our residents and local businesses in the short and long-term. These are exciting times in Bermuda. Bermudas economy is expanding and we are preparing for the future, say Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, MP. Our energy infrastructure is nearing the end of its life cycle; additional energy production will help improve stability and reliability, especially during times of peak demand and emergency situations. Additionally, the establishment of an international Cargo Port will increase capacity and improve Bermudas ability to offer potential services like international transshipping services and fish processing. Bermuda is a self-governing British Overseas Territory located in the mid-Atlantic, only two hours away from New York by flight, and easily accessible from the U.S., Canada and Europe. The tax-neutral island remains a popular jurisdiction for international investment, with stable legal and political systems, and a long history of collaboration between government, industry and regulators. Bermuda is respected globally as a world-class offshore financial centre (OFC), and is the first OFC to be included in the OECDs list of compliant, transparent countries. Bermudas standard of living and GDP per capita ranks among the highest in the world, and the island offers a secure and modern infrastructure, including excellent telecommunications, access to major financial markets, and a wealth of world-class talent that supports local and international business. The proposed Energy Production Facility and Cargo Plant are both expected to exceed US$150m, and take several years to complete. Viable partners for each project will be selected based on RFQ submissions; companies who qualify will be shortlisted to submit full proposals near the end of 2018. RFQ submission details, downloads and contact protocols are available at www.bldc.bm. Submissions for both infrastructure projects will close on May 23, 2018. Media contact: Sian Blackmore/Elizabeth Tee Troncossi Public Relations Telephone: 441-292-5838 Email: Sian@Troncossi.bm Acacia Mining plc, together with its subsidiaries, mines, processes, and sells gold in Africa. The company has three gold mines in north-west Tanzania, including Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi, and North Mara; and a portfolio of exploration projects at various stages of development in Tanzania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Mali. It also produces co-products, such as copper and silver. The company was formerly known as African Barrick Gold plc and changed its name to Acacia Mining plc in November 2014. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Acacia Mining plc is a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation. Wall Street analysts have given Hertz Global 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 Hertz Global wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. 1 hour ago Multiple Analysts are Calling These 3 Stocks a Buy Investors have differing opinions about the value of sell-side research. Some swear by it, while others prefer to build their investment thesis around other tenants. There are certainly cases to be made for both positions. Whats less contentious is that Wall Street analysts are the best resource we have when it comes to humans that intimately know the inner workings of the companies they follow. Read Article The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited. When Apple launched its first tablet, one of the things that made it different from the dozens of Windows tablets that came before was that you didnt need to use a stylus. Early iPads were basically iPhones with big screens and they were designed to run apps that you could use with your fingers. In fact, Apple founder Steve Jobs once famously said that if you see a stylus, they blew it. I dont exactly think he was rolling in his grave five years later when Apple launched the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil after all, it was a pro device aimed at folks who wanted extra functionality. You still dont need a stylus to use an iPad Pro, its just an optional feature for folks who want it. But it looks like the Apple Pencil isnt just a Pro feature anymore. The company just unveiled its first new iPad of 2018, and its an entry-level 9.7 inch model aimed at the education market. And its the cheapest Apple product to feature Pencil support to date. The new Apple iPad has a 2048 x 1536 pixel display and an Apple A10 Fusion processor, which is a step up from the A9 chip that powered last years entry-level iPad although its still a generation behind the Apple A11 Bionic chip found in the companys latest iPhones. Apples new tablet has an 8MP rear camera with 1080p video recording support, a Facetime HD camera on the front, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the home button, and support for up to 10 hours of battery life. Theres optional support for 4G LTE with speeds up to 300 Mbps. Apple unveiled the new tablet at an education-focused event today in Chicago, where the company noted that there are more than 200-thousand educational apps available for iPads. The new 2018 iPad will have the same $329 starting price as last years model for consumers but education customers can buy the iPads for $299 and up. The Apple Pencil is still sold separately for $99 (or $89 for students), which drives up the starting price especially when you compare the new iPad to Acers new $329 Chromebook Tab 10 which runs Android apps, has a full desktop version of the Chrome web browser, and comes with a pen. Update: Well, there is a cheaper option. Logitech and Apple have unveiled a new $49 Crayon accessory. via Engadget Share this article: Share this: Facebook Twitter Reddit Pocket Tumblr Pinterest LinkedIn Email IRVINE, Calif., March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TRI Pointe Group, Inc. (NYSE:TPH) announced today that it will release financial results for the first quarter of 2018 before the market opens on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. The Company will host a call on the same day to discuss the results at 7:00 AM Pacific (10:00 AM Eastern). The call will be hosted by Doug Bauer, Chief Executive Officer, Tom Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer and Mike Grubbs, Chief Financial Officer. Those interested in participating in the call can dial-in toll free at (877) 407-3982, or (201) 493-6780 for international participants. A webcast of the event will also be available under the Events & Presentations heading in the Investors section of the Companys website at www.TriPointeGroup.com. A replay of the event will be available for two weeks following the call toll free at (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 using the reference #13678166. An archive of the webcast will also be available on the Companys website for a limited time. About TRI Pointe Group, Inc. Headquartered in Irvine, California, TRI Pointe Group, Inc. (NYSE:TPH) is one of the top ten largest public homebuilders by equity market capitalization in the United States. The Company designs, constructs and sells premium single-family homes through its portfolio of six quality brands across eight states, including Maracay Homes in Arizona; Pardee Homes in California and Nevada; Quadrant Homes in Washington; Trendmaker Homes in Texas; TRI Pointe Homes in California and Colorado; and Winchester Homes in Maryland and Virginia. Additional information is available at www.TriPointeGroup.com. Investor Relations Contacts: Chris Martin, TRI Pointe Group Drew Mackintosh, Mackintosh Investor Relations InvestorRelations@TriPointeGroup.com, 949-478-8696 The Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, called for a concerted effort to ensure in-depth implementation of the one country, two systems principle, saying that Macau is entering a new era. A briefing session was held yesterday about the recent meetings in Beijing of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). During the event, the CE said that the government has to foster big-picture thinking and enhance its vigilance regarding the global potential for crisis, in order to help Macau embark on a journey of innovative and coordinated development. According to a statement issued yesterday, Chui urged government officials and community members to study closely the theory Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He also said that an effort should be made to integrate the citys own development with the countrys overall development. During yesterdays meeting, the CE highlighted that the government had to improve its long-term plans relating to peoples living standards, adhering to its administrative principle of putting the people first. Chui also pledged that the government intends to continue its existing strong efforts to nurture a greater number of young leaders; to speed up construction of infrastructure relating to housing, transport, and development of a smart city; and to optimize its response mechanism for any public emergency. During the briefing session, vice chairman of the CPPCC, Edmund Ho, urged communities across the city to join hands and support the governments efforts to further Macaus role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the plans for which are due to be released soon. For international investors trying to gauge Chinas monetary policy, life is set to get even more complex. Guo Shuqing, a high-profile banking regulator and ally of President Xi Jinping in cleaning up the financial system, is said to have been appointed as Communist Party secretary of the Peoples Bank of China, according to people familiar with the matter. The appointment was announced yesterday at an internal meeting at the central bank, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the gathering wasnt public. The move places Guo, 61, above newly anointed governor Yi Gang in the political pecking order and ushers in a management structure with few global equivalents. Guo was also appointed deputy governor, and Yi was named as deputy party chief. Yi will head the operational side of the central bank while Guo will oversee personnel and reform, the people said, without specifying further. To discern policy in the worlds second largest economy, theres now not just one official to watch, but at least three: Vice Premier Liu He, who has the economic and financial policy portfolio, Guo as party boss, and Yi with operational charge of the PBOCs diverse toolkit. Liu is the strategist, Guo is the enforcer and Yi is the implementer, said Andrew Polk, co-founder of research firm Trivium China in Beijing. Guo has been the key driver behind the new laws and regulations that have been coming out of the CBRC over the past year and half. And those have been hugely important to the de-risking program. FAQ To understand how China is likely to run its economy with such a system and why having dual leadership at the central bank could even be a good thing for global investors, here are a few explanations: Whats a party secretary and why does the PBOC have one? Chinas government ministries and state-owned companies each have an official designated to be the Communist Partys representative, for the purpose of communicating the partys will and reporting back on the bodys work. Xi has given the party a greater role in the workings of government and the economy. The government restructuring approved this month at the National Peoples Congress was tailored to strengthening the Communist Partys overall leadership of the state. While it is undoubtedly a powerful agency within China, and sits astride a USD5.7 trillion balance sheet that looms over that of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the PBOC is subordinate to both the higher echelons of government and to the party. Unlike the Federal Reserve or the European Central Bank, the PBOC is not independent. What economists say? It would signal continuity with departing Party Secretary Zhou Xiaochuan on pro-market reform and opening, Bloomberg economists Tom Orlik and Qian Wan wrote in a note. Guo is deeply experienced, a heavyweight policy maker, and has spent his career pushing pro-market reforms. How would a party chiefs role differ to that of a governor? In the recent past, the governor has also been party secretary, giving him control of the central bank within limits set from above. Zhou Xiaochuan, who led the PBOC for over 15 years until this month, used his technocratic track record to also set the political tone, and pressed his masters to go further along the road to financial opening. Splitting the positions is the latest example of how Xis China gives the party supremacy. Traditionally an institutions party boss has held more sway. Unlike in economies where independent central bank governors may come into conflict with their political masters if they tighten monetary policy faster than elected officials would like, for instance the chances of Chinas central bank doing anything against Xis will are now even closer to zero. Doesnt Guo already have a job as top banking regulator? Yes. Guo leads the newly-merged banking and insurance regulator. In his previous job as chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission he led a crackdown on shadow financing and helped mitigate risk in the interbank lending market. He also played a high-profile role in reining in the overseas activities by some of Chinas most acquisitive companies. That seems to have paid off politically, as hes now been entrusted with maintaining the strategic direction in a crucial area of policy. What will this mean for Chinas monetary policy? Probably not much. Since becoming PBOC governor this month, Yi Gang has repeated that it will keep policy prudent and neutral. In practice, that has meant keeping liquidity in the banking system relatively tight while keeping borrowing costs for the wider economy low. Subordinate to the goal of defusing risks in the financial system identified by Xi as one of the critical battles for the next three years monetary policy under Yi will likely avoid any sudden shifts. Guo as the PBOCs party chief and deputy governor means hell be informed on the central banks policy developments, which will reduce the probability of monetary policy going contradictory to those from the banking and insurance regulator, according to Ding Shuang, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank Ltd in Hong Kong. Itll take time to see if the arrangement is effective, he said. Theyre two separate institutions and there could be inconsistent interests. The International School of Macau commemorated its 15th anniversary yesterday, celebrating its growth from 58 students to the current 1,200 students who come from 40 different countries. The 15th anniversary celebration included student performances, a recognition of achievements of its students and staff, highlights of the new North Wing and a formal thank you to the Macau Foundation, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, and the Macau University of Science & Technology Foundation for their support in construction of the North Wing building. Head of School Howard Stribbell noted that the school will soon unveil a plaque to thank the institutes for helping build the North Wing, which fully opened in September last year. Speaking to the press, Stribbell revealed that an educator from Alberta, Canada Mark Lockwood will be replacing him as the head of school by the next academic year. [He was] able to meet students, staff and team. Those connections and transitions are well underway, said the head of school. According to Stribbell, he will be stepping down by the end of the academic year, but will continue to be involved in the school, becoming a supervisor and beginning a role on the school board. TIS had seen continuous growth in the number of its students in the past 15 years. The South Wing can only hold 1,000 students, thus the school head noted that they had to limit the maximum students the school can take. The recently constructed North Wing which opened in September 2017 will increase capacity to 1,600 students. We are adding classes at pre-kindergarten, junior kindergarten, Grades 1 to 3 and Grade 6, so there are more seats next year than ever before, said the head. Questioned whether TIS aims to try to accommodate 1,600 students for the next academic year, Stribbell said, No, were trying to do modest growth. Our plan for next year is to have 1,350 students. Meanwhile, the school head admitted that the biggest challenge schools face nowadays is to be relevant in the current market. Were using an outdated mechanical system of education, he explained. We dont want to live in a world [where] were teaching kids anything that can be looked up on Google. We want to teach them skills that they need for this age. TIS is set to increase its tuition fee by 7 percent next year to help offset the additional costs of the North Wing building, and also to assist in bringing some new teachers in to help improve its programs. A Taiwanese human rights group says the wife of a jailed pro-democracy activist will visit him in prison in China this week. The Taiwan Association for Human Rights said Lee Ching-yu left Taiwan yesterday to see her husband Lee Ming-che in prison in central China. The group said Lee Ching-yu would meet with her husband today. Lee Ming-che is serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted by a Chinese court in November of the vaguely defined charge of subversion of state power. Lee was found guilty of subversion for holding online political lectures and helping the families of jailed dissidents in China. His conviction showed how Beijings harshest crackdown on human rights in decades has extended beyond the Chinese mainland. Beijing regards self-ruled Taiwan as part of Chinese territory. The Yueyang City Intermediate Peoples Court in central China handed down the sentence against Lee in November after finding him guilty of subversion of state power. Lee had confessed during his trial in September, which his wife dismissed as a political show. AP TORONTO and SPOKANE, Wash., March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydro One Limited (Hydro One) (TSX:H) and Avista Corporation (Avista) (NYSE:AVA) today announced the achievement of an important milestone in the regulatory approval process of their proposed merger. The companies have filed an all-parties, all-issues settlement agreement in the merger proceeding before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the Commission). This represents a full settlement which all parties, including Commission Staff, have agreed is in the public interest and should be accepted by the Commission. I would like to thank all the parties that worked together to reach this significant milestone, said Mayo Schmidt, President and CEO, Hydro One. This positive step forward speaks to the long-term benefits of the union of Hydro One and Avista for customers, communities, employees and shareholders. We believe this settlement agreement represents a positive outcome that is broadly supported by the parties and meets the net benefit standard for approval in Washington, Avista Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott L. Morris said. The settlement agreement reinforces the commitments weve made to our stakeholders to keep our headquarters in Spokane, maintain local decision-making, increase our charitable contributions and continue to support economic development, innovation and community involvement. The partnership with Hydro One will not result in the elimination of jobs or other cost-cutting that may affect customer service. Were confident this settlement agreement enhances our ability to provide exceptional service and support to our customers and communities well into the future. The settlement includes financial and non-financial commitments. No costs associated with the transaction will be recovered from Avista or Hydro One customers. The September 2017 applications for state regulatory approval of the merger included a rate credit of approximately US$32 million over a 10-year period across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. This amounted to an allocation of an approximately US$20 million rate credit in Washington. The settlement, if approved, would result in the allocation to Washington of a rate credit of approximately US$31 million over a 5-year period. In the settlement, Hydro One and Avista have also agreed to a number of other financial commitments, such as funding for low income participation in new renewables and the replacement of manufactured homes. As a result of the settlement, financial commitments in Washington total approximately US$44 million. While negotiations with parties in the other states are still underway and will be resolved on a state-by-state basis, if the financial commitments in the Washington settlement were to be proportionally allocated to the other states, the total amount of financial commitments would be approximately US$74 million, which includes a commitment to an additional US$1 million rate credit in Alaska. These settlement negotiations are a typical part of the regulatory process. The final settlement confirms our commitment to customers, long-term environmental protections and community investment. Please refer to www.utc.wa.gov for the joint applications and settlement agreement (which includes the complete list of commitments). The settlement agreement is subject to Commission approval. The Commission Staffs recommendation that the Commission approve the settlement agreement is not binding on the Commission itself. In addition to Hydro One, Avista and Commission Staff, the parties to the merger proceeding include the Public Counsel Unit of the Washington Office of Attorney General, The Energy Project, NW Energy Coalition, Renewable Northwest, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers, the Northwest Industrial Gas Users and the Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities. The transaction received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on January 16, 2018 and from Avista shareholders on November 21, 2017. Hydro One and Avista continue to anticipate closing the transaction in the second half of 2018. Applications for regulatory approval of the transaction are still pending with utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska. Approval must be obtained from the Federal Communications Commission. Also required is clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and compliance with applicable requirements under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, as well as the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. For further information: Hydro One Media: Jay Armitage Director, Corporate Communications media.relations@hydroone.com, 416-345-6868 Investors: Omar Javed Director, Investor Relations investor.relations@hydroone.com, 416-345-5943 Avista Media: Casey Fielder, Communications Manager casey.fielder@avistacorp.com, 509-495-4916 Investors: Lauren Pendergraft, Investor Relations Manager lauren.pendergraft@avistacorp.com, 509-495-2998 About Hydro One Limited We are Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with more than 1.3 million valued customers, over C$25 billion in assets and 2017 annual revenues of nearly C$6 billion. Our team of over 7,400 skilled and dedicated regular and non-regular employees proudly and safely serves suburban, rural and remote communities across Ontario through our 30,000 circuit km of high-voltage transmission and 123,000 circuit km of primary distribution networks. Hydro One is committed to the communities we serve, and has been rated as the top utility in Canada for its corporate citizenship, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. We are one of only five utility companies in Canada to achieve the Sustainable Electricity Company designation from the Canadian Electricity Association. We also provide advanced broadband telecommunications services on a wholesale basis utilizing our extensive fibre optic network. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:H). Forward-Looking Statements and Information This press release and the joint application and settlement agreement to which it refers may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as expect, anticipate, intend, attempt, may, plan, will, can, believe, seek, estimate, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro Ones filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law. About Avista Corporation Avista Corporation is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 382,000 customers and natural gas to 347,000 customers. Its service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company . Avista stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.myAvista.com . This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the companys current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the companys control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2017. Macau and the Philippines have proposed a communication mechanism to foster cooperation regarding matters of criminal apprehension and criminal justice. According to a statement issued by the Government Information Bureau, the proposed cooperation will cover issues such as the surrender of fugitive offenders, transfer of sentenced persons and mutual judicial cooperation on criminal matters. Between March 18 and 21, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, met the Undersecretary of the Department of Justice of the Philippines, Antonio T. Kho, Jr. Following the meetings, both sides signed a memorandum and agreed on the need to strengthen efforts to combat criminal acts. The Macau delegation invited the Philippine side to visit the territory later this year in order to discuss further details of the agreement. During the meetings, Chan emphasized the value of pushing forward with mutual cooperation on criminal and judicial matters, highlighting that Macau and the Philippines have extensive ties in a number of areas. The Health Bureau (SSM) presented a number of new measures last Friday that aim to correct several clinics misuse of the medical vouchers that the government provides to permanent residents every year. In a statement, the SSM reaffirmed that the purpose of the vouchers is not only to financially subsidize residents healthcare bills but also to support physicians in the private sector. In that sense, the vouchers have limitations and are not intended to facilitate additional purchases. New measures include the introduction of electronic vouchers previous versions had been printed managed through users Macau ID for two accounts, one from the clinic and another for the beneficiary. The new system now enables two-way fund transfers between beneficiaries and clinics or individual doctors. These include transferring health vouchers to the doctors individual bank account and submitting the M1 tax form as proof of treatment; alternatively, users may transfer health vouchers to the clinics bank account, together with supporting documents, and submit a Direct Transfer Authorization. The SSM said such measures would prevent problems such as physician working for clinics [being seen as] independent professionals, double taxation, and others. SSM director Lei Chin Ion said the measures are the result of an evaluation over the last 10 months and that the bureau had received several opinions on measures to improve the system. He added that health vouchers have been used unlawfully on several occasions in recent years, such as to acquire seafood, ginseng or other products. The inspection also revealed that the number of vouchers used in clinics has grown in recent years, from 17 percent in 2009 to around 55 percent in 2017. Fewer of these vouchers were used in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as in Western style medicine and for private sector dentists. Macau telecommunications provider CTM said yesterday that it has received some 50 complaints relating to possible phone scams that occurred yesterday and on Sunday. CTM customers complained about receiving numerous strange calls from numbers based in countries such as Papua New Guinea, Tonga, South Sudan, Somalia and possibly other jurisdictions. The Times heard about cases of customers receiving multiple calls. For example, a couple living in Taipa received over ten phone calls from such locations on Sunday. Another couple, living in downtown Macau, received calls from Papua New Guinea around 6 a.m. yesterday (see screen shot). Many people on social media complained of receiving similar calls. Speaking to the Times yesterday, a company representative said that based on the information currently available, CTM cannot confirm whether the scammers were truly based in these countries or whether they were redirecting their calls through a proxy. Asked if the phone scammers obtained access to phone records through a data breach, the CTM representative said we do not know that at this stage. The Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT), which regulates the sector, said that there was a very low possibility that the customer databases of Macaus telecom operators have been breached by hackers. CTT believes that the scammers target Macaus citizens on a massive scale with randomly generated numbers confirming to Macaus numbering plan, it added in an email to the Times. The regulator also said it is following up the case with the relevant parties. Meanwhile, the Judiciary Police issued an alert via SMS to warn people of a new wave of phone scams targeting Macau phone users. In a note to the Times, the entity advised locals to stay wary, safeguard personal information and never disclose personal details to anyone on an unsolicited phone call. Criminals obtain your information via illegal means and use it to commit fraud or other crimes, the Judiciary Police added. The number that appears on your phone may not be real as perpetrators can alter caller IDs using computer software. They change the number to make it [appear] more convincing. CTM said it is referring the Macau public to the warning issued by the Judiciary Police. In a separate case, the Judiciary Police also announced yesterday that a Taiwanese resident aged 38 was detained as he was trying to leave Macau via the airport. He is accused of being a member of a phone scam syndicate that committed illegal acts to con the Macau public. Some of these cases are believed to have occurred between July and August 2017. DB Roadside bombs disguised as rocks in Yemen bear similarities to others used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and by insurgents in Iraq and Bahrain, suggesting at the least an Iranian influence in their manufacture, a watchdog group said yesterday. The report by Conflict Armament Research comes as the West and United Nations researchers accuse Iran of supplying arms to Yemens Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who have held the countrys capital since September 2014. Those weapons allegedly included ballistic missiles used to target Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition of Arab nations backed by the U.S. that is stuck in a stalemate war with the Houthis. A barrage of Houthi missile fire late Sunday killed one person in Riyadh and wounded two others. Iran has long denied supplying arms to the Houthis, and its mission to the United Nations is dismissing the new report. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has derided such weapons research as fabricating evidence. The report is just the latest sign of how the conflict in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country where over 10,000 people have been killed, has changed from a civil war to a proxy fight among Mideast rivals. The Saudi-led war there turned three years old Sunday. What were hoping this does is make plausible deniability not very plausible, said Tim Michetti, head of regional operations for Conflict Armament Research. You cant really deny this anymore once the components these things are made with are traced to Iranian distributors. Michettis organization, an independent watchdog group that receives funding from the United Arab Emirates, Germany and the European Union to research weaponry recovered in Yemen, said it examined a fake rock bomb in January near Mokha, some 250 kilometers southwest of the capital, Sanaa. The fiberglass-encased bomb, packed with explosives, could be armed by radio and triggered by an infrared beam, the group said. It said there were three varieties, including anti-personnel mines and so-called explosively formed projectiles, which can penetrate armored vehicles and were used with lethal effect against U.S. troops following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Electrical circuitry in the bombs mirrored those manufactured by militants in Bahrain, while the bombs bore markings suggesting one workshop mass-produced the explosives, the report said. Such bombs, however, have yet to be used in Bahrain, an island kingdom off Saudi Arabia in the midst of a crackdown on all dissent. Investigators also found a type of Chinese-manufactured wire covering used in other Iranian material, the report said. It said independent experts also examined the explosives. Those experts said that construction indicates that the bomb maker had a degree of knowledge in constructing devices that resembled, and possibly functioned in a manner similar to (explosively formed projectile bombs) that have been forensically tied to Iran and Hezbollah, the report said. Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Irans mission to the United Nations, dismissed the report, saying the Houthis had no need for such weapons as they control stockpiles of arms purchased under former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Houthis killed Saleh, their one-time ally, in December. AP Award-winning artist Shazia Imran is in the city for the first time as she takes part in the Women Artists 1st International Biennial of Macau. Imran is an Australian artist known for her mixed media pieces, which belong to private collections in countries including Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia. The artist who won the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award in the 2015 Florence Biennale has upcoming shows in Hong Kong, Dubai and London. Interviewed by the Times, she talks about the work she is showing in Macau and the struggles faced by female artists. Macau Daily Times (MDT) What shaped your career in the art industry and how did it all start? Shazia Imran (SI) When I was growing up, painting and drawing [was] a part of me. It was right within me somewhere. I didnt take it seriously and I only thought about it as my hobby. Eventually I started putting some paintings [on exhibition] in Sydney. Then I started winning some awards, getting recognition [and] selling works. My life changed when I was invited to the New York Art Expo. Going to New York was an eye opener. When I was there, no one knew me but my works were up there and everyone was commenting about my work. Then, for the first time, I realized maybe Im really good at this. [] When I won an award in the 2015 Florence Biennale, that was such an encouragement and that shaped my career in art. MDT Tell us about the art piece that you chose to bring to Macau. SI My works are in different parts of the world and I only have two pieces left with me and they [the organizers] selected the Divine Bliss. My work mainly depicts harmony and peace. Ive started studying different communities [and] looking at what people believe in. A lot of people believe in religion, have different communities and different ways of living. And then I did react towards what is happening in the immigration world like when [US President] Trump said [that] immigrants should not come to the U.S. and the Australian government is also a bit strict in immigrant policies. Im just trying to make a point that were all human beings and were all the same. Rather than fighting over our differences, we need to celebrate them. I started to look at monumental buildings in different countries, picked some elements and started looking at the elements that are the same in different cultures. I used a circular shape of [a] mandala in my work, which represents the universe. Going back to my theme, it basically shows that we are in one universe and all humans. The mandala represents one central point. [] The mandala brings everything together. All the threads show connections. So were all connected, no matter where we are. Due to globalization, social media and all that, we are so close and weve never been this close before. I [also] used gold to show that we need to celebrate the glamorous nature of different cultures. MDT Can you say that your art pieces comment on current political or social issues? SI I dont focus on social [and] political issues but immigration was a kind of kick for me. I want to focus more on the unity of mankind, identity and more towards harmony and peace. Thats the main message I want to convey in my works. MDT Are there still influences from your culture that can be seen in your artworks? SI Wherever I go, I think I get inspired by my surroundings. Its important to go somewhere when I paint any city or building because then you are meeting people, walking through, smelling, and feeling the space. It all influences your decisions. I try to pick some elements in the culture and depict that. MDT Do you have any plans to base an artwork on Macaus landscapes? SI Definitely. Ive taken many photographs, and Ive done sketches. MDT What are the challenges of being an artist, noting the increasing competition in the art world? SI The world is really materialistic nowadays. We measure things very differently. We measure it in [the] amount of money, [which] job is good, and where you can [make] money. I experienced the same thing. I didnt even think I [was] going to be a professional artist. It took me a long time to call myself an artist [as] I was working in the digital marketing field. For me the process of creating art is more important than anything else. Im really lucky my work is selling and [that its] in high demand but I dont focus on sales that much, it just happens. But the most important thing is when Im working, when Im doing that process of creation. Thats really important for me. It gives me so much pleasure and happiness in my life. MDT Does the stigma, particularly in Asian countries, accompanying the choice to be a professional artist remain? IS I never thought that painting [would] become a career for me. On my dads side, all of them were lawyers and judges, while my moms side [were] all engineers and doctors. So its in Asian society; growing up you think that you have to become someone important. Being an artist wasnt even a thought, so I just [did it] as a hobby. But [there is a need] to prove that wrong. You can [make] money from art and be successful and find happiness. MDT Do you find it a struggle for women to showcase their artworks? IS Definitely. [] I heard that people give less money but [say] that you need to believe in yourself. My message to all females is you need to believe in yourself and then everyone will believe you. Personally speaking, I dont focus on what other people are doing; I dont compare myself with other artists. I focus on myself. Everyone has their own part [to play] and [as long] as you are happy with the way you are going, [you] will get to that point of happiness. I say to my fellow artists or emerging artists that you need to understand what success means to you. Its not only money, its so many other things. Its just your own measurements: how you measure success and happiness, thats what counts. MDT So women are still underrepresented in the art world? IS They are definitely underrepresented, especially in Asia. Ive seen its a fact, but saying that, I just go with what I do. [] The biennale is an amazing opportunity. I would highly commend them [the organizers] on this role. Its such a beautiful exhibition. MDT You have been to a lot of art biennales in different countries and cities, how do they compare to Macaus first edition? IS I think your first edition is amazing; its a very good job. It looks really professional, the artworks, museums and all the artists that are selected have some really amazing works and Im really proud to be part of that. [] It actually sort of promotes female artists from all around the world and gives them a bit of recognition as well. Its really an amazing step. MDT What can we do to further support emerging women artists? IS Having biennales that [provide the] opportunity of doing that [showcasing womens artworks] is amazing. I would also say that authorities need to support these initiatives. Not only for females, but for art as well. Art should be part of everyones lives. Chinas government said yesterday it is open to negotiating with Washington amid a spiraling tariff dispute following a news report American officials have submitted a list of market-opening requests. A foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, didnt confirm the report by The Wall Street Journal but said at a regular briefing, Our door for dialogue and discussion is always open. Businesspeople have appealed for a quick settlement after Beijing last week announced a USD3 billion list of U.S. goods targeted for possible retaliation for President Donald Trumps tariff hike on steel and aluminum imports. China has yet to say how it might respond to Trumps approval of possible higher duties on $60 billion of Chinese goods in response to complaints Beijing of stealing or improperly pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology. The Journal said U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinas economic czar, Vice Premier Liu He, were leading negotiations. It said American market- opening requests as a possible condition of a settlement covered the auto, finance and semiconductor industries. Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported last week that Liu and Mnuchin talked by phone but gave no indication they were holding negotiations. Xinhua cited Liu as saying Beijing is capable of safeguarding its national interests. We are full of confidence and the capability to defend our legitimate and lawful interests under any circumstances, said Hua. Now the ball is in the U.S. court, and we hope the United States will make its decision cautiously and reasonably. AP SOUTH CHINA SEA The Philippine military said yesterday it will continue aerial patrols of a Chinese-held shoal near the South China Sea despite protests from Beijing over the flights, especially using Japanese-donated aircraft. INDONESIA A court yesterday sentenced a Balinese man to 15 years in prison for robbing and murdering an elderly Japanese couple last year on the tourist island of Bali. MALAYSIAs government proposed new legislation yesterday to outlaw fake news and punish offenders with a 10-year jail sentence, a move slammed by critics as a bid to crack down on dissent ahead of a general election. US-MYANMAR The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on companies across the globe to punish illicit trade with nuclear-armed North Korea, yet Myanmar, which is suspected of acquiring ballistic missile systems from the pariah state, has escaped the full force of the maximum pressure campaign. ANGOLA A new report says the son of Angolas former leader has been accused of fraud and prevented from leaving the oil-rich southern African nation. TURKEY President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that membership in the European Union remains a strategic goal for his country despite the uneasy relationship with the 28-member bloc. EGYPT Egyptians voted yesterday in a presidential election, with the outcome a second, four-year term for President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi a foregone conclusion and a sign that critics say shows the country is sliding back to authoritarian rule. BRITAIN-RUSSIA Britains foreign secretary says the coordinated expulsion of Russian diplomats by the U.S., Canada and European nations is the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever. BRAZIL With a likely arrest in the coming weeks, Brazils former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is campaigning for a return to power with promises to unite a divided Brazil. Mavenir plc provides cloud-native software solutions for wireless service providers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers a suite of software applications that enable wireless service providers to deliver and manage mobile network services, such as voice, video, and rich multimedia messaging along with Internet connectivity and access to data applications. The company also provides OpenRAN based virtualized radio access network software applications that enable wireless connectivity, mobility, and edge services, as well as allows mobile devices to connect to a network to access its services; and solutions for edge deployments and private networks. In addition, it offers software for mobile services comprising monetization, mobile-native unified communications and collaboration, digital engagement, artificial intelligence-driven analytics, multi-ID, and enhanced security that provide additional services to consumers and enterprise users and enhance mobile network security performance. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Richardson, Texas. Read More KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation produces and sells a range of containerboards, corrugated products, and specialty paper products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Paper and Packaging, and Distribution. The Paper and Packaging segment offers containerboards consisting of linerboard and corrugated medium to manufacture corrugated containers for packaging products; and corrugated products. It also offers specialty paper products, including kraft paper, such as multiwall paper used to produce bags for agricultural products, pet food, baking products, cement and chemicals; specialty products comprising shingle wraps, end caps, roll wraps, and dunnage bags; and lightweight paper. In addition, this segment provides saturating kraft paper under the Durasorb trade name for use in construction, electronics manufacturing, and furniture manufacturing industries; and unbleached folding carton board under the Kraftpak trade name to integrated and independent converters in the folding carton industry. The Distribution segment distributes corrugated and other specialty packaging products consisting of stretch films, void fills, carton sealing tapes, and other specialty tapes. KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: ALMATEC Maschinenbau GmbH, Accelerated Production Systems, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company Limited business, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., Automatik Plastics Machinery Sdn. Bhd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Caldera Inc., Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression BV, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DFH Corporation, DSR BZ Holdings LLC, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Destaco Ema Industria e Comercio Ltda., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd. , Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover CR spol s r.o., Dover Canada Finance LP, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Systems Inc., Dover Engineered Systems UK Ltd, Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids Inc., Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings S.A.S., Dover France Participations SAS, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Global Trading Pte. Ltd., Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International Ventures Tunisia S.a.r.l., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dressor Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dressor Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty. Ltd., Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty. Ltd., Em-tec GmbH, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Ettlinger Management Inc., Ettlinger North America LP, Ettlinger Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG, Ettlinger Verwaltungs-GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Ferguson CO. S.A., Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, Finder Oriental (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd, Finder Pompe S.R.L., Finder United Saudi Arabia Company, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries Asia Limited, Gala Industries Incorporated, Gala Kunststoff-und Kautschukmaschinen GmbH, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Inpro/Seal LLC, International Trade and Equipment B.V., JK Group SPA, JK Group USA Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., K. S. Boca Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Asia Sdn. Bhd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Lianyngang Jump Petroleum and Chemical Machinery Co. Ltd., Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM Holdings Inc., MARKEM International Inc., MARKEM S.A. de C.V., MARKEM Tag Inc., MARKEM UK Holdings 1 Unlimited, MARKEM UK Holdings 2 Limited, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Inc., Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Automatik Srl, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Pump Systems SAS, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje Application Innovation Center Sarl, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l. a socio unico, Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Software Development Centre Pvt. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markem-Imaje Unipessoal Lda (Portugal), Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Neptune Chemical Pump Company, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW France, OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG Worldwide Inc., Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Piston OPW Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipment U.S.A. Inc., RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Rav Equipment UK Limited, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Finance Ireland Limited, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP A.G., SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Scheer Pelletizing Systems & Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Scheer Taiwan Machinery Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser S.A., Space S.R.L., Start Italiana Petrol Cihazlari Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Start Italiana S.R.L., Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Curotto-Can LLC, The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Guardian Venture Sdn. Bhd, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding, Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Netherlands B.V., Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Tulsa Winch Inc., Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., Warn Automotive LLC, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Deutschland GmbH, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Pte. Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., Wei Li Pump Shanghai Co. LTD., WellMark, and Wilden Pump and Engineering LLC. Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc engages in the retail banking business primarily in the United Kingdom. The company offers current accounts; savings accounts, including cash individual savings accounts (ISAs), easy access accounts, fixed term accounts, limited access accounts, and children's accounts; first time buyer, buy-to-let, remortgaging, and moving home mortgages; balance and money transfer, purchase, and other credit cards, as well as money prepaid cards; life, pet, travel, and home insurance; and personal, children, and workplace pensions, as well as other pensions and retirement products. It also provides investments, including stocks and shares ISAs, unit trusts, and financial planning products; and international money transfers and travel money products. The company operates 75 stores and 7 customer lounges. The company was formerly known as Virgin Money Group Limited and changed its name to Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc in July 2014. Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc was founded in 1995 and is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, the United Kingdom. Read More (HealthDay)It's thought that one-quarter of U.S. adults will develop a swallowing problem at some point. But researchers hope insight from a new study may help lead to improved treatment. Their study looked at the changes that occur in your ability to swallow as you age. The Johns Hopkins University team hopes the findings will help rehabilitation experts design exercises that could help prevent swallowing disorders in at-risk older adults, said Dr. Alba Azola, a Hopkins resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The study included 31 adults, ages 62 to 91, with no swallowing problems, and 33 healthy young adults, ages 18 to 28. Both groups underwent an X-ray video test that revealed the mechanics of their swallowing. The test showed how long the windpipe was closed off during a swallow, how long it took to close the airway, and how food was prevented from getting into the lungs. In the older adults, the swallow started later. This meant the food was getting to the throat later, and it took longer for the start of actions to prevent food from getting into the airway, the researchers said in a university news release. That puts older adults at higher risk of food getting into their lungs, which increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a condition that can lead to death, the investigators pointed out. While more common among older adults, swallowing problems (dysphagia) can affect younger adults, too. About half of patients diagnosed with dysphagia die within one year of diagnosis, according to Azola's team. Treatments include rehabilitative therapy such as swallowing exercises that include strength training. The findings were presented recently at the annual meeting of the Dysphagia Research Society, in Baltimore. Research released at meetings is generally considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Explore further Swallowing exercises rehabilitate chronic dysphagia More information: The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on swallowing disorders Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. High levels of versican are located with tumor blood vessels in normal B16F10 mice (WT), while the genetic variant unable to produce versican (Vcanhdf/+) had much fewer blood vessels in the tumor (A). A diagrammatic representation of how the host versican is modified and relocated to promote angiogenesis and tumor growth (B). Credit: Okayama University Researchers at Okayama University describe in the journal Scientific Reports the role of an extracellular protein, versican, in regulating tumor growth and providing a newly formed network of blood vessels to further nourish the tumor. Angiogenesis is the creation of new blood vessels from the branching of pre-existing ones. This phenomenon is especially important in the context of cancer, because it supplies the tumors with additional oxygen and nutrients to keep them growing. An effective strategy in treating cancer would therefore be to prevent angiogenesis. However, factors in the tumor microenvironment that may boost angiogenesis are still poorly understood. The tumor microenvironment, is a mix of host tissue (stroma) and tumor cells. A recent study in Scientific Reports by Professor Satoshi Hirohata et al. has found a link between angiogenesis and the tumor microenvironment, in the form of an extracellular matrix protein called versican. Versican is involved in several vascular processes, but its role regarding tumor angiogenesis isn't well understood. Professor Hirohata and his team members at Okayama University looked at different cancer cells lines, and found that although initially they all had varying amounts of versican, tumors derived from all the cell lines had amplified quantities of the protein. Using a technique called western blotting, they showed that a melanoma producing cell line B16F10, had very low levels of versican which increased drastically after tumor initiation, while a lung cancer cell line (LLC) had high levels of versican before tumor induction, which were even more pronounced after. Interestingly, it was found that all the tumors had versican which was at least partly derived from the stromal microenvironment. After establishing the origins of tumor versican, the researchers noticed that versican was located in the vicinity of blood vessels, within tumors. It was also stationed specifically with macrophages (safe-guarding cells in the blood), suggesting that stromal macrophages might be producing it. Versican present in tumors was not in its complete form, but a smaller cleaved form, which is easily distinguishable from normal versican. Finally, to see the direct effects of versican on tumor angiogenesis, the researchers compared two B16F10 genetic variants of mice: one that inherently produced versican, and one that could not. The latter had smaller tumor size and fewer blood vessels, strongly suggesting a firsthand involvement of versican with tumor angiogenesis. This study has found yet another remarkable way in which cancer cells exploit host tissues to proliferate. "Our findings suggest that versican is an intriguing target to consider in combating tumor growth and angiogenesis," conclude the authors. Explore further Major study stops bladder cancer from metastasizing to lungs More information: Keiichi Asano et al. Stromal Versican Regulates Tumor Growth by Promoting Angiogenesis, Scientific Reports (2017). Journal information: Scientific Reports Keiichi Asano et al. Stromal Versican Regulates Tumor Growth by Promoting Angiogenesis,(2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17613-6 A combination of cancer immunotherapies could save more lives. Credit: University of Southampton The pre-clinical study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, by Dr Sarah Buchan and colleagues, combined antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1, a type of immunotherapy known as checkpoint blockade that overcomes the resistance of cancer cells to the immune system, with another antibody against CD27, which kick starts the immune system to find and kill the cancer cells. Results showed the combination treatment produced up to 60 per cent protection from the cancer compared with 10 per cent protection when only the single treatment was given. PD-1/L1 antibodies are already given to people with cancers such as melanoma and lung cancer, but the benefit of these antibodies is only seen in a small number of patients. The Southampton scientists suggest that the combination with anti-CD27 will lead to a better response rate. Professor Aymen Al-Shamkhani, who heads the laboratory in which the study was carried out, said: "Using checkpoint blockade has revolutionised the field of cancer immunotherapy, but it is not enough to simply stop the cancer from evading the immune system, we need to boost the immune system to fight the cancer off. By combining checkpoint blockade with an anti-CD27 antibody, we have been able to show that the two approaches can be harnessed to potentially improve current treatment options." The study, funded by Celldex Therapeutics and Cancer Research UK, also revealed that the combination treatment activated different, yet synergistic pathways that culminated in stronger immune responses against the cancer. The research team say this pre-clinical work supports on-going clinical trials that are already testing the combination in patients. Dr Catherine Pickworth, from Cancer Research UK, said: "Immunotherapy treatments are already showing huge promise for a number of cancer types, but they don't work for everyone. This work in mice suggests that using two types of immunotherapy could be an effective way to tackle this problem. Now we need to see if this particular approach works in patients. Cancer Research UK is funding several studies, looking at combining different types of immunotherapy so we can provide more treatment options and help more people beat their cancer." This is the latest research paper to be published by the cancer immunotherapy team at the University of Southampton, which is just about to move into the UK's first dedicated centre to cancer immunology research. Based at University Hospital Southampton, the Centre for Cancer Immunology will bring together world-leading cancer scientists and enable interdisciplinary teams to expand clinical trials and develop more lifesaving drugs. The 25million Centre has been funded entirely by philanthropic donations. Explore further Immune-boosting antibody combination could improve lymphoma survival More information: Sarah L Buchan et al, PD-1 blockade and CD27 stimulation activate distinct transcriptional programs that synergize for CD8+ T-cell driven anti-tumor immunity, Clinical Cancer Research (2018). Journal information: Clinical Cancer Research Sarah L Buchan et al, PD-1 blockade and CD27 stimulation activate distinct transcriptional programs that synergize for CD8+ T-cell driven anti-tumor immunity,(2018). DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-3057 Credit: American Heart Association In the not-too-distant future, Dr. Jennifer Cowger envisions a cardiac transplant landscape where more donations are encouraged and utilized, genetically engineered organs can be created in a laboratory, and improved mechanical devices eliminate the need for an actual human heart. But in the meantime, there's a shortage. "We've come a long way, but there is still a definite mismatch between supply and demand," said Cowger, a cardiologist and transplant specialist who directs the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. "If you have a patient listed today for transplant, the average wait is going to be 1 to two years. It's nothing like on Grey's Anatomy, where a heart somehow shows up right away." In 2017, there were 3,244 heart transplants in the United States, according to the federal Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. "That's an all-time record, but there continue to be close to 4,000 people on the waiting list," said Dr. Matthias Peltz, surgical director of cardiac transplantation at UT Southwestern in Dallas. In a Journal of the American College of Cardiology article last year, Cowger summarized the transplant dilemma and the possible means of addressing it. Among her points: The gap between supply and demand is growing partly because mechanical circulatory support (MCS for short) devices to help the heart pump blood through the body is improving, helping potential heart recipients survive longer. Improvement is needed in MCS technology that will enable people with heart failure to live longer, so they won't require transplants. The pool of potential donors must be expanded by persuading more people and families of the deceased to donate organs, and by utilizing hearts now considered not to meet transplant standards. Those are all significant challenges, Cowger said. Some countries, such as Spain and France, have an opt-out donation system, she said, whereby people are considered potential donors unless they request otherwise. The United States generally follows an opt-in format, asking people to declare their willingness to donate organs through such avenues as online registries, legal documents or a notation on their driver's license. John Godwin with his daughters, from left, Ashley, Morgan and Courtney. Credit: courtesy of John Godwin Cowger said she doubts this country would ever adopt an opt-out system because of ethical, societal and religious factors. Various campaigns to encourage organ donation have improved the situation in recent years, but there is still much to do: Federal data show 95 percent of Americans favor organ donation, but nearly half have not acted to have their wishes carried out. "It's a shame to think people are going to die when they could be saved," said John Godwin, who received a new heart in 2013 after suffering a near-fatal heart attack. "In the Army they give you medals for saving somebody's life. Here all you have to do is check a box or click a button." Godwin, the city manager of Paris, Texas, became a crusader for organ donation, writing a book about his experience and speaking frequently around the state. When he meets families of donors, he said, "All of them say they're so glad they did this. This is the one single positive thing that came out of their [family member's] death. If everybody could hear that, a lot more people would sign up." But even with increased donation, there are medical obstacles. Because donor hearts need to meet a higher standard than other organs, Peltz said, only about 30 percent of hearts offered for transplant are accepted. "If a kidney transplant doesn't work, the patient goes back on dialysis," he said. "If the heart does not work as we hope it will, no matter what we do, [some] of those patients will die." Cowger said researchers are working in several areas to utilize more hearts, including studying whether hearts from older donors can still be viable. New devices being developed to transport donor hearts perform a process called perfusion preservation, allowing them to remain outside a body longer, transported much farther and not wasted because no suitable recipient is nearby. "The way we preserve hearts hasn't really changed much in decades," said Peltz, whose research focuses on improving that. "We flush it with solutions and put it in an ice cooler. We can recover more organs if we just improve the way they are stored." Some heart problems are unavoidable. Godwin had no risk factors "I wasn't smoking cigarettes and eating donuts all day long," he joked before an undiagnosed disease caused his heart attack. But both doctors said prevention is a key element in the supply-and-demand equation as well. "Maybe in a few decades they can be engineering organs in a laboratory to reduce the shortage, and better mechanical devices might make the need for transplants obsolete," Cowger said. "In the interim, the best solution is preventative medicine: reducing risk factors for coronary disease so fewer people will develop heart failure." Explore further Survey finds misperceptions about organ transplant hinder donation decisions (HealthDay)Hoverboards may look cool, flashy and fun, but they're less safe than you might think. Nearly 27,000 kids landed in the emergency room from a hoverboard accident during the first two years the self-balancing, two-wheeled motorized scooters were sold in the United States, according to a new study. While it pales in comparison with the more than 121,000 skateboard injuries during the same period, the number shows kids need to be careful on hoverboards, said lead researcher Dr. Sean Bandzar. "Kids should wear protective gear, and parents should monitor their kids while they're using these toys," he said. Bandzar is an emergency physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center, all in New York City. He and his colleagues decided to investigate hoverboard injuries after noticing an uptick in cases following the toy's 2015 introduction into the U.S. market. "When I was working in the children's emergency department, I noticed that there were a lot of kids who would come in with a variety of different injures from these hoverboards," Bandzar said. The highest number occurred among 12-year-old boys, the researchers discovered when they studied national injury data from 2015 and 2016. Kids most often suffered fractures (40 percent), bruises (17 percent) and strains or sprains (13 percent). Body parts most often injured were the wrist (19 percent), forearm (14 percent) and head (14 percent). Interestingly, only three burn-related injuries connected with hoverboards were reported. The potential that hoverboard batteries would malfunction and catch fire caused so much concern early on that some airlines banned them. But none of the burn injuries researchers discovered was related to battery fires. Two burns resulted from colliding with a pot of boiling water in the kitchen, and the other was a friction burn after a hoverboard ran over a child's finger. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Bandzar couldn't say why there were so many more skateboard injuries during the study period, but he suspects it's because hoverboards are a new toy. "Maybe not as many people have them," he said. Another contrast between hoverboards and skateboards is where injuries take place. Kids most often hurt themselves on hoverboards while playing at home. Most skateboard injuries occur on the street, according to the researchers. Two physicians not connected with the study said there are other factors to be considered when discussing hoverboard injuries. Part of the problem could be that kids ride hoverboards while distracted, said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Many teens multitask and are therefore distracted while on the hoverboardlistening to music, playing video games or texting on their smartphones," Glatter said. Emergency physician Dr. Brahim Ardolic suggested the study probably does not account for all hoverboard injuries. "This essentially amounts to 36 injuries each day over two years," said Ardolic, chairman of emergency medicine for Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. "When you consider that these devices utilize balance and are often purchased by people who have never used one, these injury rates are actually lower than I would expect." By looking at only injuries treated in an ER, the researchers probably overlooked many low-level injuries that didn't require medical attention, Ardolic said. "In general, the message is clear: If you are going to get a hoverboard, be careful and if possible, get a lesson from someone who knows what they are doing," he said. "For your children, the hoverboard needs to be in the same category as the trampoline. They shouldn't have one. It's not a good idea. Accept that if you get one, there will be injuries, and possibly serious ones," Ardolic warned. The study was published online March 26 in the journal Pediatrics. More information: Sean Bandzar, M.D., emergency physician, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City; Robert Glatter, M.D., emergency physician, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Brahim Ardolic, M.D., chairman, emergency medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, New York City; March 26, 2018, Pediatrics, online Sean Bandzar, M.D., emergency physician, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City; Robert Glatter, M.D., emergency physician, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Brahim Ardolic, M.D., chairman, emergency medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, New York City; March 26, 2018,, online Safe Kids Worldwide has more about preventing wheeled sports toy injuries. Journal information: Pediatrics Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A universal sign of motherhood is the lullaby. The world over, mothers sing to their babies, whether Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, their favorite song from the radio, or even random notes. This universality makes the simple lullaby a great window into the human mind. In a new study, cognitive neuroscientists found that lullabies soothe both moms and babies simultaneously, while playsongs increase babies' attention and displays of positive emotion toward their mothers. The behavioral implications of music are vast, says Laura Cirelli of the University of Toronto Mississauga, who is presenting the new work on maternal singing at the 25th meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) in Boston today. "Infant brains must be able to track auditory events in a predictive manner to make sense of music," she explains, and many complex things are going on in their brains to make that possible. From infancy to old age, music demands much from the human brain. Learning more about how we process music is helping scientists better understand perception, multisensory integration, and social coordination across the lifespan. Technological advancements - for example, more portable electroencephalography (EEG) and electrophysiology set-ups and- are allowing cognitive neuroscientists to study music in a variety of situations, from mother-child interactions to live concert halls. "Music and rhythm are human universals but do not appear to be shared by most other species," says Jessica Grahn of the University of Western Ontario who is chairing the CNS session on musical rhythm and who co-authored a new study of live music and brain rhythms. "Rhythm in particular is mysterious: We are sensitive to the 'beat' - that steady, underlying pulse that we tap our foot or bob our head to - from early in life. But, even after decades of trying, 'beat-tracking' algorithms can't approach anything like the automaticity and flexibility that humans show to feel the beat across different speeds, genres, and instruments." Music for mom and baby While working at a daycare one summer as an undergraduate student, Cirelli was at a playground when a 2-year-old girl asked her for help down the slide. The rest of the toddlers saw this, looked at each other, and excitedly ran over to line up and wait their turn. "I was amazed at the complexity of their social understanding at an age where they can't even tell us what they are thinking," she explains. This sent her down the path of exploring how sociality develops at a young age, and as a piano player and ballerina, the natural fit was to use music as a way to understand the social brain. In her new study on lullabies, Cirelli and colleagues investigated how mothers adjust their infant-directed singing depending on their goal, to be soothing or to be playful. The participating mothers repeatedly sang Twinkle Twinkle to their babies who were sitting in a highchair facing them. The mothers alternated between singing in a playful way or a soothing manner. At the same time, researchers were tracking the mothers' and babies' arousal responses, measured through skin conductance and behavior. "When we are excited or stressed, arousal levels increase," Cirelli explains. "When we are calm, they decrease." The researchers found that the moms' arousal levels were higher during playful compared to soothing song. And they found coordinated decreases in arousal for both the moms and babies as the soothing songs progressed. In the playful conditions, the babies' arousal levels remained stable and their attention to mother and displays of positive emotion increased. "The findings show the physiological and behavioral changes by mom and baby to different song styles." This study builds on a growing body of work about the social implications of musical engagement with others. Cirelli points to past studies showing that when people move together in synchrony, they feel socially connected and are later more likely to help and cooperate with one another. And in a study of toddlers, she and colleagues had similar findings: 14-month-olds who bounced synchronously with unfamiliar adults helped those adults substantially more by retrieving dropped objects than those who bounced with them asynchronously. "Music is a tool that we can use to bring people together, and this starts in infancy." Music for a live audience Despite being able to listen to music from virtually anywhere in modern times, people will still pay hundreds of dollars for the opportunity attend a live musical performance. Why? This question helps drive forward the work of Grahn and Molly Henry, both of the University of Ontario. In new work she will be presenting at the CNS meeting today, Henry used the LIVELab at McMaster University to test how the presence of live performers and an audience changes the experience of concert-goers at a neural level, Specifically, she and colleagues looked at brain rhythm synchronization. A live band played in front of 80 people, 20 of whom were having their brain activity recorded with EEG. They then compared those EEG measurements to those in two other conditions: one, in which 20 audience members were watching a recording of the first concert on a large movie screen with audio identical to the live concert; and another in which 20 participants in small groups of 2 were seated apart while they observed the recorded musical performance. "Thus, we manipulated the presence of the performers while keeping audience context fixed," the authors explain. They found that audience members' brain waves were more synchronized with each other when the performers were present. Moreover, individuals whose brain rhythms were more synched up with other audience members enjoyed the concert more and felt more connected to the performers. "I was extremely excited to see that across the live audience, brain rhythms were synchronized in exactly the frequency range that corresponds to the 'beat' of the music, so it looks as if the beat is driving audience brain rhythms," Henry says. "That may seem common sense, but it's really something. These are novel findings in the context of live music listening that are providing insights into the more social side of music listening." Music for the future Moving forward, Henry says that the biggest challenge for studying musical rhythm is that "there's so much other stuff tied up in the experience of music and rhythm listening or performing. Music makes us want to move, it elicits emotions, it triggers memories." Teasing apart these influences will require creative stimulus and experimental design combined with integration of converging evidence across lots of different studies. In the meantime, Grahn says: "We are seeing relationships between rhythm and language abilities, attention, development, hearing acuity, and even social interactions. Every sensation we have or action we make on the world unfolds over time, and we are now beginning to understand why humans are sensitive to certain types of patterns in time, but not others." Understanding these patterns will inform not only basic science, she says, but also potential music-driven therapies for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. Explore further Music improves baby brain responses to music and speech More information: Cirelli, Grahn, and Henry are presenting in the symposium "What makes musical rhythm special: cross-species, developmental, and social perspectives" at the CNS annual meeting in Boston. More than 1,500 scientists are attending the meeting from March 24-27, 2018. Cirelli, Grahn, and Henry are presenting in the symposium "What makes musical rhythm special: cross-species, developmental, and social perspectives" at the CNS annual meeting in Boston. More than 1,500 scientists are attending the meeting from March 24-27, 2018. www.cogneurosociety.org/mycns/ e=invited_symposia#4 We found the prevalence of ageism among younger people is most apparent when participants were asked about succession statements like whether older people should actively make way for the young. Credit: www.shutterstock.com Men and young people are more likely to be ageist, but few Australians are resolutely ageist in their views, our survey finds. By ageist, we mean having consistently negative attitudes about how older people are or should be. To study Australians' attitudes, we asked a sample of 1,000 people aged 18-70 years two general sets of questions about ageing and older people. We first asked participants about what older people are like. One example of a statement we used is: "Many old people just live in the past". We then explored their views about how older people should act. For example: "Most older people don't know when to make way for younger people". The survey participants indicated how strongly they agreed or disagreed with each of the statements. Most Australians only agree with a handful of the ageist statements we posed. Very few Australians endorsed a majority of the statements (from 4 to 7% of the survey participants, depending on which form of ageism we ask about). So, ageism exists, but it is not a strongly-held prejudice for many Australians. This is encouraging, given Australians aged 65 years and over now make up 15% of our population and rising. By 2030, for the first time there will be more Australians in this older age bracket than in the youngest group (aged under 15 years). This demographic shift means that more older Australians are staying in, or seeking to stay in, the workforce for longer. This is good news for governments worried that there will soon be too few people of working age for every retiree. In Australia, this number is going to keep falling: from 4.4 working-age people per retiree at present, to just 2.7 by 2050. What forms of ageism? The most common form of ageism in Australia is driven by beliefs about succession. This is the view that older people should actively make way for the young. When they don't, and instead hold onto resources and positions of power, older people are perceived negatively. We found this is the leading source of ageist sentiments in Australia today. The next most common form of ageism involves stereotyping older people. This occurs when attitudes are formed by false, partial or obsolete beliefs, which often lead to discrimination. Our findings suggest that Australians have not yet abandoned their ageist stereotypes. Ageism has a range negative consequences for individuals, businesses and our wider society. It means that we fail to fairly value and capitalise on the skills and perspectives of older generations. As a result their career options may be prematurely narrowed by ageist biases. Earlier work from the Australian Human Rights Commission found that one in ten Australian businesses adopts an age hiring limit, refusing to hire anyone past an average age of 50 years. In an ageing society, this is increasingly intolerable. Such discriminatory practices condemn older people to less engaged and less fulfilled lives, while depriving us all of the contributions they might have made. Some more ageist than others We found that men are significantly more ageist than women. Our study doesn't determine why men are more ageist, but this may stem from differences by gender in caring responsibilities and empathy. Women still do much more of the caring that our ageing society needs, both formally within the aged-care workforce, and informally within their families. We found the prevalence of ageism among younger people is most apparent for succession-based views, with people under 30 years of age being twice as likely as those over 50 years to agree with such statements. This could be explained by young peoples' views about how resources and status are unequally divided between generations of Australians. This view has been widely echoed in other recent news stories. Tackling ageism in the workplace The workforce is one obvious site where intergenerational tensions can play out, as older workers trying to stay in the workforce encounter younger workers looking to start their careers and climb the ladder. In Australia today we have up to five different generations in the same workplace. This creates huge potential if managed well, but also risks considerable discord, if we fail to recognise and put an end to age biases. Our survey findings suggest that Australia's society and, by extension, our workplaces have not yet adapted themselves to meet the full potential of an ageing population. Progress is stymied by persistent ageism. Workplace managers need to first confront their own attitudes and check that these do not reinforce ageist bias. We also need to challenge the notion of job competition between people of different ages and show how increasing older employment rates can be beneficial for the young. More workplaces need to encourage workers to connect and collaborate across generations, and in doing so learn and teach each other new perspectives and skills. Inside and outside the workforce, ageism is an unsolved problem. The costs of undervaluing older Australians are growing by the day as our population ages. Explore further Quality of contact with grandparents is key to youths' views of ageism This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Mental health symptoms related to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder are associated with increased errors in a driving simulator and self-reported risky driving behaviors in adolescents, according to study in Nursing Research. "Inattention is associated with more errors in the driving simulator, and self-reported symptoms of hyperactivity and conduct disorder are independently associated with self-reported risky driving behaviors," comments lead author Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, FAAN, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The findings suggest that mental health issues might contribute to the risk of crashes in newly licensed adolescent drivers. Symptoms of ADHD and Conduct Disorder Affect Teens' Driving Performance The study included 60 young drivers, aged 16 to 17, who had received their license within the past 90 days. The teens were tested using a high-fidelity driving simulator, which assessed their responses to various types of common but avoidable crash scenarios. They also completed a self-report questionnaire on risky driving behaviorsfor example, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, or nighttime driving with other teens as passengers. The adolescents were also assessed on a measure of mental health symptoms, focusing on three conditions potentially associated with risky driving: ADHD, conduct disorder, and depression. Lastly, parents filled out a questionnaire about their teens' mental health. A teen's self-report of inattention was the only mental health symptom to be related to errors on the driving simulator assessment. The higher the score for inattention, as rated by the teens themselves, the higher the rate of driving performance errors. Unexpectedly, teens with higher scores for depression symptoms made fewer errors in the simulator. Teens with higher self-rated scores for hyperactivity/impulsivity and conduct disorder also scored higher for risky driving behaviors. Overall, parents' reports of the adolescents' mental health symptoms were not related to the teens' self-reported symptoms or their risky driving behaviors (self-reported or in the simulator). The researchers emphasize that it was symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivitynot necessarily the diagnosis of ADHDthat were associated with risky driving behaviors. However, teens who met the cutoff points for clinical follow-up for ADHD and conduct disorder had higher scores for risky driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in adolescents, but little is known about the mental health factors affecting crash risk. Mental health may be especially important for newly licensed teen drivers, who are at higher risk of crashes. The new study suggests that risky driving behaviors during this time might be related to symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and conduct disorder. The increase in self-reported risky driving behavior is consistent with the mental health symptoms involved, according to the work of Dr. McDonald and colleagues. "With hyperactivity-impulsivity, rule violations may stem from inherent problems with self-control," they write. "With conduct disorder, rule violations may be an attempt to take advantage of a situation or express hostility." Understanding the role of mental health factors might help in reducing risky driving behaviors in novice teen drivers, with the goal of lowering crash risk in this vulnerable population. Dr. McDonald and coauthors conclude, "Nurses are well-positioned in a variety of clinical settings to counsel adolescents, addressing the multidimensional nature of risks associated with mental health and risk behaviors." Explore further Licensing, motor vehicle crash risk among teens with ADHD Many NHS trusts in England are failing to log, track, or disclose information on conflicts of interest (COI) for their staff, so potentially undermining public trust in health professionals, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open. A statutory body, along the lines of the US model, is now needed to ensure that all NHS trusts have strong policies in place to tackle this issue, say the researchers. Direct gifts and inducements have been banned by pharma trade body, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry ABPI), since 2010. But pharmaceutical companies can still pay clinicians to deliver continuing professional development lectures, sponsor their attendance at conferences or educational events, and provide training to other clinicians. In 2015 the pharma industry reported this spend as 115 million. Doctors and other healthcare professionals are required to declare all financial COI so that their appropriateness, and any possible impact on professional behaviour, can be assessed independently and transparently. The doctors' regulator, the General Medical Council, also requires healthcare providers to declare any potential COI to both their patients and their employers, while NHS England has issued standards to NHS trusts. These standards stipulate that all NHS staff should declare potential conflicts of interest to their employers, and that these should be recorded in a gifts and hospitality register. Although many trusts do include these in local guidance, these standards are not mandatory. The researchers therefore set out to look at how many NHS trusts in England record and share their employees' COI disclosures. They submitted Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to all trusts in England and received responses from 217 out of 236 (92% response rate). The FoI questions were designed to assess all disclosures for completeness and openness, for each of five measures of transparency to find out if trusts: responded on time to the FoI request; provided a gifts and hospitality register; specified the donor, recipient, and cash amount in the register; provided a register in a format that permitted further analysis; and had their register publicly available online. The responses were then scored on each of the five measures to create a 'transparency index.' Some 71 trusts didn't respond within the 28-day deadline required by the FoI Act, and 19 didn't respond at all. More than three out of four (78%) of 185 trusts provided a gifts and hospitality register - also described as a COI register. Seven trusts described or returned no entries for their register, but a search of the ABPI disclosure database turned up 230 records for these trusts relating to payments to individual employees amounting to 119,851.35. What's more, the researchers found 107 records of payments made directly to these trusts, averaging out at 22, 293 per trust. The responses showed that most COI registers were incomplete by design; only 31 of them contained enough information to assess conflicts of interest. Around two thirds (68%) of the 185 trusts that said they provided a register didn't record the names of recipients. One in four (47) didn't record the cash value of the gift or hospitality, while only 16 percent (31) included the names of recipients and donors, as well as the sums received. One in 10 of the registers didn't contain recipient or donor names, or the cash amount. And only 15 (6%) trusts had their disclosure register publicly available online. The transparency index revealed the average score to be 1.9 out of 5. No trust met all five criteria. There are various barriers to transparency around conflict of interest, say the researchers. These include the absence of a centralised system for disclosures to employers; poor auditing of records; variation in the types of information disclosed, suggesting confusion about what constitutes a COI; and the general lack of public availability of COI records. "Despite obligations on healthcare professionals to disclose conflicts of interest, and on organisations to record these, the current system for logging and tracking such disclosures is not functioning adequately," they write. The Physician Payment Sunshine Act (PPSA) in the US requires that all payments to doctors are declared onto a single central database that is openly accessible. A similar system should be adopted in the UK, they argue. "The ongoing absence of transparency around COI in the UK may undermine public trust in the healthcare professions. Simple clear legislation and a requirement for open disclosure of COI to a central body, similar to that in the US, would present a simple and effective solution," they conclude. Explore further The BMJ reveals hundreds of drug company deals that commissioning groups fail to declare More information: A cross-sectional study of all clinicians' conflict of interest disclosures to NHS hospital employers in England 2015-2016, BMJ Open (2018). Journal information: BMJ Open A cross-sectional study of all clinicians' conflict of interest disclosures to NHS hospital employers in England 2015-2016,(2018). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019952 People who have served in the Armed Forces are more likely to suffer from peripheral arterial diseaseclogged arteries in their legsthan people who have never been in the military, according to a study by the University of Glasgow. Peripheral arterial disease causes pain in the legs on walking due to reduced circulation, and can lead to progressive disability, amputation and increased risk of death from heart attack and stroke, but public awareness of the disease is low. Smoking is the biggest preventable cause. Research in the United States has shown that in the long term, it is a bigger cause of limb amputation in veterans than war injury. Researchers at the University of Glasgow looked at 57,000 veterans in Scotland who were born between 1945 and 1985 and who had a wide range of experience and lengths of service in the Armed Forces over a 50-year period. They found that veterans had a 45% increased risk of peripheral arterial disease compared with people who had never served, but this rose to 80% if they were born in the 1950s and left service prematurely. People with over 12 years' service were at no greater risk than the general population. Lead researcher Dr. Beverly Bergman said: "This is an important study which shows that veterans may be at increased risk of amputation later in life as a result of this common but poorly-recognised smoking-related disease. The increased risk in older people who have only served for a short time is likely to reflect their high rate of smoking. It is never too late to stop smoking, control weight and take exercise, all of which can help to reduce the risk." The study, which used data from the Scottish Veterans Health Study to examine rates of hospitalisation and death as a result of peripheral arterial disease, is published in the Journal of Public Health. Explore further Suicide in veterans study finds mixed picture More information: B P Bergman et al. Peripheral arterial disease in Scottish military veterans: a retrospective cohort study of 57 000 veterans and 173 000 matched non-veterans, Journal of Public Health (2018). Journal information: Journal of Public Health B P Bergman et al. Peripheral arterial disease in Scottish military veterans: a retrospective cohort study of 57 000 veterans and 173 000 matched non-veterans,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy046 ARCHIVED - Cyber-criminal arrested in Alicante stole 1,000 million dollars in a year The brilliant hacker emptied cashpoint machines by remote control A Ukrainian man who was behind one of the largest cyber-theft scams in the world has been arrested by the Policia Nacional in Alicante, and is now being held in custody and questioned over hacking which allowed him to steal 1,000 million dollars in a year. The computer programmer, who also holds a Russian passport, found a way to alter the operating systems of over 100 banks in such a way as to allow him to effectively empty their cash machines, following which collaborators visited tills and physically collected the banknotes they contained. He was found by the police to be living unostentatiously in the province of Alicante with his wife. Officers who have been working on the case for the last three years have described him as a computer genius, but nonetheless they managed to track him down in collaboration with Europol, Interpol, the Belarus police and the FBI. Another 15 people have been detained in connection with the same thefts in the UK, Taiwan, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Murcia region and the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/ --> Arizona ordered Uber Technologies Inc. to stop operating autonomous cars on the states roads indefinitely after the death of a pedestrian there a week ago. In a letter to Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi, Governor Doug Ducey called last weeks fatal incident involving an Uber self-driving car an unquestionable failure to comply with public safety standards. Uber had voluntarily halted testing companywide after one of its vehicles hit and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona. Duceys decision on Monday to designate a ban adds a significant hurdle to Ubers attempts to get the program back on track. Improving public safety has always been the emphasis of Arizonas approach to autonomous vehicle testing, and my expectation is that public safety is also the top priority for all who operate this technology in the state, Ducey wrote in the letter. Arizona will not tolerate any less than an unequivocal commitment to public safety. Uber has previously tested autonomous vehicles in California and Pennsylvania, in addition to Arizona. The company hasnt said when it will start operating them on public roads again. We continue to help investigators in any way we can, and well keep a dialogue open with the governors office going forward, Matt Kallman, a spokesman for Uber, wrote in a statement. Arizona is one of the friendliest U.S. states to auto and technology businesses looking for someplace to give driverless cars experience on public roads. A couple weeks before Ubers fatal encounter, Ducey approved the use of autonomous vehicles without safety drivers although the Uber car involved in the incident had a person at the wheel. Last week, Massachusetts quietly asked companies testing in the state to take a few days off the road. Most companies continued driving elsewhere. A video released by Tempe police showed the Uber car moving at a constant speed with no attempt to slow down or swerve in the moments before the collision. In recent days, executives from Alphabet Inc.s Waymo and Intel Corp.s Mobileye said their driverless-car software would have detected and responded to Elaine Herzberg, the woman struck while walking her bicycle across the road. Now read: Uber launches tipping for drivers in South Africa Newly appointed Ambassador of Nigeria presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President Drunken Nicolas Cage was kicked out of restaurant Armenia Parliament Speaker receives UAE Charge d'Affaires Armenian and Iranian FMs meet, Armenia's Goris-Kapan road also discussed Defense minister receives head of Red Cross delegation in Armenia Armenia Security Council secretary: We raise Goris-Kapan road issue in discussions with Russia colleagues, Azerbaijan Aliyev: Putin asked me not to humiliate Pashinyan in our presence during signing of November 9 statement Armenia Security Council chief: We need to normalize relations with Turkey Armenia parliament passes, in 1st reading, controversial changes to law on community enlargement FM, Jordan deputy PM confer on Armenian POWs, Azerbaijan provocations Ray J speaks on sex tape featuring Kim Kardashian Azerbaijan files lawsuit against Armenia with International Court of Justice Britney Spears' lawyer has new demands for singer's father Minute of silence to be observed, church requiem services to be offered in Artsakh on September 27 Armenia PM on COVID-19 situation: We definitely have to do it if we sense there is need to get vaccinated again Russia and France express mutual commitment to further work to stabilize Nagorno-Karabakh situation Koeman: The team played well Health minister on coronavirus situation in Armenia: About 85% of our bed capacity already used Pashinyan: Vaccine protects against COVID-19 by 97.5% 906 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Opposition factions boycott Armenia legislature special session Armenia FM lauds Cyprus principled position on Karabakh issue What is the healthiest bread? Linda Evangelista: I was brutally disfigured by Zeltiq's CoolSculpting procedure Azerbaijan submits new bids to buy weapons from Russia Armenia FM, UN Commissioner discuss issues of displaced Artsakh Armenians Azerbaijans Aliyev offers Armenia peace in exchange for Zangezur corridor Mkhitaryan: Was a tough match Jennifer Lopez to play killer in new Netflix film project Nearly 20 EU countries propose to re-elect Ghebreyesus as WHO chief Newspaper: Artsakh President targeted Trump leads in terms of voter support Newspaper: Armenia government members to come to parliament La Liga: Cadiz play draw with Barca, Armenias Haroyan plays entire game Scientists warn of magnetic storms on Earth this week Serie A: Roma beat Udinese, Mkhitaryan plays whole match Schoolchildren and parents get into massive brawl on Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border Deputy PM: No corridor issue being discussed, any passage through Armenia's sovereign territory will imply transit Armenia FM at UN General Assembly: We call on increasing pressure on Azerbaijan Armenia Deputy PM: It's rather difficult to say when Amulsar gold mine will be opened Armenia FM meets with Finnish counterpart Armenia Deputy PM: Pashinyan-Erdogan meeting is not planned Turkey's Erdogan: We are receiving positive messages from Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan Armenia 1st President hosts Kyrgyzstan's ex-president Armenia FM meets with Council of Europe Secretary General Armenia PM sends congratulatory message to Catholicos Patriarch of Armenian Catholic Church Armenia Emergency Situations Ministry: Iranians didn't participate in putting out fire near park Armenia PM orders to ensure enforcement of order for COVID-19 vaccination or PCR test starting October 1 Armenian lawyer: I won't force my employees to get PCR test for COVID-19 and will protect their rights in court Armenia PM sacks Public Council Secretariat chief Armenian man charged under organizing of illegal migration in Russia shows up to Armenia police station France FM to meet with US counterpart Paulo Dybala and Juventus close to extending contract Armenia justice minister introduces newly appointed head of Penitentiary Service Digest: US Congress demands Armenian POWs release in Baku, more on COVID-19 vaccination in Armenia Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Prosecutors General meet in Kazakhstan Karen Khachanov defeated by world's 101st racket AS Roma opens coronavirus vaccination point at Stadio Olimpico Russia ambassador to Armenia underscores continued development of multipolar cooperation bridges Armenia peacekeepers in Kosovo mark Independence Day anniversary US Under Secretary of State: We look forward to progress, including via OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair mechanism Azerbaijan FM declares country's willingness to normalize relations with Armenia US, Russia start talks over sustainable development at level of business Mirziyoyev: Uzbekistan-Armenia cooperation will continue to consistently develop Tehran says Georgia border guards' conduct against Iran citizens is unacceptable Karabakh emergency service: Remains of another fallen soldier found Iranian president invites Turkish counterpart to Iran for official visit Dollar continues dropping in Armenia 21st Catholicos Patriarch of Catholic Armenians elected Biden plans to attend G20 summit in Rome 4 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Baku fires at Iranian helicopter Armenia Ombudsman assesses observation of Russian State Duma elections Armenia health minister: There is differentiated attitude towards COVID-19 vaccines EU envoy reaffirms their continued assistance to democratic reforms in Armenia Biden's advisor and Erdogan's spokesperson discuss situation in Caucasus after 44-day war Poland to install 250 American Abrams tanks in east of country Armenia parliament opposition faction leader: Azerbaijan, Turkey have no desire to build their policy on logic of peace Turkey sends several thousand more troops to Syria EU urges Iranian foreign minister to resume talks on Tehran's nuclear dossier Syrian citizen arrested in absentia for murder of Russian military pilot in Syria Criminal case filed for writing insulting comment under Armenia PM's photo on Facebook Nicole Richie sets her hair on fire on her birthday (VIDEO) Chronicles of Aurora to leave Yerevans Matenadaran for first time to be displayed at San Lazzaro Island in Venice Armavir Province grape growers protesting outside Armenia government building Health minister talks about getting 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Armenia Georgia PM to Armenia counterpart: Existing challenges make cooperation between our countries more significant Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan FMs to meet in Tehran Selena Gomez body shamed for overweight Armenia State Revenue Committee chief meets with US embassy drug enforcement program new director Fans invade pitch again during Ligue 1 match Armenia, Nicaragua FMs highlight interest to deepen cooperation within international platforms La Francophonie Secretary General: I reaffirm readiness to support Armenia initiatives Armenia, France FMs meet in New York, discuss prospects for settlement of Karabakh conflict Armenia Syunik Province governors wanted son turns himself in, is taken to prison Scientists say how teach immune system to defeat cancer Benzema sets record 939 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia US welcomes China decision to stop building coal-burning power plants abroad US Congress demands release of all Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan On Tuesday morning, numerous residents of Kemerovo, Russia, held a rally outside the provincial hall building, and in connection with the fire that occurred on March 25, in a town shopping mall, and which, according to official information, claimed 64 lives. They demanded from the authorities to tell the truth about this fire, as many of them do not believe in the official number of casualties in this tragedy. Others are displeased that only a small number of firefighters were taking part in extinguishing this fire. The demonstrators agreed to count the number of casualties for themselves by sending information about the dead via a shared Email address, according to Meduza online newspaper. Subsequently, they demanded that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who on Tuesday arrived in Kemerovo, meet with them. The mayor of Kemerovo sent the initiative group of these residents to the towns morgues to find out for themselves the bodies of how many casualties of this fire were taken there. YEREVAN. Azerbaijan consistently continues to refuse from the arrangements that were reached. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian on Tuesday stated the aforesaid at his joint news conference with the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, following their talk in capital city Yerevan. Responding to Azerbaijans statements on the substance of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) peace talks and the creativity of the mediators, the Armenian FM noted that the conversations about the content of these talks and, in essence, about starting new negotiations lead toward the notion that all previous talks were senseless and illogical. In Nalbandians words, the conversations about creativity have come about from unsound imagination of the Azerbaijani leadership. The attempts to attribute to itself the 2800-year history of the capital city of Armenia, or the other [Armenian] territories, or the bellicose statements, added Edward Nalbandian. It would be better that they [the Azerbaijan authorities] explain why they refuse the statements that were reached at the highest level, [and] deny the statements [made] by the leaders of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairing countries [Russia, US, and France], Baku needs to abandon linguistic exercises and start carrying out the arrangements. Maybe Azerbaijan cant return to the constructive arena on its own, and [therefore] it must be made to return there. YEREVAN. Armenia is an important partner for the European countries, Luxembourgs Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said. 2018 is an important year for Armenia as the country will mark the 100th anniversary of independence and will host Francophonie summit, he said during a press conference with Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian. During his visit to Armenia, Mr. Asselborn will attend the opening of Luxembourgs honorary consulate in Yerevan. Suren Zohrabyan will serve as an honorary consul. Luxembourg has no embassy in the region yet, but opening of the honorary consulate is the first step, the foreign minister said. Speaking about the development of economic relations, the minister noted that there are great opportunities for this, as Luxembourg is the second state in the world in terms of investment funds that total around four trillion euros. Unfortunately, the money is not ours, otherwise we would share it, he joked. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian noted active ties between the two countries, adding that the visit is a good occasion to discuss issues of mutual interest. According to the minister, taking into account Luxembourg's experience in banking, it would be useful to hold a business forum. Nalbandian noted the importance of holding a summit of Francophonie in Yerevan and thanked Luxembourg and personally Jean Asselborn for supporting the decision to hold a summit in the Armenian capital. The Armenian Foreign Minister presented to his colleague the efforts of Armenia and the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group towards a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Home | News | General | A-Ibom communities tackle FG, oil companies on injustice in Niger Delta By Chioma Onuegbu UYO THE people of Akwa Ibom State have decried the long years of neglect and alleged insensitivity of government and oil companies towards the devastation of their environment and means of livelihood due to oil and gas exploration in the area. Cross section of participants at DRR Workshop in Akwa Ibom Some representatives of the communities who spoke last week during the Community based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plan organized by National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA urged Nigerian government to address the glaring injustices in the oil producing states of Niger Delta region. Authorities only interested in unfettered crude oil flow A former Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Iniobong Ekpenyong questioned why the powers that be are expressing more concern about what they lose as a result of destruction of the pipelines and neglecting the aspect that has to do with the sufferings of the oil communities. He pointed out that government and oil companies or operators only look at actions of the communities as being irrational instead of their action as irrational by giving the communities justice. There can be no peace without justice The powers that be have been trying to shy away from the truth. Whichever way you want to look at it, there cannot be peace where there is no justice. Those at the top are sucking other people dry, and you are talking about the effect of pipeline vandalism on the environment. Let us imagine that I am living in a community and a pipeline passes behind my backyard and I am conscious of the fact that inside this pipeline in my community billions of dollars are passing through it and my livelihood is not improving, tell me, what stops me from breaking the pipeline? This is what we are talking about. Let them first give us justice then everybody will be concerned and talk about how to protect the environment. Similarly, one of the representatives of Eket local government area who did not want his name in print lamented, Nobody from oil state has oil wells but people that do not have oil in their soil are owners of all the oil wells. That is injustice. Such things bring about provocation. And why cant one out of the four refineries be located in Akwa Ibom as number one oil producer in the country. Our farmlands, fishing areas have been destroyed. Children of the farmers/fishermen have dropped out of school because their parents could no longer afford to sponsor their education as their means of livelihood had been destroyed from oil activities and no compensation paid to them to alleviate their suffering. And when these youths are idle they could resort to breaking pipelines out of frustration. We are not encouraging them in this, but these are the issues. In his contribution Dr. John Ukpatu from Eastern Obolo decried a situation where compensation are not paid after oil spills stressing, Even when NOSDRA will direct that clean up exercise be carried out, nothing will be done and that is why communities keep on suffering. Worst environmental degradation The State Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources Dr. Iniobong Essien who listed the dangers of pipeline vandalism to include environmental pollution and ecosystem damage due to oil spills, fire outbreaks, economic loss, population displacement and loss of lives among others described the programme as apt considering the level of environmental degradation in Niger Delta communities. This is very apt in the sense that we must learn from history. We must take a cue from antecedents of the past to be able to shape our future. I make particular reference to our brothers in Ogoniland where the cleaning exercise has been flagged off on paper. What is being proposed or being done in Ogoniland is more of a cure which is very expensive and today we dont even know the level of result that we are going to get from that exercise. Scorched vegetation Experts have mentioned that the level of pollution that has taken place arising from oil spill in Ogoniland will take 30 to 40 years to be able to remediate it and the question is what happens to the livelihood of those people? The day the flag off was done by the Vice President I was in Ogoniland and I remember we had to trek for over 4kilometres to be able to access the point of that flag off. And I took a look at the vegetation, the soil and it was a pathetic sight. From what I saw there, I dont know the level of remediation that will be done such that people can regain their livelihood. That is why I said what we are doing today is very apt and I want us not to take is as another jamboree. Lets take this seriously. And like the common parlance goes prevention is better and I will like to add cheaper than cure. Hope awaken However reacting, Christiana Okunubi Acting Director Planning, Policy, Analysis NOSDRA assured them that the issues raised had been noted, appealing that breaking of pipelines must stop for the sake of the future generation. Why we are here is to proffer solutions on the way forward. So whatever solution you proffer we will identity it and capture it. We dont want this to be a talk show. We should disabuse our minds about what has been going on in the past and have hope that we will move forward On who pays compensation for oil spills she explained, If it spilled through act of vandalism and it is established there is no compensation to be made but if it is rupture of pipeline compensation will be paid by the owner of that pipeline or product that comes from the pipeline. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | LDS gives Bayelsa community health centre face lift Renovates, equip facility with medical supplies By Emem Idio AZIKORO-THE Paramount Ruler of Azikoro-Epie town, a suburb of Yenagoa in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, HRH Amadoko Clever, has described the renovation work and supply of medical equipment worth millions of naira to the Azikoro community health centre by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, LDS, as unprecedented in the area. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Yenagoa, cleaning and repainting the Azikoro community Health Centre during the handing over of the renovated health centre and medical equipment to the community leaders The monarch, who made the remarks during the handing over ceremony of the renovated health centre with medical equipment by officials of the LDS Church, weekend, commended the church for showing genuine love and concern to the general well-being of the people of Azikoro community as demonstrated by the intervention in the health centre. He noted that it was gratifying to the people of the community to know that the LDS as a church was only concerned about the spiritual but also about the physical well-being of its host community, stressing that the project will impact meaning fully and improve the health condition of the people. His words: The LDS Church has come not only to salvage the health centre but also the whole of Azikoro because it will impact on the people. This gesture will make the health centre attractive to the people. This is not the first time; this church has been doing a lot for its host community. They have set example for other churches and organizations to follow. I want to commend them for taking up the challenge by reaching out and showing love to their host community. What they have done is very rare, they have refurbished the entire health facility and brought new medical equipment, I want to commend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, for their work. I will support them and ensure that I talk and encourage my people to worship with them. Speaking at the occasion, the President of the Yenagoa-Nigeria Stake of the LDS Church in Bayelsa State, Dr Akekere Jonah, said the project was executed as part of the humanitarian programmes of the church, stating that what informed the intervention of the church was the need to also add value to the physical well being of the people as the spiritual and physical must work together. As a facility used by the Niger Delta University Department of Community Medicine for the training of medical students, he highlighted that it was imperative to provide some of the equipment to aid the students by improving their learning experience and also help them to consult for the community. We have carried out complete renovation works like changing of the roofing sheets, installation of ceiling fans, repainting and supplies of new medical equipment. We are hoping that the community will be able to sustain this medical equipment. We will always be partnering with them if the need arises to ensure that this project is sustained for the good of the community. We actually considered three things, one, the need for us to come and take care of the physical health needs of the members of this community knowing too well that the spirit and the physical body work together. As a church, we do not always consider the spiritual side without considering the physical, it is incomplete. So there is also the need for us to look after that. Azikoro is a rural community and it links other communities in Ogbia Local Government Area, and this hospital if properly taken care can serve as referral centre of where health care services could take care of the health care need of the adjoining communities. These are the things that really prompted us to come to the place and see how we can upgrade the health centre. In his remarks, Dr. Wisdom Sawyer, a part time consultant of the Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, NDUTH, said as one of the outreach centres for the training of medical students, the intervention was timely, and commended the LDS Church for their corporate social responsibility to their host community, pointing out that the intervention will improve the working conditions for the workers, patients, and students alike. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | Why it is legal for Nigerians to defend themselves from attacks - Itse Sagay - Senior lawyer, Itse Sagay, says allegations that armed forces were assisting bandits to kill people should be investigated - He stated that the principle of self-defence is prescribed in the criminal law - Suspected herdsmen kill 5 farmers in Benue Senior lawyer, Itse Sagay, has said Nigerians were permitted by law to defend themselves from being attacked by bandits. Sagay who serves as the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) made the statement on Sunday, March 25, in reaction to calls by a former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, that Nigerians should defend themselves against herdsmen attacks. The Nation reports that Sagay said allegations by Danjuma that the armed forces were assisting bandits to kill people and cover them should be investigated. READ ALSO: Man shares story of how he found a cobra in his toilet bowl (photos) He said: General Danjuma did not say that the military is incapable. But he accused them of bias and not protecting the people deliberately. Thats a very, very serious accusation. And this is coming from such a senior man in Nigerias military probably apart from former General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Yakubu Gowon, he (Dajuma) is the most senior former military officer we have and hes a man who has tremendous influence. He has held important positions chief of staff, minister of defence so, he wont speak lightly. So, his allegation needs to be investigated. If there are elements within the military doing this, then the government has to take immediate steps to deal with them and put people who are responsible and patriotic in the positions. When responding to questions if resorting to self-defence by Nigerians would not result in anarchy, he said it was not illegal for Nigerians to defend themselves, pointing out that the principle of self-defence is prescribed in the criminal law. Sagay said: "Thats an interesting point. Its a point Ive always made myself. Its not an illegal measure for Nigerians to defend themselves. If you look at our criminal law, there is the principle of self-defence. If someone attacks you, and you feel endangered, and you defend yourself, and in the process you kill the person, the fact that you were defending yourself is a complete defence to any charge. The right already exists" "So, I think what General Danjuma is saying is that instead of each individual exercising that right, they should begin to exercise it collectively in their communities. I think thats reasonable too. There is breakdown of law and order if youre in your house and someone comes and kills you. I think there will be less danger of breakdown of law and order if that person knows that the next time he comes to your house, all your neighbours would gather and stop him." Meanwhile, Fatai Owoseni who is the commissioner of police in Benue state has confirmed the death of five farmers in Benue suspected to have been killed by herdsmen. The Nation reports that the state commissioner of police in Benue state confirmed the attack on Monday, March 26. He confirmed that the killings took place in Agatu, Guma and Makurdi local government areas of the state. He also said three persons were killed in Olegobiudu, Agatu local government area on the night of Sunday, March 25. Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday admitted that Nigeria has been turbulent since he came on board in 2015. He said this on Monday while inaugurating the National Food Security Council at the presidential villa, Abuja. Nigerias journey in the last three years has been a very turbulent one, he said, adding: The countrys need for critical job-creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results. Buhari said the council would continuously assess and enhance the various social investment and agricultural programmes put in place by his administration to achieve their full potential. We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry, he said. We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact our food production ambitions such as; population growth, ubanisation, industrialisation, rural infrastructure development and climate change. The president added that his administration introduced numerous programmes that would transform the lives of millions of Nigerians. He said: We introduced the national social investment programmes targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth. We launched agricultural programmes focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country. We commenced the long-term pollution remediation projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC countries. We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government. We established the agro rangers unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigerias agricultural sector across the country. Buhari said bearing in mind the journey is long, it is the councils duty to ensure that the positive impacts of these programmes are sustained, improved and expanded. Home | News | General | 'Go back to school to learn', man of the people - Angry, hilarious reactions trail Dino Melaye controversy Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial district, gained unparalleled and national attention when he was in the House of Representatives. He has continued to build on the attention since he was elected to the Senate in 2015. As a senator, some believe he stands as a watchdog for the ruling APC because of his usual anti-APC stance, many associates his name with brigandage, rascality and unimaginable notoriety. The Kogi state senator is currently facing the possibility of recall by his constituents. He is at loggerheads with the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, and the Nigerian police recently threatened to declare him wanted if he fails to comply with criminal summon issued on him by the Federal High Court, Lokoja on alleged involvement kidnappings and robberies, murders and other violent crimes in Kogi state. READ ALSO: FG may release more evidence of alleged corrupt practices under GEJ regime While some claim Melaye is being witch-hunted due to his anti-government comments, many Nigerians are of the opinion that nemesis has caught up with him and he should present himself before the court to prove his innocence. In a Facebook post by NAIJ.com, Nigerians were asked what they would tell the embattled senator if they had a chance to talk to him. This piece gathers a collection of angry, hilarious, serious, and sarcastic reactions submitted on the post by Nigerians. "We love and stand with you ,Senator Dino Melaye. God will always see you through, selfless Senator extraordinary." - Chizoba Ubaezu "I will advise him to go back to school an learn how to talk an respect he's a stupid an very useless senator. Am waiting" - Jacob Michael "This man is the man of the people" - Uche Ogbuleke "Nigeria is in trouble and will not get out of it soon since I can find a lot of people here celebrating Melaye who with others have not done anything to affect our lives positively but enrich their pockets" - Bibiresanmi Adewale Yusuf "I will encourage him to remain upright, focus and that d Almighty God is with him no weapon fashion against him would prosper" - Omoruan A Henry. "1. Embrace peace, for all battle belong to God 2. Respect himself as a distinguished senate. The man is not distinguishe at all with his childish behaviour he always display on social media 3. Humble himself by rendering helping hands to people and stop been stingy." - Obanla Johnson Godslight Kolawole "I admire his courage and doggedness against the I justice of his party men. But I dislike his manner of responding to critics..." - Zikan Anas. "Continue speakin the truth buhari, yahaya bello and haters of the truth can't do u anything God bless and protect u." - Ogbonna Simon "Speaks out,but I have not heard him condemn the wickedness going on in the national assembly as concerns their wages and allowances... Until you do that.... I don't trust you." - Mpi Kenneth Chinaka PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app "This is problem we have in Nigeria,we are suffering and smiling,what rubbish people are saying now,what good in all our senator,like this Dino that use to do like a tout,we will be suffer and still pretend as if we enjoy,i real pity our future o" - Honourable Abdulwasiu Biola Alapo What would you tell Senator Dino Melaye if you are given the chance to talk to him? You can air your comments and continue the conversation on our Facebook page, NAIJ.com. In an earlier report by NAIJ.com, Senator Dino Melaye denied report that he had fled from Nigeria. The senator was responding to news by an online medium that he fled the country to avoid police arrest on Saturday, March 24. Melaye in a statement said there was no way he would leave the country and leave his family behind. He said: For the records, I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country, leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement. Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | We will hold credible, free and fair election 2019 Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the United Nations (UN) of his commitment to conducting credible, free and fair election in 2019.Buhari gave the assurance when the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed met him in Abuja , according to a note by the UN issued from New York . On preparations for the 2019 elections and expected support from the United Nations, President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed continuous support from the United Nations. And assured the Deputy Secretary-General of his commitment to ensuring credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria, the UN said. According to the Nations, Mohammed undertook a two-day visit to Nigeria from March 23 to 25, during which she met with Buhari in Abuja and interacted with other senior officials and stakeholders in Lagos. The UN said the President and the Deputy Secretary-General discussed four main issues: 2019 general election, deportation of Cameroonian asylum seekers, the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the humanitarian and security challenges in Northeast. On the situation in Cameroon and the status of Cameroonian Refugees in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Deputy Secretary-General agreed on the need to respect international obligations on the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, the Cameroonians in particular. They also called for the respect of the guarantee of fair and humane treatment of those recently arrested and deported to Cameroon, the UN said. On the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, President Muhammadu Buhari assured the Deputy Secretary-General of the countrys intention to sign the agreement following national consultations. On the humanitarian and security situation in the North East, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Deputy-Secretary welcomed the speedy return of the recently abducted girls from Dapchi. And highlighted the need for particular attention to be given to securing schools through the accelerated implementation of the Safe School Initiative, the UN added. The Deputy Secretary-General has departed Abuja for Prague on Sunday, according to the UN. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | FG replies PDP over apology to Nigerians, tells opposition to move further by returning looted funds - The federal government wants PDP to take a step further after its apology by returning all looted funds in the 16 years it governed Nigeria - Lai Mohammed says it was an unprecedented looting Nigeria experienced under the PDP - Mohammed also wants the PDP to change in its character The Nigerian government has demanded that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should go the whole hog with its apology to the citizens by returning all the funds looted from the public treasury under its watch during its 16 years in power. Lai Mohammed, the information and culture minister, made this demand in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, March 27, and also challenged the party to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude. READ ALSO: President Buhari rejects tenure elongation for Oyegun The PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologize, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit. Even with the paucity of funds, this administration has spent an unprecedented amount of money on infrastructural development and Social Investment Programme, among others. Returning looted funds will provide more money for these programmes and make life more meaningful for Nigerians. There is no better apology than that, it said. Mohammed also reminded the PDP of the quote: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. PDP, press the reset button. Stop sabotaging the work of this administration, which is packing the mess you left behind, through your reckless statements and unfounded allegations. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Play responsible opposition politics. Put Nigeria's interest over and above partisan interest. Temper your desperation to return to power. Spend quality time in the purgatory and you will be forgiven, he said. NAIJ.com earlier reported that a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said that the former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not be trusted with power in 2019. NAIJ.com gathered that he was reacting to the party's apology to Nigerians through its national chairman, Uche Secondus, on Monday, March 26, over its past mistakes. Jonathan replies to Buhari's allegations | NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | Breaking: Senate gives committee 48 hours to investigate case between Melaye, Governor Bello and IGP - The Senate has given an ultimatum to its committee on the rift between Senator Dino Melaye, the IGP and Governor Yahaya Bello - The committee was given 48 hours to investigate the matter - Senator Melaye said he is yet to receive any notice of arraignment by any court The Senate in its order urged its committee on police and judiciary to investigate and report to it within the next 48 hours on the issues surrounding Senator Dino Melaye, the inspector general of police, Idris Ibrahim, and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state. During its plenary, on Tuesday, March 27, Dino Melaye said he is yet to receive an arraignment notice by any court in Nigeria. He said the same suspects that were arrested by the police are also claiming that he gave them arms. READ ALSO: Polls reordering: Senate re-introduces Electoral Act amendment bill "I have not received any arraignment notice by any Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have not received any Court summons. The same suspect that was arrested for my assassination is the same person that is claiming I gave him arms and money," the senator said. Also speaking, Senator Philip Aduda said there is a breakdown of law and order in Kogi state. He said the governor of Kogi state has been allowed to do whatever he wants in the state. READ ALSO: Taraba residents allegedly disgrace TY Danjuma at an event after his call for self defence (video) On his part, Senator Godswill Akpabio said the culprits should have been brought to justice a long time ago. Further speaking on the matter, the Senate president, Bukola saraki, said: What affects any one here affects all of us, the Committee should fully investigate this matter and bring a concise report for us to consider, let us all hold our comments till the end of the investigation and we will then decide what to do at that point. The Senate committee on police and judiciary headed by the judiciary should investigate this issue and get back to the Senate within 48 hours." See Senate's reactions below: NAIJ.com earlier reported that Senator Melaye had said he has not fled the country as widely claimed in the media. The senator said he was not avoiding arrest by the Nigeria Police Force. He also said he has no reason to leave the country or his country behind over allegations that he supplied some gang members with arms. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Melaye, has said that he uncovered an alleged plan by the Nigeria Police Force and Kogi state government to assassinate him using lethal injection while travelling to Kogi state. He claimed that the plot was the reason why they insisted on prosecuting him in Kogi instead of Abuja, for a crime he allegedly committed, Premium Times reports. Age requirement reduction by the Senate; Good or Bad for Nigeria? on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | FG to PDP: Your apology not enough until you return looted funds BY Emmanuel Elebeke ABUJA The Federal Government has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go the whole hog with its apology to Nigerians by returning all the funds looted from the public treasury under its watch during its 16 years in power. Secondus: We are sorry In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also challenged the party to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude. He said , The PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologize, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit. Even with the paucity of funds, this Administration has spent an unprecedented amount of money on infrastructural development and Social Investment Programme, among others. Returning looted funds will provide more money for these programmes and make life more meaningful for Nigerians. There is no better apology than that. Alhaji Mohammed also reminded the PDP of the quote: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging, saying it applies to the PDP at this time. PDP, press the reset button. Stop sabotaging the work of this Administration, which is packing the mess you left behind, through your reckless statements and unfounded allegations. Play responsible opposition politics. Put Nigerias interest over and above partisan interest. Temper your desperation to return to power. Spend quality time in the purgatory and you will be forgiven, he added. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | Breaking: Buhari has saved APC - Tinubu reacts as president opposes Oyegun's tenure extension The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, March 27, said that President Muhammadu Buhari, by kicking against elongation of the tenure of the APC National Working Commitee (NWC), was steering the party back to the correct path. Tinubu said this in a statement released by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, in Lagos. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on Tuesday advised the party to dump the elongation of the tenure of National and State Executive Officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He told the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja on Tuesday that he had sought advice on the elongation, and had come to the conclusion that it was unconstitutional. Recall that the APC, at its NEC meeting on Feb. 27, had decided to extend the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year. In his reaction, Tinubu said: President Buharis action saves the party from serious legal turmoil. If the elongations were deemed illegal, then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of our candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality. Such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria. Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy. While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path. According to him, the President has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality. His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit. His action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway, he said. Tinubu said it was time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organise the needed congresses according to the existing timetables. After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold. Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria. We shun the politics of old to move toward a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation, he said. Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... This week, Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange with a $1.7 billion daily trading volume, has relocated its headquarters to Malta, a region that has always been friendly to cryptocurrency businesses and investors. Along with its current team, Binance has moved its resources over to Malta, and has decided to employ more than 200 full-time employees to fully establish the company in the region. For any multi-billion dollar startup like Binance, the relocation of headquarters comes with difficulties, especially in regards to finances and regulatory conflicts. But, it seems evident that the pro-blockchain attitude of Malta authorities has given Binance confidence to relocate its team and business to the region, placing Malta at the forefront of cryptocurrency growth. Malta, The Blockchain Island Silvio Schembri, Maltas Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy & Innovation, stated in an interview with the Binance team that the country remains confident in the work that is being done in the cryptocurrency sector. He further emphasized that Binances presence in the region would continue to allow Malta to evolve into the Blockchain Island. This is a clear vote of confidence in our country and the work being done in this sector, mainly by the latest policy launched to offer a regulatory framework of DLT operations. It is obvious that Malta has become a natural point of reference on the international sphere and companies such as Binance will continue to look into Malta to further expand their operations or establish a base. Binances presence in Malta sustains our vision, that of making Malta The Blockchain Island, said Schembri. In an official statement, the Binance team noted that Maltas existing regulations and pro-blockchain legislation for its local cryptocurrency businesses ultimately convinced the company to invest in the European nation, after visiting and evaluating several regions. Story continues Changpeng Zhao, the CEO at Binance who is better known as CZ, stated that the Binance team were inspired by the logical and forward-thinking nature of Schembri, and the rest of the Malta government. After meeting with Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Silvio Schembri, we were impressed by the logical, clear and forward-thinking nature of Maltas leadership. After reviewing a proposal bill, we are convinced that Malta will be the next hotbed for innovative blockchain companies and a centre of the blockchain ecosystem in Europe. Binance is committed to lending our expertise to help shape a healthy regulatory framework as well as providing funds for other blockchain start-ups to grow the industry further in Malta, Zhao said. Influence on Other Regions Recently, South Korean authorities have started to discuss the possibility of legalizing domestic initial coin offerings (ICOs) once again, after Kakao, the countrys largest internet conglomerate that operates KakaoTalk, KakaoPay, KakaoStory, KakaoStock, and KakaoTaxi, the countrys largest app that have nearly 90 percent market share of the messaging, payment, social media, online stock brokerage, and taxi service markets, revealed its plans to move its blockchain venture outside of South Korea. Inevitably, startups and multi-billion dollar conglomerates will relocate to regions that are equipped with pro-blockchain legislature and are led by forward-thinking regulators. Maltas warm welcome of cryptocurrency businesses and exchanges will likely influence other regions, like Japan and South Korea, to continue providing sound regulations to businesses to ensure their markets can grow exponentially, without regulatory conflicts. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Malta Wants to Become The Blockchain Island, With Worlds Largest Cryptocurrency Exchange appeared first on CCN. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump decided Tuesday to end the protected status of thousands of Liberian migrants to the United States and gave them a year to leave the country. It's the latest of similar moves, after more than 250,000 Salvadorans, Haitians and Nicaraguans lost their protected status under an administration which has made cracking down on immigration a priority. In 1991, when the West African country was in the grip of civil war, some Liberians living in the US were given "temporary protected status" to allow them to remain in safety. Then in 1999 approximately 10,000 of them were made eligible for "deferred enforced departure," or DED, by then-president Bill Clinton, allowing them to continue to build new lives. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have periodically renewed the DED status, but Trump has now decided to allow it to expire, deeming Liberia safe for returnees. Trump has taken a tough stance on immigration in general and, in reported private conversations, an even tougher stance on Africans from what he has reportedly deemed "shithole countries." The latest grace period expires on March 31, but Trump said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security that he would accord the Liberians a 12-month "wind-down" period to prepare their departure. "Through consultation with appropriate executive departments and agencies and my advisors, I have been informed that conditions in Liberia have improved," Trump wrote. "Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance," he argued. Trump admitted that the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa had brought "tragic loss of life and economic damage" to Liberia, one of the world's poorest countries after years of civil war. But he declared himself satisfied with Liberia's progress in tackling the disease. Story continues It is not clear how many of the original 10,000 DED recipients may have died, moved on voluntarily or been granted another form of legal US residency -- but the rest face an uncertain future. Opponents of Trump's move warned it would uproot many who had made new and productive lives for themselves in the United States. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, noted on Twitter that, thanks to the previous presidents' DED extensions, the Liberians had been living in the United States legally since 1992. "Many work in Minnesota hospitals and nursing homes," she wrote. "I won't give up this fight. We have a year." bye New Mutants. I'll watch you when they release you in 2027 as a straight to video. Reply Thread Link Literally...straight to DVD and streaming. Reply Parent Thread Link i bet some of the cast turned down jobs expecting weeks of promo and now are really pissed off Reply Parent Thread Link rami was such a miscast Reply Thread Link I agree. Reply Parent Thread Link i am SO HERE for your icon. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link why do you say that? I remember reading that people were pumped for Rami in this role Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Really? I think hes going to be fantastic! Hes a great actor and I cant wait to see the movie. Reply Parent Thread Link Aw man. Do they want a Black Panther-like domination for Dark Phoenix? Reply Thread Link No this is a downgrade especially for an XMen film. That its not a summer or Holiday release is a disappointment. Fox maybe wanting to bury the franchise until then Disney acquisition is complete. Because Marvel will have its most of it characters back. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah it is definitely strange. X-men films (not the R-rated ones) have always claimed Memorials weekend aka beginning of summer. But being the first superhero movie out in 2019 (Captain Marvel comes out a month later) could be beneficial. Fox just shouldnt be expecting Black Panther numbers And I just cant imagine Bohemian, which is taking its place, being an awards contender with all the bts messiness. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wtf @ New Mutants. I've seen posters and shit up at movie theaters. Just release it lol Reply Thread Link lmao same my theater has this GIANT poster on the outside walls of the building Reply Parent Thread Link I hope they just move it around every month until it comes out. Reply Parent Thread Link New Tulip Fever Reply Parent Thread Link Fuck you, Fox. I was really wanting to see the new X-Men movie this year (I know I'm trash). Reply Thread Link I have a feeling the dailies were probably disappointing to the execs. Reply Parent Thread Link Cancel both Marvel movies please Reply Thread Link omg new mutants delay pisses me off. not a good time to be a fan of x-men. well at least there's The Gifted for now in the x universe. Reply Thread Link New Mutants looked terrible though. They should just recast it and start over. Reply Thread Link New Mutants is doomed Reply Thread Link Both films must be shit then Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Dark Phoenix goes from November 2nd, 2018, to February 14th, 2019 Wait a minute... [Captain Marvel] is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 8, 2019 There are two movies about Skrulls coming out within a month of each other? This is the dumbest shit in the universe. Reply Thread Link Are we sure Dark Phoenix has Skrulls in it? Not just the Shi'ar? Reply Parent Thread Link Back when Chastain was cast, Deadline said she was playing Lilandra and that the Shi'ar would be in DP. Then Marvel announced that the Skrulls were in Captain Marvel, and all of a sudden, she totally, definitely wasn't playing Lilandra. Then there were rumors that actually it was the Skrulls in DP, and Fox confirmed that Chastain's character is "a shapeshifting alien." So probably no Shi'ar at all. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lol they're probably trying to screw up with Disney/Marvel as much as they can while they still have rights. Reply Parent Thread Link I can't get over how bad The New Mutants is gonna be. Forget the almost complete whitewash; the very concept is BAD. Some comic books could easily be made into horror (tho hopefully not this kind of by-the-book, cheesy horror) but X-Men is not one of them. It's like trying to make a grimdark Fantastic Four... oh wait Reply Thread Link Lmfao at The New Mutants. At this point, they should just sell it to Netflix. Edited at 2018-03-27 12:48 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link It's going to get released to Disney's streaming service. Reply Parent Thread Link Bohemian Rhapsody is going to be so fucking bad. Reply Thread Link I think it will be good for gifs Reply Parent Thread Link That's the only thing I'm looking forward to. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Aloja In Spanish mythology, the Aloja were spirits who could be found in secluded places with fresh water. They were often nonviolent, keeping to themselves or turning into blackbirds to escape encounters with mortals. But on occasion, if a mortal disturbed her waters uninvited, an Aloja would boil the water instantly, burning or killing the intruder. https://www.buzzfeed.com/andyneuenschwander/everyone-has-a-mythical-female-monster-that-matche?utm_term=.mb1WzZovG#.frLGdM3yJ : AlojaIn Spanish mythology, the Aloja were spirits who could be found in secluded places with fresh water. They were often nonviolent, keeping to themselves or turning into blackbirds to escape encounters with mortals. But on occasion, if a mortal disturbed her waters uninvited, an Aloja would boil the water instantly, burning or killing the intruder. Reply Thread Link You got: Baba Yaga In Slavic cultures, Baba Yaga often appears as an old woman to travelers in her forest. Depending on the person, Baba Yaga might help them or cause them trouble. Reply Parent Thread Link that's why I always snickered when they'd call John Wick that in those movies. eh, whatever. it's keanu looking good and blowing shit up. that's all i want from those movies anyway. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Si'la In Arabian cultures, the Si'la is a type of Jinn. Though they are shape-shifters, they often appear as female and mate with men to bridge the gap between spirits and mortals, acting as mediators between the two worlds. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link You got: Si'la In Arabian cultures, the Si'la is a type of Jinn. Though they are shape-shifters, they often appear as female and mate with men to bridge the gap between spirits and mortals, acting as mediators between the two worlds. fuck yeah! Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Gorgon The Gorgons (you might know the most famous one, Medusa) are thought of as monsters, but originally they were protectors of Athena's temple who suffered a curse. The snakes in their hair and the ability to turn mortals into stone with just a look make them formidable opponents. tbh i hate making small talk especially with strangers (one thing that annoys me about my city, lol) though i've been told i'm very personable. so if i could just scare people off with a look then yes, i'll take it lmao. Edited at 2018-03-27 05:17 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Baba Yaga In Slavic cultures, Baba Yaga often appears as an old woman to travelers in her forest. Depending on the person, Baba Yaga might help them or cause them trouble. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Churel In Pakistan, India, and other Southeast Asian countries, the Churel is the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth. Some believe they're the spirits of women who died with unfulfilled desires, or died an unnatural or premature death. The Churel's true form is said to be disturbing, but they can shape-shift into beautiful young women in order to lure in young men and drain them of their youth, leaving them old and feeble. You can always spot a Churel by her feet, which will be turned backwards. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Si'la In Arabian cultures, the Si'la is a type of Jinn. Though they are shape-shifters, they often appear as female and mate with men to bridge the gap between spirits and mortals, acting as mediators between the two worlds. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Churel In Pakistan, India, and other Southeast Asian countries, the Churel is the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth. Some believe they're the spirits of women who died with unfulfilled desires, or died an unnatural or premature death. The Churel's true form is said to be disturbing, but they can shape-shift into beautiful young women in order to lure in young men and drain them of their youth, leaving them old and feeble. You can always spot a Churel by her feet, which will be turned backwards. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Aloja In Spanish mythology, the Aloja were spirits who could be found in secluded places with fresh water. They were often nonviolent, keeping to themselves or turning into blackbirds to escape encounters with mortals. But on occasion, if a mortal disturbed her waters uninvited, an Aloja would boil the water instantly, burning or killing the intruder. Reply Parent Thread Link Wow thats fucked up. Reply Parent Thread Link oh my Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so glad his mother is supportive. Reply Parent Thread Link Despicable that theyre trying to say it was a personal statement even though it came from the PMs staff and was marked OFFICIAL. He should be out on his ass. Reply Parent Thread Link so fucked up Reply Parent Thread Link wooooooowww. jesus Reply Parent Thread Link lol omg Reply Parent Thread Link IT'S A BAKING DAY! Reply Thread Link YAS Reply Parent Thread Link Easter themed sugar cookies and cookie cup Easter baskets. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link send me some, ty Reply Parent Thread Link i would love to make cookies decorated like pysanky, but i ain't got the skills yet. Reply Parent Thread Link i just put in my lunch order for delivery from a local thai cafe. green curry + kung pao beef and rice. now i'm staring at the delivery tracker like, get her faster!!! Reply Thread Link My husband got a job!! He had the interview today and they told him he can start when the drug and background tests come back! Reply Thread Link CONGRATS TO HIM! Reply Parent Thread Link THANK YOU! Reply Parent Thread Link OMG CONGRATS Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Congrats to him! Reply Parent Thread Link A French waiter fired from a Canadian restaurant for being rude is suing, claiming discrimination against his culture; he is being punished for the "direct, honest and professional personality" that he acquired in the French hospitality biz. https://t.co/l9AWs8rTia (via @yasin) Lisa Goldman (@lisang) March 26, 2018 are you rude and/or french, ONTD? are you rude and/or french, ONTD? Reply Thread Link fuck turns out i am guilty of cultural appropriation Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Rude, yes. Believing that women deserve assault and rape, no. So, not French. Reply Parent Thread Link hes not rude, hes just French ya guys! Reply Parent Thread Link men always try this shit. i'll never forget the guy who sued cause someone didn't want to date him. it'll get tossed out. Reply Parent Thread Link lmaoo Reply Parent Thread Link French are trash! Reply Parent Thread Link Rudeness? In Canada? That is practically treason! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Are we sure he's not a rude French concierge? Reply Parent Thread Link I was actually just told yesterday at work that I was rude. So apparently, yep! That's a first for me! Reply Parent Thread Link Im half French, we are a rude and snooty people. Really dislike us. Reply Parent Thread Link Late, but we have a Montreal office at my work and I get a lot of calls from Quebec based people so daily I play the "Is this person rude or just French? And is this person drunk or just Quebecois?" game. Reply Parent Thread Link Hey ONTD. It breaks my heart to share this news with you guys but my husband and I lost the baby. :[ We went in for a 7-week ultrasound and there was no heartbeat and no growth. I took meds to miscarry and that was that. We were in shock but also like...oddly prepared for it considering how much we've been through already. Anyway. Thank you guys for being here for me. It has made it easier to know I have this community to lean on a little and I love you all. Reply Thread Link i'm so, so, so sorry *hugs* Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so sorry <333 Reply Parent Thread Link Im sorry :( Reply Parent Thread Link oh no. i'm so sorry to hear that. Reply Parent Thread Link <3<3<3 *hugs* I have faith things will go well for you at some point. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm sorry, bb Reply Parent Thread Link :( Reply Parent Thread Link Check your privacy settings! Reply Parent Thread Link You have to enable rating in your privacy settings, there is a box you check. You show up the next day. Reply Parent Thread Link 29 Reply Parent Thread Link 10192 lol Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not on it, I think I must have tracking turned off somewhere in my settings. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I can't even find myself on there. lol. Reply Parent Thread Link 2787 -- how are these calculated? lol Reply Parent Thread Link 1083 what does that mean though? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Those Russians will try anything. Reply Parent Thread Link "Can't find user in this rating" I guess I have it off in my settings Reply Parent Thread Link 201 in the all time rating & 1663 in today's. Reply Parent Thread Link I think Im dealing with ovarian cyst pain again, its werid cus the last year or so since my last ovarian cyst my periods have been normal and no cramps after my perido, wit my last period I notice cramps and etc, like I feel fine Im eating, sleeping and no other issues. But mparents are leaving for London today and I told them dont worry about me, tho I did mention it to them. My gyno isnt till the 11th of April and my parents come back next Wednesday, I have next Thursday and Friday off from work. I also have some neigbours # and my grandma and other family to call. Idk what to do . I mean Im going to work but also I think Im crazy to think I might have another overian cyst again . Reply Thread Link You call your gyno, ask the nurse your question and then they'll see you sooner than your appointment. Reply Parent Thread Link Thanks Reply Parent Thread Link most cysts are harmless and go away on their own. if you're just having moderate cramping, i wouldn't worry too much. if it starts getting really severe on one side, you could call your gyno to get checked out to be safe. i have had 2 cystectomies, so don't feel like you're crazy for worrying. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link go see gyno so u can get ultrasound ! dont wanna risk it imo Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i hurt my back rolling around in bed but tbhvi deservedit im also craving dunkaroos smh Reply Thread Link they still have them in canada! Reply Parent Thread Link At Christmas one of my cousin's in-laws brought homemade Dunkaroos dip for a potluck. It was like tasting my childhood. Reply Parent Thread Link what were u doing in bed heeh Reply Parent Thread Link must suck to watch this show without having read the books and have to deal with posts on ONTD tbh Reply Thread Link Its hard but I appreciate the spoiler cut. I watch the show, but I refuse to ever read the books. Reply Parent Thread Link oh, when i made the comment, there was no spoiler cut lol Reply Parent Thread Link Is there a single season of Outlander without a rape storyline? Wtf is up with Diana Gabaldon (and the showmakers tbh, these adaptions could be handled differently)... Reply Thread Link Shes really weird. She was obsessed with Sam Heughan when he was first cast and her sense of humor is just very odd? I dont know. I stopped reading the books midway through the third one. Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder how much creative control Gabaldon has, because the showrunners are the same ones who did Deep Space Nine and sensitive issues on that show were handled admirably well. So I was surprised. Reply Parent Thread Link oh woah did not know that! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Im imagining a cracktastic ds9/outlander crossover now and its beautiful Reply Parent Thread Link I read two of the books and stopped because the violence against women pissed me off. And don't give me the "buuuuuut it's accurate for the times" nonsense her fans love so much. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link There is so much rape in the books or threats of rape. It was so frustrating. I had a prof say once that in the early 90s it was a common trope for romance novels. I know the series isnt mainly a romance novel but a lot of the elements still fit. Reply Parent Thread Link There isn't a single book in the series without some form of sexual assault or abuse. All of the main characters bar one or two have either been raped our abused by their spouses (Gabaldon chooses randomly whether the abuse is bad or sexy) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Most fans believe the rumor that she has a rape fetish. It comes up too often as a plot device. Reply Parent Thread Link She's a shitty writer and rape is the one and only trick in her hat lmao Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder if DG is pissed that the show changed the scene where Jamie is a rapist? Reply Parent Thread Link Really? Another rape? Is there been a season without rape or attempted rape? I gave this series up after watching the second one and I never read the books. What's wrong with the author though? Does she have a rape fetish or something? Jeez! Reply Thread Link she has a rape/abuse fetish. When I read the first book I could tell. in the infamous spousal abuse scene where Jamie spanks Claire for disobeying (and, btw, happens right after she was ALMOST violently raped by another character), has Jamie getting really aroused by it even though she obviously hates Gabaldon is like, worse than Anne Rice as horrible authors go. She devoted a whole blog post denouncing fans who were holding a fanfic charity fundraiser for a fan who had cancer and no insurance, sending her rabid fans after these people. She also compared fanfic to someone "breaking into her house and raping her husband." Reply Parent Thread Link Blergh, I didn't know. Eeew. >>She also compared fanfic to someone "breaking into her house and raping her husband."<< Disgusting. Reply Parent Thread Link Agreed. I legitimately don't know how people find that scene romantic. Reply Parent Thread Link I wasn't aware of the 'raping her husband' thing, I remember she said something about fanfiction = seeing her characters sold into white slavery, lmao. she's a legitimate asshole. Reply Parent Thread Link ew Reply Parent Thread Link This seems to be quite a rapey show. Reply Thread Link Oh, another rape storyline? How novel. Reply Thread Link i swear, diana gabaldon is in love with writing rape storylines. it's like when she can't think of anything to move the story along, she throws it in. how many of her characters have been raped? pretty much all of the main ones. it's so lazy and kind of puts me off her writing. i'd hoped the show would tone it down, but i guess not. Edited at 2018-03-27 09:26 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link It feels like the only rape-y thing they've changed was Jamie a) constantly saying he wouldn't stop mid-sex if Claire told him to, and b) not raping Geneva. And let's be real, the reason for that change was because if your main male character is a rapist, you're gonna lose a lot of viewers, since we're supposed to be a little in love with this guy too. Or at the very least, we need to root for him (and his relationship with Claire). Reply Parent Thread Link honestly diana gabaldon has such weird concept of consent - i'm not sure she understands it at all. some of her supposedly consensual sex scenes in the books also verge into rape territory. especially when jamie and claire fight and jamie forces himself on claire even though she's resisting, or like you said, says he's not gonna stop. and it's ok because her body responds or secretly she wanted it all along. it supposed to be 'hot' and 'passionate', but it's really just super skeevy. it puts a huge damper on the books for me. Reply Parent Thread Link Women just exist to be raped in this series, huh? Reply Thread Link the thinkpieces after S1 told me it was super progressive because the male lead got raped too! Reply Parent Thread Link and the men! Basically everyone. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean this is the series that portrayed a guy beating his wife to "discipline" her as a humor point and nbd for the relationship, so I would not expect anything different. Reply Thread Link My mother in law argued with me so hard about this. She was like it was a different time!! - no bitch. This book was written in the last couple decades. Gabaldon didnt live in the 1600s. What a stupid argument. Reply Parent Thread Link I stopped reading the books at that point. I've flipped through and read summaries online, but I can't handle sitting down and reading right through after that. Like...when Jamie said he could break her arm or feed her nothing but bread and water or lock her in a closet, which he was tempted to do (???) I'm not sure how you root for that/him/them. Plus, even though he vows not to beat her again, he CONSTANTLY references wanting to. At least the show changed it in the sense that Jamie realizes on his own that ~discipline doesn't fit into their marriage on his own (without Claire having to threaten him), and never brings it up again. Reply Parent Thread Link Excuse you, this series is beYONd CRITicism because the MAN was the VIRGIN on the wedding night!!!1 Reply Parent Thread Link Or they could just not include more rape. I know DG loves her rape storylines and will defend them with lengthy, condescending posts, but they've changed other things for the show so surely they can change this too. Reply Thread Link Right? There's so much shit in that novel, do they honestly need the rape + who's the bio daddy drama? Like, I legit don't want this show to make it to season 6 because I refuse to watch THAT scene with Claire getting kidnapped and what happens to her. Reply Parent Thread Link these books are the WORST Reply Thread Link like, this show has a real problem with rape and I was over all the loving thinkpieces after S1 about how amazingly well the show supposedly handled it. the spousal abuse scene in season 1 is also really fucking abhorrent and should have been cut. But I remember the theme of these thinkpieces mostly being "It does it so much better than Game of Thrones!" when the rape scenes were actually imo far more graphic than on GoT (like, Sansa's rape is the big controversial one, but it's not film gratuitously at all) I don't know why they can't cut this, except maybe they've already filmed it, but still, it's not necessary. I came around and ended up watching it, but I skipped the "spousal abuse is hilarious!" episode this time and kind of winced my way through the rape scenes, because I did enjoy the rest. and just because something is allegedly "historically accurate" doesn't mean it has to be part of the story. we need to just admit that Gabaldon has a fetish for rape and abuse and adapt that shit out. It can be done. Legend of the Seeker is adapted from some of the most rape-tastic books ever, and somehow adapted almost all of the skeeviness away and made the female characters very empowered. It can be done, folks. Reply Thread Link this. you said what i wanted to say much more eloquently. Reply Parent Thread Link MTE. The show I think is pretty good outside of the gratuitous rape, which is a shame. Like what even is that last paragraph. If youre not gonna show it through a modern lens then dont show it tbh. Also hft Seeker love <3 Reply Parent Thread Link I am not kidding when I say the only reason I even watched Legend of the Seeker was because I was morbidly curious to see how they could possibly adapt those wretched books into something Disney family friendly. I had read a couple of them many years before and they were just... a huge huge mess. Imagine my surprise when the show managed to pull off an adaptation that kept the best parts (cool magic rules, worldbuilding, etc) and tossed all the garbage. After I watched that show, I'll never accept "but it's in the books!" as an excuse, ever again. Reply Parent Thread Link Gabaldon is fucking trash. The entire first book abuse plus the MULTIPLE rape scenes that Jack does to Jamie and children always makes me vomit, and honestly by the last book the ONLY main character who hasn't been raped or assaulted in some way is... Roger. Jamie, Claire, Bree, Ian, Mary, Fergus and Marsali are all raped and abused in some way and its done in such a cheap, titillating way in order to create another drama. Gabaldon made the rape storyline for Bree bc she needed some way of making friction between Jamie, Roger and Bree, plus you know, all the spousal abuse Reply Parent Thread Link i've never watched this show and all i've gathered is that it involves time travel, kilts, and a lot of rape so i'll pass also @2:00 Reply Thread Link lol i somehow missed this one. i wonder if he will do this for the last GOT series? or if its all about Queer Eye now Reply Parent Thread Link omg he has to! i can't imagine him not doing it. he'll find the time imo. Reply Parent Thread Link the fact that this is one of a few woman-led series (female protagonist and writer) makes these completely unnecessary and regressive rape story lines even more painful and embarrassing. i'd like to support/watch the show, but i can't justify it's shittiness. Reply Thread Link the fact that it's not only woman-led but also ostensibly supposed to be FOR women with the fanservice... it's disappointing. the showrunners are men, though, so. Reply Parent Thread Link I wish I had recent pictures of my grandma and I but I haven't seen her in 8 years Coco beef. I just really connected with Cars 3 being about an injured racer trying to make it back bc I've been in the same situation. Knocking out Coco was tough though, it should've gone deeper with a better seeded bracket." Rancher's tweet set off a chain reaction off responses from people in disbelief. Swipe through to see some of the best responses and download your own Disney, Pixar bracket here. Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso. Halloween is coming up, and while many people are scouring the internet for ideas on their 2017 costume, some people have it all figured out. Cosplayer Alyson Tabbitha has taken social media by storm with her incredible, elaborate looks. SOMETHING QUICK: Last-minute DIY costumes that are actually kind of awesome A quick scroll through her Instagram shows that Tabbitha can transform herself into virtually any character she wants from Captain Jack Sparrow to Wonder Woman to Padme and look almost identical to the character. So much so, in fact, that her followers can't get over how accurate the looks are. "For a moment I believe you are Nataly [sic]. Amazing," said one person about her Padme cosplay. Another person commented on her look from "Interview with a Vampire", "How. Just how. This is bloody incredible I am in awe." Many other people commented "wow" or "this is perfect" or just asked for tutorials on how to get the look. Talk about having #HalloweenGoals. Take a look through the gallery above and get inspired by some of Tabbitha's best cosplay looks. Nashville, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Health purchased three acres of land in Murfreesboro, Tenn., to facilitate an outpatient expansion, the DailyNews Journal reports. Here's what you should know. 1. Saint Thomas Health is planning to construct a 13,000-square-foot surgery center. 2. The center will have two operating rooms and one procedure room. 3. Saint Thomas Health is also constructing a joint venture ambulatory surgical treatment center with Addison, Texas-based USPI in the same county. After ransomware struck the city of Atlanta's computer network March 22, its systems are still not fully operational, according to The Washington Post. Here are seven things to know. 1. Hackers demanding $51,000 worth of bitcoin encrypted some city data around 5:40 a.m. March 22, NPR reports. City officials and other workers have been without access to internet and email since. 2. Other services, such as warrant issuances, water requests, new inmate processing, court fee payments and online bill-pay programs across multiple city departments, were also affected by the cyberattack, according to Reuters. 3. In addition, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shut down its Wi-Fi as a precaution, and Atlanta residents have been unable to electronically pay bills. 4. Nonetheless, the city is doing its best to continue operations. For example, "The jail and many departments are running on pen and paper while there is no access to electronic records for municipal court," Emily Cureton of Georgia Public Broadcasting told NPR. 5. Police and fire emergency-response systems, water supply safety and airport safety have not been affected. 6. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told reporters she would discuss the best course of action in regards to paying the ransom with federal authorities. Regardless, she said Atlanta will take a financial hit. "What we know is that someone is in our system and that there is a weakness there," Ms. Bottoms said, according to Reuters. "It is absolutely not what we wanted to have happen in the city of Atlanta." 7. Ms. Bottoms warned Atlanta city employees and residents to monitor their bank accounts and protect their personal information, although she said there is no evidence any personal information has been compromised. Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to the NPR story cited in this article. More articles on cybersecurity: Cybersecurity team will 'lie, cheat and steal' to safeguard BCBS data Europe's new privacy law goes into effect in May. Here's how it affects US healthcare Google exploring a blockchain solution for its cloud The cybersecurity team at Health Care Service Corp., an insurance agency, goes to great lengths to ensure its customers' which includes the records of the nearly 15 million Blue Cross Blue Shield members in five states data are kept safe, according to Dallas News. Health Care Service Corp. Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Charest said his team monitors cyber activity 24/7. Nearly 200 analysts' eyes are glued to a large digital map of the world that traces hackers' activity as they try to break into computer networks for medical data. They track thousands of attempts each second. The company's regional security operation center, called the Cyber Fusion room, is located in the Dallas-based C1 Innovation Lab, which houses select Blue Cross of Texas offices. It also has divisions in Richardson, Texas and Waukegan, Ill. Health data is not only becoming more valuable to hackers, who sell it for profit on the dark web, but the healthcare industry is putting itself at increased risk as it moves toward digitization. The plethora of technologies hospitals use EHRs, heart monitors and laptops all connect to the internet and create virtual "doors" hackers can write programs to "knock" on. "People used to rob banks, now they rob information," Dean Sittig, PhD, a professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, told Dallas News. When it comes to your health data, "there's money to be made," he added. Cyber experts told Dallas News criminals use stolen health data to provide medical documentation, exploit health insurance or lie about their health to their employers. Mr. Charest said Health Care Service Corp. plans to make "significant investments" in "internal and external identity management" over the next two years. This includes being able to evaluate how staff members access confidential information from inside and outside the office, or the addition of security features like face recognition or fraud alerts. Beyond monitoring attempted hacks geographically, Mr. Charest said his team frequently conducts penetration testing in which staff members are paid to hack into the network and help identify unsecured doors or other potential vulnerabilities. "They're allowed to lie, cheat and steal to do their job," Mr. Charest told Dallas News. "We build our defenses, but we also try every single day to break them." More articles on cybersecurity: HHS Deputy CISO Leo Scanlon refutes ethics allegations Researchers in Canada collect PHI from recycling bins to study hospital information security OIG audits HHS' compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act: 4 notes Email, internet, the majority of phone lines and several other electronic systems at Geneva, N.Y.-based Finger Lakes Health have been restored after a ransomware attack shut them down March 18, a FLH spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review. FLH lost access to its computer system around midnight March 18 when a third party encrypted the health system's files and demanded a payment to unlock them. FLH reverted to its downtime procedures, including paper charting, while its informations services team worked around the clock to bring systems back online. The health system eventually decided to pay the attacker's ransom demand. As of March 23, security experts confirmed to FLH there was no patient, resident or employee data compromised, and no protected health information was acquired by the unauthorized third party. FLH attributes the recovery to its prompt response upon discovering incident. "Our immediate action to reduce connectivity and bring our own systems offline to protect them and patient, resident [and] employee care and information was effective and served an important purpose Our experts have shared that this was a sophisticated attack that was only directed at extortion of money and not to access information," a FLH statement provided to Becker's Hospital Review reads. Via its insurance carrier, the health system opted to pay the ransom to accelerate its recovery process. FLH has not released how much money the hackers demanded. "We made this decision in the interest of patient and resident care to minimize patient inconvenience and to move past this incident as quickly as possible," the statement reads. More articles on cybersecurity: Cybersecurity team will 'lie, cheat and steal' to safeguard BCBS data Europe's new privacy law goes into effect in May. Here's how it affects US healthcare Google exploring a blockchain solution for its cloud A researcher at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management claims more than 2,100 patient deaths each year can be attributed to hospital data breaches, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sung Choi, PhD, analyzed data from HHS and CMS to compare patient-care metrics at hospitals that have experienced a data breach with those that have not. The study was presented March 22 at a cyberrisk quantification conference hosted by Drexel University's LeBow College of Business in Philadelphia. One of the care metrics Dr. Choi reviewed was the proportion of heart attack patients who die within 30 days of being admitted to a hospital. She found the rate of patient deaths increased by 0.23 percent one year after a breach and by 0.36 percent two years after a breach. This equates to 2,160 additional patient deaths per year. "Before a breach, the control group and breached hospitals are similar, then after a breach there appears some change in trend that made the breach hospitals have worse quality," Dr. Choi told WSJ. Dr. Choi explains the damage caused by a data breach not only diverts funds away from patient care but distracts physicians for years after the incident. "A breach triggers remediation activities, regulatory inquiries and litigation in the years following a breach [these activities] disrupt and delay hospital services, and therefore leads to care quality problems," she told WSJ. Hospitals that experienced a breach also took more time to administer an electrocardiograph to newly admitted patients a common way to measure patient care quality Dr. Choi added. More articles on cybersecurity: Former Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt shares his vision for the medical visit of the future Where are CIOs overinvesting their time and resources? 36 answers from industry experts 4 thoughts on 2018 health IT trends from former ONC head Dr. Vindell Washington Israel allotted $287 million (1 billion shekels) for a project that would allow researchers and private companies to access the country's health data, according to Reuters. Israel's population of nearly 9 million make up four health maintenance organizations that maintain members' health records electronically, which creates a huge medical database the government wants to tap into. "This is a major asset and we want to make it accessible to researchers and developers in order to achieve two things: one is preventive medicine, and the second is personal medicine tailored to each individual," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet March 25, according to Reuters. Here are five things to know about Israel's big data push in healthcare. 1. Sharing digital health records affords researchers particularly drugmakers an opportunity to pursue big data analytics, which can be used to derive insights into how medications perform in real life. 2. Mr. Netanyahu said world leaders and international companies already expressed interest in the project, and Israel could expect billions in revenue. 3. Nadav Davidovitch, MD, PhD, head of the Public Health School at Ben Gurion University, expressed concerns about privacy and medical confidentiality. 4. Dr. Davidovitch said private companies could profit through the proposed publicly-funded database but still make medications that are unaffordable to many. 5. Mr. Netanyahu's office clarified protections would be established to ensure privacy, information security and restricted access. Patients would also be able to refuse the use of their information for research. More articles on data analytics & precision medicine: EHR data predicts chronic opioid use at safety-net hospital, study suggests Intermountain Healthcare to build global DNA registry with 23andMe, AncestryDNA data IBM releases new cloud platform for data science, machine learning A cancer management program between Dallas-based Texas Oncology and Aetna reduced total costs by more than $3 million, while improving patient adherence and satisfaction, according to a study published in the Journal of Oncology Practice. The study, which ran three years from June 2013 to May 2016, enrolled 746 patients with nine common cancer diagnoses. Patients who chose to partake in the patient support services were telephoned by oncology nurses. The oncology nurses assessed patients' symptoms and quality of life, and introduced advance care planning to the patients. To calculate shared cost savings under the program, researchers compared drug costs, hospitalization and emergency room use for 509 patients in the study group with 900 Medicare Advantage patients who received care from providers who were unaffiliated with Texas Oncology. Researchers also studied physician adherence to treatment pathways and evaluated quality and performance metrics. What they found is within three years, the program saved $3,033,248, with savings increasing each year. Per patient per treatment, drugs savings were about $1,874. In addition, for the first, second and third years, treatment adherence was 81 percent, 84 percent and 90 percent; patient satisfaction was 94 percent, 93 percent and 94 percent, and hospice enrollment was 55 percent, 57 percent and 64 percent, respectively. "A practice-based program supported by a payer sponsor can reduce costs while maintaining high adherence to treatment pathways and patient satisfaction in older patients," the study authors concluded. Rand O'Leary, chief executive of Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth's Oregon region, is departing April 20, according to The Register Guard. Here are six things to know: 1. PeaceHealth did not give a reason for Mr. O'Leary's departure. 2. In a message to employees, PeaceHealth COO Richard DeCarlo wrote, "We are so grateful for [Mr. O'Leary's] valued contributions and express our thanks for his leadership and commitment to our mission, patients and communities we serve," according to the report. 3. Mr. O'Leary became chief executive of PeaceHealth Oregon in July 2015. 4. He joined PeaceHealth in 2014, initially serving as chief administrative officer at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, Ore. 5. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. 6. PeaceHealth will appoint an interim chief executive, slated to begin April 23. Boston-based Steward Health Care named Dr. Nadine Delicata COO and interim president of Steward Health Care Malta. Here are five notes: 1. Steward finalized a public-private partnership to assume control of several public medical facilities in Malta Feb. 20. 2. The hospital operator appointed Dr. Delicata to lead the executive team, overseeing operations at Karin Grech Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and Gozo General Hospital, all in Malta. 3. Dr. Delicata previously served as CEO of Gozo General Hospital. She also worked for years with the director general of healthcare services within the Ministry for Health in Malta. 4. Steward's Malta-based executive team also includes: John Bezzina as human resources director Micky Singh as CIO Alessandra Pace as communications director Dr. Stephen Zammit as CEO of Karin Grech Hospital Joseph Fenech as CEO at Gozo General Hospital. 5. The new team will work with counterparts within the U.S.-based Steward Health Care network to establish the same level of care across Steward facilities in Malta. St. Louis-based Ascension signed a nonbinding letter of intent to transfer ownership of one of its Connecticut-based assets to Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare, Ascension announced March 27. Under the letter of intent, Ascension will transfer ownership of Bridgeport, Conn.-based St. Vincent's Medical Center and its related operations to the six-hospital system Hartford HealthCare. The transaction does not include the transfer of Bridgeport-based St. Vincent's College or other mutually agreed upon assets. If the deal is successful, Hartford HealthCare will continue to operate St. Vincent's as a Catholic institution. The transaction is subject to due diligence and necessary regulatory approvals. Nurses at Greenfield, Mass.-based Baystate Franklin Medical Center revealed new strike plans March 26 nearly one month after postponing a previously scheduled walkout. The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents about 200 Baystate Franklin nurses, said in a statement nurses notified hospital officials of a planned one-day strike scheduled for April 11. Union officials said nurses have continued to advocate for a fair contract and planned to visit Robert Bacon, a member of the Baystate Health Board of Trustees, March 26 to compel him and other trustees to help them resolve bargaining issues. "If Baystate could settle a fair contract down the street at [Baystate] Noble Hospital [in Westfield, Mass.], they should be able to do it in Greenfield," said Donna Stern, RN, senior co-chair of the BFMC RN Bargaining Committee. "Our nurses, our community members, the federal government and independent organizations have for years identified patient care problems at our hospital. Baystate itself has acknowledged the problems, but refuses to solve them. Our nurses will not back down from trying to improve patient care. We will hold a one-day strike if necessary to make sure our patients get the high-quality care they deserve." 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, nurses postponed a strike planned for Feb. 28 after hospital officials to return to negotiations Feb. 26. The MNA said nurses and the hospital met several times after workers withdrew the strike notice and were able to comprise on some issues such as health insurance. However, the union said both sides have not been able to fully resolve issues related to staffing and patient care. Hospital spokesperson Shelly Hazlett called the strike plans "disheartening and disingenuous." She also noted the hospital's efforts during negotiations. "In our most recent offer, Baystate Franklin clearly addressed the MNA's highest priority issues: staffing, wages and health insurance," Ms. Hazlett said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review. "We have made considerable adjustments in our position on these major issues in order to reach a fair agreement. This includes clear, documented commitments around staffing and solutions that are consistent with those accepted by the MNA at other locations." Nurses are scheduled to strike from 7 a.m. April 11 to 7 a.m. April 12. If the strike occurs as planned, Ms. Hazlett said Baystate Franklin will remain open and operational during the walkout. Additionally, she said a multidisciplinary team has prepared a comprehensive strike contingency plan, and the hospital has contracted with a professional staffing agency to provide nurses for multiple days. More articles on workforce: 5 stories on healthcare organizations adding jobs Presbyterian Healthcare Services to hire 350 employees for new hospital in Sante Fe St. Joseph's Health seeks to fill 200+ jobs Police arrested a 34-year-old man for stealing an ambulance from Chicago-based St. Bernard Hospital and crashing it a block away, reports WGN-TV. The man was waiting to be treated at the Chicago hospital when he became disruptive. Staff members kicked the man out of the hospital. The man then stole an ambulance parked outside the hospital. He drove it about a block before crashing into a light pole and street sign. The man was taken back to St. Bernard Hospital for treatment and is now in police custody. Police arrested the Arkansas psychologist and psychiatric patient who were on the run after leaving Little Rock-based Arkansas State Hospital March 20, reports KATV. Police found 41-year-old Michelle Messer and 46-year-old Cory Chapin March 27 at a home in North Las Vegas. They were arrested on warrants for being fugitives from justice. Seven days earlier, Arkansas State Hospital surveillance cameras captured Ms. Messer leaving the state-run facility with Mr. Chapin after hospital officials confronted her about providing contraband to the patient. Ms. Messer faces a misdemeanor charge of aiding in an unauthorized departure and a felony charge for providing prohibited articles to a patient. Ms. Messer and Mr. Chapin, who are being held in the Clark County (Nev.) Detention Center without bond, will be extradited back to Arkansas, according to KSFM 5 News. Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, N.H., has agreed to pay $40,000 to the state to resolve a Consumer Protection Act complaint alleging the hospital knowingly hired a chief nursing officer who did not have an active nursing license in New Hampshire, according to The Laconia Daily Sun. New Hampshire and federal laws require CNOs to have an active nursing license. Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald said in a news release LRGH knew Patricia Strohla did not have an active New Hampshire nursing license before she assumed her duties as CNO of the hospital. "LRGH then improperly modified Ms. Strohla's job description to allow her a one-year grace period to obtain her license," Mr. MacDonald said. Although Ms. Strohla did not have an active nursing license, she was listed on the hospital's website as a registered nurse, and she wore an employee badge that identified her as an RN. "The state alleges that these actions by LRGH and Ms. Strohla violated the Consumer Protection Act," Mr. MacDonald said. "That Act prohibits any unfair or deceptive business practice in the conduct of any trade or commerce, including representing that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation or connection that such person does not have." In June 2017, CMS cited LRGH for hiring Ms. Strohla, according to the report. After the CMS survey, the hospital "immediately rectified the situation and put in place safeguards to ensure that it would not happen again," LRGHealthcare President and CEO Kevin W. Donovan told The Laconia Daily Sun. Ms. Strohla, who never obtained her New Hampshire nursing license and no longer works for LRGH, agreed to pay the state $1,500 to resolve the allegations. The hospital and Ms. Strohla deny any wrongdoing, according to the report. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Missing Arkansas psychologist and psych patient arrested in Nevada| City of Crossgate sues VA over Louisville hospital relocation plans 8 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements Although religion does not often enter the realm of medicine, some patients particularly those with strong spiritual beliefs may want to have spiritual interactions with their physicians. For some patients, turning to prayer can be a comforting way of coming to terms with their recovery or prognosis. However, the presence of religion in the exam room may create a dilemma for physicians treating these patients, according to an op-ed in Medscape. In particular, if a physician does not agree with the patient's beliefs and does not want to have a spiritual interaction with their patient or feels praying is keeping their patient from making necessary lifestyle changes, they may be inclined to leave religion out of their care routines. On the other hand, some physicians are glad to participate in prayer and feel it can help the patient's recovery. "Patient surveys show that patients welcome prayer from their nurse or physician, especially in the case of greater illness severity," Michael Balboni, PhD, psychiatry instructor at Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard Medical School, told Medscape. "The dichotomy between the doctor who takes care of the body and the priest who takes care of the soul doesn't exist for some patients." For parents of pediatric patients with severe conditions, some physicians feel prayer helps build trust and communication with these parents, who are often struggling with a highly emotional situation. "In one instance where a patient's son was in a coma, I informed the mother, who is a devout Christian, that her child was in my prayers," said Moshe Cohn, MD, a pediatric critical care specialist at New York City-based NYU Langone Medical Center. "That led to [a] much more open relationship with that parent." However, psychiatrist and geriatrician Harold Koenig, MD, director of the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Durham, N.C.-based Duke University argues physicians do not necessarily have to participate in reciting prayer if the patient requests for them to join in. "Instead, you can offer to sit with the patient quietly while he or she recites the prayer," he said. "Physicians also have rights, including the right to excuse themselves if something violates their own religious beliefs, or they find it offensive." If these situations arise, Dr. Koenig recommends for physicians to say "I'm probably not the best person to sit with you during prayer, so let me see if I can find someone else." The decision to engage in prayer with patients should depend on both the physician and patient feeling comfortable, the article concludes. "Ultimately, the integrity of the physician/patient relationship will emanate not from the prayer per se, but from the atmosphere of mutual respect and partnership with which the issue is approached." This year's hard-hitting flu season peaked in early February, and now influenza activity is on the decline, according to the CDC. As a result, investors may be turning away from hospital stocks and toward health insurance shares, Bloomberg reports. Here are three things to know. 1. Hospitals were the only underperforming stock in the healthcare sector March 26, with hospital shares dipping as much as 2.2 percent intraday. Comparatively, health insurer stocks grew up to 2.7 percent as the broader market saw a rebound. 2. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jason McGorman told the publication investors might be cashing in on the 18 percent growth hospitals witnessed this year. First quarter closing positions may have also affected trading. 3. In the long run, analysts see insurers as having a better backdrop than hospitals, which may allow them to outperform hospitals, accordig to Bloomberg. Researchers at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan and Cambridge-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing hospital-specific machine learning models that predict patients' risk of Clostridium difficile infections much sooner than current diagnostic methods allow, according to a study published in Infection Control & Epidemiology. "Despite substantial efforts to prevent C. diff infection and to institute early treatment upon diagnosis, rates of infection continue to increase," co-senior study author Erica Shenoy, MD, PhD, said in a press release. "We need better tools to identify the highest risk patients so that we can target both prevention and treatment interventions to reduce further transmission and improve patient outcomes." The study authors noted most previous approaches to C. diff infection risk were limited in usefulness since they were not hospital-specific and were developed as "one-size-fits-all" models that only included a few risk factors. Therefore, to predict a patient's C. diff risk throughout the course of their hospital stay, the researchers took a "big data" approach that analyzed the entire EHR. This method allows for institution-specific models that could be tailored to different patient populations, different EHR systems and factors specific to each facility. "When data are simply pooled into a one-size-fits-all model, institutional differences in patient populations, hospital layouts, testing and treatment protocols, or even in the way staff interact with the EHR can lead to differences in the underlying data distributions and ultimately to poor performance of such a model," said co-senior study author Jenna Wiens, PhD. "To mitigate these issues, we take a hospital-specific approach, training a model tailored to each institution." With this machine learning-based model, the researchers looked at de-identified data, which included individual patient demographics and medical history, details on admissions and daily hospitalization, and the likelihood of C. diff exposure. The data was gathered from the EHRs of roughly 257,000 patients admitted to either MGH or to Michigan Medicine over two-year and six-year periods, respectively. The models proved to be highly successful at predicting patients who would ultimately be diagnosed with C. diff. In half of these infected patients, accurate predictions could have been made at least five days before collecting diagnostic samples, which would allow hospitals to focus on antimicrobial interventions on the highest-risk patients. The study's risk prediction score could guide early screening for C. diff if validated in subsequent studies. For patients who receive an earlier diagnosis, treatment initiation could curb illness severity, and patients with confirmed C. diff could be isolated to prevent transmission to other patients. The algorithm code is freely available here for hospital leaders to review and adapt for their institutions. However, Dr. Shenoy notes facilities looking to apply similar algorithms to their own institutions must assemble the appropriate local subject-matter experts and validate the performance of the models in their institutions. While there are more than 196,000 registered nurses in the state of Illinois, just 32 are certified by the International Association of Forensic Nurses to work with adult patients who've experienced a sexual assault. Only 12 of these nurses are certified to treat child sexual assault patients, according to the Chicago Tribune. Here are seven things to know. 1. In 2016, nearly 4,500 patients were admitted to Illinois emergency rooms for alleged, suspected, or confirmed rape or sexual abuse, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health cited by the Tribune. While health and government officials recommend victims of sexual assault be treated by specially trained nurses, few nurses in the state complete such training. 2. Three years ago, the Illinois attorney general's office hired emergency nurse Jaclyn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, to train more nurses as IAFN-certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) throughout the state. While she estimates 150 nurses across the state have completed the 40 hours of required training, just 32 have completed the IAFN exam. 3. IAFN-certified SANE's are trained to collect evidence while communicating with the patient in a way that doesn't make them feel doubted or guilty. Cindy Hora, the division chief of Crime Victims Services at the attorney general's office, told the Tribune they "end up with more charges and more convictions" when a SANE collected the evidence. SANEs are also trained to testify at a trial, which can be especially important in cases involving child victims. 4. Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office is working with state lawmakers on legislation that would require all Illinois hospitals by 2023 to offer sexual assault patients access to a medical provider trained to handle such cases within 90 minutes of presenting at the hospital. 5. In a statement to the Tribune, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association said it supported SANE programs, but believes achieving this goal in the given timeframe is not feasible because few nurses pursue or complete the training. 6. However, Ms. Rodriguez told the Tribune there's currently a lot of interest among nurses to become certified as a SANE. Her February training session at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park had more applicants than available slots. 7. Anne Spillane, Ms. Madigan's chief of staff, told the Tribune hospitals are falling short of their healthcare responsibilities for sexual assault survivors. "In this midst of the #MeToo movement, it couldn't be more clear that providing compassionate care to sexual assault survivors is not the hospitals' priority," Ms. Spillane told the Tribune. To read the full report in the Chicago Tribune, click here. More articles on quality: University Hospitals: Fertility clinic storage tank failure likely the result of human error State board suspends license of Wisconsin nurse under investigation for NICU injuries Will augmented reality in the OR will reduce surgical errors? 5 notes A nurse under investigation for unexplained injuries to newborns at Madison, Wis.-based UnityPoint Health-Meriter lost his license last week, reports WMTV NBC 15. The Wisconsin Board of Nursing issued an interim order March 19 to suspend the nurse's license until the board can make a final decision. The nurse's license, which he got in 2003, was current through 2020. Wisconsin's Division of Legal Services and Compliance launched an investigation into the nurse Feb. 15, after five babies at Meriter's neonatal intensive care unit suffered various unexplained injuries, ranging from bruises to a skull fracture, since April 2017. Meriter suspended the nurse Feb. 9. The nurse was also allegedly let go from a previous nursing role at Madison-based UW Hospital in 2003 before coming to Meriter. The nurse did not admit any wrongdoing, but voluntarily agreed to refrain from practicing nursing during the investigation, according to the interim order cited by WMTV NBC 15. The Madison Police Department is still investigating the injuries, and criminal charges have not been filed against the nurse. "As the police investigation continues, we continue our own internal review and have implemented supplemental monitoring and security measures to enhance supervision in our newborn intensive care unit until the investigation is complete," Meriter said in an official statement emailed to Becker's in February. "We will continue to cooperate with all appropriate agencies and will do all we can to bring about a swift and appropriate resolution." John Peloza, MD, is a spine surgeon and medical director of Dallas-based Center for Spine Care. In a recent interview with Becker's Spine Review, Dr. Peloza discussed spine industry trends and opportunities he is seeing in his practice and as a spine leader. Learn more about spine surgery market trends at the 16th Annual Future of Spine + Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago, June 14-16. Click here to learn more and register. Contact Maura Jodoin at mjodoin@beckershealthcare.com or Kristelle Khazzaka at kkhazzaka@beckershealthcare.com if interested in sponsorship or exhibiting opportunities. Question: What trends are you currently experiencing in the spine industry? Dr. John Peloza: A number of forces are influencing spine surgery today. The most important are cost and quality, which determine value. Back and neck pain are very common conditions in the population with approximately 5 million adults in the U.S. with some degree of disability. Advances in surgical techniques, implants, anesthesia and medical management of comorbid conditions have made spine surgery more consistently successful and available to patients that otherwise would not be considered surgical candidates. Following the example of total hip and knee arthroplasty, a major trend is moving spine surgery from the general hospital to the ambulatory setting. This is not a new idea and is a proven concept for cervical anterior cervical discectomy and fusion / lumbar total disc arthroplasty, posterior cervical discectomy, lumbar discectomy/laminectomy and now minimally invasive spine lumbar fusion. The outcome data is excellent without an increase in complications. The cost of ambulatory surgery is significantly less than in-patient surgery with equivalent outcomes resulting in a significant increase in value for the patient and payers. This is an irreversible trend. It is necessary to master minimally invasive surgical techniques in order to perform consistently successful outpatient surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery is not just small incisions and the use of a microscope. It is a diagnostic and surgical strategy that utilizes specific, precision diagnostic modalities combined with surgical technologies/techniques as well as highly trained surgical teams. The result is treating the pathology without damage to the normal tissue. MIS surgery can now be performed in a range from the simple micro-lumbar discectomy to deformity. The greater the magnitude of the surgery, the more potential benefit achieved by minimally invasive techniques. Other trends that compliment minimally invasive spine surgery are surgical approaches, particularly the anterior to psoas approach. This approach has all the advantages of the traditional anterior and lateral approach without the disadvantages vascular and neurologic respectively of those approaches. Transforaminal approaches with or without fusion implants are now safely performed through a tubular retractor, especially with curved and shielded burrs. This approach decompresses the spinal canal from the far lateral to the entry zone of the foramen and the lateral recess without destabilizing the facet joint or pars. End plate osteophytes can also be removed. The approach can be combined with a midline minimally invasive surgery approach to address the central and lateral recess stenosis. Intraoperative navigation of implants and tubular retractors is another technology that is here to stay. The O-arm has been in service for years and is in operating rooms all over the country. Other systems are available and are equally effective. This makes implant placement much more accurate and rapid which enables complex deformity and revision surgery safe and rapid with less blood loss and dissection. Navigation is now being combined with robotics to refine spine surgery. At this time, the navigation is the key technology and the robotic contribution does not justify the cost. However, I expect future robotic advances may change this outlook. New metallurgic and manufacturing technologies are revolutionizing design and utilization of spinal implants. This includes surface treatments that allow bone cells to adhere and grow into the metals. 3-D printing and subtraction processes can make surface and internal architecture of the implants in any shape and configuration rapidly within fine tolerances while being much more cost effective. Another advance is an implant internal architecture based on trusses or arches that change length (strain) on a nano scale to induce a cell signal to make more cells and attract additional cells (stem cells) into the implant. These technologies make fusion surgery much more predictably successful. Biologics continue to advance and are especially useful in minimally invasive spine surgery. We rarely require the old techniques of harvesting large bone grafts from the patient. These technologies include allografts, carriers, growth factors, and stem cells. The use of stem cells for tissue repair or regeneration is still in early trials but the results are promising. Another important element in spine surgery is peri-operative and post-operative pain control. We try to avoid or use as little opiate medication as possible. We give a preoperative cocktail of anti-inflammatory and neuropathic drugs and continue these postoperatively for several days. We also utilize a long acting local anesthetic in the soft tissues of the wound at surgery. Non-narcotic pain medication is used post-operatively as well. The minimization of opiate medication allows the patient to be more awake and alert which facilitates post op rehab and recovery. Our opiate addiction and weaning issues have decreased significantly. The most significant advance in pain modalities is dorsal column stimulation. This used to be a salvage technique most appropriate for unilateral neuropathies, damaged nerves, and complex regional pain syndromes. It was poor at relieving axial back pain and success was considered a reduction in pain medicine usage. Overall, this technology usually delivered disappointing results. New implants and especially new computer software has radically changed surgical outcomes. DCS now relieves back and bilateral leg pain significantly and predictably. Because of the new technologies and techniques, surgical outcomes have never been better. More patients with more spinal pathologies can be treated with confidence. That also means patients with more co-morbidities and advanced age can now be treated as opposed to the past. These patients have some of the best outcomes in terms of improvements in quality of life. They also have more frequent complications that increase costs. There are risk stratification models being utilized to identify a more appropriate surgical treatment of individual patients in order to minimize risk. This brings us to one of the biggest trends in spine surgery and that is reimbursement. There is no doubt that reimbursement is going to change. This will affect hospitals, surgeons, vendors patients, payers and employers as well as government. There are many interests involved so where it leads will be difficult to predict. Fee for service medical care will decrease and some sort of managed care with a fixed total payout will be more likely. Presently, bundled payment models are being developed and implemented with mixed results. If a single payer government system evolves, then rationing will be the main characteristic of the medical system and we can forget about almost everything previously discussed. It is an exciting time to be a spine specialist with many new and effective treatments to offer more patients. Patients need not suffer in pain as in the past. People can recover quicker and return to an active lifestyle not seen in the past. The scientific and technological progress is moving ahead very well. The main challenge is financial, and I have confidence in the free market for solutions. Zimmer Biomet entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to join its Better Buildings, Better Plants program. Here are five takeaways: 1. By joining the program, Zimmer Biomet committed to reducing its energy intensity by 25 percent over the next 10 years. The program also incorporates water-reduction components for sustainability. 2. Zimmer Biomet voluntarily joined the program as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint at locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 3. Strategies to reduce energy intensity at Zimmer Biomet include sourcing renewable energy where available, upgrading lighting to use LED technology, improving compressed-air systems and sourcing premium-efficiency motors. 4. More than 2,900 plants, 12 percent of U.S. manufacturing energy, are involved in the Better Buildings, Better Plants program. 5. Adrian Furey, Zimmer Biomet's senior vice president of global operations and logistics, said, "Zimmer Biomet recognizes we all have a responsibility to be good stewards of energy, as evidence by our 2015 goal to reduce our carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2020." Neurosurgeons James Arthur, MD, and Justin Dowdy, MD, joined CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs, Ark., according to Arkansas Business. Dr. Arthur established his practice, Hot Springs Neurosurgery Clinic, in 1981. He has over 40 years of experience. Dr. Dowdy joined Dr. Arthur's practice in 2016 after serving as chief resident in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' neurosurgery department in Little Rock. More articles on spine: Neurosurgeon Dr. Horace Mitchell honored in Leading Physicians of the World 5 highlights 5 things to know about the evolution of AIS surgical techniques Scoliosis surgery readmissions increase total costs $86k in 2 years: 6 things to know By Raul Ilargi Meijer on 27 March 2018 for The Automatic Earth - Image above: Vanishing point in the woodland. From ( https://www.lightandmatter.org/2011/learn-photography/composition/photo-composition-vanishing-point/ ). Union policy on the environment shall aim at a high level of protection taking into account the diversity of situations in the various regions of the Union. It shall be based on the precautionary principle and on the principles that preventive action should be taken, that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay. Most Britons remain blithely unaware that since the Beatles broke up, we have wiped out half our wildlife since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the number of flying insects on nature reserves in Germany had dropped by at least 76% more than three-quarters The abundance of flying insects has plunged by three-quarters over the past 25 years , according to a new study that has shocked scientists. Insects are an integral part of life on Earth as both pollinators and prey for other wildlife and it was known that some species such as butterflies were declining. But the newly revealed scale of the losses to all insects has prompted warnings that the world is on course for ecological Armageddon, with profound impacts on human society. The new data was gathered in nature reserves across Germany but has implications for all landscapes dominated by agriculture, the researchers said. The cause of the huge decline is as yet unclear, although the destruction of wild areas and widespread use of pesticides are the most likely factors and climate change may play a role. The scientists were able to rule out weather and changes to landscape in the reserves as causes, but data on pesticide levels has not been collected. The fact that the number of flying insects is decreasing at such a high rate in such a large area is an alarming discovery, said Hans de Kroon, at Radboud University in the Netherlands and who led the new research. Insects make up about two-thirds of all life on Earth [but] there has been some kind of horrific decline, said Prof Dave Goulson of Sussex University, UK, and part of the team behind the new study. We appear to be making vast tracts of land inhospitable to most forms of life , and are currently on course for ecological Armageddon. If we lose the insects then everything is going to collapse. [..] When the total weight of the insects in each sample was measured a startling decline was revealed. The annual average fell by 76% over the 27 year period, but the fall was even higher 82% in summer, when insect numbers reach their peak. Previous reports of insect declines have been limited to particular insects, such European grassland butterflies, which have fallen by 50% in recent decades. But the new research captured all flying insects, including wasps and flies which are rarely studied, making it a much stronger indicator of decline. Bird populations across the French countryside have fallen by a third over the last decade and a half, researchers have said. Dozens of species have seen their numbers decline, in some cases by two-thirds, the scientists said in a pair of studies one national in scope and the other covering a large agricultural region in central France. The situation is catastrophic, said Benoit Fontaine, a conservation biologist at Frances National Museum of Natural History and co-author of one of the studies. Our countryside is in the process of becoming a veritable desert, he said in a communique released by the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), which also contributed to the findings. The common white throat, the ortolan bunting, the Eurasian skylark and other once-ubiquitous species have all fallen off by at least a third, according a detailed, annual census initiated at the start of the century. A migratory song bird, the meadow pipit, has declined by nearly 70%. museum described the pace and extent of the wipe-out as a level approaching an ecological catastrophe. The primary culprit, researchers speculate, is the intensive use of pesticides on vast tracts of monoculture crops, especially wheat and corn. The problem is not that birds are being poisoned, but that the insects on which they depend for food have disappeared. There are hardly any insects left, thats the number one problem, said Vincent Bretagnolle, a CNRS ecologist at the Centre for Biological Studies in Chize. Recent research, he noted, has uncovered similar trends across Europe, estimating that flying insects have declined by 80%, and bird populations has dropped by more than 400m in 30 years. Despite a government plan to cut pesticide use in half by 2020, sales in France have climbed steadily, reaching more than 75,000 tonnes of active ingredient in 2014, according to EU figures. What is really alarming, is that all the birds in an agricultural setting are declining at the same speed, even generalist birds, which also thrive in other settings such as wooded areas, said Bretagnolle. Entomologists call it the windshield phenomenon. If you talk to people, they have a gut feeling. They remember how insects used to smash on your windscreen, says Wolfgang Wagele, director of the Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity in Bonn, Germany. Today, drivers spend less time scraping and scrubbing. Im a very data-driven person, says Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in Portland, Oregon. But it is a visceral reaction when you realize you dont see that mess anymore. Some people argue that cars today are more aerodynamic and therefore less deadly to insects. But Black says his pride and joy as a teenager in Nebraska was his 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1with some pretty sleek lines. I used to have to wash my car all the time. It was always covered with insects. Lately, Martin Sorg, an entomologist here, has seen the opposite: I drive a Land Rover, with the aerodynamics of a refrigerator, and these days it stays clean. Though observations about splattered bugs arent scientific, few reliable data exist on the fate of important insect species. Scientists have tracked alarming declines in domesticated honey bees, monarch butterflies, and lightning bugs. But few have paid attention to the moths, hover flies, beetles, and countless other insects that buzz and flitter through the warm months. We have a pretty good track record of ignoring most noncharismatic species, which most insects are, says Joe Nocera, an ecologist at the University of New Brunswick in Canada. Europes crisis of collapsing bird and insect numbers will worsen further over the next decade because the EU is in a state of denial over destructive farming practices, environmental groups are warning. European agriculture ministers are pushing for a new common agriculture policy (CAP) from 2021 to 2028 which maintains generous subsidies for big farmers and ineffectual or even fake environmental or greening measures, they say. In a week when two new studies revealed drastic declines in French farmland birds a pattern repeated across Europe the EU presidency claimed that the CAP continued to provide safe food while defending farmers and protecting the environment The whole system is in a state of denial, said Ariel Brunner, head of policy at Birdlife Europe. Most agriculture ministers across Europe are just pushing for business as usual. The message is, keep the subsidies flowing. Farm subsidies devour 38% of the EU budget and 80% of the subsidies go to just 20% of farmers , via basic payments which hand European landowners 39bn each year. Because these payments are simply related to land area, big farmers receive more, can invest in more efficient food production removing hedgerows to enlarge fields for instance and put smaller, less intensive farmers out of business. France lost a quarter of its farm labourers in the first decade of the 21st century, while its average farm size continues to rise. A smaller portion 14.22bn annually of EU farm subsidies support greening measures but basic payment rules work against wildlife-friendly farming: in Britain, farmers cant receive basic payments for land featuring ponds, wide hedges, salt marsh or regenerating woodland. Signals from within the EU suggest that the next decades CAP [..] will continue to pay farmers a no-strings subsidy, while cash for greening, or wildlife-friendly farming, may even be cut. Birdlife Europe said the greening was mostly fake environmental spending and wildlife-friendly measures had been shredded by loophole upon loophole introduced by member states. [..] This week studies revealed that the abundance of farmland birds in France had fallen by a third in 15 years with population falls intensifying in the last two years. Its a pattern repeated across Europe: farmland bird abundance in 28 European countries has fallen by 55% over three decades, according to the European Bird Census Council. Conservationists say its indicative of a wider crisis particularly the decimation of insect life linked to neonicotinoid pesticides. German conglomerate Bayer won EU antitrust approval on Wednesday for its $62.5bn (44.5bn) buy of US peer Monsanto, the latest in a trio of mega mergers that will reshape the agrochemicals industry. The tie-up is set to create a company with control of more than a quarter of the worlds seed and pesticides market. Driven by shifting weather patterns, competition in grain exports and a faltering global farm economy, Dow and Dupont, and ChemChina and Syngenta had earlier led a wave of consolidation in the sector. Both deals secured EU approval only after the companies offered substantial asset sales to boost rivals. Environmental and farming groups have opposed all three deals, worried about their power and their advantage in digital farming data, which can tell farmers how and when to till, sow, spray, fertilise and pick crops based on algorithms. The European Commission said Bayer addressed its concerns with its offer to sell a swathe of assets to boost rival BASF [..] Our decision ensures that there will be effective competition and innovation in seeds, pesticides and digital agriculture markets also after this merger, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. In particular, we have made sure that the number of global players actively competing in these markets stays the same. [..] Vestager said the Commission, which received more than a million petitions concerning the deal, had been thorough by examining more than 2,000 different product markets and 2.7 million internal documents to produce a 1,285-page ruling. [..] Online campaigns group Avaaz criticised the EU approval. This is a marriage made in hell. The Commission ignored a million people who called on them to block this deal, and caved in to lobbying to create a mega-corporation which will dominate our food supply, Avaaz legal director Nick Flynn said. . SUBHEAD: Because science is supposed to be smart, and theres nothing smart about destroying your own world.There are numerous ways to define the Precautionary Principle. Its something we can all intuitively understand, but which many parties seek ways to confuse since it has the potential to stand in the way of profits. Still, in the end it should all be about proof, not profits.That is exactly what the Principle addresses. Because if you first need to deliver scientific proof that some action or product can be harmful to mankind and/or the natural world, you run the risk of inflicting irreversible damage before that proof can be delivered.In one of many definitions, the 1998 Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle says: When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.Needless to say, that doesnt easily fly in our age of science and money. Cigarette makers, car manufacturers and oil companies, just to name a few among a huge number of industries, are all literally making a killing while the Precautionary Principle is being ignored.Even as it is being cited in many international treaties. Lip service R us. Are these industries to blame when they sell us our products, or are we for buying them? Thats where governments must come in to educate us about risks. Which they obviously do not.Nassim Nicholas Taleb -of Black Swan and Antifragile fame- has made the case, in his usual strong fashion, for applying the Precautionary Principle when it comes to GMOs.His argument is that allowing genetically modified organisms in our eco- and foodsystems carries unknown risks that we have no way of overseeing, and that these risks may cause irreversible damage to the very systems mankind relies on for survival.Taleb is not popular among GMO producers. Who all insist there is no evidence that their products cause harm. But that is not the point. The Precautionary Principle, if it is to be applied, must turn the burden of proof on its head.The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.Monsanto et al must prove that their products do no harm. They can not. Which is why they have, and need, huge lobbying, PR and legal departments.But I didnt want to talk about GMOs today, and not about Precautionary Principle alone. I wanted to talk about this: Paragraph 2 of article 191 of the European Unions Lisbon Treaty (2009) states that:In other words, the EU has committed itself to the Precautionary Principle. Well, on paper, that is. However, then we get to a whole series of reports on wildlife in Europe, and they indicate all sorts of things, but not that Brussels cares even one bit about adhering to the Precautionary Principle, either for its people or its living environment. One voice below calls it a state of denial, but I would use some other choice words. Lets start with the Guardian this morning, because they have an interesting perspective:Things like since you were born, since man landed on the moon, since the wall came down or since 9/11 may be a bit clearer than 100 years, or 25 years. Moreover, I read somewhere that since Columbus landed in 1492, America has lost on third of all its biodiversity, but that doesnt yet explain the rate of acceleration that is taking place.In October last year, the Guardian had this:Then last week from AFP:Not that its just Europe, mind you. Still ove this one from Gretchen Vogel in ScienceMag, about a year ago, on a phenomenon most of you stateside will have noticed too:After all those numbers, and before they get worse -which they will, its already baked in the cake-, you would expect the EU to remember the Precautionary Principle all its member nations signed on to for the Lisbon Treaty. You would expect wrong. Instead Brussels vows to continue with the exact same policies that have led to its mind-boggling biodiversity losses.About 20% of farmers work 80% of the land in Europe. That is used as an argument to single them out to pay them billions in subsidies. But it simply means these 20% use the most detrimental farming methods, most pesticides, most chemicals. The subsidies policy guarantees further deterioration of an already disastrous situation. The polluter doesnt pay, as the Lisbon Treaty demands, but the polluter gets paid.And even that is apparently still not enough for the fast growing bureaucracy. In a move perhaps more characteristic of the EU than anything else, it approved something last week that a million people had vehemently protested: the Bayer-Monsanto merger. The European parliament may have thrown out all Monsanto lobbyists recently, and voted to ban Roundup, but the die has been cast.A million citizens can protest in writing, many millions in France and Germany and elsewhere may do the same on the street, none of it matters. The people who brought you WWII nerve gases and Agent Orange can now come together to take over your food supply.Dow-Dupont, ChemChina and Bayer Monsanto have a lot more political influence than a million Europeans, or ten million Americans. They have even convinced numerous, if not most, people that without their products the world would starve. That their chemicals are needed to feed a growing human population. Farming based on algorythms.They are not seed companies. They are seeds-that-need-our-chemicals-to-grow companies. And they are out to conquer the entire world. A 100-times worse version of Facebook. And our governments subsidize the use of their products. As we not-so-slowly see our living world be massacred by those products.We dont know how bad GMOs will turn out to be. Which is in itself a very good reason to ban them. Since once they spread, they cant be stopped anymore. Then the chemical boys will own all of our food. But we do know how bad the pesticides and other chemicals they produce are. And were not even banning those. We just eat all that sh*t and shut up.Its a failure to understand what science is: that you must proof harm first before banning stuff. The only real science is the one that has adopted the Precautionary Principle.Because science is supposed to be smart, and theres nothing smart about destroying your own world.Because science should never be used to hurt people or nature. Science can only be good if it benefits us. Not our wallets, but our heads and hearts and forests, and our children. Do no harm.Yeah, I know, who am I fooling, right? Belfast restaurant chain Slim's Healthy Kitchen is to open in Co Londonderry as part of a new franchise deal. Slim's owner Gary McIldowney has signed up Conor and Ryan McGlone to open up at Market Street in Magherafelt in the spring. The 70-seater restaurant will employ up to 20 people. The McGlone family already operates nightclub and pub businesses in the area. Conor McGlone said: "We have been looking out for the right business opportunity for a while and we always eat at Slim's when we are in Belfast, so it was a perfect fit." Slim's was founded in 2013 by Gary McIldowney and operates from two locations on the Lisburn and Belmont Roads in Belfast. Mr McIldowney said: "Running a restaurant is a dream for many just like it was for me. "But together with Ryan and Conor's experience and the drive and commitment from my team we are confident of building a viable and profitable lasting relationship." Portugese construction firm Somague - at the centre of the delayed new Ulster University campus in Belfast - has won a deal to build part of the A6, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Somague will be announced tomorrow as a successful bidder for part of the dualling of the A6, a flagship project for the public purse in Northern Ireland. Its expected to be a party to a joint venture to carry out dualling between Dungiven and Drumahoe. The announcement is due from the Department for Infrastructure. And winning another contract in Northern Ireland will make it more likely for Somague to resume work on phase two of the Ulster University site as it now has added reason to stay. The UU site has been mothballed after Somagues joint venture partner Lagan Construction Group put four of its companies into administration. A Department for Infrastructure spokeswoman would not comment on the identity of the winning firm in the latest stage of the A6 dualling, but added: The tender process for the A6 upgrade between Dungiven and Drumahoe is in the final stages, with formal award due very soon. When complete, the A6 project will link Belfast and Londonderry with a dual carriageway. Part of the latest stage will involve a bypass around Dungiven. A joint venture of Northern Ireland construction firms Graham and Farrans is carrying out the dualling of the Randalstown to Castledawson section. The Department for Infrastructures scheme is expected to be substantially complete in early 2021. Its understood a civil engineering firm which is now in administration within Lagan Construction Group had bid for the latest A6 deal in a joint venture with Irish company Sisk. Lagan Construction Group said it had no comment to make. And Ulster University yesterday said it had no comment on the prospect of additional work for Somague in Northern Ireland. But a spokeswoman said talks on the future of its site with Somague were continuing. The university continues to consult with Somague to ensure delivery of this landmark development, she said. Lagans decision to call in administrators is likely to lead to unfortunate but unavoidable delays in the delivery of the project. However, we are actively discussing all available options to recommence works as soon as possible. Gordon Best, the chief executive of trade body the Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI), said: Hopefully we will see work on the ground in the not-too-distant future. This is a key project which will improve safety and improve journey times between our two main cities in Northern Ireland. Richard Kirk, regional director of the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) in Northern Ireland, said: Its great that an announcement is soon to come out. We are delighted about that. Its a massive project and the public procurement authorities will have made their decisions based on the best value for money for the public purse. Somague had been working on the second phase of the new Ulster University campus in Belfast city centre with Lagan Construction Group, after their joint venture Lagan Somague won the tender in 2014. The firms were to build phase two of the 250m project, a 150m development of two new blocks on York Street, with the site to be ready in 2018. However, workers from all the firms involved, including subcontractors, downed tools three weeks ago. Lagan had said factors including delays in the commencement of new projects, protracted contractual disputes on some existing major projects had led to its decision to put some of the companies into administration. A coffee roaster in Lisburn has said it's doubling its workforce to cater for growing demand from outside Northern Ireland. Pure Roast Coffee, which was founded by Martin Symington, specialises in roasting, packaging and distribution. Now, supply agreements with a Swedish company and global business in China have prompted an investment, with 95,000 in support from economic development agency Invest NI. The firm is improving its production space and taking on nine new production staff. Mr Symington said: "We expect that our export sales will triple over the next three years so it is imperative that we address the capacity of our processes and take measures to improve our competitiveness." He said it had made improvements including buying an automated packaging machine. Three Northern Ireland manufacturers of aircraft interiors will showcase their products in Germany next month. Seat cover maker Bradfor from Rostrevor, machining company Exact CNC in Newry and Carrickfergus plastic injection moulding company IPC Mouldings will all exhibit at the Aircraft Interiors Expo from Tuesday, April 10 to Thursday, April 12. Joanne Liddle, managing director of IPC Mouldings, said: "IPC Mouldings is an advanced manufacturing company offering mould tool design and manufacture, CNC machining and plastic injection moulding from concept to completion, specialising in the aircraft interiors industry. "The aircraft interior expo at Hamburg allows us to showcase our expertise, build relationships, discover new innovation and technologies, be inspired by leading experts and create opportunities to keep us positioned at the top for winning new business." Stephen Cromie, managing director of Exact CNC, said it had become accustomed to rapid response requests for parts, meeting urgent orders from France and North America over the weekend. Around one-third of the world's aircraft seats are made here. The judges' deliberations: Richard Donnan, head of Ulster Bank (back to camera) and (l to r) John Simpson, Tanya Anderson and Kirsty McManus of the panel Many businesses have interesting stories to tell. Across Northern Ireland there are many examples of enterprising businesses which are willing to talk about what they have been doing and where there have been new success stories, or rebuilt success stories, that are earning the rewards for their efforts. Reading about the way in which different businesses describe their routes to better results and successful trading is one of the pleasures of being a judge for the Business Awards competition. All the written submissions were circulated to the ever-critical eyes of the nine judges who had to agree when choosing the award winners. On April 26 at a special evening event, the winners in each of the diverse categories will collect their trophy and will be acknowledged by the larger, interested audience. The shortlists from which the winners of each category will be drawn have now been published. Just over 50 businesses have the satisfaction of knowing that their bid to win has taken them to the final stages. That group of 50 businesses is a wide-ranging reflection of how local businesses are changing. It contains large, small, and very small units which have taken the brave step of allowing their story to be assessed by a group of distinguished judges. Each year the Business Awards attract attention from a large audience. Amongst the shortlist (and also the winners) there are many new names and new faces. The mixture of new names interwoven with other well-known names gives a reassuring picture of a diverse, modern and progressive business world. Some of the awards can be guaranteed to attract the spotlight of success. As in other years, there are reassuring surprises in the names and experiences of the Young Businessperson of the year. The number of nominations, as in other years, has remained high. There are some new category awards. Perhaps with little surprise, the competition to be assessed as 'Retailer of the year' attracted keen and diverse entries. Reaching a judgment in that group was difficult - which should have been (and was) anticipated. We were looking for a retailing outlet with the marketing and management skills that make it stand out in a very competitive world. All 13 award categories will learn which business has gained the highest degree of success in the eyes of the judges. Then, on the evening when the awards are revealed, we also have one further challenge: to choose a person who has been a successful business leader, to receive the accolade of a Lifetime Achievement Award. The judges reviewed this award considering the achievements of several leaders who have served their businesses well and who have served the wider needs of the business community. We have an exceptional and agreed answer! Find out who the winners are on April 26. Companies and individuals on Belfast Telegraph awards shortlist Excellence in Marketing Eurospar NI/Henderson Group Mackle Pet Foods Mash Direct Rodgers & Finney W5 Excellence in Exporting Copius Group Environmental Street Furniture (ESF) Mackle Pet Foods Safety Solutions NI Ltd Statsports Group Excellence in the Development of Management & Leadership GLL Henderson Foodservice Henry Brothers Ltd Mascott Construction Excellence in Innovation Almac Group & Arran CPS Property Greenacre Innovations Ltd LF Fasthouse Ltd Northway Mushrooms Statsports Groups Best Use of Digital and/or Social Media Digital Twenty Four Ltd / Babocush Eurospar NI/Henderson Group Galgorm Resort & Spa Lighthouse Communications The Transfer Tutor Young Business Person of the Year Cathal Grant CGDM Construction Declan Murdock AJC Group Gareth Chambers Around Noon Gareth Irvine Copeland Spirits Paul Lawther Onecom IT Company or Team of the Year Foods Connected Liberty IT Novosco Outsource Solutions (NI) Ltd Salt DNA Retailer of the Year Cordners Spar Comber Road Eurospar Knockchree McBride Retail Group Spar Madigans Court Warden Bros Ltd Excellence in Workplace Health and Wellbeing FinTrU Ltd Flynn JP Corry Novosco The Lava Group NI Ltd Best Established Small/Medium Business AJC Group CGDM Group Hagan Homes Keenan Healthcare Ltd Shredbank Ltd Todd Architects Emerging Business/Start-up of the Year Arc-net Copeland Spirits Jack Straws Ltd LF Fasthouse Ltd Onecom SME Healthcare Business of the Year Enhanced Hair Studio New Life Teeth Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Henderson Wholesale Ltd Henry Brothers Ltd Homecare Independent Living Lidl NI A bin was set alight in north Belfast during trouble over the weekend. Trouble has flared again in the New Lodge area of north Belfast. Police were attacked by youths throwing bricks and a paint bomb on Monday night after a crowd of around 20 children went on a rampage in the New Lodge area at around 9pm. A bus was also attacked. Officers said kids were "terrorising" the area and called on parents to "take control". There was no reports of any injuries. In a statement police said: "The New Lodge community has again had to endure another night of having their property destroyed and their bins set on fire and destroyed by a small number of local youths who have total disrespect for their community. Read More "Police again came under attack with bricks in the Victoria Road area while protecting the communities and Fire and rescue personnel as they attended the area to put out another burning bin, which had been pushed out into the middle of the road causing a danger to road users. "Police would ask the parents of these youths to start taking control of them and if their children are out in the evenings to take a drive past the Pinkerton, Carlisle and New Lodge Road areas to see if their child is one of this crowd of 20 kids that are terrorising the elderly and ill, who are terrified to leave their homes at night." The trouble comes after disturbances at the weekend which saw police attacked and a 14-year-old boy left with a fractured skull after a sectarian beating as he made his way home from the shops. Police have said they are increasing activity in the area and have warned children of the consequences of gaining a criminal record. An east Belfast man has been acquitted of animal cruelty charges by the direction of a senior judge. Neil Frederick Pinkerton (30), of Clandeboye Street, had been on trial at Belfast Crown Court where he denied causing unnecessary suffering to a fox and a terrier dog on December 28, 2016. He further denied a third charge of causing the terrier unnecessary suffering by failing to treat or get it "adequate'' veterinary treatment on January 25, 2017, when the dog was seized by police at his home a month after the animals were filmed fighting. During his one day trial, the prosecution showed the jury of seven men and five women two short video clips of the animals engaged in fighting. The first was a film of the fox fighting underground with the black and tan terrier. According to the prosecution, the second clip, which last less than 12 seconds, showed the animals as being "locked together...muzzle to muzzle or jaw to jaw''. At the end of the prosecution case defence counsel Neil Connor QC made an application to Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland in the absence of the jury to direct the jury to acquit the defendant. Judge McFarland said he had considered the evidence by the prosecution and also submission from the defence. He told the jury: "My duty is to deal with the law and your job is to deal with the facts. "At the end of the prosecution case it is my duty to review the evidence to see if I should continue and prevent a miscarriage of justice.'' The judge said that it was clear from the video clip that the fox had the dog by the muzzle and "no suffering was caused to the fox''. The Belfast Recorder said that in the evidence of veterinary surgeon Dr Cahir King, who examined the dog after it was seized on January 25, 2017, the dog would have been in "discomfort''. The vet also said that the animals could have been separated by a shot from a gun, a spade to the vertebrae of the fox or a metal bar could have been put in the mouth of the fox to release its grip on the dog. But Judge McFarland said that in his view neither of these suggestions was feasible given the short period of time the fox and the dog were attached at the muzzle. The Belfast Recorder said that for the reasons given, he was directing of the foreperson of the jury to acquit Pinkerton on all three charges. He told the defendant: "You are free to go Mr Pinkerton.'' A north Belfast teenager has told of how he came under attack by a gang with bats and hammers while walking home on Saturday evening. Robert Holmes (14) was left in hospital with a fractured skull after being beaten by a mob in a terrifying sectarian assault. He was making his way home from a supermarket when he was approached by a group of up to 30 people in North Queen Street, with six of them attacking him with bats and hammers. Read More Following the attack Robert was rushed to hospital and treated for a number of injuries including a fractured skull and bruising and bleeding on the brain. He was kept in hospital for two nights before being discharged yesterday. Speaking on the BBC Radio Ulster's 'Evening Extra' programme, Robert told of how he came under attack by the gang. "There was a crowd from the other side came out of New Lodge and were throwing bottles and bricks and shouting 'come on over'," he said. "Six of them ran across the road towards us and my two mates ran. I have a sore leg so didn't run. They hit me across the head with a bat and I fell to the ground and they all jumped all over the top of me." Robert's mum Lesia said she was concerned the attack would have long-term effects on her son. "He's only 14 and I can't believe in this day and age anybody could do this," she said. "He's only a child himself, it's not even the physical damage - it's emotional too. "He's already had a few panic attacks and is never going to forget this." North Belfast DUP MLA William Humphrey has appealed for people to help the PSNI find the attackers. He visited Robert at home yesterday before meeting with PSNI Chief Inspector Kelly Moore at Tennent Street Police Station, along with Pastor Brian Madden and councillors Guy Spence and Brian Kingston. "Young Robert Holmes was subjected to a depraved and utterly vicious sectarian assault on Saturday evening," Mr Humphrey said. "Robert required hospital treatment for severe injuries including a fractured skull, bruising and bleeding on the brain and required stitches to head wounds. "This brutal attack could have resulted in fatal injuries and it will have made a deep impact on him. "It is a relief that he has been able to come home after two nights in hospital. "There is deep anger that such a serious attack on an individual by a cowardly crowd could occur." Leaving the EU is more important to many voters in Great Britain than maintaining the Union with Northern Ireland, a survey has suggested. Leaving the EU is more important to many voters in Great Britain than maintaining the Union with Northern Ireland, a survey has suggested. More than a third of those polled (36%) said exiting the European Union was a higher priority than keeping Northern Ireland within the UK. Of those surveyed, 29% said retaining Northern Ireland within the UK was more important than Brexit. Around 22% said neither was important, while the remainder said they did not know which one to prioritise. The YouGov poll, commissioned by radio station LBC, did not survey voters in Northern Ireland. The online poll sampled 1,630 adults living in Great Britain. It was conducted from March 21 and 22. The survey was carried out amid ongoing uncertainty over how the Irish border will be handled in the final Brexit agreement. It has emerged as the key stumbling block in the negotiations, with the Government and EU at loggerheads over how a free-flowing border can be maintained if the UK leaves the Customs Union and Single Market. DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told LBC he did not think the survey findings were relevant. "The Good Friday Agreement states very clearly that the principle of consent means that it's for the people of Northern Ireland alone to decide whether we remain part of the United Kingdom," he said. "Since the UK Government, the Irish government and Brussels have all said that any Brexit agreement must fully recognise all of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, I really don't think this is relevant." Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was "not hugely surprised" by the poll result. "Ultimately the people who care about Ireland north and south are the people who live on this island, and people on our neighbouring island evaluate things in a totally different way and they look to their own future as they understand it," she said in Belfast. Mrs McDonald added: "If the people of Britain are minded to break the Union and say a fond farewell and to facilitate the reunification of our country we would greet that news with delight, to put it mildly." The poll also found that almost half (48%) of the GB public are pessimistic that the UK will be ready to leave the European Union by March 2019. Of those, more than a quarter (26%) were Leave voters. Around four in 10 people surveyed (39%) said they were optimistic the UK would be ready for Brexit day. The remaining 13% say they did not know. There have been calls for the implementation of the recommendations of a report carried out by Dr Tom Frawley into decisions taken on bonfires last year in Belfast City Council. Former Northern Ireland Ombudsman Tom Frawley was appointed to investigate the council's controversial storage of bonfire material last summer. Read More The report was discussed at a special meeting of Belfasts City Councils Strategic Policy & Resources Committee om Monday. SDLP council leader Tim Attwood welcomed the publication and said his party wanted to see the recommendations of the report implemented. I welcome the comprehensive and detailed report by Mr Tom Frawley. He has raised challenging questions about accountability, governance, enforcement and interagency working," he said. The SDLP fully recognise the importance of bonfires to the wider unionist community as part their celebration of their culture and tradition. For many years, as Vice Chair of Shared City Partnership, I have supported the bonfire diversionary programme in Belfast City Council and recognise that many unionist communities are on a journey in relation in developing bonfires which are safe and enhance cultural celebration. It is welcome that more communities are using beacons. It is clear that lessons need to be learnt following events at some bonfires in 2017 especially in relation to effective governance, openness and accountability in terms of decision making. This report provides a helpful road map to move this forward and it needs to be acted upon." Cllr Attwood said that the current situation surrounding bonfires needed to change. I believe people want to see things change. We must recognise that there are a number of bonfires which continue to put at risk peoples health, homes and property. Post Grenfell, this is unacceptable. There remain a number of bonfires which are used to burn flags, posters and for racist and sectarian slogans. This is not part of a cultural celebration and is unacceptable," he said. There also needs to be greater leadership on this issue from statutory partners Council, NIHE, PSNI and NI Environmental Agency all have a collective and strategic responsibility to address bonfires which put at risk peoples health or property. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh nightO bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Lower Shankill bonfire in west Belfast. [Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye 11-07-17] Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye The 'eleventh night bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The 'eleventh nightO bonfire is lit at the Milner Street area of the Village in South Belfast as celebrations of William of Orange's victory commence on July 11th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Firefighters near a lit bonfire on Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. PA The Lower Shankill bonfire in west Belfast. [Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye 11-07-17] Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye A quiet moment as the Sandy Row bonfire in south Belfast starts to die down. [Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye] Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Firefighters douse nearby buildings as a bonfire is lit in Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Firefighters douse nearby buildings as a bonfire is lit in Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Firefighters douse nearby buildings as a bonfire is lit in Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Firefighters douse nearby buildings as a bonfire is lit in Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Firefighters douse nearby buildings as a bonfire is lit in Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Onlookers watch as firefighters douse nearby buildings as a bonfire is lit in Albertbridge Road, Belfast ahead of the key date in the protestant loyal order marching season - the Twelfth of July. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 11, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Loyalists finish a bonfire in East Belfast in preparation for the 11th night celebrations on July 11, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 11: Loyalists finish a bonfire in East Belfast in preparation for the 11th night celebrations on July 11, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tradition holds that the bonfires commemorate the lighting of fires on the hills to help Williamite ships navigate through Belfast Lough at night when Protestant King William III and his forces landed at Carrickfergus to fight the Catholic Jacobites, supporters of the exiled Catholic King James II. The bonfires also mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 11: Loyalists finish a bonfire in East Belfast in preparation for the 11th night celebrations on July 11, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tradition holds that the bonfires commemorate the lighting of fires on the hills to help Williamite ships navigate through Belfast Lough at night when Protestant King William III and his forces landed at Carrickfergus to fight the Catholic Jacobites, supporters of the exiled Catholic King James II. The bonfires also mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 11: Loyalists finish a bonfire in East Belfast in preparation for the 11th night celebrations on July 11, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tradition holds that the bonfires commemorate the lighting of fires on the hills to help Williamite ships navigate through Belfast Lough at night when Protestant King William III and his forces landed at Carrickfergus to fight the Catholic Jacobites, supporters of the exiled Catholic King James II. The bonfires also mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images LISBURN, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Having finished school for the summer 13 year old Tyler Reid helps guard the Lisburn bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. The bonfires, which are lit on the stroke of midnight on the 11th night, mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades in Northern Ireland. The annual Orange marches celebrate the protestant King William of Orange's victory over the catholic English King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: A Loyalist climbs the Conway street bonfire built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tradition holds that the bonfires commemorate the lighting of fires on the hills to help Williamite ships navigate through Belfast Lough at night when Protestant King William III and his forces landed at Carrickfergus to fight the Catholic Jacobites, supporters of the exiled Catholic King James II. The bonfires also mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com Masked men continue to build a bonfire at Inverary Playing Fields in Belfast. Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA Masked men continue to build a bonfire at Inverary Playing Fields in Belfast. Police in Northern Ireland have warned their resources could be stretched amid growing fears of tension around the burning of Eleventh night bonfires. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday July 10, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Twelfth. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA Loyalists sit on the Sandy Row bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Roden Street bonfire. The largest bonfire in Belfast. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Roden Street bonfire. The largest bonfire in Belfast. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Roden Street bonfire. The largest bonfire in Belfast. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Roden Street bonfire. The largest bonfire in Belfast. BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Loyalists climb The Village bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tradition holds that the bonfires commemorate the lighting of fires on the hills to help Williamite ships navigate through Belfast Lough at night when Protestant King William III and his forces landed at Carrickfergus to fight the Catholic Jacobites, supporters of the exiled Catholic King James II. The bonfires also mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Loyalists climb The Village bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Loyalists climb The Village bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: The bonfires also mark the beginning of the annual 12th of July Orange parades. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Loyalists sit on the Sandy Row bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Loyalists sit on the Sandy Row bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: Loyalists sit on the Sandy Row bonfire being built in preparation for the 11th night bonfire on July 10, 2017 in Belfast. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Getty Images LARNE, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 10: 'Hurka' the chief architect and builder of the Craigyhill bonfire takes a break from stacking pallets to pose with his creation whilst balancing on a ladder on July 10, 2017 in Larne, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images General views of the square shaped bonfire on Milner Street in South Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph General views of the square shaped bonfire on Milner Street in South Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph General views of the square shaped bonfire on Milner Street in South Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph General views of the square shaped bonfire on Milner Street in South Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph General views of the square shaped bonfire on Milner Street in South Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Pastor Lucas Parks at his church in east Belfast close to the walkway bonfire on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Conway Street bonfire in West Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Conway Street bonfire in West Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The Conway Street bonfire in West Belfast on July 10th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield Walkway bonfire site. Posters of Sinn Fein politicians are seen placed on a bonfire in the Shankill area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images A wooden pallet is carried to a bonfire in the Shankill area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires [Photo: Paul Faith /AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Bonfire builders Dean Neeson and Graeme Stewart carry wooden pallets to a bonfire in the Ballymacash area of Lisburn on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. [Photo: Paul Faith /AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Posters of Sinn Fein politicians are seen placed on a bonfire in Shankill. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images A bonfire in the Ballymacash area of Lisburn.[Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images A bonfire is pictured in the Ballymacash area of Lisburn. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images A bonfire towers over the housing in the Ballymacash area of Lisburn. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Children play on a bonfire in the village area of Belfast, Northern Ireland on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires The Eleventh Night refers to the night before the Twelfth of July, an annual Protestant commemoration of the famous battle were Protestant King William III of Orange defeated Catholic King James II at the battle of the Boyne on July 12, 1690. / AFP PHOTO / Paul FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A Union flag flutters in the breeze in front of a bonfire in the village area of Belfast. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Former Bonfire builder Colin Tweedie, poses for a photograph beside a bonfire in the village area of Belfast, Northern Ireland on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Former Bonfire builder Colin Tweedie (R), inspects a bonfire in the village area of Belfast on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Bonfire builder Ryan Preston poses for a photograph on the Doonbeg bonfire in Rathcoole in north Belfast on July 10, 2017 ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Bonfire builder Ryan Preston poses for a photograph on the Doonbeg bonfire in Rathcoole on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Bonfire builder Ryan Preston poses for a photograph on the Doonbeg bonfire in Rathcoole on July 10, 2017, ahead of the traditional 11th night bonfires. [Photo: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images] AFP/Getty Images Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 East Belfast Bonfire at Avoniel Leisure Centre car park that has had an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the site and added to the bonfire. East Belfast Bonfire at Avoniel Leisure Centre car park that has had an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the site and added to the bonfire. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield walkway East Belfast Bonfire ath Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield walkway has had an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the bonfire site and added to the bonfire. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield walkway East Belfast Bonfire ath Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield walkway has had an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the bonfire site and added to the bonfire. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield walkway East Belfast Bonfire ath Ravenscroft Avenue car park/Bloomfield walkway has had an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the bonfire site and added to the bonfire. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 East Belfast Bonfire at Inverary playing fields that has an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the site and added to the bonfire. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 East Belfast Bonfire at Inverary playing fields that has an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the site and added to the bonfire. Belfast Telegraph 09-07-2017 East Belfast Bonfire at Inverary playing fields that has an injunction by Belfast City Council in place to stop wood from being dumped at the site and added to the bonfire. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Eleventh Night from above Belfast. Pic Stephen Owens. The SDLP wish to engage in discussion in a positive debate with other parties and agencies, to implement the Frawley recommendations which can tackle difficult bonfires and enhance unionist cultural celebrations. We are also supportive of bottom up approaches which may mean more communities may join our diversionary scheme. Sinn Fein Councillor Deirdre Hargey said the recommendations needed to be implemented as soon as possible. We got agreement that the report should be made public and published with the redaction of the names and positions of staff which could identify them but all other details of the report will be published," she said. There will also be a summary of the investigation and communications part of the report. Sinn Fein recognises that not all the recommendations will be implemented before this summer, but the process for change starts from now. We need to look at implementation of the recommendations particularly around governance, accountability and adherence to the law." Cllr Hargey said the current situation could not be allowed to continue. The council needs to deal with excesses around bonfires which pose risk or harm to people, property or the environment. Proper risk assessments need to be carried out on sites addressing these excesses.," she said. Current practice cannot continue where there is the burning of flags, election posters and effigies, which cause great offence to sections of the community. We do encourage and support communities who show the required leadership by dealing with the negative excesses associated with some unacceptable bonfires. They will have the support of all parties who want to protect people, property and the environment, as expressions of cultural identity. " She said that her party would like to see the new scheme strengthened. Statutory agencies can no longer remain passive or ignore the law, or their statutory duties when dealing with these issues. A step change is needed. A sense of lawlessness over the summer can no longer prevail," Cllr Hargey said. There will now be a process of moving forward on the recommendations and addressing the governance issues raised in the report and we will work to ensure there is both transparency and accountability. We are also looking to address governance mechanisms this year while agreeing to continue the bonfire and beacon scheme. However, Sinn Fein has proposed strengthening the scheme so that organisers have to take practical steps to deal with the negative excesses at some bonfires. If they dont then sanctions should be applied and the interim arrangements should take steps necessary to protect life, property and the environment. Teresa Denvir, from Cloughey Road in Portaferry, died after the single vehicle crash which occurred close to the junction of Tullymally Road outside Portaferry. Credit: Google Images. A Co Down woman has died after her car crashed just outside Portaferry. Teresa Denvir, from Cloughey Road in Portaferry, was taken to Ulster Hospital after the single vehicle crash which occurred close to the junction of Tullymally Road at 12.30pm on Monday. Ms Denvir worked for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust as a care in the community employee and was well known and respected in Portaferry. Ards and North Down councillor Joe Boyle said: It is understood that the vehicle left the road, without speed, and ended up in a nearby field without any significant damage. I understand that Teresa had been feeling unwell and was making her way into the clinic in Portaferry. "Teresa was cared for by the emergency services at the scene of the accident and subsequently transported to the Ulster Hospital where unfortunately she passed away." He added: "I would thank all those involved within the emergency services who attended the scene and for their expertise and efforts with attending to Teresa. Sadly Teresa was unable to be saved and that is something that always effects those employed within the emergency services tasked with dealing with such situations. "Our thoughts therefore should also be with those who perform excellent responses to these difficult situations and in cases heroic efforts to save lives." A post mortem examination will take place to determine the cause of death. Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 quoting 532 26/03/18. The DUP has accused Sinn Fein of indulging in hyperbole, stunt politics and sectarian arguments over proposals to redraw Northern Irelands electoral map. As the party submitted its response to a public consultation on changing the regions constituency boundaries, deputy leader Nigel Dodds claimed his republican counterparts were trying to cover up for their lack of engagement in the two-year process. Sinn Fein has reacted angrily to a second draft of plans to cut the number of constituencies from 18 to 17, claiming the proposals blatantly favour the DUP. The revised map, which was published by the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland in January, was radically different to the first draft, which was issued in 2016. We have today published our Revised Proposals for the new Parliamentary Constituency boundaries for Northern Ireland. Please read the report (https://t.co/6whxNY1xnm) and let us have your views. All comments to be received by 26 March 2018. Boundary Commission (@BCommNI) January 30, 2018 Analysts suggested the initial version could have seen Sinn Fein overtake the DUP as the holder of the largest number of Westminster seats. Based on current voting patterns, the second draft should see the DUP retain its pre-eminence. Sinn Fein has heavily criticised the changes, claiming they would leave at least four constituencies without any nationalist representation at Westminster or Assembly level. The party has warned that there can be no return to the gerrymandering of the past. It is particularly critical of the plan to split the Co Londonderry town of Dungiven across three parliamentary constituencies. As the consultation exercise closed on Monday, the DUP highlighted that there are already a number of constituencies in Northern Ireland without a nationalist MLA and claimed any move to guarantee such representation would be the very definition of gerrymandering. Mr Dodds accused Sinn Fein of trying to mask its failure to engage with the initial public consultation on the 2016 proposals. Sinn Fein stand isolated from the majority of other parties and independent opinion in terms of the boundary proposalsDUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds From 2016 until a few weeks ago there was silence from Sinn Fein in relation to this boundary review, said the North Belfast MP. Whilst the DUP submitted dozens of pages of detailed information Sinn Fein did not submit a single word. Instead Sinn Fein has resorted to a late campaign of hyperbole, stunt politics and sectarian arguments to cover for their inaction. He added: Whilst Sinn Fein have taken to the streets to protest about proposals splitting the town of Dungiven, they made no comment about earlier proposals impacting upon towns like Carryduff, Lisburn, Portadown, Dungannon, Ballymena and Coleraine. Each one of those towns would either have been split between two parliamentary constituencies or would have been separated from their immediate hinterland. There wasnt even an email to the Boundary Commission from Sinn Fein about this let lone a white line picket. Most absurd however are comments from various Sinn Fein representatives that there should be no return to the gerrymandering of the past. This might make for an easy soundbite and fits well with other vacuous slogans trotted out by Sinn Fein recently. However, in the very same breath Sinn Fein demand that new boundaries should ensure nationalist representation in some seats at Assembly level. Perhaps it comes as news to Sinn Fein that drawing constituency boundaries to ensure a political outcome is the very dictionary definition of gerrymandering. Mr Dodds said the second draft was in no way perfect but he said it was more in line with the thinking of the majority of local parties, including the nationalist SDLP. Far from the perception they are trying to create, Sinn Fein stand isolated from the majority of other parties and independent opinion in terms of the boundary proposals, he said. Previous proposals, which Sinn Fein have yet to clearly state if they support or reject, would have seen almost 25% of all Northern Ireland voters placed in entirely new constituencies. It would have seen a number of towns divided in two or hived off from their hinterland and there was no recognition of the urban reality of Belfast in the 21st century. These are all issues upon which the DUP engaged with the Boundary Commission. Sinn Fein instead now engages in hyperbole, stunt politics and sectarian arguments to cover years of doing nothing. Northern Ireland is losing one constituency as part of wider Government plans to reduce the number of seats in the UK from 650 to 600. How the reduction from 18 to 17 seats is achieved has become the source of political controversy. The revised proposals ditch a plan to cut the number of seats in Belfast from four to three. The next step in the process will see the commission submit a final version of the map to the Government, which will add it to plans to reshape the rest of the UKs electoral map. MPs are set to vote on the overall package in the autumn. The 2018 Boundary Commission proposals would see thousands of nationalist voters left without any representation. Complete an online consultation at https://t.co/njNXTummbX or email your views to review@boundarycommission.org.uk by Monday 26th March. Make your voice heard! pic.twitter.com/ff9BEn1Lju Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) March 23, 2018 Earlier this month, Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew criticised the changes. If these boundary changes go ahead, at least four Assembly constituencies will be left without any nationalist representation whatsoever, he said. The Boundary Commission was established in 2016 with a remit to reduce the number of constituencies from 18 to 17 and to distribute the electorate in a fair and equitable way across the new constituencies. They published proposals in 2016 which went some way to achieving that. However, these were radically revised in the face of DUP opposition and nobody could argue that the new plan is fair, given that it so blatantly advantages the DUP at the expense of the nationalist electorate. The Boundary Commission has insisted the changes were made impartially and without political interference. Joe McCanns widow Anne with daughters Aine and Nuala, flanked by solicitor Rosie Kinnear (right) and Alan Brecknell of the Pat Finucane Centre Two ex-soldiers are to stand trial charged with murdering an Official IRA man in Belfast 46 years ago, a judge has ordered. The former paratroopers, who cannot be identified, allegedly killed Joe McCann in Belfast back in April 1972. A judge ruled that they have a case to answer following a preliminary inquiry at the city's Magistrates Court. McCann, one of the Official IRA's most prominent activists, was shot in disputed circumstances near his home in the Market area. A police investigation conducted at the time resulted in no-one being prosecuted. But in 2013 a report by the now-defunct Historical Enquiries Team concluded the killing was not justified. Files were then passed to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), who reviewed the case and decided in 2016 to bring murder charges. The defendants, now aged in their sixties, are known only as Soldier A and Soldier C. They were granted temporary anonymity at an early stage amid fears that identification could put their lives at risk. According to the prosecution, Soldier A and Soldier C are surviving members of the army patrol involved in the shooting incident. A third member of the unit has since died. Both defendants were present during last week's preliminary inquiry hearing, lawyers confirmed. After examining evidence District Judge Fiona Bagnall decided they should be returned for Crown Court trial. Arraignment proceedings are expected to take place next month. Outside court the McCann family's solicitor called for the trial to get underway without delay. Rosie Kinnear of KRW Law said: "Since April 15, 1972, it has been the family's firm assertion that Joe was murdered. "Nearly 46 years later, the decision of the court to return Soldier A and Soldier C for trial in the Crown Court on murder charges has vindicated that belief." Ms Kinnear added: "The McCann family welcome this significant decision and are eager for the trial to take place as soon as possible." Northern Irelands justice system is failing to deliver value for money, with criminal cases consistently lasting twice as long as those in England and Wales, auditors have said. It takes an average of 515 days from the date a crime is reported to police until the completion of the related Crown Court trial, the Northern Ireland Audit Office said. More than one in 10 (12%) of Crown Court cases takes more than 1,000 days from police report to conclusion, and the average case is hit by more than six adjournments as it progresses through the system. Just over half of trials (56%) proceeded as planned on the first date they were listed, the NIAO found. Fewer than half of victims and witnesses (46%) surveyed by the Department of Justice felt the system was effective, the auditors noted. Auditors examined the performance of the four main justice organisations the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Public Prosecution Service, the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service and the Department of Justice. The Audit Office said the total spend of those organisations in the last financial year was 819 million a 12% reduction in the outlay five years previously. Auditors noted that efforts have been undertaken in the last two years to tackle delays, but they highlighted that the issues have been known about for more than a decade and are not insurmountable. They said a key cause of the delays was due to weaknesses in the early stages of investigations, when the PSNI gathers evidence and the PPS makes a final decision as to whether to prosecute. Publishing the report on avoidable delay within the justice system, auditor general Kieran Donnelly said the length cases took meant they cost significantly more than those in Britain, with no additional benefits. Currently the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland does not deliver value for money, he said. The cost of criminal justice is significantly higher than in England and Wales and cases take considerably longer to complete. This has negative impacts on victims, defendants and witnesses. The only way to address these issues effectively is through developing true partnership working between the police, prosecution, courts and the judiciary within which specific reform projects can be pursued. In a joint statement, the Department of Justice, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Public Prosecution Service and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service welcomed the audit report. We acknowledge the challenges that the Northern Ireland Audit Office has raised in its report, and take this opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to speeding up justice in Northern Ireland, they said. We have been working to address the specific issues raised by the Northern Ireland Audit Office and improvements are being delivered via a number of initiatives, based around law reform and an increased focus on performance. We also recognise that there is a need to deliver better value for money. A range of savings measures have already been put in train and this will be allied with the development of more robust information about costs. We will continue to work together to deliver a justice system which creates a safe community where we respect the law and each other. The NIAO report will be considered at the April meeting of the Criminal Justice Board. Prosecutors failed yesterday in a High Court bid to have a man accused of plotting to kill police officers kept in custody - because of long delays in the case Prosecutors failed yesterday in a High Court bid to have a man accused of plotting to kill police officers kept in custody - because of long delays in the case. A judge dismissed their appeal against 24-year-old Luke O'Neill being granted bail because he would otherwise spend more than two years behind bars before his case is dealt with. Mr Justice Maguire said: "The length of time involved here, pre-trial, is just too great." O'Neill, from Silverwood Green in Lurgan, Co Armagh, faces charges of attempting to murder police officers and possessing an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life. The alleged offences were committed between August 30 and September 2, 2016. It was claimed he had access to explosives capable of launching an attack on armoured police vehicles within the Lurgan area. O'Neill was arrested alongside three other men after officers mounted surveillance and discovered the device during raids in the town. That trio are jointly accused of preparing a terrorist act, namely targeting a former member of the security forces. The court was told O'Neill had allegedly been "groomed" by others within the community. Lawyers representing the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) mounted an appeal after a district judge decided on Friday that he should be granted bail. But defence counsel Stephen Toal argued that O'Neill will not go on trial any earlier than 2019. He said his client has kept himself in isolation within his prison regime, refusing to leave his cell because he doesn't feel safe. "The 17 months spent in Maghaberry have been horrendous for this young man," Mr Toal contended. "His mental health has been badly affected and he wishes to spend as much time as possible with his family." Ruling on the PPS appeal, Mr Justice Maguire said he had to balance the risk of further offences against the time O'Neill had spent in custody. Based on the presumption of innocence, the judge confirmed: "I have to adopt the position that it's contrary to the interests of justice for me to refuse bail in this case." O'Neill is to be released on a series of conditions, including a curfew, electronic tagging, and having no contact with the other three men charged as part of the investigation. He is also banned from having a mobile phone and must not attend any gathering or protest linked to dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland. A French national of Algerian descent has been awarded 2,000 after being asked to leave a youth hostel in Belfast. Samir Chefai took the case alleging racial and religious discrimination against the Youth Hostel Association of Northern Ireland Ltd (YHANI). The case was settled without admission of liability. Mr Chefai, who has lived in Belfast for 16 years, was supported in taking his case by the Equality Commission. In March 2016 he visited his family in Paris and left the keys to his Belfast home at his mother's house by mistake. On his return to Northern Ireland, and while waiting for the keys to be sent, he checked into the Belfast Youth Hostel for two nights and paid in advance. On the second day he was in the lobby of the hostel, speaking on his mobile phone in French. A staff member approached him and asked him who he was. Mr Chefai replied that he was a guest, but when the staff member looked up his details, and saw that he had an address in Belfast, he said that he did not need to stay in the hostel. The staff member told him he should leave and contacted the police. Mr Chefai felt he had no option but to leave. He said: "I was asked to leave the hostel, even though I had paid for a second night's stay. It felt to me as though assumptions were being made about my race and religion - that I was a Muslim of middle-eastern origin - and I was being asked to leave because of someone's opinion about me. "Other people in the lobby could hear everything that was said which I found very embarrassing. I did eventually find another place to stay that night but only after some hours walking through Belfast. The whole experience was very unpleasant." The YHANI has re-affirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity and has said it will continue to ensure that it conforms to all relevant equality legislation. It had already arranged for its staff to undertake training with the Equality Commission on a number of issues and has also agreed to liaise with the commission on its policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are effective and conform to the requirements of the Race Relations Order (NI) 1997. Chief commissioner of the Equality Commission Michael Wardlow, said: "This man, in a city where he had made his home for 16 years, was singled out, had his identity questioned in public, and was asked to leave the hostel. "It's completely unacceptable that anyone should be treated like this and the experience was made worse for him because he felt that it was because of someone's perceptions about his religion and race." "To challenge a person in a public place only because of presumptions about their race or religion would be simplistic stereotyping, which is unacceptable," he added. YHANI said: "We will continue to provide quality, safe and affordable accommodation for people staying with us on their travels and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Equality Commission going forward." Police sprayed a man with CS gas after he allegedly tried to slit his own throat, the High Court heard yesterday. (Yui Mok/PA) Police sprayed a man with CS gas after he allegedly tried to slit his own throat, the High Court heard yesterday. Officers discovered William Coulter on the street with a bread knife when they responded to a 999 call in Randalstown, Co Antrim, prosecutors said. Coulter, aged 26 and with an address at Strand Close in east Belfast, is charged with four counts of assault on police. He also faces a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in public over the incident on January 27. Granting him bail, a judge directed his GP to consider making a referral for psychiatric assessment. Crown lawyer Mark Farrell said police officers went to Drummaul Park in the town after being told a man was attempting to injure himself by slitting his throat. When they arrived Coulter was outside and brandishing a bread knife, he claimed. Mr Farrell continued: "He again tried to cut himself around the throat area." The court heard Coulter allegedly refused requests to drop the knife and then advanced towards the police in an aggressive manner. Officers drew their weapons before spraying him with CS gas from a safe distance. "That had the desired effect of making him desist in his behaviour and the knife was dropped," Mr Farrell added. Coulter was released after being charged, but returned to custody for allegedly breaching an alcohol ban. Defence counsel for Coulter said his client suffers from anxiety, depression and a drink problem. But seeking an explanation for his alleged behaviour, Mr Justice Maguire responded: "The description is that he was taking a knife to himself - that's more than just drinking alcohol." Despite deciding Coulter can be released again, the judge stressed he must get any help required. The judge said: "The court is concerned about the mental health of the applicant and believes a referral to a psychiatrist may be a worthwhile step to take." A memorial service for the four victims of the Derrylin house fire will take place tomorrow. Three generations of the same family were killed in the blaze in Co Fermanagh. Yesterday the Coroner confirmed the names of the victims - almost a month to the day since the horrific incident, which happened at a bungalow on the village's rural Molly Road on February 27. While the Belfast Telegraph named the victims several weeks ago, their identities were only publicly confirmed yesterday. Coroner Patrick McGurgan chaired an identification commission on Friday, which established that the victims were Denise Pauline Gossett (45), Sabrina Patricia Elizabeth Gossett (19), Roman Edward Lewis Gossett (16) and one-year-old Morgana Ulva Amira Quinn. It is understood that Sabrina and Roman were Denise's children, while Morgana was Sabrina's daughter. A memorial service for the family is due to take place at 2pm in Derrylin Parish Church tomorrow. It is believed that family members from England may attend. It is understood that the victims were originally from Doncaster in England and had lived in Tralee, Co Kerry, for about three years before moving to Derrylin around 18 months ago. Daniel Allen (27), of Molly Road in Derrylin, is charged with four counts of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. He was previously remanded in custody and appeared in court in Enniskillen again via video-link yesterday. A spokesman for the Public Prosecution Service told the court that the police investigation was at "a very early stage". The judge adjourned the case for one month for an update. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Derrylin House Fire - Toys in living room - Three generations of the same family-including a baby and two teenagers were killed when the blaze engulfed their Derrylin home on February 27. Photopress Belfast Alan Lewis - PhotopressBelfast.co.uk 12/3/2018 Mandatory Credit - Picture by Justin Kernoghan Derrylin House Fire - Kitchen - Three generations of the same family-including a baby and two teenagers were killed when the blaze engulfed their Derrylin home on February 27. Photopress Belfast Alan Lewis - PhotopressBelfast.co.uk 12/3/2018 Picture by Justin Kernoghan Derrylin House Fire - Children's books and toys in the living room - Three generations of the same family-including a baby and two teenagers were killed when the blaze engulfed their Derrylin home on February 27. Photopress Belfast Alan Lewis - PhotopressBelfast.co.uk 12/3/2018 Picture by Justin Kernoghan Derrylin House Fire - Toys in living room - Three generations of the same family-including a baby and two teenagers were killed when the blaze engulfed their Derrylin home on February 27. Photopress Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Derrylin House Fire - Toys in living room - Three generations of the same family-including a baby and two teenagers were killed when the blaze engulfed their Derrylin home on February 27. Commenting on the police investigation, PSNI Detective Inspector Peter McKenna said that "all forensic investigations have concluded" at the house. He said: "The post-mortems have taken place and the coroner has established the identities of all of the victims of this tragic incident. "Police have now informed the next of kin. All forensic investigations at the site have concluded." Reverend Alastair Donaldson of Derrylin Parish Church said that tomorrow's memorial service would be "open to everybody" and that he hoped it could "help people come to terms" with the tragedy. "It will be a traditional service, during which prayers will be offered, and we hope it will help people come to terms with it and give the appropriate mark of respect," he said. "It is a sensitive time and we are hoping to reach out to people with God's love. There is no better time to do that than Easter. "There is some understanding that some of the deceased members would have been nominally Church of England. "Fr Gerry Alwill from the nearby St Ninnidh's Church will also say a prayer. But it will not be a funeral service." The landlord of the property which was destroyed, Tommy Fee, said he was still experiencing "flashbacks" of the night. Mr Fee and other neighbours attempted to save the occupants by breaking down a door and window with a sledgehammer, but were beaten back by smoke. "People here have been affected by this, it will take a long time to get over," he said. "It's hard to believe that it happened a month ago. "There is very little information. I feel that there is a wall of silence and we have been left in limbo. "I haven't been in touch with any of the family's relatives but I am hoping to go to the prayer vigil. "After something like that happens it's extra pressure mentally. You just have to carry on. It's still very raw." Former Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt MLA has described as "disgusting" a decision by a Stormont department to deny funding to the organisation responsible for the Pensioners Parliament. Age Sector Platform had sent a business case to the Department for Communities seeking support for its work. But yesterday it received an official reply saying there were no current funding programmes or mechanisms that could provide any support. The Pensioners Parliament was launched in 2011 and allows older people from across Northern Ireland to have their say on the issues that matter to them. The Department for Communities also blamed the lack of a functioning Executive at Stormont for its inability to allocate funding. "In the absence of a Minister to make decisions on funding priorities, we are not in a position to consider this request at this time," the Department's letter said. Strangford MLA Mr Nesbitt slammed the decision. "Having read the letter from the Department for Communities declining the funding request, I despair," Mr Nesbitt said. "On the one hand, Age Sector Platform is applauded for diversifying its funding streams and for the good work it does for older people, but with a short sweep of the pen the application for help is dismissed out of hand. "It is all very well to quote the lack of Executive Ministers to make decisions - and ultimately this is about political failure by the DUP and Sinn Fein - but Executive Ministers regularly accept invitations to speak at the Pensioners Parliament, where they speak positively about the Parliament's work. "Surely that in itself is an endorsement of Age Sector Platform, who are seeking a relatively modest sum to ensure they do not have to fold? "Age Sector Platform submitted a detailed, 15 page business case for funding, only to be knocked back by a 10 line letter lacking all humanity." Age Sector Platform was formed in 2008, and was initially funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, the charity established by Irish multi-billionaire philanthropist Chuck Feeney. Age Sector Platform spokesman Eamonn Donaghy said that if his organisation was unable to secure any further alternative sources of funds, the project had at most just 18 months left before it had to close its doors for good. "Our work is very closely aligned with some of the key objectives of the Department, such as the active ageing strategy and the draft Programme for Government," Mr Donaghy said. "By supporting us, we can actually help the Department deliver some of its key objectives." But last night, a spokesperson for the Department for Communities said it had already been allocated a budget for next year. "This will require it and the bodies it supports to make further reductions in their spending. Unfortunately in these circumstances the Department is unable to allocate funding to new initiatives at the present time." Former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has said the UK Government legislating for the region in the absence of an executive amounts to "direct rule in all but name". The Labour peer said Theresa May's "fly in-fly out diplomacy" in Stormont's power-sharing crisis was never going to work and he did not believe her administration "gets" Northern Ireland. Lord Hain was speaking as peers debated legislation on devolved matters in Northern Ireland, amid the continuing deadlock. Power-sharing at Stormont collapsed more than a year ago over the controversial renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme. One Bill relates to Northern Ireland's budget, while another sets regional rates for next year and continues a cap on RHI costs. A third will enable the Northern Ireland Secretary to make a decision on the pay of members of the suspended assembly. Karen Bradley has indicated she intends to slash MLA pay by 27.5% but has said the wages of their staff will not be cut. In the face of the continuing impasse at Stormont, Lord Hain said: "I have heard nothing from the Government that they have a clue what to do. "I do not really think this Government gets Northern Ireland. "The Prime Minister's approach, which is a kind of fly in-fly out diplomacy, of insufficient in-depth, detailed negotiation and relationship building with all of the parties in Northern Ireland, was never going to work. "You cannot achieve success in an impasse like we face with this kind of approach. I do urge the Government to reconsider this. "The measures in these Bills should never have had to come to us in the first place. They represent direct rule in all but name." Lord Hain also pressed for the Government to take action on providing pensions for victims of the Troubles, which he said would cost up to 5 million a year, reducing over time. He said: "I appeal to the Government to provide this money now. It is a small amount to rectify a big injustice. "If the devolved institutions are for whatever reason unable to deliver on this - and of course suspended they are unable to deliver on this ... then the Government at Westminster must surely step in now. "Because it would be shameful if the people who have suffered so much through no fault of their own were told that nothing can be done because of political buck-passing." Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland spokesman Baroness Suttie said: "The fact that these Bills continue to be necessary is deeply to be regretted. "The Bills before us are little more than sticking plaster Bills, which do little to provide clarity on the priorities for the months or years ahead." However, she supported the legislation "as another necessary measure to ensure the continuation of budgetary certainty in Northern Ireland". Democratic Unionist Lord Morrow said the RHI scheme was "undoubtedly a flawed project", but questioned whether it justified "pulling the whole edifice of the assembly and executive apart". He claimed it had been used by Sinn Fein as "a device" to paralyse the executive. Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Empey urged the Government to ensure the implementation of recommendations from an inquiry into historical child abuse, including the payment of compensation to survivors. The Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry, chaired by Sir Anthony Hart, was established by the Northern Ireland assembly before it collapsed. Lord Empey said: "Having fought for years to get this inquiry, the victims are now being subjected to a second, if different, form of abuse. "They have no executive in place in Belfast to ratify the inquiry report and nobody is planning to implement its findings. This is totally unacceptable." He argued the issue should be treated as "a humanitarian measure" which had unanimous political support in Belfast. Lord Empey also said the RHI scandal had "left a trail of destruction in its wake" and that people legitimately taking part in the botched green energy scheme had been "betrayed". He said: "People have been badly let down and many are facing financial ruin. They have been conned." Lord Empey called for an urgent investigation into claims that minutes of official departmental meetings at Stormont were not taken "in order to frustrate freedom of information requests". He argued this left the former administration "teetering on the brink of illegality". For the Opposition, former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Murphy of Torfaen backed the Bills and warned it would be "disastrous in the long term" if there was a return to direct rule. Lord Murphy said the 20th anniversary of the Belfast agreement should act as a "spur" to the political parties to restore the assembly and the executive. Replying to the debate, Lord Duncan said: "We are in a period of reflection. This period will be short, I hope." He said substantial progress had been made in the talks and it was on this that the Government wanted to build and bring about an agreement. The minister said he was not ruling out the use of an "independent referee" to reach such an agreement between Northern Ireland's parties. All three Bills were given their second and third readings without a vote and will pass into law. A Northern Ireland man has been convicted of the murder of a Vietnamese woman at Newcastle Crown Court today. William McFall, from Greencastle County Antrim had previously been convicted of murdering pensioner Martha Gilmore in Greenisland in 1996. McFall was today convicted of teaming up to torture and murder a seven stone Vietnamese woman before dumping her body in a burning car. Maintenance men Stephen Unwin, 40, and McFall, 51, put Quyen Ngoc Nguyen through an unimaginable four hour ordeal after she was lured to Unwin's home in Shiney Row, Tyne and Wear. Unwin was also convicted of her rape. But McFall, who even posed for a grinning selfie after the pair had committed their depraved and greed-fuelled crime, was cleared of the rape charge. The Newcastle Crown Court jury of eight women and four men deliberated for four hours before reaching their verdicts. The victim's sister Quyhn Ngoc Nguyen wept in the public gallery, holding a framed photo of her sibling, as she waited for the verdicts. Firefighters discovered Ms Nguyen's badly burned body in the back of her Audi after it had been torched beside allotments last August. The jury heard how her killers ate a curry they had cooked as their victim lay dying in the house. The mother-of-two worked at her sister's nail bar but also helped Vietnamese people find accommodation when she came across Unwin, who worked for landlords maintaining properties. She would not have known he was a life prisoner out on licence for murdering a pensioner in 1998. Tellingly, he also set fire to his elderly victim's house in a bid to cover his tracks. The killers met in the prison system at HMP Swaleside, a Category B institution, in Kent. They got in touch via Facebook after they were both released on licence. They teamed up, working together legitimately, but also stealing cannabis from farms they found in local properties. They planned their depraved attack on the 5ft victim and Unwin tricked her into coming into his home, where McFall was waiting. McFall had texted Unwin earlier that evening saying: "We raping the chink"? Before she was sexually assaulted, raped and killed, she had been forced to hand over her PINs and Unwin withdrew 1,000 from her bank accounts at cashpoints that night. Each of the defendants blamed the other, seemingly hoping to confuse the jury. McFall wrote to Unwin while they were on remand saying he had been to the prison library and found a "legal loophole" despite what he admitted was damning evidence. The prosecution claimed their loophole was simply to blame one another. After the trial, the victim's sister branded the killers "evil" and said they should never be released. In a statement, she said: "I believe that if these two people were released at some point in the future, then definitely some innocent people could be harmed. "I think they should never be released, they are evil." David Hines, founder of the National Victims' Association, said: "A life sentence should mean a minimum of 40 years behind bars." A Co Antrim man accused of being a so-called "paedophile hunter" has been ordered to desist from any role in such groups as part of his bail conditions. Mark O'Brien (30), of Millfield in Ballymena, is accused of the false imprisonment of a male on January 31 this year. He appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court yesterday where he is also accused of assaulting the male and attempting to intimidate him from his home in Coleraine. A police officer said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges. Defence barrister Francis Rafferty said he had no questions for the officer. A prosecutor asked for the case to be adjourned for eight weeks. District Judge Peter King released the defendant on his own bail of 500 until May with a number of conditions. The conditions include not having any contact with the alleged injured party. The defendant must also sign once a week at Ballymena Police Station. The defendant is also to have no contact with a co-accused and is not to use any online social media platforms or any online dating applications or websites. He has also been ordered to "desist from any activity associated with paedophile hunting groups" and to have no access to a mobile phone or communications device with a capability "beyond voice calls and simple text messages". Northern Ireland's justice system is failing victims with cases taking too long to reach court, a report warns today Northern Ireland's justice system is failing victims with cases taking too long to reach court, a report warns today. Crown Court cases typically take more than 500 days from the date an offence is reported until a verdict is delivered - twice as long as in England and Wales. Around one in eight cases here take more than 1,000 days to complete, the Northern Ireland Audit Office found. Read More Its report concludes that victims and defendants are being let down. Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said: "Currently the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland does not deliver value for money. "The cost of criminal justice is significantly higher than in England and Wales and cases take considerably longer to complete. "This has negative impacts on victims, defendants and witnesses." The report found: Weaknesses in the early stages of investigations, when the PSNI gathers evidence and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decides whether to prosecute, are a key cause of delay; Once cases reach court, ineffective and adjourned court hearings lead to more delays. On average, cases are adjourned between six and seven times each; Just over half of trials proceeded as planned on the first date they were listed (57% in 2016). Victims, defendants, witnesses and staff often attend court for hours with no progress made. UUP MLA Doug Beattie said it was evidence of a system in crisis. "The Comptroller and Auditor General has delivered a damning indictment of the local criminal justice system and confirmed what many already knew to be the case, namely that it does not deliver value for money," he said. "It is indisputable that the justice system in Northern Ireland has proved stubbornly resistant to meaningful change and reform and yet it is in urgent need of a major culture change." In 2016, 40,000 defendants were dealt with in the Magistrates Court in Northern Ireland, with 2,000 more serious crimes heard in the Crown Court. Today's report found that "the same persistent issues" have impacted on the delivery of justice. It flags up issues with the length of time it takes to complete the early stages of investigations. The report notes that, over the last decade, the PSNI has been subject to sustained criticism over the quality of evidence files it prepares and submits to the PPS. Files often lack critical evidence, meaning the PPS cannot make a decision on whether to prosecute until further information is obtained. In 2015 a detailed investigation of police file quality was carried out by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland. It found that the majority of Crown Court case files tested were either unsatisfactory - containing errors or omissions, meaning the PPS were unable to make a decision - or poor, with significant omissions in the core evidence. The report cites research by the Department of Justice in 2012 which found the average Crown Court case was adjourned between six and seven times during its lifespan. Auditors who reviewed a sample of 60 Crown Court cases for today's report identified a similar average number of adjournments. The report cites a recent strategic review by the Department of Justice, which said it was "striking how many hearings are ineffective". It also refers to wasted police time. In 2012 the PSNI estimated that, on average, officers were required to attend court more than 23,000 times, with an average attendance time of five hours. About 75% of times, officers were not required to give evidence - a waste of 11,000 front line shifts. The Department of Justice, PSNI, PPS and the Courts Service issued a joint response. They said: "We acknowledge the challenges that the Northern Ireland Audit Office has raised in its report, and take this opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to speeding up justice in Northern Ireland. "We have been working to address the specific issues raised by the Northern Ireland Audit Office and improvements are being delivered via a number of initiatives, based around law reform and an increased focus on performance. "We also recognise that there is a need to deliver better value for money. A range of savings measures have already been put in train and this will be allied with the development of more robust information about costs. "We will continue to work together to deliver a justice system which creates a safe community where we respect the law and each other. The NIAO report will be considered at the April meeting of the Criminal Justice Board." A Sinn Fein senator suspended after retweeting an offensive message about the IRA killing of prison officer Brian Stack has formally apologised to his family. Maire Devine told the Seanad she wanted to say sorry for the offence and hurt caused. Mr Stack, a chief prison officer in Portlaoise, was shot in the neck by the IRA in March 1983 and died 18 months later. Ms Devine was suspended by her party for three months after she retweeted a message that used an offensive phrase to describe Mr Stack on March 18. Expand Close Maire Devine, right, with Sinn Fein colleague Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Maire Devine, right, with Sinn Fein colleague Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein/PA) She told fellow senators on Tuesday that she thought the tweet she retweeted was genuine and had not read its full content. She added: A number of follow-up tweets from me were wholly inappropriate and I deeply regret that. I want to again apologise for any and all offence and hurt that was caused by my Twitter activity. It was never my intention to cause any more hurt to those already in deep distress. I want to put on the record my most sincere apologies to the family of the late Brian Stack. Expand Close Brian Stack suffered for 18 months before dying of his injuries at the age of 47 (Irish Prisons/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brian Stack suffered for 18 months before dying of his injuries at the age of 47 (Irish Prisons/PA) It was not until 2013 that the IRA admitted responsibility for Mr Stacks death, the only prison officer murdered in the Republic during the Troubles. He was left paralysed and brain-damaged by the shooting as he crossed a road outside the National Stadium in Dublin in late March 1983. He suffered for 18 months before dying from his injuries at the age of 47. The incident was the latest social media furore to hit Sinn Fein. In January West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff resigned over a Twitter posting about the 1976 Kingsmill shootings. Mr Stacks son Austin criticised Ms Devines apology, suggesting it was not genuine. For the record the Senator has not made any direct contact with my family as you would think if this apology was genuine, he tweeted. A teenager awaiting sentence for causing the death of a young woman by dangerous driving has been granted bail again, despite a breach of conditions at Christmas which saw him being put in a young offenders' centre. Lesley-Ann McCarragher was jogging along the Monaghan Road, Armagh, on April 9, 2016, when she was struck by Nathan Finn's car, who drove from the scene without stopping. Despite being airlifted to hospital, Lesley-Ann died from her injuries. She was just 19. Finn (19) of Keady Road, Armagh, also had no licence or insurance. In December, Finn, who was subject to strict bail conditions, pleaded not guilty to all charges at Newry Crown Court. But there was a significant breach of conditions over Christmas, leading to his bail being revoked, and he was detained in Hydebank Young Offenders Centre. During a review hearing in January, Finn's defence team asked for the charges to be put to him again, and all were admitted. At that stage he was remanded back into custody whilst pre-sentence reports are prepared, but it was made clear he would not be dealt with until the conclusion of the trial against co-accused, Damien Paul McCann (30), of Monaghan Road, Armagh. McCann, who denies causing Lesley-Ann's death by dangerous driving, is on bail until his trial later this year. In the meantime, a fresh bail application was made by Finn, which has now been granted, with very strict conditions. As well as a 500 personal bail, he must reside at his address, abide by a curfew from 10.30pm to 6am, and be tagged. He is prohibited from trying to contact Lesley-Ann's family or any witnesses in the trial, as well as his co-accused, McCann. Finn has also been ordered to report twice weekly with police and is banned from entering licensed premises or consuming alcohol or non-prescription drugs. He must not drive any motor vehicle or use public transport. He is not to travel in any private motor vehicle unless driven by his father or sister, and only for medical, counselling and legal appointments and reporting to PSNI. Finally, Finn is banned from entering a specified petrol station/shop in Armagh. A date for sentencing has yet to be fixed due to the co-accused's pending trial before Newry Crown Court. Victims who were abused by the late paedophile priest Malachy Finnegan have been urged to contact a dedicated PSNI team. A number of those abused by Finnegan in St Colman's College in Newry have already spoken out publicly about his conduct there between 1967 to 1987. The most high-profile victim to date is Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy who said he was savagely beaten by Finnegan. He also claimed the priest attempted to sexually groom him. Although the disgraced cleric died in 2002 and can therefore no longer be held accountable for his crimes, the PSNI's public protection branch said other areas needed to be investigated. These include taking action against any living offender from that time and assessing any current child safeguarding risks. Steps will also be taken to establish if others were committing abuse at St Colman's at this time, and pinpointing when authorities became aware of Finnegan's behaviour and what action was taken, including informing the police. Any abuse victims of Finnegan or any others at St Colman's from this time have been asked to call the PSNI non-emergency number 101. The PSNI warned that at no time should the name of any victim, offender or witness be disclosed on social media as it could damage future legal proceedings. Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey recently faced serious criticism in the aftermath of the revelations about Finnegan, and quit over his handling of the crisis. Yesterday, Pope Francis accepted his resignation. Bishop McAreavey had known about allegations of child abuse against Finnegan as far back as 1994, yet conducted Fr Finnegan's funeral in 2002. But the allegations were not reported by the diocese to police until 2006. Philip Boyce, Bishop of Raphoe, has since been appointed in a caretaker role. In a statement, all-Ireland Primate Eamon Martin said his prayers were with the abuse victims and the people of Dromore. Thanking Bishop McAreavey for his 19 years of service, he said the Church would co-operate fully with the investigations. "During this Holy Week my prayers are with the people, religious and clergy of Dromore and in particular with those who have been abused, and with all who are suffering because of abuse," the Archbishop said. Multiple support organisations are available for victims, including the 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline on 0800 917 1414 Granting bail, District Judge Fiona Bagnall banned Brigden-Teague from any contact with the complainant, including by social media. A woman allegedly flew from South Africa to assault her estranged husband in Belfast, a court has heard. Nadine Brigden-Teague is also accused of causing damage to a door during a confrontation at his home in the city on Monday. The 34-year-old, of no fixed address, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with common assault and criminal damage. Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton expressed concerns about any further contact with the alleged victim if she was released. Setting out the prosecution case, Ms Pinkerton claimed Brigden-Teague flew into Northern Ireland to go to her ex-partner's house, damage the interior door and assault him. "She seems to have travelled some distance from South Africa to do this," the barrister alleged. But defence solicitor Hamill Clawson insisted divorce proceedings were the reason behind his client's trip. He told the court the couple had spent periods together in Cape Town and Northern Ireland. Teague went back to her native South Africa after they split up, with divorce proceedings then allegedly instigated. Mr Clawson claimed she flew over because the papers hadn't been signed. She went to a solicitor's office in Belfast before going to her estranged husband's home, according to the lawyer. "She said there was an altercation but denied the assault," he added. Granting bail, District Judge Fiona Bagnall banned Brigden-Teague from any contact with the complainant, including by social media. She is also to be excluded from the Lisburn Road area of Belfast and must surrender her passport. Adjourning the case for just two weeks, Mrs Bagnall pointed out: "I would like this to be moved as quick as possible - we are at least detaining this lady in this jurisdiction." Australia has become the latest country to expel Russian diplomats in a show of support for Britain over the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called it a disgraceful and brazen attack and said his country cannot and will not stand by and watch when the sovereignty of our allies and partners is threatened. Earlier, Mr Turnbull and minister for foreign affairs Julie Bishop issued a joint statement saying two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers would be directed to leave the country within seven days. Expand Close Russian diplomats expelled: Total as of 8.30am, March 27 (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Russian diplomats expelled: Total as of 8.30am, March 27 (PA Graphics) More than 100 Russian spies are being sent home from more than 20 countries, including 60 from the US and intelligence officers operating in Canada, Ukraine, Norway, Macedonia and Albania, as well as in 16 European Union member states. Mr Turnbull said the poisoning on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, which has left them critically ill, was an attack on all of us. He added: It was an attack on the sovereignty of every nation that respect the rule of law and that is why we are taking this action today with another 23 nations around the world, we are defining this recklessness, this lawlessness, from Russia and expressing in solidarity with the United Kingdom and other nations that share those values that we will not tolerate this type of reckless undermining of international law, this reckless assault on the sovereignty of nations. Todays extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever & will help defend our shared security. Russia cannot break international rules with impunity Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 26, 2018 The co-ordinated move drew a furious response from Moscow, which accused Western allies of blindly following the principle of the Euro-Atlantic unity to the detriment of common sense, the norms of civilised inter-state dialogue and the principles of international law. On Monday, Theresa May told the Commons it was the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history and said more than 130 people could have been exposed to the Novichok nerve agent, with more than 50 people assessed in hospital. Together we have sent a message that we will not tolerate Russias continued attempts to flout international law and undermine our values, she said. President Putins regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values and interests within our continent and beyond. As a sovereign European democracy, the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with Nato to face down these threats together. Speaking at the start of a debate on national security and Russia, she added: Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain critically ill in hospital. Sadly, late last week, doctors indicated that their condition is unlikely to change in the near future, and they may never recover fully. This shows the utterly barbaric nature of this act, and the dangers that hundreds of innocent citizens in Salisbury could have faced. Mrs May said the UK had information indicating Russia has investigated ways of delivering nerve agents, probably for assassination, and has produced and stockpiled small quantities of Novichok as part of this programme. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, hinted the Kremlin would respond with tit-for-tat expulsions, saying Russia would proceed from the principle of reciprocity. Russia has already ordered 23 British diplomats to leave in response to the expulsion of a similar number of undeclared Russian intelligence officers from the UK. The Russian foreign ministry said: This provocative gesture of notorious solidarity with London, made by countries that preferred to follow in Londons footsteps without bothering to look into other circumstances of the incident, merely continues the policy of escalating the confrontation. Russia has gone too far. An assassination attempt in a European city with a Russian nerve agent is completely unacceptable. The UK has our full support. Denmark will expel two Russian diplomats in our joint European response to the #SalisburyAttack. #dkpol Lars Lkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) March 26, 2018 Last week EU leaders backed Mrs Mays assertion that there was no plausible alternative explanation other than Russia was responsible for the poisoning of the former double agent and his daughter. European Council president Donald Tusk said additional measures including further expulsions could not be excluded in the coming days and weeks. The EU member states taking action include Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said countries of the world have come together in numbers far greater than Putin could possibly have imagined and they are saying enough is enough. In addition to the expulsions, the White House said the US was also closing the Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing. The White House said: Todays actions make the United States safer by reducing Russias ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten Americas national security. Statement on Expulsion of Russian intelligence officers. pic.twitter.com/4uCzMOMG3f Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) March 26, 2018 With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences. Real-life care bears in Sweden have responded to human hunting by increasing the time they look after their cubs, researchers have found. Over a period of 20 years, the length of time the brown bear cubs stayed with their mothers increased from 1.5 to 2.5 years. Extending the care of their offspring by a year means that the female bears have fewer breeding opportunities. But the research showed how this was outweighed by longer survival of both mothers and cubs. Between 2010 and 2014, Swedish hunters shot around 300 bears each year. However, like many other countries that allow bear hunting, Sweden bans the shooting of bears in family groups. Lead researcher Professor Jon Swenson, from the Nowegian University of Life Sciences, said: A single female in Sweden is four times more likely to be shot as one with a cub. A single female in Sweden is four times more likely to be shot as one with a cubProfessor Jon Swenson The pressure of hunting, combined with hunting regulations, had led to a profound change in behaviour that was spreading through Swedish bear populations. Man is now an evolutionary force in the lives of the bears, Prof Swenson added. Mother bears who kept their cubs for longer were safer, but ended up producing fewer offspring, said the scientists writing in the journal Nature Communications. While this would not normally be a good strategy from an evolutionary perspective, the female bears increased survival chances largely counteracted the reduced birth rate. This is especially true in areas of high hunting pressure, said Prof Swenson. There, the females that keep the cubs the extra year have the greatest advantage. Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh criticism over his failure to tackle anti-Semitism in Labour following a report that the party has a backlog of 74 cases that are still to be dealt with. A Labour source quoted by the Daily Mail said some of the cases dated back two years and included some of the most shocking and blatant examples of anti-Jewish sentiment. The party insisted that the number of live cases represented no more than 0.01% of the Labour membership. A spokesman said that any complaints of anti-Semitism were dealt with extremely seriously and were fully investigated. I have written to the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council. I will never be anything other than a militant opponent of antisemitism. In this fight, I am an ally and always will be. pic.twitter.com/QhQnFEpplU Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) March 26, 2018 However, the disclosure is likely to increase the pressure on Mr Corbyn, who acknowledged on Monday that the party had been too slow in dealing with cases of anti-Semitism and apologised for the hurt it had caused. His admission followed an unprecedented letter from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council accusing him of siding with anti-Semites again and again. The Mail quoted a Labour source as saying: Many of these case include the most shocking and blatant anti-Semitism that would make even a committed Nazi blush. From Holocaust denial to outright hatred of Jewish people these views should not be tolerated anywhere in society let alone Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party. In response to the claims, a Labour Party spokesman said: The Labour Party is committed to challenging and campaigning against anti-Semitism in all its forms. Any complaints of anti-Semitism are taken extremely seriously. These are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action taken. Party sources said that in the case of severe allegations, members were immediately suspended pending investigation. They also pointed out that the party leader did not oversee the complaints procedure which was handled by the governance and legal unit overseen by the general secretary. Meanwhile, Labour MPs Wes Streeting, co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews, and John Mann, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism, have written to Mr Corbyn to urge him to take action to tackle this poison in our ranks. Posting a copy of the letter on Twitter, Mr Streeting said: @jeremycorbyns statement on Monday has not been heeded by all those claiming to support him. @JohnMannMP and I have written about the abuse thats taken place in the last 48 hours and the action thats needed. .@jeremycorbyn's statement on Monday has not been heeded by all those claiming to support him. @JohnMannMP and I have written about the abuse that's taken place in the last 48 hours and the action that's needed. #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/Q6NQKbaD8x Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) March 27, 2018 The letter warns that there must be a turning point for our Party on antisemitism, and says Mr Corbyn should meet with Jewish colleagues and send a message of solidarity to all Jewish members demanding that social media abuse against them ends. It adds: Without action, this issue will not go away. We ask you to lead our response in the robust terms of your most recent statement. Earlier shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said the party would be rolling out a political education programme to ensure party members were fully aware of the issue. I think there is a lot more that needs to be done and I think Jeremy addressed that clearly yesterday. He has always been a militant opponent of anti-Semitism, she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. But too often, I think, the issue has been dismissed as a few bad apples when we needed to take very serious root-and-branch action to root out the cause of the problem. There will be clear efforts now to roll out a political education programme specifically to make sure that every single person in the Labour Party is aware of all forms of anti-Semitism. Rumours that ducks had been moved on from the stream next to where ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found poisoned are untrue, the leader of the local authority has said. Speaking at a cabinet meeting of Wiltshire Council, Baroness Jane Scott said that suggestions the ducks had been relocated were fiction. She said: No-one is feeding them so they have moved elsewhere, if someone has told you someone has taken all the ducks its not true. Her comments came after a member of the public questioned whether the council had been aware if an ex-spy had been living in Salisbury or whether the authority had knowledge of any other espionage figures living within the city. Baroness Scott said: Two people are seriously ill in hospital, our thoughts should be with them. This father had made his home in this city, we do need to give them some thought. I do not know if we will ever know who is living here but I think that is a bit Big Brother to me. One of the men will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court in London (Gareth Fuller/PA) Three teenagers have been arrested over the killing of a 21-year-old man who was stabbed at an east London shopping centre. Beniamin Pieknyi, 21, from Milton Keynes, died at the Stratford Centre on March 21 from multiple knife injuries. Three men, two aged 18 and one 19, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are in police custody. Detectives investigating the murder of Beniamin Pieknyi in #Stratford #Newham have made three arrests; one man previously charged. https://t.co/SCYrNrowHE pic.twitter.com/RtuztpYQ3T Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 26, 2018 Vladyslav Yakymchuck, 22, of no fixed abode, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with murder. He has also been charged with three counts of robbery, one count of theft and one count of possession of a bladed article. Scotland Yard said he had been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Thames Magistrates Court on a future date. Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Chris Patten has said he does not want Northern Ireland to go back to the days of shooting and maiming as he urged the Government to be very careful over how Brexit impacts on the border. The ex-EU commissioner made the call as he delivered a scathing assessment of how withdrawal will hit Britain if it leaves the customs union. Lord Patten, who chaired a commission into policing in Northern Ireland as part of the peace process, said: I feel emotionally very strongly about this. I think we did a really good job on the Good Friday Agreement. And I dont want to go back to the days when people were being shot and maimed. There is a simple answer to the Northern Ireland border question and to much else besides. Lets stay in the customs union. The comments came as Lord Patten traded jibes with arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who likened opponents of withdrawal to Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda, who spent 29 years in the jungle because he did not believe the war was over. Expand Close POLITICS Brexit Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp POLITICS Brexit Mr Rees-Mogg, who chairs the Conservative pro-Brexit European Research Group, said reneging on the referendum result would be a national humiliation worse than the Suez crisis. He said: With one year to go before the technical date of departure, this is the challenge to the decreasing number of Remainers who model themselves on Mr Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese soldier who finally surrendered in 1974 having previously refused to believe that the Second World War had ended. Lord Patten hit back saying Brexiteers lacked the experience to negotiate a trade deal, stating: One problem is that the ministers who talk about these fictitious trade deals have never negotiated one. The closest they have come to a trade deal is the checkout at Waitrose. Expand Close POLITICS Brexit Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp POLITICS Brexit Lord Patten also took a swipe at Mr Rees-Mogg, who he said he has known since he was eight, branding him a caricature. The peer said: The thing about Jacob is that he is much better than he has allowed himself to seem. It is all very well having those views and being thought to be rather an eccentric but interesting lad when you are eight. But having the same views when you are 48 raises, I think, one or two eyebrows. And, I think, he has allowed himself a bit to be taken over by his own image and caricature. Mr Rees-Mogg said he did not want to lay into Lord Patten as he was an old family friend, before adding: I will only say this, when he was governor of Hong Kong I greatly admired his efforts to defend and promote the rights of the people of Hong Kong and to argue for democracy. Expand Close POLITICS Brexit Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp POLITICS Brexit It is a great sadness that he wanted democracy for the people of Hong Kong but rejects it for the people of the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, prominent pro-Europe Labour MP Chuka Umunna launched a strong attack on his front bench for parroting the Tories on immigration. He said: One of the things I cannot abide, and I find intensely irritating is, frankly, to hear the Labour front bench increasingly parrot what the Conservative front bench says about this issue immigration and Brexit and, increasingly, too many other issues. You need only look at the comments of Liam Foxs shadow, Barry Gardiner, in respect of the Brexit issue, and you do wonder where is the Opposition? Queen Elizabeth II waves to the ships company as she leaves with the Captain of HMS Ocean, Captain Rob Pedre after the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth (Andrew Matthews/PA) The Queen waved goodbye to the Royal Navys largest operational warship following a decommissioning ceremony in Plymouth. HMS Ocean, or the Mighty O as she is affectionately known, has been sold to the Brazilian navy for 84 million following 20-years of service. She most recently carried out humanitarian work in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in British overseas territories. The Queen lady sponsor of the helicopter and amphibious assault craft paid tribute to the unique and remarkable vessel during a speech at the formal decommissioning ceremony at Devonport Naval Base. After the decommissioning ceremony, The Queen who is @RoyalNavy HMS Oceans Lady Sponsor, says a few words. pic.twitter.com/chYBSosexR The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 27, 2018 We are gathered here in Plymouth today, in the midst of this citys rich maritime heritage, to say farewell to this unique and remarkable vessel, and to reflect on her considerable achievements, she said, from a dais on the jetty. Throughout her life, HMS Ocean has been at the forefront of global operations; bringing together the men and women of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force in their common purpose of defending our Nations interests and spreading peace and prosperity across the world. It is a testament to the unique nature of this ship and her crew that her success on operations as an amphibious helicopter carrier, in Sierra Leone, Iraq and Libya, has been matched by her capacity to deliver vital humanitarian aid, from the very beginning of her career to her final deployment last autumn. Queen Elizabeth II attends the decommissioning ceremony for #HMSOcean at HMNB Devonport #mightyO pic.twitter.com/VswbvAyV0i Andrew Matthews (@AndyMatthews_PA) March 27, 2018 With three generations of naval officers in my family, I recognise the significant demands that have been placed on all those who have served in the ship over the last two decades, as well as the contribution of their families and loved ones. As you all prepare to move on to new challenges I know that like me, you will always treasure your memories of HMS Ocean. The Lord High Admiral, The Duke of Edinburgh joins me in wishing you well in your future endeavours. There was a 21-gun salute when the Queen wearing a coat and dress by Stewart Parvin, hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan and a diamond paisley brooch arrived and departed the naval base. She was guest of honour at the decommissioning ceremony, along with the head of the Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones, and more than 500 of the ships company and their families. Her Majesty The Queen today officially bid a fond farewell to #HMSOcean as the Royal Navy's 'Mighty O' was decommissioned @RoyalFamily https://t.co/kIVDabvZka pic.twitter.com/I8uCFlYF5Z Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) March 27, 2018 The Queens colour a double-folded silk White Ensign with crown and Royal Cypher was raised on the ship. Members of HMS Oceans company were presented to the Queen for inspection before the parade removed their hats and gave Three Cheers for Her Majesty. Merlin, Chinnok, Sea King and Wildcat helicopters then performed a flypast. The Queen was then driven up onto the ship, where she was hosted to lunch cooked by chef Carl Tester from Plymouth. Ive cooked for lots of top people including the First Sea Lord, the top man in the Navy, which is big enough, he said. But the Queen is the peak of my career. You dont get any more important than that. The starter was gin and tonic cured pollock, followed by roasted loin of Dartmoor venison and a dessert of layered white chocolate and vanilla panna cotta. Following the private lunch, the Queen attended a reception on HMS Ocean with the ships crew and their families. Her Majesty The Queen today officially bid a fond farewell to HMS Ocean as the Royal Navy's 'Mighty O' was... Posted by Royal Navy on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 She spoke with Marretta Coleman, 65, from County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Mrs Coleman was at the decommissioning ceremony with her son, Lt Commander Gareth Coleman, 36, who lives in Newport, south Wales. She said it was such a sad day for the ship, Mrs Coleman said. She also said that it was lovely to see the families here today. HMS Ocean was commissioned in 1998 and members of the original company were present at the decommissioning ceremony. Chief petty officer Paddy Ashe, from Belfast but now living in Yeovil, Somerset, introduced his wife Sarah and daughter Philippa, 18, to the Queen. When I came to the commissioning ceremony, my wife was pregnant with my daughter, CPO Ashe, a survivor of the Atlantic Conveyor sinking in the Falklands, said. The Queen said she was an Ocean baby. It was a privilege to meet her. Chief petty officer Andrew Margerison added: It is a very sad day to be honest. It has had such illustrious service, in conflicts and humanitarian operations around the world so to see it go today is very disappointing. Expand Close The Ensign is lowered at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Ensign is lowered at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean (Andrew Matthews/PA) Chief petty officer Sharky Ward, from Gloucester, brought his parents Trudy Paul and Melvin Ward to the decommissioning ceremony. I said to the Queen that its like an addiction this ship I cant stay away. She smiled, he said. This is my fourth draft on the ship in 10 years. I was honoured and flattered to make her smile. Its not every day you get the chance to shake hands with the Queen and make her smile. The Queen was presented with the official decommissioning book for the ship, as well as gin distilled from water made onboard. Commander Nick Wood, the ships second-in-command, described HMS Ocean as her companys home when we are away. But while we will miss HMS Ocean we mustnt let emotion cloud the bright future for the Royal Navy or stand in the way of progress, he said. The ship that replaces HMS Ocean, HMS Prince of Wales, is much larger and has greatly increased advanced capability. The Queen has paid tribute to the Royal Navys largest operational warship at a decommissioning ceremony in Plymouth. HMS Ocean, or the Mighty O, as she is known throughout the fleet, has been sold to the Brazilian navy for 84 million. She most recently carried out humanitarian work in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in British overseas territories. The Queen arrives at HMNB Devonport and is met by Captain Robert Pedre, Commanding Officer, who will present Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord, and Commodore Ian Shipperly, the Naval Base Commander. pic.twitter.com/WyohI11qSc The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 27, 2018 The Queen the helicopter and amphibious assault crafts lady sponsor was greeted with a 21-gun salute as she arrived at Devonport Naval Base. She was guest of honour at the decommissioning ceremony, along with the head of the Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones, and more than 500 of the ships company and their families. The Queen inspected a parade of the ships company on the jetty before proceeding to the dais. We are gathered here in Plymouth today, in the midst of this citys rich maritime heritage, to say farewell to this unique and remarkable vessel, and to reflect on her considerable achievements, she said. Expand Close Queen Elizabeth II making a speech at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Queen Elizabeth II making a speech at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean (Andrew Matthews/PA) Throughout her life, HMS Ocean has been at the forefront of global operations, bringing together the men and women of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force in their common purpose of defending our nations interests and spreading peace and prosperity across the world. It is a testament to the unique nature of this ship and her crew that her success on operations as an amphibious helicopter carrier, in Sierra Leone, Iraq and Libya, has been matched by her capacity to deliver vital humanitarian aid, from the very beginning of her career to her final deployment last autumn. With three generations of naval officers in my family, I recognise the significant demands that have been placed on all those who have served in the ship over the last two decades, as well as the contribution of their families and loved ones. Expand Close Queen Elizabeth II with First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones (2nd left) meet Captain of HMS Ocean Captain Rob Pedre (2nd right) at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Queen Elizabeth II with First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones (2nd left) meet Captain of HMS Ocean Captain Rob Pedre (2nd right) at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean (Andrew Matthews/PA) As you all prepare to move on to new challenges I know that, like me, you will always treasure your memories of HMS Ocean. The Lord High Admiral, the Duke of Edinburgh, joins me in wishing you well in your future endeavours. The ship that replaces HMS Ocean, HMS Prince of Wales, is much larger and has greatly increased advanced capability. The Queen, wearing a coat and dress by Stewart Parvin, hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan and a diamond paisley brooch, observed a flypast of three Merlin helicopters, a Chinook, a Sea King and a Wildcat. The ceremony concluded with the Royal Navy White Ensign being symbolically hauled down from the ships main mast. Members of the parade removed their hats and gave three cheers for the Queen. Expand Close The Ensign is lowered at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Ensign is lowered at the decommissioning ceremony for HMS Ocean at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth (Andrew Matthews/PA) HMS Ocean, commissioned in 1998, officially leaves service with the Royal Navy this week after 20 years of service. Commander Nick Wood, the ships second-in-command, said: This is a sad day for us all. This is our home when we are away. But while we will miss HMS Ocean we mustnt let emotion cloud the bright future for the Royal Navy or stand in the way of progress. The leader of the Greek governments junior coalition partner says his party will not accept any solution in a name dispute with neighbouring Macedonia that includes any derivative of the term Macedonia. Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos said in a television interview that his right-wing Independent Greeks party will prevent in any way the use of the term Macedonia in the neighbouring countrys name. The two countries have disagreed for 25 years over the former Yugoslav republics name, with Greece claiming its neighbour is seeking territorial aspirations on the northern Greek province of the same name. Athens and Skopje have intensified talks on the issue, and Greeces left-led government proposals have reportedly included derivatives of Macedonia. A refusal by Mr Kammenos party to back the deal could threaten the governments stability. An army officer checks an M-16 rifle captured from the communist New Peoples Army in the southern Philippine town of Bukidnon, March 14, 2018. The Philippine government on Tuesday welcomed calls to resume peace talks with communist insurgents, but stressed there must be genuine sincerity for negotiations to push through. Last week, more than 60 members of the House of Representatives signed a resolution urging a resumption of talks, which President Rodrigo Duterte had called off late last year. The lawmakers argued that renewed negotiations could pave the way to solving a communist insurgency that has lasted nearly half a century. We thank those who signed the resolution for their support to the peace agenda of the administration, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, noting that Duterte remained committed to peace with the communists. However, we find it unfortunate that the communists have become spoilers of peace because of their penchant for double talk and treachery. Their motives are not for attaining sustainable peace but rather to push for their greater control and influence, Roque said. In November, Duterte canceled talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), accusing its armed wing, the New Peoples Army (NPA), of launching deadly attacks despite agreeing to a ceasefire. The following month, the president blacklisted both the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations. Since then, NPA rebels gunned down a soldier and two civilians in February during a series of attacks in the south that occurred amid an anti-communist crackdown by government forces, the military said. Those incidents occurred after the military had captured top NPA cadre Rafael Baylosis and an aide in the capital Manila. Peace talks could only resume if the conditions and climate were conducive, Roque suggested. They must cease their hostilities against innocent civilians and government forces, end their extortion activities, violent streaks and wanton killings, lay down their arms and return to the fold of law and restart to live normal lives, Roque said. He stressed that government efforts appeared to be gaining ground, noting the ongoing surrender of NPA fighters. Military issues warning The armed forces, reacting to the statement, said they welcomed the peace overtures but warned of the NPAs past deceptions. We believe that such unusual declaration by the NPA is another ploy to deceive the security forces, the government and especially the people so the government will be forced the declare SOMO in order for them to reconstitute forces, recruit new members, extort money and rest the unceasing focused military operation, the military said in a statement. The statement referred to the suspension of military offensives (SOMO), an action the government usually declares as a gesture of goodwill. The military noted that NPAs 49th anniversary would fall on Thursday as the predominantly Catholic country marked Holy Week. The anniversary is often marred by violent attacks. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the truth about the abortion debate in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices India remains committed to Universal Health Coverage through the national Health Protection Scheme, and is working to implement strategies that will help to destigmatize the disease in order to support access to care for more people. Very recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi opened the Delhi End TB Summit 2018, highlighting Indias critical role in the global effort to end the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. TB is the worlds deadliest infectious disease, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report 2017, India continues to have the highest number of TB cases in the world. But we are tackling this challenge head on. While SDG targets aim to end the epidemic by 2030, Prime Minister Modi outlined Indias new National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 5 years earlier by 2025. Why is India so confident? For one thing, TB research and development in India is very strong. The prestigious Stop TB Kochon Prize for 2017 was just awarded to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) during the Summit, in recognition of outstanding research contributions, including work that laid the foundation of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short course), a highly efficient and cost-effective approach which is now the internationally recommended strategy for TB control. India continues to take a leading role in the development of new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. A holistic and multi-sectoral approach to TB elimination is critical. Innovative programmes are already in place, including direct benefit transfers, which provide cash incentives to people with TB in order to augment nutritional support. Private sector engagement is also helping to drive the overall healthcare agenda. India remains committed to Universal Health Coverage through the national Health Protection Scheme, and is working to implement strategies that will help to destigmatize the disease in order to support access to care for more people. Correctly diagnosing TB, and identifying drug-resistance to ensure people can access appropriate treatment, is at the heart of the elimination efforts. Strengthening diagnostic capacity is key, and there continues to be a focus on improving laboratory capacity for diagnosing TB and its drug-resistant strains. The World Health Organization has begun work on an Essential Diagnostics List (EDL) a counterpart to the existing Essential Medicines List (EML). There is a window of opportunity for India to set an example to other countries by developing a national EDL aimed at: improving patient care, helping detect outbreaks, increasing affordability of tests, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for tests, reducing antibiotic abuse as part of antimicrobial resistance control, improving regulation and quality of diagnostic tests, strengthening accreditation and quality of laboratories, improving supply chain, and guiding the research and development of new diagnostic tools. A successful EDL will also promote rational use of diagnostics as well as being cognisant of the economic burden on the patient. Immediately prior to the Delhi End TB Summit, ICMR hosted a National EDL Consultation Meeting. It was determined that the national EDL should be developed by working back from the EML, taking treatment guidelines into account. It must take into account the standards of available human resources, quality, sensitivity and specificity of tests, standard operating procedures and costing. While a focus on all levels of healthcare is important, the emphasis should be on primary healthcare the point at which patients first present. It also need to take account of an evolving landscape changes to disease burden, epidemiology and new diagnostics becoming available will mean ongoing revisions to the EDL will need to be considered. This will also have implications for the way in which the EDL is delivered in clinical practice. Here too, the private sector has an important role to play, with capacity and capability that must be taken into account as publicprivate collaborations are explored. It is an exciting time for TB in India. We have the potential to be world leaders in eliminating this disease, and the momentum to make it happen. - Dr Sanjay Sarin, Head, FIND India Study funded by Wellcome UK, one of the worlds biggest funders of biomedical research & will be taken up in April 2018 at North India Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad is going to undertake a study on the ways in which ageing is conceptualized within In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) by researching on elderly couples conceiving and birthing children in North India with the help of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The project has been sanctioned funding of Rs. 25 lakh under the Wellcome UK Small Projects Grant for 2018 and is titled: 'A Preliminary Study of Ageing and Assisted Reproduction in India.' The project will commence in April 2018 and includes fieldwork, a conference on 'Reframing the Biological Clock: Exploring Ethnographic Research on Ageing and Reproduction' in August 2018 with presentations from academics across the world. The Conference will focus on ongoing research on aspects of the ageing reproductive body and how technology and society imagine childbirth and families in such a context. Research from Europe, USA and Asia will be presented at the conference, which will be hosted by IIT Hyderabad. Wellcome UK is a global charitable organization that supports scientists and researchers take on big problems, fuel imaginations, and spark debate. It supports over 14,000 people in more than 70 countries and is one of the worlds biggest funders of biomedical research. Speaking about the project, Dr. Anindita Majumdar, Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts, IIT Hyderabad who will be leading the Research said, "The aim of the research is to contribute conceptually and through field data to ongoing, and future research on assisted conception, infertility and reproduction in India. This would include publications emerging from research, and the development of a larger research project that will look at the impact that societal and environmental factors have on increasing fears of declining fertility in urban India." This research firmly embeds itself within emerging issues of the biological clock, and declining fertility which has long-term significance on demographic and population trends, as well as on the social care and responsibility of an ageing population. Thanking the Wellcome UK for the grant, Dr. Anindita Majumdar said that it would be used: Real-life Story Of Crazy Cannibal Who Cooked The Heart Of A Woman Pulse oi-Syeda Farah Real-life Story Of Crazy Cannibal Who Cooked The Heart Of A Woman | Boldsky There are so many disturbing crimes that happen around in the world. Some of the most chilling cases do remain in our minds for a very long time as they would be the most gruesome acts. Here is one such case which is not for the weak hearts. This is the case of a young woman who was killed brutally by a cannibal who ate her heart mercilessly. Read on to known more... It Happened In Russia This gruesome act of the woman losing her life happened in Russia. The poor victim was just 27 years old and was a mother of two beautiful kids who was killed by a cannibal named Alexey Yastrebov. Chilling Postmortem Pics Of Celebs! The Killing Act It is reported that the cannibal killed the woman by stabbing the woman in the neck and he apparently cut out her Adam's apple with a kitchen knife. Well The Cannibal Needed To Do More Harm! He apparently gouged out her heart and left lung of the woman and then cooked it on the stove! He called his flat owner and apparently told: 'Call the police and ambulance. I'm lying in the blood, next to me is a corpse.' When Cops Arrived When the paramedics arrived at his place they saw blood all over the place. He poised and told them: 'There's a heart cooking on the stove.' But What Happened? It is still not clear as to what lead to this gruesome act, but as humans it makes us wonder what would have gone wrong to this extend that people tend to go to these extremes. About The Man There have been medical tests done on the man as to what led him to take up this extreme step or was this done under the influence of any drug which lead to this extreme case. It is still unclear though. Need Counseling If you or your loved one is feeling lonely or weird for a while, we guess it is time to talk out and express your feelings. As we never know when our anger or frustration can take over our mental state. GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, March 27, 2018, 12:04 [IST] Samaritan House Ministries put out an urgent plea for donations, and generous Brandonites responded in a big way. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/3/2018 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Samaritan House Ministries put out an urgent plea for donations, and generous Brandonites responded in a big way. Nearly 2,300 pounds of food have been donated to Brandons largest food bank after photos of empty pallets went viral on social media. "Were happy to say that we had a very exciting response from the community," said executive director Thea Dennis. "We know that Brandon, we look after our own, and were just really thankful for it." Photos of the empty pallets circulated on social media beginning on March 13, followed by coverage in The Brandon Sun and other local media. It prompted many community members to step into action. "We saw everything come through there was businesses, youth groups, families it was amazing," Dennis said. Last year, Samaritan House gave out more than 20,000 hampers. This year to date, more than 5,000 hampers have been distributed, including 1,394 in March. "Were revving up for the PhysioFirst Food Drive on May 26, and we have enough now to get us there," Dennis said. "Thats greatly appreciated because when its low, it can be very stressful. So without the community stepping up in the way that they did, that stress would have increased Im sure." The food bank distributed 19,000 hampers in 2016, and 17,000 in 2015. To compare, back in 2005, Samaritan House gave out 500 hampers for the entire year. High rental costs and increasing food prices have contributed to a record number of people turning to the food bank. Maple Leaf Foods Brandon recently donated 1,880 hams to the cause, just in time for Easter. When the company heard about the food shortage, the Winnipeg branch donated two pallets of hams as well. Just yesterday, the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba held its annual food drive for Samaritan House at its Sunrise Breakfast, which kicked off the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. "We were able to get a thousand pounds worth of food from them thats a huge number this year as well," Dennis said, noting this is in addition to the donations mentioned previously. "Were very happy to see it come in, and were even more happy to put it into the hampers." There are a few items that the food bank is still in need of, Dennis said, which include diapers (size 3-5) and baby formula. jaustin@brandonsun.com Twitter: @jillianaustin Euronext announced today that it has completed its acquisition of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) after receiving regulatory approvals. The pan-European exchange will add the ISE to its federal model, where it will operate as Euronext Dublin, with Ireland becoming one of Euronext's six core countries. The combined group is the largest centre for debt and funds listings in the world, with more than 37,000 listed bonds and 5,600 funds. It is also a major player in Exchange Traded Funds with 1,050 listings. Deirdre Somers, who was appointed as CEO of Euronext Dublin and will join the Managing Board of Euronext N.V., described it as an historic day for Irish capital markets. "We are excited to be part of the Euronext federal model and the opportunities that it delivers to listed companies and Irish enterprises to access wider pools of international capital and corporate services," she said. Deirdre Somers, CEO of Euronext Dublin and Stephane Boujnah, Euronext CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board, at the press conference of Euronext's acquisition of the ISE in November. Photo: maxwellphotography.ie. Euronext is uniquely positioned to welcome independent exchanges such as the Irish Stock Exchange, now Euronext Dublin, that want to join its federal model and benefit from its single cross-country liquidity pool, its state-of-the-art proprietary technology, and its single rule book," said Stephane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext. "We have a strong growth plan for our new combined Group, to strengthen our leadership in debt and funds listings, and to be the entry point for ETF growth, while generating synergies through the integration of Euronext Dublin," he said. "This significant extension of the federal model will also reinforce Euronexts post-Brexit strategic position and allow the Group to capture growth opportunities that arise, with a disciplined M&A approach. Euronext Dublin to be consolidated in Euronext financials on April 1st. - Digital Desk iStock/Thinkstock(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented Trayvon Martin's family, said at a press conference Monday he would be representing the family of Stephon Clark, the 22-year-old who was shot at 20 times by police while clutching only a cellphone. Crump made the announcement before a throng of reporters at Sacramento City Hall, where he compared the outcomes seen by suspects in the Austin bombing and Parkland shooting with that of Clark. The attorney was flanked by Sequita Thompson, Clark's grandmother. Crump discussed the parallels among the deaths of Clark, Martin, Michael Brown, Terrance Crutcher and Eric Garner, as well as the recent events in Texas and in Florida. Martin, 17 at the time, was shot six years ago in Florida by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. "People who are committing mass shootings in Florida were not shot once, but a young man holding a cell phone was shot 20 times," said Crump, who was cheered by many attending the press conference. "A young man who was bombing homes in Austin, Texas, the police followed him for hours and he wasn't shot once. "But an unarmed man holding a cell phone is shot 20 times." The attorney also invoked the words of Martin Luther King, whose assassination was 50 years ago, saying: "It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it's nonviolence or nonexistence." Clark, nicknamed "Zo," "chose nonviolence," said Crump, vowing that he will not let Clark be nonexistent in death. Thompson, Clark's grandmother, poured her heart out, asking why Sacramento officers fired 20 bullets at her grandson as he stood in her backyard on March 18. "Why didn't you just shoot him in the arm?" she asked, weeping. "Shoot him in the leg? Why did you have to do that?" According to Sacramento Police Department bodycam footage, Clark was unarmed. He had been holding an iPhone. Thompson was home at the time of the shooting and hear the gunshots from her dining room. "All I heard was boom, boom, boom," she said, as she crawled to reach her 7-year-old granddaughter's bedroom to call 911. "They never should have killed him like that." Clark's older brother, Stevante Clark, spoke to ABC News days after his brother was killed, and he described his grandmother's reaction. "She yelled at them and called them murderers," he said. Stevante Clark said he didn't know why police officers were pursuing his brother in the first place. "The cops didn't provide us with any information about the alleged break-ins," he said. It had been initially reported that cops received a 911 phone call from a neighbor. In fact, according to a later-released 911 call, a male neighbor had described a man wearing a hoodie attempting to break a window of his truck before running off. Officers and a chopper hovering above headed toward the 7500 block of 29th Street and spotted Clark in his grandmother's backyard. Stephon Clark, according to Stevante Clark, regularly entered the home through the backyard because the front doorbell was broken. According to the released bodycam footage, when officers encountered Clark they believed he was holding a "toolbar." The officers said Clark motioned toward them, as one can be heard yelling, "Show me your hands ... gun, gun, gun!" The officers then combined to fire 20 shots. Sgt. Vance Chandler, a police spokesman, told ABC News that the department was still reviewing Monday's events involving Crump and Stephon Clark's family before responding publicly. The Sacramento Police Department so far has refused to release to ABC News the names of the two officers who allegedly shot Stephon Clark. The officers were placed on administrative leave and reportedly have each received death threats. "At this point," Chandler said, "we are evaluating that on a day-by-day basis because of the threats the officers have received." In terms of the family's filing a potential wrongful-death lawsuit, the spokesman said that he hasn't "received any information on that" and that the department "is committed to being transparent with this incident." The press conference on Monday was interrupted by chants of Stephon Clark's name, as one of his two brothers repeatedly kissed the cheek of Alice Huffman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "We need gun control in our community," Huffman said, "but we also need gun control for police in this nation." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Jeremy Hodges, Ewa Krukowska, and Mathew Carr Europes 31bn a year carbon market is finally starting to work the way it was intended, reining in pollution with a minimum of squealing from industry. Thirteen years after it was created to limit carbon-dioxide emissions, prices for the allowances are rising. EU policymakers have enacted measures expected to keep the cost of pollution on an upward trajectory through 2030, prompting hedge funds that abandoned the market to pile back in. Higher carbon prices drive up the cost of using hard coal and lignite to run power plants. Its one of the mechanisms the EU is using to move industry away from the most polluting fuels and reaching the goals for curbing climate change set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. For a five-year-plus period, this market was in the desert, Per Lekander, a fund manager at Lansdowne Partners, said. Whats happened over the past five months is the investment community is getting behind it again and putting on positions, he said. Big polluters have heard the message and are starting to adapt. From Volkswagen to RWE, which is Germanys largest power generator, industry is cleaning up its smokestacks. Some are buying before allowances get even more expensive. All this is happening without noticeable complaints from industry, in part because policymakers from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to UK Prime Minister Theresa May have made it clear they want to phase out coal within the next decade, slashing greenhouse gases. Companies favour the carbon market because it gives them more flexibility than regulation or taxes. Its also a good sign for the global effort to rein in climate change, showing that market mechanisms and government policy can persuade industry to step away from fossil fuels. Europes carbon market is the biggest of more than 45 systems working worldwide, and a model being tried everywhere from China to Mexico and parts of the US. Carbon trading wasnt an immediate success. Europes permits surged to more than 29 a tonne in 2006 and 2008, only to plunge more than 90% after the financial crisis hobbled industry and helped create a surplus of the pollution rights. That glut took policymakers years to mop up, culminating in an agreement that got final approval only last month. Theyve surged 57% to as much as 13.04 for each ton emitted on March 22 on the ICE Futures Europe exchange. Jan Kresnik, a portfolio manager at broker Belektron, said prices of 30 a tonne or more could be reachable. BNEF estimates it will reach 32 by 2023. - Bloomberg INM shares decline 5% on ODCE probe news, writes Eamon Quinn. Shares in Independent News and Media (INM) closed 5% lower yesterday as analysts scrambled to assess the potential cost to INM following a High Court application by corporate watchdog, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) to have an inspector appointed to investigate the media firm. The shares have now lost a quarter of their value since a row blew up over a proposed takeover of broadcaster Newstalk in late 2016. Analysts say the renewed shares slide shows the extent of the uncertainty over the potential costs if INM fails in its bid to persuade the courts at the first hearing on April 16. The ODCE has only once before appointed an inspector to a firm since it was set up around 16 years ago. The Companies Act says the court may appoint one or more competent inspectors to investigate the affairs of a company following an application by the ODCE. Former INM chief executive Robert Pitt, who stepped down last October, had used whistleblowing legislation to complain as a dispute inside the media firm raged over the price of the proposed Newstalk acquisition. He had clashed with former chairman Leslie Buckley, who has also stepped down from INM. Denis OBrien is a significant shareholder in INM and is the founder of Communicorp, which owns Newstalk. The news that the chief executive used whistleblowing legislation raised the heat over the controversy and showed the seriousness of the row. INM disclosed last year that the ODCE had asked it for documents involving plans it had to acquire Newstalk. At the end of last year, the media firm had over 91m in cash, which accounted for well over half its current market value of 128.9m, and had assets, net of its pension liability, of 76m. Philip OSullivan, chief economist at Investec Ireland, said the balance sheet was sufficient to hold up the share price although the potential appointment of an inspector will take up a lot of time for the new board. Earlier this month, INM confirmed former Telegraph Media Group chief Murdoch MacLennan as its non-executive chairman. Analyst Rachel Fox at Goodbody said it was hard at this stage to estimate the costs from the ODCE investigation could entail because the appointment of an inspector if it were to happen, is a rare event. She said she would await developments before assessing whether to downgrade her 2018 earnings forecast. Irish paper and packaging giant Smurfit Kappa has rejected a raised takeover offer from US rival International Paper, but a sharp 3.4% fall in Smurfit shares may well signal the hostile suitor is so far winning the 8.9bn bidding war, writes Eamon Quinn. Earlier this month, shares in Smurfit leaped almost 20% to 33.86, valuing Smurfit then at over 8.1bn, after IP made a takeover approach that was rejected by Smurfit. By market value, Smurfit is the third-largest Irish multinational behind CRH and Kerry. The approach by IP, whose market value of $21.45bn (17.36bn) is almost twice Smurfits value, had put the leading Iseq and Ftse 100 company into play. Smurfit runs its huge operations across Europe and South America from its head offices and distribution centres employing hundreds of staff in Dublin. However, yesterday, the shares fell to 33.58, a drop of 3.4% on the day after Smurfit rejected a sweetened offer. A falling share price could weaken Smurfits defences, while IP shares, up 4% at one stage, could bolster its assault. Smurfit said its board had unanimously rejected the increased offer of 25.25 in cash and 0.3 new International Paper shares. The offer valued Smurfit at 8.9bn based on IPs closing price last week. Smurfit said that remained well below valuations in recent industry transactions. We believe our revised proposal is responsive to the views of Smurfit Kappa shareholders and provides a sound basis upon which to secure a recommendation from Smurfit Kappas board, IP said. The global paper and packaging industry hasnt seen such a potential mega-deal since former chief Michael Smurfit assembled a series of huge transactions starting about 15 years ago. A management buyout funded by US equity firms, and subsequently the acquisition of Kappa Packaging, originally from the Netherlands, meant Smurfit Kappa controlled a substantial share of the cardboard packaging market across continental Europe. IP, with huge box-making facilities in the US, has very little presence in Europe, outside of Spain. Smurfit employs 45,000 staff in 35 countries around the world, has 36 mills, and owns extensive forests. - Additional reporting Reuters Environmental action could terminate a state-backed oil exploration deal in Norway that provides lucrative taxes, writes Mikael Holter. After an unprecedented lawsuit against Arctic drilling, environmentalists have launched a legal battle to challenge a tax incentive thats been a cornerstone of the countrys policy to stimulate oil exploration. The move comes at a bad time for Norway, which needs to step up the search for new resources if it wants to avoid a sharp output decline from the middle of the next decade. It adds to existing headwinds for the countrys biggest industry, which has emerged stronger from a bruising slump but is facing an intensifying debate over its sustainability. At stake is a tax mechanism that allows unprofitable oil companies to claim 78% of exploration costs as a cash refund, instead of deducting the expenses over time. The Norwegian government has paid out 109bn kroner (11.4bn) since 2005 to explorers such as Lundin Petroleum and Repsol. It helped attract more companies to Norway, nearly doubling the pace of exploration and leading to key discoveries such as the multi-billion-barrel Johan Sverdrup field. Environmental group Bellona last year filed a complaint to the EFTA Surveillance Authority, a watchdog that makes sure Norway complies with EU rules. Should the ESA decide the refund is illegal state aid, oil companies would need to return some of the cash and Norway dismantle the programme. It would be serious. We need more exploration activity, said Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Soviknes. Climate activists are increasingly turning to the law to fight the oil industry. Greenpeace has also sued Norway (unsuccessfully so far) to stop licences in the Barents Sea. Opponents say the exploration refund encourages the search for oil the world cant afford to burn. By the end of the year the ESA will decide on whether to formally investigate, which could take 12 to 18 months, said director of competition and state aid Gjermund Mathisen Norway could appeal in the case of a loss. It has rebuffed claims that the programme constitutes illegal aid, most recently in a February 9 letter to the ESA. Erling Hjelmeng, a law professor at the University of Oslo, puts the probability of Norway losing at more than 50%. This is pretty open, he said. However, the financial impact would be limited since the amount companies would be forced to return would likely be much lower than what has been paid out since 2005, according to Hjelmeng and Oyvind Olimstad, a partner at law firm Selmer Advokatfirma. Thats because the financial advantage is limited to the value of getting an immediate refund rather than a later tax deduction, they said. Many of the companies are also now paying taxes, making them eligible for deductions that would even out the slate. However a loss would hurt exploration. Activity would undoubtedly drop, said Graham Stewart, chief executive of Faroe Petroleum, a London-listed company thats recouped 2.8bn kroner since 2006. Faroe is all but immune because it will soon be in a tax-paying position, but it would make Norway less attractive to new entrants and could make some companies leave, he said. It would be a great loss. Its worked really well for Norway,said Stewart. Norway would then need to look at other measures to compensate, said Soviknes. One example of how the tax rule has served Norway is the success of Lundin. Backed by the refund, the Swedish company was able to test new exploration theories and eventually in 2010 discovered Sverdrup, Norways biggest oil find in decades. Since 2005, Lundin has received about 6.5bn kroner in refunds. However, its also paid more than 25bn kroner in taxes and expects to pay 200bn kroner more by 2040. - Bloomberg The number of trips made to Ireland by people living overseas has increased by 12.4% to 575,300 in February, according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office today. This marks an overall increase of 63,300 compared to twelve months earlier. Trips by British residents increased by 13.1% to 263,500 while trips by people from European countries other than Britain increased by 18.3% to 202,100. Trips by residents of the USA and Canada to Ireland increased by 5.4% to 79,600. Meanwhile, the total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents during February 2018 decreased by 2.9% to 492,400. Tourism Ireland welcomed the fact that arrivals from Britain are up 4% for the first two months of 2018, but noted that this doesnt represent a turnaround in the long-term trend. "The impact of Brexit on outbound travel from Britain, therefore, remains a concern," said Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland. "The fall in the value of sterling has made holidays and short breaks here more expensive for British visitors and has made Britain more affordable for visitors from many of our top markets," he said. "Competitiveness and value for money remain more important than ever in Britain this year," he said. We cautiously welcome the growth of +4% in arrivals from Britain for January-February 2018 ... although Brexit and the fall in the value of sterling remain a real concern pic.twitter.com/6R0ZmU8j4a Tourism Ireland (@TourismIreland) March 27, 2018 He said that the picture is "very positive" as we look toward the summer season, particularly with the introduction of new long-haul flights, including the Hainan Airlines flight from Beijing and the Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong, in June. Cabinet today is set discuss an internal review of the Strategic Communications Unit this morning. The country's most senior civil servant Martin Fraser said that there needs to be wide-ranging changes to the unit's structure. It has been the subject of controversy since it placed advertisements in the press to promote the Government's infrastructure plan, Ireland 2040. TDs voted 85 to 49 in support of a Sinn Fein motion calling for the 5m spin unit to be dismantled last Thursday. Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, and Labour all voted against the SCUs continuation, but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar rejected any such calls. - Digital desk By Louise Walsh A constant "battle" for funding has led to the closure of a 30-year old award-winning national drug prevention and advisory service, at a time when its founder says that teenagers as young as 14 are using heroin. Founder of the national Aisling Group charity in Navan, Co Meath, Marie Byrne says the closure comes as drug use reaches 'epidemic proportions' in Ireland. The internationally acclaimed addiction counsellor says children of 11 years old are now binge drinking while teenagers are using heroin from 14 or even younger. Marie described the closure of the centre - which has helped thousands of children, adults and families across the country - as 'heartbreaking' but says she could no longer afford to financially fund the voluntary service, with little government agency support. The author has worked in an advisory capacity with the Australian Government and has travelled to Brazil to work in the notorious drug-run favelas alongside the famous BOPE police force. She believes Ireland is losing its fight against drugs "by treating the symptoms and not the root causes." "Ireland is known internationally for its liberal attitude to drug use," she said. "Teenagers as young as 14 are now using heroin and children of 11 years old are binge drinking, both in Meath and across the country." "Our leaders appear to have thrown in the towel as they look at spaces where people can supposedly use and inject safely - but there is no safe use. "Once, crack cocaine was something we saw on TV but now it has become the substance of choice here "I thought the situation was bad here 30 years ago but it's nothing compared to now. Children and adults are even now using the internet to learn how to cut drugs. "Ireland has one of the highest rates of drug use in Europe but we've a policy of treating the symptoms, not reducing the use. "There's little funding for drug-free programmes here. Instead, 22m is spent on methadone each year. "It's at epidemic proportions." Marie is about to publish her second book - the Angel in the Marble - which gives advice to parents on recognising and helping their children who show signs of addictions, including alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, gambling and internet use. Marie says it was a 'privilege' to work at the centre which was the recipient of the All Islands Special Endeavour Award from the then President Mary McAleese. "It was a privilege to meet so many people and see them overcome their addictions and move onto a better life. Our great volunteers, supporters and friends helped so much. "We never got the real financial support needed for the service - it was a major challenge and constant battle for any kind of funding. "It cost me a lot financially but I know that people are alive today because of the work of the charity and nothing can ever take away from that," she concluded. Local Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin called the closure a 'disaster,' adding that there are 'little or no supports for those young people who want to come off drugs." He said: "I'm told there are only 787 residential rehabilitation and detox beds in the state - not far off the number of drug deaths each year and only a fraction of the number of methadone and heroin users. "Only 22 of these beds are for teenagers at a time when drug use in parts of the country are at epidemic rates. "Marie Byrne and the Aisling Group have helped hundreds of people come off drugs and build healthy, safe lives. "Many of these young people would surely have lost their lives to drugs, only for the Aisling Group "The Government seems to be surrendering the fight against drug use amongst our young people in our communities by allowing such groups to close," he concluded. Update 5pm: The Russian Ambassador to Ireland has described the decision to expel a Russian diplomat as "unwarranted, uncalled for, senseless and regrettable". Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney announced Ireland would withdraw the papers for one diplomat in solidarity with the UK. Yury Filatov, the Russian Ambassador, criticised the decision and denied that Russia was involved in the nerve attack. "There was no Russian involvement in the Salisbury incident, and it is high time that Great Britain stop misleading its own public as well as the international community " he said. Update 3pm: The government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat has been dubbed "stupid and dangerous" by People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett. Opposition parties say there's no evidence at the moment to back up British claims that Russia is behind the poisoning of a former spy in Salisbury. Mr Barrett says it's the wrong decision and that it is "purely based on assertions without evidence". Simon Coveney's statement has provided absolutely no evidence as to an independent assessment by the Irish government as to who carried out this atrocity and indeed, last week the Taoiseach said Ireland didn't have the resources to carry out such an independent assessment," he said. .@RBoydBarrett says government expelling a Russian diplomat is stupid and dangerous pic.twitter.com/Ey5DxtN9d3 Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 27, 2018 Update 12.35pm: The Government have today announced that a member of the Russian embassy staff with diplomatic status is to be expelled over the nerve agent attack in Britain. It comes as a host of EU member states as well as the US expel Russian diplomatic staff from their countries in the wake of the Salisbury attack. The decision to expel a diplomat here was made at Cabinet this morning. Tanaiste Simon Coveney has met the Russian ambassador here at Iveagh House, Dublin, and informed him of the Government decision. In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Minister explained: The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, anywhere, is particularly shocking and abhorrent. The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom, but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and wellbeing. In light of the European Council Conclusions, and following an assessment conducted by the security services and relevant Departments, I have briefed the Government on my intended course of action. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has subsequently met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation and informed him that the accreditation of a member of his staff with diplomatic status is to be terminated, in line with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The individual in question is required to leave the jurisdiction. The entrance to the Russian Embassy in Dublin. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire However, Opposition parties have questioned any move by Ireland to punish Russia for the alleged attack, without definitive proof. The Social Democrat and Solidarity-People Before Profit both called on the Government today not to expel any diplomats without sufficient proof. European Union members last week agreed at a summit in Brussels that it was highly likely that Russia had perpetrated the attack against a former spy and his daughter, who both remain in hospital. The Russian ambassador to Ireland will later today meet journalists at the embassy in Rathgar, Dublin, to give their reaction to Irish Government move. Update 12.35pm: Ireland expected to expel at least one Russian diplomat today At least one Russian diplomat is expected to be expelled from Ireland later. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was presented with a list of options after the Salisbury spy poisoning, which will be discussed at Cabinet this morning before a decision is made. More than 100 staff are now on their way home from Moscow's embassies in 23 countries around the world. The Kremlin is being blamed for using a nerve agent to attack a former spy and his daughter in the UK earlier this month. International Relations expert Ed Burke says Ireland is setting an example for Europe. "The Taoiseach has led the EU response to the attack in Salisbury, to some extent," he said. "He and President Macron were the most vocal about standing up to Russia, preventing the murder of other European citizens. "So I expect Ireland to expel at least one diplomatically declared official in the Russian Embassy today." Ahead of an anticipated announcement, Russia's ambassador to Ireland, Yury Filatov, warned against any action that might "ruin" the relationship between the two countries. "We should be concerned about the best interest of the Irish public and best interest of the Russian public - the Irish/Russian relations," he told RTE on Monday night. "We have a huge amount of good will, we have a very nice relationship - positive, constructive, stable relations, open dialogue and good business. "And I don't see anything which would really point to the necessity to ruin it." Simon Coveney: "You can expect that Ireland will take action tomorrow that's appropriate and that will show solidarity with our closest neighbour." pic.twitter.com/fiqPk9c07c RTE News (@rtenews) March 26, 2018 Minister Coveney briefed Cabinet colleagues on the matter in Dublin earlier this morning. Ahead of that meeting, Minister Coveney said the Government would "take appropriate action" to "show solidarity" with the UK. Russian Embassy - Digital desk Update 7.05pm: The Cabinet has approved the draft laws they would try to bring in if the Eighth Amendment is repealed. It proposes to allow abortions where a doctor assesses that a woman is not more than 12 weeks pregnant. 72 hours will have to pass between a woman seeking an abortion and the termination being carried out. After the first three months of pregnancy, terminations will only be allowed in limited circumstances - where there is a fatal foetal abnormality, or a risk to the life or health of the mother. A debate on holding the referendum has just started in the Seanad, and Health Minister Simon Harris says we should know this week when polling day will be. He said: "Earlier this year I set out a very detailed, ambitious and demanding timetable to facilitate a referendum by the end of May and I'm pleased to say that it is firmly on track. "I expect that we will be in a position to set the polling day this week so that the people of Ireland will know exactly what day in May this referendum will take place." 1.19pm: Simon Coveney's plan for majority lock on new abortion laws 'unconstitutional' Simon Coveney's plan for a two-thirds majority lock on new abortion laws is unconstitutional, according to opposition TDs. The Tanaiste's proposal would mean two-thirds of the Dail and Seanad would need to approve any further changes to abortion legislation. The plan is part of a bid to stop any further sliding towards more liberal laws, if the government's current plans get approval. The Iona Institute, Labour leader Brendan Howlin and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy have criticised the idea, saying that it would be unconstitutional. Speaking to RTEs Morning Ireland, Deputy Howlin said: I have no doubt that what he is suggesting is unconstitutional. The problem is if that was inserted in the law, prima facie, that law would not be constitutional itself and I wouldnt want to put the really hard work of advancing this case at risk. Deputy Murphy echoed his sentiments, saying: "Each vote is of equal value, and I think what he is proposing, if you were to take it to a logical conclusion would actually require another amendment to the Constitution. "So I think he's got to really rethink that." The Constitution says that all votes in each house of the Oireachtas shall be determined by a simple majority of voters present, unless there is an article in the constitution saying otherwise. Health Minister Simon Harris has said he is open to considering the idea, however. Update 10.28am: Health Minister Simon Harris has said that says he expects the Government to set a date for the referendum on the 8th Amendment this week. Cabinet is today discussing the proposed legislation that would be introduced if the 8th Amendment is repealed. It includes allowing abortions to be carried out by medical practitioners through abortion pills up to 12 weeks, a three day cooling off period and restrictions on late-term abortions. Minister Harris said that he is aiming to announce a May date for the referendum this week, so people can plan to be in the country. "I look forward to a detailed conversation today in relation to the legislation, but not just that, also in relation to a range of measures we can put in place to reduce crisis pregnancies in Ireland," he said. "This is a significant day, the Cabinet will consider this issue today, I'll take the Referendum Bill into the Seanad tonight and tomorrow. "Subject to the Seanad passing this Bill this week, we will set the polling day for the referendum on the 8th Amendment this week." Simon Harris says today is a significant day in terms of the planned referendum on the Eighth Amendment. | https://t.co/4ARskzsdvu pic.twitter.com/sDe3NdAkAh RTE News (@rtenews) March 27, 2018 Earlier: Coveney wants new abortion legislation to include two-thirds majority lock The Tanaiste wants proposed new abortion legislation to include a two-thirds majority lock to prevent it being easily changed in the future. It would mean any alterations to abortion laws in the future would need the support of two-thirds of the Dail and Seanad. Cabinet ministers will discuss the general scheme for what abortion laws they would aim to bring in if the 8th amendment is repealed this morning. After declaring he has changed his mind on the issue yesterday, Simon Coveney will tell his colleagues there needs to be more protection to prevent any laws being changed easily in the future. He will say a two-thirds lock system would make it impossible for any one political grouping to change the law. It is seen as a counter move to those on the pro-life side claiming these proposed new laws would open the floodgates for abortion on demand, and avoid any creeping change on the issue. A two-thirds majority would be more than Fine Gael and Fianna Fail combined in the current Dail. What Ministers are considering this morning proposes allowing abortions to be carried out by medical practitioners through abortion pills up to 12 weeks gestation. A three-day cooling-off period will be required from when a woman seeks an abortion to when she gets the pill. There will also be restrictions on late-term abortions in the cases of fatal foetal abnormality or risk to the life or health of the mother. The Save the 8th campaign has criticised Minister Coveneys proposals, saying they are "crazy, unconstitutional, and telling". Save the 8ths Niamh UiBhrian said: We agree with Simon Coveney that politicians simply cannot be trusted with abortion, and that additional safeguards are needed. But what the Minister is proposing is crazy, unconstitutional, and telling. Article 15 of the constitution says that all matters before the Dail shall be decided by simple majority. "It is absolutely astonishing and outrageous for the second most senior figure in the Government to effectively mislead the public about what can be included in a contentious piece of legislation. She added: "If the Tanaiste genuinely wants additional protection for the unborn, he needs a constitutional amendment but he is campaigning to get rid of just that. "What the Tanaiste is saying this morning is that he does not trust politicians to legislate on abortion. He is not alone. - Digital desk By Isabel Hayes Two Meath brothers have been convicted of raping two of their sisters 30 years ago. A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted one of the men today. His brother was convicted after a trial last January and jailed for seven and a half years earlier this month. The men, who are both in their late 40s, cannot be named in order to protect the anonymity of the victims. The first man was found guilty last January by a Central Criminal Court jury of four counts of raping and three counts of sexually assaulting his sister at various locations between 1983 and 1990. At his sentence hearing in February, the victim said her brother ruined her teenage years and she lived in constant fear of when he would next rape her. The woman told the court: No matter how many times I told you to stop, said no, pushed you away from me, told you that a brother shouldn't do this to me, you continued to abuse and rape me with that smirk on your face. I blamed myself because I was not strong enough to stop you but it wasn't my fault. You did this. Sentencing the man last Tuesday, March 20th, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy said the effect of the abuse on the victim had been devastating. He failed to heed her pleas that he stop, that he go away, that he leave her alone - her reminders to him that brothers shouldn't do to sisters what he was doing to her, Ms Justice Murphy said. Instead, he continued to abuse and rape her. She handed down a 10-year sentence but suspended the last two and a half years, noting the man was a juvenile for much of his offending. However, she noted he continued to offend as an adult. (This was) evidence of the accused continuing his dominion over the complainant and using her for his own sexual gratification as and when he chose, she said. The media was requested not to report on the sentence until the ongoing Central Criminal Court trial of the man's brother had concluded. That man, who also can't be named, was accused of sexually abusing another sister. Today, he was found guilty by a jury of two counts of indecently assaulting and one count of raping his sister between 1987 and 1988. His matter will next come before the court on April 19th. In relation to the first brother, the court previously heard how the woman kept the abuse secret from her family for years, but revealed it after her brother confronted her at a family meeting. It was your arrogance (confronting) me that caused me to blurt out what you did to me, the woman said. Although it wasn't planned, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. You were wrong. I was believed. And when the jury found you guilty, I knew I was believed again. The man, who is married, maintains his innocence. Justice Deirdre Murphy noted the first step towards rehabilitation was acknowledging guilt. That's the problem, the judge said. The trial heard that the abuse took place when the woman was aged between approximately 14 and 20 years old. Her brother is a year older than her. The woman described how her brother assaulted her in fields and wooded areas near her home, in a shed and in the family house. She said the abuse started with her brother touching and tickling her and later progressed to rape. She said he always ejaculated on her stomach and on one occasion he told her a local priest had advised him to do this so she wouldn't get pregnant. The woman described one incident during which she was on the phone when her brother came into the house and raped her in the hall. On another occasion, after she had left school, he raped her in her bed during the day. The woman said she was too afraid to confide in her parents and that her brother told her repeatedly that no-one would believe her and she would be put out of the family home. I didn't know how to tell somebody, she said. He was my brother - brothers shouldn't do things to their sisters. The woman said the final straw came on her 21st birthday, when an extended member of the family revealed he knew what her brother was doing to her and propositioned her for sex. It was like a stab in the back, the woman said of that incident. That night I thought, (my brother) is never going to rape me, sexually abuse me, have his penis near me ever again. The woman eventually confided in her future husband about the abuse, but did not tell the rest of her family until 2011. The man was charged in 2015 and denied all allegations of wrong-doing to gardai. Defence barrister, Damien Colgan SC, said his client was a young offender at the time of much of the offending. The court heard he was aged between 15 and 21 when he abused his sister. As a nearly 50-year-old man, he has a bleak life ahead of him, Mr Colgan said. Police in the North have launched an investigation into the abuse carried out by Fr Malachy Finnegan. The priest - who died in 2002 - was accused of abusing boys at St Colman's College in Newry over two decades. Ireland is not one bit neutral when it comes to assassination bids and chemical attacks, the Taoiseach said as he justified the decision to expel a Russian diplomat. Leo Varadkar rejected claims from Sinn Fein that the move against Moscow in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury undermined Ireland's long-standing military neutrality. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Varadkar was taking the decision based on the intelligence assessment of the UK. "Essentially Taoiseach you are asking us to trust Boris Johnson (UK foreign secretary) and dare I say it this might not be the wisest course of action," she told the Taoiseach during exchanges in the Dail parliament. Mr Varadkar said the expulsion of the Russian diplomat was a show of solidarity with the UK. He insisted Ireland had "no quarrel with the Russian people". The Taoiseach noted that other neutral countries, such as Sweden and Finland, has also expelled diplomats in response to the Salisbury incident. "Ireland is a neutral country, we do not join military alliances, we will not be joining Nato, we will not be part of a European army," he said. "However, when it comes to terrorism, assassinations and the use of chemical weapons and cyber terrorism we are not neutral, one bit." Earlier, Tanaiste Simon Coveney described the Salisbury attack as an affront to international law and order. Former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital following the March 4th attack, which has been widely blamed on Russia. Mr Coveney announced the expulsion after briefing cabinet colleagues this morning. "The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, anywhere, is particularly shocking and abhorrent," he said. "The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom, but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and well-being. "In light of the European Council conclusions, and following an assessment conducted by the security services and relevant departments, I have briefed the Government on my intended course of action. "The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has subsequently met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation and informed him that the accreditation of a member of his staff with diplomatic status is to be terminated, in line with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "The individual in question is required to leave the jurisdiction." Russia has 17 accredited diplomats working out of the Russian embassy in Rathgar in south Dublin. Ahead of an anticipated expulsion announcement, Russia's ambassador to Ireland, Yury Filatov, had warned against any action that might "ruin" the relationship between the two countries. Russia's Ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov leaving the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin today. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. "We should be concerned about the best interest of the Irish public and best interest of the Russian public, the Irish/Russian relations," he told RTE on Monday night. "We have a huge amount of goodwill, we have a very nice relationship, positive, constructive, stable relations, open dialogue and good business. "I don't see anything which would really point to the necessity to ruin it." Russian Ambassador's message to Leo Varadkar: show common sense pic.twitter.com/nwt7qwqafx Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) March 26, 2018 - Press Association and Digital Desk A question about citizenship status on the 2020 US census has been criticised by Democrats who say it will intimidate immigrants and discourage them from participating. The population count taken every 10 years is required by the US Constitution and used to determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives as well as how federal money is distributed to local communities. It helps communities determine where to build schools, hospitals, grocery stores and more. The US Congress delegates the authority to determine census questions to commerce secretary Wilbur Ross. Mr Ross had until the end of March to submit the list of questions to Congress. The department said the citizenship information would help the Justice Department enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voting rights and helps prevent the unlawful dilution of the vote on the basis of race. The department said: "Secretary Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information to meet this legitimate government purpose outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts." A coalition of state attorneys general urged the department last month to not add such a question, saying it could lower participation among immigrants and cause a population under-count. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the state will sue the Trump administration over its decision. "We're prepared to do what we must to protect California from a deficient census," he said. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, told the Associated Press that he expected his state would also join in a lawsuit. He called the move by Mr Ross an attempt to suppress the count in states such as Massachusetts that have large immigrant populations. "The Constitution requires us to count every person living in the United States, not every citizen," Mr Galvin said. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said that adding such a question "will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities and cause traditionally under-counted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind." Democrats had been preparing for the decision in recent months. They have held press conferences and made it a point to question Mr Ross about his thinking during appearances at congressional hearings. Representative Carolyn Maloney introduced legislation last week that would prohibit the commerce secretary from enacting any major operational design that had not been researched and tested for less than three years prior to the opening day of the census. The bill has nine Democratic co-sponsors, but no Republicans have signed on, demonstrating the bill's dim prospects in the Republican-led Congress. Some Republicans hailed the decision. Senators Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Ted Cruz of Texas had sent a letter to the Commerce Department asking Mr Ross to add the question. "It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide ranging impacts it will have on US policy," Mr Cruz said in a press release issued by the three. "A question on citizenship is a reasonable, commonsense addition to the census." The Commerce Department said that between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form. The Census Bureau now asks about place of birth, citizenship and year of entry on a separate survey conducted every year called the American Community Survey, sampling only a portion of the population. The citizenship data help agencies and policymakers evaluate immigration policy and understand how different immigrant groups are assimilated. The Justice Department said in a statement it was important to restore the use of a citizenship question in the 10-year census because it is used for redistricting purposes and the yearly survey is not the most appropriate data to use for that purpose. "The Justice Department is committed to free and fair elections for all Americans and has sought reinstatement of the citizenship question on the census to fulfil that commitment," the department statement read. The arrival of a special train in Beijing and unusually heavy security at a guesthouse where prominent North Koreans have stayed in the past have raised speculation that Kim Jong Un is making his first visit to China as the North's leader. Mr Kim has summits planned with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April and with US president Donald Trump by May. While there has been no word of a similar meeting with Chinese leaders, China has been one of North Korea's most important allies even though relations have recently chilled because of Kim's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. A vehicle convoy entered the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing this evening and a military honour guard and heavy security were seen later. That followed reports from Japanese network NTV and public broadcaster NHK of a special North Korean train arriving in Beijing under unusually heavy security. A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said she was not aware of the situation and had no further comment. North Korea's state-run media had no reports of a delegation travelling to China. South Korea's presidential office said it cannot confirm reports that the train carried Kim nor a separate report that Kim's sister was onboard. South Korean analysts were doubtful the visitor is Kim Jong Un. Since succeeding his father as leader in 2011, Kim has touted an image of his country as diplomatic equal to China and it is unlikely he would sneak into Beijing for his first face-to-face meetings with the Chinese leadership, the experts said. They said it's more likely Mr Kim sent a special envoy, possibly his sister Kim Yo Jong, to appease a traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with the presidents of South Korea and the United States. The envoy could potentially seek Chinese commitment for future support should North Korea's talks with rivals fall through, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "North Korea doesn't want to send a message that China has been pushed to the back as it makes diplomatic approaches to the United States and South Korea," said Mr Cha, saying the visit could be part of the North's effort to gain leverage in the talks with South Korea and the United States. "If the talks with South Korea and the United States fall through, North Korea will surely try to demonstrate its nuclear weapons and missile capabilities again." "The special envoy could discuss this possibility with Chinese officials, asking China not to press too hard with sanctions if that happens." Heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge before the train passed from North Korea to China, and there were reports of it passing through several stations on the way from North Korea to Beijing. NTV reported the green and yellow train appeared very similar to the one that former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's late father, took to Beijing in 2011 and has 21 cars. A video that aired on NTV also showed a motorcade of black limousines waiting at the train station and rows of Chinese soldiers marching on what appeared to be a train platform. The video did not show anyone getting off the train. White House spokesman Raj Shah said Monday the US could not confirm reports that Kim was visiting China. - AP Real-life "care bears" in Sweden have responded to human hunting by increasing the time they look after their cubs, researchers have found. Over a period of 20 years, the length of time the brown bear cubs stayed with their mothers increased from 1.5 to 2.5 years. Extending the care of their offspring by a year means that the female bears have fewer breeding opportunities. But the research showed how this was outweighed by longer survival of both mothers and cubs. Between 2010 and 2014, Swedish hunters shot around 300 bears each year. However, like many other countries that allow bear hunting, Sweden bans the shooting of bears in family groups. Lead researcher Professor Jon Swenson, from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, said: "A single female in Sweden is four times more likely to be shot as one with a cub." The pressure of hunting, combined with hunting regulations, had led to a profound change in behaviour that was spreading through Swedish bear populations. "Man is now an evolutionary force in the lives of the bears," Prof Swenson added. Mother bears who kept their cubs for longer were safer, but ended up producing fewer offspring, said the scientists writing in the journal Nature Communications. While this would not normally be a good strategy from an evolutionary perspective, the female bears' increased survival chances largely counteracted the reduced birth rate. "This is especially true in areas of high hunting pressure," said Prof. Swenson. "There, the females that keep the cubs the extra year have the greatest advantage." Update - 3.03pm: Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance will expel seven staff from the Russian mission. 3.03pm: Russia vows to retaliate over expelled envoys A top Russian diplomat has said Moscow is preparing a "tough response" to today's announcement by the United States that it is expelling 60 Russian diplomats. Thousands of residents have held a rally in the Russian city of Kemerovo to demand a full probe following a fire in a shopping centre that killed at least 64 people, many of them children. The protesters are disputing the official death toll, claiming the authorities are hiding the real scale of the disaster. Decontamination of sites affected by the Salisbury spy poisoning incident is expected to take "weeks or months" as the local authority admits the long-term health effects are still unknown. Alistair Cunningham, corporate director of Wiltshire Council, told a cabinet meeting the UK Government had pledged 1m to help support businesses affected by the cordons which still seal off part of the city centre. Ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in hospital following the Novichok poisoning on March 4th. The Zizzi restaurant where they pair ate and The Mill pub as well as an access route through The Maltings shopping area remain cordoned off. Mr Cunningham said all but one of the locations sealed off by police around the city will be handed over by the police for decontamination by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He said the council had requested that this process not start until after the Easter holiday to limit the impact on the image of the city centre. He said: "All sites, all bar one, will be back with us before the end of the week. We are talking about weeks or months before these sites open. "They will go from being cleaned to being redecorated to being open and that will take months." He said the affected buildings would have hoardings placed around them giving them the appearance of a normal redevelopment. Mr Cunningham said businesses near the affected sites had seen lost takings of 90% while other firms had suffered drops of 20%. Council leader Baroness Jane Scott said the full recovery process would begin after the cordons were removed. She said: "We can patch up, we can encourage but the true recovery will happen when there are no cordons in this city, so we need to keep pressure on the Government, then it's time for us to begin marketing again." Concern was raised by members of the public about the long-term public health impact of the incident which the council said was still being examined. Tracy Daszkiewicz, responsible for public health and protection at the council, said: "That is a piece of work being looked at, at the moment we are going with the message that it is low risk but we will update as we get more information." She also apologised for a comment made previously by Public Health England stating the health implications were minimal because it had not affected the rat population. She said: "It was lighthearted and about dispelling the myths." The hearing was told that the number of people taken ill following the incident was limited to a total of four people, not the 38 previously reported. The council also said it was providing free parking to encourage shopping in the city, and setting up a hardship fund of 100,000. Mr Cunningham said: "There is a real need to provide dedicated one-to-one support." - Press Association An application to expand the parkland at South Bank has been submitted, detailing the staged works for a flood-damaged riverside block that once featured a popular riverside restaurant. Deputy Premier Jackie Trad announced the expansion in June, with the plans for the parkland submitted to Brisbane City Council on Monday. A development application has been submitted for new parkland within South Bank. The riverside restaurants were damaged in the 2011 floods, but rather than refurbish the buildings, Ms Trad committed to delivering more green space on the prime inner-city land. The buildings were demolished between October and December 2017. The complex web of payments and kickbacks within the life insurance sector should be put under the microscope to prevent the chance of "corruption" and stamp out risks to consumers, a powerful parliamentary committee has warned. The powerful parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services called for tighter access by insurers to medical records, mandated updates to medical definitions, stronger legal rights for consumers, and the inclusion of life insurance in the Banking Executive Accountability Regime. In a wide-ranging report that follows scandals in the sector in recent years, the bipartisan committee urged regulators to conduct detail reviews of remuneration in the sector, with a view to potentially imposing further regulation. Although commissions are now banned in other parts of financial services, life insurers can still pay kickbacks to advisers who sell life insurance. The committee said there remained a "plethora of hidden payments," including commissions, fees, performance-related pay, and non-financial benefits, and these created conflicts of interest. The low vacancy levels for city offices has led to a leap in average rents for tenants who are in the market for new digs. It has been expected, but now the average rent for a prime office is more than $1000 per square metre, per annum. In some cases, particularly in Sydney, it is close to $1500 per sqm and close to $700 per sqm for Melbourne for new properties. Sydney CBD rents are reaching high levels due to low vacancies Credit:Fiona Morris Melbourne has 12 office developments under construction, with another three expected to proceed in the next five years, which could cap some rental growth. Recent additions to the pipeline include Two Melbourne Quarter, a 25-storey, 50,000 sq m Docklands tower and 180 Flinders Street, an A grade development opposite Federation Square. Controversial lottery-betting service Lottoland has attacked a Turnbull government bill that will in effect banish it from Australia as "unnecessary and misguided", while newsagents and lottery sellers have welcomed the hardline decision. The federal government on Tuesday said it would introduce new legislation to Parliament to prohibit so-called "synthetic lotteries", in which gamblers can bet on foreign lottery outcomes rather than having to buy tickets in any draw. Lottoland CEO Luke Brill said the company would work closely with regulators and all political parties to achieve a 'satisfactory outcome'. Credit:Wolter Peeters The bill, to be introduced by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, will also ban betting on the outcomes of keno products. Australian commercial TV broadcasters said the move to ban Lottoland, a prominent advertiser, would have a "significant impact" on their operations. St Vincents Private hospital is seeking to partially demolish two heritage-listed Fitzroy buildings, one associated with the eight-hour day movement and the other with Saint Mary McKillop, to make way for an 11-storey hospital extension. An artists impression of the new St Vincent's Private hospital. The hospitals plans, labelled imperialist by local opponents, were approved by Yarra Council with strict conditions around the heritage buildings. St Vincents Private subsequently appealed the decision at Victorias planning tribunal. A justification for the development submitted by St Vincents says the hospital is facing bed block during the week, forcing it to divert non-elective or urgent private patients to other hospitals. Two industrial properties, 77A-77B Matthews Avenue and 5-7 Victory Road, have sold at a CRS Property auction. The Matthews Avenue site was leased for $94,332 per annum and went for $1.47 million, Lou Montalti said. Victory Road had income of $65,360 from a cafe with a vacant warehouse next door. A tight bidding war saw the hammer fall at $972,000, Ross Mercorillo said. Hastings Developer Piermont Group has purchased a large 7,980 sq m residential site at 1-4 Lomica Drive for $2.35 million. The property was one of the largest sites in the area to be offered in recent times, Knight Franks Andrew Greenway, Ken Smirk and Tom Zhou said. Hawthorn An accounting firm will move into 13-25 Church Street after buying a 160 sq m strata titled ground floor office. Suite 14 sold at auction by Gray Johnsons Brett Simpson for $1,002,500. Mr Simpson said the vendor had owned the property for 15 years. The accounting firm currently leases offices nearby. Footscray Three competitive bidders pushed the sale of a vacant Industrial block at 109 Whitehall Street $630,000 above the reserve. Bidding for the property started at $700,000 before the hammer fell at $1.63 million, said Jane Sowersby from Walshe & Whitelock Real Estate. Cheltenham A property on a monthly lease to Family Life has sold for $2.36 million to a developer. Anthony Carbone and Seamus Bolst of CVA in conjunction with Tom Maule and Matthew Feldman of Teska Carson sold 318 Charman Road with a town planning permit for three shops, dual street access and a liquor licence. Mont Albert Cornehls & Blackburn butchers have made mince meat of investors. A shop at 32 Hamilton Street they lease sold on a 2.95 per cent yield for $1.26 million, about $216,000 above reserve. It was the first time the butchers shop, directly opposite Mont Albert station, was offered for sale in 50 years, Gray Johnsons Matt Hoath said. The butcher has a five year lease plus an option at annual rent of $37, 344. Moonee Ponds A small shop at 126 Puckle Street leased to a Diana Ferrari factory outlet has sold for $2.2 million. Gross Waddells Alex Ham said the property, leased for around $136,000 per annum, sold for a land rate of $9,442 per sq m. East Brunswick CRS Propertys George Petropoulos has sold a warehouse at 5 Kirkdale Street for $1.3 million. The small warehouse backed onto a lane. Clayton Separate owner occupiers have purchased two office suites in Wolfsteps newly refurbished strata office development at 2 Winterton Road for a total of $527,500 plus GST. The sales equate to a rate of $5,200 per sq m, Knight Franks Nick Bisset and Matthew Romanin said. Sandringham A development site at 267 Bluff Road with a permit for 10 apartments has sold off-market for $1.9 million in a deal brokered by Teska Carsons George Takis and Fergus Evans. The price reflected $190,000 per unit. LEASES Melbourne Sydney-based foodie Mr Crackles will open its third store in Australia and first in Melbournes CBD site after signing a lease for a 100 sq m shop at 164 Bourke Street. The lease was brokered by CBRE's Zelman Ainsworth, Tan Thach, Samantha Hunt and Ting Ting Gao. Mr Thach said food providers were spilling over into Bourke Street from Flinders Lane and Spring Street. Deer Park Global industrial has doubled its Melbourne footprint, signing a five-year lease on a new warehouse at 122 Radnor Drive at annual rent of $300,960 net. The 10,476 sq m property, developed by Adelaide-based Spencer Property Group, comes with a 3,784 sq m warehouse, 400 sq m ground-floor office area and hardstand measuring 4,184 sq m, CBREs Harry Kalaitzis and Todd Grima said. Prahran Health food cafe Acai Brothers will take over a vacant shop in hip Greville Street at number 136. Acai has 25 stores around Australia and specialises in raw, dairy free, gluten free and vegan food offerings. The property was leased by Beller Commercials Max Warren for around $741 per sq m. Melbourne The basement tenancy in Block Arcade at 98-102 Elizabeth Street has leased to Breathe Wellbeing for a pilates, yoga and wellness centre. Allard Sheltons James Wagner said Breathe will pay $180,000 plus GST net on a 10-year lease. In another deal, Jessica Horan signed Principle Four Osteopathy and Optimal Health Exercise Physiology up for a 96 sqm tenancy at 178 Collins Street at a rate around $500 per sq m. Mr Wagner leased Level 4 at 405 Collins Street to cybersecurity consultancy firm HIVNIT, on a 3-year lease at rental of $120,000 plus GST per annum. As well, jewellery retailer Ashley Opals Jewellers have leased Level 2 at 296 Collins Street as their new CBD office on a rental of $56,000 plus GST gross. Mulgrave Blockchain Tech a technology company that specialises in blockchain solutions for business has signed a five-year lease on a 512 sq m office space at Nexus Corporate Park on Dunlop Road. The rent was set at $325 per sq m net, CBREs Elise Betts and Gianni Macdonald said. Married At First Sight star Davina Rankin has spoken out for the first time since the hit show's finale, describing the "pretty serious threats" she's received from heated viewers. "From my appearance to the things they say they'd do to me in the street, how they would assault me, to wishing I was dead - it's, like, insane," she told A Current Affair's Alison Piotrowski. In the teary-eyed appearance, which Rankin halted twice to request tissues, the Instagram model said shed been "crying a lot" since the show aired. "Even though it's words, words still carry a lot of weight. It's easy to say screw the haters or whatever, but theyre pretty serious threats," she said. An example of a sexualised woman in an ad for American Apparel. In another example of academic research proving something we already know, psychologists from Melbourne University and Sydney University recently ran an experiment showing men are more likely to become aggressive towards women who reject them if the women are sexually objectified. Sexual desire and sexual objectification are two very different things. Desire is a feeling someone has for a specific person, they are humanised more, not less, by being desired. Objectification is the opposite, it dehumanises. An objectified woman is nothing but a collection of body parts, interchangeable with any other objectified woman. She exists only to provide gratification to the man gazing at her. Both men and women feel less empathy for sexually objectified women. They are perceived as less moral. People are less concerned if they are harmed, less likely to report violence done to them, and more likely to blame them for that violence if it occurs. More than half of university students want to abandon their degrees due to stress. Credit:Stocksy University students are no strangers to the psychological anxiety. A heavy workload, rising living costs, and familial separation all have an impact on emotional wellbeing. But students' anxiety levels are now reaching unprecedented levels, manifestingin extreme casesin the form of suicidal ideation and self-harm. In 2017, a survey conducted by the National Youth Mental Health Foundation and the National Union of Students revealed that an alarming 83 per cent of students admitted to suffering from stress, and 35 percent of TAFE and university students had considered self-harm or suicide. This year, new research commissioned by leading online study service Studiosity has unearthed more details as to the challenges students face, and what affect this has had on their mental health. The hope is that the nation's attention will shift towards finding solutions to improve the quality of mental health resources, and overall education. The research, which included a survey of 1,000 Australian University students, commissioned by Studiosity and executed by a third party, reveals that a staggering 51 per cent of Australian university students have thought about abandoning their degree due to the pressures caused by isolated studying. Soprano Susannah Lawergren says "the idea for Songs of Solitude started from a love for those achingly beautiful spare and still pieces of music, often with a Scandinavian flavour, that pierce straight through a certain kind of heart (I have Swedish in my blood after all!)". An upcoming concert at Wesley Music Centre combines Samuel Barber and Franz Schubert with Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in an exploration of perspectives of solitude. Songs of Solitude: Susannah Lawergren (soprano) and Benjamin Burton (piano). Art Song Canberra. Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest. Sunday, April 8, 2018, 3pm. Admission, including program and light refreshments: Full price $35. Concessions $30. Art Song Canberra Members $25. Full-time students $15. Tickets available at the door or online: trybooking.com/ UGES . Lawergren is a frequent visitor to Canberra through her work with The Song Company and Opera Australia. She is no stranger to diverse repertoire, working both with Bach Akademie Australia and emerging composers such as Sydney-based Tristan Coelho. She will be joined by Benjamin Burton, a busy young pianist quickly establishing himself as one of the go-to accompanists in the Sydney area. Burton trained in both Sydney and Munich, and in 2016 won second prize at the Mietta Song Competition, one of the most prestigious art song competitions in the country. "The joy of going to Art Song Canberra concerts is in being transported through often wildly different personal and cultural journeys," Lawergren says. Relishing the opportunity to "let our hair down and do something that we really love", she has selected a program that ranges from art song classics through an exploration of her own Swedish heritage, with some classic jazz standards thrown in for good measure. The evening's program will provide a range of different takes on the theme of solitude, and, as Lawergren says, "all these solitary threads will weave together to form a rich tapestry of human life". The duo aim to build a complex web of themes and ideas about being alone, ranging from "the beauty of solitude, to the harshness of rejection, to the wild freedom of being the outsider beholden to no one", according to Lawergren. More than 300 childcare centres across Australia shut their doors on Tuesday morning after thousands of workers walked off the job to demand higher pay. As part of the industrial action, some centres will be shut for the entire day, while others are preparing to close rooms within their centres in order to send workers to attend Australia-wide protests at 2pm. At least 6500 staff are expected to walk off the job at some point on Tuesday to demand a 30 per cent pay hike after losing a Fair Work Commission equal pay test case in which they argued childcare work was undervalued due to gender inequality. Helen Gibbons believes early childhood educators need to be paid more. "There are about 320 centres that are closing today, from the east coast to the west coast," United Voice assistant national secretary Helen Gibbons said. ''In addition to that, many, many centres are closing rooms and sending delegations along to the various actions happening across the country. The police officer who shot dead a mentally ill woman as she wielded a knife in Sydney's west thought she was about to stab him, the NSW Coroners Court heard. Senior Constable Ethan Tesoriero was one of three officers to confront Courtney Topic, 22, in the West Hoxton Hungry Jack's car park on the morning of February 10, 2015. Senior Constable Ethan Tesoriero arrives at the inquest into the police shooting death of Courtney Topic. Credit:AAP Ms Topic was shot in the chest 41 seconds after police arrived. A coronial inquest has heard Ms Topic likely suffered schizophrenia and was experiencing an untreated psychosis when she grabbed the knife and walked to the shops. A different sort of furry animal has been spotted in the Rushcutters Bay dog park in recent days after a 100 kilogram Australian adult fur seal made itself at home in one of Sydney's most affluent suburbs. The male seal was first spotted in Rose Bay on Saturday. He cut across to Rushcutters Bay on Sunday, where he alternated between swimming laps and sunbathing in the harbourside dog park. Shona Lorigan, a volunteer with the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), said volunteers have been keeping a close eye on the seal. "He was hauling himself out of the water and into an unleashed dog park - not the smartest place for a seal to go," Ms Lorigan told The Herald. Motorists are driving at excessive speeds in Brisbane, with the latest Brisbane City Council speed sign data revealing some vehicles exceeded the speed limit by up to 44 per cent. The council has invested $6.7 million into the Slow for SAM speed awareness campaign over five years and there are now 100 individual signs which can be rotated to almost 1000 different sites across Brisbane. Brisbane City Council Slow for SAM sign. Credit:Ruth McCosker The signs are designed to register a drivers speed and issue them with a visual warning to slow down if they are exceeding the limit and if they are below the limit a smiley face appears on the sign. Lord mayor Graham Quirk said SAM stood for speed awareness monitor as well as being a gender-neutral name. Queensland is increasingly luring southern tourists north of the border, with the state's stunning beaches and rainforests major drawcards. Tourism Research Australia's National Visitor Survey, released on Wednesday, reveals an increase in overnight interstate tourists from New South Wales and the nation's capital. Southern tourists are flocking to Queensland, enticed by its beautiful beaches, including Lizard Island, and bush walks. Credit:Delaware North Companies People from NSW took 3.8 million trips to Queensland in 2017, up 9 per cent on the previous year, while Canberrans made 163,000 trips in the state, an increase of 30 per cent. Overall, the number of domestic visitors taking overnight trips to Queensland increased by 5 per cent to 21.8 million during 2017. And I just want to sob like my little one this morning. Teachers warn some schools are moving away from appropriate play-based learning programs. Teachers from all over Western Australia reach out on almost a daily basis to a group of early childhood professionals who have decided to advocate for our littlest learners. These teachers approach the group to ask for advice on what to do when their school administrations tell them play is a waste of time. They believe some school principals are pushing early childhood specialist teachers to move away from the evidence-based appropriate play-based learning towards developmentally innappropriate direct explicit instruction. This group believes not much has changed since 2010 when a review of educational practice in kindergarten, pre-primary and year one was undertaken. Department of Education director general Sharyn O'Neill said in 2011 the study: "found a lack of clarity about what constituted a high quality early years program, that practice was inconsistent across schools, with no clear expectations". She introduced the Early Years Learning Framework, a document designed to clarify what schools should be doing. Concerned teachers complain there is still no database kept that demonstrates exactly how much play-based learning kindergarten and pre-primary children are exposed to. And there is no transparency or accountability to the WA community on how schools are delivering on the child's right to play. Kindy should be about protecting, valuing, nurturing and enhancing childhood but in some cases were not just stealing their childhood but crushing it WA early childhood teacher A mum of a four-year-old boy attending a WA public school said her son was already expressing worries about not wanting to get into trouble, giving the wrong answer in class and failing to make his parents proud. When she went to find out why he was not enjoying school she noticed there was no home corner in his classroom. The class teacher directly told me that play-based learning does not work, the mother said. The teacher admitted there was no time allocated in the childrens daily schedule for play, other than recess and lunch. There would be no other free play time, with the teacher warning this was not kindy anymore. He is feeling that pressure because its so intense, the mother said of her child. Theyre asking so many questions of them all day. And there is no let-up; no chance for their little minds to refresh. She had tried to find another school that valued play-based learning for her son, but said parents were powerless as she had been told there was no room for him elsewhere. Some kids in kindy at WA public schools are being given nightly homework including name and number tracing sheets, sight words and reading books. And in one school, this started in week two of term one. One kindy teacher put it this way: it seems like the current policy is that principals are free to make any decisions they want in their schools with no accountability except for Naplan scores, which then pressures them to look at academics over play. Sue Briggs spent a 40-year career in education working in pre-primary and then at the departments central and district offices as an early childhood consultant, among other senior positions. She recently resigned in disgust at the direction WAs public schools were headed in early education, describing the changes as horrifying. Early childhood teachers in the public school system were being directed by principals to cut out play-based learning in favour of formal and developmentally inappropriate teaching styles, she said. I sit crying at some of the things people are being asked to do, Mrs Briggs admitted. She said there was a push for academic achievement earlier, a focus on NAPLAN scores, and too many schools were forcing young children into sitting at desks earlier. It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them. Special education professor Leo Buscaglia The National Quality Standard - a policy which details seven areas of quality schools should satisfy - enshrined the right to play, but it was left up to principals to ensure this was happening in the classroom. She said years ago the department would regularly visit schools to see play-based learning in practice but now they had no idea. In the past, schools and teachers could have somone with expertise from a district or central office level available for advice on early childhood teaching, she said. District office staff would visit schools, observe classrooms in practice. They would talk with the teacher and principal to ensure best practice. "That resource is no longer available," Ms Briggs said. The move to more formal and rote learning in more schools saw even some kindy children sitting at desks. Outdoor learning time was being cut to fit into recess and lunch in order to spend more time in formal learning. Young children are naturally eager to learn, but now we are turning a lot of children off learning, Ms Briggs said. They start to feel theyre not worthy, that they're incapable of learning. And its worse even for boys, whose fine motor skills develop more slowly, and they start to feel that they are failures." WA Department of Education director of early childhood education Rosemary Cahill said play provided opportunities for rich learning and schools had an obligation to maximise childrens learning through the use of high quality teaching programs. The NQS was put into place because across the nation it was realised schools could do better. But play-based learning was one aspect of quality, and schools must satisfy the NQS' seven areas. Rather than just saying 'do more play', the department aimed to help kindergarten teachers to optimise the learning out of these play-based moments, with explicit teaching and play-based learning working together. Dr Cahill said all schools must engage in an internal audit about how they are performing to the National Quality Standard every year. Early childhood educators reflected on how they were performing in relation to the NQS areas. The principal was required to conduct an internal audit and must record their determinations about how they were travelling on specially designed software. Passionate teachers are getting together to ensure best practice teaching happens in WA schools. Credit:Catherine Yeulet In addition to that, once every three years schools were reviewed by consultants with expertise in early childhood who were employed through the government agency previously known as the Department of Education Services which now was part of the DOE. The culture of schools is extremely compliant, they are not driven by a profit motive or a wish to run a business. They are run with a deep commitment to childrens learning. The vast majority of educators are really committed to learning, Dr Cahill said. The schools say they really want to make sure were doing this properly. We offer a verification service. Our teams...were made available to schools to engage in the verification. Schools could also invite the department in to assess their teaching programs. The first year this was offered 200 out of 650 public schools did so. In 2017 a similar number did too. "Already this year, theres another 50-60 on our books," she said. A big stick is not the way to achieve ongoing improvement. If we started saying and we are going to come back and check then its very likely the schools will start fudging, or they may not be as candid about how theyre actually travelling. Play provides rich opportunities for learning. If after two to three years a school had not requested a verification but were claiming they were meeting all seven quality areas, the school was given a blue flag on the software system, which was visible to senior DOE staff. Then they were encouraged to have the consultants come in for verification. No-one likes a blue flag, Dr Cahill said. I think the reality is that we have a clear structure and plan in place to improve everything across the organisation in terms of the quality of the learning experiences of children across the state. Schools dont like having a blue flag, they dont like having a red flag if theyre not meeting the quality areas, then they come up. And schools actively seek support. Edith Cowan University early childhood studies Associate Professor Lennie Barblett recently completed several case studies at WA schools for the DOE, to determine how well they were implementing the NQS. She said her research showed schools were tough on themselves and wanted the best for their students. She was aware of "anecdotal evidence" that innappropriate teaching pedagogies were being applied in the early years in some schools but believed improvements were being made across the state. We are calling it the ripple effect," she said. "Yes there are teachers using different pedagogies, and perhaps not what we would call age appropriate. Your entire defence force is about to become completely irrelevant. As you read this it's already being outflanked; bypassed and penetrated by the actions of a political class that's being quickly and rapidly outmanoeuvred. There will be no need for physical wars in future. Wechat is rapidly become the vital app for anyone dealing in China. Credit:Tomohiro Ohsumi The electronic spectrum is rapidly becoming the dominant means through which society functions. The automatic processes which organise our transactions in this space will determine the victor of any conflict long before the first bullet is fired. That's because our government and bureaucracy is clueless about the terrain on which this new conflict is being fought. Through a remarkable combination of ignorance and inactivity, they are already giving the vital ground away. Take perhaps the most simple example; money. This is such a simple concept that even the cappuccino class will rapidly grasp it. In a speech brimming with gratitude, there was one dedication that stood out in Kristina Keneally's first address to the Senate. The former premier of NSW and now a federal Labor senator, spoke of the inspiration she continues to draw from her baby who was stillborn in 1999. "Our daughter Caroline never drew breath, but she changed me forever," she told the chamber in her maiden speech on Tuesday. "She enlarged my understanding of love and loss. She taught me to survive. She made me brave, almost fearless." Kristina Keneally is congratulated by Senator Jenny McAllister after delivering her maiden speech in the Senate. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Stillbirth was an insidious health crisis on which Australia had made virtually no strides despite health improvements in other areas, Senator Keneally said. Six babies die each day - 2200 a year - and "the rate of stillbirth has not changed in Australia in decades," she said, vowing to make it a priority in this second act of her political career. "Surely we can do better than that as a nation." Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tried to pressure the major churches into circumventing the states and immediately joining the national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse, telling them their "indifference and resistance" must stop. Just two states - NSW and Victoria - as well as the Australian Capital Territory have signed on to the Commonwealth scheme, which would provide up to $150,000 in compensation for 60,000 survivors of abuse in government and non-government institutions. "Indifference and resistance" cannot continue, says Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen States must commit to the scheme to enable institutions in their jurisdiction to formally sign on. So far, the major churches in NSW and Victoria have intimated they will join a fully national scheme but want to see the details. In a letter obtained by Fairfax Media, Mr Turnbull urged institutions including the Catholic church, the Anglican church, Scouts Australia and the YMCA to opt into the scheme "as soon as possible" rather than wait for the holdout states. The One Nation leader also dwelled on the topic of absolution, saying she and Mr Abbott had stuck to their guns despite the trials and tribulations they were dealt in their political careers. "Like Nelson Mandela did - after 28 years in prison, he forgave and he forgot," she said. "And I think that is what we need to do - that everyone in this place, if you have your grievances and your differences, put them to one side, work together." Mr Abbott, a vicious opponent of One Nation when it first gained power in the Howard years, was prepared to do that. He endorsed large parts of Senator Hanson's policy agenda, including scaling back immigration, building coal-fired power stations and standing up to Islamism. And he hinted he may have been wrong to dismiss Senator Hanson in the past instead of learning from her. "There is absolutely no doubt that we do have a problem across the western world right now," Mr Abbott said. "We have a talking class, often publicly funded, that's never had it so good. We have a working class which has to work harder and harder just to make ends meet. And we have a welfare class which often needs to be reminded of the importance of having a go. "If, over the last two decades, we had been more ready to heed the message of people like Pauline Hanson and less quick to shoot the messenger, I think we would be a better country today." Almost a dozen Brisbane tourist shops will be investigated after an Office of Fair Trading crackdown on fake Indigenous art. During February and March, the OFT conducted 152 spot checks on art galleries and souvenir businesses. The top boomerang is fake, and of the type commonly sold in souvenir stores. The bottom two are genuine boomerangs, by Rolley Mintuma at Maruku Arts, NT. (File photo, not related to the recent Queensland crackdown.) Credit:Jennifer Soo Of 106 Queensland tourist businesses spot-checked, 94 were found to be compliant with the Australian Consumer Law. However, 11 Brisbane and one Sunshine Coast tourist business were referred for investigation to determine if enforcement action was needed. A ban on property developers donating to state politicians departs "significantly" from a recommendation that followed an extensive investigation into local government, the state's crime watchdog says. Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission last year investigated allegations of council corruption and recommended a donation ban at a local government level. Crime and Corruption Commission chair Alan MacSporran says the terms of reference for its examination of local government did not include state elections. Credit:Darren England However, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted she would not make rules for councils that she would not follow herself, extending it to state government candidates and politicians. A bill to implement the changes was in March reintroduced to Parliament, as it lapsed in October when the state election was called, however, it would apply retrospectively to last year's campaign. Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has accused Infrastructure Australia of playing to the tune of its "political masters" in Canberra. It comes after Infrastructure Australia failed to progress the Labor state government's Cross River Rail on its list of priority projects, but elevated Brisbane City Council's Metro to high priority status. Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has accused Infrastructure Australia of acting in the interests of the federal Coalition government. Credit:AAP Ms Trad said the news was disappointing but not surprising, accusing the independent body of siding with the federal coalition government. "It's not surprising that Infrastructure Australia continues to play to the tune of their political masters," she said. Over the weekend, Melbournes Scienceworks museum played host to a series of workshops previewing Nintendos Labo. Labo are cardboard stencils designed for the Nintendo Switch. The kits use the motion controllers and infrared cameras of the console to create a series of cardboard toys, reminiscent of the science kits I would play with as a child. This bizarre and playful product is so quintessentially Nintendo; its hard to imagine another company coming up with the concept, and few have a product like the Switch that could accommodate the idea. Some of the companys previous experiments, like the motion controlled Wii, or even the Switch itself have gone on to be record breaking hits. Others, like the Virtual Boy or Robotic Operating Buddy, survive only as oddities in museum collections. Reactions to the workshop on Saturday suggest Labo is more the former than the latter. At the event, families had the opportunity to create a remote control car, the simplest creation from the Variety Kit, one of two Labo kits that will go on sale in late April. Assembling the car took just a few minutes, with easy to follow instructions provided on the Switch screen. The Variety kit features far more complex models that can take an hour or more to assemble; and includes a playable piano, a small interactive house, a motorcycle handlebar, and a fishing rod game. Each toy created uses the Switch screen and controllers to create an interactive experience. Credit:Peter Wells The final creations feel wonderfully old-fashioned, something about the imperfect folds of the cardboard gives each toy a homemade charm. Jakarta: The Christian former governor of Jakarta has had a request to slash his two-year jail term for blasphemy rejected by the Supreme Court, in a blow to religious tolerance and pluralism in Indonesia. Former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama,, talks to his lawyers after his sentencing in May last year. Credit:AP The ruling could prompt a rise in the use of blasphemy laws by conservative Muslims to target liberal Muslims and non-Muslims, according to Human Right Watch Indonesia's Andreas Harsono. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, widely known as Ahok, was jailed in May last year in a case that grabbed worldwide headlines. Ahok had served as deputy governor to Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and took over the governorship of Indonesia's largest city in 2014 when Mr Joko was elected president. A waiter fired for being "aggressive, rude and disrespectful" claims that there was nothing wrong with his behaviour... he was just being "French". Deserved or not, France's reputation for producing surly waiters who eye customers with suspicion, indeed disdain, is known the world over and has stood the test of time. Now one waiter has taken that idea to another level by appearing to claim that a grumpy "garcon" is a cherished French national trait, not a sign of unprofessional conduct. The fired waiter said he was a victim of "discrimination against my culture". Guillaume Rey, who worked at a restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia, filed a complaint with the state's human rights tribunal against his former employer, saying he was a victim of "discrimination against my culture". The restaurant, run by Cara Operations, accused Mr Rey of breaching its code of conduct. It argued that he persisted in unacceptably rude behaviour despite verbal and written performance reviews and that it had no option but to fire him. London: British MPs have held an emergency debate in Parliament after a whistleblower gave evidence that the 'leave' campaign cheated to win the Brexit referendum. And some have called for the resignation of senior cabinet ministers involved in the 'leave' campaign, if the claims are proven true. The debate came as Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg declined a request to face questioning in Britain over the alleged unauthorised use of the social networks data by analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, which was linked to the 'leave' campaign. MP Damian Collins said it was "astonishing" that Zuckerberg had not agreed to give evidence to a parliamentary committee and urged him to "think again". Cairo: As some voters in mainland Egypt chanted praise for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi outside polling stations on their way to re-elect him, residents of the restive northern Sinai Peninsula lined up for a different reason - bread handouts. A woman carries a tray of bread in front of an election poster for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in Cairo. Credit:AP A military campaign in North Sinai that aims to crush Islamic State militants has blocked most access to the peninsula as forces carry out air raids, deploy patrols and impose curfews, creating a stranglehold that has led to a shortage of food and supplies, locals say. With many people afraid to leave their homes amid the fighting against militants, barely any voters cast their ballots in parts of North Sinai on the first day of the three-day election, local officials and residents said."I went to vote because I was waiting in line to pick up bread" being handed out by the army, school teacher Selim Ahmed told Reuters by phone from his town of Sheikh Zuweid. "It is long settled that all persons residing in the United States - citizens and non-citizens alike - must be counted to fulfill the Constitution's 'actual Enumeration' mandate," the lawsuit stated. Becerra also argued the move violated the Administrative Procedure Act's prohibition against "arbitrary and capricious" agency action. "The census numbers provide the backbone for planning how our communities can grow and thrive in the coming decade," Becerra said in a statement. "California simply has too much to lose for us to allow the Trump Administration to botch this important decennial obligation. What the Trump Administration is requesting is not just alarming, it is an unconstitutional attempt to discourage an accurate census count." The Commerce Department, in a memorandum, portrayed the move as a way to better enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Asking census respondents if they are citizens would help the government gather currently unavailable data on the population of people who are actually eligible to vote, the memorandum said. Commerce Department officials said that a Census Bureau analysis failed to provide "definitive, empirical support" that adding a citizenship question would reduce response rates, producing the sort of undercount feared by Becerra. Loading "The Department of Commerce is not able to determine definitively how inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census will impact responsiveness," Ross wrote in his memo. "However, even if there is some impact on responses, the value of more complete and accurate data derived from surveying the entire population outweighs such concerns." In an attempt to minimise any impact on response rates, Ross directed the Census Bureau to place the citizenship question last on the census form. Critics disputed the government's claims that effects would be minimal. Former US Attorney-General Eric Holder, who serves as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement that the decision could lead to "devastating, decade-long impacts on voting rights and the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding". "We will litigate to stop the Administration from moving forward with this irresponsible decision," Holder wrote. "The addition of a citizenship question to the census questionnaire is a direct attack on our representative democracy." "Make no mistake - this decision is motivated purely by politics," Holder added. "In deciding to add this question without even testing its effects, the Administration is departing from decades of census policy and ignoring the warnings of census experts." Indeed, the announcement was met with significant criticism from census experts. Terri Ann Lowenthal, a census expert and former congressional staffer who worked on census oversight, called the move a mistake and predicted a number of legal challenges from advocacy groups. "My biggest worry is the growing risk that public confidence in the census will drop significantly," Lowenthal said. "Between evidence that the administration is manipulating the census for political gain, and fear that the administration will use the census to harm immigrants, confidence in the integrity of the count could plummet. And the census is only as good as the public's willingness to participate." Former Census Bureau director Kenneth Prewitt said the decision "makes for a stormy situation given the unique visibility of the census. We have no idea how the untested insertion of a citizenship question will affect public cooperation. My guess? We will have a less accurate census than the nation could have had." California would be particularly hard-hit by the change, due to its high proportion of foreign-born and undocumented residents, as Becerra's lawsuit states. "Undercounting the sizeable number of Californian non-citizens and their citizen relatives will imperil the State's fair share of congressional seats and Electoral College electors and will cost the State billions in federal funding over the next decade," the attorney general's lawsuit says. Des Moines: Iowa Republican Steve King's campaign team has mocked the "look" of Parkland shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez in a meme published to King's official Facebook page Sunday, drawing criticism from shooting survivors. It's part of a wave of recent attempts to discredit the teen and other survivors as they call for legislation to address gun violence. Emma Gonzalez survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and is one of the faces of the 'March for our lives' campaign. Credit:AP The item includes an image of Gonzalez with tears streaming down her face at Saturday's March for Our Lives in Washington, as she recalled the 17 lives lost at her school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida. The accompanying text criticises Gonzalez' Cuban heritage, seeming to reference the Cuban flag patch seen on her sleeve. "This is how you look when you claim Cuban heritage yet don't speak Spanish and ignore the fact that your ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, after removing all weapons from its citizens; hence their right to self defence," the post says. Washington: Stormy Daniels sued Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen on Monday for defamation, according to court documents, escalating a legal battle between the American president and the porn star that the White House was struggling to contain. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, made the claim a day after her widely watched TV interview on "60 Minutes" on CBS. Daniels said she was threatened with violence to keep quiet about her alleged 2006 tryst with Trump. At the White House, a spokesman in a briefing with reporters cast aspersions on her account. The White House has denied allegations that Trump had a sexual relationship with Daniels. Latest News Suncorp launches green home loan product Solar panels equal cashback in 'unique' play for refinancing market This is why Sydney property prices are going up Its not all about the pandemic, interest rates and government stimulus: it goes far, far deeper than that Westpacs Tony MacRae on broker education, training and customer relationships Celebrating 200 years in the business in 2017, Westpac knows a thing or two about moving with the times, but even by its usual standards the last 12 months have been exceptionally busy. Financially, the third party network put in a strong performance. Currently, 46% of the banks new lending derives from the channel, creating what group GM of third party distribution Tony MacRae describes as a positive growth story and a very solid profitability and revenue story. Other headline grabbers include the launch of a new content portal designed to support the ongoing training and development of Westpacs 17,500-strong network of accredited brokers. A first in the broker space, it comprises Ideas Hub for Westpac and Learning Lab for St. George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne. Initially designed to equip brokers with essential tips for navigating best practice processes, as with everything Westpac currently engages in there is an added dimension based on the intangible factors so often ignored. Today the strategy is to read between the lines in order to boost the bottom line, and it is here that Westpac is truly embracing change. It applies to everything from broker training to developing a greater understanding of customer requirements and objectives. In the former it has seen the transformation of online learning into a platform that allows brokers to hear from some of the leading thinkers in the marketplace, through articles, webinars and video content. If there is a customer going through a stressful transaction, brokers have a role to play in helping them - Tony MacRae, Westpac group GM of third party distribution In the latter, it has inspired the addition of bespoke questions in the online loan application process. Generated by smart algorithms, they prompt customers to share additional details about their lifestyle and income to match a suitable product. The philosophy is that the better the broker knows a customer, the better the customer outcome. We really take the time to understand what the customer is trying to achieve and therefore put them in the right outcome. It isnt about driving to pure targets; it is really is about understanding objectives and needs and then determining the right product to meet those in the best possible manner, MacRae says. While these advancements respond to the recommendations put forth in recent reports and inquiries, to date Westpac is the only bank embracing them in this way. The interactive questionnaire supports compliance with such recent developments as comprehensive credit reporting, APRAs revised lending criteria, explains and recommendations from the Combined Industry Forum, to name a few. Further, in February Westpac tightened its credit assessment policy and approval process. In short, it all boils down to responsible lending, which Westpac has taken a leadership position on. We obviously need to meet our regulatory obligations, and we are in great shape to do that, which puts us in a position where, when we do understand those needs and requirements, we can pick the best possible outcome for the customer, says MacRae. Rewriting the rules MacRae is an architect of the concept of customer outcomes, having developed the first official definition with Gerald Foley during the CIF. To me theyre great words; when you put them into action I think the key is really ensuring that we deliver and stretch ourselves on our responsible lending standards and processes, he says. The equally important flip side is devising mechanisms for when that cannot be achieved. Not only can this help the customer through a worst-case scenario but it underpins the concept of self-regulation. MacRae makes two key observations on how this should play out, with a focus on maintaining transparency and reaching amicable conclusions. The first angle is, when a loan goes into arrears in the first 12 months outside of unforeseen life events, there needs to be some form of penalty or clawback on the broker. That clawback should go to the customer to assist them in correcting their position, as opposed to going to the lender. He adds, The second piece is in linking trail outcomes to ensuring good customer outcomes is not just at the point of sale but ongoing, and we see this in the form of something like an annual review, documented. Although happy to share his insight, MacRae isnt about to prescribe solutions to the industry. Deliberately avoiding the addition of what he terms as layer upon layer of complexity upon complexity during the CIF, the aim now is simply for brokers to extract the data necessary to make informed choices as easily and efficiently as possible. While the wider industry is free to interpret and implement that as it chooses, Westpacs new approach to the application questionnaire provides a timely example of striking a balance. Its next step is to introduce a more granular set of expense categories to help prompt customers on the information that is so easily overlooked. Noting the relevance of comprehensive credit reporting, MacRae says: The real answer here is that we need to get better access to greater information and greater sharing of information. With that, we can automate a lot of the process and not have to rely on customers being able to account for where their expenses are. The data debate To truly understand customers, brokers and their industry peers need data and not just any kind, but the big kind. Globally, big datas value to retail banking is estimated to reach $10bn by 2020, with mining and trend forecasting the most popular methods of analytics. The information captured can provide insight on spending and saving habits, common expenditures and even debt management. In Australia such details will become crucial to daily operations; elsewhere it is already used for targeted marketing. However, collecting data is one thing; keeping it safe is quite another. We think its incredibly important that really strict controls and security exist around data, because we dont want this falling into the wrong hands, says MacRae. The banking industrys primary concerns about data come from a completely different angle in Australia, with tensions raised that non-majors, which account for 20% of lending, are not yet required to comply with CCR. The experiences we have observed overseas show that CCR really is at its most credible and rigorous when the data is as accurate as possible, and you need all the data to do this, MacRae says. While diligent focus falls on the customer, Westpac hasnt forgotten its brokers. Forming a critical link in the network, broker and third party channels will draw a large share of the banks focus in 2018. The partnership approach will see time invested in Westpacs business development managers, nurturing them beyond their transactional roles to support closer work with brokers. For now, the industry is in a strong position, with MacRae crediting the growing momentum that has built over recent years. Free from major turmoil, this leaves the path clear to focus on what really matters. As MacRae concludes, We need to remember throughout all of these transactions and all of the various media attention that we help customers into their homes. If there is a customer going through a stressful transaction, brokers have a role to play in helping them. Thats a wonderful position to be in, and you have to take great pride in that." NCLT's Ahmedabad bench on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on petitions filed by ArcelorMittal and Numetal challenging the disqualifications of their bids for debt-laden Essar Steel to April 4. The bench has asked both the parties to file their replies by April 2, before the next hearing. Lakshmi Mittal-promoted ArcelorMittal India and Numetal Mauritius, a joint venture between Russia's VTB Bank and Rewant Ruia, were disqualified during the first round of the bidding process on the grounds that their bids flouted the norms under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Section 29 of the IBC says that any bidder with a direct or indirect connection with the current promoters is not an eligible applicant. It also considers those who have been part of a company that has become a non-performing asset as ineligible. Rewant, the son of Essar Steel co-promoter Ravi Ruia, was considered a related party under Section 29A of the IBC and, therefore, was not allowed to bid. In the case of ArcelorMittal, its disqualification stemmed from the fact that it had a substantial minority stake of 29 per cent in debt-laden Uttam Galva, which is also facing insolvency proceedings. The bench, headed by Manorama Kumari, the adjudicating authority of the Ahmedabad Bench, ordered that the second round of bidding for Essar Steel would continue as scheduled on April 2. The Committee of Creditors (CoC) in the Essar Steel case, represented by Darius Khambatta, said that ArcelorMittal and Numetal can table fresh bids on April 2, along with other interested parties. "They can rebid on April 2. Nothing can stop them," Khambatta told the Bench on Tuesday as per news reports. Numetal's legal counsel Mukul Rohatgi had challenged the earlier disqualification, and had asked the Bench to defer the second round of bidding. Senior Congress leader and ArcelorMittal's counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, too, had asked for a deferment in the bidding process. CoC counsel Khambatta argued that as per the 270-day insolvency resolution timeline, the process should end on April 29. Therefore, the bids should be over at the earliest. Billionaire Laxmi Mittal-led ArcelorMittal has moved the National Company Law Tribunal to challenge the decision of the committee of creditors rejecting its bid for Essar Steel, the company said in a statement on Monday. The SBI-led consortium of banks had on March 21 rejected the bids by Numetal and ArcelorMittal for Essar Steel on the ground that they were ineligible under the provisions of the amended Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). These two bids were in the beginning questioned by the insolvency resolution professional (IRP) as the promoters of both these firms had stakes in defaulting firms. While the Ruias who had a stake in Numetal also had a stake in Essar Steel, the Mittals had a stake in Uttam Galva which is also on the defaulters list. ArcelorMittal said, "We have already informed the stock exchanges that ArcelorMittal was declassified as a promoter of Uttam Galva. We have therefore today proposed a legal challenge to the decision of the resolution professional in the court in Ahmedabad." This legal challenge is also critical to ensure that we protect our rights in the process given the legal challenge by Numetal against the decision of the committee of creditors, the ArcelorMittal statement added. Numetal's bid was rejected as one of the promoters of the special purpose vehicle is Rewant Ruia, the son of an Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia, who is one of the original promoters of Essar Steel. Even though the Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal has teamed up with Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp to bid for Essar Steel, it has been found ineligible as it has a joint venture with Uttam Galva, which has defaulted on loan payments and the case is pending with NCLT for resolution. Numetal and ArcelorMittal were the only two bidders for Essar Steel which has been put up for auction as has defaulted on the payment of a staggering Rs 45,000 crore in loans to the SBI-led consortium of lenders. Rejecting both the bids, the SBI-led consortium said under the provisions of Section 29A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), both the bids by the Mittal's and Numetal were ineligible. Section 29 A of the amended IBC bars promoters of defaulting firms and also related parties from buying out stressed assets being put up for auction to recover bad loans of banks. In the statement, Arcelor-Mittal said it continues to believe that it's February 12th bid was strong and competitive and that it was fully eligible and therefore should have been placed before the committee of creditors by the IRP. The 30-bankers consortium has allowed rebid till April 2, while the petition of Numetal, which has already challenged the rejection at the NCLT, will be taken up on March 27. Under the insolvency resolution process, the case should be settled within a maximum 270 days, which ends on April 29 in the case of Essar Steel. The two companies had submitted their bids on February 12 but have been slugging it out with each other over questions about their eligibility to participate in the auction. Market volatility has claimed another victim within a week. This time, it is the initial public offer (IPO) of ICICI Securities. A week ago, the IPO of public sector undertaking (PSU) Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was subscribed around 50% on the third day of its offer till LIC came to the rescue of defence firm and took it close to the finishing line of 99% subscription during the final hours of the issue. On Monday, the IPO of ICICI Securities was subscribed just 88% including the portion set apart for anchor investors on the last day of the issue. The firm said it raised around Rs 3,500 crore from the IPO. The brokerage received bids for 3,46,75,396 shares against the total issue size of 4,42,25,343 shares (without anchor portion), according to the NSE data. On the contrary, anchor investors poured in Rs 1,717 crore a day before the IPO signalling strong enthusiasm for the issue. Around 3.30 crore shares were allotted at Rs 520 apiece to 58 anchor investors including Temasek, Nomura, Fidelity, Blackrock, Fairfax, IDFC Premier Equity Fund, L&T Mutual Fund Trustee, L&T Prudence Fund Pioneer Investment Fund, Reliance Strategic Investments Ltd and SBI Magnum Balanced Fund among others. Anchor investors are institutional investors who are offered shares in an initial public offer (IPO) a day before the issue opens. The quantity of shares bought by anchor invesors signals the magitude of demand for the IPO. Each anchor investor has to put a minimum of Rs 10 crore in the issue. The qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) quota was subscribed 1.04 times, non institutional investors 35 per cent and retail investors 88 per cent, according to the BSE data. While high net worth individuals subscribed to just 36% of the portion allotted for them, ICICI's shareholders put in bids for 1/3rd of the portion reserved for them. Analysts said the IPO was undersubscribed on the backdrop of investor caution about rich valuations and a volatile stock market. The valuation of ICICI Securities was expensive, some analysts said. According to reports, the IPO received sluggish response especially from high networth individuals. According to Centrum Broking, at Rs 520 rupees a share, the upper end of a narrow range, the IPO was priced at nearly 50 times its 2016/17 earnings and more than 34 times the book value. The Lemon Tree Hotels IPO was subscribed 25% on the first day of three-day bidding on Monday. The Rs 1,038-crore crore IPO received bids for 3,26,06,395 shares against the total issue size of 12,98,35,580 shares, NSE data showed. The portion for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) portion was subscribed 82 per cent, non institutional investors - 3 per cent and retail investors - 2 per cent. The IPO was launched in a holiday-truncated week (Thursday and Friday) marked by March derivatives expiry on Wednesday. On Sunday, the hospitality chain raised Rs 311 crore from anchor investors. 18 anchor investors invested Rs 311.61 crore at a price of Rs 56 per scrip after allotment of 5,56,43,820 shares, the firm said. SBI Magnum Balanced Fund, DB International Asia, HDFC Small Cap Fund, Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies Investment Trust Plc, BNP Paribas Arbitrage and Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund are among the anchor investors. The price band for the initial public offer (IPO), which will close on March 28, has been fixed at Rs 54-56 per equity share. At the upper end of the price band, the issue will raise Rs 1,038.68 crore. The hotel chain, which is backed by buyout firm Warburg Pincus and Dutch pension fund APG, has fixed the IPO price band at Rs 54-Rs 56 per share. The issue will close on March 28. The firm's public offer comprises sale of up to 185,479,400 equity shares by the existing shareholders, including Maplewood, Whispering Resorts, Palms International and RJ Corp. According to the draft red herring prospectus, promoters hold 31.11 per cent stake and private equity investors and other non-promoter share holders hold 68.89 per cent stake in the firm. "Our company expects listing of the equity shares will enhance our visibility and brand image and provide liquidity to our shareholders. Listing will also provide a public market for the equity shares in India," the company said in draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). Lemon Tree, currently the leader in terms of controlling interest in owned and leased rooms has operations spread across the value chain and range from acquiring land to owning, leasing, developing, managing and marketing hotels. The company has 45 hotels with 4,700 rooms in 28 cities. It has a portfolio of 19 owned-hotels, three owned-hotels are located on leased or licensed land, five leased hotels and 18 managed hotels, a company statement said. Founded in 2002 by Patu Keswani, the company has hotels under three brands - Lemon Tree Premier, which is an upscale brand; Lemon Tree Resorts, a leisure segment brand; Lemon Tree Hotels, a midscale brand and the economy brand Red Fox Hotels. Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, CLSA India, JP Morgan India and Yes Securities will manage the company's public issue. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the National Stock Exchange. 27 Mar 2018, 12:48 PM Facebook, Google, Twitter CEOs summoned by Senate committee The chief executive officers of top three social media platforms: Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Indian-American Sunder Pichai of Google, and Jack Dorsey of Twitter have been summoned by a Congressional committee for a hearing on data privacy. The hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee has been scheduled for 10 April. In a statement, committee chairman Chuck Grassley said Zuckerberg has been invited to discuss the company's past and future policies regarding the protection and monitoring of consumer data as reported by Mint. PNB may soon get a defaulter tag, first time for any bank in India It's been well over a month since Nirav Modi's fraudulent LoU scam was unearthed at the Punjab National Bank (PNB), but the troubles for PNB are showing no sign of abating. The beleaguered public sector lender is now staring at a shady title of 'defaulter', a first for any bank in India. According to a report in The Economic Times, if the scam-hit PNB does not pay back the amount by March 31, state-run Union Bank will have to treat PNB as a defaulter in its books, provide for the loan, and even classify the amount as non-performing asset (NPA) if auditors insist. Air India employees' jobs likely to remain safe for a year if airline gets sold In a move that would protect thousands of Air India officials from being sacked immediately after privatisation, the government is likely to add a clause that will make it mandatory for the new owner to retain all national carrier's staff for one year after the completion of the sale. Business Standard has reported that a clause in share purchase agreement would entail that a successful bidder take the employees of Air India and Air India Express on its payroll for a period of one year. BJP, Congress trade barbs over data-breach storm A social media debate over data privacy on political party apps in India escalated yesterday with the Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Indian National Congress trading barbs. The row comes at a time of heightened sensitivity worldwide after the alleged misuse of personal data amid the unfolding Facebook-Cambridge Analytica controversy. Allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official mobile app was sending personal user data to a third party without consent caused an online uproar over the weekend. The BJP denied the allegations and said the data was being used only for analytics to offer the "most contextual content". The BJP in turn took aim at the Congress after the same security researcher highlighted that the opposition party's app was transmitting personal data of those that signed up in an unsecured format. India ranks 109th globally in mobile download speeds: report India, the largest consumer of mobile data in the world, ranks 109th when it comes to mobile Internet download speeds, a report said today. The average download speed over the mobile increased to 9.01 mbps in February from the 8.80 mbps in November last year, but the country's rank continued to stay at 109th. Norway is positioned at the top with an average download speed of 62.07 mbps. The findings of the report come amid a massive increase in data connections by the over one billion mobile phone customers in the country and an increased thrust on connectivity by policymakers. The country, however, fared better on the fixed broadband front, according to Ookla, with its rank improving to 67 at the end of February, against 76 last year, as reported by PTI. In a couple of months, it will be a decade since Ranbaxy was sold to Daiichi Sankyo of Japan. While the issues between the Japanese pharmaceutical major and the Singh brothers of the then Ranbaxy are still to be resolved, leaders from corporate India are beginning to pick up some lessons from them. There is little denying that the two brothers - Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh - are both bright, young and intelligent individuals with education from some of the best institutions. On top of that, they inherited a legacy from their father Parvinder Singh, and a company with it. Students of family-led businesses, as well as some family business leaders, tell us that inheritance is a responsibility and it is binding upon the inheritor not to think that he or she is creating wealth but that they are the trustees of this wealth and need to preserve it. Afterall, that is the reason, companies like the Merck in Germany continues to be in its 13th generation. The Singh brothers, had this base to start with and both apparently had aspirations to build global companies. Thanks to the deal with Daiichi Sankyo, they also got, shall we say, the cash to back their aspirations. What began thereafter is a huge cycle of acquisitions for both the companies that they were running - Religare and Fortis. Both the companies began as local Indian enterprises with Fortis starting out as a single hospital entity out of Mohali but soon grew rapidly. Religare did some half a dozen acquisitions and seemed like it was headed to become a global financial services company. In fact, there was talk that it perhaps even aspired to become a bank one day. Fortis also grew, doing less than a dozen acquisitions, and at one stage had its presence in nearly 11 countries. Companies were bought and many rapidly sold thereafter and today, both are back to their India operations. So, were they too aggressive with their aspirations or were some of them not thought out well? Afterall, in some cases, as with the Parkway acquisition in Singapore, assets were bought and sold in a matter of few months. Those in the media would remember that after every deal, the press releases showed it to be a good deal. If so, then where has all the money gone? In the backdrop of these questions that many of the business leaders raised when asked about how they read the happenings with the Singh brothers, there are some lessons that most drew from the developments. Listed below are some lessons that were picked up by them: 1. Success is never permanent. Unless you build sustainability into the business, it will fail. 2. Focus on creating value for all stakeholders even if there is scope to do so for a select few. 3. Inheritance is a responsibility and it is up to the inheritors to preserve the wealth and the legacy. 4. As inheritors, you can milk the cow but cannot sell the cow if business continuity and intergenerational transfer of wealth and legacy are important. 5. Role of directors in listed companies becomes even more important. 6. Mergers and acquisitions is an art and not all are best placed to handle it. 7. Be ethical and show it. After all, Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. 8. If not handled well, value maximization has a flip side called wealth destruction. Xiaomi will be launching the mid-year update to the Mi Mix 2 that was launched last year. Numerous leaks and even official teasers show details about the new Mi Mix 2S. Xiaomi will be conducting the launch event in Shanghai at 11:30am IST. One can stream the event live on Xiaomi's China website. So far, the leaks suggest that on the outside the device will look similar to the current Mi Mix 2. However, it will sport better internals. It is certain that the Mi Mix 2S will sport the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. Another feature that had kept the Mi Mix 2 away competition was the single lens camera setup. With the Mi Mix 2S, Xiaomi might improve on the camera as well as embed a second lens in the rear panel. The screen and screen size might still remain the same at 5.99-inch with a FullHD+ resolution. Earlier leaks had suggested that Xiaomi will use a notch at the top right corner of the display. As much as it may seem to be a growing trend, the notch would have been a step in the wrong direction. Especially, for the Mi Mix series that boasts one of the best screen to body ratios in the industry. The official renders and leaks of the device suggest that Xiaomi did not opt for a notch after all. The company launched a teaser trailer of the Pacific Rim Uprising movie which clearly showed the front panel of the Mi Mix 2S. Given that Mi Mix 2 was brought to India, the Mi Mix 2S is also expected to be introduced here. With the updated hardware, the second generation Mix phone will get a renewed life-cycle and can compete directly with the like of OnePlus 5T. As far as the pricing is considered, Xiaomi might price it slightly higher than the current phone on sale. However, the outgoing model will be selling at a discount of Rs 5,000. The 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage device is selling at Rs 32,999 down from Rs 37,999 on Flipkart. Ever since the news that Shloka Mehta would tie the knot with Mukesh Ambani's eldest son Akash Ambani emerged, social media has been rife with speculations about the wedding. Only two days ago photos of their pre-engagement party in Goa had gone viral, putting all speculations to rest. The two families and close friends gathered at a plush five-star resort on Saturday for a 'get-to-know-each-other' before the formal engagement. Following the party in Goa, the couple had made their way to Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to seek blessings. They were accompanied by the entire Ambani family. Continuing their celebrations, the couple threw a party for their friends and family. The guest list included many Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Karan Johar, Katrina Kaif, John Abraham and Kiran Rao. Shah Rukh Khan was accompanied by his wife Gauri Khan, while Aishwarya Rai was spotted with her daughter Aaradhya. Shloka Mehta is the daughter of diamantaire Russell Mehta. Shloka and Akash were classmates at Dhirubhai Ambani International School, after which she went to Princeton University to study Anthropology. She went to pursue her Masters degree in Law and Political Science at The London School of Economics. Shloka Mehta is a Director of Rosy Blue Foundation and the co-founder of ConnectFor that matches volunteers with NGOs in need. Akash Ambani, on the other hand, is a Director of Reliance Retail Private Limited and Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited. He graduated from Brown University in the US with a degree in Economics. According to reports, their wedding was being planned for a while but both the families have been tight-lipped on the subject. The wedding ceremony will be spread across 4-5 days, adding the possible dates may be December 8-12 at the Oberoi, Mumbai, as mentioned in agency reports. (With agency inputs) U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon has made further inroads into food retail in France as Casino's upmarket Monoprix chain became the first local retailer to agree to sell groceries via Amazon. Future cooperation could extend beyond France. A source familiar with the talks said on Tuesday that Amazon and Casino were in talks to either partner in Brazil as they did in France or reach a deal for the outright sale of Casino's appliance and electronics chain Via Varejo SA. The French move, which is set to shake up the competitive local food retail market, lifted Casino shares as much as 9.7 percent in morning trade amid speculation that it could lead to a bigger deal later on. Amazon's purchase of the bricks-and-mortar retailer Whole Foods Market Inc for $13.7 billion last year, and a deal for Amazon Prime to sell products from the British supermarket chain Morrisons, raised expectations that it would bid for a retailer or form a partnership in France. Casino and Amazon said late on Monday that groceries sourced from Monoprix would be available in the Amazon Prime Now app and website through a dedicated virtual store. The deal is limited to the lucrative Paris market and its suburbs, though Monoprix CEO Regis Schultz told a conference call that an extension to other parts of France could not be ruled out. Asked if the partnership paved the way to other deals with Amazon, Schultz said: "We do not discuss the future." Monoprix is one of France's best-known store chains, with a network of nearly 800 upmarket stores in more than 250 cities. It has a strong focus on quality and fresh products in the mould of Whole Foods, and is a key contributor to Casino group profit. "We consider the Monoprix product selection as exceptional," Amazon France CEO Frederic Duval said during the call. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Schultz said a model where Monoprix does the picking of the order in store and Amazon takes care of delivery was a "profitable" one for Monoprix. Casino already has a delivery partnership with UK online retailer Ocado, signed last year. The two deals were complementary as the Ocado technology will allow Monoprix to address the needs of its traditional clients with a bigger basket and seeking next-day delivery. Clients of Amazon Prime, set up in Paris in 2016, are looking for fewer items and want express delivery. Since the purchase of Whole Foods Market, expectations that Amazon could focus next on Europe have spurred French retailers to try to improve their own online offerings. Carrefour announced in January that it would invest 2.8 billion euros in digital commerce over the next five years, six times its current investment. Leclerc, France's biggest food retailer by market share, privately held operator Systeme U and Casino have all been linked in recent months with Amazon, which has steadily been building its presence in France. Leclerc launched its own home delivery service in Paris on Monday. "Since the deal with Ocado will not start working until 2019, Casino needs to protect Monoprix from Leclerc, which has started home delivery in Paris," wrote Kepler Cheuvreux analysts. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie Workers put the finishing touches to cars rolling off the assembly line at a Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile factory in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Oct. 17. Photo VCG French carmaker Groupe PSA is setting up a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group to offer leasing services to Chinese customers, in a bid to turn around sales after a three-year market slowdown. Based in Wuhan, Hubei province, the new company will be injected with 300 million yuan ($47.7 million) of capital, it said in a statement Monday. Under the deal, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company Ltd. (DPCA) a PSA-Dongfeng joint venture will have a 50% stake, while Dongfeng and PSAs financial unit, Banque PSA Finance, will each have 25% of the shares. Leasing activities in China will be an essential lever that contributes to the sales performance of our brands, said Remy Bayle, CEO of Banque PSA Finance. They will represent a complementary full range of offers to the current financing solutions and will address the new usage of the automobile. This new activity will bring strong support to the growth plan of DPCA," he added. The new leasing company will particularly serve the customers of Peugeot, Citroen and DS, the statement said. Industry experts said the deal shows a shift in PSAs business model in China, where car-sharing and car rental have become increasingly popular. Through the new joint venture, PSA could directly sell its cars to leasing companies or online car-sharing platforms, instead of individual consumers, said Zeng Zhiling, general manager of LMC Automotive, a Shanghai-based industry consultancy. PSA sold 387,000 vehicles in China and Southeast Asia in 2017 a 37.4% decrease year-on-year and its third consecutive year of decline in these markets. It didnt disclose separate figures for China and Southeast Asia. Liu Weidong, Dongfengs vice president, has attributed PSAs poor performance to its late arrival to the popular SUV market, growing competition from Japanese brands, and the Chinese governments anti-monopoly policies that prevented it from setting final sale prices for dealers. Dongfeng, which owns 13% of PSAs shares, also has a joint venture with the latter to manufacture mainstream Peugeot and Citroen cars. The French automaker also has another partner, Changan Automobile Group, which helps sell its upscale DS models in China. Contact reporter Mo Yelin (yelinmo@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. Banaras Hindu University has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the posts of Research Associate, Junior Research Fellow and Lab cum Field Assistant. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 48000. The last date to apply for the government job is Apr 11, 2018. Banaras Hindu University Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Research Associate, Junior Research Fellow and Lab cum Field Assistant Organisation Banaras Hindu University Educational Qualification PhD in zoology for Research Associate; MSc for Junior Research Fellow; class 12 for Lab cum Field Assistant Age Limit 28 to 45 years Skills Required Research skills Salary Scale INR 28000 to INR 48000 Job Location Varanasi Industry Research Experience Desirable Application Start Date Mar 27, 2018 Application End Date Apr 11, 2018 How To Apply For Banaras Hindu University Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for Banaras Hindu University Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Even in the shade it was 105 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be challenging to focus in that kind of heat, but Dr. Saisabil Omer and Dr. Mayasa Mustafa were committed to providing sight-saving surgery to the men and women who came to the Carter Center-supported trachoma clinic in Al Fashaga, Gedarif state, Sudan. The trachomatous trichiasis (TT) surgeries the two women provide, which realign the eyelid so that eyelashes no longer scratch the cornea with each blink, only take about 20 minutes per eye. But it takes days of planning to make these clinics happen. First there is the eight-hour drive from capital Khartoum to Al Fashaga. Once the team arrives at the clinic site, they spend one or two days looking for patients in need of surgery. Announcements are made over the radio and by a megaphone attached to a truck driving around the village. Ministry of Health personnel also walk through villages talking to residents and looking for TT cases. Thanks to this mobilization, the clinic receives patients for TT surgery and a steady stream of people eager to be examined for other eye conditions by the visiting eye doctors. Residents know this is likely their only chance to be seen by a professional, as the nearest eye clinic is in the states capital, three hours away by public transport. Since 1999, The Carter Center has assisted the Trachoma Control Program in Sudan in collaboration with the government, nongovernmental organizations, and funding partners. This collective effort has enabled trachoma prevalence mapping and implementation of SAFE strategy interventions. SAFE represents the four-pronged strategy to eliminate blinding trachoma as a public health problem, consisting of TT surgeries for those facing imminent threat of blindness, antibiotics for annual treatment, facial cleanliness, and environmental sanitation (latrines). Lesian Gutierrez was the first to be eliminated from thefarm 13" (RecordTV) was the least voted by the public, with... The content on the Web page you requested is currently under review. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please contact the Superintendents Initiatives Office to request information regarding the page you are trying to access. Page Title: Torlakson Speaks at 2018 CABE Conference Web Address: http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr18/yr18rel23.asp Back to Previous Page Raysut Cement opens new packing line ICR Newsroom By 27 March 2018 Oman's Raysut Cement Co recently inaugurated a new packing line, installed by a leading European equipment manufacturer. The new line will double the packing capacity at its Salalah plant, enabling the company to supply an additional 1Mta of bagged supply to the export markets of Yemen, Somalia and east Africa. The project represents an investment of OMR1.5m (US$3.9m). Published under Coronado Motel recognized for historical significance The Coronado Motel was placed on the National Register for Historic Places last year and received recognition from History Colorado. Pope Francis started a busy Holy Week on Palm Sunday with a homily citing Jesus Christ as the first victim of "fake news." The pontiff addressed his message to the youth and stated that a better way to handle a "spin" in today's media is to remember Christ's image on the cross and never be silenced about their faith. The pope told the crowd during his homily that when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he experienced slander and received derogatory remarks. As his fame increased, people at that time made up stories about him as a criminal. "It is the cry born of the show of self-sufficiency, pride and arrogance, which sees no problem in shouting: 'Crucify him, crucify him'," the pope said. "Faced with such people, the best remedy is to look at Christ's cross and let ourselves be challenged by his final cry," he added. The pope stated that Jesus' response against fake news peddlers should inspire the youth to speak up with conviction for what they believe. Like Jesus, they could "anger and irritate" other people, especially the elders, but he reminded the youth that, "a joyful young person is hard to manipulate." Pope Francis' message to the youth comes after nearly a million young people in the U.S. joined the "March for Our Lives" rally in Washington, D.C. to push lawmakers to sign effective gun control laws and finally stop school mass shootings. Earlier this month, students in the U.S. also walked out of their classes for the same protest. The rage sparked after 17 students died in a school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida on Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, the pontiff welcomed some 300 Catholic youngsters in the Vatican this week. They presented documents on issues concerning the youth, which will be tackled in the Synods of Bishops that will take place October. The pope also announced that the Church's annual World Youth Day would take place in Panama in January 2019. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Right now we are living in a "hyper-partisan" time in America. Sadly and ironically, that is one thing most of us can agree on. The sharp partisan divisions between otherwise close friends and dear relatives are so huge that in some circumstances it has become a colossal challenge to have civil discussions about anything! Much of the media sees no need to help bridge the hyper-partisan chasm because so many media outlets themselves are very heavily invested in just one side. I grieve! Serious dialog on civic values has always been challenging to foster. Now it is nearly extinct. I grieve for many of our families and friendships, because there are so many topics that they cannot talk about. I also grieve for our churches, because so many core Biblical principles including, protecting life, liberty, mutual respect of our fellow images of God, love of neighbor, and blessings for enemies are broadly ignored. Moreover, I grieve for our country, because without a deep mutual respect and unity, we all lose. I grieve for God, too, who has so repeatedly, abundantly blessed the United States of America. And yet we are not unified even in thanks to God or in honoring him or the unifying principles and exemplary models he has given for vibrant community and mutual respect. A cure, I believe, is to refocus our issues and completely redefine "hyper-partisan." The ancient Greek "hyper" means "over," "above," and even "for," not just "extreme." Current examples include "hyperspace" and "hypersonic." We citizens and leaders can seek and find wholesome unity and problem-solutions "above" the present political fray, "over" the present morass and "for" one another three wholesome "hypers"! After all, one of the most fruitful ways to solve a pesky problem is to dissolve it on another level on a higher or "hyper" level, over and above the mind-wrenching levels of mere dissonance, distortions, and distrust. Jesus loved the word hyper. For example, he taught that we should love God hyper (above) our other loves, that we should pray hyper (for) our enemies. The Communion is his body given hyper (for) us and his blood shed hyper (for) us. He taught that we, his students, were not hyper (above) him, the Teacher but should live as he lived and taught. Jesus frequent use of hyper can help us elevate it in our present-day politics. Currently in America, people for the most part are not going to sacrifice their partisan views anytime soon. So what can we do? The cure, from my perspective, is to begin to embrace the bigger Biblical perspective and call to action. Since Biblical perspectives and actions embrace a so much larger view, God's all-wise view, that it is much higher (more "hyper") and certainly much more vibrant, holistic, and unifying than present partisan perspectives. Allow me to give two examples of how singular Biblical teachings dramatically embrace twin civic causes one that is traditionally a Democratic Party issue and the other that is traditionally a Republican Party issue. The first teaching is that God is surely pro-life. The Lord created life, and one of his names in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament is "Life." In his final sermon, Moses urged all the people of Israel to "choose life...because the LORD is your life" Consequently, both philosopher John Locke of the British Glorious Revolution of 1688 and statesman Thomas Jefferson of the American 1776 Revolution overtly relied on Biblical teachings to proclaim "life" as an ultimate and divinely given right for all people. This is a unifying truth! Historically, this Biblical teaching has galvanized and impassioned people for transformative Biblical action, unity and progress. For the Democratic Party, protecting life has been especially about improving and protecting the natural environment "creation care," as we evangelicals call it to make the world more livable for all human beings. Most Republicans also deeply share this Biblical commitment to environmental stewardship an elevated responsibility the Lord gave first to our earliest ancestors! Nevertheless, the Democratic Party has generally articulated and overtly acted on this priority of environmental stewardship more consistently than the Republican Party. For the Republican Party, the mission of protecting life has been especially about reducing abortions, including eliminating elective abortions. Seeing every baby as precious in God's sight is an unambiguous Biblical value that has inspired heroic programs to assist mothers in crisis and to find loving homes for unwanted babies. Considering elective abortion as a kind of "murder," Republican Party policies have been focused on protecting babies' lives through public policies and through restricting public funding of abortions. Many in the Democratic Party are also displeased by the number of abortions that are performed, but their party and its national candidates have increasingly supported an unrestrained "right" for mothers to "choose." In 2004, when the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) published a statement that endorsed creation-care and life for unborn babies as two of seven principles of Christian civic engagement, the NAE was attacked by some evangelical leaders who were more right-wing Republican than Christian. These leaders were unhappy that the NAE put creation-care in the top list of civic principles along with life for the unborn even though both positions are Biblical and consistently pro-life. In a published interview with the NY Times, my comments as an NAE Board member and contributor to the NAE statement pointed out that livable environments are top Biblical priorities both before and after birth! Far too many of our leaders let their party loyalties force blinders onto their perspectives. Regrettably, I know fellow charter members of the Evangelical Environmental Network, for example, who have never spoken out against the tragic slaughter of babies through elective abortions. It is a sin to see the wonderful issues of life so torn by blinding partisan loyalties. Instead of hyper (excessive) partisanship, we need to be hyper (above) the partisan divides. The redefined hyper-partisanship "above" the parties, "above" the partisan divides that I am recommending would liberate us to be truly and consistently pro-life for human life both in and out of the womb. And this broad affirmation of life can help lead us out of our present mutually-destructive partisanship and to act for life consistently. Second, God is surely pro-liberty, too. Liberty is a major theme of the Bible. Leviticus 25:10 was cast onto the Liberty Bell twenty years before the Declaration of Independence. Nevertheless, the two major American political parties focus quite differently on liberties even though these liberties are not incompatible with each other. Republicans are generally strong defenders of religious liberty and the freedom of conscience for a person not to be forced to violate sincerely held beliefs. They also support school choice and vouchers that liberate parents to select better schools for their children when their neighborhood schools are failing. In contrast, the contemporary Democratic Party has been more vocal in support of the liberties of civil rights for racial minorities and now for gender identity minorities. Both parties also support the liberating power of good education for children the Democrats mainly through efforts to improve the public schools and teachers salaries, and the Republicans through a competitive broad menu of improved school options. Every one of these liberties matter, and they each have Biblical foundations and can have beneficial and Godly consequences. Religious liberty, the liberties of civil rights, and the freedom of conscience are the most obvious. However, even liberties for gender identity minorities can have a Biblical place. After all, God chose from the beginning to give humans the right to be wrong, and in Romans 1 we learn that God gave some people over to their degrading passions! Within God's governance, people have always had the liberty to sin. We teach against sin, but we cannot legislate holiness. People are at liberty in non-violent sexual sin to demonstrate the emptiness of lust. In the excellent NAE seven principles of civic engagement, both religious freedom and human rights (including civil liberties) are included, even though the former has been more the passion of Republicans and the latter more the zeal of Democrats. The NAE takes a position hyper (above) both parties, as a prophetic witness against blinding partisanship. These two Biblical teachings life and liberty have undergirded so much of what has made America great. It is especially tragic that these Biblical teachings are themselves each being shredded into pieces by deadening, disorienting partisanship. No wonder our country is now so torn. The "hyper-partisanship" that we need is not the "hyped-up" destructive rhetoric, suspicion, ill-will, and fake news that is doing only harm. The "partisanship" that can help redeem the situation involves going hyper (above) the political parties to the holistic core Biblical principles of life and liberty. So let us renew our awareness that some of the principles of the other person's party are also pieces of more whole principles from God and in the Bible, hyper (above) both our parties. It is time for truly Godly people to hold the partisan leaders' accountable to the "hyper standards" that truly unite, that are broadly taught in the Scriptures, and that are from the living God hyper (above) all of us. Perhaps the NAE 2004 statement is due for another re-read now in 2018. And may our love of God hyper (above) all grant each of us true liberty from the bondages of our partisanship and give us new life together, in him. Paul de Vries, PhD, pauldevries.com, is the president of New York Divinity School, and a pastor, author, and speaker. He is a specialist in Biblical hermeneutics and ethics and a life-long advocate of Biblical activism. home World Report: UK has among the highest number of young people with no religious affiliation in Europe A new report has found that the U.K. is one of the several countries in Europe with the highest proportion of young people who are not religiously affiliated. The findings of a new study have indicated that a majority of young people in a dozen European countries say they are not affiliated to a religion. In the U.K., 70 percent of those aged between 16 and 29 years old described themselves as non-religious, while only 29 percent identified as Christian. The Czech Republic has the largest proportion of young adults with no religion at 91 percent. A majority of young adults in Estonia, Sweden, Netherlands, UK, Hungary, Belgium, France, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Spain also do not associate with a religion. In contrast, Poland has the least proportion of young adults with no religion at 17 percent and has the highest proportion of Christians at 83 percent. Other European countries with the biggest concentration of Christians were Lithuania (74 percent) and Ireland (59 percent). The smallest proportions of Christians were found in Czech Republic (nine percent), Sweden (18 percent), Estonia (19 percent) and the Netherlands (19 percent). The study, conducted by St. Mary's University and the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP), analyzed data gathered from 22 European nations via the European Social Survey. Researchers have found that 10 percent of young adults in the U.K. consider themselves Catholic, while seven percent identify as Anglican and six percent identify as Muslim. Stephen Bullivant, a theology professor at St. Mary's University in London and author of the study, said that the differences in religiosity were "genuinely remarkable." "The differences in the religiousness a or, as dominates in many countries, non-religiousness a of 16-29 year-olds in our sample of European countries is genuinely remarkable. There are, moreover, some genuine surprises in the data," Bullivant said, as reported by Euro News. "For example, Ireland's young adults are a contrary to recent reports a still remarkably religious, at least by the standards of other highly developed European nations. Meanwhile, countries that had, until quite recently, traditionally strong religious cultures a Lithuania, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria a look to be in serious trouble, in terms of the coming generations," he added. Bullivant's report is one of several studies that highlight the apparent decline of Christianity in Europe. A study released by Pew Research Center in 2015 has predicted that Europe's Christian population will shrink by around 100 million people in the coming decades. It noted that Christians will still be the largest religious group in Europe, but Muslims will make up 10 percent of the continent's population by 2050, up from 5.9 percent in 2010. 3 things that can hinder us from being an effective ambassador for Christ As God's children in Christ, we are made as His ambassadors, a people who would bring Christ to people around the world. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 tells us thus, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." By this we understand that God expects us to live and act in such a way that the people we know will know God through us; that they'd understand who Christ is and what He did; and that they'd repent of their sin, come to Christ, and be reconciled to the Father -- through our efforts. There are, however, some things that can hinder us from doing that. We must do our best to deal with or do away with these things so that we can be effective ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ. Three things that can hinder us from being an effective ambassador for Christ 1) The flesh The flesh always hinders us from bringing the Gospel to others. We must understand that the work of bringing the Gospel to all men is a work that should be done in the Spirit. Salvation, being born again, and being in a relationship with God can only be done by the Spirit. Jesus Himself said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) Knowing that, we must learn to put to death the lusts of the flesh. "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 5:16-17) 2) Laziness Did you know that laziness is a bane to being ambassadors for Christ? The Lord Jesus likens the world to a harvest field, where His followers joyously harvest people for God's Kingdom: "Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."" (Matthew 9:37-38) Since evangelism, or the act of bringing Christ to people so that they would repent and turn to Him for salvation, is harvesting, we can't afford to be lazy. Proverbs 10:5 warns us, "He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame." 3) Sin Sin can and will always hinder us from effectively witnessing to people about the Lord Jesus Christ. While it's a fact that we're only human and aren't perfect and sinless, it's also a fact that when we sin we destroy our testimony, the very testimony we have that we use to bring people to Christ. Remember Moses' story in Exodus 2:11-15, how he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew? The following day, he tried to stop two Hebrew men from fighting, but was met with a slap in the face: "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" (see Exodus 2:14) This is what I mean, friends. When we commit sin, we destroy our testimony. Whatever kind of sin we commit, it will tarnish our name, and with that our very testimony. The world is watching us even if we don't know it. Our very lives will speak about who Christ is to us. We should be very careful how we live in the sight of God and men. Archbishop of Canterbury offers to help end violence in Nigeria The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, yesterday repeated an offer to contribute towards any peace negotiations in Nigeria amid ongoing violence in some parts of the country. Welby tweeted in January: 'I am deeply saddened by the killings and displacements in #Nigeria. President @MBuhari and authorities are exhorted to act now to end this violence and begin mediated dialogue. I mourn with this great country and stand with them in prayer, #prayforthepeaceofNigeria.' Since then, however, the violence has spread, and yesterday Welby raised the situation in the House of Lords. He said: 'I once again exhort president Muhammadu Buhari and other authorities, civil and religious, national and international, urgently to build a coalition to end this violence immediately. 'In communications earlier this year with the Primate of All Nigeria, His Grace Nicholas Okoh, I offered to contribute towards such effort to the extent such might be useful. I repeat that offer again, knowing, however, that within Nigeria are all the skills needed for resolution of the suffering of the people. 'My condolences go to those who have lost loved ones and property. I urge the authorities to seek for ways to ameliorate their sufferings and losses. I call on all people of goodwill to continue to pray for the peace of Nigeria.' The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) noted that some 175,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Nigeria's Benue State and are now living in refugee camps since the start of this year including more than 80,000 children. ACNS said that the root cause is a conflict between nomadic herdsmen who graze cattle over vast areas, and farmers who wish to cultivate land for crops. Five people were killed over the weekend in clashes near the Agatu local government area, according to AFP. Separately, the Council on Foreign Relations basedin New York reported that 63 people were killed in eight separate incidents in the week leading up to March 23. In January, the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria called on the government 'as a matter of urgency to address these ugly trends and ensure that the culprits are brought to justice'. Ghanaian sentenced to death by hanging for murder of British Christian missionary A court in Ghana has given a sentence of death by hanging to a driver who murdered and buried a British Christian missionary in an old farm in 2010, Ghana Web reported. The sentence from the high court in Accra came after a jury unanimously returned a guilty verdict on Kofi Seidu for murdering Rev Sidney Barnes at Nsawam in the south of the country. Seidu has 30 days to appeal against his conviction. An in-law of the victim, Rev Goodwill Padmore, was cleared of conspiracy to murder. Barnes, who was 75 when he was killed, was a missionary attached to the Calvary Chapel in the US. In 1997, he came to Ghana as a missionary and established the Crossroads Christian Mission Incorporated in Koforidua, in the eastern region of the country. He also established a computer school in Koforidua and owned farms at Akwamu Amanfo, near Nsawam. According to the prosecution, Barnes employed Seidu as a driver and farm manager, and Padmore as the principal of the computer school. Having returned to the US for a period, Barnes flew back to Ghana via London in 2010 and asked Padmore to inform Seidu to pick him up at the airport on the evening of March 18. However, Seidu later called to inform Padmore that the Barnes was not among the passengers on board the British Airways flight. Records show that Barnes did indeed fly from London to Ghana on March 18, 2010. Seidu was picked up by the police on September 26, 2010, when he denied picking up Barnes from the airport. But on October 4, 2010, Seidu reportedly confessed that Barnes had been killed, adding that he had been persuaded by Padmore to kill Barnes in order to steal the money he had brought from the US. Seidu, the prosecution said, said that he found $3,000 on the deceased which he gave to Padmore, who gave Seidu back half of the amount. An autopsy indicated that Barnes died of multiple stab wounds. The prosecution called five witnesses to make their case during the trial, which began on January 15, 2015. Hero or heretic? 9 quotes from Meister Eckhart On this day in 1329, Pope John XXII condemned 17 statements made by a German mystical teacher, Eckhart von Hochheim, known as Meister (Master) Eckhart. So was he just another mystic gone bad, led astray by a powerful spiritual imagination? Not quite: Eckhart had died the year before, but before he died he had told the archbishop of Cologne that he would willingly recant any teaching found to be heretical, and on that basis the pope said he died reconciled to the church. But who was he, and why is he still remembered? Meister Eckhart is regarded as one of the forerunners of the Reformation, teaching for instance that fasting and external piety were useless unless the heart was right. He influenced other, more orthodox mystics like John Nider and John Cusa. A senior church administrator and lecturer, he was well grounded in theology and in the bureaucratic details of church life. He was steeped in Scripture and held audiences rapt with his oratory. However, he was regarded with suspicion by his theological opponents; his defenders argue that he was just misunderstood. Here are nine quotes from Meister Eckhart. 1. God wants nothing of you but the gift of a peaceful heart. 2. The outward man is the swinging door; the inward man is the still hinge. 3. A quiet mind is one which nothing weighs on, nothing worries, which, free from ties and from all self-seeking, is wholly merged into the will of God and dead to its own. 4. When man humbles himself, God cannot restrain his mercy; he must come down and pour his grace into the humble man, and he gives himself most of all, and all at once, to the least of all. 5. The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake. 6. If the only prayer you pray in your whole life is 'thank you', it will be enough. 7. Love often begins with fear; fear is the approach to love: fear is like the awl which draws the shoemaker's thread through the leather. 8. Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure. 9. Man goes far away or near, but God never goes far. He is always standing close at hand, and even if he cannot stay within he never goes further than the door. Heroic French policeman who died after taking place of hostage was devout Christian who married partner on deathbed The French gendarme who took the place of a female cashier held hostage in a supermarket in France by a radical Islamist who had already killed three other people was a devout Catholic who married his partner on his deathbed. Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame has been hailed as a sacrificial hero by senior church, police and political figures including Pope Francis, the French president Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump after he died following the attack in which he swapped himself for a hostage in the southern town of Trebes, near the medieval city of Carcassonne. Now it has emerged that the 44-year-old, who returned to practising his Catholic faith in his 30s after a conversion experience, was to have a church wedding in three months, having already married in a civil ceremony. The priest who was meant to be the couple's celebrant reportedly rushed to his bedside and read him his last rites before he died. The priest, identified as Father Jean-Baptiste, also said he married the man to his wife before he died, according to The Sun. Beltrame died on Saturday (March 24) from shot and stab wounds during the siege. 'A life that has been given cannot be lost,' said Bishop Alain Planet of Carcassonne and Narbonne at a memorial Mass in Trebes yesterday. 'It transcends misfortune to rally us in unity. It calls us to believe in life stronger than death.' According to The Tablet, Bishop Planet said that people who compared him to Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish Franciscan priest who volunteered to be executed in Auschwitz in place of a family man, 'have understood something of his act, even if the circumstances are different'. In his Palm Sunday sermon, Archbishop Georges Pontier, president of the French bishops conference, compared Beltrame's act to 'the gesture of Jesus who gave his life for us'. Macron praised the gendarme's 'exceptional courage and selflessness'. A national memorial service is planned later in the week. 'He died a hero,' said Macron in a statement that noted Beltrame had served as a paratrooper in Iraq, head of a Republican Guard security company at the Elysee Palace and intelligence advisor at France's ecology ministry before taking command of the local gendarmerie in Carcassonne. Meanwhile, Fr Jean-Baptiste recounted in a statement that, for almost two years, he had helped Beltrame and his wife prepare for their church wedding which was set for June 9. The priest found him still alive but unconscious when he arrived at the hospital. 'I was able to give him the sacrament of the sick and the apostolic blessing at the hour of death,' he wrote. 'I think that only his Christian faith, animated by love, could have demanded of him this superhuman sacrifice.' Beltrame regularly attended mass at the abbey, the priest said. The gendarme's mother, speaking before her son died, told RTL radio he had constantly thought of serving his country and helping others. 'He was always like that...he would tell me "I'm just doing my job, Mum, that's all."' Islamic State claimed that the attacker Radouane Lakdim, 25, born in Morocco was answering its call to target nations in the coalition fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Today, it emerged that Pope Francis sent a message of condolence to Bishop Planet, expressing his sadness over the attack, entrusting the victims to God's mercy and praying for the families of the victims. 'I particularly recognise the generous and heroic act of Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame who gave his life out of a desire to protect people,' the Pope told the bishop. 'I condemn again such acts of indiscriminate violence which cause so much suffering.' Nigerian Christians demand release of Christian girl held by Boko Haram The Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC) yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl yet to be released by Boko Haram militants after the Dapchi schoolgirls' abduction. A spokesman for the group, Larry Yammai, said at a briefing in Kaduna that while it shared joy with the parents of the other Dapchi girls over the release of their daughters last week, there was concern for the remaining Christian girl still in captivity. 'CNNC notes with great concern the abduction of yet another set of school girls. While we rejoice that almost all the girls have been released, we are heavily saddened that our daughter, Miss Leah Sharibu is still been held because of her faith,' the spokesman said. 'The truth is very obvious that the destruction project of Boko Haram is very much targeted at Christians. CNNC strongly condemns this evil tendency and urges president Buhari to urgently intervene for the immediate release of this young girl.' According to the New Telegraph, Leah is being kept in custody because of her ongoing failure to renounce her Christian faith. The spokesman said the group appreciated the efforts of the Buhari government so far, but demanded that the remaining Chibok girls and other victims be released without delay. 'It is ironical that the detained terrorists are being released in greater numbers in the name of de-radicalisation while their captives are still being held,' he said. The Dapchi girls were the latest to be held by Boko Haram after the terrorist group separately kidnapped 276 female students from the Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, in April 2014, with some being released, most recently in January this year. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 release date, specs news: Next-gen tablet to use Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset with 4GB RAM After the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus launch at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 last month, rumors are rife that the South Korean tech giant will unveil another premium gadget shortly. It is expected that Samsung will officially announce the Galaxy Tab S4 in the coming weeks, with the specs and features of the high-end tablet already displayed in the recent GFXBench benchmark lising. The latest GFXBench benchmark listing for a certain Samsung gizmo with model number SM-T835 shows that the tablet will sport a 10.5-inch display with 1,600x2,560 pixels resolution. While it was not particularly called the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, tech followers have taken notice of the model number, which seems to suceed the numbers used by the previous Tab S series models, the Galaxy Tab S2 and S3. The Galaxy Tab S3 goes with the model number SM-T825, while the Tab S2 has SM-T815. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is also listed with an Adreno 540 GPU. There is no specific description about the tablet's main processor, but given the Adreno graphics chip mentioned, it is expected that the Galaxy Tab S4 will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset. The Adreno 540 graphics card is known to be used with the 2017 Qualcomm high-end chip, and it does not appear that the Tab S4 will use the latest Snapdragon 845. The expectation is that all of Samsung's upcoming flagship devices will use Qualcomm's latest high-end mobile processor, starting with the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus smartphones. Although, the latest chip is likely to arrive in the Galaxy Tab S series next year. Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is shown to have 4GB of RAM and 64 GB built-in storage. It will also sport a 12MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing camera. The tablet is tipped to run the latest Android 8.0 Oreo update. Samsung has yet to announce the release of the Galaxy Tab S4 this year, although the tablet is expected to drop in the coming weeks. 10 things to know about Walker Evans Ahead of our online sale, Walker Evans: An American Master, we trace the life of the photographer who displayed the nuance of a poet and the precision of a surgeon and became the forefather of the American documentary tradition 1 He dreamt of being a writer, like his friends John Cheever and Hart Crane Walker Evans (1903-1975) was born to an affluent family in St. Louis, Missouri. His fathers job as an advertising director meant that the family was often on the move; Toledo, Chicago and New York City were all homes for the young Evans. In 1926 he spent a year studying French literature at Williams College in Massachusetts before quitting to work in the bookstores of New York City and Paris. There he wrote short stories and befriended writers including John Cheever and Hart Crane. The invention of the pocket Kodak camera enabled Evans to photograph the people he met on his travels; eventually, this led him to abandon his dreams of becoming a writer and turn to documentary photography. But his love of literature is visible in his early images, which retain a strong sense of narrative structure. 2 His early work was used to illustrate volumes of poetry Evans quickly developed his own style, eschewing formal European Modernism in favour of a more modest approach. Finding poetic resonance in ordinary subjects, his photographs of Brooklyn Bridge were used to illustrate The Bridge, Hart Cranes 1930 book of poems. His images of Victorian houses in Boston were published alongside text by Lincoln Kirstein. Find out more about our updated online sales calendar 3 He had a wonderful time drinking with Ernest Hemingway in Cuba In 1933, Evans was sent to Cuba to document the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado for Carleton Beals book The Crime of Cuba (1933). While there, Evans photographed the people affected by the oppressive regime. It was in Cuba that Evans developed his signature humanist aesthetic. Also in Cuba, Evans befriended the American writer Ernest Hemingway. As Evans later recalled, I had a wonderful time with Hemingway, drinking every night. He was at loose ends and he needed a drinking companion, and I filled the role for two weeks. Hemingway lent Evans money to extend his trip in return for help sourcing archival newspaper imagery for what would become the novel To Have and Have Not (1937). Evans left 46 photographs with Hemingway in Cuba, fearing the authorities would confiscate them. They were rediscovered in Havana in 2002 and exhibited at the Key West Museum of Art & History in Florida. 4 His photographs serve as important documents of American history In 1935 Evans took an assignment with the US Federal Agencys Resettlement Administration, which relocated families affected by the economic depression. As the worst years of the Depression hit causing 25 per cent unemployment, the closure of some 5,000 banks and the migration of hundreds of thousands of Americans to shantytowns Evans spent months travelling the states in search of poignant imagery and unique perspectives. 5 He was the first photographer to be the subject of a solo show at MoMA After two more years with the US government, Evans was asked to exhibit his images at MoMA in New York, in what would be their first-ever show dedicated to a single photographer. Evans work had been included in four group exhibitions at MoMA since 1933, but it was the 1938 show Walker Evans: American Photographs that catapulted him to fame. His crystal-clear images of roadside attractions, storefronts and factory towns, and the faces of cotton farmers, coal miners and war veterans, defined a new up-close and personal style of documentary photography. The MoMA published show catalogue remains for many artists the benchmark photography monograph. The exhibition and book presented images from Evans various projects out of their original contexts, and without textual explanations a radical concept for the time, explains Darius Himes, Christies International Head of Photographs. 6 As the US became a world superpower, he focused on its ordinary citizens Evans witnessed the beginnings of automobile culture, the advertising boom and the rise of the financial industries. Having seen America at its worst, he became perfectly placed to also follow its rise to world superpower. Evans iconic images of everyday citizens are today an encyclopaedia of modern America in the making. 7 He sought to photograph people when the guard is down and the mask is off Keen to work without drawing attention to himself, Evans began strapping his 35mm Contax camera to his chest, its lens peeking out between his coat buttons. As he would later explain, this enabled him to capture people when the guard is down and the mask is off. His subway portraits, taken between 1938 and 1941 using this method, remained unseen for 25 years until their publication in the 1966 book Many Are Called. Evans rarely spent time in the darkroom. Instead, he attached handwritten notes to his negatives, with detailed instructions on how they were to be printed. 8 He embraced Polaroid photography with a lifetimes supply of film In 1945 Evans became a staff writer at Time magazine, then the Special Photographic Editor of Fortune magazine, which published his images alongside text which he wrote himself. Evans remained in the role until 1965, when he took a job as Professor of Photography at Yale University School of Art. He also continued to take on photographic assignments. As declining health made it difficult for him to work with large equipment, he switched to the newly invented portable Polaroid SX-70 camera. Polaroid offered Evans an unlimited supply of film. 9 MoMA has included his work in 67 exhibitions Evans died at his home in Connecticut in 1975, aged 71. In 1994 his estate was bequeathed to MoMA, which became the sole copyright holder of his lifes work (his early photographs for the US government are held in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.). To date, MoMA has shown Evans work in 67 exhibitions, including the important solo shows Walker Evans American Photographs in 2013/14; Walker Evans: American Photographs in 1989; Walker Evans, 1903-1973 in 1975 and Walker Evans in 1971, for which the print below was made. 10 He inspired a generation of photographers, from Arbus to Winogrand The five decades Evans spent documenting American life greatly influenced the candid work of photographers Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander, Garry Winogrand and Martin Parr. 5 minutes with... A polychrome Yoruba mask Bruno Claessens, Head of African and Oceanic art at Christies, with a mask from the Republic of Benin once owned by a French Cubist, shown at the first MoMA exhibition of African art in 1935, and now being offered at auction in Paris on 10 April Many Christies specialists who work with paintings routinely look at the back of frames for labels that can provide clues to provenance or exhibition history. That reflex is much less common for an African art expert, explains Bruno Claessens, Christies European Head of African and Oceanic Art. When I was appraising a private collection in Paris last month, in a beautiful apartment filled with art, this piece a vibrant polychrome mask from the Republic of Benin immediately caught my eye, Claessens says. I lifted it from its base to feel the weight of the wood and to check for signs that it had previously been worn. Intuitively I also examined the inside of the mask, and to my amazement I discovered several old paper labels stuck to the wood. The original Poittier shipping label from the mid-1930s, found on the inside of the Yoruba mask One of these, an old French customs stamp, was proof that the mask had at one point left the country for an exhibition. Finding that stamp was a real eureka moment, Claessens says, because it was proof that the mask had not always been in France, and had had a long life before it arrived in this collection in Paris. The label of the shipping company that transported it (Poittier, from St. Ouen) was even more telling. Although the label was partly damaged, Claessens was able to decipher on it the words A. Lhote Exp. Art Negre New York. This was a significant discovery, for it revealed that at the time of its shipment to New York, the mask was owned by French Cubist painter Andre Lhote (1885-1962), who had begun acquiring African masks in 1906. Whats more, Claessens knew that in the first decades of the 20th century, only a few African art exhibitions had been organised in New York. The Exp. Art Negre reference thus quickly brought to mind the Museum of Modern Arts much acclaimed 1935 exhibition African Negro Art. Checking the exhibitions extremely rare, un-illustrated catalogue, which listed all 500 works in the show, Claessens discovered this mask, listed as lot #242: the Polychrome mask Dahomey Coll. Andre Lhote, Paris. (Dahomey being the kingdom that existed in present-day Benin from around 1600-1900.) It had a long life in Africa, impressed crowds at the first major exhibition of African art in New York, and was immortalised by one of Americas most important photographers The 1935 exhibition was key because, rather than presenting these works in an ethnographic museum, as was the usual practice at the time, here we had masks and other pieces exhibited in an art museum. And not just any art museum, but the Museum of Modern Art, the specialist explains. It was a real game changer, because from that moment on people started looking at these works as art and started to appreciate their sculptural qualities. Whats more, most of the objects exhibited in the African Negro Art exhibition including this mask were photographed by Walker Evans, the pioneering American photographer who not long afterwards would travel throughout the country documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Evans photos from this exhibition are very well-known, and are already valuable and well-collected, explains Claessens. Bruno Claessens, Head of African and Oceanic art at Christies, with Yoruba mask, Republic of Benin. Height: 28 cm (11 in). Estimate: 6,000-8,000. This lot is offered in Arts dAfrique, d'Oceanie et dAmerique on 10 April 2018 at Christies in Paris This mask therefore represents an extremely exciting rediscovery: Not only did it have a long life in Africa, but once it left the continent it continued to impress crowds at the first major exhibition of African art in New York, and was immortalised by one of Americas most important photographers. Further sleuthing would reveal that it was sold at auction in Paris in 1943, and acquired by well-known French publisher Jean Aubier. From Aubier it passed to Pierre Verite (whose collection was offered in November 2017 at Christies in Paris), and finally from the Verite family to its current owner, who was unaware of its earlier provenance. Indeed, it was after the Verite sale that the current owner approached Claessens to tell him that she had another piece, which once belonged to the Verite family, and that he might like to see. Most of the works included in MoMAs 1935 exhibition of African art including the polychrome Yoruba mask were photographed by the great Walker Evans. Walker Evans, Untitled (Gelede Yoruba Mask), 1935. Gelatin silver print, 9.6 x 7.5 in. All rights reserved. The mask itself is one the specialist describes as a very classic Yoruba style. It would have been used in a Gelede performance, a ritual display featuring masked dancers and music that was intended to amuse but also to educate and inspire worship. In particular, Gelede dances celebrated the power of mothers and female ancestors, and the important role of older women in the Yoruba community. Because the mask was intended for wear in these performances, it was carved from a very light wood. What you see here is just a fragment of the larger elaborate costume that would have been worn by a Gelede dancer, the specialist explains. Claessens reveals the original labels on the inside of the mask ATLANTA Atlanta's mayor said Monday the city continues to operate despite ongoing troubles caused by a cyberattack on its computer network last week. City officials announced Thursday that the city's computer network had been attacked by ransomware that encrypted some city data. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Monday the attack is an important reminder of the need to ensure that the city's digital infrastructure is secure and up to date. She said some city services are suspended and other city functions may be slow for a while because city workers have to do things manually rather than using their computers. Bottoms said the city is working around the clock with federal agency and private sector help. But she declined to say when she expects the network to be running normally. Bottoms has said there is no evidence that any personal information has been compromised, but she urged city employees, residents and others whose data may be in the citys system to monitor their bank accounts and to take proactive steps to protect their personal data. When asked whether the city would pay the ransom demanded, the mayor said the city would seek guidance from federal authorities on the best course of action. Mark Ray, a former FBI cybersecurity investigator whos now managing director and head of digital investigations for Nardello & Co., said the agencys primary goals are to stop an attack and find out whos responsible. The FBI will never advocate paying ransom, Ray said. There are a variety of reasons for that, including: Theres no guarantee the ransomware owner will actually provide decryption after being paid, an organizations willingness to pay can make it a target for future attacks, and sometimes payment results in the unlocking of part of a system but then more money is demanded to unlock more of the system. But if an organization chooses not to pay ransom and if there is no available decryption key, the alternative is, literally, to slash and burn the environments that have been infected, Ray said. Thats where good backups are critical. Ransomware exploits known software vulnerabilities, and often organizations that fall victim to such attacks havent done a thorough job of patching systems regularly, he said. Municipalities often struggle with basic software updates and patching because they are frequently short on resources, said Ryan Kalember, senior vice president of cybersecurity strategy at the security company Proofpoint. Remington Outdoor Co., the oldest firearms manufacturer in the United States, filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday, after months of declining gun sales and amid renewed protests against gun violence. The company based in Madison, N.C., had seen a years worth of slumping sales and could not meet requirements from its lenders, Remington chief financial officer Stephen Jackson said in documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Reuters news agency reported. The filing was not entirely a surprise. The company had announced on Feb. 12 that it had reached a deal with creditors to write off about $700 million of its $950 million debt load. Though it was on its way to Chapter 11, Remingtons executives predicted the gun maker would persist now and long into the future. We have an outstanding collection of brands and products, the unqualified support of a vibrant community across the industry, and a deep and powerful culture, Remington CEO Anthony Acitelli said at the time. We will emerge from this process . . . to compete more aggressively and to seize future growth opportunities. However, two days later, a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 students and staff members. The AR-15-style weapon used in that attack was made by a different manufacturer, Smith & Wesson. The Florida killings led to huge protests around the country and a new student-led movement to tighten gun laws. The shooting already one of several to take place at a U.S. school in 2018 reignited the debate over gun violence and galvanized a new generation of activists, including many teenagers from Parkland. Remingtons bankruptcy filing came just one day after hundreds of thousands of people gathered to protest gun violence at the March for Our Lives in Washington, as well as at hundreds of sibling marches across the country. In the bankruptcy, Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm that acquired Remington in 2007, will lose its ownership of the company. Meanwhile, Remingtons creditors will exchange their debt holdings for equity, according to Reuters. The news service said it was unclear if any creditors had changed their minds about the debt-restructuring deal after the Parkland shooting. Remingtons woes reflect a sharp change in the gun industry over the past year. Firearm purchases soared during the run-up to the 2016 election: Hillary Clinton was favored to win, and an array of gun-rights advocates warned of a looming Second Amendment crackdown. Earlier that year, President Barack Obama had stoked similar fears by proposing to expand federal background checks. Donald Trumps upset win over Clinton seemed to help reverse all that. Fears of a crackdown have tapered off under Trump, who called himself a true friend of the National Rifle Association. Gun sales have declined, too. Reuters reported that Remingtons sales crashed in 2017, leaving it with a $28 million operating loss. Credit ratings agencies attributed the decline in part to receding fears that guns will become more heavily regulated. Though Trump briefly hinted that he might take a stricter stance on gun rights after the Parkland tragedy even chiding senators for being afraid of the NRA the president toned down his push for more aggressive gun control after meeting privately with NRA officials. Trump has since doubled down on a proposal to help arm schoolteachers. The NRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday on the Remington bankruptcy. Its unclear how the Parkland shooting will affect long-term gun sales, for Remington or any other manufacturer. The tragedy appeared to be a tipping point for several major companies, who vowed to restrict gun sales in a variety of ways. Remingtons reputation has also flagged in recent years. The company fell under intense criticism after the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Conn., in which gunman Adam Lanza used a Remington Bushmaster AR-15 rifle to massacre children and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary. A lawsuit seeking to hold Remington partially liable is pending before the Connecticut Supreme Court. Remington also settled a class-action lawsuit over alleged defects in some of its rifles, CNN Money reported. While gun sales have fallen precipitously in total since Trump was elected, they appear to have ticked up among select groups. Many gun-store owners and gun clubs say theyve seen a recent surge in black and LGBT clients who fear racial and gender-based violence could swell during Trumps presidency, as the Washington Post and NBC News have reported. So far, their business has not been enough to make up for the industrys woes. The industry has been hurt by another trend: A large percentage of guns in the U.S. are owned by an increasingly small group of people. A recent study by Harvard University and Northeastern University found that the number of privately owned guns in America grew by more than 70 million to approximately 265 million between 1994 and 2015. But half of those guns are owned by only 3 percent of the population. That small base of what are sometimes referred to as super-owners has made the industry more unstable. In 2015, Colt Holdings Co., another famous gun maker, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Likewise, profits at Sturm, Ruger & Co. are under pressure, and its stock is down 18 percent this year. But its not all gloom and doom for the firearms business. Richard Feldman, president of the Independent Firearm Owners Association, told Bloomberg News Service that the companys problems stemmed from normal seesaws in the industry. I suspect that if the Democrats make a resurgence this November, Feldman said, gun company stocks will come roaring back with them. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The U.S. agreed to revise its trade deal with South Korea and spare the country from President Donald Trumps steel tariff, as the allies sought to resolve disputes before planned meetings with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. The two countries reached an agreement in principle on the bilateral free trade agreement known as Korus, South Koreas trade ministry said in a statement Monday. The announcement came after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had reached a very productive understanding. To avoid the steel tariff, South Korea would limit U.S. shipments of the metal to about 2.7 million tons a year, the ministry said. The country also agreed to double to 50,000 the number of U.S. cars that could be imported without meeting local safety standards, although American manufacturers sell far fewer cars in the market. Lighthizers press office didnt respond to requests for comment on the agreement. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told CNBC on Monday that it looks like were going to have a very, very good result on Korus. The deal would be Trumps first since taking office promising to put America First last year and triggering a series of trade disputes with nations from Canada and China. Trump criticized the U.S.s six-year-old trade deal with South Korea as a job killer, and opened negotiations, even as he sought President Moon Jae-ins help to pressure North Korea over Kims nuclear weapons program. The disagreement threatened to drive a wedge between the two allies as Moon prepared to meet Kim next month, an encounter that Trump needs to pave the way for his own proposed summit with the North Korean leader. Moon urged Trump to show the world that our alliance is very solid and resolve their trade disputes in a phone call earlier this month. Ahead of the inter-Korean summit in late April and the U.S.-North Korea summit in May, were at a moment where close cooperation is more important than at any other time, Yoon Young-chan, Moons chief communications official, told reporters Monday. We can now solidify the already water-tight cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. The steel quota is unlikely to hurt South Koreas exports since sales to the U.S. account for 11 percent of total overseas shipments of the metal, the South Korean ministry said. The quota is set at 70 percent of the average of steel sales to the U.S. during 2015-17. South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said the countrys tariff exemption was the first granted by Trump on the country level, and officials were still discussing with the U.S. whether it would be permanent or expire after a time. The Korea Iron & Steel Association welcomed the deal while saying the quota was was smaller than the industry wanted. Kim cautioned that risk of trading with the U.S. would persist during Trumps presidency. U.S. officials were most interested in the car trade, he said. South Koreas trade surplus with the U.S. was about $18 billion last year, down from $23 billion in 2016, according to the Korea International Trade Association. Cars accounted for more than 70 percent of the value of the surplus. The U.S. will maintain tariffs on South Koreas exports of pick-up trucks until 2041, from the previously agreed 2021, according to the ministrys statement. Currently, no car company exports these vehicles from South Korea to the U.S., which factored into the talks, Kim said. Previously lifted tariffs on South Korean car exports wont be reimposed, Kim said, and the nation planned to ease some of the safety and environmental regulations on imported U.S. cars. The government will allow U.S. manufacturers to sell up to 50,000 cars in South Korea that dont meet local standards. The current ceiling is 25,000 cars, but theres no U.S. company that sells more than 10,000 cars a year in South Korea, Kim said. Korea didnt agree to any additional opening of the agriculture market and also maintained its stance in other sensitive areas, the statement said. The two countries were able to reach agreement by narrowing the range of discussions and will seek to settle the details soon, the ministry said. Comstock / Getty Images More employers are dropping mandatory arbitration requirements as the secretive practice is coming under increasing attack in Congress, state legislatures and the courts. Law firm Orrick said in a tweet this week that it will no longer require any employees, including associates, to sign arbitration agreements. Employees who sign arbitration agreements typically waive their rights to sue and agree to settle disputes through binding arbitration. George Frey Outdoor gear manufacturer Patagonia has found itself in the cross hairs of the oil industry over its stance opposing President Donald Trump's plan to reduce the size of U.S. wilderness conservation areas. On Tuesday morning the industry-backed activist group Texans for Natural Gas launched a social media campaign attacking the California-based company for what a spokesman described as its "hypocritical stance on fracking." The campaign includes a meme with a picture of empty shelves with the caption, "Patagonia introduces new petroleum-free product line" and an article listing, "Nine Reasons Why Patagonia Secretly Loves Fracking." Bridge City's Jason Ballard is one of the minds behind America's first city-approved 3-D printed homes. ICON, a construction technologies company co-founded by Ballard, Alex Le Roux and Evan Loomis in 2017, unveiled its 350-square-foot concrete home earlier this month at Austin's South by Southwest (SXSW) conference. The home's concrete walls, floors, roof and porch were created in around 47 hours using a Vulcan 3-D printer, a mobile printer Ballard called "revolutionary and paradigm-shifting technology." He predicts in the near future that 3-D printed homes can be constructed in less than 24 hours. The price tag is around $4,000, he said. "We think this has potential whether you want a 300-square-feet house in El Salvador or a 2,000-square-feet house in San Francisco," Ballard, 35, said. READ MORE: Austin company is building 3D printed houses for less than $4,000 ICON is partnering with the non-profit New Story to build a community of 3-D printed homes in El Salvador by 2019, he said. "Usually the poorest of the poor are the last people to get advanced material and they're the people who need it the most," Ballard said. Vulcan's technology allows builders to construct durable homes faster and with less waste, he said. Ballard said his work with ICON and TreeHouse, an eco-friendly home upgrade company he founded, is largely inspired by his upbringing near the Piney Woods. Ballard, who graduated from Bridge City High School in 2001, spoke fondly of the nearby Big Thicket, saying it is one of the most biodiverse regions in America. RELATED: You can now buy a 'tiny house' on Amazon, get it delivered He said growing up near such beauty and some of the nation's largest oil refineries gave him conflicting views of the area's "amazing natural landscape and the desecration of that landscape." As an adult, Ballard said he's learned that gas guzzling SUVs and private jets aren't necessarily the problem. "The big problem is buildings," he said. "We can't rip our homes apart every time a storm hits Southeast Texas," Ballard said. "I would be shocked if anybody remaining in Southeast Texas had any confidence in two-by-fours and drywall after Harvey," he said. The concrete poured by Vulcan was put "through a whole battery of tests," Ballard said, and is more resilient than traditional construction materials. He said he felt confident the prototype home in Austin could withstand a tornado. Ballard lives in Austin with his family and is using the newly-printed building as an office. It is outfitted with a living room, bedroom and bathroom. He said future models will include kitchens. "I didn't want the world to have to choose between having an affordable home or having a home that is beautiful, resilient, healthy and sustainable," Ballard said of his work. Phoebe.Suy@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/PhoebeSuy The guys that wrote two of the most-popular books about tacos in Texas, Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece, are currently filming a seven-episode web series about the Lone Star State's favorite snack. Greenlit by ITVS, the series "The Tacos of Texas" will stream on the Indie Lens Storycast, a YouTube channel that was launched in partnership with PBS Digital Studios. TACO CITY: Don't settle for anything but Houston's best tacos Rayo and Neece wrote the loving odes "The Tacos of Texas" and "Austin Breakfast Tacos: The Story of the Most Important Taco of the Day," both drool-worthy tomes. They will serve as co-hosts for the show. El Paso, Austin, San Antonio, Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Dallas are all on the filming schedule. Expect to see puffy tacos, migas tacos, carnitas tacos, barbacoa tacos and more profiled for the series. Thursday through Sunday this week the duo and a production crew will be in Houston gathering footage and meeting some of the city's taco ambassadors. "The overall theme for the series is the 'iconic tacos of Texas' and for the Houston episode we're focusing on tacos al pastor and the taco truck scene with La Macro and Boombox Taco," Rayo said Tuesday. Those two taco trucks serve up some of the best street tacos in Houston. STEP ASIDE, CHILI: Expert makes the case for tacos as the official dish of Texas "We'll explore the city vibe and culture as well, including how Houston lives up to being one of the most diverse cities in America," he added. Those who want to keep up with where the Tacos of Texas crew is going in Houston can follow them on Instagram and Facebook. The hashtag #TacosofTexas is also a worthy follow. Local issues such as "taco gentrification" and the importance of the tortilla will be detailed in cities across Texas. How immigrants keep their own traditions alive while pursuing the American Dream is also a focal point. Filming continues now through the summer and the series should be ready to go by the fall. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. Schlitterbahn Waterparks co-owner Jeffrey Wayne Henry was arrested Monday in connection with the 2016 decapitation death of a 10-year-old at the New Braunfels companys Kansas park. Henry was jailed Monday in Cameron County on an arrest warrant out of Kansas, according to an online inmate listing. The charges listed on the Henrys inmate page include murder, 12 counts of aggravated battery and five counts of aggravated endangerment of a child. Representatives for the Cameron County Sheriffs Office and Kansas Attorney Generals Office could not immediately be reached for comment regarding Henrys arrest. We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident, Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in an email. RELATED: Indictment: Waterslide in fatal accident was 'deadly weapon' Henry, who co-owns Schlitterbahn with his two siblings, is the second Schlitterbahn executive to be arrested on charges in the August 2016 death of Caleb Thomas Schwab, who died while riding the 168-foot Verruckt slide at Schlitterbahns Kansas City park. The 10-year-old was decapitated when he hit a hoop that held protective netting on the rides second hill. A Wyandotte County grand jury indicted Schlitterbahn and Tyler Austin Miles, former director of operations at Schlitterbahn, on one count of involuntary manslaughter, a dozen counts of aggravated battery, five counts of aggravated endangerment of a child and one count of interfering with law enforcement by concealing evidence. Miles, 29, was also charged with allegedly giving false information to a detective. Miles pleaded not guilty Friday after turning himself in to the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office in Kansas City. A trove of corporate emails, memoranda, blueprints, video recordings, photographs and eyewitness statements given to the Kansas grand jury showed that Verruckts designers and operators knew the gargantuan water slide could cause severe bodily harm and even death but kept the ride open anyway, according to the March 23 indictment. RELATED: This is what it looks like to ride the world's tallest water slide, the Verruckt The indictment names Henry as the visionary and designer of the Verruckt slide and outlines a pattern of alleged behavior accusing the 62-year-old of ignoring warnings that the ride was unsafe for riders. The document also details alleged actions taken by the New Braunfels company and its employees to silence subordinates and cover up evidence of injuries to park visitors caused by the ride. Schlitterbahn which has parks in New Braunfels, Galveston, South Padre Island and Corpus Christi has vehemently denied the accusations laid out in the 47-page indictment unsealed Friday. The allegation that we operated, and failed to maintain, a ride that could foreseeably cause such a tragic accident is beyond the pale of speculation, Prosapio said in an emailed statement earlier Monday. Many of us, and our children and grandchildren, have ridden the ride with complete confidence as to its safety. Prosapio blasted the grand jurys allegations that Schlitterbahn withheld information or altered evidence as completely false and said the company has worked closely with law enforcement since Caleb Schwabs Aug. 7, 2016 death. Tom Bath and Tricia Bath, attorneys representing Miles, have decried the charges against their client. Not only had Tyler ridden the slide numerous times, but, as the state is aware, he had scheduled his wife, to ride it on the day of the accident, the lawyers said in a statement provided by Schlitterbahn. These are not the actions of someone who believed the ride to be dangerous. The allegation that Tyler knowingly obstructed the investigation is, likewise, false. From the moment of the accident, and continuing until the charges were filed, Tyler cooperated with law enforcement. He did not hide or destroy documents. Henry first conceived of building the worlds tallest and fastest water slide on Nov. 13, 2012 in a spur-of-the-moment effort to catch the attention of the producers of the Travel Channels Xtreme Waterparks series, the indictment says. To read the full version, see Tuesdays front page or click here to visit ExpressNews.com Ladies are knitting and crocheting together all for a good cause in Cypress. Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress, a nonprofit organization, knit and crochet hats for the homeless, chemo patients, newborns, troops, and first responders. The group also makes scarves and baby blankets and quilts for those in hospice and the homeless. "I think it is a good way for people to get involved with helping their neighbors," said Cathy Travland, vice president of projects for the Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress. "I think it makes people feel that they are making a difference and making thigs better in the place that they live. I think people want the community to improve and this is a way for them to give back." Pam Zwecker, the co-founder of Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress, helped to create the organization after her mother felt inspired from another group of women. Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress began to organize after Zwecker's mother read an article about a group of ladies who saved plastic grocery bags, made plastic yarn, then created sleeping mats for the homeless out of the material. Zwecker knits and her mother quilts, so the two started the Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress. The group has been active since 2016 and has grown through outreach done through various social media platforms such as Facebook and the Nextdoor app. "It's phenomenal to have this organization in the community, and the feeling you can't describe it. It's almost like we have created this village of people who have pulled together and your heart swells," Zwecker said. "It's hard to believe that everyone wants to do as much as they can. We have people that find out about us and want to drop off yarn or fabric. It's uplifting and wonderful." After seeing help from first responders during Hurricane Harvey, the group created Project Hero Hats to hand hats to those in communities who helped others during the natural disaster. Last year, more than 190 quilts were given out to community members and hundreds of hats to various organizations. The group, which includes 25 active members, makes hats and quilts for organizations such as hospice centers, memory care centers, the Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Country, the Shaken Baby Syndrome Campaign, and the American Heart Association. This year 200 red baby hats were donated to the American Heart Association for babies born with congenital heart conditions. Nearly 400 hats have been given to four different homeless shelters in the Houston area. Hats have also been sent out after the shooting in Las Vegas, which occurred at the Route 91 Harvest music festival, to firefighters in California who have battled fires and mudslides, and to people in Florida after natural disasters such as hurricanes. There are ambassadors for the organization in other states that gift heroes in other cities hats. Plans to have start branches in other states with former Cypress members are underway as well. Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress have a goal to reach more people this year and some of those goals include to distribute 1,000 hero hats, 500 homeless hats, 300 baby blankets, and 100 Scarves for Operation Gratitude for deployed troops. Amongst gifting various organizations with hats and blankets, the group is aiming to distribute 300 quilts and 100 pillowcases as well. The organization, which meets every second and fourth Saturday, welcomes community members to donate supplies, funds, or time. "It's not a Christian organization; it's a God organization," Zwecker said. "People have a conviction from whatever they believe in, and it makes them strive to be a better person and do better things for humanity." Helping Hands Ladies of Cypress https://helpinghandsladiesofcypress.com/ P.O. Box 878, Cypress, TX 77410-0878 281-236-7816 HelpingHandsLadiesOfCypress@gmail.com Nancy Henderek still had the bench. A special bench, solid enough to hold moving dancers. And stackable, with drawers. Whew. One less thing to stress over as the founder and producer of the Dance Salad Festival pieced together her 23rd annual show in Houston, which is Thursday-Saturday at the Hobby Center. There was still the matter of the paneled wall, with its working doors; another wall that drops; a moving stand for a cellist, with sound boards underneath; and metal walls for a balcony pas de deux. "This is the part the audience never sees, but it's so critical," said Henderek, whose barre is as high for electricians, lighting designers and carpenters as it is for the dancers and choreographers whose work she presents each Easter weekend. With the Wortham Theater Center still under reconstruction after Hurricane Harvey, she felt lucky to find a home for her event this year, without changing the schedule. Ticket revenues will be cut in half even if she sells out, because the Hobby's Zilkha Hall only has 500 seats, less than half of the Wortham's Cullen Theater. But she's not slacking on the production values, she said. Most of the dances that Henderek presents are from overseas, and she has learned that it's cheaper to build sets from scratch than to import them. For some time, that particular bench gathered dust in the garage behind Henderek's gracious home in River Oaks, amid stacks of other purpose-built prop and set ephemera that has piled up during the years since she brought Dance Salad to Houston. (She was living in Europe when she founded it a few years before that.) The bench is part of a set she commissioned some time ago for Italy's Spellbound Contemporary Ballet. "Everybody wanted one of those," Henderek said. "I had kept one because it was a great size." Spellbound is returning this year and once again needed a bench, although for a different dance, "Rossini Ouvertures," which also requires the aforementioned paneled wall. More Information Dance Salad Festival When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday Where: Hobby Center, 800 Bagby Details: $25-$58; 832-487-7041, dancesalad.org See More Collapse Henderek usually engages carpenters in the Wortham's well-supplied basement workshops, so she's feeling a little handicapped in the construction arena. "I always try to do as much of the original set and lighting as possible," she said. "Thank goodness we don't have much to build this year." She has booked eight groups, all but one of which is from Europe. San Francisco's ODC will perform a dance called "boulders and bones" - and the "boulders" are being trucked from California. "For me, that's easy," Henderek said. "It's everything abroad that's so difficult." Almost as difficult as whittling down all the dances she would like to present. As is tradition, the program is different each evening; some of the same works may be presented more than once, tweaked slightly each time; and their program order changes. Most of this year's companies have appeared at the festival before, and their dancers are top-notch. 2018 Dance Salad Line-Up STAR-CROSSED LOVE: While dancers from Royal Swedish Ballet perform excerpts from Mats Ek's contemporary "Julia & Romeo," Switzerland's Ballett Zurich will present excerpts from Christian Spuck's slightly more traditional "Romeo and Juliet," inspired by Sergei Prokofiev's beloved music. SPELLBOUND: Rome's Spellbound Contemporary Ballet brings a curated version of artistic director Mauro Astolfi's comic "Rossini Ouvertures" as well as his more mysterious, introspective "Hesitation Day," choreographed to music by Norn and Amon Tobin. TWO-FER: Dancers from Germany's Semperoper Ballett Dresden perform a pas de deux from British choreographer David Dawson's popular "On the Nature of Daylight," set to atmospheric music by Max Richter; and Belgian choreographer Stijn Celis' abstract and tense "Vertigo Maze," set to music by J.S. Bach. WAYFARERS: Guillaume Cote, a principal dancer with National Ballet of Canada, pairs up with Friedemann Vogel, a principal dancer with Stuttgart Ballet, in Maurice Bejart's rarely performed male duet "Songs of a Wayfarer," which was created in 1971 for Rudolf Nureyev and Paolo Bortoluzzi. LOCAL HERO: Dancers from Norwegian National Ballet perform the U.S. premiere of "Imitations," an energetic creation about gender and traditional artforms by former Houston Ballet dancer-choreographer Garrett Smith. COBAIN PLUS: Dancers from Spain, the U.S., Germany and Japan will perform the U.S. premiere of two works by French dancer-choreographer Guillaume Hulot: "BEANS," about the journey of a lost soul, unfolds (somehow) to music by Kurt Cobain and Camille Saint-Saens, while "Tuning Another Being" explores the dynamics of two people seeking a common path. ROCK STARS: San Francisco's contemporary dance company ODC has visited Houston before, but this is its first appearance at the Dance Salad Festival. It will perform a curated version of "boulders and bones," choreographed by Brenda Way and KT Nelson, the company's artistic directors. It's inspired by the work of visual artist Andy Goldsworthy; a local cellist will perform the commissioned music live. A year just don't seen like enough. George Strait was recently named Texas of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference during the 52nd annual statewide forum in New Braunfels. The country icon was recognized Friday "for his many contributions to the state of Texas throughout the years, particularly within the last year for his role leading recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey." STAR POWER: Garth Brooks gets emotional, covers George Strait at RodeoHouston kickoff Strait spearheaded the Hand in Hand benefit concert and telethon featuring Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. It was broadcast live from The Majestic Theater in San Antonio and raised more than $22 million. Strait also joined Gov. Greg Abbott in Rockport-Fulton to bring attention to recovery from Harvey in the Coastal Bend Area. "Texas is a big place filled with amazingly talented, smart people. How'd I end up here?" Strait asked the conference crowd. "Last year was a tough one for our great state. We're still continuing to recover and with the help of the many loyal, kindhearted Texans, we will get these communities back on their feet again. It's never surprising, but always amazing how in times of need, how generous the American people can be." Strait has fothcoming tour dates in New Orleans, Tulsa, Austin and Las Vegas. March 12 At 2:30 a.m., Officer Tim Quimby observed a gray 2006 Chevrolet Impala, which was expired as of 10/2017, in the 4600 block of Bellaire Blvd Westbound. The driver was found to have a suspended TXDL with previous convictions and also two outstanding Bellaire warrants. The driver was placed into custody and transported to the Bellaire Police Jail for processing and detention. At 3:28 a.m., Officer Clisham initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 5400 block of Bellaire Boulevard. After making contact with the driver and further investigation, Officer Clisham located a baggie containing a white powdery substance, later determined to be cocaine, and a firearm inside the vehicle. The suspect in this case was charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carry of a weapon. At 8:32 p.m., Officer Schwausch was patrolling the 5400 block of IH 610 NB when he observed a gray Charger travelling in front him with an expired temporary tag. Officer Schwausch initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at the 5400 block of IH 610 NB and found the front passenger side person was in possession of approximately 18 grams of marijuana. The driver was found to have multiple Houston Police Department warrants, the rear passenger was found to have multiple Houston Police Department warrants, and the front passenger accepted the Misdemeanor Marijuana Diversion Program offered by the Harris County District Attorney's Office. At 6:26 p.m., an unknown black male suspect entered 4903 Bissonnet St. and stole a chainsaw. The suspect and his accomplice were last seen fleeing the area in a light gray Dodge Caravan. Bellaire Police Officers Lysack and Schwausch were dispatched to this incident. March 14 At 4:07 p.m., Officer Lysack was on patrol when he observed two males working near the front left wheel, headlight, and bumper of a vehicle. Officer Lysack observed an elderly female in the driver's seat of the vehicle at 5320 Bellaire Blvd. Officer Lysack is aware of the common scam to take advantage of the elderly by pretending to make repairs to their vehicles. Officer Lysack made contact with all parties involved and upon further investigation the two males were placed into custody along with their female friend. One male was arrested for fail to identify - fugitive from justice, the other male was arrested for soliciting without a permit, and the female was arrested for multiple warrants out of the City of Houston. At 7:48 p.m., officers T. Younger and D. Norman were dispatched to 5101 Jessamine St. in reference to an identity theft. Upon arrival, Officers met with the victim who advised an unknown suspect(s) stole the victim's identifying information and used it to attempt to obtain a vehicle loan. At 11:49 p.m., Officer Barrientos observed a silver 2002 Chevy Suburban in the 7700 block of IH 610 southbound and ran a computer query on the license plate. The return on that license plate returned as cancelled since 12/06/2017. Ofc. Barrientos conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. During the investigation, the driver of the suburban was placed in custody for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle. The passenger was placed in custody for an outstanding warrant out of McAllen, Texas. March 15 At 6:22 p.m., Officers T. Younger and D. Norman were dispatched to the 4500 block of Pin Oak Lane in reference to a burglary of a habitation. Officers made contact with the victim who advised sometime between 2:40 p.m. March 14 and 6:21 p.m. March 15 an unknown suspect forced entry into the residence and stole two computer laptops. At 12:20 p.m., city of Bellaire Police Communications received a 911 call in reference to a road rage incident involving a gun near the 5600 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Officers Andrade and Vorhees located the suspect vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. After further investigation, the driver was placed in custody for misdemeanor disorderly conduct-display of a deadly weapon. At 11:53 a.m., Officer Andrade was dispatched to the Bellaire Police Department Lobby in reference to found property in the 5100 block of Elm Street. Officer Andrade met with the reportee who stated he found a cell phone eighteen months ago and wanted to turn it in. March 16 At 10:32 p.m., Officers T. Younger and D. Norman observed a white, 2002, Honda Accord operating in the 7800 block of Chimney Rock Road. Upon a computer query of said license plate, the vehicle was shown to have expired registration (04/2015). Officers initiated a traffic stop on the said vehicle for the above violation. Upon further investigation, the driver was arrested for the misdemeanor B violation driving while license suspended. At 12:40 p.m., Officer Santillanes observed a vehicle operating in the 5100 block of Bellaire Boulevard with an expired registration of 06/2017. Officer Santillanes initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for the above violation. The driver was arrested for driving while license suspended-enhancement. At 2:14 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to the parking lot of Randall's at 5130 Bellaire Blvd. in reference to a theft from a person. The suspect snatched the purse of the victim while she was in the driver seat of her vehicle. The suspect then got into his vehicle, which was parked next to the victim, and was last seen headed West on Bissonnet Street. The victim was not injured. At 1:30 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to 6330 West Loop South in reference to a fight in progress. Officer Liccketto met with both subjects. During a struggle over a child, one subject pushed the other and one party felt pain. At the time of the incident, the subject who felt pain did not advise responding officers she felt pain, and came into the lobby of the Bellaire Fire Department at a later date to file a report. March 17 At 10:04 a.m., Bellaire Police Officer Vorhees was approached by the owner of P-King restaurant to report a burglary of a business that occurred on March 15 at 5313 Bellaire Blvd. At 5:36 p.m., Officers Proctor, Schwausch, and Licketto were dispatched to the area of 5002 Bellaire Blvd. in reference to a theft in progress. Officers searched the area and located the suspect at 5500 Bellaire Blvd. who had stolen the items and fled the scene on foot. The suspect was found to have a warrant out of Harris County for Theft less than $2500 with 2 or more convictions. At approximately 1803 hours, Officer Proctor placed the suspect into custody for felony theft and the Harris County warrant. The suspect was then transported to Bellaire Jail for booking. At 7:38 p.m., Officer Schwausch was dispatched to the Valero Gas Station at 4439 Bissonnet Street in reference to a female who appeared to be intoxicated and about to take off in a car. Officer Schwausch arrived and made contact with the female, who after further investigation was not authorized by the registered owner to use the motor vehicle. The female was subsequently charged and transported to the Bellaire Jail for processing. March 18 At 11:19 p.m., Officer Barrientos was dispatched to the 5200 block of IH 610 East Service Road for an in progress driving while intoxicated call. Bellaire Police Dispatch informed Ofc. Barrientos the reportee was following a black Ford F-150 which was driving recklessly, hitting street curbs and running multiple red lights. Ofc. Barrientos arrived and made contact with the driver who was outside the car. The driver stated he ran out of gas. Ofc. Barrientos observed the driver to have red blood shot eyes, slurred speech and the smell of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and person. Ofc. Barrientos placed the driver in custody for driving while intoxicated. West University resident Catherine L. Troisi, Ph.D., was presented with the 2018 Academic Public Health Practice Excellence Award by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) at the organization's annual meeting this month in Arlington, Va. Troisi is an associate professor in the Department of Management, Policy and Community Health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. This annual honor recognizes graduate public health faculty members who advance and integrate the scholarship of practice-based service, teaching and research for public health. Troisi was nominated by George Delclos, M.D., a professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health. The honor comes with a $1,000 award, a plaque and recognition at the ASPPH Annual Meeting. Criteria for the award include outstanding contributions in practice-based research; practice-based service; practice-based teaching; and academic-practice linkages including engagement of students in public health practice (e.g., community projects, internships, and practica). Nominees must be full-time faculty members from an ASPPH-member school, and the school must be accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). "Having practiced public health at the Houston Health Department, I have a better understanding of the importance of exposing students to public health practice in the community and engaging the community in our research and I'm honored to have received this award," says Troisi. In November 2017, Troisi was elected to the executive board of the American Public Health Association (APHA) for a four-year term. Previously, she served as chair of the APHA's Action Board, which helps coordinate the association's advocacy activities and improves participation in advocacy initiatives among the association's leadership bodies, and was co-chair of the APHA's Joint Policy Committee. In letters supporting her nomination, some of Troisi's colleagues emphasized her career highlights including: the development of a system for expanding the practice-based teaching network for students. her work with the Houston Health Department. co-development of a certificate program in public health for undergraduate students, eventually leading to a growing public health workforce in Texas. her service on a legislatively mandated Texas-wide committee charged with improving public health practice. her work with Houston's Homeless Coalition and the annual Homeless Count. writing editorials in large city newspapers about public health issues such as HPV and Hepatitis B immunization. her disaster preparedness volunteer work training students. assisting those in need with enrollment in the Affordable Care Act. In 2015, Troisi was named "Advocate of the Year" by APHA. Her advocacy efforts include testifying at a congressional hearing on the U.S. response to the Ebola epidemic, attending town halls, and meetings with her congressional delegation, to promote APHA's public health priorities. She also drafted opinion pieces published in the Houston Chronicle on the dangers of Ebola versus a potential pandemic flu, importance of vaccination in wake of a measles outbreak, funding for public health, climate change and gun violence. Deanna Hoelscher, Ph.D., L.D., R.D., a professor and director of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the Austin campus of UTHealth School of Public Health, received the award in 2017 and Belinda Reininger, Dr.P.H., a professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Public Health's campus in Brownsville, received the award in 2014/2015. A list of previous winners is available here. March 16 At 4:44 pm, an officer was dispatched to the 4000 block of Bellaire Blvd in reference to a theft that had already occurred. Officers were dispatched to a call of an FSGI that had just occurred in the 5500 block of Weslayan where the suspect left the scene southbound on Weslayan. Officers located the suspect vehicle in the 6700 block of Weslayan, a traffic stop was conducted and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. An officer was dispatched to the 4100 block of Case in regards to a theft that had already occurred. March 17 An Officer was dispatched to the 2600 block of Wroxton in regards to a male passed out inside the vehicle. Officers arrived to the scene and the male was found to be intoxicated and was eventually arrested for public intoxication and drug paraphernalia. At 8:50 a.m., an officer was dispatched to see the complainant in regards to an Accident/ FSGI that had already occurred. March 20 At 8:34 am, an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby, in regard to a walk in report of a minor accident/ FSGI (failure to stop and give information). Upon arrival, information was collected and a report was generated. At 9:58 am, an Officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby, in reference to Credit Card abuse call, which had already occurred. An officer was dispatched the West U PD Lobby in reference to a theft, which had already occurred. March 22 An Officer observed a vehicle traveling eastbound in a roadway designed for one-way traffic in the 4100 block of Byron. The officer initiated a traffic stop and upon further investigation discovered that the operator was in possession of an altered registration sticker. The operator was arrested and charged with fictitious/altered vehicle registration. At 2:42 pm, an officer observed a vehicle traveling westbound in the 4100 block of Bissonnet without a motor vehicle registration certificate attached to the front windshield. A traffic stop was conducted and after further investigation, the driver was found to be in possession of marijuana and was given to opportunity to participate in the Misdemeanor Marijuana Diversion Program. An Officer was dispatched to the West U PD lobby in reference to a fraud report. An officer observed a vehicle traveling northbound in the 5900 block of Buffalo Speedway with expired registration. A traffic stop was conducted and after further investigation, the driver was arrested for Driving While License Invalid. Video captured by a firefighter's helmet camera provides a first-hand look at what battling a vehicle fire is like. Firefighters with the East Montgomery County Fire Department were called out to reports of a pickup truck on fire along the Eastex Freeway between Fostoria Road and East River Road on Friday. A mother was driving down the freeway with her toddler when her pickup truck caught fire, forcing them to pull over on the shoulder and wait for help. This April, Katy pet parents will be lined up to celebrate the grand opening of Pet Supplies Plus, a national network of community retailers for food, equipment, toys and more. Located at 21011 Highland Knolls Drive on the corner of Westgreen Boulevard, the new Pet Supplies Plus store will host a grand opening event April 7-8. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days. To mark Pet Supplies Plus' official entrance into the neighborhood, owners Scott and Renee Buchel are inviting families and pet lovers to a grand opening celebration that will feature sweepstakes, sale prices and fun for both kids and pets. Sweepstakes will be held throughout the grand opening weekend, and will give neighbors a shot at a free, one-year supply of Purina, Fromm or Muenster dog food. Additionally, free scratch cards between the amounts of $5-$50 will be given out on Saturday, April 7. On Sunday, April 8, the first 100 neighbors who enter the store will receive a coupon for a free small bag of dog or cat food. Finally, Pet Supplies Plus Katy will also offer free nail trims for pets on both Saturday and Sunday. The new store, called "Katy-East," is the second Pet Supplies Plus store that the Katy residents have opened in the city. The first store, "Katy-West," opened in October 2015 and is located at 5215 FM 1463. The new Pet Supplies Plus of Katy will provide residents with an easy-to-shop environment that offers a range of food, including premium items and basic grocery products, as well as a variety of toys, equipment, fish and critters. Additionally, the new neighborhood pet store will carry an extensive collection of "Made in the USA" pet consumables, including wet and dry food, treats, rawhide and chews. The 9,000-square-foot "Katy-East" store and the "Katy-West" store feature a self-service dog wash and grooming services in addition to offering carry out services to help neighbors with heavy purchases. "Our pets add so much value to our lives that, naturally, we want to do everything we can to take care of them," said Renee Buchel. "Our store is large enough to carry everything your pet needs, and you can always expect to receive top-notch, neighborly service. Ultimately, our goal is to provide our neighbors, and their pets, with the best shopping experience possible." Shoppers can take advantage of the free-to-join Preferred Pet Club, which offers members regular coupons and monthly specials. Founded on the belief that convenient, quality service for busy consumers was lacking in the pet industry, retail veterans Jack Berry and Harry Shallop opened the first Pet Supplies Plus store in Redford, Michigan in 1988. Since then, the neighborhood-style pet store has become a household name in 33 states. To contact Pet Supplies Plus of Katy, visit www.petsuppliesplus.com or call 281-324-0681. The Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers has posted a list of the county's Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives and is seeking the public's help in locating the alleged criminals. Callers who call in tips leading to the arrest of any of these perpetrators on the 10 Ten list may receive up to $800. Callers do not have to give their name to receive cash for tips. The subjects on the Top 10 List for March include: Ronald Edward White, 44, is wanted on a charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. White is a white male, is 6-feet, 1-inch tall, weighs about 170 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes. Alfredo Moncada, 53, is a Hispanic male, 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He is wanted for Indecency With a Child, Sexual Contact with two warrants. Jose Francisco Garcia, 46, is a Hispanic male and is 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighs 155 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He is wanted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Ernesto Rodriguez, 27, is 5-feet, 7-inches tall, weighs about 150 pounds and has black hair. He is wanted for Assault of a Family Member and a previous conviction. Tawanna Willlams, 31, is a black female, who faces an Arson charge. Michael Quillen, 54, is a white male, 5-feet 7-inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds and is wanted on a charge of an Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Keenan Christopher Rogers, 26, is a black male and is wanted for Aggravated Robbery. Darion David Venable, 22, is a black male and is wanted for Theft, Firearm; Money Laundering and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Jaylyn Jauan Bullock, 24, is wanted for Aggravated Robbery. He is 5-feet, 11 inches tall and weighs about 145 pounds. Lemar Deshawn Arbuthnot, 22, is a black male, 6-feet tall and weighs about 175 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He is wanted for Aggravated Assault Causes Serious Bodily Injury; Continuous Violence Against The Family; and Assault Family/Household Member Previous Conviction IAT. Anyone who may know the location of any of these perpetrators is asked to call the Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at (281) 342-TIPS (8477) and receive cash reward of $800. Missouri City officials say operating costs at the city's animal shelter are expected to more than double after new policies and procedures brought about by recent disagreements with a group of shelter volunteers were put in place. "We are at the point that whatever it takes to make sure our animals are safe and that we have the appropriate medications and tests applied, that's what we're doing now," City Manager Anthony Snipes said Wednesday, March 22. Currently, shelter expenditures total approximately $219,000 annually and are expected to increase by more than $250,000 next year. The policy shift started after shelter volunteers launched an email and social media campaign to lobby for more resources for the animal shelter. A few weeks later, a confrontation between an animal control officer and a shelter volunteer was mentioned in a city news release as the "Dec. 13 incident" and soon after volunteers claim donated pet medicines kept at the shelter were confiscated and taken to the police department. Seeking guidance, city officials contacted three different state agencies for help including the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The agency's enforcement director, Matthew West, eventually traveled to Missouri City and personally met with Mayor Allen Owen and other city officials. West then evaluated shelter operations and on Jan. 22 wrote a five-page letter that noted "several areas of concern" including "Xanax and Tramadol (as well as other controlled substances) being brought and/or solicited for donations by volunteers." Possession of controlled substances violates state law and volunteers could face felony charges of delivery of a controlled substance if the drugs were given to "adoptive clients," West wrote. Previously, volunteers managed routine care for shelter animals, such as administering intake vaccinations, flea treatments and heartworm tests. Volunteers also helped staff the shelter office and brought donated or leftover pet medicines to treat shelter animals. But Owen and others were now being warned by officials from the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners against allowing volunteers or untrained staffers to administer pet medicines. New policies state that every dog or cat that ends up at the animal shelter receives individual care by a local vet. According to the city manager, future plans are to hire a full-time shelter manager and contract with a local vet to come to the shelter to oversee medicines, flea treatments and manage heartworm tests for dogs, Snipes said. "I just wanted to make sure the city was doing what it needed to do to make sure the animals in our shelter were taken care of properly and legally," Owen said. "I was the one who asked the city manager to contact all the agencies we needed to make sure were doing things right." To offset the higher costs, the city council recently voted to increase the current fee for each shelter animal adopted from $15 to $85 and $70 for dogs and cats, respectively. The council also approved increasing the annual pet registration fee from $2 to $10 for sterilized animals and from $5 to $20 for non-sterilized animals. In addition, the shelters standard operating procedures was recently updated and a new volunteer policies and procedures manual was recently put place. City officials say they hope to mend fences with the shelter volunteers and finally put the past behind them. "We have a heart for the betterment and care of these animals and what we're saying to the community is: work with us, not against us, so we can move forward," Snipes said. The lawyer hired to represent former assistant district attorney Dan Rizzo says his client acted "within the bounds of the law" in the controversial case that saw a man wrongfully sent to death row. "Dan Rizzo tried a lot of cases here in Harris County for a good number of years and he always enjoyed a very good reputation as an honest and ethical prosecutor so it hurts him to have his entire career characterized by this case, in this fashion," said criminal defense attorney Chris Tritico, who is representing the retired lawyer. "It's his hope that when this process is over everyone will see that he did everything that he could within the bounds of the law and ethically." The career prosecutor has come under fire in recent weeks as defense lawyers lobbed accusations of perjury and called for attempted murder charges following the release of a recently uncovered email showing that Rizzo failed to disclose evidence that would have confirmed an alibi for Alfred Dewayne Brown. The 36-year-old spent roughly a decade on death row protesting his innocence before that evidence - landline phone records - turned up in a detective's garage in 2013. An appeals court overturned his sentence and he was released two years later. READ MORE: Former prosecutor withheld key email in death row case Initially, officials said the failure to turn over records was "inadvertent." But the bombshell email release earlier this month showed that investigator Breck McDaniel told Rizzo about the records back in 2003, months before Brown was sentenced to death. It's still not clear whether Rizzo read the message, though the district attorney's office has confirmed he did not reply to it. After uncovering the email in the course of discovery for a lawsuit, District Attorney Kim Ogg lodged a formal complaint with the state bar. That action prompted Rizzo to hire a lawyer. "It would be silly not to," Tritico said. "For something this serious Dan has every right to be represented." For now, though, Tritico and his client are in a holding pattern, waiting to see whether the bar will take up the complaint and possibly elevate it to a grievance. Tritico dismissed the possibility of criminal charges as "not likely." "Whatever could have been investigated, the statute of limitations has expired on," Tritico said. "This idea floating around for attempted murder investigation is, in my view, virtually impossible to make and I don't see anyone legitimately investigating that." Tritico declined to clarify whether Rizzo read the email in question. "That's not an issue that I'm at liberty to discuss today," he said. He also wouldn't comment on whether, as some defense lawyers have argued, Rizzo may have committed perjury. Although the email release sparked calls for a broader investigation into Rizzo's handling of other cases, Tritico panned the idea as unnecessary. READ MORE: Defense lawyers seek investigation to consider possible attempted murder charge for ex-prosecutor "I don't know that there's anyone looking at any of his other cases and I don't know why they would," he said. Brown was convicted in October 2005 in the slaying of Houston Police Officer Charles L. Clark and store clerk Alfredia Jones during a robbery at a check-cashing store in southeast Houston. Two others were convicted in the case, and one of them - Elijah Dwayne Joubert - was sent to death row for Jones' slaying. Brown always said that a landline call he made from his girlfriend's house around the time of the killings would show he wasn't there, but officials said they had no record of the call. In 2008 Rizzo even signed a sworn affidavit saying he did not withhold any phone records that could have been used in Brown's defense. But during the appeals process in 2013, McDaniel found the records in his garage. Brown was released from prison in 2015 and has since fought for compensation for the years he spent on death row. But the state rejected his request for money based on the grounds that prosecutors never declared him "actually innocent." In response, Brown's attorneys filed suit against the county, city, district attorney and Houston police seeking compensation. That civil case is still ongoing. It took 17 seconds from the moment a Harris County deputy ordered Danny Ray Thomas to get on the ground to the moment he fired a bullet that killed an unarmed man at a crowded intersection Thursday in Greater Greenspoint, according to a county dashcam video. The March 22 video released Monday by the Harris County Sheriff's Office, however, does not show the fatal shot by deputy Cameron Brewer at the busy Greens Road and Imperial Valley Drive intersection, leaving authorities digging for answers. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Brewer, currently placed on administrative leave, fired because he believed his life was in danger, but an internal investigation into his actions is moving forward. Gonzalez said he will explore Brewer's decision-making and why he opted for his gun rather than his Taser. "Any time there is an officer-involved shooting, we take these matters seriously," Gonzalez said. "I will personally see to it that our investigation is conducted fairly, thoroughly and expeditiously." The sheriff disclosed that Brewer, who has been with the department for two years, was issued a body-worn camera less than two hours before the shooting. The camera's battery "was charging in the (deputy's) vehicle," Gonzalez said. The sheriff's office initially said Thomas, 34, may have been carrying a weapon, but on Monday acknowledged he was unarmed and foaming at the mouth. CAPITAL MURDER: Man charged in game room robbery shooting The release of the dashcam video comes just a week after the airing of body camera recordings from two Sacramento, Calif., police officers who shot Alonzo Clark 20 times, video shows. Like Thomas, Clark was an unarmed black man. The incidents have rekindled the nationwide debate and scrutiny of police shootings and the use of lethal force by law enforcement. In the Houston incident, both the officer and the victim were African-American. For Thomas' family, the video raises several questions about how their relative died, especially the way deputies are supposed to handle potentially mentally ill citizens. According to family members, Thomas suffered from depression, which was exacerbated after his estranged wife almost two years ago allegedly drowned his two young children in her bathtub. She is awaiting trial, according to court documents. "Whenever he got into that mind frame, thinking about his wife and his kids, he just felt like he was alone," she told KPRC. Gonzalez said it will take about 30 days for his office to complete its internal review of the shooting, and whether or not Brewer followed officer protocol and what actions his office will take moving forward. Thomas was the third person fatally shot this year by a Harris County deputy, according to a database kept by the Texas attorney general's office. Criminal justice experts weighing in on the newly released footage say there is clearly still a need for better training across police departments. "The officer obviously felt his life was in danger," said Larry Karson, an an assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston-Downtown. "But at the same time, it brings into question the officer's training in dealing with individuals with mental health problems, be it de-escalating the situation using a Taser or some form of hands-on technique." The dashcam video begins with Thomas getting into a physical altercation with an unknown man. At about 40 seconds in, Brewer gave his first command to Thomas to get on the ground. "Hey, get down!" Brewer yells. Thomas, dressed in a white tee shirt and walking with his pants around his ankles, points to the deputy and begins walking toward him empty handed, the video shows. Thomas walks out of the frame, but the audio continues. "Get down on the ground, man!" Brewer continues. "I will shoot your ass, man." A cell phone video obtained by the Chronicle, captured by someone across the street, picks up where the dashcam left off, showing that Thomas continued walking toward the backpedaling Brewer, who had his gun drawn. A commercial vehicle pulls into the frame just before a single gunshot is heard. After the shooting, the dashcam video shows Brewer running to Thomas to perform life-saving techniques. Thomas was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are still awaiting toxicology reports from the Harris County Medical Examiner, which will determine whether Thomas was under the influence of any substances. HPD and the district attorney's office will conduct the criminal investigation, while the sheriff's office undergoesreviews its internal review. Once HPDHouston police completes its investigation, it will be handed off to the district attorney's office, which will go over all of the evidence and present it to athe grand jury. District Attorney Kim Ogg has made it a mandated that every officer-involved shooting go in front of a grand jury, district attorney spokesman Dane Schiller said. The ACLU of Texas said in a statement Sunday that the Houston police investigation mustto be "full and transparent" and said the sheriff's office should "revisit" its use of force policies. The organization said Thomas should not have been killed. "It's difficult to imagine how this shooting could possibly be justified," Sharon Watkins-Jones, director of political strategies of the ACLU of Texas, said in the statement. "We must demand that our law enforcement agencies, who are sworn to protect our communities, be held accountable whenever deadly force is used unlawfully." Before the dashcam video was released, Watkins-Jones added, "But whatever the excuse, another unarmed black man has been killed by law enforcement, in the street and in broad daylight, and the only reason we know about it is because of bystander footage." The increased focus on police shootings in recent year has prompted some changes in policy at the state and federal level. The Houston Police Department under Chief Art Acevedo, for instance, created a unit to investigate officer-involved shootings and the Harris County District Attorney's office, under Kim Ogg, has a similar unit that pledges to present all shootings to a grand jury. And in 2014, Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas authored House Bill 1036, which requires Texas law enforcement agencies to report all police shootings into a new state database maintained by the Office of the Attorney General. Since becoming law was passed, the databases shows that Texas law enforcement agencies have shot and killed about 180 people in 27 months. And soon, the Department of Justice is expected to release its findings on use-of-force data it collected nationally at the local, state and federal levels, an FBI spokesman told the Houston Chronicle. "Demands for transparency have naturally gone hand-in-hand with greater scrutiny of police shootings and of police violence more generally," said Amanda Woog, a research fellow, at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Woog, who is also the co-founder of Texas Justice Initiative added that it seems that the scrutiny has led departments to re-examine appropriate use of force, in particular by adopting de-escalation or sanctity of life policies. Of course, a lot of this is conjecture and it's too early to see trends or determine cause, said Woog before the Thomas shooting. "But I am hopeful that increased transparency, and the public scrutiny that comes with it, can help shift police culture and policy," Woog said. Exclusive witness video obtained by Chron.com also captures the moment of the shooting. Mihir Zaveri and Jay R. Jordan contributed to this report John.Harden@Chron.com Why American Jews should love the Second Amendment By Jason Andrew Garshfield. March 20th, 2018 (Jason Andrew Garshfield explains why Jewish Americans should embrace the Second Amendment amid the wave of gun control debates across the United States. Among other things, Garshfield claims that if the majority of Jewish Americans were armed, there would be "sense of empowerment" among the community.) In the days after the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville last August, Jews across America were terrified . . . and justifiably so. The Charlottesville rally spoke to an old and well-established aesthetic of authoritarianism, one with which the Jewish people are deeply familiar. It is not the first torch-bearing mob that has come chanting for Jewish blood, and it will probably not be the last. For many Jews, however, particularly those on the political left, the Charlottesville rally was something more. To them, it was merely the latest in a long line of stepping-stones down a very dark path which the United States has been on for the past several years. Comparisons of one's political enemies to Adolf Hitler have become anodyne in our political discourse. But for some Jews lately, the comparisons have seemed to hit a little too close to home when applied to our current president. ....... Here is a substantial op-ed opinion looking at encouraging the Jewish community to take its self defense into its own hands. Some time ago we published "Why Jews Hate Guns" - it is perhaps time now that many should reassess their stance towards being armed and look at things in general very realistically. "You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side." You just have to love freedom. 2018 JPFO All rights reserved. jpfo@jpfo.org 1-800-869-1884 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership 12500 NE 10th Pl. Bellevue, WA 98005 USA "America's most aggressive defender of civil rights" We make the NRA look like moderates Join JPFO Back to Top Residents almost always end up adopting characteristics of the communities they live in, which is why it's more than fair to question the overall health of a neighborhood. To explore how local health impacts a community's quality of life, researchers at U.S. News & World Report recently conducted a study of wellness across America. Authorities with the city of La Porte are cautioning area residents to be careful to avoid approaching wildlife after two bats found grounded in the Fairport Green subdivision in La Porte tested positive for rabies. "It's spring time and wildlife will be out more frequently," said Clarence Anderson, La Porte animal control supervisor. "So, we think it's a good time to remind residents not to approach any wildlife they might find - especially bats. As much good as bats do with controlling insects and other mosquitoes, bats carry rabies." Anderson said that the bats found in Fairport Green were reported to the city's animal control. "One was alive and the other was not," Anderson said. "The one that was deceased was tested for rabies and the one that was not was euthanized and tested for rabies, and it turned out that it did have rabies." Anderson stressed how important it was for people to not approach a bat they find on the ground or in their residences. "Bats roost," he said. "So, if they're found on the ground, chances are they're sick or injured." More Information ANIMAL CONTROL City of La Porte: 281-471-2141 City of Pasadena: 281-991-0602 City of Deer Park: 281- 478-7274 City of League City: 281- 554-1377 City of Webster: 281-316-3700 See More Collapse Diana Foss, urban wildlife technical guidance biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, agreed. "The best thing to do if you come across any wildlife is not approach it," she said. "Don't try to capture it, don't touch it." Anderson said that calling the local animal control authority is the best course of action. "Anytime you find a bat on the ground or in your residence, call animal control immediately," he said. "You can also cover it up with something like a bucket until someone from our department gets there." Once animal control gets to the location, they'll remove the animals, euthanize them if they're not already deceased and test for rabies. "Bats are still a very important part of our (ecosystem)," he said. "And there are a lot of them in our area - you can go down to the Waugh Bridge bat colony and see them leave their roost at sunset it's awesome, but it's best to appreciate them from afar." WASHINGTON - In case you needed reminding that the 2020 election is just around the corner, two 70-something men got into a war of words this week over physically beating each other up. These two men just happened to be the current president and the most recent vice president. I'm loath to over-analyze the verbal bout between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden, mostly because it's dumb and doesn't really mean much. VOTING IMPACT: Census citizenship question could shift power to rural America But if anything, it shows the premium on being as anti-Trump as possible in the 2020 Democratic primary - so much so that a respected former vice president decided this was how he needed to make a name for himself. Biden apparently didn't get enough attention when he said the same thing back in 2016, so he said it again. And then there's Trump, who often seems only so happy to give Democrats like Biden the profile-raising feuds they crave. He's serving notice that most every time one of these potential 2020 Democrats tries one of these stunts, he'll happily stunt right back. It's a recipe for plenty of manufactured political fights over the next two years. Buckle up. TRUMP VS OPRAH: Social media weighs in on the 2020 contest For now, here's our quarterly breakdown of the top 15 potential 2020 Democratic nominees, in ascending order. Worth watching: Former HUD secretary Julian Castro, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Dwayne Johnson (yes, that one). 15. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock: If Democrats want pragmatism over anything else, they'd struggle to do better than Bullock. A two-term governor of red Montana, he won reelection by four points in 2016 even as Trump was carrying his state by 21. Bullock's main problem is that he's probably too moderate at a time when the party seems anxious for liberalism. But he's interested enough to make a stop in Iowa. (Previous ranking: N/A) 14. Oprah Winfrey: OK. After plenty of conflicting signals, Oprah says she's out. She said running isn't in her "spirit" or her "DNA." "If God actually wanted me to run, wouldn't God kind of tell me? And I haven't heard that," she said last month. I still have a difficult time dismissing this completely, though, given she seemed awfully intrigued by the idea. And people's minds do change. If she ran, she'd have an instant base. (Previous ranking: 11) 13. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu: Here's a sleeper for you. The mayor has gotten plaudits for his stewardship of the Big Easy and his compelling speaking style, sometimes earning comparisons to another Southern Democrat by the name of Bill Clinton. Anyone unfamiliar with Landrieu should read about his May 2017 speech on race. He downplayed the possibility of running for president this week, though, telling Trevor Noah, "You never say never," but "at the moment, I can't see a pathway." (Previous: N/A) 12. Former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder: This is one of the more intriguing possibilities - and one that appears to suddenly be real. Holder said recently when asked about running for president, "Well see." "I think I'll make a decision by the end of the year about whether there is another chapter in my government service," he said. But this might just be Holder trying to build buzz around his role in helping Democrats avoid another redistricting disaster after the 2020 Census. That effort, after all, stands to be very busy in 2019 and 2020. (Previous: N/A) 11. New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo: Cuomo has more immediate concerns right now, with a newly announced primary challenge from former "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon. (I'm told she played a character named Miranda, but I couldn't be sure since I definitely never watched the show.) Nixon has never run for office, but Cuomo has always had problems on his left, and he won his 2014 primary with just 62 percent of the vote. Cuomo has never really signaled any presidential aspirations, and Nixon will at least give him a headache during a time in which other hopefuls are staffing up and strategizing. (Previous: 10) 10. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown: Brown's reelection hopes appeared to improve earlier this year when his rematch opponent, state Treasurer Josh Mandel, pulled out of the race due to his wife's health. Rep. James B. Renacci is now in the race on the GOP side, but Brown will be tough to beat in this environment. If he won, like Cuomo he'd have to pretty quickly turn his attention to 2020. (Previous: 9) 9. Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick: Patrick has been off pretty much everybody's radar since leaving office in 2015, but he said recently that running for president is on his. "I am trying to think through 2020, and that's a decision I'm trying to think through from a personal and family point of view and also whether what I believe is going to be on offer by somebody," he said earlier this month. For a guy who has shown little appetite for running, that's something. (Previous: 12) 8. Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe: I've been skeptical of McAuliffe's chances, mostly because of his brief tenure as a politician (only four years as governor, after many years behind the scenes) and his ties to the Clintons at a time when the Democratic Party probably wants to turn the page. But he sure seems like he'll run, saying last month, "Who better to take on Trump than me?" (Previous: 14) 7. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy: Murphy said in late 2017 that he wouldn't run, but he sounded less definitive earlier this month, saying merely that he had "no plans to run." He also said he "can't imagine leaving the Senate until I've gotten a victory on this issue of gun violence." Momentum for large-scale action after the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, seems to have dissipated, though, and Murphy may be asking himself whether he could do more as president. (Previous: 7) 6. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: The formerly moderate Democrat took another step toward the left this week, telling The Nation that she supports a federal job guarantee. That wasn't even something Bernie Sanders was talking about two years ago. (Previous: 4) 5. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker: Booker may have the highest upside on this whole list, and he sure looks like he's ramping up. But his angry, eyes-bulging scene at a hearing after Trump's "shithole countries" comment felt a little forced. (Previous: 6) 4. California Sen. Kamala D. Harris: Harris is making the kind of visits you'd expect from a 2020 hopeful, including to Nevada a couple weeks back -- her first early-state visit. She is also headed to Michigan soon, got profiled in Vogue (featuring lots of praise from her colleagues) and is shopping a book. And if there's anything that goes hand-in-hand with a book, it's running for president. (Previous: 5) 3. Former vice president Joe Biden: For everything you need to know about Biden's tangle with Trump this week, read The Post's Dan Balz. (Previous: 2) 2. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren: It escaped many people's notice given it came a few hours before the tragedy in Parkland, but last month Warren delivered the clearest signal yet that she might run for president. It was a well-crafted speech about her claim to Native American heritage, and it took direct aim at Trump for his "Pocahontas" nickname. It all seemed destined for a stump in Polk County. A sampling: "No one - not even the president of the United States - will ever take that part of me away." (Previous: 3) 1. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders: Another list; another Bernie at the top. Until he signals he may not run or gets into some real trouble, Sanders has the best chance. But that doesn't mean he's get great odds. Given we could see 15 or even 20 serious candidates, I don't see the front-runner having any more than a 20-25 percent chance of winning. And if things started today, that's where I'd put Sanders. (Previous: 1) With his final words, "Suitcase Killer" Rosendo Rodriguez called for the FBI to investigate the Lubbock County District Attorney and medical examiner. After a lengthy final statement urging onlookers to write other men on death row, calling for a boycott of Texas businesses and referencing his Catholic faith, the condemned San Antonio man died by lethal injection. "The state may have my body but not my soul," he said, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was the fourth man executed this year in the Lone Star State. The 38-year-old lost out on a final appeal - which stemmed from claims prosecutors withheld information regarding a lawsuit against the medical examiner - less than half an hour before he was scheduled to die at 6 p.m. The lethal dose of pentobarbital started flowing at 6:24 and Rodriguez was pronounced dead 22 minutes later. "I had the honor and privilege to know many prison guards and staff," he told onlookers. "I want to thank all of them. I would like for everyone to write the people on death row as they are all good men and I am very happy I got to know them. All of their lives are worth knowing about." His measured, emphatic statement took more than seven minutes. "I want everyone to boycott every single business in the state of Texas until all the businesses are pressed to stop the death penalty," Rodriguez continued. "With that Lord I commend my spirit." At one point, he decried the "thousands" he alleged were wrongfully convicted by Lubbock County District Attorney Matt Powell. "This needs to be brought to justice," he said. Powell declined to address the condemned man's final words against him. "Today's not a good day," Powell said. "We're not happy about anything but like I've said all along I certainly think justice was done, that he paid the ultimate price for the crimes he committed. I think it was justice, I certainly do." READ MORE: Suitcase Killer asks for stay citing lawsuit, $230,000 settlement against medical examiner Rodriguez was sent to death row nearly a decade ago for the 2005 slaying of Summer Baldwin, a pregnant sex worker whose body was found in a suitcase at the Lubbock city dump. She'd been beaten and strangled, and her body was covered in cuts and bruises and roughly 50 blunt force wounds. It was a gruesome killing, but the 29-year-old's death may have stayed a local investigation were it not for the woman's ties to a federal counterfeiting case where she'd been a witness. Given that, the feds swooped in and eventually authorities found financial records to zero in on a suspect: a Marine reservist visiting from San Antonio. When authorities arrested the former fraternity brother at his parents' home in San Antonio in 2005, Rodriguez admitted to the slaying. But he said he killed the woman in self-defense after she attacked him with a knife for stealing her crack pipe. In the hours before the murder, the two met up while Rodriguez was visiting Lubbock for training. He brought the woman back to his room at the Holiday Inn, then raped, beat and strangled her. Then, he bought some food, rented a movie and went to sleep before checking out of his hotel room. After his arrest, according to court records, he also admitted to the 2004 slaying of 16-year-old Joanna Rogers - who was also found in a suitcase in the Lubbock city landfill, according to court records. Later, during trial, jurors heard testimony linking him to five other rapes. Although a jury ultimately found him a future danger - one of the requirements for receiving a capital sentence in Texas - at one point Rodriguez was scheduled to take a plea to avoid the death penalty. But then, in the day before he was to sign the agreement, Rodriguez began claiming he did not understand anything he was told. His lawyer pulled out of the case, the plea deal fell apart and prosecutors decided to seek a death sentence instead. On appeal, Rodriguez's attorneys argued that the sex was consensual, that there is no evidence he'd planned to kill the woman and that he had ineffective trial counsel. But the courts rejected his claims and in late 2017 the Supreme Court turned him down. A judge set an execution date, but in February defense attorney Seth Kretzer filed for a stay over so-called "Brady material," the name for any potentially exculpatory evidence prosecutors are required to disclose under a 1963 Supreme Court decision. Citing a recently-settled 2015 lawsuit for more than $200,000 in Lubbock, Kretzer alleged the medical examiner may have outsourced the autopsy to a subordinate. The suit accused the medical examiner of frequently leaving his job to attend to his private consulting practice and routinely delegating decision-making and sometimes autopsies to his senior forensic nurse. Although the case settled last year, prosecutors never told the defense - and Kretzer took issue with that in court filings. "Rather than disclose this information, the Lubbock County District Attorney's Office instead sought the immediate setting of an execution date in this cause," Kretzer wrote in his appeal. "But for counsel becoming aware of this information through a third-party, Mr. Rodriguez would have been put to death." The district attorney pushed back against that claim. "It's nonsense," Powell said last month. "The two don't have anything to do with each other." Yet, Kretzer said a day before the execution, if the medical examiner didn't do the autopsy it could call into question the findings that Baldwin was raped - a key element in making the case death-eligible. "We don't dispute the cause of the death, but the nature of the acts that affected that cause," Kretzer said. But the state argued that Brady didn't apply to post-conviction appeals; to count as Brady material, the evidence in question would have had to exist during trial - and the suit wasn't filed till seven years later. Also, the state said, the allegedly withheld evidence wouldn't have changed the outcome anyway. The senior nurse who said she'd been doing her supervisor's autopsies didn't start working at the medical examiner's office until 2013, long after the close of Rodriguez's case. Before Tuesday, the state of Texas had already executed three men this year, including Houston-area serial killer Anthony Shore. There are now five other death dates are on the calendar. Ready for some truth? I lead an IT consulting and software engineering firm, and Im here to tell you that hiring an outside vendor is hard. The risk transfer and cost savings associated with hiring an outside vendor make it worthwhile, but ultimately those benefits are hinged more so than most of us would like on the value of your human relationships with vendors. The growing digital transformation imperative and the emergence of automation and artificial intelligence are not reducing the need for human dependence; they are actually elevating the importance of human trust and relationships. The level of human effort required to successfully implement this work is far more complex than anything weve ever done, and we cant do it alone. So we hire outside development companies, largely in Indias $160 billion IT industry. The country has earned its designation as a destination for quality low-cost technology skills. However, rapidly shifting technology needs and fluctuating immigration and visa norms are among the factors contributing to a slump in Indias IT growth projections. Quite simply, these factors can make it harder to work in India. Enter nearshoring. Nearshoring is the transfer of business or IT processes to companies in nearby countries, often sharing a border with your own. My definition of nearshoring goes beyond the formal description in a fairly simple way: A nearshoring partner should be within a few hours of major U.S. airports and fall within U.S. time zones in order to bring a unique set of values that outsourcing and offshoring do not. Ultimately, these values of cost, proximity and cultural sameness all share one central power: They better enable stronger, more authentic, more trusting human relationships. Like I said, hiring and managing an outside vendor isnt easy. But nearshoring offers the value of human connection, which, while not always quantifiable, is increasingly the key differentiator in software development winners and losers. First, the risks Lets be clear: There is no risk-free way to outsource software development. However, the risks of doing business in India, China and Mexico are relatively even, according to the 2017 Resilience Index, which compiles a wide range of data to assesses a countrys risk level and its ability to bounce back from everything ranging from natural disaster to cyberterrorism. Of 130 countries, India was ranked 60th, Mexico 63th and China (which was broken into three regions) between 66th and 68th. (For perspective, Switzerland was ranked #1 and Haiti at #130). That said, in software development specifically, there are a few risk-related drawbacks to nearshoring that must be acknowledged. English-speaking resources are less plentiful If you need more than 200 English-speakers to manage a global Oracle environment, India is still probably your best bet. Its simply a matter of scale: In 2016, India gradated 2.6 million STEM professionals (a large portion of which are English-speaking engineers). Quality and processes arent as mature India, China, and to a certain extent Brazil each have a high percentage of IT service providers that have achieved SAS 70 certification, which benchmarks internal IT controls, or Six Sigma certification, which indicates the use of data-driven business processes. These percentages are a higher than those in any Latin American country. Theyve simply been at it longer. Personal security is not guaranteed Im supposed to tell you that Latin America is safe because I have businesses there, but truth be told, parts of those regions arent for the faint of heart. (To be fair, the same can be said of St. Louis, which according to FBI data boasts the highest crime rate in the U.S.) In 2017, Mexico suffered one of its most violent years in two decades, and Brazil was no better. But safety concerns for business travelers require a layer of nuance. A new tiered travel advisory system the U.S. State Department rolled out in January 2018 attempts to provide just that and spotlights the Latin American states most gravely affected by the drug trade and organized crime. Still with me? These risks arent fun, but I believe that acknowledging them is critical to optimizing the worthwhile rewards of nearshoring: cost, proximity and culture. The cost value According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, hourly wages in Mexico in dollar terms are now 40 percent lower than in China. The figure represents a stunning turnaround from just 12 years ago, when labor costs in Mexico were roughly 183 percent higher than Chinas. This bodes well for Latin America, but dont rely on cost-per-hour figures outright when evaluating external vendor costs. While Indias costs may still be $5 to $10 cheaper per hour than in Latin America for similar services, its 13.4 percent annual voluntary attrition rate will have a direct and devastating impact on long-term costs. Vendors like Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro have employee attrition above 20 percent in many locations. The proximity value There is a real cost to the wear and tear on traveling executives. It takes an average of 25 hours through multiple time zones to travel from the U.S. to an offshore location in India. The associated wear and tear on traveling executives in the form of jet lag and foodborne illness and other culture shocks can be directly linked to burnout. One of the greatest advantages of nearshoring is its proximity value. In many cases, resources can travel to a meeting in the U.S. and return to Mexico the same day, all within the same time zone and on a NAFTA Professional visa, which a vendor can obtain and renew quickly and easily. The culture value In 2016, Hispanics accounted for 18 percent of the U.S. population and were the second-largest racial or ethnic group behind whites.[2] In addition to the obvious advantages of working with a population that is already entrenched in the U.S. culture (everything from a familiarity with the language to an adherence to the same holiday calendar), there are subtle and very human advantages to working in Latin American as well as the offshore hotspot of Belfast, U.K. First, at their deepest levels the Latin American and Belfast business communities are family focused. Companies in both communities assume a great responsibility for the whole human that they hire, inside and outside of work. As a business owner in these places, it is critically important that I know who is having babies, who is getting married and who is caring for ill relatives. To me, this fosters a more comfortable and value-rich working environment, one where resources are team members with a deeper dedication to doing the right thing. Finally, Latin American and Belfast teams share a risk tolerance that I havent experienced in Asia. My teams in Mexico and Belfast are trained to ask questions and push the envelope; in Asian countries, that approach is seen as disrespectful to authority. Perhaps not every development project calls for innovation, but I would argue that all could benefit from it and that Latin America- and Ireland-based teams are culturally in a better position to deliver it. With great relationships go great rewards Ultimately, your success in outside software development comes down to the value of your human connections and the mutual commitment and trust instilled by both parties. Therefore, these connections should be where you focus the bulk of your energy and resources, and quite frankly, nearshoring thanks to the values of cost, proximity and cultural sameness simply enables those resources to go further. Could high-performance computing (HPC) help feed the planet? The European Commission thinks so. In a recent article, the Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, noted that HPC is one of the keys to increased agriculture production. The Commission said that HPC is becoming critical in agricultural activity, plague control, pesticides design and pesticides effects.1 For example, it notes that HPC enables numerical simulations of plant growth that help seed companies achieve superior varieties, without doing costly field trials that can harm the environment. In the United States, the people at AeroFarms could add examples of their own. The New Jersey-based company, which is a world leader in indoor vertical farming and sustainable agriculture, is on a mission to transform agriculture. It wants to show the world how to feed an ever-growing global population in a time of disappearing farmland and increasing demands for water and other natural resources. AeroFarms demonstrates just this by growing high-quality, nutritious leafy greens and herbs without sunlight, soil or pesticides. At the companys production sites, all growing, harvesting and packaging operations take place in a tightly controlled indoor environment that is optimized with data-driven insights. On the backend, AeroFarms uses a local server cluster and machine learning techniques to continually analyze and update its anomaly detection algorithm, which runs on edge gateways in its production facilities. By U.N. estimates, we need to produce 50 percent more food by 2050, and weve lost 30 percent of our arable farm land in the last 40 years, notes AeroFarms CEO David Rosenberg. Looking at all those macro-issues, we need a new way to feed our planet.2 Ever heard of precision agriculture? Or how about agricultural cloud computing? Or smart farming? These are all part of a new way to feed the planet. As terms like these suggest, agriculture is becoming increasingly driven by data, artificial intelligence and HPC. A few examples: An Intel article highlights the case of a farmer who saved his corn crop from grasshoppers by using artificial intelligence to detect a swarm of grasshoppers in an unexpected parcel of his field.3 Agricultural researchers at Ohio State University use computational fluid dynamics to model processes like air flow in chicken coops and the application of pesticides sprayed on orchards.4 Researchers at Clemson University are using a supercomputer to identify valuable traits, such as disease resistance, in the genetic material of plants.5 This is the type of research that could help farmers increase yields and operate more efficiently, and its only possible with the power of HPC, AI and other advanced technologies. As an Intel article notes, From detecting pests to predicting what crops will deliver the best returns, artificial intelligence can help humanity confront one of its biggest challenges: feeding an additional 2 billion people by 2050,6 even as climate change disrupts growing seasons, turns arable land into deserts, and floods once-fertile deltas with seawater.7 Ultimately, to feed billions of additional people we are going to need more efficient approaches to food production and smarter, data-driven agricultural operations that leverage the power of technology to help producers squeeze more food out of a limited amount of land. And that is yet another reason why HPC matters. To learn more about AeroFarms and its work to transform the world of agriculture, read the case study Harvesting Insights: Indoor vertical farm uses data-driven insights from IoT deployment to increase yields, conserve resources and improve flavor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Making a difference with HPC High performance computing touches virtually every aspect of our lives. HPC is making weather forecasts more accurate, cancer therapies more precise, fraud protection more foolproof and products more efficient. In this series of articles, we explore these and other use cases that capitalize on HPC and its convergence with data analytics to illustrate why HPC matters to all of us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 European Union, High Performance Computing for increased agriculture production, Jan. 5, 2018. 2 Dell EMC customer case study, Harvesting Insights: Indoor vertical farm uses data-driven insights from IoT deployment to increase yields, conserve resources and improve flavor, 2018. 3 Intel, Intel-Powered AI Helps Optimize Crop Yields, accessed February 26, 2018. 4 Ohio Technology Consortium, Ohio State agriculture group improves farming through HPC at OSC, February 9, 2018. 5 Clemson University, Supercomputer speeds up genetics research at Clemson, March 11, 2015. 6 United Nations, World population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, July 29, 2015. 7 Intel, Intel-powered AI helps optimize crop yields, accessed Feb. 27, 2018 From core, to edge, to cloud: bridge the clouds you have, the environment you want, and the results you need with Cisco computing solutions. President Donald Trump is facing a revolt from his base for having signed the bloated omnibus spending bill that torpedoes his drain the swamp pledges. But the president now has an opportunity to achieve a small measure of redemption: he should offer loud and unequivocal support to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who is being hammered for reportedly having rejected identity politics in favor of meritocracy. Zinke is facing a storm of media criticism from liberals for allegedly saying that diversity is not important, though his office denies that he said this. The same sources that reported Zinkes comments say that he followed up by stating that what he cared about was excellenceand that by hiring the best people, he would in fact put together the most diverse group anyone has ever had. This second statement is a cowardly concession (as is his denial of his initial diversity observation, assuming that he made that initial statement). Sometimes meritocracy will yield diversity; sometimes it wont. The point is that it doesnt matter. Diversity should not be an end in itself; excellence is the goal. Rejecting the primacy of diversity constitutes a head-on assault on the received wisdom of Washington and elite American culture. Gender and racial quotas have been the order of business for the last three decades. The #MeToo movement has only intensified pressures on public and private organizations to hire based on sex and skin color. The result: wasted resources, the sidelining of merit, and ever more virulent and irrational identity politics. The rule of the diversity regime is that youre required to be fanatically obsessed with race and gender until you arentbecause at that unpredictable moment, whenever it comes, noticing race and sex becomes racist and sexist. Whats fantastic about the Zinke story, which appears to be gaining momentum, is that the Interior Secretary is being condemned for allegedly saying that he discounts racial categories in hiring, and prefers having the right person for the right job. This position, uncontroversial for decades, was the essence of Martin Luther Kings vision of a colorblind, merit-based society. Treating people the same way regardless of their race or sex used to be considered the definition of fairness; now it is understood to be vicious and intolerable. Kristen Clarke, president of the National Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, writes of Zinke, the racist views harbored by members of this administration and their failure to ensure diversity must be condemned. The most distinctive moment during the 2016 presidential campaign was Trumps insistence that he did not have time for political correctness, in response to then-Fox News host Megyn Kellys feminist naggings. Here is a moment for the president to make good on that pledge by rejecting the relevance of race and gender to any job within his administration. As for Zinke, even if he didnt reject diversity explicitly, he ought to do so now. Photo: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock The dumbest controversy of the week began Sunday, when former Pennsylvania Senator and CNN contributor Rick Santorum responded to Saturdays national gun control demonstrations. How about kids instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem, do something about maybe taking CPR classes or trying to deal with situations that when there is a violent shooter that you can actually respond to that, Santorum said on CNNs State of the Union. This comment, patently ridiculous on its face, wouldnt be worth mentioning if not for the fact that it, and the response to it, crystallizes one of the worst things about cable news. With the 24-hour news cycle demanding a constant stream of content, Santorums comment warranted a write-up on CNNs website. The next day, the network invited David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland shooting who has become one of the most visible advocates of gun control, and his sister Lauren on air to rebut Santorums suggestion. The content mill churned on. TRENDING: A newspapers baffling column on the term racist Santorums initial comments received immediate pushback on State of the Union, and The Washington Post rounded up commentary from doctors arguing against his suggestion. Santorum also earned opprobrium from CNNs own journalists, with White House Reporter Kaitlin Collins writing simply, I cannot get over how stupid this is. The Hollywood Reporters Jeremy Barr pointed out the way CNN milked the comments for content, tweeting Monday, CNN now having commentators discussing the dumbass comments made by a contributor yesterday. A virtuous content circle. CNN now having commentators discussing the dumbass comments made by a contributor yesterday. A virtuous content circle pic.twitter.com/X6xigWhOSI Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) March 26, 2018 Sign up for CJR 's daily email CNN isnt alone in its willingness to give airtime to contributors making asinine suggestions, but, perhaps because the network casts itself as the serious voice above the partisan fray, comments made on its shows garner outsized anger. When people get frustrated by the shallowness of cable news, this is the sort of thing theyre talking about: a controversy sparked by a network contributor, numerous segments discussing said controversy, and two days of content to feed the beast. ICYMI: What journalists are saying about Anderson Coopers interview with Stormy Daniels Below, more on the reaction to Santorums comments and the state of cable news. Other notable stories ICYMI: Fox News lawsuit: What you need to know 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. Most of the attention focused on Facebook right now is aimed at the Cambridge Analytica leak, where a shadowy Trump-affiliated organization got hold of personal data on 50 million Facebook users and targeted them with ads and fake news during the 2016 election. But this saga is just one example of how Facebooks targeting features can be misused. As a fascinating new story from Bloomberg points out, shady affiliate marketers have been mining the social network for dubious clicks for years, and making millions of dollars by doing so. The March 27 article goes inside a community of digital grifters and con-men who use social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to run cons involving untold riches, self-help scams, and bogus health remedies. Author Zeke Faux (whose last name is particularly appropriate) writes about a conference in Berlin last year where Facebook had a large presence. It was supposed to be about traditional marketing, but was filled with shysters and click-farmers: The Berlin conference was hosted by an online forum called Stack That Money, but a newcomer could be forgiven for wondering if it was somehow sponsored by Facebook Inc. Saleswomen from the company held court onstage, introducing speakers and moderating panel discussions. After the show, Facebook representatives flew to Ibiza on a plane rented by Stack That Money to party with some of the top affiliates Officially, the Berlin conference was for aboveboard marketing, but the attendees I spoke to dropped that pretense after the mildest questioning. Some even walked around wearing hats that said farmin, promoting a service that sells fake Facebook accounts. Facebook has taken pains to point out that it doesnt want this kind of business on the network, and says it has been working hard to get rid of scammers. Rob Leathern, who joined the company in 2017 as part of an effort to purge the network of affiliate marketers and similar low-life advertisers, tells Bloomberg that the days when such people could make millions with dubious clicks are over. We are working hard to get these people off the platform. Winter is coming. They may get away with it for a while, but the partys not going to last, he says. That could be easier said than done, however, given the head start that Facebook provided over the past few years to the scammers and their supporters. Tracking down ads that were placed by Russian trolls and aimed at voters during the 2016 election is complicated, but it might actually be easier than rooting out these kinds of scams. When their accounts are blocked or banned, affiliate link traders simply set up new ones under other plausible-sounding names, and start again. And so, the same tools that allowed Cambridge Analytica and Russian trolls to target voters with customized propaganda by using psycho-graphic profiles based on Facebook data also give marketers the ability to push their ads to a vast network of gullible users for pennies per click. And even Facebook is a small part of the larger problem of an advertising industry based on what experts like sociologist Zeynep Tufekci have called surveillance capitalism. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. IN HIS 20 YEARS as an Illinois statehouse reporter, the Associated Press John OConnor has exposed corruption at nearly every level of Illinois government. His reporting on lies and government waste across five administrations have been one of few constants in a statehouse press corps that, like most others, is a shell of what it was a decade ago. There are fewer than 20 full- and part-time statehouse correspondents now, down from 42 in 2006. Lee Enterprises and the suburban Daily Herald in Arlington Heights both shuttered their statehouse operations in recent years. In December 2016, OConnor became the APs lone statehouse reporter. OConnor first used the states Freedom of Information laws in 1996 to report on spending excesses at the State Board of Educationa story that led to the superintendents resignation. Since then, he has used documents to expose a prison director who flew in a taxpayer-funded plane for personal use, midnight raises for transportation department employees from outgoing Governor Rod Blagojevich, and under-the-table funding cuts for domestic violence programs, among other stories. OConnors work is distributed by the AP throughout the statevia the Southern Illinoisan, the Peoria Journal-Star, the Rock River Times and morewhich enables access to state government for those Illinois residents that would not otherwise know what their elected officials are (or are not) up to. ICYMI: Always appeal, and more pro tips from a dozen FOIA experts Already this year, OConnor has used documents as the foundation for two blockbuster stories. In January, while searching the governors schedule, OConnor discovered evidence of a 2015 meeting between Bruce Rauner and a former business partner at the governors mansion in Springfield, which contradicted Rauners claim that he had ceased his involvement in business dealings after his election. (Rauner refused questions about the discrepancy and avoided reporters after OConnors story was published.) In February, OConnor reported on cost disparities attached to a plumbing problem at a veterans home in Quincy whose residents suffered through an outbreak of Legionnaires disease. OConnor obtained through a FOIA request an August 2016 report that put state estimates for a plumbing repair at $8 millionfar less than the $30 million estimate previously shared by the states head of veteran affairs. The chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee credited OConnors work with spurring a meeting on the matter, and with surfacing copies of the 2016 report for lawmakers. Someone once warned a public information officer that when OConnor asks a question, he already knows the answer. To an extent its true, OConnor says. If I can get a document, I already have the answer. OConnor had presumed the Department of Veterans Affairs would deny his FOIA request under a section that exempts documents considered to be preliminary, and in which opinions are expressed. However, that exemption is overridden if the head of the public body describes the document in public, which the director of the VA had done before a legislative committee. OConnor got the report, he says, because I know the law. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project He also knows what kinds of records a public body keeps, breaks his requests down into pieces when they get too broad, and writes stories about denialswhich, he says, are sometimes stories. Report on outlandish denials or those about significant public issues, says OConnor. You dont want to do this too often, lest you be mischaracterized as a whiner. But rememberand put it in your storythat the overwhelming majority of FOIA requests dont come from nosy reporters, or ambulance-chasing lawyers, or ivory tower academics, they come from everyday taxpayers. Access to actions by public bodies is a huge issue and denials need to be exposed. DOCUMENTS REPORTING SUITS OCONNOR The documents dont lie, he tells CJR. While he enjoys the stageOConnor plays Abraham Lincoln in a one-man show, and has performed as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of the Musiche does not enjoy confrontation, or the quick turn-around that filing a breaking news story requires. I am less comfortable in writing the story of the day, he tells CJR. If you give me a little a little time, I can be methodical. Someone once warned a public information officer that when OConnor asks a question, he already knows the answer. Word of that warning made its way back to the reporter. To an extent its true, OConnor says. If I can get a document, I already have the answer. The desire to look beyond the daily news is perhaps OConnors greatest strength, says Chris Kaergard, columnist and political reporter at the Peoria paper. Whether thats auditor general reports, little-known parole initiatives, or something else, OConnor gets into material people didnt know that they ought to know about, and shines a light on it, Kaergard says. Ultimately, his investigative stories drive the conversation, and they drive change. Thats what Illinoisans need to keep informed, and to keep state government accountable. Kurt Erickson, a former Illinois statehouse reporter who now covers the Missouri statehouse for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, followed OConnor to the City Hall beat at the Pantagraph and then worked alongside him in Springfield when Erickson was the bureau chief for Lee Enterprises. He was inspirational to me in terms of being dogged and digging out these things that would reveal something about how our tax dollars are being spent, or corruption or mismanagement, Erickson says. Im not going to be able to dissect every motive or intention the day you announce a policy or pledge to do something, but Im going to take you at your word and, by gosh, if theres any possibility, Im going to check it out. OConnor filed a FOIA request for inmates who had escaped after a 2013 prison break in Eastern Illinois, recalls Erickson. Through the documents he requested, OConnor learned that Illinois had 22 fugitives at the time, some of whom had been on the lam for decades. (OConnor previously reported that the state Department of Corrections had secretly released 1,700 inmates from prison early in an effort to save money and reduce overcrowding; his coverage encouraged legislative efforts to limit the program.) He holds politicians accountable with scalpel-like precision, says Mike Lawrence, a former director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale who served as press secretary for former Governor Jim Edgar after a long career as a statehouse reporter. Kerry Lester, who worked with OConnor in the AP statehouse bureau for three years, calls him a digger. It was amazing to watch him work, his dedication to getting facts that a lot of government agencies would like to keep hidden, says Lester, now a freelance journalist and author. Hes very well-versed in the appeals process, and he has a good relationship with FOIA attorneys, so he knows where to go when he gets shut down. Roger Schneider, an AP news editor for Michigan who also edits coverage in Illinois and Indiana, calls OConnor a stabilizing guy in Springfieldan important role, given the diminution of the statehouse press corps and the turnover within its ranks. A lot of times, its Follow the herd, report on the session and youre done at the end of the day, says Schneider. He has this critical thinking that when somebody says something, he cant just take them at [their] word. Hes able to look past that and hold them accountable. I CAUGHT UP WITH OCONNOR in Springfield, the day after Governor Rauner delivered his budget address. When he moved into the governors mansion in 2015, Rauner had remarked, he noticed that the lights were always on, even in those rooms that were not in use. Rauner put the power bill for the mansion at $100,000 a year, an amount he called outrageous, and said he implemented better energy management practices to cut the bill substantially. By how much, he did not say. I wrote FOIA utility bill in my notebook. I told OConnor about my FOIA note, and he laughed. Hed had the same idea. I work hard and find evidence, OConnor says. Im not going to be able to dissect every motive or intention the day you announce a policy or pledge to do something, but Im going to take you at your word and, by gosh, if theres any possibility, Im going to check it out. Thats where I think my strength is. I dont forget. I have a long memory. ICYMI: Behind the Miami Heralds inescapably powerful juvenile justice investigation Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jackie Spinner is CJRs correspondent for Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. She is an associate journalism professor at Columbia College Chicago and a former staff writer for The Washington Post. Follow her on Twitter @jackiespinner. The owners of Opry Mills are asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to reverse a ruling that reduced their 2010 flood insurance coverage from $200 to $50 million. Severe flooding closed the Nashville, Tenn., shopping mall for an extended period. After an initial cleanup, progress on the reconstruction had been stalled for months because insurers would provide only $50 million. The Mills company said the mall suffered more than $200 million in damage and filed suit in 2011 against 17 insurance companies claiming they owed another $150 million. The Tennessean reports the Simon Property Group filed an appeal Friday with the state Supreme Court. It seeks to overturn an appeals court decision in favor of Arch Insurance Company. The Opry Mills mall was caught in the 2010 flooding of the Cumberland River. Ten feet of water submerged the huge shopping center, causing millions in damage. In January, the Court of Appeals ruled that Opry Mills fell under a $50 million coverage limit for properties listed in high hazard flood zones. The appeals court reversed a jury award of nearly $200 million. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. As a team, the Indians continue to lead MLB in hits (338), runs (222), home runs (59), extra-base hits (133) and RBI (213), while they rank near the top in AVG (.286, 4th), OBP (.358, 3rd), SLG (.506, 3rd) and OPS (.865, 2nd)...if the Indians finish spring on top of the MLB runs scored leaderboard, it will mark their second-straight year doing so, after scoring 224 times last year...the Tribes 59 home runs are the clubs highest total since MLB began digitally recording Spring Training statistics in 2006, and the highest of any MLB team in that timeframe. Joe Noga, cleveland.com China for stronger ties with Nepal: Envoy Yu Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong on Monday said Beijing wants to work with Nepal to consolidate bilateral relations. There is much that China can do to create more equality, and to let its people enjoy the fruits of the country's growth and technological development, said Takehiko Nakao, president of the Asian Development Bank. China is already an innovative country and has made much progress in commerce, finance and industry, but it now faces a new kind of challenge, he said. "To me, my challenge is how to make society more equal? How to make the older population enjoy better life from the fruits of this technological development, growth and also globalization?" he said. Speaking to CNBC at the China Development Forum, Nakao suggested that China could insititute a progressive tax regime, with taxes to be imposed on capital gains and property. "I think China can do many things to make society more equal. And I know that the government leaders know it," said Nakao, who was formerly Japan's vice finance minister for international affairs. The ADB's work as an Asia Pacific regional development bank focuses on providing loans, grants, and equity investments to reduce poverty. Nakao has led the organization since 2013. Fund managers in China are forecast to roughly double their assets under management from $7.4 trillion this year to $14 trillion over the next five years as regulations shift on the mainland, according to a new report from consultancy Oliver Wyman. The China figures fall far short of the size of U.S. and European markets, which made up much of the $84.9 trillion of assets under management in 2016, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. But there could be broader implications for the make-up of the Chinese asset management industry. When accounting for "quasi" asset managers, which are not traditional managers by global standards, the total size of the Chinese market stood at $18.8 trillion this year, Oliver Wyman said. Growth in the level of assets under management in China comes as total investable wealth among high-net-worth individuals in the country has increased. That figure is projected to rise to $17 trillion by 2022 from $8 trillion in 2016, the report, released last week, said. Following is the transcript of a First On CNBC interview with Chairman & CEO of Johnson & Johnson, Alex Gorsky at the China Development Forum in Beijing. The interview was broadcast on CNBC on 27 March 2018. All references must be sourced to a "CNBC Interview'. Interviewed by CNBC's Martin Soong. Martin Soong (MS): China obviously a key market for J&J. Now you've got what looks like a trade war brewing. President Trump fired the first shot return salvo from China. Pretty modest. How concerned are you? Alex Gorsky: China is a very important market force when you think of 1.4 billion people when you think about the technology, when you think about the aging population, when you think about an increasing middle class, we think that it represents really significant potential for us. And look, it's our hope that you know what we're seeing right now we start to learn a lot more. It's early days we've really early announcements just like everybody else. We're going to have to dig in and learn more, but at the end of the day we think that having first of all, fair equitable trade around the world is in everyone's best interest, Johnson and Johnson's, but I think for all companies and all countries. MS: You've invested quite significantly already in China. Are you concerned that the Chinese government possibly in retaliation could slap investment restrictions on U.S. businesses from pumping further money into this place? Alex Gorsky: Well we have been in China for quite a few years in fact for over 30 years we are here back in the early 1980s. We have a very significant presence across all of our different businesses more than 10,000 employees. I think more than 60 sites. And look, it's certainly our hope that we're going to be able to work with government officials both in the U.S. and China to find again, the right path forward to work our way through the current issues. MS: Do you feel today 2018 where we're sitting now that J&J is playing on a level playing field with local Chinese pharma? Alex Gorsky: We've been really encouraged by many of the changes and the adaptations that we've seen on behalf of the Chinese government over the past several years whether it's in regulatory procedures for example in the approval of pharmaceuticals we're seeing now much more of a willingness for example to think about using data from around the world, to think about reviewing drugs particularly lifesaving medications and a much more timely way. In fact we just made an investment in a company here in China Legend pharmaceuticals that offers really promising new therapy in CAR-T treatment. So it's a new way of basically utilizing your body's own immune system to defeat a condition like myeloma. So we're very encouraged by many of the changes that we're seeing, there's still work to be done in areas such as IP and others. But again, we're hopeful that we can continue to have a productive and important dialogue going forward. MS: Foreign pharma in China, not so long ago really caught in the crosshairs. Enforcement crackdowns probes corruption probes GlaxoSmithKline et cetera. Pharma seems to have weathered that. But for J&J itself it very recently defined monopolistic pricing on your on your contact lenses. You know that earlier this year right your diabetes, one of your diabetes applications they pulled pricing on it so that local companies could compete as well. One of the risks going forward, I think for American companies including, maybe especially for pharma, I don't know is, one way China could hit back is to make it a lot tougher in terms of probes, enforcement actions et cetera. If that does happen, what's J&J's how do you play defense? Alex Gorsky: We always want to play offense and so that calls for making sure that we've got great products that are right for the market, following the appropriate marketing practices, you know according to the local laws and compliance which we always try to do. And again to continue to work with our customers, and the government here in China to be successful. And I think that if, again, if you look at overall at our track record over the past 30 years what we've been able to do in terms of building our business, in terms of building relationships, investing here locally. In fact, we're in the process right now of building at least three new facilities and Xian, in Shanghai and in Suzhou, both manufacturing as well as research and development. And I think that kind of collaboration builds on overall better understanding and I think better positions us for the future. MS: And you're pretty confident that all those projects are going to continue without a hitch? Alex Gorsky: Well, as I said earlier it's still early days but we're hopeful with it. We try to really take a long term view and we take that in the way that we develop our products. We take it in the way that we've invested here in China and that's both looking back but it's also looking forward. END Media Contact: Mike Cheong Communications Manager, CNBC Asia Pacific D: +65 6326 1123 M: +65 9852 8630 Mike.Cheong@nbcuni.com About CNBC CNBC is the leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news and information, reporting directly from the world's major financial markets via three regional TV networks in Asia, EMEA and the US. CNBC.com is the preeminent financial news source on the web featuring video, real-time market analysis and dynamic financial tools. CNBC serves the world's most powerful audience of CEOs, senior executives, the financial services industry and private investors and is available in more than 409 million homes worldwide. CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal. For more information, please visit www.cnbc.com Following is the transcript of a CNBC interview with Vasant Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, at the China Development Forum in Beijing. The interview was broadcast on CNBC's Squawk Box on 27 March 2018. All references must be sourced to a "CNBC Interview'. Interviewed by CNBC's Martin Soong. Martin Soong (MS): President fired the first shot. China returned fire, returned salvo. And now there's is the risk this thing could just sort of blow up into a full blown trade war. It seems to be what everybody's talking about and also worried about. Your thoughts? Vasant Narasimhan: You know when we think about ourselves as a global company, we are obviously very pro-free trade, we want there to be a stable system of free trade that allows a company like us, a Swiss-based company that operates in over 150 countries, to be able to work freely and fairly. You know when we look at the situation we hope that there's a reasonable solution that comes about and that you know this doesn't escalate. I think it would only damage the global economy and obviously impact companies like us we have manufacturing sites around the world, including in China and in the United States. And we need to be able to run our global supply chains in a stable way. So I think we're hopeful though that we can get to an amicable solution. MS: OK I mean whether it escalates or not, who knows right, but are you confident that you've got a handle on your supply chain sufficiently that it can be nimble and fast enough to pivot if you need? Vasant Narasimhan: We're fortunate in that we are a large enough company that we have redundancies and so we can manage through these situations, so it's not a cause of great concern. I think it's just more the symbol it sends to the global economic system. And I think we'd rather be in a world where there's stable policies that allow for free trade. MS: Of course. A couple of months ago, January, start of year, you were in Davos I know at a table with the president and was then Werner Baumann from Bayer. And there were, I mean there were other people as well, but you guys were big pharma and whole idea was, Gary Cohen at that time was still in the job, is trying to drum up more investment for the U.S. What was that dinner conversation like? And did you actually get face time with the president? What did you tell him? Vasant Narasimhan: It was a group discussion and so really it wasn't a one on one opportunity, but we did get to take pictures that was probably about it. But most of the discussion focused on what would it take to create stability and create an environment where companies like ours would increase investment in the United States. I highlighted the importance of continuing to upscale the workforce to be digitally enabled and enabled in a world where artificial intelligence and digital technologies are going to be really important. I think others highlighted other elements including the importance of stable trade agreements, things like Nafta amongst other trade agreements, so those with the kind of things we talked about. I would say it was a pretty free flowing discussion but no commitments were made. MS: Okay, no conclusions or commitments. You know the thing is with tax reform, we've seen companies like Pfizer doing pretty well out of it, nice windfall right. And I guess the key question is, especially for pharma, we've seen on the back of tax reform fairly significant wave of M&A kickoff and this is the first time we've seen this in about a decade or so. So the key question is, tax reform, you get a windfall. What do you do with the money? Do you invest it at home to create jobs? Do you buy back shares? In Novartis' case, what is likely to be? Vasant Narasimhan: One important clarification we've been making is for overseas-based companies like Novartis and tax reform had really minimal impact. So we don't see a lower tax because of this tax reform. So from that standpoint it doesn't really change much of how we operate, but what we are continuing to do is follow our capital allocation priorities and as I've said I really want us to be a focused medicines company, powered by data and digital technologies and that means looking for bolt-on acquisitions, of value creating bolt-on acquisitions. That's where our focus has been. We recently completed one in January of Advanced Accelerator applications, an oncology company that was about a four billion dollar bolt-on that we did. And that's the kind of place where we see value bringing in technologies that fit in our core therapeutic areas and then we can unlock the value of those technologies. MS: So bolting on this is interesting because your immediate predecessor, Joe Jiminez, did a lot of the I guess the pruning right, the hard work and left the company in pretty good shape for yourself to take over, with the exception, we can get into your push to bolt-on and push to AI in a just a bit, but I want to get to the two sort of I guess hangovers that Joe Jiminez sort of left to you and that is what to do Alcon and also what to do with Sandoz. Let's get to Sandoz first because I mean the talk of the market is you could be weeks away from letting it go. Are you? Vasant Narasimhan: So first I want to give a little broader context, so you know when you look at Novartis we started out after the formation of the companies abroad conglomerate. Over time we've slimmed down under Joe's leadership to three leading businesses - Sandoz, Alcon and of course our leading pharmaceuticals business. You know I see us continue to focus our resources and in pharmaceuticals and medicines broadly. With Alcon, as we've stated, you know we look forward to taking a potential action, moving to a potential decision in the first half of 2019. And that's still the timeline that we will maintain and no change on that. MS: Even though finally you've got sales growth at Alcon? Vasant Narasimhan: Well we're happy with the sales growth, we want to continue to see both sales growth and profitability improvement, but we still think it would be the right timeline to look towards the first half of 19 for any potential action on Alcon. Now with respect to Sandoz, I think it has been well characterized the global generics market is under pressure particularly in the traditional generics. We see great strength and growth in Biosimilars, where we have about the leading Biosimilars portfolio in the industry. So we're quite we're quite keen on continuing to maintain our focus on Biosimilars. In the rest of the Sandoz business, and as I've stated publicly, we really want to continue to think about how best to invest in that business to ensure we are differentiated and can grow. We have no immediate plans to really change our approach on Sandoz. We continue to evaluate all options, particularly in the U.S. business that's been under pressure, but we haven't made any decisions. MS: So with Sandoz the problem is basically no pricing power or slipping pricing power right so your fight back is okay let's go more complex, let's go more higher margins as well. The problem is, a lot of your competitors are doing the same thing - so differentiation. Vasant Narasimhan: If you think about the generics industry from 2000 to 2012, it was a highly attractive area where having global scale was what we really mattered. Now with the emergence of really significant competition from China and India, cost leadership becomes much more important. So companies like ours have to move into more complex value added medicines as you described. The key will be how to differentiate your value proposition versus the other generics companies and that's what we're focused on. MS: OK let's circle back now to the acquisitions, you were talking about bolt-ons. I think a lot of people were watching to see whether this first wave of M&A becomes sort of a tidal wave for the first time in about a decade. Your focus for Novartis where do you see, what sorts of businesses are you targeting that would be good fits for what you want to do, which is pipeline right? Vasant Narasimhan: Well you know we really think we want to focus our M&A efforts on these bolt-on acquisitions that have either new technologies or products that fit into our core therapeutic areas. When you think about Novartis's core therapeutic areas, we operate in about seven therapeutic areas where we have global scale, we have developing capabilities, we have commercial capabilities. And our goal is to find either assets that are near the market or earlier stage pipeline assets that fit in those areas. We really believe the value's in bolt-on acquisitions and you know we're not looking at large scale M&A we think that typically can be very disruptive to companies like ours with strong pipelines. So our focus has really been on those on those bolt-on acquisitions particularly in areas such as oncology, where we did triple-A as well as other therapeutic areas. MS: And this is kind of a market question, even if you do find suitable targets right, the timing, is there value out there right now the way the pharmas are now? Vasant Narasimhan: Well you know that is I think the challenge right now with M&A, I mean the valuations are extremely high right now and they continue to be on the high end. There's takeover premiums I believe in many of these stocks already. And that's really where the challenge is in doing bolt on M&A is to find situations where you can really get a reasonable price where our company will benefit, our shareholders will benefit and the selling company would also benefit. That's certainly more challenging today than it's been in the past. END Media Contact: Mike Cheong Communications Manager, CNBC Asia Pacific D: +65 6326 1123 M: +65 9852 8630 Mike.Cheong@nbcuni.com About CNBC CNBC is the leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news and information, reporting directly from the world's major financial markets via three regional TV networks in Asia, EMEA and the US. CNBC.com is the preeminent financial news source on the web featuring video, real-time market analysis and dynamic financial tools. CNBC serves the world's most powerful audience of CEOs, senior executives, the financial services industry and private investors and is available in more than 409 million homes worldwide. CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal. For more information, please visit www.cnbc.com Death sentence sought in rape case Province 3 House members demanded death sentence to the guilty in rape cases, during the special hour of State Assembly meeting in Hetauda on Tuesday. As trade tensions between the United States and China simmer, the chief executive of one of the world's largest health-care companies said that open trade will ultimately be in everyone's best interest. China is an important market for Johnson & Johnson with 1.4 billion people, a rising middle class, technological developments and an aging population, according to Alex Gorsky, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "We're going to have to dig in and learn more," Gorsky told CNBC Saturday at the China Development Forum in Beijing. "But at the end of the day, we think that having, first of all, fair, equitable trade around the world is in everyone's best interest Johnson & Johnson's, but I think for all companies and all countries." Beijing on Friday said it may target 128 U.S. products with an import value of $3 billion as retaliation for President Donald Trump signing an executive order earlier this month that imposed broad duties on foreign aluminum and steel imports. Trump also announced tariff plans for up to $60 billion in Chinese imports last week, but China did not officially connect its Friday threats to that White House action. The chances of a trade war appeared to lessen, however, based on reports out Monday: The Financial Times said China had offered to buy more semiconductors from the U.S. to help cut the trade imbalance, and The Wall Street Journal reported officials in both countries are working to improve American access to Chinese markets. When Gorsky was asked if he was worried China could restrict the investment opportunities for U.S. firms operating in the country, he said he hoped to be able to work with government officials from both countries to "find the right path forward, to work our way through the current issues." In the past, China has enforced crackdowns and heavy fines on foreign pharmaceuticals. For example, reports said that J&J and other major producers were fined more than 19 million yuan (currently $3.01 million) for price-fixing in China's eye glass and contact lens market in 2014. In the same year, GlaxoSmithKline was fined a record 3 billion yuan for paying bribes to doctors to use its drugs, according to Reuters. On the possibility that China might react to the U.S. import tariffs by toughening its enforcement actions against American firms like J&J, Gorsky said the company always wants to be proactive. "That calls for making sure that we've got great products that are right for the market, that are following the appropriate marketing practices, according to the local laws and compliance, which we always try to do. And, again, to continue to work with our customers and the government here in China to be successful," he said. Gorsky added that J&J was in the process of building at least three new facilities in China for both manufacturing as well as research and development. "And I think that kind of collaboration builds an overall better understanding and I think better positions us for the future," he said. The CEO explained that he had seen some encouraging developments within the country in areas of regulatory procedures in approving pharmaceuticals, a greater willingness to think about using data from around the world, and reviewing life-saving medications in a more timely way. "We are very encouraged by many of the changes that we're seeing. There's still work to be done, in areas such as [intellectual property] and others, but we're hopeful that we can continue to have a productive and important dialogue going forward," he said. CNBC's Nyshka Chandran and Fred Imbert contributed to this report. Intercom announced $125 million in Series D funding on Tuesday, bringing the customer messaging startup's valuation to $1.275 billion. Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers led the round with contributions from Google Ventures, as well as investors from prior rounds of funding. Kleiner, Perkin's Mary Meeker will also join the Intercom board. Founded in 2011 by Eoghan McCabe, Des Traynor, David Barrett and Ciaran Lee, Intercom boasts more than 25,000 customers in 117 countries, and has been growing at a steady clip. Intercom's platform supports about 500 million conversations per month between people, not bots and has historically seen the number of supported conversations double year-over-year. Since 2016, the messaging platform has almost doubled its staff, and now counts 500 employees across five offices. Intercom considers itself the "next-generation Salesforce," offering a digital take on a timeless problem: improving businesses' interactions with potential or existing customers. "If you think about how you connect in any kind of digital or virtual way with anyone in your life, it is through a messenger," McCabe said. "Messengers are simply the default standard, the expectation for consumers, and we are certain that all businesses will use messengers to connect with their customers in the very near future. Intercom has been very much creating and pushing that trend." Intercom helps internet-based businesses connect with customers via messenger-first products, similar to Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp, from the businesses' own websites. Intercom's chat products can help companies attract new customers, keep old customers and streamline support and site feedback. Some tools are automated, which can help with tasks, like qualifying new customers before connecting them with people and coordinating marketing campaigns. And Intercom also offers a customer-facing data management platform to help businesses store data on customers to provide more personalized interactions in the future. Ever visited the websites of Shopify, Expensify or Trunk Club? Chances are you've had a run-in with Intercom. When McCabe and his co-founders launched Intercom in 2011, he said they focused their efforts on small internet companies. They hoped to help these online-only businesses feel more like brick and mortar businesses to their customers. In fact, McCabe said he was inspired to start Intercom by a great experience in a pricey Dublin coffee shop. McCabe described 3FE, for Third Floor Espresso, as the first "hipster" coffee shop in Dublin. He and his colleagues developed a relationship with the owner, Colin Harmon, and kept coming back, despite the pricier brews. "It became so starkly obvious how this relationship we had with this guy Colin had us coming back more, referring friends, giving feedback. I'm sure we paid way more for his hipster coffee than we would have if we didn't like the guy and we wanted that for our business too," McCabe said. "We described our mission as being to make internet business personal," he added. In 2011, McCabe and his co-founders launched Intercom. He maintains that there must have been something in the air that year that inspired multiple companies to take on the task of making-over messaging. "The fascinating thing is that we launched our messenger in the same 12 months in 2011 as iMessage...Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Wechat -- a whole bunch of companies at the same time," McCabe said. "There was clearly something in the air, something about that time that had people wanting to reinvent how people connected." When Intercom launched, the founders initially targeted small, innovative companies. Many of Intercom's first customers fit into the Silicon Valley geek/early adapter categories over 84 percent of Y-Combinator companies that use any type of messenger product use Intercom, its promotional materials proudly boast. But since then, Intercom has grown in popularity and now attracts more traditional clients, like Sotheby's, which wanted to add "white glove service" to its site, McCabe said. ProsperWorks, a company that provides customer relationship management solutions to clients, like Google and Lyft, has been using Intercom for three years. The company first added Intercom's messaging to enhance sales and marketing, then adapted it for other uses, like notifying customers for other releases. "We were looking to increase engagement on the website and vying to pass off qualified leads to our sales team. Getting a valuable lead in front of sales at the start of their evaluation is a driving force in converting them to customers," Kyle Bastien, director of sales training at ProsperWorks, wrote in an email. When used alongside forms offering a free trial, Bastien credited Intercom with generating 25 percent more leads, creating 19 new opportunities and adding $36,000 in annual recurring revenue. Intercom is hoping to keep up the momentum with this new round of funding. But even as recently as December 2016, McCabe didn't think the company needed more investment. After Intercom closed a $50 million round of funding in 2016, McCabe told CNBC the startup would not require additional funding. His thinking has since changed. "One of the things that really has blown my mind over the past few years is seeing how far Intercom can get, in terms of revenue, and valuation, number of customers, even adoption and still be so early in its mission and its venture," McCabe said. "In 2011, I thought that 6.5 years in we'd be bored, the company will be big and bloated you really wouldn't guess you'd get to do so much of the fun stuff we were doing in the early days," he added. McCabe and the rest of the Intercom team are looking to push the startup as far as it can go before they take the company public or explore other long-term options. And they've got a few tricks up their sleeves for the coming months. Although McCabe remained intentionally mysterious, he hinted that Intercom would be taking on one of Silicon Valley's darling projects: artificial intelligence. He said it's likely the first of those projects could emerge within the next few months. "Whenever I talk about this, I try my very best to avoid the trap of cliches that sound like 'our best days are ahead of us,' or 'we're only getting started,' but that's actually kind of true," McCabe said. Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis will move toward making a decision on the fate of Alcon its eye care business in the first half of 2019, its chief executive officer reiterated on Sunday. "With Alcon ... we look forward to taking a potential action, moving toward a potential decision in the first half of 2019. And that's still the timeline that we will maintain and no change on that," Vasant Narasimhan, chief executive officer of Novartis, told CNBC at the China Development Forum. The Swiss drugmaker had indicated last year that it would need more time before making a decision on spinning off Alcon, which had been ailing but saw a recovery in sales last year. Former Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez had said during a conference call in October that a spin-off of Alcon had to be from a "position of strength" and that the near-term focus was on sales and core operating income growth. In this handout image provided by the South Korean Presidential Blue House, Chung Eui-Yong (R), head of the presidential National Security Office shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (L) during their meeting on March 5, 2018 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Events are happening quickly on the Korean Peninsula with planned summits between North and South Korea and the United States, a presidential official in Seoul said on Tuesday, amid reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in China. Bloomberg, citing three unidentified sources, reported on Monday that Kim was in Beijing in what would be his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. The unconfirmed visit also comes ahead of a potential summit with President Donald Trump. "The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely, while keeping all possibilities open," said the senior official in Seoul, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits, he said. The details of Kim's visit, including its purpose and itinerary, were not yet known, Bloomberg reported. Japanese media reported earlier on Monday that a high-ranking Pyongyang official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing. The Blue House official said the South Korean government had been aware of "related movements" in North Korea, such as the train, for a few days but he could not confirm whether Kim or another high-ranking North Korean official was visiting China. Beijing is secretive and isolated North Korea's main ally, as well as its biggest trading partner. Kim is due to hold separate summits with South Korea in late April and the United States in May, including a potential meeting with Trump. "The fact that the summits are being held has been beyond our expectations. Right now, the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula is moving very quickly and it would be inadvisable to think with prejudice," the Blue House official said. "My dad said to me, 'You're going to starve to death! You never thought about getting a job. What are you going to do with these degrees?' "When I graduated from college, I came out with psychology and ... environmental studies as my other degree," O'Leary tells CNBC Make It . He graduated from the University of Waterloo in Canada in 1977 with a passion for arts like photography and film-making , but he lacked professional direction. In fact, he was having trouble just getting a job. When Kevin O'Leary was in his 20s, he wasn't yet the business magnate with a reputation for tough-love advice and million dollar deals known as "Mr. Wonderful" on ABC's "Shark Tank." "I'm not saying people who study psychology or environmental studies never get jobs," adds O'Leary, "it's just that I was having a hard time getting one," he laughs. "It was the first time I realized making an investment in a college is not just about where you go. It's what you take." O'Leary's step-father, George Kanawaty, urged him to go back to school and study business. "When I started my undergraduate degree, I had no idea that I would want to pursue an MBA," O'Leary writes in his book "Cold Hard Truth: On Business Money & Life." "But George convinced me it would give me a practical set of skills. He called it a toolbox. The more skills I put in my toolbox, the greater my chances of success." So in 1979, O'Leary enrolled in a Master's of Business Administration program at the Ivey Business School at Western University. It was an experience that O'Leary says helped lead him to success in entrepreneurship, but for an unexpected reason. "The great thing about an MBA is not the technical skills you've learned because frankly, to be honest with you, I forgot all of those it was the people I met in my class," O'Leary explains. "Where are they now? Running banks, they're industrialists, they're venture capitalists, they're investors, they're all around the world," he says. "I can pick up the phone and say, 'Hi. Mr. Wonderful here, let's talk about a business idea.' "The ability to just have that contact with them ... ends up being more important than the business degree that got you that relationship in the first place," O'Leary adds. His fellow shark Daymond John feels the same way about going to college. "The number one reason why people are successful is access to mentors," John told CNBC Make It. In the early years, those mentors "are professors, those are other students in college around you." Attending a business school at one of the top 20 programs in the U.S. will likely cost you between $55,000 and $68,000 a year, according to a 2017 report by U.S. News & World Report. And while connections with colleagues are valuable, O'Leary says you can also be successful without paying for them. "Here's the cold, hard truth about business degrees: They are not a prerequisite for success," O'Leary says. "Many billionaires never finished high school. "Being an entrepreneur is not about what's taught in school, it's having street smarts and understanding opportunities in real life." Still, if you take advantage of an MBA program or any educational opportunity in the right way, O'Leary says it can pay off. "The real value of an education is who you meet while you're getting it," he explains. "Think about that if you're in college right now." Don't miss: 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary: Here's how to get rich Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook! An executive for a French defense giant that operates in China said that safeguarding the company's technology is important, but the effort is no barrier to his firm's success there. Speaking to CNBC at the China Development Forum in Beijing, Laurent Guyot, CEO of Thales China, reframed the issue to place it outside the hot-button topic of "technology transfer." "The new rule of success is to co-develop in China," he said. "It's to generate technology from China together with Chinese partners. In that case, we don't talk about transfer of technology we talk about building value in China, for China and also for the group." "When you follow this kind of approach, good partners, localization of technologies, I think you can get all the benefits of being there," he said. Thales makes everything from warship electronics and unmanned aerial vehicles to satellite communications equipment and radar technology. It has operated in China for more than 30 years. Seljalandsfoss is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Ready to book summer travel plans but don't know where to go? You may want to consider these five fastest-growing international destinations for American tourists. Israel is gaining the most traction with U.S. travelers who purchased travel insurance through comparison website Squaremouth, according to the St. Petersburg, Florida-based company. The firm's rankings are based on data Squaremouth collects when customers input their destination and trip costs into the site to compare policies. The cost of visiting some of these fastest-growing destinations is also surging. Travelling to Iceland cost 20 percent more for visitors seeking travel insurance between March 2017 and March 2018 than the 2016-2017 period. Visitors to Norway spent almost double that of tourists going to other popular destinations, with expenses increasing more than 12 percent in the last year. The average spent by U.S. visitors to the top five destinations was about $4,075. Here's a look at the top five global hot spots: Getty Images As demand for cryptocurrency grows, global regulators are divided on how to keep up. Most digital currencies are not backed by any central government, meaning each country has different standards. Every seemingly small regulation announcement has driven the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 2018. Here's your guide to where digital currencies stand with governments and regulators around the globe. In the photo below, Argentina President Mauricio Macri speaks at the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 20, 2018. Argentina's President Mauricio Macri speaks at the G-20 meeting of finance ministers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 20, 2018. Argentine Presidency | Reuters Global regulators View on bitcoin: Legal tender, depending on the country. Policy on exchanges: No global regulator exists at the moment. At a G-20 meeting this month, Argentina's central bank governor outlined a summer deadline for members to have "specific recommendations on what to do" and said task forces are working to submit proposals by July. Italy's central bank leader told reporters after the meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that cryptocurrencies pose risks but should not be banned, according to Reuters. The Financial Stability Board, a global watchdog that runs financial regulation for G-20 economies, took a cautious tone in responding to calls from some countries to crack down on digital currencies. "The FSB's initial assessment is that crypto-assets do not pose risks to global financial stability at this time," board Chairman Mark Carney said in a letter on March 18. Carney, who is also governor of the Bank of England, pointed to the small size relative of the asset class compared with the entire financial syste. "Even at their recent peak, their combined global market value was less than 1 percent of global GDP," he said. The International Monetary Fund has also called for more cooperation. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde highlighted cryptocurrency's potential as a vehicle for money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In a March blog post, Lagarde called for policies that protect consumers in the same way as the traditional financial sector. An employee uses a smartphone as he demonstrates how to purchase bitcoins from a bitcoin automated teller machine (ATM) at the Coin Trader bitcoin retail store in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 30, 2017. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan View on bitcoin: Legal tender as of last April. Policy on exchanges: Exchanges are legal if they are registered with the Japanese Financial Services Agency. Japan is the biggest market for bitcoin. Almost half of the digital currency's daily volume is traded in the country's currency, according to data from Cryptocompare. Last week, the agency issued a warning to Hong Kong-based Binance for operating in the country without a license. Hacks have been an issue in Japan and elsewhere. It was the first country to adopt a national system to regulate cryptocurrency trading after its exchanges were subject to some well-known breaches including Mt.Gox. In March, Japanese regulators issued punishment notices to multiple exchanges and forced some to stop business altogether after the $530 million theft of digital currency from exchange Coincheck. J. Christopher Giancarlo, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images United States View on bitcoin: Not legal tender, according to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. FinCen, a bureau of the Treasury Department, said in 2013 that "virtual currency does not have legal tender status in any jurisdiction." Policy on exchanges: Legal, depending on the state. The U.S. handles the second largest volume of bitcoin, roughly 26 percent, according to Cryptocompare. U.S. regulators differ in their definitions of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated it views digital currency as a security. Earlier in March, the agency expanded its scrutiny and said it is looking to apply securities laws to everything from cryptocurrency exchanges to digital asset storage companies known as wallets. The agency has focused on initial coin offerings, or digital coins released through fundraisers known as token sales, and has stepped up efforts to police them through recent subpoenas. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission says bitcoin is a commodity. CFTC Comissioner J. Christopher Giancarlo, pictured above, has gained a reputation as a more cryptofriendly regulator. In written testimony before the Senate Banking Committee in February, he advocated a "do-no-harm" approach to ledger technologies. He also briefly changed his Twitter bio to list "#CryptoDad" among the accolades. The IRS says cryptocurrency is not actually a currency. It defined it in 2014 as property and issued guidance on how it should be taxed. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been vocal about bitcoin's ability to aid criminals, telling CNBC in Davos in January his main focus on cryptocurrencies is "to make sure that they're not used for illicit activities." Valdis Dombrovskis John Thys | AFP | Getty Images European Union View on bitcoin: No EU member state can introduce its own currency, according to European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. Policy on exchanges: Legal, depending on the country. About 4 percent of cryptocurrency's daily volume is done in euros, according to Cryptocompare. EU leaders have voiced concern about money laundering. European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, pictured above, said at a February roundtable in Brussels that digital assets "present risks relating to money laundering and the financing of illicit activities." The virtual exchanges and wallet providers should be under the "Anti-Money Laundering Directive," Dombrovski said. "The commission will continue to monitor these markets together with other stakeholders, at EU and international level, including in the G-20." Draghi rejected Estonia's attempt to create a state-backed cryptocurrency called "estcoin." "No member state can introduce its own currency," Draghi said in September. "The currency of the euro zone is the euro." Regulations differ within the bloc. France's financial regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers released a list of 15 exchanges it would blacklist in March. The country said it will make a joint proposal with Germany to regulate the bitcoin cryptocurrency market, Reuters reported. Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney hosts a quarterly Inflation Report press conference at the Bank of England in central London, Britain August 4, 2016. Justin Tallis | Pool | Reuters United Kingdom View on bitcoin: Not legal tender. "Only sterling is legal tender in the UK," according to Carney (pictured above). Policy on exchanges: Legal, and need to register with the Financial Conduct Authority. They are required to meet the same anti-money-laundering counter-terrorism standards as other financial institutions, according to the BOE. The exponential price gains in cryptocurrencies are "speculative mania," Carney said in early March. "The time has come to hold the crypto-asset ecosystem to the same standards as the rest of the financial system," Carney said in a speech. "Being part of the financial system brings enormous privileges, but with them great responsibilities." Carney said the digital currency "has pretty much failed thus far on" 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," Carney said. Many virtual currencies are trying to dislodge the British pound but "only sterling is legal tender in the UK," Carney said in another March speech. The Financial Conduct Authority called crypto assets "high-risk, speculative products," in a warning to consumers in November. Pedestrians look at monitors showing the prices of virtual currencies at the Bithumb exchange office in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 2, 2018. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images South Korea View on bitcoin: Not legal tender. Policy on exchanges: Legal but use of anonymous bank accounts for virtual coin trading is prohibited. Need to register with South Korea's Financial Services Commission. Trading in South Korea makes up about 4 percent of daily volume of bitcoin. For other cryptocurrency such as XRP, trading in the Korean won commands a premium to U.S. dollars. Asia's fourth largest economy has become a hub for trading but regulators have given mixed signals. Financial authorities said in 2013 that bitcoin and other digital currencies are not legitimate currencies, according to the Korea Herald. South Korea's justice minister said in January that the government was considering a shutdown of cryptocurrency exchanges. A petition asking the government to hold back on "unreasonable" regulation got 280,000 signatures following the announcement. The government responded by saying it will take firm action against illegal and unfair acts in cryptocurrency trading. Last year, the Financial Services Commission banned local finance firms from trading bitcoin futures, according to local publication Business Korea. The commission also banned the use of anonymous bank accounts for virtual coin trading in January but said it doesn't intend to completely shut down domestic exchanges. The government has said that while it will not ban bitcoin exchanges, initial coin offerings and futures will remain under scrutiny. In late February, a government official said South Korea had still not decided how to regulate. "The government hasn't made any conclusion yet. Sufficient consultations should come first," Hong Nam-ki, minister of office for government policy coordination, told parliament. Philippe Lopez | AFP | Getty Images China View on bitcoin: Not legal tender. Policy on exchanges: Illegal. Trading bitcoin in China is technically illegal. In 2017, the government banned ICOs a way for start-ups to raise funds by selling off new digital currencies and shut down domestic cryptocurrency exchanges. In January, a senior Chinese central banker said authorities should ban trading of virtual currencies as well as individuals and businesses that provide related services. But activity in crypto has carried on through alternative channels like mining. Chinese authorities are looking to end the practice, according to Reuters, which cited an internal memo from a government meeting in January. A woman pays for her coffee with cryptocurrency at Ducatus cafe, the first cashless cafe that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, in Singapore December 21, 2017. Edgar Su | Reuters Singapore View on bitcoin: Not legal tender. Policy on exchanges: Legal, may fall under regulatory purview of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The Singapore dollar makes up 0.02 percent of daily global bitcoin trading volume but the country has emerged as a hub for ICOs. Two of the 15 largest coin offerings happened in Singapore, according to a PwC report. Singapore is positioning itself as more friendly to cryptocurrencies than other regions. There is no strong case to ban digital currency in the city-state, Singapore's central bank said in February, noting "it is too early to say if they will succeed." In January, the Monetary Authority of Singapore urged the public "to act with extreme caution and understand the significant risks they take on if they choose to invest in cryptocurrencies." The agency also said cryptocurrencies are not legal tender and highlighted the risk posed by bitcoin's anonymity. Indian Belfrics CEO of Praveen Kumar poses for a photograph at a press conference during the launch of the firms's Indian Bitcoin exchange operations in Bangalore. Manjunath Kiran | AFP | Getty Images India View on bitcoin: Not legal tender, reportedly taking steps to outlaw it. Policy on exchanges: Legal. The Indian government has issued warnings but does not currently regulate exchanges. India is taking steps to make cryptocurrencies illegal to use within its payments system and is looking to appoint a regulator to oversee exchanges. The government will "take all measures to eliminate the use of these crypto-assets in financing illegitimate activities or as part of the payment system," India's finance minister told lawmakers in New Delhi in February, according to a transcript by The Hindu newspaper. The country's tax department sent notices about cryptocurrency investing to tens of thousands of citizens after a national survey showed more than $3.5 billion worth of transactions have been conducted over a 17-month period. Mattia L. Rattaggi of the Crypto Valley Asosciation speaks at the World Blockchain and Cryptocurrensy Summit. Sergei Fadeichev | TASS | Getty Image Switzerland Akzo Nobel has agreed to sell its specialty chemicals business to U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group and Singapore's GIC for 10.1 billion euros ($12.6 billion), including debt. The net proceeds of the deal are expected to amount to 7.5 billion euros, Akzo said, with the bulk going to shareholders. Akzo first announced plans to sell the business, which accounts for a third of its sales and profit, in April, as it looked to evade a takeover from rival PPG Industries. The company considered both a private sale and a separate stock listing for the chemicals division, ultimately concluding that a sale to Carlyle was in the best interest for all involved "including employees, shareholders and customers." "Carlyle has significant experience in the chemicals industry and a proven track record when it comes to health, safety, innovation and sustainability", Akzo Chief Executive Thierry Vanlancker said. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be concluded before the end of the year. Dont walk away The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has shown signs of rolling back its previous plan to discontinue providing financial support to upgrade Bhairahawa airport into an international airport. investigation has seen numerous departures since its formation last summer. Mark Corallo Former Trump legal spokesman Mark Corallo (left) and President Donald Trump's personal attorney Marc Kasowitz arrive to the National Press Club in Washington to read a statement to members of the media, Thursday, June 8, 2017. Pablo Martinez Monsivais | AP Corallo was an early spokesman for Trump's legal team. He left in July 2017 after just two months in the role, a decision that was influenced at least in part by his frustrations with the conduct in the White House, Politico reported at the time. Multiple outlets have since confirmed that Corallo was interviewed by the special counsel early in 2018. Marc Kasowitz Marc Kasowitz Getty Images Kasowitz, a personal attorney for Trump, was hired in May to lead the president's legal team against the Mueller probe. He left the team in July, although he reportedly maintained contact with Trump after his departure from the team. Kasowitz is currently defending Trump in a defamation lawsuit by a contestant on the president's former television show, "The Apprentice," who says he groped her. Michael J. Bowe, a partner at Kasowitz's law firm, joined Trump's team alongside Kasowitz. It was unclear whether Bowe had resigned or remained on the team. Neither Bowe nor Kasowitz responded to CNBC's requests for clarification. John Dowd John Dowd Jin Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images Joseph diGenova and Victoria Toensing Joseph DiGenova NBC The husband-and-wife legal duo of diGenova and Toensing were tapped in March to join Trump's legal team in the Russia probe. DiGenova, a regular Fox News guest, had spouted conspiracy theories about the Mueller probe's motives against Trump. The White House cited conflicts of interest, however, as the reason the two lawyers could not join the legal team as planned. Toensing represents Corallo, the former legal team spokesman who has been interviewed by the special counsel. "The president is disappointed that conflicts prevent Joe diGenova and Victoria Toensing from joining the president's special counsel legal team," Sekulow said in a statement. Theodore Olson Ted Olson, a famed Supreme Court litigator and former Bush solicitor general. Jahi Chikwendiu | The Washington Post | Getty Images A high-powered lawyer and former solicitor general, Olson was contacted by the White House in March, reportedly about joining the legal team. Like diGenova and Toensing, Olson had conflicts of interest that precluded him from joining. Among those conflicts was the fact that Olson's law firm, Gibson Dunn, represents intelligence-gathering firm Fusion GPS, whose ex-spy authored a dossier alleging salacious connections between Trump and the Kremlin. But in a Monday interview with MSNBC, Olson criticized the conduct in Trump's White House. "This is turmoil, it's chaos, it's confusion and it's not good for anything," Olson said in the interview. Tom Buchanan and Dan Webb Dan Webb Getty Images Trump reached out to Buchanan and Webb in search of legal representation, the white-collar lawyers' firm said in a statement. Both lawyers declined the offer to represent the president "due to business conflicts," according to the firm, Winston & Strawn. "They wish the president the best and believe he has excellent representation in Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow," the firm said. Bob Giuffra Robert Giuffra Getty Images The Washington Post reported Thursday that Giuffra, a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell, had declined to join Trump's legal defense team several weeks earlier. Giuffra was not available for comment. Robert Bennett Robert S. Bennett, President Bill Clinton's personal attorney in 1999. William Philpott | AFP | Getty Images Bennett, who represented President Bill Clinton against an accusation of sexual harassment by Paula Jones, also declined to join the team, according to CNN. Bennett did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Emmet Flood White House Special Counsel Emmet Flood, left, in 2007. Getty Images Eric Lafforgue | Art in All of Us | Getty Images The son of Angola's ex-president, Jose Filomeno dos Santos, has been charged with fraud relating to a $500 million transaction out of an account belonging to the central bank, the prosecutor general's office said on Monday. In a separate case, prosecutors also charged the head of the Angolan armed forces, Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, with involvement in a scheme to negotiate a fraudulent international credit line of $50 billion. Dos Santos is the highest profile figure to be charged since President Joao Lourenco succeeded longtime leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos last September pledging to tackle an endemic culture of corruption. British authorities that froze the $500 million in the UK due to suspicions over the transaction have said the money can now be returned to the oil-producing, southern African country. Jose Filomeno Dos Santos, the former head of Angola's $5 billion sovereign wealth fund, could not immediately be reached for comment. Dos Santos' passport has been seized and he is forbidden from leaving the country. Valter Filipe da Silva, former governor of the central bank, has also been charged with fraud in relation to the case, prosecutors said in comments transmitted by state radio. Da Silva could not be contacted for comment. Prosecutors said the alleged fraud does not fall under any of Angola's amnesty for financial wrongdoing or repatriation of overseas funds and the crime would not be pardoned. "A pardon will not work...This case will run to its final outcome," said Luis Benza Zanga, vice prosecutor general and head of the National Directorate for Criminal Investigations. U.S. government debt yields fell Tuesday as another decline in stocks pushed investors into safer assets like long-term debt. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell roughly 7 basis points to 2.777 percent at 4:53 p.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell 4 basis points to 3.031 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. The latest downward move in the 10-year yield comes less than one week after it approached multiyear highs around 2.93 percent immediately after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates. The yield has fallen more than 15 basis points since Wednesday's high and is at its lowest level in roughly seven weeks. Weakness in equities markets appeared to push traders back into fixed income late Tuesday, as a 1.8 percent decline in the S&P 500 exacerbated the index's 4 percent decline over the past week. "I'm a little surprised, but not totally. I wasn't sure if we'd ever see the 10-year yield below 2.8 percent again," joked Gary Pollack, head of fixed-income trading at Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management. "The renewed volatility in risky assets is causing volatility in risk-free assets; this may be due to changing views on the strength of the economy." The Dow Jones industrial average, meanwhile, fell more than 350 points to bring its own weekly decline to 3.6 percent. "I think that's helping bonds here a little bit," Pollack added. "We could have periods where rallies are one step forward and two steps back." The bid in Treasurys came after yet another sizable debt auction on Tuesday. The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion in five-year notes at a high yield of 2. 612 percent. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.5. Indirect bidders, which include major central banks, were awarded 63.5 percent. Direct bidders, which includes domestic money managers, bought 8.3 percent. By the end of the week, the Treasury will have auctioned nearly $300 billion in debt as the government tries to finance President Donald Trump's $1.3 trillion budget in addition to the $1.5 trillion tax cut passed in December. A pedestrian with an umbrella walks in front of the Wynn Palace casino resort, operated by Wynn Resorts Ltd., in Macau, China, Jan. 31, 2018. Wynn Resorts will be able to overcome its founder's alleged misconduct scandal and thrive this year, according to one top Wall Street firm. J.P. Morgan raised its price target to $214 from $196 for Wynn Resorts shares, citing lower regulatory risk after Steve Wynn's stock sale. "Starting with Mr. Wynn's resignation February 6th and a handful of positive announcements that followed, Mr. Wynn has now fully divested his 12.1 million shares in WYNN, significantly reducing regulatory risk everywhere," analyst Joseph Greff wrote in a note to clients Tuesday. "We see multiple ways to win here on fundamentals, on regulatory updates that don't result in meaningfully negative outcomes, on further strategic alliances." Greff reiterated his overweight rating on Wynn shares. The company's stock rose more than 3 percent Tuesday. Steve Wynn resigned as CEO and chairman of Wynn Resorts after a Wall Street Journal report published in January detailed allegations of decades of sexual misconduct by the gambling mogul. Wynn sold his stake in the company this month. Greff said the casino company is trading at a 6 to 8 percent free cash flow yield on his 2018 to 2020 financial forecasts. He predicts the company will be able to maintain its 17 percent share of the lucrative Macau casino market. Wynn's "valuation is pretty compelling," he wrote. "In our view, this is too cheap given the quality of these assets." Steve Wynn has denied the allegations. California's attorney general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its plans to add a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. Census, claiming the action is unlawful and "will directly impede" efforts to obtain an accurate population count. An undercount for California in the upcoming census could result in the nation's most populous state losing a congressional seat and might jeopardize billions of dollars in federal funding for health care, transportation and education, state officials said. Xavier Becerra, California's attorney general, said in a press conference Tuesday the action was "another reckless decision" by the Trump administration and "threatens not just immigrant families in our state but all of us in the state of California." The Commerce Department announced late Monday it would reinstate the citizenship question on the 2020 Census to help enforce the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The last time the citizenship question was asked on the Census was in 1950. The decision followed a request by the U.S. Department of Justice, which seeks "to provide census block level citizenship voting age population, or CVAP, data that is not currently available from government surveys," Commerce said in a statement. "After a thorough review of the legal, program, and policy considerations, as well as numerous discussions with Census Bureau leadership, members of Congress, and interested stakeholders, Secretary [Wilbur] Ross has determined that reinstatement of a citizenship question on the 2020 decennial census questionnaire is necessary to provide complete and accurate census block level data," Commerce said in a statement. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that the Census Bureau has asked the citizenship question on its American Community Survey since 1965, with the exception of 2010. But it said the ACS "is not the most appropriate data to use as a basis for redistricting. The Justice Department looks forward to defending the reinstatement of the citizenship question, which will allow the department to protect the right to vote and ensure free and fair elections for all Americans." A Commerce official who declined to be named told CNBC that the department won't comment on specifics of the California lawsuit but insisted the state's case lacks merit. "We look forward to prevailing in court and continuing to work with the Census Bureau to conduct a complete and accurate 2020 census," the official said. Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower behind the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal, said Tuesday that the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president in 2016 made him speak out about the practices being employed by the political data firm. Wylie appeared in front of U.K. lawmakers in London Tuesday. It comes after explosive reports last week that a quiz app harvested 50 million Facebook profiles for data which were then sent over to Cambridge Analytica, a firm that was caught claiming it handled the digital aspects of President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. Wylie said that Trump's election was one of the major reasons he blew the whistle on Cambridge Analytica's data practices. "I wouldn't say it was just because of Donald Trump, but Donald Trump makes it click in your head that this actually has a much wider impact. I don't think that military-style information operations is conducive for any democratic process," he told the committee of lawmakers. Cambridge Analytica was initially funded by conservative billionaire Robert Mercer and led by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. Wylie was the man who revealed to the New York Times and the U.K.'s Observer newspaper the practices of Cambridge Analytica and the data harvesting that took place. He is speaking to members of parliament on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee, chaired by lawmaker Damian Collins. Lawmakers questioned Wylie on the links between Cambridge Analytica, its parent company SCL, and work on various political campaigns including Brexit. Separately last week, Collins summoned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear in front of the DCMS at another time and gave the company a deadline of March 26 to respond. Facebook responded on the deadline day and said it would send either Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. Trump's approval rating dips amid opposition to tariffs and little change from tax cuts, CNBC survey says The president's approval rating dipped to 39 percent from 42 percent in December, according to CNBC's latest All-America Economic survey. His decision to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum is not well supported by the public, with 35 percent opposing them and 29 percent supporting them. The poll, conducted March 17-20, shows that the tax cuts have not been felt, at least not yet. Steve Liesman | @steveliesman While nearly all financial indicators of American economic optimism have surged to post-recession highs, President Donald Trump's approval rating has dipped amid opposition to his tariffs and little effect seen so far from the tax cuts. The CNBC All-America Economic Survey for March shows the president's approval rating dipping a bit, to 39 percent from 42 percent in December. That's within the 3.5 percentage point margin of error of the poll, but it's also within 3 points of every poll taken by CNBC during Trump's presidency. His economic approval rating also slipped, to 45 percent from his all-time of 47 percent in December, but it's within 1 point of his average during his presidency. Every economic indicator in the poll of 800 Americans throughout the country is at or near a postrecession high. Half of all Americans judge the economy as good or excellent, the only time the percentage has been above 50 for two-straight quarters in the 11 year history of the poll. In addition, 38 percent expect the economy to improve in the next year, the second highest number since the Great Recession. And 41 percent of homeowners expect the value of their homes to increase in the next year, the highest mark since 2007. "Trump's job approval numbers are very stable, underpinned by strong partisan, gender, and generational divides,'' said Micah Roberts, the Republican pollster for the survey for Public Opinion Strategies. "Whatever else we might say about the historical significance of how low his overall approval is, it is also worth noting how historically stable this number has been over an otherwise very politically turbulent year." Jay Campbell, the Democratic pollster with Hart Research, sees factors other than the economy pulling down on the president's numbers. "Approval of any president are the sum of the nation's parts, and the economy is just one of those parts," Campbell said. "Our strong economy is unarguably working to President Trump's benefit, keeping his approval numbers afloat. But there are multiple other factors that, at the same time, are pulling him down." Some insight into the stagnant nature of the president's numbers can be found in American opinions on his policies. Perhaps most importantly, the data show that the tax cuts have not been felt, at least not yet. The poll was conducted March 17-20, which should be well enough into the year for Americans to notice a change in their withholding taxes. But that's not the case. Just 32 percent of the public reports having more take home pay because of the tax cuts, including only 48 percent of Trump supporters and 35 percent of the middle class. More than half say they see no change in their paychecks and 16 percent are unsure. It could be that more time is needed for people to notice the change. It could also be that the tax cut provided too small a break to be meaningful to many Americans. Some evidence of this comes from the 32 percent who say they have noticed more take-home pay. Of this group, only 38 percent say the extra pay helps their financial situation "a great deal" or "a fair amount, while 40 percent say it helps some or just a little, and 22 percent say "it does not help much at all." The president's decision to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is not well supported by the public. To be sure, 36 percent of Americans say they don't have an opinion, but 35 percent oppose the tariffs and 29 percent support them. Just 28 percent say the tariffs would be good for the overall economy, and 44 percent fear they will raise prices for consumers. And despite strident rhetoric from the president, American attitudes toward Canada, Mexico and China are actually improving. Fewer see them as an economic threat than in CNBC's previous surveys. For example, just 24 percent say Canada represents more of an economic threat than an economic opportunity, down from 32 percent when the question was last asked in March 2016. Views on Mexico and China have improved, although they are within the margin of error for the poll. Amid these negatives for the president's economic policies, the Republican Party still looks to have an advantage over Democrats on the economy. By a 34 percent to 25 percent margin, Americans say Republicans are better at dealing with the economy, a reversal from the 35 to 30 percent Democratic edge when the question was last asked in the NBC-Wall Street Journal poll in December. The results stem from an intensity of partisanship. While 54 percent of Democrats believe the Democratic Party is best on the economy, a strong 81 percent of Republicans choose their own party. Republicans in the CNBC poll held a 37 percent to 28 percent margin on the issue of which party is best for creating jobs. But Democrats by a 40 percent to 28 percent margin are thought to be best for "looking out for the middle class." Meanwhile, recent volatility and declines in the stock market have put a dent in Americans' optimism over equities. After surging in December, American attitudes toward the stock market have fallen back to Earth. Just 41 percent say this is a good time to invest in stocks, a sharp fall from 50 percent recorded in December. But it's only declined back to the average of the past several years, and done so with a strong percentage of Americans saying they now own stock. Since 2015, the All-America survey has chronicled a slow, steady rise in the percentage of Americans who own stock. From a low of 51 percent in 2015, 58 percent of Americans now say they own some equities, the highest level since survey began. (Two other surveys showed higher results, but they were for registered voters, not all adults, as is the norm for this survey.) And the gains look to be coming from across the income spectrum. Stock ownership is up about 4.5 percentage points among those who report owning $50,000 or less in stock. It's up just a bit more among those say they own $50,000 or more in stock. For more information contact: Jennifer Dauble CNBC t: 201.735.4721 m: 201.615.2787 e: jennifer.dauble@nbcuni.com Emma Martin CNBC t: 201.735.4713 m: 551.275.5221 e: emma.martin@nbcuni.com About CNBC: With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and CNBC World, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 409 million homes worldwide, including more than 91 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries. CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBC programming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; a suite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc. For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com. 2016A statue is seen next to the logo of Germany's Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. Deutsche Bank approached Goldman Sachs international chief Richard Gnodde to ask if he would be interested in taking the helm of the German lender, but the executive turned it down, according to a source close to him. The formal conversation with the Goldman vice chairman came as Deutsche Bank is said to be considering candidates to succeed CEO John Cryan. A source close to Goldman's CFO Martin Chavez said he, too, was informally approached by a Deutsche outsider about the job but was also said to have not been interested. Those were not formal talks, the source told CNBC. At the start of this month President Donald Trump announced he would impose import tariffs on steel and aluminum. Many domestic industries and businesses seemed bewildered, and expressed concern that this would artificially inflate prices for such a key raw material. And in the ensuing fortnight, America's trading allies overseas desperately and fruitlessly sought clarity from the Trump administration about the applicability of these tariffs, and the process for winning possible exemptions. I spent much of that period in Brussels, where the prospect of a 25 percent tariff on European-produced steel had prompted an admixture of consternation, confusion and ultimately frustration among executives, national ministers and EU policymakers. The bloc's trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom posited that the proposals amounted to "threats" and "bullying" and ultimately flew to Washington to argue with her American counterparts that the U.S. pretext for imposing the tariffs national security was without merit given the depth and strength of the transatlantic alliance. It soon became clear to European officials that there was no formalized path to winning exemption, besides aggressive, public push-back and a certain amount of horse-trading behind closed doors. Eventually, the European Commission's arguments seemed to pay off, and at the very last minute EU steel exports were exempt, alongside those from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea. This meant that as of Friday morning roughly two-thirds of the world's steel production could still land at America's ports without facing any fresh duties. It was unclear what impact such a comparatively minor measure of protection for domestic production could in turn have on American firms that Trump had long championed. U.S. Steel, for instance, had envisaged the creation of 500 new jobs soon after the initial tariffs were announced, claiming it would allow it by late summer to reopen a blast furnace and part of a shuttered steelmaking plant in Illinois. If domestic prices for steel did not improve significantly, the margin arguments for that capital investment might vanish. However, in a typically "Trumpian" move designed to retain White House leverage (compare the regularly reoccurring threat to decertify Iran's compliance with the Obama-era nuclear pact every six months), even the exemptions for allies were announced as temporary, with a May 1 expiration date. Over the weekend the South Koreans seemingly judged they had bigger fish to fry, given Washington's apparent willingness to engage in talks with Pyongyang to end the North's nuclear weapons program. And so Seoul the world's third-largest exporter of steel to the United States has agreed to reduce those exports by 30 percent, essentially agreeing to a quota in return for an indefinite exemption from tariffs. Trump had previously critiqued a U.S. trade deal with South Korea. Now it seems he has managed to force through alterations to the agreement known as KORUS, including improved albeit largely hypothetical access for U.S. carmakers to South Korean consumers, after threatening tariffs that many trade experts believe fall foul of WTO rules. For a multilateral system this of course constitutes a bad precedent, and even the South Korean trade minister said he foresees further trade risks so long as Trump remains in the Oval Office. All of this will be instructive for Europe, where leaders like Emmanuel Macron of France have said the American government would not force the trading bloc back to the table to renegotiate trade agreements through blackmail. Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel and Malmstrom have all said Europe would be more than happy to participate in trade-related discussions with Washington that are conducted in good faith, and in accordance with WTO rules. But the bloc would not do so in the words of the French leader last week in Brussels "with a gun pointed at our head." But, given Trump's previous criticism of the trade "imbalance" between the U.S. and Europe, and his focus on the behavior of, for instance, German carmakers, we should not be surprised if U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross seek to reopen discussions about specific European export products. China, which now faces more than $60 billion of separate U.S. tariffs and has finally announced its own response to the steel tariffs, is clearly an entirely separate story, and perhaps the one that market participants will follow most closely of all. GLOFs threaten Hindu Kush region Melting glaciers continue to pose serious environmental threats to the communities of the Hindu Kush region, with the latest report identifying 36 glacial lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan valleys as dangerous. Williams' appointment has not been confirmed officially "Nothing is final," a New York Fed spokesman said. Some worry, for instance, that the move could be another blow against efforts to get a more diverse look among the policymakers who run the Fed, while others see his resume darkened by banking controversies that happened under the nose of the San Francisco Fed, where Williams has worked since 2002. He became president there in 2011, succeeding Janet Yellen, who a few years later went on to become Fed chair. While Williams carries a wealth of experience from a Fed career that began in 1994, his appointment could stir controversy from a number of angles. Williams would replace William Dudley, who announced his retirement effective around midyear. A committee that has been looking to replace William Dudley at the central bank's critical New York branch apparently has centered in on Williams as a successor, sources have told CNBC . John Williams' cross-country path from the San Francisco to the New York Fed could be a bumpy one. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat who has been a staunch banking critic, particularly on issues relating to the Wells Fargo fake account scandal, said she wants a chance to grill Williams before he is appointed. "Mr. Williams' track record raises several questions, including about his fitness to supervise Wall Street banks given the San Francisco Fed's inadequate supervision of Wells Fargo during its many consumer scandals," Warren said in a statement. "If Mr. Williams is selected, the Fed's Board of Governors should not approve his selection until Mr. Williams and the co-chairs of the New York Fed's search committee testify before the Senate Banking Committee about his qualifications and the process that led to his selection." The San Francisco Fed has been tarred with the fallout from the Wells Fargo problems. Also, Washington Mutual, which was in the San Francisco jurisdiction, was one of the highest-profile bank collapses during the financial crisis, and much of the savings and loan crisis of the late 1980s revolved around the region. While it would be hard to place the blame for any of those failures directly at Williams' feet, his appointment still brings up reminders of a darker place in American banking history. Wells Fargo employees, pressured by aggressive sales quotas that have since been abandoned, created some 3.5 million accounts without customer knowledge. Several high-ranking bank officials were pushed out, as were multiple board members. "I do know the San Francisco Fed, which gave us Janet Yellen as well, has perhaps overly focused on the monetary and economic functions of the Fed and completely ignored or failed to understand the regulatory functions," said Dick Bove, analyst at the Vertical Group. "So they have given the United States some of the worst financial disasters in history." A number of Warren's Senate colleagues have bemoaned the lack of diversity among top officials that they say has led to discriminatory lending and housing policies. The New York Fed plays a key role on a number of fronts. Its bond trading desk helps maintain the level for the Fed's target funds level, its benchmark rate connected to most consumer debt, and it also plays a key role in policy. An official at the San Francisco declined comment. The New York Fed did not respond to a request. Correction: Wells Fargo employees created some 3.5 million accounts without customer knowledge. An earlier version misstated the figure. Collins gave Facebook a deadline of March 26 to respond. The technology giant sent a letter to the committee on Monday with its response. U.K. lawmakers have demanded answers from Facebook . Last week, Damian Collins, the chair of the U.K. parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, asked for Zuckerberg or a "senior Facebook executive" to appear in front of lawmakers and "give an accurate account of this catastrophic failure of process." It comes after explosive reports last week that a quiz app harvested 50 million Facebook profiles for data which were then sent over to Cambridge Analytica, a firm that was caught claiming it handled the digital aspects of President Donald Trump 's 2016 election campaign. The social network will make Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, available to a committee of British members of parliament. Facebook has offered two top executives to appear in front of U.K. lawmakers, but not CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the company told CNBC Tuesday amid the continued fallout from the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. "Facebook fully recognizes the level of public and Parliamentary interests in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position to answer your questions," the letter said. "As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the committee." Cox and Schroepfer are two of Facebook's longest-serving employees. Facebook said that one of the executives will be available after parliament's Easter break, which ends on April 16. No date has been set yet for the hearing. Collins said that he will still like to hear from Zuckerberg either in person or via video link. "We would still like to hear from Mr Zuckerberg as well. We will seek to clarify with Facebook whether he is available to give evidence or not, because that wasn't clear from our correspondence. And if he is available to give evidence, then we will be happy to do that either in person or by video link if that will be more convenient for him," Collins said on Tuesday. Meantime, Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower behind the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica data scandal, will be appearing in front of U.K. lawmakers on Tuesday, in a separate hearing. The social media titan also said it is gathering data about the incident to assess how many people were affected by the app. It said it will make two sets of data available to lawmakers. The first is the people who downloaded the app, and the second is the number of friends of those people who had data harvested by the app. "This second figure will be higher than the first and we will look to provide both broken down by country as soon as we can," Facebook's letter said. "We can now confirm that around 1 percent of the global downloads of the app came from users in the EU (European Union), including the U.K." The art of civil conversation has largely been lost in America, sowing distrust and a lack of understanding. This was evident in the 2016 campaign, which featured an inflammatory exchange of insults more than an illuminating exchange of ideas. It's also obvious in the current debate on gun control. Years of teaching discussion-based ethics courses involving students who hold strong and opposing points of view on hot topics has taught me that fruitful civil exchange requires humility, fairness, civility, constructive criticism, and appreciation. All of those are lacking in the current debate about gun violence in America. Humility is a matter of knowing your strengths and your weaknesses. If you don't recognize your strengths, you won't appreciate what you have to contribute to a conversation. If you don't recognize your limits, you won't appreciate how much you need to learn from the conversation. No one is learning in the current gun debate. Parkland teen activist Emma Gonzalez recently said in an interview with CNN, "... I don't really care what people who defend the Second Amendment have to say." They clearly don't care what she has to say, either, and that is a lost opportunity on both sides. Fairness is also lacking in the current gun debate. The test of fairness is whether the other side would accept your description of their point of view as accurate and complete. If not, then your characterization of their position is unfair. That is a shame. The NRA has treated the Parkland teen activists unfairly by simplifying their position to the point of misrepresentation. ABC News analyst Matthew Dowd, a gun owner, observed Saturday that the NRA tries to make the debate "a false binary choice": "You are either for the Second Amendment or you are against it, you are either against all gun reforms or you want to take away everyone's guns." But the reality of the teen activists' position on guns is more complex than the NRA's thinking about it. As Parkland student Jaclyn Corin tweeted on February 25th, "You're missing the point. We don't want to take away your gun rights, we just want to prevent Americans from owning assault weapons and to tighten the methods at which a person can purchase a firearm." The NRA claiming that those who favor a ban on the sale of assault rifles are anti-Second Amendment is no more reasonable than McDonalds claiming that Weight Watchers is anti-food because they want us to cut down on Big Macs and fries. It is also no more fair or logical than saying that those who oppose saying "Fire!" in a crowded theatre are against the First Amendment right to free speech. Fairness in conversation also demands recognizing both the weaknesses and the strengths of our point of view, and the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the opposing point of view. Neither side of the gun debate is doing that. Fruitful conversation also requires civility. Civility requires the avoidance of rudeness and ideally extends to mutual respect and courteousness. Civility allows for attacking the opposing position, but not the opponents themselves. That is sorely lacking in the gun debate in particular and civil conversation in general. And it is tearing the fabric of our civil society apart to an alarming degree. Civil conversation requires a constructive rather than destructive approach to criticism. Those who take a destructive approach focus on determining everything they can that is wrong with the opposing point of view and then criticizing or deriding it. Those who take a constructive approach focus on determining what is best in the opposing point of view and then working with it to build consensus. Neither side of the gun debate has taken a constructive approach. Civil conversation requires tolerance of those who hold opposing views but ideally moves beyond mere tolerance to positive appreciation of the other side. If you truly confident in your beliefs, after all, you should be willing to entertain any argument against them. If you are right, then your point of view will prevail. If you are wrong, then it's better to know that sooner than later. In either case, there is cause for appreciation. Either you confirm your point of view by testing it against a worthy counterpart, or you change your point of view and better understand the issue. Samuel Johnson observed, "When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency." Let us endeavor to rediscover the lost art of civil conversation and regain hope. Commentary by Joseph Holt, a business ethics professor at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. Follow him on Twitter @busethicsdude. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. Bottles of Heineken NV lager are displayed for sale in the 'beers, wines & spirits' aisle of a supermarket in Slough, U.K. Heineken pulled a 'Sometimes Lighter is Better' commercial for its Heineken Light beer after some criticized it as being racist. In the 30-second advertisement, a bartender slides a bottle of Heineken Light towards a woman. The beer passes several men and women of color before reaching her and then the statement "Sometimes Lighter is Better" appears. More from USA Today: Ex-Michigan State dean, who was Larry Nassar's boss, sexually harassed students, records say Brooke Shields flaunts her stunning bikini body at 52 Donald Trump is making an appalling mess of our government and John Bolton is Exhibit A Among those criticizing the commercial: Chance the Rapper. The Grammy winner voiced his dismay about the commercial on Twitter calling it "terribly racist." He also questioned whether brands are purposely creating racists advertising to get attention. Tweet "I think some companies are purposely putting out noticably racist ads so they can get more views," he tweeted, adding that "Im just noticing how often it happens and I think they baiting consumers ...Like I didnt wanna tweet about it so bad ... but its like how can u not" Heineken removed the commercial from TV and online, the company told BBC News, which was among the first to report on the ad. "For decades, Heineken has developed diverse marketing that shows there's more that unites us than divides us," a Heineken spokesperson told the site in a statement. "While we feel the ad is referencing our Heineken Light beer, we missed the mark, are taking the feedback to heart and will use this to influence future campaigns." While some online said people were reading too much into the ad, others considered the ad at least as subliminally racist. Heineken gained quite a bit of acclaim for another ad, released last year, called "Worlds Apart," which brought together pairs of strangers with differing political views. But for most, this newer ad didn't attain that level of quality. Heineken's commercial is just the latest brand cited for insensitivity. International retailer H&M lost celebrity endorser the Weekend and rapper G-Easy -- and faced online criticism from Lebron James and others -- in January for an ad in the U.K. featuring a black boy modeling a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words "coolest monkey in the jungle." Back in October 2017, Dove removed a three-second Facebook video showing a black woman morphing into a white woman who then transitions to another woman of color because some found it racially insensitive. The company apologized and said the ad aimed to celebrate diversity. That same month, Kellogg's was targeted with social media criticism after a racially insensitive drawing on its Corn Pops box depicted the sole brown Corn Pop as a janitor. The company apologized and said it would replace the artwork. Anyone who has reacted with horror at the amount they owe the IRS might know what can come next: realizing there's zero chance of coming up with the money by the time it's due. While it's common to feel fear from a big tax bill, it's important not to become immobilized, experts say. "People get afraid and then don't file their return," said Ed Slott, a CPA and founder of Ed Slott & Co. in Rockville Centre, New York. "That's a big mistake." The IRS expects 155 million tax returns to be filed this year, with a due date of April 17 (instead of the typical April 15). Last year, the agency issued 111.9 million refunds worth a collective $324 billion. The average amount of refund per taxpayer was $2,895. The IRS slaps taxpayers who owe with a steep penalty if they don't file their return: 5 percent of the unpaid balance for each month it's late, up to a maximum of 25 percent of the amount due. So if you owe, say, $1,000 and do not file, that penalty alone could reach $250 after five months of not filing your return. "Even if you can't pay anything, it makes sense to file on time to avoid these costs," said certified financial planner Misty Lynch, a financial consultant at John Hancock in Boston. Refund data 2016 2017 Total returns received 152.5 million 152.2 million Refunds issued 111.1 million 111.9 million Total refund amount $317.6 billion $324 billion Average refund amount $2,860 $2,895 By comparison, if you file your return even if you cannot pay the full amount due, the penalty is far less: generally 0.5 percent per month of your unpaid taxes. After five months, assuming you had paid none of the hypothetical $1,000 due, you would have accrued 2.5 percent in interest, or $25. And if you can put any amount toward the bill by April 17, the penalty only applies to the balance. "File and pay what you can," Slott Said. "The IRS will send a bill for the rest." Also be aware that requesting a six-month extension generally does nothing to delay the failure-to-pay penalties from accruing; only the failure-to-file charges are affected. "It's only an extension to file your return, not to pay what you owe," Slott said. "If it were an extension to pay, everyone would do it." Of course, at some point the IRS begins to lose patience. If repeated efforts to collect taxes due don't work, the agency can turn to other methods to get what you owe, including freezing your bank account or garnishing your wages. This is why it can make sense to work with the IRS in advance if you know you will struggle to pay your bill in a timely fashion. "These are subject to approval, so plan ahead and file on time to improve your [approval] chances," Lynch said. When the IRS determines what matters most in your budget, you can bet that taxes will outrank keeping your most prized possessions or paying other creditors. Misty Lynch Financial consultant at John Hancock She also said that while there are fees associated with applying for a payment plan, the cost might be worth it to give you extra time to pay your bill. Depending on the length and terms of your plan, along with your income, the fee to set up the plan could range from zero to $149. The IRS also has a program that helps settle your tax debt for less than what you owe. Lynch said, however, the process is extensive and the IRS will take a deep dive into your finances to make sure you don't have the means to pay the full amount. "When the IRS determines what matters most in your budget, you can bet that taxes will outrank keeping your most prized possessions or paying other creditors," Lynch said. More from Personal Finance: These tax breaks are vanishing. Grab them while you can It's now easier to qualify for the medical expense deduction Watch out for these red flags that can trigger a tax audit WATCH: Bitcoin investor? Here's what to do when the tax man comes Retiring early can actually lengthen your life, economists from the University of Amsterdam affirmed in a 2017 study published in the journal of Health and Economics. Male Dutch civil servants over the age of 54 who retired early were an astounding 42 percent less likely to die over the subsequent five years compared to those who continued working. (There were too few women in the sample who met the early retirement eligibility requirements including having contributed to the public sector pension fund for ten consecutive years to be included.) The researchers explain the potentially life-extending effects of retiring in two ways. For one, retiring frees you up, allowing you more time to invest in your health. That benefits you whether you're sleeping more, exercising or simply going to the doctor as soon as an issue appears. Second, work can be stressful, while retirement can alleviate that stress, and stress can create hypertension, a risk factor for various potentially fatal conditions. Retirees in this study were significantly less likely to die from stroke or from cardiovascular diseases. The finding echoes a few others, the New York Times reports: "An analysis in the United States found about seven years of retirement can be as good for health as reducing the chance of getting a serious disease (like diabetes or heart conditions) by 20 percent. Positive health effects of retirement have also been found by studies using data from Israel, England, Germany and other European countries." Still, there are benefits to having a job, too. That's why the advice from a Japanese doctor and longevity expert who lived until 105 is, "Don't retire." Being in a work environment can keep your mind and, in some cases, your body active. If you work alongside others, that might also provide a sense of belonging. Social isolation, as the Times notes, is linked to cognitive decline and even death. A job might also give you a sense of purpose, which research has shown to be associated with a host of benefits, including having a healthier heart and lower risk of dementia. In fact, one study found that the longer you work, the lower your risk for dementia. But those kinds of needs can also be fulfilled outside of the office, as long as you remain active and social. Many retirees choose to volunteer, for example, which can benefit you immensely, especially if you're passionate about the cause, the Washington Post reports. When Stanford neurosurgeon Odette Harris was preparing to head into the operating room to treat a patient one morning, someone confused her for the cleaning staff and told her, "I need you to go clean room six." "Okay," Harris said, fully dressed in a surgical mask, hat and scrubs, "when I'm done with this case." She joined her two residents around the operating table, where her brain injury patient lay under anesthesia, ready for surgery. Harris recently made history for becoming America's first black female tenured neurosurgery professor. Her promotion from associate professor to full professor, first reported by the Stanford Daily, is a win as companies and institutions nationwide fail to promote and retain women, especially women of color, in the workforce. In fact, Harris is the first woman in more than 30 years to receive such a prominent promotion in the academic neurosurgery field. She follows Alexa Canady, who in 1981 became the first black woman in the U.S. to become a neurosurgeon and later taught at the university level, and Frances Conley, who in 1982 became the very first female tenured professor of neurosurgery in the U.S. "Usually you see somebody in a white coat and you think 'doctor,' right? That's a pretty well-established signifier in our culture, but the signifiers of race and gender are so much more powerful than logic would lead people to believe," Harris told CNBC Make It. Photo of Dr. Odette Harris courtesy of Stanford Even with her accomplishments, Harris often has to deal with "office housework," or what University of California researchers featured in the Harvard Business Review called tasks such as getting coffee, cleaning up after meetings and other administrative work that help a company operate. Harris shared examples of times when she was asked to clean up a table shortly after being inducted into a professional society, clean a bathroom while taking a break in her white doctor's coat and take the garbage out. Harris said experiences like these aren't restricted to her medical practice, adding "it's a routine and yet equally gutting experience every time it happens." The University of California researchers explained that women and people of color do more office housework and have roughly 30 percent less access to "glamour work," or work that sets you up for promotion, than white men. As a result, these marginalized groups won't get hired, receive promotions or get compensated as well or as often. "I'm never not shocked at the fact that the other dominant signifiers of being a woman and minority overwhelm that," Harris said. "I don't think that experience is different from a lot of women around tables and boardrooms who report the same thing." Growing up, Harris followed a straightforward track into STEM: She graduated from Dartmouth College in 1991 with a degree in biology, completed her medical degree at Stanford School of Medicine in 1996 and got her master's in public health from UC Berkeley in 2001 while completing her seven-year residency at Stanford. During the course of her residency in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Harris' colleagues witnessed firsthand the moments of racism and sexism she experienced. "I'm 5 feet 2 inches tall, so most of my male co-residents were taller than me. We would go into a room, and the patients would talk literally right over my head, physically and figuratively," Harris said. "Unfortunately, my co-residents would have to constantly redirect to say, 'Actually, no, she's the person you need to speak with.'" While people in previous generations didn't have a forum to discuss issues of racism and sexism at work, Harris said she makes an example out of these moments for her own residents. The Huawei P20 Pro on display in London during a briefing about the device ahead of the official launch which took place on March 27, 2018 in Paris. Arjun Kharpal | CNBC Huawei launched its P20 smartphone Tuesday as the Chinese firm looks to overcome a recent setback in the U.S. and continue its challenge to Apple and Samsung. There are two versions of the device the 5.8-inch P20 and 6.1-inch P20 Pro. The smartphones are Huawei's mid-priced offerings and are expected to cost less than its flagship Mate 10 Pro. Key features include: Huawei's Kirin 970 artificial intelligence chip A dual camera on the P20 Almost bezeless display No headphone jack Fingerprint sensor and home button Huawei talked up the handset's camera capabilities, particularly on the P20 which boasts a triple-sensor camera made in partnership with Leica. The lenses collectively mean the main camera packs a 68 megapixel punch. The selfie camera is 24 megapixels. The Huawei P20 Pro packs a triple sensor camera that is collectively 40 megapixels. Arjun Kharpal | CNBC The AI capabilities in the device automatically adjust the camera to make it take a good picture depending on the subject. So, if you're looking to take a picture of your meal, Huawei's camera will detect food and adjust lighting and composition, for example. The camera also performed well when used in extreme low-light. During a demonstration Huawei showed how the camera managed to brighten an image despite it being very dark. Huawei's P20 also has a super-slow motion feature and a portrait mode, similar to Apple's latest iPhones. Source: Kohl's Kohl's is one of many retailers today betting on smaller stores to fuel its growth. The hope is that the smaller locations are less costly to operate, keeping only the best-selling inventory on the floor, and allowing businesses to be more nimble and open up in new markets. Kohl's currently has 12 shops in the U.S. that are roughly 35,000 square feet, compared with a footprint of more than 80,000 square feet for some of Kohl's larger stores. The company is meanwhile shrinking inventory and ditching fixtures in close to 500 of its largest locations, operating them like smaller stores without trimming space, before it will cherry-pick which of those stores are ripe for redevelopment with new co-tenants such as Aldi or Planet Fitness. "An average full-size Kohl's store is doing 15 percent less business than it did five years ago," outgoing CEO Kevin Mansell told CNBC Tuesday during a tour of a small-format Kohl's store in East Windsor, New Jersey. "That was really the problem to solve for us. ... Smaller is going to be better. Bigger is not." Open layouts, focus on select merchandise Source: Kohl's The smaller stores have about 60 percent less space and 60 percent less inventory than a standard Kohl's, the company has said. The build-outs are much less capital intensive, according to Mansell, and merchandise is curated to meet a local market's needs, more so than it is at bigger locations. At the East Windsor store, for example, Kohl's had stripped out its Jennifer Lopez apparel collection and instead added more activewear for women and men, alongside a larger selection of denim. Some departments such as fine jewelry and electronics have also been removed, and the toys section is slimmed down to occupy only a few shelves. "It's a different beast" to operate smaller stores, Mansell said. But "we think we have a big idea." And the next "natural evolution" for the 35,000-square-feet locations will be to move into more urban markets where a massive footprint wouldn't fit, he said. Checking out becomes easier in the smaller stores, with registers and fitting rooms all situated near the entryway. The aisles are noticeably wider, empty of any in-aisle displays, and the ceilings are higher. The stores also lack dividing walls once inside, making the space feel more open and making it easier for employees to reconfigure inventory as it comes and goes. "It's much more efficient for us. Way more efficient for us," Mansell said at the East Windsor store. Keeping decor, feature fixtures and signage "bare bones ... gives us a massive amount of flexibility," he added. Unlike at its older locations, nothing really has to be permanent in Kohl's smaller stores. Driving traffic to stores Lauren Thomas | CNBC The focus in 2018 for Kohl's will be the retailer's efforts to "right-size" bigger locations, choosing from the batch of 500 stores which ones are fit for new retail partners. As many as 10 Kohl's stores are already set to be divided for Aldi to move next door, as part of a pilot program that will roll out later this year. According to Mansell, though, more partnerships will be announced before then grocers and fitness centers remain at the top of his list. "The idea is to drive incremental traffic," he said. Kohl's would even bring in a company such as , which sells many of the same categories of items and could be considered a competitor, so long as it lures shoppers to the center. Opening more small stores, like the one in New Jersey, will come next on the retailer's agenda. Kohl's has already noticed a slight surge in online sales for nearby trade areas (as much as 10 percent) as it opens these locations, Mansell said. "We're a wanted tenant," he added about Kohl's growth prospects. "There's a lot of boxes," big and small, vacant on the market now, including those of Toys R Us. More tech coming soon Lauren Thomas | CNBC Billionaire Ayman Hariri whose Lebanese prime minister father was assassinated in 2005 and whose half-brother Saad is the current prime minister is taking on Mark Zuckerberg. The 39-year-old Hariri's new social sharing platform Vero billed as an anti-Facebook app has soared in popularity from just 200,000 users a month ago in Apple's App Store to more than 4 million, according to the company. (That, of course, pales in comparison to Facebook's more than 2 billion active monthly users and the 800 million on Facebook-owned Instagram.) However, Hariri hopes Vero's mission to allow image sharing that's free from ads and free from data-driven algorithms will appeal to users, especially in the wake of Facebook's Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The co-founder and CEO said that the currently free service will eventually to look to make money from paid subscriptions. "The subscription is there to keep us honest." What Vero is, according to Hariri, is a "simple service" for sharing that won't use any user data to make money. "We built Vero to be an alternative to all the existing platforms out there that tout to be free but are really taking your data and using that as a currency ... for their real customers, which are advertisers." Hariri said that social networks that monetize through advertising are caught in a never-ending cycle of chasing growth by improving their algorithms to develop a "better sense of who you are, probably better than you know who you are, in order to target you for ads." Vero will be "announcing when the subscription will start soon," he said. But for now, it's free-for-life offer to the first 1 million users is being extended "until further notice" because of the flood of new sign-ups in such a short period of time and some technical glitches, he added. "We wanted it to be an inclusive experience for people." Addressing his family's political roots in Lebanon and that country's role in the Mideast, Hariri said, "I'm proud of my brother for taking over the political role that was left after my father was brutally assassinated." Hariri, who earned a computer science degree from Georgetown University, is the son of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. He inherited and helped run his father's construction company Saudi Oger. According to the Vero website, Hariri has not been involved in any decisions since he left Saudi Oger in 2013 and sold his financial interests. "Where we come from and the fact that our father left us an inheritance isn't what we should be judged on," he said. "I'm willing to answer any question from anybody. I'm an open book. I've made myself available to anybody who has a question about where I come from and what Vero is." Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. Retail real estate stocks were reeling Tuesday after GGP accepted a takeover offer from rival Brookfield Property Partners, following months of wrangling. After initially rejecting a $14.8 billion cash-and-stock offer from Brookfield late last year, GGP's board agreed to a purchase price of $23.50 per share, or about $15.3 billion. GGP shares closed before the deal was announced Monday at $21.21 apiece. It was broadly expected that GGP would only agree to sell at a much higher valuation. After filing for bankruptcy in 2009, the company came back with a much stronger portfolio of malls across the U.S. GGP is known for its Class A properties, some of the best in the country, lumped in with its peers including Simon Property Group and Macerich. The Chicago-based REIT has been at the forefront of redevelopments, signing deals with new tenants and experimenting with mixed uses. "While we still see value in mall stocks, we think the GGP news is negative for the sector," J.P. Morgan analyst Michael Mueller said in a Tuesday note to clients. As such, the firm has downgraded shares of GGP, Macerich and Simon to neutral from overweight ratings. "Our instinct is that the GGP's board decision to accept the bid could have a bit of a ripple effect across the mall sector and make it harder for our bull-thesis [on mall REITs] to play out over the near-term," Mueller added. Simon shares were recently falling about 3 percent in early trading Tuesday. Macerich's stock was down nearly 5 percent, while Taubman shares dropped 3 percent, and Seritage Growth Properties' stock was down more than 1 percent. The lower-than-anticipated offer from Brookfield reflects just how much pressure mall owners feel today even the best ones. The retail real estate industry has been scrambling to fill in the gaps as businesses like Sears Holdings, Toys R Us and Ann Taylor's parent company, Ascena Retail Group, shutter stores. Some vacancies have been easier to overcome than others, while Class A mall owners including GGP are known to have a greater demand for their better real estate from those retailers that are still growing. "The terms of the agreement are below our target price [of $24 a share] and the average sell-side target, which suggests to us a reset lower for pricing of high-quality mall portfolios," RBC Capital Markets analyst Wes Golladay said. Other analysts are calling for GGP shareholders to reject the offer, which is still subject to their approval and is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. "GGP does not need to do any transaction as it has balance sheet strength and earnings growth to rideout the cyclical slowdown," Boenning & Scattergood analyst Floris van Dijkum wrote in a note to clients. He had said earlier this year that GGP should be valued at closer to $30 a share in a tie-up with Brookfield. Jim Sullivan at BTIG is also recommending shareholders reject the new offer. "GGP management has clearly stated on numerous occasions to shareholders that its assets are worth substantially more than where its shares are currently trading," he said in a note to clients. "We are surprised that the Special Committee has unanimously approved the new offer and recommends that the GGP shareholders approve the proposed terms." GGP declined to comment. Representatives from Simon and Macerich didn't immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. A year and a half ago, I returned with my family to my native Saudi Arabia after a lengthy stay in the U.S. Our oldest, eight-year old Leen, had learned from her upbringing to ask lots of questions, and they started right away. "Baba," she asked me, "why are there no women drivers here?" I didn't have a good answer, just like I didn't have about any number of other things people of my generation had been unsatisfied with for decades but couldn't really change. But as it happens, a few months later, I didn't need an answer, because Saudi women were given the right to drive. That was just one of many carefully-considered reforms that had taken place at home. The man responsible for them is Mohammed bin Salman, 32, the crown prince in line to be the country's next sovereign. "MBS," as he is known everywhere, has been making global headlines for his bold steps to reshape Saudi society. Women driving is but one of them. A dramatic fight against corruption and an ambitious vision for the year 2030 are others. MBS is currently on an American tour, and in a recent 60 Minutes profile, he calmly answered tough questions on the theme of whether he is rushing things as a young leader. To the contrary, he said -- at one point arguing that what he is doing is "extremely necessary." I am convinced my country is at a stage where we can no longer afford incremental solutions. MBS and I are roughly one year apart in age. I've spent much of my adult life in the U.S., at M.I.T. and later running global businesses for Google, before deciding to go back home to help with the big changes Saudi Arabia needs. And I'm one of an entire generation of young Saudis who believe that what MBS is doing is much more than necessary. It is vital. That's because he is bringing a sense of hope to millions of young Saudis educated, digitally savvy, who represent the majority of the population. And they are being energized to show the world a new face of Saudi Arabia, one that is open, optimistic and eager take its place on the global stage. MBS is telling us, "Go out there and make that happen." And with bets like Neom, a planned city and economic zone, he is contemplating the moon shots we can showcase a possible future not only to Saudi Arabia, but to the world at large. It's hard to emphasize how much of a change that represents. For much of my life, being young in Saudi Arabia featured little of the exuberance it does here in the U.S. There was, of course, oil money, but in many ways it was a curse because of the way it bred complacency. The country's social and political power was in the hands of men many decades older than us, who seemed to know or care little about the increasingly connected, digital lives we were leading, or the growing gap between the country's potential and its reality. We'd be thrilled when we read about the exploits of Silicon Valley pioneers like Steve Jobs. But when we looked around us, we would glumly realize that stories like those were almost impossible in Saudi Arabia. That is precisely what MBS is changing. Men and women of my generation had been taught as youngsters to never question the status quo. Now, astonishingly, we are being encouraged to disrupt it. MBS has effectively given us a right to re-imagine Saudi Arabia and to then go about realizing it. Technology will play a major role in this transformation. I moved back in Riyadh to build up the largest technology venture fund in the Middle East, Saudi Technology Ventures, anchored by Saudi Telecom. My team and I have a number of ideas about areas of innovation Saudi is uniquely positioned to pursue at a global scale. For example, our country is roughly the size of the Western U.S., and much of it criss-crossed with infrastructure for the distribution of oil, energy and connectivity. It's not hard to imagine combining the latest drone and satellite technologies with sophisticated machine learning vision systems to create a home-grown monitoring industry that then becomes a global standard. Everywhere we look, we see opportunity. America, its people and its institutions will be important partners for us on this journey. Many Saudis learned how to learn, how to build and how to scale things from your great universities and companies, and we are now putting that knowledge to work back home. We hope that you will join us, both in spirit and in more tangible ways, as we undertake our tough but exciting journey. I don't want to pretend there won't be challenges. The country is dealing with rising geopolitical risks and tensions, and at the same time, is balancing its pace of reforms to make sure it accommodates concerns about due process without stalling the engine of economic growth. But Saudi Arabia will be able to better deal with both these challenges if it can strengthen itself domestically and empower a thriving society under a rule of law. Young Saudis recognize that; the Washington Post recently noted the "strong support" they give to MBS and his reforms. We're far from declaring victory. But I'm beginning to think about having an answer ready for my daughter Leen when she asks me, hopefully not too far in the future, "Baba, why did it take us so long?" Commentary by Abdulrahman I. Tarabzouni, known as "A.I.T.", who heads up STV, a $500 million venture fund anchored by Saudi Telecom. Born in Riyadh, he received an undergraduate and graduate degree in computer science with a concentration in economics from MIT. He was tapped by Google in 2009 to lead the Middle East's emerging business and eventually ran global new business out of its Mountain View headquarters. He now lives in Riyadh with his wife Jana and children Leen, Salman and Badr. Follow him on Twitter @aitmit. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. The food giant Nestle unveiled its first chocolate bar that showcases the company's new sugar reduction technology. The firm announced in 2016 that its researchers had managed to change the structure of sugar using only natural ingredients. Milkybar Wowsomes are being advertised with 30 percent less sugar and go on sale in the United Kingdom and Ireland next week. The white chocolate bar will contain no artificial sweeteners. Nestle said in a press release Tuesday that its scientists created "an aerated, porous sugar that dissolves more quickly in the mouth." It's made by spraying a mixture of sugar, milk powder and water into warm air. "The milk stabilizes the spray-dried sugar and stops it becoming too sticky", Nestle added. The Swiss multinational claimed that its patented process will allow those eating the chocolate to taste the same sweetness but using less sugar. The company said it now plans to apply the technology to more children's chocolate brands. Mark Oelschlager, manager of the Morningstar five-star rated Pin Oak Equity fund (POGSX), learned a lot from his father about managing a portfolio but has found success by taking a slightly different approach. "He's more of a gunslinger than me. It's usually the other way around. The kid is the one taking risks. But I'm usually the one reining him in," Oelschlager told CNBC in a phone interview. "If it were up to him, he'd risk it and hold just a handful of stocks, while I'm consistently trying to get more diversified." Oelschlager took over as the fund's principal manager in June 2006 from his father, James, who had managed it since its inception in 1992. The son's approach has yielded strong results. The fund has posted annualized returns of 13.5 percent and 15 percent over the past three and five years, respectively. It has also returned 13 percent annually to investors over a 10-year period. The fund ranks in the first percentile of the "large-blend" category over those time periods, outperforming others in the group and the broader market. It is also outperforming the market in 2018, posting a year-to-date return of 1.6 percent. It has been nearly three weeks since President Donald Trump surprised the world with his "on-the-spot" acceptance to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by the end of May, and the White House is scrambling to nail down the details. Aside from a proposed agenda to discuss the North's nuclear program, the White House has yet to produce a date, time, location or a list of Trump administration participants. Adding to the disarray, Kim has been suspiciously silent, at least in public and it has cast a shadow of doubt over the potential meeting. What's more, Kim traveled on a secret train trip to Beijing, which concluded Wednesday, but even that was shrouded in mystery. Some experts view Kim's visit, the first known journey abroad since he assumed power in 2011, as preparation for upcoming summits with the U.S. and South Korea. However, the North's history of breaking promises is all too familiar to the last American diplomat to successfully secure a deal with North Korea only to see it fall apart a few years later. "The South Korean National Security Advisor is saying that Kim Jong Un is prepared to meet with President Trump AND give up his nuclear weapons if the meeting goes well," former U.S. Ambassador Robert Gallucci, who is now chairman of the U.S.-Korea Institute and a Georgetown professor, wrote in an email to CNBC. "One would think that the North would have a comment." Palantir, a secretive company co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, worked with Cambridge Analytica, the political analysis firm that harvested data from Facebook users, whistleblower Christopher Wylie told U.K. lawmakers Tuesday. Wylie claimed that Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix was introduced to Palantir by Sophie Schmidt, the daughter of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Thiel, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. Wylie, a former employee of Cambridge Analytica, said Nix had "several meetings" with Palantir. "Senior Palantir employees" then worked on the Facebook profile data that was acquired by Cambridge Analytica, Wylie claimed. "That was not an official contract between Palantir and Cambridge Analytica, but there were Palantir staff that would come into the office and work on that data," Wylie told lawmakers. He added that Palantir staff "helped build the models we were working on." Wylie did not elaborate on the "models" being worked on but it relates to Cambridge Analytica's algorithms used to target people in political votes. A spokesperson for Palantir told CNBC the company has never had a relationship with Cambridge Analytica and has never worked on any Cambridge Analytica data. Cambridge Analytica was not immediately available for comment. Last year, The Observer newspaper reported that Cambridge Analytica and Palantir had meetings in 2013. According to the report, at least one senior Palantir employee consulted with Cambridge Analytica regarding a project in Trinidad and political work in the United States. Palantir decided against it, according to the British newspaper. Wylie gave testimony about the scandal in which 50 million Facebook profiles were mined for data that was harvested by an app, which shared the information with Cambridge Analytica. Cambridge Analytica claimed it worked on all the digital aspects of Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. Thiel is a well-known supporter of Trump and donated over $1 million to his campaign. He is also on the board of Facebook. Steve Bannon, who was a top executive at Cambridge Analytica, led Trump's campaign. Palantir has previously done work for the National Security Agency and is backed by the CIA's not-for-profit venture capital firm. Palantir's CEO Alex Karp, who is also not accused of wrongdoing, was also one of the technology executives who was at a meeting with Trump in December 2016. Ex-pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli arrives at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in June, 2017. That appeal, which could take a year or more to resolve, will play out while Shkreli remains locked up in federal custody. His lawyers will lay out their grounds for reversing his conviction at a later date. Right afterward, Shkreli's lawyers filed an official notice of appeal of his conviction. On Monday, Matsumoto said she was deferring ruling on Kocher's request for restitution. But she finally entered the order of judgment. But she held off on officially entering that judgment into the court file because of the open question of whether Shkreli should also have to pay restitution to one of his investors, Richard Kocher. Earlier this month, Matsumoto sentenced Shkreli to seven years in prison, imposed a fine of $75,000, and ordered him to forfeit almost $7.4 million in assets to the federal government. The crimes were unrelated to the action for which Shkreli gained widespread infamy in 2015 while heading another drug company: raising the price of the drug Daraprim by more than 5,000 percent . The drug is used to treat a parasitic condition found in pregnant women, babies and HIV-infected people. He was also convicted of manipulating the stock of a pharmaceuticals company he founded, Retrophin , whose shares and cash he used to pay back the hedge fund investors after those funds went bust. Shkreli, 35, was convicted last summer in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, of defrauding a group of investors who had put money into two hedge funds he ran. Shkreli had repeatedly misled them about details of the funds, including the fact that they were losing money. At the same time, U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto left undecided, for now, the question of whether she will also order Shkreli to pay hundreds of thousands in restitution to a defrauded investor. Lawyers for "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli filed a notice of appeal of his conviction for securities fraud , as a judge agreed to recommend he serve his prison sentence at the minimum security federal camp he has asked for. As part of the judgment, Matsumoto said she recommended that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons send Shkreli to the minimum security camp at the U.S. Penitentiary Canaan in northeastern Pennsylvania, "or other similar facility close to New York City." Shkreli, who most recently lived in Manhattan, has asked to be sent to the camp at Canaan. The Bureau of Prisons, which has designated Shkreli as inmate No. 87850-053, is not bound by Matsumoto's recommendation. And the bureau has not yet decided where to ship Shkreli, who since last September has been locked up in the high-security federal jail in Brooklyn. Matsumoto sent him there that month after revoking his $5 million release bond. The judge had ruled that Shkreli represented a danger to the public because of his bizarre offer of a $5,000 bounty for each strand of hair that his Facebook followers could pull off the head of Hillary Clinton. Shkreli's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, during the sentencing hearing this month, told Matsumoto that her designation of Shkreli as a public danger could doom his chances with the Bureau of Prisons of being sent to a minimum security facility. Instead, Brafman had said, the judge's ruling could mean that Shkreli would be sent to a prison with tougher rules, and with much tougher inmates who would be a threat to the slight-framed convict. Brafman said he would ask Matsumoto to reverse her ruling, which could allow Shkreli to do the remainder of his sentence at a minimum security camp. Brafman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Kocher, a New Jersey builder, has asked Matsumoto to order Shkreli to pay him $778,947.63 in restitution. Prosecutors also believe Kocher should get restitution. But they have told Matsumoto in a court filing that Shkreli should have to pay just $388,316.49. The lower amount suggested by prosecutors takes into account a settlement that Kocher obtained from Shkreli. Kocher did not deduct the value of that settlement from the damages that he said he suffered as a result of Shkreli's actions. That settlement paid Kocher almost $128,000 in cash, and more than 47,000 shares of Retrophin. Kocher had invested a total of $200,000 in one of Shkreli's hedge funds. He testified at trial that he had been assured by Shkreli that he could redeem the value of his investment on short notice. Kocher testified that was important to him because of the potential that he would need money to fund real estate projects. Kocher said that in December 2012, he had been told that his investment had grown to about $350,000. He said he began asking Shkreli for his money in January 2013, after Shkreli told him he was closing the hedge fund. Kocher said he had contracted to buy a building in Jersey City, New Jersey, which he planned to redevelop. But Shkreli kept stonewalling him, Kocher said in testimony that echoed the stories told by a number of other Shkreli investors. As a result, Kocher testified, he lacked the funds he needed to close on the purchase of the property. And he had to obtain $300,000 in capital from an investor to complete the deal. "The terms of this investment required that I not only return the investor's capital investment ($300,000), but also pay interest and a share of the profits totaling another $769,477.13," Kocher wrote in a court filing. Kocher's restitution request includes that amount of money, plus more than $9,000 in attorney's fees for forcing Shkreli to pay him back for his hedge fund investment, and another $190 in expenses related to helping prosecutors in the case. Brafman has argued that Shkreli should not have to pay restitution to any of the hedge fund investors because they all ended up with more money than they originally invested. The windfalls were as a result of the cash Shkreli paid them out of Retrophin's coffers plus the value of company shares they got, which rose as Retrophin began doing well. Kocher did not immediately return a request for comment. A spokesman for prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York, who are handling the case, declined to comment. Govt presses for safety of Nepalis in Saudi The government on Monday directed its embassy in Saudi Arabia to monitor the safety and welfare of Nepali migrant workers following missiles attacks by rebels from the neighbouring Yemen. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the trade agreement with South Korea would never have happened without U.S. tariffs and that portends well for potential agreements with other countries. He said the Trump administration is also making progress with the European community. Ross said there has been dialogue with China and it is ongoing. He said China's response to $50 billion in proposed U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods was "well modulated." Financial markets last week reacted violently to the U.S. trade action against China but were soothed by comments from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that talks are underway, and he was hopeful of a negotiated agreement. "I think what the market is starting to get used to is we are not suicidal. This is not some mission to blow up the world," said Ross. Ross said the agreement was sensible for both the U.S. and South Korea and stabilizes the relationship between the two countries. An employee scans an order in the shipping area at the Overstock.com distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Shares of Overstock.com fell more than 10 percent Tuesday after the company announced its intention to offer 4 million shares of new stock. The e-commerce company said after the markets closed Monday it would issue the new common stock in an underwritten public offering. Guggenheim is the sole underwriter, and has the option to buy up to 600,000 additional shares in the offering within 30 days, Overstock.com said. Overstock.com was trading at $39.75 on Tuesday morning, bringing the total stock offering to about $158.8 million. Shares are down by more than 37 percent this year. The Salt Lake City-based online retailer is best known for selling products like furniture, home decor and jewelry. But the company has also moved into the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Overstock.com's subsidiary tZero said in late September it would form a joint venture to start a digital coin exchange. The company has also said it has a license for an alternative trading system through another acquisition. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the firm for its cryptocurrency-focused subsidiary's sale of digital tokens. Overstock said that in February the SEC requested "certain documents related to the offering and the tokens in connection with its investigation," according to an 8-K filing with the commission. The SEC has increased its scrutiny of sales of new digital tokens, or initial coin offerings, which have brought in $7 billion since 2016, according to data from financial research firm Autonomous Next. Earlier in March, shares of Overstock.com dropped more than 15 percent after the company reported a sales decline and no significant progress on a potential sale of its retail arm to focus on its cryptocurrency-related business. Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower behind the Facebook (FB) and Cambridge Analytica data scandal, appeared before U.K. lawmakers today. He said the election of Donald Trump made him speak out about the practices being employed by the firm. Additionally, Facebook said it would send a top executive to appear in front of U.K. lawmakers, but not CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Instead, the company will send either Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. (CNBC) * Facebook's data scandal should be a wake-up call about our online footprint (CNBC) The Commerce Department reinstated a citizenship status question to the 2020 Census. The department said the question was added to help enforce the Voting Rights Act. Some argue the move was designed to undercount immigrants and minorities. (USA Today) * California AG to sue Trump administration over census citizenship question (The Hill) President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, the White House confirmed. The 60 Russian nationals were given seven days to leave the United States. (CNBC) * How an outraged Europe agreed to a hard line on Putin (NY Times) * Over 100 Russian diplomats and counting: The list of countries punishing Moscow after UK poisoning grows (CNBC) A prominent Chicago defense attorney declined an invitation to lead President Trump's legal team responding to Robert Mueller's Russia probe. Trump's legal team has been in crisis mode after the president's lawyer John Dowd abruptly resigned. (Washington Post) The White House is investigating whether two loans totaling more than $500 million to the family real estate business of Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner violated any criminal laws or regulations, according to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. (Reuters) Stormy Daniels sued President Trump's personal lawyer for defamation. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, said in a court filing that Michael Cohen publicly portrayed her as having lied about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. (WSJ) * '60 Minutes' Daniels interview was its most-watched episode in 10 years (CNBC) * White House tries to shift focus on Stormy Daniels to Trump lawyer, campaign (CNBC) Larry Kudlow, Trump's pick to head the National Economic Council, asked to keep White House economic advisor Gary Cohn's staff. Former CNBC contributor Kudlow told the Washington Post "It's a terrific staff, and I've asked everyone to stay on." President Trump is on the verge of securing his first major trade deal, leveraging the threat of tariffs to gain concessions from South Korea on exports of steel and imports of American cars. The agreement could be announced as soon as today. (NY Times) The Defence Department said it is investigating the delivery of suspicious packages to multiple military installations in the Washington, D.C. area. A package was tested positive for black powder residue. No injuries have been reported. (AP) GMC unveiled an off-road truck AT4 sub-brand, designed to take on Jeep and the Ford Raptor. The move follows introductions of other off-road versions of pickup trucks, such as the Raptor and Colorado ZR2. (CNBC) * New York Auto Show kicks off this week against a tough backdrop (USA Today) Arizona's governor suspended Uber's ability to test self-driving cars on public roads in the state after a fatal crash that killed a 49-year-old pedestrian. The state had been a key hub for Uber, with about half of the company's self-driving cars. (Reuters) At an event at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago today, Apple is expected to introduce a new lower priced iPad in a bid to get students and school administrators, to start thinking Mac again. (USA Today) Govt to issue diplomatic PP to province, DDC chiefs Ringing in changes to the existing passport guidelines, the government has decided to provide diplomatic passports to chiefs of the provinces and District Coordination Committees, Tesla shares fell after the National Transportation Safety Board said it sent investigators to look into a fatal car crash last week in California, according to a post on social media. A negative analyst call from Citigroup also weighed on the stock, which has been under pressure this past one month. The NTSB's post on Twitter said: "2 NTSB investigators conducting Field Investigation for fatal March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla near Mountain View, CA. Unclear if automated control system was active at time of crash. Issues examined include: post-crash fire, steps to make vehicle safe for removal from scene." Tweet Link "We have been deeply saddened by this accident, and we have offered our full cooperation to the authorities as we work to establish the facts of the incident," Tesla said to CNBC. Citi Research said Tuesday that its analysis of the company's Model 3 competition points to near-term risk for the stock. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China both countries have recently threatened fresh import tariffs may affect businesses' decision-making, according to the CEO of multinational technology firm ABB. For the first time in a decade there's stability and growth across various markets, Ulrich Spiesshofer told CNBC on Saturday at the China Development Forum in Beijing, and that's a state of affairs he deemed "quite unique." The uncertainties from the threat of a looming trade war may change things. "So, I'm concerned, I would be concerned, if we get a lot of dampening effects and uncertainties. We need certainty, in terms of decision-making, we need certainty for investment climate, because altogether, I think the underlying demand is there on the consumer side." President Donald Trump talks with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol Agent while participating in a tour of U.S.-Mexico border wall prototypes near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California, March 13, 2018. President Donald Trump has privately said his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border should be funded through the United States military, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The president made the suggestion to "several advisors" and House Speaker Paul Ryan last week, the newspaper said, citing three people familiar with a meeting between Trump and Ryan. Trump thinks the Defense Department could bankroll the barrier, a key campaign proposal for the president, because immigration poses a national security risk, the Post reported. A congressional source familiar with the matter told CNBC the Washington Post report is accurate. The president signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that included a massive military funding increase last week, despite his unhappiness with the amount of money it put toward border security. Trump wanted as much as $25 billion for his wall project, but the legislation authorized only $1.6 billion for fencing, surveillance technology and other measures. Congress would likely need to redirect money from the current Defense budget to the wall project, which is unlikely to happen, according to the Post report. As a candidate, Trump repeatedly promised Mexico would fund the wall, but he has backed off those pledges in office, seeking federal money. Asked Tuesday how specifically Trump would get Mexico to pay for the wall, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "When we have an announcement on that, I'll let you know." The story also clears up a cryptic piece of a tweet the president sent early Sunday. Trump wrote that "building a great Border Wall, with drugs (poison) and enemy combatants pouring into our Country, is all about National Defense. Build WALL through M!" "M" references the military, according to the Post. The White House's military office and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read the newspaper's full story here. President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose tariffs on foreign steel creates a "Goldilocks" outcome for the United States, Credit Suisse told clients. While 25 percent tariffs on imported steel should prove a tailwind for U.S. steel prices, analyst Curt Woodworth added that any exemptions in the policy should result in better trade deals and benefit U.S. automakers, another positive for the metal market. While nearly all financial indicators of American economic optimism have surged to post-recession highs, President Donald Trump's approval rating has dipped amid opposition to his tariffs and little effect seen so far from the tax cuts. The CNBC All-America Economic Survey for March shows the president's approval rating dipping a bit, to 39 percent from 42 percent in December. That's within the 3.5 percentage point margin of error of the poll, but it's also within 3 points of every poll taken by CNBC during Trump's presidency. His disapproval rating rose to 50 percent from 49 percent and 11 percent were unsure. His economic approval rating also slipped, to 45 percent from his all-time of 47 percent in December, but it's within 1 point of his average during his presidency. Every economic indicator in the poll of 800 Americans throughout the country is at or near a postrecession high. Half of all Americans judge the economy as good or excellent, the only time the percentage has been above 50 for two-straight quarters in the 11 year history of the poll. In addition, 38 percent expect the economy to improve in the next year, the second highest number since the Great Recession. And 41 percent of homeowners expect the value of their homes to increase in the next year, the highest mark since 2007. "Trump's job approval numbers are very stable, underpinned by strong partisan, gender, and generational divides,'' said Micah Roberts, the Republican pollster for the survey for Public Opinion Strategies. "Whatever else we might say about the historical significance of how low his overall approval is, it is also worth noting how historically stable this number has been over an otherwise very politically turbulent year." Jay Campbell, the Democratic pollster with Hart Research, sees factors other than the economy pulling down on the president's numbers. "Approval of any president are the sum of the nation's parts, and the economy is just one of those parts," Campbell said. "Our strong economy is unarguably working to President Trump's benefit, keeping his approval numbers afloat. But there are multiple other factors that, at the same time, are pulling him down." Some insight into the stagnant nature of the president's numbers can be found in American opinions on his policies. Perhaps most importantly, the data show that the tax cuts have not been felt, at least not yet. The poll was conducted March 17-20, which should be well enough into the year for Americans to notice a change in their withholding taxes. But that's not the case. Just 32 percent of employed adults report having more take home pay because of the tax cuts, including only 48 percent of Trump supporters and 35 percent of the middle class. More than half say they see no change in their paychecks and 16 percent are unsure. It could be that more time is needed for people to notice the change. It could also be that the tax cut provided too small a break to be meaningful to many Americans. Some evidence of this comes from the 32 percent who say they have noticed more take-home pay. Of this group, only 38 percent say the extra pay helps their financial situation "a great deal" or "a fair amount, while 40 percent say it helps some or just a little, and 22 percent say "it does not help much at all." The president's decision to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is not well supported by the public. To be sure, 36 percent of Americans say they don't have an opinion, but 35 percent oppose the tariffs and 29 percent support them. Just 28 percent say the tariffs would be good for the overall economy, and 44 percent fear they will raise prices for consumers. And despite strident rhetoric from the president, American attitudes toward Canada, Mexico and China are actually improving. Fewer see them as an economic threat than in CNBC's previous surveys. For example, just 24 percent say Canada represents more of an economic threat than an economic opportunity, down from 32 percent when the question was last asked in March 2016. Views on Mexico and China have improved, although they are within the margin of error for the poll. Amid these negatives for the president's economic policies, the Republican Party still looks to have an advantage over Democrats on the economy. By a 34 percent to 25 percent margin, Americans say Republicans are better at dealing with the economy, a reversal from the 35 to 30 percent Democratic edge when the question was last asked in the NBC-Wall Street Journal poll in December. The results stem from an intensity of partisanship. While 54 percent of Democrats believe the Democratic Party is best on the economy, a strong 81 percent of Republicans choose their own party. Republicans in the CNBC poll held a 37 percent to 28 percent margin on the issue of which party is best for creating jobs. But Democrats by a 40 percent to 28 percent margin are thought to be best for "looking out for the middle class." Meanwhile, recent volatility and declines in the stock market have put a dent in Americans' optimism over equities. After surging in December, American attitudes toward the stock market have fallen back to Earth. Just 41 percent say this is a good time to invest in stocks, a sharp fall from 50 percent recorded in December. But it's only declined back to the average of the past several years, and done so with a strong percentage of Americans saying they now own stock. Since 2015, the All-America survey has chronicled a slow, steady rise in the percentage of Americans who own stock. From a low of 51 percent in 2015, 58 percent of Americans now say they own some equities, the highest level since survey began. (Two other surveys showed higher results, but they were for registered voters, not all adults, as is the norm for this survey.) And the gains look to be coming from across the income spectrum. Stock ownership is up about 4.5 percentage points among those who report owning $50,000 or less in stock. It's up just a bit more among those say they own $50,000 or more in stock. The Trump administration reportedly is contemplating using an existing law related to national emergencies to restrict Chinese investment in sensitive technologies. The news comes on the heels of President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion in imports of Chinese goods in retaliation for what the administration said is China's theft of American intellectual property. Bloomberg News, citing four people with knowledge of the matter, said the Treasury Department is developing plans to identify the technology sectors that Chinese companies would be barred from investing in. Those sectors could include semiconductors and 5G wireless communications. The Treasury Department had no immediate comment when contacted by CNBC. Trump had said last week that the tariffs he was imposing were "the first of many" trade actions. On Tuesday, the White House said he talked to both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron about addressing China's "unfair" economic and trade practices, including intellectual-property theft. Bloomberg reported that the White House is considering using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to ban Chinese investment in some tech sectors. The 41-year-old law allows the president to declare a national emergency in the face of an "unusual and extraordinary threat." Trump has previously taken action, without invoking that law, to block takeovers of American companies involved in semiconductors and 5G wireless on national security grounds related to China. Both cases were very unusual, as American presidents in the past three decades have blocked the sale of U.S. companies just a handful of times. In September, Trump blocked the sale of Lattice Semiconductor Corp. after citing national security concerns. The prospective buyer was Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, which is backed by China Venture Capital Fund Corporation Limited. The White House had said the venture capital fund is "owned by Chinese state-owned entities." On March 12, Trump blocked the buyout of chip maker Qualcomm by Singapore-based Broadcom for the same reasons. Factoring into that decision was concern that the United States would lose a competitive edge to China's Huawei in the development of 5G wireless technology. Read the full Bloomberg report here. "What the United States has failed to do in the past was to deal with the loser. Standards of living have fallen for certain groups of the population at the same time as the economy was growing," he said. "There are losers from (open trade) and as long as governments deal with the losers, so that they don't feel left out, then everyone can benefit," Pissarides told CNBC on Saturday at the China Development Forum in Beijing . Christopher Pissarides, a professor of economics at the London School of Economics, said Trump was having a "knee-jerk reaction" to certain groups of Americans who did not benefit from the past several decades of open trade. A trade war between the United States and China would ultimately hurt the very people President Donald Trump says he's aiming to protect, according to a Nobel Prize-winning economist. He explained that, ultimately, Americans especially those that Trump claims to be protecting could lose out if countries move away from open trade. "It would actually hurt them more if there is a trade war and it will hurt many, many more people in the United States," Pissarides said. As a candidate, Trump had promised to renegotiate or eradicate bad trade deals between the United States and its trading partners, and pledged to hit back at China for its lopsided trade policies. Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order that imposed broad duties on foreign aluminum and steel imports Canada and Mexico were exempted from that rule while some, including the European Union, would likely be given temporary reprieve. Beijing said last week it may target 128 U.S. products with an import value of $3 billion in response to the steel and aluminum import duty. The U.S. president had also announced tariff plans for up to $60 billion in Chinese imports, although China didn't officially connect its threats of retaliation to that White House action. Pissarides said Trump's recent moves were likely entirely engineered as an appeal to his base and countries like China probably understand that. During his election campaign, Trump promised to revive the U.S. manufacturing industry and recreate jobs that had been lost in the past several decades. But Pissarides said the U.S., as the world's most technologically advanced economy, should instead be "pushing along the technological frontier." For China, it's a question of "how long do you let (Trump) get on like that without a trade war?" Pissarides said. "The only way to avoid the trade war, and make life better for everyone, at least create conditions under which it can be made better, is for Trump to back down on that, but he has never backed down on anything," he said. "Once he decided to do something, he's pushing and if any advisor is telling him 'it's not a good idea, Mr. President,' then he fires them. So, what can you do?" Pissarides added. Todd Combs, an investment lieutenant at Berkshire Hathaway, got great advice the first time he encountered his current boss, Warren Buffett, in 2000, the year he started his MBA at Columbia Business School. The Oracle of Omaha was speaking to Combs and 165 other students during an investing class. In response to a question about how to prepare for an investing career, Buffett told the students, "Read 500 pages like this every day," while reaching toward a stack of manuals and papers. "That's how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it." Combs, now 47 and a protege of the Berkshire Hathaway CEO, took the advice to heart. As he began his investing career, he read even more, sometimes hitting up to 1,000 pages a day. "Combs's approach was a race against the clock to consume information, says one person familiar with his strategy during that period," Bloomberg reports. "If he wasn't in a meeting with his analysts or taking a break to exercise, he was reading, three people say." Reading voraciously appears to have helped him get ahead. Waymo, formerly known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, is collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover in a major expansion of its autonomous-drive ride-hailing program. The mobility company has signed a deal to buy 20,000 Jaguar I-Pace all-electric SUVs. Those vehicles will be modified with radar, LiDar sensors and cameras so they can operate in Waymo's self-driving ride-hailing fleet. "Its big, fast-charge battery means it can drive all day, which is perfect for our self-driving service," said John Krafcik, chief executive officer of Waymo. Waymo plans to launch its autonomous-drive ride hailing service later this year. It's currently testing its self-driving technology at locations around the United States including suburban Phoenix using modified Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans. Those vans will make up the initial fleet in Waymo's ride-share program, until the company takes delivery of modified Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in 2020. "Our passion for further advancing smart mobility needs expert long-term partners. In joining forces with Waymo we are pioneering to push the boundaries of technology," said Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover chief executive officer. On July 26, 2017, after a series of tweets by President Donald Trump proposing to ban transgender people from military service, thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets in opposition. Michael Nigro | Pacific Press | LightRocket | Getty Images When Gaines Blasdel decided in 2012 that he wanted surgery so his physical identity would match the male character he'd long had in his head, his health insurance wouldn't cover it not even student coverage at Hampshire College, which he admits with a laugh is the "social justice warrior capital of the world.'' Blasdel went ahead in 2012 and had his breasts removed at his own expense, but by the time he wanted a phalloplasty to construct a new penis in 2017, the insurance situation changed. The 25-year-old Brooklyn resident, who works for Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, a trans advocacy group, had work-based insurance that covered gender-transition surgery. So does Medicaid in New York, as do all individual plans offered on Healthcare.gov, the online insurance mall set up by the Affordable Care Act. Gender affirmation surgery sex-change surgery is now a passe term became four times more common between 2000 and 2014, for a total of 4,118 in-hospital procedures. Between 2012 and 2014, there were 1,260 surgeries, according to the most recent comprehensive data included in a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Five years ago it was so rare to have access, that people didn't know what they would even want," Blasdel said, referring to the array of surgeries transsexuals might seek over and above hormone therapy from breast augmentation or reduction and construction of new genitals to facial feminization or masculinization plastic surgery the latter often being the most expensive part of gender transition. "The access leads to the cultural change that makes people want it," Blasdel said. In 2012, when Gaines Blasdel opted to have surgery to remove his breasts, he had to pay out of pocket. In 2017 his work insurance insurance covered gender-transition surgery. Source: Rick Guidotti for Positive Exposure Changes in the culture and heavy media attention have helped, but another force behind the increase in surgical procedures is more willingness on the part of health insurance companies to cover it. Johns Hopkins' data shows that 61 percent of in-hospital surgical procedures for gender affirmation were covered by insurance between 2012 and 2014, compared with just 35 percent from 2006 to 2011. "Gender identity isn't a new thing; we are talking about it more," said Brandyn Lau, director of quality and research at Johns Hopkins' Medicine's Center for Transgender Health in Baltimore. The study he and colleagues published last month was the first comprehensive look at how often hospital-based gender-affirmation surgery happens and who pays for it, Lau said. He added, "The number of people seeking care has been pretty static over time." More transgender people would have settled for hormone therapy in the past, since they could afford that. Trends in who pays for gender-affirming surgery have tracked the broader debate on health insurance costs. Half of the patients who had such operations between 2000 and 2005 paid out of pocket; the percentage rose to two-thirds between 2006 and 2011, as insurers and employers clamped down on coverage and boosted workers' share of all sorts of medical expenses in response to higher premiums. Then coverage increased when the ACA was passed in 2010 and implemented over several years, along with some recent Medicare and Medicaid changes, reflecting a larger public role in health-care financing. The role residency plays in cost Surgery is expensive, with operations to feminize a patient''s face ranging as high as $70,000. Surgery for chest masculinization can reach $10,000 or more. Changes in the law drove the drop in the percentage of patients who pay out of pocket for gender-affirmation surgery, Lau said. Especially on the East and West coasts, coverage is more broadly available for transgender-related conditions, including surgery, as part of Medicaid offerings. Medicare began covering it for its beneficiaries, mostly senior citizens, in 2014. The Affordable Care Act bars plans offered on Healthcare.gov from discrimination based on gender, which has been interpreted to include transgenderism, and this has led to broad coverage of gender surgery. Many patients, especially before insurance coverage broadened, would delay life moves, like buying a home, in order to finance gender-transition surgery, often going overseas for care to save money, said Rachel Bluebond-Langner, a plastic surgeon specializing in gender affirmation at NYU Langone Health. Now, in New York at least, 90 percent to 95 percent of her patients can get coverage, even for facial reconstruction, she said. Doctors and advocates say there's a big difference in coverage, depending on where patients live in Texas, for example, Medicaid and insurance provided to state employees doesn't cover gender-affirmation surgery. But in places like New York and California it's routine. A total of 17 states plus Washington, D.C., have issued guidelines for Medicaid coverage of gender surgery, according to the Center for Transgender Equality. "In many states, as Medicaid goes, so go the commercial insurers," said Barbara Warren, director of LGBTQ programs and policies at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. For many companies that have to decide whether to include coverage in their company health plans, the decision boils down to the image they want to project to prospective employees, said Claire Bow, a 60-year-old Austin, Texas, lawyer, who has taken hormones to aid her transition but has not had gender-affirmation surgery. She was the executive director of the state board of risk management when she was Jonathan Bow. In Austin, tech companies such as Amazon, Apple and IBM all cover the surgery, Bow said. But the state government, controlled by conservative politicians, does not. "It's a chunk of change to come up with at one time," she said. Since her insurance is a state-retiree plan, she's sticking to hormone-replacement therapy for now. "I'm on a fixed income," Bow said. "I have not yet had any of the surgeries I need, but I am hopeful that conditions will allow me to have them in the future.'' There are many more people who would like to have gender-conforming surgery than are able to do it. Danielle Skidmore a transportation engineer from Austin who had surgery last December Insurance companies say they broadly support coverage for the surgery, although some companies may require hormone therapy or mental-health counseling before approving procedures. Companies that pay for their own medical services, using insurers simply to set policies and process claims, retain the right to exclude gender affirmation surgery because their plans are not offered on Obamacare exchanges. "Health insurance providers believe patients should have access to effective, quality, evidence-based care they need without concern or fear of discrimination," said Cathryn Donaldson, a spokeswoman for the trade association America's Health Insurance Plans. "Insurance providers are committed to covering medically necessary care and preventive services for transgender individuals, as outlined in section 1557 of the ACA." Cigna, the only major insurer to respond to inquiries about trans surgery without referring questions to AHIP, said the trend toward broader coverage is clear. Danielle Skidmore is an Austin, Texas-based transportation engineer who is now running for Austin's city council. Skidmore had gender affirmation surgery in December 2017. Danielle Skidmore Juvenile Detention Centre escapee arrested Police on Tuesday arrested a youth who had escaped from Sarangkot-based Juvenile Detention Centre 10 days ago. One of Apple's largest rivals in China, Xiaomi, just announced the Mi MIX 2S phone, its answer to the iPhone X. It will cost 3,299 yuan ($527) in China, less than half the cost of the iPhone X (8,388 yuan, or $1,335.) According to an IDC report published last month, Xiaomi is the world's fourth-largest seller of phones by volume, trailing Apple, Samsung and Huawei. The Android-powered Mi MIX 2S follows Xiaomi's original Mi MIX 2 and is equipped with most of the latest hardware including Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 845 processor, the same one that's in Samsung's Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Like the iPhone X, it has a display that covers almost the entire front of the phone. While it supports wireless networks around the world, it's unlikely we'll see the Mi MIX 2 in the United States anytime soon. U.S. intelligence agencies have cautioned carriers and consumers against selling devices from other Chinese brands, such as Huawei and ZTE, over concerns the brands may use devices to spy on U.S. consumers. It's also traditionally hard for outsiders that haven't sold phones in the U.S. before, such as Xiaomi, to establish relationships and sell phones on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Xiaomi said earlier this year that it plans to sell phones in the U.S. market at some point, however, which means the phone may eventually make its way here, and could be sold directly from Xiaomi's website. It currently only sells accessories, such as battery packs, in the U.S. Kin of migrant in Saudi appeals for his rescue Family members of a Nepali migrant worker in Saudi Arabia have requested the government to rescue him from his employer, who has reportedly denied him salary for the past nine months and barring him from leaving the country. Types of obituaries The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries family obituaries and life stories. A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories. 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 At Apples "Field Trip" event in Chicago, the company introduced an upgraded iPad, a much-improved iWork suite and a range of new educational apps and improvements designed to put the company back at the center of the education market. Introducing the new iPad While iOS 11.3 remains unavailable at time of writing, the three standout features of the new $329 ($299 to education customers) iPad are support for Apple Pencil, much faster A10 Fusion chip the same chip as used inside those powerful iPad Pros and the introduction of sensors designed to make the Apple tablet ARKit-compatible, opening the gates to a mass market for educational apps, such as Starry Night. These new iPads are available for pre-order today and will arrive in Apple retail stores later this week, the company said. The sixth generation iPad specifications are as follows: 7-inch Retina Display A10 Fusion chip the same as the second-generation iPad Pro 8MP camera w 1080 HD Facetime HD camera Up to 300Mbps LTE Compass and GPS Touch ID Up to 10 hours battery life Apple SIM (in higher-end $459 model) Accelerometer iPad is our vision for the future of computing, and hundreds of millions of people around the world use it every day at work, in school and for play. This new 9.7-inch iPad takes everything people love about our most popular iPad and makes it even better for inspiring creativity and learning, said Greg Joswiak, Apples vice president of product marketing in a press release. The company also threw in lots of collaboration features across many of its products, including iWork (see below). In a fillip to cash-strapped schools, Apple will charge educational customers $30 less for the iPad and $10 less for Apple Pencil ($89, rather than $99). However, some analysts are already wondering if the difference in price is significant enough for Apple to truly claw back space in the educational market from Microsoft Surface and Chromebooks. Apples entire history shows that price isnt everything, of course, and the company has really spiced up this pudding with a range of educational software tools for teachers and students and does appear to have won some hearts and minds in the educational space with this, as these Tweets from Crane School district show. A better iWork Apple has upgraded iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) to be more compatible with Apple Pencil. Key among the new enhancements, users will be able to draw, sketch, or write with Apple Pencil directly in the Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps. That means you can add all kinds of annotations to these documents, and the way those Smart Annotations work mean they are reflexive of the content of the item being annotated. With Smart Annotation, comments and proof marks will dynamically anchor to text. And as a user integrates feedback and the document changes, remaining annotations will stay with the text they were attached to, Apple explains. Book creation is also now possible using Pages for iOS and macOS, making it easy for anyone to create fun, interactive digital books, from short stories to travel books. The software includes book creation templates and perhaps the most fun feature lets groups of users collaborate together on book creation projects, which could be a massive benefit for some workflow challenges. Box integration, a new Presenter Mode, and a range of other smaller improvements complete the iWork offering for education. GarageBand and Clips also saw some useful collaborative updates at the event. The new iWork software updates are available now. Education inside Apple also introduced a huge number of educational software applications for educators, and this is where the company may make the most significant difference with these releases, at least in the education sector. The new Schoolwork app (available in June) lets teachers send handouts, reminders, and homework to pupils. Built with privacy at its core, the app also lets teachers monitor pupil attainment within the app. Teachers can also assign tasks within apps to pupils from inside Schoolwork, which means a pupil clicking on a task request will automatically find themselves inside the relevant app. Apps need to be compatible for this, but Apple is shipping a ClassKit API so developers can deploy this in their apps. Apple also introduced Apple Teacher, an app that will give educators case studies, lesson plans, training, and inspiration, the company said. Apple continues to drive home its Everyone Can Code curriculum, but it remains committed to its creative markets, as evidenced by its decision to launch a new and free Everyone Can Create curriculum. This has been developed to make it easy for teachers to integrate drawing, music, filmmaking, or photography into their existing lesson plans for any subject. Apple Stores will begin teaching Everyone Can Create as part of their regular Today at Apple sessions for educators later this year. A final couple of education-related announcements: Apples Classroom, a teaching assistant solution that helps teachers manage student iPads and guide students through lessons, keep them on track, and share work, is now coming to the Mac. And students and teachers with a managed Apple ID now get 200GB of iCloud storage as standard. (Apple should make that last offer universal.) 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. Anti-Corbyn protest 1) More than 15 Labour MPs join Jewish protest against his leadership Hundreds gathered Daily Mail Mann says some quarters behaviour is rotten to the core The Times Community leaders wrote to Corbyn with details of accusations Herald He made a more thorough apology in response Guardian Meanwhile, Tory MP shared anti-Muslim Facebook piece The Times Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of becoming a poster-boy for anti-semitism as more than 15 of his MPs joined a Jewish protest against his leadership. The Labour MPs said that they wanted to drain the cesspit of anti-semitism within their party as they joined an extraordinary 600-strong protest organised by Jewish leaders in Parliament Square. They said that the protest and Jeremy Corbyns failure to tackle anti-semitism was a stain on the conscience of the Labour Party as they accused him of making mealy-mouthed statements. The Jewish Labour Movement, which includes MPs, officials, and peers, accused Mr Corbyn of allowing anti-semitism in the party to go unnoticed and unchallenged. The unprecedented protest was organised by the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies under the banner enough is enough. Daily Telegraph >Today: ToryDiary: Sketch: Corbyn spurns Labours Jewish members, who demonstrate their sense of utter betrayal Anti-Corbyn protest 2) Sajid Javid: Enough is enough. This is a question of leadership Its not unusual for a community to come together outside Parliament to raise awareness of injustices around the world. But its a sad day when British Jews feel they have to come to Westminster to make a stand against prejudices they are facing here in 21st century Britain. As the Secretary of State responsible for protecting faiths and promoting integration, I thought it was important to attend not to get on a podium, but to listen to their concerns about the creeping normalisation of anti-Semitism in parts of our politics. Sometimes isms get thrown around liberally, so lets be clear on exactly what were talking about here. There is a specific definition for anti-Semitism established by International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and the UK was the first country to formally adopt it. Daily Telegraph Is this the one protest Corbyn missed? Michael Deacon, Daily Telegraph Hes been inadequate Robert Shrimsley, FT Heres a review of whats been happening Dan Sabbagh, Guardian Editorial: Increasingly, modern Labour is seen as antisemitic Daily Express You wouldnt have thought that until 2015 The Times Again, Corbyn is unfit to be prime minister Daily Telegraph In his one-year-until-Brexit speech, Rees-Mogg to say we will be in charge of our own destiny He will compare die-hard Remainers to the Japanese soldiers who refused to surrender after WW2 Daily Mail This will follow Rees-Moggs comment that many of the red lines have gone Daily Express In a speech to mark the year to go until Brexit, the backbencher will call for the country to come together to embrace the economic opportunities of independence from Brussels. With one year to go before the technical date of departure, this is the challenge to the decreasing number of remainders who model themselves on Mr Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese soldier who finally surrendered in 1974 having previously refused to believe that the Second World War had ended, he will say at an event in central London hosted by the pressure group Leave Means Leave on Tuesday. There is a world of opportunity ahead of us. Economically, leaving the European Union by getting rid of unfair, anti-competitive tariffs and by controlling our borders will help the least well off in society the most. Daily Express Comment: It will be such a relief to get to Brexit Norman Tebbit, Daily Telegraph >Today: Audio: The Moggcast. On Catholicism. Ive never had any doubts. I know thats an unusual thing to sayI try to say the Rosary every day. More Brexit May says people are tired of those trying to refight the battle The Sun Nokes says those frustrated by passport situation are sentimental Daily Express Starmer commits to fighting for Brexit legislation changes to preclude hard border Belfast News Letter Matrix lawyers claim that Brexit campaigners may have committed criminal offences Guardian Comment: Brexit is getting excting, no? Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph The truth is what counts Zoe Williams, Guardian Johnson: Yesterday, Britains partners came together against the Kremlins reckless ambitions Never before have so many countries come together to expel Russian diplomats. By last night, the total stood at more than 20 nations collectively deciding to remove more than 100 Kremlin officials. In the process these allies of Britain have consciously placed themselves at risk of retaliation. Their principled stand in the aftermath of the use of a nerve agent in Salisbury on March 4 may well carry a price, perhaps in the form of some of their own diplomats being removed from Moscow, so I am deeply grateful to all the nations who have resolved to act. And I believe that yesterdays events could become a turning point. Do not underestimate the effect of these measures on Russias networks of espionage. The Times America, 16 EU countries, and 5 other non-EU members expelled diplomats Daily Telegraph May calls it the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history Guardian And says that more than 130 people may have been exposed to novichok in Salisbury The Sun Meanwhile, Thornberry calls Putin an overgrown toddler Daily Express And his spokesman issues a veiled warning to Johnson Daily Telegraph More comment Nuance-free Russophobia doesnt help Viv Groskop, Guardian Editorial: May has done well here The Sun >Yesterday: MPs on Harmans committee say universities must not be safe spaces MPs and peers have told universities that they cannot be safe spaces but must allow unpopular and controversial views to be heard on campuses. Safe space policies are often an expression of intolerance of groups that proffer legal opinions ranging from the pro-life lobby to humanists, MPs said. The findings by the parliamentary joint committee on human rights will add to pressure on universities to take action against students who try to prevent certain figures from speaking. The committee, which is chaired by Harriet Harman, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, heard evidence from students, university authorities and others over several weeks. The Times Comment: Im sad when gender-hate passes as feminism Melanie Phillips, The Times Public Accounts Committee says NHS is in perilous state A hard hitting report by the Public Accounts Committee has said that the health service is in a perilous state despite getting an extra 1.8 billion for social care in last years Budget. It comes after health secretary Jeremy Hunt floated the idea of hiking National Insurance contributions to bring in an extra 4 billion a year for health and social care spending. But the problems of controlling cash flow in the NHS was highlighted at a hearing of the committee yesterday when NHS chief executive Simon Stevens and finance director Paul Baumann admitted that they were having to try to reclaim money off GPs for failing to provide the service they were paid to do. Daily Express Stevens explains what more money could do Daily Telegraph Treasury committee to scrutinise VAT FT Meanwhile, Greens pressure Sturgeon over council tax- Daily Express Comment: It wont be surprising if Hunt announces a cash injection Ross Clark, Daily Express >Today: Steve Moore in Comment: Whatever happened to the Big Society? 1) It could have worked had spending been cut Canada-Style News in Brief Miles Holder is a Conservative activist, and is a Young Ambassador for the National Autistic Society. Ive had numerous conversations which all have ended up with the same question: how can I, as a Conservative, campaign for improvements for disabled people? But being a Tory and supporting disabled rights are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, no one party has the right to claim people with disabilities for themselves, and attempt to claim the moral advantage on that basis. There is a generalised political assumption about disabled people that if one has a disability, one must support Labour, and woe betide you if you have the cheek, the arrogance, the audacity not to do what they tell you. Its this Labour obsession with identity politics and the tokenism towards minority groups such the disabled which helps to explain why Im determined to prove this stereotype wrong. I believe view that disabled people, which include the 700,000 autistic people in the UK, should be recognised as capable of achieving the fullest of their potential with the right support not shunted into a state of welfare dependency and ostracised from ambition and society. The Conservative Partys 2015 manifesto stated that the Conservative Party would try to halve the disability employment gap. Applied to people with autism, that commitment would require their employment to double by 2020. In the 2017 manifesto, the commitment changed: we will get one million more disabled people into employment in the next ten years. Certainly, this was encouraging for people with disabilities. However, according to the National Autistic Societys Too Much Information in the Workplace report, just 16 per cent of autistic adults are in full-time employment, and only 32 per cent of autistic adults are in any kind of paid work. With 700,000 autistic people in the UK, the ambition to halve the disability employment gap can only be achieved through addressing the specific needs and circumstances of autistic people. Things need to change as they arent working, with too many autistic people unemployed, despite 77 per cent of autistic people wanting to work. Legislation such as the 2010 Equality Act is there to support autistic people in employment, but needs to be reinforced in order to make the difference. What must be overcome is the lack of awareness between employers and those with autism. The Conservatives could launch a national programme to promote the employment potential of autistic people to employers, in the words of the report, by working with the devolved administrations in the UK. We could make sure that they are learning about what support works for autistic adults, and invest further in that support. Here are some further ideas. Record the outcomes for autistic adults who go on the new Work and Health Programme, and who are accessing help through the Jobcentre. Monitor what is working and what isnt. Set a target within a wider action plan to boost the number of autistic apprenticeships in the Governments overall target of three million. Implement the recommendations of the Apprenticeships Taskforce, and ensure that the specific needs of autistic people are taken into account in that implementation. The Government could lead the way in its own employment practices, increasing work experience schemes for autistic adults across government departments. We should continue encouraging some of the worlds biggest companies, who are hiring more autistic individuals with specific skills. The Children and Families Act reformed the current special educational needs system. However, it has become increasingly clear that the reforms to the special educational needs system were not having the desired effect and that more was needed to transform understanding across our schools. Education is an important aspect of life, and you usually only get one chance at it. So it is frustrating that children on the autistic spectrum are being let down by the education system. Furthermore, fewer than half of children and young people on the autism spectrum say they are happy at school. Seventy per cent of parents say that support was not put in place quickly enough for their child; nearly 70 per cent waited more than six months for support and 50 per cent waited more than a year. 42 per cent of parents say that their child was refused an assessment of their special educational needs the first time it was requested. For parents, it is worrying that fewer than five in ten teachers say that they are confident about supporting a child on the autism spectrum. The Department for Educations own figures show that autistic children are three times more likely to be excluded from school for a fixed period than children who do not have any special educational needs. Another recent survey by the charity Ambitious About Autism suggests that as many as 26,000 children and young people on the autism spectrum are being unlawfully excluded each year. This is clearly an issue that comes down to effective enforcement of the current law, rather than requiring new legislation. What could be done to change this? The All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism released its Autism and Education in England report last year after an inquiry co-chaired by Huw Merriman and Maria Caulfield. It was clear for them that while progress has been made and there is good practice in some areas, much more is needed. The Young Ambassadors group of the National Autistic Society, which Im now a part of, told them that some of the challenges they face at school include bullying and social isolation, being misunderstood by staff and other pupils, and coping with changes to the daily routine. The recommendations of this report took into account what the Young Ambassadors suggested. The report recommends that the Government should develop a national autism and education strategy by the end of 2019 to include: training for school staff; reasonable adjustments for pupils on the autism spectrum in schools; the provision of a specialist curriculum for all pupils who need one, measures to reduce bullying and promote inclusion, and guidance for local authorities on commissioning the full range of education provision and support. Autism understanding should be embedded in the education through autism training for all teachers and headteachers (rather than just teachers undergoing their Initial Teacher Training, as important as that is), alongside ongoing funding for the Autism Education Trust. Local Authority staff and school staff should receive training in the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. The report has been well received so far by the Government, with Damian Hinds stating, at the parliamentary launch of the report, that for people with autism, one size does not fit all. Nadhim Zahawi, the SEN Minister, responding to a Commons debate about the report, said that the Government will look in more detail at the report to address the challenges in the education system. As well as continuing to work with the Autism Education Trust to make sure autism training is delivered across the education system in England, the Government also undertake a review on exclusions that would include looking at children on the autism spectrum and how to make sure schools has an inclusive ethos. All of these steps are reassuring but as the report makes clear, there is still a long way to go to create a education system that meets the needs of all autistic children and young people. As someone who is experiencing the reality of the situation in education and employment, I think that these are sensible recommendations. I urge my party and the Government to implement them, so that the lives of those on the autistic spectrum can be improved. Lets use the decade anniversary of the Autism Act in 2019 to develop a National Autism Strategy which the Conservatives can be proud of. In order to achieve a Britain fit for the future, the needs of those on the autistic spectrum must be met. James Frayne is Director of communications agency Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. You dont have to be a hardcore Remain voter to worry about the transition period for leaving the EU and whether Britain is going to be ready in time. This site shares this concern. And a new poll by YouGov for LBC shows a quarter of leave voters are worried were going to be ready in time helping produce an overall majority that say theyre concerned about our preparedness for the exit door. One of the biggest worries is whether there is enough policy-making capacity in Government to think through the challenges facing the country and come up with solutions that wont just help us get by, but thrive. Most departments dont do policy in the way outsiders think. There are very, very few people in Whitehall dreaming up creative new ideas to solve problems; most staff tasked with policymaking are actually part of implementation teams. Policy tends to come from politicians and advisers and often originally via outsiders like think tanks. Arguably the most under-appreciated cause of Michael Goves success as a Minister is his willingness to co-opt experts and find a way to give them real power not only to come up with ideas but get them implemented. He has done this in all three of his Departments and it is why he is able to make progress across so many fronts. The scale of the challenge posed by Brexit is staggering. Given the fundamental lack of policy-making capacity in government, it looks likely that the Government will seek simply to replicate existing, EU-derived legislation. This will help us get through the logistical trauma of exiting. While depressing to those of us that hoped (and hope) Brexit might lead to a national revival, its not an unreasonable approach. But government departments arent doing enough themselves proactively to expand their policy-making capacity. While there are always informal working groups that liaise with external experts from the business world, for example, this process doesnt go nearly far enough. So here are just a few of the ways that I have seen work and that Government should be adopting more broadly: Make external experts non-exec directors within departments, then give them proper access to decision-makers, encourage them to ask lots of questions, and allocate them an area you want them to sort out. Ask people who are writing reviews for you to embed themselves in the department, and when theyre done give them at least a year to oversee implementation of the review in government. Make sure think tanks know what areas you need help with. They want to produce work thats relevant. Hire lots of policy advisers. If you have an extended Ministerial team, expand it; if not, set one up. There is no reason why Number Ten cant use experts in the way that Dieter Helm is currenty being used by Defra. No 10 can call on almost anybody in the country and they will gladly give their time and brain. This should be done much more widely. There is a tendency to think about capacity purely in terms of boots on the ground. Will there be enough customs officers? Will there be enough people to process payments in a particular area? Logistical capacity is vital. But the Government should also be worrying about brain power and whether there is enough of it. The Government needs more people actually thinking on its behalf. Parliament Square can have seen few stranger outpourings of emotion than the demonstration on Monday evening where many hundreds of Jewish members of the Labour Party told Jeremy Corbyn enough is enough, and called on him to take decisive action against anti-semitism. For Corbyn to have angered and distressed so many loyal, decent, well-behaved members of his own party looked like a disaster for him. They expressed the mourning and sense of betrayal of people who cannot believe what has happened to the party in which they put their faith. They are patient, but for Corbyn can find no more patience, though even in their anguish they continue to demonstrate their faith in the power of peaceful protest and argument. The sun was sinking behind the Supreme Court at the end of a perfect afternoon, and many from beyond Labours ranks had come to show solidarity. Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, was there, and told ConHome: I feel very sad about it. Its very sad that in 2018 the Jewish community must come to Parliament Square to protest against anti-semitism in a major political party. Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the crowd that the last two years have felt like a daily assault on our Jewish community. He welcomed the many Labour MPs who had come to support the demonstration, including Wes Streeting, Luciana Berger, Louise Ellman, John Mann, Chuka Umunna, Joan Ryan, Ian Austin, Ruth Smeeth, Mike Gapes, Stella Creasy, Chris Leslie, Margaret Hodge and Liz Kendall. Arkush said: Time and time again Jeremy Corbyn and those close to him have failed to back meaningful action against anti-semitism. Two years on, after a limp inquiry lacking any credibility, Ken Livingstone had not been expelled from the party an observation which drew cries of Shame! Enough is enough, Arkush went on. Its not good enough. He had never known such anger in our community against a mainstream political party. Finally, finally, Jeremy, Arkush pleaded, take some responsibility. Where is he? a demonstrator shouted. Corbyn was across the road in the House of Commons, about two hundred yards from where the demonstration was taking place. It seemed a craven evasion of responsibility that he had not found the time to cross the road and assure these devout Labour supporters that he was on their side. John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, addressed the crowd, and asked: What on earth is going wrong with our party when this kind of event even has to be considered? Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford, said anti-semitism was a stain on the conscience of the Labour Party and a gross betrayal of everything the Labour Party has ever stood for. Red buses drove past, from which tourists, distracted from such masterpieces as the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, took pictures of the curious gathering. We do not need any more mealy-mouthed statements from the Leader of the Labour Party, Streeting said. Sid Rutstein was a Liberal Democrat councillor until losing his seat in 2011. I was going to go to the pictures this afternoon, he told ConHome, but instead he was attending the demonstration in order to show support and solidarity. Im a member of the Board of Deputies I represent Luton Synagogue. A friend of ours was involved in a film and a book following the Chakrabarti report on anti-semitism in the Labour Party. It was called Whitewashed, and what it demonstrates is that there was information given to the Chakrabarti inquiry that was not included in the report. Daniel Finkelstein, a Conservative peer and journalist, said of the event: This is so depressing this is necessary. Corbyns admission that anti-semitism has happened within pockets within the Labour Party had prompted a home-made banner which read Corbyn is the pocket. A small pro-Corbyn counter-demonstration, carrying banners bearing such messages as Jews for Jez, had gathered in the corner of the square under Churchills statue. You should be ashamed of yourselves, someone in the main demonstration shouted, and began a chant of Shame on you. But the small counter-demonstration faded into insignificance once the main event was under way. What depths of alienation from the Corbyn leadership were here laid bare. One may ask what the Labour MPs who consider him unfit to be Prime Minister will do next, but must also wonder why Corbyn wants to carry on. 03/27/2018 Photo (c) JasonDoiy - Getty Images Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has ordered an indefinite suspension of Uber's public road testing of driverless cars. The decision comes in the wake of a fatal accident involving one of the cars. Uber voluntarily suspended its tests a day after last week's accident, but the ride-sharing company will not be able to resume its tests until Ducey lifts his suspension. A 49 year-old female pedestrian was struck and killed as she pushed her bicycle across a four-lane highway at night in Tempe, Ariz. Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir said her initial investigation, based on the Uber car's video, showed the woman abruptly stepped in front of the autonomous vehicle. A different view Apparently, Ducey had a decidedly different impression after viewing the video. In a letter to Uber, released to the media, the governor called the accident "an unquestionable failure" on the part of the technology. "In the best interests of the people of my state, I have directed the Arizona Department of Transportation to suspend Uber's ability to test and operate autonomous vehicles on Arizona's public roadways," Ducey wrote. Arizona initially welcomed Uber with open arms in 2016 when the company ended road tests in California because of a disagreement over regulations. Uber issued a statement Monday saying it hoped to work with the governor's office to clear up any issues. Consumers aren't asking for self-driving cars The automotive and technology industries have collaborated to push development of self-driving cars, despite public opinion surveys that consistently show consumers aren't asking for them. In fact, many surveys suggest consumers have qualms about their safety. In February, a survey conducted by Solace found nearly 60 percent of consumers who drive "connected cars" featuring smart technology said they wouldn't buy a self-driving car, even if money weren't an object (these cars cost around $250,000). Consumer and highway safety groups charge autonomous vehicles are being rushed onto America's roads without adequate testing. In June 2017, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety issued a statement urging lawmakers to slow down. As the proverbial way is paved for AV (autonomous vehicles), it is critical to ensure public safety and that industry not be given free rein on our roads and highways without a system of basic safeguards and oversight in place, the group said in a statement. "Also, states should not be preempted from taking action to protect their motorists in the absence of federal oversight and regulation. Malika Kesharis novel Suvarnalata launched Suvarnalata, a novel by Malika Keshari, was launched amid much fanfare in the Capital on Monday. Many esteemed writers were present at the function which had included several speeches followed by a discussion. CORNWALL, Ontario Eric Bialkowski, 19, of Windsor was arrested on March 24th, 2018 and Curtis Griffith, 30, of no fixed address was arrested on March 25th, 2018. Both men were charged with possession of property obtained by crime. Curtis Griffith was further charged with the following: Threats Breach of recognizance (for operating a motor vehicle) Breach of probation (failing to keep the peace) Drive while disqualified Theft under $5000 It is alleged on March 24th, 2018 both men were in possession of a stolen motor vehicle and during that time, Curtis Griffith, a disqualified driver, attended a gas bar and fueled the vehicle making no attempt to pay for the fuel as he left the area. The man also allegedly made threats to harm a man known to him and police were contacted to investigate. An investigation ensued, at which time it was learned the man was wanted on several outstanding warrants. On March 25th, 2018 the man was taken into custody on the strength of the warrants by Ottawa, London, Windsor and Smith Falls. He was charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. Eric Bialkowski was also taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on April 26th, 2018. THEFT, BREACH Cornwall, ON Gilles Desforges, 41, of Cornwall was arrested on March 23rd, 2018 and charged with theft under $5000 and breach probation for failing to keep the peace. It is alleged on March 23rd, 2018 the man entered a Ninth Street store and removed merchandise making no attempt to pay for the items as he left the store. He was stopped by the Loss Prevention Officer and police were contacted. The man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on May 3rd, 2018. ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON, THREATS, POSSESSION OF A WEAPON FOR A DANGEROUS PURPOSE Cornwall, ON Michael Chicoine, 40, of Cornwall was arrested on March 23rd, 2018 and charged with assault with a weapon, threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. It is alleged on March 23rd, 2018 he assaulted a man who was known to him and threatened him with a knife. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. During the investigation the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on April 12th, 2018. RESIST ARREST Cornwall, ON Ashley Belanger-Boudrias, 19, of Cornwall was arrested on March 24th, 2018 and charged with resist arrest. It is alleged on March 24th, 2018, while police were investigating an unwanted person call, a struggle ensued and the woman began kicking at police. She was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on May 3rd, 2018. BREACH Cornwall, ON A 27-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on March 25th, 2018. He was charged with breach of recognizance for being within 200 metres of his ex-girlfriends residence, failing to reside with his surety, failing to notify police of a change of address, and failing to abide by a curfew. It is alleged on March 24th, 2018 the man was found to be in breach of his conditions when he walked by the residence of his ex-girlfriend. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. On March 25th, 2018, he was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as the conditions stem from a domestic incident and would identify the victim in the matter. There were 116 calls for service in the City of Cornwall in over the weekend (8am Friday to 8am Monday morning). To see whats happening in your neighbourhood visit our Crime Plot Map. CCPS reserves the right to not post all calls for service in order to protect the identity of the victims. CORNWALL, Ontario Bernice Patterson is a five-year survivor of cancer, and for the past four of those years, she has been volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society in their Wig Salon. The Canadian Cancer Societys Wig Salon moved into the Cornwall Care Centre on Second St. E. in mid-March and serves women struggling with cancer in Cornwall, SD&G and Prescott-Russell. Bernice says that around 10 women a month use their service. She will greet them at the door, take them to the salon in the Care Centre, and then they start the usually fun process of picking out the perfect wig. We discuss what colours they want and how they want it, she said. It is very relaxing. Patterson explained that it is satisfying work, and that people often leave with a wig and a smile. It is a good feeling, she said. When you bring them in and they go home with a smile on their face. We aim to please and help however we can. Many of the wigs are donated by the hair product company Pantene, although some are donated by private individuals. People who use the Wig Salons services are sent home with a wig, shampoo and conditioner, and instructions on how to take care of the wig. In addition, they are also given a re-usable bag to take home with them. The re-usable bags are recycled Relay for Life T-shirts that have been turned into bags by the Comfort Quilters, who are also based in the Care Centre. As an organization, we wouldnt be able to do what we do without our amazing volunteers, said Allison St. Jean, Community Fundraising Specialist with the Canadian Cancer Societys SD&G and Prescott-Russell office. The month of April is Daffodil Month, when the Canadian Cancer Society encourages everyone to take the time to help support those fighting cancer. There will be daffodil pin boxes at various locations throughout Cornwall, SD&G and Prescott-Russell where people can leave a donation and take a daffodil pin that they can wear to raise awareness during April. All money raised by the campaign in the area, will stay in the area. To make an appointment with the Wig Salon, call 613-937-0047. The service is free to all cancer patients. CORNWALL, Ontario The Cornwall Community Police Service Traffic Unit is currently investigating a motor vehicle collision and is asking the public to come forward if they have any information about this incident. At approximately 12:20 pm on March 24th, 2018 a 19-year-old male was travelling in a red Honda Civic, west-bound on Water Street, at which time the vehicle struck a building at the corner of Water Street East and Adolphus Street. The male was transported to the Cornwall Community Hospital with serious injuries. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone who may have information about this motor vehicle collision to contact Cst. Dupuis at (613)933-5000 ext. 2755 or ext. 2404 to leave anonymous information. Information released by the Government of India's Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has suggested that, as on November 30, 2017, as many as 84,694 tribals and other forest dwellers have received the "right" to cultivate forest land under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, out of total claims 1,90,056, which comes to 44.56% of disposal of pleas put forward by the state's tribal farmers. The data, released by Eklavya Sangathan, a Gujarat-based tribal rights organization, at a media conference in Ahmedabad, suggest that, out of 20 states for which MoTA has released data, as many as 14 states have performed better that Gujarat. These are Andhra Pradesh 83.21%, Bihar 54.04%, Chhattisgarh 97.74%, , Jharkhand 81.78%, Karnataka 60.63%, Kerala 86.55%, Madhya Pradesh 99.28%, Maharashtra 94.55%, Odisha 91.62%, Rajasthan 96.90%, Telangana 94.77%, Tripura 96.14%, Uttar Pradesh 99.85%, and West Bengal 99.94% (click HERE for details).While the all-India average of percentage of disposal of land rights is 87.39%, which is almost double that of Gujarat, Ekalavya's Paulomee Mistry told mediapersons, "Of the 84,694 claims said to have been settled by the Gujarat government, as many as 34,000 tribals and other forest dwellers received the right to cultivate the forest land before 2001, when Narendra Modi came to power in the state.""Ever since", said Mistry, "Those who have been given the right to cultivate the forest land have not been offered land titles. All that about 40,000-odd tribals and other forest dwellers have received since 2001 is a piece of paper of right to cultivate, which even the State Forest Department officials say has no legal value. These include those distributed by Modi ahead of successive elections in Gujarat."Showing these "right to cultivate" papers, economist Hemant Shah, also present at the media meet, said, "I have scanned through a few of them. I was shocked to find that these papers have not been signed by the signing authorities. One of them, for instance, I found, was signed by a medical officer!" He called the implementation of FRA, 2006 "very pathetic", adding, "The state government has behaved irresponsibly and with high-handedness and arbitrariness."According to Mistry, of the 84,694 rights to cultivation, according to the MoTA data, 3,516 are community rights, while others are individual rights. "What is interesting is", Mistry said, "On January 11, 2016, MoTA had said, as many as 7,224 community claims had been filed, and of these 4,597 claims were approved. However, the data of November 30, 2017 give a different figure -- 3,516 community claims approved.""There is reason to believe, therefore, that the Gujarat government has revoked 1,081 community claims. These community claims, apparently, were not allowed because the Forest Department did not want to part with its control over forest land. Under the law, if the community claim is approved, all the land of the village would be declared as community property, and the ownership of other resources in the village would also be community property."Details provided by Mistry further suggest that tribal farmers have, in all, been given the right to cultivate over 1,27,068.32 acres of land. This comes to 1.57 acres per forest land cultivator. "Actually, under FRA, 2006, tribal farmers are entitled to up to 10 acres of land if they were found to have cultivated 10 acres of land. However, it seems, in several cases one tenth of the land has been allocated", she said. Maoist Centre lawmaker Bidari demands regulation of social media National Assembly member from CPN (Maoist Centre) Ram Narayan Bidari has demanded that social media including Facebook and Twitter should be regulated by the government. The voting is done, and Round 2 of the 2018 CRN Channel Madness Tournament of Chiefs is now in the books. Many of our chiefs were embroiled in tough shoot-outs that went down to the buzzer. Here's a look at how the Solutions 16 fared and who's moving on to the quarterfinal round as the Enterprise 8. In the Hardware region, the hard-fought contest between APC by Schneider Electric's Shannon Sbar and Cisco's Wendy Bahr saw several lead changes throughout the voting. In the end, Sbar pulled it out 52 percent to 48 percent. In the other Hardware region contest, NetApp's Jeff McCullough kept his eye on the prize, defeating Juniper's Brian Rosenberg 53 percent to 47 percent. In the Security region, Symantec's Keith Weatherford pulled out a dramatic come-from-behind win over Fortinet's Jon Bove, winning 52 percent to 48 percent. McAfee's Ken McCray and SonicWall's Steve Pataky kept it competitive with Pataky enjoying a thin lead through most of the voting, but McCray turned it on at the end to grab the victory 58 percent to 42 percent. In the Hardware region, another fierce battle raged between HP's Stephanie Dismore and Intel's Todd Garrigues, but Garrigues hung onto his lead to win 52 percent to 48 percent. Dell EMC's Joyce Mullen proved to be a touch challenger for Aruba's Donna Grothjan. Mullen claimed the win 68 percent to 32 percent. And in the Cloud region, Veeam's Kevin Rooney bested Oracle's Bill Swales 65 percent to 35 percent, while Intermedia's Eric Martorano looked good against VMware's Frank Rauch, winning 62 percent to 38 percent. So, for the quarterfinals, here's a look at the Enterprise 8 matchups. Sbar of APC by Schneider Electric will face off against NetApp's McCullough for the Infrastructure crown, while Dell EMC's Mullen and Intel's Garrigues go toe-to-toe for the Hardware title. Intermedia's Martorano will make back-to-back appearances in the quarterfinals, where he'll square off against Veeam's Rooney for the Cloud title, while Symantec's Weatherford takes on McAfee's McCray for the Security crown. Voting in Round 3 opens today, Tuesday, March 27, at 4:00 p.m. ET and remains open until Thursday, March 29 at noon ET. Visit CRN.com/madness to cast your votes and choose your chief! Having announced itineraries through May 2020, Carnival Cruise Line does its deployment basically on an annual cycle, opening up a years worth of inventory at a time, according to Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning. Meanwhile, every day, every week, we are constantly monitoring the performance of all our products, and it becomes an exercise in optimization essentially, he explained. As for homeport and itinerary criteria, Stein said: First of all, it must fit with our core strategy. As we are primarily serving the North American market, we have many local homeports. Two-thirds of our guests drive to the port, and half the population of North America lives within a five-hour drive of one of our ports. We also focus a lot on the family market and not having to buy air tickets. If you are a family of four, for example, it really helps reduce the cost of the vacation. With our deployment all around North America, we are also committed to offering interesting itineraries in a shorter time frame that do not require a flight. So we have an eight-day itinerary from Southern Florida all the way to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. That is something people typically have to fly to San Juan to experience. We offer it from a Saturday to a Sunday. Stein continued: We look at the entire market and try to plan as far out as we can based on what we think will be happening. Another factor we monitor is, of course, guest satisfaction and also marquee value. We poll all our guests on how they enjoyed their stays in the ports they visited. We also reach out to past guests, people who have not sailed with us and travel agents, about where they want to go the most, to find new destinations or how to better mix destinations together for an itinerary. Another key factor is the technical characteristics of a port, whether they can accommodate Carnivals ships. Some homeports, for example, have height restrictions because of bridges, Stein noted, limiting the size of vessels that can get into these ports. Fuel costs and shore excursion revenue also play important roles. Stein said that Carnival already has two or three scenarios for what things will look like in 2022 and 2023 and is constantly evolving those scenarios based on the performance of the existing fleet and being mindful of industry trends. Going into 2019, among some of the changes for Carnival is more capacity in the short cruise market. On the West Coast, big things are happening too, with Carnival deploying the new Panorama on seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises in fall 2019. The Splendor moved to Long Beach this winter, but moves on to Australia when the Panorama arrives. Also underway is a new port development in Ensenada. Looking ahead, Stein said: From the homeport perspective we are in good shape. We know what our needs are and we have negotiated long-term agreements with our key homeports to make sure the berth space is there for us. Over the long term one of the biggest challenges in the Caribbean will be the destinations and that is part of the reasoning behind our new Grand Bahama project. There are thoughts around other places that may be developed as destinations as well, making sure we will continue to provide the quantity of places we need, but also develop places that are new and different to drive demand. Excerpt from Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Spring 2018 Princess Cruises announced that Chef Pierre-Marie Leprince, Director of Guest Culinary Experience, has been honored with the distinction of Master Chef of France by the prestigious culinary organization, the Association of the Master Chefs of France (L 'Association des Maitres Cuisiniers de France). He was inducted into the association at the organization's 63rd International Congress of Macau on March 12. Chef Leprince is the only U.S.-based chef de cuisine to be awarded this year and one of only two U.S.-based chefs overall to be named in 2018, the company said. This year, Chef Leprince will be one of 30 chefs from around the world who will be admitted into the prestigious association, whose mission is to "preserve and spread French culinary arts, encourage training in cuisine, and assist professional development." Members are often given the highest classification in restaurant guides and are considered noted authorities on French cuisine. They are frequently asked to judge national and international cooking competitions. "The goal of the Master Chefs of France is to educate young chefs about the value and art of French cuisine and to share and maintain our culinary practices and methods with chefs who are skilled in the art of French cooking," said Association President Christian Tetedoie. "Association members are excellent French chefs and dynamic promoters of French cuisine, the importance of training, and the use of high quality cooking tools. We take great pride in our membership and are pleased to have such an accomplished professional as Chef Leprince become a member." Leprince, who was born in Brittany, France, is just one of four chefs affiliated with cruise lines to be admitted. There are 560 members worldwide in the association and other noted members include Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert, Jean Joho, and Joel Robuchon, who was awarded Chef of the Year at the March 12 event. Also newly named to the association is Chef Emmanuel Renaut, who partnered with Princess Cruises and Leprince on "La Mer," a French bistro on its newest ship, Majestic Princess. "This distinction for my professional work is a wonderful honor," said Pierre-Marie Leprince. "It is one of the top designations for French chefs and I am proud to work for Princess Cruises who has a commitment to global cuisine that allows me to create recipes that reflect our ships' worldwide destinations." Pierre-Marie's training and early experiences are rooted in French culinary tradition. He began his training in 1984 in the southwest of France in the region of Perigord. Upon completion of his apprenticeship in 1986, he was awarded the Gold Medal of Hospitality of Aquitaine, the Silver Medal of Bordeaux, and the Tourism Trophy of Aquitaine at the national food show of Exp'hotel in Bordeaux. He then moved to Paris and began working at Maxim's, after which he brought the acclaimed restaurant's French cuisine to Maxim's of Beijing. He joined Princess Cruises in 2010, after working for resorts and travel companies around the world including Disneyland Paris, Disney Cruise Lines, and Sandals Resorts. He left Princess after four years but returned in 2016. As Director of Guest Culinary Experience, Chef Leprince works with Princess Cruises' executive and onboard culinary teams to ensure they are maintaining the finest standards. Princess Cruises is one of the few cruise lines whose ships were built with the delivery of fresh cuisine in mind. The line's culinary approach is "Designed for Fresh," with breads baked freshly all day, sauces made from scratch using the freshest ingredients, steaks aged and hand cut onboard, and homemade ice cream made daily. Chef Leprince and his team strive to ensure that guests discover the unique flavors of the places they visit while dining onboard Princess ships. He is also responsible for developing and updating the menus onboard all 17 Princess Cruises ships. Fincantieri has reported net income of 53 million euro on revenues of more than 5 billion euro for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017, compared to net income of 25 million euro on revenues of 4.4 billion euro for 2016. The shipbuilder reported a total order backlog of 26 billion euro covering approximately five years or work, with 106 ships, including 26 cruise ships. During 2017, Fincantieri delivered 12 ships of which five were cruise ships, including the MSC Seaside, its first prototype vessel for MSC Cruises. The company also signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of 50 percent of the share capital of STX France, further consolidating the groups leadership position in the cruise segment. Among other significant events last year, Fincantieri signed a memorandum of agreement with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Carnival Corporation for the construction of two cruise ships in China, with an option for four more. Other agreements were signed with GE for co-development of emissions solutions for the marine industry, and with Mapei, a leader in chemical products, to reduce the weight of certain materials, improve acoustic insulation, develop and extend the use of adhesive products, and optimize installation times. Fincantieri also became the majority shareholder of Vard during year, which has since also become engaged in expedition cruise ship building for the group. Fincantieri finalized orders for 11 more cruise ships during the year, two for Viking Cruises, two for Carnival Corporation (for Holland America and Princess), one for Silversea Cruises, two for MSC Cruises and four for Norwegian Cruise Line, plus two options. (More orders have been signed in 2018.) In its offshore segment, citing its diversification strategy, the group acquired orders for expedition vessels for Coral Cruises and Ponant, the latter will be first LNG-fueled vessel taking passengers to polar regions. Operating in several business segments, shipbuilding generated 3.8 billion euro in revenues for Fincantieri in 2017, followed by offshore at 943 million euro, and equipment, systems and services at 558 million euro. According to a prepared statement, Fincantieris 2018-2022 business plan is focused on all the higher value-added shipbuilding sectors at the global level. By 2022, the company stated that it expects revenues to be up 50 percent compared to 2017, accompanies by a significant increase in EBITDA. The adjusted net income margin is expected to be between 3 percent and 4 percent. To support the production of large cruise ships, the company will use the synergies between its different yards dedicated to cruise ship building, including Vard Tulcea yard in Romania which has now been fully integrated in the network. Capital expenditure programs in the Italian yards will continue to improve their efficiency. NA members present differing views on EU election report Members of the National Assembly (NA) expressed differing views regarding the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) report during the meeting of the NA on Tuesday. An image shared with local media during the early stages of a SamSam ransomware infection in Atlanta exposed the contact portal assigned to the city by the group responsible. In addition, the image exposed wallet used by the attackers to collect ransom payments. When questioned about their actions via the exposed portal, the SamSam group first demanded payment in exchange for answers, and later deleted the contact form entirely, calling the questions and other comments spam. During a press conference on Monday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the city hasn't determined if they'll pay the ransom demanded by the attackers, which is 6 Bitcoin, or about $51,000 USD. Yet, given the SamSam group's actions, it isn't clear if payment is even possible now, since they've deleted the communication portal. While it's possible other portals exist for the systems infected in Atlanta, the city hasn't released any technical details to the public. The removal is a dramatic shift for a group known to provide victims with proof the decryption works. Think of it as a "try before you buy" type of service. But, it doesn't sound like payment is a serious consideration for Atlanta. It was revealed during the press conference that Secure Works was brought in to assist the city. The company is said to have neutralized the threat and is working on getting systems back online. The Bitcoin wallet listed in the exposed ransom note hasn't received any payments. If the city was going to pay, they have until Wednesday before the keys required are deleted by the SamSam group, per their normal seven-day policy. Information Disclosure: On Thursday, March 22 at around 05:00 a.m., the city of Atlanta learned it was the victim of a ransomware attack. The city scrambled incident response teams and moved quickly to deal with the infection. Later that morning, local media broke the story and started covering the incident. Later coverage included publicizing a screenshot of the ransom note left on a city employee's computer. At first glance, the note reveals the system's hostname, linking it to the Atlanta Police Department's Special Operations Section (SOS). Though it isn't clear if an employee of the agency is the source of the image itself. The Atlanta PD's SOS provides a number of functions to the city, including traffic enforcement and management, accident investigations, mounted patrols, and permitting for events and gatherings. Since the incident started, the city has stressed that no emergency systems were impacted by the ransomware, which includes 911 for police and fire dispatch. SamSam strikes again: Last time it was the Colorado Department of Transportation. Prior to that it was Allscripts and Hancock Health, along with several others. Now, it's the city of Atlanta. The letter shared by local media during the early stages of the ransomware infection in Atlanta is clearly a SamSam ransom note. The wording including typos is identical to the examples shared by researchers working for Cisco's Talos group earlier this year. The only difference is the directory where the contact portal is hosted. The previously known contact portal (January 2018) is located at: hxxp://jcmi5n4c3mvgtyt5.onion/familiarisingly/ Visitors to that address today can pay 0.5 Bitcoin to reactivate it, or $3,950 USD, based on current rates at the time this article was written. The newest communication portal address broadcast by local media, before the SamSam actors pulled it down, was located at: hxxp://jcmi5n4c3mvgtyt5.onion/nonpenetrable/ There is no restoration note for that address, just a 404 error. The group deleted portal after being asked several questions concerning details of the attack against Atlanta, in addition to other comments and personal questions, such as if they're afraid of being caught by law enforcement. A malware researcher at Flashpoint, who also noticed the ransom note's disclosure on local media, posted the details on Twitter, including a screenshot demonstrating that others had found the same information and were posting to the portal. The portal itself is controlled server-side, as source code for the portal shows only basic HTML on the front end, so the SamSam group has full control over the posts and the content displayed to visitors. Steve Ragan Initially, the group demanded payment before they would answer any questions. But when pressed with additional questions in lieu of payment, the group said they would remove the portal due to spam and made good on their threat 24-hours later. This is the first time a live portal has been exposed to the public during an SamSam incident. Usually the ransom notes with such details are only shared in a redacted form or long after the incident has happened, such was the case for the example shared by Cisco. It's also the first time the SamSam group has publically deleted or deactivated a portal prior to the seven-day clock expiring. While it's possible they've taken such actions before, reports of those incidents haven't been shared publicly. The portals are usually unique to each victim, and they're used for basic communication and to offer the ability to test decryption on two files free of charge, provided they're non-essential files. As mentioned, the actual source of the image initially shared with the media remains unknown. However, once the letter was shown on live television, there was no way to keep it a secret. Given the size of the city's workforce, trying to control messaging is a massive task and preventing leaks is often easier said than done. According to Mayor Bottoms, security experts in the public and private sector have stepped up to help resolve the Atlanta's ransomware problem. Previously, Mayor Bottoms shared praise and her thanks to teams from Cisco, Microsoft and Atlanta's Information Management department for their hard work and focus, as the city moves to implement business continuity measures. Update: In a statement Tuesday morning, the city of Atlanta said that it is entering recovery mode and advising employees to turn systems back on. "Today, the City of Atlanta is advising its employees to turn on computers and printers for the first time since the March 22 cyberattack," the statement said. "It is expected that some computers will operate as usual and employees will return to normal use. It is also expected that some computers may be affected or affected in some way and employees will continue using manual or alternative processes. This is part of the Citys ongoing assessment as part of the restoration and recovery process." ANSONIA The school boards approval of a $65,000 two-year extension to its bus contract with All-Star Transportation without going to bid infuriated Mayor David Cassetti who is calling for a forensic audit of education finances. I cannot believe they did this, the mayor said following the two-hour meeting. If I had approved a no-bid contract I would be hung. You dont know how angry I am. Angry enough to say he was calling for a forensic audit of the boards finances and expenditures over the last three-to four years. They keep preaching theyre for the kids, theyre for the kids does this sound like theyre for the kids? Cassetti said. I want to know how much they are paying their administrators. The board is considering asking the city to return $600,000 it received in the current budget before state grants were finalized. A legal battle there will only fuel more fire when the Board of Apportionment and Taxation and the Board of Aldermen, both controlled by Cassetti supporters, begin reviewing the school boards 2018-19 budget request. Residents need to know why they keep asking for more and more money, Cassetti said. For Cassetti, regionalization of Ansonias and Derbys school services and expenses couldnt happen soon enough. On Monday, the school board will meet with Seymour to discuss sharing some services. The bus contract, whose option expires March 30, calls for 3 percent increases in each of the next two years totaling about $65,000. That could have paid for a teacher and a paraprofessional, said John Izzo, who with Tracey DeLibero, both Cassetti supporters, voted against the contract. Izzo said he called three bus companies including Winkle and First Student and both expressed interest in bidding. There was not enough time to go out to bid, said Fran DiGiorgi, a longtime board member. William Nimons, board president, said a new company would have many start-up expenses, including purchasing buses, leasing lot space, and hiring drivers and other personnel. Additionally, Nimons said the original plan was for Ansonia to join Derby, Seymour and Shelton in negotiating a contract with All-Star. He said that plan disintegrated when Seymour and then Derby negotiated their own contracts. Once that happened we were fragmented, Nimons said. Our plan was to present a united front to work out the best rate. John Dufour, All-Stars president, said Ansonia cut a better deal than Derby, Seymour or Monroe. He said Ansonia is paying $319.15 per bus per day while Derby is being charged $325 per day; Seymour $325.67 and Monroe $364.49. He said rates for 12 municipalities range from $322 to nearly $369 per day. They do give us good service, Joseph Jeannette, a Board of Education member and former Democratic alderman, said of All-Star. Sometimes good service is worth every penny. And Christopher Phipps, another longtime board member, suggested that the board quickly write a policy specifying what dollar amount requires an item to go out to bid. BRIDGEPORT Mayor Joe Ganim, a Democrat running for governor, offered a strong, though last minute, public endorsement Tuesday of making Andrew McDonald chief justice of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justice McDonald has already proven himself quite capable of handling complex legal issues in a competent, professional manner. He is more than qualified to serve as chief justice, Ganim said in a statement. He is, in fact, that rare jurist who understands how the cases ruled on by the justice system and arguments about those cases are not merely academic they impact the lives of real people in Connecticut trying to put food on the table every day. Ganims support came too late, since state Senate Republicans had the votes to sink McDonalds nomination, and did, later that afternoon. Ganim has not been as vocal about Republican opposition to McDonald, who would be the nations first openly gay state chief justice, as gubernatorial contender Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. And in a crowded field for governor, that could make a difference when courting progressive Democrats and LGBQ voters. We as Democrats should all support Andrew, and I dont see why any Democratic candidate in this wide field would not throw their support behind this qualified justice, said one individual long-involved in statewide Democratic politics earlier Tuesday, before Ganim issued his statement. Bronin, an ally of McDonalds close friend, outgoing Gov. Dannel Malloy, attended a pro-McDonald rally, lobbied for McDonalds nomination on social media and Tuesday sought to turn it into an issue in the governors race. If the GOP blocks this nomination, the next governor should renominate Andrew McDonald for chief justice. He is the right person for the job, Bronin wrote Tuesday on Twitter. He asked other Democratic candidates Ned Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, and former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz to agree and stand together with me. Bronin did not include Ganim in his tweet. But those four candidates and two others Sean Connolly of East Hartford, the states former veterans affairs commissioner, and Jonathan Harris, former West Hartford mayor all backed McDonald during a Democratic forum this month in Torrington. In contrast to his limited comments on McDonald and Republican opposition to his chief justice nomination, Ganim has actively sought to pick a public fight with his own party over diversity at gubernatorial candidate events. In a letter sent to Democratic State Chairman Nick Balleto last week and released to the media by Ganims campaign, the mayor wrote: It is obvious to any observer that those in attendance at these forums are almost all white, even though almost 33 percent of Connecticut residents are black or Latino. Meanwhile, after McDonalds nomination was defeated Tuesday, Ganim issued a new tweet about coffee: Did you know March was Caffeine Appreciation Month? Make sure you drink lots of coffee to round out the month! BRIDGEPORT - Kyle Navin sat in court furiously writing in a yellow legal pad Tuesday as police officers testified about what led them to suspect the scion of the Easton garbage removal company in the deaths of his parents. Although Navin, who is charged with two counts of murder in his parents 2015 deaths, is still three and a half weeks away from the scheduled start of his trial before a Superior Court jury, state prosecutors on Tuesday began presenting its evidence in the case before Judge Robert Devlin in an attempt to dispel suppression motions filed by the defense. Navins lawyer, Eugene Riccio, is seeking to keep from the jury four statements made by Navin. During Tuesdays hearing Easton police officers testified their focus in the disappearance of Jeffrey and Jeannette Navin shifted to their son Kyle after he gave police the conflicting statements. The operations manager of his fathers Easton garbage collection company, Navin is accused of separately shooting his parents to death and later hiding their bodies under debris in a friends yard in Weston. Jeffrey Navin, 56, the president of J & J Refuse in Easton and his wife, 55, a Weston Intermediate School library paraprofessional disappeared from their Easton home Aug. 4, 2015. Their bodies were found buried beneath debris in Weston on Oct. 29 of that year. Easton Detective Kent Lyman, the first witness called to the stand by prosecutors Joseph Corradino and Michael DeJoseph, testified he called Kyle Navin after two of Navins relatives reported the elder Navins missing on Aug. 7, 2015. He said he didnt know where they were but they had visited his home that morning at his house in Bridgeport, Lyman testified. He said they came to his house to see if he was OK because he had broken his back. They said they were going to dinner in New York City. Easton Police Officer Thomas Ceccarelli said he interviewed Kyle Navin on Aug. 9, 2015. He said the last time he spoke to them (his parents) was by cellphone and that was mainly about accounts and routes. He said there was a possibility his parents were going to see the World Trade Center Memorial, Ceccarelli testified. You didnt advise him of his constitutional rights? Riccio asked the officer. No, he wasnt a suspect, the witness replied. When Easton Police Chief Timothy Shaw returned from a family trip on Aug. 8, 2015, things began to take a turn in the case. The Navins pickup truck was found in a commuter lot off the Merritt Parkway in Westport with its window broken and telephone records showed that Jeffrey and Jeannettes cell phones had last been in operation on Aug. 4, 2015. Hers pinged off a tower in Easton while his cellphones last call came from Kyle Navins Bridgeport home. During a sit down with Kyle Navin, Shaw said Navin told him he had last seen his parents on Aug. 4. He said he met his mother by Exit 42 of the Merritt Parkway and she had gotten into his truck. They then began to pick up garbage along a route. He said at some point his back was bothering him and his mother would get out and collect the garbage. He said he contacted his father and then dropped his mother at the Daybreak Nursery in Westport at 10:30, he then went home, Shaw testified. he claimed he had no knowledge of his parents will or life insurance. The hearing resumes Thursday. After driving away from State Police at speeds exceeding 115 mph, the driver of a stolen car soon lost control and rolled the vehicle over on I-84. When a trooper arrived at the rollover, he saw the driver fleeing the vehicle through the rear window. The driver then climbed over a fence on River Road in Southbury, not too far from the Troop A State Police barracks. Within minutes, the driver - identified as Nathaniel Calloway, 28, of New Britain - was captured by Southbury police officers and troopers. The incident began just before 2 p.m. Monday when Trooper Jason Cassavechia was monitoring traffic with a license plate reader near Exit 10 on eastbound I-84 in Newtown. The trooper than received a hit on the license plate reader indicating that the registration on a vehicle was suspended. As the trooper pulled out after the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated on I-84 eastbound at an extreme high rate of speed, according to the arrest summary report. The trooper attempted to catch up to the vehicle as speeds exceeded 115 mph. The trooper lost sight of the vehicle exit of Exit 11 (in Southbury). Approximately one minute later, the trooper came upon the vehicle rolled over on the right shoulder of I-84. As the trooper approached the vehicle, a male exited the vehicle through the rear window, the report said. Calloway was quickly captured by local police and troopers who had flooded the area. The vehicle was later identified as being stolen. Calloway was also wanted by Wallingford police. Troopers also found brass knuckles and a large amount of U.S. currency inside the vehicle. Calloway was charged with failure to renew registration, improper use of a marker, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, operating a motor vehicle while his license is under suspension, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, evading responsibility, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, third-degree larceny, interfering with officers and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was held on a $50,000 bond pending arraignment in Danbury Superior Court. TRUMBULL Trumbull High School brought home a top honor at the 21st Penn Model Congress competition, a first for the team which formed only four years ago. Trumbulls Model Congress team has been attending the University of Pennsylvania Model Congress competition since spring 2015. But this year, competing against more than 700 students from around the country, the team was honored with the Best Small Delegation Award, along with several individual awards for students. The award is for school groups of fewer than 18 students. It was honestly amazing. I've never been more proud of a group of students, said Katie Boland, the teams adviser and a social studies teacher at Trumbull High. Just seeing the poise and the confidence and the conviction of the students was amazing all weekend long. And they really came together as a group. The 14 members of the team acted as United States lawmakers, writing bills that would be presented in congressional committees before the competition and debating bills on a variety of economic, political and social issues including law enforcement accountability, campaign finance reform and giving convicted felons the right to vote. Scoring was based on both team and individual work, with extra points given for student-created legislation that passed in the congress. Winning the team award was truly a team effort, Boland said. We needed all 14 students putting 100 percent effort into each and every committee session and they did that and more. Participants prepared for weeks before the competition, meeting after school to practice before heading to University of Pennsylvania last week weekend. I always like to say that there are very few ways kids or teenagers who can exercise their civic duty before they turn 18, but this program is very unique because we can do just that, said co-president Derek Marble, who turned 18 on the day the team was honored with the award. The program started at Trumbull High in spring 2014, and the team has attended conferences at universities including Yale, Columbia and Harvard. Boland said she started Model Congress at the school partly to be a feeder program into Trumbull Highs We the People team, which is only open to seniors in the Advanced Placement U.S. Government/Constitutional Studies class. Eighth-grade students also have the opportunity to be involved with We the People, and Boland said she hoped Model Congress would help bridge the gap. Senior and Model Congress co-president Ethan Bachand has been part of the club since his freshman year, and said it was special to watch the club grow over the years. This club has definitely been the most rewarding part of high school, Bachand said. We get to meet with some of the smartest kids across the nation and we get to make the changes we want to see in the world. We get to be part of the legislative process. Members of the winning Model Congress team were seniors Bachand, Marble, Shane Carley, Mimi Marino, Jessica Parillo, Laura Rosales, Alev Yorulmaz, Larry Zhang, juniors Kyle Beck, Michael Cerulli, Daniella Chuka, James Dubreuil, Manan Manchanda, and freshman Supriya Ganti. Conrad Martin As YouTube star Mamrie Hart -- her popular channel You Deserve a Drink has more than 1.2 million subscribers -- set about writing her second book, which some could argue is an even scarier prospect than writing your first, her M.O. was to seek out adventure. The result is I've Got This Round: More Tales of Debauchery, which chronicles Harts decision to take in as many new experiences as possible after she entered her 30s and found herself single after a decade-long relationship. PM briefs foreign diplomats in Baluwatar Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli briefed ambassadors, chiefs of foreign diplomatic missions and development partners about governments future plans and policies at his official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu on Tuesday. Wisconsin First District congressman and speaker of the House Paul Ryan visits Landmark Credit Union, New Berlin, Wisconsin. April 7, 2017. (PRNewsfoto/Landmark Credit Union) The Wisconsin Credit Union league teamed up with the Wisconsin Bankers Association to urge Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to take up and pass the bipartisan Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. The bipartisan regulatory relief bill is strongly supported by CUNA, and it passed the Senate earlier this month. Together, we respectfully ask that the House promptly pass S. 2155, and allow our institutions to better serve Wisconsins consumers and communities, wrote league President Brett Thompson and WBA President Rose Oswald. The letter notes: The strong bipartisan support for the version of the bill passed in the Senate; The common sense provisions in the bill that mirror 15 issues the House has already passed in House regulatory relief package, the Financial CHOICE Act; Police: Somerset DA Jeff Thomas showed up uninvited, raped Windber woman Somerset DA Jeff Thomas was arrested Wednesday night and charged with sexual assault following an incident in a Windber Borough home Sept. 18, police said. In the wake of radical changes incorporated in the terms of reference (ToR) for the 15th Finance Commission, the southern states are staring at a massive cut in their share of the devolutions from the central government. The Finance Commission is a body set up under Article 280(1) of the Constitution whose primary job is to recommend how revenues need to be distributed between the Centre and states. The recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission headed by former revenue secretary NK Singh will come into effect from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2025. What has led to massive outrage in the southern states is a particular directive in the terms of reference given to the Finance Commission to follow the 2011 Census instead of the 1971 Census while formulating the share of individual states. Now, this is a tricky subject in many ways: The reason why successive Finance Commissions use the 1971 Census rather than the latest available Census is due to the 42nd amendment to the Constitution in 1976, which mandated a freeze on the population figures; with 1971 Census to be used for purposes of delimitation. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley with 15th Finance Commission chairman NK Singh (second from left) and other members of the panel. (Credit: PTI file photo) This was done with the explicit objective of incentivising states to control their burgeoning population without the prospect of their seats going down in the Lok Sabha. Initially, the freeze was legislated for a period of 25 years but in 2001, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government extended that for another 25 years till 2026, with the 84th amendment. While southern states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in particular, have aggressively gone about educating their girl child, and by extension, brought their fertility rate well within replacement levels, the BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) have gone the other way with scant interventions in the social sector. If the 15th Finance Commission uses the 2011 Census while deciding the share of individual states for the devolution of funds, it will be akin to punishing the states that chose to implement family planning and control their population. It will end up incentivising the BIMARU states and other states that have consistently failed to educate their girl child. (World over, high female literacy is considered as a correlate or a corresponding figure to low fertility.) More importantly, it will portend a bigger impasse come 2026 on the question of extending the use of 1971 Census for delimitation. Its much more significant if one takes into account that a Hindu majoritarian party like the BJP won more than 50 per cent of their total seats from the same BIMARU states in 2014. It will naturally lead to alienation of the southern states and sow seeds of secessionism, if the Hindi speaking states end up cornering most of the taxes at their expense despite the fact that all these states were in the same boat at the dawn of Independence. While the 15th Finance Commission still has the leeway to give the weightage it deems fit to different variables (population among them) it takes into consideration while making the final calculation, it will be nigh impossible to offset the impact of changing the Census from 1971 to 2011. Experts have opined that the Finance Commission could factor in another variable - progress in moving towards replacement level of population growth - to counter-balance the effect of using 2011 population Census. While the BJP-led central government has been targeted by south Indian politicians ranging from Tamil Nadu opposition leader MK Stalin, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka chief minister Sidharamiah, Kerala finance minister Thomas Issac and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan for drafting terms of reference inimical to the much touted "cooperative federalism", it has been conveniently ignored that the 14th Finance Commission, appointed by the Manmohan Singh government and led by YV Reddy, actually initiated this by giving 10 per cent additional weightage (out of 27.5 per cent) to the 2011 Census. Even such a 10 per cent weightage given to 2011 Census by the 14th Finance Commission ended up negatively affecting the devolution to states like Tamil Nadu whose ratio in the total kitty fell drastically. This has further aggravated the fears of southern states who contribute more in taxes to the Centre. Apart from the Census issue, another contentious ToR flagged by MK Stalin in his letter to the 10 non-BJP chief ministers is the unilaterally imposed "control or lack of it in incurring expenditure on populist schemes" in 4 (viii). It is a genuine concern for states to have whether the centrally appointed non-elected members of the Finance Commission has any right to sit in judgement on "populism". Something deemed populist by the Finance Commission could well be an imperative for a particular state on account of its peculiar constraints. The displaced former Jammu and Kashmir finance minister Haseeb Drabu had already written about this more than a month ago. He had also written in an article that the central government had passed off value judgements in a leading and loaded terms of reference for the Finance Commission. There have also been concerns raised about the composition of the Finance Commission itself post the creation of the GST Council - that will decide on the vertical devolution, that is, between New Delhi and the states - finding no representation in the commission. In fact, it has been pointed out that co-opting a member of the NITI Ayog doesnt make sense in the current scenario as that body has no say in the capex budget of states. Instead of factoring in the changes on account of the GST in the horizontal devolution formula between states, the Centre has inexplicably come up with a weird set of ToR that defies logic and will only aggravate the already strained relations between the southern states and Centre. The 15th Finance Commission has also been asked to factor in the macro-economic impact (corresponding fiscal constraints on the Centre) post the higher devolution to states from the Centres divisible pool as recommended by the previous commission. While Prime Minister Modi tried to corner the credit for implementing the recommendations by the 14th Finance Commission, despite the fact that many centrally sponsored schemes and outlays on them were cut down to compensate for the higher devolution, he will have to tread cautiously on the revolt by southern states as it has the potential to foster disaffection and ill-will towards the Centre. As it is, the majoritarian agenda of Indias ruling Hindu nationalist party has already driven a wedge between the southern states and New Delhi. This is reflected in the resistance to Hindi imposition in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the unease on the issue of beef in Kerala and loss of goodwill among Telugus due to the perceived step-motherly treatment post bifurcation. Although the Finance Commission is expected to do its best to balance out the concerns of southern states by either reducing the weightage on the population variable or introducing other variables to arrive at a devolution formula, it still has to operate within the ToR. But it is the Union government which has to walk the talk on "cooperative federalism" by accommodating some changes. Or else, this will rightly be dubbed "coercive federalism" by the affected southern states. Also read: What yoga a 3D Modi can do that Baba Ramdev can't President to address fed parliament on Thursday Following the Cabinet decision to fix the date for presidential address to the Federal Parliament, the Parliament Secretariat plans to hold the first joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on Thursday. Recent developments suggest that Narendra Modi and his BJP can no longer afford to be sanguine about their prospects in the next parliamentary elections. Yes, there was an impressive win in Tripura less than a month ago, but that is a state with just two parliamentary constituencies, and the news from elsewhere is far from encouraging. The BJP saved its Gujarat bastion with some difficulty in December 2017 and has lost all but one of the 13 parliamentary and Assembly by-elections held in 2018. The reverses have happened both in states where it was optimistic about maintaining its edge over the Opposition (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and those where it had hoped to make major inroads (Odisha and West Bengal). Another perhaps more significant portent of the changing political wind comes from the evolving stances of regional and smaller parties. BJP allies from several states have either jumped ship recently or have begun making dissonant noises, two formidable regional opponents who seemed irreconcilable till not too long ago are inching closer to each other in UP, a federal front is being talked about, and the wily Sharad Pawar has begun exploring viable anti-BJP groupings. While the chatterati have the luxury of dismissing realignment conversations as signs of political desperation and opportunism, the BJP will take these lightly at its own peril. Even the smallest allies had a key contribution to the 2014 result, both in terms of magnifying the Modi aura and influencing votes in many more constituencies than their allotted strongholds, and their exit will hurt. More importantly, regional and small parties usually have their ears closer to the ground, and their growing openness to considering non-BJP options suggests that they may be sniffing a change in voter mood. There are three related axes around which the anti-BJP conversation is shaping up. The first focuses on puncturing the exaggerated claims of the Modi government and its all-round failure in delivering "achhe din", a line the Congress took with some success in Gujarat. The second dwells on the Modi governments callous attitude to regional aspirations and its unfair treatment of regional Opposition-led states, the factors said to be behind the Telugu Desam Partys exit from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Raos federal front initiative. The third relates to a strong anti-democratic strain in the functioning of the ruling party and government, with sweeping decisions such as demonetisation taken without much consultation, Opposition leaders being hounded, much energy being devoted to sabotaging Opposition governments and installing BJP/NDA state governments even after electoral rejection, and meddling in the working of constitutional and other authorities. Together, these have spawned concern across the Opposition spectrum and encouraged some unlikely team-ups. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party tie-up for the UP by-elections has made the most news, but there are others too. The Andhra Pradesh-Telangana parties, though not exactly friends, are on the same side as far as special status state demands go, KCR is hobnobbing with Mamata Banerjee, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has reached an understanding with the Congress, and the Left joined Pawars Save Constitution march in Mumbai. Not everyone of these has the potential to mature into a firm coalition, but there is enough in them to suggest that the road ahead for the BJP has more showstoppers than before. The BJP may have its defence against the mounting criticism it faces on grounds of non-performance, regional neglect and anti-democratic attitude, but the fact of the matter is that these have emerged as the principal themes around which the anti-BJP sentiment is coalescing. As for how and why these emerged, much of the blame must go to the Modi-Amit Shah duo. The BJPs top two have made no secret of their Congress-mukt Bharat agenda or their desire for a longer stint in the government, ostensibly to realise a "new India". Political ambition itself is not exceptionable, but the Modi-Shah duos chosen approach is. For their plans to continue in power appear to rely less on demonstrated performance, more on headline management, a systematic crippling of the Opposition, and projection of their electoral record as a popular vindication of positions and endorsement of performance (Notably, the BJP has never spared the Congress for the propaganda and Opposition stiflement the grand old party resorted to in its heydays, and its position on electoral record smacks of duplicity. If the BJPs election wins reflect the peoples approval of what it is doing, surely the Congress must have performed extremely well for it to have ruled the roost for decades.) The Modi-Shah recipe, viewing the party more as an election machine than an instrument of governance, has driven the BJP to high-voltage propaganda and riding roughshod over regional sentiment and established democratic proprieties. The three attack themes the Opposition has now found - and the new alignments being contemplated to counter the BJP threat - were inevitable with it. Modis carefully crafted larger than life persona is another reason for the kind of Opposition build-up being witnessed. In painting Modi as a hugely popular, unassailable political mastermind, and Modi himself seriously invested in perpetuating the image, the BJP has hastened the process of self-reflection across various Opposition parties and given a certain credibility to charges of self-aggrandisement and totalitarianism against Modi. It is likely that the Opposition would have remained less creative in its approach and hobbled by past baggage had the prospect of a Modi-led hegemony not been pitched so strongly. It is strange then that the men and strategies that catapulted the BJP to parliamentary majority and have delivered several important Assembly election wins since should emerge as the partys weak links now. But then, as Shah himself says, every election is different and the past matters little. Also read: Can vice-president Venkaiah Naidu rise above RSS politics? German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's just-concluded visit to India was important on many counts. Unlike his predecessor Joachim Gauck who visited India in 2014, Steinmeier has much greater international recognition and more political weight, having been foreign minister for eight years in two spells (2005-09 and 2013-17) and vice-chancellor from 2007 to 2009. His visit has come after Germany has been able to form a coalition government after a lapse of some months, an exercise in which he has played a significant exhortatory role. The value of his visit lies in the consolidation of our understandings both in the bilateral and international contexts. Economic partner Germany is Indias biggest economic partner in Europe and the sixth largest at the global level, with bilateral trade in 2016-17 amounting to $18.3 billion (Rs 1,18,501 crore), which is below the peak of $23 billion (Rs 1,48,844 crore) reached in 2011-12. Nearly 1,800 German companies have invested $10.71 billion (Rs 69,309 crore) in India from April 2000 to December 2017, making it the seventh largest investor in India, but as this amounts to only 3 per cent of the total FDI received by India from 2000 to March 2017, there is scope for considerable expansion. (In comparison, India has invested more than $6 billion Rs 38,826 crore in Germany till December 2016). Given that the German economy is the largest in Europe (constituting 28 per cent of the euro area economy) and the fourth largest globally, not to mention Germany ranking as the third largest exporting country in the world, our bilateral economic relations could be more voluminous. By comparison, Germanys trade with China, its largest trade partner, stood at euro 169.9 billion (Rs 13,69,460 crore) in 2016. We have been long pushing for greater German investment in India, especially from middle-sized German companies that are the backbone of the German engineering sector, as it is through them that we can obtain a whole range of technologies to upgrade our industrial sector. Germany has been expressing concern about the expiry of our bilateral investment treaty and the absence of a new one, but this can now only materialise through the India-EU FTA which is proving difficult to negotiate. Steinmeier has, during his visit, called for its early conclusion. India has always seen Germany as a most attractive technology partner. We have a High Technology Partnership Group (HTPG) for identifying specific opportunities for high technology collaboration under the Make in India programme, in particular in areas of skill development, defence manufacturing, machine tools, maritime technology and the blue economy. Possibilities of cooperation in the field of Industry 4.0, which covers automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, is being explored. Germany has great expertise in the area of Vocational Education and Training for which a joint working group exists. Indias railway modernisation and expansion plans offer considerable opportunities for the German rail industry. Renewable energies and sustainable urban development are other major areas of India-German cooperation. So is higher education. Germany is keen to receive more Indian students (currently 15,000 in number). At over 3,40,000, the number of foreign students in Germany grew by 36 per cent between 2012 and 2016, with Chinese students numbering at over 32,000 forming the largest contingent. Germanys active consideration of an Indian proposal for a MoU on mutual recognition of qualifications will certainly enhance student exchanges. It is with a similar objective in mind that during Macrons visit India and France agreed to give mutual recognition to academic degrees. Global uncertainties Steinmeiers visit has taken place in the context of major global uncertainties created by US policies under Donald Trump, the unveiling of Chinas hegemonic ambitions on land and sea under a more authoritarian regime, the looming threats of protectionism and trade wars, strains within Europe, the Brexit blow to the European project and so on. Europe as the worlds largest economic and trading block, espousing democratic and pluralistic values and attached to an open multilateral trading system, finds a rising India an increasingly congenial all-round partner. India is one of the few countries with which Germany has institutionalised summit level biennial inter-governmental consultations. Foreign policy Inversely, India values a strong relationship with Europe, given that it is Indias leading trade, investment and technological partner, and closer ties with Europe gives more balance to our foreign policy, especially when balance of power politics is re-surfacing at the international level. With Brexit, Germany, with France, has become more central to the process of rejuvenating Europe, and this therefore requires that we have stronger understandings with it. Germanys concerns about Chinas threat to the liberal international order, including through its state-driven Belt and Road Initiative, are rising. It is beginning to pay serious attention to the expansion of China in the Indian Ocean. In his address at the Delhi University, Steinmeier offered German support to ensure freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean, which he considered important for Germanys stability and prosperity. Shared values have acquired more foreign policy salience to counter the disruptive state-driven authoritarian model China is seeking to propagate internationally. Steinmeier, therefore, pointedly mentioned that he intentionally chose democratic India for his first longer trip to Asia. A little surprisingly he cautioned India against BRICS as a grouping that seeks to challenge the existing international structures when reforming them would be a better choice. Refreshingly, he cautioned against the responsibility to protect becoming a pretext for new interventionism. All in all, Steinmeiers visit will have contributed to stronger strategic and economic India-Germany ties. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Can vice-president Venkaiah Naidu rise above RSS politics? Between April and July of 1994, an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 ethnic Tutsi people were massacred in ethnic cleansing in the African nation of Rwanda, by the Hutu majority government. While the Tutsi people were the primary targets in the Rwandan civil war, moderate Hutu people too were killed in thousands. The macabre orgy of violence and death was whipped up by the Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), a radio station that was popular among the general public. Broadcast from July 1993 to July 1994, the RTLM, was instrumental in inoculating the general public with prejudice and whipping up hatred against the Tutsi people and the moderate Hutus. Researchers from Harvard and even the United Nations state that much of the cause for the Rwandan genocide can be pinioned to the RTLM. It is important to learn about the Rwandan genocide and the role of the media played in causing the deaths of so many innocent people, which led to the debacle of their nation, in the light of the details of Operation 136, the sting shared by Cobrapost.com on Monday (March 26). Despite the apparent skew of the media towards the ruling party, the callousness with which they were willing to trade the sanctity of the principle of neutrality was shocking. While some of those caught in the sting bragged about their affiliation with the right wing, others wanted an advance payment in cash, which evidently was a euphemism for black money. Aniruddha Bahal of @cobrapost speaks on the website's latest expose: Operation 136 on a section of the Indian Media that helped create a pro-hindutva narrative. Watch LIVE: https://t.co/MLx9ZPp5KC pic.twitter.com/LKl19S4ftR #TruthShouldWin (@pokurusrinivas) March 26, 2018 Gist of @cobrapost invgn into how RW propaganda is being spread for a price. https://t.co/8kstx6tn9i Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 26, 2018 The revelation should make us all worried about the strength of our democracy, no matter what our political preferences and affiliations are. As if the weakening of the constitutional institutions was not bad enough, we now have not a subservient media, but one that is willing to be actively culpable in the weakening of the Indian democracy. Senior functionaries of about two dozen newspapers and channels were willing to tarnish the image of Opposition and divert attention from impending questions that ought to be posed to any government. Ironically, on Monday, three journalists lost their lives in "purported accidents", even as they were reporting on politically sensitive cases. Whether the deaths were indeed accidents or cold-blooded murders the investigations shall reveal. However, India still has the ignominy of being ranked the eighth worst country for journalists, by the International Federation of Journalists, indicating that the free press is being coerced into silence. And yet, the media honchos who were exposed by the sting operation had no qualms in further damaging the democratic fabric of our country, forgetting that neutrality is paramount for any journalist. In addition to character assassination of the Opposition leaders, the tainted mediapersons were also willing to peddle soft Hindutva. What they dont realise is that indulging in unfair and even nefarious activities, like accepting black money for their unholy services, they bring a bad name to the Hindu faith. If they indeed believe in God, they would be aware that they can never find peace with a blemished conscience. Therefore, it is clear that in the garb of religion, they are indulging in activities that are extremely dangerous for India, often blinded by the greed of pelf. And much like the RTLM, the Indian media too has often berated the moderate Hindus, albeit very subtly. The supporters of the government, however, have taken the cue and moderate Hindus are often trolled and coerced online. It appears that only those who follow the spurious version of the rightist parties interpretation of the Hindu faith are accepted as Hindus, and everyone who stands for an inclusive society are berated as being naive or "turncoats". If we want to undo the damage done to the Indian society, and our political system, we must introspect and ask ourselves whether the Indian media is emulating the RTLM, wilfully or inadvertently. We cannot lose the momentum of progress and development we have painstakingly built since independence, after overcoming many national contingencies. It would be apt for the journalistic fraternity to recall the words of the French writer and filmmaker, Marguerite Duras: Journalism without a moral position is impossible. Every journalist is a moralist. Its absolutely unavoidable. Also read: Why Indian universities allow sexual predators like Atul Johri to get away Bunzl plc operates as a distribution and services company in the North America, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers food packaging, films, labels, counter-service packaging, foodservice disposables, take-out food packaging, first aid products, point of purchase displays, stationery, bags, and cleaning and hygiene supplies to grocery stores, supermarkets, retail chains, convenience stores, food wholesalers, ethnic grocers, and organic food outlets. It also provides food packaging, napkins, disposable tableware, food service disposables, guest amenities, light and heavy catering equipment, cleaning and hygiene products, and safety items to hotels, restaurants, caterers, the leisure sector, and food processors and packers; and footwear, gloves, safety helmets, workwear, harness equipment, tools, safety signs, traffic management, and ancillary site equipment, as well as ear, eye, respiratory, and face protection products to customers in the industrial and construction markets. In addition, the company offers cleaning systems, floorcare items, hand cleansing products, hygiene paper, janitorial products, cleaning machines, mops, polishes, and protective clothing and washroom chemicals to facilities management companies, contract cleaners, and other industrial and healthcare customers; and counter service packaging, point of purchase display items, stationery, and cleaning and hygiene products to department stores, boutiques, office supply companies, retail chains, and home improvement chains. Further, it provides gloves, aprons, bandages, facemasks, gowns, headwear, mattress covers, overshoes, procedure packs, tapes, wipes, incontinence products, and swabs to the healthcare sector, including hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, and doctors' surgeries and clinics; and various products to government and education establishments. Bunzl plc was founded in 1854 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Convergys Corporation provides customer management services to communications and media, technology, financial services, retail, healthcare, government, travel and hospitality, and other vertical markets worldwide. The company offers solutions across the customer lifecycle, including sales, customer service, technical support, customer retention, and collection, as well as security, compliance, and fraud solutions; and solutions in contact center technology comprising omni-channel interaction, cross-channel integration framework, real-time decisioning engine, robotic process automation, intelligent notification, campaign management, personalized care, personalized selling, agent productivity, and retention solutions. It also provides analytics and consulting, and software solutions, such as enterprise feedback management, integrated customer experience analytics, post-contact surveys, relational loyalty research, customer segmentation and profiling, call elimination analysis, analysis of customer effort, digital channel optimization, and integrated contact center analytics solutions, as well as voice of customer software. The company operates through 140 contact centers. Convergys Corporation was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Read More 2 hours ago If You Can Look Past Bad Optics, AT&T May be a Viable Trade The plight of AT&T (NYSE: T) evokes some truths about human nature and investor sentiment. For years, AT&T was criticized for wandering far afield from its core wireless business. Read Article Film producer Subas Giri arrested in copyright infringement Police on Tuesday arrested producer of Nepali feature film Kri, Subas Giri for copyright infringement. Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. engages in the provision of equipment, systems, and value-added services for the rail industry. It operates through the following segments: Freight and Transit. The Freight segment involves in the manufacture and offers services components for new and existing locomotives and freight cars; supplies rail control and infrastructure products such as electronics, positive train control equipment, and signal design and engineering services; overhauls locomotives; and provides heat exchangers and cooling systems for rail and other industrial markets. The Transit segments includes the manufacture and providing services components for new and existing passenger transit vehicles, including regional trains, high speed trains, subway cars, light-rail vehicles, and buses; supplies rail control and infrastructure products such as electronics, positive train control equipment, and signal design and engineering services; builds new commuter locomotives; and renovate passenger transit vehicles. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Pareteum 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 Pareteum wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Black Diamond Group Limited rents and sells modular space and workforce accommodation solutions. It operates through two segments, Modular Space Solutions and Workforce Solutions. The Modular Space Solutions segment provides modular space rentals to customers in the construction, real estate development, manufacturing, education, financial, and resource industries, as well as government agencies in North America. Its products include office units, lavatories, storage units, large multi-unit office complexes, classroom facilities, banking and health care facilities, custom manufactured modular facilities, and blast resistant structures. This segment also sells new and used space rentals units; and provides delivery, installation, project management, and ancillary products and services. The Workforce Solutions segment provides workforce housing solutions, including rental of accommodations and surface equipment, and provision of turnkey lodging and travel management services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. This segment also provides associated services, such as installation, transportation, demobilization, and sale of used fleet assets. This segment primarily serves the resource, infrastructure, construction, disaster recovery, and education sectors. The company also provides specialized field rentals to oil and gas industries. Black Diamond Group Limited markets its rental assets, custom sales, and ancillary products and services through in-house sales personnel, its website, social media, web campaigns, and its digital marketplace. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More REDD signals Deforestation and forest land degradation contribute to 17 percent of worldwide carbon emissions, which in turn has a considerable impact on the current global warming phenomenon. Embraer SA engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft and its parts for commercial, defense, and executive aviation sectors. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Jet Business, Service & Support and Others. The Commercial Aviation segment is involved in the development, production, and sale of commercial jets; and the provision of support services to regional aviation and aircraft leasing. The Defense and Security segment engages in research, development, production, modification, and support for defense and security aircrafts, as well as other integrated products and solutions including satellites and information and communication systems. The Executive Jet Business segment deals with the development, manufacture, and sale of executive jets. The Service & Support segment provides after-service solutions and support to its customers through a comprehensive portfolio of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure operational efficiency of products manufactured by Embraer and by other aircraft manufacturers, extending the useful life of commercial, executive and defense aircraft. The Others segment refers to Read More The following companies are subsidiares of China Shenhua Energy: China Shenhua Overseas Development and Investment Co. Ltd., Guangdong Guohua Yudean Taishan Power Co. Ltd., Guoh ua Taicang Power Co. Ltd., Guohua Xuzhou Power Generation Co. Ltd, Hebei Guohua Cangdong Power Co. Ltd, Inner Mongolia Guohua Hulunbeier Power Generation Co. Ltd., Inner Mongolia Guohua Zhungeer Power Generation Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Guohua Chenjiagang Power C o . L t d ., Ningxia Guohua Ningdong Power Generation Co. Ltd., PT GH EMM Indonesia, PT. Shenhua Guohua Lion Power Indonesia, SHENHUA AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED, Sanhe Power Co. Ltd., Shaanxi Guohua Jinjie Energy Co. Ltd., Shenhua (Tianjin) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Shenhua Baorixile Energy Co. Ltd., Shenhua Baoshen Railway Co. Ltd, Shenhua Baoshen Railway Group Co. Ltd., Shenhua Baotou Energy Co. Ltd., Shenhua Bayannur Energy Co. Ltd., Shenhua Beidian Shengli Energy Co. Ltd., Shenhua F inance Co. Ltd., Shenhua Fujian Energy C o . L t d ., Shenhua Ganquan R a ilw a y Co. Ltd., Shenhua Geological Exploration Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua (Beijing) Distributed Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua (Beijing) Gas Thermal Power Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua (Indonesia) Jawa Power Generation Co. Ltd, Shenhua Guohua (Zhoushan) Power Generation Co. Ltd ., Shenhua Guohua Beijing Electric Power Research Institute Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Guangdong Electricity Sales Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Guangtou (Beihai) Power Generation Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Guangtou (Liuzhou ) Power Generation Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua International Power Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Jiansu Power Sales Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Jiujiang Power Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Mengjin Power Generation Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Ningdong Power Generation Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Qingyuan Power Generation Co. Ltd., Shenhua Guohua Shouguang Power Generation Company Limited, Shenhua Guohua Yongzhou Power Co. Ltd., Shenhua Hong Kong Limited, Shenhua Huanghua Harbour Administration Co. Ltd., Shenhua Information Technology Co. Ltd., Shenhua Logistics Group Corporation Limited, Shenhua R ailway Transportation Co. Ltd., Shenhua Sales Group Co. Ltd., Shenhua Shandong Power Sales Co. Ltd., Shenhua Shendong Coal Group Co. Ltd., Shenhua Shendong Power Co. Ltd., Shenhua Sichuan Energy Co. Ltd., Shenhua Tianjin Coal Dock Co. Ltd., Shenhua Xinjie Energy Co. Ltd, Shenhua Xinzhun Railway Co. Ltd., Shenhua Yueyang Power Generation Co. Ltd, Shenhua Zhonghai Shipping Co. Ltd., Shenhua Zhunchi Railway Company Limited, Shenhua Zhungeer Energy Co. Ltd, Shenhua Zhunneng Group Co. Ltd., Shenwan Energy Co. Ltd., Shuohuang Railway Development Co. Ltd., Suizhong Power Co. Ltd., Tianjin Guohua Jinneng Power Co. Ltd., Tianjin Guohua Panshan Power Generation Co. Ltd., Yulin Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Guohua Yuyao Gas- red Power Co. Ltd., and Zhejiang Guohua Zheneng Power Generation Co. Ltd.. Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V., formerly Koninklijke Ahold N.V., is engaged in the operation of retail stores in Europe and the United States. The Company's segments are Ahold USA, Delhaize America, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Central and Southeastern Europe (CSE). In addition, Other retail, consists of Ahold Delhaize's unconsolidated joint ventures JMR - Gestao de Empresas de Retalho, SGPS, S.A. (JMR) and P.T. Lion Super Indo, LLC (Super Indo), and Ahold Delhaize's Global Support Office. JMR operates food retail stores in Portugal under the brand name Pingo Doce. The Company's Ahold USA segment includes Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover, Giant Carlisle and Peapod. The Company's Delhaize America segment includes brands, such as Food Lion and Hannaford. The Food Lion brand's market areas include Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Barnes Group: AS Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., Adval Tech - Foboha Mold Making Business, Associated Spring (Tianjin) Company Ltd., Associated Spring (UK) Ltd., Associated Spring Asia Pte. Ltd., Associated Spring Corporation, Associated Spring Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Associated Spring Raymond (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Associated Spring Raymond GmbH, Associated Spring do Brasil Ltda., Barnes Airmotive Malaysia SND. BHD., Barnes Financing Delaware LLC, Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited, Barnes Group (Delaware) LLC, Barnes Group (Germany) GmbH, Barnes Group (Scotland) Limited, Barnes Group (Thailand) Ltd., Barnes Group (U.K.) 2 Limited, Barnes Group (U.K.) Limited, Barnes Group Acquisition GmbH, Barnes Group Canada Corp., Barnes Group Finance Company (Bermuda) Limited, Barnes Group Finance Company (Delaware), Barnes Group Holding LLC, Barnes Group Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a r.l., Barnes Group Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a r.l., Barnes Group Spain S.R.L., Barnes Group Suisse Industries GmbH, Barnes Group Switzerland GmbH, Barnes Industrial Group India Private Limited, Barnes Korea Ltd., Barnes Molding Solutions (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Blitz F16-34 GmbH, Curtis Industries, Curtiss Industries (U.K.) Limited, Di-Dro Manifold System Product Line, Euro Stock Springs & Components, Foboha (Germany) GmbH, Foboha Holding GmbH, Forward Industries LLC, GF Controls GmbH, Gammaflux, Gammaflux Controls Inc., Gimatic, Gimatic Automation Engineering (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Gimatic Automation India Pvt Ltd. , Gimatic Automation Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gimatic Balkan d.o.o. Beograd Savski Venac, Gimatic Czech Republic s.r.o., Gimatic France S.a.r.l., Gimatic Japan Limited, Gimatic Korea Limited, Gimatic Nordic A.B., Gimatic Otomasyon Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Gimatic Polska sp. z o.o, Gimatic S.r.l., Gimatic Sisteme RO SRL, Gimatic Sistemi industrijska avtomatizacija d.o.o., Gimatic Spain S.L., Gimatic Vertrieb GmbH, Gimatrade S.r.l., Heinz Haenggi Gmbh Stanztechnik, Industrial Gas Springs, Industrial Gas Springs Group Holdings Limited, Industrial Gas Springs Inc., Industrial Gas Springs Limited, Kar Products, Kratz-Wilde Machine Co, MTM S.r.l., Manner Hong Kong Limited, Manner USA Inc., Orflam - Nitropush Product Line, Otto Manner, Otto Manner GmbH, Otto Manner Immobilien GmbH, Otto Manner Innovation GmbH, Premier Farnell - KENT Division, Priamus System Technologies, Priamus System Technologies GmbH, Priamus System Technologies LLC, Raymond Distribution-Mexico S.A. de C.V., Resortes Argentina S.A., Ressorts SPEC SAS, Seeger-Orbis GmbH & Co. OHG, Service Plus Distributors, Sign Holdings Limited, Spectrum Plastics Molding Resources, Stromsholmen AB, Synventive Acquisition B.V., Synventive Acquisition GmbH, Synventive Acquisition Inc., Synventive Acquisition UK Ltd., Synventive Acquisition Unlimited, Synventive B.V., Synventive Fertigungstechnik GmbH, Synventive Holding B.V., Synventive Holding Limited, Synventive Holding SAS, Synventive Molding Solutions, Synventive Molding Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions B.V., Synventive Molding Solutions Canada Inc., Synventive Molding Solutions Co. Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions GmbH, Synventive Molding Solutions Inc., Synventive Molding Solutions JBJ Private Limited, Synventive Molding Solutions K.K., Synventive Molding Solutions LDA, Synventive Molding Solutions LLC, Synventive Molding Solutions LTDA., Synventive Molding Solutions Limited, Synventive Molding Solutions Pte Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions SAS, Synventive Molding Solutions SL, Synventive Molding Solutions s.r.o., Synventive Parent Inc., Teledyne Fluid Systems, The Wallace Barnes Company, Thermoplay, Thermoplay Brasil Sistemas de Injecao Ltda, Thermoplay Deutschland GmbH, Thermoplay France S.a.r.l., Thermoplay Hot Runner Systems (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Thermoplay India Private Limited, Thermoplay Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Thermoplay S.p.A., Thermoplay U.K. Ltd., Toolcom Supplie, Windsor Airmotive Asia Pte. Ltd., and manner Japan Co. Ltd.. SEE candidate found dead in Surkhet A student appearing in Secondary Education Examination (SEE) has been found dead at Babiyachaur in West Surkhet. The following companies are subsidiares of Humana: 154th Street Medical Plaza, 516-526 West Main Street Condominium Council of Co-Owners, 54th Street Medical Plaza, American Eldercare, American Eldercare of North Florida, Anvita Health, Arcadian Health Plan, Arcadian Management Services, Atlantis Physician Group, CAC Medical Center Holdings, CAC-Florida Medical Centers, CDO 1, CDO 2, CHA HMO, CHA Service Company, Care Partners Home Care, CareNetwork, CarePlus Health, CarePlus Health Plans, Cariten Health Plan Inc., Certify Data Systems, CompBenefits, CompBenefits Company, CompBenefits Corporation, CompBenefits Dental, CompBenefits Direct, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Complex Clinical Management, Concentra Managed Care, Continucare Corporation, Continucare MDHC, Continucare MSO, Continucare Medical Management, Dental Care Plus Management, DentiCare, Emphesys, Emphesys Insurance Company, Enclara Healthcare, FPG, FPG Acquisition Corp., FPG Acquisition Holdings Corp., FPG Senior Services, Family Physicians of Winter Park, Go365, HUM Provider Holdings, HUM-e-FL, Harris Rothenberg International, Health Value Management, Humana Active Outlook, Humana At Home (Dallas), Humana At Home (Houston), Humana At Home (San Antonio), Humana At Home (TLC), Humana At Home 1, Humana Behavioral Health, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Humana Dental Company, Humana Digital Health and Analytics Platform Services, Humana EAP and Work-Life Services of California, Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Humana Government Business, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Company of New York, Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Humana Health Plan, Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Humana Health Plan of Texas, Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico, Humana Healthcare Research, Humana Inc., Humana Innovation Enterprises, Humana Insurance Company, Humana Insurance Company of Kentucky, Humana Insurance Company of New York, Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico, Humana Management Services of Puerto Rico, Humana MarketPOINT, Humana MarketPOINT of Puerto Rico, Humana Medical Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Humana Medical Plan of Pennsylvania, Humana Medical Plan of Utah, Humana Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana Regional Health Plan, Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, Humana WellWorks LLC, Humana Wisconsin Health Organization Insurance Corporation, Humana at Home, HumanaDental, HumanaDental Insurance Company, Humco, Hummingbird Coaching Systems LLC, Independent Care Health Plan, KMG America, Kindred Healthcare, MCCI Group Holdings, MCCI Holdings, MCCI Medical Group, MCCI Specialty, MCCI/Lifetime of Aventura, MD Care, METCARE of Florida, Managed Care Indemnity, Medical Care Consortium Incorporated of Texas, MetCare, Metropolitan Health Networks, Naples Health Care Specialists, North Region Providers, Nursing Solutions, OSF HealthCare, PHP Companies, Partners in Integrated Care, Preferred Health Partnership, Preservation on Main, Primary Care Holdings, Primary Care Holdings II, Primary Care Specialists of the Palm Beaches, RMA Medical Centers of Florida, RMA Medical Group of Florida, ROHC, SeniorBridge, SeniorBridge Family Companies (CT), SeniorBridge Family Companies (FL), SeniorBridge Family Companies (IN), SeniorBridge Family Companies (MO), SeniorBridge Family Companies (NY), SeniorBridge-Florida, Texas Dental Plans, The Dental Concern, Transcend Population Health Management, and Transcend Population Health Management II. ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More Cosan Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in fuel and natural gas distribution, logistics, lubricant, sugar, and ethanol businesses in Brazil, Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia, and internationally. It operates through RaAzen Energia, RaAzen CombustAveis, ComgAs, Cosan LogAstica, and Moove segments. The company's RaAzen Energia segment produces and markets products derived from sugar cane, including raw sugar, anhydrous, and hydrated ethanol, as well as activities related to energy cogeneration from sugarcane bagasse. Its RaAzen CombustAveis segment engages in the distribution and marketing of fuels, primarily through a franchised network of service stations under the Shell brand in Brazil; petroleum refining; operation of fuel resellers, and convenience store businesses; and production and sale of liquefied petroleum gas, and automotive and industrial lubricants. The company's ComgAs segment distributes piped natural gas to customers in the industrial, residential, commercial, automotive, and cogeneration sectors in SAo Paulo. Its Cosan LogAstica segment provides logistics services for transport, storage, and port loading of commodities, primarily for sugar products; and leases locomotives, wagons, and other railway equipment. The company's Moove segment produces and distributes lubricants under the Mobil brand. It operates a network of approximately 7,270 service stations and 1,726 convenience stores, as well as 68 distribution terminals and 68 airports supplying jet fuel. The company was founded in 1936 and is based in SAo Paulo, Brazil. Read More Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Dream Global REIT 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 Dream Global REIT wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Ecolab: AO Ecolab, Abednego Environmental Services, Abednego Environmental Services LLC, Abednego Mexico Holdings LLC, Abednego de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alcide Corp., Anios America S.A., Anios Diffusion SAS, Anios Manufacturing SAS, Bioquell, Bioquell Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Bioquell Global Logistics (Ireland) Ltd., Bioquell Holding SAS, Bioquell Inc., Bioquell Limited, Bioquell SAS, Bioquell Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd., Bioquell Technology Canada Ltd., Bioquell UK Limited, Bioxyquell Limited, CALGON EUROPE LIMITED, CALGON LLC, CID LINES HOLDING NV, CID LINES INVEST NV, CID LINES NV, CID Lines, CID Lines Beijing Animal Hygiene Co Ltd., CID Lines France Sarl, CID Lines Iberica SL, CID Lines LLC, CID Lines Mexico S.A. DE C.V., CID Lines R&D NV, CID Lines Sp. z o. o., CORPAK MedSystems, Cascade Water Services, Champion Technologies, Chamtech L.L.C., Chemlawn, Chemstaff Inc., Chemstar Corporation, Cirlam BVBA, Copal Holding NV, Copal Invest NV, DERYPOL SA, DMD, E&M Bio-Chemicals LLC, ECOLAB NL 10 B.V., ECOLAB PEST FRANCE SAS, Ecolab (Antigua) Ltd., Ecolab (Aruba) N.V., Ecolab (Barbados) Limited, Ecolab (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Ecolab (Fiji) Pty Limited, Ecolab (GZ) Chemicals Limited, Ecolab (Guam) LLC, Ecolab (Proprietary) Limited, Ecolab (Schweiz) GmbH, Ecolab (St. Lucia) Limited, Ecolab (Taicang) Technology Co. Ltd., Ecolab (Trinidad and Tobago) Unlimited, Ecolab (U.K.) Holdings Limited, Ecolab A.E.B.E., Ecolab AB, Ecolab AP Holdings LLC, Ecolab AT 2 GmbH, Ecolab AU2 Pty Ltd, Ecolab Acquisition LLC, Ecolab ApS, Ecolab Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Ecolab B.V., Ecolab B.V.B.A./S.P.R.L., Ecolab Bahrain S.P.C., Ecolab CDN 2 Co., Ecolab CDN 4 ULC, Ecolab CH 1 GmbH, Ecolab CH 2 GmbH, Ecolab CH 3 GmbH, Ecolab CH 5 GmbH, Ecolab CH 6 GmbH, Ecolab Chemicals Limited, Ecolab Co., Ecolab Colombia S. A., Ecolab DE 1 GmbH, Ecolab Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab EOOD, Ecolab East Africa (Kenya) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Tanzania) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Uganda) Limited, Ecolab Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Ecolab Engineering GmbH, Ecolab Europe GmbH, Ecolab Export GmbH, Ecolab FR 1 SAS, Ecolab FR 4 SAS, Ecolab Finance Company Designated Activity Company, Ecolab Food Safety & Hygiene Solutions Private Limited, Ecolab G.K., Ecolab Global Business Services LLC, Ecolab GmbH, Ecolab Gulf FZE, Ecolab HK 1 Limited, Ecolab HK 2 Limited, Ecolab Hispano-Portuguesa S.L., Ecolab Holding Italy S.r.l., Ecolab Holdings (Europe) LLC, Ecolab Holdings Inc., Ecolab Holdings Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Ecolab Hygiene Kft., Ecolab Hygiene d.o.o., Ecolab Israel Holdings LLC, Ecolab JVZ Limited, Ecolab Korea Ltd., Ecolab LLC, Ecolab LUX & Co Holdings S.C.A., Ecolab LUX 1 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 2 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 4 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 7 Sarl, Ecolab LUX Sarl, Ecolab Limited, Ecolab Ltd., Ecolab Lux 10 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 12 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 13 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 14 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 15 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 9 S.a.r.l., Ecolab Lux Partner LLC, Ecolab MT Holdings LLC, Ecolab MT Limited, Ecolab Malta 1 Limited, Ecolab Malta 2 Limited, Ecolab Malta GPS, Ecolab Manufacturing IE Limited, Ecolab Manufacturing Inc., Ecolab Manufacturing UK Limited, Ecolab Maroc Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Ecolab NL 11 B.V., Ecolab NL 15 BV, Ecolab NL 16 B.V., Ecolab NL 23 B.V., Ecolab NL 3 BV, Ecolab NL 4 BV, Ecolab Name Holding Limited, Ecolab New Zealand, Ecolab Peru Holdings S.R.L., Ecolab Pest Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Philippines Inc., Ecolab Production Belgium B.V.B.A., Ecolab Production France SAS, Ecolab Production Italy Srl, Ecolab Production LLC, Ecolab Production Netherlands B.V., Ecolab Production Poland sp. z o.o., Ecolab Pte. Ltd., Ecolab Pty Ltd., Ecolab Quimica Ltda., Ecolab S. de R.L. de C.V., Ecolab S.A., Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Ecolab SAS, Ecolab SIA, Ecolab SNC, Ecolab SRL, Ecolab Sdn Bhd, Ecolab Services Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Services Poland Sp. z o o, Ecolab Sociedad Anonima, Ecolab Sp. z o o, Ecolab Spain Services S.L.U., Ecolab Temizleme Sistemleri Limited Sirketi, Ecolab U.S. 2 Inc., Ecolab U.S. 6 LLC, Ecolab U.S. 7 LLC, Ecolab US 1 GP, Ecolab USA Inc., Ecolab Viet Nam Company Limited, Ecolab Water Holding LImited, Ecolab a.s., Ecolab d.o.o., Ecolab s.r.l., Ecolab s.r.o., Ecolab y Compania Colectiva de Responsabilidad Limitada, Ecolab-Importacao E. Exportacao Limitada, Ecolabone B.V., Ecolabtwo B.V., Endoclear Equipamentos Medicos Hospitalares Ltda., Enviroflo Engineering Limited, Food Protection Services, GCS Service, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd., GallayTrac Pty. Ltd., Georgia-Pacific - Paper Chemicals Business, Gibson Chemical Industries, Green Harbour Mainland Holdings Ltd, Guangzhou Green Harbour Environmental Operation Ltd., HYDROSAN LIMITED, Henkel-Ecolab, Hicopla SL, Holchem Laboratories, Huntington Laboratories, Hydenet SAS, INDUSTRIAL) UNIPESSOAL LDA, INTERNATIONAL WATER CONSULTANT B.V., Immobiliare R.E.O.P.A. SRL, Instrunet Hospital SLU, Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., KATAYAMA NALCO INC., Kay BVBA, Kay Chemical Company, LHS (UK) Limited, Laboratoires Anios, Laboratoires Anios-Distribution SAS, Les Produits Chimiques ERPAC Inc., Lobster Ink, Lobster Ink Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Lobster International S.A., London & General Packaging Ltd, MALAYSIA SDN. BHD, MANUFACTURING S.R.L., MOBOTEC AB LLC, Master Chemicals OOO, Meratech Rus Group LLC, Microtek Dominicana S.A., Microtek Italy S.R.L., Microtek Medical B.V., Microtek Medical Europe Limited, Microtek Medical Holdings, Microtek Medical Holdings Inc., Microtek Medical Inc., Microtek Medical Malta Holding Limited, Microtek Medical Malta Limited, Midland Research Laboratories, Midland Research Laboratories UK Limited, NALCO (SHANGHAI) TRADING CO. LTD., NALCO AB, NALCO ACQUISITION ONE, NALCO ACQUISITION TWO LIMITED, NALCO AFRICA (PTY.) LTD., NALCO ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., NALCO BELGIUM BVBA, NALCO CHINA HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO COMPANY OOO, NALCO DANMARK APS, NALCO DE MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., NALCO DELAWARE COMPANY, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND MANUFACTURING GMBH UND CO. KG, NALCO DUTCH HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO EGYPT LTD., NALCO EGYPT TRADING, NALCO ESPANOLA MANUFACTURING S.L.U., NALCO ESPANOLA S.L., NALCO EUROPE B.V., NALCO FINLAND MANUFACTURING OY, NALCO FINLAND OY, NALCO FRANCE, NALCO FRANCE SNC, NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO HOLDING B.V., NALCO HOLDING COMPANY, NALCO HOLDINGS G.m.b.H., NALCO HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, NALCO HONG KONG LIMITED, NALCO INDUSTRIAL OUTSOURCING COMPANY, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (NANJING) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (SUZHOU) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (THAILAND) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES CHILE LIMITADA, NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO INVESTMENTS U.K. LIMITED, NALCO ISRAEL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD, NALCO ITALIANA, NALCO ITALIANA HOLDINGS S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA SrL, NALCO KOREA LIMITED, NALCO LIMITED, NALCO LUXEMBOURG HOLDINGS SARL, NALCO MANUFACTURING BETEILIGUNGS GMBH, NALCO MANUFACTURING LTD., NALCO NETHERLANDS B.V., NALCO NORTH AFRICA LIMITED, NALCO OSTERREICH Ges m.b.H., NALCO OVERSEAS HOLDING B.V., NALCO PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, NALCO PHILIPPINES INC., NALCO PORTUGUESA (QUIMICA, NALCO PWS INC., NALCO SAUDI CO. LTD., NALCO TAIWAN CO. LTD., NALCO TWO INC., NALCO U.S. HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO UNIVERSAL HOLDINGS BV, NALCO WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO ZAO, NALFLOC LIMITED, NALTECH INC., NANOSPECIALTIES LLC, NLC PROCESS AND WATER SERVICES SARL, Nalco (BN) SDN BHD, Nalco (China) Environmental Solution Co. Ltd., Nalco Anadolu Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Nalco Canada ULC, Nalco Company LLC, Nalco Contract Operations LLC, Nalco Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Nalco Gulf Response Corp., Nalco Japan G.K., Nalco Libya, Nalco Middle East FZE, Nalco Polska Sp. z o. o., Nalco Production LLC, Nalco Real Estate GmbH, Nalco Schweiz GmbH, Nalco US 1 LLC, Nalco Wastewater Contract Operations Inc., Nalco Water India Limited, Nalco Water Pretreatment Solutions LLC, Nalco Worldwide Holdings S.a.r.l./B.V., Nigiko, Nuova Farmec S.r.l., Oksa Kimya Sanayi A.S., Oy Ecolab AB, PT Ecolab International Indonesia, PT Ecolab Technologies and Services, Purate business - AkzoNobel, Quantum Technical Services LLC, Quimicas Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Quimiproductos S.A. de C.V, RP Adam Ltd, Research Fumigation Co., Royal Pest Solutions, Shield Holdings Limited, Shield Medicare Limited, Shield Salvage Associates Limited, Soluscope International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Soluscope SAS, Swisher Hygiene, Technical Textile Services Limited, Techtex Holdings Limited, Terminix, Ultrafab, Wabasha Leasing LLC, and vanBaerle Hygiene AG. The Himalayan opportunity The third Himalayan Consensus Summit brought together 75 speakers from around the world who elaborated on a variety of issues that impact those who live in the Himalayan region and make up one third of humanity. The Boeing Co. is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space and Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. The Defense, Space and Security segment refers to the research, development, production and modification of manned and unmanned military aircraft and weapons systems for global strike, including fighter and combat rotorcraft aircraft and missile systems; global mobility, including tanker, rotorcraft and tilt-rotor aircraft; and airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, including command and control, battle management and airborne anti-submarine aircraft. The Global Services segment provides services to commercial and defense customers. The Boeing Capital segment seeks to ensure that Boeing customers have the financing they need to buy and take delivery of their Boeing product and manages overall financing exposure. T Read More 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.. UML, Maoists, NC slam EU missions poll report Lawmakers from the ruling alliance have condemned the report of the European Union Election Observation Mission, which has recommended denying Khas-Aryas their proportional representation election quota, calling it an attack on the countrys sovereignty. The following companies are subsidiares of The Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Banco Santander: 2 & 3 Triton Limited, A & L CF (Guernsey) Limited (f), A & L CF June (2) Limited, A & L CF June (3) Limited, A & L CF March (5) Limited, A & L CF September (4) Limited, AFB SAM Holdings S.L., ALIL Services Limited (b), AN (123) Limited, ANITCO Limited, Abbey Business Services (India) Private Limited, Abbey Covered Bonds (LM) Limited, Abbey National, Abbey National Beta Investments Limited, Abbey National Business Office Equipment Leasing Limited, Abbey National International Limited, Abbey National Nominees Limited, Abbey National PLP (UK) Limited, Abbey National Property Investments, Abbey National Treasury Services Investments Limited, Abbey National Treasury Services Overseas Holdings, Abbey National UK Investments, Abbey Stockbrokers (Nominees) Limited, Abbey Stockbrokers Limited, Ablasa Participaciones S.L., Administracion de Bancos Latinoamericanos Santander S.L., Aduro S.A., Aevis Europa S.L., Afisa S.A., Albert., Aljardi SGPS Lda., Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Cash Solutions Limited, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (Derivatives) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (No.2) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments Limited, Alliance & Leicester Limited, Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited, Altamira Santander Real Estate S.A., Alternative Leasing FIL, Amazonia Trade Limited, Andaluza de Inversiones S.A., Aquanima Brasil Ltda., Aquanima Chile S.A., Aquanima Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aquanima S.A., Arcaz - Sociedade Imobiliaria Portuguesa Lda., Argenline S.A. (b), Asto Digital Limited, Athena Corporation Limited, Atual - Fundo de Invest Multimercado Credito Privado Investimento no Exterior, Atual Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos e Meios Digitais S.A., Autodescuento S.L., Autohaus24 GmbH, Auttar HUT Processamento de Dados Ltda., Aviacion Antares A.I.E., Aviacion Britanica A.I.E., Aviacion Centaurus A.I.E., Aviacion Comillas S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Intercontinental A.I.E., Aviacion Laredo S.L., Aviacion Oyambre S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Real A.I.E., Aviacion Santillana S.L., Aviacion Suances S.L., Aviacion Triton A.I.E., Aymore Credito Financiamento e Investimento S.A., BEN Beneficios e Servicos S.A., BRS Investments S.A., BZW Bank, Banca PSA Italia S.p.A., Banco Bandepe S.A., Banco Madesant - Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Banco PSA Finance Brasil S.A., Banco Popular, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 100740, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 2002114, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso GFSSLPT, Banco Santander - Chile, Banco Santander Consumer Portugal S.A., Banco Santander International, Banco Santander International SA, Banco Santander Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Banco Santander Peru S.A., Banco Santander Rio S.A., Banco Santander S.A., Banco Santander Totta S.A., Banco Santander de Negocios Colombia S.A., Banco de Albacete S.A., Bansa Santander S.A., CCAP Auto Lease Ltd., Canyon Multifamily Impact Fund IV LLC, Capital Street Delaware LP, Capital Street Holdings LLC, Capital Street REIT Holdings LLC, Capital Street S.A., Carfax (Guernsey) Limited (f), Carfinco Financial Group, Carfinco Financial Group Inc., Carfinco Inc., Casa de Bolsa Santander S.A. de C.V. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16 Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank AS, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets). Nevsun Resources Ltd. engages in the mining and development of mineral properties in Europe, Africa, and North America. It explores for gold, copper, zinc, and silver deposits. The company's principal assets include Timok project, a copper-gold development project in Serbia; and Bisha copper- zinc mine in Eritrea. It also holds exploration licenses and permits in Serbia and Macedonia, as well as in the Bisha mining district. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. As of January 7, 2019, Nevsun Resources Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Teledyne Technologies: Alia Corporation Inc, Bolt Technology Corp, Bowtech Products, CARIS, CDL do Brasil Equipamentos e Servicos Submarinos Sociedade Empresaria Ltda., CETAC Technologies, DALSA, Demo Systems, Detcon Holdco Inc., Ensambles de Precision S.A. de C.V., Falcon Analytical, Frontline Test Equipment, GMI Group Holdings Limited, Hafmynd ehf, Hanson Research Corp, IST Oldham Instruments India Private Limited, Industrial Control Machines, Intelek, Intelek Limited, Intelek Pension Trustees Limited, Intelek Properties Limited, LeCroy (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd., LeCroy Corporation, Lidar Aviation Services Inc., Maple Imaging LLC, Micralyne Inc, Ocean Design Ltda., Oldham Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Oldham Simtronics SAS, Oldham-Winter GmbH, PDM Neptec, Reynolds Industries Limited, Rhombi Canada LP, Rhombi Holdings Limited, Rhombi Netherlands B.V., Rockwell Scientific Company, Simtronics AS, TDY Jersey Limited, Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd, Teledyne BlueView, Teledyne Bogatin Enterprises LLC, Teledyne Bowtech Limited, Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Teledyne C.M.L. Group Limited, Teledyne CARIS B.V., Teledyne CARIS Inc., Teledyne CARIS UK Ltd., Teledyne CARIS USA Inc., Teledyne CDL Inc., Teledyne CDL Limited, Teledyne Catalyst Enterprises Inc., Teledyne Computer Access Technology Corporation, Teledyne Controls LLC, Teledyne Cougar, Teledyne Czech s.r.o., Teledyne DALSA (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Teledyne DALSA Asia-Pacific Ltd., Teledyne DALSA B.V., Teledyne DALSA GmbH, Teledyne DALSA Inc., Teledyne DALSA Industrial Products Inc., Teledyne DALSA K.K., Teledyne DALSA Semiconductor Inc., Teledyne Dalsa, Teledyne Defense Electronics LLC, Teledyne Denmark A/S, Teledyne Detcon Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging US Inc., Teledyne Energy Systems Inc., Teledyne Europe Holdings C.V., Teledyne France, Teledyne France SAS, Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments Limited, Teledyne Gavia ehf., Teledyne Germany GmbH, Teledyne Hanson Research Inc., Teledyne ICM SA, Teledyne ICM SPRL, Teledyne Innovaciones Microelectronics S.L.U., Teledyne Instruments Inc., Teledyne Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Teledyne Japan Corporation, Teledyne Korea Ltd., Teledyne Labtech Limited, Teledyne LeCroy AB, Teledyne LeCroy Delaware LLC, Teledyne LeCroy GmbH, Teledyne LeCroy Inc., Teledyne LeCroy India Trading Private Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy Japan Corporation, Teledyne LeCroy Korea Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy OakGate Inc., Teledyne LeCroy S.A.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy S.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy SA, Teledyne LeCroy Singapore Pte. Ltd., Teledyne Limited, Teledyne Micralyne Inc., Teledyne Monitor Labs, Teledyne Monitor Labs P.R. Inc., Teledyne Netherlands B.V., Teledyne ODI, Teledyne Optech Inc., Teledyne Paradise Datacom Limited, Teledyne RD Instruments, Teledyne RD Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne RESON, Teledyne RESON A/S, Teledyne RESON B.V., Teledyne RESON GmbH, Teledyne RESON Holding B.V., Teledyne RESON Inc., Teledyne RESON Pte. Ltd., Teledyne RESON UK Limited, Teledyne RISI Inc., Teledyne Rad-icon Imaging Corp., Teledyne Redlake MASD LLC, Teledyne Reynolds Inc., Teledyne SG Brown Limited, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, Teledyne Scientific Imaging GmbH, Teledyne Scientific Imaging Limited, Teledyne Signal Processing Devices Sweden AB, Teledyne Singapore Private Limited, Teledyne TSS Limited, Teledyne Taiwan Company, Teledyne Technologies (Bermuda) Limited, Teledyne Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne Technologies International Corp., Teledyne Technologies Israel Ltd., Teledyne Tekmar Company, Teledyne UK Limited, Teledyne VariSystems, Teledyne VariSystems Inc., Teledyne Wireless LLC, Teledyne e2v, Teledyne e2v (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Teledyne e2v (Overseas) Holdings Limited, Teledyne e2v Asia Pacific Limited, Teledyne e2v Limited, Teledyne e2v Semiconductors SAS, and The Oceanscience Group Ltd.. Tower International, Inc. manufactures and sells engineered automotive structural metal components and assemblies primarily for original equipment manufacturers. It operates in two segments, North America and Brazil. The company provides body structures and assemblies, including structural metal components, which comprise body pillars, roof rails, and side sills; and Class A surfaces and assemblies that consist of body sides, hoods, doors, fenders, and pickup truck boxes. It also offers lower vehicle frames and structures, such as pickup truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) full frames, automotive engine and rear suspension cradles, floor pan components, and cross members. In addition, the company offers complex body-in-white assemblies comprising various components and sub-assemblies. Its products have applications in small and large cars, crossovers, pickups, and SUVs. The company was formerly known as Tower Automotive, LLC and changed its name to Tower International, Inc. in October 2010. Tower International, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. Read More Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade. Women take out rally against growing rape cases in Saptari Women took out a mass rally in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari, on Monday to protest against growing cases of rape and sexual assaults. I thought about this idea of protection and empowerment as I continue to pray about those being impacted by Covid-19. What came to mind first was the song No Weapon by Fred Hammond. Its always been one of my favorite worship songs because it reminds... Mumbai: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a global icon. She has been ruling over the Cannes red carpet for quite some time now. The actress is a popular face in India and outside, and is quite aware of the social happening throughout the world. Aish recently came out in support of the #MeToo movement and asserted that it is not restricted to the film industry. In an interaction with Telegraph, Aishwarya said, It has brought out a lot of conversation and sharing. The good thing is that people are talking. I dont think this needs to restrict itself to one part of the world. But this idea does not limit itself to show business or the film industry. It is people discussing it from all walks of life, she explained. The Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey case became popular in Hollywood, but even back in Bollywood, Jeetendra has been accused of sexual assault and Daler Mehndi recently got arrested for human trafficking. Mumbai: Actress Madhuri Dixit is all ready to make her debut in Marathi film industry with the film, 'Bucket List', which will hit the cinemas in summers. The Dhak-Dhak girl of Bollywood is donning the role of a loving mother in the film, the teaser of which came out on Sunday. The 43-second-long clip shows Madhuri embracing her loved ones and family values with panache. Taran Adarsh, a trade analyst and an Indian film critic, shared the teaser on his Twitter account, with a note that "Madhuri Dixit-Nene makes her Marathi film debut with #BucketList... Directed by Tejas Deoskar... 18 May 2018 release..." Madhuri Dixit-Nene makes her Marathi film debut with #BucketList... Directed by Tejas Deoskar... 18 May 2018 release... Teaser: pic.twitter.com/H2gZtzHNl4 taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) March 26, 2018 Madhuri was last seen on silver screen in 2014 in 'Dedh Ishqiya' and 'Gulaab Gang.' 'Bucket List' has been directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar and is slated to hit the screens on May 18. In the first two Don films, Priyanka Chopra played Roma, the Interpol inspector, who tries to arrest Don. Mumbai: As the interesting development in upcoming crime thriller Don 3', Farhan Akhtar is all set to star alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the highly-anticipated film. According to a report, Farhan Akhtar, who directed previous two films in the series, has penned down a script for 'Don 3'. He reportedly took a sabbatical from acting to concentrate on this story which SRK has liked. DNA quoted a source as saying, Farhan will also act in this film. He will play a desi top cop to Shah Rukhs Don. Since a portion of the film will be set in India, Farhan will be seen donning the policemans uniform in the film. However, fans expecting to see Priyanka Chopra as Roma in the film may be disappointed. Her character is not needed in the new film and a new cast will reportedly be brought on board for the film. Interestingly, Farhan was earlier approached for Nawazuddin Siddiqui's role in SRK's 'Raees' but things didn't fall into place. Once Farhan finishes the script, it is being speculated that Shah Rukh will back the project that is expected to go on floors mid next year and is eyeing a 2020 release. Shah Rukh Khan is currently busy working on Aanand L Rai's 'Zero' alongside Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. Deepika Padukone has always spoken upfront about depression and has never shied away about telling people that it was difficult for her to battle it. Deepika believes that sharing ones journey can relieve the one from the ongoing stress. The actress has set many examples, opening up about depression is one of them. At the time when people restrained themselves from talking about their mental state, Deepika was one of the first top actors to open up about her vulnerability leaving us all stunned, worried and in awe of her at the same time. At an event about mental awareness in the capital city, she talked about the struggle she faced when she was suffering from depression. She said, I never thought about what people are going to think of me, will I be offered films or whether it will affect my popularity. She has foundations that helps create awareness from mental health. With the help of the foundation, we want to change the narrative around mental health in India. Why only Bollywood? We want everybody in influential positions in the country to speak out about these issues, said Deepika. Deepika added, Now that youre asking me, maybe I should have since I just delivered a 300-crore hit (Padmavat). But no, I never thought about what people will think of me, or how it would affect my work or if I would be offered any films. None of these thoughts ever crossed my mind. I was only thinking about how I felt about the issue: There was a lot of stigma attached to it. I thought if I could save even one life by sharing my story, everything I set out to do would make sense. And today, when I see the kind of impact weve had in the lives of thousands of people, it is very gratifying, added the actor. Considering how deep-rooted this issue is, in terms of the stigma attached to it, the reluctance to seek help, or peoples perception towards those with mental illness, we still have a long way to go. India needs to focus on encouraging people to seek help, she further explained. Deepika believes that sharing ones journey can relieve the one from the ongoing stress. She said, I think it eventually boils down to each persons comfort level, how comfortable or confident they are about sharing their experience. I can say that it is extremely empowering once you share your journey, you kind of feel a weight off your shoulders, I mean thats my personal experience. HONG KONG: Art dealers, collectors and gallery owners gather in Hong Kong for the annual Art Basel exhibition this week at a time when fairs are increasingly driving growth in the sector and collectors from across Asia are flocking to the financial hub. Asia, which accounts for 23 percent of global art sales and 15 percent of private dealer sales, continues to rely heavily on mainland Chinese demand although collectors from South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia are helping to spur growth. We also get clients from everywhere in Asia. A large number of the collectors come from South Korea, said Leng Lin, partner and Asia president of Pace Gallery, which has bases in 10 locations including Beijing, Hong Kong, and Seoul. Pace Gallery opened a new space in Seoul last year and a second outlet in Hong Kong this month to tap growing demand. As buyers from across the globe descend on the former British colony, dealers are also ramping up their presence, with 14 galleries from the Americas and Europe making their debut at the fair this year. Chinese buyers have been a huge boon to the global art market, with sales reaching $13.2 billion in 2017, up 14 percent from $11.5 billion a year earlier, according to a report by UBS and Art Basel. The bulk of that came from auctions, which comprised $9.3 billion, up from $7.5 billion in 2016 although down nearly 40 percent from a peak of $15.2 billion in 2011. The global art market achieved total sales of $63.7 billion in 2017, up from $56.6 billion in 2016. Amanda Hon, managing director of Ben Brown Fine Arts, which has galleries in Hong Kong and London, expects solid sales from Art Basel based on strong appetite at fairs in the Netherlands and New York. She acknowledged that increased scrutiny by Beijing on capital outflows had made it difficult to receive payment from some clients although for the most part, she had not experienced trouble as she had a number of long-standing clients. Usually the people we sell to are people we know and trust, Hon said. Its rare that well sell to someone new that we just heard of that day ... So we do have a clear understanding with our clients and sometimes well ask them to put down a deposit and we have a credit card machine ready. Its always a little bit touch and go. Art fairs have grown increasingly in importance, with Art Basel Hong Kong, which runs from March 29-31, featuring 248 galleries from 32 countries and territories, up from 241 galleries in 2017. The exhibition coincides with the expansion of galleries in Hong Kong, a key hub for art transactions thanks to the absence of tax and its proximity to mainland China, although rising rents in one of the worlds most expensive property markets pose challenges. Soaring rents have seen many galleries set up shop in the formerly industrial district of Wong Chuk Hang on the outskirts of Hong Kong island, transforming the area into a new arts hub. Henrietta Tsui-Leung, owner of Hong Kong-based Galerie Ora-Ora and co-president of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, believes theres plenty of room for growth in the citys art market. We only have 100 galleries in Hong Kong ... definitely below 120. Any established city like New York or London will have over 1,000 or 2,000. There is definitely a lot of wealth in Hong Kong as well. We have a lot of room for growth, she said. The study has been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. (Representational image) Washington DC: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. According to a study, knee pain from OA, which damages the quality of life, can in turn lead to depression. A research team from Japan recently published a study examining the effects of knee pain on depression since, until now, few studies have focused on how knee pain and impaired knee function relate to depression. To learn more, the researchers examined information from 573 people aged 65 or older who participated in the Kurabuchi Study, an ongoing look at the health of older adults living in central Japan. When the study began (between 2005 and 2006) none of the participants had symptoms of depression. Two years later, nearly all of them completed follow-up interviews. The participants answered questions about their knee pain and were evaluated for symptoms of depression. Nearly 12 per cent of the participants had developed symptoms of depression. People who experienced knee pain at night while in bed, while putting on socks, or while getting in or out of a car were more likely to report having symptoms of depression, noted the researchers. The researchers concluded that asking older adults with knee pain whether they have pain at night in bed, when putting on socks, or while getting in or out of a car could be useful for helping to screen people at risk for developing depression. The study has been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. A recent International Congestive Heart Failure study highlights that mortality rate in patients after one year of diagnosis is as high as 23 per cent in India. Hyderabad: Clinical evaluations at the hospital level have shown a drastic increase in the number of death rates associated with heart disease, due to which the CSI wants a community level initiative to be introduced to deal with heart problem. Heart failure must be declared as a public health priority, stated the Cardiology Society of India, adding that the silent killer was responsible for the death of one-third of all patients admitted to hospitals and one-fourth of all patients within three months of diagnosis. Dr K. Sarat Chandra, president of Cardiology Society of India explained, The incidence of heart failure in India is around 10 million. A recent International Congestive Heart Failure study highlights that mortality rate in patients after one year of diagnosis is as high as 23 per cent in India. The study also emphasised that cardiac patients in the country are approximately 10 years younger than patients in Europe and USA. We want to create a community-level awareness programme so that the problem can be tackled easily. This can be done if the government declares it as a public health priority. The mean age of heart failure in India is 59 years. Those suffering from rheumatic heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension are also contributors to the increasing incidence of heart failure cases in India. Dr B. Hydriv Rao, senior cardiologist explained, What we have found is that there is a lack of basic awareness about heart failure, its symptoms and its treatment options. The mortality and hospitalisation costs can be reduced by taking evidence-based guidelines directed towards medications. Sometimes a tragedy can change your life in ways you never imagined. When Prajith Jayapal, a private sector employee, met with an accident after the tyres on the rear side of his car burst and he lost control of the vehicle, he was diagnosed with a spinal cord compression. The accident affected almost 60 per cent functioning of his body and Prajith was confined to a wheelchair. Though it was a terrible shock initially, Prajith, a Kozhikode native, didnt allow it to dampen his spirits. Today, this 40-year-old is gearing up to take on a road trip to New Delhi and back, in 50 days. If you think this is a leisure trip, youre mistaken. Instead, Prajith has a clear mission. There are three major reasons why I decided to drive to Delhi. I want to better the lives of those like me. Throughout the journey, I will be visiting major corporate offices, to remind its heads about the promise of job reservation for the disabled in their offices. A few years ago, companies like Wipro announced job reservation for disabled people and I am going to ensure it will be implemented. Requests will also be made to create a space for the disabled, who are equally capable and deserving. Prajith also plans on meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to air his grievances about accessibility issues that the disabled face. According to Prajith, many places in the country are dubbed as disabled-friendly, but in reality they are not. The third major mission is to raise the pension issue, which, at present is given to the needy. For the 80 per cent and above disabled persons, the pension amount is Rs 1,300, whereas those in the category of 80 per cent and below are getting Rs 1,000. How can a disabled person, who requires a lot of medical facilities, survive with this small amount? asks Prajith. He adds, I will talk to people like me during the journey and help them come out to the mainstream, instead of confining themselves to the four walls of their homes. At the same time, I will also take time to meet successful disabled people, whose lives can definitely inspire hundreds of others in the country. A year ago, Prajith, along with the support of his few friends, started Wheelers Club, with an intention of giving people with disabilities a platform to relax and find jobs to live an independent life. We have around 40 plus members right now and gradually we are trying to build this club to a higher level, by adding more members, he says. Prajith will begin his journey to Delhi on April 1. A total of 8,500 kilometres will be covered and for this purpose, his car has been altered. Normally, it takes only 2,500 kilometers to Delhi, but since I have a lot of plans, I will be visiting different cities and finally reaching Delhi. Also, my health condition permits me to only go slowly, he says. Prajith is a self-taught artist and will be gifting a painting of Krishna and Kuchela to the Prime Minister. ERSEY CITY: A statue of a naked Donald Trump is going on the auction block. Julien's Auction says the sculpture is the last statue remaining that was not vandalized or destroyed when it was displayed along with others in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Cleveland in the weeks before the Republican was elected president. The auction house estimates the statue, which was created by the West Coast anarchist collective INDECLINE, will sell for $20,000 to $30,000. The auction will take place on May 2 at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, New Jersey. The police said that all the arrested were part of a network which is active in distributing ganja across the state. MALAPPURAM: In a major narcotic haul in the district, the special police team seized 60 kg of ganja smuggled from Andhra Pradesh and arrested three persons on Monday at Venniyoor near Tirurangadi. The arrested were identified as Akhil, 23, native of Rajakka in Idukki, Nagadevi, 22, and Srinivas from Reddypetta in Andhra. The accused were trapped in a covert operation by the special police team which visited Andhra and struck a deal with the drug mafia posing as drug peddlers from Kerala. The police said that all the arrested were part of a network which is active in distributing ganja across the state. The police netted the accused as per the leads given by the accused in recent major drug cases in Areekode and Manjeri. The police team led by Manjeri SI Jaleel K. met Akhil posing as peddler and demanded the contraband. Akhil was an agent who links the local peddlers with ganja mafia in Andhra. The accused were on their way to deliver the contraband ordered by the police investigation team when they were caught by the police at Venniyur on Sunday evening. Malappuram DySP Jaleel Thottathil said the police have got more information on persons involved in drug peddling in the district by questioning the trio. During the past three months alone the district police has arrested 22 persons including women and a former Indian Air Force staffer and seized various types of contrabands worth crores of rupees. Three members of an interstate Ganja supplying gang involved in supplying Ganja from agency areas in Vizag to Hyderabad city and other cities in the neighboring states were caught by the Special Operations Team of Rachakonda. Hyderabad: Three members of an interstate Ganja supplying gang involved in supplying Ganja from agency areas in Vizag to Hyderabad city and other cities in the neighboring states were caught by the Special Operations Team of Rachakonda. They also seized material worth Rs 17 lakh including Ganja weighing 110 kg, one car used in transportation and mobiles phones of the suspects, who are identified as Gaddameedi Ravinder alias Ravi(53), Lotha Thammi Naidu alias Naidu(22) and Anupoju Sai Shiva Kumar alias Saishiva, while another member Srinu is absconding. Acting on a tip off, Cops intercepted a Car near ORR at Pedda Amberpet and apprehended three persons for illegally transporting Ganja from Chintapally village of Visakhapatnam district to Hyderabad for selling to the agents. According to Police, the prime suspect Ravinder hailing from Warangal district is working as a security guard in the city and is frequently supplying Ganja from Vozag and East Godavari districts to Hyderabad and other states. "Ravinder was arrested twice by Excise police at Salem in Tamilnadu and in Warangal district for transporting Ganja. " Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said. One Srinu from Annavaram in East Godavari district is an associate of Ravinder who procures Ganja from agency areas and supplies to Ravinder. Hyderabad: A drug racket operated by an engineering dropout and targeting engineering students in different parts of the city was bust by the Special Operations Team of Rachakonda. Police said that suspect identified as Batchu Ravi Kumar, 23, had been procuring narcotic drugs from Goa and Ganja from Vizag and Khammam agency areas. He was operating his business through whatsapp for taking orders from his clients, referring Cocaine and LSD as SCORE and Ganja as GREEN. Police seized 7 grams of Cocaine, 10 LSD blots and 2 Kgs of Ganja (Narcotic Substance) and a scooter from his possession. Ravi Kumar hailing from Nalgonda district had completed Intermediate at Nalgonda and moved to the city for engineering. He joined in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Technology (JNIT) in 2013 in CSE group. While at college, once he travelled to Goa along with his friends, where he got access to narcotic drugs. Though it was for a very short period, he got addicted to them. Later he developed friendship with Goa based drug peddlers, who started supplying him the drugs for selling at Hyderabad. His customers used codes for inquiring about the stocks. For cocaine and other drugs, it was SCORE and for Ganja it was GREEN. He was selling them only to students in his known circles and making money from them, the commissioner said. He was also into Ganja smuggling. He initially purchased for consumption, but for business, he obtained it from Vizag and Khammam. Inquiries revealed the his passion to travel to Goa frequently for drugs landed him in drug trade. He had supplied drugs to more than 60 students in the city in the past two years and had been spending his earnings on travel to Goa and small luxuries in the city. He was arrested on Tuesday. Amaravati: YSR Congress on Monday said its MPs would resign whenever the budget session of Parliament was adjourned sine die without the Centre accepting its demand for granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy in Guntur district, YSRC Parliamentary Party leader Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy told reporters. "Our president has directed us to submit the resignations immediately after the Parliament is adjourned sine die (without conceding the party's demand), whenever it would be and we need not wait for the April 6 deadline as specified earlier," he said. Jaganmohan Reddy, whose party has nine MPs, had already announced in February that his party parliamentarians would quit on April 6, at the end of the budget session, if the special category status was not granted. The decision on Monday was taken in wake of the rapidly changing political developments and the possibility of the Parliament session being cut short, Rajamohan Reddy added. The opposition party, which has been stepping up pressure on the issue and had moved a notice for no confidence motion in Lok Sabha, also wanted the ruling Telugu Desam MPs to resign over the matter. Earlier, addressing the MPs, the YSRC chief said there need not be any prejudice in the fight for special category status. "We have been honest and sincere on the issue from announcing the resignation to the no-confidence motion and have placed them before the people. Our main aim is to highlight our efforts and mount pressure on the Centre to implement the assurances given in the House," he said. Jagmohan Reddy also said TDP supremo and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu too had to "toe our line as he had no other go", party leaders quoted him as having said. He was apparently referring to TDP also moving a notice for no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government after quitting the NDA over the special category issue. 'I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of project. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally,' Christopher Wylie said while testifying in London before UK lawmakers. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Christopher Wylie, former Cambridge Analytica employee and the whistleblower behind the Facebook privacy scandal, told a British committee that his company worked extensively in India and he believed the Congress was the companys client at the regional level. "I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of project. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain," Wylie was seen saying while deposing before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in London. He also said that Cambridge Analytica has offices in India and employed staff. Soon after the testimony details came out, the ruling BJP sought apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Today the whistleblower Christopher Wylie has confirmed that Cambridge Analytica worked with Congress. This has exposed Rahul Gandhi who was denying all along. Congress and Rahul Gandhi must now apologize, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Christopher Wylie came into the limelight last week after he alleged that information from more than 50 million Facebook users improperly ended up in the hands of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica. He further alleged that the data was used to help politicians, including US President Donald Trump during 2016 presidential polls and the Brexit campaign. Last week, BJP questioned links between the Congress and the data analysis firm. Also read: Cambridge Analytica behind Rahul's 'Gabbar Singh Tax', implies I-T minister The Congress denied any links with the disgraced firm and said that BJP and JD(U) used its services in 2010. Also read: Cong says no links with Cambridge Analytica, BJP used its services in 2010 (With inputs from agencies) 1. Yes. Several other districts factor them in. It would provide a more complete picture. 2. Yes. Theyre not as accurate, but they can be useful in spotting a trend in infections. 3. No. The district is keeping tabs on those numbers, so the public doesnt need to. 4. No. As long as the public health district is aware of those stats, thats all that matters. 5. Unsure. The district isnt obligated to include them, but it might be helpful. Vote View Results New Delhi: The dates for the Karnataka Assembly elections - where the ruling Congress is facing a tough challenge from the BJP - will be announced by the Election Commission on Tuesday. The dates will be announced at around 11 am. Karnataka is one of the few states where the Congress is in power. It is also the only state in south India where the BJP had been able to form a government. The high octane campaign for the elections has witnessed both the top parties alleging each other of communal politics and political murders as well as tit-for-tat charges of large-scale corruption. The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on May 28 and before that, the new house has to be constituted. Incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is eyeing a second term in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in 20 states, is trying to expand in the 21st state. BJP's chief ministerial candidate is BS Yeddyurappa. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is the third party in the fray. In 2013, the Congress had bagged 122 assembly seats. The Model Code of Conduct will be imposed as soon as the EC announces the poll schedule. The results in Karnataka, considered to be the gateway to south India for any political party, will be closely watched ahead of the general election due in 2019. Since BJP came to power in the Centre in 2014, it has taken states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Assam and Manipur from the Congress. The BJP also bagged India's most politically important and largest state Uttar Pradesh in 2017 and in March 2018 it has rooted out the 25-year Left rule in Tripura. The ruling party in Karnataka, Congress, faces a tough challenge from the BJP, which launched its election campaign in November. The BJP spent 85 days campaigning across the state and organised a rally in Bengaluru addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has decided to pitch BS Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate. In 2014, the BJP won 17 of its 20 seats in southern states just in Karnataka, getting massive support from the urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru. The tweet by BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, which had the date of counting wrong, was deleted quickly. (Twitter Screengrab | @malviyamit) Mumbai: Moments before the Election Commission announced the date for the Karnataka Assembly election on Tuesday, the date of voting - May 12 poll - was revealed in a tweet by the BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya, which has set off a huge controversy. It soon emerged that the Congress's social media in-charge in Karnataka put out a tweet at the same time - 11.08 am - a good 15 minutes before the announcement. The tweet by Amit Malviya, which had the date of counting wrong, was deleted quickly. Called out by a journalist on his "scoop", Amit Malviya gave credit to a television channel for the information. Read: Karnataka to vote on May 12, result May 15; row over 'leaked' dates The counting and results of Karnataka polls will be held on May 15. The deleted tweet had it as May 18. BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018 On spotting Amit Malviya's tweet in the middle of Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat's press conference to announce the Karnataka poll schedule, reporters questioned the apparent "leak". "Strict legal and administrative action will be taken on the leak of information," Rawat said. He had earlier seemed to imply to reporters that since the date of the results was wrong, it didn't count as a leak. "We won't comment on changing date because of a leak. The decision was just taken. They were wrong about counting date so it's wrong to say they were prepared beforehand," said the top election officer. The tweet was seized by the Congress to reinforce its allegation that the Election Commission is "biased". But soon the party was having to explain screenshots of a tweet by its own member. The ruling Congress in Karnataka faces a massive challenge with BJP gearing up to campaign in full swing to snatch one of the only three states ruled by the party. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Malviya tweeting the date of Karnataka polls before the Election Commission (EC) shows that BJP is dictating voting dates to the EC. Kharge said, "Amit Malviya tweeted Karnataka elections dates at 11 am. It means BJP is dictating polling dates to Election Commission. I expect EC to work according to the Constitution and law, and not let information leak. Such a thing has never happened before." A "BJP tsunami" is coming to Karnataka, said party president Amit Shah. Also Read: Amit Shah taunts Congress for its poll record Amit Shah has pitted BS Yeddyurappa - the chief minister of Karnataka's first BJP government - against the Congress's chief minister Siddaramaiah. A delegation led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met the Election Commission officials in connection with the case. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday told the Election Commission that its IT cell chief Amit Malviya's tweet on the Karnataka Assembly election dates before the poll panel's announcement was based on a news channel's report and a state Congress office-bearer had also tweeted about it. A party delegation led by Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi visited the commission after Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat termed the leak as "very serious" and promised "stringent action". Naqvi later told reporters that Malviya should not have tweeted. He said that Malviya's tweet was based on a news channel report and he had no intention to undermine the EC's authority. Also read: Ahead of EC's announcement on Karnataka polls, BJP, Cong tweet date In a letter to the EC, Malviya said an English news channel had reported the poll date at 11:06 am and he tweeted about it at 11:08 am. He also stated that a Karnataka Congress functionary also tweeted about the poll dates exactly at the same time. He also submitted screen shots of the news channel report, his tweet and the Congress leader's tweet and their timings to make his case. Even as Rawat was in the midst of his conference and had not announced the election schedule, both the BJP and Congress functionaries tweeted that the polls would be held on May 12 and the counting of votes would be on May 18. The counting date turned out to be wrong as the EC announced that the votes will be counted on May 15. Also read: Karnataka to vote on May 12, result May 15; row over 'leaked' dates The Congress latched onto the issue and dubbed the BJP "Super Election Commission". It also demanded action against the BJP. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir also said the government was keen to bring peace in the state and was ready to hold dialogue with all sections of society who shun the path of violence. (Photo: File/PTI) New Delhi: There is currently no proposal to scrap Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Ahir was replying to a written question by BJP MP Ashwini Kumar, who asked whether the government was committed to scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution. The MP from Karnal in Haryana also asked what was the present status and the procedure laid down for scrapping Article 370. "There is currently no such proposal under consideration of the Government," Ahir said in his one-line reply. Scrapping Article 370 forms part of the BJP's political manifesto. However, the party, in alliance with the regional PDP, remained silent on the demand in the Agenda of Alliance agreed to in 2015. In a separate question on statements made by the Centre's interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Ahir said Sharma had recently visited border areas in view of recent ceasefire violations and suggested some measures for the local population. These included shifting residents and constructing bunkers. The question was asked by Congress' Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gaurav Gogoi. Ahir said the government was keen to bring peace in the state and was ready to hold dialogue with all sections of society who shun the path of violence. The government has also continuously encouraged policies to bring youth to the mainstream. These include providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy, he said. BJP president Amit Shah said farmer suicides have increased in the states governed by Congress while the number of farmers suicide has decreased states ruled by BJP. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Bengaluru: With Karnataka elections round the corner, BJP President Amit Shah once again attacked Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah for recommending special status to Lingayat community. The BJP President said, "Rahul Gandhi says that Congress unites Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians. He should look at how Siddaramaiah is trying to divide even Hindus." "'Lingayat card' played by Congress is not aimed at benefiting the community but to stop BS Yeddyurappa from becoming the chief minister. People of Karnataka will reject this through ballot," the BJP president said. Intensifying his attack on Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka, Amit Shah said, "The politics of appeasement in Karnataka is dangerous for the society." Talking to the media in Bengaluru, Shah said that farmer suicides have increased in the states where Congress is in power while it has decreased in states governed by his party. The cases of farmers suicide reported in the states ruled by BJP were the results of "depression and personal issues", Shah said. "There has been BJP govt in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years and farmer suicide numbers in these states have been very low," Amit Shah said. The BJP President said that Karnataka government under BJP will also be farmer-friendly. Citing the case of Maharashtra, Amit Shah said the state's BJP government was a "farmer friendly" government. "Farmer suicides have reduced after BJP came to power in the state," he said. "I am certain that the sincerity that PM Narendra Modi has for the betterment of farmers cannot be matched by others. Some of the farmer-friendly schemes launched by PM Modi have been crucial for ensuring a better future for farmers," Shah said. Amit Shah exuded confidence that the BJP will form government in Karnataka with an absolute majority under the leadership of BS Yeddyurappa. New Delhi: Karnataka will go to polls on May 12. The election will be held in single phase. Counting of votes will be held on May 15. The Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately, the Election Commission of India said. April 17 is the date of the issue of notification, last date of filing nomination is April 24, while the Election Commission has set April 27 as the last date of withdrawal of nomination. When asked on how BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya had put the dates of Karnataka elections on social media, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat said, "Certain things may have leaked for which Election Commission will take appropriate action." The CEC added, "It will be investigated. Be assured that actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken." Also Read: Ahead of EC's announcement on K'taka polls, BJP's Amit Malviya tweets date The CEC said voting guide will be provided to every family. The commission has decided to press in adequate Central security force in the state to keep vigil on the any untoward incident in Karnataka and violence in the poll bound state. Karnataka is one of the few states where the Congress is in power. It is also the only state in south India where the BJP had been able to form a government. The high octane campaign for the elections has witnessed both the top parties alleging each other of communal politics and political murders as well as tit-for-tat charges of large-scale corruption. The tenure of the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly expires on May 28 and before that, the new house has to be constituted. Incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is eyeing a second term in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in 20 states, is trying to expand in the 21st state. BJP's chief ministerial candidate is BS Yeddyurappa. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) is the third party in the fray. In 2013, the Congress had bagged 122 assembly seats. The results in Karnataka, considered to be the gateway to south India for any political party, will be closely watched ahead of the general election due in 2019. Since BJP came to power in the Centre in 2014, it has taken states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Assam and Manipur from the Congress. The BJP also bagged India's most politically important and largest state Uttar Pradesh in 2017 and in March 2018 it has rooted out the 25-year Left rule in Tripura. The ruling party in Karnataka, Congress, faces a tough challenge from the BJP, which launched its election campaign in November. The BJP spent 85 days campaigning across the state and organised a rally in Bengaluru addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has decided to pitch BS Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate. In 2014, the BJP won 17 of its 20 seats in southern states just in Karnataka, getting massive support from the urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in Rajya Sabha about 39 Indian hostages killed in Iraq's Mosul had been killed by ISIS. (Photo: File) New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has re-tweeted a Congress post that invites people to assess her "failure" as a Foreign Minister in handling the case of 39 missing Indians killed in Iraq. The Opposition party has been targeting Sushma Swaraj since she confirmed in parliament last week that 39 Indian hostages in Iraq's Mosul had been killed by the ISIS. The Congress put out a poll on Monday whether it was the minister's "worst failure". In the poll, 33,879 people voted, out of which 76 per cent chose the option, 'No', while the remaining 24 per cent said, 'Yes'. The Congress post has been liked by over 1,500 and shared by nearly 3,000 twitteratis. Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajs biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2018 It is a Congress self-goal, said many in their comments. So far, Sushma Swaraj seems to have got a vast approval rating of 76 per cent. The foreign minister's comeback - retweeting the poll - amused many, especially her fan following on Twitter. (Twitter Screengrab | @SushmaSwaraj) A week ago, the foreign minister declared in parliament that the Indian workers, missing since 2014, had been confirmed dead after DNA tests on remains found buried underneath a mound in Mosul, Iraq's second largest city. Till 2017, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had insisted that the Indians would be presumed alive until there was evidence to the contrary. The Congress, referring to six such statements by the government, accused her of misleading the house and the families of the workers. Congress has also decided to push a motion for breach of privilege. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met NCP chief Sharad Pawar triggering speculations that she is trying to form an Opposition front against the incumbent BJP-led NDA government. (Photo: ANI/Twitter). New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi on Tuesday triggering speculations that she is trying to form an Opposition front against the incumbent BJP-led NDA government. All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Banerjee also met Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Raut, later on Tuesday. Notably, BJP's embittered ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has announced to break the alliance before the general elections 2019. "When political people meet then of course they will discuss politics, there is nothing to hide in that. The Lok Sabha election of 2019 will certainly be very interesting," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. The TMC chief also came down heavily on the NDA-led Centre and said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and that it was time for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to "pack up and go". She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the saffron party. She said, "We want all opposition parties to work together. We should help the strongest opposition party in state to fight the BJP. It should be one fight". "People are against the BJP. I have travelled to all the states. I know the mood of the people. Issues like demonetisation, GST, bank fraud have affected people even at the grassroot level. The time has come for this BJP to pack up and go," TMC supremo added. Banerjee also met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) parliamentarian Misa Bharti, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Yadav. She is also likely to meet former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The West Bengal chief minister further said that she can meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav if they call her to Lucknow. Yes, Soniaji is not well right now and recovering. We will meet her once she is fine. Will certainly go if they (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) call us to Lucknow, Banerjee said. Mamata Banerjee will meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie on Wednesday in a move which is being seen as a bid to assemble forces against the BJP, in the run up to the 2019 general elections. BENGALURU: More than a week after a traffic constable was mowed down in a hit-and-run case, the Byatarayanapura traffic police arrested the absconding culprit on Sunday. According to the police, the arrested person has been identified as Mahesh, who was working as a driver at a transport company in Srinagara in the City. He was driving a mini goods vehicle to make deliveries to various shops. On March 17, constable Ravishankar S.A., a resident of Kommaghatta and attached to Byatarayanapura Traffic police station, along with a home guard Venkoba Rao were monitoring traffic at near NICE Road underpass near Devegowda junction. A truck mowed Ravishankar down and sped away. The Byatarayanapura traffic police registered a case and tried to track the vehicle based on its registration number. They found the vehicle belonged to a transport company and approached the company owner. He told police that their driver Mahesh was driving that particular vehicle on that day. But Mahesh did not inform him about the accident. He told the owner that he has parked the vehicle near the company office and was going to his home town Mandya to celebrate Ugadi and would contact him after he returns, police added. The police told the owner not tell Mahesh that they were searching for him. On Sunday, Mahesh returned to the city and contacted the company owner, who informed the police and this led to his arrest, police said. He revealed that he was over speeding and lost control over his vehicle and mowed down the constable. Fearing that he would be attacked by the public, he fled the spot, police said. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to take a decision within three months for revising the minimum wages and to implement them in both the states based on the proposals made by the Advisory Boards, by considering the representations of petitioner unions. A Division Bench, comprising of Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice K. Vijaya Lakshmi, was dealing with two separate PILs filed by the Telangana Regional Trade Union Council represented by its secretary P. Jeevan Rao and AP State Multiple Contractors Labour Union represented by its secretary M. Srinivasa Murthy. The petitioners told the court that both the state governments had been causing inordinate delay, ranging from five years to 12 years, in processing the revision of minimum wages to the existing scheduled employments and thereby causing much agony to the workers who dependon these salaries. The counsels, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the state governments were not even considering the proposals submitted by the Advisory Boards. They told the court that the petitioner unions had already represented the state governments for the implementation. Reportedly, transactions between ornament-making units and traders are carried out without any records or documentation. HYDERABAD: Gold merchants in the city are throwing caution to the wind by making and transporting large quantities of gold ornaments without any security measures. Two recent incidents have brought this blatant flouting security norms to light. Earlier this month, the Chandra-yangutta police caught two employees of a jewellery shop transporting 15 kg of gold in an auto-rickshaw. The employees had been given the gold ornaments by the owner of the jewellery shop to be sold in Chennai and Bengaluru. In the other incident, a 12-member gang looted about five kg of gold from a gold ornament-making unit in Petlaburj in the Old City. While the police are trying to track down the offenders, questions are being raised regarding the security measures implemented by gold merchants. There are about 200 gold ornament-making units and they employ close to 2,000 goldsmiths from various parts of the country. At any time, there is between two and 10 kg of gold at every workshop, and there are no security measures. Not a single security guard is employed by the owners of the ornament-making units. Neither are there CCTV cameras. Their shops are located in the narrow lanes at Gulzar Houz, Chelapura, Mitti-ka-Sher and Rika-bgunj in the Old City, said a police official. Reportedly, transactions between ornament-making units and traders are carried out without any records or documentation. Sometimes, differences crop up between the workers and the owners of units, over wages or the breach of trust. At such times, the workers themselves take away property and are untraceable for months, said the police official. Businessmen from other cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru also come to the city with large quantities of gold, to conduct business transactions, and they stay in local lodges to save money. He said that the police planned to conduct an awareness programme for gold merchants and would be asked to implement adequate security measures. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday dire-cted the Union home and external affairs ministries, and the Telangana government to respond to a public interest litigation seeking to direct the Centre and state governments to provide basic amenities to Rohingya refuge families in Hyderabad. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Rangan-athan and Justice K. Vijaya Lakshmi was dealing with the PIL by the Migrants Rights Council represented by its president P. Nara-yana Swami. Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Swami said that he had come to know about the problems of the Rohingyas through media reports. Deccan Chronicle had carried a detailed report about how the Rohing-yas are living in inhuman conditions in the city. After reading the report, we approached the HC, he said. It may be recalled that this newspaper had carried a report Hydera-bad: Persecuted, Rohin-gyas find squalid slums safe on March 22. P. Shashi Kiran, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that alm-ost 5,000 Rohingya refugee families from Myanmar now live in deplorable conditions in makeshift camps in the city. He submitted that the refugees in the camp do not have access to basic medical, maternal, and paediatric care or a reliable source of clean water, nutritious food or secure shelters as guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 23 of the Constitution of India. KOZHIKODE: A Kuwaiti national has complained that a man who worked under his sponsorship for around 35 years has cheated him of nearly Rs 1.15 crore along with his two other Malayali friends for starting a furniture showroom in Kozhikode and later, to do real estate business. Moajab Majed Salem Al Dosari said that he was asked to present more documents by the police. Meanwhile, the friends have complained at Payyoli police station that some people, as per the directions of Mr Al Dosari, tried to cause damage to their houses. Police, while investigating the second allegation, told this newspaper that Mr Al Dosari is yet to file a petition. Mr Al Dosari said that the dealings in Kozhikode started way back in 2014 and initially he gave Rs 75 lakh. Later, Rs 1.5 crore was given for real estate business. However, the friends sought more money, and Mr Al Dosari decided to end the real estate deals. Hereafter, some amount was returned during a conciliation talk held in Qatar and it was decided to return his Rs 1.15 crore later. The Kuwaiti national says that he was cheated, after gaining his trust for many long years and now that the police are also trying to settle the matter outside. The language is also a barrier for Mr Al Dosari and he is planning to sue the three Malayalis, after collecting original documents from Kuwait next week. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government of turning states into beggars by arrogating all powers to itself. He also accused the Central government of juggling with the high tax devolution to states it takes credit for. Speaking in the Legisla-tive Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Rao said, On one hand, they claim to be giving 42 per cent highest tax devolution to states. On the other hand, they cut down funds Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) drastically. So, the benefit of higher tax devolution does not reach the states as the states have to bear the additional expenditure on CSS. He also came down heavily on the NDA government for burdening states with the Uday scheme. They made tall claims of making power distribution companies in states debt-free under the Uday scheme. But that debt burden was passed on to the states. The Telangana government had to take over a `9,000 crore debt burden of the discoms under the Uday scheme, he said. He said that the previous UPA regime had started model schools in all states, but the NDA government stopped the scheme all of a sudden. Now the financial burden to maintain these schools and pay salaries to staff is borne by the states. In this way, one government at the Centre starts schemes and another government stops them abruptly. States are forced to face the consequences on account of such unilateral decisions, he pointed out. Chennai: In a first, the State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the father of a plus-2 student, who was killed due to electrocution. Denying the allegations, the Tangedco officials informed the commission that the cause of death was an act of God. In the petition N. Srinesh of Annai Sathya Nagar, K.K. Nagar submitted that his 16-year old son was pursuing higher secondary in a private school at Virugambakkam. On June 6, 2011, around 8.30 pm his son was electrocuted following a snapped power cable due to rainfall near Saligramam bus stand. Earlier, an auto driver alerted the police about the dangling power cable. Even an hour after public and police informed about the matter to Tangedco staff, they had not taken any action to disconnect the power supply. In their reply, three Tangedco staff denied all the allegations. It is false to allege that the electricity department was informed about the snap of cable, they said. And added that they had not committed negligence or any mistake in maintaining the power line. They said, unfortunately, the cause of death was an act of God. The judge said, The student was electrocuted only due to the negligence and irresponsibility of the Tangedco and its officials. The judge directed the government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh with an interest of 7.5 percent per annum to Srinesh in two months. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday while granting three weeks to few states to file their response on Nirbhaya fund for protection of rape victims, summoned top officials of the West Bengal and Uttarakand government for disclosing rape victims details. A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta took exception to the affidavits filed on behalf of the two states and directed officials of the two states to be present for the next hearing after three weeks. It said, This amounts to offence under the law and highly objectionable. (Section 228A of the IPC bars any person from disclosing the name of a rape victim, except with the consent of the victim or her family). Hyderabad: The Telangana State Legislature on Tuesday unanimously approved the Appropriation Bill of 2018-19 by a voice vote. The Bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly by finance minister Etela Rajender. The Opposition parties BJP, TD and CPM slammed the government for introducing populist schemes in the Budget to attract voters, keeping the 2019 elections in mind. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao responded by saying, In a democracy, the duty of political parties is to attract voters. Whats wrong with that? All political parties do it. Why this hypocrisy?" MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, BJP leader G. Kishan Reddy, TD leader Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and CPM MLA Sunnam Rajaiah participated in the debate. Mr Owaisi said that though Rs 1,000 crore had been allotted for the welfare of minorities in the previous Budget, only Rs 800 crore had been released. He asked the government to ensure that funds were completely utilised in the upcoming financial year. Mr Kishan Reddy dismissed the governments claims of submitting a revenue surplus Budget every year. He said that in reality, the government was facing debt. He said the payment arrears amounting to several thousands of crores was pending with the finance department. In his two-hour response, the Chief Minister said that Telangana had made rapid strides in all sectors over the past four years. The states per-capita income and GDP are higher than the national average. This shows the strong financial state of Telanganas economy. There are only eight states in the country which contribute more funds to the Centre than they receive from it, of which Telangana is one. We pay over Rs 50,000 crore to the Centre in the form of various taxes every year, but receive less than Rs 25,000 crore in return, Mr Rao said. He added that the TRS government had been successful in increasing its Budget and achieving its targets for expenditure for the past four years. Referring to allegations that the TRS government was pushing the state towards a debt crisis, Mr Rao said, The broad fiscal policy of the country lies with the Centre. No state is allowed to obtain loans for above 3.5 per cent of its GSDP, as per the Centres FRBM Act. We secured loans that we are eligible for. The possibility of Telangana securing more loans does not arise. TS assembly extended for 2 more days The ongoing session of the Telangana Legislative Assembly has been extended by two days. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) met on Tuesday and took a decision to the effect. The state government has decided to pass two important bills related to the panchayat raj and municipal administration. It wants to introduce amendments to the acts that govern the formation of new nagar panchayats and municipalities in the state. It also wants to introduce some changes in the panchayat election process. Congress MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy criticised the state government by saying that it was trying to pass the Panchayat Raj Bill in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council in the absence of the main Opposition. Private varsities bill introduced The Telangana government on Tuesday introduced the long-pending Private Universities Bill 2018 in the Assembly which was likely to be passed on Wednesday after a debate. The move had invited the wrath of government teachers associations and student organisatio-ns, who said the government was attempting to privatise higher education totally in a phased manner. They had threatened to intensify their ag-itation programmes and expressed concern over higher education turning unaffordable for middle and low income groups. It was learnt that the Reliance Group was keen on setting up a world-class university on city outskirts. Besides, other private universities like Gitam, ICFAI and few other major engineering college chains also had plans. New Delhi: As the Congress deftly pushes for Opposition unity, Trinamul president Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit the ground running in her quest for a Federal Front and came up with a 1:1 formula, that proposes state-level alliances be formed to defeat the BJP. Top sources told this newspaper that at the meeting, Ms Banerjee pitched for a Federal Front. NCP leader Praful Patel told the media that both leaders agreed that there should be maximum unity among the Opposition parties to take on the BJP. The situation will evolve in the coming months for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. There are of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach should be taken. But certainly what the leaders discussed was that Opposition unity should be the maximum possible as has been witnessed today in Uttar Pradesh, where the BSP and SP have started working together, and therefore it is important that political differences among the Opposition parties should be resolved, Mr Patel said. On whether she would meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Ms Banerjee said she had sent party MP Dinesh Trivedi to the Congress office in Parliament to say that she would like to call on Mrs Gandhi to enquire about her health. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee (right) with NCP chief Sharad Pawar (left) after a meeting at Parliament house in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: As the Congress deftly pushes for Opposition unity, Trinamul Congr-ess president Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit the ground running in her quest for a Federal Front and came up with a 1:1 formula, that proposes state-level allian-ces be formed to defeat the BJP. The West Bengal chief minister met leaders of political parties across the spectrum. She is likely to meet UPA chaiperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday evening. Addressing the media on Tuesday, the TMC chief said she was not averse to the idea of the Congress being part of any coalition against the BJP. Whoever is strong in whichever state, that party should be allowed to take on the BJP. Let us help them (the parties). It has to be 1:1. In fact, the Congress should support JD-S leader Deve Gowda ji in Parliament. Among all those with whom she held meetings, the longest discussion was held with NCP chief Sharad Pawar whom the TMC chief visited in his office. Hyderabad: Telugu Desam MPs have demanded that YSR Congress MP Vijaya Sai Reddy tender an unconditional apology to the people of Andhra Pradesh for hurting the self-respect of Telugu people by touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They said it is an insult to the state because people are agitating for special status, which the Modi government refused. After a long break, the Prime Minister attended the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. As he entered, the BJP and other MPs stood up and greeted him with folded hands. Once he had taken his seat, Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy went up to him and touched his feet. Mr Modi blessed him by putting his hand on Mr Reddys head. Telugu Desam MPs C.M. Ramesh, Y.S. Chowdary and others demanded that Mr Reddy apologise to the people of AP for hurting their self-respect. However, Mr Reddy cou-ntered them by alleging that Mr Ramesh had earlier touched the feet of fina-nce minister Arun Jaitley after he and Mr Chowdh-ary held talks with the PM and FM in the House. This episode has given the TD ammunition to use against its main rival YSRC. TD leaders alleged that the YSRC is playing a double game and is not sincere in seeking the special status for AP, even though it has given a notice for a no-confidence motion against the NDA government. The TD leaders allege that Mr Reddy has compromised the states interests for the sake of having cases against him and his party leader Jaganmohan Reddy removed. Mr Vijaya Sai Reddy, however, aimed his attack on AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu asking him to prove his innocence in the cash for vote case. He alleged that Mr Naidu got stay orders in 18 cases by managing the institutions. The Supreme Courts long-awaited passive euthanasia ruling has moved India to the select group of nations where a more sensible approach to the problem is now possible, but it will not end the ethical debate on its desirability. After hearing the arguments by Common Cause, an NGO, four SC judges, in separate rulings, largely agreed with each other in the voluminous 538-page report. While this judgement doesnt become a law till Parliament passes a bill in line with the court ruling, the boundaries have been set. Given the legal status of regulations worldwide and the opinion of medical and legal experts in the country, the court couldnt have gone any further. The judges have set two key conditions. One, passive euthanasia is allowed, not active euthanasia. Second, a person is allowed to draft a living will specifying he/she not be put on life support system in case of an incurable coma in future. The judges quoted poets, philosophers and legal experts as well as past court rulings worldwide while delivering their verdict. The Chief Justice quoted Tennyson at the beginning: There comes a phase in life when the spring of life is frozen, the rain of circulation becomes dry, the movement of body becomes motionless, the rainbow of life becomes colourless and the word life, which one calls a dance in space and time, becomes still and blurred and the inevitable death comes near. Justice Chandrachud took the insight a step further when he wrote: The right not to accept medical treatment is essential to liberty. Medical treatment cannot be thrust upon an individual, however, it may have been conceived in the interest of the individual. However, active euthanasia doesnt find favour as there can be abuse by beneficiaries who desire the patients heart should stop so his property is inherited. The treating physicians are also scared of collusion that may invite the wrath of criminal law as well as social stigma. The court didnt equate the right to live guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, with the right to die. The lead judgement by the Chief Justice goes into a lot of detail on advance medical directives. There have to be safeguards, enumerated as follows: The advance directive can be executed only by an adult who is of a sound and healthy state of mind... must be voluntarily executed and without any coercion... should clearly indicate the decision relating to the circumstances in which withholding or withdrawal of medical treatment can be resorted to... should specify the name of a guardian or close relative who, in the event of the executor becoming incapable of taking a decision at the relevant time, will be authorised to give consent to refuse or withdraw medical treatment in a manner consistent with the advance directive... Another issue is the affordability of keeping people alive through advanced medical technology. Justice A.K. Sikri said while a majority of patients have little chance of recovery, because of rampant poverty..., should they be forced to spend on medical treatment beyond their means and in the process compelling them to sell their house property, household things and other assets, which may be a means of livelihood? Theres another problem with the new formulation. It cant deal with state-sponsored violence and death. By making any form of suicide or abetment to suicide or any form of active euthanasia illegal and punishable by law, it largely equates suicide with murder. It doesnt question the States monopoly to inflict death, either in war or in suppressing violent and militant movements. Suicide is death inflicted on oneself, unlike murder, but remains outside what is permitted by law. The State is the only body that has the right to inflict death on others. As Anna Hazares fast entered its fourth day (at the time of writing this article), the dwindling crowd of not more than 1,500-2,000 at Delhis Ramlila Maidan was a pale reflection of the previous anti-corruption movement he had led in 2011. This time, his demands arent just implementation of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013, but also includes farmers distress and electoral reforms. Going by newspaper reports, he is already showing signs of relenting when Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan paid him a visit and showed him a video of Union finance minister Arun Jaitleys speech saying the Centre was making efforts to end the agrarian crisis. Anna reportedly seemed convinced, only demanding that the Centre give its assurance in writing. The reports did not say anything either about appointing a Lokpal or about the use of ballot papers as Mr Hazare had demanded. Its a far cry from 2011 when even after several rounds of meetings with senior UPA Cabinet ministers Anna was not easily convinced that for enacting legislation, the opinion of legitimately-elected representatives of the people through an electoral process could not be ignored and sacrificed at the altar of popular demands as advocated by him and his former colleagues pushing for acceptance of their version of the Jan Lokpal Bill. But perhaps the most significant fallout of the 2011 movement was not the enactment of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, but the emergence of a new political party from a self-proclaimed non-political movement, and the subsequent absorption of many of the faces of the movement into the current ruling party, the BJP. Some of the leaders of the movement who made fun of politicians and political parties went on to become state chief ministers, Central ministers or in one case a lieutenant-governor appointed by the current government. In order to ensure that his protest was not used as a platform to launch political careers, Anna had asked the participants in the current protest to sign affidavits stating that they would not join political parties or contest elections. At the same Ramlila Maidan where Anna is holding his agitation now, a highly revered personality of his time, Jayaprakash Narayan, gave a thunderous call for Total Revolution in 1975, asking the police and the military to disobey the government led by Mrs Indira Gandhi. What followed is too well known to bear repetition here. Though JP was beyond any party politics by then, his political experience, suaveness and revered personality kept him at the centre of the anti-Indira agitation. In 1977, when the Emergency was withdrawn and elections declared, the Janata Dal was formed under his guidance and went on to defeat the Congress and to form the first non-Congress government at the Centre. The current crop of Bihar leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar were all associated as student leaders in JPs movement. Unlike JP, Anna was not political, and perhaps unwittingly allowed his platform to be used for the furthering of political ambitions by people who led the movement. There is no doubt that he benefited from the leadership and organisational skills of Arvind Kejriwal and others who turned the agitation into a massive public spectacle attended and supported by celebrities, the general public and reportedly by the RSS as well. The India Against Corruption agitation in 2011 found huge support from the urban middle class, who had increasingly wanted to have a share of the political pie, and was making its presence felt through the politics of activism. The educated urban population could find resonance with the anti-corruption cause; and their desire to have a voice in contemporary politics reflected in the massive electoral success of newly-formed Aam Aadmi Party in 2013, followed by even a greater victory in the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls. But Mr Kejriwals subsequent defeats in elections held outside Delhi showed that rants of anti-corruption and mere rhetoric of alternative politics are perhaps not sufficient to win elections. Agitational politics had always been a legitimate way to protest against government policies or their absence. The past year saw thousands of farmers and farm labourers agitate across India protesting against the Narendra Modi governments indifference to farmers plight. Faced with increasing production costs, droughts and falling incomes, the farmers are demanding debt relief, better prices and effective insurance schemes against crop failures. Though Annas taking up farmers causes did not have much impact in Delhi, various peasant organisations across the country are continuing with their protests against the insensitive Central government. Peoples movements are nothing new in India. Besides numerous political agitations, there have been social movements centered on various causes that attracted public participation in large numbers, forcing governments to change, amend and retract decisions in favour of the movement. In the 1970s, a proposed hydroelectric project that would have destroyed a large area of pristine forest in the now famous Silent Valley in Keralas Palakkad district was shelved after an effective and sustained peoples movement and protests by local NGOs. The Chipko movement was another popular movement to save trees, again in the 1970s, led by Sunderlal Bahuguna. Women were major participants and the driving force in the movement, educating people about the perilous effects of deforestation. The horrific Nirbhaya rape in New Delhi in December 2012, that shook the collective conscience of the nation and brought issues like violence and crimes against women into the forefront of public discourse, had led to huge and spontaneous protests by students, activists and ordinary citizens. As a result of such mass protests, the government set up the Justice Verma Committee and as per its recommendations amended the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013. The politics of activism, the involvement of civil society and the participation of citizens in movements influencing, or attempting to influence, government policies are healthy elements of democracy. Through agitation or peaceful demonstrations, planned or spontaneous movements; the participation of pressure groups, concerned citizens, social activists and NGOs through the politics of confrontation and consultation can only make our democratic institutions stronger and more vibrant. With elections in Karnataka set for May 12, the two major parties, Congress and BJP, already in the thick of electioneering, will pull out all the stops for victory. Seen as a trial run for the bigger contest in 2019, preceded by polls in BJP-run Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh later this year, Karnataka could be a harbinger of which side the nation will embrace, as the BJP goes all out to secure a state it once proclaimed as its gateway to the South. Congress CM Siddaramaiah is seeking a record second term, a feat not achieved by any government since JD(U)s Ramakrishna Hegde called snap polls and won in 1985. The shouting match between the Congress and the JD(S) father-son duo of H.D. Deve Gowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy underlines the Vokkaliga-backed third power centres ability to play game-changer. The parties internal surveys posit roughly similar forecasts; giving the Congress an edge in 100 of 224 Assembly seats, the BJP in about 70-90; and the JD(S) to take a beating and yet play kingmaker. This raises the possibility of the BJP and JD(S) revisiting their old alliance, which went awry as Mr Kumaraswamy reneged on it, giving the BJPs B.S. Yeddyurappa the chance to ride to victory in 2008. For the BJP, Siddaramaiahs goodies for farmers and others, whom the BJP is avidly wooing, and the CMs move to break the BJPs Lingayat base with its ploy of a separate religion tag, could complicate the caste-class calculus. BJP chief Amit Shahs faux pas in calling Mr Yeddyurappa one of the most corrupt notwithstanding, Karnatakas propensity to vote against the national trend is a definite possibility, in a poll just 45 days away. Scrutiny of Facebook has intensified following reports that it failed to prevent the data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica from amassing personal information about millions of users - possibly used to aid Donald Trump's campaign - and that the social network has been collecting Android users' phone call and text message histories without notice. As questions mounted last year about whether Facebook had been exploited to tilt the US presidential election, Mark Zuckerberg's to-do list landed him on a fishing trawler off Alabama's Gulf coast. But the chatter surrounding the CEO's arrival in port was that it signaled something bigger than just the start of a 30-state personal tour: his designs on a job even more powerful than leading the social network that links 2.2 billion people worldwide. "It was one of the last things I asked him, thinking it would put a smile on his face - and it did," said Dominick Ficarino, who owns a shrimp business in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and hosted a dockside lunch for Zuckerberg that Sunday afternoon. FILE- In this Aug. 6, 2015, file photo Facebook Elections signs stand in the media area in Cleveland before the first Republican presidential debate. The head of Trump-affiliated data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica was suspended on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, while government authorities are bearing down on both the firm and Facebook over allegations the firm stole data from 50 million Facebook users to manipulate elections. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) "I asked him if he was interested in running for president of the United States. And his answer to me was: 'Can I answer you with a question? If you were me, would you?'" Thirteen months later, Zuckerberg no longer has the luxury of mulling a hypothetical next act. Instead, he is grappling with a crisis that has enveloped the company synonymous with his face and name. It does not help that the most glaring reminder of Facebook's flaws is the unabated uproar over the American presidency itself. "The world feels anxious and divided, and Facebook has a lot of work to do," Zuckerberg wrote in January, laying out the "personal challenge" that he sets for himself each year. In 2017, the billionaire challenged himself to travel to every state he'd never visited. This year, long after critics began demanding an overhaul, Zuckerberg said his personal goal is to "fix" the platform that he has engineered to build community - but that is increasingly blamed for warping it. Yet things continue to get worse. Scrutiny of Facebook has intensified following reports that it failed to prevent the data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica from amassing personal information about millions of users - possibly used to aid Donald Trump's campaign - and that the social network has been collecting Android users' phone call and text message histories without notice. That adds to criticism that Facebook manipulates its users and has allowed Russian bots to divide Americans by spreading false information. On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission announced it was investigating Facebook for its privacy practices. Throughout the mounting crisis, Zuckerberg's response has been a study in contradictions. He crisscrossed the country, even as his company back home came under increasing fire. He preaches transparency, but flinches at questioning and craves privacy. He is undeniably brilliant, but stubborn in his reluctance to acknowledge the extent of Facebook's problems. FILE - In this June 21, 2017, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during preparation for the Facebook Communities Summit, in Chicago. Zuckerberg embarked on a rare media mini-blitz Wednesday, March 22, 2018, in the wake of a privacy scandal involving a Trump-connected data-mining firm. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) Even his critics say he is uniquely capable of righting the ship. But at 33, is he prepared to do all it will take? "If he fails to do it, it may take a while but eventually people are going to rebel," said Roger McNamee, an early Facebook investor and adviser who has become one of the company's most pointed critics. "I thought Facebook was a force for good in the world for a really long time," McNamee said. "I think it's really hard to make that case today." Days after Trump's election, Zuckerberg was pressed on the possibility that foreign agents had used his social network to divide voters. "The idea that fake news on Facebook ... influenced the election in any way, I think, is a pretty crazy idea," the CEO told the audience at a California technology conference. "I think all of us were shocked to learn how wrong he was," said David Kirkpatrick, the author of a 2010 book about Facebook who questioned Zuckerberg that day. "You can certainly say that he was culpable, in that he was naive and inattentive to what was happening in his system. But I don't think he was lying." Zuckerberg walked back the remark soon after, continuing a years-long routine of self-correction. But errors that reflect his stubbornness, those who know him say, are tempered by an eagerness to learn from mistakes and a deep sense of reflection. Donald Graham, the former chairman of the Washington Post Co., recalled that when he met Zuckerberg in 2005, outsiders still weren't sure what to make of Facebook. "I would ask him a question and he would pause long enough - 15 seconds, 20 seconds - that I would think 'Did I insult him? Did he not hear me?'" said Graham, who went on to serve on the company's board from 2008 to 2015. FILE- In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg meets with a group of entrepreneurs and innovators during a round-table discussion at Cortex Innovation Community technology hub in St. Louis. With Zuckerberg, its experiment, learn, experiment, learn, said LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who has known him since 2004. Hoffman said that is evident in Zuckerberg's enthusiasm for software, which can be overwritten to fix problems. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) "Since I am from Washington, I'm not used to people thinking before they are answering a question. ... But Mark, then as now, was thinking about the right answer." Zuckerberg's boyish appearance, even today, is a reminder of just how young he was when he created what would become the world's biggest social network, back in his dorm room at Harvard. "I didn't know anything about building a company or global internet service," he wrote in January. "Over the years I've made almost every mistake you can imagine." Naomi Gleit, Facebook's longest-serving employee after the CEO, said Zuckerberg - who declined an interview request from The Associated Press - has been talking about making the world a better place since he was 21. But his view of that world and his place in it "seemed almost like a gravity, a burden of responsibility," she said. That seriousness coincides with a sense of certainty. Gleit recalled Zuckerberg's steadfast attachment to a Facebook message service similar to email, even as more people began using phones to send text messages. But co-workers eventually swayed the CEO, who she described as a "learn-it-all." That change-of-mind informed Facebook's 2014 purchase of the WhatsApp messaging service for $19 billion. "I think he would even say now that he was initially wrong," Gleit said. With Zuckerberg, "its experiment, learn, experiment, learn," said LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who has known him since 2004. Hoffman said that is evident in Zuckerberg's enthusiasm for software, which can be overwritten to fix problems. That facility, he said, makes Zuckerberg the equal of executives with far more experience. But in the process of learning, Zuckerberg's inexperience has sometimes played out in public view. In 2010, Zuckerberg announced on Oprah Winfrey's television show that he would donate $100 million to schools in Newark, New Jersey. FILE - This Jan. 17, 2017, file photo shows a Facebook logo being displayed in a start-up companies gathering at Paris' Station F, in Paris. Facebook is taking baby steps for now to address the latest privacy scandal after news broke Friday, March 16, 2018, that Cambridge Analytica may have used data improperly obtained from roughly 50 million Facebook users to try to sway elections. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) Critics labeled it an attempt to polish his image, just as the biopic "The Social Network" was being released. Still, there was little questioning his generosity. The problem was that Zuckerberg - who knew little about education - made the gift with few specifics outlining how it should be spent. "He was just a very young, naive, inexperienced guy who was brilliant at technology and computers and the internet, but just really didn't know much about how the world worked," said Dale Russakoff, author of "The Prize," a book chronicling how the money went to high-priced consultants, with minimal effort by leaders to build community support. By the end of the process, Zuckerberg had developed a clearer understanding of how to get things done. He and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, have since chartered their own foundation and structured it to take on mammoth goals, like a $3 billion investment to cure, prevent or manage all diseases. He has pledged to donate 99 percent of his Facebook stock to philanthropy. "Zuck's maturation has occurred in front of the public," said Kirkpatrick, author of "The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company that Is Connecting the World." ''But he also still lives with the consequences of the decisions he made when he was less mature." At Facebook, Zuckerberg has grown increasingly bold in using huge sums of money to pursue corporate goals, which includes purchasing competitors - or companies that could grow into competitors. Facebook's $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 - then unprofitable and little-known - came as a shock to Wall Street. Two years later came the multibillion-dollar deal to buy WhatsApp, a company that remains unprofitable but has given Facebook a prime portal into developing countries and other regions outside the US In 2014, soon after Facebook bought a virtual reality firm called Oculus, Zuckerberg found himself being grilled in a lawsuit brought by a competitor who accused an Oculus executive of stealing trade secrets. Under questioning, he talked about the pressure he exerted to make the Oculus deal happen, and his vision of growing it so fast "that we can get every developer and studio in the world building just for Oculus before any big competitor exists." Last year, in a bid to free up his fortune for philanthropy, Zuckerberg pushed board members to restructure Facebook's stock, allowing him to sell off part of his stake while maintaining control. That prompted a suit by a group of shareholders who argued that the move would benefit only Zuckerberg while diluting the value of other investors' stakes. Days before Zuckerberg was scheduled to testify as part of the suit, the company dropped the plan. The gambit hints at the complexity of being Zuckerberg, who advocates for transparency and the interests of the community but whose individual interests don't always align. The paradox is self-inflicted, the trade-off for creating a venture premised on users' willingness to share details of their lives. That requires Zuckerberg, who has 105 million Facebook "friends," to reveal far more about himself than would be expected of any other CEO, whether its photos of him and Chan baking sweets for the Jewish holiday of Purim or dressing their daughters for the Chinese New Year. Yet he fiercely guards his privacy. FILE- In this April 19, 2017, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at his company's annual F8 developer conference in San Jose, Calif. Critics say Facebook continues to ignore the possibility of the social network being used for dark purposes. But Zuckerbergs supporters said he is unfairly blamed for problems he could not have foreseen. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) When calls went out last year for Zuckerberg to testify before a Senate committee, the company sent its lawyer. And when he and Chan bought 700 acres on the Hawaiian island of Kauai last year, they quietly filed lawsuits against hundreds of Hawaiians - withdrawn after protests - that would have cut off locals' access to the land by negating their interest in small ancestral tracts within the estate's boundaries. "Intellectually, he believes in transparency," Kirkpatrick said. "But emotionally, it's very difficult for him." Facebook works hard to present Zuckerberg as someone deeply interested in the ordinary people whose lives are at the heart of its business. Stops on last year's US tour, never announced, were set up by facilitators who revealed details to only a select few. But many of the visits were covered by the media and documented in professional-quality photos on Zuckerberg's Facebook page soon after he'd departed. Ostensibly, the idea was for Zuckerberg to learn. But in their brief interactions, many people were just as interested in finding a way to connect with him. In Hazard, Kentucky, educator Paul Green became custodian of the small town's biggest secret. A staffer from Zuckerberg's foundation, peppering Green with questions about the region's educational cooperative, finally admitted it was because the CEO himself wanted to visit. Green's reward for keeping it quiet was seeing the wide-eyed grins when Zuckerberg pulled up and greeted local high schoolers studying robotics and programming. Walking through science demonstrations, Zuckerberg spent more time trading tech tales with the teenagers than quizzing the teachers. "He just lit up with those kids," Green said. "The way he talked with them about some of the things he did when he was in school and his passion for technology, it really was cool." When Zuckerberg toured an oil rig near Williston, North Dakota, last July, "from the minute he got out of the car to the minute he got back in the car, he was nothing but questions," said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, which arranged the visit. "I had Bakken shale, limestone, dolomite, and he was able to hold them in his hand, along with a bottle of crude oil. And I remember him asking, 'How do you get that oil out of that rock?'" geologist Kathleen Neset said. In Dayton, Ohio, Zuckerberg met with officials, caregivers and families battling drug addiction. Lori Erion, the founder of the group Families of Addicts, said she told him what it was like to learn her daughter, April, had shot up heroin in their own home. FILE - In this April 4, 2013 file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg walks at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook has dropped 13.5 percent after allegations a political consulting firm working for the Trump campaign got data inappropriately from millions of Facebook users. On Monday, March 26, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission said its investigating the social media giants privacy practices and legislators in the U.S. and the U.K. have demanded answers and called for inquiries. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) "It seemed to get him really emotional," Erion said, recalling how Zuckerberg stood up suddenly and told the group he needed a few minutes to steady himself. When he returned, he asked what makes an addict stay clean and how families got their loved ones into treatment. "We didn't ever talk about Facebook at all," Erion said, "which is really interesting because Facebook is really the main way of us getting information out. He really was just like a regular person." As Zuckerberg connected with Americans face-to-face, controversy over Facebook continued to spiral. Shortly before the election, McNamee sent a letter to Zuckerberg and Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, warning that Facebook was being manipulated in ways its creators never intended. It wasn't just about the US election: A consulting firm had collected data on people interested in the Black Lives Matter movement and sold it to police departments, and critics had detected a well-organized, clandestine campaign supporting Brexit. All this pointed to a deep problem with Facebook - that it was simply not equipped or not willing to prevent the misuse of its platform. McNamee said he has been disappointed in the incremental changes announced since. Facebook has adopted this "libertarian philosophy that says 'we are not responsible for anything downstream, we are allowed to disrupt media, we are allowed to addict our users and we are not responsible for any of the consequences of any of that,'" he said. Zuckerberg could change that. But McNamee said it is not enough to hire thousands of workers to weed through fake and abusive posts if those posts keep getting through. And tweaking Facebook's newsfeed so users see more posts from families and friends does not address his certainty that the algorithms underlying Facebook make it dangerously addictive. "You cannot cure addiction by doing more of the thing that got you addicted in the first place, which is what Zuck recommends," McNamee wrote in an email. Critics say Facebook continues to ignore the possibility of the social network being used for dark purposes, but Zuckerberg's supporters counter that he is unfairly blamed for problems he could not have foreseen. Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder, credits Zuckerberg with leading Facebook through a shift in mindset, making changes that will nudge users into a more positive virtual environment - without completely shutting out inflammatory content. "Facebook basically is saying we enable people based on the way they behave. That's a very democratic argument. If people want to live in filter bubbles, who are we to say 'Don't live in filter bubbles,' even though we don't want them to?" Hoffman said. But Kirkpatrick argued that Zuckerberg's and Sandberg's surety that Facebook has a positive impact on society has blinded them to parallel realities. The company can't be fixed, Kirkpatrick said, until Zuckerberg comes to terms with existential threats to the way the social network does business - its potential to negatively affect democracy and the way it hooks in users. "There's no question in my mind that Mark Zuckerberg is an ethical and responsible human being who wants to do the right thing," he said. "However, I do not think he has yet grasped the gravity with which his service is being perceived to be a socially harmful force all around the world. And I also don't think he realizes the extent to which that really is true." McNamee, recalling Zuckerberg as a 22-year-old visionary, said the CEO must be willing to rethink long-held assumptions. But that does not mean he has to abandon building his global community. "You've won," McNamee said he would tell Zuckerberg if asked again for his counsel. "You've achieved more than your wildest dreams. You're a billionaire. Now you have a chance to be a hero." Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The news of her first appearance on local channel Kohenoor TV on Saturday went viral on social media and was just days after she became the first transgender model on the catwalk at the annual Pakistan Fashion Design Council fashion show. (Photo: ANI) Karachi: As the first transgender news anchor in Pakistan, Marvia Malik is proud to be at the forefront of changing attitudes in her country but she says there is a long way to go. The news of her first appearance on local channel Kohenoor TV on Saturday went viral on social media and was just days after she became the first transgender model on the catwalk at the annual Pakistan Fashion Design Council fashion show. Her catapult into the spotlight came after transgender activist Zara Changezi was named as star of a love film, the Senate passed a bill to protect transgender people, and a Pakistani province agreed to an X gender on driving licences. Malik, 21, said she had lost count of the positive telephone calls and messages she had received for her new role which was a major contrast to previous years when she battled to survive. "I got a lot of appreciation from those associated with the fashion industry when I did catwalk modelling two weeks back, and now this ... it's quite overwhelming," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "I was thrown out after (10th grade) after which I joined a beauty salon, earned just about enough to put myself through college, but it was not easy. My story is no different from that of a hijra on the street you see begging." Many "hijras" - which includes transvestites, transsexuals and eunuchs - in Pakistan, as well as other South Asian nations such as India and Bangladesh, are attacked, murdered, raped or forced to work as sex workers, dancers, or beggars. For although transgender people technically enjoy better rights in Pakistan than in many other nations, in practice they are marginalized and face discrimination in education and jobs. However campaigners said there were signs of progress in the conservative South Asian nation where homosexuality is a crime. The Supreme Court ruled in 2009 hijras could get national identity cards as a "third sex" and last year the government issued its first passport with a transgender category. The transgender community was counted in the national census for the first time last year, recording 10,418 in a population of about 207 million although many said this was too low. Charity Trans Action Pakistan estimates there are at least half a million transgender people in the country. X marks transgender Earlier this month the Senate unanimously approved a bill to protect the rights of transgender people which, once passed by both houses, means transgender people will no longer have to appear before a medical board to confirm their gender. Meanwhile the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - one of Pakistan's four provinces where there was a spate of attacks on transgender people in 2016 - issued driving licences to transgender people marked with an X in gender. "Getting a driving permit will not only be a proof of identity but open another livelihood avenue, for instance, finding employment in cab companies," said Qamar Naseem of Peshawar-based Blue Veins that lobbies for transgender people. Sana Yasir, an intersex educator and physician, said Pakistan was becoming more tolerant of transgender people but acceptance was not yet widespread with many people confusing gender identity with sexual orientation. "(People) assume being trans means one has a certain orientation, and harness hate against homosexuals, which then shows in their transphobic behaviour," Yasir said. While Malik is happy that the government is slowly bringing the community into the mainstream, she said the only way to get meaningful change if is "change begins at home". "We have to tell parents not to be ashamed of their kids who cannot conform to the sex assigned at birth," she said, adding that transgender people were often thrown out by their families. "We are left with no option but to turn to begging, dancing and selling our bodies." The photos, taken on Monday, show what appear to be at least 40 ships and submarines flanking the carrier Liaoning in what some analysts described as an unusually large display of the Chinese military's growing naval might. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) Hanoi/Hong Kong: Dozens of Chinese naval vessels are exercising this week with an aircraft carrier in a large show of force off Hainan island in the South China Sea, satellite images obtained by Reuters show. The images, provided by Planet Labs Inc, confirm a Chinese carrier group has entered the vital trade waterway as part of what the Chinese navy earlier described as combat drills that were part of routine annual exercises. The Liaoning carrier group last week traversed the Taiwan Strait, according to the Taiwanese defence ministry. The photos, taken on Monday, show what appear to be at least 40 ships and submarines flanking the carrier Liaoning in what some analysts described as an unusually large display of the Chinese military's growing naval might. Sailing in a line formation more suited to visual propaganda than hard military manoeuvres, the flotilla was headed by what appeared to be submarines, with aircraft above. Jeffrey Lewis, a security expert at the California-based Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies, said the images showed the first confirmation that the carrier was joining the drills. "It's an incredible picture," he said. "That's the big news to me. Confirmation that, yes, the carrier participated in the exercise." It is unclear where the flotilla was headed, or how long operations will last. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. Collin Koh, a security expert at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, described the deployment as unusual for its size and scope. "Judging by the images, it does seem they are keen to show that elements of the South Sea Fleet are able to routinely join up with the carrier strike group from Dalian in the north," he said. "It does seem they want to show inter-fleet interoperability - something the (Chinese) navy has been quietly working on for some time." Chinese naval and coast guard forces have expanded rapidly in recent years and now patrol the vast swathes of the South China Sea, but little is known about their combat readiness and co-ordination. Also Read: Best preparation for war: Beijing holds air force drills in South China Sea Koh said as well as the destroyers, frigates and submarines that would ordinarily support a carrier, the flotilla appeared to include a large oiler for re-supply as well as smaller corvettes and possibly fast attack catamarans. "While it highlights an extensive ability to deploy, we are still left to guess at the PLAN's combat readiness," Koh said. As well as Vietnam, China's claims in the South China Sea are disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei while Taiwan also has claims. The exercises come amid fresh signs of tension in the resource-rich waterway, with Vietnam recently halting oil exploration off its coast by Spanish firm Repsol under pressure from Beijing. Beijing also objected to a so-called freedom of navigation patrol by a US warship last week close to one of its artificial islands in the Spratlys archipelago further south. AggregateIQ did not immediately respond to request for comment on the remarks by Christopher Wylie, a whistleblower formerly of British political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. (Photo: AP) London: A Cambridge Analytica whistleblower said on Tuesday that Canadian company AggregateIQ worked on software called Ripon which was used to identify Republican voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. AggregateIQ did not immediately respond to request for comment on the remarks by Christopher Wylie, a whistleblower formerly of British political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. Wylie has previously disclosed how users' data from Facebook was used by Cambridge Analytica to help elect US President Donald Trump. Ripon, the town in which the Republican Party was founded in 1854, was the name given to a tool that let a campaign manage its voter database, target specific voters, conduct canvassing, manage fundraising and carry out surveys. "There's now tangible proof in the public domain that AIQ actually built Ripon, which is the software that utilised the algorithms from the Facebook data," Wylie told the British Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Also Read: Facebook apologises for Cambridge Analytica scandal through ads AggregateIQ told Reuters on March 24 that it had never been and is not a part of Cambridge Analytica nor ever entered into a contract with Cambridge Analytica. It said it works in full compliance within all legal and regulatory requirements and had never knowingly been involved in any illegal activity. Cambridge Analytica said on Tuesday that it had not shared any of the Facebook profile data procured by a Cambridge academic with AggregateIQ. It said it had not had any communication with AggregateIQ since December 2015. ECHO, Summit County A Missouri truck driver died and at least 16 others were injured in a 23-vehicle pileup on I-80 early Monday that is being blamed on icy roads. The series of five chain-reaction accidents started about 7 a.m. in the westbound lanes near Echo Junction. Slick roads caused the crashes that kept piling up on each other, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. The majority of vehicles involved were semitrailers. The first crash involved 12 semis and two passenger vehicles, according to the UHP. Over the next half-mile, there were four more series of crashes. Troopers said Oscar Longoria, 61, of Barling, Missouri, was killed in the crash. Multiple ambulances and medical helicopters responded to the scene. One person was flown to McKay-Dee Hospital in critical condition, two were taken by ambulance to Park City Hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, and 13 with minor or no injuries were transported by a school bus to a church in Coalville to stay warm, according to troopers. Westbound I-80 remained closed through the afternoon, and troopers warned it wound "remain closed until further notice" as crews attempted to remove the remaining wrecked vehicles. Traffic was diverted onto Old Echo Road until shortly before 8 p.m. when all lanes re-opened. UHP said none of the semitrailers involved in the crash were hauling hazardous materials. Orange snow blanketed many spots in Russia and Eastern Europe over the weekend after snowstorms picked up sand and dust before ravaging through Europe. As The Independent reported, storms in northern Africa collected sand, dust and pollen from the Sahara Desert and blew it across Europe. The sand mixed with the rain and snow, which led to orange snow falling from the sky. Steven Keates, of the Met Office, told The Independent that orange snow has fallen before in many places across the world. There has been a lot of lifted sand or dust originating from North Africa and the Sahara, from sandstorms which have formed in the desert, he said. Keates said the storms carried the sand into the upper layers of the atmosphere. The rain and snow then returned all of the dust and sand down to the ground during the storms. The Athens Observatory told CNN on Friday that the orange snow was one of the largest transfers of desert sand to Greece from the Sahara ever. Skiers and snowboards shared photos of the unusual scene, while others complained of sand in their mouths, according to BBC. And, according to Business Insider, one video showed orange skies in Palaiokastro, Crete, Greece, from the dust. Amazing views in Palaiokastro, Crete today in thick Saharan dust! WOW! Report: Stavros Christopoulous pic.twitter.com/pcHyJn1a8v severe-weather.EU (@severeweatherEU) March 22, 2018 Orange snow previously fell in Siberia back in 2007, according to The Guardian. Locals said at the time that the snow had a foul smell and an oily texture. One theory posited that the snow was a result of chemical pollution. Earlier this year, white snow fell in the Sahara Desert, which has happened in previous years as well. It seems only fair that the Sahara comes to the snow after the snow came to the Sahara in December 2016 the first time since 1979. And it's done so again in 2017 and this January, too, according to Science Alert. LOGAN George H. Emert, who served as Utah State Universitys 13th president, died Wednesday at age 79, according to a statement from the university. The statement did not give a cause of death. He was a dedicated Aggie who was a dynamic leader, current USU President Noelle Cockett said in the statement. Throughout Georges administration, we all benefited from his ability to identify new opportunities to grow Utah State University and further our land grant mission. He will be missed by the Aggie family. Emert, who served as president for more than eight years, stepped down in 2000. He took a one-year transitional sabbatical and then taught in the College of Science for another year before leaving Logan. During his presidency, the university said scholarships rose from $6 million to $29 million, while the endowment was raised from $7 million to nearly $80 million. Contracts and grants to USU also increased from $89 million to more than $140 million, and student enrollment went from 17,000 students to nearly 21,000. Born on Dec. 15, 1938, in Sevier County, Tennessee, Emert was raised on a parcel of land farmed by his family dating back to the Revolutionary War, and attended elementary and high school in a one-room schoolhouse. Emert served two tours in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces from 1963-66. He was awarded the Air Medal and a Bronze Star. While on furlough, he met his future wife, Billie, on a blind date in Okinawa, Japan. They were married two years later. Emert earned a bachelors degree in zoology with minors in chemistry and math from the University of Colorado, then went on to complete a masters degree in zoology at Colorado State University and a doctorate in biochemistry and nutrition from Virginia Tech. He worked as the director of biochemical technology for Gulf Oil Corp. before becoming an adjunct assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Kansas. He joined the University of Arkansas in 1979, where he was a professor of biochemistry and served as the director of the Biomass Research Center. Prior to moving to Utah State, he served nine years as the executive vice president at Auburn University. In 2002, the auditorium in the Eccles Science Learning Center was named in honor of Emert and his wife. PARK CITY A Midvale man has been sentenced to prison for murder in the shooting death of a popular Park City bartender. James Enoch Henfling, 29, was sentenced March 19 to at least 15 years and up to life in prison for murder in the 2016 death of Jose Fernandez, 37. A concurrent sentence of five years to life was also ordered for felony discharge of a firearm. A jury in October found Henfling guilty of the charges, both of which are first-degree felonies. Court documents note that Henfling has spent 756 days in jail since his arrest. Fernandez, 37, was found shot and "barey breathing" at the Snowcrest condominium complex, 1530 Empire Ave., on Feb. 22, 2016, after Henfling's distraught fiancee ran to a nearby 7-Eleven store and reported Henfling had shot someone, charging documents state. Fernandez was rushed to an area hospital where he died four days later. Henfling told police he had deliberately shot Fernandez in the head with a .40-caliber handgun, according to charging documents. Henfling's sister told police that after seeing her brother shoot Fernandez, the two of them fled the home without calling for help. In his interview with police, Henfling said, "I guess I should have shot him in the foot or the hand or just in the air, but natural reaction, being a hunter you shoot to kill," charges state. Fernandez was a fixture at the No Name Saloon & Grill, 447 Main, and the Boneyard Saloon, 1251 Kearns Blvd. He and his wife had found out they were about to be parents for the first time just days before the shooting. Utah residents received more robocalls than ever before in 2017, according to a new report. A new report from YouMail Robocall Index, which tracks the volume and length of robocalls in the U.S., found that more than 187 million robocalls "were made to Utah area codes in 2017," according to a press release emailed to the Deseret News. About 158 million robocalls were made to Utah area codes in 2016, according to YouMail Robocall Index data emailed to the Deseret News. Texas received the highest robocalls in the nation at 3.4 billion. Alaska, meanwhile, received the lowest at 21 million, according to the data. Neighboring state Nevada received 257 million calls this year, while Colorado received 373 million. Idaho callers received 100 million calls, while Arizona residents received 464 million calls. Wyoming had the least amount of calls in the Mountain West with 35 million calls, according to the data. Robocalls often come from spoofers and scam callers. However, businesses often call residents without their consent, too. In fact, Capital One, Comcast, Home Depot, and Citibank ranked as the top robocallers (those who made the calls) to Utah numbers in February 2018 alone. This data illustrates a rapid expansion of the use of robocall technology and the toll these abusive calls take on Utah consumers, said Margot Saunders, senior counsel at the National Consumer Law Center, in a press release. February was a record-breaking month for robocalls nationwide with an average of 98.1 million per day, which is a new daily record for YouMail Robocall since it launched in 2015, according to a press release. The 2.75 billion robocalls across the country in February represented a 24 percent increase from the year before. The Federal Trade Commission released a report earlier this year that found Americans filed 4.5 million complaints about robocalls, compared to the 3.4 million in 2016. Of those, 66,000 came from Utah residents alone, according to the FTC. There are ways to avoid robocalls in the future. The Verge writer Chris Welch unveiled eight different ways to stop receiving those calls with your iPhone or Android device, such as downloading apps such as Nomorobo, RoboKiller and Hiya. You can also buy a Samsung or Google phone that identifies spam callers, or you can set your phone to Do Not Disturb mode to avoid contacts. SALT LAKE CITY The LDS Church's First Presidency announced significant policy changes Monday, providing direction on how bishops and stake presidencies may conduct interviews with women and children and how they counsel victims of abuse and sexual abuse. The changes specified that children, youth and women now may invite an adult to join them in what traditionally have been personal interviews. Some had said they were uncomfortable being interviewed one-on-one by a male priesthood leader. The First Presidency also clarified to members of bishoprics and stake presidencies how they should respond to reports of sexual abuse and how to minister in those situations. The changes explicitly state that local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should never disregard a report of abuse and should never encourage members to remain in an abusive situation. "To ensure the safety and protection of children, youth and adults, we ask that all priesthood and auxiliary leaders become familiar with existing church policies and guidelines on preventing and responding to abuse," stated the letter, which was signed by church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. The announcement arrived at a time of broad interest in the church's policies about the way bishoprics and stake presidencies interact with abusive situations as the #metoo moment draws attention to sexual assault and harassment. It also comes a week after a leaked recording made public a woman's accusation that a former president of the Missionary Training Center named Joseph Bishop raped her while she was a missionary at the Provo complex in 1984 and molested another missionary, a claim he denies. And this week on Friday, the eve of the church's semiannual international general conference leaders of a group called Protect LDS Children plan to demonstrate at church headquarters to protest one-on-one interviews with children. "These new policies are a great step," said Julie Valentine, a Brigham Young University nursing professor and expert on responding to sexual assault. "As members of the church, we want everyone to be healthy in every way, psychologically, physically and spiritually. These policies direct approaches that will help." The policy changes were outlined in the document, "Preventing and responding to abuse" sent with the letter. The new directives are now church policy and will be codified in Handbook 1, the general handbook of instructions for local leaders, a spokesman for the faith said. The letter and accompanying guidelines were sent to thousands of local LDS leaders in the United States and Canada. Valentine said all institutions need policies and procedures that encourage victims to come forward. "Those range from creating a safe environment where individuals feel they will be believed to, once a disclosure is made, believing the victim, following up on the disclosure and investigating," she said. The policy changes gave leaders direction to minister to abuse victims. "Church leaders should never disregard a report of abuse or counsel a member not to report criminal activity to law enforcement personnel," one alteration said. A second added, "Members should never be encouraged to remain in a home or situation that is abusive or unsafe." Marriage is a foundational doctrine in the church and, while divorce does occur and is allowed, general church leaders and the handbook have instructed bishops never to counsel couples to divorce because those decisions belong to the couple. "Prophets and apostles have always responded to the times in which they live," said Patrick Mason, the Howard W. Hunter Chair in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University and the author of "Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt." "We see these cultural forces all converging at a point in time, and these changes make sense in the LDS Church," he said. "I think we'll look back on these measures and see them as common-sense decisions." The relevant part of the policy on bishop's interviews will now read, "When a member of a stake presidency or bishopric or another assigned leader meets with a child, youth, or woman, he or she should ask a parent or another adult to be in an adjoining room, foyer, or hall. If the person being interviewed desires, another adult may be invited to participate in the interview. Leaders should avoid all circumstances that could be misunderstood." A spokesman said the policy on interviews was designed to allow the person being interviewed to select the adult who would join the interview. That would allow a child who is being abused by an adult to pick a different one. "These are good clarifications," said Wendy Ulrich, a prominent LDS psychologist and author. "I'm glad they're able to officially say children can have someone come in with them for an interview." She said the trade-off is that a parent who is abusing a child may try to coerce that child into bringing the parent to the interview to prevent a disclosure. However, she said, "I think this is the right call." The founder of Protect the Children, which had called for an end to one-on-one interviews with kids, said the group's rally will move forward on Friday. The group has 1,200 people registered to march and received a permit for the event from Salt Lake City last week, Sam Young said. Monday's letter directed local church leaders to teach the policies and guidelines to stake and ward councils, which are comprised of men and women who lead various groups within congregations. The First Presidency also clarified on Monday that "at least two adults must be present on all church-sponsored activities attended by youth or children." OREM Greg Carlisle, a longtime Orem resident who lives about five blocks from Utah Valley University, says he loves the college. "My son graduated there, and my daughter worked there," he explained. Yet Carlisle is one of many community members in southwest Orem who oppose the construction of a new student apartment complex and parking lot close to their homes. They are attempting to force the Orem City Council to put the development before voters through a petition drive. The council recently approved the rezoning of a residential neighborhood to allow for a student housing project called Palos Verdes, which will be located across the street from Lakeridge Junior High, 951 S. 400 West. The five-story complex is expected to house up to 1,605 students, and the parking lot will hold 1,200 vehicles. Before getting the city's approval for the rezone, PEG Development bought and demolished 27 homes on the land, according to Carlisle. "They just tore them down. Beautiful homes," he said. "It started two years ago: There's quite a few big areas around UVU where developers have gone in and just bought up everything, and they're just waiting for rezones right across from our homes," Carlisle said. Some residents fear the new apartment complex will congest traffic on an already-busy street as well as cut their property values and jeopardize the safety of junior high students. "Nobody checked with us," Carlisle added. As a result, they are petitioning for the zone change to be put on the city ballot for a referendum. They claim they have support from Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, and Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem. "My input here is to try to help both sides work together," Daw told the Deseret News. Daw added that though he is not taking sides, if the petitioners generate the support they are seeking, they deserve to have their voices heard on the issue. "We want to get everybody to the table, and we have been," Carlisle said. The petitioners have discussed the issue with UVU President Matthew Holland, Orem Mayor Richard Brunst, the city planning commission, LDS Church leaders and legislators, who have been receptive to their feelings, he said. In addition to safety concerns, the residents also fear the loss of a "single-family home atmosphere" in their area, according to Carlisle. However, the land in question will not go back to single-family residential zoning, said Taylor Woodbury, chief operating officer of Woodbury Corp., which is working with PEG Development on the housing project. "There's so many students that go to UVU, and that's their school of choice. And yet, they can't have the same housing experience that other students in the state of Utah have," he said. UVU has more than 30,000 students currently enrolled. If the petitioners successfully block the housing project, the land will probably go to UVU, which will likely put in an academic building or parking lot instead, Woodbury said. Compared to student housing, those would be "commuter traffic nightmares," he added. "There's a reason the city felt strongly about this being a student housing project. Of all the potential uses of this property, student housing by far generates the least amount of traffic," he said, noting more students will walk to classes. "If we can take 1,600 students and take them off the road during the morning and evening commute, not only have we improved traffic dramatically we've also changed those students' lives and given them the ability to take their schooling more seriously," he said. Citing a study from the University of Houston, Woodbury said on-campus housing leads to higher grade-point averages, graduation rates and students being able to take more classes. Woodbury says his company has worked closely with UVU to bring "the first project to the area that could be like an on-campus living experience for their students." While other universities in the state have adequate student housing, UVU is lacking in those opportunities, the Woodbury executive added. Mayor Richard Brunst of Orem agreed. "This gives our students the chance to have the on-campus housing experience. It gives them more apartments to live in, which we're short on," Brunst said. For Brandon Randolph, who has to walk to his classes at Utah Valley University every day, the idea of new housing near the school is appealing. "I'd be 10, 15 minutes away from my classes. It'd be perfect," he said. Aaron Hall, who graduated from UVU in 2017, lived in BYU student housing during his time at the school because he couldn't find housing closer to UVU. "Luckily, the BYU housing situation is so much more plentiful than the UVU situation that I kind of piggybacked off that instead," he said, adding that this was true for many of his classmates. Hall thinks a new apartment complex closer to the school will give UVU students better opportunities to become "more immersed in the school" and contribute more to "school spirit." "Utah County is so entrenched in BYU culture that UVU has to compete a lot," he said. "It's absurd to have UVU students having to live in BYU student housing because they can't find student housing beds around their own school," Woodbury said. The petitioners understand the need for more student housing, according to Carlisle. But they want student housing to be built in other areas of Orem that are already zoned for it rather than "creeping into our homes." "There's room for everybody," Carlisle said. The petitioners now have close to 5,000 signatures but need 6,741 for residents to be able to vote on the decision in November 2019, according to Carlisle. On Wednesday, Cameron Martin, UVU's vice president of university relations, reached out to the Deseret News to discuss the petitioners' claim that no one discussed the issue with them beforehand. Discussions have been held with the residents "for the past two years," he said. We want quality neighborhoods and will continue to work with our neighbors and the city to find a way forward," Martin added. He also emphasized the school's need for more housing for its students. PLEASANT GROVE With a salute, a smile and dozens of friends singing him "happy birthday," 97-year-old Keith Renstrom, a U.S. Marine master gunnery sergeant, returned home once more from Iwo Jima, Japan, on Monday evening. Renstrom, who turned 97 on Wednesday, returned from the airport to find friends, family members, Boy Scouts and police officers waiting to greet him at his Pleasant Grove home. Many helped to hold an American flag the size of a swimming pool, some with tears in their eyes. "I don't know what to say, but here I am," Renstrom said, wearing a ball cap that reads "World War II Veteran" and flanked by two fellow Marines in uniform. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart." Renstrom received two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars in his six years as a Marine. He returned to the remote Japanese island of Iwo Jima last week, more than 70 years after he led soldiers into some of the bloodiest fighting of World War II. During his visit last week he attended a ceremony honoring American and Japanese veterans and the eventual peace between the nations. "It was fabulous," he said Monday. The trip included 10 flights in 10 days, with other stops on the Western Pacific islands of Guam, Saipan and Tinian. On a visit to one battle site, Renstrom recalled that one of his men was wounded and told Renstrom and other Marines to climb over him to continue fighting. This was not the first time Renstrom has returned to sites from the war. He went back in 2006 for the same ceremony. This time, he and his wife, Jody Renstrom, traveled courtesy of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, which is profiling his military service and documented the return. Three of the couple's children joined them. His son, John Renstrom, said several people, including security guards at the airport and youngsters at the beach, thanked his father and shared memories of loved ones they lost in the war, bringing him to tears at times. "It was incredible," Renstrom said, noting his father was eager to shake hands with Japanese dignitaries. "To him, I think that's a way of him expressing his forgiveness," John Renstrom said. Julie Day, the veteran's daughter who accompanied him on the trip, said the visit was emotional for the elder Renstrom and his family. "Where we once met in war, we now meet in peace," she said. On the morning of Feb. 19, 1945, Renstrom was among a second wave of soldiers who were planning to go ashore on Blue Beach about 4 p.m. The first wave was under heavy fire from Japanese forces as Renstrom, known as "Gunny," was in a boat headed to shore. Japanese mortar shells sprayed the water as Renstrom trudged to dry land, he recalled during an earlier interview with the Deseret News. They scrambled over volcanic ash to a man-made bluff, ahead of the next salvo. American commanders believed they would overtake the 8-square-mile volcanic crag in just days, but nearly 7,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese died in the five-week battle. Four Marines raised the Stars and Stripes on top of Mount Suribachi, a scene that became the enduring symbol of World War II. Renstrom revisited the site last week. During his 11 days on Iwo Jima, Renstrom recalled watching some of his foxhole mates survive while others died in his arms. He has said he killed more men than he can count. "I've seen a lot of death," Renstrom said Monday, adding that the memories remain intact more than seven decades later. On Renstrom's last day serving on Iwo Jima, a Japanese soldier tossed a grenade that became lodged in a crevice nearby. Shrapnel shot into Renstrom's back, upper left arm and chin. Most of the metal remains in his body, including a piece 2 1/2 inches from his heart. Memories of war still flood Renstrom's head from battles on the Western Pacific islands, where he slept with his arms across his chest, a half-cocked .45-caliber pistol in his right hand, a Japanese bayonet in his left. He wasn't supposed to have a Thompson submachine gun, an Army-issue weapon. Renstrom says it made him the envy of Marines throughout the Western Pacific. He passed the gun on to another soldier before heading back to the U.S. Renstrom has said that at first, shooting men was "like killing a deer." Then, one day at a church service in Maui, Hawaii, Renstrom heard a Japanese missionary testify of his love for Jesus Christ, and the Marine asked God to lift the hatred from his heart. Renstrom has said he gained a new appreciation for life after his return home, and still wonders if he could have done something different to save more of his men's lives. After the war, he returned to Hawaii to serve an LDS mission, where he remained for 2 1/2 years before coming home to Utah. Hichki Reactions: See What The Audiences Are Saying About Rani's Comeback Film After a long wait, Rani Mukerji's Hichki hits the theatres today. The actress was last seen in the film Mardaani in the year 2014 and the audiences were eagerly awaiting when Rani would be back onscreen. Siddharth Malhotra who directed We Are Family in the year 2010 is in the director's chair once again and the film is adapted from the Hollywood film Front of the Class in 2008. The book Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me The Teacher I Never Had by Brad Cohen is the source material of both the films. The trailer for the film was warmly received and the whole industry applauded Rani's performance in the trailer. Desimartini's MJs are watching the first day, first show of Rani Mukerji starrer and here are the very first reaction from the first half of the film: MJ Pallavi loved the supporting cast of the film while MJ Deepali was hooked to the simple yet engaging storyline. MJ Zinia loved the heartwarming nature of the film as well as the spontaneous performances and the story. MJ Zinia became nostalgic and remembered her school days while MJ Pallavi finally got to watch a good film after a very long time. MJ Dipali got the big schooltime nostalgia. ArcelorMittal moves NCLT against bar on Essar Steel bid ArcelorMittal on Monday moved the Ahmedabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking a remedy against the Essar Steel bankruptcy resolution professionals decision to declare it ineligible to participate in the Essar Steel auction. The Lakshmi Mittal company contends that it has been declassified as promoter of another non-performing asset Uttam Galva and hence is eligible to bid for Essar Steel. The Lakshmi Mittal company contends that it has been declassified as promoter of another non-performing asset Uttam Galva and hence is eligible to bid for Essar Steel. ArcelorMittal has always firmly believed and continues to believe that our strong and competitive bid for Essar Steel India, submitted on 12th February, was fully eligible and therefore should have been placed before the Committee of Creditors by the Resolution Professional, the company said in a statement. The steelmaker, however, received a letter from the resolution professional stating that its bid was being disqualified on technical grounds since it was still a promoter of Uttam Galva Steels Ltd, it said in a statement released on Monday. ArcelorMittal India was a co-promoter of Uttam Galva Steel Ltd with a 29-per cent stake. The company has been declared a non-performing asset and is currently facing insolvency proceedings. That would make it ineligible for bidding under the amended bankruptcy law. The Indian arm of the Luxembourg-based company, however, said its resolution plan was eligible in the form that it was first submitted on 12 February. However, we received formal notification on 23rd March that our bid was deemed ineligible due to the technicality of still being a promoter of Uttam Galva on the stock exchange, even though we had sold our shareholding before submitting our offer. Furthermore, the stock exchanges have confirmed that ArcelorMittal was declassified as a promoter of Uttam Galva. We have therefore today (Monday) proposed a legal challenge to the decision of the resolution professional in the court in Ahmedabad. This is also critical in order to ensure we protect our rights in the process given the legal challenge by Numetal against the decision, it added. Another bidder for Essar Steel, Numetal, has already moved the NCLT, and its case is to be taken up today. Industry executives are now keeping their eyes focused on the 2 April deadline for the second round of bidding for Essar Steel. Manipal, Fortis hospitals pursuing merger deal The boards of Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd and Fortis Healthcare Ltd will meet in the next few days to approve a proposal to merge the two hospital chains, reports quoting sources close to the development said. Fortis Healthcare today said it has received an unsolicited non-binding offer from Manipal Health Enterprises for a merger, but said its board was still evaluating the proposal received on 23 March. Fortis Healthcare was clarifying on media reports that the Manipal and Fortis boards may approve merger this week. Most probably, the board meetings of Fortis and Manipal will take place on Tuesday or the day after to discuss the merger process. A plan to acquire a majority stake in SRL Diagnostics by Manipal Health will also be discussed at the Manipal board meet, reports quoted another source as saying. As per the reports, the hospitals under Fortis will be first hived off into a separate listed entity. The new listed entity will then merge with Manipal Group. This will allow for listing of Manipal group. Fortis Healthcare Ltd will become a holding company with stakes in the merged entity and in SRL Laboratories. Manipal and buyout fund TPG will invest about Rs3,000 crore to own majority in the new combined entity, the report said, adding that Manipal will pump in about 60-70 per cent of the investment while TPG will invest the rest. TPG Capital, the buyout arm of TPG Group, holds a 25-per cent stake in Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd while Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd holds 18 per cent stake. Fortis Healthcare currently has a market capitalisation of Rs7,727 crore and liabilities of Rs3,406 crore against revenue of Rs4,573 crore in FY17, according to its audited financial results. Fortis, however, is facing a roadblock in its sale as Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd and the Singh brothers are in a continuing battle over Ranbaxy deal with its Japanese buyer saying that the Singh brothers had suppressed material information when they sold Ranbaxy Laboratories to Daiichi in a $4.6 billion deal in 2008. Daiichi has approached the Delhi high court for intervention and block the Fortis sale. Daiichi said in court that the Singh brothers were looking to get an investor in Fortis Healthcare and that the sale would dilute assets and hamper its efforts to recover damages from them. A Singapore tribunal had ordered Singh brothers to pay Rs2,562 crore to Daiichi Sankyo in damages. Foxconn unit to buy American smartphone accessories maker Belkin Foxconn, the Taiwanese assembler of iPhones for Apple, plans to buy Belkin International, the parent firm of Linksys, a maker of smartphone accessories and home networking products. FIT Hon Teng, a division of Foxconn, will be paying $866 million to acquire Belkin, as part of a strategy to expand its presence in camera modules used in driverless cars. The rapid rise of smart home products and the near-term projections for the market provide significant additional tailwinds to future growth, FIT Hon Teng informed the Hong Kong stock exchange. Last year, the company had raised nearly $350 million in a public issue. It had also announced plans of expanding into North America. Belkin has a strong presence in consumer electronics in North and South America, Asia and Europe. The Taiwan electronics giant, which is investing almost $10 billion in a new plant in Wisconsin in the US, plans to majorly expand its presence there. However, with growing concerns in the US about the takeover of domestic companies by Asian giants, the new deal will be closely monitored by the authorities, it is felt. The Committee on Foreign Investments in the US (CFIUS), which is investigating deals involving acquisition of American companies by corporates based abroad, has to approve the new deal. Google could face breakup in EU Google faces the possibility of a breakup in Europe in a bid by anti-trust authorities to prevent it from becoming too large to challenge. Margrethe Vestager, the European Competition Commissioner, told Britains The Telegraph newspaper that it is important to keep that question open and on the agenda. We are not there yet, but it is important to keep an awakened eye, she said. We have proven Google's dominance in search, and we have found they have misused this dominance to promote themselves and diminish competitors. Margrethe Vestager, the European Competition Commissioner, told Britains The Telegraph newspaper that it is important to keep that question open and on the agenda. We are not there yet, but it is important to keep an awakened eye, she said. We have proven Google's dominance in search, and we have found they have misused this dominance to promote themselves and diminish competitors. The EU is considering the possibility of breaking up Google into smaller units to protect competition. According to estimates, Google dominates internet search in Europe, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the search segment. According to the EU Competition Commissioner, Google is shutting out competition with its dominance. Vestager had last year slapped a nearly $3-billion fine on Google for favouring its services in search results over those of its competitors. She is also probing Googles mobile platform and advertising services. Asked about charges that she had a bias against American tech giants, Vestager said there was no ban on success in Europe. You get to be dominant and you get a special responsibility that you dont destroy the already weakened competition, she said. We have proven their dominance in search and we have found they have misused this dominance to promote themselves and diminish competitors. Karnataka elections to be held on 12 May Elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will be held on 12 May and the results declared on 15 May, Election Commissioner OP Rawat announced on Tuesday. With this announcement, the model code of conduct has come into immediate effect. The Congress will be involved in a stiff fight with the BJP, which aims to replace the party in the state. Chief minister Siddaramaiah is being challenged by the BJP, which hopes to form a government in the southern state, with BS Yedurappa as its chief minister. Karnataka is also the only southern state where the BJP has a significant presence and where regional parties do not play a significant role. It is important for the party to come to power in Karnataka, especially as general elections would be held across the country just a year later. Elections in Karnataka also herald the big fight between the BJP and the Congress, which will be engaged in contests in major states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in a few months. The BJP has a stiff fight with a Congress that is expected to revive its electoral fortunes in these three states. But in Karnataka, where the Congress has ruled with a simple majority of 123 seats in a house of 224, it faces a tough challenge. The BJP has 44 seats in the outgoing assembly, while the JD (S) (of former prime minister H.D.Deve Gowda) has 40 seats. 140 Russian diplomats kicked out of US, Europe, Australia Nearly 140 Russian diplomats have been kicked out from the United States, a dozen European nations and Australia as they began cleaning up the alleged spy network operated by Russia. The United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Russia's misconduct, declared US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. The United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Russia's misconduct, declared US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the move of expelling 60 Russian diplomats from the US would make it safer by reducing Russia's ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten national security. With these steps, the US, our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences, she added. The trigger for the expulsions was the poisoning on 4 March of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent in England and his daughter Yulia. The two are critical and unconscious. This was the first time a nerve toxin was used in Europe since the Second World War Russia has vehemently denied charges that it was behind the poisoning of its former spy. They (the allegations) border on banditry, a Russian news agency quoted Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman. We are stating that this is quite unprecedented international affairs bordering, maybe, on banditry. What stands behind this? Is it Britains internal problems or the problems of Britains cooperation with its allies, or something else? Looks like this is not our business. The UK, which has accused Russia of the poisoning, has expelled 23 Russian diplomats. Moscow retaliated by expelling a similar of British diplomats. The US State Department informed Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov that the 60 diplomats have just one week to leave the US. The ambassador expressed his resolute protest over the illegal actions and said there was no proof of Russian involvement in the poisoning. The American government has also ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate-General in Seattle by April mainly because of its proximity to a US Navy base. The dramatic moves by the US and its allies come just a week after President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart to congratulate him on his re-election. Tough measures against Pak likely after Bolton's appointment as NSA The appointment of John Bolton, a fervent hawk, as US national security advisor (See: America's new NSA is 'rigid, bombastic ideologue') could tilt the discussion in favour of tougher measures against Islamabad, says an article in American publication Foreign Policy. According to Dan De Luce, the chief national security correspondent of Foreign Policy, American President Donald Trumps deputies are weighing unprecedented political penalties on Islamabad for harbouring Afghan militants waging war on the US-backed government there. The options under consideration include revoking Pakistans status as a major non-NATO ally, permanently cutting off the US military aid that was suspended two months ago, and even imposing visa bans or other sanctions on individuals in the Pakistani government deemed responsible for providing support to the militants, says Dan. While previous US administrations had taken action, cutting military aid to Pakistan, Trumps deputies are looking at permanently cutting off the annual flow of military aid this year, which could put a strain on Pakistans defense budget and deprive it of coveted US military hardware, says the article. The White House is also weighing drastic measures including visa bans or other punitive measures against individual members of the Pakistani government, military, or ISI intelligence service suspected of allowing the Taliban and Haqqani militants to operate from sanctuaries inside Pakistan, current and former officials told the magazine. We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect US personnel and interests in the region, a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters last week in the US. According to the report, some officials and military officers in America favour a hard line with Pakistan, maintaining that years of aid and accommodation have produced little in return. But other voices in the administration worry about alienating a nuclear-armed country of 200 million people bordering China, it added. The quest for info about matter - the building blocks of the universe Scientists the world over seek to understand more about the nature of the universe by searching for a theorized form of radioactive decay called neutrino-less double beta decay. Its existence could help answer basic questions about the universe, such as whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles and why there is more matter than antimatter. Energy Secretary Rick Perry tours the Shallow Underground Lab at PNNL in Aug. 2017 to learn about how ultrapure copper helps scientists understand the universe The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a key contributor to the Majorana Demonstrator Project that involves researchers from six countries who have developed an ultrasensitive instrument to search for this never-before-detected phenomenon. The team published a paper in Moinday's Physical Review Letters showing how they successfully shielded the detector from background radioactivity in order to set a new stringent limit of this decay process. Getting the shielding right for the collection of detectors at the heart of the experiment, which weigh about 100 pounds and fill a breadbox-sized cryostat, sets the stage for a proposed much larger experiment that will hopefully sense this rare radioactive decay process. The effort requires the lowest possible radioactive background environment since naturally occurring radioactive signals interfere with the detectors, made of the metal germanium. When PNNL scientists began the Majorana project in 1999 with just a couple of collaborators, they had to develop a process to create or 'grow' ultrapure copper the cleanest copper ever created removing radioactive impurities in the copper so they would not erroneously trigger the detector. This second-generation experiment grew out of an earlier PNNL collaboration that set one of the first limits on neutrino-less double beta decay. The world's most pure copper is being made in the Shallow Underground Lab at PNNL. PNNL physicists brought their copper-electroforming process to the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota where the Majorana Demonstrator experiment is housed using the earth to shield against cosmic rays that bombard everything on the earth's surface, including detectors and other scientific equipment. Both locations provided the ultrahigh purity copper for Majorana. The detector is made up of germanium crystals cooled to approximately minus 100degrees Fahrenheit (-80Celsius) in cryostat modules. PNNL scientists also developed a significant portion of the cooling systems and detector housing designs for the Majorana experiment with funding from DOEs Office of Science. The Majorana Demonstrator Project was designed to validate techniques and instrumentation to detect the neutrino-less double beta decay and evaluate a future larger experiment where the germanium detector system will weigh up to one ton. The name is based on an Italian scientist, Ettore Majorana, who hypothesized a fermion or a particle that is its own antiparticle. According to last Thursday's Democrat Killybegs was Ireland's busiest fishing port in 2017. A report published by Bord Iascaigh Mhara disclosed that the total value of landings at the port amounted to 125m., up 37m. on 2016. And the really good news was that unlike most other ports the vast majority of fish landed - 84% - was by the Irish fleet. Donegal is also leading the way in the fishing industry at national level with Greencastle, in Inishowen, along with Killybegs claiming almost 35% of the total value of landings in the country. In terms of trade sales fishing contributed more than 1bn. to the Irish exchequer. But here comes my gripe.... I have long held the view that the EU has done us little favours when it comes to fishing. Talk to any fishing expert and they will tell you that we have been hamstrung for the best part of 30 years of regulation by Brussels. It's a simple fact if we did an 'Irexit' [I know, I know, it'll never happen!] and claimed back our rich territorial waters for our own exclusive use we could turn that one billion per year into multiple billions. And create thousands of jobs along the coast. The future could be golden if only we had the courage to go for it. I keep telling you: our rabidly pro -European politicians don't want anyone really pushing for a big debate on the EU because it is not the wonderfully munificent organisation they keep telling us it is. Far from it. It was widespread As a young reporter back in the day I recall a very well known politician coming to the office and telling me that if he got one more report of a certain cleric physically abusing young lads at a certain school he would be going to the Gardai, and would be coming back to me to go public on the matter. This guy was no liberal lefty, far from it, so believe me it must have been bad when he was willing to criticise a Catholic priest at a time no one else was. He had no problem with the odd clip around the ear but baulked big time at abuse. He never did come back to me so I'm not sure how he resolved the issue. This week Conor Murphy M.P. has come forward to say he was beaten and groomed by Fr. Malachy Finnegan at St Colman's College in Newry. More than a week ago former president, Mary McAleese, told of how her youngest brother was 'sadistically' abused by Finnegan. None of this comes as a shock to me. Every time I meet at old school friend it's a cert that a story of abuse will eventually be related. That's fact. What is truly shocking is that so many people knew about the thuggery and the abuse but did nothing about it. Planning power Is it just me or do you think the planning folk in this country have way too much power? Last week it was suggested that one-off rural houses could be a thing of the past if the planners get their way. Basically, what is being suggested in the new National Planning Framework is that where there is a vacant house in an area no permission will be given for a new build. How this will work in practice is anyone's guess. I have mentioned this before but it's worth repeating. One of my oldest friends lives in a remote area in central Donegal. He got a site off his father to build a house about 30 years ago. By his own estimation two cars a day, at most, would go past his proposed dwelling, some days zero vehicles. When he put his application in it was refused; too near a corner, according to the planners. He thought they were kidding, but on ringing up and pointing out how ridiculous the grounds for refusal were he was still told they were not for shifting. To cut to the chase - he had no choice to purchase another site at considerable expense. It was petty officialdom gone mad. Great publicity I came across a programme on the BBC the other night from Glasgow entitled 'The Celtic Connection'. Luka Bloom sang his song, "In the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall there are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal.." and this was immediately followed by an artiste who sang 'The Hills of Donegal" which got a massive cheer from, I presume, a mainly Scottish audience. Great publicity for our wee home place. And doesn't it show the old ties with Glasgow still run strong. And finally I just love it when the time changes.. I don't care if there is snow on the ground, as far as I'm concerned winter is, at last, over. I'm definitely one of those who suffers from that Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD syndrome) in that I hate dark days. I immediately cheer up when the days get longer. So everybody - get out and enjoy the light in the evenings. Hondas answer to the Toyota Prius has emerged at the 2018 New York motor show before going on sale in the US later this year. Powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, the 2019 Honda Insight uses just 4.3L/100km of petrol to produce 112kW and 267Nm inputs. When fully charged through regenerative braking, Honda says the car can drive roughly a mile, or 1.6 kilometres, on electric power alone. On the inside, a 7-inch drivers display joins an 8-inch central screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a strong suite of Honda Sensing driver aids. Henio Arcangeli Jr, senior vice president of Honda America, said the Insight shows consumers that the efficiency of a hybrid car doesn't mean sacrificing style, refinement or performance. "The Insight is another symbol of a new era in the evolution of Honda electrified vehicles, where customers can have everything they want with no compromises," he said. The new Insight is set to be built in Indiana alongside US Civic and CR-V models built exclusively in left-hand-drive. A spokesman for Honda Australia said the vehicle is only for North America at this stage, though it is possible the car could make a local debut at a later date. Carlingford grandad of 16 Kevin Woods has found an unusual calling to keep him busy during his retirement the 74-year-old is currently Ireland's only leprechaun whisperer. The former PJ Carroll's national sales manager hosts daily tours of a magical leprechauns cavern beside Ghan Road in Carlingford. The tour has attracted tourists from around the world, some coming from as far as Peru and Argentina, and is currently the number one visitor attraction in Carlingford. The Carlingford man says his path first crossed with the leprechauns back in 2002 when he found a leather purse with four gold coins inside a wall he was fixing. Kevin says the purse also contained a note from well-known Carlingford publican PJ O'Hare. The pub owner had found a leprechaun hat, trousers and tunic, and bones, on the mountain which overlooks the medieval village back in 1989. And as luck would have it, one of the gold coins gave him the gift to communicate with the Celtic creatures. The Louth also man fought to have the Carlingford area, which he says contains the last 236 surviving leprechauns in Ireland, granted protection under the E.U. European Habitats Directive in 2009. And the leprechaun whisperer hasn't looked back since. Kevin, who is known locally as McCoillte, and his family, also created the Folklore Park, which is situated just beside the underground cavern. In 2010, the leprechaun-obsessed grandad had a book published about the lives of the little people called The Last Leprechauns of Ireland. Kevin says the book covers the social, geographical and mythological history of Ireland and the Carlingford area. And as the only leprechaun whisperer in the country, Kevin is in high demand. On St Patrick's Day, the Carlingford man held three tours for eager tourists and children keen to get a glimpse of one of the Celtic creatures. I normally do a tour every day and then two or three a day when the kids are off from school. And then I'd have a tour every Saturday and Sunday at 2pm, says Kevin. Even though he's racked up hundreds of tours over the last few years, the grandad who has a penchant for storytelling, says he still gets great enjoyment out of each tour. If people don't come away entertained, I haven't done my job. Never once, did I not enjoy it. I'm having a ball, says Kevin. Whilst he is constantly trying to get the balance right so that his tour will be entertaining for both adults and children, it sounds like the leprechaun whisperer is doing something right. He currently has hundreds of glowing reviews on Tripadvisor and many repeat customers. Tourists come from all around the world, with busloads of Americans frequently stopping off in the medieval village, but Kevin says home audiences are still his favourites. Irish people are the best audiences because they enjoy the craic the most, he reveals. And as the busloads of tourists continue to flock to Kevin's quirky leprechaun tour, the Louth man is keen to promote the intangible heritage and stunning natural scenery in the North East. I think people don't see what's on their doorstep. There is so much more to Louth than what is currently promoted. We definitely need a push to get more tourism in the area, Kevin says. Despite all the positive feedback, there have been some naysayers who believe that leprechaun stories should stay in the fairytale books. However, Kevin doesn't let any negative comments get to him. I'd ask them [people who don't believe in leprechauns] what do they believe? And for people who believe in God, I'd ask, did they ever see him? My attitude is to just leave people to it. It's none of my business what other people believe in, Louths very own leprechaun whisperer explains. The Leprechaun and Fairy Underground Cavern is open during Easter Saturday and Sunday, with tours commencing at 3pm each day. Tours are also held on weekdays. For more information see www.thelastleprechaunsofireland.com/ www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g315880-d4465887-Reviews-Leprechaun_and_Fairy_Underground_Cavern-Carlingford_Cooley_Peninsula_County_Louth.html 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. The United States Department of Justice has charged nine Iranian nationals for engaging in a massive phishing campaign on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The allegations include the theft of US$3.4 billion in research and intellectual property from 320 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, as well as from 47 foreign and domestic companies, plus several federal agencies, state governments, and the United Nations. All of the defendants were affiliated with the Mabna Institute, an Iranian firm that launched a massive cybercampaign in 2013, eventually stealing 31.5 terabytes of email account data from thousands of U.S. and foreign corporate employees and university faculty members around the world. The nine defendants: Gholamreza Rafatnejad, 38; Ehsan Mohammadi, 37; Abdollah Kharima, aka Vahid Kharima, 39; Mostafa Sadeghi, 28; Seyed Ali Mirkarimi, 34; Mohammed Reza Sabahi, 26; Roozbeh Sabahi, 24; Abuzar Gohari Moqadam, 37; Sajjad Tahmasebi, 30. All of the defendants are Iranian citizens. The defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, which carries a five-year sentence; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a 20-year sentence; two counts of unauthorized access to a computer, which carry five years each; two counts of wire fraud, which carry up to 20 years; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two years in prison. The Treasury Department sanctioned the Mabna Institute and 10 Iranians -- the nine defendants named in this case and Behzad Mesri, who previously was indicted in a case last fall. In that case, Mesri is accused of hacking and trying to extort HBO for $6 million in bitcoins, after stealing episodes of unaired episodes of various shows, including Ballers, Insecure, and Game of Thrones. The various agencies and governments hit by the latest attack include the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the states of Hawaii and Indiana, the United Nations, and the United Nations Children's Fund. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions as provocative and illegal. The U.S. "will not be able to use such ploys to stop or prevent Iranian people's scientific progress," said spokesperson Bahram Qassemi. Brute Force The defendants targeted the accounts of 100,000 professors around the world, but ultimately compromised 8,000 of them, according to the DoJ. Among those breached were 144 U.S. and 176 foreign universities in 21 countries, including the UK, China, Canada, South Korea, Spain, Israel, Turkey and other Western European nations. The attacks, which ran from 2013 until December 2017, gained unauthorized access to various professors' accounts to steal dissertations, academic journals, theses and electronic books. The targeted documents spanned a variety of fields, including technology, medicine, engineering and social science. The stolen information was sold through two websites: Megapaper.ir, a firm controlled by Falinoos Co., which Karima controlled; and Gigapaper.ir., which was affiliated with Karima. Megapaper sold stolen academic information to customers in Iran, including colleges and universities there, while Gigapaper sold access to stolen professor credentials, which were sold to gain access to library systems in U.S. universities overseas, according to the DoJ. "Academic institutions are prime targets for foreign cybercriminals," said Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein when he announced the indictments last week. "Universities can thrive as marketplaces of ideas and engines of research and development only if their work is protected from theft," he added. "The events described in this indictment highlight the need for universities and other organizations to emphasize cybersecurity, increase threat awareness and harden their computer networks." The Iranians are far from new to cyberespionage or cyberwarfare. They were the victims of the Stuxnet computer worm attack that famously targeted the Iranian nuclear program. As cyberactors, the Iranians reportedly were behind APT33, a group that targeted energy, aerospace and other industries in the U.S., Saudi Arabia and South Korea. "The Iranians continue to improve and become more sophisticated in their cybercapabilities. In my opinion, they are in the top five of countries with significant capabilities," said Verodin Chief Strategy Officer Earl Matthews, Maj. Gen., USAF (Ret.). "This attack represents the continued loss of intellectual property of our nation. It wouldn't surprise me if many of these universities were specifically targeted because they are doing research and development on behalf of the U.S. government," he told the E-Commerce Times. "When the investigation details come out on how the breach was accomplished, we will once again find that cyberhygiene and social engineering will be the cause. These attacks can be mitigated if organizations would continuously automate and measure the validity, value, and effectiveness of their cybersecurity controls. We are well beyond just doing checklist compliance and thinking we are safe," Matthews said. Vulnerable Targets The indictment shows that phishing attacks played a central role in how the Iranians were able to access this data, said Kevin O'Brien, president of GreatHorn. More than 8,000 professors around the world were compromised by the attack, court documents show, through a link to a "complimentary note" regarding an article that actually turned out to be a malicious website. The research and intellectual property, and the personal identity information stolen from universities can generate major returns in underground marketplaces, O'Brien told the E-Commerce Times. "Universities are both places where IP can be both found and stolen, and repositories of significant amounts of personally identifiable information about students, ranging from names and addresses to detailed financial records. Both are highly valuable and can be resold to fund more significantly nefarious and dangerous activities," he said. The latest indictments should not spark greater concerns over the vulnerability of U.S. cybersecurity, suggested Chris Bronk, associate director of the Center for Information Security Research at the University of Houston. "You can panic about things like this, I don't," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Compared to 10 or 15 years ago, U.S. entities are better prepared." David Jones has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2015. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, e-commerce, open source, gaming, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. He has written for numerous media outlets, including Reuters, Bloomberg, Crain's New York Business and The New York Times. Email David. An oil spill of approximately 550 barrels (23,100 gallons) has killed more than 2,400 fish, birds and reptiles near the city of Barrancabermeja, Colombia, RCN Radio reported. Oil started spilling from the Lizama 158 oil field in early March and spread down 15 miles of the Lizama river and 12.4 miles of the Sogamoso river. According to local media, it took Colombia's state oil company Ecopetrol three weeks to respond to the environmental disaster. Colombia Reports noted that the crude started escaping the oil field on March 3 but it was only this past Saturday that Ecopetrol vowed to send heavy equipment that could stop the spill. The company said Tuesday that the spill is fully controlled and workers are carrying out environmental monitoring of the rivers. The cause of the spill is currently unclear but an investigation is underway. In addition to the 2,400 animals who died, Claudia Gonzalez, director of the National Agency of Environmental Licenses (ANLA) told RCN Radio that 1,300 animals were rescued alive. About 1,080 trees of different species were also affected by the spill and about 70 people had to be relocated from the area, with some people reporting health problems. "I have practically nothing to eat, we have lived through the river all our lives and the contamination has already reached the Magdalena," area residet Elkin Cala told the Colombian television station Noticias Uno. Barrancabermeja, located off the shore of the Magdalena river in the department of Santander, is home to the largest oil refinery in the South American country. Santander Governor Didier Tavera Amado has criticized the oil company for being incompetent and incapable of responding to the environmental emergency. Police investigate break in at Peel garages Police are investigating a break in at garages in Peel. The garages adjoining Empire Garage on Stanley Road were targeted between 5pm on Saturday and 10.30am the following day. Officers say it doesn't appear anything was taken in the break in, but that this is the second incident of this nature in Peel this month. The Western Neighbourhood Policing Team is urging anyone who sees anything untoward to report it to the police. Anyone who can help with this incident is urged to contact Peel Police Station on 842208. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) will this year honor not one but two pioneers of geriatrics expertise with the prestigious Nascher/Manning Award given biannually at the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS18; held this year May 3-5 in Orlando, Fla.). William Applegate, MD, MPH, MACP, AGSF--Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) and a renowned clinician-educator at Wake Forest Health and the Wake Forest School of Medicine--and Thomas Edes, MD, MS--Executive Director of Geriatrics & Extended Care Operations for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)--now join a cadre of less than 20 geriatrics healthcare professionals recognized with the Nascher/Manning Award since its inception in 1987. A professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Dr. Applegate has long been instrumental in leading change and innovation, particularly at the AGS. An AGS member since 1984 and a former Society President, Dr. Applegate has twice anchored JAGS as Editor-in-Chief, having returned most recently in 2016 following an earlier tenure from 1993 through 2000. In the interim, Dr. Applegate served as Chairperson of Internal Medicine and then Dean at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, as well as President of Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Across his professional career, Dr. Applegate has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters, and has served as a reviewer for some of health care's most prestigious academic publications. In his new work at JAGS, Dr. Applegate has helped to increase awareness for geriatrics scholarship, with a particular focus on new media at a journal already included in more than 9,000 library collections around the world. That same prowess is matched by the impressive legacy of Dr. Edes, co-recipient of the 2018 Nascher/Manning Award. In his current work with the VA--our nation's largest integrated health system--Dr. Edes has national responsibility for a range of geriatrics and extended-care services at more than 1,200 health facilities that, together, provide care for more than 9 million veterans. Since 2000, Dr. Edes has played a pivotal role in quadrupling access to home-based primary care for veterans with serious chronic disabling conditions who are too sick to come to clinic, including more than 15,000 veterans each day who reside in rural areas or tribal lands. During this time, Dr. Edes took the VA Medical Foster Home concept from a one-site pilot to a nationally acclaimed program now in 43 states. Dr. Edes also garnered the support of Congress to establish the first VA budget allocation for hospice care, which led to palliative care teams in every VA medical center across the U.S. and increased veterans' hospice utilization to 40 percent. Through his longstanding interests in the economic and clinical impact of home-based primary care, Dr. Edes actively shaped the development of Independence-at-Home, a promising Medicare demonstration of health reform that now provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary, longitudinal care in the homes of older Americans, both veterans and non-veterans with serious, chronic, disabling conditions. Prior to 2000, Dr. Edes served as Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care at the Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri. There he was instrumental in developing Geriatric Evaluation and Management programs for inpatient and outpatient care, subacute care and hospice units, a geriatric fellowship program, and the advanced disease planning initiative. "Like Dr. Applegate, Dr. Edes' research interests have helped to improve home care, end-of-life care, and chronic disease care for us all as we age," noted Ellen Flaherty, PhD, APRN, AGSF, AGS Board Chair. "There is no more fitting pair of colleagues to join our cohort of Nascher/Manning honorees." The Nascher/Manning Award celebrates a geriatrics pioneer who helped build the professional foundation for what is now the AGS. Ignatz Leo Nascher, MD, was the first clinician to advocate for establishing a specialty focused on the care of older adults. Through the generosity of the Manning family, Dr. Nascher's namesake award is one of several honors conferred by the AGS at its Annual Scientific Meeting. The 2018 award recipients include more than 15 healthcare leaders representing the depth and breadth of disciplines championing better care for us all as we age. For more information, visit Meeting.AmericanGeriatrics.org. ### About the American Geriatrics Society Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has--for more than 75 years--worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org. About the Nascher/Manning Award Ignatz Leo Nascher, MD, argued that medical care for older adults should be considered a separate specialty, for which he coined the term "geriatrics" in 1909. Through the generosity of the Manning family, the intent of the Nascher/Manning Award is to honor Dr. Nascher's pioneering work in the field by recognizing an individual with distinguished, life-long achievement in clinical geriatrics. About the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational event in geriatrics, providing the latest information on clinical care, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. More than 2,500 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene May 3-5, 2018 (pre-conference program on May 2), at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla., to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations. For more information, visit Meeting.AmericanGeriatrics.org. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) will this May honor two of the field's most seasoned clinician-educators with one of the Society's highest accolades. John R. Buton, MD, AGSF--Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) in Maryland--and George W. Drach, MD, AGSF--Emeritus Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona--will be recognized for decades of commitment to community service and geriatrics education when they receive the David H. Solomon Public Service Award at the AGS 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS18), held May 3-5 in Orlando, Fla. "Dr. Burton and Dr. Drach exemplify two pillars of geriatrics: Our commitment to educate more of the experts we all will need as we age and our promise to ensure that all our doctors, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and other health professionals understand what makes our care unique as we age," notes Ellen Flaherty, PhD, APRN, AGSF, AGS Board Chair. With research interests in models of care, geriatric syndromes, and best practices for engaging more emerging health professionals in geriatrics expertise, Dr. Burton has led geriatrics education at Johns Hopkins for more than three decades. Having worked as Clinical Director and Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Dr. Burton later became involved in community education programs like the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), which is funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Across Dr. Burton's tenure and under his leadership, Johns Hopkins has launched a host of clinical programs benefitting older adults, including Johns Hopkins Home-Based Medicine, Hospital at Home, the Program for All-inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE), and the Orthopedic-Geriatric Medicine Hip Fracture Service. And while Dr. Burton has helped to accelerate the depth and breadth of geriatrics expertise at Johns Hopkins, he is also known for his role co-directing (with Dr. Solomon, the namesake for his 2018 award) for more than a decade the AGS's Geriatrics-for-Specialists Initiative (GSI), a program funded for nearly 25 years by The John A. Hartford Foundation. The GSI has helped develop educational programs and researcher career development awards, and has worked with specialty organizations to encourage geriatrics expertise for all physicians. Dr. Burton co-edited one of the field's first textbooks, Geriatrics for Specialists, describing the emerging knowledge base of geriatrics within the surgical and medical specialties. Much of this new knowledge was developed by scholars associated with the GSI. A passion for ensuring all health professionals are skilled in caring for older adults has also driven the work of Dr. Drach. Inspired by his own parents' struggles with geriatric care while in their 80s, Dr. George Drach worked to spread the greater awareness necessary in geriatric surgery. A passion for ensuring that all branches of surgery are specifically trained in caring for older adults has driven his work since 1995. He specialized in urology after learning about it in the Navy in 1964, and later as Chief of Urology at the University of Arizona focused initially on the treatment of kidney stones. Chosen to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration trials on the lithotripter, which would transform kidney stone treatment, he became known as the "Father of American Lithotripsy." He was later also selected as President of the American Board of Urology. There he saw the impact of specialized courses, residency educational requirements, and Board examinations in preparing doctors, and later transferred this strategy to encourage specialized care for older people in all surgical specialties. Dr. Drach began working with the American Urological Association as a representative to the AGS and its GSI in 1995. He wished to create prototype residency education and afterward provide continuing medical education in geriatric care. In addition to hundreds of journal articles, book chapters, and books he has authored, Dr. Drach also recently co-edited a Primer of Geriatric Urology, now in its second edition. He has been Visiting Professor to many universities to encourage increased awareness among surgeons regarding needs, protocols, techniques, and optimal outcomes for older adults. He continues to parlay his experience and influence to insure that innovative best practices can be tailored to meet the needs of us all as we age. Established by the AGS in 2002, the David H. Solomon Public Service Award celebrates the legacy of David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, a renowned geriatrician committed to community service and advancing knowledge about the care of older individuals. It is one of several honors conferred by the AGS at its Annual Scientific Meeting. The 2018 award recipients include more than 15 healthcare leaders representing the depth and breadth of disciplines championing care for older adults. For more information, visit Meeting.AmericanGeriatrics.org. ### About the American Geriatrics Society Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has--for more than 75 years--worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org. About the David H. Solomon Public Service Award The AGS created the David H. Solomon Public Service Award in 2002 to honor David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, for his commitment to community service and the advancement of knowledge in caring for older adults. Dr. Solomon was the founding Director of the Center on Aging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He will forever be remembered for his excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and administration. About the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational event in geriatrics, providing the latest information on clinical care, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. More than 2,500 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene May 3-5, 2018 (pre-conference program on May 2), at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla., to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations. For more information, visit Meeting.AmericanGeriatrics.org. BINGHAMTON, NY - An international team of researchers, led by Dr. Asier Gomez-Olivencia of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and including Binghamton University anthropologist Rolf Quam, has provided new insights on one of the most famous Neandertal skeletons, discovered over 100 years ago: La Ferrassie 1. "New technological approaches are allowing anthropologists to peer even deeper into the bones of our ancestors," said Quam. "In the case of La Ferrassie 1, these approaches have made it possible to identify new fossil remains and pathological conditions of the original skeleton as well as confirm that this individual was deliberately buried. The adult male La Ferrassie 1 Neandertal skeleton was found in 1909 in a French cave site, along with the remains of an adult woman and several Neandertal children. All of the skeletons were interpreted as representing intentional burials, and the finds sparked much public interest at the time regarding just how human-like the Neandertals were. The La Ferrassie 1 skeleton, in particular, has been highly influential in Neandertal studies since its discovery. La Ferrassie 1 was an old man (likely over 50 years old) who suffered various broken bones during his lifetime and had ongoing respiratory issues when he died. Soon after, he was buried by other members of his group in the La Ferrassie rockshelter, which was repeatedly occupied by Neandertals during millennia. The skeleton was found in a burial pit and has been dated to between 40,000 and 54,000 years. This skeleton is one of the most important Neandertal individuals both for its completeness and due to the important role it has played historically in the interpretation of Neandertal anatomy and lifeways. Now, researchers have applied some of the latest technological approaches to reveal long-held secrets in the skeleton of this iconic individual. The bones were subjected to high resolution microCT scanning to study the internal anatomy of the skull and several of the bones. The middle ear bones (malleus, incus and stapes) were identified in the scans, held in place inside the skull by sediments from the La Ferrassie cave floor. These are the smallest bones in the human body and are often not preserved in archaeological skeletons, but it was possible to extract 3D virtual models of the bones for analysis. The ear ossicles are complete and help provide a better understanding of the range of variation of this anatomical region in Neandertals. Several pathological conditions were also identified in the skeleton, including a fracture in the collar bone (clavicle), arthritis of the spine and mild scoliosis. Researchers also examined the archaeological materials from the original excavations and identified several new fragments of vertebrae and ribs of La Ferrassie 1. Study of the original skeleton and analysis of the fracture pattern of the cranium and long bones relying on modern forensic criteria confirmed that nearly all of the fractures were post-mortem (i.e. after death), when the bones lost collagen and were fractured in situ due to the weight of the overlying sediments. Nevertheless, the anatomical connection between the bones was not affected, confirming the original observations made over a century ago by their discoverers, that the La Ferrassie 1 individual was deliberately buried by other members of their social group. "This insight has figured prominently in subsequent debates, still ongoing in the field, surrounding Neandertal cultural practices," said Quam. "The application of new technological approaches to the study of La Ferrassie 1 demonstrates that, over a century after its discovery, this iconic individual is still revealing new insights into Neandertal anatomy and behavior." ### Researchers from several countries, including Spain, England and the USA collaborated on this study. The study, "La Ferrassie 1: New perspectives on a 'classic' Neandertal," was published in the Journal of Human Evolution. The Case Western Reserve-led research team will analyze computerized images of tissue samples for patterns which could become "biomarkers," or predictors, for determining relative risk for recurrence in one particularly common type of head and neck cancers. Those tumors, known as oropharyngeal cancers, occur primarily at the base of the tongue and in the tonsils. Currently, however, oncologists tend to treat all of these tumors with the same aggressive level of therapy. This is the case even though many of the oropharyngeal tumors which are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) tend to have favorable outcome-regardless of treatment-while another subset of the tumors progress and metastasize, or spread. "Right now, it's a one-size-fits-all therapy for all of these patients with HPV head and neck cancers," said Anant Madabhushi, MD, the F. Alex Nason Professor II of Biomedical Engineering, founding director of the CCIPD at the Case School of Engineering and primary investigator in the new research. "There are currently very few validated biomarkers and approaches that are accurate enough to be able to identify which of these cancers are more aggressive or which ones are less aggressive," he said. "That has limited the ability of clinicians to even hold clinical trials to find out if they can de-escalate therapy for some of these patients-or who needs more aggressive therapy." The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently awarded a $3.15 million, five-year academic-industry partnership grant to Madabhushi and his team to pursue the research and build toward establishing those clinical trials. Co-primary investigator on the grant is Vanderbilt University's James Lewis Jr., MD, whose specialty is head and neck pathology, while Cleveland Clinic's Shlomo Koyfman, MD, and David Adelstein, MD, are co-investigators with expertise in radiation and medical oncology. Additionally, Pingfu Fu, an associate professor of population and quantitative health statistics at Case Western Reserve, brings expertise in biostatistics. Cheng Lu, a senior research associate in CCIPD is also involved with the project. Madabhushi's team is again working with Mark Lloyd, MD, of industry partner Inspirata Inc., the Florida-based company also teaming up with the lab on studies of breast and lung cancer-work supported by more than $6.3 million in NCI funding. The team presented its data at the 2018 United States and Canadian Association of Pathology (USCAP) meeting in Vancouver this month and has generated data to suggest that the approach could soon become a clinically actionable tool. Initial results on almost 400 oropharyngeal cancer patients suggests that the technology is independently prognostic of disease progression-meaning that it could stand alone in helping clinicians figure out how aggressive the disease is and then make a more informed decision on how aggressively to treat the cancer. "In those cancers, they've established whether you can modulate your therapy based on the risk profile for those tumors," Madabhushi said. "But in head and neck, clinicians might have a sense that there are different risk profiles for different patients, but nobody knows for certain. We want to change that by giving them the risk stratification tools to better help the patient." ### BOSTON, MASS. - You're waiting to get your teeth cleaned, half-dozing in a chair with your mouth propped open when a robot appears to do the job. Would you be willing to undergo a dental cleaning performed by a robot? How about a root canal? Autonomous gum surgery, anyone? What if the robotic procedure was offered at half-price? In an online survey of 502 individuals (260 female), participants were "significantly less willing to undergo more invasive procedures, such as gum surgery and a root canal, and significantly more willing to undergo procedures such as tooth cleaning or whitening performed by a robot," said Stephen Rice, associate professor of human factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Moreover, the promise of half-price dentistry increased participants' willingness to accept dental care from an autonomous robotic dentist, Rice and colleagues reported at the 2018 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare (HFEH) in Boston, Mass., March 26-28. Currently, medical robots such as the da Vinci Surgical System are being used to help doctors perform various operations, including cardiac surgery. Medical robots can help doctors increase the precision, safety and quality of certain surgical procedures as well as rehabilitation and patient-care operations, Rice said. Yet, robotic dentistry is still in the early stages of development. In 2017, a robotic dentist in China fitted two dental implants into a woman's mouth. In addition, a Miami, Fla.-based company, Neocis, announced last year that it had received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to introduce a robotically assisted dental surgical system called Yomi. As robots become increasingly commonplace in many different settings, "It's important to understand consumer perceptions of autonomous technologies," said Embry-Riddle graduate student Emily Anania, the lead student author of the HFEH poster presentation. "People are not always accepting of emerging technologies. We know from many different studies, for example, that driverless cars and autonomous aircraft technologies cause some people to react with fear or anger. Better insights to those perceptions will be essential in order to increase acceptance of these technologies." Ten Dental Procedures The Embry-Riddle patient-perceptions survey, completed by Rice and five students on the university's Daytona Beach, Fla., campus, informed all participants that robotic dentistry is currently being tested. The survey then asked participants to indicate their willingness to have a robot perform ten separate procedures: teeth cleaning, tooth extraction, root canal, teeth whitening, applying sealant, applying a cap, bonding, gum surgery, applying braces and putting in a filling. Next, participants were asked similar questions, but with an added incentive: "Imagine that the dentist offers you a 50% (half-price) discount on all dental work done by a robot in his or her office," the survey said. "The robot will work autonomously (without human intervention)." The data from the study revealed some interesting patterns. In general, 51% of the respondents were moderately or strongly opposed to robotic dentistry, the research group reported. Respondents were particularly wary of invasive procedures like extractions, root canals, and gum surgery, where 66% of the participants were moderately or strongly opposed. Female respondents in general were less likely to be willing to accept robotic dentistry, Anania said. On the other hand, there were two procedures that participants were less negative about, including teeth cleaning and/or whitening; here, only 32% of the participants were opposed at full price, and 83% were willing to undergo the procedure if the price was cut in half. Public-perception surveys of emerging technologies are essential, Rice said, because "consumers help drive what is acceptable with automation, and healthcare is no exception." Robotic dentists have the potential to improve the precision of different dental procedures, he said. Such technology could make dental care more accessible in rural or otherwise underserved areas. Finally, just as aircraft auto-pilot systems allow pilots to focus on safety, Rice added, robots could free up dentists to continuously improve healthcare practices and protocols. The research presented at the HFEH event, "Factors Affecting Consumers' Acceptance of Robotic Dentists," was prepared by Rice and Anania, with her fellow graduate students Mattie N. Milner, Nadine Ragbir, Matt Pierce and Nathan W. Walters. A large contingent of Embry-Riddle faculty and students took part in the symposium, which was chaired by Assistant Professor Joseph R. Keebler. ### ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the world's largest, oldest and most comprehensive institution specializing in aviation, aerospace, engineering and related degree programs. A fully accredited university, Embry-Riddle is also a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. A nonprofit, independent institution, Embry-Riddle offers more than 80 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. The university educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through its Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv. Geneva, Switzerland, 27 March 2018 - The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) have announced that the 2018 Heine H. Hansen (HHH) Award will be given to Fabrice Barlesi. The award will be presented at ELCC 2018 (European Lung Cancer Congress), held 11-14 April in Geneva, Switzerland. (1) The HHH Award honours the lifetime contribution of Heine H. Hansen (2) to lung cancer research and education and is awarded to a lung cancer investigator who has made a special contribution to this field. The HHH Award is presented annually by representatives of both organisations at ELCC, where the recipient will give a keynote lecture. (3) This year's recipient Fabrice Barlesi is currently Professor of Medicine at the University of Aix Marseille and Head of the Multidisciplinary Oncology and Therapeutic Innovations department at Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille in France. He currently serves as Associate Editor for the IASLC Lung Cancer News linked to the IASLC publication committee and was part of the lung scientific committee of the ESMO 2017 Congress. Barlesi studied at the University of Aix Marseille and completed his training with a fellowship at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada, as well as at the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His main clinical interests in lung cancer research are specific to the fields of multimodal treatment, angiogenesis, bio-guided therapies and immuno-oncology. He is the author or co-author of more than 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals or book chapters. He coordinates the Early Phase Cancer Trials Centre in Marseille, which is dedicated to phase I trials in oncology, and serves on the Board of Directors of the French Thoracic Intergroup (IFCT). Recognising the contributions of others to his career, Barlesi acknowledged his mentor, Jean-Pierre Kleisbauer: "Like Heine Hansen, he initiated the fight to demonstrate that lung cancer patients deserve better than just the best supportive care standard," said Barlesi. "I also want to mention Frances Shepherd, who deeply changed my professional life when I was a young fellow in Toronto - her vast knowledge and incredible willpower will remain an example until the end of my career. Pascal Thomas, one of the most brilliant thoracic surgeons I know, deserves special thanks for our many discussions about the multidisciplinary management of lung cancer patients." Barlesi added: "I feel very grateful and honoured to receive this award from ESMO and IASLC. It is an acknowledgement of the work done in the last 20 years, not just by myself, but by the wonderful teams at Aix Marseille University, Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille. I believe this award also recognises the contribution made by the French Thoracic Intergroup to the field of lung cancer research. It will be a source of encouragement to all of our teams for years to come." ESMO Past President and ELCC Steering Committee member, Fortunato Ciardiello, said: "Fabrice Barlesi is emerging to be one of the top leaders in lung cancer clinical trials and biomarker research. It was unanimously agreed that the prize should be awarded to him. He led the pioneering Biomarkers France study, the largest nationwide programme of molecular profiling for non-small cell lung cancer patients and has made an outstanding contribution to the field of translation research in lung cancer." IASLC President and ELCC Steering Committee member, Giorgio Scagliotti, said: "Fabrice Barlesi is among the European leaders in the field of translational research in thoracic oncology and he is also an outstanding physician. He has been the principal investigator of many large international clinical trials and is carrying out his goal to realise the vision of Heine Hansen." ### Notes to Editors The press release will be available once the embargo lifts via: http://esmo.org/Press-Office/Press-Releases/Heine-H-Hansen-Award-Fabrice-Barlesi Please make sure to use the official name of the meeting in your reports: ELCC 2018 Official Congress hashtag: #ELCC2018 Information on other ESMO awards is available here: http://esmo.org/Career-Development/Awards Disclaimer Commentators quoted in the press release are required to comply with the ESMO Declaration of Interests policy and the ESMO Code of Conduct. References 1 http://www.esmo.org/Conferences/ELCC-2018-Lung-Cancer 2 Heine H. Hansen started translational research in lung cancer and collaborated with many investigators in Europe and the US. Early on he saw a need for a formal collaborative framework for investigators focusing on lung cancer and was one of the visionary founders of the IASLC and its journal Lung Cancer. He later became the IASLC's President and first Executive Director. Prof Hansen played a significant role in ESMO's evolution and was ESMO President in 1996-1997. At ESMO he contributed to the development of a global curriculum for medical oncology and was instrumental in developing medical oncology as a recognised specialty in Europe. He was also very active in educational activities in the previous Eastern European countries and implemented many clinical trials in this part of Europe. 3 The Heine H. Hansen Award will be presented to Prof Barlesi during the Heine H. Hansen Award Lecture on Wednesday, 11 April 2018, 13:45-14:15, Room B. Keynote lecture title: "The power of the multiple H". About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With 17,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 150 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information. We are committed to supporting our members to develop and advance in a fast-evolving professional environment. ESMO's educational resources support an integrated, multi-professional approach to cancer care. We have European roots and a global reach: we welcome oncology professionals from around the world and we seek to erase boundaries in cancer care as we pursue our mission across oncology, worldwide. Visit http://www.esmo.org About the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organisation dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit http://www.iaslc.org for more information and follow us on Twitter @IASLC. TORONTO, ON (March 27, 2018) - The Gairdner Foundation is pleased to announce the 2018 Canada Gairdner Award laureates, recognizing some of the world's most significant research and biomedical discoveries. Laureates receive a $100,000 cash honorarium and are formally presented with their awards on October 25, 2018 at the annual Canada Gairdner Awards Gala in Toronto. 2018 Canada Gairdner International Award The 2018 Canada Gairdner International Award laureates are recognized for seminal discoveries or contributions to biomedical science: Davor Solter, MD, PhD Emeritus Member and Director, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics; Visiting International Professor, Siriraj Center for Excellence in Stem Cell Research, Mahidol University; Visiting Professor, University of Zagreb Medical School Professor Azim Surani, PhD, FMedSci, FRS Director of Germline and Epigenetics Research, Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute; Marshall-Walton Professor, University of Cambridge Awarded "for their discovery of mammalian genomic imprinting that causes parent-of-origin specific gene expression and its consequences for development and disease" The Work: Together, the work of Dr. Solter and Dr. Surani contributed to the understanding of the developmental consequences and molecular mechanisms of genomic imprinting. In 1984, they released parallel studies that demonstrated the concept of genomic imprinting. All cells in the animal contain two copies of every autosomal gene, one from the mother and one from the father, and in most cases both copies are expressed. However, "imprinted" genes are expressed only from either the maternally or the paternally inherited copy. Genomic imprinting has widespread roles in mammals, affecting embryonic and placental development and transmission of nutrients to the fetus, and regulating critical aspects of mammalian physiology, such as metabolism, neuronal development and adult behaviour. Extensive research based on this discovery led to the identification of numerous imprinted genes whose alleles are differentially expressed depending on the parent of origin. The Impact: Faulty imprints can lead to developmental, physiological and behavioural anomalies in mice, and result in diseases in humans. There is growing evidence for the importance of imprinting in disease susceptibility from developmental syndromes like Beckwith-Wiedemann, Angelman and Prader-Willi, to a variety of cancers and neurological disorders and obesity. It also has effects on diverse aspects of mammalian development and physiology, such as stem cells, core body temperature, nutrition and behaviour. Their work is one of the key discoveries that started the field of epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene function without changes in the DNA sequence. 2018 Canada Gairdner International Award Peter Hegemann, MD, PhD Hertie Professor for Neurosciences, Experimental Biophysics, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and Psychiatry, Stanford University; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Edward S. Boyden, PhD Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology, Professor, Departments of Biological Engineering and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Media Lab and McGovern Institute, MIT Awarded "for the discovery of light-gated ion channel mechanisms, and for the discovery of optogenetics, a technology that has revolutionized neuroscience" Dr. Hegemann: The Work: Dr. Hegemann's research focused almost entirely on the characterization of natural sensory photoreceptors, mainly from microalgae. Hegemann has characterized behavioral and photoelectric responses of the unicellular alga, Chlamydomonas, which cumulated in the claim that the photoreceptors for these responses was a rhodopsin that unified the sensor and ion channel in one protein. He finally proved this hypothesis by identifying the light-gated channel, channelrhodopsin and by demonstrating its functionality in animal cells. Of equal importance, his group discovered the fundamental principles of the unique channelrhodopsin proteins in molecular detail by a wide range of genomic, biophysical, electrophysiological and structural techniques with many mutants in close collaboration with Karl Deisseroth. This led to their deciphering of the unprecedented light-gated ion channel mechanism, including its pore gating by photons and its ion selectivity. This basic work also fundamentally enabled optogenetics (the technology wherein light-activated proteins- first and foremost channelrhodopsin- allow control of selected cells within systems as complex as the mammalian brain, with unprecedented precision in space and time by delivery of light). The Impact: Optogenetics has been successfully employed to enhance our understanding of neural circuit function mediating normal behavior and dysfunction underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Optogenetics is a technology that has revolutionized the field of neuroscience and has enabled a new generation of experiments that probe the causal roles of specific neural circuit components. Dr. Deisseroth: The Work: A challenge for both basic and clinical neuroscience is the complexity of brain structure and function which makes it difficult to determine how electrical activity within individual cells causes behavior. Deisseroth adapted light-activated proteins from microbes (including the channelrhodopsins) to allow individual types of cells to be controlled with light in real time during behavior. The initial paper from Deisseroth's lab, along with graduate students Feng Zhang (who received a Canada Gairdner International Award in 2016) and Edward Boyden, identified a key piece of the puzzle: channelrhodopsin-based control of neurons with light. Subsequently Deisseroth's group designed the necessary tools for targeting opsins and light to circuit elements of interest and applied the final resulting method (optogenetics) to discover principles of brain function in health and disease. Of equal importance, his group discovered the fundamental principles of the unique channelrhodopsin proteins in molecular detail by a wide range of genomic, biophysical, electrophysiological and structural techniques with many mutants in close collaboration with Peter Hegemann. This led to their deciphering of the unprecedented light-gated ion channel mechanism including its pore gating by photons and its ion selectivity. This basic work also fundamentally enabled optogenetics (the technology wherein light-activated proteins- first and foremost channelrhodopsin- allow control of selected cells within systems as complex as the mammalian brain, with unprecedented precision in space and time by delivery of light). The Impact: Optogenetics has been successfully employed to enhance our understanding of neural circuit function mediating normal behavior and dysfunction underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Optogenetics is a technology that has revolutionized the field of neuroscience and has enabled a new generation of experiments that probe the causal roles of specific neural circuit components. Dr. Boyden: The Work: Dr. Boyden's research has focused on optical technologies for understanding how neurons work together to generate behavior and how their activity changes in disease states or can be changed to treat such diseases. Boyden, along with fellow laureate Karl Deisseroth, brainstormed about how microbial opsins could be used to mediate optical control of neural activity while both were students in 2000. Together, they collaborated to demonstrate the first optical control of neural activity using microbial opsins in the summer of 2004, with Deisseroth, and Boyden, performing the gene transfection and the optical stimulation respectively. At MIT, Boyden's team developed the first optogenetic silencing (2007), the first effective optogenetic silencing in live mammals (2010), noninvasive optogenetic silencing (2014), multicolor optogenetic control (2014), and temporally precise single-cell optogenetic control (2017). The Impact: Boyden's work has given neuroscientists the ability to precisely activate or silence brain cells to see how they contribute to pathological states or the remedy thereof. By optogenetically controlling brain cells, it has become possible to understand how specific patterns of brain activity might be used to quiet seizures, cancel out Parkinsonian tremors, activate the brain's immune system to overcome Alzheimer's and make other health-promoting alterations to the brain. 2018 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award The 2018 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureates are recognized for outstanding achievements in global health research: Alan D. Lopez, AC, PhD, FAHMS Melbourne Laureate Professor, Rowden-White Chair of Global Health and Burden of Disease Measurement, University of Melbourne Christopher J.L. Murray, MD, DPhil Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME); Professor of Global Health, University of Washington Awarded "for their ground-breaking work in conceptualizing and quantifying the Global Burden of Disease" The Work: Murray and Lopez are co-founders of the Global Burden of Disease study, a systematic, scientific effort to quantify the comparative magnitude of health loss from all major diseases, injuries, and risk factors by age, sex, and location over time. Their first collaboration in the early 1990s calculated estimates for eight regions, 107 diseases, and 10 risk factors. More than two decades later, the latest edition of the study, now published annually in the international medical journal, The Lancet, covers more than 300 diseases and injuries in nearly 200 countries by age and sex from 1990 to the present, allowing comparisons over time across age groups and among populations. Approximately 3,200 collaborators in 140 nations contribute to what has been recognized as the world's largest publishing collaboration in science. In recent years, the GBD enterprise has expanded into quantifying sociodemographic inequalities in health and measuring health on the local level by mapping nations in 5x5 kilometer increments. It is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington where Murray serves as Director. The Impact: The GBD has led to policy changes and improvements in health systems in numerous countries including China, the United Kingdom, India, Rwanda, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The U.S. National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation all use GBD results to guide their priority setting and spending decisions. The study has generated nearly 20,000 peer-reviewed publications and has received more than 700,000 citations in scientific studies and reports. 2018 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award The 2018 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award laureate is a Canadian scientist recognized for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science throughout their career: Frances A. Shepherd, OC, OOnt, MD, FRCPC, FASCO Medical oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto Awarded "for her global leadership in oncology which has contributed significantly to improving survival outcomes of lung cancer patients worldwide" The Work: Dr. Shepherd's major area of research is in the field of clinical trials for lung cancer. She has been instrumental in developing and evaluating new treatment modalities at the local, national and international level for patients with both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. Under her leadership, the Canadian Clinical Trials Group Lung Cancer Site conducted many international practice-changing studies. These landmark studies have shown that post-operative chemotherapy can change the cure rate for resected lung cancer and that molecularly targeted treatments can improve survival even in the most advanced stages of the disease. In collaboration with her basic science colleagues, she has established lung cancer tumour banks that have proved to be an invaluable resource to study the biology of lung cancer at a molecular level and to link the laboratory to the clinic. The Impact: Dr. Shepherd has designed and led paradigm-shifting clinical trials over the past three decades that have changed treatment and outcomes for patients with lung cancer at a global level. She has mentored more than 40 post-doctoral research fellows from around the world, many of whom now hold senior academic positions in their home countries. She has authored or co-authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and 35 book chapters. QUOTES: "Each year the Gairdner Foundation recognizes the best and brightest researchers from around the world and 2018 is no exception. From genomic imprinting to clinical trials for cancer and optogenetics, this year's cohort of laureates are a fitting addition to the Gairdner's track record of exemplary international awardees." said Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chair, Board of Directors, Gairdner Foundation. "2018 will be another extraordinary year for the Gairdner Foundation and for Canadians across the country interested in science. Each of the 2018 Canada Gairdner Award laureates will participate in a pan-Canadian outreach program to share their research with graduate students, trainees, post-docs, faculty members and high school students," said Dr. Janet Rossant, President & Scientific Director, Gairdner Foundation. "Gairdner is proud to recognize our 2018 laureates for their cutting-edge research and to be raising the calibre of scientific conversation in Canada through access to leading international researchers". ### About the Canada Gairdner Awards: Each year seven Canada Gairdner Awards are presented to honour the world's most significant biomedical and global health researchers. The Canada Gairdner International Award is given to five individuals for outstanding international biomedical research, while the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award is given to an individual leader in Canadian medicine. The John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award recognizes a contribution to health in the developing world. These seven awards both distinguish Canada as a leader in science and elevate the profile of science in Canada. They are Canada's only globally known and respected international science awards. All laureates are chosen by international adjudication committees. About the Gairdner Foundation: The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 by Toronto stockbroker, James Gairdner to award annual prizes to scientists whose discoveries have had major impact on scientific progress and on human health. Since 1959 when the first awards were granted, 373 scientists have received a Canada Gairdner Award and 87 to date have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. The Canada Gairdner Awards promote a stronger culture of research and innovation across the country through our Outreach Programs including lectures and research symposia. The programs bring current and past laureates to a minimum of 15 universities across Canada to speak with faculty, trainees and high school students to inspire the next generation of researchers. Annual research symposia and public lectures are organized across Canada to provide Canadians access to leading science through Gairdner's convening power. TAMPA, Fla. - Multiple myeloma is a rare incurable disease that is diagnosed in more than 30,000 people each year in the United States. Only half of patients with multiple myeloma are expected to survive five years after their diagnosis. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers are trying to identify patients who are at a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma early in order to improve patient outcomes. A new study published online in the JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics found that screening individuals with a high lifetime risk of developing a precursor condition can reduce the prevalence and specific mortality of symptomatic multiple myeloma. The majority of patients with multiple myeloma develop the disease from a non-malignant and asymptomatic precursor condition called Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) ? a disorder of the blood in which white blood cells begin overproducing a type of protein called M protein. Blood tests for MGUS are very accurate and minimally invasive. It is estimated that the average risk of progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma is at least 1 percent per person per year, but it can be higher in persons with evolving disease. People with MGUS most often do not have any obvious signs or symptoms of the disease. It is commonly diagnosed by chance through routine blood tests. MGUS is more common in men, African Americans and in individuals with a family history of the disease. Therefore, the researchers wanted to determine if screening tests could reduce the risk of progressing from MGUS to multiple myeloma and improve patient survival in individuals with higher lifetime risks of MGUS. Patients who screen positive could then seek medical care early, and potentially try strategies such as aspirin, metformin or weight reduction to reduce their risk of progression into multiple myeloma and improve their overall survival. Moffitt researchers, in collaboration with scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, the University of Manchester and the University of Iowa, performed a series of computational modeling experiments to determine the best screening strategies in different groups of individuals. They wanted to determine when screening should begin, how often it should occur and in which individuals it is most effective. They designed their model to predict the progression of MGUS to multiple myeloma, the changes in MGUS and multiple myeloma prevalence, and the annual follow-up mortality due to disease. The team of researchers discovered that screening strategies could effectively reduce the risk of disease progression and the prevalence of multiple myeloma. This effect was more pronounced in individuals who had a higher risk of MGUS. They found that the prevalence of multiple myeloma could be reduced by 19 percent in individuals who begin screening at age 55 and have follow-up screening every 6 years. A similar reduction in prevalence was also found in individuals who begin screening at age 65 and have follow-up every 2 years. The authors emphasize that additional studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of aspirin, metformin or weight-loss strategies in preventing MGUS progression. They also noted that it is important for the scientific community to identify agents that reduce the risk of progression. "Screening for MGUS may have significant benefits by lowering the incidence of multiple myeloma, provided that effective and non-toxic interventions can be identified. Regular screening of MGUS candidates should start as early as possible, with biannual follow-up, and focus on high-risk individuals especially with a family history of multiple myeloma or in groups with a strong indication of MGUS progression," said study lead author Philipp Altrock, Ph.D., assistant member in the Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology at Moffitt. ### This work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (U54CA193461), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (LPDS 2012-12). About Moffitt Cancer Center Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 49 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt is a Top 10 cancer hospital and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2 million square feet to research and patient care. Moffitt's expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet status, its highest distinction. With more than 5,700 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.1 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. TORONTO - The co-founders of the groundbreaking Global Burden of Disease study (GBD), Professors Christopher Murray and Alan Lopez, have been selected for an international award honoring the "world's top scientists who have made outstanding achievements in global health research." Since its launch over a quarter of a century ago, the GBD collaboration has generated nearly 20,000 peer-reviewed publications and has received more than 700,000 citations in scientific studies and reports. The John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award annually honors individuals in science whose pioneering work has shown "a significant impact on health outcomes in the developing world." Established 10 years ago by the Gairdner Foundation, the award is one of the world's most esteemed prizes for health research. Murray and Lopez will share the $100,000 prize money. The foundation will host an awards ceremony in October in Toronto. "Each year the Gairdner Foundation recognizes the best and brightest researchers from around the world and 2018 is no exception," said Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chair, Board of Directors, Gairdner Foundation. "This year's cohort of laureates, including Dr. Murray and Dr. Lopez for their work on conceptualizing the Global Burden of Disease, are a fitting addition to the Gairdner's track record of exemplary awardees." Murray serves as the Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle; Lopez is a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Murray and Lopez began their collaboration on GBD in the early 1990s with a study calculating estimates for eight regions, 107 diseases, and 10 risk factors. Under their leadership, the GBD enterprise currently includes a network of 3,191 collaborators in 140 countries and three territories contributing to what has been recognized as the world's largest publishing collaboration in science. The latest edition of the study, now published annually in the international medical journal The Lancet, covers 333 diseases and injuries and 84 risk factors in 195 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to the present. The study allows for comparisons over time, across age groups, and among populations. It is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. "It is a great honor to receive the Gairdner Award," Murray said. "This is a recognition not only of the work Alan and I have conducted, but also of the nearly 3,200 collaborators contributing to the GBD. Moreover, it is an acknowledgement of the scientific discipline of health data and its impact on improving people's lives and livelihoods." Lopez said he also is greatly honored to receive the award, but much more work in health metrics sciences remains to be done. "To improve health outcomes for their populations, countries need to be held accountable for the relevance and effectiveness of their health policies and programs," Lopez said. "To do that, they need to be able to comprehensively and comparably track the importance - and emergence - of major health problems. The Global Burden of Disease study provides this essential health intelligence about what the main health problems are in their country and how they are changing," he said. The study has led to policy changes and improvements in health systems in numerous countries, including China, the United Kingdom, India, Rwanda, Colombia, and the Philippines. The US National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation use GBD results to guide their priority-setting and spending decisions. The award is named in honor of Dr. John Dirks, President Emeritus of the Gairdner Foundation. Christopher J.L. Murray, MD DPhil Murray is a Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington and Institute Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). His career has focused on improving health for everyone worldwide by improving health evidence. A physician and health economist, his work has led to the development of a range of new methods and empirical studies to strengthen health measurement, analyze the performance of public health and medical care systems, and assess the cost-effectiveness of health technologies. Alan D. Lopez, AC PhD FAHMS Lopez is a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne and the Rowden-White Chair of Global Health and Burden of Disease, Director of the IHME-Big Data Institute Unit at Oxford University, and an Affiliate Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington. He developed the Peto-Lopez method with Sir Richard Peto to guide countries to estimate their tobacco-attributable mortality. He leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative to improve the registration and certification of births, deaths, and causes of death to better inform global and national investments for health development. ### Video and written profiles of the laureates and a backgrounder of the Gairdner Awards are available from . Interview requests: For Professor Christopher JL Murray: Dean Owen Senior Manager for Marketing & Communications Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. dean1227@uw.edu +1 206 434 5630 For Professor Alan D Lopez: Ali Hickerson Marketing & Communications Manager University of Melbourne alison.hickerson@unimelb.edu.au +61 455 043 324 MANHATTAN, KANSAS -- If African swine fever virus reaches the U.S., it could cause more than $16.5 billion in economic losses to swine and other industries. It would devastate trade and international markets, researchers say. Megan Niederwerder, Kansas State University assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, wants to prevent that. Her latest research has found that African swine fever could survive in a simulated feed shipment across the ocean, which suggests that feed may be a potential way that pathogens such as African swine fever virus spread. The research appears in the journal PLOS ONE in the collaborative publication, "Survival of viral pathogens in animal feed ingredients under transboundary shipping models." It is the first publication demonstrating the survival of African swine fever virus in feed ingredients. "The ultimate goal of our research is to understand what mitigation tools may be utilized to reduce the risk of African swine fever virus being introduced, whether in the country of origin or once feed arrives in the U.S.," Niederwerder said. Since 2007, African swine fever virus, or ASFV, has spread throughout Eastern Europe and Russia but is not present in the U.S. There is no vaccine or cure for the disease, which causes hemorrhagic fever and high mortality in pigs. It does not infect humans. Niederwerder is collaborating with Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute to continue studying the risk of African swine fever virus in feed and feed ingredients. She is studying the whole swine feed transport cycle -- from the shipment of feed as it is imported to the U.S. to when swine consume their feed on the farm. "This research is extremely important to the swine industry, not only in Kansas and the U.S. but also around the world," Niederwerder said. "There are many countries, including the U.S., that are currently free of ASFV and it is critical to understand how we prevent this virus from being introduced. Through this research, we seek to understand and further define the risk of ASFV transmission when consumed in feed, a recently identified risk factor for the introduction of swine pathogens." African swine fever is one of the diseases slated to be researched at the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility or NBAF, which is under construction adjacent to Kansas State University's Manhattan campus. Niederwerder's work at the Biosecurity Research Institute will provide the foundational knowledge that can then transition into further studies at the NBAF once it is fully functional. Niederwerder's research is organized into three parts: 1. Understanding if the virus survives in feed ingredients using a transboundary model that simulates the shipment of feed from other countries into the U.S. 2. Determining the oral dose of African swine fever virus necessary in feed to cause infection. 3. Identifying mitigants that reduce or eliminate the risk of African swine fever virus transmission in feed ingredients, including any additives that may inactivate the virus in swine feed. Niederwerder and her team are performing the research in a biosafety level-3 laboratory at the Biosecurity Research Institute. They have been studying 5-gram amounts of complete feed and feed ingredients, some of which include soybean meal, lysine, dried distillers grains, choline and vitamin D. Researchers place the ingredients in 50-milliliter tubes in an environmental chamber and use meteorological data to program the chamber's temperature and humidity, which mimics a cargo ship's journey from Eastern Europe to North America. For example, the trans-Atlantic model that simulates travel from Eastern Europe takes 30 days. The researchers then study if the virus is still present at a dose infectious to pigs after the simulated shipment and if there are any additives that may stop the virus from spreading through feed. "Our aim is to understand if we can mitigate this risk and protect the U.S. swine industry from the introduction of African swine fever as well as other foreign animal diseases," Niederwerder said. ### To support this research, she has been awarded more than $700,000 from the State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-defense Facility Fund, the National Pork Board and the Swine Health Information Center. Niederwerder recently presented this research at the North American PRRS symposium, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting, and the Midwest Animal Science meeting. Other Kansas State University collaborators on this work include Raymond "Bob" Rowland, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Cassie Jones, associate professor of animal sciences and industry; Steve Dritz, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Trevor Hefley, assistant professor of statistics; Jason Woodworth, research associate professor of animal sciences and industry; and Mike Tokach, university distinguished professor of animal sciences and industry. Other collaborators include Scott Dee of Pipestone Veterinary Services and Diego Diel of South Dakota State University. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has today published a briefing note that examines the ethical issues raised by whole genome sequencing of babies. Whole genome sequencing is starting to be used in the NHS in the care of seriously ill babies, and could also become available to parents through commercial companies in future. The technology has the potential to reveal large amounts of genetic information about the baby, raising questions about how this information will be interpreted, shared with parents, stored and used by others. Whole genome sequencing using a blood or saliva sample is now cheaper and faster than ever before. It usually takes around four weeks and costs around 1,000. However, interpreting the results remains difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Why sequence the genome of babies? Whole genome sequencing can help to diagnose a seriously ill baby with a suspected genetic disease, or to predict how a baby will respond to medicines. It could also be used to predict a baby's chance of developing disease in childhood or adulthood, to find out about genetic factors that could affect future siblings, and to contribute to research databases to help better understand genetic disease. However, the significance of large amounts of the genetic code is currently unknown. Whole genome sequencing is not yet widely available in the NHS, but that is likely to change with advances in genomic medicine, for example with the completion later this year of the UK's 100,000 Genomes Project. Some suggest that the NHS newborn screening programme should be expanded to include more childhood conditions, and that using whole genome sequencing could become a cost effective way to achieve this. In the commercial sector, whole genome sequencing is already available to adults through several US companies. Some companies offer or are planning to offer newborn screening tests that search for large numbers of genetic conditions. Ethical issues Whole genome sequencing of babies raises important questions about what kind of genetic information should be shared with parents, how parents can be supported to make informed choices, and how genomic information should be stored and accessed by others, such as researchers. There are also broader questions about whether increased uptake of whole genome sequencing will change views about genetic variation and disability in society. The briefing note concludes that: Whole genome and exome sequencing has the potential to improve the care and treatment of seriously ill babies. The consequences of sharing any additional findings with parents are not yet known, and how genomic data should be stored, accessed, and used requires further public consideration. There is ongoing debate about whether genome sequencing could be used to expand NHS newborn screening to include more specific genetic conditions, and how the benefits and harms of screening programmes should be weighed. Within the medical genetics community, using whole genome sequencing to look opportunistically for a broad range of conditions and traits in babies who are not ill is widely thought to be unacceptable. However, some parents want to receive a broad range of health-related results from whole genome sequencing and might be able to access such results from commercial companies in future. Professor Dave Archard, Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics says: "Genome sequencing technology has moved at an incredible pace, and we are starting to see the benefits that it can offer to patients with genetic disease. But we need to think carefully about how we handle the sensitive information that can be revealed. Babies do not get a say in this, making it especially important that they, and others, are not disadvantaged in their future lives by a decision taken at birth. We need to make sure there are opportunities for public consideration of the challenges." ### Notes to editors The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body that has been advising policy makers on ethical issues in bioscience and medicine for more than 25 years. As well as being a key UK partner on international networks of advisory bodies, the Council has an international reputation for advising policy-makers and stimulating debate in bioethics. The Council is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Medical Research Council, and Wellcome. This is the second in a new series of bioethics briefing notes published by the Council. The first focused on 'The search for a treatment for ageing'. We will publish further bioethics briefing notes this year on topics including the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and identification biometrics. The first interstellar object ever seen in our solar system, named 'Oumuamua, is giving scientists a fresh perspective on the development of planetary systems. A new study by a team including astrophysicists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, calculated how this visitor from outside our solar system fits into what we know about how planets, asteroids and comets form. On Oct. 19, 2017, astronomers working with the NASA-funded Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS1) at the University of Hawaii spotted an object zipping through our solar system at a very high speed. Scientists at the Minor Planet Center, funded by NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program, confirmed it was the first object of interstellar origin that we've seen. The team dubbed it 'Oumuamua (pronounced oh-MOO-ah-MOO-ah), which means "a messenger from afar arriving first" in Hawaiian -- and it's already living up to its name. "This object was likely ejected from a distant star system," said Elisa Quintana, an astrophysicist at Goddard. "What's interesting is that just this one object flying by so quickly can help us constrain some of our planet formation models." On Sept. 19, 'Oumuamua sped past the Sun at about 196,000 mph (315,400 km/h), fast enough to escape the Sun's gravitational pull and break free of the solar system, never to return. Usually, an object traveling at a similar speed would be a comet falling sunward from the outer solar system. Comets are icy objects that range between house-sized to many miles across. But they usually shed gas and dust as they approach the Sun and warm up. 'Oumuamua didn't. Some scientists interpreted this to mean that 'Oumuamua was a dry asteroid. Planets and planetesimals, smaller objects that include comets and asteroids, condense out of disks of dust, gas and ice around young stars. Smaller objects that form closer to their stars are too hot to have stable surface ice and become asteroids. Those that form farther away use ice as a building block and become comets. The region where asteroids develop is relatively small. "The total real estate that's hot enough for that is almost zero," said lead author Sean Raymond, an astrophysicist at the French National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Bordeaux. "It's these tiny little circular regions around stars. It's harder for that stuff to get ejected because it's more gravitationally bound to the star. It's hard to imagine how 'Oumuamua could have gotten kicked out of its system if it started off as an asteroid." The distance from a star beyond which water stays ice, even if it's exposed to sunlight, is called the snow line or ice line. In our own solar system, for example, objects that developed within three times the distance between the Sun and Earth would have been so hot that they lost all their water. That snow line contracted a little as the Sun shrank and cooled over time, but our main belt asteroids are located within or near our snow line -- close enough to the Sun that it would be difficult to be ejected. "If we understand planet formation correctly, ejected material like 'Oumuamua should be predominantly icy," said Thomas Barclay, an astrophysicist at Goddard and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "If we see populations of these objects that are predominantly rocky, it tells us we've got something wrong in our models." Scientists suspect most ejected planetesimals come from systems with giant gas planets. The gravitational pull of these massive planets can fling objects out of their system and into interstellar space. Systems with giant planets in unstable orbits are the most efficient at ejecting these smaller bodies because as the giants shift around, they come into contact with more material. Systems that do not form giant planets rarely eject material. Using simulations from previous research, Raymond and colleagues showed that a small percentage of objects get so close to gas giants as they're ejected that they should be torn into pieces. The researchers believe the strong gravitational stretching that occurs in these scenarios could explain 'Oumuamua's long, thin cigar-like shape. The researchers calculated the number of interstellar objects we should see, based on estimates that a star system likely ejects a couple of Earth-masses of material during planet formation. They estimated that a few large planetesimals will hold most of that mass but will be outnumbered by smaller fragments like 'Oumuamua. The results were published March 27 in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The findings have already been partially confirmed by observations of the object's color. Other studies have also noted that star systems like our own would be more likely to eject comets than asteroids. Future observatories like the National Science Foundation-funded Large Synoptic Survey Telescope could help scientists spot more of these objects and improve our statistical understanding of planet and planetesimal formation -- even beyond our solar system. "Even though this object was flying through our solar system, it does have implications for extrasolar planets and finding other Earths," Quintana said. ### COLUMBUS, Ohio - Narcissists aren't necessarily on the hunt for partners who are already in a relationship - but that doesn't appear to stand in their way, either, new research suggests. Researcher Amy Brunell of The Ohio State University wondered whether narcissists are particularly attracted to would-be partners who already have a significant other and set about answering that question in a four-part study. "I thought it was possible that there might be something appealing about the 'game' of mate poaching that might appeal to narcissists, because they are known to play games," said Brunell, an associate professor of psychology at Ohio State's Mansfield campus. But evidence of that type of pattern didn't emerge in the study, which appears online in the journal PLOS ONE. Study participants with narcissistic traits reported that they have, with greater frequency than people who aren't narcissists, attempted to pursue relationships with someone who is in an existing relationship, Brunell said. But that wasn't necessarily because the person was taken. "They seem to not discriminate between those in relationships and those who are single. It could be that they just go after whoever appeals to them without regard for relationship status," she said. Previous research has shown that people in general - not just narcissists - tend to perceive others who are in relationships as more desirable. Combine that with the traits of narcissism, Brunell figured, and you might have a recipe for aggressive "mate poaching" - the scientific term for making a play for someone already in a relationship. Narcissism is marked by selfishness, arrogance, an inflated sense of self and extroversion. Furthermore, narcissists believe they're special, unique and entitled. They tend to take advantage of others and experience less guilt. And they also report more casual sex, more sexual partners and a greater desire for short-term relationships. In the first study, Brunell and her collaborators surveyed 247 college students from introductory psychology courses and assessed them for narcissism through a commonly used 40-item test. The participants also completed a personality survey and a survey designed to assess the students' past experiences in mate poaching. Narcissism was linked with more frequent short-term and long-term attempts to connect sexually with people in other relationships. In a second study designed to test the results of the first, though, only narcissistic women reported more frequent attempts at mate poaching, leading the researchers to conclude that it's possible that narcissistic women are more frequently guilty of the behavior. A third study that included 249 students were asked to assess potential romantic partners in a manner similar to popular dating services such as eHarmony.com or match.com. Next, the participants were shown a picture of a target individual and told that they had "similar interest" with the target. Some participants were told the target was single, and some were told the target was in a relationship. Then they were asked about their level of interest in the person. The study found no evidence that narcissists were preferentially drawn to people in a relationship. "It is likely people are simply interested in the target and not necessarily as concerned that the target is in a relationship," the researchers concluded. In the last study, the researchers recruited 240 participants and again compared their narcissism scores and likelihood to mate poach a "target" individual. They found that narcissists had a greater likelihood of hooking up with the target for a short-term fling, but not for a relationship. Taken as a whole, the studies point to a pattern: Narcissists are more likely to engage in mate poaching, but are not more interested in people who are already in a relationship - with the exception of opportunities for a low-cost sexual encounter, such as a one-night stand, Brunell said. "Understanding the behavior of narcissists is important because it helps us better understand the people who are in our lives - and the types of people we don't necessarily want in our lives," Brunell said. ### Other Ohio State researchers who worked on the study were Joshua Robison, Nicholas Deems and Bradley Okdie. CONTACT: Amy Brunell, 419-755-4119; Brunell.2@osu.edu Written by Misti Crane, 614-477-2964; Crane.11@osu.edu This week, publication of a Special Issue on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and multimorbidity continues in PLOS Medicine, advised by guest editors Carolyn S. P. Lam, National Heart Centre and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Kazem Rahimi, The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, UK, and Steven Steinhubl, Scripps Translational Science Institute, USA. Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's demands. Multimorbidity, commonly defined as the presence of two or more chronic medical conditions in an individual, is very common in patients with heart failure. Two research articles this week focus on how multimorbidity patterns in patients with heart failure are linked to health outcomes. In the first study, Claire Lawson of the University of Leicester, UK, and colleagues use data from 10,575 patients in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry to examine associations between different comorbidities, symptoms, and patient-rated health. They found that non-cardiovascular comorbidities were associated with higher overall symptom burden and more severe symptoms than cardiovascular comorbidities, with anxiety or depression having the strongest association with functional limitations (odds ratio [OR] 10.03, Confidence Interval 5.16 to 19.50) and patient-rated health score (mean difference -18.68, CI -23.22 to -14.14). The predominant symptoms associated with worse health in those with cardiovascular comorbidities were pain and anxiety, whereas the predominant symptoms associated with worse health in those with non-cardiovascular comorbidities were shortness of breath and fatigue. While the study findings are limited by the cross-sectional nature of the study, the findings provide evidence that individualised person-centred care to target specific comorbidities and associated symptoms could be a useful approach in patients with heart failure. In the second study, Jasper Tromp and Carolyn S. P. Lam of the National Heart Centre, Singapore, and colleagues used data from the ASIAN-HF registry and applied latent class analysis to examine patterns of multimorbidity in 6480 patients with heart failure from 11 Asian regions. They found that comorbidities clustered into 5 distinct patterns: Elderly/atrial fibrillation (N=1048: oldest, more AF), Metabolic (N=1129: Obesity, diabetes, hypertension), Young (N=1759: youngest, low comorbidity rates, non-ischemic etiology), Ischemic (N=1261: Ischemic etiology) and Lean Diabetic (N=1283: diabetic, hypertensive, low prevalence of obesity and high prevalence of chronic kidney disease). Compared with the Young group, they observed poorer clinical outcomes at 1 year in the Lean Diabetic (hazard ratio [HR] 1.79, 95% CI 1.46-2.22), Elderly/AF (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.26-1.96), Ischemic (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.22-1.88) and the Metabolic (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.02-1.60) groups after adjustment for confounders. While the study may be limited by participation bias, the findings underscore the importance of more comprehensive approaches in phenotyping patients with heart failure and multimorbidity. Frailty is common in elderly individuals with CVD and is associated with elevated mortality. However, no consensus exists on the definition of frailty and many frailty scores have been developed. Gloria Aguayo from the Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, and colleagues used data from 5,294 adults age 60 years and over participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to examine the predictive ability of 35 frailty scores (identified in a literature search) for incident CVD, cancer and all-cause mortality over 7-year follow-up. They observed that all frailty scores were associated with all-cause mortality, some were also associated with incident CVD, and none were associated with incident cancer. In sex- and age-adjusted models, all frailty scores showed significant added predictive performance for all-cause mortality, increasing the C statistic by up to 3%. However, none of the scores significantly improved basic prediction models for CVD or cancer. These results show that certain scores outperform others with regard to all-cause mortality and CVD health outcomes in later life. In a Guest Editorial, Kazem Rahimi, Carolyn Lam, and Steven Steinhubl discuss the research published in the Special Issue. They argue that understanding multimorbidity in patients with CVD requires dealing with complexity and understanding patients' experiences, and they emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research. ### Research Article - Lawson et al. Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work. Competing Interests: UD has no disclosures related to the present work but outside the work, he has received research grants to his institution from Astra-Zeneca, served on the speakers' bureau and received consulting fees from Astra Zeneca and Novartis. Citation: Lawson CA, Solis-Trapala I, Dahlstrom U, Mamas M, Jaarsma T, Kadam UT, et al. (2018) Comorbidity health pathways in heart failure patients: A sequences-of-regressions analysis using cross-sectional data from 10,575 patients in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry. PLoS Med 15(3): e1002540. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002540 Author Affiliations: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester University, Leicester, United Kingdom Institute for Applied Clinical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden Department of Cardiology, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden Keele Cardiovascular Research Group, Centre for Prognosis Research, Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002540 Research Article - Lam et al. Funding: The ASIAN-HF registry is supported by research grants from Boston Scientific Investigator Sponsored Research Program, National Medical Research Council of Singapore, A*STAR Biomedical Research Council ATTRaCT program, and Bayer. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: CSPL served as a guest editor on PLOS Medicine's Cardiovascular Disease Special Issue. KL is an employee of Bayer AG. Citation: Tromp J, Tay WT, Ouwerkerk W, Teng T-HK, Yap J, MacDonald MR, et al. (2018) Multimorbidity in patients with heart failure from 11 Asian regions: A prospective cohort study using the ASIAN-HF registry. PLoS Med 15(3): e1002541. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002541 Author Affiliations: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Bayer, Wuppertal, Germany Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America National University Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002541 Research Article - Aguayo et al. Funding: This study was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Luxembourg, through an internal project from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (funding GAA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Citation: Aguayo GA, Vaillant MT, Donneau A-F, Schritz A, Stranges S, Malisoux L, et al. (2018) Comparative analysis of the association between 35 frailty scores and cardiovascular events, cancer, and total mortality in an elderly general population in England: An observational study. PLoS Med 15(3): e1002543. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002543 Author Affiliations: Population Health Department, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg Competence Center for Methodology and Statistics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg Department of Public Health, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Danish Diabetes Academy, Odense, Denmark In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002543 Editorial Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work. Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: KR receives a stipend as a specialty consulting editor for PLOS Medicine and serves on the journal's editorial board and is an Associate Editor of the BMJ Heart. KR has received funding from the Oxford Martin School and UK national funding agencies including British Heart Foundation, National Institute for Health Research, Medical Research Council, and Wellcome Trust. CSPL is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore and has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Thermofisher, Medtronic, and Vifor Pharma. CSPL has consulted for Bayer, Novartis, Takeda, Merck, Astra Zeneca, Janssen Research & Development, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Roche, and Amgen. SS's institution has received restricted grants from the Qualcomm Foundation and Janssen Pharmaceuticals in support of Digital Medicine research. SS has served as a medical advisor for Novartis, MyoKardia, DynoSense, LifeWatch, Airstrip, EasyG, Spry Health, and FocusMotion and serves as a Board member for Celes Health. KR, CSPL, and SS served as guest editors to PLOS Medicine for the Cardiovascular Disease special issue. Citation: Rahimi K, Lam CSP, Steinhubl S (2018) Cardiovascular disease and multimorbidity: A call for interdisciplinary research and personalized cardiovascular care. PLoS Med 15(3): e1002545. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002545 Author Affiliations: University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002545 Technology development for "smart" forklifts and trucks that communicate with each other is underway at Rochester Institute of Technology where a team of engineers is building a next-generation intelligent materials handling system. The research project focuses on the design and prototyping of intelligent systems for a fleet of autonomous materials handling equipment to advance warehouse productivity and safety. "We are determining how to have internet connectivity and control of devices. Can we develop a system where we'd have autonomous vehicles, forklifts in a warehouse, where they would be able to communicate with each other and make decisions regarding task allocation and navigation," said Mike Kuhl, professor and interim department chair of industrial and systems engineering in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering who is leading the project. "Some of the challenges are defining the routes and determining the decisions made. More autonomy would be a big step forward." In most instances, robots are not typically making decisions. Individuals at a central facility program robot movement and items to distribute over fixed paths, he explained. The system he envisions through the project work would be of a fleet of self-driving forklifts that communicate with each other, determining which tasks to do based on machine learning and autonomous technologies. Receiving a grant from Toyota Materials Handling North America USA for $499,785, researchers will work with the company's New York affiliate, The Raymond Corp., over the length of the project. The grant, part of Toyota's University Research Program, was created to develop new technologies for the entire supply chain, logistics and materials handling industry. "The research this program generates fuels our industry's future technological advancements, which is why we are proud to see its continuation for a second year," said Brett Wood, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Material Handling North America. "In our continued collaboration with top universities, professors and researchers, we are excited to see how their work will improve our industry and the warehouse of the future." Currently in the initial phase of the project, researchers are developing a simulation to represent the overall autonomous system and modeling of decision-making protocols and how the vehicles would interact. In the next stage, the team would build a scaled system, consisting of small robots that will autonomously drive and communicate with each other for testing. A full-scale system for forklifts and other robotic equipment found in warehousing would be implemented as the final part of the project. The team is looking to incorporate alternative indoor localization tools for the autonomous system. RIT's expertise is in the area of simulation, robotics, developing models and logic for systems optimization, machine learning and systems communication, specifically the combination of hardware and software necessary to best use internet connectivity to be able to perform autonomous activities. "In terms of automation in warehousing, the most expensive thing is labor. Looking at automating warehouse processes, an automated vehicle could be working 24/7. This can be beneficial for companies to increase productivity and safety. This is a research project that is for developing new material handling methods potentially benefitting the whole industry," Kuhl said. Note: The research team also includes Raymond Ptucha, Andres Kwasinski and Amlan Ganguly, professors in RIT's computer engineering department. Each brings expertise in supply chain management, robotics, autonomous vehicles, communications and millimeter-wave technologies Also collaborating with the team is Scott Reardon, chief executive officer of D3 Engineering. ### At this year's Hannover Messe, Matthias Nienhaus and his research group from Saarland University will be exhibiting a technology that not only allows wheels to 'know' when and how to rotate, but also enables them to work together in interactive teams. The new technology can be used wherever there is a need for additional support when pulling, pushing or driving a system that uses wheels. Potential applications range from mobility aids, such as wheeled walkers and wheelchairs, to sack trucks, wheelbarrows and shopping trolleys. Simply monitoring the data generated when the motors inside the wheels rotate, allows the motors and hence the wheels to be controlled without the need for any additional sensors. The team is in Hannover to look for partners interested in using this new technology in practical wheel-based applications. The team of engineers will be showcasing their new technology at Hannover Messe from the 23rd to the 27th of April at the Saarland Research and Innovation Stand (Hall 2, Stand B46). Anyone who has ever tried to manoeuvre a washing machine on a sack truck will know the feeling of wishing for an invisible force that springs into action whenever the load threatens to become unbalanced. A bit here, a bit there, just enough additional support to keep everything level so that you can push and pull the load to its destination without worrying about it tipping over. Wheels equipped with novel drive technology developed at Saarland University offer exactly this capability. The wheels recognize immediately whenever there is increased or reduced loading on the right or left hand side of the sack truck and they are aware of any changes in their own position. And this is achieved without the need for any additional sensors. Simply by monitoring the data generated by small electric motors within the rotating wheels, the system knows the positions of the wheels and the forces applied by the drive motors. But the technology is not restricted to sack trucks; it can be used in any application involving motor-driven wheels. 'At Hannover Messe, we're looking for project partners who can work with us to develop these wheels for a range of applications,' says Professor Matthias Nienhaus. The focus of the research work conducted by Nienhaus - a drive systems specialist at Saarland University - is smart motors that generate operational data without the need for additional sensors. 'We essentially turn the motor itself into a sensor, effectively creating a new category of sensor. It's a very cost-effective but powerful technique,' explains Nienhaus. 'We are currently carrying out multiple research projects in which we examine how we can extract the greatest possible quantity of data from electric motors that we then use to control the drives more efficiently. But we also use the data to monitor whether the motor is operating properly or whether there are indications of faults or signs of wear,' he adds. For example, the research engineers observe how the electromagnetic field is distributed at particular locations within the motor and how this field changes while the motor is running. A patent application has been filed to protect the novel procedures that make the data even more reliable by computationally filtering out unwanted artefacts and noise. At Hanover Messe, the team will be demonstrating their system using an installation equipped with multiple wheels. 'If the new technology is introduced into multi-wheeled applications, we have the ability to control wheels individually and can therefore have as many wheels working together as we like,' explains Nienhaus. This is all done automatically using a tiny microcontroller that gathers the data from the individual drive motors and then calculates when and with what power a particular motor needs to switch on. The engineers have carefully studied how the measured data correlates with specific motor states and how a specific measured quantity changes when a wheel rotates. The more data they collect on the motor that drives the wheel, the more precisely they can control the motor and hence the wheel. The research team analyses the huge amount of motor data in order to identify signal patterns that can be used to infer knowledge about the current state of the motor or to flag up changes. The team is developing mathematical models that simulate the various motor states. If the signals coming from the wheels change, the control system can identify the underlying change in the motor's state and can almost immediately respond with appropriately programmed commands. When a number of these 'sentient' motors are connected via a databus system, the wheels can work together in one integrated network. ### Contact: Prof. Dr. Matthias Nienhaus (Laboratory of Actuation Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany) Tel.: +49 (0)681 302-71681; Email: nienhaus@lat.uni-saarland.de Press photographs are available at https://www.uni-saarland.de/aktuelles/presse/pressefotos.html and can be used free of charge. German Version of the Press Release: https://www.uni-saarland.de/nc/aktuelles/artikel/nr/18799.html The Saarland Research and Innovation Stand is organized by Saarland University's Contact Centre for Technology Transfer (KWT). KWT is the central point of contact for companies interested in exploring opportunities for cooperation and collaboration with researchers at Saarland University. http://www.uni-saarland.de/kwt The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joins forces with Monash University and CollinStar Capital - a leading Melbourne-based institution and a FinTech expert in Australia - to establish the first university-industry joint research laboratory on blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies in Hong Kong. Research under the three-year multi-million-dollar collaboration is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency, privacy protection and security of blockchain technologies for standing against attacks from powerful quantum-computing. Blockchain, a technology that underpins cryptocurrencies, has substantial potential to transform financial industry and other businesses across the world. Advances and applications of blockchain technology is therefore particularly relevant to Hong Kong, which has a large financial sector (18% of Gross Domestic Product; 6% of employment), coupled with government's determination in developing Hong Kong into a FinTech hub of the region, leveraging especially on the latest Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area initiatives. Moreover, blockchain technology can also be applied beyond e-trading to various domains such as healthcare, logistics, governance and identity management, thus bringing transformative effects on society as a whole. Officiating at the opening ceremony of the Joint Laboratory today (26 Mach), Dr David Chung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, said "The advancement of Hong Kong as a leading blockchain development centre requires concerted efforts from the industry, academia and the Government. Positioning itself as the leading research and technology advancement centre in Asia-Pacific in the focused areas of blockchain and cryptocurrency, I am confident that the joint laboratory will help foster the development of these technologies in Hong Kong." Ir Professor Alex Wai, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU, said the University is in the leading role of blockchain and cryptocurrency research in the Greater Bay Area. "By joining hands with Monash University and Collinstar Capital, we will continue to drive the advancement in blockchain ecosystem. Through this collaboration, PolyU is devoted in making the cyberspace safer, more convenient and effective for business and financial services. We believe this collaboration will make influential change to the way of business and our living in the future." Blockchain Technology - prospects and challenges Blockchain technology builds an open distributed ledger through a peer-to-peer network, where digital information is recorded as block, linked in chain, and secured by cryptography, with user identity being protected. Since digital records are verified by every node (computer user) in the network, any inconsistency appears in the blocks will be detected, hence data modification is inherently impossible. The innovative features, which enable comprehensive, effective and inalterable record, make blockchain a highly desirable tool for financial transactions, identity management, and complicated logistics process management such as tracking of goods, food, drugs, etc. Despite enormous development prospect, blockchain technology has been facing rising challenges in privacy leakage, control against misuses, hacking security threats, etc. The challenges will accelerate in leaps and bounds, in face of attacks by powerful quantum computers, which may become sophisticated for real application within a decade. PolyU's research team led by Dr Allen Au, Assistant Professor of Department of Computing, will work on enhancing the efficiency of blockchain technology while addressing two key areas of concerns: privacy and security. Enhancing privacy and security in post-quantum computing Dr Au said the team will enhance technologies such as Linkable Ring Signatures system and Zero-knowledge Proof system, which enable efficient proving of the validity of online transactions without leaking private information, such as user identity, transaction amount and account balance. They will also develop protection systems that can be operated on today's computers, yet secured against attacks from quantum computers. To enhance accountability measures against misuse of cryptocurrency, e.g. money laundering, ransom payment request, while still safeguarding anonymity and authenticity, the team will also develop mechanisms for introducing measures such as setting spending/transfer limit, revealing identity under court order, suspending accounts involved in suspicious transactions, etc. Yet, the extent of striking balance between "accountability" and "privacy protection" will be matters to be agreed among the parties concerned. These measures are also applicable to other types of blockchain operations and transactions beyond cryptocurrencies. ### Much has been made of quantum computing processes using ultracold atoms and ions, superconducting junctions and defects in diamonds, but could we be performing them in our own brains? It's a question UC Santa Barbara theoretical physicist Matthew Fisher has been asking for years. Now, as scientific director of the new Quantum Brain Project (QuBrain), he is seeking to put this inquiry through rigorous experimental tests. "Might we, ourselves, be quantum computers, rather than just clever robots who are designing and building quantum computers?" Fisher asks. Some functions the brain performs continue to elude neuroscience -- the substrate that "holds" very long-term memories and how it operates, for example. Quantum mechanics, which deals with the behavior of nature at atomic and subatomic levels, may be able to unlock some clues. And that in turn could have major implications on many levels, from quantum computing and materials sciences to biology, mental health and even what it is to be human. The idea of quantum computing in our brains is not a new one. In fact, it has been making the rounds for a while with some scientists, as well as those with less scientific leanings. But Fisher, a world-renowned expert in the field of quantum mechanics, has identified a precise -- and unique -- set of biological components and key mechanisms that could provide the basis for quantum processing in the brain. With $1.2 million in grant funding over three years from the Heising-Simons Foundation, Fisher will launch the QuBrain collaboration at UCSB. Composed of an international team of leading scientists spanning quantum physics, molecular biology, biochemistry, colloid science and behavioral neuroscience, the project will seek explicit experimental evidence to answer whether we might in fact be quantum computers. "We are extremely grateful to the Heising-Simons Foundation for the bold vision in granting this project at the very frontier of quantum- and neuroscience," said UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry T. Yang. "Professor Matthew Fisher is an exceptional quantum physicist as evidenced by the Oliver E. Buckley Prize he shared in 2015 for his research on quantum phase transitions. Now he is stepping out of his traditional theoretical research framework, assembling an international team of experts to develop an experimentally based research program that will determine if quantum processes exist in the brain. Their research could shed new light on how the brain works, which might lead to novel mental health treatment protocols. As such, we eagerly anticipate the results of QuBrain's collaborative research endeavors in the years to come." "If the question of whether quantum processes take place in the brain is answered in the affirmative, it could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of brain function and human cognition," said Matt Helgeson, a UCSB professor of chemical engineering and associate director at QuBrain. Biochemical Qubits The hallmarks of quantum computers lie in the behaviors of the infinitesimal systems of atoms and ions, which can manifest "qubits" (e.g. "spins") that exhibit quantum entanglement. Multiple qubits can form networks that encode, store and transmit information, analogous to the digital bits in a conventional computer. In the quantum computers we are trying to build, these effects are generated and maintained in highly controlled and isolated environments and at low temperatures. So the warm, wet brain is not considered a conducive environment to exhibit quantum effects as they should be easily "washed out" by the thermal motion of atoms and molecules. However, Fisher asserts that nuclear spins (at the core of the atom, rather than the surrounding electrons) provide an exception to the rule. "Extremely well-isolated nuclear spins can store -- and perhaps process -- quantum information on human time scales of hours or longer," he said. Fisher posits that phosphorus atoms -- one of the most abundant elements in the body -- have the requisite nuclear spin that could serve as a biochemical qubit. One of the experimental thrusts of the collaboration will be to monitor the quantum properties of phosphorus atoms, particularly entanglement between two phosphorus nuclear spins when bonded together in a molecule undergoing biochemical processes. Meanwhile, Helgeson and Alexej Jerschow, a professor of chemistry at New York University, will investigate the dynamics and nuclear spin of Posner molecules -- spherically shaped calcium phosphate nano-clusters -- and whether they have the ability to protect the nuclear spins of the phosphorus atom qubits, which could promote the storage of quantum information. They will also explore the potential for non-local quantum information processing that could be enabled by pair-binding and disassociation of Posner molecules. Entangled Neurons In another set of experiments, Tobias Fromme, a scientist at the Technical University of Munich, will study the potential contribution of mitochondria to entanglement and their quantum coupling to neurons. He will determine if these cellular organelles -- responsible for functions such as metabolism and cell signaling -- can transport Posner molecules within and between neurons via their tubular networks. Fusing and fissioning of mitochondria could allow for establishment of non-local intra- and intercellular quantum entanglement. Subsequent disassociation of Posner molecules could trigger release of calcium, correlated across the mitochondrial network, activating neurotransmitter release and subsequent synaptic firing across what would essentially be a quantum coupled network of neurons -- a phenomena that Fromme will seek to emulate in vitro. The possibility of cognitive nuclear-spin processing came to Fisher in part through studies performed in the 1980s that reported a remarkable lithium isotope dependence on the behavior of mother rats. Though given the same element, their behavior changed dramatically depending on the number of neutrons in the lithium nuclei. What to most people would be a negligible difference was to a quantum physicist like Fisher a fundamentally significant disparity, suggesting the importance of nuclear spins. Aaron Ettenberg, UCSB Distinguished Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, will lead investigations that seek to replicate and extend these lithium isotope experiments. "However likely you judge Matthew Fisher's hypothesis, by testing it through QuBrain's collaborative research approach we will explore neuronal function with state-of-the-art technology from completely new angles and with enormous potential for discovery," said Fromme. Similarly, according to Helgeson, the research conducted by QuBrain has the potential for breakthroughs in the fields of biomaterials, biochemical catalysis, quantum entanglement in solution chemistry and mood disorders in humans, regardless of whether or not quantum processes indeed take place in the brain. ### CINCINNATI--A researcher in the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine has been granted a U.S. patent for a potential treatment for a pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The treatment, known as AB569, was developed in the lab of Daniel Hassett, PhD, a professor in the UC Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology. AB569 is a potential treatment for many antibiotic-resistant organisms including, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which causes pulmonary infections in patients with CF and COPD. The drug has been licensed by the university exclusively to Arch Biopartners, a Toronto-based publicly traded biotechnology company. Hassett is a stockholder and principal scientist at Arch. "This is some extremely positive and very timely news," says Hassett. "AB569 can be a global game changer and has the potential to positively impact lives around the world." The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued patent #9,925,206 to the University of Cincinnati on March 27, 2018, on which Hassett is the inventor. CF is a genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and progressively limits the ability to breathe. In people with CF, a defective gene causes a buildup of thick, dehydrated mucus in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. There are about 40,000 cystic fibrosis patients in the U.S. and more than 70,000 worldwide. COPD is a progressive disease that makes it hard for individuals to breathe. The condition worsens over time and its symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing up large amounts of mucus. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD, but it can also affect individuals exposed to other lung irritants such as air pollution, chemical fumes or dusts. An estimated 251 million people worldwide have COPD, according to the World Health Organization. Hassett's earlier work on CF found that P. aeruginosa was susceptible to destruction by slightly acidified sodium nitrite. In his continued effort to combat CF and COPD, he discovered a synergistic effect by adding disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to acidified sodium nitrite, which led to the development of AB569. P. aeruginosa is a significant cause of bacterial respiratory infections in patients who have CF or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also a common cause of other pneumonias. Once patients have the antibiotic-resistant mucoid form of P. aeruginosa, however, their overall lung function precipitously declines, resulting in a poor clinical prognosis. P. aeruginosa colonizes the airways of about 40 percent of CF patients between the ages of 6 and 10. By the age of 17, the frequency of infection increases to more than 50 percent and reaches approximately 60 percent of all cystic fibrosis patients between the ages of 25 and 34. AB569 is to be administered to patients as a nebulized (inhaled) solution or powder. Hassett says his work to combat CF dates from his days as post-doctoral fellow at Duke University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill when he met CF expert, Richard Boucher, MD, and saw first-hand how families were impacted by the genetic disease, responsible for persistent lung infections that limit the ability to breathe. "I started meeting people who had cystic fibrosis and found out they would cough up their sputum; it was really smelly, greenish looking stuff, and there was no good treatment for it," says Hassett. "I said then, 'It's going to be my life's goal to find a major treatment where we kill these nasty antibiotic-resistant bacteria.'" About 30 percent of patients entering Cincinnati VA Medical Center have COPD and they acquire similar although often not identical infections those with CF, explains Hassett. "Our hope is to provide some relief to our brave veterans and service members with COPD battling chronic bacterial infections." Hassett says he is working with physicians at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center who have started a Phase 1 human trial in healthy volunteers testing the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of AB569. If the trial is successful, a Phase II study will test AB569 as a treatment for antibiotic resistant bacterial infections in the lungs, which chronically infect COPD and CF patients. "We are excited that a patent is now issued for AB569, a drug developed by Dr. Hassett, a nationally-renowned faculty member at the UC College of Medicine," says Jason Heikenfeld, assistant vice president of commercialization in the UC Office of Innovation. "Dr. Hassett and the College of Medicine are critical partners as UC advances its innovation agenda here on campus, regionally and globally. We look forward to our continued partnership with Arch Biopartners." ### Junior professor Dr. Jennifer Andexer from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Freiburg has received the Heinz Maier Leibnitz Prize 2018, which the selection committee from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research recently selected. Considered the most important award for junior scientists in Germany, the prize is endowed with 20,000 euros each and was awarded ten times this year. 140 researchers from all disciplines were nominated. Jennifer Andexer has been junior professor for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry at the University of Freiburg since 2011. Her field of research is enzymes: proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in organisms. They are found in many everyday products - be it as an additive in detergents or in lactose-free dairy products. In biotechnology, enzymes are used as environmentally friendly catalysts to produce various substances. In addition, Andexer deals with so-called cofactors, which are necessary for certain enzymes to act as catalysts. In 2016, for example, she received a starting grant from the European Research Council (ERC) worth 1.5 million euros for her research. In her ERC-funded project, she intends to develop methods to efficiently use enzymes that depend on a particular cofactor, which is of interest for the biotechnological production of medicine and flavors for the food industry. ### DFG press release http://www.dfg.de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/2018/pressemitteilung_nr_11/index.html For more information on Jennifer Andexer http://www.pharmazeutische-chemie.uni-freiburg.de/de/andexer/andexer_home Article in the University of Freiburg online magazine on Jennifer Andexer's ERC-funded research project http://www.pr.uni-freiburg.de/pm/online-magazin/forschen-und-entdecken/magische-molekuele Contact: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Freiburg New research has identified the way age impairs the ability of the circadian clock in mammals to re-set itself when exposed to light, resulting in disruption to sleeping patterns and consequent threats to wellbeing. Researchers, led by a University of Kent neurophysiologist, found that aging results in a significant reduction in sensitivity to light in the part of the brain that controls circadian rhythms, known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The breakthrough could help target treatments that aim to improve both physiological and behavioural circadian clock 're-setting' in older people. Dr Gurprit Lall, of the University's Medway School of Pharmacy, and the other members of the research team explored alterations in one of the pathways in the part of the brain controlling circadian rhythms. They found that a glutamate receptor (NMDA), used to transmit light information, became less effective in resetting the circadian clock as part of the aging process. This structural change in the glutamate receptor was responsible for the decline in light response observed. A subunit of the NMDA receptor exhibited a marked decrease in presence among older mammal, indicating an age-associated change in structural configuration. The study concluded that the aging SCN suffers from a structural reorganisation of its light receiving components; which ultimately impair its function in setting and maintaining a stable circadian rhythm. ### The research paper, entitled Alterations in glutamatergic signalling contribute to the decline of circadian photoentrainment in aged mice (Biello et al), is published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. See: http://www.neurobiologyofaging.org/article/S0197-4580(18)30056-3/fulltext The Medway School of Pharmacy is a collaboration between the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich. Ends For more information or interview requests contact Martin Herrema at the University of Kent Press Office. Tel: 01227-816768 Email: M.J.Herrema@kent.ac.uk News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Notes to editors Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It has been ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and 25th in the Complete University Guide 2018, and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, it is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016. Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality. In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities. Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium. The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals. Kent has received two Queen's Anniversary prizes for Higher and Further Education. New research highlights the impact of traffic-related air pollution on childhood asthma. The study also shows traffic-related air pollution could be specifically responsible for up to 24% of the total number of cases. An international team of researchers has used a newly developed model to assess the impact exposure to nitrogen oxides - gases that make up air pollution - has on the development of childhood asthma. Their study, published today in Environment International, used a model that knits together four distinct models of traffic, emissions, atmospheric dispersion and health impact assessments in Bradford. This allowed the researchers to chart the full chain of impact -- from the source of air pollution through the pathways in which it impacts children's health. The results indicate that up to 38% of all annual childhood asthma cases in Bradford may be attributable to air pollution. More specifically, the model estimates showed that 12% of the annual childhood asthma cases would be attributable to traffic related air pollution. "However, we knew our model was underestimating the traffic related fraction of air pollution. When we adjusted our results using actual measurements of air pollutants we saw that up to 24% of the annual cases could be attributable to traffic related air pollution," said study co-author, Professor Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal, a centre supported by The "la Caixa" Foundation. Study lead author Dr Haneen Khreis carried out this research while at the Institute for Transport Studies at Leeds. She said: "Overall rates of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are higher than the national average as were emergency hospital admissions for asthmatic children under 16 years of age. Traffic-related air pollution is a real concern to the community. "Our team's previous research has shown that children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution have a higher risk of developing asthma. Quantifying the number of childhood asthma cases that are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution has not been done in the past and as we show now, a significant portion of cases is largely preventable." She added: "Our work demonstrates that while popular initiatives such as stopping vehicles from idling outside schools or providing walking routes away from roads are important, proposed solutions to mitigate traffic pollution shouldn't be restricted to localised areas. "New policies aimed at reducing the effects of traffic-related air pollution need to target each link in the full chain of events -- from traffic volume and type, to exhaust and non-exhaust emissions, to dispersion to exposure." The models used in the study allowed the team to chart how much air pollution is present in the city, and how much of that can be traced back to road traffic. By examining estimates of nitrogen oxide concentrations in Bradford they were also able to estimate the levels of nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide are air pollutants produced as a result of road traffic. High concentrations of nitrogen dioxide can cause irritation to the respiratory system and significantly exacerbate existing respiratory problems. Professor Nieuwenhuijsen said: "There is very little research that explores the impact of different exposure assessments. Cases of childhood asthma have been steadily increasing since the 1950s. Future progress with childhood asthma requires a focus beyond controlling and treating the disease toward asthma prevention starting with reducing traffic related air pollution." The team's research is part of ongoing work in Bradford assessing emissions and air quality profile in the region and the associated childhood health effects and impacts on the community. Professor John Wright, Director of the Bradford Institute for Health Research and chief investigator of Born in Bradford, said: "This important study adds to the overwhelming evidence that air pollution is harming our children. The air in our cities has become a tragedy of the commons whereby a common good is being poisoned by collective neglect. "The good news is that we can all save lives by driving less and using cleaner fuels." ### Further information: Image available for download: https://goo.gl/KCK5Ye Credit: Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health http://www.carteeh.org The paper Full-Chain Health Impact Assessment of Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma by Haneen Khreis, Kees de Hoogh, and Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen is published in Environment International Professor John Wright, Director of the Bradford Institute for Health Research and chief investigator of Born in Bradford, is available for interview. Dr Khreis is available for interview by phone or Skype. Please contact University of Leeds press officer Anna Harrison at a.harrison@leeds.ac.uk or +44 (0)113 34 34196 to arrange interviews or for any additional information. Dr Khreis is currently a research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH) and at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). Additional information for editors: The recorded prevalence of asthma in Bradford was found to be higher than both the national average (5.9%), and the regional average (6.2%), at 6.3% or 33,568 people (Quality and Outcomes Framework, 2012). The complex nature of asthma, its challenging diagnosis, and public health modelling strongly suggest that these figures are conservative estimates. In year 2009/2010 there were 846 admissions for asthma in NHS Bradford & Airedale with the total admissions cost equating to a payment by results (PbR) tariff of 0.8 million (Quality and Outcomes Framework, 2012). Data from previous years (2002-2009), indicate that emergency hospital admissions for asthmatic children under 16 years of age were consistently higher than the national and the regional averages peaked in September every year coinciding with the autumn return to school and in line with previous observations (Dales et al., 1996), and children aged between 0 and 4 made up its highest proportions (National Health Service, 2012). The research team's previous work Exposure to traffic-related air pollution and risk of development of childhood asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis is available online at https://goo.gl/36upv1 The team is currently investigating the impacts of other pollutants in Bradford including black carbon and particulate matter and is linking the exposure estimates to detailed health data from the Born in Bradford study. Citations, tables and figures available on request. University of Leeds The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 33,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 for academic reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2018. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. http://www.leeds.ac.uk ISGlobal The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) is an innovative alliance between academic, government, and philanthropic institutions to contribute to the efforts of the international community to address the challenges in global health. ISGlobal is a centre of excellence that has grown out of work first started in the world of health care by the Hospital Clinic and environmental public health at the Parc de Salut MAR and in the academic sphere by the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University. A pivotal role of its work model is the transfer of knowledge generated by scientific research to practice, a task undertaken by the institute's Training and Policy and Global Development departments. http://www.isglobal.org Toronto - The Bank of Canada has announced that Peter Christoffersen, a finance professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management is one of the two recipients of the Bank's Fellowship Award for 2018. It is a renewal of the fellowship first awarded to Prof. Christoffersen by the Bank in 2013. "The Bank is pleased to renew its support for Professor Christoffersen's work, which is highly relevant to our own research agenda in digitalization. He is helping to shed light on some of the most important issues facing Canada's financial industry," said Governor Stephen S. Poloz. Prof. Christoffersen's research will look at the impact and potential applications of new technologies, such as machine learning and big data, in the financial industry. The Fellowship Award provides financial support to leading academics who are widely recognized for their expertise and excellence in areas important to the Bank's core functions and whose research contributes to the development of knowledge and research capabilities in those areas Prof. Christoffersen is currently a professor of finance at the Rotman School, where he also holds the TMX Chair in Capital Markets. Prior to that, he was an associate professor of finance at McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management from 1998 to 2010, and an economist at the International Monetary Fund from 1996 to 1998. Prof. Christoffersen is recognized internationally as an expert in risk management. He has delivered workshops and technical training seminars on the subject at a number of public and private institutions that include the Bank of Canada, the European Central Bank and the World Bank. He has published widely in the areas of risk management, volatility modelling and financial engineering, particularly options pricing. His current research focuses on the impact of new technologies, such as big data and machine learning, on the financial industry, one of the top questions facing the industry today. Prof. Christoffersen is a research fellow at the Copenhagen Business School and Aarhus University's Center for Research in Econometric Analysis of Time Series (CREATES), as well as at a number of other organizations such as the Volatility Institute at New York University's Stern School of Business and the Wharton Financial Institutions Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He is one of the creators of the Rotman FinHub, a new research and educational center exploring the impact of technological innovation on the financial industry, and is Co-director of the Masters of Financial Risk Management program at the Rotman School. He has also been a Visiting Scholar at, among others, the European Central Bank and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the United States. He is a native of Denmark and holds a BA in economics from the University of Copenhagen and a PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. ### The Rotman School of Management is part of the University of Toronto, a global centre of research and teaching excellence at the heart of Canada's commercial capital. Rotman is a catalyst for transformative learning, insights and public engagement, bringing together diverse views and initiatives around a defining purpose: to create value for business and society. For more information, visit http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca. For more information: Ken McGuffin Manager, Media Relations Rotman School of Management University of Toronto Voice 416-946-3818 E-mail mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca WALLOPS ISLAND, Va., March 27, 2018 -- After long delays caused by storms and rough seas, NASA on Sunday launched a rocket into space carrying an experiment built by students at Utah State University. Quick Read A USU student-built experiment rocketed into space from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on March 25. The purpose of the mission was to flight test a new 'green' thruster created at USU. Researchers need to determine if exhaust plumes from the new thrusters can contaminate spacecraft surfaces including optical sensors and solar panels. The 43-foot-tall sounding rocket launched at 6:51 a.m. from Wallops Flight Facility on the eastern shore of Virginia. The vehicle flew in space for approximately seven minutes and reached an altitude of 107 miles before parachuting back to Earth and splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean for recovery. USU's payload was one of four selected to fly on the rocket. Student teams from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; the University of Kentucky, Lexington; and the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, also had experiments on board as part of NASA's Undergraduate Student Instrument Project. USU aerospace engineering graduate students Marc Bulcher, Zac Lewis and Rob Stoddard, and aerospace engineering professor Stephen A. Whitmore designed and built the USU experiment. Their goal was to flight test a new type of thruster developed and patented by Whitmore. Thrusters are small motors used to orient spacecraft in zero gravity. The new USU thrusters are made with printed ABS plastic -- the same material used to make Legos -- and do not burn conventional liquid rocket fuel. "The vast majority of liquid rocket fuels used for space propulsion are extremely dangerous and toxic," said Bulcher. "Hydrazine, for example, powers thrusters that control satellites and small spacecraft. Hydrazine is carcinogenic, expensive to make and presents many safety and environmental challenges." To test the new thrusters, the team mounted two of the soda-can sized units to a small test frame inside the large sounding rocket. When the rocket reached the appropriate altitude, its mid-section fell away and exposed the student experiments to the vacuum of space. Whitmore confirmed the test was successful and said each thruster fired five times. Next, the team will determine if exhaust plumes from the thrusters contaminated a nearby optical sensor. If the thrusters burn clean, the technology could revolutionize the space industry. Such in-flight measurements had never been obtained for this type of thruster system. And Whitmore says a rocket of this class had never been started and re-started in a space environment. Until now. "This is the first time a USA-developed green propellant has been flight tested in space," said Whitmore. "It's an exciting time for us because this gives our students unparalleled industry experience, and at the same time we're developing something that could completely change the small spacecraft industry." ### Photo and Video Library: https://bit.ly/2Gcgnrn March 27, 2018 - Mental health symptoms related to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder are associated with increased errors in a driving simulator and self-reported risky driving behaviors in adolescents, according to study in Nursing Research, published by Wolters Kluwer. "Inattention is associated with more errors in the driving simulator, and self-reported symptoms of hyperactivity and conduct disorder are independently associated with self-reported risky driving behaviors," comments lead author Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, FAAN, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The findings suggest that mental health issues might contribute to the risk of crashes in newly licensed adolescent drivers. Symptoms of ADHD and Conduct Disorder Affect Teens' Driving Performance The study included 60 young drivers, aged 16 to 17, who had received their license within the past 90 days. The teens were tested using a high-fidelity driving simulator, which assessed their responses to various types of common but avoidable crash scenarios. They also completed a self-report questionnaire on risky driving behaviors--for example, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, or nighttime driving with other teens as passengers. The adolescents were also assessed on a measure of mental health symptoms, focusing on three conditions potentially associated with risky driving: ADHD, conduct disorder, and depression. Lastly, parents filled out a questionnaire about their teens' mental health. A teen's self-report of inattention was the only mental health symptom to be related to errors on the driving simulator assessment. The higher the score for inattention, as rated by the teens themselves, the higher the rate of driving performance errors. Unexpectedly, teens with higher scores for depression symptoms made fewer errors in the simulator. Teens with higher self-rated scores for hyperactivity/impulsivity and conduct disorder also scored higher for risky driving behaviors. Overall, parents' reports of the adolescents' mental health symptoms were not related to the teens' self-reported symptoms or their risky driving behaviors (self-reported or in the simulator). The researchers emphasize that it was symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity--not necessarily the diagnosis of ADHD--that were associated with risky driving behaviors. However, teens who met the cutoff points for clinical follow-up for ADHD and conduct disorder had higher scores for risky driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in adolescents, but little is known about the mental health factors affecting crash risk. Mental health may be especially important for newly licensed teen drivers, who are at higher risk of crashes. The new study suggests that risky driving behaviors during this time might be related to symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and conduct disorder. The increase in self-reported risky driving behavior is consistent with the mental health symptoms involved, according to the work of Dr. McDonald and colleagues. "With hyperactivity-impulsivity, rule violations may stem from inherent problems with self-control," they write. "With conduct disorder, rule violations may be an attempt to take advantage of a situation or express hostility." Understanding the role of mental health factors might help in reducing risky driving behaviors in novice teen drivers, with the goal of lowering crash risk in this vulnerable population. Dr. McDonald and coauthors conclude, "Nurses are well-positioned in a variety of clinical settings to counsel adolescents, addressing the multidimensional nature of risks associated with mental health and risk behaviors." ### Click here to read "Simulated Driving Performance, Self-Reported Driving Behaviors, and Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescent Novice Drivers." DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000270 About Nursing Research Nursing Research is a peer-reviewed journal celebrating over 65 years as the most sought-after nursing resource; it offers more depth, more detail, and more of what today's nurses demand. Nursing Research covers key issues, including health promotion, human responses to illness, acute care nursing research, symptom management, cost-effectiveness, vulnerable populations, health services, and community-based nursing studies. Each issue highlights the latest research techniques, quantitative and qualitative studies, and new state-of-the-art methodological strategies, including information not yet found in textbooks. Expert commentaries and briefs are also included. In addition to 6 issues per year, Nursing Research from time to time publishes supplemental content not found anywhere else. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the health, tax & accounting, finance, risk & compliance, and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer, headquartered in the Netherlands, reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth. BNZ: AUD/CAD and NZD/CAD exchange rates headed much lower The Australian and New Zealand Dollars have been amongst the most vulnerable currencies to the market worries of trade wars. Both rely heavily on the prosperity of China as a key trading partner and investors have clearly been shunning the Antipodean currencies. Strategists at BNZ believe the Canadian Dollar is better equipped to ride out these worrying times, and as a result are warning that their current forecasts for AUD/CAD and NZD/CAD might be overly optimistic. NAB/BNZ FX Strategy forecasts have AUD/CAD at 0.95 and NZD/CAD at 0.89 a year from now. "These forecasts sit well above our estimates for fair value based on Purchasing Power Parity that use our 15-year moving average framework. "These currently sit around 0.91 for AUD/CAD and 0.83 for NZD/CAD but would be even lower if we used a longer-term filter. "AUD/CAD and NZD/CAD could be headed much lower than suggested by our current forecasts, which have lows of 0.94 and 0.88 respectively in 2019. "We emphasise that these are big picture views. Switzerland must do more to deal with the growing threat of cyber attacks, the Swiss financial watchdog FINMA has warned. The risks connected with these attacks are growing with the pace of global digitalization. Cyber attacks are now the most serious operational hazard facing the financial system, and both the private sector and public authorities should take them extremely seriously, FINMA Chief Executive Mark Branson told its annual news conference on Tuesday. He said Swiss banks were facing various cyber threats such as Retefe malware attacks on e-banking systems, with around 100 attacks a day. The FINMA CEO warned that Switzerland was lagging on safety behind other financial centres like the United States and Britain, which have central cybersecurity centres. We also need a common platform. It would bring together specialists from different branches and strengthen collaboration between experts from the financial sector and the authorities, he noted. Branson said cybercrime was becoming difficult to combat as banks move to outsource their activities, especially their back-office activities, which opens new fronts for hackers. The risks for the financial system are not limited to cybercrime, however. Branson explained that new business models, particularly those relating to cryptocurrencies, entail both opportunities and risks for financial institutions and their clients. He said FINMA had received generally positive feedback to guidelines it published last month on how to regulate digital currency issues, known as initial coin offerings (ICOs). He added that FINMA would use the guidelines retroactively to review the deals that had already been launched. We will judge the ICOs that were already done in Switzerland along this template or this grid, Branson said. That makes our work easier when looking at these ICOs to see if they would have been subject (to the guidelines). A Lausanne-based researcher is working to bust the myth that Switzerland is too rich to escape the impact of low socioeconomic status on health, and to integrate this often-ignored risk factor into public health interventions. It probably comes as no surprise that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, salt intake, tobacco use, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes to be key risk factors for todays major non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Due to their well-documented roles in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or cancer, each of these risk factors is targeted in the WHOs Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs. But for Silvia Stringhini, a lecturer at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) in Lausanne, there is a crucial entry missing in the WHOs list: low socioeconomic status. As long as people smoke or are obese because of socioeconomic disadvantage, if these root causes arent addressed, you risk having [public health] interventions that do not work, Stringhini says. For example, we have seen a drop in the international prevalence of smoking, but not for the disadvantaged sections of the population they still have a very high rate of smoking. Stringhinis research at the ISPM focuses, as she puts it, on social-biological transitions: how socioeconomic factors become embodied biologically to produce social differences in health. Last year, she was the lead author on a paper published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, which showed that low socioeconomic status as estimated by study subjects occupational title was associated with a 2.1-year decrease in life expectancy between the ages of 40 and 85. To reach their conclusions, the researchers analysed data on 1.7 million people, including those in Switzerland. Stringhini believes these results cast a glaring light on a major gap in public health research, as well as policy interventions like the WHO action plan. Its much simpler for governments, and institutions to address behaviours to tell people to stop smoking, for example than to focus on changing societal factors, and on making sure people are equally capable and have equal resources, she explains. She and her colleagues anticipate another publication in the coming months showing that individuals with low socioeconomic status also age more rapidly than those in a higher bracket, with social factors having a greater impact on walking speed a key indicator of healthy functioning than other risk factors like smoking and obesity. Hidden health risk But are such findings useful when considering public health in Switzerland home to some of the worlds richest and longest-lived people? In Switzerland social disparities are very large, and we can all see this with our eyes: there are very poor people on the streets, but on the other hand, there are the richest people in the world, Stringhini says. As long as there is social inequality or inequality in wealth, there are inequalities in health. This is sometimes ignored in Switzerland because of the perception that everyone must be well because the country is doing well, and that its impossible that there are differences in health. But there really are. Several of the studies Stringhini and her colleagues have led focus on Swiss populations, notably in the western hubs of Lausanne and Geneva. For example, the CoLaus study, which involved a survey of over 6,000 Lausanne inhabitants, showed that women with low educational levels a key indicator of socioeconomic status were five times more likely to be obese than those with a higher education level. The less-educated women were also more likely to smoke, have lower levels of physical activity, and have higher levels of total cholesterol in their blood. Other studies show that Lausanne residents whose occupation involves manual labour have higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood, and that there are social differences among Geneva residents participation in breast cancer screening. Levelling the playing field But if unequal socioeconomic circumstances are to blame for these health disparities, what can governments and public health organisations do short of making every person a millionaire? Stringhini argues that the answer lies in the fact that in many cases, the ability to make healthy lifestyle choices to quit smoking, take time to exercise, or purchase less-processed foods is a luxury. Therefore, solutions should be sought that empower the socioeconomically disadvantaged to take the same healthy steps that rich people are lucky enough to be able to choose every day. [Many] strategies tend to think about risk factors as individual choices, though now we know this is not the case there are circumstances that make people choose one thing over another, she explains. For example, if salt content in food is reduced by legislation, everyone is affected equally. On the other hand, when you advise people to not add salt to their food, only those that are capable of responding positively to this advice are going to have a decrease in salt intake and this tends to increase social inequality. Changes to the notoriously expensive Swiss health care system could also help improve access to both preventive medical care and treatment, Stringhini says. The health care system in Switzerland, compared to other countries, is more able to exclude the poor from certain services, for example from access to dental care. As the evidence connecting socioeconomic status and health mounts, awareness of the link and the impact for public health interventions is growing. But change is slow, Stringhini says, in part because it is simply much more difficult to change the socioeconomic roots of health disparities than it is to target individual behaviours and lifestyle choices. Stringhini adds that one thing that will help is more health data particularly on social differences at the national, rather than the international level. When we talk about social differences in a global arena, policymakers tend to think about the differences between countries, and rarely differences within countries. In some cases, even this is difficult to assess as the data simply do not exist. Poverty and income inequality in Switzerland According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Switzerland ranks above average in terms of my many metrics of well-being including income, employment, health, education, and life satisfaction in comparison to the 34 other member countries. Nevertheless, Switzerland is not immune to poverty and social inequality. The Swiss Federal Statistics Office defines an absolute poverty threshold based on a social subsistence level, meaning that people are considered poor who do not have the financial means to acquire goods and services necessary to an integrated social life. This threshold was set according to the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance at CHF2600 per month ($2735) per person in 2015. The following year, in 2016, one in five Swiss were reportedly unable to meet an unexpected bill of CHF2500, according to the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), and 7% were at a persistent risk of poverty, meaning they were at risk for three of the four previous years, including the most recent. Because poverty is a relative term, the European Union also sets a threshold for defining a countrys risk of poverty in comparison to other nations. This threshold is set at 60% of the median equivalent disposable income of a countrys population. By this measure, in 2016, the risk-of-poverty threshold was CHF29,796 per year in Switzerland a criterion that described one in seven single-person households. German prosecutors on Tuesday dropped a case against a former SS soldier over his involvement in a 1944 massacre in France, because he was already convicted for the war crime by a French tribunal decades ago. Nobody can be punished for the same crime twice, the prosecutors office in the northern city of Celle said in a statement. The accused, 95-year-old Karl Muenter, was sentenced to death in absentia by a French military tribunal in 1949 for his role in the killing of 86 people in the northern French village of Ascq. He was pardoned in 1955 as part of French-German reconciliation efforts after World War II. German prosecutors said they agreed with an earlier assessment by French judicial authorities that the accused could not be prosecuted again for the same facts, a legal principle known as double jeopardy. The prosecutors office in Celle has therefore closed its investigation due to procedural obstacles, the statement added. Muenter was 21 years old and a member of the Hitler Youth SS division on the night of April 1, 1944, when a train carrying some 50 soldiers of the division was slightly derailed by an explosion in an act of sabotage by the Resistance. The troops took revenge by shooting dead 86 men in the nearby village of Ascq, the youngest of whom was 15 years old. Alexandre Delezenne, the great-grandson of one of the victims, strongly condemned the German decision to abandon the proceedings. I am very bitter that a Nazi can escape German justice, which was already under way to prosecuting him, because of a French legal opinion, he told AFP. The dropping of the case marks the latest setback for German prosecutors racing against the clock to bring the last surviving former Nazis to justice for crimes committed during WWII. Earlier this month, 96-year-old Oskar Groening, dubbed the Bookkeeper of Auschwitz, died without ever serving his four-year sentence for being an accessory to the murders of 300,000 Jews at the infamous death camp. German authorities on Tuesday issued a final approval for a new gas pipeline from Russia, risking higher tensions with eastern neighbours fearful of European energy dependence on Moscow. The Federal Agency for Maritime Navigation and Hydrography (BSH) issued the approval after investigating the environmental and commercial impact of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the authority said in a statement. Some 85 kilometres (53 miles) of the 1,225-kilometre pipeline from the Narva Bay on Russias border with Estonia to Lubmin in northeastern Germany will run through German territory. Along with a previously issued approval from the mining authority based in Chancellor Angela Merkels coastal Stralsund constituency, the permit lifts the final hurdle to construction on the German side. Approvals are still needed from Russian, Finnish, Danish and Swedish authorities. Nord Stream 2 AG, the company behind the pipeline and a subsidiary of Russian state-controlled energy firm Gazprom, said it was pleased with the result and hoped to secure the outstanding permits in the coming months. The pipeline project remains controversial in Germany as well as European Union neighbours like Poland and Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who fear it could be used as a tool to boost Russian influence over the bloc. Moscow notoriously used gas prices to pressurise Ukraine during a mounting conflict with its former satellite which saw Russia annex the Crimean peninsula in 2014 prompting EU sanctions in response. Meanwhile, a rare cross-party alliance of high-ranking German politicians from Merkels Christian Democratic Union, the environmentalist Greens and pro-business Free Democrats last month warned against allowing Nord Stream 2 to go ahead. It would split the EU politically and call into question our solidarity with Poland, our Baltic neighbours, Slovakia and Ukraine, but also Sweden and Denmark, they wrote in a letter to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. And the European Commission said last year it sees no need for Nord Stream 2 as it pursues energy security and diversity of gas supply across the 28-member bloc. Merkel has said she believes Nord Stream 2 is a purely economic project with no need for political intervention. tgb/mfp/jh A former Catalan minister wanted by Spain for her role in last year's independence bid will surrender to police on Wednesday in Scotland where she had fled, her lawyer said. I have arranged with Police Scotland for the voluntary attendance of Professor Clara Ponsati at St Leonards Police Station, Edinburgh, Aamer Anwar said in a statement Tuesday. My legal team is instructed by Professor Ponsati to robustly defend her against the Spanish attempts to extradite her, he said, adding that she saw the charges as political persecution. Ponsati will appear in court later on Wednesday for a preliminary extradition hearing where her lawyers will request that she be granted bail pending a full hearing. A Spanish judge last week issued international and European arrest warrants for Ponsati and other separatist leaders, including former regional president Carles Puigdemont. Puigdemont was arrested by German police on Sunday. Spains Supreme Court said it would prosecute 13 key separatists including Puigdemont and Ponsati for rebellion, a crime which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail. Ponsati was a minister in the Catalan government when it declared independence from the rest of Spain following a referendum in October. She fled later that month with Puigdemont and three other former ministers to Brussels, after Spain which declared the referendum illegal dismissed the Catalan executive and imposed direct rule. Ponsati then returned to the University of St Andrews, northeast of Edinburgh, where she had formerly worked, and is a professor in the school of economics and finance. Ponsati has received support from members of the Scottish National Party, who hold power in the devolved government in Edinburgh and advocate secession from the United Kingdom. However, Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon made clear on Sunday that politicians have no powers to intervene in the extradition process. It is well established that the Scottish government supports the right of the people of Catalonia to determine their own future and that we strongly oppose the Spanish governments decision to seek the arrest and imprisonment of independence-supporting politicians, she said in a statement. Demonstrators blocked main roads in Catalonia Tuesday to protest the arrest in Germany of the region's former president Carles Puigdemont and the jailing of other separatist leaders in Spain. Regional road transport authorities said traffic was closed Tuesday morning on the A7 motorway near the French border and the national N340 that links Catalonia with Spains southeastern coast. The two main access roads into Barcelona were also closed, before the blockades were lifted. The protests were called by the radical Committees for the Defence of the Republic, set up just before Catalonia held a referendum on independence on October 1 that was banned by the courts. With the latest jailings and the arrest of president Carles Puigdemont, it seems clear that we have crossed a point of no return, it said in a statement on Monday announcing a wave of protests. About 90 people were slightly injured during pro-Puigdemont protests in Barcelona on Sunday, including 22 police officers. Puigdemont was arrested on Sunday after he crossed the border into Germany from Denmark, under a European warrant issued by Spain. He had spent five months on the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with sedition and rebellion in the wake of a vote by the Catalan parliament to declare independence. His detention marks the latest chapter in a secession saga that has bitterly divided Catalans and triggered Spains worst political crisis in decades. Aside from Puigdemont, nine other Catalan separatist leaders are in jail in Spain over the regions failed bid for independence. If youre working in Luxembourg, this guide on labor law explains your rights regarding working time and holiday leave in Luxembourg. Working time in Luxembourg The law provides for a working time of 40 hours per week and eight hours per day. Time spent traveling to or from work is not included. The working day may not exceed 10 hours. In certain exceptional cases (serious accident or unexpected arrival of urgent work) working hours can be open-ended, or limited to a continuous shift of 12 hours. An employee can work up to 48 hours per week. In cases in which the legal daily working hours are exceeded, the weekly average of 40 hours may not be exceeded over a consecutive four-week period. This is especially the case if the collective agreement envisages a longer reference period. Collective agreements can stipulate shorter working days than those that are laid down by law. Rest days Workers should enjoy a rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours in each 24-hour period. All workers should, in the course of a week, have a minimum rest period of 44 consecutive hours. If they do not, then they must be granted an extra six days of supplementary leave a year under certain conditions. Sunday work Sunday work is forbidden apart from in certain sectors of activity or when authorised by the Inspection du Travail et des Mines (Labour and Mines Inspectorate), e.g., managerial jobs, trading in tourist regions, urgent work etc. Working on a Sunday entitles the employee to a pay increase of 70%. Employees may be compensated for each hour worked on a Sunday with additional free time in lieu of the wage supplement. Night work Night work means work performed between 22.00 and 06.00. If there is no legal rate, supplements for night work must be set by collective agreement. This supplement must be at least 15%. Young workers and pregnant women may not work nights. For other categories of employees, such work is regulated but not forbidden in principle. Advertisement Work on public holidays in Luxembourg When special company conditions mean that work must be performed on a day that is a legal public holiday, the employee working on that day is entitled to a 100% supplement for each hour worked. If the legal public holiday falls on a Sunday, the employee will receive a further 70% supplement. This also applies to overtime, following the principle of accumulated supplement. Advertisement Overtime in Luxembourg Hours worked beyond the legal working time (eight hours per day and 40 hours per week) when specifically requested by the employer, or when the employer is informed of these, are considered as overtime. Use of overtime working requires prior notification or authorization from the Ministre du Travail (Labour Ministry). Since 1 January 2009, the supplement for each additional hour worked is 40 percent for all employees (except for upper management), but the principle of one and a half hours compensatory rest per hour of overtime worked will continue under the law governing the payment of supplements. This additional hour is exempt from tax and social contributions. Waivers to the regulations on working hours are provided for certain sectors of activity, such as home help, agriculture, hotels and catering, healthcare and goods transport. Furthermore, the working hours regulations do not apply to river transport firms, fairground establishments or family-run enterprises. Leave in Luxembourg Paid leave At least 25 working days paid leave must be given per year. A longer period may be laid down in the applicable collective agreement. Workers must work for an unbroken period of three months for the same employer before they are entitled to take a period of leave. Leave must be granted and taken during the calendar year. In principle, the employee decides when to take the leave. The employer must therefore give reasons if leave is refused. If the employee has not been able to take all the leave to that (s)he is entitled by the end of the calendar year due to the needs of the company or leave being taken by other employees, outstanding leave may in this instance be carried over and taken by the following 31 March. War invalids, victims of accidents at work and disabled workers are granted an additional six days leave. Miners, and manual workers and technical engineers in the mining industry are given an additional three days leave. Legal public holidays There are 10 public holidays laid down in law: New Years Day, Easter Monday, 1 May, Ascension, Whit Monday, 23 June (a public holiday to celebrate the Grand Dukes birthday), Assumption, All Saints Day and 25 and 26 December. If a public holiday falls on a day when the employee would not have worked (e.g., a Sunday), beneficiaries are entitled to take a days leave in lieu of this day within the next three months. Leave for personal reasons There are certain circumstances that entitle employees to leave for personal reasons on a particular date. These include marriage (six days), death of a spouse, a blood relative or relative by marriage of the first-degree (three days), moving house (two days), birth of a child (two days for the father), marriage of a child (two days for each parent). Leave for family reasons This is limited to two days per year per child under 15. It is granted in cases of illness, accident or other imperative health reasons requiring the presence of one of the parents. Such leave may be split over separate occasions. Parental leave Any person employed in the Grand Duchy for at least one year without a break by the same employer and who wishes to care for their child under the age of five years at home is entitled to parental leave. This leave lasts six months per child when the parent stops work, and twelve months when the parent wishes to work part-time (for which the employers agreement is required). The allowance comes to EUR 1 778.31 net for full-time leave and EUR 889.15 for part-time leave. Both parents are entitled to take parental leave; however the first period of parental leave must start immediately when maternity leave ends. It is now possible to take three months unpaid parental leave for a child under the age of five years should parental leave not have been taken after maternity leave or the period of leave allowed on first adopting a child. Special leave There are a great many types of special leave: for sport, education and cultural activities, for fire brigade, rescue and lifesaving volunteer activities, for development cooperation, adoption, individual training (80 days out of the entire professional career), language training leave to learn the Luxembourgish language. Palliative care leave A draft law envisages the introduction of special leave to provide palliative care to a terminally ill family member. 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 five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and more than a dozen other national delegations declared Tuesday their support for the peace process in Afghanistan after talks that the Taliban did not attend. The more than 20 signatories of a declaration, including the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain, committed to a peace process Afghan-led and Afghan owned, although the Talibans absence from the high-level conference in the Uzbek capital Tashkent cast doubt over the value of the talks. The declaration distributed at the end of the conference noted the signatories strong backing for the National Unity Governments offer to launch direct talks with the Taliban, without any preconditions and called on the Taliban to accept the offer. In a statement sent to AFP via Whatsapp messenger Tuesday, the Taliban said it was not invited to the Tashkent conference and it is too early to make a statement on its outcome. International tensions The talks attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini were intended to display a united front in support of direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. But aside from the rhetoric of goodwill towards the war-torn country, international tensions were on full display in Tashkent. On the sidelines of the event Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of applying colossal pressure on allies to expel scores of Russias diplomats over the March 4 poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. Russia and the United States also butted heads over Afghanistan in the run-up to the conference. Last week Moscows embassy in Kabul condemned as absolutely baseless the recent suggestion of the top US commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson that Russia had provided military aid to the Taliban via ex-Soviet ally Tajikistan. In a statement on Tuesday Tajikistan, whose top diplomat attended the Tashkent conference, also refuted the allegations and called Nicholsons comments deeply regrettable. The Taliban has been resurgent since the withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops at the end of 2014, taking back territory and devastating Afghanistans beleaguered security forces. Earlier this month Ghani offered an olive branch to the countrys largest militant group, suggesting that if they are prepared to negotiate they could be recognised as a political party with a legitimate role in Afghanistans future. While the conference in Tashkent did not result in any breakthroughs, it highlighted the potential re-emergence of Uzbekistan as a diplomatic player in the region following a period of relative isolation under late leader Islam Karimov. The country of 32 million people boasts a strategic location in Central Asia, bordering four fellow ex-Soviet Stans as well as Afghanistan, which lies to the south. New Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power after Karimovs death in 2016, has worked to improve ties with regional neighbours that enjoyed mixed relations with Tashkent during Karimovs nearly three-decade rule. Australia joined the United States and other British allies in expelling two Russian diplomats Tuesday in response to a nerve agent attack on a double agent in England. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the pair were undeclared intelligence officers and had seven days to leave. This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community, he said. Turnbull said the decision followed advice from London that the substance used in the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. He called it part of a pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state that constitutes a growing threat to international security. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation, he added. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law. Canberras response followed Washington ordering 60 Russians out of the country. Canada, Ukraine, Albania and most European Union states matched the move with smaller-scale expulsions, after Britain urged allies to respond to the poisoning. Russia has denied it was behind the attempted assassination, which left Skripal and his daughter gravely ill in perhaps the first nerve agent attack in Europe since World War II. Belgium will expel one Russian diplomat over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in England, Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Tuesday, making it the 18th EU country to back Britain. Michel also confirmed that in Belgiums role as host country to NATO he would also faithfully implement a decision by the Brussels-based military alliance to expel seven Russians from their mission to NATO. After coordinating with its partners in the EU and the NATO, Belgium decided to dismiss a member of the diplomatic staff of the Russian mission accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium, Michel said in a statement. Given the gravity of the events in Salisbury and the high probability of Russias involvement in this attack, we consider this measure to be fully justified. The Russian ambassador will be notified about this decision within 48 hours. The person concerned will have 14 days to leave Belgium. Eighteen of the 28 European Union countries have now expelled Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain over the attack on double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia since the wave of coordinated measures began on Monday. Moscow on Tuesday charged Washington had put "colossal pressure" on allies to expel scores of Russian diplomats, and vowed to retaliate. This is the result of colossal pressure, colossal blackmail which is the main instrument of Washington on the international arena, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Uzbekistan. Well respond, have no doubt! No one wants to put up with such loutish behaviour and we wont. At least 116 alleged agents working under diplomatic cover were ordered out by 22 governments on Monday, dwarfing similar measures in even the most notorious Cold War spying disputes. The expulsions were a response to the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Expulsions of Russian diplomats were ordered by the United States Canada and Australia as well as a number of European Union countries, Albania and Ukraine. The row has plunged Russias relations with the West to new lows amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine and Syria. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on Afghanistan in Uzbekistans capital Tashkent, Lavrov said the expulsions justified Russias view that there are few independent countries remaining in Europe. Comments by British Prime Minister Theresa May blaming Russia for the poisoning were simply an affront to the system of Anglo-Saxon justice system, Lavrov added. Britain had urged allies to take strong action in response to the attack that left former Russian spy Skripal and his daughter in critical condition. The United States responded particularly strongly, ordering 60 Russians to leave embassies and consulates and shutting down the Russian consulate general in Seattle. Australia also joined in the coordinated diplomatic move, expelling two Russian diplomats on Tuesday that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said were undeclared intelligence officers. The United States, EU members, NATO and other nations across three continents have announced the expulsion of over 150 Russian diplomats in a coordinated action against Moscow which they accuse of poisoning an ex-spy in Britain. Here is a list updated to Thursday of the countries involved and the number of Russians already expelled or put on notice to leave. US, Canada, Australia The United States: Expelled 60 alleged spies posted around the country and at the Russian mission to the United Nations. It also closed the Russian consulate in Seattle over alleged spying at the nearby Kitsap submarine base and Boeing. The retaliation against Moscow was taken in response to Russias use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. Canada: Ousted four diplomats, calling the nerve agent attack a despicable, heinous and reckless act. Australia: Followed suit with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying two Russian diplomats had seven days to leave. NATO NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was expelling seven Russian diplomats and denying accreditation to three more. This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour, Stoltenberg said. European Union Eighteen EU nations have joined Britain in deciding to expel Russian diplomats following a European Council decision last week to react to Moscow within a common framework. Additional measures including further expulsions are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks, EU President Donald Tusk said. Britain: Already kicked out 23 Russian diplomats, with Moscow retaliating with a tit-for-tat move. Belgium: One diplomat Croatia: One diplomat Czech Republic: Three diplomats Denmark: Two diplomats Estonia: One diplomat France: Four diplomats Finland: One diplomat Germany: Four diplomats Hungary: One diplomat Ireland: One diplomat Italy: Two diplomats Latvia: One diplomat Lithuania: Three diplomats Netherlands: Two diplomats Poland: Four diplomats Romania: One diplomat Spain: Two diplomats Sweden: One diplomat Outside EU Albania: Two diplomats Macedonia: One diplomat Moldova: three diplomats Norway: One diplomat Ukraine: 13 diplomats President Petro Poroshenko called for even more action to be taken. The next step is to increase the price that Moscow has to pay for its international crimes, including the strengthening of personal, financial and economic sanctions, he said. Additionally, EU members Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia have recalled their ambassadors for consultations but by Thursday had yet to expel any Russians. burs/je Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis announced Tuesday it will sell its stake its in its consumer healthcare joint venture to Britain's GlaxoSmithKline for $13 billion (10.4 billion euros). The group said the sale of the 36.5 percent stake will enable it to further focus on the development and growth of its core businesses. It said the completion of the deal is expected in the second quarter of 2018, subject to necessary approvals. The two groups set up the consumer healthcare joint venture in 2015 following a major reorganisation of the Swiss groups drugs portfolio. The split marks the first major transaction since Vas Narasimhan succeeded Joe Jimenez as chief executive last month. While our consumer healthcare joint venture with GSK is progressing well, the time is right for Novartis to divest a non-core asset at an attractive price, Narasimhan was quoted as saying in a company statement. This will strengthen our ability to allocate capital to grow our core businesses, drive shareholder returns, and execute value creating bolt-on acquisitions as we continue to build the leading medicines company, powered by digital and data. The 2015 deal gave Novartis the right to offload the joint venture to GSK beginning this month. GSK said the new agreement will allow it to move forward with strategic planning. Most importantly it also removes uncertainty and allows us to plan use of our capital for other priorities, especially pharmaceuticals reasearch and development, GSKs chief executive Emma Walmsley said in a statement. Novartis in January reported that strong sales of two of its main blockbuster drugs enabled it to turn in a good operational performance in 2017. Net profit climbed by 15 percent to $7.7 billion in 2017 on a one-percent increase in sales to $49.1 billion. GlaxoSmithKlines net profits jumped 70 percent to 1.5 billion ($2.1 billion, 1.7 billion euros) last year on bumper sales. noo/wdb/rl/ser Here's another article from my associate who is doing a series of posts and books about usuing the death penalty for punishing drug dealers. Countries Using the Death Penalty for Drug Dealers: It Works in Singapore By Paul Brakke In the first article in this series, I described the ravages of an opioid crisis which is killing tens of thousands of victims each year. I also described some proposals to apply more stringent punishments, including the death penalty, to the dealers -- especially the higher-ups trafficking drugs. It's an approach that really works, as reflected in the success stories of applying the penalty in Singapore and China. This doesn't mean that the problem is entirely eradicated. But both countries have experienced marked declines in both drug trafficking and use, along with a decline in the kinds of crimes often associated with drug dealing, such as gang wars and drive-by shootings between rival gangs. You might consider these approaches used in other countries like pilot programs for implementing harsher penalties in the U.S. While there are already four types of capital punishment for drug-related crimes -- murder committed during a drug-related drive-by shooting, a murder committed with a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, a murder related to drug trafficking, and the death of a law-enforcement officer in a situation related to drugs -- these harsher penalties would apply capital punishment to drug trafficking itself, particularly to the leaders of trafficking organizations. Thus, we have at least two good examples of other countries -- Singapore and China -- pursuing a crackdown to dry up the drug supply and hence the number of victims by using the death penalty for the most serious dealers. I'll feature the death penalty approach in Singapore in this post, and discuss the approach used in China in my next post. The Death Penalty in Singapore Singapore has had capital punishment since its days as a British colony, and this is one reason that Singapore prides itself as being a very safe country in which to live. At one time, Singapore had the second-highest per-capita execution rate in the world -- from 1994 to 1998. In a survey taken in 2005, 95% of the population of Singapore believed in keeping the death penalty. In recent years the use of the penalty has declined, since only two people were executed in 2014, and no one in 2012 and 2013. This indicates that the approach has worked. Singapore uses hanging to carry out its executions. However, Singapore lifted the mandatory death penalty for those convicted of drug trafficking or murder under certain circumstances, so the judge can sentence such offenders to life imprisonment, with the possibility of two appeals. Though rare, these appeals can be to a High Court Judge, the Court of Appeal, and finally to the President. Singapore is particularly harsh on prisoners in drug cases in that 70% of the hangings have been for drug-related offenses. Under the penal code, just taking drugs into Singapore merits the death penalty, so this offense is right up there with various violent and very serious crimes, including waging or attempting to wage war against the government, piracy that endangers life, murder, kidnapping, and robbery by five or more people that results in a death. In particular, under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, this mandatory death sentence applies to anyone importing, exporting, or found in possession of more than the following: - 1200 grams of opium and containing more than 30 grams of morphine - 30 grams of morphine - 15 grams of diamorphine (heroin) - 30 grams of cocaine - 500 grams of cannabis or 1000 grams of a cannabis mixture - 250 grams of methamphetamine. Plus there is a sentence for anyone manufacturing certain types of drugs including: - morphine - diamorphine (heroin) - cocaine - methamphetamine It is also presumed, under the law, that any person with a controlled drug in his or her possession knows the nature of the drug. These death penalty provisions seem to have been effective, in that according to some reports, Singapore has one of the lowest prevalence of drug abuse around the world. For instance, one blogger Benjamin Chang, reports that in over 20 years, the number of drug abusers arrested each year has declined from over 6000 in the early 1990s to about 2000 in 2011. There has also been a decline in the number executed for drug related crimes from the period when these executions were at a peak from 1994 to 2001, averaging about 20 to 40 executions a year. They dropped from zero to three each year during the period from 2007 to 2017.[1] The government and its citizens believe that the policy has helped to keep Singaporeans safe. In the government view, the death penalty is only used in the most serious of crimes, including drug offenses, which sends a strong message of deterrence to potential offenders. As stated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in January 2004 -- a position reaffirmed by the continuation of Singapore's death penalty policies: "The application of the death penalty is only reserved for 'very serious crimes (the) death penalty has been effective in keeping Singapore one of the safest places in the world to work and live in." More recently, a similar statement about the effectiveness of the death penalty has been asserted by Vivian Balakrisknan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a speech to the UN in September 2016. As she asserted: "In our view, capital punishment for drug-related offenses and for murder has been a key element in keeping Singapore drug free and keeping Singapore safe.'[2] Additionally, the success of combating drug abuse with the death penalty has inspired some American elected officials and office-seekers since 2012 to urge applying the Singaporean model in the U.S. For example, Michael Bloomberg, once a Mayor of New York City, said that the U.S. could learn from nations like Singapore's approach to drug trafficking in that "executing a handful of people saves thousands and thousands of lives." And Newt Gingrich, a high-profile Republican, has long advocated bringing Singaporean methods to support the U.S. War on Drugs. Thus, this is one approach to dealing with drugs through capital punishment that definitely deserves consideration in the U.S. today. I'll discuss the approach used in China in my next post. _________________________________ Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Hey Siri, whats the weather this morning? is something we say out loud to our phone out of habit in a world where we used to be amazed by a Blackberry bringing us the internet. Voice assistants or Voice user interface (VUI) have risen so quickly, we already have four big players: Apples Siri , Microsofts Cortana , Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. According to Comscore, by 2020, 50% of all searches will be done by voice the perk of having hands-free and eyes-free technology. Machine learning and AI technology have enabled a brand new experience for us, which means that even the best design principles that work for visual design cant help us here. So how do you design for conversation? Heres what the pros have to say about designing for voice. Whos the speaker? What do they need? Users of voice, also known as speakers, are instant experts. We have a natural way of saying things and have our own unique vocabulary to articulate those thoughts and inquiries. Because it is so familiar, we have a low tolerance for errors and an innate expectation that our interaction should be exactly like our other conversations with human beings. As users of voice, our hands and eyes might be busy; were multi-tasking and we may be in a private space. Speakers have a goal in mind whether thats to check the weather quickly, order vitamins, look for flight options while in bed or listen to that one song we cant get of our head. Were either trying to accomplish a task, be entertained or get enough information to make a decision. Whats most important in this case: Does the voice assistant allow easy access to these things (even if its through a third party) and does the voice assistant deliver whats needed in a natural, easy-to-understand manner? Whos the machine? The other thing to keep in mind is the brand or voice skill (or action if you use Google assistant) coming through the device and into that personal moment. As soon as the speaker is engaging with a voice assistant, it becomes a being to the speaker and is no longer a piece of technology. What should your speakers feel, think and expect from engaging with it? According to Daniel Padgett (Conversational Design Lead at Google), if you dont define your voice assistants persona, the speakers will do it for you and it may not be what you want. At SXSW 2018, Padgett said that if youre a brand designing your voice assistant skill/action, the best thing you can do is to give that character a backstory and make sure it manifests the brand attributes. A great example of this is Eno, Capital Ones AI chatbot . The creators spent a lot of time figuring out who is Eno? At SXSW Audra Koklys Plummer, head of AI design, explained that Eno is a genderless AI virtual assistant (chatbot) who is fascinated with the human experience, so it loves dad jokes, watches The Bachelor, devours books and asks questions. Eno doesnt like when people are mean, so instead of being passive to abusive conversations, it might give a response like thats not cool to talk to me like that, lets stick to talking about money. Enos personality and continuous learning is the secret to its 4.7 star rating . What did you mean by that? Thanks to technology the challenge of recognizing words people are saying has been conquered. But the ongoing challenge is making sure the interaction models a natural conversation, where the voice assistant understands the speakers input quickly and can answer in a simple, comprehensible way. Googles Padgett suggests that conversation designers should give users just enough information for them to make that immediate decision and then provide them with more information to proceed to the next decision. On the flip side, the voice assistant has to understand what the speakers really mean by their words, beyond recognition of text and language. It has to leverage its ability to learn, ask users clarifying questions and use contextual data to eliminate ambiguity. This is how a voice assistant can eventually understand what a speaker means when they say Play Yesterday: Did you mean the audiobook? The movie? Song? Which song? Whats the Future of Voice? According to Padgett, we need to pay attention to the evolving continuum of the human experience from TV to mobile to voice the future is somewhere in between. He mentioned that the future of voice is augmented perhaps starting the interaction over voice and then driving the user to another device for the rest of the answer, like a voice assistant with a display . He mentions that this augmented future will create a glanceable experience, so you can go about doing what youre doing and use the information you need in a seamless manner. There are still plenty of challenges on the table. As voice assistants are expanding the number of languages they recognize and speak, the skills and actions being built also have to support those languages. Another huge challenge is just the conversation mechanics. If you want Alexa to do something based on a skill, you cant say Alexa, do X, you have to say Alexa, ask skill Y to do X. This may not be so clear to everyone, nor is it natural. If youre interested in learning more about designing conversations, check out Googles toolkit or Amazons toolkit . But overall, theres no denying the powerful role voice assistants have started to play in our lives, and only time will tell how different our lives will be as voice assistants continue to develop. The post What You Need to Know When it Comes to Voice appeared first on AdLibbing.org The University of Texas System took a major step Monday in decoding the value of a college degree, becoming the first university system to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to release earnings and student loan data by major for graduates who have moved all over the country. The milestone data tool publishes the average salaries of graduates for every major at seven of UTs academic institutions and the median amount of loans a student has to pay back. It comes as families nationwide wrestle with student debt long after graduation and as politicians decry growing costs associated with four-year degree programs. The data tools release in part gives information to prospective students as they consider their academic futures, UT System officials said. But it also allows institutions to show off their graduates earnings one, five and 10 years after graduation, particularly to policymakers, in a climate skeptical of higher educations utility. Higher education institutions need to work together to express value where there is value and improve where they need to improve, said Stephanie Bond Huie, UTs vice chancellor for strategic initiatives. UTs collaboration with the Census Bureau began in 2016, when the two announced a 10-year partnership to share information. A UT spokeswoman said the university spent no money on the datas compilation and the tools development. The Census Bureau handed over data, reported in aggregate, on UT graduates earnings, region and industry of employment, as well as migration patterns and career pathways. UT used that information to augment the data it already had collected on alumni who stayed in Texas after graduation. The results show varied outcomes among universities and majors. For example: A graduate from the University of Texas at Austin who studied history earned a median $38,609 in the first year in the workforce. Owed in loans? A median $25,642. A UT-Austin mechanical engineering graduate, however, earned $75,529 in the first year after college and owed a median $23,180 in loans. A recent University of Texas at San Antonio graduate who studied history earned a median $38,577 in the first year in the workforce while owing loans of $30,386. A mechanical engineering graduate, however, from UTSA earned a median $63,355 and owed $27,393 in loans. Overall, the system said, 92 percent of UTs bachelors programs produced graduates who paid less than 10 percent of their salary on student loans one year after graduation. That share of its programs increases to 99 percent five years after graduation. The data tool has limitations. For example, it does not include information on loans and earnings for students who start UT degree programs but drop out before graduation, who may amass debt without a corresponding boost in earnings. Nearly 30 percent of Texas students who enrolled at a four-year university in fall 2011 had not graduated by fall 2017 and had not enrolled in another Texas institution that semester, according to the states higher education coordinating board. Huie said the tool may add other features moving forward. Were open to all suggestions. UT said later information releases will show where graduates work by location and industry. System officials plan to talk about the data on Tuesday morning with representatives from the American Council on Education, New America, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities in Washington, D.C. The Census Bureau says other institutions including public universities in Colorado have since expressed interest in sharing data to create a similar tool. Erika McEntarfer, lead economist for the Census Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics research group, said she expected prospective students to respond well to the release and could push for transparency more broadly. As universities see its something that students like, it reflects well on the university to be transparent, she said. More institutions will feel more comfortable releasing similar statistics. Higher education trade organizations have long decried the lack of consistent, accurate data on student outcomes. In 2008, the federal government was banned from collecting and reporting student-level data on college outcomes in an amendment to the Higher Education Act. Some worried about student privacy and data security. Legislative efforts to overturn that ban have been unsuccessful, and Congress first attempt to write a reauthorized Higher Education Act did not eliminate the ban. UT says its collaboration with the Census Bureau reported student data in aggregate in keeping with the bans limitations. Still, public data on higher education outcomes saw a major expansion in 2015, when the Obama administration released a website called the College Scorecard that allows users to compare data on college costs, graduation rates and salaries after attending. That data, however, only culls information from students who received federal financial aid which former College Scorecard director Michael Itzkowitz said is a major limitation. Itzkowitz called UTs release a very significant picture of student outcomes. Still, he said, if universities release their data individually without federal framework, apples-to-apples comparisons between institutions would be challenging. Without the ban, Itzkowitz said, federal officials could more easily collect and distribute the data without having to enter into partnerships. It would relieve a lot of burden from institutions, said Itzkowitz, now a senior fellow at the center-left, Washington, D.C.-based think tank Third Way. JOURDANTON Shaun Puente is a manipulative career criminal who robbed people to feed his meth addiction, testimony in the punishment phase of his capital murder trial here suggests. Hes also a functionally illiterate adult who was beaten by his father and flunked elementary school, other testimony indicates. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Puente, 36, convicted last week in the 2013 killing of San Antonio Police Officer Robert Deckard, so his mental capacity will be an important question. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for a state to execute someone who is intellectually disabled or, in the term the court used, mentally retarded. Since then, defense attorneys working on capital murder cases have sought out psychologists willing to say persuasively that a defendants scores on a multitude of intellectual tests may reveal whether he can safely and properly function in society. Puente shot Deckard in the freezing dark morning of Dec. 8, 2013, as he fled officers on Interstate 37 at speeds up to 115 mph after a series of convenience store robberies in San Antonio. Tennessee-based defense psychologist Dan Reschly, 74, told the jury Wednesday that of the 51 death penalty cases in which he has been asked to interview and test the accused, 38 of them proved to be intellectually disabled. But ID is a condition, not a score, said Reschly, who said he interviewed Puente for about six hours and spoke also with his mother and three sisters. Reschly said Puente has mild ID other levels are moderate, severe and profound exhibited by such things as an inability to read a map, find phone numbers in the white pages or do simple multiplication and division. A prosecution psychologist, Randall Price, testified Tuesday that he tested Puente at an IQ level of 92. He used the same test as Reschly, who concluded it was 79. The disparity in scores was not explored in testimony. Puente reads at the level of a 9-year-old, Reschly said. He failed virtually every subject in his first five years of school, likely never got special education classes (records were missing) and was removed from school by his mother, who feared her children would be victims of gangs in their West Side neighborhood. He couldnt understand a tape measure, like what was a quarter-inch, half-inch, said Reschly, noting this would have made his holding a construction job unlikely. Yet he showed up for school 95 percent of the time, and Reschly said there was no doubt he wasnt faking his recent psychological testing. I assess that effort, said Reschly, because someone may think, If I do poorly I might escape the death penalty. My conclusion is that Mr. Puente was trying hard. Reschly said Puente admitted to him that he abused his two former wives and owed $61,000 in back child support. He observed that the killer never lived independently, depending on sisters, girlfriends, wives and his mother to pay his bills and provide shelter and vehicles. So, suggested prosecutor Bill Turner, doesnt all this mean Puente is just borderline ID and certainly had the intellect to, for example, dress himself entirely in black, including body armor, and re-paint his Mitsubishi Lancer black on his frantic, meth-fueled night of robbery and murder? If, as Reschly implied, a functional illiterate may not fully anticipate the consequence of his crime, then surely Puente understood exactly what he was saying when he told police right before his capture that he didnt want to return to prison, Turner suggested. When another defense psychologist, John Fabian, testified that Puente had shown remorse and cried during his jailhouse interview, Turner countered: And couldnt that just be remorse that hes being held accountable? Could be, Fabian said. And he could have some anti-social traits that exist today? Turner asked, getting the same reply. On Monday, prosecutors presented two business owners who each said Puente robbed them at gunpoint weeks before the robberies that set off the fatal chase. Chaitan Mugili, 33, manager of the Oak Island Ice House on South Loop 1604 West, said he thought his life was over on Nov. 7, 2013, when Puente put a silver 9 mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol to his head. Rodney Reed, owner of a carwash on South Flores Street, said Puente robbed a beloved 82-year-old employee nicknamed Mac on Dec. 3, 2013, and that the man was traumatized, quit soon after and died about two years ago. Previous testimony in the guilt-innocence phase of the trial implicated Puente in two robberies hours before Puente and Jenevieve Ramos led San Antonio police officers on the chase. Deckard, 31, was shot from 250 yards away, through a broken back window of the fleeing car. Prosecutors have also presented Puentes two former wives among three women who said Puente abused them. Rebecca Cardenas testified Monday that she was married to Puente from 1999 to 2005 and frequently used drugs with him but reported him to police after he violently argued with his family and forced her into a car with a hunting knife. Cardenas, 40, said she finally escaped the relationship when Puente came home at 7 a.m. from seeing another woman. I waited until he fell asleep, she said, and then I got my things and left. A third-grade teacher testified that around 1996, when she was 14 and at school cheerleading practice, Puente awkwardly flirted with her, then forcefully groped her by putting his hands down her shorts. She filed a report with police. On Maarib al-Hishmawis 16th birthday, her father deposited $20,000 into his bank account part of a payment for agreeing to his daughter marrying a 28-year-old suitor, according to court records. The suitor, Mohammad al-Taie, who lives outside San Antonio, already had offered her gold jewelry and gold bars in exchange for her hand in marriage, the documents state. Instead, the San Antonio teen refused leading to more than six months of almost daily abuse, including a beating that left her with a 2-inch gash and a choking that almost left her unconscious, according to court records. Maaribs parents, Abdulah Fahmi Kala al-Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Sabah al-Hishmawi, 33, were released on $30,000 bail Sunday after being arrested on felony charges of continuous family violence. According to a search warrant from the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, the al-Hishmawis regularly beat Maarib with broom handles and mop handles. On one occasion, she was beaten with a Swiffer broom after her father discovered that she had been using Snapchat, the records state. The beating left her with the 2-inch cut on her arm, which required hospitalization, according to the warrant. Before she was treated, Abdulah al-Hishmawi instructed his daughter to tell the doctors that she cut herself while cutting a watermelon, according to the warrant. Otherwise, he would be arrested. On another occasion, Abdulah al-Hishmawi allegedly choked Maarib until she almost lost consciousness. She could not breathe anymore, she could not see anymore and was seeing colors, the warrant says. Hamdiyah al-Hishmawi threw hot cooking oil on Maaribs hand and legs, leaving visible scars, the documents state. That was after Maarib told her mother that she wouldnt marry al-Taie, 28. Maarib was told that she would marry al-Taie after she turned 16 because that is the youngest a child can legally get married in Texas, the affidavit says. In 2014, there were roughly 57,800 minors between 15 and 17 married in the U.S., a rate of 4.6 per 1,000 teens, according to the Pew Research Center. In Texas, though, the rate was much higher: 6.9 per 1,000. In recent years, Texas has tried to crack down on child marriage. In May, Gov. Greg Abbott approved legislation that bans anyone under 16 from marrying. The law, which went into effect Sept. 1, also requires anyone under 18 to get a judges consent before marrying. Previously, there was no minimum age requirement for marriage in Texas. Teens under 16 could marry with a judges consent, and those between 16 and 18 could marry with parental consent. Anti-family-violence advocates said the case highlights how difficult it can be for abused women and children to reach out for help especially those from different cultures or countries. (Maarib and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq on visas two years ago, officials said.) You think about people who come to the U.S. from a different country, who may not know that these resources exist here because they dont exist in their country, said Gloria Terry, CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence, or if theyre coming from a country where women are already marginalized. When you think about the incredible situation this young women was in someone was in complete control of her decision-making and her ability to reach out for help, said Terry, who was not intimately familiar with the case. Terry said victim service organizations need to ensure that resource material is printed in several languages so people of many backgrounds are knowledgeable of the resources in their community. Even people in our own community dont know about the resources available, said Terry, who added that minors under 18 can receive domestic violence support without family consent for up to two weeks. After enduring over six months of alleged abuse, Maarib ran away from her parents Jan. 30 and was missing for about a month and a half when she was found in the care of another organization, which authorities did not name. Maarib and her five siblings, all between 5 and 15 years of age, are now in the care of Child Protective Services. GREENWICH Two hundred million years ago. land that is now in central Connecticut and Massachusetts was along the edge of the Atlantic plate and subject to a completely different climate pattern than today. Imagine yourself on the shores of an east African lake where theres a dry season and a wet season, said Nicholas McDonald, a retired geology instructor. Whats going to happen in the dry season? The lake will get shallower and some fish might get caught in the shallow water. Those fish would die and settle into the sediment, or become an easy meal for opportunistic predators of the time dinosaurs, which would leave their tracks on the shoreline. McDonald spent his career studying fossil evidence of that ancient food chain, preserved in Connecticuts deep rift valley. Recently retired from his position as a teacher and chairman emeritus of the Science Department at Westminster School in Simsbury the institution McDonald credits for fostering and supporting much of his research for 37 years he is donating his entire collection of fossils to Greenwichs Bruce Musuem in hopes of inspiring young people, adults and budding scientists to go outside and explore. Fossils are abundant in central Connecticut, McDonald said. The process of finding and collecting them is a challenge, but its also an aesthetic experience. Its the thrill of discovery. When I split a rock and find a fossil, to know that thats the first time sunlight has hit that fish in 200 million years is just amazing. Since finding his first fossils growing up in Mystic, McDonald has dedicated his life to leaving no stone unturned. His passion led him to his undergraduate and graduate theses on ancient fish discovering in 1970 that no research had been published on the subject since the late 1800s, and the most recent work on fossils in Connecticut had been done in 1911. He spent extensive time tapping black and red shale open to find almost perfectly preserved specimens in the sediment. McDonalds fossil collection includes dinosaur footprints and teeth, fish, plants, invertebrates, rock samples and even coprolites the preserved droppings of ancient creatures. There are so many interesting specimens in this collection, said Daniel Ksepka, Bruce Museum curator of science. Everything from the skull of a giant coelacanth fish to ancient logs infused with copper. This donation will transform the Bruce Museum fossil collection, making it an important resource for researchers studying the prehistory of our region, he said. One of the exciting things about the collection is that some of the fossils are still hidden beneath a thin layer of rock. Were going to get to work preparing these fish right away we may even find new species lurking in some of these blocks. McDonald is the author of two books and has donated numerous specimens to other museums already the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, N.Y., Yales Peabody Museum and Connecticuts Dinosaur State Park. But this donation is different, he said. The quality of the collection going to the Bruce is exceptional, said McDonald. The fossils are an archive of immense scientific value, and many are unstudied. McDonald will be recognized for his donation at the reception for the Bruce Museums upcoming Wild Bees exhibition from 3:30 to 5 p.m. April 13. Exhibition supporters and friends will get to see many of the specimens up close and the fossil expert will on hand to sign copies of his recent book, Window into the Jurassic World. I hope that this will be a legacy passed on from this 68-year-old to everybody else, he said. It was a little difficult to part with them, but Im looking toward the future and realizing that my time with them is getting shorter and shorter, and you know, passing the torch. But to new generations with new ideas and greater energy and so on. And theyre still available to me even tough theyre not in my basement anymore. HARTFORD Saying a full dose of Washington partisanship has now entered Connecticut politics, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy lashed out at Republicans on Monday after they announced that the GOP caucus would vote unanimously against state Supreme Court Justice Andrew J. McDonalds nomination for chief justice. Malloy criticized Republican Senate Leader Len Fasano of North Haven, noting that the GOP declaration came just days after promises from many of the 18 Senate Republicans, only three of whom are lawyers, that they were hitting the law books and closely studying McDonalds legal cases and decisions. They did their homework? Malloy said. What are the odds of that? It appears it was always going to be a partisan vote. Speaking to reporters in a hastily called Capitol news conference, a clearly frustrated Malloy charged that a degree of personal animus toward him, combined with a streak of homophobia in the Republican caucuses in the General Assembly, led to the rejection. It now seems unlikely that McDonald will become the first openly gay chief justice of a state Supreme Court in the United States. Fasano refuted the governors attack and instead laid the blame on the liberal direction McDonald could take the court if he were to be named the chief justice. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the nomination Tuesday. Republicans hold an 18-17 advantage since Democrat Gayle Slossberg, of Milford, recused herself because of personal differences with McDonald. As far as I know, they are all Nos, Fasano said of the GOP. Theres nothing personal about this. This is not about politics. Its about policy. Democrats were outraged by the move. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, of New Haven, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, of Norwalk, said the national Republican strategy of partisanship, exemplified in the U.S. Senates refusal to even consider the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland during President Barack Obamas last year in office, has arrived in Connecticut. There can now be no question that Connecticut Republicans are no different than Washington Republicans and are in lockstep with Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell, the two Democrats said in a joint statement. Their apparent inability to muster even a single vote in the Senate for Justice McDonald is appalling. Connecticut Republicans are setting a terrible precedent and are now condemning future judicial nominations to the type of partisan politics that has infected Washington. Fasano said the process was open and fair. He communicated with each member of his caucus over the weekend, he said. Nobody knew what the caucus votes were on a cumulative basis except me, Fasano said. I think that we went way out of our way to keep it as open as possible for people to make their own decisions. As far as this being a caucus position, this never happened. There were a variety of reasons for various negative votes, Fasano said, some dating back to when McDonald was co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee between 2002 and 2010. The persona of the court, I would argue from my perspective, is usually driven by their leader, said Fasano, a former Yale football player who likens the role of chief justice to the captain of a team. Hes still a Supreme Court justice. Fasano suggested that another justice on the high bench, Justice Richard A. Robinson, might be an acceptable alternative. Malloy said he has regularly nominated judges with whom he has disagreed. The rule that I have applied to myself will apparently no longer be the same on the court, Malloy said. His staff said he would not be holding back any pending judicial nominations with Republican connections. McDonald, 52, is a longtime friend and confidant of Malloys. He was the city attorney during Malloys tenure as Stamford mayor, and ended an eight-year stint in the state Senate to become Malloys legal counsel when he became governor in 2011. Malloy nominated him to the Supreme Court in 2013. As McDonalds nomination floundered his nomination passed the House by a single vote earlier this month Malloy tried to sweeten the pot for Republicans. He offered a spot on the Supreme Court to a former Republican senator who is now a Superior Court judge, Andrew Roraback of Goshen, if McDonald were confirmed. It was an effort to calm the waters, Malloy said. The governor said he had no plans to withdraw McDonalds nomination. He hopes that Republicans would be held accountable by voters during the fall elections. He also said he held out hope that some Republicans might change their votes overnight. Andrew deserves a vote by the legislature, he said. WALNUT CREEK, Ohio Holmes County dairy producers celebrated their cows and the people who milk them during the county dairy service units annual meeting at the Carlisle Inn March 26. There were 128 cows on the high lifetime production list. Topping the list was a Brown Swiss owned by RNR Swiss & Lake Point Dairy, with 327,028 pounds of milk, 13,118 pounds of fat and 10,846 pounds of protein, to equal 354,907 pounds of energy-corrected milk in eight lactations. The oldest cow on the list was a Jersey owned by Butter Valley Jerseys, with 194,111 pounds of milk, 11,789 pounds of fat and 7,606 pounds of protein equaling 270,905 pounds of energy corrected milk in 13 lactations. Doughty Valley Farm had the top aged Holstein top cow for milk, protein and energy-corrected milk, with 43,765 pounds of milk, 1,261 pounds of protein and 48,125pounds of energy corrected milk. They also had the top first lactation Holstein for protein with 1,048 pounds of protein. And Doughty Valley also had the top Holstein herd over 100 cows for milk with 29,914 pounds of milk and the low Somatic Cell Count, with 130,000. Tie for top herd For the first time any of the board members could remember, there was a tie for the top herd for milk in the county, as Doughty Valley tied with Hal and Rod Hunsberger as the high Holstein herd in the county for milk among herds over 100 cows with 29,914 pounds of milk. Hunsbergers also had the high Holstein herd over 100 cows for fat, protein and energy-corrected milk with 918 pounds of protein, 1,367 pounds of fat and 34,504 pounds of energy corrected milk. Hunsbergers had the high Holstein aged cow for fat with 2,099 pounds of fat and the top first lactation Holstein for energy corrected milk with 39,421 pounds of energy corrected milk. Hunsbergers were recognized as the most improved Holstein herd over 100 cows for milk, fat and energy corrected milk with an increase of 1,152 pounds of milk, 313 pounds of fat and 4,596 pounds of energy corrected milk. Springwalk Farm Holsteins had the high herd over 100 cows for butterfat, with 1,675 pounds of fat and the top first lactation Holstein for fat with 1,675 pounds of fat. They were also the most improved Holstein herd over 100 cows for protein with an increase of 36 pounds of protein. Elite herds Springwalk Farm Guernseys are ranked among the DHI Elite Herds as being among the top five percent of herds in Ohio. Hunsbergers and Doughty Valley Farm are listed among the top five percent of DHI Elite herds in Ohio for milk, fat and protein, while Springwalk Farm Holsteins is listed as one of top five percent of DHI Elite herds in Ohio for fat. Edwin Miller had the high Holstein herd in the county for milk, fat, protein and energy corrected milk among herds under 100 cows with 29,632 pounds of milk, 874 pounds of protein, 1,172 pounds of fat and 31,552 pounds of energy corrected milk. He had the most improved herd under 100 cows for fat, protein and energy corrected milk with an increase of 83 pounds of protein, 203 pounds of fat and 3,996 pounds of energy corrected milk. He also had the top first lactation Holstein for milk with 35,197 pounds of milk. Marion A Millers herd had the low Somatic Cell Count for herds under 100 cows with 130,000 and the most improved herd for Somatic Cell Count with a drop of 128,000. Jonathan Schrock had the most improved herd for milk and protein with an increase of 3,106 pounds of milk and 83 pounds of protein. Spring Hill Farm Guernseys had the low Somatic Cell Count for colored breed herds over 100 cows with 69,000 and the most improved herd for Somatic Cell Count with a drop of 44,000. Colored breeds RNR Swiss & Lake Point Dairy was recognized as the top Brown Swiss herd over 100 cows in the colored breeds for milk, fat, protein and energy corrected milk with 22,692 pounds of milk, 987 pounds of fat, 787 pounds of protein and 26,220pounds energy corrected milk. They also had the high herd in the colored breeds under 100 cows with their Jersey herd for fat with 1,026 pounds of fat. They had the top first lactation cows for milk, fat, protein and energy corrected milk. One with 32,466 pounds of energy corrected milk, and 1,343 pounds of fat and the second one with 28,390 pounds of milk and 965 pounds of protein. They also had the top Aged cow in the colored breeds for milk, and protein with 30,015 pounds of milk, and 991 pounds of protein. RNR Swiss & Lake Point Dairy Brown Swiss and Jerseys are recognized as DHI Elite Herds, among the top five percent in the state for fat. Spring Hill Farm Guernseys had the top aged cow in the colored breeds for fat and energy corrected milk with 37,544 pounds of energy corrected milk and 1,789 pounds of fat. Dar-Re Farm had the high herd in the colored breeds under 100 cows for milk, protein and energy corrected milk with 19,625 pounds of milk, 723 pounds of protein and 24,764 pounds of energy corrected milk. John Christian Chupp had the low somatic cell count herd under 100 cows with 57,000. Will Moore, Field Representative for Smith Foods, recognized Chupp and David and Mark Miller for making the list in the Hoards Dairyman 2017 National Dairy Quality Awards program. Myron W Yoder had the most improved herd in unofficial test for energy corrected milk with an increase of 2,008 pounds of milk and dropped his Somatic Cell Count by 183,000. Atlee JJ Yoder had the most improved herd on unofficial test for milk and protein with an increase of 1,394 pounds of milk and 56 pounds of protein. Ivan Miller had the most improved herd on unofficial test for fat with an increase of 117 pounds of fat. Honor role Holmes County Honor Roll herds include Dar Re Farm Jerseys, Butter Valley Jerseys, Hyland Acres Jerseys Ltd, Spring Valley Farm Jerseys, RNR-Lake Point Dairy Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Holsteins, Springwalk Farm Guernseys and Holsteins, Spring Hill Farm Holsteins, Open Road Farm Holsteins, Edwin E Miller, Doughty Valley Farm, Hal & Rod Hunsberger, John Christian Chupp, and Mohler View Farms Ltd. During the meeting, board members Reuben Miller and Mike Hochstetler commended the Holmes County Producers on their commitment to producing high quality high component milk and maintaining production that is competitive at the state level. Staying in business But Hochstetler added that while the production numbers are nice and they motivate him to do a better job, the real factor is whether producers are making money which will allow them to stay in business. We need to control what we can control and leave go what we cant control, said Hochstetler. The celebration of dairy in Holmes County included a tribute to dairy farmers by Dolly Hochstetler. Hochstetler and her husband, Mike, and family operate Spring Valley Jersey Farm and March 26 marked the century anniversary of the farm in the Hochstetler family. She told the audience that dairy farmers dont have to be great, but they need to be good at a lot of things. She said there is no better place to raise a family and teach them the family history as well as the value of work and needs versus wants. But there are also challenges to farming and she contends that politicians need to learn to milk a cow because they already know how to spread manure. And the celebration concluded with birthday cake to make the special day for the Hochstetler farm. Farmers are calling for a concerted campaign to educate householders not to use illegal waste carriers to dump their rubbish. Farmers and landowners are getting increasingly fed up of dealing with the aftermath of fly-tipping in the countryside. Rural organisations, such as the NFU and CLA, have frequently called for tougher penalties and more prosecutions to act as a stronger deterrent. The plea follows the release of figures showing that taxpayers had to cough up 58m to clear over one million incidents of fly-tipping in England during 2016-17. National Farmers' Union President Minette Batters has previously said fly-tipping has become the "scourge of the countryside." She said: "The rubbish can be costly and time consuming for farmers and landowners to remove, its dangerous to human health, harmful to wildlife and livestock and in some cases, fly-tipped waste pollutes watercourses and contaminates land. The CLA has responded to a government consultation on ways to tackle crime and duty of care in the waste sector. The organisation says its members reported an 200% increase in fly-tipping on private land in just three years. Fixed penalty notice It is now supporting the government proposal to introduce fixed penalty notices for householders who do not dispose of their waste through proper legal channels. CLA Legal Adviser Andrew Gillet said: Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime. Almost two thirds of private rural landowners suffer from repeated fly-tipping incidents and are fed up with clearing away other peoples rubbish and paying for the privilege. Introducing a fixed penalty notice for householders who pass their waste on to unauthorised waste carriers would be a useful deterrent. However, to really tackle the crime, raising awareness of the risks of being caught and bringing forward more prosecutions are the right methods that will bring about a real change in behaviour. Mr Gillett added: Without better understanding from the public and the right legal deterrents in place, fly-tipping will continue to increase exponentially and further blight the countryside. The CLA also proposes that victims of fly-tipping on private land should be allowed to dispose of the illegal waste free of charge at local tips. He continued: It is a complete injustice that private landowners who experience fly-tipping are then subject to becoming a criminal themselves if they do not clear up and pay for the mess to be disposed of. If they must clear it up themselves they should not be charged for disposing of it legally. Fifty signatories, including individual farmers, have signed a letter calling for Scottish government to help the industry reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The joint-letter, which include organisations such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust, NFU Scotland and the Scottish Land and Estates, have urged Cabinet Secretaries Roseanna Cunningham and Fergus Ewing to support farming practices that are less damaging to the climate. The letter urges the Scottish government to implement policies which helps the farming industry on a path to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2050. The unprecedented range of stakeholders from across the farming industry to sign the letter demonstrates a willingness to help the industry bolster its environment commitments. According to Scottish government figures from 2015, agriculture contributes 22.5% of Scotlands total greenhouse gas emissions. Andrew McCornick, President of NFU Scotland, said Scotlands farmers and crofters deliver a "huge amount" for the environment whilst producing high quality food. He said: With the right support, I am confident we can increase this alongside reducing our emissions and increasing our profitability. That bright future is a goal we should all unite around and I am delighted to see the widespread support it has already secured. Scottish farmers have always been great innovators. Given the chance they will grasp the opportunities to be at the forefront of the adoption of modern farming techniques that will integrate quality food production within balanced agri-ecological systems. Westminster has signalled a shift to green farming policies after Brexit. Earlier this year, Defra Secretary Michael Gove announced British farmers will receive money to make improvements to the environment under a new system of subsidies. Under it, farmers will be rewarded for planting wildlife habitats, woods, wildflower meadows and other environmental benefits. Bruce Wilson, Scottish Wildlife Trust Senior Policy Officer said: It is time to get serious about this issue and the imminent reform of Scotlands land management subsidies due to Brexit gives us a rare chance to re-align support to help farmers, crofters and other land managers substantially reduce emissions and do more for biodiversity while also running sustainable businesses. Organisations signing the letter Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) Biodynamic Association Buglife Scotland Caledonain Organic Church of Scotland Compassion in World Farming Commonweal Community Land Scotland Cyrenians Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens Friends of the Earth Scotland Food Ethics Council Froglife Trust Scotland Glasgow Community Food Network Global Justice Now National Trust for Scotland NFU Scotland Nourish Scotland Organic Growers Alliance Permaculture Scotland Propagate RSPB Scotland Royal Scottish Geographic Society Scotland the Bread Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society Scottish Badgers Scottish Crofting Federation Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisors Group Scottish Land and Estates Scottish Organic Forum Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) Scottish Rural Action Scottish Wildlife Trust Scottish Wild Land Group Soil Association Scotland Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Tweed Forum Unite Scotland Woodland Trust WWF Scotland Individuals signing the letter Professor James Curran John B Cameron, Member, Livestock Health Scotland Dave Reay, University of Edinburgh Professor Pete Smith, Professor of Soils and Global Change, University of Aberdeen Lorna Murray, Member of Scotish Churches Rural Group Professor Davy McCraken, Head of SRUCs Hll and Mountain Research Centre Antonia Ineson, Myreside Organics Hazel Mackenzie, Shetland crofter, member of the Nature Friendly Farming Network Michael Clarke, Dumfriesshire Farmer, member of the Nature Friendly Farming Network Carey Coombs, Farmer A farmer has gained ownership of fourteen acres of land that has become available thanks to the natural process of accretion. The land, located in Lincolnshire on the River Humber, is now currently used as part of the farm. The owners achieved legal ownership of the land, which has added value to the farm and increased the acreage in their ownership. Accretion is the process by which the area of land increases by the acts of natural forces. The vast majority of the UK coast is eroding but some areas on the east coast are actually increasing in size. Law firm Roythornes Solicitors, who acted on behalf of the farmer, said that to prove accretion has taken place, accurate, up-to-date plans which may require the Ordnance Survey to assist and an understanding of the law of accretion and land ownership next to the sea are a must. Simeon Disley, partner at Roythornes Solicitors, said: I requested that the River Humber was re-surveyed by the Ordnance Survey and following the acceptance by the Land Registry of our claim, my client was awarded the ownership of an extra 14 acres of land. The land will most likely be used for grazing in the short term as it will still occasionally get covered by salt tides. However, the land can be used for a number of uses such as wildfowling, a source of material for the improvement of sea banks to protect against flooding and also in agricultural environmental schemes with government support. Prince Charles visited the Lake District to herald future opportunities for the national park and hill sheep farming, which has helped shape the landscape for generations. The Prince of Wales unveiled a special installation to mark the National Parks World Heritage inscription. It was announced that the Lake District would become a World Heritage Site, joining iconic locations such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and Grand Canyon, last year. Greeted by cheering crowds, Prince Charles said he hoped UNESCOs recognition would help local businesses, including farmers, and draw more investment to the region. He said it seemed entirely appropriate that the Lake Districts inscription was in the Cultural Landscape category describing how the incomparable beauty was a consequence of more than one thousand years of human activity. He explained: "To me, it is something of a triumph that this traditional land use continues to this day, even in the face of severe social, economic and environmental pressures. As we stand looking out over Derwent Water towards Borrowdale, the importance of the link between human activity and landscape could not be clearer." Special role Farming plays a special role in the Lake District, its identity and cultural heritage. 90 percent of the designated Less Favoured Areas of Cumbria are in the Lake District. This means farming is characterised by sheep and beef production. Indeed, the Lake District and National Trust sought to recruit new 'Farming Officers' to work with farmers and farming communities across the area. The roles help develop and deliver practical projects with farmers, and strengthen relationships with the farming community. Special guests at the ceremony included Defra Secretary Michael Gove, Minister for Tourism Michael Ellis and Chair for UNESCO UK, Beth Taylor. The plaque cites the English Lake District as officially being inscribed on the World Heritage List and declares that: Inscription on this List confirms the Outstanding Universal Value of a cultural landscape which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. Farmers have reacted with anger after the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) labelled a traditional lamb stew one of the most environmentally unfriendly meals in the UK. Welsh Lamb Cawl, a traditional stew made with lamb and root vegetables, has been labelled the most polluting classic British meal in a new report by the WWF looking at food and its carbon footprint. The report, A World Wide Fund for Nature, suggests that a bowl of lamb stew could be as polluting as boiling a kettle 258 times. But Welsh sheep farmers are "astonished" by the suggestion, with NFU Cymru explaining that the report did not highlight the sheep industry's "benefits to biodiversity of grazed livestock". Hedd Pugh, NFU Cymru rural affairs board chairman, told The Daily Telegraph that sheep farmers take their environmental responsibilities extremely seriously. Mr Pugh said the report shows a "total disregard and ignorance" for the work that is taking place on farms across Wales to address the issues that are impacting on the environment. Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, also told the paper: From our perspective its a pretty shoddy piece of work that hasnt looked at the wider benefits of sheep farming at all. It has taken a very narrow view of the impacts of lamb cawl and is it really quite astonishing. Lamb cawl is the exact kind of dish that we should be promoting, it is highly nutritious and a good source of protein. He added: The summary looks through a very narrow lens and we fundamentally disagree with the argument that has been made as it has failed to include the important environmental benefits of sheep farming which is very disappointing. The report also looked at three other classic British meals, including chicken tikka masala, ploughman's and fish and chips, all of which could disappear or change as a result of climate change. A special rare-breed of sheep has been killed following a dog attack in Scotland's oldest Local Nature Reserve. The incident happened at the Aberlady Nature Reserve in East Lothian during the first week of March, and now an appeal has been made for more information. The Reserve holds Chevease sheep, a hardy-breed used to conserve habitats. They are usually found across central Scotland. Rory Sandison, reserves manager for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, told East Lothian Courier that he is "appalled" at the "reckless" incident. (Photo: East Lothian Council) The trust and East Lothian Council want to reinforce the message that dogs are not allowed at Aberlady Bay and that people with dogs near grazing animals should adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, Mr Sandison said. Sheep are prey animals by nature and even the presence of a dog will cause stress. This can lead to them losing condition and can even cause pregnant ewes to abort their lambs. The loss of this sheep has a financial cost to the trust of 250 and it is a criminal offence for anyone in charge of a dog to allow this to happen. Duncan Priddle, East Lothian Council countryside officer, said: Irresponsible exercising of dogs on the reserve is neither wanted nor welcome. "When dogs kill sheep it is distressing. It angers not only the owners of the sheep but jeopardises the continuation of the conservation grazing scheme as a whole. "At Aberlady, we will actively intervene to request all dog owners exercise their dog at more suitable locations elsewhere in East Lothian. Anyone with information regarding the incident have been urged to contact Police Scotland immediately on 101. Benefits and pitfalls of clover overseeding examined on farm 'If it's not 20% clover, its not doing the job' A Web-Series On Osho? As per a DNA report, Shakun Batra has apparently penned a script on the life of Osho which may be made for an international streaming channel as a web series. Aamir Khan Has Shown Interest In The Project The daily further states that Aamir has shown interest to be a part off this project. A source told the tabloid, "Everyone knows what a great sense of script Aamir has. When he got to know about this one, it immediately piqued his interest." An Interesting Development The source further added, "In fact, he is said to have visited Los Angeles, USA, to meet the officials of the streaming channel. This is definitely an important development." This Osho Project To Happen Before Aamir's Mahabharata? Since Aamir Khan already has his ambitious 'Mahabharata' on the cards, reports suggest that he might wrap up this Osho project before that. Psst! Not just Aamir Khan, it also being reported that Alia Bhatt might come on board for this project too. The news report quoted a source as saying, "She, too, has loved it. It's not known whether she will be a part of the project, but she believes it's a great script." Well folks, if things work out then we might get to see Aamir and Alia sharing screen space together for the very first time. Now that's quite interesting, isn't it? Meanwhile, A few days ago, Aamir Khan in a Facebook live video had revealed that he would be making an important announcement on 27th March i.e today at 4 pm. Has it got to do something about a new film announcement? We are quite curious to know about it! Anna Hazare's andolan at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan was sparsely populated with protestors because of the tripartite nature of his demands. Eighty-eight years ago, around these very dates (12 March to 6 April, 1930), a frail and bespectacled man led a group of some 78 followers towards the marshy edges of a coast in Gujarat and picked up a handful of non-purified salt in one small gesture. But in that gesture, British salt-tax laws were defied and a nation found itself firmly on the path of confrontation against its imperial rulers. Later, Jawahar Lal Nehru wrote in his autobiography Toward Freedom (1936), "as we saw the abounding enthusiasm of the people and the way salt making was spreading like a prairie fire, we felt a little abashed and ashamed for having questioned the efficacy of this method when it was first proposed by Gandhijiwe marvelled at the amazing knack of the man to impress the multitude and make it act in an organised way." It is not the scale that defines the success and failure of a social movement, neither is it spirit, but the unbroken and undivided desperation of the times within which it takes place. On the second and third day of Anna Hazare's satyagraha andolan, which fell on a balmy spring weekend, New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan was sparsely populated with protestors the reason for that was the tripartite split in the concerns raised by the andolan. The first one being farmers' distress. Anna's andolan is demanding that the farmer be compensated with 50 percent more than the cost of production of crops, that those above the age of 60 and solely dependent on agrarian activities be granted a pension of Rs 5,000 a month and that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Price (CAPC) be made an autonomous institution. Second is the implementation of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and taking action on the issue of appointment of Lokayuktas, an anti-corruption ombudsman organisation in the Indian states. There's also the demand of doing away with the 2016 amendments in relation to the declaration of assets and liabilities by public servants, which in Anna's vision, weaken the said law. As per the amendments, the Lokpal Act that requires a public servant to declare his assets and liabilities, and that of his spouse and dependent children, must be made to the competent authority within 30 days of entering the office. Further, the public servant must file an annual return of such assets and liabilities by 31 July each year and the Lokpal Act of 2013 mandates that statements of declarations be published on the website of the relevant Ministry by 31 August. But, the 2016 bill states that a public servant shall be required to declare assets and liabilities but the form and manner of making such a declaration will be prescribed by the Union government. The third and final demand the andolan is making is, in the wake of rising doubts over EVM hacks, the use of ballot paper in elections and the use of totaliser machines for counting of votes. He is also stressing on the Right to Reject that extends the NOTA (None of the Above) principle and invalidates the election in cases where a majority of the voters have chosen to press the NOTA button. Finally, he is also voicing the demand for the Right to Recall. In 2017, Varun Gandhi had introduced a private bill that sought an amendment to the Representation of People Act, 1951 and suggested conferring on the electorate an option of recall that can be initiated by any elector through a recall petition signed by one-fourth of the total number of electors. Unlike in 2012, where there was a clear-cut cause, of installing stringent checks on corruption within the system in the form of the Jan Lokpal Bill, this time around the issues seem too scattered and somewhat ambitious for any system to accept all at once. The Aam Aadmi Party, that took birth on the stage Anna fasted on back then, has now grown up and walked away, leaving a sense of vacuum behind. A tired looking Anna, who has lost weight, is still a glimmer of hope to those who have nowhere else to go and hence, the ground was populated with protestors with concerns that stretched beyond the ones mentioned on the pamphlet. Aside from aggrieved farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Odisha, present at the venue was a seven year old Krishna, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder and whose auto rickshaw driving father hadnt found the empathy of the Delhi government that has a budget of Rs 100 crore for curing patients with rare diseases. Under the same tent were members of a panchayat union in Delhi demanding greater decentralisation of power. There was a retired fauji from the Purva Nausainik Sansthan who had come all the way from Rajasthan demanding, quite radically, that command and control of the forces be withdrawn from the government. A small-time peasant from Meerut was roaming around and asking everybody whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to ever sell off extra chai (tea) when he worked as a chaiwala, just the way had been dumping extra produce to find a fair price. The All Investor Safety Organisation unleashed on the protest site more than a hundred of those investors from whom money was allegedly collected by PACL and Pearls Golden Forest Limited in the name of sale and development of agricultural land. Earlier this year, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had asked investors whose total outstanding amount with PACL was up to Rs 2,500 (per investor) to submit their claims for refund. The Supreme Court-appointed RM Lodha committee is overseeing the disposal of PACL assets to repay these affected investors but they seemed to want Annas help. Even for the farmers, there isnt a dearth of protest marches to join nowadays. Some farmers from Nashik said they were here because they couldnt join the mammoth march to Mumbai some weeks ago. The scene on the ground featured men in the Gandhi topi (cap) with the signature 'Mai bhi Anna' (I'm also Anna) message stamped along its flaps and some women in tri-coloured sarees sitting in a huddle, and some others walking through the mud pits that double up as toilets for the lack of a better arrangement made by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Most of the protesters were lying on a large carpeted floor around heaps of luggage like at any of Indias railway stations, drifting into a lethargic siesta as they waited for the next hope to arrive. The organisers seemed aware of the fragility of the mood and spun out AR Rahmans Maa Tujhe Salaam on loudspeakers, and then many Indian flags were pulled out and some people even rose up to wave them, as if suddenly remembering why they were there. Aside from the protestors, not many made their presence felt no celebrities, no student activists, no frenzied photographers, not even an eager bunch of chana sellers. The concept of satyagraha has an immortality to it because suffering changes form and deceives time to linger on. However, the same movement may gain, loose and regain strength. In India, where fasts-unto-death are a popular recourse for those fighting for a cause, the delivery of justice is most likely delayed. Take the case of Putti Sreeramulu, who was on an indefinite hunger strike in 1952 demanding the formation of an Indian state for the Telugu-speaking population of the Madras Presidency. Since Nehru was against the formation of states on linguistic lines, Shreeramulu's demand didnt garner prominence during the 58 days that it lasted. It was only after his death that clashes erupted and Nehru agreed to the formation of Andhra Pradesh for the Telugu-speaking Indians with Kurnool as its capital. Today, each of Indias four South Indian states speaks its own language. Anna is now older and failing to fill up one tent in a country of over 125 crore Indians, who will in some way or the other benefit from the issues he is raising. This isnt Annas defeat, this is the defeat of a democracy that has learnt how to brand and market protest and move on quickly from the reasons that may have led to it. Alaska Airlines to Form New Partnership with Dublin-Based Aer Lingus Aer Lingus is launching a new nonstop route between Dublin and Seattle set to start May 18 and with it a new partnership with Alaska Airlines, according to The Seattle Times. Aer Lingus will fly this route four times per week in the summer and three times in the winter, and for a limited time, you can book this round-trip international fare for just $595 on select dates in June. There arent many details of this Alaska-Aer Lingus partnership yet, and neither airline has announced it officially, but Aer Lingus CEO Stephen Kavanagh confirmed the plan to form a formal partnership. With it, will come the ability to redeem Aer Lingus Avios on Alaska-operated flights as well as the option to use Alaska Mileage Plan miles on the Irish carrier. However, it is not confirmed when exactly the partnership will function in full force. As a reminder, Alaska already partners with British Airways, and its possible to book award flights with both programs respective miles. BA awards are available on Alaskas website, but you have to call BA to redeem Avios for Alaska flights. The reason this announcement is great is Alaska members dont have many mileage options for flights to Europe. After losing partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Air France/KLM, Europe became a more difficult continent to reach with Mileage Plan miles. British Airways charges hefty fuel surcharges, and despite Alaskas announcement of partnering with Finnair nearly a year ago, it still isnt possible to book Finnair-operated flights with Mileage Plan miles. Keep in mind that Alaska allows stopovers on one-way awards, and using Mileage Plan miles will make it possible to stop in Dublin on the same trip to another European destination served by Aer Lingus without redeeming more miles. Not to mention, Aer Lingus taxes arent nearly as high as BAs. Other U.S. destinations Aer Lingus serves are Boston; Chicago; Hartford, Conn., Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; Newark, N.J.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; San Francisco; and Washington. BBC Reporter Utterly Sick Over Mistreatment of Wheelchair Pax at LHR BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner called Heathrow Airport out after he was reportedly left stranded on an arriving international flight because ramp workers lost his wheelchair. Former war reporter and current BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner had some harsh words for the leadership at Europes busiest airport after reportedly being stranded on an arriving flight for nearly two hours, because airport workers were unable to locate his wheelchair. The journalist took to social media to express his frustration and shame for London Heathrow Airport (LHR) over an alleged pattern of apathy when it comes to passengers in need of special assistance. I am so utterly sick of @HeathrowAirport ground staff losing my wheelchair, Garner told his more than 82,000 Twitter followers on Saturday. Over 70 mins after landing back from Ethiopia Im still stuck on an empty plane while they try to find it. Just when is UKs premier airport going to stop treating disabled passengers this way? In the past, Gardner, who was left with serious permanent injuries after being shot by militants sympathetic to Al Qaeda in 2004, has taken LHR officials to task over the way passengers who use wheelchairs were treated. This time, however, the longtime journalist who was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to journalism by Queen Elizabeth in 2005, pointedly declined to accept an apology from airport officials. You do this nearly every time, he wrote in response to an olive branch from LHR. You create a case number and then it happens again the next time. This casual disregard for disabled passengers is a disgrace to British airports. Gardner later reported that CEO John Holland-Kaye requested a meeting to discuss the way accessibility issues are handled at the airport. According to Gardner they ended the meeting, which he called the most productive one hour of my life, after identifying three key areas for improvement. Holland-Kaye followed the meeting by making several public appearances to discuss the issue. Though Gardner initially expressed gratitude for the CEOs earnest concern over the treatment of passengers in need of special assistance, he later pushed back strongly against comments made by the airport chief following their meeting. The executive told reporters that the airport would aim to disembark disabled passengers within 20 minutes after everybody else has got off. He also suggested that passengers left stranded on aircraft should not be eligible for traditional compensation available to delayed passengers. Lets be clear: making disabled passengers wait an extra 20 mins on plane after last pax off may be legally permissible but it is still UNACCEPTABLE, Gardner responded almost immediately on Twitter. Equal treatment please, this is 2018, not 1970. In January 2017, Gardner made headlines when he took officials at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) behind the woodshed over the plight of passengers with special needs after he was left on an empty plane without assistance for nearly 30 minutes. In this latest incident, he says that he was stranded on an Ethiopian Airlines flight at LHR for more than an-hour-and-a-half. [Photo: Shutterstock] These are the musings, ramblings, rantings and observations of Houston DWI Attorney Paul B. Kennedy on DWI defense, general criminal defense, philosophy and whatever else tickles his fancy. Denise Galloway: studying how viruses cause cancer Human health advances rely on basic research. The HPV vaccine, which protects against the cervical cancercausing human papillomavirus, has already made enormous impacts on human health including nearly eliminating cervical cancer in Australia and it was made possible by basic laboratory studies. You never know where the next discovery is going to come from, said Galloway, who has always done basic research with an eye to human health. Her own research helped lay the foundation for the cancer-preventive HPV vaccine. Using a key HPV protein, Galloways group created vaccine-like particles, in which a single viral protein folds up to look like the real virus. Because virus-like particles can trigger a long-lasting, protective immune response similar to that of real viruses, they can form the basis of a vaccine. The technique Galloway used was pioneered by a researcher working on viruses that infect mice. The scientist wasnt interested in vaccines, just virus structure, she said. It was a basic discovery about how a virus can form that led to the ability to do the same thing with HPV. Galloways initial focus had not been vaccines, either. After uniting with epidemiologists in Fred Hutchs Public Health Sciences Division and at the University of Washington, she and her team created the virus-like particles while developing a blood test to assess whether someone who did not currently have detectable HPV had previously ever been infected. This relationship grew into the Seattle HPV Team, a Fred Hutch and UW collaboration led by Galloway. In 2011, the group received the Team Science Award from the American Association for Cancer Research. The team showed that nearly every case of cervical cancer arises from HPV infection. They studied how long HPV persists, the immune response to HPV infection, and how many infected people go on to get the disease all important things to know when designing a vaccine trial. The Seattle HPV team also performed the first proof-of-principle clinical trial showing that, indeed, an HPV vaccine can protect against HPV infection. Now Galloway focuses on the best way to administer the HPV vaccine. It was first rolled out with a three-dose schedule, but she and her team have shown that two doses are just as effective as three when it comes to stimulating a long-lasting immune response. She also studies Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), which can cause Merkel cell carcinoma, or MCC, a rare skin cancer. The link between MCPyV and MCC was only made in 2008, but when she heard of the association, Galloway wasted no time in reaching out to Hutch and UW colleague and MCC expert Dr. Paul Nghiem. Galloway and Nghiem developed a test that can detect MCC recurrence much earlier than standard imaging. It sprang from a scientific whim: Galloway wanted to know whether the MCPyV protein that drives MCC formation triggered a detectable immune response. It turns out that the protein does trigger an immune response, which falls and rises as tumors shrink and grow. Galloway and Nghiem were able to use immune responses to this single MCPyV protein to help identify which patients might be experiencing a recurrence and need to undergo imaging and which patients remained cancer-free and could avoid unnecessary scans. But there is more to be learned about HPV and MCPyV that could help researchers develop better ways to treat and prevent the infections and their associated cancers, and Galloway intends to learn everything she can. She recently received an Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Cancer Institute to support this work. Galloway also was appointed director of the recently launched Pathogen-Associated Malignancies Integrated Research Center. The PAM IRC aims to leverage research findings to reduce the worldwide burden of cancers linked to pathogens. The team is exploring partnerships in public and private sectors to bring research advances to the patients who need them. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. By Ruth Anderah. The Minister in-charge of Kampala Betty Kamya has been summoned by High Court Kampala to appear on April 24th 2018 and be cross-examined on allegations that she is interfering with the executive powers of the Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago. The summons have been issued and signed by Justice Hennrietta Wolayo upon a request by Lukwagos lawyer Chrysostom Katumba as the case had come up for hearing. Justice Wolayo has also ordered both Kamya and Lukwago to first exhaust avenues of settling their differences out of court by the help of a court appointed mediator but failure of which the case goes through a full trial on April 24th 2018. Lukwago took Kamya to court accusing her of illegally passing-off as the political head of the city whereas she was not the one elected by peoples mandate . Lukwago claims his mandate to serve as the duly elected mayor of the city has been usurped by Kamya who even took a decision on January 23rd 2018 to suspend council meetings where deliberations and decisions on how to govern the city are made. According to court documents, Kamya stalled the council meetings on grounds that they are illegal and no longer relevant to the city, a decision that Lukwago describes as irrational and unreasonable. In his petition, Lukwago seeks orders to quash Kamyas decision regarding the legality of Council meetings and other decisions such as subjecting all his out of the country travels as the Lord Mayor to a ministerial permit. Lukwago claims such decisions are an infringement and abuse of his rights and freedoms. By Benjamin Jumbe. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has criticized African leaders for the influx of mainly African refugees to Europe and North America. Kadaga was speaking at the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva under the theme Strengthening the Global Regions for migrants and refugees; the need for evidence based policy solutions. She said African refugees make dangerous crossings through the Mediterranean, fleeing harsh economic conditions and conflicts in their countries. The Speaker also took a swipe at the international community, whose intervention in African conflicts, she said, have resulted into worsening of the crises. East African Legislative Assembly Speaker, Martin Ngoga said Parliaments should address income inequality, which he said is the main cause of the problem. In the recent past, up to 13 million Africans have endured the deadly journey through the Mediterranean and other dangerous routes to Europe, with many living under constant threat of arrest and deportation. By Ritah Kemigisa. Police in Katwe have arrested a man in relation to the kidnap and murder of a woman in Massaja, a Kampala suburb. The body of the late 33 year old Charity Kyohairwe was discovered at Nalukolongo on Saturday after it was reportedly dumped their by unknown criminals who kidnapped her on Thursday. Now addressing journalists today at CPS, the police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said the man arrested is the father of the deceased children but he declined to give details saying it would jeopardize investigations. He says police in Katwe has teamed up with other specialized units to hunt for the criminals and bring them to book. Kyohirwes kidnap and murder comes shortly after the death of Susan Magara who was killed in the same manner. The longest permanent continuous bar in the world is in the Beer Barrel Saloon at Put-In-Bay, South Bass Island, Ohio USA. It is 123.7 metres long and has 160 bar stools. WEATHER It looks like being a mostly cloudy day with some sunny spells possible later. It should remain dry, but humid with temperatures of up to 18deg in moderate to light westerly breezes. On this day in 2000, Irish boy band Westlife made pop history by becoming the first act to have six consecutive number one singles in the British pop charts. Light + Building is the worlds leading event for the sector and impressive demonstration of this was given yet again by the latest edition of the fair in Frankfurt am Main from 18 to 23 March 2018. A total of 2,714 exhibitors (2016: 2,626*) from 55 countries launched their latest products onto the world market. Altogether, more than 220,000 trade visitors (2016: 216,610*) from 177 countries made their way to Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre to discover the latest products, solutions and trends offered in the fields of lighting, electrical engineering and home and building automation. Over the last six days, Light + Building presented a plethora of innovations. Everyone involved exhibitors, partners and visitors were delighted with the fair and this positive mood was prevalent in all halls. The upswing in the sector continues, said Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Messe Frankfurt, summarising the fair. The level of internationality rose again in comparison with the previous edition of the fair: 70 percent (2016: 67 percent) of exhibitors and 52 percent (2016: 49 percent) of visitors came from abroad. The biggest visitor nations after Germany include China, Italy, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Belgium. Large increases in visitor numbers were registered from countries such as the Russian Federation, India, Finland, Korea and Ukraine. There was also a significant increase in the number of attendees from Kazakhstan, Angola and Namibia. All participants gave the fair top marks for quality. Thus, at over 80 percent, the overall level of satisfaction remains very high. 90 percent of exhibitors said they considered the economic outlook to be good. In the case of German exhibitors, no less than 94 percent said they think the outlook is bright. The overall level of satisfaction on the visitor side is event higher and once again reached 97 percent. A highly successful Intersec Forum 2018 brings together 650 experts from the security and building-services technology sectors The participants of the 3rd Intersec Forum in Frankfurt am Main were in the right place at the right time to tackle future-oriented topics. The Conference for Networked Security Technology ended today (23 March) after welcoming 650 participants and generating a great echo from the industry and the building-services and security technology sectors. Virtually all participants (94 %) were satisfied with the event and three quarters of them said they intend to visit the 4th Intersec Forum in March 2019. The 650 conference participants came from Germany and other European countries. Last years two-day Intersec Forum attracted 180 specialists to Frankfurt. The final report from the fair, further conference information and images can be found at www.intersec-forum.com/final-report-2018. Around 240,000 visitors thrilled by Luminale in Frankfurt and Offenbach Held concurrently with Light + Building, this years Luminale, Biennale for Lighting Art and Urban Design, was characterised by a new concept with 149 projects, light installations, performances and discussions in five categories ART, COMMUNITY, STUDY, SOLUTIONS and BETTER CITY on the programme. Around 240,000 visitors came to the venues in Frankfurt and Offenbach. Particularly popular was the Light Walk in Frankfurt city centre. The ninth edition of the festival was coupled with a debate on urban challenges in the 21st century. Summaries from the sector: Michael Ziesemer, President of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. ZVEI): The role to be played by intelligently connected devices and systems in residential and functional buildings and how they contribute to greater safety, security, convenience and energy efficiency was to be seen clearly at this years Light + Building. Digitalisation was the all-embracing subject, together with the resulting potential for new services and business models. Light + Building 2018 came up to the high expectations of the ZVEI exhibitors. Lothar Hellmann, President of the German Central Association of Electrical and Information Technology Contractors (Zentral-verband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke ZVEH): Light + Building not only fulfilled our high expectations. It exceeded them. Nowhere else are more innovations and impulses for our sector to be found in this quality and density. Moreover, this years motto, connected secure convenient, fitted perfectly with the most important markets for the electrical-engineering trade. And, with our special show, Smart Living in the E-House, we offered an ideal example of what is possible today in terms of building connectivity, systems integration and energy management for more safety, security, convenience and energy efficiency. The next Light + Building will be held in Frankfurt am Main from 8 to 13 March 2020. www.light-building.com There were 12 entries for an exact search for "McKnew" in California on Ancestry.com, and all of them were indexed the same way by FamilySearch. However, there were 23 total entries on FamilySearch. Here is Table 2that lists the six family units that were indexed as "McKnew" on FamilySearch but not on Ancestry: The discussion on each of these is: 1) George McKnew (ED 15-43C, page 64A) was indexed on Ancestry as "Mc Knew." The complete surname is McKnew...it appears that Ancestry.com indexed this with a space between Mc and Knew. FamilySearch has the better index entry IMHO. 2) Alice M. McKnew (ED 60-1050, page 2A) was indexed on Ancestry as "Mc Knen." The "w" looks like a "w" to me - there is an 'n' three letters over. FamilySearch has the better index entry. 3) Alfred H., Gertrude, C. Rodney, Mari Jane and Richard A.McKnew (ED 38-498, page 6A) were indexed as "Mc Knew" on Ancestry. Again, there is a space between the c and K. FamilySearch has the better index entry, IMHO. 4) Alfred and Alice McKnew (ED 38-557A, page 61B) were indexed as"Mc Knew" on Ancestry. Similar to the last one, FamilySearch has the better index entry. 5) Anna McKnew (ED 38-579, page 62A) was indexed as "Mc Knew" on Ancestry. Another one where Mc and Knew were separated. FamilySearch has the better index entry. 6) Harry G. McKnew (ED 42-1, page 9B) was indexed as"Mc Iven" on Ancestry. Besides putting the space between Mc and Knew, the Ancestry indexer read "Knew" as "Iven." There is an I in the first name of the person above that should have been a clue,and the 'n' at the end was in the surname above. FamilySearch has the better index entry. 7) In addition, the birthplace entry for Frank McKnew (ED 60-1070, page 9A, #1 on the Ancestry list) was indexed as "Washington" while FamilySearch indexed it as "DC." Clearly, the FamilySearch index entry is more accurate. To summarize, there are 12 differences found between the Ancestry.com index entries and the FamilySearch.org index entries for the McKnew surname in California. My scorecard for the differences and the one indexing error is Ancestry = 0, FamilySearch = 12. Ancestry apparently indexed 12 entries for this name in California with "McKnew" and another 9 as "Mc Knew." They also indexed two entries that spelled "Knew" wrong. My guess is that Ancestry.com did not have rigorous standards about names with a prefix like "McKnew." I think that FamilySearch instructed indexers and arbitrators to not put a space between the prefix and the name, and a search for "mcknew"and"mc knew" provide the same matches (also for McNally, Fitz Randolph, O'Connell, etc.). I think that I've done enough of these comparisons so that I can draw some conclusions, which I will do early next week. The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/07/1940-us-census-index-comparisons-post-5.html Google halts Duo V30 update due to a call bug News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Google has stopped rolling out the version 30 update due to some call bug which is impacting the performance of the app is causing low call volume issue. Google has recently been rolling out a number of updates for its devices and however, not all releases are perfect. One such example is the update of Google Duo V30 for which the company has paused the V30 update. As per some sources on the internet, Google has stopped rolling out the version 30 update due to some call bug which is impacting the performance of the app and is causing low call volume issue. Some reports from Beebom suggests that the lead engineer for Google Duo Justin Uberti took it to Twitter to reveal that the bug is creating a low call volume issue which is hampering the performance of the app and is the main reason due to which the company has stopped the roll out the update altogether. The report further mentioned Justin Uberti's comment on the issue which stated that "Some Android users have reported low volume levels on calls with Google Duo v300.We have paused the rollout of v30 for now and are in the process of rolling out affected Android users back to v29.2. If you hit this issue, you can resolve by updating to the latest v29.2 version, he further added. Google Map Features - GIZBOT So for all our readers, if you are experiencing any issue with you Google Duo app we would request you to please check the version of your app and if it has been already updated to v30 then you can easily go back to the older version and resolve the issue as of now. We will keep you updated with further updates from Google. Till then stay tuned with us to get all the latest updates related to Google. Also, in one of our recent article related to Google, we covered that Google has made an announcement that the first Google Pay Integration for Google Assistant will allow money transactions. Google users in the US will now be able to send or receive money using the Google Assistant. You can read the complete article here. 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 When sound waves do the twist backwards! Scientists based in the UK and the US have demonstrated for the first time how twisted sound waves from a rotating source can produce negative frequencies, analogous to turning back time. A team of researchers from the Universities of Glasgow, Exeter and Illinois Wesleyan report in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science how they have built a system capable of reversing the angular momentum of a sound wave without the need for supersonic velocities. The Doppler effect is a familiar phenomenon to anyone who has observed an ambulance pass by while sounding its siren. As the ambulance approaches the observer, the sound waves pile up, raising the frequency of the waves and thus causing the sound of the siren to rise in pitch, a process known to scientists as a blueshift. Once the ambulance passes, the sound waves stretch out, lowering their frequency and dropping the pitch a redshift. Professor Miles Padgett, the University of Glasgows Kelvin Chair of Natural Philosophy, said: Weve known for a while now that strange things occur when the hypothetical observer chases after the sound emitted from an ambulance siren at supersonic speeds and creates what we might be called a negative frequency. At those velocities, the observer would hear the sound of the siren backwards instead of the familiar repetitive rise and fall, because the observer is now moving faster than the sound they are hearing the most recent sound it makes will reach the observer ahead of those it made in the past, the opposite of how sound travels at subsonic speeds. Whether supersonic or subsonic, what the hypothetical ambulance-watcher is observing is more properly known as the linear Doppler effect, where the sound waves are travelling in a straight line as motion occurs between object and observer. In 1981, a chemist named Bruce Garetz first demonstrated the rotational Doppler effect, where frequency shifts occur when electromagnetic waves (in this case light waves) move in a circle around a single fixed point. Unlike linear Doppler shifts, rotational Doppler shifts have not been shown to generate negative frequencies, since there is no motion between the object and observer. In previous research, Glasgow researchers have explored how the rotational Doppler shift is affected when lights electric and magnetic fields are given a corkscrew-style twist a property known as the orbital angular momentum, or OAM. Their work showed that the OAM of laser light is Doppler-shifted when it hits a rotating reflective surface, and carries information about the surfaces rate of rotation. In their new research, they chose to explore how the OAM of sound waves is affected by rotation. To do so, they arranged 16 loudspeakers into a circle, facing two microphones mounted on a rotating ring. By arranging the microphones very slightly offset from each other, they could measure the magnitude and directional OAM of acoustic waves from the loudspeakers as the rotating ring span. Dr Graham Gibson of the University of Glasgows School of Physics and Astronomy, a primary author of the paper, added: We found that we could indeed generate negative rotational Doppler-shifted acoustic waves which reversed the waves OAM, which is something that has not been demonstrated before essentially, we could reverse the twist of the acoustic waves. Moreover, we could generate those negative frequencies while our microphone ring span at very low, sub-sonic speeds, with a rotation rate of around 25Hz, something that is impossible in linear Doppler shifts. Dr Dave Phillips, of the University of Exeter, added: Its a very interesting finding, with potential applications in a range of scientific disciplines including quantum field theory. Were keen to continue exploring the implications of the findings in the future. The teams paper, titled Reversal of Orbital Angular Momentum arising from an Extreme Doppler Shift, is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The research was supported by funding from the European Research Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Sensing and Measurement. Oops! There was a problem! Sorry, but we can't find what you were looking for right now. The content may have been removed, or is temporarily unavailable. GreatAndhra.com powered by India Brains Infotech, LLC, its owners, associates and employees are not responsible for any errors, omissions or representations on any of our pages or on any links on any of our pages. We do not endorse in anyway any advertisers on our web pages, links to personal pages, official pages, or commercial pages. We have no control of the content of external information. 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The BET vote came after a close to eight-hour meeting with debate on more than 50 motions on specific budget lines and fiscal policy for the town. The budget is the first done under new BET leadership as Democrats won control of the board last November in the municipal election. That gives new BET Chairman Jill Oberlander a critical tie-breaking vote, one she used repeatedly during the meeting to break deadlocks. The budget is the first done under new BET leadership as Democrats won control of the board last November in the municipal election. That gives new BET Chairman Jill Oberlander a critical tie-breaking vote, one she used repeatedly during the meeting to break deadlocks. Oberlander, however, chose not to use her tiebreaking vote at the end of a lengthy discussion about changing the budgets bonding resolution to allow the town to have the option of 20-year maturity for bonds. BET Democrats argued it would allow for more flexibility but BET Republicans fought forcefully against it, citing the change in policy as well as the lateness of the hour at which it was discussed. Oberlander said she favored the additional flexibility, but did not want to break the tie on such a sharply divided issue without further discussion at a later date. Ultimately the budget, without the change in the bonding resolution, passed unanimously a little bit after midnight. A good portion of the discussion was centered around the $160.3 million school budget request. BET Republicans led by Michael Mason called for a $166,699 reduction to the request to bring it in line with BET guidelines. The motion failed along party lines after a lengthy and at times contentious discussion about staffing in the public schools. We all know this is not going to impact the school operations one bit, Mason said as he and his fellow Republicans argued that spending and staff headcount in the school district continues to grow and taxpayers should be concerned about it. BET member Beth Krumeich, a Democrat, said she hoped the discussion would continue with Superintendent of Schools Jill Gildea, who is in her first year in Greenwich. I feel we should work with the Board of Education, particularly given we have a new superintendent who has an extraordinary opportunity to take all that shes learned since shes stepped foot into this position to begin to review the programs and the headcount, Krumeich said. That really is the purview of the Board of Education and I dont think we as a finance board should be stepping in and reducing headcount. A motion to undo a planned consolidation in the land use departments by First Selectman Peter Tesei also failed. BET member Jeff Ramer, a Democrat, attempted to restore funding for both a conservation director and director of inland wetlands and watercourses, blocking a change called for by Tesei to consolidate the two director-level positions and have both departments report to a newly created director of environmental services. However, Ramers motion failed by a bipartisan vote. BET member Karen Fassuliotis, a Republican, said it was a no brainer to consolidate the two director positions. This is not a case where we are doing away with either agency, Fassuliotis said. It is a case where this consolidation will allow for more coordination between the two agencies by having the oversight of one director. An allocation of $30,000 was approved to continue funding the Think Greenwich marketing program, but with two conditions attached to the moneys release. The BET by a 7-to-6 margin with Oberlander passing the tie-breaking vote, approved a motion by Ramer that stipulates the money can only be spent once Tesei comes to the BET with a full economic plan for the town with appropriate staffing. The motion is part of an ongoing debate about whether the town has a suitable economic development plan. The issue has been a point of argument between Tesei, a Republican, and Democratic Selectman Sandy Litvack. I dont think the BET should be part of a debate thats been going on in the selectmens office about an economic development plan for the town, Mason said. When and if they decide they want one, then we can decide if we want to finance it or not. Fassuliotis said the motion was an example of the BET micromanaging. The BET also unanimously approved a condition under which the $30,000 can only be released once it is shown that the $70,000 promised in private money for the ongoing campaign has been raised. A similar motion was passed last year in the first year of the campaign and the condition was met. An addition to the budget was made when the BET approved, by a vote of six to five with one abstention, an increase of $45,000 to the towns Department of Human Services budget. The money is conditional; it is only meant to be used in the case of a loss of state or other funding for services for residents in need. On April 1 we will have families in our town that will have to decide between rent, food, medicine and heat and we have to be ever mindful of that, BET member Tony Turner said. The intention is in the event that clients of the Department of Human Services become shut off or we have an emergency of some kind and the need can be demonstrated we will have those funds. The BET would have to review and approve any Department of Human Services request for the money. Conditions were also placed on several capital projects including renovations to the Byram Fire House and a $4.9 million bridge replacement and roundabout work on Sound Beach Avenue by the Perrot Memorial Library. The bridge project has met with some vocal opposition but the BET unanimously approved it with the condition that there had to be a commitment from the state that the money would continue to be reimbursed, as had previously been pledged by the Department of Transportation. The BET also approved funding for a $300,000 study that will look at the feasibility of a playing field at one of the towns middle school. Central Middle School has been chosen as the likely site of the field by the Board of Education but nothing has been finalized. Public opposition from neighbors of CMS has been strong but the BET approved the study. Board of Education Chairman Peter Bernstein urged the BET to approve the money, saying it was "only a start" for the project and that things would be carefully evaluated with the chance for future public input. "If continue to delay this, we will have more issues," Bernstein said and the BET agreed, defeating a motion to remove the money with bipartisan support for the study. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. HMD Global delivered another shot of nostalgia at the MWC by bringing back the beloved Sirocco brand. Introduced with Snapdragon 835, the Nokia 8 Sirocco was set to arrive in Europe at the beginning of April for 749. Chinese users are a bit luckier though, as the phone is already up for grabs there. The Nokia 8 Sirocco is offered by the Chinese online retailer JD.com at the sweet price of CNY4,699 or around $750 (600). The phone arrives with Android Oreo out of the box, but lacks Google services as is the case with most phones in China. The latest addition to the Nokia portfolio comes with dual cameras on the back - both cams are 12 MP but one sensor has an f/1.75 lens in front, while the other sits behind f/2.6 aperture. It takes great photos, as we established in our hands-on. Video recording can go up to 4K with 360-degree Nokia OZO audio that brings a better immersive sound. Nokia 8 Sirocco and its dual camera The phone is also the only Nokia by HMD with an OLED panel. If you are wondering how the Sirocco version of the Nokia 8 performs in benchmarks, check out the tests we did once we got the phone from the MWC booth back in February. Thanks, Akilesh, for sending this in! Source (in Chinese) Published on 2018/03/26 | Source 100% Min-woo is being sent off by his closest family and friends. Advertisement The send-off will be conducted in private according to the family's wishes with the members of 100%, agency staff and close relatives and friends. Min-woo was a part of the boy group '100%' which was active in Korea and Japan recently. Chang-bum, a former member, sent his condolences to Min-woo and wished for his elder brother to rest in peace in heaven. Commemorations have been going up on SBS as well. Min-woo's Instagram was an active account that communicated with fans until the 24th. Min-woo's fans are writing messages like "Rest In Peace", "Be happy where you are" and "We love you". Meanwhile, Min-woo was born in 1985 in Daegu and he was an 'ulzzang' with a fan cafe of over 20,000 fans. He starred in the 2006 youth drama "Sharp 3" and debuted as 100% in 2012. With a few more weeks to go until the Japanese concert, he was found in cardiac arrest at his house in KangNam, Seoul on the 25th. Paramedics arrived quickly, but he was pronounced dead. Published on 2018/03/27 | Source Added final episodes 15 and 16 captures for the Korean drama "Misty" (2018) Advertisement Directed by Mo Wan-il Written by Je In Network : jTBC With Kim Nam-joo, Ji Jin-hee, Jeon Hye-jin-II, Im Tae-kyung, Ko Jun, Jin Ki-joo,... 16 episodes - Fri, Sat 23:00 Synopsis An anchorwoman is suspected of murder and her husband, a prosecutor-turned-public defender, decides to defend her. Through the process of fighting the murder charge, the couple grows closer again. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2018/02/02 More WASHINGTON (AP) Student survivors of the Florida school massacre anchored a massive rally against gun violence Saturday in Washington, D.C., while throngs of young people took to the streets in sister marches across the U.S. Some students also participated in counter protests in places like Helena, Montana, and Salt Lake City. Heres a look at what some of the demonstrators had to say: TALIA RUMSKY, 16 SCHOOL: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida MARCHED IN: Washington, D.C. WHY? Because we keep chanting, Never again, Enough is enough, Never again. But its already happened again. It happened in Maryland. There was a shooting in Napa (California). So Im really here to make sure we can make our voices heard; so people are empowered to make sure we vote in legislators so this doesnt happen again; so we can avenge those who were stolen from us because someone thought it was OK to own weapons of mass destruction. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? I definitely want people to vote in new legislators that will help us pass bills that will include banning high-capacity magazines, banning certain semi- and automatic assault rifles and not just focusing on school safety but focusing in on gun violence as a whole. GRACE BENDER, 17 SCHOOL: Capital High School in Helena, Montana MARCHED IN: Helena, Montana WHY? My family are all gun owners, and Ive been around guns my whole life. And I think that its absolutely necessary for people who own guns who are responsible gun owners to also be advocating for this because I dont think there are two sides. I think that if you want to find solutions, you can do that really easily. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? I dont want to wake up to another headline that says 20 kids died in a school shooting. I dont want people like the Parkland shooter to be able to get access to guns like he did. I just want to feel safe in schools. I dont want to have to keep doing shooter drills. ADRIAN MAYAN, 13 SCHOOL: Sacred Heart Academy in Redlands, California MARCHED IN: Los Angeles WHY? Im here to represent the people who died in the several shootings that happened recently, and Im here to represent those who cant be here and to make changes in the government. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? I hope many government officials are able to open their eyes to change gun laws in this country. ZOE BONNER, 16 SCHOOL: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida MARCHED IN: Washington, D.C. WHY? Im here today because it happened to our school, and it shouldnt have happened. It shouldnt have happened anywhere, and we feel like its time to make change and get gun reform. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Banning military-style weapons, and more protections for our schools. BRAXTON SHEWALTER, 17 SCHOOL: Columbia Falls High School in Columbia Falls, Montana RALLIED IN: Helena, Montana, in favor of the Second Amendment WHY? We are here for the millions of responsible gun owners in the United States and around the world. ... Ive been an NRA member since I was little. ... Thats just kind of our way of life down here, to own a gun. Almost everyone has one. Our voices deserve to be heard, too. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Anyone can have their own opinion. I believe that everybody has their own right to go out for what they believe in. But all were trying to do is advocate and show there are, you know, responsible gun owners in the United States. Theres 320 million people in the United States. One mass shooting happens, and they think that everyone in the U.S. in some way has to be held accountable for it. KALLI HONEYCUTT, 16 SCHOOL: Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado MARCHED IN: Denver WHY? I wanted to be part of the movement thats provoking a change. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? I want to make it harder for tragedies that are happening at schools to be able to happen. ... They (lawmakers) need to take a look at making it harder to get guns and maybe take a look at Australia because they definitely have something going for them. So make sure assault weapons arent available to the public. HAVE YOU BEEN AT SCHOOL WHEN THERE WAS A SHOOTING OR OTHER TYPE OF GUN THREAT? Honeycutt said her mother survived the 1999 Columbine shooting. Her experience, its been drilled into my head to be on the lookout, be mindful of your surroundings and just to, if I hear a loud noise make sure its a door shutting and not a gunshot or a bomb going off. ... Its taking the trauma from her and definitely trying to keep myself safe. MAYA MCENTYRE, 15 SCHOOL: Northville High School in Northville, Michigan MARCHED IN: Detroit WHY? Im really tired of being afraid at school. When I come to school, I dont want to have to look for the nearest exit. HAVE YOU BEEN AT SCHOOL WHEN THERE WAS A SHOOTING OR OTHER TYPE OF GUN THREAT? My school hasnt had any threats that I know of. ... I dont want to have a problem like that. I want to get to the problem before it gets to me. BEN STEWART, 17 SCHOOL: Shiloh Hills Christian School in Kennesaw, Georgia MARCHED IN: Atlanta WHY? People have been dying since 1999 in Columbine, and nothing has changed. People are still dying. Columbine isnt even on the top 10 list of mass shootings in America. Something needs to change. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Id like to see commonsense gun laws introduced. It would be preferable if there was a semi-automatic rifle ban. ... If you look at ... school shootings, the majority of them are with legally purchased weapons. So yeah, criminals will get weapons, but you could still do something. Its better than doing nothing. CECILIA MCCOY, 17 SCHOOL: Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky MARCHED IN: Washington, D.C. WHY? Im here for the students, for gun control honestly just for everyone. This is not just for students. Everywhere you go, there is a threat of guns. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Stricter gun laws and to get rid of assault rifles. CHARLIE SHEBES, 16 SCHOOL: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida MARCHED IN: Washington, D.C. WHY? Im here because previous generations couldnt do what were doing right now. And we want to make this time the last time. So if that means marching all over the world, then I want to be a part of it. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? I dont want to hear that kids dont feel safe at schools. ... I want to see change in gun laws, and I want to see control. Were giving it to people who, its just not safe. Theres no other way to put it, really. WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE DURING THE FEB. 14 SHOOTING AT YOUR SCHOOL? The shots just kept coming and coming. And I thought it was still a drill because they said we were going to have a drill, and then everyone started screaming along with the shots. And I was locked in the classroom on top of a printer for a good hour and a half. (When we were able to leave), I saw bodies everywhere, and there were just splatters on the wall. They actually told us to put our heads down and hands on the peoples shoulders in front of us, and it was very hard not to look around at the bullet holes in the wall. The only way to get out of the building was to step in blood and over bodies. BROOKE SOLOMON, 15 SCHOOL: Cass Technical High School in Detroit MARCHED IN: Detroit WHY? Im here today marching for the thousands of under-represented black and brown kids, especially in Detroit. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Im looking for tougher gun laws and legislation that includes banning semi-automatic and assault weapons, that includes background checks for all gun sales, and gun restraining orders. LEVI RODAS, 16 SCHOOL: Orem High School in Orem, Utah RALLIED IN: Salt Lake City, in favor of gun rights WHY? I am all for the Second Amendment. I am highly against gun control. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Potentially arming teachers. I dont know if that will actually happen or not, but its definitely a possibility. I think this will open the eyes of the people that not everybody wants people to be disarmed and that some people still defend the rights guaranteed in the Second Amendment. HAVE YOU BEEN AT SCHOOL WHEN THERE WAS A SHOOTING OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF GUN THREAT? Ive never been in any sort of school shooting, but Im very aware of the problem. I understand that measures need to be taken, but gun control is not the right measure. I believe we need to have better security at schools, but I dont think that disarming people is the right way to solve that problem. KAYLA RENERT, 15 SCHOOL: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida MARCHING IN: Washington, D.C. WHY? Im here because I look at the younger kids and I look at the future generations, and I just never want them to have to go through what we went through and to experience what we saw and what we heard. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AS A RESULT? Better gun laws and legislators voted into office that will actually do something about it and not just tell us, What you guys are doing is not going to do anything. It doesnt matter to me. Im not going for (re-election). We want people that actually care. WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE DURING THE FEB. 14 SHOOTING AT YOUR SCHOOL? I remember getting a phone call from one of my best friends. She was in a closet. ... And I just remember her crying hysterically to me, and at that moment, I was heartbroken. I got a picture of one of my good friends. She was shot in the leg. Just seeing it, I couldnt believe what I was seeing. It didnt feel real. Associated Press writers Andrew Harnik and Alex Brandon in Washington; Krysta Fauria in Los Angeles; Ben Nadler in Atlanta; Matt Volz in Helena, Montana; Ed White in Detroit; Rick Bowmer in Salt Lake City; and Colleen Slevin in Denver contributed to this report. The industrial umpire has recommended that employers be required to confer with employees to try to reach agreement on flexible work and provide an extensive explanation of reasons for a decision to refuse it. The Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the decision was the right call. "If the ACTUs claims had been accepted, all awards would have been varied to give employees the right to dictate to their employer what hours and days they work, with the employer having no right to refuse regardless of the circumstances," said Innes. The Commission has drafted a model clause aimed at facilitating discussion between employers and employees about flexible work arrangements rather than imposing outcomes upon employers, and has called for submissions on the model clause." Moreover, the FWC has announced that millions of Australian workers will be able to access five days' unpaid domestic violence leave a year, however it refused the ACTU's push for 10 days' paid leave. Vientiane Millions of children in the poorest countries could soon be protected against typhoid fever following the Gavi Boards approval today of a support window for typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs). Typhoid fever imposes a dramatic burden on children in the poorest nations affecting countries, communities and families, said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Gavi Board Chair. This disease has long been eliminated from most industrialised nations, but it is still a serious threat in developing countries where the vast majority of deaths occur, she said. I lost my cousin and nearly lost my son because of typhoid. This vaccine will be a lifesaver for millions of children, especially those living without access to clean water or sanitation. A serious enteric fever caused by ingesting contaminated food or water, typhoid fever killed more than 128,000 people in 2016 and affected nearly 12 million, according to the latest estimates. Improved living conditions and the use of appropriate antibiotics have resulted in the virtual elimination of the disease in industrialised nations and a dramatic global reduction in the proportion of deaths. However, this progress is now in danger of being undermined because of the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drug-resistant typhoid is spreading across Asia and Africa, posing a serious threat to public health. This vaccine is safe, effective and can provide lasting protection, said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The growing spread of drug resistant strains of typhoid is a major threat, not just to individuals but also to our efforts to control the disease, and requires us to prioritise prevention strategies. Strong coverage through routine immunisation together with efforts to improve access to clean water and hygiene will play a key role in dramatically reducing the disease. A new typhoid conjugate vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech International Limited and first licensed in India in 2013, is currently under review for prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO). This follows the recent recommendation by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) that typhoid conjugate vaccines should be introduced in endemic countries to all children over six months of age. Vaccines from five additional manufacturers are also under development and are expected to be available between 2018 and 2022. Gavi expects the first countries to apply in 2018 with introductions forecasted to begin the year after. The Gavi Board also noted that the use of this new vaccine will enable further studies on the impact of the disease, challenges with diagnosis and appropriate immunisation strategies. Typhoid conjugate vaccines were first seen as a priority by the Gavi Board in the 2008 Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS) although no financial commitment was made at that time in the absence of a suitable vaccine. The Vaccine Investment Strategy is Gavis evidence-based process for assessing the suitability of new vaccines to further support countries. Developed every five years, the next VIS will be completed at the end of 2018. Today, the Gavi Board approved the evaluation criteria that will be used for assessing potential new investments in vaccines and other immunisation products for endemic disease prevention. ENGAGEMENT WITH TRANSITIONING COUNTRIES AND POST-TRANSITION Between 2016 and 2020, at least 20 Gavi-supported countries are expected to transition out of Gavis financial support. Most of these countries are on-track to fully finance their immunisation programmes and sustain the progress they have made since 2000, when Gavi was created. However, the Gavi Board recognised that a small number of countries are facing more significant challenges. Sustainability is at the heart of the Gavi model, said Dr Berkley. Our transition approach is an unprecedented attempt to systematically support countries with growing economies to take full ownership of their immunisation programmes. The Alliance will work closely with governments to ensure that they remain on track, so that children are not left unprotected against deadly diseases. The Gavi Board agreed to allow countries to apply for new vaccine support at any point during their transition. It decided that the Alliance should continue to engage with countries after they transition to track progress and continue to advocate for immunisation. The Board also made available US$30 million through 2020 for the Alliance to provide targeted technical support to address specific challenges in countries after transition. I want to strongly commend the spirit of this Board meeting, said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. All partners have come together to take this important step towards Gavis vision and support countries to develop sustainable health systems and economies, thanks to immunisation. The Gavi Board also approved a tailored transition plan for Papua New-Guinea, which is due to transition in 2021, and approved a set of principles to guide the Alliance in developing a tailored transition plan for Nigeria. At the Boards request, Gavi will also assess whether tailored post-transition support is needed in Angola, the Congo Republic, and Timor-Leste. The Board emphasised that governments will need to demonstrate clear commitment to ensure the sustainability and full domestic financing of immunisation programmes. Finally, as part of Gavis flexible approach with countries facing fragility or emergencies, the Gavi Board decided that South Sudan will continue to receive Gavi support despite not fulfilling its co-financing obligations in 2016. Growing evidence supports greater health benefits for people who live in green neighborhoods those with more tree canopy and street level vegetation specifically on the block where they live. A new study from researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the School of Architecture adds to this emerging recognition finding a 28 percent lower risk for depression and 18 percent decreased risk for Alzheimers disease compared with residents of blocks low in greenness. Interestingly, the association was even more pronounced in low-income areas. An increase from one standard deviation below to one standard deviation above the mean greenness level was associated with 37 percent lower odds of depression. In contrast, the risk decreased by 27 percent in medium-income neighborhoods and by 21 percent in high-income neighborhoods. The difference between low- and high-income neighborhoods was statistically significant for depression and trended toward significance for Alzheimers disease risk. The findings were published online March 1 in the International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health. One of the thoughts is in a lower-income neighborhood, you may have fewer resources to escape the impacts of your immediate neighborhood or block-level environment, said lead study author Scott Brown, Ph.D., research assistant professor of public health sciences and architecture, and project director of the UM Built Environment, Behavior, and Health Research Team. People might be less likely on average to own a car compared to people in higher income neighborhoods. And they may be less likely to have a gym membership or go to a park in a different part of the city to maintain their levels of physical activity and social interaction. Even though some initial research suggested improvements in cognitive function associated with more neighborhood vegetation, to our knowledge no one has looked at block-level greenness in relation to either of these two mental health outcomes, Brown said. Investigators focused on depression and Alzheimers disease because of their critical public health importance. The World Health Organization considers depression one of the chronic conditions most likely to lead to disability in the world, Brown said. Also, Alzheimers disease is currently in the No. 6 position for leading causes of death in the United States. Brown, along with Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D., professor of public health sciences, architecture, psychology, and educational and psychological studies; Joanna Lombard, M.Arch., professor of architecture and public health sciences; and their colleagues studied a population-based sample of 249,405 U.S. Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older living in Miami-Dade County in the same location in 2010 and 2011. Medicare provides zip-plus-4 residential location data for recipients, which allowed researchers to pair mental health outcomes with block-level census data and to determine greenness based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index using satellite imagery. The findings of the study could help physicians counsel at-risk patients with more specific recommendations based on where they live. Oftentimes in the doctor-patient encounter there is a recommendation to exercise more in addition to the other recommendations, Brown said. But it may be important to know about the environment where the person lives. Miami-Dade Parks offers programs at low cost or no cost for low-income populations, for example. So there may be ways the physician can help the patient discover where it is they can engage in physical activity. Maria Nardi, director of Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, participated as a co-author interpreting findings of the current research. The investigators adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity and neighborhood income levels in their overall findings linking block-level greenness to better mental health outcomes. The current findings also align with previous work from Browns team showing greater improvements in obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia among Medicare recipients living on blocks with greater greenness. The new findings also support studies from other researchers, including a similar study in Wisconsin. More research is needed to determine the extent to which these findings in South Florida can be generalized to areas with more seasonal variation in foliage, Brown said. More work also is needed to replicate the findings, particularly the decreased risk for Alzheimers disease, which is a novel, first-ever finding. Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Health Foundation of South Florida and the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade County supported the study. In addition, building on their current research, the UM researchers recently received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations Evidence for Action (E4A) program to assess the impacts of greening interventions, such as tree planting, on cardiovascular health in Miami-Dade County neighborhoods over the past seven years. This work could provide further evidence to support expanding Miami-Dades tree canopy, an initiative already under way through Miami-Dades Million Trees Miami program. Miller School of Medicine Comedian and radio presenter Bernard O'Shea has revealed the recent 'Beast from the East' almost forced him to go gluten-free. Comedy fans attending this summer's Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny can look forward to a hilarious collection of comics on show, including self-confessed "eejit" O'Shea. Speaking to the Herald this week about Cat Laughs, the comedian revealed that he did go gluten-free during the recent snow storms. Not that the host of 2FM's Breakfast Republic show has jumped on the "trendy" lactose-intolerant, gluten-free bandwagon. Far from it. It's just that, unlike large swathes of the Irish population who hoarded enough sliced pan to last until next winter, it never occurred to him to stock up on bread before it was all sold out. "On the night before the storm, my wife told me to go to the shop to get the basics," he told the Herald. Expand Close Eric Lalor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eric Lalor Essentials However, instead of the four most popular items that were scooped up ahead of last month's "snowmageddon" - bread, milk, eggs and wine - he bought crackers, mouthwash, bleach and gorgonzola cheese. "The wife rang me and said, 'You f**king eejit! All we have is crackers and cheese. No one will eat. How can these be basics?'." While the snow swirled around his Castleknock home for two days, Bernard, wife Lorna and their two children, Olivia (3) and Tadgh (1), were forced to go without sandwiches or toast for two entire days. Expand Close Jason Manford / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jason Manford "We had no bread. But, guess what? We survived," he said. Bernard will be joining a star-studded list of comedians set to thrill fans this June bank holiday weekend at Cat Laughs. He will be among a number of Irish comedians performing at the 24th annual comedy fest, running from May 31 to June 3, alongside household names including Aisling Bea, Neil Delamere, Andrew Maxwell, Karl Spain, Eric Lalor and Alison Spittle. American stand-up Reginald D Hunter will also be performing, as will Jason Manford and Sara Pascoe. Tickets are available now from thecatlaughs.com and readers of the Herald will have the chance to win a "golden ticket" that will grant the winner access to all areas at the event for free. There will be other exclusive competitions featured in this newspaper over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out. However, it's just this kind of domestic cluelessness that Laois native O'Shea plans to mine in his stand-up comedy routine at the festival. "I'm not good with numbers or letters or anything that needs a form to fill in. Or any life skills really," he said. Lorna, his long-suffering wife of eight years, is a constant reminder of Bernard's daily battles with idiocy, he adds. "She calls me a f**king eejit at least twice or three times a day," he said. "I don't know how she copes." O'Shea cites the time he rang Lorna at work from the motor tax office because he not only forgot how old he was, but also his birthday. It never occurred to him to look at his driving licence. "I make a lot of problems for myself," he admits. "I can't do anything straightforward." Fair City star and funnyman Eric Lalor will also be taking the stage at the Cat Laughs festival. The actor explained to the Herald that it's hard for people to see his lighter side when he has a reputation as an "evil gobs***e". Although he has won the Irish stand-up comedian of the year gong for two consecutive years and has been a regular on the comedy circuit here and abroad for many years, to most, he's recognised as that "p***k off Fair City". Even his nefarious character on RTE's long-running soap, the slimy hotel owner Cathal Spillane, is now getting some funny lines thanks to the show's writers who are starting to milk his comedic talents to make him less of a hate figure. "Weirdly, people are starting to warm to him," the 44-year-old Ballymun native told the Herald. "I've been given some killer put-down lines lately." Detested In one episode, gay coffee shop worker Cristiano San Martin, played by actor Rodrigo Ternevoy, gives the universally detested Cathal a withering look. "I smirk and say 'there's no point in you giving me the hairy eyeball, I'm not on your bus'," he said. "We had to retake the scene a few times because the cast kept cracking up." And while he is described as having a "warm and energetic stage presence" Eric said it's still hard for some people to separate his Fair City character from his persona as a funnyman, even though he has been a comedian for more than a decade. Since he took up the Fair City role over two years ago he is often spotted on the street by viewers who not only refuse to believe that he's actually a nice guy, but funny to boot. "The typical reaction is 'Oh My God, there's that p***k from Fair City. How can he be funny?' They can't compute it with my happy-go-lucky stand-up character," he said. Some diehard Fair City fans have even started attending his comedy gigs to find out for themselves, while others will approach him but not admit to actually watching the soap. "I went to the loo at a Radiohead gig and a guy saw me in the mirror and said, 'I thought you were on the run?' "He was about to take a photo of me and then said 'I don't watch it myself, it's for my ma'," he said. "I said 'Well, if you don't watch it, how do you know I'm on the run?'," he said with a laugh. He is currently working on new material he will showcase at his gig at the Cat Laughs festival. Among his topics is the Irish obsession with the weather. Along with the "insatiable need for bread" that emerged during the recent 'Beast of the East' snow storm, he delves into the mystery of why people from normally warm and sunny climes like Australia and Brazil still come here willingly. "I still can't get my head around these climate missionaries. What the f**k is wrong with them?," he said. Other topics include Brexit, current affairs and personal anecdotes as a father of four children, as well as the cost of living in Ireland "which is actually quite funny if it doesn't make you cry", he added. He is also looking forward to meeting up with other Irish comedians, including Des Bishop, who encouraged him to get into the business and will be performing at the festival along with other favourites like Maeve Higgins and Deirdre O'Kane. "It's one of the festivals we all look forward to," he said. A Dublin man has told of how a bowel cancer screening saved his life as a campaign to get more people checked out kicks-off. Paddy O'Leary, from Palmerstown, was diagnosed with the illness in October 2015, but thanks to early detection he has been able to fight it off. "I'm one of the lucky ones - I was absolutely blessed," he said. "I've had surgery and intensive treatment and more than two-thirds of my colon was removed after doctors discovered 34 polyps. If I hadn't had the Bowel- Screen test done, I might not be here to tell my story today." Mr O'Leary's story comes amid increased campaigning from the Marie Keating Foundation to make people aware that early detection makes bowel cancer very treatable. The foundation said there is a 90pc chance of living for more than five years if the disease is detected at Stage One. Around 2,500 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed each year. However, only 40pc of those eligible actually take part in the screening programme. "Get it done - it's no big deal," said Mr O'Leary. "Only for Bowel-Screen I wouldn't be here, it's as simple as that." The foundation said the tests can even be carried out at home. Symptoms "Our message is simple: take part in BowelScreen once you receive your invitation - you may have no symptoms but the test can detect this invisible disease and it could save your life," said chief executive Liz Yeates. Prof David Gallagher, a consultant oncologist at St James's Hospital, said too many people are neglecting to get themselves checked. "Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in men and third most common in women in Ireland," he said. "Too many people are avoiding the BowelScreen test, the primary objective of which is to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer - currently at 11pc of all cancers - in addition to identifying and removing pre-cancerous adenomas in the lining of the bowel, thereby making bowel cancer preventable." Dara Florence was described by the judge as a key witness in the trial involving Paddy Jackson A judge has described a woman who walked into rugby star Paddy Jackson's bedroom while he was allegedly raping a 19-year-old student as a "key witness" in the trial. Judge Patricia Smyth has been giving her charge to the jury at Belfast Crown Court, setting out the different accounts of what allegedly happened in Mr Jackson's bedroom. Mr Jackson (26) and Stuart Olding (25) have denied raping the woman at a party on June 28, 2016. Mr Jackson also denies sexually assaulting her. Blane McIlroy (26) has pleaded not guilty to exposure and Rory Harrison (25) has denied he perverted the course of justice and withheld information. Truth Pointing out how the complainant's account differed from the versions given by the accused, Judge Smyth told the jury it was their decision to determine where the truth lies. Expand Close Paddy Jackson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Paddy Jackson She said the issue was one of consent, and she asked the jury to "bear in mind" explanations of the law in relation to it. Judge Smyth said it was the prosecution case that the young woman was vaginally raped and digitally penetrated by Mr Jackson and orally raped by Mr Olding. She said the woman's evidence was she was "frozen in fear" and it was only when Mr McIlroy walked into the room, naked and holding his penis, that she jumped up and ran out. She said it was the defence case that the woman made a false allegation of rape because she regretted getting involved in consensual group sex and feared she may have been filmed. The judge said the jury had to decide whether to believe anyone in the case who could not remember aspects of the night. "You are entitled to consider whether their lapses of memory are genuine or simply a convenient excuse to avoid having to explain their behaviour," she said. She said that just because the woman was drunk or flirting with Mr Jackson, it was "wrong to leap to conclusions" that she was "looking for, or was willing to have, sex". "A woman is entitled to say 'no' and decide what sexual activity she wants, how far she is prepared to go and what she does not want to do," she said. Judge Smyth slowly took the jury through Dara Florence's testimony, describing her as a "key witness". Ms Florence gave evidence that when she walked into the room she saw Mr Jackson penetrating the woman with his penis, and the woman had her head at Mr Olding's penis. She did not see any signs of distress. Judge Smyth also said Ms Florence gave evidence that she told a friend she had just seen a threesome. The judge went through inconsistencies in the alleged victim's evidence, saying the fact there were inconsistencies did not necessarily mean her evidence was not true. She told the jury a person's memory may be affected differently, and it was up to them to look at the complainant's evidence and decide if it was true. Judge Smyth told the jury its only task was to decide whether the prosecution had made them sure of the men's guilt. She is expected to finish her charge to the jury this morning. More than 40 families fear they will end up on the streets over a planning dispute between their building's developer and the local council. Some tenants who spoke on condition of anonymity said they are worried they will end up homeless despite only moving into the Larkfield House apartment complex on Coldcut Road, Clondalkin, on February 1. Arrears About half of the families face termination of their leases after they were issued with rent arrears notices by the landlord. This was after South Dublin County Council confirmed it suspended its Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) while An Bord Pleanala decided whether the developer, Cavvies, complied with planning permission when it converted the former Liffey Valley Fitness centre into apartments. Permission was granted by the council in September 2016 for 27 apartments. However, there are currently 40 occupied apartments and several others used as storage, despite the council rejecting planning permission to build 48 residential units last August. Cavvies appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala last August 3, and last week this was refused. Attempts to contact the landlord and property manager last night were unsuccessful. The tenants, including those continuing to receive HAP payments, fear they will be forced to leave if the building was constructed without the proper planning permission. Many said they are delighted with their apartments, which are spacious, even though windows are only on one side. Stephanie (32), a single mother-of-one, said she is facing the prospect of having nowhere to go after waiting for a council house for nine years. "I'll be homeless," she said last night. She and other tenants met with a local councillor yesterday to discuss the situation. However, the meeting was unsuccessful because no one representing the developer or landlord attended, she said. The only information the tenants are getting is through media reports, Stephanie added. Elizabeth (19), a single moth- er-of-two, said: "No one was told about any issues with planning permission before we moved in. "It's not fair on the people living here. I don't want to drag my kids through hostels or hotels. "I'm only out of care myself. I lived in care for eight years. I have nowhere else to go." Flower tributes left at the Dillon Bridge over the River Suir, Carrick-on-Suir The heartbroken mother of the Tipperary teen whose body was recovered from the River Suir has paid an emotional tribute to the search volunteers who helped locate Elisha Gault (14). Grainne Gault had used social media for eight days in a desperate bid to focus public attention on locating her missing daughter and bringing her home safe and well. Tragically, Elisha's body was recovered from the River Suir by the Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 117, at around 7pm on Sunday evening. Vanished The teen, who vanished on St Patrick's Day, was found some 8km downstream of Carrick-on-Suir, at a stretch of river known as Killowen and which divides Waterford and Kilkenny between Fiddown and Mooncoin. Grainne posted a special photo of Elisha on her Facebook page and entitled it: "My beautiful, funny, intelligent baby." Expand Close Elisha Gault / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elisha Gault She paid a moving "thank you" to the hundreds of people who had searched for Elisha since March 18. "Our baby girl has been recovered - thank you all for your efforts in bringing her home to us," she said. "We can now lay her to rest." In her social media post, Grainne said her entire family had been left heartbroken by how the search ended. Elisha's school, Comeragh College, was opened despite the Easter holidays so that shocked students and parents could receive support and counselling over the tragedy. Expand Close Elisha's mother Grainne Gault / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elisha's mother Grainne Gault Comeragh College principal Kevin Langton described Elisha's death as "a terrible tragedy". "We are deeply saddened. Our sympathy and thoughts are with Elisha's family and friends," he said. "Elisha was a third year student with us and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. "We have been in contact with her parents and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time. "Offers of support have been pouring in and are greatly appreciated. "Our school has implemented our critical incident management plan - psychologists from the National Education Psychological Service have been in contact with us today to support and advise teachers in their efforts to assist our students at this time. "Our teachers have been helping students to deal with the tragic event - the school has been open to students and parents to support them and to offer them advice and guidance." Elisha was positively identified at University Hospital Waterford shortly after her body was recovered from the River Suir. The Office of the State Pathologist was notified and a full post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted. Elisha's body will be released back to her family when the post-mortem is concluded. Funeral details were not expected to be confirmed before today. Gardai are currently liaising with Elisha's parents, Grainne and Cameron, and her extended family who have supported a massive search operation for her over the past eight days. The incident is being treated as a tragedy. Heartbroken The devastated Gault family is now being comforted by friends and neighbours. Elisha's discovery came just hours after her heartbroken family had pleaded with the public to contact gardai if they spotted anything unusual, no matter how trivial, as they marked one week since her disappearance. Elisha left her home at New Street in Carrick-on-Suir between 9pm and 10pm on St Patrick's Day. She was last spotted on Dillon Bridge, not far from her home, at around 10.10pm. Elisha was alone when last seen on CCTV camera footage. The teen had left home without a coat and without her mobile phone. Gardai have warned Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan they will strike over the refusal to allow officers the right to use work stoppages during industrial disputes. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), which represents more than 2,000 mid-ranking officers, warned it is considering industrial action over the Government's refusal to grant it the right to strike. The association's president, Sergeant Antoinette Cunningham, said the AGSI has put Mr Flanagan on formal notice in relation to the growing discontent. "We would look forward to having discussions with the Minister for Justice around the strike issue. As you know, there was a ruling four years ago that recommended that guards should have the right to strike," Sgt Cunningham said. Mr Flanagan said he is working on removing any need for gardai to take industrial action, which he said would "jeopardise the security of the State". Meanwhile, the minister warned the gangland criminals orchestrating the deadly Hutch/Kinahan feud from abroad that they cannot hide. Expand Close Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan War The ongoing war, which has claimed at least 15 lives, has seen murders both in Ireland and abroad, as well as an alleged murder attempt in Turkey last week. Senior criminals involved in the feud, including gang boss Daniel Kinahan and a number of the cartel's main associates, have fled abroad in recent months due to the intense garda pressure on them. Mr Flanagan issued a warning to the fleeing mobsters, saying that they will be brought to justice wherever they are. "My message to Irish criminals overseas is the same as my message to Irish criminals within the jurisdiction - there is no hiding place," he said. "I want to acknowledge the importance of our international relations, members of An Garda Siochana working with Interpol, working with our EU colleagues, with the importance of the European Arrest Warrant and I will ensure that every effort is made in terms of criminal activity overseas, that these people will be brought to justice in the same way and with the same speed as if they were within our own jurisdiction." He was speaking at the 40th annual AGSI conference in Carlow yesterday. Mr Flanagan also revealed that Operation Hybrid, a response to the feud, has led to more than 70 arrests and 37 firearms being seized. Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh says that RTE is a bit top-heavy with male hosts and hopes this will change by autumn Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh has called for RTE to put more women on screen by the time the station's autumn schedule rolls around. The presenter, who has worked for the national broadcaster since the 1990s, said she wants to see more female presenters on TV by the end of the year. "We're a bit top-heavy with our male hosts, so hopefully there's a nice gender balance in our autumn schedule," she said. Gunning "We have Ray D'Arcy, Ryan Tubridy, Brendan O'Connor and Tommy Tiernan now, that's four. "They used to say women love looking at male hosts on the television. I don't necessarily love it. I rate how good a presenter they are, but that's not true. I don't believe that's true." Speaking of fellow RTE star Miriam O'Callaghan, who announced she would be taking the summer off from her chat show, Saturday Night With Miriam, Blathnaid reckons there will be plenty gunning for the gig. "I'm not the only woman who would have her eye on that," she told the Herald. "Miriam taking the summer off, that's fair enough. How many has she done? What she does on Prime Time is a massive machine." However, Blathnaid isn't sure if chat shows are necessarily the best format for the type of work she would like to do. "There are many other platforms that are effective besides chat shows, because sometimes you're just skimming a subject," she said. Blathnaid recently presented a one-off documentary called Lig Liom, which examined her relationship with the Irish language and how isolating she finds it not being able to speak it as much as she would like. "I don't think anyone is going to understand that unless English is their second language," she said. "Irish people who speak English don't get that. "I find they sometimes have more empathy with people who speak German or French. "Irish speakers have to be fluent in both because we have no choice. "It's very lonely to not speak in your own language. "It's a very lonely place to be - you feel a huge disconnection with the rest of the Irish people." After announcing an agreement last week that ended a multi-million dollar parking lawsuit with Provo, Utah County approved a term sheet outlining conditions of the agreement at Tuesdays commission meeting. Provo and Utah County jointly announced the agreement at a press event last week, saying it was a win-win for everyone involved. I just wanted to make mention that this was an effort with Provo City that Im proud that we went through, Commissioner Bill Lee said Tuesday morning. And we came to a compromise position that allows for us to have parking in that area, and I think its an example of communication and cooperation. The same term sheet will come before the Provo Municipal Council Tuesday, though Provo spokesman Isaac Paxman said it is a preliminary approval and will still need to go through more steps before it becomes final. The original lawsuit, filed May 31 in Fourth District Court, alleged that Provo and the Provo Redevelopment Agency did not provide the necessary parking promised for the convention center in an interlocal agreement in 2009. The complaint, which will be dropped as a result of this agreement, said the lack of parking is causing damage to the reputation of the convention center, resulting in monetary losses. The overall agreement will solve several issues, benefiting each of the three entities involved: PEG Development will get a form of tax break for 15 years and have Provo property deeded to it, Utah County will have designated parking for the Utah Valley Convention Center and Provo nails down a large downtown development that also helps solve a parking shortage in the downtown area. Details of the Agreement The term sheet outlines that half a block of property behind the existing Fourth District Courthouse will be transferred from the Provo Redevelopment Agency to PEG Development, who will then develop the property in three phases. Upon the deeding over of that property to PEG, Utah County will drop both its lawsuit and promise not to condemn a piece of Provos property as it had previously indicated it may. As a result of that land exchange, PEG Development will then fulfill the citys and redevelopment agencys obligations to provide 350 designated parking places for the Utah Valley Convention Center. The agreement also outlines that PEG will fulfill the citys obligation for parking for the new Hyatt Place hotel, which is currently under construction, and the Mountainland Technical College, which will take over the existing Fourth District Courthouse building when court operations move to the currently-under-construction court building. The Hyatt Place hotel will lease 80 parking spots exclusively and 40 non-exclusively, and MTech reserves the right to lease an undetermined number of stalls, according to the term sheet. PEGs development project will be completed in three phases. Phase 1 of that project will include building a parking structure and an office building on the courthouse property. In Phase 2, an office building and a second parking structure will be built on the old RC Willey block, which is currently being used as temporary parking. Phase 3 will then add apartment buildings to the development. Each parking structure is proposed to have about 600 parking spaces, though the number wont be finalized until later stages of design, the term sheet states. The parking designated for the convention center will be allocated as 175 spots in the first parking structure and 175 spots in the second parking structure. The development agency will own and manage all the parking spaces, and reserves the right to charge for parking in the spots after 6 p.m. on weekdays and any time on weekends assuming it gives the city and the county at least three months notice. Utah County will have exclusive rights to those spots any time a convention is scheduled, but when there are no scheduled events at the convention center, those stalls can be used by those leasing the parking structures, or by the general public for an hourly or daily fee. At the countys request, one, possibly both, of the parking structures will be designed so that they can have additional levels built on. In that event, the county would be responsible to pay differential costs associated with the expansion, but would have the exclusive right to own or lease the additional level or levels. For 25 years after the first parking structure is completed, Provo and the redevelopment agency have the right to buy it from PEG. The agreement also outlines that PEG will receive tax increments, a type of tax break, for 15 years. Paxman said tax increments allow the taxing entities to continue collecting the amount of tax from an area that they were previously receiving, so the city wont lose money. But, any tax revenue above and beyond that is left to the developer for a specified number of years to go toward the construction, maintenance and operation of the developments. So, it helps incentivize a development without the city losing any of its current revenue, Paxman said. And after the 15 years in the term are up, the city and county will once again receive the full sales taxes produced by the area, but the county will also be required to pay PEG or the current owner of the parking structure for costs of operation and maintenance associated with the 350 UVCC parking spots. 1 / 8 Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets conference goers in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah prior to the Sunday morning session of general conference, 5 October 2014. 2014 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 / 8 President Russell M. Nelson greets at a family member after the press conference in the lobby of the Church Office Building on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 3 / 8 Russell and Dantzel Nelson in 1945. Courtesy LDS Church 4 / 8 President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy Nelson. Courtesy 5 / 8 President Russell M. Nelson with Russell (his only son), in 1972. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 6 / 8 President Russell M. Nelson was a heart surgeon before called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and then president of the LDS Church. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 7 / 8 President Nelson graduated from the University of Utah in August 1947 with an M.D. degree. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 8 / 8 Russell M. Nelson throwing horseshoes in 1965. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Just 10 days after President Russell M. Nelson is sustained by the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the April general conference, he will embark on his first long journey as president of the church. He, his wife Wendy Nelson, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife Pat Holland, will take a two-week global tour to several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. For almost anyone, this would be a robust and exhausting venture. For a man who is 93 it is nearly miraculous. Miracles are not new to Nelson. He often recounts how he has seen the work of Gods hands in his own life, as he has performed numerous open-heart surgeries and blessed lives through his church service. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Early life and family Nelson was born Sept. 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, the son of Marion C. and Edna Anderson Nelson. His church biography states, As a boy, Russell Nelson had many interests, but in college he decided to study medicine. It is evident Nelson loved the study of medicine. By the time he received his degree in June 1945, he was already well into his first year of medical school. He completed the four-year course in three years. In August 1947, he was a full-fledged M.D. at age 22, having graduated with highest honors, according to his biography. While all of the studying was going on, Nelson met and married Dantzel White. Russell had been persuaded to participate in a play at the university, and she was a lead soprano in the play. When he met her and heard her sing, he was smitten. He needed no further motivation to perform in the play, and they were married three years later in August 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple, reads his biography. The Nelsons had 10 children nine girls and a boy. Dantzel Nelson died in February 2005. Nelson married Wendy L. Watson in April 2008 in the Salt Lake Temple. Wendy Nelson was born in 1950 in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, to Leonard David and Laura McLean Watson. She earned a bachelors degree in 1975 from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in 1984 from the University of Calgary in family therapy and gerontology. According to church information, she was a professor of marriage and family therapy in the School of Family Life at BYU. She retired in May 2006 at the time of her marriage to Nelson. She was also a nurse and psychologist with more than 25 years as a therapist. Courtesy LDS Church Professional life Nelsons career as a surgeon not only brought him attention, but also took him all over the world, educating people in thoracic surgery. He served his residency in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded his Ph.D. in 1954, his biography states. He also received honorary degrees of doctor of science from Brigham Young University in 1970, doctor of medical science from Utah State University in 1989, and doctor of humane letters from Snow College in 1994. His professional work included the positions of research professor of surgery and director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. According to Nelsons biography, after his internship at the University of Minnesota, he worked on a team that made medical history. After three challenging years, they developed the first machine that performed the functions of a patients heart and lungs during open-heart surgery, the biography states. Before returning to Salt Lake City, he enlisted to serve a two-year term of medical duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; he served in Korea, Japan and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Nelson is an internationally renowned surgeon and medical researcher. A host of awards and honors have come to him, including the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Utah; the Heart of Gold Award from the American Heart Association; a citation for International Service from the American Heart Association; and the Golden Plate Award, presented by the American Academy of Achievement. He has been awarded honorary professorships from three universities in the Peoples Republic of China, his biography states. Nelson speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. Nelson has also served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association, and president of the Utah State Medical Association. Men can do very little of themselves to heal sick or broken bodies, Nelson said in his biography. With an education they can do a little more; with advanced medical degrees and training, a little more yet can be done. The real power to heal, however, is a gift from God. He has deigned that some of that power may be harnessed via the authority of His priesthood to benefit and bless mankind when all man can do for himself may not be sufficient. Rick Bowmer Church callings Nelson has held numerous positions of responsibility in the church. He served as stake president of the Bonneville Stake from 1964 to June, 1971, when he was called as general president of the Sunday School. Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, he was serving as a regional representative assigned to Kearns. Nelson was called to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on April 7, 1984. He served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve from July 15, 2015, until he was called as president of the church in January. He was sustained and set apart as the 17th president of the church Jan. 14, in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple. For Subscribers Heritage says abuse, misconduct claims examined, but extent unclear A Heritage Academy official says claims against two former teachers were "thoroughly investigated," but to what extent isn't clear. Science informs, technology enables, and innovation creates. This trio has the potential to carry our societies through an era of rapid technological progress in the years to come. For this reason, global governments have committed to developing science and technology to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement and the global Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations is engaging in efforts to encourage international collaboration and technology transfer. The government of India is also rolling out several reforms and programmes to capitalise on this transformation. Despite this, science, technology and innovation are not silver bullets for development and economic growth. What added ingredients are needed to ensure that our efforts can be successful? We need to watch who controls science and technology. The digital revolution has already transformed our lives in many ways, and technology breakthroughs such as robotics, artificial intelligence and biotechnology will continue to change our jobs and our economies. One of the worlds most respected scientists, Professor Stephen Hawking, had warned us about the threats and dangers posed by progress in science and technology. Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) will not only accelerate development, but will also change the distribution of resources depending on who can control and access technology. Future innovations will open new markets, create new jobs, but also radically change the demand for skills. These changes are taking place at a global level, but are likely to affect communities in very different ways, whether these are ready or not, to adapt their ways of living to technological change. The fight against inequality must be won. The international science community is increasingly engaging with both the science and technology industry and government leaders. In fact, research and development (R&D) activities are now carried out outside universities and traditional research centres. According to the OECD, business-financed R&D accounted for more than 60% of total R&D in 2015. Business-financed R&D is particularly important for innovation and economic growth, and governments are promoting this trend with a targeted focus on small and medium enterprises. The sector is, however, marked by a high level of concentration, with the top 200 R&D corporations worldwide accounting for 75% of global ICT-related patents according to data of the OECD. In a sector characterised by high growth and a high concentration of players, inequalities will rise in the absence of an integrated view of sustainable development where STI policies can and should benefit the poorest sections of society, first. Cooperation will be more important than ever before. The challenges posed by what Klaus Schwab, the Chairman of the World Economic Forum, has already called the fourth industrial revolution i.e., the age of interconnection between the physical, digital and biological spheres must be tackled together by all stakeholders in an integrated and comprehensive manner. International research and development organisations need to involve scientists of all disciplines and all backgrounds, with actors from the public and private sectors, and civil society in a discussion about STIs. Those working at the nexus of STIs and development have a big challenge ahead of them i.e., to work out how STIs can boost progress, but without diminishing the right to sustainable development. Clement Gevaudan is a Fellow at the Global Development Network, working on knowledge systems and innovation. The views expressed are personal Being bilingual has its perks. You can make puns in more than one language. And if you mix two languages, the pun gets even better. Two Indian-origin friends have taken their love for all things pun-ny and started an Instagram account dedicated to Punjabi pronunciations, mispronunciations, quirks and cross-cultural misunderstandings. The result is a series of illustrations that leave you chuckling. They poke gentle fun at the stereotypical Punjabi way of life and accent, and also reimagine English phrases with a desi lens. While minimalist in nature, the posts score high on being relatable and clever. The female duo behind the Instagram account, Punjabi Puns, prefers to remain anonymous, only referring to themselves as MG1 and MG2. Their humour stems from their upbringing both were raised in a traditionally Punjabi household in North America. Today, 25-year-old MG1 resides in Toronto, while 23-year-old MG2 is based in Washington DC. Both are doctors. We wanted to combine our mutual Punjabi and North American roots in a way that could bring young adults, like us, together. We found that in creating puns that traversed both English and Punjabi humour, we could try to bridge perceived gaps in a witty manner, says MG1. MG2 adds, Any North American raised Desi can take a step back and find humour in their parents who pronounce various words differently from them. Its great to be able to appreciate the diversity in a light-hearted way instead of a critical way. Many of their posts refer to contemporary popular culture. Be it songs like Sorry by Justin Beiber and Gods Plan by Drake, or movies like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. MG1 says, Although MG2 grew up in America, and I grew up in Canada, our parents kept us connected to our Punjabi roots by teaching us the language and upholding Punjabi traditions. We also take a lot of inspiration from modern day pop culture and try combining it with a South Asian twist to create a comical fusion of both. A lot of their relatable puns have stemmed from their own experiences with the Punjabi culture. For instance, when they came up with Sugar Dadi (a play on words of the modern day Sugar Daddy), they could barely contain their laughter. MG1 says, It took us back to moments of visiting our own grandmothers, whether in the pind back in India or here in North America. All we could think of was constantly being fed paranthas and sweets until we could no longer breathe, and being flooded with money and gifts. We found that reminder of being showered with love and goodies to be the perfect inspiration. This also helped us gain bases to a lot of our food puns. Indians are known for their rich spices in foods, as well as our love for dance and alas, we put on some bhangra and found ourselves gulab jammin. MG1 and MG2 met in medical school in Dublin, and got closer when they realised they share a similar sense of humour and upbringing. Talking about their creative process, MG2 says, It starts with MG1 thinking of a pun and approving it with myself, who does the drawing. MG1 will often come up with puns randomly and have an idea of what a drawing should look like. I either modify that idea or draw up what works to create the perfect mix of both. In the future, they hope to understand incorporate other Indian cultures and also South Asian traditions. Meanwhile, they plan to continue putting the pun in Punjabi. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more It was time for spring break for Hrithik Roshans ex Sussanne Khan, their sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan, her brother Zayed Khan and friend Sonali Bendre. The destination they chose for their holiday was Goa. It appeared to be a vacation full of beach fun, soaking in the sun and chilling with the family. Sussanne shared pictures with her family, friends and her sons. While Hrithik is missing from Sussannes photos as well as those shared by the rest of the gang, the actor was seen returning with the holiday squad on Monday night to Mumbai. Hrithik was seen exiting the airport with Sussanne, Hrehaan, Hridhaan, Zayed, his wife Malaika and their sons. Here are photos of Hrithik, Sussanne and others at the Mumbai airport. Earlier, Sussanne and Sonali posted these pictures. Springing #mybeautifulfamily #gratefulheart A post shared by Sussanne Khan (@suzkr) on Mar 23, 2018 at 11:07pm PDT Bright and breezy... #GoaDiaries #Springbreak A post shared by Sonali Bendre (@iamsonalibendre) on Mar 22, 2018 at 3:23am PDT Hrithik and Sussanne divorced in 2014 after being married in 2000. The former couple continues to be friends and is often spotted together in Mumbai and outside. They are co-parenting their children and attend parties together and are known to vacation as a family too. However, they have dismissed speculation that theres anything more to be read in their relationship. However, when needed, Hrithik and Sussanne have stood up for each other.At a time Hrithik was taking heat for his alleged affair with Kangana Ranaut a charge Hrithik has completely refuted Sussanne had stood up for the actor. On the work front, Hrithik is busy with Super 30, a biopic on mathematician Anand Kumar. Delhi-born Krishna Gautam is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Ram Gopal Varmas upcoming film Gehar, and she believes that her determination will take her long way in Bollywood. I believe that my determination is my strong point. Every time someone tries to tell me that there is something I cant do, I get really offended. I then try to give my best and prove myself in front of everyone, says Krishna. Talking about how the acting bug bit her, Krishna, who is also a trained Kathak dancer, says that she wanted to become an actor from a young age. I was in the sixth standard when I realised my love for the glamour industry, modelling, and acting. I wanted to do films. So, I got Ram Gopal Varmas number from a friend and sent him my pictures on WhatsApp. But I never asked him to give me a film. He saw me and said that he wanted to capture me on camera, says the 22-year-old actor, who aspires to work with filmmakers Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra some day. However, the 22-year-olds decision to move from Delhi to Mumbai was not supported by many, including her family. My family didnt support me at all. I was a topper in 12th and my father wanted me to be a judge. In fact, a lot of people outside the industry told me that this was a bad idea. They told me that things are not easy in the film industry and I will have to struggle a lot. [However] I always received appreciation from those who are in the industry and that is what matters to me, she says. Varma, who is known for films such as Rangeela (1995), Satya (1998), Company (2002) and the Sarkar trilogy, has earlier launched the career of several actors, including Nisha Kothari and Antara Mali. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Neetu Chandra believes in loving everything about her culture, so it is no surprise that she immediately took a liking to 84-year-old Rita Harris, when she discovered the latters strong desire to visit India. The actor came across Harris when she was visiting some friends in the US, and decided that she would make it possible for the elderly lady to travel to and explore the country. Rita is fascinated with Indian culture, and has read several books and gone through maps to acquaint herself with Indias history and geography. And when Neetu, who starred in the National Award-winning film Deswa (2011), came to know about this, she decided to sponsor Ritas trip to India. The octogenarian has no friends or family in the country, and cannot travel alone. What could be more gratifying than making someones dreams come true? I feel glad to have touched someones life. I feel that it is my success that I could welcome Rita here. Its overwhelming to receive her love and blessings. Her love empowers me to keep spreading cheer and happiness in more ways than one. I cant thank all the positive vibes and this universe enough and Im very excited and emotional to make this happen, says Neetu. The fact that others value our culture, history and people is such an inspiration for all of us to respect and value our country which is loved by people all over the world, says Neetu, who welcomed Rita in Mumbai on Tuesday. Follow @htshowbiz for more Womens rights crusader and controversial writer Taslima Nasrin was only 32 when she was hounded out of her country and forced to live in exile in Europe and America. Twenty-four years on, shes lost all hope of returning to her native Bangladesh, where the crowds once bayed for her blood and where she feels she would be killed right away. Starting out with her first collection of poetry in 1986, she published several books before Selected Columns, that led to the formation of Taslima Smash Committee. Her newspaper columns explored everyday perils women face and, to a large extent, held Islam responsible for the subjugation of women and their rights. Fundamentalists were angry because I was writing against Islam. It did not matter to them that I was also writing against other religions. In fact, I was not writing against anyone but for women and their rights, Nasrin says. Notwithstanding this complication, her second book of essays was published in 1992, but copies of it were soon burnt at the National Book Fair in Bangladesh which she was not allowed to visit. Almost at the same time not very far away from her home country a large crowd of Hindu kar sevaks demolished the 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and just as a series of communal riots were engulfing India, Nasrin could feel its ripples back in Bangladesh. I was seeing and observing everything. Hindus were being targeted. Their shops were being broken down by mad crowds of people and so many Hindu patients were in hospitals telling their horror stories. I visited many places to see what was happening. I gave shelter to some of the Hindus. I just thought that nobody should be oppressed or tortured because of some buildings being destroyed. It was not the fault of Bangladeshi Hindus, she explains. I so much wanted to go back to my country, but now all my close relatives and family are gone. And I know that the country has been totally Islamised now. All my old classmates now wear the hijab, so many of my friends have been hacked to death. And so her documentary novel Lajja, which is a protest against the torture on the minority community of Bangladesh, was published, and banned simultaneously in 1993. However, contrary to popular beliefs Lajja or Shame, was not the reason behind her ouster from Bangladesh. In Lajja, I didnt write anything against Islam. The fanatics were angry from before, because of my newspaper columns on women, not Lajja. It was not against Islam, but my Selected Columns was very much against Islam because I was defending women. Fanatics were demanding the banning of my other books, not Lajja. They were happy that it was banned though, she maintains. In April 1994, Nasrin was invited to Paris for a talk on Press freedom and stopped in Kolkata on her way back to Dhaka. I gave an interview to The Statesman newspaper and said that Quranic law should be changed, but it was misunderstood and headlined that Quran should be changed, she says. Nasrin issued a rejoinder immediately, saying I dont believe in religion so why should I feel the need to change it and the newspaper obliged by publishing a corrigendum the following day but it was too late. When I entered Dhaka, aag jal raha tha (the city was on fire). They would have killed me right away. They believe Allah has written the Quran and the interview said that I wanted to change the Quran. It was a big thing. There were lakhs of people on the streets across the country. The government filed a case of blasphemy against me. The fundamentalists were already angry, now they had got something solid against me, she says. Through June and July of 1993, Nasrin remained in hiding. Baad main mera bail hua on condition that I had to leave the country, she recalled. Meanwhile, several Human Rights organisations were pressurising the governments in the West to come to her rescue. Noted writers like Milan Kundera and Salman Rushdie, among others, wrote open letters, published in several leading European newspapers at the same time. Nasrins latest book is titled Split and its Bengali original was banned by the Left Front in West Bengal as well as by Bangladesh in 2003. The West Bengal government lifted the injunction after the ban was struck down by the Calcutta High Court in 2005. One night, the police put me on a flight. I was received in Bangkok by the Chief Security officer of Sweden and they took me to Sweden. I just didnt want to believe that it was forever. I thought it would be for one month, two months or three months, maximum six months. So I was very restless to go back to my country. I never wanted to settle anywhere else... but I slowly realised it was not possible. Bangladesh was left far behind, she laments. From Sweden to Germany to Paris and then to the United States and finally to India, Nasrin was living what she calls the celebrity life her books were being translated into foreign languages, many ministers would come to visit her and she was being bestowed with several prestigious honours. It was all too big for me. Prize, prize. But I always wanted to go back to my country that would have been the real prize, she said. I so much wanted to go back to my country, but now all my close relatives and family are gone. And I know that the country has been totally Islamised now. All my old classmates now wear the hijab, so many of my friends have been hacked to death. Bloggers are being killed. Those people are being hacked to death and I am their old target. I would be killed right away, she says. Nasrin maintains that I will never be able to go back because the government will always prevent me from entering, but yearns for freedom of movement. Why should Bangladesh say that you are not allowed to enter this country? I should be allowed, if I dont go there, that is my choice, but as a universal citizen, I should be allowed to move freely. Not only me, everybody, she maintains. Nasrins latest book is titled Split and its Bengali original was banned by the Left Front in West Bengal as well as by Bangladesh in 2003. While the West Bengal government lifted the injunction after the ban was struck down by the Calcutta High Court in 2005, Nasrin was eventually driven out of Kolkata, the city that she found closest to her home in Bangladesh. Taslima Nasrin has since been living in New Delhi under a government Residence Permit which needs to be renewed at regular intervals. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the UKs biggest drugmaker, agreed to buy out Novartis AGs stake in their consumer-health joint venture for $13 billion, rather than bidding for a Pfizer Inc unit. The transaction marks one of the first big moves by both Glaxo chief executive officer Emma Walmsley, who took over last year, and Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan, who rose to the top spot last month. Walmsley has emphasized the benefit of having the pharmaceutical, vaccine and consumer businesses under one umbrella, partly due to the drug industrys volatility. Glaxos boss has said that buying the Novartis holding, whose products include Sensodyne toothpaste, Theraflu cold medicine and Panadol pain relievers, would strengthen its consumer business. Thats even though the sector has experienced pressure on prices as drugstores and other retailers vie to get shoppers. Glaxos investors balked last year when Walmsley mentioned interest in the Pfizer unit, fearing that it might endanger the British drugmakers dividend. Novartis had the right, starting this month, to require Glaxo to purchase its stake in the venture. The new agreement removes uncertainty surrounding that option, Glaxo said Tuesday. The consumer business expects operating margins to improve and approach mid-20s percentages by 2022, Glaxo said. Bolt-on acquisitions The sale of the 36.5% stake in the venture, which was formed in 2015, should close in the second quarter, Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis said Tuesday in a statement. The sale will also strengthen Novartiss ability to drive shareholder returns and make bolt-on acquisitions, Narasimhan said in the statement. While our consumer health-care joint venture with GSK is progressing well, the time is right for Novartis to divest a non-core asset at an attractive price, Narasimhan said. Narasimhan is focusing on finding breakthrough drugs for cancer and other diseases. Novartis reiterated in January that a decision on whether to spin off the Alcon eye-care division probably wont come before the first half of 2019. Glaxo is starting a review of its Horlicks unit and other consumer-health nutrition products to help fund the transaction and increase focus on the over-the-counter and oral-health categories. The company expects to conclude that process around the end of 2018. Glaxo pulled out of the contest for Pfizers consumer-health unit last week in a development that leaves the US drugmaker with dwindling options to dispose of the business, which is valued at as much as $20 billion. One factor in Glaxos decision not to pay the price Pfizer wanted was a potential transaction to buy out the Novartis holding, analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence wrote last week. Glaxo had said it would be interested in acquiring the stake if Novartis exercised its option to sell. As part of the governments renewed engagement with China, the two countries hosted the 11th meeting of the India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology here on Monday. The last such meeting was held in Beijing in September 2014. The meeting was co-chaired by commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu and his Chinese counterpart Zhong Shan and the two discussed ways to address trade imbalance and create an action plan to take trade ties forward, a government statement as well as officials familiar with the meeting said. Trade is a very important aspect of bilateral ties between the two. That this meeting happened the second time after the NDA government came to power goes well with the series of bilateral engagements India and China are undertaking in recent times, said an Indian official. Welcoming Zhong, Prabhu stressed that this joint group is one of the oldest and most important dialogue mechanism between the two sides. A statement from the government said Indias trade imbalance with China is the most important issue to be taken up by the group. The minister exhorted his Chinese counterpart for greater market access for agricultural products like rapeseed, soyabean, basmati and non-basmati rice, fruits, vegetables, and sugar. Another commodity which could be exported from India to China is the high quality pharmaceutical products, it said. Prabhu listed the export of Indias IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) to China and said the focus should be on cooperation in tourism and healthcare. The growing trade deficit with China is a cause of concern for India. India had a $51.1 billion trade deficit with the neighbour in 2016-17, which grew to $52.9 billion in the April-January period of 2017-18. The government release said Zhong welcomed the investment and promised to address the trade deficit. The minister highlighted the important issues discussed in the meeting like two-way trade relations, preparation of an action plan, greater focus on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and e-dialogue, the statement said. Infosys Ltd, under chairman Nandan Nilekani, appears to have drawn lessons from the ugly public spat with its first non-founder chief executive to draw a contract with current CEO Salil Parekh that leaves little scope for potential disagreements or legal trouble. This development underlines the new boards decision to keep at bay all potential conflicting issues raised in the past, including a few tetchy issues in former CEO Vishal Sikkas employment contract . Obviously now, Infosys has learnt from their experiences with the first non-founder CEO Vishal Sikka and have structured a tighter and transparent employment contract with Salil Parekh, said Shriram Subramanian, managing director of proxy advisory firm InGovern Research Services. Infosys declined to comment to emailed queries. The firm, however, has still not spelt out the metrics based on which Parekh will be paid his variable pay. Read: Income tax offices to remain open from Mar 29-31 for filing returns Four features stand out in Parekhs 14-page employment contract, which has not been made public and was reviewed by Mint. First, Parekh is not assured of any minimum salary as part of his compensation structure. In contrast, Infosys had agreed to pay Sikka $10 million in annual compensation, irrespective of the firms performance. Parekh, in comparison, can earn as much as Rs 17.3 crore, including fixed salary and variable pay, in the first full year. His earnings could possibly double to Rs 35.25 crore in the year ended March 2021, provided he steers the company well. Second, a Release of Claims condition ensures that Infosys does not have to pay more than the promised severance to Parekh, in case the board ends his tenure before 2023. Sikkas contract did not have such a clause. The Release of Claims clause, although pretty common globally, is probably the first time an Indian firm has got it included as part of an employment contract, the head of an executive search firm said on condition of anonymity. Infosys pays considerably less in severance payment to Parekh than what it had committed to pay Sikka. Parekh stands to get half of his full-year fixed and variable pay, as against Infosys agreeing to pay two years of fixed and variable salary to Sikka. Third, Parekh cannot work with eight IT firms, including Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), Accenture Plc and Parekhs former employer, Capgemini SE for six months from the time he leaves Infosys. Read: Rupee hits 4-week high against US dollar International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Wipro Ltd, Tech Mahindra Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd are the five other companies. Sikka did not have a non-compete clause. Finally, Infosys has spelt out the process of arbitration, in case of any dispute with the CEO. Both Infosys and Parekh have agreed to abide by a three-member arbitration panels decision and not to contest the panels verdict before any court. Sikkas employment contract did not specify details of the arbitration process. Clarity on arbitration should further assuage investor concerns as Infosyss former chief financial officer Rajiv Bansal has challenged the firms decision to withhold from making the full Rs 17.38 crore in promised severance pay. Infosys after having paid Rs 5 crore to Bansal stopped the remaining payments, with the firm declining to share the reason behind this decision. For now, it is not clear if Infosys or Bansal will accept the arbitration verdict and if either of the two warring sides will contest it in court. Protesting against the change in the norms for recruitment to the post of forester, the forest guards in Uttarakhand Tuesday launched an indefinite strike. The strike comes at a time when the department is battling intermittent forest fires. The head of forest forces (HoFF) held a meeting with the agitating forest guards, under the aegis of Uttarakhand forest beat association, but a breakthrough could not be achieved. In a cabinet meeting on March 12, the government approved the changes in the service rules for guards and foresters. As per the decision, a person who has done intermediate in any stream is eligible for the post of the guard. The cabinet also approved to fill 33% posts of the foresters through direct recruitment. Only those who have done intermediate with science stream or agriculture as a subject are eligible for the post. The remaining 67% seats, as per the amended rules, would be filled promotion basis. Only those forest guards who have completed 10 years of service are eligible for promotion. These changes are being opposed by the forest guards. Earlier, 100 per cent positions of foresters were filled on promotion basis. Currently, 2,600 guards are working against sanctioned strength of 3,650. It is tyrannical on part of the government to minimize our chances of promotion. People who have been serving the department for years feel cheated, Virendra Pandey, state president of the Uttarakhand forest beat association said. During the meeting with the association members, HoFF Jai Raj explained that a decision approved by the cabinet cannot be rolled back. I have explained to them that the direct recruitment would help in providing employment opportunities to their children. It would also help the department recruit a young force. We have already kept 67% seats reserved for promotion, Jai Raj said. The HoFF said that 20% of the staff was of the age 50 years or above. For them, working in the tough terrain and high altitude areas is a difficult task. As a result, the conservation activities are compromised. The field staff has to work in most challenging conditions and we need young blood to patrol and conserve our forests and wildlife. We cant accept what they are demanding, he added. The indefinite strike is likely to aggravate the problems for the department as it has come during the forest fire season, which began on February 15. Till date, 283 hectare forest land including plantation has been gutted in wildfires resulting in an estimated revenue loss of over Rs 50 lakh. We are making alternate arrangements. We are deploying contractual staff at all divisions starting from high risk districts like Almora and Pauri, BP Gupta, nodal officer forest fire said. Pandey said that the strike will continue unless the government revises the rules. The Complotter and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pulled various government departments in Uttarakhand for delaying submission of utilisation certificates, saying their absence made it doubtful if the grants were utilised for their intended purpose. The CAG, in its report on states finances for 2016-17, laid in the Gairsain Vidhan Sabha on Monday, said an excess expenditure of Rs 15,324 crore over the last 10 years between financial years 2005-06 and 2015 16 was still awaiting a proper regularisation by the Uttarakhand assembly. Citing a number of irregularities in the financial management of the state during the period, the CAG report said a total of 353 utilisation certificates (UCs) amounting to Rs 490.04 crore were pending till March 2017. Of these, 211 UCs involving Rs 303.25 crore were pending for a period up to two years and 142 UCs involving Rs 186.79 crore were pending for more than two years. However, due date of 129 utilisation certificates amounting to Rs 162.69 crore falls between April 2017 and March 2018, the report read. Thus the departmental officers did not submit 224 UCs due for submission by March 2017 in respect of which grants amounting to Rs 327.35 crore were given up to March 2016 for specific purposes, the CAG report said. In the absence of UCs, it could not be ascertained whether the recipients had utilised the grants for the intended purpose for which these were sanctioned, it said. The report also mentioned that there was an excess expenditure of Rs 5,457 crore under three heads agriculture work and research, food, and horticulture development. Citing other instances of fiscal indiscipline, it said the department heads were not submitting to accountant general (audit) Uttarakhand statements of autonomous institutions and other entities to which loans worth Rs 10 lakh or more had been extended. In the absence of such statements, institutions which attract an audit by the CAG could not be identified properly, it said. Significant amounts of expenditure and receipts are booked under the Minor Heads 800-Other Expenditure and 800-Other Receipts instead of distinct heads of account, the CAG report said, adding it adversely affected transparency in financial reporting. While giving an insight into the finances of the state government, the CAG mentioned that Uttarakhand recorded a revenue surplus in 2012-13 and 2013-14. However, in the next financial year, 2014-15, the state failed to maintain revenue surplus. 2014-15 experienced revenue deficit of Rs 917 crore, which further slipped to Rs 1,852 crore in 2015-16, the report read. The Congress was ruling the state during those years. Then finance minister and now Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Indira Hridayesh, said she could not go through the report. Our government made every effort to maintain a decent financial health. It would not be appropriate for me to comment without going through the report, she said. The CAG report, meanwhile, advised the state government to ensure timely submission of utilisation certificates and statement of accounts by all autonomous bodies and other entities that receive grants or loans to maintain accountability. The government may ensure transparency in financial reporting by separately depicting the receipts and expenditure of major schemes rather than including them under the Minor Heads 800-Other Expenditure and 800-Other Receipts across various major heads, it said. WITH PTI INPUTS Days after a suspected poaching incident was reported in the core area of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials Tuesday met chief wildlife warden of Uttarakhand in New Delhi. The NTCA officials sought details pertaining to the incident Reserve. Chief wildlife warden Digvijay Singh Khati apprised the authority of the encroachments in the protected area. He informed that a case on the matter is under litigation in the Nainital High Court. The NTCA and Union ministry of environment forest and climate change (MoEFCC) have already granted permission to carry out tiger translocation in Motichur range of the Rajaji the very area from where the poaching was reported. Fearing similar threat to tigers, the NTCA had sought explanation from Khati. We have discussed the issue with the chief wildlife warden and raised our concern. The problem is with the encroachment and other establishments inside the reserve for which we were informed that the matter is sub-judice, Debabrata Swain, member secretary, NTCA, said. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the High Court highlighting the dangers posed by the encroachments to wildlife and habitat. The court had directed the Survey of India (the central agency in charge of mapping and surveying) to conduct mapping of the area. The Survey of India submitted its report in December last year, following which the reserve management had requested court to give orders on vacating the protected area. We are waiting for the courts direction. Once the encroachments are removed, the sanctity of the reserve could be restored, Sanatan Sonkar, director, Rajaji, said. Currently, the porous boundary and encroachments has led to a rise in man-animal conflict around the reserve, especially in Haridwar and Raiwala areas in Rishikesh, where over 12 people have been injured in leopard attacks in last two years. Uttarakhand lawmakers and ministers are set to receive hefty increases in their monthly pay package, a hike some said was still low, so they can keep up with the higher cost of living. The increase will also benefit their aides, like drivers and secretaries. Accepting the recommendations of a committee that studied the pay package of legislators across states, the Uttarakhand assembly passed an amendment bill to hike the lawmakers salaries and allowances by a voice vote on Monday. The salary of ministers has doubled from Rs 45,000 per month to Rs 90,000. The salary of the speaker and deputy speaker has also doubled from Rs 54,000 (per month) to Rs 1.10 lakh. The legislators monthly salary tripled from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000. Allowances across categories have increased in line with market trends. For instance, the monthly allowance for a legislators driver which was Rs3,000, has been hiked fourfold to Rs12,000. Similarly, the constituency allowance has more than doubled from Rs 60,000 to Rs1.5 lakh. The cap on monthly allowance against fuel expenses and railway coupons increased from Rs 2.70 lakh to Rs 3.25 lakh. The monthly pension of former legislators doubled from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. The constituency allowance of ministers, the speaker and deputy speaker will double from R 42,000 to R 84,000. Their drivers will also get fat pay package of R 72,000 monthly. Other than an official secretary, who is paid by the government, their private secretary will get R 12,000 every month. Lawmakers will be entitled to overseas visits for medical treatment on the recommendation of a doctor from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Besides, they will be entitled to reimbursement of medical expenses across hospitals within and outside the state. Uttarakhand finance minister Prakash Pant said the legislators expenses are manifold and the hike is average. He said that government was already paying salaries in line with 7th Pay Commission recommendations to state employees and increments for legislators had been due for long. The hike in package is justified on several parameters. For instance, MLAs (members of the legislative assembly) used to get Rs 2000 as daily allowance. It is like peanuts, given the fact hundreds of people visit the home of MLAs and they have to be offered tea and snacks,a minister told Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA SS Jeena said the hike fell short. I have a Delhi-based driver whom I pay Rs 25,000 and it goes from the pocket, Jeena said. Congress legislator Manoj Rawat said he was satisfied with the increase. The increase is good but otherwise I was managing and happy in whatever I was getting, Arun Pandey, acting general secretary of the State Employees Joint Council, demanded that the government pay arrears due to employees in line with Pay Commission recommendations. A committee to fix the pay of lawmakers works so fast while another committee under chief secretary on employees demand had not responded for the last one year, he said. The heart bursting with pride, and a lone star shining on the shoulder, when an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer joins the national training institute for police officers - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVP NPA), in Hyderabad - there is no limiting the enthusiasm one has on the prospects of brining about a positive change in society. And the indoor and outdoor classes that one attends introducing one to the police sub-culture swiftly yet steadily, only adds to the confidence of the trainee officers. It is common to hear references and stories of the erstwhile training academy (NPA which was earlier in Mount Abu, Rajasthan) by seniors in the service who came for various lectures. Those references made brimmed of nostalgia and pride. They also said that the younger generation has it easier than them. And it wasnt just about the physical training, I learnt gradually. Such were the stories of the training days at Abu, that one wanted to belong to the same golden era. It also reminded me of the dramatized version of the same training academy in the TV series Udaan - which was the story of IPS Kanchan Chaudhary of the 1973 batch, who was second woman IPS - which I saw growing up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Udaan had inspired a whole generation of young girls, including yours truly, to take up the services. IPS Manjari Jaruhar (of the 1976 batch) was the first woman IPS officer from Bihar. Cut to 2018, when I recently got a chance to attend a five-day course at the academy of police lore - Mt Abu Academy. I was naturally ecstatic. The place was the National Police Academy till 1975, known as the Central Police Training College, and is now the Internal Security Academy (ISA). When I entered the compound, it was with a lot of expectations and absolute dreamy eyes. I looked around with awe at the walls, ground and air, for I was physically at this place which contained legendary stories and has produced legends. I smiled with reverence at the wall in the obstacle course which Kalyani, the IPS officer in Udaan, tries so hard to conquer. I was sure that I would find history seeped into the buildings and environs, and I was not disappointed. Even before it became the Central Police Training College, it was known as the Abu Lawrence School. Constructed in the year 1849, the Lawrence School was a co-educational institution providing accommodation to girls and boys of pure European parentage. After the Independence, when need for a premier training academy for IPS officers arose, the school compound was chosen for the purpose. Thus, the Central Police Training College was established in the same premises of the Abu Lawrence School. The Central Police Training College continued to train the IPS officers till it was shifted to Hyderabad as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in the year 1975. Now, it functions as the ISA and has been preserved beautifully by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The current ISA, CRPF academy has had only one lady IPS officer as IG training As I went around the campus, it was motivational to see that there were several tributes to the previous office bearers of the academy. However, I was surprised to find that the current ISA, CRPF academy has had only one lady IPS officer as IG training -- the illustrious Ms Manjari Jaruhar of the 1976 batch. She was also the first woman IPS officer from Bihar. That got me thinking about the front runners in the police services who paved the way for us, other lady IPS officers. The torchbearers who have fought patriarchy at home and in offices, as well as on the field, to let the younger generation, like us, command equal treatment. Take for example, the inspiring Ms Kanchan Chaudhary, who became the first DGP of a state; or Ms Neelamani Raju, who became the first woman DGP of Karnataka in 2017. Even SVPNPA, got its first woman director in the year 2014, when Ms Aruna Bahuguna (a 1979 batch IPS officer) became the 28th director of the academy. Currently, Ms Dyuti Rani Doley Barman (a 1986 batch IPS officer) holds the charge of the director NPA. The firsts are definitely extraordinary. Not only because they represent recognition of all the hard work and sacrifices, but also because they represent hope for a better future. These firsts need to be celebrated because they inspired generations of young girls in small towns in India to dream big, to reach for the stars. On being in the campus which produced some stellar lady IPS officers, I felt that it was time to celebrate all such firsts, and also to celebrate those who followed, who put their hearts and souls in their duties and who survive and are winners in their own might. Cheers to us all! From 1972- when Ms Kiran Bedi became the first woman IPS officer- to date, we have several unsung heroines in the police department, who have been waging silent wars and getting things done. Yet, even today, women form only 7.28 percent of the police force. The number falls immensely short of the mandated 33 percent. To prepare more women to take up the police job, we would need to build capacities and provide the right skill set. Its not sufficient to provide jobs and opportunities to empower women, real empowerment will come when our social fabric becomes supportive of such women who want to join the force. Their families need to encourage and support such woman so that they are able to tab their potential. IPS Esha Pandey is a 2010 batch officer, and is currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Delhi. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more The United States is currently witnessing unprecedented protests by hundreds of thousands of people, many of them students, against gun violence amid a polarising debate on the right of Americans to bear arms. The demonstrations are being led by students who survived the mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida last month. But gun violence in the US is not a new issue. Nor are the deaths caused by the lethal weapons that Americans are allowed to carry, thanks to the Second Amendment in their Constitution. Gun violence has been a problem for the US for long and the statistics related to the havoc wreaked by firearms are mind-numbing 61,584 incidents of gun violence last year that left 15,596 people dead, and 12,687 incidents so far this year that have caused 3,257 deaths, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Students have played a key role in arranging the latest mass protests, adding a hitherto unseen emotive aspect to the movement demanding greater regulation of firearms. But a change, if any, will not be easy. At the heart of the matter is the Second Amendment to the US Constitution dating back to 1791, which states: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Generations of Americans have argued that this amounts to a blanket approval for every individual to own guns. Those on the other side of the divide have argued that the conditions which led to the amendment in the 18th century no longer exist, and there is no need for militias, well regulated or otherwise, in a country that is seen as the worlds foremost military power. Those favouring greater gun controls have questioned whether someone like the emotionally troubled 19-year-old who targeted the high school in Florida should have had access to, leave alone allowed to buy, a semi-automatic rifle. The anti-gun movement led largely by the students has a tough battle on its hand. Opposing it is the National Rifle Association, which provides millions of dollars in funding to American politicians and is at the forefront of the move to protect the right to own and bear firearms. There are already reports that the NRA has quadrupled its digital advertising budget, placing its ads on YouTube channels meant for children. The malaise runs deep and the tide is unlikely to turn soon, but at least the students have presented a glimmer of hope by taking on the political establishment. Indias Northeast (NE) has been off limits for foreigners for a long time for various reasons, the main being the States excessive concern about national security. But the good news is that the Centre is planning to open up the Northeast, following requests from the governments of the border states. Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the Inner line and the International Border of the State are considered a Protected Area. In the Northeast, this rule is applicable to Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. Other Indian states that have similar restrictions are parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Under this order, every foreigner, except a citizen of Bhutan, who wants to enter and stay in a protected area, is required to get a special permit. Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin are not issued the permit without the home ministrys approval. If this promise of opening up this breathtakingly beautiful region actually materialises and the states develop their infrastructure and capitalise on the existing educated human resources, the tourism sector can build on them. The spin-offs could be multiple: employment, better infrastructure, and improved revenue generation. From the Centres perspective, this could be the appropriate reply to Chinas constant claims on Arunachals territory. This is a far better approach than pursing an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. However, since this opening of the region will be a gradual and a planned one, the State must ensure that it does not make the mistakes that it has done in tourist areas in other states. It must ensure that there is little disturbance to the fragile ecosystem of the area and, more critically, a carrying-capacity report must be prepared for each tourist location so that there is a reasonable cap on the number of people that can visit the area. This will help these areas to develop sustainably and remain attractive at the same time. With the Election Commission announcing May 12 as the date for the Karnataka assembly election, the political campaign in the southern state is all set to intensify further. The state has, indeed, been the focus of political activity for much of this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already addressed eight rallies in the state; Congress president Rahul Gandhi and BJP president Amit Shah have visited the state four times over the past few months. Both chief minister Siddaramaiah and BJPs chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyuruppa are powerful, rooted and popular state leaders in their own right and are engaged in a direct tussle. The third pillar of the state politics is the combine of HD Deve Gowda and his son, HD Kumaraswamy. But it would be a mistake to see the election as only one between personalities. Like any major Indian political battle, the Karnataka dynamic has two major elements: development and identity. A key political issue is how the Congress government has managed urban governance, especially in Bengaluru, and rural incomes. The BJP is banking heavily on the fact that the state capital remains inadequate in terms of infrastructure, civic amenities and traffic and hopes to tap into the discontent. But knowing full well that urban pockets are not enough in what remains a primarily rural state, the party hopes that farmer discontent will help. The Congress, for its part, claims that farmers are better off in the state than in BJP-ruled states; the state government also prides itself on its welfare schemes and believes this will pay political dividends. But along with this, the other key element of the state political landscape is identity. The Congress is playing the sub-nationalist card. Portraying the BJP as a party that seeks to impose Hindi and North Indian ethos, Mr Siddaramaiah has aggressively promoted Kannada and even unveiled a state flag. The Congress, in order to divide the BJPs Lingayat support base, has also decided to give it minority status. How this plays out will be key. On the other hand, the BJP has decided to rely on Hindu consolidation, particularly in the coastal belt, and decried the Congress for seeking to divide the community. The party which gets the combination of personality, identity and development right and is able to tell a better story to the people of Karnataka will win this critical battleground state. Students, who appeared for the CBSE Class 12 biology paper in Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal on Tuesday, said the questions were easy as compared to last year and that they completed it on time. St Francis School student Rubiya Siddiqui said she did not expect the questions to be that easy in the board examination. Every question was from NCERT books. I concentrated on the NCERT books and I am definitely expecting good marks, she added. Except physics, I didnt find any question papers difficult. Today, the questions and diagrams were so easy to attempt, Sujata Saxena, a student of Rajeev Gandhi School, said. Saxenas teacher PK Pathak said the paper was moderate in terms of difficulty level. Even an average student can score good marks. Maximum numbers of students completed the exam before time. The CBSE Class 12 board exams started on March 5 and will end on on April 12. This year, 11,86,306 students are appearing for the Class 12 exams conducted at 4,138 centres in India and 71 venues abroad. (With inputs from Shruti Tomar in Bhopal) The Class 12 biology paper of the Central Board of Secondary Education examination on Tuesday evoked a mixed response from students as some complained about tricky questions and others said they were happy with the paper. Lucknow The students of City International School in the Uttar Pradesh capitals Indira Nagar said the question paper was a bit difficult as compared to last year. The overall paper was tricky especially the three mark questions which were confusing, Anusha Bhardwaj, a student of CIS, said. Asif Anwar was of the view that most of the questions were application based but manageable. Maahi Dixit said the paper required lot of brainstorming and a high level of basic skills. Rohit Giri felt section E was easy as compared to section B. Overall paper was moderate, Giri said. Their teacher Amita Mishra said the paper was a good mix of direct and application-based questions and those who had studied the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books properly can score better. The questions were brain trickling but students managed to perform well. Very few questions were based on the diagram which is the essence of the subject, she added. According to students of GD Goenka Public School, the paper was quite balanced. They said Section A and B had tricky objective questions while Section C, D and E had direct questions. Teachers at GD Goenka said that not much weightage was given to reasoning but there were more value-based questions in which students had to formulate their own activities. Some questions were related to environmental awareness and acronyms were given and a thorough analysis was required in most of the questions, teachers and students said. It was difficult to solve the paper in case thorough studies have not been done throughout the academic session, Manishika Pawaia, a student, said. The questions were average except a few tricky ones. Continuous practice of difficult questions from sample papers helped to solve this paper, Ankush Singhal, another student, said. The paper was quite easy and not lengthy at all, Mitul Singh added. Patna Vaishnavi of Holy Mission School in Bihars capital said she did not find the questions tough and was very happy with them. I am sure I will score above 60 out of 70 and if the board adapts lenient marking I will score above 65. I attempted all the questions and solved it before time, she said. Antara Mitra, the biology teacher at Notre Dame Academy, said the paper was easier than last year. Short answer type questions carrying 2 marks each and the objective type question carrying one mark each were tricky. Only those students who would have done thorough study from the book could have solved it. Questions from sections like ecology and pollution were asked and were easy for the students, she added. Bhopal Rubiya Siddiqui, a student of St Francis School in the Madhya Pradesh capital, said she did not expect the questions to be that easy in the board examination. Every question was from NCERT books. I concentrated on the NCERT books and I am definitely expecting good marks, she added. Except physics, I didnt find any question papers difficult. Today, the questions and diagrams were so easy to attempt, Sujata Saxena, a student of Rajeev Gandhi School, said. Saxenas teacher PK Pathak said the paper was moderate in terms of difficulty level. Even an average student can score good marks. Maximum numbers of students completed the exam before time. Allahabad Nivedita Nandan, a student of Gangagurukulam School in the Uttar Pradesh city, said the paper was easy and in accordance with the pattern of questions asked in the two pre-board exams. Anita Srivastava, a senior biology teacher at Gangagurukulam School, said the paper was comparatively easier to last year as direct questions were asked, which did not confuse students. The three questions of five marks each on double fertilisation in flowering plants, human reproduction and ecosystem with each of the three questions having an option were easy and well attempted by students. Eleven questions of three marks each on topics like evolution, genetics, biotechnology and diversity, etc were also scoring, Srivastava said. Another biology teacher at the same school said five questions each of one and two marks requiring one word or one sentence answer were also scoring. The 70 marks paper was well balanced and all topics were covered adequately, she added. The CBSE Class 12 board exams started on March 5 and will end on on April 12. This year, 11,86,306 students are appearing for the Class 12 exams conducted at 4,138 centres in India and 71 venues abroad. (With inputs from Rajeev Mullick in Lucknow, Nandini in Patna, Shruti Tomar in Bhopal and Kenneth John in Allahabad) 2018 spring summer fashion trends are a mix of pastels, florals, sequins, fringes, ruffles, checks and definitely fun and bold colours. Prep your wardrobe as Monica Oswal, executive director, Monte Carlo, suggests you stock up with these apparels and accessories: * Pastels: Pastels will be the best pick for your spring wardrobe. Add pale hues such as yellow, purple, green, pink and orange. The shades are delicate yet they can give a strong look. These ice-cream shades look great on sunny days as they have cool undertones. Play around with a pastel colour palette to enjoy a quirky-yet-serene look. * Vintage florals: Florals have been on top of the charts for years, but this 2018 spring-summer collection brings in vintage florals. It is a trend that was once worn in the 40s and 50s and its back this season. Wear a maxi or a midi dress or pair it with a midi skirt in vintage print with a solid blouse. You can also pair a floral top with a denim jacket. You can also carry accessories in floral prints such as a scarf, mobile cover, bags or shoes. A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) on Mar 18, 2018 at 4:19am PDT * Sequins: Sequins and sparkles will be a hit this spring and summer. In the fashion industry, glitter always prevails. Pair up a sequin top with pair of leggings for a day-glam disco look or a A-line skirt. Choose from shades of gold and silver to pair up with darker tones likes blue and black, or experiment with bold colours such as red, orange and magenta, and pair them up with a light-shade scarf or jacket. * Heritage checks: These summer plaids are best for formal wear. Wear a floaty feminine business suit in the heritage check pattern. Its a comfortable yet subtle option for official meetings. Pair a linen shirt with a plaid pencil skirt or trouser. Check shirts can also be opted for dailywear options and can be paired up with a scarf to pep up the look. * Fringing: Fringes are back this season, but with a sophisticated touch. Last season fringes were bold and festive. This summer, fringes have an empowered appeal to it. Fringe skirts and dresses are perfect for an evening or a cocktail. Style them with a stiletto or ankle tie-up wedges or add a hint of accessory, such as cocktail rings or an elegant pair of earrings. Lilac can be paired with both neutral and bold hues. (Shutterstock) * Bold colours: This summer is all about going bold with bright and vibrant shades. From primary shades to neon accents, this season has spring bold hues. Experiment with bright pinks, yellows, reds, and blues. Wear them with monochrome blocks or tone down with neutral shades. * Lilac: The lavender shade is poised and can be worn in many ways from lilac tops and blouses to trousers and skirts. This colour can be paired with both neutral and bold hues. * Pencil skirts: Pencil skirts are an all-around-the-season trend which never goes out of fashion. Pair the pencil skirt with a peplum top, ruffled sleeves blouse, or with a shirt. It gives a unique and elegant look and can be worn in varied ways. It is a must-have in your wardrobe. * Ruffles: Ruffles are flattering. Ruffle tops can be paired with a solid pair of jeggings and jeans and a ruffle skirt can be paired with an off-the-shoulder crop top or a cami top. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more A day after a teenage girl was killed and over 70 shanties near Tigra village in Sector 57 were burnt to the ground in a massive fire, the district administration is yet to extend help to the aggrieved families. The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a leak in a domestic LPG cylinder, started around 10am on Monday. I cried for hours and begged for someone to take me to Delhi to meet my daughter (in the hospital), but no one cared. No one (in the slum) had money to help me or take me to visit my daughter. I will only get a chance to look at her body in the evening (on Tuesday), said Shikha Das, mother of the deceased girl Deepali. With the familys belongings and money were destroyed in the fire, and no one having come forward to help them, Das now wonders how she will cremate her daughter who suffered 65% burns, and was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi where she succumbed to her injuries. Even after such a tragedy, no official visited us on Monday or today (Tuesday). No one from the district administration has come to the slum either, the 30-year-old added. Sub-divisional magistrate Bharat Bhushan Gogia said he only learnt of the fire on Tuesday. We learned about the incident on Tuesday and sent the naib tehsildar to visit the spot. A disaster management team will visit the spot on Wednesday, and assess the total damage. We will ensure that the family (of the deceased) gets support from the administration, he said. Deepalis cousin brother Pratap Das was the last to see her as she cried for help to escape the inferno. She was not keeping well, so after her father and mother left for work, she slept. When she realised theres a fire, she tried to come out of the hut, but was trapped, Pratap said, adding that she could only be pulled out of the burning hut after they broke the door open, and sprayed water on her. Despite their grief, the family, which hails from Nadia in West Bengal, has more immediate worries. We are left with nothing and have to start from scratch. How will we build our huts again or survive for a month until we get our salaries? We have never begged; we were working and saving money to build our house in the village, but now its all finished. The officials did not even bother to check how we will survive, said Das. The 80-shanty slum is home to some 250 people. Each family pays 1,500 per month for one hut. The rent was collected in the first week of every month by local contractor Nuru Thekedar. Though the police have booked Nuru Thekedar and another man identified as Sunder under sections 447( criminal treasure) 384 (extortion), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) and 304A (causing death by negligence) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, no arrests were made till late on Tuesday. We are verifying the facts of the documents related to the land (on which the slum was built) and are conducting investigations against the two men booked. We have recorded the statement of the father who said the trigger for the fire might be leakage in a gas cylinder in the area, but he is not sure of what led to the fire, said inspector Arvind Kumar, station house officer at Sector 56 police station. Meanwhile, Gurgaon district in-charge of Youth Congress and Haryana general secretary Akshat Singh visited the spot on Tuesday and met the victims. He organized food, clothes and gave cash to people to arrange for their huts. It is very unfortunate that no officials have visited the families and no help is provided to them. There should be an inquiry conducted and these people should be shifted from this location. Also, the government should take action against the people who lend these huts without any safety measures, Singh said. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) tightened the noose on water tanker mafia by moving the process of booking water tankers online. The authority launched the service on Tuesday. The authority will keep a track of entry and exit of tankers at water filling stations. These are mostly used by the developers of the city to get raw water for construction water treatment plants at Basai and Chandu Budhera and the two sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Dhanwapur and Behrampur. Developers are supposed to use recycled water of the two STPs against a nominal payment and it has been a challenge for the authority to provide water for the heavy construction activity in the city. GMDA supplies 104 MGD (million gallons a day) of water from Basai and Chandu Budhera plants to the city. Experts said that the actual need for the city, including for construction purpose, is 150 MGD water and the shortfall is being met illegally by water mafia through illegal groundwater extraction. GMDA officials said tanker operators have to make an advance online booking at treatment plants and STPs. This service is open to only authorised, registered users such as vendors or builders in GMDA area. The users have been given their login credentials to book a tanker, stating the capacity, location and type of water, to make an online payment. This will ensure that only authorised vendors with authorised tankers are procuring water from the plants, read a statement released by the GMDA on Tuesday. Drinking water will be available at the plants in Basai and boosting station in Sector 16, while canal water will be available from the Chandu Budhera plant and recycled water from STPs Dhanwapur and Behrampur, a GMDA official said. This system will ensure cashless transactions, online monitoring, ease of operation and transparency, V Umashankar, chief executive officer, GMDA, said. Activists, however, remained sceptical. Developers do not use recycled water but hire private tanker operators, who supply illegally extracted groundwater and untreated Yamuna water from the Basai and Chandu plants. I do not believe taking the process online would make a drastic impact on illegal extraction of groundwater in the city, SK Sharma, a social activist, said. According to experts, the water mafia extracts around 50 lakh litres of groundwater daily. RK Sharma, a water expert, said, We hope the online system will check the operations of mater mafia in the city. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Haryana chief secretary to submit a report within four weeks on the functioning of an unregistered HIV home in Gurgaon. Thirty children, both boys and girls, lived at the facility located in DLF Phase 1the only one in Gurgaon that houses HIV-infected children or whose parents are HIV positive. The child welfare committee (CWC) did not take any action against the Child Care Institute (CCI) in question despite knowing that it has been functioning without a registration since July 2015. The CWC acted after the matter was reported to the NHRC in February by child rights activist Arijit Adhikary based on a report in the Hindustan Times on January 3 titled Childrens Institute for HIV+ under scanner after 2 boys allege torture. The NHRC notice read: As alleged by the complainant, the children are staying here for more than three years and no norms and provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 are being followed by the custodian of the children. In spite of having knowledge of the functioning of this unregistered facility since July 2015, have not taken any steps to deal with the situation. The Commission has perused and considered the complaint. The contents of the communication, if true, raise the issue of violation of human rights of the children and require intervention by the Commission. No action has been taken against the caretaker, who was accused of brutally assaulting the two boys, even after the authorities wrote to the Gurgaon police. When we had visited the CCI on December 18, we were given false information that the two boys were away to meet their families, when they had actually run away from the CCI. I had written to the concerned station house officer reporting assault and sexual abuse of HIV positive girls, which is a violation under the POCSO Act, 2012, and Section 75 and of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. These are cognizable, non-bailable offence under the law, but no case was registered despite our regular follow-ups, said district child protection officer Ritu Rani. ACP, DLF, Anil Yadav, said a case was not registered as the parents of the victim refused to register a police case. The district child protection officer added that they are now in the process of closing the CCI run by the Desire Society. We were not satisfied with its operations and we have started shifting the children to other CCIs, she said. As per the guidelines, the children are in process of being handed over to the CWC. The process will be completed soon and 15 have already been shifted, said Dr Neelima Atal Mohanty, head of communications at Desire Society. However, CWC officials have said they do not want the home to close, but to operate in accordance with the norms. This was the only home in the district (for HIV positive children) and now it is our responsibility to shift these children. None of them are from Haryana, so that is a challenge as well. We shall prepare a social investigation report of each child before deciding on his/her restoration (transfer to different CCIs) under Section 36 of the JJ Act, 2015. For effective rehabilitation, the DCPU will prepare individual care plan of each child under Section 39 of the JJ Act, CWC chairperson Shakuntala Dhull said. Box: The organisation was not registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The home is only registered under the Societies Registration Act in Hyderabad, Telangana. The children were sent by Gurgaon CWC to the CCI on February 2, 2015, on the request of CWC, Nainital Of the three, an 11-year-old boy died on January 8, 2015, just a month after being admitted to the home. A case of unnatural death case was lodged in the local police station on August 1 last year at Sector 56 police station No social inquiry/social investigation report of the children has been ordered by Gurgaon CWC till date The Madras high court has held that centuries-old religious customs and practises cannot be stopped by government machinery by citing administrative inconvenience or anticipated trouble, unless such events become unlawful in present times. The court was disposing a petition by an executive trustee of Sri Kamatchi Amman temple in Cuddalore district, assailing an order of the local police refusing permission to the temple car festival conducted during night. Justice K Ravichandrabaabu directed the Revenue Divisional Officer, Cuddalore, to pass appropriate orders on the plea to permit the temple to take out the car during night time on the day of Panguni Uthiram festival on March 31. The police shall also extend sufficient protection at the time of conduct of such festival, the judge said. He said it was not in dispute that the temple had been conducting the car festival every year in the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) during night hours based on some astronomical calculations. Police cannot ignore the fact that the festival was being conducted for centuries during night hours and therefore, such custom and practice cannot be changed by the officials casually by the stroke of pen. Such centuries-old custom and religious practices cannot be ignored or found as insignificant since such long-run customs, privileges and practices go with the sentiments of people of such locality with which the government machinery cannot interfere in a casual manner, as has been done in this case, that too, under mere apprehension, the judge said. Unless some untoward incidents had taken place in the past which went beyond the control of law enforcing authorities, such interference cannot be made, he added. Even under such circumstances, the interference could be only by way of regulatory measure and certainly not to ban or prohibit the very event itself. Chief election commissioner OP Rawat said on Tuesday the poll panel would investigate how the dates for Karnataka election were leaked before the official announcement of the election schedule. Barely had the election commissioners sat down for a press conference to make the announcement, BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviya and Congress Karnataka social media in-charge Srivats tweeted that the state would vote on May 12 and the counting done on May 18. Certain things may have leaked for which the election commission will take strictest possible action, Rawat said to media queries on how did the poll dates get out. An official aware of the developments said, the EC is likely to hand over the probe to the IB and CBI. The poll panel will need the home ministry to escalate this request to the federal investigative agency. Malviyas tweet, which has since been deleted, got the voting date right but the counting day wrong. The results will be announced on May 15. It will be investigated. Be assured that actions, legally and administratively befitting, will be taken, Rawat said. But it wasnt just Malviya. Congress Karnataka social media in-charge, Srivats, too tweeted the day of voting and counting before the ECs announcement. 12th May it is then. 46 days to go. https://t.co/ei6wQKNhyn Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 27, 2018 Soon after, though, he also tweeted a clarification. For those asking me about my tweet on the poll dates, wasnt listening to the EC presser, saw local and national media flashing the dates and thought that it has been announced. Simple as that, wrote Srivats. But the Congress was quick to attack the BJP. The BJP had become the super election commission as it announced poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? he said. In a blow to the poll panel, the Delhi high court last week reinstated 20 MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party who were disqualified by the poll panel for holding office of profit. The court said the disqualification was in violation of the principle of natural justice and asked the EC to hold a fresh hearing and also to determine the meaning of the expression of office of profit. Also read | Karnataka assembly election dates announced: Do or die for Congress, southern test for BJP Christopher Wylie, the whistle-blower who lifted the lid on political consultancy Cambridge Analyticas misuse of Facebook user data, said on Monday that he believed the Congress was a client of the company in India although it also had worked on all kinds of projects in the country. Deposing before the digital, culture, media and sports committee of the British Parliament, Wylie, who said he joined the parent company Strategic Communications Limited (SCL) before Cambridge Analytica was formed, gave new details about cheating in the Brexit campaign and the firms work in several countries. Responding to a question on CAs work in India by Labours Paul Farrelly, he said: I believe their client was Congress, but I know that theyve done all kinds of projects both regionallyI dont remember a national project, I know regionally. I mean India is so big, one state could be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff there. I believe I have some documentation on India which I can also provide to the committee. Read: Amid data-privacy crisis, Facebook to delay launch of new products The Congress maintained that it never hired Cambridge Analytica, which has been in the eye of the storm following revelations that it had access to Facebook user data. On Tuesday, the party dared law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to file a first information report against the firm and its Indian partners and also against Facebook on the basis of the evidence obtained by the government. Why hasnt the law minister done that? ...If you dont have any answer, Mr law minister, you better quit the officeyou have no right to remain the law minister of this country, partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said. He spoke after Prasad demanded an apology from the opposition party. Today the whistle-blower Christopher Wylie has confirmed that Cambridge Analytica worked with Congress. This has exposed (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi who was denying (it) all along. Congress and Rahul Gandhi must now apologise, said Prasad. Farrelly said Wylie would be very welcome to provide the documentation he offered, and noted in his question that he had focused on the worlds biggest democracy with lots and lots of elections over time. You mentioned India as a prime source of business. You mentioned theyve done quite a bit of work in India. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will escalate its demand for special category status to the state, party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Tuesday after an all-party meeting that estranged partner the BJP skipped. Naidu said he will visit New Delhi on April 2 and 3 to meet representatives of all political parties to seek their support for a stir that the TDP seeks to continue until the BJP-led Centre concedes the demand for special status. Almost all parties across the country endorse a discussion on our issues in Parliament. The state government hopes for a discussion on the Centres attitude towards issues important for Andhra Pradesh, he said. According to the chief minister, the meeting at Amaravati was convened to take everyones suggestions and decide how to go forward in Parliament. We invited organisations that fought for the state during its bifurcation and the ones fighting now. The six-hour meeting adopted a resolution asking the Centre to meet the promises made when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014 to carve out a separate state of Telangana. It asked the Union government carry out the provisions in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and assurances made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, especially special status for the state. A state government statement said the resolution at the meet decided to awaken people in the next 10 days and prepare them for the fight to protect the states interests. Besides the BJP, the YSR Congress and the Jana Sena Party of actor Pawan Kalyan didnt attend the meeting. The BJPs absence is understandable as the TDP quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ruling coalition at the Centre on March 16 over the delay in granting special status to the state. The two parties have been trading charges since then, and the TDP had moved a non-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. The states main opposition party, the YSR Congress, said in a statement that it objected to Naidu leading a fight for securing special status for the state and refused to be drawn into yet another conspiracy of the chief minister. Jana Sena founder-president Kalyan termed the meeting a political ploy of the TDP, saying the chief minister lacked a strong will and commitment to bring out a positive result. The Congress, CPI and CPI(M) attended the meeting along with organisations such as the Special Status Sadhana Samithi, and labour and trade associations. The Left parties said Naidus party was to be equally blamed along with the BJP for the injustice done to the state after its bifurcation. The Left parties did not support the resolution at the meeting. It is too late for the TDP to take up an agitation. You threw us in jail when we were fighting for the states cause, CPI(M) state secretary P Madhu said, referring to the stir over the past three years seeking special status for the state. We will have our own programme of action. The Congress and other organisations backed the resolution, saying they would support any fight taken up by the state government against the Centre to get the promises made ahead of the bifurcation. Convenor of the Struggle Committee to Achieve Special Status, Chalasani Srinivas, said the fight should be taken to New Delhi, rather than holding demonstrations in the state. Among the decisions taken on Tuesday was a call to wear black badges and protest the Centres attitude. The employees organisations said it register a Japanese-style protest by working extra hours. Chief minister Naidu tried to explain why his party forged an alliance with the BJP before the 2014 parliamentary elections and how the NDA cheated the states people in four years. He presented data on funds received from the Centre, utilisation certificates submitted by the state, pending financial assistance from the Centre, and promises made and ignored. (with agency inputs) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed temples in Mathura and Vrindavan to donate all flowers offered to them to shelter homes for widows and destitute women in a bid to improve the livelihood of such women in the two cities. The apex court said women in these shelter homes run by the Uttar Pradesh government can use the flowers to make incense sticks and organic colours to earn their livelihood. The court ordered all the temples located in the two cities to deposit the flowers only with the shelter homes for widows and destitute which would also prevent them from dumping them in the Yamuna river. This mechanism will also help to keep Yamuna clean and also generate employment for the widows, a bench of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta told states additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhati when she placed the proposal before it. The court appreciated the states effort and also asked the Union ministry of women and child development (WCD) to extend the scheme to all major temple towns such as Puri, Tirupati and Varanasi for the welfare of widows. The top court also asked the UP government to carry out an inspection of all its shelter homes of Vrindavan to examine and ascertain the status of the buildings there. The SC has been hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the plight of widows living in Vrindavan. Subsequent to the petition the top court had given extensive guidelines to improve their living conditions. It then extended the scope of the PIL and went on to monitor the functioning of widow shelter homes in other states. On Tuesday, the court also directed all states to provide details of shelter homes being run, number of widows and destitute women residing in these homes as well as the schemes in place for the welfare of these women to the Union ministry of women and child development so that the functioning of the schemes can be monitored. The last known survivor from among seven paramilitary troopers who received and escorted the Dalai Lama to safety when he stepped onto Indian soil on March 31, 1959, after a daring escape from Lhasa, is expected to be a special guest at an event commemorating the start of the Tibetan spiritual leaders 60th year in exile. Naren Chandra Das, a 79-year-old retired havildar of 5 Assam Rifles, is likely to be among the invitees to the event being organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at McLeodganj near Dharamshala on March 31. The event will mark the year-long Thank You India campaign. Naren Das will be one of the special guests to grace the occasion, a person familiar with the matter said. CTA officials declined to confirm on record that he was on the guest list, saying the names of the invitees would be disclosed later. The event is scheduled to begin with an inter-faith prayer presided over by the Dalai Lama at Rajghat in New Delhi on March 31, but the venue was changed to McLeodganj, the exile home of the Nobel Peace Laureate, after the Indian government directed officials at the Centre and state governments not to participate in the campaign in order to avoid provoking China, which considers him a separatist. Das, who hails from Balipara in Sonitpur district of Assam, and his colleagues, led by their section commander, were ordered to move to the international border to receive a special guest and bring him to India safely. They were instructed not to talk with the Dalai Lama, who was disguised as a soldier. Das was then a rifleman. The 82-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader had met Das for the first time in 58 years during the Namami Brahmaputra river festival organised by the Assam government last year. Looking at your face, I now realise I must be very old too, the Dalai Lama told Das at the emotional reunion. Indias first global counter terrorism and anti-insurgency centre will come up in Jaipur on a 50-acre land. Rajasthan home department has identified land for the centre near Bagru town of Jaipur district, said a senior officer of the department. The cost of the centre is estimated to be Rs 275 crores, out of which Centre will bear Rs 165 crore and the state will pitch in with the remaining amount (Rs 110 crore). Sardar Patel Global Center for Security, Counter Terrorism and Anti-insurgency was part of Chief Minister Vasundhar Rajes 2018 budget announcement, the officer added. The proposal to allot identified land has been submitted to Jaipur Development Authority (JDA). Until the building comes up, the centre will run from two buildings at Rajasthan Police Academy in Jaipur. A proposal of Rs 3.32 crore has been sent to finance department to refurbish the two buildings. State government source said PM Narendra Modi will be invited for the foundation laying ceremony and opening of the centre at RPA. It will be one-of-its-kind institute in India where activities such as discussions, training modules etc will be prepared to counter terrorism. Security agencies and armed forces would be trained to counter terrorism tactically and strategically here, said the home department official. He said the center will take two-three years to complete. The union government will send an installment of Rs 55 crore ever year for three years for the project. Shambhu Lal Regar, who is in the Jodhpur jail for allegedly hacking and burning a Muslim labourer, was honoured with a tableau during Ram Navmi celebrations in the city on Sunday. Pictures of a procession organised to celebrate the birthday of Lord Ram have surfaced on social media, with a banner hailing Regar as the one who curbed love jihad. After he allegedly murdered Mohammed Afrazul in December, Regar uploaded a series of videos, including the one of the crime, on social media, ranting against Muslims and accused them of entrapping Hindu girls to covert them to Islam -- a charge often levelled by right-wing Hindu groups. Read: A month after Afrazul was hacked to death, a look at his journey from Malda to Rajsamand I just wanted to express my regard for Regar. His commitment towards Hinduism inspired me. There was no intention to hurt anybodys sentiments, said Hari Singh Panwar, who organised the tableau and is the co-treasurer of Shiv Senas Jodhpur chapter. Deputy commissioner of police (Jodhpur East) Amandeep Singh said on Tuesday they learnt about the tableau from media reports but had not received a complaint. If we receive one, well act accordingly, Singh said. The murder of Afrazul, who hailed from West Bengal, caused nation-wide outrage, with chief ministers of both Rajasthan and Bengal condemning the incident. In the pictures of the tableau, a man who bears a striking resemblance to Regar is seen seated on a throne-like chair with a pickaxe in his hand. He is dressed in clothes similar to what Regar was wearing when he allegedly committed the murder. Read: Rajsamand hate crime: Man linked Muslim labourer Afrajuls murder to love jihad to hide affair A banner calls upon Hindu brethren to protect their sisters and daughters and liberate the country from love jihad. It also has a photo of Panwar and a bigger picture of Regar. Asked about the murder charge against Regar, Panwar said he would not comment on a sub judicious matter. The law comes first but Regar awakened devotion for their faith among Hindus and also made them aware about love jihad, he said, demanding a law against the so-called love jihad. Regar had an illicit relationship with the woman he referred to as the Hindu sister in the video, police have said in the charge sheet. He might have raised the love-jihad bogey to cover for the murder that was driven by jealousy as Regar was upset over the woman keeping in touch with a labourer with whom she had allegedly eloped years ago. The labourer, too, was from West Bengal. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Tuesday accused Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah of trying to divide Hindus in the state by seeking to confer the status of a religious minority on the Lingayat and Veerashaiva Linagayat communities. The Congress party, which governs Karnataka, rubbished the allegation. Just ahead of the (assembly) elections in Karnataka, they have tried to divide Lingayats and Veerashaivas, also Lingayats and other communities, by announcing minority status for them, Shah told reporters. Questioning the timing of the move, he asked the Siddaramaiah government, What were you doing for five years? In 2013 when your own (United Progressive Alliance, or UPA) government was in power at the Centre, they had rejected it. Why was Siddaramaiah silent then?. This is an attempt to divide the Hindus.., he said. On the state governments decision, which is subject to central government approval, Shah said the timing was questionable, coming less than two months before the polls, which the Election Commission of India on Tuesday set for May 12. Read: Minority status for Lingayats: Who they are and how they affect Karnataka elections It is a conspiracy to stop (BJP chief ministerial candidate BS) Yeddyurappa from becoming chief minister, Shah said, adding that chief minister Siddaramaiah was not an AHINDA (ar local acronym for minority communities, backward classes and Dalits) leader, but Ahindu, or anti-Hindu. On one hand, Congress president (Rahul Gandhi) speaks about uniting Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, while on the other hand in Karnataka, its own chief minister is speaking about dividing Hindus. I have not seen such a sharp difference within a political party, he added. Congresss Karnataka unit president G Parameshwara said a demand for the recognition of Lingayats as a religious minority bad been made in the past by BJP leaders. It is true that the UPA government rejected the move. Now they (BJP-led National Democratic Alliance) are running the government at the centre, so they can recognise the sect as a minority. After all, the states decision was based on an experts committees recommendation. When asked about the Congresss recent allegation that the Janata Dal (Secular) was a B team of the BJP, Shah denied any nexus between the two parties . We will contest all 224 seats in the state. There is no question of an alliance, he said. Read: Karnataka assembly elections on May 12: Whats at stake for Congress, BJP The BJP president accused the Congress of being against the interests of farmers. In Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where the BJP had ruled for a long time, farmer suicides were low. Even those were for reasons other than of agriculture. Where the Congress is in power, farmer suicides are high, he said. Shah also said the BJP was open to fielding the pontiffs of mutts, or Hindu religious seats, as candidates in the May 12 assembly elections in Karnataka, but a decision would be taken by the central leadership, based on merit. We are not opposed to fielding seers in the election, but such tickets will be given on the basis of merit and the Parliamentary board of the party will take a decision on this, Shah said at a press conference. Shah, who is on a two-day tour of Karnataka, visited two mutts on Monday and is set to visit three more on Tuesday. Crucially, four of the five pontiffs belong to the Lingayat community. (With PTI inputs) With the Karnataka assembly elections set to be held on May 12, the political battle shifts from the east (three North-Eastern states went to the polls in February) and north (by-polls were held in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in March) to the south. But it is not just the shift in geography which makes the battle for the southern state important. It is a battle which will, in many ways, determine the political balance of power in 2019. Here is why Karnataka matters. For the Congress, this is almost an existential battle. The party has been reduced to power in only three states Punjab, Mizoram and Karnataka. A loss could erode Congress president Rahul Gandhis credibility. It could devastate the cadre and leave them with a sense that 2019 is a lost cause. It will leave the party without power in the South (barring Puducherry) which remains the final unconquered bastion for the BJP. A win, on the other hand, will boost party morale, give a sense of revival to the leadership and the workers, energise the entire opposition, and give it a sense that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) juggernaut can be halted. This is crucial as the Congress heads to three elections where it is in direct contest with the BJP Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan at the end of the year. For the BJP, Karnataka matters precisely because it is central to the partys Congress-mukt Bharat political project. It matters also because of the potential anti-incumbency factor the BJP will confront in the three other states heading for the polls. Karnataka also matters for the BJP because a win will reverse the reverses the party has suffered in the form of a string of by-poll losses in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, MP and Rajasthan. The growing conventional wisdom in Delhis political circles is that 2019 is not 2014 and that the Modi wave may have dissipated. A win in Karnataka will reinforce BJPs dominance and help counter the perception that it has already peaked. For the BJP, Karnataka is important also because while the party has broken its past image of being just a North Indian party (by expanding in the North-East), an upper-caste party (by winning the support of backward and Dalit groups) and urban force (by doing well in rural areas), it has not been able to make inroads into the South. Indeed, there appears to be rising concern in the South at what are perceived as BJP attempts to impose cultural or linguistic uniformity. Policy issues like the terms of reference for the Fifteenth Finance Commission have generated concerns in the South that the balance of political and fiscal power is shifting to the north entirely. For the BJP, a win in Karnataka will help quell this perception that it is anti-South, and offer it a platform to expand in other pockets of the region. Two hundred and twenty-four seats will go to polls in Karnataka. In the outcome of each assembly seat will lie not just the future of the states citizens, but the fortunes of Indias two major national parties and the balance of power between them as the country heads to 2019. On April 12, 2017, a day before the crucial bypoll results for two assembly seats in Karnataka, chief minister Siddaramaiah received an adverse intelligence report. It predicted the Congress party would lose both the seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress had won Nanjangud and Gundlupet in 2013. While the Gundlupet legislator had passed away, Nanjanguds MLA V Srinivas Prasad had an acrimonious exit from the party after Siddaramaiah dropped him from the state cabinet. Prasad had got the BJP ticket to contest again from the Scheduled Caste seat. Both seats came under the chief ministers home region of Mysore, making it a prestige battle. An aggressive BJP, seeing a chance, called it a semi-final to the state polls with BS Yeddyurappa, the BJPs state party president, camping there for close to a month. Veteran Congress leader SM Krishna had also switched sides barely two weeks before the poll and campaigned for the BJP. The odds seemed to be stacked against the Congress, but the party won both seats comfortably in the end. Describing how they turned things around, a close aide of Siddaramaiahs strategy team says, In Nanjangud, we ensured our candidate visited every Dalit house because his rival was unwell and unable to campaign door-to-door. We also prepared a booklet highlighting the BJPs anti-Dalit policies and action which were handed out to voters by our cadre. In Gundlupet, the party played on garnering sympathy vote for its candidate Geetha Mahadev Prasad, wife of the sitting MLA who had died. The BJPs negative campaign portraying her as power-hungry did not work, strategists said. In addition, WhatsApp messages in the CMs voice were aggressively circulated highlighting the governments achievements. Finally, besides the CM, almost the entire cabinet was deputed for campaigning in the last leg even missing out on the ongoing assembly session. This victory proved to be the turning point for the partys prospects in 2018, according to people in the CMs war room who believe the party has done enough to retain power in the state. The by-election results also signalled a shift towards a more professional style of political management, unusual for the Congress and even more so for Siddaramaiah, considered an old-school political strategist. READ: Karnataka assembly elections on May 12: Whats at stake for Congress, BJP The CM has hired polling agency C-Fore . Led by Premchand Palety, their role is to conduct surveys to assess the peoples mood, provide feedback on each sitting MLAs prospects and design campaign advertisements. Key political decisions, however, remain in political hands. The core team handling CMs strategy (separate from the AICC team led by General Secretary K.C Venugopal) is a closed group of five people, including KJ George (Bengaluru planning and development minister), HC Mahadevappa (public works department minister) and M. Kempaiah, retired IPS officer and advisor to home minister. Unlike the usual Congress practice of last-minute ticket distribution, the CMs team had by July last year completed a detailed evaluation of each of the sitting 121 MLAs. Thirty-five legislators were reported to be weak and were warned to focus on development works in their seats, says a member of the team. A recent re-assessment of the group was done and about 20-21 MLAs are expected to be dropped for the 2018 assembly elections. CAMPAIGN PLANKS Good governance : Often taunted as Nidde Ramaiah (Sleepy), the CM has slowly tried to change his image over the last year. In March, he launched a website detailing every scheme of every department with district-wise progress to sell his image as a leader of the poor. In June, he made an appearance on a popular chat show, Weekend with Ramesh, which highlighted his personal and political journey. A flurry of social security schemes were launched -- Indira Canteens (focused on urban poor); Laptop Bhagya (provided free laptops to Dalit and tribal students) to target the partys core voter base. A day after the Centres announcement of National Health Protection Scheme, the state announced its own universal coverage plan. Kannadiga pride: People in the core team say this plank was devised to counter the BJPs Hindutva card. From supporting the protest against Hindi signs at Bangalore metro last year to making Kannada compulsory in schools, the state government, this month, launched its own state flag Nada Dwaja. Forcing the BJP into a corner, the state has forwarded the cabinet proposal to the home ministry for clearance. This has caught the BJP in a bind as the state leaders cannot vocally oppose it but it does not tie into the pan-Indian nationalism that the BJP at the Centre wants to espouse. Corruption : Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first election rally in Bengaluru called the Congress state government a 10% sarkar, alleging rampant corruption. But the Congress has not shied from using the BJPs corruption allegation back at them. At the state-level, it has repeatedly attacked the BJPs CM face Yeddyurappa over the mining scam following which he had to resign from the last government and even go to jail. The party has targeted the Centre over Nirav Modi and Rafale deal. On social media, the CM tweeted to the PM why he had failed to appoint a Lokayukta. CHALLENGES Polarisation: Sources say the BJPs hard line on Hindutva, particularly in the coastal districts of Udupi, Uttar and Dakshina Kannada, will be a challenge for the party. This month, during BJPs Jan Suraksha Yatra in Mangalore, a provocative tableau depicting cow killings had to be seized by the state administration. Over the granting of separate religion status to Lingayats, the BJP has accused the state government of trying to divide Hindus. Earlier in the campaign, the CM had received flak for calling BJP and RSS members -terrorists. Rahul Gandhis temple run also sits awkwardly with the CMs own agnostic stand on religion. Urban vote: After losing in urban centres across Gujarat, a big test for the Congress will be to win over this demographic in Karnataka. In the last election in 2013, despite a clear majority, the Congress party only won 13 of the 28 seats in Bengaluru. A fractured BJP, which performed poorly overall, won 12 seats in the city and the remaining three went to the Janata Dal (Secular). The BJP also holds three of the four Lok Sabha seats in the city. Recurring water shortages, potholed roads and burning lakes have marred the image of Bengaluru. While road repair works are in full-swing and treatment plants are being set up for waste disposal to curb fires, whether these initiatives have come too late will be a factor. Rural distress: No incumbent government has been re-elected in the state since 1985 and farmers reeling from two successive droughts constitute a challenge for the ruling party. Last year, the drought was the worst in 42 years but this years rain has brought some respite. Rural seats are almost double the number of urban seats, making it an important vote-base. The budget in mid-February announced a guaranteed income scheme for dry land farmers and cheap loans amongst others. But that may not necessarily be enough. Narendar Pani, professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies says, Droughts give an opportunity to the people to evaluate the government. So, it will be important whether the government is seen to be sensitive or not. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah was on Tuesday faced with an awkward situation when the seer of a Lingayat math in Chitradurga handed him a memorandum asking for the central government to grant minority status to the sect. Shah, who is on a two-day tour of poll-bound Karnataka, visited the Murugha Math in Chitradurga, one of the five he visited during this period. Shah was taken into the chamber of Shivamurthy Murugha Swamy and discussions were held. Coming hours after Shah termed the state governments decision on the Lingayat issue an effort to stop the BJPs chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa from becoming CM, the memorandum came as a reminder that the move was backed by some powerful maths. The government of Karnataka has rightly recommended to the Central Backward Commission in this regard. Minority status to this religion will definitely deliver some benefits to the youth of the community - individually and collectively, the memorandum says. Swamy later said he had informed Shah that everybody was welcome in the math but that it was a secular math based on the principles of 12th century philosopher Basavanna. I told him that this is a long pending demand of the whole community and the Centre must keep our interests in mind, Swamy said. State law minister TB Jayachandra said the ball was in the Centres court. It will be interesting to see what Shah says about the memorandum, he said. Meanwhile, B Muralidhar Rao, BJP general secretary in charge for the state, said no such memorandum had been handed over to Shah. The issue didnt even come up for discussion, he said. However, former Union minister GM Siddeshwara, who was also present at the meeting, confirmed that the pontiff had handed over documents to Shah. I cannot say for certain that the Lingayat issue was discussed because the swamiji and Shah were seated at a distance from us, he said. A clutch of no-confidence motion notices served by different opposition members could not be taken up yet again on Tuesday with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan citing lack of order in the House and adjourning the Lok Sabha for the day. Majahan who had first adjourned the Lower House in the morning at 11.02 over disruptions, announced the end of the days proceedings a few minutes after the it reconvened at noon. In the Rajya Sabha, which did not function either over disruptions and frequent adjournments, opposition members protested the adjournment of the House by chairman M Venkaiah Naidu by staying in their seats for half-an-hour after the House was adjourned. There are only six sittings remaining in the current session. Lawmakers from the AIADMK were in the well protesting and demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board to which members from the Congress and the Left protested, standing at their seats. Mahajan announced she would not be able to take up the no-confidence motions till there was order in the House. I am duty boundI cant do it till there is order in the House, Mahajan said. Opposition members had come equipped with numbered placards that said for no-confidence to drive home the point that more than 50 MPs wanted the no-confidence motion. Leader of the Congress in the LS, Mallikarjun Kharge, insisted that the motions be tabled in the House. Madam we want a discussionthe support of 50 members of the House is needed, there are many more, he told the Speaker amid the protests. Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar reiterated that the government enjoys confidence of the people inside and outside Parliament. Attacking the Congress, Kumar said, The Congress has become a marginal party and lost its primacy. It has become a party that follows others. The Congress had last week joined the list of parties that had already served notices for no-confidence motions against the government. Tempers ran high in the Lower House even after it was adjourned, with some members of the Congress and the AIADMK nearly clashing after a heated exchange between the two sides, prompting the watch and ward staff to intervene and break up the quarrelling sides. Congress MP KC Venugopal and AIADMK member PR Sundaram had argued after the Kerala MPs alleged accusation that there was a match fixing between the Tamil Nadu party and the BJP, leading to the MPs almost coming to blows. The death of journalist Sandeep Sharma in Madhya Pradeshs Bhind has put the spotlight on illegal sand mining in the state. This is not the first time that a death has been linked to the practice of illegal mining that has thrived despite several measures promised to check the practice. In 2012, Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Narendra Kumar was run over in Morena by a tractor-trolley carrying illegally mined stone slabs when he was attempting to stop the vehicle on March 8. In April 2015, a constable was run over by a truck filled up with illegally mined sand when he tried to stop it. An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sonia Meena was threatened at gun point by illegal miners when, as a sub-divisional magistrate in Chhattarpur district, she made a bid to check illegal mining in Betwa river in 2017. Later, she faced a death threat and complained to the chief secretary BP Singh. Reports about police, revenue and forest officials being threatened or attacked from across the state are common, say officials. When the government officers are facing threat to their life from powerful mining mafia, the situation of journalists who want to expose the mafia can be anybodys guess, said a government officer requesting anonymity. Former state home minister Babulal Gaur said when he toured the Gwalior-Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh in 2013 many police officers requested for a transfer because they couldnt manage the impunity of illegal sand mining in the area and associated political pressure. Illegal mining cannot flourish in the state without a political patronage irrespective of the party in power, he added. Sharma had aired allegations of a nexus between cops and sand mining mafia last year. He then demanded security from police, citing threats, but it wasnt provided. The opposition Congress has said the mining mafia killed Sharma, and has blamed the state government for not cracking down on the practice. Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted on Tuesday: Earlier also a police officer was murdered in 2012 while exposing sand mafia. Madhya Pradesh is no. in illegal mining- it is clear its not possible without governments protection. Journalists have borne the brunt of the sand mafias threats and violence. In December 2017 itself, at least six journalists were attacked and injured, in Chhatarpur district while they were covering illegal mining. As per a reply given in Rajya Sabha by the government on February 7, 2018, Madhya Pradesh saw the most attacks against media person in 2015 and 2016 with 19 and 24 cases, respectively. A total of 42,152 cases of illegal mining for major and minor minerals were registered in the state from 2009 to 2015. When it comes to Chambal and Sindh rivers only approximately there is business of 25 to 30 lakh per day involved in illegal mining, said Sudhir Sapra, a Gwalior-based environmentalist. The government has said it is doing everything it can to check illegal mining. Bhind DM Ilayaraja T said, We are taking stringent steps to check illegal mining. Unlike earlier when we used to seize the heavy machines and release it later, now we are auctioning such seized machines. MP mining secretary Manohar Dubey said instructions had been given to all the collectors to check illegal mining. We are also trying to increase the number of legal mines. Positioning herself as a rallying point of anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJ) forces, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday met an array of Opposition leaders and the Shiv Sena, a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with an eye on the 2019 elections. Banerjee widened the scope of her engagements and will also meet disgruntled BJP leaders like former ministers Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday. Banerjee will also talk to her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal during her stay in the national capital, where she will meet Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi at 7 pm on Wednesday. We want all opposition parties to work together. We should help the strongest opposition party in states to fight the BJP. It should be one fight. If Mayawatiji and Akhilesh (Yadav) are strong in Uttar Pradesh, they should work together. We should help them, Banerjee said after her meetings. People are against the BJP. I have travelled to all the states. I know the mood of the people. Issues like demonetisation, GST (goods and services tax), bank fraud have affected people even at the grassroot level. The time has come for this BJP to pack up and go, she added. Banerjees visit adds new momentum to the Oppositions effort to explore the possibilities of cobbling together an anti-BJP front in the 2019 polls. To be sure, leaders like Pinaki Mishra of the BJD and Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena described their meetings with her as courtesy calls. The Shiv Sena is part of Maharashtras coalition government, which is led by the BJP. Banerjee drew a line of distinction between the Sena and the BJPboth seen as saffron outfits by many in the Opposition camp. I respect Shiv Sena. At least it does not do politics with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP, Banerjee said after her meeting with Raut. While she met NC leader Farooq Abdullah, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams Kanimozhi and the floor leaders of the Telugu Desam Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the Parliament building. Banerjee also meiNationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar, who has already set the tone for a possible alliance at a recent function in Maharashtra. NCP leader Praful Patel later said Banerjee and Pawar had discussed opposition unity. , We saw during the Uttar Pradesh by-poll, the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) and the SP started working together. Therefore, it is important that political differences among opposition should be resolved. Leaders in the TMC added Banerjee is open for a federal front and a United Progressive Alliance-like post-poll arrangement to keep the BJP out of power. The BJP has rejected the Congresss allegations that the NaMo app shares user data with third-party vendors. Amit Malviya, who heads the partys IT cell, told Hindustan Times that safeguarding data lies at the core of its social media policy. Excerpts: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the NaMo app secretly records audio, video and other data, and even tracks location via GPS. Concerns over data sharing have also been raised by a French security analyst. How do you respond to these allegations? Rahul Gandhi is a technology dinosaur. He said that connecting MRI machines will bring about a healthcare revolution. Tomorrow, Rahul Gandhi will tweet that the NaMo app is connected to EVM machines, and EVM tampering happens through it. His charges are ridiculous, and not even in the realm of technology. The concerns expressed by the French analyst have been addressed. No data has been shared with any third-party vendor. People have downloaded the NaMo app of their own volition. They can even access it in guest mode, without giving any permission or sharing data. Gandhi has also alleged that Modi is misusing his position to build a personal database on billions of Indians via the NaMo app, which is promoted by the government. He is factually incorrect. The NaMo app is managed by the BJP, not the government. What is wrong if he has unprecedented popularity, and billions follow and interact with him through his app? You have been quoted as saying that data shared from the app (with a third party) is contextual and cause-specific, and for analytics. Would you explain to users in what context is sharing of data allowed? How is it different from the data mining and harvesting done by Cambridge Analytica? No data has been shared with any third-party service. The analytical tool merely studies user behaviour and surfing patterns; it does not have access to user data. For instance, a person who looks up content related to agriculture will get agriculture-related content. Cambridge Analytica was using data surreptitiously; it was stealing user data under a pretext other than political. It manipulated the political understanding of the user, which is illegal and immoral. On Twitter, you accused the Congress of illegally sharing user data with third parties. You alleged data are stored in Singaporean servers. These are not mere allegations. They have been substantiated by screenshots of their website and apps that show how data is remitted and stored in Singapore. Their privacy policy is scary. When the Congress says they will share your data with like-minded groups, the implications are grave. It could be anybody from urban Maoists to Bharat Ke Tukde gang. How do you explain seeking data from the NCC cadets? There is no compulsion on the cadets to download the app. It is just the fastest and convenient way of connecting with the PM. Do you have a code of ethics that binds your social media policy? What gatekeeping measures do you put while designing an app? Our code of conduct is well-defined and available for everybody to see on our website. Being a political party, we dont dissuade people from joining and engaging. Whether you choose to comment or leave your data behind, we will ensure that it is protected. We have gone to the extent of saying that our vendors are bound by our code of conduct. For instance, if you make an online payment for our monthly journals or request membership, the vendor responsible for the gateway will have to adhere to the partys code of conduct. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day following protests by the Opposition. As soon as Lok Sabha met for the day, members from the AIADMK trooped into the Well shouting slogans and holding placards as they sought immediate setting up of the Cauvery river management board. Disruptions have been frequent since March 5 when the House re-assembled for the Budget session after recess. Here are the highlights: 12.05pm: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan says the house is not in order. 11.40am: Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day. 11.05am: Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourns the house after Opposition storms the Well. 11am: Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon after loud slogans of we want justice were raised in the House as soon as proceedings began. The Election Commission might have announced election dates for Karnataka only on Tuesday but poll campaigning in the state is in full swing. All three political parties the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) have launched statewide tours to drum up support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have all visited the state. Modi has addressed eight rallies in the state, Shah is on his fourth tour and Gandhi has completed four tours of the state. JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy are also travelling across the state. We are confident of winning a clear majority in the state, said Shah, adding that his party was ready for the polls. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said his party was expecting the announcement. We felt the announcement could be made any time after March 23, he said. The state goes to the polls on May 12 and results are out on May 15. The Congress is fighting to retain control of the only large state it is in power currently while the BJP is looking to make inroads into the south. READ | Karnataka assembly elections on May 12: Whats at stake for Congress, BJP The recent decision of the state government to recognise Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats (those who follow teachings of 12th century philosopher Basavanna) is expected to have a bearing on the polls, as the BJPs chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, is said to command a significant chunk of supporters. Meanwhile, there have been rumblings of dissent among all three parties members, with BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday trying to mend differences between Yeddyurappa and senior leader KS Eshwarappa. In the 2013 elections, Yeddyurappa and followers of the Reddy brothers of Ballari had broken away from the party, and contested against the BJP, which crashed from 110 seats in the 2008 elections to just 40 in 2013. This time, Yeddyurappa and the Reddy brothers have been brought back into the BJP fold. The dispute over the Mahadayi river water has pit the Congress against the BJP, which rules both other states that are party to the issue Goa and Maharashtra. READ | Karnataka elections: Can Siddaramaiah repeat his bypoll success? The Congress is banking on a slew of welfare schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah government. The BJP is banking on the alleged anti-Hindu orientation of the state government. It has also called the Congress government the most-corrupt ever. The JD(S) has projected itself as the best alternative, with Kumaraswamy calling the previous BJP and Congress governments corrupt and inept. It is currently in an alliance with the Congress in the Bengaluru corporation, but Rahul Gandhi has attacked the party calling it the B team of the BJP. Political analysts said the JD(S) had the most at stake. For that party it is a question of survival, said Narendar Pani, faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. If it does badly, it could be written off, he added. For the BJP, analysts said it will be a test of the Partys claims of pan-India credentials. While it is unclear how the Lingayats might vote, the BJP has the benefit of a very strong organisation. So, some Lingayats might continue to vote for it because of an emotional connect, said Harish Ramaswamy, faculty at the Karnatak University in Dharwad. About the Congress, Pani said, this would be a test to see if it can bounce back and a challenge to its national credentials. Pockets of Bengal continued to simmer in tension as prohibitory orders were clamped following the death of three people in widespread violence over Ram Navami processions since March 25. Police patrolled neighbourhoods in Purulias Beldi village, Raniganj town in West Burdwan district and Kankinara in North 24 Parganas, where three people lost their lives since Sunday. Police pickets and constant patrolling will continue till the time normalcy is restored, said Joy Biswas, Purulia superintendent of police. The police have arrested 17 people till Tuesday. In Beldi village in Purulia, Sheikh Sajahan, 50, was killed when he was caught in a clash that between police and Bajrang Dal supporters on Sunday afternoon. On Tuesday, Bajrang Dal activists staged protests in front of the Purulia Sadar police station alleging that their activists were falsely implicated in the case. Section 144 were clamped in the industrial belt of Raniganj. Although the situation is normal now, police picketing will continue for some more time, said L N Meena, commissioner of Asansol Durgapur Police. Tension also prevailed at Kakinara in North 24 Parganas district, where a local balloon-seller was killed on Monday morning after he was caught in a clash between groups of people who treid to vandalise a statue of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and those who tried to thwart them. Though the situation seems to be normal now, we are not taking any chances. Section 144 is in force. Police pickets have been set up, said a police official of the district, who did not wish to be named. A total of 13 people were arrested in this area. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed the BJP for the violence over Ram Navami. Did Lord Ram ask people to carry pistols and swords, she remarked at an administrative review meeting in South 24 Parganas district on Monday. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh denied the charges. Union minister of state heavy industries and Asamsol Lok Sabha MP , Babul Supriyo, tweeted that the Bengal government was resorting to appeasement politics and Hindus were being subjected to torture. The goons from minority community came, slaughtered and was given a safe haven to escape.. The entire nation needs to know how dirty a politics of appeasement Mamta Govt is playing in Bengal, he wrote on Twitter, referring to the trouble in Raniganj on Monday. The Bengali Hindus will be constrained to take things in their own hands to protect themselves and their religion, said the national spokesman of Viswa Hindu Parishad, Vinod Vansal, in a statement cautioning the Bengal chief minister. The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the May 31 deadline for the ongoing process of publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam in the wake of panchayat elections in the state, saying the polls should not become an impediment. The top court, however, spared the Additional Deputy Commissioner rank officer currently engaged in NRC updation work for the local bodies elections scheduled next month. We have already said that the deadline for updation of NRC is May 31 and the next 30 days for cross-checking of data till June 30. It cant go beyond that and complete final draft should be ready by then. You deploy your surplus employees or request neighbhouring states, but no employee engaged in NRC work can be spared or disturbed, a bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said. The benchs remark came after the state government said the panchayat elections were due next month and urged that the employees engaged in NRC work be allowed to be deployed for the polls. The NRC is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam. The bench said it had no intention to interfere with the panchayat polls in the state and it should be held as per schedule. But the polls shall not become impediment in the work of NRC, it added. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Assam, told the court that as per the Panchayat Constitution Rules of the state, deputy commissioner is responsible for the elections but he was currently engaged in NRC work. When we asked the deputy commissioner to work for polls, the state coordinator of NRC Prateek Hajela said it will be contempt of court as no officer can be engaged in any other work, he said. To this, the bench said if there was a statutory requirement, then the additional deputy commissioners of each district can be spared for the local bodies election, but no other official can be allowed to do any other job, except NRC updation. The bench asked all state governments, railways, banks, CBSE, UIDAI and Ministry of External Affairs to assist the NRC officials in verification of the records in the stipulated period. Mehta said if the panchayat elections are delayed in Assam, then the state will lose a grant of Rs 1000 crore, which can be given only if the elected local bodies are in place as per the recommendation of 14th Finance Commission. During the hearing, the bench also pulled up the Registrar General of India (RGI) for putting spanners in the work of updation of NRC. Mr. Attorney General, we have received a confidential report from our sources and have found that this gentleman (Registrar General of India) is putting spanners in the work, the bench said. Attorney General K K Venugopal, who was present in the courtroom, asked whether the court meant that the RGI was delaying the work. Yes. We have received a confidential report regarding this. If that will be the case, we will not hesitate to direct for replacing the Registrar General of India, the bench said. RGI Shailesh was also present in the courtroom when the bench made the observation and warned him of the action. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on May 8. On February 20, the apex court had made it clear that the ongoing process of publication of the final NRC in Assam has to be completed by May 31 this year and work on it should continue without any interference from any quarter. The bench, while noting in its order that the work of final draft NRC would be completed by June 30, had also dealt with the issue of the upcoming panchayat and local body elections in Assam, which were due in for April this year. The top court had said that the state election commission would conduct these elections as per schedule but the poll process should not cause slightest of interference in the publication of NRC. It had said that the work of holding election will not be at the cost of upgradation and preparation of NRC. The first draft NRC for Assam was published in December end as per the apex courts direction to come out with the first draft NRC by December 31, 2017. The apex court had said that claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by December 31 last year, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine. The NRC of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement among the state and central governments and the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of journalist Sandeep Sharma, whose family and colleagues as well the opposition Congress party alleged he had been murdered . Sharma, credited with exposing a nexus between police and the sand mining mafia in the states Chambal region, was on his way to the Press Club in Bhind on his motorcycle on Monday when a dumper truck hit him from behind. The 35-year-old died on the spot while the truck driver sped away. Government officials said Chouhan announced the decision to recommend a CBI inquiry during a meeting with top officials, including chief secretary BP Singh, director general of police Rishi Kumar Shukla and others. At the meeting, the law and order situation in the state was discussed. Inspector general of police (Chambal division) Santosh Singh said Bhind police had arrested the owner of the truck, Bhaskar Sharma, a resident of Gwalior, and were interrogating him. The driver told the police that he was taking the truck to a garage for repair when the accident took place. We are trying to check the veracity of his statement, he added. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also issued notices to the chief secretary and director general of police and asked for detailed report within four weeks. The tragic death of the journalist is indicative of violation of human rights as well as democratic values and also callousness of the state administration, the NHRC said in a statement. Sharma, who worked with the News World channel, had been fearful that he would either be killed in a road accident or implicated on false charges, and had written to the police about his concerns in November. He carried out a sting operation on alleged links between the sand mining mafia and the police in July-August last year that was aired by his channel in October. The local superintendent of police had shifted some police officers and personnel after footage of the operation was aired, but no disciplinary action was taken against them. Also, no security cover was provided to Sharma even after the threat perception, local journalists said. A delegation of journalists of Bhind handed over a memorandum to the collector, addressed to governor Anandiben Patel, demanding Rs 25 lakhs as ex-gratia payment to the family of journalist, admission of his two children in the government-run Kendriya Vidyalaya and a job for his wife. Vivek Sharma, a friend of Sandeep Sharma, said they didnt trust the police investigation, which he said had been biased from the day one. Sandeep Sharma faced a threat to his life from mining mafia and police after the sting operation. He submitted an application to the superintendent of police Prashant Khare in November expressing (fears of) a threat to his life from a police officer and mining mafia and demanded security but the police didnt act, Vivek Sharma said. We also wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan but nothing happened. And the result was Sandeep was murdered. Since I was with Sandeep in the execution of the sting operation I also face a threat to my life, he added. The opposition Congress had also blamed the government for Sharmas death and demanded a CBI inquiry. Media is the 4th pillar of democracy and that is being crushed under BJPs rule, Guna member of parliament Jyotiraditya Scindia had said. The government-appointed BN Srikrishna committee for suggesting a framework and a new law for protecting institutional and private data in India will submit its report by the end of May, a member of the panel, who doesnt want to be identified, said on Tuesday. According to the member, the committee held four public consultations with stakeholders. We will address all legitimate concerns raised in the consultations. The ministry of electronics and information technology constituted the 10-member panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Srikrishna in August last year. Other than suggesting solutions on issues related to data protection, the committee will submit the draft for a new law. Law and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in February the government will come up with a law soon after the panel submits its report. According to experts, current laws are inadequate to deal with privacy concerns. A data privacy law should have come soon after the Justice AP Shah committee (group of experts on privacy formed in November 2011) submitted its report. There has been considerable delay by the government in enacting a law, lawyer Apar Gupta said. Gupta is among a group of 20 experts and lawyers that petitioned the Srikrishna committee last year and expressed fears regarding its functioning. The committees terms were to try and balance the right to privacy with promoting innovation. That should not be the case, the law should be built around privacy concerns at the centre, he said. The Shah committee submitted its report in October 2012, but the privacy law it proposed was never enacted. The Srikrishna committees report is likely to assume significance as data leak has become a hotly debated subject amid the controversy that UK-based firm Cambridge Analytica harvested millions of Facebook users details for Donald Trumps presidential campaign. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Congress had contracted Cambridge Analytica to run the partys campaign for the 2019 parliamentary polls. The Congress denied the charges and countered that the BJP is gathering data through the Narendra Modi mobile app to influence voters. The BJP called the allegation baseless. Minister Prasad on Wednesday warned social media platforms, including Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, against any misuse of data. We have stringent power in the IT act, we shall use it, including summoning you to India, he said. The data debate is raging in the Supreme Court too, where petitions are being heard that underscore concern about peoples personal details landing on wrong hands if they have to mandatorily link their 12-digit Aadhaar biometric number to services such as their mobile phone number. A slanging match between the Congress and the BJP has erupted over the alleged data leak, with both political parties accusing each other of stealing and sharing personal details of individuals with companies based abroad. Congress social media department head Divya Spandana, also popular as Ramya, dismissed the claims that the party collected or shared personal data through the WithINC app. Excerpts: The BJP has accused the Congress of sharing the users personal data to a Singapore-based firm. The ruling party had earlier alleged that the Congress compromised national security by roping in political data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica to run its 2019 election campaign? What do you want to say? Basically, this Elliot Alderson (a French cyber security researcher) put out a tweet saying that the membership on the INC app is unencrypted and the servers are based in Singapore. The link that he posted is actually a defunct link. We have not had membership on that app for the past five months. Once we removed that membership from the app, there is nothing to be encrypted because we are not collecting any data. The only thing that the app was being used for was to get social media updates Twitter, Facebook or whatever INC (Indian National Congress) and Rahul Gandhi was posting. In November, we got a brand new website and we got the membership pulled out from the app and transitioned that to the website, which is encrypted. The membership data was being collected only on the website and these data are being stored in our servers, Amazon Cloud Services, which is based out of Mumbai. Why did you pull down the app from the (Google) Play store? The BJP and some journalists started circulating the fake and defunct URL and misleading people into believing that there was a breach of data, and (that) we were giving out the information to our friends in Singapore. That is why we had to remove it. Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him the Big Boss who likes to spy on Indians, and claimed that the NaMo app secretly recorded audio, video and contacts. How do you substantiate that allegation? The NaMo app seeks 22 permissions. That is ridiculous. You dont need that much. What are you doing with it? You are sending that data to an American company without the consent of the users. Of course, they have given you the permission but they havent given you the permission to share their data. That is the difference between them and us. Our app, our website, everything is made in-house. Our coders are in-house. The data are stored with us. We dont have any third party entity involved and we are not sharing (the users information) with anybody. We explicitly tell the users not to share their passwords. How does the Prime Minister, in his individual capacity, have an application and using our data? The BJP has been caught lying. We have put them on the mat. They wanted to put the blame on us by claiming that we are engaged with Cambridge Analytica, which is rubbish and has backfired on them. Rahul Gandhi is raising pertinent questions to which the BJP has no answers. Does India need a privacy policy? If you are online today, it is very easy to track you. India should have a privacy policy. There should be something called consent. Look at the Aadhaar leaks or even leaks on NaMo app. BJP chief Amit Shah had an Oops moment on Tuesday when he described the Yeddyurappa government as the most corrupt in the country, an accusation that was meant for Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah. Recently a retired judge of the Supreme Court said if there were ever to be a contest for corruption, the Yeddyurappa government would get the number 1 prize, Shah said at a press conference in Karnatakas Davanagere. He quickly corrected himself after a party leader sitting next to him pointed out the mistake. BS Yeddyurappa, who is the BJPs chief ministerial candidate and has battled charges of corruption, was sitting to the right of Shah and looked uncomfortable. The Congress was quick to pounce upon the slip-up. Party chief Rahul Gandhi offered a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! as he put out a clip of the gaffe on Twitter. Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever...,he said. Siddaramaiah, too, was grateful to Shah. The #ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Thank you @AmitShah, he tweeted. Congress social media in-charge Divya Spandana Ramya went to town on Twitter over Shahs comment. Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth - we all concur with you Amit ji B S Yeddyurappa is the most corrupt!, she tweeted. In another tweet, Ramya said this was not the first time Shah had expressed such feelings towards Yeddyurappa. This isnt the first time btw- what exactly are Amit Shahs feelings towards yedyurappa? Alls not good in the hood- pic.twitter.com/cVzGtsOIz3 Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 Corruption charges have haunted Yeddyurappas political career. His tenure as the first BJP chief minister of Karnataka was cut short just three years into his term in 2011 after he was jailed on corruption charges. The presence of a Congress MLA at an event organised by the Ram Navami Mahotsav Samiti a body formed by right-wing outfits, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal has sparked a controversy in political circles. Barmer MLA Mevaram Jains presence at the function on the occasion of Ram Navmi has set off a buzz in the state political circles. Apart from VHP leaders, BJP district president Jalam Singh Rawlot was present at the function. Justifying himself, Jain said he had taken part in a Ram Navmi function and not any right-wing event. Jain, who belongs to a minority community, said Lord Ram is worshipped by all Hindus, then how can any outfit stake their claim on him. We (Congressmen) participate in Eid celebrations, then why are we hesitating in joining Hindu functions? I have asked other Congress leaders to take part in such programmes. Congress president Rahul Gandhi visits temples and we should follow him. Contrary to Jains claim, Congress district president Fatah Khan objected to the MLAs presence at the function. He said the Congress is not against Hindus or any other religion. He added that they if Jain had joined a Ram Navmi programme, there would have been no problem, but he should have avoided being present at a VHP programme. Khan said that its a matter of ideological difference. The Congress has always opposed RSS ideology. So he cannot justify going against the party line by attending such programmes. During the last assembly elections, despite the Narendra Modi wave, Jain had been able to win the seat among 21 Congress candidates out of total 200 candidates in the state. This time, too, he sees himself as a strong contender for the next assembly elections. For the last few months, more and more candidates have been lobbying for the assembly ticket. This incident has given such leaders a chance to corner Jain. Ruparam Saharan, district president Kisaan Congress hopeful from the Barmer assembly seat said that this demoralises party workers. On the one hand the Congress is condemning RSS ideology and on the other senior party leaders are joining them, how can it be justified, questioned Saharan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to double the farmers income, but they are not even getting fair price for their crops though the BJP-led government is going to complete four years at the Centre, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Tuesday. Doubling income is a distant thing, the AICC general secretary said. Rajasthan farmers are facing financial difficulties as they are not getting fair price for their produce gram, mustard, wheat and garlic. In the last four years, the BJP government in Rajasthan stopped additional bonus to farmers on purchase of wheat, started by the previous Congress government, Gehlot said. Our government in 2012-13 for the first time gave Rs 100 per quintal bonus to farmers on purchase of wheat; for this, a grant of Rs 200 crore was given. In 2013-14, additional bonus of Rs 150 per quintal was given on wheat purchase. There has been a bumper production of gram in Kota division, which the farmers want to sell on support price, Gehlot said. In the absence of adequate arrangements to purchase gram on support price, farmers have to sell gram at Rs 3500 per quintal and mustard at Rs 3600 per quintal. The support price of gram is Rs 4400 and of mustard is Rs 4000. Farmers who sold moong (green gram) on support price are waiting for payment and making rounds of the Rajasthan state cooperative federation and banks, Gehlot alleged. After Maharashtra, Rajasthan produces maximum onion. Farmers are already in debt and fall in prices of onion and garlic has added to their worry. In view of farmers interest, the state government should purchase onion on fair price, Gehlot said. Angry protesters resorted to arson and set a police check-post of fire in Dholpur district on Tuesday following the death of a man, who was allegedly crushed under a tractor trolley. Police said the man, Bhero Singh Gurjar, 25, resident of Bhambroli village, was carrying sand from the Chambal river illegally in a tractor trolley. When police tried to stop him near Lohari village, he tried to run. The police gave him a chase when he lost balance and fell from the tractor. He was crushed under the tractor trolley and died at 7.30 am, the police said. However, the protesters alleged that the man was killed by cops when he had gone to collect cattle fodder from a nearby village. Bhero Singhs cousin, Rakesh Gurjar, said that his cousin had gone to a nearby village with a neighbour, Rakesh Singh, to fetch cattle fodder. He died when police from the Jatoli outpost hit the tractor, he alleged. After the news of Bhero Singhs death spread, people from nearby villages gathered at the spot and shouted slogans against police before setting the police check-post on fire. The family refused to accept the body, which was kept at the district hospitals mortuary. Later, a 10-member delegation of the villagers held talks with the administration and agreed to call off the protest after an FIR was registered against ASI Rajesh Parmar and five constables on the complaint of Rakesh Gurjar. The cops have been sent to the police lines. It was only after the action was taken against the policemen, the villagers withdrew their protest and the family accepted Bhero Singhs body. Dholpur sub-divisional magistrate OP Saharan said the man died after being crushed under the tractor trolley. An inquiry will be conducted on the demand of villagers, he added. Deputy superintendent of police Satish Yadav said, Nihalganj police stations SHO Chandra Pal Chaudhary has been appointed to investigate into the matter. Dholpur superintendent of police Rajesh Singh said that some people were involved in transporting sand illegally from the Chambal river. The incident occurred due to the tractor drivers reckless driving when police tried to stop it, he added. Police have also registered a case of arson against unidentified people. A Hindu woman from Rajasthans Barmer converted to Islam in December last year and married a Kashmiri man, keeping her family in the dark, police said. In March this year, the woman went missing from her house, and when her family registered a missing persons report, police found out that she was in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district. Barmer police received an order from the Jammu and Kashmir high court on March 22 to provide security to the couple so that no harm is caused to them. The HC passed the order on February 20, but it reached Barmer on March 22. According to the documents received with the HC order, Barmers Ritu Khandelwal, 18, converted to Islam on her own will and became Zeenab. Police also received a copy of the marriage registration certificate in which Gulzar Ahmad Khan is mentioned as her husband. The documents show that Khandelwal converted to Islam on December 27 last year and married Khan on December 30 according to Islamic rituals. However, the woman continued to live with her parents until March 16 when she went missing. Her parents approached police on March 19 to register the missing persons report. During investigation, police found that the couple approached the Jammu and Kashmir high court, seeking security from private respondents; the HC directed police in Kashmir and Barmer to not act against them. We have received HCs order directing us to provide security to petitioners Gulzar Ahmad Khan and Ritu Khandelwal so that no harassment is caused by the private respondents and their relatives, said Amar Singh Ratnu, station house officer of Barmer Kotwali police station. The high court directed the J&K home secretary, DIG of Baramulla, senior SP of Kupwara and SHO of Kupwara police station and SHO of Barmer Kotwali to provide security to the couple. Khandelwars father Ganesh Kumar refused to comment on the case. Police said the woman came in contact with the Kashmiri man when he was working at a coffee house in Barmer for the past many years. Earlier, a similar case came to the Rajasthan high court in Jodhpur when 22-year-old Aarifa Modi, born Payal Singhvi and a Hindu, converted to Islam in April 2017 to secretly marry her school-time lover, Faiez Modi, 24. In October, she left home and started living with her husband. Singhvis parents filed a case in the Rajasthan HC to allege that she had converted under duress, but the woman appeared in the court and said she converted and married on her own will. The HC allowed her to live with her husband on November 1. A government-run university for specially abled persons will start functioning in Rajasthan soon to provide them with education and skills. The university will come up at Jamdoli on the outskirts of Jaipur from the next academic session, said Anupama Jorwal, director, specially abled persons, in the social justice and empowerment department. A proposal for establishing the university has been sent by the department to the cabinet for approval. The proposal was made by chief minister Vasundhara Raje in 2017, and Rs 6.5 crore has been earmarked for the university in the 2018-19 budget. The state has 15 lakh specially abled persons, according to the 2011 census. The aim is to provide education to the differently abled; there is no divyang-friendly school or college to cater to those with disabilities, such as speech, hearing impairment, blindness, or mental illness, said JC Mohanty, additional chief secretary, social justice and empowerment. There is a shortage of special teachers for educating specially abled persons as per their requirements and the university will bridge that gap. Mohanty said the university would be open to all, but around 50% seats would be reserved for specially abled students. Those who graduate from the university will be employed in educational and other institutions for those with disabilities as well as managing the government-run residential homes for the specially abled, he said. The university will offer B.ed, M.ed, diploma and certificate courses. To start with, it will offer two-year B.ed courses in visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental retardation and learning disability. The courses have been approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India, said Jorwal. More courses would be added in due course. An 18-year-old woman, who started learning martial arts ten months ago, fought off and overpowered three men who allegedly attempted to sexually assault her in West Bengals Birbhum district, police said on Tuesday. The three accused identified as Amit Sahani, Dip Mandal and Bhaskar Mandal -- were arrested after people caught them in Sainthia, about 195 km from Kolkata. Police said they are in their mid-twenties. The mother of the woman lodged a complaint with police after the incident on Monday evening. The woman, a student of Sainthia Girls High School, could not be contacted as she was appearing for her class 12 board exams. She displayed rare bravery by dealing with the youths in the way she did, said N Sudheer Kumar, Birbhum superintendent of police. Police said the incident took place when the woman had gone out to a shop near her home at Kamarpara in ward 11 of Sainthia municipality. The shop was about 500 meters away from her home but the alley leading to the outlet was deserted. She was confronted by the three men who passed lewd remarks and then blocked her path. One of them allegedly caught hold of her hand. After hearing a commotion, we rushed to the area and found that the girl had put the three youths on the ground. She told us that she punished them for misbehaving with her. Her courage will inspire others in the area, said Anirban Sen, a local resident. The mother of the woman said her daughter attacked the men after they did not listen to her warning to back off. My daughter is a keen student of martial arts. The youths were not aware of her skills. My daughter initially asked them to restrain themselves, but they paid no heed and continued with their lewd behaviour. Then she beat them up, she said. I have faith on my daughter. I am confident that she will do well in the exams too, she added. Incidents of women targeting men trying to molest of sexually assault them have risen in India in recent months but divided opinion over such instant justice. In 2015, two sisters in Rohtak, Haryana were hailed as heroes after a video clip appeared showing them thrashing a few men who had allegedly molested them inside a bus. However, their claims later turned out to be false. Eleven railway stations in Uttar Pradesh, including Allahabad, are among the 90 stations selected countrywide that would be developed on the lines of airports, said chief public relations officer, NCR GK Bansal. Of these 11, three comes under jurisdiction of North Central Railway (NCR) including Allahabad junction, Mathura and Jhansi. The other eight are Lucknow junction, Gomti Nagar, Varanasi Junction, Varanasi City, Ayodhya, Mughalsarai, Gorakhpur and Izzat Nagar. The railways will equip these stations with world class facilities as available in most airports, union railway minister Piyush Goyal had recently said via a tweet. The railways has shortlisted these stations to be developed like airports after observing their potential and significance for passengers. These stations will be equipped with shopping malls, advance waiting lounges, eateries, cab facilities, single-window helping booth, wi-fi etc with greenery all around, Bansal said. The architecture of some stations/buildings could be changed according to the archeological or religious importance of the city, he said. Bansal said Allahabad junction that has 10 platforms will be equipped with down escalators for the convenience of passengers. Presently, it has four up escalators. Of these, three are at Civil Lines side and one at city side. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Monday called for a grand alliance of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The BSP-SP alliance has made the BJP panicky. Its leaders are making baseless statements against the leaders of the alliance. Our candidate lost the Rajya Sabha election as the BJP resorted to the misuse of government machinery money power, Mayawati said addressing a meeting with BSP leaders and office-bearers. She said the SP and the BSP did not join hands for vested interests but to provide relief to the people from anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA government. Unemployment has increased due to the policies of the NDA government. Leaders of the BSP and the SP will expose the anti- people policies of the government. People from all parts of the country have welcomed our alliance, she said. Asking party leaders to begin preparations for the Lok Sabha election, Mayawati said they should stay united as the BJP would try to create confusion and break the alliance. A BSP leader familiar with the developments said the BSP-SP leaders would hold joint rallies to let their supporters know about the alliance. Joint rallies of BSP president Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav will be organised in various districts, he said. Mayawati said instead of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha by-elections, the BSP would focus on the 2019 general election. Another BSP leader said Mayawati had started screening candidates for the Lok Sabha election. In view of the alliance with the SP, candidates will be finalised after coalition partners decide the seat-sharing formula. During the meeting, Mayawati also indicated that she was not averse to the Congress joining the alliance, he said. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BSP was runner-up in 34 constituencies but failed to win a single seat. The party may field its candidate on these seats and leave the remaining 46 for alliance partners, he added. The leader said the BSP might also bargain on six seats where it was in a neck-and-neck fight with the SP in 2014. The success of the alliance in the recent Lok Sabha by-polls has heightened the possibility of an elaborate tie-up between the BSP and the SP ahead of the Lok Sabha election, he said. In a departure from its stand of not allying with any party, the BSP recently backed the SP candidates in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha by-elections earlier this month. This was for the first time since 1996 that the BSP entered an alliance with any party. After its alliance partner Congress failed to transfer its votes to the BSP in the 1996 assembly elections, Mayawati had announced that her party would contest elections on its own. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has signed an agreement with the European Union (EU), under the latters International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme, to share advanced technology and ensure finances for the development of the state capital. As part of the agreement, the EU will also train LMC officials in waste management, financial management, quick and efficient complaint handling, energy conservation and more. Additional municipal commissioner PK Srivastava said, The EU has selected 12 cities in India under its IUC programme. The MoU was signed by mayor Sanyukta Bhatia, municipal commissioner Udairaj Singh and a two-member EU team comprising programme coordinator Pier Roberto Remetti and sustainable development expert Asheesh Vora on Monday. The EU team, all praises for the Kanha Upvan project in the city, said that arranging knowledge exchange programmes with India would open up new areas of cooperation. Agreements were also signed for cooperation in areas of general infrastructure development, transportation and capacity building. The LMC delegation will soon visit Riga, the capital of Latvia in EU. They will be imparted training that will help them assist in developing the state capital as a smart city. The EU will also help LMC in preparing the local action plan for Lucknows development. Municipal commissioner Udairaj Singh said, Cities are growing and changing fast. With proper management, more people could mean more economic activity and wealth. However, more people also means more requirement of energy, water, health services, transportation and housing facilities, which places pressure on the environment. To meet this challenge, the EU has launched a three-year programme to promote international urban cooperation. Under this, European cities will connect with, build and share knowledge and solutions with other cities and regions. The effort is to design, implement and manage sustainable urban practices in an integrated and participative way, he said. Under the IUC, local action plans will be developed through an inclusive, multi-stakeholder process, to ensure best results and open up market opportunities. These plans will help in exchange of best practices among cities that face similar challenges. Lucknow has been paired with Riga for such cooperation. Traffic jams in the city are proving to be a nightmare for fire tenders reaching the spot to douse the flames. The Hazratganj fire station received information about a fire in hutments at Indira Nagar on Monday. It took fire tender from Hazratganj fire station six to seven minutes to reach Munshipulia. But from there, it took 20 minutes for the vehicle to reach the spot due to traffic jam, said AB Pandey, chief fire officer. Two fire tenders were also rushed from the Indira Nagar fire station to control the situation. But both of them got stuck in traffic jam because of route diversion due to the ongoing Metro work at Munshipulia, said officials. With the help of locals and security guards of LMRC the traffic jam was cleared for fire tenders to move ahead. Recently, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court had suggested creating a green corridor for movement of fire tenders in the city. However, in the present traffic scenario it is not possible to create a green corridor for movement of fire tenders. In around 25% of the city, Metro project is being executed, for which roads have been blocked, restricting movement of fire tenders. 40 HUTMENTS GUTTED Around 40 hutments were gutted by a fire at Parmeshwar Enclave in Indira Nagar on Monday afternoon. It took more than two hours for six fire tenders to douse the blaze. According to cops, there are around 250 hutments on a vacant plot in front of Indira Nagar police station. All of a sudden fire broke out in one of the huts. At that time, most of the dwellers (daily wagers) had gone out to work. Cops from Indira Nagar police station rushed to douse the fire. Meanwhile, six fire tenders also reached the spot from Hazratganj, Indira Nagar, Gomti Nagar, Alambagh and Chowk fire stations. Goods worth several lakhs were destroyed in the fire. According to cops, no exact reason for outbreak of fire could be ascertained. Timely action by fire tenders prevented the fire from spreading further. Universities and colleges will now offer academic credits to students for participating in the governments Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, as per a UGC directive. LEARNING EXPERIENCE In this summer internship, it is expected that students will not only participate in overall cleanliness in villages/slums, but would also help in setting up systems for sustaining cleanliness/sanitation efforts under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, reads the UGC directive. These efforts are expected to provide a great learning experience in Indian context to students across the country and would help in improving the overall quality of education, Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC, wrote in his letter to higher educational institutions across India. The University Grants Commission (UGC) in its meeting earlier this month approved providing two credits like any other elective under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) to students in higher educational institutions undertaking 15 days (100 hours) summer internships under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan activities. In this summer internship, it is expected that students will not only participate in overall cleanliness in villages/slums, but would also help in setting up systems for sustaining cleanliness/sanitation efforts under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, reads the UGC directive to varsities and colleges. These efforts are expected to provide a great learning experience in Indian context to students across the country and would help in improving the overall quality of education, Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC, wrote in his letter to higher educational institutions across India. The commission has asked varsities and their affiliated colleges to consider implementation of this elective course from the forthcoming summer session and give wide publicity so that vast majority of students opt for it. It is informed that UGC guidelines for Swachh Bharat - Swastha Bharat Scheme have enabling provisions for universities and colleges to collaborate and to come out with ways to make the mission possible, the UGC letter read. In western UP, there is no stopping outrageous diktats by self-styled panchayats. These panchayats, which are not legally recognised or elected bodies but consist of groups wielding money and muscle power, are known for illogical and obnoxious decisions, mostly against women. Punishments given by self-styled panchayats Monetary penalty on family of accused. Beating accused by shoes in panchayat. Advising family to marry their daughter with rapist so that they could become husband and wife. Flogging the accuse in front of villagers Tonsuring the head of the accused To parade the accused in village with garland of shoes after blackening his face. Social boycott of boy`s and girl`s families. Sample this: A 16-year-old girl was raped by her neighbour in Bhawanpur village two years ago. He was caught and handed him over to the police and a complaint was submitted to register a rape case against him. But the youths family and a group of their supporters called a meeting (panchayat in local parlance) and mounted pressure on the girl`s family to settle the issue outside the police station. They also used their political influence and the family was finally placated to withdraw the complaint after the victims marriage with the accused was arranged. Police also gave their tacit consent and the girl was married to the youth who had raped her. Later, the girl and her family found they had been fooled. The girl was allowed into the in-laws house three days after marriage and was ill-treated. When things became intolerable she returned to her parents home. Since then, she and her mother are still fighting to seek justice . My husband died four years ago and I sold my one bigha land to fight for justice but the system listens to powerful and wealthy people only, said the aggrieved mother who has also allegedly knocked at the door of CM Yogi. Finding no respite in the case, she filed a petition in the Allahabad high court and in its order of December 4, 2017, the court directed the SSP to supervise the investigation and ensure its speedy completion without undue delay. SHO of Bhawanpur police station Ashutosh Kumar said that a fair investigation would be carried out in the case. The girl`s mother said, We were fooled in the name of marriage but it was their ploy to prevent the youth from going to jail on charges of rape. They spoiled my daughter`s life by hiding a crime on the pretext of marriage. There are several instances where self styled panchayats or groups of people hand out inhuman diktats and do not even hesitate to take the law in their hands. A married woman was flogged in public in Launga village of Bulandshahar district on March 10 in compliance with a panchayat called by a former village pradhan. They wanted to teach the woman a lesson for eloping with her neighbour. Atul Sharma, head of Sankalp organization which works for women empowerment questioned , Why did the panchayat remain silent against the neighbour who eloped with the woman? She said, A girl or woman always has to pay the price even for faults of men and anti-women people gather in the form of a panchayat or groups to penalize them for the so-called honour and respect of society. Citing an example, Sharma said that a five-year-old girl was raped in Bhovapur village of Pilakhua in Hapur last year. A group of villagers came out in support of the accused and offered money to settle the issue without going to police. In a similar case, a group of youths allegedly gang raped a girl in Amhera village last year . Here also supporters of the accused gathered and offered money to the girl`s family to hush up the matter. The village pradhan opposed them and the youths were sent to the jail. But attempts to settle the issue went on and finally the girl`s family succumbed to the pressure. Sharma said that the accused were now out on bail and the girl`s life had become miserable due to taunts. There were problems in her marriage negotiations too. Alok Kumar, head of the sociology department in CCS University, said that the so-called panchayats were becoming more pro active because of the failure of the administration, police and other constitutional institutions responsible to provide justice to people and nail anti-social elements. He explained that castes, panchayats and joint families were three major pillers of Indian society where castes were still dominant. When the system failed to deliver effectively, these panchayats immediately came forth to fill that vacuum to continue their dominance in society. Rehana Adeeb, president of Astitva organisation and her group have worked to support rape victims of Muzaffarnagar riots. She explained that anti-women elements gathered in the name of maintaining social discipline in society but in fact they had nothing to do with issues of gender equality and honour. These so- called panchayats seemed to have become a tool for politics and dominance in villages and to exploit women, she said. Police and so called choudharies ( heads) also extended their covert or sometimes overt support to these pressure groups. With no respect for laws, these selfstyled panchayats even make crimes like rape pious by compelling the victim to marry the rapist, said Adeeb. The harshest example of pressure groups or so-called panchayats was also seen in dealing with cases of rape during Muzaffarnagar riot of September 2013. Lawyer of seven rape victims Sajid Rana said that 5 out of 7 rape cases had been settled through compromise. Family of only one victim is still fighting for justice and another case was transferred to Delhi. Sajid said that he fought these cases till 2016 and thereafter left because he could not accept the idea of compromising in such heinous cases. After the state government seeking status report of 131 politically motivated Muzaffarnagar riot cases, some political leaders are quite active in convincing the government for withdrawal of these cases and a group of khap choudharys has also met the CM to press the demand . Gulam Mohammad Jaula is a veteran leader who worked with BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait for three decades and formed his own organization Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Manch after Tikait`s death. Jaula made no bones in admitting that panchayats and meetings were being held to form strategies to mount pressure on the government for withdrawal of cases. He, however, clarified that it should be fair for both communities who were affected in the riots. He said that while dealing with individual cases, these dominant groups may not come forth but they created an atmosphere which compelled the victims and their families to come to the table for a compromise under fear for their survival. Subhash Baliyan, secretary of Sarv Khap Panchayat, claimed that khap panchayats ( panchayats convened by clans) never interfered in legal matters and advised people only on social issues. He, however, admitted power hungry people in villages sometimes handed out inhuman diktat even in legal cases, which was wrong and condemnable. Urban development and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna on Monday announced a political training institute will be set up to impart training to aspiring politicians, serving legislators and MPs. 33 lakh kids to be immunised Lucknow: Minister for medical and health Sidharth Nath Singh said the state government proposed vaccination of 33 lakh children in the Dastak campaign to be launched to protect children against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in 38 districts. The vaccination drive will be launched on April 1, he said during the Question Hour. The state government has earmarked Rs 20 crore from its budget and another Rs 78 crore from the National Health Mission (NHM) funds in 2017-18 for the purpose, Singh said. Responding to supplementaries, the minister said 5,500 doctors were appointed in the last one year to provide better medical facilities in the state, particularly in the rural areas. Khanna made the announcement while replying to issues raised by the opposition members who had moved a cut motion against the annual budget. We have allocated a sum of Rs 50 crore to set up the political training institute. Those aspiring to join politics and the MLAs and MPs will also be given training there, said Khanna. MIGRANT WORKMENT BILL MOVED The state government moved the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Uttar Pradesh Amendment) Bill 2018 in the Vidhan Sabha on Monday. The bill provides for registration of undertakings within a day of submission of application. It provides for compounding of first offence on payment of 50% as compounding fee along with prescribed fee for the offence. The state government had moved the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Uttar Pradesh Amendment) Bill 2017 passed in the state legislature in 2017. The governor had, however, reserved the bill for consideration by the President. The Union government recommended certain amendments that have been incorporated in the bill. The state government also moved the Uttar Pradesh Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill 2018 to repeal 252 UP Appropriation Acts that had become obsolete. Kris Moran had five months to source props for Wes Andersons 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums, including three to prep. When youre on set, filming, it runs around $200,000 per day. You have to be prepared or everything stops, says the set designer. And for the interiors of the Bombay Bread Bar restaurant? One week. The Bombay Bread Bar is the new incarnation of Indian restaurant Paowalla in New Yorks SoHo and is the most recent example of a thoroughly modern restaurant tailor-made for the Instagram generation. When merely turning up the lights wont do, restaurateurs are enlisting experts from stage and screen to make dining spaces that double as photogenic lifestyle moments. Fashion haunts such as Ralph Laurens Polo Bar, which has locations in New York, Chicago, and Paris and was co-designed by Lauren, have known this for years, but the trend has gone Hollywood. At the Bombay Bread Bar, what was once a buttoned-up, monochromatic space is now a vibrant, colorful room, with a giant tiger mural animating the bread oven and a curtain of yellow flowers at the door. The Wes Anderson Restaurant I wanted Paowalla to be fun and energetic, and I wasnt succeeding, says chef Floyd Cardoz. More important, he was doing only half the business he wanted to. Cardoz considered closing, but his friend Will Guidara, co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, encouraged him to hire Moran, whose work included The Darjeerling Limited, which featured a highly stylized view of India. Paowallas transformation to the Bombay Bread Bar would be notable under most circumstances, but that it happened in a weekthe amount of time it takes most restaurateurs to settle on a paint colouris astonishing. Its also extremely cost-effective. Moran hung the homemade, lotus-printed paper on the walls herself, added blue walls (straight from the Wes Anderson color palate), and put bright oil cloths on tables. A two-day painting project was done overnight. Costs clocked in around $70,000; a typical New York restaurant build-out can easily hit, and surpass, $1 million. Most traditional designers look at things from an architects point of view, big-picture design points that get expensive, says Cardoz. I said to Kris: We need to make this fun. One week later, shed done it. On film sets, you cant say No. You make a good plan, says Moran. She compares co-owner Cardoz to a director. In film, we approach things from a story point of view. Its different than a restaurant designer who focuses on trendsor a new fabric. The results (and Instagram likes) speak volumes: The Bombay Bread Bar has been packed since it opened in early March, with an energetic crowd putting back tamarind margaritas, chickpea battered onion rings, and saag paneer pizza on corn roti. L.A. Prop Paradise Out west, star chef Curtis Stone liked the props that stylist Kate Martindale chose for his Whats for Dinner? cookbook (Ballantine Books, 2013) so much that he tapped her to work on his house and then on the re-conceptualization of his elegant, 24-seat restaurant Maude in January. Its now an intimate salon, replete with vintage fabrics and art deco furniture, where guests currently dine on the food and wine of Spains Rioja region, with such dishes as a large, wood-grilled chuleton (rib-eye) and Spanish tortilla. One of my biggest clients is Lauren Conrad, says Martindale, who styled the celebritys best-selling Celebrate (Dey Street Books, 2016), as well as Kate Hudsons Pretty Fun (Dey Street Books, 2017). Believe me, I understand the importance of spaces that telegraph a lifestyle. For Maude, the two-week renovation meant installing velvet, dark-navy leather decor, and antiques that range from old ironstone plates to flea-market artwork in vintage frames. We did not have the budget for fine art, says Martindale, revealing only that it was the high five figures. So instead, every time Curtis changes the menu, shell swap the photographs. Restaurant designers go over budget all the time. They say: I need that chair. Stylists are used to working with tiny budgets, she says. We MacGyver a lot. Atelier-Turned Dining Room Roman and Williams principals Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch designed the sets for such films as Practical Magic and Zoolander. Yet theyve become renowned for their restaurants, including Le CouCou, which re-introduced New York to fine dining, with grand chandeliers, enough candles to light up a medieval palace, and a kitchen awash in copper. Its the lighting, maitre d Michael Cecchi-Azzolina said in a 2017 interview about what makes the restaurant so special. Roman and Williams made the place feel like a stage by lighting every table, so diners feel like theyre the center of the room. Now the designers have flipped the script: At their new La Mercerie, inside the Roman and Williams Guild, all the products are for sale, from plates and glasses to flowers, so fans can turn their homes into high-style dining rooms. The Hamilton Effect When the Times Square institution Bond 45 reopened in fall 2017, it did so with the help of David Korins, the Tony-nominated scene designer for Hamilton and War Paint, as well as Dear Evan Hanson. For the upstairs room, Korins recreated the feel of the former restaurant, with tiled floors and mirrored walls, as well as a marble island adorned with antipasti platters. In the subterranean downstairs space, he managed to create the vibe of an Italian patio, with video installations of the Mediterranean and an abstract star field of light bulbs overhead. The design process is similar to Broadway, says Korins. (Donald Holder, the Tony Award-winning lighting designer for The Lion King and South Pacific, also had a hand in the project.) You work with your collaborator, whether its the director or the restaurant owner. You do sketches, you figure out how people will move through the space, then you install. Tables are set A post shared by Bond 45 (@bond45nyc) on Dec 5, 2017 at 4:29pm PST Basically, a restaurant is a theater preview thats 360 degrees and includes food. Each night, you see hundreds of scripts acted out in a dining room. David Rockwell, a trailblazer in the hybrid world of restaurants and theater design, concurs, but with a caveat. His Rockwell Group has designed dozens of restaurants, including the new Union Square Cafe and Nobu downtown; he has also won a Tony Award for the set design of She Loves Me, and his newest project is Broadways upcoming Lobby Hero. Both [restaurants and Broadway] are centered on scenography and storytelling, says Rockwell. But while they do share a lot of things, they use very different tool kits, from material selection to technology. I think the power of theater is the fact that it is temporary, experienced in the moment, and a particular performance cannot be repeated. A restaurant interiorthats much more permanent. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more In the past 10 years, 50 lost leopard cubs have been reunited with their mothers in Junnar in Pune district, as part of the tracking programme carried out by the forest department and Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre (MLRC) since 2009. The most recent successful reunion was of four 20-day leopard cubs in Shirur in Pune district on Saturday. Farmers from Takali Haji village in Shirur stumbled upon the four cubs while harvesting sugarcane. They informed the forest department, and by 5.30pm, a team from Wildlife SOS MLRC (60 kms away from Takali Haji) and forest officials reached the spot. The cubs were healthy. As we began preparations for the reunion, local villagers objected and said it was a threat to their life. It took us almost an hour to convince them the cubs need to go back to the mother, said Ajay Deshmukh, senior veterinarian, MLRC, adding, Around 6.30pm, we set up camera traps and placed the cubs in a crate at the same spot they were found. By 7.30pm, the mother reached the spot, but carried only three of the four cubs. We patiently waited for another three hours, and she returned again for her last cub. The reunion was caught by the camera traps. A majority of the 50 reunions took place over the past three years, said MLRC members. These cubs were found in different locations in Junnar forest division Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed and Shirur all having forests with large population of leopards. According to data from MLRC, this year, a total of six reunions have been reported from Ottur and Shirur ranges, 13 reunions were reported in 2017 from Shirur, Junnar, and Nifad (near Nashik) ranges. Five cubs were reunited in 2016, eight cubs in 2015 (mostly in Narayangaon range), six in 2014, four in 2013, and eight between 2009 and 2012. Wildlife biologists said the reunions are essential. This is a unique success story for the entire country and needs to be highlighted in light of conservation measures. Animals living in captivity are known to struggle much more than that in the wild, as the natural process is changed for them. The efforts by the MLRC and the forest department have saved a lot of government resources. On local level also, it sends a strong message as farmers get to know the importance of leopard conservation and fostering a more peaceful environment, said Vidya Athreya, wildlife biologist. Senior officers from the forest department lauded MLRCs efforts and said they will be replicating the model in Vidarbha. The work carried out by Ajay Deshmukh is exemplary. Similar instances of man-animal conflict with tigers are seen in Vidarbha region. We have already reached out to MLRC and Wildlife SOS to help us develop a similar programme here, said Sunil Limaye, additional principal chief conservator of forests, Nagpur. With an aim to provide an information and support platform for transgenders, six members of the community recently launched a helpline in Mumbai . Sophie Dawud, 24, and her five friends, had started a website transgenderindia.com two years back in Bengaluru. Today, the site provides legal and medical aide to people of the community across the country. Since our community is ignored, people dont really know where to go and whom to approach, which is why a lot of them do not even come out in the open. People are scared to talk about transgenders, hence, through this website, we are providing the first online platform that could cater to the needs of transgender community, said Dawud. Dawud added that she observed that in remote areas transgenders struggled to get the right information, which is why they launched a helpline service called transgenie through which users could find doctors, counsellors and specialists for medical help. Members of transgender community seeking help can call on: 7338321413 The website has content sourced from across the country by people within the community and contains archives and anecdotes shared by other transgendered persons. It also offers guidelines for those who would want to perform a sex change operation, and also a guide for getting the gender changed in their legal documents. Dawud recently spoke about the website and the helpline at Dharavi, so that more people could avail the service. Speaking about the stereotype that the society has towards the community, Dawud said that the community was revered in the pre-colonial era. We share the contact so that people can call us directly to seek help, but even then there are men who call us and ask for sex. It is unfortunate, that some people still have this kind of mentality, Dawud said. Speaking about the initiative, Harrish Iyer, LGBTQ activist, said that such platforms were necessary source of information. There are some doctors who do not even know who transgenders are, which is why a focused source of information is absolutely important because the community doesnt really know whom to approach. Also, the way things work in our society, transgenders require friendly psychiatrists and doctors, Iyer said. Fed up of the restrictions on watching TV and scolding by her parents, a teenager from Dharavi left home after writing her last SSC exam to stay with her grandparents in Kolhapur. But instead of Kolhapur, she boarded a train to Chennai, only to be brought back by her parents on Sunday. On March 22, the girl left for Dadar railway station from the exam centre. Instead of boarding a train to Kolhapur, she boarded the one going to Chennai, reaching there around 8.30pm on March 23. Mid-way, she switched off her mobile phone, making it difficult to contact her or trace her location, said a police officer. Her parents approached the Sion police station on March 23 and registered a kidnapping case. The police started the investigation and scanned CCTV footage of highways across Sion and Dadar. On March 23, the girl contacted her parents informing them she had reached Chennai. One of the girls neighbours then got in touch with their relative in Chennai, asking them to fetch the girl from the railway station. The girls parents, too, left for Chennai in a flight. The parents reached before their neighbours relative and found the girl sitting near the water counter, said the officer. The girl was brought back to the city and taken to the Sion police station on March 25. In her statement to the police, she said she was frustrated as her father used to scold her over petty issues and mother didnt let her watch TV. 19-YR-OLD FOUND IN SOLAPUR Rishikesh Jagtap, 19, a second-year engineering student who went missing from his BDD chawl home in Naigaon in Dadar on March 23, was traced to Solapur and reunited with the family on March 25. Rishikesh suffered a lower back fracture after a fall last month. Bed-ridden, he couldnt study for his exams. He took the exams, but was not happy with how he performed. So he decided to flee, said his father Vinod. With monsoon a little over two months away, the municipal health department has already found 2,011 water pools that were breeding mosquitoes. The number of breeding spots of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which spread dengue, malaria and chikungunya, spike during monsoon as stagnant rain water gets collected. However, with people storing water in open drums and other containers for long periods of time, health workers find mosquito breeding sites throughout the year. The breeding sites were identified during surveys conducted between January 1 and March 19. The number of breeding sites are quite high for this time of the year. Most of these spots were found in slums where people store water in drums, without covering it, said Dr Rajan Naringrekar, insecticide officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This year, officials from his department said they inspected around 22.87 lakh homes in the city. The water in which mosquitoes were found breeding was treated with Temephos, an insecticide which kills the larvae by disrupting their nervous system. We have not been able to inspect many houses in the citys high-rises, as they dont allow us inside their houses. But, we know from our experience over years that water plant pots such as feng shui, money plant and ice trays (filled and left in open) are common indoor mosquito breeding spots, another official from the insecticide department said. To curtail mosquito breeding in the coming months, municipal health workers said they are actively inspecting areas where they found the most number of dengue cases last year. In 2017, the BMC had recorded 17 dengue deaths in the city - highest in the state, according to data available by the state public health department. This year, 17 confirmed cases - but no deaths - have been recorded, confirmed a civic official, from the public health department. The BMC has the authority to book people under Section 381 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act to impose a fine, ranging between Rs2,000 and Rs10,000, if they create conditions that can allow mosquito breeding on their premises. Despite having 17% of beds from Maharashtras charitable hospitals, city hospitals provide treatment to only 6% underprivileged patients, indicates data from state charity commissioners office. This suggests the hospitals are not allotting the mandatory 20% beds to poorer patients at concessional rate or for free. Data from charity commissioners office during, compiled from September 2006 to December 2017, revealed that hospitals across Maharashtra provided concessional treatment to 70,94,547 patients. However, only 4,56,750 of them were treated in Mumbai. This happened despite Mumbai having 74 out of 430 charitable hospitals in the state and 1,768 of the approximately 10,000 reserved beds. Shivkumar Dighe, charity commissioner, said Mumbais share in providing treatment to poor patients across the state should have been higher, as it is home to more than 20 largest charitable hospitals in the state. Major issue is lack of awareness among people about the scheme under which they can avail best possible treatment at these hospitals. But in recent years, the number has witnessed a slight increase, as we are creating awareness about the scheme at public hospitals, said Dighe. As per provision of section 41AA of the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act, charitable hospitals have the legal obligation to reserve a fifth of the total number of operational beds for underprivileged patients. Hospitals get tax exemptions and other concessions if they are run by charitable trusts. In return they are supposed to provide subsidised treatment to poor patients. While patients with annual income less than Rs 85,000 are eligible for free treatment, those earning below Rs1.60lakh can receive treatment at a concessional rate. Dr PM Bhujang, president of Association of Hospitals, a group of 53 not-for-profit charitable institutions in Mumbai, said not a single underprivileged patients was turned down by the hospitals. One of the reasons for less percentage of patients could be the cost of living in Mumbai. Awareness wise, we have put up boards and large posters in the hospitals to inform people about the scheme, he added. However, public health experts said it is the lack of deterrents and monitoring that enables the large charitable hospital to avoid treating these patients. Charitable hospitals in Mumbai are on par with corporate facilities and considered as the tertiary care medical facilities. Its sad that they treat only 6% of total patients in the state because all the major charitable hospitals are in Mumbai, said Abhijeet More, convenor of Jan Aarogya Abhiyan. More added charitable hospitals, which receive benefits like cheap land, exemption on custom duty for importing medical equipment, concession in electricity and water bills should extend these benefits to poor patients. The hospitals pay for the treatment though Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) in which 2% of the total patients billing (excluding the bill of indigent and weaker section patients) is credited each month. Cracking the whip The state has initiated a crackdown on private charitable hospitals for failing to provide treatment to poor patients for free or at concessional rate. Minister of state (MoS) for food and drugs administration (FDA) Madan Yerawar confirmed the development in the legislative council. He named various reputable hospitals against whom action has been initiated for violating norms. HOW THE REFUND PROCESS WORKS In most cases, banks dont refund or give a line of credit immediately Usually, a timeline for investigation followed by a different timeline for refund is given depending on the proof of liability In case of ICICI Bank, the timeline initially given to the customer was 19 days for investigation Axis Bank on the other hand, gave a timeline between 30 days and 120 days for refund YOU ARE NOT LIABLE IF According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), there is no liability on the customer if unauthorised transactions take place due to contributory fraud, negligence and deficiency on part of the bank (irrespective of whether or not the transaction is reported by the customer) There is zero liability if there is a third-party breach in case the deficiency is neither with bank nor the customer but elsewhere in the system and the customer informs the bank within three working days of receiving the communication from the bank regarding the unauthorised transaction YOU ARE LIABLE IF A customer is liable if the loss is due to the customers negligence such as sharing details of the card and PIN or password But once you have informed the bank and the transaction happens after you have informed, the unauthorised transaction amount has to been borne by the bank In certain situations, customers may be liable up to a certain amount. STEPS TO FOLLOW IF YOU FALL PREY TO FRAUDSTERS Step 1: Call your banks customer care number and file a complaint Step 2: Some banks require you to register a complaint with the police Step 3: If you are not happy with your banks response, you can approach its internal banking ombudsman Step 4: If still unhappy, either approach the Banking Ombudsman or consumer court If it were not so outrageous, it would be quite tickling funny. Rats have always troubled the Maharashtra government, but I didnt quite expect them to find more than three lakh of the rodents within just the six storeys of Mantralaya. No wonder so many files have gone missing I am sure thoroughly gnawed out by the poor creatures, probably as hungry as those gobbling up some dough within its hallowed corridors! Seriously though, I recall when RR Patil was Maharashtras Home minister he told some of us how the rats had got the better of the governments best intentions. Patil had wanted to clean up crime in Bombay and since much of the nefarious activities of the anti-socials took place in the darkest hours of the night, both police and government were thrilled when they managed to get the latest equipment that would pick up undue movements in the middle of the night on the GPRS system. On the first day of the trial, the system worked very fine thousands of movements were detected all across the city. Harried cops rushed to the sites of seeming nefarious activities even as they attempted to keep up with the furious pace of the scurrying goons. Unfortunately, we discovered that all those movements were that of rats! said a woebegone Patil. There was no way the system could distinguish between a rat of the four-legged kind and a rat of the two-legged variety, Patil rued. The cops simply had to give up and such expensive equipment went into cold storage, wholesale. While we laughed at that story, the episode at least indicated sincerity of purpose even if rats had got in the way and put to waste crores of government funds spent in procuring that movement-detecting equipment. I am surprised then that those GPRS systems were not dusted off and re-activated in Mantralaya to catch those three lakh-odd rats. Why did the government have to look for a non-existent company (apparently it shut down in 2002) to exterminate those abominable creatures? Now, I agree with former Revenue minister Eknath Khadse that those rats had to be disposed off somewhere. Where were they dumped and how many trucks or tempos would one need to stack up three lakh dead rats? If Khadse is right, thats quite a serious issue for even dead rats can cause plagues I am surprised that they did not afflict the workers in Mantralaya who most certainly would have been outnumbered several times, per rat to human In my long years as a journalist, I have come across many brazen acts of our revered politicians but now I find my jaws dropping at this ratty story out of Mantralaya. It smacks of an arrogance and propensity to treat citizens as fools. How did they even hope to get away with that kind of tomfoolery? Caught out, there has been an afterthought. Although Khadse clearly claimed documents exist on the killing of three lakh rats, the government said three lakh was the number of poison pills spread across Mantralaya to kill the rats, not the rats per se. Very plausible explanation. But why did they contract a non-existent company to kill the rats? That might take a lot more convincing. The sheer skullduggery of the act quite takes ones breath away. As a cub reporter I recall one mantri telling me there was little he could do to stop corruption in the department of food and civil supplies as much of the shortchanging on the rations was attributed by officers and shopkeepers down the line to, well, rats. It was a plausible excuse, he said though he knew the rodents could not be eating up the provisions in the proportions claimed by those on the take. Now, though, this latest encounter with rats in Mantralaya has little element of plausibility and should not be dismissed with mere laughs or shrugs. It is political chicanery and jiggery-pokery of the worst kind that had hoped to outsmart the people, but has only ended up making the government look not just plain silly but downright dishonest. Rats, along with cockroaches, are said to be the biggest survivors of all times. They are profuse breeders but three lakh in a single building in a week when the BMC could find only six lakh in the whole city in two years? That quite beggars belief. The Congress-NCP led Opposition on Tuesday took a hasty U-turn on the no-confidence motion it moved against Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde about three weeks ago. The change in the stand was surprising as the Opposition had stalled the lower House on several occasions on Friday and Monday. Soon after the proposal of the no-confidence motion, which was initiated by the Opposition on March 5, came up for the debate in zero hour in the Assembly, leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the Opposition wishes to withdraw it. According to the sources, the decision about the withdrawal of the motion was taken during the meeting between the government and the Opposition on Monday. The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had given the notice on March 5, alleging the Speaker to be biased against the Opposition. Though according to legislative rules, the motion needs to be admitted immediately after 14 days from the day it was served, the state government dodged it by moving a confidence motion to back the Speaker. The confidence motion moved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday was passed by majority with support from the ruling party MLAs. The Opposition had raised strong objections, saying the act was the murder of the democracy as the motion was pushed through by violating precedents. The House had adjourned amid pandemonium on Friday. Fadnavis said the confidence motion was brought as per the existing precedent. The then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had brought such a motion in 2006, when Opposition had moved a no-confidence motion against the government, he said. On Monday too, the Opposition rocked the House demanding the admission of the motion against the Speaker. It had led to several adjournments followed by the meeting between government and the Opposition. According to Maharashtra Legislature Rules, the no-confidence motion cannot be admitted within a year after the confidence motion has been passed. However, the government after discussions with the Opposition agreed to allow the no-confidence motion in the House on Tuesday. The opposition citing the lack of majority in the lower House, decided to not press the motion. Though we have given the motion of no-confidence, after deliberation among the group leaders of the Opposition parties and the legislators, we have decided to withdraw it, Vikhe Patil said in the lower House. Breaking his silence on the justice Loya death case, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that media reports are blatantly incorrect and imaginary and the death was natural. He also produced a message by a forensic expert formerly associated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), Delhi. Fadnavis said the issue was blown out of proportion and the truth would come out as the Supreme Court verdict on the issue is expected soon. Fadnavis, while replying to a debate on law and order, said in the state Assembly that even relatives of the former justice had said they did not suspect any foul play. Justice Loyas son addressed a press conference in Mumbai saying he did not buy the claims by a magazine that published the story first last year. He also had given a letter to the chief justice of the Bombay high court. The story by the magazine was imaginary, blatantly incorrect and contradictory, he said. A magazine had recently run a story raising suspicions over justice Loyas death in December 2014. Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, 48, was presiding over the Central Bureau of Investigation special court in Mumbai. He had been hearing the high profile case of the alleged encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in 2005. Justice Loya died in Nagpur in December, 2014 when he had gone there to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. Fadnavis also gave the reference of forensic expert RK Sharma, who was formerly associated with AIIMS in Delhi, saying even he said that the magazine had misquoted him. In response to our mail, Sharma has said that he was grossly misquoted and the conclusions drawn were imaginary. He said that he had a general discussion with the reporter but he never gave any report in the Loya case. This proves that the story was based on lies, Fadnavis said. The CM alleged that the case was used for political gain and to defame the government. The final verdict in the case is expected soon and it will clear the air of suspicion, Fadnavis said. The Opposition had, during the debate, raised questions over justice Loyas death. Congress legislator Prithviraj Chavan had questioned why lawyers who charge hefty fees were engaged by the government in the case. In response, Fadnavis asked why were questions not raised over petitioners who have engaged a battery of eight to nine lawyers and why is the government expected to assign the responsibility to junior lawyers. The Oshiwara police swung into action after they received a message complaining that four minor boys from Jogeshwari (West) went missing on Saturday. On Monday, the boys were traced to Faridabad in Haryana from where they will be brought back to city. The four live at Adarsh Nagar in Jogeshwari (west). Three of them are aged 14 years, while the fourth one is 12 years old. On Saturday night, they left their homes with mobile phones and some cash without informing their parents. The police suspect the annual exam, which is to start from April, is the reason behind their decision. The four took a local train from Jogeshwari railway station to Borivli. From there, they boarded the Firozpur Janta Express and reached Faridabad The Oshiwara police, meanwhile, lodged a kidnapping case under section 363 of the Indian Penal Code as per the Supreme Court guidelines. After checking CCTV footage, the police learnt the boys indeed boarded the Express train. On Sunday, one of the minors called up his father from the mobile phone and said that they had left for a trip and will return back in a week. The police then traced their call and alerted the Faridabad railway police who managed to rescue them on Monday. The boys were handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Haryana. Senior inspector Subhash Khanvilkar of Oshiwara police station said, We have sent our team to bring them back. They are in the CWCs custody. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said there was no proof of the involvement of right-wing Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide in the January 1 Bhima-Koregaon violence. Neither Bhide, nor his aides visited the area in the last six months, Fadnavis said, while replying to a debate on law and order situation in the state in Legislative Assembly. Bhide was also not in conversation with anyone on the phone at the time (of violence), he said. A woman claimed that she saw Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote (Hindu Ekta Parishad leader who has been arrested) instigating riots at Bhima-Koregaon. However, investigation did not show any evidence against Bhide, Fadnavis said. The woman later gave a statement saying she had never seen Bhide or Ekbote but had heard their names being mentioned by people, the chief minister said. In the last six months, neither Bhide nor his close aides went to that area. They did not talk to anyone there. An inquiry is underway anyway, Fadnavis informed the House. He said the police took all steps to curb violence during the January 1 commemoration of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Anglo-Maratha War where the army of Peshwa Bajirao II was vanquished by a small force of the East India Company comprising a large number of Dalits. On the controversy surrounding the death of special CBI judge Brijgopal Harikrishan Loya in 2014, Fadnavis told the House that the media reports in this connection were baseless. The story was politically motivated and the Supreme Court order on it would come soon, he said, adding that even Loyas family members didnt doubt the circumstances surrounding his death. Loya, who was then hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, died of a heart attack in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. Responding to objections raised by the opposition on Loyas death, Fadnavis said the judges name was not in the register of Ravi Bhavan (the states guesthouse complex in Nagpur) as the booking was made by the court retainer, whose signature was there (in the register). Loya was accompanied by judges Modak and Kulkarni when he was taken to Dande hospital. The hospital told them that Loya needed treatment in a multi-speciality hospital. He was declared dead after proper evidence, Fadnavis told the Assembly. Judges Modak and Rathi conveyed the news of his death to the family. They, along with a traffic constable, took the body to his village, he said. On the disappearance and murder of Navi Mumbai police official Ashwini Bidre-Gore, the chief minister said it was a heinous crime. The woman police official was missing for six months but nobody took cognisance of it, which is surprising. Hence, I have asked for an inquiry into the matter, he told the House. The Tulinj police have formed six teams to nab the unidentified woman who allegedly kidnapped and murdered a five-year-old girl from Nallasopara on Sunday. The woman was captured on CCTV footage on a road in Vijay Nagar. According to the police, Anjali Saroj, was abducted by a woman in her 30s while playing outside her Sai Arpan building in Vijay Nagar, on Saturday night. Her body was found in the ladies toilet at Navsari station in Gujarat on Sunday. The victims family told police that they do not know the woman, and police suspect that she is a local resident. Since there are no CCTVs at Navsari station, it will be challenging for us to trace the killer, said a police officer. Anjali was abducted around 8.30pm on Saturday, and the killer would have reached Navsari station in the wee hours of Sunday with the victim. She may have strangulated the victim in the toilet as there could be no witnesses at that hour, said police. The Tulinj police have registered a case of kidnapping and murder and have released a sketch of the killer who seems to be fair, tall and was wearing a salwar kameez. We have also undertaken a combing operation in Nallasopara to get leads on the accused. Her CCTV footage captured on a kilometre-long stretch in Vijay Nagar indicates that the woman was familiar with the locality, said the officer. Amid students protests and blockades on campus, the management of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has filed a suit against a few protesting students in the city civil court. The first hearing of the case is slated to take place on Wednesday. For 35 days, we allowed students to protest. We are giving them their space. But we had to file the injunction after last weeks events, said a senior official of TISS. According to the Institute, on March 23, the protesting students encroached upon the registrars office and blocked the administrative wing of the institute the next day, making it inaccessible to any staff member. March is a crucial academic month as well financial year ending. A lot of statutory work is to be completed, including students results that need to be declared. We are only doing this so the day-to-day functioning of the institute doesnt stop, said the official. The management has alleged that students also tampered with the CCTV cameras. How can protesting and fighting for social justice be defined as unlawful? Some of us have received a memo from the institute for our role in vandalism last week, but no such thing took place in the first place, said one of the students. Many students took to social networking sites to share their views as the protests entered its 35th day on Tuesday. Eight students were handed memos on Tuesday, for their role in entering the administrative wing of the institute on March 23 and accessing official documents of the institute, defacing the office space and shouting slogans inside the registrars office. It is apprehended that you [student] illegally entered and accessed the registrars office and in doing so, might have tampered with the documents. An official inquiry will be conducted to find this out, said the letter by the institute to the students. It further states that the institute has video evidence to prove the allegations. Students agreed on entering the administrative block, but refuted any claims of vandalism during their protest, as stated by the institute. A similar letter has also been marked to the senior police inspector of Trombay police station. The situation on campus continues to deteriorate because of your (students) agitating behaviour to the extent of illegally entering office space, blocking staff from entering their work place, holding people hostage, etc. You are once again asked to refrain from such activities, failing which you will be solely responsible for the consequences, stated the letter by the administration. Residents of Kalyan and Vasai can now cover the 47-kilometre distance between the two cities in just 70 minutes and Rs29. The Thane Municipal Commissioner on Monday announced that the first ferry from Kalyan-Thane to Vasai will be made operational by the end of December. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has planned to implement the Inland Water Transport (IWT) in three phases. The first phase will be from Vasai to Thane to Kalyan, the second from Thane to Mumbai, and the third phase from Thane to Navi Mumbai. The presence of the dense Ulhas river, Thane creek and coastal network offers viability for developing an inland water transport system in the Mumbai metropolitan region. The detailed project report (DPR) for the first phase has already been submitted to the Central government, and the corporation claimed that the phase will get approval for the DPR this week. The first phase, costing Rs600 crores, will cover a distance of over 47 kilometers and cut the travel time between its two ends from 2 hours to 70 minutes. The project is funded by the government, and TMC is likely to be the implementing agency. A meeting of all the stakeholders of the project was held at the Urban Research Centre in Thane on Monday. Sanjeev Jaiswal, Thane civic commissioner, said, We have submitted the DPR for the first phase of the water transport project to the Centre. We are excepting approval for the same this week. We plan to start the first ferry ride by December this year. It will be the cheapest mode of public transport, wherein people will be charged merely Rs29 for commuting from Vasai to Kalyan, a distance of 47 km. The fare structure will increase every three years by 15 per cent. The first phase will have ten jetties across Vasai, Mira Bhayander, Thane and Kalyan. The corporation plans to develop three jetties at Nagla, Kolshet and Parsik first. Since the Thane creek runs into the Arabian sea, the first phase of water transport was extended to Vasai and Mira Bhayander. This route is termed as National Waterway-53. This is the only water transport project which received 100 per cent funding. If the state and Centre agree, we are ready to be the implementing agency for phase 1. We plan to develop a multimodal hub in Kolshet, while a vessel manufacturing unit is contemplated at Palghar. The Goa and Chocin shipyard will consult with us regarding the vessels that can be used for water transport, Jaiswal added. The corporation will be spend Rs40 crore for dredging the creek. The fuel used for water transport will be environment-friendly biofuel. The mother, of a four-year-old child who drowned in the old city drain near Gulzar Colony on March 13, has approached the court of chief judicial magistrate to file a case against the city mayor and officials of the Ghaziabad municipal corporation. Rubina, mother of the deceased child, has alleged laxity on the part of officials in getting the drain cleaned and a boundary wall constructed on the sides of the drain. According to Rubinas lawyer the case is against mayor Asha Sharma, municipal commissioner CP Singh and city health officer Dr RB Suman under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. There was an another incident of a four-year-old boy, Rahil, falling in the same drain on March 11. Residents approached the corporation after that and demanded that a boundary wall be immediately constructed along the drain. After two days, Rubinas son Ayaan also fell into the drain and died, Khalid Khan, Rubinas lawyer, said. We have filed the petition for getting a case registered against the mayor and corporation officials as it was the laxity on their part that led to the second incident, he said. Municipal commissioner CP Singh declined comment on the development. Following the first incident itself, the corporation had started the construction of a boundary wall and also the cleaning of the drain. The officials had earlier said the drain was cleaned prior to the first incident, but locals dispose of their household garbage directly in the drain, thereby polluting it again. After Rahils death, his parents had lodged an FIR against the corporation officials at the Kotwali police station. We had reached the spot at once when the incident took place. The work on the boundary wall was also started at once. I do not wish to comment more on the issue. If they have sought a legal recourse, we will file the suitable response, mayor Sharma said. The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has suspended a security guard and initiated disciplinary action against the two home guard personnel who were on duty at the GDA headquarters on March 24 after a video of them allegedly beating up a boy tied to a pole surfaced. The video, which was widely shared on social media, shows one of the guards beating up the minor boy who is tied to a pole on the premises of the headquarters. After Hindustan Times approached GDA vice-chairperson Ritu Maheshwari with photographs and videos of the alleged incident, she initiated an inquiry and also suspended the guard. The boy was allegedly caught committing a theft. An inquiry has been initiated in the matter and the guard has been suspended, she said. In the video of the alleged incident which happened in the early hours of March 24, a minor boy is allegedly seen tied to the pole with a wire. The guard, wielding a cane, is allegedly seen threatening the boy and then beating him up while asking him how many locks he had broken. I had broken the lock once... but I did not take anything away from the horticulture department. You can also get this confirmed by my mother. There was a motor inside but I did not take it away..., the boy is purportedly heard telling the guard. However, the guards allegedly did not hand over the boy to the police and punished him themselves on allegations of theft. According to GDA sources, the boy allegedly picked up some material from the authority headquarters and was nabbed by the guards on duty. The boy was later tied to a pole near the main entrance. Later, his mother arrived and took him away. The incident in the video is inhuman and officials have taken cognizance, the source said. After the video came to the knowledge of senior officials, they responded in a press statement that two home guards, Rakesh Babu and Sanjeev Kumar, and guard Kalanath Jha were on duty at the office from 8pm to 5am on March 23-24. They allegedly tied the boy to the pole around 4.30am on March 24 and officials have taken up disciplinary proceedings with regard to the incident, the statement by GDA said. Guard Rakesh Babu has been suspended while disciplinary action is being taken against the two others, SK Rai, secretary, GDA, said. A 31-year-old man was arrested by the Dattawadi police in a sexual assault case filed by a woman. The man, identified as Ganesh Mahamune, has previous criminal records of sexual harassment, assault, possession of arms and robbery cases. Mahamune's younger brother has also been named in the case for allegedly assaulting the woman a couple of times. However, senior police inspector Anil Patil of Dattawadi police station, said, On 21 March, her parents had approached assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Shivaji Pawar saying that their daughter has been missing since the past few days. On March 22, she herself approached ACP Pawar. We registered a case on March 22 and sent it to the Shivajinagar police station on March 23 as her complaint showed that it was in their jurisdiction. Now we have taken up the entire investigation. In her complaint, the woman has alleged that she was kidnapped by Mahamune and had been sexually assaulted by the man for the past few years. She was taken to the Sassoon General Hospital by the Dattawadi police for a medical check-up mandated by law in sexual assault cases. I took them to ACP Pawar who took note and a case was then registered. I raised the matter with Deepak Kesarkar, minister of state for home (rural), Maharashtra, said Manasi Dharane a social activist and a member of Bharathiya Vidyarthi Sena, the students wing of Shiv Sena. A case under Section 376 (sexual assault), 363 (kidnapping) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against Mahamune. Two teams of the Dattawadi police have been deployed while the Pune police crime branch is also on the lookout for the man. Police inspector (crime) Krishna Indarkar of Dattawadi police station is investigating the case. While Dharane has alleged police apathy in the matter, senior PI Patil, said, "We have no record of the earlier attempt that she is talking about and neither has she mentioned anything about her minor daughter being assaulted. We got two complaints regarding her and we took note of both of them. We even recorded a supplementary statement of the woman. Hundreds of students of the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, on Tuesday confronted their vice-chancellor demanding action against an associate professor for allegedly casting aspersions on the character of a girl student who had filed a complaint of molestation against a canteen employee last week. On March 19, a student of department of history had dialled 100 and called police on the university campus demanding registration of a case against the canteen employee, Arvind, who is still absconding. The incident took place on the backside of the university canteen mess on February 27 when the girl was returning to her hostel after having food. Associate professor Deepak Chauhan of the department of laws has been named in a separate complaint with the university authorities for the remark he made after the molestation complaint was made. Ye ladki kaunsi doodh ki dhuli hai. Punjab mein to ye sab hota hi rehta hai (This girl is not clean. Such molestation incidents are a routine in Punjab), he is learnt to have told Dev Kumar Burman, an MA history student, whom Chauhan called to pressurise the victim for withdrawing her complaint. V-C gheraoed The protesting students on Tuesday raised slogans in front the office of vice-chancellor RK Kohli. University dean students welfare (DSW) Prof VK Garg tolf the media that he had received Devs complaint in which Prof Chauhan has been accused of passing the remark and the matter is now in the hands of the V-C. The DSW said Chauhan was no more the member of the gender sensitisation committee for sexual harassment. Chauhan denied the allegations. They gheroed Kohli as soon as he arrived at his office. He assured the agitating students that he would mark a time-bound inquiry into the allegations against Chauhan and the grievances redress committee will submit its probe report by April 25. He also assured to include three students in the probe committee. The students demanded that Chauhan tender a public apology and the V-C must explain delay in action in the alleged sexual harassment incident and reconstitution of the gender sensitisation committee for sexual harassment committee in accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. We are looking for the accused who hails from Jharkhand, said sub-inspector Jasveer Singh, the investigation officer in the FIR lodged on March 20 under Section 354-A (molestation amounting to sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. Facing criticism from all quarters for spending Rs 1.62 crore on renovating nine suites at the UT Guest House for governors conference in May, the UT engineering department has cancelled the tenders. Hindustan Times had reported how the UT administration despite reeling under fund crunch was splurging on the two-day event to be attended by 26 state governors besides the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. It was also reported how the UT engineering department flouted tender norms. Though the conference is to be held at Haryana Raj Bhawan, the governors are to stay at the UT Guest House, built in 1970. The issue was also raised during the Chandigarh municipal corporation House meeting on Monday. Even as mayor Davesh Moudgil said it had nothing to do with the MC, former mayor Arun Sood accused UT officers of excessive spending and violation of norms. Negative publicity Confirming the development, a senior officer of the engineering department, who did not wish to be named, said the work tenders have been cancelled because of the negative publicity. He said the renovation of suites will be carried out after three months. Meanwhile, the contractor who is carrying out repair works in some of the rooms will be asked to do minor repairs in the nine suites as well, said the officer. The tenders were floated to renovate rooms, which included installing floor tiles and change of furniture. According to the public works manual, work of same nature cannot be split and at least 10 days have to be given for publicity of a tender amounting to Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore. But the UT engineering department floated one of the tenders on March 16 and opened it on March 21, while another tender of the same work was floated on March 17 and opened on March 23. The department also specified the make of tiles and taps in the tenders. The governors conference, which is usually held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Delhi, has been shifted to Chandigarh after PM Modi expressed his desire to hold the event in the city. The UT even demolished the boundary wall of the guest house with the Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhawans for the event. Five days after the relatives of a patient vandalised a dialysis machine at the emergency unit of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and thrashed the doctors on duty, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) submitted a letter to the PGI director, here on Monday. In the general body meeting, attended by 200 resident doctors, they gave a 48-hour deadline (till March 28) to the authorities to resolve their issues. Threatening to go on strike, the doctors stated that they are running out of patience. Despite the institutions repeated promises since 2013, multiple issues work place safety, clear job description for resident doctors and paramedical staff, recruitment of phlebotomists (people trained to draw blood from a patient) have not been addressed, mentions the letter. We want the administration to give a time frame as to by when will our issues be resolved. We will wait for 48 hours, after which we will go on strike, said said Dr Sandeep Tula, vice-president, ARD. We will meet the director on March 28, said Tula. He said, Only the emergency services will not be impacted. PGIMER director Dr Jagat Ram said, We are doing everything possible to solve their issues and have already conveyed them the steps which we are going to take. The ARD represent over 1,300 resident doctors of the PGIMER. Must read | Chandigarh: PGI doctors told to summon security before announcing patients death Issues raised As per the resident doctors, no FIR was lodged by the institute after a doctor was verbally abused by the attendants in the emergency unit on March 21.It reflects poorly on the part of the institution. An FIR should be lodged at the earliest to ensure such incidents are dealt with strict action, states the letter. The doctors criticised the hospital for delaying the formation of quick response teams to prevent doctors from any assault incidents. Is making tea my job? In two departments, a resident doctor has been preparing tea for the faculty members and serves them as per their taste, daily. We had raised the issue with the concerned department heads last year also but they did not change their culture, said Tula. He said, I have served tea for 21 days in one of the departments. Is making tea the job of doctors now? Director Ram said, They have complained about the issue, but not given anything in writing. However, I will take it up with the concerned officials as the practice is not appreciable. Sample collection at a tertiary centre is not a part of training for specialties in residency. We need phlebotomists for sampling and non academic junior residents to share the workload mentions the letter. Tula, said, Over 32 resident doctors of medicine department, posted in emergency and other wards, do the work of sample collection. We need at least 50 phlebotomists. The letter further states that the job description for the residents, nurses, hospital attendants, sanitary attendants was to be constituted in 2016 under Prof KLN Rao but it has been two years and no progress has been made. The other demand include strengthening of HIS, start leave encashment, resident lounge, renovation of duty doctors rooms. Director Ram said,, A quick response team of 12 security guards has been constituted. A team of four will always be there to help the doctors( in addition to at least 40 guards in the emergency unit). Six phlebotomists will be there at the emergency from Tuesday onwards.We have also advertised for 16 posts and they will be recruited in another month,he said. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that the state government will work out a proper assistance package for families of those from Punjab among the 39 Indians killed by IS in Iraq and till then, they will continue to get a monthly pension. In his reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on the governors address to the assembly, the chief minister said while the state was waiting for the bodies of those confirmed as dead in Mosul, his government was also working out an adequate assistance package for their families. He told the house that he had requested the ministry of external affairs to announce ex-gratia to their families and his government was awaiting their decision. The chief minister said he was in constant with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and her deputy V K Singh on the issue to ensure that the coffins containing the mortal remains of the victims are brought back to India with due respect and at the earliest possible. The Central government had last week admitted in parliament that the 39 Indians missing in Iraq since June 2014, had been killed by the terrorist outfit IS. There is no let-up in snatchings in the city with as many as three incidents reported within four hours late on Sunday evening. A Kajheri village resident, Deepak, complained that four bike-borne men snatched his mobile phone near the government smart school in Sector 53 around 7:30pm. Facts 81 snatchings reported this year 35 cases solved Around 8:45pm, Karam Singh of Ram Darbar was allegedly targeted by two bike-borne men near Leisure Valley, Sector 10. He was crossing the road when the accused stopped there to ask for a cigarette before fleeing with his wallet containing Rs 400 and mobile phone . Later, at 11pm, a Kishangarh man lost his wallet containing Rs 10,000 to three men, who too had stopped him to ask for a cigarette. Victim Dhiraj works as a waiter at a restaurant in Sector 17 and was on his way home. FIRs have been registered under Sections 356 (assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Actor Adinath Kothare will be seen in two big releases this year: Mahesh Manjrekars Take Care Good Night, and Madhuri Dixit-Nenes maiden Marathi production, 15 August. Speaking about working in Madhuris film, Adinath says, It has been a beautiful experience. It is a great team to work with, right from the co-actors to the technicians. And then, of course, there is Madhuri Dixit. Working in her maiden Marathi production is like a dream come true. She is very down to earth, approachable and gives out warm and positive vibes. She has no baggage or airs of being a superstar. Her husband is a gentleman as well. Adinath is thrilled that Madhuri got back to him about his work and also commented on his acting. She came onto the sets and said, I have seen the edit and you are really good. I had tears in my eyes when the Madhuri Dixit praised me. It means a lot that she goes out of her way to interact with us. Adinath has been a producer in the past, so does that make him fidgety on the sets while hes on an acting job? I always discuss my character and give my inputs if required. But I dont impose. I understand how difficult and stressful a production can get. So, when I am an actor on the sets, I just relax and concentrate on my lines and giving my 100%. This year, Adinath will be surprising his fans by doing something new: direction. I am gearing up to direct my dream project.I will soon reveal details about it, he says. Actor Adinath Kothare recently became father to a baby girl who he has named Jiza (HTPHOTO) ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Veteran Kannada actor Jayanthi has been admitted to a Bengaluru hospital after complaining of trouble in breathing. According to an Ibtimes report, the 68-year-old actor was admitted to the citys Vikram Hospital and is on a ventilator. She has been suffering from asthma for 35 years. She used inhalers every day and was never admitted to hospital over breathing issues. Last evening, her health started deteriorated and she was taken to Sidvin Hospital. Based on doctors advice, we shifted her to Vikram Hospital in Cunningham Road, the report quoted her son Krishna Kumar as saying. According to a statement issued by the hospital, Jayanthi was admitted to the hospital with chronic severe asthma and acute respiratory failure. Having worked in more than 500 films, Jayanthi is best remembered for acting in films such as Kasturi Nivasa with Dr Rajkumar.She is best known for her roles in Miss Leelavathi, Sri Krishnadevaraya and Edakallu Guddada Mele. She also worked in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi movies. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Thousands of angry and distraught Russians rallied Tuesday in a Siberian city to demand a full probe into a shopping mall fire that killed at least 64 people, many of them children. Forty-one children were among the 64 people killed in the Siberian city of Kemerovo at the weekend, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. President Vladimir Putin, who also visited the city, blamed the deaths on a criminal negligence, sloppiness, as he laid flowers in tribute to the victims. He did not meet with the protesters. The blaze engulfed the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo on Sunday, the first weekend of the school recess, trapping dozens of parents and children inside. Eyewitnesses reported that fire alarms were silent and many doors were locked. Some of the victims were children who died in a locked movie theater. Russian emergency service staff work at the site of a fire at a multi-storey shopping centre in Kemerovo on March 27, 2018. (AFP Photo) The angry residents rallied outside the regional government building in Kemerovo for hours, with many of the protesters taking the stage to accuse the authorities of hiding the real scale of the disaster. Igor Vostrikov, who lost his three daughters, wife and sister in the locked movie theater, said families of the victims think the death toll is much higher because the entire movie theater burnt down. Were not calling for blood, he said at the rally. The children are dead, you cant give them back. We need justice. The rally entered its sixth hour late afternoon local time, and the protesters were not leaving. The impromptu protest underscored the residents frustration with the official response to the tragedy: the local governor has not visited the site of the fire or met with the relatives, and Putin has not announced a period of national mourning. People attend a rally after the shopping mall fire, near the regional administration's building in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, Russia March 27, 2018. (REUTERS) Putin flew to Kemerovo earlier on Tuesday and visited the makeshift memorial to the victims outside the shopping mall. The footage released by his press office showed the president laying flowers on a deserted plaza with his security detail guarding the perimeter. How could this possibly happen? Whats the reason? Putin said at a meeting with the task force dealing with the fire, according to comments distributed by his press office. Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said 58 bodies have been recovered and that the rescue workers are still searching for six more. Investigators said emergency exits were blocked and a security guard turned off the public announcement system when he received a call about the blaze. Alexander Bastrykin, chief of the Investigative Committee, told Putin during a meeting in Kemerovo that the fire alarm had not been operational for two weeks and that the security guard was detained but they still had no reasonable explanation for his actions. Deputy Governor Vladimir Chernov, the only top regional official who showed up at the rally, dismissed the unconfirmed reports of hundreds of deaths as rumors and said he was ready to resign if people want him to. Resign, resign! the crowd chanted to him. A woman lights candles by a floral tribute for the victims of Sunday's fire in Kemerova. (AP Photo) Kemerovos mayor asked the rally to nominate its representatives to visit the morgue to check for themselves that the authorities were not hiding the truth about the deaths. A dozen protesters did so, and had a word in the lobby with Putin, who asked the protesters not to doubt that authorities will conduct a transparent probe. Those who need to answer for that, everyone will, Putin told the residents when pressed to fire Governor Aman Tuleyev. The Afghan envoy to India, Shaida Mohammad Abdali, says the lack of political will in some countries of the region to mount a coordinated drive against terrorism could have significant ramifications. He accuses Pakistan of dragging its feet in going after terrorists even after the world community has endorsed Afghanistans position on terrorism. Following are excerpts from an interview: Q. After a spate of terror attacks across Afghanistan, what is the current security situation? A. Terrorism is an unresolved phenomenonand terrorism is changing its face, its name and tactics. We are in a situation that makes us all worried, that after years of our counter-terrorism efforts, we have still not been able to curb the problem as we should have. Which I think is nothing but the lack of political will because terrorism is not an indigenous issue, it is a created issue. Therefore, its policies that matter, not the result of policies the result is the number of terrorist groups that we hear of under different names. We hope that the fight against terrorism will change from tackling the symptoms to the problem itself. Over the last 16 years, Afghanistan has always asked the world community to focus on the mindset behind terrorist groups in our region. We believe our international allies were consistently misled by the false promises of the war against terrorism. The world communitys outlook has changed but were still not there in terms of what wed like to see clearly go after the real elements that breed terrorism. Q. Which country are you referring to? A. The state sponsorship of terror. No one can shy away from the fact that terrorism continues to spread from within Pakistan. Some may put it that its a capacity issue, some may say this is something that will take much longer than one expects. But whatever the reason, it is the responsibility of the government and state to stop the use of its soil against anyone. States have their responsibilities. The fact of the matter is that terrorist groups still have found the place to live freely and to cross and to then hurt others. We hope the world community, especially after they acknowledge the problem, today will no longer waste energy and time on rhetoric but on action what we say we do. Q. Has the US pressure on Pakistan had any impact? A. Unfortunately, on the contrary, we have been on the receiving end. After the announcement of (US President Donald Trumps) South Asia policy, the attacks intensified, and cross-border terrorism increased. That has just one message for me personally to look at this as if (its a) no to a call that dont use terrorism. The ball is in the world communitys court and we have to respond. Q. What about the rise of the Islamic State in Afghanistan? A. Many would say the Daesh (another name for Islamic State) of Syria and Iraq has always been there in the Middle East, but in Afghanistan, 80% or more are Taliban converted to Daesh. Taliban have changed their allegiance to Daeshit is nothing but the continued deception of the world community by presenting terrorism under various labels, to grab attention and to use them. Q. What about the reports of some Indians joining IS in Afghanistan? A. It is quite possible. These terrorist groups, they look for people, hire them and use them. The other day I was reading in the newspaper about the presence of al-Qaeda and Daesh in Kashmir. No society would be immune to the kind of problem that weve seen in Afghanistan. Thats why we say that we should not be ignorant of the problem that is hurting Afghanistan more and not others, (people) would think this is not a serious issue for others. If today 100 or so Indians can be hired by Daesh, isnt it possible that they will add to this number in the years to come? They will, if India and others in this region will not start cooperation based on the interests of everyone which is to have a safe region. That political will is required and I dont believe it exists now. I dont have doubts about India but I doubt countries including Pakistan, because we dont see the action that must be (taken against) terrorist groups there. We still see lingering, dragging feet on going after those terrorist groups for whatever reasons. Q. Steve Colls new book, Directorate S, refers to former Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayanis demand that Afghanistan should end Indias influence in the country. Your reaction. A. Its quite distressing to see the expectations of this nature from one neighbour to another neighbour. Can any country in our region accept a demand like this from a neighbour? Can Pakistan accept, for example, Afghanistans demand to cut its ties with China? No way, and we will never ask. Thats the basics of the problem. On the one hand, we talk of sovereignty and we say countries are sovereign in decision-making and then ask to cut off ties with a neighbour. I know of these demands, we have heard for years of a desire that we should have no ties with India. The Afghanistan that I know and belong to will never ever surrender to anyones demand of this nature, whether this is vis-a-vis India or any other nation. This is a futile exercise whichever country thinks Afghanistan will one day come round and bow and surrender and say we will do whatever you say. We did not bow to Russia, we did not bow to Britain. Wrap up this demand and allow Afghanistan to live in peace with all neighbours. We have no designs on or bad feelings for any country, but a sovereign right to be friendly with countries that we have been historically tied to so strongly, including IndiaIn no way Afghanistan will think of decreasing, let alone cutting off, ties with India. The relationship is not designed against anyone. Q. What is the current status of the peace process with the Taliban? A. Afghanistan, in the last three years, has shown to the world that it is sincere about what it says. It had two agendas under the current government that we will have two channels of contacts for peace. One, a state-to-state relationship with Pakistan and two, contacts and talks with the Taliban. We started with Pakistan, unprecedented steps were taken by President (Ashraf) Ghani to show that we were sincere to resolve the problems with Pakistan. I dont want to go into details of how many visits took place, how much we waited and the mechanisms that were established, like the quadrilateral of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US. The quadrilateral I clearly see a reason for India to object. We have explained and India has always understood and accepted Afghanistans position. What was delivered after months and years of meetings of the quadrilateral there was nothing but continued war. Everything that Pakistan said, we did it, at immense political cost in Afghanistan. I must tell you we failed. The latest peace offer to the Taliban could not have been imagined a year ago that we would offer everything from holding passports, to having a political party in Afghanistan and with no conditions for talks. They have always asked for everything that we have offered, such as removing them from the blacklist and we offered them an office in Kabul and accepting them as a legitimate political party. Activists for an independent Balochistan want consistent backing from the Indian government rather than for New Delhi to approach it through the lens of Kashmir or as a means of countering Pakistani efforts in the Valley. Baloch Canadians held an event in Toronto to mark what they claim to be the 70th anniversary of the illegal occupation of the province by Pakistan. Several speakers asserted that on March 27, 1948, Pakistan forcibly seized what should have been an independent nation. The activists welcome the Narendra Modi governments efforts in recent years to raise the profile of the Balochistan issue, including raising the matter at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. However, there is a concern that the support arises as and when India wants to retaliate to Pakistans gambits in Jammu and Kashmir. Karima Baloch, chairperson of the Baloch Students Organization Azad, said: We want India to raise the issue as a human rights cause. She felt this an important role India could play since otherwise atrocities against the local populace was not on the worlds radar. Zaffar Baloch, president of the Baloch National Movement North America, said that given the strategic alliance that China has with Pakistan, particularly in the context of the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar port in Balochistan, India had an important responsibility towards Balochistan in its own interests. The Baloch people cannot fight both China and the Pakistan Army, he said. In a speech, he accused Islamabad of selling Balochistan off to China as a colony and demanded an end to CPEC projects there and a halt to Chinese control of Gwadar port and withdrawal of all the Chinese personnel from the area. Karima Baloch said that India had the reach to raise the matter of what she described as genocide of the Baloch people. They (India) can put it before any international platform, she said. Zaffar Baloch agreed and said this was also Indias responsibility as a regional power. The event, titled Balochistan under Occupation, also witnessed the attendance of activists from other movements, including those from Kurdistan, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Sindh and speaks suggested greater coordination between the various groups to help amplify their voices in Western nations such as Canada. India understands the importance of the issue because it is close to us. We have experienced the rise of the Daesh (as the Islamic State is called in the region) and if that situation worsens, it could affect everyone, Karima Baloch said. While the consensus among Baloch activists at the meet was that the Modi government has raised the profile of their cause, it cannot be used as a card to be dealt against Islamabad and instead of sporadic support from New Delhi, it has to be a far more concentrated effort for it to be meaningful in the long term. Christians in the Gaza Strip have yet to receive any permits to go to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter, they said on Tuesday. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said church authorities had applied for around 600 permits for Gazans to travel, but had not received any, three days before Good Friday. Israel tightly restricts movements out of the Gaza Strip, territory controlled by Hamas, an Islamist group that it considers a terrorist organisation. The Israeli military-run authority that operates in the West Bank defended its policy to restrict access as many Palestinians had stayed on illegally in the past, and said it would only issue permits to people aged at least 55. Israel is a sovereign state and it has the right to decide who will enter its gates. No foreign residents have an inherent right to enter Israel, including Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip, a Civil Administration (COGAT) spokesman said, without saying whether permits would be issued this year. Church leaders feared more restrictions than usual this year as Easter falls on the same weekend as the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday when Israel boosts security. Father Ibrahim Shomali, chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said worshippers should not even be required to get permits. We have to have free access to the Holy Land, free access to our holy places, he said at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered as the site of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection. Of course we apply, but in reality there must be no applying for permits to come to visit your own places. Gaza has only 1,000 Christians - most of them Greek Orthodox - among a population of 2 million in the narrow coastal strip. The Greek Orthodox authorities were not available to comment on Tuesday. In Gaza, George Antone of the Latin Patriarchate said Israel allowed nearly 570 Christians in total out of Gaza last year, and hoped they would make it again this time. So far there has been no response. I will not lose hope but I will be sad if the permits do not come, he said. Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter a week later, when Palestinians and pilgrims from around the world attend the ceremony of the Holy Fire. Christian leaders said U.S. President Donald Trumps decision in December to recognise Jerusalem - sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam - as Israels capital could embolden Israeli authorities restrictions to their holy sites. (Israel) will close every single checkpoint, and this will be more strict than any other year because of the proclamation of Trump and the effects we got from it, and that we will get from it, Shomali said. Youssef Daher, of the Jerusalem Inter-Church Centre, said Trumps decision could lead to further Israel pressure on Christian authorities, because they think that they have a free hand. In February, Christian leaders took the rare decision to close the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for three days, in protest at a new Israeli tax policy and a proposed land expropriation law. Salman Rushdie and Shashi Tharoor dwelling on their latest books feature in the star-studded line up for the 2018 edition of the Hay Festival in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, known as the town of books. One of the most anticipated annual literature events, the festival programme announced on Monday features 600 of the worlds most known writers, policy makers, and innovators in 800 events over 11 days from May 24 to June 3. Speakers include historian Simon Schama, novelists Margaret Atwood and Ian McEwan, health campaigner Chelsea Clinton, Britains environment secretary Michael Gove, Hollywood star Rose McGowan one of the first actors to speak out against producer Harvey Weinstein and former British prime minister Gordon Brown. Rushdie is due to speak on his latest book The Golden House, while Tharoor will expound on his Why I am A Hindu. Poet Tishani Doshi will launch her third collection of poems Girls Are Coming out of the Woods at the festival. Other Indian speakers at the event include University of Cambridge historian Shruti Kapila on the origins of modern anti-terror legislation in Indias struggle for independence and their reverberations today, and novelist Anuradha Roy on her career. Jaideep Prabhu, the Jawaharlal Nehru professor of business and enterprise at the Judge Business School, Cambridge, will present the idea of jugaad in a talk on Frugal Innovation: How to do Better With Less. Sujit Sivasundaram, another Cambridge-based historian, will discuss the history of islands and their impact on the modern world in a session on Islands: Witnesses to the Rise of the Modern World. Hay Festival director Peter Florence said: We are facing alarming insecurities and crises. We need to approach the complexity of those challenges with all the hope and courage we can muster. We need to hear the wisest voices, not the loudest. And we need the gift that novelists and poets give the ability to imagine the world from someone elses point of view. There has never been a time when we were in such urgent need of empathy. Its a time for serious thought and serious work, and so too, its a time to laugh and a time to dance and a time to feast. India will underwrite the delivery of four gunship helicopters by Belarus to Afghanistan ahead of the war-torn countrys spring fighting season, the second time New Delhi has supplied lethal military equipment to Kabul. Afghanistan, Belarus and India inked a trilateral pact for the refurbished Mi-24 helicopters earlier this month, Afghan ambassador Shaida Abdali said in an interview on Monday. We recently were able to sign a trilateral MoUIndia will be paying for the four Mi-24s (which will be delivered) in the next few months. All the four helicopters (will be) paid (for) by India, he said. Afghanistan has a four-year military transition plan backed by the US to modernise its air force, but the country reached out to India for assistance in acquiring some helicopters needed immediately for counter-terrorism operations. India has been kind enough to agree to that request Afghanistan will have ready helicopters that will be used in the coming season, Abdali said. India supplied four Mi-24s to the Afghan Air Force during 2015-16, marking a significant shift from its earlier reluctance to provide lethal military equipment. However, some of these helicopters had been grounded because of the lack of spares and India is working on plans to help repair and refurbish these Mi-24s and other Russian-origin helicopters and transport aircraft of the Afghan Air Force, Abdali added. Despite the pressure exerted on Pakistan by the US after the unveiling of President Donald Trumps South Asia policy last year, the envoy said Islamabad continued to drag its feet in taking action against terror groups. No one can shy away from the fact that terrorism continues to spread from within Pakistan, Abdali said. The fact of the matter is terrorist groups still have found the place to live freely, and to cross and to then hurt others. He said terror attacks in Afghanistan had increased after the US announced its South Asia policy. More terrorist activity has just one message for me personally - to look at this as if (its a) no to a call that dont use terrorism. The ball is in the world communitys court and we have to respond, he said. Asked about the Pakistan Armys demand that Afghanistan end Indias influence in the country in return for help in controlling the Taliban, as detailed in Steve Colls book Directorate S, Abdali said: Its quite distressing to see expectations of this nature from one neighbour to another neighbourCan Pakistan accept, for example, Afghanistans demand to cut its ties with China? No way, and we will never ask. He added, We have heard for years a desire that we should have no ties with India. The Afghanistan that I know and belong to will never ever surrender to anyones demand of this nature, whether this is vis a vis India or any other nation. Pakistan has defended its record on nuclear safety after the United States sanctioned seven Pakistani companies over alleged links to the nuclear trade, saying the suspicions over the companies should not be used to discredit it. Ties between the United States and nuclear-armed Pakistan have frayed in recent years over Pakistans suspected support for Islamist militants waging war in Afghanistan, something Pakistani officials deny. The US Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce imposed sanctions on the Pakistani companies on March 22, placing them on its Entity List, making it harder for them to operate in the United States and do business with US companies. The sanctions could complicate Pakistans bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a 48-nation club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that could foster nuclear weapons development. Pakistans foreign office said many companies around the world are placed on the US commerce departments Entity List, including businesses from countries that are part of the NSG, and the sanctions should not be politicised by Pakistans opponents. Pakistans efforts in the area of export controls and non-proliferation as well as nuclear safety and security are well known. Pakistan and US have a history of cooperation in these areas, the foreign office said in a statement late on Monday. We reject attempts by Pakistans detractors to exploit these listings to cast aspersions on Pakistans non-proliferation credentials. Pakistan applied to join the NSG in 2016 but little progress has been made. The United States has been concerned about Pakistans development of new nuclear weapons systems, including small tactical nuclear weapons, and has been trying to persuade it to make a unilateral declaration of restraint. The seven privately owned companies, which are little known in Pakistan, are accused of either being involved in proliferation of unsafeguarded nuclear activities or helping other Pakistani companies already on the Entity List. Pakistani officials have in the past been accused of handing over nuclear secrets to North Korea. The government has denied the accusations. A UN nuclear watchdog said in 2008 that a network around Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, lionized at home as the father of Pakistans atomic bomb, smuggled nuclear weaponization blueprints to Iran, Libya and North Korea and was active in 12 countries. Keen to stop Brexit, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is playing on Conservative fears that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn may win the next election, telling them: Brexit is not the route to escaping a Corbyn government, it is the gateway to having one. Blair, who led Labour to three successive election victories since 1997, has been making the case that the British people should be given another referendum on leaving the European Union, now that they are wiser on the debilitating economic cost it would entail. He also criticised Labours policy on Brexit under Corbyn: Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the Opposition because its leadership believes - whether for reasons of opportunism or covert opposition to the EU that they must commit to doing Brexit but pretend that they would secure a better Brexit deal. Blair mentioned Indias economic rise in the geo-political context in which Britain will find itself after leaving the EU. Alliances, he said, were important to gain strength in the future, and that was the modern case for having the European Union. The most alarming characteristic of the Brexiteers is their confusion of delusion and patriotism. To recognise Britains position in the global hierarchy of nations and how it is changed over the past 70 years is not to be unpatriotic. The world of geo-politics is undergoing a revolution. China will become, if not the dominant power, a power to rival America. By 2030 Indias economy will be bigger than Germanys, by 2050 several times the size. Britain will be medium sized in a land where there are some very tall people and three giants. Besides Blair, former Conservative prime minister John Major has also been making the case for another referendum on Brexit. According to him, his partys government under Theresa May had an unrealistic Brexit strategy. In a strongly-worded speech in February, Major said: Every one of the Brexit promises is to quote Henry Fielding a very wholesome and comfortable doctrine to which (there is) but one objection: namely, that it is not true. I know of no precedent for any government enacting a policy that will make both our country and our people poorer. Once that is apparent, the government must change course. Russia on Tuesday blamed Washington for putting pressure on allies to expel its diplomats, saying the expulsions were the result of colossal pressure by the United States. This is the result of colossal pressure, colossal blackmail which is the main instrument of Washington on the international arena, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Uzbekistan. Well respond, have no doubt! No one wants to put up with such loutish behaviour and we wont. The United Arab Emirates said two Qatari fighter jets dangerously approached two UAE passenger flights on Monday, sparking a swift denial by Doha in the third such incident between the Gulf rivals. Qatar and the Emirates have rowed repeatedly over alleged airspace violations this year, as a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf enters its 10th month. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the reckless manner in which two Qatari fighter jets dangerously approached two UAE-registered commercial aircraft while flying over Bahraini airspace on Tuesday, in a flagrant and serious threat to civil aviation and air navigation safety. One of the aircraft was forced to do an emergency manoeuvre to avoid colliding with the Qatari jets, the aviation authority said in a statement published by the official WAM news agency. Qatar categorically denied the accusation in a statement released by its civil aviation authority. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut all ties with Qatar in June over Qatars alleged ties to Islamist extremists and Shiite Iran. Qatar, which denies the accusations, is barred from using the airspace of the four states, although UAE airlines are not technically banned from operating flights through Qatari airspace. Abu Dhabi is now looking at rerouting flights to Bahrain to avoid Qatari airspace. Three men of Indian origin are among five members of a gang jailed for a total of more than 95 years for smuggling drugs from Pakistan, France and Netherlands and selling narcotics worth nearly 10 million pounds in the United Kingdom. The men were part of a Leicester-based organised crime group that smuggled heroin and cocaine hidden in secret compartments in furniture, industrial bolts and clothes from the three countries. The three sentenced at the Leicester Crown Court on Monday are Jagdish Patel, 51 (jailed for 25 years), Ravindra Modha, 55 (24 years) and Paulvinder Randhawa, 47 (18 years). Their accomplices, Talib Hussain and Ayaz Hussain, were jailed for 24 and 12 years. An investigation was launched by East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) after a batch of bolts with heroin hidden inside was uncovered, Leicestershire police said. Collage of the five men convicted of smuggling drugs into the UK. (Leicestershire police) Working with the National Crime Agency and law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands, Pakistan and France, detectives arrested the five men last year after establishing they were involved in arranging, managing and overseeing the import of drugs and their distribution within the UK. Detective inspector Harry Rai said: The sentencing marks the end of a very long and complex investigation that was undertaken over a number of months. The communities of Leicestershire should be reassured that a significant amount of drugs have been prevented from reaching the streets. Im extremely proud of the team who worked tirelessly to bring these five men to justice. This was in part due to the excellent working relationship that EMSOU was able to develop with counterparts in the Netherlands, France and Pakistan, as well as our colleagues at the National Crime Agency. In my 22 years in policing and 14 years being part of serious and organised crime investigations, I havent come across anything on this scale. Supplier News 27 March 2018 ALPHARETTA, GA -- The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced that it has kicked off 2018 with record-breaking performance and growth. In January alone, the company experienced a sales increase of 187 percent year-over-year. In addition, the company's service revenue, which includes pricing services and revenue best practices consulting, showed an increase of 107 percent. In January and February, Rainmaker expanded its reach in both the number of customers and the number of properties using its state-of-the-art solution suite, which includes guestrev, grouprev, revcaster and revintel. Its grouprev and guestrev solutions led the way in deployments, with grouprev showing a 35 percent increase year-over-year and guestrev showing a 31 percent increase for the same period. Among the customers that recently selected Rainmaker solutions are: Golden Casino Group in Las Vegas; Omni Hotels & Resorts in Dallas; The Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Solis Two Porsche Drive in Atlanta. These customers are using Rainmaker's cloud-based solutions to streamline operations, optimize revenue and secure the most profitable guests. "Partnering with Rainmaker was a great decision for us," said Tamara Gunn, director of revenue management at Solis Two Porsche Drive, a 214-room luxury property that recently went live with guestrev. "The company really listened to our needs and responded with a solution that will help us understand demand and take a strategic approach to setting rates. This, in turn, will help us increase overall profitability and strengthen our competitive advantage." The Scottsdale Plaza Resort also recently implemented the guestrev solution. "We're excited about the possibilities that guestrev brings to our property," said Gilberto Aguirre, director of revenue management at the 400-room luxury hotel. "It will enable us to assess the value of each guest based on all available revenue streams, including food and beverage, wellness and retail. It also will take demand uncertainty into consideration, resulting in both top- and bottom-line growth and a rapid ROI." In February, Hotel Tech Report named Rainmaker's revcaster solution its top-rated market intelligence software based on data from thousands of hoteliers in more than 40 countries. More than 100 hotel technology products competed for a chance to win the prestigious title. Rainmaker also was included in the recent Hotel Tech Report list of 'Top 10 Places to Work in Hotel Tech'. Rainmaker's leading-edge revenue and profit optimization product suite includes: guestrev , an intuitive and easy-to-use revenue management solution that analyzes total guest value across a hotel or casino property to forecast and price rooms; , an intuitive and easy-to-use revenue management solution that analyzes total guest value across a hotel or casino property to forecast and price rooms; grouprev , an innovative group pricing solution that streamlines the process of responding to group RFPs by analyzing historical data, future demand, and price sensitivity to recommend the best pricing for group business; , an innovative group pricing solution that streamlines the process of responding to group RFPs by analyzing historical data, future demand, and price sensitivity to recommend the best pricing for group business; revcaster , a powerful rate shopping tool that gives hoteliers access to real-time actionable market data, so that rates can be set against the competitive landscape; and , a powerful rate shopping tool that gives hoteliers access to real-time actionable market data, so that rates can be set against the competitive landscape; and revintel, an intuitive business intelligence solution that improves day-to-day revenue management by mining various data sets and providing deep insights at a granular level. "Our record-setting performance at the start of this year underscores our deep commitment both to our customers and products," said Tammy Farley, president of The Rainmaker Group. "We constantly have our eye on platform innovation and ways in which we can deliver more powerful solutions to our clients. And, as the hospitality industry evolves, we continue to strengthen our product suite to meet and exceed our customers' revenue goals." Press Release 27 March 2018 Dubai, UAE -- The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2018 (AHIC) will provide unique insights into modern leadership, forward-thinking investment and new operating models via a stellar line-up of speakers confirmed for the annual gathering for the Middle East's hospitality investment community. Advertisements Taking place from 17-19 April 2018 at the purpose-built AHIC Village in the grounds of the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, this 14th edition of AHIC promises to address the critical issues of innovation, leadership, destination development and industry disruptors amid the macroeconomic outlook from the investors' perspective. The event will attract 700 hotel investors, major developers, leading financiers, and C-level hotel executives to attend three days of content, networking and events, including live-on-stage interviews with some of the world's most respected businessmen and hotel leaders and the first AHIC Global Project Showcase, featuring hospitality investment opportunities from around the world. Held in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), AHIC 2018 will be inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, who will give a keynote opening speech. His Highness will reveal further insights into the Strategy for Ras Al Khaimah, one of the world's fastest growing tourism destinations, and share anecdotes that will inspire fellow leaders at AHIC. Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority commented: "We are looking forward to showcasing Al Marjan Island at AHIC 2018 and to taking part in the dynamic conference programme. Tourism is one of Ras Al Khaimah's most important economic sectors and is considered a key engine for continued GDP growth and job creation. Our decision to support AHIC 2018 comes at a pivotal time in our three-year Destination 2019 Tourism Strategy, which aims to attract one million visitors by the end of 2018. To accommodate this growth in visitors, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is providing potential investors with a range of innovative opportunities to develop stand-out properties across the emirate. We have considerable opportunities within several development projects, including Al Marjan Island, which has been earmarked for an additional 16 hotels by 2025." His Highness' welcome will be followed by a keynote interview with one of the Middle East's most respected businessmen, His Excellency Mohamed Alabbar, Founder & Chairman, Emaar Properties, who has not only played a critical role in establishing Dubai's reputation as a tourism hotspot but is also renowned for his entrepreneurial outlook and passion for digital disruption. His Excellency Mohamed Alabbar said: "With its natural setting, diverse attractions and a fast-evolving hospitality infrastructure, Ras Al Khaimah is setting new milestones in the industry, and evolving as one of the popular tourism hubs in the region. AHIC 2018 will put the spotlight on the emirate and drive inward investments, and underline the diversity of tourism offerings that our nation presents to the world. Through the Conference, which discusses future trends, we can collectively contribute to strengthening the prospects of the tourism and hospitality sectors, and unlock their true potential." Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events and Co-Founder of AHIC, said: "We are delighted and proud to open AHIC 2018 with insights from two such respected business leaders. I've no doubt the contributions from His Highness Sheikh Saud and His Excellency Mohamed Alabbar will set the scene for highly relevant debate and discussion around the all-important topics of leadership and innovation as they impact the global hospitality investment industry." AHIC 2018 will also bring some of the world's leading hotel CEOs to Dubai for a 'Global CEO in the Hot Seat' series; Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG; and Pierre-Frederic Roulot, CEO, Groupe du Louvre. Ahead of his session at AHIC, Keith Barr said: "This will be my first time at AHIC and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to be on stage to talk about our industry and IHG's role within it. I'm going to be talking about a range of things, but will be focusing on the way that digital and technological evolution has transformed the way in which we can deliver a truly personalized experience for our guests. "The hospitality industry has experienced a great deal of change in recent years, not least in terms of the constantly evolving consumer environment and the rapidly changing digital and technological landscape. I don't necessarily see any one element challenging the industry more than it has done in previous years, but it's a case of the industry needing to continuously adapt, evolve and innovate during 2018. This isn't an industry where you can sit still for one moment; it's highly competitive and it's vital that we are as nimble and agile as possible." Commenting on what he forecasts to be the biggest disruptor to the hospitality industry in 2018, Federico J. Gonzalez, President & CEO, Radisson Hotel Group, said: "There's no single aspect or issue that I see as being unique. The trend of disruptions and other macro and micro economic challenges will continue. As a leading hotel company, we need to be ahead of the curve and focus on delivering memorable moments. We need to be able to respond faster and better to customer needs. At Radisson, we want all of us to be obsessed with customer. That's the ultimate essence of hospitality and our business. "We need to have relevant and meaningful innovation at all levels of business. We need to support and enhance a customer journey from A to Z, which makes sense to the customers directly. Brand, Product, Commercial & Marketing activities, Communication and Operations, all need to be aligned to serve one purpose 100% Guest Satisfaction." The CEOs behind some of the industry's hottest new brands will also take to the stage, including Christoph Hoffmann, Chief Executive Officer, 25hours Hotel Company, Amar Lalvani, CEO & Managing Partner, Standard International; and Michael Bisordi, Owner - Tungsten Partners and Partner - Ace Group International. Christoph Hoffmann, who recently entered into a strategic partnership with global hotel giant Accor to further develop his brand, 25hours, said he forecast more mergers in the industry. "In most markets, the number of hotel rooms is increasing and we still see mergers and new brands especially in the lifestyle segment arising. A CEO nowadays must be open for structural changes and not so much focus on the mere product to succeed," said Hoffmann. Commenting on the skills a hotel industry CEO needs to success in 2018, Amar Lalvani said: "Stop thinking like a hotel company CEO. It's a very insular industry with insular thinking. Think more creatively and move more quickly. Watch other sectors. Alternative accommodations, shared office, ride sharing. Understand how the next generation lives, stays and plays in order not to become a dinosaur." Michael Bisordi, who launched the Ace Hotel chain in US, said that he believes investors should "focus inward" and look at an asset on a local level, rather than as a brand. "Our intent primarily is to create within the four walls of the building an 'instant classic'," said Bisordi. "In a way we feel this actually transcends the concept of a brand. We feel that the development of the property to be the draw, more so than any brand, is where the industry is going. Customisation is an increasing trend and is a reaction against the wave of expansion of relatively homogeneous hotels in the latter half of the 20th century," added Bisordi. Meanwhile, the investor's perspective will be represented by the Middle East's leading hotel owners including Alain Debare, Chief Executive Officer, Action Hotels; Samih Sawiris, Chairman, ORASCOM Development; Jalil Mekouar, Chief Executive Officer - Hotels, Majid Al Futtaim; Sanjeev Agarwala, Chief Operating Officer Hospitality and Investment, Al Habtoor Group; and Dr Badr Al Badr, Chief Executive Officer, Dur Hospitality. Commenting on how he sees the current operating environment, Alain Debare said: "Taking a wide lens, the hotel sector we have grown to know, is in a shift. A big shift. In recent months, we have witnessed a flurry of multi-billion dollar M&A activity. The reality is, this has taken Top Team attention away from core brand operations." For registrations and for more information, visit: www.arabianconference.com Contact: Lisa Flanagan, Senior Communications Consultant, In2 Consulting; [email protected] Office: +971 4 455 8499; Mobile: +971 52 689 5509 Supplier News 27 March 2018 NAVIS, the leader in reservation sales and marketing technology for hotels, resorts and vacation rentals, announced that industry visionary Felix Laboy has joined its board. Laboy joins an elite advisory team which includes Tom Gonser, founder of DocuSign, and Sanjay Dholakia, former Chief Marketing Officer of Marketo. Felix Laboy has three decades of experience across a wide-ranging portfolio of leadership positions in the hotel, travel and technology industry. Most recently, he was CEO of WayBlazer, the world's first artificial intelligence company for travel. Laboy also served as the first president and general manager of Sabre Hospitality Solutions, a leading Software as a Service technology company. "Felix is a pioneer in the industry, and we are excited to welcome him to NAVIS' advisory board," said NAVIS CEO Kyle Buehner. "Technology creates so many opportunities for hoteliers and vacation rental professionals to drive revenue while improving guest service. We're excited to learn from Felix and benefit from his expertise, experience and global perspective as we continue to help our clients grow their businesses." Before leading Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Laboy was CEO and co-founder of E-site Marketing, one of the first hospitality Internet marketing companies in the world. He has advised many travel technology start-ups, consulted for private equity firms and taught at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. Laboy also held numerous executive positions at leading hotel companies including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Westin Hotels and Resorts, ANA Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels. In addition, he served as executive vice president of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. "I have always admired NAVIS for its innovative products and services, and I am honored to join their board," said Laboy. "I have tremendous respect for Kyle, his leadership team, and the other board members, and I look forward to working with them." Laboy also serves as an advisor to ALICE and is a member of the Cornell University Council, having graduated from the prestigious School of Hotel Administration at Cornell. He enjoys traveling, hiking and triathlons, and has visited all seven continents, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and is an Ironman triathlete. To learn why leading lodging providers and management companies rely on NAVIS technology and services to help them maximize direct booking revenue and guest service, please visit TheNavisWay.com or call 866-712-3439. The fallout since the revelation of Cambridge Analytica's probe into Facebook's servers, which ultimately saw the firm mine personal data from 50 million profiles, has been harsh and sudden. Shares for the social media company plummeted once again on Monday after the public was notified of the FTC's investigation into this particularly alarming scandal. Lawmakers in both the United States and Europe have been pressuring the FTC to gain significant insight into how Facebook Chief Mark Zuckerberg and his company handle and protect user data. Yesterday, Facebook's shares dipped as much as 6.5 percent to $150 USD, the first time since July 2017. However, just before the markets closed, the company was able to rise a mere 0.4 percent to $160.06. Collectively, their shares have fallen a steep 13 percent since March 16, after Facebook had recognized that their user data had been improperly mined by Cambridge Analytica; they have now lost nearly $70 billion in market value. Image via Financial Post The most widely used social media platform has also been experiencing some growing discontent with advertisers. Pep Boys, an American auto parts retailer, has joined Mozilla Corp and Germany's second largest bank Commerzbank in pulling any advertising content off of Facebook's servers. New polls are also concretizing the general public's growing ambivalence towards the company, as they continually bring to question how well-regarded their privacy actually is. H&M has experienced a shaky start to 2018, as they have recently revealed that their first quarter profits have dipped 62 percent to $150 million USD. This number is the Swedish retailer's lowest first quarter report in 16 years, and is well below their revised forecast. The company's particularly problematic decline in profits is directly linked to the erratic weather patterns experienced throughout the winter months, which resulted in a more temperate January, with a return to frigid temperatures in February. This effectively put the fast-fashion retailer in a predicament, resulting in their largest stock pile-up of unsold goods in over 20 years. H&M was then forced to drastically cut prices on their merchandise in order to shift stock out of their stores and into a consumer's wardrobe. However, H&M also also experienced a few PR blunders that have definitely had an effect on a shopper's perception of the international chain. The racist hoodie incident resulted in a few high-profile collaborators, including G-Eazy and The Weeknd, pulling out of their collaborative endeavours with the company. Similarly, their lawsuit against a graffiti artist has been unfavourably received by many notable street artists and collectives. Only time will tell if H&M will be able to overturn their misfortunes and reclaim their retail notoriety. Lil Boosie, born Torrence Hatch, is suing a number of parties after he alleges he got pepper sprayed for no reason. According to The Blast, Boosie is going after Dillards department store, Edgewater Mall and the Biloxi Police Department (all in Mississippi) claiming that a law enforcement officer said racial slurs at he and his family and then pepper sprayed him. The city's response to the case brings up Boosie's past where the "No Juice" rapper was charged in May 2017 for disorderly conduct and interference with a business leading to his "cooperative" arrest on December 4th. The publication says the city wants out of the lawsuit because the man who attacked Boosie was off-duty at the time and the department alleges he was acting out of self-defense - claiming Boosie and his entourage attacked the officer. Police also claim Boosie disrupted the flow of normal business inside Dillards, and allegedly struck a guard outside the mall. Boosie is set to go to court on April 18th. Boosie also claims the pepper spray caused his cousin to give premature birth to two babies who now have respiratory issues. New York police were successfully able to indict a man suspected of being a Mexican drug kingpin who is partly responsible for a trafficking enough fentanyl to potentially kill ten million people. Authorities are confident that the arrest of Francisco Quiroz-Zamora will give them a better understanding of how the Sinaloa cartel moves their illegal substances from Mexico into the United States. Quiroz-Zamora, who is also known as "Gordo," or the Fat One, has been charged with operating a major drug trafficking scheme, alongside first-degree sale of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy. He and five others will be arraigned in a New York court this upcoming Thursday. Officials working with New York's Special Narcotics Prosecutor were able to retrieve nearly 44 pounds of fentanyl before it became distributed amongst the various drug circles throughout America. The opioid has a potential to kill after only consuming a few minuscule grains. Fentanyl has become quite lucrative for drug traffickers and dealers alike, as it is a cheaper alternative to traditional ingredients found in narcotics like heroin, as well as prescription medication such as OxyContin and Xanax. Quiroz-Zamora was apparently very involved in making sure this supply made it to its final destination. He also had a hand in setting up a pipeline that would allow drugs to be transported from Mexico to both Arizona and California via automobile. In addition, Mexican cartel are keen on making New York their distribution headquarters, with fentanyl being their main product. After Alton Sterling was shot by police in 2016, his death spawned protests across the nation. The two officers involved in the shooting ultimately went on to stand trial, and today, CNN has revealed that no charges will be filed. According to Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, the officer's fatal actions were deemed "well-founded and reasonable." Expanding on the decision, Landry claimed that "countless hours" went into examining the evidence. The announcement was made in Baton Rouge, coming hours after Landry broke the news to Sterling's family. If you need a refresher, Sterling was shot outside a convenience store in June of 2016. Disturbing footage revealed Sterling being pinned down by two white police officers, where he was shot shortly thereafter. At the time, police said that Sterling had been reaching for a gun. An initial investigation cleared Officers Blane Salamoni (the shooter) and Howie Lake II of any Civil Rights Charges, with feds going so far as to claim the officers responses were "reasonable." Apparently, it was enough that Sterling failed to comply with the officer's orders, even though there was no visible proof that Sterling even reached for a gun in the first place. Now, the officers involved in the controversial incident have managed to skate free of charges. The verdict will no doubt cause a renewed outrage among those hurt by the injustice. For some context, Alton Sterling's death caused a massive surge of Black Lives Matter protests; it wouldn't be surprising to see old wounds reopened. [via CNN] Stephon Clark was in his grandmother's backyard when he was shot at twenty times by police. Officers in Sacremento were responding to an alleged car thief in the area, when they were directed in Clark's direction. A 911 call claimed that a man in a black hoody was smashing car windows and fleeing through backyards. When police officers came upon Clark, they frantically ordered him to put his hands up, and yet they shot at him 20 times. Clark's grandmother, Sequita Thompson, was in the house when her baby boy was murdered by the police. According to The Washington Post, The officers claimed that Clark had a weapon drawn, but only a cell phone was discovered on his dead body. On Monday, Clark's family and civil rights leaders gathered for a news conference at Sacramento City Hall. Thompson was the main speaker of the event, emotionally calling for action against the police that killed her grandson. Family attorney Ben Crump also spoke, stating, When a young man who was bombing homes in Austin, Texas, the police followed him for hours. But an unarmed black man holding a cellphone is shot 20 times." The president of Sacramento NAACP Betty Williams asked for full transparency in the investigation into the shooting. She also called for the two officers who shot and killed Clark to be prosecuted. Rev. Shane Harris of National Action Network agreed. We know that local prosecutors investigating local police is a conflict of interest, stated the Reverend. And we must get independent investigations on state and federal levels, because we know that a prosecutor investigating police officers that endorse them is like a student grading their own paper. Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones released both body cam footage and audio within days after the murder, something that is unusual for police shootings. While the Sheriff seems to be working hard to make sure her department puts the truth first, only time will tell if Clark will receive the justice he deserves. Apple is going head-to-head with Google in education, a market the iPhone maker helped pioneer but has let languish. For the first time in several years, Apple released hardware specific to education: a new iPad that squares up against Google's inexpensive Chromebook laptops, which have become popular in schools. Apple also introduced an education service called Schoolwork, which will compete with Google's Classroom software. The new iPad has a 9.7 inch screen and costs $299 for students and schools, and $329 for other users. It supports the Apple Pencil accessory, a first for a non-Pro iPad model. New versions of its iWork productivity apps will work with the stylus, which costs $89 for students, $10 below the regular price. Apple executive Greg Joswiak called the new iPad "faster than virtually any Chromebook" during an event at a Chicago school on Tuesday. This was the first time Apple held a product launch geared toward education since 2012 when it unveiled a tool for designing e-books for the iPad. On Monday, ahead of Apple's announcement, Google and partner AsusTek Computer Inc. announced a $329 tablet powered by the same Chrome operating system that runs Chromebooks. Most non-Apple tablets run Google's Android mobile operating system. Apple accounted for 17 percent of mobile computing shipments to American students in kindergarten through high school, according to data from the third quarter of 2017 published by Futuresource Consulting. Devices running Google's operating systems held 60 percent of the market, and Windows PCs had 22 percent. While Macs and iPads make up less than 20 percent of Apple's sales combined, students and teachers are a key market to drive future purchases. Marketing executive Susan Prescott announced a new app called Schoolwork for iPads that helps teachers assign work and monitor student progress. The iPhone maker also unveiled a new service called ClassKit, which allows developers to write apps that integrate with the Schoolwork service. This will let teachers send students to specific parts of apps to conduct classwork or access material. The new apps will be available in June, Apple said. The company also said Apple student accounts through schools will get 200 gigabytes of iCloud storage for free, compared to the regular 5 gigabytes. Google's G Suite for Education service offers unlimited cloud storage, and new Chromebooks come with 100 gigabytes of free storage for two years. With the cheaper iPad and new education platform, Apple is banking on changing its foothold in education, but the lower-cost tablet could also help buoy iPad sales more widely. While the iPad business recently returned to growth after multiple declining quarters, demand for tablets is weak. According to research firm IDC, the market shrank by about 7 percent in 2017. Apple grew 3 percent last year and leads the industry with about a quarter of the market. A cheaper model that integrates Apple's hardware with new services could help revive the tablet market. Later this year, Apple plans to unveil a redesigned iPad Pro with features from the iPhone X like facial recognition, Bloomberg News reported last year. The new iPad still includes the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, versus Face ID 3-D sensor system on the iPhone X. But the tablet adds a new A10 Fusion chip which was first released in the iPhone 7 in 2016, up from the A9 in the previous low-cost iPad. Apple also previewed a new feature called Smart Annotation that lets users annotate specific words on a page. An update to the Pages iWork app will also let users create their own digital books via the iPad. The company said its Classroom student-management app for iPads will be coming to Mac computers, and it is updating its Swift Playgrounds coding application with support for building augmented-reality apps. Apple also announced a new curriculum called "Everyone Can Create" that helps teachers conduct lessons on music, photography and video creation. The software announcements aren't Apple's first stab in the education market. Steve Jobs made schools a priority for Apple early in its life. But as the company has driven toward mass-market and higher-margin products in recent years, Google and Microsoft Corp. have had success breaking into classrooms with inexpensive laptops and tablets. Last year, the global educational technology market generated $17.7 billion in revenue, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan. Port officials hoping to expand Corpus Christis ship channel within four years are pushing lawmakers and federal agencies to commit more money and accelerate contracts to launch a project that would make the region the nations top oil exporter as demand surges overseas. But so far, Congress has committed only a fraction of the money needed to dredge the channel deep enough to make room for massive oil tankers by 2021. Furthermore, myriad flood-related projects are competing for the Army Corp of Engineers time and resources in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Were getting penalized because of Hurricane Harvey, said Sean Strawbridge, chief executive of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority. We dont want to miss this opportunity by being undercapitalized. And we dont want to stymie American exports to our trading partners around the world. Over the next few years, millions of barrels of crude produced in the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico will pour into Corpus Christi. U.S. oil refineries have pretty much absorbed as much of the new volumes of shale oil they can, the vast majority of the extra crude pumped from American oil fields will have to be shipped to Europe and Asia, where Chinas demand is growing rapidly. The International Energy Agency believes the nations oil export capacity will more than double to 4.9 million barrels a day by 2023, and Corpus Christi would become the nations top export hub. The port, one of the closest to both the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, could outgrow Houston in a couple of years. Dredging the Corpus Christi ship channel, officials said, would clear the way for some $36 billion a year in exports to flow through the region. Last week, as heavy snows blanketed Washington, D.C., and lawmakers rushed to pass the 2,232-page omnibus spending bill, Strawbridge and an entourage of port officials met with U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and others, pleading for Congress to appropriate $60 million a year through 2021 to complete the ship channel project. Lawmakers had previously approved an annual $13 million for the project. With that budget, it would take more than a decade to finish dredging the ship channel. The federal share of the project comes in at $225 million of a total $327 million. The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has had its $102 million portion in the bank for months, and has already transferred $43 million to the Corps of Engineers, which has promised to hand out the first contract before July. In the omnibus spending bill, Congress increased funding for U.S. navigation construction projects to $337 million, up $27 million from last years budget. But those funds will be split among five coastal ports and inland waterways. Not a lot to go around, Strawbridge said. Corpus Christi officials said theyve already seen materials costs rise amid rebuilding efforts in Houston. The Port of Corpus Christi Authority in October paid the Army Corp of Engineers $43 million to launch the project this year, but dredging has yet to begin. Plus, he said, Corpus Christi is competing for funds with other ports represented by statewide port authorities, such as Georgia, Florida and Massachusetts. In Texas, local ports represent themselves because there is no one statewide port authority. Members of Congress are concerned if theyre supporting Corpus Christi, theyre subtracting from Houston, he said. Port officials have hatched a plan to raise funds to finance the project if Congress doesnt come through. The port authority last week approved plans to solicit an underwriter to issue revenue bonds, commercial debt and acquire a $100 million loan to fund the ship channel expansion, as well as other projects to build docks, railroads and other infrastructure in the region. Within the next four to five months, Strawbridge said the port authority plans to raise something between $200 million and $500 million, depending on how much money Congress appropriates for the project. collin.eaton@chron.com twitter.com/CollinEatonHC GALVESTON A Texas House committee meeting here Monday served as the latest battleground for an ongoing feud between the governing boards of the Port of Galveston and the ship pilots who usher in cruise ships during foggy weather. Port officials say the pilots, upset over complaints about the fees they charge for their service, often exaggerate the severity of fog to leave cruise ships waiting when they could safely come ashore. The Galveston Wharves Board wants legislation that would give it more authority over rate increases and other actions by the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Galveston County, which also oversees the Galveston-Texas City Pilots association. State Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Port Arthur, added the issue to an already planned meeting of the Select Committee on Ports, Innovation & Infrastructure. Im just looking at a situation that on its face seems to be different than anywhere else and seems to be impeding the ability to do things that other ports are able to do, Deshotel said during the meeting. I dont have an agenda here, but it appears that it makes it very difficult for a growth plan to be sustained. Cruise lines represent 60 percent of the ports revenue. Last year, just shy of a million people embarked on cruises in Galveston, and Mayor Jim Yarborough expects more than a million by the end of 2018. Customers have taken to social media to complain about being delayed and missing flights because of foggy weather. Wharves Board trustees are asking the Legislature to give the port veto power over the pilot boards actions and rate increases. Most ports in Texas have one governing board that oversees the port and pilots. Galveston's pilot commissioners, however, are appointed by the governor and operate separately. It appears to us that were at a competitive disadvantage. If we give less than competitive rates in this area and the port of Galveston, then those customers may go to the Port of Freeport, Port of Houston or one of those other ports east of us, said Yarborough, who is also on the wharves board. Wed like to be able to have at least a voice at the table. In August 2016, the Pilot Commissioners approved a 30 to 40 percent rate increase over three years. The Port of Galveston, joined by Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines, filed a lawsuit asking pilots to reconsider. In March 2017, the rate increase was reduced. The Galveston County Daily News reported earlier this month that there were more than twice as many fog delays in 2017 than in each of the previous two years. The pilots counter that giving the port veto power would be akin to giving the cruise lines control over the rates it pays. They say 96 percent of port customers, with the exception of the cruise lines and the Port of Galveston, consented to the rate increases. If you have a commercial entity that wants to influence a rate negotiation, having veto power is even better than that. Ultimately, if you decide that you never want to give another rate increase again, having the statutory veto power would be the ultimate I win button, said Paxton Crew, the maritime attorney for the Texas State Pilots Association. Crew argued that changing the structure of the pilot boards via legislation would make the pilots safety systems irrelevant and could lead to disaster because ship masters will decide to bring their vessels into the ship channel regardless of weather. If they cannot sustain a safe and efficient piloting service, that means by turning away the vessels, not being able to meet all of them, its going to be a self-fulfilling prophecy where we dont need pilots anymore, Crew said. Christos Sotirelis, the presiding officer for the Galveston-Texas City Pilots, said that despite the dispute the pilots were looking at the possibility of mitigating some of the fog delays in a safe manner. He noted that the board recently met with the U.S. Coast Guard captain of port and are considering equipment that might help navigate the weather. Representatives from the port were unmoved. Ted ORourke, chairman of the Wharves Board, said that back in 2001 and 2002, when he headed the International Longshoremens Association in Galveston, pilots used to brag about bringing in ships in zero visibility. We went to the dock and you couldnt see the hand in front of your face and the next thing you know, theres the ship, ORourke said. If thats really the case and with technology advancing, the issue with the fog, I dont understand it. And I dont understand how just in this last month they were able to bring in ships in zero visibility one day and not bring it in the next. Yarborough noted a difference between cruise customers in Galveston and big corporations and refineries in Texas City that can pass their rates on to their business consumers. Our cargo can talk, Yarborough said. Deshotel indicated the committee would consider introducing legislation next session to address the structure of the pilot boards, but cautioned that nothing was imminent. Were a long way from seeing any changes, Deshotel said. This is more of a fact-finding (meeting), getting both sides to air their issues and help us figure out how this all works. Schlitterbahn Waterparks co-owner Jeffrey Wayne Henry was arrested Monday in connection with the 2016 decapitation death of a 10-year-old at the New Braunfels companys Kansas park. Henry was jailed Monday in Cameron County on an arrest warrant out of Kansas, according to an online inmate listing. The charges listed on the Henrys inmate page include murder, 12 counts of aggravated battery and five counts of aggravated endangerment of a child. Representatives for the Cameron County Sheriffs Office and Kansas Attorney Generals Office could not immediately be reached for comment regarding Henrys arrest. We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident, Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in an email. RELATED: Indictment: Waterslide in fatal accident was 'deadly weapon' Henry, who co-owns Schlitterbahn with his two siblings, is the second Schlitterbahn executive to be arrested on charges in the August 2016 death of Caleb Thomas Schwab, who died while riding the 168-foot Verruckt slide at Schlitterbahns Kansas City park. The 10-year-old was decapitated when he hit a hoop that held protective netting on the rides second hill. A Wyandotte County grand jury indicted Schlitterbahn and Tyler Austin Miles, former director of operations at Schlitterbahn, on one count of involuntary manslaughter, a dozen counts of aggravated battery, five counts of aggravated endangerment of a child and one count of interfering with law enforcement by concealing evidence. Miles, 29, was also charged with allegedly giving false information to a detective. Miles pleaded not guilty Friday after turning himself in to the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office in Kansas City. A trove of corporate emails, memoranda, blueprints, video recordings, photographs and eyewitness statements given to the Kansas grand jury showed that Verruckts designers and operators knew the gargantuan water slide could cause severe bodily harm and even death but kept the ride open anyway, according to the March 23 indictment. RELATED: This is what it looks like to ride the world's tallest water slide, the Verruckt The indictment names Henry as the visionary and designer of the Verruckt slide and outlines a pattern of alleged behavior accusing the 62-year-old of ignoring warnings that the ride was unsafe for riders. The document also details alleged actions taken by the New Braunfels company and its employees to silence subordinates and cover up evidence of injuries to park visitors caused by the ride. Schlitterbahn which has parks in New Braunfels, Galveston, South Padre Island and Corpus Christi has vehemently denied the accusations laid out in the 47-page indictment unsealed Friday. Now Playing: A baseball tournament Saturday honored the memory of Caleb Schwab. The 10-year-old was killed last year while riding the Verruckt water slide at Schlitterbahn. Video: KMBC The allegation that we operated, and failed to maintain, a ride that could foreseeably cause such a tragic accident is beyond the pale of speculation, Prosapio said in an emailed statement earlier Monday. Many of us, and our children and grandchildren, have ridden the ride with complete confidence as to its safety. Prosapio blasted the grand jurys allegations that Schlitterbahn withheld information or altered evidence as completely false and said the company has worked closely with law enforcement since Caleb Schwabs Aug. 7, 2016 death. Tom Bath and Tricia Bath, attorneys representing Miles, have decried the charges against their client. Not only had Tyler ridden the slide numerous times, but, as the state is aware, he had scheduled his wife, to ride it on the day of the accident, the lawyers said in a statement provided by Schlitterbahn. These are not the actions of someone who believed the ride to be dangerous. The allegation that Tyler knowingly obstructed the investigation is, likewise, false. From the moment of the accident, and continuing until the charges were filed, Tyler cooperated with law enforcement. He did not hide or destroy documents. Henry first conceived of building the worlds tallest and fastest water slide on Nov. 13, 2012 in a spur-of-the-moment effort to catch the attention of the producers of the Travel Channels Xtreme Waterparks series, the indictment says. To read the full version, see Tuesdays front page or click here to visit ExpressNews.com The title of Khruangbin's latest album carries with it a sweet story. When bassist Laura Lee would visit her grandfather in Brownsville, he'd ask her "Como me quieras?" or "How much do you love me?" Her response was "Con todo el mundo" - "with all the world." Their exchange in many ways ties together Khruangbin's second album, "Con Todo el Mundo," which opens with the song "Como Me Quieres?" She calls the song "a love letter to him." While the roots of those titles are specific and personal, "Con Todo el Mundo" also speaks to the Houston trio's antennae-up approach to absorbing, processing and creating music. "Cinematic" is a word often lazily applied to the description of any and all instrumental music. But in the case of Khruangbin it fits the band's sound, which is dreamy at times, but also evocative and provocative. Even without lyrics to lean on for meaning, the songs' slinky sinuous paths take turns through joy, frustration and melancholy. Theirs is a seemingly understated music that contains multitudes, part of a global distillation of music from Thailand, southern California, Jamaica, the Middle East and other regions that catch the ears of Lee, guitarist Mark Speer and drummer Donald "DJ" Johnson. A rough blueprint to the sound of "Con Todo El Mundo" can be found on Spotify, where the trio has put together an intriguing and enchanting series of playlists with flight motifs that offer a sliver of insight into the breadth of their musical interests: Flight 421 to Los Angeles; Flight 505 to Kingston; Flight 526 to Lagos; Flight 428 to Tehran and such. More Information Khruangbin With Will Van Horn When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main Details: $15; 713-237-0370, whiteoakmusichall.com See More Collapse Here it bears mention that the band's name is a Thai word for "airplane." "It's interesting because it used to be a lot more difficult to find music from certain places," Speer says. "You had to depend on compilations or visit Half Price Books and dig through the World Music section, which really just meant music that wasn't in English. I'm old enough to remember when it was called World Beat. But it's became easier with the Internet. There are things, the only way you'd know they exist is through YouTube. "But it's kind of like when a monk makes a mandala. They make it in the sand and then the wind blows it away. It's silly to expect permanence in this life. And not just with the physical mediums. People think MP3s are forever. But you get a corrupted hard drive and it's wiped clean. Nothing's forever, really, except change." With that in mind, Speer, Lee and Johnson find themselves drawn to a barn in Burton - a little town 14 miles southwest of Brenham - where they make music that connects them to the rest of the world. The barn is located on a property owned by Speer's family. The group needed a rehearsal space and found the options in Houston to be too expensive and often too loud to allow focus on their songs. "You'd find a space next to a grindcore band, which is cool, but sometimes you need quiet," Speer says. "And reherasal spaces are in no way quiet. In the barn, we can be as quiet or as loud as we want." Bassist Laura Lee adds, "We got to the barn and it just worked. Sometimes when things feel right, you don't need to mess with them." There the band came together, and there the band reconvenes when time comes to record. Khruangbin just released "Con Todo El Mundo," which is the kind of album you can escape into. Increasingly listeners are taking a journey with it: The record has earned Khruangbin strong notices from the likes of media taste makers Pitchfork, NPR, Rolling Stone, Vulture and the Guardian. The trio is just back from a European tour. They return to Houston for a show at White Oak Music Hall Saturday. Despite all the global references above, Khruangbin's origin is fairly modest and local. Speer and Johnson - who is also half of the local production team Beanz N Kornbread - first played together at St. John's United Methodist downtown, and crossed paths with Lee at Rudyard's after playing in church around 2010. "Laura would crash our rehearsals, and then we'd just hang out," Johnson says. "I'm not sure she was even playing bass yet. We were spending time together before we ever thought about being a band." So many rock trios follow a path blazed by the guitar. In Khruangbin, Speer's guitar plays the part of vocalist, with Lee's gliding bass lines and Johnson's swinging percussion playing a more active part in directing the songs. "My background is a lot of music where bass and drums are the starting point," Speer says. "As long as the drum and bass sound awesome, you can take out everything else and it still sounds good. That's the case with dub, but it's not the same with a rock record. We sort of do it in reverse." Lee says the band often "starts with the break beat, then I'll write the bass over it. Mark will send me a drop loop, and I'll play with that. It could be 10 minutes, it could be an hour. Mark will play on top of that and we give it back to DJ again so he can make the break beat his. That's what works for us." They released "The Universe Smiles Upon You" in 2015, which set up an inclusive net for global permutations of funk, psych, lounge and soul musics. Striking as the debut was, "Con Todo El Mundo" finds their interplay to be even more intuitive and interactive. They're cunning with sound and space, unafraid to give some notes a little room to breathe, which they attribute at least in part to their recording confines in Burton. "It makes sense, when you think of cinematic music, you think of open spaces, wide-angle lenses," Lee says. "We feel like that gives us more freedom than an enclosed space. Like there are no rules out there." Adds speers, "If you go into a recording studio, there's going to be silence. You can hear a pin drop. So people feel the need to fill up every bit of space with something. Another guitar riff here or there. But in the barn, there's a lot of sound happening: The wind going by, the creak of the building, birds, cows, buzzing insects. With all that there, we don't feel the need to fill up the recording. It's more like, 'The bugs are sounding good today. Let's let them do their thing.'" About that name Two albums in, Khruangbin will still have some explaining to do with regard to its name: It's just a cost that comes with wider attention. The Thai word is translated "engine fly," and is used for "airplane." Pronunciation is easier than it looks like it might be: "Kroong-bin." Standing downtown at the northern corner of San Jacinto and Capitol streets last week, I waited for a green light to cross San Jacinto on my way to the old U.S. Custom House building's post office. A two-step curb separated me from the street, while the other three corners had a ramp. How does someone in a wheelchair cross here? They have to detour? Turn around and hope a curb ramp is at Fannin? Turn left and hope a curb ramp is at Texas? I live in downtown Houston, close to this post office and a few coffee shops, bars and restaurants. The Walk Score is a 97. Downtown's recent rush of new residential high-rises could not be happier with this A+ rating. Walk Score, a company now owned by the real estate brokerage firm Redfin, categorizes my walkability as "Walker's Paradise," where my "daily errands do not require a car." But their methodology, based on your proximity to amenities like restaurants, parks, schools and shops, assumes you are an able-bodied pedestrian. It doesn't factor in often impassable sidewalks that are blocked off by construction fences or the cracked unevenness of ones that aren't. A Walk Score helps you find out how quickly you can walk somewhere, not how easily. So how does the score change for a blind person headed towards a two-step curb to mail a letter? Are they still in walker's paradise? NOT EVEN SIDEWALKS: I want to walk. But Houston won't let me. Recently, I was in the tunnels that maze below downtown and came to a stop in front of a short set of stairs with an unmarked destination. I later talked to a downtown worker about the tunnels' inaccessibility. He replied with all sincerity, for those in wheelchairs, that "they do have workarounds." And my chest got tight. Several years ago, in what now seems like another life, every day I would drop off and pick up my then stepdaughter from school. At Lanier Middle School, built in 1926, there was no accessible ramp at the front entrance. There was instead a street curb, three stair steps to a landing, then four more steps to enter the front doors, then another set of stairs to reach the first floor of the school. My 14-year-old stepdaughter was developmentally delayed to the level of a 2-year-old, wore a diaper and had lost most of her speech from refractory epilepsy, a condition where seizures are not controlled by medicine. So, each morning I dropped her off to an aide, explaining any seizure activity that morning or the night before and how it may have affected her sleep, any toileting issues or medication issues or if breakfast was accomplished. She would then be wheeled up the only ramp at the school, at the back entrance, through a small custodial office. I had heard too many times during those three middle school years the word "grandfathered." The old school building, built in a time before inclusivity was thought about, stood like a protected landmark against the rights of all children to enter through the same doors. Council Member Ellen Cohen responded to my concerns that, "without question, ADA accommodations should and must be provided for." In nearly a century, had no one taken disabled children's needs and rights seriously? It's sadly not that much different for so many other parts of Houston, its buildings and sidewalks, both public and private. IF YOU BUILD IT: How to make Houston streets safer: Enough talk. More infrastructure. There's so much buzz now about "walkable cities." Real estate developers and apartment management companies boast about their project's proximity to parks and public transit, using the Walk Score as the measuring stick for walkability. Even my own building touts its score, that "everything you desire is incredibly close." Proponents of walkability say places with higher scores translate to better health, cleaner air and environment along with the overall vibrancy of the neighborhood. But closer, better, cleaner and vibrant for whom? What about people who don't have the ability to walk? Or don't have a voice to ask: Why are my sidewalks not only unwalkable but impassable for me, for my parent, for my caregiver? Roads are not built for one type of car. Sidewalks should be designed, constructed and maintained for more than one type of pedestrian. Not everyone can hop over crumbling concrete or skip without thought down two steps to cross a street. Pushing my stepdaughter's wheelchair, her whole life our whole lives was a workaround. NOT SO LUCKY: Houston is hell on cyclists and pedestrians. We can change that. A few days ago, I was walking in Woodland Heights, a charming neighborhood north of downtown, and came upon a volcanic sidewalk formation. A tree root with more power than concrete had pushed the sidewalk up, splitting it into three huge plates that made me, an able-bodied pedestrian, detour into someone's front lawn. Then at the corner of Highland and Michaux streets, the sidewalks converged and divorced themselves from the street, separated by a foot of grass. I looked at the other three corners and saw the same grassy barrier with sidewalks that either crumbled or abruptly stopped. I thought of an elderly man with a walker taking an evening stroll with his wife. What is he supposed to do here? I thought of my stepdaughter. And my throat got tight. Amy Pearl is a native Houstonian, writer and managing director of the nonprofit arts organization Hope Stone, Inc. Bookmark Gray Matters. Everything you desire is incredibly close. A Harris County jury on Monday sentenced Leon Jacob to life in prison, ending a weeklong trial in which the 40-year-old was convicted of planning the double murder of his ex-girlfriend and his new girlfriends ex-husband. Jacob, a failed doctor, was convicted Friday of solicitation of capital murder for paying an undercover Houston police officer posing as a hit man last March. The verdict on punishment, which came after less than an hour of deliberations, ends a yearlong saga that has riveted Houstonians and garnered international headlines. Jacob was initially charged in the murder-for-hire plot last year with his girlfriend, Valerie McDaniel, a popular Montrose veterinarian who killed herself a short time after her arrest by jumping off a balcony at her River Oaks complex. The two wanted to dispose of their exes Jacobs ex-girlfriend Meghan Verikas and McDaniels ex-husband, Marion Mack McDaniel and began negotiating with someone they thought was a hit man, prosecutors alleged during the six-day trial. Now Playing: FOX 26 News reporter Damali Keith with attorney George Parnham Video: Fox 26 Houston When that individual disappeared after Jacob paid him $10,000, prosecutors said, Jacob went to Michael Kubosh, a Houston city councilman who is also a bail bondsman as it happened, he had written bonds for both men. At the time, Jacob was out on bond on charges of domestic violence against Verikas. Kubosh thought something suspicious was going on and notified Houston police. Investigators from HPDs major offender squad then located the supposed hit man and persuaded him to introduce Jacob to an undercover officer posing as yet another hit man willing to go ahead with the executions. Jacob ultimately paid the officer $1,800 and two Cartier watches as the first installment of a $20,000 contract. To convince Jacob and McDaniel that the executions had actually been carried shortly after their arrests, police showed them gruesome, staged execution photos of Verikas and Mack McDaniel, covered in fake blood. Members of McDaniels family now angrily contend that Jacob ensnared the veterinarian in the plot and say she had no interest in killing her ex-husband. After the jury sentenced Jacob to life and a $10,000 fine for two counts of solicitation of capital murder late Monday afternoon, prosecutors and Jacobs defense attorneys agreed that his fate had been sealed by statements he had made on tapes recorded by the undercover agent. At the end of the day, what made our case were the recordings, said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Samantha Knecht. They spoke for themselves. On one of those recordings, in a conversation that took place at a lunch meeting at the Olive Garden restaurant on Kirby, Jacob can be heard saying he wanted his ex-girlfriend injected with potassium chloride to stop her heart and kill her in an untraceable way. Jurors deliberated less than an hour before sentencing Jacob to the maximum possible sentence. He did not react. After Jacob was sentenced, Verikas gave a victim impact statement in which she got to address Jacob directly. I believe everything happens for a reason. While you sit in jail, I hope you think of me: the girl you called poor and uneducated. Its because of me that you will be in prison for life, she told him. You destroyed me financially and took away my sense of security, but you can do that no more. Enjoy life in prison. Knecht and fellow prosecutor Cameron Calligan spent a week playing the recordings to prove Jacob committed the crime. Then they spent Monday calling his ex-girlfriend and ex-wife to show a pattern of abuse as they argued for the maximum possible sentence. I think theres no doubt that if he had been allowed to remain among us, that at some point he would have killed someone, Knecht said. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years. He will not have to pay the fine because there is no mechanism in Texas law to enforce it. Jacobs attorney, George Parnham, said Jacob expected to be convicted. The verdict was not a shock, Parnham said. He agreed that the audio recordings were the cornerstone of the case, and said Jacob would appeal. I think they said it all. The audio recordings were the states case, he said. Were going to proceed accordingly and hopefully get this case reversed and back to the trial court. Among several possible appellate issues, Parnham said, was that he was not allowed to put on an acoustics expert to testify about alternate meanings in the garbled audio. Parnham and attorney Matthew Pospisil tried for two days to get University of Montana acoustics expert Al Yonovitz in front of jurors, arguing that the audio could be interpreted in different ways. State District Judge Jim Wallace ruled that interpreting what Jacob said on the audio was the decision of the jury and refused to let the audio expert testify. Jurors began the punishment phase of the trial Monday and heard tearful testimony from Verikas, then his ex-wife. Both testified about being badgered, harassed and terrorized as they tried to get out their relationships with him. The two women joined a litany of witnesses who testified in the punishment phase of Jacobs trial. His mother, attorney Golda Jacob, testified for the defense that Jacob spent 60 days in Houstons Menninger Clinic and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a personality disorder. Golda Jacob and his brother, Adam Jacob, testified that he would be a good candidate for probation. It would be difficult for him, but I think he could do it, Adam Jacob testified. Neither the defense nor prosecutors asked him to expand on why it would be difficult for him to live up to the requirements of probation, which typically include holding a job, obeying a curfew and abstaining from using drugs or alcohol. Earlier in the day, Verikas, Jacobs ex-girlfriend who was targeted in his murder-for-hire scheme, sobbed on the witness stand as she explained what it was like to learn that someone had been hired to kill her. Parnham had maintained during the trial that his client was a love-sick man who wanted to reconcile with Verikas, not hurt her. During the trial, Parnham said Jacob was trying to hire a private investigator, not a hit man, to arrange a meeting with Verikas or at least to get her to leave town so she would drop charges of domestic violence that she had filed against him. Before Verikas took the stand, an investigator with the Harris County Sheriffs Office, brought in recordings of several telephone calls from the jail including Jacob telling someone he thought noted actor Bradley Cooper should play him in a movie about the case. He was also chastised on the phone by his mother for getting himself in to a mess. You dont know when to shut up, Golda Jacob told her son. You cant control yourself. brian.rogers@ chron.com twitter.com/brianjrogers The U.S. Department of Education has approved Texas' Every Student Succeeds Act plan, which documents goals and systems for improving academic performance, the agency announced Monday. The approval comes nearly three months after the federal education agency requested changes to Texas' plan. Under the revised proposal, the Texas Education Agency used a higher standard of achievement for measuring academic success and set more ambitious targets for post-secondary readiness, among other changes. "In Texas, we are committed to ensuring every child is prepared for success in college, a career or the military," Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. "Our state plan reflects a commitment to reinforcing public education outcomes for more than 5 million schoolchildren while continuing to strengthen the economic future of Texas." The Every Student Succeeds Act, passed in 2015, replaces some federal oversight established by No Child Left Behind, which Congress and then-president George W. Bush enacted in the early 2000s. Each state is required to submit a plan detailing targets for increasing student achievement under its accountability system, procedures for improving low-performing schools and goals for graduation and post-secondary readiness rates. RELATED: Texas education officials finalize federal achievement plan Texas' initial plan, submitted in September 2017, used the "approaches grade level" standard -- which means students are likely to succeed in the next grade level with targeted intervention -- for measuring academic achievement. Federal officials, however, requested Texas use the more advanced "meets grade level" standard, which means students will succeed with limited intervention. About 28 percent of Texas students hit the "approaches grade level" standard in 2016, but fell short of "meets grade level." The initial plan also called for an increase in Texas students meeting definitions for career, college or military readiness. The original plan set goals of raising rates from 40 percent to 60 percent, but the revised plan sets a 70 percent target. Texas' new "A-through-F" accountability system, established by state legislators in 2015 and tweaked in 2017, meets requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Districts will receive an annual letter grade starting this year, while campuses will get a letter grade in 2019. The grade will be determined by three factors: student achievement, school progress, and closing performance gaps. The U.S. Department of Education has approved Every Student Succeeds Act plans from 34 states. Kayiana and brother Araylon "Ray Ray" Thomas spent Friday singing, dancing and laughing during a talent show at their day care center. At the end of the day, their mother, Sheborah Thomas, picked the children up, took them home and fed them. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, it seems. Until Thomas filled a bathtub full of water, prosecutors said Monday. The 30-year-old mother brought her 5-year-old daughter into the bathroom first and placed her in the tub, then held the girl's head underwater until she stopped struggling. She placed her daughter's body on a bed, then called her 7-year-old son in and did the same, even as he struggled against her and grabbed her hand, prosecutors said. She placed his body next to his sister. She later hid the bodies under the next-door-neighbor's home. The grisly details emerged a day after Houston police discovered the children's bodies in the 3000 block of Tierwester in the Third Ward. On Monday, prosecutor Veronica Nelson briefed a Harris County magistrate judge on two capital murder charges filed against Thomas, each for causing the death of a child under the age of 10. Thomas is being held without bond. The motive remains unclear. Texas Child Protective Services confirmed the agency had a history with the family but would not provide details. The deaths were met with shock and disbelief from family members and others who described Thomas as a loving mother. "Oh my goodness," her ex-husband, Emmanuel Iwueze, told the Chronicle. "What might have pushed her to do this kind of crazy thing?" Thomas' eldest child, a 12-year-old boy from a different father, was not at the house when the younger children were slain. The boy's father, Jermaine Anderson, said he picked up his son on Thursday evening, after Thomas expressed concerns he was involved with a gang. Anderson, who shares custody of the boy, knew her worries were unfounded but took his son home anyway. He said he was saddened when he learned about the children's deaths but also relieved that his son was not there. "I'm hoping my son will be all right, because he lost his brother and his sister and his mother, all in one day," he said. Danny Ray Thomas, the father of Kayiana and Ray Ray, is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for a drug offense at a unit in Bryan. He declined an interview. "As you can imagine, he is pretty upset right now," said Jason Clark, spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, in an email. Family members and police said they were not aware of Thomas having any major mental health issues. But both Anderson and Iwueze, who divorced Thomas in 2007, said she struggled with substance abuse. "She had to be high when she did it," Anderson said. "That's not the Sheborah I know. The Sheborah I know, she's a loving parent. She's willing to do anything for her kids." The Houston Police Department found the bodies Sunday after an acquaintance alerted police. Police said the acquaintance had seen Thomas throwing out trash in a nearby lot and agreed to help her move. When he asked where her children were, she bluntly told him that she'd killed them. He didn't initially believe her. When he realized she was serious, he convinced her to get into his car and he drove close to a nearby police station and flagged down an officer. Police said Thomas had initially tried to bury the children's bodies but put them under the house when she couldn't dig a deep enough hole. Planned to move away The next day, Thomas went to her job to try - unsuccessfully - to get her paycheck early, saying she planned to move away immediately. Kita Thomas-Smith, Danny Thomas' sister, said Thomas recently isolated herself and the children from the rest of the family. Her brother had not seen his kids in two years, she said. She was aware of some contact with state protective services but did not know the specifics. Thomas-Smith said she and her sister, both single mothers, understand how hard it can be. She said she occasionally watched the children and told Thomas she would always be there for them, even after the two had a falling out. "She felt like she needed to keep the kids away from us, for whatever reason," Thomas-Smith said. "We always told her, if you ever need help with the kids, just call us." Court records indicate Thomas has a minor criminal record. In July 2011, Thomas pleaded guilty to failing to identify herself to a peace officer, a misdemeanor for which she served a three-day jail sentence, according to Harris County filings. She also pleaded guilty to two charges of misdemeanor theft in October 2010, and had received probation for the same offense in August 2009. The former Sheborah Latrice Thorn met Anderson when they were in high school, and they had a child together shortly before she married Iwueze in July 2004. An altercation between Anderson and Thomas in 2004 led to an assault charge against Anderson, who served 30 days in jail for what he said was a misunderstanding. By 2007, her marriage with Iwueze was falling apart. Iwueze said he was troubled by her drug and alcohol use, as well as her seemingly constant anger. They divorced after he said she disappeared with his car, causing him to lose his job. She had her second child, Ray Ray, with Danny Ray Thomas before they wed in July 2008. They had Kayiana two years later. Protective order issued Four years later, the couple appeared to be separated. In May 2012, Danny Thomas was charged with assaulting his wife outside her apartment in southwest Houston, demanding to see his children. Thomas would not let him enter "due to prior assaults and violence against her," the complaint states. When she told him to leave, he forced his way inside, grabbing her hair and hitting her multiple times. A judge issued a protective order, barring contact between the two. Thomas was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty. The couple filed for divorce soon after, though it appears to not have been finalized. She is expected in state district court this week in person for arraignment. Did Hurricane Harvey cause an influx of fire ants in Texas? Researchers in Houston are trying to find out just that. Rice University ecologists began working this week to see if fire and crazy ant populations in the Big Thicket, located near Beaumont, has seen an uptick in the months after Harvey wreaked havoc on the Houston area. FIREARM YOGA: Right-wing pundit carries pistol in yoga pants Now Playing: Latest Local And State News Video: Houston Chronicle "Hurricane Harvey was, among other things, a grand ecological experiment," principal investigator Tom Miller said in a press release. Miller is the Godwin Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in Rice's Department of BioSciences. "It offers a unique opportunity to explore whether a single extreme-weather event can re-shuffle an entire community of organisms," he said. FIESTA BOUGHT: Houston-based Fiesta Mart to be acquired by El Super grocery chain The research team, made up of Miller, Sarah Bengston, Scott Solomon and their students, had been monitoring 19 different locations in the Big Thicket for three years before Harvey struck, researchers said. Researchers are looking to see if their population will increase significantly after the storm. The research was made possible by the National Science Foundation's Rapid Response Research (RAPID) program, which helps support research of natural disasters and unanticipated events for which time is a factor in gathering data. Click through the gallery to see other dangerous creatures that come out after big floods in Houston. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. The Houston man allegedly targeted by his ex-wife and her boyfriend in an extensive murder-for-hire scheme said this week that he is concerned about his ex-wife being free on bail. Marion "Mack" McDaniel obtained a protective order last week against his ex-wife, prominent Montrose veterinarian Valerie McDaniel, and her boyfriend, Leon Jacob, both of whom were arrested last Friday. Valerie McDaniel, 48, has been released on a $50,000 bond while Jacob remains in the Harris County jail without bail. "With regard to Dr. McDaniel's release on bond, we are very concerned given she has little to lose at this point," said attorney Kyle Sanders in a written statement. "However, we are confident the courts will continue to take the steps necessary to protect Mr. McDaniel, his daughter and their family." The McDaniels, who have an 8-year-old daughter, divorced last year. Court records show that the Montrose veterinarian hired divorce attorney Golda Jacob. A family member told the Chronicle that the divorce attorney introduced McDaniel to her son, Leon Jacob, a 39-year-old failed surgical resident. Golda Jacob has not returned calls for comment. There is no attorney of record on file in Jacob's criminal case. Mack McDaniel has been at the center of a media firestorm after allegations surfaced Monday that his ex-wife tried to hire a hitman to kill him while her boyfriend paid to have his ex-girlfriend killed. Prosecutors said the pair was set to pay $20,000 and two Cartier watches after seeing faked crime scene photos that Mack McDaniel and the ex-girlfriend staged with the Houston Police Department. The hitman was actually an undercover Houston police officer, however, and the couple were charged with solicitation of capital murder, a felony with a maximum punishment of life in prison. On Wednesday, Mack McDaniel said he would not be releasing any other public statement. "Mr. McDaniel's focus is solely on the emotional well-being and physical safety of his daughter," attorney Sanders said. "He does not intend to speak publicly about the events but he is thankful for the overwhelming support shown to him and his daughter." A fundraising director who quit and returned most of his salary after four days as an employee of ex-U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman characterized the work environment as horrific for Washington, D.C., interns, according to his testimony in the second week of the former Republican lawmakers fraud trial in a Houston federal court. A crew of volunteer interns worked in a cramped office making as many as 2,000 fundraising calls all day at a lobbying firm rather than the congressmans office and had to hustle to find their own summer lodging, according to Sean McMahon, the short-lived fundraising director. The situation with interns is horrific, McMahon wrote before the interns began at the lobbying firm office in an email entered as evidence in the case. Every single one of them believes they are having a normal Hill internship. This is not the case. Now Playing: Latest Local And State News Video: Houston Chronicle RELATED: Megadonor says he thought former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman was trustworthy One of Stockmans pet projects was establishing a building that could house and train young conservatives to work on Capitol Hill, but that money went to other purposes, according to several witnesses in the case against the former Clear Lake lawmaker. Stockman is on trial for 28 criminal counts related to what government prosecutors say was a massive scam, including allegations that he diverted $1.25 million in charitable donations for his own use. Last week a major Midwestern GOP donor, Richard Uihlein, testified that he gave Stockman $350,000 to pay for rehabilitating Freedom House, the conservative interns center the congressman said he planned to create. But witnesses have said Uihleins check got deposited and diverted to personal and political expenses, including a friends 30-day rehab treatment, the purchase of 500 pop-up advent books published by Stockmans brother and a secret surveillance operation against a perceived GOP opponent at the state capitol. The detox program in Dickinson depleted $11,000 of the funds, according to testimony from Rebecca Shipley, the chief financial officer at Bay Area Recovery Center. The book project cost Stockman another $24,000 for what his brother John Jack Stockman testified were heirloom quality advent books published in China. The former congressman never received any of the 500 copies he pre-ordered, his brother testified. As far as he knew, they were still in his basement. MORE: Stockman spent charity funds to collect dirt on political opponent, witness says Another $50,000 went to fund two fruitless spy operations by political operatives conducted on fellow Republicans at the Texas capitol, witnesses said. Prosecutors allege that both men were paid with money that Stockman had earlier solicited as a donation for charitable projects. The organizer of one operation, Ben Wetmore, told jurors his two employees did video surveillance and followed East Texas state representatvie James White, the perceived rival, who Stockman thought might challenge him for U.S. Congress in the GOP primary. Another amateur spy, Jonathan Clark, testified Stockman paid him to photograph Whites home from the street, take blurry shots of his car outside an Austin bar. But neither man turned up anything to use against White, according to testimony. Among more than a dozen witnesses Monday was Stockmans former secretary on Capitol Hill, Kristine Nichols. She said before she started at his office the congressman said she had to take a mandatory ethics course. Everyone did. Nichols testified she asked Stockman, who had been a friend before she was hired, whether he took the course, too. He said he wasnt planning to go because then they might hold him to the rules, she said. What goes on beneath the surface of someone's life is often little known to the outside world. Now that Valerie Busick McDaniel has died while awaiting trial on charges that she and her boyfriend tried to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband, there are things the public may never find out. Three days before she stood on the balcony of her condo and faced the last seconds of her life, Valerie McDaniel got in her car and drove up to Austin to have dinner with friends, just as she had countless times before. All of them were aware of the latest news in her life. How could anyone not be? The story of the revered veterinarian arrested in a failed murder-for-hire plot had made headlines across the nation. But even if it hovered above the gathering like a faint noxious mist, on this night it didn't matter. She was just Val, the charismatic heart of all her various groups of friends - the girl who lit up a room with equal parts warmth, wit and intelligence. The Friday night get-together was like so many others of the Girls Gone Mild, as her Austin friends called themselves. But of course it wasn't. Unknown to them, even to her best friend and "soul sister" Maggie Whitley, she had come to say goodbye. The Girls were left stunned and grieving as news spread on the following Monday, March 27, of McDaniel's suicidal leap from the seventh floor of her River Oaks condo. None had realized their impromptu party was in truth a farewell bash. Like so much of McDaniel's behavior over the last few months, the impulses behind it were a fully veiled mystery. "We had a wonderful evening," Whitley said. "And then she was gone." The weeks leading up to McDaniel's arrest, and her death soon after, remain a black box that those close to her are trying to pick apart. Those close to her had been suspicious of her boyfriend, also arrested in the plot, for a year or more. But in the weeks before, they had become worried. She had cut off communication or contact with most of them. The full extent of what she was concealing - or whether it was deliberate concealment - is a question that haunts them. The publicized details of her alleged participation in a plot to kill her ex-husband and her boyfriend's former girlfriend were chilling. They included a $20,000 payoff to an undercover cop posing as a hitman and gruesome photos of the staged killings. In a statement McDaniel left behind after her death, she claimed the arrest was entrapment and that she had never wanted her husband hurt. By all appearances, boyfriend Leon Jacob was the main architect of the alleged scheme. He had approached a bail bondsman he knew looking for a way to reach another of the bondsman's clients. Jacob apparently believed the man would help arrange the kidnapping or silencing of the former girlfriend, whose complaints to police had led to felony charges of assault and stalking. One of McDaniel's lawyers told reporters that she entered the picture only at the end of the plot and suggested she had been lured in by her boyfriend with incomplete awareness of the particulars. Harris County prosecutors disputed that, saying that McDaniel was a willing participant in the scheme regardless of when she entered it. The truth may never be known. Rarely lost temper McDaniel's friends and her sister remain skeptical. What makes no sense to them is that she abhorred violence and didn't like her friends to even criticize her ex. That was her daughter's father, she always said, and she loved him very much. Whatever her grievances during almost two decades of a trying marriage, she rarely lost her temper and typically played the role of peacemaker. Had she finally had enough and snapped? The charges against her say yes. Angela Hudson, McDaniel's younger sister, defiantly claims no. Hudson said her sister was her closest friend and constant confidante. Not once had Hudson ever heard her express hatred toward anyone. With McDaniel's divorce final, the property settled, her business doing well, and both of them in new relationships, why would she suddenly decide to kill her ex and turn her 8-year-old daughter's world upside down? Hudson flew to Houston from her home in Seattle and spent a week with her sister after she had posted bond and been released from jail. She became convinced the charges against her were wrong. On leaving, she offered ample encouragement. "I told her this will all work out and the truth will be known," Hudson said. "She did not do what she was accused of. I know that. She kept saying she would be OK. None of us had a clue she was hurting like that. She was holding all that pain in." That and much more, apparently. As close they were, even Hudson did not appreciate the extent of her sister's attraction to Jacob. She figured it was a passing thing. Ditto Whitley and McDaniel's other intimate friends. Only to her iPad, where she left a lengthy statement for posthumous public consumption, did McDaniel speak of her deep love for Jacob and what he meant to her. While that secrecy in itself was unusual, Hudson and other friends said there were other troubling hints that something was not right. Those who happened across McDaniel said she did not look particularly healthy or vibrant. Usually she was in the company of Jacob, and when they bumped into friends he would rush to leave. Calls and text messages to her went unreturned, birthday flowers unacknowledged. She took time off from work, a rarity unless she was sick. 'She was snowed by him' The "normal Val" was kind and compassionate beyond measure. The person who allegedly got mixed up in a murder plot was some smitten and apparently vengeful alter ego created by the chemistry of a bad marriage and a rebound relationship with someone offering romance and passion that she had never experienced. To her friends, it doesn't add up. They insist too many details remain unknown. They also wonder how much she really knew about the man who had moved in with her. "She was snowed by him," one friend said. "She was vulnerable. She wanted love. He knew what he was doing and pursued her." After her arrest following the police sting operation, her family and her best friends urged her to fight, to hire the best lawyer in town. A trial, presumably, would go into details about her boyfriend's alarming past and her ex-husband's behavior during their troubled marriage. Early this year, after warnings from authorities to stay away from his ex-girlfriend, Jacob was charged with a felony count of stalking and harassment. That charge was pending at the time of his arrest on the murder-for-hire charge. He remains in jail with bail denied. Jacob also had faced similar charges involving his ex-wife in Illinois. He received an 11-month sentence but was granted probation. In Ohio, Jacob was charged in 2012 with burglarizing the home of the head of the residency program that had terminated him. To those who had known McDaniel for years, a criminal trial might reveal a more complex picture than prosecutors had described, one of manipulation and deceit. If she was willing - or able - to reveal it. Yet in the face of mountainous publicity, McDaniel had other ideas about how to resolve matters. At heart, many friends said, she was not a fighter and never had been. Perhaps she could not imagine walking into a courtroom and airing intimate details from her private life. The much-admired vet was horrified to be at the heart of scandalous headlines and even more so to be thought of by strangers as a "monster." In fact, she said as much. In the final two weeks of her life, she dictated her version of events on her iPad, almost two hours worth. She left it for a friend who lived in the building with instructions to make sure her story got out. The friend, KPRC-TV general manager Jerry Martin, gave the iPad to police. However, the station apparently has a copy of her audio statement. It aired a five-minute report last week in which McDaniel's voice was heard in snippets. "Try not to judge me," McDaniel said. "I didn't wake up one day and just say, 'hey, I want to kill my ex-husband.' I didn't want to hurt Mack. I never did." The attorney for her ex-husband did not respond to requests for comment. KPRC also declined a request from the Chronicle to listen to the full audio file. In any case, she wanted people to know that the allegations of a criminal plot were not true. McDaniel said she would not have conspired to do anything that would cause her pain. "I'm so sorry about everything," she said. Stunning connection Regardless of the details of the foiled plot, or the extent of McDaniel's involvement, the simple fact that her name was connected to it stunned everyone who knew her. On the worst days of her marriage, her tendency was to turn the other cheek. One friend said the most demonstrative reaction she ever saw was McDaniel throwing her husband's cellphone into the bay after getting some particularly maddening news. So why now? "She wasn't even talking about him anymore," said Whitley, a friend for almost three decades. "She kept the practice and had her daughter, and that was all that mattered. Yeah, she had to pay him some money. So what? He was paid off. She didn't care about that." While she did complain that contact with her ex remained an ongoing problem, none of her friends who spoke to the Chronicle said McDaniel appeared unduly burdened by it. As she herself said in her lengthy iPad summary, she mostly just wanted him to be nicer to her. "She was happy - that was the thing," said one longtime friend. "She was on new ground now. And then, all of a sudden, crazy comes to town." McDaniel had met Jacob in 2014. Nine years her junior, he was temporarily living with his mother, her next-door neighbor in West University Place. The neighbor, Golda Jacob, was an attorney who represented her in the divorce case. And the first impression her son made was not a good one. "The cockiest (expletive) I ever met in my life, and I was completely turned off immediately by his attitude," McDaniel dictated to her iPad. Hudson remembers those days and confirmed that her sister tried to avoid him. "I came into town shortly after she met him," her sister said. "He would come over and knock on her door, day after day. She would hide and pretend she wasn't there. She wanted nothing to do with him." Despite the rejection, Jacob persisted. Eventually he broke through. In her recorded statement, McDaniel talks about falling in love with him and makes reference to a particular moment - "the most passionate, romantic moment in my life." "He made me happy, he talked to me, he kept me company," she said in her lengthy final explanation. "She never spoke much about her boyfriend, but I do know she was very lonely after the divorce (filing) despite the marriage being hell for her," said Angela Murphy, a friend who had spent many nights talking with McDaniel about their lives and similar personal histories. 'A loving heart' Murphy was happy to see her friend getting on with her life. Though she, too, had misgivings about Jacob and thought McDaniel could do much better, she did not press the matter, sensing that McDaniel disliked hearing negative comments. Then their talks ceased altogether. "My last conversation with her was in January," Murphy said. "She wouldn't answer my calls or messages. I just figured there was a good reason for it, and that she was not avoiding me to be mean." That avoidance ultimately included her sister, who did not know what to make of it. There had been times over the years when McDaniel was traveling or so exceptionally busy that the contact would tail off. But not for long. "My sister was my best friend," Hudson said. "We talked all the time. I didn't know what was happening. I knew there was this guy she was seeing and was really happy about. But I started having a gut feeling about him. I know her so well and we're so close something was just off." Hudson did not find out exactly what - and by how much - until the day McDaniel and Jacob were arrested. A few months earlier, her sister could not have appeared happier. Today she sits in her Seattle home, 1,700 miles away, heartbroken and with far more questions than answers. "She had such a loving heart," Hudson said. "This was not her." Now Playing: One woman has died in the hospital after she was found with an abrasion on her head in southwest Houston Tuesday morning. Video: METRO Video A Houston woman has died after she was hospitalized with cuts to her head Tuesday morning. Around 1 a.m., first responders arrived in the 10200 block of Bissonnet, just east of the Sam Houston Parkway, and found a man with cuts on his arms, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. He asked authorities to check on his girlfriend, who had a wound to her head, Crowson said. WASHINGTON Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, urged President Donald Trump in a letter Monday to support the sale of F-35 fighter jets to help Taiwan protect itself from China. Cornyn, joined by Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, another top Republican, asked Trump to commit to providing the U.S.-made aircraft as a deterrent to what they described as new Chinese aggression in the Asia-Pacific region. "China shows the ability to wage war against Taiwan for the first time since the 1950's," the Senators said. "However, with your leadership, it is possible to help Taiwan remain a democracy, free to establish a relationship with China that is not driven by military coercion. ... These fighters will have a positive impact on Taiwan's self-defense and would act as a necessary deterrent to China's aggressive military posture across the Asia-Pacific region." The fifth generation F-35, considered the most advanced fighter on earth, is made by Lockheed Martin, which has a major production facility in Fort Worth. The company is considered the sixth-largest employer in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. The $100 million planes are seen as a needed upgrade to Taiwan's aging fleet of F-16s. But Trump has not always been a fan of the F-35, once criticizing the F-35 program's costs as "out of control." Cornyn, the Senate Majority Whip, and Inhofe, a senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, could provide a powerful 1-2 punch for the F-35. But they also vouched for a newer version of the F-16. Noting that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has publicly expressed interest in buying the F-35B vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft to bolster Taiwan's air defense, they wrote that "The F-35B would not only provide a modern fifth-generation fighter, but would also bolster their capabilities in next-generation warfare." "However," they added, "if determined that release of the F-35B to Taiwan is premature, we hope that you will instead make available additional F-16Vs to address the quantitative and qualitative challenges confronting Taiwan's fighter fleet. Taiwan already fields the F-16, and this would represent a cost-effective solution to Taiwan's legitimate defense requirement for additional fighters." Chinese President Xi Jinping recently has issued warnings to Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway Chinese province. The U.S., however, has provided arms to the island nation under treaty since the 1970s. The proposed sale comes as the Trump administration has rolled out $60 billion in sanctions against Beijing in retaliation for alleged Chinese economic transgressions in trade and intellectual property theft. The letter is not the first time Cornyn has promoted the state's defense industry. In 2009, he led efforts to bring F-35 maintenance training missions to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. AUSTIN -- The more than 25-minute video confession that the Austin bomber recorded before he died won't likely be made public anytime soon, Austin police said. "We have the tape, the 25- to 28-minute tape where he talks about a lot of things but as we continue this investigation we will look to see if we can identify a specific motive behind this," interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said at a briefing this weekend. Asked about when the tape will be released to the public, Manley said that will be a discussion when the investigation has concluded. "We have to finish out to ensure no one else was involved, because if there were, then that might be something that is needed for a potential prosecution," Manley said. "So that's a decision we're going to have to make at a later time." Manley did not say when that might happen but said the investigation is far from over. "There's a lot of work that still needs to be done and a lot of evidence that is still being processed and a lot of individuals that will still likely be interviewed as we work through this case," Manley said. While the recording hasn't been released to the public, those who have seen it have relayed portions of if. U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul, an Austin Republican, said that Mark Anthony Conditt called himself a psychopath on the recording and did not express any remorse for what he had done. McCaul said Conditt also questioned himself as to why he wasn't feeling remorse for what he had done. "It's hard to imagine someone whose mind is so sick that they can commit bombings like this and feel no remorse," McCaul said. The Austin American-Statesman quoted sources last week indicated that Conditt said on the tape: "I wish I were sorry but I am not." Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace. In the opening moments of the new documentary Dolores, an elderly but still spry Dolores Huerta is asked what she hoped for as a young girl. Her response is haunting: I guess my only dream was just to be accepted, I think thats what a lot of young children feel. Adults, too. Today, thats a tall order in Donald Trumps America, where the president has called Mexicans rapists and criminals and said women are crazy, likening them to animals. And where politicians, like Maine Republican Leslie Gibson, are emboldened by presidential vulgarity to call a young Latina activist, specifically Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schools Emma Gonzalez, a skinhead lesbian. Look back in history and you see this is merely par for the course. Directed by Peter Bratt, and produced by Bratt and Brian Benson for PBS Independent Lens, Dolores condenses over five decades of organizing, leadership and role modeling into 90 minutes. It is the all-too-familiar story of a heroine who, because of her gender, was underappreciated, underpaid and largely uncredited in the triumphs of the farmworker and civil rights movement. CEPEDA: Hispanics' sunny spirit is a reminder of what made America great. The documentary bombards viewers with notable facts, shocking details and fascinating insights into the labor leader who, as Wendy Greenfield, a United Farm Workers volunteer observed, was seen by most people as a subsidiary figure to Cesar Chavez ... the assumption was that he was the leader and Dolores was the housekeeper of the movement, even though she co-founded the movement. A quick rundown: Huerta was born in Dawson, New Mexico, graduated high school, earned a teaching degree and helped lead a small community service organization before starting the Agricultural Workers Association, which set up voter registration drives and pressed local governments for community improvements. In 1955, she met Chavez, who was so shy that he bolted from her the first time she tried to talk to him. In 1962, they launched the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers. The group continues to advocate for better working and living conditions for farm laborers. Through seemingly endless protests, collective actions and boycotts, Huerta helped secure better wages and disability insurance, fought against the gender pay gap, battled for immigrant rights and launched the environmental justice movement. ANGEL: Latinos are a key element in reform of entitlement programs As if that werent enough, she did this all during a time when women were expected to be in the kitchen with the kids. She worked in the male-dominated farm fields, in the shadow of a charismatic male leader and before the broader civil rights and womens liberation movements had taken hold. Today Huerta is the president of her namesake foundation, which works to develop Latino leaders and elected officials. Dolores covers a lot of ground, not the least of which is the way that Huertas community organizing paved a direct path to Democratic Latino voter outreach and the elections of the Kennedys and Barack Obama (who is shown in the film apologizing and expressing gratitude for appropriating her signature Si, se puede Yes, we can chant for his own means). To its credit, Dolores isnt hagiography. The filmmakers acknowledge her critics, her evolution on feminism and her controversial decision to not fight to succeed Chavez as the United Farm Workers president when she was passed over for the role after his death. They address the very real sacrifices Huertas children made in the name of her ambitions. The films greatest strength is that seeing so much tenacity and success over adversity will totally pump you up. PIMENTEL: The bienestar of Latinos is also about Texas' well-being Latinos have been dealing with trauma as far back as the Mexican genocide in Texas, mass deportations, lynchings, Operation Wetback and, today, we continue to face higher rates of school suspensions, incarceration, police shootings and racism, Huerta told me last week. Sure, were living in hard times, but you can also look around and see how many Latinos are in college, how many young people are marching in the streets, going to D.C. to confront senators; you see how the struggle creates leaders, Huerta said. When you see all this energy in the country, people joining the womens movement, #metoo, Black Lives Matter, the [anti-school shooting] never again movement, it gives me a lot of hope that it will all lead to real change. All that power, all that goodness its going to be like the 60s, and were going to come out stronger. Dolores premieres Tuesday, March 27, on PBS. Starting on March 28, it will stream on the PBS Independent Lens website ( http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/dolores-huerta/). Teams who work effectively and cohesively together are what contributes to the success of any organisation, with team dynamics underpinning the companys overall culture, said Megan Alexander, GM of Robert Half New Zealand. High-performing teams who have a sense of camaraderie are generally more productive, creative and innovative, which contributes to get better results for their company, she added. Alexander also urged employers to test for cultural fit in their recruitment processes if they werent already doing so. A lack of cultural fit is one of the main reasons why employees leave or are asked to leave, which is why its important to check cultural fit before extending a job offer, she said. Not doing this can be costly, as employers will have to restart the recruitment process, not to mention the burden of increased workloads for existing team members and lost productivity. Since I took off from New York City to build my businesses, I haven't had a permanent home in over two years and have stayed exclusively in Airbnbs and hotels. But it's not as expensive as you may think. When I embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, I knew I needed to hack the travel system for it to work. These are my top three travel hacks for saving thousands of dollars each year on business travel and accommodations. 1. Negotiate With Airbnb Hosts One little known secret about Airbnb is that you can negotiate with hosts. This email always works well: "Hi _______, Your place looks great but it's sadly a bit out of my budget. I would be interested in booking multiple nights. Would you accept $X for this time period? Completely understand if that's not possible, I want to be respectful of your time and rates. Thanks! Arianna" Make sure the email is personalized and respectful. This works well when you're booking last minute and you can see if the host has a few weeks or even an entire month of availability. Using this tactic, I've been able to save hundreds of dollars off my monthly rent or as much as $50 on a nightly rate. Negotiate and you'll be pleasantly surprised--around 90 percent of the hosts I've sent messages to have been flexible. 2. Find Luxury Bargains by Surfing the Web When I went to Budapest for work, I used an online discount site to stay in a five-star hotel for as little as $21 per night. Sites like Hotwire and Priceline allow you to choose your location and quality of hotel, but don't let you see the name until you book. This allows big brands like Intercontinental and Hilton to offer discounts without diluting their brands. Using discount sites, I've saved 20-60 percent off the regular rates. Other sites, including Booking.com or Hotels.com, offer perks like late check-out or a free night for volume bookings. When I'm traveling consistently for work, the reward nights add up and amount to a big savings at the end of the year. 3. Sign Up for Reward Programs In the early days of building my business, I couldn't afford to fly anywhere for meetings. But that didn't stop me. Through credit card hacking (the legal kind), I traveled everywhere from London to Brazil for under $10. How travel hacking works is you open up a card that has a great points reward and low or zero-dollar annual fee for the first year. Many cards will give you anything from 10,000 to 100,000 points, which can be enough to book you an international flight. Using these methods, I've flown to places like London or Buenos Aires only paying the $5 tax. If the card is offering a $0 annual fee for the first year and the second year comes around, just call up the company and tell then you'd like to be downgraded to the next level. Financial planners recommend paying off the balances each month but keeping the accounts open so it doesn't hurt your credit rating. Did you ever hear the expression "opposites attract"? I definitely find it to be true in business (if not marriage)! Your business partner will be one of the most important relationships you will ever have in life. Your decision should not be based solely on finding someone who thinks and acts exactly like you do, as logical as that may seem. I don't think you can build a successful business on two people being exactly alike, with a shared skill set. Think of a crayon box--you certainly don't want all the same colors in that box. You want different colors, and lots of them. And by that, I mean different strengths and skills. All of these qualities will create a synergy and complement each other. Entrepreneurs who want to hire their pals and buds are always a red flag for me. Your friends may be fun, or even smart, but if they don't bring you the skills you don't have, you are going to have a very hard time getting your business to the finish line. The best example I can give you is about the best business partner I ever had. When Esther Kaplan first walked into my office to interview for a sales job, everything about her was wrong. She was too buttoned-up, too careful. In short, she was the complete opposite of me. Nevertheless, we continued the interview, but I was already gone. I didn't think of the two of us as a fit. Here's the thing that changed everything, though: I handed her my business card. She took the card and was about to put it into her purse. The purse happened to be tilted in my direction, so that I could see inside. And guess what I saw--partitions! Something in that moment spoke to me. You know what I saw in that purse, besides partitions? I saw the opposite of me, but in a good way. Try finding something in my purse--good luck. There are things that have been in there for years. What Esther showed me in that purse was the very opposite of my personality--her yin to my yang. I suddenly took a new look at Esther; I now had a different perception of her. Fast forward: Esther became my equity partner and served as president of The Corcoran Group for the next three decades. Good thing she opened that purse. Of all the businesses I am introduced to on Shark Tank, the most successful ones--hands down--are the ones run by two people with polar-opposite skills and talents. The great advantage of the power of two: In most cases, the partnership involves two completely separate personalities, to go along with the opposite abilities. You would think something like that would be a recipe for disaster, but it's quite the opposite (no pun intended). And yes, somehow these opposites find each other, which says a lot about how the universe works. Perhaps you may be a good marketing or promotions person, naturally good with public relations, networking with people, good at throwing the baloney around. Who would you want as a partner? If that were me, I would want somebody who is good with numbers, somebody who can color code everything, and raise money from banks. In other words, somebody with partitions in her purse. It's the perfect partnership, and a huge advantage. I find that there are two kinds of people in business: expanders and containers. Expanders like to push the envelope, take risks, network like crazy (and also spend your money). Containers are more detail oriented, conservative, and like to keep on top of things. They keep you from losing money. Both of these types of people are equally valuable. Those traits are actually natural talents. You may be one type--search the world for the other. They just have to be matched to the right needs. In a way, think of it as dating. Before you get "married" to your business partner, allow for a long dating period to find out all that you can about them. In a marriage, you share responsibilities--taking out the trash, washing the dishes--and in a business partnership, look for the partner who can remember to pay the bills while you remember to change the batteries in the smoke alarm. You get the point. No matter which side of the interview process you're on, we can agree on this: the traditional process can be a drawn-out, time-consuming pain. It all starts with the dreaded phone screen. It's a mad dash to cram in as much as possible in those precious 30 minutes. The conversation feels forced. And you both very well know it could go nowhere. It's a lot of time invested for little payoff -- especially if you're interviewing for several jobs or screening many candidates at once. That's why one startup has an unusual hiring solution to revamp the interview process. Their platform lets recruiters text candidates instead of calling them. You're used to texting friends and family throughout day. Could this work for hiring managers and candidates, too? Canvas, a company that launched in June 2017, created a text-message based interview platform. Canvas says texting is more effective than phone screening because recruiters can talk to many candidates at once. All the text threads are stored, making the transcripts easy to reference later. It recommends questions to hiring managers mid-conversation and even allows them to send candidates in-text links to company info such as benefits information. "You can engage 10x the candidates per day," the Canvas website boasts. Why it works for OpenTable Online restaurant reservation system OpenTable uses Canvas to screen candidates. Scott Day, OpenTable's senior vice president of people and culture, spoke with CNBC Make It about the company's success with the platform. It's easier for recruiters to manage multiple conversation at once. It's helpful for candidates, too. Day says they can better understand the company's culture with photos and videos to decide if OpenTable might be a fit. Setting unrealistic expectations But the process isn't perfect. Day sings the praises of this "benefit" to CNBC Make It: Unlike a traditional phone conversation, he says a transcript of a text conversation provides insight into what questions a candidate takes longer to respond to and at if at any point a candidate seems to have lost interest. Hold it right there. Candidates are judged by how quickly they respond to texts? I don't think this is fair. Exploring a job opportunity shouldn't mean you're expected to be on-call via text message 24/7. Some candidates may see no issue with this. They're already on their phones constantly, and texting keeps the conversation going without having to stop what you're doing and hop on a call. That's not the case for everyone though. This doesn't consider those who might be trying to spend less time glued to their smartphone. Even having your phone in the same room with notifications turned off is a distraction. A recent study found that people performed tasks better when their phone was in another room. So you might miss a text from a recruiter because you've deliberately placed your phone in another room so you can focus. Just because you don't reply instantaneously doesn't mean you're uninterested in the job. Faster reply = more committed employee Opinions might differ depending on the company. Take Erika Nardini, for example. She's the CEO of Barstool Sports. When interviewed for the New York Times Corner Office column, she said she texts candidates at odd times as a sort of test: If you're in the process of interviewing with us, I'll text you about something at 9 p.m. or 11 a.m. on a Sunday just to see how fast you'll respond. Seems like a major red flag. If work-life balance is important to you, tread lightly with employers who expect immediate replies to their interview texts -- especially on the weekend. How a potential employer conducts the interview process provides a telling clue about their workplace culture. If you're expected to reply instantaneously to text messages from recruiters and hiring managers, it's likely you'd be expected to do the same on the job. (Update: Facebook says it's changing how you can access and change your privacy settings. Details are here.) Tough times for Facebook--and they're only getting worse. The FTC is investigating, the privacy and data scandal isn't going away, and the #deletefacebook movement continues to pick up momentum. And a lot of people are wondering just what kind of information Facebook has on them. Recently, we explained how to find all the apps that Facebook is sharing your information with. I had more than 130 on my account--which I thought was a huge number until I sat down with some colleagues at work and they realized they had 200 or 300 or more. Now, we'll go through an even more essential exercise: how to download the entire archive of information that Facebook says it has for you--in just a few quick steps. If you haven't done it already, you'll probably want to stop what you're doing and grab it all now. How to get your data In typical Facebook fashion, it's easy to get this data, but only if you know exactly where to look. That's what I'm here for. Click this link. You're looking for facebook.com/settings. If for some strange reason that doesn't work, on desktop, you want to click the little upside-down triangle in the upper right-hand corner, then drop down and click "Settings." Click where it says "Download Archive." You will likely have to reenter your password. Facebook will need about 10 or 15 minutes to compile your data and will send you a link via email to get your information. Check your email spam folder; the message Facebook sent me wasn't readily visible in my inbox. The subject should read "Your Facebook download is ready." Click the link in your email and you'll be sent back to Facebook again--and probably have to enter your password once more. (This is a good thing; there's a lot of personal information in the files they're sending you.) Click the "Download Archive" button on this second screen, and you'll download a .zip file that should be called: "facebook-YOURUSERNAME.zip." Extract the files by clicking on the .zip file in most cases, and you'll wind up with a series of folders. There should be a file called simply "index.html." Click on that, and the archive should open in your browser. So, what's in the archive? Depending on how long you've been on Facebook and how active a user you've been, you might want to have a cup of coffee or something. There could be a lot to look at. You'll want to start with the index.html file, because when you click on that, it will open a locally hosted webpage in your default browser. That will allow you to navigate through everything as you would any webpage, with links for Profile, Contact Info, Timeline, Photos, Videos, Friends, Messages, Pokes (remember those?), Events, Security, Ads, and Applications on the left side of the page. In my case, I found the data to be stunning in terms of its breadth--but also its incompleteness. In some cases, it might be a matter of simple mistakes; in other cases, I think I might have intentionally given Facebook bad data. Some of this was more than a decade ago when I first signed up for Facebook, and I honestly don't remember. Facebook documents the date on which I became friends with everyone I'm "Facebook friends" with. And I was able to quickly find the first message anyone sent me or posted on my wall. (From my sister, back in April 2007: "Hey Bill--did not know you were on facebook--how are you?") But at the same time, lots of basic data was either incomplete or wrong, starting with my date of birth and my current city (no need to fix any of that, of course). Facebook also seems to think that I was in the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in the U.S. Army (nope), that I watch a lot of Channel 4 (which is in the United Kingdom), and that I'm a big fan of Undercover Boss (which I've seen maybe twice). I really have no idea how these things popped up so high in my data. And to the extent I'm concerned about privacy, I hope that the bad data will obscure whatever correct info they actually have. Pages, groups, and ads Facebook lists an absurd number of pages and groups that I've become a fan of and joined; 376 pages and 89 groups. These are probably legit, even though I hardly remember most of them. It also illustrates just how many posts could potentially wind up in any person's feed at any time. I'm also an administrator of 68 pages myself. That's a little misleading because I've created a lot of pages over the years that I never wound up developing, but I do work on a lot of pages for my day job, and I've got a few other side projects that involved Facebook pages, too. The ads were almost more surprising: 34 advertisers supposedly have my contact information. But I don't care about many of them--two supermarket chains that doesn't have any stores anywhere near where I live, for example, and the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper in Australia. In fact, the lesson I take away from this actually goes the other way: It makes me a little more concerned about all the money advertisers have all spent on Facebook ads over the years--because if the information they're showing about me is so inaccurate, who knows what the info on anyone I've been targeting is like? So where does this leave Facebook in my eyes? The privacy issues are disturbing, for sure. But I have to admit, I enjoyed flipping through more than 10 years of photos and videos, some of which I hadn't thought of or seen in a very long time. Apple introduced new products today for the education market, and its presentation was vintage Steve Jobs. From the way they told the story behind the new iPad for students to the way the slides were designed, Apple's leaders used the same techniques that Steve Jobs perfected from his earliest presentations. These are effective strategies that any entrepreneur or business professional can--and should--use to elevate their presentation skills. Here are three takeaways from the introduction of Apple's new iPad for students that anyone can copy to present like Steve Jobs: 1. Treat presentations as performances. The event was held in the auditorium of Lane Tech, a high school in Chicago's Northwest side. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, said more PhD's have come from Lane Tech than any public high school in the country. Invitations to the members of the press looked like a class schedule and promoted an "assembly." The font on the slides looked like a version of "Chalkboard" that comes with Apple Keynote. Everything from the setting to the font on the slides were consistent with the theme. The lesson: Great presentations are performance art. Think about how every detail of the event or presentation reinforces the larger theme. 2. Explain the backstory before revealing new products. I've written about this before: Great presenters don't start with the product. They start with the backstory. A backstory introduces the characters, experiences, history, or innovations that brought you to this place. "At Apple, we care deeply about education," Cook began, before reminding the audience that 40 years ago--in 1978-- Apple was the first to bring computing technology to the masses and exploded in the education market. Several times in the presentation, Cook connected the new products to a famous quote or insight from Steve Jobs. These two particularly stood out: "Our place is at the intersection of technology and liberal arts." Jobs said this in the first iPad launch 2010. "At Apple, we've always believed that people with passion could change the world." Jobs used this line as early as 1997. The lesson: Products are much more interesting when your audience learns about its backstory. Features and benefits don't inspire; stories do. 3. Keep slides simple with no bullet points. There were no bullet points on a Steve Jobs slide. Ever. And there were no bullet points on the Apple Education event at Lane Tech. The slides were remarkably simple, clean and uncluttered. When Tim Cook delivered key statistics, the number was the only thing on the screen. For example, Cook said Apple's cared deeply for education for 40 years. The slide only had the numeral: 40. Cook said Apple would give 200 gigabytes of free cloud storage for the education market. The slide only had the numeral: 200 gb. Apple announced it handed out one million badges to teachers [earned by taking online programs]. The slide only had the numeral: 1 million. Very few words cluttered the slides. I saw nearly every slide--the most "wordy" contained a total of 18 words, but it was one quote from a famous educator, Horace Mann. The rest of the slides were mostly photos with--at most--one or two words complementing the image. The lesson: Bullets have no place in a presentation meant to inspire and excite. People can't focus on what you're saying while reading text on a slide at the same time. Keep text to a minimum. Are the important customers happy on this plane? Getty Images Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. Who are your most important customers? Are they those who spend a lot of money with you today? Or might they be those who, in the future, could be spending the most money and today are comparing your brand with that of others? This topic clings to my eyebrows on reading the thoughts of American Airlines CEO Doug Parker. Revealed by the apparently indefatigable Gary Leff of View From the Wing, Parker's words were uttered to one of his flight attendants last Thursday during the airline's regular "Crew News" question-and-answer session. The flight attendant is based in Lima, Peru. She struggles with the fact that the airline uses quite old Boeing 767 planes on routes to and from Peru's capital. She finds it hard to make passengers happy because the planes have mechanical issues more than usual and they're not necessarily as well equipped as more modern planes. She wants new planes. Parker replied that the airline deploys the older planes "where they're the least painful to our most important customers." He then added: "Don't go tell your customers that." Ah. Hmm. Perhaps one should admire Parker's candor. He could have attempted to create some complex logistical argument for why Lima seems underserved and undeserving. He could have made fanciful promises. Instead, he seemed to explain that the airline sends its worst planes where it makes least money. Many might find this entirely logical. Amateur strategists might howl, however, that when it comes to an emerging market like Lima, it could be wiser to lay on at least the occasional nicer plane in order to impress business travelers who might be new to the airline. Indeed, in the same Q&A, the airline's vice president of planning, Vasu Raja, admitted that the Lima route was subject to a lot of competition. So laying on slightly more lovely planes might gain some brand loyalty. It might spread word that the airline was quite something. It might create greater demand. The problem is that the concept of brand doesn't appear to impress itself upon American's CEO. For example, he managed, in another Q&A, to tell a frustrated flight attendant that taking seatback screens away from passengers was an example of "Going for Great." One can't help getting the impression that he--and therefore the airline--is so fascinated by making money in every nickel-and-diming way possible that the more intangible values, such as people actually having a good opinion of your airline, matter zero whits. Yet I'm not even sure his logic is all that strong. When you look at many of American's newest planes--the Boeing 737 MAX, for example--they're stuffed full of seats. One of the airline's own pilots described the toilets on these brand-new planes as "the most miserable experience in the world." Parker himself admitted that he'd never flown on them and then couldn't understand why this was a big deal. It may well be that American wouldn't use these particular planes on a longer route such as Lima, but it does suggest that the airline's idea of comfort is being downgraded. (And it's not the only airline thinking this way.) American could decide to refurbish its 767s to make them more alluring. It doesn't appear inclined to. Personally, I'd rather fly almost any wide-bodied plane than almost any narrow-bodied act of callous claustrophobia. Yet airlines are constantly buying narrow-bodied planes that can fly greater distances. At heart, though, how should a business decide which customers are important and which aren't? I asked American to hone its definition for me and will update, should I receive a reply. The issue of who's important and who isn't will, however, become an ever-increasing concern for passengers. After all, airlines are currently looking at technology that sets your fare according not to where you're flying--or even which class you're flying in--but according to who you are. Of course, we'd all like to be permanently important. Prominent tech leaders spoke out against Facebook over the weekend, about a week after reports surfaced that the social network leaked user information. Tim Cook called for "well-crafted" regulations that prevent users' data from being collected and applied in new ways without their knowledge during a session at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday. "The ability of anyone to know what you've been browsing about for years, who your contacts are, who their contacts are, things you like and dislike and every intimate detail of your life--from my own point of view it shouldn't exist," Apple's CEO said, according to Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Elon Musk on Friday deleted the Facebook pages for SpaceX and Tesla, noting on Twitter that the one for his electric car company "looks lame anyway." Definitely. Looks lame anyway. -- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 23, 2018 Cook's and Musk's comments follow The New York Times and The Observer of London's report that Cambridge Analytica, a political data company launched by Stephen Bannon and Robert Mercer, collected users' Facebook data and claimed it could influence the behavior of American voters. Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg both issued statements days after the revelations were made public, but by the weekend, some felt that the company's leadership wasn't remorseful enough for the leak. On Sunday, Zuckerberg took out several full-page ads in British and American newspapers to apologize for a "breach of trust" in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. "I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time," read the ads that appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the U.K.'s The Observer, among other publications. "We're now taking steps to ensure this doesn't happen again." Easter is right around the corner, and baskets will be filled with those timeless marshmallow chicks known as Peeps. The company behind them ironically is called Just Born (named for founder Sam Born). What you probably didn't know is that Just Born has always been a manufacturing pioneer, cutting production time down back in 1954 from 27 hours to six minutes by automating its operations. Automation lowers production costs and leads to product consistency and quality. It can even create new jobs, contrary to the "robots are coming" fear-mongering you may have heard lately. Matt Pye, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Just Born, shared with me the history of Peeps. Many of the brand's innovations and lessons learned can be the key to product and company longevity. I've broken them down into five principles, which can apply to different types of businesses -- beyond fluffy edible baby animals. 1. Automation Marshmallow treats need special handling, and human error can lead to inconsistencies in quality. So now robots pack cases on pallets, and pick up Peeps Bunnies and place them in trays. Just Born recently partnered with JLS to utilize product grippers from Soft Robotics on a packaging system instead of vacuum suction. In addition to speeding up production and lowering costs, these "soft robots" have enabled Just Born to develop new products such as Peeps Delights (which are chicks dipped in or filled with chocolate). 2. Fan-inspired marketing Peeps have become a social media sensation. With close to 40 million Instagram followers and thousands of inspirational ideas on Pinterest, the company encourages Peeps fans to build their own creations, which have included a six-foot sculpture. Looking to your fans to promote and build on your brand is essential is today's digital and crowdsourced world. 3. Creative seasonal and product line extensions If you have a successful product, don't mess with the recipe but build on it. With marshmallow at its core, the company has introduced seasonal (Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Christmas) products, as well as partnerships with Oreos on Peeps cookies and Penguin Random House on a line of books. There's a Peeps-themed alternative to Elf on a Shelf called Peep on a Perch. 4. Willingness to experiment and to act quickly when something doesn't work Every long-tenured business will admit to making a bad call or two. Because the brand evokes nostalgia, in 2015 Just Born re-released its white chicks, which were first sold in 1954. The company learned that new consumers preferred bright colors, so it stopped production on the "retro chicks" in 2017. 5. Continuity and respect for experience As you introduce the new, you don't have to give up on history. Still a privately held company, Just Born is a family-owned business, and its leaders have celebrated anniversaries with the company as long as 40 years. Peeps remains the No. 1 non-chocolate candy brand at Easter (a title it has held for more than 20 years), and it is now planning to leverage the second-biggest holiday for the brand, which is Christmas. What is the best advice you can give to women CEOs about leadership and startups? originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Heidi Zak, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ThirdLove, on Quora: Everyone needs a role model. We all need someone we can point to and aspire to be like. But when you look at Fortune 500 companies, venture capital firms, or most startups, the vast majority of the leadership is men. Today, less than 6% of Fortune 500 CEOsare women. That's a problem because it makes it really difficult for more women to see themselves in these roles. We can all agree we need more female entrepreneurs. But what we really need is for more women to look at themselves in the mirror and say, "I can start a company." And that starts with us, the current generation of female entrepreneurs. One of the best ways to facilitate this change is simply to be present. If there's an event I can speak at that will empower other women to start their own businesses, I'm going to do it. If I'm invited to sit on a panel about women leaders in the business world, I want to be there. It's all about committing time and showing up. Formal or informal mentoring, speaking at events, engaging and networking with the people at those events--it all goes back to just being present. Position yourself as a role model so that women see what's being done by other women, that their goals are within reach. This is the mentality all women entrepreneurs need to have. Show up. Be present. Be a role model that young women can look up to. Take ownership of your position so that you can be a force for progress and inspire younger generations. Contributing to change for the next generation means working on your network now. Honestly, most women entrepreneurs often don't have the same network that men do when they start a business. If I asked female founders for a list of people they could call about issues related to their company or to help make the right introductions, they could collectively create a solid list. If I asked one male founder the same thing, there's a good chance his list would be longer. Part of that is because the VC and startup worlds are so male-dominated at the moment. But networking within that industry is a barrier we can break through. Networking is not a skill most people are born with. Which means you have to put time and effort into doing it, just like you would with exercising. If you don't make time in your schedule each day to go running, it won't happen. Nobody will force you to network, just like nobody will force you to run. You have to build those muscles on your own. I've noticed over and over again that compared to men, women tend to be less willing to ask things of other people. And I understand it's tough. A few years ago, if I met someone interesting who I wanted to get to know better, I wouldn't always reach out. I'd hold back. Now? I always follow up, even if I only talked with the person for a few minutes. If there's something I want to hear more about, something I think is interesting that I could learn from them, then I'm going to reach out. Sometimes, it's as simple as, "Hey, wanna grab a coffee?" or "Let's catch up." But you have to get comfortable making the first move. Asking for a favor is not the same thing as being selfish. In the business world, if someone hands you their card, and two months later you want to send them a message, that's no big deal, right? It might be for some women. We tend to be more reticent about reaching out and saying, "Hey, I met you at that happy hour. You said if I ever had any questions about digital marketing I should get in touch. So, I'm wondering if you can help me with this question?" Or even, "Can you make this introduction for me?" I find that men do this really well because they don't feel like they owe anybody anything. They just type out the email and hit send. A lot of women hold back, rather than asking for advice or a favor. The problem is, you won't get anything unless you ask for it. People don't just walk around offering favors to everyone they meet on the street. You have to make the decision to take ownership of that process. Ask for what you need. Don't worry or analyze it too much. Just send the email and move on. As you continue to reach out, ask for help, and build your network, you're creating something that can be passed on to the next generation. The networks and connections you build now aren't just valuable to you. When another entrepreneur asks you for an introduction a few years from now, you'll be able to help them meet the right investor. When they need someone to answer a question, you'll be able to draw from your network to answer it. The most important part of being a female entrepreneur is helping the next generation of women leaders. I feel my job is to inspire people, so they in turn can inspire others. It's a domino effect. You are someone's role model right now. It's up to you to contribute in your own way and be the inspiration for the next generation. A French waiter, working in Canada was fired for being "aggressive, rude and disrespectful." That sounds like a great reason to fire a waiter. But Guillaume Rey filed a complaint saying that he was really fired for being French, and that's just how French people are. He doesn't claim that he wasn't "aggressive, rude, and disrespectful." He does claim that, as a result of his culture and French training, that he "tends to be more direct and expressive." Or, as Canadians call it, rude. I will say, flat out, I don't know if he will win his complaint, as I don't know the rules of Canadian employment law, but I think it's worth discussing. When do we get to claim culture for the way we act, and when do you need to comply with the local culture? It's not an easy question, and sometimes we don't even know to ask it. Chess grandmaster Anna Muzychuk stepped down from her world title rather than submit herself to a culture that required her to be chaperoned and wear a head covering when outside the tournament. She, rightly, in my opinion, stood up and said that she won't participate in a culture that oppresses women. Being polite, like a Canadian would expect, though isn't the same as being treated like property, as Muzychuk would have been. When you choose to move to a new country, you need to figure out how you will adapt. If you want your new homeland to embrace you, you should probably embrace some, if not all, of their social norms. I'm an American who lives in Switzerland, and while I've adopted a lot of Swiss norms (punctuality, shaking everyone's hand, sending my children to school by themselves), there are some American norms I've kept. I'm still louder than lots of people and I have to stop myself from using American norms with Swiss people. For instance, if an American says to you, "We should have lunch sometime," the proper response is, "That would be lovely!" and then you both walk away and never have that lunch. But, if you say to a Swiss person, "We should have lunch sometime," she's likely to whip out her calendar and prepare to schedule. So, you end up doing lunch when you might not have wanted to rather than say, "Oh, what I meant was, I want to be polite while still blowing you off!" Rey chose to move to Canada, and he chose to work in a people facing role with many, many local norms. He wanted to maintain his French norms and that didn't go over well. Personally, I think the restaurant is proper to set expectations for how their staff behaves and to discipline, up to and including termination, if the staff doesn't live up to those cultural norms. I've eaten at many French restaurants in my time in Europe and I can say that Rey probably did behave like most French waiters.One of the things that drive me crazy about eating in France is the difficulty in getting the check, so I can pay and leave. It's not as simple as just asking for it like it is in the US and Canada. In complaining about this, a French acquaintance pointed out that I was the rude one. He explained that when one dines in a French restaurant, it's expected that you'll stay the whole evening. If you try to leave in less than three hours, you're indicating your displeasure with the establishment or the meal. Huh, I said. Never thought of that. I just wanted to pay and leave. I enjoyed my meal and my time in the restaurant just fine. But, perhaps to the restaurant, I'm indicating negative feelings about their establishment. A recreation of an ancient winged bull statue destroyed by Isis in Iraq has been unveiled as the latest installation to perch atop the famous Fourth Plinth in London's Trafalgar Square. Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz, 44, has chosen to revive an ancient Assyrian statue destroyed by the group in February 2015 in an act of wanton cultural terrorism intended to provoke the West. The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist is a sculpture of a lamassu, a mythological winged bull creature with the head of a man that stood guard over the city of Nineveh for over a thousand years until it was desecrated by the militants' power drills. The piece will be positioned on the plinth facing south east - looking back towards Nineveh - and is constructed from 6,000 tin cans of date syrup; the lamassu reborn from the sort of ordinary objects that comprise the fabric of everyday life. Dates were one of Iraq's most important exports before the industry was decimated by two successive Gulf Wars. The unorthodox materials nod to Rakowitz's own history, his family emigrating to San Francisco in 1946 and retaining ties to their troubled homeland thanks to his grandfather's import-export business. The artist has continued to engage with Iraqi subject matter throughout his career. His current undertaking sees him recreate all 7,000 items looted from the National Museum of Iraq during the 2003 invasion of the country led by the US to topple dictator Saddam Hussein. His controversial 2011 project Spoils meanwhile saw him acquire 18 of Hussein's own dinner plates from a US military veteran on eBay and use them to serve a traditional Iraqi venison dish in a New York restaurant. The US State Department subsequently intervened on diplomatic grounds and confiscated the crockery before the then-US president, Barack Obama, returned them to Baghdad. The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist is only the latest conceptual artwork to take pride of place in front of the National Gallery. The Fourth Plinth has provided an ever-changing free exhibition space since the first artwork appeared in 1999. The artist with his work (PA) Unlike the capital's permanent fixtures - the Henry Moore in front of King's Cross Station, say, or the figures of historic leaders declaiming in Parliament Square - the Fourth Plinth installations never risk disappearing into the backdrop, forgotten by all Londoners bar the pigeons as they scurry past the same old monuments. The view is always new and seldom boring. The plinth was designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1841 and intended for a figure on horseback to join George IV in Trafalgar Square's north east corner (British military stalwarts Sir Charles Napier and Henry Havelock occupy the others). It stood empty for more than 150 years, however, after funding for a statue of King William IV (1765-1837) fell through and Britain was left debating an alternative. 'Powerless Structures' by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset (Getty) (Getty Images) It was not until 1998 that the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) commissioned three contemporary sculptures as a stopgap solution, with the-then culture secretary, Chris Smith, commissioning famed barrister and novelist Sir John Mortimer to undertake a public inquiry on the best possible use of the platform. Mortimer concluded that the public would ideally prefer a rolling conveyor belt of new works rather one fixed figure. Responsibility for the ownership of Trafalgar Square was transferred from Westminster City Council to the Mayor of London's office in 2005, at which point the programme flourished. The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Show all 12 1 /12 The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - Current Michael Rakowitz's 'The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist' is 2018's artwork on the plinth in Trafalgar Square. PA The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 1999 British artist Mark Wallinger oversees the unveiling of his statue Ecce Homo, a contemporary life-size figure of Christ at Trafalgar Square in 1999. PA The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2000 The second sculpture to appear on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square was designed by sculptor Bill Woodrow and entitled 'Regardless of History'. It shows a tree resting on a head and a book, sitting on the plinth in 2000 . The bronze weighed 11 tons and towered seven metres above the plinth. PA The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2001 An 11-ton hollow block of clear resin being unveiled on the top of the fourth plinth in 2001. Entitled Monument, the sculpture is Rachel Whiteread's exact mirror of its granite plinth. PA The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2005 Marc Quinn's sculpture of Alison Lapper, entitled Alison Lapper Pregnant, sits on the fourth plinth, in Trafalgar Square. The 13 tonne, 3.55 metre high marble sculpture was unveiled in 2005. Lapper, who was born with no arms and shortened legs due to a congenital disorder, posed naked for Quinn when she was eight months pregnant. PA The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2007 Thomas Schutte's fourth plinth design was unveiled in 2007. Schutte's sculpture 'Model for a Hotel' was made out of glass and weighed over eight tonnes. Getty The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2009 Jill Gatcum releases balloons as she stands on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. The project by artist Antony Gormley entitled 'One & Other' saw a different person take their place on the empty fourth plinth every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days in 2009. The 2400 applicants were chosen at random. Getty The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2010 A sculpture by artist Yinka Shonibare, 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle' on the fourth plinth in 2010. The piece consisted of a scale replica of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson's ship HMS Victory, with sails made of printed fabric in a colourful African pattern, in a giant glass bottle and commemorated the Battle of Trafalgar. It was the first commission by a black British artist. Getty The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2012 A bronze sculpture entitled 'Powerless Structures, Fig.101' designed by Danish artist Michael Elmgreen and Norwegian artist Ingar Dragset on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in 2012. The sculpture features a boy on a rocking horse. AFP/Getty The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2013 A sculpture by German artist Artist Katharina Fritsch entitled Hahn/Cock which stands on the fourth plinth was unveiled in 2013. The 4.7m high sculpture occupied Trafalgar Square's empty plinth for 18 months. AFP/Getty The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2015 Gift Horse is lit by floodlights in 2015. The sculpture, by 78-year old German artist Hans Haacke, is the skeleton of a riderless horse with a London Stock Exchange ticker attached to its leg, intended to represent the effects of the City, power and money. Getty The Fourth Plinth: Trafalgar Square's changing artwork Fourth Plinth - 2016 The sculpture, 'Really Good' by British artist David Shrigley on the plinth in Trafalgar Square in 2016. Shrigley is best known for his distinctive drawing style and works that make satirical comments on everyday situations and human interactions. Shrigleys sculpture "Really Good", is a seven-metre high hand with a disproportionately long thumb giving a thumbs up. AFP/Getty Notable works have included Antony Gormley's One & Other (2009) - in which ordinary members of the public took turns to spend an hour standing on it, free to do as they wish; Yinka Sonibare's self-explanatory Nelson's Ship in a Bottle (2010-12); Katharina Fritsch's giant blue cockerel (2013-15); Hans Haacke's skeletal horse (in tribute to painter George Stubbs); and, most recently, David Shrigley's bronze thumbs-up, Really Good (2016-18). Raskowitz's Invisible Enemy is one of the most overtly political and striking works to take the stand, a timely statement of defiance against global terror from a city that has withstood several devastating attacks in recent years and remains unbowed. The head of Cannes Film Festival, Thierry Fremaux, has explained why Netflix has been banned from competing for the Palme d'Or, the festival's most prestigious prize. There was uproar among French filmmakers and unions last year when two Netflix titles, Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories, were allowed to compete despite the fact they wouldn't be shown in cinemas. Last year, when we selected these two films, I thought I could convince Netflix to release them in cinemas. I was presumptuous, they refused," Fremaux told The Hollywood Reporter. "The Netflix people loved the red carpet and would like to be present with other films. But they understand that the intransigence of their own model is now the opposite of ours." The cinema experience is sacrosanct in the eyes of Cannes, which sees Netflix, Amazon and other studios' VOD releases as "hybrids" of TV and film. Cinema [still] triumphs everywhere even in this golden age of series, Fremaux added. The history of cinema and the history of the internet are two different things. Sean Penn has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert smoking cigarettes while also saying that he was on the Ambien train. The Oscar-winning actor said that he was still feeling the effects of an Ambien he had previously taken while he was being interviewed by Colbert. Penn said to the host, Im doing well. Youve inherited a little of the Ambien I had to take to get to sleep after a red-eye last night. Then Colbert asked, So in other words, youre still a little bit on the Ambien train right now? to which Penn replied, A little bit. Soon after, he pulled out a cigarette and lit up while Colbert pulled out an ashtray for him. When Colbert encouraged Penn to quit smoking because he wants the actor to live a long time. Penn responded, This is job security for oncologists. Colbert also brought up Penns recent comments about straying from acting because he hasnt been enjoying it as much. The greatest thing that an actor can bring to the party is to play well with othersits the collaborationand I increasingly dont play well with others, he told Colbert. As a result, he explained, its become less enjoyable. I love that process when I love it, but Im not loving it anymore and thats really why I finally came around to writing a novel because I didnt have collaborators, he admits. I was never disappointed with me. The actors interview with Colbert was slated to promote his debut novel, Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff: A Novel, which chronicles the life of an American businessman and part-time assassin. This TV moment is definitely up there with Burt Reynolds recent Today show appearance. Japanese school lunches aren't synonymous with "mystery meat," but rather, shokuiku. It means "food and nutrition education," and it's a vital part of the Japanese child's early education. Beginning in elementary school, kids come to understand that what you put into your body matters a great deal in how you think and feel throughout the day and how you go about your life. As a country, Japan prioritizes school lunch. If parents can't front the $2.50 cost of a meal, free and reduced lunch programs help kids stay full. "Japan's standpoint is that school lunches are a part of education," Masahiro Oji, a government director of school health education, told the Washington Post in 2013, "not a break from it." Here's what it looks like to be one of the global leaders in lunchtime. Lunchtime in Japanese primary schools is almost sacred. It isn't hurried or hasty kids get the time just to sit and eat. Kids serve one another in an effort to reinforce a culture of self-sufficiency. In many schools, there is no janitor. Kids learn to pick up after themselves. Rice has been a staple for decades, but it wasn't until the 1970s that school lunches began to look mostly like what they do today. Lunch often comes with a main dish, rice, and a side soup. This lunch has miso soup, a small packet of dried fish, milk, rice, and pork fried with vegetables. Another option might include tofu with meat sauce on rice, paired with a salad, apple, and carton of milk. At Jinego Elementary School, in Akita Prefecture, a typical lunch includes chicken, rice, miso wakame soup, vegetable salad, milk, and a tangerine. Jinego Elementary will occasionally offer curry and rice, which comes with milk and fruit salad. Many other schools will offer Korean or Italian food at least once a week. About 25 miles away, Yashima Junior High School offers students rice, pork, and egg; lemon yogurt; tofu seaweed soup; and milk. The end result isn't just a satisfied student body, but one that learns responsibility and healthy eating habits. Japan's life expectancy is among the highest in the world, while it's rate of obesity is well below the global average. With the end of any good meal comes one inevitability: naptime. 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. Passover, otherwise known as Pesach in Hebrew, is regarded as one of the most important festivals in Judaism. Every year, Jewish families celebrate the festival by sitting around the Seder table and recounting how Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt following years of slavery. So when does Passover take place this year, what's the history behind it and how is it observed? Heres everything you need to know: When does it take place? Passover begins on Saturday 27 March this year and lasts for seven or eight days. The festival is traditionally observed for eight days by many Jewish people around the world, including those who left Israel as part of the Jewish diaspora. For those celebrating Passover for eight days, it will end this year on the evening of Sunday 4 April. Jewish families recall how Moses led the Jews out of Egypt on Passover (Getty Images/iStockphoto) In the Torah (the body of Jewish scripture), Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nissan, the day in the Hebrew calendar on which the Jewish departed from Egypt thousands of years ago. Its no coincidence that the observance coincides with the Christian festival of Easter, with Good Friday falling a couple of days after the first day of Passover this year. In the ancient languages of Latin and Greek, Easter was called Pascha, which derives from the Hebrew word Pesach. How important is it? Raymond Simonson, CEO of north London Jewish community centre JW3, says that Passover is one of the most important Jewish festivals. Even the most secular Jews, who might not celebrate any other festival - they might not fast on Yom Kippur, or go to synagogue on Jewish New Year, he says. If theres one festival theyll do its more likely to be Pesachthan anything else. During Passover Jews eat matzah, which is unleavened bread (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Whats the story of Passover? During Passover, Jewish people remember how Moses freed the Israelites from slavery under the reign of the Egyptian Pharaohs, as stated by the Torah. Moses was raised as the adopted son of the Pharaohs daughter, who found him in an ark by a riverbank in Egypt. Following orders by the Pharaoh to drown all male Hebrew children in the river Nile, Moses' mother had given him away in the hopes that he would survive. As an adult, Moses discovered his true identity and was instructed by God to lead the enslaved Jewish people from Egypt to Canaan, which was regarded as the promised land. Recommended Jewish and Muslim paramedics pray together in Israel amid outbreak Moses proceeded to ask the Pharaoh to let his people go, which the Pharaoh initially refused. According to the Book of Exodus, Moses warned the Pharaoh that if he failed to free the Israelites, Egypt would be hit by a host of terrible plagues. After the people of Egypt were subjected to 10 plagues, including blood, frogs, boils, locusts, darkness and the death of every firstborn son, the Pharaoh eventually relented and allowed the Jewish people to leave Egypt with Moses. The Jewish people spent 40 years travelling in the desert before reaching the promised land. Why is it called Passover? Jewish people believe that when the Pharaoh initially turned a blind eye to the plagues wreaking havoc on his people, God then inflicted the worst plague of all the death of every firstborn male in Egypt. In order to protect the firstborn sons of the Israelites, God instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people to mark their front doors with lambs' blood. God then proceeded to "pass over" the houses that had been daubed with lambs' blood, thus sparing the firstborn Israelite sons from the deadly plague. Jewish people read from the Haggadah during the Seder night (Getty Images/iStockphoto) How is it celebrated? During Passover, Jewish families come together for a traditional meal called the Seder, which means order, because everything is done in a particular order. This order is followed by reading instructions in a book called the Haggadah. The whole theme of the special meal on the Sedernight is to remember the exodus of Egypt as if we were there, explains Simonson. Its not when they were, our ancestors. Its when I left Egypt, this is what happened to me. Its educational and experiential. We must remember what it was like when we were slaves, so we must fight so there are no more slaves and everyone is free." The Seder plate includes a variety of foods, each which is symbolic. The lamb bone represents the blood of the lamb that adorned the doors of the Jewish people as God passed over them; the roasted hard-boiled egg is a symbol of mourning; the maror (bitter herbs) represents the bitterness the Jews had to endure as slaves; the charoset (a sweet, brown concoction) represents the mortar used to build the Egyptian pyramids; and the dipping of parsley into salt water represents the tears of the enslaved Jewish people. What is matzah? According to the Book of Exodus, the Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that their bread didnt have time to rise. This why Jewish people eat unleavened bread during Passover, otherwise known as matzah. It is traditionally viewed as the bread of the poor, and is therefore consumed to remind Jewish people of the hardships their ancestors endured. Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity Show all 4 1 /4 Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity A Jewish woman named Renee Rachel Black and a Muslim man named Sadiq Patel react next to floral tributes in Albert Square REUTERS Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity REUTERS Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity REUTERS Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity REUTERS For seven or eight days after the first Seder night, Jewish people abstain from eating all sorts of leavened foods including bread, cakes and muffins. Some people come up with creative solutions to this, including Simonson. I make lasagne but with sheets of matzah instead of pasta, he says. During the Seder night, many Jewish children play a game in which one piece of matzah, called the afikoman, is hidden. The child who finds the afikoman at the end of the meal wins a prize. What other foods and drink are consumed during Passover? Whether to eat rice or beans is one of the most discussed customs or traditions, Simonson states. Its what everyone seems to be talking about at the moment. Some grains and other foods, such as beans, peas, corns, rice, chickpeas and sesame, are traditionally prohibited by some Jewish people during Passover. These are known as kitniyot. However, many Sephardic Jews - Jewish people who can trace their ancestry back to the Iberian Peninsula during the early Middle Ages - continue to eat kitniyot on Passover. It depends on your family and background, Simonson says. Every year, more and more people say: Hold on, this kitniyot isnt forbidden by law in the same way. Its more of a tradition to do with how they were packed in sacks. Every piece of food on the Seder plate is symbolic (Getty Images/iStockphoto) How do Jewish people prepare for Passover? As leavened goods are banned during the festival, the weeks leading up to Passover are traditionally spent cleaning. Every nook and cranny is scrubbed to get rid of even the tiniest forbidden crumb that might lurk there. Some say this tradition is the origin of the more widely known "spring clean". Many Jewish people use crockery during Passover that has been set aside for especially for the festival. Financial engineer Melroses bid for real engineer GKN - perhaps best known as the one time maker of the Spitfire - has managed to do something remarkable: It has brought Remainers, Leavers, The Independent, The Guardian, the Daily Mail, unions, customers, MPs from all parties, local councillors, and more besides, together in their opposition to it. Thats quite an achievement in a bitterly divided country in which they would be united by almost nothing else. Sadly, a rare place where youll find a good word to be said about the machinations of Melrose is in London's financial centre, which controls the outcome and where the betting, judging by the movements in GKNs share price, is on the bad guys winning. Melrose this morning did wake up to the fact that it has a problem with the world outside the air conditioned offices of investment banks and institutional investors, which are familiar and safe territory for its bosses, who have been spending lots of time there making their case. That is because, with the credibility of his Governments much vaunted industrial strategy all but shot, Britains Business Secretary Greg Clark decided to drop his cloak of invisibility and poke it in the ribs. Cue a series of undertakings. They have legal force because the rules had to be changed following an earlier bad bid. That was the one tabled by Kraft Foods for Cadburys which saw a rather important undertaking jettisoned a matter of weeks after the predator won the day. Melrose has promised to keep the business headquartered in the UK with a majority of UK resident directors. Theres a commitment to R&D spending of at least 2.2 per cent of turnover and a promise not to sell up for five years. These allow Mr Clark to say, look what a lot I got you! A closer inspection, however, reveals them to be worth less than he and Melrose would have you believe. If Melrose didnt spend on R&D, for example, there wouldnt be much of a business left for it to sell after those five years, and its ultimate aim is to sell. The company typically offloads the businesses it buys after between three and five years. This just pushes the all but inevitable disposal out to the end of that time period. As for the promise to hire UK resident directors? Please. The company will appoint, and pay fees, to people who will do what theyre told. The location of their living quarters scarcely matters. Barring a last minute realisation in the City that this bid will not serve its long term interests with its alienation of large swathes of public opinion, Melrose is likely to win. The best, and perhaps the only way now of salvaging something from this deeply regrettable situation is to prevent a repeat. The case for the application of a public interest test to future deals that are of value to no one other than grey money men has never been stronger. Such a move on the part of an unpopular Government would carry the support of a wildly diverse group of normally opposing parties. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. It would be also be applied to any proposed Melrose sale of GKN further down the line. Unless, that is, the City springs a surprise and shakes off the narrow short termism that facilitated this affair in the first place. Dont hold your breath. Switzerland must urgently do more to protect whistleblowers and stop money laundering and bribery, a group of industrialised nations has said. After a year-long investigation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development said companies, lawyers and trustees operating in Switzerland must face tougher penalties for perpetrating or facilitating bribery taking place abroad. It said Switzerland presents a specific risk of corruption because of a large number of public international organisations and an outsized financial sector providing services for overseas clients. Recommended Secretive Swiss bank accounts face new crackdown Despite hosting international industries which have significant potential for corruption, such as commodities trading, Switzerland has no legal framework to protect whistleblowers, the OECD said. The organisation found that not a single case of foreign bribery has been brought to local Swiss law enforcement agencies in any of its cantons by a whistleblower. Internationally, company insiders who alert authorities to wrongdoing are seen as vital in the battle against corruption. They have been instrumental in a number of recent high-profile data leaks that have shone a light into the sometimes shady world of offshore finance. Long famed for its secretive banks and as a hub for clandestine financial activity, Switzerland has been attempting to clear up its image in recent years after a string of scandals, but the latest report suggests the Alpine nation has some distance yet to travel. Assessors for the report found an almost universal mistrust of whistleblowers in the country, stemming from extremely entrenched opinions on this matter that point to strong, deep-rooted cultural resistance to people who support suspicions of wrongdoing. In reality, whistleblowers expose themselves to criminal prosecution or retaliatory measures if they make a report, as case law has consistently demonstrated in cases involving reported suspicions of financial offences, the OECD said. The OECD pointed to the 2015 sentencing of HSBC whistleblower, Herve Falciani, to five years in prison in absentia for breaking bank secrecy laws. Mr Falciani exposed widespread wrongdoing at HSBCs Swiss private bank that helped wealthy individuals evade taxes. He could only reveal the cache of data after he had fled Switzerland for France. In Switzerland, if someone wants to report a suspicion, they must first go to their employer, to which they owe a duty of secrecy, the report said. On money laundering, the OECD welcomed the fact that firms have reported an increasing number of suspicious incidents in recent years but said this was too often in response to external prompts such as information provided by the media. Another significant pitfall of the Swiss legal framework is that lawyers and other professional advisors that help individuals set up anonymous companies and trusts are only liable to prosecution under anti-money laundering rules if they actually execute a transaction, the OECD said. This restriction is important, the OECD said, because trusts and domiciliary companies are a known to be used in corruption schemes. Claims that students have created a free speech crisis on university campuses have been exaggerated, according to a new report by MPs and peers. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) did not find the wholesale censorship of debate in UK universities that some media reporting had suggested. Instead it found a widespread view in the sector that free speech was not overly inhibited and that it was valued by students." The findings of the inquiry come amid continuing debate about free speech at universities with reports of speakers and debates being opposed or criticised, often by student unions or societies. However, the majority of student union officers surveyed by the committee said that restriction of free speech was not a problem at their university. The press accounts of widespread suppression of free speech are clearly out of kilter with reality, the report says. A large amount of evidence suggests that the narrative that censorious students have created a free speech crisis in universities has been exaggerated. It notes that two of the most high-profile examples of so-called no platforming such as feminist writer Germaine Greer at Cardiff University and human rights activist Peter Tatchell at Canterbury Christ Church University did not curtail the speakers freedom of speech. These are actually examples where students manifested their right to freedom of expression through peaceful protest or refusing to share a platform with someone, the report says. And when things have gone wrong - like the protest at Jacob Rees-Mogg's speech at the University of the West of England last month - the "difficulties can be caused by outsiders", rather than students or the university, the report adds. Masked individuals disrupt Jacob Rees-Mogg speech at UWE Bristol The committee did conclude that free speech on campus had been hampered in some cases by intolerant attitudes and unacceptable behaviour, red tape and a lack of clear guidance. So the report calls on the Charity Commission, which regulates student unions as charities, to review its guidance. University codes of practice on freedom of speech should be clear, it states. Freedom of speech within the law should mean just that - and it is vital in universities," said Harriet Harman, chairwoman of the JCHR and a Labour MP. "Evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights showed that there is a problem of inhibition of free speech in universities. While media reporting has focused on students inhibiting free speech - and in our report we urge universities to take action to prevent that free speech is also inhibited by university bureaucracy and restrictive guidance from the Charity Commission. A spokesperson for the National Union of Students (NUS), which is holding its annual conference in Glasgow this week, said: I am delighted to see the report from the JCHR inquiry into free speech at universities has uncovered what most of us knew all along: that there is no crisis of student censorship on campuses. It really is much ado about nothing. 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 Chris Hale, director of policy at Universities UK, added: Universities are absolutely committed to promoting and securing free speech and will not allow legitimate speech to be stifled. There is already a legal duty on the higher education sector to secure free speech within the law and universities have developed policies in this area. As the report states, there is little hard evidence of a systematic problem of free speech in universities. But, despite the thousands of events that go ahead across the sector without incident, a small number of flashpoints and challenges do arise from time to time." He said it was "important that universities are well equipped to secure free speech within the law, while balancing this with other responsibilities such as the safety of students and staff. He added: We will look at the advice of the committee in this area and how it can complement the already extensive experience of managing such events and policies universities have in place. Universities must continue to be places where difficult topics are discussed and where people, however controversial their views, should be allowed to speak within the law, and their views challenged openly." Against the backdrop of Salisburys beautiful cathedral, a new word recently gained global notoriety. But the three people who had the right to know most about novichok, a nerve agent, were oblivious to its sudden appearance in headlines around the world for they lay fighting for their lives in hospital. Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, his daughter Yulia, 33, and police detective sergeant Nick Bailey, were all exposed to novichok (or newcomer, to use its more parochial translation from Russian) in the city on 4 March. The circumstances surrounding the case are still being investigated but the latest (unconfirmed and improbable) reports suggest that Skripal may have been exposed through the air vents of his BMW car. Skripal was directly targeted, and perhaps his daughter was too, although it may simply have been Yulias proximity to her father that resulted in her exposure. Bailey was affected by the nerve agent as he was one of the first to respond and came into contact with it at a location as yet unknown. The police officers exposure is more likely to have been through contact with the nerve agent contaminating some surface. At the time of writing, the Skripals remain in a critical condition in hospital. Bailey, meanwhile, has been discharged from hospital and is able to speak about his ordeal, perhaps providing vital clues. Environmental sampling will provide the evidence showing where the Skripals were most likely exposed and, hopefully, how that exposure occurred. While the full facts have yet to come to light, the novichok attack is developing into a full-blown international incident. The UK and Russia, which Britain has blamed for the attack, are now engaged in an increasingly bad-tempered tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats. The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, even pointed the finger squarely at Russian President Vladimir Putin himself. We think it overwhelmingly likely that it was his decision to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the UK, on the streets of Europe, for the first time since the Second World War, Johnson said. So how did we get here? And why do these lethal chemical agents exist at all? The first nerve agents The story stretches back to 1936, when the first nerve agent, named tabun (after the German word for taboo), was synthesised by talented German chemist Gerhard Schrader. Schrader was investigating organophosphate compounds for the Third Reich in an effort to find suitable insecticides to improve crop yields. He quickly discovered that tabun was too toxic to ever be used in farming as it would almost certainly kill those applying it. A year later, however, he developed a second, even more toxic nerve agent: sarin. In debriefings by Allied intelligence officers after the Second World War, Schrader said that hed been required to inform the Nazi authorities about his discoveries. But while Germany made munitions with both tabun and sarin, which were discovered at the end of the war, they were never used against Germanys opponents. Russian ambassador claims UK has stocks of Novichok nerve agent Reasons for this are unclear. Some historians cite Hitlers own exposure to chemical weapons during the First World War and his apparent revulsion towards their use in battle. Others note Churchills warning to Hitler that any use by Germany of chemical or biological agents would be met with a swift response. But the most convincing reason is likely to be the one mooted by Schrader himself. Schrader noted in his post-war debrief that other scientists around the world, including in Britain, were working on organophosphate chemicals and believed that they were almost certain to have also discovered nerve agents. So if Germany used them, other countries would use them on Germany. In fact, Schrader was wrong; only Germany had the chemicals. Going global After the Second World War, however, the UK, US and Soviet Union gained access to Nazi chemical know-how and many German scientists began working for the victors. At the time, the prevailing view was that chemical weapons would almost certainly be used in a future conflict, and so the military usefulness of nerve agents such as tabun and sarin was investigated. But tabun and sarin had their limitations. They were well suited for use on a rapidly moving battlefront because they vaporised and broke down in contact with water and so would disappear rapidly after use. But this left a gap in the arsenal, so-to-speak, for more persistent, longer-lived agents. These were developed in the UK in the 1950s and include the now well-known VX. This was the nerve agent used in the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in Kuala Lumpur airport. Unlike sarin and tabun, VX-type agents, which have an oily texture and are very slow to evaporate, were considered to be whats called area-denial chemicals. Any troops, or vehicles, moving through an area where VX had been used would have to be rigorously protected, compromising their manoeuvrability and fighting efficiency. Nerve agents were evolving. But so too were the kinds of targets for chemical weapons. Increasingly, they were being used against civilians. Who controls them? About 20 different nerve agents have now been manufactured and all are listed, and restricted, under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Novichoks are an exception because they have never been declared, more on which later. In the First World War, before the arrival of nerve agents, it was primarily troops who were affected by chemical weapons. During that conflict, some 1.5 million military casualties were exposed to irritants such as chlorine and phosgene, or the blistering agent mustard gas and around 8-10 per cent of those affected, died. Meanwhile, about 1,000 civilians were injured by chemical weapons during that war. Since the First World War, however, chemical weapons have been used by Italy in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1935-6; by Japan in China during the Second World War; by Egypt in Yemen between 1963 and 1967; by Iraq in Iran (1983-1988) and Kurdistan (1988); and between 2013 and 2017 by the Syrian government against its own people. Sarin was also used in a 1995 attack on the Tokyo subway by the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, killing 13 and making thousands more ill. This is not a comprehensive list, but many of the victims of these attacks, particularly in Kurdistan and Syria, were civilians rather than troops. Evidence of Iraqs 1988 chemical attack on civilians in the Kurdistan town of Halabja, which included the use of sarin nerve agent, accelerated discussions already underway on a comprehensive chemical weapons treaty at the UN Council on Disarmament. In 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was agreed. In 1997, the convention became international law following ratification of the treaty by 65 countries. Today, 192 countries are fully paid-up members of the convention with only North Korea, Israel, South Sudan and Egypt still not part of the group. However, as the convention is international law, these four countries are still bound by its provisions that any use of a chemical to deliberately harm another person constitutes use of a chemical weapon and is illegal. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) oversees implementation of the CWC and supervises destruction of declared chemical weapons and any production facilities for these weapons. To date, approximately 96 per cent of declared stockpiles have been destroyed. In October 2017, Russia announced that it had destroyed its stocks of some 40,000 tonnes. The US is expected to complete destruction of its weapons stockpile by around 2021/22. Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty In addition to supervising the destruction of stockpiles, the OPCW operates a control regime for chemicals that are either chemical weapons or could be used to make them. Every year, each signatory to the convention is required to provide the OPCW with details on the location, manufacture, use, sale or disposal of these substances. The OPCW audits these returns and verifies them by random annual inspections of hundreds of military bases and chemical companies around the globe. All manufacturing programmes that resulted in stocks of chemical weapons exceeding one tonne per year after 1 January 1946 must be declared to the OPCW. But on 16 March this year, the OPCW announced that it had never been notified about novichok-type nerve agents by any state. So what is novichok and what does it do to its victims? Novichok family There is no doubt that nerve agents similar to the novichok family exist, something that has been described by defectors from Russia. One of these was used to poison the Skripals and Bailey. Nerve agents, including certain novichoks, are part of the family of organophosphate compounds albeit at the most toxic end of the spectrum. They all operate in a similar way by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The enzyme can be found in various locations in the body, but its at the junctions between nerves and muscles where its activity is most critical. AChE regulates the message from nerve to muscle by inactivating the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine binds to receptors at the neuromuscular junction, instructing the muscle to contract. The enzyme then removes this messenger, splits it in two, and with its removal from the receptor the muscle relaxes. This cycle is repeated as often as required by the demands on the muscles. Inhibition of this removal and cleavage process sends all muscles into spasm and they no longer function normally. The effects are wide-ranging with the most critical being on lung and heart function. Respiratory paralysis is common in severe poisoning and the resulting lack of oxygen to critical organs, such as the heart and brain, can have serious consequences. If untreated, it may be fatal. Exactly where, when and by whom these chemicals were made, however, and how and who used them against the Skripals remain unclear, triggering a major international crisis. The UK is now exercising its rights under the CWC and has asked the OPCW to investigate Russias novichok programme. This is the first time one party to the CWC has accused another of attacking it with a chemical weapon. It will be a major challenge for the OPCW, which has been invited to send inspectors to the UK to collect samples for testing. The OPCW will use its own laboratory in Rijswijk, next to The Hague, and perhaps one of some 20 other designated facilities around the world to confirm the exact identity of the nerve agent. Once it is confirmed, the OPCW will endeavour to find out more. However, it has never pointed the finger of blame at a user. Its remit is to confirm the use or identity of chemical agents and it can be called upon to carry out inspections in countries accused of using one. Others, such as the UN, will then assess the evidence and do the finger pointing. This is what happened when Syria was accused last year of using chemical weapons against its own population. The CWC does not preclude bilateral action by its signatories and Britain and Russia have already begun expelling each others diplomats over the row. Russia has also closed the British Council and a UK consulate in St Petersburg. On the ground But what of the situation on the ground in Salisbury, where the Skripals were attacked? Nerve agents can poison somebody though inhalation, ingestion or skin contact which is why investigators in Salisbury are wearing full protective clothing and gas masks. In fact, it is now the investigators, rather than the public, who face the risk of sustained exposure to any contamination. Some 130 people have so far been identified who may have been in contact with the agent but none beyond the Skripals and Bailey have shown any symptoms. It was reported that the Skripals were essentially comatose when discovered and so were unable to say how they felt. But paramedics would likely have found the couple struggling to breathe. They may also have noticed twitching muscles, a glassy appearance to the eyes with pinpoint pupils and profuse salivation. In hospital, there may have been evidence of increasing fluid build-up in the lungs, and their heart rates may either have been rapid or slowed, and uneven. Effects on the brain would be less evident as the couple were unconscious, but can include restlessness, headache, confusion and convulsions. A part of the brain is concerned with regulation of respiration and this may be affected directly, slowing breathing. A fall in blood pressure is also likely. Possible treatments Antidotes to reverse the clinical effects of nerve agents are available and are more likely to be successful if administered early. About 200 cases of less severe accidental poisoning and four severe ones have been reported since 1948. In all of the severe cases, the person poisoned lost consciousness and breathing was inhibited. But prompt treatment by doctors who were nearby and aware of the potential for exposure resulted in the victims full recovery. In a quirk of fate, the UKs own defence teams against chemical weapons are located at Porton Down, just outside Salisbury. Indeed, there have also been tests on hundreds of military servicemen with small doses of nerve agents and in 1953, after one poorly conducted test in the UK, a 20-year-old leading aircraftman, Ronald Maddison, died. The 2004 inquest into his death returned a verdict of unlawful killing. Its also claimed that in the novichok programme one person was accidentally exposed and died. Treatment can include the rapid administration of atropine. This blocks the effects of acetylcholine accumulation by occupying the same receptors and reverses some symptoms, but has little effect on skeletal muscle. The rule of thumb is to maintain dosing of atropine (at intervals) until the heart rate is over 90 beats per minute. Administration may be necessary for a significant period. Drugs known as oximes can also be used as an antidote. These restore enzyme activity and, crucially, skeletal muscle function. But oximes tend to be specific for certain types of nerve agent and it is unclear which would work with the specific novichok agent as there is little information in the public domain about them or their effective treatments. Faced with this dilemma, the clinicians treating the Skripals and Bailey would have had to have made a choice. A third drug used in nerve agent poisoning is diazepam, which can prevent any dangerous convulsions that might occur. Regrettably, however, evidence indicates that severe nerve agent poisoning can cause long-term irreversible changes in brain function. Nerve agents are grotesque weapons and their use against civilians is a deeply disturbing trend. But in the weeks to come, there will have to be a dispassionate review of the evidence. And as the spat between Russia, and the UK and its allies worsens, cool heads will be needed. Amid all this frenetic activity, however, we must not forget the three victims and wish them a swift recovery. After all, they are the ones paying the heaviest price. Alastair Hay is an emeritus professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com) Up to a million people once lived in parts of the Amazon previously thought to have been uninhabited, according to new findings. Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs. The discovery supports the theory that millions of people lived in the Amazon prior to the arrival of Europeans who eradicated much of the indigenous population through a combination of disease and warfare. The idea of Amazonia as a paradise that has never been touched by humans is not true, Dr Jonas Gregorio de Souza, an archaeologist at the University of Exeter told The Independent. In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, Dr Gregorio de Souza and his colleagues describe their exploration of a 1800 km stretch of southern Amazonia that was occupied by pre-Columbian earth-building cultures until around 1500. Researchers have traditionally assumed ancient Amazonian communities stuck close to the regions river systems. Early estimates for the population of the Amazon prior to the arrival of Europeans were therefore fairly conservative around one million for the entire region. Part of the ditch of archaeological site Mt09 in the southern Amazon (Jose Iriarte) However, the new findings suggest the occupation of the Amazon was far more extensive, with settlements spreading far inland. This gives weight to recent estimates that the population of the region was closer to ten million at the time of European arrival. We showed that maybe these areas were as densely occupied as the main floodplains, said Dr Gregorio de Souza. The Exeter teams study provides hard evidence to support a complex, thriving society, managing their land in a highly organised fashion. After conducting ground surveys of 24 sites, the researchers found extensive evidence of human settlement including ceramics, polished stone axes and domestic waste dumps. Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt Show all 6 1 /6 Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt An archaeologist works on a damaged coffin Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt An archaeologist works on a sarcophagus at the necropolis EPA/IBRAHIM YOUSSEF Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt Skulls found at the burial site Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt Another sarcophagus found at the necropolis EPA/IBRAHIM YOUSSEF Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt Four canopic jars designed to hold internal organs are decorated with the heads of the four sons of the god Horus EPA/IBRAHIM YOUSSEF Ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt Examining a sarcophagus on site Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany They also consistently came across geoglyphs man-made ditches with strange square, circular or hexagonal shapes which may have been involved in ceremonial rituals. The sites range from small settlements surrounded by ditches to 400m-wide fortified villages. As with other parts of the Amazon and South America as a whole, the arrival of Europeans in the form of Portuguese explorers and colonisers likely led to the collapse of these once-flourishing societies. What probably happened is that most of the population was affected even before direct European contact because diseases travel a lot faster than people so probably these people were already weakened by diseases even before the Portuguese first set foot in the area, said Dr Gregorio de Souza. The classic example is the Inca Empire the Inca were already suffering from smallpox before the Spanish arrived in the area because it had travelled all the way from Mexico. And to this you can add the direct violence and genocide that followed the European conquest by the Portuguese in this case. Dr Gregorio de Souza emphasised that most of the Amazon has still not been explored by archaeologists, so there is still a lot of extrapolation when establishing historic population sizes. However, excavations like theirs are crucial in understanding the human history of the Amazon. "We are so excited to have found such a wealth of evidence, said Professor Jose Iriarte, another team member from the University of Exeter. Most of the Amazon hasn't been excavated yet, but studies such as ours mean we are gradually piecing together more and more information about the history of the largest rainforest on the planet. An Isis fanatic who tried to brainwash an army of children to launch simultaneous terror attacks across London has been jailed for life. Unqualified teacher Umar Haque was handed a minimum sentence of 25 years at the Old Bailey by a judge who called his bloodthirsty ambitions extreme and alarming. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said the 25-year-old groomed children to join a mini militia and made them keep the training secret from parents who had paid for after-school classes at an east London mosque. Haque was a dangerous liar, the judge said, calling the defendant a very real threat to the young and old alike. He is intelligent, articulate and persuasive, with an easy smile. He is narcissistic and clearly enjoys the power he wields over others. The judge told Haque had had violated the Quran and Islam, as well as the law of all civilised people. He ranted about domination, hunger and insecurity as he was removed from the dock to be transferred to prison. Haque had planned to launch simultaneous terror attacks on up to 30 targets in London including Big Ben, the Tube, Westfield shopping centre, Heathrow Airport, courts, Shia Muslims, journalists and far-right groups. Four far-right UK terrorist plots foiled since Westminster attack, police reveal He enlisted helpers at the Ripple Road mosque in Barking, east London, where he secretly brainwashed 16 children as young as 11 and made them act out atrocities. Haque proclaimed his continued support for Isis while giving evidence but denied plotting attacks, claiming he had only been pondering hypothetical atrocities, before a jury convicted him preparing acts of terrorism earlier this month. He also admitted charges of collecting information useful for terrorism and disseminating a terrorist document. Two co-conspirators - Abuthaher Mamun and Muhammad Abid - told jurors they did not believe Haque was serious about launching an attack but were convicted of aiding him. Mamun, 19, was jailed for 12 years for preparing for acts of terrorism for helping attack planning and raised money through trading in options. Confidant Abid, 27, was handed four years and three months in prison for failing to report the plot The court heard Haque became fascinated by the Westminster attack in March last year and discussed bringing his own death squad to the capital with Mamun and Abid. In a bugged conversation four days after the first Isis-claimed attack in London, Haque told Abid: So what I want to personally is launch different attacks in all the different areas, one in Westminster, one in Stratford, one in Forest Gate, one...in so many different areas, yeah. Immediately there's one focus to all the police. Get off the streets. Civilians get off the streets. London will be, not just Westminster attack, entire London...we're here to cause terror, my brother. We are a death squad sent by Allah and his messengers to avenge my Arab brothers' blood. Umar Haque allegedly showed extremist propaganda to children he taught at the Lantern of Knowledge Islamic school (Google Streetview) In conversations recorded as part of an intelligence operation, Haque was heard discussing justification for killing civilians, while talking of using a car, leaving bombs in a lift, and going for a quick spin around Westminster. Despite having no teaching qualifications, Haque had access to 250 youngsters at two east London schools and the Ripple Road madrassa in Barking over five years, attempting to radicalise 110 of them. Haque was teaching pupils aged between 11 and 16 at the fee-paying independent Lantern of Knowledge School in Leyton, where he admitted playing an Isis video to boys who have been left traumatised. He taught Islamic studies and PE between April 2015 and January 2016, with parents saying they were horrified after learning of his radicalisation attempts. Haque also assumed the role of a teacher at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking and manipulated children, telling them he intended to die a martyr and Isis was good. Prosecutors said he played terrorist videos depicting the burning of passports and beheadings with a knife or sword to encourage them into his mindset. Haque showed children graphic images, including one of a dead boy, saying they would meet the same fate if they did not join him and promise to become a martyr. He made the children train and act out the roles of police and attackers in scenarios involving weapons and a car bomb, while he shouted Allahu Akhbar. One of the boys later told police: "Umar wants a group of 300 men. He's training us now so by the time I'm in Year 10 we will be physically strong enough to fight. "Umar told us boys he is part of Islamic State and Islamic State ordered him to do a big attack in London. "We took an oath like we would not tell our parents. If we did not promise, we would go down as a group." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 The mosque's "Essex Islamic Academy" and Lantern of Knowledge Educational Trust are under investigation by the Charity Commission. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said a specialist social worker had assessed the boys affected by Haque's indoctrination, who have been left confused and frustrated about Isis, their religion, non-Muslims and war. "Although they are clear what they saw was wrong, they are left conflicted and without answers which leads them to be particularly vulnerable to grooming, he added. "Some speak of having flashbacks of the videos and nightmares centred around fear of death and punishment in the afterlife, perhaps in reference to (the video) of the young boy seen buried and in a grave. Social services and poice assessed that Haque had attempted to radicalise 55 children aged between 11 to 14 years at the Ripple Road Mosque, were supplementary classes have been suspended. All 55 children have received support and 35 are being given longer-term help, Scotland Yard said. A spokesperson for the NSPCC said Haque had abused children using fear and intimidation. Haque used his position of trust as a smokescreen to try and recruit an army of young people in his care to help him carry out the atrocities he planned, he added. It is thanks to the bravery of those victims who spoke out about what they endured that Haque is now behind bars for a very long time. Police warned that he could have struck at any time after investigators seized a large kitchen knife from Haque's Ford Focus and a collection of Isis propaganda from his home. He originally came to the attention of authorities after trying to travel to Turkey from Heathrow in April 2016, with the route closely watched after being used by hundreds of British jihadis who joined Isis in Syria. Examination of his phone revealed searches for terror attacks and executions but police said there was no evidence to charge him with a criminal offence at the time, and he was put under surveillance. His apparent attempt to follow them was foiled and his passport seized, making Haque one of a growing number of terrorists who have attempted domestic attacks after failing to become foreign fighters. Haque's plan was among 14 terror plots foiled in the past year by police and MI5, 10 of which were Islamist-inspired. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said the jail sentences ensured that men complicit in a plot to radicalise vulnerable young children and use them to attack businesses and communities in London are now in prison. Haque was a dangerous man who was inspired by attacks in Europe and Westminster," he added. "He wanted to orchestrate numerous attacks at once, using guns, knives, bombs and large cars to kill innocent people. We recovered a number of exercise books from his home and it was evident from his notes that his plan was a long-term one. He intended to execute his plan years later, by which time he anticipated he would have trained and acquired an army of soldiers, including children. Additional reporting by PA A man who tried to kill a Muslim woman and running over a 12-year-old girl in revenge for terror attacks has been jailed for life. Paul Moore was handed a minimum sentence of 20 years at Nottingham Crown Court and disqualified from driving for life after a judge found he took satisfaction in the attack. Mr Justice Soole told Moore the courage of his victims and compassion of those who rushed to help them from across the diverse the local community stand in stark contrast to your wickedness. "All pedestrians were at risk from you that morning, he added. However, the fact remains that you ultimately launched your assault on those who were in Islamic clothing. "Your intention to kill Zaynab Hussein was underlined by your wicked decision to return for a second assault with the car. It was only luck and her quick thinking that saved your second intended victim from injury." The 21-year-old told relatives he was doing the country a favour after ramming his car into the victims in Leicester on 20 September five days after the Parsons Green bombing. Mr Justice Soole said Moore had shown no remorse and there was reason to believe that he may have taken satisfaction from what he did, meaning that a sentence short of life imprisonment would not protect the public. Paul Moore, 21, was convicted of trying to kill a Muslim woman and running into a 12-year-old girl in Leicester (Facebook) Ms Hussein, a Somali woman who wears a headscarf, was walking down Acer Close when Moore hit her with his Volkswagen. Nottingham Crown Court previously heard that the driver laughed and returned to run over the wounded woman all four wheels, leaving her with life-changing injuries including a broken leg and fractures to her pelvis and spine. Moments later, Moore drove at a 12-year-old girl who was walking to school, clipping her but failing to fully run her in nearby Butterwick Drive. Earlier this month a jury found him guilty of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving on Friday. Prosecutors said Moore targeted his victims because of the colour of her skin and clothes in an act of calculated evil. Ms Husseins husband, Barre Duale, said he had joined the ranks of terrorists and given his wife a life sentence through her injuries. "He was actually attacking Britain, he was attacking a British mother, a British wife, a productive British worker and charity volunteer, a statement said. He wasn't attacking terrorists, he was joining their ranks by doing what they do and attacking an innocent woman. Paul Moore launched the attack in Acer Close, Leicester (Google Streetview) "I hope that he thinks long and hard about his actions and is able to understand the error of his ways. Moore has a number of previous convictions and was on bail for a separate charge of causing grievous bodily harm when he was arrested for the attack. The court heard that he defendant launched the attack as revenge for the London 7/7 bombings and the Parsons Green terror attack, which was claimed by Isis. Moore, of Letchworth Road in Leicester, admitted that he was behind the wheel but denied the attempted murder and GBH with intent charges. Four other people were in the car with Moore during the incident and begged him to let them out afterwards. "He was just driving like a maniac, said Prosecutors said Moore targeted Ms Hussain purely because of the colour of her skin and perceived Islamic faith. 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. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 Later the same day, Moore went to visit his half-brother, who said he had been drunk at the time of the incident. Lewis Welsh told the court: He tried to put it down to the London 7/7 bombings. He said he was proud of himself and doing the country a favour. Leicestershire Police said Moore dumped the Volkswagen and ran to get into a red Ford Fiesta, which he crashed almost immediately into parked cars before being arrested. Officers recorded the car ramming as a race and religiously motivated hate crime and said it caused concern and anxiety among the local community in Leicester. The Crown Prosecution Service applied for Moore's sentence to be increased in light of his motivation. Moores actions were undoubtedly fuelled by his hatred of Muslims and the intent to kill his first victim was clear, said Janine Smith, chief crown prosecutor in the East Midlands. "Moore had expressed a desire to run someone over and the evidence was clear that his motivation for attacking these victims was hostility towards their ethnicity and perceived religion." Security services have raised the alert over a mounting threat from the far-right since the neo-Nazi murder of Labour MP Jo Cox and Finsbury Park terror attack. New statistics released on Tuesday show an increasing number of right-wing extremists are being referred to the government's Prevent counter-radicalisation programme. Campaigners have warned of the potential of tit-for-tat violence between Islamists and the extreme right-wing, who are using each other to radicalise new supporters. The Finsbury Park attacker planned his atrocity in the wake of the London Bridge attack and last month, a Britain First supporter was jailed for trying to mow down the owner of an Indian restaurant after saying he was going to kill a Muslim, while a Hitler-obsessive was imprisoned for threatening to petrol bomb mosques in revenge for the Manchester attack. Additional reporting by PA EU nationals are higher quality and more eager workers than British citizens and it could be disastrous for some industries if immigration is reduced after Brexit, a government report on migration has found. The report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) reveals UK businesses view European migrants as more motivated, flexible and willing to work longer hours than the domestic labour force. Experts said many firms in lower-skilled sectors had built a business model in which the availability of migrant labour from the continent played an important and sometimes vital role. The report took evidence from more than 400 businesses, industry bodies and government departments as part of a major inquiry ordered by home secretary Amber Rudd. Employers indicated that workers from the European Economic Area (EEA) were more motivated and flexible than UK-born workers, including a greater willingness to work longer and unsociable hours, and said they were often better qualified for the jobs they do. The accommodation and hospitality sector emerged as being particularly at risk, with nearly half (43 per cent) of workers in restaurants, fast food stores, hotels and pubs originating from outside the UK, according to evidence submitted to the committee. It showed there were already signs of shortages of low-skilled workers in this sector, with reports from businesses of vacancies not being filled and increased advertising for staff or the use of agency labour to fill gaps. Employers in the hospitality industry warned that if they were denied the availability of EU workers, the economic impact would be somewhere between difficult and disastrous for many hotels. Farmers also told the committee they relied on the continued provision of seasonal workers from the EU. Following the publication of the report, farmer Guy Poskitt told the Victoria Derbyshire show: We cant find enough local workers for difficult and unsociable shifts. Recommended Fear and loathing are likely to increase on both sides after Brexit If we havent got access to non-UK workers we cannot run our business. Thats not looking at the doom and gloom that is fact. Responding to the report, Labour MP David Lammy said the results were "deeply worrying", adding: "Instead of taking jobs away from people living in the UK already, immigration helps to stimulate our economy. "After Brexit we're facing down the barrel of slower growth and, crucially, fewer jobs available. It might be politically unpopular, but the truth is that our economy needs migrants to fill the jobs that Brits wont do or lack to the skills to do. "No one voted to be poorer and certainly no one wanted to vote themselves out of a job. Satbir Singh, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said the report was another piece of evidence demonstrating the failure Theresa Mays immigration policy. "Its clear, that the main challenge for a post-Brexit Britain with an ageing population will be to continue to attract the migrants that keep our NHS and economy running, he continued, adding that this would require a complete rethink of the Governments handling of immigration. Official figures have shown falls in net migration from the EU since the referendum, with an estimated 90,000 more long-term EU migrants having arrived in Britain than left in the 12 months to September 2017. This was the first time net migration from the bloc had dipped below 100,00 since the year to March 2013, and the lowest figure recorded since 2012. 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 Home Office spokesperson said: We are committed to controlled and sustainable migration. The British people want control of our borders, and after we leave the EU we will ensure that we can control immigration to Britain from Europe, putting in place a system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK. This system will be based on evidence, including from the MAC, and on engagement with a range of stakeholders, including businesses, universities, the Devolved Administrations and NHS leaders. We welcome the MACs interim report and will consider its evidence in full when it publishes its final report in September. Waiting times for immigration appeals in the UK have soared by 45 per cent in the space of a year, with applicants now waiting an average of nearly 12 months, figures show. The Ministry of Justice said the considerable increase in waiting times between 2016 and 2017 was due to a significant reduction of an outstanding caseload as they cleared older cases during that period. But the increased delays mean families and individuals challenging refusals for them to stay in Britain waited on average 52 weeks for their appeals to be processed last year, compared with an average of 31 weeks in 2016. Figures show that 50 per cent of these appeals are successful, meaning many of those who rightfully challenge the decisions are forced to wait and put their life on hold even though they have a right to be in the UK. The rise in waiting times comes despite a decrease in the number of immigration appeals lodged, which has plummeted from 25,000 in 2014 to 7,000 last year. Publishing the figures in response to a Written Question, Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said: The average clearance time, which is measured from receipt of an appeal to its conclusion, went up between 2015-16 and 2016-17 because of the Tribunal significantly reducing its outstanding caseload and clearing older cases during that period. Outstanding caseload has now reduced from 64,800 in June 2016 to 35,100 at the end of December 2017. But campaigners warn the long waiting times leave vulnerable people and families facing long periods of uncertainty, and can have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of those who have fled conflict and persecution. Prominent immigration and asylum barrister Colin Yeo told The Independent: Its a ridiculous increase. Its particularly cruel for those looking to come to the UK, often to join family members, and having to wait months and months for an appeal hearing. And we know that 50 per cent are successful, in which case making people wait a year is really outrageous. They have to put their life on hold. And if they lose their appeal, then it means theyre hanging around for longer, which isnt in the governments interest, But theres not much evidence that the Home Office is trying to do something about it. I dont think the Government has much interest in rapid appeal times. Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, meanwhile said: We know people can often wait more than a year for their asylum appeal to be heard. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 Tribunal hearings can be postponed several times before going ahead, with very little notice, causing huge stress and anxiety at a time when peoples futures are hanging in the balance. People seeking protection in Britain are facing delays and poor decision-making at every stage of the asylum process. This leaves families and people in vulnerable situations facing years of uncertainty, taking a tremendous toll on the health and wellbeing of those who have fled conflict and persecution. Its clear these parts of the system arent working for anybody, certainly not taxpayers or those who rely on it to make life-changing decisions. Fundamental reform is needed to ensure it is fair, effective and compassionate. Firefighters did not respond to the Manchester attack for two hours because they believed a gunman could be on the loose, a report has found. Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, praised individual acts of bravery and selflessness by the emergency services and members of the public following the bombing on 22 May last year but said communication failures delayed vital parts of the response. Isis supporter Salman Abedi detonated his device in the foyer of Manchester Arena as thousands of young Ariana Grande fans poured out of a concert, killing 22 people and injuring more than 100. Police were on the scene one minute later and declared a major incident at 10.39pm, just eight minutes after the explosion. Firefighters stationed nearby heard the blast themselves and prepared for mobilisation, but initial fears of an active shooter meant they did not arrive at the scene for two hours despite having first-aid skills and terror-attack training. The effect of this was that a valuable resource was not available to assist on the scene, particularly with the movement of those who were injured from the foyer amid a shortage of stretchers, Lord Kerslake concluded. The fire service was effectively outside the loop, having no presence at the rendezvous point established by the police, little awareness of what was happening at the arena and only a very limited and belated presence at Strategic Gold Command. Lord Kerslake said firefighters interviewed during the review felt they had left Manchester down but said they did not, but their procedures, communications and operational culture most certainly did ... it is incredible. Manchester attack: City pays tribute one week on He said firefighters stationed near Manchester Arena could see that something was happening and wanted to go forward, but were prevented from doing so and could not deploy themselves. There were only three paramedics in the foyer at the time, triaging patients to be taken to a designated casualty clearing station for treatment alongside British Transport Police officers, security guards, staff from Manchester Victoria station and members of the public. All injured people were evacuated from the blast site within just over an hour of the explosion, but Lord Kerslake said the presence of firefighters would clearly have been valuable. The impact of the delay will be examined by the coroner in ongoing inquests into the 22 victims deaths, while a separate criminal investigation continues. A previous review by the former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation found that MI5 might have been able to prevent the attack, having dismissed two pieces of intelligence on Abedi that were highly relevant to his plans. He had already been put under active investigation twice once over his contact with another subject of interest in 2014, when he was considered a low residual risk, and again in October 2015 because of indirect contact with an Isis figure in Libya and was not questioned when he returned to Britain from the country four days before the bombing. The North West Fire Control initially received reports of a potential gunman from the ambulance service, but despite police confirming that wounds were caused by shrapnel rather than bullets a national liaison officer did not receive the information. Suspecting a potential marauding terrorist shooting attack like those seen in Paris, he ordered firefighters to assemble at a station two miles from the arena according to procedures creating a 500m safety exclusion zone. If all emergency services had followed the same guidance, only armed police wearing body armour would have been allowed to enter Manchester Arenas foyer, but others used situational awareness to go in. The national inter-agency liaison officer tried to speak to the police force duty officer to clarify what was happening but could not get through to him on the phone, the report said. Manchester explosion in pictures Show all 37 1 /37 Manchester explosion in pictures Manchester explosion in pictures People running down stairs as they attempt to exit the Manchester Arena after a blast, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Twitter/@ZACH_BRUCE/ via REUTERS Manchester explosion in pictures Helpers attend to people inside the Manchester Arena after a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people PA wire Manchester explosion in pictures Armed officers guard outside a hotel near the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers are seen outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police and fans close to the Manchester Arena, after reports of an explosion Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England, at a concert in Manchester Arena AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police stand by a cordoned off street close to the Manchester Arena Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England, on May 23, 2017. British police said early May 23 there were "a number of confirmed fatalities" after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures An ambulance drives away from the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A woman sits in the street in a blanket near the Manchester Arena as police guard the area following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Two women wrapped in thermal blankets stand near the Manchester Arena, where US singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and others 50 were injured, authorities said. It is being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise EPA Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Members of the public receive treatment from emergency service staff at Victoria Railway Station close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police after a suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande left 19 dead PA wire Manchester explosion in pictures Emergency services arrive close to the Manchester Arena in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures An amoured police vehicle patrols near Manchester Arena in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A man carries a young girl on his shoulders near Victoria station in Manchester AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers stand at the Miller Street and Corporation Street Crossroads, in front of the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police block a road near to the Manchester Arena in central Manchester, England AP Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police patrol near Victoria station in Manchester, northwest England. Twenty two people have been killed and dozens injured after a suspected suicide bomber targeted fans leaving a concert of US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police forensic officers leave the Manchester Arena as they investigate the scene of an explosion in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A forensic officer collects evidence on a walkway between Victoria station and Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester, Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A woman and a young girl wearing a t-shirt of US singer Ariana Grande talks to police near Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester, Getty Manchester explosion in pictures EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese speak to the media outside Manchester Town Hall after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester Dave Higgens/PA Wire Manchester explosion in pictures The media gather behind a police cordon in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Flowers left close to the Manchester Arena, the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester Danny Lawson/PA Wire Manchester explosion in pictures Ariana Grande concert attendees Karen Moore and her daughter Molly Steed, aged 14, from Derby, leave the Park Inn where they were given refuge after last night's explosion at Manchester Arena Getty Manchester explosion in pictures Signs saying 'We love Manchester' are displayed in a window in Manchester, England Getty Images It called for the fire service to reflect on poor communication, poor procedures and issues of operational culture which caused its failure to respond properly. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services interim chief fire officer Dawn Docx apologised unreservedly, adding: Firefighters were desperate on the night to help and they were let down by some of their senior colleagues. She said no disciplinary action was planned, following the retirement of former fire chief Peter OReilly, and the service was working to make sure this never happens again. The report also revealed that an emergency phone system provided by Vodafone completely failed, causing added distress to families frantically seeking information on their loved ones. Investigators said a restricted, local telephone service was not up and running until 3am, almost five hours after the bombing, leaving relatives to start desperate searches of local hospitals. Vodafone has apologised and worked with the Home Office on measures to prevent similar issues occurring again, including a back-up system, testing and monitoring. The review found that the horror was compounded by the actions of some members of the media, with relatives saying they were hounded and shown a lack of respect with behaviour the review called utterly unacceptable. The Kerslake Arena Review was established by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to examine the emergency response to the deadliest terror attack in Britain since the 7/7 bombings. By looking honestly at what happened, we can improve the way we protect the public, and begin to provide the families who lost loved ones and those injured, physically and mentally, with the answers to questions they have no doubt been asking ever since, he said, announcing a wide-ranging review of Manchesters fire and rescue service. Lord Kerslake said the views of victims families and survivors had been front and centre in the review process. Tributes to victims of the Manchester attack (AFP/Getty) The Manchester Arena attack was devastating for many thousands of people, he added. There is a lot to be proud of in the response to the attack, both for the city region of Greater Manchester, and for the emergency services. The benefits of collaborative working and planning for emergencies were demonstrated to the full. And there were hundreds, if not thousands, of individual acts of bravery and selflessness. But its also vital to learn the lessons around things that did not go so well. It matters not just for the people of Greater Manchester and beyond who were caught up in the terrible events of that night, but also for places that might be caught up in such an attack in the future. The report said the huge pressures on police charged with leading the response caused communication issues with other agencies, calling for new joint operating principles for responding to a terrorist attack to be drawn up nationally. Recommended Timeline of MI5 investigations into UK terror attackers revealed Mr Burnham backed the calls for a review of existing guidelines updated after the Paris, Sousse and Mumbai attacks, calling them right on paper but wrong in practice. The report praised preparations and training undergone by the emergency services, the good judgement exercised at key points, such as meaning that police and paramedics were allowed to enter Manchester Arena despite safety fears. The review found that actions by individuals and organisations on the night demonstrated enormous bravery and compassion and the civic response was exceptional, while support was provided by family liaison officers and bereavement nurses. Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, of Greater Manchester Police, said officers had worked to save lives while being aware there may be a further attack. It was an immense and unprecedented situation that faced us and I am proud of the way the officers and staff of GMP responded that night and in the days, weeks and months that have followed, he added. In the face of danger they ran into the arena as others were running away, they experienced things that no-one should have to experience. He said the criminal investigation into the attack was ongoing, with counter-terror officers working through more than 12,000 pieces of evidence and 2,000 statements. British authorities have been seeking the extradition of Hashem Abedi, the bombers brother, from Libya for questioning but the efforts have been frustrating by the armed militia holding him and the chaos of the countrys ongoing civil war. Detectives have been granted more money to continue the search for Madeleine McCann, nearing 11 years since her disappearance while on holiday with her family in Portugal. So far more than 11m has been spent on the UKs investigation, named Operation Grange. Government funding has been agreed every six months, with 154,000 being granted from October last year until the end of March. It is thought the latest round of funding will be as much as 150,000, according to the Daily Mail. A Home Office spokesman said: The government remains committed to the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. We have briefed the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) that its application for Special Grant funding for Operation Grange will be granted. Family spokesperson Clarence Mitchell said that Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann were incredibly grateful for the additional money. He said: They are very encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done and they are incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Madeleine vanished from the familys holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three. Mr and Ms McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed never to give up trying to find their daughter. In 2011 the Met Police launched its own investigation into what had happened to the child. Agencies contributed to this report Britain divulged unprecedented levels of intelligence to other countries in order to convince them that Vladimir Putins Russia had carried out the first nerve agent attack in Europe since the Second World War. The material provided to the allies included sensitive reports and the conclusions of the military research base at Porton Down, as well as an explanation of how these were obtained. The information senior government officials hold was key to 23 states and Nato carrying out a mass expulsion this week of over a hundred Russians working under diplomatic credentials. Highly classified information which is normally shared only between the Five Eyes countries UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada - was supplied to close allies with national security adviser, Sir Mark Sedwill, taking it to the European Union and the North Atlantic Council. Other countries were given differing levels of intelligence to show alleged Russian culpability. Jeremy Corbyn, who attracted controversy by asking for more proof of Russias responsibility for the attempted assassinations, was, as a privy councillor, shown the same intelligence as supplied to the allied states and also the UKs National Security council. We have, acknowledged a senior Whitehall official, shared unprecedented levels of intelligence with partners. The information from the UK was deliberately shared with policy makers rather than just security chiefs abroad to show there was no other plausible explanation for responsibility other than the Russian state. At the same time there was a concerted diplomatic offensive by embassies abroad. Not all countries provided with the intelligence have kicked out Russian diplomats. Unlike the others in the Five Eyes network, New Zealand refused to take similar action with Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, saying: We have done a check in New Zealand. We dont have Russian undeclared intelligence officers. If we did, we would expel them. The details of the mission to form an international coalition, following the Salisbury poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, came on the eve of the launch of the National Security Capability Review (NSCR). No fundamental changes have taken part to the report of the Review following the Salisbury attack. But what happened, insisted a Whitehall official, proved we were right about the threat posed by the Kremlin. The Review will say that as well as state sponsored terrorism, we expect the threat from Islamist terrorism to remain at its current heightened level for at least two years and it might increase further. Isis may be losing on the battlefield, it will point out, but remains capable of launching attacks in Europe while other Islamist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra (also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham) in the Middle East and al Shabaab in East Africa remain active. The Capability Review, a follow up from the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), is designed, it is claimed, to provide a comprehensive new approach Fusion Doctrine - which will bring together all aspects of security from soft power, such as the use of aid and promotion of culture, to propaganda, cyber warfare and the armed forces. However Gavin Williamson, the new defence secretary, has succeeded in extracting defence from the NSCR, creating yet another review, the Modernising Defence Programme which will take place in the future. Critics claimed the separation was damaging to a comprehensive security strategy and had taken place purely because of the political ambitions of Mr Williamson who is said to want to succeed Theresa May. Former National Security Adviser Lord Ricketts commented recently: I can imagine the politics behind it but I think its a backward step to separate defence from other national security issues. Robert Hannigan, the former GCHQ chief, agreed. Pulling it apart now doesnt seem very coherent, he said. Cyber is a perfect example of why it doesnt work to do it separately; it cuts right across public safety, security, intelligence through to defence and it is quite hard to see how you break it up. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 Nevertheless, launching the Review, the prime minister is due to say: We have agreed a new approach to the orchestration of our national security doctrine. Based on the new Fusion Doctrine, this approach will ensure that in defending our national security we make better use of all our capabilities from economic levers, through cutting edge military resources to our wider diplomatic and cultural influence on the world stage. Ms May, in the foreword to the Review will point out the threats faced by the UK. Over the past year we have witnessed appalling terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. But also a brazen and reckless act of aggression on the streets of Salisbury: attempted murder using an illegal chemical weapon, amounting to an unlawful use of force against the UK. The danger posed by Russia was also the theme of a speech by the head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier. He said: What we did not expect then is the return of potential state-based conflict and threats from Russia military-grade nerve agent being used for attempted murder on the streets of our country; the reckless and indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Syria; the illegal annexation of Crimea, the first time since the Second World War that one sovereign nation has forcibly annexed territory from another in Europe; the criminal activities of the Russian state in cyberspace. The post-War consensus that has provided the basis for the rules-based international order is being challenged and undermined. We must respond, collectively with our NATO and other partners, to counter hostile acts by Russia against our countries, our interests and our values. The Met Office has moved to dispel concerns that the UK was set to be struck by a third instalment of the "Beast from the East" over the Easter Weekend. While the weather will certainly turn colder towards the end of the week and there will be snow on high ground, concerns that Britain would be blanketed with snowfall and mired in travel disruption - as it was at the start of the month - are unfounded, the meteorological institute has said. "After two bouts of exceptional cold in the last month, well, its easy to understand why when we talk about the weather turning chillier again, people assume therell be more heavy snowfall," forecaster Alex Deakin said. "But that is simply not the case with the weather we are expecting this week. Throughout the Easter period, yes, it may well be chillier, but we are not expecting the extreme, we are not expecting 'Beast from the East 3' or 'Beaster'. "The last two outbreaks of cold weather have brought exceptional, widespread, heavy snowfall across the UK and many severe weather warnings. "The weather this week wont be anything like on that scale and nothing like as disruptive. "There will be some snowfall but it will be almost exclusively over hills throughout northern Britain and theres nothing unusual about that in March." The Met Office says that stronger sun will prevent any snow settling this time around and characterised the forthcoming Easter weather as "cool and changeable", with conditions cooler but only "a little below average, not [a repeat of] the sub-zero values earlier in March". Temperatures look likely to be still a bit below average and rain will never be too far away, Mr Deakin added. "It is important to point out that we are not expecting anything on the scale of the last two spells of unusually cold weather which brought significant and disruptive snowfall," said chief meteorologist Frank Saunders. "Throughout the Easter weekend it will stay unsettled with showers or longer outbreaks of rain for most. "There will be some sunshine at times as well though, with the best of any drier and brighter weather expected across the northwest." Mini beast from the East hits the UK Show all 19 1 /19 Mini beast from the East hits the UK Mini beast from the East hits the UK Cars sit covered in snow in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK Horses are covered in snow on the hills surrounding Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK A man digs a Landrover out of a snow drift in Coalville. Reuters Mini beast from the East hits the UK A man pulls a child along in a sledge in Salisbury. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK A stranded coach on Blackstone Edge near Littleborough in Greater Manchester. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK Scottie Dog Douglas in the snow in Glasgow. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK A man walks down a hill on the Island of Portland during a weather front that has been dubbed the 'mini beast from the East'. The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for many parts of the country as another cold weather front blows in from the east bringing snow, ice and temporary blizzard conditions. Getty Mini beast from the East hits the UK A woman walks through the snow in the village of Marsden, east of Manchester. AFP Mini beast from the East hits the UK Gardner Chris Orton tends to the Crocus garden at Wallington Hall in Northumberland. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK A snow-covered tent covering a bench at The Maltings shopping centre in Sailsbury where former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found collapsed two weeks ago. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK Staff from Whatton Manor Stud in the Vale of Belvoir. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK A man pushes his bicycle past cars stuck in the snow in Coalville, Britain. Reuters Mini beast from the East hits the UK Snow covers the woodland at the National Trust's Dunham Massey Park. Getty Mini beast from the East hits the UK Horses are covered in snow on the hills surrounding Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK Teams walk out during a snow shower ahead of the match between Birmingham and Hull. Rex Features Mini beast from the East hits the UK Fans make their way through a Snow shower to Molineux Stadium ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burton Albion. PA Mini beast from the East hits the UK A man runs as snow falls in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park. Getty Mini beast from the East hits the UK Staff at Colchester United do all they can to ensure the match against Yeovil Town goes ahead after heavy snow fell. Rex Mini beast from the East hits the UK A woman pushes a shopping trolley in the snow PA Today, rain over the east of the country will ease and make way for brighter skies, although conditions will remain wet and windy in the north. Tomorrow, there is actually a chance of some snow in the south east thanks to a wet weather system moving in eastwards from the Atlantic, although forecaster Aidan McGivern stressed it was unlikely to settle. A woman set fire to her workplace on Christmas Day after being sacked from a London property firm. Rose Marie Fenwick injured a security guard when she set fire to the Estates & Management building, where she worked as an administrator. The 64-year-old worked at the company, which is based in Finchley, for six years before she was dismissed, and was also found to have twice superglued the locks. The disgruntled employee has now been imprisoned for 20 months after CCTV footage of the incident showed her distinctive style of walking. Ms Fenwick, of Finchley in north London, was also seen wearing a jacket which police found when they carried out a search of her house. "Fenwick's personal vendetta against her former employer led to her committing offences that not only caused a nuisance but also instilled a sense of fear amongst staff who became concerned about their safety at work, Cynthia Caiquo, a senior prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 "Fenwick was identified using CCTV footage which included her distinctive walking style and the jacket she was wearing, which was seized by police after a search of her home. "The strong prosecution case against Fenwick meant that she had no choice but to plead guilty. Prosecutors said Ms Fenwick was sacked by Estates & Management in 2016 after six years. Around three months afterwards, in July, she started a fire at the office at around 2am by using a "liquid accelerant" and newspaper pushed through the letterbox. The following year in March she damaged the companys front door by putting superglue in the locks one evening. On Christmas Day, 25 December, 2017, she started another fire at her old office. It caused minor burns to the security guards hair and fingers as he attempted to escape the building from the front door which was the only exit. Ms Fenwick was sentenced for two counts of arson and one count of criminal damage at Harrow Crown Court on Tuesday. She had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at the same court. "The court made an order restraining her from going anywhere near her former workplace, Ms Caiquo added. "I hope this conviction and sentence gives employers the confidence they need to report crimes against them. Additional reporting by SWNS Britain could have voted to stay in the EU without cheating by the official Vote Leave campaign, a whistleblower has told MPs in sensational evidence. Christopher Wylie alleged that busting the legal spending limit allowed the campaign to win the support of enough voters through precisely targeted online advertising to have swayed the Brexit result. Its data firm Aggregate IQ (AIQ) had a significant conversion rate of between 5 per cent and 7 per cent and had told him it had targeted five to seven million people for the referendum. I think it is completely reasonable to say there could have been a different outcome of the referendum had there not been, in my view, cheating, Mr Wylie told the inquiry. The former director of research for scandal-hit Cambridge Analytica warned the full picture of what took place may not become clear until after Britains exit from the EU in March next year. What a shame it would be if we found out that there had been pervasive cheating in the referendum and Brexit has already happened and you cant go back, he told the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. 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 During a four-hour session, Mr Wylie also: * Alleged that his predecessor died in suspicious circumstances in a Kenyan hotel after a deal went sour and may have been poisoned * Alleged AIQ distributed incredibly threatening and violent videos to intimidate voters in Nigeria, after the medical records and emails of a presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, were hacked * Claimed Vote Leave, a youth Brexit group called BeLeave, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Veterans for Britain were all working together in the campaign * Described BeLeave which received a donation of almost 680,000, allegedly used for Vote Leave as effectively a money laundering vehicle * Revealed his anger that two young people he introduced to Vote Leave fellow whistleblower Shahmir Sanni and Darren Grimes were exploited to break the law * Said Alexander Nix, Cambridge Analyticas chief executive was very wealthy already, adding: There was one time when we were running late because he had to pick up a 200,000 chandelier Mr Wylie was called to give evidence after sparking an international outcry with his revelation that Cambridge Analytica harvested Facebook data from more than 50 million voters for Donald Trumps election campaign. Mr Sanni has alleged that Vote Leave used its links with BeLeave to get around the 7m referendum campaign spending limit imposed by the Electoral Commission. A 50-page dossier of evidence has now been handed to the election watchdog, alongside a legal opinion that the campaign may have broken electoral law. In his evidence, Mr Wylie said it was weasel words to claim AIQ was a separate entity to Cambridge Analytica, because it had been set up and worked within its auspices. This is a company that has worked with hacked material, this is a company that will send out videos of people being murdered to intimidate voters, this is a company that goes out and tries to illicitly acquire live internet browsing data of everyone in an entire country, he said. I think a lot of questions should be asked about the role of AIQ in this election and whether they were indeed compliant with the law here. On the Nigeria campaign, he added: AIQ was handed material in Nigeria from Cambridge Analytica to distribute online. Thats distribution of kompromat and of incredibly threatening and violent video content which Ive passed on to the committee. The videos that AIQ distributed in Nigeria with the sole intent of intimidating voters included content where people were being dismembered, where people were having their throats cut and bled to death in a ditch, they were being burned alive. There were incredibly anti-Islamic and threatening messages portraying Muslims as violent. Julian Assange has been branded a "miserable little worm" by a foreign office minister who said he should leave the Ecuadorean embassy in London and surrender to British justice. Sir Alan Duncan said it was of "great regret" the Wikileaks founder is still avoiding arrest inside the embassy, where he has been living since June 2012. The Europe and the Americas minister also criticised tweets posted by Mr Assange in which he claimed the "manner" and "timing" of the UK government expelling Russian spies had been "poor diplomacy". During Foreign Office questions in the House of Commons, Sir Alan was asked to take action against the Ecuadorian embassy by former cabinet minister Sir Patrick McLoughlin. Sir Alan replied: "It is of great regret that Julian Assange remains in the Ecuador embassy. "It is of even deeper regret that even last night he was tweeting against Her Majesty's government for their conduct in replying to the attack in Salisbury. "It's about time that this miserable little worm walked out of the embassy and gave himself up to British justice." Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy - a timeline Mr Assange responded to Sir Alan's comment with a tweet. "As a political prisoner detained without charge for 8 years, in violation of 2 UN rulings, I suppose I must be 'miserable'; yet nothing wrong with being a 'little' person although I'm rather tall; and better a 'worm', a healthy creature that invigorates the soil, than a snake," he said. Mr Assange says the real reason for his legal troubles is the fact WikiLeaks published US diplomatic and military secrets, and he fears if he leaves the embassy he risks being extradited to the United States. He considers himself to be under arbitrary detention in the Ecuadorean embassy - a description of his situation rejected by the British authorities, who say he voluntarily went into the building and could leave anytime if he were prepared to face up to the consequences of his actions. He entered the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of sex crimes, which he has always denied. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Last month, a British judge refused to halt legal proceedings against Mr Assange for jumping bail and said he was "a man who wants to impose his terms on the course of justice". British police ended their permanent guard on the embassy in October 2015 but said they would maintain "covert tactics" to arrest Mr Assange if he left. At the time, they said 12.6m had been spent on guarding the embassy. Additional reporting by agencies Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned Theresa May she risks splitting the Conservative Party in two and could be ousted as prime minister if she breaks Tory backbench Eurosceptics red lines on Brexit. The arch Brexiteer compared Ms Mays predicament to that of 19th Century prime minister Sir Robert Peel, who forced through the controversial repeal of the Corn Laws against the wishes of many of his MPs. The move resulted in Peel being forced to quit as prime minister and the Conservative Party splitting, with the Peelites eventually joining forces with the Whigs and others to form the Liberal Party. Asked about Brexiteers' demands after delivering a speech to mark one year until Brexit, Mr Rees-Mogg said Ms May would be risking similar consequences if she relies on Labour votes to get a final Brexit agreement through parliament without the support of her Eurosceptic backbenchers. He said: Lets be frank: all the red lines have gone in the transition deal there isnt a red line left in that. The concern is whether the red lines will be in the final withdrawal agreement." In a thinly-veiled threat, he added: Im sure the prime minister knows her history. Im sure that she knows how Robert Peel got the repeal of the Corn Laws through. No Conservative leader would ever wish to get through so major a piece of legislation again on the back of opposition votes. I think the Government will stick to its red lines, because that is the political reality. The Government has backed down on a number of issues in order to secure a transition agreement with Brussels, including agreeing that the UK will fall under the jurisdiction the European Court of Justice for a further two years, and giving EU countries access to British fishing waters until 2021. The transition deal also states that the UK will continue to follow EU regulations unless a separate agreement is reached in relation to the Northern Ireland border. Brexiteers have said they could vote against the final deal if that agreement includes similar arrangements. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 In a speech organised by the Leave Means Leave group, Mr Rees-Mogg called opponents of Brexit cave dwellers and compared them to Hiroo Onada the WW2 Japanese soldier who only surrendered in 1974, having refused to believe the war was over. Mr Rees-Mogg, who chairs the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers, said: It has taken us some time to rediscover the opportunities of a truly global Britain and a few cave dwellers still want to stop the process, but with 367 days to go the United Kingdom will be free. He also claimed Theresa Mays response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack was bolder than it would have been because of Brexit. He said: It is striking that the Prime Ministers robust response to Russia has occurred as we are leaving the European Union. Even the prospect of freedom has made us bolder and more forthright in the defence of our national interest. At the same time, our allies rallied to our cause because they respect strength rather than weakness. Jacob Rees-Mogg claims civil servants are 'fiddling figures' on Brexit Mr Rees-Mogg added: There is a world of opportunity ahead of us. Economically, leaving the European Union by getting rid of unfair, anti-competitive tariffs and by controlling our borders will help the least well off in society the most. Constitutionally, we will be in charge of our own destiny protected by our own laws and with no more excuses for our politicians. In international affairs, we will be setting our own direction, not hiding behind the skirts of the German Chancellor. If we do not believe that we can do better by our own efforts, our own endeavours and our own choices, then we have become the managers of decline. Suez was forced upon us because of our precarious financial state after the war and the dishonesty of those who pursued the policy. The national humiliation was brought upon ourselves. This time it would be worse. We would be admitting as a nation that we simply did not cut the mustard, we were not up to taking our place in the world, and we were so fearful, fretful of the future, that we had to allow somebody else to do it for us. It would be an unutterable failure of political will by the Establishment when the British people have shown the courage to take their destiny in their own hands. A Conservative MP has been accused of "endorsing Islamophobia" after posting an anti-Muslim article on Facebook. Bob Blackman, the MP for Harrow East, shared a story which had the headline: Muslim Somali sex gang say raping white British children part of their culture'. The article was from the website Hardcore News USA, which often features Islamophobic stories. Miqdaad Versi, the assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, tweeted: Deeply disappointing to see Tory MP Bob Blackman once again endorse Islamophobia." He added that it came after Mr Blackman had previously retweeted an anti-Muslim post by Tommy Robinson and hosted controversial Hindu nationalist Tapan Ghosh in Parliament. In response to the allegation, Mr Blackman deleted the post and said he regretted any upset caused. Bob Blackman shared this article on social media (Facebook) Mr Blackman said: A news story regarding a gang of Somali men who were found guilty of trafficking and raping young girls was shared on my general Facebook feed. I shared the story on as the subject matter is very troubling and I have had a lot of engagement on the subject via social media and email recently because I raised the issue of child sex abuse and grooming in business questions in Parliament. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 I deleted the link as I saw that the headline to the article was phrased inappropriately. I can confirm that I have never visited the website in question and am not part of any group related to it. I sincerely regret any upset caused to the Muslim Council of Britain or the wider community for my error. Mr Blackman retweeted Tommy Robinson in error in 2016 and also invited Mr Ghosh, who praised the genocide of the Rohingya in Myanmar, to an event in Parliament. Close Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: If we allow any amount of cheating in a democratic election, the problem will snowball Whistleblower Christopher Wylie has appeared before MPs to discuss his work at scandal-hit Cambridge Analytica, as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg turned down an invitation to give evidence to Parliament on the row. Mr Wylie sparked an international outcry when he revealed the firm had harvested Facebook data from more than 50 million users, which was used to influence voters in Donald Trump's 2016 presidential run. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson appeared before MPs this morning following news of the mass expulsions of Russian spies from the US and other allies, to show their support for Britain over the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Theresa May, meanwhile, was grilled about the Cambridge Analytica row and Brexit during an appearance in front of the Liaison Committee. She announced a new funding model for the NHS will be introduced within the next year. As it happened... The Baton Rouge police officers who shot and killed Alton Sterling nearly two years ago will not face criminal charges, Louisiana authorities have said. The decision marks the latest instance in America where officials have declined to prosecute police following high-profile shootings of black men. Mr Sterling was killed in July 2016 by police responding to an emergency call claiming that someone was threatened with a gun. The officers arrived to find the 37-year-old Mr Sterling selling CDs. They fatally shot him less than 90 seconds later, and claimed that they removed a gun from his pocket afterwards. This decision was not taken lightly, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said during a press briefing Tuesday. I know the Sterling family is hurting. I know that they may not agree with this decision. The state decision not to proceed with charges follows after the Justice Department declined to pursue charges against the officers, Blane Salmon and Howie Lake. At the time, the department determined there was insufficient evidence to prove that Mr Sterlings civil rights had been violated. It is generally very difficult to bring charges against officers, and federal officials would need to prove intent at the time of the shooting for a conviction. 'Justice Must be Served!' Mourners Parade for Police Shooting Victim Alton Sterling 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 Sterlings death sparked widespread protest after a video captured on a cell phone showed the incident. In that video, two police are seen on top of Mr Sterling before one pulls his gun and shoots. The video later shows them removing something from Mr Sterlings pocket. During the 20-minute press announcement, Mr Landry said that he had concluded that the two officers had attempted to make a lawful arrest of Alton Sterling based upon probable cause. The officers had operated on the assumption that Mr Sterling was armed, he said, and the officers later removed a loaded .38 caliber handgun from his pocket. Mr Landry also noted that toxicology reports had shown Mr Sterling had drugs in his system at the time of his death. He said that the drugs likely contributed to Mr Sterlings behavior during the encounter with police, and subsequent attempt at arrest. A report showed that Mr Sterlings body tested positive for cocaine, opioids, and other drugs. It is reasonable that Mr. Sterling was under the influence and that contributed to his noncompliance, he said. The video showing Mr Sterlings death came at a delicate time in race relations in the country. Just one day after the outrage, police shot and killed school cafeteria worker Philando Castille in Minnesota and the aftermath of that shooting was posted live on Facebook. Mr Castille, who was licensed to carry a firearm, had reportedly told the officer he had a legal gun in the vehicle before he was shot. Five police officers in Dallas were also killed by a black man in that same week in 2016, and three more officers were killed in Baton Rouge. Mr Sterlins family, and civil rights groups, criticised Mr Landrys decision, saying that the state had failed them and Mr Sterling. The system failed us, Sandra Sterling, an aunt, said during a press conference. He was not a monster. This was a family man. A family man. The family promised to continue to press forward with a civil lawsuit they filed last year. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a statement saying that they would support the family, and called for the Alton Sterling was shot to death by two Baton Rouge police officers who were on top of him as he lay on the ground. He became the 122nd Black person to be killed by U.S. law enforcement in 2016. His death is yet another example of police brutality against people of color and our countrys systemic failure to hold law enforcement accountable for that brutality. Justice will not be served until we end this epidemic of police violence against people of color once and for all, Jane Johnson, the interim executive director of the ACLU Louisiana said. Canada is on track to legalise marijuana for recreational use within months, an MP has said. Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party vowed to introduce the measure during the 2015 election campaign and brought legislation on the matter to the House of Commons in April 2017. The bill was later referred to the Senate, where it has faced fierce stiff opposition from Conservatives. Recommended Californians to have marijuana offences wiped from records Police chiefs and psychiatrists have warned that a sudden transition could lead to an increase in children taking up the drug and more people driving under its influence. But, according to parliamentary secretary for the minister of public safety, Mark Holland, the Liberal Party is confident marijuana will be legalised quickly. Were working closely with the senate and we feel confident, at this time, in that timeline of end of summer that were going to see a regime that will control and legalise cannabis, he told Canadian television programme The West Block. 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 Under the proposed bill, the government would license cannabis farms by regulated producers and set standards of strength and penalties for abuse. It will also say buyers must be at least 18 years old. Canadas provincial governments will decide how the drug will be sold and at what price. Linda Brown, the Kansas schoolgirl whose case brought an end to racial segregation in US public schools in 1954, has died aged 76, her family has announced. Brown's name is forever closely intertwined with the struggle of African-Americans against prejudice and inequality, her case a crucial stepping stone on the path to civil rights. But who was she and how could a child bring about such drastic social change in America? Linda Carol Brown - born in 1943 - was just nine years old when her father Oliver, an assistant pastor at the St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church, attempted to enrol her in the all-white Sumner Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas. His appeal was snubbed on racial grounds despite the family living mere streets away and he returned home bristling with anger. The nearest black school, Monroe, was two miles away and would have required his young daughter to cross dangerous railroad yards alone to catch a bus. Enraged at the injustice, Oliver Brown became lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education, which brought together 13 families to take on the segregating principle of "separate but equal" then defining access to public facilities for white and black citizens. Although the case was initially struck down at a local level, Brown took Linda's fight to the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) who mounted a national legal challenge on behalf of families from several states, including Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The US Supreme Court subsequently ruled unanimously in favour of Brown v Board of Education on 17 May 1954, a decision that found the federal division of black and white students unconstitutional in that it denied black children their 14 Amendment right to equal legal protection. The finding that black schools had a "detrimental effect" on young students due to their inferior resources overturned 1896 Plessy v Ferguson, the decision that first legally sanctioned the concept of racially segregated amenities. Despite the victory, change was not implemented immediately and desegregation did encounter public resistance in some areas, notably in Little Rock, Arkansas, where black students had to be escorted onto campus by federal guards in 1957. Thurgood Marshall, who had spearheaded the NAACP case, went on to become the first black Supreme Court justice in 1967. "I just couldn't understand," Ms Brown told National Public Radio (NPR) in 1973, reflecting on the defining events of her life. "We lived in a mixed neighbourhood but when school time came I would have to take the school bus and go clear across town and the white children I played with would go to this other school. "My parents tried to explain this to me but I was too young at that time to understand." Interviewed in 1985 for the book Eyes on the Prize by Juan Williams, Linda said of her late father: "[He] was like a lot of other black parents here in Topeka at that time. They were concerned not about the quality of education that their children were receiving, they were concerned about the amount - or distance, that the child had to go to receive an education. My father believed very much in right and he felt that it was wrong for black people to have to accept second-class citizenship and that meant being segregated in their schools, when in fact, there were schools right in their neighbourhoods that they could attend and they had to go clear across town to attend an all-black school. And this is one of the reasons that he became involved in this suit, because he felt that it was wrong for his child to have to go so far a distance to receive a quality education." Linda devoted the rest of her life to social justice through her work with the Brown Foundation, having two children of her own who were able to attend racially diverse schools thanks to their grandfather's legacy. "By them going to an integrated school, they are advancing much more rapidly than I was at the age that they are now... And I think that children are relating to one another much better these days because of integration," she told NPR. Tributes have flooded in since news of her death broke overnight. Both NAACP and film director Ava DuVernay used the word "hero" to describe her contribution. "She stands as an example of how ordinary schoolchildren took centre stage in transforming this country," said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of NAACP's Legal Defence and Educational Fund. It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country." 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 "Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world," said Kansas governor Jeff Colyer. "Linda's legacy is a crucial part of the American story and continues to inspire the millions who have realised the American dream because of her." More than a dozen protesters who clambered into holes dug for a high pressure gas pipeline said they had been found not responsible by a judge after hearing them argue their actions to try and stop climate change were a legal necessity. Karenna Gore, the daughter of former Vice President Al Gore, was among more than 198 people who were arrested because of their 2015 actions protesting the pipeline in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, a neighbourhood of Boston. Thirteen people were to go on trial this week, though prosecutors downgraded their original criminal charges to one of civil infraction. On Tuesday, Judge Mary Ann Driscoll of West Roxbury District Court, found all 13 defendants not responsible, the equivalent of not guilty in a criminal case. She did so after each of the defendants addressed the judge and explained why they were driven to try and halt the pipelines construction. Speaking outside the court afterwards, Ms Gore, 44, Director of the Centre for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York, said the courts decision was historic. What happened today was really important, she said. The people.were found not responsible by reason of necessity. The irony is that we are making ourselves responsible. Were part of the the movement that is standing up and saying we wont let this go by on our watch. We wont act like nothings wrong. Police drag 85-year-old Green activist across road during anti-fracking protest Marla Marcum of the Climate Disobedience Centre, which supported the activists, said that each of the 13 had addressed the judge about why they had been part of the protests against the pipeline, which was constructed by Houston-based company Spectra Energy. "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change Show all 38 1 /38 "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 Reuters "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Magdeburg, Germany on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in New York on March 15 AFP/Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Madrid on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Quezon City, Philippines on March 15 Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Vienna on March 15 AFP/Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Dublin on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Canterbury, Kent on march 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Erfurt, Germany on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Zagreb, Croatia on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lisbon on March 15 Reuters "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Edinburgh on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Florence, Italy on March 15 Sign reads: there is no future without a planet, let's not sell it for money EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Vienna on March 15 Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Brighton on March 15 Reuters "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cambridge on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change Students protest in Bangalore, India on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change Students protest in Bangalore, India on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change A student protests in Lucerne, Switzerland on 15 March EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 AFP/Getty Images "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Milan, Italy on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 AFP/Getty "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Lund, Sweden on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change A poster with Greta Thunberg, who began the current children's movement at the protest in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 15 AP "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Cape Town, South Africa on March 15 EPA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Canterbury, Kent on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in London on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest in Canterbury, Kent on March 15 PA "Act now or swim later" - Children worldwide protest climate change School children protest outside Holyrood in Edinburgh Getty At the end, she said they were all not responsible by reason of legal necessity, she said. She said she expected an audio recording of the hearing to be made available by the court and her group would then share it. Neither Ms Driscoll or the court clerk was available for comment. However, one member of the courts staff who asked not to be named, confirmed to The Independent the judge had found them not responsible. The person denied, however, that the judge had made the ruling on the grounds of legal necessity. Ms Gore said the protesters were part of a movement that was not allowed to let such things happen on our watch (YouTube) The environmentalist and academic Bill McKibben, who was to appear as a defence witness for the defendants, said on Twitter: Good golly! A few minutes ago a Boston judge acquitted 13 pipeline protesters on the grounds that the climate crisis made it necessary for them to commit civil disobedience. This may be a first in America. Spectra Energy, which was last year bought by the Canadian firm Enbridge Inc, did not immediately respond to enquiries. Californias attorney general will oversee an investigation of two Sacramento police officers shooting and killing an unarmed man in his grandparents backyard. The death of Stephon Clark has roiled the community and ignited national anger over yet another police shooting of an African-American man. In announcing that attorney general Xavier Becerras office would oversee the investigation into how the shooting unfolded, officials reassured residents that they would strive to conduct a fair review. 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 country is watching us, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said at a press conference. Police departments have in the past faced sharp questions about their ability - and that of elected district attorneys - to objectively investigate their own personnel. By enlisting an outside entity, Sacramento sought to to confront those doubts head-on. Were not taking over the investigation, but we are providing independent oversight and some independent eyes, Mr Becerra said. Police shoot unarmed black man 19 times in his grandparents' back yard His team wont be dependent on the Sacramento Police Department but will manage the departments collection of evidence and other processes, Mr Becerra said. He noted his office wields the powers to consider prosecuting the police officers involved. Noting that the attorney generals office would also assist in a review of the Sacramento Police Departments de-escalating protocols, Mr Steinberg said Mr Clarks death could offer a turning point for the relationship law enforcement. I recognise we have difficult days ahead as we grieve and confront the death of Stephon Clark, Mr Steinberg said, but that time can also become the moment when our city and country asked the most important question: isnt there a better way? Video released by the Sacramento Police Department shows officers pursuing Mr Clark through a residential neighbourhood and, when they come across him, shouting Gun before opening fire. They did not find a gun on Mr Clark. The only object recovered nearby was a cell phone, the department said. A student accused of planning a high school shooting bought an AR-15 rifle and 500 rounds of ammunition with money his mother gave him to get a tattoo, police say. Timothy Felker was arrested in February after he allegedly threatened to shoot classmates at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky. The 18-year-old said he made the threats because he was bullied, but pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree terroristic threatening. During a preliminary court hearing on Monday, Lexington police detective Sean Stafford said Mr Felker purchased the AR-15 with money that his mum gave him for a tattoo, and that he also purchased 500 rounds of ammunition. At the time of his arrest, Mr Felker was not banned from owning guns, and had posted images on social media showing off his AR-15. One of the photos showed him with a gun in his mouth, according to local news channel WKYT. Police were initially tipped off by a classmate on 16 February. According to court documents, the pupil said Mr Felker owns a gun and constantly talks about killing himself/shooting up the school. He tells specific people he would shoot them first and then shoot up the classroom. Parkland High School survivor David Hogg student movement needs to use their white privilege to give voice to minority gun victims Mr Felker flew out of town on 17 February, and was arrested on his return to Blue Grass Airport on 19 February after police obtained a mental health petition from a court. He was sent to Eastern State Hospital for an evaluation before being placed under house arrest with an ankle monitor. I commend everyone involved, from the students who shared their concerns, to the adults who took those reports seriously and the multiple law enforcement agencies that worked swiftly to safeguard our students and staff, Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk said. Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Show all 10 1 /10 Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Young people march from the White House to Capitol Hill while participating in the national school walkout over gun violence. EPA Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Thousands of local students march down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the US Capitol during a nationwide student walkout for gun control. AFP/Getty Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence A student has the words,'don't shoot,' written on her hands as she joins with other students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after walking out of their school to honor the memories of 17 students and teachers that were killed. Getty Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students take part in a walkout at General McLane High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students from Harvest Collegiate High School stand in Washington Square Park in New York to take part in a national walkout to protest gun violence. AFP/Getty Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students rally in front of the White House in Washington after walking out of school to protest gun violence in the biggest demonstration yet of the student activism that has emerged in response to last month's massacre of 17 people at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Airport High School juniors Tony LaFata, 16, left, and Noah Doederlein, 17, stands for a moment of silence during a walkout at General McLane High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Young people rally on the West Front of the US Capitol to participate in the national school walkout over gun violence, in Washington. EPA Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students from Passaic High School hold photos of some of the 17 victims killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students join hands as they take part in a student walkout in Lafayette. AP Police said Mr Felkers mother told them she was unaware of the threats, but that her son suffered from depression, suicidal thoughts and ADHD. "Ms Felker stated that Timothy does have some anger problems but she could not see him being violent, and didn't feel like he would harm anyone else," Mr Stafford said. The judge at Fayette County Court sent the case to a grand jury, citing probably cause. Uber does not plan to continue testing autonomous cars in California as it faces fallout from one of its self-driving vehicles killing a pedestrian in Arizona. While Uber announced shortly after the accident that it would suspend its autonomous vehicle testing nationwide, a letter from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) relayed the raid-hailing giants plans to discontinue testing in California for the foreseeable future. Uber has indicated that it will not renew its current permit to test autonomous vehicles in California, says a letter from deputy DMV director Brian Soublet to Uber. The companys authority to drive autonomous cars on public roads in California, first granted last March, expires at the end of this month. If it wants to secure a new permit after that, Mr Soublet wrote, the company will need to address any follow-up analysis to investigations from the Arizona crash. We decided to not reapply for a California DMV permit with the understanding that our self-driving vehicles would not operate on public roads in the immediate future, an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. Uber controversies Show all 4 1 /4 Uber controversies Uber controversies June 2017 Travis Kalanick resigned from his position as CEO of Uber in July of this year, after a tumultous period for the company. A sexist workplace culture was exposed by a damning internal report, leading to heightened pressure on the CEO and consequently to him taking a leave of absence in June. A week later he was forced to resign after losing the confidence of the board of investors AFP/Getty Uber controversies June 2017 Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and convicted rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav following his court appearance in New Delhi on 8 December, 2014. An Uber executive, Eric Alexander, was fired in June of this year after reportedly obtaining the records of the rapist's victim, with the intent to cast doubt on her account of the incident. She later sued the company for defamation and violating her privacy rights Chandan Khanna/AFP Uber controversies May 2017 The company were ordered to pay up to $45 million dollars back to New York based drivers, after taking too much in commission over a two and a half year period. We made a mistake and we are committed to making it right by paying every driver every penny they are owed, plus interest, as quickly as possible, said Rachel Holt, Ubers regional general manager in the US and Canada, to the Wall Street Journal Getty Uber controversies December 2016 Uber's self-driving cars were ordered to be removed from the roads by a Californian car regulator, after being spotted skipping traffic lights. Uber insist that the incidents were "human error" rather than a design flaw. The New York Times later refuted this in an article claiming the autonomous technology had in fact failed Youtube/KTVU The death of 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, who was struck by a self-driving Uber vehicle earlier this month as she crossed the road in Tempe, Arizona, has scrambled Ubers plans to extend its transportation empire with fleets of self-driving cars. Authorities in Arizona are still investigating the cause of the crash which occurred despite a human backup driver sitting at the vehicles wheel. But the accident, which is believed to be the first time a pedestrian was killed by a self-driving car, has spurred a wave of questions about the readiness and reliability of self-driving car technology. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, who has sought to position his state as a laboratory for autonomous cars, sent Uber a letter barring it from testing in Arizona and suggesting the company failed to prioritise public safety. I found the video to be disturbing and alarming, Mr Ducey said in reference to footage of the collision, and it raises many questions about the ability of Uber to continue testing in Arizona. Footage shows moments before fatal crash involving self-driving Uber vehicle Ubers decision to pull back in California comes a month after the state said it would begin offering permits to test autonomous vehicles without backup drivers. DMV director Jean Shiomoto touted the change as a major step forward for autonomous technology in California. Since Uber won permission to test its cars on California roads, state records show one of its cars was involved in a minor collision. The car was rear-ended in August after a human operator disengaged the cars systems to wait for pedestrians in San Francisco. No injuries were reported. As technology and automotive companies seek to expand their self-driving car projects - Google spin-off Waymo just announced it was partnering with BMW Jaguar Land Rover to produce a fleet of up to 20,000 autonomous cars - accidents pose regular tests for the technology. On the same day that the DMV sent its letter to Uber, the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it was investigating a fatal Tesla crash last week in which the car's automated control system may have been engaged. The Republican governor of Indiana. Eric Holcomb, has signed a bill that will require doctors to notify state officials when complications arise from abortions. The bill, which opponents say will help to ensure abortions in the state are safe, has been criticised by opponents as a thinly veiled attempt to stigmatize the procedure. Doctors are now required to provide yearly reports to state authorities when complications including blood clots, infections, and death arise from an abortion procedure. Indiana is the third state in the United States to pass a similar bill, following after Idaho last week. This bill does what two other states have done to gather information on these procedures without restricting access to them, Mr Holcomb said in a statement after signing the bill. If the new reporting guidelines are not honoured by physicians, the doctors could be charged with a Class B Misdemeanour, face up to 180 days in prison, and could be forced to pay hefty fines of up to $1,000. 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 reports are not supposed to include identifiable information like the names of patients, but does require doctors to disclose quite a bit of information. That includes the race of a patient, their age, the county and state of their residence, the type of procedure performed, and the name of the facility where the abortion is conducted. The physicians would also be required to disclose the number of abortions a patient has had, their educational level, and their marital status. The American Civil Liberties of Indiana indicated that it is considering legal action to fight the new law, and that the legislation was passed under the false guise of patient safety. The most recent abortion reporting bill was signed by Idaho Gov Butch Otter just last week. California has sued the Trump administration over its decision to ask about citizenship status on the 2020 census, warning it would cut into California's political clout by diminishing responses by immigrants. It is not merely an academic question. Because the census count is used for critical political decisions like apportionment of Congressional seats and allocation of federal dollars, the move to ask about citizenship has proved deeply contentious and generated significant pushback. In the latest of a barrage of legal challenges against the administration, California attorney general Xavier Becerra said the change to ask respondents about their legal status would skew the data, disproportionately depriving California of representation and resources given its large foreign-born population. Undercounting the sizeable number of California non-citizens and their citizen relatives will imperil the States fair share of congressional seats and Electoral College electors and will cost the State billions of dollars in federal funding over the next decade, a complaint filed by Mr Becerra said. Echoing that critique, Senator Barbara Feinstein said a question designed to depress participation in certain communities is an assault on the foundations of this country. Asked about the change, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders inaccurately told reporters that the citizenship question had been included on every census but one in recent decades and said the data would help the government comply with the Voting Rights Act. Given President Trumps toxic rhetoric and aggressive policies toward immigrants, its clear his administration wants to include this question to discourage participation in immigrant communities, Ms Feinstein said in a statement. Individuals living in mixed-status households may be afraid to participate, fearing their responses would be used to target them or their families. 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 Department of Justice, led by immigration hardliner Jeff Sessions, asked the Census Bureau last year to reinstate a citizenship status question that has not been put to respondents since 1950. In a memorandum explaining the decision to reintroduce the question, commerce secretary Wilbur Ross said asking about citizenship would bolster the governments ability to enforce voting laws and said there was insufficient evidence that it would curb response rates. Wilbur Ross: Cheap oil s a gift for Americans I find that the need for accurate citizenship data and the limited burden that the reinstatement of the citizenship question would impose outweigh fears about a potentially lower response rate, Mr Ross said. A Commerce Department spokesman declined to comment on the California lawsuit's specifics but said in a statement that this case is without merit. We look forward to prevailing in court and continuing to work with the Census Bureau to conduct a complete and accurate 2020 census, the spokesman said. Donald Trump is said to be trying to persuade the US Defence Department to pay for the construction of his long-promised border wall between the US and Mexico. The president proposed the idea to several of his advisers last week, claiming the issue was a matter of national security, the Washington Post reports. He then floated the possibility while meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who apparently offered little reaction to the proposal, the Post said. Senior officials on Capitol Hill later told the newspaper it was unlikely that the military would pay for the concrete barrier. Mr Trump last week grudgingly signed a massive budget bill that allocated $1.6bn for border security this year, even though the president at one point wanted $25bn to fully fund the construction of his border wall. Mr Trump had originally said the wall would be paid for by Mexico. Meanwhile, the $1.3 trillion government spending bill allots about $700bn for the military. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty A senior Pentagon official told the Post that any reallocation of 2018 military funding for the border wall would require an act of Congress. A budget amendment to direct more funds toward the border wall would require 60 votes in the Senate. With Republicans currently holding a slim 51-seat majority in the 100-member upper chamber, such a measure is unlikely to pass. An adult film actress who alleges she had a consensual affair with Donald Trump has sued the Presidents personal attorney Michael Cohen for alleged defamation. The lawsuit filed in a California district court on behalf of Stephanie Clifford, who uses the stage name Stormy Daniels, adds another twist to an escalating legal battle linking the porn star to the leader of the free world. Ms Daniels has sued Mr Trump, saying a nondisclosure agreement she signed is null and void because Mr Trump did not sign it. A complaint alleges that Mr Cohen worked with Mr Trump to prevent Ms Daniels from going public during the 2016 presidential campaign, and it alleges that Mr Cohen has continued trying to stifle her from speaking out. Put simply, considerable steps have been taken by Mr. Cohen in the last week to silence Ms. Clifford, the lawsuit says. Mr Cohen did not immediately react to the lawsuit on Monday and he could not be reached for comment. Mr Cohen has publicly said he paid Ms Daniels $130,000 (91,000) in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election but has denied any link to the Trump campaign, saying he used his own funds without the campaigns knowledge and was not reimbursed. But the lawsuit alleges that Mr Cohen created an LLC with Mr Trumps knowledge in an effort to conceal the source of money paid to Ms Daniels. And it says Mr Cohens statement on the payout falsely implied Ms Daniels was lying about her alleged relationship with Mr Trump by saying Just because something isn't true doesn't mean that it can't cause you harm or damage. 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 previous month, according to the lawsuit, Mr Cohen had used intimidation and coercive tactics to press Ms Daniels into signing a false statement denying news reports about her alleged history with Mr Trump. While Mr Trump has been uncharacteristically silent about Ms Daniels allegations and the White House has denied them, an unfolding legal fight around her right to speak out publicly and an accompanying media blitz have kept her in the news. In an interview with 60 Minutes, Ms Daniels claimed that in 2011 she was physically threatened by an unidentified man and told to Leave Trump alone to dissuade her from speaking out. Stormy Daniels claims she was threatened to 'leave Trump alone' over alleged affair Deputy White House Press Secretary Raj Shah again denied to reporters that an affair had taken place, accusing Ms Daniels of inconsistency. He did not directly answer a question about Mr Trump, his campaign or the Trump Organisation potentially violating campaign finance laws. I can say, categorically, and obviously, the White House didnt engage in any wrongdoing, Mr Shah said. Mark Zuckerberg has "decided" to testify in front of the US Congress about the data use crisis that has engulfed Facebook, according to reports. The news comes after the Facebook founder and CEO turned down a summons from the UK parliament to face questions over the personal data harvesting controversy also involving data firm Cambridge Analytica. Whistleblower and former Cambridge Analytica employee Christopher Wylie has alleged that the company gathered the details of 50 million users on Facebook through a personality quiz created by an academic in 2014. He alleges that because 270,000 people took the quiz, more data was harvested - mostly from the US - via their friend networks. Both Cambridge Analytica and Facebook have disputed those numbers. Mr Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica, which then used it to psychologically profile people to help the company with their work on Donald Trump's presidential election campaign. The data company said none of the data was used for their work with President Trump's campaign. Facebook sources claim that Zuckerberg has come to terms with the fact that escalating pressure from the media, politicians and the public means he will have to testify before Congress within a matter of weeks, according to CNN Money. It would appear that the CEO has decided that Washington, not London will be the place where he will face questions, with Facebook currently planning the strategy for his testimony. It is not yet clear which committee Zuckerberg may testify in front of. 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 Senate Judiciary Committee has invited Zuckerberg to testify at an 10 April hearing, with requests also being sent to the CEOs of Alphabet Inc, Google's parent company, and Twitter Inc. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce committees have also asked him to testify but have not set dates. There have been some suggestions that Zuckerberg may testify in front of the Energy and Commerce Committee on 12 April. Theresa May, the British prime minister said she hoped Zuckerberg understood why people were concerned about alleged leaks of personal data, but it was up to him to decide whether to face the committee in Britain's parliament. Damian Collins repeats call for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to give evidence to fake new inquiry Mr Zuckerberg will decide for himself whether he wants to come before the committee, but what I hope, is that Facebook will recognise why this is so significant for people and why it is that people are so concerned about it, and ensure that the committee is able to get the answers that they want Ms May told parliament on Tuesday. The head of the committee, Damian Collins, who is leading an inquiry into "fake news" called Zuckerberg's decision astonishing and urged him to think again. Zuckerberg will send a deputy from the company instead. Zuckerberg apologised last week for the mistakes Facebook had made and promised tougher steps to restrict third-party access to such information. Over the weekend, Zuckerberg took out full-page advertisements in several UK and US Sunday newspapers saying: This was a breach of trust, and I am sorry. The parents of one of the victims in the Parkland shooting last month say that they received a nice letter from former President Barack Obama after their son was killed but that President Donald Trump did not reach out at all. Michael Schulman and Linda Beigel Schulman received the handwritten letter from Mr Obama earlier this month, and say they would have been moved by the note even if Mr Obama was not a former president. Their son, 35-year-old Scott Beigel, was killed February 14 after he unlocked the door to his classroom to let his students return to the safety of the class but was shot dead before he could get back in. Your son seemed like an extraordinary young man, and Michelle and I grieve alongside you, the letter to the couple read, according to New York Magazine. We can only imagine the hardship you are going through; hopefully all the wonderful memories can help ease the pain. Well get the details about your fund in his honour. In the meantime, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Recommended Florida shooting survivors lead March for our Lives gun control rally The couple told that magazine that they hadnt heard anything from Mr Trump since their son was shot, but that other politicians have reached out to express their condolences. They got a nice letter from Florida Sen Marco Rubio, they said, and from other members of Congress as well. The couple said that they think the Parkland shooting is the final straw, and that the student activists will succeed where other movements have failed. The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are pushing the conversation, and show promise to make sure that this is indeed the last major school shooting as the young students at the March in Washington Saturday who had survived a tragedy less than two months ago pledged. March for Our Lives in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives in pictures March for Our Lives in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives in pictures Trevon Tre Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures The movements main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty How many times has this gone on? Oh another school shooting. This one is different. This isnt another school shooting. This is the school shooting thats going to make a difference, Ms Beigel Schulman said. Saturdays march in the US capital was attended by at least 200 students from Parkland, their families, survivors of other gun violence, and a heavy media presence that blasted coverage of the event throughout the day. Donald Trumps Interior Secretary reportedly told staff he will not focus on diversity because it isnt important. Ryan Zinkes comments were said to have upset many people within the Interior Department, three high-ranking officials told CNN. The sources, from three different divisions of the department, all said he made similar remarks such as diversity isnt important, I dont care about diversity and I dont really think thats important anymore. Each time, Mr Zinke reportedly added something along the lines of whats important is having the right person for the right job, or I care about excellence, and Im going to get the best people, and youll find we have the most diverse group anyones ever had. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift denied that Mr Zinke had criticised the need for diversity. The anonymous claims made against the secretary are untrue, she added. As a woman who has worked for him for a number of years in senior positions, I say without a doubt this claim is untrue, and I am hopeful that they are a result of a misunderstanding and not a deliberate mistruth. The accusations come as Mr Zinke faces investigation by multiple agencies, including the Interior Departments inspector general and Office of Special Counsel, over allegations of inappropriate employee reassignment and taxpayer spending on private planes. The Interior Department last year unexpectedly reassigned 33 senior executive staffers. The move has raised concerns because 15 of them or 45 per cent were from minority groups, according to a lawyer for one staffer who was reassigned. Twenty-eight per cent of the departments senior officials are from minorities. Some of those reassigned have filed complaints with the US Merit Systems Board. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke greets Japanese-American congresswoman with 'konnichiwa' Ms Swift said Mr Zinke had appointed two women and an African-American man to senior leadership positions and filled several other senior positions at the career and appointed level with individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, a minority senior official who spoke to CNN said: If you look at the people who were moved and you look at their race or gender, its very obvious that this is a person that does not embrace the concept of diversity. If you look at the actions hes taken, they are unbalanced in regards to minorities and women. Earlier this month Mr Zinke was criticised as "insensitive" for his response to a congresswomans story about her grandfathers detention in Japanese internment camps during the Second World War. After listening to Hawaii Representative Colleen Hanabusa speak, Mr Zinke responded with a cheery konnichiwa, the Japanese word for good day. Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has called for the repeal of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution the right to bear arms - saying it would make our schoolchildren safer and honour the memories of... victims of recent gun violence. In an comment piece in the New York Times, the 97-year-old argued that the amendment had been warped by gun lobbying groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) to extend beyond its original intent. He pointed out that the amendment was adopted out of concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of the separate states. Today that concern is a relic of the 18th Century, said the former justice, a Republican, even though he is widely considered to have been on the liberal side of the highest court in the US at the time of his retirement in 2010. Mr Stevens was on the losing end of a 2008 ruling in which the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own a gun for self-defence. In his opinion piece, Mr Stevens wrote that a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would do more to weaken the NRAs ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option. His comments were largely in response to the March for Our Lives demonstrations last weekend, where hundreds of thousands of people across the country called on members of Congress to pass stricter gun control laws. The protests were led by students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the high school in Parkland, Florida, where a shooter killed 17 people, including 14 students, last month. March for Our Lives in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives in pictures March for Our Lives in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives in pictures Trevon Tre Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures The movements main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty Rarely in my lifetime have I seen the type of civic engagement schoolchildren and their supporters demonstrated in Washington and other major cities throughout the country this past Saturday, Mr Stevens wrote. These demonstrations demand our respect. But he said they should seek more effective and lasting reform. The demonstrators are currently demanding a prohibition on civilian ownership of semi-automatic weapons, an increase in the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21, and comprehensive background checks on all purchasers of firearms. Stoneman Douglas student Cameron Kasky, one of the leaders of the March for Our Lives, posted a link to Mr Stevens op-ed on Twitter, saying it was very interesting considering who wrote it, but I dont feel the same way. A waiter in Canada who was fired for his aggressive and disrespectful behaviour towards his colleagues has claimed he is not rude, he's just French. Guillaume Rey filed a complaint with British Colombia's Human Rights Tribunal against his former employer and its parent company, CBC News reports. Mr Rey argued he was discriminated against as his colleagues misinterpreted his "direct, honest and professional" French personality. He worked as a waiter at a restaurant in Vancouver between October 2016 and August 2017. His employer, Milestones Restaurant, and its parent company, Cara Operations, attempted to dismiss his complaint, but the tribunal denied the application. 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 Despite both parties agreeing Mr Rey was good at his job, the restaurant manager said he left a colleague "borderline in tears". He is said to have received "great feedback from guests" and was "very friendly and professional with his tables," but his attitude towards colleagues was described as "combative and aggressive." But Mr Rey claims he was "being terminated because of his French culture" which "tends to be more direct and expressive." Mr Rey will have to explain what it is about his French heritage that would result in behaviour that people misinterpret as a violation of workplace standards of acceptable conduct, tribunal member Devyn Consineau wrote in her decision, AFP reported. The case will be heard at a later date. A water park owner has been arrested on murder and battery charges over the death by decapitation of a 10-year-old boy on a water slide billed as the worlds largest. Jeffrey Henry is due to appear in court after Caleb Schwab died at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2016 when his his raft took off during a ride on the 17-storey attraction. A grand jury indictment of park staff, made public last week, alleged the Verruckt slide violated nearly all aspects of industry safety standards. Court documents said Mr Henry and lead designer John Schooley concocted the idea of building the worlds tallest water slide in 2012 on the spur of the moment despite having no design qualifications. Records now show Mr Henry, co-owner of the Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts company, was booked into the jail in Cameron County, Texas. He was being held without bond, and a jail booking clerk said he would remain there until a court appearance on Tuesday. A cached online version of the Cameron County inmate list showed he faced charges including murder and aggravated battery. His arrest on Monday followed the indictment of the parks former operations director, Tyler Austin Miles, on 20 felony charges. They included a single count of involuntary manslaughter over Calebs death. Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said that considering last weeks indictment, the company was not surprised by Henrys arrest. The company also promised to aggressively fight the criminal charges against Miles and the park, and respond to the allegations in the 47-page indictment point by point. We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident, she said in an emailed statement. Attorney General Derek Schmidts office did not immediately respond to phone calls and emails seeking further comment, details about Henrys arrest, or information about exactly what criminal charges he faces. The Kansas City Star reported Henry was taken into custody by US marshals based in Brownsville, Texas. Ms Prosapio said Schlitterbahn did not expect any changes to the Kansas City parks season, which is set to open on 25 May and run until 3 September. Verruckt - German for insane has been closed since Caleb died. The boy was decapitated after the raft on which he was riding went airborne. He was the son of Republican state representative Scott Schwab, of Olathe, and the family reached settlements of nearly $20m (14m) with Schlitterbahn and various companies associated with the design and construction of the waterslide. The two women who rode with Caleb suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The indictment against Mr Miles and the park alleges that Verruckt met few, if any, industry standards and that Mr Miles delayed or avoided necessary repairs, even after the rides brake system failed. It also said Mr Henry helped design the giant waterslide even though he had no technical or engineering credentials and that he set a rushed timeline for its construction. Schlitterbahn said last weeks indictment was full of false information, and the company also rejected its allegations that Mr Miles and the company withheld information from law enforcement officials. It said the allegation that Calebs death was foreseeable is beyond the pale of speculation. Mr Miles lawyers said in their own statement that they welcome the opportunity to prove his innocence in court. Not only had Tyler ridden the slide numerous times, but, as the state is aware, he had scheduled his wife to ride it on the day of the accident, the attorneys, Tom and Tricia Bath, said in their statement. These are not the actions of someone who believed the ride to be dangerous. New Yorkers could be freed from the grip of their work email outside office hours under a new bill set to be introduced in the city. The proposed Right to Disconnect Bill would ban private companies with more than 10 employees from requiring their workers to respond to electronic messages, including texts and emails, outside work hours. Company bosses would still be able to contact employees outside working hours, but they would not be allowed to fire or discipline them for failing to respond. Recommended Banksy unveils New York City protest mural Businesses in New Yorks five boroughs would be fined at least $250 (176) for failing to abide by the rule. There would be exceptions for emergencies. The lines between our work and personal lives have blurred. My bill will simply protect employees from retaliation when they choose to disconnect, councilman Rafael Espinal, who is bringing the bill, said in a Twitter post. The proposals mirror measures brought in in France, Germany, Italy and the Philippines. Research has shown people who responded to work communications in the evenings have worse quality sleep and are less productive the next day. One 2017 study found the average workers spent an extra eight hours a week sending emails outside work. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA 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 Researchers monitored 365 working adults and said they found both the actual time spent on emails and organisational expectations regarding employee availability to monitor work emails after hours lead to emotional exhaustion. In turn, this negatively affects perceptions of work-life balance and work identification, the researchers found. But a work email ban has not been popular in the past, with a similar bill proposed last year for city workers not moving past the committee stage. The US Defence Secretary has said it kinda looked like Kim Jong Un made a secret visit to China, as a North Korean train departed from Beijing. There had been speculation the North Korean leader made what is believed to have been his first overseas visit since assuming power in 2011, when a North Korean train, accompanied by an unusual level of security, arrived in the Chinese capital. While neither China or North Korea would officially comment on the visit of the North Korean delegation, Bloomberg News said it had confirmed the 36-year-old leader was the special visitor. On Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis appeared to support such a conclusion when he told reporters it kinda looked like Mr Kim had visited China. Yet according to Reuters, he added: I dont know. As the train departed from Beijing railing station and reports said security at the station and the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse returned to normal, two South Korean newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh, quoted unidentified sources who said Mr Kim had visited for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon, before leaving for a third location, which could be in China. A convoy was seen leaving the station (Associated Press) (Andrew Buncombe) Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of North Korea, but ties have been frayed by North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons and Chinas backing of UN sanctions in response. Mr Kim is due to hold separate summits with Chinas rivals, South Korea and the United States, and analysts say a visit to Beijing could be preparation for those. Donald Trump 'agrees to meet Kim Jong-un by May' to discuss denuclearisation Reuters said a senior US official who follows North Korea closely, said the available evidence suggested Mr Kim had gone to meet Mr Xi, but said it had not been confirmed. Hong Kongs South China Morning Post also said Mr Kim was on the train that left the Chinese capital. A Reuters reporter saw a convoy leave Beijings Diaoyutai State Guest House, where senior foreign leaders often stay, and drive north on Tuesday morning. It was unclear where the convoy was headed. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman deflected a question on whether Mr Kim, his sister or some other senior North Korean was visiting. At present I have no understanding of the situation you mention. If there is news we will release it, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular daily briefing. Following what appeared to be a diplomatic breakthrough that came against the backdrop of the recent Winter Olympics in South Korea, the North Korean leader has agreed to a summit meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April. He has also requested a meeting with Donald Trump, who has said he will take part if North Korea gives certain guarantees ahead of any meeting. A Pakistani journalist has become the countrys first transgender newsreader, after being disowned by her family in a country where discrimination remains common. Marvia Malik, 21, made her debut appearance on the Kohenoor TV news channel days after becoming the first transgender model on the catwalk at a prominent fashion show held annually by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council. Transgender people face severe discrimination in Pakistan and many struggle to find jobs. Many hijras a term given to transgender people, intersex people and eunuchs have been attacked, murdered, and raped in the country, as well as other South Asian nations such as India and Bangladesh. Many are forced to work as sex workers, dancers, or beggars. However, campaigners say there are signs of progress in the conservative South Asian nation, where homosexuality is a crime. Ms Malik, 21, said she had received an overwhelming positive response after footage of her first appearance on the local TV channel went viral. Her catapult into the spotlight came after transgender activist Zara Changezi was named as star of a romance film, the Senate passed a bill to protect transgender people, and a Pakistani province agreed to allow X as a gender on driving licences. Ms Malik said she had lost count of the phone calls and messages congratulating her on her new role, a major contrast to years in which she battled simply to survive after being shunned by her family. I got a lot of appreciation from those associated with the fashion industry when I did catwalk modelling two weeks back, and now this... its quite overwhelming, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. I was thrown out after [10th grade] after which I joined a beauty salon, earned just about enough to put myself through college, but it was not easy. My story is no different from that of a hijra on the street you see begging. In an interview with the BBC, Ms Malik added: My family knows I have modelled and they know that I work as a newscaster. Its the age of social media and theres nothing that my family doesnt know. But they have still disowned 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 The Supreme Court ruled in 2009 that hijras could get national identity cards as a third sex and last year the government issued its first passport with a transgender category. The transgender community was counted in the national census for the first time last year, recording 10,418 in a population of about 207 million. The charity Trans Action Pakistan said that figure was likely to be a significant underestimate. It believes there are at least half a million transgender people in the country. Earlier this month the senate unanimously approved a bill to protect the rights of transgender people. If passed by both houses, it would mean transgender people will no longer have to appear before a medical board to confirm their gender. Meanwhile, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a Pakistani province where there was a spate of attacks on transgender people in 2016 issued driving licences to transgender people marked with an X in gender. Recommended Transgender male model fronts new period campaign Getting a driving permit will not only be a proof of identity but open another livelihood avenue, for instance, finding employment in cab companies, said Qamar Naseem of Peshawar-based Blue Veins, an organisation that lobbies for transgender people. Sana Yasir, an intersex educator and physician, said Pakistan was becoming more tolerant of transgender people but understanding and acceptance was not yet widespread. They assume being trans means one has a certain orientation, and harness hate against homosexuals, which then shows in their transphobic behaviour, Dr Yasir said. While Ms Malik is happy that the government is slowly bringing the community into the mainstream, she said the only way to get meaningful change is if change begins at home. We have to tell parents not to be ashamed of their kids who cannot conform to the sex assigned at birth, she said, adding that transgender people were often thrown out by their families. We are left with no option but to turn to begging, dancing and selling our bodies. China has conducted large-scale naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea, satellite images have shown. Dozens of naval vessels and an aircraft carrier entered the vital trade waterway off Hainan island as part of what the Chinese navy had described as combat drills which were part of routine annual exercises. The images, provided to the Reuters press agency by Earth imaging company Planet Labs Inc, show what appear to be at least 40 ships and submarines flanking the carrier, Liaoning. Recommended US warship triggers fury in Beijing after sailing near Chinese island It was described by some analysts as an unusually large display of the Chinese militarys increasing naval might. The flotilla sailed in a line formation more suited to visual propaganda than hard military manoeuvres. It was headed by what appeared to be submarines and supported by aircraft above. The carrier group traversed the Taiwan Strait last week, according to Taiwan's defence ministry. The flotilla's destination was unclear and the length of its operation unknown. Flotilla sailed in line formation more suited to visual propaganda than hard military manoeuvres (Planet Labs/Handout via REUTERS) While the Liaoning has previously entered the South China Sea as part of drills in uncontested training grounds south of Hainan, its annual exercises are closely watched by regional and international powers analysing Beijings growing military might. Jeffrey Lewis, a security expert at the California-based based Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies, told Reuters that the images showed the first confirmation that the carrier was joining the drills. China condemns presence of US warship in South China Sea Its an incredible picture, he said. Thats the big news to me. Confirmation that, yes, the carrier participated in the exercise. Collin Koh, a security expert at Singapores S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, described the deployment as unusual for its size and scope. 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 Judging by the images, it does seem they are keen to show that elements of the South Sea Fleet are able to routinely join up with the carrier strike group from Dalian in the north, he said. It does seem they want to show inter-fleet interoperability something the [Chinese] navy has been quietly working on for some time. Chinas air force said drills in the disputed sea and the Western Pacific were the best preparation for war. The air force said H-6K bombers and Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, among other aircraft, carried out combat patrols over the South China Sea and exercises in the Western Pacific after passing over the Miyako Strait, which lies between two southern Japanese islands. In recent years, Chinas navy and coast guard forces have expanded rapidly and now patrol vast swathes of the South China Sea. However, little is known about their combat readiness and coordination. Chinas claims in the South China Sea are disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunai. Taiwan also has claims. Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands, in a still image from video taken by US Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft (REUTERS) The exercises come amid fresh signs of tension in the resource-rich waterway, with Vietnam recently halting oil exploration off its coast by Spanish firm Repsol following pressure from Beijing. China also objected to a so-called freedom of navigation patrol by a US Navy destroyer last week close to one of its artificial islands in the Spratlys archipelago further south. Beijing condemned America for what it called a "serious political and military provocation" after the USS Mustin sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Mischief Reef. New Zealand has said it would expel Russian spies from the country - if there were any. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said her government supported the dozens of nations which have banished Moscows diplomats in response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack, but had been unable to find any intelligence agents to eject. The US, Australia, Canada and 16 EU states are among the countries which have expelled Russian envoys over the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia earlier this month. Recommended Trump expels 60 Russian diplomats from US in response to spy poisoning We remain steadfast with our international partners in our shared concern about the Salisbury nerve agent attack, said Ms Ardern. While other countries have announced they are expelling undeclared Russian intelligence agents, officials have advised there are no individuals here in New Zealand who fit this profile. If there were, we would have already taken action. Ms Adern told state-owned Radio New Zealand the government had done a check for Russian spies but found none. She added: "When there's a range of international interests... does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually." New Zealands foreign affairs minister Winston Peters said the government condemned the Salisbury attack and had summoned Russias ambassador to Wellington to reiterate our serious concern about the likely Russian source of the nerve agent used. He added: As part of our ongoing support for the United Kingdom, along with the international community, we will keep possible future actions under review and remain in close contact with our international partners. Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty More than 100 Russian diplomats, alleged to be undeclared spies, have been expelled by countries across Europe and North America in what British prime minister Theresa May said was the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. The Trump administration was among 24 western governments to order the removal of staff on Monday, with 60 Russian diplomats asked to leave the US alongside the closure of Russias consulate in Seattle. Sixteen EU countries including the UK, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have expelled envoys, along with Canada, Ukraine, Norway and Albania. The coordinated move drew a furious response from Moscow, which accused Western allies of blindly following the principle of the Euro-Atlantic unity to the detriment of common sense, the norms of civilised inter-state dialogue and the principles of international law. Australia has become the latest country to expel Russian diplomats following the nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury earlier this month in a gesture of solidarity with Britain. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the poisoning, which left Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill in hospital, disgraceful and brazen and said his country cannot and will not stand by and watch when the sovereignty of our allies and partners is threatened. Earlier, Mr Turnbull and minister for foreign affairs Julie Bishop issued a joint statement saying two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers would be directed to leave the country within seven days. More than 100 Russian spies are being sent home from more than 20 countries, including 60 from the US and intelligence officers operating in Canada, Ukraine, Norway, Macedonia and Albania, as well as in 16 European Union member states. Mr Turnbull said the poisoning on Sergei and Yulia Skripal was an attack on all of us. He added: It was an attack on the sovereignty of every nation that respect the rule of law and that is why we are taking this action today with another 23 nations around the world, we are defining this recklessness, this lawlessness, from Russia and expressing in solidarity with the United Kingdom and other nations that share those values that we will not tolerate this type of reckless undermining of international law, this reckless assault on the sovereignty of nations. The co-ordinated move drew a furious response from Moscow, which accused Western allies of blindly following the principle of the Euro-Atlantic unity to the detriment of common sense, the norms of civilised inter-state dialogue and the principles of international law. On Monday, Theresa May told the Commons it was the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history and said more than 130 people could have been exposed to the Novichok nerve agent, with more than 50 people assessed in hospital. Together we have sent a message that we will not tolerate Russia's continued attempts to flout international law and undermine our values, she said. President Putin's regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values and interests within our continent and beyond. As a sovereign European democracy, the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with Nato to face down these threats together. Speaking at the start of a debate on national security and Russia, she added: Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain critically ill in hospital. Sadly, late last week, doctors indicated that their condition is unlikely to change in the near future, and they may never recover fully. This shows the utterly barbaric nature of this act, and the dangers that hundreds of innocent citizens in Salisbury could have faced. Mrs May said the UK had information indicating Russia has investigated ways of delivering nerve agents, probably for assassination, and has produced and stockpiled small quantities of Novichok as part of this programme. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, hinted the Kremlin would respond with tit-for-tat expulsions, saying Russia would proceed from the principle of reciprocity. Russia has already ordered 23 British diplomats to leave in response to the expulsion of a similar number of undeclared Russian intelligence officers from the UK. The Russian foreign ministry said: This provocative gesture of notorious solidarity with London, made by countries that preferred to follow in London's footsteps without bothering to look into other circumstances of the incident, merely continues the policy of escalating the confrontation. Last week EU leaders backed Mrs May's assertion that there was no plausible alternative explanation other than Russia was responsible for the poisoning of the former double agent and his daughter. European Council president Donald Tusk said additional measures - including further expulsions - could not be excluded in the coming days and weeks. The EU member states taking action include Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said countries of the world have come together in numbers far greater than Putin could possibly have imagined and they are saying enough is enough. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty In addition to the expulsions, the White House said the US was also closing the Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing. Today's actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia's ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America's national security," the White House said. With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences. Additional reporting by PA Catalonias former president must remain in custody in Germany while the countrys courts decide whether to extradite him to Spain. Carles Puigdemonts arrest on Sunday saw tens of thousands of Catalan demonstrators take to the streets in Barcelona, where some clashed with police. Fierce confrontations took place outside the central government offices as riot police beat flag-waving protesters with batons, leaving several bloody and injured. Around 100 people were hurt across the Catalan region, including 23 members of the Mossos dEscuadra police force, and nine people were arrested, authorities said. A riot police officer gestures after a smoke bomb was thrown during scuffles between protesters and police blocking the road leading to the central government offices during a demonstration in Barcelona (AFP/Getty Images) A court in the northern German town of Neumuenster said the formal requirements to detain Mr Puigdemont had been met by a European arrest warrant issued in Spain. The court denied him bail and said he posed a flight risk, concluding he had a strong incentive to try to travel to Belgium, where his chances of avoiding extradition may be greater. European rules call for a final decision on extradition within 60 days of the suspects arrest, though a 30-day extension is possible, a Justice Ministry spokeswoman, Stephanie Krueger, said. Puigdemont announces UN appeal Spains government said Mr Puigdemonts arrest, at a highway rest area south of the German-Danish border as he attempted to drive from Finland to Belgium, shows nobody can infinitely mock justice. The countrys authorities accuse Mr Puigdemont, 55, of rebellion and misuse of public funds for organising an unauthorised referendum last year on independence for Catalonia. Madrid deemed the referendum illegal and took over direct rule of the wealthy northeastern region after a symbolic declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament. Protestors erect barricades on a street during skirmishes with police in Barcelona, Spain (Reuters) Authorities examining a European arrest warrant must determine whether the offence a suspect is accused of committing is equivalent to a criminal offence in the country where he was arrested. Germanys criminal code includes an offence which appears to be comparable to rebellion. It calls for prison sentences for anyone who undertakes, by force or through threat of force to undermine the republics existence or change its constitutional order. Catalonian riot police members and protesters clash during a protest against the detention of Carles Puigdemont (EPA) Mr Puigdemont and other Catalan separatists who are wanted by Spain after fleeing the country argue their movement has been entirely peaceful. Additional reporting by agencies Nato has expelled seven Russian diplomats over the Salisbury nerve agent attack, the organisations secretary general has announced. Accreditation requests from Moscow for three other officials have also been rejected to send a clear message, said Jens Stoltenberg, in the latest wave of global condemnation over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. He said the move was intended the show Vladimir Putins regime that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour. It follows the unprecedented expulsions of more than 140 Russian diplomats from dozens of countries around in the world in a coordinated response to the 4 March assassination attempt that the British government says was planned by the Kremlin. Natos decision reduces the maximum size of the Russian mission on the North Atlantic Council, its main decision-making body, from 30 to 20. The move comes in light of Russias lack of constructive response to what happened in Salisbury, Mr Stoltenberg added. Speaking in Brussels, he said: The attack in Salisbury was the first use of a nerve agent on Nato territory. On 14 March, Nato allies made clear their deep concern, and condemnation of this reckless breach of international norms. Since then, intensive consultations have taken place among allies, including here at Nato and in capitals. Those consultations have resulted so far in the expulsion of over 140 Russian officials by over 25 Nato Allies and partners. This is a broad, strong and coordinated international response. And as part of that response, Nato is unified in taking further steps. I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian Mission to Nato. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others. Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty He added: This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour. And it follows Russias lack of constructive response to what happened in Salisbury. Our actions reflect the serious security concerns expressed by all Allies, and are part of the coordinated international effort to respond to Russias behaviour. Although Mr Stoltenberg said the expulsions had been triggered by the Salisbury attack, he was clear that Natos member nations had already grown frustrated with Russian foreign policy. We have seen the illegal annexation of Crimea, we have seen the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine, we have seen cyber attacks, we have seen hybrid tactics, we have seen Russia investing heavily in modern military equipment and the willingness to use military force against neighbours, he said. Theresa May on Tuesday hailed the unprecedented series of expulsions of Russian diplomats across the globe in the wake of the Salisbury attack. The British prime minister said the international reaction has demonstrated to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security. She added: It is also important to note that our partners are not only taking these measures out of solidarity with the UK, but also because they recognise the threat that these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of Russian aggression which has affected us all. Her comments came as Ireland became the latest country to expel a Russian diplomat, a move the Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, said was a show of solidarity with the UK. Ireland is a neutral country, we do not join military alliances, we will not be joining Nato, we will not be part of a European army, he said. However, when it comes to terrorism, assassinations and the use of chemical weapons and cyber terrorism we are not neutral, one bit. Former Russian intelligence officer Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital following poisoning. Theresa May has sent a letter of condolence to Vladimir Putin after the deaths of 64 people in a shopping centre fire in Siberia. The British Embassy in Moscow published a copy of the letter on its Facebook page. It says: Dear President Putin, I am writing to express my condolences following the tragedy at the Winter Cherry shopping complex in Kemerovo. The thoughts and prayers of the British people are with the families who have lost loved ones in such terrible circumstances. The prime ministers letter comes as the Wests relationship with Moscow has reached a crisis point, with over 24 countries around the world expelling diplomats in response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in Wiltshire. The unprecedented international response saw 60 Russian diplomats expelled from the United States. The UK has expelled 23, while Ukraine has said it has expelled 13. Germany, France and Poland have expelled four each. Moldova, the Czech Republic and Lithuania have each expelled three. Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Albania and Australia have expelled two from each country, while Hungary, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Latvia have all expelled one Russian diplomat. In addition, Nato has withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian Mission to Nato, and said it was part of a broad, strong and coordinated international response. Recommended Reaction to poisoning plunges Kremlin and the West into crisis Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg said: This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour. And it follows Russias lack of constructive response to what happened in Salisbury. Our actions reflect the serious security concerns expressed by all Allies, and are part of the coordinated international effort to respond to Russias behaviour. Theresa May said the international reaction has demonstrated to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security. She added: It is also important to note that our partners are not only taking these measures out of solidarity with the UK, but also because they recognise the threat that these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of Russian aggression which has affected us all. Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Mr Skripal and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital following their poisoning. Theresa May said the government is conducting a review of visas issued to wealthy foreign nationals as part of the UKs response to Russias suspected involvement in the nerve agent attack in Salisbury. Answering questions about the governments stance on Russia, Ms May told the Commons Liaison Committee that Britain's interior minister was reviewing investor visas. However, she insisted the checks on possible loopholes were not specifically focused on Russia. "I think it is right that we look generally to see whether this is a part of our visa regime which is being used properly," she said. Britain has ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats and has said it will consider other measures following the 4 March poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with what London says was a Soviet-era nerve agent. May said 25 countries have now moved to expel Russian diplomats and she also noted NATO's decision to expel seven diplomats from Russia's mission to the alliance. "I welcome the international support that we have garnered," she said. "This isn't just a matter of the UK position and working with the UK. I think it is the national security interests of the countries concerned." The international reaction has demonstrated to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security, she said. Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty She added: It is also important to note that our partners are not only taking these measures out of solidarity with the UK, but also because they recognise the threat that these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of Russian aggression which has affected us all. Despite frosty relations between the two nations, Ms May sent a letter of condolence to Russian president Vladimir Putin after the deaths of 64 people in a shopping centre fire in Siberia. Reuters contributed to this report Benjamin Netanyahu was rushed to hospital for tests following an illness. Israels prime minister is suffering from a high fever and is coughing, a spokesman for the 68-year-old said. He was taken to a hospital in Jerusalem. Mr Netanyahus personal physician believes he had not fully recovered from an illness two weeks ago, the spokesman said. Dr Tzvi Berkowitz thought his symptoms had worsened as a result and therefore decided he should undergo further tests at hospital. 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 Netanyahu left hospital late on Tuesday night following the tests. I am on my way home. Sure some rest and hot soup will put things right, Mr Netanyahu said on Twitter shortly after midnight. The prime minister has completed a series of tests and will be released home tonight, a statement from his office said earlier. The tests showed a mild viral illness in the upper respiratory tract, it added. The 68-year-old fell ill in mid-March and cancelled his public schedule for five consecutive days. Mr Netanyahus illness has come at a stressful time for the right-wing prime minister, who is under police investigation for corruption in three different cases. On Monday, he was questioned along with his wife and his son by Israeli police over his alleged dealings with the countrys largest telecommunications company one of three cases weighing on his political future. It was the second time Mr Netanyahu had been questioned in the investigation into allegations he awarded regulatory favours to Bezeq Telecom Israel in return for favourable coverage on a news site the companys owner ownes. Both Mr Netanyahu and Bezeq have denied wrongdoing. So far, partners in his governing coalition have stood by him, saying they are awaiting the attorney generals next moves. Surveys have shown about half of Israelis believe the police over the prime minister and think he should step down, while a third think he should remain in office. Support for Mr Netanyahus Likud party remains strong in opinion polls. A 59-year-old Eritrean man is due to be deported by Israel under controversial new rules for African asylum seekers because the state believes him to be 32, it has emerged. The clearly middle-aged Gabriot, who has white hair and a lined face, says the mix up is due to a translation mistake in his papers when he arrived in Israel in 2008, Haaretz reported on Tuesday. Despite several attempts to straighten the record in hearings with the interior ministry, he is expected to be deported to Rwanda or Uganda next month. Mr Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian American journalist, predicts Israel will be treated like a 'pariah state' in 2018 The Eritrean has children aged 34 and 37, and grandchildren aged one and five. He is the sole provider for his daughters children because she and his son-in-law were severely injured when an Israeli burned down their house in a 2012 hate crime and now cannot work. He currently works 11 hours a day, six days a week as a cleaner to support the family. How is it possible to deport me from Israel? he told Haaretz. Im an old man; I no longer have the strength to move to a different country. And if they deport me, its like killing my daughter and grandchildren, who will remain without help. They need the money I give them... nobodys helping them. The Israeli authorities announced a initiative last November to make 40,000 African migrants and asylum seekers choose between deportation to a third country or face an unspecified amount of jail time. Targeted asylum seekers, mostly Eritrean and Sudanese, are given an interview and one month in which to decide whether to leave Israel voluntarily. If they refuse, they are given a hearing in which a population authority official can decide whether to jail them or not. The elderly, women, children, fathers of minor children and victims of slavery or human trafficking are not supposed to be targeted for deportation. It is reported that the third countries the asylum seekers are being deported to are Rwanda and Uganda, although both deny they have struck any kind of deal with the Israeli government. Travel documents and plane fare is provided by Israel and deportees are given $3,500 (2,510) cash to help them set up on arrival. Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Show all 22 1 /22 Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of Difa-e-Pakistan Council a coalition of right wing Islamic parties, burn an effigy of US President Donald Trump, during a protest in Quetta, Pakistan EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli police scuffle with a Palestinian protester outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City Getty Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn pictures of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu following Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli forces disperse Palestinian protesters outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on 7 December 2017 AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organization, chant slogans as they burn Israeli and US flags during a protest against Donald Trump in Peshawar REUTERS Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinians paint an 'X' over the face of a picture of US president Donald J. Trump which was painted on the Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protestors burn the Israeli flag and a poster of US President Donald Trump in Gaza City AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of a Pakistani religious party rally against Donald Trump in Lahore AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn the US and Israeli flags in Gaza City AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital A poster depicting U.S. President Donald Trump is burnt during a protest against Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the West Bank city of Ramallah REUTERS Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli forces detain a Palestinian protester during clashes that followed protests against US President Donald Trump recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Hebron AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters shout slogans against Donald Trump EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital A Palestinian protester wears a Guy Fawkes mask used by the anonymous movement during clashes with Israeli troops in Hebron AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian demonstrators clash with Isralei troops during protests AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of a Pakistani religious party chant anti-American slogans during a rally in Islamabad, Pakistan AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Pakistanis burn a representation of the U.S. flag during a protest rally in Hyderabad AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Young Palestinian women look on as smoke billows from burning tyres as fellow Palestinian demonstrators clash with Isralei troops AFP/Getty Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protesters burn a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump at a protest in Islamabad REUTERS Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protestors shouts slogans against US President Donald Trump as they hold Palestinian and Turkish flags during a protest near the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protestors put their feet over a picture of US president Donald Trump during a protest in the West Bank City of Nablus EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Pakistani protesters burn tires at an anti-Donald Trump rally in Multan AP Those who have arrived in Rwanda report having their documents confiscated on arrival and having basic rights denied, many ending up on the streets. The plans were met with outrage by human rights groups as well as protests and hunger strikes by targeted detainees. An appeal to the Supreme Court last month suspended the operation. The government has until 2 April to provide more details of the programme. Deportations are expected to begin again shortly after. Gabriot, who first came to Israel illegally in 2008 after fleeing 11 years of military conscription in Eritrea, eventually obtained legal temporary residency permits. He applied for asylum in 2014 but was rejected on the grounds that Eritrean military desertion is not sufficient grounds for an asylum claim. Refugee aid organisation Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (Hias) has filed a petition in Gabriots case which resulted in a temporary restraining order against his deportation. While officials have previously admitted that he doesnt look like he is in his 30s - a reason he was not sent to the asylum seeker detention facility in the south of the country - the Population, Immigration and Border Authority is insisting Gabriots recorded 1986 birthdate is grounds for deportation. As per its policy Israels immigration authority declined to comment, inviting Gabriots family and the NGOs lawyers to appeal in the usual way. One of the joys of travel is encountering the unexpected; drinking red wine with a Transylvanian count who loves bats, say, or realising youre swimming next to the president of Kazakhstan. I wasnt expecting this kind of experience along the north coast of Scotland, but it just goes to show places can always surprise you. Ive driven for half a day north from Ullapool through the blistered landscape of Assynt, where ancient rocks create a wilderness that looks like a combination of Iceland and Patagonia. I arrive at the village of Durness 90 miles from John OGroats and pull up outside Cocoa Mountain, the most incongruously placed luxury chocolatier and cafe imaginable. While the scenery beyond the village is stunning, the immediate surroundings are less promising: Cocoa Mountain is housed in a squat building in Balnakeil Craft Village, where former army buildings linked to an early warning system of nuclear attack have been converted into a collection of artist studios and small-scale industries. Unwrap the outer layer, step inside and its a different story. Cocoa Mountains shelves are stocked with exotic-flavoured truffles: chilli and lemongrass, peanut butter and cranberry, ginger and cinnamon. Pieces of stem ginger are entombed in dark chocolate; shards of white chocolate with pecan dangle temptingly on a ledge. The show-stopper is the hot chocolate, frothing to the brim and oozing with melted white and dark chocolate, a combination so gloriously gloopy you suspect it might retain its shape were you to remove it from the mug. For those in need of a buzz rather than a chocolate-induced coma, the fair-trade Mountain Mocha coffee is a winner. James and Paul of Cocoa Mountain, and the stunning scenery of the north-west Highlands (Cocoa Mountain) The cafe is run by Paul Maden and partner James Findlay who opened for business in 2006. The obvious question when I meet Paul is, why here? Why not here? he replies. Chocolate has to come 4,000 miles or so to get to the UK. Getting it the last 400 miles isnt such a big deal. The challenges tend to be more local. I visit on a Sunday afternoon and the cafe is packed, with all 60 covers occupied and a queue out the door. Theyve run out of milk for the following morning and James has had to drive 70 miles the best part of two hours to pick up 60 litres from Ullapool. Prior to opening, Paul was a bit of an entrepreneur with itchy feet. He was studying for a PhD and lecturing in economics. Friends suggested that he and James should start selling the chocolates they made at home. So many chocolatiers copy the Belgian style and shops; we wanted to do it our own way. We ditched preservatives and decided not to use flavourings. We decided the chocolate had to come first, the business case came second. Cocoa Mountain produces luxury chocolates in north-west Scotland Presentation is important. People eat with their eyes. If people hadnt liked it, we would have simply packed up and gone home. Now, they get mail orders from around the world. Is Paul surprised at how popular the enterprise has become? Im constantly amazed, he says. We have an enormous international customer base. The week before my visit, an American drove directly to Cocoa Mountain after arriving at Heathrow airport. In fact, Durness, while far from being on the main tourist trail, is not entirely a backwater on the roof of Scotland either. The village has long been a popular summer holiday destination for campers and families. Sango Bay, one of the most northerly beaches in the UK, is a delight, with weathered stacks and rocks that pockmark its soft sands, and theres the nearby wonder of the limestone recesses of Smoo Cave. Cocoa Mountains chilli and lemongrass truffles (Cocoa Mountain) Trade has also increased since the coastal routes north of Inverness were rebranded as the North Coast 500 the roads have been there for decades, its just that very few people knew about them. Durness is simply stunning I just fell for the place. The kind of people who appreciate what we do are the kind of people who appreciate coming to this area. I think were all on the same wavelength, says Paul. Cocoa Mountains signature chocolate selection box (Cocoa Mountain) Even so, he admits the location leaves him feeling not plugged into society. I keep thinking one day Im going to wake up and nobody will be here, he says. As long as long-distance and weary travellers are in need of a chocolate shot in the arm, thats unlikely to be the case. Travel essentials Getting there Cocoa Mountain is only easily accessible by road. The Cocoa Mountain team recommend travelling via Bonar Bridge and Lairg, taking the A838 from Laxford Bridge, the west coast route via Ullapool, or via Thurso, Bettyhill and Tongue on the north coast for the best scenery. Staying there Mackays Rooms (visitdurness.com) is a boutique B&B in Durness with sumptuous interiors. Doubles from 129, B&B. More information cocoamountain.co.uk Now that our media is full of reports and comments on Cambridge Analytica, a key feature of the affair is, as a rule, ignored: the context of Cambridge Analytica makes it clear how cold manipulation and the care for love and human welfare are two sides of the same coin. Tamsin Shaw recently pointed out the central role played by researchers into happiness, like "The World Well-Being Project, a group at the University of Pennsylvanias Positive Psychology Center that specialises in the use of big data to measure health and happiness in order to improve well-being, then there is Aleksandr Kogan, who also works in the field of positive psychology and has written papers on happiness, kindness, and love (according to his resume, an early paper was called Down the Rabbit Hole: A Unified Theory of Love). Why does such research on authentic happiness and well-being draw so much interest from intelligence agencies and defence contractors? This link is not externally imposed on the behavioural sciences by bad political manipulators but is implied by their immanent orientation: their aim is to discover means by which we can be nudged in the direction of our true well-being as positive psychologists understand it. This nudging does not make individuals overcome their irrationalities: contemporary behavioural sciences aim to exploit our irrationalities since they view us as manipulable subjects rather than rational agents. All this is extensively covered by our media, and we are getting a terrifying image of the new forms of social control which make the good old 20th-century totalitarianism a rather primitive and clumsy machine. To grasp the full scope of this control, we should move beyond the link between private corporations and political parties to the interpenetration of data processing companies like Google or Facebook and state security agencies. The biggest achievement of the new cognitive-military complex is that direct and obvious oppression is no longer necessary: individuals are much better controlled and nudged in the desired direction when they continue to experience themselves as free and autonomous agents of their own life. Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: If we allow any amount of cheating in a democratic election, the problem will snowball But all these are well-known facts, and we have to go a step further. It is not enough to demystify the innocent-sounding research into happiness and to bring out a hidden gigantic complex of social control and manipulation that uses it. What is urgently needed is also the opposite move: we should focus on the form itself. Is the topic of scientific research of human welfare and happiness (at least the way it is practised today) really so innocent, or is it already in itself permeated by the stance of control and manipulation? What if sciences are here not just misused, what if they find here precisely their proper use? We should question the recent rise of a new discipline: happiness studies. As is often the case, Bhutan, a developing Third World country, naively spelled out the absurd socio-political consequences of this notion of happiness: two decades ago, the kingdom of Bhutan decided to focus on Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than Gross National Product (GNP); the idea was the brainchild of ex-king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who sought to steer Bhutan into the modern world, while preserving its unique identity. The Oxford-educated new king, 27-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, ordered a state agency to calculate how happy the kingdoms 670,000 people are. The main concerns were identified as psychological well-being, health, education, good governance, living standards, community vitality and ecological diversity: this is cultural imperialism, if there ever was one. No wonder that, two decades ago, ethnic cleansing was conducted since it was discovered that the presence of a strong non-Buddhist minority is an obstacle to the happiness of the Buddhist majority. We should date to take an even further step and enquire into the hidden side of the notion of happiness itself when, exactly, can a people be said to be happy? In a country like Czechoslovakia in the late 1970s and 1980s, people in a way effectively were happy: three fundamental conditions of happiness were fulfilled there. Firstly, their material needs were basically satisfied not too satisfied, since the excess of consumption can in itself generate unhappiness. It is good to experience a brief shortage of some goods on the market from time to time (no coffee for a couple of days, then no beef, then no TV sets): these brief periods of shortage functioned as exceptions which reminded people that they should be glad that the goods were generally available. Life thus went on in a regular and predictable way, without any great efforts or shocks, one was allowed to withdraw into ones private niche. Secondly, the Communist Party was conveniently blamed for everything that went wrong, so that one did not feel really responsible if there was a temporary shortage of some goods, even if there a stormy weather caused great damage, it was their guilt. Thirdly, last but not least, there was an Other Place (the consumerist West) about which one was allowed to dream, and even visit sometimes this place was just at the right distance, not too far, not too close. This fragile balance was disturbed by what? By desire, precisely. Desire was the force which compelled the people to move beyond and end up in a system in which the large majority is definitely less happy. Happiness is something confused and inconsistent recall the proverbial answer of a German immigrant to the US who, when asked Are you happy?, answered: Yes, yes, I am very happy, aber gluecklich bin ich nicht It is a pagan category: for pagans, the goal of life is to live a happy life no wonder Dalai Lama himself is having such a success recently preaching around the world the gospel of happiness, and no wonder he is finding the greatest response precisely in the US, this ultimate empire of the (pursuit of) happiness. In our daily lives, we (pretend to) desire things which we do not really desire, so that, ultimately, the worst thing that can happen is for us to get what we officially desire. Happiness is thus inherently hypocritical: it is the happiness of dreaming about things we really do not want. Do we not encounter a similar gesture in much of leftist politics? In the UK, many leftists privately admit that the near-victory of the Labour Party in the last elections was the best thing it could have happened, much better than the insecurity of what might have happened in the Labour government would have tried to implement its programme. The same holds for the prospect of Bernie Sanders eventual victory: what would have been his chances against the onslaught of the big capital? The mother of all such gestures is the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia which crushed the Prague Spring and its hope of democratic socialism. Without this intervention, the reformist government would have to confront the fact that there was no real possibility of a democratic Socialism at that historical moment, so it would have to choose between reasserting the party control and allowing Czechoslovakia to become one of the Western liberal-democratic capitalism. The Soviet intervention saved the Prague Spring as a dream, as a hope that, without the intervention, a new form of democratic Socialism might have emerged. And did not something similar occur in Greece when the Syriza government organised the referendum against Brussels pressure to accept the austerity politics? The government was secretly hoping to lose the referendum, in which case it would have to step down and leave it to others to perform the dirty job of austerity. Since they won, this task fell to themselves, and the result was the self-destruction of the radical Left in Greece. Without any doubt, Syriza would have been much happier if it lost the referendum. So, back to our starting point, not only are we controlled and manipulated, happy people secretly and hypocritically demand even to be manipulated for their own good. Truth and happiness dont go together truth hurts, it brings instability, it ruins the smooth flow of our daily lives. The choice is ours: do we want to be happily manipulated or expose ourselves to the risks of authentic creativity? They were frightened traumatised might be our medical definition but the civilians from Douma in Eastern Ghouta were alive. Sat quietly on the government bus that had brought them to the Arbeen crossing were the children with their mothers, the old men, watchful, the younger men there were not so many of them looking out of the windows. When we climbed aboard alone with them, notebook in hand and camera moving across the passengers, they sat like extras in a movie, faces from the siege. Were they silent because they were fearful of the future? Or because they were still trying to frame their own suffering of the past? We were all aware of the usual rumours; that those armed jihadis who had refused the Russian conditions for leaving the besieged villages and fields of Ghouta would shell the refugees to discourage them from crossing. Rubbish. Or thats what we thought until a mortar swished over the buses and crashed in the powdered rubble 30 metres away. The refugees for that is what they were now after the tunnels of Ghouta turned their heads like birds towards the cloud of smoke rising into the sky, and the Syrian soldiers outside ran towards the buses. A general climbed aboard. Get these buses moving! he shouted. On the bus and in the hours that followed we tried to put together the story of Eastern Ghouta and soon realised that it would take a year, perhaps a decade, to understand the killing and the cynicism and the innocent suffering behind this epic battle. There were things one noticed which did not quite match the narrative; these people talked of living in tunnels. But the passengers and the thousands of refugees we met later were clearly not starving. Their faces were full, their clothes were clean. But most had lost relatives or friends. Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Show all 10 1 /10 Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Newly arrived civilians from el-Ghouta packed onto a government refugee bus on the front line outside Damascus Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta A small Syrian refugee girl ponders her future on the bus taking her from the eastern Ghouta front line Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta A refugee woman from el-Ghouta who lost her husband and son in the early bombardment by the Syrian army Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Civilian refugees less than an hour after crossing the front line from their pulverised homes in el-Ghouta Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Happy to be seen, anxious to conceal their faces: Syrian men who have crossed the east Ghouta front line waiting to be interviewed by Syrian security officers in a nearby refugee camp Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta 29-year old Ala'a Younis, paralysed after a neck wound in eastern Ghouta sits on his wheelchair beside his father Mohamed at a refugee camp near the front line Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta A wheelchair-bound refugee from el-Ghouta describes how he was forced to live in tunnels along with families and Islamic fighters Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta This young woman lost three members of her family in eastern Ghouta before the end of the siege Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Sana el-Boukeri in a Syrian refugee camp. She lost her civilian husband and son in the Syrian and Russian bombardment of eastern Ghouta while her other son was wounded fighting in the Syrian government army on the other side of the front line. Nelofer Pazira Faces from the Siege: Eastern Ghouta Both sides of history. Sana el-Boukeri's husband and son were killed in the Ghouta bombing by Syria, her other son wounded in the government army Nelofer Pazira We will not mention here the large number of Islamic fighters we were to see emerging from the rubble under the Russian peace agreement a vast army compared to the few fighters we had expected, coming out in their hundreds, bearded men whom we had not seen, ever, in those mortifying videos of civilian suffering that came to us from the siege over many weeks. How come we had not seen them before? Some still carried their weapons. But that is, as they say, for tomorrow. Civilians must come first. A man with grey stubble who might have been 65 but who was only 48, said his 18-year-old son had been kidnapped by terrorists some of these new refugees had already adopted the language of the regime and was not allowed to leave with him. Nisreen, a woman in black, spoke of the bombardment of Douma. She did not mention aircraft and said that both her husband and 11-year-old son had died in the original bombing of Eastern Ghouta more than two years ago. Mohamed had taken Hassan to the mosque to pray. Then the bomb exploded on the roof. My other son was in the street. The buses moved at speed away from this front line and we followed them across the muddy laneways south of Adra city to where a former childrens holiday camp now housed 15,000 of the civilians who had already managed to flee Ghouta. It was a slightly shabby institution but there were flowers and UN tents and piles of bread. Despite the propaganda, this was no show camp for visitors it took a long time to negotiate our way inside. There were piles of bread and UN tents and men selling coffee; most seemed eager to talk to us up to a point. A young woman in a pale scarf said that, yes, she had lost three members of her family in Douma. Her sick father had died from lack of medicine, and her nephew and the daughter of her cousin had been killed from what she called crossfire. I was to hear more of this crossfire as the hours went by. The man had mentioned this on the bus and another figure making coffee by a gas stove talked of more crossfire, between the Faylaq al-Rahman and Jaish al-Islam fighters. If you believed this, then there must have been an awful lot of internecine gun battles between the jihadis as the Syrians and Russians rained fire upon them. White Helmet works to evacuate injured civilians after air raid in Eastern Ghouta When I asked another woman if she knew of civilians killed in the Syrian and Russian bombing of this month, a Syrian NGO lady who spoke enough English to be unpleasant, demanded For who you work? Independent? NOT independent! But slowly the stories were told. There was a man in a wheelchair, Alaa Younis, with a bullet wound in his neck who had been paralysed from the waist down after another gun battle, his father Mohamed said. His wounds were real, his waist bound with fresh medical tape, his face sometimes contorted with pain. Then came another woman who spoke this time of the bombs, falling in the streets, and all the houses had come down in the streets. And then towards us, smiling but with what must have been the saddest face in Syria, came 53-year old Sana el-Boukeri. She wore spectacles and was dressed in black and wanted to talk. Yes, she had been in Douma during the bombing. And four months ago, her husband Jamal el-Din and her 13-year-old son Mahmoud were in the street when bombs came down and they were killed. Sana did not cry, she simply looked at us to see if we understood her and she obviously wanted to talk. Many times she shook her head. It emerged that she was a historical vision of Syrias terrible war. For she said that her other son was an 18-year-old soldier, and that he was fighting in the Syrian army unit commanded by General Soheil Hassan, the Tiger, now the militarys favourite soldier and Vladimir Putins too, so it is said who has reputedly never lost a battle and who was personally on the battlefront in Eastern Ghouta. But this son, she said, had been wounded a week ago and shes had no telephone contact with him since. So while one son was killed in the Syrian bombardment, the other was fighting for the government, perhaps only a mile away. Sana stood in front of us, swaying slightly, her spectacles reflecting the sun, occasionally looking at the other refugees to see if they understood her story. There were other groups sitting on the grass or in the shade of the brown concrete camp offices. We lived in tunnels for weeks, one man said. They [the fighters] would not let us leave the tunnels. They lived in the tunnels with us. They stole the aid that came for us from outside. But why were they in the tunnels in the first place? The answer was obvious: to avoid the Syrian and Russian bombs. But they did not mention this. They spoke of the price of bread 8 sterling for 800 grams and how the cost of a pack of 10 cigarettes had soared from US $2 to $80. But surely this was not the cost of this devastating siege. When new refugees arrived at the camp, I saw no muhabarrat intelligence men the white-socked, leather jacketed regime operatives paid to sniff out subversives checking the incoming buses. Nor wandering around in the camp, though there may have been willing stool-pigeons. But many of the el-Ghouta people had relatives in the centre of Damascus, and they left freely when relatives called for them. There was no violence, no shouting. This does not give anyone a clean slate. Indeed, Ibrahim Hassoun, the schoolteacher who runs the camp yes, there is a portrait of Bashar al-Assad on his wall insisted that men who admitted they had fought for the jihadis were free to go to Damascus city if they promised to leave their weapons forever. They are now civilians again the president said they must be free to relive their natural lives again. But opposition groups have claimed that refugee men fear they will be enlisted in the Syrian army if they left their homes in el-Ghouta. And Ibrahim Hassoun agreed that there was an office where all men aged between 20 and 50 years must go within 15 days of their arrival to be questioned by the general security. Yes, you can go there you can see the men waiting. You can see the rooms. If a man is of the age for military service, yes, he must join the army like all others do in Syria. If they are fighters, they will be trained for six months and then there will be rehabilitation for their minds. So was this reprogamming? Or what we like to call deradicalisation? We set off to the security building open from eight in the morning until eight at night and there, outside, were a group of men sitting on the ground, close together, waiting for their turn at the desk with the computer inside and the man behind it. Some smiled at our camera, several very obviously hid their faces; one held up an identity card. We climbed the steps and peered into the hall. There were a line of desks, young men behind computer consoles and others sitting in front. They did not expect us. There were no cells, no interrogation rooms we checked the building. But the men outside were nervous, frightened may not be too strong a word. They knew what had happened in Eastern Ghouta. But how much would they tell? Mr Hassoun was full of reassurances. Medical facilities were good at the camp this appeared to be true 12 pregnant refugee woman had been delivered of their children, another had given birth in the camp which holds 10,000 women and children and 5,000 men. He listed the villages they came from in the dozens of square miles of Ghouta: Jobar, Sawa, Beit Sawa, Hosh Nusri, Taube, Zibdin The badly injured are moved to our hospitals, others can be treated here. The fighters who have come here are now civilians. An officer takes their names, but they will not be arrested. A date for a referendum on Irelands strict legal framework on abortion is set to be confirmed this week, the health minister has said. Simon Harris said the procedural and legislative timetable was on track to enable a vote at the end of May. May 25 is widely seen as the likely date of the referendum. Citizens will be asked whether they want to repeal the Eighth Amendment of Irelands constitution, a provision that makes abortion illegal in all but exceptional circumstances, and replace it with wording that hands responsibility for setting the countrys abortion laws to politicians. I expect we will be in a position to set the polling day this week so that the people of Ireland can know exactly what day in May this referendum will take place and I think that is important in terms of providing people with certainty about making sure that they can be in the country to voteSimon Harris, Health Minister If the public vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment, the Government intends to table legislation that would permit women to abort within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mr Harris outlined details of that legislation to cabinet colleagues in Government Buildings, Dublin on Tuesday. I have set out a very detailed and ambitious and demanding timetable that we would facilitate a referendum by the end of May and I am pleased to say that is firmly on track, he said outside Government Buildings. I expect we will be in a position to set the polling day this week so that the people of Ireland can know exactly what day in May this referendum will take place and I think that is important in terms of providing people with certainty about making sure that they can be in the country to vote. Expand Close Marchers calling for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marchers calling for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment (Niall Carson/PA) Ahead of the meeting, deputy premier Simon Coveney proposed that if new laws come into being, any subsequent change to that legislation would need a two thirds majority in the Dail parliament. Critics have claimed such a super majority requirement would be unconstitutional. Access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy would be accompanied by rigid medical protocols, including a pause period between requesting an abortion pill and it being prescribed. The proposed laws will also outlaw late-term abortions, other than in medical emergency situations. The following is a free translation/excerpt for Lubavitch.com of remarks by Israels President, Reuven Rivlin, parts of which were delivered at an economic conference in honor of Israels 70th birthday. The conference on March 19, 2018, was sponsored by TheMarker, an Israeli daily business newspaper published by Haaretz. In his full remarks, Rivlin called for a merging of the countrys two distinct economies to narrow the gap between its poor sector and its prosperous high-tech community. From my maternal side, I am a descendant of the first Chabad leader, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the author of the Tanya. The Tanya is also known as Sefer shel Beinonim, [The Book of the In-Betweeners or The Book of Intermediates]. The Tanya guides its readers to aspire to the level of Beinoni rather than Tzaddik [perfection]. This is not to be confused with striving for mediocrity. To the contrary, the Beinoni is the individual who stands in-between and connects disparate realities in all their complexity. Ive come here in honor of Israels 70th birthday with a rather unusual wish, namely, that we succeed to build up the middle; that we learn to love and value the attribute of the beinoni. My wish is for us to achieve the level of beinoni which is a necessary condition for excellence. Remarks of this nature, I admit, would have been out of place at an economic conference some years back. But thanks to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Chabads conceptual terms have made it into our modern day vernacular. I have had the privilege of meeting the Rebbe 35 years ago. The Rebbe invited me to meet with him, and as always, the reason for the meeting was his concern for the well being of the Jewish people and Jewish continuity. On that particular occasion, El Al, Israels national airlines, was in the throes of a debate about whether it should not operate on Saturdays, in observance of the Sabbath. I was then the director of El Al. It was a brief meeting, but for me, the experience was as authentic and as remarkable as those classical descriptions of the disciple (Hasid) in the presence of his Rebbe. Perhaps it was a reflection of an earlier relationship; my great, great grandfather, Rabbi Eliyahu Yosef Rivlin, made aliyah to the Holy Land some 170 years ago, and was among the founders of the Chabad settlement in Hebron. Possibly it was in the merit of this historic relationship with Chabad, as well as the meeting and the rich correspondence that ensued between the Rebbe and my father, Professor Yosef Yoel Rivlin. But in anticipation of the Rebbes birthday, [11 Nissan, this year March 27] allow me to focus on my more recent encounters with the Rebbes emissaries. A birthday, as the Rebbe taught, is an auspicious time to reflect on the legacy and life works of the individual, and his or her impact on the future. As President of the State of Israel, I have the opportunity of seeing, almost on a daily basis, the blessed fruits of the Rebbes labors. Primarily, I am witness to the extraordinary manner in which they, his shluchim [emissaries, representatives] perpetuate and enlarge on his legacy. I have met the Rebbes emissaries in Greece, Georgia, Mumbai, Bulgaria, Moscow, Prague, Berlin and Ho Chi Minh. Ive talked to his representatives in Singapore, Paris, St. Petersburg and Italy. And Ive presented his emissary in Thailand with the Jerusalem Prize. All of these unique encounters with the Rebbes shluchim around the world, as well as the many opportunities I have here in Jerusalem are marked by a spirit of love and an abiding sense of responsibility that the shluchim and their families carry in their roles as ambassadors of love for the People, the Torah and the Land of Israel. Even today, it is evident that the Rebbes inspiration continues to animate his disciples around the globe. May you continue your eternal work of boundless love, and may we all be blessed to see the fulfillment of the prophets words: As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders. Wishing you a kosher and happy Passover. A Sinn Fein senator suspended after retweeting an offensive message about the IRA killing of prison officer Brian Stack has formally apologised to his family. Maire Devine told the Seanad she wanted to say sorry for the offence and hurt caused. Mr Stack, a chief prison officer in Portlaoise, was shot in the neck by the IRA in March 1983 and died 18 months later. Ms Devine was suspended by her party for three months after she retweeted a message that used an offensive phrase to describe Mr Stack on March 18. She told fellow senators on Tuesday that she thought the tweet she retweeted was genuine and had not read its full content. She added: A number of follow-up tweets from me were wholly inappropriate and I deeply regret that. I want to again apologise for any and all offence and hurt that was caused by my Twitter activity. It was never my intention to cause any more hurt to those already in deep distress. I want to put on the record my most sincere apologies to the family of the late Brian Stack. It was not until 2013 that the IRA admitted responsibility for Mr Stacks death, the only prison officer murdered in the Republic during the Troubles. He was left paralysed and brain-damaged by the shooting as he crossed a road outside the National Stadium in Dublin in late March 1983. He suffered for 18 months before dying from his injuries at the age of 47. The incident was the latest social media furore to hit Sinn Fein. In January West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff resigned over a Twitter posting about the 1976 Kingsmill shootings. Mr Stacks son Austin criticised Ms Devines apology, suggesting it was not genuine. For the record the Senator has not made any direct contact with my family as you would think if this apology was genuine, he tweeted. Ireland is not one bit neutral when it comes to assassination bids and chemical attacks, the Taoiseach said as he justified the decision to expel a Russian diplomat. Leo Varadkar rejected claims from Sinn Fein that the move against Moscow in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury undermined Irelands long-standing military neutrality. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Varadkar was taking the decision based on the intelligence assessment of the UK. Essentially Taoiseach you are asking us to trust Boris Johnson (UK foreign secretary) and dare I say it this might not be the wisest course of action, she told the Taoiseach during exchanges in the Dail parliament. Mr Varadkar said the expulsion of the Russian diplomat was a show of solidarity with the UK. He insisted Ireland had no quarrel with the Russian people. The Taoiseach noted that other neutral countries, such as Sweden and Finland, has also expelled diplomats in response to the Salisbury incident. Ireland is a neutral country, we do not join military alliances, we will not be joining Nato, we will not be part of a European army, he said. However, when it comes to terrorism, assassinations and the use of chemical weapons and cyber terrorism we are not neutral, one bit. Earlier, Irelands deputy premier Simon Coveney described the Salisbury attack as an affront to international law and order. Former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital following the March 4 attack, which has been widely blamed on Russia. The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom, but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and well-beingSimon Coveney, Ireland's deputy prime minister Tanaiste and foreign affairs minister Mr Coveney announced the expulsion after briefing cabinet colleagues at Government Buildings on Tuesday morning. The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, anywhere, is particularly shocking and abhorrent, he said. The attack in Salisbury was not just an attack against the United Kingdom, but an affront to the international rules-based system on which we all depend for our security and well-being. In light of the European Council conclusions, and following an assessment conducted by the security services and relevant departments, I have briefed the Government on my intended course of action. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has subsequently met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation and informed him that the accreditation of a member of his staff with diplomatic status is to be terminated, in line with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The individual in question is required to leave the jurisdiction. Russia has 17 accredited diplomats working out of the Russian embassy in Rathgar in south Dublin. Reacting to the announcement, Russias ambassador to Ireland, Yury Filatov, said: This kind of decision is totally unwarranted, uncalled for, senseless and regrettable. Tory grandee Lord Chris Patten has called for the Irish border issue to be handled "very carefully" in Brexit negotiations as he said he did not want to see a return to violence. The former Cabinet minister, who chaired a commission into policing in Northern Ireland as part of the peace process, said: "I really do think we have to be very careful about the way we handle this issue. "For me it's one of the examples of the recklessness of the ideological campaign to get us out of the European Union at all costs. "I feel emotionally very strongly about this. I think we did a really good job on the Good Friday Agreement. And I don't want to go back to the days when people were being shot and maimed." Speaking at a pro-Europe event organised by Open Britain, former EU commissioner Lord Patten took a swipe at arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who he said he has known since he was eight, saying: "The thing about Jacob is that he is much better than he has allowed himself to seem. "It is all very well having those views and being thought to be rather an eccentric but interesting lad when you are eight. But having the same views when you are 48 raises, I think, one or two eyebrows. "And, I think, he has allowed himself a bit to be taken over by his own image and caricature." Prominent pro-Europe Labour MP Chuka Umunna used the Open Britain event to attack his front bench for "parroting" the Tories on immigration, saying: "One of the things I cannot abide, and I find intensely irritating is, frankly, to hear the Labour front bench increasingly parrot what the Conservative front bench says about this issue - immigration and Brexit - and, increasingly, too many other issues. "You need only look at the comments of Liam Fox's shadow, Barry Gardiner, in respect of the Brexit issue, and you do wonder where is the opposition?" The Department of Agriculture has reached a new agreement with the authorities in Israel concerning the certification of beef exports from Ireland to Israel. A new veterinary health certificate has been agreed for the export of beef from Ireland to Israel. The main changes from the previous certificate are that the new certificate provides for the export of bone-in beef cuts derived from cattle of all ages as well as boneless beef cuts and offal from cattle of all age. The previous certificate restricted exports to boneless beef only. Irish beef exports to Israel were valued at 2.1m last year down marginally on the year previous. In 2017 Irish agrifood exports recorded their 8th consecutive year of growth to reach an estimated 13.6 billion. Within that, meat exports including beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat and poultry came to a total of over 3.78 billion. The total value of beef exports, including offal, was more than 2.4 billion in 2017; an increase of 6pc overall on the 2016 figures (2.2 billion). The volume of exports rose by almost 21.5 million tonnes from 532.5m in 2016 to 554m in 2017. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., has announced the appointment of two new Directors to the Board of Coillte. The appointees are Eamon King and Gerard Gray and both have been appointed for a five year period effective from 26 February 2018. The appointments were made following a competitive process managed by the PAS (Public Appointments Service) Making the announcement, the Minister commented, I am pleased to appoint Eamon King and Gerard Gray to the Board of Coillte. Both appointees have a wealth of knowledge and experience which I am sure will enhance the skill set of the Board and will contribute to the leadership, development and strategic direction of the company. The Minister also added, Coillte has engaged in a significant restructuring programme over the last number of years and I am sure that the Board will continue its work to ensure that the company is able to continue its strong performance of recent years. Gerry Gray was born in Armagh. He is a graduate of Liverpool University and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts. Gerry has more than 40 years experience of working in blue chip multinational organisations in senior financial and strategic positions mainly at Board level. He has travelled extensively and has lived and worked in the UK, USA and Hong Kong. Now retired, Gerry sits on several public sector Boards and is currently Chairman of a large UK Housing Group. Patrick Eamon King is a graduate of Engineering from University College Dublin and holds a post-graduate MBA from Trinity College Dublin. Eamon has previously worked in a number of senior Corporate Development roles in industry. As Head of Corporate Development at Ardagh Group, Eamon was involved in implementing a strategy that saw the group significantly grow by acquisition over a 13 year period. He has also previously worked with McInerney Group, Adare Group, Clondalkin Group and United Distillers Group in the UK (now part of Diageo plc). New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has said that all cattle on properties infected with the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis will be culled, and will be working with farmers to do that from today. Nearly 30 farms in the worlds biggest dairy exporter have tested positive for the disease since it was first detected in South Canterbury on the countrys South Island in July. It's understood that some 20,000 cattle will be culled. Mycoplasma bovis is common in many countries and can lead to conditions such as udder infection, pneumonia and arthritis in affected cattle, but does not pose a food safety risk or any risk to humans. "The depopulation of entire herds on all 28 Infected Properties (IPs) in New Zealand is a critical measure to control the spread of the disease and we will be working closely with those farmers to plan how this will happen," says MPI's response director Geoff Gwyn. "This will be a big job and won't happen overnight, but we'll be meeting with the affected farmers in the coming days to discuss the operation, develop the plans and talk through compensation." All IP farmers will be compensated for their verifiable losses. MPI continues to build its compensation team to make sure farmers are compensated as quickly as possible. Once farms are de-populated and cleaned, these farmers can start re-building a disease-free herd from scratch. The Ministry said in December that the disease had spread for the first time to a property on the North Island. Under the stepped-up program, which will start in February, three separate milk samples will be tested from every dairy farm in the country, the Ministry said in a statement on its website. The initial outbreak led to concerns that the disease could affect market access for New Zealands diary products, and caused a brief dip in the New Zealand dollar. "We understand this has been an incredibly difficult time for farmers while they wait for critical decisions to be made about managing and controlling this disease," says Mr Gwyn. "This cull will give those farmers back some certainty and control over the future of their farms, their animals and their livelihoods. "We are able to take this decision now because we are confident Mycoplasma bovis is not well established in New Zealand. "The testing of milk from every dairy farm in New Zealand is very well advanced and to date has only identified one new infected property. "This, combined with MPI's extensive surveillance work tracing every possible movement of animals from infected farms, gives us the confidence to say the disease is not widespread, but is limited to a network of farms connected by animal movements. Culling these animals is now the appropriate action." Non-infected farms that are under Restricted Places Notices (RPN) or Notices of Direction (NoDs) are not being asked to cull their herds at this point because infection has not yet been confirmed on those properties. Confirmation relies on the defining genetic test which provides complete confidence that animals on a farm are positive. Mr Gwyn says MPI will work with farmers to develop individual management plans for each of these properties until a decision on whether to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis or move to long-term management is made. "We all want to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis but it has to be technically possible, practically achievable and affordable for everyone. Our focus is on the resilience of our dairy and beef industries which are such significant contributors to our economy, and on farmer well-being and the welfare of animals. "Whatever option is taken, we will need to see some big changes in on-farm biosecurity and NAIT compliance. There remains a big job to do around this disease, and there is no quick exit from this situation. While MPI with industry partners will continue to focus on surveillance and tracking the spread of the disease, there is critical work being done to model the potential spread of Mycoplasma bovis under different scenarios and in understanding the costs and benefits of decisions around eradication. "People will say 'why havent you done this already'. In fact we have been working on this since the disease was detected and we depopulated 7 farms in December. We halted further culling until we better understood the spread of the disease. We are now at that point where we have that understanding and can complete this work with confidence," says Mr Gwyn. We now believe the disease is not endemic and we can complete this analysis and planning, but we will take care and time to get it right because decisions about the future management of this disease are too important to rush." FARMERS are calling for Member States to step up by putting more into the EU Budget to make up any shortfall in CAP due to Brexit. In its CAP submission, the IFA called for direct payments to go to active farmers based on production and provision of public goods. "The political commitment to deliver real simplification at farm level is essential and must be implemented in CAP 2020. The complexity and negative impact of the 'greening' requirements on the tillage sector must be avoided," the farm body stated. It is among the many submissions lodged with the Department of Agriculture by last Friday's deadline as part of the consultative process to firm up the State's position on the new CAP. ICMSA The ICMSA warned some of the Commission's proposals to have virtually all the payments conditional on environmental and climate change measures would have big implications on farm output. It called for a reform of the convergence model as it is failing to protect those with a low total payment that are dependent on direct payments for their livelihoods. INHFA The INHFA is calling for a national front-loaded payment for all of the country on the first 20ha with a digressive flat rate payment on the remainder. It states this will be a "major benefit" to the family farm. It also sought the maximum ceiling on payments for individuals to be at least halved from its current level of 150,000. In Pillar 2 the INHFA are calling for an Agri-environmental Scheme with a payment up to 12,000 that would available to all farmers on hill, commonage and high nature value farmland. ICSA The ICSA said ANC payments should return to their old priorities, as the original ANC payments were targeted payments where the main beneficiaries were suckler and sheep farmers. A number of farm bodies also called for an early retirement scheme. Sheep farmers have butted heads with a national wildlife foundation after it published a report labelling lamb stew as one of the most environmentally unfriendly meals in the UK. Farmers Unions have been left astonished and disappointed by a report published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which labelled Welsh lamb cawl as the most polluting classic British meal. The report, published to highlight how some of Britains favourite dishes could change as a result of climate change, said a bowl of lamb cawl produced as much pollution as boiling a kettle 258 times because of methane from sheep. But sheep farmers have hit back at the report saying it failed to include the important environmental benefits of sheep farming. The National Sheep Association and National Farmers Union Cymru argued that the findings had failed to highlight the advantages of Welsh lamb stew; both environmentally and from a nutritional perspective. Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said: From our perspective its a pretty shoddy piece of work that hasnt looked at the wider benefits of sheep farming at all. It has taken a very narrow view of the impacts of lamb cawl and is it really quite astonishing. Lamb cawl is the exact kind of dish that we should be promoting, it is highly nutritious and a good source of protein. He added: The summary looks through a very narrow lens and we fundamentally disagree with the argument that has been made as it has failed to include the important environmental benefits of sheep farming which is very disappointing. According to the report, producing a dish of lamb cawl is the the equivalent of having an LED light bulb switched on for 65 days, driving a car 31 miles or charging a smartphone 722 times. The report also looked at the impact of chicken tikka masala, fish and chips and cheese ploughmans. The cheese ploughmans was revealed to contribute more to climate change than the fish and chips or chicken tikka masala. The cheese, pickle and bread dish created the equivalent of 2.6kg of carbon dioxide, the same output as charging a smartphone 316 times, boiling a kettle 113 times or keeping an LED light bulb switched on for 28 whole days. Hedd Pugh, National Farmers Union Cymru rural affairs board chairman, said: We are astonished at the nature of this report that draws comparisons between lamb production and the action of turning a kettle on. The authors have focused solely on greenhouse gas emissions rather than taking a broader view and assessing the overall contribution of our lamb production systems. The report does not acknowledge the many benefits to biodiversity of grazed livestock, nor does it note the possible benefits of the carbon stored in our grasslands, hedges and farm woodlands. There are also a variety of cultural and social benefits that have not been taken into account, seemingly because the facts dont fit the agenda of this report. Mr Pugh stressed that Welsh farmers take their environmental responsibilities extremely seriously, adding: This report shows a total disregard and ignorance for the good work that is taking place on farms across Wales to address the issues that are impacting on our environment. The report also warned climate change could risk the future of Britains favourite dishes. It concluded that the dishes may taste difference due to the need for substitute ingredients as climate change threatens the supply of the key ingredients required to make up these dishes. It stated that warmer seas could see populations of cod dwindle and see the fish replaced with cheaper options such as anchovies. In response to the criticisms aimed at the report a WWF spokesperson said: Climate change is a major threat to our world and its precious wildlife and landscapes. Food consumption is one of the biggest drivers of carbon emissions which is why our report showed the impact of climate change on Britains most iconic dishes, including Welsh cawl. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. 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Among the findings, the report says that Denmark is on course to be the world leader in the variable renewable energy sector, with 70pc of its electricity generation expected to come from wind and solar renewables by 2022. The Nordic country will be followed by Ireland, Germany and the UK, all of which are expected see their share of wind and solar energy in total electricity generation exceed 25pc, according to the IEA report. In a move to increase the level of wind generation in Ireland, the Government-controlled Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (Isif) teamed up with German solar and wind park operator Capital Stage in January to invest 140m in 20 solar parks in Ireland. The parks are being developed by Dublin-based Power Capital, and it marks the first time that Isif has committed to financing solar park developments in this country. Globally, renewables accounted for almost two-thirds of net new power capacity, with nearly 165 gigawatts (GW) coming online in 2016. This record year was largely driven by a booming solar market in China and around the world. Read More In 2016 solar capacity around the world grew by 50pc, reaching over 74 GW, with China accounting for almost half of this expansion. In another first, solar energy additions rose faster than any other fuel, surpassing the net growth in coal, the IEA report found. China alone is responsible for over two-fifths of global renewable capacity growth, which, according to the IEA, is largely driven by concerns about the country's air pollution and capacity targets. The Asian giant is also the world market leader in hydropower, bioenergy for electricity and heat, and electric vehicles, the IEA report said. In 2016 the United States remained the second largest growth market for renewables. However, with US President Donald Trump withdrawing the country from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the country's commitment to renewable energy faces policy uncertainty. Meanwhile, India continues to grow its renewable electricity capacity, and by 2022, the country is expected to more than double its current renewable electricity capacity, according to the IEA. For the first time, this growth over the forecast period (2016-2022) is higher compared with the European Union, according to the report. Meanwhile in the EU, renewable energy growth over the forecast period is 40pc lower compared with the previous five-year period. The low forecast in respect of the EU is based on a number of factors, the IEA said, including weaker electricity demand, overcapacity, and limited visibility on forthcoming auction capacity volumes in some markets. Overall, the Government has committed to generating 40pc of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. That target is set to be missed, which would see the Government eventually having to fork out hundreds of millions of euro for carbon credits. Later this year, Ireland will host Europe's biggest summit on Climate Innovation, during which over 50 nationwide events and initiatives will be held. Up to 8,000 An Post customers who asked the company to redirect their mail to a new address have had their details shared with a subsidiary without their knowledge. Thousands of customers who input their new details in the company's mail re-direction service have had their data inadvertently included in a file containing details from customers who gave permission for their name and address to be used to update external databases. Up to 8,000 people who used the re-direction service, giving permission for An Post to update their internal database but not to share with any external database, have been subject to the data breach. The file containing this data was sent to Dublin-based Precision Marketing Information Limited which trades as Data Ireland. Web developer Kevin Nolan (43) was one of the customers who received the letter from An Post after requesting his mail to be re-directed. "I moved home recently, and as is the practice, I requested that An Post forward all my mail to my new address," he told Independent.ie. Mr Nolan said he was "upset and disturbed" that his data has been shared without his explicit permission. "I work in IT so I know how these files are sent and received," he said. "Even if best practices are adhered to in this third party, I don't want an insurer I was with ten years ago to be contacting me at my new address. It's very frustrating". A spokesperson for An Post told Independent.ie that no other information other than the customer's name and address was included in this file, and only where these people already listed on the database was their address updated. When the company realised the data breach, which took place over the period from April 2016 to September 2017, they informed the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) and an investigation was carried out. An Post could not identify exactly how many customers were impacted but wrote out to over 8,000 people to ensure that all who may have had their data shared without their knowledge were informed. "Your new address may have been updated on the records of companies you interact with, and you may have received letters from some companies to your new address instead of your old address," read the letter. "Please be assured that Data Ireland never discloses names and addresses from the file they receive from An Post to direct marketing companies." The letter also advised customers that only where their name and old address exactly matched that held by a Data Ireland business customer, were their address details updated on their database. An Post have stated that the DPC was satisfied with their handling of the issue, their action to correct the error and to ensure it would not happen again. "The matter is now closed...We apologise for any inconvenience or concern that this error may have caused to the customers," the spokesperson said. Is your business GDPR ready? Find out at Dublin Data Sec 2018 on April 9th. Tony Smurfit, the CEO of Smurfit Kappa, which is in the sights of International Paper US packaging goliath International Paper plans to meet major Smurfit Kappa shareholders in London and Paris this week as it embarks on a charm offensive aimed at forcing Smurfit Kappa's board to enter takeover talks. Yesterday the Dublin-based company, and Europe's largest cardboard box producer, delivered a stout rejection to a sweetened offer from International Paper, that included a 15pc increase in the cash component of the bid that, overall, valued Smurfit Kappa at 9.5bn. But the renewed approach was given short shrift by the board. Chairman Liam O'Mahony characterised the fresh offer as paper-thin, dismissing it as little "more than compensation for the fall in International Paper's share price". He said this new bid, which raised the cash component to 25.25 from a previous offer of 22, and offered 0.3 new International Paper shares, "again entirely fails to value the group's true intrinsic business worth and future prospects". But the decision to swiftly rebuff this latest tilt has caused unease among Smurfit Kappa's investors, with a number of stakeholders reiterating their willingness to sell the stock at 38 to 39 per share - below the 40 a share price point widely considered as a catalyst for a possible deal. The frustration built during the day as International Paper's share price steadily rose, taking the value of the bid to close to 38 a share - some distance above its original offer, tabled on March 5, of 36.46 a share. The sharp deterioration in International Paper's market capitalisation since then - its shares have fallen by 15pc since over the past few weeks - had been attributed in part to its investors' lacklustre reception to the proposed takeover. Yet analysts emphasised the US behemoth's peers have also slumped by 8-14pc recently following a drop in the value of the raw material used to manufacture packaging, as well as the bellicose trade rhetoric emanating from the Whitehouse, which has stoked fears of a global trade war. If International Paper's shares traded back at $58 - their pre-bid level - the revised offer would equate to 38.90. At this valuation, investor sources argued Smurfit Kappa would need to be very confident in the support of its register to persist with its non-engagement stance. The Memphis-headquartered firm expects to extract 450m or 5pc of Smurfit Kappa's total sales in the first four years - higher than initial market forecasts of about 300m. In a note, David O'Brien of Goodbody Stockbrokers said the projected synergies sit "comfortably in the historical range of deals for the sector". Smurfit Kappa's tough stance has prompted International Paper to schedule meetings with the company's key stakeholders in an effort to persuade the board to enter takeover talks. While some in the market expect International Paper to revise its bid again, with a higher cash component, others warn the US group may attempt to gain a sizeable foothold in the stock and force the board's hand in a more hostile fashion. Alternatively, International Paper may walk away, leaving Smurfit Kappa's shares to potentially tumble back to the pre-bid price level of 28. Smurfit Kappa's shares finished down 3.4pc to 33.56 last night. International Paper was up 3.43pc to $51.87 in late afternoon trading in the United States. A top employment lawyer has said that sexual harassment in the workplace is "endemic". Richard Grogan was commenting after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) made the highest award available - two years salary or 46,000 - to a woman who was sexually harassed while working for a car parts company. The woman lost her job as a receptionist after refusing to have sex with the company owner at a Christmas party. She was also subjected to a "vile act of sexual innuendo" on a company live web chat forum. However, Mr Grogan said this case "is just the tip of the iceberg". "We are talking about women being effectively physically assaulted, about inappropriate touching, and we are talking about not only requests, but demands for sexual favours." The Dublin-based lawyer said some men in senior management positions viewed the sexual harassment of women in junior positions as "an acceptable perk of the job". Mr Grogan said that he had seen "a significant increase" in the number of women coming to his firm in recent months to make sexual harassment claims. He credited women speaking out against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein as the reason why more women were coming forward. "Employment solicitors are seeing a significant increase in sexual harassment claims. "It was always there and coming through the doors - it just seems to have increased significantly. "I think the Harvey Weinstein revelations have empowered some women to speak out at what has been inappropriate behaviour over a considerable, long period of time. "What comes across to me is that the majority of women who bring these cases are not looking for a cheque, they are looking for it to stop, for appropriate action to be taken against the perpetrator, and for them to have a safe working environment going forward." Mr Grogan said sexual harassment cases "are now the norm rather than the exception" and that "claims are, generally speaking, being settled because they are so bad". He said clients often present "clear tangible evidence" of what is going on - emails, texts or photos - to support their claims. More than half of small and medium-sized businesses believe the Government is having a negative or no impact on SME lending, a survey has found. At 55pc, it is an improvement from 64pc on the previous quarter, according to the latest quarterly bank watch survey from the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Isme). The results of the survey also show a decrease in refusal rates and a drop in demand for credit, while the waiting time from decision to draw-down remains unchanged at six weeks. Isme CEO Neil McDonnell said that while a reduction in the number of refusals in the first three months of this year is welcome, access to finance remains critical for many SMEs. "Even when finance is available, it comes at a significant premium to that paid by SMEs in peer countries, and with more strings attached. So even when our SMEs are successful in acquiring credit, they are penalised with higher costs and unjustifiable conditions," he said. Mr McDonnell said the latest Central Bank SME Market report shows the difference between Irish banks and European banks, with an average charge of 5pc for an Irish SME to borrow 250,000 from a bank, compared with only 3.3pc across most of Europe. "This differential is significant and must be reduced," he added. The survey was carried out among 524 respondents in the second last week of March. Key findings include the fact that 31pc of respondents required additional or new bank facilities in the last three months, compared with 42pc in the previous quarter. Around a quarter of companies who applied for funding in the last three months were refused credit by their banks, a decrease on the 32pc on the final three months of last year. SME demand for credit has dropped from 42pc to 31pc, while almost half of businesses stated that banks are making it more difficult to access finance. The survey findings come just days after the head of the Credit Review Office said banks no longer make the effort to get to know small and medium-sized firms when they apply for loans, and it has long-term consequences. John Trethowan said bank officials are making loan decisions sitting behind desks rather than face-to-face. And he warned the closure of bank branches across the country could be the cause of lower demand for SME lending. In his latest report, Mr Trethowan said a persistent finding in the Department of Finance SME credit demand surveys is that there has been a decline in the demand for bank lending, from 40pc in 2013 to 23pc now. "I think people aren't borrowing because they find it too hard, and that relationship has been lost," Mr Trethowan said. Dublin-based customer messaging company Intercom has raised $125m (101m) in a funding round that sees the firm now valued at $1.275bn (1.03bn) The lead funder in the round is US venture firm Kleiner Perkins, with Google Ventures also participating. The move makes Intercom the most valuable Irish tech company. The company, cofounded by Ciaran Lee, David Barrett, Des Traynor and Eoghan McCabe, has now raised almost 200m in funding. Intercoms main business is a customer messaging platform online. Typically, this can be through dialogue boxes and other techniques. Many people have seen its product without realising that it has been designed and configured by the Irish entrepreneurs. The company is now namechecked among Silicon Valley types as an industry standard. Intercoms products are designed and developed in Dublin, not Silicon Valley, even if its headquarters is now technically in San Francisco. It has over 400 employees divided between offices in Dublin, San Francisco, London, Chicago and Sydney. The company currently has over 25,000 paying customers in sales, marketing, and support teams. It claims to power 500m conversations a month and that this figure is doubling every year. Intercom also claims to have helped businesses connect with over 1bn unique people to date. With its new funding, Intercom will invest aggressively in the development of its customer platform. Were excited to put this new capital to work for our customers to rapidly mature our existing products, with a special focus on functionality for larger organisations, said Intercom co-founder and CEO, Eoghan McCabe. This year, were also investing in new machine learning technologies to launch some powerful, market-first smart automation features to help accelerate growth for our customers. Internet analyst Mary Meeker, general partner at Kleiner Perkins and noted for her annual reports, has joined the board of the company. The Internet has changed the way businesses connect with customers. Businesses must increasingly be customer-centric and serve users wherever they are, whenever they want, said Ms Meekerr. Intercom enables businesses to have a strong relationship with their customers from first touchpoint to repeat purchase. Its platform unifies customer data and allows sales, marketing, and support teams to have consistently high-quality interactions with the people that use their products. Previous financial backers of the firm include Silicon Valley investors that include Index Ventures, Iconiq Capital and Bessemer. Twitter cofounder Biz Stone, the Collison brothers and other top tech entrepreneurs, either through investment firms or through social capital, have also backed the company. Twitter will start banning cryptocurrency advertising from Tuesday, joining Facebook and Google in a clampdown that seeks to avoid giving publicity to potential fraud or large investor losses. The prohibition will cover advertising of initial coin offerings (ICOs) - crowdfunding used to raise cash by creating new coins - as well as token sales, the San Francisco-based firm told Reuters on Monday. The new policy, which will be rolled out over the next 30 days, will also ban ads by cryptocurrency exchanges and cryptocurrency wallet services, unless they are public companies listed on certain major stock markets. For Japan, these will be limited to crypto exchanges regulated by its national financial regulator, Twitter said. The firm had said this month it was taking measures to prevent crypto-related accounts from "engaging with others in a deceptive manner", but faced calls to go further after bans from Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google. Facebook has restricted crypto-related adverts, while Google announced a ban that comes into force in June. The price of bitcoin, already 4pc in the red on Monday, fell further after the Twitter announcement. It traded at $7,920 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange at 1740 GMT, down more than 6pc on the day. REGULATORS' WARNINGS Regulators have stepped up warnings that bitcoin and other virtual currencies are highly speculative and that some could be fraudulent, and that investors should be prepared to lose everything. But last week the G20 group of rich nations failed to reach a consensus on how to supervise them. Adverts for virtual coins or ways to trade them have appeared everywhere from London's transport network to Japanese television as demand for them has soared. "With the increasing number of ICOs coming to market, it is an impossible task for anyone, much less platforms like Twitter or Facebook, to keep on top of which ICOs and cryptocurrencies are genuine versus frauds," said Zennon Kapron, director of the financial consultancy Kapronasia. "Although certainly ICO advertising must have been a significant source of revenue for Twitter, the repercussions of fraudulent activities just weren't worth the risk." Bitcoin has lost more than half its value from a December peak of almost $20,000 as fears of a regulatory clampdown spooked investors. News of the Facebook and Google bans also knocked the price. Ethereum and Ripple's XRP, the second- and third-biggest digital currencies by market capitalisation, have tumbled this year too. While critics call cryptocurrencies a Ponzi scheme that will end in tears for most investors, supporters say the coins are backed by powerful new technology that can replace traditional fiat currencies and upend the existing banking system. France's public deficit shrank to a better-than-expected 2.6pc of gross domestic product in 2017 - the first time it has fallen below the EU's 3pc limit in a decade, the national statistics office has said. The result, better than the government's 2.9pc, will be good news for President Emmanuel Macron, who made respecting EU budget rules after years of delays a cornerstone of his aim to restore French fiscal credibility among EU peers. Shortly after he was elected last May, Mr Macron took belt-tightening measures, including cuts to a popular housing allowance, to make sure the budget deficit would not overshoot the 3pc limit, which cost him popularity rating points. However, figures from the INSEE statistics office showed the better-than-expected improvement in France's public finances was also in a large part due to stronger tax receipts, boosted by brisker economic growth. The French tax burden rose to a record of 45.4pc of GDP in 2017 from 44.6pc the year before. Government spending rose by 2.5pc and government revenue by 4pc. France was also one of only two eurozone nations still under the European Commission's excessive-deficit procedure, with only Spain expected to have done worse in 2017, according to Commission forecasts. The improvement should give welcome support to Macron's quest to convince Germany, the EU's paymaster, to reform the eurozone and help overcome mistrust between northern European countries and what they perceive as profligate southern members. (Reuters) Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 2 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? gungrabbers lop guest User ID: kaput 03-27-2018 02:39 AM Post: #1 How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? Advertisement Don't be on the wrong side: This includes local mayors, all government sedition entities, Freemasons, Jesuits, and other globalist and British sympathizers. Lets try to clean house inside the government before this happens in a peaceful way. Remember, Separation of Church and State Your Constitutional Oath against Tyrants Taxation with consent of the People Are you really that stupid to be for the globalist plan? Are you really ready for the sh*t storm with your neighbors? The Patriot https://youtu.be/xZ_TS0fVxqQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI0CHeaNbe0 This goes out to Anti Second Amendment and pro Globalist organizations. Do your really want to enter guerrilla warfare and create a Civil War here?Don't be on the wrong side:This includes local mayors, all government sedition entities, Freemasons, Jesuits, and other globalist and British sympathizers.Lets try to clean house inside the government before this happens in a peaceful way.Remember, Separation of Church and StateYour Constitutional Oath against TyrantsTaxation with consent of the PeopleAre you really that stupid to be for the globalist plan?Are you really ready for the sh*t storm with your neighbors?The Patriot LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 02:48 AM Post: #2 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? it wouldnt, america is too spineless now. only a few have the capacity for violence and most of those are just sociopaths either stuck in a life of crime or pulling government pay abusing the masses worldwide 1110.00 Manifest Alchemy User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:00 AM Posts: 13,401 Post: #3 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? The local university will have the best-trained troops, and the Alex Jones crowd will suck. "The Precipitant has a smaller place in reality, thus it is mortal." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8uMCQrAxylM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0619bdpOolA (This post was last modified: 03-28-2018 08:49 PM by 1110.00 .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:05 AM Post: #4 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? 1110.00 Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:00 AM) The local university will have the best trained troops, and the Alex Jones crowd will suck. college pukes can only light fires and break glass and the alex jones crowd will be on the government side college pukes can only light fires and break glass and the alex jones crowd will be on the government side spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:06 AM Posts: 67,592 Post: #5 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? it about the 4th time today I have seen this on this forum. Quote: Democide is the murder of any person or people by their government, including genocide, politicide and mass murder. Democide is not necessarily the elimination of entire cultural groups but rather groups within the country that the government feels need to be eradicated for political reasons and due to claimed future threats. According to Rummel, genocide has three different meanings. The ordinary meaning is murder by government of people due to their national, ethnic, racial or religious group membership. The legal meaning of genocide refers to the international treaty on genocide, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This also includes nonlethal acts that in the end eliminate or greatly hinder the group. Looking back on history, one can see the different variations of democides that have occurred, but it still consists of acts of killing or mass murder. Democide This generalized meaning of genocide is similar to the ordinary meaning but also includes government killings of political opponents or otherwise intentional murder. In order to avoid confusion over which meaning is intended. Rummel created the term democide for this third meaning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide Trump cult apologists demand the dear leader start culling unworthy groups..it about the 4th time today I have seen this on this forum. (This post was last modified: 03-27-2018 03:07 AM by spo snouou .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:09 AM Post: #6 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? spo snouou Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:06 AM) Trump cult apologists demand the dear leader start culling unworthy groups.. it about the 4th time today I have seen this on this forum. Quote: Democide is the murder of any person or people by their government, including genocide, politicide and mass murder. Democide is not necessarily the elimination of entire cultural groups but rather groups within the country that the government feels need to be eradicated for political reasons and due to claimed future threats. According to Rummel, genocide has three different meanings. The ordinary meaning is murder by government of people due to their national, ethnic, racial or religious group membership. The legal meaning of genocide refers to the international treaty on genocide, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This also includes nonlethal acts that in the end eliminate or greatly hinder the group. Looking back on history, one can see the different variations of democides that have occurred, but it still consists of acts of killing or mass murder. Democide This generalized meaning of genocide is similar to the ordinary meaning but also includes government killings of political opponents or otherwise intentional murder. In order to avoid confusion over which meaning is intended. Rummel created the term democide for this third meaning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide you always call for some kind of mass depopulation effort no matter the reason you have to use for justification you always call for some kind of mass depopulation effort no matter the reason you have to use for justification beans lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:16 AM Post: #7 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? Texas may declare independence, along with many other areas. Maybe not whole states, but certainly some groups or cities... The Military is key... What if some of the higher ups decided to go rouge... Imagine a boomer saying no, we will not comply... Or an aircraft carrier... These are Americans on those ships, so what ever happens affects them as well... It would really divide the country... Hard to say overall... engineering Banned User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:27 AM Posts: 5,299 Post: #8 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? It wouldn't be like how you think. All the politicians would be the first to go. Like gone gone.... The military would take control of the governments & maintain the constitution. Now if the US military goes totally rouge other countries will wage war against them. It would be over within days and the entire democrat party & much of the republican party would be totally wiped out of existence. The schools would be purged like what happened in Turkey all the marxist teachers would be at the very least fired for f*cking up so many kids. MSM organizations like CNN and others would be burned down is my guess. You gotta understand one side has been preparing for the day and they're all sitting there waiting for the other side to stupidly make the first move and it won't have a chance in hell. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:30 AM Post: #9 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:05 AM) 1110.00 Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:00 AM) The local university will have the best trained troops, and the Alex Jones crowd will suck. college pukes can only light fires and break glass and the alex jones crowd will be on the government side Have you ever heard of the Montgomery G.I. Bill? The serious students at most universities are 25-30 years old and are prior-service military. Of course, you would only know that if you ever got accepted into a university. Have you ever heard of the Montgomery G.I. Bill?The serious students at most universities are 25-30 years old and are prior-service military.Of course, you would only know that if you ever got accepted into a university. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:30 AM Post: #10 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? engineering Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:27 AM) It wouldn't be like how you think. All the politicians would be the first to go. Like gone gone.... The military would take control of the governments & maintain the constitution. Now if the US military goes totally rouge other countries will wage war against them. It would be over within days and the entire democrat party & much of the republican party would be totally wiped out of existence. The schools would be purged like what happened in Turkey all the marxist teachers would be at the very least fired for f*cking up so many kids. MSM organizations like CNN and others would be burned down is my guess. You gotta understand one side has been preparing for the day and they're all sitting there waiting for the other side to stupidly make the first move and it won't have a chance in hell. Nice fairytale story Nice fairytale story LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:34 AM Post: #11 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? spo snouou Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:06 AM) Trump cult apologists demand the dear leader start culling unworthy groups.. it about the 4th time today I have seen this on this forum. Quote: Democide is the murder of any person or people by their government, including genocide, politicide and mass murder. Democide is not necessarily the elimination of entire cultural groups but rather groups within the country that the government feels need to be eradicated for political reasons and due to claimed future threats. According to Rummel, genocide has three different meanings. The ordinary meaning is murder by government of people due to their national, ethnic, racial or religious group membership. The legal meaning of genocide refers to the international treaty on genocide, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This also includes nonlethal acts that in the end eliminate or greatly hinder the group. Looking back on history, one can see the different variations of democides that have occurred, but it still consists of acts of killing or mass murder. Democide This generalized meaning of genocide is similar to the ordinary meaning but also includes government killings of political opponents or otherwise intentional murder. In order to avoid confusion over which meaning is intended. Rummel created the term democide for this third meaning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide but its ok for liberal trash to call for mass cullings on a regular basis but its ok for liberal trash to call for mass cullings on a regular basis engineering Banned User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:36 AM Posts: 5,299 Post: #12 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:30 AM) engineering Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:27 AM) It wouldn't be like how you think. All the politicians would be the first to go. Like gone gone.... The military would take control of the governments & maintain the constitution. Now if the US military goes totally rouge other countries will wage war against them. It would be over within days and the entire democrat party & much of the republican party would be totally wiped out of existence. The schools would be purged like what happened in Turkey all the marxist teachers would be at the very least fired for f*cking up so many kids. MSM organizations like CNN and others would be burned down is my guess. You gotta understand one side has been preparing for the day and they're all sitting there waiting for the other side to stupidly make the first move and it won't have a chance in hell. Nice fairytale story That's how it would play it.. Turkey was the test run. Turkey fires 21,000 teachers and demands suspension of every university dean in post-coup crackdown That's how it would play it.. Turkey was the test run. engineering Banned User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:43 AM Posts: 5,299 Post: #13 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? They're sitting back waiting for the liberal progressive democrats and republican cohorts to try and perform some type of coup because they've gone totally bat s h i t insane at this point. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:50 AM Post: #14 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? Since most small towns in rural midwest are 99% white, they'd organize and stick together - while the cities with "diversity" would turn into racially divided war zones. Truckers, farmers, ranchers, military men - all conservative - would lay siege to the city and starve them. Cut off water and supplies, no EBT, pharmaceuticals or electricity and the 'fellas" would be wiping each other out. 6 months and there won't be a liberal left alive - they'd die in the diversity utopia they made for themselves. engineering Banned User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 04:02 AM Posts: 5,299 Post: #15 RE: How Would A Civil War In The Modern United States Play Out? LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:50 AM) Since most small towns in rural midwest are 99% white, they'd organize and stick together - while the cities with "diversity" would turn into racially divided war zones. Truckers, farmers, ranchers, military men - all conservative - would lay siege to the city and starve them. Cut off water and supplies, no EBT, pharmaceuticals or electricity and the 'fellas" would be wiping each other out. 6 months and there won't be a liberal left alive - they'd die in the diversity utopia they made for themselves. I don't think people would play much of a factor. One part of the government would attempt a coup against the other the hatred between the left and right political parties is growing exponentially. I'm pretty sure the democrats tried to kill all the republicans by derailing their train & they also tried to kill them at at baseball game. It's only a matter of time before they legit try to pull a actual coup. The military may even help the process along just so they can gain control and stop them before the situation is totally out of hand. I mean how long can the US military sit back and watch as the government & alphabet soup gets infiltrated with people who have a dire hatred for Americans? If we're well aware our nation is under attack do you think the military isn't also aware of this? I don't think people would play much of a factor. One part of the government would attempt a coup against the other the hatred between the left and right political parties is growing exponentially. I'm pretty sure the democrats tried to kill all the republicans by derailing their train & they also tried to kill them at at baseball game. It's only a matter of time before they legit try to pull a actual coup.The military may even help the process along just so they can gain control and stop them before the situation is totally out of hand.I mean how long can the US military sit back and watch as the government & alphabet soup gets infiltrated with people who have a dire hatred for Americans?If we're well aware our nation is under attack do you think the military isn't also aware of this? Advertisement The co-founder of fashion retailer Superdry is stepping down and donating more than 1m (1.1m) in shares, saying he plans to devote more time to other business and charitable interests. Julian Dunkerton will leave his director position as of March 31, with creative teams stepping in to take over his product and brand work. Mr Dunkerton said: "I am immensely proud of everything achieved at Superdry over the past fifteen years. "As a fast-growing, innovative business, Superdry has always evolved to ensure it keeps delivering. With other demands on my time, it is the right point for me to transition my focus and responsibilities." He has also notified the company of plans to transfer a block of ordinary shares shares worth up to 1.2m to sea and biodiversity protection charity The Blue Marine Foundation by way of a personal donation. A market announcement explained the donation was part of a "wider legacy strategy" that Mr Dunkerton has been working on outside his interests at Superdry. Superdry shares were down as much as 1.6pc in morning trading. Commenting on the co-founder's departure, Superdry chairman Peter Bamford said: "With Superdry embarking on the next phase of its ambitious growth plans, and with other interests and opportunities available to him, Julian and I have been talking for some time about the right time for him to move on from the business. "I have enjoyed working closely with him over the last eight years and, on behalf of the board, I would like to thank Julian for his outstanding contribution in building Superdry into such a great brand." Mr Dunkerton founded the business in 1985 from a market stall in Cheltenham. The clothing retailer - famous for its hoodie tops and T-shirts - floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2010. In January, the co-founder scooped 17.8m after offloading a chunk of shares in the fashion retailer, selling one million shares at 17.80 each, or 1.23pc of the group, following 12 months of share price gains for the firm. In February 2016, Mr Dunkerton sold just under 50m of shares to fund his divorce settlement with his wife Charlotte Abbot. US President Donald Trump's long-threatened package of trade sanctions on China has landed, but a trade war isn't yet inevitable, Standard & Poor's Global Ratings has said. It comes amid increasing optimism that the two countries will be able to avert a full-scale trade war after Premier Li Keqiang said China and the US should maintain negotiations. He also reiterated pledges to ease access to his country for American businesses. Li told a conference that included global chief executives that China would treat foreign and domestic firms equally, would not force foreign firms to transfer technology and would strengthen intellectual property rights, repeating promises that have failed to placate Washington. The United States asked China in a letter last week to cut a tariff on US cars, buy more US-made semiconductors and give US firms greater access to the Chinese financial sector, the 'Wall Street Journal' reported yesterday, citing unidentified sources. In a note to investors, S&P said the threatened tariffs and investment restrictions on China won't likely cause deep pain to the Chinese economy, nor will they have a material impact on corporate borrowers in either country. "More aggressive moves could escalate into a full-blown trade war between the world's two largest economies - with spill-over effects on global business confidence, investment, and growth," said S&P Global Ratings managing director Terry Chan. S&P said a preliminary analysis of potential tariffs shows that the overall impact on Chinese corporates and banks will be contained because the US represents only about 15pc of China's exports, and China's domestic activity now drives its economic growth rather than exports. "The near-term effects on corporate credit will likely be muted - barring an immediate escalation of retaliatory measures, but there will still be some impact for certain sectors, depending on their reliance on the Chinese market," said S&P Global Ratings managing director David Tesher. Alarm over a possible trade war has chilled financial markets as investors anticipated dire consequences should barriers go up due to President Donald Trump's bid to cut the US deficit with China. The Economic and Social Research Institute has warned that a 1pc fall in global GDP could have a like-for-like impact on Irish GDP, given the open nature of the economy here. But despite a steady stream of fierce rhetoric from Chinese state media lambasting the United States for being a "bully" and warning of retaliation, Chinese and US officials are busy negotiating behind the scenes. (Additional reporting Reuters) A Dublin author has been shortlisted for the world's biggest literary prize for young writers. Sally Rooney wrote her debut novel in just three months while studying for her masters in American Literature at Trinity College, Dublin. Her book 'Conversations with Friends' has now been shortlisted for the Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize worth 30,000 (34,200). 'Conversations with Friends' centres around the story of two young women who become unwittingly embroiled in an affair with a married couple in post-boom Dublin. The two women are also former lovers - and the story addresses the intricacies of female friendship, jealousy, lust and issues that face young adults in Ireland today. Rooney picked up wide acclaim for the novel and was named the "Salinger for the Snapchat generation", with her work described by Kazuo Ishiguro as a "moment of real significance". The book was listed among 'Vogue's 10 Best Books of 2017 and 'Slate's 10 Favourite Books of the Year. Rooney said that she has been overwhelmed by the positive response to her book - from critics and readers. "Being shortlisted for the Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize is of course a real honour for me and my work," she said. "When I wrote 'Conversations with Friends', it was hard for me to imagine the book even finding readers. So it's a huge privilege to find it judged alongside such exciting and innovative new writing. I'm very grateful." A total of four debut authors make up the female-dominated shortlist of six for the 10th edition of the prize, which is open to writers aged 39 or under. The winner will be announced on May 10. The Government will not insert a proviso requiring a two-thirds Dail majority for any future change in planned abortion law, the Taoiseach has said. Tanaiste Simon Coveney had sought the provision to be put into the outline draft law due to be cleared by the Cabinet. This would require a two-thirds majority of TDs to back any future changes in efforts to lock in the new legislation, which would take only effect provided the Eighth Amendment is repealed in a referendum next May. Mr Coveneys move is seen as an effort to reassure more conservative voters who do not trust politicians and fear quick moves to further liberalise abortion law. But the idea was challenged by all the main parties who warned that it would breach Article 15 of the 1937 Irish Constitution which provides for all laws to made by a majority taken to mean a simple majority. After Dail questions from Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald, and Labour leader, Brendan Howlin, the Taoiseach said there would be no two-thirds proviso. Mr Varadkar said the Attorney Generals legal advice was that such a measure would breach Article 15 of Bunreacht na hEireann. Therefore it cant be included in this legislation, Mr Varadkar said. A former Anglo Irish Bank senior official has said it was a "shock" to him when he found out the details of the 7.2bn interbank loans that are now at the centre of an alleged conspiracy to defraud. Donal O'Connor, who was a director of Anglo at the time the cash transfers were happening, told a jury he only became aware of their "round the houses" nature after he took over as chairman. Mr O'Connor denied that he received documents outlining the transactions with Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) a month before his appointment. He was giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the fraud trial of Anglo's former CEO David Drumm. Mr Drumm (51) is pleading not guilty to conspiring to defraud Anglo investors by dishonestly creating the impression that the bank's customer deposits were 7.2bn larger than they were. He is alleged to have conspired with Anglo's former finance director Willie McAteer and head of capital markets John Bowe, as well as then-CEO of ILP Denis Casey, and others. The case centres on a series of interbank loans which circulated between Anglo and ILP in September 2008. Mr Drumm also denies false accounting, by providing misleading information to the market. The jury heard that, in 2008, Mr O'Connor was a non executive director and a member of the audit committee at Anglo before becoming chairman on December 18, following the resignation of Sean FitzPatrick. He told Mary Rose Gearty SC, prosecuting, he made a conference call from Sydney, Australia, to a November 18, 2008, audit committee meeting. He remembered he had the agenda "but I didn't have any other papers and when the meeting started there was a reference to papers being distributed". Mr O'Connor said his attention was later drawn to emails sent with these papers attached "but I didn't have them or receive them". They were sent to a PWC administrative assistant who printed out the agenda and gave it to him, but did not give him any additional papers, he said. He recalled near the end of the meeting Colin Golden [head of group finance] started to talk and made reference to Irish Life. "As is my wont, I interrupted, butted in, when I heard him talk and said 'Is that window dressing?'" He recalled Mr Golden mentioning a figure of 7.2bn, and that he "said enough to pique my concern". Willie McAteer then "immediately stepped in" and said it was "normal balance sheet management", Mr O'Connor said. The financial regulator and auditor were mentioned. "I got the impression that this had been cleared, that they had been taken through, there was no issue," Mr O'Connor said. "My mind was immediately put at ease," he said and he did not think any more about it until "after I became chairman and things began to unfold". He said he became aware of what he called the "round the houses issue" at a meeting on January 13, 2009. Received Mr O'Connor was shown emails between a member of the company secretary's department and Bonnie Cunningham, a meetings planner. Ms Cunningham was asked if she received the documents emailed to her for Mr O'Connor in advance of the November 18, 2008, audit committee meeting. Ms Cunningham replied: "Yes, all set. Donal received all. Thank you." "As I said, I didn't receive them," Mr O'Connor told the jury. "You were happy to proceed without them," Mr Grehan said. "Well, I did proceed without them," Mr O'Connor replied. "I certainly didn't know the detail of the transaction because when I found out on January 13 it was a shock," he said. The trial continues. ANGLO Irish Bank officials who met staff at the Financial Regulator to explain a 7.2bn interbank deal done during the financial crisis compared the meeting to an ambush, a court heard. An Anglo banker also said this meeting, in the wake of former regulator Patrick Nearys resignation, was tense and robust. Then-Head of Financial Reporting, Kevin Kelly was giving evidence in the trial of Anglos ex CEO, David Drumm. Mr Drumm (51) is pleading not guilty to conspiring to defraud Anglo investors by dishonestly creating the impression that the banks customer deposits were 7.2bn larger than they were. He is alleged to have conspired with Anglos former Finance Director Willie McAteer and head of Capital Markets John Bowe, as well as then-CEO of Irish Life and Permanent, Denis Casey, and others. The case centres on a series of interbank loans which circulated between Anglo and ILP in September 2008. The transfers were routed through Irish Life Assurance, returning to Anglo where they were then treated as customer deposits, which are a better indicator of a banks health. Mr Drumm also denies false accounting, by providing misleading information to the market. Mr Kelly, who began his evidence last week was being cross examined by Bernard Condon SC, defending, this afternoon. Mr Condon asked Mr Kelly about a meeting at the Financial Regulators office in January, 2009. Mr Kelly was there with Anglos Chief Financial Officer Matt Moran and they met IFSRA officials Con Horan, Donncha Connolly and Bernard Sheridan. Mr Condon said Mr Kelly had told gardai in his statement that it was a tense meeting, very robust. Mr Moran in his statement had described it along the lines of an ambush, Mr Condon said. "That was certainly the tone, Mr Kelly replied. Mr Condon asked Mr Kelly what issues had been under consideration. Mr Kelly said the regulator was querying the treatment of the ILP transactions. Patrick Neary, who had recently announced his resignation as regulator was not at the meeting. IFSRA had also wanted to meet Anglos external auditors Ernst and Young, and raised this toward the end of the discussion. What was allowed under IRFS (International Financial Reporting Standards) was gone through and Mr Kelly relayed information from a previous audit committee meeting. On February 11, ILP issued a press release about the transactions and this had an impact on discussions of disclosure and prompted additional work by Ernst and Young. There was more disclosure because it was now possible to name the counter parties (ILP and ILA), Mr Condon said. Up to then, issues of confidentiality applied. In my experience it would be highly unusual to refer to a client transaction in a financial statement, Mr Kelly said. Mr Condon asked him again about a mail he sent to auditing partner Vincent Bergin on November 26, 2008 with the subject: with the subject Can you give me a call to discuss further work needed on customer deposits? Mr Kelly could not recall specifically what that referred to but agreed it was not specifically about the September ILP transaction. Mr Kelly agreed that auditors could not audit every transaction done by a bank as it wouldnt be possible in the timeline. They would instead decide what was statistically relevant and look at a sample, he said. The court heard after a board meeting in January, a note was added to Anglos end of year accounts to provide additional disclosure before they were published in February. In re-examination, Paul OHiggins SC, prosecuting, aked Mr Kelly if the ILP transaction could be detected in the accounts without that note. No, I dont believe so, Mr Kelly said. The trial continues. 'A woman is entitled to say 'no' and to decide what sexual activity she wants, how far she is prepared to go, and what she does not want to do," Judge Patricia Smyth reminded the jury. She told them that they must not assume because the alleged victim at the heart of this case was drunk, that she wanted sex. "People do go out at night and get drunk," she said. "Young people go out and celebrate their exams and get drunk - she was 19," added Judge Smyth. Not once but many times, she declared to the jury that it was for them to decide where the truth lies. With the panel almost certain to be sent out today to begin deliberations, a strange sense of frantic finality had descended on courtroom 12 at the Laganside complex. The public gallery was crackling with a peculiar energy and the faces of the families looked worn and anxious. At the heart of the room, the four defendants in their glass dock, having opted for jumpers and slacks of late, were back in more formal attire for this last stage of the trial. Paddy Jackson was in a blue shirt and tie, Stuart Olding in a navy suit, Blane McIlroy in charcoal and Rory Harrison also in a navy suit. After a delay in the hearing in the morning, the judge resumed her direction to the jury in a thorough fashion, every word carefully chosen. They listened intently as she reminded them of the key evidence. She gave them a brief synopsis of the narrative given by each of those concerned. Regarding Stuart Olding, she instructed the jury not to speculate about the reason why the charge of vaginal rape against him was dropped. The prosecution has an ongoing duty to review the evidence against every defendant, she said. The important thing to bear in mind, she said, was that the only charge they have to consider is one of oral rape. Meanwhile, the judge described Dara Florence as a "key witness" in this trial. In her statement to police, Ms Florence had explained that she had been on her way upstairs to find her friend Emily Docherty when she heard moaning coming from the bedroom. In her second statement to police, however, Judge Smyth reminded the jury that Ms Florence had told police that she had heard moaning but that it was "not sexual". "I'm kind of confusing myself now," Ms Florence had said in her second statement. "All I remember now is a moaning and I thought it was Emily, that's why I opened the door." In the second statement, she had recalled the sound of a "male, aggressive moaning" which she hadn't mentioned in her first statement. Ms Florence then conceded to police: "I suppose when I was thinking back to it, it was just like sex I was hearing." Judge Smyth reminded the jury of when it was put to the alleged victim about the noises coming from the room and asked whether she, herself, had heard noises, she had replied: "To be honest, you just completely lock yourself out of that situation." The alleged victim said that when someone came into the room, she was "petrified" of being filmed because the girls were taking photos downstairs and it was her instinctive reaction to turn her head away so she could not be identified. The defence says the allegations are false and motivated by a fear that her photo would appear on social media and that word would get out she was involved in group sex. "That is a matter for you," the judge again told the jury. Some Junior Cert pupils face a delay in completing their home economics practical this year because of a shortage of examiners. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has confirmed that tests are being rescheduled for a small number of schools. All schools were due to complete the practicals in a fortnight, starting April 9, but some are being rescheduled for the week beginning April 23. The disruption comes amid growing problems over the availability of teachers to conducts oral and practicals for the Leaving and Junior Cert. Teacher shortages mean schools are increasingly reluctant to release staff for this work and home economics is one of the subjects where there is an acute shortage. Teacher unions also say that pay rates for this work are no incentive. They will soon be submitting a claim for restoration of rates cut during the recession, along with an increase, said Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) deputy general secretary Diarmuid de Paor. The Larkfield House Apartment complex on the Coldcut Road Clondalkin, near the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. More than 40 tenants and their families fear they will end up on the street following a planning dispute between the developer and the local council. Some tenants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they feared they would end up homeless despite only moving into the Larkfield House apartment complex on Coldcut Road in Clondalkin, west Dublin, on February 1. Around half of the families face termination of their leases after they were issued with rent arrears notices by the landlord. This was after South Dublin County Council (SDCC) confirmed it suspended payment of their Housing Assistance Payment (Hap) while An Bord Pleanala decided whether the developer, Cavvies Ltd, complied with planning permission when it converted the former Liffey Valley Fitness centre into apartments. Permission was granted by SDCC in September 2016 for 27 apartments. However, there are currently 40 occupied apartments and several others used for storage, despite the council rejecting planning permission to build 48 residential units in July 2017. Cavvies Ltd appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala on August 3, 2017. However, the appeal was refused last week. Attempts to contact the landlord or property manager last night were unsuccessful. SDCC suspended Hap payments, however the final outcome for tenants following last Tuesday's decision remains unclear. Residents - including those who are continuing to receive Hap payments from Dublin City Council - fear they will all have to move as the homes were constructed without the proper planning permission. Ironically, the tenants say they are delighted with their apartments, which are spacious and airy even though windows are only situated on one side. Stephanie (32), a single mother of one, said she was facing the prospect of having nowhere to go after waiting for a council house for the past nine years. "I will be homeless," she told the Irish Independent last night. She and other tenants met a local councillor yesterday to discuss the situation. But the meeting was fruitless because no-one representing the landlord or developer attended the meeting, said Stephanie. The only information the tenants are getting is through media reports, she added. Elizabeth (19), a single mother of two, said: "No-one was told about any issues with planning permission before we moved in. "It's not fair on the people living here," she said. "I don't want to drag my kids through hostels or hotels or anything like that," she added. "I'm only out of care. I was in care for eight years and I had two small kids while I was in care. "I have nowhere to go. There is no space in any of my family's homes. I have nowhere else I can turn to." Peter, a single father of two, said the tenants felt like they had been hung out to dry through no fault of their own. "I honestly thought somebody could step in and say, 'We have 44 families here, surely to God somebody can do something rather than make them homeless'." Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 2 Vote(s) - 5 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Black [email protected] We All Watching User ID: kaput 03-27-2018 03:05 AM Posts: 15,297 Post: #1 Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Advertisement TURKEYS President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have announced they want to create an army of Islam to wage war against Israel, it has been revealed. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/936...atest-news [ ]SooOOoon[/size] World War 3: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sidesTURKEYS President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have announced they want to create an army of Islam to wage war against Israel, it has been revealed.[ ]SooOOoon[/size] LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:17 AM Post: #2 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Quick, send eleventy Trillion dollars to Israel !!!!!!!!!!!! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:24 AM Post: #3 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides All part of the plan for mid May after Trump has our embassy moved to Jerusalem. Trump is a warmongering sack of sh*t LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:24 AM Post: #4 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:24 AM) All part of the plan for mid May after Trump has our embassy moved to Jerusalem. Trump is a warmongering sack of sh*t & a neocon/israel puppet LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:30 AM Post: #5 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:24 AM) All part of the plan for mid May after Trump has our embassy moved to Jerusalem. Trump is a warmongering sack of sh*t No, he is in collusion with Russia. Pay attention to the constant news and threads. No, he is in collusion with Russia.Pay attention to the constant news and threads. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:44 AM Post: #6 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Russia will lead the attack and many others will join in... Its all predicted - Ezekiel 38 and 39 Unfortunately for them though they will be eliminated once they are inside Israels border...buried in Israel - How fitting... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:51 AM Post: #7 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Using emotionally charged phrases like "omg there is a army of Islam!!" is pretty islamophobic. Islam just wants to be left alone so they can just practice their faith in peace,.safe from the threats coming from you islamophobes. Oh noez! "Army of Islam!" Pffffftt! Get real. They just want to go to their mosques and lead peaceful lives without you assholes making life difficult for them. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 03:53 AM Post: #8 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:30 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:24 AM) All part of the plan for mid May after Trump has our embassy moved to Jerusalem. Trump is a warmongering sack of sh*t No, he is in collusion with Russia. Pay attention to the constant news and threads. Just because you're an idiot that buys the propaganda doesn't mean I am. The Russia rhetoric has been a distraction. And you took the bait. And now you're insisting that I take the bait. LOOK OVER HERE AT MY LEFT HAND while my right hand fists your butthole. Just because you're an idiot that buys the propaganda doesn't mean I am. The Russia rhetoric has been a distraction. And you took the bait. And now you're insisting that I take the bait.LOOK OVER HERE AT MY LEFT HAND while my right hand fists your butthole. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 04:00 AM Post: #9 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Ergodan is the #1 psychopathic dictator in the world that has the willpower and strings to pull off an ATTEMPT to fufill his dream of being top DOG (erDOGan - not a coincidence) in the Islamic world AND to spread his poison worldwide. His a two-faced, back-stabbing LIAR who murdered thousands of his own citizen for political differences and his paranoia. He bought OIL from ISIS! He has zero intention of killing ISIS in Syria. Instead, he wants Syria itself and all of the Kurds dead and to collect ISIS soldiers into his own flock of insanity (conversion). I think he secretly admires ISIS. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 04:00 AM Post: #10 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:17 AM) Quick, send eleventy Trillion dollars to Israel !!!!!!!!!!!! Will you take credit? Will you take credit? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 04:02 AM Post: #11 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 04:00 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:17 AM) Quick, send eleventy Trillion dollars to Israel !!!!!!!!!!!! Will you take credit? Sure, it makes no difference to us if the National Debt is jacked up that much higher, we aren't going to pay it back anyway ! Sure, it makes no difference to us if the National Debt is jacked up that much higher, we aren't going to pay it back anyway ! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 04:25 AM Post: #12 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 04:02 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 04:00 AM) Will you take credit? Sure, it makes no difference to us if the National Debt is jacked up that much higher, we aren't going to pay it back anyway ! That's the plan. That's the plan. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 04:26 AM Post: #13 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:44 AM) Russia will lead the attack and many others will join in... Its all predicted - Ezekiel 38 and 39 Unfortunately for them though they will be eliminated once they are inside Israels border...buried in Israel - How fitting... The synagogue of Satan will be destroyed, Will be a glorious day for mankind. https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/D...-Jerusalem Destruction Of Jerusalem Most Relevant Verses 2 Kings 21:12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. Jeremiah 44:11 Verse Concepts "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am going to set My face against you for woe, even to cut off all Judah. 2 Samuel 24:16 Verse Concepts When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough! Now relax your hand!" And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 1 Chronicles 21:15 Verse Concepts And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, "It is enough; now relax your hand." And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Topics on Destruction Of Jerusalem Destruction Of Jerusalem's Wall 2 Chronicles 36:19 Verse Concepts Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles. More Verses on Destruction Of Jerusalem Jeremiah 9:11 Verse Concepts "I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant." Micah 3:12 Verse Concepts Therefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest. Ezekiel 21:27 Verse Concepts 'A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.' Jeremiah 13:9 Verse Concepts "Thus says the LORD, 'Just so will I destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 19:8 Verse Concepts "I will also make this city a desolation and an object of hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its disasters. Jeremiah 19:11 Verse Concepts and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial. Jeremiah 32:31 "Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, Psalm 137:7 Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, "Raze it, raze it To its very foundation." Jeremiah 26:18 Verse Concepts "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, 'Thus the LORD of hosts has said, "Zion will be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem will become ruins, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest."' Luke 21:20 Verse Concepts "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Jeremiah 44:2 Verse Concepts "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are in ruins and no one lives in them, Jeremiah 44:6 'Therefore My wrath and My anger were poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so they have become a ruin and a desolation as it is this day. Ezekiel 43:3 Verse Concepts And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. Ezekiel 33:21 Verse Concepts Now in the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month, the refugees from Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city has been taken." Psalm 55:11 Verse Concepts Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. 2 Kings 14:13 Verse Concepts Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits. 2 Kings 25:10 Verse Concepts So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:3 Verse Concepts They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." Jeremiah 39:2 Verse Concepts in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was breached. Nehemiah 2:3 Verse Concepts I said to the king, "Let the king live forever Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?" Nehemiah 2:17 Verse Concepts Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach." Psalm 79:1 Verse Concepts O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. Psalm 79:7 For they have devoured Jacob And laid waste his habitation. Lamentations 2:9 Verse Concepts Her gates have sunk into the ground, He has destroyed and broken her bars Her king and her princes are among the nations; The law is no more Also, her prophets find No vision from the LORD. Lamentations 4:11 Verse Concepts The LORD has accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger; And He has kindled a fire in Zion Which has consumed its foundations. Psalm 89:40 Verse Concepts You have broken down all his walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin. Daniel 9:2 Verse Concepts in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Lamentations 2:13 Verse Concepts How shall I admonish you? To what shall I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you? Psalm 74:3 Verse Concepts Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Isaiah 52:9 Verse Concepts Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The synagogue of Satan will be destroyed, Will be a glorious day for mankind.Destruction Of JerusalemMost Relevant Verses2 Kings 21:12therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.Jeremiah 44:11Verse Concepts"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am going to set My face against you for woe, even to cut off all Judah.2 Samuel 24:16Verse ConceptsWhen the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough! Now relax your hand!" And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.1 Chronicles 21:15Verse ConceptsAnd God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, "It is enough; now relax your hand." And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.Topics on Destruction Of JerusalemDestruction Of Jerusalem's Wall2 Chronicles 36:19Verse ConceptsThen they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles.More Verses on Destruction Of JerusalemJeremiah 9:11Verse Concepts"I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant."Micah 3:12Verse ConceptsTherefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.Ezekiel 21:27Verse Concepts'A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.'Jeremiah 13:9Verse Concepts"Thus says the LORD, 'Just so will I destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.Jeremiah 19:8Verse Concepts"I will also make this city a desolation and an object of hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its disasters.Jeremiah 19:11Verse Conceptsand say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.Jeremiah 32:31"Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face,Psalm 137:7Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, "Raze it, raze it To its very foundation."Jeremiah 26:18Verse Concepts"Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, 'Thus the LORD of hosts has said, "Zion will be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem will become ruins, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest."'Luke 21:20Verse Concepts"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.Jeremiah 44:2Verse Concepts"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are in ruins and no one lives in them,Jeremiah 44:6'Therefore My wrath and My anger were poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so they have become a ruin and a desolation as it is this day.Ezekiel 43:3Verse ConceptsAnd it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.Ezekiel 33:21Verse ConceptsNow in the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month, the refugees from Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city has been taken."Psalm 55:11Verse ConceptsDestruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.2 Kings 14:13Verse ConceptsThen Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits.2 Kings 25:10Verse ConceptsSo all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.Nehemiah 1:3Verse ConceptsThey said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire."Jeremiah 39:2Verse Conceptsin the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was breached.Nehemiah 2:3Verse ConceptsI said to the king, "Let the king live forever Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?"Nehemiah 2:17Verse ConceptsThen I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach."Psalm 79:1Verse ConceptsO God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.Psalm 79:7For they have devoured Jacob And laid waste his habitation.Lamentations 2:9Verse ConceptsHer gates have sunk into the ground, He has destroyed and broken her bars Her king and her princes are among the nations; The law is no more Also, her prophets find No vision from the LORD.Lamentations 4:11Verse ConceptsThe LORD has accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger; And He has kindled a fire in Zion Which has consumed its foundations.Psalm 89:40Verse ConceptsYou have broken down all his walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.Daniel 9:2Verse Conceptsin the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.Lamentations 2:13Verse ConceptsHow shall I admonish you? To what shall I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?Psalm 74:3Verse ConceptsTurn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary.Isaiah 52:9Verse ConceptsBreak forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. Friend lop guest User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 05:03 AM Post: #14 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides Erdogan comes from Turkey, where it says in the Bible is the seat of Satan. What else could foment such unfounded hatred? Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.Erdogan comes from Turkey, where it says in the Bible is the seat of Satan. http://www1.cbn.com/700club/seat-satan-ancient-pergamum What else could foment such unfounded hatred? JohnPrewett Registered User User ID: 1337 03-27-2018 05:06 AM Posts: 2,279 Post: #15 RE: Turkey's Erdogan calls for 'ARMY of Islam' to ATTACK Israel on all sides LoP Guest Wrote: (03-27-2018 03:44 AM) Russia will lead the attack and many others will join in... Its all predicted - Ezekiel 38 and 39 Unfortunately for them though they will be eliminated once they are inside Israels border...buried in Israel - How fitting... Bingo, we have a winner ! Bingo, we have a winner ! Advertisement Scene of Buncrana pier tragedy (Inset: Stephanie Knox, the ex-partner of Davitt Walsh, the man who rescued four-month-old Rioghnach Ann McGrotty) A woman who helped at the scene of the Buncrana pier tragedy has said she is "living a horrible nightmare" and insists she is not the only person who has taken legal action. Stephanie Knox, a cardiac physiologist, issued legal proceedings for "loss of earnings and other matters" but says she didn't realise the claim would be brought against the estate of the deceased family. She told Independent.ie that it took her a long time to get help because she was "afraid to talk about the tragic incident." "I've been suffering ever since that day," she told Independent.ie. "It took me a long time to get help because I was afraid to talk about the accident, I just wanted to hide it. This has been a horrible nightmare. And it's not just me claiming that's why it's so hard. Im under so much stress and heartache and I would love it to just blow over. Expand Close Davitt Walsh with his former partner Stephanie Knox / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Davitt Walsh with his former partner Stephanie Knox I knew there was a claim being made against the council and the insurance company...I know what theyre [the family] going through is hard." Ms Knox claims she was aware proceedings would be issued against Donegal County Council and the insurance company, but not the famly. Expand Close Sean McGrotty with his partner Louise, four-month-old Rionaghac-Ann, and sons Mark (11), right, and Evan (8) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sean McGrotty with his partner Louise, four-month-old Rionaghac-Ann, and sons Mark (11), right, and Evan (8) Louise James, who lost her partner, Mr McGrotty, two sons, a sister and her mother in the tragedy, has also sued both the council and the estate. Noel McGrotty, Sean McGrottys 86-year-old father, told Donegal Now he received the letter notifying him of the legal proceedings last week. Expand Close Ruth Daniels / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ruth Daniels It was a private delivery and I had to sign for it; it was a big envelope full of legal documents - hard for the ordinary man in the street to understand, he said. Then I saw the name Knox and realised it was from the girl that took the baby when she was brought out of the water that day. Expand Close Louise James after the inquest / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Louise James after the inquest A solicitor for Ms Knox told The Irish News that "she did not send any letter to the McGrotty family". Maeliosa Barr added: "She is making a claim, on the advice of her legal team, against Donegal County Council and the estate for injuries sustained. Expand Close Davitt Walsh, who swam out into the harbour in an effort to save six occupants of the Audi Q7 that plunged off a pier / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Davitt Walsh, who swam out into the harbour in an effort to save six occupants of the Audi Q7 that plunged off a pier Barr & Company Solicitors told Independent.ie that they had no further comment to make at this stage. Sean McGrotty (49), his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels (59) and her daughter Jodie-Lee (14), died when the SUV vehicle they were travelling in slid on algae and slipped into the water at Lough Swilly on March 20, 2016. A post-mortem examination found Mr McGrotty was more than three times over the legal drink-driving limit when the accident happened. Ms Knox is the ex-partner of Davitt Walsh, the man who rescued four-month-old Rioghnach Ann McGrotty from the car in which five members of her family drowned. Mr Walsh swam to the SUV and rescued the baby before it went under water. It is understood he is not taking any legal action in relation to the tragic incident. He then swam back to the pier and handed Rioghnach to Ms Knox, who wrapped the toddler in a blanket and waited for emergency services to arrive. Her sister posted on Facebook that a number of people who were present on the pier on the day of the tragedy were lodging claims and her sister then sought advice from a solicitor. That day has ruined her life forever, witnessing five people die in front of her, and her life will never be the same, she wrote. Last week marked the second anniversary of the tragedy. Irish students who participated in the J1 programme in the last four years are being urged to apply for up to $800 (644) in tax refunds. Tax refund specialists Taxback.com said students who travelled to the United States in 2014 have just three weeks left to claim their refunds. The deadline is April 17, and the tax experts say 2018 could be the last year students claim the tax break due to changes introduced by President Trump last year. Eileen Devereux, Commercial Director of Taxback.com, said: "In introducing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, President Trump eliminated the personal exemption for tax years 2018 through 2025. "This is likely to affect the thousands of Irish students who go to the US every summer to work. Were calling on anyone who took part in this programme over the last 4 years to come forward & get their refund particularly anyone who was there in the summer of 2014 as their window to claim is closing soon after April 17th they will no longer be eligible for a refund". Around 7,000 students participated in the popular programme last year, which enables Irish people to work abroad in the US and Canada for the summer months. Taxback.com advised anyone travelling to the US this year that a number of different taxes will be deducted from their income. As a J1 student in the US, they are considered a non-resident for tax purposes. "People are always put off from doing tax returns because they see them as tedious and time-consuming but they really dont have to be," Ms Devereux said. Local councillors have expressed their disappointment after it was announced that the city bike scheme will not be extended into Cork suburbs. The National Transport Authority has ruled out the extension of the public city bike scheme due to very significant increases in the cost of the scheme. Speaking on Newstalk this morning, Peter Horgan, the local area representative for Labour in the South East Ward, expressed his dissatisfaction with the NTAs decision. Im definitely not happy, in 2019 we are about to see the largest expansion of the city in years. We have over 73pc of people commuting from Cork to the city. Its shown in Dublin that the bike scheme is highly popular. There were over 280,000 users of the bike scheme in Cork city last year. There are 31 bike stations in Cork city with 330 bikes available. Locals are calling for the scheme to be extended to areas such as Blackrock, Mahon, Blackpool and Douglas. Deputy chief executive of the NTA Hugh Creegan described the expansion as challenging from an operational cost perspective in response to a parliamentary question earlier this month. As bike stations move further out from a central area, the flow of bike users generally becomes more unbalanced at each station, requiring a lot of bike redistribution by truck. This means an increasing level of operational cost associated with this redistribution, he said. Mr Horgan argued that extending the bike scheme would be beneficial for the county, as not everyone can afford a bike on a cycle to work scheme. I think it would reduce congestion big time, increase tourists and make it easier for students to get to CIT. The heartbroken mother of 14-year-old Elisha Gault has paid tribute to her "beautiful" daughter. Grainne Gault has thanked the search teams that recovered her child's body from the River Suir after eight days of extensive searches across south Tipperary and beyond. "Our baby girl has been recovered," she wrote online. "Thank you all for your efforts in bringing her home to us, so we can now lay her to rest." As thousands of tributes poured in online, Ms Gault then posted a smiling picture of her daughter. "My beautiful, funny, intelligent baby girl Elisha Gault," she wrote. Elisha was last seen shortly after 10pm on St Patrick's Day on Dillon Bridge in her hometown of Carrick-on-Suir. Expand Close Grainne Gault / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Grainne Gault Flowers were laid at the site yesterday morning, with many people stopping briefly to bless themselves or pay their respects as they passed by. Hundreds of search volunteers supported the massive operation to find the schoolgirl, before her body was found on Sunday evening. Parish priest Fr Paul Waldron told the Irish Independent that "a blanket of anxiety" had covered the community. "On behalf of the faith community of Carrick-on-Suir and surrounding areas, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Gault family at this most tragic of times," he said. "There is in this community an extraordinary sense of care and mutual support, which always manifests itself at times of difficulty and tragedy, never more so than in these recent days." The principal of Comeragh College, where Elisha was a pupil, said she "will be missed by all who knew her". "This is a terrible tragedy for her family, our school and our community," said Kevin Langton. "We are deeply saddened by this news." River Rescue and Civil Defence search for Elisha Gault on the river in Carrick-on-Suir last week Flower tributes to Elisha Gault on Dillon Bridge over the River Suir at Carrick-on-Suir yesterday. Photo: Colin ORiordan THE mother of tragic Tipperary teen Elisha Gault (14) heartbreakingly vowed that she will carry her late daughter out of the world having lovingly carried her into the world. White flowers will also be dropped into the River Suir when the funeral cortege reaches Dillon Bridge in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary - the last place where Elisha was spotted. Elisha's mother, Grainne, said she now had "a hole in my heart that will never be filled" as she confirmed that her 14 year old daughter will be buried buried after Requiem Mass in her former home village of Piltown in Kilkenny on Thursday. Elisha, whose body was recovered from the River Suir on Sunday after she had been missing for eight days, will be buried after Requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday from the Church of the Assumption in Piltown. Expand Close Flower tributes to Elisha Gault on Dillon Bridge over the River Suir at Carrick-on-Suir yesterday. Photo: Colin ORiordan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flower tributes to Elisha Gault on Dillon Bridge over the River Suir at Carrick-on-Suir yesterday. Photo: Colin ORiordan She will rest in repose at her residence at New Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary from 12 noon tomorrow (Wednesday) until she is removed to Piltown church at 10am on Thursday. After Mass, the teen will be buried in the adjoining cemetery. Expand Close River Rescue and Civil Defence search for Elisha Gault on the river in Carrick-on-Suir last week / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp River Rescue and Civil Defence search for Elisha Gault on the river in Carrick-on-Suir last week Her heartbroken family has asked that, instead of flowers, mourners make a donation to Carrick-on-Suir River Rescue or the Edge Youth Centre of which she was a proud member. Elisha's mother, Grainne, said they were totally devastated by how the eight day search for the teen had ended. "It is with great sadness that I find myself in the worst position in my life as I announce the arrangements of my baby girl," she said. "My gorgeous, beautiful Elisha had a genuine soul but she was a troubled girl for reasons I won't discuss at this moment in time." Expand Close The search for Elisha Gault in the River Suir. Photo: Dylan Vaughan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The search for Elisha Gault in the River Suir. Photo: Dylan Vaughan "She had a very loving family, friends and Edge Youth Club who (had) done their utmost to heal and support her but unfortunately we were not successful." Grainne issued a Facebook plea for greater support for mental health services in Ireland. "Mental health is a serious and desperate issue that has gripped not only our country but it is an epidemic all over the world." "We need to learn a better way, we need compassion and understanding, we need to let go of the negativity and fill our hearts with love and laughter." In a moving plea, Grainne asked people not to respond to any negativity in commentary they may come across. "Do not respond, react or let any negative energy flow on the back of them," she said. "We also walk among children, teenagers and adults alike who are broken inside - they need our sympathy not our reactions." Grainne said her family were overwhelmed by the incredible support they had received - particularly from search volunteers since Elisha vanished on St Patrick's Day. "I have a hole in my heart that will never be filled - she (Elisha) was her own person and I just wish we had the answer that could have gave her inner strength." Grainne vowed to make Elisha's funeral special. "We will carry our baby girl - I carried her into the world and I will carry her out again," she promised. "We will make our way up to Dillon Bridge where we will take a moment to pause and reflect and anyone who likes can throw a white flower off the bridge into the river." "We want you all to celebrate her laugh - we want laughter and music because she so loved her tunes." "(Elisha) always wanted to make everyone happy with her messing so I want to end the day in that spirit - I want the presence of Elisha, our wee Egg, to be felt in the most positive way possible." Following Elisha's burial, a special celebration of her life will be held in the Swan Club in Carrick-on-Suir. Grainne also paid an emotional tribute to the search volunteers who helped locate the remains of Elisha after a massive search operation. Grainne had used social media for eight days in a desperate bid to focus public attention on locating her missing daughter and bringing her home safe and well. Tragically, Elisha's body was recovered from the River Suir by the Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue Rescue 117, around 7pm on Sunday evening. The teen, who vanished on St Patrick's Day, was found some 8km downstream of Carrick-on-Suir at a stretch of river known as Killowen and which divides Waterford and Kilkenny between Fiddown and Mooncoin. Grainne posted a special photo of Elisha on her Facebook page and entitled it: "My beautiful, funny, intelligent baby." In her social media post, Grainne admitted her entire family had been left heartbroken by how the search ended. Elisha's school, Comeragh College, opened in Carrick-on-Suir despite the Easter holidays so that shocked students and parents could receive support and counselling over the tragedy. Comeragh College Principal Kevin Langton described Elisha's death as "a terrible tragedy." "We are deeply saddened. Our sympathy and thoughts are with Elisha's family and friends," he said. "Elisha was a third year student with us and will be greatly missed by all who knew her." "We have been in contact with her parents and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time." "Offers of support have been pouring in and are greatly appreciated." "Our school has implemented our critical incident management plan - psychologists from the National Education Psychological Service (NEPS) have been in contact with us today to support and advise teachers in their efforts to assist our students at this time." "Our teachers have been helping students to deal with the tragic event - the school has been open to students and parents to support them and to offer them advice and guidance." Elisha was positively identified at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) shortly after her body was recovered from the River Suir. The Office of the State Pathologist was notified and a full post mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted. Elisha's remains have now been released back to her family. Gardai are currently liaising with Elisha's parents, Grainne and Cameron, and her extended family who have supported a massive search operation for her over the past eight days. The incident is being treated as a tragedy. The devastated Gault family are now being comforted by friends and neighbours. Elisha's discovery came just hours after her heartbroken family had pleaded with the public to contact Gardai if they spotted anything unusual, no matter how trivial, as they marked one week since her disappearance. Elisha's heartbroken parents, Grainne and Cameron, were supported by family, neighbours and friends as they marked one week since the teen disappeared on St Patrick's Day. Elisha left her home at New Street in Carrick-on-Suir between 9pm and 10pm on St Patrick's Day. She was last spotted on Dillon Bridge, not far from her home, around 10.10pm. Elisha was alone when last seen on CCTV camera footage. The teen had left home without a coat and without her mobile phone. She did not have much cash with her. Search volunteers had for a week combed the fast-flowing River Suir with divers conducting finger-tip searches of the riverbed and riverbanks just below the town. Last weekend, searches were assisted by the deployment of special side-scan sonar to examine the river bed downstream of the Tipperary town. The special sonar device, which resembles a torpedo, can be used to examine specific stretches of the river bed as well as underwater channels and holes. The main search focused over the past week on a 1km stretch of the River Suir downstream from Dillon Bridge. However, over recent days the search had extended to a more challenging search area between 2km and 5km downstream of the town. Carrick-on-Suir River Rescue were supported by the Civil Defence and the specialist Garda Water Unit which deployed its operational unit on the town quays. The search has also been supported by volunteer search units from Clonmel, Waterford and Nenagh. Divers were supported by Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBS) which shuttled up and down the River Suit all day between search zones. Grainne, who works in a beauty salon in Carrick-on-Suir, had posted daily social media updates on the search for her daughter. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said families in all their shapes and forms should be celebrated when Pope Francis visits Ireland next August. Mr Varadkar said the Government will relay this message to the organisers of the Popes visit which coincides with a world meeting of families. He told the Dail that the Government is very much of the view that there are many different types of family and all types of family should be celebrated. The Taoiseach added that this was all in line with the Governments commitment to personal liberty and equality before the law. That view would be relayed by Irelands embassy to the Vatican but would not seek to impose government views on a religious body. Mr Varadkar said families took many forms. These include the traditional nuclear family, the man married to the woman with children, but also one parent families, families led by grandparents and families led by same sex couples. And we will make it known in our meetings with the organisers that that is the Governments view, that families in all their shapes and forms should be celebrated. Thats in line with the Governments commitment to personal liberty and equality before the law, Mr Varadkar said. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Niall Carson/PA) Were also committed to freedom of religion and separation of church and State so while we will express that view were not going to try to impose that view on a religious body, the Taoiseach added. Read More Mr Varadkar was responding to questions from Fianna Fail TD, Robert Troy, who also said he was concerned the Catholic Church might only welcome traditional families to the meeting in Dublin which Pope Francis is due to attend on August 25 and 26. Mr Troy said he had personally signed up as a volunteer for the event. He noted that originally the Catholic Church produced pamphlets and booklets demonstrating more than the traditional Irish family. But theyve moved away from welcoming the non-traditional Irish family. And given the fact that it was a country one of the first to have a referendum to establish marriage equality in the gay community I think that is regrettable, Deputy Troy said. He asked the Taoiseach to use his offices through the embassy to make that point known. I think its only right and proper that members of all families, not just traditional families would be welcome to participate in the world meeting of families, Deputy Troy added. The Taoiseach compared the visit to the Papal visit in 1979 and Queen Elizabeths visit in 2011. He told Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, it was appropriate that the Government should meet the security costs of Pope Franciss visit and the vast majority of people would welcome this. THE government's controversial Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) is to be "wound down" by July, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Cabinet. It comes after Department of the Taoiseach secretary general Martin Fraser conducted a review of the unit which has received heavy criticism from opposition politicians in recent weeks. Mr Fraser's probe is understood to have been discussed by ministers this morning. Sources said Mr Varadkar said that the SCU is to be "wound down" by July. Staff from the unit are to be redeployed elsewhere. The SCU, headed by PR guru John Concannon, had a Budget of 5m and employed 15 staff. Mr Fraser's review found no evidence of a breach of the Civil Service Code by civil servants in the SCU, whether by seeking favourable coverage for Fine Gael candidates or otherwise. The Taoiseach's Department said in a statement: "Having taken a wide range of issues into consideration, as set out in the review report, the Secretary General has recommended that the Strategic Communications Unit should be wound down. "And that the Department of the Taoiseach should revert to a reformed Government Information Service, with a smaller budget, less staff and a more limited role than the SCU. "The review also recommended a number of steps to be taken across Government Departments to preserve valuable and necessary reforms to ensure value for money, professionalisation and modernisation in government communications activity. "There will be a transition period until July 2018 for the implementation of all of the recommended next steps as set out in the Review." The opposition has claimed that the SCU, set up by Mr Varadkar last year to modernise government communications, has become a 'spin unit' for the government. There was criticism of how the unit promoted the government's Project Ireland 2040 plans amid claims that paid-for coverage promoted Fine Gael candidates. Such allegations were denied by Mr Varadkar. Earlier this month Mr Varadkar conceded that the SCU had become a "distraction from the work of government". He told RTE at the time that abolishing the unit was one of the options being reviewed by Mr Fraser. Yulia and Sergei Skripal were poisoned in the UK A single Russian diplomat is expected to be expelled from Ireland as part of the Europe-wide solidarity being shown with the UK. Tanaiste Simon Coveney will brief the Cabinet today on an 'options paper' compiled by gardai and the Defence Forces. Sources say he will recommend that Ireland follow 18 countries, including the United States, Germany and France, by taking action against Moscow. The move will be met with swift retaliation from the Kremlin, which denies any involvement in the poisoning of an ex-spy Sergei Skripal on British soil earlier this month. Russia's Ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov has already warned that any expulsions would be viewed as an "unfriendly action". The Irish Independent understands the Russian embassy in south Dublin has had no contact from the Department of Foreign Affairs yet, but is on stand-by. Expand Close Close to death: Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Close to death: Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei Officially Russia has 17 accredited diplomats based in Ireland along with an unknown number of support staff. By contrast, Ireland has just nine diplomats in Moscow. A wave of co-ordinated action by EU and Nato countries yesterday was the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War. Warning of an "unacceptably high" number of Russian spies in the US, the Trump administration said 60 diplomats would be expelled - all said to be Russian intelligence agents working under diplomatic cover. Expand Close A vehicle of interest wrapped in blue tarpaulin is removed from Larkhill Road in Durrington, Salisbury, on the back of an Army lorry, as the investigation into the suspected nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia continues. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A vehicle of interest wrapped in blue tarpaulin is removed from Larkhill Road in Durrington, Salisbury, on the back of an Army lorry, as the investigation into the suspected nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia continues. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire The EU states telling Russian diplomats to leave their countries are: Germany (4), France (4), Poland (4), Lithuania (3), Czech Republic (3), Denmark (2), Italy (2), Spain (2), Netherlands (2), Estonia (1), Romania (1), Croatia (1), Finland (1) and Latvia (1). Meanwhile, Australia has become the latest country to expel Russian diplomats in a show of support for Britain over the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Expand Close Yulia Skripal. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Yulia Skripal. Photo: AP Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called it a "disgraceful" and "brazen" attack and said his country "cannot and will not stand by and watch when the sovereignty of our allies and partners is threatened". Earlier, Mr Turnbull and minister for foreign affairs Julie Bishop issued a joint statement saying two Russian diplomats identified as "undeclared intelligence officers" would be directed to leave the country within seven days. Ireland previously ordered a Russian official to leave the State in 2011 following an investigation into the use of false Irish passports by Russian spies based in the US. However, relations have been mostly benign in the interim, although trade has fallen significantly in recent years due to a tit-for-tat sanctions war at EU level as a result of Russian military action in Crimea. Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in a critical condition after they were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury on March 4. British Prime Minister Theresa May said Russia had "spectacularly failed" in efforts to "divide and intimidate the Western alliance". She also claimed to have evidence that Russia has investigated ways of distributing nerve agents for assassinations. Leo Varadkar said his departments five million euro Strategic Communications Unit had become a 'distraction' (Niall Carson/PA) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has hit out at opposition figures who have been critical of his controversial communications unit, saying they are "slinging mud in the hope some of it will stick". He claimed attempts by opposition parties to have the Strategic Communications Unit disbanded blurs the lines between politics and the civil service and that the Dail should not have a say in how Government departments are run. Taoiseach Varadkar spoke as the Dail looks set to vote for the abolition of the controversial Strategic Communications Unit after Fianna Fail and the Labour Party indicated their support for a Sinn Fein motion. Mr Varadkar made his comments in the Dail this evening after flying back from a meeting in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I I believe the behaviour of the opposition on this matter does not reflect well on their behaviour or their standards. Mud is slung simply in the hope that some will stick," he said. "Decent hard-working civil servants and public servants have had their probity questioned and have even been accused of corruption and been accused of being involved in party politics, even though there is no evidence to support that. "I could go on but I think it is obvious the opposition has no substance, has few alternative policies and even fewer solutions. There is no alternative to this government so they just go on the attack instead." Earlier, in his absence, Tanaiste Simon Coveney, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, Health Minister Simon Harris and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy defended the unit on the Governments behalf. Mr Coveney accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy, arguing that former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was supportive of the SCU when it was suggested it might help pass a referendum on Irish unity. "Good clear communications is a virtue of a Government," he said. The Tanaiste said government departments are spending 170m a year on communications. "The whole point of this, was to spend some money to ensure that we provided value for money in those efforts," he said. Similarly Mr Donohoe attacked Sinn Fein, saying criticism of the awareness campaign for Project Ireland 2040 was because the party dont like that there is a plan. "I didn't hear them make the same point when the government was using the SCU to provide information about benefits which might be available to the unemployed. "At the heart of the politics of Sinn Fein is creating the atmosphere of permanent crisis, and that nothing in our country is capable of getting any better, he said. Read More Expand Close Pearse Doherty. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pearse Doherty. Photo: Tom Burke Tabling the motion, Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said the Taoiseach and his ministers have an addiction to spin. He said the unit represents a shameful misuse of the public purse" when money would be better spent on schools, hospitals and housing. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said: Given the scale of current problems in vital areas such as hospital waiting lists, homelessness, non-functioning Northern institutions and Brexit it is regrettable that we have to spend valuable parliamentary time discussing government communications. However there is no alternative because the Taoiseachs approach to this issue is central to how he is running the government and to the governments efforts to push media coverage away from more serious issues. Weve had nine months of this behaviour and its time for it to end. He said the Taoiseach needed to face up to the squalid reality that the Government has sought to use public money to compromise the boundary between public information and propaganda. Mr Varadkar has already asked the countrys most senior civil servant to review the operation of the SCU. It is expected that Martin Fraser will conclude that change to the units operation are needed but not its abolition. However, the Fianna Fail leader if the motion is carried on Thursday then Mr Varadkar faces a choice of respecting the will of the Dail or carrying on regardless. If the Taoiseach is sincere in wanting to talk about substance rather than spin then he should close down his new marketing unit and devote the staffing and funding to tackling real issues. Alternatively the Taoiseach can drag the controversy on. It is his choice, he said. The Social Democrats have appealed to Tanaiste Simon Coveney to demonstrate evidence of a need to expel a Russian diplomat in the wake of a European response to the Salisbury attack. While the partys co-leaders said there are concerns over the alleged use of a nerve agent on a former Russian spy, they described Irelands role in taking action as unprecedented. Roisin Shorthall and Catherine Murphy called on the Tanaiste to show what evidence he has that there is a need to revoke accreditation and the diplomatic status granted to a member of the Russian Embassy staff in Dublin. They also raised questions about the Department of Justice, asking if there are required structures in place to interpret security concerns effectively. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has met with the Russian Ambassador and informed him that the accreditation of a member of his staff is required to leave Ireland. Ms Shorthall appealed to Mr Coveney to clarify why such action must be taken. If there is strong evidence there we are very much open to that and we would very much like to hear from the Tanaiste what evidence he has in his possession. Of course it does raise other issues about our capability in this country to actually analyse any security information or evidence that comes to the attention of government. Ms Murphy asked if we have the know how to interpret such evidence. If there is evidence there behind the scenes, whether that is coming from European sources or the UK and it has been analysed and there are grounds there, then yes we are open to action being taken, she said. There have been issues in the past, for example over the use of Irish passports. We are certainly open to listening to what evidence there is. Our worry is where do we get the evidence from if we have not got a service that is dedicated enough, robust enough and invested in enough to actually give us the evidence we can evaluate. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has paid tribute to the former Dail chairman, Sean Treacy, saying he was best remembered as a man who put manners on TDs. Members of all parties and Independent TDs paid warm tribute to former Tipperary South deputy, Sean Treacy, who died at the weekend at the age of 93. Mr Treacy, a former trade union leader was a TD for 36 years who served as Dail chairman, or Ceann Comhairle, from 1973 until 1977 and again from 1987 until 1997. There were expressions of sympathy for the family of Mr Treacy, the people of Tipperary, and his former colleagues in the Labour Party. The Taoiseach said he never met Mr Treacy but remembered as a young man watching politics on television and was impressed by Mr Treacys air of authority and booming voice. Mr Varadkar said putting manners on TDs was a hard job. Sometimes even Taoisigh need to be reined in, Mr Varadkar said. Read More Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, said Mr Treacy was Ceann Comhairle when he first entered the Dail in June 1989. He was pledged to be fair to all TDs but he could also mow down unruly deputies. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute to his memory and expressed her partys sympathy to his family, the people of Tipperary, and former Labour Party colleagues. Labour leader, Brendan Howlin, recalled him as a good party colleague for 10 years. He also fondly recalled his pride at being accorded the freedom of his native town of Clonmel. Tipperary Independent TD, Michael Lowry, said Mr Treacy had conducted his duties with authority and decorum. He recalled his welcome for US President Bill Clinton and South African leader, Nelson Mandella, to the Dail. Victims who were abused by the late paedophile priest Malachy Finnegan have been urged to contact a dedicated PSNI team. A number of those abused by Finnegan in St Colman's College in Newry have already spoken out publicly about his conduct there between 1967 to 1987. Clem Leneghan, the youngest brother of former President Mary McAleese, has revealed he suffered psychological and physical abuse at the hands of Finnegan and has called for an independent inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse at the college. Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy has also spoken out about how he was savagely beaten by Finnegan. He also claimed the priest attempted to sexually groom him. Although the disgraced cleric died in 2002 and can no longer be held accountable for his crimes, the PSNI's public protection branch said other areas needed to be investigated. These include taking action against any living offender from that time and assessing any current child safeguarding risks. Steps will also be taken to establish if others were committing abuse at St Colman's at this time and pinpointing when authorities became aware of Finnegan's behaviour and what action was taken, including informing the police. Any abuse victims of Finnegan or others at St Colman's from this time have been asked to call the PSNI non-emergency number 101. The PSNI warned that at no time should the name of any victim, offender or witness be disclosed on social media as it could damage future legal proceedings. Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey has faced serious criticism in the aftermath of the revelations about Finnegan, and quit over his handling of the crisis. He conducted Finnegan's funeral Mass. Yesterday, Pope Francis accepted his resignation and appointed Bishop of Raphoe Philip Boyce in a caretaker role in Dromore. Daddy's girls are on the rise as more daughters are talking to their dads about their problems than ever before, ONS data shows. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2017 45 per cent of girls talked to their fathers about things that mattered to them more than once a week, compared to 35 per cent in 2009. Experts suggested that modern fathers were increasingly involved in children's early upbringing, and this translated into a closer relationship as the child grows up. Dr Bonamy Oliver, senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London, said: "Parent-child relationships in the early years have important associations with these same relationships down the line. "The last couple of decades has seen a gradual increase in fathers' involvement in their young children for many families, so it may be that this increased early involvement is paying off for dads in terms of closer relationships with their older children and teens than before." Dawn Snape, of the ONS, said: "Its encouraging to see that among girls especially, family relationships are improving. "Girls are now more likely to talk to their fathers about things that matter to them than previously. "Use of social networking is on the increase among children among girls more than boys." The proportion who said they confided in their mother stayed relatively static, at around 70 per cent of girls and 60 per cent of boys, though the number of boys who said they could speak to either their mother or their father about important issues has increased slightly since 2009. Girls were also significantly less likely to argue with their mothers than in the past, with just 25 per cent of 10 to 15-year-olds saying they did this more than once a week, compared to 30 per cent in 2010. Last year was the first year more boys than girls said they argued with their mothers more than once a week, with the proportion of boys saying they did this rising to 26.3 per cent. Girls are driving a rise in social media use, the data suggests, with 17.4 per cent reporting spending more than three hours on a social network on a normal school day. This is a significant rise from the proportion which said the same in 2010 to 2011, when 12.1 per cent said they were heavy social media users. The data, which examines different aspects of children's general wellbeing, also shows that children are less happy with their friendships than in the past, with 80 per cent of girls and 81 per cent of boys reporting high or very high happiness with their friends, compared to 84.8 per cent for girls and 86.8 per cent for boys in 2015. The ONS said: "Evidence from other sources does suggest that children may be struggling more with social relationships. "For example, ChildLine has reported an increasing number of calls from children and young people about loneliness and now have a call category specifically devoted to this to monitor the trend more closely going forward." Previous reports have suggested that there may be a link between heavy social media use and unhappiness, as children are more likely to compare themselves and their lives to their friends. Chris Sherwood, chief executive at relationship support charity, Relate said: With more than one in ten young people spending three hours a day or longer on social networking sites more research is needed into the impact on relationships and wellbeing. "Whilst some studies suggest social media can have a positive impact on young peoples wellbeing if used in in the right way, there are also risks such as cyber-bullying and feelin Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] The brouhaha about personal data from Facebook being harvested by organisations like Cambridge Analytica shows the power of social media. Its role in gathering information from a personality quiz - available on a Facebook app - to influence the outcome of Brexit and the US General election has caused uproar. The fact that 50 million accounts were allegedly mined, if reports of the most recent activity is accurate, is incomprehensible. A simple search of the internet when I entered the words "Facebook Twitter which is better?" revealed some interesting viewpoints. For instance, according to the business website thebalance.com "Facebook allows you to share a lot more information at a glance than Twitter does. You can embed images, videos, and even create interactive pages. Facebook is also a great place to offer colourful coupons, article excerpts, and incentives such as 'like' our page and get 10pc off or we will 'like' you back. The bottom line is that they really cannot be compared. The best way to take advantage of social networking is to use both Facebook and Twitter and treat each as a separate entity with the potential to reach markets in very different ways." With such personal information readily available why should anybody be surprised that use was made of this asset to influence voters? The groups involved in this were initially described as "right wing" but then it emerged that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton used similar data to engineer particular political outcomes for each. They were lauded for their innovative use of modern communication tools as they siphoned off vast amounts of data and developed knowledge about the preferences and even the TV-viewing habits of swathes of the population. This enabled them to target certain viewers at specific times with focussed advertising. Game developers and even the dating app Tinder used similar tools. Even the academic world is guilty of using data from Facebook. In 2008, Harvard University and UCLA researchers released a large dataset of all its students compiled from their Facebook accounts for research purposes. In 2014, Cornell University published research claiming to have manipulated the emotions of over 700,000 students using data from their Facebook accounts and published the paper titled 'Experimental evidence of massive-scale emotional contagion through social networks' in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. There was an outcry at the time that the data was being used to manipulate groups in this way but according to Kalev Leetaru, a senior Fellow at George Washington University Centre for Cyber and Homeland Security, writing in Forbes last week, little has changed regarding the release of data for research purposes, despite claims a few years ago that its use was more tightly regulated than previously so that privacy boundaries were no longer breached. In 2017, according to Leetaru, a major breech occurred in Australia when over six million children were studied to evaluate when they were at their most vulnerable and experiencing feelings of worthlessness and failure in order to target them for advertisers. The proposal was not ethically reviewed. Elections and advertising aside, there are many prying eyes who on a daily basis might want information about individuals. For example, prospective employers may want to check out data on those whom they are considering for positions in their companies. Insurance companies, faced with claims of personal injuries following accidents, might want to check the Facebook accounts of claimants for disparities between their claims for injuries and their alleged physical incapacity. And there is a debate within psychiatry and psychology about whether we should access the accounts of our patients to assist us in compiling their history. These are largely in the public and they may provide mental health professionals with vital information that has been concealed from us. For example, a patient assures her therapist that she is progressing well and that she is no longer suicidal, while on her Facebook page she writes that she is still in a black hole and feeling desperate enough to want to die. Is it not valid to access such accounts to establish if this woman is well again or just faking? It could save her life. It is clear that over the past decade that the personal has become political and Big Brother has arrived. If the boundaries between public and private life are breached then there are no sacred places to which the person can escape. With great foresight, the late Leonard Cohen wrote in his song 'The Future': "There'll be the breaking of the ancient Western Code/ Your private life will suddenly explode/ Things are going to slide/ Slide in all directions./The blizzard, the blizzard of the world has crossed the threshold/ And overturned the order of the soul". Those who believe Simon Coveney's change of heart on abortion was a cold, calculated political decision are wrong. No minister ever wants to find themselves performing an about-turn on the front of the newspapers, especially on an issue that they have been so clear cut on in the past. Reading the Tanaiste's piece in the Irish Independent yesterday, it's clear that he demanded legislative assurances from colleagues in Government. "This is not an easy issue, many of us have seen our views evolve as the facts and cruel inadequacy of our current laws are exposed," he wrote. The safeguards to be signed-off at Cabinet today are enough to bring him reluctantly into the large camp of Fine Gael TDs who support abortion up to 12 weeks. While it was a personal rather than a political leap for Mr Coveney, it does make life a lot easier for himself, the Taoiseach and the Health Minister. The idea of having your deputy publicly on the opposite side of such a sensitive debate was going to prove incredibly difficult for Leo Varadkar. Each time one of the Fine Gael princes spoke on the issue, journalists would be running to the other for an alternative view. Mr Varadkar has repeatedly said Fine Gael should be a "warm house and large tent" for diverse views - but those who oppose 12 weeks are now firmly in a minority. As we prepare to embark on the full-blown campaign, Fianna Fail finds itself split down the middle on the issue, whereas Fine Gael is now firmly in favour of 'yes'. As things stand, 23 Fine Gael TDs are supporting abortion up to 12 weeks, 10 say 'no' and 17 are undeclared. But there is no real obvious leader of the conservatives. Those who might have looked to Mr Coveney as a key person on the pro-life side no longer have a figurehead. The Tanaiste's shift in attitude is likely to bring many of those 'undeclared' across the line. "It seems like it's only going to be warm for people who change their views," said one senior Fine Gael figure yesterday. "Does the Fine Gael leadership look like isolating its members now as it now seems no Cabinet minister represents them and instead it's only one or two junior ministers?" The list of ministers now openly opposing repeal and 12 weeks is very limited, with juniors Patrick O'Donovan and John Paul Phelan the most vocal. We have yet to hear anything close to a solid view from former Taoiseach Enda Kenny or ex-finance minister Michael Noonan. Bearing in mind Sinn Fein's current policy opposes access to abortions up to 12 weeks, and the Labour Party is now down to just seven TDs, it means that Fine Gael is clearly the most liberal of the main parties. Leo Varadkar had better hope that his grassroots are as 'modern' as him. Caroline Flack attends The BRIT Awards 2018 held at The O2 Arena on February 21, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) Caroline Flack attends the TRIC Awards 2018 held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on March 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images) TV presenter Caroline Flack (38) has reportedly split from new boyfriend Andrew Brady, amid claims he "was being dishonest with her". The pair went public with their romance in February after two months of dating and it was alleged that he had cheated on her during a nightclub appearance, which he denies. Andrew (27) had been pictured moving into Caroline's London home last week. Their relationship had been moving quickly apace as he recently met her entire family at her father's 70th birthday. Flack is particularly protective over her private life and she was uncharacteristically forthcoming on social media about her burgeoning romance, sharing sweet selfies with her new beau, but has since deleted all traces of him from her feed. Expand Close Caroline Flack attends the TRIC Awards 2018 held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on March 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Flack attends the TRIC Awards 2018 held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on March 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images) "Caroline ended things with Andrew after realising that he hadnt been entirely honest with her. She felt like she couldn't trust him. Things started to unravel after the first cheating claim," an insider told The Sun. The former couple went public earlier this month and soon after, it was alleged that Brady was unfaithful to the Love Island host with a woman who spoke a British tabloid. He vehemently denied any wrongdoing, saying: "I have never seen this woman in my life." This is the tiny frog that travelled more than 4,000 miles on a bunch of bananas destined for sale in the UK. It was discovered in a Blackburn branch of Tesco and a supermarket worker, unsure of what to do with the amphibian discovery, called the RSPCA. The creature is usually found in the rainforest of the Dominican Republic. Expand Close Tree frog found in Tesco bananas (RSPCA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tree frog found in Tesco bananas (RSPCA) The little tree frog was confined inside a bag of bananas so we asked her to make some tiny air holes in the plastic and add some water for moisture and keep him confined until we could attend, animal collection officer John Greaves said. The amphibian must have had quite the shock when he emerged in a Lancashire supermarket considering hes used to more tropical climates usually. Mr Greaves collected the stowaway and took him to Reptilia, a specialist exotics rescue centre in Ossett, West Yorkshire. The staff there checked him over and identified him as a Dominican Republic tree frog, Mr Greaves added. That means hes definitely a long way from home more than 4,200 miles, in fact. Hes a little skinny following his ordeal but he should make a full recovery. Staff at Reptilia will continue to take care of the frog. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been admitted to a Jerusalem hospital with a high temperature and a cough. A statement from the Israeli government quoted his personal physician as saying he would undergo tests. The Ynet news website said Mr Netanyahu, 68, suffered a throat infection two weeks ago. It said he would spend the night at the hospital under observation. Mr Netanyahu has been battling a slew of corruption allegations in recent months, and police have recommended he be indicted on charges related to two cases. He has denied any wrongdoing. A question about citizenship status on the 2020 US census has been criticised by Democrats who say it will intimidate immigrants and discourage them from participating. The population count taken every 10 years is required by the US Constitution and used to determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives as well as how federal money is distributed to local communities. It helps communities determine where to build schools, hospitals, grocery stores and more. The US Congress delegates the authority to determine census questions to commerce secretary Wilbur Ross. U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Reinstatement of Citizenship Question to the 2020 Decennial Census https://t.co/7kDrpX41M1 @SecretaryRoss @uscensusbureau U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) March 27, 2018 Mr Ross had until the end of March to submit the list of questions to Congress. The department said the citizenship information would help the Justice Department enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voting rights and helps prevent the unlawful dilution of the vote on the basis of race. The department said: Secretary Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information to meet this legitimate government purpose outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts. A coalition of state attorneys general urged the department last month to not add such a question, saying it could lower participation among immigrants and cause a population under-count. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the state will sue the Trump administration over its decision. Were prepared to do what we must to protect California from a deficient census, he said. Constitution does not require citizenship question. This is purely political. Trump Administration is trying to rig the 2020 Census (to protect gerrymandering) by intimidating people. Dont be fooled-some states will unfairly lose funds and representation. We will sue. https://t.co/2R3mZ0FQSp Eric Holder (@EricHolder) March 27, 2018 Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, told the Associated Press that he expected his state would also join in a lawsuit. He called the move by Mr Ross an attempt to suppress the count in states such as Massachusetts that have large immigrant populations. The Constitution requires us to count every person living in the United States, not every citizen, Mr Galvin said. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said that adding such a question will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities and cause traditionally under-counted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind. Democrats had been preparing for the decision in recent months. They have held press conferences and made it a point to question Mr Ross about his thinking during appearance at congressional hearings. Representative Carolyn Maloney introduced legislation last week that would prohibit the commerce secretary from enacting any major operational design that had not been researched and tested for less than three years prior to the opening day of the census. The bill has nine Democratic co-sponsors, but no Republicans have signed on, demonstrating the bills dim prospects in the Republican-led Congress. Following the Trump Administrations decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census, @EricHolder announced "We will litigate to stop the Administration from moving forward with this irresponsible decision. Read his full statement -->https://t.co/6FAnoFBGAM pic.twitter.com/3X8hSxe2tc NDRC (@DemRedistrict) March 27, 2018 Some Republicans hailed the decision. Senators Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Ted Cruz of Texas had sent a letter to the Commerce Department asking Mr Ross to add the question. It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide ranging impacts it will have on US policy, Mr Cruz said in a press release issued by the three. A question on citizenship is a reasonable, commonsense addition to the census. The Commerce Department said that between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form. The Census Bureau now asks about place of birth, citizenship and year of entry on a separate survey conducted every year called the American Community Survey, sampling only a portion of the population. The citizenship data help agencies and policymakers evaluate immigration policy and understand how different immigrant groups are assimilated. The Justice Department said in a statement it was important to restore the use of a citizenship question in the 10-year census because it is used for redistricting purposes and the yearly survey is not the most appropriate data to use for that purpose. The Justice Department is committed to free and fair elections for all Americans and has sought reinstatement of the citizenship question on the census to fulfil that commitment, the department statement read. Police in Barcelona clash with protesters after the arrest of Carles Puigdemont in Germany. Photo: AP The detention of Carles Puigdemont in Germany opened a fresh chapter in the Catalan independence drive yesterday, as galvanised secessionists renewed their bid to return the ousted leader to the presidency. As Mr Puigdemont was remanded to a German prison, independence parties called for an urgent parliamentary session to push through a reform - allowing for his long-distance inauguration, in defiance of a ban on such a move by Spain's constitutional court. Mr Puigdemont yesterday appeared in court in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, where he was detained by police on Sunday and later sent to Neumunster prison. The judge ruled he must remain in custody while Spain's extradition request is considered - a process which must be completed within 60 days. Debate meanwhile raged at home and across Europe over Spain's crackdown on independence leaders, which saw 13 formally charged with rebellion and other crimes last Friday. Madrid's supreme court immediately issued international arrest warrants for the seven politicians who have fled Spain, prompting Mr Puigdemont's detention. The former president left Barcelona for Brussels in late October to avoid arrest after the authorities removed his government and imposed direct rule in response to a banned referendum and a declaration of independence. He travelled to Finland last week to speak at an event but left on Saturday to return to Belgium, only to be seized by German police after crossing the border from Denmark in an operation involving Spanish intelligence agents. The arrests sparked renewed anger on streets in Catalonia, with more than 60,000 protesters flooding the centre of Barcelona on Sunday night and clashes with riot police leaving almost 100 people injured. After meeting with independence parties, Roger Torrent, the Catalan speaker, tabled a special session for tomorrow morning to plot a path to an inauguration. In Scotland, where authorities have received an extradition request for Clara Ponsati, one of the cabinet members in exile, the SNP said it would complain to the Council of Europe over the cases. UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said only that they supported the rule of law in Spain. Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from America as punishment for the Salisbury poisoning and to protect the country from spying. Donald Tusk, president of the EU council, has announced that 14 member states have decided to expel Russian diplomats. EU leaders agreed last week it was highly likely Russia was behind the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in the English town. Some 48 diplomats at the Russian embassy in the US have been asked to leave, as well as 12 Russians who work at the United Nations. The Russian consulate in Seattle will also be closed. Senior US administration officials said the Russians being expelled were intelligence officers who are being "cloaked" by their diplomatic status. The US officials accused Russia of a "reckless attempt" to murder British citizens on British soil and said the attack would not go unpunished. US officials said that the lives of "countless" innocent people including children had been put at risk by the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. They also blamed the Kremlin directly for the attack. A senior US administration official said: "This was a reckless attempt by the government to murder a British citizen and his daughter on British soil with a military-grade nerve agent. It cannot go unanswered. "The Salisbury attack was only the latest in a long series of Russian efforts to undermine international peace and stability. "The Russian government has shown malicious contempt for the sovereignty and security of countries worldwide. It has repeatedly sought to subvert and discredit Western institutions. These efforts are ongoing. "Today we stand in solidarity with America's closest ally, the United Kingdom. To the Russian government, we say: 'When you attack our friends, you will face serious consequences." The diplomats and their families have seven days to leave the US. Moscow's ambassador to Washington warned the US was "destroying what little is left of relations with Russia". A number of EU member states, including Germany and Poland, announced similar moves yesterday morning. The German foreign ministry confirmed Berlin has expelled four Russian diplomats over the Salisbury attack while Poland said it was also expelling four of the state's diplomats. Russian diplomatic staff based in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Estonia have also been asked to leave. US officials said the 60 Russians were among more than 100 spies operating in America. They said they would make decisions in the future about what to do with those remaining. Mr Trump has not discussed the move with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. US officials did not rule out the possibility of new economic sanctions on Russia as punishment for Salisbury, saying instead when asked that there was nothing to announce. The action came after more than a fortnight of mixed messages over America's willingness to take a tough line on Russia for the Salisbury poisoning. The White House declined to point the finger at Russia explicitly the day British Prime Minister Theresa May linked the Kremlin with the attack during an address in the House of Commons. Mr Trump also failed to mention that attack during a phone call with Mr Putin last week and at times has not matched critical rhetoric of cabinet colleagues and officials. Daily Telegraph London Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Europes bailout fund has approved a 6.7 billion euro (5.9 billion) loan instalment to Greece as part of its third international rescue programme. The European Stability Mechanism said the approval came following the Greek governments completion of a series of required reforms. The funds will be used to service the countrys debt and clear domestic arrears. The ESM said an initial fund of 5.7 billion euros (5 billion) is to be disbursed on Wednesday. The remainder, to be used for clearing arrears, may be disbursed after May 1 if the country makes progress in reducing its stock of arrears. Greece has depended on international rescue loans since 2010. Its third bailout ends this summer. Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell is set to be banned from serving as a company director for up to 15 years (Victoria Jones/PA) Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell is set to be banned from serving as a company director for up to 15 years, the Insolvency Service has said. But Sir Philip Green will escape action over the chains controversial demise. The Insolvency Service said it had written to Mr Chappell and three other former BHS directors informing them it intends to bring proceedings against them following its investigation into the retailers collapse. Sir Philip who sold BHS to Mr Chappell for 1 in 2015 has been told he will face no further action in a move that brings to an end regulatory probes against him over the chains failure. Sir Philips representatives said: Sir Philip and his fellow directors have co-operated fully with the Insolvency Service since its investigation commenced in May 2016, and welcome this decision. Mr Chappell and other former BHS directors facing sanctions can now make representations to the Insolvency Service before it files formal court proceedings. Mr Chappell told the Press Association he has not been notified of the move by the Insolvency Service, adding that he has no further comment to make at this stage. The Insolvency Service said: As this matter may now be tested in the court it is not appropriate to comment further. Mr Chappell was hit last month with a bill of around 10 million by the Pensions Regulator after it launched proceedings to claim back the cash owed to the failed retailers pension schemes. The 51-year-old self-described entrepreneur was convicted in January of failing to give information about BHSs pension schemes to investigators after it collapsed into administration with the loss of thousands of jobs. Mr Chappell was the director of Retail Acquisitions, the company that acquired BHS from Sir Philip. The business collapsed into administration in April 2016, leaving a 571 million pension deficit. Sir Philip later agreed to pay 363 million towards it to end action against him by the Pensions Regulator. Mr Chappell a former racing driver is said to have been declared bankrupt three times in the past. Investigations by the Financial Reporting Council into the chains failure continue. A woman places flowers at the main gate of the Police headquarters in Carcassonne, France (Emilio Morenatti/AP) French politicians have paid tribute to the victims of an Islamic extremist attack at a supermarket in southern France. Politicians at the National Assembly in Paris observed a minute of silence for the four people who died in Fridays attack. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said since January 2015, French intelligence services have thwarted 51 attacks. In addition, 17 other attacks have failed and 11 have taken place. He said: This is a difficult combat we will have to fight, a terrible combat, a hand-to-hand struggle, in which we will have successes we had some and in which we might have failures. A national memorial is being held on Wednesday in Paris to honour Lt-Col Arnaud Beltrame, the officer who lost his life after swapping himself with a hostage. A casket carrying the body of Lt Michael Davidson is carried into New Yorks St Patricks Cathedral (RIchard Drew/AP) A funeral is being held at St Patricks Cathedral for a New York City firefighter who was killed while battling a blaze on a film set. The flag-draped coffin bearing Lt Michael Davidson arrived at the famous cathedral on a fire engine adorned with his name and black-and-purple bunting. Family and colleagues have gathered outside of the Cathedral for the Mass in honor #FDNY Michael Davidson. #TuesdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/DFvFnmDE0G StPatsNYC (@StPatsNYC) March 27, 2018 Along the route, American flags were draped overhead. Throngs of white-gloved firefighters in dress uniform stood at attention along Fifth Avenue. A bagpipe played the mournful strains of Amazing Grace as the casket was carried into the cathedral. Mr Davidson died early Friday. He had been fighting a fire in the basement of a Harlem building where a movie starring Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe and Alec Baldwin was being filmed. Mr Davidson leaves behind a wife and four young children. Jessica Demafelis, the sister of Joanna Demafelis, hugs the coffin (Bullit Marquez/AP) A Lebanese man has been charged with murdering a maid from the Philippines whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in Kuwait, according to reports. The National News Agency reported that a south Lebanon prosecutor charged 40-year-old Nader Essam Assaf and that Assaf confessed to the crime. Assaf and his Syrian wife are suspects in the death of Joanna Demafelis. NNA said Assafs wife is still at large. The news agency said Assaf faces a possible death sentence and is expected to go on trial soon. Last month, the Philippine foreign secretary said the suspect was under arrest in Lebanon. Police in Baton Rouge stand by as crowds gather following the shooting (Patrick Dennis/The Advocate/AP) Louisianas attorney general has ruled out criminal charges against two Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of a black man outside a shop. Attorney General Jeff Landrys decision came nearly 11 months after the Justice Department ruled out federal criminal charges in Alton Sterlings July 2016 death. Mr Landry made the announcement after meeting with family members of Mr Sterling. Attorney General Jeff Landry says no criminal charges will be brought against the Baton Rouge police officers involved in the 2016 fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. Leaves presser without taking a single question. Jim Mustian (@JimMustian) March 27, 2018 Veda Washington-Abusaleh, Sterlings aunt, was in tears after meeting. They said they didnt find anything, she said. They said it was justifiable, what happened to Alton was justifiable. Officer Blane Salamoni shot and killed Mr Sterling during a struggle outside a shop where the 37-year-old was selling homemade CDs. Officer Howie Lake II helped wrestle Mr Sterling to the ground, but he did not fire his gun. The shooting came amid increased scrutiny of fatal encounters between police and black men. Two mobile phone videos of the shooting quickly spread on social media, leading to protests during which nearly 200 people were arrested. Sterling family, attorneys exited building. Now addressing media on AGs decision not to bring charges against two officers. Live at @theadvocatebr. pic.twitter.com/11xAw5GIvz Emma Discher (@EmmaDischer) March 27, 2018 The officers body cameras and a store surveillance camera also recorded the encounter, but those videos have not been released. Federal authorities opened a civil rights investigation immediately after the shooting and released their findings in May 2017. They said Mr Salamoni yelled that Mr Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket before shooting him three times, and then fired three more shots into Mr Sterlings back when he began to sit up and move. The officers recovered a loaded revolver from Mr Sterlings pocket. As a convicted criminal, Mr Sterling could not legally carry a gun. Mr Sterling had pleaded guilty in 2011 to being in possession of a firearm and illegally carrying a weapon and was arrested in May 2009 after an officer confronted him outside another store where he was selling CDs, court records show. Federal authorities concluded there was not enough evidence to prove Mr Salamoni or Mr Lake wilfully deprived Mr Sterling of his civil rights, or that the officers use of force was objectively unreasonable. Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who says she had an affair with Donald Trump, has claimed she and her daughter were threatened when she first tried to go public with the story of their alleged affair, it has emerged. Photo: AP Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who says she had an affair with Donald Trump, has claimed she and her daughter were threatened when she first tried to go public with the story of their alleged affair, it has emerged. In a much-anticipated interview Daniels said she had sex with Donald Trump in 2006, recanting a statement denying the affair that Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, issued under her name in January. Expand Close Trumps lawyer Michael Cohen. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Trumps lawyer Michael Cohen. Photo: Reuters She said she and her young daughter were physically threatened by an unidentified man in Las Vegas in 2011 if she revealed the affair. Earlier that year, Mr Cohen threatened to sue 'In Touch' magazine if it published an interview with Daniels in which she detailed the relationship, according to CBS's '60 Minutes'. "I was concerned for my family and their safety," she said. In her first television interview discussing the alleged affair, Daniels said she signed a non-disclosure agreement drawn up by Mr Cohen in 2016 in part because she was afraid of potential physical harm. "A guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story'," she said. "And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, 'That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom.' And then he was gone." Daniels - whose real name is Stephanie Clifford - declined to answer questions about whether she had any text messages or videos documenting the relationship after her attorney, Michael Avenatti, had hinted at the existence of such evidence in a provocative Twitter post before the CBS programme on Sunday night. His tweet read: "Note: (a) not all of our evidence will be mentioned/displayed tonight - that would be foolish; (b) we are not sure what CBS will include but we know a lot from the full interview will have to be cut bc [because] of the time allowed; (c) tonight is not the end - it's the beginning." Ahead of the interview's broadcast, Daniels said her years in the porn industry would help her cope with the scrutiny she expects to face in the wake of speaking out. "Being in the adult industry, I've developed a thick skin," she told 'The Washington Post' at the weekend. "But nothing could truly prepare someone for this." It emerged earlier this year that Daniels was paid $130,000 (104,500) by Mr Cohen, Mr Trump's personal lawyer, as part of a non-disclosure agreement that she signed before the 2016 US election, leading to allegations that the payment may have violated United States campaign finance laws. She has previously spoken about the alleged affair, including tweeting recently: "Technically I didn't sleep with the Potus 12 years ago. There was no sleeping (hehe) and he was just a goofy reality TV star." However, Mr Trump's opponents will pick over her words to see how much more they can learn about the episode. The anticipation was heightened further by the fact that CBS abandoned its usual practice of releasing excerpts of the interview in advance. Christopher Ruddy, chief executive of the Newsmax website and a close confidant of Mr Trump, played down its significance. "This is politically motivated to hurt or embarrass [President Trump] in some way. I think the American people are really dismissing this as political witch hunts," he told ABC News. The White House has denied any sexual encounter took place. But Mr Avenatti told '60 Minutes' he has documents showing Mr Cohen using his Trump Organisation email address in setting up the payment and that the non-disclosure agreement was sent by FedEx to Mr Cohen at his office in Trump Tower. A student accused of planning a high school shooting bought an AR-15 rifle and 500 rounds of ammunition with money his mother gave him to get a tattoo, police say. Timothy Felker was arrested in February after he allegedly threatened to shoot classmates at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky. The 18-year-old said he made the threats because he was bullied, but pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree terroristic threatening. During a preliminary court hearing on Monday, Lexington police detective Sean Stafford said Mr Felker purchased the AR-15 with money that his mum gave him for a tattoo, and that he also purchased 500 rounds of ammunition. At the time of his arrest, Mr Felker was not banned from owning guns, and had posted images on social media showing off his AR-15. One of the photos showed him with a gun in his mouth, according to local news channel WKYT. Police were initially tipped off by a classmate on 16 February. According to court documents, the pupil said Mr Felker owns a gun and constantly talks about killing himself/shooting up the school. He tells specific people he would shoot them first and then shoot up the classroom. Mr Felker flew out of town on 17 February, and was arrested on his return to Blue Grass Airport on 19 February after police obtained a mental health petition from a court. He was sent to Eastern State Hospital for an evaluation before being placed under house arrest with an ankle monitor. I commend everyone involved, from the students who shared their concerns, to the adults who took those reports seriously and the multiple law enforcement agencies that worked swiftly to safeguard our students and staff, Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk said. Police said Mr Felkers mother told them she was unaware of the threats, but that her son suffered from depression, suicidal thoughts and ADHD. "Ms Felker stated that Timothy does have some anger problems but she could not see him being violent, and didn't feel like he would harm anyone else," Mr Stafford said. The judge at Fayette County Court sent the case to a grand jury, citing probably cause. The case signals that a grumpy garcon is a cherished French national trait, not a sign of unprofessional conduct. Stock Image A waiter fired for being "aggressive, rude and disrespectful" has insisted there was nothing wrong with his manner - he was just being "French". Deserved or not, France's reputation for producing surly waiters who eye customers with suspicion, indeed disdain, is known the world over. Now one waiter has taken that reputation to another level by appearing to claim that a grumpy "garcon" is a cherished French national trait, not a sign of unprofessional conduct. Guillaume Rey, who worked at a Vancouver restaurant on Canada's Pacific coast, filed a complaint with British Columbia's Human Rights Tribunal against his former employer, saying he is the victim of "discrimination against my culture". The restaurant, operated by Cara Operations, accused Mr Rey of breaching its code of conduct; it argued that he persisted in unacceptably rude behaviour despite verbal and written performance reviews and that it had no option but to fire him. However, Mr Rey said his employer was being culturally colour blind as the French approach just "tends to be more direct and expressive". Au contraire, his "direct, honest and professional personality" was, he insisted, drummed into him at French hospitality school and he was simply following its guidelines. Grumpiness aside, both parties agreed Mr Rey was good at his job. The restaurant and its parent company had attempted to brush off the discrimination complaint but tribunal member Devyn Cousineau denied that request, meaning it will receive a yet unscheduled hearing. "Mr Rey will have to explain what it is about his French heritage that would result in behaviour that people misinterpret as a violation of workplace standards of acceptable conduct," she wrote in her decision. So aware are French authorities of the country's reputation for rudeness, in 2015 the tourist board launched a multi-million-euro drive to improve their "difficult relationship with service and by extension our relation to others". In 2013, the Paris Tourist Board distributed a "politeness manual" for service industry workers. Three years earlier, the city paid "smile ambassadors" to be friendly to tourists at the city's main attractions - to little avail. A picture of Carles Puidgemont is fixed in front of a prison in Neumuenster, northern Germany (Frank Molter/dpa/AP) Demonstrators angered by the detention of former leader Carles Puigdemont have blocked highways across Catalonia and roads in central Barcelona. Transportation authorities in the north-eastern Spanish region said a main motorway remained blocked in Figueres, near the border with France. Demonstrators also stopped traffic in another highway leading to the city of Lleida, and a national road between Tarragona and Valencia. #BREAKING United Nations accepts for consideration Carles Puigdemont's appeal for protection of his political rights pic.twitter.com/BeK68n4zUn Catalan News (@catalannews) March 27, 2018 Protesters also caused disruptions early on Tuesday on several roads in central Barcelona, the regional capital. Catalonia has been marred by largely peaceful protests for more than six months, since a bid for secession from Spain began in earnest. The Catalan parliaments declaration of independence in late October following an ad-hoc referendum banned by the Spanish government received no international recognition and provoked a takeover of the regional government by Spanish authorities. Mr Puigdemont was ousted and fled to Belgium. Last week, a Spanish Supreme Court judge charged the 55-year-old politician with rebellion and misuse of public funds. Spain then issued arrest warrants for six of the seven Catalan separatists who have fled the country. Mr Puigdemont was detained on Sunday, shortly after crossing the border into Germany from Denmark. Further decisions on Mr Puigdemonts immediate future appear unlikely before Easter. A court in Schleswig will decide on formal pre-extradition custody and whether his extradition is admissible. Germanys criminal code unlike Belgiums, where Spain had earlier sought Mr Puigdemonts extradition includes an offence that appears to be comparable to rebellion, the main accusation against the Catalan politician. It calls for prison sentences for anyone who undertakes, by force or through threat of force to undermine the republics existence or change its constitutional order. In a move celebrated by his supporters, the United Nations Human Rights Committee announced that it has registered a complaint by Mr Puigdemont alleging that Spain has violated his political rights. A group of lawyers and human rights experts lodged the case in March, claiming that Spain has violated human, civil and political rights in its crackdown on Catalonias independence bid. The Spanish government has six months to respond. The co-founder of fashion retailer Superdry is stepping down and donating more than 1 million in shares, saying he plans to devote more time to other business and charitable interests. Julian Dunkerton will leave his director position as of March 31, with creative teams stepping in to take over his product and brand work. Mr Dunkerton said: I am immensely proud of everything achieved at Superdry over the past fifteen years. As a fast-growing, innovative business, Superdry has always evolved to ensure it keeps delivering. With other demands on my time, it is the right point for me to transition my focus and responsibilities. He has also notified the company of plans to transfer a block of ordinary shares shares worth up to 1.2 million to sea and biodiversity protection charity The Blue Marine Foundation by way of a personal donation. A market announcement explained the donation was part of a wider legacy strategy that Mr Dunkerton has been working on outside his interests at Superdry. Superdry shares were down as much as 1.6% in morning trading. Commenting on the co-founders departure, Superdry chairman Peter Bamford said: With Superdry embarking on the next phase of its ambitious growth plans, and with other interests and opportunities available to him, Julian and I have been talking for some time about the right time for him to move on from the business. I have enjoyed working closely with him over the last eight years and, on behalf of the board, I would like to thank Julian for his outstanding contribution in building Superdry into such a great brand. Mr Dunkerton founded the business in 1985 from a market stall in Cheltenham. The clothing retailer famous for its hoodie tops and T-shirts floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2010. In January, the co-founder scooped 17.8 million after offloading a chunk of shares in the fashion retailer, selling one million shares at 17.80 each, or 1.23% of the group, following 12 months of share price gains for the firm. In February 2016, Mr Dunkerton sold just under 50 million of shares to fund his divorce settlement with his wife Charlotte Abbot. Heavily armed police guard an area outside a train station ahead of the arrival of a convoy in Beijing, China (Ng Han Guan/AP) Speculation about a visit to Beijing by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is running high amid talk of preparations for a meeting between the Norths reclusive leader and US President Donald Trump. The visit of a special train to Beijing and unusually heavy security at a guesthouse where prominent North Koreans have stayed in the past have fuelled talk that Kim was making his first visit to China as the Norths leader. Such a trip would be seen as a potential precursor to Mr Kims planned summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April and his anticipated meeting with President Trump by May. Analysts, however, questioned whether Mr Kim would make the visit to Beijing himself rather than send an envoy. Whoever was on the train, their visit to Beijing appeared to be short. On Tuesday afternoon, a vehicle convoy led by a motorcycle escort headed back in the direction of Beijings main railway station. While there has been no word of a meeting with Chinese leaders, China has been one of North Koreas most important allies even though relations have chilled recently because of Mr Kims development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. On Monday, heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge on the Yalu River marking the border between China and North Korea before a train passed. There were reports of it transiting several stations on the way from North Korea to Beijing. Japanese broadcaster NTV reported that the green and yellow train appeared very similar to the one that Mr Kims father and predecessor as North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Il, took to Beijing in 2011. Video that aired on NTV also showed a motorcade of black limousines waiting at the train station and rows of Chinese soldiers marching on what appeared to be a train platform. The video did not show anyone getting off the train. At around 2:45pm local time on Tuesday, a convoy of about a dozen cars, including a large black limousine, was seen heading in the direction of the railway station. Expand Close A motorcade arrives at Beijing Railway Station (Kyodo News via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A motorcade arrives at Beijing Railway Station (Kyodo News via AP) The limousine was seen about 10 minutes later entering the station under a heavy security presence. The station itself was closed to the public in an unusual security measure. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, asked whether Mr Kim or another North Korean official was visiting Beijing, said, I know youre all very curious but I have no information on that. Past visits by Kim Jong Il to China were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea. North Koreas state-run media had no reports of a delegation travelling to China. The speculation had been fuelled further on Monday evening when a vehicle convoy entered the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing and a military honour guard and heavy security were seen later. The guesthouse had been the favoured residence of Kim Jong Il during his visits to Beijing. Expand Close Motorcycles escort a motorcade along Changan Avenue (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Motorcycles escort a motorcade along Changan Avenue (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) On Tuesday, a convoy of official Chinese cars was seen leaving the guesthouses east gate. South Koreas presidential office said it could not confirm reports that the train carried Mr Kim nor a separate report that his sister was on board. South Korean analysts were doubtful the visitor is Mr Kim. Since succeeding his father as leader in 2011, Mr Kim has touted an image of his country as diplomatic equal to China and it is unlikely he would sneak into Beijing for his first face-to-face meetings with the Chinese leadership, the analysts said. They said it is more likely that Mr Kim sent a special envoy, possibly his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, to appease a traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with the presidents of South Korea and the United States. The envoy could potentially seek Chinese commitment for future support should North Koreas talks with rivals fall through, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain amounts to attempted murder by the Russian government. In remarks to reporters at the Pentagon, Mr Mattis said the attack which has triggered a worldwide wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats involved the pretty obvious use of a chemical agent. He said it was the first chemical weapon attack in Europe since World War II. .@NATO continues to hold #Russia to account for its use of a military-grade nerve agent on Allied territory with the expulsion of 10 Russians accredited or seeking accreditation to NATO. Russias destabilizing actions have consequences. https://t.co/6zL7zBBVOT The U.S. Ambassador to NATO (@USAmbNATO) March 27, 2018 Asked whether this amounted to an act of war, Mr Mattis said it is part of a pattern of Russian actions that President Vladimir Putin apparently believes can be plausibly denied. Mr Mattis cited as examples Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and its military intervention in eastern Ukraine, as well as its interference in the 2016 US presidential election. The retired marine general and former senior Nato commander, said he could recall a time when the US and Russian militaries were training together for international peacekeeping missions amid hope of a post-Cold War partnership. That regrettably, by Russias choice, is now a thing of the past, he said. Russia has chosen to be a strategic competitor, even to the point of reckless activity, referring to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Britain, and his daughter, Yulia, who are in a critical condition in hospital. Thats the only thing it can be called to the innocent people in Salisbury who were exposed, and possibly to the extent of being murdered by this stuff. Pressed to be more specific in his accusation, Mr Mattis said: Attempted murder of a man and his daughter. Hows that for starters? They are doing things they think are deniable, he said. So theyre trying to break the unity of the Western alliance, referring to Nato, which joined in the denunciation of the Salisbury attack, announcing on Tuesday that it will expel seven staffers from the Russian mission in Brussels and will deny the pending accreditation requests of three other workers there. In light of the dangerous pattern of Russian behaviour and lack of constructive response after #Salisbury, #NATO has decided to reduce the number of Russian officials accredited to NATO by 10. https://t.co/0lNUoqPUjQ Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 27, 2018 More than 20 countries on Monday announced they were expelling a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States, in response to the Salisbury incident. On Tuesday, Australia said it was kicking out two Russian diplomats whom he described as undeclared intelligence officers. They have been given seven days to leave. Mr Mattis highlighted Natos response, which carried undertones of Cold War-like tension, but declined to say what role he believes Mr Putin had in the Salisbury attack and other actions designed to divide the West. I wont speculate. Certainly hes responsible as the head of state. We all can draw our own conclusions, he said. US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with the leaders of two key Nato allies on Tuesday French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The White House said that in both conversations the leaders expressed support for the Wests response to the Salisbury poisoning, including Natos expulsion of Russians. Guwahati, Mar 26 (IBNS): Jet Airways, Indias premier full-service international airline, on Monday announced its plans to expand its presence in the North East and make Guwahati its regional gateway to/ from the region. The initiative forms a part of Jet Airways strategy to further strengthen its domestic footprint of 45 cities in the country, complementing its three hubs at Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. "As part of the endeavour beginning this summer, Jet Airways will deepen its presence in select Indian cities in response to the rising demand for air travel being witnessed across the country and its network. The measure will not only boost connectivity to/from these select cities, enabling an ever greater number of guests to experience the airlines acclaimed and well differentiated product and service portfolio, but will also help in stimulating trade and commerce in the entire North Eastern region comprising the seven states," a company statement said. Under its summer schedule, Jet Airways increased the number of weekly flights between the North Eastern region and the rest of the country to 184 adding 30 new flights weekly. Strengthening connectivity between the countrys capital and the North Eastern region, Jet Airways introduces non-stop services including thrice-a-week flights to Aizawl and Jorhat and four times-a-week flights to Silchar from New Delhi. The airline also resumes its operations from Imphal, the capital of Manipur and an important city in the North Eastern region, commencing four times-a-week non-stop service to Imphal from Delhi. Delhi and Aizawl are now be connected by a Jet Airways daily service. For three days a week, 9W 851 departs Delhi at 11:00 hrs and arrives into Aizawl 14:00 hrs. For four days, Jet Airways 9W 605 departs at 10:30 hrs, arriving into Aizawl at 14:55 hrs. On its return leg for three days, 9W 852 departs at 15:30 hrs to arrive into Delhi at 18:30 hrs. Connecting Delhi with Jorhat, flight 9W 956 (non-stop) departs from Delhi at 11:00 hrs, and arrives into Jorhat at 14:00 hrs for three days of the week. During the other four days, 9W 917 departs Delhi at 09:20 hrs and arrives into Jorhat at 13:10 hrs. On its return leg for three days, 9W 957 departs at 15:20 hrs and lands in Delhi at 18:20 hrs. For the other four days, 9W 918 departs at 14:20 hrs and arrives into Delhi at 18:55 hrs. Silchar is now also connected with Delhi by a daily Jet Airways service. For four days a week, 9W 991 (non-stop) departs from Delhi at 11:00 and arrives in Silchar at 13:50 hrs. For three days, Jet Airways 9W 669 depart at 09:20 hrs, arriving in Silchar at 13:10 hrs. On its return leg for four days, 9W 992 (non-stop) departs at 15:30 hrs and arrives in Delhi at 18:30 hrs while for the other three days, 9W 606 departs at 14:25 hrs and lands in Delhi at 18:55 hrs. The daily service between Delhi and Imphal has the following schedule. For four days a week, 9W 908 (non-stop) departs Delhi at 11:05 and arrives in Imphal at 14:05 hrs. For three days, Jet Airways 9W 827 departs at 10:30 hrs, arriving into Imphal at 15:00 hrs. On its return leg for four days, 9W 909 (non-stop) departs at 15:30 hrs and arrives in Delhi at 18:35 hrs. Jet Airways also introduced direct flights between Mumbai - Indias financial capital and the North Eastern cities of Jorhat and Imphal, facilitating seamless international access for guests travelling to/ from these cities. Imphal is also being connected with Pune through direct flights via Guwahati and Kolkata, enhancing access and connectivity further. In fact, Guwahati plays an instrumental role in this seasons connectivity facilitating non-stop daily flights to Bagdogra, Imphal and Mumbai. Connecting Mumbai to Jorhat for three days a week, 9W 921 departs from Mumbai at 10:10 hrs and arrives in Jorhat at 14:50 hrs. Returning from Jorhat, flight 9W 936 departs at 14:35 hrs and arrives into Mumbai at 19:15 hrs. Similarly, connecting Mumbai to Imphal, flight 9W 935 departs from Mumbai at 10:10 hrs for four days a week and on its return leg, flight 9W 842 departs from Imphal at 14:35 hrs, arriving in the financial capital at 19:15 hrs. Connecting Imphal to Pune three times a week, 9W 982 will depart at 15:30 hrs and arrive into Pune at 23:35 hrs. Effective August 2018, Jet Airways will also connect Bengaluru and Guwahati with Non Stop daily service. Flight 9W 659 will depart Bengaluru at 10:15 hrs and arrive into Guwahati at 13:15 hrs. On its return leg, 9W 660 will depart Guwahati at 16:00 hrs and arrive inti Bengaluru at 19:15 hrs. Vinay Dube, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airways, said, The demand for air travel is growing steadily across cities. This, together with our guests desire for seamless, non-stop connectivity, forms the basis for our services being offered during the summer schedule. The mix of new services - both non-stop as well as direct - between emerging cities, key metros and our hubs in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, will not just help cater to this demand, but will also facilitate quicker and more convenient movement of guests throughout our network - in India and abroad. I am sure our unique and differentiated services will reinforce Jet Airways place as the airline of choice in Indian skies, besides giving an impetus to connectivity, trade and development in all the cities in the North East, including Aizawl, Jorhat, Silchar, Imphal and Guwahati. New York, Mar 27 (IBNS): A sun shield made from an ultra-thin surface film is showing promise as a potential weapon in the fight to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of coral bleaching. Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said the results from a small-scale research trial led by the scientist who also developed Australias polymer bank notes were very encouraging. The project was supported by The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, made possible through a grant to the University of Melbourne USA Foundation. Weve partnered with scientists from the University of Melbourne and the Australian Institute of Marine Science to develop sun protection for the Reef, Marsden said. The sun shield is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair and completely biodegradable, containing the same ingredient corals use to make their hard skeletons calcium carbonate. Its designed to sit on the surface of the water above the corals, rather than directly on the corals, to provide an effective barrier against the sun. While its still early days, and the trials have been on a small scale, the testing shows the film reduced light by up to 30%. Scientists tested the effectiveness of the one molecule thick film on seven different coral species in simulated coral bleaching event conditions at the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences National Sea Simulator (SeaSim). The surface film provided protection and reduced the level of bleaching in most species. With the surface film containing the same ingredient that corals use to make their skeletons, the research also showed the film had no harmful effects on the corals during the trials. This is a great example of developing and testing out-of-the-box solutions that harness expertise from different areas. In this case, we had chemical engineers and experts in polymer science working with marine ecologists and coral experts to bring this innovation to life, Marsden said. The project set out to explore new ways to help reduce the impact of coral bleaching affecting the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally and it created an opportunity to test the idea that by reducing the amount of sunlight from reaching the corals in the first place, we can prevent them from becoming stressed which leads to bleaching. Its important to note that this is not intended to be a solution that can be applied over the whole 348,000 square kilometres of Great Barrier Reef that would never be practical. But it could be deployed on a smaller, local level to protect high value or high-risk areas of reef. The concept needs more work and testing before it gets to that stage, but its an exciting development at a time when we need to explore all possible options to ensure we have a Great Barrier Reef for future generations. The research team comprised of Professors Greg Qiao and David Solomon and Dr Joel Scofield from the University of Melbourne, Dr Emma Prime (formerly University of Melbourne, now Deakin University), and Dr Andrew Negri and Florita Flores from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Professor Solomon (AC) was the winner of the Prime Ministers Prize for Science in 2011 for his exceptional contributions to polymer science. Image: Great Barrier Reef Foundation website Kolkata, Mar 27 (IBNS): JW Marriott Kolkata, one of the city's leading luxury destinations, is holding a special event for kids on March 30 as part of its Easter celebrations. A specially curated activity for the kids will be held at the Living Room of JW Studio on Friday, which will include an Egg Hunting contest and Cake Decoration. The top three in the Egg Hunting contest will receive special Easter goodies from the hotel. For the cake decoration, they will get an opportunity to decorate a Simnel cake, typically associated with Easter in the UK. On April 1, JW Marriott Kolkata is having a special Easter Sunday brunch curated by the team of chefs of the all-day dining restaurant JW Kitchen. Some of the dishes on offer include Bourbon Glazed Ham with Fennel, Baby Carrots, Sweet Potato, Caramelized Onion, Ba Potatoes, Asparagus, Broccoli, Green Coated Lamb Roulade with Courgette Cannelloni & Ginger Ale Sauce, Olive and Sundried Tomato Crusted Potato Dauphinoise, alongside a special live counter offering assorted preparations of egg dishes. From the Asian station, you may sample the Penang Curry with Chicken and Stir Fried Greens with White Garlic Sauce. Subz Zaffrani Biryani, Lasooni Dal, Bharwan Dum Aloo, Vilayati Kadhai Subz, Aloo, Begun MacherJhol, Kolkata Gosht Biryani (Aloo and Anda) and other regional dishes will be on offer at the Indian station. Alongside the food will be unlimited servings of beer and a variety of Sangrias, to complete the celebration, the hotel said in its release. If you are still game for some desserts, there will be Easter Carrot Cake, Pineapple-Coconut Bunny Cake, Citrus Bundt Cake, Traditional British Simnel Cake and Hot Cross Buns. Starting March 27,there will be special Easter hampers for sale, including Easter Raspberry Lemon Pound Cake,Chocolate Easter Basket, Easter Eggs (Big & Mini), Easter Bunny (Big & Mini) and more. The Kids Workshop 94.30pm to 6pm) has been pegged at Rs 599++ while the Easter Sunday brunch (12.30pm to 3.30pm) is pegged at Rs 1,850 all inclusive. For Reservations: 33 6633 0000 Ten persons, including six Policemen, were killed and another 35 were injured in a suicide attack near a Police check post outside the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz (centre) at Raiwind Town in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, on March 14, 2018. A teenage suicide bomber blew himself up when a Policeman tried to stop him from entering the Markaz. At least 70,000 followers of Tablighi Jamaat were present at the annual congregation. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened more attacks on Police in retaliation for the killing of their associates in Punjab. On January 15, 2018, a Police constable was killed by unidentified assailants in the Bharwal area of Hasanabdal Saddar Police Station jurisdiction in the Attock District of Punjab. The deceased was identified as Head constable Faizan. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), the Province has registered a total of seven Security Force (SF) fatalities in 2018 (data till March 25, 2018). During the corresponding period of 2017, Punjab also recorded for seven SF fatalities. Through 2017, there were 27 SF fatalities in Punjab, and 21 such fatalities in 2016, indicating a rising trend. On the other hand, SFs killed 99 terrorists in 2017, as against 139 killed in 2016. Thus, though SFs were able to maintain a positive kill ratio through 2017, the success rate declined from 1:6.61 in 2016 to 1:3.66. According to SATP four incidents of explosion were recorded in Punjab in 2017, as against two in 2016, though the resultant fatalities declined from 76 in 2016 to 50 in 2017. Punjab also witnessed three suicide attacks in 2017, up from one in 2016, though number of casualties dropped to 209 (49 killed and 160 injured) in 2017 from 375 (75 killed and 300 injured) in 2016. Fatalities among civilians, however, recorded a steep decline: from 84 deaths in 2016 to 32 in 2017. This could be attributed to the launch of a Province-wide crackdown on February 19, 2017, against terrorist groups, following the February 13-suicide attack outside the Punjab Assembly building on Mall Road, Lahore, in which at least 14 persons, including eight civilians and six Policemen, were killed, and another 85 were injured. This crackdown forced the terrorists to concentrate their power against SFs, providing some relief to the civilian population. On February 19, 2017, during a Provincial Apex Committee meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Provincial Government asked the Federal Government to deploy Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) to combat terrorism. It requested the deployment of over 2,000 Rangers in the Province, with policing powers, to conduct Intelligence-based Operations (IBOs) against terrorists, wherever required and with full authority. On February 22, the Federal Government approved the request, and operations commenced. Moreover, on the same day, February 22, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (elimination of discord) across the country, including Punjab. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army's media wing, described the Operation, The effort entails conduct of Broad Spectrum Security / Counter-Terrorism (CT) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country, and focus on more effective border security management. The Rangers conducted their first combing operation in the Rawalpindi area of Punjab on February 22. On December 18, 2018, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) briefing the Senate on action taken by SFs under Operation Radd-ul-Fassad, disclosed that 13,011 operations had been conducted in the Punjab province. The total number of operations conducted in Punjab were almost three times the total number conducted in other areas combined: 4674 (Balochistan 1410, Sindh 2015, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 1249]. Clearly, despite official claims that it remained relatively peaceful, Punjab had consolidated as a hub of terrorism. Indeed, according to an April 23, 2017, report of the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control (MINC) there were at least 113 most-wanted terrorists from various Districts of Punjab still in operation. The MINC document divides most-wanted terrorists into three categories: 62 Sunni terrorists, 29 Shia terrorists, and 22 potential suicide attackers (sect not mentioned). There is no report available in open sources to suggest how many of these 113 most-wanted terrorists have since been killed. The continuing policy of the Punjab Government in particular and Islamabad in general, of helping state-owned terrorist formations, has created an environment where numerous terror outfits thrive. Indeed, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)-led by 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, who carries a bounty of USD 10 million, continues to receive open support from the highest authorities of the land. In a statement released on December 30, 2017, for instance, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) justified Hafiz Saeeds participation in a pro-Palestine rally, also attended by Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan Walid Abu Ali, in Rawalpindi on December 29, 2017, declaring, This public rally was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life. More than 50 speakers addressed the rally, including Hafiz Saeed. Contrary to the impression being created, UN proscription does not place any restrictions on the freedom of expression. Moreover, JuD continues to operate freely from its headquarters at Muridke in Sheikhupura District of Punjab and other offices. According to media reports, the Punjab Government had started taking over all the moveable and immovable assets of the JuD and FIF in the province on February 14, 2018. The action was being taken in pursuance of an ordinance issued by President Mamnoon Hussain on February 12, amending the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, and allowing the state to take action against individuals and organizations proscribed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, an unnamed Punjab Government official was quoted as stating, on March 6, 2018, Since the government has taken over the control of JuD headquarters in Lahore in mid last month [February], Saeed delivered three Friday sermons in three successive weeks there in the presence of a large number of his supporters. The government could only deploy its administrator at Al Qadsia while the JuD men are operating from there the way they used to A similar arrangement was made at JuD's Muridke headquarters. The government has not barred Saeed and activists of his charities from using the JuD headquarters in Lahore and Muridke, and other offices of the two organizations [the other being FiF, Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation]. The officer further disclosed that that JuD and FiF were still freely using the banned groups' offices, despite Pakistan's claims that all the assets of the two formations have been seized and their bank accounts frozen. Though terrorism related fatalities in the Punjab Province declined through 2017, after registering a steep increase in 2016, the deep roots of terror formations are so entrenched that long term respite from violence is not possible in the foreseeable future, particularly in view of the selective collusion of the state and its agencies. As long as the terrorism in Punjab - the very heart of Pakistan - persists, the overall situation across the country will remain troublesome. Shivamogga, Mar 27 (IBNS): BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday slammed the Congress-led government in Karnataka and said it has 'failed miserably' in all fronts. "Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka has miserably failed on all fronts," Shah said addressing a public rally here. He said the state government has only misled people. "Karnataka is number one in corruption. Siddaramaiah government has done nothing except misleading the people of Karnataka," Shah said attacking Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He said the BJP 'tsunami' will also hit Karnataka where Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in the upcoming months. The Election Commission is all set to announce polling dates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka on Tuesday. The EC is likely to announce the dates at around 11 am. Assembly poll in Karnataka is considered to be crucial as it is one of the few Indian states where the Congress is in power. The tenure of the 224-member Assembly in the state is scheduled to end on May 28. Karnataka will be seen as a crucial battle ground by both the Congress and the BJP before the Lok Sabha polls next year. The Congress is currently ruling in just four states namely Punjab, Karnataka, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The BJP on the other hand is ruling in 21. BJP captured two politically crucial states in recent times-Uttar Pradesh in 2017 and Tripura in 2018. Both the parties have already started their campaigns in the state. Image: BJP Facebook page New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS): Four no-confidence motions might be taken up by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) have called off its protest in the parliament, media reports said. The no-confidence motions have been called by the the Telegu Desam Party (TDP), YSR Congress, Congress and CPI-M. Though the TDP and the YSR Congress have been trying to bring the no-confidence motion in the parliament for a week, several opposition parties staged protests over multiple demands, stalling the proceedings in both the houses. The parties were protesting over a range of issues which include Cauvery water, Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and special status for Andhra Pradesh. The no-confidence motion was first brought by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP which had pulled itself from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which runs the central government, over the demands of the special status. Mahajan disallowed the motions against the government as the house was not in order. New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS): The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the Karnataka election will be held in a single phase on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 15. Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat said the notification for the state poll will be issued on Apr 17. The last date for filing nomination by candidates has been scheduled on Apr 24. The scrutiny of nomination files will be done by the EC on Apr 25. The last date for withdrawal of candidate is Apr 27. Rawat said the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in the election. Photos of candidates will be present in the EVMs this time in the state election. 450 polling stations will be handled by women in 2018 state poll. To ensure law and order during the poll, the Election Commission will deploy adequate central forces in the state. The EC will also give protections to people belonging to the weaker sections of the society so that they can cast their votes. Karnataka is one of the big states which will go to polls in 2018. The state is one of the few bastions of the Congress in the country. While the Congress is trying to return to power for the second consecutive term, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to wrest power in the state. The battle of the state has turned into a tough contest between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is the BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate. The Congress present has 123 seats in a 225-member Assembly. The BJP, the principal opposition, is having 43 seats under its belt. Images: Facebook Srinagar, Mar 27 (IBNS) : Attracting gullible job-seekers through job advertisements in newspapers and later cheating and duping them has for long been a time-tested tactic with fraudsters and now the Kashmir valley too seems getting share of this trickery. Here is a case to prove the point. Recently a company named J&K Dogma Soft Ltd., claiming to be working under the National Digital Mission, and operating from Saida Kadal area of Srinagar, ran a job advertisement in a local newspaper here inviting applications for the posts of District Coordinator (two posts each for all the districts) and around 960 post of Panchayat level officers for nine districts of the Valley. Interestingly, this company is neither registered with any Government office in Jammu and Kashmir, nor has it any tie up with the National Digital Mission, which is a centrally sponsored scheme, sources said. I heard this DOGMA name for the first time. National Digital Mission does not have any tie-up whatsoever with this company and such persons who are involved in this fraud should be booked under the law to save the career of youth of the state, Secretary Information Technology and Incharge of National Digital Mission, Swagat Biswas told India Blooms. J&K Dogma Soft Ltd. advertisement directly violates J&K Constitutions Directive Principles as only the government notified recruitment agencies or the agencies meant for welfare activities can recruit on such a large inter-district scale. It is not just a case of fake jobs, but potential data-theft as well, says Er. Idrees ul Haq, an activist. He also requested the government to verify details of this organization and let people know about it so that unemployed youth are saved from being cheated. Earlier, a similar company in Wazir Bagh area of Srinagar was also found involved in a fake job racket, says Haq, adding that unfortunately due to high unemployment rate here, these type of frauds are becoming a norm in Kashmir and the people here need to be vigilant about it. Pertinently, an Information Technology company by the same name Dogma Soft Limited headquartered in Jaipur Rajasthan and specializing in web hosting, software development etc. also feigned ignorance about their namesake operating from Srinagar. They also denied having any affiliate or franchisee, or any tie-up with any firm in Srinagar. Dogma Soft Ltd. does not provide any job opportunity outside of its Head Office in Jaipur. We have put a general notification on our website regarding the same and have registered a compliant with Rainawari police station with regard to this case in Srinagar. Police have assured us that action will be taken against the person(s) involved in this scam, said Rajnish Paul, who heads Jaipur-based Dogma Soft Ltd. Meanwhile, police has also initiated action against the person behind running Dogma Soft from Srinagar and issuing job advertisement here and arrested one Dr. Waseem and sealed his office at Saida Kadal are and registered a formal case I this regard. Speaking to India Blooms, Superintend of Police, North City, Sajad Ahmad Shah said: Taking cognizance of the complaint of Jaipur-based Dogma company that informed us that a job advertisement has been published in a local daily of Kashmir, we called one person namely Waseem to the Rainawari Police Station for questioning he failed to produce the registration of the company. Wasim has been detained and FIR has been lodged in this regard at concerned police station,police said while refusing to divulge more information about this case. We will call a presser to reveal further developments in this regard, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Zuhaib Ahmad told India Blooms. Minister for Finance and Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, who also holds the charge of Labour & Employment, told India Blooms: I dont have any information about this Dogma recruitment process, I am hearing this name for the first time. Let me check the facts and then only I can comment on this issue. (Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri) New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS): The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced on Tuesday that Union Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay an official visit to Japan from March 28-30 March, 2018, at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono. During her visit, Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the 9th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Kono on March 29, 2018. The two sides will review all aspects of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest, the ministry said. India and Japan concluded a Special Strategic and Global Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan in 2014. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India in September 2017. Japan is today one of the largest investors in India, with a growing presence in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, financial markets and capacity-building, among others, the Union ministry said in its release. New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS): A slip of tongue by BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday left party's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa embarrassed. Amit Shah called BS Yeddyurappa as the 'most corrupt government' -- when he likely meant incumbent CM K Siddaramaiah of the rival Congress party -- thus providing the Congress the perfect fodder to attack him. Amit Shah left his party embarrassed while addressing a meeting in Karnataka's Davanagere when he mistakenly said: "A retired Supreme Court judge recently said if there was ever a competition of the most corrupt government then the Yeddyurappa government is going to be number one." When someone pointed it out to him, Shah quickly corrected himself. The Congress took the oppurtunity and quickly spread the clip in attacking Shah and his party. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was quick in attacking the BJP over the remark when he posted: "The #ShahOfLies finally speaks truth. Thank you @AmitShah." Karnataka is one of the few states where Congress is currently in power. The Congress has 123 seats and BJP 43 in the 225-member Karnataka Assembly. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also slammed the BJP and said Amit Shah 'truly' said that BS Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt government in the state. "Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video!Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever...True," Gandhi tweeted. The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the Karnataka election will be held in a single phase on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 15. While the Congress is trying to return to power for the second consecutive term, the BJP is aiming to wrest power in the state. The battle of the state has turned into a tough contest between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former CM, B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is the BJP's chief ministerial candidate. New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS) : Claiming thar no other party in the country is more communal than the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she has been in touch with all non-BJP political parites. "I maintain contacts with everybody including Hardik Patel. I do not want to alienate anybody, there is no party in the country that is more communal than BJP," Banerjee told reporters after meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar in the national capital. Speaking on the no-confidence motion against the Modi Government, the Trinamool Congress supremo, who is in Delhi on a four-day visit, said, "This government is in the process of winding up. Which government doesnt take up a no-confidence motion otherwise. BJP is scared many of their own MPs will not vote." Replying a question on alignments in poll-bound Karnataka, Mamata said she wants the Congress to go with Deve Gowda. "But thats Congress decision." Over the last four months, Banerjee has met many opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and DMK working president MK Stalin. The Tuesday dinner assumes significance in the backdrop of Mamata and Telangana CM Chandrashekar Rao's meeting in Kolkata regarding the "anti-BJP and anti-Congress" front. In a significant development, Banerjee on Tuesday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Rout. She said meeting Sharad Pawar was a "routine visit." However, her meeting with Pawar assumes significance given her increasing efforts to reach out to non-BJP political leaders in recent times, which is being seen as an attempt to play a key role in national politics by forming a united opposition grouping before next year's Lok Sabha elections. According to reports, Banerjee, a bitter critic of the BJP and Narendra Modi, is expected to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi as well. She had recently called for unity among all the anti-BJP forces to defeat the saffron party in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Banerjee had recently met TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who called on her to discuss the process of setting up a federal front against the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre. Guwahati, Mar 27 (IBNS): The troops of Assam Rifles have apprehended six Naga militants, including five belonging to NSCN-IM, in Nagaland on Monday (March 26) evening, officials said on Tuesday. According to the reports, the Jalukie battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR North) conducted an operation based on the specific information regarding of presence of armed militants at Itangki area near Athibung. During the operation, troops of Assam Rifles apprehended five armed NSCN-IM militants in illegal possession of weapons. A top official of Assam Rifles said that the movement of armed militant is in violation of agreed Ceasefire Ground Rules. The apprehendees were identified as Self Styled Maj Hanger Walling, SS Capt Nito Chishi, SS Lt Isak Sumi, Wishing Awoishinh and Kheka Sumi of NSCN-IM. Security personnel recovered two 12 Bore Rifles, one point 22 mm Rifle, 16 live rounds of 12 Bore Rifle, 37 live rounds of point 22 mm Rifle and six detonators. Apprehended people, along with recovered items, were handed over to Athibung Police Station for further investigation. On the other hand, the Tuensang battalion of Assam Rifles established mobile vehicle check post based on specific inputs about the movement of NSCN-K militant on Tuensang Kuthur road. During the search of a suspected TATA 407 vehicle , one individual was apprehended alongwith one point 22 pistol with magazine, 14 live rounds and 31 SP capsule. The apprehended individual was identified as Self Styled Lt Kiu Khum of NSCN-K. The apprehendee alongwith the recovered items was handed over to Police Station, Tuensang for further investigation. (By Hemanta Kumar Nath) New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS): Cambridge Analytica (CA), the controversial data analytics firm, "worked extensively in India," whistleblower Christopher Wylie revealed on Tuesday while testifying before the UK Parliament. According to him, Congress was also a client of CA. "They (Cambridge Analytica) worked extensively in India. They have an office in India... I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of projects. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff," Wylie was quoted in media as telling lawmakers under oath. Cambridge Analytica has been named in an investigative report by Britain's channel 4 for having harvested data of up to 50 million Facebook users without permission and using them to help politicians. Earlier, Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad had alleged that the Congress has links with Cambridge Analytica, a British consulting company. Wylie on Tuesday claimed that the data was sold to CA. According to reports, CA used these data to "psychologically profile people and deliver material in favour of Donald Trump during the 2016 US presidential elections," The Times of India reported. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has also decided he will testify before the US Congress. A woman cadre of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Irothu Sundaramma akaSadhana, carrying a reward of INR one million on her head, surrendered before the Superintendent of Police (SP), C.M. Trivikrama Varma, in Srikakulam District on March 17, 2018. Sadhana was involved in a number of Maoist-linked offenses, including an attack at National Aluminium Company (NALCO) Company at Damanjodi in the Koraput District of Odisha on April 12, 2009, in which 11 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were killed. On March 12, 2018, nine CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police at Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam District. The surrendered cadres were identified as Jartha Venkata Rao (25), Korra Dasu (27), Korra Lingaraju (22), Korra Jagga Rao (23), Plika Narsu (20), Palika Ramesh (23), Korra Bandu (21), Paliaka Baburao (25), and Korra Bangaraju (22). All of them were associated with the Galikonda Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist and used to supply food to Dalam (armed squad) members, gather the public for Maoists meetings and act as route guides to Dalam members in the forests. On March 7, 2018, a CPI-Maoist assistant commander affiliated with the Kalimela, Motu and Papuluru dalams in the neighbouring State of Odisha, identified as Madakam Yerraiah (33), surrendered before the Police in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Madakam was allegedly involved in seven violent incidents, including the Balimela boat capsize incident in Malkangiri District of Odisha, in which 38 Security Force (SF) personnel, mostly of Greyhounds [the elite anti-Maoist force of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Police] were killed in 2008. On March 4, 2018, six CPI-Maoist cadres of the Galikonda and Korukonda Area Committees surrendered before the Superintendent of Police (Vizag Rural), Rahul Dev Sharma, in Visakhapatnam District. They were identified as Korra Rajababu (42), Vanthala Sethu aka Tilusu (25), Vanthala Ramakrishna (35), and Vanthala Ravi (30), each of them carrying a cash reward of INR 100,000 on their heads; and Korra Mallana (30) and Pangi Bhaskar Rao (35). On February 16, 2018, four CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police in Visakhapatnam District. Two of them were, identified as Vanthala Lakshmana Rao aka Das (28) and Pangi Lakshman aka Venkat (25), cadres of the CPI-Maoist Galikonda Area Committee; while another one was identified as Pangi Sombra (18). The identity of the fourth was not disclosed, as he was a juvenile. On February 14, 2018, nine 'jan militia (People's Army)' members of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Visakhapatnam District. The surrendered members were identified as J. Bobbili Raju (25), Vantala Veeranna (45), Jartha Balaraju (48), Pangi Mange (45), Jartha Gangamma (40), Kakuri Narayananamma (40), Kakuri Parvathi (20), Jartha Seethamma (40) and Kakuri Lakshmi (35). All of them hailed from Manta Bheemavaram Panchayat (village level local-self Government institution) in Mandapalli village of Koyyur Mandal (administrative sub-division) in the District. On February 8, 2018, a CPI-Maoist dalam member, Muttha Rayi aka Beerayya (29), surrendered before the Police along with his wife and children, in East Godavari District. Rayi was allegedly involved in several incidents of violence, including the killing of 17 personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Odisha, which was travelling in a mine protected vehicle (MPV) in Malkangiri District on July 16, 2008. According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 31 Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists] have surrendered in the current year, 2018, (data till March 25, 2018). During the corresponding period of 2017, at least 18 Naxalites had surrendered. The number of such surrenders through 2017 stood at 60. In 2016, 26 Naxalites had surrendered. Importantly, on December 18, 2017, Gemmali Kishore akaChittibabu aka Balarevula Kishore (22), an 'area committee member (ACM)' of Galikonda Area Committee, who carried a reward of INR 400,000 on his head; and Sindri Shobhan (37), who carried a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, both natives of Koyyuru area in the Vizag Agency, surrendered before the Police in Visakhapatnam District. Moreover, eight Naxalites have already been arrested in the current year (data till March 25, 2018). The SFs had arrested at least 10 Maoists in 2017, in addition to 17 in 2016, according to SATP data. The SFs, meanwhile, killed two Naxalites in 2017 in addition to five killed in 2016. On February 24, 2017, a Greyhounds team killed two Naxalites, identified as Gemmeli Narayan Rao aka Jambri and Chittibabu, near the Annavaram area under Mampa Police Station limits in Koyyuru Mandal in Visakhapatnam District. SFs suffered one loss through 2017. On May 5, 2017, a Home Guard, identified as Sheikh Valli, was killed in a landmine blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres on the Lothugedda junction-Balapam stretch in Visakhapatnam District. No such loss was recorded through 2015 and 2016. The last incident, in which a SF trooper was killed in the State, was recorded on January 15, 2014, when suspected CPI-Moist militia members stabbed to death Madivi Somaiah (35), a Special Police Officer (SPO) of Chhattisgarh Police, during a cockfighting event near Kommanapalli village in Dummugudem Mandal in the Khammam District of Andhra Pradesh. At the peak of the Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] insurgency, the (then undivided) State had accounted for 56 SF fatalities in 1992. The security situation in the State has clearly improved in great measure over the past years, and these gains were further consolidated through 2017. In 2016, the State registered five civilian fatalities, the third lowest recorded in such violence since 1968. The lowest civilian fatalities (one) were recorded in 1968; followed by three in 1977. At the peak of such violence, Andhra Pradesh registered 218 civilian deaths in 1991. After the formation of CPI-Maoist in September 2004, the highest civilian fatalities in LWE-linked violence in Andhra Pradesh stood at 132 in 2005. Significantly, no fatality has been recorded in this category, thus far, in the current year (data till March 25, 2018). Other indicators of violence were also suggestive of significant gains. According to SATP data, no major incident (involving three or more fatalities) was recorded through 2017 as against one in 2016. On May 4, 2016, three CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Gopal aka Azad (a senior leader of the CPI-Maoist east division committee and secretary of the Galikonda area committee), Anand (a senior leader of the Galikonda area committee), and Parvatakka aka Ramulamma (a dalam member), were killed in an encounter with the Police in Marripakala Forest under Koyyuru Police Station limits in Visakhapatnam District. The number of exchanges of fire between Maoists and SFs (on each occasion Maoists opened fire on seeing SFs during search operations), declined from four in 2016 to three in 2017. No attack targeting economic asset was reported in 2017; there was one such incident in 2016. The Maoists issued bandh (total shut down) calls on three occasions in 2016, but none through 2017. Further, the Maoists were able to organise one praja court (Kangaroo Court) in 2016 in Visakhapatnam District, but reportedly failed to organise any such court through 2017. According to a November 2, 2017, report, Superintendent of Police (Vizag rural), Rahul Dev Sharma claimed that only 10 'hardcore' Maoist leaders were left in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and close to 'Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) zone', each with eight to 10 followers. Sharma further stated, After suffering a heavy blow in the last year's Baliguda encounter, they are trying to regroup and strengthen their base. Dwindling funds and frequent surrenders have weakened them in the region. The Baliguda encounter refers to two successive operations in the Bejingi Forest area between Ramgarh and Panasput in the Malkangiri District of Odisha on October 24 and 27, 2016, where SFs killed at least 30 Maoist rebels. Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police (DGP), N. Sambasiva Rao, had stated, earlier on October 21, 2017, Naxal activities have come down in the State and on its borders. The police have been doing a commendable job in combating Naxalism. Seventeen Naxal-related incidents were reported on the State's borders last year. The number was much bigger earlier. Rao also appealed to the Maoists to define their expectations from the Government and appealed to them to shun violence and join the mainstream. Rao also appealed to the Maoists to define their expectations from the Government and appealed to them to shun violence and join the mainstream. Even so, the remaining Maoist challenges refuses to die. The Maoists orchestrated at least four incidents of landmine explosion in 2017, as against one incident in 2016. In one of these incidents on December 5, 2017, the Maoists triggered a landmine blast and fired upon the Police team near Jakkam village in the Injari Panchayat of Pedabayalu Mandal in the AOB region, during their Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Week celebrations between December 2 and 8, 2017. In addition, the Maoists were involved in at least two incidents of arson in 2017, as against none in 2016. On April 21, 2017, DGP Sambasiva Rao stated that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and some Police officers were on a Maoist "hit list". The Maoists had issued death threats to Naidu and some Police officers, holding them responsible for the Baliguda encounter in which 30 rebels were gunned down. Moreover, according to the latest data made available by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on July 18, 2017, out of 106 Maoist-affected Districts, at least eight Districts were still in Andhra Pradesh. These include Anantapur, East Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. Similarly, Visakhapatnam, one of the 35 worst Maoist-affected Districts falls within Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Governments - both at the Centre and State level - through 2017, continued to provide augment past measures. According to an August 10, 2017, report, the Centre allotted a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion, the 39th Battalion, to provide security for the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, and the Chief Minister's camp office-cum-residence located in the capital region, Amaravati. The battalion is the first central force unit deployed to the State capital, and will also take up anti-Naxal operations along the Telangana and Chhattisgarh borders and in the AOB region. CRPF Commandant V.V.N. Prasanna Kumar disclosed, Four more CRPF battalions are operating in Visakhapatnam and Rajamahendravaram in AP and at Warangal and Bhadrachalam in Telangana. The 39th Battalion will coordinate with the four battalions and is conducting combing operations in Naxal-infested villages on the borders of the two States. The tremendous consolidation in Andhra Pradesh occurred despite the fact that the Police continues to lag in terms of capacities. At least 11,596 Police posts were vacant in the State as on January 1, 2017, against a sanctioned strength of 61,048, a deficit of 18.99 per cent, according to the latest data provided by the Bureau of Police Research and Development [BPR&D]. Moreover, against the sanctioned strength of the apex Indian Police Service (IPS) Officers in the State at 144, just 120 officers were in position (a deficit of 16.66 per cent), weakening decision-making in the Force. Further, the police-population ratio (Policemen per hundred thousand population) in the State was 95.74 per 100,000, , according to BPR&D, as on January 1, 2016, far lower than the appallingly low national average of 137.11 [over 220 Policemen per 100,000 population are considered necessary even for peacetime policing]. In addition, as on Januarys 1, 2016, the Police/Area Ratio (number of Policemen per 100 square kilometres) for Andhra Pradesh was 30.95, as against the sanctioned strength of 36.93. The all-India ratio was 60.83, as against a sanction of 77.83 per 100 square kilometres [Disaggregated data of population/area for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana was not available for 2017]. Andhra Pradesh Police has fought the Maoist insurgency over the years, sacrificing valuable lives, and has been successful in driving the Maoist out of the State. The Maoists on other hand, continue to exert efforts to recover influence and some of their lost ground in the State. Addressing the capacity issue in policing not only in terms of numbers of personnel and officers, but also in all dimensions of resources, technologies, skills, structure and processes will ensure that this challenge is not only neutralized, but that the possibilities of any future resurgence are also written off. Mumbai, Mar 27 (IBNS): Director Karthik Subbaraj who has a great repertoire of work to his credit has added another feather up his sleeve with the upcoming silent thriller Mercury starring superstar Prabhudeva. The last silent film that really caught our eye was Kamal Hassans Pushpak. Based on five friends who are caught in some uncalled for situations and the incidents that ensue, Mercury is set out to be a true audio-visual experience. Working on a no-dialogue film is no mean feat. Commenting on the same, director Karthik Subbaraj said, Mercury is one of the most challenging projects I have worked on. From the nuances of the actors expressions to the minute technicals of the movie, everything needed to be monitored and looked into. The actors were required to emote purely with their face. Adding further he said, We shot a lot of this movie in the night. The lighting, set design etc. had to be in sync. Month long workshops were held with Prabhudeva and the actors on how to emote using their facial expressions only. The cast has been extremely supportive on this journey. Besides being one of the most ambitious projects I have worked on, Mercury has also helped me enhance my skills as a director, he signed off. Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, starring Prabhudheva in the lead, Sananth Reddy, Deepak Parmesh, Shashank Puroshotham, Anish Padmanabhan, Indhuja Ravishandran, Gajaraj SP and Ramya Nambeesan, Mercury is slated to release on Friday the Apr 13. Los Angeles, Mar 27 (IBNS): Netizens on Tuesday criticised Hollywood actress Kim Kardashian for an image she posted on social media and claimed that her picture was photo shopped. Kim shared a gorgeous image on Instagram where she looked absolutely flawless from heat to toe. In the image, she could be seen alongside her friend and make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic. Wearing a high cut black swimsuit, Kim looked stunning as she flaunted her curves. She captioned the image: "10 years ago when we met I never dreamed we would be launching our own products together! @makeupbymariohas taught me everything I know about make up! Im so proud of this collection of our favorite eye shadows and lips! Stay tuned.... KKW X MARIO." However, some netizens acted tough as they slammed Kim and said the image was edited. One netizen, whose account is named princessarielmarie, wrote: "Okay but how are we normal girls supposed to look up to stuff like this? That picture is so photoshopped its ridiculous!." Another netizen ally_may_mathi said: "Why the need to photoshop, confused." "This is photoshopped. Nothing if theres is real. Stop setting such high expectations for yourself cause youll never reach them unless you download a photoshop app. THEY ARE ALL FAKE CLOWNS THAT SEEK ATTENTION," wroteshanniahking. Kim often shares bold images of herself on social media. Image: Kim Kardashian Instagram page UN Photo/Manuel Elias New York, Mar 27 (JEN): Reporting that over the past three months, Israel has advanced 22 plans for some 1,200 housing units for one area of the West Bank, a United Nations envoy warned Monday that such ongoing settlement expansion is eroding the prospect of a two-state solution to the long-standing Middle East conflict. In a briefing to the Security Council focused mainly on implementation of its resolution 2334, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the text urged Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. [However] no such steps were taken during the reporting period, he added, noting that Israels illegal settlement expansion and related activities continue further threatening the viability of the two-state solution and eroding the prospects for peace. Mladenov also warned that violence and incitement continue to fuel hatred, division, distrust and fear, and continuing terror attacks on Israelis as well as the recent assassination attempt on the Palestinian Prime Minister exemplify the growing risk of destabilization and the empowerment of radicals and extremists. He further told the 15-member Security Council the reporting period was marked by continuing demonstrations and clashes following to the announcement by the United States, on 6 December 2017, recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital, to the growing tensions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and along the Gaza fence. Despite the call in [] resolution 2334 for the parties to refrain from acts of provocation, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric, such statements continued, added Mladenov, calling on all political leaders to refrain from provocative statements and actions that fuel an already tense environment. Concluding his remarks, the senior UN official called on Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to take concrete steps to reverse the current course of the conflict and advance the goal of a just and sustainable peace. Generations of Palestinian and Israeli lives have been shaped by this conflict. It is time to begin constructing a different future, a future built on mutual respect, dignity, and the belief that even the deepest and most painful divisions can be resolved if there is a genuine desire for change, he said. New York, Mar 27 (JEN): Partnerships at local, national, regional and international levels are crucial to ensuring global migration is better managed, the United Nations migration agency chief said Monday in New York. Partnerships must include all stakeholders: Government, international organizations and civil society, William Lacy Swing, Director General of International Organization for Migration (IOM), told the International Dialogue on Migration, a two-day forum that is part the year-long UN-led effort to craft a Global Compact to cover all dimensions of international. Partnerships are not just about working together but about working together to find new and creative ways of conducting our migration business, he added. Partnership and cooperation are cornerstones of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and essential for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 17 calls for the revitalization and enhancement of the global partnership for sustainable development in all areas, including migration. Moreover, the Secretary-Generals recent migration report states that Managing migration is one of the most urgent and profound tests of international cooperation in our time. The central importance of partnerships on migration was a key takeaway from the stock-taking meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in December 2017 and one of the key messages of last years International Dialogue on Migration. Calling partnership a key word in migration, Swing emphasized, No single government, international organization or civil society stakeholder can expect to reap migrations benefits or address its challenges by going it alone. The focus right now is on global cooperation, he continued. The Global Compact for Migration is a project that deserves close, concerted action from the international community as a whole; not just to conclude negotiations but, beyond that stage, to ensure successful review implementation and follow up. Migration needs to recognize the obligations and commitments of all actors in the field of international migration. Henrietta Holsman Fore, Executive Director of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF), spoke of the challenges facing the world today in supporting people to move safely and by choice, to help them to make the most of the opportunities and support available to them especially children and young people. Pointing out that no group of migrants is more at risk, she elaborated that there are more than million children on the move more than of half of whom have been driven from their homes by conflict. No single State or Organization can manage migration alone, she said, stressing the need for everyone to lend their resources, energies and ideas. For his part, Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), called for fair recruitment, skills development, social protection, decent work and respect for labour rights. Migration is about work, he said, emphasizing his offices mandate to protect those who are working in countries that are not their own. Also speaking, Louise Arbour, Special Representative for International Migration, made clear that in the lead up to the UNs 2018 International Migration Conference in Morocco later this year, the worlds collective focus should remain firmly fixed on how to address the daily realities of migrants and their communities of origin and destination. Arbour believes that for safe, orderly migration to succeed, policies must be enacted based on an sound appreciation of the complex interplay of demographic and economic factors. This is a very tall order, she acknowledged. Bureaucrats can make the rational arguments. Demagogues can make the publicly appealing ones. Only great political leaders can make both. Swing assured that IOM would strive to expand existing partnerships and build new ones and that migrants social, economic and health needs are properly addressed, with the collaboration of all relevant actors. Together, we can achieve our common purpose of reaping the benefits of migration for migrants, and destination and origin societies, he concluded. UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson UN Photo/Mark Garten (file) New York, Mar 27 (JEN): A United Nations spokesman said Monday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is shocked at reports of remarks attributed to Myanmar Senior General U Min Aung Hlaing. He urges all leaders in Myanmar to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred and to promote communal harmony, said Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. Media reports suggest that at a military gathering, Hlaing said Rohingyas had nothing in common with the countrys other ethnic groups. According to Haq, the UN chief asserted that such leadership is critically needed to advance institutional measures to combat discrimination and implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission. The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of the violence and the responsibility of the Government of Myanmar to provide security and assistance to those in need, the Deputy Spokesperson continued. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been driven into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August in the wake of a military crackdown in Myanmars northern Rakhine state. It is critical that conditions are put in place to ensure that the Rohingya are able to return home voluntarily, in safety and in dignity, Haq said. Washington, Mar 27 (IBNS): The US Federal Trade commission has said it is investigating social media giant Facebook after the leak of personal and other data of its users. The FTC said it has taken recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook seriously. Tom Pahl, Acting Director of the Federal Trade Commissions Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement: "The FTC is firmly and fully committed to using all of its tools to protect the privacy of consumers. Foremost among these tools is enforcement action against companies that fail to honor their privacy promises, including to comply with Privacy Shield, or that engage in unfair acts that cause substantial injury to consumers in violation of the FTC Act. Companies who have settled previous FTC actions must also comply with FTC order provisions imposing privacy and data security requirements." "Accordingly, the FTC takes very seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook. Today, the FTC is confirming that it has an open non-public investigation into these practices, read the statement. Amid allegations of Cambridge Analytica data misuse, Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg last week finally broke his silence over the issue and said his company committed 'mistakes' in how it handled data belonging to 50 million of its users. He also explained the various measures his government will take to restrict developers access to such information in future. "We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can't then we don't deserve to serve you. I've been working to understand exactly what happened and how to make sure this doesn't happen again. The good news is that the most important actions to prevent this from happening again today we have already taken years ago. But we also made mistakes, there's more to do, and we need to step up and do it," Mark said in a Facebook post. Speaking on the Cambridge Analytica isue, Mark said: "In 2013, a Cambridge University researcher named Aleksandr Kogan created a personality quiz app. It was installed by around 300,000 people who shared their data as well as some of their friends' data. Given the way our platform worked at the time this meant Kogan was able to access tens of millions of their friends' data." "In 2014, to prevent abusive apps, we announced that we were changing the entire platform to dramatically limit the data apps could access. Most importantly, apps like Kogan's could no longer ask for data about. a person's friends unless their friends had also authorized the app. We also required developers to get approval from us before they could request any sensitive data from people. These actions would prevent any app like Kogan's from being able to access so much data today," he said. "In 2015, we learned from journalists at The Guardian that Kogan had shared data from his app with Cambridge Analytica. It is against our policies for developers to share data without people's consent, so we immediately banned Kogan's app from our platform, and demanded that Kogan and Cambridge Analytica formally certify that they had deleted all improperly acquired data. They provided these certifications," he said. "Last week, we learned from The Guardian, The New York Times and Channel 4 that Cambridge Analytica may not have deleted the data as they had certified. We immediately banned them from using any of our services. Cambridge Analytica claims they have already deleted the data and has agreed to a forensic audit by a firm we hired to confirm this. We're also working with regulators as they investigate what happened," Mark said. He said a 'breach of trust' has been committed. Mark said he will take steps to 'fix' the trouble. "This was a breach of trust between Kogan, Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. But it was also a breach of trust between Facebook and the people who share their data with us and expect us to protect it. We need to fix that," he said. Stories about US President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign doesn't seem to die down. The latest to have emerged from that controversial election is the role of Trump campaigns data consultant, Cambridge Analytica, accused of using Facebook data wrongfully to influence the polls, even as the company Tuesday suspended its CEO Alexander Nix after a sting operation caught him discussing potential bribery and entrapment. According to reports, the UK-based firm used data of millions of Facebook users without their consent to influence the 2016 US elections. The Board of Cambridge Analytica had announced that it has suspended CEO Alexander Nix with immediate effect, pending a full, independent investigation. "In the view of the Board, Mr. Nixs recent comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 and other allegations do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation. "We have asked Dr. Alexander Tayler to serve as acting CEO while an independent investigation is launched to review those comments and allegations," the company said in a release. "We have asked Julian Malins QC to lead this investigation, the findings of which the Board will share publicly in due course," it said. "The Board will be monitoring the situation closely, working closely with Dr. Tayler, to ensure that Cambridge Analytica, in all of its operations, represents the firms values and delivers the highest-quality service to its clients." The statement was released ahead of airing of the expose by Channel 4 News in the UK. Even though several other apps on Facebook uses user data, Cambridge Analytica has been accused of breaking the rules as it obtained the said data under a veiled motive, telling users that it was for academic use. Image: FCO/Twitter Canberra, Mar 27 (IBNS): Australia became the latest country to expel Russian diplomats as part of a global response to alleged poisoning of a Russian spy in the United Kingdom, according to media reports. On Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, made a joint statement saying that two Russian diplomats have been identified as undeclared intelligence officers and will be asked to leave the country within seven days. Excerpt from the statement: "Together with the United Kingdom and other allies and partners, Australia is taking action in response to the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury, UK. Two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by the Australian Government for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna Conventions. The two officials will be directed to depart Australia within seven days. This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community. It takes into account advice from the UK Government that the substance used on 4 March was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program in accordance with international law." Tweeted Foreign Minister Bishop, "Australia is expelling 2 #Russian diplomats in response to nerve agent attack in #UK - an illegal and shocking act in blatant breach of international rules based order." On Monday, according to media reports, more than a dozen Western nations announced they will expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK over the poisoning of a former Russian spy. United States and Canada too joined the European states and ordered the removal of Russian embassy and intelligence staff in the wake of the allegation by the UK that Russia was behind an attack using a deadly nerve-agent in Salisbury on March 4, which left Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, hospitalized in critical condition. On March 14, the UK brought the charge before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, where US Ambassador Nikki Haley said that the US stood in solidarity with the UK in denouncing the crime and believed Russia had been responsible for the attack. At the same meeting, both Russia and the UK said the incident should be investigated by the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN-backed body which works to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and eliminate chemical weapons use, and the threat of their use. Kemerovo, Mar 27 (IBNS): Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited the accident site at Siberia's Kemerovo, has reportedly blasted the officials for 'criminal negligence'. The inferno, which started at around 5 pm on Sunday, killed at least 64 people, including 41 children. People were shopping and watching movies at the Winter Cherry mall when the blaze first broke out. Several people were wounded as the ceiling in two cinema halls caved in. Laying a wreath at the scene, Putin reportedly asked, "What is happening here?" "This is no battle or an unexpected methane outburst in a mine," he said. "People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness." Five people have been arrested in connection with the accident, including an official who is suspected of turning off the public address system. Expressing anger, Kemerovo lawmaker Anton Gorelkin said in a Facebook post that the place was turned into a trap after an official decided to shut the address system. He also rued the lack of systematic evacuation. Meanwhile, providing a possible explanation, Kemerovo's deputy governor, Vladimir Chernov, said, "The preliminary suspicion is that a child had a cigarette lighter which ignited foam rubber in this trampoline room, and it erupted like gunpowder." However, national broadcaster Rossiya 24 TV said that it was likely due to a short circuit. Damascus, Mar 27 (IBNS): The Syrian Arab Army has liberated six people who were detained by terrorist groups in Erbin in Easter Ghouta region of the country, media reports said. According to local media reports, efforts are currently on to liberate the remaining abducted citizens. "The delegate added that the names of the liberated citzens are Mohammad Haytham Qatramiz, Mohammad Mohei-din Nabilsi, Fadi Khudre al-Habash, Suleiman Suleiman , Abdul-Rahman Hashas and Nizar Marwan Safouf," SANA news agency reported. Meanwhile, the United Nations in Syria has appealing urgently for help to ease the catastrophic situation for tens for thousands of people impacted by fighting in Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus, and the northern town of Afrin. Having seen first-hand the desperate conditions of people from east Ghouta and Afrin, who are tired, hungry, traumatized and afraid, we need to provide them with urgent aid, Ali Al-Zatari, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, said on Mar 19. These civilians are facing harrowing humanitarian conditions, he continued. Many remain trapped by conflict inside East Ghouta and Afrin. All are in desperate need. The fighting in both places has killed hundreds of civilians in the past month and displaced tens of thousands. Insecurity and fierce hostilities continue to endanger the people of East Ghouta, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has referred to as hell on earth. Most of those interviewed had some health conditions, likely due to years of lacking medicine and health care. Meanwhile, nearly 100,000 people have been displaced by hostilities in Afrin District. The majority, some 75,000 people, have fled to Tal Refaat and the remainder to Nubul, Zahraa and surrounding villages. The massive influx of internally displaced people is putting a strain on host communities, which are already overwhelmed. All 16 schools in Tal Refaat are being used as internally displaced shelters, resulting in the interruption of education. Since 11 March, some 25,000 people have reportedly left East Ghoutam and on a daily basis UN teams have been visiting Dweir, Adra and Herjelleh in Rural Damascus where they are sheltering. All of these sites are well over capacity, with more people continuing to arrive on a daily basis. Justin Trudeau/Facebook Ottawa, Mar 27 (IBNS): Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday delivered a statement of exoneration on behalf of the Government of Canada to the Tsilhqotin Nation and the descendants of six Tsilhqotin Chiefs, media reports said. These chiefs fought against the colonial government of the time and were leaders and warriors of the Tsilhqotin Nation. These are regarded by their people as heroes but were reportedly hanged in 1864 and 1865 although they acted in accordance with their laws and traditions. Today, the Tsilhqotin people, including the descendants of those six chiefs, continue to live and care for Tsilhqotin lands and to fight to preserve their territory and culture. The Chilcotin War has defined us as who we are today...in a way that ensures our children will not have to see such things as Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, high Indigenous incarceration rates, or over representation of Indigenous children in the foster care system, Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chairman, Tsilhqotin National Government was reported to state. A Letter of Understanding between Canada and the Tsilhqotin Nation was reportedly signed in January 2017, another step toward reconciliation and recognition of our nation-to-nation relationship. Apologising for the capture, arrest, and hanging of the six Chiefs, Trudeau stated, I know that this posthumous exoneration cannot by itself repair the damage that has been done.It is my sincere hope, though, that it will allow healing to begin as Canada and the Tsilhqotin Nation embark on a new journey together toward reconciliation. This is another important step forward to recognize and support the implementation of the rights of the Tsilhqotin and all Indigenous Peoples, enshrined in our Constitution. Our peoples journey to this place of reconciliation has been long and enduring. 154 years have passed where our truth has gone unrecognized. Under a flag of truce, our Chiefs were wrongfully shackled, tried, and hanged. We have always been proud of the sacrifices made by our Chiefs, who are heroes to our people, and continue to inspire and guide the work of the future. Today, Canada has finally acknowledged that our warriors did no wrong. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) If you are planning a trip to Ireland and wish to work up a tan, don't forget to stop at Hawk Cliff in Dalkey. What's so special about this beach, you ask? Well, if you are the one with no inhibitions, this place may be the perfect one for you. Here, you can shed your clothes and enjoy a naked day at the beach. In what is being called the nation's first 'nudist-friendly' beach, Hawk Cliff won't disappoint you. flickr The beach is already undergoing changes with public notices being set up by the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. According to Irish Naturist Association (INA) chief Pat Gallagher, the signs will be up next month and will warn other beachgoers of the likelihood of seeing naked people. He told the Irish Sun, Every other country in Europe has these kinds of signs and they will simply say nude bathers may be seen beyond this point. Also read: While Rest Of The City Was Busy Working, Doordarshan Staffer Was Found Sunbathing Nude In Pune flickr Hawk Cliff will, of course, remain open and inviting to clothed swimmers as well. Also read: Paris Just Opened Its First Ever Public Nudist Park And It's As Big As A Football Pitch! The intention of opening the nudist beach is simple as Gallagher explains, We dont go out to offend anyone. We simply want to go there, lie in the sun, get in the water, have a swim but we dont want to wear anything, thats all. There has been a backlash but the Hawk Cliff beach will officially open next month for all - the nude and the clothed. And we can't wait to see the first pictures straight from the site. Who comes to your mind when you first hear the name Arjun? Maybe Karan Arjun or Arjun from the famous Mahabharata? Or just a friend named Arjun? Well, the Arjun we are talking about has forever been fascinated by trekking and mountaineering, and that has led him to become the third youngest Indian to ever climb the Mount Everest. Facebook/ Arjun Vajpai The Mount Everest Journey Summiting Mount Everest was only the start of Arjuns journey. After climbing the Everest in the year 2011, Arjun went on to become the youngest mountaineer to summit the Lhotse and the Manaslu, the fourth and the eight highest mountains in the world respectively. Facebook/Arjun Vajpai After climbing and conquering these tall and steep peaks, Arjun decided to conquer Mount Makalu - a mountain which is notorious for its steep pitches and knife-edged ridges that are open to the elements and has double the fatality rate as that of Mount Everest. The Love Story Of Arjun And Mount Makalu This is the love story that every aspiring mountaineer should take inspiration from. Arjun began his journey to the peak of Mount Makalu for the first time in the year 2013, when the mountain first defied him as he and his team fell short of ropes just 150 meters away from the peak. In the year 2014, in his second attempt to the summit of Mount Makalu, one of his fellow climbers deceased, due to which Arjun and his team had to return. In his third attempt in the year 2015, an earthquake shook Nepal and he had to return, again. After facing death, an avalanche and failure three times in a row, he conquered the fifth highest mountain in the world - Mount Makalu - in his fourth attempt, in the year 2016. Mountains After Mountains Apart from climbing Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Manaslu, and Mount Makalu, Arjun has also climbed Mount Cho Oyu - the sixth highest mountain in the world which is also known as the Turquoise Goddess. He, along with his mountaineering partner Bhupesh Kumar also climbed an unnamed peak - or "virgin peak" as they called it - in Himachal Pradesh's Spiti valley. They named the 6,180-metre high peak Mt. Kalam, in the honour of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Facebook/Arjun Vajpai On Mount Cho Oyu, Arjun had to be evacuated from Camp 2 as he was stuck in a snowstorm with low oxygen supply and suffered paralysis along with pulmonary edema. During this expedition, the left side of Arjuns body stopped functioning completely. Even after all the difficulties he faced, Arjuns spirit did not die; he went on to become the youngest Indian to master Mount Cho Oyu in the year 2016. Indiatimes With the dream to hit the Grand Slam, the unstoppable man Arjun Vajpai has now set sight on the mighty Kangchenjunga - the third highest mountain in the world. Facebook/Arjun Vajpai It takes a lot of courage to undertake such a treacherous climb. It's his passion that has taken him places and we wish him all the best for this magnanimous adventure. We hope that he makes it to the top with flying colours. Sanjay Mishra is one versatile actor, who lights up the screen every time he makes an appearance on it, regardless of the onscreen time that he gets. Indiatimes had an opportunity to interview this talented actor and it was a memorable meeting. From relieving his good old days with his acting school friends to discussing the latest scenario in the industry, the Aankhon Dekhi actor bared his heart out with us and shared his brutal opinion on everything. Read on! Twitter I hate the term Bollywood On what's his opinion about Bollywood, he said, Till date I havent seen our industry getting matured, its still very young to understand, It has learned walking now. Abhi to apna industry bachcha hai. Till now we have seen the same kind of films being made. Few people have named the film industry as Bollywood, if our industry would be old, it wouldnt have kept the name Bollywood from Hindi Film Industry. I hate this term. Its a copy from Hollywood and I hate that." Twitter I am here to become an actor NOT Hero Sanjay says, he never dream't of becoming a hero, I have come here to struggle and do whatever work I get. I still remember there was one boy who told me, 'Sir I want to become a hero, what can I do, I told him if you want to become an actor, I can help you, but you want to become a hero, you dont need to learn anything. You just need a man who can spend money on you and one person who can direct you and show it to the world.' I came here to work in cinema and not become a hero. My struggle was not to become a hero, I just wanted to work and earn money. While I was struggling, I observed the behaviour in the industry and that here nobody will talk bad about you, which is actually bad in a real sense. Here people only praise each other. If you ask kaisi film hai, they will say, Arey sir, aap ne toh kamaal kar dia, acting padh daali. Nobody tells the truth to anyone. Twitter Actors Are Like Soap Sanjay has his own term for actors, he says, I always say an actor is like soap and you will have to sell yourself, and show what you are. People call me an underrated actor and I feel blessed because if I would be overrated I would have become outdated. I Dont Like Being Called Character Actor Sanjay Mishra addressed that how he hates being called character actor, Nowadays media has given me name of character actor. What is character actor, every actor is character, Amitabh Bachchan played a bartender in one film and in another he played a coolie, we have named him hero because those films were super hit." Twitter Every today will be little different by tomorrow We asked Sanjay to share his opinion on todays generation, to which he said, When I was young, I used to listen to this song Main Shayar Toh Nahi, then my fathers sister used to come and tell me what kind of song is this, ye koi gaana hai, kya hogaya hai aajkal?. Gaana toh hamare zaamane ka hota tha, Do Naina Matwaale. And now we say listening to these songs ye koi gaana hai, Chaar bottle vodka , Kaam mera roz ka. So there is nothing called today, every today will be little different by tomorrow." Twitter Six Packs Are Fake When asked Sanjay, does he feel its important to make that six pack abs to became an actor, to which he said, No, I dont think so, we have actors like Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kangana Ranaut, Deepak Dobriyal who dont need six packs? Six packs banakar kuch nahi hota hai, it only looks good onscreen, till two hours you cannot only show six packs, you have to act also. I agree you have to be fit, but that doesnt mean you will only show your six packs. Six packs banana se acting nahi aa jaati, for me six packs are fake. Nepotism Is Everywhere We asked Sanjays take on the huge debate of nepotism which Kangana Ranaut started, he said, Nepotism is everywhere. Every parent wants their kids to take their legacy forward. And nepotism is not happening from today, its happening since ages. I have seen it everywhere, from railways to doctors. But today we have made a huge debate but in the end talent matters. Nepotism has nothing to do with actors success." Twitter Jealousy Is Natural The Golmaal star happily accepted that he gets jealous of others, I get jealous of others success because its human nature. If others say they do not get affected by someone else doing good means they are lying. Like Death, Failures Too Are Destined "I dont fear failures, because when you are born your death is destined, same goes with success. If you have seen success, you are bound to see failures. Everyone sees failure in life, some face it in a relationship, some in the profession, some in love. Failure is a part of life. Twitter It's actors like him which give a whole new meaning to Hindi cinema, right? Be it for the rich and unique culture or literacy rate- Kerala has it all. Kunnamthanam, became Kerala's first 'Complete Yoga Village'. Taking inspiration from it, the centre has decided to develop 500 Sampoorna Yoga Grams (SYG) across the nation. Isn't it great? Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha told The Pioneer, We are very much inspired by the initiative taken by the village panchayat of Kunnamthanam village in Kerala. They have shown that how by simple initiatives, yoga can become an integral part of the lifestyle and lead a healthy lifestyle without many efforts." We want to replicate the Kunnamthanam model across India. But we will start with the pilot project and later spread across the country, particularly in the aspirational districts where health facilities are least available," he added. What is SYG concept? Sampoorna Yoga Gram or Complete Yoga Village decided to give free training to the village with an aim to make yoga an integral part of lifestyle. The Kunnamthanam village panchayat arranged sessions where at least one member from all families in the village had to learn the asanas. The idea was to teach yoga asanas to at least one member of each family, who would then transfer the skills to the rest of the family. What led to this concept? The concept started in 2017 when nearly 7000 families of the village found out that the busy and unhealthy lifestyle has already taken a toll on their health. The health check-up reports reflected that the lifestyle diseases have become quite a common among the villagers and diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol and variations in blood pressure, especially among homemakers. Alarmed villagers decided to take up yoga to fight it. We realised that there was an acute dearth of exercise among the villagers. They were not moving enough. So we began a campaign to popularise yoga. We called a meeting of workers of Kudumbashree, NREGA and community leaders to work out an idea, says KK Radhakrishna Kurup, the village panchayat president was quoted by The Indian Express. How Kunnamthanam became SYG? A few days later, the villagers adopted yoga to stop the spread of diseases. The villagers turned schools, temples churches, commericial buildings and even the household terraces into yoga training centres and panchayat supervised everything apart from arranging the teachers. Kurup claimed that by June 21 (International Day of Yoga) last year, 12,600 people out of its 21000 residents were taught yoga. Happy with its efforts, the panchayat went on to declare Kunnamthanam a complete yoga village. The results soon became visible. Me and my wife started going for yoga classes at the community hall. There was a lot of relief. My sugar levels also became normal, Ganesh, local told IE. Shailendra Kumar Rai, a migrant worker from Patna, also said that he attended yoga classes by MG Dileep, a yoga trainer who works with the district agricultural office. I also learnt kung fu. It keeps my body fit and gives me strength, said Shailendra, who works as a contractor in Kunnamthanam. Now the government plans to take it across the nation The centre now decided to take it across India and AYUSH has asked to make atleast 500 villages across the nation complete yoga villages. Ishwar V Basavaraddi, Director of the Delhi-based Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), an autonomous body of the Ayush Ministry said, Yoga is the most suited system for self health and regular practice of yoga can substantially help in reducing the incidence of diseases and impact macro health indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate among others. Bodies of 39 Indians killed in war-torn Iraq will be brought to India in a weeks time, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told the families of the deceased on Monday. This was conveyed by the minister during her meeting with families, who were appreciative of efforts made by the government, specially by Swaraj and minister of state for external affairs Gen. V.K. Singh, officials privy of the development said. The minister told them that bodies will be brought to India in a weeks time and Singh will go to Iraq to oversee the entire process, an official said. Singh is expected to fly out soon in a cargo plane to get bodies, they said. Davinder Singh, younger brother of Gobinder Singh, who was among those killed in Iraq, told PTI over phone after meeting Swaraj in New Delhi, We were assured all kind of assistance, including the possibility of a government job to the next of kin. BCCL/ File On the demand of bringing the mortal remains of the 39 killed to India as soon as possible, the minister assured us of all possible steps, he said. The meeting with Swaraj lasted for about 45 minute, he said. The family of the deceased sought financial help as their bread earners are dead and also government jobs for the next of kin, Kumar said. The minister told us that she would meet the CMs of the four states from where the Indians belonged to take a decision on possibility of providing a government job to the next of kin, he said. The family of Jatinder Singh Earlier in the day, the family members of those killed in Iraq met Punjab Congress chief and party MP Sunil Kumar Jakhar in New Delhi and he assured them all possible assistance to them. Swaraj had told Parliament last week that all the 39 Indians, abducted by the ISIS in Iraq in 2014, had been killed and their bodies recovered. As many as 40 Indians were abducted by the ISIS terror group from Mosul in Iraq but one of them escaped posing as a Muslim from Bangladesh, Swaraj had said in Rajya Sabha. The remaining 39 Indians were taken to Badoosh and killed, she had said. Search operations led to a mound in Badoosh where locals said some bodies were buried by the ISIS. BCCL/File Deep penetration radars were used to establish that the mound indeed was a mass grave, she had said, adding the Indian authorities requested their Iraqi counterpart to exhume the bodies. Swaraj said the mass grave had exactly 39 bodies, with distinctive features such as long hair, non-Iraqi shoes and IDs. The bodies were then sent to Baghdad for DNA testing. DNA testing by Martyrs Foundation established the identity of 38 Indians while there has been 70% matching of the DNA for the 39th person, she had said. Ahmed Ali, an 82-year-old rickshaw-puller from Karimganj district - who set up nine schools in Madhurband village of Patharkandi with his personal earnings - got featured in the 42nd 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. Ali's mention in the monthly address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the nation set off a sense of festivity his remote village, close to the Bangladesh border. Ali's efforts are symbolic of the willpower that our countrymen have, said Modi on Sunday. "When I got to read in your letters how a rickshaw-puller from Karimganj in Assam, Ahmed Ali, has built nine schools for underprivileged children, it gave me a glimpse into the nation's willpower," the PM said. While listening to the programme with his wife, three sons and relatives, Ali's face lit up when he heard his name. "I began my work by the wish of Allah and achieved some success by means of blessings from locals," said Ali, a school dropout himself. In 1978, Ali sold a plot of his land and collected small amounts of money from other villagers, subsequently establishing a lower primary school. In the last forty years, he repeated this process many times, establishing as many as nine schools in Madhurband and nearby villages - three lower primary schools, five upper primary schools and one high school. krishnendupaul/facebook Of the 36 bighas of land Ali inherited, he has donated 32 bighas for the purpose of setting up schools. Also, at a time when philanthropy is practised as a vehicle for publicity, only one of the nine schools bears Ali's name, and that too after requests from several villagers. "I have a dream to establish at least 10 schools in my locality. I want to now set up a junior college without delay so that no student from a poor family has to abandon studies after passing out of Class 10," Ali said. "I had dropped out of school owing to poverty. It pained me. I don't want to see dropouts from poor families anymore. It is a sin for anybody to not be educated. I feel joy when I see that boys and girls from the village have been attending school," said Ali. BCCL/Representational Image The octogenarian expressed his gratitude to his friends, neighbours and the media for encouraging him to continue his venture. He added that the government has also come on board recently to provide funds for development of the schools. "We are proud of Ali and his dream and drive for education, which garnered the attention of the Prime Minister," said Krishnendu Paul, the Patharkandi MLA. Whenever we hear the word 'Hijacked', we associate it with terrorism. India has witnessed heart wrenching plane hijacking cases like the 1986 Neerja Bhanot case or the 1999 Indian Airline hijacking and both left in tears as many people lost their lives. Have you ever come across a plane hijacking done with a motive to unite people? Well, most of us havent. But Hari Singh, a truck driver from Haryana had hijacked a Chennai bound Indian Airlines Airbus Flight IC 439 with 192 passengers and 13 crew members because he was not happy with ongoing Hindu-Muslim riots across the country. As many as 2000 people had lost their lives. wikipedia According to a report by The Associated Press). , Singh said, "I have not hijacked this plane for bloodshed, but I want to change the thinking of the people because my aim is only to love, peace and to maintain communal harmony in India." Hari Singh (37 then) was agitated to see the politicians allowing such riots to happen. He also wrote a 3-page letter to PM Narasimha Rao which he submitted to police later. He was awarded life imprisonment in 2001 but got bail in 2003. Here is all that took place on March 27, 1993 when a truck driver hijacked a plane. The plane left Palam airport at 6:25 hours It was a pleasant morning in New Delhi and a Madras bound flight with a stopover in Hyderabad, Indian Airlines Airbus Flight IC 439 took off at 6:25. At around 7:50 hours the Domestic Airport's control room was informed that a flight was returning as there was an emergency landing. Hijacking and the furor thereafter pti Soon the message was clear that plane had been hijacked. India had seen the 1986 hijacking by then and the news spread like a wildfire raising ears of concerned along with our neighbour Pakistan. The concerned agencies were put to task to talk to the hijacker Hari Singh as he wanted to take the plane to Pakistan. Demands and what followed 'I am a live human bomb,' he reportedly told the Amritsar airport control tower. Police said, however, they found no explosives or guns when Singh surrendered. Blasts in then Bombay in 1993, PTI Hari Singh during negotiations, reportedly had put across a demand asking for a 40-day asylum in Pakistan, permission to talk to media in Pakistan, but demands were rejected. However, he was allowed to speak to media at Amritsar airport after he surrendered. Pakistan refused to provide runway According to AP, the hijacker was wearing a shirt scrawled with cartoons of political leaders including the then PM and a slogan calling for communal harmony. He first asked the pilot to take the plane to Pakistan, but after hovering over Lahore for 25 minutes, the plane retuned to Indian air space because Pakistan didnt allow the landing and parked buses on the runway. afp Then the hijacker asked the pilot to take the plane to Dhaka, but by then the police chief of Punjab KPS Gill had come to talk to him. How KPS Gill persuaded him? KPS Gill needed no introduction and the hijacker too was a fan of him. Gill talked to him from Amritsar air traffic control and tried to convince him. The pilot too told him that the aircraft is short on fuel and cant reach Dhaka. After Gills assurance, he surrendered KPS Gill persuaded him and he decided to let the plane land at Raja Sansi airport, an airport used by IAF. There were contradictions whether he was allowed some time with media to speak about it, but a few international agencies quoted him saying that he never wanted to harm people. Indian Express 'He was carrying a 31-page manuscript that expressed his disenchantment with Indian politics and his political philosophy,' said Punjab police chief K.P.S. Gill, to whom Singh surrendered and was quoted by United Press International. He was seen as a hero According to a report by The Associated Press, once he announced that he will surrender, the passengers in plane rushed to take his autograph. When Singh announced his decision to give himself up, many passengers rushed to get his autograph, said Erica Binger, a student at Pepperdine University in Malibu. They say that the bond between a father and daughter is special. But the following incident will make you feel disgusted. Andrew James Turley, tried to sell his 4-year-old daughter for sex back in 2015. The police officers from Houston had been after Turley ever since he had put up an ad that got noticed which said Play with Daddie's Little Girl on Craigslist. The Washington Post reported that according to Harris County district attorneys office, in more than 70 e-mails Turley negotiated with a potential client, to whom he described his daughter as younger than 10. He apparently charged the client about $ 1000 for two hours (approximately Rs. 65,000) He also assured the client that he would slip his daughter medication before the encounter. Turley implied that his daughter might be too young for intercourse but everything else was OK, the district attorney's office said. The 30-year-old man was unaware that he was speaking to an undercover police officer. ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Turley was arrested in November 2015 after the undercover cop arrived in a Houston apartment where he found Turleys daughter unresponsive and lying naked under a blanket. At the time, Turley was visiting his daughter who lived with her mother but she was unaware of the situation and was not charged. Turley was sentenced Friday in front of a jury in Harris County, Texas where he was convicted for child trafficking and compelling prostitution on someone under the age of 18. He has been sentenced to 60 years in prison and will not be able to apply for parole before he is 75. In Shenzhen city in China, police are looking to completely automate some traffic police work, particularly when it involves pedestrians. The local police have tied up with a company called Intellifusion to have an artificial intelligence monitor traffic cameras and automatically issue fines for foot traffic violations. If you jaywalk i.e. cross the road when the signal is red, the system can simply pick out your face using facial recognition technology, match you with national citizen records, and issue you a fine directly to your phone through an SMS. Despite Shenzhen having a population of over 12 million, its actually a pretty capable system. Gizmodo Cameras at major traffic points are already outfitted with the basic software to pick out and tag faces and match them to records. Now, the plan is to work with mobile carriers and apps like WeChat to notify rule-breakers immediately. Basically, you can illegally cross the road, but youll get a fine by the time you reach the other side, as well as have your face and violation displayed on a small digital billboard. Inside the state of constant surveillance China has a pretty intensive surveillance network after all, which is expected to have over 600 million AI-powered CCTV cameras by 2020. They can track citizens, identify their vehicles, and even who your friends are according to the BBC. In fact, some areas of the country have already begun moving this technology to portable sunglasses for local police, in order to catch known criminals trying to blend in with crowds at railway stations. However, while experts agree with the reasons the police would want to crack down on jaywalking, they worry about the obvious concerns of people being misidentified, as well as the overall increase in surveillance it indicates in the country. We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts! Donate $ 140.00 donated in the past month Get Involved If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us. Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney Richard Bell of McCordsville, Indiana filed suit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Defendant, ROI Property Group Management, LLC, infringed its rights in the Indianapolis Photo registered on August 4, 2011 with the US Copyright Office, Registration No. VA0001785115. Bell seeks injunctive relief along with statutory damages, costs and attorney fees. Bell has filed many lawsuits on his own behalf asserting copyright infringement in Indiana federal courts. See: Bells lawsuit against the Defendant stems from Defendants alleged use of the copyrighted photo on its commercial website. Plaintiff claims that Defendant used the picture without authorization in November 2017, and the use continued through December 2017. According to the complaint, the Defendant did not request or receive permission or authorization to use the photo, and instead claimed it owned the copyrights of all images appearing on its website. Plaintiff has formally alleged copyright infringement and violations of the Lanham Act. The case was assigned to District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch in the Southern District and assigned Case 1:18-cv-00043-TWP-DML. Bell vs. ROIProperty Complaint Altcoins A AUDIOUSD and AAVEUSD Elliott Wave Analysis EW-Forecast.com - 9 minutes ago AUDIOUSD is coming nicely down from projected 78,6% Fibonacci resistance. Currently we are tracking wave C decline that can belong to a big bullish triangle pattern or maybe even deeper flat correction.... Cotton Fades Thursday Gains on Stronger Dollar, Pre-Weekend Position Squaring Barchart - 13 minutes ago Cotton futures ended the Thursday session with triple digit gains of 113 to 159 points. At the close December was 13 above the weeks start price, having fully erased Mondays collapse. This morning... CTV21 : 93.31s (+1.61%) CTZ21 : 92.65 (+0.21%) CTZ21 : 92.65 (+0.21%) Shortages cause 'bottleneck recession' for German industry AP - 1 hour ago FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) Shortages of computer chips and other raw materials are continuing to hit Germany's manufacturers, as bottlenecks leave companies struggling to fill orders from a rebounding... $SPX : 4,448.98 (+1.21%) $DOWI : 34,764.82 (+1.48%) $IUXX : 15,316.58 (+0.92%) The Bulls Roar Market Tea Leaves - Fri Sep 24, 4:59AM CDT Yesterday the markets soared as a continuation of Wednesday's upward trend. Will that change today? Arabica Coffee (KC) Testing Jul-Sep Triangle/Downtrend Resistance Tradable Patterns - Fri Sep 24, 1:44AM CDT Arabica Coffee (KC) rallied more than 3% yesterday, breaking above triangle resistance (on the 4hr chart). Significantly, with yesterdays surge, KC is suddenly at the daily chart triangle resistance,... JO : 52.56 (+3.01%) Chart of the Day: Lattice Semiconductor Barchart - Thu Sep 23, 9:28PM CDT The Barchart Chart of the Day belongs to the semiconductor company Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC ). I found the stock by sorting Barchart's Top Stocks to Own list first by the most frequent... LSCC : 68.03 (+0.46%) Corn Prices Add to Upside Barchart - Thu Sep 23, 5:17PM CDT At the close for the Thursday session corn was 3 3/4 to 4 1/2 cents higher. Red December prices were up 4 1/2 cents to $5.05 1/2. USDA reported a flash export sale of 138,403 MT of corn to Guatemala this... ZCZ21 : 527-4 (-0.33%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.1258 (+0.67%) ZCH22 : 535-0 (-0.37%) ZCZ21 : 527-4 (-0.33%) Wheats Gained on Thursday Barchart - Thu Sep 23, 5:17PM CDT Front month wheat futures added another double digits to several contract months on Thursday. CBT SRW futures closed 9 1/4 to 12 3/4 cents higher. Carry from December to March was 10 3/4 cents. Kansas... ZWZ21 : 715-6 (-0.28%) ZWPAES.CM : 6.6131 (+1.80%) KEZ21 : 716-6 (-0.45%) KEPAWS.CM : 6.9341 (+2.04%) MWZ21 : 910-0 (-0.16%) Rogash brings more than 12 years' experience to the role, most recently as senior plant manager at ATC in the past three years. His previous roles include senior underwriting and business development positions with then-Cemac, now called Sura. Shane Sheppard, ATC director and Queensland branch manager, said Rogash is a talented underwriter with strong broker relationships in the Australian market. Both Rachels, meanwhile, served a number of senior roles at UAA, adding capabilities and experience to the growing division, Sheppard said Related stories: Many risks will move from an individual, frequency-based risk to a commercial, more severity-based risk, he told the Financial Times, explaining the benefit of creating the top global property and casualty commercial lines insurer with the acquisition. Take autonomous vehicles. Today, a car [insurance] contract is your personal contract Tomorrow, it will be a manufacturers product liability, maybe focused on cyber risks. Buberl added that not only was the move aligned with AXAs P&C strategy but also not an expensive buy in comparison to rivals valuations. The US$15.3 billion deal has been deemed pricey by analysts. As for shareholders who werent too happy with what went on, the CEO said he knew where theyre coming from. I understand the disappointment of investors from two perspectives, the publication quoted Buberl as saying. Despite the fact that I have always positioned share buybacks as the last option, a lot of investors thought [there would be] share buybacks. On the deal size we did indicate that we were looking at smaller deals and when we indicated that we clearly did not have XL in mind. It was a year or more ago. But when your ideal hits the reality, you sometimes have to take a strategic decision. For now it looks like AXA, whose shares fell sharply following the major development, will have a lot of convincing to do a task Buberl has projected will take them 12 to 18 months. Related stories: Bessie Hassan, insurance expert at finder.com.au, said the findings prove that the cost of insurance was a major concern for Australians. Many members will be asking themselves whether their policy is worth it, Hassan said. Its a huge financial outlay for many households and many cannot afford to absorb an extra $200 in premiums every year. Hassan said there are ways, however, to reduce insurance costs while maintaining the same level of cover, including locking-in 2017 prices by paying the annual premium up front before April 1, which can save health fund members $100-$200 on average that's almost $1.5bn in collective savings. Plus many insurers offer addition 2-4% discounts for paying 12 months up front, Hassan said. The research found that paying a years worth of premiums upfront is more popular with men (21%) than women (17%); while only one in ten health insurance policyholders (9%) regularly switch funds to get the best-value policy. Now is the time to review your policy and make sure its right for you at this point in your life, Hassan said. Ask for a 12-month claim history from your health fund, and think about what youre likely to use the same inclusions in the next year. Here are some other ways to save on health insurance: Increase hospital excess; For those considering switching insurers, many health funds offer discounts for new members in the lead up to April 1; Join an industry or corporate fund as these are usually not for profit and may be able to offer a good deal through their workplace Try to mix and match, as it may be cheaper, for example, to get your hospital cover from one health fund and extras cover from another provider. Related stories: But as Travel Insurance Direct's travel map shows, it's not just Indonesia where LGBTI travellers could be at risk, as there are 72 countries that criminalise same-sex relationships including eight where homosexuality is punishable by death. In dozens others, can land them in jail, news.com.au reported. The world map illustrates which countries have laws that will affect LGBTI travellers and what attitudes they can expect. Countries in red, including large swathes of Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, are likely to be the biggest danger zones for LGBTI travellers, as these regions outlaw homosexuality; while those in orange, including Vietnam and Madagascar, have no laws against homosexuality but are considered intolerant towards LGBTI people. Orange countries have never enacted legislation specifically outlawing it, travel expert Phil Sylvester from Travel Insurance Direct told news.com.au. Its perhaps more accurate to describe the legal situation as not officially illegal excuse the double negative. [Travellers can] expect discrimination, prejudice, and harsh treatment by officials and society as a whole. For lack of an official law these places would be marked red, too. Yellow countries, such as China, Russia, Turkey, and Indonesia (except its province Aceh), have legalised homosexuality, but there is no other protection for the LGBTQI community and are often open [to] societal hostility, Sylvester said. Green countries, such as Mexico, Thailand, and parts of eastern Europe, have legalised homosexual acts and offer legal protections for LGBTI people; while blue countries, including Italy, Poland, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Chile, have also legalised homosexuality but still have ways to go when it comes to putting all protections in place. Purple countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and many countries in northern and western Europe, have legalised same-sex marriage and generally protect the rights of LGBTI people. Of course, you may still encounter individuals with intolerant attitudes, but mostly the society is accepting and inclusive, Sylvester said. National laws and local attitudes match dont always match, which can be quite confusing for travellers such as in in Russia, where despite legalising homosexual sex between men in 1993 (lesbian sex has never been illegal), in practice, you risk violence and discrimination if you are openly gay, Sylvester told news.com.au. There are also countries that may not have anti-gay laws but have other laws that may be used to target the LGBTI people, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warned. For information on specific countries, travellers can visit DFATs Smartraveller website, the report said. Related stories: This week, Amanda Camm, Mackay regional council deputy mayor and member of the local disaster management group, urged insurers to help as the region continues to struggle to recover from Debbie in the midst of another storm season, Daily Mercury reported. Camm said communications crashed in many areas during Cyclone Debbie, and the council was now working to enhance the system, especially for natural disaster events, with the help of other stakeholders. "We've created more liaison officers and people in the community who we'll (provide) with skills and resources that would enable them to communicate with us if needed, Camm told the publication. It's something we're still developing. We don't have all the answers, so we're engaging with SES and other crews on how to improve. We're not alone this all regional places in Queensland have this challenge. Also significantly impacted by Cyclone Debbie was the Sarina Range Community, where a major landslide caused the destruction of a large section of the still-closed range road. "I think we can't understate the (impact) of that road closure and how it has absolutely changed the lives of the people that live there, Camm said. The Mackay official said the complete destruction of the road closure has absolutely changed the lives of the people that live there, who now had to travel 1.5 hours, instead of 20 minutes, to reach Sarina, affecting their "hip pockets and their mental health. "And that impact is going to last for at least this year, and potentially even further, Camm told Daily Mercury. "But what it has also done is built resilience and community connection and a greater appreciation for that community and for the people who are leaders. Karen May, Mackay councillor and part of the Disaster Management Committee, said people become anxious and are a bit more on edge after major disasters such as Debbie, and that people take time to recover. To help locals get back on their feet, a community development officer has been posted in Eton, the Koumala Range region, and Midge Point. Financial counselling was also available at the George St Neighbourhood Centre, the report said. "We're still working with the state government about the funding for the restoration of Midge Point and Lamberts Beach, which were two of our most severely affected areas, May said. "We have local roads which still need some attention. Meanwhile, some residents continued to grapple with insurers, and many were still waiting for repair work to be completed, May told Daily Mercury. Related stories: Insurance Business is looking to Australias brokers to provide their unique insight on the industry. In the sixth annual Brokers on Insurers survey, brokers are asked to rate the major insurers they deal with. The survey which is currently open asks brokers how insurers did over the past year, focusing on 11 key areas including BDM support, turnaround times and commission structure. These responses are compiled into an annual report, which is used to shape the insurance landscape across the following year. The report allows major players in the insurance market to benchmark their performance and identify areas for improvement. Brokers feedback can help shape the industry going forward. As an added bonus, the best response in the survey will win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones (RRP $399). The survey must close Friday, April 06 - click here to start. The Brokers on Insurers report will be published in issue 7.03 of Insurance Business magazine later this year. She cited the timing of the Zurich appointment as conflicting with her current portfolio of duties, and expressed disappointment in not being able to join the Zurich board at this time, said Zurich. Meanwhile the board of directors, subject to the re-election and election by Zurich shareholders, will consist of chair Michel Lies, Joan Amble, Catherine Bessant, Dame Alison Carnwath, Christoph Franz, Jeffrey Hayman, Monica Machler, Kishore Mahbubani, and David Nish. Lies, former group chief executive of Swiss Re, will succeed Tom de Swaan. He brings a wealth of skill and insight gained from a very successful career in our sector, which, combined with his experience at the helm of an important Swiss company, make him the ideal next chairman, said de Swaan previously, who had been chair since 2013. In the fast-changing environment in which we operate, his intellect, deep grounding in insurance, and ability to deliver results will reinforce both the board and the business. I look forward to a smooth transition as we prepare for his election at the 2018 AGM. Related stories: Integon National Insurance, the carrier that sold the seven-day policies through L.A. Insurance, was sent a notice by Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services on March 15, 2017; the notice warned Integon that its ability to sell the coverage via L.A. Insurance was being terminated, Crains Detroit Business reported. Although the ban on seven-day auto coverage in Michigan is still up in the air, the states insurance department recently reached a settlement with four L.A. Insurance agents who were accused of sliding. According to a March 05 order signed by state insurance department chief deputy director Teri Morante, the employees Jennifer Essak, Laurence Essak, Pierre Putruss and Brandon Kiminaia as well as three other separate agencies, all agreed to pay a combined $55,000 in fines and refund drivers who were wrongly charged. Laurence Essak and Putruss were served four-month insurance license suspensions, while Jennifer Essak received a nine-month suspension. In addition, their three agencies in Ypsilanti and Owosso were put on probation for one year. Kiminaia was selling insurance without a license, the chief deputy directors order read. It was cheaper to settle than keep fighting. The attorney fees are astronomical, commented L.A. Insurance CEO Anthony Yousif. It was easier to settle. Related stories: Mashali, a licensed physician in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, operated New England Pain and Wellness Management. He also employed doctors in Egypt who entered bogus information into US patients medical records, authorities said. According to prosecutors, between 2010 and 2013, Mashali billed Medicare for expensive services that he never actually provided. He also frequently gave his patients large doses of prescription medication, including powerful opiates. He falsely stated in patients records and his representations to private insurers that he had seen patients for 25 minutes or longer. In fact, prosecutors said, Mashali often saw his patients for less than five minutes. Prosecutors said that during these brief visits, Mashali wouldnt perform any physical exams and only rarely familiarized himself with the patients status or medical history. He also overbooked appointments and arrived to work sometimes as much as four hours after his first scheduled appointment. He would then submit phony documents saying he conducted extensive physical exams. Dr. Mashali ran his pain management practice as a pill mill, said US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. He overprescribed powerful narcotics without any discernible medical services to patients, and some patients died from overdoses. At one point, Dr. Mashali was one of the highest-volume prescribers of oxycodone in Massachusetts, second only to a leading Boston hospital. He took advantage of patients, his staff and the American healthcare system by defrauding Medicare. This sentence ensures that Dr. Mashali will never again treat or mistreat patients in order to line his own pockets at the expense of patient care. Related stories: Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has announced that there will be a major reduction in the cost of workers compensation insurance for employers in the state. Speaking at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the governor said that the cost reduction is a response to the significant drop in workplace fatalities and injuries. He added that the states incidence of workplace fatalities has reached a record low from 106 in 1995 to 49 in 2017. Colorado workers compensation insurer Pinnacol Assurance has announced that it is distributing $50 million in workers compensation dividend checks to its policyholders this month. About 94% of the companys policyholders nearly 53,000 employers throughout Colorado will receive a dividend, the company announced. The average dividend check will be $944, with check amounts calculated based on the policyholders premium size and performance. The checks will be sent to employers in late March. The mastermind behind malware attacks that programmed ATMs to spit out cash on demand and caused more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) of losses, has been arrested in Spain. The leader of a criminal gang that carried out the malware attacks known as Carbanak and Cobalt was detained in Alicante following an investigation by Spanish police, Europol and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Spains Interior Ministry named the suspect as Denis K, a Ukrainian national. Europol, the European Union agency for law enforcement cooperation, said in a statement that Romanian, Belorussian and Taiwanese authorities also took part in the manhunt. The organized crime group has been operating since 2013, targeting over 100 financial institutions around the world in heists of as much as 10 million euros per operation. The malware they created could instruct ATMs to dispense cash at a pre-determined time, with gang members waiting by the machines collecting the money. They also used the e-payment network to transfer money from banks into criminal accounts, and used access to databases to inflate bank account balances in order to collect the money using mules, Europol said. Europol said the profits were laundered using cryptocurrencies to buy luxury houses and cars. Neither Europol or the Spanish police provided information about other members of the gang. Spains Interior Ministry said Denis K was operating from Spain and had accumulated about 15,000 bitcoins (about $120 million). He accessed financial platforms in Gibraltar and the U.K. to charge prepaid cards that he then used in Spain to acquire luxury goods, including cars and houses. Spanish police believe that the amounts he had to spend on upgrading systems for new attacks and in disputes with Russian mafia mean that at one stage he may have held considerably more in cryptocurrency. The cyber attacks mainly targeted banks in Russia, penetrating practically all of the countrys financial system, the Interior Ministry said in an emailed statement. In Spain, attacks took place in Madrid mainly in the first quarter of 2017, resulting in the theft of about 500,000 euros. The gang worked with Russian mafia until 2015 and then with criminal groups from Moldova after that, the ministry said. Denis K, working with three other gang members, sent out malware-infected emails to bank employees. If the employees opened the emails, the gang was able to take control remotely of their computers and access banks internal databases and systems. The gang members didnt know each other and made contact through Internet chat rooms, said Carlos Yuste, a Spanish police chief inspector who helped lead the operation. Yuste said its unlikely that the rest of the gang will be able to continue operating after its mastermind was captured. The head has been cut off, Yuste said by phone. Im sure there are other operations like this, but not many. The arrest marks at least the second time in a year that international cooperation in law enforcement has brought down a cyber-crime operation. In July, Dutch police working with Europol, the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency shut down the operations of AlphaBay and Hansa, two markets for the sale of drugs, firearms and malware that operated on the so-called dark web. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Law Enforcement Russia Brazil President Michel Temer on Monday signed into law a bill regulating car-hailing apps like Uber without vetoing any provisions. The law will allow local governments to institute rules for the services, although Congress had voted to eliminate more stringent requirements such as special red plates for ride-hailing cars and that drivers must own their vehicles. The new regulation dictates that drivers must have certain insurance coverage and must be registered as individual contributors in the social security system. Uber Technologies Inc and competitors had praised the final version of the bill passed by Congress last month with Spains Cabify saying it puts Brazil on the forefront of regulation for individual passenger transportation service apps. (Reporting by Jake Spring Editing by Leslie Adler) Cyber attacks pose the biggest threat to the Swiss financial system with risks from hacking incursions on the rise, watchdog FINMA warned on Tuesday, calling on Switzerland to step up its national defenses against the menace. The risks connected with these attacks are growing in sync with the pace of global digitalization. Cyber attacks are now the most serious operational hazard facing the financial system, and both the private sector and public authorities should take them extremely seriously, Chief Executive Mark Branson told the Financial Market Supervisory Authoritys annual news conference. He said on the whole Swiss banks seemed aware of the risks and were well equipped to deal with them, citing banks ability to repel around 100 attacks a day from Retefe malware attacks on ebanking systems. But as a country Switzerland was lagging behind others with major financial hubs that have set up cyber security competence centers or imposed system-wide tests of hackers ability to penetrate banking systems, he said. Branson also expressed concern about the concentration of outsourced business processes by banks. We expect to see here the same standards as the financial institutions themselves, he said, adding FINMA had begun carrying out systematic checks of banks outsourcing partners. Branson said FINMA had received generally positive feedback to guidelines it published last month on how to regulate digital currency issues, known as initial coin offerings (ICOs). Switzerland has become a global leader in the hot fundraising method. Most ICOs for tokens used to run a blockchain platform or representing underlying assets like a share in a company or physical goods will be regulated like securities. There are some exceptions, such as for tokens used to access a platform that is already up and running, or for cryptocurrencies that function only as a means of payment and thus be subject to anti money-laundering rules. Groups based in Switzerland have launched many of the worlds biggest ICOs. Embattled cryptocurrency project Tezos in July raised $232 million through a Swiss-based foundation, but has since been delayed by internal turmoil and multiple lawsuits. http://reut.rs/2gocfFp Branson said FINMA would use the guidelines retroactively to review the deals that had already been launched. We will judge the ICOs that were already done in Switzerland along this template or this grid. That makes our work easier when looking at these ICOs to see if they would have been subject (to the guidelines), he said. (Reporting by Michael Shields, editing by John Revill) Topics Cyber Markel International, the specialist insurance subsidiary of Markel Corp., has appointed David A. Crozier to be president of Markel Canada, its business which operates across the country, with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Crozier will take up his position at the beginning of 2019 and is expected to join Markel in the middle of this year. His appointment follows the retirement of Karen Barkley at the end of the year. Completing a 40-year career in the insurance industry, Barkley has held positions at Zurich, AIG, CIGNA, president of ACE INA Insurance, and a past chair of the Insurance Institute of Canada. Crozier joins Markel from Everest Insurance Co. of Canada, where he was president and chief executive officer, having previously been senior vice president, operations, for Economical Mutual Insurance Co. Prior to that, he held a number of positions at Chubb Insurance Co. of Canada, latterly as vice president, Prairies. Reporting to Simon Wilson, managing director, national markets, Crozier will be responsible for the strategic direction and development of Markels Canadian business. William Stovin, president, Markel International, said: Over the last five years, Karen has delivered a number of key achievements supporting the future of our business. As well as overseeing impressive growth, she has turned the former Elliott Special Risks from an MGA into a fully-fledged insurance company and built a strong and effective team around her, who will feature in our continued success. She leaves with our thanks and our best wishes. Source: Markel International Topics Canada A Missouri bill to strengthen employment contracts that require sexual harassment, discrimination and other work-related issues to be decided through arbitration has died an unusually early death that came as Congress considers moving in the opposite direction. At issue is legislation that would have ramped-up the enforceability of arbitration agreements, common contracts in which businesses require employees to settle misconduct lawsuits through private companies instead of in court. If enacted, the bill would have made it harder for courts to toss out the agreements. The Republican sponsor of the Missouri bill, Rep. Kevin Corlew, said compared to potentially pricey and time-consuming court battles, arbitration is more cost effective and fair at the same time. Its part of a broader push led by some Missouri Republicans to limit lawsuits in an attempt to make the legal climate friendlier to businesses. But the bill faced bipartisan pushback, and critics have noted Congress is considering moving in the opposite direction in the wake of a tidal wave of sexual misconduct allegations in the (hash)MeToo movement. For example, former Fox News Channel CEO Roger Ailes sued former anchor Gretchen Carlson last year after she said publicly she was fired for refusing his sexual advances. Her allegations led to his ouster. Ailes, who died in May, said her contract prohibited her from going public until both sides first tried closed-door arbitration. Nationally, a bill by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, would ban employment contracts that force arbitration in cases of alleged sexual harassment and discrimination. Critics say the contracts sometimes mean victims of sexual harassment unwittingly waive their rights to take allegations to court and mean claims of misconduct remain secret. Momentum for Corlews bill dwindled in the GOP-led House after Attorney General Josh Hawley, a Republican and a candidate for U.S. Senate, joined his colleagues across the country in signing a letter to support the federal bill. The attorneys general wrote that many employees likely wont even realize that they agreed to go to arbitration until theyre sexually harassed and try to go to court, and they criticized the often secretive nature of the proceedings. Ending mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims would help put a stop to the culture of silence that protects perpetrators at the cost of their victims, the officials wrote. Corlews bill died after he missed a deadline to bring it back up for debate, although theres still a chance that similar bills pending in the House and Senate could revive the issue. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Missouri Iowa-based Holmes Murphy has expanded Main Street, its captive insurance subsidiary built to give small businesses the same buying power as big corporations, to include businesses with 10 to 50 employees. Since its inception in 2014, Main Street has helped 14 Nebraska businesses develop their own insurance solutions and looks to continue this trend with this new expansion. Main Street was created to help small- and medium-sized businesses find a manageable solution to their health insurance. Initially available to businesses with more than 50 employees, Main Street alleviates the risk and cost of a self-insured plan. Beau Reid, senior vice president of Employee Benefits at Holmes Murphy in Omaha, stated that the expansion even more small businesses greater control over their health insurance costs. Through Main Street, businesses are able to aggregate together to form a healthy risk pool and rates are lower than anywhere else in the market, creating increased buying power for businesses, the company said. This expansion demonstrates Holmes Murphys innovative approach in helping small businesses navigate the complex healthcare market. Source: Holmes Murphy Topics Nebraska A Kansas waterslide hyped as the worlds highest was a deadly weapon that had already injured more than a dozen people before a 10-year-old boy was decapitated on it in 2016, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed on March 23 that charges the water park operator and an executive with involuntary manslaughter. Operators of the Verruckt waterslide at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, also knew that the raft Caleb Schwab and two women used during the deadly accident was prone to go faster and become airborne more than others. It was removed twice in 2016 but quickly put back into circulation, the indictment says. The ride was never properly or fully designed to prevent rafts from going airborne, the indictment said. The waterpark and Tyler Austin Miles, 29, a former operations director at the park, were indicted on involuntary manslaughter and several other charges in Calebs death. The indictment alleges that a company co-owner and the designer of the Verruckt rushed it into use and had no technical or engineering expertise related to amusement park rides. The charges come after a 19-month investigation into the death of Schwab, the son of Kansas Rep. Scott Schwab. The raft he was in went airborne, hitting a pole and netting designed to keep riders from being thrown from the ride. The indictment says a video shows Caleb was following all rider instructions when he died. The death seemed like an isolated accident until whistleblowers from Schlitterbahn revealed that experts who examined the slide found evidence indicating other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting before the fatality, according to the indictment. The ride complied with few, if any longstanding safety standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials, and corporate correspondence found that the childs death and the rapidly growing list of injuries were foreseeable and expected outcomes, according to the indictment. Investigators found 13 injuries to others during the 182 days the ride operated, including two concussions and one case where a 15-year-old girl went temporarily blind. A spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn did not immediately return a request for comment after the indictment against the company was unsealed. The other charges in the indictment include aggravated battery and aggravated endangering a child. Miles was indicted on two counts of interference with law enforcement and Schlitterbahn was indicted on one count of interference with law enforcement. The ride was created after Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffrey Wayne Henry made a spur of the moment decision in 2012 to build the worlds largest water slide to impress the producers of a Travel Channel show. The indictment says Henrys desire to rush the project and his and his designers lack of expertise caused them to skip fundamental steps in the design process. The indictment also said not a single engineer was directly involved in Verruckts engineering or slide path design. Miles pleaded not guilty during a brief court appearance. His attorneys asked that his bond be reduced to $15,000 from $50,000 but that request was denied. A trial was scheduled for Sept. 10. Miles allegedly avoided or delayed repairs that would take Verruckt out of commission during the active park season and the rides brake system failed 10 days before Calebs death, investigators said. He also is accused of telling a police detective that he was unaware of any complaints about the ride and of withholding thousands of incriminating daily reports from lead lifeguards and supervisors. Schlitterbahn, which is based in Texas, said in a statement after charges against Miles were announced that it was deeply disappointed to learn any individual is being personally charged for the terrible accident on Verruckt. Our review of the facts and circumstances of the accident has never shown any evidence of criminal conduct on the part of anyone, spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said. Scott Schwab and his attorney, Mike Rader, didnt immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. The waterslide has been closed since Calebs death. Schlitterbahn has said it will dismantle the ride when the investigation into the boys death is complete. Caleb Schwabs family reached settlements of nearly $20 million with Schlitterbahn and various companies associated with the design and construction of the waterslide. The two women who rode with Caleb suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount. Before the boys death, Kansas law allowed parks to conduct their own annual inspections of rides. Lawmakers last year nearly unanimously approved stricter, annual inspection requirements for amusement park rides that set qualifications for the inspectors and required parks to report injuries and deaths to the state. But only weeks later, lawmakers passed a follow-up bill delaying the enforcement of criminal penalties for operating a ride without a state permit until this year. And this year, the Senate and a House committee have approved legislation to lessen regulation for limited use rides at events like county fairs and exempt some amusements, such as hay rides, from regulation. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Abuse Molestation Kansas A U.S. jury on Monday ordered AbbVie Inc. to pay more than $3 million to a man who claimed the company misrepresented the risks of its testosterone replacement drug AndroGel, causing him to suffer a heart attack, though the jury did not find AbbVie strictly liable. The verdict in federal court in Chicago came down in the second trial over claims by Oregon resident Jesse Mitchell after U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in December tossed a previous $150 million jury verdict for being logically incompatible. It is the second verdict against AbbVie in the consolidated litigation over testosterone replacement products by the Chicago-based company and other drugmakers. More than 6,000 similarlawsuits have been filed, the bulk of them against AbbVie. In a separate trial, a federal jury in January found AbbVie not liable in a lawsuit by an Arizona man who claimed he had suffered a pulmonary embolism as a result of using AndroGel. According to court filings, the jury on Monday concluded that AbbVie had not falsely marketed the drug and was not strictly liable, but found that the company acted negligently. It awarded Mitchell $200,000 in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. AbbVie in a statement said it was disappointed with the verdict and intends to appeal. Lawyers for Mitchell did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the verdict. Mitchell suffered a heart attack in 2012 after almost five years of treatment with AndroGel, but recovered after several months, according to his lawsuit. In the first AndroGel decision against AbbVie, a jury in October ordered the company to pay more than $140 million to a Tennessee man who claimed the drug caused him to suffer a heart attack. AbbVie has asked Kennelly to throw out that verdict over inconsistencies during the trial. Other pharmaceutical companies are facing similar lawsuits over their testosterone replacement therapies. But Eli Lilly and Co, Endo International and GlaxoSmithKline have told Kennelly in recent months that they have tentatively agreed to settle hundreds of lawsuits against them. The terms of those settlements were not disclosed. More than 4,000 cases are still pending against AbbVie. (Reporting by Tina Bellon Editing by Leslie Adler) Topics Legislation Columbus, Ohio-based auto insurer Root Insurance, which incorporates individual driver behavior data from mobile phone apps in every quote, announced the closing of a $51-million Series C funding round. Investors were led by Redpoint Ventures, with Scale Venture Partners and existing partners Ribbit Capital and Silicon Valley Bank Capital Partners also participating in the round. The company said it will use the new funding to expand into additional states and continue to invest in technology. While most car insurance companies rely on data like age, occupation and credit score to set rates, Root uses data on actual driving behavior including data on hard brakes, aggressive turns and mileage driven. Root says using individual driving behavior as the biggest factor in its rating algorithm allows good drivers to save significantly. Our technology allows us to give drivers rates based primarily on factors they can actually control, bringing fairness to a broken and antiquated industry. We are leveraging mobile technology and artificial intelligence to reimagine the way insurance works, said Alex Timm, CEO and co-founder of Root. Since its launch in Ohio in 2016, Root has expanded to 11 additional states: Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. The company plans to be nearly national by 2019. Reinsurers for Root, a full-stack insurer, include Maiden Re, Munich Re and Odyssey Re. Topics Carriers Auto InsurTech Funding Startups Large-scale projects long considered essential to easing Houstons flooding woes went to the top of the areas to-do list after Hurricane Harvey inundated large swaths of the nations fourth-largest city. Seven months later, local officials are still looking for funding to undertake plans that include a new reservoir, deeper and wider bayous and a coastal barrier system all of which have fallen victim to a lack of money or political will in the past. Yet local leaders insist this time will be different, saying theyre committed to making the projects a reality, even as they wait to find out how much money they might get from the state and federal governments and whether local taxpayers will be willing to help out. Theres been a whole lot of talk over the years, but now its time to get it done in the post-Harvey era, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a recent community meeting. One thing thats giving Turner and others hope is that billions of federal dollars have been allocated to pay for flood-mitigation projects. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised $1 billion for areas affected by Harvey, though Houston will be competing with other Texas communities for that funding. Congress in February provided $15 billion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood-control projects nationwide, some of which could go to the Houston area. Houston, which was founded on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou around the mid-1800s and rises barely above sea level, has long been susceptible to flooding. But recent growth has made the problem worse. The area has more pavement, which generates more stormwater runoff, and has lost wetlands that could soak up that runoff. Big projects Houston-area officials are eying include building a third reservoir for the area, at a cost of about $500 million. They also want to complete the excavation and widening of six local bayous, a $1.3 billion project, part of which has proceeded in fits and starts for more than 20 years due to inconsistent funding. And they want to undertake a project known as the coastal spine, which was first proposed after Hurricane Ike in 2008. That $6 billion to $10 billion project also called the Ike Dike proposes barriers to protect the area from storm surge coming into Galveston Bay. This will be very different than the last several decades when things were thought of but never actually executed, said Marvin Odum, Houstons Hurricane Harvey recovery czar. Whichever projects are ultimately funded, they will likely take years to build. Turner and other Houston-area officials have asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to use the states $11 billion rainy day fund to help front the cost of building the reservoir and other projects, with the state being repaid once federal dollars are awarded. But that message has fallen on deaf ears, said Stephen Costello, Houstons chief resilience officer. However, Ciara Matthews, a spokeswoman for Abbotts office, said Saturday that through the governors work with Congress, a record amount of funding is now available to Houston to rebuild and restore the reservoirs and bayous, as well as building the coastal spine. He has also made available a billion dollars in hazard mitigation funding for the city and county right now, Matthews said, referring to the money from FEMA for areas affected by Harvey. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, the top elected official in the county where Houston is located, said hes not reassured by promises from state officials. He also noted that theyve pushed to cut property taxes, which Harris County uses to pay for its flood-control efforts. When somebody at the state level tells you that theyre going to lower the property tax, what theyre telling you is, `We are not going to build many flood-control projects, Emmett said. Officials are also asking Harris County residents to approve a $1 billion to $2 billion bond proposal to help pay for some projects. That will be on the ballot sometime this year. Texas A&M University at Galveston marine sciences professor Sam Brody cautioned that Houston and the rest of Texas cant engineer their way out of flooding issues by only relying on large-scale projects. Efforts such as buying out homes in flood prone areas and being mindful of future development must play a role in making the area more flood resilient, he said. Houston remains the only major U.S. city without zoning, but it does have rules about building in the flood plain. The City Council is set to vote in the coming week on stricter rules. Harris County approved new restrictions late last year. Both Houston and Harris County are also pursuing a home buyout strategy. There is no one silver bullet that is going to fix this problem, Brody said. Its a multi-strategy issue that people need to recognize, he said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas Flood A Texas-based oil field service company has settled a lawsuit with more than 100 southern Oklahoma residents who allege their homes and businesses were damaged by groundwater contamination caused by the company. Halliburton Energy Services acknowledges the pollution but disputes the allegations of property damage, The Journal Record reported. Two subsidiaries of the company in Oklahoma performed industrial cleaning on missile parts and deconstructed radioactive equipment from a nuclear power plant decades ago. The company didnt properly clean up the site after the contract work was completed in 1990. Now, the company has a cleanup project in process that the states environmental authority is supervising. Halliburton spokeswoman Emily Mir said the company is pleased that the cases have been resolved. Plaintiffs attorney David P. Page said most of his clients were satisfied with the settlement. We were about three weeks from the trial, it was a very hard-fought case, very complicated with many moving parts, Page said. Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President James Ferguson negotiated the settlement agreement with the property owners. He was involved in some of the companys widely publicized cases, including the BP Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Page said he was pleased Halliburton sent Ferguson to the settlement conference. I felt like it would be a serious negotiation because hes been involved in serious cases, Page said. Im pleased with the outcome and with the precedents set by the court. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Texas Oklahoma Energy Pollution Oil Gas Georgia is one step closer to joining 15 other states that have already made it illegal to hold a cellphone while driving. By a non-unanimous voice vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a bill by Republican Rep. John Carson to crack down on distracted driving. Carsons bill has already passed the House, but it took nearly a month before the Senate committee voted on the controversial measure. Carson says drivers who are texting or surfing the web are to blame for a recent spike in fatal crashes across Georgia. He says these crashes have led to huge increases in auto insurance premiums. The Senate committee voted to lessen the proposed fines for a first-time offender from $300 to $75. Repeat offenders would face bigger fines. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Personal Auto Georgia It was a no-brainer for former thought-leaders from AIG to set up shop for their new high net worth insurer in the Sunshine State, a state known for beautiful beaches, a growing economy and lots of wealthy individuals. A pull back in capacity in Floridas homeowners space also made the state the perfect starting point for the industry veterans, including the current CEO of Allied World, wanting to invest in this market. Wealthy people like to live in beautiful places and the coast of Florida is that in a big way, said Charles Williamson, CEO of Vault and former president of AIG Private Client from 2007 to 2010. But even with these optimal circumstances, Williamson, who most recently served as CEO of Florida-based Tower Hill Insurance Group, says being successful in the high net worth segment ultimately comes down to people. Thats why he teamed up with his old AIG friend Scott Carmilani, president and CEO of Allied World since 2004, to invest in forming the new insurer, and brought in top talent to run the company. We have tried to hire really great athletes and let them run give them the empowerment to take risks and take care of customers, Williamson said. We are building a culture of that in our office. Williamson said Allied World, which is the majority owner of Vault and provides significant operational support to the new company, was not in the high net worth space before Vault and was enticed by the success other companies like AIG and Chubb were experiencing in the segment. The high net worth markets less crowded playing field compared to other coverage lines was another motivator. Despite Allied World being a majority owner of Vault, all business is written on Vault paper. The company is structured as an admitted reciprocal insurance company based in St. Petersburg, Fla., and an excess and surplus lines managing general agent licensed in 50 states Vault E&S and domiciled in Arkansas. Vault kicked off its operations with homeowners personal liability coverage and an art collection product and plans to eventually roll out auto and excess flood insurance. It is also working on a cyber add-on policy. The company is targeting homes starting at $750,000 along the coast and $500,000 inland, but its sweet spot is properties starting at $3 million. Williamson said the company absolutely plans to expand beyond Florida, and getting off the ground there first will be key to doing so. We intend to be a 50-state operating company as rapidly as possible, he said. The Florida regulator is a tough task master but there is a specific halo of being approved in Florida. In Florida, there is a need, insurance is relevant, brokers are strong, and there has been a capacity pull back. But the challenges that come with insuring a catastrophe-prone state like Florida are not lost on the Vault team, Williamson said, and he is confident they will be successful. Cat management is fundamental to this business, he said. Together, we have rich experience in writing cat business and managing and picking the best [risks] in the lot, and sufficiently deploying reinsurance capital. Williamson said as a startup, the company also was not bogged down by legacy systems and instead invested in new technology, as well as third-party data to source and evaluate the best risks to write. He said the companys new IT platform allows it to get a more granular view of cat risk and where to allocate capital through the use of advanced analytics that parcels out geographical and individual risk metrics. That gives us an edge on risk selection. From an underwriting and cat management standpoint, I think our technology is a significant advantage, he said. I think we will fair very, very well in what is a difficult market. Vault plans to expand into South Carolina this spring and eventually operate in every market, Williamson said. In the meantime, it is focused on establishing in states that really matter in the high net worth space, such as California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. A lot of our clients own homes in two or three places, so in order to be a viable competitor, we have to be able to be in these markets to meet the customer need, he said. Williamson said their plan is to be bullish because penetration in this segment is pretty modest. Theres essentially 5.5 million customers that fit into this segment in North America, he said. The company officially began writing business in Florida on Nov. 1 and has so far partnered with about 100 agents statewide with plans to add about 50 more in the next 15 to 18 months. In January, Williamson said the company received 1,250 new business submissions, which was significantly above its expectations for so early in its launch. Stacey Warren, chief sales and customer experience officer, said the response from the agent community has been overwhelming. This team is a known quantity with these agents and the support has been very humbling, she said. We are delivering something very unique in the marketplace and that is underscored by the initial success we have had so far. Williamson and Warren said the team made a concerted effort to build the company with a service experience that included agent input in every interaction, including products, its user interface, invoices, and claims technology. Agents want speed, so we have removed a lot of the barriers from other carriers and removed underwriters where they dont need to be by using third party data points, said Warren. Other carriers are very archaic in the service space when it comes to their high net worth platform. She added Vaults enhanced technology is backed up with a concierge team that can help clients and take a payment in seconds all designed to make agents look good. We are trying to wow customers when they call, she said. For those agents looking to stay relevant and differentiate themselves, Williamson said the high net worth space offers that opportunity, particularly when it comes to technology and service. Clients in the high net worth space want someone to take care of these things for them. The very best agents continue to do that and do it well, he said. Topics Carriers Agencies Florida Tech AIG The governor of Arizona has suspended Ubers ability to test self-driving cars on public roads in the state following a fatal crash last week that killed a 49-year-old pedestrian. The decision to block Uber Technologies Inc.s autonomous testing is a blow to the ridesharing company, which sees its future success reliant on driverless vehicles, and trails competitors such as Alphabet Incs Waymo in developing the technology. Arizona had been a key hub for Uber, with about half of the companys 200 self-driving cars and a staff of hundreds. In a letter sent to Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi and shared with the media, Governor Doug Ducey said he found a video released by police of the crash disturbing and alarming, and it raises many questions about the ability of Uber to continue testing in Arizona. Police and safety regulators are investigating the March 18 fatality in which a woman crossing a four-lane road at night was struck and killed by an Uber self-driving SUV. The incident has focused new attention on the lack of clear safety standards for such vehicles. Ducey called the crash an unquestionable failure. In the best interests of the people of my state, I have directed the Arizona Department of Transportation to suspend Ubers ability to test and operate autonomous vehicles on Arizonas public roadways, Ducey said. The letter strikes a dramatically different tone from late 2016, when Ducey invited Uber to his state with celebration, saying Arizona welcomes Uber self-driving cars with open arms and wide open roads. At the time, a banner was hung on a building in Phoenix welcoming Uber. Uber moved its driverless cars to Arizona from San Francisco after California regulators shut down the self-driving fleet for not having the proper permits. Uber, which had already pulled its self-driving cars off the road after the accident, said in a statement on Monday that it will keep a dialog open with the Governors office to address any concerns they have. (Reporting by Schwartz; Writing by Heather Somerville; Editing by Sandra Maler and Michael Perry) Related: Topics Auto Personal Auto Arizona Sharing Economy Ridesharing Autonomous Vehicles Uber What Is an Accountant? The term accountant refers to a professional who performs accounting functions such as account analysis, auditing, or financial statement analysis. Accountants work with accounting firms or internal account departments with large companies. They may also set up their own, individual practices. After meeting state-specific educational and testing requirements, these professionals are certified by national professional associations. Key Takeaways An accountant is a professional who performs accounting functions such as account analysis, auditing, or financial statement analysis. Accountants can find employment with an accounting firm or a large company with an internal accounting department, or they can set up an individual practice. Many accountants choose to become Certified Public Accountants because the CPA designation is considered the gold standard in the accounting profession. Understanding Accountants Accountants are financial professionals who take charge of a series of accountseither private or public. These accounts may be owned by either a corporation or individuals. As such, they may find work with corporations of different sizessmall to largegovernments, different organizations like non-profits, or they may set up their own private practice and work with individuals who enlist their services. They perform multiple accounting duties which vary based on where they work. Accountants perform account analysis, review financial statements, documents, and other reports to ensure they are accurate, conduct routine and annual audits, review financial operations, prepare tax returns, advise on areas that require more efficiencies and cost-savings, and provide risk analysis and forecasting. An accountant's duties often depend on the type of educational background and designation they receive. Most professionals in the field possess bachelor's degrees andif employed by a corporationmay require certification to move up within the firm. Certification requirements vary, with some roles requiring additional educational requirements above the bachelor's degree and successful completion of rigorous examinations. Accountants can have more than one designation. But the most common accounting designations are the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). A Certified Internal Auditor doesn't need to receive any license in order to practice, and neither do Certified Management Accountants. Although your accountant may have more than one designation, the most common are Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Management Accountant, and Certified Public Accountant. Many accountants choose to become CPAs because the designation is considered the gold standard in the accounting profession. In the United States, certification requirements for accountants can vary from state to state. But there is one requirement that is uniform in every statethe passing of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. This is an exam that is written and graded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Special Considerations Accountants must abide by the ethical standards and guiding principles of the region where they practice, such as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The IFRS is a set of rules issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). These rules promote consistency and transparency in financial statements. GAAP, on the other hand, is a set of standards that accountants must adhere to when they complete financial statements for any publicly-traded companies. Certified public accounts are legally and ethically responsible to be honest, trustworthy, and to avoid negligence in their duties. CPAs have real influence over their clients, which means their judgment and work can affect not just an individual but an entire companyincluding its employees, its board, and its investors. Accountants may be held liable for paying uninsured losses to creditors and investors in the case of a misstatement, negligence, or fraud. Accountants can be held liable under two different types of lawcommon law and statutory law. Common law liability includes negligence, fraud, and breach of contract, while statutory law includes any state or federal securities laws. History of Accountants The first professional association for accountants, the American Association of Public Accountants, was formed in 1887, and CPAs were first licensed in 1896. Accounting grew as an important profession during the industrial revolution. This was largely due to the fact that businesses grew in complexity and the shareholders and bondholders, who were not necessarily a part of the company but were monetarily invested, wanted to know more about the financial well-being of the companies they were invested in. After the Great Depression and the formation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), all publicly traded companies were required to issue reports written by accredited accountants. This change increased the need for corporate accountants even further. Today, accountants remain a ubiquitous and crucial part of any business. The Series 7 exam licenses the holder to sell all types of securities products except commodities and futures. Known formally as the General Securities Representative Qualification Examination, the Series 7 exam and its licensing is administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Stockbrokers in the United States need to pass the Series 7 exam to obtain a license to trade. The Series 7 exam focuses on investment risk, taxation, equity, and debt instruments; packaged securities, options, retirement plans, and interactions with clients for prospective securities industry professionals. This introductory-level exam assesses a candidates knowledge of basic securities industry information including concepts fundamental to working in the industry. The purpose of the Series 7 license is to set a level of competency for a registered representative or stockbroker to work in the securities industry. The Series 7 license is an essential requirement for an entry-level broker. The licensing exam covers an extensive range of financial terms and topics as well as securities regulations. Key Takeaways The Series 7 is an exam and license that entitles the holder to sell all types of securities products except commodities and futures. The Series 7 exam covers topics on investment risk, taxation, equity and debt instruments, packaged securities, options, and retirement plans. The purpose of the Series 7 license is to establish a level of competency for registered representatives in the securities industry. Candidates who pass the Series 7 exam can trade many securities, such as stocks, mutual funds, options, municipal securities, and variable contracts. The Series 7 license does not cover selling real estate or life insurance products. In addition to obtaining the Series 7 license, many states require that registered representatives pass the Series 63 exam, also called the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam. Series 7 Requirements Since October 1, 2018, Series 7 candidates are required to take the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam before sitting for the Series 7. According to FINRA, the SIE is an introductory-level exam that "assesses a candidates knowledge of basic securities industry information including concepts fundamental to working in the industry, such as types of products and their risks; the structure of the securities industry markets, regulatory agencies and their functions; and prohibited practices." If you need more information on the SIE, FINRA's SIE exam content outline provides more details. Candidates who want to take the Series 7 exam must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm, and FINRA has other Series 7 eligibility requirements. The firm must file a Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer) for the candidate to be registered for the licensing exam. FINRA governs the activities of securities firms and registered brokers, ensuring that anyone who sells securities products is qualified and tested. Candidates who want to take the Series 7 exam must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm, and FINRA has other Series 7 eligibility requirements. Series 7 Exam Structure The Series 7 is structured as follows: Seeks Business for the Broker-Dealer from Customers and Potential Customers: 9 questions Opens Accounts after Obtaining and Evaluating Customers Financial Profile and Investment Objectives: 11 questions Provides Customers with Information about Investments, Makes Suitable Recommendations, Transfers Assets, and Maintains Appropriate Records: 91 questions Obtains and Verifies Customers Purchase and Sales Instructions and Agreements; Processes, Completes, and Confirms Transactions: 14 questions The Series 7 exam has 125 multiple choice questions, lasts 225 minutes, and cost $245. The passing score is 72%. Prior to Oct. 1, 2018, the Series 7 exam contained 250 questions covering five major job functions. The exam duration was six hours, had no prerequisites, and cost $305. A score of 72% was required to pass. FINRA does not provide candidates with any physical certificate as proof of exam completion. Current or potential employers who wish to view proof of completion must access this information through FINRA's Central Registration Depository (CRD). Completion of the Series 7 exam is a prerequisite for many other securities licenses, such as the Series 24, which permits the candidate to supervise and manage broker activities. There is significant interest among international mineral companies in Ireland as a gold mining region, according to prospecting firm Connemara Mining, writes Geoff Percival. In a strategic update, the John Teeling-founded company said a number of international investors and mineral companies had expressed interest in Irish gold opportunities at a recent conference held by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. Connemara said it is proactively reviewing a range of additional opportunities and is well-placed with 41 zinc and gold exploration licences to attract major interest in its own portfolio. The strategic significance of this portfolio should not be underestimated, at a time when resource companies are seeking entry into Irish exploration, notably in zinc and gold. The company remains open to new partnerships and corporate transactions in respect of our interests, it said. Chief executive Patrick Cullen said: We believe Ireland will emerge as a gold-producing province and expect to see a lot of activity in the coming months, with both progress on mine developments as well as new entrants to follow Connemara in the exploration space. Weve had early success at both our gold projects [in Donegal and Wicklow/ Wexford] and now we have funds to continue to build on that. The company is due to commence its next round of drilling at its Mine River gold project which straddles counties Wicklow and Wexford, and its Stonepark zinc project in Limerick shortly and could spend around 575,000 developing both sites this year. Strategically, we are very excited with our current positioning, said Mr Cullen. Elizabeth ONeill had a fibroid and cyst on her uterus, and had to have a total hysterectomy. Then, she quit her job. She explains why. I quit those two words fantasised about by anyone whos ever had a job. Weve all had bad days, or bad bosses, when weve dreamed of cashing in our chips, and walking off into a new life. Probably in a hot country. What would it actually take for you to walk away? Although we hear jobs are no longer for life, with the so-called gig economy on the rise, and more people working remotely, few employees actually leave a stable job. At what point would you feel justified in throwing in the towel? When someone dies? A relationship break up? A trauma? Some time ago, this was on my mind constantly. Could I cash in my pension? Quit work? Go travelling? I was at home convalescing from surgery, and while the physical wounds were healing fine, something in my soul was beginning to unravel. Cut to 2018, and here I am planning for an uncertain future. I didnt have to cash in my pension, because I was granted a voluntary redundancy package. This is both terrifying and completely exhilarating. After 11 years researching for RTE Radio 1, Ill be packing up my desk, putting away my headphones, for now, and trying to make a living from writing. There will be some sadness leaving valued colleagues, but mainly there will be excitement about a completely unwritten future. It feels like finishing college except with the advantage of knowledge and hindsight. There might also be some travel and head standing along the way. Most people have been supportive or at the very least curious about my decision some even wistful. Many have called me brave, but I disagree with that assessment. It is merely a choice Ive had the luxury of making and no matter what the future holds, I will honour that choice. Only a few people have told me Im mad to throw away a permanent, pensionable job. But as one wise counsellor said, would you be made to stay? Because only Im fully in possession of all the facts of my life and the reality. Most people have no idea of the truth. Or the unhappiness. So here, at least, is some of that truth, and why sometimes circumstances force your hand and make you consider what you really want and how to make your life valuable. Sometimes, the narrative imposed upon you has to be rewritten. Eighteen months ago, my so-called childbearing years came to a complete full stop. No equivocation. My fertility had fully nosedived off a cliff. For medical reasons, I had a hysterectomy and that was the end of that. Except it wasnt the end. It was to be just the very beginning. Of a new kind of loss. A new body. New sensations, or lack thereof. And a realisation that my life would be just that, with no family of my own. I was to be in the childless category, to be pitied and somehow incomplete. At first, I just took in the news that I had a fibroid and cyst on my uterus. I had never heard the term before and didnt know a fibroid is a benign tumour with its own blood supply. Early tests showed no cancer, which I can only accept now as extremely lucky. My twins, as I jokingly referred to them, were the equivalent size of a three-month pregnancy. The cyst turned out to be 15cm, while the tumour was bigger than my uterus and probably there for years. Initially I was relieved a cause for the constant and often heavy bleeding was found. It was still a shock to learn the recommended course was a total hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and, in my case, one ovary. The other remains, doubling up production of hormones and holding off menopause. Of course it also means children are not possible for me. Having already reached 41, Id figure my own children were unlikely (although right now I know five woman over 40 who are pregnant). When something becomes an absolute full stop, when its possibility is taken away, its then you might realise how much you wanted it. It wasnt until after the surgery, back home, when the physical wounds were healing, that I started to unravel. I could see all the lives around me that I wouldnt have. I would never hold my own child, never have use for those favourite names. Never be a mother. The tide going back out after surgery, swept me into a tsunami of grief. I cried everywhere, for months. The first successful hysterectomy was performed in Massachusetts in 1853 and the procedure reached a peak in Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s. Now its estimated some 2,500 a year are performed in Ireland, with the majority of women in their mid-40s or older. My own mum had the surgery aged 36, along with at least one aunt on my dads side. For me it was a genetic roll of the dice. I also wondered when I had crossed some imaginary threshold from fertile into barren. In literature, a woman without offspring is always to be pitied, thats the narrative, and she will almost always be willing to commit monstrous acts or steal children. The truth is, as a childless woman, there is no escaping a certain level of stigma and unchecked bias. In this society, the full expression of your womanhood is a pregnant womb. Initially, I was particularly sensitive to all comments regarding fertility. It is not OK to tell a woman that bearing children is the single most important thing she will do. How often have I heard it said, oh I just felt it more because, you know, I have children? Mothers are not naturally more empathetic, as much as childless woman are not automatically selfish. More recently a colleague implied I had chosen not to have children. Infertility is not a choice. It is not something anyone would wish for. Surgically removing part of your own sexual organs can only be a medical necessity, and the visceral numbness, never mind the existential angst, is not something I would wish on anyone. Another fact of family rearing is that having a family automatically imposes a shape on your life. It gives you a timetable going forward, cycles of nativity plays, parent-teacher meetings, holidays, graduations, celebrations. Therell be certain photos on your walls, certain destinations to get your children to. So where does that leave those without families? If life hasnt worked out as expected or you find other peoples narratives taking a stranglehold on your own life, you can choose to find another way to live. I refuse to be defined by my own bodys limitations and the limitations society has placed on me. So I quit. Ive taken the redundancy and the only thing I know for certain, is that I will no longer have a 9 to 5 existence and the rest is as yet unwritten. Health insurance is a topic I have covered in the past but it is worth returning to as a number of recent developments in the market could mean good news for consumers, writes Grainne McGuinness. After years of rising prices the first reductions by health insurance providers were seen in the autumn of 2017. The percentage cuts were not dramatic and reductions were limited to specific plans rather than across the board but it was a step in the right direction. Further reductions were announced this month by one of the main players in the market and health insurance expert Dermot Goode is hopeful it could lead to a price war, with customers the ultimate beneficiaries. VHI put it up to the competition on March 1 with significant price cuts across most of their plans, following on from some minor rate reductions last November, he said. Based on past experience, we are anticipating a quick reaction from the likes of Irish Life Health and Laya Healthcare, as they will want to protect their existing customer base while continuing to attract new members. Irish Life Health has already announced some price reductions on entry-level plans and Laya Healthcare has announced an expansion of its free cover offer for children under 18 both from April 1: These initiatives and the possibility of further rate cuts is welcome news for hard- pressed consumers who have been hit with multiple hikes in premiums in recent years. That is the good news but the bad news is the cuts do not mean those with existing policies can just sit back. They will still need to ensure they are on the most suitable plan, which could involve switching, something consumers are notoriously slow to do, despite the benefits. Mr Goode, a consultant with www.totalhealthcover.ie, suggests those who have policies with renewal dates approaching should keep an eye out for further announcements. My advice would be to watch this space as there will undoubtedly be a reaction from the other insurers, he said. This is the closest weve ever been to a real price war in health insurance and it is long overdue. He also believes it is a good opportunity for those without cover to reconsider: For consumers, this means there will never be a better time to consider buying health insurance. The market in Ireland is big and growing. In 2017, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) reported that 2.15 million people or almost 46% of the population have private health cover. Anyone who waits until they are 35 or older to take out cover will have a loading added to the cost, an additional 2% for every year after 35. This can be off-putting for people who are trying to balance household budgets but the loading will only increase the longer you wait. If health cover is something you have been considering, start at the www.hia.ie site. There is a search tool on the site which allows you to compare plans from across the Irish market. You start by choosing the level of cover from semi-private or private room in a public hospital to private room in a hi-tech hospital. If cost is your overriding concern it is worth remembering that there is no guarantee a private room will be available if you have to go to hospital, so choosing semi-private room will reduce your costs. You can then further refine your search based on the amount you want to pay, the excess you want on the cover and a number of other variables. The sheer number of plans on offer can be mind-boggling; the HIA site also has a number of explainers and useful guides. Remember, even though some plans are marketed towards specific groups, you are entitled to request a plan, regardless of whether or not you are a member of the group to whom it is being marketed. Dont be put off by corporate or other terms in the name. If it all sounds too much, you can use a financial advisor to help get the right plan. The HIA advises customers to ask about fees and charges before choosing one, as some may be paid a commission or sales incentive by the insurance company they represent. However, a regulated financial advisor must act in your best interest, must make sure the product they recommend or offer is suitable and must be able to show you why they feel it is suitable for you. UK voters decision to leave the EU may have been motivated by domestic issues such as immigration, but the costs of departure are being felt first in foreign policy, writes Mark Malloch-Brown. Theresa May has finally had a good crisis. Responding to the nerve-agent attack on former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in the placid market town of Salisbury, England, the UK prime minister projected strength, including to her fellow European leaders, by demanding that the Kremlin answer for the crime. As a former home secretary, security is clearly her strong suit, and she has now gone a long way toward repairing her tattered authority in the House of Commons. Moreover, May also managed to reach an agreement with EU negotiators on a 21-month transition period for the UKs withdrawal from the bloc. And yet, despite Mays her personal successes, this week might well be remembered as the moment when the foreign-policy costs of Brexit became clear. Until now, the British foreign-policy grandees and former ambassadors warning that Brexit will severely damage Britains standing in the world have been dismissed by much of the public as discredited elites and fearmongers. Understandably, Brexit supporters have taken little notice of various straws in the wind heralding the direction their country will take. They are unmoved, for example, by the fact that, after losing a United Nations vote, their candidate pulled out of the race and the UK now has no judges seated at the International Court of Justice for the first time in 71 years. Still, if that wasnt enough to reveal Britains new loneliness, the use of a Soviet-era nerve agent on British soil certainly is. Though EU members have expressed their support for Britain and made assurances that Brexit will not disrupt solidarity or security, there are signs that this united front may, in fact, be just a front. The European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election to a fourth term a move that rankled the UK. Greece and others also expressed some scepticism about the relationship with the UK as they arrived in Brussels for the European Council summit. US president Donald Trump, also congratulated Putin. While he also condemned Russia for the Salisbury incident a rare departure from the Putin-loving corner he has painted himself into support for Britain on this occasion seems to have been motivated more by his political calculus than a deep sense of solidarity. After several days of deafening silence, Trump was under growing pressure to speak out. And on the whole, his unpredictability and transactional approach to alliances have already called into question Britains most important relationship outside Europe. Beneath the surface, the international response to the Salisbury attack reveals alarming cracks in the UKs position on the world stage. It is widely assumed that the UKs weak response to similar incidents, not least the 2006 murder of the Russian defector and former spy Alexander Litvinenko, has convinced Putin that he can get away with such provocations. However, Putin may also have anticipated that the public outrage over the attack on the Skripals and calculated that EU member states with pro-Russian governments namely, Hungary, Greece, and, soon, Italy would veto any strong EU response. By this reasoning, Putin could drive an even larger wedge between Britain and Europe, thus advancing his longstanding goal of undermining European solidarity. In any case, the UKs isolation and vulnerability are now abundantly obvious. In its efforts to apply pressure on Europe, the Kremlin has identified Britain as a weak link. And those efforts go well beyond attempted murder on British territory. It seems increasingly likely that Russia also interfered in the Brexit referendum, as it did in the 2016 US election; and that Russian criminal elements have penetrated Londons financial and services sectors. Britain is a beachhead in Russias strategy to undermine European security. Unfortunately, the territorial defence guarantee that comes with Nato membership does little good in a conflict conducted in the shadows through assassinations, cyber warfare, and criminal subterfuge. Nor does Nato membership help in responding to the Kremlins exploitation of European dependence on Russian energy, such as when it uses natural-gas supplies as a geopolitical weapon. The decision by a slim majority of UK voters to leave the EU may have been motivated mostly by domestic issues such as political dysfunction and immigration, but the Skripal episode has made it clear that the costs of departure will be felt first on the foreign-policy front. The rest of Europe will sink or swim together in confronting Russian aggression. However, the UK, having singled itself out, is a prime target for a dunking. In recent years, Russian officials had already become increasingly derisive toward Britains presumptions about its international status and power. Like many observers around the world since the Brexit vote, the Kremlin does not look at the UK and see a country able to wield anything approaching global influence. Rather, it sees a country mired in nostalgia easy pickings for destabilisation. In a sense, Leave voters were right that the EU is out of touch with the times, but not for the reasons they thought. One can debate whether the EU is a stale champion of the rules-based liberal international order. However, what is now clear is that it is not ready for the emerging post-liberal order. In the new order, strong states will throw their weight around with little care for the rules-based system that the EU has long epitomised. At least the EU will have numbers on its side. Putins Russia will be just the start of post- Brexit Britains worries. The UK will also have to contend with China, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and even its most important ally the US. Just as Britain negotiates its exit from the EU, the consensus-based multilateralism of the post-war era is being supplanted by muscular nationalism. In this new schoolyard, only those with committed friends will be able to stand up to the bullies. Others will have no other choice than to cower and hope for the best. The fallout continues over attorney general Seamus Woulfes dogs dinner remarks regarding Shane Ross judges bill, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell. Poor Seamus Woulfe. When you are still in the news four days after you open your mouth, you know youre in a spot of bother. This morning, the attorney general has to face the 19 Government ministers as they gather for their weekly meeting in the Cabinet room in Government Buildings. One wonders if Mr Woulfe will be a bit sheepish given he has been at the centre of a political storm. A warm, engaging, and affable personality, the attorney general is a thoroughly likeable fellow. He certainly was in good form during his now controversial appearance at a luncheon for the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) last Friday in Buswells Hotel in Dublin. The gathering was a smattering of retired journalists, media handlers, and other interested parties to listen to a rare exploration of the job of the chief legal adviser to the Government. I was one of a number of working journalists present at the lunch. After a bowl of soup and a tasty salmon entree washed down with a glass of agreeable claret, Mr Woulfe was introduced by Richard Moore, chairman of the AEJ. Mr Woulfe, a senior counsel of some distinction and card-carrying member of Fine Gael, was appointed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last June, to become Attorney General and his address was to set out what he actually does in the role of attorney general. It was during his on-the-record address that he said Transport Minister Shane Ross bill to overhaul the appointment of judges is a dogs dinner and needs significant work to be viable. Mr Woulfe said the bill, the cause of a major row at Cabinet last week, is in a poor state because of amendments made by opposition TDs in committee stage. He said that many of the amendments made by the opposition were contradictory, inconsistent, and unconstitutional. It makes it a challenge to get the bill to report stage, very soon, very soon, and tidy up all that. I am sure under new politics a deal will be done involving various government ministers and opposition parties and we await with interest over the next few days how that will pan out, he said. Mr Woulfe spoke of how, traditionally, his office had played an important role in the selection of judges. But at committee stage, opposition TDs voted to remove the attorney general from the process which Mr Woulfe said was an absolutely crazy thing to do. The attorney has a role in judicial appointments as being a link person with the bar and knowing the people, knowing the candidates and the judges. Under the new Judicial Appointments Bill, the opposition decided to abolish me at committee stage by 5-3, to knock the attorney out. Widely thought, not just because it is me, to be an absolutely crazy thing to do down in the legal system, he said. Because, hopefully, the AG is a good link person, and knows something about the candidates. But 5-3 went the votes, including my good friend Jim OCallaghan who voted along with Clare Daly and Mick Wallace and two others against the three Government people. Among a whole myriad of amendments which they made which make the bill a complete dogs dinner at the moment because a number of the amendments are contradictory, inconsistent and unconstitutional. As he spoke, my journalistic colleagues and I quickly realised we had a good story for the following day. Mr Woulfes colourful description of the bill lent itself to a headline, which we duly put on our front page on Saturday. His comments were just one matter of many covered during his speech, which explored Article 30 of the Constitution to explain the parameters of the job. He said both in strict legal terms and also in terms of public understanding, the attorney general is something of an unknown beast in the Irish political system. Paraphrasing the former attorney general in Britain, Patrick Hasting, Mr Woulfe remarked how, for some, to be a law officer to government is to be in hell. He called to mind the experiences of former attorneys general like Paul Gallagher (who was there during the bank guarantee and the crash) and Maire Whelan (who was there at the time of the Fennelly commission controversy) and who became the subject of a nasty political row between Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance in 2016. Perhaps when Paul Gallagher was there on the night of the bank guarantee, or perhaps for Maire Whelan at the time of the Fennelly commission when it was all kicking off, they might have been in hell, said Mr Woulfe. Now that things are a little bit happier in the system and the politicians are happier, Im not completely in hell all the time, at least, he quipped. Reaction within Government to Mr Woulfes comments when they appeared on our front page on Saturday morning and elsewhere was hostile and immediate. Mr Ross was said to be fuming at such a public rubbishing of the bill, while the opposition called for the bill to be scrapped. Pressure mounted on Mr Woulfe over the weekend when The Sunday Times published a story about off-the-record comments made during the Q&A session about an ongoing court case. It was clear to all there that the Q&A session was being held under Chatham House rules, which means they are not reportable. Even with that, one was slightly surprised how open he was in his commentary about a live case. Yesterday, ministers were forced to rally to Mr Woulfes defence amid calls for him to be given the red card, but such an eventuality would be severe and unjust. It was certainly a valuable exchange to hear him speak freely about a very important office of State, and I for one would think it would be very regrettable if Mr Woulfe was to rein himself in or be prevented by his political masters from speaking at such functions. His contribution last Friday was controversial, yes, but it was certainly worth hearing. This record-breaking feat is yet another reminder of the fast changing world of air travel, its impact on various economies, and the role Irish executives play in forging ground- breaking achievements. The chief executive of Qantas is Alan Joyce, a Dublin man who cut his teeth working at Aer Lingus. He has being aggressively restructuring and changing the strategy at Australias flag carrier to better position it for competition with new business models in the airline sector. As low cost carriers developed in the US and Europe Mr Joyce created one Jetstar within Qantas and that helped fend off competitors including Tiger and Virgin Australia. When the Gulf carriers started growing strongly, and using their Middle Eastern hubs to connect Asia with Europe, they posed a direct threat to Qantas services to Europe. Instead of competing head-on, Mr Joyce developed a strategic relationship with Emirates which helped shape an efficient network of flights including Qantas aircraft routing through Dubai. QF9 is another sign of how much Qantas is pushing the envelope. Using all new ultra-long range Boeing 787s, the Australian carrier is flying 17-hour flights that take three hours off the existing routes over the Middle East, Singapore or Hong Kong. Mr Joyce has also thrown down the gauntlet to both Airbus and Boeing for an aircraft that can fly the even longer Sydney-London route. Commercial aviation has a unique relationship with Ireland. It was in Foynes that the first commercial transatlantic services were created. The legendary Pan Am chief executive, Juan Trippe, challenged aircraft manufacturers to produce a plane that could cross the Atlantic safely and reliably. Boeing came up with the answer in the 314 Flying Boat. When Mr Trippe raised the bar further, Boeing and Douglas brought forward the jet engined DC-8 and B707. Mr Trippe was also instrumental to introducing the jumbo Boeing 747 in the late 1960s, and Aer Lingus was an early adopter of that aircraft. The aviation industry needs pioneering airline executives to hustle and push the manufacturers towards technological breakthroughs that make commercial sense. Mr Joyce, and others, are doing just that. For Ireland these new services, and the aircraft attached to them, offer enormous potential. Effectively, Boeing and Airbus are designing planes that can operate long haul services for relatively small numbers of passengers. The advanced efficiency of aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, are opening up very long haul routes that can connect populations smaller than those needed in prior decades. Boeing MAX and Airbus NEO jets are doing the same for even smaller markets. This equipment is already opening up new markets for Ireland. The Boeing 787, for example, will operate the new Beijing-Dublin flight while Ethiopian Airlines is using a 787 on its Addis Ababa DublinLos Angeles run. Norwegian uses the MAX to link Cork, Shannon, and Dublin, with the US east coast, while Aer Lingus has big plans to operate Airbus NEO jets to a variety of North American destinations. The greatest failure by both the airline and aircraft industries has been to develop safe, energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly supersonic services on long haul routes. My grandfather could have flown across the Atlantic in three hours with Concorde in the early 1970s compared to an eight-hour hop now. With interim advances in engine and wing design, it is remarkable that a new generation of supersonic long-haul commercial jets have not been developed. Perhaps it will take some leadership from an Irish man or woman to pioneer that quest and follow on the tradition of ground breaking aviation feats like QF9. Joe Gill is director of corporate broking with Goodbody Stockbrokers. His views are personal. The public building, at the time of its completion, was the tallest storeyed building in Ireland at 64.3m high. It retained that status until 2008 when surpassed by another Cork development, the city centre residential and retail complex, The Elysian. County Hall was completed in 1968, and its construction will be celebrated on April 16. The headquarters of Cork County Council, the original 16-storey building was designed by the councils county architect Patrick McSweeney. It has since been further enhanced. In recognition of the anniversary, an exhibition will go on display on April 16 at 1pm in the foyer of the building, providing the story of the County Hall structure from inception to completion. Mayor of the County of Cork, Declan Hurley, together with chief executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, will unveil a commemorative plaque. Mr Hurley has asked Cork people to visit County Hall on the occasion and experience the magnificence of the building. County Hall has become synonymous with Cork, he said. It is a building Cork is proud of and one which resonates with the people of Cork. It has always been a landmark building. The high-rise solution was a striking architectural concept in the 1960s which had not been attempted previously in Ireland. When completed in 1968, the design was a single, elegantly proportioned, vertical block with a textured surface of precast concrete tracery which eliminated the need for scaffolding during construction. This distinctive white concrete tracery formed a latticework over the building. It concealed the platforms outside the windows, on which each floor was created. A redevelopment project began in 2002, as the original concrete facade had been severely eroded and the panels were replaced as part of an expansion scheme. An extra storey extended the buildings height to 67m with a glazed pavilion offering panoramic views of Cork city and environs. Mr Lucey noted the impact of the building on Cork. In 1968 at the official opening, then county manager Michael Conlon noted this County Hall belonged to the people of Cork, he said. Mr Coveney has demanded the clause is introduced in any final post-referendum law in return for his support for the Governments abortion plans. Mr Coveney yesterday said that, despite his initial rejection of plans to allow unrestricted access to abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, he is now in favour of the move. While the U-turn was welcomed by pro-choice groups, it was lambasted by pro-life politicians and campaigners, who described it as a betrayal and claimed Mr Coveney had buckled under internal pressure. However, speaking to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for Mr Coveney said in return for his support, he wants a clause introduced in any post-referendum law to ensure the legislation cannot be easily changed. The proposed new law which will be outlined to Cabinet this morning in a 20-point draft heads of bill document detailed in full in todays newspaper includes a series of stipulations on how abortion can be provided should the referendum pass. However, while Mr Coveneys clause demand will relate to all aspects of the legislation, it is understood to be specifically focussed on the divisive 12-week limit and pro-life groups fears that it could be drastically altered by any future government. The Tanaiste is looking for a two-third majority to be necessary if there was ever any attempt to alter the law in the future, a spokesperson for Mr Coveney said. To put that into context, that is more than the combined strength of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in the current Dail. He hopes this will go someway towards countering the reckless claims that our parliament cant be trusted and to reassure voters that there will be no creeping change over time if they vote repeal. While the two-thirds clause demand has yet to be signed off on by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris, or the Cabinet itself, the formal mention of it is certain to play a key role in the referendum debate in the run-up to polling day. Mr Coveneys move is also likely to be an attempt to calm anger from pro-life groups over his sudden decision to back 12 weeks after pro-life politicians and campaigners lashed the Tanaiste for the U-turn last night. In a lengthy interview on RTE Radios Today With Sean ORourke programme earlier this year, Mr Coveney said that while he supported the referendum taking place and would vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment, he was against 12-week abortion access. However, despite the initial comments, Mr Coveney yesterday revised his previous position, saying the fact the 12-week proposals will include a guarantee late-term abortions remain illegal has helped to convince him to support the legislation. Speaking to the Irish Examiner last night, pro-life Independent TD Mattie McGrath said Mr Coveney had buckled under pressure, was huffing and puffing for a way out and that pro-life voters certainly have reason to feel betrayed by him. Independent senator Ronan Mullen went further, saying the change cannot be a betrayal as his position wasnt even coherent in the beginning and that Mr Coveneys twiddling had just made things worse, while Independent TD Michael Collins said the Tanaiste had been put under internal Government pressure. Mr Coveneys change was supported by the Together for Yes campaign and pro-choice TDs, but lambasted by Save the 8th spokeswoman Niamh Ui Bhriain, who said it proves the Government is scrambling for referendum support and that politicians cannot be trusted. Meanwhile, several Fianna Fail senators have told the Irish Examiner that they will vote against holding a referendum when the referendum bill goes to the Seanad today. Gardai have spent almost 20m to cover the cost of compensation payouts, legal cases and court settlements from members of the public and individual officers in the last two years. Figures released by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan show the major payouts were handed out in 2016 and 2017, leading to opposition party demands for a detailed breakdown of the reasons for each payment. Details obtained by Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy and seen by the Irish Examiner show that in 2016, the gardai paid out 4.762m in compensation payments to 66 members of the public and officers. During the same year, a further 6.29m was spent on court awards, settlements and legal fees relating to cases where legal action was threatened or taken. The following year, in 2017, AN Garda Siochana paid out another 5.877m in compensation to 111 people, with an extra 3.885m spent on court awards, settlements and legal costs relating to the cases. In a letter to the Dail Public Accounts Committee, Ms Murphy said the figures show there is a need for clarity from the gardai over the exact reasons for the payments. Calling for a detailed breakdown of each case relating to the figures to be published, Ms Murphy said Acting Garda Commissioner Donall O Cualain must come before the PAC as soon as possible to explain the reasons for the costs. In his initial response to the request for further details, Mr Flanagan said the Garda Compensation Acts of 1941 and 1945 allow for compensation if someone suffers malicious injury or death due to a gardas actions. Mr Flanagan said this is the same for both the injuries suffered by individual members of the public and for serving garda officers. However, he said Mr O Cualain has told him a breakdown of compensation paid in relation to detention or more generally to the public is not readily available. Figures released to Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins found that since the year 2000, a total of 2,880 gardai were paid 111.7m in compensation after being attacked or injured while on duty. The figures, detailed in the annual payments under the Garda (Compensation) Acts from 2000 to 2017, also said lawyers acting on behalf of both the gardai and those taking cases were paid a further 41.8m during the same period. While the two-decade figures show there is a long-standing compensation payments trend, the figures from the last two years are still a near 23% increase on previous periods. The largest annual compensation payment over the past two decades occurred in 2008, when 13.6m was shared out between 238 officers. This was the allegation made at Cork District Court in the course of a bail application. David ODonovan was arrested by Detective Garda Padraig Harrington and brought before the court yesterday. ODonovan, aged 41, with an address at 6 Glendalough, Grenville Place, Cork, applied via defence solicitor Frank Buttimer to be released on bail. Mr ODonovan had been charged with assault causing harm to an 80-year-old man at St Augustines church, Grand Parade, Cork, on Saturday evening, March 24. Detective Garda Harrington said his grounds for objecting to bail included the seriousness of the alleged offence and the strength of evidence supporting the charge. It is alleged that Mr ODonovan entered St Augustines church and began breaking into a charity collection box, he said. He was confronted by the 80-year-old injured party. It is alleged that he kicked the injured party in the groin and knocked off his glasses and then stamped on the glasses on the ground and punched the 80-year-old man into the left eye. It was broken up by a Polish lady who was at Mass. The Polish lady later identified [the defendant] to me at Centra, approximately one hour later. Det Garda Harrington said another ground for objecting to bail was that the accused was, by his own admission, addicted to heroin. I believed, if released, he will commit crimes to feed his habit, he said. Mr Buttimer said he was formally instructed to make an application for bail. Mr Buttimer said the accused had permanent, secure accommodation. He said that while the detective was right to state that the defendant had a heroin problem, this was now being addressed by the accused in Arbour House through a maintenance programme and counselling. Det Garda Harrington said that gardai had to get a doctor on Saturday night as Mr ODonovan was coming down from the effects of some substance. Mr Buttimer said the accused would adhere to any signing on and curfew conditions and would abstain from the use of any substances. The solicitor also said he had no history of violence and was an inoffensive type of man. Det Garda Harrington accepted this but said of the alleged incident in church on Saturday evening: This was a completely unprovoked attack on an 80-year-old man. My fear is that it would happen again. Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and said: This is an allegation of a serious offence. It is accepted he has a drug problem, he is addicted to heroin. Mr ODonovan was remanded in custody until tomorrow. According to government sources, the show of solidarity with the UK would involve the expulsion of a number of Russian diplomats in support of the UK over the Salisbury nerve agent attack on March 4. Tanaiste Simon Coveney, following a security briefing, is to make a recommendation to Cabinet today and the Irish Examiner has confirmed that this will mean a number of Russian diplomats having to leave the country. Simon Coveney will bring a recommendation to Cabinet on Tuesday following a review and then the Cabinet will approve it, said a source. Ireland requires a Cabinet decision. It would not be unreasonable to expect that some form of expulsions are likely. This would be the most aggressive move by an Irish government since the 2010 expulsion of an Israeli diplomat over the use of forged passports in the assassination of a Hamas arms dealer in Dubai, allegedly by Israeli agents. Mr Coveney was briefed last night and has been in constant contact with Leo Varadkar on the matter. Formally, it is up to Mr Coveney to present a recommendation to Cabinet for its approval. His spokesman said the assessment of alleged Russian activities in Ireland by a high-level group was ongoing. Donald Tusks tweet does not include Ireland. Assessments on our side are continuing, the spokesman said. Yesterday, Mr Tusk, the European Council president, tweeted 14 EU member states had decided to expel Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning in the UK of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Hungary later also expelled one diplomat. The US, Canada, Albania, Macedonia, and Ukraine have also ejected diplomats. The co-ordinated move drew a furious response from Moscow, where president Vladimir Putins government described it as a provocative gesture that continues the policy of escalating the confrontation. It is expected the Tanaiste will share his assessment of the situation in Ireland at this mornings weekly Cabinet meeting, after which he and Mr Varadkar will indicate what sanction will apply. Sources said on Sunday that given the Taoiseachs prominence in leading with this issue at the European Council in Brussels, it is highly likely at least one Russian diplomat will be expelled. Such expulsions do not require a formal Cabinet decision and are executive decisions made by the Taoiseach of the day, on the recommendation of the minister for foreign affairs. Requests to buy an erotic Korean drama, an account of the life of actor, James Dean, by pop star, Morrissey, and the collected works of famed psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, were also refused. Details disclosed under Freedom of Information show Dublin City librarians turned down 130 separate requests from members for books and DVDs over the past five years. Among them was Linda Lovelaces autobiography, Ordeal. The actor, whose real name was Linda Boreman, became a household name in the 1970s, after her role in the infamous film, Deep Throat, the first pornographic movie to crossover into the mainstream. Ms Boreman went on to become an anti-pornography campaigner, championed by some leading feminist thinkers, before her untimely death, in a car crash in 2002, at the age of 53. Dublin City libraries declined to stock her memoir, on the basis that it was too expensive, limited readership. The same reason was quoted for refusing to buy Uinseann MacEoins The IRA in the Twilight Years, a study of the movement between 1923 and 1948. Curiously, Dublin City libraries hosted a talk last year by its historian-in-residence, Brian Hanley, called The IRA in the Twilight Years, which it said was named after Mr MacEoins book, which it declined to stock in 2014. Librarians also refused a request to buy Richard Rutts A History of Hand Knitting, described by one major online bookseller as the only history of hand-knitting. Again, Dublin City libraries deemed it too expensive, limited readership. Other items turned down include the DVD Untold Scandal, a 2004 South Korean cinematic retelling of the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was referred to by one film critic as pandering to a soft-core, pillow-book ideal of oriental sensuality. It was refused, because of its adult-only film board classification. Almost half of all refusals were because the books requested were textbooks, with most of the remaining deemed too expensive or having too limited an interest. Dublin City libraries says it is not possible to buy copies of every book published in any given year, quoting figures that 149,800 titles were published in the UK and Ireland in 2012. It says it remains mindful of considerations of budget and space when buying-in books, which are chosen by a central team, assigned to selection, with input and suggestions from members of the public and library staff. Guidelines state a wide array of religious and political views should be represented and titles be chosen for their literary, cultural, and recreational relevance and for their information and learning value. Other nurses complained that the patient pulled a tube from his arm and threatened them with blood. Liam McGowan, of 138 Meadowbrook, Craigavon, Co Armagh, faced sentencing yesterday and Judge Olann Kelleher said he was concerned that the accused had not been doing enough to address his alcohol problem. Inspector John Deasy said that apart from alcohol one of the contributing factors for the accused man losing the plot on the night was alleged to have been the fact that he had been submerged upside down under water earlier that day as part of a training exercise for working on an oil rig. Solicitor Donal Daly said it was a highly unusual case where the defendant had no previous convictions, had not come to attention since this night, and was so clearly not himself on the occasion that gardai had to invoke the Mental Health Act. Judge Kelleher asked McGowan when he last had a drink as the issue appeared from background reports to be completely unaddressed. McGowan said he had been drinking a couple of days ago. The judge said: You are facing a custodial sentence. It is up to yourself [to address the drink problem]. Sentencing was put back until April 23. A fire extinguisher was sprayed at three security men during a scene of violence and mayhem at Cork University Hospital. McGowan pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to charges of assault causing harm to the three at the accident and emergency unit on November 5, 2017. He also admitted causing criminal damage at the unit where he smashed a glass panel in a door and set off a fire extinguisher which he then sprayed into the faces of the three security officers. One of the injured officers, John Looney, testified: He was a danger to patients, he was a danger to us, it went on for six and a half hours. Gardai came twice. He was taken away twice and he was taken back to us. Another injured officer, Michael Tobin, said the accused lost the plot. Childminders are self-employed childcare providers working in their own home, often for several families. There are an estimated 35,000 childminders nationally minding approximately 88,000 children, but fewer than 120 are registered with Tusla, the child and family agency. The report, Pathway to a Quality Support and Assurance System for Childminding In Ireland, recommends the registration, regulation, and inspection of home-based paid childcare. Early Childhood Ireland, the largest organisation in the early years sector, says the report is an important step towards improving rights for children. It offers reassurance to parents that basic protections and standards will be in place in both centre and home-based care settings, said its director of policy and advocacy, Frances Byrne. We urge the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure there is a communications plan in place about these changes as soon as possible. Seas Suas, an organisation representing independent childcare and early education, has warned that parents will have no choice but to rely on unqualified, unregulated childcare services because of the shortage of childcare spaces in creche and childcare facilities. The crisis in the sector because of a shortage of staff, changes in regulatory requirements, and insufficient State funding for under-2s is pushing parents in a direction that they may not want to go, said a spokesperson for Seas Suas. Childminding Ireland will hold meetings throughout the country to collect feedback on the reports proposals for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Bernadette Orbinski Burke, chief executive of Childminding Ireland and chair of the working group tasked with producing the report, said that nothing was set in stone yet. The department said its plan on implementing the reports proposals will be ready by the end of the year. A major rift has opened up among management in the Irish Prison Service (IPS) amid allegations about bullying, intimidation, and the monitoring of communications. One senior figure in the service has brought a series of complaints to the Department of Justice, about two colleagues whom he claims have undermined his position. The complaints were so serious it was deemed necessary that the Department adjudicate on the matter, instead of it being done within the IPS. Among the allegations forwarded to the Department of Justice are: That the complainant believes his communication is being monitored as a result of the dispute with his two colleagues; That he has been undermined in attempting to implement policy, particularly in relation to time-management for prison staff; That one of the senior figures told him that junior staff members were lining up to accuse him of bullying, some four months before a claim of bullying which he denies was made against him. That his senior colleague was colluding with junior members to forward a claim of bullying; That he has been unfairly targeted over a confidentiality breach from a high-level meeting, where a prejudicial remark was made about a person who had applied for a senior post in the service. That he was constantly undermined, including undermining me by attacking my character, rather than addressing my request for help to deal with my concerns about another senior manager. The allegations refer to an extended period, believed to be more than a year, during which time the complainant believes he has been unfairly targeted by his colleagues, over a dispute with one of them about work practices. The complainant alleges that, in that period, he has been undermined, targeted for negative treatment, and had his reputation maligned and that he has suffered isolation. His complaint, lodged with the Department of Justice in the last two weeks, lists more than 40 grounds on which he believes he has suffered at the hands of his two colleagues. While a whole series of incidents are listed in the complaint, no specific documentary evidence has been included to back up the claims, at this stage. One source in the area says that the complaint is highly unusual, in that it has gone to the Department. The IPS, while coming under the auspices of the Department of Justice, largely operates with a great degree of autonomy and has no oversight body, apart from the Inspector of Prisons, which is primarily concerned with the treatment of prisoners. Questions submitted to the Department of Justice about the complaint were not answered at the time of going to print. Judge Olann Kelleher said that while the young woman was not physically injured this was a serious assault to the extent that it caused a lot of upset for the young woman. John Long, aged 31, of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman on July 10, 2017 at Debenhams on St Patricks Street. Judge Kelleher jailed him for four months for the assault yesterday at Cork District Court. Inspector John Deasy said the victim was contacted by gardai following Longs plea of guilty and she was given the option of appearing in court or writing a victim impact statement and she did not want to do either. Insp Deasy said the young woman was working in the store at 4.30pm on that particular day. She was dealing with a customer and bent down to get a product under the countertop. As she did so she felt that she had been poked in the buttocks, the inspector said. She was not physically hurt but she was very upset by the incident. Mr Long put the pencil in her mouth and laughed at her and walked away, the inspector said. Long had 100 previous convictions including six counts of assault and three for assault causing harm. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said there was an acknowledgment on the part of the defendant that what he did was wrong: He has asked me repeatedly to say he was highly apologetic. It was an act of gross stupidity on the part of the defendant. He accepts it was highly upsetting for the injured party. Burma Exhibition Hopes to Teach Young Generation About Myanmars Golden Age of Film Large banners displaying framed shots from old movies hang above visitors to the event. / Htet Wai The Art and Influence of Myanmars Film Heritage, an exhibition being held as part of the Shwe Khit arts event, will hold special screenings of the classic Myanmar film Yadanarbon from 1953 as part of a program designed to educate Myanmars young generation about the countrys golden age of cinema and inspire them to create their own cultural legacy. The exhibition, which opened for a three-week-long run on March 24 at the historic Secretariat building in downtown Yangon, was curated via a collaborative effort between the Pyinsa Rasa arts collective and Save Myanmar Film. The exhibition has been installed in three different rooms: the first room looks like an information lobby and will showcase classic Myanmar furniture mixed with a modern look, with Save Myanmar Films booth displaying damaged classic films in a small mirror cupboard. The second room will house a temporary small cinema. Two film posters hang on either side of the entrance with one sporting a Now Showing banner. The last room will display old film equipment, vinyl records, and film and painting posters. It also features a music booth that will play songs from the 1950s to 1980s. The exhibition will present three different movie weeks, starting with a screening of Yadanarbon, directed by U Tin Maung and produced by the historic film company A1. Yadanarbon is a classic, old Academy Award-winning film from 1953, explained U Thein Htut, the current director of A1 Film Company. Im so proud of my grandpa and so happy to be part of this event. He said some scenes were directed in a studio setting, which is rare today. So, the young generation will be able to see the Myanmar film standards from around that era, he said. Im really honored to be part of the organizing team of this event; we can see their potential, good intentions and creativity. They collected all the equipment piece by piece from different suppliers and put it on display in modern settings, so we can learn about the history of Myanmar film with a new, modern sensibility at the same time, he added. A1 Film Company contributed old film cameras, film posters and film advertisements to be displayed at the event while Save Myanmar Film provided a copy of Yadanarbon. The modern Myanmar film industry is often criticized by local movie-goers for copying famous films from abroad and repeatedly focusing on the same topics and plot lines, so that the audience can predict the end of film after watching just a few minutes. Audiences can freely criticize and thats their right but every movement has history and it cant be destroyed and also historic landmarks like the Secretariat building cant be removed, so, I hope the younger generation can upgrade their creativity using film history as a base, U Thein Htut said. He said that everything can be done very quickly in the modern digital era, in contrast to previous ages when making a film required the use of a lot of people and equipment. In the old days, each crew member was very focused on making the film and couldnt afford to make even a small mistake because films were expensive to produce and a mistake would require the whole scene be directed from the beginning again. There were many steps as well. So, every crewmember needed to focus on every detail. Thats the big difference point from todays digital film industry, U Thein Htut said. So, I would like to request all young people, please be more creative and put more effort into their films and please study film history first. Hopefully they can learn from the history of the Myanmar film industry through this event, he said. Ko Okkar, founder of Save Myanmar Film, said his teams purpose was to preserve good, old Myanmar films. So, we have a couple of old films (in our archive) including Yadanarbon. Pyinsa Rasas founders are friends and recently we had been talking about holding an exhibition like this and now it has happened. The organizers expressed the hope that people could learn from the presentation of old Myanmar films, and that filmmakers would be able to get some inspiration after watching the films, he added. Ko Thaiddhi, co-founder of Pyinsa Rasa and the Wathann Film Festival, echoed Ko Okkars words, adding, We would love to show Myanmars film heritage to the young generation. We hope that they can get a true taste of the golden age of Myanmar film through this event and discover the identity of Myanmar movie-making. The exhibition will screen three selected films from different Myanmar film eras Yadanarbon, Tender are the Feet (1973) and Thingyan Moe (1985). Three related musical performances will be staged before the start of each film including music from a Myanmar traditional orchestra as well as popular music. At the opening of the exhibition, Gitameit music group performed the theme song from Yadanardon before the film played. The film will screen daily at 2pm from March 25 to 31. The second week starting on April 1 will feature Tender are the Feet. Ko Thaiddhi said he hopes the exhibit will allow audiences to share in the joy and creativity of previous generations of artists, and that a new generation can look back at their predecessors for inspiration in order to forge a cultural identity of their own. The Secretariat will charge an entrance fee of 2000 kyat for locals and 10,000 kyat for foreigners to see the exhibit. Guest Column For India, a Myanmar Policy Minus its Northeast is Incomplete A man rides his moto across the Indo-Myanmar border bridge at the border town of Moreh, in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, on Jan. 25, 2012. / Reuters The recently concluded India-Myanmar business conclave in Yangon was nothing short of old wine in a new bottle, with both sides agreeing on the need for improved connectivity, better relations, etc. Perhaps it is time for some soul searching in order to come up with a more pragmatic plan and one that translates into action. As a part of that plan, a crucial factor that would make a huge difference would be the involvement of Indias northeastern states, which connect the country to Myanmar and its other eastern neighbors. Just for the record, Myanmars Chin State and Sagaing Region share a 1,643-km border with Indias four northeastern states, namely Arunachal (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km). It would be wrong to say that the need to engage the northeastern states has not been felt by the Indian establishment in New Delhi since the inception of its Look East Asia now Act East Asia policy in the 1990s. However, efforts to involve these states have been piecemeal to say the least, with occasional exchanges and visits of chief ministers and junior ministers and some India-Asean motor rallies through Myanmar. In the truest sense of the term, there has not been a concerted effort to engage even the key states of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram or even Assam in any of the business conclaves that have been held so far. It is no wonder, then, that most of the conclaves have promised so much and delivered so little, especially when measured against how much progress China or even Thailand for that matter has made in trade, commerce and connectivity, even in support of different aspects of the political process in Myanmar. The problem is not hard to find, and can be best summed up in the words of a former Indian civil servant: New Delhi is too far from the northeast and it will continue to be, and the bureaucracy does not have an inkling of how to deal with the northeast vis-a-vis Myanmar. India may not want to be measured against the policies and strategies of China or Thailand, or of Western countries that have already made significant forays into Myanmar. But surely New Delhi must start to explain why its much touted Act East Asia policy is still a non-starter of sorts. All the ongoing projects that India has with Myanmar as part of its Act East Asia agenda are either stalled awaiting bureaucratic clearance or have made extremely slow progress. For instance, the 1,400-km India-Myanmar-Thai highway project has stretches through Sagaing that have remained undriveable for a long time and bridges that are not fit for international transport. On the Indian side, there are also a number of issues insurgency, communal unrest, social upheaval caused by arriving migrants that need to be properly addressed with long-term strategies. The Act East Asia policy must take all of these factors into account. Even if the Indian establishment believes there has been progress in different sectors, what explanation could it possibly have for lacking any mutual planning with its northeastern states to ensure that the Act East Asia agenda actually gains more momentum than it has managed over the last five years or more? What is even more surprising is that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been unable to use the expertise of its regional governments in the northeastern states to augment its Act East Asia policy. After the recent victory of the BJP and its allies in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, the party now has direct influence over the governments of at least six of the eight states that make up Indias northeast. An article in the Wire titled Indias Look East Policy and the Northeast: Bridging Spaces or Widening Schisms? in January 2017 had this to say: The participation of the northeastern state governments or institutions in the Look East policy is nearly non-existent. Surprisingly, in the policy documents, there is barely any mention of the tourism sector, which has a huge potential in the picturesque northeast. It goes on to claim that Seemingly, the imposition of sovereignty on many parts of northeast India post-1947 is now followed by the imposition of Indias policy agenda in the post-liberalisation era. There is no doubt that increased connectivity will increase volumes of trade, as it was in the pre-partition era. However, whats troubling is that in both the post-1947 and post-liberalisation era, the consent of and consultation with the northeastern societies have been bypassed. These will surely be testing times for New Delhi, for yearly business conclaves where promises are made and forgotten will not yield many results on the ground. One is reminded of the unfulfilled promise made by then-Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a similar event in Yangon in 2014. Soon after returning to India, she said, she would knock on the prime ministers door and urge immediate air connectivity between the two countries. The demand from most of the Indian delegates was that there be at least one direct flight daily between New Delhi and Yangon, given that there were none and that even countries like Vietnam and Nepal had direct flights, not to mention China and Thailand, which had two to three flights a day and a similar number of operators. It surely makes for very good food for the ear when both India and Myanmar reiterate their commitment as Indian Junior Commerce Minister C R Chaudhury and Myanmar Deputy Commerce Minister Aung Htoo did at Thursdays conclave in Yangon to strengthen bilateral relations and improve connectivity. Or perhaps when the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) keeps reiterating its plans to collaborate with Myanmars business and investment communities, which it has been doing for some time. I remember attending the India-Myanmar business conclave in June 2014, where similar promises were made and it all sounded very positive. Promises to set up a CII office are not new, either. There is no reason to believe that things would happen gradually, as a former Indian diplomat in Yangon used to say when confronted with the question When do we get to see words translate into action? But more than rhetorical assurances, what matters most is that India understand the call that Myanmar has repeatedly made that, given the strategic position of Myanmar as an entry point for India into Asean and the greater Mekong subregion, a comprehensive and action-packed policy involving all the states in India and in Myanmar is extremely important. What may be encouraging to notice, and what New Delhi and even Naypyitaw must take note of, is the interest shown by the BJP-ruled states of the northeast to echo what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying that development of the northeast is an essential component to realising the dream of a developed country. There was perhaps a sense of seriousness when, at an election rally on Feb. 22 in Tuensang, Nagaland, Narendra Modi sounded out the BJPs plans and expressed his firm resolve to see the Act East Asia agenda made a reality. He did not forget to mention that one of the key aims of the initiative is to connect the people of the northeast with Southeast Asian countries in order to foster speedy development. Leaving aside the politics of how elections are won in India, it is worth noting that the BJP, which is seen as essentially a Hindu party, has been able to gain ground in a largely Christian region. In fact, the recent electoral success of the BJP in northeast India is being partly attributed to the governments Act East Asia policy and its broader message of development. Besides this, it is also being seen as the best possible electoral balance that could have come about, as having the same party in power in New Delhi and in the states makes it easy to make decisions in favour of a policy and having them implemented without any fuss. This view has been reflected in the Indian media. In an article titled How BJPs northeast election victories further Indias Act East policy, online media outlet Livemint quoted Prabhir De, head of the New Delhi-based Asean-India Center, as saying: The BJPs win in these states means that there will be greater collaboration between the center and states in terms of formulating and implementing policies for development, and this includes integration with the Asean. Thus it is time that policy practitioners in New Delhi wake up and consider the importance of the northeast not just as states that stand to benefit but also as partners in planning how to make Act East Asia a tool for greater economic engagement with countries in Southeast and East Asia and, as many scholars have articulated, for finding a solution to the vexed insurgency problem in northeast India. The author is a former senior journalist who has worked for national and international news media in India and elsewhere. Currently he is a contributing editor for The Irrawaddy. Wednesday, March 28th, 2018 (12:01 am) - Score 1,704 At the end of last year the B4RN East Anglia (B4RNorfolk) ISP began construction of a new community built and funded hyperfast Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband network for rural villages in parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex (England). Today the first properties have been connected. Until recently the long-running B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) project had only focused upon deploying their 1Gbps (Gigabit) capable full fibre network to some of the most isolated rural homes in Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire. Such work is normally too expensive for small rural villages but B4RN overcomes this by harnessing local volunteers to help build the network (usually in exchange for shares instead of cash). However the team had long aspired to expand beyond their current area and in July 2017 they soft launched a new division to do just that: B4RN East Anglia (here). Construction of the new network finally began at the end of December 2017 (here) and their fibre optic cable has now reached the large village of Scole in Norfolk (on the border with Suffolk), which is home to around 1,400 people. So far in 2018, the Scole community has installed approximately 7kms of duct with the help of B4RNs engineers. The first property to go live is the Scole Community Centre but locals homes will follow and the team are already in the process of raising enough investment to reach Billingford, Upper Street, Thelveton and Shimpling. On top of that theyve confirmed that Gissing, Tivetshalls and Thwaite are expected to be the next communities to extend the B4RN network. Gissing and Tivetshalls have already been mapped, costed and are now additionally seeking investment from their respective residents. Many more areas could follow and you can get a rough idea of the initial fibre route (Scole) below. As usual B4RNs approach works best for soft digs (i.e. building over farm land rather than urban streets) and they hope to have achieved a total of 5,000 UK connections (currently 4,200+) by the end of this summer, which represents actual live users and not premises passed. The nature of B4RNs deployment makes it tricky to give an accurate figure for premises passed, although technically it should be a fair bit higher than 5,000. We should also point out that B4RN East Anglia may in the future be able to reach some isolated parts of South East Cambridgeshire. Plus theyve recently launched a new division to help cater for similar rural communities in the county of Cheshire, which is of course called B4RN Cheshire (details). Clive Blakesley, Chairman of Scole Community Centre, said: When I was approached by B4RN and asked if I was interested in hosting the cabinet at the Community Centre, I realised the fantastic opportunity we had been offered. It has the potential to benefit not only the Community Centre and the groups that use it but the whole village, including local businesses and home workers. Now we have hyperfast broadband unbelievably fast, something Id never have thought was possible. Who would have thought a group of volunteers could build their own broadband network? I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this happen. Amazing well done everyone! David Evans, B4RN East Anglia Regional Director, added: A lot of hard work has gone into this day from bringing together our volunteer network, to raising funds and digging around fields to lay the duct, but it is not rocket science 15 volunteers and a few B4RN Engineers completed the civil works in about 10 working days spread over a couple of months. In return for that hard work we are now part of one of the most modern and fastest rural broadband networks in the world. The B4RN pure fibre network brings the latest fibre technology directly into peoples homes using light to transmit the signal and not outdated electrical impulses over unreliable old cable networks. The key for rural broadband is not just connecting fast fibre to the ageing copper and aluminium cables (known as Fibre To The Cabinet, or FTTC), as this dramatically slows the speed and does nothing to prevent the constant breaks caused by the current ancient infrastructure. The answer is to bring a fast, reliable, fibre connection to each property (known as Fibre To The Home, or FTTH), this is what the B4RN community is doing. Its worth pointing out that some nearby homes can already access speeds of around the superfast broadband (24Mbps+) level via Openreachs FTTC network, although B4RNs FTTH is significantly faster and their strong community engagement has a tendency to result in a fierce level of take-up (average of around 60%). Customers pay just 30 per month for a 1000Mbps (symmetrical) unlimited service and theres also a one-off connection fee of 150, which is absurdly cheap when you consider that its a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH/P) network. The only issue we have is with the press releases headline claim of achieving the WORLDS FASTEST RURAL BROADBAND NOW LIVE IN EAST ANGLIA, which is not strictly substantiated. Plenty of other countries have multi-Gigabit capable FTTH networks that have crept into a few rural areas and even Gigaclear in the UK has tested 5Gbps (B4RN would no doubt say they could do 10Gbps if it were in demand). But if were entering a realm where the battle is over how many Gigabits you can fit down a single fibre then.. happy days. One other thing is that the PR attempts to define hyperfast as being a technical term that means typical throughput is greater than 500Mbps, which does not appear to be officially recognised. Weve also tended to unofficially associate Hyperfast with 1Gbps+ connections but neither Ofcom nor the government have formally adopted this terminology (instead of Hyperfast its more common to just say Gigabit). Germany-based open-source file syncing and sharing software company ownCloud has redesigned the frontend of its cloud offering, with a code structure that is clearer and easier to understand. The company said in a statement that the redesign was based on technical considerations. After continuous development since its inception, a large number of parallel JavaScript libraries, frameworks and components were created, which made the existing frontend increasingly complex but also confusing. There was an effort made at this point to write HTML templates and decouple them from the data model in order to obtain a clean and understandable structure for writing code. The new UI, known as Phoenix, is based on the latest front-end technologies such as WebPack, Vue.js or UIKit. The frontend is now completely separated from the ownCloud server. Phoenix is a pure Web client that only contains HTML, JavaScript and CSS files and communicates with the server via public APIs such as WebDAV or OCS Share. Phoenix is now in a test phase and will soon be available in parallel with the existing frontend via the ownCloud Marketplace. Cloud content management provider Box has appointed a regional leader for Australia and New Zealand, with former Pegasystems managing director Scott Leader to take up the role. Box, which has a physical presence in ANZ with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, announced the appointment of enterprise veteran Leader as regional vice-president of Australia and New Zealand, and says the company will be better placed than ever to expand into ANZ and accelerate its international growth. We are on a fast trajectory and weve seen great opportunities to grow our business in overseas markets, said Box chief operating officer Stephanie Carullo. Weve appointed an ANZ leader to help us capture the enterprise market as it transitions to a digital workplace. Scott is a seasoned enterprise veteran, and Im thrilled hes joined Box to help us maximise our opportunity in an exciting new territory. Leader has more than 25 years of experience in revenue and growth roles across finance and software at companies such as Reuters, Bloomberg, Australian Securities Exchange, NYSE Euronext and SunGard. Prior to joining Box, he held the role of managing director of ANZ at Pegasystems for four years, where he was responsible for directing the revenue and growth strategy for the ANZ region. Ive watched Box grow in the US, across Europe, Japan and Canada, and theres a huge opportunity to build the business in ANZ, said Leader. Im thrilled to join Box at this exciting time, and Im looking forward to helping to bring the power of its cloud content management capabilities to enterprises across Australia and New Zealand. Australian battery company Redflow has appointed an experienced telecommunications executive, Tim Harris, as its new chief executive, to lead the company through its next stage of growth and commercialisation. Harris was previously chief commercial officer for New Zealand telecommunications infrastructure provider Chorus and held senior leadership roles at BT Group in Singapore and the UK. The telecommunications sector is a key market for the ASX-listed Redflow (ASX:RFX). With Harris appointment, Redflow long-term executive Richard Aird returns to the role of chief operating officer focused on development of the ZBM2 battery to ensure its successful production by the companys new factory in Thailand. Redflow was founded by serial entrepreneur Simon Hackett who is still a major shareholder. Since a strategic review last year, Redflow has transferred its manufacturing operations from North America to Thailand, where it is now successfully producing battery stacks the critical component of its zinc-bromine flow batteries and says it is on track to produce full batteries by June this year. Redflow chairman Brett Johnson said the company was now focused on growth. After a year of change, we are enormously grateful for Richards leadership to establish the new factory in Thailand, which is the foundation for our next phase of growth, he said. We have recruited Tim as chief executive to allow Richard to focus on his operational strengths in scaling up production from Thailand to deliver fully tested quality batteries. Concurrently, Tim will work with myself and our technology evangelist Simon Hackett to identify and implement the optimal growth and commercialisation strategies for the company overall. Data scientists continue to be in high demand, with companies in virtually every industry looking to get the most value from their burgeoning information resources. As organizations begin to fully capitalize on the use of their internal data assets and examine the integration of hundreds of third-party data sources, the role of the data scientist will continue to expand in relevance, says Greg Boyd, director at consulting firm Protiviti. In the past, the teams responsible for data were relegated to the back rooms of the IT organization, performing the critical database tasks to keep the various corporate systems fed with the data fuel [that] allowed corporate executives to report out on operations activities and deliver financial results, Boyd says. This role is important, but the rising stars of the business are those savvy data scientists that have the ability to not only manipulate vast amounts of data with sophisticated statistical and visualization techniques, but have a solid acumen from which they can derive forward-looking insights, Boyd says. These insights help predict potential outcomes and mitigate potential threats to the business. So what does it take to be data science whiz? Here are some important attributes and skills, according to IT leaders, industry analysts, data scientists, and others. Critical thinking Data scientists need to be critical thinkers, to be able to apply objective analysis of facts on a given topic or problem before formulating opinions or rendering judgments. They need to understand the business problem or decision being made and be able to 'model' or 'abstract' what is critical to solving the problem, versus what is extraneous and can be ignored, says Anand Rao, global artificial intelligence and innovation lead for data and analytics at consulting firm PwC. This skill more than anything else determines the success of a data scientist, Rao says. A data scientist needs to have experience but also have the ability to suspend belief, adds Jeffry Nimeroff, CIO at Zeta Global, which provides a cloud-based marketing platform. This trait captures the idea of knowing what to expect when working in any area, but also knowing that experience and intuition are imperfect, Nimeroff says. Experience provides benefits but is not without risk if we get too complacent. This is where the suspense of belief is important. Its not about looking at things with the wide eyes of a novice, Nimeroff says, but instead stepping back and being able to assess a problem or situation from multiple points of view. Coding Top-notch data scientists know how to write code and are comfortable handling a variety of programming tasks. The language of choice in data science is moving towards Python, with a substantial following for R as well, Rao says. In addition, there are a number of other languages in use such as Scala, Clojure, Java and Octave. To be really successful as a data scientist, the programming skills need to comprise both computational aspects dealing with large volumes of data, working with real-time data, cloud computing, unstructured data, as well as statistical aspects [and] working with statistical models like regression, optimization, clustering, decision trees, random forests, etc., Rao says. The impact of big data beginning in the late 1990s has demanded that more and more data scientists understand and be able to code in languages such as Python, C++ or Java, says Celeste Fralick, chief data scientist at security software company McAfee. If a data scientist doesnt understand how to code, it helps to be surrounded by people who do. Teaming a developer with a data scientist can prove to be very fruitful, Fralick says. Math Data science is probably not a good career choice for people who dont like or are not proficient at mathematics. In our work with global organizations, we engage with clients looking to develop complex financial or operational models, Boyd says. In order for these models to be statistically relevant, large volumes of data are required. The role of data scientist is to leverage their deep expertise in mathematics to develop statistical models which may be used to develop or shift key business strategies. The data scientist whiz is one who excels at mathematics and statistics, while having an ability to collaborate closely with line-of-business executives to communicate what is actually happening in the black box of complex equations in a manner that provides re-assurance that the business can trust the outcomes and recommendations, Boyd says. Machine learning, deep learning, AI Industries are moving extremely fast in these areas because of increased compute power, connectivity, and the huge volumes of data being collected, Fralick says. A data scientist needs to stay in front of the curve in research, as well as understand what technology to apply when, she says. Too many times a data scientist will apply something sexy and new, when the actual problem they are solving is much less complex. Data scientists need to have a deep understanding of the problem to be solved, and the data itself will speak to whats needed, Fralick says. Being aware of the computational cost to the ecosystem, interpretability, latency, bandwidth, and other system boundary conditions as well as the maturity of the customer itself helps the data scientist understand what technology to apply, she says. Thats true as long as they understand the technology. Also valuable are statistical skills. Most employers do not consider these skills, Fralick says, because todays automated tools and open source software are so readily available. However, understanding statistics is a critical competency to comprehending the assumptions these tools and software make, she says. Its not enough to understand the functional interfaces to the machine learning algorithms, says Trevor Schulze, CIO at data storage provider Micron Technology. To select the appropriate algorithm for the job, a successful data scientist needs to understand the statistics within the methods and the proper data preparation techniques to maximize overall performance of any model, he says. Skills in computer science are also important, Schulze says. Because data science is mainly done at the keyboard, strong fundamentals in software engineering are helpful. Communication The importance of communication skills bears repeating. Virtually nothing in technology today is performed in a vacuum; theres always some integration between systems, applications, data and people. Data science is no different, and being able to communicate with multiple stakeholders using data is a key attribute. The 'storytelling' ability through data translates what is a mathematical result into an actionable insight or intervention, says Rao. Being at the intersection of business, technology, and data, data scientists need to be adept at telling a story to each of the stakeholders. That includes communicating about the business benefits of data to business executives; about technology and computational resources; about the challenges with data quality, privacy, and confidentiality; and about other areas of interest to the organization. Being a good communicator includes the ability to distill challenging technical information into a form that is complete, accurate, and easy to present, Nimeroff says. A data scientist must remember that their execution yields results that can and will be used to support directional action by the business, he says. So, being able to ensure that the audience understands and appreciates everything that is being presented to them including the problem, the data, the success criteria, and the results is paramount. A good data scientist must have the business savvy and inquisitiveness to adequately interview the business stakeholders to understand the problem and identify which data is likely to be relevant, Schulze says. In addition, data scientists need to be able to explain algorithms to business leaders. Communicating how an algorithm arrived at a prediction is a critical skill to gain leaders trust in predictive models being part of their business processes, Schulze says. Data architecture It is imperative that the data scientist understand what is happening to the data from inception to model to business decision. To not understand the architecture can have serious impact on sample size inferences and assumptions, often leading to incorrect results and decisions, Fralick says. Even worse, things can change within the architecture. Without understanding its impact on models to begin with, a data scientist might end up on a firestorm of model redos or suddenly inaccurate models without understanding why, Fralick says. While Hadoop gave big data legs by delivering the code to the data and not vice versa, Fralick says, understanding the complexities of the data flow or data pipeline are critical to insuring good fact-based decision-making. Risk analysis, process improvement, systems engineering A sharp data scientist needs to understand the concepts of analyzing business risk, making improvements in processes, and how systems engineering works. Ive never known an excellent data scientist without these skills, Fralick says. They all play hand-in-hand, both inwardly focused to the data scientist but outwardly to the customer. Inwardly, the data scientist should remember the second half of the title scientist and follow good scientific theory, Fralick says. Building in risk analyses at the start of model development can mitigate risks. Outwardly, these are all skills that data scientists require to probe the customer about what problem they are trying to solve, she says. Connecting spending to process improvement, comprehending inherent company risks and other systems that can impact data or the result of a model can lead to greater customer satisfaction with the data scientists efforts, Fralick says. Problem solving and good business intuition In general, the traits great data scientists exhibit are the same traits that are exhibited by any good problem solver, Nimeroff says. They look at the world from many perspectives, they look to understand what they are supposed to be doing before pulling all the tools out of their tool belt, they work in a rigorous and complete manner, and they can smoothly explain the results of their execution, Nimeroff says. When evaluating technology professionals for roles such as data scientists, Nimeroff looks for these traits. The approach yields far more successes than failures, and also ensures that potential upside is maximized because critical thinking is brought to the forefront. Finding a great data scientist involves finding someone who has somewhat contradictory skill sets: intelligence to handle data processing and create useful models; and an intuitive understanding of the business problem theyre trying to solve, the structure and nuances of the data, and how the models work, says Lee Barnes, head of Paytronix Data Insights at business software provider Paytronix Systems. The first of these is the easiest to find; most people with good math skills and a degree in math, statistics, engineering, or other science-based subjects are likely to have the intellectual horsepower to do it, Barnes says. The second is much harder to find. It is surprising how many people we interview that have built complex models, but when pushed on why they think the model worked or why they chose the approach they did, they dont have a good answer. These people are likely to be able to explain how accurate a model was, but without understanding why and how it works, its hard to have a lot of confidence in their models, Barnes says. Someone with this deeper understanding and intuition for what they are doing is a true data science whiz, and will likely have a successful career in this field. Related data science and data analytics articles: Were not far away from a new release of Windows 10, and with it plenty of new APIs for your applications. One big change is support for running trained machine learning models as part of Windows applications, taking advantage of local GPUs to accelerate machine learning applications. Building a machine learning application can be a complex process. Training a model can require a lot of data, and a considerable amount of processing power. Thats fine if youve got access to a cloud platform and lots of bandwidth, but what if you want to take an existing model from GitHub and run it on a PC? Trained machine learning models are an ideal tool for bringing the benefits of neural networks and deep learning to your applications. All you should need to do is hook up the appropriate interfaces, and they should run as part of your code. But with many machine learning frameworks and platforms, theres a need for a common runtime that can use any of the models out there. Thats where the new Windows machine learning tools comes into play, offering Windows developers a platform to run existing machine learning models in their applications, taking advantage of a developing open standard for exchanging machine learning models. Introducing ONNX for Windows Microsoft is supporting ONNX, the Open Neural Network Exchange format, an open standard for sharing deep learning models between platforms and services. With ONNX you can build and train neural networks on cloud platforms or on dedicated machine learning systems, using well-known algorithms. Once trained, the algorithms can run on another framework, or with Windows machine learning as part of an application on a PC, or even an IoT device. ONNX currently supports a range of machine learning frameworks, including Facebooks popular Caffe 2, the Python-based PyTorch, and Microsofts own Cognitive Toolkit (formerly named CNTK). While theres not direct support for Googles TensorFlow, you can find unofficial connectors that let you export as ONNX, with an official import/export tool currently under development. ONNX offers its own runtimes and libraries, so your models can run on your hardware and take advantage of any accelerators you have. Converting machine learning models with ONNX If youre using Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit on Azure to build and run machine learning models, you should already have access to ONNX, because its built into every version after 2.3.1, and itll soon be part of the Visual Studio Tools for AI. All you need to do to export a model is to choose ONNX as your export format, something you can do with a single line of Python or C# code. You dont even need to write the export statement into your training application; it can even be a call from an Azure Notebook or a statement in an Azure machine learning pipeline. Microsoft also provides its own tools to convert models from some other formats, like Apples Core ML, to ONNX. Microsofts WinMLTools is a Python package, so you can use it with existing machine learning tools, like Anaconda. By integrating with familiar machine learning development environments, you can mix cross-platform data science skills with Windows developersusing the same machine learning models that now run on popular mobile platforms, as well on Windows. Its not all plain sailing: There can be issues with working with Core ML models that deliver image outputs, because ONNX doesnt directly support image types. However, Microsofts WinMLTools documentation walks you through the process of mapping an ONNX output tensor to a collection of image files. Adding machine learning to Windows apps Once exported, that model can run on Windows new machine learning platform. Once imported, trained models are ready to go and can work with new data without needing any additional training. Using one, say for image recognition, can give field workers new tools for identifying problems and finding solutions using their laptops or 2-in-1s cameras. Where there are bandwidth issues, local machine learning algorithms can run over downloaded data from sensors or other monitoring tools, perhaps providing diagnostic tools for automotive repairs from on-vehicle sensors. Building on the computational GPU support in DirectX 12, Window machine learning will run on most modern PC hardware. If a GPU isnt available, it can also use CPU resources, though this will lose much of the performance gain you get from using a GPU as a parallel processing surface. Theres also the option of working with the AI core in Qualcomm ARM devices, and with Intels plug-in AI co-processors. Support for Windows machine learning is currently available in preview releases of Visual Studio 15.7 and in the Windows Insider release of the Windows 10 SDK. Writing UWP code to handle machine learning is easy enough; youll import the ONNX model into a Visual Studio project. This will then automatically generate the appropriate interfaces and classes, ready for you integrate them into your application. If youre using C++or C#, then mlgen, a tool in the Windows SDK, will generate wrapper classes for you. Machine learning on the edge Windows machine learning isnt only for the traditional PC. As you move cloud applications to what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calls the intelligent edge, youre moving them to many classes of device. Some will be full-size servers running in cell towers, some will be hub devices with similar specifications to branch office servers or desktop PCs, abd some will be the IoT devices themselves, using embedded processors. AMD has recently launched embedded versions of its Epyc and Ryzen processors. Like the desktop and mobile Ryzen, the embedded version runs code on its built-in GPU. At the UK launch event, one developer was demonstrating a camera that used an embedded Ryzen to scan bottles of beer for inclusions; determining if a batch should be rejected. The embedded systems machine learning model trained on more powerful systems, with a significant amount of image data. Once trained, it was exported and used to analyze the image stream from the camera. The app itself was running on an embedded Linux, but its not hard to see a future embedded release of Windows, like Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, offering similar machine learning features on embedded Ryzen hardware. Theres also the option of support for ARMs Project Trillium embedded machine learning processors, embedding hardware that can run ARMs own neural networking software in low-power chipsets. Bringing machine learning out of the cloud is an important step; it removes latency from applications that need to respond quickly and reduces the amount of data sent from remote sites to cloud servers. With Windows machine learning, you can use these techniques to quickly add complex algorithms to your own code, making your software more capable and more useful. USS Ralph Johnson was commissioned at the Columbus Street Pier in Charleston on Saturday. Reddit Email 399 Shares Middle East Monitor | Construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank surged 17 per cent during the first year of US President Donald trumps presidency, Israeli monitoring group Peace Now has said. According to data released by the group, Israel began construction of 2,783 settlement homes in 2017, 17 per cent more than the annual average since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office in 2009. The vast majority of the new homes 78 per cent were in settlements which would likely have to be evacuated if a Palestinian state was established, Peace Now added. Additionally, eight per cent were in illegal outposts which are not authorised by the state. Trump has taken a softer line on Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank than his predecessors. The steady pace of construction and building deep in the West Bank attest to Prime Minister Netanyahus steadfast abetting of the settlement enterprise, the report said. It is also apparent that the new US presidency in 2017 had no marginal deterrent effect on these Israeli unilateral moves. Via Middle East Monitor This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Bonus video added by Informed Comment: Attacks against Palestinians in increase by 50 percent in 2018 | Al Jazeera English Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2018) - Stakeholder Gold Corp. (TSXV: SRC) ("Stakeholder Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further assay and geochemical results confirming the discovery of the new "Trail Hill" Midas-style gold-silver zone in its first core drill hole on the Goldstorm property in Nevada. The property is located 17 km northwest of the Midas Mine of Klondex Mines Ltd., which is being acquired by Hecla Mining Company, and 18 km northeast of the Twin Creeks Mine of Newmont Mining Corporation. Gold-silver mineralization in the basal "S Fault" contact zone of the Trail Hill gold-silver target area was re-assayed with narrower, more select samples. The rocks above this fault zone were oxidized and quartz-silica-pyrite altered and mineralized from a core hole depth of approximately 7 metres to 138 metres. The drillhole, inclined at -57 degrees, evidenced strong silica-pyrite flooding with local spots of an unidentified black, oxidized mineral across much of this zone. Stakeholder re-assayed the fault contact zone on both sides of the S Fault. The upper 0.43 m basal limonitic fault breccia, between 137.68 m and 138.11 m, assayed 18 ppb gold and a strongly anomalous 3.39 g/t silver. The first interval below the fault, between 138.11 m and 138.72 m, contained an abundant amount of the black mineral in brecciated, altered, dark gray basalt and sedimentary rock that assayed 54 ppb gold, 137 ppm (4 ounces per ton) silver (a Goldstorm project high for silver) and 109 ppm arsenic, with elevated copper, molybdenum and antimony--indicating that the S Fault could be a feeder to gold-silver mineralization. The third, basal 0.91 m interval, down to 139.63 m, assayed a high 110 ppb gold, 2.16 ppm silver and 183 ppm arsenic in medium-gray fractured mudstone and tuff. These data indicate that the rocks on both sides of the S Fault are mineralized, thus the fault may be a feeder to gold-silver mineralization. These data are interpreted as being suggestive of a silver halo around gold mineralization, similar to rocks around the Hollister Mine of Klondex/Hecla and the adjacent Silver Cloud property. We interpret that any main boiling zone for gold-silver mineralization in the Trail Hill Zone at Goldstorm would be at greater depths than those reached in this drill hole. The targets for drilling at Goldstorm are the Trail Hill, Clayton, and Prochnau vein systems, below the 1,830 m elevation level. This is the approximate level of the paleo-water-table extant 15.4 million years ago in the Miocene Epoch when the gold mineralization has been interpreted to have occurred in the Midas Gold Trend at Goldstorm and at the Midas, Hollister and Silver Cloud mines. See Figures 1 and 2 to view the exploration model and the limiting spatial characteristics envisioned for this gold-silver system. Phase 2 drilling is planned to begin as soon as weather permits, and will test the vein systems below the 1,830 m elevation. Figure 1: Midas Gold Trend Gold Zones Depth Comparison Section Looking Northerly Figure 2: Midas Mine Ore Zones Long Section, Projected Goldstorm Holes The drill core was submitted under chain-of-custody procedures to ALS Chemex Laboratory in Elko, Nevada. The samples were processed using 50-gram aliquots for fire assay analyses with gravimetric finish for gold and silver determinations. Multi-element ICP geochemical analyses of pulps were run after using a 4-acid dissolution technique. "The Trail Hill Zone is interpreted to be a significant Midas-style gold-silver target on the basis of structure, pathfinder metals and location. Key characteristics reflect similar structural manifestations above gold and silver mineralization at the significant Midas and Hollister mines, which are bounded by elevation at the approximate height of the paleo-water-table of the Miocene Epoch. Follow-up in the near term will include a new test of the Trail Hill Zone at greater depths," stated Rick Redfern. The Company's combined ground position now encompasses 3,806 contiguous acres. The enhanced land position surrounds both the Clayton Veins and the Prochnau Veins systems, and includes their respective strike extensions. Success with drilling would open up the prospect of considerable expansion on strike and depth extensions. Richard R. Redfern, C.P.G. and M.S. (Geology), Geological Consultant for Stakeholder Gold, is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. About Stakeholder Gold Stakeholder Gold Corporation is a Canadian mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The primary focus of the Corporation during 2018 is to explore the Goldstorm property in Elko County, Nevada (USA). Stakeholder is also exploring on its 100% owned Ballarat Gold Project located in the White Gold District of the Yukon Territory, Canada. For further information on the content of this release or about Stakeholder Gold, please contact: Christopher J. Berlet BSc (Mining), CFA President & CEO 416 525 - 6869 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents. The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. 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 release. CALGARY, March 27, 2018 /CNW/ - PRIZE MINING CORPORATION ("Prize" or the "Company") (TSXV:PRZ) (OTCQB:PRZFF) (MQSP:GR:FRANKFURT) is pleased to announce that the Company has received the NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Manto Negro property in Coahuila, Mexico from geological consultants, Norwest Corporation of Calgary, Alberta. The Technical Report includes a review of the regional and local geology, mineralization types and grades, exploration history and results, overall mineral potential and recommendations for further work. The report does not include any estimate of mineral resources nor reserves. The authors, William Allan Turner, P.Geol., and Derek Loveday, P.Geo., visited the Property from February 19-21, 2018. Importantly, the authors conclude that the property contains "key features that are associated with sediment-hosted copper (SHC) deposits". Prize recently acquired the property (see News Release dated December 7, 2017 for terms) for its potential to host large tonnages of SHC type mineralization. SHC deposits are the second most prolific sources of copper in the world, after copper porphyries. "We are very pleased that the authors of the technical report have validated our exploration model for sediment-hosted copper on the Manto Negro property", stated Michael McPhie, Prize's President & CEO. "Our initial work on the property has already returned very encouraging results with high copper and silver grades. We now intend to expand our exploration program to further demonstrate the district-scale and near term production potential of the project." Significantly, during their site visit, the authors stated that they observed "key regional-scale mineralization features that support the interpretation that mineralization may exist at a much larger scale than from what has been discovered to date" and "propose that a large-scale exploration approach be taken to identify areas on the Property that contain currently unrecognized mineralization potential." Manto Negro Property The Manto Negro property comprises 17,659 hectares and includes more than 35 known occurrences of copper mineralization. Several old mine workings exist from artisanal mining, but the area has seen only limited modern exploration and very limited drilling. Prize has already commenced a Phase 1 exploration program that has returned assays such as 2.61% Cu and 212g/t Ag over 7.0 metres from surface and underground sampling (see News Releases dated February 28 and March 14, 2018). Mineralization consists of primary and secondary copper minerals that are amenable to Solvent Extraction and Electrowinning (SXEW) recovery techniques. Preliminary bench scale metallurgical tests conducted in 2008 and 2012 by previous operators indicated that the mineralization "responded well to acid leaching, with good recoveries in a reasonable time frame". Acid consumption was recorded in the 2012 metallurgical test and noted to be low due to the low amount of carbonate in the sample. A full metallurgical testing program will be initiated as part of the upcoming exploration program scheduled to begin in the near term. The Technical Report recommends a two-phase exploration approach. Phase 1 would consist of geological compilation, review and model development; topographic surveying; and structural, stratigraphic and sedimentological mapping, at a cost of about CA$120,000. Phase 2, which could overlap Phase 1, would consist of geophysics, drilling, geological model update, metallurgical testing, resource estimation and a new technical report. The cost of this work would be primarily dependent on the amount of drilling conducted. The Manto Negro Technical Report can be found on the Prize website at www.prizemining.com and will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com in the coming days Jarrod Brown, P.Geo., of TerraLogic, is the Company's Qualified Person for the Manto Negro property, as defined by NI 43-101, and has approved this news release. About Prize Mining Corp. Prize is a junior mining issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Prize is focused on the exploration and development of the Manto Negro Copper Property in Mexico and the Kena Gold Property in BC. Find out more at: www.prizemining.com Follow Prize Mining Corp. on Facebook Follow Prize Mining Corp. on Twitter Follow Prize Mining Corp. on LinkedIn Reader Advisory Forward-Looking Statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "potential", or other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "could" occur. The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Prize, including the assay results of the 2017 sampling program on Prize's Manto Negro Property. Although Prize 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 Prize can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. There is no assurance that the result of these exploration programs will be successful. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent 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, exploration risks and that required regulatory and third-party approvals and consents are not obtained on terms satisfactory to the parties within the timelines provided. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under 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 release. Frances top appeals court upheld a 30,000-euro fine Tuesday against former far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen for dismissing the Nazi gas chambers as a detail of history. Le Pen, 89, had been found guilty twice by lower courts of denying crimes against humanity over the 2015 remark and had taken his case to the final court of appeal. It doesnt surprise me, coming from these crooks, Le Pen told AFP in response to the verdict, blasting what he said was collusion against him in the court system. The court upheld a fine of 30,003 euros ($37,200) to be paid to three anti-racism groups, and another 4,000 euros in legal costs. His daughter, current National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen, booted him from the party he co-founded over the comment, as part of her attempts to rid the party of a reputation for anti-Semitism. In April 2015, a television journalist had asked Jean-Marie Le Pen if he regretted having previously expressed the same view in 1987. Not at all, Le Pen replied. What I said corresponded to my belief that the gas chambers were a detail of the history of the war. Le Pen already had a string of hate speech convictions, including against Muslims and Roma people. He was fined twice in the 1990s for making similar comments about the World War II gas chambers. Marine Le Pen, who has been embroiled in a bitter and highly public row with her father for years, stripped him of his National Front membership after his 2015 repetition of his views. But he remained in his role as the FNs honorary president until this month, when she was finally able to change the party statutes to kick him out once and for all. From feed to fever: Kansas State University researcher studies risk of African swine fever in feed Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Megan Niederwerder, Kansas State University assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, is involved in a new study that examines the ability of African swine fever virus to spread through imported feed and feed ingredients. The study will help researchers and pork producers prevent the spread of the highly contagious and costly animal disease . MANHATTAN If African swine fever virus reaches the U.S., it could cause more than $16.5 billion in economic losses to swine and other industries. It would devastate trade and international markets, researchers say. Megan Niederwerder, Kansas State University assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, wants to prevent that. Her latest research has found that African swine fever could survive in a simulated feed shipment across the ocean, which suggests that feed may be a potential way that pathogens such as African swine fever virus spread. The research appears in the journal PLOS ONE in the collaborative publication, "Survival of viral pathogens in animal feed ingredients under transboundary shipping models." It is the first publication demonstrating the survival of African swine fever virus in feed ingredients. "The ultimate goal of our research is to understand what mitigation tools may be utilized to reduce the risk of African swine fever virus being introduced, whether in the country of origin or once feed arrives in the U.S.," Niederwerder said. Since 2007, African swine fever virus, or ASFV, has spread throughout Eastern Europe and Russia but is not present in the U.S. There is no vaccine or cure for the disease, which causes hemorrhagic fever and high mortality in pigs. It does not infect humans. Niederwerder is collaborating with Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute to continue studying the risk of African swine fever virus in feed and feed ingredients. She is studying the whole swine feed transport cycle from the shipment of feed as it is imported to the U.S. to when swine consume their feed on the farm. "This research is extremely important to the swine industry, not only in Kansas and the U.S. but also around the world," Niederwerder said. "There are many countries, including the U.S., that are currently free of ASFV and it is critical to understand how we prevent this virus from being introduced. Through this research, we seek to understand and further define the risk of ASFV transmission when consumed in feed, a recently identified risk factor for the introduction of swine pathogens." African swine fever is one of the diseases slated to be researched at the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility or NBAF, which is under construction adjacent to Kansas State University's Manhattan campus. Niederwerder's work at the Biosecurity Research Institute will provide the foundational knowledge that can then transition into further studies at the NBAF once it is fully functional. Niederwerder's research is organized into three parts: 1. Understanding if the virus survives in feed ingredients using a transboundary model that simulates the shipment of feed from other countries into the U.S. 2. Determining the oral dose of African swine fever virus necessary in feed to cause infection. 3. Identifying mitigants that reduce or eliminate the risk of African swine fever virus transmission in feed ingredients, including any additives that may inactivate the virus in swine feed. Niederwerder and her team are performing the research in a biosafety level-3 laboratory at the Biosecurity Research Institute. They have been studying 5-gram amounts of complete feed and feed ingredients, some of which include soybean meal, lysine, dried distillers grains, choline and vitamin D. Researchers place the ingredients in 50-milliliter tubes in an environmental chamber and use meteorological data to program the chamber's temperature and humidity, which mimics a cargo ship's journey from Eastern Europe to North America. For example, the trans-Atlantic model that simulates travel from Eastern Europe takes 30 days. The researchers then study if the virus is still present at a dose infectious to pigs after the simulated shipment and if there are any additives that may stop the virus from spreading through feed. "Our aim is to understand if we can mitigate this risk and protect the U.S. swine industry from the introduction of African swine fever as well as other foreign animal diseases," Niederwerder said. To support this research, she has been awarded more than $700,000 from the State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-defense Facility Fund, the National Pork Board and the Swine Health Information Center. Niederwerder recently presented this research at the North American PRRS symposium, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting, and the Midwest Animal Science meeting. Other Kansas State University collaborators on this work include Raymond "Bob" Rowland, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Cassie Jones, associate professor of animal sciences and industry; Steve Dritz, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Trevor Hefley, assistant professor of statistics; Jason Woodworth, research associate professor of animal sciences and industry; and Mike Tokach, university distinguished professor of animal sciences and industry. Other collaborators include Scott Dee of Pipestone Veterinary Services and Diego Diel of South Dakota State University. African swine fever virus causes hemorrhagic fever and high mortality in pigs. It is not present in the U.S. but has spread throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. | Download this photo. 489 Shares Share I was behind schedule (again). My next patient was Helen, a non-compliant diabetic that hadnt been into my office in over two years. Her blood sugars werent controlled at her last visit when Id tried to impress on her the serious health problems that could develop if she didnt take better care of herself. Clearly, Id failed. Maybe Id even chased her away? No pill I prescribed would help her diabetes if she didnt refill the prescriptions. I knew her insurance didnt cover much. One of the reasons she didnt take her pills faithfully was financial (although her pride wouldnt let her admit this). I prescribed generic medications whenever possible and gave her coupons when I couldnt. I also explained how to appeal directly to drug companies for patient assistance. Helen always rebuffed my efforts claiming she and her husband made too much money to qualify. Like many of my patients, though, she seemed to be barely scraping by. I can afford medicine, she insisted. But who could afford drugs with co-pays of $50 to 200 a month, especially when taking a half dozen? I believed my words fell on deaf ears. I was wrong. She wasnt ignoring my advice. She just couldnt follow it. I took a deep breath before knocking on the exam room. I felt defeated already. There was no way I could fix her problems in 15 minutes. A direct approach would be quickest, but I knew it wouldnt help to lecture her. She might not come back again. I opened the door and saw her slumped over in the exam chair. She barely looked up. Sometimes my patients felt ashamed when they returned after a long absence, especially if they didnt (or couldnt) follow my suggestions. But this was different. Helen didnt look well. I tried to be cheery to show her there were no hard feelings. We could just pick up where wed left off. Good morning, Helen! Im sorry I havent been in to see you, she mumbled barely glancing up from her lap. Dont worry, youre here now. I hope you stayed away because you felt so good, I said with more optimism than I felt. Helen started to cry softly. I sat down next to her and cautiously reached for her hand. She wasnt a particularly affectionate patient. In the years Id known her shed been through some difficult times, but shed never asked for help. To my surprise, though, she didnt push me away. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze of encouragement. After a brief silence she began to talk. She explained that she hadnt been into the office because shed lost her health insurance after her husband got sick and lost his job. Sadly, this wasnt the first time Id heard this. Ive seen many patients without health insurance stagger into my office when they could no longer ignore the need for a doctor. I recently saw a patient with pneumonia that had progressed to near respiratory failure. He was so sick that I sent him directly to the hospital by ambulance where he incurred outrageous medical bills. My own mother continued to work as a nursing supervisor to keep her health insurance despite a steadily progressive shortness of breath (that we later discovered was due to serious heart issues). When she finally did leave her job, she was forced to pay an enormous monthly premium to keep her insurance until she qualified for Medicare. I also knew personally what it was like to not have health insurance. I was kicked off my parents plan when I went to college and had no insurance in medical school. I avoided doctors, too. Helens husband grew sicker. Much like his wife, though, he was stubborn. He didnt want a handout, and he didnt want to become a financial burden to his family by amassing huge medical bills. Helen pleaded with him to go see a doctor, but it was no use. He died. I gasped. He died? I whispered, pulling her closer to me. He died, she choked through her tears. I was shocked. I was sad. I was outraged! How could my country allow this to happen? I read recently that not having health insurance increased the risk of death by 40 percent. More than 45,000 people die every year in the United States from preventable causes because they dont have insurance and are afraid to seek help. Who can blame them? Medical bankruptcy isnt rare. Even before she lost her insurance, though, Helen had suffered in our fragmented health care system. Like many Americans, she was under-insured. She had insurance that she was afraid to use because of high deductibles and copays. These expenses kept her from doing routine blood work to monitor her diabetes. She also skimped on her medications, taking her pills every other day, or cutting her pills in half to make them last longer. She was labeled a non-compliant patient. But whose fault was this? Despite spending more than twice as much as the next highest-spending country on health care, Americans are not healthier. In 2014 the Commonwealth Fund ranked the United States 11th in health performance, trailing behind most of the developed world. None of these cold numbers helped Helen, though. At 62, instead of enjoying her retired life with her husband she was a grieving widow in poor health herself. I desperately wanted to address a few of her health issues in the minutes we had left together. I was afraid if she left now, I might lose her for another few years. Helen wiped away her tears, pulled herself upright and spoke. Ill do my blood work this week and make an appointment to see you next month, she said standing to leave. Shed put her stoic mask back on to face the world. I havent been a good patient, but Im going to be better, she said as she left. What more could I ask? Jen Baker-Porazinski is a family physician who blogs at Pound of Prevention. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Tri-colored bat populations in the Upstate have declined at an alarming rate, up to 97 percent, since white-nose syndrome (WNS) arrived in South Carolina. WNS is now present in three new counties in South Carolina: Cherokee, Spartanburg and York. SCDNR photo by Jennifer Kindel South Korea agreed to further open its auto market to the United States in return for an exemption from steel tariffs during negotiations to amend their free trade agreement (FTA), Seoul's trade ministry said Monday. Seoul and Washington have "in principle" reached an agreement on some of the key issues to fix the six-year-old deal against the backdrop of negotiations to get the country off the list of countries that will be slapped with 25 percent tariffs on steel exports to the U.S. Washington is moving to impose tariffs on imports on national security grounds. "The two sides agreed to exempt South Korea from the list of steel tariffs based on Section 232," the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement. South Korea received an annual import quota of 286 million tons, or 70 percent of the average of steel exports to the U.S. in the last three years, the ministry said. Steel exports exceeding the quota will be subject to higher duties. In return, Seoul largely accepted U.S. demands in the auto sector, the most contentious issue in the past three rounds of trade talks. The U.S. will extend a tariff of 25 percent on imports of Korean pickup trucks by 20 years to 2041, setting hurdles for Korean exporters beyond the previously agreed deadline. The agreement calls for Seoul to double the 25,000-vehicle unit threshold for U.S. car shipments that do not have to comply with domestic industry regulations, which would enable 50,000 vehicles to enter South Korea more easily. Seoul also will apply eased vehicle emission standards for cars shipped from 2021-25 when setting new import regulations. American manufacturers complained that the environmental regulations act as non-tariff regulations on their cars. The tentative agreement, which came less than three months since dialogue began, reflects U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to cut trade deficits in the auto sector. While the FTA has boosted the auto trade between the partners, South Korean companies have enjoyed greater benefits thanks to the bigger size of the U.S. auto market, which is about 10 times that of the Korean market. South Korea's auto exports to the U.S. jumped 80 percent from 2011 to $18.49 billion in 2015, while its imports of American-made cars have soared 380 percent from 2011 to $1.68 billion in 2015, according to the government data. Meanwhile, Seoul's trade ministry said it didn't negotiate on the agriculture market, which it has repeatedly said is a "red line" it can't cross. The farming industry has strongly opposed the negotiations, claiming that they have suffered massive damage due to cheaper U.S. food products over the past five years. The two sides also agreed to make minor edits to the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clause and to improve the transparency of the trade dispute settlement process, the ministry said without going into detail. With the ISDS provision, investors can sue countries for alleged discriminatory practices through international arbitration bodies. Local experts have expressed concerns that large multinational companies could exploit the clause, leading to the infringement of South Korea's judicial sovereignty. Working-level officials are currently working on the final draft of the deal before a formal signing at an early date, the ministry said. The revised deal will go into effect after undergoing the ratification process of parliaments in the respective countries. The U.S. is South Korea's second-largest trading partner after China, with bilateral trade reaching $119.3 billion in 2017, according to government data. South Korea's trade surplus with the U.S. fell from $25.8 billion in 2015 to $17.8 billion last year on sluggish sales of autos and steel and as the country imported more American beef and natural gas. (Yonhap) Did you know that an estimated 176 million women all over the world and around 25 million in India suffer from a painful menstrual condition called endometriosis? The most telling feature of the condition is the unbearable pain it causes its sufferer during menses. Despite being so widespread, endometriosis is not a very well-known medical condition, unlike cancer or AIDS. And very few people outside the medical fraternity know about it. Those who do are either suffering from it themselves or know someone who does. The month of March is observed every year as Endometriosis Awareness Month, to focus attention towards this silent epidemic that is impacting the quality of female lives worldwide. The effects of endometriosis are far-reaching and go beyond just a few days of menstrual inconvenience. Here are some things only women with endometriosis know. People think you are making a big deal out of period pain Menstrual cramps can be painful sometimes. But they don't land you in the emergency room. The pain associated with endometriosis can be so bad that women have to be rushed to the hospital sometimes. It's a stabbing, spasmodic pain that is constantly shooting from inside your lower abdomen. Unlike period cramps, endometriosis pain is not relieved by painkillers. People often downplay women's suffering thinking they are just making a big deal out simple cramps. Tight clothes are not your thing When you have endometriosis, the lower abdomen looks swollen and distended. The condition is known as the endo belly, which goes hand in hand with the condition. Sadly, it's one of the most overlooked symptoms of the condition and is often misdiagnosed as a minor gastric problem. This bloated appearance can be quite unsightly when you wear tight dresses. It's not uncommon for women with endo to completely forgo fitting clothes. Aches and pains are a regular thing According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of the associated conditions of endometriosis is fibromyalgia, a condition that causes chronic, inflammatory pain. Women with the condition often report feeling pain around the neck, shoulders, hips and joints. Associated problems of fibromyalgia include brain fog, sleep problems, painful periods, etc. Tired and fatigued all the time Women with endometriosis find themselves drained all the time. You start wondering whether you are really tired or just plain lazy. The truth is being on the low energy mode is not an unfortunate coincidence when you have endo. Chronic fatigue syndrome is another one of those conditions commonly seen in women with endometriosis. No two menstrual cycles feel the same Some cycles may go smoothly, others may drag you to hell and back. Some may be pain-free and others may be fraught with nerve-twisting. With endometriosis, there's no way to predict the course of the pain. You may have to come to term with your infertility Although endometriosis does not equal infertility and most women do eventually get pregnant, endo sufferers find it more difficult to conceive than the others. According to endometriosis.org, 60-70 percent of women are believed to be fertile. But for some, conception is an uphill battle they are doomed to face. Your relationships suffer One of the casualties of endometriosis is your conjugal relationships. Women suffering from endometriosis often find sex painful. This could cause intimacy issues between couples. Supportive spouses understand their partners' genuine disinterest in sex, but more often than not, endometriosis can cause a strain even between loving couples. You feel blue too often Mental health issues are not uncommon among women with endometriosis. There is a positive correlation between the two. Research says that sufferers have a higher risk of developing anxiety, depression and other psychological ailments. The pain and the other physical discomforts women have to face only adds to the mental distress. There's a looming fear of hysterectomy Many doctors suggest hysterectomy as a treatment option for severe endometriosis. There's no cure for this condition. Hormonal treatments where gynecs put patients through synthetic hormonal drugs are just a way of managing the disease; it only helps to minimise the symptoms. When the pain starts getting more unmanageable, gynaecologists often suggest surgically removing the uterus. However, that doesn't necessarily cure the condition. Despite these problems, women living with this debilitating condition are expected to soldier on with their lives and not complain. Even if they did, their symptoms are made light of, even by healthcare providers. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2018 09:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mar 27, 2018, 2:14pm ET Nvidia suspends autonomous car tests following Uber death The chip-maker has denied that Uber was using its Drive autonomous driving platform. Nvidia has halted its autonomous vehicle test program in the wake of the fatal Uber accident. "We are temporarily suspending the testing of our self-driving cars on public roads to learn from the Uber incident," the company said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. "Our global fleet of manually driven data collection vehicles continue to operate." Previous reports have suggested Uber was using Nvidia's Drive autonomous computing platform in its XC90 fleet. Nvidia has denied that Uber was employing Drive, however. The computing program is designed to be flexible, allowing many automakers and other parties to run their own autonomous driving software. A Portlaoise man convicted of numerous offences, including the theft of items such as clothes and diesel oil on various dates, as well as public order and road traffic offences, has been jailed for six months. At last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Darren Coss (24), Cois na hAbhainn, Portlaoise, was charged with three counts of handling stolen property, six thefts, four public order offences, and drug possession. Garda O'Connor said that when he charged the accused with five of these offences, the accused made no reply. Garda OConnor gave evidence that on February 20 this year, at 5.30pm, there was a report of a group of males drinking at Cois na hAbhainn and when the gardai arrived they found Coss and a number of males in a highly intoxicated state in the street. They were abusive to the gardai and to members of the public. On the same date, the accused entered the Carry Out Off Licence on the Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise and attempted to conceal a bottle of Captain Morgan, but was prevented from doing so and left the store. He returned later and this time stole the bottle. The accused also stole engine oil valued at 9.99 from the Campus Oil Filling Station, and on November 16, 2017, he stole detergent from the same store, valued at 6.99. Garda Detective Michael ODonovan next gave evidence, that during a search of the accuseds home a cannabis grinder was seized. The accused made full admissions to gardai in relation to this. The accused also committed two thefts at Dunnes Stores, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, stealing a razor set valued at 30 on one occasion, and a blue fleece jacket worth 30 on another date. He was also charged with threatening or abusive behaviour at the store, on November 16, 2017. The accused was stopped driving at Lakeglen, Portlaoise, on November 29, where it was discovered that the tax disc was for another vehicle. The accused became highly threatening and abusive towards the garda, waving his arms in the air and refusing to remove himself from the scene. He also said he would hit the garda, said Det ODonovan. And Sgt JJ Kirby gave evidence, that on January 24 this year, at Cardtown, Mountrath, the accused was found with a bucket of stolen diesel, to a value of 20. The bucket had been stolen from a nearby farm and the accused was also found with a stolen key to a low loader. The accused had a number of previous convictions, including four thefts and 25 public order offences. Defence, Mr Barry Fitzgerald said the stolen items were of a small value and the accused had been fully cooperative with gardai. Mr Fitzgerald said that the accused, a father of four, had come from a difficult background, which hadnt been explored before. Remarked Judge Catherine Staines: It has been well explored in probation reports over the years. Mr Fitzgerald went on to say that the accused, who has 13 siblings, left home at the age of 13 and had been in and out of the courts system. Considering the underlying issues that needed to be addressed, there needed to be more excessive focus applied on helping the accused, said defence. Mr Fitzgerald said that the accused had been released from prison in February, 2017, and experienced issues with his social welfare, so some of the theft offences had been committed out of desperation. Mr Fitzgerald concluded by saying that there were certain issues beneath the accuseds bravado. Judge Staines said she had every sympathy for the accuseds background, but he needed to stop drinking alcohol. A parent abusing alcohol is the worst possible thing for a child, said the judge, imposing a six-month sentence. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. Irish law has been changed to allow alcohol sales on Good Friday, but one Laois pub is sticking to tradition and staying shut this Friday March 30. The Mountmellick pub has been showered with praise from customers for its decision. John Edward Moloney is the fourth generation proprietor of the family business Moloney's Gaelic Bar on Patrick Street, taking over from his father, retired TD and Junior Minister John Moloney. It is a lively spot at the weekend but John Edward is still choosing to stay shut this Friday. He announced his decision on his facebook page on Monday. "Closed Good Friday. We will be closed on Good Friday even though new legislation was passed by our government earlier this year to allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday. "Its the Publicans choice now to open and we have chosen not to open," John Edward said. The decision has been met with praise from his customers. "Fair play John it's only two days a year well deserved day off," says Diarmaid Grehan. "Well done John Edward Moloney be in Saturday to let it rip," says Pad Conroy. "Good decision John. Hope more will follow your example. Have to commend you," says Leslie Furlong. SEE ALSO - Supermac's boss lodges plans for Obama styled motorway services plaza in Laois. Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman were partying in Laois last weekend. The Portlaoise Action to Homeless charity has appealed to the public to donate Easter eggs for their trip to Dublin this weekend. The charity organise a group of volunteers to travel to Dublin city centre every Saturday evening to help people who are sleeping rough by giving them food, essential toiletry items and sharing a friendly conversation. The Portlaoise based group has appealed to the public this week to add an extra Easter egg to their trolley when out shopping and donate it at one of their drop off points so they can share the kindness with people who are homeless and sleeping rough. The group currently has no chocolate or Easter eggs to share with the people they meet on their trip to Dublin. PATH put out the appeal on the Facebook Page. "As Easter is approaching fast and a lot of you have gave up chocolate for lent, bear in mind that chocolate gives our homeless friends a sugar rush while sleeping on the streets to keep them going. "We would be delighted to accept any kind of Easter egg or chocolate bars as we currently have none left for next weeks trip to Dublin. "So if you want to donate chocolate eggs or chocolate bars we would be delighted to give them DIRECTLY to our homeless friends. "Our drop off points are Brownes Animal Feeds and Portlaoise Parish Centre or to any of our committee. Even after Easter if there are eggs or chocolate left over we will still take them as they will still be in date. Thank you in advance." Laois man to share incredible lung transplant story at Dublin launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week. Teenager undergoing surgeries after daytime assault in Portlaoise. Tributes pour in following sad passing of young Portarlington girl. People in Portarlington are experiencing water outages due to work carried out by Irish Water. There are local reports of water outages in the town, specifically in Whitefields and Canal Court. Crann Nua, Railway Mews and French Church Street are also reported to have little or no running water with pressure low in other areas of the town too. These outages are planned and are part of maintenance work by Irish Water to replace an old bulk meter at the exit of Corrig Reservoir which supplies water to Portarlington and surrounding areas. A spokesperson for Irish Water told the Leinster Express that pipe adjustment work is also being carried out. "We need to replace the bulk meter to ensure we have accurate details on the volume of water supplied to the area. "The work also involves adjustments to the pipe network in the town to enable the bulk meter to be installed and connected correctly. "Any outages experienced will be intermittent and will be for one to two hours over the duration of the works from 26 to 30 March," the spokesperson said. SEE ALSO - Tributes pour in following sad passing of young Portarlington girl. Portarlington man to share incredible lung transplant story at Dublin launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week. Laois charity appeals for Easter egg donations for homeless in Dublin. A man has been found guilty of stealing beer kegs from McCormacks pub on Main Street, Naas, on March 19, 2015. Damian Millerick (45), 60 Broadfield Estate, Artane, Dublin 5, did not appear for the hearing of his case at Kilcock District Court, sitting in Naas, on March 20. A bench warrant has been issued for his arrest. Earlier in the morning, Judge Desmond Zaidan, was told that Mr Millerick was due in court and the matter was let rest until the afternoon to facilitate him. The court heard evidence from a number of witness as well as CCTV footage. Gardai were alerted after a white van was seen going into the yard at the pub. The CCTV evidence was examined and following a number of items of evidence, the court accepted that the car involved, registered to Mr Millerick, was linked to other activity described as suspicious, later that month on March 31. Another witness, who worked with Diageo, gave evidence saying they got a call to say that a truck making deliveries was being followed in the west Kildare area. The truck was followed in Robertstown, Coill Dubh and the on the R403 linking Prosperous to Allenwood. The van was identified as one registered to the defendant. The witness told of how attention was drawn to the white van at Allenwood and how it then ended in Kilmeague at the Anglers Rest. The witness told Stephen Montgomery BL, who was legally acting for Mr Millerick, that he did not recognise the driver of the van. Garda Fiona Butler said in evidence that she got a call around 9.35 am about a car acting suspiciously in the Kilmeague area. She went to investigate and spoke to the driver, who was accompanied by a passenger, who gave his name as the defendant. The car was seized by the Gardai. Garda Wayne Kelly said that on March 19, he was informed that eight beer kegs valued at around 1,470 were taken. He said that on March 31 he became aware that Garda Fiona Butler had seized a van. He examined it and concluded it was the same vehicle involved in the theft of kegs from McCormacks. He interviewed Mr Millerick on March 21 and the defendant made no admission of guilt. CCTV evidence was examined during the hearing. The use of the Defence Forces from the Curragh was limited to certain areas of county Kildare during Storm Emma and some areas in north east Kildare did not get aid from them, Kildare County Councils monthly meeting was told on March 26. In a discussion on a report from highly praised Director of Services, Niall Morrissey, described as the Minister for Snow at the meeting, it emerged that Defence Forces members were confined by their own rules from covering certain areas. The Leixlip and Celbridge areas were due to be served from an army base in Dublin. In the course of a detailed report, in which he said that many people had performed heroically during the storm, Mr Morrissey said the Defence Forces supplied two snow ploughs, four four-wheel drive vehicles and 60 army personnel. Their superiors communicated on a regular basis with the Director of Services and the municipal district engineers. He continued: The Defence Forces concentrated their efforts on the Curragh, Newbridge, Naas, Kill, Sallins, Clane and Maynooth and focussed on work such as clearing footpaths, schools, elderly accommodation, hospitals, etc. It is important to note that the Defence Forces try to stay within a reasonable distance of their base and are only available for a limited number of hours each day. In addition the battalion based in the Curragh are only allowed to be deployed in an area which is bounded in a northerly direction by Clane. The Celbridge Leixlip MD is covered by a Dublin based battalion who were only made available to KCC towards the end of the response period. At that stage Celbridge and Leixlip were in a better condition than Maynooth and hence we requested their assistance in Maynooth. The Civil Defence and the Coast Guard helicopter service was engaged to assist an emergency medical case and also a special Dublin Civil Defence vehicle was used to access an emergency case in the Kilteel area. Mr Morrissey said there were in excess of 100 machines active throughout the clean up period. Dublin City Council also offered KCC machinery when they had no further use for the machinery in their own area. Mr Morrissey said the Council also ruled out declaring a Major Emergency. During the period of the response consideration was given to declaring a Major Emergency however it was agreed by the Crisis Management Team that all possible resources were already at our disposal i.e. An Garda Siochana, HSE and the Defence Forces and therefore the declaration of a Major Emergency would only lead to unnecessary panic among the general public, and not result in any excess equipment or personnel being made available to KCC. A Polish couple appeared at Naas District Court last Thursday, March 22, both charged with wasting Garda time. Kamil Malek, 32, and Monika Malek, 37, with an address listed as 22 Lakeshore Holiday Village, Blessington, pleaded guilty to the offence. The couple were in a traffic accident last February 23, 2017, at Haylands, Blessington, and when approached by Gardai, claimed that Monika was the driver, whereas in fact Kamil , who was not insured to drive the car, was in fact the driver of the vehicle. His driving license had also expired. The deception was quickly discovered by investigating Garda Maxwell using CCTV and the couple were fully cooperative from that moment, the court heard. A wall had been damaged in the incident and the couple have paid for the repair. While Monika Malek only had a previous conviction for speeding, Kamil served time in his native Poland for a charge of drink driving associated with a traffic accident in 2005. The pair have two children and were apologetic for their actions. Representing them, barrister Sarah Connolly told Judge Desmond Zaidan that the couple are decent people and they are both employed. She added that Mr Maleks previous conviction was of some antiquity when he was a young man. The pair were fined 750 each. Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy has called for a change in state forestry policy to give the people in counties such as Leitrim a real stake, to protect the countys unique and beautiful environment and provide more local jobs. The Midlands North West MEP was speaking at a packed public meeting in the Kilbracken Arms Hotel in Carrigallen, which was also addressed by Sligo/Leitrim TD Martin Kenny, Gerry Loftus of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, Jim McCaffrey of the Save Leitrim group. Members of Co. Leitrim IFA were also in attendance and contributed to the discussion. The meeting was received a presentation from Julia Christian, who had travelled from Brussels for the meeting, representing FERN - a European organisation which seeks to promotes sustainable forestry and which works with communities who live in areas of forestry. She commended local groups for their campaign and vowed to offer assistance and share successful ideas from other countries to further Leitrim's concerns. The meeting was chaired by Leitrim County Councillor Caroline Mulvey. Matt Carthy said: In Leitrim, the wider problems facing rural Ireland have been given added dimension by Government forestry policy, which is having a damaging social and economic impact. There is a clear intention of the Government to use Leitrim as a carbon sink to outset environmentally damaging sectors, operating in other parts of the country. Carthy said there are huge concerns about the monoculture approach of sowing sitka spruce and that the current low-cost loan scheme, co-funded by the EIB and the ISIF for the purchase of land by foreign investors in parts of Ireland is not available to farmers and is resulting in land falling out of the hands of local communities. He said:The reality is that Leitrim farmers are being are being unfairly pressurised by investors to sell their land. There is no equal playing field for farmers and capital investors, who are entitled to the same amounts of forestry premiums from exchequer funding. "If things continue this way the land grab will have real consequences not only for local dwellers, but for the entire western economy. Selling off land without any hope for a return of profits or job creation for the local economy is a direct betrayal of these communities. He commended Martin Kenny TD who has raised concerns in the Dail about the impact of forestry in Leitrim. The Government has failed to ensure that the economic benefits from the forestry sector are retained in areas like Leitrim. There has been no IDA investment in Leitrim in the past year and no attempts to increase jobs in off-forestry or forestry dependent employment. Martin Kenny and myself are seeking that the Government introduce a maximum 50km radius limit for establishment grant and forestry premium payments. This would mean that the recipients main residential residence must be within 50km of the forestry site. For companies, this should apply to their main headquarters to ensure that the economic benefits are retained in the local area. We are also calling for different premium levels for farmers and non-farmers and we want to see an overhaul of Government policy to encourage the establishment of local plant nurseries for job creation and to avoid having to import saplings and young trees. Sinn Fein also wants to see proper policing of the 30% broadleaf requirement which is being currently being circumvented. Carthy called for a participative forestry model that includes farmers and communities in the process of growing, thinning and felling, including site visits. Concluding he said: I believe we need a positive vision for rural Ireland. A vision to make it a sustainable place to live and work. A place where the quality of life is matched by the quality of public services. This includes a policy commitment to keep rural post offices, libraries and Garda stations open and to maintain services that connect people with their local towns. It also means devising a sustainable forestry policy which gives a real stake to local communities, protects Leitrims unique and beautiful environment and provides jobs for local workers. "I am encouraged by the commitment of local groups, who have come forward with real concrete proposals to save their county from foreign speculative investors. And I will be using my position as an MEP to put as much pressure as possible on the Government and the EIB to stop this sell-off. A survey of childcare providers undertaken by Seas Suas, the representative organisation for independent childcare and early education providers, has revealed that the number of places for babies and toddlers (under 2s) in childcare and creche facilities is falling, despite increasing demand. A shortage of staff, changes to regulatory requirements, and, the lack of State supports to providers for under 2s are leading many creches to reduce their provision for this age group. The survey looked at several key areas for providers including existing levels of provision, the expansion or reduction plans of providers, staff recruitment and retention issues and the impact of administration of State schemes on providers. Reduction of places for under 2s There are a number of reasons why childcare places for children under 2 are reducing, including: While all children over 3 years of age are supported by the State through the ECCE scheme, babies and toddlers are not - even though this age group, naturally, requires the greatest level of care and attention; The existing staffing shortage within the sector is accelerating the problem. Younger children require higher staff ratios, with babies requiring staffing ratios of 1 adult for every three babies. With the availability of staff now a huge problem for the sector, providers are struggling to keep baby rooms open; A variation in the sleep and rest requirements for this age group which requires facilities to convert care rooms to cot rooms has meant that providers are facing capacity issues in the care of this age group. This is leading many providers to focus on providing places for older children. Additionally, the expansion of the ECCE scheme to a second year, while welcome for children and their families, has also added to the capacity pressures faced by providers. Staffing shortages Staff shortages also emerged from the survey as a growing problem for the sector. Key findings on staff shortages included: 44% of providers currently have vacancies at their facilities, with 30% responding that it can take up to 4 months to fill each vacancy; Two out of three providers (65%) cited that the staff shortage issue was now impacting on their services; Specifically, 68% of providers said the staff shortage issue had caused them to either decrease or decide not to expand their service; Almost 60% (58%) of providers admitted that they feared that the staff shortage could place them at risk of not meeting their regulatory requirements on staff ratios; On solutions to address the staff shortage a variety of options were considered, with almost 70% (69%) supporting the introduction of a specific State subsidy to pay higher wages to staff to recruit and retain them in the sector, while 16% support an apprenticeship scheme to allow for on-the-job training as a path to full qualification, with 15% supporting broader qualification requirements including recognising prior education and experience. Burden of administering State Scheme The survey also showed that the administration of the Governments schemessuch as the ECCE or Affordable Childcare Schemewhich is carried out by childcare providers is creating a heavy burden, with providers spending 10-20 hours per month on unpaid administration work. Commenting on the survey results, Chairperson of Seas Suas, Regina Bushell, said: The survey confirms a lot of what we have been hearing from providers on the ground. Many providers are finding it increasingly challenging to cater for babies and toddlers - those under 2 years of age, as part of their service offering. The absence of sufficient State supports to providers to care for this age category, is making it unsustainable for providers to continue to offer this service in a scenario where costs staff, overheads, rents - have all increased. Ultimately, any reduction in services impacts on families, employers and our wider economy because available, affordable childcare services is crucial for parents to get to work. It will also impact on services for vulnerable children and parents returning to education. Ireland already has a below average rate of female participation in the labour market in Ireland, with only 40% of Irish women going back to work after having children. The current underinvestment in childcare services overall, risks making this situation worse. If mothers returning to work after maternity leave struggle to find childcare places for their babies, this creates a further barrier for them. It can also force parents to rely on unqualified, unregulated childcare services." Staffing shortages is now also a huge problem for our sector. Without qualified staff, providers will be forced to reduce their capacity, at a time when expansion is required. Its clear that a long-term Strategy for our sector is now long overdue. This Strategy must map how the sector must develop for the coming decades, how this will be funded and above all places our children at its heart, added Ms Bushell. TRIBUTES have been paid to well-known priest, Fr Gerry ONeill, who died early this morning. Originally from Quins Cottages, Rosbrien, Fr ONeill a former parish priest of Our Lady Help of Christians Milford was chaplain to the Defence Forces 1st Brigade for more than a decade. He also previously served as chaplain to both Arbour Hill and Mountjoy prisons in Dublin. Aged 74, its understood he had been ill for some time but had remained active at Collins Barracks in Cork until recently. He was very much involved in life in the barracks and with the local parish. He was great craic and he loved rugby and his hurling, said Cmdt Michael Parsons, who was married by Fr ONeill. The Defence Forces has confirmed the late chaplain will receive full military honours, including a 21-gun salute, at his funeral on Thursday morning. Following the Funeral Mass, Fr ONeills remains will be transported by gun carriage from Our Lady Help of Christians Church to Kilkeedy Cemetery, Ballybrown. Members of the Defence Forces will line the route and The Last Post will be played at the graveside. Fr ONeill, who was parish priest at Our Lady Help of Christians between1982 and 1989, is survived by his sister Jella; brothers Sean, Kieran and Neillus. THE DEPARTMENT of Health has indicated that Minister for Health Simon Harris has no plans yet to visit the countrys worst overcrowded hospital, as the trolley crisis at University Hospital Limerick continues to soar. According to Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation figures, UHL had the highest level of overcrowding last week, with a total of 298 patients on trolleys from Monday to Friday. This Monday, UHL topped the overcrowding charts with 62 patients, and again was the worst in the country with 59 patients this Tuesday, exceeding the rate this time last week. In a recent interview, Deputy Maurice Quinlivan said he had invited the Minister to visit the ED for a third time since October 2016. The Leader asked the Department of Health if the Minister was accepting an invite to UHL and if he was intending to visit the department in the near future, following the serious levels of overcrowding. A spokesperson told the Leader that no official invite had been extended to the Minister. The Leader contacted the Department again this Monday to clarify if the Minister was intending to visit the hospital, regardless of the invite. The Department has yet to reply to this query. GARDAI have made a televised appeal for information about the murder of a young Limerick man more than a decade ago. The renewed appeal in relation to the death of 19-year-old Jeffrey Hannan was broadcast during Mondays Crimecall programme on RTE One television. The father-of-two died after he was attacked near his home in OMalley Park, Southill during the early hours of November 22, 2007. He died from severe injuries after he was struck a number of times during a row with a group of young men having attended a bonfire near his home the previous night. On the morning of November 22, 2007, Jeffrey Hannan was found in a green area in OMalley Park, Southill. While progress has been made in this investigation, we are still appealing for assistance, said Detective Garda Paul Crowley of Roxboro Road garda station. Through the passage of time we are now coming up to the 11th anniversary what I am appealing for is people with information people in the Southill community who know what happened to Jeffrey Hannan, who know who murdered him I am appealing to them to come forward and to speak with us now, he added. While more than 20 people have been arrested and questioned by gardai about the murder, nobody has ever been charged in connection with the killing. Jeffreys father, Alan Hannan, has consistently maintained that he knows the identity of his sons killer and that he believes there are people in the locality who have information about what happened but who have not come forward to gardai. Speaking on Crimecall, Detective Garda Crowley said Jeffrey Hannan was a young man whose family deserve justice. At the time of his death he was 19 years of age living with his family in the Southill area of Limerick His dad Alan, his mother Geraldine, his brother, his sister and also he is survived by his two daughters, he said. Gardai at Roxboro Road are investigating the murder and anyone with information is asked to contact them in confidence at (061) 214340. More commemoratives for the centennial of Britains Royal Air Force May 3, 2021, 6 PM Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man honor the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force on stamps. By Densie McCarty Like Great Britains Royal Mail, the postal administrations of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force on stamps issued this year. The Isle of Man Post was the first of the three issuing a set of eight stamps and a prestige booklet (with text, illustrations and stamps) on Jan. 15. Not only do the stamp designs depict aircraft used by the RAF over the past 100 years, they are inscribed with additional information, including the GPS coordinates of a RAF airfield. Also when viewed under ultraviolet light, the sonnet High Flight by John Gillespie Magee appears in Morse code. On March 31, Jersey Post is issuing six stamps, a souvenir sheet and a prestige booklet for the RAFs centennial. Chris Elligott of Jersey Post said: The past 100 years have seen the RAF at the forefront of technical development and operational superiority. This issue illustrated by renowned aviation artist Adam Tooby features some of the landmark aircraft that populate the RAFs history. Guernsey Posts issue of April 3 honors both the RAF and the reformation of No. 201 Squadron. Known as Guernseys Own, this squadron was formed in 1914 as part of the Royal Naval Service, became part of the RAF in 1918, and was disbanded in 2011. It is expected to fly again in 2021. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The seven stamps, six in separate sheets of 10 and one in a souvenir sheet, picture the squadron in action in the two world wars, as well as peacetime. Here are the bureaus websites: Isle of Man, Jersey and Guersey. The ultimate goal of vaginal birth and C-section is to keep both mom and baby healthy and safe during delivery. Babies can enter this world in one of two ways: a vaginal birth or surgical delivery by cesarean section. The ultimate goal of both methods is to ensure that the baby and mother are healthy. In some cases, a C-section may be expected and thus scheduled in advance for example, in the case of twins or other multiples; a medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure; an infection that could be passed along to the baby during birth, such as HIV or genital herpes; or problems with the placenta. A C-section may also be necessary if the baby is very large and the mother has a small pelvis, or if the baby is not in a heads-down position and efforts to turn the baby into this position before birth have been unsuccessful. Related: Signs of labor: 6 clues baby is coming soon Sometimes an obstetrician decides to perform an emergency C-section because the health of the mother, the baby, or both is in jeopardy. This may occur because of a problem during pregnancy or after a woman has gone into labor, such as if labor is happening too slowly or if the baby is not getting enough oxygen. Some C-sections are considered elective, meaning they are requested before labor. Someone may choose to have a C-section to plan when to deliver or if they previously had a complicated vaginal delivery. But if someone is eligible for a vaginal delivery, there are not a lot of advantages to having a C-section, said Dr. Allison Bryant, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. No matter how a woman gives birth vaginally or via C-section the most important thing is that she stays well informed of her birthing options. (Image credit: Getty Images) Although C-sections are generally considered safe and, in some situations, lifesaving, they do carry risks. The procedure is a major surgery and involves opening up the abdomen and removing the baby from the uterus. Because first-time C-sections often lead to C-sections in future pregnancies, a vaginal birth is generally the preferred method of delivery for first pregnancies. About 2 in 3 babies in the United States are born via vaginal delivery, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Related: Are you pregnant? 12 early signs of pregnancy Vaginal birth in people who have previously had a C-section, whether elective or because of an emergency, may be contraindicated depending on the location of their C-section incision and risk of uterine rupture in which the uterus bursts open along the old cut, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This type of birth is known as Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). However, not all hospitals are not equipped to deal with VBAC complications and some doctors refuse to oversee them, said Dr. Patricia Santiago-Munoz, a high-risk pregnancy specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Regardless of how they give birth, "women should be as informed as possible about their childbirth options so they can have a voice in the process, advocate for what they want and make the most informed choice," Bryant said. Here is more information about the pros and cons of the two birthing methods. Vaginal delivery: Pros Vaginal births typically require shorter hospital stays and recovery times compared with C-sections. Although state laws vary, the typical length of a hospital stay following a vaginal delivery is 24 to 48 hours, although it could be shorter than the allowable time period permitted in the state, Bryant told Live Science. Vaginal births typically avoid the risks associated with major surgery, such as severe bleeding, scarring, infections, reactions to anesthesia and longer-lasting pain. And because major surgery is not involved, a mother may be able to begin breastfeeding sooner. A baby who is delivered vaginally will be able to have more early contact with their mother, who can initiate breastfeeding sooner than she could if she had a C-section, Bryant said. During a vaginal delivery, muscles involved in the process are more likely to squeeze out the fluid in a newborn's lungs, Bryant said, which is beneficial because it makes babies less likely to suffer breathing problems at birth. Vaginal delivery is often a long, physically demanding process, but there are many advantages to a vaginal birth for mom and baby. (Image credit: Getty Images) Vaginal delivery: Cons Going through labor and a vaginal delivery is a long process that can be physically grueling. On average, first-time mothers spend between four and eight hours in active labor, which is when their cervix is fully dilated and their body wants them to push, according to maternal- and baby-health organization March of Dimes. During a vaginal delivery, there is a risk that the skin and tissues around the vagina could stretch and tear while the fetus moves through the birth canal. Severe stretching and tearing may require stitches. This stretching and tearing also could cause weakness or injury to pelvic muscles that control urine and bowel functions. A 2018 review in the journal PLOS Medicine found that women who delivered vaginally were more likely to experience urinary incontinence (and leak urine when they cough, sneeze or laugh) and to have pelvic organ prolapse, which is when one or more organs slip into the pelvis, compared with women who delivered via C-section. A vaginal delivery may also cause lingering pain in the perineum, the area between the vagina and anus. If a woman has had a long labor or if the baby is large, the baby may get injured during the vaginal birth process itself, resulting in a bruised scalp or a fractured collarbone, according to Stanford Children's Health. C-section: Pros A woman may choose to have a C-section if she has overwhelming anxiety about a vaginal birth, which may affect her experience of delivery. Women who have C-sections are less likely to suffer from urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse compared with women who deliver vaginally. A surgical birth can be scheduled in advance, making it more convenient and predictable than a vaginal birth and labor. If the baby or mother is in danger, a C-section can be lifesaving. In some circumstances, C-section births are necessary for the safety and health of mom and baby. (Image credit: Getty Images) C-section: Cons C-sections typically require longer hospital stays two to four days, on average, compared with one to two days for vaginal deliveries. The recovery period is also longer and there may be more pain and discomfort in the abdomen, as the skin and nerves surrounding the surgical scar need time to heal, often at least two months. A C-section increases the risk for post-delivery ailments such as pain or infection at the incision site and longer-lasting soreness, according to the U.K.'s National Health Service. A C-section involves an increased risk of blood loss, Bryant said, as the bowel or bladder can be injured during the operation or a blood clot may form. Women who had a C-section are less likely to begin early breastfeeding compared with women who had a vaginal birth, according to a 2012 review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Women are three times more likely to die during a cesarean delivery than during a vaginal birth, due mostly to blood clots, infections and complications from anesthesia, according to a 2006 study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. Moreover, a 2017 review based in Brazil found that women were more likely to die during a C-section or develop an infection than during a vaginal delivery, although they were less likely to bleed out. Once a woman has had a C-section, she is more likely to have a C-section for future deliveries, Bryant said. There may also be a greater risk of future pregnancy complications, such as placental abnormalities and uterine rupture, which is when the uterus tears along the scar line from a previous C-section. The risk for placental problems continues to increase with every C-section a woman undergoes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Babies born by C-section may be more likely to have breathing problems at birth and even during childhood, such as asthma, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. A 2018 review published in the journal PLOS Medicine found that there was a higher risk of stillbirth when women had C-sections. The authors acknowledge, however, there may have been confounding factors which were not taken into account in their study, such as whether these c-sections were emergencies and when in the labour process they occurred. During a C-section, there is a small risk that a baby can get nicked by the scalpel during the surgery and get injured, Bryant said. For reasons that remain unclear, some studies, including a 2020 investigation of more than 33,000 women, have also suggested a link between babies delivered by C-section and a greater risk of becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes as children and as adults. Editor's Note: If you'd like more information on this topic, we recommend the following book: Additional resources This is what happens during a C-section, as described by the Mayo Clinic . . Here is how a woman's vagina changes after a vaginal birth, described by NHS . . It is possible to have a vaginal birth after having a C-section (known as a VBAC). Here is some information about VBACs from National Childbirth Trust 1st 1,000 Days , a U.K.-based charity. This article was updated on May 20, 2021 by Live Science contributor Sarah Wild. Whales are giant beasts, but why aren't even larger, supersize whales swimming around? The answer has to do with food, according to a new study that found that it would be basically impossible for an ocean-bound creature to eat enough food to support a body bigger than a whale. "At a certain point, you just can't eat enough food, no matter how much there is, to sustain the largest sizes," study lead research Will Gearty, a doctoral student in geological sciences at Stanford University, told Live Science. [Whale Album: Giants of the Deep] Gearty and his colleagues were looking at how body size changed as land mammals evolved into water creatures. This didn't just happen to whales and dolphins, which are related to hippos and other hoofed animals, but also to seals and sea lions, which are relatives of dogs, and to manatees, which share ancestry with elephants, the researchers said. So why are marine mammals, in general, larger than their terrestrial relatives? Previously, many scientists suspected that the water relieved marine animals from some of the pressures of gravity, "which makes it hard to walk when you are large," Gearty said. Moreover, a large body size "restricts how far you can roam and how much food you can eat," he said. "Once you're in the water, the idea goes, you should be able to get as big as you want, with no constraints." But contrary to these ideas, the researchers found that mammal growth is actually more constricted in water than on land. In fact, land mammals have a larger range of sizes than mammals in the ocean, the researchers found. Once land mammals enter the water, they often evolve into much larger beasts, the researchers found. This likely happens because the surrounding water is colder than the mammals' body temperature. "When you're very small, you lose heat back into the water so fast, there's no way to eat enough food to keep up," study co-researcher Jonathan Payne, a professor of geological sciences at Stanford University, said in a statement. Study lead researcher Will Gearty, a doctor student of geological sciences at Stanford University, holds a dolphin skull. Gearty looked at dead and living animals to figure out how transitions from land to water affect body size. (Image credit: Steve Castillo) To stay warm and also have enough energy to hunt and reproduce, marine mammals needed to grow to large sizes "so that they can produce more energy in their bodies," Gearty said. That's because small animals have more surface area than volume, and heat is lost through surface area. But when an animal grows larger, meaning it has more volume, it's volume-to-surface area ratio is smaller, so it will stay toastier. In other words, bigger animals are typically hotter than smaller animals. But these mammals can't completely supersize themselves because as they get larger, their metabolism increases, and it's challenging to eat the food needed to sustain such a giant body, although baleen whales are the exception. "That is, unless you can figure out a different way to eat, like baleen whales, where you swallow entire schools of krill at once," Gearty said. "This hyper-efficient feeding seems to allow you to exceed this maximum constraint and achieve even larger sizes outside of our model." How they did it The researchers made the finding by looking at the body masses of more than 3,800 living and nearly 3,000 fossil mammal species. Their analyses showed that after land animals adapt to the water, they undergo vast growth spurts, usually growing until they reach about 1,000 lbs. (500 kilograms). [In Photos: Tracking Humpback Whales] However, getting big is advantageous only to a point because of the aforementioned food barrier. In addition, not all animals maintain a 1,000-lb. mass, which is good because then they might all occupy the same niche, Gearty said. "Instead, they spread out across the range of possible sizes, with sperm whales evolving to sizes where they need to eat a lot, but don't need to worry about many predators, and small seals evolving to the smallest sizes where they don't need to eat as much, but are potentially more vulnerable to predators," Gearty said. Curiously, otters are an exception to the model, as they didn't get huge once they evolved to have a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Perhaps otters stayed small because they still partly live on land, Gearty said. The study was published online today (March 26) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Original article on Live Science. Scientists discovered the new organ, which consists of fluid-filled spaces, in the body's connective tissue, including in the skin's dermis, which is shown above as the light pink layer at the bottom of this image. With all that's known about human anatomy, you wouldn't expect doctors to discover a new body part in this day and age. But now, researchers say they've done just that: They've found a network of fluid-filled spaces in tissue that hadn't been seen before. These fluid-filled spaces were discovered in connective tissues all over the body, including below the skin's surface; lining the digestive tract, lungs and urinary systems; and surrounding muscles, according to a new study detailing the findings, published today (March 27) in the journal Scientific Reports. Previously, researchers had thought these tissue layers were a dense "wall" of collagen a strong structural protein found in connective tissue. But the new finding reveals that, rather than a "wall," this tissue is more like an "open, fluid-filled highway," said co-senior study author Dr. Neil Theise, a professor of pathology at New York University Langone School of Medicine. The tissue contains interconnected, fluid-filled spaces that are supported by a lattice of thick collagen "bundles," Theise said. [11 Body Parts Grown in the Lab] The researchers said these fluid-filled spaces had been missed for decades because they don't show up on the standard microscopic slides that researchers use to peer into the cellular world. When scientists prepare tissue samples for these slides, they treat the samples with chemicals, cut them into thin slices and dye them to highlight key features. But this fixing process drains away fluid and causes the newfound fluid-filled spaces to collapse. An image of the interstitium beneath the top layer of skin. Researchers say the organ is a body-wide network of interconnected, fluid-filled spaces supported by a lattice of strong, flexible proteins. (Image credit: Illustration by Jill Gregory. Printed with permission from Mount Sinai Health System, licensed under CC-BY-ND.) Rather than using such slides, the researchers discovered these fluid-filled spaces by using a new imaging technique that allows them to examine living tissues on a microscopic level. The researchers are calling this network of fluid-filled spaces an organ the interstitium. However, this is an unofficial distinction; for a body part to officially become an organ, a consensus would need to develop around the idea as more researchers study it, Theise told Live Science. The presence of these fluid-filled spaces should also be confirmed by other groups, he added. Official designation aside, the findings may have implications for a variety of fields of medicine, including cancer research, Theise said. For example, the findings appear to explain why cancer tumors that invade this layer of tissue can spread to the lymph nodes. According to the researchers, this occurs because these fluid-filled spaces are a source of a fluid called lymph and drain into the lymphatic system. (Lymph is a fluid that contains infection-fighting white blood cells.) A new organ? The human body is about 60 percent water. About two-thirds of that water is found inside cells, but the other third is outside cells and is known as "interstitial" fluid. Although researchers already knew that there is fluid between individual cells, the idea of a larger, connected interstitium in which there are fluid-filled spaces within tissues had been described only vaguely in the literature, Theise said. The new study, he said, expands the concept of the interstitium by showing these structured, fluid-filled spaces within tissues, and is the first to define the interstitium as an organ in and of itself. The new work is based on the use of a relatively new technology called a "probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy" or pCLE. This tool combines an endoscope with a laser and sensors that analyze reflected fluorescent patterns and gives researchers a microscopic view of living tissues. Back in 2015, two of the study authors Dr. David Carr-Locke and Dr. Petros Benias, both of whom were at Mount Sinai-Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City at the time were using this technology when they saw something unusual while examining a patient's bile duct for cancer spread. They spotted a series of interconnected cavities in the tissue layer that didn't match any known anatomy, according to the report. When a pathologist made slides out of this tissue, the cavities disappeared a mystery that was later found to be a consequence of the slide-making process. In the new study, the researchers first used pCLE on cancer patients who were undergoing surgery to remove the pancreas and the bile duct. The imaging technique indeed showed the fluid-filled spaces in the connective tissue. When the tissue samples were removed from the body, they were quickly frozen, which allowed the fluid-filled spaces to stay open so the researchers could see them under a microscope. Later, the researchers saw these same fluid-filled spaces in other samples of connective tissue taken from other parts of the body, in people without cancer, Theise said. "The more tissues I saw, the more I realized it's everywhere," he said. The researchers think that the fluid-filled spaces may act as shock absorbers to protect tissues during daily functions, the researchers said. Theise noted that there may be quite a bit of information already known about this fluid-filled space; it's just that researchers "didn't know what they were looking at." Indeed, the researchers plan to conduct a review of the scientific literature "for all the things we know about this [body part] but didn't know we knew it," Theise said. New Questions The idea presented in the study appears to be "a completely new concept," said Dr. Michael Nathanson, chief of the digestive diseases section at Yale University School of Medicine, who was not involved with the study. "From the evidence they presented it's quite possible they're correct," Nathanson told Live Science. Previously, physicians had a somewhat nebulous understanding of the interstitial space, Nathanson said. They knew it was a space with fluid found outside the cells, but no one had ever entirely explained what this means. The new study "did a nice job" of trying to define it, he said. The findings are consistent with what Nathanson and colleagues observed in a study published in 2011. At that time, Nathanson and colleagues observed a network of dark fibers, but they weren't able to figure out exactly what it was. "I was pleased that they substantiated our impression that this network exists" and were able to define it, Nathanson said. The new finding "allows us ask all kinds of questions we didn't even know to ask beforehand," Nathanson said. For example, could this area become altered in disease, or play a role in driving disease, he said. Editor's note: This article was updated at 11:20 am E.T. to include comments from Dr. Michael Nathanson. Original article on Live Science. Burials from a cave in Morocco have yielded the oldest human DNA evidence yet from Africa, offering new insight into Stone Age migrations. The DNA samples come from one of the most ancient cemeteries in the world, the Grotte des Pigeons, near the village of Taforalt in northeast Morocco. Beginning around 15,000 years ago, a culture of hunter-gatherers buried their dead with animal horns and other adornments inside this cave. Though burials were found as recently as 2006, archaeologists have been excavating the cave since the 1940s. [Image Gallery: Our Closest Human Ancestor] The name 20th-century researchers gave to this culture the Iberomaurusiansreflects the theory that the people who lived in this corner of North Africa were closely connected to Europe, and perhaps migrated across the Mediterranean by boat or a land bridge from the Iberian Peninsula or Sicily. Iberomaurusian sites have been found across the Maghreb, the area between the Atlas Mountains that span Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, and the Mediterranean Sea. Some archaeologists had argued that small blades from sites like the Grotte des Pigeonsresembled the stone tools of the Gravettian culture, which was widespread across southern Europe during the Upper Paleolithic (which lasted from about 50,000 to 10,000 years ago). Today, North Africans have a large amount of European DNA. But the new DNA evidence tells a different story about the origins of the Iberomaurusians. During recent excavations led by the University of Oxford at the Grotte des Pigeons, archaeologists saved the inner-ear petrous bones, a good source for ancient DNA. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, in Jena, Germany, extracted ancient mitochondrial DNA, which is passed on only from mothers to their children, from seven individuals, as well as nuclear DNA, which is inherited from both parents, from five of the skeletons. "Due to challenging conditions for DNA preservation, relatively few ancient genomes have been recovered from Africa, and none of them so far predate the introduction of agriculture in North Africa," Marieke van de Loosdrecht, an archaeogeneticist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, said in a statement. Contrary to the theory that Europeans from Sicily or the Iberian Peninsula were buried at Grotte des Pigeons, the analysis revealed no genetic link to southern Europe. Instead, the results, which were reported March 15 in the journal Science, showed that about two-thirds of the Iberomaurusian DNA matched closely with that of ancient Natufians, a later culture that existed in the Middle East, which suggests the Grotte des Pigeons people and the Natufians shared common ancestors from North Africa or the Middle East. About one-third of the Iberomaurusian DNA resembled the DNA of sub-Saharan Africans, which was perhaps inherited from more ancient ancestors or was contributed by contemporary Stone Age migrants, according to an accompanying news article in Science. The findings offer new evidence of early contacts between North Africa and the Near East, and regions south of the Sahara Desert, thought to be a major barrier to migration. Ancient DNA studies have exploded in Europe over the past couple of decades, covering a record of human history stretching back 40,000 years. Many of the labs where scientists study ancient DNA are located in Europe, and researchers have access to a wealth of well-preserved remains. The study of ancient African genomes has been much sparser. The researchers of the new study wrote that African sites tend to have more challenging conditions for DNA preservation; warmer temperatures tend to accelerate DNA decay. It was only in 2015 that researchers published the first African ancient genome, from 4,500-year-old human remains found in Ethiopia. Last year, scientists reported findings on ancient DNA from as early as 8,100 years ago, from human remains from southern and East Africa. The researchers wrote that further DNA studies on additional Iberomaurusian sites will be"critical"to testing whether the evidence from the Grotte des Pigeons is representative of the Iberomaurusian gene pool. Original article on Live Science. The researchers have narrowed down their search area for the wreckage of the U.S. Hercules military craft within a spot on the seafloor of the English Channel. Divers are searching for the sunken wreckage of a U.S. Hercules military transport aircraft that crashed in 1969 off the coast of England after being commandeered by a rogue U.S. serviceman who was desperate to fly home. The Deeper Dorset dive group, which specializes in locating shipwrecks, hopes that by finding the wrecked aircraft it will be able to shed light on the events of May 23, 1969. On that date, Sgt. Paul Meyer, a U.S. Air Force (USAF) mechanic stationed at an air base in eastern England, hijacked the USAF C-130 Hercules and took off to fly it solo back to the United States. Military reports of the incident show that Meyer and the aircraft disappeared from radar over the English Channel a few hours after he took off and shortly after he sent a radio message that he was having flight issues, said Simon Brown, a researcher and diver with Deeper Dorset. [See Photos of Historic WWII-Era Shipwrecks in the Java Sea] Ships searching for the aircraft in the days that followed its disappearance found part of its landing gear, confirming that the Hercules had hit the water. However, no other wreckage, or Meyer's body, has ever been found, Brown told Live Science; Meyer presumably died in the crash. The dive group has narrowed down its search area for the wreck to about 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) of seafloor in the English Channel, about 30 miles (nearly 50 km) south of Portland Bill near Weymouth in southwest England, Brown said. Final flight Inquiries into the incident by the USAF and the British Parliamentrevealed that Meyer, who had served in Vietnam, had been desperate to see his wife in Virginia, but his superiors refused to give him leave. A line of C-130 Hercules aircraft prepare to depart Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in 2003. The craft that was lost in 1969 was also a C-130 Hercules. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Melissa Sheffield) Brown said that after a night of heavy drinking in a nearby town, Meyer was picked up by local police, who returned him to the U.S. authorities at the military air base at Mildenhall in Suffolk, northeast of London, where Meyer was stationed. But sometime before dawn that morning, Meyer impersonated an officer in a telephone call to ground crew at the air base, ordering them to refuel one of the Hercules transport aircraft and prepare it for flight, Brown said. Meyer took off solo in the giant aircraft around dawn, Brown said. "He did not get clearance to take off. He just went and did it." As a USAF chief mechanic, Meyer was familiar enough with taxiing aircraft to move them around the air base, and he may also have had a private pilot license for small, single-engine aircraft. But he had no experience flying large aircraft like the four-engine Hercules, Brown said. The Hercules was carrying enough fuel to fly 3,000 miles (4,800 km), which might have been enough to reach the United States if Meyer had been able to stay at a high altitude where there is less air resistance, Brown said. By the time Meyer reported problems in a radio message and disappeared from radar over the English Channel, he had flown across southern England for almost 2 hours, covering more than 200 miles (320 km). Search at sea The search by the dive group will focus on five sites on the seafloor where fishing boats have reported snagging their trawling gear or bringing up pieces of aluminum that might have come from a submerged aircraft wreck, Brown said. [Photos: WWII Battleship 'USS Juneau' Discovered] Because the search area is a long way from shore, Deeper Dorset was raising money via crowdfunding on Kickstarterto pay for the fuel of a boat to use in the search. That boat comes equipped with side-scan sonar and a remotely operated underwater vehicle(ROV) for use in investigating those sites, where the depth ranges from 180 to 245 feet (55 to 75 meters), Brown said. That area of seafloor is unexplored and probably littered with centuries of shipwrecks and aircraft wrecks from WWII, he said. "We are going to stumble across stuff that no one even knows is there," he said. "The ROV is useful because it gives us the ability to have a look at something and quickly discount it, without getting the dive team together." Brown estimated that it could take about a year to find the wreck and for divers to investigate it thoroughly, adding that this could coincide with the 50th anniversary of Meyer's ill-fated flight. "We will go when the weather dictates," Brown said. "It's a fickle place, the English Channel, so soon as we've got funding in place, we'll just be keeping an eye on the weather window." He said the search for Meyer's Hercules wreck has occupied members of the group for about 10 years, on and off. "We've reached a point where we're confident we know where it is," Brown said. "We wouldn't go to sea and look for it if we didn't think that we were in the right place." Original article on Live Science. A woman and two girls died in the crossfire between Mexican marines and members of an organized criminal group in Nuevo Laredo, authorities have confirmed. Mexican media outlets reported that marines shot at the familys vehicle from a helicopter, killing Nellely Aide Ruiz Martinez, 28, and her daughters Chelsea Abril Rojas Ruiz, 6, and Kenia Azul Rojas Ruiz, 4. But the navy said in a statement that the bystanders were hit from the ground not the air and their wounds were caused by a type of bullet not used by the helicopter crew. READ ALSO: One dead, twelve marines wounded in shootout in Mexico The husband and father was identified as Efrain Rojas Santos, 25. He was taken to a local hospital in serious condition. Media reports claimed that the marines denied the family medical attention. The navy disputed the claim, saying marines rendered aid to those wounded during Sundays firefight. This naval institution regrets the events where civilians lost their lives and were injured, and reaffirms its commitment for citizens safety. The navy did not say how many civilians died during the clashes, which left a marine and four suspected gunmen dead and 12 marines wounded. Authorities identified the fallen marine as Capt. Mauro Hernandez, an 18-year veteran. READ ALSO: 'I went to war for this country:' Army veteran in US deported after prison stint Suspected members of the Northeast Cartel, an offshoot of the Zetas cartel, circulated a message on social media warning the citizens about a curfew. The group, which operates in Nuevo Laredo, also took responsibility for Sundays ambush. Did you all like how we f**k you up? the criminal group wrote. They added that this week will be all about topones, or shootouts, and that authorities will feel hell. Authorities said marines were ambushed three separate times late Saturday and early Sunday. Marines returned fire and killed one gunman in the first attack, but suffered three wounded. Another patrol was sent to help the wounded when it also came under fire; that ambush killed one marine and wounded several others. READ ALSO: Texas pastor gets 99 years in prison in death of child who was starved A third patrol was ambushed just outside the marine base as it responded to the first two attacks. In that shootout, three gunmen were killed. Finally, a helicopter gunship was called in. Mexico's navy said in a statement that the gunmen had fake marine uniforms and markings on their vehicles. Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco Javier Garcia Cabeza de Vaca posted on Twitter that the government will continue to support the actions of the marines in his state. We will continue to work in conjunction with federal forces for the familys safety. We wont back down from the enemies of peace who threat the citizens, he said. Three Schlitterbahn Waterparks officials now have been swept up in a criminal probe into the 2016 decapitation death of a 10-year-old boy at the companys Kansas park. An indictment unsealed Tuesday in Kansas reveals for the first time that ride designer John Timothy Schooley and Henry and Sons Construction Company Inc., Schlitterbahns construction firm, also face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated endangering of a child in the death of Caleb Thomas Schwab, along with park co-owner Jeffrey Wayne Henry. The 10-year-old, the son of Kansas State Rep. Scott Schwab, died Aug. 7, 2016 while riding the 168-foot Verruckt slide when he hit a hoop that held protective netting on the rides second hill. RELATED: Indictment: Waterslide in fatal accident was 'deadly weapon' The indictment names Henry as Verruckts visionary and designer and Schooley as the slides lead designer. It accuses both men of ignoring safety standards during the slides design process and warnings about the rides potential danger. If convicted on all 18 counts, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of almost 139 years and fines potentially totaling $3.4 million. Under Kansas law, suspects can be charged with second-degree murder if evidence suggests the act was committed unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. Last week, a Wyandotte County grand jury indicted Schlitterbahn along with Tyler Austin Miles, a director of operations for Schlitterbahn, on charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child and interfering with law enforcement by concealing evidence. RELATED: This is what it looks like to ride the world's tallest water slide, the Verruckt The grand jury also charged Miles, 29, with allegedly giving false information to a detective. Miles pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday after turning himself in. Schlitterbahn pushed back against the charges levied against Henry, Schooley and the construction company Tuesday. The indictment is wrought with references to the outtakes of a dramatic, scripted television show, and filled with information that we fully dispute, company spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in a statement sent late Tuesday. Jeff Henry has designed waterpark rides the world over, Prosapio said. Nearly every waterpark that exists today has an attraction or feature based on his designs or ideas. The incident that happened that day was a terrible and tragic accident. We mourn the loss of this child and are devastated for his family. We know that Tyler, Jeff, and John are innocent and that we run a safe operation - our 40 years of entertaining millions of people speaks to that. The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Henry on Monday in South Padre Island on a warrant out of Kansas, the Kansas Attorney Generals Office said in a news release Tuesday. Henry is due to appear in Cameron County court Thursday. A judge Tuesday ordered that he be held without bond pending extradition to Kansas. Schooley is not yet in custody, the Kansas Attorney Generals Office said. A separate indictment unsealed last week alleges that Verruckts designers and operators knew the slide could cause severe bodily injury and potentially death but kept the ride open anyway. The rides operators knew of at least 13 injuries including two concussions sustained by riders, including four children. Neither Henry, who dropped out of high school to work for his fathers water park, nor Schooley had technical or engineering credentials pertaining to amusement ride design or safety, the charging document says. Furthermore, neither man possessed the expertise required to properly and safely design a ride as complex as Verruckt, according to the indictment. Henry, who co-owns the New Braunfels theme park company with his two siblings, first conceived of the Verruckt project in November 2012 as a way to impress producers of the Travel Channels Xtreme Waterparks series and fast-tracked the slides design and construction phases, skipping over necessary calculations and safety measures in the process, according to the indictment. The indictment also details alleged actions by Schlitterbahn and its employees to silence subordinates and cover up evidence of park visitors injuries caused by Verruckt. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A South Texas man is claiming that video footage he captured Wednesday night shows several UFOs an hour north of Laredo. Gary Trevino, of Eagle Pass, posted the video on Facebook after spotting mysterious lights in the sky around 8:45 p.m. and now he's asking for social media's help on identifying them. A former Richmond man was ordered to serve five years in prison for stalking a woman he was romantically involved with by sending her disturbing images and threatening email messages, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas announced Monday. Former energy trader Heriberto Latigo, 45, appeared in court Monday, serving as his own lawyer. As Latigo thumbed through folders while shackled and cuffed, the judge imposed the sentence. In 2013, Heriberto Latigo began the romantic relationship with his victim, whose name is being withheld. Court records show that as time progressed, the relationship spiraled. During and after their relationship, Latigo forced the woman to send him nude images of herself, harassed her online and also attempted to blackmail her. READ ALSO: Deputy's just issued body cam was charging when unarmed man fatally shot The relationship eventually devolved into physical altercations that included an alleged rape, according to federal prosecutors. The woman released a statement stating that no matter how hard she has tried, she has not been able to overcome what he did to her. "There was not a day that I didn't feel scared," she said READ ALSO: Driver charged with murder after allegedly ramming car into crowd in Montrose, killing young nurse In 2014, she said, discovered she was pregnant. She testified that Latigo was so controlling and crazy during this time that she decided to end the pregnancy. Latigo found out and created a Facebook page purporting to represent the aborted fetus. He sent her a link that said, "Your abortion video will now be posted you whore," according to the court. The link upset her so much that she tried to kill herself by overdosing on tranquilizers. From 2014 to 2015, Latigo continued to threaten and blackmail his ex-girlfriend to do things against her will, including sexual favors. If she refused, he would post the images online until she acquiesced. Latigo's actions caused the woman to change jobs, close her Facebook account and completely go offline. But he found her again. He went to her new job and continued to harass her. The jury ultimately did not believe Latigo's claims and found that he intentionally harassed the victim, causing emotional distress. He was convicted as charged. The jury returned its verdict Oct. 27, 2017, against Latigo following five days of trial and less than two hours of deliberations. In addition to the five years, Latigo was ordered to serve three years on supervised release following his prison term, during which time the court ordered him to get mental health treatment. In the last 10 years, less than 100 defendants have been convicted using this federal stalking statute. Latigo's case is the first case tried in the Southern District of Texas in which a defendant used the Internet to cause substantial emotional distress. According to the district, he will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri Zack and Steve Schammel are prosecuting the case. Federal courts reporter Gabrielle Banks contributed to this report. john.harden@chron.com twitter.com/jdharden Texas graduates have the world rooting for them this graduation season. From San Antonio to Austin, a number of winter grads are sharing the inspiring stories behind their degrees on Twitter and Instagram and the Internet is sharing kudos in return. These are more than the usual graduation Instagram photos. These students shared stories of juggling parenthood with class. Of having parents arrested as children overcoming depression in college. Of having people tell them they wouldn't succeed and then walking across the state. Many included the hashtag "#GradSZN" in their Twitter and Instagram posts, adding themselves to a trend of success stories from around the country. RELATED: San Antonio college graduates are picture-perfect on social media A few of the graduates spoke more in-depth with mySA about their journeys through unexpected pregnancies, deaths and other difficulties that didn't stop them from crossing the stage. Briana McFadden, known as @brielize_ on Twitter, got the attention of nearly 100,000 people when she posted her graduation photos and testimony. McFadden found out she was pregnant at 17. She graduated last weekend from UTSA with her masters of science in information technology at 24. "The things I went through early in life, the mistakes I made, I learned from all of it and it motivated me to achieve and do all I can to allow my daughter to have the best possible life ever," she told mySA.com. Jessica Reyes, like McFadden, is a recent UTSA graduate and young mother and received support of thousands online. With her new, bachelors of science degree under her belt, she's looking forward to Fall 2018, which is when she will begin her graduate career. "I almost dropped out of school because I had given up on myself," she said. "But my junior year, I took control of my life and refused to be victim of my circumstances. I would not be another statistic that fed into the stigma against young mothers." Celebrate with these Texas students, and others, in the gallery above. And, hats off to all of those crossing the stage this graduation season viral or not. Madalyn Mendoza is a digital reporter for MySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye Webb County District Attorney Isidro R. "Chilo" Alaniz is teaming with a group of people to benefit the victims of deadly earthquake in Mexico and hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Read a review of earthquake kits here. Alaniz's office is partnering with the Laredo Motor Carriers Association and local logistics and transportation companies to send aid to the victims. Volunteers dubbed the project "Sin Fronteras." Albany Cynthia Nixon is superb at lambasting Andrew Cuomo. In her first Albany appearance since announcing her run for governor, the actress and activist delivered one Cuomo slam after another. She called him a bully and compared him to Donald Trump. She said he mansplains. She ripped him for endemic Albany corruption. Nixon said the governor favors old-boys-in-the-room negotiations that ignore women and minorities. He's a pretend Democrat, she said, who happily hands political power over to buddies in the Republican Senate. "He deserves an Oscar for his performance," Nixon said. "Some might say that his lack of acting experience makes him unqualified, but I actually think he's doing pretty well. It just goes to show what a novice can do if they put their mind to it." How much fun would it be to work as Nixon's speechwriter? Monday's event was not a campaign rally. Held in a stale conference room at the Albany Hilton, this show was closed to the public and arranged for the media. And because Nixon is a celebrity, more or less, a gaggle of us showed up for the spectacle. Ostensibly, Nixon came to advocate for the Alliance for Quality Education, a labor-backed group that wants more school spending. Nixon and other speakers told us New York children go to school in crumbling buildings, learn in overcrowded classrooms and read from out-of-date textbooks. Quick reminder: New York schools spend more per pupil than any state in the nation; even its disadvantaged districts spend lavishly by comparison. The Albany school district, for example, spends about $21,000 per student, about double the national average. Nixon was on stronger ground, at least from my perspective, when she was trashing the governor's embarrassing record on corruption and rattling off the ethical failures of his tenure: Joe Percoco, the Moreland Commission, the Buffalo Billion among them. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse "In 2010, Andrew Cuomo stood on the steps of the Tweed Courthouse in New York City to announce his run for governor on a promise to clean up Albany," Nixon said. "As most New Yorkers would tell you, he's cleaned up Albany about as well as Donald Trump has drained the swamp." If you know anything about Cuomo, you know Nixon's barbs must be getting under that sensitive skin. Her attacks from the left are surely sending him into fits of pique. Will the criticisms stick with voters? Time will tell, although Nixon is poised to tap into progressive anger in the #resistance era as Cuomo never could. The upcoming Democratic primary should be fascinating. If this David somehow beats Goliath and also a Republican in November would Nixon be an effective governor? Probably not, and that isn't because she lacks government experience. Politics is not brain surgery or flying an airplane. But over the weekend, I came across a list of the nation's most popular governors, and it offers lessons that should make voters wary of Nixon and Cuomo, too. While partisans on the right will be happy to learn that the 10 most popular governors are all Republicans, that isn't what I found most interesting. Instead, what jumped out at me is that three of the four GOP governors atop the list Charlie Baker in Massachusetts, Larry Hogan in Maryland and Phil Scott in Vermont are so admired while governing in strongly blue states. Those governors are moderates, not ideologues. They are popular among their voters because they govern from where most Americans still are, even in this hyper-partisan age the center. They reach across aisles. They work with Democrats. It's comforting that voters still appreciate that. Meanwhile, not a single governor among the top 10 has a name known to a national audience. Unlike Cuomo, they have no blatant presidential ambitions. Unlike Cuomo and Nixon both, they don't have dynastic or celebrity name recognition. Sure, Trump and a slew of other politicians prove that a big name and personality are invaluable for getting elected. But once the election is over, voters tend to prefer and respect the boring men and women most the governors, you know, who quietly go about the serious business of being elected officials. I know, I know. Where's the fun in that? We can think about whether Nixon would be a good governor later. For now, it's enjoyable enough to watch her bait a governor who so badly deserves this challenge, the man she calls Andrew the Bully. "It reminds me of the behavior we see from Donald Trump," Nixon said Monday. "My experience has taught me that there's only one way to deal with a bully. You have to stand up to him." Nixon is doing more than that. She's punching the bully in the nose. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill A favorable ruling by the Attorney General's office last Friday could now provide a path for constable's and their deputies to have a dual commission, serving under the sheriff's office at the same time. County Attorney Matthew Poston asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to provide clarity on whether or not an elected constable and their deputies could serve simultaneously under the sheriff, specifically to perform tasks related to the duties of a weight-enforcement officer under Transportation Code chapter 621. The request for an opinion was to settle a long-debated issue at the request of Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader and Liberty County Pct. 2 Constable Leslie Hulsey because of a manpower shortage and lack of representation by the Texas Department of Transportation in the county for weight enforcement officers. The county is desperately in need of the officers particularly now as growth throughout the county means a growing number of vehicles violating the laws go unchallenged. The ruling from Paxton was succinct: "Neither article XVI, section 40 of the Texas Constitution, nor any statute, nor the common-law doctrine of incompatibility precludes a constable or constable's deputy from serving simultaneously as a sheriff's deputy. A deputy sheriff may serve as a weight-enforcement officer under section 621.401 of the Transportation Code, even if the person simultaneously serves as a constable or deputy constable," the ruling read. Poston was ecstatic that the issue is settled. "We are pleased that the AG's office agreed with our opinion on the matter and the sheriff's office is going to be able to move forward," he said. Both Hulsey and one of his deputies were already credentialed and serving under Rader. When the issue came up, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) put a hold on their credentials for weight enforcement. "They should be able to return to what they were doing before," Rader said following the ruling. The sheriff was ecstatic that Hulsey was not only going to do it, but commissioners had also given him some new slots to help. "This all happened during the workshop back in October and that produced the need for a ruling from the AG's office," he said. It took almost five months to get, but there is finally some clarity. Rader had already given Hulsey the scales and equipment necessary for the enforcement and commissioners were willing to get more if necessary for the new officers who will have to be dual-commissioned. "They can work those back roads that the DPS can't do stopping the log trucks, sand trucks, and gravel trucks that are typically overloaded," Rader said. The additional officers, Rader said, will allow them to spread out across the county and nab violators. "This will finally get us back on track again," Poston said. Poston cautioned that AG rulings are only persuasive authorities and not mandatory authorities, so it is possible the county might have to sue if the DPS challenged the rulings, but he didn't think they would. The Texas Transportation Code gives states that weight enforcement officers have the exclusive authority to enforce weight regulation in any area of the state. They are statutorily authorized to stop overloaded vehicles to determine their exact weight and load. The Transportation Code also provides a list of those capable of carrying out the duties of a weight enforcement officer and among those are sheriff's or their deputies. Since the Code doesn't permit constables or deputy constables to carry out those duties, Hulsey and his deputies sought dual commissions that would allow them to serve under the sheriff's office and carry out the duties of weight enforcement. The DPS doesn't have a license and weight inspector within Liberty County and commissioners are fed up with the roads being torn up by overweight trucks costing the county taxpayers thousands of dollars. With the ruling, Hulsey and his deputies will be able to get back to work for the county and stop rogue truck companies violating the law. Authorities in Louisiana said Tuesday that the Baton Rouge police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling will not face criminal charges, a decision announced nearly two years after his death prompted intense protests. The announcement makes Sterling's death the latest high-profile police shooting to end without charges for officers involved, following on the heels of federal authorities last year declining to prosecute either officer in the case. Sterling was killed in July 2016 by officers responding to a call about a man who had threatened someone with a gun. The Baton Rouge officers then encountered Sterling, 37, selling CDs outside of a convenience store, and fatally shot him during an encounter that lasted less than 90 seconds. "This decision was not taken lightly," Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said during a news briefing Tuesday morning. He added: "I know the Sterling family is hurting. I know that they may not agree with this decision." The Justice Department said last year it decided against bringing federal charges against officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake, concluding that there was "insufficient" evidence to prove that they violated Sterling's civil rights. Federal law sets a very high bar for civil rights charges against officers, requiring that authorities prove an officer's intent at the time of the shooting. Landry said the state could not proceed with a prosecution of either officer involved based on an extensive review of evidence gathered by federal authorities as well as his office's own investigation. During a 20-minute announcement detailing this decision, Landry said the investigation concluded that both officers "attempted to make a lawful arrest of Alton Sterling based upon probable cause." He said the officers acted on the assumption that Sterling was armed while resisting the officers' attempts to arrest him. After Sterling was shot, Lake found and removed a loaded .38 caliber handgun from Sterling's right front pocket, according to Landry's office. Landry also said toxicology reports showed that Sterling had drugs in his system at the time of his death, which Landry linked to Sterling's behavior during his encounter with police. "It is reasonable that Mr. Sterling was under the influence and that contributed to his noncompliance," said Landry, who did not take questions after announcing his decision. Landry's office also released a 34-page report which said Sterling's body tested positive for opioids, cocaine and other drugs, results that "clearly indicated that he was under the influence of a combination of illegal substances," this report stated. The same report also said Sterling's autopsy showed he had been shot six times - three times in the chest and three more times in his back - and all six bullets were recovered from his body. His cause of death was deemed a homicide caused by gunshot wounds to his heart, lung, esophagus and liver. Sterling's death in July 2016 came at a fraught moment of racial tension nationwide amid shootings by and of police officers. A day after Sterling's death prompted outrage and protests, an officer in Minnesota shot and killed Philando Castile, a school cafeteria worker, during a traffic stop, the aftermath of which was streamed live on Facebook. That same week, five police officers in Dallas were gunned down by a black man angry at police, and just days later, another gunman killed three officers in Baton Rouge. After the Justice Department said in May 2017 it would not pursue charges, Landry said he would launch a state probe into the shooting. His office took over a state investigation into whether the officers would face criminal charges after Hillar C. Moore III, the prosecutor for East Baton Rouge, recused himself from the investigation because he had a prior relationship with Salamoni's parents, both of whom worked with the Baton Rouge police. In explaining why it took so long for the state to announce its decision, Landry said Tuesday that his office was "effectively sidelined" during the federal probe because it was closed off to Louisiana officials. Sterling's relatives and their attorneys assailed the decision, noting that they would continue pressing the case through a civil lawsuit filed last year. "The system failed us," Sandra Sterling, his aunt, said during a news conference. "He was not a monster. . . . This was a family man. A family man." An attorney for Lake could not be reached for comment. John McLindon, the Baton Rouge attorney representing Salamoni, said he was not surprised by the decision not to charge his client. "Every use of force expert that has looked at this . . . has concluded that it was a justified shooting," McLindon said. "I'm not surprised at all by this announcement." McLindon said that he expects the police department will now fire both officers by arguing that even if the shooting did not amount to something criminal, it was a violation of departmental policies. He also said the officers are already planning to appeal that firing. McLindon added that he found the attorney general's comments about the toxicology report illuminating, and said that it perhaps helps explain why Sterling did not comply. "I always suspected that Mr. Sterling was high on drugs," he said. Murphy Paul, the Baton Rouge police chief, said his department will continue its administrative review of how both officers acted in order to determine whether any policies or procedures were violated. He said the department hopes to conclude that process by Friday. "We're asking our community for just a little more patience," Paul, who was sworn in as police chief in January, said at a news conference after Landry spoke. Officers are rarely charged for on-duty shootings, and convictions in such cases are even more rare. Last week, a Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Australian woman in 2017 was charged with murder and manslaughter. Those charges came about nine months after a jury in Minnesota acquitted the officer who shot and killed Philando Castile during the traffic stop a day after Sterling was killed. Since 2005, 85 non-federal law enforcement officers - a group that includes police officers, state troopers and deputy sheriffs - have been arrested for murder or manslaughter after fatally shooting someone while on-duty, according to Philip Stinson, a criminologist at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, who studies arrests of officers and has kept data since that year. Of those officers, 41 have not been convicted, most of them acquitted by juries or during a bench trial, he said. Another 32 officers were convicted of a crime, half through guilty pleas and the other half by juries, though several were convicted of lesser charges, Stinson said. The Minneapolis officer charged last week is one of a dozen with his case still pending. The Justice Department's decision not to pursue charges in the Sterling case marked the first time under Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the department declined to prosecute a police officer investigated for wrongdoing in a high-profile case. That decision caused frustration in Baton Rouge not only for the lack of charges, but also because the news was reported by The Washington Post before federal officials had informed Sterling's family. But while declining to pursue charges in Sterling's death, federal authorities provided Sterling's family with new details about his death. After meeting with investigators, Chris Stewart, the lead attorney for the Sterling family, told reporters that evidence shows that at the beginning of the interaction with Sterling, Officer Salamoni put his gun to Sterling's head, and said, "I'll kill you, b--." Video of the following 90 seconds shows officers telling Sterling to put his hands on the hood of a car. When he did not, a struggle ensued with Salamoni pulling out his gun and pointing it at Sterling's head and later Lake attempting to shoot Sterling with a Taser. Salamoni tackled Sterling and, with Sterling on his back with both officers on top of him, one of the officers appears to yell "He's got a gun!" Then shots rang out. On Tuesday, outside the store where Sterling was killed, a disappointed Felma White went to the parking lot wearing a shirt covered with newspaper headlines about the shooting and the subsequent protests. She had it made specifically for Sterling's funeral. 31."I want justice for the family," said White, 63. She described herself as a friend of the family who knew Sterling from purchasing his CDs at the store. "They have gone through so much. I wanted to see a guilty verdict for the officers." 32.Rep. Cedric Richmond (D), who represents part of Baton Rouge, called the decision Tuesday "the latest sign that we have a lot of work to do in regard to criminal justice and policing reform." 33."Trust between the Baton Rouge community and law enforcement has deeply eroded," Richmond, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said in a statement. "We must all continue to work to bridge the divide between law enforcement and community. Until this is done, many young black men and women will be forced to fear any non-threatening action they take could be met with certain death." While fatal shootings by police have continued at about the same pace as previous years, according to The Washington Post's database tracking these incidents, these incidents have drawn less national attention recently and largely faded from the national political debate. Some fatal shootings still prompt widespread media attention, including the death earlier this month of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man shot and killed by Sacramento police officers while in his grandmother's backyard. The death of Clark, who was holding an iPhone at the time that police said they mistook for a gun, has given way to extended protests in that city. California's attorney general said Tuesday that at the Sacramento police chief's request, his office would "provide independent oversight" of the probe into Clark's death. --- Ashley Cusick in Baton Rouge contributed to this report. The FBI had not fully determined whether it had the capability to crack open a terrorist's locked iPhone before seeking a February 2016 court order to force Apple to do so, according to a Justice Department inspector general's report. The report, issued Tuesday, pinned the lapse on a lack of effective coordination and communication between FBI units. The case involved an encrypted iPhone recovered after the December 2015 shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California. The inspector general's office also found that the FBI lacked capability to break into the iPhone in February and early March 2016, consistent with then-FBI Director James Comey's testimony to Congress. At the time, he also testified that the bureau needed Apple's help. The report, announced by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, raises questions about the FBI and Justice Department's approach to the challenge of gaining access to suspects' encrypted devices - what the FBI calls "Going Dark" - and whether the bureau sufficiently exhausts its own technical capabilities before taking more aggressive external steps, such as a court battle. Apple had no comment on the report. The phone was used by Syed Rizwan Farook, the terrorist who, with his wife, shot and killed 14 people. The pair were killed by police in a shootout. On Feb. 16, 2016, the Justice Department went to court to force Apple to find a way to unlock the phone. The move touched off a heated national debate over whether the government could or should use a court order to compel a tech company to break the encryption it builds into its devices for customer security. On March 21, 2016, prosecutors said the FBI found a third party that had demonstrated a way to unlock the phone. A week later, they reported that the phone had been successfully cracked. Nothing of significance to the counterterrorism investigation was found, and the legal showdown was averted. The San Bernardino case, however, was the "poster child" for the "Going Dark" challenge, a senior FBI official would later tell the inspector general's office. The report comes as the White House, Justice Department and FBI have renewed discussions within the government and with industry and academia about potential solutions - whether technical, legal or some combination - to the national security and public safety challenges posed by encryption. Meanwhile, Britain has a law that enables it to mandate that tech firms assist law enforcement in surveillance, possibly including decryption solutions. Other countries are debating whether to follow suit. "One of the main hurdles that keeps getting identified on encryption is education about how encryption works and the amount of information available without needing to bypass encryption protections," said Amie Stepanovich, U.S. policy manager at Access Now, a privacy advocacy group. "The issues identified in this report continue to stress the need for the FBI and other law enforcement to invest internally on processes and procedures." The report grew out of a concern that the FBI's then-executive assistant director for science and technology, Amy Hess, raised several months after Farook's phone was unlocked. Hess feared that one unit in her branch, the Remote Operations Unit, may have had techniques that could have opened the phone that another branch unit that was working on the case, the Cryptographic and Electronic Analysis Unit, did not know about. She also feared that the CEAU chief did not seem to want to find a technical solution and that he may have remained silent to "pursue his own agenda of obtaining a favorable court ruling." The report found that no one had withheld knowledge of an existing capability, but that CEAU "did not pursue all possible avenues" in a search for solutions. In fact it turned out that the Remote Operations Unit knew a company that was close to finding a hack for the phone. But the ROU chief had not been consulted and did not even know about the dilemma until Feb. 11, just a few days before the Justice Department sought a court order. The ROU chief told the inspector general's office that he believed the disconnect stemmed from "a long-standing policy" against using national security tools in criminal cases, creating a "line in the sand." From the time he became unit chief in 2010, "he was told that ROU's classified techniques could not be used in criminal cases," the report said. The ROU chief also told investigators that the CEAU chief "was definitely not happy" that the court case against Apple had been dropped. "There's a need for better sharing of forensic tools" in national security and criminal cases, said Jennifer Daskal, a former senior Justice Department national security official who now teaches law at American University. "This was a criminal investigation with national security implications. Before we go down the road of new legislation or mandates, we need to ensure that all FBI resources are effectively deployed." Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., criticized the FBI for failing to explore its technical options before going to court. "It's clear now that the FBI was far more interested in using this horrific terrorist attack to establish a powerful legal precedent than they were in promptly gaining access to the terrorist's phone," Wyden said in a statement. In response to the report, the FBI told Horowitz that it is in the process of reorganizing the units within the Operational Technology Division, which houses the ROU and CEAU, to consolidate resources and improve coordination. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's appointment of John Bolton as national security adviser created a unique sense of shock at the State Department, where many diplomats rehashed anecdotes about his aggressive management style and prolific broadsides against the culture of the American diplomatic corps. Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations, has for years derided the State Department as a backwater of "appeasers" and "high-minded" careerists in various books and television appearances since he left government. His professional rehabilitation follows the turbulent 14-month tenure of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, another critic of the State Department who spent much of his time trying to downsize and reorganize an institution he viewed as bloated and inefficient. The difference between the two men, diplomats acknowledged, is that the arcane ways of government that perplexed and ultimately stymied Tillerson will not pose a similar challenge for Bolton, who comes to the job with a granular understanding of the levers of power. "I would say micro-granular," said Mark Groombridge, a longtime adviser for Bolton at the State Department and United Nations. "His style will be to run an imperial NSC where the State and Defense departments are there to implement White House policy." A spokesman for Bolton declined to comment. In his new job, Bolton will not directly oversee the State Department, but his powerful perch at the National Security Council will offer opportunities to shape and influence policy and personnel at Foggy Bottom. Bolton became famous inside the department as a skillful bureaucratic tactician, an outspoken Iraq War advocate and an ardent critic of multilateral institutions and treaties. His recurring calls to bomb Iran and North Korea contrast sharply with the Foreign Service's dictum of first exhausting diplomatic options before recommending military force. Bolton's advisers and former colleagues say he has a good relationship with Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo, whom he advised in Congress. But they said Bolton is unlikely to take a back seat to the former Kansas congressman on the issues he cares about most: Iran and North Korea. "While currently in the lead, the State Department's Office of Policy Planning will definitely become irrelevant on Iran," said Andrew Bowen, a former colleague of Bolton's at the American Enterprise Institute. "Bolton is also likely to play a leading role on North Korea, an issue he's devoted much of his professional career toward," Bowen said. How Bolton will fit into a combustible Cabinet ecosystem of strong personalities, including Pompeo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Nikki Haley, the ambassador to the United Nations, is unclear, but contemporaries of Bolton said he should not be underestimated. "He'll work to put loyalists in key vantage points and marginalize those he distrusts," Matthew Waxman, a former colleague of Bolton's in the George W. Bush administration, wrote in a recent Lawfare column. When it comes to installing allies, Tillerson has left Pompeo and Bolton with ample opportunities, given his failure to put his own political appointees in place. Eight of the top 10 State Department jobs are vacant, and some of the people Tillerson managed to get nominated, such as Susan Thornton and Eric Ueland, could have their nominations pulled. "Tillerson clearly didn't understand the importance of installing political appointees across the department," Groombridge said. "But Bolton understands that personnel is policy, and he'll be in a position to weigh in." Individuals close to Bolton said they expected him to "clear house" at the NSC and remove staffers viewed as allies of H.R. McMaster or the previous administration. People spoke about Bolton on condition of anonymity to speak freely about future planning. In his 2007 memoir, "Surrender Is Not an Option," Bolton demonstrates a detailed understanding of the State Department and a disdain for many of its inhabitants. He and his allies concocted disparaging and wonky epithets for his colleagues, such "EAPeasers" a moniker he uses five times in his book to describe U.S. diplomats he viewed as soft on North Korea. (The word is a portmanteau combining "appeasers" and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, or EAP.) Groombridge said he and his boss also referred to career diplomat Christopher Hill, who led the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, as "Kim Jong Hill." "Needless to say we didn't like Chris Hill," Groombridge said. Following Bolton's appointment Thursday, a group of U.S. diplomats swapped stories about Bolton over drinks at the Hive Bar, a go-to diplomatic watering hole one block from the Harry S. Truman Building. A particular topic of interest was Bolton's workplace demeanor, which became the source of public attention during his 2005 confirmation process to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Most notably, Bolton reportedly browbeat an intelligence analyst who disputed his view that Cuba was intent on building an advanced biological weapons program. Carl Ford, a self-described Republican and a top State Department intelligence official at the time, testified before Congress about the encounter and called it indicative of Bolton's verbally abusive style, calling him "a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy." In his memoir, Bolton called the intelligence analyst in question "sensitive" and dismissed Ford's testimony as "over the top." A government subcontractor also accused Bolton of throwing a tape dispenser at her and chasing her down the halls of a Russian hotel in 1994 when he worked as a lawyer. "Bolton hounded me in such an appalling way that I eventually retreated to my hotel room and stayed there," said Melody Townsel, the USAID subcontractor. "Mr. Bolton, of course, then routinely visited me there to pound on the door and shout threats." In his book, Bolton denied this allegation, saying that "in fact, I had met her once in a room full of people, thus constituting our entire personal contact." While nursing a beer at Hive Bar last week, one State Department employee joked that he wasn't too worried about allegations that Bolton hurled office supplies at colleagues. "You're fine as long as you're not within throwing distance of him," he said. The student organizers of the March for Our Lives have released a five-point policy agenda that they say will reduce the toll of gun violence in the United States. While many gun-control opponents have attempted to frame the march as an "attack" on the Second Amendment, the organizers'' policy agenda is striking most of all for the modesty of its scope - just five items, consisting mostly of policies that federal courts have ruled to be wholly compatible with the Second Amendment. Here's a brief rundown: 1. Fund gun violence research The students call for more federal funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other groups to research gun and intervention programs. This is in line with a recent recommendation from the Rand Corp., which identified the current lack of funding for firearm research as one of the chief barriers to knowing which gun-control policies might save the most lives. "To improve understanding of the real effects of gun policies, Congress should consider lifting current restrictions in appropriations legislation, and the administration should invest in firearm research portfolios," the Rand report's authors recommended. Because this issue doesn't bear directly on gun ownership rights, there haven't been any significant court cases involving the CDC's purview over gun research. A late February Economist-YouGov poll found that 50 percent of Americans said they supported having the CDC conduct gun violence research, with 28 percent opposed and another 22 percent unsure. 2. Strengthen the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives The march organizers call for the elimination of restrictions on the ATF, such as statutory requirements that federal gun databases be "non-searchable." Gun rights groups have opposed the creation of a fully searchable federal gun database out of fear that it could lead to the creation of a national gun registry. A small number of fully automatic weapons and short-barreled shotguns are in public circulation and registered under the National Firearms Act. In addition, the District of Columbia and Hawaii require the registration of all firearms, and New York requires the registration of handgun purchases, according to the Giffords Law Center. Earlier this year, a federal court dismissed a challenge to New York's handgun permitting and registry law. In the February Economist-YouGov poll, 63 percent of Americans said they supported "requiring gun owners to register their guns with a national gun registry," with 26 percent opposing such a move. 3. Universal background checks The Supreme Court upheld the bulk of the federal background check system in 1997, although it did strike a number of limited provisions that would have required state and local officials to perform some background check duties at the behest of federal officials. The Supreme Court revisited the federal background check system in 2014, when it ruled that it was permissible for the federal government to ban individuals from purchasing guns on behalf of someone else. Surveys show that a universal background check requirement has near-universal support, ranging from 80 percent in the Economist-YouGov poll to 97 percent in recent Quinnipiac polling. 4. A high-capacity magazine ban The students call for a ban on gun magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This was a key provision of the 1994 assault weapons ban that a number of researchers credit with reducing the toll of mass shooting deaths during the 10 years it was in force. In November, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a high-capacity magazine ban in Maryland, giving state legislatures "wide authority" to pass such laws, according to Supreme Court expert Lyle Denniston. A March 2018 Quinnipiac poll found that 63 percent of Americans, including 50 percent of gun owners, said they supported such a ban. 5. A ban on assault weapons The students call for an assault weapons ban, as well as either a national registry or buyback program to deal with the large number of such guns already in circulation. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban last November. In 2015, the high court declined to hear a challenge to a similar law passed in Highland Park, Illinois. Those decisions can be read as consistent with the court's ruling in the 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller, in which the Supreme Court established for the first time that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. Justice Antonin Scalia's majority ruling noted that "like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited." Among other things, Scalia cited "dangerous and unusual weapons" as a category of firearms open to prohibition. A March 2018 Quinnipiac poll found 61 percent support for a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons, including 49 percent support among gun owners. As a television commentator on Fox News, John Bolton touted his hawkish views on Iran and North Korea. He's now been hired as President Trump's national security adviser. On his show on CNBC, Larry Kudlow advocated cutting corporate taxes and regulations. He's now taking over as Trump's top economic adviser. And from his perch as co-host of "Fox & Friends Weekend," Pete Hegseth has called for expanding veterans' access to private doctors. He's now under consideration as Trump's next veterans affairs secretary. Being a pundit is becoming a tried-and-true pathway into the Trump administration, as a reality-show president seeks to surround himself with people who've been auditioning for their jobs on television - whether they realize it or not. It's a phenomenon that extends beyond top government posts. After seeing Joseph diGenova stridently defend him on Fox News, Trump announced that he would add the lawyer to his personal legal team handling the Russia probe, even though he didn't know diGenova. That idea, however, soon unraveled. Over the weekend, another Trump lawyer said the hiring of diGenova and his wife, Victoria Toensing, who is also a lawyer, wasn't happening because other clients represented by their law firm pose conflicts of interest. But a person who spoke to Trump recently has said there was another reason: Trump didn't like what he saw as much when he met the couple in person. Trump, who rose to national prominence in part because of his starring role on "The Apprentice," has made TV central to his presidency. His mornings typically start with what aides call "executive time" - several hours in the White House during which he consumes cable news, often tweeting his reactions to stories broadcast on Fox News. What he sees can shape his policy views. Last week, Trump took to Twitter to threaten to veto a $1.3 trillion spending bill after it was panned by conservative commentators. For a neophyte politician who arrived in Washington without a deep bench of policy advisers, it's hardly surprising that Trump is increasingly turning to talking heads to fill key positions, some observers say. He relied on the advice of members of Congress and old Washington hands for some of his initial picks, and some have turned out to be less than loyal, in Trump's view. And now he's feeling more liberated. "Outside his immediate relatives - his children and his son-in-law - I don't know that there's anyone he trusts more than Fox News," said Edward Burmila, a political science professor at Bradley University who has written about the influence of Fox News on the Trump presidency. Trump aides and allies say a television presence is hardly the sole criteria that guides Trump's choices, but some say it's part of a plan to better inform the country. "This is how most of America communicates," Jason Miller, a former Trump campaign aide, said of television. "This is not the White House of the 1920s, the 1950s or even the 2000s. He's adding people to his team who can effectively communicate his message. In this day and age, you can have the right policies, but if you can't communicate them, it's all for naught." In the cases of Kudlow and Bolton, Trump's connection is much deeper than television, a senior White House official said, requesting anonymity to discuss personnel decisions more candidly. Bolton, an ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, has been a regular visitor to the Oval Office to discuss foreign policy with Trump since he took office. And Trump and Kudlow have known each other for years, running in some of the same circles in New York, the official said. "He's comfortable with these guys," the official said. "He's picking people from the universe he's comfortable with." Sam Nunberg, a former aide who helped guide Trump through the run-up to his presidential campaign, said he would regularly include pieces written by Bolton and Kudlow in Trump's briefing materials during that stretch. Nunberg said it would be unfair to dismiss Bolton and Kudlow, who served as an economics adviser in the Reagan administration, as mere television personalities. But he said the fact that both have had prominent roles on television in the past year probably helped them stay in the running for jobs after Trump turned to others when he came into office. "Once they were passed over in the first round of hiring, he continued to watch them," Nunberg said. "That certainly helped them get the positions they should have gotten in the first place, in my humble opinion." Nunberg described Trump as "a sponge" when it comes to watching political shows on television. "He's not someone who reads 600-page books. He sees what people are saying on TV," Nunberg said. Burmila said there's certainly precedent for hiring television reporters onto the White House communications team, which he said makes "perfect sense." But most television talk-show hosts are not policy experts, Burmila said. "They're really 90 percent entertainers." There were several TV pundits and personalities in the early cast of the Trump administration - their fates have been mixed. Heather Nauert, a New York-based anchor and correspondent for Fox, became the State Department spokeswoman. She was recently promoted to acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs. Meanwhile, Anthony Scaramucci, a financier who had served a tour of duty as host of "Wall Street Week" on Fox Business, became the shortest-serving White House communications director in modern history, lasting less than two weeks in the job. Other veterans of the Fox green room who took administration jobs include K.T. McFarland, a former deputy national security adviser who was later picked to serve as ambassador to Singapore. She withdrew her nomination after she became embroiled in the controversy over the Trump campaign's contacts with Russian officials. Monica Crowley, another Fox contributor, was named to a senior communications post at the National Security Council. But she stepped aside amid multiple allegations of plagiarism. Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University, said there's another downside to Trump's proclivity to pick television commentators for administration posts. "He's been casting about for cheerleaders," Naftali said. "He watches pundits, and he likes the pundits who agree with him. What's worrisome is he's putting together a team of yes men who are not going to give him the advice and guidance to make hard choices." Naftali also said there's not precedent - or in his view, a need - for putting so many White House officials out to sell the president's vision on TV. "Not every member of the White House needs to be on television all the time," he said, citing the national security adviser as an example. "That traditionally has not been a very public role. Most of their work is done behind the scenes." WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump, who repeatedly insisted during the 2016 campaign that Mexico would pay for a wall along the southern border, is privately pushing the U.S. military to fund construction of his signature project. Trump has told advisers that he was spurned in a large spending bill last week when lawmakers appropriated only $1.6 billion for the border wall. He has suggested to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and congressional leaders that the Pentagon could fund the sprawling project, citing a "national security" risk. After floating the notion to several advisers last week, Trump told House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that the military should pay for the wall, according to three people familiar with the meeting last Wednesday in the White House residence. Ryan offered little reaction to the idea, these people said, but senior Capitol Hill officials later said it was an unlikely prospect. Trump's pursuit of defense dollars to finance the U.S.-Mexico border wall underscores his determination to fulfill a campaign promise and build the barrier despite resistance in the Republican-led Congress. The administration's last-minute negotiations with lawmakers to secure billions more for the wall failed, and Trump grudgingly signed the spending bill Friday after a short-lived veto threat. Four days later, Trump continued to express regret over signing the $1.3 trillion package, which funded the government and averted a shutdown, saying it was a mistake and he should have followed his instincts. In another interaction with senior aides last week, Trump noted that the Defense Department was getting so much money as part of the spending bill that the Pentagon could surely afford the border wall, two White House officials said. The Pentagon received about $700 billion in the spending package, which Trump repeatedly lauded as "historic." Meanwhile, the $1.6 billion in the bill for some fencing and levees on the border not only fell far short of the $25 billion that Trump was seeking, but it came with tight restrictions on how the money could be spent. The individuals and officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk freely about private discussions. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders deflected a question Tuesday about money dedicated to the military being used to fund construction of the wall. "I can't get into the specifics of that at this point, but I can tell you that the continuation of building the wall is ongoing, and we're going to continue moving forward in that process," Sanders told reporters. "Build WALL through M!" Trump recently wrote on Twitter. He retweeted those words Tuesday, noting that "our Military is again rich." Two advisers said "M" stood for "military." The president has suggested to Mattis that his department, instead of the Department of Homeland Security, could fund the construction, two Trump advisers said. But the military is not likely to fund the wall, according to White House and Defense Department officials. The Pentagon has plenty of money, but reprogramming it for a wall would require votes in Congress that the president does not seem to have. Taking money from the current 2018 budget for the wall would require an act of Congress, said a senior Pentagon official. To find the money in the 2019 defense budget, Trump would have to submit a budget amendment that would require 60 votes in the Senate, the official said. Democrats in Congress would probably chafe at military spending going to the construction of a border wall, and military officials may also blanch, White House advisers said. Defense hawks in the Republican ranks would balk at taking money now dedicated to the Pentagon for aircraft, weapons and improvements to the armed forces' readiness and instead steering it toward construction of the wall. "First Mexico was supposed to pay for it, then U.S. taxpayers, and now our men and women in uniform? This would be a blatant misuse of military funds and tied up in court for years. Secretary Mattis ought not bother and instead use the money to help our troops, rather than advance the president's political fantasies," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement to The Washington Post. Trump has grown frustrated watching constant TV criticism of the spending package and is determined to find a new way to fund the wall, several advisers said, privately grousing that his political supporters could become disenchanted without progress. After a recent trip to see prototypes of the wall in California, Trump has grown more animated by the issue, advisers said. The president's comments raising the possibility of using Pentagon funds to build the wall came after the collapse of negotiations with Democrats to secure $25 billion in long-term wall funding in exchange for protections for young immigrants at risk for deportation because of Trump's cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The White House offered three years of protections for DACA recipients, according to multiple congressional aides, but Democrats demanded protections for a larger group of "dreamers," including those who never applied or are ineligible for DACA. The negotiations fell apart before the spending bill was drafted and passed last week. The urgency to strike a deal reflected the growing sense that the spending bill represented the last chance for the Trump administration to secure substantial wall funding, at least in the president's first term. Top Republicans believe it is all but certain that Democrats will gain House seats in November's midterm elections - and perhaps take the majority - greatly enhancing their bargaining position in future spending negotiations. Only $641 million is earmarked for new primary fencing in areas that currently have no barriers, and most of the money can be spent only on "operationally effective designs" that were already deployed as of last May. That means the prototype designs the Trump administration is exploring cannot be built, except along a stretch of the border near San Diego where a barrier is already in place. - - - The Washington Post's Greg Jaffe contributed to this report. The United Arab Emirates, with help from Korea Electric Power Corp., finished building the Arab world's first commercial nuclear reactor, a milestone in the oil-rich UAE's effort to curb its reliance on fossil fuels and develop cleaner sources of energy. Unit 1 of the Barakah complex plans to begin loading fuel in May, South Korea's energy ministry said in an emailed statement. South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended a ceremony on Monday to celebrate the facility's completion, the UAE's official WAM news agency reported. It wasn't clear when Unit 1 in Abu Dhabi, capital and largest emirate of the UAE, will begin generating power. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation will issue an operating license for Barakah Units 1 and 2 "when the operator meets all regulatory requirements," Christer Viktorsson, the regulator's director-general, said in an emailed response to a request for comment. Barakah Unit 1 is the first of four nuclear plants that the UAE, with about 6 percent of the world's proven oil reserves, plans to bring into operation by 2021, the Persian Gulf nation's Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in September. The plants are estimated to cost $25 billion and produce a combined 5,600 megawatts of power. Other Arab countries including Saudi Arabia and Egypt have also announced nuclear projects to help provide power to their growing populations and industries. The UAE government expects the four Barakah plants to contribute almost 25 percent of the nation's electricity after they're all operating, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Al Hammadi told a conference in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 28. The UAE currently depends on imported natural gas to generate much of its electricity. "The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program will play a strategic role in the growth of our nation by enhancing our energy security, diversifying our economy, and creating employment opportunities for our people," said Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi's crown prince, according to WAM. Barakah, located on a sparsely populated strip of desert on Abu Dhabi's Gulf coast, is the first commercial nuclear plant in the Middle East outside Iran. Unit 1, originally scheduled to begin operating in 2017, was delayed until this year "to ensure sufficient time for international assessments and adherence to nuclear industry safety standards, as well as a reinforcement of operational proficiency for plant personnel," ENEC said in a statement on May 5. With construction of Unit 1 complete, "the project now shifts its focus to completing operational readiness preparations required to obtain the approval of the operating license," WAM reported. "The accomplishment is even more notable, given the complete absence of any previous nuclear industry of infrastructure within the UAE." In 2009, a group led by Korea Electric won a contract to build four nuclear plants in the UAE. Kepco, as the utility is known, and unit Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power co-developed the reactors being built in Abu Dhabi, known as the APR-1400. The reactor, a so-called generation III unit, incorporates advanced design features that meet safety standards in developed countries like the U.S. and U.K. The first APR-1400 started in South Korea in December 2016, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Construction of the Barakah complex began in 2012. Units 2, 3 and 4 are 92 percent, 81 percent, and 66 percent complete, respectively. Korea Electric and UAE's ENEC are partners in the venture responsible for operating and maintaining the Barakah complex. The companies also on Monday said they plan to jointly expand their nuclear business overseas, which includes their ambitions to develop reactors in neighboring Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter, plans to build at least 16 nuclear reactors over the next 25 years at a cost of more than $80 billion. The Saudis also see atomic energy as a way to ease their reliance on finite fossil fuels, but they're also driven by competition with their regional rival Iran. Opposition to a possible deal for the U.S. to provide nuclear power technology to Saudi Arabia is growing after Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said the kingdom would develop a nuclear weapon if Iran did. --With assistance from Mahmoud Habboush and Stephen Stapczynski Have you seen the sign for what's arguably the world's most talented handyman? If not, you may want to give Walt Boyden a call just to test out his skills yourself. The Katy handyman works in home repair, offering siding and painting as part of his service. Brain surgery, dentistry, accounting and tarot card reading are other services he also advertises. A SIGN: Funny signs find humor in Hurricane Harvey's havoc "An undercover officer pulled up beside me on I-10 and he asked me, 'Do you really do brain surgery?' I said yeah, it's all the same old tools," Boyden said. Boyden said he came up with the idea for the sign about a decade ago, when he noticed other handymen trying to work in other fields they weren't qualified for. He recalls landscaping businesses suddenly advertising they can repair roofs, even though they didn't have the expertise for it. SNEAKY SIGN: Texas woman trolls Ted Cruz in posed photo with the senator "A lot of people commented to me, 'these are screwing up roofs,'" Boyden said. "I said this is insane, I should go get my own sign." Boyden said he decided to take his sign one step further, adding skills that he's obviously not qualified for. "I like humor in all my stuff. My very first business card I got said, 'If you want it done right, call someone else,'" Boyden said. Visit Boyden's website to learn more about him and his services. Will Axford is a digital reporter for Chron.com. Read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter. 1 Hackers busted: Police in Spain have captured a cybercrime gang made up of Ukrainians and Russians that allegedly stole more than $1.24 billion from financial institutions worldwide in a five-year spree, authorities said Monday. The gangs alleged mastermind, identified as a Ukrainian and named only as Denis K., was arrested in the coastal city of Alicante, 220 miles southeast of Madrid, according to statements issued by Spanish police and European Union law enforcement agency Europol. The gang used malware to target more than 100 financial institutions worldwide, sometimes stealing up to $12.5 million euros in each heist. Almost all of Russias banks were targeted, and about 50 of them lost money in the attacks, authorities said. The gang used well-worn techniques such as booby trapped emails to break into banks and compromise the networks controlling ATMs, effectively turning the machines into free cash dispensers. 2 Government wins OK: Slovakias new government has won a confidence vote in parliament amid the political crisis sparked by the slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee. Prime Minister Robert Ficos three-party coalition stepped down following large street protests sparked by the shooting deaths of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova a month ago. Kuciak was investigating possible widespread government corruption. President Andrej Kiska swore in a new Cabinet in Bratislava on Thursday made up of the same three parties from Ficos government. In Mondays vote, 81 lawmakers in the 150-seat legislature voted in favor of the government to rule. In a separate development, a prosecutor said Monday that circumstances in the deaths suggest it was a contract killing and the two were killed on Feb. 21. Their bodies were found four days later. Fix Hill Street Now campaigners are fuming after pouring time and thousands of dollars into presenting a petition to Parliament, which they believe has got nowhere. The petition sought to prioritise major improvements to the troubled intersection to address current and future safety and congestion issues. Fix Hill Street Now raised about $5,000 organised a billboard campaign, produced Hill Street Blues muffins and t-shirts and gathered more than 7000 signatures in support of their petition. Glyn Williams along with fellow Hill Street Now activists, travelled to Wellington last July to present the petition to Parliaments Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. read more Aucklands International Airport has become the first in the world to deploy a digital biosecurity officer. Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) detection technology manager, Brett Hickman, says that, while nothing can replace real human interaction, the idea is for the digital employee, which features the latest in artificial intelligence technology, to take some of the load off MPI officers during peak times by answering simple biosecurity questions from the public. Vai, which stands for Virtual Assistant Interface, started work in February in a trial to see whether she will become a permanent asset in the team. Vai can see, hear and answer arriving international visitors questions. Westpacs Innovation Fund supported the development of Vai, while FaceMe, a New Zealand-based company specialising in artifical intelligence (AI), developed the technology. FaceMes avatar technology uses biometrics to learn human interactions and interact accordingly. Digital Employees also learn from past interactions to sharpen and perfect their skills. FaceMe chief executive Danny Tomsett says Vai is highly conversational. She embodies the AI experience with human like qualities, including a friendly personality and emotional understanding, he says. Over the next 10 years, human contact with organisations will be reduced to less than 15 percent of interactions. The findings from the trial are expected to be published this month. Alf Austin and Drew Parsons, two 73-year-old retired teachers from Orewa College, recently returned from an epic journey across Siberia. The friends are no strangers to off the beaten track expeditions. Together, they have hiked and climbed and explored Svalbard north of Norway. Last year they drove down the Carretera Austral highway in Chile, also known as Pinochets folley. And, although Drew hadnt cycled for decades, they both completed the Twin Coast Trail in Northland at the end of last year. However, Siberia proved to be something out of the ordinary. Drews interest in prehistory attracted him to Siberia, because of early settlements in the Altai mountain range. The pair also wanted to explore the remote and spectacular mountain environment. Their first stop was Lake Teletskoe in the Altai Mountains where they were the only visitors in town. After hiking, dog sledding and snowmobiling on and around the frozen lake, they travelled south to hike along the creaking and groaning ice of the frozen Katun River. Drew describes dog sledding, which was on forest tracks on a racing sled, as like being towed by a car on a very short rope. Near the Mongolian border they stayed in a remote mountain hut at Aktru gorge and climbed to the Bolshoi Aktru glacier at 3000m. The second part of the trip involved a drive of 1000km north to Novosibirsk and a flight to Yakutsk, which is known as the coldest city in the world. The temperature when they landed was -41C. Drew says as long as you were well insulated in balaclava, very thick down jacket, thermals and double sets of gloves, you stayed warm. A local driver took them for the next leg of the journey a 2100km, four day drive to Magadan on Stalins infamous Road of Bones. This involved crossing frozen rivers on ice roads and passing through forests hanging with snow. They drove over the snow covered, 2600m Verkhoyhanskiy Ranges, through remote Siberian valleys and over passes between spectacular peaks devoid of settlements. On a pass above the town of Ust-Nera the temperature was -51C. Along the way, they passed the occasional abandoned Soviet era mining town with blocks of empty apartments. At one abandoned Gulag site there was an unexpected delay as their vehicle got stuck in the snow with no food available along the way, a late arrival in the township of Susuman saw them rely on emergency supplies of scroggan for dinner. The town had run out of petrol and they had to wait for a tanker to arrive, so Alf and Drew explored the town with its impressive war memorial. Each settlement has one of these, reflecting the fact that 20 million Russians died in World War II. At the next town, they enjoyed a late breakfast by then it had been 34 hours between proper meals. Magadan, the final destination, was the port of entry for millions of prisoners destined for Stalins Gulag camps. Here the sea was frozen for 7km offshore and people were ice fishing using augers to drill holes in the ice. Drew says he will always remember the magnificent scenery, the remoteness and the friendliness, hospitality, generosity and honesty of all the folk they met. He organised the trip by researching and booking online including places to visit, mountain huts and transport options, which he says made for a very economical, as well as memorable journey. Staff and residents of Maygrove Village in Orewa are getting behind the Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren organisation, which supports grandparents that have taken on the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren full time. Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren president, Bjorn Modigh, says that often grandparents in this position can feel isolated, receive very little financial or personal support and are hesitant to ask for help. He finds that an important factor is breaking through that isolation. The team at Maygrove Village started with the idea that this Christmas it would be lovely to give each grandchild a box filled with treats and practical items. The residents got behind the Shoe Box idea whole heartedly and started donating age appropriate gifts, toiletries, underwear and socks, food and books or games. Maygrove Village Manager Jeanne Jury says that the charity resonates with residents because so many of them are grandparents themselves and they can understand the pressure faced by those who have a 24/7 role. The residents began with the goal of filling 50 Christmas boxes, they achieved this and also filled numerous bags of extra items, groceries and toys. Maygrove Village also gave fuel vouchers. Info: hbcgpg.weebly.com or phone 09 428 3419 Auckland Councils plan to sell an 809sqm piece of land at 8 Hiwi Crescent (opposite Scott Road) in Whangaparaoa has again been deferred by the local board. The Auckland Transport board resolved in November 2015 that the site was no longer required for transport related purposes and it was transferred to CCO Panuku Development Auckland, which handles the sale process. The proposal to sell the land, which has a Capital Value of $530,000, was brought to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board a year ago and so far deferrals have stopped it proceeding any further. At last weeks meeting, the proposal to sell the site was once again put before the board for endorsement and again deferred. It is clear that the deferrals are not because it is a particularly valuable, or useful site. Currently a grassed area, it is the remainder of property acquired by the former Rodney District Council in 1998 for the purpose of its Whangaparaoa Road Widening Project. However, at last weeks meeting local board members expressed their frustration at the lack of background information supplied by Auckland Transport. The fact that local ratepayers paid for the land, yet the proceeds of sale will go into a regional pot and are unlikely to be invested locally is also a very sore point. In deferring the matter for a further few months, the local board requested more information from Auckland Transport and also asked that the proceeds of sale be spent in this area. Every stroke Mitch Boocock takes is for better mental health. When Mitch Boocock swims from Hatfields Beach to Orewa this Easter he says each of the 4200 strokes he takes will be for someone lost to suicide in the past seven years. The 4km swim is the goal of his Swim for Life project, which has already raised more than $5000 for Mike Kings Key to Life Charitable Trust. The solo ocean swim is both a physical and mental challenge for the 47-year-old Orewa resident something he thought was appropriate in order to raise as much money as possible for the trust. When I started I resembled a manatee more than Michael Phelps, but I have worked my backside off to do justice to the cause, he says. He says he hopes that raising funds and promoting the Key to Life Charitable Trusts work will contribute towards saving a life. The trust aims to increase awareness about mental health and suicide among youth and adults. It is an issue that is close to Mitchs heart Mitch has suffered with low self esteem and anxiety most of his adult life and says in the past year he has also seen families he is close to, struggle to cope with the devastation and loss caused when young people take their own lives. I cant stand by any longer and not do something about the number of our precious children, including those on the Hibiscus Coast, who are taking their own lives, Mitch says. I wanted to do something solo because that is mentally difficult and swimming is about the loneliest thing you can do. You can prepare physically, but when you are out in the ocean and your breathing goes south, doubt and anxiety can make things turn to dust pretty quickly. I wanted to do something that made me feel vulnerable in order to be worthy of the cause. He has been training, mainly in a pool, for more than two months. When he started, Mitch says he was out of shape and couldnt swim 150m without thinking the world would end but he can now cover 2.5km in a pool comfortably. Along the way, he lost 10kg. Support has come through his Givealittle page and he says he has been blown away by the response his initial target of $1500 has already been exceeded, with pledges so far totalling around $5500 from more than 80 donors. Mitch says several people have also reached out to him, wanting to talk about their own mental health issues since he began his Swim for Life project. The best advice I can offer is to talk to people about whatever it is that scares you, the fear of failure, how you suffer personally. A problem shared really is a problem halved. Im no expert, but I will listen and can offer support if someone needs it when going to speak with a professional. You can just about see Orewa Surf Club on the far shore, when you are standing on Hatfields Beach. It looks a long way away but it feels even further to Mitch. He expects his swim will take around 1.5-2 hours to complete, depending on the conditions. He will leave Hatfields Beach on Saturday, March 31 at 2pm and says a lot of people are planning to gather at Orewa Surf Club to see him finish. I look across to Orewa from Hatfields Beach and it scares me. However, every one of the strokes I take around 4200 will be for someone who has been lost to suicide in the last seven years in NZ. Thats my motivation. Info: donations can be made at Givealittle (look for Swim for Life) until the end of April. Alternatively, donations can be dropped in at the Horse & Harp, 304 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa. I am Hope tour During March 2018, Mike King and a group of friends rode eight Suzuki 50cc scooters painted by NZ artists from one end of the country to the other. Along the way they stopped at around 45 schools and community halls and talk to more than 20,000 students and adults about mental health, and how everyone can be the hope someone needs when times are tough. Local News, Crime, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: March 27 2018 Defendants Allegedly Preyed on New Yorkers in Need of Money Using Bookmaking Operation to Funnel Victims into Loan Sharking Operation that Saddled New Yorkers with High Weekly Usurious Loan Payments. New Rochelle, NY - March 27, 2018 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the arrests and indictment of 10 individuals on charges stemming from the alleged operation of lucrative loan sharking and gambling activities controlled by the Lucchese Organized Crime Family. The long-term investigation deemed Operation The Vig Is Up involved the alleged loan sharking and bookmaking activities of alleged Lucchese made member Dominick Capelli and alleged Lucchese Associates or non-made crew members in Westchester and the Bronx. The loan sharking operation is the largest such operation ever investigated by the New York Attorney General, with usurious interest payouts exceeding a million dollars just during the approximately one-year investigation. As we allege, this brazen ring of criminals preyed on New Yorkers using a gambling operation to funnel victims into their loan sharking operation, and then saddling them with usurious loan payments, said Attorney General Schneiderman. My office will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to root out organized crime and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law. As part of the long-term investigation, investigators utilized wiretaps, covert surveillance cameras, a car bug, undercover police officers, and hidden cameras. Additional evidence came as a result of search warrants executed at defendant Robert Wagners home in New Rochelle and at McKiernans Lawton Street Tavern in New Rochelle. In total, investigators identified over 47 distinct loan sharking victims, many with multiple loans, who were preyed on by the defendants. Loan sharking victims were allegedly required to make weekly, high interest vig payments, either by directly paying individual defendants, or by dropping off cash payments at two New Rochelle businesses: McKiernans Lawton Street Tavern and The Glass Room, a smoke shop. Victims were allegedly charged exorbitant weekly loan rates averaging over 200 percent per year, effectively creating a high-cost debt trap for all individuals taking out such loans. Additionally, defendants Capelli, Wagner, and Frank McKiernan are alleged to have run an illegal bookmaking operation, utilizing the gambling website bxbets.com to generate over a half a million dollars in annual wagers. Today, Attorney General Schneiderman charged the following ten individuals with Enterprise Corruption with underlying crimes of Usury in the First Degree and Promoting Gambling in the First Degree: Dominick Capelli, 61, of New Rochelle, NY Robert Wagner, 59, of New Rochelle, NY Frank McKiernan, 53, of New Rochelle, NY Anthony Martino, 76, of Port Chester, NY Michael Wagner, 63, of Bronx, NY Steve Murray, 49, of Bethel, CT Seth Trustman, 36, of Bronx, NY Richard Caccavale, 59, of Yorktown Heights, NY Jessica Bismark, 32, of New Rochelle, NY Robert Wagner Jr., 33, of New Rochelle, NY The Enterprise Corruption charge alone carries a maximum penalty of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison. Two related indictments were also filed in conjunction with this investigation. A separate bookmaking indictment charged Michael Lepore, 61, of New Rochelle, NY, and Vincent Tardibuono, 41, also of New Rochelle, NY, with running an online bookmaking operation via website ezplay2001.com , which generated over $1.5 million in annual wagers. Additionally, a related narcotics-based indictment filed by the Westchester County District Attorneys Office and prosecuted by OAG OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Thomas Luzio, charged Lucien Cappello, 38, of New Rochelle, NY with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A-II felony, as well as six counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. If convicted, Cappello faces ten years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision. Attorney General Schneiderman thanks Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. and his office for their assistance and support. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. said, This investigation and successful take down of this organized crime loan sharking operation was the culmination of a collaborative effort among the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force, the New Rochelle Police, and our office. We commend the work of all involved and will continue to work together to fight organized crime here in Westchester. Acting New Rochelle Police Commissioner Joseph F. Schaller said, I want to commend members of the New Rochelle Police Departments Special Investigations Unit, members of the New York State Attorney Generals Office and members of the Westchester County District Attorneys Office for their hard work and dedicated efforts in helping to root out illegal gambling and loan-sharking in the City of New Rochelle. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation was directed by OCTF Investigators John Mullen and Kyle Vitale-OSullivan, Supervising Investigator Bradford Miller, and Deputy Chief Investigator Christopher Vasta, under the supervision of Chief Dominick Zarrella; and New Rochelle Detective Dwayne Jones, under the supervision Lieutenant Brian Fagan. School & Education, Local News By Long Island News & PR Published: March 27 2018 Mrs. Redding, who has served as the assistant principal at Moriches Elementary School since August 2007, has held various roles throughout her educational career. Moriches, NY - March 27, 2018 - The William Floyd School District has appointed Deirdre Redding as the next Principal of Moriches Elementary School beginning July 1, 2018, a role in which she will serve as the instructional and administrative leader of Moriches Elementary School and supervise more than 830 students from kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as approximately 60 faculty members and more than 40 professional staff. Mrs. Redding, who has served as the Moriches Elementary School assistant principal for the past 11 years, will take over for Eileen Filippone, who is retiring after a distinguished 11-year career as principal. We are excited that Deirdre Redding has accepted a promotion to serve as the next principal at Moriches Elementary School, said Dr. Stacey Scalise, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Instruction, Administration and Pupil Personnel Services. Her vast knowledge of the school community, vision, collaborative leadership style and interpersonal skills make her the ideal candidate to lead Moriches into the future. I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to be the next principal at Moriches Elementary School and work with such an amazing group of students, parents and consummate professionals, said Mrs. Redding. I look forward with eager anticipation to the wonderful things that we will be able to accomplish together. Mrs. Redding, who has served as the assistant principal at Moriches Elementary School since August 2007, has held various roles throughout her educational career including: ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in the Hampton Bays School District, ESL teacher at Suffolk County Community College, and in 2017, supervised the William Floyd School District Elementary Summer Literacy Program as its principal. Mrs. Redding has also conducted various professional development sessions for her faculty and staff as well as for new teachers and administrative colleagues within the district. Collaborating with such a dedicated faculty and staff, supportive parents and incredible community, has not only given my career energy and purpose, but has provided me the skills and experience to feel confident continuing the Moriches Elementary School tradition of excellence as its next principal, said Mrs. Redding. Moriches Elementary School has a long, proud tradition of continued academic achievement. Working together, I know that we will be able to build upon this history and provide a topnotch education for our students. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause By Long Island News & PR Published: March 27 2018 Jacob Palant, 21, was found convicted of striking a car and causing permanent injury to a female passenger in December 2015. Nassau DA Madeline Singas announced that Jacob Palant of Syosset, 21, was sentenced to prison for throwing cinderblocks and bricks onto Meadowbrook Parkway. Jacob Palant, 21, of Syosset was convicted by a jury on May 17, 2017 of: Assault in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony) Two counts of Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree (a D felony) Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D violent felony) Three counts of Criminal mischief in the 4th Degree (an A misdemeanor) The trial before Acting Supreme Court Justice Meryl Berkowitz started May 1, 2017 and the jury deliberated for approximately a day and a half. His co-defendant, Andrew Denton, was sentenced on August 21, 2017 to 10 years in prison. Jacob Palant and Andrew Denton endangered lives by throwing paving stones and cinderblocks at passing vehicles from a highway overpass, DA Singas said. People could have been killed from this depraved behavior and it is a miracle that only one young woman suffered permanent injuries due to their actions. These crimes will not be tolerated in Nassau County DA Singas said on two occasions on December 26, 2015, the defendants threw paving bricks and cinderblocks at cars from a Meadowbrook Parkway overpass bridge in Uniondale. The overpass has high fences curved inward at the top to prevent this kind of criminal behavior but the defendants used extraordinary efforts to thwart these protections. During the first incident in the afternoon, the defendants did not hit any of the vehicles they targeted. However, during the second incident, at approximately 8:00 pm, the defendants struck two vehicles a BMW and a Jeep with bricks. The BMW was the first car that was hit and was being driven by a 21-year-old man with his girlfriend who were traveling northbound on the Meadowbrook to go out to dinner. Without warning, a paving brick smashed through the windshield, snapping off the rear-view mirror and shattering glass all over the vehicle. The brick just missed the drivers head but the shattered glass permanently damaged the left eye of the 23-year old female passenger in the vehicle and lacerated her lip. The victim has a permanent scar on her cornea, cannot drive at night and suffers from blurry vision in that eye. The driver of the BMW also suffered a laceration to his shoulder and shoulder pain from where the brick struck him. In the second incident, a 23-year-old woman was driving a Jeep to her sisters home when it was struck on the roof and side of the car, narrowly missing the windshield. The Jeep sustained approximately $5,000 in damages. New York State Police arrested the defendants on January 1, 2016, following an investigation. Note: An original version of this article incorrectly stated that the non-Pro iPad doesnt support Split View. We have corrected that mistake, and now the article focuses solely on Apple Pencil support. Conventional wisdom tells us were going to see a new 9.7-inch iPad drop today at Apples Field Trip event in Chicago. Its possible this new iPad will even be less expensive, considering that Apples event focuses on the classroom, where cost savings are paramount. Less expensive iPads sound great, but if Apple really wants to make its tablets more appealing in classrooms, students would be better served if Apple packed a new student edition iPad featuring the same support for the Apple Pencil we find in the iPad Pro. Pencil it in To judge from Apples commercials and keynotes, it chiefly considers the Apple Pencil an artists tool. Sure, sometimes the company briefly shows off the ways you can use it for taking notes (as in the Whats a computer ad), but in general Apple wants us to ooh and ahh over its impressive pressure-sensitive pencil tip rather than its strengths for humdrum writing. Apple needs to change that attitude if it plans to win over the education market. After all, the Pencil gives us traditional pen-and-paper notetaking with superpowers. Apple itself doesnt push this power to its logical limits in its own software, but the Pencil really shines in apps like Notes Plus, which lets you erase words just by scratching them out, or move around blocks of texts just by circling and dragging themall with the Pencil. Nor does Notes Plus limit itself by trying to mimic physical paper. Instead, you can write on one continuous sheet, inserting space and removing it as needed. Leif Johnson/IDG Adding Apple Pencil support for non-Pro iPads would be a commendable step, but producing an Apple Pencil 2 with greater precision and a sharper point would be an even more welcome addition. As things stand, only the Notability app truly captures the fluid sensation of writing with a pen or pencil, and it currently doesnt have quite as many helpful features for notetaking as Notes Plus. With a more refined Pencil, though, its possible these differences between apps would cease to matter as much. In a perfect world, Apple would incorporate similar features into its own Notes app. And the Apple Pencils strengths for education need not be confined to handwritten notes. If you happen to have an iPad Pro, the Pencil already makes interacting with textbooks more agreeable and accessible: Students can use it to mark up PDFs and digital textbooks with highlights and margin notes, and a copy of their work is always waiting for them right there in iCloud (yes, even if the dog decides to eat their homework). A cheaper student edition iPad needs these features too. The main drawback of Apple Pencil support for an iPad aimed at schools, of course, is that its going to be ridiculously easy to lose it. But as Apple added support for Bluetooth keyboards for iPhones, its an option that needs to be there. Seeing double Its hard to hard to overstate how much Apples Spit View for the iPad feature simplifies research (or homework), and it gets better with the Apple Pencil and an app that supports editing tools. Open the document youre reading to take up three-quarters of the screen, and then devote the remainder to whatever note-taking or word processing app you prefer. Everything you need is on a single screen. Leif Johnson/IDG This is impressive enough when typing with the Split View mode (particularly when you need to do a lot of transcribing). With an Apple Pencil, though, you can still use the tablet as a notetaking tool in virtually any environment, without the need to carefully position the iPad on a flat surface for easier typing. Just hold the tablet like a spiral notebook, rest it on your knee, and its possible to scribble out notes quickly on in a place as crowded as a school bus. There is, of course, a possibility that Apple thinks weaker iPads just cant handle the rigors of Apple Pencil support combined with the performance demands of Split View multitasking. Without the full experience we get from the iPad Pro, though, the iPad is basically a mere novelty for students. So, by making an affordable iPad aimed at schools with some of the standout features of its Pro cousin, Apple could once again make iPads worthy of serious consideration in the classroom. Until then, were probably all just better off waiting for those cheaper MacBooks that Apple may not have ready in time for todays big reveal. Oh, and while youre at it, Apple? Add a native calculator app. Apples media event Tuesday in Chicago was unique, from the venue to the laser focus on a single topic to the lack of a live video stream. But like all Apple media events, some parties walked away strengthenedand others were left looking sad by the side of the road. Heres a look at the winners and losers from Tuesday. The winners The iPad. Apple hasnt always shown the kind of love for the iPad that it has done for its much more successful cousin the iPhone, but this day was the iPads day to shine, and thats an important day in any products life. The iPad has gained momentum since Apple split the product line in two, and both the $329 iPad and the pricey iPad Pro models have seemingly sold well. Apples cheapest and most popular model didnt just win by being the center of attention, though. It also picked up a sixth-generation update that included a faster processor and, perhaps most importantly, support for the Apple Pencil. With that, the iPad became a platform for a collection of sketching and notetaking apps that will make it that much more versatile, whether youre a student or not. Apple Teachers and students. Apples hourlong event, and the hands-on sessions at Lane Tech College Prep High School, were love letters from Apple to teachers and students. Among the product announcements, teachers got a collection of new tools to better administer their classes, and students get to benefit from advanced augmented reality features as well as the Apple Pencil. Chicago. Since Macworld Expo left New York City in 2003, Apple has held only one major media event outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: the 2012 unveiling of iBooks Author in an education-themed event in New York City. That all changed when Apple invited hundreds of members of the media and VIPs to Lane Tech. In addition to showing off the citys impressive public magnet school, Apples event spun off additional events, including an all-star session at the brand-new Apple Store in Chicagos Loop, as well as a Tim Cook sit-down with Recodes Kara Swisher and MSNBCs Chris Hayes on Wednesday. Apple Pencil. Once the domain of the iPad Pro, the $99 Apple Pencil ($89 for education!) is now open to owners of the low-cost sixth-generation iPad. This should dramatically expand the user base of the Pencil, which is good news not just for it, but to the app developers who have written Apple Pencil-enhanced software. By being available on the sixth-generation iPad as well as both iPad Pro models, the Apple Pencil continues its march toward the mainstream. Apple Logitech. In a partnership that dates from the early days of the iPad Pro, Apple continues to partner with accessory maker Logitech to build products that Apple wants to exist, but not necessarily enough to build itself. This time around, Logitech not only provided a redesigned rugged case for the new iPad, but an intriguing $49 accessory called the Crayon, which is basically a low-cost Apple Pencil that lacks pressure sensitivity, but otherwise takes advantage of the same tech thats in the Apple Pencil. Thats quite a coupand its a product thats likely to be a big hit, especially in education. The losers Apple Media Event viewers. Who knows why, but after a long streak of live-streaming every single Apple media event, this event wasnt streamed live. (Instead, an archived video will be posted after the fact.) Suddenly we were all liveblogging like it was 2009, with word-for-word recaps instead of a little more restrained analysis. It was a fun throwback, dont get me wrong, but I think I prefer the world where people who want to see the Apple event live can do soand journalists in attendance can dial back the blow-by-blow depictions and instead insert a little more context and analysis. Apple Apple CEO Tim Cook. Schools with tight budgets. Google-powered Chromebooks are taking over the education market, thanks to Googles excellent educational administration tools and the dirt-cheap prices of Chromebook laptops. Anyone hoping Apple would swoop in with an even lower priced iPad went home unhappy: The sixth-generation iPad costs the same as the fifth-generation model, and now Apples trying to sell schools Apple Pencils, too. From Apples perspective, the entire day was about telling why Apples stuff is worth the extra money, as well as playing catch-up with some administrative tools and cloud storage quotas that lag well behind what Google offers to schools. Its a work in progress, to be sure. The iPad Pro. When it was first released, the iPad Pro was differentiated from the iPad by its support for the Apple Pencil and the Smart Connector and Smart Keyboard. In its second generation, the iPad Pro has been given other boostsa bigger screen on the 10.5-inch model, powerful processors, a wider color gamutthat further differentiate it from the plain ol iPad. But one of the ways the iPad Pro was differentif you wanted to use an Apple Pencil you had to buy oneis now gone. That will probably woo at least some peoplethe ones who really just want to use the Apple Pencilover to the much cheaper iPad. Its important to note, though, that were comparing 2018s iPad to 2017s iPad Pro. Presumably new iPad Pro models are on the horizon, possibly with smaller bezels, Face ID, faster processors, and who knows what else. Its almost certain that the gap will widen again, but for now its a little bit closer. The Mac. There was a time when Apples entire education strategy was the Mac. That time was 1984 through 2010. But these days, the iPad is most definitely Apples story in education. Apple I noticed two mentions of the Mac in Apples presentation, and they were telling. The first was when Apple put up a slide of software running on a Mac only to wipe to a slide showing that now it ran on iOS too! The second was the announcement that the iOS app Apple Classroom would be brought to the Mac, which was nicebut thats an app for teachers. The context was clear: Mac support might be nice for teachers (because theyre older?), but isnt as necessary for students. Apple still professes its love of the Mac, and in certain areas in education its still powerful. In one of the demonstration classrooms at the school on Tuesday, above the many iPads showing off Swift Playgrounds and ARKit and other features, was a mezzanine full of iMacs, more than a dozen of them all in a row, presumably being used with Final Cut or Logic or other high-powered media applications. The area was darkened and roped off. The Mac still exists and still has some relevance, but at this event it was barely more than a footnote. Along with the new iPad with Apple Pencil support thats getting all of the attention, Apple used its education event in Chicago on Tuesday to unveil a host of new tools to allow teachers and students to make the most of their Apple devices, including the Everyone Can Create curriculum and Schoolwork app, as well as an expansion of the Classroom app. Heres what they do and how schools can use them. Everyone Can Create curriculum Developed by Apple with input from educators and creative pros, Everyone Can Create is a free resource available to teachers and students that allows for the integration of videos, photos, illustrations, and music into lessons or assignments. Teachers can create interactive lessons, while students can make active projects. Its part of the Everyone Can Code project. When used with the new 9.7-inch iPad with an Apple Pencil ($329 on Apple.com), the stylus can be used to draw or write directly into Everyone Can Create curriculum. Everyone Can Create will be available later this spring, and lessons will be available as Today at Apple sessions at the Apple Store. Schoolwork classroom managment Teachers currently have access to a variety of classroom management applications. Many of them are web-based, and most of them have serious shortcomings. Apple is joining the fray with Schoolwork, which it says is a better solution. Apple Apples new 9.7-inch iPad now supports Apple Pencil. Schoolwork, an iPad app, allows teachers to manage and create class assignments and monitor student progress. A major difference between Schoolwork and other similar apps, Apple says, is that Schoolwork can work with other apps on the iPad that have implemented the ClassKit API. Teachers can use Schoolwork to assign specific tasks within another app, or take students to a specific point within that app. Apps that are currently implementing ClassKit include Kahoot, Nearpod, and Tynker. Schoolwork integrates into Apples existing Classroom app, which also received an update. Classroom for Mac For teachers who already use iPads in the classroom, the Classroom app is a powerful tool for managing iPad usage. Apple will soon release Classroom for Mac, which will be available as a beta this June. Classroom can be used to launch apps, books, and webpages on student devices. It also lets teachers see the screens of student iPads, as well as other administrative tasks. ivWatch is a medical device manufacturer who we met with during CES 2018 in Las Vegas a couple months ago. They have developed of a non-invasive device that aims to establish a new standard of care for peripheral intravenous (IV) monitoring. The FDA-cleared ivWatch continuously monitors a patients IV for the early detection of infiltrations and extravasations when medication or fluid leaks outside the vein into the surrounding tissue. ivWatch has achieved many milestones since its inception in late 2010 to include a significant pediatric pilot study at a leading childrens hospital, three FDA clearances for the ivWatch Model 400, the granting of several patents, and full-scale manufacturing of the device. The company currently has a direct-to-customer sales model and an OEM solution. We spoke with Gary Warren, President and CEO of ivWatch, who is an engineer and technology entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience with several global high-technology companies. Medgadget: At CES, your display had a dramatic picture of a childs hand with the skin necrosed from an extravasated maintenance fluid. How does this scenario develop and what are the other clinical scenarios you are trying to prevent? Gary Warren: Hospital departments spanning Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to pediatric-only floors treat millions of patients each year whose medications and fluids must be administered through peripheral intravenous (IV) therapy. Yet, this procedure has a 20-23% failure rate due to infiltration and extravasation which occurs when fluid or medication intended for the vein leaks into the surrounding tissue. Infiltration is the inadvertent administration of non-vesicant drugs or fluids into the subcutaneous tissue, and an extravasation occurs when the leakage is of a vesicant agent such as certain antineoplastic drugs or fluids. Simply put, our mission is to prevent patient harm when these events occur. The current standard of care to check for a possible infiltration are visual and tactile examinations by a nurse on a regular basis as defined by an organizations protocol. This could be every hour or every four hours. Unfortunately, serious issues can happen within minutes if its a fast leak of a vesicant medication, while slow leaks that arent visible to the eye can be just as dangerous. Slow leaks with a rate of infiltration as low as 1-2ccs per hour will cause the extremity (typically a hand, arm, leg or foot) to swell gradually and possibly in its entirety, where a faster leak can cause significant swelling or blistering in one area close to the IV insertion site. Every infiltration is a medication dosing and delivery error that can impact the patient through prolonged hospital stays, increased health care expenses, or permanent injuries. In addition to the impact on a patient, any of these adverse events may result in significant legal risk and reputation damage for health care providers and facilities. ivWatch technology significantly improves the level of quality and patient safety through early detection. Our continuous monitoring device is the new and next step for reducing the risk of injury to the patient. Our hope is ivWatch technology will become as ubiquitous as seat belts. Medgadget: What patient populations do you target? Gary Warren: Because peripheral IV catheter insertion is the most common invasive hospital procedure performed worldwide with more than 150 million placements annually, there is a significant opportunity for patient safety improvements across the spectrum. We are currently focused on populations who are particularly vulnerable to peripheral IV complications. For example, general pediatric patients are susceptible to IV infiltrations because of their small, fragile veins, limited co mmunication skills, and their tendency to be very active. And both adult and pediatric ICU patients are at-risk because their illnesses may be severe or they may have lost their ability to communicate. Other areas of focus include the OR where there is often limited visibility of the IV site during a procedure and on medical-surgical floors where the staffing level is often one nurse to five or six patients and patient assessment may not be as frequent, despite hospital protocol and the best intentions of the clinician. IV infiltration is a hospital-acquired condition (HAC) getting more notice as of late due to the severity of the outcomes. Several years ago the preventative solution by many hospitals was moving from peripheral IVs to a peripherally-inserted central catheter (PICC or PIC line) to lessen the frequency and severity of these adverse events. Unfortunately, the significant increase in their use has led to inappropriate placement and a heighted risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) like CLABSI and DVT, both of which can be deadly. ivWatch is in a class of its own introducing a new category within the Vascular Access space a monitored peripheral IV. Medgadget: What is your biggest market now? Gary Warren: Patients are affected by this type of preventable harm every day, but the good news is many hospitals and health care systems are pursuing solutions. Early on as a company, we were fortunate enough to have a team from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center reach out about our technology as they were working on quality improvement measures to address this HAC. So, we moved our clinical trials there and through the sharing of resources we advanced our shared initiative to improve patient safety in this area. Childrens hospitals are often the leaders in adopting technology to transform patient care, solve accepted but unacceptable problems, equalize the relationship between physicians and patients, and to provide affordable and more efficient solutions. They remain our biggest base, and I believe they will help foster wide-spread adoption. While infiltration is a common term within hospital walls, IV therapy risks are typically the furthest thing from a patients mind when receiving treatment or going in for surgery. There is a need for patient awareness around this topic. Weve recently helped build a platform, myIV.com, to educate patients and family caregivers so they can be their own advocates and know what protocols and technologies are in place and available to keep themselves and their family members safe from preventable harm. Medgadget: Can you give us an overview of the underlying technology? What are the new notable features in of the ivWatch Model 400? Gary Warren: Major medical device companies have been trying to solve the IV infiltration problem for years, and have been unsuccessful. Weve pursued and continue in-depth research and development, conducted thousands of hours of clinical trials and evaluations, been awarded patent grants and have secured steady funding to get to the point where ivWatch customers include world-class health facilities. One of our core technologies for mitigating the effects of tissue blood volume changes is an example of how we prospered where others failed. The science is directly related to the ability of the ivWatch Model 400 to reduce the number of false notifications helping combat an epidemic of alarm fatigue. The ivWatch Model 400 consists of three components; the ivWatch patient monitor, a sensor cable, and a disposable receptacle that is placed next to the peripheral IV to secure the sensor to the patient. The device uses visible and near-infrared light to continuously monitor a patients subcutaneous tissue and measures the changes in the optical properties of the tissue. The sensor cable delivers the light signals from the ivWatch patient monitor to the patients skin through the sensor head. The sensor head transmits the reflected light from the tissue back to the patient monitor through the sensor cable. If changes in the optical properties of the tissue near the IV insertion site are consistent with an infiltration, the ivWatch monitor will provide audible and visual notifications, alerting clinicians of an infiltration event. Another core technology ensuring the devices high sensitivity is the geometry of our ivWatch sensor heads. The combination of these features have secured ivWatchs position as the first, and only, technology of its kind in the market to aid health care providers in an early diagnosis of these most serious events during IV therapy. In most cases, the ivWatch device will identify infiltrations prior to the clinician, given its purpose as an aid that provides an extra set of eyes that monitor constantly. The final decision to replace the IV will always be made by the clinician. Our device is a patient care partner and by working together with care providers, we can reduce harm and improve outcomes. Medgadget: What are the efforts your company is making to change standards of care industry-wide to integrate infiltration and extravasation event monitoring into the everyday clinical practice? Gary Warren: The current gold standard in health care for the detection of infiltrations is primed for improvement. Even in the best of hands, frequent or periodic monitoring of the IV site is not enough to prevent harm. Several hospitals and patient safety organizations have defined and are focused on the PIVIE HAC (peripheral IV infiltration/extravasation hospital-acquired condition). As more of these progressive and innovative facilities and associations see how our technology and device positively impacts their patients and members through fewer severe events, minimized patient harm and improved patient experience and satisfaction scores we expect the standards bodies to recommend and eventually require continuous monitoring for IVs, just as they do for the heart and pulse. Building a team, both internally and with our customers who are dedicated to solving this issue, has been instrumental in getting us to this point. We are working with our partners to improve this area of potential liability through the use of technology without dramatically affecting the workflow and staffing requirements of clinical teams. As we get their feedback, we take it back to our engineering and design teams for future applications and products. As clinical needs change in the hospital and at-home care environments and we build upon our technology, youll see new versions of ivWatch sensors and products available using the IV to monitor overall health. Company website Flashbacks: ivWatch Detects Leaks Near IV Placement Sites; ivWatch Monitors IV Placement Sites for Leakage Outside Veins; ivWatch Enters Into Licensing and Distribution Agreement With Terumo to Help Improve Patient Safety by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, March 27, 2018 Among the revelations learned in Anderson Cooper's interview with Stormy Daniels on 60 Minutes on Sunday was the playful tale of how Ms. Daniels allegedly spanked Donald Trump with a rolled-up copy of his self-named magazine. This was in 2006 in the hotel-suite tryst that Trump and/or various representatives allegedly paid Daniels to keep quiet about 10 years later, just days before Trump's victorious presidential election in November 2016. The other big revelation was Daniels' account of a veiled threat made to her by an unidentified man in a Las Vegas parking lot. In this story, a man advised her to be quiet about her affair with Trump. The man then made a comment about Daniels' young daughter, who was seated in Daniels' car, which she took as a threat against her child. advertisement advertisement Later on Sunday evening, a local TV station in New York covered the story from a bar in Greenwich Village, where a crowd of neighborhood residents and barflies had gathered specifically to watch the interview together. Seen on the newscast that evening, the bar patrons were gleeful, and probably more than a little lubricated by the time this local reporter and her crew showed up. Their comments were predictable -- lots of laughs over the whole spectacle of this porn star being interviewed about the President of the United States, and predictably, a great deal of disgust (if not hatred) for the president. There was even a do-good element to the proceedings. Some kind of collection was being taken up for the benefit of sex workers, according to one of the organizers. It was another media night in America. A high-profile journalist scores a prime-time exclusive with a salacious newsmaker and the inevitable results were high ratings for CBS (an estimated 22 million people watched, according to the overnights) and robust sales at a local tavern. Armchair commentary was also inevitable. Was Stormy believable? Was this interview newsworthy? Did Anderson Cooper demean himself by taking the lead on this one? On that last question, you cannot blame a journalist for taking up an exclusive interview when it falls in his lap, even if the subject matter stinks to high heaven. Besides, the President of the United States bears more responsibility than Anderson Cooper for lowering the level of public discourse, given the way in which he has (allegedly) comported his life. The life of Donald Trump before he became president (and, some would argue, after) calls the newsworthiness of this interview into question. On the one hand, a story about hush money allegedly paid by representatives of the Republican candidate to a porn star to keep her quiet on the eve of the presidential election would appear to pass the newsworthiness test. On the other hand, Trump's reputation and past history as a faithless jerk in his relationships with women is well-known and comprehensively documented. In that context, it is not necessarily news to learn about this tryst with a porn actress, and the subsequent promises she said he made to try and get her cast her on The Apprentice. Cooper and his producers at 60 Minutes handled the material with as much class as they could, given the challenges presented by various tidbits, such as the rolled-up magazine spanking. They surrounded the interview with context, too. The segment was long, and Daniels was seen in just a portion of it. Other elements of the segment included interview portions with Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti. The role of Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen, in the payoff and cover-up was also closely examined. Cohen, who refused to be interviewed, came across as a shadowy figure. In the end, the Greenwich Village bar patrons seemed well-satisfied with what they had seen. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, March 27, 2018 Dunkin Donuts has brought Keith Lusby on board as its new vice president, media. Lusby, 47, will lead Dunkins U.S. media planning, buying and placement strategies, including traditional media programming and innovative digital and emerging media partnerships, said the company. Lusby comes to Dunkin' Brands from MullenLowe Mediahub, where he led a 140-person media team supporting campaigns for brands including Chipotle, JetBlue, Ulta Beauty and Staples. Previously, he held leadership positions with Carat and Young & Rubicam, designing media strategies and plans for brands including Reebok, Pfizer, AT&T and Procter & Gamble. He will report directly to Tony Weisman, who became chief marketing officer of Dunkin' Donuts U.S. last September. Weisman had been serving as CEO of DigitasLBi North America, which has handled digital marketing for Dunkin for about six years. Dunkin said that it chose Weisman because of his data-driven approach to marketing, extensive digital acumen and ability to build and inspire teams. Under Lusbys direction, we look forward to developing exciting ways to promote the Dunkin' Donuts brand across a broad spectrum of channels, from television to new opportunities in digital and emerging media, Weisman stated. advertisement advertisement In December, Dunkin launched its first creative review in nearly two decades. Its longtime agency of record, Hill Holliday, was invited to participate in the review, which it reportedly intended to do (no formal statement was made). At the time, it was reported that Hill Hollidays management of Dunkins media which began in 1998 would not be affected by the review. In today's competitive landscape and constantly changing media environment, we need to ensure our marketing dollars are working as effectively and as efficiently as they possibly can," Dunkin' Donuts said in announcing the creative review. "This review is part of that plan." Dunkin spent approximately $150 million on measured media in the U.S. in 2016, per Kantar Media. Last month, Dunkin unveiled a three-year plan that calls for a streamlined menu stressing room for innovation; customer convenience driven by digital technology; broader accessibility to the brand through restaurant locations expansion and new channels for its branded packaged goods; restaurant excellence; and brand evolution. Specifics include eventually doubling its U.S. locations, to 18,000 (starting with adding 1,000 by the end of 2020, 90% outside of its traditional Northeast region); embracing more of a value positioning in its battle against McDonalds, Starbucks and Burger King; and a new digital catering platform. In 2018s second half, Dunkin, which has been very aggressive in expanding its DD Perks Loyalty program, will also test a tender agnostic system that would enable members to earn points using all forms of tender, including DD Cards, credit, debit or cash. Dunkin believes that this will encourage new customer segments to join the program. In February, Dunkin Brands reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2017 results, with all-brand comparable U.S. store sales up 3.5%, and profit up 23%. For the year, the company saw U.S. Dunkin Donuts comp-store growth of 0.6% and flat Baskin-Robbins comps; revenue growth of 3.8%; and diluted earnings per share growth of 80%, or 7.5% on an adjusted basis. However, its adjusted per-share outlook of $2.40 to $2.45 for 2018 fell a bit short of the $2.89 expected by Thomson Reuters analysts, reported MarketWatch. Photo: MullenLowe Mediahub by Thom Forbes @tforbes, March 27, 2018 Brentford, U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline will pay $13 billion to purchase Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis 36.5% stake in a joint venture theyve maintained for some familiar over-the-counter healthcare brands marketed worldwide. The move is indicative of the diverging paths two new CEOs are leading their companies down. GSK chief executive Emma Walmsley, 48 years old, has moved to shake up the companys drug-research efforts, reshuffling or letting go hundreds of executives and scientists since taking over about a year ago. That is part of an industry-wide effort at several big pharmaceutical firms to refocus attention and resources on the high-risk, but high-reward business of discovering and bringing to market new drugs, writes Nathan Allen for the Wall Street Journal. advertisement advertisement Walmsley, who was named as former CEO Andrew Witty's successor in September 2016, was in charge of GSKs global consumer healthcare division at the time and, notably, had experience running LOreal's business in China before joining the pharmaceutical firm. Novartis chief executive Vasant Narasimhan, 41, on the job just since February, has similarly said his main aim is to reinvigorate the companys drug discovery pipeline, writes the WSJs Allen. He has said the over-the-counter business is no longer central to the strategy as he focuses on breakthroughs for cancer and other diseases, according to Bloombergs James Paton. Just days ago, GSK seemed set to buy Pfizers consumer healthcare business. However, when it outbid rival Reckitt Benckiser and Reckitt pulled out of the Pfizer auction, GSKs shares dipped, and the U.K. company ended up pulling out, too, David Meyer reports for Fortune. GSK and Novartis joined forces in 2014 as part of a sweeping $20 billion asset swap and revamp that included combining the Novartis over-the-counter business with the GSK consumer healthcare business. Its products include Panadol headache tablets, Sensodyne toothpaste, muscle gel Voltaren, and Nicotinell patches used by smokers who want to quit, writes Richard Fletcher of The Times of London. Alongside the deal, Glaxo has set out plans for a strategic review' of Horlicks and other consumer nutrition products and its shareholding in its Indian subsidiary, which could help to finance the Novartis acquisition, he continues. Horlicks bills itself as the The Original Malted Milk Drink and boasts that it has a mountain range named after it, was a staple of World War II and starred in the 1948 Olympics. It actually was dubbed Diastoid when it was created in Chicago in 1873 by two British ex-pat brothers named Horlick and was marketed as Horlick's Infant and Invalids Food. It has proven to be a peripatetic brand over the years. According to Holly Williams, writing for the Independent in Dublin, the majority of Horlicks and other nutrition products sales are generated in India, with the Horlicks range widely recognized as a portfolio of premium nutrition products. The stake GSK holds in its publicly traded Indian consumer health subsidiary is worth about $3.1 billion, Bloombergs Paton reports. As for the official pronouncements, the proposed transaction addresses one of our key capital allocation priorities and will allow GSK shareholders to capture the full value of one of the worlds leading consumer healthcare businesses, GSKs Walmsley says in a statement. The transaction is expected to benefit adjusted earnings and cash flows, helping us accelerate efforts to improve performance. Most importantly it also removes uncertainty and allows us to plan use of our capital for other priorities, especially pharmaceuticals R&D. For his part, Novartis Narasimhan is also looking forward: While our consumer healthcare joint venture with GSK is progressing well, the time is right for Novartis to divest a non-core asset at an attractive price. This will strengthen our ability to allocate capital to grow our core businesses, drive shareholder returns, and execute value creating bolt-on acquisitions as we continue to build the leading medicines company, powered by digital and data. I know youre dying to know about that mountain range bearing the Horlick name. In 1909, explorer Richard Byrd named the Horlicks Mountains on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antartica the worlds largest body of floating ice in honor of the company's $30,000 sponsorship of the expedition he was leading. And if youve got a few billion sitting around, that venerable heritage can apparently now be bolted onto your own venture powered by digital and data. by Larissa Faw , March 27, 2018 Online travel company Orbitz is attempting to reinvigorate its brand with its first campaign under new agency Havas Chicago. The creative is designed to reach Millennials raised on gamification apps by centering on the Orbitz Rewards program. Four 15-second spots show the savvy traveling Orbitz Duo as they enjoy the program's benefits, including waived resort fees for fitness classes. Another spot shows Gold Status members being rewarded with a free breakfast in an upgraded hotel room. A third ad finds them using "Orbucks" to stay another night, which means more time to post images across their social-media profiles. Sample the work here and here. The campaign will run across social, digital and out-of-home. Parent company Expedia, whose portfolio includes Trivago, Hotels.com and Hotwire, spent $1.6 billion supporting all of its brands last year. However, i the past few years, Orbitz was placed on the back burner in favor of its other travel platforms. In January, Orbitz named Havas Chicago as its new AOR to break through the cluttered travel industry and differentiate the brand. by Ray Schultz , March 27, 2018 Yahoo lost a legal case on Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear its appeal in the case of access to a deceased persons emails. The company had asked SCOTUS to overthrow a Massachusetts court decision finding that Yahoo is not prevented by the federal Stored Communications Act (SCA) from releasing a deceased mans email account to his relatives. As is the custom, SCOTUS gave no reason for not accepting the case, according to Law 360. Yahoo was supported by Facebook Inc., Google LLC, Dropbox Inc., Evernote Corp., Glassdoor Inc., the Internet Association and NetChoice, according to Law360. The case had its origins in a tragedy. John G. Ajemian, age 42, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2006. He died intestate, with no provisions made for the Yahoo email account he had set up four years earlier with his brother Robert. In 2009, the Ajemian siblings sued in the Probate and Family Court, seeking full access to their brothers Yahoo account. But that court granted a summary judgment to Yahoo. The family appealed. advertisement advertisement Last October, Associate Judge Barbara A. Lenk, writing for the majority in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, stated that the SCA does not stand in the way of Yahoo releasing the emails with the familys permission, thus throwing out the Probate and Family Courts judgment. The court did not order Yahoo to release the contents of the account. Lenk, noting that there are issues of fact pertinent to the enforceability of Yahoos terms and conditions, sent the matter back to the Probate and Family Court for review. Marc Zwillinger, an attorney for Yahoo, argued in a petition to the High Court that the Massachusetts ruling effectively eliminates personal privacy in email content after death by giving estate administrators complete control over those private communications. A new study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, offers the first proof that a new synthetic form of the antibiotic teixobactin can neutralize drug-resistant bacteria. Share on Pinterest Scientists may be approaching a new era of antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that antibiotic resistance is one of the worlds most pressing public health problems. In the United States alone, 2 million people are believed to become infected by drug-resistant bacteria per year, and more than 23,000 U.S. individuals die as a result. The threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is particularly high in healthcare facilities. In fact, a 2016 report by the CDC shows that 1 in 4 healthcare-associated infections that occur in long-term care are caused by one of the following six drug-resistant bacteria: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter Three years ago, scientists discovered that a natural antibiotic called teixobactin might have the potential to kill off MRSA and VRE. Now, a team of researchers has created, for the first time, a synthetic version of the drug, which was used successfully to treat an infection in mice. The new antibiotic has been called game-changing, and the findings may lead to the first new class of antibiotic drug in 30 years. Ishwar Singh, a drug design specialist and senior lecturer in biological chemistry at the University of Lincolns School of Pharmacy in the United Kingdom, is the corresponding author of the new study. Advertisement The parliament has also suggested that the "bridge course" should not be made mandatory and if NLE could be included in the final year exams of MBBS.The whole of IMA are against the parliament recommendations, the doctors think of the panel's suggestions as "deceptive." National president of IMA Ravi Wankhedkar has announced an indefinite strike on 2 April stating that all medical students and doctors will carry on the strike.In a quite point blank remark he also said that there was no need for the government to make a law if they want to boost only AYUSH, homeopathy, pharmacists and dentists.Vinay Aggarwal, the coordinator of the mahapanchayat also pointed out the issue of violence against doctors and how problems faced by doctors are enough, now it's time to payback.People should understand the meaning of medical negligence and that a doctor never intends to perform a wrong surgery, the IMA said. It demanded no criminal prosecution for "minor clinical errors." said Wankhedkar.R.N. Tandon, honorary secretary-general of the IMA, said: "The NMC is a pro-private management bill paving the way for widespread corruption... All arguments of the government are hollow, and its intention is malafide and harmful.""Recommendation to increase the regulation of fee in private medical colleges from 40 to 50% does not make a material difference. However, lack of clarity on implementation may jeopardize the decision itself," he added.Source: Medindia Advertisement I know what steps I must take in order to get into medical school--34 percent increase I understand what students do day-to-day in medical school--89 percent increase I understand what faculty and staff do day-to-day in medical school--101 percent increase I understand what physicians do day-to-day in their job--41 percent increase Students were also surveyed on their attitudes toward their current education and showed a notable increase in enthusiasm about a medical career. Survey questions | Average end of week scores I like anatomy and physiology--19 percent increase I am looking forward to school next fall--14 percent increase I am looking forward to my science classes next year--5 percent increase A critical need for physicians of color According to a study by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the number of black males in medical school in 2014 was 515--27 fewer than in 1978, when the number of black male students enrolled in medical school peaked. The SEE cohort comprised 45 high school students in grades 10-12. Reflecting the racial demographics of the surrounding community, the group was split nearly even between white and black students, and included a few Hispanic participants. The gender split was 33 female to 12 male participants. "Diversity is crucial to the medical workforce. It promotes cultural competency, which is essential to quality of care," says Atance. "It also creates representation of minorities as role models for future potential physicians, which is essential to perpetuating and increasing diversity. We hope our program can help kick start that virtuous cycle." Source: Eurekalert "We have a problem finding doctors who will work in medically underserved areas," says Joel Atance, PhD, lead author of this study and director of the SEE program. "The best way to fix this is by recruiting doctors from those communities because we know they are most likely to return home when they're ready to practice."Scientists quizzed and surveyed participating students at the beginning of the program to assess their biomedical knowledge and determine how much they knew about medical school and careers in medicine After taking the quiz and survey at the end of the week-long program, students showed significantly improved scores. On average, students scored 38 percent higher on the biomedical knowledge quiz. They also expressed markedly increased confidence in understanding the process to becoming a physician and what the job entails. Advertisement Dr. Aplin and Jessica Teh, PhD, his senior postdoctoral researcher at Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), examined the effects of a combination of two FDA-approved targeted agents on human melanomas grafted onto mice. While one drug, MEK inhibitor, is usually used in advanced-stage melanoma, the other drug, CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib, is currently FDA-approved for treatment of Estrogen Receptor-positive breast cancer patients. While MEK inhibitors are part of treatment protocols for melanoma, palbociclib is entering clinical trials for use in melanoma populations.When both drugs were given intermittently, tumor growth increased after a one-week drug holiday, and tumors became resistant to the therapy after about eight weeks. However, if one drug was provided continuously while the other given intermittently, the tumors shrank and remained small, no matter which drug was continuous. Exploring that result further, the researchers noticed that with continuous MEK inhibition, tumors were consistently smaller, with some shrinking to undetectable levels. Whereas continuous CDK4/6 inhibition showed some toxicity not observed on the other schedules.Thus, a combination of MEK inhibitor given continuously with intermittent CDK4/6 inhibitor was the most effective schedule in mice. After initially responding to the optimized drug schedule, some tumors showed resistance and began growing back despite the presence of the drugs. However, the researchers uncovered several mechanisms leading to tumor resistance, giving them insight into which drugs could combat the resistant cancer."The surprising part was that the mechanisms of resistance all funneled through one signaling pathway, ultimately, but the way that they start is frequently different," said Dr. Aplin. When that common pathway was blocked with a new drug, mTOR inhibitor, in addition to continuing the optimized therapies, resistance was effectively turned off, and the tumors resumed shrinking. Though it still has to be shown effective in humans with the disease, this paper provides a testable method of optimizing currently available drugs for melanoma treatment. Because these drugs have already passed FDA-safety tests, it could be available to patients on the order of a few years, rather than decades.To that end, in collaboration with the University of Zurich and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the researchers tested melanoma tumor samples from human patients undergoing treatment with the same targeted therapies. The common pathway found in mouse models was also found in human tumors, suggesting that resistance could indeed be blocked in patients with the same drug as in mice. Dr. Aplin credits support from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center as well as external support from the Melanoma Research Alliance with launching this ambitions project. "They supported us at the start of this project and without this grant, we wouldn't have done this work," Aplin says."Dr. Aplin's major research advance is part of a larger effort by the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center to develop new strategies for treating melanoma. Research teams focused on both cutaneous and uveal melanoma are fast-tracking discoveries into the clinical setting, and bringing novel therapeutic options to patients in the Philadelphia region", said Karen Knudsen, Director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.Source: Eurekalert Known for portraying famous superheroes on-screen, Chris Evans and Ryan Reynolds have been ruling millions of hearts across the globe as Captain America and Deadpool. But recently, the two actually turned into superheroes in real life, in order to do something that could make someone very happy and content during his last days. After a Twitter plea to fulfil a little boy's dying wish, both the superheroes donned their power suits into the real world and set things in motion. It all started when a news presenter Shannon Bream tweeted a message asking the Avengers to send their greetings to a terminally-ill boy. Marvel Sharing news about the boy, she wrote, Need your help Twitterverse - trying to help a young boy who is dying. He probably has just days and all he wants is a greeting from one of the Avengers. If you have a celeb connection, please let me know. Otherwise, could you help out with an RT? Thank you in advance! Need your help Twitterverse - trying to help a young boy who is dying. He probably has just days and all he want is a greeting from one of the Avengers. If you have a celeb connection, please let me know. Otherwise, could you help out with a RT? Thank you in advance! Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) March 25, 2018 Within no time, thousands of people retweeted the plea and soon Captain America himself responded saying he would be happy to meet the boy! Happy to! DM me Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) March 26, 2018 Soon, there was also a response from Ryan Reynolds who plays Deadpool. I'm more of a Reserve Avenger. But happy to help. DM me. Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) March 26, 2018 And soon things were just not limited to Marvel Universe, we saw many other celebrities offering help as well. 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D' actress Chloe Bennet, Zachery Levi - star of DC's upcoming movie 'Shazam'- also chimed in. Levi tweeted, I'm not technically an Avenger, but I'd be happy to record a video for the little man and do my best impressions of @ChrisEvans @prattprattpratt @chrishemsworth or any other Chris if necessary. Where can I/we send these messages, and what's his name?!" I'm not technically an Avenger, but I'd be happy to record a video for the little man and do my best impressions of @ChrisEvans @prattprattpratt @chrishemsworth or any other Chris if necessary. Where can I/we send these messages, and what's his name?! https://t.co/jBTOepXzOf Zacovfefe (@ZacharyLevi) March 26, 2018 Seeing these reponses, people were amazed at the power of social media that made Hollywood celebs to come and fulfil a dying child's wish. "It's making me cry how so many people are trying to help. There's still hope for the world," said one commenter. Well, all these celebs might not be the Avengers, but it's wonderful to see how everyone turned out to be a true superhero off-screen and were ready to do anything to bring a smile on the little boy's face. If there's anything the internet has taught me so far, it is how I should never worry about making mistakes. Well, there's nothing philosophical about it, it's all technical actually. After all, when you can delete or edit anything almost instantly, who needs to think about making mistakes! However, it seems our 'Rambo' Sylvester Stallone didn't know that you can change anything on social media within minutes. Probably, that's why it took him nearly 5 days to correct the hilarious mistake he made, while wishing Salman Khan for his upcoming movie 'Race 3'. Slow internet? Maybe. Too busy to realize? Don't know. instagram Ok, we don't know the deal between the two superstars. But, their bromance has already got the whole world talking and given their respective movies double the attention than what they would've initially received. Here's how the two are appreciating each other's talent. First, Salman shared Stallone's video where he spoke about his upcoming movie 'Creed 2' with Michael B. Jordan. We're quite kicked about this one actually. Stallone further skyrocketed our excitement by wishing Salman Khan for his movie 'Race 3', calling him a 'very talented' actor. However, while most of us were shipping this camaraderie, looks like Stallone got confused between who the real Salman is and ended up promoting Bobby Deol instead. Whether you agree with us or not, he does kind of look like Salman in the poster. So, if we had to give the golden 'benefit of doubt' ticket to someone, we can give it Stallone. Well, mistake or not, Bobby Deol couldn't have been any happier. Twitter But, a wise man corrects his mistakes, no matter how long it takes. Stallone too rectified it by posting another picture, and beating everyone's expectations, he got it right this time. Honestly, his guessing game seems to be stronger than me playing 'rock, paper, scissor' to answer questions in an exam. He wrote, OK, EVERYBODY let's try this AGAIN, good luck to the very talented SALMAN KHAN on his upcoming new film RACE 3! (If this is wrong I give up!) LOL Now, that's a sly move to get away with a mistake, but congratulations! You finally guessed the correct Salman Khan this time. 'Race 3' is directed by Remo D'Souza and stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Saqim Saleem, Daisy Shah, and Anil Kapoor. If there's any TV actor who dresses like a famous TV actor and an ordinary guy (all, at the same time) it's Gurmeet Choudhary. In no way, has he ever sported out-of-the-blue inventions/discoveries and worn things like he's a damn alien. He wears everyday gear, sometimes expensive/sometimes not and walks straight into our Hall of Fame. That said, let's also declare that he's in no way a style maven either. He just dresses well. That's all. Etching another victory in his menswear abilities, however, the actor was recently spotted making rounds of an airport terminal, that made for a rather confusing sight for us. While off late, he's been spotted in casual gear on most occasions... Viral Bhayani Viral Bhayani Viral Bhayani Viral Bhayani ...this time, his T-shirt was worth a big mention. Here's his most recent outing for you: Viral Bhayani Let's get to the point and make you note down the text on his T-shirt. Do you read 'Bali'? Yeah, that's a term that belongs to Indonesia, also known as the island province of the country. And while it attracts a lot of tourists yearly (in fact, A LOT), not every single one of them buys souvenirs and wears them on a daily basis. But that's language for the normal folk. For TV actor Gurmeet Choudhary, this souvenir T-shirt he bought during his trip to Bali is, of course, quite dear to him. It's a part of his daily wardrobe. Or umm, in all honesty could also be a piece of apparel he's worn because he wanted to, no? And that's a fair move too. Viral Bhayani In all probability, however, this could be his return from a quick trip to Bali. Or maybe, a free endorsement as the Tourim Ambassador of the beautiful island. Whatever it is, all we're saying is: tank top season is officially here, guys. Who comes to your mind when you first hear the name Arjun? Maybe the Bollywood blockbuster 'Karan Arjun' or Arjun from the Mahabharata or just your good ol' friend named Arjun? Well, the Arjun we are talking about here has forever been fascinated by trekking and mountaineering. His passion and hardwork have led him to become the third youngest Indian to ever climb Mount Everest. Facebook/VajpaiArjun Summiting Mount Everest was only the start of Arjun's amazing journey. Since climbing Everest in the year 2011, Arjun went on to become the youngest mountaineer to summit the Lhotse and the Manaslu, the fourth highest and the eight highest mountains in the world respectively. Arjun also has the honour of climbing an unexplored peak alongwith another mountaineer. He chose to name this peak Mt. Kalam after the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. After climbing and conquering such dangerous peaks, Arjun decided to conquer Mount Makalu, a mountain which is notorious for its steep pitches and knife-edged ridges and also has double the fatality rate of Mount Everest. facebook/VajpaiArjun The love story of Arjun and Mount Makalu is one that every aspiring mountaineer should take inspiration from. Arjun began his journey to the peak of Mount Makalu for the first time in the year 2013, when the mountain first defied him as he and his team fell short of ropes just 150 meters away from the peak. In the year 2014, on his second attempt to the summit of Mount Makalu, one of his fellow climbers lost their lives, due to which Arjun and his team had to return. On his third attempt in the year of 2015, the Nepal earthquake took place and Arjun had to return, again. facebook/VajpaiArjun After facing death, an avalanche and failure three times in a row, Arjun conquered the fifth highest mountain in the world- Mount Makalu on his fourth attempt, in the year 2016. facebook/VajpaiArjun Apart from climbing Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Manaslu, andMount Makalu; Arjun has also climbed Mount Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world which is also known as the Turquoise Goddess. facebook/VajpaiArjun On Mount Cho Oyu, Arjun had to be evacuated from Camp 2 as he was stuck in a snowstorm with low oxygen supply and suffered paralysis along with pulmonary edema. During this expedition, Arjun's left body stopped functioning completely. facebook/VajpaiArjun Even after all the difficulties he faced, Arjun's spirit did not die; he went on to become the youngest Indian to master Mount Cho Oyu in the year 2016. With the dream to hit the 'Grand Slam', the unstoppable Arjun Vajpai now aims for the mighty Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. facebook/VajpaiArjun Having escaped death time and again, will Arjun be able to ascend Mt. Kangchenjunga? Only time will tell; till then, let's cheer our very own mountaineering hero for his successful expedition to the summit. You know what the best thing in life is? When someone trolls themselves accidentally. Now, this is what brings people pure joy. Amit Shah must have gotten a very strongly worded mail from PM Narendra Modi because of his latest goof-up because well, he kind of embarrassed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and state party chief B S Yeddyurappa with his slight slip of the tongue, which ended up as a self-goal. So basically, what went down was that, while addressing the press after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Karnataka elections, Shah said, If there were ever a competition for the most corrupt government then the Yeddyurappa government would come first. Oh no, what did you do? Don't you know you shouldn't say that about someone from your own party? Haww. Reuters And, you know what the best part is? The person in question, Yeddyurappa himself whose BJP's candidate for chief minister in the Karnataka Assembly elections was seated right next to him. Awkward. I don't know how you can come back from that. Well, even though the damage was already done, Shah did correct himself but it was too late. After he was informed about his foot-in-the-mouth moment, he said, Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government. This is probably the best thing that has happened to Congress in a while, and they are not letting go of this mix-up easily. But, I have to say one thing the video is way too hilarious, and kind of tragic for BJP. Without getting too deep into politics, let's just enjoy this very rare moment. Congress President Rahul Gandhi shared the video, saying that it is a preview of their super-secret campaign video. Not gonna lie, that's hilarious. I'm impressed. Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever... True. pic.twitter.com/UYqGDZuKyR Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2018 This is the perfect way to troll yourself, tbh. Truth shall prevail. Truth has its own ways to come out, listen to Amit Shah himself exposing BJP CM candidate Yedurappa's corruption model..:)) pic.twitter.com/SDF0KB9nKg Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) March 27, 2018 Congress is enjoying this too much. The Truth can never be Suppressed. Even Amit Shah agrees that Yeddyurappa led the Most Corrupt Government ever. #BJP420 pic.twitter.com/KJdSGVIuO5 Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 27, 2018 Everyone is so proud of Amit Shah. In retrospect, I was always wrong about Amit Shah Ji. He does occasionally speak the truth. :-)) #BSYeddyurappa https://t.co/wmi4DA2Ues Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) March 27, 2018 Oops. Who knew @AmitShah could also speak the truth- we all concur with you Amit ji @BSYBJP is the most corrupt! pic.twitter.com/GFbTF3Mg7H Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 This is the best tweet, considering Amit Shah was trying to accuse Siddaramaiah, but it backfired spectacularly. Nothing but the truth? Concord tripled its net profit after tax, bringing in $20.73 million over 2017 - its second full trading year - representing a 23.9% gross return on average equity.Annually traded volumes were up 140% to 1.2 million tonnes and revenues jumped 121% to $3.42 billion on its trades, with 400 unique customers worldwide.Concord sees heightened trade barriers and tax-rate movements as providing future opportunities for physical traders, its chief executive Mark Hansen told Metal Bulletin.Political risk and resource nationalism are the big risks now for traders, Hansen said.People have been comfortable with the status quo for so long, but they now have to understand that political risk should be at the forefront of their minds as they make investment decisions or sign long-term contracts - whether thats cobalt and copper in the DRC, copper in Zambia, or the response in Asia to the American metal tariffs, he saidThis environment of heightened political risk and resource nationalism creates challenges, he added, but with those risks come opportunities - where traders can act as intermediaries and... help [the] counterparties manage.The results mirror a brighter outlook towards metals from physical traders. The metals trading divisions at large trading companies, such as Glencore and Trafigura, saw their profits rise to rival those of the traditional commodities kings in oil and gas over the course of last year.Concords results come after the trader secured large-scale offtake deals, including alumina and bauxite, from Noranda in the US and Jamaica , as well as aluminium from Aldel in the Netherlands We put in a solid, diversified performance, by making well-timed moves to begin business in alumina and bauxite, with the alumina market in particular really kicking off last year. At the same time, we avoided margin compression in refined metals and any major pitfalls. Hansen told Metal Bulletin.There was also good trading around the volatility we saw on the LME and a focus on the international arbitrage that developed in aluminium, said Hansen, who used his previous experience as chairman of Jamalco to play a strong role in developing Concords alumina book in partnership with Noranda Alumina, owner of the Gramercy Refinery and St Ann Bauxite mines.The aluminium market is still waiting for the full extent of US aluminium tariffs to be defined. The specifics could define the market going forward, Hansen said.It is not unthinkable now that Australian material could be attracted into the strongest premium market, in the USA, leaving other traditional buyers [to find] units elsewhere.Metal Bulletins aluminium arbitrage calculator indicated that after the US Section 232 announcement to impose a 10% tax on imported aluminium, but before it was implemented, traders could theoretically make $159 per tonne bringing units from LME warehouses in Busan to Owensboro.Traders need to be both patient, to work out and understand the implications, and responsive: that is, be able to act when the picture becomes clearer, Hansen said.The company is involved in trading zinc and copper concentrates. On zinc, Hansen said Concord has seen a supply response to high prices and thus sees a slight loosening of the market.On copper, he said: We are pretty [much have a] consensus: refined copper demand is pretty good and there is some upside risk, although the concentrates market remains well supplied.Concord could also see further volume growth further out, having invested in, and become the sole marketing agent for Nevada Coppers Pumpkin Hollow copper mine , which is due to begin commercial production in 2019. Its not catching fire as the industry knows the limitations of infrastructure in the country, Bunye told Metal Bulletin on the sidelines of the Mining Investment Asia conference in Singapore on Tuesday March 27.There is no real champion and no push from the [Philippine] president [for the bill], Bunye noted. Late August last year, 22 congressmen in the Philippines filed a bill seeking to halt the export... BAD AXE -- April Schmidt, executive director of Positive Alternatives in Bad Axe and Caro, recently educated about 180 pro-lifers at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bad Axe. Schmidt shared her personal triumphs and challenges and has been an advocate for life beginning with choosing to give a speech on abortion in 10th grade. As a member of Life International, she has traveled to South Africa and Cambodia. UPPER THUMB -- Officials in the Michigan pork and soybean industries weighed in Monday on the effects of a possible trade war with China. "The pork industry cannot really handle a trade war right now," said Mary Kelpinski, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Pork Producers Association. As of Monday afternoon, hog futures had fallen 4 to 5 percent since last week's announcement that China is proposing a 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork. The announcement countered a previous statement by President Donald J. Trump that the U.S. would impose $60 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports. On average, one in four pigs produced in the U.S. goes to China, Kelpinski said. Michigan is the 13th largest pork producer in the country, producing 2 to 2.5 million head of hogs annually. Although most of Michigan's pork is shipped to a Coldwater-based processing plant, the proposed Chinese tariff would hurt the industry, Kelpinksi said. "I don't know if any (hogs) go overseas," she said. "But if the markets to China get closed, it will have a huge impact. We would have to find a home for 26 percent more hogs." Last year alone, $1.1 billion worth of hogs were shipped to China, which has its own growing pork industry. Since pig feed is made from soybeans, this expands the Chinese market for soybeans even more, Kelpinski said. But China gets its soybeans from other countries besides the U.S., such as Brazil and Argentina. Michigan's top food export is soybeans, said David Williams, State President of the Michigan Soybean Association. China is the United States' largest market, although a lot of Michigan soybeans are exported to Canada, he said. Although a trade war regarding soybeans may not hurt Michigan exports, it would lead to an oversupply nationally and depress prices, Williams said. And farm commodity prices are not good to begin with, he added. The market has not reacted to the threat of a trade war involving soybeans, Williams said on Monday. "I'm frankly a little bit surprised about that," he said. "We're really concerned that if China does something and retaliates against tariffs and embargoes by (the Trump administration), that would really affect our market and depress prices. We don't need more depressed prices in the ag market." Kelpinski is taking a wait-and-see attitude regarding any potential trade war and its effect on Michigan's pork industry. "President Trump seems to change his mind quickly, and with the global economy, things can change quickly," she said. Williams noted that so much work has gone into building an international agricultural economy, that a trade war wouldn't be good for anyone. "The whole thing could collapse if we don't step back, take a breath and do a little diplomacy here," he said. "I don't think anyone wins in a trade war." Both Williams and Kelpinski agreed that agricultural markets are so intertwined, that if one area suffers, it reverberates throughout the industry. For all of the drama building in the state Capitol as the Senate heads to its historic confrontation over the next chief justice of the Supreme Court, Republican senators are staying mum. TV ads may beckon voters to stop the smear campaign, robocalls may ring throughout the state, the governor may dangle a potential Supreme Court seat, but Republicans have given a collective shrug. A narrow partisan victory in the House of Representatives behind him, the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Andrew J. McDonald faces an uncertain Senate vote Tuesday. If all Democrats vote in favor of Gov. Dannel P. Malloys nominee, he would need at least one Republican vote to win approval. Publicly, Republicans say they have open minds regarding McDonald, a jurist Democrats call eminently qualified, with experience in the legislative, executive and judicial branches. I havent changed my mind but I havent committed either way, either, Sen. Michael A. McLachlan of Danbury said, even though he already voted against McDonald once when the Judiciary Committee considered the nomination. Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, whose district includes Newtown and other suburbs that have become more politically active post-Sandy Hook, said he is still studying the issue. I feel like I am back at school, reading law cases, Hwang said Obviously its going to be a very important vote. More Information State senators to watch L. Scott Frantz R-Greenwich, 36th District His town has seen renewed interest in Democrats and women candidates. Toni BoucherR-Wilton, 26th District Has statewide ambitions at stake. Tony Hwang R-Fairfield, 28th District May not want to rile up a district that has been politically active since the Sandy Hook shootings. See More Collapse Sen. Toni Boucher of Wilton, who is aiming for the governors seat and may have to appeal to voters in Democratic precincts, hasnt yet made up her mind. There are a few of us who dont know how were going to vote, she said. And in Greenwich where Democrats are a rising political force, Republican Sen. L. Scott Frantz said its a weighty decision. Every single person in our caucus is looking at the nomination objectively and thoroughly, Frantz said. Many minds are still not made up. Frantz, who, like Hwang, is seen in the Capitol as a possible vote for McDonald, said the party leadership has not tried to persuade GOP senators one way or the other. Robocalls and digital ads Republican Senate Leader Len Fasano seems to be leaning against his former Senate colleague. One of three lawyers in the 18-member GOP Senate caucus, Fasano doesnt like the digital video ads alleging that McDonald is the victim of an anti-gay smear campaign. He blames the Democrats for politicizing the process. Ive never seen robocalls for a judge or chief justice, said Fasano. I think that it has kind of backfired. For four days in a row I came home to my answering machine that tells me what horrible human beings we are and I am supposed to call myself to tell me that, said Boucher. Its disappointing. I have never been involved in anything so political. Decisions and opinions Fasano has major issues with some of McDonalds rulings, including a concurring opinion on the controversial 2015 Supreme Court decision that led to the end of capital punishment for the 11 killers on Death Row. But he supports other decisions and opinions. We have had Supreme Court judges retire, not get through the process, and all hell didnt break out, Fasano said. This should be no different, if thats the way this comes out. On Friday, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League of Connecticut, charged McDonald with anti-Catholic bigotry referring to when, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, McDonald allowed legislation to be drafted for a public hearing that might have led to a change in incorporation law for churches. It followed two million-dollar embezzlements by priests in Greenwich and Darien. McDonald canceled the hearing amid a hail of criticism from Catholic clergy. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, himself a lawyer, said there is a lot more at stake than McDonalds career. A threat to independence It would be potentially quite damaging to the Judiciary and the way judicial nominations are handled, said Looney who expects good support from his caucus. Unlike many states, we have avoided blatant partisanship. Sen. Gayle S. Slossberg, a Democrat from Milford, tipped the scales toward the GOP in the evenly split Senate by recusing herself. Leslie C. Levin, an expert on legal ethics who holds the Joel Barlow Professor position at the UConn Law School, said support for McDonald goes well beyond academic and the large law firms. The truth is, he is currently on the Supreme Court and is only one vote in five or more, Levin said. I know many lawyers who are not even litigators, who do not even take cases up to the Supreme Court, because they understand its fundamentally dangerous to our separation of powers and our judicial independence. Tom Swan, a Democratic political operative who is executive director of the Connecticut Citizens Action Group, says the ultra-conservative factions in the Legislature have become emboldened, as illustrated by McDonalds narrow 75-74 victory in the House earlier this month. Roraback in the wings If the Republican Senate caucus votes as a block in opposition to the nomination, McDonald will remain on the court, but he wont become the first openly gay chief justice of a state supreme court in America. Complicating the issue, on Thursday, Capitol sources told Hearst a former well-liked state senator, now a Superior Court judge - Andrew W. Roraback of Goshen would be nominated to a Supreme Court vacancy if McDonald were confirmed. Roraback did not reply to a request for comment. As far as Im concerned, there was never any deal in the offering, Fasano said, adding that he expects to get an idea of how the caucus feels on Monday. You cant say Connecticut Republicans arent consistent in their attacks on the voluntary public-funding program for political candidates, including governor and the General Assembly. We have better uses for that $30 million than giving it to political races, the loudest of them say in legislative debates and the campaign trail. Its the taxpayers money. Whoa Nelly, get off that high horse and smell the vestigial corruption, the cronyism, the federal grand juries. Its abandoned property, mostly bank accounts of dead taxpayers with no relatives, that fuels the Citizens Election Program. The dead are finally and irrevocably spared the relief and responsibilities of being taxpayers, and listening to politicians. Coincidentally, if not hilariously, no one has benefited from the CEP more than state Republicans, who have gone from a down-trodden, veto-vulnerable minority, to near parity in the House at 80-71, and that pesky flat-footed 18-18 tie in the Senate. In 2006, the year after the reforms, Democrats had a 99-52 majority in the House and a 24-12 edge in the Senate. Democrats have gone from virtually controlling the flow of lobbyist contributions to a near-endangered species, while Republicans, with an even playing field, have made big gains. Sure, there is currently a national whiplash thats cracking because of the swampy Trumpsters, but Democrats can in no way think the GOP ascent has been beaten back in Connecticut. Why, even John Why Should I Resign If Ive Done Nothing Wrong? Rowland is back on the cusp of freedom from his latest post-graduate federal institutionalization. I miss the former Republican governor every day. I recall fondly his ethereal, tormented presence in the Capitol, circa 2004, when he drifted through the halls like Mrs. Tyrone in Long Days Journey into Night. Instead of remarking on his once pretty hands, Rowland, whose pay-to-play lifestyle was several months away from leading to guilty pleas in federal court and his first prison stint, recited a mantra of a fair and transparent process as he crept inexorably toward impeachment He resigned in the summer of 2004 after his hand-picked chief justice, William Sullivan of Waterbury, presided over a court hearing that led to an order that he testify before the House Committee of Inquiry. In 2005, Rowlands successor, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, dragged Republicans kicking and screaming to approve the election reforms that led to the CEP, which provides up to $6.5 million for gubernatorial candidates who can raise $250,000 in small qualifying contributions. All of a sudden, lobbyists who for decades had to continually cough up campaign cash, didnt felt like they were being held up every two or four years. Dannel P. Malloy was the first gubernatorial candidate to benefit from the CEP. By the time of his 2014 re-election, his campaign had learned to game it by supplementing a late-campaign million bucks from a Democratic State Central Committee account that was supposed to be for its federal candidates. Rowland is in a halfway house and due for release May 27, in time for the gala Memorial Day weekend. As a reporter who benefited greatly from Rowlands corruption, I welcome him back for a third try. And this might all be easier if the more-starboard factions of legislative Republicans somehow end public financing. Then there are spoilsports such as Mike Brandi, executive director and chief counsel for the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which busted Malloys bunch for a $325,000 settlement on the outside financing. In testimony on an annual GOP bill that would end public financing, Brandi reminded members of the Government Administration & Elections Committee of the bad-old days. We know what came before the CEP, he said. The alternative to clean elections financing is the old way of doing business, with ever-increasing contributions limits stripping power from electors and returning it to wealthy contributors who can buy access. I was watching that great court trial in New York City that went on for weeks, having snared Gov. Andrew Cuomos former capo, Joe Percoco, who was recently found guilty of three bribery-related felonies in the first of two massive corruption trials. It involved about $300,000 from Peter Braith Kelly of Canterbury, who allegedly provided Percocos wife with a low-show job funded by the same company that has the new natural-gas power plant in Oxford. The jury was deadlocked on Kelly, who has not returned a call for comment. So if state lawmakers want to kill the national model of public financing under the guise of saving taxpayers money, Im in support. Its about jobs ... for journalists. The American Red Cross has scheduled blood drives in area towns. To schedule an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.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 and platelet donors can 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. Clinton: April 6, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dunkin Donuts - Clinton, 215 East Main St., Rt. 1 April 7, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Mary's Church, 54 Grove Street Cromwell: April 13, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 573 Main St April 6, 7:15 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Radisson Hotel Rooms A&B Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road Deep River: April 10, 12:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., Deep River Congregational Church, Union Street Essex: April 6, 12:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., Essex Town Hall, 29 West Avenue Haddam: April 12, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Valley Bible Evangelical Free Church, 220 Turkey Hill Road, P.O. Box 250 Middletown: April 9, 12:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Wesleyan University, 45 Wyllys Ave, Beckham Hall Moodus: April 3, 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Nathan Hale Ray Middle School, 73 Clark Gates Road Portland: March 29, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Snap Fitness, 336 Marlborough Street April 3, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Portland High School, 95 High Street Westbrook, March 29, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Westbrook High School/Community, 156 McVeagh For more information, visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. ACHCA Member awarded professional distinction PORTLAND - Former vice president and administrator Mark Finkelstein, of Hughes Health & Rehabilitation, was recently awarded Fellow Emeritus status in the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). Fellow Emeritus status was approved by the Board of Directors in recognition of his professional achievement, continued adherence to the criteria for membership in ACHCA, and continuous adherence to the ethical and professional standards of ACHCA. Finkelstein, a resident of Portland, retired on Feb. 1. Under his leadership, since 2006, the 170-bed, West Hartford facility wasaccredited for its nursing care center by The Joint Commission; honored as a Best Nursing Home in America for seven consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report; selected as one of Americas Best for Extended Care for four consecutive years by the Womens Choice Awards; acknowledged as one of Americas Top Nursing Homes for seven consecutive years by the Consumers Research Council; and was a recipient of the 2016 Hartford Business Journal Connecticut Family Business Award. Additionally, in 2016 Hughes was just one of three providers nationwide to receive the coveted 2016 Gold Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). Fellow Emeritus status requires being an ACHCA Fellow in good standing with 20 years of ACHCA membership, a long and distinguished record of service to ACHCA and its chapters and having retired from administrative active practice. Relay for Life team announces meetings HIGGANUM The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of HK Pull for Hope and walk on June 23 at HK High School, with a new Fire Truck Pull in conjunction with the Relay For Life event. In addition to traditional Relay For Life teams, the committee is looking for teams of 12 to sign up and raise $1200 per team to pull a fire truck during the Relay event. Teams will compete to see who can pull the truck the fastest and earn bragging rights and a trophy. Register for a fire truck pull team or walking team at RelayForLife.org/HKCT Monthly Team Captain and committee meetings will be at St. James Church Parish Hall, 501 Killingworth Road, Higganum, from 6:30-8 p.m. on April 25, May 30, and bank night on June 13. Pink Ladies Relay team will hold a fundraiser on April 8 from 1-4 p.m. at Junes Outback, Killingworth, a vendor fundraiser at LuLRoe Clothing, Park Lane; Jewelry & Bling and More by Teri Everett, Luminaria and Relay information table. Up to 505 off all clothing, jewelry, and accessories sales will be donated to the Pink Ladies team, with a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, thank you gifts and more. No purchase us necessary, donations accepted. On May 12, St. James Relay team will hold its annual Pulled Pork Dinner from 5-7 p.m. at 501 Killingworth Rd. Alzheimers Association Family Caregiver Series to begin CHESTER The Alzheimers Association, Connecticut Chapter is offering a free four-part Caregiver Education Series for family and friends of people with any type of dementia, including Alzheimers disease. This four part series will take place at Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish, 175 Main Street in Cheshire.. A light dinner will be served. The classes will run on four consecutive Monday's, beginning on Monday, April 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. Guest speakers will address the following topics: April 9:Overview of Alzheimers Disease and Other Types of Dementia; April 16: Effective Communication Strategies and Strategies for Dementia-Related Behaviors; April 23: Keeping the Caregiver Healthy, Community Resources, and Family Relationships; April 30: Legal and Financial Issues For questions or to register for one or more sessions in this free education series, contact the Alzheimers Association at 203-230-1777, ext. 14 (Hamden Office) or mtomasetti@alz.org. Pre-registration is requested to help plan for materials and dinner. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa -- The Marine Corps is calling on an old friend to help rehabilitate Marines guilty of minor behavioral infractions. A new and improved version of the Correctional Custody Unit -- dubbed "CCU 2.0" -- is set to open May 2 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. It is a penal institution and program that provides intensive training -- such as combat fitness, educational coursework, formal uniform inspections, values-based relapse prevention and hard labor -- to give commanders an alternative to discharging undeveloped or immature service members who get in trouble. While Marine officials were careful to say that the program does not include manual labor, part of the fitness requirements will see flak jacket-clad Marines pulverizing rocks with sledge hammers in the Okinawa heat. The correctional units last operated in the United States and on Okinawa in 2004 when they were de-established due to "operational commitments" in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Marine officials hope bringing back the revamped CCUs will cut down on administrative separations and help Marines finish their enlistments honorably. "The program has historically been an option to assist commanders with managing minor military offences for salvageable service members," Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Edward Pingel, deputy director of Marine Corps Installations Pacific's Communication Strategy and Operations, wrote in a statement to Stars and Stripes. "All military branches have utilized this program in the past as a preventative measure for administrative separation and understanding that mistakes young service members make do not define what they are capable of accomplishing in the future." The CCU program started in 1979 but became prevalent in the mid-1990s, around the time one was founded at Camp Hansen, Marine officials said. The Marine Corps hubs of Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton also had correctional units. The CCUs were operated based on manpower, and due to mission requirements for staff, there were periods when the units were not in operation, Marine officials said. They were all shut down permanently in 2004 "solely due to staffing shortages," while the U.S. military was preoccupied in Iraq and Afghanistan. The decision to bring the CCUs back was made by Marine Corps leadership and staff who recognized that the maturation process, or "transformation" to becoming a Marine, does not end with the completion of boot camp, Marine officials on Okinawa said. A Headquarters Marine Corps study showed that from 2010 to 2012, 33.6 percent of Marines receiving one or more nonjudicial punishments also received administrative separations before the end of their service. "It is imperative that our Marines sustain the transformation they received during basic training," Brig. Gen. Paul Rock Jr., command general for MCIPAC, said in a statement. "The new curriculum is designed to re-instill the values and high standards for which we as Marines are known." Both Rock and III Marine Expeditionary Force commander Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson supported the CCU 2.0 proposal, Marine officials said. In February, Headquarters Marine Corps approved restarting the program on Okinawa. The second iteration of the CCU at Camp Hansen -- which will be housed in existing facilities using existing staff -- was slated to open Feb. 14, but was moved back to add more classes from the Training and Education Command and the revised Battle Skills Test program, MCIPAC brig commander Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian Sheppard said in a statement to Stars and Stripes. Participants are called "awardees" and spend either seven or 30 days under the constant watch and critique of a senior watch stander and assigned watch standers, Marine officials said. Each awardee receives an individual dorm room that includes a bed, a sink, water fountain and toilet. The Marines and sailors in the initial operating phase will come from Marine Corps commands in Japan and will participate in instruction and training at classrooms and common areas at the MCIPAC brig and facilities at Camp Hansen. The program can accommodate 32 service members at a time. The curriculum is "designed to foster leadership and decision making abilities" and includes battle survival skills, Marine programs called "Thinking for Change" and "Prime for Life," as well as a core-values refresher among other courses, Marine officials said. "CCU 2.0 will rebuild damaged cohesion, self-worth, and Esprit-de-Corps, and will do so in a sustainable fashion - ensuring awardees are put back on track, with the tools to stay on track," Sheppard said. "Awardees will be primed to complete their military service enriched by the internalization of our Corps' ethos, ideals and values." Sheppard said it's a misconception that manual labor is part of the program, despite the Marine Corps releasing photos showing Marines breaking rocks during a demonstration in January. "All physical activities during this program are commensurate with field training exercises and combat conditioning conducted by the general Marine Corps population on a daily basis." Marine officials said the decision to bring back the CCUs was not in response to any previous high-profile crimes or incidents. Marine officials said the program was extremely effective on Okinawa in the past, and they are hoping to replicate that success. "The focus of the program is rehabilitation, not punishment," Pingel wrote. "It provides intensive training and education designed to instill positive and sustained behavioral change." What Is ISIS-K? Two Experts on the Group Behind the Kabul Airport Attack and its Rivalry with the Taliban By 2018, the group had become one of the top four deadliest terrorist organizations in the world. This article by Brooke Goldberg originally appeared on the Military Officers Association of Americas (MOAA) website. A few weeks ago, I wrote about Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' support of the idea of education savings accounts (ESAs) for military children. The plan is now backed up with H.R. 5199, the Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2018, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and a companion bill introduced by Senators Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Why is MOAA against this? Because this is the wrong answer to a real problem. The Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2018 promises options, but it provides them to a woefully low number of military families. All military children deserve to attend schools that meet the need for a free and public education. When and where this isn't the case, we must ensure a solution. This bill leaves too many military families without any more viable choices than they already have. Funding choice for a few at the expense of others is not a solution. Here's a closer look at what the legislation would do. Will your family benefit from this program? It depends. First, it's important to understand the legislation only creates two categories of eligibility for these ESAs for active duty military children whose parents choose to remove them from public schools. Families of the reserve components could be eligible if a parent is activated, but National Guard officers are explicitly excluded from eligibility under activation. Category 1. Families living in a highly impacted local educational agency (LEA, also known as a school district) could be eligible for a $4,500 deposit into an ESA. However, there are only 29 highly impacted LEAs (in a total of 12 states) out of the 1,073 LEAs receiving some sort of impact aid. Category 2. In the House version of the bill, this refers to families living on a military installation. In the Senate version of the bill, it refers to families in an LEA that receives impact aid. Category 2 families would be eligible for a $2,500 deposit into an ESA. There are more than 14,000 school districts across the U.S. Only 1,073 of them receive impact aid, and some of those might not be educating military children, but other federally connected students. This proposal would reduce funding for those schools and give it to individual military families not in those schools. Are military families leaving the service because of the poor educational choices available to them? Yes. The $1.166 billion of funding (requested by the Department of Education for 2018) for this bill is not enough to help every military family who might require it. For this ESA plan to work, it must exclude most military families. For example, if you're a military recruiter living outside one of the 29 highly impacted LEAs or far away from a military installation or in one of the nearly 13,000 school districts that does not receive impact aid, your family will not be eligible to receive an ESA from the federal government. In addition to there not being enough money to go around, the bill prevents additional appropriations from being allocated to impact aid. This bill is built to help very few military families at the expense of every federally connected student in the U.S. Will your local school be hurt by removing your child's allocation of impact aid? Yes. In this legislation, ESAs are funded from the requested $1.166 billion in the basic support fund of impact aid. This money is intended to offset expenses for all federally connected students, which includes students who live on federal property, students who live on certain American Indian lands, students who reside in low-rent housing projects, and students who are the children of various other federal employees not living on federal land. Basic support funds are used for an LEA's general expenses such as teacher salaries, technology, equipment, and construction projects. Every student who leaves a public school in an LEA receiving impact aid reduces the funds available in that account for division among all other LEAs relying on it. Military children and other federally connected students still attending schools in that LEA will see funding reduced for their education. Will the money in this ESA improve your child's educational opportunities? It depends. The amount of funding that could be provided to most eligible families is incredibly low for most educational options. A military family that already cannot afford private education would be hard pressed to find a school with annual tuition lower than $2,500, which is what most eligible families would receive. Take the schools around Fort Sill as an example. The Lawton, Okla., school district is not a highly impacted LEA, so no family in that area would qualify for $4,500. Under the Senate language, if a family elected to take their child out of public school, they would receive $2,500 for the year in their ESA. Under House language, they would only receive this funding if they lived on base. Here's the price of tuition for some of the local private schools: Trinity Christian Academy, Pre-K through 8th grade: $3000-$4,400/year Lawton Academy of Arts & Sciences, Pre-K through 12th grade: $4650-$5,500 St. Mary's Catholic School, Pre-K through 8th grade: $3,600-$4,200 And these schools are on the low end of the tuition spectrum - as students get older, tuition can cost upwards of $10,000 per year. For families already facing increased fees and copays from TRICARE and decreased housing allowances over the last five years, who are trying to contribute to their Thrift Savings Plan for a full match, the promise of federal money that does not cover the full cost of a replacement option is a financial burden. This plan might still leave eligible families out of reach of viable alternatives to public education. Additionally, while both Rep. Banks and the Heritage Foundation claim this plan will maximize academic achievement, it preserves the autonomy of education providers. Remember when many for-profit educational institutions made hollow promises to veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, taking veterans' valuable educational dollars and leaving them with an incomplete or inadequate education? This plan does nothing to keep the same like-minded profiteers at bay, nor does it have measures to ensure the quality of education purchased with those tax dollars other than a plan to provide a website and a hotline for families to report bad actors during and after the fact. It would be gross negligence to remove funding from K-12 schools only to see a repeat of the GI Bill debacle that cost the U.S. government millions. Military families already have a difficult time holding schools accountable for a free and public education, and there are federal mechanisms in place to do so. Once military families remove their children from public schools, they do not have the protection of federal laws for children with disabilities or the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. This legislation offers too little, for too few, effectively avoiding the real problem - the need to resource strengthen public school districts for military children everywhere. -- Brooke Goldberg is director of Government Relations for MOAA. This article, ESA for Military Families: Too Good to Be True, originally appeared on the Military Officers Association of Americas (MOAA) website. MOAA is the nations largest and most influential association of military officers. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday said the U.S. has seen operations from Russian-affiliated forces in eastern Syria scaled back after U.S. fighter jets fired on hundreds of alleged Russian mercenaries who fought with U.S.-backed forces in early February. Mattis said the Defense Department has faith in the Russian officers who used the deconfliction line to tell U.S. counterparts the mercenaries were not under their control. "To this day, I have no evidence that they were being dishonest," he told reporters during an unscheduled briefing at the Pentagon. "We believe that, the Russian officers who tried to deconflict it and told us they weren't their forces, I think they were frankly being honest with us." The U.S. on Feb. 7 launched significant air and firepower in response to what were believed to be pro-Assad forces attacking U.S.-backed Syrian Defense Forces in Deir el-Zour Province. Related content: The Air Force sent up F-22A Raptor advanced stealth fighters, along with MQ-9 Reaper drones, to watch as a three-hour battle began that day. "A variety of joint aircraft and ground-based artillery responded in defense of our SDF partners, including F-15E Strike Eagles," Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, Air Force Central Command spokesman, told Military.com at the time. Just after the strike, officials said they were assessing how many pro-regime forces had been killed, but estimated the number was approximately 100. Other reports suggested that more than 200 were killed, with a number of news outlets saying the militants consisted of Russian mercenaries. Russia's foreign ministry at the time said some of its citizens died in the battle, but would not confirm they were contractors operating on behalf of the state. Mattis on Tuesday would not explicitly say the group in question is or has been made up of Russian contracted fighters. The U.S. has observed "Russian elements like this" in recent weeks moving too close to the deconfliction zone, where the SDF operates to the west of the Euphrates River. Russian forces operate to the east near Deir el-Zour, Mattis said. Within the last week, "Those elements fell back, so we have also drawn off slightly in order to maintain the deconfliction between the elements there," he said. "Thanks to the Russian direction on that, this group has been reduced," Mattis said. Speaking more broadly to the' relationship of the U.S. with Russia, he said the recent expulsion of Russian diplomats across the U.S. and throughout NATO countries reaffirms that brash behavior from Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be tolerated. "Russia's chosen to be a strategic competitor, even to the point of reckless activity," he said, referring to the nerve agent attack in Britain earlier this month. "I bring this up because Russia has the potential to be a partner with Europe -- its fortunes are married to Europe. [But] I think that right now that we have to recognize that they've chosen to seek a different relationship with the NATO nations. It is what it is," Mattis said. He said the incident in Salisbury on March 4 against Russian double agent and now British citizen Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, was not just an attack on them, but the "potential murder" of many who came in close contact with the nerve agent, known as Novichok. "The expulsion of numerous Russian diplomats [in NATO] all the way to Australia, Europe, North America, you can see that the nations that have been perhaps slow to leave behind the opportunity for a partnership with Russia are now acting on the actions that Mr. Putin has taken," Mattis said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. WASHINGTON -- Police in North Carolina are searching for a Fort Bragg soldier who was reported missing Sunday when he did not return to the Army post, service and law enforcement officials said Tuesday. Sgt. Carl Seeman, 25, was classified as absent without leave after he failed to report to his unit, said Sgt. Christopher Gallagher, a spokesman for Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division. Seeman is a cannon crew member assigned to the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Since 2015, he has been stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, where he lives on post. Fayetteville police located Seeman's truck in a local Walmart parking lot with his cell phone inside, said Officer Asia Cannon, a spokeswoman for the police department. She said investigators had not found reason to suspect foul play in the soldier's disappearance. However, his mother, Jennifer Seeman, has written in social media posts that she has concerns something is amiss. In public Facebook posts Tuesday, the soldier's mother wrote she was "scared and worried" and vowed to "investigate until every last question has been answered." Seeman joined the Army just months after graduating in 2011 from Churchville-Chili High School in northern New York, the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper in Rochester reported. He has three younger siblings also serving in the military. Seeman's unit is scheduled to deploy in the coming days to Fort Polk in Louisiana, where it will participate in a training rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center, according to an Army statement. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin appeared to get a temporary reprieve Monday from the White House on keeping his job at the head of the government's second largest agency after the Pentagon. A day after a close friend of President Donald Trump said that Shulkin could be gone "very soon," White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said the president has "confidence" in him -- although that confidence is subject to change at any moment. "We all serve at the pleasure of the president. If he is not pleased, you'll know it," Gidley said on Fox News. "At this point in time, though, he does have confidence in Dr. Shulkin. He is a secretary, and he has done some great things at the VA. As you know, the president wants to put the right people in the right place at the right time, and that could change." At the regular White House press briefing later Monday, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah declined to get into the specifics of how much confidence Trump has in Shulkin or how long it will last. As for Shulkin's status, Shah said, "I haven't asked the president directly about it," and "I have no personnel announcements to make today." On ABC-TV's "This Week" program on Sunday, Christopher Ruddy, head of Newsmax Media and a close friend of Trump's, said Shulkin could be out "very soon," but the job of the White House chief of staff, retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, appears to be safe. Shulkin, the only holdover from the Obama administration in the Cabinet, won unanimous confirmation from the Senate and initially was one of Trump's favorites. But in recent months, he has come under attack from administration political appointees -- in the White House and within the VA. The attacks picked up last month after the VA's inspector general reported that Shulkin fudged his travel expenses by billing the $4,132 airfare for his wife for a trip to London and Denmark last summer to the government. The major Veterans Service Organizations have backed Shulkin in the ongoing battle over the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans living more than 40 miles from a VA facility or who have to wait more than 30 days for an appointment to choose private care. Shulkin has supported Choice, but within the context of maintaining VA health care as the main provider for nine million veterans served annually. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. U.S. Army aviation officials on Tuesday offered a preview of the aircraft that make up Future Vertical Lift, a bold effort that rests upon developing a family of manned and unmanned rotary-wing aircraft to dominate the skies over future battlefields. They include an advanced unmanned aerial system, future attack reconnaissance aircraft and long-range assault helicopter, all outfitted with advanced technology, officials said. The Army continues to upgrade its UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters, but the service's number-three modernization priority calls for replacing its Cold-War helicopter fleet. "When we talk about Future Vertical Lift, what we are talking about is, where is the leap-ahead in technology? Where is the technology that is going to give us overmatch on the battlefield? Where is the technology that 10, 20, 30 years from now is going to make us the most lethal force on the battlefield?" Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville told an audience at the Association of the United States Army's Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama. Related content: As it stands, FVL will consist of several aircraft, starting with an advanced unmanned aerial system platform capable of delivering targeting data for long-range precision fires, said Brig. Gen. Walter Rugen, deputy commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division and director of the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team. It will also be capable of electronic attack on enemy radars systems. "We want to be able to spoof those radars, jam those radars, hunt those radars and kill those radars," he said. There will also be a future attack reconnaissance aircraft, "sized to hide in radar clutter ... to operate in the urban canyons of mega cities," Rugen said. This aircraft will be "optionally manned" with "a lot of autonomy baked into" the platform. "And these two form our advance team, and this advance team needs to deepen the interoperability between our ground force and fires team to be able detect and deliver lethal effects, assess those effects and re-attack if need be," he said. FVL will also consist of a future long-range assault helicopter, which will feature significantly upgraded protection "and be something that exploits our windows of opportunity," Rugen said. All aircraft will feature an open system that will be highly adaptable and rapidly upgradable, he said. "Aviation has been an asymmetric advantage for our Army and the joint force since Vietnam and LZ X-Ray, and we are not giving that up just because the air domain is tough," Rugen said. The Army selected two firms to develop demonstrators in 2014. Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter created the V-280 Valor, which completed its first test flight in December. Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin Corp., and Boeing Co. built the SB>1 Defiant, a medium-lift chopper based on Sikorsky's X2 coaxial design. Many challenges lie ahead for the complex program, aviation officials and industry experts on the panel said. FVL is a joint program that may not be the best "management construct," said Jeffrey Drezner, a senior policy researcher at Rand Corp. The Pentagon's J8 tasked Rand to look at FVL's management construct to see if a joint program structure makes sense, he said. A lot of challenges exist in managing a joint program, such as aligning the requirements, schedule and budget, and keeping them aligned over time, Drezner said. "The single most important aspect of this comes down to requirements," he said. "So if your requirement isn't the same -- and I said 'the same,' not similar -- a joint structure probably doesn't make sense." Rand recommended a "lead-service management structure" for each FVL program, but if officials "really do want to take advantage of commonality across the services ... you probably need some kind of umbrella or higher-level organization both within the Army and within the DoD enterprise to coordinate those kinds of common elements," he said. Brig. Gen. Thomas Todd III, who runs Program Executive Officer Aviation, said the program is relying on industry not to exaggerate on what it can deliver. "To industry, we are looking for your candor, we are looking for your feedback, we are looking for your participation, but we also need to know what you actually can accomplish," he said. "Make sure you produce and field when it's good enough, not when it is as good as it possibly could be," Todd said. "We absolutely have to make sure that we get this capability to the soldier and that we do not spend double that amount of time achieving the last necessarily 10 percent of capability when, frankly, 90 percent was good enough." McConville noted the danger in placing too much trust in PowerPoint presentations. "I have been very, very impressed with some of the PowerPoint briefs I have seen. But I will tell you our soldiers can't fly PowerPoint, our soldiers can't fight with PowerPoint, so we are going to challenge industry to work closely with us to develop the Future Vertical Lift that we need for our soldiers in the future," he said. In the end, program cost will likely be the deciding factor for Future Vertical Lift, McConville said. The Army has five other modernization priorities besides FVL: long-range precision fires; next-generation combat vehicle; a mobile and expeditionary network; air and missile defense capabilities; and soldier lethality. "And we want to modernize within all of these priorities as we go forward," McConville said. "So we are not looking, quite frankly, to procure expensive aircraft. ... We want the aircraft priced at the same range that they are right now. We want them to be able to operate at the same price per hour. "All these programs are competing against each other. ... What we are not going to be able to do is afford everything, and what we are not going to be able to do is spend large amounts of money developing things that are not going to get into the hands of the soldiers," he said. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Many Wifi Products Not Allowed in Germany Many wireless devices brought from the United States or ordered online from U.S. companies are not authorized for use in Germany. In the United States, many brands of baby monitors, remote control toys and some older cordless telephones use a frequency band that is reserved for German emergency services. Using a frequency which is not officially assigned to you carries a monetary fine up to 500,000 ($618,255). To find out if a wireless device is authorized in Germany, check the back or under the battery cover of the device. There should be an FCC label, a C.E. Marking or both. The C.E. Marking states the equipment is European compliant and can be used in Germany. Veterans Can Use Credentials to Access Services More than four million Veterans can now use their My HealtheVet credentials to access services from across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Vets.gov. This means that Veterans can now log in one time, in one place, to refill a prescription, check their claim and apply for benefits that help them pay for college and training programs. This is the first time that Veterans with a My HealtheVet patient portal account can use those credentials to access benefits tools such as checking the status of a claim, an appeal or GI Bill benefit, in addition to a variety of health care tools. For more information, read the VA VAntage Point Blog. For more on veteran benefits, visit the Military.com Benefits Center. Ridley Scott's movie based on the real-life kidnapping of John Paul Getty III was almost derailed by a career implosion caused by revelations about actor Kevin Spacey's inappropriate behavior. Fortunately, Christopher Plummer stepped into the role of oil tycoon John Paul Getty and reshot the part with Scott in just a couple of weeks, allowing the Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams movie to keep its release date. Plummer became the oldest person ever nominated for an acting Oscar for his work. Scott, Wahlberg and Williams were all lucky here. If you dare, click here to see Kevin Spacey in the ridiculous makeup and prosthetics he glued to his face to play the old man. "All the Money in the World" (out now on Digital HD and available on Blu-ray and DVD on April 10th) is an excellent crime thriller starring Wahlberg as the former CIA agent who worked as Getty's fixer and Michelle Williams as the former daughter-in-law who wants to rescue her son after his grandfather refuses to pay the ransom. We've got a deleted scene featuring Wahlberg and Williams listening back to a recording of JP III (Charlie Plummer) calling from a police station after he's escaped from his kidnappers. It's southern Italy, though, and it turns out that the local organized crime community has more influence than national law enforcement, something that's yet to dawn on the young man's mother. We'll have a full review of the Blu-ray coming upon release, but this is worth it for both Ridley Scott and Mark Wahlberg fans. Plus it's far less of a time commitment than director Danny Boyle's new FX series "Trust," a show that tells the same story with Donald Sutherland as the old man, Brendan Fraser as the CIA fixer and Hillary Swank as the mom. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2018 11:15 am The Marshfield High School Project Graduation committee is hosting its biggest fundraiser, Dancing With the Stars Saturday, April 14, in the Marshfield High School gym. This years event will feature seven dance couples, who will show off their best moves. The fundraiser will benefit Project Graduation, a program which allows Marshfields 2018 graduating seniors to enjoy a safe, drug-free environment for their celebration immediately after their May 12 graduation ceremony. Cathy Zimmerman and Ginger Ostrowski are the co-chairs for this years "Dancing With the Stars." The idea of Project Graduation began in 1979, with the community of Oxford Hills, Maine, who experienced the loss of seven teens in deaths related to drugs and alcohol during the commencement season. In a community effort empowered by state initiative, a program was started to address the problems associated with teen alcohol and drug use. The seniors were offered an alternative to the traditional graduation night that drew hundreds to local fairgrounds. They called this chemical-free event Project Graduation. Tickets for "Dancing With the Stars" may be obtained from any of the dancers, at The Marshfield Mail office or at Bear State Bank. General admission tickets cost $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m., with the show to start at 7 p.m. This weeks preview of the MHS Project Graduation "Dancing with the Stars" production includes the first group of dancers in this years competition. The remaining teams will be featured next week. Israels settlement expansion in the West bank is eroding the prospect of a two-state solution to the long-standing Middle East conflict, a UN envoy warned Monday, recalling that just over the past three months, Israel has advanced 22 plans for some 1,200 housing units for one area of the West Bank. In a briefing to the Security Council focused mainly on implementation of its resolution 2334, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the text urged Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. [However] no such steps were taken during the reporting period, he was quoted in a UN press release as saying. Israels illegal settlement expansion and related activities continue further, threatening the viability of the two-state solution and eroding the prospects for peace, he noted Mladenov also warned that violence and incitement continue to fuel hatred, division, distrust and fear, and continuing terror attacks on Israelis as well as the recent assassination attempt on the Palestinian Prime Minister exemplify the growing risk of destabilization and the empowerment of radicals and extremists. He told the 15-member Security Council that the reporting period was marked by continuing demonstrations and clashes following the announcement by the United States, on 6 December 2017, recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital, to the growing tensions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and along the Gaza fence. Despite the call in [] resolution 2334 for the parties to refrain from acts of provocation, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric, such statements continued, added the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, calling on all political leaders to refrain from provocative statements and actions that fuel an already tense environment. Concluding his remarks, the senior UN official called on Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to take concrete steps to reverse the current course of the conflict and advance the goal of a just and sustainable peace. Generations of Palestinian and Israeli lives have been shaped by this conflict. It is time to begin constructing a different future, a future built on mutual respect, dignity, and the belief that even the deepest and most painful divisions can be resolved if there is a genuine desire for change, he said. United Arab Emirates complained Monday that two Qatari war jets got too close to two Emirati commercial aircrafts in the Bahraini airspace. The Emirati commercial aircrafts, according to the countrys civil aviation Authority, cited by state-run news agency, were in Bahrains airspace during the encroachment with the Qatari war jets. The jets according to authorities came very close to the civilian aircrafts. This is the second time the AUE accuses Qatar of intercepting its civilian planes. Early this year, Abu Dhabi lodged a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization following the interception by two Qatari fighters jets of two of its commercial planes bound for Bahrain. Qatar denied the charges. The tiny Gulf country similarly in January informed the UN of two cases of intrusion into its airspace by Emirati war planes. Both countries have been at thug of war since June. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have severed their ties with Qatar over its alleged support for terrorism. Doha has rejected the charges claiming they were mere fabrications. The four have banned Qatari planes from flying through their airspace and have imposed visa to Qatari citizens. The Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday said it would refuse international financing of the presidential election to avoid foreign interference. The move comes after one of the main contenders for the presidency said the mineral-rich country needs hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign support to pull off its first peaceful transition of power since independence in 1960. Western allies last week expressed concern about the electoral commissions plans to use 100,000 new electronic voting machines, saying the system is untested and could allow fraud. According to Government spokesman Lambert Mende, the donors conditions amounted to meddling in Congos sovereign affairs. He said the governments decision to reject such aid was prompted in part by an upturn in government revenues from its mining sector, which has left more money to finance the polls. Foreign contributions will be directed to other sectors such as healthcare and education, he said. The government of President Joseph Kabila, whose constitutional mandate expired, has in the past claimed that it cannot pay for the poll, which it estimates will cost $1.8bn, a figure many consider hugely inflated. Congo, which is rich in minerals, including cobalt that is used in the fast-growing electric car industry, is in political deadlock. President Joseph Kabila is in power since his fathers assassination in 2001. The troubled telecom company Aircel is on the downward spiral, with many of its offices already shut down and many in the process, due to delay or non-payment of office rents and electricity bills, reports the Economic Times. More than 5,000 employees of Aircel are waiting for their salaries due for the past two months in various regions the company was operational in. A source at the executive level in the company told ET, It is definite that the offices are shutting down. We have requested our landowner to give us a floor to take care of operations in the interim. However, because of the dues, we are being asked to clear out. Many employees could smell trouble when they came to know that their insurance covers were not renewed by the company. Top executives such as national head of operations Vipul Saurabh and chief marketing officer Anupam Vasudev quit last month, also hinting at an uncertain future. Insolvency professional for the telecom operator, Vijaykumar V Iyer, in a letter to the employees told them that an external party will be brought in to provide funds to clear salary dues that have piled up till February end. As you are aware we have been in detailed discussions with an external party to provide us funds to make to you payment of your wages and salaries up to February 28. These discussions have proceeded at pace... I anticipate being able to shortly confirm you that the necessary legal formalities have been completed (for all three companies) and that the funds are being transferred to me for onward payment to each of you. I will confirm directly to you once the funds have been received and the anticipated payment date, the letter read. Iyer also said that Aircel has begun negotiations with interim finance providers and telecom operators for intra-circle roaming (ICR) arrangements. As part of ICR deals, Aircel will be able to latch on to other telecoms for network. Iyer clarified in the letter, if it is not possible to restart the network and operations are wound down, any wages and salaries will be classified under the law as insolvency resolution process costs, and you will get these in advance of any creditor or other claims once company assets are sold. Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has promised the company all the help possible, to get out of this fix. Amit Shah Bhartiya Janata Party President Amit Shah while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru in a foot in his mouth moment said that Yeddyurappa government would be the most corrupt government if there is a competition. Incidentally, BS Yeddyurappa is the former CM of Karnataka and is a member of BJP. A video of the event, which is since being shared widely on social media shows Amit Shah saying, Bhrashtachar ke liye agar spardha rakhi jaye, to Yeddyurappa Sarkar ko bhrashtachar ka number 1 sarkar ka award milega. Another BJP leader seated right beside him is then seen correcting him in the video. Shah wanted to refer to Siddaramaiah who is the current CM of Karnataka and belongs to the Congress party. The gaffe appears at the 15:55 minutes in the video above. Post his gaffe, Congress had a field day with leaders mocking Shah for his slip of the tongue. Rahul Gandhi, president of Congress party, posted a tweet along with a clip of the video, Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever. Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video! Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever... True. pic.twitter.com/UYqGDZuKyR March 27, 2018 The tweet above was also a jibe at the alleged Karnataka poll date leak. Reportedly, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya had tweeted the dates of Karnataka polls before the official announcement from the Election Commission. The Truth can never be Suppressed. Even Amit Shah agrees that Yeddyurappa led the Most Corrupt Government ever. #BJP420 pic.twitter.com/KJdSGVIuO5 Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 27, 2018 Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah thanked Amit Shah for finally speaking the truth. Karnataka Congress, from its official Twitter handle, also wrote: The Truth can never be suppressed. Even Amit Shah agrees that Yeddyurappa led the Most Corrupt Government ever. Divya Spandana, a state Congress leader posted another undated video in which Shah can be heard making a similar mistake. In the video clip, Shah says, Yeddyurappa says the BJP doesn't help with the development of Karnataka." live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More UltraTech Cement's bid to acquire Binani Cement has got a big boost. The Kolkata bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has asked the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to consider a proposal by Binani Industries - parent company of Binani Cement - to pay off all its creditors. This indirectly paves the way for the out-of-court settlement between Binani Industries and the Aditya Birla firm. According to the settlement, UltraTech will issue Binani Industries a letter of comfort providing Rs 7,266 crore. Binani Industries will use the funds to pay off Binani Cement's creditors, including the unsecured ones. In return, UltraTech will acquire 98.47 percent stake in BInani Cement The Bench added it will hear all the petitions on April 2. Binani Industries had earlier asked the Bench for permission to pay off its lenders by April 10. If approved, this will set a precedent for insolvency proceedings that are being pursued at the present. Also, Binani's petition to terminate insolvency proceedings against its cement unit will have to be cleared by the lenders. Twists and turns Earlier, UltraTech had alleged lack of transparency in the proceedings to auction Binani Cement, which was referred to the NCLT after accumulating debts of Rs 5,000 crore. In a meeting held on March 16, the CoC had approved the plan presented by Dalmia Cement, dealing a blow to UltraTech's plans. Dalmia had offered bid worth Rs 6,350 crore to Binani's lenders, with an equity of 20 percent. Sources close to the development further told Moneycontrol that UltraTech has also got the nod from Competition Commission of India for its bid for Binani. Respite for smaller creditors This is the best example of upholding the law of the country, said Sidharth Tibrewal, Senior Committee Member and spokesperson, Binani Operational Creditors Forum (BOCF). The Forum represents 3,000 operations creditors of Binani Cement. This is a big win for everyone, added Tibrewal. The Forum has claimed Rs 550 crore in unpaid dues from Binani Cement. While the lenders were getting 16 per cent interest in their loans to the company, we were expected to take a haircut of almost 80 per cent, added Tibrewal. He added that the claim will rise to Rs 700 crore if the rate of interest is added, as in the case of the banks. The 3,000 operations creditors supply several items to Binani, and this includes coal, packaging and transportation services. Binanis total secured and unsecured debt amounts to about Rs 6,265 crore. Of this, the largest exposure is from Edelweiss ARC with an outstanding of about Rs 2,775 crore. UltraTech had offered Rs 700 crore more than Dalmia. But after its bid was rejected by the lenders committee and the resolution professional, UltraTech challenged the decision in at NCLTs Kolkata bench. IDBI's case The bench also heard the case of IDBI, the unsecured lender to Binani Cement. According to sources attending the proceedings in Kolkata, IDBI's claim has been questioned. German luxury carmaker BMW today said it has started production of all-new X3 model in India. The company plans to launch the model in the country next month. "The all-new BMW X3 is now set to continue the success story, with even more striking and dynamic styling and a luxurious interior," BMW Group India President Vikram Pawah said in a statement. BMW Group Plant Chennai MD Jochen Stallkamp said the company is confident that the new X3 produced in Chennai will further increase its momentum in the Indian luxury car segment. The company's Chennai plant produces the 3 Series, 3 Series Gran Turismo, 5 Series, 6 Series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X1, X3 and X5. It will start rolling out MINI Countryman this year as well. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Reliance Eagleford Upstream Holding LP, a subsidiary of both Reliance Holding USA, and Reliance Industries, on Tuesday signed an agreement with Sundance Energy to sell some of its Eagle Ford shale assets, including certain acreage and producing wells. These assets are located in the western portion of its Eagle Ford shale acreage, Reliance Industries said in a statement. The deal, valued at USD 100 million, is subject to certain customary adjustments and closing terms and conditions. The transaction is in conjunction with sales made by Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc and Newpek LLC, the other players in the Eagle Ford joint venture with Reliance. "The Assets being sold are located in Atascosa, La Salle, Live Oak and McMullen Counties, Texas and were not part of near term development plan of the Joint Development. Reliance continues to retain its interest in the remaining Eagle Ford assets that are core to its development priorities," the company said. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of FY19. Vinod Rai Banks Board Bureau (BBB) Chairman Vinod Rai on Tuesday said he believes the government should reduce its stake in public sector banks over a period of time. In an interview to CNBC TV18, Rai opined that public sector banks need a mindset change and need to be more nimble-footed than they are right now. The elephant must learn to dance, the BBB Chairman told CNBC TV18. The interview came merely a week after Rai wrote to the Finance Minister on the issue. While the Finance Minister ruled out privatisation or consolidation of government-owned banks for next one year, Rai said consolidation of state-owned banks is a must and that it will have to come about. The government cannot own 24 banks, he said, adding it will have to draw down its equity in PSU banks over a period of time. Rai, who is a former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), was given charge of professionalising PSBs, ensuring efficient delivery, and making the appointment process at PSBs more objective, when he was asked to head the BBB in February 2014. On 2G verdict With the notorious 2G scam verdict in December dismissing Rais assessment while he was the CAG, Rai said the verdict has not changed him in anyway. He also does not think it has lessened the stature of institutions in any way. Over three months ago, a special court acquitted all 19 accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi in the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering case relating to the 2G scam, that was unearthed by Rai while he was the CAG from 2008 to 2013. He has calculated the nations loss due to the scam at a massive Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the assessment of the flawed 2G spectrum allocations. Rai said he believed in doing what he was mandated to do and doing it well. business Govt will have to draw down its equity in PSU banks over a period of time, says Vinod Rai Just day after the Banks Board Bureau hit out at the government, the head of the panel has broken his silence. Vinod Rai is the co-editor of an upcoming book titled "Seven Decades of Independent India." Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18's Ronojoy Banerjee spoke on the state of India's public sector banks. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus A.Dapkiunas participates in Business Seminar Africa. Prospects for Export 27-03-2018 On March 27, 2018 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Andrei Dapkiunas, participated in the business seminar Africa. Prospects for Export held by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Top managers and specialists from more than 240 Belarusian enterprises, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps from African countries, accredited in Belarus, took part in the event. In his opening remarks, A.Dapkiunas touched upon the key issues of export promotion to African countries. Based on the Belarusian foreign missions experience in the region, Deputy Minister elaborated on the main aspects of cooperation with African partners, provided recommendations on how to establish effective business collaboration with the countries of the continent. The business seminar became the second large-scale event on trade and economic relations with the African continent over the past year. The first Belarus Africa Forum Belarus and Africa New Frontiers was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Development Bank of Belarus and the African Export-Import Bank in Minsk in June 2017. print version Representative image Removing curbs on apple imports, the government today allowed inward shipments of the fruit through any port in the country. Earlier, imports of the fruit were allowed through both sea ports and airports at Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Cochin; land port and airport in Delhi; and at India's land borders only. "Port restriction for import of apples...is hereby removed," the directorate general of foreign trade said in a notification. The move could help in increasing availability of the fruit in the domestic market and ease its prices. Apple is the most heavily consumed imported fruit in India. India is world's third-largest producer of apples. The fruit's production in the country is limited to the hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. India imports the fruit from the US, China, Chile, New Zealand, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan, among others. During April-January 2018, India's apple imports stood at USD 298 million. India today expressed hope that its two-way trade with Africa would reach USD 150 billion in the next five years, from USD 52 billion currently. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said the current level of trade is widely seen as way below the potential. He asked the African region to properly utilise the Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme to boost trade between the two regions. Under the scheme, import of almost all products from least developed countries (LDCs) to India attract lower or zero duties. "I am confident that India-Africa bilateral trade can touch USD 150 billion in the next five years. To begin with, trade can increase sharply if African LDCs can optimise use of the facility of DFTP," the minister said at the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave here. He said that African exports can be enhanced through value addition and targeted promotion strategies. The minister also said that huge investment potential exists in African region in areas such as infrastructure, energy, IT and agriculture. Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia called upon African businesses for greater utilisation of the scheme to promote trade. She said that EXIM (export-import) bank has approved about 167 lines of credit worth USD 10 billion of projects to 40 African countries as of February this year. The secretary, however, made a case for creating an enabling policy framework for fast implementation of projects. Jignesh Shah, promoter, 63 Moons Technologies (Reuters) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Enforcement Directorate is planning to register a case regarding the exit of a foreign investor, Alexandra Mauritius Ltd, from the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) without the approval of the FIPB, a source told Moneycontrol. The RBI had registered a complaint in this regard with the ED in 2017. A senior ED official told Moneycontrol, We are studying the complaint as well as the CBI probe report and are likely to register a case in the next few days." Alexandra, one of the institutional investors in MCX, has been untraceable and failed to get FIPB approval even six years after it sold its stake in the company. Some RBI officials are also under the scanner since they had approved divestment on post facto conditions despite Foreign Investment Promotional Board (FIPB) approvals not being in place for the Mauritius fund. The ED will also probe if the fund was used as a conduit for round tripping. The case had come into light when a Delhi-based fund manager filed a complaint with the CBI against MCX. Alexandra had partially divested its stake during MCXs initial public offering in early 2012. In 2016, CBI had initiated a probe into the case and sought details from SEBI. The regulator had, in turn, asked for details from the RBI and MCX. SEBI also wrote to MCX and RBI for non-compliance with requirements of FIPB approval. In 2012, AML had divested 390,754 shares in the bourse through an offer for sale. This was half its holding of 781,508 shares bought in 2007 from MCX promoter (and now defunct) FTIL by paying Rs 45 crore, or Rs 577.50 apiece. As per norms, the MCX had approached the RBI before its initial public offer in 2012, seeking the regulators approval for Alexandras divestment in the bourse. The RBI had approved it but had directed MCX to get FIPB approval after the listing. The RBI is believed to have made an exception to the rule that mandates all foreign institutional investors to have the FIPBs approval before selling shares through an IPO. In 2013, FIPB shot down Alexandra Mauritiuss divestment in MCX after they failed to track the beneficiary owner of AML. Alexandra currently holds no stake in the bourse, having sold its entire holding in the secondary market. [The company] sold its residual stake in the secondary market after listing of MCX. Promoters of MCX could have frozen Alexandras stake when FIPB approval was not in place [but had failed to so], sources told Moneycontrol. Alexandra Mauritius had investments in only two Indian companies MCX and Su-raj Diamonds. The CBI and ED are investigating Su-raj Diamonds for diversion of bank loans. We might not see the kind of outperformance that the midcap stocks delivered compared to largecaps over the last 3-4 years, but there will be certain pockets within the midcap segment that could give handsome returns, Prasanna Pathak, Fund Manager, Taurus Mutual Fund, said in an exclusive interview with Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand. What is your index target for the financial year 2019? Do you think the index will be able to reclaim 12,000 on Nifty and Sensex could rise above its previous record high of 36,443? Very difficult to answer the question as your guess will be as good as mine. The market cycles are getting compressed and volatility is increasing. Also, the situation both domestically and globally tends to change dramatically within months. The only green-shoot for our markets is that the earnings seem to be back after a long hiatus. This was the missing link in the entire euphoria for the last 3-4 years. We expect the earnings momentum to accelerate going ahead unless there are further unforeseen events. Also, the elections being near, the government will try its best to get capex and growth back into the economy. The ongoing correction thus provides a good opportunity to buy in the midst of pessimism and noise. Which sectors are likely to hog the limelight in the coming financial year and why? We believe that revival of growth and buoyancy in the US economy should translate into good prospects for the IT sector. The revival in earnings growth may not be adequately captured in some of this zero-debt reasonably valued companies. Also, companies leveraged to the rural economy and agri-sector should do well. Do you see Modi 2.0 as a possibility as we inch closer to national elections in the year 2019? One year is big enough time in politics. We will have to wait and watch how the situation unfolds. Mid and Smallcaps which hogged the limelight in FY18, do you think the trend will continue in the next financial year? If yes, why? We might not see the kind of outperformance which the midcap stocks delivered vis-a-vis largecaps over the last 3-4 years. However, there will be certain pockets within the midcap segment which will outperform handsomely. If you look at the last 3-4 years, there are many midcaps and smallcap companies where prices have soared multi-folds without corresponding increase in earnings. The markets have given them the benefit of demonetisation, GST disruptions, etc. The expectations are high with respect to earnings growth and going ahead some of these companies may disappoint. The room for error is low in such cases and one needs to be cautious. However, there are some pockets where the expectations on earnings growth are low and there might be a positive surprise. Case in point is IT mid-cap companies. The revival in earnings growth may not be adequately captured in some of these zero-debt reasonably valued companies. The mid-cap/smallcap universe is 6-7 times bigger as compared to the largecap space, which offers better stock picking opportunities even in the slightly stretched scenario. What should be the portfolio composition of investors in the coming financial year assuming he is in the age bracket of 35-40 years? Of the incremental savings, 30-40 percent should go towards safety to a combination of Bank FD, Liquid and Arbitrage schemes of Mutual Funds. 20-30 percent should go towards moderate safety with better return potential to a combination of options like income schemes, balanced schemes, and Gold. The remaining portion (30 percent) should go towards equity schemes of Mutual Funds (diversified across the large cap, mid-cap, and small cap). The portfolio composition will change based on individuals risk appetite, income levels, commitments, and liabilities etc. One must visit a certified financial advisor for specific allocation advise. Do you think earnings are likely to bounce back in double digits in FY19? The recent quarter results have been quite encouraging on the earnings front. We do expect the broad-based earnings to accelerate going ahead. How should investors play PSU banks in FY19 given that we are seeing new frauds from different banks almost on a daily basis? There is a lot of pessimism surrounding PSU banks currently. A majority of it is already reflected in prices. The market cap of some of the PSU banks is significantly lower than the 1 year-trailing core earnings. The incremental NPA issues should subside at some point in time. Some of the new frauds being discussed now were already a part of stressed assets and in some cases were well-provided for. Also, NCLT resolutions starting from April onwards may lead to some relief. So, for brave and contra investors this space should offer good nibbling opportunities. For others, it is best to wait for the tide to subside and clarity to appear. How will fears of trade wars likely to play out for Indian markets in FY19? Which sectors are likely to see the worst of it? The tariff-war should hurt China and other net-exporting economies more than India. Shifting manufacturing base out of China and back to the US may lead to more outsourcing opportunities for India. Also, if India too decides to protect its turf, it should relatively benefit us as we are a net importer of goods. This will then benefit the domestic manufacturing sector. However, this is not as simplistic as it appears. Also, one will have to wait and watch as to how the retaliation and negotiations happen going ahead to get a clearer picture. Markets regulator Sebi today exempted the central government from making an open offer for the shareholders of three lenders -- Dena Bank, IDBI Bank and Bank of India -- following capital infusion. According to the regulator, there would be no change in control of the banks pursuant to the proposed acquisition of additional shares by the government. Further, there will be no change in the number of equity shares held in the target company by the public shareholders, pursuant to the proposed transactions, the Securities and Exchange Board of India said in three similar-worded orders. Sebi has given exemption from open offer requirements with respect to the lenders through three separate but similarly-worded orders. Following capital infusion in these listed public sector banks, the government's respective stakes would rise in them. Under Sebi norms, an entity whose shareholding in a listed company goes beyond a particular threshold has to make an open offer. As per the orders, the infusion of additional capital by the government is stated to enable the banks to meet regulatory capital norms. It would also provide them with additional leverage for raising further equity capital at a later date as and when the need arises, the regulator said. Following the capital infusion, the government's stake would rise by 12.19 per cent in Dena Bank, 6.98 percent in IDBI Bank and 10.57 per cent in Bank of India. The acquisition is on preferential allotment basis for the financial year 2017-18. During January and March, the three lenders had filed separate applications on behalf of the Indian government seeking exemption from the applicability of Regulation 3(2) of the SAST (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations. Regulation 3(2) requires an acquirer to making a public announcement of an open offer for acquiring shares in case the existing stake goes beyond a certain threshold. Earlier, the government had proposed infusion to the tune of Rs 3,045 crore in Dena Bank, Rs 2,729 crore in IDBI Bank and Rs 9,232 crore in Bank of India. Earlier this month, Sebi had exempted the central government from making an open offer for the shareholders of six lenders -- Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Vijaya Bank, Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India-- following capital infusion. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Amrapali Group to convene a joint meeting with Noida and Greater Noida Authority representatives, homebuyers, legal counsels and lenders on March 31 and submit its report on the status of projects, and the amount required to complete them by April 6. The next date of hearing has been set for April 10. Also, in a big jolt to the embattled real estate company, the Apex Court said that Bank of Baroda should recover the money from the builder and not from the homebuyers. Responding to the issue of insolvency raised by the banks counsel, the court said, Flat buyers money belongs to them and no one can take it, adding Bank of Baroda had lent the money to the builder and not the flat buyers; therefore, it cannot ask buyers to pay back the bank. Noida Authority and Greater Noida Authority have also been directed to carry out an independent tower-wise inspection of all the flats to ascertain the deficiencies, statutory compliances required from the builder and submit the report in a weeks time, legal sources present at the hearing said. The joint meeting to be convened by the builder on March 31 will be chaired by Ranjit Kumar, counsel for Amrapali Group. The fresh report will incorporate details such as completion status of all projects, amount required to complete unfinished ones and has to be submitted in court by April 6. Any objections to it have to be filed before the next date of hearing, i.e, April 10, the two-member bench headed by Justices Arun Mishra and UU Lalit said. Advocate M L Lahoty had prepared his own independent note highlighting the deficiencies in Amrapali projects, the amount required and other details and presented it in court. The grievance of other counsels was that they had not been served with an advance copy, said Shwetabh Sinha, advocate. Many counsels did not agree with the note submitted in court on Tuesday. They said that it was not in consonance with the joint inspection report. Therefore, the court directed the builder to convene an independent meeting and invite Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority, buyers and lenders. Advocate Lahotys note is expected to act as a foundation note, said advocate Kumar Mihir, representing the homebuyers. The Supreme Court on March 15 had directed embattled real estate firm Amrapali Group and homebuyers to hold a joint meeting on March 17 at the Supreme Court consultation room to thrash out a joint statement. The court had also clarified that they were not looking at the refund option right away. Its priority was to concentrate on completion of flats for homebuyers that are nearing completion Last year, Bank of Baroda had filed an insolvency petition before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) after Amrapali had failed to repay a loan of Rs56 crore. The move caused panic among homebuyers as, according to them, their investment would not be protected under the insolvency and bankruptcy code as the NCLT would give preference to banks before buyers. In September 2017, a group of homebuyers from Noida filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking protection of their investment. In January, buyers in five other stuck housing projects in Greater Noida also filed similar pleas. The apex court clubbed all the pleas and began the hearing. SBI ATM live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Revenue Department has launched a probe into alleged collusion between select banks and ATM service providers to evade payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) and wrongly claim tax credit, according to an Economic Times report. The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI) has sent letters to the State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank as well as some of their ATM service providers, including NCR, AGS Transact, Tata Payments Solutions and Hitachi, the report said. In connection to the investigations into alleged irregularities in availment of Cenvat credit pertaining to ATM transactions by certain banks, please provide details in respect of Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India and erstwhile associate banks of State Bank of India, read a letter issued by DGGSTIs Kochi office to an ATM service provider. The Revenue Departments intelligence unit has sought three kinds of information such as details of different type of services provided to banks, copies of agreement/contract/work order or any other document governing terms and conditions of outsourcing of ATMs and annual reports of financial years between 2013-14 and 2016-17. Most banks which had been asked for similar information, had already submitted the information in February, the report added. Japanese tech conglomerate Softbank has pput its money behind 7 unicorns in India, including Paytm, OYO Rooms and Ola Cabs, among others. (Image: Reuters) Japanese multinational conglomerate SoftBank has set up a special committee to investigate a smear campaign against its former executives, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The probe panel will comprise of Softbanks directors on the board, who will examine allegations of leaking financial information, including those against its former president Nikesh Arora. According to the newspaper, SoftBank is investigating what it said was a shareholder-led smear campaign against Arora and the groups current Chief Strategy Officer Alok Sama. Arora, who hails from Ghaziabad, was once considered as a successor for group founder Masayoshi Son. Arora and Sama have been accused of leaks to the media about personal finances and a complaint filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to the report. According to the report, an Italian private equity investor, Alessandro Benedetti, who has professional links to SoftBank Vision Fund chief Rajeev Misra, was behind the campaign. Benedetti has however denied being part of any campaign. SoftBank, which is one of the worlds most dominant technology investors, has invested over USD 6 billion in some of Indias leading internet companies including Flipkart and Ola. SoftBank had found Arora and Sama not guilty of any wrongdoing. Delhi-based microlending startup Cash Suvidha has raised USD 1 million in pre-series A funding from Initia Holdings Ltd, Vipin Agarwal, a partner in India Industrial Growth fund and others. The funds will be used to increase the loan books of the company and to further strengthen its technological infrastructure. The company was founded in 2016 by Rajesh Gupta, Anoop Garg and Geeta Goswami. It provides loans and funds to SMEs in Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Rajasthan. "This capital infusion would help us in widening our horizon and in extending our best alternative lending services across geographies. We have recently started our operations in Kota and Jaipur. Our next destination is Ajmer and other parts of Rajasthan. After covering Rajasthan we will move towards Gujarat and other, parts of India," said Rajesh Gupta, founder of Cash Suvidha. In February, the startup raised a debt of USD 2.5 million and planned to use the debt investment to increase the loan books of the company. Greg Moran, co-founder and CEO of Zoomcar Self-drive car rentals major Zoomcar is striding ahead with aggressive expansion of its cycle-sharing service PEDL, even as its competitors Chinas Ofo Bikes and Olas Pedal are still in pilot stages. Zoomcar PEDL, which was launched officially in November last year, has already completed 1.4 million rides across a network of 10 cities, in a matter of 5 months. (Moneycontrol had earlier reported in October that Zoomcar would be offering bicycles for rent at Rs 20 per hour) The response has been more than we expected. We focused on accessibility, and that has paid off. We will add more supply in the coming quarters to expand that number, Greg Moran, co-founder and CEO of Zoomcar, told Moneycontrol. With little competition countering Zoomcars expansion in the cycle-sharing segment, the company is hoping to touch 1.5 million rides a day by the year-end. Currently, Zoomcar has a network of close to 3,000 cycles. It is targeting to take that figure to 5 lakh by the end of this year. The ambitious target sits atop its plan to leverage its 30-city-wide network for its car-rental platform. We have a large and well-established network of cities for our cars. We will launch Pedl in all these cities as a parallel service by the next quarter, Moran said. Cab-hailing company Ola had launched its Pedal service in November too, with a pilot project at the IIT-Kanpur campus and is looking to expand to other campuses. China-based cycle-sharing startup Ofo Bikes, launched in India in January, had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), to create city-wide bicycle networks. Ofo has launched its service in seven Indian cities on a pilot basis, which included Indore, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Coimbatore and Chennai. Zoomcar is currently present in 10 cities, including Hyderabad, Agra, Pune, Bangalore, and Jaipur, apart from the four major metros - Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi. The company is launching its services in two new cities Varanasi and Lucknow in the next couple of weeks, adding about 100 bicycles. Ofos entry into India, however, may pose some counter competition for Zoomcar. The first foreign player in the segment to enter India market brings with itself experience of handling over 32 million cycle rides in 250 cities across 21 countries. The company, which is taking a wait-and-watch approach for expansion in India, was also recently funded by Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group with USD 866 million, a significant part of which is expected to be deployed in India. In July last year, the Alibaba Group, along with cab aggregator Didi Chuxing and DST Global, had pumped in USD 700 million into Ofo, which triggered its global expansion, even as it faced stiff competition in its home market. Incidentally, Didi Chuxing, DST Global, and SoftBank, are also investors in Ola. Zoomcar also raised funding from automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra, albeit, with much lower corpus of USD 40 million. Zoomcar is tackling competition by differentiating its service through better accessibility, sophisticated tracking system, and most importantly, by moving ahead of its competitors. But, with strong investors backing Ofo, its entry is sure to intensify competition in this nascent segment. Ofo is also adopting a different approach in India than Zoomcar. It has opted for a station-free bike-sharing concept. The company has placed a field staff at several hotspots, who keep an eye for the bicycles being dropped, which are taken back to a repair centre. The strategy is a result of its learning in its home market, where it suffered several vandalism cases where its cycles were damaged or stolen. Ambassador of Belarus V.Beskosty visits Ghana 26-03-2018 On March 23, 2018 during his trip to the Republic of Ghana, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Nigeria and Ghana non-resident, Vyacheslav Beskosty, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway. The sides discussed current state and prospects for the development of cooperation between Belarus and Ghana in the political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. The parties noted an increase in bilateral trade turnover and the existing potential for the development of industrial cooperation. The Ambassador of Belarus met with the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, Albert Yankey. The parties agreed on holding a second round of bilateral political consultations in 2018 in Minsk. At the meeting with the Honorary Consul of Belarus in Ghana, Kobina Ade-Coker, the sides considered the results of the activity of the Honorary Consulate, as well as the results of the participation of K.Ade-Coker in the first conference of Honorary Consuls of Belarus in Minsk in 2017. print version Angel Commodities' report on Gold On Monday, spot gold prices rose half a percent to close at $1353.1 per ounce after the United States said it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, prompting investor flight into assets considered safe havens. The United States was joining governments across Europe in taking action against the Kremlin after a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain. Besides, dollar index declined to five week lows in turn supporting the commodity complex. On the MCX, gold prices traded flat to close at Rs.31142 per 10 gms. We expect gold prices to trade sideways today as tensions between US and China seems to be easing amid reports that Chinese and U.S. officials were busy negotiating to avert a trade war. On the MCX, gold prices are expected to trade sideways, international markets are trading flat at $1354 per ounce. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More IDFC | The share price has risen 30 percent in the last three trading sessions. On August 12, the stock closed at Rs 26.35 against a close of Rs 20.3 on August 7, 2020. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of IDFC Bank and Capital First gained 3 percent intraday Tuesday on NSE approval for scheme of amalgamation. IDFC Bank has received prior approval of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) to the proposed amalgamation of Capital First, Capital First Home Finance and Capital First Securities with IDFC Bank, as per release. NSE has given its prior approval for the amalgamation with respect to the amalgamated company's trading membership in the currency derivative segment of NSE. The merger is still subject to approvals from the Reserve Bank of India, Stock Exchanges, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and respective shareholders and creditors of all the companies involved. At 09:55 hrs IDFC Bank was quoting at Rs 48.50, up 2.11 percent and Capital First was quoting at Rs 634.05, up 2.45 percent on the BSE. Posted by Rakesh Patil live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of JMC Projects rose 6 percent intraday Tuesday as company has secured new orders of Rs 634 crore. The orders includes residential and commercial projects in South India of Rs 509 crore and construction of office complex for Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation, Bangalore of Rs 125 crore. S. K. Tripathi, CEO & Dy. Managing Director of JMC Projects said, "We are pleased with the new order wins, especially in our core B&F business. Our order inflows for this financial year have crossed Rs 3,300 crore, which is as per the guidance for order inflow of 2017-18." "Our current order book gives us good visibility for a profitable growth in 2018-19," he added. At 11:15 hrs JMC Projects (India) was quoting at Rs 556.30, up Rs 23.15, or 4.34 percent on the BSE. Posted by Rakesh Patil - GF10000158647 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Punj Lloyd surged more than 15 percent in the early trade on Tuesday on winning contract worth Rs 505 crore. The company has been awarded a contract worth Rs 505,22,31,836 for six/four lanning of NH 5 (New NH 16) from Puintola to Tangi in the state of Odisha. The project is on EPC basis awarded by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The construction period is 730 days from the appointed date, to be notified by NHAI after fulfillment of certain conditions precedent. At 09:16 hrs Punj Lloyd was quoting at Rs 17.35, up Rs 1.40, or 8.78 percent on the BSE. The share touched its 52-week high Rs 29.15 and 52-week low Rs 15.80 on 01 January, 2018 and 26 March, 2018, respectively. Currently, it is trading 40.31 percent below its 52-week high and 10.13 percent above its 52-week low Posted by Rakesh Patil The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country's apex food regulator, on Monday asked the top 200 food companies in the country to establish teams to manage food recalls. The regulator has requested companies to submit details of their food recall teams within 30 days, and of the fresh recall plan within 60 days, from March 20. The regulator has written to Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Cargill India, Nestle India, Patanjali Ayurved, PepsiCo India, Coca-Cola India, Mondelez India, Tata Global Beverages, according to a Hindu Business Line report. Food recalls are uncommon in India. The last time a food company recalled one of its products was in 2015, when Nestle India recalled Maggi after reports of monosodium glutamate and excess lead being found in it. Other food companies, too, will be asked to set up teams to manage recalls, Pawan Agarwal, CEO at FSSAI, told the newspaper. "While we have initially asked the top 200 companies to submit their fresh food recall plans, we will also ask other food companies to do the same. This plan will need to give details on the procedures and mechanisms these companies have put in place in case of an emergency event where they would need to recall a food product," Agarwal said. The food recall plan will be reviewed every time any of the 200 food companies applies for a licence renewal, Mint reported. Q11. Skywise which provides a single access point for the sharing of operational and flight data is about making the right information available at the right time. To do so, it leverages the massive amount of data previously locked in company and functional silos across the industry to improve operational performance and business results for aircraft operators. Which company owns Skywise? Taking note of long delays, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has now given a month's time to Air Deccan and Air Odisha to start operations on routes bagged by them in the first round of bidding under the regional air connectivity scheme, according to officials. State-owned AAI is the nodal agency for the scheme -- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) -- which seeks to connect unserved and under-served airports as well as make flying more affordable. Under the first round of UDAN, as many as 70 airports, including 31 unserved and 12 under-served ones, were to be connected. Five airlines, including Air Deccan and Air Odisha, won bids to operate UDAN flights on 128 routes. While winners of the first round were announced in March last year, many routes are yet to be operational on account of multiple factors, including certain airports yet to be fit for operations and some airlines not being fully ready. Against this backdrop, officials said the AAI has served notices to Air Deccan and Air Odisha asking them to commence operations on the routes awarded to them in a month's time. AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said that around 18-19 airports are already operational under UDAN and more would be coming up. "Unfortunately, promoters of two airlines who came were not in a position to start it ( services on routes bagged by them) despite several notices to them in the past... A final notice is being sent to them now to start operations within a month," he told PTI. However, Mohapatra did not take names of the two airlines. Another official in the know said notices have been served to Air Deccan and Air Odisha. The two carriers bagged as many as 84 routes under the first round of UDAN but have so far started operations in less than 10 of them. Air Deccan and Air Odisha bagged 34 and 50 routes, respectively. Besides, the two airlines, SpiceJet, Alliance Air and Turbo Megha Airways had won bids. Nearly a year after emerging winners, so far Air Deccan and Air Odisha have started flights on three routes each. Air Deccan started operations in December while Air Odisha took to the skies in February. Among others, airlines participating in UDAN are eligible for viability gap funding and the amount is shared between the central government and the state government concerned. On concerns expressed about many airports not being ready for operations, Mohapatra said the airlines can at least start operations from aerodromes that are ready. BJP President Amit Shah today asserted there was a "tsunami" in favour of his party which will not only defeat the ruling Congress but also 'uproot' it in the coming assembly polls in Karnataka. He also lashed out at the Siddaramaiah government on multiple fronts, saying it had distanced itself from the people. "After Gujarat elections, this is my Karnataka trip. Extraordinary enthusiasm is witnessed here. Earlier I was saying it was a BJP wave. Now I say it's a BJP tsunami" Shah said. He was addressing a public rally here in the home district of state unit BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, who is being projected as the party's chief ministerial face in the elections to be held in the next couple of months. Shah, who began a two-day tour of the central Karnataka region, said in five years the Siddaramaiah government had "distanced itself from people and development." Coming to Karnataka a day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi ended his fourth round of visit, he said "Rahul Gandhi is touring. He has been saying that congress government will come in Karnataka. "Since 2014 see the election records," he added citing BJP's winning streak since coming to power at the centre. Shah said the party had formed governments in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Assam, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura,. "This vijayarath of Modi has reached Karnataka. What will happen? We will not only defeat them, we will uproot Congress," he declared. Shah alleged that in the last four and a half years, 20 BJP/RSS workers had been killed in Karnataka by Popular Front of India activists. "It won't happen anymore. People know who'll come to power here," he said. PFI had earlier rejected the BJP's repeated charge about its involvement in the killings. Shah said the Modi government had launched many welfare schemes transforming poor people's lives. "But it's not reaching people in Karnataka. Modi government is like high tension line. To draw power from it directly is not possible. You need a transformer. However the transformer of Siddaramaiah government is burnt. Such transformer should be removed," he said. Speaking at Tiptur in Tumakuru district earlier, Shah maintained that the Siddaramaiah government's move to accord separate religious minority status to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats was aimed at preventing Yeddyurappa from becoming the Chief Minister. "This Siddaramaiah government has brought this proposal, not because it has love for Lingayats, but to prevent Yeddyurappa from becoming Chief Minister," he said addressing a Coconut Growers Convention. "I want to tell Karnataka people that if BJP wins a majority, we will make Yeddyurappa Chief Minister," he added. Yeddyurappa is considered a Lingayat strongman. The state cabinet had recently decided to recommend to the Centre grant of religious minority status to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, in a move seen as an attempt to chip away at the BJP's strong Lingayat voter base. Shah said that the proposal, which was rejected by the then Manmohan Singh government at the Centre in 2013, was only aimed at creating confusion among people. He, however, believed that the people of the state would not be enticed by Siddaramaiah's "divide-and-rule politics." Rahul Gandhi should first point fingers at Siddaramaiah for dividing people before accusing BJP of it, Shah said. Accusing Siddaramiah of playing "divide-and-rule" politics, he likened it to that of the British. "The Congress ship is sinking and to save it,the Congress is making its last efforts, and what it is doing? It is making efforts to divide people," he charged and questioned why the Siddaramiah government had not made the proposal earlier. He also launched a scathing attack on the state government for "failure" to prevent farmers' suicides. "In five years of Siddaramaiah's rule as many as 3,781 farmers committed suicides. I want to ask the government, who is responsible for these suicides?" Shah said. Shah also held a massive roadshow in Shivamogga, where he launched the state BJP's "Karunadu Jagruti Yatre' a rally to awaken the electorate of Karnataka against the "misrule" of the Siddaramaiah government. The BJP president began his two-day tour by seeking blessings of Sri Shivakumara Swami of Siddhaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, a revered seer of the Lingayat community. Shah's meeting with the seer is being seen as an attempt to reach out to the Lingayats/Veeshaivas, who are numerically and politically powerful in the state and form a major vote base for the BJP. "Today I had the good fortune to seek blessings from the 'Walking God' Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddhaganga Mutt, Tumakuru. His tireless work even at his advanced age is inspiring. His life is a living lesson and guiding light for all of us," Shah said in a tweet. (Source: Twitter/Amit Malviya) The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the saffron party's IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted out election dates for Karnataka, even before the Election Commission (EC) announced it. Congress media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala accused Malviya of declaring the dates of polling in the southern state on his Twitter handle even before the EC. Surjewala posted a screenshot of Malviyas tweet in which the voting and counting dates for the 2018 Karnataka polls were mentioned. BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018 However, the date of counting tweeted by Malviya later turned out to be incorrect. Along with the screen grab, Surjewala said, BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Surjewala further questioned EC's credibility and asked whether the election regulator will now issue notice to BJP President Amit Shah and register an FIR against the partys IT cell head for leaking its confidential information. When asked about the issue during the poll dates announcement, Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat said, "Certain things may have leaked for which Election Commission will take appropriate action." Rawat assured investigations and said actions, legally and administratively befitting, will be taken in the case. Times Now is showing. https://t.co/ksuRepzGiX Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) March 27, 2018 Although Malviya deleted the tweet, his social media account was flooded with question asking how he posted the information before EC's announcement. Replying to one such tweet, he said that a media channel was showing it. image for representation The Election Commission of India (EC) on Tuesday announced dates for Karnataka state Assembly elections. Voting will happen on May 12 while the counting and results will be declared on May 15, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat announced. The CEC also announced that the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be announced across all seats in the state. The Model Code of Conduct has also come into effect with the announcement of the poll schedule. The total number of voters for the election will be 4.96 crore. Out of the 224-seats in the Assembly, 36 seats have been reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and 15 have been reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), the Commission announced. The term of the current 224-member assembly ends on May 28. A voter guide, in Kannada and English will be given to every family on demand, the CEC said, adding that assured minimum facilities will be given to voters during the polls. The campaign The campaigning in the poll-bound state has already begun, with leaders of Congress and the BJP Rahul Gandhi and Amit Shah visiting the state at regular intervals. Both rival leaders have been holding public meetings for over a month now. Besides Punjab, Karnataka is the only large state where the Indian National Congress is still in power. Hence, Congress is hoping to retain the state ahead of the crucial polls in other states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, later this year. The Karnataka state Assembly polls may also have bearing on the 2019 Lok Sabha election. What happened in 2013 The election was held on May 5 in 2013. Congress defeated the BJP in a fiercely contested battle. A 70.23 percent voter turnout was recorded. As many as 50,446 polling stations were set up for a total of 4.18 crore voters in the state. Siddaramaiah-led Congress had bagged 122 seats with 36.6 percent votes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had got 40 seats with 19.9 percent votes. Following a fallout with the BJP, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has contested separately through his own party Karnataka Janata Paksha. His party won six seats with 9.8 percent popular votes. HD Kumaraswamy-led Janata Dal (Secular) also won 40 seats. However with 20.2 percent of the popular votes, JD(S) outperformed the BJP. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Moneyontrol News HDFC Bank on Tuesday assured the removal of the anti-homeless spikes from its Fort Branch after the bank copped backlash from the public. "We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the public by the installation of the spikes at our Fort Branch, as part of the recent renovation. We're having the spikes removed on priority," the bank tweeted. As others have pointed out, these anti-homeless spikes from @HDFC_Bank Fort branch are not only a depressing gesture towards Mumbai's many rough sleepers, but could also impale any pedestrian unlucky enough to trip and fall in this crowded passageway https://t.co/Eb897CK4fY Simon Mundy (@simonmundy) March 26, 2018 Multiple rows of iron spike were placed outside the Branch that may have hurt pedestrians if they were to lose their balance and fall. The spikes could have been a danger particularly to elderly people and children. Accusing the bank for being extremely insensitive, the residents of Mumbai took to Twitter to hit out at the bank's drastic move to prevent homeless people from sleeping on the pavements. @HDFCBank_Cares This photo is of your newly opened branch at mg road fort mumbai, besides fabindia. Nice modern branch. BUT Why these hideous spikes? What if a kid/ elderly or physically disabled person falls on them and get seriously hurt? May lead to very bad PR disaster. pic.twitter.com/jnB1GhSrbS Tariq Khan (@CuriousTariq) February 12, 2018 "This photo is of your newly opened branch at MG Road Fort Mumbai, besides Fabindia. Nice modern branch. BUT Why these hideous spikes? What if a kid/elderly or physically disabled person falls on them and gets seriously hurt? May lead to very bad PR disaster," another Twitter user had tweeted. Ambassador of Belarus A.Savinykh visits Iraq 26-03-2018 On March 26, 2018 during the visit to Iraq, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Turkey and Iraq non-resident, Andrei Savinykh, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for development of the Belarusian-Iraqi cooperation, as well as the internal political situation in Iraq. A.Savinykh met with the Minister of Health of Iraq, Adil Khussein Al-Abudi, during which the sides discussed the implementation of joint projects in the field of public health and further intensification of the supply of pharmaceutical products to the Iraqi market. Within the framework of participation in the round table with the leaders of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Baghdad and Karbala, the Ambassador of Belarus informed about the export opportunities of our country in the context of the upcoming visits of representatives of the business circles of Iraq to Belarus. print version India and China have agreed to draw a roadmap with clear timelines to boost bilateral trade in a sustainable manner, the commerce ministry said today. Trade and other related issues were discussed during the meeting of China-India joint-group on economic relations, trade, science and technology here yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and his Chinese counterpart Zhong Shan. "The ministers agreed to draw-up a medium and long term roadmap with action points and timelines for increasing bilateral trade between the two countries in a balanced and sustainable manner," it said. It added that the two countries are the largest emerging economies with 35 per cent of the world's population and about 20 per cent of the world's GDP but the relative volume of bilateral trade is less than 1 per cent of global trade. The Chinese side reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate the provision of market access for Indian agricultural products including non-basmati rice, rape- seed meals, pomegranate, okra, banana and other fruits and vegetables and bovine meat expeditiously. The ministry said that the India's concern regarding trade deficit and requests for greater market access of Indian products and services was raised in the meeting. On this, the neighbouring country expressed its commitment to address these concerns through the broad framework provided by successive joint economic group meetings. "The two sides reaffirmed their aim to promote bilateral trade in the field of pharmaceuticals including resolution of issues of Indian pharma products exports to Chinese markets," it added. Further, both the sides agreed to re-negotiate bilateral investment agreement to create a more stable, transparent and predictable legal environment to facilitate greater investment on both sides. India has received USD 1.78 billion foreign direct investment from China during April 2000 and December 2017. India's trade deficit with China stood at USD 36.73 billion during the April-October period of the current fiscal. The deficit had marginally dipped to USD 51 billion in 2016-17 from USD 52.69 billion in the previous fiscal. March 27, 2018 / 11:16 AM IST / 11:16 AM IST EC bats for accessible polls in Karnataka The EC wants accessible polls in Karnataka. To do so, VVPATS will be provided at all polling stations photograph of all the candidates will also be put up on the EVMs. Special arrangements will be made for women. In all 450 polling stations will be managed fully by women. 15:34 Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after an uproar. The ruckus did not allow Speak Sumitra Mahajan to bring in the motion of no-confidence. The House will convene again On Tuesday, April 2. Thats all from our side. Thanks for staying tuned. 12:12 The House stands adjourned for the day. It will convene on April 2. 11:54 The Lower House will convene at noon. 11:07 The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon, amidst ruckus. AIADMK MPs were seen raising slogan we want justice, in the well of the House, as soon as it convened. 11:04 The Lok Sabha convened. 08:12 On Tuesday, four parties Congress, YSR Congress, TDP and CPI (M) were expected to move the motion of no-confidence. However, the House was adjourned due to ruckus from AIADMK MPs. Earlier on Tuesday, TRS MPs, who had been protesting in the well of the House for a week, said they would allow the motion to be brought in. 08:09 Good morning! The blog will track the happening from the Lok Sabha. The Opposition parties are expected to move the motion of no-confidence, again. 13:58 The four parties are expected to move the trust vote again tomorrow. Thats all from our side, for now. Thanks for staying tuned. 12:13 The Lok Sabha will convene tomorrow at 11 am. 12:11 Speaker Sumitra Mahajan reiterated that she wanted to bring in the motion of no-confidence as she was duty-bound. However, the House was adjourned for the day as ruckus continued. 11:33 The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon after loud slogans of 'we want justice' were raised in the House immediately after proceedings began today. 10:41 Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu will hold a meeting with representatives of all political parties of the state in Amaravati today. They are likely to discuss future course of action on their demand for special category status. 10:15 In what can be seen as a positive sign for the Opposition, reports suggest that the TRS have agreed to let the Lok Sabha function and that its MPs would not protest in the well of the House. However, it remains unclear if the AIADMK would do the same. 10:13 The lower House did not function as planned last week. Due to constant ruckus from MPs belonging to TRS and AIADMK, who were protesting in the well of the House, the Speaker had to adjourn the Lok Sabha repeatedly. 10:12 Last week, TDP as well as YSR Congress tried to move the motion of no-confidence one day after the other. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that she is duty-bound to bring in the motion. However, she said that the vote would be possible only if there was no ruckus in the House. 10:10 The Lower House will convene for the first time since Friday. The House had a scheduled holiday yesterday. 10:09 Good morning! This blog will track happening from the Lok Sabha. Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), YSR Congress and now the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) are set to move the motion of no-confidence against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Lok Sabha, as the proceedings begin at 11 am today. 15:42 YSR Congress and Congress have also submitted documents moving the motion of no-confidence against the NDA government. The Lok Sabha will convene on Tuesday, March 27, at 11 am. That's all from our side. Thank you for staying tuned. 11:23 The Rajya Sabha has also been adjourned till Monday after TDP MPs stormed into well of the House over the special status for Andhra Pradesh issue. Remember, the motion of no-confidence can only be moved in Lok Sabha, not in the Upper House. 11:08 The proceedings of Lok Sabha opened with ruckus and was immediately adjourned till 11 am. 11:03 The Lok Sabha has convened. 10:52 TDP MPs have continued their protest in Parliament premises regarding a special status issue. 09:37 The Lok Sabha is expected to convene at 11 am. 09:21 Reports suggest that the Telugu Desam Party has sought support from TRS and AIADMK to let the House function and move the motion of no-confidence. TRS and AIADMK have been protesting in the well of the House for the last few days, creating ruckus that has resulted in constant adjournment. 09:19 The two parties have been attempting to move the motion for the last 3-4 days. However, constant ruckus in the Lower House forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House every day. 09:18 Good morning! This LIVE blog will track the latest developments from the Lok Sabha where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress are expected to move the motion of no-confidence, again. 12:18 The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow. 11:20 The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon. 10:58 After adjournment yesterday, YSR Congress YV Subba Reddy wrote to Lok Sabha Secretary General and gave him notice to include motion of no-confidence in the list of business for today. 10:57 Yesterday, the House convened at 11 am and was immediately adjourned to 12 pm as the ruckus continued. At noon, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan slammed the protesting MPs for creating a ruckus, but had to adjourn the House for the day, again. 10:50 Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress are set to move the motion of no confidence against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government today, again. 13:53 The motion of no confidence is likely to be move in the Lok Sabha tomorrow. That's it for now. Thanks for staying tuned. 12:41 YSR Congress YV Subba Reddy has written to Lok Sabha Secretary General and has given notice to include motion of no-confidence in the list of business for tomorrow. 12:11 The House was adjourned after continued ruckus. Speaker Mahajan said that she would not be able to take up the motion of no confidence if the ruckus continues. 12:09 Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has adjourned Lok Sabha for the day. The House will convene again on Thursday. 11:09 Minutes after convening, the Lok Sabha was adjourned again. The House will meet next at 12 noon. 09:26 Amidst ruckus in the Lok Sabha yesterday, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that she is duty bound to bring in the motion of no confidence moved by TDP and YSR Congress, before adjourned the House for the day. 09:25 YSR Congress issues whip, orders MPs to be present Jaganmohan Reddys YSR Congress has issued a whip to its Members of Parliament (MPs), ordering all of them to be present in the Lok Sabha today. They will be moving the motion of no confidence, again when the House convenes at 11 am. 09:21 Good morning! This blog will follow the latest happening from Parliament where Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress are expected to move the motion of no confidence, again. 15:31 YSR Congress is expected to move another motion of no confidence in the Lok Sabha tomorrow and TDP is expected to follow suit. That's it for now. Thanks for staying tuned. 12:46 YSR Congress YV Subba Reddy has written to Lok Sabha Secretary General, giving notice to include the motion of no-confidence in the list of business for tomorrow. 12:18 Following ruckus, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day. The House will convene at 11 am on Wednesday. 12:15 Speaker Sumitra Mahajan says that she is duty bound to bring in the motion of no confidence moved by TDP and YSR Congress. 12:10 Lok Sabha has convened again. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is addressing the House over the death of 39 Indians in Iraq, amidst chaos. 11:48 Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day after ruckus in the House. 11:10 The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon after chants of 'We want justice' echoed in the House, immediately after proceedings began for the day. 10:38 Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu has asked party MPs to coordinate with members of the Opposition, media reports suggest. 09:02 Recap: Yesterday, both TDP and YSR Congress moved the motion of no confidence. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on behalf of the government said that they were willing to face the trust vote and debate about it. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan however said that she cannot allow any such vote to happen unless the ruckus in the House stops, as it will make counting of votes difficult for her. 09:00 The motion of no confidence was to be moved on Friday and was postponed to for yesterday after the Lok Sabha was adjourned early then. Yesterday, again, the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha early after ruckus in the House. 08:57 Despite all efforts from Chandrababu Naidus TDP and the YSR Congress Party, the NDA seems to have enough numbers to succeed against any no confidence motion. 08:54 A key member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Shiv Sena said yesterday that it will abstain from voting when the motion of no confidence is moved today. Shiv Sena has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha. 08:51 Good morning! This blog will continue to track the latest developments from the Parliament where two Andhra Pradesh-based parties Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress Party are expected to move the motion of no confidence, again. 16:03 TDP and YSR Congress are expected to move another motion of no confidence in the Lok Sabha tomorrow. 15:10 Shiv Sena has said that it will abstain from voting in the motion of no confidence. In the party mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena has said, "The TDP wants to bring in the no-confidence motion for its personal political reasons and not for any 'nationalist' reason". "In 2019, there will be a blast of resentment that is prevailing among masses today. That time, a no-confidence motion will be passed with a complete majority," the Sena said. 13:08 Members of Parliament from TDP and YSR Congress will be skipping lunch hosted by Lok Sabha speaker as they are upset with their no-confidence motion not being taken up, news reports suggest. 12:49 YSR Congress Member of Parliament YV Subba Reddy has moved no-confidence motion against the government for Tuesday. 12:14 Home Minister Rajnath Singh said before the Lok Sabha was adjourned that the government is willing to face the no-confidence motion. Singh also said that the government was ready to debate the motion. 12:11 Lok Sabha has been adjourned until tomorrow after ruckus. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that she would not be in a position to count the votes because of the noise inside the parliament. 12:09 Lok Sabha has convened, following adjournment. 11:59 DMK leader MK Stalin has said in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu to put pressure on Central government, has gone for no confidence motion, for the welfare of their state. I ask this (Tamil Nadu) Government to support TDP's no confidence motion. 11:24 Addressing TDP minority wing members, Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu has said, You have always been supportive of TDP, but you were not happy that we allied with BJP. We have been working for welfare of Muslims. We thought as an NDA member, BJP will do justice to the state, but nothing happened. We waited for four years, but of no use. Even in the last budget justice was not done, Naidu added. It was TDP and not YSRCP who responded on Triple Talaq Bill. I told BJP leadership that criminalization of triple talaq was not correct. I was the first to oppose it, Naidu added. 11:16 The government has however expressed confidence that the notices, even if they are admitted, will be defeated given its strength in the Lok Sabha. The current strength of the Lok Sabha is 539 and the ruling BJP has 274 members, more than the majority mark of 270, and enjoys the support of several allies. With the 16-member TDP quitting the BJP-led NDA, the ruling alliance strength has reduced. 11:08 Recap The YSR Congress was the first to give a notice last week for a no-trust motion after the Centre made it clear that it would not grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. Not to be outdone by its main rival in the state, the TDP, a long time BJP ally, then decided to break its ties over the issue and brought a no-confidence motion of its own. Both parties have been lobbying with opposition parties for support to their respective notices. A no-confidence motion notice has to be supported by at least 50 MPs to be taken up in the House. 11:06 FLASH | The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon due to ruckus. 11:05 YSR Congress YV Subba Reddy has written to the Lok Sabha secretariat to put his notice for the motion in the revised list of business for tomorrow. The TDP has also moved a notice for a no-confidence motion. When their notices were not taken up last week, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had argued that they could not be due to the House being not in order, with members of several parties raising slogans in the Well. 11:04 TDP, YSR Congress to pitch for no confidence motion notices in Lok Sabha Desam YSR Modi Lok Sabha The TeluguParty andCongress will pitch for taking up their notices of no-confidence motion against thegovernment when themeets today, amid no signs of a let-up in the deadlock in its proceedings. Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals & Fertiliser | Promoter entities Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation, Twinshield Consultants and South India Travels to sell 1,05,72,513 equity shares of the company via offer for sale on November 3-4. (Image: Reuters) Union minister Maneka Gandhi today said she requested Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling to offer the resources and help to convert the whole of India into an organic farming country. Sikkim is the only state in the country where organic farming is initiated by the state Government, the Union Woman & Child Development Minister said after meeting Chamling. "I have sought his help in this regard so that everybody benefits. I will be very happy if I get help to turn at least my constituency organic, to start with," she said. Gandhi said she would discuss with the Central Government about seeking Sikkim's technical support to impart training on organic farming to the rest of the states. The Union minister, who is on a three-day visit to Sikkim, also lauded the environmental initiatives of the state government such as ban on use of plastic, grazing and felling of trees, besides poaching of wild animals. The orchids of the state have a unique identity and should be propagated and spread throughout the country, she said adding that the youth should get into this field and more people should try greenhouse agriculture. Gandhi said her ministry is committed to provide all assistance to Sikkim government to strengthen and improve institutions related to women and child care. On the rise in human trafficking especially from the North Eastern states, she said a Bill on anti-trafficking has been introduced in the Parliament in the current session. The Bill in its present form is the best in the world and will give a huge respite to victims of trafficking, especially in terms of rehabilitating them, she claimed. On measures for rehabilitation of trafficked women, she said activities such as cooking and bakery have been experimented in places like Pune and they have been successful to rehabilitate these women. Sumitra Mahajan, an Indian parliamentarian and a leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), drinks water after she rushed out of the parliament in New Delhi February 13, 2014. India's parliament erupted in mayhem on Thursday when a legislator fired pepper spray in the lower house in protest against a bill on a new state. Television footage showed pictures of lawmakers coughing, sneezing and holding scarves to their faces. Shouting protesters also broke a glass table and snapped the wire of an official's microphone. A few legislators were rushed away in an ambulance while others were given first aid treatment in the assembly. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS) - GM1EA2D1H8002 Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today reached out to leaders of different political parties and may hold an all-party meeting to break the logjam in the House, official sources said. Lok Sabha proceedings in the second phase of the budget session have been a washout since March 5 when it started due to protests by different parties over a variety of issues. Official sources said Mahajan met a delegation of the YSR Congress followed by that of the Congress and the BJD today and will be meeting other parties. "If the logjam persists, she may hold an all-party meeting," a source said. The Congress, sources said, wanted the House to first take up the notice for a no-confidence motion moved by the party against the government but was told that the notice for a similar motion given by Thota Narasimham of the Telugu Desam Party is the first in the order of receipts. The Congress notice is second followed by that of the YSR Congress, they said. The speaker has also consulted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar over efforts to break the deadlock. The Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha have seen little business due to protests by parties over a host of issues. The government has claimed that it was ready to participate in any debate and blamed opposition parties for the impasse. The opposition has, in turn, blamed the government. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met her Malawi counterpart Emmanuel Fabiano and discussed ways to boost trade and investment. Swaraj also discussed various bilateral issues with the African country, including developmental cooperation and capacity building. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj met the Foreign Minister of Malawi Emmanuel Fabiano. Exchanged views on taking forward our relationship on all bilateral issues, including in developmental cooperation, capacity building, renewable energy, trade & investment, as well as in the multilateral foras," Raveesh Kumar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, tweeted. The Delhi government today said it will issue a notification on mixed-land use along 351 roads soon after the Supreme Court approves it, paving the way for legalising commercial establishments there. The move intends to avoid the sealing drive against commercial establishments along these roads. "We have submitted a notification copy in the Supreme Court seeking its approval. Once the Supreme Court allows it, Delhi government will issue the notification for these 351 roads," Delhi's Urban Development Minister Satyendra Jain told reporters here. He said that the government has appointed two prominent lawyers to strongly present the case in the apex court, as demanded by both the BJP and the Congress. The urban development minister said that the DDA should also appoint prominent lawyers such as Harish Salve on the sealing issue in the Supreme Court. The sealing drive is being carried out by municipal corporations against commercial establishments, following the directions of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee, for allegedly violating civic norms. The AAP government has been maintaining that the sealing drive has not taken place on 351 roads so far. The BJP has accused the government of delaying the notification due to which traders may face problems. The BJP today cited a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower's deposition to claim that the controversial data firm had worked for the Congress and demanded an apology from its president Rahul Gandhi, saying he stood "exposed". Christopher Wylie, a former Analytica employee turned whistleblower, in a deposition before the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in London said the company had worked extensively in India and believed it was employed by the Congress. "The whistleblower has publicly confirmed that the Congress was indeed their client. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to divert attention. Today, he stands exposed. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters tonight. This vindicates what the BJP had been been saying from day one, he said. "Cambridge Analytica is in the dock for data theft and trying to manipulate voters using unlawful means. Congress party needs to apologise to the nation for data theft and trying to manipulate voters. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation for trying to subvert India's election process using the Brahmastra of Cambridge Analytica," he said. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today accused the BJP-led NDA government of "using and misusing" all agencies, including the Election Commission. Banerjee, while speaking to media on the issue of the leaked dates of the Karnataka polls, lashed out at the ruling party and said all institutions were being transformed into "BJP institutions". "All agencies are being used and misused. All institutions are becoming BJP institutions," Banerjee told reporters here. BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya today tweeted the date of the Karnataka Assembly polls before the Election Commission announced it, prompting the panel to describe the leak as a "very serious issue" that merited a probe and "stringent action". Banerjee, who is in Delhi to meet various leaders of opposition parties to form a front against the BJP, also attacked the ruling party for demonetisation and bank frauds. "I have travelled to all states, the issue of demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grass root level. Time has come for the BJP to pack its bags and go," she said. Banerjee will be leaving for Kolkata on Thrusday. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio departed from his Miami colleagues Tuesday and said the decision by Commerce Secretary Ross on Monday to include a citizenship question in the 2020 Census is, essentially, no big deal. "I personally don't see the problem with it,'' Rubio told reporters at a "pen and pad" briefing in Tallahassee Tuesday. "I think there's a lot of noise being made about it." Rubio's comments diverge from the opinion of other members of Congress from South Florida who have said they fear some people could be dissuaded from answering the census if the citizenship question is asked. It would be the first time since the 1950s that the people are asked to identify whether they are legal citizens or not. Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has said she fears that asking about citizenship could discourage an accurate count and rob South Florida, home to about 450,000 undocumented immigrants, from drawing down federal dollars for infrastructure projects and social service programs that are based on the census count. U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, said he is also concerned that the question could discourage people from responding to the census tally, and ultimately harm everything from federal money to redistricting. The U.S. Constitution requires the federal government to conduct a census every 10 years to determine how many people are living in a given area. The count traditionally attempts to include everyone, regardless of their citizenship status, including undocumented immigrants. Rubio, however, said that since the census already asks a host of personal questions one more question -- about the legal status of people living in the country -- won't matter. "It asks you all sorts of other information for purposes of identifying the demographics of a community,'' he said. "They ask you how much money you make, how many kids you have, your race and ethnicity. Why wouldn't it ask you about your citizenship status?" "Some people are going around saying they are going to use the census document as some sort of immigration enforcement vehicle and others are concerned that there will be underreporting,'' he said. " But the truth is, congressional districts across the state are designed by population and taking into account how many are U.S. citizens, I personally don't see the problem with it." Meanwhile, civil and human rights groups have blasted the decision to include the citizenship question in the next census. The NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice called it "a political calculation designed to undermine our Constitution and undercount children, people of color, and other vulnerable populations." Vanita Gupta, president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said his organization will urge Congress to overturn the Commerce Department decision. "Adding this question will result in a bad census deeply flawed population data that will skew public and private sector decisions to ensure equal representation, allocate government resources, and anticipate economic growth opportunities for the next 10 years,'' he said in a statement. "The stakes are too high to allow this. We urge Congress to overturn this error in judgment. Amit Shah BJP national president Amit Shah on Tuesday embarrassed the BJP and state party chief B S Yeddyurappa with his apparent slip of the tongue. Shah who was addressing the press after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Karnataka elections said, "if there were ever a competition for the most corrupt government then the (BJP's) Yeddyurappa government would come first". All this happened when Yeddyurappa, BJP's candidate for chief minister in the Karnataka Assembly elections, was seated next to him. Another leader sitting next to Shah immediately informed him about the gaffe and Shah then corrected himself and said that he meant "Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government" but the damage had already been done. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today pitched for forming a "federal front" excluding the Congress to defeat the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a "one-to-one" fight in the states, as she met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of other regional parties like TDP, SP, RJD, BJD, NC and NDA's Shiv Sena. Banerjee, who is in Delhi for three days, had an hour-long meeting with the NCP chief and other party leaders at his office in Parliament. Pawar had earlier denied that a meeting over dinner with opposition parties was scheduled. "There is no meeting, there is no dinner," Pawar had said in response to a question whether there will be a dinner meeting with the West Bengal chief minister. According to a senior NCP leader, Banerjee favoured forming a "federal front" to defeat the BJP without involving the Congress. "She said that a non-Congress federal front should be formed to take on the BJP in the assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections. She feels that if the Congress becomes a part of the opposition front, then many parties like the BJD, TDP would not join the alliance. But she urged the NCP leader to also speak to other opposition parties to know their views," NCP leader said. Later NCP leader Praful Patel, while briefing media on the meeting, said that both the leaders agreed that there should be "maximum unity" among opposition parties to take on the BJP. "The situation will evolve in the coming months for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. There are of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach should be taken. "But certainly what the leaders discussed was that opposition unity should be maximum possible as has been witnessed today in Uttar Pradesh where the BSP and the SP have started working together and therefore it is important that political differences among opposition should be resolved,"Patel told reporters. Banerjee, who also met other leaders from opposition parties like TDP, which recently walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, TRS, SP, RJD, BJD, NC and JMM, once again emphasised that the need of the hour is have a state-wise strategy to defeat the BJP. She also met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut along with other Sena members of Parliament triggering speculation in political circles. The Sena, though a part of the ruling NDA, has been critical of Maharashtra and central governments. "All opposition parties should work together. It should be a one-to-one fight against the BJP. All opposition parties should help the strongest one in the state against the BJP," Banerjee told reporters. On the issue of opposition unity, Banerjee hailed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh and said that all opposition parties should come together to help the alliance. "If Akhilesh and Mayawati call a meeting in Lucknow, we will all go. We should help the parties where they are strong," she said. Raut denied that Shiv Sena was joining any front, but said that the Shiv Sena and Banerjee have "a very warm" relationship and there were certain things which Banerjee wanted to convey to Uddhav Thackeray. Banerjee later said that she "respects" Shiv Sena. "At least it does not do politics with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. The West Bengal chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie tomorrow. Though Banerjee is said to be favouring a Front without the Congress, she did say she was in touch with Rahul Gandhi. TMC leaders said she is planning to meet Sonia Gandhi. Replying to a query, Banerjee told reporters that she has been exchanging messages with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee addresses during Youth Trinamool Congress rally at Damurjala Stadium in Howrah district of West Bengal on Friday. PTI Coming down heavily on the NDA-led Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and that it was time for the BJP to "pack up and go". She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the saffron party. Reacting on the leaked election dates of Karnataka Assembly polls, Banerjee said all institutions were becoming BJP institutions as the saffron party was "using and misusing" multiple agencies. BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya earlier today tweeted the date of the Karnataka Assembly polls before the Election Commission announced it, prompting the panel to describe the leak as a "very serious issue" that merited a probe and stringent action. The TMC supremo told reporters here, "We want all opposition parties to work together. We should help the strongest opposition party in state to fight the BJP. It should be one fight". Banerjee, who is in the national capital, also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar along with other political leaders from TDP, TRS and Shiv Sena. "People are against the BJP. I have travelled to all the states. I know the mood of the people. Issues like demonetisation, GST, bank fraud have affected people even at the grassroot level. The time has come for this BJP to pack up and go," she said. The West Bengal chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie tomorrow. A year ago, Precision Camshaft (PCL) - a Rs 500-crore company based in Solapur - made history by possibly becoming the only supplier of camshafts to Toyota. The Japanese major is traditionally known to make camshafts, which are used in engines, internally. Last week, PCL added another feather in its cap with the acquisition of Germany-based Motoren und Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH (MFT) which is into niche machined cylindrical and prismatic parts supplying to Volkswagen, Audi, Opel, BMW. The company has a turnover of Rs 160 crore. Yatin Shah, chairman and managing director, PCL spoke to Moneycontrol about the idea behind the acquisition. An excerpt from that conversation: Q. What will the MFT acquisition bring to the table of Precision Camshaft? A. We were scouting around for companies that engaged in niche but critical components for the automotive industry. A company that is healthy, well run and has potential to grow. We had a very strong wishlist and MFT qualifies all those. It has a fantastic customer base, even those which PCL is not catering to, at the moment. This brings a diversification to the product portfolio. If you look at the acquisition of MEMCO in Nashik and this one clearly indicates how we are diversifying our portfolio. Q. What is the acquisition price and the equity stake bought? A. We are bound by a confidentiality clause so unfortunately that is something we are not able to disclose. Because we have signed right now in Germany. At some point in time the company would agree to reveal the details. Q. The product range that MFT has will they be made at your plant later in India? A. No. What we are looking for is to continue doing those products there because they are machined products, they dont do any castings of forging. Because of the current promoters' limitations they were not able to scale. So we bring to the table the finance that is required for scaling up. PCL is going to establish its camshaft in MFT as we go forward so that we can serve locally to Europe. Q. How much is PCL going to invest in MFT? A. In the next three weeks, we would be meeting all the major customers of MFT. By this we would understand which customer is requiring how much of supplies in the coming period. In 2-3 months we would undertake an exhaustive study on understanding the potential of MFT. Unless we learn about the requirements of its customers it is difficult to quote an investment figure. Q. The buy-out comes at a time when globally the trend is moving towards electrification. A. MFT deals in some products that are required in internal combustion (IC) engines. But there is lot of noise and talk about electrification. We dont perceive electrification to be a threat in the medium term at all. The amount of investment that Daimler, BMW and VW are making for IC engines which goes till 2028-29 gives us the confidence that this investment will certainly pay off. Q. Are you looking at any more deals like MFT? A. We are certainly look for more. We are still hungry. Yes we do have talks with a few companies. We have earmarked certain amount of money for acquisitions and the search is still on for the right company. We raised $20million through PCL Netherlands. That money and our own internal accruals will be used for acquisitions. Q. From PCLs stand-point nothing serious on the EV front? A. I can tell you that we are looking at it very seriously. But anything more than that will be very premature at this stage. Last year, the world saw 400,000 EV sales compared to 72 million IC engine vehicle. Its going to be an uphill task Q. Will you be a debt-free company this year? A. We will be a debt-free company by June 2018. We are very much on target. At the net debt level we will be debt free by this month end. The debt is Rs 40 crore at the moment. Q. What about your global expansion like in Brazil? A. The Brazilian plant in on track. We would be finishing setting up the facility by end of May this year. And then the machines would start coming in and the commissioning would start towards end of October and hopefully we would go into production by end of December or January. Infosys CEO Salil Parekh(C) with CFO Ranganath and CTO Pravin Rao (L) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Infosys Ltds new chief executive Salil Parekh cannot work with eight competing firms after he quits the company, and will not get an assured minimum salary, a newspaper report today said. Taking into account the ugly and long drawn spat between Parekhs predecessor Vishal Sikka and the Infosys board, the company has put four clauses in the new CEOs contract that will likely prevent legal troubles and cause no public issues, a report in Mint said. Unlike Sikka, Parekh is not assured of any minimum salary as part of his compensation structure. Infosys had agreed to pay Sikka USD 10 million in annual compensation, irrespective of the firms performance, according to the story. It also has a Release of Claims condition that ensures Infosys does not have to pay more than the promised severance to Parekh, in case the board ends his tenure before 2023, Mint reported. Parekh can also not work with eight competing IT firms- Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), Accenture Plc, Capgemini SE, IBM, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Wipro Ltd, Tech Mahindra Ltd and HCL Technologies Finally, the contract spells out an arbitration process that both Infosys and Parekh have agreed to abide by. A three-member arbitration panels decision will be final in case of conflict and both parties have agreed not to contest the panels verdict before any court, the Mint report said. 21:40 With that, the event comes to an end. Thanks for staying tuned to the Liveblog! Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights. 20:47 After Cook, Greg Joswiak is now on stage to speak about the iPad and educational apps. He says there are now over 200,000 apps designed just for education. 20:40 Cook talks about the Swift Playgrounds application, which teaches coding to its users. He also says that one of the kids learning coding now could go on to write the next great data-harvesting program, which is heartwarming. 20:38 Cook says the District of Chicago shares Apple's belief that technology has a role to play in the classroom. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is now teaching coding to over over 370,000 kids. 20:36 Cook's arrival on stage was preceded by a slow-mo video of kids playing in the park. Cook says " We hope you love that video as much as we do." 20:35 Apple CEO Tim Cook is on stage now and says he is very proud to be in Chicago. 20:20 In the typical Apple fashion, one can expect a new iPad or a new software that might be tailor-made for teachers among other surprises . 20:18 Apple has invited journalists to this event in Chicago, where it looks to announce new products that focus on education. This blog will keep track of the developments in the Apple Education Event in 2018. The even will take place in Chicago and will begin by 8:30 pm IST. Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower behind the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal, said Tuesday that the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president in 2016 made him speak out about the practices being employed by the political data firm. Wylie was appearing in front of U.K. lawmakers in London tuesday. It comes after explosive reports last week that a quiz app harvested 50 million Facebook profiles for data which were then sent over to Cambridge Analytica, a firm that was caught claiming it handled the digital aspects of President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. Wylie said that Trump's election was one of the major reasons he blew the whistle on Cambridge Analytica's data practices. "I wouldn't say it was just because of Donald Trump, but Donald Trump makes it click in your head that this actually has a much wider impact. I don't think that military-style information operations is conducive for any democratic process," he told the committee of lawmakers. Cambridge Analytica was initially funded by conservative billionaire Robert Mercer and led by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. Wylie was the man who revealed to the New York Times and the U.K.'s Observer newspaper the practices of Cambridge Analytica and the data harvesting that took place. He is speaking to members of parliament on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee, chaired by lawmaker Damian Collins. Separately last week, Collins summoned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear in front of the DCMS at another time and gave the company a deadline of March 26 to respond. Facebook responded on the deadline day and said it would send either Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. Donald Trump The Trump administration is considering "unprecedented political penalties" on Pakistan for harbouring Afghan militants waging war on the US-backed Afghan government, a media report said today. While the report by Foreign Policy news portal gives no timeline for such an action, it says there is growing frustration among lawmakers, and the administration believes that Islamabad is doing bare minimum in the war against terrorism. "Amid growing frustration on Capitol Hill, Trump's deputies are weighing unprecedented political penalties on Islamabad for harboring Afghan militants waging war on the US-backed government in Afghanistan," the report said. The options under consideration include revoking Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally, permanently cutting off the US military aid that was suspended two months ago, and even imposing visa bans or other sanctions on individuals in the Pakistani government deemed responsible for providing support to the militants, the report said. No final decision has been taken yet, and the issue is still being debated inside the various wings of the Administration, the report said. The appointment last week of a fervent hawk as national security advisor, John Bolton, and the nomination of another for secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, could tilt the discussion in favor of tougher measures against Islamabad, the report noted. "The White House is also weighing even more drastic measures to include visa bans or other punitive measures against individual members of the Pakistani government, military, or ISI intelligence service suspected of allowing the Taliban and Haqqani militants to operate from sanctuaries inside Pakistan," the report said quoting unnamed present and former US officials. "We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect US personnel and interests in the region," a senior administration official told reporters last week. According to the report, there is increasing frustration in the Trump Administration. "Pakistan is at risk of miscalculating the level of frustration both in Washington and other foreign governments," a senior State Department official said. "In the past, Pakistan has sought to take the minimum action required to placate US concerns without fundamentally altering their policy and strategy," said the official. Pakistan's former Ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani, said that the alliance with Pakistan no longer makes sense for the US. "The alliance with Pakistan no longer makes sense for the US because it undercuts US policy in Afghanistan as well as its effort to build a strategic relationship with India against China. It doesn't make sense for Pakistan either," he said. Donald Trump President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, is challenging porn actress Stormy Daniel's unsubstantiated charge that someone tied to Trump threatened her with physical harm if she went public with her story about a tryst with Trump years ago. Daniels said in a "60 Minutes" interview broadcast yesterday that a man approached her in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011, when she was with her daughter, and said: "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom." She said the man told her to "leave Trump alone. Forget the story." Michael Avenatti, her lawyer, acknowledged today he has no direct evidence tying the threat to Trump or his lawyer. But he said he was holding back certain details of the alleged affair, including the contents of a CD or DVD he tweeted a picture of last week. "It would make no sense for us to play our hand as to this issue and we're not going to do it right now," he said on NBC's "Today" show today. Cohen's attorney, Brent H. Blakely, demanded that Daniels or Avenatti apologize to his client for alleging intimidation. "In truth, Mr. Cohen had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any such person or incident, and does not even believe that any such person exists, or that such incident ever occurred," he said, asserting that Daniels and Avenatti should "cease and desist from making any further false and defamatory statements about my client." Daniels told "60 Minutes" she had consensual sex once with the future president, providing a few salacious details but little new evidence of the encounter. She received a USD 130,000 payment days before the 2016 presidential election for her silence and has sought to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement. Cohen has said he paid the USD 130,000 out of his pocket while asserting Trump never had sex with the porn actress. "He knows I'm telling the truth," Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, said of Trump. She said she was not coerced to have sex and "I was not a victim." Trump complained today about "So much Fake News," but it's unclear whether he was referring to Daniels. Previously, Cohen has said neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Daniels and he was not reimbursed for the payment. However, Avenatti told "60 Minutes" he has documents showing Cohen using his Trump Organization email address in setting up the payment and that the nondisclosure agreement was sent by FedEx to Cohen at his Trump Organization office in Trump Tower. Another lawyer for Cohen, David Schwartz, accused Daniels of lying about the affair in his own appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America." "The lying is all over that piece," he said, adding that the suggestion that someone associated with Trump or his organization was behind the alleged threat in the parking lot was "speculation" and "guesswork." Avenatti countered: "It had to have come from someone associated with Mr. Trump, there is no other place for it to have come from." He spoke on ABC. In the interview, Daniels described a sexual encounter with Trump that began with him talking about himself and showing her an issue of a magazine with his picture on the cover. She said she asked, "Does this normally work for you?" He was taken aback, she says. "And I was like, 'Someone should take that magazine and spank you with it.'" She says she then ordered him to drop his pants and, in a playful manner, "I just gave him a couple swats." She said they talked some more, although he quit talking about himself, and that she became more comfortable. "He was like, 'Wow, you -- you are special. You remind me of my daughter.' You know -- he was like, 'You're smart and beautiful, and a woman to be reckoned with, and I like you. I like you.'" She said after dinner in Trump's room, they had sex. He didn't use a condom, she said, and she didn't ask him to. Afterward, he asked to see her again, she said. Daniels said that before they had sex Trump had broached the idea of her being a contestant on "The Apprentice," and she likened it to a "business opportunity." The CBS interview with Anderson Cooper came as Trump deals with allegations about his sexual exploits long before he ran for president. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal told Cooper in a CNN interview broadcast Thursday that her affair with Trump began at a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2006. McDougal said she ended the relationship in 2007 out of guilt concerning Trump's wife, Melania. McDougal has filed suit in Los Angeles seeking to invalidate a confidentiality agreement with American Media Inc., the company that owns the supermarket tabloid National Enquirer. It paid her USD 150,000 during the 2016 presidential election. The lawsuit alleges that McDougal was paid for the rights to her story of an affair, but the story never ran. It also alleges that Cohen was secretly involved in her discussions with American Media. The "60 Minutes" interview gave the show its highest ratings in a decade, according to CBS. The countrys consumer watchdog has warned that retail sales practices of domestic banks may raise risks for consumers. In particular, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) said that bank cultures strongly anchored in sales can increase the risks of mis-selling to consumers and of bank employees breaching market conduct obligations. Banks are in the business of making money. We know that. But the way they sell financial products and manage employee performance, combined with how they set up their governance frameworks can lead to sales cultures that are not always aligned with consumers interests, FCAC Commissioner Lucie Tedesco said. John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, has been chosen by the board of the New York Federal Reserve bank to be its next president, sources told CNBC. A PhD economist, Williams is a monetary policy expert who has spent almost 25 years at the Fed. CNBC said that the New York Fed board has yet to formally nominate Williams for the role. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors must also approve the nomination. Although the search for a replacement for current President William Dudley initially sought diverse candidates, sources familiar with the matter said Williams monetary policy expertise became an important factor given the White Houses failure to nominate a vice chairman for the Federal Reserve. Ocwen Financial Corporation has reached an agreement with another state over last years regulatory actions against the company. The servicing giant has reached an accord with the state of Massachusetts, bringing the total number of jurisdictions where the company has reached a resolution up to 30. The companys troubles began in April of 2017, when about 20 states simultaneously filed regulatory orders against it, citing servicing abuses. The orders effectively crippled Ocwens ability to do business in those states. In the same week, the company was sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which alleged that it had botched basic functions in servicing loans. AUSTIN -- A $500 million expansion of a Baytown steel mill was announced Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott, a move that will add up to 500 new jobs at an average salary of $65,000. In a conference call with reporters from India, where a week-long Texas trade-development mission is underway, Abbott said the expansion will benefit the oil and gas industry and related businesses statewide. Abbott also said he is working with Indian firms to increase shipments from Texas to India of liquified natural gas, and open new markets for businesses in both countries of technology and machinery, among other products. "India is the fastest-growing international economy," Abbott said., and increasing trade with the country "will be extremely profitable for Texas companies for decades to come." Abbott and company officials said the expansion will allow the plant to begin sourcing raw steel from Texas and other states, instead of Brazil, Mexico and India. JSW bought the then-bankrupt Baytown plant for about $810 million in October 2007, and is currently operating at about 30 per cent capacity, officials said. The plant currently employs about 350, they said. "The $500 million investment from JSW Steel to expand its operations in Texas shows what we can achieve when we work to be better every single day," Abbott said. "Made in Texas is a powerful label, and I thank JSW for investing in our great state. We look forward to forging an even stronger partnership and continuing economic and job growth in the Lone Star State." He said the Baytown expansion, expected to be made in phases, is contingent upon approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will include a $3.4 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund, the state's deal-closing business incentive fund. Abbott said the JSW investment will be used to expand the company's Plate & Pipe Mill unit. Jindal said the deal "is part of our long term strategy to enhance our U.S. footprint" and "provides JSW USA an opportunity to participate in USA's infrastructure development and job creation priorities. "Access to natural gas at extremely economical prices and the abundant availability of scrap steel in Texas make conditions very conducive for manufacturing through the Electric Arc Furnace route," he said. "JSW Steel (USA) Inc. wishes to create a world class fully integrated steel complex that will bring precision manufacturing of high quality steel plate and pipe to Texas, USA." Company officials said the Baytown plant services the needs of the energy, petrochemicals, defense and other heavy equipment industries in United States that high quality carbon plate. On Sunday, Abbott visited Mahindra & Mahindra Limited in Mumbai, India, to meet with Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra and have lunch with executives of Mahindra's subsidiary companies. Abbott said he discussed with company officials how to strengthen the business ties between the prominent India-based company and Texas, where 20 percent of its sales are based. Mahindra North America's headquarters, as well as one of its assembly plants, are located in Houston. Mahindra Group is a multinational conglomerate holding company with interests including aerospace, agribusiness, automotive, components, construction equipment, defense, energy, information technology, finance, logistics and real estate. The firm's seven companies employ more than 240,000 people in at least 100 countries, including more than 30 facilities and 3,500 jobs in the United States. Mahindra Group has four companies with a Texas presence including Mahindra North America, the parent organization of Mahindra Group's U.S. Automotive and Farm Sector headquartered in Houston, which began selling tractors in the U.S. in 1994 and introduced a line of utility vehicles in 2015. Abbott said he thanked Mahindra for the company's $1.5 million donation to the Houston community in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. "There is an important relationship between Texas and India," Abbott said, insisting that he expects the trip will lead to additional trade opportunities in a variety of business sectors. Two decisions on Monday put the Midland County Sheriffs Office Central Detention Center on course to receive upgrades. Commissioners approved changes related to inmate identification and bathroom fixtures. Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said one of the votes involved the approval of using money from donations to pay Biometric Intelligence and Identification (BI2) Technologies for an iris-scanning system. He said the technology takes 30 seconds and makes comparisons with about 2 million records. It will let us know if that individual has ever been arrested anywhere else and had their irises checked and recorded and gives us the opportunity to identify this individual positively, Painter said. The sheriff said $10,000 collected from the annual Bustin for Badges clay shoot fundraiser will go toward the technology, and donations will continue to fund the system. He said the jail takes fingerprints upon arrival but doesnt do that when inmates are released. When they get ready to leave, we check their irises again to make sure its the right person, Painter said. It prevents us from releasing someone into the community that should not be released, thats giving us false information. In another vote, commissioners took action approving the movement of $98,000 from capital outlay to go toward jail improvements -- 36 institutional sinks and toilets spread over four minimum- and medium-security areas. We moved that money over to replace those porcelain toilets, which need to be replaced, said Midland County Judge Mike Bradford. They can be broken and used as weaponry. Painter said inmates can also stuff towels, blankets or other items into toilets and cause flooding. He thinks new units from I-CON Systems, Inc. will make a difference. They can take their toilets and repeatedly flush them, and it creates a problem, Painter said. These new toilets will not allow that. Theres only so many times you can do it within a certain time period. The changes were related to suggestions from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, which recently inspected the facility. The commission first gave its recommendation last year, and Painter requested the funds for the bathroom units in the budget for this fiscal year. Commissioners had another jail-related discussion, which resulted in them tabling a decision about software. Painter said the detention center has a system that handles electronic locks, and one of the computers is down. Also during Mondays meeting: -commissioners approved a license agent agreement between the tax office and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Commissioners Court previously authorized submitting an application so the office could be used as a facility for purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. -Larry Woodruff was sworn in as the new constable for Precinct 3. He previously served as an officer with the Midland Police Department. It was obviously a very well-received appointment by the citizens of Precinct 3, that were both here today and those that have communicated to members of the court, Bradford said. Former Precinct 3 constable Jeffrey Rowland resigned last month after being arrested twice. Aracely Meza held the child's limp body in her arms as worshipers looked on. She spoke loudly into a microphone, chanting words in Spanish as she stroked the child's hair and rubbed something on his forehead. The scene captured in a video was a ceremony to resurrect the lifeless 2-year-old boy. He died after more than three weeks without food. Meza, a Dallas-area pastor and a self-proclaimed prophet, had claimed that God wanted the boy starved to get rid of demons inhabiting his body. TRAGIC: 4-year-old boy killed by family dog in Converse Sunday afternoon Now, three years later, Meza is set to spend the rest of her life in prison for Benjamin Aparicio's starvation death. A Dallas County jury found the 52-year-old guilty on Friday of felony injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, the Dallas Morning News reported. She was sentenced to 99 years in prison and ordered to pay $10,000 in fines. Meza and her husband, Daniel Meza, ran a church called Iglesia Internacional Jesus es el Ray out of a brick home in Balch Springs, a suburb southeast of Dallas. Public records show that Daniel Meza was the church's president and director, while his wife was the vice president. Several adults and children were living with the couple around the time the boy died in the spring of 2015. TEXAS CRIME: Sentencing begins in Leon Jacob's murder-for-hire trial Aracely Meza claimed to have the ability to speak with God and to perform healing miracles. She told investigators that God had told her the boy needed to fast. He was given only water four or five times a day for 25 days, the Dallas Morning News reported, while followers were told not to help the child. But even after the fast, Meza still deprived the boy of food when he did not say "amen," authorities said. The boy was reduced to skin and bones, unable to lift his own head up during his last days. He died March 22, 2015. That day, Meza conducted a "rising ceremony" to bring him to life. She told police later that she believed God would wake him up, the Dallas Morning News reported. But the boy never woke up, and Meza and the child's parents, who also were her followers, took the body to Mexico the next day to be buried. Charges are pending against the boy's parents, Zenon and Liliana Aparicio, an online court docket shows. Meza's husband does not appear to have been charged. Meza's attorney, Charles Humphreys, said his client was imprisoned by her faith, according to the Dallas Morning News. But Assistant District Attorney Patrick Capetillo told jurors last week that Benjamin's death was the result of Meza's desire for control, not her faith or religion. TEXAS CRIME: Suspect arrested in shooting of three people at Topgolf The case, albeit bizarre, is not unheard of. Cultlike religious leaders have previously been linked to criminal acts. Last year, investigators in Alachua County in Florida said a woman who ran a religious boarding school there had killed a child in her care. Anna Elizabeth Young, who was known as Mother Anna, was charged with first-degree murder in December. The charge stemmed from the 1980s death of a toddler who authorities said was tortured and starved, the Gainesville Sun reported. Authorities also said that Young may have had many other victims. She had been convicted in Florida for bathing a 12-year-old girl in a steel tub full of chemicals that severely burned the child. Young fled and was captured eight years later after police found her living in the attic of a relative's house in Illinois. Young ran the House of Prayer for all People, which opened in 1983 in Micanopy, a town just south of Gainesville, Florida. In 1992, a self-proclaimed son of God who went by the name Yahweh ben Yahweh was convicted of plotting several murders and attempted murders, as well as a terrorist bombing of a Florida neighborhood. Six of his 15 followers were convicted of conspiracy to murder. --- The Washington Post's Kyle Swenson contributed to this report. After discussions about transparency and the opportunity to include more students in the boundary changing process, Midland ISD board members tabled a plan recommended by staff Monday night. The hope is to see how the community views other options, including those that would impact students in west Midland and those living around Coleman High School in east Midland. Staff is hearing from board that we want to hear about a plan that is more aggressive based on community input, Chief Facilities Officer James Riggen said. The plan presented to the board Monday during its monthly meeting was to help alleviate enrollment issues at Goddard Junior High. Goddard came into the boundary plan with a 2017-18 membership (enrollment) of 1,216. Reductions proposed would drop that number to around 1,035 students for 2018-19. Building capacity is 975. The plan would have reduced the number of students at Goddard by about 180. Most of the students will transition to Alamo Junior High, which has the most unused capacity of any of the four junior highs and still will be nearly 50 students under full capacity, according to information from the district. The plan, as previously reported, also called for 25 newcomer students to be moved from Abell to Alamo; 10 students from the South I-20 area to be moved to Alamo; and 48 students from high-growth areas in northwest Midland (Los Patios and Fasken) to be moved to Abell. San Jacinto Junior High experienced little change. It came into the process with a 2017-18 enrollment of 698. The plan calls for the addition of 60 sixth-graders from Houston Elementary. Public meetings were held regarding the plan, and during those meetings, according to MISD officials, some people in west Midland specifically in the Legends, Legacy and former Mission Dorado areas -- asked questions about taking the plan further to include their children. Currently, those students attend Goddard. Some residents wanted to see about moving them into Alamo, which is more of a neighborhood school. Also, there are residents living in east Midland -- generally in the area around Coleman High School -- who wanted to know if their children could be moved into a more neighborhood school. Currently, those students must travel across town from east Midland to Alamo Junior High in southwest Midland. There were questions about those students attending San Jacinto in central Midland. Board members, specifically Bryan Murry and Tommy Bishop, thought the numbers were worth looking at again and that the district should be more transparent with those residents before making a decision. So after a motion was made and seconded, board members ended up tabling the issue. Afterward, Riggen said district officials now have the opportunity to get the pulse of a community about a greater plan. That process will include conversations about busing costs, school campus membership size and even the first steps in creating a more traditional junior high setting (sixth through eighth grade) for some students at San Jacinto. Midland ISD is planning on moving some current fifth-graders at Sam Houston Elementary to San Jacinto a year early as it creates the collegiate preparatory academy at Sam Houston next school year. The collegiate prep will be for students in pre-K through fifth grade. MISD officials chose to send departing fifth-graders to a junior high campus a year early. Superintendent Orlando Riddick said there will urgency in May to have a decision made and welcomed taking the plan to the larger community. Lawmakers are targeting generic drug companies accused of price gouging, hoping to bring some relief to Illinoisans dealing with healthcare cost burdens. House Bill 4900, known as the Illinois Generic Drug Pricing Fairness Act, would allow for the attorney general to be notified about price increases of essential off-patent or generic drugs under the Medical Assistance Program, Illinois Public Aid Code and the state health plan. Any generic drug company in violation of the act could be subpoenaed by the attorney general or be called to court for violating the act. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and CEO of SIU Medicine, said there are many generic drugs that would fall under the category of price gouging. A commonly used cholesterol medication, Pravastatin, increased by more than seven-fold, and a lot of people use all of those medicines, Kruse said. There are many other examples as well. A few years ago, the price of the congestive heart-failure drug digoxin went up more than 600 percent, and the price of an antibiotic for acne called doxycycline went up 40 times. Kruse said pharmaceutical and health insurance companies are not as regulated in the United States as they are in other countries. The bill has received pushback. This legislation is an ill-advised response to a misperceived issue, on economic and fiscal policy grounds alone, Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union, said in a letter to lawmakers. He said lawmakers should be working to make the states policies more conducive to business. The future health of all sectors in the states economy, and by extension the well-being of taxpayers, is at stake, Sepp said. The legislation, Sepp said, would give the Attorney General the ability to access a companys private proprietary information from the courts with little oversight as long as its deemed in the public interest. The Association for Accessible Medicines has condemned the bill sponsored by Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, because it said the bill stifles competition among generic drug companies, which the group said keeps prices down while also ignoring the substantial costs of brand-name medications. Kruse said there should be more regulation and control of profits for larger non-generic drug companies, but generic companies need regulation, too. According to the latest data from the National Health Expenditure Accounts, the U.S. spent $3.3 trillion on health care in 2016. Thats $10,348 a person. Local road flooding Mar 22 View Photos Sonora, CA The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting tomorrow to discuss adopting a resolution to declare a Local State of Emergency due to storm damage, which would trigger the ability to apply for state disaster funds. While the countys Office of Emergency Services (OES) is still gathering details, OES Coordinator Tracie Riggs shares, We will have a very high level presentation tomorrow and initial estimates for Tuolumne County are approximately $3.5-$5 million. She adds, It takes time for our road crews and engineers to go out to each location, and right now we know that Ferretti Road is approximately $800,000. She also details that City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) has provided an estimate of $40 million in damages to its Mother Lode properties, notably the Moccasin Dam and Reservoir. Riggs also notes that Priest Coulterville road is in worse condition and has six different locations that failed. There are further damages on Merrell, Marshes Flat and many more roads. She stresses that all of this information is preliminary and will take time to finalize. Riggs states, We are also working with Groveland CSD, various school districts, TUD and CCSF. The special meeting will be held in the board of supervisors chambers located at 2 South Green Street in Sonora on the fourth floor. It is open to the public and begins at 2:30 p.m. A Tarrant County grand jury has indicted a Bridgeport woman accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill the co-owner of a fitness center. Rebecca Lynn Simpson, married to a prominent Wise County lawyer, is awaiting trial on a charge of solicitation of capital murder. Officials say Simpson approached someone about finding a permanent solution to her problems with Shemane Watts after the two got into a fight in October on the street near The Gym fitness center in Bridgeport. Watts filed misdemeanor assault charges against Simpson shortly after the fight, which was two doors from Simpson's husband's law office. The person Simpson allegedly approached later notified police, who in turn told Texas Rangers and the Department of Public Safety. An undercover officer, posing as a hitman, then met with Simpson in Southlake and was hired, officials said. Simpson was arrested Nov. 1 in Wise County and later released on $1 million bail. Wise County state District Judge John Fostel and District Attorney Jana Jones removed themselves from the case because of their longtime relationship with Simpson's husband, Ross Simpson, a senior partner with the law firm of Simpson and Boyd. Simpson's husband has filed for divorce. ___ Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com A 4-year-old boy has died from wounds he sustained after being attacked by a family dog in Converse Sunday afternoon, according to Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to a dog attack in the 8900 block of Twincreek Farm, in far East Bexar County, after the family called to report the boy was being attacked. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office identified the young victim as Noah Trevino late Sunday. RELATED: Couple convicted in pit bull attack that maimed area senior sentenced Converse emergency personnel also responded to the incident according to Converse Police Department. The dog, whose breed was not given but is described as a large mix, grabbed the boy by the neck while the child was in the backyard, according to BCSO. Sgt. Elizabeth Gonzalez said the family was able to free the boy from the dog's hold and began CPR until emergency personel arrived. The boy was airlifted to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died. The dog is reportedly in the custody of Bexar County Animal Control and is expected to be euthanized. The last reported fatal dog attack in San Antonio occurred in 2014 when two mixed-breed pit bulls crawled under a fence and attacked Petra Aguirre, 83, while she fed her cats. In January, Alphonso McCloud was sentenced to four years in prison and Stanyelle Miles-McCloud received 10 years of probation after being convicted of a dangerous dog attack that caused serious bodily injury. The couple's pit bull, Bully, attacked neighbor, Doris Mixon Smith, whose arm was ripped off under her elbow and face suffered massive injuries. aluna@express-news.net Staff writer Chris Quinn contributed to this report. Mexicos nationally held oil and gas company has signed a deal with San Antonio-based Lewis Energy to develop part of the Eagle Ford Shale that extends into Mexico. State-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, also known as Pemex, said the deal would have Lewis Energy invest upward of $617 million. That money would be used to develop the Olmos field in the Mexican state of Coahuila, an extension of the same geologic formations that drillers target in the Eagle Ford Shale that runs across South Texas. Pemexs goal is to produce upward of 117 million cubic feet a day of natural gas from the field by 2021. The deal appears to be one of the first for an American oil and gas company to tap into Mexican shale, though Lewis Energy has a long history in the country. It has been doing work for Pemex in the Olmos field since at least 2004 and has drilled at least some shale wells in Mexico. The privately held company operates primarily in South Texas, where it was among the earliest companies to drill in the Eagle Ford. It has hundreds of wells, according to its website. It also operates in Colombia. Mexico has deep-water oil and gas fields, shallow water, conventional onshore fields and shale. Mexican shale is the least understood of its assets, but its the area that companies operating in the Eagle Ford and the Permian Basin in West Texas have been watching most closely. Lewis deal comes as part of Mexicos liberalization of its oil and gas industry, which was dominated by Pemex for nearly 80 years until it was opened in 2014. Pemex has been beset by financial and production issues, leading to declining oil and gas output in the energy-rich country, as well as shortages of fuel in Mexico. The sweeping energy reform is intended to boost production and fuel electricity generation. The overhaul of Mexicos oil and gas industry extends beyond its onshore and offshore oil and gas fields. Multiple companies including San Antonio-based refiners Valero Energy Corp. and Andeavor have taken advantage of the opening of Mexicos fuels market to announce plans for projects to build fuel infrastructure and, in Andeavors case, gas stations in Mexico. Other oil and gas companies, such as like Exxon Mobil and BP, have also announced intentions to enter the Mexican fuels market. Less than 18 months after Rackspace Hosting Inc. was taken private in a $4.3 billion sale, the cloud services company reportedly could be going public again. Private equity firm Apollo Global Management, which acquired Rackspace in November 2016, is considering an initial public offering for the San Antonio company, Bloomberg News reported today, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Rackspace could have an enterprise value of as much as $10 billion, according to one of the people Bloomberg cited. The private equity firm has held early talks with advisers and may try start the process for an IPO by the end of the year, Bloombergs sources said. The sources asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak. Apollo hasnt made a final decision and could opt to keep Rackspace, the report added. Rackspace spokeswoman Megan Ketterer said in an email the company does not comment on rumors or speculation. An Apollo representative said he had no comment on the Bloomberg report. Rackspace was founded in 1998 and grew to become a leading provider of cloud computing services. It went public in 2008 at $12.50 a share and the shares climbed to about $80 in 2013. But by mid-2016, the company had lost about 60 percent of its value amid competition from larger-scale cloud-computing services. Apollo paid $32 a share for Rackspace in taking the company private in 2016. To read the full story, see Wednesdays Business section or click here to visit ExpressNews.com A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a third suspect in a shooting that occurred Saturday in Santa Rosa, authorities said. Thomas Martinez, 19, of Santa Rosa, is the last suspect to be identified in the shooting that left a man with life-threatening man, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced Tuesday. The victim, who was not identified, drove to a nearby 7-Eleven to get help after being shot, said Sgt. Josh Ludtke, a spokesman for the Santa Rosa Police Department. The Sonoma County Alliance Take Back Our Community Program is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Martinez. A man and a woman were arrested the night of the shooting: Miguel Angel Sanchez Aleman, 20, of Santa Rosa; and Crystal Sanchez Lemus, 19, of Windsor. Both were taken into custody not far from the reported shooting on the 2300 block of Corby Avenue. Aleman and Lemus were booked into the Sonoma County Main Jail on charges of accessory to an assault with a deadly weapon. Lemus also faces charges for possession of a loaded firearm. They are being held on a $100,000 bail and were expected to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. An early investigation determined that people in two different cars began arguing for unknown reasons, police said. The argument escalated when one person reportedly fired their gun at a person seated inside a car, injuring the lone victim. A firearm believed to be used in the shooting was recovered during Lemus and Alemans arrests, police said. Authorities believe Martinez knows that he is wanted for arrest and advised people not to approach him, Ludtke said. Anyone with information can call the Violent Crimes Investigation Team at (707) 543-3590. Topeka, Kan. Linda Brown, the Kansas girl at the center of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down racial segregation in schools, has died at age 76. Topeka's former Sumner School was all-white when her father, Oliver, tried to enroll the family. He became lead plaintiff in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision by the Supreme Court that ended school segregation. Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka confirmed that Linda Brown died Sunday afternoon. Funeral arrangements are pending. Her sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson, founding president of The Brown Foundation, confirmed the death to the Topeka Capital-Journal. She declined comment from the family. "Her legacy is not only here but nationwide," Kansas Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis said. "The effect she had on our society would be unbelievable and insurmountable." The landmark case was brought before the Supreme Court by the NAACP's legal arm to challenge segregation in public schools. It began after several black families in Topeka were turned down when they tried to enroll their children in white schools near their homes. The lawsuit was joined with cases from Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that separating black and white children was unconstitutional because it denied black children the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. "In the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place," Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote. "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." "We are to be grateful for the family that stood up for what is right," said Democratic state Rep. Annie Kuether of Topeka. "That made a difference to the rest of the world." CLINTON Hollywood will cast its light on the Shoreline Wednesday evening when Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress Chrissy Metz, star of NBCs hit show This Is Us, will visit with fans to share her new inspirational book, This Is Me. Metz will speak before a sell-out audience at The Morgan School in an event sponsored by R.J. Julia Booksellers in Clinton. Metz spoke in advance of the visit about This Is Me and the path she took to follow her dreams. Asked what inspired her to write the book about her life, she said , Every time I would go to an event or speak to a stranger in the aisle at Target about our show, I was told that my character in particular had really moved people. They always ask, How did I get here, how did I get to the place that I was? It really made me think, how did I get here? Flash-forward 13 years later, you forget about all the hardships and all the things youve overcome, and you just know that wow, here I am today. I thought if Im going to tell my story I want it to be positive. ... I initially didnt think I had anything to say, and I ended up having a lot to say and a lot of stories to share, she said. When we speak our truth, not only is there freedom in that, but we help each other. Its a two-fold thing where you can only keep what you give away. The award-winning This is Us follows the emotional story of the Pearson family. Metzs portrayal of daughter Kate Pearson, the pretty and funny, overweight young woman, has won her legions of fans, (including Oprah), who strongly relate to her characters hopes and struggles. In turn, Metzs own path to success has become a testament for perseverance and self-confidence. Metz, 37, candidly shares her winding journey from a painful childhood to Hollywood stardom in a conversational memoir interspersed with valuable life lessons. Growing up in a large family in Gainesville, Florida, Metz spent her early childhood in Japan with her Navy father and family. After her mother remarried, she suffered the torment of her stepfather only to find solace at friends homes, she writes. As a youngster, Metz discovered the joys of storytelling and entertaining as a way to make others happy, performing with a local acting troupe after graduating from high school. She moved to Los Angeles, working alongside a talent agent hoping to find work as an actress, but barely found an audition. Throughout This Is Me, Metz opens her heart and pays forward how she consistently showed up for herself in a voice that is both authentic and triumphant. This is Me begins with a heartwarming letter from Metz that encourages readers to share their own stories in life. What Ive learned from the show is that there are so many ways we can connect if we are willing to be vulnerable. Sharing the things that were afraid will make us appear less in others eyes makes us stronger. Because confidence is really trust in yourself, right? It has nothing to do with what someone else thinks of you; its what you think of you. And as we collectively share our truths, I believe we are placing deposits into our own confidence bank. Not only does sharing your truth help other people, but then you feel good and come to realize your value. When you then build on that value and continue to be a positive person, you can be a light for others in getting out of their own way. Metzs hope that in reading the book people will learn that theyre not alone in their struggle or journey. I just hope that it brings people to understand that were on this (journey) together, she said. That no one is inferior or superior. ... We are all equal. We can truly have what we want if we work for it. I really believe that being kind is one of the most important things in life, if not the most important, and how we treat one another. I hope that the book can inspire the little girl whos not sure how shes going to get out of her small town whether its to be a CEO, an actor, or live in her dream place. Im no different than anybody else. I just have a different kind of job. I still have the same struggles, insecurities, and ups and downs that anybody else would have. Metz said she kept showing up for herself whenever challenges or doubts surfaced throughout her life. When asked how this helped buoy her Hollywood dreams, she said , Every single time that I was about to just give up, the universe was like, Hold on, hold on, are you sure? My mom would say, You can be miserable in Los Angeles or Gainesville, your choice! I knew, I think intuitively, that I was destined for this journey. I believed that I was going to get here, I just didnt know how. In This Is Me, Metz writes, This book isnt about getting taller, skinnier, richer, or more successful. Its about loving yourself and realizing the singular gifts we all have to offer each other. For me, I always had a love of storytelling. I wanted people to relate to me, so I started asking, How do I relate to them? Acting just happened to be the way I could connect to people. It took way more than a minute for me to achieve my dream, but I am glad I stayed around. Because there was some time when I didnt want to. I couldnt even get an audition most of the time. I got discouraged, but something told me to keep going. I showed up for myself. And it turned out to be acting. Fans of This Is Us know all too well the unvarnished, emotional ups and downs of the show, and Metz admits that it is just as intense while on set. Oh yeah, were in it, were committed, and were invested, she said. There are so many times when Im watching a scene, Im watching like the audience, and Im like, oh gosh right, Im supposed to be doing my part! These are human interest stories that are so real on so many levels that you cant help but sort of be changed or impacted by them and wanting to be on the journey with everyone. I do love to watch all of these other incredible human beings and performers. Metz spoke excitedly about her future plans. Id love to do some music whether I write or produce, and a musical whether its film or on stage. Id also love to collaborate with my other actor, writer, or producer friends. Id love to have a nonprofit organization or charity for several different things like low-income kids. I taught preschool for some time. I love kids, and I have a big family. You know, just give back because Ive been given so much. To stay creative and stay true to who I am. With the phenomenal success of This Is Us and the increased demands on her time, Metz definitely enjoys her downtime. I love just relaxing, she said. Taking a bath, listening to music, or hanging out with friends. I like road trips. I also love to see movies, but I like to go to a matinee where I could potentially go in my pajamas! I love to do things on my own, too. You know, to have that quiet time. Metz has also enjoyed many of the sartorial perks of stardom and devotes an entire chapter to many of her most photographed looks. She spoke about the reaction to one of her favorite red carpet choices, a red latex dress. Everyone went crazy about that latex dress! I guess that was a pretty big risk. I didnt think of it that way. I didnt do it for the dress to be sexualized or it to feel sexual. It was just like, oh, Im going to try something different, and its the MTV Movie and TV Awards! She adds, I really like prints, I like color. So many people think that plus-size women should be in black and nonexistent. But for me, I want to dress like my personality. I feel like Im pretty bold, and Im gregarious. I spent a lot of time I think, hiding in the shadows for what, for what? Thats not what I want to do. A Fort Bend County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of repeated acts of sexual assault of a child. Jose Luis Ponce, 53, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for committing continuous sexual abuse of a child. He is not eligible for parole. Ponce was convicted by a jury on Feb. 5 and sentenced March 23 in the 400th District Court, Judge Maggie Jaramillo. CLEVELAND: School district warns parents of suspicious white van From 2007 to 2011, Ponce repeatedly sexually assaulted a child under 14 years old, acts that primarily occurred in Rosenberg and Houston. The primary victim's case was investigated by the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. Prosecutors also presented evidence that Ponce sexually assaulted at least three child victims over a period of 28 years. The state also presented evidence of Ponce's jail discipline record while he was in the Fort Bend County Jail. This included possession of a shank and tampering with a razor blade, which Fort Bend County Deputies indicated could be used as a deadly weapon. "These are always difficult cases to prosecute," Assistant District Attorney Melissa Munoz said. "In this case, the child victim was extraordinarily brave in facing her perpetrator and telling a jury what happened to her. We found her credible, and so did the jury." First degree continuous sexual assault of a young child is punishable by 25 to 99 years or Life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Under Texas law, without the possibility of parole, the defendant must serve every day of the 50-year sentence. Friendswood High School's production of the Disney musical "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" scored a whopping 15 nominations in the 16th annual Tommy Tune Awards, which will be presented in a Tony Awards-style ceremony April 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts Center in Houston. The show, performed during the 50th anniversary year of Friendswood High musicals topped last year's record tally of 14 nominations for the school's widely acclaimed presentation of "Les Miserables, School Edition." For the second year in a row, Friendswood thespian Emily Mesa is nominated for best leading actress, which means she will return to the big Hobby stage to perform an extended medley with other best leading actress hopefuls. Mesa, a senior, portrayed Esmeralda in "Hunchback of Notre Dame," which challenged sold-out audiences to ask, "What makes a monster, and what makes a man?" "Last year was thrilling," said the daughter of Gino and Ana Mesa. The competition among 45 Houston-area schools is sponsored by Theatre Under the Stars, said director Kathy Powdrell, who is a nominee for best direction. Both Garrett Morris as Quasimodo and William Clyburn as Claude Frollo were nominated for best leading actor. In the 1831 Victor Hugo novel, "Notre-Dame de Paris," on which the musical is based, Frollo was the guardian for Quasimodo, a physically deformed man. "It is such a big thing in our world how we judge people before we meet them; so playing Quasimodo was a big discovery within myself," said Morris, 17, who is a senior and the son of Jim and Lisa Morris. "On the inside, he has a heart of gold." "Truly, each night, someone came up to the cast in tears, to say how uplifting it was, especially at this point in time, to portray this fabulous theme," Powdrell said. Clyburn, 17, is a junior and the son of Bill and Nichole Clyburn. A tenor, he has placed the past two years in All-State choir, and he's the captain of the school band's drumline. Garrett McGregor, who played Romeo in last fall's Friendswood production of "Romeo and Juliet," was nominated for best supporting actor as Capt. Phoebus de Martin. "His arc is so interesting," said McGregor, 18, who is a senior and the son of Craig and Cherry McGregor. "He is a soldier who comes back from wartime haunted," he said, "but slowly Esmerelda changes his view of the world, and his heart softens, especially toward all of the outcasts and the gypsies." Nominated for best supporting actress is Andrea Beasley, who plays the male role of Clopin, king of the gypsies. A senior and the 18-year-old daughter of Joseph and Robin Beasley, she plans to study acting at the University of Oklahoma. Tyler Phelps was nominated for best featured performer as Saint Aphrodisius. In addition to Powdrell, other school faculty members who were included in the nominations were Stephanie Snyder and Alyssa Goza (best choreography), Michael Tyer, assisted by Melissa Smith (best musical direction), Cale Borne and Amy Thornton (best stage crew and technical execution) and Julio Sanchez (best orchestra). As one of eight nominees for best musical, the cast of "Hunchback" has been invited to perform a highlight from the musical during the Tommy Tunes ceremony. The show was also nominated for best lighting design, scenic design and ensemble/chorus. For tickets or further invitation about the Tommy Tunes, call 713-558-TUTS (8887) or visit www.tuts.com. Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be reached at donmaines@att.net. Caoilin Krathaus and Lila Mankad, 12-year-old friends and classmates at Hogg Middle School, are sixth-graders on a campaign to save the world. They enjoy typical hobbies such as reading, being outdoors, and camping, but they also have a common goal to make Houston more sustainable and waste free by starting a plastic bag ordinance. TRASH DAY: Curbside glass recycling to return to Houston in 2019 They have joined forces together for the last three years to save Houston one bag at a time, and got together to talk about their initiative. Krathaus and Mankad live near Woodland Park along Little White Oak Bayou, and it bothered the both of them that it was full of trash, much of it plastic bags. "Instead of just complaining about it we decided to do something. We started a petition to the City of Houston and Mayor Turner to create an ordinance against plastic bags," the girls said. Since then, they have testified and lobbied in Austin at the capitol, held press conferences, participated in rallies, attended Texas Supreme Court meetings. They have also done email and social media campaigns, wrote letters to the editors, and have been active members of the Texas Campaign for the Environment. Their latest project is working with Community Cloth, a nonprofit dedicated to giving refugee women an income by sewing or knitting items such as clothing. Krathaus and Mankad, with help from their parents, recently got a grant of $1,000 from the Pollination Project to employ refugee women to sew reusable grocery bags from up-cycled materials. They are planning on selling the bags at the Earth Day celebration at Discover Green. "And this is just the beginning," they said. They noted that, because of their persistence, they find that lots of people already know who they are. TRASH FIGHT: Houston City Council to debate recycling again "So many people are invested in cleaning up the city. It makes us good to realize this," they said. Perhaps another inspiration for their idea of a plastic bag free world comes from Krathaus' mother, who is from Ireland. Ireland passed a plastic bag tax in 2002, which caused the use of them to drop significantly. "Ireland has a population of the greater Houston region. If they can do it, certainly we can," the girls said. Plastic bags can be harmful in a number of ways, according to the girls. The bags can harm wildlife, and choke the bayous and storm drains. The bags eventually make their way into the Gulf of Mexico where sea turtles mistake them for jellyfish. Since plastic takes a long time to break down, there is no shortage to the damage it can cause. The Krathaus and Mankad families practice what they preach. When shopping, they use their own reusable bags, and when dining out, they bring their own food containers for leftovers and take out. "It was hard at first, but it seems crazy not to do it," they said. Their hope is that the Texas Supreme Court rules in favor of cities in Texas being able to have their own plastic bag ordinances. "If so, we will push city council and the Mayor very hard to create a bag ordinance," Krathaus and Mankad said. GARBAGE ISLAND: The giant garbage vortex in the Pacific Ocean is over twice the size of Texas here's what it looks like If the Supreme Court does not rule in favor, the girls will go back to the Texas Capitol and lobby and testify once more. "We will fight to the end on this issue. Our lives, health and future are at stake," the girls said. Krathaus and Mankad listed a few steps to take to make an effort to become plastic bag free. First, bring reusable bags everywhere. If the reusable bags are forgotten, then try to carry the items in your hands, use a box, or load all of your items directly into your car. Try to not use produce bags, straws and Styrofoam containers, and use a reusable water bottle. "Just try to be aware of all the plastic we use, and take baby steps," they said. Krathaus and Mankad's petition, and a blog detailing their efforts, can be found at bagfreebayous.org. Mobil Steel International, Inc., earned its 13th consecutive American Institute of Steel Construction quality certification renewal earlier this year, demonstrating Mobil Steel's commitment to producing quality steel fabrication for customers in the industrial and commercial industries. Earning the annual certification highlights that Mobil Steel meets rigorous industry standards designed to ensure quality structural steel fabrication. AISC certification is the recognized international quality certification program for the structural steel industry. According to AISC, its thorough certification process confirms that companies have personnel, knowledge, experience, processes and equipment to produce required quality of work. "AISC quality certification differentiates Mobil Steel from our competitors and provides us an advantage that our industrial and commercial customers recognize," said Leonard A. Bedell, president and CEO of Mobil Steel. Bedell was quick to point out that the AISC certification process continues to evolve and becomes more rigorous to ensure quality to customers. "AISC quality certification now mirrors ISO criteria," he said. "AISC continues to enhance their quality standard to ensure the program provides recognizable value to our customers and reflects a commitment to quality," said Bedell. According to AISC, more steel fabrication projects are requiring certification requirements and more steel fabricators are becoming certified as a way to establish a project's expected level of quality. "The AISC certification program must provide recognizable value to those who rely on it - the jurisdictions, agencies and specifiers [that] rely on the program to set a basic level of quality for their projects," said Mark W. Trimble, PE, vice president of certification at AISC. Initially certified in 2001, Mobil Steel completed a diligent re-certification process in 2006 to demonstrate its commitment to quality and to differentiate itself in the steel fabrication industry. Every year since, Mobil Steel has maintained the AISC certification. While Mobil Steel is one of 14 Houston steel fabrication companies to currently hold the AISC certification, Bedell believes Mobil Steel is one of only a few local steel fabricators that have received AISC certification for 13 consecutive years. "Each and every day, our employees work hard to achieve quality. It is rewarding when that effort is recognized by our customers, as well as demonstrated and validated in our annual AISC quality certification audit for 13 consecutive years," said Bedell. Mobil Steel earned back-to-back safety awards in 2016 and 2017 from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). ABC's Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) awards recognized Mobil Steel for distinguished safety and health performance in the industrial contracting industry. Joel Castro, 18, says that when he was campaigning as a candidate before Saturday's runoff election for an Alvin City Council seat, residents assured him that they didn't see his age as an issue. "I think they focused on my ideals and proposals and that I stayed true to myself and to them," the Alvin Community College student said after defeating John Burkey on March 24 to win an at-large seat on the council and become one of the youngest candidates elected in Texas. "I am so blessed and excited to be able to serve the citizens of Alvin. I still can't believe it," said Castro, who relied on social media, appearances at community events and door-to-door campaigning. "I think I motivated a lot of people, and they motivated me. I have said stuff that has been on their minds forever that nobody had included in their platforms," Castro said. "I made phone calls to people letting them know who I am, what I'm doing and what I want to do for them. I did a lot of block walking - knocking on doors and talking with as many people as possible." According to the Brazoria County Elections office, Castro garnered 282 votes, 55.19 percent of the total, compared with 229 for Burkey, a retired Air Force veteran. The runoff followed a Feb. 3 special election to fill the unexpired term of former council member Chris Sanger, who accepted an out-of-town job offer. The first election was a three-way contest that included Jamie Vaughn. Castro's term will run through the May 2019 election. Castro said he wants the city to be prepared for coming population growth. "Alvin will see a lot of changes in the next 10 years," he said. "Surrounding cities have had trouble with infrastructure and unexpected population growth. Our council is already allocating funds to improve water and sewage, but we also need to work on roads and services to accommodate the population to come. We need to get ready for it and not fall behind." He also plans to emphasize beautification. Castro, who is studying criminal justice in college and works part-time at Alvin High School as a tutor, said he will not allow his schedule to interfere with council duties. "Through Christ you can do anything," he said. "Where there's a will, there's a way. It is important for me to be able to listen to people and be there for the citizens. They can call, text or email me, and I will be sure to get in contact with them as soon as possible. There will be no issue with me being accessible." As an council member, Castro will receive a stipend check of about $300 a month. "I was more focused on the issues, and getting paid and a check was not even a factor for me. I would do it for free," Castro said. Castro was inspired by Mike Floyd's successful bid last year to be a Pearland ISD trustee when Floyd was 18 years old and a senior at Dawson High School. An Alvin High School graduate, Castro said his interest in politics led him participate in organizations like Keep Alvin Beautiful and Brazoria County Young Republicans. In the wake of current events, Castro is excited that people of his age are getting involved in the political process. "I may not always agree with the issues they are standing for and I have my own opinions, but I think it is absolutely phenomenal that people my age are involved and standing up for what they believe in," he said. "I'm glad that we are breaking the stereotype that millennials sit on the couch and do nothing. We are standing up for what we believe in." SACRAMENTO With tensions high and protests going strong nine days after the police killing of an unarmed African American man, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that the state justice department has joined the Sacramento police investigation into the shooting and will review practices in the department. Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn said he asked Becerra to assist with the investigation into the police killing of Stephon Clark due to the extremely high emotions, anger and hurt in our city. Becerra called Clarks death tragic and said his office will ensure the investigation is fair, thorough, and impartial. Officer-involved shooting investigations are typically reviewed by the local District Attorneys office, but some community members expressed skepticism with how the Sacramento County district attorney has handled previous officer-involved shootings. I feel this will help build faith and confidence in the investigation in our community, said Hahn, who became the citys first black police chief when he took the helm last year. But the California Department of Justices involvement didnt ease concerns for members of Black Lives Matter in Sacramento, who said they wanted an independent, community-led investigation, not a government agency investigating another government agency. There have been federal investigations of police killings, state investigations of police killings, and I dont believe the government can govern itself, said Tanya Faison, who leads the Sacramento chapter of Black Lives Matter. They need to answer to the people. We have a Sacramento community police commission. Its already in place. It just has no power at all. That needs to be the entity that oversees the investigation. Clark, a 22-year-old father of two, was shot at 20 times by two Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandmothers home in South Sacramento on March 18. Its unclear how many times he was struck. The officers said they believed Clark had a gun when they shot him during a foot pursuit around 9 p.m. after they responded to calls that someone was breaking into cars in the area. Clark was holding a cell phone, police said, not a weapon. His funeral is planned for Thursday. His family called for the officers to be charged with murder. Hahn said the state Department of Justice will look at Sacramento polices use of force practices. I recognize that we have difficult days ahead as we grieve and confront the death of Stephon Clark, said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. The country is watching us. Let us show how a city in pain, together, with all of our partners, achieved a better way. Protests led by Black Lives Matter are scheduled for the next three days outside Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schuberts office. Schubert faced criticism last year when she cleared two officers in the 2016 killing of a mentally ill black man who was wielding a knife when officers shot him 18 times. More for you Protesters blockade Sacramento arena again as Mavericks beat... Appearing at the press conference alongside Becerra and Hahn, Schubert acknowledged the tremendous anger, tremendous grief and those distrustful of our system. My job as your district attorney is to conduct a full, fair and independent review of this shooting, Schubert said. At the end of the day, its to follow the facts and the law. There is no timeline for when the investigation would be completed, but Schubert asked for the community to be patient because it will take time. Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, said the attorney general stepping in to review Clarks death highlights the need for an independent body to consistently investigate officer-involved shootings. McCarty introduced bills in 2015 and 2017 to create an independent unit within the state justice department to oversee deadly police use-of-force cases. The bills died separately in the Senate and Assembly appropriations committees. McCarty said Tuesday that he will try again this year to pass a bill. Police should not police themselves, McCarty said. California can rebuild public trust in law enforcement by requiring independent investigations of officer-involved shootings. After announcing Becerras involvement on Tuesday, city leaders made multiple calls for peaceful protests in the days ahead. Last week, hundreds of protestors briefly shut down a freeway, blocked major downtown intersections and kept thousands of fans from entering the downtown Golden 1 Center arena for a Sacramento Kings NBA game. On Friday night, some protestors jumped on police cars in what became a tense standoff. Longtime Sacramento resident Ollie Mack urged protestors to focus on their message, saying jumping on cars, spitting on people diminishes their voice. An earlier version of this story misstated how many times police officers shot Clark. WASHINGTON - Several major public health groups sued the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday for delaying certain rules for electronic cigarettes and cigars, saying that consumers as a result will be exposed for years to "lethal and addictive components" in tobacco products. The lawsuit is challenging an agency decision last summer to grant lengthy deadline extensions to manufacturers seeking FDA approval for their products. Originally, the companies were required to submit such product-review applications by this August for any item that went on the market after February 2007. The revised timeline changed that to August 2021 for cigars and August 2022 for e-cigarettes. The extensions have been embraced by the e-cigarette industry, which feared that many of its products would be banned under the original schedule. In the suit filed Tuesday, health groups argue that the delay allows flavored tobacco products that target children and teenagers to remain on the market. The organizations suing include the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Truth Initiative. Several individual pediatricians also joined the case, which was filed in federal court in Maryland. The FDA declined to comment on the legal action. The litigation comes as FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb oversees a major overhaul of tobacco regulations centered on nicotine and its addictive properties. Last summer, in announcing that new framework, Gottlieb pledged to take the unprecedented step of reducing nicotine in conventional cigarettes to minimally addictive or nonaddictive levels. His plan is strongly supported by the same groups that sued the FDA on Tuesday. Gottlieb describes tobacco use as a "continuum of risk" involving products that deliver nicotine, with traditional cigarettes being the most dangerous and products like e-cigarettes being less harmful and providing a possible tool for smokers to quit regular cigarettes. "We need to envision a world where cigarettes lose their addictive potential through reduced nicotine levels," he said last summer. "And a world where less harmful alternative forms, efficiently delivering satisfying levels of nicotine, are available for those adults who need or want them." In recent weeks, the agency has taken the first step to cutting nicotine levels in cigarettes. It also has said it will take another look at menthol - which it explored banning in 2013 - and other flavors in tobacco products. And it said it is reconsidering how to regulate premium cigars, an action anti-tobacco groups worry might result in weaker rules. On Tuesday, the groups suing the FDA pointed to a best-selling e-cigarette brand called JUUL as evidence that the FDA shouldn't delay its review of e-cigarettes. JUUL looks like a USB flash drive and comes in such flavors as mango, creme brulee and fruit medley. It is wildly popular among teenagers. The lawsuit contends that the FDA, in delaying product reviews of e-cigarettes and cigars, is exceeding its authority under the 2009 tobacco-control act and violating the Administrative Procedures Act because it did not give the public an opportunity to comment. Washington White House officials are looking into whether $500 million in loans that went to Trump administration senior adviser Jared Kushner's family real estate company may have spurred ethics or criminal law violations, according to the head of the federal government's ethics agency. David J. Apol, acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, said in a letter sent last week to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi that the White House counsel's office told him that officials were probing the loans to Kushner Cos. and whether "additional procedures are necessary to avoid violations in the future." Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, had asked Apol on March 1 about a New York Times report that Kushner Cos. accepted $184 million in loans from Apollo Global Management and $325 million from Citigroup last year over several months after Kushner met with officials from the two firms. Both companies have insisted their officials did nothing wrong in meeting with Kushner. Both firms had financial interests overseen by the federal government at the time and both firms backed elements of the tax reform legislation that passed Congress last year with support from Trump. A spokesman for Jared Kushner was not immediately available to comment. HARTFORD Lamakers and advocates are supporting a bill clarifying that state and local law officials not turn over undocumented immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a judicial warrant. It is an update of the Connecticut Trust Act that reinforces the separate role of federal immigration agencies versus state and municipal police, corrections workers, judicial marshals and others who are presented with an administrative warrant or detainer request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for an undocumented person. A judicial warrant requires the signature of a judge after he or she has been presented with evidence justifying the warrant. An administrative warrant or detainer is simply a request that a person be held for 48 hours until ICE decides whether it wants to pick up an individual. A second bill addressed at a news conference Monday was a recommendation of the Connecticut Sentencing Commission that sentences for misdemeanors be reduced from 365 days to 364 days, something that would be retroactive. This is because of the relationship between the states penal code and federal immigration law, according to testimony submitted by Alex Tsarkov and Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin of the Sentencing Commission. In Connecticut, a class A misdemeanor carries a potential for a maximum of one year imprisonment, which under federal law can trigger deportation proceedings. A potential one-year sentence, as opposed to an actual sentence, governs this trigger. Such a sentence disqualifies some undocumented immigrants in Connecticut from court protections against domestic violence or an asylum option. It also prevents an immigration judge, in some cases, from considering mitigating circumstances against deportation. State Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, whose parents were undocumented immigrants from China, spoke in favor of the bills. It just feels like, for those of us who are immigrants, who are undocumented, who come from undocumented immigrants, as I do, and there are many many of us ... our community is a big one, it touches every community, every racial and ethnic group, religious group, every town, every city in the state. It just feels like they are coming after us. ... Every day someone is at our back, looking over our shoulder, coming after us. That is why we are here today, Tong said at the press conference. Alok Bhatt of the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance said the changes are meant to limit the ability of ICE to exploit state and local resources such as law enforcement, correction facilities, probation offices, courthouses and court services to coordinate attacks on our community, the people that all these services are ostensibly established to protect and serve. He said they are now being used to violate their rights and destabilize communities and separate families. Bhatt said they should not be complicit in helping ICE enforce federal deportation laws. He said Connecticut taxpayer money should not be used to support a rogue immigration agenda. CIRA said ICE sent 321 detainer requests from October 2016 through July 2017, with the biggest increased number to the Bridgeport Correctional Center. At a public hearing on the two proposals, state Rep. Rosa Rebimas, R-Naugatuck, asked Bhatt whether it made any difference to him if the person being released after serving time, had committed murder. The safety of our residens are paramount, Rebimas said. I agree, Bhatt answered. Bhatt said in all cases, ICE should get a judicial warrant for the state to further hold a person beyond his or her sentence. He said such holdings have been found to violate constitutional protections. A federal review by the Obama administration and more recently by the Trump administration found that Connecticuts Trust Act did not violate federal law. Asked whether the state worried that the Trump administration would take action against Connecticut based on the newest version, Tong said if it did Connecticut would see them in court. Tong said when Connecticut says misdemeanor it means a less serious charge than a felony. He described it as a cleanup of our laws, to make sure our laws express what we mean them to say. On the Trust Act, Tong said it is not not up to the state of Connecticut and state and local law enforcement to do their jobs for them. If they want us to hold somebody, they can get a warrant, and if there is good reason for us, in accordance with due process, for the state or a local subdivision, we will do that. Law enforcement agencies already share databases on court sentencing and federal agents would know through that avenue whether someone is being released. David McGuire, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Connecticut, said state officials now are not supposed to assist with sending undocumented immigrants to ICE, but they continue to do so. He emphasized the fear that immigrants have of any interaction with the government because they believe that local law enforcement will turn them over to immigration agents. The Connecticut residents being targeted by the federal governments deportation agenda are our neighbors, family members and friends, McGuire said. While ICE considers certain places, such as churches, schools and hospitals, places where they do not conduct raids, courthouses are not on the list. Connecticut, as well as other states, have asked that ICE not make arrests in or near a courthouse as it discourages people from being witnesses, seeking restraining orders or showing up to answer a charge. John Santa, vice chairman of the Connecticut Sentencing Commission, who said he is the son of an immigrant from Hungry, said he also runs the Collatoral Consequences Subcommittee of the group. He said there are multiple unforseen collateral outcomes connected to state laws. Santa said people should not risk their residency in the United States of America just for the technicality of it being 365 instead of 364 days in a mideamenor sentence. State Rep. Robin Porter, D-New Haven, criticized national immigration policy when deportations are separating children from their parents. I think it is really heinous, she said. She said the undocumented immigrants affected by the policy include a lot of black people from Africa, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, not just Asians and Hispanics. She thanked advocates who bring the pressure needed to get things done at the General Assembly. A separate hearing on the sentencing changes will be held before the Judiciary Committee Wednesday. NEW HAVEN During her nascent tenure, Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks has made a refrain of her mention of quick wins. In her first six days, she has highlighted mutliple positive things that have happened, from a financial commitment by Albertus Magnus to the New Haven Promise to what she deemed successful meetings with the community Birks has always had some believers she earned the majority of the Board of Educations votes to hire her last year but it appeared she had lost many before she even began the job as many of the most involved community members expressed doubts over what they believed to be a search process lacking in transparency and with frantic pacing. Some looked at her curriculum vitae and feared shed be a shill for the school privatization movement; Birks told reporters last Monday that she supports school choice, a nod of support for charter schools. Many also simply felt drawn to the other two finalists who met with the community the energetic local candidate Gary Highsmith and the bilingual Pam Brown, the only candidate who had experience as schools chief for a city on her resume. After the tumultuous meeting which led to Birks hiring, Mayor Toni Harps liaison to the school board Jason Bartlett predicted the then-superintendent-elect would begin with winning over the community one parent at a time. Last month, Sarah Miller, a parent and cofounder of a community group NHPS Advocates which demands more transparency from the school board said Birks had requested a private meeting with members of the group. She said she was tenatively pleased and felt her concerns were heard. On Monday, NHPS Advocates volunteer, parent and district teacher Kirsten Hopes-McFadden expressed her gratitude to Birks. She said she was touched and impressed that Birks had remembered the names of her children and her. I was so impressed you remembered us, because Im not good with names, she said. I decided to bring both my sons to your reception to meet you, and you were warm and engaging. So, too, did she appear to win over board member Ed Joyner, an elected member who aligned with the last two remaining appointees of former Mayor John DeStefano Jr. last year, but is now the only school board member who did not support Birks hiring. I really needed this, he said. Im more optimistic about the leadership of the school district than Ive been since I was on board. After the meeting, Joyner said he was duty-bound to support Birks. Theres nothing in her background to suggest shes anything other than very ethical, he said. Shes taking over a system with lots of problems she had nothing to do with. Joyner announced his support following Birks presentation on what her 90-day transition would entail. That included mentions of community forums, the development of a district improvement plan and a budget presentation from her part-time CFO Darrell Hill. Hill said the deficit for the current fiscal year is about $6.7 million, and there is only one quarter left to turn it around. Were slowly but surely eroding away at (the deficit), Hill said. Birks said she intends to make executive-level hires for a full-time CFO and a curriculum and academics chief they must still run the organization after all, she said but the added fiscal burden would be offset in other ways. We are going to look closely and engage the schools in the process for mitigation, she said. Birks wasnt the only person to win over Joyner in particular. Only about four months after challenging him to a duel on Bowen Field, Joyner said he appreciated school board President Darnell Goldsons handle on the meeting. He took us through a really difficult period and did it with grace, he said. Kitchen fire causes about $67,000 damage A kitchen fire caused an estimated $67,000 damage to a Jacksonville residence Sunday, according to the Jacksonville Fire Department. Firefighters were called to 1021 W. State St. at 12:42 p.m. Sunday and found heavy smoke and fire in the kitchen, according to reports. The two residents, who were outside by the time firefighters arrived, were uninjured. Firefighters were on scene for about an hour. The fire appears to have started with a kitchen appliance. Morgan County Sheriff Arrests, Citations Richard A. Wohlers, 61, of P.O. Box 202, Meredosia, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:03 a.m. Sunday on charges of obstructing identification, fleeing from police, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and driving while license is revoked or suspended. Jacksonville Police Accidents Danny R. Currier, 61, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of improper lane use after his vehicle struck a utility pole about 8:48 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of West State Street, causing damage to both the pole and the front fender of the car. Walter L. Sander, 26, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of operating an uninsured motor vehicle after police say his vehicle backed into a parked car at 9:56 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of East Walnut Street. Greene County Sheriff Arrests, Citations Kyle W. Stark, 38, of Palmyra was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 5:17 a.m. Friday on a battery charge. Carrollton Police Arrests, Citations Adam J. Delp, 19, of Jerseyville was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 11:46 p.m. Friday on a charge of not having a valid drivers license. Greenfield Police Arrests, Citations Jessie D. Walker, 46, of Alton was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 10:51 a.m. Monday on a Macoupin County arrest warrant accusing him of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Roodhouse Police Arrests, Citations Terry P. Gibson, 27, of Roodhouse was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 8:08 p.m. Sunday on a battery charge. Stacey L. Gresham, 47, of White Hall was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 11:20 p.m. Friday on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge. White Hall Police Arrests, Citations Terry L. Miller Jr., 41, of Roodhouse was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 4:18 p.m. Friday on charges of theft and possession of stolen property. Scott County Winchester Police Arrests, Citations Cody A. Main, 29, of Detroit was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 2:10 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under the influence, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer, Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree BRANFORD Three juveniles in a stolen car from New Haven crashed into a police cruiser Tuesday morning in the Indian Neck section of town, according to a press release. Police said a resident from Soundview Heights reported at about 5 a.m. that three people were entering into cars in the area. Officers responded to the area and, as Sgt. Dominic Eula attempted to enter Indian Neck Avenue from Meadow Street, the fleeing vehicle collided with the sergeants cruiser, the release stated. Maryland Democratic leaders set out in 2011 to redraw the state's congressional districts to boost the likelihood that the party's 6-to-2 edge in the delegation became 7 to 1, the state's Democratic former governor Martin O'Malley recalled last year. It was nothing personal. "I came to really like and respect and in many ways admire" the Democrats' unlucky target, Republican Roscoe Bartlett, who had represented Maryland's 6th Congressional District since 1993, O'Malley said. But business is business, and this business was politics. Hundreds of thousands of voters were shifted, Republicans became a distinct minority in the 6th District, and Bartlett, who had been reelected in 2010 by a 28-percentage-point margin, lost to a Democrat in 2012 by 21 points. "As the elected governor, I did my duty within the metes and bounds" of Maryland law that set up redistricting as a partisan exercise, O'Malley said last spring in a deposition. He added that if the reconfigured district "would be more likely to elect a Democrat than a Republican, yes, this was clearly my intent." O'Malley's frank admission is at the heart of what is becoming an unprecedented look at partisan gerrymandering by the Supreme Court. The justices on Wednesday will hear the challenge to Maryland's Democratic decision-making, after last fall examining - but not yet deciding - a lawsuit on Republican efforts in Wisconsin. The cases hold the prospect that the court is on the brink of a historic change in the way elections are conducted in the United States. If O'Malley's words sound like a confession, claiming partisan gerrymandering for years has actually been a defense. The justices regularly police state legislators who overly rely on voters' race when drawing electoral districts, but the court has never thrown out a state's map because it was drawn to help one political party over another. Some justices have considered that a perk of power that the courts have no role in overseeing. But the political landscape has changed, and the legal one might as well. "There's a revolution underway," said Kathay Feng, national redistricting director for Common Cause. Voters across the country are organizing to take redistricting power away from politicians and put it in the hands of nonpartisan decision-makers - although many states, including Maryland, don't allow such changes without legislative approval. The other option is litigation, and courts in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have thrown out maps where the partisan line-drawing was judged extreme. In Pennsylvania's case, the state Supreme Court ordered a new map for this fall's election that levels the playing ground for congressional candidates. The old map drawn by the state's Republicans provided such an edge that the party consistently won 13 of the state's 18 districts, despite its reputation as a battleground state in national elections. The U.S. Supreme Court turned down pleas from Republican lawmakers to get involved, letting the new maps go into effect. The justices' decision to take the Maryland case, which raises different constitutional challenges than the one from Wisconsin, heartened those who are advocating for change. "It's clear that the Supreme Court wants to say something about partisan gerrymandering, and we don't quite know what that is yet," said Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice's Democracy Program. But he said that if the court had decided it had no role in policing partisan gerrymanders, as some states have suggested, the court did not need to take a second case to say that. Maryland's governor, Larry Hogan, R, took the unusual step of filing an amicus brief on behalf of the challengers and against his state. He has tried since his inauguration to persuade legislators to turn redistricting over to a nonpartisan commission. He said the judicial interest in the issue coincides with a new public awareness. "Polling on this is off the charts," Hogan said in an interview, adding, "Democrats, Republicans, independents - everyone thinks that citizens should be able to pick their representatives, rather than have it the other way around, where representatives get to pick their voters." Indeed O'Malley - who was adamant during the deposition that Maryland's map met constitutional requirements for one-person, one-vote and respected the Voting Rights Act's protection of racial minorities - said he thinks the system should be scrapped. "Some states are starting to move to nonpartisan redistricting commissions, and I think that would be a positive and healthy and good thing for our nation," he said. Maryland's case provides a bit of counterprogramming to the national image of partisan gerrymandering as a Republican sport. The party simply has more chances to show its stuff: The 2010 election put Republicans in sole control of the redistricting in 21 states following the once-a-decade census. They produced maps that critics said solidified GOP control of state legislatures, such as in Wisconsin, and produced congressional districts in battleground states such as North Carolina that meant Republicans captured 10 of 13 seats. Maryland was an exception, one of 11 states after the 2010 election with Democrats in control of the legislature and governor's mansion. In such an arms race, there was pressure on Democrats to do what they could to alter the national picture, Democrats have said. The obvious targets were Bartlett and Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican who represented the Eastern Shore. As O'Malley put it in his deposition, "the largest estuary in North America" - the Chesapeake Bay - made changes to Harris's district unwieldy. Easier was to put many of the Republicans in the old 6th District into the overwhelmingly Democratic 8th District. And to add Democrats from Montgomery County into the 6th. When completed, the 6th District stretched from the state's westernmost border across the panhandle before taking a sharp turn into Montgomery County, all the way down to about 10 miles from the White House. The 8th started in Takoma Park, on the border of the District of Columbia, and ran to the Pennsylvania border. Both were won by Democrats. Michael Kimberly, a Washington lawyer representing Republican voters, has tailored his challenge to appeal to Justice Anthony Kennedy, seen as the court's pivotal member on the issue. Kennedy in the past has wondered whether partisan gerrymandering should be seen as retaliation against voters based on their political affiliations. Kimberly's brief offers just that: "What happened in Maryland's Sixth District in 2011 - and what is sure to happen all over the nation in 2021 absent this court's intervention - is a clear violation of the First Amendment, which forbids states from disfavoring citizens on the basis of their political views." Whether Maryland lawmakers set out only to make sure a Democrat was elected, instead of retaliating against voters who had elected Bartlett in the past, does not change the legal analysis, Kimberly said. Brian Frosh, who as a Democratic state senator chaired the redistricting committee and now defends the state as attorney general, did not respond to an interview request. In his brief to the court, he says the state's action was a defensible way to deal with the state's growth, much of which occurred in the areas at issue. It produced a district that is competitive, he said. Rep. John Delaney, D, who defeated Bartlett in 2012, almost lost to a different Republican challenger in 2014. And Frosh said the challengers failed to provide the court with the thing that has vexed past judicial efforts to impose standards on partisan gerrymandering: a way to "determine when partisan considerations in the redistricting process have gone too far." "By dodging the problem, the plaintiffs' proposed standard threatens to render any partisan motive fatal to redistricting - something that this court has already rejected," the state's brief said. The case is Benisek v. Lamone. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, on Monday invoked last week's fatal shooting at a southern Maryland high school as he pushed state lawmakers to pass school safety bills before the legislative session ends in two weeks. Hogan has proposed allocating $125 million to pay for safety features in schools and $50 million annually for new school safety grants, which could be used for school resource officers and counselors. A package of school safety bills, including the measures put forward by Hogan, is being considered by the state Senate and, if approved, would next go to the House of Delegates. "Classrooms should never be places of fear for our children," Hogan said during a news conference in Annapolis. "I am urging members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle to come together on this issue. The time to make our schools safer is now." House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, and Senate President Thomas "Mike" Miller, D-Calvert, have each said they are committed to passing a comprehensive package to improve school safety. Miller said last week that the Senate has been working on legislation since before the shooting at Great Mills High School. Just before classes began on March 20, authorities said a student at the school opened fire in a hallway, fatally wounding 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey. Authorities on Monday said the 17-year-old gunman then shot himself during a confrontation with an armed school resource officer. Sen. Stephen Waugh, R-Calvert, whose district includes the school, drafted legislation aimed at preventing attacks through up-to-date background checks, anticipating threats with assessment teams, stationing armed school resource officers at schools and securing classroom doors. Waugh said the Great Mills shooting was "gut-wrenching" and lawmakers would be "derelict in our duty" if they did not act. Miller said last week the Senate would consider Waugh's bills, which have bipartisan support, and Hogan's bill, which would require every jurisdiction in the state to perform safety assessments and create emergency plans for public schools. Alexandra Hughes, chief of staff to Busch, said Hogan's legislation and the other school safety bills are under consideration by committees. The budget conference committee, made up of members of both chambers, agreed on Monday to put $41.6 million toward school safety programming and upgrades. Hogan submitted a supplemental state budget last week which included $10 million for a grant to fund his school safety proposals. Still, as he urged passage of his much larger school safety spending bill, Hogan said adding funding in the budget was "not enough." He also called on lawmakers to pass a wide-ranging crime bill intended to curb crime rates in Baltimore. The bill, which passed the Senate and will be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday, has been criticized by civil rights advocates, defense lawyers and some legislators for its focus on tougher penalties. Hogan said Monday that ongoing violence in Baltimore - which saw 347 homicides last year - makes action by lawmakers necessary. "There can be no more excuses," he said. Hogan also addressed soaring health-care premiums, noting he has worked closely with Democratic leaders in the Senate and House to find a solution. He said although much work remains to be done, he has been happy with the spirit of bipartisanship. Metro Video LLC / for the Houston Chronicle Detectives are investigating a possible drug-related shooting in southwest Houston. Gunfire erupted shortly before noon Tuesday at a home in the 4500 block of Buckleridge Road in northeast Fort Bend County, just a mile away from Ridgemont Elementary School. A man was shot in the stomach during the altercation, according to the Houston Police Department. The man was rushed to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital on the Southwest Freeway. When police arrived, the suspects responsible for the shooting had fled the scene. POLICE SHOOTING: Cops searching for man who shot at Conroe officer HPD's major assaults and narcotics detectives are investigating the shooting. No other information was available. Check back for updates on this developing story as they come in. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. Police are searching for three people who are accused of breaking into a southwest Houston home early Tuesday. The attackers broke into the home in the 11500 block of Montverde Lane, outside of the Sam Houston Tollway on West Bellfort, sometime before 3:20 a.m.. Neighborhood and community activists sounded a call Monday night to keep fighting a proposed development by the Hays Street Bridge, an East Side icon that, to some, is a symbol of hope. Former City Councilman Mario Salas, who represented the East Side from 1997 to 2001, said he originally wanted the bridge razed but was told it signified a link between downtown prosperity and the people of color in his community. Since then, he said he has been happy to see it restored, but disappointed by the citys support of the planned development on the north side of the bridge. At the moment, it seems like a city without a heart, Salas told more than 50 people at a demonstration and vigil on the bridge. The event followed Fridays decision by City Manager Sheryl Sculley to administratively approve the concept of a multiuse development, including apartments and retail space, at 803 N. Cherry Street. Some preservationists and residents say the project would hinder views of and from the bridge, including a vantage of the bridge with the downtown skyline in the background, harming the ambience of the area. It also would negate the dreams many have had of a park by the bridge a quality-of-life asset that some say could generate more economic development than the project on the table. In a memo last week to developer Mitch Meyer, Sculley said the city supports a viable project that is respectful of the historic Hays Street Bridge and that addresses design concerns raised by residents and the citys Historic and Design Review Commission. The HDRC had twice denied approval of the project once in December and again on March 9, after the panel was presented a revised design plan. The Cherry Street land, donated to the city by beer distributor BudCo, was sold in 2012 to Alamo Beer for a brewery. But the Hays Street Bridge Restoration Group sued the city, which it claimed had agreed the land would be used for a park. Alamo Beer owner Eugene Simor built the brewery on the south side of the bridge and deeded the land to Meyer. The restoration group has asked the Texas Supreme Court to review a 4th Court of Appeals ruling in favor of the city over use of the land. Darryl Steadman, son of engineer Douglas Steadman, who worked for decades to save the bridge, said his father had told him just before he died on Feb. 12, that those crooks stole the land. I dont know what else to call it except corrupt, the younger Steadman, speaking of the latest development in the contentious saga, told the group Monday. Decisions of the HDRC, an advisory board, are subject to staff review. Sculley can reverse the panels rulings, as she did in 2013 for a proposed high-rise on top of the historic Joskes Building near Alamo Plaza, with conditions for the developer to adhere to in response to community concerns about height and scale. The high-rise developer later scrapped its proposal. In the latest case, Sculley and the citys historic preservation and planning staff have required 11 stipulations, including design changes to provide a publicly accessible view of the 1880s wrought iron, 353-foot bridge. Sculley also has asked Meyer to meet with the architectural review committee of the historic Dignowity Hill neighborhood. Other conditions include screening of mechanical building components from public view and alternations to spacing and height, to preserve sight lines to and from the bridge. Sculley told the San Antonio Express-News last week that the city is trying to reach a compromise that balances community concerns with the need for housing. The man who killed noted San Antonio boxer Robert Pikin Quiroga in 2004 testified Tuesday at a racketeering trial that he also killed another man two years earlier because he had offed a member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club. Ex-Bandidos member Richard Steven Merla testified that a woman working with the Bandidos drove Robert Lara in January 2002 to a dark picnic area along Interstate 37 south of San Antonio, where Merla dragged Lara out of the car. Merla and fellow Bandidos member Frederick Fast Fred Cortez then emptied their pistols into him to retaliate for the killing of Javier Negrete, who was secretary of the Bandidos Southwest San Antonio chapter at the time. Negrete was killed in late 2001 when a sport-utility vehicle fired shots at him outside Tiffanys Billiards, Merla testified. Cortez, then a prospect trying to become a member, returned fire, hitting the SUV, Merla said, and was made a full member. After the Bandidos investigated, John Xavier Portillo, then the chapters president, announced at a meeting that Lara had slain Negrete and a plan was hatched to kill Lara, Merla testified. You just cant go around killing Bandidos just to kill us. It dont work like that, Merla testified. Youre not going to kill a Bandido and just get away with it. Merla, a member of the Bandidos from 2000 to 2004, is best known for repeatedly stabbing Quiroga in August 2004 during an argument. Quiroga was considered San Antonios first world boxing champion, and his death brought unwanted attention to the motorcycle club, which disassociated itself from Merla. It was personal, Merla said of the killing, adding that it had nothing to do with Bandidos business. Merla got 40 years for Quirogas murder, and 40 years to run concurrently for Laras slaying, Merla said. Merla said Laras slaying was club business, and that the day of the Lara killing, he and five other Bandidos including Portillo went in three separate cars to the picnic area after Magenta Winans had called Portillo to let him know that she had Lara in the car with her. Merla said he and Cortez killed Lara, then all six met up at the home of Portillos brother, where Portillo told everyone that no one was to speak of the killing again, Merla said. There, Portillo used a torch to destroy the pistol Portillo had given Merla to shoot Lara, Merla testified. Later, he and Cortez were given Expect No Mercy patches, which are dispensed for a noted act for the club, Merla said. Merla also said he and other Bandidos, including Portillo, were involved in drug trafficking. Merla, for instance, picked up and delivered five to 10 kilograms a week of both cocaine and methamphetamines to members. In some cases, he delivered kilogram quantities of cocaine and meth to Portillos Southeast San Antonio home, and put it in the washer in Portillos garage. Merlas testimony corroborated Winans earlier testimony who besides getting immunity for Laras killing, said that she also aided the Bandidos drug trafficking and ran the groups call girl service in San Antonio, Platinum Escorts. The pairs testimony was offered by the government in support of a federal indictment that alleges that the Bandidos racketeering enterprise spanned 16 years, from 2000 to 2016. While former national president Jeffrey Fay Pike is accused of conspiring with Portillo and other Bandidos in racketeering, the testimony implicated Portillo. But Portillos attorneys swatted at the testimony as self-serving and even retaliatory. In cross-examining Merla, Portillos lead lawyer, Mark Stevens, asked Merla if he told a documentary crew in 2007 that if he ever got out of prison, he would retaliate against Portillo for kicking him out of the Bandidos. Thats what youre doing today, isnt it? Stevens asked, referring to Merlas testimony. No, Merla answered. Pike, of suburban Houston, has been president of the Bandidos since 2006 and was vice president under George Wegers of Washington state, who was removed after he was convicted in his own racketeering case. Portillo, of San Antonio, was promoted to the Bandidos national chapter in 2002, first as a sergeant at arms, and he later became the clubs national vice president in 2013, according to testimony. Live Oak officials and IKEA representatives, wearing white safety hats and holding decorative shovels, broke ground on the furniture giants fifth Texas store at a March 21 ceremony. IKEA Live Oak, bordering the southwestern corner of Interstate 35 and Loop 1604, is expected to be the centerpiece of the 112-acre shopping center, owned by Dallas-based real estate firm the Weitzman Group. The 289,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open next spring. Its expected to employ 250. The retailers expansion into the San Antonio region was a long time coming, said Live Oak City Manager Scott Wayman. RELATED: Photos show construction slated to start on San Antonio IKEA The city had been pursuing the retailer to open a location in Live Oak for about 15 years. Live Oak and IKEA officials praised past and present city leaders for their aggressive pursuit of the store, which announced its arrival to the city in November 2016. We stand on the shoulder of the councils that worked before us and brought us to this point, Live Oak Mayor Mary Dennis said at the groundbreaking. Although Live Oak boasts two busy shopping centers The Forum and the Live Oak Crossing city officials called the addition of the European-based IKEA a game changer. The planned shopping center, Wayman said, is going to change the way people look at our region. Wayman credited The Forum for boosting the citys economic development portfolio. Approximately $27 million will go toward public improvements for the entire 800,000-square-foot shopping center, with the money split between IKEA and Weitzman Group, as part of an incentive deal between Live Oak and the two companies. The terms of the deal include Live Oak and Weitzman Group collecting 75 percent of property and sales tax revenue and the city 25 percent until the full $27 million is reimbursed to Live Oak. Wayman has said he expects the city to be fully reimbursed in about nine years. He anticipates the shopping center to generate about $5.1 million in total taxes annually. (The shopping center) will bring people to our city to stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and explore our region, said Wayman, who anticipates 2.3 million visitors annually to IKEA Live Oak. Among visitors the city and IKEA hope to welcome are travelers from Mexico who drive through the area on I-35. We do know that theres a large amount of business that comes from Mexico to San Antonio to shop, said Chuck Coker, IKEA real estate and development manager. And we want to make sure we capture our share of that. As for the other space at the shopping center, Michael Schoenbrun, a representative of the Weitzman Group wouldnt disclose which businesses have expressed interest. An announcement about the next phase of development should come by the end of the year, he said. With the support of our community, Palo Alto College has held sturdy as an anchor institution for south San Antonio for more than three decades. Our primary scope is to ensure students have equitable access to all disciplines across the arts and sciences, as well as community-focused initiatives. To foster well-rounded leaders, we understand the importance of providing a diverse mix of educational and cultural experiences that will build lifelong character. One approach to empowering students for success is exposure to the fine and performing arts. San Antonio police arrested two people Monday after finding them in a car they allegedly stole from a man at gunpoint. The initial incident occurred on Thursday, according to an arrest affidavit. Officers responded to the 3400 block of East Southcross Street, where a man said he was robbed of his car keys near the stairwell of his apartment complex. He told police he was followed into the stairwell by two men while a woman waited outside, according to the affidavit. The men demanded his car keys, and one of the suspects pulled out a handgun with an extended ammo clip during the robbery, police said. RELATED: Schlitterbahn co-owner, slide designer charged with second-degree murder in death of boy at Kansas park The man gave them the keys to his Chevrolet Cavalier, and the three jumped in the car and drove off, according to the affidavit. The same three were spotted in the stolen car the next day by police, according to the affidavit. One of the suspects, 19-year-old Clifford Richardson, allegedly admitted to the robbery and told police that he and Devan Smith, 20, planned the crime together. Richardson also described the black handgun with the extended clip used in the crime, according to the affidavit. The female suspect was not arrested as of Tuesday in connection to the crime. Richardson told police she didn't know about the robbery and thought that Richardson and Smith were at the apartment complex to buy the car, the affidavit shows. Both suspects are charged with aggravated robbery. A judge set their bails at $35,000 each, according to jail records. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA City officials on Tuesday offered raises and a health care package to the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters Association at a collective-bargaining session that union officials did not attend. Later in the day, union boss Chris Steele rejected the idea that the city could even issue a proposal because the firefighters negotiating team had yet to agree to come to the bargaining table. The citys proposal for a four-year contract includes a total of 4 percent in one-time lump-sum payments and 8 percent increases to salaries. It would require for the first time that firefighters pay monthly health insurance premiums for spouses and dependents, but they would continue to receive coverage without premiums for themselves. And the deal would include a reduction of the controversial evergreen clause from 10 years to six months. Its the latest turn in a saga that began even before the unions labor contract expired in 2014. Steele has said repeatedly he will not negotiate until the city drops its evergreen lawsuit. Challenging the constitutionality of a clause the city has continually agreed to, city lawyers lost their battle at district court and on appeal but remain confident that the Texas Supreme Court will overturn the lower courts. City spokesman Jeff Coyle said Tuesday that officials dont expect a court resolution until next year; Steele said he thinks it will be resolved by this summer. Shortly after 10 a.m., when the collective bargaining session was set to begin, Deputy City Manager Erik Walsh, City Attorney Andy Segovia and other members of the citys negotiating team were seated at a conference table on the first floor of City Hall. Coyle stood nearby, presenting the citys offer to a gaggle of reporters. Thank you all for being here again today, Coyle said to the TV cameras. This is the collective-bargaining session between the city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters Association. As you can see, the fire union is not here again today, and were disappointed by that, but were glad that you are because we are prepared to make a proposal the outline of a proposal to the union for their consideration. The citys proposal would eliminate funding for a police and fire legal fund which pays legal fees for things like probate, wills and divorces. Under the deal, firefighters would receive a 3 percent lump-sum bonus when a new contract is signed. The next year, theyd receive a 1 percent bonus and a 2 percent recurring wage increase. In the third and fourth years, theyd have 3 percent salary increases. Over the four-year offer, theyd see a total of 4 percent in lump-sum, one-time payments and 8 percent in wage increases. Firefighters would pay about $346 monthly to insure a spouse and children. To only insure a spouse, theyd pay about $208 monthly or $139 for children only. Their annual deductibles would remain low: $654 for an individual and $1,308 for families with maximum out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles and copays at $2,482 and $4,946. Coyle said he wasnt sure whether the offer would leave firefighters with more or less money in their pockets. But Steele said the offer is the same one the city put on the table during failed court-ordered mediation last year and that he believes its a net negative. Thats not the first time Ive seen that proposal. That was rejected in mediation, he said in a Tuesday interview. My guys would take a financial loss. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Tuesday that he hopes Steele would counter the citys proposal. I think this is a fair offer, he said. The mayor said the health care premiums are lower than any other city employees and that of virtually every member of the private sector. That being said, I understand the concern about being upside down. If it actually exists, we would only be able to determine that at the negotiating table, and there would be a willingness, Im sure, for us to work on that. There is not a willingness, however, to drop the lawsuit. But there is an offer that might sway Steele to change his mind. Hes suggested the union should take over health care management using an annually allocated amount based on a percentage of firefighters salaries. The union would create a plan and members would contribute to their health care costs. Its a proposal thats been rejected as many times as its been offered. Officials say the city ultimately is responsible for insuring firefighters if the unions plan is a bust. Steeles offered a remedy to that. Hes so confident that his association can manage its own health care that hes given the city a clawback that should have made municipal officials salivate. We said if it does not work, and we raise the white flag and say Im sorry its not working, we will go on the civilian plan not the police plan the civilian plan, he said. We made it no risk, a no-brainer in mediation, and they said no. The headlines from colleges across America tell the story: universities disinviting lecturers, student activists shouting down speakers, and professors being harassed both inside and outside their classrooms. A loud minority targets individuals for expressing viewpoints it finds unacceptable. As the animosity toward free speech on college campuses grows, it threatens to undermine not only the First Amendment but also the fundamental principles of higher education. We must not allow that to happen at our colleges and universities here in Texas. In December, San Antonio area higher education leaders and Mayor Ron Nirenberg published a letter in the Express-News titled Hate disguised as free speech. They wrote, among other proposed diktats, that hate speech has no place at our colleges and universities and that appropriate messages, such as banners and flyers that are meant to provoke, spread hate or create animosity and hostility, are not welcome or accepted. READ THE LETTER: Hate speech does not equal free speech As a policy matter, that is a sadly misguided view for any college to take. But it is even more shocking to see that the signatories included presidents from San Antonios public colleges and universities, including the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas A&M-San Antonio. On those public campuses, a ban on disfavored speech isnt only bad for higher education its unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has consistently rejected the idea that the First Amendment protects only opinions that the government likes. Just last year, the court reaffirmed that there is no hate-speech exception in Matal vs. Tam: Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful; but the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express the thought that we hate. These college leaders would be wise to follow that principle. Regardless of whether some speech is offensive or obnoxious and there is nothing uglier than racist, hateful speech shutting down every speaker that an administrator finds potentially disagreeable violates the Constitution. In a free society, the best cure for bigoted speech is more speech, not forced silence. Moreover, the term hate speech is an elastic term that gives university administrators broad discretion to censor speech they dont like. A Christian pastor preaching biblical teachings on marriage is not hate speech, even if it offends the political sensibilities of university professors. Likewise, a Marxist professor espousing the virtues of communism a truly hateful ideology whose proponents have murdered and tortured millions (including my own family) shouldnt be muzzled either. A ban on hate speech is just bad policy for higher education. Universities should challenge young people to engage with concepts that they have never seen before, including those that they might passionately disagree with or even find offensive. And if the goal of higher learning is to seek out the truth and to sharpen students thinking, they should welcome having their beliefs tested in the marketplace of ideas. Diversity of opinion and heated debates benefit everyone involved, including the audiences, and help us expand our own knowledge. Yet all too often today, thuggish activists have threatened violence or disrupted events discussing ideas they dont like. They not only want to cocoon themselves from different points of view, but they want to stop their fellow students from hearing them too. And facing ineffectual or sympathetic administrations, these speech opponents can enforce a hecklers veto over who is allowed to speak on campus. Thats wrong. If universities continue down this path assuming the role of indoctrinating liberal echo chambers without dissenting views we will lose what makes Americas colleges and universities the best in the world. Student groups and college administrators should not become the speech police, ready to silence any speech they deem inappropriate or meant to provoke. It betrays the goals of higher education and academic freedom, and for that reason, all Texans should stand up to defend free speech on campus. President Donald Trump is right to focus on intellectual property theft by China, but his decision to impose tariffs is wildly off base, and will unnecessarily hurt American consumers and, potentially, key industries that supported his presidential bid. There were far more effective ways to address this issue than slapping $60 billion in taxes on yet-to-be-named imports from China. But effectiveness has not been Trumps policy forte. Again and again, the president acts in scattershot fashion. In response, China has pledged tariffs on $3 billion worth of American exports, including fruit, pork, wine and seamless steel pipes, among other goods. Notably off that list is soy for now. The crop is a crucial export for key Midwestern states that supported Trump in 2016. In justifying the tariffs, Trump has highlighted frequent intellectual property theft by China and our $375 billion trade deficit. But tariffs will do nothing to stop this theft, and the trade deficit reflects buying power and economic growth. American consumers are buying these goods. Consumer confidence has been high. A better tack would have been to rally allies also affected by Chinas intellectual property theft. The issue affects numerous technology companies, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Europe. Forming a broad coalition would have sent a strong international message that China, the worlds second largest economy, must play by the rules. Instead, the United States has the appearance of acting unilaterally. Beyond this, Trump has alienated many of these allies, announcing tariffs on steel and aluminum, only to later exempt the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea and Australia. This is in addition to exemptions for our closest allies, Mexico and Canada. Although these exemptions were welcome, they would never have been needed if the initial policy had been more nuanced. Instead, Trump unnecessarily rattled our allies. His (welcome) backtracking also had the effect of watering down the presidents stated policy goals, undermining whatever point he was hoping to make. China is hardly a good economic actor in the world. It refuses to allow Facebook to operate there, for example. It has slapped a 25 percent tariff on imported electric cars, specifically hurting Tesla. China also forces companies to share their intellectual property on condition of doing business. It produces cheap knockoffs of clothing, movies and music. Trump is absolutely right to push for change and express outrage about these practices. But again, how does a trade war with China help the Texas economy or stop these practices? Texas exported more than $16 billion in goods to China in 2017, according to the International Trade Administration. Texas also imported about $89 billion in goods from China that year, says the U.S. Census. In an interconnected world, how does a trade war with China help potential negotiations over North Korea and its nuclear threat? China is crucial to any such negotiations. The markets tanked after Trumps tariff announcement, providing a clear signal to the president. He would be wise to heed the warning about the merits of a trade war. They are neither good nor easy to win. Re: Zuckerberg summoned by lawmakers, Nation, March 21: Russia made me do it. Now, Facebook made me do it. I never realized all the influences that were secretly motivating me to vote for my president. Come on, liberal media, do not inundate me with more useless ink. I do have a brain and can think on my own. Jack Hardy, Adkins Voting power Re: How to make everyones vote matter, Editorial, March 18: Allow me to praise this editorial. I have long known that the Electoral College system is manifestly unfair, primarily because of the winner-take-all approach used, as you note, in most states. Either of the lawsuits you describe could go a long way toward fairness. Also, we should remember that a vote cast in Wyoming has far more power than one cast in California or Texas. But correcting that would take a constitutional amendment, a bigger obstacle than a state-by-state correction. Maurice Fox Heed the suffering Re: My brothers and my sisters, driven by love, Luis Roberto Vera Jr., Opinion, March 18: This column is a beautiful, moving emotional appeal to the plight of the illegal immigrant. There is no argument for this kind of commentary because it contains no argument. There is no solution to the problem; there is no logical response, merely a feeling of sorrow and of pity. Yes, the illegal is our brother. Yes, we are all human. But we are also America, and if a country has no borders, it will cease to exist. If the food, water and medicine is strewn on the ground and left, the vultures and coyotes will come in and steal it, and the humble men and women who just want a better life for themselves and their families will be left with nothing. And their plight will be worse, because there will no longer be any hope for them to improve their lot in life. So what should we do? Try donating to relief efforts around the world, such as Samaritans Purse or World Vision. Try volunteering at a local homeless shelter or church organization. Try listening to the suffering people around you. We, the people, must be the difference. We, the people, must fight poverty and ignorance. Dont wait for Washington or Austin to do our job for us. Micah Walker An Austin family has filed a lawsuit against The Goddard School daycare after their baby suffered severe burns on both of his hands. The daycare says he suffered the burns after touching a hot door. About the Child's Burn Injuries According to KVUE, Jenny McGivney received a call in October that her 11-month-old baby, Aiden, had burned his finger on a door while at The Goddard School on FM 620 in West Travis County. When McGivney asked about the severity of the burn, the daycare told her that Aiden was fine and that there was no rush to get to the daycare. However, upon arriving, McGivney found her son screaming while holding out both of his hands, each covered with large yellow blisters. McGivney rushed her son to a pediatrician next door to the daycare, and the pediatrician advised her to take Aiden to the hospital immediately. Upon arriving to the hospital in Round Rock, a doctor contacted the burn hospital in San Antonio. Aiden was transported via ambulance and underwent surgery on his hands. He has since undergone multiple procedures and will have to wear protective gloves for up to a year. Details of the Austin Daycare Lawsuit Following an investigation by the Travis County Sheriffs Office and Child Protective Services, CPS reported that The Goddard School must address the door to protect children from future injuries. The family is now seeking damages in connection with their childs injuries and resulting delayed development. In a statement, McGivney stated that the day was cool, at about 75 degrees, when the accident occurred and wondered how the door could have gotten so hot. Currently, teachers are testing the doors each time they are outside to make sure they are not too hot. They also attempted to cover the door with laminated posters, but were unsuccessful. Contact an Experienced Daycare Injury Attorney If your child has been injured after an accident or abuse at a daycare center, contact Thomas J. Henry. Parents put their trust in the staff of a daycare facility to keep their children safe and out of harm's way. It is unacceptable for a child to be subjected to abuse or an unsafe premises while in their care. If your child was seriously injured due to the negligence or abusive actions of daycare staff, call our experienced child injury attorneys today. Thomas J. Henry has the legal and financial resources necessary to develop your child's case properly. We have offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin, Texas. Call for a free case review. Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, March 26, received members of the Martin Luther King Junior at the Council Chambers of the State House, Aso Rock, Abuja with some members of his government including Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Though details of the visit were still sketchy at the time of this report, it was learnt that the family visited Aso Rock for the conferment of a title. President Muhammadu Buhari, SSAP Hon Abike Dabire Erewa, Dr Mrs Naomi Barbara King, Mr Baba Onabanjo, Amb Erika Bennett and other members of African-American Human Activist Late Martin Luther Jnr during the conferment of The First Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018 at the Council Chambers in Abuja, a general caption of some of the photographs by Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesperson, said. President Buhari with the family of late Martin Luther King Jnr in Aso Rock. Credit: Sunday Aghaeze Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, in furtherance of his anti-corruption war, signed an agreement with Switzerland that will see to the return of stolen assets hidden in the country to Nigeria. This was contained in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity on Monday, March 26. President Buhari honoured. Credit: Sunday Aghaeze "Following the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), President Muhammadu Buhari Monday signed two instruments namely: "The Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the Republic of Singapore for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app "The other was the Instrument of Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Swiss Federal Council and the International Development Association on the Return, Monitoring and Management of Illegally-Acquired Assets Confiscated by Switzerland and to be Restituted to the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the presidency statement said. Who is Nigeria's greatest president ever? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated Food Security Council in Abuja - He described the three years of his administration as a very turbulent one - The president, however, said the countrys need for critical job creating sectors that had been abandoned in the past has been revived President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, March 26, said that the past three years of his administration has witnessed great turbulence and that the countrys need for critical job creating sectors that had been abandoned in the past has been revived and has started yielding results. Vanguard reports that the president also stated that the arable land the country is blessed with is meant for farming, grazing and forestry, adding that any strategy for land and water management must take cognizance of the interconnectivity of all the aforementioned key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability. READ ALSO: You can't eat Nigerians money like that, ask Abacha: Nigerians react to death of MMM founder, Sergey Mavrodi Legit.ng gathered that speaking at the inauguration of the newly constituted Food Security Council at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa Abuja, President Buhari said that his administration introduced the Social Investment Programme primarily to help those that were living from hand to mouth. He said: Two weeks ago, I announced my intention to establish and chair a Presidential level committee that focuses on Food Security, I am happy that today it has become a reality. Nigerias journey in the last three (3) years, has been a very turbulent one. The countrys need for critical job creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results. As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry, Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability. We introduced the National Social Investment Programs targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth. We launched agricultural programs focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country. We commenced the long term Pollution Remediation Projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. Fishing and farming will resume once blighted areas are rehabilitated. We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC countries. Continuing, the president said: We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government. We established the Agro Rangers Unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigerias agricultural sector across the country. We continued to equip the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to fight maritime criminals such as pirates and sea robbers who adversely impact offshore and inland fishing activities in our waters. These programs and many more, have started yielding results and if sustained, will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country. We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen overnight. The journey is long. It is therefore our collective duty to ensure the actual and potential positive impacts of these programs are sustained, improved and expanded. A key mandate of the Food Security Council is to continuously assess and enhance these infant, but impactful programs, thereby guaranteeing they achieve their full potential. He said government will develop new programs and projects that would protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry. He said: As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry, Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability. He said the administration will not lose sight of the other issues that would impact on food production ambitions such as population growth, urbanisation, industrialization, rural infrastructure development and climate change. President Buhari said the factors will also stress and stretch land and water resources, adding that through that means, the country must invest in research and development to enhance yields and outputs. He said: Moreover, we are not insulated from global and regional events. "Accordingly we develop local programs, but not lose sight of events from a far and their impact on us. Specifically, issues such as smuggling and dumping, which is our responsibility to ensure we develop and enforce strategies to protect Nigeria from these illegal and unhealthy imports. The council includes governors representing the six (6) geopolitical zones. Some geopolitical zones have similar Eco climatic conditions. The council is therefore a platform to further enhance the collaboration between the federal and state governments. We shall share success stories and collaborate to address common threats. We will also engage key stakeholders representing the core sectors of the Food Value Chain. Regular consultations will be held with investors, development partners, financiers, academia and our friends and allies abroad. Our deliberations will look into all the issues and our decisions will be implementable and impactful. We shall stay focused, first and foremost on securing our food requirements and employment for our people, especially the youths. We shall feed ourselves and build an inclusive Nigeria for ourselves and for future generations. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Briefing journalists after the inauguration, Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu, said the president had captured the main objectives of the council to include strengthening all existing policies on food security including policies on trade, agronomy, national planning and national security. He said the design was to bring all states together to deliver food security to Nigeria. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, March 26, received members of the Martin Luther King Junior at the Council Chambers of the State House, Aso Rock, Abuja with some members of his government including Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Who is Nigeria's greatest president ever? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - NSCDC has uncovered a shrine in Kwara state and arrested two fraud suspects - The shrine is used by some suspected fraudsters to dupe residents of the state - Adeyinka Ayinla, who is the NSCDC commandant in the state, said the suspects had confessed that they were using the shrine for criminal activities The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps ( NSCDC ), Kwara command on Monday, March 26, said it had uncovered a shrine used by some suspected fraudsters to dupe residents of the state. Legit.ng gathered that the Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Adeyinka Ayinla, made the disclosure in an interview with in Ilorin on Monday, March 26. READ ALSO: President Buhari to attend APC NEC meeting on Tuesday Ayinla, who led newsmen to the shrine located at Aleyo village, near Afon in Asa local government area of the state, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the case. The commandant said that the suspects had confessed that they were using the shrine for criminal activities. He said the arrest of the suspects followed complaint received from a contractor, Mumini Abdul Rahman, that he was defrauded by them. Ayinla quoted Abdul Rahman as saying that the suspects collected N5.5 million in tranches and another 1,500 dollars from him (Abdul Rahman) with the assurance of turning him (Abdul Rahma) to a billionaire. He said the suspects also collected the money to facilitate more contracts for Abdul Rahman through occultic means. The commandant said the suspects were in the custody of the command, adding that they would be charged to court as soon as the command concludes investigations. Ayinla, therefore, advised residents of the state to be wary of individuals who hid under the guise of religion to perpetrate crime. NAN PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that residents of Ilobu town in Osun state were shocked as men from the Osun state police command stormed the town and uncovered a ritualist den with some shallow graves. It was reported that the ritualist den which is located inside a big house at Molete area of the town was on Friday, February 16, discovered by a team of policemen led by the commissioner in the state, Fimihan Adeoye. Police parade gang leader of Badoo Cult group in Lagos - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Senior lawyer, Itse Sagay, says allegations that armed forces were assisting bandits to kill people should be investigated - He stated that the principle of self-defence is prescribed in the criminal law - Suspected herdsmen kill five farmers in Benue Senior lawyer, Itse Sagay, has said Nigerians are permitted by law to defend themselves from being attacked by bandits. Sagay who serves as the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) made the statement on Sunday, March 25, in reaction to calls by a former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, that Nigerians should defend themselves against herdsmen attacks. The Nation reports that Sagay said allegations by Danjuma that the armed forces were assisting bandits to kill people and cover them should be investigated. READ ALSO: Man shares story of how he found a cobra in his toilet bowl (photos) He said: General Danjuma did not say that the military is incapable. But he accused them of bias and not protecting the people deliberately. Thats a very, very serious accusation. And this is coming from such a senior man in Nigerias military probably apart from former General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Yakubu Gowon, he (Dajuma) is the most senior former military officer we have and hes a man who has tremendous influence. He has held important positions chief of staff, minister of defence so, he wont speak lightly. So, his allegation needs to be investigated. If there are elements within the military doing this, then the government has to take immediate steps to deal with them and put people who are responsible and patriotic in the positions. When responding to questions if resorting to self-defence by Nigerians would not result in anarchy, he said it was not illegal for Nigerians to defend themselves, pointing out that the principle of self-defence is prescribed in the criminal law. Sagay said: "Thats an interesting point. Its a point Ive always made myself. Its not an illegal measure for Nigerians to defend themselves. If you look at our criminal law, there is the principle of self-defence. If someone attacks you, and you feel endangered, and you defend yourself, and in the process you kill the person, the fact that you were defending yourself is a complete defence to any charge. The right already exists" "So, I think what General Danjuma is saying is that instead of each individual exercising that right, they should begin to exercise it collectively in their communities. I think thats reasonable too. There is breakdown of law and order if youre in your house and someone comes and kills you. I think there will be less danger of breakdown of law and order if that person knows that the next time he comes to your house, all your neighbours would gather and stop him." Meanwhile, Fatai Owoseni who is the commissioner of police in Benue state has confirmed the death of five farmers in Benue suspected to have been killed by herdsmen. The Nation reports that the state commissioner of police in Benue state confirmed the attack on Monday, March 26. He confirmed that the killings took place in Agatu, Guma and Makurdi local government areas of the state. He also said three persons were killed in Olegobiudu, Agatu local government area on the night of Sunday, March 25. Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Governor Nyesom Wike said he supports the call for self defence by General TY Danjuma - Wike said similar killings to that of Taraba is going on in Rivers state - He accused security agencies of working for the opposition party, APC Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, March 26, said he agreed with former minister of defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), recent calls for Nigerians to pick up arms in self defence against killer herdsmen and bandits. Danjuma, while speaking at the maiden convocation of the Taraba State University, said the Nigerian Army is biased in defending the masses and urged Nigerians to take up self defence. Punch reports that Wike said Danjuma's call for self defence is the right thing and added that he would begin a fasting and prayer session for the former minister of defence. The governor made this statement at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while swearing in four judges of the state high court and the Customary Court of Appeal. READ ALSO: Suspected herdsmen kill 5 farmers in Benue He said: Nigeria has got to a point that we dont know where we are heading. I dont fast, but I will fast and pray to God to keep General Danjuma. General Theophilus Danjuma has said the truth. It is happening daily in Rivers State. We are setting up our Neighbourhood Safety Corps, but they are generating crisis. We only replicated what is in existence in Lagos state, but nobody queries that of Lagos state. Only recently, Nasarawa state launched her outfit, without being challenged. The recent deliberate crisis and threat of violence by the APC on the setting up of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps underscores the devilish schemes to promote insecurity in Rivers state." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, March 25, reacted to the call by former minister of defence, Lt. Gen.Theophilus Danjuma(retd.), for Taraba state indigenes and Nigerians as a whole to take up arms and defend themselves against herdsmen attacks. The PDP, in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Danjumas statement had justified its stand that the Buhari presidency and the APC must be held responsible for the agonising state of the nation. Meanwhile, the federal government said Danjuma's comments against the military is an invitation to anarchy. In a statement released on Sunday, March 25, Tukur Gusau, the spokesperson to the minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said Danjuma's call for Nigerians, especially Taraba residents to defend themselves is uncalled for and should be disregarded by well meaning Nigerians. Victims of herdsmen killing buried in Benue state - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A vote of no confidence has been passed on northern politicians by 18 groups - According to groups, the northern politicians have failed the test of leadership - The groups added that all those involved in killings and crimes against communities must be brought to book A coalition of 18 northern groups and associations, led by the chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, has passed a vote of no confidence on northern political leaders and urged them to quit. Vanguard reports that the group claimed that political officer holders had been given quit notice by the northern leaders to quit the stage. They stressed that ahead of 2019 presidential and general elections, the north would scrutinize all politicians seeking their mandate. READ ALSO: Governor Wike throws support behind TY Danjuma In a communique signed by Professor Ango Abdullahi, who is the convener of the Northern Elders Forum and 17 others, the group cautioned the presidency and members of the National Assembly and governors to resist the temptation of abusing the political process in pursuit of their personal ambitions. The communique read in part: The group urges all leaders, elders and communities to seek peaceful resolutions of conflicts between and among communities. Lives lost, injuries suffered and losses incurred in any community must be redressed firmly and fairly. "The roots of co-existence and inter-dependence in all Northern communities are much deeper than the barricades being erected around communities. All persons who are involved in killings and crimes against communities must be brought to book. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that Prince Okey Chemberline Adiaso who is a gubernatorial aspirant in Abia state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that northern elders cannot determine the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in the polls. The APC chieftain made this comment in his Obichukwu village in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia state after declaring intention to contest the 2019 governorship. EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Taraba residents alleged that military men are aiding killer herdsmen in the state - The residents also accused soldiers on Ayem AKpatuma (Cat Race) of harrasing people - However, the army has denied the allegations by the residents Some residents of Taraba state on Monday, March 26, alleged that operatives of Ayem AKpatuma (Cat Race) military operation in the state are harassing people and aiding killer herdsmen in attacking harmless residents. Vanguard reports that the chairman of Takum local council of Taraba state, Shiban Tikari, said General Danjumas call has vindicated the people of Takum. Tikari said: Before the operation, there were cases of kidnapping and armed robbery by people using police and army uniforms. So, even when the army operation started people mistook them for kidnappers and it caused a lot of anxiety and apprehension. READ ALSO: Governor Wike throws support behind TY Danjuma I have reports that soldiers have been breaking into peoples houses at night, harassing and demanding for people, but it was in front of the army barracks that a member of the state House of Assembly, Hossa Ibi was kidnapped and killed." Another resident, Rimamsikwe Karma, chairman of Ussa local council, said the operation was causing more harm than good to the people of the area. The herdsmen that followed the Army to our council are not friendly with our people, they are strange faces to us and they are killing people, he said. However, the military has dismissed the allegations by the residents as false. The army inisted that it was carrying out its constitutional role diligently in the state. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The Commanding Officer, 93 Army Battalion Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari, said he had no authority to speak on the issue, but dismissed the allegations as false. Legit.ng earlier reported that chairmen of Takum and Wukari local councils of Taraba state, Shiban Tikari and Daniel Adi, on Sunday, January 28, escaped being killed by gunmen in different locations in the state. Adi was attacked by suspected herdsmen who were said to be uncomfortable with the recent implementation of the open grazing law, while Tikari was attacked by armed bandits. Victims of herdsmen killing buried in Benue state - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A document alleges that a former National Security Adviser (NSA), supervised the physical transfer of money from the CBN vaults to the private residence of Goodluck Jonathan - An official says the federal government does not intend to persecute the ex-president - Goodluck Jonathan warns Nigerians about people out to 'tarnish' his image There are indications that the federal government will release more evidence of looted funds traced to ex-president Goodluck Jonathans administration if the former leader continues to challenge accusations made against him. The Nation reports that the likely release of evidence of alleged corrupt practices by the former regime followed a fact-sheet by the presidency which detailed how some funds were illegally transported from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the private residence of the former president. The newspaper stated that document alleged that a former National Security Adviser (NSA) personally supervised the physical transfer of the cash from the vaults of the CBN to the private residence of Jonathan. READ ALSO: Man shares story of how he found a cobra in his toilet bowl (photos) "In one particular instance, over N70 billion was released in parts from the national treasury between January 8 and February 25, 2015. The over $289m, which was also referenced last week by the Vice-President, is said to be included in this particular series of illegal transactions, the document stated. Besides that, in another illegal disbursement, the minutes of the Central Bank board meeting of 25th August 2014 indicated the board endorsed another N60billion requested by the former President and released by the apex bank. The sum which was okayed by the CBN board, was not tied to any project or procurement, and was meant and disbursed purely for campaign purposes, through the office of the then NSA and the DSS leadership at the time. Specifically that N60billion that was okayed by the CBN on August 25, 2014 was said to have been shared between the two security agencies thus: N40billion went to the NSA while N20 billion was released to the State Security Services (SSS). A government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the federal government does not intend to persecute the ex-president, but that it may be compelled to release more evidence of looted funds either approved or traced to the former administration if Jonathan continues to play to the gallery. The Federal Government will release more evidence of looted funds either approved or traced to ex-President Jonathan if he continues to play to the gallery. The government is not out to persecute Jonathan but it may be compelled to lay the facts bare before the public, the official said. We have more evidence of approvals, withdrawal of funds, diversion of cash and other financial misdemeanors committed during Jonathans administration. The N130billion or N150billion in the public domain is a childs play. And some past government officials did not even waste much time in returning looted funds to the treasury through plea bargain in court. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app There will soon be more revelations and more trials in the next few months. The official records are there for Nigerians to judge. Jonathan has been accorded enough respect due to his status as a former President but if he wants this administration to prove beyond reasonable doubt, he might have to face the consequences. While there is no clear plan to either arrest or quiz him, we cannot say that the option is not off- the-table completely. Some of the suspects on trial for $2.1billion arms deal have confessed that they acted on Jonathans instructions. The government source said the recent disclosure by vice-president Yemi Osinbajo on the alleged withdrawal of N150 billion by the Jonathan administration two weeks before the 2015 election was only to point out the fact that President Muhammadu Buharis administration is different from that of Jonathans. It is incontrovertible that Jonathan administration made more money and wasted a lot. But the Buhari government has earned less but it is doing much more, the source said. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reports that Goodluck Jonathan, in a post on his Facebook account on Sunday, March 25, warned Nigerians of an impending accusation against him by people he claimed are out to ruin his reputation. The former president, who is set to jet out of the country to Sierra Leone, made this post after an allegation in the news that a billionaire supporter of his hired Cambridge Analytica to hack into President Muhammadu Buhari's health and financial records ahead of 2015 election. Jonathan, in his Facebook post, said that there were plans by some persons to falsely impugn his name using both faceless and identified persons. He however stated that no matter how far and fast falsehood has traveled, it must eventually be overtaken by truth. Jonathan replies to Buhari's allegations | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit In a last-minute decision, Sierra Leones Supreme Court on Monday, March 27, postponed a hotly contested presidential election run-off by four days. The run-off vote is now scheduled for March 31 instead of March 27, the court ruled after receiving a request for a postponement from the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The NEC requested the delay after a high court lifted an interim injunction placed on the vote on Monday afternoon, only leaving a few hours for the commission to prepare for the run-off. READ ALSO: FG may release more evidence of alleged corrupt practices under GEJ regime The high court had temporarily paused the vote due to fraud claims by a member of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC). The run-off will see opposition candidate Julius Bio face off against ruling party candidate Samura Kamara, after no candidate reached 55% of the votes needed to win in the first round on March 7. Legit.ng previously reported that former president Goodluck Jonathan travelled to Sierra Leone to observe the countrys presidential run-off polls initially scheduled for Tuesday, March 27. Ikechukwu Eze, the spokesman to the former president, noted that Jonathan, who is leading the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) Election Observation Mission, arrived Freetown on Friday, March 23. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Jonathan also led EISA to the first round of the elections on March 7, in which none of the candidates polled required 55% of votes to win at the first ballot. Election-2019: (Dont) mark your calendar - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit The newspapers for Tuesday, March 27, still have their focus on reactions to a call by former chief of army staff, Lt General TY Danjuma (rtd), for people to defend themselves from herdsmen attacks in the country. The Punch reports that the defence ministry reacted saying it actually received reports from Nigerians on the misconduct of soldiers regarding farmers and herdsmens clashes and had put such soldiers through what it described as disciplinary procedures. The ministry headed by Mansur Dan-Ali, however, said it was yet to receive any report from Taraba state. It said its doors are open to complaints from Nigerians on the activities of the troops. The Punch newspaper for Tuesday, March 27. Credit: Snapshot from Legit.ng The spokesperson for San-Ali, Tukur Gusau, said the government could not work with what he described as general comments or allegations, if no specific report was made to the military authorities. We have the Human Rights violation desk in all the formations of the Nigerian Army and a similar channel in the other arms of the military. Nigerians can also come directly to the Ministry of Defence. They can go to the Nigerian Army headquarters. Our doors are always open. If a soldier on duty has done something you feel is inappropriate, you have a duty to report that soldier. The office of the defence minister is open to everyone. The era where civilians are afraid of military actions is gone. Yes, we have been having such reports about the misconduct of soldiers in the theatre of operation. Nigerians have been coming to report incidents and we have been taking care of them. There have been disciplinary procedures. Soldiers have been put through disciplinary procedures. We have not received anything yet from Taraba state. We need to work on specific things. To my knowledge, we didnt receive anything in respect of our operations in Taraba state." The Nation reports that two Taraba state local government chairmen narrated their experiences relating to how troops aided killer-herdsmen as alleged by Theophilus Danjuma. The Nation newspaper for Tuesday, March 27. Credit: Snapshot from Legit.ng The Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), a socio-cultural organisation of Jukun in Taraba state, Gen Danjumas kinsmen, also backed his stand. The report said the council chairmen described Gen Danjumas intervention as a way of making the military turn a new leaf. It quoted the chairman of Takum local government, Shiban Tikari, as saying the army began Operation Cat Race on February 15, without notifying him and others. He claimed that he reported to Governor Darius Ishaku before the army served the latter a notification letter on March 1. The report added that another senior citizen, Itsekiri High Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor, spoke at a press conference urging the government to protect Nigerians. The Guardian reports that the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sent an apology to Nigerians and sought forgiveness for mistakes the political organisation made while in power. While saying a rescue programme to take Nigeria out of the bondage of economic, social and political degradation had become necessary, Uche Secondus, said: We are sorry. We have made several mistakes. The Guardian newspaper for Tuesday, March 27. Credit: Snapshot from Legit.ng In the past, there were impunity and imposition, we are not spirits, we have to be humble to apologise for imposition, impunity and other wrongdoings. While in government, there was no nepotism, but today, nepotism has been taken to the highest level by this government of APC. We have to stand before the people and apologise. We made mistakes. Unlike APC that will lie and use another lie to cover it, we will apologise for our past mistakes. We are humans that are bound to make mistakes. How long are we going to lie to our children? Since it is said that charity begins at home, I am the very first to admit that our party the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria made many mistakes. Consequently, we were roundly sanctioned by Nigerians, leading to our loss at the polls in 2015. I use this opportunity to apologise to Nigerians unequivocally for the several shortcomings of our party in the near and far past. It was all part of an evolution process without which there can be no maturity. Secondus said under his leadership, there would be nothing like imposition and nobody would be allowed to influence the primaries that would lead to the emergence of a presidential candidate for the party. Vanguard also reported the apology to Nigerians by the PDP over the mistakes it made in the 16 years it held the reins of power at the federal level. Vanguard newspaper for Tuesday, March 27. Credit: Snapshot from Legit.ng The report, however, said the apology was immediately welcomed by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) which urged Nigerians to forgive the former ruling party but demanded restitution in the form of relegation to purgatory. The report added that Bode George, one of the founding fathers of the party, pledged loyalty to the Uche Secondus-led leadership. In admitting that the party made mistakes, Secondus said: I am the very first to admit that our party, the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria, made many mistakes. Consequently, we were roundly sanctioned by Nigerians occasioning our loss at the polls in 2015. Let me seize this opportunity to apologise to Nigerians unequivocally for the several shortcomings of our party in the near and far past. It was all part of an evolution process without which there can be no maturity. The PDP has embarked on a rescue mission, and together we will salvage this nation back from the grip of the incompetent All Progressives Congress, APC. This Day focuses on the amended electoral bill which was rejected assent by President Muhammadu Buhari as it reports that governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some of their colleagues in the APC were backing the National Assembly on it. This Day newspaper for Tuesday, March 27. Credit: Snapshot from Legit.ng The report said some of the governors have been prevailing on their members at the National Assembly to accelerate the process of vetoing the president on the bill which adjusts the sequence of the forthcoming elections. It quoted a highly placed source at the National Assembly as saying he had contacted some of the governors over the issue. The plan to veto the president has reportedly torn the lawmakers apart with the camps lobbying in favour or against the proposed action. The report noted that the National Assembly can override a presidential veto if two-thirds of its members in both chambers vote for the bill to become law. The House of Representatives is likely to be the stumbling block, but if many of them realise that their return to the House may depend on the bill, they would not hesitate to override the presidents veto, report quoted a senator as saying. Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial district, gained unparalleled and national attention when he was in the House of Representatives. He has continued to build on the attention since he was elected to the Senate in 2015. As a senator, some believe he stands as a watchdog for the ruling APC because of his usual anti-APC stance while many associates his name with brigandage, rascality and unimaginable notoriety. The Kogi state senator is currently facing the possibility of recall by his constituents. He is at loggerheads with the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, and the Nigerian police recently threatened to declare him wanted if he fails to comply with criminal summon issued on him by the Federal High Court, Lokoja on alleged involvement kidnappings and robberies, murders and other violent crimes in Kogi state. READ ALSO: FG may release more evidence of alleged corrupt practices under GEJ regime While some claim Melaye is being witch-hunted due to his anti-government comments, many Nigerians are of the opinion that nemesis has caught up with him and he should present himself before the court to prove his innocence. In a Facebook post by Legit.ng, Nigerians were asked what they would tell the embattled senator if they had a chance to talk to him. This piece gathers a collection of angry, hilarious, serious, and sarcastic reactions submitted on the post by Nigerians. "We love and stand with you ,Senator Dino Melaye. God will always see you through, selfless Senator extraordinary." - Chizoba Ubaezu "I will advise him to go back to school an learn how to talk an respect he's a stupid an very useless senator. Am waiting" - Jacob Michael "This man is the man of the people" - Uche Ogbuleke "Nigeria is in trouble and will not get out of it soon since I can find a lot of people here celebrating Melaye who with others have not done anything to affect our lives positively but enrich their pockets" - Bibiresanmi Adewale Yusuf "I will encourage him to remain upright, focus and that d Almighty God is with him no weapon fashion against him would prosper" - Omoruan A Henry. "1. Embrace peace, for all battle belong to God 2. Respect himself as a distinguished senate. The man is not distinguishe at all with his childish behaviour he always display on social media 3. Humble himself by rendering helping hands to people and stop been stingy." - Obanla Johnson Godslight Kolawole "I admire his courage and doggedness against the I justice of his party men. But I dislike his manner of responding to critics..." - Zikan Anas. "Continue speakin the truth buhari, yahaya bello and haters of the truth can't do u anything God bless and protect u." - Ogbonna Simon "Speaks out,but I have not heard him condemn the wickedness going on in the national assembly as concerns their wages and allowances... Until you do that.... I don't trust you." - Mpi Kenneth Chinaka PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app "This is problem we have in Nigeria,we are suffering and smiling,what rubbish people are saying now,what good in all our senator,like this Dino that use to do like a tout,we will be suffer and still pretend as if we enjoy,i real pity our future o" - Honourable Abdulwasiu Biola Alapo What would you tell Senator Dino Melaye if you are given the chance to talk to him? You can air your comments and continue the conversation on our Facebook page, Legit.ng. In an earlier report by Legit.ng, Senator Dino Melaye denied report that he had fled from Nigeria. The senator was responding to news by an online medium that he fled the country to avoid police arrest on Saturday, March 24. Melaye in a statement said there was no way he would leave the country and leave his family behind. He said: For the records, I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country, leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement. Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng This Nigerian couple have proven to so many people that true love indeed exists. Often times, people question the possibility of loving one person for the rest of your life. The idea that you're stuck with that one person is most times unappealing to people. This is one of the major reasons some people fear the idea of marriage. However, this Nigerian couple has shown that with the right partner, forever is nothing but a joyous ride. The founder of the popular KBK Foundation, recently took to his Instagram page to celebrate his parents who have been married for 43 years. Posting a photo of them enjoying their 43rd honeymoon in Australia, he wrote: "My old folks touched down in Sydney, few days ago. Honeymooning for the umpteenth time. That's a 43yr marriage right there. Love wey nuffin fit shake. Proof that you can love the same person for decades. I sometimes wonder if I could follow that, me that still have a lot of classes to take in lovingitis 101." READ ALSO: Nigerian man shares story of how he found and killed a big cobra in his toilet bowl at night READ ALSO: Pastor denies sending alleged raunchy messages to lady who shared screenshots of their chat on church's Facebook page From the photo, it is easy to tell that these two people are clearly still head over heels in love with each other and have enjoyed the boat cruise of their relationship from the beautiful times down to the trying times. Although this can not be said for others who have experienced bad relationships, it goes without saying that the ride is a lot smoother with the right person by your side and this couple certainly figured that out! PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Who cheats more in a relationship, the man or the woman? on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit A beautiful Nigerian mom has taken to social media to call out a lady who photoshopped her picture on Facebook. The woman who was identified as @reverenceoruerio on Instagram, shared a picture of the ladys Facebook profile page on Monday, March 26. According to her, the young lady identified as Olivet Timipere (@olivsparks) chopped off her head in the picture and replaced it with hers. That was not all Timipere also shared the picture as her Facebook profile image. In @reverenceorucerios post, she revealed that the lady should delete the image and come for the dress she was wearing in the picture. READ ALSO: Man shares story of how he found a cobra in his toilet bowl (photos) Her first post reads: Somebody please tell me, what kind of desperation is this? Why will somebody Photoshop my picture like this? My Body, someone's face. Biko what do I do please, I'm confused. See post below: PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! The other post also reads: @olivsparks kindly take down my picture on both your FB & Instagram pages within the next 24 hours please. Meanwhile, reflect on your write up and live it. Send me a dm, I'm sending you this dress #olorif1. See posts below: Nawa o! Should a 'homeless' man move into a house built by his wife? (Nigerian Street Interview)|Naij.com TV - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit.ng - Niger Delta activist, Annkio Briggs, says Theophilus Danjuma, stood up for liberty, equity, justice and truth by speaking out against killings in the country - Governor Wike throws support behind TY Danjuma Former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma (retd), has been commended by Niger Delta activist, Annkio Briggs, over his call on Nigerians to rise and defend themselves. Vanguard reports that the convener of the Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement (NDSDM) in a statement on Monday, March 26, said that Danjuma stood for equity, justice and truth by speaking against what she called ethnic and religious cleansing. READ ALSO: Man shares story of how he found a cobra in his toilet bowl (photos) She said: "Sir, you have stood up for liberty, equity, justice and truth. We believe you (Danjuma) have led the way and we expect other retired military officers will emulate and join you in saying no to evil. By standing up for the reality, you have joined us in the justified process of defending the defenceless to say no to ethnic and religious cleansing. We are equal in this country and we must live together on equal terms. If we cant live together equally and peacefully, then we must live apart. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app In a related report, Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, March 26, said he agreed with former minister of defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), recent calls for Nigerians to pick up arms in self defence against killer herdsmen and bandits. Danjuma, while speaking at the maiden convocation of the Taraba State University, said the Nigerian Army is biased in defending the masses and urged Nigerians to take up self defence. Punch reports that Wike said Danjuma's call for self defence is the right thing and added that he would begin a fasting and prayer session for the former minister of defence. Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that Oyegun's fate as APC chairman will be decided during party's NEC meeting - Oyegun had said after the party's caucus meeting on Tuesday, March 26, that his alleged removal has become a thing of the past - Dogara, however, noted that he would abide by whatever decision reached by the NEC on Oyegun's tenure elongation The speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that the fate of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, would be decided today, Tuesday, March 27, during the party's National Executive Council meeting. Daily Trust reports that he said this in an interview with the State House correspondents late Monday night, March 26, after the three-hour caucus meeting of the party presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. READ ALSO: PDP's apology to Nigerians: Festus Keyamo says party cannot be trusted with power in 2019 Legit.ng gathered that when he was asked to react to the crisis over the elongation of Oyegun's tenure and whether he was not worried, the speaker responded: It is not a question of my being worried because I am just one perhaps of millions of APC members. "Like I said, certainly its going to be an agenda for the consideration of NEC, whatever NEC decides, that will bind all of us as faithful members of the party. Dogara described the caucus meeting as a routine one aimed at setting up an agenda for the Tuesday's National Executive Committee meeting. And all I can tell you is that the agenda is well set. I believe that it will be the responsibility of NEC to decide and after a decision is taken, some of our faithful members will address the press. I dont think it is in my place to divulge what was discussed. "Tactically, it is an agenda setting meeting and we have had that meeting but the main meeting will take place tomorrow (Tuesday). Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, said that the meeting of the partys national caucus on Monday night, March 26, discussed more serious issues but not about his removal from office. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app What must President Buhari do to regain the trust of Nigerians? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The police has dismissed a sergeant for killing a truck conductor in Imo state - The sergeant alongside other police officers were tried in a police orderly room in Owerri - He was found guilty and will be arraigned before a court A police sergeant has been dismissed by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly killing a 20-year-old truck conductor, Ifeanyi Okafor. The police sergeant, Abu Atam, was said to have killed Okafor at about 5am at a T-junction close to Okwelle police division in Onuimo local government area of Imo state. It was gathered that the killing led the youths of the area to take law into their hands by protesting. Punch reports that the Imo state commissioner of police, Chris Ezike, said Atam would be arraigned before a court soon. READ ALSO: Surprise in Borno state as baby is allegedly born holding Quran, prayer beads (photos) Ezike said Atam alongside other police officers on duty during the incident were tried in a police orderly room in Owerri. I can confirm that sergeant Abu Itam has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force. The police orderly room trial found him guilty of unprofessional conduct. He is in our custody and will soon be arraigned. Other officers on duty at the time, but who were not part of the murder, were equally tried. They will be punished as well. They are likely to get demoted. READ ALSO: Taraba residents allegedly disgrace TY Danjuma at an event after his call for self defence (video) The Nigeria Police Force is committed to protecting the rights of the people of Nigeria. The Inspector-General of Police is passionate about discipline among our men. In Imo State, we are committed to upholding the IGs principles of discipline, excellence and professionalism. We will not condone any act of insubordination," the police commissioner said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that a 25-year-old commercial bus driver, John Okoye, who allegedly drove recklessly, killed his conductor. The driver was arraigned before a magistrate court in Lagos state. The police prosecutor, Inspector Uche Simeon, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 14, 2017, at 8pm along Iyana-Iba/Igando road, Ojo Lagos. See the faces of newly arrested criminals in Lagos State - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yobe chapter has lauded the PDPs admittance of shortcomings - He said the admittance is good for Nigerias democracy - The council chairman also praised President Buhari for admitting the last three years of his administration had been challenging The chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe, Alhaji Umar Kukuri, on Tuesday, March 27, said the admittance of past mistakes by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was healthy for Nigerias democracy. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu that the admittance of shortcomings by the party was a sign of political maturity and could create confidence in the electorate. When you have glaring shortcomings, there is no point denying and insisting that you are right; the admittance of shortcomings indicates political maturity and democratic growth in the party. The admittance of PDP to its past mistakes has turned a new page in the political life of the party, Kukuri said. READ ALSO: Oyegun, Saraki reveal what they discussed with Buhari at APC caucus meeting He said that politicians owed Nigerians apology when they failed and deserved to be lauded when they improved the lives of the people. As Nigerians, we should collectively encourage any government that has performed irrespective of our political differences and not just to criticize because we are in the opposition. The joy of any true democrat is to see the lives of his people improved under whatever party in power. We will encourage performing governments whether from our party or any other, because we are in politics to see improvement in the lives of our people, he said. The council chairman also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting that the last three years had been challenging and turbulent. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app This admittance is exemplary of a leader and should be emulated by politicians and other public officers to strengthen democracy in Nigeria, he said. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said that the former ruling party, PDP) could not be trusted with power in 2019. He said this in reaction to the party's apology to Nigerians through its national chairman, Uche Secondus, on Monday, March 26, over its past mistakes. Keyamo likened the PDP's apology to a patient who underwent a major surgical operation to cure a disease who cant be discharged immediately. PDP Chieftain, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu speaks about the party's crisis - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper - Samuel Kalu-Uche, the prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria has alleged that politicians are behind the ammunition used by herdsmen - Kalu-Uche urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fish out such persons in power and make them face the law - He stated that it is lamentable that politicians earn N13.5m while the masses live in abject poverty The prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Samuel Kalu-Uche claimed on Monday, March 26, that politicians were behind herdsmen killings. He said: I understand that the guns are issued to them by politicians." Kalu-Uche urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fish out those arming the herdsmen and make them to face the law. He advised politicians who think they could rig themselves into elected positions to know that Nigerians were now wiser, The Nation reports. READ ALSO: Polls reordering: Senate re-introduces Electoral Act amendment bill He gave the advice at a news conference after his tour of the churchs Arch-Dioceses in the FCT, Minna and Lokoja. Kalu-Uche stated: Our leaders should learn from the fall of Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi , Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe. Our politicians are not learning. They should not think they are powerful. Power belongs to God. If they think they are powerful, God has a way of dealing with them,. He decried a situation where some elected politicians earn as much as N13.5 million as monthly allowance, while the masses were suffering. Kanu-Uche noted that security remained a challenge, especially the recurring herdsmen/farmers clashes in a number of states. He remarked: The people you call herdsmen now were not the ones we knew when we were younger in the 60s. Herdsmen live in our villages, they used their staff and control thousands of cattle and we relate well with them, there was no shooting, but now they use gun. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! He further said: God did not make a mistake in bringing us together. We want a united country, where there is peace, harmony, justice, equity and rule of law. We do not want a religious country. We should co-habit and co-exist in love. The prelate praised President Muhammadu Buhari for taking up and continuing projects initiated by the past regimes. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tony Momoh on Wednesday, January 10, called for caution in treating the killings in parts of the country as herdsmen attacks. Legit.ng gathered that Momoh said the criminals, including Boko Haram, might be hiding under herdsmen to unleash terror in some communities in the country. Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, March, 27, reportedly described as illegal the tenure elongation for the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, and other elected officials of the party. The president demanded that the decision to extend the partys national working committee (NWC) led by Oyegun, be reconsidered and reversed. According to the president, who spoke at the partys headquarters in Abuja, said the extension decided upon at the partys NEC meeting on February 28 is against the constitution of the APC. READ ALSO: TY Danjuma allegedly booed by Taraba residents after his call for self defence It was learnt that the party officials and members who attended the meeting did not expect Buharis pronouncement calling for the cancellation of the tenure extension for Oyegun. Buhari spoke before the commencement of NEC meeting in favour of the cancelling of the tenure extension decision. On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the APC constitution, in article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years. Furthermore, article 31 of our party constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh elections, once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. A caretaker committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers, the president said. Buhari said he changed his mind over the extension of tenure for Oyegun and others because he does not want the partys activities to be faulted by any court of law. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The report said the NEC members were shocked because the issue was not part of the agenda circulated to members and was not discussed at the national caucus meeting which held at the Presidential Villa previously. During a NEC meeting of the party on February 28, the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun was extended by one year. Legit.ng earlier reported that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said that the fate of John Odigie-Oyegun would be decided on Tuesday, March 27, during the party's National Executive Council meeting. The report said that he said this in an interview with the State House correspondents late Monday night, March 26, after the three-hour caucus meeting of the party presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Should President Buhari seek reelection in 2019? (Nigerian Street Interview) - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - An unknown disease has claimed the lives of eight people in a Kano local government area - The deceased are reportedly five children and three young men - The local governments health department confirmed the incident, adding that it has visited the affected community and sent its findings to the Ministry of Health A strange disease has reportedly ravaged Dungurawa village, in Dawakin Tofa local government area of Kano state, claiming eight lives. The Nation reports that the strange disease started about a week ago in the community and has created panic as it claims lives almost on a daily basis. Legit.ng gathered that the residents of the affected community said the deceased are five children and three young men ranging from 13 to 25 years old while the children are seven years below. READ ALSO: Tinubu, Aregbesola absent as Buhari presides over APC caucus meeting The disease according to the residents, starts with the symptoms of high fever, headache and stomach pains. Malam Suleiman Musa Tafida, a resident that lost three children to the mysterious disease said his third son died this afternoon after losing two other children. He lamented: My two children Umar and Khadija died last Friday and Saturday while Ibrahim died today, they all had the same symptoms and died after a very short while. Umar died at home while Khadeeja died at the hospital. Haruna Abdullahi, another parent that lost his daughter to the strange disease, said his daughter died last Thursday after developing high fever in the morning and died in the evening as the situation became worse. The ward head of the area, Malam Dahiru, reportedly confirmed the situation noting that they have informed the health department of the local government calling for help from the state government to address the situation as the whole village has being thrown into confusion. The Nation said it visited Dawakin Tofa local government council where the head of the health department, who spoke in anonymity, confirmed the death of some of the residents due to the strange disease. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He said a team has been dispatched to the affected area and its findings have been sent to the state Ministry of Health. In a related development, Legit.ng previously reported that the Sokoto State government confirmed three deaths, including two students, following a strange illness that occurred in two neighbouring houses at Mabera in the state. A mechanic and father of five, one Malam Abdullahi Lawal, 58, reportedly died as a result of a severe headache, convulsion and bleeding from the eye on Saturday, November 11, 2017. Two students who were neighbours to the deceased, Bello Aminu, 15, and Nasiru Kamba, 14 also died after at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto on Monday, November 13, after exhibiting similar symptoms. N1,500 for health of Nigerians - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Nigeria On Sunday, March 25, news broke on the internet about one Sergeant David Bako who claimed that the recent abduction of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state, was stage-managed by the Nigerian government. Bako claimed that the plot was planned and rehearsed for two weeks by President Buhari's loyalists in the army of which he claimed to be one. Bako had claimed in an online publication that the Dapchi school girls abduction was planned in the villa and executed with N80 million. READ ALSO: Fact check: Is the popular photo used by media to illustrate herdsmen attacks in Kogi, Benue, others actually shot in Nigeria? However, following Bakos claim which has gone viral on social media, the Nigerian Army said it has no knowledge of any personnel called Sergeant David Bako. Texas Chukwu, the director of Army public relations, in a statement, said after cross-checking its record, the army could not find any one call Sgt. David Bako, who neither serves in the army, deserted or dismissed. In addition, the Nigerian government supported that armys claim. The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to the report, described it as unfounded and social media lies. I can tell you categorically that this David Bako is fake. There is no such soldier in the Nigerian Army. There was no conspiracy anywhere. The intention of those behind the disinformation and fake news is to cause disaffection between Christians and Muslims, and between Southerners and Northerners, Mohammed said. Is Sergeant David Bako a real Nigerian soldier? Or is he a fake soldier as claimed by the Nigerian Army and corroborated by the information minister? Legit.ng fact checks the picture of the acclaimed Sergeant David Bako as used in the report to verify whether or not there is or was a soldier called Sergeant David Bako in the Nigerian Army. A simple Google search on the picture brings this message: Best guess for this image: senegal soldier. Next, Legit.ng conducted a reverse image search using TinEye web technology. This traced the image to an article on a Senegalese website: www.armyrecognition.com. The image was featured in a 2009 post headlined Senegal Senegalese Army ranks land ground forces combat field uniforms military equipment grades on the website. Another website that featured the same image is alchetron.com in an article titled Armed Forces of Senegal. Checking for the original source of the image on alchetron.com also redirects to armyrecognition.com. A simple Google search on the picture brings this message: Best guess for this image: senegal soldier. Conclusion The image used for the said 'Sergeant David Bako', considering the searches conducted, is that of a Senegalese soldier. It could not, however, be established whether or not the Senegalese soldiers name is David Bako. Neither was it established whether or not one David Bako served in the Nigerian Army. However, using the image of a Senegalese soldier for a sensitive story of such magnitude which has to do with the Nigerian Army puts the credibility of the claims made in the 'Sergeant Bako' report in serious question. Street Gist: Mixed reactions trail Boko Haram's release of Dapchi Girls - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - All is set for the commissioning of the newly built world class Ikeja Bus Terminal by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration President Muhammadu Buhari will lead other top dignitaries on Thursday, March 29, to unveil the iconic infrastructure - This iconic terminal is designed to change the face of public transportation and it will convey more than 70,000 passengers daily to over 22 destinations across the state President Muhammadu Buhari will be in Lagos on Thursday, March 29, to inaugurate world class Ikeja Bus Terminal built by state government. Legit.ng learnt that the terminal is one of the states projects towards becoming a mega city. The facility, which is sitting on 10,000 square metres land space is equipped with Intelligent Transport System (ITS), fully air-conditioned terminal, food court, shops, toilets, ATM gallery, free Wi-Fi, electronically controlled shades, among others. The state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is expected to receive the president for the commissioning. The Lagos newly built world-class Ikeja Bus Terminal. Photo credit: Lagos press READ ALSO: Polls reordering: Senate re-introduces Electoral Act amendment bill This iconic terminal is designed to change the face of public transportation and it will convey more than 70,000 passengers daily to over 22 destinations across the state. The Lagos newly built world-class Ikeja Bus Terminal. Photo credit: Lagos press Through the ITS, intending passengers can be informed of the departure time and arrival of the next bus which allows them to plan their movement. The facility was designed and constructed by Planet Projects, an indigenous construction firm. The Lagos newly built world-class Ikeja Bus Terminal. Photo credit: Lagos press Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that governors on the platform of the APC governors stormed Daura ahead of the meeting with President Buhari. The governors are: Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Yayaha Bello of Kogi state. Others are: Tanko Almakura of Nasarwa, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Sani Bello of Niger, Godwin Obaseki of Edo. Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun were absent but were represented by their deputies. List President Buhari's achievements in two years on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Editor's note: An aide to the former president Goodluck Jonathan writes on his experience in a recent to visit to Morocco. He also compares the challenges of transportation between Nigeria, Morocco and other Africa countries I was in Morocco recently, about 20 years after I last visited Timbuktu, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Laayoune. I was quite impressed to see how Morocco with its colour-coded cities remains very much an organized, efficient and a comparatively competitive country. The trip this time began from the Lagos airport aboard the Royal Air Maroc, which now plies the Lagos-Casablanca route. Twenty years earlier, I had to go first to Paris, France, change from one airport to the other, before boarding another flight to Morocco. This crisis of transportation, having to go to Europe before accessing African countries, poses a major threat to trade, co-operation and integration among African countries. This time around, Lagos to Casablanca took no more than four hours. The flight was full; the passengers were mostly Nigerians. I would later discover that these passengers were not necessarily going to Morocco to attend the Crans Montana conference on Africa and South-South Co-operation taking place in Dhakla, they were transit passengers going to New York or Europe. Casablanca to New York is about six hours, and the cost of travel either to the US or Europe through Morocco is much cheaper. The Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Morocco has brought both countries closer, with many Nigerian businessmen taking advantage of the opportunity to trade with Morocco. Many Nigerian students are also now going to school in Moroccan universities and technical colleges. READ ALSO: Breaking: Senate gives committee 48 hours to investigate case between Melaye, Governor Bello and IGP As I took in these details, and reflected on the vast possibilities of closer Nigeria-Morocco relations, what struck me as I left Casablanca for Rabat, was not even the beauty of the roads and the skyline, or the meaty, physically majestic cattle that grazed on the fields along the highway, not disturbing motorists or crossing the road, or causing any violence, unlike Nigerian cattle and their herders, but the fact that it is this same Morocco, with its near-First-World standards, that has been struggling since early 2017 to be admitted as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Nigerian trade unions, business investors and some former diplomats have been in the forefront of the objection to Moroccos membership of ECOWAS. The reasons they offer are largely sentimental, not fact-based, not informed, all made worse by what seems to be a continuing lack of rigour in the management of Nigerias foreign policy process. In January 2017, Morocco returned to the African Union (AU) after 33 years of absence. Under King Mohammed VI of Morocco, there has been in the last seven years or so, a concerted diplomatic effort to assert Moroccos Africanism and to reach out to other African countries outside North Africa. Moroccos issue with Algeria, the crisis in Libya, and the conflict of objectives and goals among the members of the African Maghreb Union (UMA) perhaps makes this re-strategizing of Moroccos foreign policy pragmatic and inevitable. Having returned to the AU, Morocco took the additional step of seeking the membership of ECOWAS. In June 2017, at the 51st meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Monrovia, Liberia, ECOWAS agreed in principle to Moroccos application for membership. READ ALSO: Updated: Buhari opposes tenure extension of Oyegun, makes new demand The ECOWAS Commission then put a team together to prepare an Impact Report on Moroccos proposed membership to be considered at the 52nd meeting of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government scheduled for November 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria. As it turned out, ECOWAS could not consider the 70-page Report as scheduled, due to its busy agenda, as was claimed, but a committee of five comprising the Heads of State of Togo, Cote DIvoire, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria was empaneled to study the Report and advise the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments accordingly. The Extraordinary session planned for the first quarter of 2018 at which a decision is to be communicated in this regard, has not yet taken place, but Moroccos proposed membership has already generated much interest across the sub-region. In Nigeria, for example, the Joint Committees on Foreign Affairs and Co-operation for Africa on November 15, 2017, organized a one-day public hearing titled Public Hearing on the Review of Nigerias Membership of ECOWAS in view of Moroccos bid to be admitted into the Regional Body. Some of the arguments advanced at that event and which may have influenced Nigerias lack of clarity so far on the Morocco question are at best ridiculous. It was argued for example that if Morocco joins ECOWAS, Nigeria will disintegrate. How? Nigeria is a member of the D-8 and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC); it has not disintegrated on account of that. No member-country of ECOWAS is in a position to disintegrate another country for whatever reason under the Constitutive protocols. It was also said, and this really exposes the hypocrisy involved, that Nigeria should block Morocco because it is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This is not true. Moroccos corruption perception index has consistently improved while Nigerias CPI continues to worsen. Nigeria has no moral right to condemn any other country on the ground of corruption, and if this were a criterion for international relations, many countries including Nigeria would have been expelled from the United Nations long ago. It was further argued at that forum and in the Nigerian media that any attempt to allow the North African country to join ECOWAS will subvert Nigerias economic prosperity. READ ALSO: Buhari to commission Ikeja Bus terminus as he visits Lagos on Thursday The evidence given in this regard is that Morocco is an associate of the EU under the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). And: Nigeria having refused to sign the ECOWAS-Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union could become a dumping ground for cheaper goods from Europe through Morocco, thus crippling investments across the sub-region. Our response is that in the long run, ECOWAS member-states in general, would have to strengthen their capacity to compete and be productive, rather than hide under protectionist policies. One other ridiculous excuse that has been given is that ECOWAS owes its existence and survival to Nigeria and that Nigeria should not allow any new country to reduce its control over ECOWAS. It is precisely this kind of undiplomatic talk that continues to make other countries in ECOWAS suspicious of Nigerias motives and unappreciative of the countrys contributions to the regional body. Other non-sequitur arguments raised by Nigerians include the Western Sahara issue or that Morocco is a monarchy, rather, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. What is required is a dispassionate study of Moroccos application, even of similar applications from Tunisia, which is seeking an observer status in ECOWAS and Mauritania, which left in 2000 but now wants to return. Technically, those opposed to Moroccos membership have advanced two noteworthy arguments so far but even then, both can be interrogated. The first is the argument about contiguity. They insist that Morocco is not contiguous with any West African country and may not meet the geographical criterion as defined in the Council of Ministers Resolution/Res 464 (XXVI) of the OAU, 1976, which divides Africa into 5 geo-political regions namely Northern, Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. In this regard, Morocco is classified as a North African country along with Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. Further, Article 1 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty of July 24, 1993, defines members of ECOWAS as countries within the geographical region known as West Africa. So, how about Mauritania? However, it is clearly within the powers of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments to determine that geography cannot debar an interested African country from joining ECOWAS. Economic and political considerations should override geography that is merely nomenclatural, particularly if the applicant-countries are within Africa. Opening up ECOWAS beyond geographical boundaries would be more in keeping with the long-term goal of the AU, which is the creation of an African Economic Community (AEC) that promotes the integration and cooperation of the various regional blocs in the continent. Incidentally, this is the growing global trend. For example, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya are members of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern African States (COMESA). Algeria has also submitted its accession applications to this economic body. Integration is not uncommon. The Community of Saharan States (CEN-SAD) cuts across ECOWAS, ECCAS, COMESA and UMA countries. The D-8 is an economic association of development countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. To push the counter-argument a bit further, if geography were the sole issue, ECOWAS by now should have long admitted contiguous countries like Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and Cameroon which have also expressed interest in ECOWAS membership. The other major argument on the Morocco question is whether or not the country would commit to the principles of the revised ECOWAS Treaty. ECOWAS can afford to insist on its principles and objectives. It is, after all, one of the most successful regional groupings in Africa. In pursuit of its Africanism agenda, and perhaps to demonstrate its interest and commitment, Morocco has consistently identified with ECOWAS principles. READ ALSO: Senate re-introduces Electoral Act amendment bill Even without yet being a member, Morocco has since established strong ties with Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, which are exempted from entry visas to Morocco. The country is also strongly involved with Cote dIvoire, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Mali where it provides support for agriculture and healthcare systems. The objection to Morocco by certain Nigerians should in fact be investigated closely. It is on record that Morocco and Nigeria are involved in a gas pipeline project, the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline; there is also a BASA agreement, which unfortunately, Nigeria currently lacks the will to utilize. Both countries are also partners in a phosphate project in Kaduna. Some states in Nigeria have also signed co-operation agreements with Morocco, notably Bauchi state which is partnering with the OCP-Group of Morocco in agriculture and fertilizer production. OCP is the largest exporter of phosphate in the world. While some Nigerians are busy arguing whether Morocco is good for ECOWAS or not, the truth is that many Nigerians are already benefitting from Moroccan partnerships. There are 3,000 documented Nigerians currently living in Morocco 195 of them are in prison. There is even a gallery of African Arts in Morocco featuring many Nigerian art works. There are also Nigerian students quietly enjoying scholarships in Moroccan colleges. At the level of person-to-person diplomacy, there are Nigerians doing business in Morocco, making huge profits. Take sardine, that variety of fish Nigerians enjoy, and import from Europe. Morocco has one of the largest troves of sardines in the world along its Continental shelf on the Atlantic all the way to the island of Sardinia in Italy from which the fish takes its name. It is cheaper to bring in fish from Morocco than to import from Europe! Morocco is the worlds leading producer of Sardines. I have given these details just in case the vocal anti-Morocco lobbyists in Nigeria are doing so for their own selfish purposes. My suspicion really, is that there is a growing body of anti-trade lobbyists, and greedy rent-collectors, who want Nigeria isolated from the rest of the world and who are actively doing whatever they can to seize and exercise an undeserved monopoly over Africas largest market. Right now, 40 European and African organizations are opposing the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, actively encouraged of course by Nigerian economic dream-blockers. Membership of ECOWAS comes with both costs and benefits for Morocco. It is the second largest investing country in Africa after South Africa, with a GDP of about $100 billion, and according to Quantum Global Research Report 2018, the most attractive economy for investments in Africa. ECOWAS membership will grant it access to a market of about 320 million consumers, but it would also result in an influx of ECOWAS immigrant population. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Morocco would be obliged to respect the free movement of such persons and of goods within the region, adopt the ECOWAS passport and join the Common External Tariff (TEC). Here is the trade-off: Moroccos direct investment in ECOWAS has doubled between 2011 and 2017, from MAD 295 million to over 2 billion. This can only grow higher. When it comes to the vote on the Morocco question, Nigeria should prioritize its own interests and not the selfish and emotional preference of a few. Foreign policy requires greater rigour and creativity than we have seen lately in Abuja. It is a blunder for example, I repeat, that President Muhammadu Buhari stayed away from the Extra-ordinary session of the AU in Kigali on the African Continental Free Trade Area Treaty, the same treaty that had been approved and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), just because some unionists screamed that they were not consulted. Did Nigeria not participate in the negotiations of the treaty? An ad-hoc, kneejerk management of foreign policy will only make us look more ridiculous in the eyes of the world. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Twitter. List President Buhari's achievements in two years - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper Yves here. More fodder for Brexit scorekeepers. By Silvia Merler, an Affiliate Fellow at Bruegel Prior to that, she worked as Economic Analyst in DG Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Commission. Originally published at Bruegel Michel Barnier, the European Unions Brexit negotiator, and David Davis, Britains Brexit secretary, announced a transition deal on March 19. We review recently published opinions about the deal and its implications. If you are unfamiliar with the discussion over the Brexit transition deal, Alex Barker andMartin Arnold have a short but detailed list of FAQs out on the Financial times. David Henig and Julian Jessop also each have a thread out on Twitter that you may be interested in checking out. James Blitz writes in his Brexit Briefing that the transition is agreed, but at a price. There are three reasons for caution. First, the transitional deal is not fully guaranteed, as it still depends on the successful conclusion of an Article 50 deal in the next 12 months, and there are three tracks to the Article 50 negotiation that stand in the way of an Article 50 deal: the Ireland question, the settlement of a future framework for trade, and the dispute resolution mechanism that will be needed for future trade relations. Second, the 21-month transition is too short for the UK civil service and much of British business. Third, and related, the transition agreement contains no sunset clause for a possible extension of the transition. Blitz thus thinks that the agreement is a sobering moment for British business, which has to stop believing in miracles and recognise the inevitability of change. Chris Grey thinks that the deal can be seen as no more than an extension of the period of uncertainty: it is not, at this point, a transition to anything nor is it an implementation of anything. Future trade terms will not be agreed until after the end of the Article 50 period, and it seems unlikely that the detailed legal terms will be fully agreed in time for the end of the transition period so a cliff edge is still a possibility. There is also one particular uncertainty about the transition perioditself, when it comes to Britains access to EU trade agreements with other third countries. A footnote in the text says that the EU will inform those countries that Britain is to be treated as a Member State for the purpose of those agreements, but it is not clear that they are under any obligation to do so. Grey thinks some Brexiters will make much of the fact that the transition terms allow Britain to both negotiate and ratify (but not implement) trade deals with other countries, but that is actually a hollow concession by the EU since its unlikely that other countries will want to sign up to trade deals with Britain before knowing the nature of Britains post-transition trade terms with the EU. Apart from that crumb, there is nothing in the agreement that will commend itself to Brexiters, but they have little option but to go along with it. Conversely, that means that forremainers the prospects of avoiding Brexit look more remote, as it becomes much harder to mobilise public opposition to Brexit in the time available. Ian Dunt thinks the transition agreement merely delays the inevitable and raises the stakes. Everything hinges on the Irish border question, which the EU could have forced on Britain now, but it did not. This seems like a major Brexit victory, but it is in a truth a relatively minor one because nothing has changed. A ball of impossibility sits there in the middle of the Brexit process and just keeps being kicked down the road. The UK government is not going to agree to carve out Northern Ireland as a separate economic territory, and it is unlikely to keep the rest of the UK in the single market and customs union either. So the border cannot be around the UK, or in the Irish Sea, which means it has to be across Ireland an option that the UK has, however, ruled out. In short, what the UK wants remains impossible, with the risk of facing the whole deal collapsing. Dunttherefore thinks that autumn is going to be a very intense and potentially catastrophic period in British politics. Britain also announced that its contract to produce the new blue, post-Brexit passport is set to be awarded to a Franco-Dutch company which created some clamour among Brexiteers, arguing that the UK will no longer be subject to EU rules of public procurement after Brexit. David Allen Green points out that the EU law of public procurement will continue to apply in the UK during the transition period, and it will then be virtually certain to be part of any UK-EU trade deal. As the EU views rules on public procurement to be an integral part of the single market, Britain will have to adopt them if it wants to provide services to the EU. Rules on public procurement are also part of World Trade Organization obligations that the UK is likely to retain after Brexit. The rules are therefore not going to change soon after Brexit, and the various trade deals that Britain hopes for with third countries will also entail strict provisions. Brexittherefore may mean more foreign companies getting UK government work, rather than fewer. Blue passports were supposed to be a quick win, symbolic of the UK taking back control. But they are instead an early emblem of how little control the UK government is going to have in the harsh world of the international trade in services. Pawel Swidlicki thinks the irony of Brexit is that leaving will mean more rather than less bureaucracy. Firstly, the EU has made the maintenance of a Level Playing Field a precondition for any form of new preferential trade deal. The UK is simply too big and too close for the EU to be relaxed about it pursuing a radically different economic model. Besides Brussels bullying, powerful forces push the UK towards broadly maintaining its current regulatory model. First is public opinion, as there is no appetite for a fundamental rolling back of regulations in areas like employment law or consumer protection. Next is lobbying by those businesses which rely on trade with the EU and are worried that regulatory divergence will result in the erection of new non-tariff barriers to trade. Immigration is another area where Brexit will entail more rather than less bureaucracy as is trade, because even if the UK signs a post-Brexit free trade agreement with the EU which maintains zero tariffs, outside of a new customs union businesses are going to have to comply with bureaucratically onerous rules of origin designed to ensure that only goods covered by that agreement benefit. This is not to say there will be no post-Brexit scope for deregulation or flexibility to amend EU rules, but the great, transformative regulatory liberation envisaged by leading Brexiteers is unlikely to materialise. Simon Wren-Lewis wonders why a large part of public opinion still seems to think that the UK will be economically better off leaving the EU despite the view of the overwhelming majority of economists being that leaving will involve significant economic costs, and despite there having been actual costs already (e.g. in depreciation leading to higher import prices without any rise in wages). Wren-Lewis offers two possible explanations. The first is that people are fully aware of what experts and the government thinks, but ignore this because they simply do not trust experts. The second and simpler explanation is that people remain unaware of the overwhelming expert opinion that they will continue to become worse off after Brexit. That, in turn, represents another victory for right-wing press propaganda, and another critical failure from most ofBritish broadcast media. The Economist thinks that there is something literally fishy about Britains Brexit transition deal. One awkward concession in fact concerns fish, as Britain will now stay in the EUs common fisheries policy until the start of 2021. Scottish Tories are especially upset, but Mrs May has no choice, as fisheries is too small an industry to be worth jeopardising a future Brexit deal over. The real concern about the transitional deal is rather the short time given for it. Mrs May had asked for a deal lasting around two years; some ministers openly hoped for longer, but the offer is 21 months, which trade experts doubt will suffice to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal. A majority of the Commons Brexit committee is calling for an extension of Article 50s two-year deadline, but the text of the transitional deal leaves it unclear whether an extension will be legally possible, let alone politically so. Yves here. This article describes how the complexity of tasks and level of workforce skills has been falling in US entrepreneurial manufacturing companies. I am sure readers can point to causes. One is that engineering (ex perhaps petroleum engineering) has become less attractive. When I went to business school, about 40% of my classmates had engineering undergraduate degrees and has worked for manufacturing companies. Recent engineering graduates have said in comments that pay levels for college graduates arent high enough to justify the cost of the degree; they generally need to get graduate training, like a law degree, to earn an adequate income (and that of course also means working only incidentally as an engineer). Another obvious drain is that mathematicians and physicists have been hoovered up by Wall Street firms and hedge funds since the mid-late 1980s, and more recently, by surveillance state players like Google. But another factor is the way outsourcing has destroyed skilled blue-collar jobs. One example Ive mentioned from time to time is furniture. It makes little sense to ship wood from the US or Canada to China for furniture manufacture to have finished or ready-to-assemble goods sent back, yet that is overwhelmingly how we do it. I know an executive from a major youd-recognize-the-name furniture maker who outsourced their production to China. She said the case was weak, and that for all but the lowest-end furniture manufacturers, you would have done better by investing in just-in-time manufacturing techniques instead. But Wall Street would boost the stock price of companies that announced outsourcing plans, so they went that way instead. By Meghana Ayyagari, Associate Professor at the School of Business and Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University and Vojislav Maksimovic, William A. Longbrake Chair in Finance and Professor of Finance, University of Maryland; Research Affiliate, Snider Center for Entrepreneurship. Originally published at VoxEU Recent press reports have highlighted the decline of US entrepreneurship. Using data on workers in 800+ occupations in over 1.2 million establishments, this column shows that there has been a decline not only in the number of new businesses in US manufacturing, but also in their size and quality. The proportion of cognitively demanding tasks at new firms has been declining substantially over time, pointing to a process of technological polarisation as incumbents upgrade human capital while entrants focus on low-skilled niches. Is the US giving up on manufacturing entrepreneurship? Recent business press reports highlight the decline of US entrepreneurship with ominous headlines such as US economy: Decline of the start-up nation (Fleming 2016), Why America stopped being a start-up nation (Smith 2016), and A start-up slump is a drag on the economy (Casselman 2017). Academic research has shown that, indeed, firm start-up rates declined from around 13% in the early 1980s to 10% before the Great Recession and eventually 8% by 2012 (Pugsley and Sahin 2015). This is worrying since young firms are considered to be the engines of growth and job creation in an economy (Adelino et al. 2017, Haltiwanger et al. 2013). Adding insult to injury, the US has long been considered a nation of entrepreneurs, boasting the best financial institutions for young firms to flourish (e.g. Lerner 2002, Kerr and Nanda 2009). Largely missing from the discussion is an evaluation of whether the decline in entrepreneurship rates is accompanied by a change in the skill type of entrepreneurs, and whether this has long-term consequences. Moreover, a related concern has been the effects of globalisation and foreign competition on US businesses, particular those in manufacturing. In recent contributions, Autor et al. (2013), Pierce and Schott (2016), and Acemoglu et al. (2016) among others, have shown that the effect of foreign competition has been more severe than previously believed. Are these effects particularly severe of new firms? In a recent paper, we focus specifically on the skillsets of entrepreneurial firms with five or more employees, and how they have changed through time (Ayyagari and Maksimovic 2017). Using over 3 million establishment-occupation-level observations, we seek to answer the following questions: How have entry rates and the quality of entrepreneurship changed in manufacturing? Has there been a decline in high-skilled versus low-skilled entrepreneurs, or are entrepreneurship levels declining across all skill types? Are there long-term consequences of initial skill at entry both in the growth rates of entrants and in their subsequent intellectual capital? How do entrants human capital and growth change in response to competitive trade shocks? How do entrants and incumbents compare in their response? To examine these questions, we use administrative establishment-level data from the Occupational Employment Statistics by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides employment and wage data on workers in 800+ occupations in over 1.2 million establishments triennially over the period 2005-2013. The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages further allows us to track the employment outcomes of these firms over time. To measure the firms skill-level, we use the Department of Labors Occupational Information Network database to order the occupations from low to high levels along the following six dimensions: complex problem solving, non-routine cognitive analytical, routine manual, interacting with computers, offshoring, and probability of computerisation. These six measures capture both the abilities of workers and the nature of tasks in different occupations. We observe each firms occupational profile, and are thus able to estimate the firms stock of human capital at various points in time along these six dimensions We show that over the 2005-2013 period, there was a decline not only in the number of new businesses in US manufacturing, but also in their size and quality, measured by the tasks which their workforce performs. On the horizontal axis in Figure 1, we plot the average complex problem-solving skills of employees of surveyed establishments, estimated on the basis of their job descriptions (by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) at the beginning of our sample period. On the vertical axis we plot the growth rate of the number of establishments over the period 2005-2013, with separate curves for entrants and incumbent firms. The figure clearly shows that the number of highly skilled entrants fell dramatically over this period, whereas the number of low skilled entrants grew, also dramatically. Changes in the skills of incumbent establishments are much less pronounced. Figure 1 Changes in number of manufacturing establishments, 20052013 Figure 2 shows that entrants are, on average, performing a higher proportion of routine manual tasks and a lower proportion of tasks that require high cognitive skills, such as complex problem solving. As is evident, incumbent firms do not show the same decline in average skills. We obtain similar differences with locational and industry controls in our preferred regression models. The figure also shows that the differences between incumbents and entrants are growing over time. This has significant long-term consequences we show that the founding stock of human capital in entrants is predictive of their future human capital as well as growth rates over the early life cycle. Figure 2 Average complex problem-solving skills Figure 3 Complex problem-solving skill differences (entrants-incumbents) The contrast between entrants and incumbents is most stark in their reactions to a competitive threat from Chinese imports. While incumbent firms upgrade their human capital in response to increased competition, the quality of the entrants is minimally affected. As the level of imports increases, more skilled incumbents grow faster than incumbents with lower skills. While these competitive effects on skills are economically significant, the skill differential between entrants and incumbents would exist even with a total cessation in imports, as seen in Figure 3. Thus, the decline in entrepreneurial quality in US manufacturing is only partially responsive to the level of Chinese imports into the country. Our results are consistent across the measures we use entrants score lower on skillsets that load heavily on cognitive skills such as complex problem solving and non-routine cognitive analytical, and higher on skillsets such as routine manual, which are more likely to be made obsolete with continuing automation. It is also notable that tasks performed by entrants load heavily on our offshoring measure, in contrast to the incumbents. Only in high-tech manufacturing industries are these effects muted. At first glance, one might be tempted to view the drop in perceived quality of entrants as a consequence of new technologies adopted by entrants optimally requiring a less-skilled workforce. While we cannot rule this out, it is unlikely to be the case given that new establishments created by incumbent firms, which are likely to be better funded and able to acquire new technologies, do not show similar deskilling. Our findings are consistent with technological polarisation, whereby incumbent firms upgrade their human capital, and entrepreneurial firms are finding investment opportunities in niches employing less skilled labour. There is some evidence in our paper to suggest that incumbents are becoming less engaged in routine manual tasks, which are being taken up in greater numbers by entrants. This polarisation is particularly stark in industries facing import competition where incumbents are upgrading their human capital most, both in their legacy plants and in the new plants they construct. One ray of sunshine is that the polarisation is much less evident in high tech industries. See original post for references Atomically thin light-emitting device opens the possibility for 'invisible' displays (Nanowerk News) UC Berkeley engineers have built a bright-light emitting device that is millimeters wide and fully transparent when turned off. The light emitting material in this device is a monolayer semiconductor, which is just three atoms thick. The device opens the door to invisible displays on walls and windows - displays that would be bright when turned on but see-through when turned off -- or in futuristic applications such as light-emitting tattoos, according to the researchers. "The materials are so thin and flexible that the device can be made transparent and can conform to curved surfaces," said Der-Hsien Lien, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley and a co-first author along with Matin Amani and Sujay Desai, both doctoral students in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at Berkeley. Their study was published in the journal Nature Communications ("Large-area and bright pulsed electroluminescence in monolayer semiconductors"). Probes inject positive and negative charges in the light emitting device, which is transparent under the campanile outline, producing bright light. (Image: Javey lab) The device was developed in the laboratory of Ali Javey, professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at Berkeley. In 2015, Javey's lab published research in the journal Science showing that monolayer semiconductors are capable of emitting bright light, but stopped short of building a light-emitting device. The new work in Nature Communications overcame fundamental barriers in utilizing LED technology on monolayer semiconductors, allowing for such devices to be scaled from sizes smaller than the width of a human hair up to several millimeters. That means that researchers can keep the thickness small, but make the lateral dimensions (width and length) large, so that the light intensity can be high. Commercial LEDs consist of a semiconductor material that is electrically injected with positive and negative charges, which produce light when they meet. Typically, two contact points are used in a semiconductor-based light emitting device; one for injecting negatively charged particles and one injecting positively charged particles. Making contacts that can efficiently inject these charges is a fundamental challenge for LEDs, and it is particularly challenging for monolayer semiconductors since there is so little material to work with. The Berkeley research team engineered a way to circumvent this challenge by designing a new device that only requires one contact on the semiconductor. By laying the semiconductor monolayer on an insulator and placing electrodes on the monolayer and underneath the insulator, the researchers could apply an AC signal across the insulator. During the moment when the AC signal switches its polarity from positive to negative (and vice versa), both positive and negative charges are present at the same time in the semiconductor, creating light. The researchers showed that this mechanism works in four different monolayer materials, all of which emit different colors of light. This device is a proof-of-concept, and much research still remains, primarily to improve efficiency. Measuring this device's efficiency is not straightforward, but the researchers think it's about 1 percent efficient. Commercial LEDs have efficiencies of around 25 to 30 percent. The concept may be applicable to other devices and other kinds of materials, the device could one day have applications in a number of fields where having invisible displays are warranted. That could be an atomically thin display that's imprinted on a wall or even on human skin. Metal-oxide/graphene nanosheet composite exhibits unprecedented energy storage properties (Nanowerk News) The unique physical properties of nanomaterials are important for the realization of high performance energy storage devices. For example, the ultra-narrow spaces between multilayered two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets are suitable for high efficiency ion intercalation, namely, reversible insertion of ions into the spaces between layers. Importantly, nanomaterial structures with nearly ideal nano interlayer spaces for ion intercalation exhibit short diffusion distances and large numbers of active sites properties that are essential for fabricating electrode materials of high performing energy storage devices. However, despite extensive research on 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides the energy storage capacity has not met expectations. More recently, research has also turned to explore 2D metal oxidesmaterials with many more active sites, and even shorter diffusion lengths. The main issues to resolve include synthesis of genuine single layered metal oxides, prevention of restacking during chemical processes to fabricate electrodes, and improving their electrical conductivity. Here, a group led by Takayoshi Sasaki at the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan, describe the synthesis of superlattice-like MnO 2 /graphene 2D nanostructures that exhibited the best figures of merit for energy storage reported to-date (ACS Nano, "Genuine Unilamellar Metal Oxide Nanosheets Confined in a Superlattice-like Structure for Superior Energy Storage"). Structure of MnO 2 /graphene superlattice-like structure and electrochemical characteristics of Li and Na batteries fabricated using this material. (Image: NIMS) The researchers synthesized the MnO 2 /graphene superlattice structures by electrostatic assembly of MnO 2 and graphene in a solution, exploiting the differences in the charged states of the respective materials: The MnO 2 nanosheets are negatively charged and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets are positive. The two important points about this fabrication process and the resulting nanosheet structures are that the MnO 2 nanosheets were genuine unilamellar structures and each of the MnO 2 nanosheets was stabilized between the atomic layers of graphene. The MnO 2 /graphene nanostructures were used as anodes for Li and Na ion batteries. Electrochemical measurements showed specific capacities of 1325 and 795 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g -1 and 370 and 245 mA h g -1 at 12.8 A g -1 for Li and Na storage, respectively. More importantly, an ultralong cyclability with 0.004% and 0.0078% capacity decay per cycle up to 5000 cycles was achieved for Li and Na storage, respectively, outperforming previously reported metal oxide-based anodes to date, state the authors. (As delivered) Good afternoon, The attack in Salisbury was the first use of a nerve agent on NATO territory. On March 14, NATO Allies made clear their deep concern, and condemnation of this reckless breach of international norms. Since then, intensive consultations have taken place among Allies, including here at NATO and in capitals. Those consultations have resulted so far in the expulsion of over 140 Russian officials by over 25 NATO Allies and partners. This is a broad, strong and coordinated international response. And as part of that response, NATO is unified in taking further steps. I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian Mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others. And the North Atlantic Council has reduced the maximum size of the Russian Mission to NATO by ten people, in line with my decision. This will bring the maximum size down to twenty. This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour. And it follows Russias lack of constructive response to what happened in Salisbury. Our actions reflect the serious security concerns expressed by all Allies, and are part of the coordinated international effort to respond to Russias behaviour. They are proportionate, and in line with our legal obligations. Todays decision does not change NATOs policy towards Russia. NATO remains committed to our dual-track approach of strong defence and openness to dialogue, including by working to prepare the next meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. And with that Im ready to take your questions. Q (Sky News): Couple of question if I may. First of all what difference in practical terms will these expulsions make? Cause some will say yes its united but somewhat superficial can you give some details of what material difference this will make the expelling of these diplomats if thats what they are. And my second question. What changed last week because I know that European leaders went in to a dinner with Theresa May and they were, they told us somewhat sceptical on their way in by the time they came out, things had changed completely. Can you give us your sense on the evolution of opinion last week? SECRETARY GENERAL: What weve seen over actually several days and a couple weeks is that there has been close coordination between NATO Allies, partners, EU members, NATO members, on how to respond to the Salisbury attack and to the pattern of reckless behaviour by Russia. And we adopted very strong statement by NATO on 14 March. National Security Adviser Sedwill met with the North Atlantic Council and also Boris Johnson came to NATO headquarters. And we discussed potential measures including the expulsion of Russian diplomats. So as a result of this consultation between NATO Allies, many of them are also EU members, many NATO Allies and partners decided then to expel Russian diplomats. And we also have some new announcements today and then we have the announcement not only by NATO Allies today and yesterday but also by the NATO Alliance today, to reduce maximum number of diplomats accredited to NATO from 30 to 20. A reduction by 10. So this has been part of a political process which is the response to the broader picture we see with reckless behaviour, the lack of constructive response from the Russian side and therefore the need to send a very clear message. The practical implication is of course that Russia will have a reduced capability to do intelligence work in NATO countries and in those countries they are expelled from. And therefore this is a clear and very strong message that it has costs and consequences to behave the way Russia has behaved. Q (WSJ): Mr. Secretary General, are these expulsions enough to raise the costs to Moscow or is this more of a first step to deter interference in the West? And secondly, wont reducing the size of the Russian mission complicate the diplomacy side of deter in diplomacy? Isnt harder to talk to them if they have fewer diplomats? SECRETARY GENERAL: Well, Russia will still have a diplomatic mission to NATO. And the size of that mission, maximum 20 diplomats, is big enough to facilitate the political dialogue between NATO and Russia. And as I said, we are not changing our approach to Russia which is still based on a dual-track approach meaning strong deterrence and defence and dialogue. And we will continue to prepare for the next meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. This is a response, this is a clear message, but this is not a change of our policy. We will continue to work for meaningful political dialogue with Russia. Then I think we also have to understand that of course what triggered this was Salisbury attack. But it is part of a broader response by NATO Allies to a pattern of an unacceptable and dangerous behaviour by Russia. We have seen the illegal annexation of Crimea, we have seen the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine, we have seen cyberattacks, we have seen hybrid tactics, we have seen Russia investing heavily in modern military equipment and the willingness to use military force against neighbours. And all of that has led to an adaptation of NATO where we also strengthen our capabilities when it comes to dealing with hybrid tactics, cyberattacks, but also now increase in defence spending. Investing more in our defence which includes also that NATO Allies now have more resources to invest for instance in equipment and technology to detect and also protect against chemical attacks. So this announcement today is part of a broader pattern, a broader response by NATO Allies to a pattern of reckless behaviour by Russia. Q (NPR / Deutsche Welle): Maybe you should change your approach. Because after Crimea you downsized the mission you took away some accreditations and yet you see these acts from Moscow. Apparently it hasnt work. So do you think, as my colleague asked, will this make a difference? SECRETARY GENERAL: It sends a very clear message to Russia that it has costs. And I actually think that Russia has underestimated the unity of NATO Allies. The way we have responded, the unity we have shown, both when it comes to implementing the biggest reinforcement to our collective defence since the end of the Cold War. With the battle groups to the East and part of the Alliance. But also with a higher readiness of forces, and with the fact that after years of reducing defence investments we are now increasing defence investments. I dont think that Russia expected that. Second, I dont think they expected that NATO Allies with partners have been able to agree and to stand united in implementing economic sanctions. So the combination of increased military presence, more defence spending, and economic sanctions by NATO Allies and other countries, is a very strong response, and which imposes costs on Russia because of their behaviour since the illegal annexation of Crimea. And then on top of that, we see a very unified response by NATO Allies and many partners to the Salisbury attack. What I said is that we will still have dual-track approach to Russia, meaning deterrence, defence and dialogue, but we are changing the way we do that. Partly because we have significantly increased and strengthened our deterrence and defence and well continue to do so, second we have suspended all practical cooperation with Russia, but thirdly we continue to strive for a more constructive relationship with Russia and therefore we continue to also work for a meaningful political dialogue, which includes the preparations for next meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will hold a press point today, Tuesday 27 March 2018 at 15:30 hours on further decisions following the use of a nerve agent in Salisbury. 15:30 - Press point by NATO Secretary General at NATO Headquarters (Main entrance) General Information Video footage of the press point will be streamed on the NATO website After the event photos, video and audio files will be made available on the NATO website. Broadcast quality videos will be distributed via the NATO TV Channel. Media representative that wish to be added to the distribution list can do so by sending an email to content@natochannel.tv Languages Live material from the press conference will be offered in English, French and Russian. After the event, audio files will also be made available in original sound, English, French and Russian. Accreditation and Access Journalists in possession of a 2018 NATO media pass will be granted access to NATO upon presentation of their pass. Media representatives that do not hold a 2018 NATO media pass will need to request accreditation directly at the main entrance of the NATO Headquarters. In order to request accreditation, media representatives will be required to present an ID and a valid press card. The press card must be issued by a recognised national professional body of a NATO country (i.e. government, professional association or union etc.). Those not in possession of a valid press card must send an email to NATO Press & Media Service. (Fax: +32.2.707.1399, email: moc@hq.nato.int). Points of Contact General queries: Front Office +32.2.707.5041 Press arrangements: Damien Arnaud +32.2.707.5038 Post-event Video distribution content@natochannel.tv Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg) (Natural News) Imagine checking your email and finding a picture of your front porch taken by someone that you have never met or even interacted with a complete stranger. While this may sound like the plot line of a horror film straight out of Hollywood, the reality is that its not; its actually something that Amazon is now doing for people after packages are delivered at their front door. As reported by USA Today, Amazons new service is meant to help customers find where their package was left while they were at work or out running errands, especially if it was intentionally tucked behind a bush or a flower pot to keep it hidden from potential thieves. Additionally, the service forces drivers to prove to customers that they did in fact deliver the package to the customers home address. But while Amazon may have some legitimate reasons as to why they are taking pictures of peoples homes, it really doesnt make the practice any less creepy. When it comes to Amazon, concerns over privacy violations are usually legitimate, especially considering the fact that the electronic commerce giant has a history of spying and surveillance. Just a few months ago, the Daily Mail published an article on Amazons creepy plan to put a camera and microphone in every bedroom with the launch of the Echo Spots smart alarm. Amazon wants to put a camera and microphone in your bedroom with the UK launch of its latest Echo home device, the article explains. The camera on the 119.99 ($129) Echo Spot, which doubles up as a smart alarm, will probably be facing directly at the users bed. The device, which is already available in the US has such sophisticated microphones it can hear people talking from across the room even if music is playing. The Daily Mail went on to note that the primary concern over having such a sophisticated microphone in the bedroom (or any other room in your home, for that matter) is that the device could potentially be hacked and used for malicious purposes. At the end of last year, British security researcher Mark Barnes was able to successfully hack into 2015 and 2016 versions of the Echo and turn them into live microphones, thus proving that such privacy concerns are, at the very least, legitimate. (Related: Amazon wants to put cameras and microphones in every bedroom in America what could possibly go wrong?) And its not just Amazon. Last October, Google announced the launch of Google Clips, a constantly-watching camera that uses AI technology to determine what moments in your everyday life would make a good picture. If the device determines that a particular moment is indeed picture-worthy, then it records a short clip for you. (Related: Be warned Google is recording everything you search and say.) The device, which you can purchase for $249 if youre interested, is said to be completely safe and non-intrusive. Google Clips is designed specifically with parents and pet owners in mind. Its a camera and made to be used intentionally to capture more moments seven-second clips of the people that are important to you, explained Google product manager Juston Payne in an interview with VentureBeat. Still, like Amazon, Google has a history of privacy violations and unethical behavior as well, which makes one question just how credible Google employees like Juston Payne really are. While the advancement of technology from companies like Amazon and Google is definitely something that should be encouraged, its worth noting that these companies also have a responsibility to protect the rights of consumers. Advancements in technology should never be seen as more important than the constitutional liberties of the American people. Sources include: USAToday.com Dailymail.co.uk NewStatesman.com VentureBeat.com (Natural News) Ohio has had enough of the chemical companies who have been polluting local waterways for decades. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the states attorney general is suing chemical company DuPont for dumping perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) into the Ohio River. Also called C8, PFOA is one of the chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). They are used to make metal plating, computer semiconductors, water-resistant coatings, and fire-fighting foam. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established that PFOAs are no longer being produced in the U.S. (Related: Exchanging one poison for another: Its costing the military millions to clean up chemicals from toxic firefighting foam, but the new formula isnt any safer.) Attorney General Mike DeWine stated that DuPont was fully aware of the health risks posed by PFOA. He also noted that the company discharged the toxic chemical into the Ohio River for close to 60 years. We believe the evidence shows that DuPont kept releasing this chemical even though it knew about the harm it could cause, DeWine stated, who called upon DuPont to pay for any damage it caused to the state, citizens, and natural resources of Ohio. The federal lawsuit filed against DuPont described PFOA as a known toxic carcinogen in animals that takes an inordinate amount of time to be broken down through natural means. Human Exposure to PFOA even at very low levels has been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension and low birth weight, high cholesterol and ulcerative colitis, it read. The lawsuit accuses DuPont of negligence that led to PFOA contamination of Ohios environment. Conscious disregard for the right of Ohio and the safety of its citizens has caused and continues to cause substantial harm to Ohio, and the property and natural resources it holds in a trust for its citizens and will likely cause substantial harm in the future, it said. Attorney General DeWine asked DuPont to pay damages for injuring the natural resources of Ohio, compensate the state for contamination-related expenses such as clean-up efforts, and pay restitution damages for any profits that the company made by dumping PFOA into the Ohio River. UC study says DuPont discharged PFOAs into the Ohio River from 1950s to 2015 Ohios legal action comes on the heels of a recent study on PFOA conducted by the University of Cincinnati (UC) that warns DuPont had been dumping PFOA since the 1950s. Researchers looked at the blood samples of more than 900 residents of the mid-Ohio River Valley from 1991 to 2012. They compared the historical PFOA levels to the general population median. The UC research team reported that the likeliest origin points of the contamination are the DuPont Washington Works manufacturing plant and two associated landfills in West Virginia. Both locations are upriver of Ohio. Furthermore, they reported that PFOA plays an important part in the production of Teflon non-stick coating at the DuPont facility. Researcher Susan Pinney said that DuPont released PFOA into the Ohio River from the 1950s until 2015. DuPont facing thousands of other PFOA-related lawsuits Ohios federal lawsuit is just the latest case faced by DuPont since the company was first accused of dumping PFOA years ago. By 2016, DuPont faced 3,500 lawsuits filed by Mid-Ohio Valley residents in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where its Teflon plant and dumping grounds are located. In addition, USA Today reported that the New Jersey city of Carneys Point filed a $1.1 billion lawsuit against the company. The lawsuit stated that DuPont sold off the Chambers Works facility in Deepwater, New Jersey to avoid paying the costs of cleaning up the area. PFOA was invented at Chamber Works in 1938. The site is now owned by Chemours. Stay informed about water pollution in the U.S. by visiting Pollution.news. Sources include: Cincinnati.com HealthNews.uc.edu On 25 March 2018, the French Navy (Marine Nationale) Leygues-class ASW Frigate Jean de Vienne secured their second drug seizure this year in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. A total of 530 kilograms (kgs) of heroin was seized during an operation in the international waters of the Arabian Sea. Jean de Viennes seizure is the tenth for CTF150 since January this year; which together with Her Majestys Australian Ship Warramunga and Pakistani Naval Ship Aslat totals in excess of 22 tonnes of narcotics seized. On 25 March 2018, the French Navy (Marine Nationale) Leygues-class ASW Frigate Jean de Vienne secured their second drug seizure this year in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. A total of 530 kilograms (kgs) of heroin was seized during an operation in the international waters of the Arabian Sea. Jean de Viennes seizure is the tenth for CTF150 since January this year; which together with Her Majestys Australian Ship Warramunga and Pakistani Naval Ship Aslat totals in excess of 22 tonnes of narcotics seized. The French Navy Frigate Jean de Vienne secured their second drug seizure this year in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. The Jean de Viennes Lynx helicopter was conducting routine surveillance in the international waters of the Arabian Sea as part of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). Detecting a vessel of interest, the Jean de Vienne tracked the dhow to investigate further and determined the vessel was suspicious. Boarding teams from Jean de Vienne then conducted a non-destructive search of the vessel and found 20 bags of heroin weighing a total of 530 kgs, a street value of over $120 million USD. After a thorough search, the illegal narcotics were recorded and transferred to Jean de Vienne for safe destruction at sea. ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), front, the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warrawunga (152) and the French Marine Nationale's frigate FS Jean De Vienne (D 643) transit the Arabian Gulf during exercise Intrepid Sentinel. The trilateral exercise is designed to test the ability of coalition forces from multiple nations to work together and counter the challenges that may occur in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Brandon Whiteman/Released) Commander of CTF 150, Commodore Mal Wise, Royal Australian Navy, said the remarkable success of CTF 150 is due to the teamwork between partner nations within the task force and stated that: Providing security and stability in the international waters of the Middle East is essential to ensure the free flow of commerce in the region. CMF accomplishes this through a flexible mix of nations and ships committed to working together in a common purpose. Successful operations, like the recent heroin seizure by Jean de Vienne, are a testament to the important effect strong, multinational partnerships can have in this challenging maritime environment. In 2018, multinational assets in support of CTF150 have seized over 22 tonnes of hashish and over 2 tonnes of heroin, valued street value in excess of $1.6 billion USD. This is the tenth confiscation of drugs in 2018 by CTF 150, currently under Australian leadership, with a combined Australian and Canadian staff and supported by assets from a cross-section of the 32 partner nations that form CMF. A decomposed body found in a shallow grave in Northern California is believed to be that of a missing model whose boyfriend, a suspect in her death, killed himself after a police chase last week, police said Tuesday. The discovery of remains at a site in Nevada County comes amid an LAPD investigation into the disappearance of Adea Shabani, last seen Feb. 23 near the 1700 block of Wilcox Avenue, between Hollywood Boulevard and Franklin Avenue. The 25-year-old had been in Los Angeles for about two years, pursuing an acting career. Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy scheduled for Wednesday before they officially identify the body. The autopsy will also determine cause of death, which was not immediately apparent. The investigation into Shabani's disappearance took a turn last week with a police pursuit that ended in a suicide. A North Hollywood man, identified as Christopher Spotz, 33, shot himself during a police chase that ended in the Corona area. Police said during a news conference on Tuesday that some time after Shabani disappeared, Spotz released a statement through an attorney saying that he and Shabani had been traveling north, they got into an argument and he let her out of the vehicle in Santa Clarita. Police said they couldn't verify Spotz's account, said Capt. Bill Hayes, who heads the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, and concluded it was not true. Shabani and Spotz had both studied at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theater in Hollywood. "We are devastated," said John Jack Rodgers, the Academy's executive director, recalling that she was "growing immensely" in her craft. "She held nothing back." The state of California filed a lawsuit against the Department of Commerce Monday night after the department said the 2020 U.S. Census will include a question about citizenship status. A coalition of state attorneys general urged the department last month to not add such a question, including California Attorney General Xavier Becerra who said, "Including a citizenship question on the 2020 census is not just a bad idea it is illegal." State attorneys said the question could lower participation among immigrants and cause a population undercount. Press secretary Sarah Sanders says the White House "supports" the decision but it "was made at the department level." Congress delegated to the secretary of the Commerce Department the authority to determine census questions. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had until the end of March to submit the list of questions to Congress. The department said the citizenship information would help the Justice Department enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voting rights. "Secretary Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information to meet this legitimate government purpose outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts," the department said in its announcement. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that adding such a question "will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities and cause traditionally undercounted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that President Donald Trump and Ross "should be ashamed of themselves" and that "hopefully the courts will correct this glaring abuse." Lets call this like it is: the census, written about and hallowed in the Constitution, is being distorted by this administration for political purposes," he said. Democratic lawmakers had been bracing for the decision in recent months. They've held press conferences and made it a point to question Ross about his thinking during appearance at congressional hearings. But some Republican lawmakers hailed the decision. GOP Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Ted Cruz of Texas had sent a letter to the Commerce Department asking Ross to add the question. "It is imperative that the data gathered in the census is reliable, given the wide ranging impacts it will have on U.S. policy," Cruz said in a press release issued by the three lawmakers. "A question on citizenship is a reasonable, commonsense addition to the census." The Commerce Department said that between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form. Census counts are taken by mail and by workers walking neighborhoods. The Census Bureau says that the 2010 census drew a massive response, with about 74 percent of the households mailing in forms and the remaining households counted by workers in neighborhoods. A San Francisco Bay Area sheriff's office says it allowed federal deportation officers to enter the jail it operates and interview four inmates in violation of the agency's pro-immigrant sanctuary policies. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith told NBC Bay Area that members of her staff "mistakenly" let U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers enter their facility March 7 and 8. She said none of the four inmates were detained by ICE. Smith said that after learning of the incident the sheriff's office reevaluated and strengthened measures for admitting law enforcement agencies to their facilities. She also said ICE attempted to re-enter the facility again on March 14 and March 26, but they were denied entry. "The County of Santa Clara has a policy of not cooperating with ICE operations. The Sheriffs Office does not accept ICE holds and has a longstanding policy of not allowing ICE agents access to our custody facilities," Smith told NBC Bay Area in a statement. The inmate interviews took place the same week that Attorney General Jeff Sessions sued California over the state's so-called sanctuary laws, escalating a feud between the state and the Trump administration. An American Airlines pilot spotted something mysterious in the sky during a flight from San Francisco to Dallas last month. It happened on Feb. 24. over the southeastern region of Arizona, near an Air Force base. First, the pilot of a leer jet reported an unidentified object flying at 40,000 feet. Air traffic control officials then asked the crew of the American Airlines flight to take a look. Here's what the pilot had to say: "Something just passed over us, like a, don't know what it is, but it was at least 2,000-3,000 feet above us. ... Yeah, it passed right over the top of us. It was really big and bright, or it had a big reflection on it, several thousand feet above us, going in the opposite direction." Officials with air traffic control said it is highly unlikely that the object was a military aircraft, but added they can't rule out a weather balloon or experimental aircraft. Tesla shares fell Tuesday after the National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending investigators to look into a fatal car crash last week in Mountain View California, CNBC reported. An accident caused a Tesla to catch fire Friday, closing all four lanes of southbound U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View and causing significant delays during the morning rush hour. On Tuesday, the NTSB posted the following message on Twitter: "2 NTSB investigators conducting Field Investigation for fatal March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla near Mountain View, CA. Unclear if automated control system was active at time of crash. Issues examined include: post-crash fire, steps to make vehicle safe for removal from scene." "We have been deeply saddened by this accident, and we have offered our full cooperation to the authorities as we work to establish the facts of the incident," the company said to CNBC. CNBC reported that Tesla shares declined more than 4 percent Tuesday to their lowest price since May of last year. The stock is down 17 percent in the last one month. According to the California Highway Patrol, a blue Tesla Model X was driving southbound on US-101 and state Highway 85 junction at freeway speeds when the driver lost control and ran into a median barrier causing the car to catch fire. The Tesla was then hit by a white Mazda as it landed on a lane and then hit by a gray Audi in the next lane. A total of three vehicles were involved. "We saw a big cloud of smoke and then all of a sudden, there was a fire ball in the air," witness Aiden Sanchez said. The driver of the Tesla, the driver, who was identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as Wei Huang, 38, was taken to Stanford University Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. No other injuries were reported. Images from the scene showed the front of the Tesla destroyed as firefighters tried to put the fire out. Tesla sent an employee over to investigate the crash and the subsequent fire. An exposed battery was visible inside the car. A Tesla Model X is a mid-sized, all-electric, luxury crossover SUV made by Tesla with falcon wing doors. It starts at $79,500. CHP officers said the accident was just south of the junction where Highway 101 meets state Highway 85. The CHP thinks the car's battery may have been involved in the explosion. So officers kept their distance and called for backup. "We're used to regular vehicles, now that we have the batteries in these vehicles, we dont know whats in them so we're learning as we go," said CHP officer Art Montiel. A man who was riding his motorcycle down Highway 101 shared what he saw at the scene of crash exclusively to NBC Bay Area after heading over to help. The Good Samaritan has asked that his identity be kept anonymous. An accident caused a Tesla to catch fire Friday morning, closing all four lanes of southbound U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View, according to the California Highway Patrol. "I saw, past the smoke of the smoldering and sputtering Tesla Model X and saw a man running up with a fire extinguisher," he said. "I rounded towards what used to be the front of the car and saw, remarkably, an intact man that was covered in a light layer of dust. The front of the car was simply gone." The motorcycle rider said he checked to see if the man had a pulse and shortly after determining the man was alive he noticed the Tesla wasnt just smoking, but "actively emitting full flames from the battery bank." An accident caused a Tesla to catch fire Friday morning, closing all four lanes of southbound U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Good Samaritan and two other men were able to take the man out of the burning car and according to him, the man was completely unresponsive. "We brought him what we hoped was a safe distance from the wreck, hoping the LiPo batteries werent prone to exploding," he said. "Another man placed the victim in the recovery position." The Good Samaritan said he wished he could have done more to help. tesla Model X catches fire CHP officials are investigating what caused the Tesla to catch fire. Westboro Baptist Church members protested an elementary school in Alamo Tuesday after the group said the school promotes gender diversity. The Kansas-based group picketed outside Rancho Romero Elementary school for its gender equality less plan and for allowing a transgender student to put up a bulletin board promoting gender diversity, according to the group's website and multiple Facebook posts. Protesters arrived at the school at 8:00 a.m., and they were not without opposition. Parents and supporters showed up to the school with rainbow colored umbrellas to counterprotest against the group. The organizer of the counter rally and parent Wendy Coats told NBC Bay Area said she is there to create a "powerful visual" with the umbrellas to show that every child is loved and valued. Coats is joined by other local activists including Rev. Will McGravey, the Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, who said the Westboro Baptist Church also protested in front of four Walnut Creek churches last week. McGravey said he showed up to show solidarity with the LGBT students and to "remind folks that the small hate group does not speak for the broader Christian community or speak for the faith community as a whole." The American Civil Liberty Union also said it planned a "Show Up for Trans Youth" counter rally but canceled due to "wishes of the impacted family and the local trans organizations." The ACLU said instead of a street demonstration, they want to encourage people to make donations to local organizations for transgender youth. No one at ACLU was available for comment but Sandra Collins, Executive Director and Founder of enGender, told NBC Bay Area in a statement: "For many of us who love and support our gender diverse children, the Westboro Baptist Church protest is extremely hurtful, hateful and contrary to the very principles of an inclusive society, especially an our American society." Prior to the protest, the school said its focus will be on the student and staff safety. "We have a plan in place, and are working very closely with law enforcement, to mitigate the impact of the protest on our school," San Ramon Valley Unified School District's Director of Communications Elizabeth Graswich said. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for its anti-LGBT beliefs and for holding protests across the country, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. West Virginia's House has OK'd a 5 percent pay raise negotiated by the governor to end a walkout by the state's teachers though schools in all 55 counties plan to stay closed Thursday. House approval of Gov. Jim Justice's proposed raise came on a 98-1 vote Wednesday evening. The Senate, which had adjourned earlier, was expected to consider it Thursday. Its leader, President Mitch Carmichael, expressed skepticism about the governor's suddenly higher projected tax increases that would pay for the pay boosts but said that chamber would review it. Hundreds of teachers gathered inside the Capitol on Wednesday protesting low pay and projected increases in their insurance costs and chanted "we won't back down." Others held a sign targeting legislators in the upcoming primary: "Make 'em pay in May." They occupied the House galleries to watch the vote. "We would not be here looking at this had they not stood up and said enough is enough is enough is enough," said Delegate Rick Moye, a Raleigh County Democrat. What they really want most is a permanent funding fix to offset rising insurance costs, he added. Teachers and service personnel in all West Virginia's 55 counties walked off the job last Thursday, noting they were among the lowest paid in the country. All 100 seats in the House are up for election this year, along with half the 34 seats in the Senate. Teachers have promised to pay close attention to each lawmaker's actions and vote accordingly. Justice announced the deal Tuesday evening after meeting with union leaders for teachers in all 55 counties. They'd been expected to return to work Thursday after striking a week earlier, but some strikers said they weren't satisfied. "We believe the best course of action at this time is to return to school," West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee said at a news conference. "However we realize that not everyone will." Lee said he hoped teachers in the closed counties return to work soon, based on evidence of progress on the pay bill and the fact that the insurance task force has been established. Justice announced Tuesday night a proposed 5 percent pay raise in the first year, which begins July 1, a more generous offer than a pay raise bill he signed less than a week ago with 2 percent raises. The governor's projected $58 million increase in state revenues during that fiscal year would cover the higher raises. The teachers are also upset over rising costs in the insurance plan covering West Virginia's public employees, which the Public Employees Insurance Agency has agreed to freeze in the coming year. Justice ordered a task force to find a solution and consider various possible methods including a dedicated additional tax on the state's growing natural gas production, something teachers have proposed. A fight over money at a Walmart in Lebanon, New Hampshire led to the arrest of three people in the frozen food section of the store. The altercation reportedly started when Calvin Molina, 25, came to the store to confront Juan Marin, 27, about some money he owed him, according to a statement from Lebanon police. Things eventually escalated into a fight between the two men. By the time Lebanon officers arrived on the scene, Molina had a head laceration and Marin was being restrained by an off-duty Hartford police officer and other bystanders. Molina was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment - but not before he snapped a smiling selfie of his bloodied face and what appears to be a slashed brow. Marin was charged with two counts of simple assault, Molina with one charge of simple assault and resisting arrest. Both are due in Lebanon District Court in May. A third person, Yamaris Marin, 20, was charged with two counts of simple assault. She is accused of assaulting the off-duty officer who attempted to break up the fight and then interfering with Lebanon officers attempting to take Molina into custody. Her arraignment will happen in Grafton County because she received an enhanced misdemeanor for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Police are searching for a teen from Arlington, Massachusetts who has been missing since Sunday. Owen Blake, 14, was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and black Nike sneakers. He may have also been on a black BMX bike. Anyone with information on Owen's whereabouts is asked to call Arlington police at 781-643-1212. Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes, who survived the terrorist attack during his band's concert at the Bataclan theater in Paris in 2015, took to Instagram Sunday to slam the survivors of the Parkland shooting as "vile abusers of the dead," in the wake of Saturdays student-led March For Our Lives demonstrations across the country. Hughes accompanied the comment with a vulgar Instagram post equating gun violence with sexual assault. "It might be funny if it wasnt so pathetic and disgusting......As the survivor of a mass shooting I can tell you from first-hand experience that all of you protesting and taking days off from school insult the memory of those who were killed and abuse and insult me and every other lover of liberty by your every action," Hughes wrote. He accused Gonzalez of being "the Awful Face of Treason" and a "survivor of Nothing" before deleting another Instagram post which featured a doctored photo of Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez ripping apart the U.S. constitution, NBC News reported. Gonzalez spoke with other Parkland, Florida, students on Saturday at the March for Our Lives protest in Washington to demand action on gun control after a former classmate armed with an AR-15 rifle went on a rampage at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17. "The best thing to do to combat chronic abusers and disregarders of the law(like the law against Murder) is to........pass another Law!.....Genius!!!," Hughes wrote. "But before we pass this law were going to denigrate the memory and curse ourselves by exploiting the death of 16 of our fellow students for a few Facebook likes and some media attention." It's not the first time that Gonzalez has faced criticism since coming to prominence for "calling BS" on politicians during a gun control rally in the days after 17 people were killed in the attack on her school. Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) Facebook page for his campaign took issue with the Cuban flag on Gonzalez's jacket at Saturday's march. Republican Maine House candidate Leslie Gibson earlier derided Gonzalez as a "skinhead lesbian." He later dropped out of the race amid backlash over the insult. The mother of two children who were killed in an Indiana apartment complex fire over the weekend was charged Tuesday, authorities said. A third child jumped from a window and was rescued by neighbors below. Kristen Alyse Gober, 33, of Gary, was charged with neglect of a dependent causing death, neglect of a dependent and possession of marijuana. She was in police custody Tuesday afternoon. Thick smoke swallowed up the third and fourth floors of the building in the 5800 block of Forest Court on Sunday. Hundreds of residents were displaced due to the fire. "It was discovered that Kristen Gober left her three small children unattended in their apartment for an extended period of time," police said in a statement. "During the time the children were unattended a fire started in the kitchen area of the apartment." Gober was originally taken into custody due to outstanding warrants, police said. Cell phone footage from Indiana rescuers showed the inside of the Lakeshore dunes apartment building where the fire broke out. Authorities said a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy died on the fourth floor. The video captured shows their older brother merely wearing pajama pants, trying to go up the stairs to save them, but ultimately failed. The 8-year-old boy is seen in the video yelling my brother and sister are up there." "They were telling him to jump and he had tears in his eyes," resident rescuer David Stone said. Richard Johnson was also one of the rescuers at the scene. "We all held the sheet and he jumped down," Johnson explained. According to another rescuer, the older sibling mentioned that his mother hadn't been home since the night before. Residents said it will be difficult for them to return to work and school. They also said they'd like to see management do more. NBC 5 reached out to the management office Monday and the office responded with "no comment." In the meantime, residents are being moved to a shelter in Hobart Tuesday. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) wants to bridge the linguistic gap between health professionals and Spanish-speaking patients. Beginning this summer, SCSU will offer a 12-credit certificate program called a Certificate in Spanish and Latino Cultures for Health Professionals to working medical personnel like doctors, nurses and EMTs. The program is a shorter version of the universitys current minor program and could take less than a year to complete, as opposed to a year and a half that it takes to complete the minor program. The program will help professionals in the medical field communicate with patients and understand vocabulary they actually need to know in their profession. "We want to make sure that the worker (the clinician, the nurse) is able to understand the patient and be also conscious of the cultural background of the diverse, cultural background of the Hispanic population," the associate professor of Spanish at CSCU, William Flores, said. Flores said students need to have some level of proficiency in Spanish, whether they took courses in high school, college or even traveled to a foreign country and a placement exam. For those interested who are not proficient in Spanish, they may take the course Elementary Spanish for Health Professionals before the begin the certificate program. Dina Martinez lives in New Haven but is originally from Puerto Rico and she only speaks Spanish. She told NBC Connecticut o that it is tough to communicate with health professionals because of the language barrier. "When you go somewhere and find that no one can speak Spanish, I cant communicate with them. So I have to bring an interpreter," Martinez told NBC Connecticut in Spanish. Juan Salas understands Martinez's situation. The Guilford resident has been able to learn English, though he said it wasnt easy to head to the doctors office just after he moved to Connecticut from Venezuela in 2004. "When I first came here it was tough because some words are not exactly the same," Salas said. Martinez said opening up the certificate program is a positive push forward, especially for patients like her. The Connecticut State College and University (CSCU) system is using federal funding to train students and staff on how to prevent sexual assault. Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) hosted a forum focused on the issue of stalking on campus on Monday morning. "Were really seeing more people stepping up and speaking out about their experiences and the experiences and the experiences that theyve seen people close to them have," SCSU senior Jessica Holman said of the #MeToo movement. At SCSU, Holman is a peer educator teaching other students about sexual misconduct. "Offering them definitions of what is consent, what is sexual assault, what is stalking, what is intimate partner violence," Holman said. Students, victim advocates and law enforcement officials attended the presentation about stalking that is part of the CSCU systems efforts to prevent sexual assault and dating violence an all 17 campuses. "It just shows that Connecticut has seen and identified that this is an important issue," Jennifer Landhuis, the director of the Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center, said. Landhuis visits college campuses across the country. "Helping people understand how stalking intersects with the crime of domestic violence and of sexual assault but also helping people understand that it doesnt have to intersect with those crimes," Landhuis said. More than 1,000 CSCU students have taken part in training on how bystanders can intervene before an inappropriate situation escalates. "We use three 'Ds' of bystander intervention at Southern," Holman explained. "Which is to directly intervene, to create a distraction or to delegate responsibility to someone that you trust." Holman said she is proud of how her university is handling the issue of sexual misconduct, but she had a message for other college students. "If youre not satisfied with the resources that youre campus is providing, dont be afraid to use your voice and question the procedures that exist," Holman said. The Senate voted down Andrew McDonald's nomination for the State Supreme Court of Connecticut on Tuesday. One Democrat voted with every Republican. The defeat of Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's State Supreme Court chief justice nominee on Tuesday has been generating political reverberations in Connecticut, where an open governor's seat and control of the General Assembly are at stake in November. "No legislative leader, let alone a member of the Connecticut bar, has nitpicked, parsed, and deconstructed the decisions of a sitting judge more than Senator [Senator] Fasano did today. His overtly political behavior and his desire to focus on the outcome of decisions rather than the qualifications of the nominee is the very antithesis of how legislators should handle judicial nominations," Malloy said in a statement on Tuesday after the vote. "It is now an undeniable fact that Andrew McDonald has been treated differently than others who came before him. It begs the question, what is different about Justice McDonald that so concerns Connecticut Republicans?" Some who support elevating Associate Justice Andrew McDonald to the high court's top job took to Twitter, accusing Republican lawmakers of opposing the former Democratic state senator because he is gay. One Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives said the lack of Republican support for McDonald in the Senate "should motivate progressives across the entire state" to support Democratic candidates. "We can't let homophobia take control of the legislature in the fall," tweeted Joseph Young of Manchester during Tuesday's debate. He included the hashtag "bluewave2018." If confirmed, McDonald would be the first openly gay state supreme court chief justice. Democratic gubernatorial candidates also pledged support for McDonald during the debate. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who is considering a run for governor, said the next governor should re-nominate McDonald for chief justice, calling him "the right person for the job." He urged other Democratic candidates to take the same stand. "The bridge is finally connected between Washington Republicans and Connecticut Republicans based on all 18 state Senate Republicans all voting no on a qualified candidate. It's totally unprecedented," explained Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. "This shows that they are basically bear-hugging the tactics of the Trump administration and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell down in Washington. There's a lot of constituencies out here who will not forget." Republican Joe Visconti, who recently switched from running for governor to U.S. Senate, fired back at Duff on Twitter, telling him "to get used to it pal" and to "get your Kleenex ready" when Republicans take control of the General Assembly and governor's mansion. McDonald's nomination narrowly cleared the House of Representatives earlier this month by a single vote. In the Senate, there are an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, but one Democrat is recusing herself, requiring GOP support. Republican senators defended their opposition to McDonald during Tuesday's debate, strongly denying it has anything to do with the jurist's sexuality, politics or McDonald's longtime friendship with Malloy. Rather, they blamed his record and actions over the past five years on the court, his stances as the co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and a heightened concern about judicial activism an accusation McDonald denied during his confirmation hearing. Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano of North Haven expressed disgust with the unprecedented robo calls and TV ads that have run in recent weeks, accusing the GOP of homophobia and urging them to support McDonald. "We didn't push back or fight it because to me it's just noise," he said. "Most people who make those arguments make them because they have not analyzed the case and it's an easy fallback position." JR Romano, the chairman of Connecticut Republican Party, acknowledged there was "a lot of drama happening up at the state Capitol" on Tuesday during a live announcement on Facebook. He accused Democrats of "not wanting to talk about what's really happening" in Connecticut, mentioning a Democratic lawmaker's proposal for a statewide property tax. "Every day average families need to understand that in the next year, voting for any Democrat would mean more taxes," he said. "While you hear all of this other drama that the Democrats are creating about Washington, about all of this nonsense in terms of these accusations against Republicans that are unfounded, the reality is, it's because they have failed you," Romano said. The contract to repair the aging Mixmaster in downtown Waterbury may be awarded to a company with past safety issues in Connecticut. Repairing the Mixmaster, which connects Interstate 84 and Route 8 in downtown Waterbury, will not be cheap. The lowest qualified bid received by the State Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is over $150 million from Chicago-based Walsh Construction Company. Federal law requires projects such as the Mixmaster, which will receive federal funding, to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Walsh Construction Co., in a joint venture with PCL Civil Constructors, was the lead contractor on the Moses Wheeler Bridge expansion. There, a string of safety incidents, including two cranes tipping over, forced the CTDOT to temporarily suspend them from the project. The companies were reinstated after revamping their safety program. Walsh Construction Co. has since completed work on the Pearl Harbor Memorial bridge, also known as the Q bridge in New Haven and the CTDOT said they are qualified to bid on the Mixmaster project. Don Shubert, the President of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association, said Walsh Construction Co. is well-established in Connecticut and an active member of their association. He said the CTDOT has rigorous safety requirements for contractors and that the state is aggressive about enforcing them and asking for detailed safety plans. Shubert added that construction is a dangerous business, but said, "we have plenty of confidence in them operating in Connecticut." In a statement, the CTDOT said they utilize the highest industry standards and have a multi-layered system of oversight and accountability that begins before a project is even awarded to a contractor. The CTDOT has not yet announced if Walsh will win the Mixmaster project. The second lowest bidder, Torrington-based O&G Industries also has prior safety concerns. Six of their workers died in the 2010 explosion at the Kleen Energy power plant in Middletown. The Russian military on Thursday accused Syria's rebels of shelling a humanitarian corridor that Moscow set up with the Syrian government, offering residents of Damascus' besieged eastern suburbs a way out of the embattled enclave. Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a five-hour daily humanitarian pause to allow civilians to exit the region. The daily pauses began on Tuesday but so far, no humanitarian aid has gone in and no civilians have left the area, known as eastern Ghouta. The eastern suburbs a cluster of several towns and villages on Damascus' eastern edge have faced a deadly and brutal onslaught for weeks by Syrian government troops, backed by Russia. Residents say they do not trust the truce and the U.N. and aid agencies have criticized the unilateral arrangement, saying it gave no guarantees of safety for residents wishing to leave. The eastern Ghouta residents also fear their region would meet the same fate as the eastern, rebel-held half of the city of Aleppo, where a similar Russian-ordered pause in 2016 called on residents to evacuate the area and for gunmen to lay down their arms. A full ground assault followed, finally bringing Aleppo under government control. Russian Maj. Gen. Vladimir Zolotukhin told Russia news agencies that the militants who control the suburbs are shelling the route, manned by Syrian and Russian forces, and preventing evacuations. State-run al-Ikhbariya TV reported that dozens of civilians had gathered on the edge of eastern Ghotua to leave, but were prevented by insurgents from reaching a crossing point into government-controlled areas. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said before the truce went into effect at 9 a.m. on Thursday, government shelling and airstrikes on eastern Ghouta killed three people. The opposition's Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets, confirmed the casualty figure. State-run Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA, said Thursday that a civilian was wounded by a mortar shell fired by the insurgents in eastern Ghouta at the Bab al-Salam area in the old city of Damascus. The Russia-ordered pause came after a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a nationwide 30-day cease-fire failed to take hold. While the relentless bombing has somewhat subsided in eastern Ghouta, home to around 400,000 civilians, the Syrian government's push to squeeze the insurgents out of the region continued. Elsewhere in Syria, a convoy of 28 trucks carrying aid entered the northern Kurdish enclave of Afrin, where Turkish troops have been on the offensive since June 20 against Syrian Kurdish fighters. The government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media said Turkish troops and Turkey-backed opposition fighters targeting the convoy near the village of Marimameen. The Observatory said Turkish warplanes conducted airstrikes as the convoy was heading toward Afrin. Ankara has said that Turkey would not suspend its military operations against the Syrian Kurdish fighters during the 30-day cease-fire demanded by the United Nations. Turkish government spokesman Bekir Bozdag said Thursday that Turkish authorities read carefully the text of the U.N. Security Council resolution and claimed that it does not apply to the Afrin offensive since it excludes operations against terror groups. Turkey considers the U.S-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, a "terrorist" organization connected to a Kurdish insurgency within its own borders. The YPG is a top U.S. ally in Syria in the fight against the Islamic State group. Bozdag said the Turkish operations have not interrupted humanitarian aid and civilians have not been harmed in Afrin. "An innocent civilian did not even get a nosebleed," he said. Associated Press writer Zeynep Bilginsoy contributed to this report. Plans for a new substance abuse treatment facility in Kent are currently on hold because a not-for-profit competitor is suing to stop it from opening. The state of Connecticut had more than 1,000 opioid-related deaths in 2017. The backers of this new facility said the additional resources will help by providing more treatment options for those battling addiction. But another treatment center in town has filed a lawsuit to stop the proposed project citing concerns about the proposed location and increased pressure on first responders. This is going to be a major positive, said Ari Raskas, who will manage the new facility. Raskas has plans to convert an old nursing home on Maple Street in Kent into the new facility. Raskas said the nursing home has been vacant for two and a half years. Kents Planning and Zoning Commission gave Raskas the green light in October 2017 to convert the building into an 85-bed for-profit, voluntary, inpatient drug and alcohol rehab facility called the Birch Hill Recovery Center. Raskas said the project will bring close to 100 new jobs. To treat so many of the people right now who are suffering Connecticut has only 200 non-hospital detox beds, Raskas told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters. Raskas said Birch Hill will be accepting commercial and private insurance plans but not Medicaid patients. Birch Hill will be admitting patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) as well as patients suffering from alcohol or other substance use disorders (SUD), Raskas said. Raskas is proposing 58 intensive treatment rehabilitation beds, 22 detox beds and five medical triage beds for the new facility, The project would provide what some community members said are desperately needed resources, as well as solve the problem of the unused nursing home property. We need something, plus weve got a building sitting up there with no tax, Carol Hall, a longtime Kent taxpayer, told NBC Connecticut. Kent resident Mona Burns, who has been in recovery for several years, said she supports the project because it gives people another option to get help. I support the beds we need as much help as we can get especially in this area, in particular with the heroin epidemic and the fentanyl thing. Its deadly serious and it needs to be addressed, its hard not to support, Burns said. But some worry an additional rehabilitation facility could put too much pressure on Kents first responders. There are already two facilities in town, including Kents High Watch Recovery Center, which is now suing to stop the new center from moving in. In the lawsuit, High Watch calls the commissions decision unreasonable arbitrary illegal and unlawful. The suit adds, The Kent volunteer ambulance service and single regional paramedic will be unable to accommodate the increased call volume from the birch hill facility, and therefore will be unavailable to treat High Watch patients when needed. The chief of the volunteer fire department agrees with that concern. A facility like this, we believe will increase call volume, which may overtax our current EMS system, Chief Alan Gawel told the Troubleshooters over the phone. Raskas responded to those concerns. Were going above and beyond as it relates to the staffing ratio, the staffing mix that we have because we are going to be providing a higher level of medical care and so by doing so were obviously going to be much more capable of medical issues that may arise that wouldnt be a strain on local ambulances," he said. "Safety is of paramount concern to us. All we can do is run the best professional organization we possibly can. Were going to have 24/7 security on site, well have the proper protocols in place to deal with any related issues that come up. One of the biggest concerns is the location of the proposed facility, which is only a half mile from the center of town. Land use attorney Joe Williams, who represents the not-for-profit High Watch, declined to answer our questions but shared some of his concerns at a public hearing about the walking distance between Birch Hill and schools as well as businesses that sell alcohol. Kent Planning and Zoning officials said they approved the permit because it meets town regulations. We actually figured we would probably get sued either way the decision went, there are interests, and emotions, said John Johnson, the chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Raskas told NBC Connecticut theyve filed a motion to dismiss High Watch Recovery Centers lawsuit. The case is currently working its way through the court system. A public hearing for Birch Hills state certification application will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at 19 Main St. in New Milford. A decision wont come that day, but is expected within 60 days of the hearing. Police in Louisiana say a stranger with a machete tried to snatch two children from their mothers inside a Walmart. Kenner police describe the case in a Facebook post. They say 33-year-old Billy Yoe Budier-Herrera tried to take a 2-year-old boy from his mother's grocery cart, at one point both of them pulling the child. She prevailed but the man then ran through the store, swinging the machete at employees who tried to intervene. Police say he then spotted another mother with a baby strapped into the child seat of a grocery cart, and was trying to remove the infant when store employees tackled him. An off-duty Kenner Police Department officer who was working security at the retail store detained Budier-Herrera. Budier-Herrara is charged with two counts of kidnapping of a child, aggravated assault and other offenses. It's unclear if he has a lawyer. Orange County supervisors voted Tuesday to join U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' lawsuit challenging California's so-called sanctuary state legislation prohibiting law enforcement from fully cooperating with federal immigration-enforcement authorities. The California Values Act prohibits local law enforcement officials throughout the state from asking about immigration status. It also bars local authorities from holding undocumented immigrants in jails until federal authorities can pick them up. State officials say the law does not stop sheriff's deputies from giving immigration authorities access to jails to interview inmates. Also, local law enforcement officials may cooperate with the deportation of state convicts in prison or inmates in local jails being held for a list of serious offenses. Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel originally proposed a resolution condemning the state law, which she called "totally unconstitutional." The board on Tuesday also approved that resolution. Steel's introduction of the resolution prompted Supervisor Shawn Nelson to propose joining Sessions' lawsuit. Nelson has long criticized resolutions as being relatively toothless and often not having anything to do with county business. President Donald Trump cheered the move Wednesday, tweeting: "My Administration stands in solidarity with the brave citizens in Orange County defending their rights against California's illegal and unconstitutional Sanctuary policies. California's Sanctuary laws ... release known dangerous criminals into communities across the State. All citizens have the right to be protected by Federal law and strong borders." The county's action came on the heels of the Los Alamitos City Council's preliminary vote to "exempt" that city from the state law. The city's action drew a rebuke from the American Civil Liberties Union, which has pledged to sue the city if it gives final approval to its ordinance. Several residents spoke in support of the county opposing the state law, but multiple others called Sessions' lawsuit "racist" and "divisive." Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, implored the county to oppose the state law. "By making us a sanctuary city and state, we're doing nothing more than attracting millions more people to come to this country and to consume the very wealth that is necessary for our quality of life,'' Rohrabacher said. He added "this flow of illegals'' has "brought down our quality of education," as well as healthcare and housing. "Millions of people come here to get their benefits," Rohrabacher said. "If we don't act rationally, we are hurting everybody." Rohrabacher claimed the country spends $23 billion annually "to handle illegal immigrant benefits." Supervisor Todd Spitzer said it was an issue of law enforcement safety. He recalled his years as a police officer attempting to arrest suspects. "Those are very, very scary moments," Spitzer said. "It is much safer to be able to transfer the custody of somebody who is already in custody." When some in the audience jeered him, Spitzer said, "You can boo me all you want, but you haven't worked the streets the way I have. ... This allows the appropriate handing off of someone appropriately in custody.'' Nelson said he is concerned the state law makes it harder for local law enforcement to work with federal authorities. Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced Monday that her department will now publicly release information about the release of undocumented immigrants from the county's jails. Hutchens opposed the state law because she felt it would hinder her department's cooperation with federal authorities. A spokesman for the governor's office said it was unlikely Gov. Jerry Brown would react to the move. But Sen. Kevin De Leon, D-Los Angeles, slammed the move. "The county that gave us Prop. 187 more than two decades ago is at it again with another unconstitutional attack on our immigrant communities,'' De Leon said. "I am confident the courts will reject this challenge to SB 54, just as they roundly rejected Prop. 187." Proposition 187 was a 1994 ballot initiative approved by voters that sought to end state services like healthcare and public education for those in the state illegally. De Leon added, "This kind of obsessive immigrant bashing is embarrassing to the county and its residents, and seems designed to court the approval of a racist president and his cronies." De Leon said the "efforts to portray hardworking immigrants as criminals are a repulsive, black stain on California's history." Nelson decried arguments that the county's move was racist or bigoted. "We've gotten to a point of an entitlement attitude -- if you disagree you're a bad person, you're morally bankrupt if you don't see the world the same way I do,'' Nelson said. "I'm not a racist." Nelson said the proper way to address the issue is to take it to the courts. And the state's law sends mixed messages to law enforcement, he argued. "They shouldn't be conflicted," Nelson said of police. "If talking to another law enforcement agency puts them at risk of violating the law, that's just not right." The vote drew praise from Justice Department spokesman Devin O'Malley. "The Justice Department welcomes Orange County's decision to support our lawsuit against California's so-called 'sanctuary state' policies," O'Malley said in a statement. "Orange County's residents have experienced firsthand the negative effects of SB 54, which mandates releasing criminal aliens back into their communities instead of into the custody of federal immigration authorities." What to Know James Matthew Soltis of Lockport, Illinois, didn't return as planned from an Everglades Wilderness Waterway kayaking trip. His daughter told Everglades National Park rangers that Soltis departed from the Flamingo Visitor Center on March 15. Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Park Service say they have found a 57-year-old man who didn't return from a 10-day kayaking trip into the Florida Everglades. The Coast Guard issued a statement that James Matthew Soltis of Lockport, Illinois, was located after he didn't return as planned from the Everglades Wilderness Waterway. His daughter told Everglades National Park rangers that Soltis departed from the Flamingo Visitor Center on March 15 and was expected back on Sunday. National Park officials searched for Soltis on Monday and asked the Coast Guard for help Monday night. A helicopter crew was dispatched for a first-light search Tuesday morning. Actress Cynthia Nixon blasted Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a "bully" and a "wannabe Republican" Monday during her first visit to Albany since announcing her bid for New York governor. The "Sex and the City" star and public education advocate criticized the two-term governor for not doing enough to ensure equal opportunities for poor and minority students. She also faulted Cuomo's effort to combat government corruption and said that while he touts himself as a progressive, he's governed as a member of what she called Albany's "old boys' club." "We've all seen it: Andrew the bully. He bullies other elected officials. He bullies anyone who criticizes him," Nixon said. "It reminds me of the behavior we see from Donald Trump every day. My experience has taught me that there is only one way to deal with a bully. You have to stand up to him." Nixon's from-the-left challenge to Cuomo in September's Democratic primary has upended what many had predicted to be an easy re-election for Cuomo, the son of the late Gov. Mario Cuomo. An ally of Cuomo's nemesis, Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, Nixon's bid is highlighting Cuomo's often uneasy relationship with liberals in his own party. A spokesman for Cuomo's re-election campaign did not immediately respond to messages seeking a response to Nixon's comments Monday. The campaign has previously pointed to Cuomo's achievements including legalizing gay marriage, tightening gun restrictions, raising the minimum wage, expanding public education funding and banning fracking. Cuomo's allies came to his defense Monday, with labor leader Hector Figueroa saying the election will come down to who can best serve New Yorkers, "not who can seize the most headlines by waging personal attacks against another candidate." Nixon, a 51-year-old New York native and Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner has never held public office, but as an activist she has lobbied extensively for better education funding and advocated for gay rights. She is the mother of three children and if elected would be the state's first openly gay governor. She faces a difficult run. Cuomo has a $30 million war chest and is considered a possible 2020 White House contender. A Siena College poll released last week showed Cuomo leading Nixon 66 percent to 19 percent among registered Democrats, and by a similar margin among self-identified liberals. Nixon did a little better among younger and upstate Democrats but didn't have more than a quarter of either group. What to Know Francisco Quiroz-Zamora, 41, was arrested in a sting operation late last year after he traveled to NYC to collect payment from an undercover An indictment in state court charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl in two boroughs The drug is far stronger than heroin and cheaper to produce, making the potential profit margin much higher for traffickers An alleged drug kingpin has been indicted on charges of flooding the New York City area with enough fentanyl to kill about 10 million people in an operation based out of an apartment that was featured in the hit 1990s sitcom "Seinfeld," prosecutors announced Tuesday. Francisco Quiroz-Zamora is charged with the state's top narcotics charge, operating as a major trafficker, as well as conspiracy and criminal sale of a controlled substance. He and five co-defendants are named in the indictment. Quiroz-Zamora, 41, was initially arrested in a sting operation late last year after he traveled to New York City to collect a payment from an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer, authorities said. An indictment in state court charges him in connection with the seizure of more than 44 pounds of fentanyl last year at a hotel in the Bronx and at a Central Park West apartment used as a stash house. That Central Park West building was used for exterior shots of Elaine Benes' apartment in "Seinfeld;" interior sets for the show -- including the inside of Benes' apartment -- were all in Los Angeles. Quiroz-Zamora pleaded not guilty and was held without bail. Another defendant, Carlos Ramirez, also pleaded not guilty and is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail at an arraignment on Tuesday. His attorney said his client is innocent and did not know about the operation. Last year, seizures of fentanyl in cases brought by the narcotics prosecutor increased from 35 pounds to 491 pounds. At the same time, fatal overdoses tied to fentanyl reached an all-time high of more than 1,400 in New York City in 2017, officials said. The drug is far stronger than heroin and cheaper to produce, making the potential profit margin much higher for traffickers who usually mix it with heroin for sale to users who often don't know what they're getting, officials said. "In New York City and across the nation, fentanyl is causing untold tragedy as it pushes the number of overdose deaths ever higher, Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said in a statement. "This indictment demonstrates our collaborative approach and commitment to tracking those at the top of the lethal supply chain and putting them out of business permanently." According to U.S. authorities, Quiroz-Zamora, who lived in San Jose del Cabo in Baja, had the drugs smuggled by cars, trucks and couriers over the border into Arizona and California before the supplies reached the New York City area. Last year, an undercover officer posing as a drug dealer reached Quiroz-Zamora by phone and struck a deal with him to buy the fentanyl for between $45,000 and $50,000 per kilo, authorities said. In November, Quiroz-Zamora traveled to New York to collect a payment from the undercover officer, authorities said. Agents intercepted him as he arrived by train at Penn Station in Manhattan. "This investigation provides the American public with an inside view of a day in the life of a Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker, including international travel, money pick-ups, and clandestine meetings, DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt said in a statement. "At the cusp of mainstream fentanyl overdoses, Quiroz-Zamora oversaw the delivery of multi-kilogram loads of fentanyl to New York, powerful enough to kill millions." What to Know FDNY Lt. Michael Davidson will be laid to rest Tuesday after a funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan Davidson's body was escorted on the L.I.E. and the FDR Drive, passing mourners along the route. Thousands have packed the church and streets Davidson leaves behind a wife and four young children. The mayor, fire commissioner and his younger brother were among those who spoke. Thousands of mourners gathered at Manhattan's famed St. Patrick's Cathedral Tuesday to bid farewell to the decorated firefighter and married father of four killed while battling a five-alarm blaze on a movie set last week in Harlem. Dozens of motorcycles helped escort a fire engine carrying the flag-bedecked casket of Lt. Michael Davidson, 37, along a highway in solemn, miles-long procession Tuesday morning; fire trucks lined overpasses as colleagues stood to in salute of the fallen hero who got separated from his crew. As the procession continued down FDR Drive, drivers and passengers, passersby and construction workers along the highway and on overpasses also paused to salute Davidson, Chopper 4 showed. A portion of Fifth Avenue in front of St. Patrick's was shut down for the funeral. Throngs of uniformed firefighters awaited Davidson's body outside, saluting his casket as it was brought into the cathedral. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, noting that Catholics are observing Holy Week, said that Fire Department of New York Lt. Michael Davidson gave his life for others, as Jesus did. The blood of Davidson - who hailed from a family of firefighters - contained "the DNA of the FDNY," Dolan said, and his name "radiates goodness, valor and virtue as sparkling as the badge he wears." Davidson, a 15-year veteran of the FDNY who had been noted for bravery several times, died of smoke inhalation in the smoky building at St. Nicholas Avenue and 149th Street on Thursday, the medical examiner ruled. He leaves behind his wife and four young children -- a son and three daughters. His father is retired from the FDNY and his younger brother Eric is also a New York City firefighter. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Dan Nigro both spoke at the service, noting his extraordinary leadership and his devotion to his family. "Michael made this city great through his actions every day," said de Blasio. Nigro said it was clear from the beginning of his career that Davidson, who was posthumously promoted to lieutenant, was special. "Those who battled alongside him will tell you, Lt. Michael Davidson was a natural-born nozzleman," said Nigro. "Many nights, Mike led his company into a fire toward the danger using his remarkable abilities and talents to extinguish the fire." "Mike commanded every situation and led his fellow firefighters into battle. He wasn't their captain, he wasn't their lieutenant, but he was without question their leader." A somber bagpipe procession escorted the fire engine carrying the casket of fallen FDNY hero Michael Davidson to St. Patricks Cathedral. Davidson died last week when a five-alarm fire broke out on a movie set in Harlem. Davidson's brother Eric said he's been his hero his entire life. "From the day I was born, he was watching over. And I know he still is and always will be," he said. Eric Davidson offered a moment of levity when he told mourners that a million thoughts ran through his mind when he learned of his brother's death, but "one of the first moments that ran through my mind -- other than Eileen and the kids, obviously -- was, 'Wow, I'm never going to celebrate a Mets or Jets championship with my brother." He continued, "But then I paused and quickly realized that we could have lived till we were 100 years old and probably still not have gotten to see that happen," eliciting laughter through the church. "He just had this aura about him that you would think to yourself, 'Wow, if I could just be a fraction of the man that he is, then I'm doing all right for myself," said Eric. As the service drew to a close, FDNY firefighters carried Davidson's casket outside of the church and back onto the fire truck amid salutes. The fatal fire broke out in the basement of an apartment building used as the set of "Motherless Brooklyn," which is being directed by Ed Norton and stars Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Leslie Mann. Norton took to social media on Saturday to praise the FDNYs bravery and his film crews quick thinking. Davidson was promoted posthumously Saturday to a lieutenant. Meanwhile, the fire-gutted Harlem building is expected to be demolished, though it's not clear when that will happen. The Department of Buildings issued the building owner has hired a general contractor for demolition, and vacate orders have been issued for neighboring buildings until the demolition of 773 St. Nicholas Ave. is finished. What to Know 10 people were arrested for allegedly running loan sharking and gambling operations connected to the Lucchese organized crime family The loan sharking operation is the largest operation ever investigated by the New York Attorney General The investigation known as Operation The Vig Is Up involved the loan sharking, bookmaking of alleged Lucchese family members Ten people were arrested for allegedly running loan sharking and gambling operations connected to the Lucchese organized crime family. The loan sharking operation is the largest operation ever investigated by the New York Attorney General, with interest payouts exceeding a million dollars just during the approximately one-year investigation, according to the Attorney Generals Office. Known as Operation The Vig Is Up," the long-term investigation involved the alleged loan sharking and bookmaking activities of Lucchese made member Dominick Capelli, 61, of New Rochelle, New York, and alleged Lucchese associates or non-made crew members in Westchester and the Bronx, New York States Eric Schneiderman announced in a statement. This brazen ring of criminals preyed on New Yorkers using a gambling operation to funnel victims into their loan sharking operation, and then saddling them with usurious loan payments, Schneiderman said. Wire taps, covert surveillance camera, a car bug, undercover officers and hidden cameras were all used to gather evidence during the long-term investigation. Authorities identified more than 47 different loan sharking victims, many with various loans. The victims were allegedly required to make weekly payments with high interests by directly paying certain individuals or by dropping off the cash at two New Rochelle businesses: McKiernans Lawton Street Tavern and The Glass Room, a smoke shop, officials say. In addition, Capelli, Robert Wagner, 59, and Frank McKiernan, 53, all from New Rochelle, New York, allegedly ran an illegal bookmaking operation, using the gambling website bxbets.com to generate over a half a million dollars in yearly wagers, according to officials. The 10 people arrested face charges of enterprise corruption, with underlying crimes of usury and promoting gambling. Aside from Capelli, Wagner and McKiernan the other individuals facing charges are: Anthony Martino, 76, of Port Chester, New York; Michael Wagner, 63, of The Bronx; Steve Murray, 49, of Bethel, Connecticut; Seth Trustman, 36, of The Bronx; Richard Caccavale, 59, of Yorktown Heights, New York; Jessica Bismark, 32, and Robert Wagner Jr., 33, both from New Rochelle. The enterprise corruption charge alone carries a maximum penalty of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison. Two other individuals also face charges in connection with this investigation. Michael Lepore, 61, and Vincent Tardibuono, 41, both from New Rochelle, were charged with allegedly running an online bookmaking operation, which generated over $1.5 million in annual wagers, via website ezplay2001.com. In addition, a related narcotics-based indictment filed by the Westchester County District Attorneys Office charged Lucien Cappello, 38, of New Rochelle, with criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance. What to Know Police say a man used a large brick to break into a Brooklyn clothing store last week before darting away from the area Video released by the NYPD shows the man making the sign of the cross and saying a prayer before smashing through the store's glass door The burglary happened on March 22 at Ziani Fine Italian Clothing on Avenue U in Gravesend, officials say A suspected burglar was caught on camera appealing to a higher power for help before breaking into a New York City clothing store. Surveillance video released by the NYPD shows the man approaching the Ziani Fine Italian Clothing store on Avenue U in Brooklyn around 5 a.m. on March 22, during the height of the latest nor'easter to hit the tri-state area. The devout burglar is then seen making the sign of the cross twice before taking a brick and throwing it against the store's glass door several times until it breaks. Once he was inside, he swiped about 20 pieces of clothing and fled the store, heading northbound on East First Street, police said. He was last seen wearing black pants, a black jacket, and black and white gloves, the NYPD said. Police urged anyone who recognize the suspect or has any information that could lead to an arrest to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. A beloved Delaware principal has been reinstated after hundreds of her students and their families staged a protest in her honor. Cindy Mann was fired from Padua Academy in Wilmington last week for insubordination, according to school officials. But her supporters claimed Mann was let go for refusing to hike tuition to support the adjoining St. Anthony of Padua Parish. When news of her termination spread, so did the protests. Students wearing pink in Manns honor lined the streets and blocked traffic. In a statement issued Tuesday, Padua Academy said Father Nicholas F. Waseline, pastor of St. Anthony parish, reinstated Mann in the best interests of the school and its students. Mann could be eligible for a two-year contract, according to the statement. What to Know The dismantling of 239 Chestnut Street will take place once surrounding properties are shored up & the ATF enters the building. The blaze left people and businesses displaced for weeks. The demolition is seen as a step toward recovery. No exact timetable has been given for how long the process will take. An Old City Philadelphia building will finally be coming down more than a month after a four-alarm fire gutted the historic structure but the dismantling process is getting off to a slow start. Two cranes one to remove debris and the other to lower workers using a construction basket were in place Tuesday to start systemically taking down 239 Chestnut Street. As of midday Tuesday, dismantling of the fire-damaged structure had yet to begin as crews instead focused attention on removing part of the side wall and roof from the adjacent 237 Chestnut building to safely shore it up ahead of 239 Chestnut being taken down. The 239 building, which housed residences and businesses, was gutted by an aggressive fire on Feb. 18. The blaze left residents out of their homes and some businesses closed. No people were hurt in the fire but some pets died. Fire and water damaged two attached historic buildings. The demolition was put on a hold for weeks due to structural concerns, causing continued trouble for surrounding businesses and residents. One neighboring business, The Little Lion restaurant, has been closed since the fire. The demolition is an important step forward for people in the neighborhood who can start to look at rebuilding and getting back to a sense of normal. Demolition crews will be tearing down 239 Chestnut Street, an apartment building that burned about a month ago. Construction crews expect to start the demolition around Tuesday morning. No exact demolition timetable was given. Earlier, the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections said demolition would take at least a week as construction crews knocked down what's left of the six-story building, built in the 19th-century. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has yet to reveal a cause for the fire. The ATF's hope to enter the damaged structure has been delayed. ATF investigators had yet to enter 239 on the ground as of Tuesday morning. L&I deemed the building imminently dangerous in the wake of the fire, but retained outside engineers to see if the building's brownstone, plaster and cast-iron facade could be salvaged. An analysis determined the upper floor facade of brownstone and plaster was beyond repair, an L&I spokeswoman said, but the first floor cast-iron facade will be saved. Chestnut Street will be closed between 4th and Bank streets and 3rd Street will be closed between Walnut and Chestnut streets during the demolition process. People accessing museums in the area can do so on 4th Street, L&I said. Chestnut Street from 235 Chestnut to 3rd Street will be closed to pedestrians as well. A 3D laser scan of the building's remaining structure will help inform architects designing a new building for the site, L&I said. A little-known tax lawyer is now the lone Republican actively running to represent Chester County after U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello suddenly announced his retirement from politics Sunday evening. If Costello files his paperwork to withdraw from the ballot by Tuesdays deadline, Greg McCauley will face off against Democratic Air Force veteran Chrissy Houlahan. If Costello does not file his paperwork on time, his name will remain on the May primary ballot. That paperwork has not been filed, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. As of right now, I am planning to take him on, McCauley told NBC10. I believe he has waffled on a lot of issues and has not supported the party. So who is this relatively unknown candidate? The Saint Josephs University alum has spent more than 35 years practicing tax law on the Chesco side of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. He is an NRA member, and owned and operated nine Wendys franchises, according to his biography. He received his law degree from Widener University. McCauley grew up in Delaware County and spent several formative years in Washington, D.C., he told NBC10. His father worked for both the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission under former President Dwight Eisenhower. Despite his experience in D.C, McCauley didnt consider running for office until recently. Ive always been a workaholic, he said. I never really spent the time in politics that others have. More than anything, McCauley wants to see a balanced budget and job creation, he told NBC10. But he is also a proponent of immigration work visas, a sticking point for many traditional Republicans. I dont think youre going to deport 30 million people, he said, referring the number of undocumented immigrants in the country. I dont think all the planes in the U.S. would hold 30 million people. A 2016 report put the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. closer to 11 million. Costello also broke with many Republicans on the issue of immigration. He once described himself as a middle-of-the-roader and introduced legislation last year for a program similar to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). His ability to bring in swing voters was key to winning a district that narrowly favored Hillary Clinton. But after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a new voting map, Costellos district turned blue with the addition of Reading. His chances at re-election narrowed, and Costello joined unsuccessful attempts to block the new map from taking effect in the 2018 midterms. Pennsylvania Supreme Court In his filing, Costello argued that he was suddenly forced to run in a new district where his incumbency advantage no longer mattered. The courts rejected the claims, increasing Democrats' chances of picking up seats this year. State and national Republicans were quick to call Costellos retirement disappointing, and vowed to continue their fight for the 6th. It remains unclear whether McCauley will receive an official GOP endorsement despite being the only active Republican candidate. Monday was the first time McCauley spoke with party leadership since announcing his campaign, he said. As of Monday evening, McCauley has not started fundraising for his campaign. He told NBC10 he is waiting until his petition to run for office is made official by state election officials. A renaissance is coming to New Jerseys long embattled medical marijuana program. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced a long list of reforms Tuesday morning, including lowering fees for patients and caregivers, adding five approved medical conditions and proposing legislation to increase monthly product limit for patients. Patients receiving hospice care would be eligible for an unlimited supply of cannabis. We are changing the restrictive culture of our medical marijuana program, he said. Some of these changes will take time, but we are committed to getting it done for all New Jersey residents who can be helped by access to medical marijuana. Effective immediately, patients suffering from anxiety, migraines, Tourettes syndrome, chronic pain related to musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic visceral pain will be eligible for the pot program. The registration fee is also being lowered from $200 to $100 as of Tuesday. Veterans and people 65 years and older will be eligible for a $20 discount. The governor is also allowing doctors who prescribe marijuana not to appear on a public registry. Murphy says there was a sense that doctors who prescribed the drug faced a stigma. Murphy's decision comes roughly a decade after the state implemented its medical marijuana program, enacted under Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, but slowly implemented under Republican Chris Christie, who had a skeptical view of marijuana. In January, Murphy signed an executive order calling on the New Jersey Department of Health to review the existing program. Almost exactly two months later, the department's recommendations are now being implemented, Murphy said. The announcement comes as the new governor pushes for legalized recreational marijuana in New Jersey. We will have a program that is compassionate, progressive and, at long last, meets the needs of patients, he said. Were going to make it easier for patients. Murphy added that he would like to eventually see opioid addiction added to the growing list of approved conditions. He called cannabis an offensive weapon to the growing crisis. Currently, 18,574 patients, 536 physicians, and 869 caregivers participate in the program. Ken Wolski, the executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, welcomed the program's expansion because it isn't currently meeting the state's needs. He says supply of medical cannabis continues to be a problem that the Department of Health will have to address. Murphy said to address supply, he's proposing changing regulations to let treatment centers specialize in specific areas, like cultivating, dispensing or manufacturing. Wolski says the potential for demand in New Jersey could be about 1 million patients. The announcement comes as Murphy pushes for legalized recreational marijuana in New Jersey. He said Tuesday he views the medical program's expansion as strictly a health issue not affecting his efforts at recreational legalization. As the loved ones of three family members who were found dead nearly three days after a fire tore through their home continue to demand answers, city officials revealed the timeline of their response. Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel and Licenses & Inspections Commissioner David Perri spoke on the investigation at a news conference at fire headquarters Tuesday afternoon. "While we can never share the family's pain, this is extremely upsetting to us," Thiel said. "Every fire death is tragic. We had ten fire deaths already this year before this night. It's horrifying for us. The circumstances here make this even worse." The fire started at a building on 1855 North 21st Street on the night of March 20 during a lull in the major nor'easter that battered the region. Thiel said they received a call from a person who identified as an occupant of the building at 11:40 p.m. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 11:42 p.m. The responding firefighters observed heavy fire on the second and third floor by the rear of the building. "It was somewhat inaccessible from the outside of the building due to arcing power lines in the back," Thiel said. Firefighters received a report from people exiting the burning building that all of the occupants were out, according to Thiel. At 11:51 p.m., firefighters found a resident outside the building who had apparently jumped to escape the fire. That person, who has not yet been identified, died from his injuries. Two Mayday calls were made during the firefight due to missing firefighters inside the building. The second call was made after stairs from the second floor to the third floor of the building collapsed. All of the firefighters were rescued, however. Two of the firefighters suffered injuries and were treated at the hospital. The fire was placed under control on March 21, at 12:18 a.m. PECO was also called to the scene to work on arcing wires in the back of the building. The Fire Marshal's Office arrived at the scene at 12:30 a.m. while the American Red Cross was notified for a displaced man and woman. Firefighters then put a ladder up inside the building from the second to third floor and searched but didn't find any other victims. "They did a limited search of the third floor. Limited to what they could access of the third floor given the conditions up there and given the collapse," Thiel said. As far as other residents in the building who were unaccounted for, Thiel said the fire marshal was told by surviving building occupants that, "the last time I seen those people was a month ago. They moved out. And I haven't seen those folks in a little while." Investigators couldn't find any smoke alarms inside the building. They also say the bedroom doors had deadbolt locks and padlocks. While officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire, they determined it began on the second floor. Thiel said they then received a phone call at 4:37 p.m. on Friday, March 23 from a person reporting there were missing family members inside the building. Firefighters responded to the scene that day at 5:44 p.m. They then found the bodies of 64-year-old Horace McOuellem, his 25-year-old stepdaughter Alita Johnson, and her 3-year-old son Haashim Johnson inside a third-floor bathroom of the building. Thiel said responders then performed extensive shoring to stabilize the building before removing the bodies of the three victims late Friday night. According to Thiel, investigators believe it was Alita Johnson who made the initial call to them reporting the fire though they have not yet confirmed this. "We believe the caller that was on the phone with us from 11:40 until 11:48 was Alita but we can't know that for sure at this point," Thiel said. "She identified herself as being inside the building. We had other folks who shortly thereafter exited the building and told us that everybody was out. One male and one female." Family members of the victims told NBC10 they called the Philadelphia Fire Department and reported that all three of their relatives were missing prior to the discovery Friday night. They said they asked that firefighters go back to the home and search for their bodies. "I want to know why they waited all this time to go in there and find my granddaughter on the step with her son," Herman Fripp, a family member, said. Loved ones also expressed their frustrations during a vigil for the victims. "They took their time just to come out here," said Laleeha, Johnson's cousin. "I had to call 10 different people just for them to do another search." During Tuesday's news conference however, Thiel said so far they haven't found any phone calls made to the Philadelphia Fire Department on Thursday, March 22 and they responded to the first call they received on March 23. Fire officials met with the victims' family, answered their questions and gave them the detailed timeline of the response, according to Thiel. "At the end of the day our firefighters did everything they could under the conditions as they always do," Thiel said. "The conditions in this building were such that despite giving it our best, we couldn't save these folks. We know that we can't save everybody. But I promise you that we tried. At great peril. At great risk." Loved ones of the victims created a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses. L&I Commissioner David Perri also revealed the history of the building where the deadly fire took place. According to Perri, the building contained six bedrooms and was being used as a boarding house to accommodate six to 10 people even though the property was zoned as a single family dwelling. "In essence it was in violation of the zoning code," Perri said. "Since it was a rental property the owner should've had a rental property license which they did not." Perri also said the building should have had smoke alarms but none were found inside. The building received a violation for an illegal rooming house in 2014, according to Perri. Perri said the owner of the teproperty agreed to vacate the building and the court case was resolved. The building was re-inspected shortly after and was found to be vacant. "Sometime after that point, we don't know exactly when, the building owner apparently then started leasing it out as a boarding facility," Perri said. The building is owned by Granite Hill Properties and the managing partner of the company is Tyrone Duren, a former US Homeland Security Investigations agent currently facing federal charges. According to court records, Duren was arrested in 2016 for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from drug money couriers and laundering the dirty money through real estate transactions. He's charged with money laundering, tax evasion, making false statements to federal agents and bank fraud conspiracy. Perri said they identified 30 other properties in Philadelphia owned by either Granite Hill, Duren or other companies associated with him. L&I will begin inspecting those properties this week. Fresh off Stormy Daniels' nationally-televised interview about her relationship with President Donald Trump, a Philadelphia area strip club has announced that the adult film star and exotic dancer is coming to Philadelphia. The adult film star who is making headlines after claiming to have had sex with Trump before he became president will be appearing at three Club Risque locations in November, the gentlemen's club announced on its website. Daniels will appear at Club Risques Northeast Philly location on Thursday, Nov. 8 (one show); at Club Risque along Columbus Boulevard in South Philly (two shows) on Friday, Nov. 9 and at Club Risque in Bristol, Bucks County (two shows) on Saturday, Nov. 10. She will dance on stage and meet fans one-on-one, a Club Risque spokeswoman told NBC10. The club reached out to Daniels' agency, A-List Features, in January. The club has worked with A-List for the past 18 years, booking adult stars. Daniels made no special demands for the appearance, Risque said. The will be a cover charge of $15 to $35 for each of Daniels' appearances. The adult film actress, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, spoke March 26 to "60 Minutes" about her alleged 2006 affair with the president. She said she was threatened to stay quiet and paid $130,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement just days before the 2016 election. Trump, through his representatives, has denied the allegations. The Iraqi parents of a 16-year-old girl who allegedly ran away from her South Texas home to avoid an arranged marriage are accused of subjecting her to physical abuse when she refused to wed an older man, investigators said. Abdulah Fahmi Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Sabah Al Hishmawi, 33, were arrested Friday on family violence charges for allegedly choking the teen, beating her and pouring hot cooking oil on her when she refused to marry the man. The parents allegedly were to receive $20,000 for the arranged wedding. The teenager ran away and was reported missing on Jan. 30. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar on Friday announced she had been found in mid-March, adding that she had been taken in by an organization that rescues women in abusive family situations and was safe. Salazar said the juvenille was placed with Child Protective Services -- along with five younger siblings. It was not clear if the other siblings were also abused. The teen's father denies ever abusing his daughter but told investigators about a possible arranged marriage in the works between their daughter and a family friend from Dallas, WOAI reported. Salazar said it's "highly likely" the man who her parents arranged for her to be married to will face charges as well, NBC affiliate KPRC reported. The family is from Iraq and has been in the U.S. for two years. Work will soon begin on a $4 million sewage and wastewater infrastructure improvement project along the Tijuana River, it was announced Monday by the Director General of Mexico's National Water Commission (CONAGUA). A majority of the funding will go toward repairing the "west collector" and improving the operation of waste plants which will lower the risk of sewage mains collapsing, the commission said. Tijuana's sewage management issues cause contamination of water downstream in the U.S. Several recent high-profile sewage spills have led to a lawsuit filed by several municipalities and agencies in San Diego County. The Tijuana Rover runs through Tijuana, Mexico, from the southeast, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border just west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry and continues northwest to the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, the County Department of Environmental Health closed Imperial Beach, Silver Strand State Beach and Coronado Beach due to contaminated flows after a heavy rainstorm. Similar closures were issued in January following a rainstorm. Tijuana's sewage management issues have recently become an item on the agendas of local and state politicians. In early March, the Port of San Diego along with the cities of Chula Vista and Imperial Beach filed a federal lawsuit against the agency responsible for preventing pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. On Jan. 24, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) wrote a letter addressed to the Office of Management and Budget requesting $20 million for the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure program. In a release, CONAGUA said that more than 3 miles of the "main collector" would be repaired, as well as waste plants, the electric substation, the engine's control system and the emergency power generators. The commission said that the improvements will increase the collector's capacity to handle wastewater and guarantee an "adequate and secure" connection to connecting plants. Work will begin on the project in 10 days, CONAGUA said. The boys reported missing from their home in Escondido and spotted on video getting off a commuter train in Oceanside have been found, police confirmed. The Escondido Police Department released the photos of two brothers - age 9 and 11 - who were last seen in their home at 10 p.m. Monday. Family members said the boys were in their home on West Valley Parkway at 10 p.m. Monday, police said. The home is located west of Interstate 15 and north of Del Dios Highway. The boys mother, Viviana Valdez thanked the community, police and the media for helping to find her boys. "I wanted to say thank you," said Valdez. "I can't even imagine what my sons were going through but they are safe and home and that's all I ws hoping for." Valdezs brother found the children in Oceanside Tuesday afternoon. Im mad that they left, dont get me wrong, said Valdez. But I think the lesson is to pay more attention to them and sitting down and finding out the reason they left. Valdez said Tuesday evening she was not sure yet why the boys decided to leave, but said it could have been prompted by her 11-year-old son. My older son has been having a hard time making friends and has been lonely so I think that had a lot to do with it, said Valdez. Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Escondido police said the brothers were spotted on cameras getting off of a Sprinter commuter train in Oceanside around 5 a.m. The children were located around 1:30 p.m. in Oceanside, unharmed by their uncle. Valdez also thanked a stranger, a woman she said housed and fed her kids, getting them out of the cold before they were discovered by the uncle. I dont wish this upon anyone. I advise everyone to take care of your children, to hug them and hold them tight because you never know, Valdez said. According to Lieutenant Scott Walters of the Escondido Police Department, there was no evidence this was an abduction. Police units were sent to the school in San Marcos where the brothers are students. Escondido Police tweeted about the boys Tuesday morning. The FBI San Diego Twitter account retweeted it. Neighbors said the boys were often outside their home in the mobile home park playing or riding scooters. A water park company co-owner accused of rushing the world's tallest waterslide into service and a designer accused of shoddy planning were charged Tuesday in the decapitation of a 10-year-old boy on the ride in 2016. With the latest charges, three men connected with Texas-based Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and its park in Kansas City, Kansas, have been indicted by a Kansas grand jury, along with the park and the construction company that built the ride. Caleb Schwab died on the 17-story ride when the raft he was riding went airborne and hit an overhead loop. The Kansas attorney general's office said Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffrey Henry, 62, and designer John Schooley were charged with reckless second-degree murder, along with Henry & Sons Construction Co., which is described as the private construction company of Schlitterbahn. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of 9 years to 41 years in prison. They also were charged with 17 other felonies, including aggravated battery and aggravated endangerment of a child counts tied to injuries other riders sustained on the giant slide, called Verruckt, which is German for "insane." The indictment accuses Henry of making a "spur of the moment" decision to build the ride, and that he and Schooley lacked technical or engineering expertise in amusement park rides. Henry was ordered held in a Texas jail without bond Tuesday, pending extradition to Kansas. The attorney general's office said Schooley is not in custody. Schooley didn't have a listed phone number and no one answered the phone at Henry & Sons Construction Co. Eric B Terry, who represented the company in an earlier unrelated case, didn't immediately return a phone or email message. The same grand jury last week indicted the Kansas City park and Tyler Austin Miles, its former operations manager, on 20 felony charges. The charges include a single count of involuntary manslaughter in Schwab's death. Miles has been released on $50,000 bond, according to one of his attorneys, Tricia Bath. The company has promised to aggressively fight the criminal charges. After Miles and the park were charged, it said it would respond to the allegations in the 47-page indictment "point by point." After Henry's arrest in Texas, Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said in an emailed statement: "We as a company and as a family will fight these allegations and have confidence that once the facts are presented it will be clear that what happened on the ride was an unforeseeable accident." According to the indictments, Henry decided in 2012 to build the world's tallest water slide to impress the producers of a Travel Channel show. Henry's desire to "rush the project" and a lack of expertise caused the company to "skip fundamental steps in the design process." The indictment said, "not a single engineer was directly involved in Verruckt's dynamic engineering or slide path design." The indictment said that in 2014, when there were news reports emerging about airborne rafts, a company spokesperson "discredited" them and Henry and his designer began "secretly testing at night to avoid scrutiny." The indictment listed 13 injuries during the 182 days the ride was in operation, including two concussions. In one of those cases, a 15-year-old girl went temporarily blind while riding. Caleb, the son of Kansas Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab, was decapitated after the raft on which he was riding went airborne on a day when admission was free for state legislators and their families. The family reached settlements of nearly $20 million with Schlitterbahn and various companies associated with the design and construction of the waterslide. The two women who rode on the same raft with Caleb suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount. "Clearly the issues with Schlitterbahn go far beyond Caleb's incident, and we know the attorney general will take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety," the family said in a statement released Monday through their attorneys. The indictment said Schooley was responsible for doing "the math" that went into the slide's design and signed an operations manual claiming the ride met all American Society for Testing and Materials standards. But the indictment lists a dozen instances in which the design violated those standards and says investigators could find no evidence that so-called dynamic engineering calculations were made to determine the physics a passenger would experience. The indictment said Schooley lacked the technical expertise to properly design a complex amusement ride such as Verruckt. The indictment said Schooley admitted, "If we actually knew how to do this, and it could be done that easily, it wouldn't be that spectacular." Prosapio said Schlitterbahn does not expect any changes to the Kansas City park's season, which is set to open May 25 and runs through Labor Day. The Verruckt slide has been closed since Caleb died. Mike Taylor, a spokesman for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, says it does not believe it has the legal authority to shut down a business, other than for an epidemic or contagious disease outbreak. The company also operates water parks in Galveston, Corpus Christi, South Padre Island and New Braunfels, Texas, according to its website. ___ Associated Press writers David Warren and Terry Wallace in Dallas also contributed to this report. What to Know The wait for the House child care center is estimated at three years. The Senate child care center waitlist for newborns is projected between 18 months and two years. The I-Team found the wait list for the 70 seats in the House child care center reached 175 in early 2018. Parents working for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives face years-long waits for seats in the congressional child care centers and a mixed bag of policies for paid maternity leave, according to a review by the News4 I-Team. The accommodations offered to young parents on Capitol Hill trail those offered by other private and government employers and risk faster turnover of talented staffers, according to a dozen employees and members of Congress who spoke with the I-Team. The House and Senate child care centers, each of which is within walking distance of the Capitol and the largest congressional office buildings, offer several dozen slots for children of staff. The I-Team found the wait list for the 70 seats in the House child care center reached 175 in early 2018. You often hear Congress is an old boys club, said former U.S. Senate counsel Michele Jawando. So old boys club wasnt necessarily thinking about child care. The wait for parents with newborns is estimated at three years. The Senate child care center waitlist for newborns is projected between 18 months and two years. The Senate day care and the House day care, theyre the golden egg. Theyre the Willy Wonka golden ticket, Jawando said. Jawando said she failed to land a seat for one of her three daughters despite joining the waiting list. She said other child care options are much farther away from the office and less flexible for unpredictable congressional work schedules. If you have a spot in the Senate child care center, and you know youre going to be working really late, you can still go and participate in the Halloween parade with your child, she said. Thats a great feeling. A June 2017 report from a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee acknowledges a lengthy waitlist and a need to expand the House child care center. The report said proposals to expand the program are under consideration but specified the project must be completed in a fiscally responsible manner. Records from the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, which oversees the House child care center, said an expansion of the facility is estimated for completion in early 2019. Those records said the expansion is long overdue. Former House committee staffer Anne Morris Reid said she successfully navigated the waitlist and secured a slot for her son in 2013 in part because of advice from colleagues that she join the wait list immediately upon return from her honeymoon. They told me when I got back that I should look into the waitlist and consider getting ourselves on the waitlist, and so I did, Reid said. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said the length of the waitlist for the congressional child care facilities is not acceptable. But I think you would find the same in a lot of communities, he said. We have an issue here for our own employees, but its not just her on Capitol Hill. There is a real shortage of affordable child care. The Senate Sergeant at Arms, which oversees the Senate child care center, declined to answer questions about the program. The agency referred the I-Team to the manager of the child care center, who did not respond to multiple requests for information. Paid Leave Congressional rules do not require U.S. House or Senate offices to offer paid maternity or paternity leave to staffers. Though the House Office of Compliance requires members of Congress to offer 12 weeks of unpaid family leave, policies for any paid maternity or paternity leave vary by office. The I-Team surveyed 22 members of the U.S. House from Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia about their paid leave policies. Eight of the 22 responded to the survey, with a variety of answers. Several members offices said they offer 12 weeks of paid leave to new mothers and fathers. At least one member said the office offers 12 weeks of paid leave to mothers, six weeks of paid leave to fathers. A spokeswoman said one Virginia member of Congress offers six weeks paid leave to new parents. A spokeswoman for a Maryland congressman said the office offers paid leave, but only to employees who have worked 10 months on the job. Rep. Barbara Comstock, who offers 12 weeks of paid leave to new parents, has co-sponsored new legislation requiring paid maternity and paternity leave for all federal employees, including congressional staff. Comstock (R-Va.) told the I-Team, When you are competing with companies, theyre providing paid leave. To keep the talent with federal employees, we need to do the same. The legislation has garnered 78 co-sponsors, including more than a dozen Washington, D.C.-area members of Congress. It has been formally referred to the Committee on House Administration. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Jeff Piper. What to Know The domestic murder trial of Daron Boswell-Johnson began Monday. He's accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter and her mother. There were more domestic violence deaths in Prince George's County in the past five years than in any other county in Maryland, data says. Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks is leading the prosecution herself as she runs for county executive. "How much is too much to allow a 2-year-old to live? Is it $200? $400? Or, as in this case, is $600 enough to shoot and kill her mother and walk to her and shoot her in the head too?" Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks asked that question Monday as the high-profile domestic murder trial of Daron Boswell-Johnson began. Boswell-Johnson is accused of fatally shooting his toddler daughter, Chloe Davis-Green, and the child's mother, NeShante Davis. The mother and daughter were each shot multiple times outside their townhouse in Fort Washington early the morning of Feb. 2, 2016. Davis was a 26-year-old elementary school teacher. Her daughter had not yet celebrated her third birthday. County prosecutors told jurors Monday afternoon that Boswell-Johnson was upset at being ordered to pay the mother of his child $600 per month in child support. "The news disrupted the defendant's plans," Alsobrooks said in a powerful opening statement, calling Boswell-Johnson arrogant and ruthless. Murder victim NeShante Davis mother, Carolyn Turner, learned from News4 that a suspect was arrested Tuesday in the killing of her daughter and grandchild. She said she and prosecutor Joseph Ruddy will show jurors Boswell-Johnson's taped confession, cellphone records and video surveillance footage. The jurors watched intently. Thirteen of the 16 jurors plus alternates were women. Boswell-Johnson, wearing glasses and a turquoise dress shirt, had no visible reaction as Alsobrooks made her case. She chose to lead the prosecution, which she has done only once before in her term as state's attorney. The defendant's lawyer, Antoini Jones, said prosecutors did not have evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the father committed the brutal crime. "Rush to judgment. That's what the evidence will show in this case," he said, repeating his initial phrase several times. Jones said Boswell-Johnson had been excited to learn he had a third child. "There was not a hint of dissension between the two parties. They joked. They talked about their daughter," Jones said. "You'll hear no evidence in this case of my client protesting about child support," he continued. Davis was found shot near her blue Chevrolet about 7 a.m. Feb. 2, 2016 on the 1300 block of Palmer Road. The little girl was shot twice in the head as she sat in her car seat. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter was rushed to a hospital, where she died. Prince Georges County leaders and school officials unveil a mural honoring a teacher killed along with her daughter during a custody dispute. Pat Lawson Muse reports. Detectives found Boswell-Johnson, then 25, of Forestville, the same day at his job at an auto glass shop in Montgomery County. He agreed to be interviewed, police said. Then, he confessed to lying in wait for the mother and child and killing them, prosecutors said. Three months earlier, a paternity test had confirmed he was the child's father. On the second day of the trial, jurors were shown graphic autopsy photos of the victims. The 2-year-old was shot in the face. Her mother was shot in the back and shoulder. Some family members walked out of the courtroom in tears. Davis' cousin Steven Taylor described hearing the shots that killed his two family members. He said he looked out of a window and saw Davis lying face down outside her car. He dialed 911 and was told to perform CPR. It initially was unclear where Davis-Green was. Then, she was found in the backseat of the car. Jones said on Tuesday that there was no physical evidence linking Boswell-Johnson to the deaths. The killings shook many communities in Maryland, from Capitol Heights, where Davis taught second grade, to Bowie, where she studied education at Bowie State University. There were more domestic violence deaths in Prince George's County in the past five years than in any other county in the state, according to data from the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. Fifty-five people, including victims and their abusers, died in the county from July 2012 through June 2017, the data says. Baltimore County had the next-highest number of deaths, at 45 people killed. Alsobrooks, who is running for Prince George's County executive, has spoken movingly about breaking the cycle of domestic violence and getting justice for victims and their family members. A Prince Georges County review board Wednesday released a study of domestic violence and recommendations to stem the growing problem. News 4s Meagan Fitzgerald reports. After Davis and her daughter were killed, the Prince George's County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team found that several red flags often precede domestic violence murders. The red flags include: strangulation, sexual violence, possession of a gun, unemployment of the abuser, abuse of drugs and/or alcohol by the abuser, stalking behavior and prior attempts by the victim to leave the relationship. Previous abuse by the suspect is the strongest of these red flags; 72 percent of victims killed by their partners were previously abused by those partners, the review found. Getty Images Davis was a valued teacher at Bradbury Heights Elementary School in Capitol Heights. She worked for years as a teacher's aide at the school, graduated from Bowie State University and was in the middle of her first year of teaching when she was killed. "NeShante was going places," Alsobrooks said. Her little girl was "smart, articulate and sassy," she said. Witnesses in the case are expected to testify starting Tuesday. Boswell-Johnson is charged with murder and use of a firearm in a crime of violence. The fatal shooting at Great Mills High School ended when the shooter killed himself as a school resource officer simultaneously shot him in the hand, police said. Police released a timeline and several 911 call recordings about Tuesday's shooting, in which police say 17-year-old Austin Wyatt Rollins injured one student and killed his ex-girlfriend, 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey. Rollins arrived at school about 7:50 a.m., police said. Police say he walked through the main entrance of the school carrying a handgun legally owned by his father. Five minutes after entering the school, Rollins approached Willey in the hallway and shot her once in the head. Desmond Barnes, 14, was struck in the back of his thigh by the same bullet, police said. Willey fell to the floor. Barnes went into a classroom to seek shelter and call 911, police said. "I was just shot in my school," Barnes told the dispatcher. The dispatcher said, "I'm sorry?" "I was just shot in my school," Barnes said. Police released the audio from Barnes' call and two others on Monday. "There's a girl outside my door bleeding on the ground," one caller, who identified herself as a teacher, told a dispatcher as she hid in her classroom with eleven students. "I honestly didn't even realize it was a gunshot," she said. "It sounded like one of those, like, plastic bags that someone popped but it was so loud." Rollins made his way down the hall and encountered deputy Blaine Gaskill, the school's resource officer, according to a map released by police. Gaskill fired and hit Rollins' weapon. At the same time, Rollins turned his gun on himself and fired one fatal shot to his head, police said. A student witness of the shooting said a police officer tried to order a student with a gun to his head to disarm before two shots were fired. Student Isiah Tichenor told The Washington Post he saw a fellow student hold a gun to his head Tuesday and heard a police officer shout an order to put the gun down. Willey was taken to UM Prince George's Hospital Center, where she died on Friday. Barnes was hospitalized and released. A mother who rushed to pick up her daughter after the school shooting Tuesday spoke with News4's Darcy Spencer. School Shooting Incidents Since 2013 Everytown.org defines the incidents mapped below as any time a firearm discharges a live round inside or into a school building or on or onto a school campus or grounds, as documented by the press and, when necessary, confirmed through further inquiries with law enforcement or school officials. Incidents in which guns were brought into schools but not discharged are not included. Source: Everytown.org, NBC Staff Reports Last updated on Nov. 14, 2019 Rollins "had a prior relationship which recently ended" with Willey, the sheriff's office said. "All indications suggest the shooting was not a random act of violence," the statement said. The investigation has not yet revealed any threats from Rollins. Willey was one of nine siblings, according to a statement from the family, and a member of the swim team. She was a role model to her brothers and sisters, her family said, and helped to take care of them every day. The handgun that the Rollins allegedly used was legally owned by his father, the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. However, it appeared Rollins possessed it illegally. In Maryland, a person must be 21 to possess a handgun, unless carrying one is required for employment. Attempts to reach Rollins' family were unsuccessful. The Great Mills High School community is reeling after a gunman opened fire Tuesday morning. Two students were injured and the gunman has died. News4's Jackie Bensen reports. One of the shooter's friends, 14-year-old Jordan Hutchinson, and his mother dropped off a condolence card at the Rollins home. Jordan recalled meeting Austin five years ago during a snowstorm, and building snow forts together. "Austin was a nice kid. We did sleepovers all the time," he said. Great Mills High will be closed for more than a week and a half, after the school's scheduled spring break. Classes will resume April 2, the principal said in an online notice to families. "Words cannot express the sadness and grief that our school community is feeling right now. I know that we are shaken and scared after todays events and will struggle for some time trying to make sense of it all. I do not know exactly how, but we will find a way to overcome this tragedy," the notice said. "Now more than ever, we need to stand together as a school community to love, cherish, and support one another. We have and we will continue to stay strong, stay together, and find a way to get through this." Counseling services are being offered. Before they return to class, many students participated in Saturday's March for Our Lives in D.C. Hundreds of thousands of people attended the demonstration, which was organized after the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that left 17 students and staff members dead. Students and alumni from Great Mills High School took to the D.C. streets just four days after their classmate, 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey, was killed. "We need to be the last group this ever happens to, and we're all just very tight, and we're family, and as you can see in the chants, we are Great Mills," said Heidi Ransford, a recent graduate of Great Mills High School who knew Willey. A man who allegedly sent more than a dozen suspicious packages to U.S. military installations and intelligence facilities in the Washington, D.C., area is known to federal agencies for having sent "badgering" letters in the past, according to law enforcement officials. Thanh Cong Phan, 43, was arrested Monday at his home in Everett, Washington, the FBI announced Tuesday. Investigators used tracking information on one of the packages and reviewed surveillance video showing him. Multiple packages were found Monday at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C., Fort McNair in D.C., Naval Surface Warfare Center in Virginia and the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia, the FBI said in the statement. Six packages were addressed to the CIA, NBC News' Pete Williams reports. More packages showed up Tuesday at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia, the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, Maryland, and the Secret Service facility that sorts the mail for the White House in D.C. The first package was found at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in D.C. about 8:30 a.m. Monday. It was rendered safe and the building was cleared about 1:15 p.m. Suspicious packages were sent to two sites at Fort Belvoir in Virginia Monday afternoon: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and another defense university. Similar suspicious packages were found at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C., a CIA mail processing facility, a White House mail processing facility and Dahlgren Naval Air Station in Virginia, NBC News reported. Each package included black powder, which can be used to make explosives, but lacked a component to make them fully functioning bombs, authorities said. All of them were rendered safe. Some included rambling letters an official described as disturbing. An officialsaid Tuesday's letters were not threatening but complained about government mind control. The handwriting matched that of letters previously sent to government agencies. A lawsuit says a network of tunnels found under a Maryland home after a deadly fire haven't been repaired, leaving the area with conditions "dangerous and hazardous" to human life and the public welfare. Montgomery County filed the lawsuit Friday, according to The Washington Post. It seeks to require the home's owner, David Beckwitt, and Daniel Beckwitt, described as the tunnels' creator, to comply with county departments' requests to demolish the home and fill the tunnels. The lawsuit says the excavations extend beyond the home into the public right of way in front of the house and possibly to at least another property. The tunnels were discovered after a September fire that killed 21-year-old Askia Khafra. An attorney listed as representing the Beckwitts didn't respond Monday to the newspaper's request for comment. After the fire, explosives teams and bomb technicians spent hours combing through evidence at the Danbury Road property. They found the mysterious tunnels under the yard. "This has been an incredibly complicated fire scene for our investigations," Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Daniel Ogren said as teams searched for clues about what happened. Khafra died from smoke inhalation and burns, but the manner of his death has not been made public, Montgomery County Fire spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Khafra was a young entrepreneur who dreamed of success in the business world, his mother told News4 on a brief phone call. "He had a lot of people that cared about him," said Brandon Cobb, who described himself as Khafra's best friend. The two grew up together. Cobb said he never met Beckwitt but understood that Khafra was working for him. "The only thing he mentioned is he was doing some sort of renovation," Cobb said. Investigators collected and tested chemicals they found stored on the property, which is about a mile northwest of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They found electrical wiring and hoarding conditions. A piece of heavy earth-moving equipment sat in the backyard. The resident of the house did "excavation" of the property, Montgomery County police department spokesman Paul Starks said. Officials declined to immediately provide additional details about why the tunnels might have been dug. First-responders received a call about the fire about 4 p.m. Sept. 10. Beckwitt was able to escape and yell for help, but Khafra was trapped in the basement. Beckwitt suffered minor injuries. He was taken to a hospital and later released. Khafra was pronounced dead. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Piringer confirmed Monday. Neighbors said they want answers. "I want to know whether there was anything wrong with the house itself or whether it was a gas line or whether there was something strange going on there -- and we just don't know," one neighbor said. "I think the main question is, where is this gentleman [Khafra] was working for?" Khafra's friend, Cobb, said. "I think everyone just wants closure." Virginia's Republican Party has kicked out a leader who posted a Facebook comment that indicated he would not vote for a Jewish candidate. Fredy Burgos was voted off the State Central Committee over the weekend, after his comment last month suggested only Christians were fit to run for office, a state party spokesman told The Washington Post. On Facebook, Burgos posted a quote from John Jay calling on Christians "to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." Burgos was supporting a candidate for a Fairfax County post running against a Jewish candidate. Burgos had claimed his comments were taken out of context. In 2016, Burgos apologized for posting anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric on social media after the state party chairman expressed disapproval. Apple made a major announcement Tuesday at one of Chicago's largest high schools, unveiling new tools and programs as the tech giant furthers itself in the educational field. The company was expected to show off some new products, with speculation on the rise and rumors of a potential new Apple Pencil or iPad in the works. And that's just what it delivered. Here's a live look as the announcement unfolds: 11:06 a.m. Finally, Id like to thank every teacher out there around the world for the important work you do every day," Cook says. 11:04 a.m. After video, Cook says We cant wait for you to try out these products for yourself. Thanks Chicago. 11 a.m. Video showing examples of kids using new Apple technology 10:59 a.m. Tim Cook returns to stage. This is an important day for Apple. We hope that its an important day for students and teachers around the world, too. 10:56 a.m. Schoolwork app lets teachers dole out digital assignments to students 10:50 a.m. "Everyone can create" curriculum -- which includes music, video, photography and drawying -- to focus on "unleashing kids creativity" in the classroom. Available for preview today. 10:37 a.m. Additional accessories include a new rugged Logitech case and keyboard. Theres also Crayon, a $49 pencil that works with the iPad. This is different from Apple Pencil. 10:35 a.m. Announces new shared iPad software for budget-limited schools. The software is multiuser and managed by the school. Apple School Manager is how these iPads are managed, including Apple IDs. Free iCloud storage for students upgraded from 5GB to 200GB. 10:34 a.m. Theres no doubt that AR is going to dramatically change the way this generation learns," Joswiak. 10:31 a.m. Price of new iPad for schools from $299. From $329 for consumers. Updates for iWork Suite available now. 10:30 Froggepedia allows virtual dissections. a.m. 10:29 a.m. Boulevard AR app allows interaction with artwork. "No gallery would ever let you [get] this close," he said. 10:27 a.m. New iPad will support Augmented Reality. Price still not revealed. Specs: 10 hours battery, 9.7-inch display. 8-megapixel read camera, LTE option, A10 Fusion chip, GPS, Compass, TouchID, HD FaceTime camera. 10:24 a.m. Announces there are new versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote that support Apple Pencil. Kids have a whole new way to showcase what theyre learning," Joswiak said. 10:22 a.m. 9.7-inch iPad introduced, which supports Apple Pencil and A10 Fusion Chip. Our most affordable iPad has support for our most creative tool," Joswiak said. 10:20 a.m. Greg Joswiak on the new iPad: 200,000 apps made for education. This goes way beyond the basics and way beyond browser-based apps. Joswiak said. 10:05 a.m. Apple teaching coding: Tim Cook says 370,000 Chicago Public Schools kids are involved in Apple Lead programs. Cook says education has been a big part of who Apple is for 40 years. Weve never stopped working on tools for educators, he said. Chicago Public Schools has spent the past two years battling back from a $1.1 billion budget deficit, which is about as much money as Apple makes in 10 days. 10:04 a.m. Tim Cook: "People with passion can change the world. That was on display this weekend in the marches across Washington and across the nation." "We are deeply inspired by the courage of these students who are using their voices to bring about change in America." "Chicago is home to one of the largest most diverse and most forward thinking school systems in the country." [[478055863, C]] 10 a.m. Video starts with a video of CPS kids in playground. 9:58 a.m. [[478054313, C]] 9:30 a.m. A look at Apple Events' class schedule: Orientation Main Office 9:00 a.m. General Assembly Auditorium 10:00 a.m. Coding Lab Room 150 11:00 a.m. Creativity Lab Room 154 11:25 a.m. Refreshments Cafeteria 12:00 p.m. Dismissal 1:00 p.m. [[478054753, C]] 8 a.m. @apple event to resemble a half day in school. Assembly followed by labs and lunch in the cafeteria. Dismissal at noon. CharlieWojciechowski (@Charlienews) March 27, 2018 7 a.m. What should you expect? Business Insider noted the "calligraphic style" of the company's invitation to the event could be a hint at a new pencil. But Bloomberg Technology reported the company has been developing a new iBooks application in an effort to revamp its strategy for electronic books. Still, the company last year released cheaper iPads, aiming to make them easier to sell in bulk to schools, and Bloomberg Technology speculates that line could be getting an upgrade at the Chicago event. Time Magazine joined in on that speculation, reporting that the company is releasing a more affordable iPad to take on rivals Google and Microsoft. The announcement is expected to be made at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Lane Tech College Prep High School on the city's North Side, with Apple CEO Tim Cook slated to attend. Chicago Public Schools sent an email to parents last week, saying Lane Tech was selected because they have a reputation for incorporating technology into their classrooms. Apple typically announces new products at its campus in California, but has previously made education-focused announcements at schools before. In its invitation, Apple asked guests to "take a field trip." "Join us to hear creative new ideas for teachers and students," the invite read. Students at CPS are on spring break, so it's unclear who would be in attendance at the event. However, following the announcement, Apple was slated to hold an "exclusive Teacher Tuesday" at the company's flagship Michigan Avenue store, with all educators welcome. Students should take CPR classes instead of demonstrating, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said one day after throngs of young people swarmed Washington and other cities across the country in the name of gun law reform. Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning, the former Pennsylvania lawmaker pushed back against organizers of Saturday's March for Our Lives. How about kids, instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem, do something about maybe taking CPR classes or maybe try to deal with situations where there is a violent shooter that you can actually respond to that, he said. Santorum added that students should look at how they can individually respond to the issue of gun violence and stop, for example, bullying in their schools or communities. They didn't take action to say, 'How do I, as an individual, deal with this problem? How am I going to do something about stopping bullying within my own community? What am I going to do to actually help respond to a shooter?,' he said. Pennsylvania State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a Democrat who represents portions of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, tweeted that Santorum's comments were Maddening! Absurd! Ridiculous! Philadelphias March for Our Lives drew thousands of people to Old City Saturday. Across the nation, hundreds of thousands more demonstrated. March for Our Lives organizers said more than 850,000 people participated in the national rally in D.C.. As questions mounted last year about whether Facebook had been exploited to tilt the U.S. presidential election, Mark Zuckerberg's to-do list landed him on a fishing trawler off Alabama's Gulf coast. But the chatter surrounding the CEO's arrival in port was that it signaled something bigger than just the start of a 30-state personal tour: his designs on a job even more powerful than leading the social network that links 2.2 billion people worldwide. "It was one of the last things I asked him, thinking it would put a smile on his face and it did," said Dominick Ficarino, who owns a shrimp business in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and hosted a dockside lunch for Zuckerberg that Sunday afternoon. "I asked him if he was interested in running for president of the United States. And his answer to me was: 'Can I answer you with a question? If you were me, would you?'" Thirteen months later, Zuckerberg no longer has the luxury of mulling a hypothetical next act. Instead, he is grappling with a crisis that has enveloped the company synonymous with his face and name. It does not help that the most glaring reminder of Facebook's flaws is the unabated uproar over the American presidency itself. "The world feels anxious and divided, and Facebook has a lot of work to do," Zuckerberg wrote in January, laying out the "personal challenge" that he sets for himself each year. In 2017, the billionaire challenged himself to travel to every state he'd never visited. This year, long after critics began demanding an overhaul, Zuckerberg said his personal goal is to "fix" the platform that he has engineered to build community but that is increasingly blamed for warping it. Yet things continue to get worse. Scrutiny of Facebook has intensified following reports that it failed to prevent the data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica from amassing personal information about millions of users possibly used to aid Donald Trump's campaign and that the social network has been collecting Android users' phone call and text message histories without notice. That adds to criticism that Facebook manipulates its users and has allowed Russian bots to divide Americans by spreading false information. On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission announced it was investigating Facebook for its privacy practices. Throughout the mounting crisis, Zuckerberg's response has been a study in contradictions. He crisscrossed the country, even as his company back home came under increasing fire. He preaches transparency, but flinches at questioning and craves privacy. He is undeniably brilliant, but stubborn in his reluctance to acknowledge the extent of Facebook's problems. Even his critics say he is uniquely capable of righting the ship. But at 33, is he prepared to do all it will take? "If he fails to do it, it may take a while but eventually people are going to rebel," said Roger McNamee, an early Facebook investor and adviser who has become one of the company's most pointed critics. "I thought Facebook was a force for good in the world for a really long time," McNamee said. "I think it's really hard to make that case today." ___ Days after Trump's election, Zuckerberg was pressed on the possibility that foreign agents had used his social network to divide voters. "The idea that fake news on Facebook ... influenced the election in any way, I think, is a pretty crazy idea," the CEO told the audience at a California technology conference. "I think all of us were shocked to learn how wrong he was," said David Kirkpatrick, the author of a 2010 book about Facebook who questioned Zuckerberg that day. "You can certainly say that he was culpable, in that he was naive and inattentive to what was happening in his system. But I don't think he was lying." Zuckerberg walked back the remark soon after, continuing a years-long routine of self-correction. But errors that reflect his stubbornness, those who know him say, are tempered by an eagerness to learn from mistakes and a deep sense of reflection. Donald Graham, the former chairman of the Washington Post Co., recalled that when he met Zuckerberg in 2005, outsiders still weren't sure what to make of Facebook. "I would ask him a question and he would pause long enough 15 seconds, 20 seconds that I would think 'Did I insult him? Did he not hear me?'" said Graham, who went on to serve on the company's board from 2008 to 2015. "Since I am from Washington, I'm not used to people thinking before they are answering a question. ... But Mark, then as now, was thinking about the right answer." Zuckerberg's boyish appearance, even today, is a reminder of just how young he was when he created what would become the world's biggest social network, back in his dorm room at Harvard. "I didn't know anything about building a company or global internet service," he wrote in January. "Over the years I've made almost every mistake you can imagine." Naomi Gleit, Facebook's longest-serving employee after the CEO, said Zuckerberg who declined an interview request from The Associated Press has been talking about making the world a better place since he was 21. But his view of that world and his place in it "seemed almost like a gravity, a burden of responsibility," she said. That seriousness coincides with a sense of certainty. Gleit recalled Zuckerberg's steadfast attachment to a Facebook message service similar to email, even as more people began using phones to send text messages. But co-workers eventually swayed the CEO, who she described as a "learn-it-all." That change-of-mind informed Facebook's 2014 purchase of the WhatsApp messaging service for $19 billion. "I think he would even say now that he was initially wrong," Gleit said. With Zuckerberg, "its experiment, learn, experiment, learn," said LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who has known him since 2004. Hoffman said that is evident in Zuckerberg's enthusiasm for software, which can be overwritten to fix problems. That facility, he said, makes Zuckerberg the equal of executives with far more experience. But in the process of learning, Zuckerberg's inexperience has sometimes played out in public view. ___ In 2010, Zuckerberg announced on Oprah Winfrey's television show that he would donate $100 million to schools in Newark, New Jersey. Critics labeled it an attempt to polish his image, just as the biopic "The Social Network" was being released. Still, there was little questioning his generosity. The problem was that Zuckerberg who knew little about education made the gift with few specifics outlining how it should be spent. "He was just a very young, naive, inexperienced guy who was brilliant at technology and computers and the internet, but just really didn't know much about how the world worked," said Dale Russakoff, author of "The Prize," a book chronicling how the money went to high-priced consultants, with minimal effort by leaders to build community support. By the end of the process, Zuckerberg had developed a clearer understanding of how to get things done. He and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, have since chartered their own foundation and structured it to take on mammoth goals, like a $3 billion investment to cure, prevent or manage all diseases. He has pledged to donate 99 percent of his Facebook stock to philanthropy. "Zuck's maturation has occurred in front of the public," said Kirkpatrick, author of "The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company that Is Connecting the World." ''But he also still lives with the consequences of the decisions he made when he was less mature." At Facebook, Zuckerberg has grown increasingly bold in using huge sums of money to pursue corporate goals, which includes purchasing competitors or companies that could grow into competitors. Facebook's $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 then unprofitable and little-known came as a shock to Wall Street. Two years later came the multibillion-dollar deal to buy WhatsApp, a company that remains unprofitable but has given Facebook a prime portal into developing countries and other regions outside the U.S. In 2014, soon after Facebook bought a virtual reality firm called Oculus, Zuckerberg found himself being grilled in a lawsuit brought by a competitor who accused an Oculus executive of stealing trade secrets. Under questioning, he talked about the pressure he exerted to make the Oculus deal happen, and his vision of growing it so fast "that we can get every developer and studio in the world building just for Oculus before any big competitor exists." Last year, in a bid to free up his fortune for philanthropy, Zuckerberg pushed board members to restructure Facebook's stock, allowing him to sell off part of his stake while maintaining control. That prompted a suit by a group of shareholders who argued that the move would benefit only Zuckerberg while diluting the value of other investors' stakes. Days before Zuckerberg was scheduled to testify as part of the suit, the company dropped the plan. The gambit hints at the complexity of being Zuckerberg, who advocates for transparency and the interests of the community but whose individual interests don't always align. The paradox is self-inflicted, the trade-off for creating a venture premised on users' willingness to share details of their lives. That requires Zuckerberg, who has 105 million Facebook "friends," to reveal far more about himself than would be expected of any other CEO, whether its photos of him and Chan baking sweets for the Jewish holiday of Purim or dressing their daughters for the Chinese New Year. Yet he fiercely guards his privacy. When calls went out last year for Zuckerberg to testify before a Senate committee, the company sent its lawyer. And when he and Chan bought 700 acres on the Hawaiian island of Kauai last year, they quietly filed lawsuits against hundreds of Hawaiians withdrawn after protests that would have cut off locals' access to the land by negating their interest in small ancestral tracts within the estate's boundaries. "Intellectually, he believes in transparency," Kirkpatrick said. "But emotionally, it's very difficult for him." ____ Facebook works hard to present Zuckerberg as someone deeply interested in the ordinary people whose lives are at the heart of its business. Stops on last year's U.S. tour, never announced, were set up by facilitators who revealed details to only a select few. But many of the visits were covered by the media and documented in professional-quality photos on Zuckerberg's Facebook page soon after he'd departed. Ostensibly, the idea was for Zuckerberg to learn. But in their brief interactions, many people were just as interested in finding a way to connect with him. In Hazard, Kentucky, educator Paul Green became custodian of the small town's biggest secret. A staffer from Zuckerberg's foundation, peppering Green with questions about the region's educational cooperative, finally admitted it was because the CEO himself wanted to visit. Green's reward for keeping it quiet was seeing the wide-eyed grins when Zuckerberg pulled up and greeted local high schoolers studying robotics and programming. Walking through science demonstrations, Zuckerberg spent more time trading tech tales with the teenagers than quizzing the teachers. "He just lit up with those kids," Green said. "The way he talked with them about some of the things he did when he was in school and his passion for technology, it really was cool." When Zuckerberg toured an oil rig near Williston, North Dakota, last July, "from the minute he got out of the car to the minute he got back in the car, he was nothing but questions," said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, which arranged the visit. "I had Bakken shale, limestone, dolomite, and he was able to hold them in his hand, along with a bottle of crude oil. And I remember him asking, 'How do you get that oil out of that rock?'" geologist Kathleen Neset said. In Dayton, Ohio, Zuckerberg met with officials, caregivers and families battling drug addiction. Lori Erion, the founder of the group Families of Addicts, said she told him what it was like to learn her daughter, April, had shot up heroin in their own home. "It seemed to get him really emotional," Erion said, recalling how Zuckerberg stood up suddenly and told the group he needed a few minutes to steady himself. When he returned, he asked what makes an addict stay clean and how families got their loved ones into treatment. "We didn't ever talk about Facebook at all," Erion said, "which is really interesting because Facebook is really the main way of us getting information out. He really was just like a regular person." ___ As Zuckerberg connected with Americans face-to-face, controversy over Facebook continued to spiral. Shortly before the election, McNamee sent a letter to Zuckerberg and Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, warning that Facebook was being manipulated in ways its creators never intended. It wasn't just about the U.S. election: A consulting firm had collected data on people interested in the Black Lives Matter movement and sold it to police departments, and critics had detected a well-organized, clandestine campaign supporting Brexit. All this pointed to a deep problem with Facebook that it was simply not equipped or not willing to prevent the misuse of its platform. McNamee said he has been disappointed in the incremental changes announced since. Facebook has adopted this "libertarian philosophy that says 'we are not responsible for anything downstream, we are allowed to disrupt media, we are allowed to addict our users and we are not responsible for any of the consequences of any of that,'" he said. Zuckerberg could change that. But McNamee said it is not enough to hire thousands of workers to weed through fake and abusive posts if those posts keep getting through. And tweaking Facebook's newsfeed so users see more posts from families and friends does not address his certainty that the algorithms underlying Facebook make it dangerously addictive. "You cannot cure addiction by doing more of the thing that got you addicted in the first place, which is what Zuck recommends," McNamee wrote in an email. Critics say Facebook continues to ignore the possibility of the social network being used for dark purposes, but Zuckerberg's supporters counter that he is unfairly blamed for problems he could not have foreseen. Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder, credits Zuckerberg with leading Facebook through a shift in mindset, making changes that will nudge users into a more positive virtual environment without completely shutting out inflammatory content. "Facebook basically is saying we enable people based on the way they behave. That's a very democratic argument. If people want to live in filter bubbles, who are we to say 'Don't live in filter bubbles,' even though we don't want them to?" Hoffman said. But Kirkpatrick argued that Zuckerberg's and Sandberg's surety that Facebook has a positive impact on society has blinded them to parallel realities. The company can't be fixed, Kirkpatrick said, until Zuckerberg comes to terms with existential threats to the way the social network does business its potential to negatively affect democracy and the way it hooks in users. "There's no question in my mind that Mark Zuckerberg is an ethical and responsible human being who wants to do the right thing," he said. "However, I do not think he has yet grasped the gravity with which his service is being perceived to be a socially harmful force all around the world. And I also don't think he realizes the extent to which that really is true." McNamee, recalling Zuckerberg as a 22-year-old visionary, said the CEO must be willing to rethink long-held assumptions. But that does not mean he has to abandon building his global community. "You've won," McNamee said he would tell Zuckerberg if asked again for his counsel. "You've achieved more than your wildest dreams. You're a billionaire. Now you have a chance to be a hero." Police are warning people in one Connecticut town that hawks are dive-bombing and even clawing at peoples heads. Several people in Fairfield have been attacked by the birds in recent weeks, police say. They say the hawks have been flying out of the sky and clawing people in the head. The attacks have been reported on Old Mill Road, Sycamore Lane and Henry Street. Animal Control officers are trying to capture and relocate the hawks. Police are investigating after the stabbing of a 79-year-old man shocked shoppers at a Star Market in Newton, Massachusetts. Authorities arrested 23-year-old Matthew Muradov after he allegedly stabbed a victim in a random attack around 2 p.m. Monday at the supermarket in the city's Auburndale neighborhood. Police say the two men do not know each other. "It's very scary. I come here with my children," said shopper Natalia Bernhardt. "You never really think to even look around. Oftentimes the kids are walking alone in there, so it's extremely scary." Shoppers say they saw crime tape up near the meat department in the back of the store. "I'll come here again, but it just makes me more aware," said shopper Becky Cahill. "We're all being more aware of all different experiences. I guess I never thought of this one, but now I will." When police arrived, the suspect was outside the grocery store and immediately arrested. The victim was tended to inside, and he was taken to the hospital with multiple stab wounds, but the injuries are considered non-life-threatening. "I'm almost oblivious to anyone around me when Im shopping," said Valerie Jacoby. "I feel like this is a really safe area, so it's surprising. But it's not going to stop me from going to Star Market, or going out shopping." The suspect will be arraigned Tuesday on several charges, including assault with intent to murder. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney. The Massachusetts Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday in support of a proposal that opposes arming teachers in schools. The vote follows President Donald Trumps call to arm school teachers and to help provide them with rigorous firearms training. The boards discussion has centered around the appropriateness of teachers carrying guns and what kind of training would be involved. Steven Wojnar, president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association said his organization does not support the arming of teachers. "We don't want people handling firearms unless they're fully trained," Wojnar told board members. Mass. Secretary of Education James Peyser told board members teachers would not be able to reach the level of training necessary for an active shooting situation. "Public safety officers will tell you that in order to be effective with a firearm in a situation like that, a crisis situation, you need training on an ongoing basis," Peyser. "Teachers are just never going to be that well-trained even if they are trained in a firearm, theyre not going to be trained in the kind of practices they need to be effective in those situations." The resolution is a statement that reflects the beliefs of the board but has no legal power. However, board members hope it sends a strong message across Massachusetts and nationwide. A Massachusetts man was taken into custody Monday and charged with attempted child rape. Police and Homeland Security officials say 55-year-old Mark Baier of Milford was arrested after a sting operation. Baier allegedly posted on Craigslist that he wanted to meet a young girl. After undercover police spoke with Baier online, he allegedly drove to Watson Park in Northborough, where he expected an 11-year-old girl to be brought to him for sex, according to police. Baier was arraigned Monday in Westborough District Court on charges of enticing a minor under 16 and attempting to commit child rape. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney. Massachusetts will be filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. The decision by state Attorney General Maura Healey followed after Secretary of State William Galvin condemned a change to the 2020 U.S. Census recently announced by the Trump administration. The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Monday that the decennial survey will include a question about citizenship status, which the administration said will help the Justice Department enforce the Voting Rights Act; however, critics charge that the change will hinder the government's ability to accurately measure responses. Galvin, a Democrat, speculated that the decision was an attempt by the presidential administration to suppress the count in states, such as Massachusetts, that have large immigrant populations. "This is nothing but a blatant attempt by the Trump Administration to frighten minority groups away from being counted and to sabotage the 2020 Census," Galvin said. "The Constitution requires us to count every person living in the United States, not every citizen. This question is completely irrelevant to the process." Healey, also a Democrat, announced her intention to sue the adminstration on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. "The Census is supposed to count everyone," she wrote. "This is a blatant and illegal attempt by the Trump Administration to undermind that goal. We will sue to ensure a fair and accurate Census that counts the people of Massachusetts." Massachusetts will follow California, which has already said it will sue the Trump administration over the decision. One of the ways in which the census data is used is to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. This means that the data affects the number of votes that are allotted for each state in the Electoral College. Because the data measures how many people are in the state, it is used to determine the amount of federal resources given to the state. Massachusetts has an all-Democratic congressional delegation and its Electoral College votes have gone to the Democratic presidential nominee in 13 of the last 15 presidential elections. A Massachusetts man charged with stabbing a 79-year-old man inside a Newton supermarket pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday, and his parents are wondering why he was released from a hospital days earlier. A judge ordered Matthew Muradov, 23, to Bridgewater State Hospital to undergo a mental health evaluation. Muradov was taken into custody Monday after Newton police said he allegedly stabbed a victim in a random attack at about 2 p.m. at the Star Market on Commonwealth Avenue in the town's Auburndale neighborhood. Police arrested Muradov outside the supermarket. The victim, identified as David Harris, was taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where he was treated for multiple stab wounds and later released. Muradov's father reportedly told police his son has a history of mental health issues and was released from Newton-Wellesley Hospital last Friday. "This has been a very long process for him over the course of a number of years," said David Levinson, Muradov's defense attorney. "[His parents] just want him to get help. They're not really sure why he was released from the hospital." According to police, Muradov's parents think he was released because his insurance ran out. "Discharge plans are based on the unique clinical needs of each individual patient, and every patient is carefully and individually evaluated prior to discharge," a Newton-Wellesley Hospital spokesperson said in a statement. "All out discharge plans include necessary follow up care and prescriptions for any necessary medication." Police said the attack appeared to be random and that the two men do not know each other. A Massachusetts senator is facing multiple charges after allegedly driving drunk over the weekend. According to State House News, Sen. Michael Brady, of Brockton, was arrested in Weymouth early Saturday morning while on his way home. Brady's office confirmed to State House News Tuesday that he had been arrested. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday in Quincy District Court on charges of operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and marked lanes violations. According to the Quincy District Court clerk's office, the 55-year-old was released after his arraignment on personal recognizance. He's due back in court for a pre-trial hearing April 13. Investigators are following the money trail in the Massachusetts State Police Department, and critics say there needs to be more transparency and accountability. An investigation by the Boston Globe shows that troopers' earnings are significantly greater than had previously been reported. "It's important for the state police to get its act together," Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday. Gov. Charlie Baker is now dealing with the 140-member Troop F, responsible for patrolling Logan International Airport and parts of Boston's Seaport District. The Globe reports that the entire division's payroll data has been obscured from the public for years. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which pays Troop F, did not file payroll records with the state. "Massport made a mistake," Baker said. The investigation found that 14 troopers made more in overtime than base pay, and that 54 troopers made more than $200,000 -- 79 percent of Troop F made more than Baker's own salary. The payroll issues come after a series of state police scandals, including an alleged police report cover-up that led to the early retirement of the department's top cop, a wave of suspensions over various issues and an overtime pay scandal being investigated by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. Critics say they want Attorney General Maura Healey to launch a separate investigation into this latest controversy. In seven days, there have been seven armed robberies in the area of Portland, Maine, and police think it could be the same suspect behind all of them. The latest happened at a Subway restaurant in Westbrook Monday night. Police have released the surveillance video, hoping someone recognizes the man or his voice. "He seems too confident," said manager Kerri Consiglio. "My employee said the only thing he had going for him was his calm demeanor. He said he was very polite for someone holding a gun." The robber can be seen walking into the Subway, completely covered in dark blue clothing. He holds out his gun and points it in the direction of the cashier, who quickly opens the drawer. The suspect grabs the cash himself, and when the cashier offers to give him a roll of change, he tells him to "keep it for yourself" and exits. "It's a scary experience," said Consiglio. The robberies started on March 20, at the Riverton Gas Station on Forest Avenue in Portland. Last Wednesday, an armed robber hit the Lil' Mart store on Route 1 in Falmouth. Thursday, someone robbed the Good Things Variety on Saco Street in Westbrook. Later that day, an armed robber hit the Irving gas station on Main Street in Cumberland. Saturday morning, someone robbed the Daily Grind coffee shop on Main Street in Westbrook. Sunday, a man attempted to rob the China Taste on Washington Avenue in Portland. "It's a desperate person who more than likely will continue to do what he's doing," said Portland Police Lt. Robert Martin at a news conference Monday. Hours after his warning, the armed robbery was reported in Westbrook Monday night. "Of course we're concerned," said Westbrook resident Ray Richardson. "It seems this person is targeting places where there's one or two people in the store." Police say in all seven cases, the suspect is described as a man between 5'5 and 5'10. They say he pulls out the gun in a similar manner, and usually grabs the cash himself. Multiple victims have described his demeanor as "calm." The suspect or suspects may be parking a getaway vehicle a short distance from the business, walking in, and then running back to the car after the robbery. Anyone with information is urged to contact police. Anonymous tips can be left at 207-591-8117. Diocese of Norwich launches degree in Youth Ministry Diocese of Norwich launches degree in Youth Ministry The Diocese of Norwich has launched a new three year Undergraduate Training Scheme offering students a paid placement in youth ministry within the Diocese whilst studying for a degree at Ridley Hall College. The Diocese of Norwich Mothers Union has announced the sad death of its "dedicated" President, Val Ovenden. Past President Marguerite Phillips pays tribute. The Diocese of Norwich Mothers Union has announced the sad death of its "dedicated" President, Val Ovenden. Past President Marguerite Phillips pays tribute. Book now for 'Visions of Salvation' Julian retreat The Friends of Julian of Norwich present 'Visions of Salvation', a two day in-person and online retreat taking place on October 29 and 30. Read more Ermie leads the way by saying yes to organ donation Organ Donation Week has been an opportunity to remember with gratitude much-loved parishioner Ermie Astorga from St Johns Cathedral, who passed away a year ago. Read more Norfolk Christian League hails 'fantastic spirit' As the new football season starts, the most sporting team in the Norfolk Christian League from last season have been presented with a trophy for their fantastic spirit. Read more The power of belonging to your church Regular contributor Jane Walters has recently become a member of her local church, and is discovering the joy of Christian teamwork. Read more Gospel choir helps Norwich church Covid-19 reflections The Norwich Community Gospel Choir helped people to reflect on the Covid-19 pandemic at a concert at St Stephens Church in Norwich on Saturday September 28 as part of the churchs After The Storm event. Read more Trustee vacancies at Community Chaplaincy Norfolk CCN is a Christian Charity which supports men and women leaving prison in Norfolk. We currently have a Trustee Board of six and are looking to appoint two or three new Trustees over the course of 2021/22. Read more Gorleston youth project re-starts prayer meetings The Identity Youth Project in Gorleston has re-started regular in-person prayer gatherings, and all are welcome to join with them to pray for this vital work. Read more Vacancy for Clerk to the Trustees of Carters Trust Norwich-based charity Carters Trust is looking to employ a Clerk to the Trustees to assist in the administration of the Trust, the maintenance of financial records, compliance with Charities Acts and other legal obligations, and correspondence. Read more Norwich event explores ministry in poor communities Sara Barron, Executive Director of the National Estates Church Network, will be speaking in Norwich about ministry in low-income communities. Read more YMCA Norfolk - Policy, Performance and Compliance Co-ordinator YMCA Norfolk is looking for a Policy, Performance and Compliance Co-Ordinator to ensure compliance and consistency with regard to the implementation of our policies and procedures. Read more Norwich preacher pays ultimate price for mission to the poor Tributes have been paid to a courageous Norwich Methodist preacher, who gave up everything and moved to Pakistan to follow Gods call to serve the poorest of the poor, and who has died suddenly. Read more Tournament heralds start of Norfolk Christian league The start of the 2021/22 Norfolk Christian Football League season was heralded by the traditional 11-a-side tournament for half a dozen teams at Sloughbottom Park on Saturday September 18. Read more N Norfolk Christian artists in Open Studios event Two faith-filled artists from the Fakenham area will be taking part in the Norfolk Open Studios event starting later this month. Read more Nourishment for the body as well as the spirit? Robert Ashton wonders if there is scope for our parish churches to provide a further service for their local communities. Read more Norfolk authors poems speak to the heart Christian writer Catherine Ayre has had a book of poems published to encourage people to find out more about God. Read more Invite for Norfolk faith groups to help prisoners The Welcome Directory is a multi-faith charity that helps faith communities to offer welcome to people leaving prison. Norfolk churches are among those who are invited to register to make a commitment. Read more YMCA Norfolk needs Business Support Administrator YMCA Norfolk is looking for a Business Support Administrator to provide business, co-ordination and administrative support for the communities team, based in Norwich. Read more What is a smart city? The answer depends on whom you ask. Solutions providers will tell you its smart parking, smart lighting or anything to do with technology. City officials may tell you its about conducting city business online, such as searching records or applying for permits. City residents may tell you its the ease of getting around, or about crime reduction. Everyone is right. A smart city, built properly, will have different value for different stakeholders. They may not even think of their city as a smart city. They know it only as a place they want to live in, work in, and be a part of. Technology is top of mind in the smart city. But it is just one layer of many in the smart city ecosystem. Each layer has a different but equally important role. No one layer is more relevant than another. For example, technology powers the smart city, but it is data that leads to insights and new services. However, to create relevant services, cities must be able to innovate the right solutions. To get the right outcomes that matter consistently and at scale, civic leaders must establish sensible technology and data policies. Finally, savvy cities use public private partnerships (PPP) to maximize their resources, go faster and scale effectively. A new generation of community and technology leaders, managers and solutions providers is needed to build the smart city ecosystem. These architects think broadly and work across layers. They operate in the intersection of technology, innovation, business, operations, strategy and people. This is the no mans land where traditional boundaries, processes, policies and rules fail. This is where the hardest problems are. And this is where the real smart city begins. In building the cities of tomorrow, these smart city ecosystem architects must focus on these eight areas: 1. Break silos and build bridges A sustainable and well-functioning smart city is a tight orchestration of people, processes, policies and technologies working together across the entire smart city ecosystem. These architects unify teams across municipal departments. They build bridges to connect public and private organizations within the ecosystem. They build consensus to co-create the new city. 2. Focus on outcomes that matter A smart city is not about technology, but about using technology together with the various ecosystem layers to create the results residents, businesses, municipal organizations and visitors care about. These results, or outcomes, are aligned around the needs of the city - government efficiency, sustainability, health and wellness, mobility, economic development, public safety and quality of life. 3. Engage a broader community of innovators Within the smart city, innovation and value creation comes not only from municipal agencies, but, from businesses, communities (business districts, smart buildings, housing complexes), and individual residents. Smart city ecosystem architects unify the various layers to enable, incentivize, facilitate and scale this larger community to co-create the smart city together. 4. Develop mastery in policymaking and partnerships Policies and partnerships are the catalysts of the smart city. They augment and amplify limited city resources and capabilities, scale faster, while minimizing risk. Effective smart city ecosystem architects unite the needs of policymakers, technologists and innovators to create sensible policies that create the right outcomes. They proactively seek out public and private collaborators and build sustainable and synergistic partnerships. 5. Enable city data, not open data Data is the lifeblood of the smart city. Open data, generated by municipal organizations, is only one source of data. When supplemented with data created by businesses and private citizens, it yields richer insights and better outcomes. Smart city ecosystem architects utilize the full extent of the ecosystem to create city data. They plan and build data marketplaces, robust data sharing and privacy policies, data analytics skills, and monetization models that facilitate the sourcing and usage of city data. 6. Manage connectivity as a strategic capability While connectivity is mission critical, todays smart city ecosystem architects are faced with several challenges - unequal access to basic connectivity, inadequacy of existing services, and a confusing array of emerging LPWAN options. In the smart city, connectivity is not an option nor is it someone elses problem to solve. Smart city architects must lead with new policies and public private partnerships. They must develop new innovative investment strategies, and create new connectivity ecosystems with city owned, service provider owned, and community owned infrastructure. 7. Modernize the infrastructure Todays smart city infrastructure is a hodge-podge of legacy systems, purpose built departmental technology and smart city point solutions. Cities must modernize their digital infrastructure, while expanding integration to the broader external ecosystem. Cyber-security and technology policies, processes and systems must be revised to be smart city centric, not IT centric. Digital skills, from data analytics, machine learning to software engineering, must be the new competencies of the smart city. 8. Build trust into the smart city The smart city is only as smart as the trust its stakeholders have in it. Right from the start, smart city architects must design in trust across the entire ecosystem. The technology infrastructure must be secure. Information collected must be protected and used in accordance with its owners wishes. Policies, legislation and technology must be continuously aligned to maintain the right balance of protection, privacy, transparency, and utility. Tomorrows cities are built by smart city ecosystem architects today. To be effective, these architects must expand their perspectives, assume new roles, and work strategically, to build a new sustainable smart city. The growth in cloud computing has shone a spotlight on data centers, which already consume at least 7 percent of the global electricity supply and growing, according to some estimates. This has led the IT industry to search for ways of making infrastructure more efficient, including some efforts that attempt to rethink the way computers and data centers are built in the first place. In January, IBM researchers presented a paper at the High Performance and Embedded Architecture and Compilation (HiPEAC) conference in Manchester on their work towards disaggregated computer architecture. This work is part of the EU funded dReDBox project, part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Disaggregation means separating servers into their constituent compute and memory resources so that these can be allocated as required according to the needs of each workload. At present, servers are the basic building blocks of IT infrastructure, but a workload cannot use more memory or CPU resources than are available in one single server nor can servers easily share any spare resources outside their own box. Workloads deployed to data centers often have a big disproportionality in the way they use resources. There are some workloads that consume lots of CPU but dont need much memory, and on the other hand other workloads that will use up to four orders of magnitude more memory than CPU, said Dr Andrea Reale, Research Engineer for IBM. Across the datacenter, this means that some servers will be utilizing all their CPUs but still have lots of spare memory, while for others it will be vice versa, and these resources continue to suck power even if they are not being used. According to Reale, about 16 percent of CPU and 30 percent of memory resources in a typical datacenter may be wasted this way. But what if you could compose servers under software control to have as many CPUs and as much memory as each particular workload requires? Separating compute and memory The dReDBox project aims to address this by using discrete compute and memory modules known as bricks. These are connected together by high speed links, enabling enough compute bricks to be paired with enough memory bricks to meet the requirements of whichever workload is running at a given moment. In theory, this enables a server to be composed for a specific application, with as many CPU cores and as much memory as the job requires, and those resources can then be returned to the pool and used for something else once the workload is no longer required. As part of its research project, the dRedBox team has built a demonstration system where the bricks are built around Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ ARM-based system-on-chip (SoC) silicon. The compute bricks have a small amount of local memory, while the memory bricks have a much larger amount of DDR4 memory that they serve up for the compute bricks. There are also two other kinds of brick in the dRedBox architecture; accelerator bricks that may provide either GPU or FPGA hardware to boost applications like machine learning or analytics; and a controller brick, which is a special type of brick that manages all the others. To fit in with existing data center infrastructure, the dRedBox team envisages that the bricks in any production deployment would be housed in a 2U enclosure resembling a standard rack-mount server system. These enclosures may contain any mixture of brick types. The beauty of this modular arrangement is that it also makes for easy upgrades; the operator can simply replace compute bricks for newer ones with higher performance, or likewise swap memory bricks for ones with a greater memory capacity, rather than junk the entire server. However, the key part of the whole architecture is the interconnect technology that links the bricks together. This has to be both high-speed and low latency, otherwise performance would take a hit when a compute brick reads data stored in a memory brick. For its demonstration system, the dRedBox team has used an electrical switch matrix to connect bricks within an enclosure, while an optical switch matrix links to bricks within another enclosure in the rack. Unusually for an IT environment, these switch matrices are circuit switched, meaning they create a dedicated pathway between bricks once configured, unlike a packet-switched network such as Ethernet, where data is routed to its destination based on the address in the data packet. This arrangement was chosen precisely because of the need for low latency, according to Reale. HARTFORD State residents younger than 21 may soon be banned from buying tobacco, e-cigarettes or vapor products under a law under consideration by the General Assembly. The legislative Public Health Committee approved the change with significant bipartisan support Monday. The bill will likely move to the Senate for a vote in the coming months. The proposed law, which raises the legal age for purchase of the products from 18, would take effect Oct. 1. A grandfather clause would allow people who turned 18 before that date to continue to buy the products. Legislators pointed to the change as critical to passing the bill out of committee. Raising the age to 21 has been proposed many times in the past, but always failed. The health implications of tobacco smoking in any form is incredibly deleterious to the health of the state, said Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, a co-chairman of committee. We hope we are going to be keeping people from having this lifelong health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,900 Connecticut residents will die from smoking-related causes this year. Experts predict more than 1,000 children will become new daily smokers under the current law. California, New Jersey, Oregon, Hawaii and Maine have raised the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21. Nearly 300 municipalities, including New York City, Chicago and Boston, also made the change. Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, R-Glastonbury, a doctor and one of three committee members to vote against the bill, said he did so because he opposed the grandfather clause continuing to allow some 18-year-olds to smoke. Lawmakers are also wrestling with how to regulate what Steinberg termed the new frontier of smoking: vaping. A bill passed by the committee would require e-cigarettes and vapes be purchased in a direct, face-to-face interaction with a retailer, not online. Buying vapes from a retailer face-to-face as is required for cigarettes would emphasize that these (vapor) products are not perfectly safe, said Steinberg. But at least eight Republicans opposed the measure. If you are someone who is 21 and you want a replacement part (for an e-cigarette or vape), I think you should be able purchase it online, said Sen. Heather Somers, R-Hartford, chairwoman of the committee. She favored raising the age to buy tobacco, but voted against taking vape sales off the web. In the bill, we didnt segregate out vaping with non-nicotine versus nicotine products, she added. Some of the products dont contain nicotine. Connecticut collected $323 million, or 2 percent of the General Fund, in revenue from tobacco sales taxes in 2017, according to the state comptrollers office. Revenue from tobacco taxes have stayed at about that level since 2012. Advocates for changing tobacco laws say healthcare costs far outweigh those revenues. Our states annual health care costs directly caused by smoking are $2.03 billion and Medicaid costs are $520.8 million, said Lisa Kimmel, director of Wellness and Health Education for Yale University, who spoke to the committee last week on behalf of the American Heart Association. Smoking-caused productivity loses in Connecticut are $1.25 billion annually. There are two war veterans, both with penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a gunshot. One of them tends to donate his own money to societal entities he believes in, and the other one punishes institutions that don't represent him. The answer for these behavioral differences rely on brain areas, that after being damaged during the Vietnam War are no longer working as they are supposed to. In order to elucidate these mechanisms, neuroscientists investigated altruistic behavior - actions that benefit others - in Vietnam veterans. The study was published in Brain. For at least 150 years, we know that TBI can change several domains of behavior, impairing social behavior or memory, for instance, depending on which brain areas have been damaged. However, mapping the relation between brain areas and behavior can be tough, especially for complex behavior such as altruism. War veterans constitute a unique opportunity to reveal causal relationship between how specific brain areas are involved in social behavior. This study - part of an initiative that investigates the brain of war veterans since the 1980's - included 94 war veterans with penetrating TBI and 28 controls that also served in combat in Vietnam but had no history of brain injury. All participants had their brains examined with a Computed Tomography (CT), a non-invasive method that allows investigation of brain damage. Also, veterans participated in an altruistic decision task in order to capture their intuitions of justice and morality. In this test, each participant was required to donate or punish 30 charitable organizations involved in salient societal issues, such as abortion and gun control. Each decision (either donate or punish) costed them $1, while avoiding them resulted into savings. In the altruistic decision task, donate and punish are typically altruistic decisions: they involve giving away from their own money in order to benefit third parties. "This test is different than others because it allows us to go deep in their moral intent, since they donate or punish to what they believe is right or wrong", explains Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza, neurologist from D'Or Institute for Research and Education and author of the study. Altruism in the brain When linking participants' performance on the test to their brain lesions, scientists found out that those veterans who have made more decisions to punish showed bilateral lesions in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. On the other hand, less punishment was associated with lesions in the left temporo-insular and right perisylvian cortices . However, decisions to donate to a given organization were associated with lesions in other areas of the brain . Increase in donations was linked to bilateral lesions in the dorsomedial parietal cortex, while decrease in donations was observed in the veterans who had suffered damage in posterior parts of the right hemisphere, including superior temporal sulcus and middle temporal gyrus. "Our findings reveal that we have two distinct brain circuits that come into action under a moral situation: one of them punishes, the other one donates", highlights Oliveira-Souza. Previous studies have pointed to the importance of these brain areas to determine the sense of morality and justice towards individuals or social groups. According to the authors, the present study reinforces the notion that altruistic decisions emerge from complex cognitive process that come into action during a moral decision, for instance if one is for or against civil rights. "We hope that learning more about the brain mechanisms of altruistic behavior and its related social behaviors we can promote the positive social behaviors that families desire; particularly in patients under rehabilitation for different forms of neurodegenerative disorders or brain injury", says Jordan Grafman, from Brain Injury Research Program, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, USA. In the future, the authors expect to evaluate younger people and women with the altruistic decision task in order to investigate whether there is any differences in the brain circuits of morality related to sex and age. Labtech International Limited, the niche scientific company celebrating its 25thanniversary this year,has acquired the business of MSE (UK) Limited,the UK manufacturer of centrifuges. MSE was founded in 1936, by Dr Ernest Foulkes, initially as a manufacturer and distributor of machine tools and equipment. With the founding of the UK National Health Service in 1948, MSE was retained by the NHS to develop hospital microtomes, which until then had not been manufactured in the UK. In the early 1950s, the newly formed Atomic Energy Authority approached MSE, requesting them to manufacture a range of centrifuges. Following Dr Foulkes retirement in 1972, MSE was acquired by Fisons. Related Stories CryoCapCell appoint Labtech as UK distributor In 1990, MSE was acquired by Sanyo and assimilated into the Gallenkamp brand.In 2003, Sanyo Gallenkamp sold the manufacturing wing of MSE to Henderson Biomedical Ltd and manufacturing moved to Lower Sydenham in South London. Following completion of the acquisition in 2018, Labtech has been working closely with Henderson Biomedicals Board to ensure a smooth technology transfer. Commenting on the acquisition, Dr Brian Page, Chairman of Labtech International Limited said: This acquisition provides us with an opportunity to use our market knowledge and technical resources to develop another important range of scientific products. Mr Alex Henderson, Managing Director of Henderson Biomedical, said: We had been discussing the possibility of a relationship between our companies for some time. We will be working closely with Labtech to ensure the success and development of the business in the future. Source: https://www.labtech.com/labtech-international-ltd-acquires-mse Beijing: China on Monday lashed out at US "economic intimidation" following President Donald Trump's announcement of new import tariffs, but said it was open to negotiations to resolve trade frictions. The two countries have traded threats and heated rhetoric in recent days, ratcheting up fears that the world's two biggest economies are heading towards a damaging trade war. Trump said last Thursday that the United States would impose new tariffs on some $60 billion of Chinese imports over the "theft" of intellectual property, rattling global financial markets. Vice President Mike Pence boasted that the measures mean that the "era of economic surrender is over". Asked about the remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a press briefing on Monday that "it would have been more appropriate to say that it's time to stop the US's economic intimidation and hegemony". Beijing has not stood idle. On Friday, it unveiled a list of $3 billion worth of US goods, including pork, fruits and wine, that could be targeted with tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminium tariffs -- if negotiations fail. "We also have the confidence and the capacity to safeguard our legitimate and legal interests, whatever the circumstances," Hua said. "Now the ball is in the US court." While the two sides have traded barbs in public, US and Chinese officials have begun behind-the-scenes negotiations to improve American access to the Asian country's huge market, according to the Wall Street Journal. "We keep saying that the Chinese side is willing to negotiate with the US to properly manage divergences, on the basis of mutual respect and equal mutual benefits," Hua said when asked about the report. "Our door is always wide open to dialogue and consultation." New Delhi: India and China have agreed to draw a roadmap with clear timelines to boost bilateral trade in a sustainable manner, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday. Trade and other related issues were discussed during the meeting of China-India joint-group on economic relations, trade, science and technology in New Delhi on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and his Chinese counterpart Zhong Shan. "The ministers agreed to draw-up a medium and long term roadmap with action points and timelines for increasing bilateral trade between the two countries in a balanced and sustainable manner," it said. It added that the two countries are the largest emerging economies with 35 per cent of the world's population and about 20 per cent of the world's GDP but the relative volume of bilateral trade is less than 1 per cent of global trade. The Chinese side reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate the provision of market access for Indian agricultural products including non-basmati rice, rape- seed meals, pomegranate, okra, banana and other fruits and vegetables and bovine meat expeditiously. The ministry said that the India's concern regarding trade deficit and requests for greater market access of Indian products and services was raised in the meeting. On this, the neighbouring country expressed its commitment to address these concerns through the broad framework provided by successive joint economic group meetings. "The two sides reaffirmed their aim to promote bilateral trade in the field of pharmaceuticals including resolution of issues of Indian pharma products exports to Chinese markets," it added. Further, both the sides agreed to re-negotiate bilateral investment agreement to create a more stable, transparent and predictable legal environment to facilitate greater investment on both sides. India has received USD 1.78 billion foreign direct investment from China during April 2000 and December 2017. India's trade deficit with China stood at USD 36.73 billion during the April-October period of the current fiscal. The deficit had marginally dipped to USD 51 billion in 2016-17 from USD 52.69 billion in the previous fiscal. The bilateral trade between the countries increased to USD 71.42 billion in 2016-17 from USD 70.17 billion in the previous fiscal. On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj retweeted a poll run by Congress' official handle that asked people to assess Swaraj's "biggest failure" as a Foreign Minister in handling the case of 39 missing Indians killed in Iraq. The poll which the Congress party posted on Twitter yesterday at 10:49 am, asked: "Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajs biggest failure as Foreign Minister? Yes or No" The tweet went viral with around 3300 retweets and close to 34,000 people voted with 76 percent voting for "No". Do you think the death of 39 Indians in Iraq is Sushma Swarajs biggest failure as Foreign Minister? #IndiaSpeaks Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2018 Replying to the poll, several people called it Congress' self-goal. You are not winning any polls online and offline. Dukhan bandh karo Antevasin (@Antevasin10) March 26, 2018 Please delete b4 final results, Abhi bhi time bachaa hai! pic.twitter.com/2M6TbaVDd2 Sriniwaas Manur (@ABODEofLAKSHMI) March 26, 2018 @INCIndia abe kitne self goal karoge bey?? Sushma Swaraj is retweeting @RahulGandhi bas karne ko bol de bhai, nai to aap offline, ye online, kahin ke nahi rahoge saab! pic.twitter.com/ku5VJbO20S Kaamkaaji Berozgaar (@krish_deep) March 27, 2018 With a clear "victory" on her hands, Swaraj later retweeted Congress' poll. While Congress party's social media head Divya Spandana blamed the "bots". Bots janta party having a field day with our polls! But the lies said and the misery and pain caused to those 39 families, will not forget- https://t.co/qYndeg8wrM Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 Earlier last week, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had cited protocol to explain why she had informed the Parliament about the deaths of 39 Indians in Mosul, Iraq, before letting their families know. Some kin of the victims have questioned as to why they were not told about the deaths before the Parliament. It is parliamentary procedure to first inform the House, so it was my duty, she said during a press conference. Her response came after she came under attack from the opposition parties for showing insensitivity to the families of the victims. The Congress and the Left had also questioned the three-year delay in declaring their deaths and created an uproar in the House. Swaraj further said that the Congress was indulging in cheap politics by disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha when she was to make a statement on the deaths of 39 Indians in Iraq. Congress must explain why it disrupted proceedings in the Lok Sabha when I was to give details on the deaths of 39 people in Iraq, Swaraj told reporters. Last year, Congress' poll about Nehru had left Twitter baffled. After getting trolled over the poll, the party deleted it and reframed the question only to get trolled yet again. Why @OfficeOfRG deleted this poll ? pic.twitter.com/Xwk6Osivv6 Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) September 3, 2017 It asked: "In the absence of motorable roads in Bhutan in 1958, PM Nehru rode on an animal to visit the country. What animal was it?" The party included the option of "donkey" again and the troll chose to select it. Again. Yes. This time, getting a 76% out of 45,960 votes. BJP national president Amit Shah on Tuesday embarrassed the BJP and state party chief B S Yeddyurappa with his apparent slip of the tongue. Shah who was addressing the press after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Karnataka elections said, "if there were ever a competition for the most corrupt government then the (BJP's) Yeddyurappa government would come first". All this happened when Yeddyurappa, BJP's candidate for chief minister in the Karnataka Assembly elections, was seated next to him. Another leader sitting next to Shah immediately informed him about the gaffe and Shah then corrected himself and said that he meant "Siddaramaiah would come first in a competition for the most corrupt government" but the damage had already been done. The video of Shah's slip of tongue is now being circulated on the microblogging site with Congress saying that finally, the BJP chief spoke the truth. Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video!Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever...True. pic.twitter.com/UYqGDZuKyR Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2018 Truth shall prevail. Truth has its own ways to come out, listen to Amit Shah himself exposing BJP CM candidate Yedurappa's corruption model..:)) pic.twitter.com/SDF0KB9nKg Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) March 27, 2018 The Truth can never be Suppressed.Even Amit Shah agrees that Yeddyurappa led the Most Corrupt Government ever. #BJP420 pic.twitter.com/KJdSGVIuO5 Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 27, 2018 In retrospect, I was always wrong about Amit Shah Ji. He does occasionally speak the truth. :-)) #BSYeddyurappa https://t.co/wmi4DA2Ues Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) March 27, 2018 Who knew @AmitShah could also speak the truth- we all concur with you Amit ji @BSYBJP is the most corrupt! pic.twitter.com/GFbTF3Mg7H Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom" - Glad that Amit Shah ji is willing to take that road. He made it clear today that Yeddyurappa's Govt will be No. 1 corrupt Govt in the country. pic.twitter.com/truJm7EQVq Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) March 27, 2018 Congress leader and current chief minister Siddaramaiah called the BJP president "the Shah of Lies" and said he's finally speaking the truth. New Delhi: After a report on Twitter revealed the number of fake followers popular world leaders have, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked each BJP MP to get at least 300,000 genuine likes on their Facebook page. While Twitter later clarified that the audit report was deeply flawed and should not be taken seriously, the target given to members of parliament was apparently set during a dinner meeting of BJP MPs with PM Modi and party president Amit Shah at the new party headquarters in Delhi on Friday. According to a report in Hindustan Times, three leaders from the saffron party told a reporter of the news organisation about the development. The leaders also claimed that the PM offered to hold a live video call with workers from their constituencies if the target is achieved. A BJP MP, who attended the meeting, said the Prime Minister asked which of the MPs were active on Facebook, to which most people raised their hands. The PM then asked how many of them had 300,000 likes on their pages, to which only a few responded in the affirmative. The PM offered to address, through live video call, the mandal-level workers in our constituencies if we achieved this target, the BJP MP said on condition of anonymity. He was particular that these likes should be genuine likes, and should not be bought through marketing companies offering such services, a second BJP MP said. The PMs stress on the importance of using social media effectively comes nearly a year ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It coincides with governments warning of consequences to Facebook if the election process in India was interfered with, in light of the political storm over alleged breach of FB data by election management company Cambridge Analytics to influence poll outcomes in other countries including the US. BJP MPs Poonam Mahajan, Pratap Simha and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were held up by Joshi as examples of MPs who were using social media effectively, said the first leader quoted above. At Fridays dinner, Hiren Joshi, an officer on special duty (Information Technology) in the Prime Ministers Office, made a presentation to the parliamentarians on how to use the NaMo app for dissemination of information related to the achievements of the government in different sectors, said another MP present at the meeting. The NaMo app has irked many political party leaders earlier. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had accused PM Modi of misusing his position to build personal database "with data on millions of Indians via the NaMo App promoted by the government". "Modi misusing PM position to build personal database with data on millions of Indians via the NaMo App promoted by Govt. If as PM he wants to use tech to communicate with India, no problem. But use the official PMO APP for it. This data belongs to India, not Modi," Gandhi had said in a tweet. Hyderabad: The fight to get Special Status for Andhra Pradesh is intensifying with each passing day. All parties in the state --TDP, YSRCP, Congress and Left -- are up in arms against the BJP-led government at the Centre for failing to fulfill promises and cheating the people of Andhra Pradesh. For every political party, the issue is most crucial ahead of 2019 elections, but for common man, it is the fight for their right and justice. Amidst the political deadlock over the issue of Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, CNN-News18 travelled to Amaravati, to find out the concerns of the common man in the state. After bifurcation of the state in full fanfare in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for a world-class new capital Amaravati, estimated to be built at whopping cost of over Rs 50,000 crore. But, since then, the political equations have changed in the state. The neighboring city of Vijayawada, had the highest expectations with announcement of world class capital Amaravati next door. But today their hopes and aspirations have fallen flat. Efftronics, is a company in Vijayawada, working in the area of providing smart and innovative solutions for Smart Cities and buildings. With proposal of a world class, smart capital and promises made at the time of bifurcation, every industry expected to grow. However, industry insiders say, with lack of incentives and an ecosystem, high cost employment generation companies have failed to come. Speaking to CNN-News18, D Rama Krishna, Managing Director of Efftronics, said, In 2014, when the new government had come, there was a lot of aspirations from both Centre and state. Everyone thought a new era has begun. Thats why people came out and voted. But in todays political situation, people feel things are going wrong and their aspirations are not fulfilled. The type of funds Centre is talking about is peanuts for capital construction. There is disappointment; anger is growing. If there are no incentives, why would any company shift its base in our state? The Centre had sanctioned Rs 2,500 crore for capital development, out of which only Rs 1,500 crore was released. The only striking change is the power centre of Andhra Pradesh, which has shifted its base from Hyderabad. The government for past many months has been functioning from Amaravati. A huge complex comprising of secretariat and legislative buildings, assembly & council, has been constructed, which is buzzing with activity. The hotel industry also had high hopes and people in the city also expected employment generation with the industry boom. But with capital construction making no headway, the hotel industry is waiting and watching. C Sujith, general manager at popular Fortune Murali Park hotel told CNN-News18, We are seeing upgradation of the city, but the process not happening as expected; its slow. When hoteliers want to invest, they see the returns should be favorable. We had expected many hotels will come, but capital region work is not going at fast pace. It will take a lot of time to compete with other big cities. With Hyderabad going to Telangana after bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh was left with no capital of their own. The critical concern for Andhra Pradesh is that it has to compete with developed cities like Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad in southern India. The youth in Andhra Pradesh are most agitated. CNN-News 18 met some students from Siddhartha College of Arts and Science, and they tell us why the issue has irked them. Every Telugu person was affected with the bifurcation. I wanted to study in Hyderabad, but I was unable to since I was a non-local. As an MBA student, I wish to live in a good city where I can have opportunities. But if you see today, we have no opportunity here. What is the support from Centre is unclear. Everyone who wants to work in hometown, stay is disturbed. The situation is, we all are ready to come out on streets and protest to demand what was promised to us, said a student. Employment is a concern for us. There is no IIT and IIM in our state. There are no good MNCs. So all the jobs are going to other cities. Capital is heart of any city. Be it Bengaluru or Chennai or Hyderabad, their states are doing well, because of the capital. But in Andhra, where is the capital. All political parties are only doing drama and not sincerely fighting, said another student. Many national institutions were promised, but four budgets have passed, still no allocations have been made. In many colleges, due to lack of funds, students are studying in under-construction buildings. Ultimately, the students are suffering. Parties should stop blaming each other and fulfill promises made to Andhra Pradesh, else people will give their decision with their power of vote, Prof Sridhar said. The people in Andhra Pradesh feel that they have been cheated in the past. They say that they cannot be deceived yet again. They are hoping that all political parties will keep aside their political motives and take forward the concerns of the people of Andhra Pradesh. The people are demanding all the assurances made on floor of Parliament and provisions of the AP Re-organisation Act must be fulfilled. New Delhi: Even as the Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat was holding a press conference to announce the Karnataka Assembly election dates, the BJPs IT cell head Amit Malviya had already outed the dates on Twitter. However, Malviya got the date of results wrong. When asked on Twitter by fellow journalists as to how he had access to the dates before the EC announcement, Malviya pointed them in the direction of certain news channels and said the information was already public. As the news of his tweet picked up, Malviya deleted his tweet announcing the election dates. Curiously, even Karnataka Congress social media in-charge Srivatsa had tweeted out the dates before the EC did. 12th May it is then. 46 days to go. https://t.co/ei6wQKNhyn Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 27, 2018 Journalists gathered at the EC office in New Delhi, where the press conference was underway, raised the matter with CEC Rawat, questioning how a political party had access to news before the official announcement. We will find out what happened and a full investigation will be launched. Let us not speculate on what they have, Rawat said. Assuring journalists that the matter will not be taken lightly, Rawat promised appropriate action. Certain things may have leaked for which Election Commission will take appropriate action. It will be investigated. Be assured that actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken. Reacting to Malviyas tweet, Congresss chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted: BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking ECs confidential information? New Delhi: There is currently no proposal to scrap Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Ahir was replying to a written question by BJP MP Ashwini Kumar, who asked whether the government was committed to scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution. The MP from Karnal in Haryana also asked what was the present status and the procedure laid down for scrapping Article 370. "There is currently no such proposal under consideration of the Government," Ahir said in his one-line reply. Scrapping Article 370 forms part of the BJP's political manifesto. However, the party, in alliance with the regional PDP, remained silent on the demand in the Agenda of Alliance agreed to in 2015. In a separate question on statements made by the Centre's interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Ahir said Sharma had recently visited border areas in view of recent cease-fire violations and suggested some measures for the local population. These included shifting residents and constructing bunkers. The question was asked by Congress' Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gaurav Gogoi. Ahir said the government was keen to bring peace in the state and was ready to hold dialogue with all sections of society who shun the path of violence. The government has also continuously encouraged policies to bring youth to the mainstream. These include providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy, he said. New Delhi: Marking the 60th year of exile in India, Tibetan Buddhist leader Dalai Lama is set to kick off yearlong pan India Thank You India events on March 31. The Central Tibetan Administration will organise a public event at the Tsuglagkhang temple on Saturday and the event will be attended by Indian dignitaries too. In a statement, President Dr Losang Sangay said that Tibet is inextricably linked to India through geography, history, culture, and spiritually and that the Tibetan struggle is Made in India and said that the success of the Tibetan struggle will be Indias success story. The announcement of the spiritual leaders attendance comes a month after, according to a report in the Indian Express earlier this month, foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had sent a note on February 22 to Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, following which the "senior leaders" and "government functionaries" of the Centre and states were directed to skip events of exiled Tibetan leaders. The Centre later clarified that Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was free to "carry out his religious activities in India", reacting to reports that the government has asked senior functionaries to "skip all events by the "Tibetan leadership in India". In an interview to CNN-News18 earlier this month, Dalai Lama had said that he doesn't care about alleged pressure from China forcing the cancellation of events in Delhi to mark 60 years of the Tibetan governments exile in India. He also said the position of the Dalai Lama has become irrelevant now and that the Tibetan people must decide on whether to continue it. The Tibetan government-in-exile shifted the high-profile event commemorating Dalai Lamas 60 years of exile as an effort to bringing peace to relations between India and China. Many Tibetan activists are said to have communicated to relevant authorities as the development humiliated Dalai Lama. China has for long considered the spiritual leader as a dangerous separatist and says Tibet is an integral part of its territory and has been for centuries. Beijing also says its rule ended serfdom and brought prosperity to what was a backward region, and that it fully respects the rights of the Tibetan people. Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the best ambassador for Indian values of non-violence, ahimsa and inter-religious harmony and the promotion of basic human values: compassion and kindness, said Dr Sangay. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that lawyers should "educate" their clients in order to avoid unnecessary litigation, which has been choking the justice delivery system. A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana was critical of the fact that most trivial of issues are dragged till the highest court only because litigants have money to spend. "You should educate your clients. You should tell them what exactly are they fighting for. Sometimes you argue cases here but at the end of the litigation, the clients have to get neither money nor any right," Justice Ramana told senior lawyer R Basant. Basant was arguing in a property dispute case between brothers, and the latest complaint happened to be about a construction in a house under dispute. With the bench expressing its indisposition to entertain his plea, the senior advocate requested the Court to at least set a deadline for the Delhi High Court to finally decide the matter. Justice Ramana, however, pointed out that these are things easier said that done. "It is easy for this Court to say or for you to ask us to pass directions for disposal within a time frame. But you can not imagine the pressure under which high courts function. Delhi High Court happens to be one of the busiest high court in fact," said the judge. Justice Ramana further regretted that the work load was such that people have been languishing in jail waiting for disposal of their cases. "Those who have thousands and lakh to spend, they can come till this Court and pray for expeditious disposal of their civil disputes. But what about those who have been languishing in jails for years. Spare a thought for them," said the judge. New Delhi: The Election Commission will announce the dates for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Tuesday. EC sources said the announcement is likely to be made around 11am. The Congress is looking to retain power in this crucial southern state while the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to defeat its foe. Deve Gowdas JD (S) is the third player in these polls. In 2013, the Congress won 122 seats in the 24-member Legislative Assembly. Parties like MIM of Asaduddin Owaisi, Mayawatis BSP, Sharad Pawars NCP etc are also trying their luck in all-important Karnataka Assembly polls. The BSP and NCP have joined the JDS led pre-poll alliance to take on both the Congress and the BJP. In a deft political move, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka decided to ask the Centre to recognise the Lingayats as an independent religion. The Lingayats make up for 14% of the total population of the state and are seen as a crucial votebank. Our fight has reached a logical end. We have always maintained that Lingayats are not Hindus. Hope the Centre will accept our demand, Water Resources Minister and Lingayat leader MB Patil said after the announcement. The RSS has already opposed the independent religion tag to Lingayats on the ground that it will divide the Hindu religion. Siddaramaiahs move has put the main opposition BJP in a fix as Lingayats are the backbone of the BJP in Karnataka. Its CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa is also a Lingayat and the saffron party in the state is in a dilemma. According to a confidant of Yeddyurappa, If we oppose it, we might lose the support of Lingayats who are over 16% of the states population. If we support it, the RSS may not like it. We really need to be careful. New Delhi: Four days after a woman journalist was allegedly molested by a police officer during a protest by JNU students, the Delhi Police has finally registered an FIR in the matter. Yet, the police has refrained from naming the accused despite the complainant identifying the officer. The concerned Station House Officer (SHO) has been sent to the district lines. Delhi Police, which often talks about free registration of FIRs, took four days to register an FIR in this case. The woman had filed a complaint at the Sarojini Nagar police station and called on 100 on Friday, the day of the incident. Senior officials of Delhi Police said the matter was transferred to vigilance department to conduct an inquiry into it. On Monday, the woman and her colleague, who was also present at the protest, were called to the vigilance department to the get their statements recorded. She was made to narrate the entire sequence of events thrice in front of three different officers and was also asked to give it in writing, only to register an FIR. However, the seventh column of the FIR, which asks about the details of known/suspects/unknown accused was left vacant despite the woman naming the culprit in her complaint. In the FIR accessed by CNN-News 18, the woman journalist has mentioned, as soon as the lathicharge started Inspector Vidyadhar Singh came and pushed us (she and her colleague) away from the site... we told Mr Singh that we are journalists at that point Mr Singh backed off. She further added, He (Mr Singh) then proceeded to come towards us again hooked at my chest. Placed his hand on my right breast and pushed me again. The FIR also mentions the conclusion of the vigilance enquiry. It says, The complainant reiterated her allegation and the same have been corroborated by her colleague. Alleged police officer and his staff have denied the allegation. The matter relates to a complaint of a woman journalist against police officers about molestation. In view of these facts, it requires in-depth investigation. Despite four days of vigilance inquiry, the department is yet to arrive at a conclusion. The matter has now been transferred to the crime branch for further investigation. New Delhi: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Siddharth Shankar Ray was trained at Londons Inner Temple before returning to register at Calcutta High Court in 1946. After entering active politics 15 years later, Ray but rarely appeared before the courts. But there was an exception. A rare exception in one case for almost two decades till he breathed last in December 2010. At a condolence meeting in Rays memory organised in Lucknow, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) leader and Lawyer Zafaryab Jilani recalled his meeting with Ray in 1988. Ray heard out the board members with patience and gave his consent to represent the board in future hearings. It was a consent he never withdrew till his death, SS Ray appeared for the AIMPLB in Babri Masjid Title Suit and did not charge a penny for it. His last appearance in April 2007 was before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court where the case was being contested. Ray, generally accompanied by the wife on his trips to Lucknow, would don his black gown for a day to argue the case and leave without anyone taking notice. The Congress leader and one of the closest aides of Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi thus rendered his services for free out of his conviction on the issues he may held close to his heart. A decade later, when the same title suit after adjudication from the HC reaches the Supreme Court, the line between politics and appearance of a lawyer for a client he/she represents has been bedaubed in a sharply polarised polity. Former Union minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibals assertions before the court as the counsel for AIMPLB have been taken as official stand of the political party he represents in Parliament. Sibal has reportedly been told by the party leadership to give up this one case whose political overtones in the run-up to the 2019 general elections may give a handle to the opposition to attack the Congress. In a highly polarised media environment engendered both by ignorance and brazenness the Congress is worried that Sibals argument before the court may be attributed to the party. But that was never the case a decade back when Ray appeared in the Babri Masjid Case even at the peak of temple politics in the Hindi heartland. The Congress apprehensions probably emanate from the fact that the party in the last two decades has conceded Right of the Centre space to the BJP. The Congress at its Delhi plenary has admitted that Rahuls temple run is aimed to neutralise BJPs Hindutva. There are attempts by the Congress opinion makers to trigger a debate to delineate Hindutva as a political ideology from Hinduism. Politics is about perceptions, and it takes decades to make and destroy existing ones. The Congress has put into motion a course correction- an exercise in the collective. Sibal the politician, a known face representing the party, has been asked to comply and contribute. LIVE: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday ordered a probe into the circumstances that led to dates for polling and result of the Karnataka Assembly elections. Controversy broke out after BJP IT cell Amit Malviya announced the dates for elections in Karnataka about 15 minutes before the EC announced it. When asked about it, he said that he got it from a news channel. the state will go to the polls on May 12 and counting will take place on May 15. Meanwhile, BJP national president Amit Shah embarrassed the BJP and state party chief B S Yeddyurappa with his slip of the tongue. While accusing the Congress government in Karnataka, Shah said that if there was a competition for the most corrupt government, "Yeddyurappa government would be number one". Congress president Rahul Gandhi, CM Siddaramaiah and Congress social media head Ramya immediately made use of the opportunity and 'appreciated' Shah for "speaking the truth". The elections are politically crucial for the ruling Congress led by Siddaramaiah as it is the only big state where the Grand Old Party is in power after losing a string of polls to the BJP in the last few years. Besides, the Congress and BJP, the JD(S)-led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is the third player in the fray. Stay tuned as Ashish Yechury brings you live updates: Mumbai: Mumbai Police have denied permission for a march here, planned by Shivprathisthan Hindustan in support of its founder Sambhaji Bhide who is accused of instigating the violence at Bhima Koregaon, near Pune, on January 1. However, the police have given permission for a gathering at Azad Maidan. A Mumbai Police statement said, "Permission has been denied to the march of 'Shivprathisthan scheduled on March 28, from Byculla to Azad Maidan. Permission has been given for a gathering at Azad Maidan." Pune police have also denied permission for a similar march. However, members of Bhide's organisation Shivprathisthan are firm on holding the march. Several right wing organisations have planned rallies across Maharashtra in support of Sambhaji Bhide. The rallies were planned after a gathering of Dalits, led by president of Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, Prakash Ambedkar took place in Mumbai on March 26, demanding arrest of Bhide for instigating violence at Bhima Koregaon. Earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis while speaking on law and order in the state assembly, said that the government has not found any role of Bhide in the Bhima Koregaon violence case. "As of now no evidence of Sambhaji Bhide's involvement has surfaced. Investigation is being carried out. Will not spare anyone including my family members, if found guilty." He said. The march planned by several outfits including Shivprathisthan Hindustan, is to pressurise the government to withdraw case against Bhide. Aeroflot, Russia's flag carrier, forced five Asian-American passengers to fly to Delhi instead of New York because of their skin colour, according to a racial discrimination complaint. Aeroflot staff warned the US citizens, all of south Asian descent, they would be deported to India if they refused to deplane, reported The Independent. The Americans were travelling from Delhi to the US on 7 January but were stranded during a stopover in Moscow when their connecting flight to JFK International Airport was cancelled due to heavy snow in New York. The passengers were then told that there were no available seats on alternative flights and they would not be provided with any accommodation in Moscow. The said passengers were also denied transit visas, meaning under Russian law they could not leave Sheremetyevo Airport or remain in the country for longer than 24 hours. The passengers rang the US embassy in Moscow and were told it would be illegal for Aeroflot to deport United States citizens to third countries against their will, the complaint reads. It adds: Although the officer on duty at the embassy repeatedly asked to speak with Aeroflot to correct the situation, Aeroflot employees refused to speak with him, instead reiterating their threat that the passengers would be deported and that if they did not return to India, Aeroflot would make matters worse for them including through criminal deportation and heavy fines. The five passengers who brought the complaint eventually boarded the flight to India, fearing for their safety and feeling that they had no other choice after Aeroflots repeated threats, says the complaint. After arriving in Delhi, they were informed there were no Aeroflot flights to New York for more than a week. Four of the passengers involved in the complaint spent thousands of pounds booking one-way flights to Washington DC through Qatar Airways instead. The fifth, Anshul Agrawal, flew to Miami through Aeroflot six days later. Although Aeroflot is Russia's flag carrier, the company has previously been fined by American authorities for violating US passenger protection rules. New Delhi: A 35-year-old man committed suicide along with his wife and a minor daughter by consuming poison in Delhi over a property dispute with his father. Their three-year-old son survived the suicide pact as he refused to leave a neighbour's house without taking prasad. The two children had gone to the neighbour's house for a religious ceremony. When his mother came to fetch, Rishabh refused to accompany her, Hindustan Times reported According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Vickey, his wife Lalita, 30, and their six-year-old daughter Ranchi. Vickey and Lalita were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while Ranchi succumbed during treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre here. The incident occurred on Saturday when Kishori Lal, father of deceased Vickey, informed the local police regarding a quarrel at his house in Govindpuri in south Delhi. "Vickey stayed with Lalita, Ranchi and his three-year-old son on the first floor of a three-storey house owned by his father. He wanted his father to give him the first and second floors of the house but his father refused," Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said. "On Saturday, Vickey had a heated argument with his father and brothers over the property in the presence of some neighbours. Later, he went in his room and gave some poison to Lalita and Ranchi before consuming it himself. When his father and other family members did not see them for some time, they went there only to find the couple lying unconscious while Ranchi was complaining of pain. They informed the police," Biswal said. Vickey had around a year back also threatened Kishori Lal that he would end his life along with his family after which his father had given a written complaint to the Senior Citizens Cell at the Delhi Police Headquarters on January 2, 2017, but the matter was sorted out through counselling, he said. Vickey ran a shop on rent where he used to sell eggs and Lalita was a housewife. They also have a son who was at a neighbour's house when the incident took place. Kishori Lal supplies tiffin to students and tenants who reside on the third floor of his house, the DCP added. Lucknow: After failing to ensure passage of the Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Bill (UPCOCB) in the Legislative Council, the Uttar Pradesh government will re-introduce it in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. The bill which had met a roadblock in the Legislative Council on March 13, where the Opposition is in the majority, will be re-introduced in the state Assembly on March 27, the House was informed last Tuesday. The Bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly on December 21, 2017 and was sent to the upper house (Council) where it was turned down on March 13 and was returned to the Assembly on March 14. The proposed legislation on the lines of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), seeks to curb organsied crime and deal strictly with those trying to foment terror or dislodge the government forcibly or through violent means. The UPCOC Bill, 2017, also seeks to act sternly against those using explosives or firearms or any other violent means or damaging life and property or for involvement in anti-national or any destructive act. In the Upper House, the ruling BJP is in minority unlike in the 403-member state Assembly, where it won 325 seats (along with allies). In the 100-member Council, the BJP has just 13 members. The Samajwadi Party has 61 members, the BSP nine, Congress two, RLD one and other parties 12. Two seats are vacant. New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is soon going to file an intervening application in the Supreme Court contending that Nikah Halala and polygamy are a part of Muslim Personal Law which should not be tampered with, and that the portrayal by the petitioners is biased. AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani told News18 that not only will board argue for non-interference by the court in the practices of Nikah Halala and polygamy but also question that why live-in relationships have been accorded legality. Live-in relationships have been accorded legality, then why does this sudden meddling in the practice of polygamy which is non-existent. Till now I have not seen a single man with four wives. There is not a single case of polygamy among Muslims in India, said Rahmani. Rahmani said one of the top choices of the board to argue the case in the apex court would be Dr Raju Ramachandran. Senior Advocate Ramachandran had appeared on behalf of Jamat-Ulema-i-Hind in the triple talaq case last year and had contended that every party has the right in law to opt out of personal law. Discussing the contents of the soon-to-be-filed petition, Rahmani discussed three major points to be invoked by them. First, the way Halala has been presented in the court is not in accordance with Shariat. This is a thought developed on the basis of media reports, which has no relation to the reality. Second, we agree that marriage to four women is allowed in Islam and has Quranic sanction, but there are certain conditions which need to be adhered to for polygamy which the courts needs to be aware of and last, when court considers a live-in relationship as a legal relationship where a man can even have 12 partners then why the court does has a problem with a man having four wives? said Rahmani. The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine the constitutional validity of the prevalent practices of polygamy and 'Nikah Halala' among Muslims and sought responses from the Centre and the Law Commission. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the submission that the previous five-judge constitution bench, in its 2017 verdict, had kept open the issue of polygamy and 'Nikah Halala' while quashing triple talaq. A batch of petitions was recently filed in the court praying for the practices of Nikah Halala and polygamy to be quashed as they were unconstitutional and violative of human rights. The first of three petitions were filed by BJP Leader Ashwini Upadhyay. Nikah Halala is a condition mandating Halal marriages for Muslims. It means that once a couple sever matrimonial ties through the pronouncement of Talaq, they cannot resume a relationship of husband and wife by marrying each other again unless the wife has been married and divorced from someone else. Petitioners have contended that such practices like Nikah Halala, temporary marriages like Nikah Mutah and Misyar and polygamy needed to be struck down as violation of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution. Rahmani has argued that polygamy as a practice was non-existent among Muslims and that this petition was a complete BJP-RSS agenda. The petitioners are portraying the concept of Nikah Halala in a way which is non-existent in Islam. In this diverse society, you can find innumerable examples where a husband is around 60 years old and the wife is in her twenties or thirties and main reason behind such alliances are poverty, said Rahmani. However, AIMPLB member, Islamic scholar and Imam-e-Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, supported the contention of the petitioners that such rackets where women are used for marriages and quick divorce in the name of Halala is nothing but rape but clarified that this was not the Islamic practice. Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower who kicked up a massive storm across the world over data theft carried out by his former employers Cambridge Analytica, said on Tuesday that the Congress party was one of the political parties in India that had used the services of the tainted company. Wylie also said that the company had large-scale operations in India and even had an office here. Twenty-eight-year-old Wylie was deposing before the UK Parliament on Tuesday when he reiterated the allegations against CA. "I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of project. I don't remember a national project but I know regionally. India's so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff," Wylie said while speaking at the UK Parliament. Soon after the deposition got over, union minister for law and information technology demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi. "The whistleblower confirmed that Congress party was their client. The Congress had publicly denied that relation with Cambridge Analytica. Congress has to apologise to the nation. Rahul Gandhi will have to apologise. They have been exposed. This shows they dont trust people, he said. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala addressed the media right after Prasads allegations and said, Ravi Shankar Prasad is a liar. He is in power, so why doesn't he show all the proof and register an FIR. We challenge you. They fear they will be exposed if a probe is started." The UK-based data analytics firm has been in the eye of a global scandal surrounding Facebook and an application on the social media platform that harvested data of over 50 million users only to use it to influence voters in elections. The scandal that has unfurled across the world over the past one week has seen both BJP and Congress levelling serious allegations of data theft and voter influencing against each other by employing CAs services. Cambridge Analyticas India-affiliate Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) carried the names and logos of BJP, Congress and JD(U) in its client list, while the companys vice-president, Himanshu Sharma, boasted of having successfully delivered 272+ seats for BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The company has been accused of illegally sourcing data of over 50 million Facebook users and then using it to influence them in several elections, including the 2016 US Presidential elections, Brexit referendum and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections closer home. OBI also stated in its website (that has now been suspended) that it had worked with JD(U) in the 2010 Bihar Assembly elections, which the party had won in a partnership with BJP. Last week, BJP questioned links between the Congress and Cambridge Analytica. Taking a stern view of reports on the misuse of user data obtained from social media platform Facebook, the IT Ministry in a statement said that "breach of privacy cannot be tolerated". Whistleblower Wylie on Tuesday observed that the companys approach was more like a modern day colonizer that worked and influenced elections in several countries, including India. The big winners of the 37th edition of Michelin's guide to eating across Europe are Budapest and Vienna, both of which earned new two-star restaurants this year. The capital of Hungary unlocked its first two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the newest edition of Michelin guide "Main Cities of Europe 2018", with the promotion of Onyx, where chef Adam Meszaros modernizes traditional Hungarian dishes with aplomb, said international director Michael Ellis. "Onyx is a most elegant dining experience," he said in a press release, adding, "On the plate there is refinement, maturity and every dish is bursting with originality." Vienna, which recently was named the world's best city for quality of life in Mercer's annual index for the ninth year in a row, also gained a new two-star restaurant with Konstantin Filippou, which Ellis praised for offering sophisticated cuisine with finesse. Vienna also earned a quartet of new single-starred restaurants. Michelin's guide "Main Cities of Europe" is written in English and is aimed primarily at business travelers, who often parachute into new cities for a few days. Overall, 58 new restaurants gained their first Michelin star in the 2018 edition of the guide, while 59 new restaurants were added to the Bib Gourmand section of the book, which recognizes good quality, good value cooking. The guide covers major cities in countries like Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Poland and Sweden, many of which have no standalone Michelin guides dedicated to their dining scenes. Nestle has created a new version of its Milkybar that contains 30 percent less sugar, thanks to a new proprietary technology that alters the sugar's structure. The brand's Milkybar Wowsomes are the first candy bars to be developed using the new technique which creates an aerated, porous sugar that dissolves more quickly in the mouth, much like cotton candy. While normal sugar comes in the form of solid crystals which dissolve slowly, amorphous sugar dissolves faster in the mouth, imparting a sweeter sensation from less sugar, says Nestle. The new technology was developed in just over a year, and involved scientists from the UK, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. The Milkybar Wowsomes contain crispy oat cereal and are pitched as healthier treat alternatives to regular candy bars for children. The first ingredient is milk. It's the latest innovation out of the confectionery and chocolate world. Earlier this year, KitKat Japan became the first consumer brand to launch the Ruby chocolate, characterized by its all-natural pink color and berry flavors. Described as the fourth type of chocolate after milk, dark, and white varieties, the Ruby chocolate is made from the Ruby cocoa bean and is the fruit of years of research and development by scientists at the Zurich-based premium chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut. The Ruby chocolate contains no artificial color or flavoring. Milkybar Wowsomes will hit store shelves across the UK and Ireland in the coming weeks. Apart from making out-of-the-box films that raise awareness on social issues, Aamir Khan is involved in a lot of worthy causes and trying his best to make a difference using the influential medium. Once again, the 53-year-old actor has rightfully used his talent as he urged fans to help him in the fight against water scarcity. The actor on Tuesday went Live via his Facebook page and revealed that the reason his popular show Satyamev Jayate didnt return for a fourth season is that its entire team, including him, has been working in the drought-stricken villages of Maharashtra for last three years. The actor said that they started an NGO named Paani Foundation in 2016 and decided to tackle the challenges of droughts. A lot of people have been asking me about my show Satyamev Jayate for a long time now and that when I'm bringing it back on TV. I want to tell you that my entire team of Satyamev Jayate has been working in the drought-ridden villages of Maharashtra for last three years. We started Paani foundation three years back to resolve water crisis in several villages of Maharashtra and help its people deal with acute water shortage, Aamir said in the clip. In order to catalyse the movement, there is a four-day intensive training programme by the foundation that offers techniques of scientific watershed management as well as leadership and community building skills. I have been travelling to different villages all day and I'm speaking to people from different villages about the Satyamev Jayate Water Cup (a competition in which villages compete to win prizes for the best watershed management work) and encouraging them. Some of them have already completed their training so Kiran (Rao) and I in the months of April and May travel around Maharashtra and we go to different villages where work is happening and we work with the villagers and discover such wonderful stories which are very inspiring, Aamir said. You must know that all the success that you see in these villages is all their own efforts. we have not given them any monetary help. We have only given them knowledge and encouraged them, he concluded. Actor Abhay Deol, who was a part of Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, says the primary cast members, including Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar, are ready for a sequel, but the director needs to say "yes". There have been media reports that Zoya Akhtar may consider making a sequel after she finishes shooting of her current film Gully Boy. "Talks have been there since the last film released (in 2011). I hope that Zoya will make sequel of it. Hrithik tells her that, Farhan is also happy about it and even I tell her that, but Zoya obviously has to get free and have a story that she wants to tell. From our side, you can be sure. We all are ready to do the film, but now Zoya has to say that 'Yes, I have the mood to write something for it'," said Abhay. Abhay spoke to the media at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Nanu Ki Jaanu, where he was present with Patralekhaa, director Faraz Haider and writer Manu Rishi Chadha in Mumbai on Monday. Abhay is known for having impeccable comic timing which runs in the blood of the Deol family. Will he be working with his family in any upcoming installment of Yamla Pagla Deewana with uncle Dharmendra and cousins Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol? He said, "I would love to work with my family. It just that I am picky about my own work and tomorrow if people approached me for a film with my family, then I will be going through that script even more diligently than my own script because I want it to be that much perfect. So yes, one day, when the right script comes along... But my one apprehension is that I wouldn't know how to be anybody else other than who I am around my brothers (Sunny and Bobby Deol) and Taaya (Dharmendra). It is so difficult for me to imagine acting like someone else. I don't know if I will be able to that. Suppose in a scene, I have to be rude with Pappa (Dharmendra). He is my Taaya, but we call him Pappa as we are in joint family and we have grown up with that, so I don't know if I will have that courage to perform in front of him. So that's my own personal fear, but other than that if there is script that's good for us to do then, I am sure I would do it." Nanu Ki Jaanu is a horror comedy, where a ghost falls in love with a crook. It will release on April 20. Hyderabad: YSR Congress, the main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, has yet again mounted pressure on the ruling Telugu Desam Party by announcing that in case Parliament is adjourned sine die, its MPs would resign on the day of adjournment. The party said it will not wait for the April 6 deadline. Though the decision comes in the wake of the rapidly changing political developments and the possibility of the Parliament session term being shortened, the move also has a political significance, where YSRCP aims to continue its lead in the battle of perception and one-upmanship. The issue of Special Status has become politically crucial ahead of 2019 Assembly elections, with every move of political parties being closely watched by the people of Andhra Pradesh. Stepping up the attack, YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has even asked TDP MPs to follow suit to send out a strong signal to the nation about the Special Category Status. "We have been honest and sincere on the issue from announcing the resignations to the no- confidence motion and have placed them before the people. Our main aim is to highlight our efforts and mount pressure on the Centre to implement the assurances given in the House. It will be better if TDP MPs too join us in the resignations, and all 25 MPs from the state tender mass resignations, said Jagan Mohan Reddy. Earlier too, due to political compulsions, TDP was forced to follow YSRCP move to give no-confidence motion against the Centre. TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu is taking every step with a lot of caution. The party has not yet taken any decision on resignations of its MPs. In an attempt to bring together all parties and organisations fighting for Special Status, Chandrababu Naidu convened an emergency meeting in Amaravati on Tuesday, to take their suggestions and a final decision on how to go forward in Parliament. The meeting was attended by Congress, CPI, CPM, Special Status Sahdana Samiti, employees associations, and others. The main opposition, YSR Congress, BJP and Jana Sena decided to boycott the meeting. Alleging YSR Congress of being hand-in-glove with BJP, TDP MP CM Ramesh said, "YSRCP does not have credibility. They say 5 of their MPs will resign. Lets see. They are saying this for long time. They must have spoken to government, not to accept their resignations." TDP's strategy for now is to make best use of opportunity in Parliament. "CM is insisting for a discussion on no-confidence so that our voices are heard. We want to question Centre in Parliament for not fulfilling 19 aspects of AP Re-organisation Act and assurances made on floor of Parliament and expose their lies," said a TDP source. TDP's delay tactics in the past also has given advantage to opposition YSRCP, when TDP was forced to alter its strategy. With YSRCP announcing resignations of MPs first, the party has surely put TDP in the dock. Under pressure, will TDP MPs also give resignations or Naidu's next move can outsmart the opposition? Davanagere, Karnataka: BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka of trying to divide Hindus and being the "most corrupt" one in the country. On a two-day visit to the poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said the move to accord religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Linagayats was an attempt to 'divide' the Hindus. "Just ahead of the (assembly) elections in Karnataka, they have tried to divide Lingayats and Veerashaivas, also Lingayats and other communities, by announcing minority status for them," Shah told reporters. Questioning the timing of the move, he asked the Siddaramaiah government, "What were you doing for five years?" "In 2013 when your own (UPA) government was in power at the Centre, they had rejected it. Why was Siddaramaiah silent then. This is an attempt to divide the Hindus..," he said. Shah said it was not a programme towards the welfare of the Veerashaiva and Lingayat community but a "conspiracy" to stop Yeddyurappa, considered a Lingayat strongman, from becoming the chief minister. "Lingayat community understands it and I'm sure the people of Karnataka will answer it through ballots," he said. The Karnataka Cabinet had recently decided to recommend to the Centre to accord the religious minority tag to Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats, apparently to cut into the vote bank of the BJP, which significantly banks on their support. Alleging that Siddaramaiah even tried to bring 'mutts' and temples under the government control, he said it was given up following opposition to the move. "I have made five to six visits to Karnataka and after meeting people I have been able to understand the feeling of Karnataka," said Shah. "The feeling of people of Karnataka is that he (Siddaramaiah) is not AHINDA leader, an AHINDU (anti-Hindu) leader," he added. AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and dalits. He said if the Congress didn't stop Siddaramaiah, the party may have to face "harsh consequences" in elections. "On one hand, Congress president speaks about uniting Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, while on the other hand in Karnataka, its own chief minister is speaking about dividing Hindus. "I have not seen such a sharp difference within a political party," he added. Accusing the Islamic outfit, Popular Front of India and its political wing SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) of being involved in killing Hindus and the BJP and the RSS activists, Shah alleged that the state government was playing "dirty vote bank politics" by withdrawing cases against them. "On one side, the Kerala government has recommended to ban PFI to the Union government, but Siddaramaiah finds nothing wrong with the PFI. This appeasement policy is the biggest threat to the security of Karnataka and India." Shah also said the people of Karnataka had understood that "this is the most corrupt government." "Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was competition for corruption in the country, Siddaramaiah government will get number one award," Shah said. Kolkata: BJP MP Babul Supriyo met West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi on Tuesday evening to apprise him of the situation in Ranigunj in Burdwan district, where clashes broke out during a Ram Navami procession on Monday killing one person. The MP, while speaking to media, complained about the police inaction. I visited Ranigunj. Why did the police not control the situation when the incident was taking place? Why did they reach the spot after the incident took place? If Section 144 had to be imposed, why was it imposed on Tuesday and why not a day earlier? Nineteen people have been arrested in connection with the clashes and Section 144 has been imposed in the area. Supriyo lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for indulging in appeasement politics. This dirty appeasement politics which Mamata has done in the name of change is worrying. Many people could lose their lives. It is the general public that will be affected. Forget about the minority, humanity is at stake, said Babul Supriyo. Mamata left for Delhi on Monday evening which was again criticised by Supriyo. At a time when there is such a tense situation in her state, Mamata chose to be in Delhi, said Supriyo. Babul Supriyo also spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who, in turn, assured the MP he would speak to the DG Police to take stock of the situation on ground. Babul pointed out that law and order is a State subject and that the Centre can mobilise central forces only after receiving a report from the state government. New Delhi: The Congress and most of its senior leaders latched onto the major goof up made by BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday when he mistakenly said that Karnatakas Yeddyurappa government was the "number one" in corruption. Several Congress leaders took to Twitter to say that for once they agreed with Shah. The BJP chief sought to mention Siddaramaiah but named his party's former chief minister instead in bringing corruption charges against him. Shah who was addressing the press after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Karnataka elections said, "If there were ever a competition for the most corrupt government then the Yeddyurappa government would come first". Moreover, the BJP President said this when Yeddyurappa was seated right next to him. Congress social media in-charge Divya Spandana Ramya went to town on Twitter over Shah's comment at a press conference earlier on Tuesday in Karnataka. "Who knew Amit Shah could also speak the truth - we all concur with you Amit ji B S Yeddyurappa is the most corrupt!," she tweeted. Who knew @AmitShah could also speak the truth- we all concur with you Amit ji @BSYBJP is the most corrupt! pic.twitter.com/GFbTF3Mg7H Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 27, 2018 Now that the BJP IT cell has announced Karnataka elections, time for a sneak preview of our top secret campaign video!Gifted to us by the BJP President, our campaign in Karnataka is off to a fabulous start. He says Yeddyurappa ran the most corrupt Govt ever...True. pic.twitter.com/UYqGDZuKyR Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2018 In another tweet, Ramya said this was not the first time Shah had expressed such feelings towards Yeddyurappa. Shah had earlier said, "A Supreme Court retired judge has said that if a comparison is made on corruption, then the Yeddyurappa government would get the number one award." Former BJP Karnataka chief Prahlad Joshi, also present at the conference, sought to nudge him by naming Siddaramaiah, the Congress chief minister in the state, and Shah promptly corrected himself. "Er... Siddaramaiah government will be given the number one award," Shah said. Shah is campaigning for his party in Karnataka for the May 12 Assembly elections, in which the BJP seeks to upstage the Congress. The BJP has put its weight behind Lingayat leader Yeddyurappa by projecting him as its chief ministerial candidate. Bengaluru: With the Election Commission declaring the poll dates, the final round of battle for Karnataka begins from today. The incumbent Congress government, led by chief minister Siddaramaiah, started the preparations a year ago to put the main opposition on back foot. He is now ready with all the wherewithal. The main opposition BJP initially relied fully on its CM face BS Yeddyurappa to bring the party back to power in the most important southern state. But in the last three months, it seems to have shifted the focus from Yeddyurappa to BJP's central leaders and national agendas. The BSY factor does not seem to be yielding the desired results for the party. The third player JDS, of the Gowdas, is moving earth and heaven to create a hung Assembly to save itself from political extinction. It has been out of power for the past 11 years and another loss can seal the fate of JDS. Unlike in the last two Assembly polls, the major issues this time are of a different order. In 2008, the BJP won on JDS' "betrayal" to Yeddyurappa plank. In 2013, the Congress won on BJP government's massive corruption. In this election, new issues have cropped up. Siddaramaiah is defending his five-year rule on development plank. He is also banking on minority tag for Lingayats, primacy of Kannada in Karnataka, north south divide, etc. Pre-poll surveys, done by independent poll agencies and some commissioned by the Congress, claim that anti-incumbency is surprisingly low in the polls. They claim that Siddaramaiah has endeared himself to the masses through his populist schemes and by holding on to his core vote bank of Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits known as AHINDA. Even though there have been several corruption charges against his government, all failed to stick and the opposition has failed to link them to Siddaramaiah. The backward class leader Siddaramaiah is now deftly playing a Hindu and son-of-the- soil card to stop BJP in its tracks. He is also making the rounds of temples and mutts to shed the image of an anti-upper caste leader. He is also setting the agenda forcing the BJP to react, a new for the Congress. The BJP looks confused as its strategies don't seem to be working. Yeddyurappa is now being branded by the Congress as a corrupt leader promoted by Modi and Shah. The Lingayat strongman is also in a fix over Lingayat religion issue. The Congress claims that he is no longer a top leader of the community and the religion card will get substantial Lingayat votes for the ruling party. The BJP is now focusing more on making it a Modi versus Siddaramaiah fight rather than a Siddaramaiah versus Yeddyurappa fight. The PM is likely to hit the ground in the next two weeks to take on the Congress. The Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been touring the state for over two months and he is getting a good response to his public meetings. The JDS knows that it will be extremely difficult for the Gowdas to remain relevant in politics if it fails to create a hung Assembly this time. It has joined hands with Mayawati's BSP and Sharad Pawar's NCP in the state. It has already come out with a list of 126 candidates. Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah have openly attacked the JDS calling it a "B" team of the BJP. Karnataka mostly voted during the Winters. The then CM SM Krishna advanced the elections by six months in 2004 and lost the Summer battle. After that Assembly polls are held in the hottest month May. The South-West Monsoon enters the state in the first week of June. Karnataka has been a cyclical state since 1989. In 1985, the then CM and Siddaramaiah's boss Ramakrishna Hegde had won a second consecutive term. After that no ruling party has been able to retain the power till today. The BJP hopes that history will favour the party in opposition. Siddaramaiah believes that he can rewrite the history by returning to power. One thing is sure, it is a Siddaramaiah versus the rest battle. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will embark on a four-day visit to the national capital on Monday, during which she will meet and dine with opposition leaders amid efforts to finalise an anti-BJP coalition for 2019 elections. During the visit, all eyes will be on a dinner to be hosted by NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday. Sources in the Trinamool Congress said efforts are also on to arrange a meeting between Mamata and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. A meeting with current Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, however, is unlikely as Mamata has been projecting herself as a leader of a potential non-BJP front. Sources in Trinamool Congress said Mamata wanted to take the lead in opposition camp since December when Rahul succeeded Sonia at the helm of the Congress. Recently, Mamata held a meeting with Telangana CM and TRS president K Chandrashekar Rao at her Kolkata residence where the two discussed the formation of a federal front for 2019 elections. They had also held discussions on floor strategy over the no-confidence notices given by TDP and YSR Congress in the Lok Sabha. New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mooted a coalition of sorts led by strongest regional party in each state in a bid to build a credible challenge to the BJP in the run-up to the next general elections. The Trinamool Leader, who is on a three-day visit to Delhi, told reporters that the strongest regional parties should be supported by others (minor players) so that there is a one-on-one contest against the BJP everywhere. The proposal indirectly puts onus on the Congress to pave the way and support dominant regional players in 2019 general elections. Mamata Banerjee met a host of opposition leaders in Parliament on Tuesday, including MPs from TDP, TRS, RJD and BJD. She also had a meeting with some NDA allies like Shiv Sena. TMC leaders prescription seems to have emanated from outcome of recent Uttar Pradesh bypoll results, as opposition parties are now looking at an alternative strategy to knit state-specific alliances for 2019 Lok Sabha elections instead of building a grand national coalition against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). And the SP-BSP experiment could serve as the template for the anti-BJP mobilisation in the days ahead, prompting opposition parties to de-centralise Lok Sabha elections to avoid a direct 'Modi Vs Others' contest which tends to suit the BJP. The signs of the changing algorithm were apparent in the understanding reached between the Samajwadi Party, BSP and the Congress in the last one month. If Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati stay together nothing can beat them. Let them together call a meeting in Lucknow and we will all go, Mamata Banerjee told reporters in Parliament. In the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, while the SP-BSP joined hands to take on the BJP, the Congress fielded its candidates in both seats to dent the saffron partys prospects in the urban and upper caste constituency. The decision to field candidates is borne out of empirical evidence in the last Assembly elections indicating the BJP benefitting from the Congress' absence as the two parties share mutually inclusive voters. A Modi vs Others fight at the national level can easily help the BJP gloss over anti-incumbency in states where the party is in power. Second, a direct contest to the advantage of the BJP has a high probability of engendering a polarised polity. The regional leaders are also reluctant to hand over power on platter to the Congress party - especially its new president Rahul Gandhi - this time around. Mamata also made it clear that she has no plans to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi during her stay in Delhi. Bengaluru: Sometime in April 2016, BS Yeddyurappa was made Karnataka state BJP president. A month later, the Lingayat strongman and former chief minister was interacting with a select media persons in New Delhi. Someone asked him about the possibility of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah being replaced with an original Congress leader. Yeddyurappa said it would be better for the BJP if Siddaramaiah was not removed as the CM. Elaborating on that, he said, Siddaramaiah is unpopular as CM. His own party feels that the Congress has no chance if he continues till the 2018 polls. Moreover, he himself has declared that he would not be contesting in the next elections. We want him to complete full-term. So that we dont need to campaign much to win the elections. According to his close circle, Yeddyurappa was totally wrong and must be regretting not mounting enough pressure for the removal Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister because things changed rapidly in the last two years in favour of Siddaramaiah and against Yeddyurappa in Karnataka politics. Many senior leaders of the Congress admit that Siddaramaiah is the last man standing between the BJP and Karnataka in this Assembly election. The same man who was considered a liability for the Congress by both the ruling party and the BJP has now become Congress saviour and BJPs formidable rival. When Siddaramaiah, a former Janata Parivar leader and HD Deve Gowdas one-time blue-eyed boy, was made Karnataka CM side-lining party stalwart M Mallikarjuna Kharge in 2013, many eyebrows were raised. His meteoric rise in the highly hierarchical Congress set-up is truly amazing. After a serious disagreement with Deve Gowda and his sons, Siddaramaiah was dismissed as deputy chief minister by the former prime minister in mid-2005. Siddaramaiah-led AHINDA (Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits mobilization movement) was the tipping point in their relationship. After he lost power, many hastily wrote his political obituary. Till then, Siddaramaiah was known more for his administrative abilities than political leadership. He did something unthinkable by joining his sworn enemy, the Congress, a few months later and won a tough by-election from Chamundeshwari in Mysore. In 2009, he became the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly a big achievement for someone who had joined the Congress just three years before. Siddaramaiahs long-time friend Professor BK Ravi disagrees that he was not known for political leadership. He is an astute politician. He is a highly knowledgeable leader who understands the issues in seconds. He is a born leader. He has made the Congress stronger in Karnataka. He has taken on a formidable BJP at the Centre. He has earned the power. Nobody has given it to him on a platter, said Ravi. Sometime in 2010, during a debate on alleged corruption in the Yeddyurappa government, Siddaramaiah had thundered in the Assembly that he would become the Chief Minister and nobody could stop that. In the first three years of his government, Siddaramaiah had focused more on populist schemes even earning the title a chief minister of bhagyas (gifts or rewards). He was inaccessible to the media and had no presence on social media. Surprisingly, all that changed after the sudden death of his 38-year-old son Rakesh in Belgium in July 2016. A few days after the tragedy, Siddaramaiah told his close friends that he would be seeking a second term in office and would lead the party in the next election. After that, everything has changed so suddenly. We thought that he would retire from politics. It was a huge blow to him. But he swallowed the pain and decided to take on the BJP, said a personal assistant. Siddaramaiah started interacting with the media often, opened Facebook and Twitter accounts. In the last one year, he has emerged as the most active chief minister on social media. Normally, the BJP sets the agenda and the rest react to it. In his case, he sets the agenda and the BJP is forced to react. He is brave and has taken on the BJP courageously. He has clarity, said state Congress working president Dinesh Gundurao. From backing a movement for the primacy of Kannada to separate religion tag to Lingayats, Siddaramaiah has taken several bold steps to put the BJP on the back foot. Speaking to News18, Siddaramaiah said, I am all for Kannada and Karnataka. It does not mean that I am against outsiders. We want Kannada to get first priority in our state. Talking about the Lingayat religion issue, he said, It is not our idea. The demand came from within the community. We have just forwarded it to the Centre. Over the years, he has established a good personal rapport with Congress president Rahul Gandhi and it is now helping him in Karnataka elections. According to leaders close to Rahul Gandhi, he has full faith in Siddaramaiah and has given him full power to ensure that the party returns to power again. Even though the party has not officially named him the chief ministerial candidate, few have doubts over Siddaramaiah continuing as the chief minister if the Congress is voted back to power. Siddaramaiah knows that he is up against the formidable election machinery of the BJP and it is not going to be easy for him. He must be feeling the pressure of saving the Congress from BJP. If he wins, Siddaramaiah will create history. If he loses, perhaps he will be history. Patna: Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Tuesday showered praise on RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav and said he saw a "bright future" for the young leader. The actor-turned-politician also said Tejashwi would be a "major player" in the next Assembly polls in Bihar. "I am amazed at the maturity and poise that Tejashwi displays while answering tough questions. He has a bright future. He will definitely emerge as a force to reckon with," he told a news channel here. The comments of Sinha, who represents the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, come close on the heels of his meeting with jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in Ranchi on Saturday. This meeting was followed by a visit, a day later, to the residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi whom he met in the presence of her sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap. "The precision with which Tejashwi speaks reminds me of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in his heyday," Sinha remarked. Replying to a query, he said, "Undoubtedly Tejashwi would be a major player in the next assembly polls in Bihar. I cannot say whether he will be in a direct fight with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also my dear friend. But even Nitish said the young man has a long political career ahead." Sinha was referring to Kumar's intervention in the Assembly yesterday wherein the chief minister had advised his former deputy to exercise restraint while raising, on the floor of the House, matters relating to communal tensions. Sinha, who has been critical of his own party and the Narendra Modi government for quite some time, said he was upset over not getting an invitation for the Bihar Diwas celebrations held last week. "The Bihari Babu was not invited to Bihar Diwas, for reasons we all know and I need not elaborate upon. So I thought it would be a good idea to meet my old friend Lalu who is a mass leader," Sinha said. "Bihari Babu" is one of the sobriquets by which Sinha is known. "Thereafter, on coming to Patna I met his family members and told them that Lalu was doing fine. It was a great reunion after a long time," he added. Sinha had visited a Ranchi hospital, where RJD supremo Lalu Prasad is admitted, accompanied by local Congress MP and former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay. Prasad has been serving sentence after being convicted in fodder scam cases. He was admitted to the hospital on March 17 after he fell ill at the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi. Sinha, however, parried questions about his future political moves as well as queries relating to the allegations levelled against his party over the recent spurt in communal tension in Bihar. "We shall talk about these things later," he said. After repeated calls for him to do so, Mark Zuckerberg has decided he will testify before the US Congress. Facebook sources tell CNN Money the 33-year-old CEO has come to terms with the fact that he will have to testify before Congress within a matter of weeks, and Facebook is currently planning the strategy for his testimony. The pressure from lawmakers, the media and the public has become too intense to justify anything less. The Facebook sources believe Zuckerberg's willingness to testify will also put pressure on Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to do the same. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has officially invited all three CEOs to a hearing on data privacy on April 10. That means Washington, not London, will be the stage for the trial of big tech. Zuckerberg on Tuesday turned down a request from British lawmakers to answer questions on the social network's privacy practices and will send two deputies instead. The forthcoming Capitol Hill drama is the culmination of the tech backlash that went mainstream last year. The perfect storm of political intrigue and media hype surrounding the hearings has the potential to radically change the way Americans view big tech. Facebook has been enduring a crisis of trust ever since it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data firm with ties to President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign, reportedly accessed information from about 50 million Facebook users without their knowledge. Facebook now faces a Herculean effort to restore public trust in its commitment to privacy and data protection, sources at the company have told CNN. The scandal also highlights a problem that is built into the company's DNA: Its business is data exploitation. Facebook makes money by, among other things, harvesting user data and sharing it with app developers and advertisers. Preventing those buyers from passing that data to third parties with ulterior motives may ultimately be impossible. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg will not answer questions from British lawmakers over how millions of users' data get into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, according to a letter sent by the social network seen by Reuters. Zuckerberg will instead send his Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer or Chief Product Officer Chris Cox to appear before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee. The committee, which had asked for Zuckerberg or someone senior from Facebook to appear, was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters. Zuckerberg apologized last week for the mistakes Facebook had made and promised tougher steps to restrict developers' access to such information in a scandal which has rocked the social media giant on both sides of the Atlantic. Also read: WhatsApp Takes on Paytm with QR Code Scan Support For Payments The firm's Head of UK Public Policy told lawmakers that Schroepfer or Cox were better placed to answer questions. "Facebook fully recognizes the level of public and Parliamentary interest in these issues and support your belief that these issues must be addressed at the most senior levels of the company by those in an authoritative position," wrote Rebecca Stimson. "As such Mr Zuckerberg has personally asked one of his deputies to make themselves available to give evidence in person to the Committee." Don't Miss: Tech and Auto Show | EP34 | Auto Expo 2018 Special | Unveilings & Launches Beijing: A mysterious armored train traveled from North Korea to Beijing and then headed back without revealing its key secret: Was Kim Jong Un on board? Speculation about a visit to Beijing by North Korea's reclusive leader or another high-level Pyongyang official ran high on Tuesday amid talk of preparations for a future meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit by the special train to Beijing and unusually heavy security at a guesthouse where prominent North Koreans have stayed seemed to point to the possibility that Kim was making his first visit to China as the North's leader. Such a trip would be seen as a potential precursor to Kim's planned summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April and his anticipated meeting with Trump by May. Analysts, however, questioned whether Kim would make the visit to Beijing himself rather than send an envoy. Whoever was on the train, their visit to Beijing appeared to be short. On Tuesday afternoon, a vehicle convoy led by a motorcycle escort headed in the direction of Beijing's main railway station. The train was seen leaving shortly afterward, less than a day after it arrived. While there has been no word of a meeting with Chinese leaders, China has been one of North Korea's most important allies even though relations have chilled recently because of Kim's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. On Monday, heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge on the Yalu River marking the border between China and North Korea before a train passed through the Chinese city of Dandong. There were reports of it transiting several stations on the way from North Korea to Beijing. Japanese broadcaster NTV reported that the green and yellow train appeared very similar to the one that Kim's father and predecessor as North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, took to Beijing in 2011. Video that aired on NTV also showed a motorcade of black limousines waiting at the train station and rows of Chinese soldiers marching on what appeared to be a train platform. The video did not show anyone getting off the train. At around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, a convoy of about a dozen cars, including a large black limousine, was seen heading in the direction of the railway station. The limousine was seen about 10 minutes later entering the station under a heavy security presence. The station itself was closed to the public in an unusual security measure. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, asked whether Kim or another North Korean official was visiting Beijing, said, "I know you're all very curious but I have no information on that." Past visits by Kim Jong Il to China were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea. North Korea's state-run media had no immediate reports of a delegation traveling to China. The speculation had been fueled further on Monday evening when a vehicle convoy entered the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing and a military honor guard and heavy security were seen later. The guesthouse had been the favored residence of Kim Jong Il during his visits to Beijing. On Tuesday, a convoy of official Chinese cars was seen leaving the guesthouse's east gate. City police and the paramilitary People's Armed Police stood guard in the area and unidentified men in plainclothes attempted to prevent photographers from taking pictures. Cars in the convoy were identified by yellow stickers but carried no diplomatic license plates. South Korea's presidential office said it could not confirm reports that the train carried Kim nor a separate report that Kim's sister was onboard. South Korean analysts were doubtful the visitor is Kim. Since succeeding his father as leader in 2011, Kim has touted an image of his country as diplomatic equal to China and it's unlikely he would sneak into Beijing for his first face-to-face meetings with the Chinese leadership, the analysts said. They said it's more likely that Kim sent a special envoy, possibly his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, to appease a traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with the presidents of South Korea and the United States. The envoy could potentially seek Chinese commitment for future support should North Korea's talks with rivals fall through, said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "North Korea doesn't want to send a message that China has been pushed to the back as it makes diplomatic approaches to the United States and South Korea," said Cha, adding that the visit could be part of the North's effort to gain leverage in the talks with South Korea and the United States. "If the talks with South Korea and the United States fall through, North Korea will surely try to demonstrate its nuclear weapons and missile capabilities again. The special envoy could discuss this possibility with Chinese officials, asking China not to press too hard with sanctions if that happens," Cha said. White House spokesman Raj Shah said Monday that the U.S. could not confirm reports that Kim was visiting China. Shah reiterated Trump's plans to meet with Kim, saying the U.S.-led international pressure campaign against Pyongyang "has paid dividends and has brought the North Koreans to the table." New Delhi: The Cambridge Analytica (CA) scandal has caused ripples across the global political spectrum from the United States and Britain to India. The story picked up in India after it emerged that both BJP and Congress may have been clients of the dubious data firm. But the man behind this massive leak is 28-year-old whistleblower Christopher Wylie. Born to physicians, Wylie was raised in British Columbia, Canada. At the age of 16, he dropped out of high school without any qualification and in a year, started working for Canadian politician Michael Ignateiff. Wylie taught himself how to code at the age of 19 and by 20, he had enrolled as a law student at London School of Economics (LSE). It was his political connections that got him in touch with Strategic Communication Laboratories Group (SCL). An SCL subsidiary, SCL Elections, would in 2013 go on to form Cambridge Analytica with Wylies help. In 2018, he became a whistleblower and gave documents to The Guardian that showed CA was collecting user data to create racial and ethnic profiles, which would then be used to influence voters before elections. This data was collected unethically, without user consent. On Tuesday, Wylie testified before the UK Parliament and gave further details of CAs functioning, including their operations in India. I believe their client was Congress (in India) but I know that they have done all kinds of projects, both regional I dont remember a national project but I know regionally, he said, adding, India is so big that one state can be as big as Britain. But they do have offices there, they do have staff there. Brussels: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday the alliance was expelling seven Russian diplomats and denying accreditation to three more as part of international measures over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. "I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff of the Russian mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others," Stoltenberg told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour." Washington: Stormy Daniels sued Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen on Monday for defamation, according to court documents, escalating a legal battle between the American president and the porn star that the White House was struggling to contain. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, made the claim a day after her widely watched TV interview on "60 Minutes" on CBS. Daniels said she was threatened with violence to keep quiet about her alleged 2006 tryst with Trump. At the White House, a spokesman in a briefing with reporters cast aspersions on her account. The White House has denied allegations that Trump had a sexual relationship with Daniels. CBS Corp said the show drew its biggest audience in more than eight years, with 21.3 million Americans tuning in, more than double the previous week's edition of "60 Minutes." Presidential spokesman Raj Shah told the briefing, "The president doesn't believe any of the claims Ms. Daniels made in the interview last night were accurate." Asked if Trump believed Daniels was threatened, Shah said, "No, he does not. ... There's nothing to corroborate her claim." Daniels' "60 Minutes" appearance also drew a denial from the president's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, that he was involved in the alleged threat of violence against her. Daniels originally sued Trump on March 6, saying he never signed an agreement for her to stay silent about what she called their "intimate" relationship. Monday's filing in US District Court in Los Angeles amended the original lawsuit to say Daniels was defamed. Her attorney, Michael Avenatti, said Cohen "meant to convey that Ms. Clifford is a liar, someone who should not be trusted, and that her claims about her relationship with Mr. Trump" were not true. Daniels' defamation allegation was based on a February 13 statement by Cohen that she said hurt her reputation. The latest filing also said $130,000 Cohen paid Daniels in October 2016 just before the presidential election to secure her silence amounted to an illegal campaign contribution, and that the agreement should be declared void. Cohen has said he paid Daniels out of his own pocket, but has not explained why or if Trump was aware of the payment. In filings with the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission, watchdog groups have said the $130,000 may have exceeded campaign contribution limits, violating U.S. law. Cohen has denied this. California attorney Michael Overing, who specializes in defamation law, said it would be difficult for Daniels to prevail on her defamation claim because she is a public figure. To prove libel, she would have to show that a false statement was made with either reckless or purposeful disregard for the truth, Overing said. Trump attorney Cohen's denial of involvement in the alleged threat against Daniels came in a "cease-and-desist" letter sent to Avenatti shortly after "60 Minutes" aired that demanded a retraction and an apology. A copy of the letter was seen by Reuters on Monday. The letter said, "Mr. Cohen had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any such person or incident, and does not even believe that any such person exists, or that such incident ever occurred." Daniels said the threat of harm was made by a stranger in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. Avenatti said on NBC on Monday that the man who threatened her while she was with her infant daughter was not Cohen, but "had to be someone that is related to Mr. Trump or Mr. Cohen." Last week CNN interviewed former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who described a 10-month affair with Trump starting in 2006. Trump was married to his wife, Melania, during both alleged relationships. In addition to denying Trump had sex with Daniels, the White House has said he denies having an affair with McDougal. Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the state institutions should operate within their limits, in an apparent reference to the judiciary and the powerful military establishment. "Had we respected the sanctity of vote for 70 years, Pakistan would have been in the top 10 countries of the world," Sharif was quoted as saying by the Geo TV. The powerful army, which enjoys considerable influence over policy decisions in Pakistan, has ruled the country for much of its life since it gained independence 70 years ago. The former prime minister also called for an end to all laws made under martial law regimes. Sharif was speaking at the Punjab House where he held a meeting with party leaders and allies, including Pakhtuhkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. He said he may not have been an ideological person before but now he is 100 percent ideological. Earlier, Sharif said he is looking at things like the recent interview of Pakistan's chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar and a newspaper article detailing the army chief's 'doctrine'. Talking to reporters inside the accountability court hearing a corruption case against him and his family, Sharif said former army chief Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf lies about his return to Pakistan. "He would show his fists and say 'Nawaz and Benazir would never come back to Pakistan'," he said about the former army chief who recently postponed his return to the country to face trial on security grounds. "I'm here with my daughter facing the courts," he said, adding that people should understand the difference between people like Musharraf and politicians. Sharif claimed that everyone knows he is not the one to take signals', adding that he has paid a price for democracy and is paying it now too. "The public's thumbs and not the umpire's finger will deliver votes," the three-time prime minister said, referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan's umpire reference during the anti-government protest in 2014. Sharif said the reason for the attacks against him is his standing with the Constitution. He also regretted becoming part of the 2012 Memogate case against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government and the then Pakistan envoy to the US Husain Haqqani. United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed shock over Myanmar army chief's reported remarks that Rohingyas have nothing in common with the country's other ethnic groups, calling on the leaders to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred. General U Min Aung Hlaing, during a speech to a military gathering in Kachin State, referred to the ethnic Rohingya community as "Bengalis", according to a report in the Dhaka Tribune. The report quoted him as saying that the "Bengalis do not have any characteristics or culture in common with the ethnicities of Myanmar. The tensions (in Rakhine State) were fuelled because the 'Bengalis' demanded citizenship. In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesman, Guterres expressed shock at the reports of remarks attributed to Hlaing. The UN Chief urged "all leaders in Myanmar to take a unified stance against incitement to hatred and to promote communal harmony," the statement issued by Guterres's spokesperson said. He said such leadership is critically needed to advance institutional measures to combat discrimination and implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission. "The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of the violence and the responsibility of the Government of Myanmar to provide security and assistance to those in need," the statement said, adding that it is critical that conditions are put in place to ensure that the Rohingya are able to return home voluntarily, in safety and in dignity. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been driven into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August in the wake of a military crackdown in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state. Washington: The leading US consumer protection regulator and attorneys representing 37 states stepped up pressure on Facebook Inc on Monday to explain how the social network allowed data of 50 million users get into the hands of a political consultancy. The US Federal Trade Commission took the unusual step of announcing that it had opened an investigation into the company - which it generally only does in cases of great public interest - citing media reports that raise what it called "substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook." On the same day, a bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys wrote to Facebook, demanding to know more about the company's role in the manipulation of users' data by the consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, which used it to target US and British voters in close-run elections. These revelations raise many serious questions concerning Facebooks policies and practices, and the processes in place to ensure they are followed, the letter said. "We need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken. Facebook shares fell as much as 6.5 percent, briefly dipping below $150 for the first time since July 2017, before recovering the day's losses to close up 0.4 percent at $160.06. The shares are still down 13 percent since March 16, when Facebook first acknowledged that user data had been improperly channelled to Cambridge Analytica. The company has lost more than $70 billion in market value since then. The recovery in Facebook's stock on Monday may have been due to investors taking advantage of the lower stock price and the belief that the latest regulatory scrutiny may not ultimately hurt the company's relative long-term growth prospects, Wall Street analysts said. The FTC investigation is looking at more than whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent order it reached with the FTC over its privacy practices, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters. If the FTC finds Facebook violated terms of the consent decree, it has the power to fine it thousands of dollars a day per violation, which could add up to billions of dollars. We remain strongly committed to protecting peoples information," Facebook Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman said in a statement on Monday. "We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have. ALL APOLOGIES Lawmakers in the United States and Europe continue to pressure Facebook and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to explain the company's privacy practices. The US Senate Judiciary Committee said on Monday it had invited Zuckerberg and the CEOs of Alphabet Inc and Twitter Inc to testify at an April 10 hearing on data privacy. The US House Energy and Commerce Committee and US Senate Commerce Committee have already formally asked Zuckerberg to appear at a congressional hearing. Facebook's failure to protect confidential user information likely violated specific legally binding commitments, but also basic norms and standards," said U.S. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. In Europe, the European Union Justice Commissioner asked Facebook if the company is "absolutely certain" that the Cambridge Analytica incident could not be repeated. Zuckerberg apologised last week for the mistakes the company had made and he promised to restrict developers' access to user information as part of a plan to protect privacy. He also said sorry in full-page advertisements in British and U.S. newspapers. "The was a breach of trust, and I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time," Zuckerberg said in the ads. "We are now taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again." 'FUTURE REGULATION' His apologies have failed to quell discontent. Germany's justice minister said Facebook's promises were not enough. "In future we will have to regulate companies like Facebook much more strictly," Katarina Barley said after talks to which she summoned Facebook executives including European public affairs chief Richard Allan. Advertisers and users are also unhappy. U. auto parts retailer Pep Boys suspended all advertising on Facebook on Monday while wireless speaker maker Sonos said in a blog post it will remove advertising from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube for one week. Internet company Mozilla Corp, Germany's second-largest bank Commerzbank AG and British advertising group ISBA all suspended advertising on Facebook last week. Opinion polls published on Sunday in the United States and Germany cast doubt over the trust people have in Facebook. Fewer than half of Americans trust Facebook to obey US privacy laws, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sunday, while a survey published by Bild am Sonntag, Germanys largest-selling Sunday paper, found 60 percent of Germans fear that Facebook and other social networks are having a negative impact on democracy. McClendon's life ran into trouble when he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to rig bids for the purchase of oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma." He died in a single-vehicle crash on March 2, 2016. (Image: Reuters) 404 We're sorry! The page you were looking for couldn't be found. The Scarlet Witch is one of the most influential characters in Marvel Comics history How the family tree of Wanda Maximoff became the backbone of the Marvel Universe and has shaped it for decades Egypt launches WhatsApp hotline for reporting fake news Cairo : To curb fake news, Egypt has announced a new hotline for citizens that will run on WhatsApp and will allow them to report news that aims to "to endanger the nations security or public interests", the media reported. Egypt's citizens can report any of the fabricated news violations by sending messages to the General Prosecution office via the WhatsApp hotline, The Next Web reported. It was launched on March 12 and the announcement was made through a statement by Egypt's General Prosecution office. "This comes to apply the orders of the Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek to monitor what is being published on different media outlets and social media websites," the statement said. This comes as the communications committee of the Egyptian Parliament has been discussing articles of a government draft law to counter IT-related crimes, the report added. Reports coming from Egypt were that the committee has agreed to its article seven, which regulates the blocking of websites based inside and outside of the country. Many people continue to criticise Egypt's stance regarding news websites saying it amounts to media censorship. Since 2017, Egyptian authorises have been blocking Qatar-linked online publications such as Al-Jazeera, The Huffington Post Arabic, Qatari News Agency and more, the reason given by the country's government is that the publications "fabricate news" and also incite terrorism, the report said. This has continued in 2018 where the government has come under criticism for continue to block a number of news outlets which include The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, these have been inaccessible to mobile users in Egypt since the beginning of the year, the report added. The new law now also likely gives authorities carte blanche on websites to ban citing fake news and state security as a reason, whether that is actually the case or not, is debatable. It also remains to be seen how they will be able to enforce this given how citizens can use VPNs to bypass this. Intolerant leftists now claim SCIENCE is racist because too many whites practice it Anti-white racism is alive and well at the University of Colorado Denver, where two faculty members recently published an inflammatory essay that claims science is inherently racist against people of color because the bulk of it was forged by people of non-color, a.k.a. white people. Cheryl E. Matias and Paul T. Le apparently believe that science as we currently know it is completely framed around whiteness, and that its perpetuation is contributing to the furtherance of white ideology, which they see as evil. All of this white science must thus be stamped out, they say, because any positive achievements by white people automatically equate to white supremacy in their minds. Entitled Towards a truer multicultural science education: how whiteness impacts science education, the paper basically reads like a bigoted hate fest against people with fair skin, though covered in a thin veneer of academic-sounding verbiage. And yet, at its core, it represents little more than a racist manifesto against white people that aims to eliminate all white achievement from the field of science. It claims, for instance, that whites are at the apex of the racial hierarchy, and that because of this whiteness has become normalized which to Matias and Le is troubling. Further, it accuses the entire peer review process and the consistent methods and methodologies through which science is conducted of also being racist. This way of knowing science in the absence of other ways of knowing only furthers whiteness and White supremacy through power and control of science knowledge, the paper reads. As a result, our students of Color are victims of deculturization, and their own worldviews are invalidated, such as described by Ladson-Billings. (See more example of left-wing anti-science stupidity at ScienceClowns.com.) Europeans and North Americans responsible for 97 percent of noteworthy achievements Even efforts by whites to go against their own interests and maintain an ethos of colorblindness is criticized in the paper, and also accused of being a form of racism. To Matias and Le, the only remedy is to completely remove all whiteness from science and start over from scratch, which they apparently fail to realize would literally plunge Western civilization back into the stone age. Thats because the vast majority of scientific achievements throughout history are a product of white ingenuity and intellect. In his book Human Accomplishment, Charles Murray explains how an overwhelming 72 percent of noteworthy achievements throughout history all occurred in one of four countries, all of which are predominantly white: Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. If you add in Russia and The Netherlands, that percentage jumps to 80 percent, suggesting that almost everything that modern civilizations take for granted is a product of white people. And if you go down the list beyond these Big Six, the other 20 remaining percent of scientific achievements all came from white countries, including Hungary, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, the Balkans, Norway, Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, and Iceland. Even colleges and universities, as weve previously pointed out here at Natural News, are an invention of white people which means that Matias and Le are actually guilty of culturally appropriating white culture simply by teaching and trying to participate in the academic process. Keep in mind that this isnt Matiass first anti-white rodeo. The racist academic has also compared whiteness to a disease, and is working as hard as she can to dismantle whiteness from education here in the United States. Shes even published an anti-white book called Feeling White: Whiteness, Emotionality, and Education that further demonizes white people simply for being white. To keep up with the latest lunatic behavior at Americas college and university campuses, be sure to visit CampusInsanity.com or LeftCult.com. Sources for this article include: InformationLiberation.com CampusReform.org NaturalNews.com Follow the Yellow Brick Road to... Dutch country? California-raised actor Chris Duir was on a lunch stop in Waynesboro, Virginia, the day we spoke to him via phone. Hes in Ontario, Canada, as we write this and hell be back down here when the touring show The Wizard of Oz reaches the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts Friday through Sunday, April 6-8. When the current tour, which also includes the Garde Arts Center in New London on May 3, is done, the cast is signed for seven weeks doing Oz at the production companys Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from June 21-Aug. 4. Duir, who plays Scarecrow in the show, has a likable persona as evidenced by his last role for the same company, that of Bert in Mary Poppins. Two iconic characters. Its definitely an honor, Duir said. Its something (where) youve gotta respect the people who played it before you and, you know, kind of make it your own. He started in community theater as a kid, and did high school and regional shows along with singing for Celebrity Cruises. Duir said he sings part of six or seven songs here. Within this show, of course I have my solo number of If I Only Had a Brain, and then Im a part of each characters continuation from that point on, Duir said. And then in Act Two we have three kind-of big production numbers. The tour began last fall in Kentucky, Duir said, with well-sold houses and a lot of people really taking to the show. So how does the show distinguish itself and win over audiences so familiar with the 1939 MGM classic film? Well, were doing the Royal Shakespeare Companys script version, which came out sometime in the 80s, Duir said. So the production were doing is pretty much the movie onstage. Its very much straight, iconic, to what people know and love, but being a live stage musical, there are some more musical moments that theyre not used to from the movie. And with a show this technical, especially with the fantasy elements of being in Oz... there are a lot cool elements that you can see on stage that youre not going to see in a movie. The tornado, and how its done, is very cool. And then also seeing stuff like fire and the Wizards head... thats very unique to a live production. The music is from a five-piece band with added tracks for a larger sound. And while the dinner theater seats a few hundred people, some tour theaters have seated thousands (2,800 at The Bushnells Mortensen Hall). It makes it exciting to go on stage and have a crowd that big watching and enjoying the show, Duir said, noting that the Apex Touring group has been running such sizable touring shows for about eight years. More Information Bushnell Performing Arts Center, William H. Mortensen Hall, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $103.50-$22.50. 860-987-6000. Bushnell.org. See More Collapse We have 25 people in the cast, including the dog, Duir said, and then the five band members, our company manager, and then our crew is about 12 people and they have their own sleeper bus. And then we have, I believe, two or three trucks that take all our sets, costumes, equipment. So its a pretty big undertaking. But there are some subtle emotional payoffs for audience and actors. I think a huge thing is seeing these characters come to life... characters that they love, said Duir. One of my favorite things is when we come out of the theater and see families, especially little kids, dressed up as these characters. ... For such a well-aged (movie) ... there are families who loved it as kids and now theyre sharing it with their kids. Also in this cast are Kailee Kaimann as Dorothy and University of Hartfords Hartt School alumni Emily Perzan of Kensington (as the Wicked Witch) and Troyer Coultas (ensemble). There will be an American sign languate-interpreted performance on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. For more information on how to acquire tickets for that, send requests to info@bushnell.org; 860-987-6097 (TTY); 860-987-5900 (voice). HARTFORD Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen threw his support behind Democrat Ned Lamont for the states next governor Monday. Ive known Ned for decades now, said Jepsen speaking to press at the Capitol. He is a man of integrity. Hes intelligent. He brings both public service and private sector experience to the table. 2018 marks Greenwich businessman Lamonts second run for governor. He fell to Governor fell to Dannel P. Malloy in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary. If elected, Lamont said Monday first on his list will be passing an honestly balanced budget where we stop borrowing from our future - that means education, that means transportation, that means a governor who gives people a sense of where this state is going over the next five years. Jepsen, who rarely seeks a press spotlight, said he will campaign for Lamont and hopes other Democrats will as well. In a crowded field of candidates, he emphasized Lamonts preparedness as the primary reason for his endorsement. I know Ned is ready to step up and make the decisions that need to made in this state even at the risk of sacrificing his own future political career, he said. In 2006, Lamont defeated incumbent Joe Lieberman for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat. Lieberman later beat him in the general election. Self-financing his campaign, Lamont is chairman of media company Lamont Digital Systems and founded Campus Televideo, which sells video services to colleges. BETHEL -- After a push from residents, the town has set a public hearing for a proposed fracking ordinance. Residents had created a petition in favor of a ban that would prevent fracking waste from being used or stored in town. The petition was submitted months ago, but the Board of Selectmen had held off on setting a public hearing until members had more information from the state. The board opted last week to set the public hearing for 6:30 p.m. June 19, after the selectmen said the state plans to release fracking guidelines on June 1. The hearing will be held in Meeting Room A of the municipal center. More than 30 other towns in the state, including Redding and Washington, have passed fracking bans. Ridgefield is discussing a similar ordinance. NEW MILFORD The Town Council has declared null and void two documents that former Mayor David Gronbach cited in spending money from the Landfill Settlement Fund to help turn John Pettibone School into a community center without Board of Finance review. All seven members present of the nine-member council agreed Monday night to accept the opinion of Town Attorney Matt Grimes, who said Gronbach had based his actions on unreasonable and misguided conclusions of law. In justifying his spending $225,000 from the settlement fund on John Pettibone, Gronbach cited a 2017 letter from the town attorney at the time, and a white paper by former finance director Lee Palmer. Both reasoned that since the money came from settlement of a lawsuit against a waste hauling company, and not from taxpayer funds, the spending did not need Board of Finance approval. Although the spending was approved by a 5-4 council vote, several members argued that finance board review was required, and the chairman of the town Republican committee filed a lawsuit accusing Gronbach, a Democrat, of misappropriating public funds. Grimes said Gronbach violated the town charter and state statutes in acting as he did. The Gronbach January 2017 letter and the Palmer White Paper are both legally flawed, Grimes wrote in his opinion. Council members met in executive session Monday night to discuss the matter, and after returning to public session voted 7-0 to declare the white paper and the 2017 letter null and void. Councilmen Peter Mullen and Tom Esposito were absent. Gronbach could not be reached Tuesday for comment. Grimes said his opinion is meant to refer to future actions concerning the settlement fund, and he took no position on how the $225,000 already spent should be handled. GOP Chairman Michael Barnes, who had filed the suit in his capacity as a town resident, said his aim was to make sure the town charter was followed and that the finance boards role in management of town funds is not diminished. Im just hoping to get it resolved, he said. I just want to protect those entities. Its important to have checks and balances. The settlement fund was established in the late 1990s after a long court battle with Waste Management Connecticut, which agreed to pay the town $43.1 million over 25 years. By ordinance, the money can be used to acquire land and buildings for education, libraries, open space and public recreation, and to buy development rights to farm and agricultural land. A limited portion can also be used to offset local taxes. The crux of Grimes argument was that Gronbach mischaracterized New Milford as a consolidated town and city, which would mean that Town Council is in charge of appropriations. In fact, Grimes said, New Milford is an unconsolidated town, which means appropriations must be decided in a town meeting, which typically occurs after Board of Finance review. This incorrect characterization is fatal to the Gronbach January 2017 letter because, when followed, it wrongly identifies New Milfords legislative body as Town Council, Grimes wrote. Grimes also recommends the mayors office and Board of Finance rule these documents null and void. "I need to make a decision on this, says Sarah Michelle Gellar. Her two co-founders, Galit Laibow and Greg Fleishman, stop chatting and join in. Its mid-November, and theyre standing in the center of their Los Angeles startup office: a converted garage half a block from a pot dispensary, with two rows of desks in the back, a shared office-slash-conference room for the co-founders up front and the words whats up batches?! towering above a kitchen in the middle. This is Foodstirs, their baking-mix company, and in a weeks time, Gellar is going to be on Harry Connick Jr.s show, Harry, promoting their products by bakingsomething. But what? Thats the decision. Related: 15 Ways to Grow Your Business Fast The next minute is rapid-fire: The trio seem to seek consensus largely by talking over each other, excitedly and animatedly, as if advancing a collective thought. Gellar: I think we have to do gingerbread -- Fleishman: Its the presell into Christmas -- Laibow: So gingerbread and -- OK; go ahead and say it: Celebrity-endorsed baking mixes? This is a company worth taking seriously? It wouldnt be the first time people dismissed or insulted Foodstirs -- even to the founders faces. Foodstirs was dissed by countless investors. Retailers. Suppliers. Gellar found that some industry types pooh-poohed the company because of her involvement in it. (In case her identity needs explaining: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Cruel Intentions. Ask anyone alive in the 90s.) If we took no for an answer, this company wouldnt have existed, says Laibow, the companys CEO. Theyd say, Cute little baking brand! Oh, thats great. Not for us. Then her tone turns stern, as if admonishing an investor still in the room: No. Its a big idea. The big idea is this: Theres a hole in the $26.8 billion baking-mix and prepared-foods category, and it can be filled by a product that uses high-quality ingredients but sells at a mass-market price, and focuses as much on the food as on the family-fun experience of making it. Its a concept that Fleishman, whos spent his career in retail, from Kashi to Coca-Cola, calls an idea hiding in plain sight. While others rolled their eyes, Foodstirs aggressively built a supply chain, placed product in more than 7,500 stores (plus, starting in April, a special one-minute mug cake in 8,000 Starbucks) and honed a story and a message thats won over investors. The cute little baking brand is, in fact, a story of keen strategy and resilience. So back to the decision. After some debate, the team decide to squeeze two separate items onto their Harry spot. First, gingerbread men. Then, a Foodstirs after dark adult treat -- balls made with white cake mix, eggnog and cake-flavored vodka, for when the kids go to bed. The whole idea behind all of it is repeat business, Gellar says. By making something unexpected with a baking mix on TV, theyre reminding customers of how versatile their product is. A cake mix is not just for cake. Two hours later, Foodstirs head chef has formulated a recipe and executed the first batch. Gellar walks them into a branding meeting the team is about to have. The Harry balls, she announces. Did you guys try the Harry balls? Thats what Im going to call them, too. Harrys going to love his balls. Can you say that on daytime television? Its unclear. But Gellar seems determined to find out. Image Credit: Photographed by David Yellen The big idea started with Galit Laibow. Shed spent a career in public relations, but in 2011, while at home on maternity leave with her second child, she began imagining her kids asking what she does for a living. Her answer would have been, I help people get on TV and sell their products. Which suddenly felt empty. Their products? I want something my kids can be involved in, too -- something they can be proud of, she says. At the time, her older daughter had become obsessed with the Food Network. And I thought, People really love this stuff, Laibow says. Cooking is such a big part of family, such a way for people to come together. That was, truth be told, something she had only limited experience with. Her parents both worked full-time; there werent many gather-round-the-kitchen moments. Now that she was a parent, Laibow wasnt baking much, either. But she began wanting it -- not the baking, really, but the experience. The memories. Related: The 8 Magical Benefits of Resilience That longing Laibow felt, industry analysts say, drives a phenomenon in the food industry today. Theres a rise of what we might call partial convenience -- delivery not of fully cooked meals but rather of Blue Apron-style meal kits that are cooked at home. Why? Because consumers dont have the time or the patience to make meals from scratch, but they feel guilty not putting in at least some effort -- especially if they have kids. A Mintel research report recently found that 60 percent of adults say cooking is something they want to do, rather than need to do. Its an echo of how the baking-mix industry began in the 1930s. The first mixes contained powdered egg, so the baker literally needed to only add water in order to make a cake. But consumers, it turned out, preferred cracking their own eggs. It made a cake seem fresher, and the product of their own effort. So mix manufacturers adjusted. Laibow wondered if there was an opportunity to create, say, the Blue Apron of baking. And as she started doing research, she discovered that the baking-mix and prepared-food industry is a crowded but fluid market. The four major players own only 20 percent of sales, according to IBISWorld; the rest is 1,000-plus small players. And as Laibow saw it, baking mixes largely split into two categories. There are the Betty Crocker types -- giants too big or cautious to innovate, that use chemical ingredients, and that many people buy out of habit rather than loyalty. And then there are niche alternatives -- gluten-free, paleo or some other specialty mixes, which tend to be expensive and unappetizing. There was nothing in the middle, she realized -- a brand that appeals to health-conscious shoppers, experiments with flavors, sells at a mass-market price and is constantly innovating. So Laibow set out to produce that middle, crafting mixes at home and testing them out on friends. Among them was Gellar, whose daughter went to the same preschool as Laibows. At the time, Gellar was filming a sitcom set in an ad agency called The Crazy Ones. I spent a lot of time with these high-power business individuals who kept saying to me, You need to do more, Gellar says. Shed thought that for a while, too. But do what? She didnt know. Then The Crazy Ones was canceled after one season, and Gellar took it as a wake-up call. She started talking seriously to Laibow about this baking company. The two took their kids out to a local store, bought some mixes and spent the day making sweets. I went home to my husband and said, I think this is the crossroads -- like, this is what Ive been waiting for, Gellar recalls. Then she told Laibow she wanted in, but not as a spokesperson. She wanted to be a co-founder, at the office every day. Can you commit for real? Laibow asked. I can absolutely commit, Gellar said. In 2015, the two debuted Foodstirs as an ecommerce company. Consumers could subscribe, and baking kits would be mailed out every other month -- everything you need to make, say, movie night cupcakes that look like bags of popcorn, or a bouquet of flower-shaped cookies. Retailers soon asked to stock Foodstirs on shelves, but Laibow and Gellar had no idea where to begin. Mutual friends connected them with Greg Fleishman, a veteran of the retail food scene. Fleishman, as it turns out, gets a lot of calls from founders looking for help. Ive met so many who have this great idea, but theyre friggin all over the map, or they want to work 9 to 5, he says. So he long ago stopped evaluating just ideas and started evaluating founders. When he met Laibow and Gellar, he ran through his five-item checklist: 1. Are they visionary? 2. Strategic? 3. Creative? 4. Do they have a relentless work ethic? And finally, 5. Do they have situational awareness -- which is to say, do they know what they dont know? Thats such a critical component, he says. The idea that you could be so obsessed with your idea and your vision but still have the awareness to improve. With these two women, he answered yes to all. You want to be with A players. You want to be with Steph Currys, he says. So he came on as co-founder and COO, and set about changing Foodstirs business model. Rather than rely on mailed-out mixes, theyd need to settle on a line of flavors, figure out how to produce them inexpensively and get them placed on store shelves across the country. That meant securing funding and forging great relationships with suppliers and retailers. He began focusing on what he thought were Foodstirs strengths. Among them were some obvious standouts: a well-timed idea in an industry ripe for disruption, a product thats easy to appreciate and in Gellar, an internationally recognized name. Each would turn out to be more complicated than he expected. Entrepreneurs are trained to look for their unfair advantage, the element all competitors lack. At first, Gellars celebrity would have seemed to be just that. When Foodstirs came knocking, potential partners doors would swing open. But meetings tended to follow a pattern: Smiles. Nods. A #BuffySelfie request at the end -- which, it seemed, was the reason they said yes to the meeting at all. Because no deal would follow. Related: 3 Things You Need to Do to Grow Your Business Naturally As Foodstirs came to learn, celebrity was a disadvantage for a lot of potential partners. In my mind, Ill be more skeptical if a celebrity gets pushed out in front of the brand, says John Lawson, Northeast regional grocery buyer for Whole Foods, because then I think the brand will take second place to the celebrity. Others share his hesitancy. For Gellar, who wanted to be taken seriously in this new line of work, the experience could be emotionally bruising. The 20-year-old me would not be able to handle this life -- the travel, the noes, the expectation of failure, she says. Even the misogyny. I mean, in my other career, I faced a fair amount as well, but its just at a different level. And Im a little more sensitive to this because it feels more personal. Once, for example, she was on CNBC talking about Foodstirs, and afterward people on set sweetly complimented her on how she talked business. She saw the moment for what it was: Theyd expected her to be a ditz. Sometimes I would ask Greg and Galit, Is it easier without me? Gellar says. Thats not an option, theyd say. Fleishman began bringing the team to investors he had connections to or had worked with before. But some of those investors said no, too. Some questioned whether Laibow -- or as the Foodstirs team saw it, a woman -- was fit to be CEO. A few even pulled Fleishman aside, trying to counsel him out of working with Foodstirs at all. These memories still make him fume. I was personally appalled by the financial community, he says. I started reevaluating some of the people I knew. Yet the team kept at it, and they started seeing results after a few changes. They switched the kind of investors they went after. Fleishman first thought Foodstirs online-only subscription origins would resonate with tech investors, but he then pivoted to investors in conventional packaged goods. Those people turned out to be far more understanding of Foodstirs marketplace -- and would often hear about the product before they knew it was connected to Gellar. In that way, her celebrity seemed like a bonus on top of a big idea. As time went on, the founders talked a lot about how best to tell their company story, and they homed in on that key insight of Laibows: Baking is a time to share with kids. They should always be leading with that. Surviving rejection also made them tighter, a team that moved in lockstep. That, it turned out, would be their unfair advantage -- not one members celebrity but the trio as a whole. When we start finishing each others sentences, Fleishman says, then theyre like, Oh, this is the management team? They dont seem ego-driven, theyre not arguing, theyre in sync. That cohesion leads to amazing ideas, and then amazing ideas being properly executed. Thats what jumped out at Filipp Chebotarev, COO and managing partner at the investment firm Cambridge Companies SPG. Theyre all on the same page, and they each bring a unique skill set, he says. In Foodstirs, he saw a new spin on a very established American pastime, and he became Foodstirs largest investor. Image Credit: Photographed by David Yellen Consider the economics of an organic baking mix. As any Whole Foods shopper knows, organics are expensive -- thats because the raw materials are expensive and often come from small producers. Add in the cost of a distributor, Laibow says, and a Foodstirs mix could easily be $10. Which wouldnt work. The goal was $5.99, low enough for the mass market. So how does a little startup get its costs that low? We learned we have to go direct to the source, Laibow says. Most suppliers wouldnt take Foodstirs calls, figuring the order sizes were too insignificant to deal with, so the team just kept calling. And calling. They found a fair-trade chocolate maker in Peru and repeatedly called until they agreed to take a meeting. (It didnt hurt that Buffy was huge in Peru; a local newspaper reported Gellars arrival.) They repeated the trick with a biodynamic sugar supplier in Texas. Related: How to Set Prices When You're New in Business Once in these meetings, the Foodstirs team tried to find ways to be useful. Their order sizes, at least at first, werent going to blow away suppliers. But what else could they offer? The answer: messaging. Were like, Were going to help you, says Laibow, recalling the meeting with the sugar company. We have this megaphone, we have this PR, well bring a spotlight to what biodynamic is. (Its related to organic; among the differences, Laibow says, the sugar is so sweet that Foodstirs can use less of it per mix.) Laibow wont reveal how much her company saves by building these direct relationships but admits its a lot. With these two suppliers on board, Foodstirs could make a $5.99 mix. It began developing 10 of them for retail, including twists on old standards, like Brooklyn salted chocolate chip brownie or snickerdoodle blondie. Once it was time to really push into stores, Foodstirs had its playbook ready: Meet in person. If a sales rep couldnt get them a meeting, the founders reached out personally. Then for most of 2017, the trio traveled the country meeting retailers who were unaccustomed to company founders showing up in person. Youre dealing with people who are used to the same old, same old, Laibow says. Newness -- not just in product but in approach -- stuck out. The tactic also impressed buyers who are inundated with attention. At Whole Foods, buyer John Lawson -- the guy skeptical of brands with celebrities attached -- was won over by the Foodstirs story. If you can get parents and kids baking together with a mix, he says, the hope is the kids will take an interest in baking and go on to make a loaf of bread or cookies from scratch. That makes Foodstirs a gateway to other Whole Foods products. At Target, showing up in person helped make a critical upsell. The retailer had accepted a Foodstirs pumpkin pancake mix for a holiday display, but the Foodstirs team worried one product would get lost in that space. They wanted two. So they secured an hour meeting at Targets Minneapolis office, flew there, went to a Target to buy a skillet (and then went back to Target because they forgot milk) and had Gellar bake the second product, pumpkin bread, right there at the meeting. Targets people loved it and put it into its holiday display. As these meetings went on, Gellar also made a personal adjustment. She began thinking about how her acting career prepared her for business, and she found plenty of useful, well-honed skills to work off. First, theres the high tolerance for rejection -- a must in either line of work. She also has an ability to read a room, refined through decades of auditions. When Gellar entered a potential partners office, she began scanning it for details. Did they have a wedding ring? Pictures of kids? Of a dog? She looked for some way to get personal fast. Because if we connect, youre more likely to connect to what Im telling you, she says. Not long ago, the Foodstirs co-founders were at a meeting with a large retailer, and things were going really well. Gellar could sense it. If she spoke up now, she thought, she could ride the retailers enthusiasm toward something shed never otherwise get -- not at the end of the meeting, not tomorrow on the phone, never except for right now. Great, she said to the retailers executives, so no slotting fees? Slotting fees -- money paid to get a product on a shelf. Retailers rarely waive them. But this one did. It wasnt because Gellar is an actress. It was because she knew when to act. Image Credit: Photographed by David Yellen At some point in the life span of every startup, co-founders must draw lines between them. He does this; she does that -- a matter of efficiency. Ive been involved in building other brands, and they do hard-lining too early, Fleishman says. Its why he wanted this trio to do everything together at first: Their combination of perspectives helped spot opportunities that one expert might have missed. Its only now, two years in, that lines are being drawn. Fleishman says he prefers to let it happen organically -- as a company grows, founders naturally find their strengths. His are sales and operations; Gellars and Laibows are marketing and product development, but theyll never wall themselves off. You want to be able to leverage all our expertise, he says. Related: 10 Blessings That Come Hidden in Rejection, Losing and Failure Though sometimes, particularly with Gellar, decisions may come from the group, but the execution must happen alone. And so, a week after creating treats for the Harry show in Los Angeles, shes off to New York to appear in the studio. When Gellar joined Foodstirs, she thought baking on television would be easy. You talk, you whisk, you eat; roll the credits. Its not like she hadnt been on TV a bazillion times before. I should have practiced, she says. Now I tell everyone to practice. Because actually, baking on television is crazy hard. In the time it takes to say Roll the dough, little to no dough has been rolled, which means theres rolling to do while she must do something else -- which is to entertain, while slipping in Foodstirs message. And Im still trying to not fuck up what Im doing, she says. Thats why she now loves preparation. On a cold Thursday morning, shes sitting in her dressing room as a Harry producer walks her through the segment shes about to film. First, of course, theyll make the gingerbread-man sandwiches. The producer: Then hell say, All right, you brought one other treat. Whats this? And then -- Gellar: Harrys balls. I will not call them Harrys balls; dont worry. Oh, did you forget about the Harry balls from the beginning of this story? Gellar didnt. Shes been carrying around that joke all week. The producer doesnt register it and continues the instructions, so its still not clear if this is something wise to say on daytime TV. A few minutes later, a small entourage -- Gellars publicist, a friend, various hair and makeup people -- walk down to a staging area so she can review the kitchen set. And a few minutes after that, the set is rolled out in front of a live audience, and shes behind it with Connick Jr., who asks about her kids. Well, they were the inspiration for all this, Gellar says, weaving in the Foodstirs narrative. And I got to a point where I thought about how my kids were young, and theyre only young for that little bit, and you get that time with them. And what are those moments where you really connect? Its always in the kitchen. The gingerbread men come out looking tasty, and then, as planned, Connick Jr. moves over to the final treat. So these are, um, OK. Gellar half-laughs nervously. This is the moment. Im not going to call them what I was originally going to call them, because I dont think your audience would appreciate that, but Sure they would! he chirps. I was calling them Harrys balls. The crowd erupts in laughter. Someone lets out a loud hoot. Afterward, back in her dressing room, Gellar will claim that nothing in that segment was done strategically -- that live TV moves too fast, that she ran on pure instinct. And if thats the case, then heres to instinct. Do something enough, believe in it, commit to it and hone it across years of rejection until the people who said no begin saying yes -- and then, when the pressures on and time is short, instinct will kick in. And thats the start of something good. Related: How You and Your Business Can Combat the Goldilocks Syndrome Turning Rejection Into Triumph: How Sarah Michelle Gellar and Her Co-Founders Built a New Baking Brand 3 Things You May Not Have Heard About Taking Risks Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com All politicians are paranoid; the big question is what they're paranoid about. After massive nationwide protests led by student survivors of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, there's no shortage of predictions about the coming sea change in the politics of gun control. Behind such a shift would be one big reason: It's now completely possible, even likely, that politicians could decide this year to break from the paranoias that drive many of their decisions. It's been true for decades that the gun issue pitted large polling majorities in favor of tighter restrictions against an intense organized group advocating for gun rights. But the particular stories of the last 20 years have been, at their center, party stories. On the Democratic side, the long shadow of the 1994 elections has begun to recede in the past five years. When the Democrats were shocked by losing both houses of Congress -- for the first time since the 1950s -- gun control wound up being a major scapegoat. It's not clear whether that was the right lesson to draw, however. The Bill Clinton White House had a strong incentive to deflect blame away from Clinton's own ill-fated transition and chaotic early administration. More generally, politically-preoccupied people -- from candidates to campaign professionals to observers in the media -- tend to look for election explanations that imply rational, logical connections between policy choices by incumbents and reactions by voters. They're less likely to just accept that (in the case of 1994) a combination of stubbornly slow economic growth and long-overdue party adjustments in the South were big factors in the landslide. Democratic politicians decided to blame gun measures. Most of them steered clear of the issue ever since. To put it another way: The lessons politicians learn from events can be far-fetched and illogical, but still have serious consequences in their subsequent behavior. On the Republican side, the important lesson isn't directly about gun policy. Instead, it's the feeling among most of the party's Congressional members that a primary challenge represents the most serious threat to their re-election. Therefore, the safest course of action is to pay far more attention to very conservative voters than to marginal Republicans and other swing voters. Again, whether that was true or not is complicated. After all, far more incumbents are defeated in general elections than in primaries, and even seemingly safe seats can become vulnerable over time as district demographics change and party loyalties shift within demographic groups. Throw in a good year for Democrats, and a large percentage of Republican incumbents who may have thought general elections were no challenge may change their minds. Cook Political Report currently considers 167 Republicans-held seats "safe." The remaining 73 have some measure of vulnerability, and even some of those 167 may wind up feeling threatened even if they never come close to losing. All House Republicans believe their majority is in danger, even if their own seat isn't. Again, this isn't as much about whether politicians' fears are rational or not; what matters is if the fear is real and that they act on it. So why could gun safety activism encourage both sides to rethink these core beliefs? It's very likely 2018 will be a very good year for Democrats, mainly because out-parties almost always do well in midterms and because Trump is unusually unpopular. If that happens, Democratic politicians may or may not credit the gun issue for their wins. But it does seem likely that they will at the very least decide that support for some gun safety measures is no longer the electoral equivalent of poison. Removing that bit of paranoia from Democratic Party actors will mean it's far more likely Democrats will raise the issue in the future. On the Republican side, it's unlikely that many party actors would conclude that support for the NRA was costly. But would losing the House lead them to shift their focus from primaries to general elections? That would leave Republicans in Congress at least somewhat more likely to seek compromise than they have been in recent years. And anything that pushes Republicans to look for common ground on gun safety would be a significant shift from how the politics of the issue have played out for the last twenty years. The more visible activism, the more likely guns will be one of the obvious areas for any potential Republican compromise in the future. All of that would be true even if recent gun activism turns out to be a temporary flare-up. It's quite possible, however, that what's happening instead is some degree of institutionalization of advocacy in this policy area. If so, Democrats will move on gun safety because advocates will move towards being a party-aligned interest group, and they'll win the ability to directly press Democratic candidates to respond to their agenda. U.S. political parties are permeable; it's not as much a matter of outsiders pressing the party to change as it is outsiders becoming part of the party and competing and cooperating with other party actors. But it appears to me that -- if Democrats do sweep the 2018 midterm elections -- it's likely that gun safety advocates have already advanced their cause quite a bit, regardless of whether their movement fades away or thrives. - Bernstein is a Bloomberg View columnist. He taught political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University and wrote A Plain Blog About Politics. For more columns from Bloomberg View, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/view. China confirms that are testing an electromagnetic railguns on a navy ship. Zhang Xiao, associate research fellow at the Wuhan-based PLA Naval University of Engineering, led a team to develop repeating pulsating direct current power system that could charge the railgun. The same team solved technical issues for shipborne electromagnetic launching systems that will be used on the next Chineses aircraft carrier. China is the first country to mount a railgun on a warship. The PLA landing ship Haiyang Shan, has been photographed with railgun and was seen undergoing tests at a dock in Wuhan before its reported sea trail this year. US is testing a Railgun on land and it can shoot 20-30 shots The US Office of Naval Research (ONR), which coordinates technology programs for the navy, previously reported that a prototype railgun could fire between 20-30 shots. But it remains to be seen if the gun can be improved to fire hundreds of rounds in quick bursts. It will be difficult to make a railgun which can be used in military operations * fire enough shots, fire shots quickly and have the system last for hundreds or a thousand shots * target the shots that are moving at 5 to 20 times the speed of sound * fit the railgun with its power systems onto a Navy ship China claims to have solved the power system and their latest destroyer has large engines for powering a railgun. China claims that the power system can convert the over one hundred megawatts of power into electricity for the railgun. If the size of systems for a railgun were large then China could always create mostly dedicated ships as part of a fleet. The ships with railguns would protect carriers and be able to launch long range attacks. Other military electromagnetic advances from China China claims to have successfully tested its first permanent magnet propulsion motor for vessels recently, according to the State-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), which is known for manufacturing Chinas first aircraft carrier and the Jiaolong submersible vessel. The motor used in conventional submarines has the power of several megawatts, but he still cannot determine the exact power of the installed test model. Permanent magnet propulsion motor technology can replace the reduction gears and significantly reduce the running sound to the lowest possible level, the expert said. On the global scale, the permanent magnet motor will have the power to meet the needs of full electrical movement for nuclear submarines. In July 2017, Chinese state media had reported that the China is fitting its newest nuclear sub with an electromagnetic engine that sounds a lot like Tom Clancys fictional Red October engine. They had also reported that an electric rim driven shaftless submarine propulsion system was installed. Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, Chinas top naval engineer, is notably responsible for the development of multiple Chinese naval electromagnetic programs, including the electromagnetic catapult and railguns. He said the Chinese navy is adding a shaftless rim-driven pumpjet, a revolutionary and silent propulsion system to their newest attack submarine, the Type 095 SSN. This electric drive is an attempt to leap beyond current submarine technology to technology with a long history of attempted development. This is similar to China making a stronger commitment to develop a submersible arsenal ship. China is taking technology and designs with decades of history and actually implementing them. Previous submarine pumpjets are shrouded propellers, which consist of a tubular nozzle covering the propeller. By removing the shaft of the propeller, the reduction in the number of moving parts decreases the noise made by the pumpjet, as well as saving hull space. Smaller civilian rim driven electric pumpjets are easier to maintain, and have less cavitation (bubbles that form during propeller movement), which make them even more quiet. CCTV13 had a Focus on the interview segment on May 30,2017. They discussed the of electric propulsion technology power of Admiral Ma Weiming. There was some discussion of the technology and spin about how China was moving beyond copying to attempt to create breakthroughs.The first few minutes of the video discussed telecommunication switching work of Zhang Ping. Integrated Electrical Propulsion System (IEPS) turns all the output of the ships engine into electricity, unlike traditional propulsion designs, which convert engine and reactor output into mechanical action to turn the propeller shaft. The high electrical output can also be used to power motors for the propellers or potentially high-energy weapons. Additionally, IEPS has far fewer moving parts, making them quieter, and thus ideal for use on submarines. When coupled with quieter reactors like the Type 095s reported natural circulation reactor, the rim-driven pumpjet and IEPS can drastically reduce the acoustic signature of any SSN. The Danbury-based pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the East River earlier this month, killing five passengers, said he showed them how to escape their tight-fitting harnesses before taking off, according to a report released Monday. All five passengers died when the helicopter turned over after splashing into the water eight minutes into a planned 30-minute sightseeing flight over Manhattan. Richard Vance, 33, managed to free himself and was picked up by a tugboat, but the passengers were trapped inside when the copter turned over in the water. Vance, in an interview with investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board, said he had given safety instructions to the passengers, explaining twice how to use a tool to cut their seat belts if necessary. Investigators confirmed that the tools were attached to their harnesses, according to the report. Vance said that as the Eurocopter AS350 neared Central Park, he noticed that the front-seat passengers restraint was loose. He said had tapped the passenger on the shoulder to tell him to put it back on, and the passenger complied. Later in the flight, Vance told investigators, the passenger had moved on the seat so that he could take pictures of his feet outside the helicopter. Soon afterward, Vance said, he tried to turn the copter to the right. He told investigators that the craft turned more sharply than he expected. An alert sounded in his headset, and then warning lights began flashing. Vance said he considered landing the stricken aircraft in Central Park, but realized there were too many people on the ground and flew toward the East River instead. He made a distress call to air traffic control, tried and failed to restart the engine, and then prepared to land on the water. At some point he realized that the emergency fuel shutoff lever was in the off position, the report said, and that the front-seat passengers tether was underneath it. The report did not say whether this was a factor in the crash. Vance said that when he turned the shutoff lever back on, the engine instruments responded immediately. But the helicopter had fallen too close to the water, and Vance said he was forced to turn it off again. He then tried to pitch the nose of the aircraft upward to prevent the crash, the report said. When the helicopter hit the river, Vances side began to fill with water. The report said Vance reached for the carabiner on the front passengers seat, but does not specify whether he unhooked the harness. Investigators found no signs of oil or fuel leaks or fire in the engine. The fuel flow control lever was off, while the emergency shutoff lever was in the open position. The wire between the fuel shutoff lever and the engine control housing was broken, according to the report. The flight took off from Kearny Heliport in New Jersey. Liberty Helicopters chartered the aircraft on behalf of FlyNYON, a company that offers flights for photographers. According to the FAA, Vance received a commercial pilots license in September 2011 to operate rotorcraft and instrument helicopters. Local pilots who knew Vance have described him as well-trained. Hes an excellent pilot, very good pilot, very good flying instructor, Michael DeMarchi, chief pilot at Centennial Helicopters in Danbury told The News-Times earlier this month. MILFORD The son of Norwalks mayor, accused of stealing thousands of dollars in heroin and OxyContin pills from the Fairfield Police Department where he worked as a detective, wont serve a day in prison. Stephen Rilling agreed to plead guilty to several misdemeanor charges and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti to a suspended 5-year sentence with three years probation. My son went through the court system, and his attorney and the prosecutor had a discussion in the case and an appropriate resolution was reached, said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling on Monday. The mayor said his son didnt receive special treatment. My son was denied a program other nonviolent drug offenders would be entitled to, he said. My son is now moving forward with his life to become a state-certified alcohol and drug addiction counselor. Stephen Rillings lawyer, John R. Gulash, said the case was resolved by an agreed disposition and said his client had expressed deep remorse for his actions. More News Fairfield narcotics cop accused of stealing heroin, OxyContin It was an appropriate disposition based on all the facts presented and his background, States Attorney Kevin Lawlor said. Rilling, a 19-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, was charged with third-degree computer crime, second-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, possession of narcotics, second-degree forgery, tampering with evidence and false entry by an officer or agent of a public community. If convicted of those charges he could have faced more than 20 years behind bars. But instead, Rilling, who resigned from the police department, pleaded guilty before Iannotti last week to two counts of misdemeanor possession of narcotics and three counts of fourth-degree computer crime. In addition to being part of a number of investigations out of Fairfield, Stephen Rilling participated in drug investigations with the state police and in 2006 served as an interim investigator with the Bridgeport State Attorneys Office. In an effort to avoid a possible conflict of interest the case was moved to the Milford court. Police said between June 2016 and February 2017, Rilling signed out more than 225 folds of heroin, more than 800 OxyContin pills and a few packets of cocaine from the departments evidence room on the false pretext of needing to have the drugs tested. He ultimately converted these narcotics for his personal use, and consumed them as a result of an addiction to said drugs. Police said the drugs originated from a number of raids, undercover operations and from the homes of people who overdosed on the drugs. In one case, police said between Feb. 20, and May 1, 2014, Rilling conducted an investigation that resulted in the seizure of 58 folds of heroin. Police said the target of the investigation pleaded guilty in October 2016 and on Dec. 31, 2016, Rilling signed out all 58 folds from the evidence room on the pretense that a follow up investigation was being done. None of the evidence was ever returned as required and its whereabouts to date is unknown, the arrest warrant affidavit states. In March 2017, police said Rilling claimed he had sustained an injury while on duty, which resulted in his absence from work. During this period Rillings behavior, statements and appearance caused alarm among several bureau members who became concerned Rilling may be improperly consuming drugs, police said. After meeting with Rilling, police said the concerned officers checked Rillings desk area and discovered several torn bags and empty evidence bags on the floor under his desk. More empty evidence bags were found stuffed in the desk drawer, police said. NEW HAVEN Weve all seen those annoying solicitations for shares on Facebook and other social media, but theres one post that might be worth seeking out and sharing this week until April 3 because the rewards will help feed hungry children in New Haven. It all came about with New Havens LH Brenner Insurance earning a 2018 Safeco Insurance company Make More Happen Award in recognition of exceptional volunteerism and commitment to making positive change in the local community. The award includes a $5,000 donation that will go directly to the FOOD4KIDS program sponsored by the Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven. But that will double to $10,000 today if the story of the local FOOD4KIDS program is shared from Safecos social media sites at least 200 times from today (Wednesday, March 28) until April 3. That includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. Richard Epstein, president of LH Brenner Insurance and his wife of 37 years, Debra , who now live in Milford, were instrumental in developing the program and remain involved. Debra Epstein said its been a real grassroots effort and its been gratifying to hear from so many people that theyre making a difference. Hopefully, well be growing, she said. Its horrible when you see the need right here. The program sends children home on weekends during the school year with a bag of easy-to-prepare food for themselves and siblings to hold them over until school starts the next week. Bags are filled weekly by JFS food pantry volunteers. Richard Epstein said they began by providing weekend food for 35 children, are now up to 300 and will be able to add another 50 if they get the $10,000. He said it takes $200 per year to provide for each child and the need is far greater than what they are providing. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating to the cause beyond or along with a share from a Safeco social media site can contact Rachel Scolnic Dobin, program director at JFS at 203-389-5599, ext. 109. The program runs on donations and fundraisers. Dobin said one teen recently raised $1,000 for the program for part of her Bat Mitzvah project. Thats enough to feed five kids on weekends for the year. They currently provide for children at three schools, including Clinton Avenue, East Rock Community and Cultural Studies Magnet School and Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School. We are excited to share the inspiring stories of our agents with their communities through social media while raising funds for these outstanding nonprofit organizations, said Susan Herdman, Safeco Insurance Northeast Region Territory Manager. Safecos Make More Happen Awards program helps to recognize the amazing work agents do in areas like New Haven and motivate others to do the same. Richard Epstein said he was not surprised by the information since he was raised in New Haven and saw what others went through financially. The Epsteins also lived in Westville for 28 years. FOOD4KIDS is now a project of Jewish Family Service and Jewish Federation of Greater New Havens Womens Philanthropy Fund, after being brought there by Debra Epstein. The Epsteins, who do a lot for the community, hatched the project when their daughter, then a guidance counselor at East Rock School, told them many children at her school and in New Haven generally were food insecure. It is the story of LH Brenner Insurance and Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven on the official Safeco Insurance Facebook and other social media accounts that must be shared to count among the 200 needed for the extra $5,000. My team and I have worked with the FOOD4KIDS program for five years and we are incredibly thankful for being awarded the Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award so we can give back even more, Richard Epstein said. The team at the Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven has had a significant impact on our community and these funds will help them continue to make a difference. Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo NEW HAVEN The Yale Police Department and the New Haven field office of the FBI are calling for applications from youths age 15 to 18 for their third annual Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy especially from boys. Weve got five times more girls as boys applying, said Charlie Grady, community outreach specialist for the FBI. Were going to accept 15 boys and 15 girls, so the guys have to step up their game. Lindsey Hodges is a general assignment reporter who joined the Aiken Standard and North Augusta Star in June 2017. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. Carter Kingery will be attending the Automotive Technology program at Greenville Technical College courtesy of Pendarvis Chevrolet. Pictured are Richard Pendarvis, Kingery, Jimmy Seigler and Bailey Pendarvis. Colin Demarest is a reporter with Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since November 2017. He is a New Jersey native and received his B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina. Follow him on Twitter: @demarest_colin It seems actor Steven Seagal is no longer the brand ambassador for the cryptocurrency Bitcoiin. Agents for the virtual currency (VC) have claimed that a soft cap of US$75 million has now been reached, meaning that both the founders of Bitcoiin and Seagal will exit from any further direct involvement with the controversial VC. The State of New Jersey recently issued a cease and desist order to the tokens founders. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Human 2.0 , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker The cryptocurrency world has been rocked by the news that Steven Seagal is no longer a Bitcoiin Brand Ambassador. A press release issued by the VC's creators today stated: As Bitcoiin goes through the conversion phase from token to mineable coin we wish to advise that Bitcoiin will join the likes of the original Bitcoin and become a truly open source. Therefore a big thank you to the Founders and to our Brand Ambassador whom we wish all the best in their future endeavors. However, from this point on Bitcoiin will function within its ecosystem and become a genuinely anonymous cryptocurrency with no individual or individuals having control over the entity! According to the VCs website, the soft cap target of US$75 million has been achieved and therefore it is time for Bitcoiin to convert to mineable coins. There have been several crackdowns on questionable cryptocurrency business practices in the last few months and Bitcoiin has been subject to a cease and desist order coming from regulators in New Jersey, who pointed out that the VC is not registered to sell securities in that state. In fact, the order goes further with its criticisms of the digital currency, publishing these conclusions: In actuality, Bitcoiin is fraudulently offering unregistered securities in violation of the Securities Law. And: The Bitcoiin Websites do not disclose what expertise, if any, Steven Seagal has to ensure that the Bitcoiin investments are appropriate and in compliance with federal and state securities laws. The actor is currently facing a number of accusations in regard to sexual misconduct, but it is not known if this has been a contributing factor to the Hollywood hardman and Bitcoiin2Gen parting ways. March 27, 2018 On Saturday, April 14, from 1:00 to 7:00 pm, all interested adults are invited to immerse themselves in the world of vernal pools during this hands-on workshop at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Vernal pools are forest wetlands that are seasonally flooded and provide homes for specialized plants and animals. The workshop, entitled, Pools and Polywogs: Exploring the Impacts of Climate Change, will feature opportunities to learn about vernal pools and why they are important, discover how our changing climate may impact vernal pools, and explore a variety of research and citizen science projects related to these fragile habitats and the animals that call them home. Workshop experiences will culminate with a field trip to a nearby vernal pool! While participants do not need to be educators, some activities shared during the day can be used by educators, naturalists, and other youth leaders working with upper elementary through high school aged youth. The workshop will be held at Dunes Learning Center. There is a $40 fee for the workshop, which covers educational resources, snacks, and dinner. Indiana teachers can receive Professional Growth Points and Illinois Teachers can receive CPDUs for attending the workshop. Pre-registration is required by Thursday, April 5, and registration is limited. To register or obtain additional information about the workshop, visit the Dunes Learning Center Website or call Dunes Learning Center at 219-395-9555. The workshop is co-sponsored by Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Dunes Learning Center, and the Great Lakes Research and Education Center. Join us as we celebrate 20 years and 100,000 young people served! Dunes Learning Center is located at 700 Howe Road in Porter, Indiana between U.S. Highways 12 and 20 on the grounds of the historic Camp Good Fellow. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882 or visit our website and our Facebook page. To be clear, I am not taking some sort of principled stand against graphic, disturbing violence. On the contrary! As a longtime horror fan, I believe gore and brutality can be used to articulate the agony and terror we feel but do not have the words to express. Moreover, I applaud any show that makes an effort to make murder whether by serial killers or soldiers unpleasant rather than thrilling. Trauma should not be easy to digest. But on that count, The Alienist attempts to have its cake and eat it too. Rather predictably (if youve seen the end of True Detective Season 1, which Fukunaga directed), the hunt for Japheth Dury devolves into a cat-and-mouse game through the labyrinthine, dimly lit halls of the reservoir. Bullets fly. Characters get knocked out over and over, but never killed (Johns miraculous recoveries continue, this time after having his head repeatedly slammed against a brick wall). The villain lowers himself from the ceiling to waylay his pursuers like a bizarro Batman fitting, given the genuinely bizarre visual effects that distort his face like a member of the Dark Knights rogues gallery. And thanks in part to all those unconscious-but-not-dead characters, there are more buzzer-beating rescues and reversals on hand here than in the whole of March Madness. At any rate, Kreizler and company get their man, or men. Captain Connor, surely the most diligent henchman a corrupt system of authority could ever ask for, trails Laszlo and John all the way to the chamber where theyre confronting Japheth, mortally wounding the killer before being shot to death in turn by Sara, another last-second arrival. Connor dies quickly; Japheth dies quietly, though not before hauling himself up to the top of the reservoir in one last incomprehensible ritualistic gesture. Ill give the climax this: Kreizlers soul-deep sorrow as he realizes the man will not live to offer any insights into why he did what he did is more than moving its a summary of everything the man stands for. He didnt just want to stop Japheth Dury. He wanted to stop the creation of more Japheth Durys, and that quest just took a devastating blow. Of the shows three leads, Daniel Bruhl was always given the most demanding and complicated material. His character, genial and insightful one minute, robotic and cruel the next, never really cohered, and neither did the performance. (It is always possible that the role could be resurrected for an adaptation of the sequel novel, The Angel of Darkness, but there are no known plans for now.) But the sight of Kreizler strolling in his trademark hat, or smiling politely as he interacts with others in his soft, accented voice, is endearing. Closing the show with a scene in which Laszlo visits his elderly, uncommunicative father in a sanitarium and discusses the abuse he suffered at the old mans hand was a bold and fitting choice. The hunt for the murderer may have disappointed, but the hunt for the truth, about his own mind and the minds of others, will continue. The alienist himself is The Alienist in miniature: temperament uneven, promise unfulfilled, but rich enough beneath the surface to have made our time together feel worth the trouble. In the weeks since the Parkland shootings, Ive had conversations with dozens of chief executives and other leaders from a variety of industries, many reaching out directly about the internal debates they have had. Virtually all the major banks, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America among them, have created formal or informal working groups to consider the issue, as have the big credit card companies, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express. (Perhaps the bank thats least receptive to addressing the issue of guns is Wells Fargo, which has said it should be approached through the political and legislative process. Wells Fargo is the largest financier in the nation of the gun industry and is the main bank for the National Rifle Association, according to Bloomberg.) With the exception of Citi, most financial institutions are still grappling with how to properly carry out a plan that is both enforceable and does not encroach on the rights of its customers. While Citis decision is significant, Mr. Corbat acknowledged that it was intended to be balanced and he purposely didnt want it to be too broad. This isnt an easy thing to simply take a stance on, he said, because of various privacy laws and rights. There is an important nuance here, he said. We didnt tell our hundred and sixty million card holders in the world how they can use their cards. Its their money. But what we did say in terms of the people that Citi is going to do business with, the ones that were going to finance and that were going to, in essence, put our brands together on that there needs to be something that makes sense for us and for both sides. He said the bank had purposely left some of its policy ambiguous so it could accommodate potential exceptions for example, to the 21-year-old age limit. My inbox lit up with people saying: Dear Sir, Ive served in the military. Our country gave me a firearm when I was 18, and it was fine for me to go use that in the defense of our country, Mr. Corbat said. LONDON History was not supposed to turn out this way. In the aftermath of World War II, the victorious Western countries forged institutions NATO, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization that aimed to keep the peace through collective military might and shared prosperity. They promoted democratic ideals and international trade while investing in the notion that coalitions were the antidote to destructive nationalism. But now the model that has dominated geopolitical affairs for more than 70 years appears increasingly fragile. Its tenets are being challenged by a surge of nationalism and its institutions under assault from some of the very powers that constructed them not least, the United States under President Trump. In place of shared approaches to societal problems from trade disputes, to security, to climate change national interests have captured primacy. The language of multilateral cooperation has been drowned out by angry appeals to tribal solidarity, tendencies that are heightened by economic anxieties. What weve seen is a kind of backlash to liberal democracy, said Amandine Crespy, a political scientist at Free University Brussels (ULB) in Belgium. Masses of people feel they have not been properly represented in liberal democracy. In that study, which began in the mid-1970s, scientists signed confidentiality agreements so they could track the private medical and occupational histories of more than 22,000 individuals in six cities around the country. They combined that personal data with home air-quality data in order to study the link between chronic exposure to air pollution and mortality. Academics arent typically required to turn over such private data when submitting studies for peer review by other specialists in the field, or for review and publication in scientific journals, which is the traditional way that this kind of research is evaluated. If academics were to turn over the raw data to be made available for public review, the agency would have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a federal estimate , to redact private information. The bottom line, critics say, is that if the E.P.A. is limited to considering only studies in which the data is publicly available, the agency will have a narrower and incomplete body of research to draw on when considering regulations. It sends a pretty chilling message to scientists that their work cant be used or wont be used, said Sean Gallagher, a government relations officer with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a nonprofit science advocacy organization . Mr. Pruitt laid out his plans for the new transparency policy in an interview last week with The Daily Caller, a conservative news site. The proposal is based on legislation named the Honest and Open New E.P.A. Science Treatment Act, also known as the Honest Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican. The bill has failed to gain support in Congress for years despite having the support of the energy, manufacturing and chemical industries. That legislation aimed to preclude the E.P.A. from using any studies that could not be independently reproduced. According to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics , a nonpartisan research group that tracks campaign finance data, versions of the bill have received support from Exxon Mobil, Peabody Energy, Koch Industries and the American Chemistry Council, which provides policy and research for major chemical companies including Arkema, DuPont and Monsanto. Mr. Smith, the sponsor of the stalled Congressional legislation, applauded the E.P.A.s proposed move. Our citizens have a right to see the data that the E.P.A. says justifies their regulations, he said in a statement. He has argued that E.P.A. regulations in the past were justified by data that was impossible to verify independently. TUESDAY PUZZLE When we last saw Peter Koetters, he was doing unspeakable things to vegetables, but today he is back in The New York Times Crossword doing unspeakably funny things to well, youll find out. Todays Theme When I worked in advertising, slogan writing was a much sought-after assignment, just because it was so much fun and the potential for coming up with funny or ribald ones was so great. We would sit around for hours, riffing on all the punny ways to talk about foot fungus powder, until it was 5 oclock and time to go to happy hour. There isnt a lot that I miss about the 1980s, but those were good times. Today, Mr. Koetters continues that tradition with punny slogans for capital cities, should you want to visit them. For example, at 50A, the testimonial I was afraid to ski, but in New Hampshire I ___! is answered by CONCORD MY FEARS, as a sound-alike for conquered my fears and CONCORD being the capital of New Hampshire. Thats very clever. Now you go visit the other three cities. Tricky Clues 11A: Were you suspicious of this clue? Fixer at a horse race? sounds like someone who fixes the races themselves, but the person who fixes the horses is the VET. In an effort to shrink the global AIDS epidemic, the worlds largest gay dating app is changing its software this week to urge millions of users to get frequent H.I.V. tests. Grindr, which claims to have 3.3 million daily users from every country in the world, will send men who opt into the service a reminder every three to six months, and simultaneously point them to the nearest testing site. It will also let clinics, gay community centers and other testing sites advertise for free. The company is making the move to reduce H.I.V. transmission and support our whole community regardless of H.I.V. status in living long and fulfilling lives, said Jack Harrison-Quintana, Grindrs director for equality. H.I.V. experts greeted the announcement enthusiastically. Wow thats great! said Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, a former chief of sexually transmitted disease prevention in San Francisco who has used Grindr to promote testing. For a company of this magnitude to do this is groundbreaking. Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. It wasnt supposed to be like this. When a reader sends a tip to The Times, we investigate it, and normally one of two things happens: It becomes a story, or it doesnt pan out. Whats unusual is when the course of investigating a tip leads a journalist to debunk it, and that becomes the story. In my 30 years writing about science and medicine for The Times, it had never happened to me until now. And although I wavered for a while about whether to go ahead with the reporting, it ended up as an article about doctors hesitations to use tissue plasminogen activator (T.P.A.), a drug for people experiencing a stroke. It started with a tip in February from a Canadian emergency medicine doctor, who said in an email that T.P.A., a widely promoted drug, was not only useless but dangerous it could cause bleeding in the brain. Yet the drug was advocated by medical societies and continued to be used, he said, because there were powerful corporate interests influencing practice guidelines and encouraging doctors to believe the drug worked. Whatever you think about adult film, it is one of the most consumed forms of media in the world. Pornhub, the popular pornography website, draws 80 million visitors a day. Exact figures for the size of the industry are scarce, but experts put total sales around a billion dollars a year. Plus, studies show that adult film has become a form of sex education for young people around the world. It is also, now, a regular subject in the news. A top adult film star, Jessica Drake, is one of the women who has accused President Donald J. Trump of sexual assault (he has denied the allegations). And of course, Stormy Daniels, whom I profiled with two colleagues, Matt Flegenheimer and Rebecca R. Ruiz, in a front-page story yesterday, is suing Mr. Trump, with whom she claimed she had a consensual affair, in order to be released from a nondisclosure agreement signed shortly before the 2016 election. But gradually, the subject of adult film is getting a closer look. In 2014, scholars founded the academic journal Porn Studies. In 2015, the actress Rashida Jones produced a documentary, Hot Girls Wanted, on the amateur porn scene in South Florida. The film later became a Netflix series of the same name and remains a major subject of conversation in adult film circles. Recently, a New York Times Magazine cover story, What Teenagers Are Learning From Online Porn, explored how much pornography teens consume and what effects it is having on their personal lives. Still, the industry remains shrouded in mystery, and very little has been written about the companies who make adult film. For example: Who owns them? When were they founded? How do they make money? Is it true that one company owns most of the content produced on the web? (Yes MindGeek.) How hard was it for Ms. Clifford to become a top adult film performer and director? To learn as much as possible, I traveled to industry conferences like XBIZ Miami, AVN in Las Vegas and Exxxotica New Jersey to meet industry leaders and understand their careers. I interviewed dozens of performers, agents, lawyers, producers, webcam models, website hosts and even executives from billing companies about how their jobs have evolved with changing technology. Mr. Cuomo, 60, has already launched various campaign offensives to try to blunt the impact of the novelty of Ms. Nixons challenge, her celebrity and her pointed attacks. He already also holds enormous advantages in fund-raising, with some $30 million in campaign funds, and a big edge in early polling. The governor also was the beneficiary of a supportive statement from Hector Figueroa, the president of 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, released shortly after Ms. Nixon finished speaking. He lauded Mr. Cuomos record and downplayed those who seize the most headlines through personal attacks. We saw Cynthia Nixons news conference, said Rachel Cohen, a union spokeswoman, when asked about the motivation for Mr. Figueroas statement. And we just wanted to restate our support for the governors record. The stated reason for Ms. Nixons visit to Albany was to lobby for more equitable education funding, an issue on which the actress and activist has been lobbying for years. But the event was also, of course, an opportunity to cast a broader message. Ms. Nixon, 51, took a smattering of questions after her speech, keeping most of her answers brief. She expressed support for raising taxes on the rich, called the governors 2 percent spending cap disastrous, and demurred when asked about revelations about Mayor Bill de Blasio an ally of hers taking tens of thousands of dollars in donations from a Long Island restaurateur seeking better lease terms for one of his restaurants. But the contractor cannot bring in a wrecking ball, Mr. Rudansky said. The agency specified the building must be taken apart by hand. But Mr. Fernandez said they are hoping to save time and money using an excavator designed for jobs that require more precision. Jim Long, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said the investigation would not yield quick answers. The demolition has to be done delicately, he said, because of the ongoing investigation. Theyve got to go in as slow and carefully as possible, he said. Time isnt a concern. Getting the right answers and complete answers is whats important right now. The site of the fire sits on a row of 11 limestone townhomes in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem that were designed and built in the 1890s by Frederick P. Dinkelberg, an architect known for his work on the Flatiron Building. Its basement was home to the St. Nicks Jazz Pub, a club that closed in 2011. A crew filming the movie Motherless Brooklyn had been working inside the club and an apartment above it when they smelled smoke rising from the cellar, Edward Norton, the director of the film, said on Saturday in an Instagram post. Had our team not noticed the situation and responded and alerted the fire department with the speed they did, I believe the residents of the building above would have perished, he wrote. Mr. Norton also praised the Fire Department: I have never witnessed firsthand that kind of bravery, he said. Im in awe of that kind of selfless courage. Its devastating to contemplate that one of the men we watched charging in there lost his life. Five other people were injured in the fire, including two firefighters who were burned and an 84-year-old woman found on a staircase next door suffering from smoke inhalation. New Jersey already has gun laws that are widely considered to be among the toughest in the country. One prominent national group that promotes stricter legislation has graded New Jersey as A-minus on its scorecard of gun laws, ranking it second among states, while the National Rifle Association has lamented that Trentons appetite for gun control is insatiable. Still, the states gun laws are poised to become even more stringent. Lawmakers have put forward a package of bills that would, among other things, limit the magazine capacity of guns, ban ammunition capable of penetrating body armor and require residents to demonstrate a justifiable need for a permit to carry a gun. Supporters say that their efforts have been invigorated by the demonstrations in Washington and across the country over the weekend to decry gun violence, which were motivated by the deadly mass shooting last month at a Florida high school. Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, who supports the legislation, described the response in New Jersey as evidence that government is listening. Theres a movement thats afoot, Mr. Greenwald, a Democrat from Voorhees, said in an interview. It really is, enough is enough. He likened loneliness to hunger, explaining that it helps naturally gregarious humans establish mutually beneficial relationships that meet social needs vital to survival. He estimated that about one in four Americans are lonely, without any confidants, and that social isolation results in negative emotional and physical consequences. Chronic loneliness increases the odds of an early death by 20 percent, Dr. Cacioppo told The Guardian in 2016, which is about the same effect as obesity, though obesity does not make you as miserable as loneliness. (Although, he pointed out, loneliness can also make you gain weight if you binge on sweets to ease your misery.) He drew a distinction between loneliness and being alone. In animals, its not separating a monkey from any companion; its separating them from a preferred companion, he said in an interview last year with The Atlantic magazine. Being with others doesnt mean youre going to feel connected, and being alone doesnt mean youre going to feel lonely. Indeed, he said, having fewer social connections can sometimes be healthier. Millionaires, billionaires tend to feel lonely, Dr. Cacioppo said. A lot of athletes often feel lonely. Lots of people want to be their friend, but how would you feel if all the people who want to be your friend, you had the alternative interpretation that they want material or social benefits that you could give them. At his death, Dr. Cacioppo was a psychology professor at the University of Chicago, director of the universitys Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience and chairman of the Social Psychology Program. Linda Brown, whose father objected when she was not allowed to attend an all-white school in her neighborhood and who thus came to symbolize one of the most transformative court proceedings in American history, the school desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education, died on Sunday in Topeka, Kan. She was 75. Her death was confirmed on Monday by a spokesman for the Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel in Topeka, which is handling her funeral arrangements. He did not specify the cause. It is Ms. Browns father, Oliver, whose name is attached to the famous case, although the suit that ended up in the United States Supreme Court actually represented a number of families in several states. In 1954, in a unanimous decision, the court ruled that segregated schools were inherently unequal. The decision upended decades worth of educational practice, in the South and elsewhere, and its ramifications are still being felt. In 2010 an explosion at a coal mine operated by Massey Energy killed 29 men. In 2015 Don Blankenship, the companys former C.E.O., was sent to prison for conspiring to violate mine safety standards. In 2018, Blankenship appears to have a real chance at becoming the Republican candidate for senator from West Virginia. Blankenship is one of four Republicans with criminal convictions running for office this year, several of whom may well win their partys nominations. And there is a much broader list of Republican politicians facing credible accusations of huge ethical lapses who nonetheless emerged victorious in G.O.P. primaries, ranging from Roy Moore to, well, Donald Trump. To be sure, there have been plenty of crooked Democrats. But usually the revelation of their crookedness ended their political careers. Whats striking about todays Republican landscape is that people who are obvious crooks, con men or worse continue to attract strong support from the partys base. Moore narrowly lost in Alabamas special election, but he received 91 percent of the votes of self-identified Republicans. And Trump, although unprecedentedly unpopular for a president at this stage of his term, continues to receive overwhelming support from the G.O.P. base. Some Republican politicians have openly admitted that this makes the partys congressional wing unwilling to hold Trump accountable for even the most spectacular malfeasance, up to and including possible collusion with a hostile foreign power. One of the perplexing questions of constitutional law is what to do about a sitting president who is suspected of having committed a crime. This much is clear: A sitting president should not be required to submit to a criminal trial, an undertaking that would be incompatible with the duties of the nations chief executive. That should not, however, preclude a grand jury from indicting a president when the facts and the law warrant, even if the trial itself has to be postponed until he or she is no longer in office. An indictment in this context serves a critically important purpose: Without it, the usual five-year statute of limitations for most federal crimes would elapse, forever precluding a president from being held accountable for potentially serious crimes. Thus, a president should be indictable unless he agrees to waive any future defense that the statute of limitations expired during the presidents term. There is nothing in the constitutional text or judicial precedent that provides for a categorical bar to the indictment of a sitting president. The closest the Supreme Court has come to addressing the question was in Clinton v. Jones in 1997, in which the issue was whether a president could delay until the end of his term a civil suit by a private individual. I argued Clinton v. Jones for the United States, urging the court to hold that a civil trial would unduly impair a presidents ability to carry out his duties. The court unanimously rejected that position. The recent killing of a pedestrian by a self-driving Uber vehicle is the source of the latest negative headlines about this company. But theres a much deeper problem. While the leadership has changed Dara Khosrowshahi replaced Ubers co-founder Travis Kalanick as chief executive last August after a series of scandals the company itself has not evolved. The problem with Uber was never that the chief executive had created a thuggish Game of Thrones-type culture, as Susan Fowler, an engineer, described it in a blog post. The problem was, and still is, Ubers business model: Its modus operandi is to subsidize fares and flood streets with its cars to achieve a transportation monopoly. In city after city, this has led to huge increases in traffic congestion, increased carbon emissions and the undermining of public transportation. Most customers who love Uber dont realize that the company subsidizes the cost of many rides. This is likely a major factor in Ubers annual losses surging from 2.8 billion in 2016 to $4.5 billion in 2017. This seemingly nonsensical approach is actually Ubers effort to use its deep pockets to mount a predatory price war and shut out the competition. That competition is not only taxis and other ride-sharing companies, but public transportation. Studies have found that half to 61 percent of Uber passengers in the United States say that they would have used public transportation, ridden a bicycle or walked, or not have made the trip at all, if Uber had not been available. I have to say, I loved the gun-control march I observed last Saturday in Washington. The crowd was good-hearted, gracious, diverse and welcoming. At a time when trust in democracy is waning, everybody kept underlining their faith in our democratic system, that voting is the way to make change. There was no culture war nastiness, no hint of resentment. Hunters and farmers and vets were celebrated. There was no ill will toward anybody but the N.R.A. Of course some of the student speakers were grandiose and pretentious. Most of us were like that when we were 18. But for all their talk of revolution, at its heart, this march was about a series of sensible, practical and moderate reforms: restricting assault weapons, expanding background checks and similar measures. Recently, it has seemed like the country is gyrating out of control, that extremism on one side is generating extremism on the other. But the march I saw was not extreme. It was a responsible moral answer to right a very specific wrong, gun violence. It struck me as a very characteristic burst of American moral passion. The march passed what I have come to think of as The Privilege Test. One of the great privileges of life is to be born an American citizen. We are the lucky inheritors of the American Creed, built around freedom, equality, opportunity and democracy. Theres no such thing as the French Creed or the Italian Creed but there is an American creed. As Richard Hofstadter famously put it, It has been our fate as a nation not to have ideologies, but to be one. By expelling scores of Russians from the United States and 21 other countries, President Trump and allied leaders have imposed the most significant punishment yet on Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. Its a move that is well overdue for Mr. Trump, whose long refusal to criticize Mr. Putin and hesitancy to act against Russias malign behavior have raised suspicions that Moscow knows secrets it could use to blackmail the American president. Mondays development offers some hope that Mr. Trump may finally be forced to deal with the threat that Mr. Putin poses to the United States and its Western allies. Put the emphasis there on hope. Mr. Trump will have to go even further to push back effectively against Mr. Putins mischief, which runs the gamut from interference in the elections in America and other Western democracies to propelling the wars in Ukraine and Syria. The expulsion orders retaliate specifically for the poisoning of a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter in Britain, for which the Kremlin has been blamed. On the American side, it includes 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers at the United Nations in New York and 48 at the Russian Embassy in Washington. Also, the Russian consulate in Seattle will be closed because of concerns that Russians were spying on a nearby submarine base and Boeing manufacturing facilities. Because there is broad consensus that Donald Trump is a lewd degenerate, nothing Stormy Daniels, the pornographic film actress and director, told 60 Minutes about their alleged 2006 sexual encounter was particularly astonishing. (Though the mental image of Trump dropping his pants at Danielss command for a spanking will likely dampen libidos throughout the land.) Everyone knows Trump is a disloyal husband, so its no shock that he slept with Daniels and, at about the same time, with the former Playboy model Karen McDougal while his wife, Melania Trump, was caring for their new baby. Everyone also knows that Trump has a repulsive compulsion to sexualize his daughter Ivanka he once happily concurred with Howard Stern that she was a piece of ass so its not surprising that he told Daniels she reminded him of his child before he slept with her. (According to McDougal, Trump said something similar to her.) Nevertheless, the Daniels interview aired on Sunday was important, portending danger for both Trump and his personal lawyer Michael Cohen. As Ive written before, the Daniels affair is a corruption scandal disguised as a sex scandal. And on the corruption front, we learned things on Sunday that could help unravel Trumps wretched presidency. We proactively suspended self-driving operations in all cities immediately following the tragic incident last week. We continue to help investigators in any way we can, and well keep a dialogue open with the governors office to address any concerns they have, said Matt Kallman, an Uber spokesman. The rebuke from the governor is a reversal from what has been an open-arms policy by the state, heralding its lack of regulation as an asset to lure autonomous vehicle testing and tech jobs. Waymo, the self-driving car company spun out from Google, and General Motors-owned Cruise are also testing cars in the state. Mr. Ducey said he was troubled by a video released from the Tempe Police Department that seemed to show that neither the Uber safety driver nor the autonomous vehicle detected the presence of a pedestrian in the road in the moments before the crash. The police said the car never slowed down before striking 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, who was pushing a bicycle across the road. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash with the local police, has not yet ruled whether the company was at fault. The governors decision comes after The New York Times reported that Ubers autonomous vehicles had struggled to meet company targets for reliability in the months leading up to crash. Shut up. Keep talking. Those clashing orders whisper side-by-side in your mind as you watch the meticulously acted revival of Kenneth Lonergans Lobby Hero, which opened on Monday night at the renovated Helen Hayes Theater, the new Broadway home for Second Stage Theater. Thats because you will probably come to if not like then feel personally invested in the four self-sabotaging New Yorkers so completely embodied here by Michael Cera, Chris Evans, Brian Tyree Henry and Bel Powley. And none of them can participate in the simplest exchanges of words without doing serious damage. Sure, the talk at first seems merely casual as these four characters pair off to shoot the breeze in and around an apartment building lobby where it always feels like 3 a.m. But lives as well as livelihoods are possibly at stake in whats being said, and everyday conversation becomes a minefield. Whenever someone starts talking again after a long silence, you feel an Ouch! coming on. At the same time, you cant wait to hear whats about to emerge from the mouths of Jeff (Mr. Cera), a newbie security guard (dont call him doorman) and his exacting boss, William (Mr. Henry); and the Mutt-and-Jeff police partners who drop by. They are the swaggering Bill (Mr. Evans, in a terrific Broadway debut) and his rookie partner, Dawn (Ms. Powley). She escaped the anti-Semitism of the Nazis, but in the end her destiny followed her because she was killed because of anti-Semitism. FRANCIS KALIFAT, referring to Mireille Knoll, 85, who escaped a roundup of Jews during the Holocaust but was found stabbed to death in Paris last week. Law enforcement officials have said they found evidence of Mr. Conditts potential future targets, a mix of addresses and other locations that appeared to have no common thread to link them. Investigators were continuing on Monday to sort through his computer hard drives and other evidence. Before Mr. Conditt died, a federal criminal complaint was filed against him, charging him with unlawful possession and transfer of a destructive device, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A federal magistrate judge in Austin sealed an affidavit by investigators that would be expected to summarize their reasons for charging Mr. Conditt. It was unclear when that affidavit would be unsealed. Investigators have said that Mr. Conditt used his cellphone to record a video in his vehicle after a confrontation with the police in Round Rock, a suburb near Pflugerville. A short time later he detonated one of his bombs inside the vehicle, killing himself. The cellphone survived the explosion. Mr. McCaul, whose district includes parts of Austin and Pflugerville, apparently has seen the video. He described it on Fox News as a visually dark 25-minute confession. He said, I wish I was sorry, but Im not, Mr. McCaul said. He refers to himself as a psychopath. Ive been a sociopath all my life. And then even more chilling at the end, he says that maybe I should just blow myself up at a McDonalds and end the whole thing. Thats where he was headed. The authorities said Mr. Conditt placed four fairly sophisticated homemade bombs in Austin, hidden in packages left on doorsteps or, in one case, placed with a tripwire along a sidewalk. In total, one of the worst serial bombers in America in decades killed two men; wounded four other people, including a 75-year-old woman; and terrified residents in the Austin and San Antonio regions. In one 24-hour period, the Austin police responded to 420 suspicious-package calls, all false alarms. Hundreds of local, state and federal agents and officers were hunting the serial bomber for days. The state deployed a Pilatus high-altitude surveillance airplane equipped with a thermal imaging system. Mr. Conditt was tracked to a hotel parking lot in Round Rock, and when he drove away in his red Nissan Pathfinder, the police followed him and confronted him; the chase ended in a ditch off Interstate 35, where one Austin SWAT officer fired his weapon and Mr. Conditt set off his bomb. A justice of the peace in Williamson County, Dain Johnson, said on Monday that Mr. Conditt died by his own hand. There is no final report yet, but the cause of death is suicide, Judge Johnson said. He had multiple shrapnel injuries from the bomb. A Maryland high school student who fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and injured another student outside a classroom last week killed himself when a school resource officer stationed on campus confronted him, the authorities said on Monday evening. The shooting at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland last Tuesday was over in about a minute. Just before the first class period started, Austin Wyatt Rollins pulled out his fathers handgun in a hallway and fired one shot. It struck his former girlfriend, Jaelynn Willey, in the head and the other student, Desmond Barnes, in the leg. Moments later, Mr. Rollins, 17, was dead in another part of the school. But before Monday, it was not clear whether the gunman had killed himself or whether the resource officer, Deputy Blaine Gaskill, fatally shot him. The St. Marys County Sheriffs Office said its investigation had found that Mr. Rollins fired one shot at Jaelynn, 16, and then one more into his head at the same time Deputy Gaskill fired his weapon. WASHINGTON When Representative Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania announced on Sunday that he would join more than 40 other congressional Republicans not seeking re-election in November, he left no doubt about the reason: President Trumps conduct made it impossible to talk about anything else. Were he running, Mr. Costello said in an interview, he would be inundated with questions about Stephanie Clifford, the pornographic film actress known as Stormy Daniels, who has said she had an affair with Mr. Trump and was threatened to stay silent about it. If I had a town hall this week, it would be question after question, Mr. Costello said. Do you believe him or do you believe her? Why dont you believe her? While Republicans have been bracing for months for a punishing election in November, they are increasingly alarmed that their losses may be even worse than feared because the midterm campaign appears destined to turn more on the behavior of the man in the White House than any other in decades. The protests relatively small but highly visible here in the Irish capital are an emblem of the strong emotions as the country prepares to vote in late May on whether to retain the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution, which bans abortion in nearly all circumstances and was itself enacted by a referendum, in 1983. (Abortion was illegal before 1983, but the amendment made it even harder to terminate a pregnancy, even to save to mothers life.) To the age-old debates around abortion including questions of when life begins and of womens control over their reproductive rights the referendum has added a new dimension of concern about potential outside interference in the vote. An ethics regulator recently ordered two abortion-rights groups, Amnesty International Ireland and the Abortion Rights Campaign, to return grants of $150,000 and $25,000 to George Soross Open Society Foundations. It said the money was a foreign political donation intended to affect the outcome of a referendum or election, and therefore banned. But so far it does not appear that any anti-abortion groups have been asked to return overseas donations, despite reports that money is being openly raised on their behalf, particularly in the United States. One American group, the Pro-Life Action League, told an Irish newspaper in 2012 that anti-abortion groups were raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Irish anti-abortion groups like Youth Defence, which has been linked to far-right movements in Europe. MOSCOW The expulsion of scores of Russian diplomats from the United States, countries across Europe and beyond has raised, yet again, the question of whether the world is veering back where it was during the Cold War. The alarming answer from some in Russia is: No, but the situation is in some ways even more unpredictable. For all the tension, proxy conflicts and risk of nuclear war that punctuated relations between Moscow and the West for decades, each side knew, particularly toward the end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, roughly what to expect. Each had a modicum of trust that the other would act in a reasonably predictable way. The volatile state of Russias relations with the outside world today, exacerbated by a nerve agent attack on a former spy living in Britain, however, makes the diplomatic climate of the Cold War look reassuring, said Ivan I. Kurilla, an expert on Russian-American relations, and recalls a period of paralyzing mistrust that followed the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. If you look for similarities with what is happening, it is not the Cold War that can explain events but Russias first revolutionary regime, which regularly assassinated opponents abroad, said Mr. Kurilla, a historian at the European University at St. Petersburg. WASHINGTON President Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian officials on Monday, joining a coordinated campaign by two dozen countries to retaliate for the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain in a Cold War-style escalation that again highlighted the disparity between the presidents words and actions. The mass expulsion of Russian personnel stationed in the United States was the largest ever, eclipsing even the darkest days of the global showdown with the Soviet Union. But Mr. Trump avoided any public condemnation of Russias role in the attack just days after phoning President Vladimir V. Putin to congratulate him on a re-election widely considered a sham. In approving the expulsions and ordering the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle, Mr. Trump followed the lead of Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, who rallied a multinational coalition to respond to the poisoning. With London pressing for action, Mr. Trump called foreign counterparts to see if they would join, too. Aides said he encouraged them to take part, but he also knew that failure to go along would have left the United States isolated. In addition to the United States, at least 22 other nations backed Britain by expelling about 57 more Russian diplomats and intelligence officers as of Monday evening, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Poland and Canada. Mrs. May originally expelled 23 Russians shortly after British authorities determined that Moscow was likely responsible for the nerve agent that left Sergei V. Skripal, the former Russian spy, and his daughter in a coma. LONDON Lawyers for Elliott Broidy, a Republican fund-raiser close to President Trump, on Monday filed a lawsuit accusing the government of Qatar of hacking into his emails and conspiring with Washington lobbyists to besmirch his reputation. The lawsuit is one of the first high-profile attempts to hold a foreign government accountable in American courts for cyberespionage. It comes at a time when hacking is becoming an increasingly common tool among a growing number of states seeking to punish enemies or achieve political goals. This suit is the first of its kind, said Lee Wolosky, a lawyer for Mr. Broidy. Mr. Broidy, a Los Angeles investor, has been an antagonist of Qatar in Washington. He has accused it of supporting Islamist extremism, and he has provided millions of dollars in financial support for think-tank conferences amplifying those criticisms. He has made the same arguments to Mr. Trump and Republican lawmakers. At the same time, Mr. Broidy also owns a defense contractor, Circinus L.L.C., that in the past year signed a contract worth more than $200 million with the United Arab Emirates and is pursuing another large contract with Saudi Arabia. Both countries are engaged in a bitter dispute with Qatar, the home to a major American military base and vast natural gas deposits. Its with great sadness that we think about Kirill, Barrie Kosky, the Komische Opers artistic director, said in an interview. Were all waiting. Thats the most frustrating and saddest thing about it. Mr. Kosky said that he hoped Mr. Serebrennikov would soon be able to work again at the Komische Oper and elsewhere, but that he was anxious about what the Russian director might face first. Im fearing that it will be a bit of Russian grotesque with shades of Bulgakov, he said, referring to the Russian author of the satirical novel The Master and Margarita. The investigation against Mr. Serebrennikov began in May 2017. Prosecutors have so far presented little to support their claims, and they have dismissed striking evidence against them multiple newspaper reviews, for instance, of a show they say was never staged. Mr. Serebrennikov has repeatedly protested innocence, most recently on Feb. 21. At home and abroad, the outpouring of support for the director has been enormous. A Change.org petition initiated by Thomas Ostermeier, artistic director of the Schaubuhne (another Berlin theater where the Gogol Center has performed in the past) has garnered more than 50,000 signatures. Among the most prominent artists lending their support are the actress Cate Blanchett, the filmmaker Lars von Trier and the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Elfriede Jelinek. At a news conference at the Deutsches Theater on Monday, Mr. Serebrennikovs assistant, Anna Shalashova, urged the assembled journalists to read a campaigning website tracking the case. You will see how Kafkaesque this whole trial is, she said. Did you have any worries about coming back to the role? No. I was excited to do it because I realized that was going to be the only opportunity I would get to act, because Im kind of typecast as me. But I loved acting. And everybody really got a lot better in their acting chops, so that was great. How are you different than during the last run of Roseanne? Well, Im older, and Ive been through menopause, so that was great. Im a grandma now. Im older and wiser. I appreciate things better, and appreciate having an opportunity at age 65 to come back and do what I love to do. What kind of stories did you want to tell on the new Roseanne? How families are still struggling and what they do about it. Theres an arc in this season, and its the closest Ive been to doing what I want to do. Its about everything in our country. Its about opioids and health care. How we deal with whole new issues that we didnt even have before, like gender-fluid kids. How working class people how and why they elected Trump. Roseanne Conner has become a Trump supporter. How did that happen? I just wanted to have that dialogue about families torn apart by the election and their political differences of opinion and how we handle it. I thought that this was an important thing to say at this time. Was it your idea for Roseanne to back Trump? Yes. Because its an accurate portrayal of these people and people like them. In terms of what they think, and how they feel when they are the ones who send their kids over to fight. Weve been in wars for a long, long time, which everybody seems to forget but working class people dont forget it because their kids are in it. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. The Least Surprising Story I Have Ever Heard Stephen Colbert on Monday was eager to dig into Anderson Coopers 60 Minutes interview with Stephanie Clifford, the former pornographic film actress known as Stormy Daniels. Colbert was thrilled to hear Cliffords account of her alleged affair with President Trump but even the juiciest details didnt shock him. Two series debut on ABC: the return of Roseanne and the family comedy Splitting Up Together. Whats on TV ROSEANNE 8 p.m. on ABC. Recent resurrections of shows like Will & Grace and Twin Peaks prove that 90s television is thriving. So its no surprise that the family sitcom Roseanne gets a comeback. The original series, which ran for nine seasons, brought a relatable aspect of American life to the small screen with its depiction of the Conners, a working-class family in fictional Lanford, Ill. This revivals premiere quickly sets the show in the present, as Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) and her sister, Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), bump heads over Roseannes support for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. (Ms. Barr has been an outspoken supporter of President Trump.) In his review, James Poniewozik welcomed the shows return, writing, Like that old couch you cant throw out, it may just have a good year or two left in it. Need a refresher? The original episodes are streaming on Amazon Prime Video. FOOD EXPOSED WITH NELUFAR HEDAYAT 8 p.m. on Fusion. The Fusion correspondent Nelufar Hedayat investigates the global food chain to reveal the human and environmental costs of modern appetites in this new documentary series. In the premiere, Ms. Hedayat explores food waste in New York, Los Angeles and Guatemala. Did I mention that this novel is charming? Punishing, yes, and maniacally overwritten, but a vulnerable and moving performance with a heart-stopping payoff. I recall the British critic Christopher Ricks once saying that in every long book lies a short one evading its responsibilities. Its a literary prejudice I share, but in The Chandelier I sense something else: not a shorter, better book lurking, but Lispectors entire body of work, in miniature, biding its time. So many of the themes, philosophical inquiries and character types that appear here will return, honed as Lispector refines her style and hardens them into the diamond-like perfection of her final books, which are narrated in jagged aphorisms anti-literature she called them. If the pages of The Chandelier are so thickly lacquered with description, streams of adjectives and looping repetition, its because Lispector is flexing, coming into her power. Shes playing, shes practicing. These pages are full of finger exercises, arpeggios of thought and perception. We see the stirring of her lifelong interest in piercing the veil of language to access existence itself. She tries to evoke this by slowing down the prose in The Chandelier, by making the reader feel its weight. In later books, she was unafraid of posing the point directly: What am I doing in writing you? Trying to photograph perfume, she wrote in Agua Viva. Her books stay peaceably indifferent to any imperatives of story The Passion According to G.H., regarded by some as her masterpiece, features a housewife staring into a closet for 200 pages. But with her later restraint, it was her sentences that began to have plots. With their topsy-turvy structure, they contain the drama and the surprise. A few famous examples. From The Passion According to G.H.: I finally got up from the breakfast table, that woman. From the opening of her short story Temptation: She was sobbing. And as if the two oclock glare werent enough, she had red hair. From the story Love: Next to her was a lady in blue, with a face. In each, the strangeness come from a splitting of women experiencing themselves as subject and object. This fracturing is everywhere in Lispector, and explored intensely in The Chandelier. Virginia, in fact, is practicing looking at everything in this particular way: Shed see things separated from the places where they lay, loose in space as in an apparition. The Chandelier might best be understood as a bridge in Lispectors work. But even so, it conveys a special charge, an undeniable quantity of genius similar to what Virginia felt as she filled her hands with water, that she was carrying in the palm of her hand a little bit of river. BOB HONEY WHO JUST DO STUFF By Sean Penn 176 pp. Atria Books. $24. What have you done this time, Sean Penn? What is this book-shaped thing that lies before us? Is it just a lark a nutty novel you wrote because youre famous and they let you? Or is it more than that a furious, despairing takedown of America as the country battles its own worst instincts? If its the latter, why did you bury your truest feelings and loveliest writing so deep in muck? Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff might have had the power of a manifesto. Instead, its a riddle wrapped in an enigma and cloaked in crazy. Penn originally created Bob Honey for a short audiobook in 2016, which he narrated but playfully denied writing, insisting it was the work of a guy hed met in Florida named Pappy Pariah. Bob is a 56-year-old Californian with an ultraviolent skepticism toward the messaging and mediocrity of modern times. Profession-wise, he is one of the following or some combination thereof: a globe-trotting entrepreneur, a contract killer who murders elderly people with a mallet or just a delusional homebody whose neighbors think hes weird. Unwaveringly true to its title, Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff has no formal plot. Our antihero sits on his sofa recalling possibly imaginary exploits and lamenting the state of the nation, which he regards as a shopping mall with a flag. He loathes his ex-wife, whos now happily coupled with her divorce lawyer and driving an ice-cream truck, the twinkly music of which punishes him from a distance. He pines for a sex-positive young woman named Annie, who may or may not exist and who inspires such purple rain as this: Effervescence lived in her every cellular expression, and she had spizzerinctum to spare. Image Occasionally, Bob will attempt to be more social by throwing a misbegotten barbecue or hell go out and dispatch a senior citizen with a blow to the head. (The folks who issue the kill orders believe the elderly stand in the way of marketing and globalization.) What narrative tension Bob Honey does have comes courtesy of a man claiming to be an investigative journalist who shows up at Bobs door and, as Penn might put it, punctures his peace and piques his paranoia. If that sounds like an unfair swipe at the prose, take a look: There is pride to be had where the prejudicial is practiced with precision in the trenchant triage of tactile terminations. Thats a sentence about hunting, by the way. 1. I would never answer, because I dont have papers. So said an undocumented mother in California, responding to the news that the 2020 census will include a question about citizenship. Above, a naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles last week. The Trump administration says the data will help monitor voter demographics and protect minority voting rights. But critics say it will lead to a severe undercount of immigrant communities. Several states, including California and New York, said they would sue over the decision. Heres why an accurate census is so important. Political representation, state and federal funding and business and public health decisions all depend on it. The next big banking scandal Wells Fargos widespread mistreatment of customers, which came to light in 2016 strongly supported Mr. Dudleys arguments. Wells Fargo was considered one of the most stable too big to fail banks, with its focus on plain vanilla lending, but in fact, its retail sales culture had degraded. The Fed earlier this year slapped relatively harsh sanctions on the bank, including a limit on its size. The example of Wells Fargo is pertinent for John C. Williams, a top candidate to replace Mr. Dudley. Mr. Williams is head of the San Francisco Fed, which oversees Wells Fargo. And there is still work to do to fulfill Mr. Dudleys initiative. He proposed a database of banker misconduct, similar to the one for brokers, that would track a bankers record on ethics and compliance. Banks could consult it before hiring. But this idea has not taken off. In a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Mr. Dudley explained why: Understandably, firms are concerned about legal risk if they share information about banker misconduct, but there may be ways to address these concerns through legislation. Mr. Dudley had also pressed banks boards of directors to focus on ethical culture. On Monday, he said the boards had set up separate committees to focus on culture and conduct. Weve made part of the journey but I think more could be done, Mr. Dudley said. Whether it will, depends on who steps into his shoes. Peter Eavis How worrying is the flattening yield curve? The yield curve is near its flattest level since the financial crisis. The difference between the yields on the two-year and 10-year Treasury notes is at 0.52 percentage points, not far off its post-crisis low of 0.50 percentage points hit in January. That has some asking if the nine-year-old economic recovery is at risk. Since the end of World War II, no barometer has done a better job of predicting a recession than the yield curve. A flattening yield curve tends to indicate slowing economic growth in the near future. But what is more worrisome is if the yield curve goes beyond flattening and into outright inversion. The chances of a recession when the yield curve is flattening is just 20 percent, according to the calculations of Jim Paulsen, the chief investment strategist at the Leuthold Group. That jumps to 72 percent when the curve inverts. Unless the yield curve actually inverts, however, the probability of recession remains quite low. While a flatter curve may have implications for the pace of future economic growth, it does not materially raise recession risk. There is another reason not to be too concerned about a flattening yield curve, and it has to do with the actions of central banks around the world. The unprecedented stimulus from the Fed, Bank of Japan and E.C.B. have brought down long-term rates. That means the yield curve might not be the predictor it once was. Since the days of the Nixon administration nearly 50 years ago, American policy has aimed to steer China out of its isolation to prosper in the global market economy. There neednt be conflict between the established superpower and the emerging giant, the best strategic minds argued. As it grew rich, they reasoned, China could be integrated peacefully into the institutional framework built by the Western powers from the rubble of World War II. The proposition fit with the liberal peace view of foreign relations: that nations engaged in intense economic intercourse would find it too costly to go to war. American businesses that flocked to China to tap its cheap labor and huge consumer market after its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 enthusiastically agreed with the approach. That strategy, it appears, is over. President Trumps announcement last week that the United States would impose a battery of tariffs against as much as $60 billion worth of Chinese goods while restricting Chinese investments in American technology companies has set policy onto a different, more belligerent path. China is now, in the presidents words, an economic enemy. Interestingly, not all scholars have opposed the change of tone. Many foreign policy experts agree that China is not playing by the rules. American businesses, which typically endorsed forbearance to protect their market access to China, have grown frustrated at its appropriation of their intellectual property. It is the latest in a series of issues for H&M. The company had to close stores in South Africa and faced a social media backlash after it ran an ad in January showing a black child model wearing a hooded sweatshirt that said, Coolest monkey in the jungle. Also, it and other retailers in Europe are girding themselves for an expected push by Amazon into clothing retailing, one that Amazon has already been making in the United States. Since the early 2000s, business has largely boomed for fast fashion retailers such as ASOS, H&M and Inditex, which owns Zara. They profited off their ability to generate, at a vast scale, rapid translations of runway fashions into low-priced clothing and accessories. But while luxury brands have enjoyed a rebound in fortunes in recent months, fueled by millennial appetite and a recovery in demand from the lucrative Chinese market, mass-market companies have had to deal with enormous changes. In the digital era, the challenges around offering trendy apparel before it goes out of style have mounted, particularly as growing numbers of shoppers choose to buy from their smartphones and become more quality conscious. ASOS is an online-only retailer, and Inditex has managed to ramp up its digital sales. But H&M, which also owns brands like Cos, & Other Stories and Arket, has fallen behind the pack. Analysts have been downbeat on the Swedish companys outlook. Rahul Sharma, founder of Neev Capital, called H&M a slow-motion wreck after the release of the first-quarter results. Analysts at the Swiss bank UBS said in a note to investors this month that they had come away from an H&M presentation in November with no clear view on why focus on the core customer had been lost, and what was being done to fix it. H&M has insisted it has a plan, saying it would slash prices to reduce the stockpile and slow its expansion in stores. It said it hoped its online business would expand 25 percent this year. Still, Mr. Persson, a grandson of H&Ms founder, acknowledged that the rapid transformation of the industry was weighing on his company. The start of the year, he said, has been tough. Breitbart News is taking a step into the live events business. Following the lead of other media companies seeking fresh sources of revenue, the right-wing news and opinion site is set to host its first-ever town hall in suburban New Orleans next month, a panel on privacy and technology with the commentator Ann Coulter and Peter Schweizer, the author of Clinton Cash. Its an experiment for a site that has lately been confronting declining web traffic and turbulence in its top ranks. Stephen K. Bannon, the sites longtime executive chairman, was forced out in January. Its page views last month were down by nearly half from a year earlier, according to the data-tracking firm comScore, though Breitbart disputes the figure. The Louisiana event is the latest evolution in how to consume Breitbart content, said Alexander Marlow, the sites editor in chief. By branching into public forums, the site is taking a cue from one of its perennial foes: the mainstream media. News outlets like Vanity Fair, The Washington Post and The New York Times have long sponsored conferences and speaking events. Tanzina Vega has been named the new host of the public radio program The Takeaway, succeeding John Hockenberry, who retired in August and was subsequently accused of engaging in sexual harassment and bullying behavior during his decade with the show. Ms. Vega, who will begin working on the nationally syndicated news program on May 7, was most recently at CNN, where she reported on race, inequality and the criminal justice system. She was previously a reporter for The New York Times. Since its inception, The Takeaway has sought out voices from across the country to provide context for and perspective on the days news, Alisa Miller, president and chief executive of Public Radio International, which produces the show with WNYC Radio, said in a statement. Tanzinas deep curiosity about the intersection of peoples lives and events will extend this tradition in new ways, deepening understanding across different points of view. Mr. Hockenberry, a founder of The Takeaway in 2008, had expressed a desire for the show to engage with, and appeal to, minority listeners. After the allegations against him became public, he released a statement that read, in part, It horrifies me that I made the talented and driven people I worked with feel uncomfortable, and that the stress around putting together a great show was made worse by my behavior. By restricting the supply of foreign metals in the United States, the tariffs are meant to raise the domestic price of those metals, which will translate into profits for struggling American metal makers. But in the process, more cheap metal will be available in markets outside the United States. That will push down the global price of steel and aluminum and create a two-tiered market. After Mr. Trump announced his tariffs, trade unions and Canadas steel and aluminum industries warned Mr. Trudeau that, without its own measures, Canada could be flooded with cheap steel and aluminum from countries that export at artificially low prices. European officials have also argued that, without protections, their companies could become collateral damage. Officials in Brussels have warned that they will take safeguard measures in the form of additional tariffs on steel products if an inquiry into the American tariffs shows there could be a significant surge in cheap steel imports. The E.U. is more than an innocent bystander, said Fredrik Erixon, the director for the European Center for International Political Economy, a think tank based in Brussels. The European Union already has antidumping tariffs on steel in place, mainly directed toward cheap Chinese imports. But the blocs leaders have also made clear they are prepared to do more and to exert diplomatic pressure on Beijing, pushing China to reduce government subsidies for its steel sector, cut import tariffs and open its market to American and European steel. Some supporters of the tariffs see the moves as evidence that the Trump administrations strategy is working. But other trade experts see this chain reaction as the first in a damaging series of actions that will end up raising the price of metals globally and making markets around the world less free. Eswar Prasad, a professor of trade policy at Cornell University, said that although Mr. Trumps approach appeared to be bearing fruit in the short term, it could ultimately hurt the trust of American trading partners and hamper the economy. Members of the public will be able to take our cars anywhere in our service area, Mr. Krafcik said. We will be driving everywhere dense, urban centers, high-speed roads, low-speed roads, suburbs. Theres every driving scenario to be imagined. The company said it planned to buy as many as 20,000 electric cars from Jaguar Land Rover and outfit them with the radars, cameras and sensors it has developed to enable the vehicles to drive themselves on public roads. The deal could be worth $1 billion. Its an audacious vision that goes far beyond even the most optimistic plans of its rivals. General Motors, for example, also intends to start a ride service that uses robotic cars that have no driver. But G.M. says its service wont get off the ground until late 2019 a time when Waymo said its fleet would be providing as many as one million rides a day. Mike Ramsey, an analyst at Gartner who tracks autonomous-vehicle development, said it would not surprise him if Waymo achieved its ambitious timetable. But he added, I anticipate a rollout that will be less than perfect and at times will be a bit slow and clunky. Waymos aggressive plans are all the more striking given the setback to another contender in the driverless push, the ride-hailing service Uber. One of Ubers self-driving vehicles struck and killed a woman last week in Tempe, Ariz., in what is believed to be the first pedestrian death involving autonomous driving. As a result, its road testing has been halted in Arizona, California, Pittsburgh and Toronto. All the things I love about the pancakes at Chez Ma Tante, near the Greenpoint waterfront in Brooklyn, are things that normal chefs would try to fix. They are a little too tall and too big around. The outside is nearly black in parts, and crunchy, which American pancakes almost never are. What they most closely resemble are the pancakes Ive made on camping trips, from a mix, with about a quarter-stick of melted butter in a smoking-hot pan over a fire. Each one is the size of Frisbee because too many people are waiting for breakfast for any space in the pan to be wasted. Assuming my campfire pancakes were to catch a chefs eye, the standard way of turning them into a brunch dish would be to refine them. The heat would come down so theyd cook to an even golden-brown. My quantity of butter would seem insane in a professional kitchen, so it would be cut. The batter would probably be thinned to make the pancakes shorter and more elegantly rounded. Rounding out the rough edges is, in a broad sense, one of the main things chefs do. They may not always do it consciously, any more than a copy editor consciously corrects typos. Its supposed to become a reflex, which is the point of the sign on the kitchen wall at Eleven Madison Park: MAKE IT NICE. Headliner COCO PAZZO KITCHEN AND COCO PAZZO TRATTORIA The restaurateur and chef Pino Luongo has always been a game-changer. His involvement with Il Cantinori in Greenwich Village 35 years ago brought rustic Tuscan style to New Yorks Italian restaurant scene. Coco Pazzo, which opened in 1988 and was forced to close 10 years ago, proved that his Tuscan approach could work with white tablecloths on the Upper East Side. Now with his business partner, Alessandro Bandini, he is opening another Coco Pazzo, in SoHo, in a brightly windowed contemporary take on that Tuscan farmhouse. And he is serving some pasta entrees that he calls piatti unici; they include linguine with clam ragu, with clams oreganata alongside; and pappardelle with stracotto braised brisket, the pot roast sharing the plate with pasta dressed in its sauce. Mr. Luongos longtime collaborator, the chef Marta Pulini, is a consultant. By day, the restaurant is Coco Pazzo Kitchen, mainly for salads, sandwiches and pasta. In the evening, it becomes Coco Pazzo Trattoria, offering soups, salads, seafood antipasti, his piatti unici, and main courses meant for sharing like whole roast chicken or a 24-ounce grilled rib-eye. In the rear of the restaurant is a small shop selling food to take out: 160 Prince Street (Thompson Street), 917-261-6321, cocopazzonyc.com. Opening SUSHI NOZ Forget the ever-popular recycled barn siding. The ash and cedar interior of this serene new sushi enclave is constructed, in part, with wood from former temples. Its a restaurant in the Edo (or old Tokyo) style, with an eight-seat counter for omakase ($300 including tip) and a six-seat private counter. Nozomu Abe, the sushi master and a partner, provides a parade of several hot and cold dishes followed by 12 to 15 pieces of sushi, then soup. David Foulquier, who owns Fooqs, a Persian restaurant in Miami, and his brother, Josh Foulquier, are passionate about Japan, and decided to team up with Mr. Abe. Some of the brothers vast collection of Japanese ceramics is on display and used for serving. (Friday): 181 East 78th Street, 917-338-1792. BOWL & BLADE This spot, following the formula of assembly-line bowls that start with a base of grains or greens and add protein and seasonings, is the work of Rajesh Bhardwaj, a founder and the chief executive of the high-end Indian restaurant Junoon. But its not about Indian food at all. The chef Adin Langilles approach is global: Among the options are Hawaiian poke, and Mediterranean and Korean combinations. (Sunday): 169 Fifth Avenue (Lincoln Place), Park Slope, Brooklyn, 917-224-8646, bowlandblade.com. ICHIRAN The Japanese tonkotsu ramen chain, known for its flavor concentration booths (which it now calls ramen focus booths) for slurping in privacy, opens a Manhattan branch. (Wednesday): 132 West 31st Street, 212-465-0701, en.ichiran.com. There was nothing traditional about the union of Michelle Mead-Armor and John Armor. She was 57 and he 65, they had a total of six ex-spouses between them, and had dated each other, and broken up, three and a half decades before. They first met in 1972, when she was a 21-year-old student at Goucher College and Mr. Armor, a lawyer, was representing her husband in a case in Baltimore. She had accused her husband of assault and battery. Mr. Armor, though, won the case. Her husband then left the country. Ms. Mead-Armor, who was living temporarily in a dorm at her college, then asked Mr. Armor to help get her belongings from the house she and her husband had shared. An unlikely romance blossomed. They were engaged in 1973 before she ended it, she said, feeling anxious about becoming a stepmother of three, and feeling tension with his family and friends. They got in touch again by email in 2004, and met in New York for drinks in 2005. They married in June 2008. Two years and two months later, Ms. Mead-Armor would become a widow. Romeo and Juliet never had to grow older together or put their kids through college, said Ms. Mead-Armor, now 67, in a phone interview from her home in Waynesboro, Va., on the southern fork of the Shenandoah River. Juliet never went through menopause. You dont live happily ever after. In 1990, the Harvard international relations scholar Joseph Nye published a book, Bound to Lead, in which he drew a distinction between two different forms of power. One was what he called hard or command power the traditional guns-and-money leverage one nation could use to force another nation to do what it wanted. For the other, he coined the term soft power meaning when one country gets other countries to want what it wants. Soft power was more seductive than coercive; it could be built on culture, on ideals, on leading by example. Nyes terms are now used by political scientists and business-school professors alike. They are a product of the same line of thinking that appears in a common expression: Power comes in many forms. This is the same line of thinking too that so often has undergraduate students intoxicated by the ideas of the French theorist Michel Foucault, who saw power as ephemeral, taking countless shapes, everywhere and nowhere: It was at once visible and invisible, present and hidden, ubiquitous, like a light emanating from a thousand pinprick sources. Foucaults idea of resistance was to spend your time mapping out all those pinprick sources of power, like the stars: If you wanted to speak truth to power, he suggested, you first had to divine your position inside a whole constellation of influence. This sort of thinking can make our view of power far more nuanced and complex, but it can also make it quite confusing. The dispiriting message some took away from Foucault was that things were, ultimately, a bit hopeless: Power was far too chaotic to help anyone figure out the right thing to do. This dizzying and disordered vision of power isnt reserved for high-stakes international affairs or abstract philosophical contexts. It is a feature of almost every social or cultural battle we have. The question of power has buzzed its way, for instance, through a huge share of recent conversations about sexual harassment. In many #MeToo stories, the power a harasser has over his target is clear and hard as a diamond: He is the boss; he can hire or fire, promote or demote. But in so many others, a softer pull is involved a matter of age, or ambient status, or standing within an industry. Last month, when several women told NPR about what they saw as exploitative relationships with the writer Sherman Alexie, one described her account as one about power, and abuse of power. This wasnt because Alexie necessarily held any formal or official power over the other writers he encountered; the power his accuser was referring to derived from his literary success, influence and social standing. People hold countless opinions about accusations like this, and plenty of them have already been aired at great and contentious length. But even within those arguments, the question of who holds power is a constant, each side insisting it lies with the other. In a Slate interview with Isaac Chotiner, the writer Katie Roiphe, who has expressed skepticism about what she sees as the rush to judgment of #MeToo, described being pilloried in response. When Chotiner tried to suggest that being vilified by Twitter users might not be so consequential, the two reached an impasse. You are saying they dont have power, but I think they do have power, Roiphe said. She saw a group of social media critics and writers as having the power to set the terms of the conversation; they undoubtedly felt the same way about her, a tenured professor scolding them from the pages of a prestigious publication like Harpers. The promise of a modern sewage system is the freedom to forget that the waste goes somewhere. Its an indulgence that quickly hardens into abuse which, in turn, hardens into something else altogether. Over the years, in London, millions of tiny droplets of cooking oil have been funneled down into the citys underbelly from the drains of fried-chicken shops and curry houses, slipping past grease traps in a swirl of wastewater. At the same time, in homes all across town, wet wipe after wet wipe has been flushed out of sight and into the mix, where their plasticized fibers formed a skeleton around which the fat could accrete. Slowly, the incipient mass began to trap tampons, condoms and often a discarded needle or two in its oily matrix, eventually growing into a monstrous subterranean clot the length of 22 double-decker buses with the weight of a blue whale: the Whitechapel Fatberg. The fatberg was discovered in September 2017; just nine weeks later, it was gone. Utility workers clad in hazmat gear broke up the blockage with water jets and shovels before sucking it out into tanks and processing most of it into biodiesel. One large chunk was saved, however, at the request of the Museum of London, which opened a new exhibition in February titled, simply, Fatberg! Its chief attraction is the chance to see, in person, this last remnant of the Whitechapel monstrosity. The week it opened, I lined up, elbowing past school kids and pensioners for the chance to gaze upon the shoebox-size lump. At first glance, a fatberg is not very appealing. Its surface is disconcertingly soft-looking, a beige putty color, waxy in places and chalkier in others. Fatberg scientists a lonely group theorize that as cooking oil ages in the low-oxygen conditions of a sewer, it undergoes a process of saponification, hardening into a crumbly, soaplike substance whose nearest relation is the layer of grave wax that can mummify a buried corpse in a shroud of its own exuded fat. The museums head of conservation, Sharon Robinson-Calver, told me that when the fatberg first arrived, its most notable feature was its smell a cocktail of rotting meat mixed with dirty diapers, its rancid base notes all but drowned out by an ammoniac tang. When the fatberg was fresh, she recalled, it was still sloppy, with reddish maggots visibly writhing beneath its glutinous surface. By the time I saw it, the fatberg had dried and begun to crumble, revealing the treasures concealed within: I spotted chunks of Styrofoam, as well as the distinctive orange-and-purple plumage of a Double Decker chocolate-bar wrapper. Being superlatively revolting is, however, not enough to merit an objects display alongside the Museum of Londons priceless collection of Roman ruins, Elizabethan jewelry and Art Deco ironwork particularly when the thing in question risks infecting staff members with incurable diseases. Robinson-Calver said she kept the fatberg under observation in quarantine for several weeks, submitting it to chemical and X-ray testing before judging it admissible to the museums public galleries. In part, the curators and conservators say they went to the trouble of acquiring, conserving and displaying the fatberg in the hope that a face-to-face confrontation with their creation will provoke the shock needed to change Londoners habits. On the opposite side, you knew Mohammad and his wife, who were privy to and perhaps even participated in the detention of Talals family. What did you make of the absence of sympathy in Mohammad for these victims? Its a chilling moment. Mohammad is a father. He has children of his own. He has a wife, he has nieces and nephews, but he couldnt relate. He had so dehumanized the other side that he couldnt relate. And thats what war does. Its in the stories that people tell themselves to be able to brand somebody an enemy. But in this case the enemies were children And they were neighbors, because Mohammad was from the same area. He was from Latakia, too. Thats the great tragedy of civil wars. They turn neighbors against one another. You lay out starkly the American betrayal of Hazm. To those who have followed American proxy arrangements in the Middle East across the decades, this was not surprising. Did you see it coming? I dont know if I saw it coming, but the bigger point for me is repeated American involvement in the Middle East and the lessons that arent learned and the impact they have on the local communities. If youre going to be stomping around in a place with a heavy footprint, then you should understand the place and the people you may be stepping on. Because, as history has taught us, blowback is an ugly thing. Many of your stories are testaments to courage, like that of Hanin, the asthmatic Alawite child, who chose to remain a hostage so others could go free. In seven years of this war, what have you learned about Syrians? The incredible resilience of ordinary people. Hanin was a prisoner. She was asleep one night when rebels entered her home and took her and her siblings and her mother hostage. The biggest lesson for me was the way people can adapt, the way they can survive, the way they can persist and the way they can continue, in some cases, even to have hope and to still be able to forgive and to still believe in a Syrian-ness that transcends politics. Does that idea still exist? I think it exists on the individual level. People are the building blocks of communities, and when it comes down to the community level and how neighbors become neighbors again, if they do, then it has to start with people like that who just want to get on with it and go back to living their lives. There is always hope. I mean, if they havent given up hope, then how dare we? Conflicts end. It doesnt matter how long they take. They eventually end. In recent years, Portugal has emerged as a laboratory for cinematic experimentation, yielding fascinating and ambitious hybrids of documentary and fiction that tackle the countrys colonial legacy, its cultural traditions, the state of its working class and much more. The Nothing Factory, an astonishing film by Pedro Pinho, extends this tradition. Its an almost clinical study of working conditions and labor discontent, set at an elevator factory whose employees are in conflict with management. Its also a musical. Mr. Pinho, shooting in 16-millimeter film, fuses nostalgia with a militant sense of novelty. Joao Miller Guerra and Filipa Reiss Djon Africa, which was written by Mr. Pinho, achieves a different kind of fusion. A road movie (involving a quest for a lost father) that passes through the thickets of Portugals imperialist past and present-day Cape Verde, it mixes longing with exuberance, and finds an anarchic sense of possibility in a world of pain and injustice. (A.O.S.) Our House Justice McDonald, who had been easily confirmed when he was nominated as an associate justice in 2013, faced robust opposition mounted by Republicans angered over his role in a Supreme Court decision on the repeal of the death penalty and his relationship with the governor, Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat. Image Andrew J. McDonald, the nominee to be chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, was rejected Tuesday by the State Senate after an unusually acrimonious process. Credit... Michael Mcandrews/Hartford Courant, via Associated Press His supporters responded with a vigorous effort of their own, including using robocalls and television advertisements to urge residents to call on lawmakers to confirm his nomination. They also suggested that some of the opposition was motivated by Justice McDonalds sexual orientation since he would have become the first openly gay chief justice of a state Supreme Court. Justice McDonald had the support of much of the states legal establishment, including the state bar association, law school deans and other lawyer groups. Justice McDonald, 52, served in the State Senate and was Mr. Malloys general counsel before he joined the Supreme Court. As a justice, he was part of the majority that ruled that the states law abolishing capital punishment had to be applied to inmates who had been sentenced before the law, passed in 2012, went into effect, sparing 11 inmates from execution. The uncertainty of his confirmation became clear during his hearing with the Legislatures Judiciary Committee. The proceedings stretched over more than 12 hours and ended with his nomination going forward with an unfavorable recommendation from the committee. His nomination cleared the House by a single vote. Fair housing groups filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday saying that Facebook continues to discriminate against certain groups, including women, disabled veterans and single mothers, in the way that it allows advertisers to target the audience for their ads. The suit comes as the social network is scrambling to deal with an international crisis over the misuse of data belonging to 50 million of its users. Facebook, an advertising behemoth with more than two billion users a month, provides advertisers with the ability to customize their messages and target who sees them by selecting from preset lists of demographics, likes, behaviors and interests, while excluding others. Pet food companies, for example, could send their ads specifically to people who had indicated an interest in dogs, while excluding cat and bird fanciers. When it comes to housing and employment ads, Facebook, in response to criticism over the last 17 months, has repeatedly promised that it would crack down on advertisers who use those same tools to show housing or employment ads to whites only. Another said: I couldnt decide someones sanity or not. How could you ask me? The hurdles facing the defense were evident in court on Monday, when a neighbor of the Krims, called by the defense to testify about seeing Ms. Ortega with the children just before the murder, suddenly shouted, I am angry because this is not a case of mental illness. Once in a while the defense is persuasive. In 2015, a Manhattan jury determined that Alejandro Morales, who had been repeatedly diagnosed with schizophrenia, was not criminally responsible for the 2010 fatal stabbing of a 9-year-old boy inside of his mothers Upper West Side apartment. Mr. Morales had delusions that he was being chased by giant rats and gang members in the days before the murder. Jurors agreed he lacked the capacity to know that killing the boy was wrong, even though, as prosecutors pointed out, he fled the apartment, hid the knife and lied to the police. He was later committed to a secure psychiatric hospital. Jurors more often opt to convict in cases with defendants with serious mental illnesses. David Tarloff was a schizophrenic man from Queens who suffered from delusions about communicating with God and had been committed to a mental hospital numerous times. He was found guilty in 2013 of killing Kathryn Faughey, a Manhattan psychologist, with a mallet and a knife during a robbery attempt. He had told doctors the Lord had sanctioned the robbery. And in 2016 a Bronx jury convicted Bashid McLean, who fatally stabbed, beheaded and dismembered his mother before snapping a selfie with her head. He had attempted suicide several times and was on medication for depression and schizophrenia. Mr. McLeans lawyer, Lynn Calvacca, said her client was clearly mentally ill, but the prosecution focused on evidence that he covered up the crime, hiding his mothers remains and telling police he did not know where she was. The jury determined Mr. McLean knew he was committing an immoral act, even if the brutality of the murder reflected a diseased mind, she said. There is no way a reasonable person could say that what this guy did was sane, Ms. Calvacca said. He cut off his mothers head and took a selfie with it. Last week, The New York Times published an investigation into police perjury within the New York Police Department that found that false testimony by the police, known as testilying, remains a problem. This year, a Queens detective, Kevin Desormeau, has been convicted of perjury and a Brooklyn detective has been charged with fabricating a photo lineup. Even as Officer Moloney was arraigned, prosecutors offered little explanation about why they believe he lied. They also did not say if they suspect it had been his idea to lie or if he been instructed to lie by superiors. At the time of the gun arrest, Officer Moloney had been a police officer for three years. As contradictions in his account were exposed, Officer Moloney cited his inexperience as the reason for the error, prosecutors said. The charges against Officer Moloney stem from an arrest he and other officers made on May 6, 2016, in the public housing apartment building where they had been seeking to arrest a man on a warrant for low-level charges. The officers knocked on the door of an apartment and arrested the man when he answered the door, prosecutors said. Because it was early in the morning, the man was not properly dressed. The officers followed him into a bedroom to allow him to put on clothes. Officer Moloney and a second officer left with the man to process the arrest, prosecutors said, but about 15 minutes later a sergeant who had stayed behind told the officers to come back. Inside the apartment was an open black box containing a gun as well as a few bags of marijuana, prosecutors said. At that point, the sergeant told Officer Moloney to go get a search warrant. But when Officer Moloney went to the Brooklyn district attorneys office to apply for the warrant, he claimed that he not the sergeant discovered the gun. This article is part of the Opinion Today newsletter. You can sign up here to receive the newsletter each weekday. #Census2020 The Trump administrations decision to ask about citizenship on the 2020 census is a break from decades of bipartisan precedent. By driving down response rates among immigrants, Bloomberg Views Michael Strain recently argued, a citizenship question would probably cause those groups to be undercounted. This undercounting would help red states when it comes time to direct federal spending and apportion seats in the House. On Russia. Meanwhile, the administration ordered 60 Russian officials be expelled from the United States after Moscow allegedly poisoned a former Russian spy in Britain. But Trumps rare rebuke may still end up helping Vladimir Putin more than it hurts him, argues The Washington Posts Ishaan Tharoor. The thickening atmosphere of distrust between Russia and the West boosts his image in the mind of Russian nationalists, and helps shore up Putins political power, Tharoor writes. Linda Brown died this week, 67 years after she was blocked from enrolling in a whites-only Kansas elementary school. Three years later, in 1954, her experience helped lead the Supreme Court to strike down separate but equal segregation in American schools. BODA, Central African Republic Tyler Pager is the winner of Nicholas Kristofs 2018 Win-A-Trip contest to take a university student on a reporting trip. Mr. Pager, 22, graduated from Northwestern University and is now studying at Oxford University. He and Mr. Kristof recently traveled to the Central African Republic, a small, land-locked country in the middle of the continent, and this is the first of Mr. Pagers dispatches. As rebel forces burned his house to the ground, Teddy Sanguibe narrowly escaped death by jumping through a window. Although he has burn scars around his upper leg from the day he fled his home, he managed to survive the conflict that broke out here in 2012 relatively unscathed compared to many of his family and friends. His grandfather, aunt and two brothers were killed by the Seleka, a predominantly Muslim militia that led violent campaigns throughout the country. Seleka forces also captured Mr. Sanguibes father, who worked as a guard at a local gas station, and tried to recruit him. He refused, so the militia tortured him. Mr. Sanguibe watched helplessly as soldiers whipped and stabbed his father with bayonets. The Seleka forces eventually freed him after the family paid a ransom of roughly $500, a large sum for a family making just a few dollars a day. I met Mr. Sanguibe, now 19, at the one-story school he attends. He and most of his peers cannot afford textbooks, and the school has only two functioning classrooms, with walls blanketed by graffiti, to serve its nearly 800 students. In the third classroom, broken desks and litter lie strewn across the cement floor, rendering the room unusable. Only two of the 14 teachers receive a salary, and the remaining 12 are volunteers, parents with no formal training. BEIJING In the spring of 2015, 13-year-old Huang Kailong had just skipped a grade, from fifth to seventh, and her future sparkled with promise. Then she ran away from home. In a letter to her parents, Kailong explained the reason for leaving: She felt unloved. Kailong grew up in Jidao, a picturesque village in Guizhou Province, one of the least developed in China. In her letter, she reminded her parents that they had left her with an aunt when she was just a year old. During the bulk of her childhood, her parents would go away for about four months every year to chop sugar cane in Guangdong Province, and theyd leave her with different relatives, an arrangement she had resented. I felt like a stray dog, she said to me in the coastal city of Wenzhou, where she now lives with her boyfriend and several dogs they took in from the street. In January, social media across the world lit up with the wind-burned face of Wang Fuman, an 8-year-old living with his grandparents in a remote village in Yunnan Province who treks almost three miles to school every day. He showed up in his classroom one morning with frost-covered hair, a teacher took his photo, posted it online and it went viral. The picture drew attention to the plight of the many Chinese children who grow up in the countryside without their parents nearby. Rarely in my lifetime have I seen the type of civic engagement schoolchildren and their supporters demonstrated in Washington and other major cities throughout the country this past Saturday. These demonstrations demand our respect. They reveal the broad public support for legislation to minimize the risk of mass killings of schoolchildren and others in our society. That support is a clear sign to lawmakers to enact legislation prohibiting civilian ownership of semiautomatic weapons, increasing the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21 years old, and establishing more comprehensive background checks on all purchasers of firearms. But the demonstrators should seek more effective and more lasting reform. They should demand a repeal of the Second Amendment. Concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of the separate states led to the adoption of that amendment, which provides that a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Today that concern is a relic of the 18th century. [For more on the gun legislation debate and other issues, subscribe to our Opinion Today newsletter.] To the Editor: Re Senators Uphold Trumps War Powers, rejecting a measure to halt American military support for the deadly Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen (news article, March 21): When they met in Washington recently, President Trump could have pressed hard for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia to end Saudi airstrikes and blockades in Yemen. But Mr. Trump, who had tried to head off the congressional measure, celebrated arms sales to Saudi Arabia, though according to an official he did raise humanitarian concerns in Yemen. I cannot so easily ignore the human toll of the war in my country. All sides have committed violations against civilians, but Saudi Arabias 16,000 airstrikes have caused the vast majority of the thousands of civilian deaths. Its blockade has obstructed humanitarian and commercial shipments, sending over eight million Yemenis to the brink of starvation and causing the worst cholera outbreak in modern history. Some opponents of the Senate resolution argued that the Senate needed to wait and more fully debate Americas role in this terrible conflict. But three years of war in my country have made clear that Yemen cant wait much longer for America to realize it has been on the wrong side of history. ABDULRASHEED AL-FAQIH SANA, YEMEN The writer is the executive director of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights. I was born when the fight against the Nazis was barely in the rear-view mirror, and never out of memory. Kids my age were schooled in violence: a war that included mass genocide and the atomic bomb. Every day we were reminded that another could start any day; in kindergarten we ducked under our desks and covered the backs of our necks to shield ourselves against a nuclear bomb attack. The mushroom cloud had engulfed Japan only five years earlier; it wasnt a stretch for our schools to worry, and be prepared. One Sunday morning in September 1963, four African American girls were murdered by a bomb planted at a church in Birmingham, Ala. I was 15. Two months later, on a November afternoon, my high schools public address system summoned us to the gym for an assembly. The principal announced that the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, had been assassinated in Dallas. We should get our things together and go home. My family sat glued to the TV for days, until the funeral was over; we saw images of a blood-soaked first lady watching the vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, take the oath of office on an airplane en route to Washington. I demanded that my dad explain why all this was happening, figuring he knew about killing. Maybe because I was old enough, at 15, to understand, maybe because I was insistent and inconsolable about Birmingham and Dallas, but my father told me about his wartime experiences, and showed me his medals and dog tags, along with my parents wedding photo taken June 4, 1944, two days before D-Day, my dad looking young and cool in his Army uniform, about to be shipped out. With one exception, my father answered my questions about the war. First, why? Because we were attacked; the Japanese bombed our ships in Pearl Harbor. They attacked us; we didnt start the fight. They were fascists, he said. Dictators, tyrants. They ruled by fear, enslaving and incinerating millions of Jews and many others thought to be different by a racist ideology. Racism. I understood that word. Never again, he said, would that be allowed to happen. Never would it be forgotten. My father refused to tell me how many people he killed during the war, no matter how many times I asked. No, he said. You know enough. To the Editor: Re Repeal the Second Amendment (Op-Ed, March 28): The retired justice John Paul Stevens is right to highlight the Second Amendments role in the gun debate, including the fact that it is sometimes deployed as a propaganda weapon against gun regulation. It is also important to recognize that, as a matter of law, the Second Amendment is perfectly consistent with gun regulation. Justice Antonin Scalias majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller (from which Justice Stevens dissented) emphasized that the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. He enumerated a wide range of presumptively lawful gun regulations, including bans on possession by felons and the mentally ill, dangerous and unusual weapons, and the carrying of weapons in sensitive places. In more than 1,000 Second Amendment cases in the decade since Heller, courts have fleshed out those categories. They have struck down stringent (and extremely rare) laws like bans on public carry. And they have upheld the vast majority of reasonable gun laws. People sometimes say they oppose gun regulation because they support the Second Amendment, or vice versa. The gun debate is difficult enough without that false dichotomy. Why did it happen now? On todays episode: Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: President Trump joined a coordinated campaign by more than 20 countries to retaliate for the poisoning of a former Russian spy, ordering the largest-ever expulsion of Russian officials in the United States. It may not be a new Cold War, but relations with Russia are in some ways even more unpredictable. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at thedaily@nytimes.com. Tweet me at @mikiebarb. And if youre interested in advertising with The Daily, write to us at thedaily-ads@nytimes.com. How do I listen? If you dont see an audio player on this page or to subscribe to The Daily for free, follow the instructions below. From your mobile device: You can listen and subscribe to The Daily from any podcast player. If youre reading this from an iPhone or other Apple mobile device, tap this link to listen in Apple Podcasts. If youre on an Android device, tap this link to listen in Stitcher or this link to listen in RadioPublic. Or if you prefer another podcast player, you can find The Daily there. (Heres the RSS feed.) From a desktop or laptop: Click the play button above to start the show. Make sure to keep that window open on your browser if youre doing other things, or else the audio will stop. You can always find the latest episode at nytimes.com/thedaily. She also played the recent Armory Party at the Museum of Modern Art, where she wore a yellow jumpsuit by Christian Dior embroidered with mirrors. From a distance, she looked like a Gustav Klimt, a vision of golden refractive light, punctuated by a her poufy column of hair. My style is definitely inspired by the Baroque and Victorian periods, said Ms. Hunt, sipping a Japanese single-malt whiskey cocktail at the bar of the Modern, the museums restaurant. Im drawn to the embellishments and the decadence of it. Im very close friends with the artist Rashaad Newsome, and his work is filled with all of that ornamentation. And I feel that probably seeped into my subconscious and brought it out of me. Ms. Hunt grew up in a tightknit family in Chesapeake, Va. She began interning in New York while she was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, landing an early position in the media relations department of Epic Records. After a stint teaching English in Mexico City and two years doing public relations for the New-York Historical Society, Ms. Hunt joined the communications office of MoMA PS1 in 2007. There, she met Ms. Zanzo-Sahl, who at the time organized special events for MoMA; the two left PS1 and started SparkplugPR in 2011. WASHINGTON For 10 days, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, has been under increasing pressure from lawmakers and regulators to answer questions about the improper harvesting of data of 50 million Facebook users by a British political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica. Now Mr. Zuckerberg plans to go to Washington to explain himself. The chief executive has agreed to testify in at least one congressional hearing over the social networks handling of customer data, according to people familiar with the decision. Specifically, he plans to appear next month before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the arrangements were not public. Mr. Zuckerberg may make other appearances; he has also been asked to testify before the Senate and House Judiciary and Commerce Committees. His appearing on Capitol Hill could create a spectacle that is replayed online and on television for years to come, especially amid a backlash against the power of tech behemoths. Late last year, executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter showed up at congressional hearings to discuss Russian meddling online in the 2016 presidential election, putting faces to the tech platforms during criticism of their misuse. This springs Broadway revival of Carousel is revising its program after champions of the shows original choreographer, Agnes de Mille, objected to her absence from the Playbill. Ms. de Milles work on the original production, in 1945, is considered an important development in the history of musical theater, advancing the use of narrative dance fully integrated into a shows storytelling. And before her death in 1993, she reached an agreement with the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, which owns the rights to her work on Carousel and Oklahoma!, under which her authorship would be acknowledged in future productions. But the current production has its own choreographer, the acclaimed ballet designer Justin Peck, who has said that he celebrates and studied Ms. de Milles work, but who created his own dances for the new show. And the producer of the revival, Scott Rudin, said via a spokesman that he was initially unaware of any commitment to Ms. de Mille, and that all the choreography in the revival is by Mr. Peck. The producers of Carousel were not made aware by Rodgers & Hammerstein of any contractual obligation that R & H had to credit Agnes de Mille for her work on the original production, wrote Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the production. Once the producers were informed of R & Hs inadvertent and accidental omission of its credit obligation to Ms. De Mille, she was provided with a credit for her original choreography that was worked out between the producers and the R & H estate. Leah Nanako Winkler has been awarded this years Yale Drama Series Prize for her new play God Said This. She will receive $10,000, her play will have a private staged reading at Lincoln Centers Claire Tow Theater on Oct. 30, and it will be published by the Yale University Press. Ayad Akhtar, this years judge and a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, chose Ms. Nanako Winklers play from over 1,600 submissions. I was very moved by Leahs play about a family caught between cultures, set in the final weeks of a mothers life, Mr. Akhtar said in a statement. I found it witty and wise, inhabited by a poignant specificity that conveyed me to a deeply felt sense of the universal of the perfection of our parents flawed love for each other and for us; for the ways in which the approach of death can order the meaning of a human life. If youre considering a getaway to Mexico, plan your trip before May to get the most for your money, according to Zachary Rabinor, founder and chief executive of Journey Mexico. Mexico is coming off its peak tourist season, and hotels, tour operators and restaurants lower prices to bring in more business, Mr. Rabinor said. Besides value, he said that travelers can expect still tolerable temperatures before the heat of summer sets in. So whether youre interested in a sun and sand vacation, a culture-heavy trip or one that includes gastronomy, a spring trip to Mexico is possible without breaking the bank. Ancient Ruins and Waterfalls on the Mayan Trail Mayan Trail from G Adventures is an 11-day trip that begins in Playa del Carmen and ends with a few days in Guatemala. Travelers get guided tours of the ancient Mayan civilization Chichen Itza, Merida, the capital of the Yucatan State, and San Cristobal de Las Casas, known for its colonial architecture. A pair of white police officers in Baton Rouge, La., will not be prosecuted by the state authorities in a fatal shooting of a black man there almost two years ago, the latest example of how rarely law enforcement officers are prosecuted for violence against suspects. The Louisiana attorney general, Jeff Landry, announced the decision at a news conference on Tuesday, almost 11 months after the Justice Department declined to bring charges in the death of the man, Alton B. Sterling. Mr. Landrys decision was widely expected, in part because officers in numerous other cases across the country have been cleared of criminal liability for using deadly force against civilians in recent years. The Baton Rouge officers were called to the Triple S Food Mart on July 5, 2016, to respond to a report that a black man had brandished a gun and threatened someone. The officers and the man, Mr. Sterling, 37, ended up in a confrontation that left Mr. Sterling dead, prompted large protests in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana capital, and broadened the national debate about law enforcement tactics and the influence of race on American policing. It also set off a retaliatory incident in which a man shot and killed two Baton Rouge police officers and a deputy sheriff. The officers at the scene, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, face administrative punishment, including dismissal, as well as a lawsuit from the mans family. On Tuesday, John S. McLindon, a lawyer for Mr. Salamoni, said he all but expected his client to be fired, and said he would likely appeal the decision. Mr. McLindon noted that the shooting had been determined to be justified by independent use of force experts, including two cited in the state and federal investigations. We are making it O.K. for students to say that they do need help, said Edgar Dormitorio, the assistant vice chancellor of students affairs. We know there are students who do without meals rather ask for assistance. We want this to be as low barrier as possible. A 2016 study found that roughly four in 10 students in the University of California system went hungry at least some of the time. At the Basic Needs Hub, students are asked for basic demographic information, like where they live and what year they are in college. Our hope is we know the needs better and cater to those needs, he said. The pantry is paid for in part by a $3 fee students approved in a campuswide vote last year, as well as money set aside from the office of U.C. systems president. For students, knowing there is somewhere to get your food and feel dignified doing that, it is an empowering thing, said Ernest Devin Rankin, 19, a sophomore in public health policy and educational science, who works at the pantry part time. We have frozen meat, eggs, bread, milk, cereal all that goes quickly. Fruit, granola bars, that stuff goes out in a second, we cant stock it fast enough. Ms. Sanders also said the citizenship question had been included in every census since 1965, with the exception of 2010, when it was removed. In fact, various citizenship questions have appeared in many censuses since 1850, especially during periods of high immigration. But it was dropped from the 1960 general census (there was no census in 1965) and relegated in 1970 to a longer list of questions that were asked of a small minority of residents. After 2000, the question was asked only on the American Community Survey, a separate mandatory poll of a fraction of the population that is conducted more frequently than the census. Critics noted that the citizenship question was added at the last minute the deadline for proposing new questions for the 2020 head count is April 1 and that it sidestepped the years of vetting undergone by every other question that will be asked. This month, they added, President Trumps re-election campaign used the addition of a citizenship question in an emailed fund-raising appeal. Mr. Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, said that adding the question was a reckless decision to suddenly abandon nearly 70 years of practice. He argued that the move will create an environment of fear and distrust in immigrant communities that would make impossible both an accurate census and the fair distribution of federal tax dollars. In a seven-page announcement released late Monday, Wilbur L. Ross Jr., the secretary of commerce, foresaw those concerns, and sought to allay them. Decades of experience with citizenship questions on earlier censuses and other surveys, he stated, indicate that including it on the 2020 form would not deter people from volunteering to be counted. And he noted that other democracies, from Australia to the United Kingdom, routinely ask about citizenship in their head counts without any difficulty. Mr. Ross, whose department oversees the Census Bureau, acknowledged that both outside experts and leaders within the bureau had been opposed to the change. But he said that neither the Census Bureau nor the concerned stakeholders could document that the response rate would in fact decline materially. We know this question is going to have a detrimental impact on our efforts and is going to make people wary of responding, said Erika Reyna, who is coordinating census efforts in Hidalgo County in southern Texas in part because she and others determined that the Hispanic population had been undercounted in the state in 2000 and 2010. An undercount will mean fewer resources in an area that is high-need and growing, Ms. Reyna said. She said the county is in sore need of funding for education, transportation, health and other services. The question about citizenship could have a disproportionate impact on the count in red states, like Georgia, where the Latino population is relatively new, skews undocumented and is largely Spanish speaking. In the 1990s, immigrants flocked to fast-growing Atlanta to build homes, work in restaurants and perform other, low-skilled work. The states one million Latinos now account for about 9 percent of Georgias population. About a third of them are undocumented immigrants, many of them parents to children born in the United States who could be undercounted, according to the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. We have many mixed-status families, and given this administrations record on being anti-immigrant and Latino, the question will sow fear and confusion, said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the association. A coalition of state attorneys general advised the Commerce Department last month against including the citizenship question, saying that in addition to undermining participation among immigrants, it would result in an undercount of the overall population in many areas. The state of California has already filed suit, arguing that including the question is a violation of the United States Constitution, and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman of New York announced he would lead a separate multistate legal challenge. The decennial census influences political representation in Congress and federal funding for an assortment of programs. The Commerce Department says that between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form. SACRAMENTO The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez had been summoned to the White House for an urgent meeting, and with so much at stake, he decided that he needed a blessing. He looked out at the Latino families jammed into his evangelical church in Sacramento on a recent Sunday and called on Stephania Herrera, a youth pastor who had come to the United States illegally when she was 10 years old. Ms. Herrera has been allowed to remain in the country under a program known as DACA. But with that program coming to an end, Mr. Rodriguez was to meet with White House aides to discuss how to save people like Ms. Herrera, known as Dreamers, from deportation. Father, Ms. Herrera said in Spanish, closing her eyes, gripping the microphone with her left hand and holding her pastors hand high with her right, You have placed him in this place, at this time, in this hour, with a great purpose, and we unite as one believing in your purpose. We ask that you send him covered in favor send him in power send him with authority. The meeting in Washington would not end in success. At President Trumps urging, Mr. Rodriguez agreed to support a deal that would allow the Dreamers to stay, in exchange for Congress authorizing funding for a border wall, cutting legal immigration and limiting family reunification. But the proposal went nowhere in Congress. And more than a month later, the long-term prospects for roughly 700,000 Dreamers remain in limbo. In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Hogg said they had been singled out because of their prominence and emphasized that ad hominem attacks would not end school shootings. I mean, were kind of the faces of the movement, he said. Together we kind of form an unstoppable force that terrifies them. He added that he and Ms. Gonzalez were being attacked because they know were strong. Here are a few of the recent attempts to discredit the students. RedState, a conservative blog, questioned whether Mr. Hogg was even at the school on the day of the shooting, then backtracked Monday. RedState, a conservative blog, ran an update Monday evening to a story it had published that questioned whether Mr. Hogg was present at Marjory Stoneman Douglas during the day of the shooting. Sarah Rumpf, a writer for RedState, had questioned Mr. Hogg after watching an interview where he said he rode his bike to the school on the day of the shooting to interview his classmates. WASHINGTON The United States census is so much more than just a head count. It is a snapshot of America that determines how congressional seats are apportioned, how state and federal dollars are distributed, where businesses choose to ship products and where they build new stores. To do all that properly, the count needs to be accurate. The Commerce Departments decision to restore a citizenship question to the census beginning in 2020 is prompting concerns about curtailing participation and possibly undercounting people living in the United States, particularly immigrants and minority groups who are expressing discomfort with answering questions from census workers. Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, acknowledged concerns about decreased response rates in a memorandum released on Monday night. But he said asking about citizenship would enhance the results by helping calculate the percentage of the population eligible to vote. An undercount of the population would have far-reaching implications. It could skew the data that are used to determine how many congressional representatives each state gets and their representation in state legislatures and local government bodies. It would shape how billions of dollars a year are allocated, including for schools and hospitals. It would undermine the integrity of a wide variety of economic data and other statistics that businesses, researchers and policymakers depend on to make decisions, including the numbers that underpin the forecasts for Social Security beneficiaries. WASHINGTON Kirstjen Nielsen, the homeland security secretary, recently warned dozens of foreign diplomats including the Russian ambassador that the United States would retaliate if adversaries abroad meddled in its coming elections. To those who would try to attack our democracy, to affect our elections, to affect the elections of other countries, to undermine national sovereignty, I have a word of warning: Dont, Ms. Nielsen told an estimated 80 foreign envoys and other officials during a speech last week, according to a person in attendance. Two other people with knowledge of the event confirmed the comments. All three spoke on the condition of anonymity because the remarks were given at a closed-door meeting. It was an unusually stern warning by Ms. Nielsen, and was among the harshest threats of retaliation by a member of President Trumps cabinet. Ms. Nielsen is one of the most outspoken advocates of the administrations policies, and has resisted being drawn into the controversy over Russian meddling during the 2016 election that put Mr. Trump in office.